condemne him and doth not Christ lose the end of his death to dye for their salvation who yet perish or is it justice to require the payment of one debt twice is there remission of sinnes in Christ for every man but no righteousnesse no everlasting life for them did Christ purchase salvation but not the application of salvation which is necessary to salvation how doth it appeare Christ purchased salvation or enough for salvation or is the death of Christ of an uncertain event is Christ appointed to death to purchase a possibilitie of salvation but not salvation it selfe with the application of it then Christ shed his bloud to save man and yet no man saved by it for if it depends upon mans beleeving of it why may not all of them perish as well as any of them And if it be so if man please Christ shall lose the end of his death but it clearly appeares that all those for whose sinnes Christ dyed are justified by his bloud and shall be saved from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 8 9 10. B. 3. 4. but this subject is handled at large by John Spilsbery in his book intituled Gods Ordinance if the Sonne shall make you free then are you free indeed Joh. 8. else not But upon second thoughts they affirme that Christ never dyed for the sinne of unbeliefe and that finall unbeliefe is the unpardonable sin Answ It cannot truly be denied but unbeliefe is a not beleeving Christ which sinne is most immediately and directly against Christ which sin is pardonable with all manner of sin and blasphemy which Christ saith shall be forgiven unto the sons of men as appeares Mat. 12. 31 32. therefore not beleeving in Christ is not the unpardonable sinne also Such as beleeve have been guiltie of unbeliefe which is pardoned in them and if the sin of unbeliefe which is none of the least sinnes is pardoned without the bloud of Christ to the Elect who beleeve why might not all other sinnes in like manner be so pardoned to them and then shall not the bloud of Jesus Christ be shed in vaine because by their reason their sinnes might have been pardoned without it as well as their unbeliefe And seeing without shedding of bloud there is no remission Heb. 9. 22. let them declare how unbeliefe can be remitted also if the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin then from unbeliefe also 1 Joh. 1. 7. Also if finall unbeliefe were the sin against the holy Spirit that is unpardonable then it could not be cōmitted before death There is a sin unto death if thou see thy brother sin c. But if a man could not commit this sin before he dye he could not be seen so to sin 1 Joh. 5. 16. which sin is described Heb. 10. 29. therefore finall unbeliefe is not this sin here spoken of To conclude Christ dyed not for the sinnes of all the world for Christ saith He layeth downe his life for his sheepe Joh. 10. 15. You beleeve not for yee are not of my sheepe vers 26. Yet as many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Acts 13. 48. see Joh. 17. 2. 19. 24. 29. The end of Redemption is application Phil. 1. 29. Joh. 6. 37. 39. The Scripture saith He tooke upon him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. and how Abrahams seed is considered appears Gal. 3. 16. 22. 29. Such as are Christs such as beleeve are Abrahams seed And seeing all Adams posteritie cannot be considered to be Abrahams seed in no sense therefore there is no ground to cōceive that Christ dyed for the sinnes of all the seed of Adam as they affirme That all men under the Gospel have not sufficient grace given them for conversion FOr the word sufficient grace how can we conceive that grace to be sufficient in power which is not sufficient in performance of the worke for seeing conversion follows not how is it sufficient to conversion is that sufficient to conversion that never attaines it is that medicine sufficient to cure such a disease which being taken doth not cure it Sufficient and effectuall is all one And seeing many were never converted it must of necessitie follow that sufficient grace was never given unto them for if sufficient strength be put to move the earth motion must needs follow The reason why they came not to Christ was because the Father did not draw them Joh. 6. 44. and inwardly teach them God must give a heart to perceive and eyes to see for miracles cannot doe it Deut. 29. 3 4. Joh. 12. 37 38. The arme of the Lord must be revealed They say it was because they would not beleeve Wee answer They neither would nor could the Lord saith they could not beleeve Joh. 12. 39. Therefore man cannot finally hinder his conversion for whom God will save no power of man can destroy Man in his first conversion is wholly passive we cannot worke it in our selves nor hinder Gods working of it because we are dead in sinnes Ephes 2. 1. Col. 2. 13. Ephes 5. 14. and spiritually blind Rev. 3. 18. Eph. 4. 17. 6. 8. Mat. 6. 23. Luk. 4. 18. Joh. 1. 5. Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Our hearts stony and destitute of goodnesse Ezek. 36. 26. 11. 19. Gods worke in converting us is a raising from the dead Eph. 2. 5. Col. 2. 12. Rev. 20. 6. Joh. 5. 21. 25. A restoring the sight to the blind Luk. 4. 18. A new birth Joh. 1. 13. 3. 3. Another creation of him Eph. 2. 10. Psal 51. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 5. 15. The giving of a new heart Ezek. 9. 19. So that man cannot prepare himselfe to conversion God regenerateth man that he may beleeve The tree must first be good before it can bring forth good fruit How can they that are evill speake good things Mat. 12. 34. It 's an error therefore to thinke that mans conversion to God begins in some act man performes and not in a worke first wrought in us by God They alledge Isai 55. 11. to prove the word and the Spirit goeth together Ans Not to make it powerfull in the conversion in all They reply Act. 7. 51. Yee have alwayes resisted c. Ans True in resisting the outward means but it cannot be proved that they resisted in the inward work of God upon their hearts From Mat. 25. 29. they affirme that he that useth nature well shall have grace This text is to be understood of the gifts of the Ministery in the improvement of them the increase is in the same kinde nature and grace are not so Also it 's plaine grace hath not been bestowed upon such as used nature best as appeares by the rejection of the Sidonians and Capernaits who were better fitted for nature Therefore the well using of
