in them And this is not alwayes but for a time to fit them thereby to their seuerall ends 2 Though hee punish not the wicked out of band yet he deferreth so as to ripen their sin that so they may be prepared to greater vengeance 3 And therefore he doth vs no harme when he doth correct vs to make vs better if wee were perfect we should not be afflicted 4 And if he seeme to do somewhat contrary to his law it is but an abridging of somewhat from his generall will by his speciall will 5 Giuing to each what is no way their due howsoeuer he giue to men of equall condition vnequall rewards 6 Yea though he hath promised and promise is debt and so due vnto theÌ„ euen in iustice yet is he not simply bound by man but by his owne will and so though the promise of creatures may be debt yet the Creators promise is not so 7 And therefore learne we to be iust in all our wayes as the Lord our God is 8 And condemne we all iniustice either in word or deed 9 And comfort wee our selues that seeing our God is iust therefore hauing laid the chasticement of our peace vpon his Son hee hath acquitted vs from the curse of the law and hauing promised in Christ vnto vs happinesse hee will performe it and giue vs patience to expect the same Heb. 10. Thirteenthly this God is True 1 Because he hath the true and certaine knowledge of all things Heb. 4.13 2 He neither willeth nor speaketh things repugnant nor contrary 2. Cor. 2.19 3 He faineth nothing nor deceiueth any man Rom. 3.4 4 He neuer changeth his mind Psal. 89.33.34 5 He ratifieth his sayings by the euent Math. 24.35 6 He loueth and commandeth truth to be kept in all Iohn 14.17.15.26 16.13 Pro. 12.22 Math. 24.51 And therefore 1 This condemneth Philosophie that acknowledgeth God to be true but they are to seeke where to find this Truth 2 This resolueth that if God foretell what hee meanes not to do he doth it not but conditionally Luke 24.28.29 3 If he bee said to deceiue the Prophets Eze. 14. It is not by infusing any euill quality but by giuing them vp in iustice to bee deluded by Satan 1. Reg. 22.22 4 And therefore that wee may not be seduced let vs obey the truth which we know and cleaue alone to the word for our information therein comforting our selues 3 That if the word bee taken away yet the spirit shall not bee denied if we shall waite vpon our God in conscionable obedience euen to leade and keepe vs in all truth and howseeuer 4 The world is full of faire words yet our God will alwayes ratifie his word by his deedes 2. Cor. 1. And perfect the worke hee hath begun in vs. Fouretenthly our God is Chast. 1 Because he is the most pure and vndefiled husband of his Church Ose. 2.19 2 His nature is most pure and free from all mixture 3 He is the louer and authour of chastity Malach. 2. 4 He doth most seuerely punish all vncleanesse both inward and outward Leuit. 18 24. 5 Hereby hee distinguisheth himselfe from vncleane spiris filthy diuels 1. Thess. 4. And therefore this 1 Condemneth the Atheist filthy person that coÌ„ceiues vnreuerently of God vnseemly of his word Psal. 50. So do some of the Canticles and other places and plaine speeches in the word As also those that iustifie fornication and condemne chaste mariage 1. Tim. 4. 2. It instructeth to imitate God in this holy grace and to vse mariage as a meanes thereto and an image thereof 3 It conâ—â—â—meth vs in our neere communion and fellowship with God Ephes. 5. 4 And comforteth vs that this bond shall neuer be dissolued Ose. 2.19 5 And withall aduiseth vs to auoide all Idolatrie and spirituall whoredome whereby especially we violate the diuine chastity 6 And resolueth vs why outward fornication and vncleanenesse do abound euen because of inward and spiritual whoredoms Amos. 7. Fifteenthly our God is mercifull 1 In that he will haue all men to be saued that are saued and reiecteth none but those that exclude themselues 2 And therefore deferreth punishment and inuites all to repentance Eze. 33. Exod. 35. 