the death are eternal of all which by their backslidings if uncur'd they are depriv'd O who can count the sum and value the worth of those glorious things they fall short of who fall back and go down in Christianity till they come to nothing Fifthly Their case is dangerous also and their wound hardly healed not one of many that fall back in Religion if they go far recover again Joh. 6. 66. From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him When Judas Simon Magus Hymeneus Alexander Demas went off from Christ they returned no more John tells us of some that went out from them and thereby declared that they were not of them 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us The Apostle speaks not of such as fall out of infirmity falling in the way which gracious souls may do both falling into some sin for a time as Peter and fall back by some abatements of grace as the Church of Ephesus yet be recovered such he intends not here but those that fall out of the way both totally and finally these recover no more Quest If persons that fall back in Religion after a high profession may never be recovered again how may one know if he find decaies and falling back in Religion whether he be one of those that shall never be bealed or recovered more This is my case I find great declensions in my soul and conversation and I fear I shall never be restored but wax worse and worse and perish at last Sol. 1. First Are not thy declensions thy choice upon judgment and consent but against the standing bent of thy heart the renewed purposes of thy soul through Christ Thy errour is not thy aim thou dost not deliberately contrive thy departure from God but hast a secret would-not against every backsliding then thy backslidings shall be healed again Psal 119. v. 10. Rom. 7. 19 25. Secondly Are thy backslidings and spiritual decaies thy soul-trouble and restless burden because of thy distance from God as the God of grace and Father of thy mercies and because of the injury thereby done to thy graces and inner man and from an enmity in thy nature against sin Then there is hope in Israel concerning this that thy backslidings shall be healed Rom. 7. 24. Psal 5. 1 7. Luke 15. 21. Gal. 5. 17. Thirdly Are thy backslidings after thy Effectual Calling and thy sincere choice of God to be thy peculiar and alone portion Thou canst appeal to the searcher of hearts that thou hast taken the Lord to be thy God and onely Treasure here and to all eternity to be thy last end and chiefest good and hast taken Christ to be the onely way truth and life thy Lord and righteousness and hast made a full and actual surrender of thy self and thy All to God in exchange to be presently unreservedly and eternally his and not thy own to be led and governed by him onely If so thy after-errours cannot make void this Covenant but are under a promise of healing such cannot sin unto death because the seed of God remaineth in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. They are undertaken to be kept that they should not totally and finally depart from him Jer. 31. 18. Isa 57. 18. Jer. 3. 14 22. Hos 14. 4. Jer. 32. 40. Fourthly Art thou restless in thy backslidings until the Lord doth heal thee thou canst give him no rest till he establish thy soul and be as the dew to thy dry and barren heart When God sets a soul a crying it 's a sign he will hear Jer. 30. 15 17. Isa 19. 22. A man saith Mr. Dod can never be in a bad condition except he hath a hard heart and cannot pray Will he delight himself in the Almighty Will he alwaies call upon God Job 27. 10. Backsliders in heart are heartless in prayer as they decay so do they restrain prayer Job 15. 4. Ye have said it is in vain to serve God Mal. 3. 14. As sin becomes more delightful so duty becomes more burdensom cold and formal but a gracious soul that shall be healed is importunate with God and will not let him alone Exod. 32. 10 11. or let him go until he bless him Gen. 32. 6. The worse his condition is the more fervent his cries are the more his piety goes down the more his prayers go up Psal 6. 2. Such a soul shall be healed who would be healed where he works to will he will work to do Fifthly Are thy vitals sound under all thy decaies then thy consumption is not mortal Is thy heart sincere thou canst not hide or reserve iniquity but walkest before God in truth thy desires after grace are not feigned Psal 17. v. 1. Thy love to God is not pretended lip-love but real thy faith and love are not wholly gone but maintained in the truth thereof though abated thou canst not let God go but hast a secret rest on him and resolved recumbence on his grace and faithfulness There is hope of that tree though it seems to be cut down that it will sprout again and the tender branches thereof will not cease Job 14. 7. Sixthly If under all thy decaies thou findest a humble heart and contrite spirit thy backslidings make thee lie low before God and to become more vile in thy own eyes every day thy soul-poverty makes thee poor in spirit also rating thy self beneath the least mercy and judging thy self unworthy of all that patience priviledge and mercy shewn to thee thou dost not fret at afflicting providences nor charge God foolishly but bearest his indignation justifiest his displeasure and wonderest at his forbearance then will revivings come again and recovery after thy falling back Dan. 9. 7 23 25. Mat. 5. 3. Isa 57. 15. But on the other side There are five dangerous symptoms of falling back that shall hardly be restored First If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Christ in truth thy decaies before thy quickenings then 't is dangerous If thy building were on the sand and the towring heights of thy frames and profession from which thou art fal'n were onely structures of thy own raising in which the Sanctifying Spirit had no hand then thy decaies are not likely to be repaired Art thou a stranger to the new birth and to any inward change upon thy soul the principle of thy new profession and actions is is still an old heart Thou never didst take the Lord for thy God and onely Treasure nor hadst to this day any heart-union with the Lord Jesus then thy fall is dangerous Mat. 7. 26 27. 1 John 5. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Secondly A falling off from the foundation is dangerous When men depart from the Faith turn to another Gospel and deny the Lord that bought them fall from the Doctrine of Grace after enlightenings to a Covenant of Works
his servants In this life in the Court of Conscience and in the Judgment-Day at the bar of God In the first your present peace and soul comfort is much concerned and your eternal welfare in the last Alas how will you answer conscience now when that book is opened and the Lord Jesus brings in his bill of so many mercies expended with skill and capacity to improve them and such a charge of debt issuing thence So much due for such goods and for other wares for Sermons Sacraments Graces Comforts Frames Prayer Returns Gracious Providences and Protections so many personal mercies so many family mercies so many bodily mercies so many soul mercies so many Church mercies so many National mercies sick-bed mercies health mercies journey mercies habitation mercies caring mercies sparing mercies giving mercies forgiving mercies seen mercies unseen mercies and little or no return yet made for all these How can the conscience stand up under such a charge or lift up his face without spot when it sees its guilt in all and cannot answer one of a thousand How shall man be just with God if he contend with him How shall he answer him one of a thousand And if you cannot carry it in the Court of Conscience here where God reckons by a Proxy and it may be doth give but a general charge what will you do at the bar of God where the Lord will judge righteous judgment and determine your eternal state as you are approved or disapproved in that day What think you souls will not so much neglect of duty such decaies of grace so frequent breach of Covenants so great unfaithfulness in your places and relations so many daies and weeks and not a stroke of work for God so much bad work so much waste of goods will not all this look wistly upon you and without repentance and a sealed acquittance render your case dangerous at the judgment seat And if so is it not matter of lamentation O lay this to heart VSE III. Thirdly If the Heavenly Trade be the best Trade then this reproves mens too greedy and inordinate pursuit of their earthly Trades and Interests to the great prejudice and hinderance of this Heavenly Trade And oh that I could here dip my Pen in tears as well as gall and not onely write against but weep over this earthly spiritedness the great the common the uncur'd disease of men almost of all men of good men this day With what earnestness strength of affection and indefatigable labours do men pursue after the things of this world as if all their pleasure happiness yea life and eternal welfare lay wrapt up in these things Jehu did not more furiously drive after a Crown then men do this day after crumbs There was a time to some when godliness was counted gain but now gain is valued beyond godliness Trade is the great Diana to which most men sacrifice Profit the wheel within the wheel which sets all a going The salt that seasons all things nothing savours well that hath not this in it Advantage in the world is like the blood in mens veins the soul in the body that quickens their desires puts life into their dead hopes makes the blind to see the lame to leap and run the deaf to hear the lips of them that are asleep to speak Gain is the whetstone to mens wits the loadstone to their affections the spur to their actions this is the object of mens quickest senses the center of their liveliest motions O! the projects cares tuggings sweats rowings ridings restless labours that are engag'd about this enquiry Who will shew us any good Quest But how may we know when men do inordinately pursue their earthly business and concerns Answ 1. First When they engross too much of their time this was Israel's sin saying When will the New-Moon be gone that we may sell Corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat Amos 8. 5. They were not contented with their own time but they must entrench on God's time al 's they thought the time long till they were at their worldly work and hoped to get advantage from God's institutions for their earthly interests and that the Jubilee-Sabbath when men must cease from tillage would help to heighten the price of things and so further their advantage therefore the Lord reproves them for their undue diligence about the World a Frustra illos mane ob vile lucellum expergisci ad opus c. It is in vain for you to rise up early and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows for so he giveth his beloved sleep Psal 127. Here saith Piscator he doth by this sudden Apostrophe inveigh against those covetous Tradesmen and Merchants telling them b Artifices qui diluculo ad labores evigilant Rab. Solo. 