Plenty when thou mighest have been in pinching want and is all this nothing Why now doth he do this for thee but that thou mightest Serve him Hast thou now a better Friend or greater Benefactor to bestow thy Service upon Can the Devil or the World or thy Friends or thy Wealth do thus for thee I know they cannot why then are they preferred before him Nay this is not all when thou hadst Revolted from God and sold thy self a Slave to Satan when thou wast in thy Bloud and no Eye pityed thee when thou couldst not help thy self and wast unworthy to be helpt he sent his own Son to Redeem thee out of thy Slavery to suffer what was due for thy sins even the pains of Hell and the cursed Death upon the Cross and that when thou wast his Enemy and all to free thee from the guilt and filth of sin and from the punishment due for sin from the Curse of the Law the wrath of God the Slavery of Satan and from everlasting damnation and is all this nothing Yea all this was done that thou mightest Serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy Life Luke 1.75 Nay further he bestows upon thee many helps and furtherances he gives thee his Word his Ordinance his Sacraments his Ministers the motions of his Spirit the checks of thine own Conscience and the Example of his People Promises Threatnings Mercies Judgments and all to this End and yet doth he not deserve thee Hath the Devil or the World done more for thee than he hath Why then wilt thou serve them Did they Create thee or art thou theirs by right of Redemption Do they preserve or maintain thee Do they Feed or Cloath thee Or pay thee Wages No no all thy Friends in the World nor all the Angels in Heaven could not satisfie for our sin did they Love thee better than he that laid down his Life for thee Or will they make better Provision for thee than God will Or pay thee better Wages Then Serve them and spare not but deceive not thy self they cannot do it what canst want if thou be God's Servant He is every way furnished to help thee art thou ten thousand Talents indebted and canst not pay a farthing Christ will be thy Surety and discharge thy debt hast thou Scarlet sins lying upon thy Conscience Here is Blood to wash them away 't is he and he alone that can forgive sins Here is the Bread of Life to feed thee and the Water of Life to refresh thee the Spiritual Manna fit Food for thy Soul the true Nectar and Ambrosia he that eats of this shall never Hunger and he that drinks of this shall never Thirst Here is Rich Robes to Cloath thee and Eye salve to make thee see and Gold tryed in the Fire to make thee Rich Rev. 3.17,18 Here are Graces as Jewels to adorn thee the Wedding-Garment to make thee a welcom Guest he is Mecor Majim Chajim A Fountain of Living Water Jer. 2.13 Tzur gnolanim a Rock of Ages Isa 26.4 All the water of Consolation is in this Sea all the Light is in this Sun and all Comfort in this God Canst find such another Master that hath done and will do for thee as he hath and will do the Devil and the World will deceive thee if they promise to do it 5. Motive Thou shouldst serve God for as he hath the best work so he gives the best Wages and Servants usually seek for such Masters something he gives in hand as earnest of the Bargain and incouragement in the work and reserves most to the Years end when he will plenteously recompence all thy pains and remove all cause of repining in hand he gives his Servants his Spirit this is the mark he knows them by those that have not the Spirit of God are none of his Rom. 8.9 This is called the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Ye have received the spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 't is called the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts this is called the Comforter John 15.27 and 't is given to instruct us and to lead us into all Truth John 18.13 And doubtless those cannot want Comfort that have such a Comforter they cannot lose their way that have such a Guide he it is that dictates their Prayers for them for they know not what to ask yea God for the Comfort and Consolation of his Servants here in the World gives them an Interest in the Promises Recorded in the Word of God which are more worth than the World the greatest King on Earth cannot make and perform such Promises to his greatest Favourite they are well called great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1.4 For great things are promised in them that believe that apprehends an interest in them may live upon his faith and his hope in the absence of all Creature enjoyments these are his Fathers Legacy 't is true Believers have but little in hand yet much in a Promise but little in Possession yet much in Reversion they have Heaven and Earth in a Promise here they have a Promise they shall not lack but at Death they shall receive their Inheritance yea Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither