A MANUALL OF Practical Divinity For the Benefit of weak CHRISTIANS the informing their Judgements the quickning their Affections and directing their Conversation WITH Several Things that may be of use for the Convincing and Awakening those that are yet in their natural Estate By MARTIN FYNCH Pastor of the Church of Christ at Tetney in Lincoln-shire LONDON Printed by R. W. for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles near the West end of Pauls 1658. To the READER I Published some years since a little Treatise called Milk for Babes in Christ which foundsome acceptance with some new born Babes in Christ especially in the West Countrey and those parts as I am informed have taken off a great part of two Editions of that Book and some there to whom I am a stranger do desire I should publish someting further for whose sake with others I have written these few sheets wherein there is some more Milk for Babes in Christ and a little stronger Meat for those that are more grown Christians but I can pretend to little of that might I but feed any of Christs Lambs it were much for such a poor Creature as I am What you have here is especially for weak Christians whom sometimes weak gifts may edifie God doth not all by men of great parts but useth also the weak things of the world that no flesh might glory in his presence It s God that makes our gifts to be accepted of the Saints and usefull to them yea God makes the weak gifts of his servants sometimes very acceptable and refreshing to his people what is wanting in our writings he can supply by the presence and supply of his own Spirit in the reading of them The wind bloweth where it listeth so doth Gods Spirit breath in whose books as well as preaching he pleaseth and more or less as it pleaseth him without which all our writings prove to others jejune and dry One writes and another one preacheth and another thou knowest not which shall prosper the ones labors or the others or whether both shall be alike good for all our works are in the hand of the Lord. The Assistance of Gods Spirit in writing or preaching the spiritual Affections God giveth the sincerity simplicity and humility of a mans own heart and some faith that God giveth of his blessing satisfie a mans own heart much in such undertaking Nothing becomes those that the Lord makes any use of in these things more then an unfeigned humility of heart having no confidence in themselves and performances and a true dependance upon the Lord in all they do Those that cannot add one cubit to their own stature by all the Light and gifts they have without the gracious Influences and workings of the Spirit upon their hearts what can their Light and Gifts help others communicated by preaching or writing without the concurrence of the same Spirit What then are we or any of our Labors that we should not say We and they are nothing And if God will accompany any of them with his blessing it s his free Grace How easily can God blast all those Sermons and Books that are preached and printed in the pride of a mans own heart How often hath the Lord said in such cases there is so much self there I will not be there and so the performance is lost We know Gods Spirit hath not so wrought in the preaching of the word for conversion of souls as it hath done formerly It may be reading of good books is not so blessed to mens souls neither as it hath been few are converted yet more preaching through Mercy amongst us then ever none will complain of too much preaching though they do of too much printing But what is the reason that so few are converted Is not there excellent gifts for preaching possibly excelling in some respect the gifts and clearness of the light of former Ages but yet there must be the Arm of the Lord revealed the mighty drawing of the Father without which men cannot come to Christ And it may be that before the Lord accompany the preaching of the word with much success the Lords Servants shall not only in a doctrinal way know that its God that giveth the Increase but their hearts shall be so possest with the consideration of it that they shall lie more low before the Lord in their work and cry mightily for the pouring down of the Spirit But how many mistaking these things will slight outward means because its Gods Spirit that maketh all succesfull this temptation hath not only taken with many grosly ignorant persons who hearing of Gods eternal Election and of his distinguishing Grace throw up all outward means presently and in the sullenness of their spirits say There is no Hope but also many professors of Religion have withdrawn themselves from a constant and conscionable attendance upon the means of Grace Therefore this I have observed that it is expedient when ever we speak to persons of that necessary doctrine of the inward and efficacious workings of the Spirit to be that which makes all ordinances succesfull even then to give due cautions that according to the word this is no ground of neglecting any outward Ordinances and duties But who seeth not a formal spirit on the one hand and a wanton spirit on the other breaking in upon us The Lord put a stop to the spirit of error amongst us recover the dying withering languishing spirits of Professors send forth a reconciling Spirit among his people give more light into the Discipline of his house send forth more labourers into his harvest and bless them that are already at his work Tetney in Lincoln-shire 16. of Vulg. MARCH 1658. MARTIN FYNCH The CONTENTS THE wicked and miserable estate of man by nature chap. 1 How men deceive themselves and think that their estate is good chap. 2 Great Salvation in Christ for sinners ch 3 The freeness of the Salvation we have by Christ chap. 4 The Convictions and workings that are oftentimes upon men that are never converted chap. 5 The ways and temptations by which many souls miscarry under legal workings and a spirit of Bondage chap. 6 The saving work of Gods Spirit upon the heart chap. 7 The woful backsliding of many Professors and the way of their Recovery chap. 8 Of Assurance and Peace of Conscience chap. 9 The Ministry of Angels and their serviceableness to the Church chap. 10 The glorious times that shall be before the last day of Judgement chap. 11 The Influences of the Spirit chap. 12 The Covenant between God the Father and the Lord Jesus our Surety chap. 13 The Saints comfort against Death chap. 14 The Holiness of Believers chap. 15 The way of Believers joining in Church-fellowship chap. 16 The right use of the Law chap. 17 The true Humility that is in the Lords people chap. 18 General Directions chap. 19 How the Lord is pleased effectually to call some after they have been long in
