Like men that should go on singing and dancing and calling for their Cups and Musick to the place of Execution I have spoken of several Duties of reading Scripture Prayer Charity but we must remember all must be done in Sincerity and this is the next thing we shall consider CHAP VIII Of Sincerity MEDITATIONS MAny there are I doubt not whose Sincerity no man questions that will be found formal another day and many that few thought well of will be saved Snow covers Dunghils Gilt makes common Wood and Stones look like Gold So doth a Profession and some attainments make many Unconverted Men look like true Christians When Judas went up and down Preaching the Gospel if any one had said to him Judas thou art now perswading the world to close with Christ within a little time thou thy self wilt betray this Christ to death for thirty pieces of Silver would he have believed it or would he not rather have said as Hazael to Elisha 2 Kings 8.13 Am I a Dog that I should do this thing Many famous Ministers great Preachers men of great Parts and Zeal much followed by all and accounted Angels from Heaven I fear will in a little time Mat. 258. cry Our Lamps are gone out Many forward hearers that have done many things set on Reformation and minded reading and praying in their Families will I fear in a little time be found to be Cakes half baked Hos 7.8 On the other hand there are many Ministers and People that are taken but little notice of for Religion that I hope will be saved Their Heavenly Father sees that in secret hearts broken for Sin and breathing after Christ for which he will reward them openly Many that deceive themselves thus plead I can remember the time when the place where the Minister by whom I was Converted 1 Kings 21.27 28.29 When Ahab heard these words he rent his cloaths he fasted c. God takes notice of it to the Prophet Seest thou not how Ahab humbleth himself before me Then Ahab remembred the time when the place where the Prophet by whom he was terrifyed so as to pray fast and had a Promise from God on the doing this work Acts 8.13 Simon himself believed and was Baptized Verse 21. And yet his heart was not right in the sight of God Philips Doctrine and Miracles Converted seemingly him that had deceived many Simon might say I remember the time when the place where the Minister by whom I was convinced and awakened and yet he was in the gall of Sin and the bond of Iniquity Gal. 4.14 15 16. Once again many of them received Paul as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus high words were ready to have plucked out their eyes and have given them to him and yet at last they accounted him their Enemy because he told them the truth No doubt many of them were but formal to whom he said Where is then the Blessedness you spake of These men could remember the time when the place where the Minister by wom they were reformed Many such men can say but little else but their first Convictions and Terrours Others plead That God hath heard and wonderfully answer'd their Prayers and that they are assured from the Scriptures of Truth John 19.31 That God heareth not Sinners but if any man be a Worshpper of God him he heareth And they will tell you of Extraordinary Providences that they have met with as an answer to Prayer I answer It may be God heard not your Prayers but your Murmurings as Numb 11. The Quails came at the peoples request here was a Providence but what was the close of all Some have desired Children Riches c. but unless these things have made them love and serve God they never were given in a way of Mercy but Judgment Or it may be God heard only the Cry of nature in you as he hears the cries of Young Lions and Ravens Gen. 21.17 19 20. God heard Hagar's and Ishmaels Cry When Hagar lift up her voice and wept an Angel calls to her and tells her God had heard the Cry of the Lad and it is said vers 21. God was with the Lad. Hagar and Ishmael might they say God hath heard and wonderfully answered our Prayers and God heareth not Sinners And yet both were cast out I doubt not but God doth work Wonders or Miracles for their Preservation or Deliverance that shall never be saved Some plead But I find I have Repentance I have Faith I yield Obedience to the Gospel c. Amen would to God it may appear to be so Yet hear the Word of the Lord Mat. 8.12 The Children of the Kingdom shall be cast out Conclude on it there is nothing in Art that doth more resemble a thing in nature than Legal Repentance resembles Evangelical Temporary Faith Saving Partial Obedience Universal Never was there the picture or Statua of a man that did more resemble a living man than common Grace doth Saving Never was any Brass Half-Crown more like one of good Silver than the life of a Hypocrite may the life of a Christian Have you so repented of Sin as to loath Sin as Sin for its malignity and evil nature Hath your faith made you to esteem of Christ his Ordinances and People more than of all Treasures Your Obedience unfeigned without reserves In the account we have of the sickness and death of Bellarmine done by C.E. the Jesuite one passage he hath to make him famous to the world which makes me more to hate the name and memory of Bellarmine than any thing recorded of him That when his Confessor came to him Such saith he was the innocency of the man that he could hardly tell what to confess insomuch that his Ghostly Father was in some perplexity wanting matter of Absolution till by recourse to his life past he found some small defects of which