But I have sinned against Gods intreaties to returne So did they I said after shee had done all these things Turn thou unto me but shee returned not Jer. 3. 7. But I have sinned against Gods Reproofes So did they Thou hast a whores forehead that refusest to be ashamed Jer. 3. 3. 8. But I have sinned against Gods corrections in not being reformed by them So did they In vaine have I smitten your children they have received no correction Jer. 2. 30. But I have committed one sin often So did they Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers Jer. 3. 1. 6. But I have continued sinning for a long continuance of time So did they We have not obeyed the voyce of the Lord from our youth unto this day Jer. 3. 25. 2. 22. But my sinnes are against knowledge and Conscience So was Davids sin concerning Bathshebah and putting to death Vriah And so did Peter sin when he said and swore he knew not Christ and that he was not with him Mat. 26. 69. to 75. But I am fallen back from what I have been So did they Returne thou backsliding Israel Jer. 3. 6. 12. But I have willingly and resolvedly forsaken God So did they saying We are Lords wee will come no more at him Jer. 3. 31 32. But I have willingly chosen sin So did they saying I have loved strangers and after them will I goe Jer. 2. 25. But I have seduced others and caused them to sin So did they Thou hast also taught the wicked ones thy wayes Jer. 2. 33. And Manasseh seduced them to doe more evill then did the Nations whom the Lord destroyed and made Judah also to sin 2 King 21. 9. 11. 16. And Paul compeld men to blaspheme Act. 26. 11. 16. Manasseh a great sinner obtained mercy 2 Chron. 33. 18 19. And a lesser sinner perisheth in his sin that men may know the Lord will have mercy on whom he will Rom. 9. 15. But I have committed as much sin as I could So did they Behold thou hast spoken and done as evill things as thou couldst Jer. 3. 5. But my sins are after vowes and Covenants So were theirs Thou saidst I will not transgresse when upon every high hill and under every greene tree thou wanderest playing the harlot Jer. 2. 25. But I have justified my selfe in all my sinnes So did they Because thou saidst I have not sinned I will plead with thee Jer. 2. 35. But I despaire and have no hope of mercy This is worst of all yet so did they Thou saidst there is no hope Jer. 2. 25. And when I cry he shutteth out my prayer and I said My strength and my hope is perished with the Lord said Jeremiah Lam. 3. 8. 18. And Job said My hope hath he removed like a tree Job 19. 10. My dayes are spent without hope Job 7. 6. 13 14 15 16. David in his hast said I am out off before thine eyes Psal 31. 22. Abraham beleeved against hope Rom. 4. 18. Yee were sometimes afar off without God and without hope Ephes 2. 12. yet at last they were made nigh by the bloud of Christ Eph. 2. 13. Behold all these were once like unto thee and the Lord hath had mercy upon them and so he may have mercy upon thee also therefore poore soule be not out of hope mind what David said I was brought low and he helped me Psal 116. 6. God is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Consider what the name of the Lord is Exod. 34. 5 6 7. Oh the unsearchable riches of his grace all that know his Name will trust in him Psal 9. 10. And because the greatnesse of sin is one of the greatest discouragements to a soule under the sense of sin Consider these things which are incouragements of hope unto thee 1. Incouragement to hope The multitude or greatnesse of sinne ought not to be a discouragement unto thee because the fewnesse or smalnesse of thy sinnes are not to be any ground or cause of thy confidence in God for pardon but in the promise of God of pardon in which promise the truth and faithfulnesse is 2. Incouragement to hope Because the word of God doth no where say that great sinners shall not be saved therefore to conceive so is folly and no lesse then a delusion of Satan 3. Incouragement to hope Because the word of God saith the contrary that Jesus Christ came to save sinners yea and the chiefe sinners and this is a saying worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sinnes were as crimson they shall be made white as snow though they were red like scarlet they shall be made as wooll Isaiah 1. 18. The word of God declares many great and sweet promises to great sinners as Jer. 3. Isa. 55. 7 8 9. 43. 24 25. There be many examples of great sinners received to mercy as Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 18 19. Paul and one who was a sinner with a witnes Luk. 7. 37. 47. And many others yea the rebellious also Psal 68. 18. 4. Incouragement to hope Because there is a fountaine set open for sin and for uncleannesse Zach. 13. 1. And Christ is mightie to save Isa 62. 1. He will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. And his compassions faile not Lam. 3. 22. 5. Incouragement to hope Because great sinners that are heavie laden with sinne are called to come to Christ Mat. 11. 28. If any man thirst let him came to me and drinke Joh. 7. 37. Every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. 6. Incouragement to hope The Saints have made their greatnesse of sinne an incouragement to beleeve Lord pardon my sinnes for they are great Psal 25. 11. How great is his goodnesse much greater then thy sinnes Zach. 9. 17. Isa 43. The greater our sinnes are the greater our faith should be Loe here is great consolation 7. Incouragement to hope Because God doth not sell Christ or grace but he gives Christ and all that is his freely Yee that have no silver come buy and eate come buy without money Isa 55. 1. And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and let whosoever will take of the water of life freely Rev. 22. 17. Jesus stood crying saying If any man thirst let him come to me and drinke Joh. 7. 37. 8. Incouragement Because such as Jesus Christ saves are unworthy ungodly and without works Rom. 4. 5 6. The most perfect Saint that ever hath been did stand in need of mercy and was unworthy Behold he found no stedfastnesse in his servants and chargeth his Angels of folly how much more in them that dwell in
