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A66029 A discourse concerning the gift of prayer shewing what it is, wherein it consists, and how far it is attainable by industry, with divers useful and proper directions to that purpose, both in respect of matter, method, and expression / by John Wilkins, D.D. ; whereunto may be added Ecclesiastes, or, A discourse concerning the gift of preaching by the same authour. Wilkins, John, 1614-1672. 1653 (1653) Wing W2180; ESTC R7133 129,988 242

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themselves Lord have not we preached in thy name and cast out Devils c. they did all this in his Name that is they were by him both outwardly called and gifted for these services Such as have onely the second of these may sometimes exceed those that have the third whence it comes to passe that men of very ordinary parts in respect of any acquired abilities may be more ready and copious in this service then those who in respect of other knowledge are much beyond them But then only is this Gift compleat when there is a joynt concurrence of all these three ingredients when the heart is sanctified and the natural abilities improved by industry That is a very apposite text to this purpose and does treat particularly concerning this subject Prayer under the notion of a Gift Rom. 8.26 The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered The cheif Scope of that place may be comprized in these three Propositions 1. That of our selves we are very ignorant and impotent in this businesse of Prayer having many infirmities not knowing what to pray for as we ought Not but that a meer natural man upon the sence of any present want or danger may apply himself unto this duty for remedy as the Mariners in Ionah this being a common instinct of nature But to performe it acceptably either for the matter what we should pray for or the manner as we ought this is a businesse of much greater difficulty because 't is required to be according to the will of God vers 27. And the natural man understands not the things of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But is disobedient and unto every good work reprobate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 void of judgement being alienated from the life of God through the blindnesse that is in him There is naturaly in every man both an impotency of judgement an enmity and aversnesse of desire towards all holy duties in general and particularly to this of Prayer We cannot order ●ur speech to God by reason of darknesse saith Eli●u and therefore the Disciple upon their first conversion being sensible of their own disability in this kinde they made their addresses to our Saviour that he might teach them how to pray 2. The Spirit of God must be our guide and assistance in this duty He must help our infirmities and make intercession for us Not that the Holy Ghost is our Mediator of intercession that is properly the office of the Sonne who is therefore stiled our Advocate There is one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 'T is He onely that in respect of his merits and sufferings does make intercession for us Rom. 8.34 But now because the Spirit of God does excite our hearts to prayer and infuse into us holy desires stirring us up and instructing us in this duty therefore is he said to intercede for us So Gal. 4.6 there the Spirit is said to cry Abba Father God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father and yet vers 15. of that forecited place 't is said We have received the spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father In which places being compared the Spirit is said to cry Abba Father because it makes us to do so So is he said to pray for us because he does informe and quicken us to pray for our selves 'T is one of his peculiar titles to be stiled the Spirit of Supplication because of that special influence which he hath in the bestowing of this gift He must open our lips before our mouths can shew forth his praise Not that the other persons of Trinity are excluded from a joynt concurrence in this work Opera Trinitatis ad ex●ra sunt indivisa All the actions of the blessed Trinity excepting onely those that are of intrinsecall ●elation being the undivided works of all the three But now because our grosse understandings are not able to conceive of this Trinity without some distinction of their offices and operations in reference to us therefore does the Scripture condescend so farre to our capacities as to speak of these common works by way of appropriation Thus Power and Creation is commonly ascribed to the Father Wisdome and Redemption to the Sonne Goodnesse and all habituall graces or gifts to the Holy Ghost These general operations of the Spirit are usually distinguished into two sorts Either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gift Or in the common expression of the Schooles there is 1. Gratia gratum faciens which referres to those gifts of Sanctification that do more especially concerne our own happinesse 2. There is gratia gratis data which concernes gifts of Edification whereby we are made usefull to others according to our severall stations Of the first kind are all those spiritual Graces Faith Repentance Humility c. infused into us in our regeneration Unto the other are reducible