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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	abide_v	able_a	lord_n	160	3	3.7109	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96951	The only sovereign salve for the wounded spirit: approved by the author in himself Delivered by him in several sermons after his recovery: and now, published for the glory of his most gracious restorer, and for the comfort and settlement of any afflicted soul, that doth, or may labour under that weighty burden. By Richard Wortley, minister of Christ in his church, in Edworth in Bedfordshire.	Wortley, Richard, d. 1680.	1661 (1661)	Wing W3642A; ESTC R231974	144,585	300

which he encreaseth by degrees 2 Cor. 10. 15. There is a passing on from strength to strength Psal 84. 7. Gods righteousness is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1. 7. And this improvement ought to be observed and may with ease be known First we are Babes 1 Pet. 2. 2. And so grow up observeably when grown towards perfection of Manhood in Christ Ephes 4. 13 14 16. Obs The effectually-called may discover and ought to observe how sin is weakned in them and how far they are improved in Grace Texts 2 Cor. 4. 16. Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor 6. 1. We beseech you that you receive not the Grace of God in vain Inst St. Paul counted himself not to be perfect not to have apprehended Phil. 3. 12 13. The Church of Thyatira is commended in that her last works were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. Reas 1. That they may be thankful to him by whom they are bettered Rom. 6. 17. 2 Thes 1. 3. 2. That they may be quickned to a further improvement Eph. 5. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 6. Use 1. There is no perfection here Sin may dayly be more weakned Grace more improved Phil. 3. 12. 2. Reach forth to those things that are before Phil. 3. 13. 3. Bless God for thine Improvement It is he that worketh in thee to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. 4. Fall not from thy first love Rev. 2 4. Resol I will go from strength to strength until I appear before my God in Zion Psal 84. 7. Ejac. Remember not O Lord the sinful barrenness of my Youth O grant that being now planted in thine House I may still bring forth fruit in mine age and that I may be fat and flourishing Psal 92. 13. 14. Paral. VIII Circ Looking back I saw a Gentleman who having stopped my Pursuer was beating of him Obs The Holy Spirit restrains Corruption in the effectually-Called ALthough I had made an escape and he who had brought me forth into a large place was pleased to make my way perfect to enlarge my steps under me that in my flight my Feet did not slip Psal 18. 32 36. And though I had gotten some way before my Apprehender yet he followed hard after me saying unto himself I will pursue I will evertake saying of my soul there is no help for him in God Psal 3. 2. God hath forsaken him I will persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71. 11. But behold as formerly enlargement so help unexpectedly did arise unto me from him who had commanded deliverances for me Psal 44. 4. He who at first had taken his hand off me did now withhold him and would not suffer him again to lay it upon me Such is the weakness of a Christian though effectually called that in the course of his life Corruption doth often captivate him Rom. 7. 23. and endeavours what in him lies to reduce and subject him again to the Dominion of Satan But in these his Assaults and prevailings yet here is our Comfort here our Help We have an High Priest who in all points was tempted like as we are though without sin and so is touched with a feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4. 15. Who in that himself hath suffered being tempted is able to succour those that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. And according to this his Power he doth succour them in time of need He takes off the edges and Points of whatsoever weapons are formed against them Isa 54. 17. He hath given his Angels charge over them to keep them in all their waies Psal 91. 11. He ever liveth to make Intercession for them and is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. He strengthens them with all might according to his Glorious power Col. 1. 11. He backs and encourageth them by his Spirit John 15. 26 He communicates his Victory unto them John 16. 33. He will shortly bruise Satan and their Corruption under their feet Rom. 16. 20. And through him that loves them they shall in the end be more than Conquerers Rom. 8. 37. Thus he that abideth under the shadow of the Almighty none evil shall befal him The Lord shall cover him with his Feathers he shall trust under his wings his Truth shall be his shield and buckler Psal 91. 1. 4. 10. Obs The Holy Spirit restrains Corruption in the effectually-Called Texts Psal 118. 13. Thou hast thrust fore at me that I might fall but the Lord helped me 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be temp●ed above that yeare able to bear but will with the temptation also make a way ●● escape Inst. The Lord troubled the Egyptians and took off their Chariot-wheels that they drave them heavily Exod. 14. 24 25. Elisha said unto his Servant fear not for they that be with us are more then they that be with them c. And behold the Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of fire round about Elisha 2 Kings 6. 16 17. Reas 1. He knows we have to deal with a powerful enemy Eph. 6. 12. 2. He knows and pities our weakness Heb. 4 15. Use 1. The effectually called are weak unable of themselves to master their Corruption Rom. 7. 18. 2. Pity thy weak Brother when fallen and restore him in the spirit of meekness Gal. 6. 1. 3. Fear not thine enemy God is on thy side Rom. 8. 31. 4. Pray for assistance Exod. 17. 11. 5. Trust in God he will make perfect his strength in thy weakness 2 Cor. 12. 9. Resol I will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills whence cometh my help my help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Psal 121. 1 2. Ejac. Stand up for my help O Lord stop the way against them that persecute me Say unto my soul I am thy salvation Psal 35. 2 3. Paral. IX Circ The Gentleman beating of my Pursuer had pulled him down upon his knees by his long Hair Obs Upon effectual Calling the Spirit usually first weakens Corruption by taking the heart off from all Affected Vanities and Pleasures THE Hair too short is superstitious or servile too long the shameful shameless dotage of the Times as much unmanly 1 Cor. 11. 14. This of my Pursuer as before I look upon as a cautionary Item against that and all other Vanities and Pleasures whatsover With this about the hair amongst many in my younger years I was much transported at the time of my last happy unsettlement with others more prevailing But the great work being done my heart was wholly taken off from them and set upon those better things from which they had been too long too powerful avocations No man can serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. How can Gods Service but be neglected by him who serves his own pleasure 2 Tim. 3. 4. The tast of it dulls the souls Appetite

that wrestled with him desired him to let him go said I will not let thee go except thou bless me and he blessed him there Gen 32. 24 26 29. Elias prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths and he prayed again and the Heavens gave rain Jam. ● 17. ●eas 1. God hath tied himself by promise to hear such Prayers Mat. 7. 7. 2. Such Prayers are put up in the Name of Christ John 16. 23. 3. Christ maketh Intercession for us Rom. 8. 34. and his Father alwaies heareth him John 11 42. 4. Christ presents our Prayers unto his Father with the Incense of his merits Rev. 8. 3. 5. The Spirit maketh Intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. Use 1. Prayers to Saints are vain they are ignorant of us Isa 63. 16. 2. Go confidently to God in the alone Name of Christ and thou art sure to speed John 16. 23. 3. Though thine infirmities in Prayer be many yet be not discouraged the holy Spirit helps them and intercedes for thee Rom. 8. 26. Resol Whatsoever my wants are I will ask in the name of Christ and then I am certain I shall receive and my joy shall be full John 16 24. Ej●c I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because he hath enclined hi● ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as lon● as I live Psal 116. 1 2. Paral. V. Circ The Mercy was discovered to me but new ● humbled by a wounded Spirit Obs God recompenseth the great afflictions of h● Children with greater mercies SOme years before this great affliction was laid up●● me I had often called my waies to remembrance and humbled my self for my sins but there were so●● yet behind undiscovered which indeed some of the at least I thought not to be such Notwithstanding it was the Lords pleasure whatsoever to that time I had thought of them to make me throughly sensible that they were sins and of so high a nature as called for a low Humiliation To this end he took the same course with me as he did with David in a third person setting them before me and after a most sharp sentence by me pronounced against them secretly saying unto me within my self Thou art the man 2 Sam. 12. 7. Then began Conscience Gods Attorney-General to accuse and condemn Then did the Word applied unto my past actions like a two edged sword cut on both sides making two deep wounds in my soul In The apprehension of the loss of my God Isa 59. 2. In The Fear of the dreadful effects of his vengeance Gal. 3. 10. O the horrours of the wounded spirit my then present condition Who can bear their weight Prov. 18. 14. Who is able to express the anguish Yet the Lord was pleased to support me though his wrath lay heavy upon me and he afflicted me with all his waves almost to distraction while I suffered his terrours Psal 88. 7. 15. After some dayes being a little come to my self I bath'd my wounds with the tears of true repentance and Faith poured in the balm of Christs Merits And when the Lord saw that I did bear his Rod as became his humble child that I was brought so lon that I was now in a sit capacity for mercy then did the great Physitian of my Soul the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2 Not despising my contrite heart Psal 51. 17. But healing my broken spirit and with his own hand gently binding up my wounds Psal 147. 3. Speaking peace unto my soul and raising me again by a clear sense of his Love and Presence O the sweetness of his Mercy Psal 34. 8. Then did he soon after afford unto me these great and gracious vouchsafings O the riches of his Mercy Eph. 2. 4. Obs God recompenseth the great Afflictions of his Children with greater Mercies And that In this Life In the Life to come In this Life Texts Isa 61. 7. For your shame you shall have double For confusion they shall rejoyce in their portion Mar. 10. 28. There is no man that hath left House or Brethren c. for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time Inst. Job for what he had lost had twice as much at his latter end Job 42. 12. Joseph from the Dungeon was raised to highest honour in Pharaoh's Court G●n 41. 40 43. After this Life Texts Isa 54. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on thee 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Inst Christ assures his Disciples that they who had forsaken all and followed him when he should sit in the Throne of his Glory they should sit upon twelve Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. They who came out of great tribulation here in Heaven are arrayed in white Robes and are before the Throne of God c. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 7. 13 14. c. Reas 1. The Lord is rich in Mercy Eph. 2. 4. 2. He would have his Children to bear his Rod with Patience Heb. 11. 9 10 11. Use 1. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. 2. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations Jam. 1. 2. The Recompense will sufficiently countervail the Trial. 3. Hearken to Christ He is sent to proclaim Liberty to the Captives the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. Resol I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath put off my Sackcloath and girded me with gladness Psal 30. 11. He hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness Isa 61. 10. Ejac. O thou that bindest up the broken-hearted Appoint unto the Mourners in Zion give unto them beauty for ashes the Oyl of Joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61. 3. Paral. VI. Circ The discovery as touching those missed secular preferments was onely craved but much more granted Obs The Lord often grants more then his Servants sue unto him for THE Lord is good and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. Had he onely heard me in what I craved the condescension had been greater then unworthy dust and ashes might expect My desire was to be setled as touching those missed expectations whether God in mercy had withheld me from their enjoyment The assurance of this had been a gracious return of my Prayer But O! I am rapt with the contemplation of the magnificence of his Bounty and Goodness That to this assurance he should

are united unto him abiding in him and he in us John 15. 4. There the soul is cleansed from sin and the new life of Grace is begun in it Col 2. 12. as to habit by the holy Spirit then ● B. D. in Col. given unto it Acts 2. 38 39. This Habit doth not act it cannot presently in Infants it doth not in any though baptized at ripeness of years until the Spirit which worketh where when and how it listeth John 3. 8. pleaseth to stir it up For which he takes his own time Luke 16. 17. Mat. 20. 1 3 5 6. It is then stirred up when being drawn by the Father we come unto Christ John 6. 44. Gods ordinary way of drawing is by teaching and instructing of man by the preaching of the Word John 6. 45. Rom. 10. 14. The Word Preached is the ordinary means to beget and stirre up Faith and all other Graces in the heart Rom. 10. 14 17. Faith stirred up begins to work by Love in an holy Life Gal. 5. 6. And when it thus works in any answering Gods call with a good Conscience 1 Pet 3. ●1 then is Christ actually received into the soul John 1. 12. then is it evident that he is effectually called 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 10. That his Baptism was unto him a Laver of Regeneration and that then he was renewed by the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. The Word preached however hath not this power in it self though delivered by one never so holy never so able never so zealous It is but the Instrument of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Who by it Instructs the Understanding John 6. 45. Moves the Affection Acts 16. 14. Inclin●● the Will 2 Cor. 4. 7. Man propounds the Doctrine of Faith Rom. 10. 17. The Spirit stirs up the assent of the heart to embrace it Acts 16. 14. The Preaching of the Word then being Christ's only ordinary way to change the heart to stirre up Faith as also to encrease it and all other Graces 1 Pet. 2. 2. My Bowels cannot but yern over my poor Brethren throughout the Kingdom and I cannot but heartily pity be●oan and pray for the return unto Christ's Fold of those his wandring sheep those ●educed souls who being mi●led by blind Guids stumble in their waies from the ancient paths to walk in paths in a way not cast up Jer. 18. 15. Refusing to walk in the old paths where is the good way Jer. 6. 16. Forsaking the Fountain of living waters for broken Cisterns Jer. 2. 13. Leaving the healthful Pool John 5. 4. For stinking Sinks and Puddles Withdrawing from and slighting the Preaching of the Word and despising the lawful Ministers thereof ● As for their deceiving deceived Teachers 2 Tim. 3. 13. St. Paul shews Whose Ministers they are 2 Cor. 11. 15. What their Practise is v. 13. What their Aim Col. 2. 18. What their present Desert Gal. 5. 12. What without repentance their future Reward ● 2 Cor. 11. 15. When the lawful Ministers of Christ faithfully dispensing of the Mysteries and winning souls unto him shall shine as the stars for ever and ever Dan. 12. 3. Obs The Word Preached by a Lawful Minister is Christ's ordinary way for changing of the heart Texts Rom. 1. 15 16. The Gospel preached is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that beleeveth Heb. 4. 12. The Word of God preached v. 2. is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Inst. Lydia hearing Paul preach the Lord opened her heart that she attended unto the things which were spoken by him Acts 16. 14. Three thousand were converted at Peter's Sermon Acts 2. 41. Reas 1. God hath appointed that it shall be so Isa 55. 11. 2. It is the only ordinary means to beget Faith in the soul Rom 10. 14 17. 3. It is the Instrument of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. 4. For the Glory of Gods Wisdom and Power in confounding the wise by foolish things mighty things by weak things things that are by the base and despised things of the world yea by things which are not 1 Cor. 1. 27. 28. Use 1. Wouldst thou be hired into the Vineyard Stand in the Market place Mat. 20. 3. Wouldst thou be cured Wait at the Pool Jo●n 5. 3. Attend upon the Means If God hath given thee to Christ thou shalt come unto him John 6. 37. but in his time and way 2. Pray unto God that the door of thy heart may be opened otherwise the door of utterance opened to the Minister will be in vain Col. 4. 3. 3. Barrenness under the Means is dangerous Heb. 6. 7. 4. Slight not Preaching God is pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. 5. They who will not hear Moses and the Prophets will not be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luke 16. 31. 6. Account the Feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace beautiful Rom. 10. 15. Esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 13. 7. They that despise them despise Christ and God himself Luke 10. 16. Resol I am but thy earthen Vessel the excellency of the Power is of thee O God I will as my duty is present thy Treasures unto thy people not handling thy Word decei●fully but by manifestation of the truth commend my self unto every ones Conscience in thy sight 2 Cor. 4. 2 7. Of whom is all my sufficiency 2 Cor. 3. 5. Ejac. O let thy holy Spirit work in me mightily that with all Faithfulness preaching Christ the hope of Glory I may labour and strive according to his working to warn those whom thou hast entrusted me with and to teach them in all wisdom that I may present them perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 2. ●8 29. Paral. The Vision in General Obs Heavenly Visions are to be observed OUR Lord Christ when he lived upon the earth his constant way of teaching was by Parables Mat. 13. 34. This way before his In●arnation he frequently used Numb 12. 6. In Dreams and Visions of the night and now still he useth it though not so commonly Acts. 2. 17. For a Vision is nothing else but a Parable or certain visible words in an Emblematical way represented before the eye of the mind when the outward senses are bound up with sleep It is an acting of that before the eye of the soul for its clearer Information and that it may there take the deeper impression which spoken to the ●ar awake would not so much be minded and attended unto by reason of the multiplicity of diverting cares business passions c. A Parable in it self being only the first part of a similitude is aenigmatical and dark but add the Interpretation it is plain to an easie capacity Of Visions there are three sorts Natural usually arising

