brought forth by the power of the Word in the Wombe of the Church he therefore casteth out of his mouth after him flouds of outward crosses and vexations If he cannot wound him in his soule yet he will vexe him in his body goods and good name if he cannot hinder him of Heaven he will give him little rest or quiet upon Earth if hee cannot bring him into disgrace and disfavour with God he will be sure to rayse him hatred enough malice and discountenance amongst men He will doe his worst to fill and loade him with all outward discomforts and discouragements as povertie sicknesse slanders scoffings raylings reproaches contempts and a thousand other persecutions But in such cases as these let every child of God comfort refresh and hold himselfe in heart cheare and courage by such considerations as these First it is a Decree of Heaven resolved upon and ratified by the Lord our God confirmed by the experience of all the Patriarkes and Prophets of the Apostles and professors of Christ of all the Saints and servants nay and of the Sonne of God himselfe that through many tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of Heaven So often therefore as wee shall see any miseries or afflictions comming towards us for our profession of sinceritie and righteousnesse sake let us acknowledge them to be as so many most certaine and infallible markes that we are in the right way to Heaven through which if we but walke a little further with patience we shall descry a Crowne of Glory which is our owne for ever of which all the afflictions and pressures of a thousand Worlds are not neere worthy Secondly though by this meanes by these outward crosses and afflictions Sathan dischargeth upon us the very gall of his bitternesse the poyson of his malice and arrowes of his spight yet by the mercifull and medicinall hand of God they are returned upon his owne head they strike through the heart of sinne and become as precious restoratives to repaire in us the decayes of spirituall life for in Gods children crosses and afflictions have these worthy effects and workings 1 They start us out of our securitie carelesnesse and coldnesse which by little and little may grow upon the best They breed in us a conceit and sense of our owne wants and the necessitie of Gods providence and protection They adde Oyle unto the flame of our first love put life into our religious exercises and power and spirit into our prayers 2 They curbe and controule the pride insolencie and impatiencie of our nature They coole and kill the heat headlongnesse and intemperancie of our affections They weaken indeed the whole old Adam in us with all his lusts concupiscence and venome but give strength to the new man with all his godly and gracious motions holy and heavenly actions 3 They make us with indignation to spit in the very face of this vaine deceitfull and flattering World the temporall love of which is the eternall losse both of bodies soules in the other World They happily weane us from the love of it and make us willing to part with her paps to bid all her enticements adiew and to trample under feet the fading pleasures vanities thereof they make us to teare our groveling hearts and rent our dull affections from the Earth to which they cleave and are glued so fast and to lift up both our heads and hearts to Heaven and to the glory which is to be revealed longingly to desire the comming of Christ the Life that lasteth and to be clothed with our House which is from above 4 Lastly they are as sharpe and precious eye-salves to cleare and enlarge the spirituall sight of our soules too much dimmed and darkened with earthly dust and with gazing too long on the painted glory of the World that so wee may see further into the great mysterie of godlinesse deeper into the masse and dunghill of our owne corruptions and frailties wider upon the vanities of the World and higher into the happinesse of Heaven and that great Beautie Glory and Majestie above They serve unto us as sowre Sawces and bitter Wormewood to bring us out of love with our sweet sinnes and to breed a distaste in our mouth against transitorie delights They are as sharpe pruning-knives to lop and cut away the excesses vanities and unnecessarie cares that grow upon us and so to trimme us that wee may bring forth more profitable plentifull and fairer fruits in godlinesse and Christianitie Thus Sathan is disappointed in his plots and policie his malice makes a medicine for our soules hee purposeth and hopes by crosses and afflictions to turne us backe or make us wearie in our course of holinesse but by the mercy of God they become as spurres to pricke us forward in our Christian Race and as hedges to keepe us in from wandering out of the way Now in a third place That Gods child may not too much be cast downe or put out of heart for crosses and persecutions raysed against him for a profession and the practice of sinceritie let him consider that howsoever Sathan and wicked men be the instruments and