all kinde of secondary endowments or abilities whatsoever that belong to the reasonable soul excepting onely those first faculties that flow immediately à principiis speciei and are in all men alike I say all kinde of abilities or good habits are reducible under this head Whether or no they are by extraordinary and immediate infusion as were those gifts in the Primitive times of tongues miracles healing c. 1 Cor. 12. Or whether they are naturall abilities arising from mens severall tempers and dispositions as strength of judgement quicknesse of fancy warmnesse of affection readinesse of speech Or else whether they are intellectuall habits which are acquired and perfected by Education Industry Experience as when men become skilfull in any particular Art or profession That skill of Bezaliel and Aholiab for those curious artificiall works of the Tabernacle to work in gold and silver and brasse and cutting of stones and carving of wood was from the Spirit of God Exod. 35.31 The secular policy of Achitophel The natural wisdome of Solomon The skill of the Plowman both in sowing and threshing does proceed from the same Spirit from whom every good and perfect gift does come In breif when men become skilfull and expert in any faculty whether Disputing Oratory Preaching Praying c. each of these does proceed from the Spirit of God as the principall Author of them dividing to every man severally as he will All other helps whether from nature or industry being but secondary subordinate Aides which are by Him made effectual for the accomplishing of these ends That Question of the Apostle being fitly applyable unto all preheminences of this kinde Who made thee to differ from another And what hast thou that thou hast not received 1 Cor. 4.7 So then all kinde of good habits or abilities and particularly this gift
sinners To which may be added our aptnesse to slight and undervalue the thought of this Original corruption though it hath already brought so much mischief upon all mankinde wholly depraved us in our faculties and principles and spread a curse and deformity upon the whole creation CHAP. VIII The enumeration of actuall sins both Nationall and Personal against the Law and Gospel and particularly against the first Commandment IN the Enumeration of sins next to Originall we are to acknowledge our Actual transgressions which flow from the other as acts do from their habits These in the generall are distinguishable into sins National and Personal of Omission and Commission in thought word and deed the particulars of which do referre to some kinde of breach against the Law First Table Second Table Gospel and may properly be enumerated under those heads to which they appertain Every commandment having in it both a Positive Negative part and comprehending the obedience of the whole man But now because it may be sometimes convenient to make a distinct recitall of National sinnes therefore we ought to be observant and prudent in the choise of fitting matter to this purpose There are three things that will raise a sin to a publike guilt and make it become National 1. Common practice 2. Publick establishment or connivance 3. General insensiblenesse These are variously applicable according to the condition of several times both to offences against the first and second Table As Idolatry Superstition Heresie Prophanenesse Incouragement to wilde and desperate errors Ingratitude and unfruitfulnesse under publike and common mercies security and inadvertency under all those various dispensations that befall us inconsideratenesse of the day of our visitation and the things that concern our peace loathing of our spiritual Manna breach of our publike and solemn Engagements Blood-guiltinesse Cruelty Injustice Oppression Perfidiousnesse Bitternesse A spirit of Disobedience Confusion Giddinesse in respect of Civil order c. Hitherto appertain the iniquities of our fathers and of all publike orders and degrees of men Our Kings our Princes our Priests which ought upon some special occasions to be acknowledged and bewailed But these are not reducible unto any particular Catalogue because they do continually vary according to several times In the enumeration of Personal sins a man ought chiefly to insist upon those particulars whereof he is more especially guilty But withall he should know and upon severall occasions be able to reckon up the species and kindes of all sins These may best be discovered by looking upon the divine law according to its latitude and fulnes examining what is therein Injoyned Forbidden concerning either the duties of Piety towards God in the first Table or the duties of Charity towards our Neighbour in the second Table The first Commandment does forbid the not having Jehovah alone for our God and consequently the not knowing not believing not adhering not submitting to him The not behaving ourselves towards him in all respects as our God So that we sinne against this by ignorance when we do not labour after such a measure of knowledge in divine truths as is proportionable to the callings wherein we are the time and means which we have had When we do not desire the knowledge of Gods wayes Being content to sit in darknes and in the region and shadow of death Not endeavouring to acquaint our selves with his Power Majesty Justice Mercy Wisdome Unchangeablenesse