3 And to this ende applyeth himselfe to our infirmities both by inward and outward supplyes as his Spirit Word Oathes Sacraments and Miracles 4 Hee embraceth and deliuereth his Elect from sin and troubles Reuel 7.17 and 21.4 Isa. 49.15.54 5 And to this end when no other means could be found gaue his Sonne for vs. Iohn 3.16 6 And performeth all his promises freely notwithstanding our dayly failings Exod. 33.19 7 Yea he is exceeding compassionate and bountiful euen to his very enemies Rom. 5.10 8 And sanctifieth the affliction of his children to their exceeding good Rom. 8.29 9 Yea brings light out of darknesse 2. Cor. 4. turning our very sinnes to profit And therefore Though this doth not imply any carnall affection in God but rather an vnspeakeable liking or disliking of the Obiect yet doth it not chalenge the Lord to bee vnmercifull because he somtimes is sayd to reioyce in auengement seeing he onely reioyceth not in the punishing of the creature but in the execution of diuine Iustice. Pro. 1.26 Isa. 1.24 And though his Free and Great mercies be denyed to the wicked Psal. 51.1 Though his euerlasting mercy doth not belong vnto them yet is he more mercifull then they do deserue yea hee is more patient and bountiful then they do desire Psal. 73.7 And howsoeuer hee doth not saue all seeing he might do it yet is it his mercy that he saueth any and his mercy must not hinder his iustice and therefore he may not saue all Nay it is his mercy to offer meanes of saluation though the wicked may refuse them because howsoeuer hereby they shall not attaine saluation yet shall they bee partakers of such outward blessings whereby they measure chiefly the mercy of God and wherein they do repose their principall happinesse Againe though the Lord accept none into fauour without the satisfaction of his Sonne and therefore it may seeme he doth it not freely yet doth he both freely giue vs his Sonne and also giues vs faith to beleeue in him yea freely continues vs to bring forth more fruite that we may be perfect and entire wanting nothing And therefore seeing our God is thus mercifull 1 Let the mouth of iniquitie be stopped that blasphemeth his mercy by conceiuing it to bee vniuersall And reiecteth Gods mercy in reiecting the word and meanes thereof Or abuseth and traduceth the mercy of God by presumption apish imitation therof in sparing the wicked becaue the Lord spareth them 2 Let the mouth of misery be opened to praise the Lord in embracing his mercy in the meanes and that in time when it is offered freely let him approue himselfe to haue his portion therein by louing the Lord and shewing mercy to his brethren yet by renouncing his
pleading noueltie impossibilitie c. Gal. 1.16 4 That we trie the Lord who is wonderfull in blessing the vnfained endeauours of his children Hag. 2. Malach. 3.10 5 Then let vs make trial at first in one of these and grow readie therein so shall wee with more willingnesse and skilfulnesse proceed in the rest Iames 2.10 Iames 3.2 6 Let vs not faile to meete the Lord with vnfained thankefulnes when we see him comming effectually in the weake performance thereof Psal. 81. 7 And so condemne and prouoke thy selfe as before and thou shalt see by Gods mercy a good encrease Yea thou shalt not only be able to performe these dueties with comfort but also thou shalt be able to entertaine each seueral occasions of the day to Gods glory thy exceeding profite and benefit of others Motiues and Helpes hereunto thou shalt find 1 A dayly discerning of thine owne inabilitie And 2 So renouncing of thy selfe to be found in Iesus Christ. 3 When thou hast found thy selfe in Christ yet still to deny thy best righteousnesse that thou maist wholly liue by and in the life of thy Sauiour in whom thy person shal be accepted aboue all worth of thy seruice 4 And meditate often not so much on the ioy the Saints haue in heauen as in the matter there of their constant and free glorifying of God 2 Cheering vp thy heart that thou hast so far communion with them in that heauenly worship as that now thou performest that in truth which they doe in perfection and so hast thy conuersation also in heauen yea thou art hastening to that perfection by dayly denying of thy selfe and growing in Christ thy head and hast both their examples to encourage and prayers to further thee thereto yea seeing without thee they shall not be perfected Therefore thou shalt also aspire to perfection that so the body of thy Sauiour may be fully compleate 1. Cor. 1.24 Neb. 11 40· 6 And seeing all lets shall by Gods mercie proue furtherances hereunto thy very sins shall prouoke thee much lesse then affliction shall hinder therefore learn to liue by faith in the discerning of thy estate and wrastling with these oppositions that so not yeelding to tentation or not lying vnder the burthen thereof thou maist still goe forward more humbly with thy God and bee more then conquerour through Christ that hath loued thee Rom. 8. 