but attaine unto such a deep measure of humiliation and sorrow for sin then they think they have an evidence for heaven but alas this is no evidence save onely of great ignorance in that they see not death in their best duties the Lord may say to you who worke so hard for life Thou hast found the life of thy hand therefore thou wast not grieved Isa 57. 10. Thou comfortest thy selfe in thine own sparkes but sorrow is all the comfort such comfort can produce yee shall lie downe in sorrow Isa 50. 11. When we say our good works are not the way to life men esteeme it a grievous error yet Christ saith I am the way Joh. 14. 6. Are thy works Christ or no if no then they are not the way for Christ saith true and if Jesus Christ is to be unto us all in all Col. 3. 11. Our best workes are to be unto us nothing at all our workes make us not the better before God nor to be more beloved of God but declare us to be what wee are made by God the Papists doe good works to be saved but we abhorre it because it is condemned by God therefore all those who expect and hope for mercy because they leave their sinnes as they say and do many good works consider what I say unto thee Alas poore soule thou art still in the state of nature in the gall of bitternesse thou art not quite plucked up off of thine own stocke of self-workes and self-concurrence with Christ and therefore art not planted into Christ thou art ignorant of the righteousness of God which is the cause why thou goest about to establish thine own righteousnesse and so long as thou doest so thou canst not submit to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 13. But diddest thou know what a righteousnesse Christ is thou couldst not but have preferred it before thine own righteousnesse yea it would be esteemed by thee but drosse and dung to his as Phil. 3. 8 9. And unlesse the Lord Jesus open thine eyes and reveale his righteousnesse unto thee thy righteousnesse which thou joynest with Christs for salvation will of a certaine worke thy destruction unto all eternity Publicans and harlots are neerer salvation then thee when you who worke for life are Pharisees and if you dye in this estate you must perish Mat. 21. 31 32. Luk. 7. 29 30. I know many will cavill and say if Christ must doe all and man nothing then men need not care what they doe but live as they list Answ As it is our dutie so it is our desire to doe whatsoever the word of God requires but we are not commanded to doe any thing to procure the pardon of our sinnes but in reference to service and dutie I count my selfe to be never the neerer Heaven for my best workes then if I had done nothing else but blaspheme God But what saith the Scriptures Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt but to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 2 3 4 5. Wee are saved not according to our workes but according to his own purpose and grace 2. Tim. 1. 9. When wee were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 10. I will doe away thy offences for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. A new heart also will I give thee Ezek. 36. 26 27. 31. I have seene his wayes and will heale him Isa 57. 17. I have blotted out thy sinnes returne unto me c. Isa 44. 22. When thou wert polluted in thy own bloud I said unto thee Live When thou wert in thy bloud thy time was the time of love and I covered thy nakednesse c. Ezek. 16. 6. 8. All unto whom the mystery of Gods love and free grace is revealed they cry grace grace Christ Christ Christ is all in all nothing but Christ their prayers teares duties devotions and all of theirs is nothing to them in respect of acceptation or justification or salvation they are now dead to working they doe no workes in the world to attaine any of these all theirs is vanished and is quite drowned in the infinite Ocean of Gods free grace It is so that God might have all the glory Eph. 1. 6. Jer. 9. 24. and that man might not boast Rom. 3. 9. but obey God freely Luk. 1. 74. But I have no worke of grace wrought in me The Spirit shall convince the world of sin and of righteousnesse Joh. 16. 7 8 9 10. God hath begun his worke in thee if he hath convinced thee of sinne and of righteousnesse To be convinced of sin implies Such a discovery of sinne which causeth the soule to see her selfe guiltie and utterly lost and undone by reason of sin they confesse themselves are vile and they abhorre themselves Job 42. 6. They loath themselves for their deeds Ezek. 20. 43. Esteâ—ming themselves as beasts Psal 73. 22. The soule is convinced so as to have no hope Jer. 2. in any thing it can doe to helpe it selfe out of that miserable state of sin he is undone in nature he cannot doe any thing from whence he may expect salvation or have any hope of it for a man cannot expect life and salvation from Christ alone untill the soule be taken off of all other things in respect of life This vision of God causeth the soule to see themselves and say There remaineth no strength in me my comelinesse is turned in me into corruption Dan. 10. 8. That is my best workes my righteousnesse is defiled and is sinne now sinfull selfe and righteous selfe are alike if there be any difference the last is the worst now the creature hath nothing to procure Christ nor no strength to beleeve in him the holy Spirit discovers to the soule that there is nothing but darknesse and death in our best duties He is so convinced of sinne that he justifieth the justice of God if he perish in his sin as Psal 51. 4. Gen. 44. 16. See Leviticus 26. 41 42. Micah 7. 9. 2. Sam. 15. 26. Lam. 3. 28 29. It is from grace to be taken so off of nature and he that is so taken off of nature hath grace is begotten and borne of God For when the soule is taken off his own bottom it must have another to rest upon or else it sinkes therefore when God takes away the soules false soundation which was her false hope God gives the soule a better in himselfe The teaching and drawing of the Father Joh. 6. is this that all men have sinned and are in an estate of death and that in Christ there is a ransome in which is life and all happinesse and that this Jesus and all that he hath done is for him When the soule hath heard and learned this there is a power goeth with this teaching which carrieth the soule by faith
