can desire Christ above all things in the world if they might have their choice unlesse Christ have their hearts and they dearly love him and beleeve in him for Christ is precious to them that beleeve 1 Pet. 2. 7. and to none else So the seat of faith is in the heart which is in the understanding and will but more principally in the will so that if our wills be renewed our hearts are renewed Rom. 8. 5 6. Paul saith To will is present with me good I would doe so then with my minde I serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 18 19. with 21. 25. it appeares that the will is one with the minde and the heart is one with them these three are one and alwayes goe together and are alike spirituall Christ saith Where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6. 21. that is the mind and affections and by affections in Eph. 3. 2. is meant the heart for the heart and affections are one thing There be them that beleeve and yet they know not whether they beleeve or no so that it is possible for them to call their faith unbeliefe as the blind man did Mark 9. 24. Lord help my unbeliefe which must not be understood of unbeliefe for it is not a lawfull request to pray that sin may be increased for unbeliefe is a sin and the ground or cause of the soules departing from God as Heb. 3. 12. Many mistake faith some have thought comfort joy or ravishments of soule with God to be faith and so have concluded because they had not them they had no faith It is not mens beleeving but the object of faith that gives faith its denomination or name for there be divers kinds of faith there is a naturall faith as Luk. 8. 13. and a divine faith or the faith of Gods Elect Titus 1. 1. Faith and its object is not to be separated because faith and its object is one and the same it is too strict therefore to give a distinction or definition of faith without its object He that beleeveth that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God shall be saved All is included in this he that beleeves this must 1. Know Christ to be the anointed Luk. 23. the Saviour of his people from their sinnes Mat. 1. 21. 2. To beleeve in Christ to rest upon him to live or stay upon the Lord Pro. 3. 5. To beleeve in him Rom. 10. 9. 11. Psal 17. 6. To cleave to God Deut. 30. 20. Joh. 23. 6. Acts 11. 23. Psal 119. 30 31. to hope in him Psal 147. 11. 3. To own and confesse Christ Simon said Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the living God Mat. 16. 16. Rom. 10. 9. Any man may say that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God yea the Devils confesse this I know thee who thou art Jesus Christ the Sonne of God therefore this cannot be the faith of Gods Elect and so not the faith of the Gospel 1. There are three things to be considered in the nature of faith first illumination secondly for the soule to trust in Christ for pardon and life and the third is the application of him The first is when a man consents to the Word that it is true and this is called faith and this the Devill doth Thou beleevest there is one God thou doest well the Devill doth so James 2. Mark 5. 8. Acts 16. 17. The second is to beleeve that Jesus is the Christ which implies a seeing and knowing all to be in Christ for life and salvation and so to rest upon him for it he that thus beleeves in Christ is brought by Christ over to Christ and so centred upon him that he will never goe from him Joh. 6. 58. My soule wait thou on God for my expectation is from him Psal 62. 5. and this no Devill never did The third is to beleeve with an application of Christ as their own in particular therefore to beleeve in Christ is more then an illumination or a saying so or reformation for where faith comes old things are done away and they are new creatures there is a light set up in that soule now they know all is by Christ and that there is no way or meanes of life but by Christ and close with Christ and rest upon him Secondly the Scriptures cleerly prove that to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel for the Word of God is the ground of faith and the soules salvation depends upon the truth of what God saith and faith looks onely to what God saith and rests upon it and sets to its seale that God is true And that so to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel I prove by these Reasons 1. Because this is the faith which the Apostles preached and witnessed unto and the faith which is recorded unto us in the Scriptures Acts 18. 28. 1 Joh. 2. 22. 2. Because none can say knowingly that Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 3. 3. Because upon the profession of this faith Christ builds his Church Mat. 16. 16. 18. 4. Upon the profession of this faith the Baptisme of Christ is dispensed as Act. 8. 37. 5. They who have this faith dwell in God and God in them 1 Joh. 4. 15. 6. This faith flesh and bloud cannot reveale but God reveales it to the soule Mat. 16. 16 17. 7. Such are borne of God whosoever beleeves that Jesus is the Christ is borne of God 1 Joh. 5. 1. 8. This is the faith that overcommeth the world 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. 9. Because such as have this faith are pronounced blessed Mat. 16. 17. and shall never dye Joh. 11. 25 26. 10. Because he that hath this faith shall be saved If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 9. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life whosoever beleeveth in me shall never dye beleevest thou this shee said unto him yea Lord I beleeve that thou art the Christ the Sonne of God c. Joh. 11. 25 26 27. To beleeve this Record implies an assent that it is truth with a resting or hoping to have interest in it to be made one with it is faith though it be a lesser degree then a full and certain assurance of life by him for himselfe in particular see Isa 45. 21 22. Those in Mat. 5. 3 4 5. who mourne and hunger and thirst after Christ are blessed and shall be satisfied though they want the application of Christ therefore besides the illumination which wicked men and Devils may have as well as a beleever there is a two-fold act of faith the first is a direct act to beleeve Christ is in whom is life c. this is to beleeve the Record God hath given concerning his Sonne and that he
us any good 1 Cor. 1. 21. Doe not sleight nor refuse Gods consolations let them not seeme small unto thee are the consolations of God small with thee Job 15. 11. O soule own that comfort God gives thee if it seeme small to thee it s thy own own it lest yee live to complaine saying as David did My soule refused to be comforted Psal 77. 2. and to wish yee had that yee despised be thankfull to God for what thou hast received and hold that fast and let nothing goe that may tend to thy peace rest satisfied in Christs righteousnesse and adde nothing unto it I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely Psal 71. 15 16. 19. 24. Thy righteousnesse is an everlasting righteousnesse Psal 119. 142. see Psal 22. 31. 35. 28. 50. 6. 51. 14. Jer. 33. 16. The perfection of Christs righteousnesse is held forth unto us and doth alwayes lie before us for us that we might ever be comforted with it and rejoyce in it with thankfulnesse for it seeing it so perfect and full of divine consolation Oh here is enough to refresh and satisfie all the Lords to all eternitie so that we have enough we need no other nor no more righteousnesse Meditate on Gods goodnesse unto thee let his loving kindnesse be ever before thy eyes Wee have thought of thy loving kindnesse O God Psal 48. 9. Beleeve in God I in Christ want of faith or want in faith is the cause of trouble in the soule Yee beleeve in God beleeve also in me and let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Faith in Christ quiets and settles a troubled soule Thou canst not be too confident in resting upon Christ in his free grace Psal 30. 5. therefore come boldly to the throne of grace Heb. 4. 16. Those who know God will trust him with their bodies and soules and that upon his word All that know thy Name will trust in thee Psal 9. 9 10. but a foole neither will nor can doe so O foole and slow of heart to beleeve Luk. 24. 25. But those who are made wise by God will trust in the word of the Lord Isa 26. 3 4. and say in his word doe I hope Psal 130. 5. When the Lord pleases to settle a soule in the assurance of his love he causeth the soule to trust in his word Remember thy word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. God by his word conveys that to the soule which is sutable to its wants and by his power and authoritie settles it upon the soule Above all take the shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. Feare not beleeve Luk. 8. 50. Yea cleave to God in his promise even then when thou art in thy greatest feares and most sensible of thy unworthinesse trust in him at all times God is a refuge for us Selah Psal 62. 8. If at all times then at the worst times also yea even then beleeve and heare nothing against thy beleeving God in his promise Abraham beleeved against hope Rom. 4. 18. So should wee doe oh beleeve God intends thy good Christ came to seeke and to save the lost Luk. 19. 10. Lost viz. in the sight and sense of thy own sin and misery and in thy own sufficiency Improve thy doubts feares temptations against beleeving to incourage thee in beleeving for hast thou not by experience found that it is but in vaine to hearken unto any of them Consider often and well these places Rom. 16. 20. Heb. 10. 35 36 37. Rev. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 4. 19. 5. 7. And search the Scriptures Reading helpeth mens judgements memories affections confirmes our faith and fits us to answer the temptations of Satan Renounce all lying vanities hearken unto none of them First hearken not to the voyce of thy heart it is a lying vanitie it will deceive thee Pro. 3. 5 6 7. Isa 44. 20. Secondly hearken not to Satan Thirdly hearken not to sense Thomas said he would not beleeve unlesse he might see and thrust his hand into his side Joh. 20. 24 25. But this sensuall practise is to be abhorred by us for this is to consult with flesh and bloud which cannot discerne spirituall things 1 Cor. 2. 14. and is condemned by God Gal. 1. 16. So some persons will see such a holy frame of spirit in themselves and feele such a sin subdued c. before they will beleeve yet faith looks not to such things as these but onely to God in his word therefore wee must not live by sight but by faith 2 Cor. 5. 7. and blessed are they that have not seene yet have beleeved Joh. 20. 29. Fourthly hearken not to carnall reason if it be hearkened unto thou canst not beleeve nor submit to God nor be setled for doth not reason say that a Virgin cannot bring forth a childe and a woman of ninetie yeares is past conceiving a childe therefore reason saith it cannot be and so contradicteth God himselfe Gen. 17. 