he absolved him The Author cryes O Zealous Mind O Noble Bishop but let the Christian poor in spirit that complains with Paul Rom. 7. of a Body of Sin and Death cry O stupid Soul O vile Hypocrite how secure was thy Conscience that at thy death hadst no scruple but the exchanging of one good work for another and that when commanded to it That was his leaving the Archbishoprick of Capua for better preserment What is related of him his lying on his bed with his eyes and hands lift up to Heaven his falling prostrate on the ground to receive the Sacrament his bestowing so much to feed the poor all these things signifie nothing when the heart is so proud so insensible of its own Gailt Then every man must try himself The Famous Divines in the Synod of Dort gave these Marks of Sincerity Dordrehti Synodus Vera in Christum fides filialis Dei timor dolor de peccatis secundum Deum sitis esuries justitiae A True Faith in Christ when a man humbly relies upon him for Life
SOME PRISON MEDITATIONS AND DIRECTIONS On several Subjects Viz. On The Fall of Man On The Sufferings of Christ On Repentance and Faith On Reproof and Counsel On The Holy Scriptures On Prayer On Love to Mankind On Sincerity On The Vanity of the World On The Benefit of Afflictions On Heaven and Hell By SAMVEL YOVNG Minister of the Gospel Jer. 33.1 3. Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time while he was yet shut up in the Court of the Prison saying Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Luther's Song Col. Men. Credens tribulatur Tribusatus invocat Invocans auditur Auditus laudat LONDON Printed by J. A. for Tho. Cockeril at the three Leggs in the Poultrey over against the Stocks-Market 1684. To all that are serious in the Profession of Religion whether Conformists or Nonconformists Ministers or People My Brethren THe Eternal God having spread open the everlasting arms of Mercy and embraced you hath made you so like himself as that you have such a hatred to sin as sin and love to holiness as holiness that cannot be quenched Hence it is that you being such God-like Creatures are often in â—angs because of a distracted world whose Lives are a delectable Frenzy or a continued fit of madness To you do I call that being Converted you would often speak of the chief things in Religion such as are contained in this Book to a vain world that Many may be by you turned unto Righteousness I foresee that several Questions will by several men be made concerning the Author and the Book As Q. What Opinion is the Author of A. I Answer He is of this Opinion that to love God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his neighbour as himself is more than all whole Burnt-offerings and Sacrifices Mar. 12.33 He disowneth all those Names which have occasioned so many heats and heart-burnings among us and wisheth they were as little known among the Saints on Earth as they are among the Saints in Heaven He is an impartial enquirer after Truth without regard to interest or parties he is of all your Religions to whom he writes and yet of none of them of all so as to mind the great things you plead for as Love to God Christ and Souls c. above all of none so as to be tyed to any of your controverted modes of Discipline he is a mourner over all your parties that God and one another are no more loved but a furious Contender for none Q. Why in the following Meditations and Directions are Books Quoted and not Chapter and Page A. Because I have been for above two years from my Study The Observations are my own in the diligent perusing and reading over all the Authors I have named And now I call on you that know God and are known of him that you love one another If your heads must differ resolve that your hearts shall unite Are you such as frequent the Liturgy Call on them that worship with you not to mock God when they profess to come before him with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart when they say to God Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Perswade them when they bring their Children to Baptism not to make it only a matter of custome to give the Child a Name c. Choose no ignorant or scandalous God-fathers or God-mothers that never mind their own Souls and therefore in vain promise to mind the Souls of your Children Remember what a weighty matter it is to give up your Children to the Lord What cryes should there be at the throne of Grace what pains should you take as they grow up that they may indeed be his Those that go with you to the Lords Table as you have opportunity perswade them that their words be right when they say The thoughts of our sins are grievous the burthen of them is intolerable and when they resign themselves to God to do it unfeignedly You that frequent private Assemblies chiefly or only Love them that hate you Pray for them that are in Authority let all men by your good Conversations which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2.12 In whatsoever dress your Religion is cloathed whether in a more plain or curious one Love one another Perhaps a Prison may in time make many of you to fall into one anothers Arms and weep bitterly for your former Animosities Remember Ridley and Hooper The same Spirit seems to be among you that once was between Cox of England Fuller's Church-Hiâ—â— and Knox of Scotland when at Frankfort the extream zeal of one for the Liturgie and of the other against it made them fall into preternatural heats I am ashamed to write the whole but cover all with that of