I could if not match him yet closely follow him in his humiliation and amendment By the Grace of God I am what I am Which Grace of his to new mould and make me what I am hath most richly yet strangely wrought Some hea●ts are by the Holy Spirit gently softned for gracious Impressions some dealt with more roughly that they may be new made and reformed God hath his Oyl and his Hammer to work upon those who are ordained to Eternal Life to bring them home What the one doth not dissolve the other shall break This last way the Lord was pleased to use towards me First and that some years since by a great and long distemper in the right use of my Reason from which in much mercy he released me The work upon that being not throughly wrought hath given him just occasion now lately to visit me by laying upon me the weighty burden of a wounded spirit whereof by a sweet and I trust lasting peace in my Soul he hath at length graciously eased me Lord What is man What sinful man What I the chief among all sinful men That thou shouldst so mind me so wait for my Amendment and use so many means for my Reclaiming Thy Justice which with a remarkeable retaliation hath often paid me in my own co●n might long since have made a quick dispatch and have cast me into Hell But if ever any I may experimentally say thy Mercy is above thy Justice That thou O ●ord maist receive the due Glory of thy Mercy O come hither all you that fear God ●nd I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul I was under his smarting Rod under the without his support as-to the-soul-intollerable burden of a wounded spirit for some sins whereof some of them at least I knew not formerly though I had often called my wayes to remembrance my self to be guilty But the Lord was pleased after a wonderful manner not only to set them before me but to make me so sensible of their heinousness of my desert by them of his terrours then upon me for them that I was exceedingly troubled in my spirit almost to distraction while his fierce wrath went ●ver me I humbled my self low before the Lord for them and thereupon expected Peace and settlement but for some dayes could not find or feel any t●ough earnestly with Tears I often sued for it At length taking into my hands that rich cellar of Cordials for the sin-sick Soul the Book of Psalmes and beginning at the First I read on until I came unto the 8 v. of the 85th Psalm at those words I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak Peace unto his People and to his Saints but let them not turn again to Folly At which it was the Lords pleasure I should stay and fix my thoughts upon them Which I had not lo●g done but I found a river of unspeaka●le comfort flowi●g into my Soul● Which I then ●●uld not but entertain with nor can I now mention without abundance of Tears of unfeigned Thankfulness and exceedi●g Joy I found that B●east of Consolation full of sweetness And that I might suck it to satisfaction I made choyce of the word of the next Su●j●ct which I would insist upon by way of discharge of my Pasto●al Office when the Lord should please in such a measure to restore me to my self that I might in some degree be though most most unworthy yet not unfit as to the right use of my Reason to appear again to serve my Lord Christ in his Ministry Having now finished my weak Meditations upon them I should be most unthankful to my Great and Gracious Restorer should I n●t t●us render unto him the due Glory of the Riches of his exceeding Mercy toward me by communicating them unto you m● Brethren that you may know whith●r to go for Peace if ever the Lord should please to bring any of you into the like Condi●ion I have been in O blesse the Lord with me who of very Faithfulnesse brought me into i● by his Glorious power su●ported me under it and of his abundant Goodnesse led me out of it Blessed be the God of all Comfort who ha●h comforted us in our Tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble with the comfort wherewith we our selves have been comforted of God 2 Cor. 1. 3 4. Yours For Ye are Christs R. W. put them into the like or a worse condition Let them not turn again to Folly The Text consists of three Clauses in every of which each word hath its weight I shall by way of Illustration touch upon each of them and after a brief Paraphrase for their further clearing I shall propound the Doctrines The first Clause is I will hear what God the Lord will speak I will hear what he will speak to the distressed Soul by his Word by his Spirit I will hear what he will speak for I know it will be Comfort and Caution I will hear what God the Lord will speak He sees knowes and pities his people in their distresse and is most ready and able to help them I will hear God the Lord and him only I will hear him I will attend diligently to his Will that I may know it obey it acquaint others with it I will hear him My Resolutions are fixed to hear him against all gainsayers I will hear him My Greatness though a King exempts me not from this duty My holiness as a Saint and his true Servant binds me thereunto I will hear him I will give good example unto others I will teach exhort encourage pray for them But if notwithstanding all this they neglect their duty yet I will hear c. For c. In these two last Clauses are set down a twofold reason why the Psalmist in behalf of the Saints is so resolvedly set upon it to hear God the Lord and him alone The first being taken from that Comfort which the Lord would afford unto the Soul in speaking Peace to it The second from that good which might redound thereunto by his Fatherly Caution and Admonition He will speak Peace unto his People and to his Saints Unto his People not to the world not to stubborn impenitent sinners And to his Saints such are all his People and he owns none other for his but those who are truly such He will speak Peace Comfort Settlement Reconciliation Pardon Acceptance He will speak Peace by a full assurance thereof in the Soul He will speak Peace when his People shall have turned from their sins by true repentance and Faith in Christ He will speak Peace if not presently upon their humiliation and Faith yet most certainly in his good time But ●et them not turn again to Folly But let them not c. How tender is the Lord over his People How unwilling that they should provoke him Let them not turn again to Folly to the Folly of sin Let

is a sad sign of a Soul yet under the Dominion of Satan of one in whom sin reigns that is ready to take any occasion to obey it in the Lu●ts thereof I must tell such that as yet they are not of the number of the Lords people that they are none of his Saints If they were they would make a better use of the fals of their Brethren they would pity them mourn over them and pray for them and that not only out of a sense of their weakness but likewise and chiefly out of a sad apprehension of those disturbances and unsettlements which they cannot but know will follow in their souls upon such their follies upon such their fals which is the Third Branch of the Point Branch 3. That when the Lords people and Saints do fall into the folly of hainous sins they lose their Peace and great disturbances perplexities unsettlements do thereupon arise in their souls This is clear out of v. 6. a little above the Text Where you may perceive that the Lords hand was so heavy upon his people that they were brought down even to the very gates of death Wilt thou not revive us again Reviving is a restoring to life as if they had been in a manner stricken dead with the sense of the Lords wrath upon them they were so distracted so disturb'd and unsetled They l●ved as to the natural life but as to Gods Favour in I which alone is true life Psal 30. 5. to this they were dead as to their sense and apprehension It is not thus with men of Brawny benummed Consciences Custom in sin hath be●eft them of all sense either of it or of wrath deserved by it But the Lords people their souls are of a more tender and soft temper and as in all known sins so especially in sins of an hainous nature in devouring sins that lay the Conscience wast their Conscience faithfully performs its Office and tels them thus and thus hast thou done Whereupon their former peace vanisheth and their souls are fille●●ith pe●plexities and per●urbations upon application of the Word unto their actions Reas The Word that sets down th● sentence of God against such and such sins so and so w●ll I deal saith God with such and such sinners The soul assumes by acknowledgment of its own wicked state accusing it self as guilty of those sins And thereupon it cannot but conclude and pass Judgment upon it self that it is justly liable unto the punishments threatned And hence upon serious consideration of what it hath done and what it hath deserved it becomes much tro●bled perplexed unsetled Somtimes ind●ed it so fals out that the Lords people do not presently upon their fals make this application by reason they do not presently consider their actions and weigh them and compare them with the Law of God as it was with David 2 Sam. 2. 5. 6. Who was quick and sharp in his sentence agai●st the rich man that had taken away the Ewe-lamb from the poor man but considered not what he had done to U●iah in taking away his wife and his life nor what he had deserved by it But whensoever the Application is made and it shall be at some t●me or other the soul loseth its former peace and becomes exceedingly troubled perplexed unsetled even to the breaking of the bones Psal 51. 8. to the wounding of the spirit Prov. 18 14. the smart whereof is insusterable and the we●ght insupportable O! unl●ss the Lord himself uphold the soul in this sad condition under this pain and pressure who can endure it Who can bear it or who is able to express it The heart knows its own grief as to temporal sufferings or its sorrow for sin but for that pain and load and trouble and horrour that accompanies the wounded spirit it is as its contrary peace past utterance past understanding Yet that I may in part acquaint you with the wofulness of that condition which the sin-burdened soul lies groveling and labouring under Know That when it is brought into this condition by the Application of the Word unto its actions the Word hath truly performed the Office of a sharp two-edged sword to which it is compared Heb. 4. 12. cutting on both sides and making two great gashes or deep wounds in the heart Two wounds In the apprehension of the losse of God In the fear of his Wrath. We have both of them before the Text. Wilt thou not revive us There is the Apprehension of the losse of Gods Favour the life of the soul v. 6. Shew us thy Mercy and grant us thy salvation ver 7. There they deprecate wrath and sue to have it removed from the seizure whereof they knew that without Mercy they could not be saved But it would burn against them and be drawn out and continue upon them 1. Then the Lords people and Saints when fallen into the Folly of hainous sins they lose their Peace and are disturbed and unsetled in their Souls and deeply wounded with the Apprehension of losse Of the losse of God Christ the Spirit God hides his Face and they are troubled Their Faith in Christ is seemingly dead and his Blood to them as a Fountain sealed up They cannot find any effectual workings no not so much as those discoveries of life the least stirrings of the Spirit in their souls They cannot pray with Confidence They cannot as formerly rely upon and shrowd themselves under Gods wing for Protection their hedge of defence is broken down and the Tents of those heavenly Guardians the Angels formerly pitched about them for their safety are overthrown So that in this regard they are in a worse-estate for the time then when first freed from the power of Darkness Then they were wounded and pricked at their hearts and had fearful apprehensions of wrath But now beside that they feel the smart of this wound of losse And this is all the good we get by sin it robs us of our God it makes a separation between him and us and causeth him to hide his Face from us Isa 59. 2. Happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144. Ult. He is all-sufficient the Saints enjoy all things in him while they are his and he theirs all things are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 22. 23. But on the other side when he is lost Christ is lost the Spirit is lost all is lost and gone And the loss is yet the greater and the wound the deeper and more smarting according to the Saints love towards God It goes to the heart of a man to lose what he loves Take away the worldly mans wealth which is his god you rob him of his life Micha thought he had lost all when he had lost his Idol Judges 18. 24. Mary Magdalen loved much and when she could not find the body of her beloved Lord in the Sepulcher how ●adly doth she mourn John 20. 15. Much more must it needs

The Only SOVEREIGN SALVE FOR THE Wounded Spirit Approved by the Author in himself Delivered by him in several Sermons after his Recovery And now Published for the Glory of his most Gracious Restorer and for the Comfort and Settlement of any Afflicted Soul that doth or may labour under that weighty Burden By Richard Wortley Minister of Christ in his Church in Edworth in Bedfordshire This is a Faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1. 15. LONDON Printed for J. Rothwel at the Fountain in Goldsmths Row in Cheapside 1661. To the Reader Courteous Reader ST Paul who had the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7 40. having by and from that Spirit assured us 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. that all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God that it is profitable for Doctrine Reproof Correction Instruction that the man of God may be perfect through●● furnished unto all good works 〈…〉 16. That ●● Gospel is the power of God unto Salvatio●● 〈…〉 ●e that believeth ●pon the Spirit 's such assurance by him I do rely with ●●sidence And as in my soul I do believe the Scrip●●●es to be the very Word of God so as I boldly may 〈◊〉 ought taking he●d unto that sure Word of Pro●●ie 2 Pet. 1. 19. I do teach the Truths which there I ●● as Parts of that inspired powerful perfecting and ●very good work throughly-furnishing Word not ●ting to seek further or to wait for the revelation of ●● Truths not there set down lest I be found in the ●●mber of the blasphemous adders thereunto and so be●●e liable to that fearful punishment threatned against ●●h Rev. 22. 18. Moses and the Prophets are to be heard Lu. 16. 29 The Scriptures are to be searched John 5. 39. However sin● as the natural man cannot a●● 〈…〉 ●●ings wanting a spiritual eye to discern 〈…〉 ●evealed unto them 1 Cor. 2. 14. ●● the ●●generate though diligent hearers and searchers cannot clearly discern them unless revealed unto them Luke 24. 45. The Lord is pleased in such a measure as he sees fitting to give unto them the Spirit of wisdo● and revelation in the knowledge of him and to enlighten the eyes of their understandings Eph. 1. 17 18. and by the spirit of Truth to guid them into all needful Truths as he hath promised John 16. 13. This ordinary way of the Sp●rit of Truth 's enlightening to the glory of the same Spirit I speak it I have experimentally found in my soul from the time that with a total resignation I have given my self up to b●led by it Which further to encou●●● 〈…〉 a confident and chearful going on in the service of my Lord Christ in his Ministry hath late●● 〈◊〉 an extraordinary and not so usual a 〈…〉 most unworthy dust and ashes of so low 〈◊〉 ●●●●cention of my great God! been pleased not only to assure me That I have escaped the Corruption that is in the world through Lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. A blessed and most sweet assurance but likewise Clearly to manifest unto me The dangerous estate of the Natural man while such The manner of the great work of his Conversion To instruct me in the right understanding of many Scripture-truths relating thereunto To shew unto me and to all that are effectually called the path of life and by way of guiding of my steps to Heaven-ward secr●tly to say unto my soul this is the way walk in i● Isa 30. 21. Of which great Mercies with so●e other vouchsafed to him not worthy to be beloved not worthy to be minded this following Narration will more fully inform thee The Narration IN my younger years being bred up in the University and having taken a Degree there I was admitted into one of the Inns of Court Where having spent about two years Means now failing for my support and continuance in that course I was received into the Family of an Honourable Personage mine Employments being in the way of a Scholar as to write Letters to read Divinity to pen Sermons to pray with the Family in the Chaplains absence c. It pleased God so to dispose the heart of the Honourable Governour toward me that great secular preferments were endeavoured for me But none of them succeeding I was at length by Mandate from his then Majesty procured by the means of that Noble Personage replanted into my old Nursery a Fellow of a Colledge there I yearly payd mine acknowledgment by attendance where I had received so much Favour the good will and endeavour of worldly preferments for me still continuing One at last was freely offered unto me of such a nature as I most desired with visible almost certainties of great wealth and temporal advancement had it been accepted but Providence had otherwise disposed of me For when upon the offer my answer of acceptance was expected I was surprized with a sudden amazement and standing silent like a Statue had not one word to speak by way of acknowledgment of mine own unworthiness or of the greatness of the intended Favour much less to express my ready acceptance thereof and due thankfulness for it and so for some time continuing was dismissed for the present and within shorttime after became a stranger to those Relations Having after this as I esteemed it unhappy rejection spent some years in the Colledge vainly and idly enough God knows it was the Lords pleasure to transplant me into his Church abroad And having by a remarkable manuduction brought me unto the Living which I now hold he was pleased at my first en●rance by a great though not total distemper in the right use of my Reason to break and fit me in some measure for his Service there and to prepare the way for that great Work which he had to do many years after I could here tell thee how in that distemper God did set me before my self a●ter a strange manner presenting to my view my hainous sins to that time and shewing me how many deaths I had deserved by them But I have acknowledged and humbled my self for them unto him who hath graciously assured me of his Pardon Upon my recovery I had some good moti●ns and faint stirrings in my soul toward God and Goodness which so long I had forgotten and indeed flighted My first Subject which I handled was the broken heart Psal 51. 17. The way which I should have taken but neglecting it the work was not throughly wrought Though I proceeded so far as to a just restitution as near as I could call to mind where I had wronged any and I remember the f●ax beg●n to smoak in some weak dislike often sti●ring in my heart against those sins in which formerly I h●d liv●d and wherewith it was over-run and I began by degrees to break off from them I had now continued at my Living five or six years or more when I do not remember that the day before or

