SPIRITUAL FLOWERS FOR SAINTS AND SINNERS Gathered out of the Garden of the sacred Scriptures and Writings of Men famous in their Generations By ROBERT PORT Minister of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST Eccles 12. ver 11. The words of the wise are as goades and nayles fastned by the Masters of Assemblies London Printed by G. Dawson for George Sawbridge at the Sign of the Bible upon Ludgate-hill 1655. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Courteous Reader THe Presse I confess is overpressed with some worthlesse works as I may call them raw Eructations of each petty Pamphletor and Readers are cloy'd and surfeited on variety in that kind And Censure being so busie every where blasting hopeful labours in the very bud might make me suspect this of mine Yet at an adventure among such a throng of Writers as pester the world I 'le croud in for company This Book thus compos'd and digested into heads was intended to have attended my service alone for ever but that some worthy friends whose judicious eye might becken me along to any good design attested seriously it would be very serviceable to Church and Common-wealth for the advance of holiness Whereupon I began to think with my self as the four Lepers 2 King 7. 8 9. I should not do well to hide or bury any thing which might do others good and therefore I have now adventured to publish it Yet let it not render the modesty of this Book suspected because it presumes to appear in company unmaned by any Patron if right it will defend it self if wrong none can defend it And now I beseech thee as well by my Epistle as by my Book labour to keep close to God in a loose Age spend not thy time in complaining of the licentiousness of the time in the mean time setting up a toleration in thine own heart and life Take heed in pleasing thy self in a bare formall profession labour to be rooted in Christ he who is but a visible Christian may in a short time cease to be so much as visible He who speaks of Christ but notionally may in time be won to speak against him Lay the foundation of mortification deep Love not the world Reserve no lust from the stroak of Jesus Christ Beware of scandals take them not where they are make them not where they are not the common sin of our times to black Religion and the Religious and then to fear and hate both Despise not the providences of God in the world they are signs of Gods mind though not of his love Delight in the publick Ordinances and highly esteem of faithful Ministers they and Religion are commonly blasted together Shun seducers sit down under a Minister as well as under a Preacher He who will hear every one may at length be brought to hear none Prov. 19. 27. And he who will hear him preach who ought not may soon be left to learn that which he ought not Preserve a tender conscience Every step thou takest fear a snare Read thine one heart in the wickedness of others Be not slight in Closet duties Oft think of God in thy particular Calling for therein thou thinkest thou hast least leisure but sure thou hast most need to do so In a word I wish thee as much delight and benefit in the perusing of my Book as it hath cost me paines in collecting digesting transcribing and reviewing of it And as this shall find acceptance with thee I shall as God shall give strength and more leisure yet further approve my self to be Thy Servant in the Lord to promots thy Faith and Comfort R. P. THE PRINTER TO THE READER REader be pleased to take notice that the Author of these Collections thus digested is preparing for the Presse these Books following viz. I. The holy Bible opened in severall Sermons upon choice Texts out of every Book in the old and new Testament 2 Light and Darkness or Truth by Scripture plainly confirmed and error confuted 3 The Saints rich Cabinet opened and presented to publick view Containing many choice and pretious Jewels all which are reduced into Theologicall conclusions Alphabetically disposed 4 Physicall Gleanings experimentally propounded 5 Emmanuel or God with us being an Annual Chronology from the year 1640. to 165â— methodically composed 6 The faithfull Shepheard guiding his flock to a constant walking with God 7 Evangelicall Legacies for Saints and Sinners tending to settle the wavering to stay the wandering and to strengthen the fainting Spiritual FLOWERS For SAINTS and SINNERS Admiring WE should admire nothing for or in it self but admire al things in God and God in all things Action A good aime doth not make a bad action good but a bad aime makes a good action bad Many times there may be sin in the action when yet the action may not be sin Actions A Christian may usually say that all is not ill in his evil actions nor all good in his good actions Good actions well done better our selves and benefit others Acknowledge It is good to acknowledge God