'T is in vain for them to rise up so early to their work and sit up so late in their shops for such poor and contemptible gain So Rabbi Solomon renders it for Artificers who rise early to their labours Excessive pursuits of the World in point of time are here reprov'd as vain and sinful while hereby they deprive themselves of time for God and their Souls Secondly when they lay out their Hearts on the World If riches encrease set not your hearts on them Psal 62. 10. The danger of a disease lies in its seisure on the heart Earthly things under the hand are a duty but in the heart a disease The heart is Christ's Royal Fort to which the Devil the World and Flesh lay siege and if that be taken all is gone Earthly things are briars and thorns and therefore dangerous to come near the heart the least prick at the heart is mortal the heart is Christ's nuptial-bed into which Christ retires the World is the Saint's servant now to admit a servant into the Lord's bed is adulterous the heart is God's Seat Pavilion and Throne into which none must come but himself like the gates of the Sanctuary into which none must enter but God himself This gate shall be shut it shall not be opened and no man shall enter into it because the Lord the God of Israel hath entred into it therefore it shall be shut Ezek. 44. 2. Such is the heart of Believers to be kept for God only to take in creatures into God's room is intolerable boldness to let out thy heart to the World Trade Interest Creatures is to invert the order of nature as well as grace In creation God sets man uppermost and puts all things under his feet Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet Psal 8. 6. Now to place those things over thy heart which God hath set under thy feet is to turn the World upside down and to overturn the whole course of nature This is the great sin of this day mens letting out their hearts on the things of this World were persons but serious
and powerfully administred Be much in reading the Scriptures and such help 〈◊〉 the Lord gives you for your instruction and quickening 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all V. 15. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hisce te exerceto jugiter constanter vehementer Buc. Be thou in them as the words are that is exercise thy self with these continually constantly and with all thy might let not a day pass without reading meditation and secret prayer that the inner-man may have all the recruits that are needful and b Whilest thou dost not follow the directing light of the Spirit thou shalt never have the quickening cherishing beams of it Culver appointed for its strengthening Your bodies can better want their appointed food than your souls their daily bread The want of constant feeding and sound digestion of spiritual provisions is one cause of that soul-leanness and spiritual languishing that abounds every where this day Thirdly If you will keep up a Heavenly Spirit be much in communion with the Father of Spirits Fellowship with God puts a stamp of Heaven upon the soul and leaves an impress of the Divine Nature on it 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Views of God though but through the glass of Ordinances have an assimulating virtue and do transform the mind into his own likeness When Moses was taken up into a nearness to God he gets some abiding beams of his glory upon him and comes off with divine shines on his countenance Exod. 34. 35. When the Lord Jesus was got on to a high Mountain apart and had more near fellowship with Heaven 't is said He was transfigured and his face did shine Nearness to God does wonderfully warm and quicken the heart as approaches of the Sun do the body With thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light Psal 36. 9. As the being of spiritual Life lies in union with-God in Christ by faith so is its well being maintained by communion with him in the Spirit who supplies the soul with quickenings as the fountain doth the vessel that 's put under it with waters God is in himself the Essential Life and to his people the fountain of Life c Tu Domine es vita per essentiam sons vitae per communionem a te omnis vita effluit ac incessanter proflait Jo. Paul Palant Thou Lord saith one art life by thy Essence and the fountain of Life by communion from thee all Life flows out and runs down uncessantly In fellowship the Lord Jesus lets out Himself Love and Spirit and this attracts the heart after God and strengthens the soul's motions after him Every act of fellowship with Christ here saith Mr. Reyner is a step Heaven-ward By it the heart is raised after God sweetly refreshed and strengthened with spiritual strength To live in fellowship with God saies the same Authour is to live at the highest rate under Heaven next to Heaven yea as in a corner of Heaven to live in the highest Region of Christianity 't is the Life of Paradise an Evangelical yea Angelical and Coelestial Life in comparison whereof the most men and women are dead Communion with God does wonderfully nourish the Heavenly Spirit and fatten the spiritual part of Believers Such saith Reyner suck a honey-comb eat fat things full of marrow and drink wine on the lees well refined spiced wine O Christians press after nearness to God in Ordinances and Duties rest not in highest priviledges without spiritual converse with God in them and communications of his Love and Life through them Fourthly Cherish heavenly motions in your hearts and be tender of all the breathings of the Spirit upon you It may be the Lord comes in upon the heart with some Spiritual Light or Life in a Sermon or in a Duty or when alone stirring up thy desires and warming thy affections making some offers of grace and help to thy dull and languishing soul take heed now how thou slightest or stiflest these this is one step to the quenching of the Spirit and impeding its gracious assistance and vital operations on thy soul 1 Thes 5. vers 19. Quench not the Spirit He that will kindle a fire gathers up every little coal and makes the most of the least spark The shavings of gold are gold and the smallest breathings of the Spirit are to be highly prized He that checks the first motions of the Spirit may never meet with the second and he that slights the least gifts of grace may forever miss of its larger doles O to what a height might grace come in thy soul if every stirring of it were improved God despises not the day of thy small things how unreasonable is it thou should'st overlook his The Lord Jesus Christians doth nourish and cherish the least good that is in you Ephes 5. 29. O be tender of whatever communications come from him to you This will abundantly help on the enlivenings and enlargements of this Heavenly Spirit Fifthly Dwell much in the meditation of Heaven this will heavenlize your spirit 'T was this made the Apostles persons of such heavenly spirits they did often look to things above 1 Cor. 4 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen No affliction could discourage them from owning and professing Christ nor earthly comforts allure their desires and delights from Christ and that which so strongly guarded their hearts from either of these dangers was a firm perswasion of an interest in future glory and a diligent observing eye upon this glory a levelling look at this mark does wonderfully raise the heart towards it and put in a new spirit and life into the soul strongly engaging all its attempts towards the enjoyment of it Frequent contemplations of Heaven do much wean the heart from this Earth If thou remembrest thou art not of this world earthly things shall onely be admitted into the Court of the Temple not into the heart which is the Holy of Holies Burg. on 17. Joh. How contemptibly did those Worthies of old look on this world when once they got sights of Heaven Heb. 11. They counted themselves strangers and pilgrims on the Earth were not mindful of their own Country went out from it would no more return to it sought an heavenly Countrey were perswaded of those great and glorious things above and embraced them laid hold of them by faith and made after them and that which did so powerfully work over their spirits to these things above was their believing sights of them V. 13. These all died in the faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off that is the things
pruinas grandines tempestates ferre necessarium est antequam maturescat fructum ferat ita hominem fidelem intus extrinsecus multa pati mala oportet Stell The seed must lye long it may may be under ground and when 't is come up be nipt up with frosts and covered with snow and hail and bear many a storm before it ripens and brings forth fruit and this calls for Patience yea many times long-suffering The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth and hath long Patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain James 5. 7. Patience is needful to suffer as well as do the Will of God Rev. 13. 10. Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints To endure captivity and cruell Death for the sake of Christ Patience to wait for the promise Rom. 8. 25. and Patience to receive it Heb. 10. 36. Patience saith Seneca is a salve for every sore that onely which alleviates our burdens without it we cannot be men or Christians saith another ' t is the grace that makes a compleat and well accomplish'd Christian Manton James 1. 4. When reason is at a stand and hope almost at an end and all refuge fails Patience steps in bears the burden and calms the soul Hope is a necessary grace to this great undertaking reckoned among the three Cardinal virtues that wonderfully adorn a Christian's spirit and conversation 1 Cor. 13. 13. Now abideth Faith and Hope and Charity Hope is the off-spring and refreshment of Faith 't is begotten by Faith and saies one As a good child relieves its father Faith in time of need Hope is an expectation Faith a perswasion Faith eyes the promise hope the thing promised as sure though future which comforts the soul under the present want of desired mercy and this is needful to cheer the soul under its exigencies and disappointments in the way of its Christian conversation Hope keeps in the fire and keeps up the house Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of our hope firm to the end Were it not for Hope the house would fall asunder Hope keeps it together till the Lord new build it in Heaven Hope anchors the soul in a storm and makes it steady under shaking tempests Heb. 6. 