16 17. Mat. 1. Also can reason beleeve that by faith the walls of Jericho fell downe and that the Saints stopped the mouths of Lyons and quenched the violence of fire by faith yet faith did it Heb. 11. 30. 33 34. Or is it likely or possible to reason for a man to walke upon the Sea as Peâ—er did Mat. 14. 29. And did not Christs command seeme vaine to Peters reason that he should cast in his net into the Sea seeing he had cast it in so often and fished all night and catched nothing Luk. 5. 8. Can reason conceive how the dead who are eaten with beasts or fishes or turned into dust can be raised to life or that the Sea can be divided the Sunne goe backward or the Rockes yeeld water in abundance surely there cannot be any reason given for them And seeing sense and corrupt reason is so contrary to God in his word why should we hearken unto them when they say the soule hath no grace because sense seeth none and that God will not pardon their sinnes because there is no reason to reason why he should nor no way to reason which way it can be yet it may be for with God all things are possible Mat. 19. 26. They that hearken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercies Jonah 2. 8. 5. Live not upon duties 6. nor upon good report 7. nor upon groundlesse hopes 8. nor upon peace 9. comfort 10. joy 11. raptures 12. ravishments though they all be true or false live upon God alone and upon nothing else besides God in Christ if thou doest live upon any thing else as thy foundation is unsound so it will deceive thee and whatsoever their sparkes may be they must and shall lye downe in sorrow Isa 50. 10. Let not thy comfort depend upon Gods actings or dispensation to the inward or outward man if thou doest thou canst not be setled for they are oft changeable and coÌ„trary one to another one day
45. An Ironie which is when the contrary to that which is spoken is meant carrieth with it a just reprehension of some sinnes as Gen. 3. last Judg. 10. 14. Mark 7. 9. 1 Kings 22. 15. Goe up and prosper 1 King 18. 27. 46. Questions doe sometimes affirme an earnest affirmation as Gen. 4. 7. Josh 10. 13. Joh. 4. 35. Gen. 37. 13. 1 Kings 20. 2. Sometimes they signifie a forbidding as Why should the Gentiles say where is their God Psal 79. 10. also 2 Sam. 2. 22. And sometimes they argue affection of admiring compassion fault-finding and complaining as Psal 8. 10. Isa 1. 21. Psal 22. 1. 47. Confession and yeelding hath sometime in it a deniall and reprehension as 2 Cor. 12. 16 17. 48. The word behold is not used alwayes or onely to stirre up attention as the report of some weighty or admirable thing but most commonly it signifieth a thing manifest and plaine where men may take knowledge as Psal 51. 6. Mat. 1. 23. and often else-where 49. Doing doth sometimes import beleeving as Mat. 7. 2. Joh. 6. 40. 50. Negative speeches in Scripture be more vehement and forcible then affirmative 51. Grammer must give place to Divinitie because things are not subject to words but contrariwise 52. The placing of things before which should come after and some things after which should be before is frequent in Scripture 53. We are commanded to be perfect viz. in uprightnesse shining to all duties for perfection in measure and degree wee are not capable of in this world 54. All places of Scripture have this proper to them that they be interpreted by the matter handled and phrase scope end which is aimed at or by circumstances of time persons places also by precedence and subsequence by conferring Scripture and analogie of faith 55. Scripture hath allegories as Gal. 4. 22 23 24. An allegory is ever to be expounded according to the meaning and drift of the place where it is found allegoricall senses are not of private motion but to be followed where wee have the Spirit for our precedent and subsequent by conferring Scripture and analogie of faith 56. Numerall words as 5 7 10 c. notes not alwayes a certaine time as seventie weeks of captivitie c. yet a certain finite time is put for an uncertaine oftentimes as to fall seven times to forgive seventie times seven and the like Also divers numbers be Propheticall as the number of Daniels weekes or mysticall as the number Rev. 13. 8. 57. The Scripture often in one word saying uttereth one thing plurally and many things singularly as Blessed is the man c. Heare O Israel and thou shalt not have any strange God because God would have every one to take to himselfe that which is meant of that societie and kind whereof he is one 58. In setting downe numbers the Scripture is not exact to reckon precisely as Luk. 3. 23. Act. 1. 15. 59. It is usuall in Scripture by a part to signifie the whole as Rom. 13. Let every soule be subject for every person man and woman and the whole sometimes notes onely a part Mat. 3. 5. All Judea that is a great part 60. Some wishing speeches be not so much prayers as Prophesies foretelling what shall be rather then desiring they should be as imprecations against Judas c. 61. The Scripture repeats the same things in the beginning and end of the sentence as Psal 33. 10. It is done by way of explication sometimes for confirmation sometimes for expressing or exciting zeale as Isa 3. 9. Joh. 1. 3. Psal 6. 9 10. 