7 Adde hereunto a dayly meditation of the time vnprofitably spent heretofore and hence wee shal be prouoked to redeeme it in this constant manner for the time to come Romanes 6.22 1. Pet. 4.4.5 8 Especially if we weigh withal the wonderfull mercy of our God that hath not yet called vs to an account for our former abuse and vnprofitablenesse surely if wee make a right vse hereof wee cannot choose but resolue to answer this loue of God in our more earnest and constant endeauors for the time to come Rom. 2.4 9 And if we shal now withal wisely lay to heart what litle assurance we haue of any time to come how that there is not any howre nay moment wherin we shall promise security to our selues and put the euill day farre from vs that wee may approach to the seat of iniquitie whereas we may say to our soule Now soule cast care away be bold a litle with God remit off thy sinceritie c. But that euen in that moment it may bee said vnto thee Thou foole thy soule shall bee taken from thee surely this would moue vs rather to this dayly and continuall seruing of God to adde somewhat vpon euery occasion to the making sure of our election Luke 12.21 11 Especially if we consider that our aduersary the diuell goeth about continually to entrap deuoure vs 12. and our owne wicked and trecherous hearts are neuer a sleepe to sinne to entertain Satan ought wee not continually to stand vpon our guard that so we may resist the diuel preserue our soules frō bondage 1. Pet. 5.8 13 Surely if we did but consider that while wee do not serue our blessed God in this holy constāt maner we in that meane time are seruants vnto sin so both break the peace of our consciences interrupt hinder our sweet felowship with our God grieue his blessed Spirit so expose our selues not onely to many secret wounds of conscience but also to many outward blowes and reproachfull buffetings not onely tending to bring some heauie affliction vpon our selues but especially to lay reproach vppon our profession to cause the name of our glorious God to bee blasphemed This if either wee loue our selues or haue any zeale to the glory of our God must certainly constrain vs to the conscionable performance of this duty euen daily to endeauour somewhat to maintain our peace with God 14 And had we no other respect but this how wee might lay our selues downe in peace how wee should sleep sweetly how to lay al our cares vnder our pillow preuent filthy fearfull dreams how to auoide feares of worldly casualties as fire theeues c. Surely we would settle our hearts by this course in the day that they might not be vnsetled in the night 15 Nay must we not be guilty of despising the blood of the couenant and esteeming of the Son of God as a prophane thing If seeing the Lord Iesus makes continuall intercession for vs at the throne of grace that wee might dayly offer vp our soules and bodies as a liuing sacrifice in obedience vnto our God wee shall notwithstanding neglect this holy dutie either not serue our God at all or serue him at our pleasure 16 Will not this proue euen plaine wil-worship and so abominable to God! 17 And shal we not be condemned of horrible in gratitude that when our God bestowes such blessings on vs and renues his mercies euery morning vnto vs especially reuiues our liues to make vs capable thereof wee shall yet despise this bountie of our God and riote out his blessings to the dishonour of the giuer 18 See that thou praise God for these that walke thus constantly not enuying their strictnesse but imitating the same delighting