at any time for some years then past I had had such thoughts as might minister matter to my Fancy so to work The Lord was pleased in a Dream and Vision of the night thus to seal Instruction unto my soul Job 33. 15 16. The Vision AT London I was apprehended by a shag hair'd Fellow without an hat of a deformed countenance He led me on I knew not whither until we came unto a Prison scituated where Westminster Hall stands At the entrance into the Hall The Front of the Prison was toward the Thames The Gate was wide and stood wide open The chief Prison-house was in view a cross-building within at the end of a Court-yard There was a window on the right hand of the Gate-house which had a strong Iron grate before it as had the windows on the side-buildings on the left hand toward the chief Prison house through which I could discern mens faces At the entrance of the chief Prison-house stood the Jaylor a grim man in black He seeing of us presently comes to us to the gate and turning my Apprehender a little aside to whisper with him As they were whispering my Apprehender let go his hold I perceiving his hand off thought it best to run for my safety and betook me to my heels My Apprehender pursues me But having the start of him I was gotten so far before him that I could not hear him following Having now ran almost as far as the Savoy and looking back to see at what distance I had left him I could see a good way off a Gentleman who had stopped him in his pursuit and by the hair of his head having pulled him down upon his knees was beating of him with a Battoon I still fearing that he might get loose and follow me ran on until I came at the Savoy where I ran down a pair of stairs Which stairs delivered me on to a square Brick building raised one Story from the ground left so that the work might be continued having Beams and Jyces laid ready for a Floor and second Story In this Building I wa● perswaded I might hide my self from my Pursuer Whereupon attempting to get down between two of the Jyces there were men below within the Building who endeavoured by thrusting at me with an Halberd and long staves to hinder my Descent But the danger I fled from made me so resolute that putting by their thrusts I got down in spight of them I was no sooner below but they were all vanished From hence I was immediatly transferred into the Tower of the Temple-Church and standing where the Essigies of the Knights-T●mplars lie then not to be seen all fear of being again taken by my Pursuer was now ceased I cast mine eye up to the top of the Tower where my sight was limited by a Cloudy resemblance Round about on the sides the Tower was scaffolded up from the Pavement as in a Theater Under the Scaffolds I observed certain men as if lurking there to hinder people in their ascent I awaked and musing upon the Vision in my mind and finding that it had a kind of orderly dependance one part upon another assoon as I arose I wrote it down and gave I know not what Interpretation of it The writing unminded lay among my loose Papers many years until which I believe was nine or ten years after the Lord was pleased to lay upon me the heavy burden of a wounded Spirit In mine extremity which was so high that I feared death having over-looked my loose Papers and this Vision cursorily among the rest I cast them into the fire The Occasion of recalling of the Vision AFter some dayes the Lord having been pleased to resettle me and to speak Peace to my soul as I have shewed in my salve for the Wounded Spirit reflecting my thoughts upon my time spent in that before-mentioned Family as also upon the great secular preferments which I then missed of I was not a little troubled at my supposed loss Yet when I remembred that I stood a long time silent as amazed c I had a strong perswasion in me that the Lord in Mercy had with-held those p●eferments from me I sued unto him by earnest Prayer that if it were so he would be pleased to discover it unto me that upon my sense of his Mercy I might bless his Name for it It was not long after my Prayer was ended before the Lord afforded me this gracious return thereof bringing freshly to my by my late illness much weakned memory the Vision which I had so long and so much slighted Which a little pondering upon I called to mind whereof I was afterwards in another dream assured by a voyce saying It was the Gatehouse That the Gate-house of that Prison to which I was brought with the inward Prison-house windows and side-buildings thereof were just like unto the Gate-house or Lodge the inward Buildings windows and side-Buildings of that House wherein I had lived with that Noble Personage whcih also being scituate in a Town upon the River on the same side had its Front towards the Thames Whereupon by him to whom alone they do belong Gen. 40. 8. I was presently enabled to give this Interpretation That the Apprehender was my Corruption That it had brought me to the mouth of Hell in bringing me to that Family and so near unto the Law the course I must have returned to and gone on in had the offered Favour been accepted That the man in black at the entrance of the Chief Prison-House was the Devil ready to seize upon me That the Gentleman beating of my Pursuer was the Holy Spirit restraining of my Corruption That the Stairs put me in mind to humble my self for my sins The Building I interpreted to be the Building of Grace begun in my Soul The men within to be my spiritual Enemies violently opposing of me The Scaffolds in the Tower of the Temple-Church a direction for a gradual improvement in Grace The men under them my spiritual enemies watching advantages to hinder mine Improvement This more general Interpretation served then to settle me in what I sued to be satisfied in with much comfort assuring me dayly more and more that I was delivered from the mouth of Hell as to those Relations and to that course But since upon more serious consideration and throughly weighing of each particular circumstance in the Vision I find that I have great cause to bless God in the super abundant riches of his Mercy in that when I sued only for satisfaction ●n that forementioned Particular he not only shewed me what he had done for me as to that But likewise That he had freed me from the slavery of my Corruption which so long and so powerfully had prevailed ever me and so had delivered me from the power of darkness and had translated me into the Kingdom of his Dear Son Col. 1. 13. Directing of me what now I was to do To humble my self

of salvation Inst Jerusalem had her day wherein she might have known the things which belonged unto her peace Luke 19. 42. Chorazin Bethsaida Capernaum had their time for repentance Mat. 11. 21 23. For Mercy Conferred Texts Exod. 12. 41. And it came to pass at the end of the Four hundred and thirty years even the self-same day it came to pass that all the Hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt Gal. 4. 4. When the Fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman c. Inst. Mordecai was advanced Hest 6. 10. When Haman had prepared the Gallows to hang him Hest 5. 14. The Snare was broken and the Church escaped when her proud Enemies were ready to swallow her up quick Psal 124. 3 7. For Mercy discovered Texts Eph. 3. 8 10. Unto me is this Grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ c. to the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God Col. 1. 26. The Mystery hid from ages and generations is now made manifest unto the Saints Inst. When Jacob was under heavy affliction for his Son Joseph whom he believed to be dead for Simeon who was in bonds for his Darling Benjamin who was taken from him Gen. 42. 36. Then was that joyful Message brought unto him that Joseph was alive and Lord of all Egypt Gen. 45. 26. When Peter was in doubt whether he might go unto Cornelius it being unlawful for a Jew to converse with a Gentile then did the Lord reveal unto him the meaning of the Vision of the great sheet c. Shewing him that he should not call any man common or unclean Acts 10. 11. 28. Reas 1. God would be glorified in his Omniscience Rev. 2. 23. 2. He would have man to set a due value on his Mercies Psal 86. 12 13. 3. He would have them chearfully entertained Psal 35. 9 10. Use 1. Let not God fail of his end Psal 139. 1 17. 2. Accuse him not of delay●ng Psal 13. 1 2 3 Slight not the day of Grace Psal 95. 7 8. 4 W●lk wisely and redeem the time Col. 4. 5. Purchase oppor●unities so the word signifies for goodness at any rate Resol Though Mercy be deferred yet will I never think that long which once I shall certainly enjoy so sweetned and made welcome by its seasonableness when it comes Mark 16. 7. Ejac. Hear thy Servant who takes pleasure in the stones and favours the dust of thy Zion Arise Lord and have Mercy upon her for the time to favour her yea the set time is come Psal 102. 13 14. Paral. III. Circ The Mercy was not discovered until I prayed Obs God will be sued unto GOd is our Father ready to supply our wants He is our Heavenly Father able to supply them knowing what we have need of before we ask him Mat. 6. 8. My condition was not unknown unto him he could have setled me though I had not prayed unto him But it was his pleasure to be sought into Prayer is the souls conversing with God Being the Interpreter of those holy Desires therein stirred up by the Spirit of Supplication Zech. 12. 10. That the Lord is pleased to admit dust and ashes to speak unto him is an high honour Gen. 18. 27. Yet higher to be assured of his ear that he will hear and grant whatsoever we sue unto him for Mat. 21. 22. As it is a dignity to man so is it an honour to God himself which is the chief end why he would have man to pray unto him In Prayer we serve him Luke 2. 37. In Prayer we worship him Therefore is it compared to Incense Psal 141. 2. Sending up an acceptable savour unto him and sweetning all our other Services In Prayer we glorifie him in his Majesty Power Goodness Love and other his Gracious Attributes In our eyes waiting upon him Psal 123. 2. For the kinds of Prayer they are Four Deprecation of evil That it may be averted Dan. 9 16. That being upon us it may be removed Psal 25. 22. Or That it may be mitigated Psal 85. 4 5. This kind best suits the time of Affliction Jam. 5. 13. Petition of what is good That it may be conferred Psal 119. 34. That it may be established Psal 68. 28. That it may be encreased Luke 17. 5. Here the Rule must be that our Prayer be according to Gods Will 1 John 5. 14. Otherwise we are not like to speed Jam. 4. 3. Intercession for others For all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. For the Church Psal 122. 6. For Kings and all in authority 1 Tim. 2. 2. For the Ministry Rom. 15 30. For Sinners 1 John 5. 16. For our Enemies Mat. 5. 44. For this we have our Saviours Form Our Father c Give us Forgive us c. Which whosoever hath wholly laid by it is to be feared that with it he hath laid by true Christian Charity Thanksgiving For benefits received Psal 116. 12 13. Upon craving of new ones Col. 1. 3. When they are deferred When they are denied 1 Thes 5. 18. And this that the abundant Grace may through our Thanksgiving redound to Gods Glory 2 Cor. 4. 15. Our Infirmities in Prayer are such That we know not what to pray for as we ought Rom. 8. 26. That we know not how to pray Luke 11. 1. But the Spirit helps our Infirmities Directing us what to pray for in our Lords Form prescribed to his Disciples which we are to use either in those very words Luke 11. 2. Or framing all our Petitions according thereunto Mat. 6. 9. Assisting us in the manner of our Prayers helping Our backwardness by disposing of the heart unto the duty 2 Sam 7. 27. Our want of words by opening of our lips Psal 51. 15. Our wandring thoughts by scattering of them and keeping the heart attent unto Prayer Psal 68. 1. Our coldness By heating of the heart Psal 39. 3. By the Spirits making Intercession for us in others with groanings which cannot be uttered as some understand that Rom. 8. 16. By Christ's tears shed over his Church Luk. 19. 41. By his strong Cries offered up unto his Father in the daies of his flesh Heb. 5. 7. By his now interceding for us Rom. 8. 34. As for posture I speak of secret Prayer that is best so for the voice or silence which most may quicken devotion 1 Kings 18. 42. For Place holy hands are to be lifted up every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. Especially when thou art withdrawn from Company Devout Soliloquies have More of the Spirit Less of Temptation A Secret Observer An Open Rewarder Mat. 6. 6. For time Let it be the Key of the day the Bar of the night Let it ascend morning and evening as the Incense Psal 141. 2. Pray without ceasing whensoever occasion shall be offered 1 Thes 5. 17. The sense of our wants

from the multitude of business Eccles 5. 3. Not to be heeded but by the Physitian as they may somtimes be caused by the temper of the Body Diabolical which are filthy superstitious deluding forbidden as by no means to be observed Deut. 13. 1 3. Heavenly proceeding from God Acts 26. 19. Known to be such by their agreeableness unto his Word and whereby he is pleased more evidently to manifest his Will touching things past present to come Such was this which was now represented before the eye of my soul That every one is bound to believe and diligently to endeavour to gain a particular assurance unto himself of his salvation is evident 2 Pet. 1. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 5. This Assurance is to be attained By the Light of Faith John 3. 36. By the Presence of the Spirit in the Soul 1 John 4. 13. By the Testimony of the Spirit Rom. 8. 16. By applying of the Promises with Comfort Hebr. 6. 18. By Confidence in Prayer Heb. 10. 22. Which Assurance when in some measure attained the Lord by special Revelation if he so please may make it yet more evident and more strongly confirm it as he did To Peter 2 Pet. 1. 3. To Paul 2 Tim. 4. 8. as Augustine observes on that place To the Apostles Luke 22. 29 30. To the Seventy Disciples Luke 10. 20. To my self in this Vision Or he may reveale unto man his Salvation without a former assurance of it as To Mary Magdalen Luke 7. 47 48 50. To the Malefactor on the Cross Luke 23. 43. I was never a waiter for Revelations The Scripture is full and contains enough to bring us to Heaven ● Tim 3. 16 17. Nor have I been an Observer of Dreams I know that in them are divers Vanities Eccles 5. 7. This how long and how much I slighted it I have before set down But being now so freshly and strangely brought back unto my memory I could not but take special notice of it as I do of the way of Gods dispensation in discovering of its meaning First He only in an evident way manifested unto me so much of it as in answer to my Prayer served to settle me touching those missed expectations My entertainment whereof with due thankfulness and blessing of his Name prepared the way for a further discovery For many moneths after having upon his former late● great Mercies a perswasion raised in me that as to my soul I was in a happy condition and being desirous to attain a more evident assurance thereof I purposely made choice of that text to preach upon both to my self and my people 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Wherein I took some pains and before I had fininished it I was made clearly to understand the meaning of my Apprehenders hand being taken off me at the Prison Gate of my descent into the Building those most material things in the Vision touching my soul which before I had not so much as minded The faithful Witness who cannot lye in whom all Gods Promises are Yea and Amen 2 Cor 1. 20. so making good those unto me Seek and ye shall ●ind Mat 7. 7. To them that seek for Glory Honour and Immortality he will render eternal life Rom. 2. 7. And that with such a strong undoubted and full perswasion that nothing can ever move me from it Which unspeakeable Mercy I trust by Gods powerful support and assistance I shall alwaies be so far from abusing that as thereupon the Comforts of my soul are unutterable so I shall strive to the utmost in my power earnestly beseeching his help without whom I can do nothing John 15. 5. To proportion my Love and Thankfulness to the greatness of it Luke 7. 47. To purifie my soul from sin 1 John 3. 3. To walk holily and without blame before my God Eph. 1. 4. To fear and serve him in truth with all my heart 1 Sam. 12. 24. To go on chearfully and confidently in mine obedience unto his Will Psal 119. 32. With all diligence putting in practise those duties as all other to which he hath now directed me from Heaven This high favour for which I can never sufficiently magnifie my Gracious Lord was revealed To me seeking for assurance of mine effectual Calling Do thou seek and trust the Lord Christ upon his Promise To me who had been so wicked a man O with me give God the Glory of the riches of his Mercy And whosoever thou art that readest this though thy sins be never so ●ainous despair not of it To me a lawfully called setled Minister maintained by Tithes O slight not this eye-salve from Heaven Rev. 3. 28. Open your eyes poor blinded people The Lord open them for you that you may see and return from the errours of your waies Obs Heavenly Visions are to be observed Texts Jo● 33. 14. In a dream in a Vision of the night c. Then he openeth the ears of men and ●ealeth their instruction c. Acts 2. 17. Out of Joel 2. ●t shall come to pass in the last daies I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh c. and your young men shall see Visions and your old men shall dream Dreams Inst Peter thought on the Vision of the great Sheet wherein were all manner of Beasts creeping things and Fowls and doubted in himself what it should mean Acts 10. 17 19. The Lord spake to Paul in the night by a Vision be not afraid c. Acts 18. 9. Reas 1. God calls by them to repentance Job 33. 14 c. 2. They are a means of enlightning Acts 10. 28. 3. They are given to profit withal 1 Cor. 12. 7. Use 1. Compare them with the Word that thou maist be sure they are from God Acts 2. 2 3 4 16. 2. Mind diligently what Gods end is in them Acts 10. 28. 3. Pray to God to enlighten thee that thou maist understand them Mat. 13. 36. 4. Improve them for thine own for others benefit 1 Cor. 12. 17. Resol S●nce thou hast given me O Lord this manifestation of thy Spirit to profit withal as I am stedfastly purposed to obey thy will as to my self thy Grace assisting so I will and cannot but speak those things unto others for the good of their souls which I have seen and heard Acts 4. 24. O Lord for thy Servants sake and according to Ejac. thine own heart hast thou done all this Greatness in making known all these great things O Lord there is none like thee neither is there any God beside thee 1 Chron. 17. 19 20. The Vision AT London I was apprehended by a shag-hair'd Fellow without an Hat of a deformed Countenance He led me on I knew not whither untill we came unto a Prison scituated where Westminster-Hall stands at the Entrance into the Hall The Front of the Prison was toward the Thames The Gate was wide and stood wide open The chief Prison-House was