executioners which maliciously procure and immediately inflict miseries and vexations upon the children of God though they be the meanes to lay tortures and torments upon their bodies crosses and losses upon their goods and outward estates spots and impression and crueltie upon the face of their harmelesse innocencie slanders and disgraces imputations and staining aspersions upon their reputations and good names sometimes terrors temptations and amazements upon their minds Yet in all these our gracious God hath the chiefest stroke a principall hand and the greatest sway he directs limits and moderates the rage and furie of all our enemies whether they be Devils or men as it pleaseth him and ever certainely to the singular good of his children if they be patient and faithfull Miserie saith Iob chap. 5. 6. commeth not forth of the Dust neither doth afflictions spring out of the Earth Neither indeed principally and originally from Man the Lord of the Earth nor from the Prince that rules in the Aire nor from the Host of Heaven God himselfe is the chiefe commander guider and directer of all vexations and ill of punishment that befalls any man and inflicts it for our sinnes and corruptions upon the reprobates as appeares in Pharoah for their further hardening and confusion upon his elect for their conversion and correction Let us then in all our sufferings and afflictions stirred up against us for sticking to sinceritie and keeping a good Conscience lift up our eyes to the mightie Lord of Heaven and Earth who by the strong Arme of his Omnipotencie holds fast in a Chaine Sathan that raging Lion and great Goliah that hee cannot stirre one Linke further than hee will give him leave hee cannot goe a haires breadth beyond his Commission Nay and that
THE SAINTS SVRE AND PERPETVALL GVIDE OR A Treatise concerning the WORD Which as the Israelites Cloud conducts us from Aegypt to Canaan whereunto wee must take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a darke place till the Day dawne and the Day-starre arise in our hearts BY That Reverend Learned and Godly Minister of Christ Iesus ROBERT BOLTON Bachelour of Divinitie and late Preacher of Gods Word at Broughton in Northampton-shire IOHN 3. 20 21. Every one that doth evill hateth the light neither commeth to the light lest his deeds should be reproved But he that doth the truth commeth to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God LONDON Printed by E. Purslow for Rapha Harford in Queenes-head-Alley in Pater-Noster-Row at the Signe of the Gilt Bible 1634. THE SAINTS SVRE AND PERPETVALL GVIDE PSAL. 119. VER 105. Thy Word is a Lampe unto my feet and a Light unto my paths OF all other parts of the holy Bible this Booke of the Psalmes penned for the most part by David the sweet Singer of Israel and a man after Gods owne heart is stuft and fill'd with greatest plentie and varietie of precious Lessons and instructions unto eternall life The choice and flower of all things profitable and comfortable for the right course of a Christian life is therein briefely contained and very movingly and feelingly exprest In them we may be acquainted with the Majestie and Mysteries of God with the Sufferings of Christ with unfained Repentance unwearied Patience spirituall Wisedome and wonderfull Courage of the godly man and true Christian In them we may behold the terrors of Wrath and the anguishes of an afflicted Conscience the comforts of Grace and great Deliverances the wonderfull workes of Providence over this World and the promised Ioyes of that World which is to come In a word all good necessarily to be either knowne or done or had is plentifully as out of a rich Treasurie reveal'd and offer'd unto us in these heavenly Songs of David Amongst which this 119. Psalme a part of which I have now read unto you is as it were a precious Iewell or cleare Crystall wherein wee may see the right temper and state of true godlinesse and sinceritie the markes and properties of all true worshippers of God the zeale and affections of all faithfull Christians the very lively Anatomie and laying open of a good and gracious Soule This whole Psalme doth consist of 22. Parts or Portions of Staves or Octaves even just so many as there be Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet and every Portion containeth in it eight Verses and every Verse of every Portion or Staffe begins with the same Hebrew Letter The which speciall and extraordinarie penning and disposing of the Psalme doth declare and set out unto us these three things 1 The diligent intention of mind and carefull meditation of the Author in the framing and composing of it 2 The preciousnesse and worth of the matter contain'd in it in that it pleased the Spirit of God to deliver it in choice and speciall order 3 A desire and purpose that it might more easily be learn'd by heart and committed to memorie and often and earnestly meditated and thought upon being set downe unto us in so faire and easie order of the Hebrew