for Christs sake hath forgiven us there will be something amiss in our carriages towards our Brethren and if we do not forgive where will our love be Minister to the wants of the Saints according to our abilities freely without grudging do not unsaint our Brethren because of some ignorance and error The Patriarcks are supposed to have been ignorant that Polygamy the having of more wives then one was a sin the disciples ignorant of Christs death and resurrection at the first visit the Saints those that are the poor especially when they are under afflictions not only to comfort them but because then usually there is much good to our selves in converse with them 21. If God hath made our days hitherto days of outward prosperity compassed us about with fulness of the creature watch against sin the more David committed those three great sins of murder adultery numbring the people when he was in prosperity and greatness And do good while we have estates or oppornity and look and prepare for afflictions don 't think God will always use thee to such fair weather and if God continue prosperity learn heavenlyness not to stick in the creature learn moderation not to surfer on the creature and daily make wise observation of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature 22. If Afflictions come see if thou canst find out the particular cause of them which sometimes may be known by the time when it comes As for Nebuchadnezar Daniel 4. to be struck just when he had been saying Is not this great Babel which I have built it was easie to know that his pride and vain glory was the cause of that woful affliction that came upon him and so Herod Act. 12. to be just smitten with death when the people cryed it was the voice of a God and he took that to himself it was easie to see that that was the cause of his death so also we may sometimes know the cause of our afflctions by that way of affliction that God useth to us it may be so like our sin as Davids affliction in the â—…eath of the Child that was by Bathsheba Vriah's wife 1 Sam. 12. it was easie to know that that sin was the cause of the childs death and so Adonibezeck Judg. 1.6,7 when he had his Thumbs and great Toes cut off he presently was convinced what was the cause of the affliction because he had served threescore and ten Kings so himself Sometimes God shews us the cause of our afflictions by setting it up upon the hearts of our Brethren among whom we live Sometimes he sets it home upon our own Spirits that such a sin is the cause of it but if the Lord never let us know all our days the particular cause of many afflictions yet we are to kiss the rod submit to his hand search and trie our waies humble our selves under his hand and walk more closely with him in the whole course of our lives 23. Take heed that we offend not with our Tongues let our words be few take not up most of the time in discourse when better gifts are present but be swift to hear let our discourse be seasonable to time place company if they be wicked such discourse as may awaken and convince if they be strong Saints such discourse as may be sutable to them sometimes it is not fit to speak in the company of weak trembling Saints what horrible temptations other Saints have unless it be to comfort them that they are not alone but others of Gods children are tempted as well as they otherways weak Saints many times fall into great torment of spirit that they shall be tempted as they are and that they shall sink under the Burthen Do not use to commend your selves neither affect in discourse to give others occasion to commend you do not delight in rough and harsh speeches be wary to whom we open our hearts in secret matters not unless they can keep Councell and give Councell use heavenly discourse among godly men for want of that makes their company to be little better then other mens in discourse be not silent when there is cause to speak out of affected gravity nor speak out of for wardness or indiscretion when our silence is better 24. Prize the Scriptures as the word of God so they are called over and over Blessed is he that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it Now the Lord is revealing light out of the Scripture more and more Satan tempts many to deny the word of God all Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the breathing of God 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men of God wrote the Scriptures and they wrote them as they were moved by the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forcibly carried out of themselves and above themselves by the holy Ghost By the word of God when the Scriptures are so called is meant that which God hath spoken that which he hath said and therefore for men to boggle at the expression and say the Scriptures are not the Word of God but only Christ is the Word of God it is as much as to say the Scriptures are not what the Lord hath spoken and what holy men wrote as they were moved by the holy Ghost as the holy Ghost indited this is a horrible temptation it is true Christ is called the word so is he the Eternal Word of God but the Scriptures also are the Word of God the written Word of God Where this temptation prevails upon men that they question the Scriptures being the word of God by degrees they throw up all Religion all truths one after another and though they do it at first under the notion of living in the spirit and of the Light within them yet at last they turn very Atheists and thus after a generation of grosly ignorant and superstitious persons there is risen up a multitude of deluded and erroneous persons even in the fundamentals of Religion But O let those that are the Lords people study the word of God day and night try all things by the Word get sutable hearts to the Word that we may understand it the better look up to the Spirit that indited the Scripture to be our Expositor and comment upon them and often try our selves by the word and take heed to all our ways according to the word read it ofner then other books and give up our hearts to all the Truths of it 25. Lay up experiences which are better then Cabinets of Jewels lay up experiences of the comfortings of the Spirit of his gracious influence in prayer and other duties lay up experiences of the ravishing consolation that flows from Christs blood lay up experiences of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature and of Gods care over us to keep us from many sins and errrors when we have had great temptations to them take special times to meditate of all the special experiences we
against the Infections of the times or a Faithful Watch-word from Mount-Sion to prevent the ruin of souls whereby some special considerations are presented to sinners Admonition to Saints and Invitation to Backsliders published for the good of all by the Elders and Messengers of several Churches in Wales A Warning Piece for the â—lumbring Virgins or an Alarm to the friends of the Bridegroom being some awakning Meditations upon Christs own Watch-word Mat. 26.41 by Ge. Scortrech Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln recommended to the Reader by Joseph Caryl William Greenhill Geo. Griffith Books against the Quakers A Faithfull Discovery of a treacherous Design of Mystical Antichrist displaying Christs Banners but attempting to lay waste Scriptures Churches Christ Faith Hope c. and establish Paganism in England being an Examination of the Doctrines of the people called Quakers by Joseph Kellet John Pomroy Paul Glisson A Confutation of the Quakers being an Answer to ninteen Quaeries propounded by them and answered by S. Eaton Minister of the Gospel in Cheshire A Testimony to the true Jesus and the faith of him wherein the way of the people called Quakers is examined and weighed being an Answer to James Nailors Book called Love to the Lost by T. Higgenson A Looking-Glass for the Quakers by T. Collier The Conviction of James Nailer and his