is entred into the heart of Man to conceive what God hath provided for those that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Here they have a Promise and God hath put his hand to it they shall not want protection nor provision God hath promised he will never leave them nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 And if God be for us who can be against us yea that they shall want nothing that is good Psal 34.9 The young Lions lack and suffer hunger but those that fear the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 84.11 The Lord is a Sun and a Shield he giveth Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them that live uprightly If we have sincere hearts if wealth be good for us we shall have it and if poverty be good why should we not be content somtimes Physick is as necessary as food They have a Promise of Deliverance out of Trouble Many are the Troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivers them out of all Psal 34.19 and 50.15 Take one place for all Rom. 8.28 All things shall work together for good to those that love God What matter then is it what our sufferings are when we are sure we shall get by them God that brought Light out of Darkness and Order out of Confusion can work Good to us out of Evil there is no Condition a servant of God can be in but in the Scripture he may find Comfort or Company or both yea God bestows his graces upon his servants which are better than the most Orient Pearls or costly Jewels these they are adorned with and no other did ever wear them they have the rich Robes of Christs Righteousness the Garments of Holyness this is Gods Livery and all his
A Help to Holy Walking OR A GUIDE TO GLORY CONTAINING Directions how to Worship God and to Walk with him in the whole Course of our LIVES Gen. 5.24 And Enoch Walked with God and he was not for God took him Gen. 6.9 Noah was a Just Man and Perfect in his Generation Noah Walked with God John 4.23,24 The Hour cometh and now is when the True Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit and those that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and Truth By EDWARD BVRY Late Minister of Great Bolas in Shropshire LONDON Printed by F. L. for Nevil Simmons at the Princes Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1675. TO The Right Worshipful truly Noble and really Religious Lady the Lady Wilbraham of Woodhey in the County of Chester the Pattern of Piety the Honour of her Family Sex and Countrey E. B. wisheth all Happiness External Internal and Eternal Madam SEeing Custom seems to plead prescription and most Writers Religious or Prophane make bold to prefix some Great Name before their Writings the better to Commend them to the World I having these Papers by me designed for the Press and not being willing to break Custom and having as much need of Protection as any was not long in determining but quickly made choice of your Ladyship partly emboldned thereto by your thankful Acceptance of a former Tract My Ends in this Dedication is not to Interest you in any of my Errors or Mistakes if any such be found let them be charged upon me and I assure you when they are Discovered I shall be ready to throw the first stone at them and were I Conscious of any such I should be loath to prefix yours or my own Name before it Neither is it that I think you need it for I know not of any thing herein contained that you are Ignorant of however it may not be un-useful to mind you of the things you know Phil. 3.1 2 Pet. 1.12 Neither is it to tell the World how much I am ingaged to you and to the Worthy branches of your Family for though I own your Courtesies thankfully yet I know they were not bestowed to this End that others should take Notice of them But it is to let the World know how High an Esteem I have of you and that I think you are fitter to Judge of Writings of this Nature than many others it being but a real History of your own daily Practice And also that I may point out unto the World who are better led by Example than by Rule a Pattern for their Imitation for in you they may see these Directions reduced into Practice which otherwise they may think inpracticable And also that the World may be convinc'd who in this looser Age is apt to think the contrary that Gentility and true Piety may Lodge together in the same Breast and that our Age as well as the Apostles 2 John 1.13 doth afford some Elect Ladies and that they may not think that Gentility and Debauchery are termius convertabiles and he that owns one must own the other also but that there are some and alas too few Noble and Generous Spirits that the Temptations of the Devil nor the Allurements of the World neither Riches Honours nor Pleasures can draw or drive away from Christ And Madam though those that know you take Notice of many Excellent Qualifications in you as Humility Self-denial