and those other Attributes of the Divine nature Not searching the Scriptures proving the things that are more excellent When our knowledge is only literal and uneffectual not working answerable obedience in our lives when we are not careful to observe and consider and treasure up in our hearts those holy truths which at any time have been discovered to us But suffer them to slip from us by inadvertency or forgetfulnesse Not ruminating upon them or recalling them to minde according to our several occasions By Infidelity when we do not assent unto his law as being holy just and good Not labouring to strengthen our faith in his holy Attributes and Word Not so firmly believing his threats and judgements as to be humbled therby Or his Promises as to be invited by them unto newness of life By Diffidence not adhering to him with all our hearts not casting our burden upon him Not trusting him in the want of outward means full of carking and solicitous thoughts Apt to put our confidence in armes of flesh broken reeds lying vanities By want of Love not loving of him with all our affections and might preferring the love of our selves of pleasure riches honour and the like earthly vanities before the infinite and absolute good that may be found in him Suffering our shame worldlinesse security hopes fears dependancies want of leisure and such like poore respcts to seduce our affections from him and to hinder our communion with him Loving his creatures his enemies any thing rather then himself forsaking the Fountain of living waters and hewing out unto our selves broken Cisterns that will hold no water Spending our time and our money for that which is not bread and our labour for that which satisfieth not By want of zeale not being zealous for his glory in the forward and cheerful use of such meanes whereby it may be promoted in a fervent and resolute opposition of those things that may hinder it in an hearty sense and sorrow for those reigning corruptions either publike in the times or private in our own souls whereby it hath been abused wronging good causes either by our lukewarmnesse or else by our blinde indiscreet zeale By want of rejoycing in him not serving him with gladnesse of heart Not rejoycing in the Lord Not finding any such relish in his holy Word and Ordinances whereby they may seem sweeter then the honey and the honey-combe but rather counting his wayes grievous and burdensome unto us By Vnthankfulnesse for those great mercies which are freely bestowed upon us not rendering unto the Lord according to the benefits we receive failing in the acknowledgment of them letting them slip by us without any regard or notice Being too apt to ascribe Gods blessings unto our owne deserts and endeavours Sacrificing to our own nets Subject to forget his favours though he doth renew them every moment And amongst those few that we do take notice of and remember yet our thankfulnesse for the receipt of them is no way proportionable to our importunity in the want of them Expressing our slighting of them even in our very thanksgiving for them Not mentioning them with any hearty sense or affection Not willing to acknowledge them by charity towards his distressed members according to our abilities and opportunies But rather returning evil for good and hatred for his good will Like Jeshurun waxing fat and kicking with the heele Abundance
will without Gods restraining or renewing grace at some time or other dispose us unto And herein more particularly the blindenesse of our understandings our wicked imaginations and fleshly reasonings the perversnesse of our wills the hardnesse and earthinesse of our affections the insensiblenesse of our consciences the depravation of all our faculties 2. The malice and subtilty of the Devil who as a roaring lyon walks about seeking whom he may devour and is still provoking us to those evils which are most suitable to our particular occasions and dispositions Watching for advantage against us desiring to fift and winnow us as wheat and therefore we had need to pray that we may be sober and vigilant having upon us the whole armour of God whereby we may withstand the wiles of the Devil that we may constantly resist him being stedfast in the faith taking heed of the depths of Satan That we do not fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil That the God of Peace would bruise Satan under our feet 3. The allurements or terrours of the world either by profits pleasures honours on the one hand or losses dangers troubles disgrace persecution on the other The rain descending the floods coming the windes blowing and beating upon us The evill customes and examples of the generation wherein we live the slavish hopes and fears of men Besides these kindes of temptation we are likewise to pray against the degrees of it suggestion consent practice delight habitual custome and necessity That God would enable us always to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation And because every man hath some particular sin or temptation to which he is more especially exposed belonging either to his age temper calling therefore he should endeavour to observe and finde out and more fully to inlarge himself in his deprecation against that 3. The last sort of evil to be prayed against is that of Punishment The kindes of which were