Letters This Part or Portion which wee have now in hand is the foureteenth and doth containe in it many worthy and gracious Lessons for our instruction and devotion in heavenly things proposed unto us out of the practice and Christian carriage of this holy Prophet and Man of God David a perfect patterne of all true zeale and pietie In the thirteenth Portion immediately going before David had delivered specially two things First How by his love reading study and meditation in Gods Word he had attained most excellent knowledge wisedome and understanding so that thereby he was become farre more wise than his enemies that is than Saul and all his politike Courtiers and Counsellors of State Hee had more understanding than his Teachers than the great Doctors and Rabbins for all their deepe Learning being not sanctified unto them He understood more than the grave and ancient men for all the worldly wisedome and great experience they had gathered in many yeeres and through length of dayes Where by the way take this Lesson There is no wit or policie not all the Learning in the World or worldly wisedome can make a man truly wise that is wise unto salvation but onely a powerfull and working knowledge out of the holy Word of God The Reason is Because all other wisedome doth onely provide for the Body for a temporall happinesse in this life for a few and evill dayes and leaves the Soule in a sinfull and wretched estate shortly in the day of Visitation to be overtaken and fearefully confounded with strange astonishments horrors and despaire and hereafter wofully to be tormented amongst wicked Devils in the Lake that burnes with fire and Brimstone for evermore But wisedome out of the Word of God doth so furnish a mans Soule with Grace and all holy Vertues that in despight of all creatures hee may live comfortably in this Vale of teares and in endlesse joyes in the World to come Now I pray you tell me whether is truly the wiser man hee that for an inch of time makes much of his wretched Body that must shortly rot in the grave and be devoured of Wormes and turned into dust but in the meane time lets his immortall Soule that can never die sinke into the Dungeon of everlasting woe and miserie or hee which by taking sound and saving counsell and direction out of the Word of God and howsoever he be hated and neglected of this vaine World yet yeelding chearefull and constant obedience thereunto provides unspeakable comfort rest and blessednesse both for Body and Soule through all eternitie Secondly In the second part and foure last Verses of the former Portion David sets downe the fruit use and benefit which sprung from his divine knowledge It sweetned his heart with much comfort and sound contentment and cheared him with joy unspeakable and glorious amidst all crosses and discomforts it bridled and restrained him from every evill way it kept and preserved him in the paths of righteousnesse it bred in him a hatred and loathing of the wayes of error falsehood and hypocrisie Where by the way I would give you this other Lesson We must labour and be sure that we draw our knowledge in Gods Word into practice action and exercise otherwise it will not onely be unprofitable and unfruitfull unto us but indeed bring upon us a greater and more fearefull condemnation For For He that knowes his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Luke 12. 47. All our knowledge is in vaine except by the power of it our inward affections be sanctified our words seasoned
the Word of God to a love and liking of the heavenly knowledge therein contained and to a sound and sincere practice of it in our lives and conversations may be this The Word of God is as it were an Epistle or Letter as one of the Fathers calls it written from God Almightie unto us miserable men published by his owne Sonne sealed by his Spirit witnessed by his Angels conveyed unto us by his Church the Pillar and ground of Truth confirmed with the bloud of millions of Martyrs which hath alreadie brought thousands of soules to Heaven and fills every heart that understands it and is wholly guided by it with Light and Life with Grace and Salvation Now let us imagine a man to have a Letter sent unto him but by an Earthly King or some great Prince in the World wherein hee should have a Pardon granted him for some capitall Crime and high Offence whereby hee were lyable to a terrible kind of death or wherein hee should be fore-warned of some great and imminent danger hanging over his head and readie every houre to fall upon him or wherein hee should have assured and confirmed unto him under the Kings Seale some rich Donation or great Lordship Now I say if a man should receive but a Letter from some high and mightie Potentate upon Earth wherein any of these favours should be conveyed unto him how reverently would he receive it how thankfully would he accept of it how often would he reade it how warily would he keepe it how highly would he esteeme of it Why in this royall and sacred