black Spirit demonstrated by Lieutenant Ellis Bradshaw Books printed in the Welch Language VIZ. The Bible with singing Psalms The New-testament alone The Practice of Piety The sincere Convert Some part of the Works of Mr. Rees Prichard sometimes Vicar of Landyfre in the County of Carmarthen Some Catechisms together with several other Books in Welch Sold at the three Bibles in Pauls-Church-yard near the West end CHAP. I. The wicked and miserable estate of man by Nature BY Nature our heart which should be the best part of us is the worst a deep and bottomless pit of sin God saw the imaginaton of the heart of man was only evil continually Gen. 5.5 God seeth it whose eyes are so piercing like a flaming fire but few of us see it all our dayes never until God anoint our eyes with his eye-salve then we cry out we are unclean we are unclean God many times begins in the conversion of a sinner with this to shew him the sin of his nature how desperately wicked his nature and heart is beyond all the sin that hath broke out in his practice that there is a great fire of sin upon the hearth of the heart from whence all those sparks fly out of the chimney of the life and practice O we are by nature full of sin as the Toad is full of poyson and that poyson we spit out is but little to what is within this Root of sin is of a spreading nature it grows faster in wicked mens hearts then Grace doth in the Godly that we grow worse and worse and though by education afflictions terrors of conscience the branches may be lopt off yet the Root of sin in the heart doth spread daily O wretched men that we are that our heart which should be the Presence Chamber for the King of Heaven that this is a cage of unclean Birds and when we want opportunities of Uncleanness Theft Murder Voluptuousness outward pomp and applause then our wicked hearts will act over these things in a speculative way delighting our selves in the thoughts of them Therefore it is that the Scripture sets out conversion by A new heart Ezek. 36. Washing the heart from wickedness Jerem. 4.14 and forsaking our thoughts Esay 55. because our hearts are so opposite to God by nature and so contrary to the heart that God puts into us when he makes us new Creatures and therefore it is that when our eyes are opened we grow sick of our own hearts and cry out Lord deliver me from this proud worldly unclean deceitful unbelieving vain hard heart There is no cozening and cheating tricks in the world but our hearts have them that if there were no Devil to delude us yet our own hearts would everlaftingly cheat us Our hearts by nature are like a rotten stinking Fen from whence arise continual fogs mists and vapors which are a stench in the nostrils of God Satan hath a mighty power over us that maâ—icious subtile strong man armed he ruleth in the â—hildren of disobedience Eph. 2.2 Adam by his â—all hearkening and yielding to Satan chose â—im for his God the Devil cals us his House Matth. 12.44 there he is at bed and board â—e keeps the keyes and bolts and locks all the â—oors against Christ and unless Christ that is â—…ronger then he bursts them open he dwels â—here for ever O consider this all ye that are 〈◊〉 your natural condition that Satan hath posâ—…ssion of you that you are possest with the Devil though not in a bodily way as in Christs â—…me the Devil possessed many yet he hath posâ—…ssion of the heart Satan fortifies the hearts â—f men makes them strong Garrisons against â—…e Lord Jesus Now we are in a faln estate and liable to Gods everlasting wrath and there is such inâ—itations to come to Christ that we may be deâ—…vered from the wrath and Hell to come we have such cursed perverse hearts that we will not come to Christ that we may have Life but rather die in our sins we say as those Luke 19.27 that Christ shall never raign over us as soon as ever we hear Christ knock and call at the door of our hearts we run and bolt the door against him and unless he please by an Almighty and irresistible power to change our wills we never believe on him O how through unbelief we refuse great Salvation and do as it were bid God shoot all his Arrows at us we stand in the dreadful storm of Gods wrath and will not come to Christ the shelter and covertâ— from the storm we open our naked brests and bid God strike with the sharp sword The way of our wretched hearts is that if God never look after us we never look after him if we should live never so many thousand years in the world after we are converted we seek him iâ— some poor measure we seek the Lord and hiâ— strength and Grace and Spirit but before wâ— look not after him but if he come near to uâ— in afflictions in the Ministry of his Word oâ— common Reproofs and convictions of his spirit we say unto God Depart from us we desiâ—… not thy Christ thy Spirit and the knowledge oâ— thy wayes We cannot do any thing that God will accept of though we be never so serious stricâ— as doubtless many Papists and others are Aristotle and others of the Heathens that could write so many Books of Philosophy yet could not tell how to make one acceptable prayer to God all their vertues were but as a Toad painted over with fair colours or as a Silken stocking upon a wooden Leg a man by nature wants faith hath
not the spirit of Christ hath not Christ to present his Duties to God the Father and to take away the Iniquity of them and then what can he do acceptible to God It s the way of our hearts by nature that if we do any thing that is good for the matter of it we make use of it to keep us at a further distance from Christ and closing with him by faith that we trust to our Duties for Salvation and thus if we do any thing for God it is out of base ends as Jehu did either for applause to be accounted Religious and zealous for God or to stop the mouth of conscience or else we think to make our good works a Ladder to climbe up to Heaven by We are blind in spiritual things having our understandings darkned and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in us and blindness of our minds Eph. 4. that all the my steries of the Gospel are Riddles to us and till we plough with the Lords Heifer the Spirit of God we cannot understand those Riddles when the Lord came to convert Nicodemus how blind and ignorant did he find him Joh. 3. and when he came to convert the woman of Samaria how ignorant did he find her we may see John 4. It s a wonderful thing how in conversion God makes the ignorant to understand Doctrine how in a month or two God helps them to pray and discourse so knowingly and spiritually that before were perfect sots and almost as ignorant of God as the Beast that perishes And in the Description of our natural estate Tit. 3.3 we are said to be foolish we are like fools and mad men and indeed men will call themselves fools first or last either here if they are converted or in Hell What fools are we to prefer the world before Christ For this the Lord called the rich man fool Luke 12. and what fools are we that having but one precious Jewel our souls that we will fell it for every base lust we are more foolish then Esau was in selling his Birth-right for a mess of pottage And what fools are we to make no provision for Eternity The Ant is wiser that provideth her meat in the Summer but we take no care for the long winter of eternity And what fools