upon him with his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 6. God hath in wisdome and love left sin in his to keepe them humble in the sense of sinne and that wee may know what we are and our strength that wee might exercise the graces of the Spirit faith for pardon wisdome watchfulnesse self-deniall c. which we could not doe if wee had no sinne and that we might long to be in heaven where we shall injoy a full freedome from all sinne and that wee might love and prise Christ more seeing we stand in such need of him to pardon and heale us and that wee might daily depend upon Christ against it and live upon the fulnesse of Christ which wee should have no need in this kinde if we could not sinne and that wee might not scorn nor insult over any and that Gods power may appeare in preserving a little grace in a soule so full of sinne and also the power of his grace in subduing so many and so strong sinnes and that wee might admire that rich grace that can love such as we are and pardon our so many and great sinnes The use of this is if it be so first expect not full freedome of sinne here as some dreame Secondly doe not sinne that grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2 3 8. but in obedience to God and love to him use all meanes against it all thy dayes strive against it in the strength of Christ the love of Christ will teach thee and cause thee to doe so Thirdly Be not over-pressed and sunk under it but live by faith in all infirmities say as Paul I glory in my infirmities not as they are sins but because by them Gods power and goodnesse is the more seene both in pardoning and healing see Rom. 5. 20. 6. 1 2. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Rom. 3. 7 8. c. What if I should say all the Lords are the more happy they were sinners else how could they have been capable of mercy and heaven and union with God c. If there were not evill it would not be knowne what is good justice and mercy had not been known therefore how could God be knowne his wisdome in drawing good out of evill nor his infinite love in sending Christ to dye could not have been known and man could not come to that full happinesse in Christ if there had not been sin Sin should not hinder our faith it is hard to beleeve the pardon of seventy seven sinnes in a day yet faith is able to beleeve it and also to keep a sinner from being perplexed in his spirits with any sinne or trouble so as to hinder the soule from rejoycing in God all the day long faith looks to Jesus Christ his bloud intercession and obedience who hath payd all our debts 1 Joh. 2. 1. and now wee are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6. 15. So that the weakest beleever may say in the middest of all my imperfections have as much of the love or God and union with him acceptation reconciliation full and perfect righteousnesse in Christ to cover all my defects as the best Saint ever had and my state shall be as happie as any of theirs and were it not for Christ all their holinesse could not helpe them and they might cry they are unprofitable in all and had also perished in their sinnes Can a man be profitable to God Job 35. 7 Surely no and what shall hinder me of having as much happinesse and glory in heaven as the best Saint Oh who can expresse the sweetnesse that is in this doctrine of free grace to an humble soule and it is wonderfull sweet and it is a strong tie to God in all holinesse I know men of base spirits unbeleevers will catch at what I say but if they doe who can helpe it the children must have bread and if such dogs will snatch it to their perill be it as for you who love sin so as you are not willing to part with your sinnes that you desire to make Leagues and Covenants with sinners hell and death and the devill you take incouragement to sin because God is rich in grace c. Oh consider if yee have hearts yee are those who turne the grace of God into wantonnesse yee are still in your sinnes yee are the dogs touch it not it is not for you Christ saith It is not meet to cast the childrens bread to dogs Maâ— 7. 6. A childe of God is described by a desire to feare the Name of God Nehe. 1. 11. 1. Those that live the life of faith in infirmitie they eye Christs sanctification and injoy comfort in it 2. There is a harmony between that soule and Gods command Speake Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3. 10. 3. He is not offended at Christ at any thing he requires Blessed is he that is not offended in me Mat. 11. 6. For this is the love of God that we keepe his Commandements and his commandements are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. 4. He lookes at the word of God for his rule and his desire is wholly to be ruled by it he will trust God and relie upon his word 5. He eyeth Christs strength in his promise for helpe and by faith makes it his own Psal 46. 6. Surely in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength Isa 45. 24. 6. He will with courage incounter against what ever opposeth God and contend earnestly for the faith once given to the Saints Jude vers 3. 7. He is sensible of good and evill and layeth to heart his own and others sins Acts 20. 31. 8. No sinne he commits doth so discourage him and sinke him but he can joy and rejoyce in Christ his joy and sorrow is not legall but evangelicall or spirituall and therefore may be in one Saint both at one and the same time 1 Thes 5. The second branch of this life of faith in infirmities it is to live upon Christ in his promise to helpe us against all our infirmities upon such places as these If thou beest in deadnesse of heart consider Behold my servant shall sing for joy of heart Isai 65. 14. In thy Name shall they rejoyce all the day Psal 89. 16. In dumbnesse consider The tongue of the dumbe shall sing c. Isa 35. 36. The mouth of the righteous shall speake wisdome and his tongue talkes of judgement Psal 37. 30. In forgetfulnesse The Spirit shall bring all things into your remembrance Joh. 14. 26. When thou art in feare of want consider There is no want to them that feare him Psal 34. 9. Trust in the Lord and doe good and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37. 3. Seeke yee first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all things else shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 34. Take no thought for to morrow shall take thought for it selfe sufficient to the day is the evill thereof Take no thought for your life what yee shall