the holy Ghost concerning the great send between Paul and Barnabas Act 15 39. that sharp was the contention between them I cannot but take notice however That the Common-prayer-man was the sharpest I would ask them that have not yet learned Pauls directions when contentions were in the Church of God about little things in Religion as Meats Drinks and Holy-days Rom. 14.22 Hast thou Faith have it to thy self before God Let every man be perswaded in his own mind What if Origen Augustine and many of the Ancient Fathers and Holy Martyrs were now alive would they have them silenced for ever and cast out of the Church because they had some Principles that rendred them uncapable to subscribe and swear as some expect When there is an Uniformity in the Stature of all mens Bodies in the feature of all faces in the found of all Voices then and not 'till then may we expect an Uniformity in the Opinions and so practices of the People of God Our Divisions are the great stumbling-block to a Prophane world who if we perswade them to live soberly righteously and godly tell us You are not of one mind though our answer be ready Neither are Physicians nor Lawyers yet that man would not be himself that should say if my Body and my Estate be in never so great danger I will hearken to none of them Great have been the Controversies of late years on foot about Succession if any man should therfore say Government is needless 't is fatal to the world how soon might he be answer'd If any man should say because one man accounts a house of one figure best and another of another figure I will therefore dwell in no House Because one thinks Cloaths of one colour and fashion best and another of another I will therefore put on no Apparel because one man loves such a dish that another cares not for therefore I will eat nothing he were Distracted Let such mind the things wherein we agree and then if they mistake in the things
about which we differ they will be saved We all grant Repentance Faith and a Holy Life necessary Mind these things Would to God I had spent some of the hours in enquiring how my Soul might be bowed down before God in Prayer that I have spent in enquiring whether I should Pray in my own words or the words of others that I had more enquired how I might come to the Lords Table Hungring and Thirsting after Righteousness and less what gesture I should there use You know my Brethren your own Judgments often change in the smaller matters of Religion which may make you moderate towards them that dissent from you seeing you so often dissent from your selves As the Body changeth in a few years old matter passeth away and there comes a succession of new so every enquiring thinking man knows that what he thought lawful at one time he hath thought unlawful at another and cannot help it Testifie my Brethren testifie against the formal men of all your perswasions who when they plead for the high things in Religion do it with so much coldness as if their words did freeze in their mouths but when for their little notions are so full of rage and fury as if wrath and envy had chosen their faces to discover their complexion to the world But remember you are Christians and Christians must love one another Germanicus in his Speech to the Souldiers when there was a mutiny among them Tacitus said Divus Julius seditionem exercitus uno verbo compescuit Quirites vocando that Julius Caesar ended a sedition in an Army by one word calling them Romans he bad them remember they were Romans so you are Christians If the hand have the Palsie and shakes much and can hardly hold any thing who is presently for Amputation or cutting it off Learn you of Paul Rom. 1â—1 2. Him that is weak in the Faith receive you but not to doubtful disputations For one believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth herbs v. 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more v. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things that make for Peace and the things whereby we may Edifie one another I know not how my counsel may take with some of you I know that he that cometh between two that are fighting to part them is sometime beaten by both I know that some on the one hand will be offended and charge me that I seem to countenance Superstition and others on the other hand will say that I favour Schism but I matter not The Protestant Church the Vessel in which we are is ready to sink Lord save us or else we perish God be merciful to those desperate Souls who because we cannot agree therefore reject all Religion as if a man at Sea seeing the waves urgent and hearing the winds roaring should say if this 't is to be in a Ship I will never here abide and so commit himself to the vast Ocean So are they that reject all Religion because of the Contentions that are in the Church of God and fall into Atheism and Prophaneness Accept kindly of this plain Discourse devoid of all Embellishments of fine words and Phrases and take up with the great things of Religion as you are directed by one that is of Pauls mind who saith of himself 1 Cor. 9.20 21 22. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law to the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak I am made observe all things to all men that by all means I might save some Had some weak headed Christians among us seen him thus to do perhaps they would have said that Paul often changed his Religion or could not tell what Religion to be of that he was not fixt or a man of no Principles Hear what he says elsewhere 1 Cor. 10.33 Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they might be saved As far as I can I am yours in your divers ways of worshipping one Lord Jesus Christ This I am resolved on that having been instrumental for the Conversion of many Souls and I hope shall of many more yet ungathered that I will Preach Repentance Faith and Obedience to the Gospel Grow my Brethren Grow in Grace that you may have that commendation given to the Church of Thyatira I know thy Works and Charity and Service and Faith and thy Patience and thy works and the last to be more than the first Rev. 2.19 But Oh! That my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of Tears that I might weep day and night not only for the Prophaneness of the Ungodly but for the backwardness of the Righteous to all good works I cry to you as in that Song Judg. 5.12 Awake awake Deborah Awake awake Set about the work to be more serious your selves and to sound an Alarm in the ears of a drowsie sleepy world that they may be saved That this may be your work is the hearty Desire and Prayer of him who is Your Brother And Servant in our Lord Samuel Young Gloucester Goal Feb. 2. 1683 4 TO ALL SEA-MEN THAT ARE Or would be Serious HAving in this Book spoken of the chief things in Religion I could not but call on you to mind these things your selves and to put others in mind of them I have you daily on my heart before the Throne of Grace that you that are serious may endeavour by Prayer by Admonitions by a good Example to make many so You that are Baptized have taken Christs Press-money have taken Christs Livery and are under an engagement to Fight under his Banner against Sin the World and the Devil testifie against the Drunkenness Swearing Uncleanness Sabbath-breaking Contempt of Prayer and Reading of Scriptures and other sins many among you are guilty of I know your great Objection is Obj. That you shall be derided if you so do this I have heard from many of you A. 1. Deride their Derision Remember what is said of Christ and when his friends heard of it they laid hold on him for they said he is beside himself Mar. 3.21 If you are accounted mad by them that are really so you have Christ for your Companion 2. It is better be derided by men now for the faithful discharge of your duty than be derided by Christ Angels and Saints another day for the neglect of your duty 3. The Derision of some may soon turn into imitation They that at first mock at good counsel may in time take it and give it to others I have seen an instance one laughing to see another minding secret Prayer and yet seeing constancy and resolution for that duty practised the same Remember if you mourn not if you pray not over the ungodly their sin is yours
Here all met that some would part Here was Scripture for he read some of Isaiah his Prophesie Here was the Spirit that bad Philip go to him Here was the Preacher for Philip expounds all to him Who throws away a letter of great concern because he cannot read all nor understand all he reads it the oftner takes the more pains calls for help and glad to understand most of it when he cannot understand all If any plead We cannot read A good Woman in Queen Maries time that could not read got a new Testament went from house to house and desired others to read to her and soon got much knowledge Knowledge doth not get into the Soul by the Eye onely but by the Ear. Many understand the mysteries of their Trades that never read Books about them Many can tell what news is going that never look into Gazets or News-letters by hearing and considering I have saith God Hos 8.12 written to them the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing If any say I want time Can you find time to eat to sleep and not to look into the Word of God Some can find time to read vain books that can find none to read Scripture Tho' such are as Politianus that left reading the Scripture Morney de ver Rel. Christ and studied and disputed about such questions as these whether we should write Carthaginenses or Carthaginienses c. As insignificant are all other Studies when men contemn the Word of God 4. If you find Convictions from Gods Word lose them not as you have too often done Cain when terrified in his mind built Cities Saul called for Musick so some run to their profits and pleasures If a man had great Treasure about him and came by a dangerous way where many were robbed and he himself had some time been robbed how would he fear As the Lord liveth thou art the man Thou hast been many times richly laden with good convictions affections and purposes gotten from the Word of God the Cares and Temptations of the world have robbed thee and feek to do it again 5. Remember You that are Believers what Encouragement they had in Scripture you have and by them Josh 1.5 Heb. 13.5 God directeth and comforteth you Hos 12.4 5 6. where he speaks of Jacob Yea he had Power over the Angel and prevailed he wept and made supplication unto him he found him in Bethel and there he spake with us Therefore turn thou to thy God Keep mercy and Judgment wait on thy God continually God by giving Jacob the blessing speaks to us to wait on God But to the Scripture we must add Prayer But of that in the next Chapter CHAP. VI. Of Prayer MEDITATIONS THE great Benefit and Comfort of Prayer we read of often in Scripture and the People of God find often by experience Family Prayer Psal 13.2 and Secret Prayer Acts 10.2 have been minded by the Saints of Old In Secret Prayer