not able to perform I will therefore trust in the most High through whose Mercy it is that I have not been moved Psal 21. 7 11. Ejac. How safe is the Heritage of thy Children O Lord whosoever shall gather together against them shall fall for their sakes Isa 54. 15. 17. The Deliverance Paral. I. Circ My Apprehenders hand was taken off me Obs When the Lord Christ pleaseth to free Corruption can no longer enslave THat they who are ordained unto eternal life to that glorious Inheritance of the Saints in light may be partakers thereof there is pre-required a certain mee●ness in them Col. 1. 12. This they have not neither can have while in the state of nature 1 Cor. 15. 50. That therefore they may be ●itted for it it is necessary That they be drawn out of their natural estate That they be set in the state of Grace They are drawn out of the state of Nature by being freed from the power of Darkness Col. 1. 13. They are set in the state of Grace by being translated into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1. 13. To whom it belongs to work these great works for them he alone being able to do them Luke 11. 22. That he had wrought them for me he was now pleased clearly to manifest unto me In my Apprehender's hand being taken off me he shewed me that he had freed me from the power of darkness from the power of reigning sin and so from the power of Satan of Hell In my descent into the Building which soon after followed he shewed me that I was now become a Member of his true Church and so set in the state of Grace His first great work for me was to deliver me from the power of darkness It cannot be believed that these mine enemies in whose snares I was taken out of a willingness now to be rid of me did of themselves offer me this opportunity to escape Their Consultations certainly were not so deep nor they so secure that they minded not him whom they concerned Corruption doth more value his pains and diligence and the hu●gry Lion doth not so easily part with his prey whereof he is seized How came I then to be set at liberty They were out-witted and out powered The Lord Christ the great Counsellour the mighty God Isa 9. 6. defeated all their Contrivances enervated their strength and in despite of them rescued and wrested me out of their hands Powerfully as to them Col. 2. 15. In a way of Justice as to his Father Col. 1. 20. Innocent He had payed his precious Blood for my soul 1 Pet. 1. 19. His Innocency redeemed me being guilty His rich Price which he payed impoverished Satan His Bonds ●ettered him freed me Thus the Serpents head was broken Gen. 3. 15. by him to whom it was de●ervedly granted that he should divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul unto death Isaiah 53. 12. But shall the Prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful Captive be delivered Yes it shall it was it could not be otherwise when now the Lord my Saviour my Redeemer the Mighty one of Jacob was pleased to contend with those that oppressed me and to save me The Captive of the Mighty was taken away and the prey of the Terrible was delivered Isa 49. 24 25 26. Obs When the Lord Christ pleaseth to free Corruption can no longer enslave Texts Luke 11. 21 22. When a strong man armed keepeth his Palace his goods are in peace but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcometh him he taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoyles John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me Inst Zacheus though Chief of the Publicans men esteemed by Christ no better than Heathen Mat. 18. 17. Though a rich man and such shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19. 23. Yet when Christ called him he made hast and came down and received Christ joyfully Luke 19. 2 6. Saul when breathing out Threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples and going purposely to Damascus with authority to bind and bring those to Jerusalem that he should find there of that way upon the Apparition and Voice from Heaven wa● changed and submitted himself to Christ's Will Acts 9. 1 2. Reas 1. The Holy Spirit by whom the Soul is freed is a God of irresistible power A rushing mighty Wind filled the House c. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 2. 2 4 2. The Debt being discharged the Prisoner is to be released Col. 2. 14. Use 1. The Godhead of the Spirit proved 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2. Bless him who hath paid thy Debt Col. 2. 14 3. Take heed of running upon a new Store Psal 85. 8. Resol Thou hast given Commandment to save me wherefore my mouth shall be filled with thy Praise and Honour all the day For they are confounded and brought to shame that sought my hurt Psal 71. 3 8 24. Ejac. Into thine hand I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth and hast not shut me up into the hand of the Enemy but hast set my Feet in a large room Psal 31. 5 8. Paral. II. Circ My Apprehenders hand was taken off unexpected Obs Effectual Calling is of Gods Free Grace THat God alone is able to change the Heart is Clear Grace is a participation of the Divine Nature And who can communicate the Divine Nature unto man but only a Divine Power 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. There is nothing in the Soul out of which it may be produced as therein potentially contained Mans recreation then must necessarily be effected by that Almighty Power that at the first made him of nothing Ezek. 11. 19. But may not man deserve this Change May he not walk so exactly by Natures Rule as that God in equity cannot deny his Grace unto him No This Grace is free this Love undeserved What is in the sick Patient to deserve that the Physitian should seek him out to cure him What in an Enemy to deserve Reconciliation from him to whom he hath given just cause to hate him Yet when I was sick and languishing my Physitian sought me to recover me My highly provoked God when I was his Enemy was pleased freely to be reconciled unto me Col 1. 19 10. My Apprehender had hold of me The Jaylor was ready to take me into his Custody The Prison gaped for my Entertainment The Grates were strong to secure me No visible help to rescue me Nothing in me to deserve Compassion Deliverance Yet then was the Lord pleased not for my sake but for his own Holy Names sake to pity me to put a new Spirit in me to save me from all mine Enemies from all mine uncleannesses Isa 31 21 26 31. Well may I now to the Glory of my Almighty and Compassionate Redeemer take up those words of his Church whereof I am now

man Eph. 3 16. 4. Give God the glory both of thy willing and acting what is good Phil. 2. 13. It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom 9. 16. 5. If sin be not more and more wea●ned in thee it is thine own Fault James 1. 14. Resol Old things are past away and all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. I will now exercise that power wherwith I am endued in dayly mortifying of the old man with his Members and putting on the new man with his Graces Col. 3. 5 12. Ejac. To will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not Rom. 7. 18. O my Lord Christ do thou assist me For without thee I can do nothing John 15. 5. Paral. VI. Circ My Apprehender pursued me Obs Corruption pursues the effectually-called to re-inslave them THis brings to mind a Passage in my first distemper which may here not unseasonably be related I was walking by an hedge side and not far before me perceiving a Snake to draw back into an out growing shrub when I came at it I looked down and espying of her put down the end of my staffe upon her head and thought I had dispatched her Returning that way again and looking in to see what was become of her she being come to her self d●rted out and striking at my foot had bitten and spoyled me had I not been there well fortified Thus Corruption though Christ by his death hath bruised and broken his head yet assaults and would sting the soul were it not strengthened against its attempts by a stedfast Faith in him Eph. 6. 16. Upon the account of their Baptism St. Paul salutes the Ephesians by the name of Saints Eph. 1. 1. The soul is sainted or sanctified in Baptism by being by vertue of Christs Death and Resurrection into which we are baptized Rom. ● 3. cleansed from sin and endued with an habit of Grace infused Acts 2. 38. Where foreseen Infidelity doth not interpose a Bar. When the Lord is pleased to stir up this habit to manifest it self in act and exercise for which he takes his own time Mat. 20. 1 3 5 6. then are we effectually called The Souls true Sanctification being the end of our eff●ctual Calling Rom. 1. 7. consists in Faith Col. 1. 2. And Obedience Psal 50 5. With 1 Sam. 15. 22. These in the course of a Christians life from the time that he first begins to act do find great opposition from the carnal part from Corruption from which the soul is not so cleansed but that it still resides there It is purged out in Baptism That it may not hurt Not that it may not be The Soul is freed from it As to Dominion it reigns not Rom. 6. 14. As to Guilt it condemns not Rom. 8. 1. Yet it remains As to its Nature Rom. 7. 17. As to its rebellious Motions Rom. 7. 23. Between this and the Spirit there is a continual warring Gal. 5. 17. And it often gets the upper hand Rom. ● 23. However Where the Will is against it Rom. 7. 18. Where there is not an allowing of it but an hatred against it Rom. 7. 15. Where there is an earnest desire of its utter extirpation Rom. 7. 24. With a Constant Tenour of life according to Gods Will 1 John 3. 9. Although it doth pursue assault and often prevail yet it shall never wholly regain the soul under its power John 10. 28. Obs Corruption pursues the effectually Called to re-inslave them Texts Rom. 7. 20. If I do that I would not it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me Gal. 5. 17. The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would Inst The Lord hardned the heart of Pharaoh and he pursued after the Children of Israel who went out of Egypt with an high hand Exod. 14. 8. St. Paul found a Law in himself that when he would do good evil was present with him Rom. 7. 21. Reas 1. Satan is unwilling to lose his Prey Mark 9. 26. 2. His Malice continues though his Power be broken 1 Pet. 5. 8. Use 1. Escape for thy life look not behind thee with a lingring desire after thy former sins Stay not in all the Plain shun all occasions of falling again escape to the Mountain of Gods powerful Support and Protection Gen. 19. 17. 2. Delight in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 7. 22. 3. Walk in the Spirit and thou shalt not fulfil the Lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. 4. Return not to thy Vomit Prov. 26. 11. Resol I am now no longer in the Flesh but in the Spirit Rom. 8. 9. Wherefore though with the flesh against my will I somtimes serve the Law of sin yet with my mind I will serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 25. Ejac. There is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. Paral. VII Circ I looked back to see at what distance I had left my Pursuer and saw him a good way off Obs The Effectually-called may discover and ought to observe how sin is weakned in them and how far they are improved in Grace SIN in Scripture is compared unto darkness Grace unto light Isa 9. 2. Our great God whose first work in the Creation was to make light Gen. 1. 3. In mans recreation first infuseth the light of Faith into the soul 2 Cor. 4. 6. Darkness being but the privation of Light when the ●ight appears it withdraws and as the Light increaseth so it is more and more by degrees dispelled A Sinner upon his effectual Calling is translated out of the Kingdom of Darkness Col. 1. 13. And he is no sooner out of that but he is immediatly in the Kingdom of Christ in his marvellous Light 1 Pet. 2. 9. Upon his first Translation Light is but begun in him but he clears up more and more Mark 8 24 25. Sin decayes in him and Grace encreaseth The Path of the just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. Though man knows not by what way the Light is parted Job 38. 24. How the Vayl of Darkness is put off how the Light gathers strength yet the perfect day is easily discerned from the Dawning Light is sown for the righteous Psal 97 21. It is sown The seed that is cast into the ground by the Husbandman though it springs and grows up he knows not how Mark 4. 26 27. Yet its growth●n few moneths i● plainly seen To every one is given Grace ●ccording to the measure of the Gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. With his Blessing upon it Increase and multiply First he gives in a lesser proportion afterwards a larger James 4. 6. First a weak Faith

and takes off its true relish of spiritual sweetness The Manna ceased assoon as the Israelites had eaten of the old corn of the Land of Canaan Josh 5. 1● To extirpate the Affections man must be unman'd where they have an over-ruling power he becomes a Beast Psal 49. 20. At least he is brought down to the lowest degree of servitude There is no such slavery as his who is not Master of himself Against violent Temptations the soul is armed by Fortitude by Temperance against alluring This moderates Mans Love of them His desire after them His delight in them His Grief in the absence of them This Grace of Temperance being the Guardian of all other Vertues the Spirit among others upon a Christians effectual Calling adornes the soul withal thereby so restraining the Passions and confining of them within their bounds that in the Fruition of vain Pleasures the moderate use whereof is not denied 1 Cor. 6. 12 Or in their absence he is still the same Let him enjoy them he is as if he enjoyed them not 1 Cor. 7. 29. 30 31. Let him be without them he is as if enjoying of them 2 Cor. 6. 10. Upon his Change he is now set far above them having his soul filled with new and spiritual delights Though his heart be taken off from the vain Comforts of the world yet Christ leaves him not comfortless Joh. 14. 18. The Joy of the Lord is his strength Nehem. 8. 10. His Comforts delight his soul Psal 94. 19. In whom he rejoyceth continually Phil 4. 4. His Delight is in Gods Law Psal 1. 2. Which is most sweet unto him Psal 119 103. His delight is in the Saints and in the excellent Psal 16. 3. He takes pleasure in the waies of wisdom Prov. 3. 17. He is filled with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Yea with joy unspeakable and full of Glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. The Promises those satisfying Breasts of Comfort Isa 66. 11. afford him strong Consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. He rejoyceth that his Name is written in Heaven Luke 12. 20. Thus whereas formerly when enslaved to worldly pleasures in laughter his heart was sorrowful as well it might the end of that Mirth being heaviness Prov. 14. 13. Now he enjoyes that sweet peace in his soul which guards and keeps up his spirit under the heaviest afflictions Acts 5. 41. Which he bears with patience rejoycing in hope of the Glory of God Rom 5. 2. And longing for that day when he shall enter into the joy of his Lord Mat. 25. 23. Obs Upon effectual Calling the Spirit usually first weakens Corruption by taking the heart off from all affected Vanities and Pleasures Texts Heb. 12. 1. Let us lay aside every weight 1 Pet. 3. 3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting of the hair and of wearing of Gold and of putting on of Apparel c. Inst St. Peter exhorts those who had obtained the precious Faith to add thereunto Temperance 2 Pet. 1. 6. Mary Magdalen upon her Conversion her eyes formerly allurements to lust now shed Tears with which she washed Christ's feet and wiped them with the hairs of her head with whose nicely set Curles she was wont to entangle her Lovers She bestowed her Kisses upon them and anoynted them with her precious Oyntment before used to set off her Beauty to make it the more enticing Luke 7. 38. Reas 1. They hinder the soul in its search after Gods Kingdom and the righteousness thereof Mat. ● 31 32. 2. They choak the Word and make it become unfruitful Luke 8. 14. 3. They retard the souls pace in her race toward the Mark Heb. 12. 1 4. They harden the heart Amos 6. 1 4 5 6. Use 1. Set thine Affections on things above not on things on the earth Col. 3. 2. 2. Seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof Mat. 6 33. 3. Rid thy self of whatsoever may hinder thee in thy spiritual Race Heb. 12. 1. 4. Adorn thy soul with the Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit 1 Pet. 3. 4. with sobriety and good works 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 5. Account not that thy Glory which is thy shame Phil 3. 19. 6. Draw not on Iniquity with Cords of Vanity Isa 5. 18. Resol All things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any 1 Cor. 6. 12. Ejac. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way Psal 119. 37. Paral. X. Circ After the staying and beating of my Pursuer I heard no more of him Obs The Power of Corruption being once broken It shall never again recover it over the effectually-Called so as to hinder them from Glory I cannot but begin this Parallel with a triumphant exultation in my soul and say Thy right hand O Lord glorious in power hath dashed in pieces the enemy In the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown those that rose up against me Thou in thy Mercy hast redeemed me and led me forth and wilt guid me in thy strength unto thy holy Habitation Exod. 15. 6 7 13. Where my hope is laid up with thee Col. 1. 5. Even that Crown of righteousness which my Lord Christ the righteous Judge will give unto me at that day 2 Tim 4. 8. This thou hast assured me of and none shall take it from me John 10. 28. Who is like unto thee O Lord Who is like thee glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 11. No man cometh unto Christ unless the Father draw him John 6. 44. We are led willingly drawn with reluctancy Rom. 5. 10. But God of unwilling maketh us willing working Grace in the heart by the secret Operation of the Spirit upon the Preaching of the Word which is his ordinary way of d●awing John 6. 45. Rom. 10. 14 15. In the Word preached Christ is offered to the soul 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. And they who receive him thus offered have put him on Gal. 3. 27. and dwell in him Eph. 3. 17. and so are effectually called Effectual Calling is a certain evidence of a Christian Election Rom. 8. 30. And these two draw after them all those other Links of the Golden Chain reaching from Gods Decree of Predestination unto the enjoyment of that Glory to which he is predestinated and mentioned by St. Peter 2 Pet. 1. 1 3 4. He is redeemed from his vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. From the Dominion of sin and all other his enemies Luke 1. 71. Having escaped the Corruption that is in the world through lust v. 4 He is regenerated and become a new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. Having all things given unto him that pertain unto life and godliness or to a godly life v. 3. He is justified having obtained the precious Faith through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ v. 1. And so assured of the pardon of his sins and of Gods Favour unto him in his

