adulterers or drunkards doth not the Scriptures tell me who they are Psalm 15. throughout He that walketh uprightly and worketh Righteousness and speaketh the truth in his heart he that back-biteth not with his Tongue nor doth evil to his Neighbour in whose eyes a vile person is contemned c. Matth. 5. 3. to the 12. The poor in Spirit they that mourn the meek they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness the merciful the poor in heart the peace-makers These are they that shall ascend into the Holy hill Quest 2. Who shall descend into the Deep Rev. 20. 15. And whoâ—oever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire Chap. 22. 15. For without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Adulterers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie 2 Thes 1. 8. 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Quest 3. Am I in the way to this rest of God Quest 4. Is my Title to this rest sure Is my name written in the Book of Life am I sealed with that Spirit of promise which is the earnest of my inheritance have I gotten an assurance that Christ is mine and Heaven is mine is not this assurance to be had is there not a promise left unto me of entring into the Rest May not this promise by my believing and accepting and adventuring upon it be made sure to me what mean I to sit down so quietly short of this assurance am I content to leave my earthly inritance under such uncertainties that I cannot tell what to call my own I cannot tell whether I have any thing or nothing Do I refuse any labour cost counsel that may secure my worldly interest and what is it onely Heaven and everlasting glory this is not worth the securing Quest 5. What if I should fall short of this Rest If at last I should see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets sit down in the Kingdome of Heaven and my self be thrust out I have made profession of Religion I have some good will to the waies of God born some affection to the People of God had some communion and fellowship with them had a namâ—â—nd good opinion amongst them I have gone to the House of God with them joyned in Prayers Fastings Sacraments with them I have attained to some probable Evidences of Grace But what if notwithstanding all this I should be found at last to be short of sincerity and of true saving Grace I have complained often of an carthly heart of a slothful heart of a carelesse heart of a lingring delaying heart I have had some motions and stirrings in me to shake my self out of this sloth to awaken and rouze my self out of these delayings and triflings I have been thinking often of taking more care and pains I have been wishing often for a diligent heart I have been hoping that it will not be thus alwayes with me but that one time or other I shall attain to more life and seriousness But what if after all this complaining and thinking and wishing and hoping it will be better I should still run on thus from one day to another from one year to another till I be surprized and should be taken away before I have gotten my heart to a thorow closing with God in Christ Quest 6. How joyful will my state be when that day comes if I may then be counted worthy to enter into this Rest When the voice shall sound in mine ears Well done good and faithful Servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord When all these filthy garments and ragges of the Flesh shall be but off when all these bitter teares shall be wiped aâ—ay when all the clouds of darkness doubts feares sorrows afflictions shall be blown over when I shall be brought into the presence of the King of Saints and see all those glorious things that have been spoken of the city of God When mine head shall wear that Immortal Crown and my heart shall taste and drink of those everlasting pleasures at Gods right hand When I shall be brought into that general assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven to an innumerable company of Angels to God the Judge of all men to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament to the Spirits of just men made perfect when my heart shall acknowledge Now I know indeed whom I have believed and see for what I have laboured When this poor Soul that in its travel towards Sion hath passed through a Wilderness lyen among the Pots been fed with Tears cloathed with Reproaches clog'd with Infirmities discouraged with fears and dismayings shall after all this be set down in the Kingdome of God and be lodged in the armes and bosome of the Lord of Glory and bear a part in those everlasting praises and Hallelujahs before the Throne of God for ever when mine eyes shall come to see all this and my heart to possess it will it not be a joyful day Quest 7. Can mine heart endure to think of being shut out from this blessedness forever Can I burn Can I endure the vengeance of Eternal fire VVill boyling Oyl burning Brimstone scalding Lead a glowing Oven a scorching Furnace be an easie Lodging for me Thou wilt not oh my soul be perswaded to repent there is too much pain in that Thou canst not bear a cross or an affliction a scoffe or a reproach talk to thee of crucifying the flesh of denying thy self of parting with thy fleshly Insts thy worldly companions of entring in at the strait gate of walking strictly and precisely according to the Gospel thou cryest out Oh these are hard sayings who can bear them But how wilt thou do to dwell with the devouring fire How wilt thou dwell with everlasting burnings Whatsoever it seems to thee now think what Hell will be to thee when the day comes that thou must descend into it Now thou lookest at it as a scare-crow or a bug-bare thou canst drink away or laugh away the fear of it but what will it be to thee when thou feelest thy self wrapt up in the flames of it and not a drop of water left to cool thy tongue Think on Hell oh my soul and then think on Christ and confider if a Redeemer from such misery be not worth the accepting think on Hell and then think on Sin then think on thy carnal pleasures and delights and consider how they will relish with thee when thus salted with everlasting fire Are these the things for which I dye Are these the price for which I sell my soul to Hell Away away from me all my lusts and pleasures away from me my companions in sin I confess I love you too well but I must not burn