are we to set our selves against the Saints of God who are as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye Christ tels Paul its hard for him to kick against the pricks Act. 9. He makes the persecuting of the Saints to be as foolisâ— and dangerous a thing as for a man to kick knock his shins against the pricks And what fools are we that though we will not neglect Fairs and Markets yet will neglect the means of Grace and opportunities of getting Christ And what fools are we that when Christ knocks at our doors will not let in such a blessed guest that brings the Spirit and a new Heart and a pardon and eternal life with him And what fools are we that will build our eternal condition upon the sands of our own Righteousness and not upon Jesus Christ If a man should build a house upon the sands we should say he is a fool indeed the next Tide will wash it away and the ground will sink and give way all this folly and a thousand times more is in our hearts by nature but we see it not There is a strange forwardness and earnestness in us naturally to sin and a lothness to leave sin insomuch that men will be in a rage against those that would stop them in their sinful courses and though God send many afflictions as upon Pharaoh yet men turn not to the Lord indeed when men can scarce turn them in their beds they will say they will leave their wicked courses but when the affliction is over they will be as bad as ever men are so loth to part with their sins naturally that they will undo their souls unto all eternity rather then part with their lusts as Nero's mother enquiring whether her son should be Emperour she was told that he should be Emperour but then he should kill her she out of the pride and ambition of her spirit said Let him kill me so he be but Emperour so the Word of the Lord tels us that if we go on in our sins and are not converted our souls will be damned to all eternity and men say in their hearts Let me be damned so I may enjoy my base lusts O what wickedness is in the heart Men will not fall out with themselves and sins until they come to hell except they be converted but in hell men will fall out with their sins and say O thou cursed pride O cursed drunkenness O cursed uncleanness O cursed unbelief that hath undon our souls for ever And if the Lord never convert us but leave us in a state of Nature to die out of Christ how infinitely miserable shall we be for ever The wages of sin is death Rom. 6.14 Rom. 1.18 Eph. 5.6 The wrath of God like a huge Mountain will lie upon a sinners back in hell to crush him to pieces you will alwayes see God frowning upon you O think of this if thou beest not brought out of the state of Nature and ingraffed into Christ thou wilt be separated for ever from the Lord you shall never enjoy communion with him a glimpse of whose Reconciled face in Christ is worth ten thousand Worlds you will never taste one drop of those Rivers of Gods pleasures for ever of which the Saints shall have their fill O that will be a dreadful word Depart from me ye cursed Depart from me whose Loving kindness is better then Life Depart from me a day in whose Courts is better then a thousand elswhere go among the Devils who like roaring Lions seek to devour you When once men come to Hell there will be no means of Grace for ever Eccles 9.10 No work nor device nor knowledge in the grave No more dealings of Gods Spirit with men no inward nor outward comfort nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth which shews extremity of torment in Hell The Saints indeed when they die their places and Relations know them no more nor they them but then they know a better place Heaven and enjoy better Relations but a natural man leaveth all his outward comforts and goes into infinite torments O thou that are in thy natural condition give ear to this and flee from the wrath to come it may be now thou knowest not how to spend a day without some pastime or other O how wilt thou spend eternity in Hell where thou shalt never have a drop of water to cool thy tongue O consider what heart-distracting heart tormenting thoughts you will have in Hell if the Lord never convert you here how sadly will you remember what great sins you committed and with what hardness of heart how will it torment you
many times So that there is great need of the witness of the Spirit besides all our evidences to put the matter out of doubt that we are effectually called and so it is writen Rom. 8.15 The Spirit himself witnesses with our spirits that we are the sons of God He makes a heart-affecting discovery of the love of God in Christ to the soul Rom. 5.5 excites and stirs up Faith in the heart to act afresh upon the Lord Jesus works some joy in the soul from the apprehension of our Acceptance in Christ The Holy Ghost sometimes in assuring us of Gods love in Christ takes Promises in the Scriptures and sets them with power upon the heart as I am He that blotteth out thy Transgressions for my own Names sake and will remember thy sins no more Not that all words of Scripture that are cast into our minds are from the Spirit of the Lord but sometimes from Satan sometimes Promises come into our minds in an ordinary way as other things come to mind that we have read or heard but when any word of Scriptute is given in and applied in a way of comfort to our spirits from the Spirit of God 1. It will take some Impression though it may be that when the Spirit comes to comfort and witness he many times comes not with such irresistibility as when he comes to sanctifie yet some Impression it will have upon the heart if not to fill it with joy and Triumphing of spirit yet some way to support it and bear it up 2. If it come from the Spirit it will be suitable and seasonable to our condition as if a poor Saint be in affliction and the Holy Ghost should give in such a word as that in Heb. 12.9 He afflicts us for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness this is a seasonable word but many will say that such a Scripture was given in to them in such a condition when as the Scripture was nothing suitable to their condition but they mistook the meaning of the place 2. When the Spirit giveth in Scripture usually though not alwayes it is when the soul is in some strait some great strait and then he giveth them in some word upon which he causeth them to hope 4. Such words of Promise as the Spirit applies thus to a soul are very dear to the soul ever after yea it makes the whole Word of God more dear to them and such words do abide upon the memory very long 5. They raise up thankfulness in the heart 6. They do not cherish us in any way of sin if you thought you had any word from the Lord to put you upon any thing that the Word saith is sin then you were mistaken Somtimes the Spirit of God in comforting and witnessing to us doth not make use of any particular places and Promises but makes a general Discovery of the Gospel and New Covenant and applies that to the soul and shews him that he hath an Interest in the New Covenant that he is one of those whose Names are written in heaven and is sprinkled with the blood of Christ which cleanseth him from all sin This also I would here note that the Spirit of God doth speak peace to the consciences of many Believers that yet think they have no peace and question the truth of Grace