my words unto you 1 Tim. 4. 13. Rev. 1. 3. Pro. 1. 23. To meditate Thou shalt meditate therein day and night Blessed is the man that meditateth on thy Law day and night My meditation of him shall be sweet the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding Josh 1. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 15. Psal 1. 1 2. Psal 104. 34. Psal 49. 3. To holy conference The mouth of the righteous speakes wisdome the lips of the wise disperse knowledge my words shall not depart out of thy mouth they that feared the Lord spake oft one to another c. They that love it shall eate the fruit thereof Prov. 15. 17. Pro. 18. 21. Maâ—a 3. 16. Psal 37. 30. Psal 71. 24. Isa 59. 21. To heare Christ and his Ministers Blessed is the man that heares me watching daily at my gates Heare and your soules shall live Pro. 8. 34. Isai 55. 3. To be baptized See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized and Philip said If thou beleevest with all thy heart thou maiest and they went both downe into the water and he baptized him Acts 8. 36 37 38. He that beleeves and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 16. For Saints to receive the Lords Supper Doe this in remembrance of me it was given for you Take eate this is my body Luk. 22. 19. Joh. 6. 58. To be prepared for duties Thou wilt prepare their hearts If thou prepare thy heart c. Psal 10. 17. Job 11. 13 14 15. To obey God As soone as they heare of me they shall obey me Ezek. 36. 27. To be fruitfull in season His leafe shall be greene and he shall not cease from yeelding fruit he shall bring forth his fruit in season his leafe shall not wither Jer. 17. 8. Psal 1. 2 3. For abilitie to obey God The righteous also shall hold on his way and he shall be stronger and stronger they goe from strength to strength every one of them Surely shall one say In the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength my God shall be my strength I will goe in the strength of the Lord he gives power to the faint and to them that have no might be increaseth strength They that wait upon the Lord shall renue their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and shall walke and not be faint I can doe all things through Christ that strengthens me God gives strength and power to his people blessed be God Job 17. 9. Psal 84. 7. Isa 45. 24. Isa 49. 5. Isa 40. 29 30 31. Phil. 4. 13. Psal 68. 35. In all temptations That it shall not be above that wee are able to beare and for a good issue out of all temptations There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that yee are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that yee may be able to beare it 1 Cor. 10. 13. Jam. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 20. To know the truth He that will doe his will he shall know whether the doctrine be of God or no The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth The meeke will he teach his way He that feareth the Lord will he teach in the way he shall choose Joh. 7. 17. Joh. 16. 13. Psal 25. 9. 12. For direction in all our wayes I will direct all his wayes I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe I will guide thee with my eye For this God is our God for ever and ever and he will be our guide even untill death Isa 45. 13. Ps 32. 8. Psal 48. 14. To reprove others Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke him and not suffer sin upon him He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour then he that flattereth with his tongue The feare of man bringeth a snare but to them that rebuke him shall be delight and a good blessing shall come upon them Levit. 19. 17. Pro. 28. 23. Pro. 29. 25. Pro. 24. 25. To correct children c. The rod and reproofe give wisdome but a childe left to himselfe bringeth his mother to shame but if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not dye thou shalt beat him with the rod Pro. 25. 15. Pro. 29. 15. Pro. 23. 13 14. For husbands to love their wives Husbands love your wives Ephes 5. 25. 28. 33. For wives to obey their husbands Wives obey your husbands in every thing lawfull Ephes 5. 24. For children to obey their parents Children obey your parents in the Lord Ephes 6. 1 2. For servants to obey their Masters Servants be obedient to those that are your Masters Ephes 6. 5 6 7. To obey Gods commands In keeping them there is great reward Psal 19. 11. Blessed are they that do his commandements Psal 19. 11. Prov. 37. 27. Rev. 20. 6. Rev. 22. 14. To leave false worship See 2 Cor. 6. 16 17 18. To dwell in Sion and to injoy the priviledges thereof The ransomed of the Lord shall come to Sion with joy I will take one of a Citie and two of a family and bring them to Sion They that love his Name shall dwell therein Isa 35. 10. Jer. 3. 14. Psal 69. 36. To be fruitfull there Those that are planted in the house of God shall flourish in the Courts of our God and bring forth fruit in old age and be fat and flourishing All that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed of them which the Lord hath blessed They goe from strength to strength every one of them in Sion c. Ps 92. 13 14. Isa 61. 9. 62. 12. Psal 84. 7. That God is present there He dwels in his Church He walkes in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes Thou that dwellest in the gardens Rev. 2. 1. with Rev. 1. 10. Song 5. 1. 6. 2. 8. 13. For the acceptation of their services there see Song 5. 1. with Deut. 12. 5 6 7. For his blessing there The Lord shall blesse thee out of Sion I will abundantly blesse her provision they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house blessed are they that dwell in thy house for they shall he still praising thee Psal 132. 15. Psal 36. 8. Psal 84. 4. For protection there Thou shalt hide me in the time of trouble in the secrets of thy Tabernacle Psal 27. 4 5. For Saints to agree in the truth I will give them one heart and one way Jer. 32. 39. To have joy and gladnesse there The Lord shall comfort Sion and joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thankesgiving and the noyse of melody Isai 51. 3. In reproaches for Christ Blessed are yee when men revile you for my sake falsly rejoyce and be glad and leape for joy for behold great is your reward in heaven