it is good to stop sometimes after some Confessions Petitions and Praises that the heart may be more deeply affected with them Never did any Believer pray in vain though sometimes it may seem long before God answer When Corn is sowen Rain comes Snow comes Prost comes and all seems to be lost but stay till the time of Harvest and there is a good Crop so after Prayer Temptations come sad Providences come and yet at last all is well When a Child of God is in Prayer he is not weary of God nor of the duty but weary of himself and the corruption of his nature of Satan and his Temptations but still may say How good is it to draw nigh to God! In Secret Prayer if unsuitable thoughts come of men or business pray about those things as occasion may be so will ye catch the Devil in his own craft He is not so wise but he may be outwitted He hath helped me by his Temptations to matter of Prayer thousands of times against his Will Directions in answer to a Question Q. But what if I have no heart to the work 1. Pray obedientially when you cannot pray comfortably God calls for Prayer wait on him in the face of all discouragements Obedience will make an unpleasant work pleasant 2. Remember that discomposure may quickly end in enlargement Abraham found his Ram on the Mount Gen. 22.13 and that in the Thickets So many find their hearts in Prayer not before and that in the midst of violent Temptations 3. Remember that many Prayers we reckon some of the worst God accounts as some of our best Prayers Great are the rewards for what some think to be dead Prayers We reckon the goodness of Prayer by composure of thoughts by affections but God by self-loathing and seeing nothing in our selves and duties but all in Christ Let us cry earnestly to our God Pagans have cryed aloud to their Gods 1 Kings 18.26 They cut themselves and leapt upon the Altars which they made If any say I know not how to pray in Secret I never yet did it I know not what to say Go to God and say so It is a good Confession Lord here I am come I would pray but know not what to say It may be given you in that hour what to confess and pray for and that with great melting of heart Ask the Experience of the people of God Love them but of that in the following Chapter CHAP. VII Of Love to Mankind MEDITATIONS LEt Brotherly Love continue Heb. 13.1 is in many mens mouths but in few mens hearts If we enquire who is our Brother Not the man nearly related or the man of the same perswasion or opinion onely but chiefly all of the Houshold of Faith How many men of several Parties are as Jews and Samaritans that have no dealing one with another We must love the Saints as rich so poor ones ignorant as well as learned the weak as well as the strong We must love the ungodly yea our Enemies Love is to be shewn in forgiving injuries in supplying necessities If any hate us we must love them if they deferve bad of us they and we also deferve worse of God yet God feedeth them cloatheth them Mat. 5.45 and shews them mercy If God will use them as his Rod to chastise us we must be content Who knows what wrath will do or where it will end It is storied of Pope Stephen that he so hated Pope Formosus that he caused his Body to be taken out of the Grave and cut off those Fingers that had blessed the Clergy and so made void all his Canons and Ordinances And he that came after him took measures somewhat like so that at last saith Platina Nihil enim aliud hi Pontifices cogitabant quam nomen dignitatem Majorum suorum extinguere and yet all these men were Infallible all the while Let Husbands and Wives resolve that their contentions shall not
the earth and did reverence to the King and said Let my Lord King David live for ever Adore the Lord God if he hath made your Children by his Grace Heirs of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken Give me leave by the way to bewail the great and common sin found among us That many children are sooner taught what Jupiter Mars and such Pagan Gods were than what Father Son and Spirit is Josiah when he was young 2 Chron. 34.3 enquired after the God of David his Father but many now when young after Heathen Gods Augustine of old complained of this Aug. Confes lib. 6. of hearing in Schools Joves Thundering and Adulteries and for giving an account of such things saith he Et ob hoc bonae spei puer appellabar I was called a hopeful Lad. Luther also complained that our Schools were more Pagan than Christian I referr the unsatisfied Reader to Pasors Preface to his Lexicon he observeth of Pythagoras his golden verses so much esteemed of and I fear accounted more golden by too many than our Saviours Sayings on the Mount how they begin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the Immortal Gods c. And as I have observed worse after I knew an Aged Famous Schoolmaster that after he had kept School about fifty years said with a very sad countenance That it was a great trouble to him that he had spent so much time in reading Pagan Authors to his Scholars and wisht it were customary to read such a Book as Duports Greek Verses upon Job rather than Homer and such Books I beseech School-masters if they must read such Authors do as they do that eat Mushromes or such dangerous meats use strong Correctives Shew Youth the vanity of the Pagan Religion and the excellency of the Christian Religion Perswade them above all things to be acquainted with the Holy Scriptures which alone can make them wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 when many vain