in their hearts I say though it comes not so high as Ravishments of spirit yet the Holy Ghost in some more secret way hath quieted their hearts How comes it to pass else that those Believers notwithstanding all their doubtings yet do really and experimentally find that they can go to God as to a Father in prayer they are carried out to put all their cases to God and trust him with all their concernments and they find that the rancour of their spirits is taken off against the Lord these things declare plainly that in some secret way the Spirit of God hath quieted their hearts and given them some satisfaction concerning their sincerity and Truth of Grace though it hath not been so plain as to some other Saints that have had full assurance and abundance of joy in the Holy Ghost thereupon Let not the Saints be impatient and fret to do evil if the Spirit don't presently give them assurance neither let them think that they shall never have assurance because they have been long without it The Lord oftentimes lets things come to the worst before he sends help Peace and Assurance may be very near when thou thinkest that there is almost now no hope yea this is observable that when the Holy Spirit shall give assurance after much doubting that assurance oftentimes is more lasting then others that have had comfort sooner But God lets some even spend their dayes in sighing and their years with heaviness and even mourn out their eyes and hearts and find no rest and peace in Believing the Lord makes known to us by such examples the bitterness of sin the power of his Terrours the danger of backsliding and that he only can speak peace Let Christians beware of getting a habit of complaining and doubting as I have known some have got such a habit of complaining that upon all occasions and in all company they must be laying out their doubtings not but that Christians should make known their troubles and fears in suitable times one to another both that others seeing the straits that they are in may pray the more for them and might comfort them with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God but I say many have such a habit of complaining that I had almost said whether they have doubts and troubles upon their spirits or no they think it not well if they have not some complaint to make and think that their godly friends expect it alwayes from them Some not considering what Faith is viz. the souls being brought off from all other things to depend and relie upon the Lord Jesus for eternal life they bear false witness against themselves that they do not believe in Christ thinking that faith is nothing but some high Ravishments and almost perfection whereas ask such souls Hath the Lord convinced you of your miserable estate by nature both in respect of the damning and domineering power of sin and they can truly say yea the Lord hath convinced me of this Ask them further Hath the Lord shewn you that all your own Righteousness can never save you nothing but a crucified Christ can do it the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath powerfully convinced me of this ask the soul further Hath the Lord ever made you truly sensible that you could not believe in your own strength but Faith was the Lords free gift and the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath made me sensible of this and you ask further Did you ever find an Almighty power of Gods Spirit drawing your heart to Christ to take him for the Lord your Righteousness so that
be observed by the hearers in the delivery of the word yet not so as to the Preacher himself by the observing of the inward frame of his heart some mens tone and art of speaking may counterfeit affections and other mens age and weakness of speech may hide very spiritual affections in that work 6 The blessed Spirit is the great thing in reading and hearing of the word 1 How clearely will the Spirit open a Scripture to a mans understanding when a man hath read many Expositors the Spirit of God is pleased many times to be the best Commentator 2 How the Spirit of God applyes the word read or preached with power many times upon the conscience and indeed then comes the word with power when it cometh in the Holy Ghost 1 Thes 1.5 and we should not observe only what we read or heard but what impressions the Spirit of God made upon the hearts in reading or hearing Those which Peter preacht to Act. 10. the holy Ghost fell on them when it is so with hearers then the word affects them indeed 3 The Spirit of God in hearing of the word sometimes enlargeth a soul and enlightneth it into a Truth far beyond what the Preacher made out in expressions 4 Yea the Spirit makes use of some passage in a Sermon many times to work upon a soul that was but a parenthesis and circumlocution or reflexion upon the hearers ignorance and dulness things that many would think might very well have been left out 7 The Spirit of God is of infinite use to us to lead us into Truth Joh. 16.13 He leads Believers into all truth all necessary truth to Salvation Gods spirit doth as it were print a body of divinity in the hearts of Believers and though many of them be of weak Judgement and not able to answer the subtile Arguments that may be brought against a Truth yet Gods Spirit keeps them in the Truth that they are not led aside 8 The Spirit brings things to our remembrace John 14.26 That though many an honest heart when he hath read or heard the word complains he can remember very little yet Gods Spirit will bring things seasonably to their Remembrance that it may be many years after when by reason of some Temptation or affliction they have most need of such a truth then they have such a place of Scripture or such a passage of a sermon heard long ago brought to their Remembrance by Gods spirit and shall be of mighty use to them The conscionable and diligent hearing and reading of the word is frequently blessed with seasonable remembrance yea Gods Spirit hath sometimes convinced and converted a soul by bringing things to Remembrance that were read or heard many years ago and then took no impression upon the soul that the benefit of hearing and reading of the word both by Believers and Unbelievers doth not always appear upon that instant but it may be a great while afâ—…r CHAP. XIII The Covenant between God the Father and the Lord Iesus our Surety IT s a thing of unspeakable comfort to know that the Covenant of Grace is an everlasting Covenant and that it was principally made with Christ as the head of the Elect several things shew that there was a Covenant and Agreement between God the Father the Lord Jesus concerning the work of Redemption Christ being called the surety of the better Covenant Heb. 7.22 shews that there was a Covenant between God the Father and him as there is between a Creditor and a Surety that Christ gave Bonds as it were to God the Father and payed the debt when Christ is called Gods servant Esay 42.1 holds forth as much that though Christ as to his Divine nature was equal with God yet as Mediatour he became the Fathers servant God the Father and he agreed and Covenanted about the doing of this great Work of saving sinners Yea in Psalm 89.28 God the Father saith my Covenant shall stand fast with him that is which Christ for many things in that Psalm shew that it s to be interpreted