mentioned before under the head of Confession and are likewise reducible under that other head concerning Protection and therefore it will be needlesse here to make any particular recital of them In the general we are to pray against all those judgements which may be inflicted upon us either in our bodies friends names estates Against those more eminent miseries of Sword Famine Pestilence which three being of a publike nature concerning the Nation and community in which we live may be more particularly insisted upon under the head of Intercession against distraction and sorrow of minde trouble of conscience the losse of Gods holy Ordinances and eternal damnation That no evil may befal us neither any plague come nigh our dwellings That he would not rebuke us in his anger neither chasten us in his displeasure That he would not cast us away from his presence nor take his holy Spirit from us Those judgements ought to be more particularly deprecated with which we are at any time frighted or afflicted CHAP. XVII Of comprecation for spiritual good things The sanctification of our Natures the obedience of our Lives NExt to Deprecation against evil may succeed Comprecation for that which is good Now because good things may be wanting either in whole or in part or in respect of Duration and some intermissions therefore we should petition not onely for the things themselves but also for the increase and continuance of them Good is either Spiritual Temporal In asking of spiritual good things the first and chief matter to be prayed for is the sanctification of our natures That Gods Kingdome may come into our hearts That he would give unto us a new heart and put a new spirit within us That he would take from us our stonie heart and bestow upon us hearts of flesh That he would put within us the law of the Spirit of life which may make us free from the law of sin and death That we may put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse That we may be regenerate and become new creatures being born again of that incorruptible seed the Word of God That God would grant us according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inward man That he would establish our hearts unblameable in holinesse before God even our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints That the Spirit of Christ may dwell in us That we may continue in the grace of God and in the faith grounded and setled and may not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel Of this kinde is that Petition of David for himself Create in me a clean heart O Lord and renew a right spirit within me And the Apostle for others The God of Peace sanctifie you throughout that your whole spirit and soule and body may be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here we are more particularly to insist on the renovation of our several Faculties Parts answerable to what we did acknowledge concerning the Depravation of them in the Confession of our Original sin As first for our faculties 1. That we may be transformed by the renuing of our mindes that we may be able to have a spiritual discerning of the things of God being wise to that which is good but simple and harmlesse to that which is evil 2. That he would purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God that they may be tender of his glory and our own good truly performing the offices which belong unto them both in accusing and excusing us according to several occasions 3. That he would circumcise our hearts that we may set our affections on things above and not on earthly matters that we may not be deceived with false appearances but may approve the things that are most excellent 4. That he would reforme and sanctifie our wills that we may in every thing submit them unto his delighting to do his will Not seeking our own wills but the Will of him that sent us 5. That he would rectifie our memories making them more faithful in retaining all such holy Lessons as we shall learne in recalling them to minde according to several opportunities that we may be alwayes ready to stir up our mindes by way of remembrance that we may never forget God And so for our Parts or outward man that we may become the Temple of God where his Spirit may dwell That we may present our bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is our reasonable service That all our parts and members may be instruments of righteousnesse unto holinesse In which desires we may strengthen our faith with such arguments as these 1. God only is able for this great work In us dwelleth nothing that is good It is he that must