23. For deliverance out of trouble c. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all Joh. 5. 19. Psal 19. 17 Psal 50. 15. For speedy deliverance My salvation shall not tarry Isa 46. 13. 9. Every day to live the life of faith concerning the time past Which is to consider and call to remembrance and to see God in his dealings to us ours and others both for soule and body I have considered the dayes of old and the yeares of ancient time Psal 77. 5. This is to injoy time past as present David made this a part of his meditation oh how sweet is it to muse of Gods mercies unto us from our birth that I should be borne of such as feared God and so injoy better education then others or else that I should be borne of haters of God and instead of good education had bad and was brought up in ignorance and prophanenesse and how I have been tempted to desperate sinnes or healed those breaches how strangely God brought us to better places unexpected or undeserved and how neere and often we have been to be cut off by death by sicknesse casualties desperate practices by others and by our selves and how great bondage we have been in by sinne being filled with despaire terror and wrath without hope of ever being pardoned Ephes 2. 12 13. and yet for God to fill my soule with joy peace in beleeving Rom. 5. 1. and in how great bondage I was unto sinne not able to restraine my selfe and out of hope of ever having strength against such strong lusts and yet God hath subdued them Oh great change and also how we were convinced of our state of death we are in by nature and by what meanes But if we had been borne in India or Turkey or Rome we should either have never heard of a Jesus or seene no light or to no purpose Also how God hath preserved us in Babylon and brought us out of it if thou beest so and preserved us from the errors of the wicked rotten tenets as Pelagianisme his free will and power by nature Arminianisme with his free will so by grace as he may choose whether he will be saved or no and so under pretence of inlarging Gods grace robs him of all to grace himselfe in his indeavours and sets the crowne upon his own head So some deny the Morall Law and word of God to be a Rule to them to walk by and so are lawlesse and where there is no Law there can be no transgression and now are the last times in which iniquitie and abominable errors doe abound and shall more abound that which God hath said shall be must be no man nor men can hinder it some denies Election and originall sinne c. the Lord in mercy open their eyes I was once wrapped up and sunke in Arminianisme and had so continued but the Lord in mercy pulled me out Oh how sweet should that love be to us which keepes us from these errors or brings us out of them and the Lord will in his time be full Redemption to all his Also consider how we have been freed from many sorrows and sicknesses which others indure having little or no rest day or night and what meanes we injoy for our soules which others want and it may be never heard of and blesseth them unto us Also in what straits wee have been in how the Lord hath helped us in them and delivered us from them and how God hath provided and doth provide for us meanes of living friends and comforts strangely and unexpected and how strangely God hath given us good wives or husbands or so orders it that bad ones sends us to God or weanes us from the world c. These mercies with a thousand more to us and ours requires our meditation to strengthen our faith and to endeare our hearts to God exceedingly and to be more inlarged in thankfulnesse and to sucke sweetnesse in the remembrance of such experiences Mercies forgot are as nothing to us and wee cannot be thankfull to God for them though they were never so many or great Who so is wise and will observe these things shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. 10. Every day to live the life of faith in Glorification Which is to behold the rest peace glory and happinesse c. in heaven which is provided for us and also to beleeve that God will give us after this life all these things with himselfe which he hath promised us in his word see Acts 20. 23. Acts 26. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 4. For the resurrection of my body He that beleeves in me I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 40. To have a spirituall body It is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body 1 Cor. 15. 44. Our bodies shall be more glorious then the Sun in the firmament because that is but a naturall body To have a powerfull body It is raised in power 1 Cor. 15. 43. To have a glorified body and like Christs It is raised in glory 1 Cor. 15 43 44. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. To have fulnesse of knowledge And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge and be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. And know even as I am known 1 Cor. 13. 12. To have fulnesse of joy and pleasures In thy presence is fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Ps 16. 11. Joy inward pure spirituall full in heaven wee shall have no misery no hunger cold nakednesse paine griefe wearinesse but rest 2 Thes 1. 7. To have Rest I shall have rest 2 Thes 1. 7. without labour In this Rest tranquillity in this tranquillity contentment in this contentment joy in this joy varietie in this varietie securitie in this securitie eternitie To have life We shall also live with him 2 Tim. 2. 11. Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. When Christ who is our life shall appeare Col. 3. 4. To have everlasting life Who shall receive life everlasting in the world to come Luk. 18. 30. Mat. 19. 29. Joh. 4. 40. Then shall I never die nor end being for continuance eternall To injoy the presence of God with Saints and Angels When Christ our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Father I will that they which thou hast given me be with me where I am Joh. 17. 24. To see the Lord as he is Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not appeare what we shall be but we know when we shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3. 2. Then shall we see him face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. To behold his glory That they may behold my glory Joh. 17.