in their company c. So the Lord giue vs vnderstanding in these things And this shall be thy triall that thou hast profited by this direction 1 If thy conceit and iudgement concerning the excellencie and benefit of a christian life be more confirmed and comfortable 2 If thou findest more ease and delight in the practise thereof 3 And yet by this practise attainest to a greater sense of thy corruption shortnes of perfection 4 And canst go with more boldnesse and assurance vnto thy God to begge mercie and strength against thy corruptions 5 If thou canst now more deny thine owne righteousnes that so still thou maist bee found in Christ Iesus feeling in him more comfortably the acceptance of thy person 6 And dayly drawing new vertue from him to walke more constantly with thy God
righteousnesse and so holding meerely of mercy Let him measure Gods mercy not by time present but eternity And so let him forget all present measure in comparison of what is to come that so hee may bee partaker of Gods euerlasting mercies Yea let him freely loue God as God freely loues him not as an hireling for his wages but as a sonne in obedience not for what God will giue but what he hath commanded that so he may rightly intitle himselfe into the mercies of his God when hee preferres his glory euen aboue his own good 3 Comforting himselfe that he can bee no looser where the Lord gaines glory Sixeteenthly our God is bountifull 1 Because he createth and gouerneth all things Psal. 95. 2 He is the onely fountaine of all good things Zach. 13.1 3 Euen which befall to all Creatures 4 Yea to his enemies Math. 5. 5 And that of his owne meere loue goodnes and free mercy to the creature 6 But especially to mankind 7 And among them especially to his Church 8 And herein to Angels and the Elect principally 9 Yea euen in his anger he is exceeding good as ayming onely thereby at the defect and corruption of the creature to amend purge it still louing the substance and nature it selfe 10 And though he inflict many euils vpon the creature yet doth he withall sustain it in those euils and bestoweth many excellent blessings vpon it to inuite to repentance and if it do repent remoueth the euils and perfiteth the good And therefore 1 This reproueth the prophane person that despiseth the bounty of God by continuing in sinne and also 2 The proud person that challengeth this bounty as due vnto him 3 And is not the weake Christian here taxed that doubts of and distrusteth this bounty of the Lord especially in afflictions 4 And this condemneth the wicked that measure Gods fauor by prosperitie And therefore coÌ„demne the generation of the iust because of their afflictions as if God had forsaken them Psal. 71.11 Psal. 7.3 5 And also they are here iustly reproued that complain of Gods bounty and condemne him of cruelty as if he delighted in their destruction and made a sport at their torments laying the falt on God that they are iustly condemned seeing themselues are the choosers and executioners thereof 2 This instructeth to obserue the bountie of God wisely in all his workes as not to neglect it in the least seeing the least may be an hand to lead vs to greater therefore we must often meditate on our creation preseruation and so especially to take notice of the works of his speciall prouidence in the Church and so to confirme our faith thereby as that wee rest not so much vpon what is performed neither measure the fauour of God by any present or particular action but rather looke forward yea a farre of into that which is promised laboring if by any means we may attaine the resurrection of the dead Pil. 3.13 2. Pet. 1.8 Psal. 119. 