Letter sent from the King and great Commander both of Heaven and Earth all these favours and a thousand more joyes and comforts are conveyed unto every beleever and practiser thereof In that we are fore-warned lest by our ignorance impietie and impenitencie wee fall into the Pit of Hell and everlasting horror In that we have promised and performed unto us the pardon and remission of all our sinnes whereby wee justly stand guiltie of the second death and the endlesse torments of the damned By the vertue of it we are not onely comforted with grace in this World but shall undoubtedly be crowned with peace glory and immortalitie in the World to come Such a Letter as this hath the mightie and terrible God most glorious in all Power and Majestie who is even a consuming and devouring fire sent unto us miserable men by nature wretched and forlorne creatures Dust and Ashes why then with what reverence chearefulnesse and zeale ought wee to receive reade heare marke learne understand and obey it A second Motive may be the precious golden and divine matter which is contained in the Booke of God and that true and ever-during happinesse to which it onely can bring us There is nothing proposed and handled in the Word of God but things of greatest weight and highest excellency As the infinite majesty power and mercy of God the unspeakable love and strange sufferings of the Sonne of God for our sakes the mighty and miraculous working of the holy Spirit upon the soules of men There is nothing in this Treasury but Orient Pearles and rich Iewels as promises of grace spirituall comfort confusion of sinne the triumph of godlines refreshing of wearied soules the beautie of Angels the holinesse of Saints the state of Heaven salvation of sinners everlasting life What Swine are they that neglecting these precious Pearles root only in the Earth wallow in worldly pleasures feede upon vanities transitorie trash and vanishing riches which in their greatest need will take them to their wings like an Eagle and flie into the Heavens Besides the Word of God is only able to prepare us for true happinesse in this world and to possesse us of it in the world to come It only begets in us a true intire and universall holinesse without which none shall ever see the face of God or the glory of Heaven for it is impossible hereafter to live the life of glory blessednes in Heaven if we live not here the life of grace and sincerity in all our waies It is called the immortall Seed because it regenerates and renewes us both in our Spirits Soules and Bodies in our Spirits that is in judgement memory conscience in our Soules that is in our will and affections in our Bodies that is in every member If the Prince of this world hath not blinded the eyes of our minds and that we be not reprobats as concerning salvation it only is able to inlighten our understandings to rectifie our wills to sanctifie our hearts to mortifie our affections to set Davids Doore before our lips that are offend not with our tongues to set Iobs Doore before our eyes that they behold not vanity to manacle our hands feet with the cords and bands of Gods Law that they do not walke or worke wickedly nay and it is able to furnish and supply us with sufficiencie of spirituall strength to continue in all these good things and in a godly course vnto the end And if we be once thus qualified we are rightly fitted and prepared for the glory that is to be revealed As before this holy Word did translate us from the darknesse of sinne into the light of grace it can now much more easily with joy and triumph bring us from the light of grace to the light of immortalitie and everlasting pleasures at Gods right hand A third Motive may be this Wee must be judged by the Word of God at the last Day If any man saith Christ Ioh. 12. 47 48. heare my words and beleeve not I judge him not for I came not to judge the World but to save the World He that refuseth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken it shall judge him in the last Day Whensoever wee shall come to judgement and appeare before Gods Tribunall and wee little know how neere it is two Bookes shall be layd open unto us the one of Gods Law another of our owne Conscience The former will tell us what wee should have done for the Lord hath revealed it to the World to be the rule of our faith and of all our actions The other will tell us what wee have done for Conscience is a Register Light and Power in our Vnderstanding which treasures up all our particular actions against the Day of Triall discovers unto us the equitie or iniquitie of them and determines of them either with us or against us Now we must not take any exception against the first that is the Law of God For the Law of God saith David Psal 19. 7. is perfect converting the soule The testimonie of the Lord is sure and giveth wisedome unto the simple Wee cannot against the second that is the Booke of our Conscience for it was ever in our custodie and keeping no man could corrupt it there