every day I be well imployed especially in my retirednesse and solitary seasons to prevent needlesse feares thoughts of the pleasures of sinne past present or to come lest such thoughts cause sinne upon supposition Experience may teach some that Satans temptations have come more frequenter and stronger when alone and that they have then sinned more freely in their imaginations oh cursed contemplation that pollutes soule body with sensuall filth Gen. 38. 9 10. and renewed guilt nor is it good for a weake beleever to affect solitarinesse Satan is more bold when thou art most solitary and his temptations then take a deeper impression 27. Watch to speake for truth c. Every day as occasion is offered that I earnestly contend for the truth Jude ver 3. own it maintaine it and those that are unjustly accused and count it a glory to be reproached and disgraced for Christ and his truth 1 Pet. 4. 14. 28. Watch to doe duties Every day to catch at all opportunities of receiving and doing good shunning evill and with constancy nourish all good and holy desires and consider what times we live in and what they afford and how I may be most usefull and fruitfull that I may finish my course with joy My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my love my faire one and come away Song 2. 10 11. Our sloth and our corrupt selfe love ease carelesnesse inconstancy unsetlednesse hindreth us more then we are aware of of going to our beloved 29. Watch against covetousnesse Every day to take heed and beware of covetousnesse and earthly mindednesse Consider Mat. 25. 14. Luk. 6. 2. Mat. 6. 25. to the end Phil. 4. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 8 9 10. Jam. 5. 1 2 3. Pro. 23. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Luk. 2. 7. Mat. 8. 20. To avoyd covetousnesse meditate on such places as these Covetousnesse deceives and hurts all Jam. 5. 3. If we had riches wee cannot keep them they shall soone be taken from us or us from them Let such as thinke they cannot be happy without outward riches consider if earth be better then heaven where there is none of this thicke clay to load themselves withall Hab. 2. 6. 30. To looke for trouble Every day to expect trouble and crosses and looke upon all that befals me as appointed and ordered by God for my good in his wisdome love and mercy that so I may be thankfull for them and not fret knowing nothing can befall me without the will of God and that it is sent in love and is best for me and that God will supply with his all-sufficiency whatsoever I shall need and that I desire not freedome from trouble but a free spirit and an inlarged heart to God in it and to expresse in every trouble wisdome patience humilitie comfort willingnesse contentednesse thankfulnesse and faith in God and that I indeavour to comfort others in their trouble We should not looke to be exempted from troubles the whole course of a Saint in this life is a life of trouble and suffering yea more then other men Psal 73. 5. All our crosses c. are Christs servants they are under Christ they come and goe at his command and they are sent to doe them good and are called backe when they have done what they come for therefore be not impatient at them fret not Psal 39. 9. A Saint should be so fixed upon God that nothing below should move him so as to disquiet him for to say they cannot indure and beare such a crosse oâ— trouble is an expression as is unfit and unsutable for a Saint Phil. 4. 11. 13. Our spirit should be above and rule and over-rule things below and not be ruled by them a Saint should be under nothing beneath it selfe if we should rejoyce in trials c. inward outward temptations desertions conflicts outward troubles and death it selfe is to make us capable of a fuller injoyment and communion with God Jam. 1. 2. c. how much more should we be content and patient 1 Thes 4. 18. Lord I will beare any thing because my sinnes are forgiven me a conscience so set at libertie can with ease undergoe a great burden Bees gather honey of bitter flowers as well as sweet and cannot we doe so from bitter conditions outward bondage is not much to an inlarged and free spirit what can doe much hurt when all is well within all is light and easie to him that can deny himselfe What God takes away one way he can give it in another which will be better How ever it be yet God is good and good to me who will ever remaine so to be and be the same to me We have his promise that wee shall not want any thing that is good for us Psal 349 10. Therefore when I thinke I want I will not beleeve I want and that I have what I want when I doe not see it when I see not outward things I see God can give and I may have the comfort of them without them esteeme God above all and set him against all what God conveyd before by meanes he instilles immediately from himselfe the immediate comforts are the strongest see Joh. 16. 32. and when all forsooke Paul yet God stood by him and so it was with Christ Psal 69. 20. Saints that are poore and under abasement may be richer in faith Jam. 2. 5. and have more experience of Gods faithfulnesse care and love and see more of their own hearts be more humble more spirituall and live more upon God and more weaned from the world then those Saints who are richer the meanest are as happy and as free from cares as the richest and their sleepe is as sweet therefore take we heed of sin and then let come what can Sin not to avoyd trouble for that is the way to bring greater trouble upon thee for sin defiles distracts insnares and straitens a soule where the spirit is inlarged it is not much troubled at outward bondage if it be lightsome outward darknesse will not be burdensome if the Spirit be sound it can beare troubles sicknesse nothing can be very ill when all is well within what can be grievous to him whose eye is fixed in heaven and knowes it to be his owne Heb. 12. 2. We should not looke so much at trouble or freedome from it as to God for profit by it comfort in it strength to beare it oh let no trouble trouble thee for when God seemes to leave thee he is neere to helpe thee when he hides himselfe he seeth and will provide helpe for thee as Gen. 22. 14. He is all sufficient Gen. 17. 1. and he is faithfull that hath said all is ours 1 Cor. 3. 23. And that wee shall not want that which is for our good Psal 34. 9 10. The same faithfulnesse will make it good therefore I shall not want what ever can come should each Saint say 31. Watch to shew mercy Every day as occasion is