19. Hope maintains a Christian in a hard winter while the seed is under clods and till the corn come to the barn 1 Cor. 9. 10. He that ploweth ploweth in Hope that is of a good harvest that will compensate all his labours Hope secures the soul from shame and disappointment under temporary forbearance Psal 34. 22. It helps it to rejoyce in tribulation Rom. 5. 2. and compasseth him about with mercy Psal 32. 10. Humility Self-denial Goodness Temperance Gentleness Love Zeal Holy Fear are all good goods that will off well and turn to the Trader's profit if well improved Get your souls well stor'd with these graces of the Spirit also if you ever think to drive a good Trade of godliness Get your minds filled with knowledge as well as your hearts with grace that 's part of the Christian's Treasure 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure that is of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ in earthen vessels In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. Saving knowledge is a Treasure laid up in Christ for Believers and to be fetched out for their use and comfort The riches of the full assurance of understanding and acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. The Gospel is a mystery a secret hid from the natural eye and cannot be known but by the revelation of the Spirit To have an inward clear sensible experimental and certain apprehension of the glorious truths of the Gospel opened and confirmed to the eye of Faith is a high attainment beyond what any reach to but those that have the anointings of the Spirit and to whom 't is given by the Spirit as the fruit of prayer and faithful attendance on his teachings in the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ This is called a rooting and establishment in the Faith Col. 2. 7. and growing in knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. alluding to trees that being well planted do take deeper root in the earth and in time come to greater settlement and strength against shakings And as children that gradually grow and encrease to higher statures so this spiritual knowledge is gradually encreased 't is not the priviledge of new-born babes of persons at their first conversion to have this deep fathoming of Gospel-mysteries But of stronger Christians who by constant attendances on the Means of Grace and in progress of time by Faith Humility Prayer and Attention to the Spirit do at length come to higher measures of this illumination and full assurance of truth As Gerson reports of a godly man he knew who at first was exercised with many doubts and fears and shakings of Faith but at last through humiliation of soul and a captivating of his understanding to Divine Truth together with the illumination of the Spirit came to a wonderful clearness in the matters of Faith and of his soul-estate with such a settlement of spirit and certainty about his salvation as to have no more doubts remaining in him Christians content not your selves with some notions of truth and shallow cold apprehensions of the great mysteries of salvation but labour to get in greater measures of spiritual understanding both objective as to the Truths to be known and subjective as to the discerning of them Alas we know as yet nothing as we ought there are deeps in the knowledge of Christ for Elephants as well as shallows for Lambs and there are greater beamings on the souls eye to be obtained and more certain understanding and familiar acquaintance to be had with the same Truths we know Your business Christians in the Heavenly Trade is to get more Divine Wisdom to be led farther into all Truth and to enter into the Mysteries of the Gospel wading farther and farther into Sanctuary-deeps to know more of God of the way to him and the things freely given of him and to know better what you know Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes There 's a secret in Gospel-truths which the wisest men in the world can never by their greatest Wisdom come to see without the special revelation of the Spirit As none can come to see the spirits salts and occult virtues in herbs and minerals till by Chymistry they are exstracted Others may discern and receive the things themselves in the gross and bulk of them and yet never see or taste those choice spirits hid in them So 't is with such as are strangers to a spiritual knowledge they apprehend Truths in the bulk and letter of them A A carnal man saith Hooker may hear the sound of the Word understand the
in the subject that 's contrary to it But spiritual mortification is not purely privative but while we live there 's something left that is of a contrary nature to holiness which must be daily opposed and destroyed Sin in Believers is driven from the royal fort of the heart upon Christ's entrance into it but possesses the suburbs and out-works of the soul from whence it must be gradually expell'd also by the mortifying influence of the spirit like the Canaanites which were remov'd from the Mountains but could not be wholly driven out of the Valleys that Israel might by them be prov'd and taught to war Judg. 1. 19. ch 3. 1 2. So the Lord Jesus Christ doth not presently destroy corruptions from the people that by them their sincerity may be proved their graces exercised and the mighty power of his spirit manifested This makes a Christian's work busy and constant having to do with potent enemies within and without Eph. 6. 4. which must be fought every day and a continual war maintained with them during life without fighting no conquering without striving no crowning 2 Tim. 2. 5. 'T is with a child of God as with Israel when fighting with Amalek if the hands of Faith and Prayer be not held up no conquest when these are down spiritual Amalek prevails O the losses that Christians sustain for want of mortification by reason of which their foil'd corruptions rally up and take their graces captive Let men neglect the constant practice of mortification b Si neglexerint perpetuam praxim mortificationis vitia conculcata subacta resumunt vires corruptio abstensa repullulat suffocata gratia spiritus sancti redit homo ad ingenium suum Dav. saith Davenant and their vices that were trod down and subdued will soon resume their strength their corruption that was lopt off will bud out again and the graces of the Spirit in them being almost strangled man returns to his former temper Hence come those dreadful fears of good souls that the grace of God was never in truth in them but that they are still in a carnal state and shall perish at last and all this for want of carrying on the work of mortification in them As a lively Faith overcomes sin so prevailing lust weakens Faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. Eph. 4. 2. 30. withstands the sealing-work of the Spirit and overthrows the work of the Soul's hopes filling it with fears about the unsoundness of his estate and the miserable issue of all his profession experience and labour By this ladder of unmortified sin the Devil scales the royal fort of Faith throws down its Towers and mans it against the Soul's peace comfort and holiness O the mischief that Christians do to themselves by indulging sin and for want of a vigorous pursuit of this great duty of mortification which makes them like to Israel who being once upon the borders of Canaan were by their unbelief and unsubdued lusts brought back near the confines of Egypt again and after a wearying unconstant life were consum'd in the wilderness at last So 't is with gracious Souls by their unmortified lusts after some accesses to grace tastes of divine love hopes of glory and fairness for Heaven they are brought back to the borders of Hell again and made to spend their life in an uncomfortable and souldistressing wilderness Christians 't is not security enough for your peace and spiritual welfare that sin hath lost its dominion unless its strength and life be impaired also dethroned sin may bid you many a battel and give you sore foils and though it may not recover the Scepter yet it may keep the Sword and when it cannot mount the Throne may get into some strong hold and put the soul to much trouble e're it be beaten out again Neither is it safe to acquiesce in some temporary truce with thy corruptions bloody overthrows have been oft-times the events of a cessation of war for a season Joab blew the Trumpet and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more neither fought they any more i. e. for that time 2 Sam. 2. 28. And yet 't is said ch 3. 1. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David but the house of David waxed stronger and stronger and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker Sin may seem to yield and trouble thy soul no more for a time but carry it quietly with thee as Joab did to Abner and on a sudden smite thee to the ground though not to death 2 Sam. 3. 27. Nor is it enough that sin be in chains and under restraint through the present strength of overcoming grace unless it be hang'd up in chains as a dead malefactor Secured lust may break prison and escape from under thy hand as Benhadab did from Ahab to thy greater hurt 1 King 20. 42. What mischief have chained Bears and Lions done when broken loose Believer thy condition is not safe till thy sin be dead what Saul said to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20. 31. may be applied to thy case As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom wherefore now send and fetch him to me for he shall surely dye So can thy Soul obtain no stability in grace but be always full of ups and downs and have wars and changes against thee till thy corruptions be subdued Quest But how shall I do to get sin mortified I am convinced 't is my duty but find it not my capacity After all my strivings prayers and hopes I am still foiled and fear I shall one day perish by the hand of these Sauls O when shall the Kingdom be restored to Israel When shall the deliverer come to my soul What shall I do to get these mountains a plain before Zerubbabel and these Thieves crucified with my Lord Christ Sol. If ever thou meanest to get the death of thy sins take these directions Direct 1. First Do nothing that might tend to strengthen sin Rom. 13. 14. Make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no provision for the flesh to fulfil the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lusts thereof the word signifies a provident care of the flesh as men do to maintain themselves and families Don't take up your thoughts about it how to feed and please your lusts Never think to kill your corruptions while you secretly feed and maintain them Many complain of their corruptions and yet all the while feed and strengthen them There are several things that do contribute maintenance to mens lusts First Delightful Remembrance of former sins do wonderfully please a carnal heart and stir up desires to future sins As the remembrance of former mercies is food to present faith Psal 74. 14. Thou brakest the head of the Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness Israel's deliverance out of Egypt and the breaking of Pharaoh's power seriously thought on was