should have had the fierce and horrible wrath and vengeance of God poured in full measure upon his body and soule which would have fed upon them as fire doth upon Pitch and Brimstone for ever and ever Out of these considerations mee thinkes a man should rather with humilitie and thankefulnesse admire and magnifie the mercies of God that hee is not alreadie a Fire-brand in Hell than any wayes be puffed up with any worthinesse in himselfe or dote upon his owne nothingnesse When a Christian is tempted to spirituall Pride let him deepely and thorowly weigh with himselfe what fearefull inconveniences and discomforts will ensue if hee give way to such temptations For so many follow in the course of Gods just judgement upon spirituall Vanitie and Pride dullnesse and deadnesse of heart a restraint of the influence of the Spirit a diminution and lessening or a slumber and cessation of the operations of grace a cooling of zeale and falling from the first Love Or when hee sees us so presumptuously to trust to our strength and stay our selves with our owne staffe he may quite give us over in some great temptation to some grosse sinne so that we may take the foile in the Conflict And then if wee once be over-taken with the old sweet sinne of our unregeneration or be ensnared with some new notorious transgression wee must of necessitie to our great discomfort enter againe the agonies of Soule anguish of Conscience and horror of Hell wee must enter combate againe with all the powers of Darkenesse wee must have our regeneration regenerated our new-birth new-borne and the precious bloud of the Sonne of God as it were shed for us againe Wee turne thereby Gods favourable countenance from us and the hearts and affections of true Christians wee put againe a sting into our owne Consciences and weapons into the hands of Sathan to vexe wound and torment us wee barre and bereave our selves of Gods gracious protection of the guard of Angels of peace of Conscience of joy in the Holy-Ghost of boldnesse in our wayes of reconciliation in the creatures and of all the comforts of godlinesse As a man tenders the preservation of his Soule from all these spirituall miseries let him take heed of entertaining a proud and over-weening conceit of his owne graces gifts or good actions Let him consider that the more spirituall gifts and graces he hath received from the free mercie of God the more will be required at his hands Me thinkes this should coole and allay any swelling conceit or proud perswasion that may arise in the heart and not suffer a man to play with them and dote upon them or give him any leisure with an over-weening and selfe-conceited flatterie to gaze upon them or to applaud and admire them in himselfe as though they were his owne but rather with all vigilancie and solicitousnesse with all care and good Conscience to occupie and imploy them for his Masters greatest advantage There is no gift or good thing in any man either of Nature or Grace of body or minde of wealth or honour of reputation or authoritie in the World but he must give shortly a strict and exact account of the usage and imployment of it before the impartiall and uncorrupted Tribunall of Heaven And the more excellent his gifts and endowments have beene in any kind he shall in proportion be answerable and countable for the more If the Lord hath enlightened heated and inspired any one with much saving knowledge with a great measure of zeale with a high Christian courage and resolution he lookes and expects for great gaine of glory unto himselfe many spoyles and conquests over his enemies a blazing and exemplarie brightnesse in holinesse of life much beautie and lustre to the Church much good and comfort unto Christians For much is required of them to whom much is committed Let a man then not labour to make himselfe glorious by those graces which are none of his owne but how by glorifying God with them in humilitie faithfulnesse and sinceritie and by improving and making the best of them for the Owners advantage hee may make a comfortable account at that great Day Thus farre I have proposed unto you some Motives to quicken and stirre you up to a conscionable and constant hearing and understanding of the holy Word of God and acquainted you with many sleights lets and temptations which Sathan usually casts in our way to hinder us therein Now in a third place I will lay downe unto you certaine rules directions and instructions for your right holy and conscionable carriage behaviour and importment in and about the hearing of Gods Word That the holy Word of God may be unto you the Word of Grace the savour of Life unto Life of power unto sanctification and salvation you must looke carefully and conscionably unto your preparation before you come unto your carriage while you are there and unto your behaviour afterward First for Preparation I am perswaded the want and neglect of a due and profitable preparation is the cause that thousands receive no benefit or