to be just and 't is just to acknowledge God to be good in all his wayes Adversity 'T is better to be preserved in the brine of adversity then to rot in the honey of prosperity Affections When our affections and conversations are in heaven we injoy heaven upon earth Afflictions Afflictions are then a blessing to us when we can bless God for afflictions Sanctified afflictions as sickness crosses and losses are better than unsanctified health and gain Affliction seldome comes without being a temptation but temptation never comes without being an affliction to the Saints Being afflicted doth often discover Hypocrites yet being afflicted is no discovery of an Hypocrite Afflicted We are then truly afflicted for sin when 't is more for displeasing God than for the displeasure of God more that he is displeased by us than that he is displeased with us Alone Some men are least alone when most alone when Jacob was left alone he did wrestle with God All in all It is for none but him who is all and the fulness which filleth all in all to give to all abundantly Angry The world is angry with Saints that they are no worse and the Saints are angry with them and themselves that they are no better It doth not become us to be angry with God though God come to be angry with us He that is angry with his brother without a cause is in danger of judgement and he is likewise in danger of judgement who is not angry with his Brother when there is cause Anger can hardly be silent but that anger is admirable which speaks and sins not Be angry but sin not He that will be angry for any thing will be angry for nothing Antichrist See Maen of Sin Appearance Appearance in good is too little in evill 't is too much Appearing They for whom and to whom God appears much should appear much for God Many men appear righteous who are not righteous as
wiser than others who indeed are otherwise for the most self-wise are very fooles Wicked Godly Wicked men are dead while they live but godly men live when they are dead Wicked men have what they enjoy but from the providence of God but godly men have what they enjoy from the promise of God The wicked man saith what I will is lawful but the good man saith what is lawfull I will Wife 'T is better to have a Wife without a portion than a portion without a Wife They who marry where they like not and love not are like to love where they marry not Will. God finds in every man a will to work upon but he finds not but makes any man willing to be wrought upon Judas Herod and Pontius Pilate fulfilled Gods will in be traying and crucifying Christ and so sinned not but they did it not to fulfill Gods will but their own and that was their sin That man hath no good will that wills no good God will accept the will for the deed when we are as willing to doe as to will the deed A Christian may desire that which God wills not and not sin in that desire and he may sin in desiring that which God wills 'T is not mans free will but Gods free grace which makes one man to differ from another in goodness Women See Young Word of God Some can read the Word of God who do not understand it and some do understand it who cannot read it The Word of God is not onely a pure but purifying not onely a clean but a cleansing Word 'T is not the word that man speaks nor the man that speaks the word which can convert a soul Word Works The word of life is best held forth in the works of our life Word In many their words are more than their intentions and their actions lesse than their words Word Sword The Word is Gods Sword and the Spirit is Gods Arme now as that famous Captain that had lost his sword told his enemies 't is not so much the sword as the arme unless the arme of the Lord be revealed the report will not be beleived The Spirit can save without the Word but the Word cannot save without the Spirit Blessed are they to whom the Gospel cometh not onely in word but in power in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit Words fit Fit words are better than fine for fit words are alwayes fine but fine words are not alwaye fit Writing Men should rather do things worthy to be written than write things worthy to be done though both are worth the doing World 'T is a sad thing for a man to be taken out of the world by death before he be taken out of the world by grace 'T is a mercy to have a portion in the world but to have the world for a portion is a misery He that loves the world much can love God but little They will buy the world at too dear a rate that pay but one sin for it The world is not answerable to nor able to answer our expectations 'T is not the having the world nor having an hand in the world but having an heart in the world which God disalowes Be wisely-worldly be not worldly-wise Works A Saint doth not so much do good works to live as live to do good works 'T is better that