work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure 'T is not in our power to regenerate our selves for we are not borne of blood nor of the Will of the flesh nor of the Will of man that is not of any natural created strength but of God And he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think 'T is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us to be so 2. He is willing and hath promised to give unto us a new spirit To put his law into our inward parts to write it in our hearts And if men that are evil know how to give good gifts to their children how much more shall our heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that aske him He hath professed it to be his own Will even our sanctification And he cannot deny us the performance of his own Will He hath promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousnesse shall be filled And therefore if he hath in any measure given us this hunger we need not doubt but he will give us this fulnesse likewise He hath said that he delights to dwell with the Sons of men and what reason have we to doubt the successe of our desires when we do beg of him to do that which he delights in 2. The next thing to be prayed for is the obedience of our lives answerable to that in the Lords Prayer Thy will be done one earth as it is in heaven And here likewise we are to petition for spiritual grace and ablities both to perform and to continue and to increase in all holy duties 1. For the Performance of them that he would lead us into the paths of righteousnesse That with simplicity and godly sincerity we may have our conversation in this world That denying all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we may live soberly righteously and godly in this present world That God would give us grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly feare That we may not any more be conformed unto this world That being dead unto sin we may live unto righteousnesse Not any longer spending the rest of our time in the flesh to the lust● of men but to the Will of God That the time past of our lives may suffice to have served divers lusts That for the future we may walk as obedient children not fashioning our selves according to the former lusts of our ignorance but as he that hath called us is holy so we may be holy in all manner of conversation To this purpose is that desire of David O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes and in another place Teach me to do thy Will for thou art my God let thy good Spirit lead me into the land of uprightnesse and elsewhere Shew me thy wayes O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me in thy truth and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation Teach me thy wayes O Lord and I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to feare thy name 2. For our continuance in them That we may serve him without fear in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our lives Being stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord Holding faith and a good conscience Patiently continuing in well doing without wearines as knowing that in due time we shall reap if we faint not Holding fast the profession of our faith without wavering that our hearts may be established with grace that amidst all outward changes and losses we may still hold fast our integrity Thus the Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that God would stablish them in every good word and work 3. For our Increase in them That God would make all grace to abound towards us That we alwayes having alsufficiency to all things may abound to every good work That we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse unto the glory and praise of God That forgetting those things which are behinde and reaching unto those things which are before we may continually presse towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God Thus doth the Apostle pray for the Hebrews The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight And Epaphras for the Collossians that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God CHAP. XVIII Of the several graces and duties injoyned in the first Commandment THe graces that we should pray for are many of them briefly summed up together in several Scriptures But for our more full and distinct apprehension of them they may be more particularly considered according to their distinct relations either to the Law Gospel The duties enjoyned by both these may be easily collected from those vices and failings mentioned in our Confession The first Table in the Law doth concern our duty to God The first Commandment doth enjoyn us to have Jehovah alone for our God that is in all respects to behave our selves towards him as our God So that by this we are directed to pray for these graces and duties viz. Knowledge and Belief of him Trust and Hope in him Love towards him Zeal for him Rejoycing in him Gratitude towards him Patience under him Obedience to him Fear of him Being humble before him Because it is not good that the soul should be without knowledge we should therefore pray that he would be pleased to incline our ears unto wisdome and apply our hearts to understanding That he would open our eyes to behold the wonderous things of his Law That he would give unto us the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of our understandings being inlightened we may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power That he would enable us to be more inquisitive after those sacred truths revealed in the Word more diligent to acquaint our selves with his holy attributes and works more mindefull of his Holinesse Justice Truth Power Omnipresence that he is about our paths and beds and acquainted with all our wayes He does search and know us understanding our thoughts afar off all things being naked and open in his sight That we may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall understanding that we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God that we may follow on to know the Lord.