blessing by the Word of Life but that the Sermons they heare are registred as in a Table of Remembrance before God as so many witnesses against them for their more fearefull confusion and greater condemnation at the Day of Accounts 1 For hence it is that to many it is the savour of death unto death because before they come they doe not addresse and prepare themselves for so glorious a Presence and royall Embassage from the King of Heaven though they heare it with their outward eares yet it hardens their hearts makes them inwardly more peevish grumbling stubborne rebellious and refractarie to the power thereof and prepares and ripens them for more heavie vengeance It is of it selfe the Word of Grace Salvation and Life a blessed preservative against Sinne and Death Damnation and Hell but by accident if men doe not reverence it tremble at it and submit themselves to the power of it it is a strong Hammer and Iron Scepter to harden their hearts more and more like an Anvile or Adamant and at length to breake them in pieces like a Potters Vessell Though in it selfe it be a saving and wholesome Medicine yet men of a rebellious and stubborne humour and temper turne it into Poyson 2 To some this holy Word by reason of unpreparednesse is but as the water spilt upon the ground and the breath of the Minister scattered in the Aire If you call them to an account after Sermon how they have profited they are as wordlesse and witlesse and indeed as gracelesse in repetition as if they had beene deafe asleepe in a trance or starke dead all the while 3 Others by their rash and prophane rushing into the House of God without all premeditation reverence or regard of that holy businesse they goe about become hearers onely of forme and custome for fashion and companie It
would you take this Letter and how often would you reade it with what willingnesse of affection Now here is an Epistle sent from Heaven to advise you that you are all Traitors and Rebels against Heaven and yet here in this Letter God offers the bloud of his Sonne and you may be reconciled and will you neglect it This is the matter of this Epistle it brings matter of deliverance from the greatest Curse that can befall the creature and the greatest advancement 6 It is the bottomelesse Treasurie of all high sweet and excellentest things The Mysterie of the Trinitie the Majestie of God the Love of God and of Christ this sufferings the Spirits workings the happinesse of the Saints and the glory of Heaven c. 7 It must be our Iudge at the last day Ioh. 12. 48. Every honest Sermon is but the Word of God unfolded and a bunch of Arrowes wrapped up and unfolded are all one 8 It onely can cure a wounded Conscience the greatest calamitie that ever the heart of man was acquainted with and that which no Arme of flesh or created Power no man or Angel can ease at all 9 In it onely are to be had Deeds and Evidences to shew for eternall Life and Acquittances for discharge from eternall Death 10 It hath saved all the soules that are in Heaven Rom. 10. 13. 11 It onely is the object of divine and infused Faith Humane testimonies and authorities beget onely humane Faith Therefore you must reverence this Word 2 Some Motives taken from the most fearefull and cursed estate of those who neglect and reject the Ministerie of the Word hating to be reformed by it Marke and take to heart thine unspeakable miserie whosoever thou art that despisest the Ministerie Take a taste of it in these passages 1 They are deprived by this meanes of the love and favour of God the onely fountaine of all comfort peace and glory which is infinitely the dearest and most unvaluable losse that can be imagined 2 Of their part and portion in the bloud of Christ one drop whereof is incomparably more worth than Heaven and Earth men and Angels or the creatures of a thousand Worlds 3 Of the fatherly protection care and providence of the blessed Trinitie the glorious guard of Angels the comfortable communion of the blessed Saints and all the sweet contentments that follow thence 4 Of the quiet joy and tranquilitie of a good Conscience a Iewell farre more worth than the whole World were it all turned into one unvaluable Pearle of unvaluable price and of all the heavenly illuminations cherishments and comforts wherewith the Holy-Ghost is wont to visit and refresh the hearts of holy men 5 Of the sweet peace and true contentment in this life and of all comfortable right and religious interest to any of the creatures For without a good Conscience there was never found joy in any mans heart or sanctified enjoyment of any thing in the World and never shall any man have a good Conscience that gives allowance to any Lust or lives delightfully in any sinne 6 Of a Crowne of Life the unspeakable joyes of Heaven that immeasurable and endlesse comfort that there shall be had with all the children of God Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyrs all our Christian acquaintance yea with the Lord himselfe and all Angels with Christ our Saviour and Lambe slaine for us the Prince of Glory yea the Glory of Heaven and Earth and brightnesse of the everlasting Light c. To these privative consequents adde a serious consideration upon those terrible flaming places Deut. 29. 