3 Hereby we are comforted 4 That as all this bountie properly belongs to vs so wee must liue by faith in the discerning and enioying of the same preparing our selues thereto by emptying our hearts of al sâ—â—â—fe-loue and coÌ„ceite of our owne righteousnes and assuring our selues then to haue the greatest measure when we haue haue most need when the world seekes most to strippe vs thereof Seuenthly our God is most Free 1 Because his nature is free from all 1. misery 2. bond 3. subiection 4. constraint 2 He doth will and execute all things most freely and iustly when as much and in what manner he will 3 Neither can hee bee constrained by any law of others nay his Will is the Rule euen of his owne Law And therefore 1 Though second causes worke necessarily yet 1 Because this necessity is not absolute but conditionall according to the good pleasure of God therefore are they freely ordered from him though necessarily they worke in themselues 2 And though our God himselfe be necessarily good yet is this necessity not of constraint our mindes we delight in the law of God yet in the law of our members we are still led captiue vnto sinne yet so as that wee daily discerne the weakning of this body of sinne and hunger daily the putting off therof comforting our selues that our head Christ Iesus is ascended vp on high and shall in due time drawe vs vp after him that we may enioy perfect liberty in his glorious kingdome Lastly our God is a Iealous God hating sinne being angry against it and in his Iustice will certainly punish the same both with temporall and eternall plagues And therefore 1 Though the wicked cannot discerne hereof 1 Because they neither can nor indeed desire to know sin 2 Neither are acquainted with that price of the bloud of the son of God yet both doe they for the present partake thereof in that they are Iustly giuen vp to a reprobate sence and to their owne lasts to commit sinne with greedinesse that so they may be prepared thereto and are not without some present pangues of conscience and outward plagues concerning their estate and shall when sin is ripe drinke the full vials of Gods indignation by the worme of conscience and those endlesse torments that are prepared for them in hell 2 Labour we therefore to discerne the power of this wrath Psalm 9.10 euen in the death of Christ that so wee may hide our selues therein to auoyd the same 3 And neglect we not the least checks of conscience within or outward stroakes vpon our selues or others that so we may auoyde the entrance thereof 4 Assuring our selues that seeing the anger of th' Almighty is spent vpon his Sonne therefore the waight thereof shall not lie vpon vs. 5 And therefore comforting our selues that though our God may seeme to be angry with vs if we measure him by such outward meanes as are common to the wicked yet doth he in anger remember mercy because mercy pleaseth him yea his tokens of anger are meanes to preuent the same and so proue occasions to prepare vs to his mercy to make vs capable thereof 6 Yea he doth not in any thing more reueale his loue vnto vs then by these corrections which vnto the wicked are messengers of hell because when we are iudged we are chastened of the Lord that we may not bee condemned with this wolrd 1. Cor. 11.31.32 CHAP. IIII. Of the knowledge of God in Vnitie THus is Iehoua knowne by his Attributes and hence ariseth this necessary conclusion That there is but one God As appeareth not onely by Testimonies of the word Deut. 6.4 32.39 Isai. 44.6 1 Cor. 8.4 Ephes. 4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 Deut 4.31 Psal. 8.31 Isay 37.16 45.21 Hos. 13.4 Malach 2.10 Mark 12.32 Rom 3.30 Gal. 3.20 But also by such euidences as none else can performe 1 As beeing reuealed in the word to worke miracles to foretell things to come which
of our parents Rom. 5.14 Psal. 51.5 Ephes. 2.3 2 That hereby our nature is wholly tainted with corruption and vncleanenesse Iob. 14. Psalme 51. 3 That wee are depriued of all originall and actual righteousnes Ephes. 2. Rom. 6. 4 And prone yea desparately set to commit all sinne with greedinesse Gen. 6. 5 That we delight in sinne and repose our chiefe contentment therein Pro. 2. 6 That naturally we hate to be reformed and pluckt out of sinne Rom. 10.21 7 That we cannot but necessarily and yet willingly sinne 1. Cor. 12.2 8 That our best actions are beautifull sinnes Esay 64.6 9 That in our nature sinne yet remaineth Rom. 7.1 Iohn 1.7 And that Reason How farre sinne remaineth in the Regenerate and why 1 That we might haue dayly experience of the vertue of Christs sacrifice 2 As also discerne the worke of sanctification by the contrary tentations 3 That by renued repentance we might maintain the assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinne 4 That we might be dayly humbled vnder the hand of God 5 That we might giue God the glory of his freee mercy in working wholly our saluation And this knowledge serueth 1 To iustifie God in his iudgements Rom. 3.5 2 To confound the goodnesse of nature Rom. 3.19 3 To magnifie the riches of Gods mercy Ephes. 