books make many wise to Damnation If Children die what doth it signifie to say they were ingenious if they be graceless will Ingenuity save them They are as Thales Milesius that was gazing on the Stars minding their magnitude situation and influences when he should have been minding his way and so fell into the water and was drowned I pray God put it in the hearts of a wise Parliament to purge our Schools that instead of learning vain Fictions and filthy stories they may be acquainted with the VVord of God with Books containing Grave Sayings And learn in Prose or Verse the Histories of the Kings of England the chief Passages in their Reigns and some Maxims in Law and things that may make them truly wise and useful in the world I know I shall offend not a few in thus writing But let such remember my Authors before named Austin Luther Pasor and others that I might name and if I must have a Reprimand I am glad that I have such good company It is storied of the old Waldenses in France in the dark times of Popery R. his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they so instructed their Children in the great things of God that some Popish Doctors said that they learned more of the Doctrine of Salvation by talking with those Children than they did by the Disputations of great men There is another fault among us to be condemned the early and unnecessary sending of young men beyond Sea to see Countreys speak Languages before they have studied the grounds of our Religion and so are infected with Popery or Atheism I desire such before they send their Children away or the Children before they go to read Bishop Hall his Quo vadis a Book to which little can be added And then I hope they may be willing to stay at home How sad is it in most houses where the fear of God is not Of which it may be said what is said of Babylon Rev. 18.2 that they are a Habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul Spiriâ—â— and the cage of every unclean and hateful Bird so many wicked persons and so much wickedness is in them that the serious Christian may sometimes say in the beholding of it what Job said in another case O that my grief were thorougly weighed and that my sorrow were laid in the ballance for then would it be heavier than the sand of the Sea That there is so much Lying Prophaning the Name of God and so much of unsavoury rotten communications in most families and among Children that when they are men and women these things become common to them That if it be then asked what Christ asked the Father about his Childs disease how long ago this happened to them the same answer may be given even from a Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 9.21 I now come to a few Directions DIRECTIONS 1. Cry to God for Bowels of Compassion toward Souls and for Dexterity in this work of Reproving and Counseling that you may say with Paul Rom. 9.1 2 3. I say the Truth in Christ I lye not my Conscience also bearing me Witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual Sorrow in my Heart for I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren my Kinsmen according to the flesh As if he had said I could almost be willing to perish for their sakes say with David Psal 119.158 I beheld the Transgressors and was grieved because they kept not thy Word You Parents that are so tender of the Bodies of your Children be much more concerned for their Souls You that desire great Estates for them much more desire Heaven for them How many mind their Oxen Sheep and Swine more than the Souls of their Children Sauls Father Kish 1 Sam. 10.2 Gave over caring for the Asses saying What shall I do for my Son So be less concerned about the things of the World and say What shall I do for the Souls of my Children that it may be said of you as in Prov. 10.20 The Mouth of the Righteous is as choice Silver when you speak with tender Bowels of Compassion It is not you that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you Mat. 10.20 When God bad Moses to speak to Pharaoh and Moses Objected want of Eloquence said God Exod. 4.12 Now therefore go and I will be thy mouth and I will teach thee what thou shalt say That you may by your good Counsel overcome Satan as David by playing with his Musical Instrument made the evil Spirit to depart from Saul 1 Sam. 16.23 I know for some audacious Sinners it is better to be silent than reprove Hezekiah his command was prudent when Rabshakeh Blasphemed Isa 36.21 But the People held their peace and answered him not a Word for the Kings Commandment was saying Answer him not Let Prayer accompany the work of Exhorting Neh. 2.4 stand before the man as Nehemiah before the King and Queen praying to the God of