Son He is adopted Eph. 1. 5. by vertue of his Son-ship being interessed in the exceeding great and precious promises v. 4. Christ is made unto him sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. Communicating his Grace unto him so making him partaker of the Divine Nature v. 4. He is assured of Glory to which he is called as also to that way of Vertue in which he is and which leadeth thereunto v. 3. It is a sad truth that that sweet comfort which ariseth from this assurance may for a time be shaken and interrupted upon the prevailing of Corruption which while it abideth in us cannot but often be Our Enemies being so subtil We so weak Occasions of falling so many But though we fall yet we shall not be utterly cast down Psal 37 24. While God continues unchangeable Rom. 8. 30. While his Seed remaineth in us 1 John 3. 9. While Christ continues faithful John 10. 28. While his Prayer for us is effectual John 11. 42. While God continues a God of Almighty Power John 10. 29 30. Obs The Power of Corruption being once broken it shall never again wholly ●ecover it over the effectually-Called so as to hinder them from Glory Texts John 8. 36. If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed Rom. 8. 30. Whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glori●ied Inst The Church with each true Member thereof is assured by Christ that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her Mat. 16. 18. Paul assures those in Rome beloved of God and called to be Saints Rom. 1. 7. That being dead unto sin and so under Grace sin should no more have dominion over them Rom. 6. 11 14. Reas 1. As to inchoation they are in present possession of eternal life John 3. 36. 2. As to Consummation of their happiness they have Gods Decree for it Rom. 8. 30. Christs Promise of it John 10. 28. His Prayer for it John 17. 24. Which his Father alwayes hears John 11. 42. His Assurance that they shall never perish that none shall pluck them out of his Hand John 10. 28. God's and Christ's Power to keep them against whomsoever shall endeavour it John 10. 29 30. Use 1. God's love is unchangeable John 13. 1. 2. Give diligence to make thy calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. 3. Get an assurance that thou art united unto Christ and then thou art sure of Heaven 1 John 5. 11 12. The Bonds of the Union between Christ and the Soul are The Holy Spirit Rom. 8. 9. Faith John 6. 35. 4. Lead an holy Life and thou shalt never fall 2 Pet 1. 10. Resol Being now made free from sin and become thy Servant O Lord I will with an assured confidence having my fruit in holiness rely upon thy Love and Faithfulness for the end eternal life Rom. 6. 22. For thy Love wherewith thou hast drawn me is everlasting Jer 31. 3. And thou hast promised that the Mountains shall depart and the Hils be removed but never thy kindness from me nor the Covenant of thy Peace Is 54 10. Ejac. What shall be able to separate me from the love of my God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord Rom. 8. 39. The Duties Paral. I. Circ I ran down a pair of Stairs at the Savoy Obs The effectually-Called are to humble themselves for sin THE Duties to be performed by the effectually Called do either Accompany effectual Calling Or Follow it They that accompany it are Repentance Faith Acts 20. 21. Mark 1. 15. The first of these I was put in mind of by my running down the stairs By stairs we descend downwards In Humiliation for sin the soul is brought down even to a putting of the mouth in the dust Lam 3. 29. All mountains and hills in Christ's way are brought low Luke 3. 5. All Imaginations and every high thing which formerly exalted it self against the knowledge of God is cast down and every thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ who is now upon effectual Calling received into the soul 2 Cor. 10. 5. Christ is received into the soul by Faith John 1. 12. Of this Faith Repentance wrought in the heart at the same time by the same means 2 Tim. 2. 25. is an inseparable Companion The Will which in Faith is turned to the enjoyment of the true Good being in repentance turned to the doing of what is truly good with an hatred of and turning from the contrary evil There is a repentance which may be in the unregenerate arising from the Terrour of the Law having Gods Wrath alone for its Object This is but a compunction or pricking at the heart accompanied with fear of punishment such as was in Peters Auditors Acts 2. 37. However this as it did in them may dispose and prepare the heart for Faith But that repentance which is proper to the effectually-called is a turning from sin partly out of fear but chiefly as sin is an offence against and violation of Gods revealed Will Psal 51. 4. And where this is there will follow in that man A free Confession of sin 1 John 1. 9. Attended with shame Dan. 9. 8. An hearty sorrow for sin 2 Cor. 7. 11. Which will shew it self in Carefulness to shun it Indignation against it Fear of falling again into it Desire to be strengthened Zeal against it Revenge upon himself for it A constant and irreconcileable hatred against all sin Psal 119. 104. And that with all vehemency Rev. 2. 2. Fixed resolutions to avoid all sin Psal 39. 1. As also upon a Course of Godliness for the time to come with a diligent care in the use of all good means which may further him and in removing and avoyding all Impediments which might hinder him in such his course 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. This duty of Humiliation for sin although the fear and grief which accompany it be not al●ke in all yet without such humiliation none are effectually called at ripeness of years Luke 15. 17 18 21. From which time of effectual Calling unto our lives end it is vertually to be continued and often to be renewed Mat. 6. 12. Obs The effectually Called are to humble themselves for sin ●exts Psal 51. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Joel 2 13. Rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God Inst David acknowledgeth his Transgressions and beseecheth God according to the multitude of his tender Mercies to blot them out Psal 51. 1 3. St. Paul rejoyceth that the Corinthians sorrowed to repentance that he made them sorry after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7 9. Reas 1. Because sin separates from God Isa 59. 2. 2. It is inconsistent with our effectual Calling 1 Thes 4. 7. 3. Gods goodness sh●uld lead us to repentance Rom 2. 4. 4. It is the only means with

Faith to obtain pardon Isa 1. 16 17. 18. Use 1. Think on Gods goodness to thee Psal 145. 7. 8. 2. Do that which is so p●easing to thy good God Psal 51. 19. 3. There is Mercy for the truly penitent Prov. 28. 13. 4. Repent not thy repentance 2 Cor. 7. 10. 5. Beware of Impenitence it hardens the heart and treasures up wrath Rom. 2. 5. Resol I will go to my Father and say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son Luke 15. 18 19. Ejac. God be merciful to me a sinner Luke 18. 13. Paral. II. Circ I ran down a pair of stairs at the Savoy Entrance Obs The Lord gives unto his Children oblique Memento's of their sins O My most Gracious Lord how infinite hath thy Mercy been towards me Me so sinful a wretch so deserving of the full Vials of thy wrath to have been poured forth upon me in the extremity of thy Fury How much did my Lord Christ suffer for me How long did thy Patience wait for me What Pains hast thou taken to new-make me How have thy blessed Ministring Angels been troubled about me And yet since my reforming How often have I and yet do I grieve thy good Spirit wherewith thou hast sealed ●e unto the day of redemption Eph. 4. 30. Thy Memorial O Lord endureth for ever Psal 135. 13. The Memorial of the riches of thy goodness towards me As for my high Provocations against thee their memorial is perished with them For though I have made thee to serve with my sins and wearied thee with mine Iniquities yet thou hast blotted them out and wilt not remember them Isa 43. 25. However it is thy pleasure that the remembrance of them should continue with me The Descent and Place have a very significative though secret reference to this Observation which I do verily believe was of prime intention in the Vis●on My Conscience cannot accuse me of any hainous sin there committed yet by them the Lord was pleased to put me in mind of those my former wayes whereof I am now ashamed Many such Monitors I had in my first distemper by which as by this I am dayly warned to look back upon my former life with blushing yet thankful reflexions Is it good unto God that he should oppress that he should despise the work of his hands Job 10. 3. God taketh not pleasure in afflicting of his humbled Children with unwelcome exprobrations yet he would have them to remember their sins To which end he is pleased by the by to mind them of them Thus he dealt with his people under the Law though their many Ceremonies seemed to promise an expiation of their sins yet they were rather tacit Memento's of them on Gods part and confessions of them on theirs and so are said to be against them Col. 2. 14. Thus with David Peter and others Thus now with my ●lf Upon a mans first Conversion if as he had with me he hath a Rock to break Jer. 23. 29. he usually in the Glass of the Law presents a wicked mans sins unto his eye and sets them in order before him in their true affrighting horrour and deformity to send him unto Christ Afterwards not so directly but oft times by certain gentle overtures and circumstantial Items The least hint is sufficient to the tender Conscience which he who is wise for his Soul will observe and ponder and therein understand the loving kindness of the Lord Psal 107. 43. Obs The Lord gives unto his Children oblique Memento's of their sins He gives them Memento's Texts Rom. 6. 19. As you have yielded your Members to Uncleanness and to Iniquity unto Iniquity So c. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you Inst The Ephes●ans are to remember what their condition was while Gentiles in the flesh Eph. 2. 11 12. The Colossians are put in mind that they had walked in heinous sins Col. 3. 7. He gives them oblique Memento's Texts Psal 51. 3. My sin is ever before me 1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a Father Inst Absalom after his murdering of his Brother Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 29. His presence was a constant remembrancer to David of his Murder of Uriah When he beheld Bathsheba he could not but call to mind what he had done to her Husband and to her self 2 Sam. 11 4 17. Christ by his thrice saying unto Peter Lovest thou me John 21. 15 16 17. put him in mind of his thrice denying of him Mat. 26. 70 72 74. Reas Why he gives them Memento's 1. That they may be ashamed of their sins Deuter. 9. 6 7. 2. That they may be thankful unto him who hath forgiven them 1 Tim. 1. 23 3. That they may not insult over others in their falls Tit. 3. 2 3. Reas Why oblique Memento's Because he is most unwilling to grieve them Lam. 3. 33. Use 1. Blush at the remembrance of thy Follies Rom. 6. 21. 2. Bless God that thou art freed from thy former ●lavery Rom. 9. 17. 3. Speak evil of no man but shew all Meekness to all men remember what thou thy self hast been T it 3. 2 3. 4. Take not●ce of and glorifie God in the sweetness of his Mercy to thee Psal 34. 8. Resol It is of thy great Mercy O Lord that thou hast given me warning I will think on my ways and turn my feet into thy Testimonies Psal 119. 59. Ejac. Though thou causest grief yet wilt thou have Compassion according to the multitude of thy Mercies For thou dost not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of men Lam. 3. 32 33. Paral. III. Circ The Stairs delivered me on to a square Brick-Building left imperfect having Beams and Jyces laid ready for a Floor and Second Story Obs The Church of Christ is aptly resembled by a square Brick-Building c. GRace begun in the Soul may well for many of the reasons following be meant by this Resemblance as I understood it in my first general Interpretation of the Vision However upon more mature thoughts I now look upon it as chiefly pointing out the Church whereunto by humiliation and Faith the effectually called are initiated The Church in Scripture is set forth by several similitudes As by 1 An Army in Battelarray Ca●● 6. 4. In respect Of its General Obedience Order Terribleness Preparedness to encounter the Enemy c. 2. A Kings Daughter Psal 45. 13. In respect Of Her high Extract from Heaven Her Beauty Inward being glorious in the sincerity of her Graces Outward in her Rich Attire As to Order External Performances c. 3. A City Psal 122. 3. In respect Of Unity Laws Priviledges c. 4. A Flock of sheep Acts 20. 28. In respect Of Meekness Innocency The Necessity of a Shepherd to watch it Feed it 5. A Vine Psal 80. 8. In respect Of Fruitfulness Pruning Weakness c. 6. A Body Eph. 5. 30. In respect Of Life

so it is utterly to be condemned Filial fear is a reverential fear of Gods Majesty and Power Gen 28. 17. A trembling at his Judgments Psal 119 120. This fear hath a special regard unto the offence as sin by its guilt separates from God Isa 59. 2. This is enjoyned Psal 3● 9. and Blessings promised to it Psal 25. Psal 112 c. as necessary to a Christian through his whole life and to continue in Heaven as to the act of our reverence of God arising from the consideration of the excellency of his Nature and Justice in his punishment of the damned Psal 19. 9. Initial fear is a middle fear between these two causing man to abstain from sin to do good with a respect partly to the punishment and partly to the offence However it proceeds not from the first but is the beginning of Reverential or Filial Fear and arising from Love upon effectual Calling begun in the soul and there shewing it self as the working of Faith as yet but in a weak measure Which Fear as Faith and Love gather strength is by degrees expelled 1 John 4. 18. This way by fear the Lord at the beginning took with Adam First he had wrought in him an apprehension of fear of the Curse threatned against him upon his disobedience Gen. 3. 10. And then after followed the Promise of the Seed of the Woman who should break the Serpents head v. 15. This way he still continues First Moses must be believed then Christ John 5. 45. First there must be an apprehension of Gods Justice and then of his Mercy in his Son sweetned by the foregoing severity of the sharp Schoolmaster of the Law Gal. 3. 24. Upon this account it is that the Ministers of the Gospel do yet preach the Law We preach it to the Regenerate as a Rule of life Jam 1. 25. and to stir them up to thankfulness for their freedom from its Curse obtained by Christ Gal. 3. 13. To the Unregenerate as a Rule of Life likewise Luke 10. 28. And that by its Terrours they may be brought unto Christ Gal. 3. 24. Thus the Commandment is ordained unto Life Rom. 7 10. And this life is alone to be had in Christ Acts 4. 12. Obs Upon effectual Calling the fear of Hell is a principal Means to bring the Soul un to Christ Texts Deut. 5. 28 29. I have heard the voice of the words of this people c. They have well said all that they have spoken O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my Commandements alwayes c. Gal. 3. 24. The Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by Faith ●ast Paul upon the great Light shining about him and the Voice from Heaven trembling and astonished said Lord What wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. 6. The Jaylor came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and said Sirs What must I do to be saved Acts 16. 29 30. Reas 1. It restrains from sin Prov. 3. 7. 2. It prepares the way for perfect Love 1 John 4. 18. Use 1. The Law is to be taught Jam. 1. 25. 2. Beware of worldly fear Rev. 21. 8. Ost●nd not God for fear of man Mat. 10. 28. 3. Take heed of hardning thine heart Prov. 28. 14. 4. Get assurance that thou hast the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8. 15. Resol I will take heed how I offend knowing that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10. 31. Ejac. Enter not into judgment with thy Servant O Lord For in thy sight shall no man living be justified The enemy hath persecuted my soul O deliver me for I flee unto thee to hide me Psal 143. 2 3 9. Paral. V. Circ Being perswaded that in that Building I might secure my self from my Pursuer I gat down into it Obs Upon Effectual Calling Faith is necessarily required as the only Instrumental Means to unite the Soul unto Christ SIN sets and keeps up a Partition-wall between God and the Soul Isa 59. 2. Fear is a means to break it down Prov. 3. 7. My fear made me hasten down the stairs upon which being entered I plainly saw the Building whereon they set me and had a perswasion in me that there I might secure my self from my Pursuer which Perswasion was my Faith I had not nor could I have such thoughts until I saw the Building that I saw not until I entred upon the stairs Faith and Repenrance are begotten in the Soul at the same time and in the order of Nature repentance follows Faith But Repentance is first discovered and afterwards Faith A sinner cannot perswade himself that he shall obtain Salvation by Christ which is the act of Faith until he find in himself an hearty turning from sin which is the act of Repentance First there must be a forsaking of sin and then follows assurance of Pardon Prov. 28. 13. Heb. 6. 1. The Priviledges of Gods Children are many They are received into his Family Eph. 2. 19. They have his Name put upon them Rev. 3. 12. They receive the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8. 15. They have accesse with boldness to the Throne of Grace Eph. 3. 12. They are enabled to cry Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. God their Father pities them Psal 103. 13. Protects them Prov. 14. 26. Provides for them Mat. 6 30 32. Corrects them for their good Heb. 12. 6. 10. They are sealed to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. They inherit the Promises Heb. 6. 12. They are heirs of Salvation Heb. 1. 14. With many other Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! 1 John 3. 1. To this Love and these Priviledges the certain effects and discoveries thereof although God from all eternity hath predestinated some in Christ for the praise of the Glory of his Grace Eph. 1. 5 6. Yet they are not made partakers of them until they partake of that redemption which Christ hath wrought for them Gal. 4. 5. Of this Redemption none can be partakers until by the Spirit it be actually applyed unto them Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Which Application is then wrought when we are united unto Christ Eph. 1. 7. We are united unto Christ upon effectual Calling When receiving of him we are admitted to that high Priviledge to be the Sons of God John 1. 12. Christ is received by Faith John 1. 12. Which Faith though it hath a general respect unto the Word upon the authority of the Author thereof believing to be true what therein is revealed 1 Thes 2. 13. And thereupon Yielding Obedience to his Commands therein Rom. 16. 26. Trembling at the Threatnings Isa 66. 2. Embracing the Promises Heb. 11. 13. Yet it hath a special eye unto Christ in those Promises relying upon him alone for salvation Acts 4. 12. Faith thus relying upon Christ is a certain