2.3.7 4 To send vs to Christ. Romans 3.22 5 To prouoke vs to hunger after heauen Concerning God we are thus to conceiue of siâ—â—â—nâ—â—â— 1 That hee hateth all euill as a righteous God Psal. 5. and no vncleane thing shall dwell with him Reuel 21. 2 That he permitteth and ordereth euill in speciall wisedome to his glory Act. 5. As 1 In that hee presustaineth the subiect of sinne 2 Hee denieth or withdraweth his assistance by which necessarily we fall 3 He turneth all euill to good 3 That he knoweth and searcheth the most inmost closet of sin Ierem. 17.10 4 That he is able to punish and to take vengeance of the same Isa 40. 5 That he punisheth sinne with sinne and yet most righteously 2. Thess. 2.11 6 That though hee haue laide the chastisement of our peace vpon on his Sonne yet he will correct vs as his children for sinne Isa. 53 Psal. 88.89 7 That he leaueth to grosse and open sinnes to preuent and purge out spirituall wickednesse in his children 8 That he giueth vp the wicked to spirituall wickednesse of selfe-loue pride hardnesse of heart security to preuent hereby for a time grosse euils which might be a means to bring to repentance whereby they are detained in a false conceit of their estates so are ripened to eternal vengeance And this knowledge serueth 1 To iustifie the perfect holines of God Psal. 18.30 Psal. 145.17 2 To magnifie his wisedome in disposing of euill Rom. 11.33 3 To giue him his prerogatiue that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the searcher of the heart Ier. 17.10 4 To ascribe vnto him the glory of his power and super excellent greatnesse that we might be humbled before him Psa. 86.9 10. 5 To worke in vs an hatred of euill loue of righteousnes Gen. 17.1 because god hates him Ps. 139 6 To preuent presumption and cause vs to worke out our saluation with feare trembling 2. Co. 5. 7 To trust perfitly in him that so gratiously orders euil and turnes hem about to our good Secondly Our iudgment being thus rectified we must proceed to the practise of auoyding euill And this is seene either in 1 Preuenting sinne or 2 Recouering out of it by vnfained repentance Sinne is preuented either 1 Generally or 2 Particularly Generally by 1 A continuall watchfulnesse ouer our heart and outward man 2 A feare and suspecting of our selues as at all times so when wee haue most experience of Gods mercy Prou. 28.14 Iob. 1. 3 A continuall resigning of our selues into the hands of God 4 Walking as alwayes in his presence Gen. 5.22 Gen. 17.1 5 To haue a continuall eye to Gods commandements Psalme 119. 6 To meditate on Gods iudgements inflicted on his deerest children for sinne 2. Sam. 12.11 14. 7 Consider the inestimable loue and mercy of God towards vs. Exod. 34 6. Eightly Imploying our selues in some honest calling 2. Thess. 3.11.12 And that 1 In faith and without distrust of Gods prouidence with a good conscience Mat. 6.25 Heb. 13.18 2 With cheerefulnesse and contentment without murmuring couetousnesse Heb. 13.5 3 Committing the successe to God and waiting for his blessing without making haste to be rich or indenting with God for these outward things 1. Tim. 6. Gen. 30. 1. Ha. 1.16 4 In humilitie and lowlines not sacrificing to our net but giuing God the glory Gen. 32.10 5 In holines sanctifying the same by the word and prayer and laying a good foundation therby towards heauen 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tim. 4. 6 In faithfulnes and diligence redeeming the time accounting for it Eph. 5 16 Psal. 90. Ninthly learning to vse our Christian libertie a right 1 Herein not so much to stand on lawfulnesse as expedience 1. Cor. 10. 2 That all things be done to edification not offence 1. Cor. 14. 