Heaven to direct you what you shall say Pray Lord let my words administer Grace to the Hearers Ephes 4.29 Ask some that are under you after the reading of a Chapter or hearing of a Sermon what Christ asked his Disciples Mat. 13.51 Have ye understood all those things Heal their Ignorance direct their Souls We see Afflictions do many times stir Christians up to this Work and prepare them for it Paul speaks of great Troubles he endured 2 Cor. 6.4 But in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of Christ in much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses Vers 9.10 As unknown and yet well-known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowful yet always Rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things What did this blessed Apostle get by all vers 11. O ye Corinthians our Mouth is open unto you our Heart is enlarged He got a Heart to pity Souls and a Tongue to Counsel them There is Gold and a multitude of Rubies but the Lips of Knowledge are precious Jewels saith Solomon Prov. 20.15 Good Counsel given is better than the giving of Gold Whilst you are musing the fire may kindle and then you speak with your Tongue If you cannot speak to some write to them Letters will not blush if Faces do 2. Have an eye upon the Sins they are most addicted to and Reprove for them and on the Duties they are most averse from and perswade to them It is not enough that the Words spoken by you be good but they must be seasonable Words Some are apt to use the Name of God irreverently in their Communications Nay many great Professors I am ashamed to mention it It hath been a comfortable Consideration to me many a time that when I dye I shall be tormented with hearing the Name of God irreverently used ☜ no more Would to God the third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain were often before the eyes of men Tell such men that they ought to fear that great and terrible Name the Lord thy God That they have Reason to adore him that he will give us leave to use his Name at any time and therefore we should not take it in vain whether theusing in common Discourse the Word Faith be Swearing I know the great Sanderson saith Saunder de juro mento that per fidem though from the manner of some Nations and intention of some Speakers it may be an Oath yet he saith Non est ex vi Verborum because saith he Fides Humana non est res Sacra but civilis and in those words we call not God a Witness and therefore is Asseveratio tantum aut ad plurimum Testatio And so he adds that per fidem is the same with Ex animo loquor Pignerofidem meam si rem ita se non habere aut si sciens fallo nulla mihi in posterum fides habeatur So he If you ask Is it unlawful thus to use the Word Faith I answer I am sure it is not unlawful to let it alone it is not a thing of good report to use and the more serious decline it Are they addicted to Lying Scoffing at Religion Shew them the evil nature and consequents of these things If they slight Prayer the Holy Scriptures Alms-deeds perswade to them 3. Be not soon discouraged because of the Ignorance or Backwardness of them with whom you deal God may in time work on them Are they ignorant speak to them of Christ and the Covenant of Grace and of the way of Sinners coming to God through a Mediatour shew them kindness and seek to make their lives comfortable as much as you can that you may the better win them If any say We are ignorant our selves and how can we instruct others This is the way to get knowledge You know that God made the world That Jesus Christ is a glorious Redeemer That all men are hastning to Eternity Come man come on thou knowest enough to fall on the practice of this duty speak to vain spirits of these things Mr. Elliot in his Account of the Progress of the Gospel in New-England written in the year 43. speaks of one Hiacoomes a plain ignorant but yet pious and serious man he converted one Towanquetick a plain Indian and this Towanquetick was the Instrument of the conversion of about a hundred Indians in a little time If others say We are ignorant after all counsel and therefore are discouraged let such often call to mind what they hear and time may make an impression I have read of Hilarius Pictavienses a famous man of France Hanmore's View of Antiqu. finding that little that he read was remembred by him threw away his Books One day passing by a Well he saw that by frequent drawing up of the Bucket the rope had made a deep impression on the Stones he thought that by frequent consideration and meditation the things he heard and read might make a deep impression on him he fell closely to his work and proved a famous man You that are ungodly and hear not your Instructors you discourage them in their work that they are ready to say as Jeremiah Then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name But zeal for God and love to Souls makes them at last to come to themselves and add as hâ—â— Jer. 20.9 But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary of forbearing and I could not stay How many serious Souls have experienced this The Life of Mr. Janeway When Mr. Janeway overheard some unsavoury discourse in a room nigh to him he wrote down their discourse and asked them after he had read what they said whether they were willing to hear of such discourse another day Many men by their evil discourse poyson many hearers as the Basilisk doth men Morney's Resolver not by looking on them according to the vulgar error but by Poyson coming out of the mouth Children hearken to your Parents that prerswade you to mind your Souls grieve them not by your folly Let good men hearken to Reproof from their Brethren as Aaron did from Moses and Peter from Paul When Luther reproved Bullinger for some errors he had about the Word of God Bullinger came forth before all the company and fell at the feet of Luther and said Blessed be the day wherein I saw this gracious face and had these reproofs Let good men counsel then their Children and Servants and Friends It is sad that such should say My Father my Master my Friend that is a great Professor of Religion and with whom I am on all occasions by day by night never was the man that asked me what I thought of my present or eternal condition never aked me whether I thought I was converted or should be saved Yet