a mans own works than that another mans words should praise him The works which many men do do honour God when yet the men that do the works may dishonour God We work not our selves into Christ but Christ works us into himself Worth That place is worth the looking after which will make one lovely in the eyes of God Y Young Women If young Women were clothed but with the Silk of Piety the Sattin of Sanctity and the Purple of Modesty God himself would be a Suitor to them Z Zeal Many men have much zeal and little knowledge and many others who have much knowledge have but little zeal FINIS AN HOLY ALPHABET FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS Being the principall points of Religion laid down in entire Propositions and express words of Scripture for the more Authority Whereunto is annexed THE FAITHFUL SHEPHEARD Guiding his FLOCK in a way of walking with God dayly By ROBERT PORT Minister of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST London Printed by G. Dawson for George Sawbridge at the Sign of the Bible upon Ludgate-hill 1658. AN Holy Alphabet For Young CHRISTIANS The Principles of Religion IT 's onely asking the Question what is taking thereto the first words of the Proposition and the Proposition returns you the Answer Instance Q. What is Adoption A A Adoption is an act of Godsfree Grace whereby we are received into the number and have right to all the priviledges of the sons of God Proofe 1 John 3. 1. John 1. 12. B Baptism is a Sacrament wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benifits of the Covenant of Grace and our engagement to be the Lords Matt. 28. 19. Rom. 6. 4. Gal. 3. 27. The Body is the outward and earthly part of Man made of the begining of the dust of the earth Gen. 2. 7. Ch. 3. 19. C Calling effectuall is the work of Gods spirit whereby convincing us of our sin and misery inlightning our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wils he doth perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel 2 Tim 1. 9. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. Acts 2. 37. Chap. 26. 18. Ezek. 36. 26 27. Joh. 6. 44 45. Psal 2. 13. Creation is Gods making all things of nothing by the word of his power in the space of six daies and all very good Gen. 1. Exod. 20. 11. Heb. 11. 2. D Decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the councell of his will whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordered whatsoever comes to pass Ephes 1. 4. 11. Rom. 9. 22 23. E Election is the eternal and unchangeable decree of God whereby of his free Grace and mercy he hath made choice of some rather than others to bestow upon them eternal life and happiness and that for the glory of his free grace Ephes 1. 4. Rom. 11. 2. 5 6. Ephes 1. 5. F Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving Grace whereby we rejoice and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is offered unto us in the Gospel Heb. 10. 39. Joh. 1. 12. Isa 26. 3 4. Phil. 3. 9. Gal. 2. 16. An holy Fast is a religious abstinance from all the labors of our calling and comforts of this life so far as comliness and necessity will permit that we might be more seriously humble before God and more fervent in prayer Ecle 4. 16. Levit. 23. 27. Dan. 9. 9. 11. An holy Feast is an extraordinary thanksgiving for some notable diliverance out of some
desperate danger testified with feasting before God with joy and gladness sending Presents to our friends and Portions to the needy 1 Chron. 16. 8 Chap. 29. 10 11. Neh. 8 10. Hest 9. 22. G God is a Spirit infinite eternal and unchangeable in his being wisdom power holiness justice goodness and truth Iohn 4. 24. Iob 11. 7 8 9. Psal 90. 2. Ia. 1. 17. Exod. 3. 14. Psal 147. 5. Revel 4. 8. Chap. 15. 4. Ex. 34. 6 7. H Holy Ghost is a true and co-eternal God with the eternal Father and the Son and is given to me to make me through a true faith partaker of Christ and all his benefits to comfort me and to abide nigh me for ever Phil. 5. 7. Gen. 1. 2. Is 48. 16. 1 Cor. 3 26. Chap. 6. 19. Acts 5. 34. Gal. 4. 6. Mal. 23. 19 20. 2 Cor. 1. 22. Gal. 3 14. Acts 9. 31. Iohn 14. 16. 1 Pet. 4. 14. Iohn 15. 26. I Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who in time became Man for his Elect Gal. 4. 4. Institution is an Act of Gods free Grace wherein he pardoneth all our sins and accepteth us as righteous in his sight onely for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone Rom. 3. 24 25. Chap 4. 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 21. Rom. 5. 17 18 19. Gal. 2. 16. Phil. 3. 9. M Mortification is that grace whereby our natural corruption is subdued and vivification or quickning is that grace too wherby inherent holiness is renewed in us Ephe. 4. 22 23. Rom. 6. 4. 11. 13. Col 2. 12. O Obedience now is a careful endeavour to give unfeigned obedience to all Gods commands according to that measure of strength wherewith God doth enable us Luke 16. 