Prudence Temperance Charity c. Yet real Holiness true Piety and the power of Godliness is the most fragrant Flower in your Garland and the most Orient Jem that doth Adorn you without which the rest would not be so resplendant for by Sincerity Virtues are Adopted Graces The World I know is as always it hath been not only out of their way but also out of their Wits in matters of Salvation and stark blind in Spirituals and only dote upon gilded Vanitie and Worship a Golden Calf yet the time is coming their minds will change when they shall see all their Glory how high soever it flye vanish like Smoak before their Eyes into nothing Now they take them all to be Fools or Mad men that run Counter to the Courses of the World and the Corruptions of the Times and most men had rather be Honourable than Religious Great than Good But when they have cast up their Accounts at Death they will find there was a mistake in the Reckoning They will then see Holiness was the best Fashion though lest worn and that all the Pomp in the World was but gilded Rottenness a dead Carkass stuff'd with Flower and that at Death all the Gold in the Indies signifies no more than a handful of Dirt or Dung The Time is at Hand and long it cannot be that one Dram of Grace will be worth a World and one glymps of God's Favour worth a Thousand Crowns and Kingdoms Humility and Self-denial are two Soul-adorning Graces though seldom seen worn in the Breast of great Persons they are the first Lesson Taught in the School of Christ though few ever take them out they are Beautiful in Great men as well as Poor And submissive Devotion in Religious Duties doth not wrong Majesty it self Virtue is better than a Thousand Escutchions and 't is true Nobility where God is the top of the Kin and Religion lyes at the bottom 'T is a greater Honour to be a Child of God than to be Born of Princes and to be Espoused to Christ speaks more of Honour and Happiness than the World can conferr Riches of themselves make not the Souls better or worse neither doth God think ever the better of men for Wealths sake except they take Christs Counsel and make Friends with this Unrighteous Mammon and by this means have their Riches made up into a Crown for their Head in the World to come If these things seem Questionable to any a little time may resolve the doubt when it will plainly appear that a bare profession of Religion will serve no mans turn for Salvation Mat. 7.22 25.1,2 c. The Lamp of Profession may Light a man to Death never to Heaven Madam I Write not these things for your Instruction but I had need to speak them out that others may hear My Prayers to God are that you may go on in Honouring him who hath Honoured you And improve all for his Glory from whom you have received all knowing you cannot do too much or suffer too much for him who hath done so much and suffered so much for you you cannot buy this Gold too dear the World you may buy too dear and most men do with the loss of their Souls Madam as to this unpolished Piece though I am conscious to my self of many wants yet I hope a Will to do good is not wanting He that did receive a Turtle for a Sacrifice when a Lamb was wanting and a little Goats Hair when no
Butter was to be had and commended the Widdows mite when she had no more I hope will receive this when he knows I have no better where but little is given of him less will be required The Subject I know is necessary if not spoiled in the handling though the Ring look dusk yet the Diamond will sparkle Multiplicity of contrary Studies and other Imployments as most that know me can Witness might perhaps have pleaded my Excuse for Writing as indeed it did satisfie me for several Years so I hope it will plead my Excuse for coming forth in so homely a dress When Paul beheld the Idolatry of the Athenians his Spirit was moved and when I beheld the formality of Professors no wonder if with Crassus dumb Son I spake when I saw my Father wronged Among all the Objection I could think of that might come in against this my well-meant Labour I found none that said it was impossible it should do good I am sure none can justly Object it was not intended for good those that really desire to lead a Holy life I hope will own it as for others those that have neither good word for God nor for his ways I cannot expect they should have any for me however my witness against them will be upon Record Madam if you have better at hand you may bestow this upon some wanting Soul for whose sake it was Written I have not further to add but desire of God in these declining Times when Atheism Prophaness Superstition and Debauchery are too much in Fashion that he will keep you and yours from the Temptations laid in your way that you may shine as Stars of the first Magnitude to enlighten this dark Hemisphere that you may grow in Grace as you grow in Years and may be presented blameless at the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that your Interest in Christ and Title to Glory may be cleared up that when you come to dye you may have nothing to do but to dye and resign up your Soul into the Hands of Christ these are the desires and shall be the Prayers of him who is Madam Yours to his Power to Serve you Edw. Bury Eaton Nov. 2. 