Christian get if he did but follow his victory over his corruptions and not suffer them to recruit and gather strength again Give no rest to thy lusts nor space for reviving no not for a moment but keep up thy warfare every day Sixthly If you would further the death of sin keep up the life of grace As the life of sin weakens grace so the life of grace keeps down and weakens sin Gal. 5. 16. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Keep up grace and sin will down As when the house of David waxed stronger the house of Saul waxed weaker 2 Sam. 3. 1. 'T is written of Ephrem Syrus that though he was a man much given to passion in his youth yet after he entered into a strict course of life he was never seen to be angry with any man As you cannot get power over sin but by the Spirit of Grace so you cannot keep the head over sin but by the Life of Grace Get your graces strengthened and you will find your corruptions weakened Thirdly You must carry on Renovation in grace and the inward work of Sanctification every day Ephes 3. 23 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schol. After the work of Mortification the Apostle presses Christians to this work of Renovation or Internal Holiness be renewed in the spirit of your minds i. e. in your minds by the Holy Spirit the mind being put for the whole man and internal faculties of the soul both understanding will affections and conscience all must be renewed by the Spirit called the New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. or Workmanship of Christ transformed after his own Image in righteousness and true holiness and renewed in knowledge Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. When the soul is truly regenerated there is the stamp or eexmplar of Christ's holiness placed in the whole soul in truth but in weak measures at first which must be renewed or enlarged in the soul till it comes to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ Christians at the first change are compar'd to new born babes 2 Pet. 2. 2. weak in grace but under a natural disposition and obligations to growth and encreases in this grace of God both intensively and extensively This is a Christian's duty by divine command and comports with the appointment of God in order to it 2 Pet. 3. v. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Ephes 4. 11 12 13. 'T is the way by which grace becomes glory and is greatly necessary to perfect a soul's holiness that so he might come to his full stature and conformity to Christ Ephes 4. 16. Rom. 8. 29. And by the encreases of grace may be enabled to dispatch all his duties bear his burdens and bear up under his temptations that he might be capable to enjoy all his mercies to glorifie the God of grace and to be made meet for the enjoyment of God in glory On all which accounts it becomes the Christian 's great concern to press after larger measures of grace every day to grow up into him in faith and love who is the head in all things Ephes 4. 15. To grow downward in humility and self-denial to grow extensively in every part of holiness and greater enlargements in every grace to wax stronger and stronger in the grace that is in Christ Jesus Perfecting holiness in the sight of God and pressing more and more after the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus The want of which encreases of the Spirit doth much obscure the glory of Christ in Believers cloud their evidences and render them too weak for their corruptions their growing tryals and duties Christians content not your selves with the truth of grace without daily growth in grace Improve your interest in the Resurrection of Christ by believing for the dailing quickening of your hearts and raising of your affections to things above and attracting your desires and whole souls after God grace and glory Be much in internal soul-work of heart searching soul watching divine contemplation secret ejaculations and soul breathings after God and higher manifestations of his light life and love Be constant in every appointment of God publick and private of prayer reading hearing holy conference that you may get nourishment thereby administred to your souls Get under all the dews and showres of grace for your fruitfulness Be spiritual as well as frequent in exercising grace under the means of Grace without this you cannot serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 28. or receive from him who is the head nourishment to your souls but by these bands and joynts of faith and love Col. 2. 19. Formality eats out that sap which should make you green and flourishing A dead cold heart under the Word can no more digest it to nutriment than a dead body can concoct natural food Maintain hungring desires after the word of grace and appointed means to your spiritual growth 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hungring after food argues a good digestion and a sound concoction furthers nourishment Keep up warm affection to every way of God living on Christ for all the good and blessing of them Psal 84. 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them who passing through the Valley of Baca make it a Well the rain also filleth the Pools they go from strength to strength every one in Sion appearing before God When Jehoshaphat's heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord 't is said he waxed great exceedingly 2 Chron. 17. 6. 12. Heart-enlargement in the ways of God is a notable help to soul-thrivings Take this one thing more be poor in spirit if you would be rich in grace Such are under the promise of being satisfied of being guided in judgment of encreasing their joy to such he will give grace and revivings Humble souls a Reyner Excellency of Grace saith one are empty vessels which God will fill are low plants which God will make to grow To be nothing in our own eyes is the way to receive all good things even grace in abundance from God Psal 22. 26. and 25. 9. Isa 29. 19. Prov. 3. 34. Isa 57. 15. Fourthly To keep your evidences for Heaven fair and legible is another part of your Salvation-work this will abundantly comfort you under all your tribulations quicken you to a lively dispatch of your duties give you a humble boldness in your approaches to God arm you against the fears of death and administer to you an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Beware of quenching and grieving the Spirit of grace by which its sealing-work is hindered Take heed of laying blots upon your evidences by any allowed iniquity in your hearts or unpurged defilement in your hands which will weaken
God and secur'd your All in his hands Rule 3. Thirdly Keep your earthly business within the bounds of due time He that hath allotted you your work hath allotted you your time for it it consists not with man's state relation and interest to be arbitrary in any thing but to walk by rule There is a time for every thing under the Sun Eccles 3. 1. A time for every purpose and for every work verse 17. Job 7. 1. As there is an appointed time to man on earth so there is an appointed time to man for earthly things He that hath set bounds to the world hath not left worldly employments without bounds but hath fixed mens earthly affairs within their proper season Psal 104. 23. Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening The Psalmist acknowledges here the power and providence of God in setting bounds to his creatures bounds to the Sun and Moon Verse 19. He appointed the Moon for seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down Bounds to the day and night Verse 20. Thou makest darkness and it is night he limits the labours of wild beasts and men the beasts have their preyingtime confined to the night Verse 20. 22. And it is night wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth the Sun riseth they gather themselves together and lay them down in their dens Men have their working-time allotted in the day Man goeth forth to his work and labour until the evening that is to the end of their working-day which consisted among the Jews of twelve hours John 11. 9. Are there not twelve hours in the day the usual time for men to dispatch their earthly work in The Lord would not p Providentia ergo Dei noluit sic prolixam operandi continuationem ut hominum vires nimium atteret sed modum constituit saith Musculus have mens labours drawn out so far as to wear out their strength but hath set bounds to it As the Lord would not have the world to take up mens hearts so he would not have it to eat out their time or encroach on these seasons that are due to greater concerns God Nature Grace thy own soul and the spiritual good of others have their claims as well as thy earthly calings to this little inch of this time O consume not thy precious day on things that are temporal and neglect thy opportunities for things eternal do not enslave thy body beyond thy beasts which have their times of rest nor exhaust that strength which better things call for upon an empty perishing world Excessive labours beyond their due time do argue either too much desire of these things or too little faith in God and are reprov'd by the Lord as the vanity and practice of them who are not his beloved ones Psal 127. 2. 'T is lamentable to see such as would be thought the heirs of Heaven so excessively taken up in enlarging their possessions on earth engrossing all their time early and late about their earthly affairs leaving nothing but a few unserviceable minutes for God and their souls O Christians Keep the stream of your earthly affections and labours within the banks of allowed time rob not God of his time of special service nor nature of her time of needful rest and refreshment nor thy own or others souls of time for their spiritual concerns for such poor perishing things Shew charity to thy redeemed body make it not a drudge to thy earthly lusts Man is too noble a creature to be a vassal to this world 'T is a sad spectacle to see the Nazarites of Heaven like Sampson with their heads shaven and their eyes pluckt out to grind in the world's mill till they pluck down the house about their ears Judg. 16. 