two distinct ways but are one and the same way faith in Christ and obedience to the Law of God are the one way of Life He that walks in God walks in Christ it is through Christ and our Union with him that we are strengthened and enabled to do the will of God it is through Christ that what we do is accepted of God there is no act of obedience be it never so excellent for the matter of it that is a step to the Kingdom of God that hath not something of Christ in it that is not done through his Spirit and sprinkled with his Blood and so on the other side whatever faith and hope and confidence we have in Christ if it be not such a faith such an hope as brings forth obedience to the will of God it cannot save us this way of faith and obedience this is the â—ight way and the one and only way of Life In all that general Assembly and Church of the first-born that are already in Heaven there is not one soul but entred by this one way Abel and Enoch and Abraham and Moses and David and Peter and Paul with the whole generation of Saints now in glory they all went the same way they walked with God and lived and dyed in Faith and now inherit the Promises And all the residue of Saints that are yet in their Pilgrimage yea whoever shall be in the Ages to come must by this one way enter into the Kingdom of God This is the good and old way which was from the beginning this is the new and living way which shall be to the end Tit. 2. 8. These things I will that thou affirm constantly That they which have believed in God might be carefull to maintain good works these things are good and profitable for men If this be so if this be the one and only way of Life then in what case are the sinful unbelieving world Whither are ye going Oh ye sons of folly You tell us you hope to be saved what in your unbelief and folly Search and see if in the whole Book of God you finde any other way of Salvation but Faith in Christ and obedience to the Gospel 3. How can one and the same way be old and yet new I answer 'T is old and yet not antiquated 't is new and yet no Innovasion 't is old because it was from the beginning 't is new because now in the latter end of the world it hath been newly cast up made more plain easie and open Thirdly The strait and narrow Way Matth. 7. 14. Strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life Christians must go by a line there is no Elbow-room for Lust to expatiate every step on this hand or on that is a deviation it is a Way that is hedged in the Commandment is the hedge which limits us within a very narrow path Christians must live by Rule they must not eat nor drink but by Rule they must not buy nor sell but by Rule they must not work nor â—it still they must not speak nor keep silence but by Rule Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them 'T is also a narrow Way the word might have well been translated a troublesome or painfull way the Verb from which the word comes signifies to oppress there are many pressures and afflictions to be met withall in this Way the Cross is a Christians Way-mark Through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God The way of sin is a plain there is neither hedge nor ditch to limit them there is neither bush nor brake to discourage them Now this is the way which circumspect Christians take this Good and Old Way this New and Living Way this Strait and Narrow way this is the Right Way and this is also the most Excellent Way For 1. It is the Way of Truth Psal 11. 30. I have chosen the way of truth John 14. 6. I am the Way and the truth and the life It is the Way which the Truth or Word of God doth prescribe to us it is the true Way that is indeed in all the parts of it that which it declares it self to be The way of sinners is a lye a way made up of lyes The evil works of sinners are lyes Prov. 11. 16. The wicked work a deceitfull work the work of a lie the words signifie their words are lying words their very duties are a lye Hos 11. 12. Ephraim compasseth me about with lyes that is with lying Duties lying Prayers lying Sacrifices lying Praises their Prayers are no Prayers their Sacrifices are no Sacrifices they do but dissemble with God and deceive themselves in all their performances their hopes are a lye their comforts are a lye their Refuges are a lye the way of sinners is wholly made up of lyes But the way of Christians is a true way their Duties their Comforts their Joyes their Hopes have truth and reality in them Psalm 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant Now look what excellency there is of truth above a lye so great is the Excellency of this way of Christians above all other wayes 2. It is the way of Righteousness and Holiness Holiness hath a glory in it every thing by how much the more pure it is by so much the more precious in its kind What other excellency have the Angels of light above the Devils but their holiness What was it that transformed the Angels that fell into Devils but the loss of their holiness Wherein stands the Reasonable creatures likeness to the God of glory but in their holiness This is the divine Nature they are made partakers of the Spirit of God and of Glory resting upon them 1 Pet. 4. 14. Holiness hath such a self-evidencing excellency that the consciences of carnal men do often whether they will or no give their testimony to it Who is there almost whose lust hath transformed into so very a Brute but many times even when his tongue is reproaching it his Conscience gives his Tongue the lye Who is there whose Lust hath so totally put out his Light that doth not in his serious Judgment conclude That a gracious humble meek merciful sober heavenly life is really more excellent though not so sutable to his brutish appetite than lewdness and sensuality There is such a beauty and Majesty in holiness that doth command an acknowledgment of it from all sorts of knowing men 3. It is the way of God not only the Way wherein the Lord hath commanded them to walk but wherein the Lord appears to them wherein they have the Vision and Fruition of God and therefore a godly life is often expressed by walking with God by living in followship or communion or acquaintance with God Psal 16. 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me Psal 17. 15. I will behold thy face in