delivered from the wrath to come 1 Thessal 1. 9 10. Reas 1. They are justified and so at peace with God Rom. 5. 1. 2. They are true lovers of God and there ●s no fear in Love 1 John 4. 18. 3. They are partakers of the first Resurrection and so assured that the second death shall have no power over them Rev. 20. 6. Use 1. Sin being forgiven the punishment is removed Jer. 31. 34. Pardon is a not imputing the fault unto punishment 2. Get assurance that thou art justified Two principal grounds of this Assurance are Peace in the Soul Rom. 5. 1. An holy Life Rom. 6. 22. 3. Be sure that thou truly lovest God 1 John 2. 5. 4. Beware of security Fear Gods Temporal wrath Heb. 12. 28 29. Resol Being freed from all fear arising from the Spirit of Bondage and having received the spirit of Adoption which beareth witness with my spirit that I am thy Son I will confidently yet with humble reverenc● come unto thy Throne of Grace and cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15 16. Ejac. My Love is yet but weak Lord so perfect it that all fear being cast ou● I may here without fear serve thee in holiness and righteousness and may have boldness in the Day of Judgment 1 John 4. 17 18. Paral. XI Circ I cast mine eye to the Top of the Tower Obs The effectually-Called are to set their Affections upon Heavenly things THE Lord washeth away the silth of the Daughter of Zion by the Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning At and from the Prison until set in the Tower the Spirit of Judgment wrought At the Prison gate I was made sensible what I had deserved and was liable unto The sense of my danger begat fear in me Fear putting me on to seek out for a means to escape brought me to Humiliation Humiliation with Fear and Faith brought me to Christ the Foundation of the Building Being now in him the Spirit of Burning began to work in the Tower For having Removed the Love of the world that my heart might be free to the love of Heavenly things And Banished my Fear that with Confidence and Chearfulness I might affect them By its heat it sweetly warmed and enflamed my heart with a sense and love of and desire after them By its light having first by the reward encouraged and quickned me to all diligence in the way to attain them It directed me to and in that way It discovered unto me those secret way layers whom I was to keep a watchful eye over Faith the soul's eye beholding these things though but darkly saith there are precious things laid up above Heb. 11. 1. Hope the souls Ankor as yet but weakly fastned upon the Promises of these things saith they are laid up for me Heb. 6. 18 19. Love the yet feeble feet of the Soul longing for them saith I run that I may obtain them Phil. 3. 14. The Souls eye is cleared by abounding in Grace 2 Pet. 1. 9. Her Ankor becomes more sure and stedfast by being fixed upon the immutability of Gods Counsel and his Oath Heb. 6. 17. Her feeble knee are strengthened and she is quickned in her pace by assurance that in those precious things she shall have Fulness of satisfaction and Perpetuity of enjoyment Which two things although the ancient Philosophers in their diligent search after the chief good could never find them in any worldly thing Yet they are to be had in God and in the enjoyment of him In his Presence is fulness of joy at his right hand pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. God then is to be the principal Object of our Love which For the manner of it must be A love of good will we must love him for himself Mat. 22. 37. A love of Union longing for the enjoyment of him Psal 42. 1. A love of delight taking pleasure In his Service Psal 122. 1. In his Children Psal 16. 3. For the measure of it it must be with all the heart soul mind strength Luke 10. 27. The utmost power of the whole soul must be employed in it We must do what we are able with a Will to do more if we were able His Greatness Psal 113 6. Our Meanness Rom. 9. 11. His preventing us with his love 1 John 4. 10. The greatness of it John 3. 13. It s Freeness Eph 2. 4 5. Our Unworthiness Rom. 5. 10. should quicken us thereunto And we may then assure our selves that we do love him when We are obedient unto his Will John 14. 23. And when We beat his rod with Patience 1 Cor. 13. 4. Obs The effectually Called are to set their Affections upon heavenly things Texts Phil. 3. 20. Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Col. 3. 1 2. If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth I●st A●raham looked for a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11. 10. David longing after God saith Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73. 25. Reas 1. They alone are satisfying and lasting Psalm 16. 11. 2. Thou art risen with Christ and so endued with a power to affect them Col. 3. 1. 3. Christ thine Head is above sitting at the right hand of God Col. 3. 2. Where should the Members be but with their Head Use 1. First seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof Mat. 6. 33. 2. Put thy power in execution wherewith by vertue of Christ's Resurrection thou art endued Rom. 6. 4. 3. Imitate Christ he being risen ascended into Heaven Rom. 6. 5. 4. Long to be with him thine Head Psal 1. 23. Resol My Treasure is in Heaven there shall my heart be Mat. 6. 21. There my Conversation Phil. 3. 20. Ejac. As the Hart panteth after the Water-Brook so panteth my soul after thee O God Psalm 42 1. Paral. XII Circ I cast mine eye up to the Top of the Tower where my sight was limited by a Cloudy Resemblance Obs God hath an invisible Paradise to reward his Servants which in his Service they may have a respect unto GOD is immense and cannot be consined to place 1 Kings 8. 27. However his chief residence is in Heaven above the Clouds above the stars Job 22. 12. Where he holdeth back the face of his Throne by spreading his Cloud upon it Job 26. 9. The semi-Atheist though denying the workings of his Providence over man yet acknowledgeth this Job 22. 13 14. And thither the Disciples knew and by the Angels were assured Acts 1. 11. that Christ was ascended though by reason of the intercepting cloud they could follow him no further with the eye Acts 1. 9 10 11. The heart of the effectually-Called being taken off from the world and freed from the fear of Hell is now

this Office by the Lord of the Family Luke 12. 42. A sharp Appetite 1 Pet. 2. 2. A Stomack purg'd from the clogging humours of sin 1 Pet. 2. 1. Improvement in all Grace is compared by St. Paul to the Fruitfulness of a Tree Col. 1. 10. To this universal Fruitfulness is required Seed in the soul disposing to such Fruitfulness Gal. 5. 22. Plentiful juyce or nourishment Psal 1. 3. Purging or pruning John 15. 2. Improvement by degrees is by our Saviour compared to the growth of Grain Mark 4. 26 27. To this is required A good soyl Luke 8. 15. Dews Rain and Influence from above 1 Cor. 3 7. Perseverance in Grace is compared by St Paul to a Race Phil. 3. 13 14. To this is required as there A Consideration of the richness of of the Price Fixing the eye upon the Mark of Perfection to which we must run Eph. 4. 13. An only serious and hearty minding of this A forgetting of our good deeds which are behind A reaching forth and pressing forward to the utmost of our power A careful shunning of the by-waies Of soft effeminat●ness or yielding upon a slight temptation 1 Cor. 6. 9. Of perverse stubbornness wilfully persisting in Error 2 Tim. 3. 8. Thus as St. Peter adviseth 2 Pet. 1. 5 c. the effectually-Called are with diligence to add to their Faith in which is included Hope as its life-blood Charity and so they have the three Theological Graces To these they are to add the four Cardinal or Mother-Vertues to which all other do refer namely Vertue or Fortitude a Branch whereof is Patience Knowledge or Prudence Temperance And Justice rendring To God his due in Godliness To our Neighbour his in Brotherly kindness Having these they have the whole Gold-Chain of Graces that precious Chain of the Spouses neck wherewith she ravished the heart of Christ her Beloved Cant. 4. 9. Which being in them and abounding will assure them of their effectual Calling and Election and doing of them they shall never fall but an entrance shall be ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Obs The Effectually-Called are to grow in all Grace by degrees and to persevere therein They are to grow in Grace Texts 2 Cor. 10. 15. Having Hope when your Faith is en creased Rom. 5. 13. The God of Hope fill you with all joy that ye may abound in hope Inst He that had received the five Talents traded with them and made them other five Talents Mat. 25. 16. The Church in Thyatira is commended because her last works were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. They are to grow in all Grace Tex●s 2 Pet. 3. 18. Grow in Grace Col. 1. 10. Being fruitful in every good work Inst The Ephesians are to grow up in Christ in all things Eph. 4. 15. Paul prayes that the Thessalonians may be sanctified wholly 1 Thes 5. 23. They are to grow by degrees Texts Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day 2 Cor. 4. 16. Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Inst He that delights in the Law of the Lord c. He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season Psal 1. 3. The good hearer that with an honest and good heart hears the Word keeps it and brings forth fruit with patience Luke 8. 15. They are to persevere therein Texts Ezek. 18. 24. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth Iniquity in his sin that he hath sinned he shall dye Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodness of God towards thee if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Inst Paul finished his course and kept the Faith 2 Tim. 4. 7. The Angel of the Church of Smyrna with the Members thereof have a Crown of life promised upon their faithfulness to the death Rev. 2. 10 Reas For growing in Grace 1. There is food enough in thy Fathers House that thou maist grow Luke 15. 17. 2. Thou must aim at Perfection Phil. 3. 12. 3. Not to go forward is to go backward Rev. 2. 4. Reas For growing in all Grace 1. Gods Command 2 Pet. 3. 18. 2. The Seed of the Spirit disposeth to such fruitfulness Gal. 5. 22. Reas For growing by degrees 1. God will have man to wait upon him Phil. 1. 6. 2. Preproperous hast discovers want of Faith Isa 28. 16. Christians too hasty are rootless and will fall away in the day of temptation Luke 8. 13. Reas For persevering therein 1. Without Perseverance we cannot partake of Christs Benefits Col. 1. 23. 2. We are as much as in us lies to strive to proportion our Work to the reward which will continue for ever 1 Pet. 1. 4. 3. Without Perseverance we cannot be saved Mat. 24. 13. 4. They who want this mark shall be ●lain without pity Ezek 9. 5 6. Use 1. Get an assurance that thou hast the Spirit that maketh fruitful and is known by its Fruits Gal. 5. 22. 2. Let thine obedience be Universal Psal 119. 6. 3. Bear afflictions patiently by them thou art pruned that thou maist bring forth more Fruit● John 15. 2. 4. Think on the rich Price Phil. 3. 14. 5. Pray unto God to perfect thee and trust him upon his Promise Phil. 1. 6. 6. Fall not from thy first love Rev. 2. 4. 7. The wicked sloathful and unprofitable Servant shall be cast into utter darkness Mat. 25. 30. Resol I will strive to be fruitful in every good work and to encrease in the knowledge of God so shall I walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing Col. 1. 10. and continue stedfast in the Faith 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. Ejac. Thou O Lord who hast called me art faithful and wilt do it O sanctifie me wholly and let ' my whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of my Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23 24. Paral. XIV Circ I observed men under the Scaffolds as lurking there to hinder those that would ascend Obs Our spiritual Enemies are to be watched with diligence lest they hinder us in our Improvement in Grace BY the Assistance of that Mighty Power backing me in my Descent into the Building one would think mine enemies had been sufficiently baffled and discouraged Yet here they are ready again if not with violence to oppose yet subtilly to supplant Though the serpents head be broken yet if possible he will bruise the heel Gen. 3. 15. When he first set upon our Great Captain he shewed himself a bold As●ailant who would not be beaten off with one or two Repulses Mat. 4. 8. He hath not his Name of Beelzebub for nothing This great flesh-fly for so the Word signifies flap him away as often as you will yet will light on again Before at the Building he assaulted

Love to God Active Love brings forth Obedience John 14. 23. Passive Love brings forth Patience 1 Cor. 13. 4. This arms a Christian against that evil that is upon him as Fortitude arms him against evil invading of him It s Object is Afflictions to which it hath a double respect To their weight To their continuance And we have great need of it Heb. 10. 36. as for other reasons so especially in reference to all other Graces Which being the Materials of the spiritual Building in the soul 1 Cor. 3. 9. to which that I referred that at the Savoy though chiefly pointing ou●●he Church I erred not in the Interpretation Faith in Christ is their Foundation Patience their Roof Faith gives them firmness Mat. 7. 14 15. Patience gives them continuance Rom. 2. 7. Faith strengthens them against the storms of afflictions that they fall not Patience shelters them from the storms that they decay not And it will the better be able thus to secure them when it hath its perfect work Jam. 1. 4. Which it then hath When we suffer for righteousness sake Mat. 5. 10. When we glory in afflictions not in the Object of our Patience which both by weight and continuance causeth grief Heb. 12. 11 Yet In its Act Heb. 10. 34. In its Fruit Heb. 12. 11. In its end 2 Cor. 4. 17. When which is the Ridge of the Roof so perfectly and entirely compleating the Building that nothing is wanting Jam. 1. 4. we endure and faint not under them Jam. 5 11. And now when it pleaseth our Father to lay afflictions upon us why should we not thus bear them Knowing That we suffer not alone 1 Pet. 5. 9. That our afflictions are discoveries of our Fathers Love Rev. 3. 19. That it is an high honour to suffer for Christ Acts 5. 41. That they will be a means to better us Heb 12. 11. That they shall not long continue upon us 1 Pet. 5 10. That our Father will support us under them 1 Cor. 10. 13. That their end shall be Glory Matth. 5. 10. As the water ebbs so it flows Gods Children may somtimes have their Intervals of Comfort some respite from the Rod. Psal 30. 5. But the Tide will turn again When it doth and the Rod is upon thee bear it as thou art directed with an humble and silent submission unto thy Fathers hand Psal 39. 9. And so according to Samsons Riddle thou shalt fetch meat out of the eater and out of the strong sweetness Judges 14. 14. Obs Each true Member of the Church in his way to Heaven must expect Afflictions and prepare himself with patience to undergo them He must expect ●ffl●ctions Texts Acts 14. ●2 We must th●ough much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom or God 2 Tim. 3 12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution Inst. David was plagued all the day long and chastened every morning Psal 73 14. Christ ●els the Sons of Zeb●dee that they shall drink of his Cup and be bap●ized with his Baptism Mat. 20. 23. He must prepare himself with Patience Texts ●am 58 B● pati●nt stabl●sh your hearts for the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh Iuk 21 19 In your Patience postless y● your souls Inst The Angel of the Chu●ch of Eph●sus with th● Members thereof are commended in that they had born and had patience and for Christ's Name sake had laboured and had not faint●d R●v ● 3. Paul took plea●ure in Infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ s sake 2 Cor 2 ●0 Reas Why God afflicts his Children 1. For Chastisement to manifest his Justice Psal 89. 30. 2. For Trial and for the exercise of their Graces 1 Pet. 1. 7. 3. That they may be conformable unto Christ in his Sufferings Phil. 3. 10. 4. That God may b● glorified 1 Pet. 4. 14. 5. That their r●ward may be ●nlarged 2 Cor. 4 17. 6. That it may appear that they serve God not for temporal things Job 2. 3. Reas Why they must prepare themselves with patience 1. Otherwise they cannot continue in well-doing Rom. 2. 7. 2. Otherwise Satan will get possession of the Soul Luke 21. 9. 3. Patien●e will overcome their enemies Jud. 8. 3. 4. It will make their enemies their Servants to wreath a Crown of Glory for them Mat 5. 10. Use 1. Look not for a life of Pleasure John 16. 33. The way to Heaven is strowed with thorns Hos 2. 6. 2. They are Bastards not Sons who are without Chastisement Heb. 12. 8. 3. Keep possession of thy soul Luke 21. 19. 4. Despise not Gods Rod neither faint under it Heb. 12. 5. 5. Let Patience have its perfect work Jam. 1. 4. Resol I will glory in Tribulations knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto me Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Ejac. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1. 12. Rev. 5. 13. Blessing Honour Glory and Power be un●o him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever AMEN To all those that fear God SAint Paul blushed not to acknowledge to the world that he had been a Blasphemer a Persecuter injurious 1 Tim. 1. 13. That he had been foolish disobedient Deceived serving divers Lusts and Pleasures living in Malice Envy Hatred T it 3. 3. That he had been a Child of Wrath That his Conversation among others the Children of disobedience had been in the Lusts of the Flesh fulfilling the desires thereof Eph. 2. 3. And indeed why should he The yet guilty soul may have its Face filled with shame But that which is renewed by the Holy Spirit though as to it self it will upon their remembrance have secret Blushings Yet need not as to others be cast down for any former sins from which the Lord Christ hath washed it in his Blood It is now cleansed and Innocency and Purity are alwaies accompanied with an holy Confidence With such I now tell you my Brethren who I am assured will glorifie God in me for the Glory of the riches of whose Grace I now publish this that the wayes of the former part of my life were so far from being according to Gods wayes that more truly then that blessed Saint who out of the lowliness of his Spirit and sincerity of his Repentance and to magnifie Gods exceeding Grace towards him was willing to aggravate his sins I may say I am the chief of sinners For I could add to his summe charged upon himself thousands of Talents many many heinou● sins committed with an high hand of long continuance which may justly give me the priority In Sin I have the precedence O Lord thou knowest the groanings of my spirit O that