21. How do men macerate their bodies and starve their souls onely to help them with supplies in their passage to the grave and all the while neglect the work of God and their souls leaving the reliques of their wasted strength and the world's refuse for the service of an immortal God This is not to follow earthly things by heavenly Rule Rule 4. Fourthly Be diligent in the use of your working time take heed you waste it not upon impertinencies or by needless diversions or by idleness and unfaithfulness in your work this is a sin against both Law and Gospel which requires diligence and faithfulness in mens earthly callings Labour and calling-work was man's duty before his fall Gen. 2. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it And after the fall painful labour was injoyn'd and inflicted as a punishment of his sin Gen. 3. 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread until thou return to the ground This duty of bodily labour in mens Callings is of equal sanction and regard with the duties of Gods Worship being inserted in a positive Law and as that which is necessary to the sanctifying of God in Sabbaths Exod. 29. 9 10 Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work The injunction of working in six days 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Mayer is given in the same commanding terms in the Original that the injunction of not working in the seventh is and the same reason is given for both the one is taken from Gods resting on the seventh day and the other from his working the six days So that not to labour faithfully in thy Calling the six days is a breach of the fourth command as well as the working on the Sabbath-day Not as if the six days labour were to exclude all religious Worship of God on either of these days when the Lord calls to it by extraordinary Providences as to mourning or rejoycing or by ordinary tenders of Gospel-mercy in Week-day Lectures or the like for this would cross his other commands Preaching in season and out of season and labouring for the bread that endures to eternal life This diligent labour doth not exclude private worship every day and publick worship on week-days so far as it consists with faithfulness in mens Callings for which time must be redeemed Eph. 5. 16. but it requires diligent attendance on mens Callings on the week-days as opposed to sloath and sinful waste of time without which God is not duely served on the Sabbath This diligence in mens Callings is also required in the Gospel 1 Thess 3. 10. Idleness is a Gospel-scandal and renders Christians worthy to be abstained from as not obeying the Word of God and such must not eat 1 Thess 4. 11. such are unprofitable servants who improve not their talents for God and the good of others Matth. 25. 30. and are worse than Infidels who do not by diligence in their Calling provide for their own 1 Tim. 5. 8. Rule 5. Fifthly while your hands
work Christians be careful of your ends in all you do 'T is not enough to do things that are right if you are not upright in them That 's unsanctified work which hath not holy aims and God for its last end To follow your callings that you might live honestly in the sight of men that you might provide for your own and have a competency in the world to carry you comfortably through it is lawful as subordinate secondary ends but not as your chief and last end to which all your actions must be directed that must be singly and supremely the pleasing and honouring of God as your highest end Fifthly Another part of this Heavenly Trade is driven on maintain'd in heavenly thoughts Thoughts are the embrio and conception of actions which also come under the cognisance and government of Religion 'T is a common but carnal principle and false assertion that thoughts are free They are free indeed from the inspection of men but not from the eye and judgment of God who searcheth the hearts and weigheth the spirits Jer. 17. 10. and will bring every secret thing into judgment Eccles 12. 14. Solomon tells us The thoughts of foolishness is sin Prov. 16. 2. Prov. 24. 9. And Peter tells us that the thoughts of the heart need forgiveness Acts 8. 22. not onely sinful actions but sinful thoughts are forbidden Deut. 15. 9. and the very thoughts as well as words and lives of Christians are to be brought under the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. The Idea and platform of every considerate action is first drawn in the mind and inward thoughts No work is rightly done that wants praevious thoughts and consideration Prov. 16. 9. A man's heart deviseth his way he weighs considers and deliberates about the way he is to go in and the course of life he is to drive he counts the time cost and every thing that must go to his work Prov. 31. 16. She considereth a field and buyeth it So 't is in this Heavenly Trade there must be devising of the way serious thoughts and considerations how to manage it to best advantage how to get in and put off wisdom's goods how to strengthen grace to dispatch duty to obtain the favour of God and dwell in his presence how to improve mercy and how to ensure glory The Heavenly Trade can never be carried on without heavenly thoughts Inward working thoughts about God and godliness are of wonderful use to further a holy life They warm and chear the heart under troubles Psal 94. 19. engage and fix it on God and render his presence desirable Heavenly thoughts fire the heart and inflame it to holy actions Psal 139. 17. Psal 39. 3. and are a choice preservative against sin Psal 4. 4. 'T is greatly useful to encrease knowledge and attain to deep wisdom and understanding Dan. 14. 4. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall encrease That is their thoughts shall be working on truth busily employed to find out the meaning of the word looking on one side and on the other side saith Mr. Fenner and by this means shall come to a great thriving in knowledge Men will never be religious to purpose or be their crafts-masters in this Heavenly Trade till they be more spiritual and heavenly in their thoughts Christians make conscience of your thoughts they must come to judgment wash your hearts from whence they come Jer. 4. 14. and watch your thoughts whither they go check your thoughts when they begin to wander quicken your thoughts when flat fix your thoughts when floating spiritualize them when carnal exercise them when slothful set them on their proper and profitable objects and hold them to their work in divine and heavenly meditation every day which is part of your Heavenly Trade and hath a mighty tendency to soul-enriching Psal 4. 4. Psal 63. 4. Psal 104. 34. Gen. 24. 63. Psal 1. 2. Psal 77. 12. Psal 139. 8. Meditation is a calling in the thoughts from its straglings and undue employments fixing them on and holding them to their peculiar work 'T is the travel of the mind in the search of some spiritual good from such things as duty and providence lay before it it weighs things and actions in the ballance of truth it turns things up-side down and looks on both sides and through them that it may take a right estimate of them 'T is the running to and fro of the cogitations to encrease knowledge Dan. 12. 4. Meditation sifts things and truths to divide the flower from the bran and truth from errours it helps to a clearer and more sensible view of truth and excellency with the Chymist it extracts the spirits and quintessence of things it warms the heart and fires the affections raises desires engages the will enlightens and enlivens the conscience and helps to feed the soul on divine truths to feast it with divine love it draws nourishment from ordinances sweetness from promises instructions from the creature and good from providences Without Meditation a person cannot receive the good that 's offer'd to him or do the good that is required of him The Word preached doth not profit hearers for want of Meditation to digest it threatnings promises counsels encouragements don't affect the soul or effect their errand and message for want of a serious and settled consideration of them O what profit might Christians get to their souls were more time spent every day in right Meditation Believer charge thy heart with this duty of daily Meditation which is as needful as Prayer Reading and any acts of holiness and allow some time constantly each day for this holy exercise of thy serious thoughts and contemplations To meditate on God his Word and Works on the Soul its being immortality duties evils and interests on the the World its vanity and emptiness on Sin its nature and issues on Holiness its excellency and blessed advantages on Death Judgment and Eternity with whatever might yield instruction and profit Urge thy conscience with the command of God the practice of the Saints the great necessity and many advantages of this duty consider the great and usual aversness of thy heart to it which doth manifestly bespeak its spirituality and excellency for the more nature is indisposed to a duty the more of God is usually in such a duty think also of thy manifold losses and disadvantages thou hast sustained by thy neglect of it and pray hard for the spirit to help thy soul in the due performance of it which hints I can only leave with thee without further enlargement lest it should swell this Volume beyond its designed bounds Sixthly If you would drive on this heavenly Trade you must be keeping up heavenly converses every day and upon every occasion much of earthly Trades is carried on by earthly discourses this way they drive bargains and barter away goods a great many words oft-times go to chaffering buying and selling and so is it