of Christ so then there is a Covenant that God the Father hath made with Christ the Mediatour which Covenant the Lord saith shall stand fast upon this account the Lord Jesus is said Revel 13.8 to be the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the world because that it was agreed and Covenanted between God the Father Christ that he should in the fulness of time be made flesh and die for sinners and therefore it was said to be done from the Foundation of the world because so it was written in the Volume of Gods Book that the Lord Jesus had agreed to come to do the will of God Heb. 10. which was to offer up one Sacrifice for sins for ever which was himself and for the same Reason it is said that the Promises are made to Abrahams seed which is Christ Gal. 3.16 not to seeds as of many but they are principally made to one saith he and that is Christ and this the Apostle asserts 2 Tim. 1.9 when he saith we are saved and called not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began which shews that God the Father and Christ dealt together about the Redemption of souls before the world began and all things agreed on and made sure between them This the Lord Jesus means John 10.16 when he saith there were other sheep which he must bring home why must he bring them home how was he bound to it only by this Covenant and Agreement with God the Father wherein he had covenanted to do it Thus then it may be expressed in three particulars 1. God the Father decreed the salvation of the Elect all those expressions where he is said to chuse them love them with an everlasting Love evince so much 2. God the Father appointed the Lord Jesus to be the Way and means by which they should be saved therefore is Christ said to be appointed by God the Father Heb. 3.2 therefore God is said to lay help upon him for poor sinners Psalm 89. and therefore God is said to appoint us to obtain by our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.7 this is everywhere spoken of in the Scripture 3. God the Father made a sure Covenant with the Lord Jesus and agreed with him that he should do this great Work of bringing many sons unto glory And so as we may express it to our Capacities under the Notion of a Covenant there were several things agreed on between God the Father and Christ our Mediatour 1. They agreed of price what that Ransom should be that should discharge poor sinners and make full satisfaction to Gods Justice and it was agreed that it should be the death and blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus this is expressed Heb. 10. where Christ saith to God the Father Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not according to the Law but in
admission of members to maintain purity and will manage all by themselves as it were without either presence or consent of the Church it may be a great inconvenience and hinder communion of their and other Churches which might else more comfortably own one anothers Church state notwithstanding other differences those things are urged by the New England men with many Arguments and that of the holiness of those that are to be admitted into Churches is excellently defended by Mr. Cotton in that Book of his called The Holiness of Church members in which he answers all that is usually brought against it so that he that would with small expence either of money or time see that point cleared that may get that Book 19. To say that there hath been true Churches in England heretofore no way proveth that there is a true Church in every Parish for though there might be true Churches in some Parishes it doth not follow that therefore there was in all and because that there was a Church in such a place a hundred years ago it doth not follow that therefore there is now for God giveth Churches a bill of divorce many times what is become of the Churches of Asia the Church of Rome Hath not the Lord taken away their Church-state yet Rome still holdeth Christ that died at Jerusalem to be the true Christ the denial only of which some conceive will only unchurch a people and not their prophaness and wickedness otherwayes be it never so great a very strange notion it is but the Lord threatens to unchurch the Church of Ephesus for other grounds besides such gross Infidelity as was intimated yea though they had many excellent things in them yet Revel 2,4,5 I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent where we may observe to our present purpose 1. That God doth sometimes remove a peoples Church state for so I think all acknowledge that by Candlestick is meant their Church-state for the seven Candlesticks were the seven Churches Revel 1.20 2. It shews us plainly that though a people do not deny Christ that died at Jerusalem to be the true Christ but outwardly acknowledge and own him yet if the Church generally leave their first love and grow formal and carnal that there is to be seen no difference between them and unregenerate men God will unchurch them will own them no more after some time of his patience and waiting for their Repentance to be a Church and house of his 3 That God doth not use to stay generations before he unchurch a people that fall off from him for he saith in this place he will come quickly to remove his Candlestick except they repent God will not have Churches now look for such for bearance as the Church of the Jews which was an extraordinary thing and not to be paralleld but saith he I come quickly not to wait now many hundred years as I did upon the people of Israel 20 Although the Officers of Churches have a power of order yet they have not all Church-power for the Church of Corinth were to consent to put forth that Church act of excommunicating the incestuous person 1 Cor. 5.4 Though some officer for order-sake be the mouth of the Church in the managing of it they are by most allowed to choose their own officers without which they should fall short of the priviledge of most societies and relations in the world and this is some act of power that most grant is seated in the Church and thus was an Apostle chosen Act. 1. and the Deacons Act. 6.3 and Elders Act. 14.23 In that Synod they were not chose neither by Magistrates or by the Officers of the Churches only but by the body of the Church Act. 15.2,3 and so when any great affairs are to be transacted with another Church the persons commonly called the Messengers of the Churches are sent not only by the Officers but by the whole Church Act. 15.23 2 Cor. 8.19 and these do represent the Church indeed from which they are sent therefore he saith in that place verse 24. shew ye to them and before the Churches the proof of your love to shew that what is done before them when they are thus delegated and appointed by the Churches is done before these Churches and the Church must say to Archippus Take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received of the Lord and fulfill it Col. 4.17 but for a man to come only by a Patron into a place that he looks upon as a Church and is not solemnly chosen by them and then will take all Church-power to himself is far from being according to Rule 21 Believers may join together in Church-fellowship though they do not agree in every thing if they agree in the main Churches gathered upon rigid Principles of uniformity in every thing makes way