way of Instance by which you may judge of the choyceness Priviledges of Saints and preciousness of the rest The Lord is their King Rev. 15. 3. He keeps their feet from falling 1 Sam. 2. 9. He preserves their Souls Psal 97. 10. He preserves them for ever Psal 37. 28. Their death is precious in his sight Psal 116. 15. He will spare them Mal. 3. 17. The Lord Christ prayes for them John 17. 9. The Holy Spirit prayes for them Rom. 8. 27. God admits them into the number of his Children 1 John 3. 1. And being so they have Him their Father The Church their Mother The Lord Christ their Brother Kings and Queens their Nurses The Holy Spirit their Tutor The Angels their Guardians All the Creatures their servants The Bread of life their Food Christ's Righteousness their Cloathing Heaven their Palace A Kingdom of Glory their Inheritance Such many many such Priviledges have the Lords People Such Honour have all his Saints Use 3. Doth the Lord own those only for his people who are true Saints true believers truly obedient Let us labour to gain an assurance to our selves that we are such and then we may confidently build upon it that we are Gods people That you may know whether you have true Faith take these three Marks of true Marks of Faith Faith in stead of many 1. True Faith is accompanied with a sweet peace in the soul arising from the assurance that our sins are pardoned and Christ's Righteousness made ours Being justified by Faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. 2. True Faith purifies the heart Acts 15. 9. He that hath true Faith will still be cleansing himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7. 1. 3. True Faith where it is begets love towards God app●●hending him as the Chief Good Hence the faithful have this Character in Scripture that they are lovers of God Rom 8. 28. It stirs up likewise love unto all Gods Children as bearing his Image 1 John 5. 1. That you may know whether your Obedience Marks of Obed. be true or not take these Marks of true Obedience True Obedience prefers Gods Will before our own or any Commands of men Acts 4. 19. 2. True Obedience is universal unto all and every part of Gods Will Psal 119. 6. 3. True Obedience is alwayes accompanied with fear of offending God Heb. 12. 28. 4. It is sincere and hearty Rom. 6. 17. 5. It is zealous in good duties Tit. 2. 14. Now examine thy self by these Marks Hast thou true peace in thy soul Dost thou strive to cleanse thy soul from sin Dost thou love God and his Children Thou hast true Faith Dost thou prefer Gods Will before thine own or before mans Hast thou a respect to all his Will Art thou afraid to offend him Art thou sincere and zealous in the Service of him Thine Obedience is true And thy Faith and thine Obedience being true thou art a true Saint thou art of the number of Gods people and interessed in all those Priviledges which belong unto them Use 4. Doth the Lord own the Saints for his people Let wicked men take heed how they despise them how they oppress vex and persecute them The Lord whose they are is very tender over them They who touch them touch the Apple of his eye Zech. 2. 8. They that persecute them persecute Christ himself Acts 9. 4. They who vex and persecute them vex and persecute those who shall be their Judges 1 Cor. 6. 2. Who shall one day wash their feet in their blood Psal 58. 10. and shall break them in pieces as a Potters Vessel Rev. 2. 27. Not by way of avenging of themselves that belongs not to them but in approving of the just Sentence of Christ against them and rejoycing in the justness of that Vengeance which according to that Sentence they shall see ex●cuted upon them at that day when the great Judge of the world will be so far from owning such as dye in their Infidelity and disobedience that he will deny them before his Father and the holy Angels Mat. 10. 33. Use last This may serve much for the Comfort of all Gods truly Faithful obedient servants and keep their spirits under the worlds Contempt and Despight What though the World hate and reject them and count them as the Off scowring of all things Yet the Lord owns them they are his people and so interessed in those sweet Promises and high Priviledges wherein they that hate them shall not be sharers Here likewise the Lords People to their exceeding Comfort may as St. Peter adviseth 2 Pet. 1. 10. make their Calling and Election sure For thus they may argue upon Infallible Grounds If I am a Saint whereof by my true Faith and Obedience I am assured then am I effectually called For I am what I was called to be Rom. 1. 7. If I am a Saint then I am sure I am elected For I am what I was elected unto Eph. 1. 4. If I am elected then I am predestinated to Glory and shall most certainly enjoy it For he that elected me predestinated me Eph. 1. 4. And whom he predestinated them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8. 30. In his eternal Decree which in his good time he will most certainly accomplish From hence I say may the Lords people draw exceeding Comfort However these sweet Comforts of theirs cannot but be much allayed by their sense of their weakness and frailty For though they are Saints though the Lord ownes them for his People yet are they subject unto sin and are prevailed over by it and fall into the Folly of it Which is the next Particular in this Second Branch of the Point Partic. 2. That the Lords own people his Saints may and do fall into the Folly of sin This is clear from the Text they could not turn again to it unless formerly fallen into it Which is the present sad condition they are now in guilty of the folly of some hainous sins for which they under-lye the sharp sense of Gods high displeasure I do not say that they live or walk in sin as do the Children of disobedience but they may and do fall into it and that often seven times a day Prov. 24 16. In many things Jam. 3. 2. And many many wayes By Omission Commission Ignorance Forgetfulness Infirmity by sinning against knowledge Motions Checks Vows Promises Blessings Patience Chastisements Mercies Judgments by Rashness Inconsiderateness Inconstancy Negligence Beside their other-mens-sins whereof they become guilty by Commanding Exhorting Provoking Con●enting Commending Concealing Conniving Par●aking Defending not Reproving and other wayes That this is a most certain and sad truth is evident by those many ●x●mples of the Lords own people and Saints recorded in the Scrip●ure who have been thus overtaken and thus fallen and some of them

shamefully as Lot David Peter and others which I might Instance in but that I delight not to discover the Saints Nakedness but rather to ca●t over it and conceal it with the Mantle of Charity The Saints then may and do fall into sin and it is no strange thing that they do so For Reas 1. They ●arbour their most deadly enemy in their own bosoms which is continually fighting against their souls 1 Pet. 2. 11. I mean their fleshly part that Corruption which remains in them which is continually hindring of them in the performance of that which is good so that the ●ood they would they do not and as constan●ly disposing of them to that which is evil so that the ev●● which th●y would not that they do as St. Paul bewayles his own weakness in this respect Rom. 7. 19 Can a man carry a Serpent in his bosom and not be stung or bitten Mulier longe L●bido prope c. saith one of David though Bathsheha was a good dist●nce off in her Garden yet David's Lust was lodged in his own bosom 2. It is no strange thing that the Lords own people and Saints should thu● be overtaken when Satan their Adversary a● a roaring Lion goeth about continually seeking to devour their souls 1 Pet. 5. 8. and to wound them with the fiery darts of his Temptations Eph. 6. 16. An Enemy most secret subtil malicious vigilant violent indefatigable as St. Paul sets him forth Eph 6. Yea the more eminent the Lords people are for Pie●y the greater their Sanctity the more violent are his Assaults For he looks upon such as the worst enemies of his Kingdom as Leaders in piety And if he can but prevail over one of them he knows they seldom fals alone and that by their fals the greater scorn will redound to Religion and the greater dishonour and Blasphemy to the Name of God which is none of the least of that malicious Spirits Aims 3. It is no strange thing that the Lords own people and Saints should thus fall when the Lord withdraws his support and leaves them to themselves It would in such a case be strange if they should not fall If the Lord support his people with his Grace that is sufficient for them 2 Cor. 12. 9. And they are able to do all things through Christ strengthening of them Phil. 4. 13. But on the other side without him they can do nothing John 15. 5. Now the Lord is pleased oft times to leave his own people and to withdraw his support as for many other Reasons known to himself so Lest they should presume of their own strength Lest their holiness should puffe them up To exercise their Faith in him their Supporter Their Devotion towards him their Raiser Their Watchfulness against their Malicious and subtil Supplanters Their Charity towards their weak Brethren c. Use 1. This then gives a Check to that spreading and by too many too readily entertained errour that Gods people cannot sin Not sin The Examples I touched with these Reasons I have given make it most clear that they may and do and in some cases that they cannot but sin But in defence of this Errour that of St. Object John is urged 1 John 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Answ We answer out of the same Apostle and the same Epistle 1 John 1. 8. If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us So ver 9. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins So likewise v. 10. If we say we have no sin we make him a lyar Quest But how then are Gods Children said not to sin Answ I answer They are said not to sin in respect of their spiritual part The Spirit is that seed of God which is in them and in reference to that part of the soul which is renewed after the Image of God and sanctified by the Spirit they cannot sin But beside this there is in them flesh the remains of Corruption the carnal part in regard of which they are said to have sin and to commit sin and to serve sin St. Paul makes this clear Rom. 7. ult Where he saith of himself what is most true of all the Lords People and Saints With the mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin To say then that the Lords people his Saints cannot sin as if whatsoever they did had not the guilt of sin cleaving unto it it is a bold and high Impiety savouring too much of Pharisaical Arrogance and Jesuitical Perfection How much better doth it become the Lords People to acknowledge in all humility with St. James that in many things we offend all and with St. Paul Rom. 7. 14. That we are carnal sold under sin and that in us that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing v. 18. Use 2. May and do the Lords People and Saints fall into the folly of sin Let this make us sensible of our own weakness If the best may fall and often do fall into sin how shall weak Christians be able to stand To Will may be present with us but how to do that which is good we cannot find in our selves or how to shun that which is evil Let us not then presume of any strength in us but let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10. 12. You see how dangerously we are beset by our own Corruption by Satans Temptations and how dangerously exposed upon the Lords withdrawing of his support How doth it then behove us to be watchful and to sue unto the Lord by earnest Prayer not to leave us to our selves but to put under his hand and to keep us from falling Use 3. Here people are taught not to be rash and hasty in their Censures of any of the Lords people when unhappily fallen It may be it was upon some violent passion or strong temptation Look into the constant T●nor of their Lives if that be generally good if they strive to keep a good Conscience in all things towards God and towards men if their Constant endeavour be to walk worthy of God unto all pleasing notwithstanding such their fals they are still his people still his Saints When they are ●allen by occasion into a Fault into the folly of sin it behoves their Brethren to restore them in the spirit of meekness considering themselves lest they also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. We are as weak as they as dangerously beset as they and have fallen or may fall as they But far be it from any to rejoyce in their falls to scoffe at them in their falls These are the Saints And much further be it from any that bear the Name of Christian to encourage themselves to sin by their fals If they why not I Such Language

be his late experience of disturbances perplexities troubles wounds losse wrath can tell him a sad story 4. He that is truly sorry for sin his desire is vehement and earnest that he may please God for the time to come What would he not now do to win his Favour His own corrupt will hath formerly misled him to the provoking of his God but now he submits it unto Gods Will in all things Let him command what he will he is ready to obey it Let him restrain him in any thing he declines it Let him lay upon him what he pleaseth he patiently undergoes it Let him defer to answer his Prayers he waits Gods time In a word the vehement and earnest desire of his soul is that he may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing by a dayly improving in the knowledge of him and by a further fruitfulness in every good work 4. He that is truly sorry for sin he becomes zealous against sin as that which is so offensive unto his God Thus David's zealous sorrow appeared in his Tears For his eyes ran down with Rivers of water because men kept not Gods Law Psal 129. 136. Lot's righteous soul was vexed with the filthy Conversation of the Sodomites E●pecially he i● zealous against sin in himself He is zealous of good works he takes delight in them The wayes of Wisdom or of Christ they are pleasantness unto him Prov. 3. 17. He is diligent in good duties he is fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11. He is often thinking and talking of that which is good and rejoyceth to see others do that which is good He remembers whence he is fallen to what a fair degree in Grace he had formerly attained and now he strains himself to the utmost to recover it and to go beyond it 6. He takes revenge upon himself for his former follies by watching fasting praying by denying himself in those Contents which otherwise without offence he might freely enjoy This Effect of Revenge some Commentators would find in the broken heart Psal 51. 17. Where the word is Cor confractum contribulatum that is say they fractum tribulatum cum corpore broken or ground or threshed with the body The body therefore as thence they would infer must be a sufferer with the heart in true Confession Whether the word will bear such a meaning or not I contend not It is enough we have St. Pauls example for it 1 Cor. 9. 27. We may nay ought to keep under our bodies and bring them into subjection that so they may be the fitter to joyn with our souls in Gods Service though by so doing we cannot satisfie for the least of our sinful follies Act 3. The heart must be rent in the hatred and detestation of sin And the High Priest rent his cloaths saying he hath spoken Blasphemy That sin is most loathsom and hateful is evident from those Comparisons by which its Loathsomness is set forth in Scripture It is compared to the Leprosie to menstruous rags to pollutions of the Birth to vomit to mire c. And because it is so loathsom and abominable therefore doth the Lord hate and abhor it as is to be seen Prov. 6. Psal 5. Psal 45. and in many other places The Lord is in his Essence and Nature most pure and therefore doth he naturally and essentially hate all filthiness and impurity And as he hates sin so do his people and Saints from the first moment of their Conversion of their beginning to be his people Indeed their hatred against it at first is not so manifest as afterwards The Heifers will low after their Calves Yet there is a secret dislike in the soul against it the Will b●gins to be set against it and their dislike gathers strength and increaseth by degrees until it doth become a down right hatred Then they can truly ●ay I hate every false way with David Psal 119. 104. I do the thing that I h●te with St. Paul Rom 7. 15. And because they themselves know it to be so hateful therefore do the Saints so earnestly exho●t others to hate and abhor it Thus David Psal 97. 10. See that ye ha●e the th●ng that is evil So Jude 23. Hate the garment spotted with the Flesh And this because upon their Conversion their Souls being united unto God they begin to love him and so cannot but abhor that which he abhors and hates Thus David takes his Motive to stir up the Saints to hate evil from their love of God Psal ●7 10. O ye that love the Lord see that ye hate the th●ng that is evil And much more now do the Saints hate and abhor it upon their repentance after their fals For th●y know that now a greater Obl●gation lies upon them to please God and th●y have had the experience that sin is a deadly enemy unto their souls wounding them robbing them of their God and exposing them to his fierce wrath And hereupon they cannot but exceedingly loath and abhor it as that which seeks and by all means endeavours their utter ruine and destruction Now that hatred against sin in others and especially in themselves may be carried on by the Lords people in such a way as may manifest the truth of their Love unto God and the unfaignedness of their repentance they are to be very cautious that they stumble not at these rubs Marks 1. As to others there must be no tolerating and bearing with their sins It was the commendation of the Church of Ephesus they could not bear those that were evil Rev 2. 2. Asa would not bear with Idolatry in his own Mother but unq●eened her for that her sin 1 King 15. 13. He that winks at sin ●n others will soon be blind to it in himself Yet the Saints must be sure that this their hatred of sin be perfect Psal 139. 22. wanting neither Knowledge nor Justice They must know what and why they hate and their hatred must be fastned upon the sin not upon the Person He that can dispense with the sin for the man or hates the man for the sin his hatred savours more of vicious Passion then of a vertuous Perfection 2. As to themselves there are three Rubs or stumbling-blocks at which the penitent Saint may trip and stumble if not very wary and so his hatred against sin may fail and fall short of its due Requisites these are 1. Partiality there must be an hating of all sin of every false way Psal 119. 104. The Church of Ephesus hated the deed● of the Nicholaitans viz. Promiscuous Whoredomes and Idolatry but decayed in Zeal they grew cold in the reprehension of these sins The truly penitent will not only hate the great Blotches and deep stains of the soul in gross and scandalous sins but ev●n every little sin likewise the Garment that is but spotted by the Flesh Jude 23. 2. They must beware of Lenity they cannot be too vehement in their hatred against sin