thousands enjoy not And there are Publick Priviledges of access to God communion of Saints a place within the walls of God's House with variety of soul-provisions an interest in the promises of God the prayers and graces of his people things of infinite worth and purchased at no lower rate than the blood of Christ You that are interested in those come under great obligations to behold them with wonder to hold them with trembling and to use them with diligence and faithfulness You that are planted in the Courts of the Lord Psal 92. 13 14. be fat and flourishing content not your selves with bare priviledges with dogs to feed on dry bones but get the marrow juice and fattening vertue of all your advantages Do not with Lazarus lye at the door of your rich Lord the Dogs licking your sores when you may go in and be healed Secondly Ordinances are another thing which Believers should be getting spiritual good from These are the golden pipes through which the Lord pours in the Oyl of grace into his golden Candlesticks and Gospel-Churches Zach. 4. 12. Showres of Manna to feed his people in the wilderness and on this side their own Countrey Deut. 8. 16. These are the Churches breasts to fill and nourish her children unto life eternal Isa 66. 11. Gen. 2. 6. 10. Ordinances are the Mist the River of Eden by which God waters his Garden Scriptures are the Mines Ordinances are the opening of them to such as dig for Wisdom A considerable part of this Heavenly Trade is driven about these commodities ply them well that you may get large incomes of spiritual blessings through them Take heed of sleeping at these breasts or playing with them lest the Lord put them up or put you off lie at the pool side wait at the wells of salvation and not onely come but draw out waters of life thence for your needy souls For which four things are needful Preparation Attention Retention Obedience First Prepare before you hear get the room emptied swept and garnished For those provisions of Christ you are called to bring your pitchers empty and clean that God may fill them Come not to clean food with a soul stomach but get your hearts purged by sound repentance and wash'd from an evil conscience and renewed by the Spirit for the new wine of the Gospel 1 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. They must be new born babes that receive the sincere milk of the Word so as to grow thereby Mat. 9. 17. If a dead Christ must be laid in a new tomb Mat. 27. 60. surely a living Jesus will not come into an old heart and rotten sepulchre Spend some time before you go to hear in searching your hearts and reviewing your waies in geting a deep sense of their vileness and the exceeding sinfulness of your sins that the fallow field of your hearts may be plowed up and you sow not among thorns Take heed you bring not a hard heart to hearing When Thrasamund the Arrian read Fulgentius's defence of the truth he praised his wisdom wondered at his eloquence commended his humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not submit to the truth To help you herein set prayer on work to beg down the Spirit 's of assistance bring your hearts to Christ by prayer that he would make them clean If he say I will be thou clean thy Leprosie shall be cleansed Prayer also helps you to suitable provision and a blessing on it Hearers prayers help Ministers to preach and themselves to hear 2 Thes 3. 1. Souls never thrive better than when Ministers and Hearers be much in prayer for the Word of the Spirit and Spirit with the Word To pray well is to study well a Bene orasse est bene studiisse Prayer saies one is a messenger to fetch that holy seed out of the garner above Prayer is the former and latter rain to make it grow beneath pray continually if thou would'st grow continually After Christ had fed the multitude he went up into a Mountain apart to pray Matth. 14. v. 23. Secret prayer saith Mr. Trap fats the soul as secret morsels feed the body therefore it is said to be the banquet of grace where the soul may solace her self with God as Esther did with Ahashuerus at the banquet of wine and have whatsoever heart can wish or need require Secondly Take heed how you hear hear as for your lives with holy attention with fear and trembling Ministers saith Mr. Latimer should preach as if Hell were at their backs and hearers should hear as if life or death were in every word Hear with holy affection many were given up to believe a lye because they loved not the truth nor received the word in the love thereof 2 Thes 2. 10. Hear believingly the Word preached did not profit being not mixed with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. 'T is by faith the Gospel becomes the power of God to salvation Rom. 1. 17. The Arm of God was not revealed on Israel because his report was not believed by them Isa 53. 1. The Spirit is given out through the hearing of faith Never expect to profit by hearing till you joyn faith with hearing Thirdly Keep the Word you do hear take heed of letting slip the things you have received Heb. 2. 1. Hold fast the truth that no man take your Crown Rev. 3. 11. Be not forgetful hearers but doers of the Word Jam. 1. 25. Forgetful hearers will never be doers Israel's disobedience was the fruit of their forgetfulness Psal 78. 10 11. The reason of the Disciples trouble at the sepulchre of Christ was said to be their forgetfulness they had forgotten what he had said to them when he was in Galilee Luke 24. 6. Bad memories have many times barren lives Be much in after-prayer for the Comforter's help to keep the Word for you and bring it to your remembrance Prayer opens the heart to take in the Word and prayer shuts the heart to keep in the Word keep up meditation of the Word Psal 111. 91. This chews the cud and gets out the sweetness and nutritive virtue of it unto the heart and life This way the godly come to be as trees planted by the waters side that bring forth much fruit in their season Psal 1. 3. Fourthly Obedience of the Word helps to profiting The worth of Divine Truths is never fully known until they are liv'd upon nor its virtue felt till we cleave to it in our conversation Prov. 4. 6. Forsake her not and she shall preserve problem love her and she shall keep thee Vers 12. When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitned and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble O the sweetness the pleasure the strength the blessedness that they lose who onely look on truth but do not live it Strangers to a holy life meddle not with the joy that is wrapt up in the Word and Waies of God Prov. 3. 17. Her waies
wicked lift not up your horn And as Judah sought to divert his Brethren from their wicked enterprise against Joseph Gen. 37. 26 27. Or by reproving their sin as Nehemiah did the sin of the Nobles Neh. 5. 7. Or by instructing them if ignorant as Paul did the Athenians Acts 17. 22 23. But if they be such like Sons of Belial that the thorns cannot be taken by hand let them be thrust away and get your selves fenced that they hurt you not Take heed of the least compliance with them in their sin 1 Tim. 5. 22. Be not partakers of other mens sins your own are heavy enough silence in not reproving with any signs of approving others sins make them your own If you enjoy good company take heed you miss not of good or meet with evil from them good men have their evils great men are not alwaies wise Job 32. 9. And 't is easier to follow them down than up the hill and to imitate their vices than their virtues diseases are more communicable than health men may impart their sickness but cannot their soundness O what advantage hath sin for its propagation when it falls from the hands of men reputed gracious The errours of good men are not onely examples but arguments unto others to sin also If Peter play the hypocrite other Jews dissemble likewise with him Gal. 2. 13. and no less a man than Barnabas is carried away with their dissimulation If they that are strong do but eat in the Idols Temple the weak will eat the things offered to Idols 2 Cor. 8. 10. O take care of the evils of good men which like books published cum privilegio vend the more An Esau's garment will make a Jacob's voice to pass and where good in any man is admired evil is there seldom feared take heed you follow no man further than he follows Christ 1 Cor. 11. 11. Implicit imitation is as dangerous in practice as implicit faith is in judgment weigh their actions you intend to walk after let no mans reputation be your warrant for imitation Eminent persons are File-leaders which way they turn the File turns with them The leaders of my people cause them to err Isa 9. 16. Men usually follow those they commend y Quos effero refere and how much the greater they are with whom we converse saith Seneca z Quo major est populus cum quo conversamur hoc periculi plus est the more is the danger Get good from good men else their goodness is nothing to you what truth you hear from them receive and as Mary did the Angel's words so do you ponder their gracious sayings in your hearts Luke 2. 19. When you are in the company of those that are above you in wisdom and grace be more swift to hear than to speak The emptiest vessels make the greatest sound and I have often observed in company such as have most need to hear and learn being self-conceitedly wise will take up most of the discourse and instead of drawing waters from deeper wells to fill their empty vessels they will be pumping out that little they have This surely doth not bespeak the modesty of such and less becomes their profit Origen when a child used to question with his Father about the sense of the Scriptures and afterwards became a great Scholar 'T is the observing attentive Christian is usually the most knowing thriving Christian who with the Bee gathers in the Summer and gets honey from every flower it meets with and in the Winter spends it When you meet with empty vessels 't is your charity to be putting in but when you come to deep wells 't is your duty and interest to be drawing out by asking questions and proposing doubts as the young man in the Gospel did Mat. 19. 16. and Nicodemus and the woman of Samaria Joh. 3. 2. 4. ch 4. 11 15 20. to Jesus Christ The enquiring soul if it be done in truth and followed with obedience will be the most flourishing soul Seventhly Get good from your retirements as well as company be never less alone than when alone Sometimes in pursuance of duty you must be alone when thou prayest enter into thy Closet Mat. 6. 6. Retire we must sometimes saith Mr. Trap and into fit place to meet with God solacing and entertaining Soliloquies with him as Isaac did in the field Jacob upon the way Ezekiel by the river Ulai Peter upon the leads Christ upon the mountains Abraham in the grove in Beersheba Gen. 21. 33. 'T is no matter saith the same Author how mean the place be so it be secret where there is a Jeremy a Daniel a Jonah a Dungeon a Lions-Den a Whale's-belly are goodly Oratories If you will not hear me saith Peter Moice send me to my prison again among my toads and frogs which wilt not interrupt me while I talk with my Lord God Acts Mon. 122. O how desirable is retirement with God to a soul that hath acquaintance with him Antisthenes being asked what good he had got by Philosophy answered that I can converse with my self much more is it thy interest to converse with God 'T is said of that pious man Mr. William Sedgwick that when he was young while the rest of the Family were at their Games and Dancings he would be in a corner mourning Mr. Greenham when at any time he was sick would suffer no body to sit up with him that so he might more freely converse with God Psal 119. 62. David would rise at midnight to enjoy communion with God O the blessed seasons that gracious souls have had with Christ in their corners how sweet have their stollen waters of life and bread eaten in secret been to their hungry souls Prov. 9. 17. If the walls of this house could speak said Mr. Hew Kennedy they could tell how many sweet days I have had in secret fellowship with God and how familiar he hath been with my soul The fulfilling of Script p. 442. The Lord doth usually unbosome himself most to his friends when he hath them alone Hos 2. 14. I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably to her or speak to her heart as 't is in the Hebrew Upon which words Stella hath this note a Vt Dominus cum anima nostra loquatur non opus habet testibus Quando Dominus cor nostrum solum invenit statim coenaturus cum illo sedet God needs no witnesses that he might speak to our souls when God finds our heart alone he presently comes in and sups with it and when he observes our soul withdrawn from the cares and carking thoughts of this World then is his time to open his great wonders and secrets to it Jacob was never more prevailing with God than when alone then was the time he got the blessing Gen. 32. 24 29. Peter was alone in prayer with God when he fell into a trance Acts 10. 10. His soul was