19 20. Prov. 1. 23 24. Isa 6. 9 10. 1 Sam. 2. 25. Act. 13. 46. By continuing thy contempt and rejecting the Light of the Gospel thou mayest come thou knowest not how soone to sinne against the Holy-Ghost as the Pharises did Math. 12. 24 31. For sinne against the Holy-Ghost may be committed as well 1 By those who although they doe acknowledge and confesse the Truth which they doe blaspheme yet they have not yet professed it or given up their names to it as were those Scribes and Pharises and there are many such in these dayes who have not as yet given their name to the Truth which yet notwithstanding being well knowne and acknowledged they doe blaspheme 2 As those who have not only acknowledged in themselves the Truth that they blaspheme but have professed the same before others that are the favourers of Truth as Iulian Porphyrius Alexander the Copper-smith and many others of which you may see Heb. 6. 10. So many amongst us at this day 3 Some taken from the survey of those judgements which contempt of the Ministerie may bring upon the place where it is planted 1 It may remove the Candlesticke and be plagued with the utter losse of the Ministerie Consider Math. 8. 34. 10. 13. 21. 41. 2 They may have Prophets but such as are fooles they may have men of the Spirit but those that be mad Hos 9. 7. By a foole is meant not a naturall but spirituall foole Prov. 1. 8. Ier. 4. 22. Isa 5. 20. By mad is understood not a man out of his wit or distracted in minde but he that like a mad Dogge rageth and rayleth against the Truth of God and sinceritie of his Saints which is a great judgement 3 They may enjoy faithfull Teachers but to their further hardening as the Israelites did Isaiah Isa 6. 9 10. Which of all other judgements that God can inflict in this life is the most fearefull 4 By this meanes they may make sad the heart and affections of their Teachers that they cannot with that chearefulnesse as they desire performe the offices of their Ministerie Which as it discourageth the Teachers and will one day light heavie on the causers and procurers thereof so it is unprofitable for the hearers and deprives them of much good they might otherwise enjoy as appeares Heb. 13. 17. 4 Some from consideration of those confusions and desolations which it pulls with great violence even upon whole Kingdomes Looke upon such places as these 2 Chron. 36. 16 17 c. Ier. 25. 3. c. Cap. 35. 15. Rev. 6. 4. c. The glorious Light of those seven Candlestickes in Asia mentioned in the Revelations was long since for their unfruitfulnesse coldnesse and contempt of the Word turned into the darke Midnight of Heresie Apostasie and Mahometisme Rome that was anciently the glory of the Westerne Churches lyes now drowned in Superstition soaking in damnable Idolatry and plunged over head and eares in the Doctrine of Devils Many strong and noble Limbes of the reformed Churches in high Germanie have lyen for some yeeres in their teares of bloud groaning under the mercilesse tyrannie of the bloudie Antichristians and have wofully received the marke of the Beast againe Now assuredly it was the loathing the heavenly Manna which made the Lord to utter his Voice before the Armie of the enemies at Prague
Tumults and divisions disquietnesse and discontentment accompanies your preaching Answ There is good reason for it Luke 11. 21 22. Sathan hinders the Word So doe wicked men And a mâ—ns owne corruptions Ephes 6. 15. Luke 12. 49. Math. 10. 34. Luke 12. 51. Isa 42. 28. The Gospel is not the cause of troubles but mens corruptions Math. 13. 4 5 7 12. Object 7. The Word is brought to us by weak sometimes by wicked men Answ 1. It is Gods goodnesse to speake to us by men like to our selves Exod. 20. 19. 2 It is his love so to honour mankind as to make men his Embassadours 1 Tim. 4 16. The Ministers prophanenesse is no priviledge of disobedience to the Word Prov. 28. 9. Prov. 13. 13. Iohn 3. 36. Math. 23. 2 3. Mal. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 21. See Ecclus. 37. 18. Luke 22. 43. Luke 10. 16. See Downamâ— C. H. pag. 362. Object 8. This course is wearisome Answ Many will not take such paines to goe to Heaven as others doe to goe to Hell Jam. 5. 3. Prov. 2. 18. Mat. 23. 15. 1 King 18. 28. Object 9. There was never good world since preaching came in Answ This hath alwayes beene the complaint of Idolaters * Marke that I befeech you for it is the very language of the Papists at this day * Apologetico Vid. Calv. in Ier. 330. Austin Epist 121. Luke 12. 47 48. Our Times deserve greater judgement than the former Times of ignorance for three reasons Iohn 3. 