1674. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER CHristian Reader I think my self obliged to give thee some Account of this following Treatise for in the beginning of it thou wilt find mention made of a former Treatise which indeed is not yet Published containing the Doctrine of Holy Walking Now although this was first designed and first begun and in Order of Nature should have been the First born yet it fared with it as it did with Zarah Gen. 38.28 This Pharez hath made a breach and came out first and like Jacob supplanted his Brother and got the Birth-right yet haply the other may not be strangled in the Birth if this prove not too Chargable in the keeping Know then when I first set upon the Work I intended it to be Divided into five Parts all in the same Method the first containing 1. An Introduction to the whole 2. The Explication what Holy Walking implies 3. The Reasons why 't is necessary 4. The Objections against it Answered 5. Reproof to several sorts that Live otherwise 6. Some Considerations put to them 7. Some gross mistakes about Holiness 8. Marks of Holy Walking 9. Devices of Satan to keep Men in sin 10. The Priviledges of the Godly 11. Qualifications requisite to an Holy Life 12. Moving Considerations thereunto 13. Hinderances in the way to Heaven And Lastly Helps and Directions The Second Part is the present Book here presented of which I need give you no other Account The Third contains Directions 1. For the Thoughts 2. For the Words 3. For the Actions 4. For the Affections 5. For the Consciences 6. For Recreations 7. For Apparel 8. For Eating and Drinking 9. For Redeeming Time 10. For Buying and Selling. 11. For Company 12. For Solitariness 13. To bear Affliction well 14. In a particular Calling The Fourth contains a disswasive 1. From Sin in general 2. From Pride 3. Atheism 4. Covetousness 5. Drunkenness 6. Adultery 7. Swearing 8. Lying 9. Murder 10. Idleness 11. Apostacy 12. Idolatry 13. Hypocrisie 14. Stealing 15. Contention The 5. and last contains Relative Duties 1. Of the unmarried in reference to Marriage 2. The mutual Duties of the Husband and Wife 3. The Husbands peculiar Duties 4. The Wives Duties 5. Parents Duties 6. The Duties of Children 7. Of Masters 8. Of Servants 9. Of Magistrates 10. Of Subjects 11. Of Ministers 12. Of People Now only the second of these sees the Light the first and last are well near Finished and may ere long shew themselves and the rest in time if my Life and Health be Continued and I be not in the mean time convinc'd that tâ—ey will be useless I know the World is full of Books many that complain most read least but should we observe most mens Devotion and their Carriage in the World we may Imagine that Books that reduce Christianity into practice and teach us our Duties to God and Man are yet wanting that is not sufficiently taught that is not sufficiently learnt there are need of more Books that maintain the Vitals of Religion in an Age when almost all Religigion is turned into a matter of Formality and Ceremony and little of the power of Godliness appears I have not in this neither do I intend in the other brought you any new Lights but to direct you in the good Old way mentioned Jer. 6.16 which the Saints in former Ages have Walk'd in and which will be proved to be the only way to Heaven though of late there are many new attempts to find a better but if any but the way of Holiness end in Happiness let me be called a false Prophet Mens Brains were never better stufft nor their Tongues ever more busie but their Hearts are empty and their Hands are idle never more talking of the way and never less walking in it And if good words would save without good Hearts or good Works or good Duties never so many would go to Heaven as in our Age. Most mens knowledge floats in the Brain and little sinks or soaks down into the Heart or seasons the Life or Conversation hence like Children that have the Rickets by reason of some Obstructions the Head grows too big for the Body If a bare Profession of Religion would serve turn for Salvation but it will not Mat. 7.22 25.1,2,3 c. to the 14. many would be saved for they can Number their Prayers as the Papist doth his Beads but God doth not accept them by Number but by Weight He is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth A little Grace I fear a little Profession makes a great shew in a Great man the power of Godliness is for the most part left to the Poor that are more willing to take pains and have little to lose But whether God