number in the Greek In skilfulnesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noting the great measure of wisdom which men need who would prosper in their proper work and order their administrations prudently as might most further their spiritual welfare The want of which wisdom and prudence in Christians to order every thing they do in their general and particular Callings converses conditions and occurrences in the World to the best advantage of their souls is one reason they thrive so little in their heavenly Trade Wisdom would teach men to prevent many snares and occasions of evil and instruct them how to get good from every thing they do which would much advance their soul-profiting for want of which they go back in spirituals and decay apace Thirdly This also casts back Traders when they are not diligent in the management of their Trade A slothful soul suffers hunger Prov. 19. 15. and by much sloth the building decays and through idleness of hand the house droppeth thorough Eccles 8. 10. They that will thrive in the World must be diligent take all opportunities to carry on their work The diligent hand maketh rich but by slothfulness men are brought to a morsel of bread So 't is in Religion when men let down their work and do not follow it to purpose they soon decay and become spiritually poor this is the bane of many this day Religion is not their business men do but little on the Lord's day and scarce a stroke of work is done all the week after hear they will and when that is done their work is done too never think of what they hear or put it to practice from one Lord's day to another All the week their heads hearts hands feet time strength discourses contrivances are wholly taken up about the World and how can they choose but go down the hill and waste away in their soul-interests Religion is one continued work which allows of no intermission but hath its work every day and in every thing break but one link of this golden chain of godliness and it weakens the whole O the slothfulness of Christians at this day in their soul-businesses every day is fill'd up with neglects neglect of prayer neglect of reading meditation conference heart-watching grace-cherishing-work forget this duty pass by another cold sleighty formal in all this spoils the prosperity of souls The Galatians began well but did not hold out they were soon weary Gal. 5. 7. Most mens journey to Heaven is full of stops and that which makes it most miserable their lets are of themselves Who hath hindred you Mens stays are within in their own hearts they have no heart to do good Hos 7. 11. Love to Religion is almost gone and this makes men weary in these pleasant ways while affections hold souls are never weary but when the heart is gone then every thing is a burden such will do no more than needs they must to quiet conscience and preserve peace and credit and this starves godliness Fourthly Great and frequent losses in mens Trades tend to breaking and so it is in Religion Christians through their sloth formality and unwatchfulness sustain many and great losses of spiritual mercies and this brings them low A Christian the other day it may be had his graces flourishing his heart warm his affections quick and lively his conscience pure and tender his will flexible and fix'd on God and things spiritual 2 Ep. Joh. 8. and a good frame throughout his whole soul but now through his carelesness all is lost again Gal. 3. 4. One time he loses the favour and comfortable presence of God Psal 51. 12. another time he loses a sweet serenity of spirit and peace with God then light and convictions are gone another time enjoyments and experiences are gone now his desires after God are lost then his strength is devoured now temptations prey upon the soul and then corruptions make a waste upon it come to Ordinances Sermons Sacraments and after a great deal of prayer care and striving a little grace and comfort is obtain'd but through want of watchfulness all lost again it may be before it stirs out of the place or recovers home to his habitation the next company discourse occasion takes away all Another time God brings the soul into the fire of some great affliction sickness suffering losses and there melts it into some holy frames humility faith love obedience takes off some dross puts on some beauty imparts some soul-advantage but immediately upon a change of the person's condition when new mercy health and comfort returns all the good is lost again Now through these many and great losses in spirituals which gracious souls sustain they are brought very low and come to be soon poor and beggerly Fifthly Great wastes and large expences help to make Traders poor apace when they turn spendthrifts and prodigals living above their estates when their layings out are more than their comings in this must needs bring them low It undid the Steward He wasted his Masters goods Luke 16. 1. So 't is with Wisdom's Merchants also when they turn prodigals of their graces mercies parts strength time and other goods committed to them spending them on their lusts and carnal contentments then they soon find an alteration O at what a rate do men live in point of time and at what vast expences of their short day upon things of no value talking eating drinking sleeping trifling sinning away their precious time as if they had no employment for it or no better work to do Little do souls think what a small pittance of day-light they have allow'd for their vast concerns and multitude of great employments and what madness 't is to be so prodigal of this little inch of precious time O the hours and days and years that professing Christians spend to no purpose in vain thoughts foolish talking impertinent converses unprofitable duties and labours which when they shall be all reckon'd up by the great Creditor and a bill of wastes put into the hands of conscience and the total summ of these expences read what amazing sense what dreadful impress and fretful sting will this beget when persons come to die As the Queen said If her heart were ript open Cales would be found written in it So if their hearts could then be as legible as their expressions men might read this there in black and capital letters Lost time Lost time How great also are mens wastes of graces and peace wisdom and capacities and all for the obtaining of some poor empty insignificant comforts which perish with the using There are no locusts Christians like your cursed lusts which have devoured your precious things your affections time strength and graces what convictions resolutions hopeful frames conscience-tenderness talents capacities priviledges ordinances providences have the service of thy base lusts and contentment of thy carnal mind consumed and this hath brought thy soul to such straits and distressing exigencies When souls
in love Love constrains the Soul after God makes his commands pleasant and quickens the heart to make hast in the way to Glory the more you love God the more will you prosper in Godliness Thirdly Humility is a Soul-prospering Grace and under a promised Blessing Prov. 29. 23 Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit k Sustentat Munst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall bear him up from falling and bring him unto honour saith Montanus Prov. 15. 33 By humility are riches and honour The humble Soul must needs be a thriving Soul for God giveth Grace to it Jam. 4. 6. yea dwelleth with the humble to revive the Spirit of the humble Isa 57. 15. There 's a great deal of Pride in most Christians and that hinders Soul-thriving proud of Parts and Grace proud under seeming humility proud of humility Low Valleys are fruitful when lofty Mountains are barren The rich sit in a low place Eccl. 10. 6 Such as are rich in wisdom l Divites quibus adsit sapientia saith Mercer they sit in a low place they come down and lie low in themselves m In ipsa abjectione Jun. Trem. folly is set in great dignity Poor foolish empty Creatures they are high in conceit as well as place many times but the most rich and thriving Souls these are poorest in Spirit and lowest in their own eyes the richer the Metal the heavier Gold weighs down Silver and Tin the fuller of fruits branches are the more they bow He sendeth the springs into the valleys Psal 104. 10. Psal 65. 13. They are covered over with Corn Vineyards thrive best in low places One branch of Grapes from the Valley of Eshcol was said to be a burden for two men Numb 13. 23. would you flourish in Grace take heed of Pride Pride in the Soul saith one is like the spleen in the body when that swelleth all the other parts languish 't is poison at the root of the tree which corrupts the sap 'T is so dangerous a poison that of another poison there was confected a counterpoison to preserve Paul from it would you prosper in Godliness be persons of low humble spirits Mr. Adams on 2 Pet. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Exalt him that is low and abase him that is high Ezek. 21. 26. Fourthly Another choice fruit of the Spirit which will further Soul-thriving is sincerity Prov. 14. 