not persecute us with his tempests and make us afraid with his stormes nor sweep us away with a generall deluge as he did the old world 2. For visiting the earth and watering it and greatly enriching it with the river of God providing for the corn setling the furrows thereof and making it soft with showers and blessing the springing thereof so that the pastures are cloathed with flocks and the vallies are covered over with corn for that he hath sent us a plentiful rain whereby he hath confirmed and refreshed his inheritance when it was weary 3. For healthful seasons that he hath delivered us from the noysome Pestilence that walketh in darkness and from the destruction that walketh at noon-day so that no evil doth befall us nor any plague come nigh our dwellings but hath satisfied us with long life and shewed us his salvation That he hath not made the Land to spue out her inhabitants CHAP. XXVIII Of the kindes of spiritual mercies to be enumerated THese Temporal favours which we ought thus to enumerate though they are very excellent in themselves and far beyond our deserts yet are common with us to Hypocrites and such as shall hereafter be damned and therefore 't is requisite that we should after a more especial manner magnifie his glorious name for those spiritual mercies that concern our eternity Chiefly for the Lord Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith the fountain of all the other mercies which we enjoy For his Birth Incarnation Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession with all those unspeakable benefits that we receive by them for blessing us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. More particularly for those remarkable effects of his love and merits in our 1. Election For that God hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself accordng to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace whereby he hath made us accepted in the beloved and hath from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth He might have designed us for vessels of wrath as he did the fallen Angels and then we had been eternally undone without all possible remedy There was nothing to move him in us when we lay altogether in the general heap of mankind It was his own free grace and bounty that made him to take delight in us to chuse us out from the rest and to sever us from those many thousands in the world who shall perish everlastingly 2. Redemption For that incomprehensible miracle of his wisdome and mercy in the contrivance of our redemption by the death of Christ. For he hath redeemed us by the precious blood of his dear Son who is the Image of the invisible God the first-born of every creature who gave himself a ransome for all 3. Vocation That he hath called us by the Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ And that with an holy calling not according to our own works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 4. Justification For pardoning our sins the least of which would have been enough to have undone us to all eternity For that he hath forgiven our trespasses blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to the crosse For the remission of our sins through the blood of Christ according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdome and prudence 5. Sanctification For renuing upon our souls in any measure the blessed Image of the Lord Jesus Christ the least glimpse whereof is infinitely more worth then the whole world For that he hath changed our vile natures and made us partakers of the divine nature Of strangers and forreigners raising us up to be fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Making us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light delivering us from the power of darknesse and translating us into the Kingdom of his dear Son And because our Sanctification is considerable both according to the Parts Means of it therefore it may be further amplified from each of these 1. For the Parts of it both in respect of our Judgements Affections Conversations 1. For our Judgements that he hath not given us over to blindnesse of minde a reprobate sense to wilde and desperate errors by which we see so many others deluded but hath in some measure revealed unto us those mysteries of godliness which are hid from many wise and great ones of the world and hath according to his divine power given us all things pertaining to life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. For our Affections That he hath not given us over to hardnesse of heart slightnesse of spirit that he hath in any measure weaned our souls from looking after solid contentment in the creatures and raised them up to any love of holiness any desire of a neerer communion with himself 3. For our Conversations That he hath in any measure enabled us to do him service to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty to walk in some degree as becomes children of light Having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse not allowing our selves in any course which we know to be unlawful The Means of our Sanctification are principally these five 1. His Spirit to convince direct assist comfort us to prevēt follow us with his grace to support us in afflictions to strengthen us in tēptations to quicken us to duty to seal us up unto the day of redēption 2. His Word so powerful in discerning the thoughts intents of the heart able to make us wise unto salvation being profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good work for his holy and righteous Law for the many gracious invitations and promises in his Gospel 3. The Sacraments That he hath not left us as strangers without the Covenāt of promise but hath ordained visible signes and seals to represent that to our senses w ch we ought to apprehend by our faith 4. The Sabbaths and publike Ordinances that we have liberty to behold the face of God in his sanctuary and to enquire in his Temple that amidst some outward troubles the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet our Teachers are not removed into corners but our eyes may see them That vision does not fail in our days that we are not punished with a famine of the Word that the Sun does not go down upon our Prophets 5. The Communion of Saints