for breaches if men be sound in the faith and not of turbulent but peaceable Spirits some mistakes about lesser matters may be born with until God shall reveal these things unto them 22 It s observable that godly Ministers in most parts of the nation begin more and more to be unsatisfied with the common way of taking all to the Lords Table though yet they differ what is the way of Reformation but this serveth not only to countenance the peaceable and sober separation that is practised by some but promiseth much that God will reveal these truths of discipline more fully then hitherto we know that the godly in the Bishops times first began to scruple one Ceremony and then another and so light came in by degrees it is a good thing to see that men cannot bear such prophaning of Gods Ordinances as hath been amongst us and that they labor for purity of ordinances though they do not presently come into Gospel-order in every thing 22 The Pastors of the Churches must be godly It is a greater mischief then many are aware of that many that are publique Preachers and count themselves Pastors of Churches are not gracious men yea by those that put them into that work and those that sit under their Ministry it is not regarded whether they be godly only that they have some learning and parts 1 John 21.15,16,17 Christ saith to Peter Lovest thou me then feed my Lambs Christ doth not send others to seed his Lambs that neither love him nor them 2 Mind the description of a Pastor or Bishop which are all one 1 Tim. 3. He must be sober no drunkard apt to teach from some gifts of knowledge and utterance that God hath bestowed upon him he saith he must not be greedy of filthy Lucre Oh how many have entred upon the ministry meerly for filthy Lucre to get a living he saith he must not be a Novice 〈◊〉
the Spirit abroad we may want such opportunities of secret duties as we have used at home which may put the heart much out of frame 16. It s a great matter in Religion for Saints to walk with God in our relations if our Parents be alive we are to honor them and be subject to them so was Christ to his Parents for our example Luke 2.51 yea the Apostle would have Children requite their Parents for all their care and cost and not be stuborn and undutifull if they don't do for them as they would if God brings into the Relation of a Husband he is to love his wife and not be bitter and harsh and like a Nabal that the wife may not miss her other dear relations that she hath left to cleave unto him but find all made up in his love yea if the wife be barren the husband must not think much with her when Hannah 1 Sam. 1.6,7,8 was troubled because she bare no Children to her Husband Elkanah he comforted her and said Why art thou grieved Am not I better then ten Sons If God calls to the relation of a Wife we know what directions the Scripture gives for the Wife to be subject to her Husband yet many godly women that are close walkers and tender-conscienced otherways yet do not seriously consider enough lay that Duty upon their consciences but though their Husbands through their Love may cover it yet they must look upon it as a sin before the Lord. Let Husband and Wife beg of God to give them suitable affections one to another and mingle all their conjugal love with spiritual If God call to be a Father then the Scripture tells us that we must bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord be not an Eli to our Children he though he was a good man yet failed much in this 1 Sam. 2.22,23,24,25 he was too indulgent to them for he should not only have spoken as he did but he should have reproved them more sharply and should have put his sons out of their office in which they were so wicked bless God if he work Grace in our Children for he is not bound to them he hath no need of our posterity but can take out of the prophanest families if he please the most eminent Saints have had prophane Children care not only for outward things for them but that they may be the Lords that when we are dead and gone they may know the God of their Fathers and when we are rotten in our Graves they may stand up in our steads to own and love and walk with that blessed God that we in our pilgrimage walked with If God call us to be maisters of Families and have servants then we are as David to walk in our houses with a faithful heart instruct our servants and family in Gods ways as God knew Abraham would do and forbear threatning and give them that which is right for their service and if they be sick not to throw them off to shift for themselves but as the Centurion went to Christ for the cure of his servant so should we look out for cure for them If we be to marry we are to marry in the Lord not to marry carnal yoak-fellows for their beauty or riches some have paid dear for that for while they have married carnal yoak-fellows they have either been carried too much away with their sins or have lost so much of their Liberty in Gods ways that they have gone with sorrow to their graves Be well acquainted with the Covenant of Grace get distinct knowledge of it Many Professors are very dark in the blood of Christ insomuch that they loose their peace almost upon every sinning and so have legal repentance for sin when they should have Gospel-repentance which is the Repentance that Believers should have called Zach. 12.10 mourning over Christ crucified and mourning as for an only Son which is not only great mourning but mourning out of Love 18. Count upon opposition from the world and never think if we walk with God to escape the worlds censures the thoughts of this to frame our actings in Religion so as to keep peace with carnal people hath made some comply so far as to lose their zeal and be a shame to Religion 19. When we have any orderly opportunities put into our hands in any thing to lift up the name of God in our generations let it not slip but put our necks to the work if we are clear in the work and our call to it for it may be there will never such an opportunity of service to God be put into our hands all our days again now is our working time now we have opportunities for Reformation and converting others which we shall not have in the Grave whether we are going 20. Walk in love with the Saints break not with them upon every small difference of Judgement if you see some truth that they are dark in it may be they see much more in other things then you do watch against the Beginning of differences Do not every thing you may when you are in the presence of weak Saints 1 Cor. 10.32 consider the tempers of these Saints we converse with their natural tempers their education temptations corruptions and walk tenderly and wisely towards them carry our selves humbly towards all Saints especially when we differ in any thing from them for many times not so much the thing wherein we differ from others breaks love between and us as our high and proud carriage in that matter In all our care to walk in love with the Saints and not to give them offence look up to God to send a Spirit of love between you for somtimes when a godly man hath it in his eye to order a business so as to give no offence to his Brother yet not looking to God in it offence is taken whereas at other times when we have done that which might justly give offence to our Brethren and our heart looks up to God to prevent offences and breaches God covereth wonderfully these things and holds our Brethrens eyes and thoughts from looking upon them and so graciously prevents the folly and rashness of our spirits in making a breach with our Brethren for God can send an evil spirit of discord between men as he did in a way of Judgement between Abimeleck and the men of Sechem Iudg. 9.23,24 And God can send forth a Spirit of Love that brethren may live together in Unity give always the respect that is due to godly men according to their age and condition that God hath placed them in the world beware of vanity and unprofitable converse with godly men God oftentimes punishes that with foolish and causless breaches let all our reproofs to our brethren be with tenderness and a Spirit of meekness else they will provoke forgive our brethren freely and from the heart what may be amiss in their carriage towards us as God