11 The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish They shall have good things in possession Prov. 28. 10. they shall not only be preserv'd from evil and escape the pit into which the wicked fall but shall be sure to meet with good Blessings good things shall be given to them as their inheritance as Aquila and Theodosius interpret it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shewest mercy to thy Servants that walk before thee with all their heart 2 Chron. 6. 14. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his Soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his Salvation Psal 24. 4 5. Upright Souls must needs prosper they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. He will withhold no good thing from them Psal 84. 11. His countenance beholds them Psal 11. 7. God engages his alsufficiency for their good Gen. 17. 1. They shall hold on their way and wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. and shall surely prosper 2 Chron. 31. 21 In every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered 't is not thy many Duties before God but the Oneness of thy heart with God nor the bulk of thy Services but the sincerity of thy Soul which will make thee profperous in thy heavenly interests Again Take thriving courses prosperous ways as well as prospering Graces these are under a promised Blessing also Not to multiply particulars There are four thriving ways in which Christians may attain to a prosperous Trade in Christianity The way of 1. Self-Examination 2. Prayer 3. Enjoyment of God 4. Obedience First Be often examining and calling your selves to an account how matters stand with your Souls Traders that would be thriving will be often viewing their Books and trying their Accompts and have some set days when they survey their Goods cast up their Books and try whether they gain or lose and so must Christians that would profit in Religion they must be often judging themselves that they be not judged 1 Cor. 11. 31. they must cast up their accompts and try their state whether they go forward or backward Hag. 1. 5. Consider your ways try how the case stands with you whether you get or lose and what 's the cause of all those blastings that are upon you Psal 4. 4 Commune with your hearts upon your beds and be still 2 Cor. 13. 5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates The neglect of this examination is one cause of that great mistake of persons about their Soul-state some thinking themselves better Rev. 3. 17. others judging themselves worse than they are which begets security in some discouragement in others error and floth in all A right estimate of thy spiritual capacity either poverty or riches gain or loss is absolutely needful to regulate thy duty unto a right affecting of thy heart and advance of thy spiritual interests Look over the Day-book of thy heart and life every night posting all thy accompts on the large book of thy Conscience and take some special time for a more full survey of thy Soul and state for Eternity this will be of good use to further Soul-thriving Secondly If you would prosper in your Souls be much and mighty with God in Prayer 'T is said of Vzziah that he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chron. 26. 5. Right Prayer is a wonderful way to Soulenrichings He saith one can never be poor that can pray well One reason why this King prospered as long as he sought the Lord was by this means he came to the visions of God and that help'd him to take a right way to prospetity By Prayer you advise with God what course to take towards mercy 't is your Ephod by which you ask counsel of God where to go to shun danger and what to do to carry on Duty and obtain Mercy 2 Sam. 23. 6. 9. Chap. 30. 7. and by Prayer you procure and get out the Graces and Supplies you need 1 Chron 4. 10 And Jabesh called on the God of Israel saying O that thou wouldst bless me indeed and enlarge my coasts and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldst keep
discover those sins that procure these wastes 328 3 By this you come to see a necessity of pursuing and securing better treasure 329 4 It helps through grace to loosen the heart from things below 330 5 It tends to the furtherance of Soul-inlargements ibid. 6 It makes heavenly things relish the sweeter 331 4 Branch of Exhort To such as have begun this heavenly trade but are fallen back this advises them Advice 1. To be deeply affected with their evil case 333 Considerations to further it 1 Think on the change thy decays have brought upon thee 333 2 What an unlovely and displeasing object thou art hereby become in the eyes of God 334 3 It makes thee little desirable in the eyes of men ib. 4 Thou art the greatest loser of any thy case is dangerous and thy recovery difficult such are hardly recovered 335 336 Que. I fear this is my cause I am fallen back in grace and fear I shall never recover How may I know whether my back-slidings shall be healed Answ There are six signs of back-slidings that shall be healed 1 When thy back slidings are not upon choice but against thy judgment and consent 336 2 When they become thy Soul-trouble and hearts burden 337 3 When they are after thy effectual calling and sincere choice of God 337 4 When thou art restless until the Lord doth heal thee 338 5 When thy vitals are still sound ibid. 6 When under all thy back-slidings thou findest a humble and contrite heart 339 5 Dangerous symptoms of falling back that shall hardly be restored 1 If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Christ 339 2 A falling off from the foundations 340 3 A making Merchandise of the truth selling themselves to work wickedness ibid. 4 Back-slidings in heart shall not be cured 341 5 When persons are prejudiced against the means of recovery ibid. Adv. 2. Search out the causes of thy Souls decay and get them removed 342 Caus 1. Entrance upon this heavenly trade without a stock to set up ibid. 2 Setting upon this trade and having no skill to mannage it 344 3 Want of diligence in following it 345 4 Great and frequent losses in thy spiritual interests 346 5 Great wastes and needless expences 347 6 Great debts are breaking 350 Adv. 3. Compound with your Creditor Adv. 4. Set up no more for your selves but enter your selves Factors for Christ 352 Three things required in a Factor which must be followed by those that will thrive in this heavenly trade 1 To trade upon anothers stock 353 2 To be regulated by anothers advice 356 3 To drive on anothers interest 358 Adv. 5. Follow your trade better than you have done ibid. 5 Branch of Exhort To such as have good trading in Religion be you exhorted 1 To bless God for good trading 360 1 This is a great mercy at all times ibid. 2 A singular mercy at this time 361 3 An earnest of eternal mercy ibid. Qu. How may I know whether I have good trading in spirituals Sol. There are seven signs of good trading in evil times 364 1 When men go not back ibid. 2 If Wares go off well 365 3 When men are richer in stock 366 4 Are you less in debt 368 5 Have you more owed you and is it sure 367 6 That is good trading when the present incomes maintain the trader 369 7 Laying up as well as laying out bespeaks good trading 371 Complaint This is my case I see I am this languishing soul what shall I do to get my condition mended and my languishing soul revived and attain unto true thrivings in this holy Calling Sol. There are six things that help to thrive in their trading 1 A provident care 373 2 A diligent hand 375 3 Driving a secret trade 376 4 The blessing of God on mens labours ibid. 5 There are also prospering graces to be kept up 1 Faith is a Soul-prospering grace 377 2 Love to God his name and ways 379 3 Humiltty is a Soul-thriving grace ibid. 4 Sincerity is a Soul-thriving fruit of the Spirit 381 6 Take prospering courses 382 There are four Soul-thriving courses 1 Keep up Self-examination ibid. 2 Be much with God in prayer 383 3 Ingage God with you in all your undertakings 385 4 Follow Divine Counsel in all you do 386 Ob. My fear still remains that I am a barren soul and shall perish at last 388 Sol. 1. Thou mayst thrive in Religion and not know it ibid. Try thy change ibid. Ob. But may not a hypocrite go so far and all this but change from darkness to conscience light and from sin to common grace 389 Sol. This is answered in four particulars ib. to p. 391 Ob. But change from nature to grace is not growth in grace I may have the first fruits though not the after-fruits of the Spirit 391 Sol. This is answered in three particulars 391 to 393 Advice 2. Inlarge your trade Nine Motives to ingage Christians to Soul inlargements 393 to 399 Advice 3. Lay in for bad times 402 There are four seasons when Christians will need all their store 1 Times of temptation 403 Mat. 2. 1. Cause they are certain they will come 403 2 They are shaking when they are come 407 2 Times of desertion 408 3 Times of great affliction 410 4 The time of death 413 Advice 4. Lay out for God this is 1 Reasonable work 417 2 Pleasing work 419 3 Honourable work 420 4 Profitable work ibid. 5 'T is a proof of your love to God 422 Dir. 1. Lay out your time for God Mot. 1. Your time is not yours but Gods Mot. 2. Much of your time is lost already 424 Mot. 3. Your time is short and uncertain ibid. Mot. 4. You can't put it to better profit 425 5 You must give an account of your time 426 6 How can you bethink a little time for God who hath not thought an eternity of mercy too much for you 427 2 Lay out your strength for God ibid. 3 Lay out your gifts and graces for God 428 4 Lay out your earthly interests for God 430 1 Else all your Religion is vain 432 2 Acts of charity are parts of Religious worship 433 3 God is much glorified by duties of charity 434 4 Sincere charity will evidence your right to glory 435 5 'T is the sure way to blessings here 437 Coun. 5. Lay up for glory 440 1 Lay up sound hopes for glory 441 With Motives thereto ibid. Que. What are these sure hopes of glory Sol. 1. They issue from saving Vnion with Christ 445 2 They are the fruits of true grace 447 3 There will be a mortifiedness to this world 448 4 Right hopes are active hopes 449 5 Then will your conversation be in heaven 454 2 Lay up desires for glory 455 3 Lay up all the treasures you can to greater glory 457 Several things tend to greater glory 458 Lay up preparations for glory for which 461 1 Get your hearts more loose from the world 462 2 Press after more maturity in your graces 463 3 Get and keep the testimony of a good Conscience ibid. 4 Maintain walks with God daily 464 5 Dispatch your work on earth 465 Lastly Be always ready for the coming of the Lord ibid. FINIS