3 That as wee remit of our liberty in regard of such as are weak of ignorance so we vse it in respect of the obstinately ignorant lest we harden them in their sin Mat. 15.14 4 That we vse the things of this life within the compasse of our callings 1. Cor. 7. 1. Cor. 10. 5 For our recreation that it be in things indifferent Phil. 4.8 2 Very spare and sober 3 Tending to a spirituall end not the satisfying of the flesh Ga. 5.13 6 That all things be done to the glory of God 1 Cor. 16. Tenthly By auoyding the occasions of sinne which are 1 Euill company Ephes. 5.11 2 Excesse in the vse of the creatures Luk. 21.34 3 Giuing the bridle to the outward man Gen. 31.1 4 Opportunitie and seasonablenesse Eccles. 3.1 5 Appearance and shew of euill c. Thess. 5.22 And thus sinne generally may be preuented particularly thus when wee are assaulted by any tentation 1 To mourne at the priuy motions of sinne and at no hand to set light by it 2 To know that I beare a traytor in my bosom therfore here here at no hand consult with flesh nor giue away to the temptation Iames. 1.14 3 To choake it by strong cryes and groanes to God Mat. 6.13 4 To put it off by exercising the mind with contrary meditations and affecting the contrary vertue Psalme 1. 5 Examine thy heart why it is thus thou shalt find some cause of this tentation Psalme 4. 6 The cause found either 1 Want of found repentance for some former sinne 2 Security 3 Some greater euill like to follow whereof this tentation is a messenger or such like negligence dispose thy selfe accordingly 4 Forget not hartily to mourne for thy former yeelding to the like tentations and so renue thy repentance for former sins And
suspecting especially the shew and colour watching ouer our naturall corruption and the sinnes of our Calling 12 Also labouring to discouer and conquer the contrary tentation as in affliction impatiency and distrust Helpes hereunto are 1 Consider wee that the best doe faile in watching as they should 2 That it is no bondage but a blessed liberty thus to looke to our selues 3 Looke we our selues dâ—â—â—ily in the glasse of the word Psalm 119. Heb. 11 6. 4 Suspect wee also our selues and feare we alwayes Pro. 28.14 5 Let the feare of God be continually before our eies 1. Cor. 7.1 6 Vse we sobriety in our knowledge and vse of outward things 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 12.3 7 Prouoke we each other cheerfully to holy duties Psal. 122. 8 Consider wee how watchfull worldlings are to obey the precepts of men 9 If we haue slipped let vs returne againe in feare and trembling 10 Obserue we the checkes of conscience for euery action 11 And let not the motions of the spirit be vnrespected 12 Extraordinary and speciall mercies of God be we catefull to record 13 And tremble we at his iudgments wisely laying them to our heart 14 Let the day of our death be alwayes in our eye 15 And make we full account to come to iudgement 2. Cor. 5. CHAP. X. Of Prayer A Further helpe to Constancy is Earnest and constant Prayer vnto GOD to vphold vs by his mighty hand Ephes. 6.14 15. And that 1 Publicke in the Congregation Psa. 92. Psa. 122. Mat 6. 2 In priuate as well with our families as in our closets and secret recourse Mat. 6. Psa. 4.6 And this is necessary 1 Because the Lord hath commanded it Psalm 50.15 Matth. 6. Luk. 11. to oppose against our vnworthinesse 2 Hereby wee approue our selues to bee louing membes of Christs body and the truely adopted sonnes of God Rom. 8.13 Psa. 14.22 3 We performe a speciall part of worship vnto the Almighty Psa. 50.15.23 4 We vse the especiall meanes whereby all Gods blessings are enioyed and sanctified Luke 11.13 1. Tim. 4.5 5 And though the Lord know what we haue need of before wee aske yet hereby wee acknowledge and discerne the same Isa. 65.24 6 Hereby we are also humbled vnder the mighty hand of God 7 Wee do also performe thankefulnesse vnto God for al his mercies 8 As also we giue vnto God this prerogatiue that he is the searcher of our hearts and also 9 We acknowledg his speciall prouidence that he careth for vs. Psal. 34 10 Heerby our faith and patience is gratiously exercised and confirmed Now that we may pray aright 1 Our prayer must bee in faith without doubting Iam. 1.6 to God not to Saints or Angels Rom. 10. 