harder to deny him the next time 9. Consider your relation and station art thou partaker of the promises of Christ Ephes 3. 10. an heire of Christ a fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2. 19 Oh then doe not so dishonor Christ to take a member of Christ and make it a member of Satan to Serve sinne this were a great wrong to Christ We were sometimes darknesse but now we are light in the Lord walke as children of the light Ephes 5. 8. And seeing we are the sonnes and daughters of God Gal. 4. 6. Kings and Priests to God Rev. 5. 10. It is wonderfull unsutable for such to sinne for that were to serve Satan and doe his drudgery Eph. 4. 20. Yee have not so learned Christ Eph. 4. 17. This I say and restifie in the Lord that yee henceforth walke not as the Gentiles walke in the vanitie of their minds Christ gave himselfe for his that they should be holy Tit. 2. 14. Rom. 6. 10. see 1 Joh. 3. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Wee were chosen to be holy therefore I may not sinne Ephes 1. 4. Rom. 8. 29. 10. Consider the eye of God is ever upon you Heb. 4. 14. Pro. 15. 3. 16. 6. 11. Let the love of Christ constraine you to hate and oppose every evill way 12. Nourish the motions of the Spirit Quench not the Spirit walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. Nourish zeale and hatred against every sinne 13. Examine your selves and wayes daily Keepe your heart as your life Pro. 4. 23. Reforme the inside Job 14. 4. and Satan shall not prevaile 14. Consider the shortnesse of time we have here to live our time is short also the pleasures of sinne are but for a season Heb. 11. 25. 15. Know your interest in Christ and profit by affliction both which destroys sinne 16. Hearken unto the noyse of conscience if conscience saith doe it not hearken unto it doe it not lest conscience be silent and yee hardened 17. When the pleasure of sinne is presented unto thee present to thy thoughts the sting sinne will leave behinde it with the many evils that attend it also present to thy selfe a greater and better pleasure and sweetnesse which is thine and that thou if thou be the Lords shall injoy for ever with him oh minde home and what is there pleasures for evermore set your affections on things above where your crowne of glory is 1 Cor. 9. 24. Such as thinke on the supposed pleasure and sweetnesse of sinne are deceived and inshared by it but give no eare to the lying noyse of sinne and Satan they have faire pretences for a foole as Pro. 23. 2. as that you may be saved notwithstanding or resist it the next time but oh the deceitfulnesse of sinne 18. Pray to God earnestly and constantly for strength against sinne with thankfulnesse for any preservation from sinne watch and pray at the first approach of sinne change thy object and fall to prayer Phil. 4. 6. 19. Beleeve God will give thee strength and subdue all thy iniquities in his time thou shalt overcome them be not discouraged if thou beest sometime too weake give not over continue resisting in due time thou shalt prevaile beleeve your prayers shall be answered and that as there is strength enough in Christ to subdue sinne and that you shall injoy it we are never overcome by sinne but by reason of the weaknesse of faith therefore above all take the shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. Eph. 4. 12 13. 20. Apply sutable promises against sinne consider Eph. 5. 5 6 7. Rom. 6. 11. Psal 119. 6. God hath said Sinne shall not reigne over you Rom. 6. Do as Mat. 17. 21. The Lord will preserve you from every evill worke and preserve you till he bring you to glory The necessitie excellency and benefit of Prayer THe Lord our God hath commended Prayer to be a helpe to us in all our necessities and that we might love it and improve it to his glory and our good saying Aske and it shall be given you Mat. 7. 7. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you Isa 50. 15. Prayer hath great promises annexed unto it James 4. 5. Mat. 7. It procures wisdome James 1. 5. The Spirit of grace is given to such as pray Luk. 11. 13. It quickens the graces of God in us it 's a remedy against all evils Joh. 3. 8. 10. Psal 107. Prayer is a means to fit us for those good things our soules desire Jam. 1. 5. Consider Exod. 14. 15 16. Jonah 2. 1. 10. It hath healed the sicke and raised the dead unloosed chains and unlocked prisons and delivered the Saints of old Act. 12. 5. 7. 11. and of late and put in persecutors in their places It hath set free the Lambes and shut up the Wolves we may truly say the Lord hath slaine Og King of Basan for his mercie indures for ever And Prayer caused the Sunne to goe backe yea to stand still Josh 10. 12. By it we beare great burdens and are made better by them understand me of prayer in faith By it Jacob prevailed with God Hos 14. 3 4. God delights to heare his pray Song 2. 14. By it we draw neere to God and have communion with him and in a sort are familiar with God and know his minde it ingageth Gods power and truth Prayer is the most universall helpe it is good for all and at all times in all things and is most easie and ready to the Lords in all places in all times Would you doe good to your brethren friends enemies frequent and improve this spirituall and heavenly dutie Concerning the duty of Prayer To prayer three things are necessary 1. A spirituall disposition before 2. a spirituall behaviour in 3. and a spirituall carriage after The first includes preparation to this duty That preparation is a dutie God requires consider 1. God commande it God saith I will be sanctified in them that draw neere me Levit. 10. 3. Prepare to meet thy God Amos 4. 12. Prepare your hearts unto the Lord 1 Sam. 7. 3. Prepared for every good worke 2 Tim. 2. 21. 2. The Saints have practised it Jehosaphat prepared his heart to seek God 2 Chron. 19. 3. Ezra prepared his heart Ezra 7. 10. O God my heart is fixed Object This is Gods worke Answ True Thou wilt prepare their hearts O God Psal 10. 17. in the use of meanes 3. There are promises annexed to preparation If thou prepare thy heart c. see Job 11. 13. see what is promised vers 15 16 17 18 19. An evill not to doe it And Rehoboam did evill because he prepared not his heart to seeke the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 14. What preparation is in generall Preparation it is an holy consideration of God with whom we have to doe and how unfit wee are to have so neere communion with