your troubled soul found rest and peace from his Blood yea the soul saith truly This I have felt in some measure why here is true Faith and Assurance and yet many a poor soul not considering that this is the saving work but seeing that it comes short in many things doth question whether it be in Christ or no whereas open and unravel but the work of Grace and say Have you gone this step and the other step and it can say truly that These things God hath wrought in me How much means is used to many and yet they can find no comfort and peace of conscience The Covenant of Grace is clearly opened to them servent prayers are put up to God for them the experiences of other Saints are made known to them but all will not do it for indeed the Lord only can speak peace to the soul he is the God of peace But let those that have peace of conscience and Assurance be thankful for it as a great mercy for all Saints have it not indeed it is a great mercy it yields much present refreshment to the soul what will make us glad if the light of Gods Countenance will not And so doth Assurance of Gods Love stand us in great stead in time of Afflictions it keeps the soul from sinking in great Afflictions it keeps Satan from many advantages yea when we come to die and look that King of Terrours in the face Assurance of Gods Love makes grim Death look smilingly in our Eye CHAP. X. The Ministry of Angels and their serviceableness to the Church THough curious and unscriptural Notions about the Angels are to be avoided yet these things that the Scriptures reveal of them and their Ministry are very profitable to be known The Angels are called spirits and a flame of fire Heb. 1.7 They are active and quick at the Lords work they are as a flame of fire not only for their terribleness but for their quikness how quick fire goes out of a Gun and how quick is a flash of lightning The Angels were very forward to perform their service to the Lord Jesus an Angel brought news to Mary that she should be the mother of our Lord Luke 1.27.28 An Angel at Christs birth told the Shepherds the glad tidings of Christs coming into the world and a multitude of them praised God saying Glory be to God in the Highest on earth peace and good will to men Luke 2.9,13,14 They had command to worship the Lord Jesus Heb. 1.6 When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him but why must all the Angels of God worship Christ when he came into this world and was made flesh 1. To own and acknowledge Christ to be God now in that mean estate the form of a servant that he had put himself into for worship only belongs to him that is God 2 To acknowledge the benefit of confirmation that they have by the Lord Jesus by whom they are made immutably happy 3. To shew an example unto men to worship and honor Christ when as the Angels that are more excellent creatures do it 4. To shew their admiration of that glorious and wonderful way of Salvation by Jesus Christ And then at Christs death the Angels came and ministred unto him and strengthened him And as the Angels were forward to do service to Christ so they are to minister to the Saints for the Lord hath made them ministring spirits to them that shall be Heirs of Salvation The Lord makes use of them to keep his people out of many dangers Psalm 21.11,12 He hath given his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone indeed God is so careful of his people that he would not trust all the Angels in heaven wholly with the safety of his people but hath given them unto Christ to be their Leader and Commander and bring them unto Glory who will lose none of all that the father hath given him who hath Infinite Power and Wisdom to manage all their concernments but the Angels are Ministers under Christ to be helpful to the Saints as the Pastors of Churches are Overseers and have the charge of the flock under him also And so the Angels lift up the Saints many times as Nurses do little children that they don't dash their feet against a stone whom every little thing would throw down They have their Orders from Christ whose Ministers they are to do his pleasure therefore Christ is said to sit between the Cherubins Psal 99.1 to shew how he hath the Angels fit to send upon his Designs and how often doth he send them to encamp round about the Saints in their dangers and deliver them and because of the Angels serviceableness to the Saints they are called their Angels Matth. 18.10 The Lord giveth them great Power for to perform this service and Ministry to the Saints we see that the Angel Act. 20.7,10 that was sent to fetch Peter out of prison he did but touch him and his chains fell off and when they came to the Iron gate it presently opened the Lord giveth the Angels power over the fiercest creatures that when Daniel was thrown into the Lions Den the Lord sent an Angel and shut the Lions mouthes that they should not hurt him Dan. 6.32 And as they serve the Saints in other things so in destroying of their enemies as an Angel smote Herod with death Act. 10.23 Yea 1 Kings 19.35 in that great strait that Hezekiah and the people of God were in when that huge Army of the Assyrians came against them the Lord the text saith sent an Angel that smote in one night on kundred fourscore and five thousand of them whom they left all dead corpses It s a wonderful Execution When Lazarus died he was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Luke 16. As they do rejoyce in the conversion of a soul so in the finishing of our course and are joyful to bring us home to our Fathers house yea the Scripture tels us that the Lord will send the Angels at the last day to gather his people together from the four Winds who will know them all in the utmost corners of the earth having been ministring spirits unto them may be stirring affections and freedom of speech from the apprehension of popular applause in some Auditories but gracious men know a difference between those inlargements and the soul-humbling assistance of Gods spirit 10 Gods Spirit gives to his servants many times a more then ordinary assistance in their labors amongst the Saints for their sakes for their quickning comforting strengthning and edification whose building up was one great end of the ordinance of the Ministry Eph. 4.10,11,12 11 Gods Spirit gives his servants affections in preaching as Zeal Compassion to souls and the like but though something of this may