to have no Assurance that he hath any at all If thou wouldest have power over Corruption if thou wouldest stand in the Day of temptation if thou wouldest not starve in the day of Famine if thou wouldest have the comfort of the Grace thou hast let it grow up to its fuller stature Grace when it is come to Age will speak for it self and shift for it self the better which whilest it is in its Infancie neither knows nor can help it self Christians let your Grace grow and let the Fruits of it increase Let your Fields ripen to the Harvest I may say concerning Sinners not as our Lord said Behold the Fields are already white to the Harvest but behold the Fields are already black to the Harvest The Word is ready to be given Come put in thy Sickle the Harvest is ripe the wickedness is great The Fields of Tares are already black to the Harvest But oh when shall it be said of you Behold the fields are white to the Harvest shall evil weeds grow so fast and shall only the good Corn be at a stand Brethren Let your Fruits grow more plentiful and more perfect daily Let that Scripture be verified in you Pro. 4. 18. The path of the Just is a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Let your hearts be so filled with the fulness of God that your pathes may drop fatness Let it be said of you as of the Spouse Cant. 4. 18. and Chap. 5. 5. Her lips dropped as the Honey Comb and her hands dropped sweet smelling Myrrh Let your lips drop as the Honey Comb as you have drunk in the Milk and Honey that comes down from above so be ever droping it down to others Let something of the fatness something of the fatness that you have received from above be alwayes dropping down Be dropping according to what you have drank as you see sinners of whom 't is said They drink iniquity to be alwayes dropping iniquity dropping Oathes dropping Lies dropping Scoffs and reproaches So let it be said of you They drink the Dew of Heaven and this they are dropping down Let no Child no Servant no Friend come into your Company and go away without some sweet drops from your lips A word of heavenly instruction a gracious admonition a word of encouragement or a quickening word let them have or lift up a prayer and drop down a blessing upon them Something or other of the Dew of Heaven let them feel flowing from your Lips Let your lips drop as the Honey Comb and your Hands drop sweet smelling Myrrh Let your Holy Practises your holy Examples second and set on your wholsom counsels and instructions Let your words be savoury and your works be gracious Let lip and life speak the same things and lead on the same way Christians By your nursing up the Souls and Fruits of others you will ripen and encrease your own If you should look on all the Fruit as little which your selves have brought forth to God you will have this to comfort you That you have born more upon your Brethrens knees the Fruits of those Fields which you have planted or watered will abound to your account Bring forth much Fruit unto God and be much in immediate converse with God Phil. 3. 20. Our Convetsation is in Heaven Be more elevated and raised in your Spirits daily above things sensual and carnal Above Carnal Delights Above Carnal Discouragements 1. Above Carnal Delights live more purely in the Spirit let your Hearts be wrought up to such a spiritual frame that all the joyes pleasures and comforts of your lives may be spiritual Let the Lord be all your delight Psal 37. 5. Let it be with you as much as may be as it is with the Saints already in glory to whom God is all who being changed into his Image and dwelling in his presence are satisfied in him Let God alone be as much to you as God and all the world Let the Fashions and Pleasures and delights of this world be so much beneath your Spirits that it may neither be an abatement of your joy to want nor an addition to your content to possess them Let the light of all these lower sparks be swallowed up in God when the Sun shines all the Stars dis-appear and are not needed Lift up thine eyes Christian and see what pleasures there are within the Veil Come drink thy fill of this new wine let thy Faith draw the Curtains of Eternity and take a view of those heights and depths and lengths and breadths of that Glory and Joy which there it may discover Look on him that fits on the Throne and those everlasting Treasures of Light Holiness Goodness and Mercy which are streaming from his Face on those over-flowing Bowels of kindness and compassion on those Rivers of pure and eternal Pleasures Rest Peace that rise from that glorious Throne and run through the City of God Behold the Tree of life and feed thy Soul on its precious fruit whose very leaves are for the healing of Nations Hearken to and fill thine Ears and Heart with those Tryumphs and Exultations those Raptures and Extasies of unspeakable and glorious joyes those blessings and praisings those Hallelujahs that are tuned upon the hearts and tongues of the Heavenly Chore the glorious Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect by the vision and fruition of thy God the God of Glory Look on and possess this Joy and Glory say to thy Soul as God to Abraham Gen. 13. 14. Lift up thine eyes and look from the place where thou art Northward and Southward and Eastward and Westward through all the Coasts and all the Dimensions of the blessed Land of Promise and holy City and then say Come Soul take up thy rest here all this is thine Look and love love and long long and hope hope and rejoyce in hope of this glory of God Look on thy God and never leave looking till thou art changed into his Image and satisfied with his Image And here let thy delight and thy dwelling be 2. Above all carnal discouragements from any adversaries or dangers wherewith you are baited and affrighted as you walk in the Lord let the joy of the Lord be your strength let your Sun be your shield let your hope be your confidence and fear not your dutie nor danger Look to your hope and you will laugh at fear Dwell in your reward and you will not be afraid to dwell in your dutie But of this a word more by and by Thus much for general Directions 2. I shall next give you some special Directions for you daily work General necessarilie depend on and subsist in particulars As there can be no Religion in a Kingdom unlesse it be first in particular Families nor none in Families unlesse it be in particular persons so a general course of Christianity there cannot be unless it be supported in our particular daily walk The advice I