19 20. Popish Hospitality upon what grounds Simile Our times may compare with any for works of charity The reasons of the higher price of things now De Rep. lib. 6 cap. 2. Satans sleights to hinder the effectuall working of the Word He would keep them from the Word Or else hinder the power of it Hee keepes them from attending * In this depth he uses to fill our minds with barren melancholy or to make men post off reproofes and apply them Pharisoically all the while to others He fills our minds either with worldly or else with impertinent unseasonable thoughts 3 Some understand not what they heare In others Sathan steales it away immediately Simile Or the World steales away their hearts Mar. 4. 19. 4 He labours to keepe them from practising what they know I He would hinder their conversion sundry wayes See Yates pag. 173. 229. 2 Broad pag. 100. 5 He would have them rest in a partiall reformation and superficiall conversion Severall unsound changes In these cases Truth is the truest Touchstone to difference a true convert from all states of unregeneration See Gonge p. 130. Mark 6. 20. * See Hieron p. 158. Marbury in his Sermon at P. C. Dod upon the CoÌ„mandements p. 10. Dike p. 195. True Watch p. 61. Fruits of a true conversion Mark 6. 17. 2 King 5. 18. Math. 19. 22. Act. 5. Math. 13. 44. Simile Satan deales with men as Pharaoh did with the Israelites Exod. 8. 25. Vers 28. Cap. 10. 9. Vers 24. Exod. 14. 7. Iosephus See Broade pag. 141 c. Satan would condition with men in their conversion * Foure infallible marks of coveâ—ousnesse 1 Carking 2 Strained bowels to the necessities of the Saints or any truly poore 3 Too much businesse in the world 4 Injustice or using of injurious or indirect courses of getting wealth See Whaâ—â—ly pag. 30. Gard. of Spirit Flow. 2. part pag. G 4. * See Isa 25. 10. Sathan would hinder perseverance Math. 13. Math. 12. 43. 2 Pet. â— 20. Heb. 10. 29. Heb. 6. 4. Math. 16. 18. Difference betweene a false and saving change Gen. 19. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 21. Heb. 6. 4 6. Rom. 2. 5. 2. Cor. 13. 5. 2. Tim. 4. 7. Rev. 1. Rev. 21. 8 Hee strives if hee cannot make them to fall totally and finally that they may fall partially and as frequently as he can Sathans policie Preservatives against sinne whereby Gods children keepe themselves from grosse falls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 * See Gouge p. 171 172. The good that they get by their falls Jude 23. 1 Thess 5. 22. He sends forth flouds of persecution and affliction after them Comfortable considerations against afflictions 1 From Gods Decree the example of the Saints and the Sonne of God himselfe Act. 14. 22. Act. 14. 22. Rom. 8. 18. 2 From the gracious effects of afflictions for our good They make us watchfull c. Humble c. To contemne the World To see further into the mysterie of godlinesse 3 Though Satan and his instruments be the instrument to afflict yet God is the principall Agent who will order all for their good Job 5. 6. a. 44. 15. Isa 54. 10. Ier. 31. 33. Isa 49. 16. Cant. 8. 6. Zach. 2. 8. Heb. 6. 18. Heb. 13. 5. 1 Cor. 1â— 13. * â—yptian Epist ad Anâ—eâ—an lib. 4. 2 Why the wicked hate and persecute the godly 1 1 Ioh. 3. 12. 1 Pet 4. 4. 2 * Jerome Gods aime in his childrens afflictions 4 Afflictions are no strange things The Saints have gone before us Heb. 11 36 37. Nay Christ himselfe Math. 20 23. Math. 10. 16. Psal 79. 4. 5 2. Cor. 4. 17. Afflictions are but short and they worke a weight of glory * As many times they are See David Psal 69. 1 2. Rev. 7. 17. 6 Christ doth suffer and sympathize with his children in affliction See Isa 63. 9. 2 Cor. 11. 23 c. Col. 1. 24. 2 Cor. 1. 5. 9 Satan hinders the working of the Word by spiritual Pride Spirituall Pride may arise in Gods children 1 From a consideration of their priviledges Priviledges of the godly 2 Pet. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 4. 2 From their care to keepe themselves undefiled Against separation from our Church 1 2 3 4 5 Isa 8. 18. Psal 71. 7. 79. 4. 1 Cor. 4. 9. Gods children are but few 1 2 3 4 5 3 Sathan tempts to Pride by a distasting of a mans particular calling 4 From Gods providence Examples in particular 1 2 Psal 73. 12. Ier. 1â— 1 2. 3 4 Job 31. 22. 29. 5 Iob 3. 3. Ionah 4. 3. 6 5 Sathan makes men to pride themselves in their abilities and gifts Preservatives against spirituall Pride 1 Meditate upon Gods pure eyes Isa 64. 6. 2 Vpon Gods infinite perfection Isa 6. 2. Iob 25. 5. Iob 4. 18. Iob 25. 5 6. Iob 4. 18. 3 Compare thy selfe with other Christians Rom. 7. 24. Psal 38. 3. Psal 22. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 4. 4 Compare thy selfe with Gods holy Law Phil. 2. 12. 5 Consider what thou hadst beene if God had left thee to thy selfe 6 Consider the fearfull effects of Pride 7 The more a man hath the more he is accountable for Luke 12. 48. 1 Preparation required to profitable hearing For want of preparation the Word becomes to men 1 The savour of death unto death 2 As Seed in the high way ground 3 Men are made but onely formall by it 4 Some become scornets 5 Others are cold and dead-hearted Preparation requisite in