74 75. 1 Pet. 4. 2. 5. 1 Iohn 3. 3. Ch. 5. 3. P Petition is a prayer wherein we desire the preventing or removing things hurtful and the obtaining of things needful either for this life or that which is to come Isa 37. 20. Mat. 6. 13. Psal 6. 1. to 5. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God for things agreeable to his will in the name of Christ with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies Psal 62. 8. 1 Io. 5. 14. Io. 10 23. Psal 32. 5 6. Dan. 9. 4. Phil. 4. 6. Gods Providence is his most wise holy and powerful preserving and governing of all his creatures and all their actions Psal 145. 17. Psal 104. 24 Isa 28. 29. Heb. 1. 3. Psal 103. 19. Matt. 10. 29. to 31. R Reconciliation is that grace whereby we are freed from Gods curse and restored to his fatherly favour Rom 3. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 8 9. Eph. 2 16. Col. 2. 21. Repentance is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sence of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ doth with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it unto God with full purpose of and endeavour after new obedience Acts 11. 18. Ch. 2. 37 38. Icel 2. 12 Ier. 3. 32. Ch. 31. 18. 19. Ezek. 36. 31. 1 Cor. 7. 11. Isa 1. 16 17. S A Sacrament is an holy Ordinance instituted by Christ wherein by sensible signs Christ and the benifits of the new Covenant are represented sealed and applied to believers Gen. 17. 7. 10. Exod. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 26. Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God 1 Iohn 3. 4. The Soul is the inward and spiritual part of Man which is mortal and never can dye Eccle. 12. 7. Mat. 10. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 8. Revel 6. 9. The Supper of the Lord is a Sacrament wherein by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christs appointment his death is shewed forth and the worthy receivers are not after of a corporal and carnal manner but by faith made partakers of his body and blood with all his benefits to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace 1 Cor. 11. 23. to 27. Ch. 10. 16. Sanctification is the work of Gods free Grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness 2 Th. 2. 13. Eph. 4. 23 24. Rom. 6. 4. 6. T Thanksgiving is a prayer wherein we render thanks to God for his general goodness and particular favours 1 Sam. 2. 1 Psal 136. 1. Psal 103. 1. to 6. V A Vow religious is a solem promise unto God made by a fit person of some lawfull thing which is in his choice to restifie his love and thankfulness Deut. 23. 21 22. Psal 116. 12. W The word of God is the holy Scriptures imediatly inspired which is contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament 2 Tim. 3. 16. FINIS THE Faithful SHEP HEARD Guiding his Flock in a way of walking with God dayly CHAP. I. INdeavour to be sensible of thy original corruption dayly how it inclines thee to evill and indisposeth thee to good groan under it and bewail it as Paul did Rom. 7 24. tkâ—e special notice of your actual sins or dayly infirmities in thought word and deed Indeavour to make your peace with God for them two waies I. By repenting them and confessing them to God working your heart to grieve for them by some melting considerations as of Gods goodness to you thy unreasonableness and unprofitableness of sin the prejudice and damage thereof to the soul 1 Iohn 1. 9. II. By believing or casting your self wholly on Christs righteousness for the remission therof and reconciliation with God Rom. 3. 22 to 26. Cleaving to Gods promises of pardon and peace Isa 43. 25. Rom. 5. 1. waiting til the Lord shal speak to you Psal 85. 8. CHAP. II. GEt your union with and interest in Christ cleared and confirmed to you dayly more and more that you are a branch in his vine a member in his body 2 Cor. 13. 5. This may be done three waies I. By the dayly renewal of your faith in Christ especially of that act of faith whereby the soul knits or ties it self unto Christ casts or roules it self upon Christ for salvation Cause your heart in a solemn manner every day to act this part or put forth this primitive act of faith in view of the whole soul The dayly exercise hereof will increase and strengthen the divine habit of faith in the soul and make the soul sensible of the very act of it by frequent believing you shall feel at your very heart that you do believe so shall you have a witness in your self that you are in Christ 1 Iohn 5. 10. II. By examining your heart upon what grounds you take Christ to be yours and they are five 1. A fight and sence of your sins of the guilt power and punishment of them of your misery by them Matt. 9. 13. 2. Your want of Christ seen and felt at your very heart to justifie sanctifie redeem and save