2 In loue forgiuing one another and praying for each other Luk. 1. Math. 6. yea for our enemies 3 In wisdome praying first for the fauor of God wheÌ„ we would haue blessing and when we would haue any euill remoued praying for the forgiuenesse of sinne which is the cause thereof As also 2. diuiding the times wisely for prayer and our callings 4 In zeale and feruency 1. from the heart and affections principally aiming at Gods glory c. 1. Cor. 14. Iacob 5.16 5 In constancie and patience waiting the Lords good leasure Psa. 40.1 Psal. 135. Psal. 147. 6 In sinceritie from our right in Christ Iesus and out of the holy purpose of our heart denying our selues 7 In an holy order 1. for those that concerne Gods glory 2. such as concerne saluation 3. such as respect this life And so on the contrary we are to pray against such as crosse these things in their order 8 Our minds must be free from all worldly and carnal respects 9 In humilitie abasing our selues before the Lord Dan. 9. Gen. 32. 10 With thankesgiuing vnto God for all his mercies Psal. 116.12 11 As also with true repentance renuing our vowes to the Lord. Psal. 26.6 Isa. 1.15 1. Ioh. 3.22 Thus must our prayers bee made vnto the Lord and by them we shall be First Much strengthened in the grace of perseuerance Luke 22.32 as also 2 Kept in the vigor and power of our Christian life Ephes. 6. 3 Experienced in our sweet fellowshippe with God Rom. 8.15 4 Our spirituall armour always fitted and exercised Eph 6. 5 Our dayly wants supplyed or recompensed Iames 1.5 2. Cor. 12. 6 Tentations conquered and happily diminished Mat. 4. 7 All our occasions well seasoned and turned to our good 1. Tim. 4. 8 Our whole life sanctified and wee prepared comfortably to a better Phil. 1.19 To this end also serueth another omitted or sleightly performed any of these 6 Be sure so to performe these as that thou doest not neglect thy calling 2. Thess. 3.12 7 If thou hast performed them in some poore measure yet rest not in it but labor more earnestly with God for a further grace Phil. 3.13 8 And yet bee thankefull vnto God for these small grapes and fruits acknowledging that it is his great mercie that thou canst doe any thing and giuing him all the glory thereof 1. Corinth 15.10 And thus shalt thou be sure to obtaine this peace of God And hauing obtained it thou must lie downe therewith and carie it with thee to thy bed 1 Because thou knowest not whether thy bed shal be thy graue 1. Pet. 1.24 2 Thy sleepe hereby shall bee much sweeter and dreames more comfortable Psal. 4.8 3 Thou shalt auoyd nocturnall pollutions and vncleanesses 4 Thy reines shall teach thee in the night season and the darknesse shall bee as the noone day Psal. 16.7 And this is performed 1 By resigning vp our selues into the hands of God 2 Ascribing vnto him the glory of all the good wee haue performed Psal. 115.1 Esay 26.12 3 Acknowledging our selues to bee vnprofitable seruants if God should enter into iudgement with vs Luke 17.10 4 Crauing earnest pardon of our imperfections in Iesus Christ and laying our selues a sleepe in his bosome 1. Iohn 1.9 5 Comforting our selues if sense of faith bee not present yet with former experience and inward habit thereof Psal. 22.10 6 Yeelding vp our selues in a willingnesse to death in ful expectation of the life to come Phil. 1.20.23 And thus guiding our selues by these former rules we shall lie downe in peace and so shall wee comfortably performe the dayly sacrifice And thus farre concerning such necessarie duties as wee are bound in some measure dayly to performe CHAP. XII How to profit in this direction FOR our better encouragement and furtherance heerein obserue these rules 1 That being conuinced in conscience with the necessity of these dueties we purpose and solemnly vow vnto the Lord the attempting and prosecuting thereof Psal. 119.206 Psal. 119.7 2 That God principally respects the purpose of the heart if there be a willing minde accepts according to what wee haue and requires not what wee haue not 2. Cor. 8.12 3 That wee giue not eare to the flesh