of them O what strong Consolation doth it draw from them H●b 6. 17 18 How doth it suck and satisfie it self with those b●easts of Consolation How doth it milk out and delight it self with their soul-setling soul-ravishing sweetness Isa 66. 11. 5. This particular Promise-applying Faith it most highly prizeth a P●omise O they are truly precious Promises to the faithful soul 2 Pet. 1. ● He esteems these unsearchable riches of Christ as they are called Eph. 3. 6 8. to be most precious In their Author God Rom 1. 2● In their Ground the Lord Christ by whom we ob●ain them who paid his most precious Bloud to purchase them 1 Pet. 1. 19. In their Fountain Gods Love Psal 36. 7. In the means of Apprehension of them namely precious Faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. In their end that we may be partakers of the Divine Nature in Grace and holiness 2 Peter 1. 4. In the excellency of the thing promised all things pertaining to life and Godliness to Glory and Vertue 2 Pet. 1. 3. In that sweet Comfort that strong Consolation they afford unto the Soul H●b 6. 18. But most precious in their accomplishment and enjoying 2 Cor. 1. 20. Will the Heir-Apparent to a great Estate slight and undervalue it So the Faithful who are the Heirs of the Promises Rom. 9. 8. cannot but most highly esteem them and would not exchange or give up their right in them for all the honour and wealth in the world 6. Lastly The ●urest Mark of this particular Promise-applying Faith is Peace and settlement in the Soul Faith is a means to obtain Peace and peace a sure discovery of Faith Yet it is not every Peace upon which a man may build his assurance of Faith Th● Conscience may be peaceable yet bad as it is in those who have ●●ared and s●up●●●●d Conscien●es senc●less of sin But it is the tender Conscience and the peace therein when a mans Conscience doth faithfully perform its Office checking the Soul when it gives way to sin If such a Conscience be in a man and is notwithstanding for the general calm and setled and peaceable out of its own Consciousness that it applies unto it self the precious Promises of Pardon of Christ's Righteousness in which two our Justification doth consi●t that is the Conscience and the peace and settlement therein upon which a man may considently build his assurance that he hath true Faith But the unsetled Soul cannot have this Peace until the Lord hath spoken it unto it ●t will be sufficient if it can find the other Marks in i● self Until this other of Peace come wh●ch shall certainly be in Gods time they may serve to con●irm it in the assurance that it hath Faith and such a Faith as prepares the way for Peace Now that Repentance and Faith are the Means to settle and recover the perplexed and wounded Spirit is evident ●●as 1. Because they are the way which God himself 〈◊〉 ●ppointed for the turning away of his wrath and ●●gaining of his Favour For Repentance we have that clear place J●el 2. 12 13. Where the Lord having threatned f●a●ful Judgments against his People pr●●●●b●● unto them this way of repentance for the aver●ing and p●eventing of those Judgments For Faith It is that which ●pens our way of access to find Grace Eph 3 12. It is that that is ● means to ●ill the Soul with Peace as S● Paul p●ayes for the Romans that they might be filled with peace ●n bel●●v●ng Rom. 1● 13. And therefore men are 〈…〉 up●● to believe to have Faith in Christ 2. Repentan●e and Faith are the means to obta●n pardon and that being obtained and he ●●ulth●reof assured presently peace and settl●ment f●llows thereupon Our Justification consists in the pardon of our sins and Christs righteousness made ours by 〈◊〉 When sin is pardon●d and with the white raiment of Christ's Righteousness the shame of our nakedness it hid then do we appear holy and unblameable and unreprovable in the eyes of God and he can no longer be displeased with us Now it is Faith that doth this it is Faith that applies unto the soul the Merits of Christs active and passive Obedience whereby he hath deserved at his Fathers hands that he should forgive us and look graciously upon us upon which appl●cation a sweet peace follows in the Soul For being justified by Faith we have peace with God Rom 5. 1. Repentance that by the Tears of godly sorrow and it s other acts clean●eth the soul from sin and sin being removed Gods face which sin had hidden doth again shine upon his people The soul being cleansed from sin the Provocation is taken away and so Gods w●ath ceaseth To this we shall refer that Isa 1. 16. Wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings cease to do evil learn to do well c. Come now saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red as Crimson they shall be as Wool 3. Peace is not to be obtained by any other means Not by outward Sacrifices God delights not in them Psal 51. 16. They cannot take away sin Heb. 10. 4. Not by humane wisdom none can be too crafty for God Job 5. 13. Not by Power the Lord is Almighty with whom a poor sinner is to deal a great Lord of great power Psal 147. 5. No Reward can remove wrath Riches avail nothing in the day of wrath Prov. 11. 4. Neither canst thou blind Gods eye by thy Gifts Exod. 23. 8. No friend can do it be they never so holy they can but deliver their own souls by their righteousness Ez●k 14. 14. No other good Duty Not Fasting Jer. 14. 10 12. Not Alms-giving 1 Cor. 13. 3. Not Prayer not many Prayers Isa 1. 15. Nor any thing else There is no other way to resettle the disturbed soul and to regain its peace but by turning from the folly of sin by true repentance and faith in the Lord Christ Use 1. Here then that Errour is confuted that the Lords People need no repentance It may as well be said that they need no Faith When the Soul hath lost its peace and is wounded by the apprehension of losse by the fear of wrath how shall its wounds be cured how shall wrath be removed how shall the Lords Favour be regained but by these fore-mentioned Means But it is said the Lords people cannot sin and therefore they need no repentance Sin is a transgression of the Law but the Saints are no longer under the Law but under Grace That the Saints do sin and how they are said to sin I have shewed formerly Now how they are under the Law The Law hath a twofold power A Condemning Power and A Directing Power The condemning Power the Lords People and Saints are no longer under There is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 1. But they are still under its di●●cting power It hath

5. Thou hast long mourned and gasped for peace Wouldst thou be sure that it is spoken unto thee thou maist know whether it be or not by these discoveries Marks 1. There will be by degrees an improvement in thy knowledge of spiritual things The eyes of thine understanding will be more and more enlightned thou wilt be more acquainted with the secrets of God and with his Covenant Psal 25. 14. And thou wilt find a clearer manifestation of Christ in thy soul John 14. 21. 2. Thou wilt walk more chearfully uprightly more firmly and stedfastly in the wayes of God The Holy Spirit will stablish and uphold thee Psal 51. 12. It will set thee in the way of his steps v. ult of this 85th Psal Or as the old Translation hath it it shall direct thy going in the way 3. If the Lord hath spoken peace unto thee thou wilt exceedingly rejoyce in this Mercy there will follow an exulting and triumphing in the soul as here beneath in the Text Mercy and Truth are met together The Soul will say with Joy I was under the sad effects of Gods Justice but the Lord in Justice hath remembred Mercy Mercy and Truth are met together and Mercy hath gotten the upper hand Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other The Lord hath looked upon my sincerity in my humiliation he hath looked upon the Righteousness of the Lord Christ which in the Promises I have made mine by a particular application and thereupon hath embraced me with Peace and filled me with all sweet manifestations of his Love Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other 4. There will follow a forwardness in teaching of others and winning them unto God a teaching of Gods wayes unto the wicked that sinners may be converred unto him Psal 51. 13. An acquainting them with what the now setled and recovered soul hath experimentally found the danger of the Folly of sin the Lords readiness to forgive it and to speak peace upon a sinners true Repentance and Faith in Christ To acquaint them with his faithfulness and Justice how faithful he is in performing of his Promises how Just in requiring no more of a poor sinner having accepted the Lord Christs satisfaction for his sins Such I have found him and such you will find him if you will make Trial and do as I have done Thus the sinner that hath now peace spoken to his soul endeavours to perswade others and to convert others by his own experience of Gods mercy in speaking peace unto him 5. Upon peace spoken there will ●ollow in the soul a great enlargement of its love towards God Much was forgiven her for she loved much Luke 7. 4. To hear that comfortable speech in the soul Thy sins are forgiven thee it may be heinous often repeated exceedingly aggravated yet to hear These thy sins are forgiven thee the soul cannot but with all dearness of affection answer such a Mercy The Lords way to wash away the filth of the Daughters of Zion is by the Spirit of Judgment and by the spirit of Burning Isa ● 4. By the spirit of Judgment he wounds the Soul and brings it low for its filth and follies of sin And after upon its true humiliation and Faith speaking peace unto it by the spirit of burning he heats and enflames it with a true sense and exceeding love of his Goodness and Mercy towards it 6. There will follow true thankfulness where peace is once-spoken When the soul ha●h found ●he Lord thus gracious and merciful in delivering it from its disturbances in curing of its wounds and speaking peace unto it as it will break forth into free pro●essions of its love and say I love the Lord because he hath dealt so and so with me Psal 16. 1. So it will proceed to a quid retribuam What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me v. 12. And because it can find nothing else to render but Praise and Obedience it will give him the glory of his Mercy by ●elling those that fear him what he hath done for ●t Psal 66. 6. And in lieu of its Mercy it will give up its self with its body as a living sacrifice unto him in its reasonable serving of him Rom. 12. 1. 7. Lastly Where Peace is spoken to the soul and the Lord is again united to it in love there will be an earnest desire of a nearer union with him To this end as there will be a careful shunning of whatsoever may dissolve this Union principally under that Notion as it may cause a separation between God and the soul so there will be a diligent use of all Means which may bring him nearer to us and us to him E●pecially there will be an earnest longing ●or the full enjoyment of him in Heaven there will be a desiring to be with Christ which is best of all a wishing for the day of his appearing and the hastning thereof Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev 2. 20. Thus you have heard how the Lord upon the unfaigned humiliation of his people and their Faith in Christ will in his good time most certainly speak peace unto them for the resetling and recovery of their disturbed and wounded Spirits Who now would not hear such a God who would hear any other but him Who would not be very sl●y lest he again provoke him Which is the Doct 3. That when the Lord upon their unfaigned Hum●at●on and Faith speaks peace unto his people and Sa●n●s they are to hear him and him alone And Peace being spoken they are to be very wary how they turn again unto ●olly This Point hath two Branches 1. That in speaking peace unto the Soul God the Lord alone is to be heard 2. That peace being spoken his People and Saints ought to be very wary how they turn again unto folly The first Branch That in speaking peace unto the unsetled and wounded soul God the Lord alone is to be heard When the Lords people are lab●uring and languishing under his heavy hand under those fore mentioned smarting wounds of Loss of wrath the Devil useth all his skill to bring them if possibly he may to despair of Mercy and Peace When he finds that he cannot prevail that way but that the Lord doth still uphold the Soul though under a weighty burden he sets on the World which he hath at his Command to offer them Peace and that very freely and liberally to give it unto them without any conditions proviso's or reservations and he secretly suggests unto the carnal part that peace and settlement is there to be had and perswades them to accept of it The world comes and makes a very free tender of it And at the same time the Lord he offers Peace likewise but upon condition that they must humble themselves by true repentance for their ●ollies and must by Faith apply unto themselves the Promises of Pardon and peace made unto

them through Christ in the Gospel Of these two Offerers or Givers of Peace mention is made John 14. ●7 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you God giveth Peace the world giveth peace The world gives it freely God upon terms and conditions Whether of these two now are the Lords people to hear Flesh saies the World that stands not upon terms and reservations that ties not to any conditions of bewayling confessing hating resolving applying here needs no breaking or rending of the heart or changing of the mind the dear price which they must pay who have their peace from God But the Spirit sayes beware take heed how you listen to the World heark●n unto God the Lord and to him alone For he is God the Lord and ye are his people he speaks peace and he speaks peace unto his people and Saints In which words are couched and contained a threefold reason why in speaking of peace the Lords people and Saints are to hear him and him alone 1. Because he is God the Lord and they are his People He loves them he knows and pities the sad condition the wounded Spirit is in and is alone able to help it 2. Because he will most certainly speak peace unto the soul He will assure it that he is at peace with it 3. Because he speaks peace that which the soul shall find to be truly such He neither gives what the world gives nor as the world gives 1. The first Reason is taken from that near relation between God and his People and from those two titles God the Lord and so it is taken from his Power his Knowledge his Love He is the Lord and therefore able to cure the wounded Spirit He is a Lord of great power such that as he can work by weak means by contrary means so without means He can create peace for the unsetled soul Isa 45 7. He can make it of nothing and indeed so he doth there being no prepared prejacent matter in the soul out of which it should be pr●duced He is God he knows the soul in i●s adversity Psal 31. 7. He it is who wounded it and therefore knows the anguish and danger of its wounds what remedy is fittest for it and when and how it is to be applyed And the Saints though in this sad condition yet are his people whom he loves Col. 3. 12. Towards whom he is tender-hearted very pitiful and of tender Mercy Jam. 5. 11. He pitieth those that fear him as a Father pitieth his Children Psal 103. 13. And therefore as he is able and skilful so he is most ready and willing to help them to settle them to cure their wounds The World is a Physition of no value a meer Empyrick a bold Mountebank that neither is able to compose any Soveraign Remedy nor knows how to apply it being altogether ignorant of the state of the soul in its distress Beside the Lords people and Saints are most hateful unto it Jo. 15. 19. And shall they believe that their deadly enemy if it were able and had skill would be willing to settle and recover them 2. The second Reason why in speaking peace the Lord alone is to be heard is taken from that assurance which the Lord rayseth in the soul that he is at peace with it For he speaks peace to it He makes the soul as strongly perswaded of peace and as confidently to build upon it as if it heard the Lord himself speak it immediatly from Heaven The Grounds whereon this assurance is built in the soul are His Decree which is stable unchangeable Heb. 6. 17. His Promise which is Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. His Oath which he will not break Heb. 6. 17. His Hand for it in his written Word which he will not deny Rom. 15. 4. His Seal to it his Spirit which he cannot but own ● Cor. 1. 22. His Delivery of this Assurance which he will not revoke John 14. 27. The Witness to all this his Spirit which cannot lye Rom. 8. 18. Thus the Lord speaks peace unto the Soul by thus assuring of it that he is no more an enemy or a stranger unto it which must needs settle it and fill it with strong Consolation Heb. 6. 18 When the World can afford to the unsetled and wounded Spirit such grounds of assurance of Peace and Settlement it may then hope the Lords people may be perswaded to hearken unto it till then it may forbear its frank but empty Tenders 3. The Third Reason is taken from the quality of that Peace which the Lord speaks to the Soul He speaks unto it which is truly such being 1. A solid Peace 2. A satisfying Peace Peace fourfold 3. A Fortifying Peace 4. A lasting Peace 1. It is a solid Peace grounded upon Christ who is our peace Eph 2 14. Who hath made peace for us and reconciled us unto his Father Col. 1. 20. Having purchased peace for us at a dear ra●e by the bloud of his Cross being wounded for our Transgressions the chas●●sement of our peace being upon him and he healing our wounds by his stripes Isa 53. 5. He is both our propit●ation and our advocate for peace unto his Father 1 John 2. 1 2. My Peace I give unto you John 14. Well may he call it his which he hath bought so dear The greatness of the Price speaks the Truth and Solidness of the Peace It is Christ's Peace dearly bought His Father gives it at his request it is the peace of God Phil. 4. 7. And from him proceeds nothing but what is true real and solid The Peace which from it the world would have the soul to accept of it deserves not the name of peace being but a light flash but a shadow of Peace The World cries Peace where there is none Jer. 6. 14. And so if its tender might be accepted would it heal the hurt of Gods People slightly And indeed what more is to be exp●ct●d from the World when it hath but one Receipt or Remedy consisting of three Ingredients which like a bold unskilful Empyrick it applyes to every M●lady What these Ingredients are St. John tells us 1 John 2. 16. All that is in the World are the Lusts of the flesh or Pleasures the Lust of the eyes or Wealth the Pride of life or Honour And alas What can these do to the recovery of a wounded Spirit which cannot prevent or remove a disease from the body or in the least measure abate its Pain The Vermin seized upon Herod and devoured him alive though a great King who had Wealth and Pleasure at his Command Acts ●2 23. 2. The peace which God speaks unto the wounded Spirit it is a satisfying peace Upon the speaking of this the before-disturbed soul returns unto its rest and settlement It hath now its desire it was wounded with the apprehension of losse and fear of wrath and its