2 King 9. 10. Rom. 11. 8. 62. In sundry places of the old Testament cited by Christ and the Apostles the sense is kept but not alwayes the same words as Rom. 10. 15 18 19 20 21. and else-where To teach us that the Scripture is considered by the meaning and not by the letters and syllables 63. Some places in the old Testament which seeme meere historical containing bare Narrations of some things done yet are mysticall withall and have a hid and spirituall sense as Jonah's being in the Whales belly holds forth Christs death buriall resurrection for it pleaseth God to make some histories already done to be types and Prophesies of things afterwards to be done as that of Hugar and Sarah Gal. 4. 64. The Scripture hath sundry words which according to the place where they be used doe signifie divers yea even contrary things as Leven to signifie the nature of the Gospel Mat. 13. and also heresie and superstition Mat. 16. 6. 12. And sometime for sinfull corruption as 1 Cor. 5. So a Lyon signifieth Christ and the Devill 1 Pet. 1. 5. Likewise Serpent is put in good part Mat. 10. 16. and in ill part Gen. 3. 1. Because these things have severall properties and contrary 65. Where the text of Scripture is ambiguous as it cannot be found out by us after diligent search to which sense of two or three to leane unto that text may be interpreted in both senses if analogie of faith will suffer they be not against the circumstances of the text for we must not swerve from the generall scope of the whole word faith in Christ and love to God and our neighbour 66. Many things be first generally spoken and presently declared by particulars as 2 Tim. 3. 1 2. There be many such examples 67. Some things in Scripture are incomprehensible by our reason yet true 68. Such Scriptures as have shew of repugnancy are easily reconciled by an intelligent reader as 1 Tim. 2. 3. with Rom. 9. Not all By all is not meant every one but of all sorts and kinds of men rich and poore c. See Joh. 5. 17. Gen. 2. 2. That is from making more workes anew of nothing So Mathew speaks of a staffe which might cumber and burden but Marke of one that might ease and relieve a traveller Mat. 10. 10. Mark 6. 8 9. 69. Some things are said in Scripture not according to the truth of the things but after their profession appearance or visibilitie and opinion of the times as others thought Thus the Scribes Pharisees are termed righteous Luk. 15. And thus hypocrites are said to have faith Jer. 2. 18 19. 70. The Scriptures doe not allow alwayes the things actions from whence similitudes be fetched as the manners of theeves and unjust Stewards and Judges 71. Some of Christs workes were miraculous and proper to him as Mediator but Christs morall duties were given us for example and patterne Mat. 11. 29 30. 1 Pet. 2. 21. 1 Joh. 2. 6. That we should walke as he hath walked 72. By the words poore and needy in the Scriptures is often to be understood all Gods people poore or rich 73. When sinfull actions are attributed to God as to provoke others to anger to envie or to harden Pharaohs heart and the like we must know God tempts none to sinne as Jam. 1. But he doth it by
beleeve or no for some shall not be saved and if I be one of them if I should beleeve I should be saved by Christ I should beleeve a lye The Gospel declares that whosoever beleeves in Christ shall be saved Joh. 3. 16. therefore those who beleeve cannot be any of them that shall perish and the Word saith be that beleeveth not is condemned already Joh. 3. 18. and shall not see life What God saith is truth and truth ought to be beleeved and whatsoever is contrary to truth no man is bound to beleeve therefore no unregenerate man is commanded to beleeve the forgivenesse of his sinnes in any other way then Gods word holds forth forgivenesse of sinnes which is he that beleeves shall be saved and have everlasting life Men are commanded to beleeve they shall have benefit by Christ life and salvation by Christ if they beleeve Joh. 3. 16. And no man is commanded to beleeve he shall be saved by Christ whether he beleeves or no for this is contrary to the Word which saith He that beleeves not is condemned already Joh. 3. 18. No man is to beleeve that which is not true yet this hinders not but all that see an absolute necessitie of Christ shall enjoy him they ought not to distrust in him but to cast away all their doubts and feares and beleeve in him and rest upon him for ever as Simon Peter said to Christ Master to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life Joh. 6. 67 68. But I have no love to Christ I am an enemie to Christ I am not fit for Christ The reason thou doest not love Christ is because thou seest not thy sinnes to be pardoned by Christ didst thou know he loves thee thou wouldst love him the love of Christ would constraine thee to love him 2 Cor. 5. 14. We love him because he first loved us 1 Joh. 4. 19. Doest thou apprehend thy selfe to be an enemy to God so were all those once that ever did beleeve Ephes 2. 12 13. While we were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 8. 10. Enemies cannot discerne Christ yet God gives Christ to such Thou canst not fit thy selfe for Christ if thou seest such a necessity of Christ as without him thou art undone thou desirest Christ and goest to Christ He that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. hearken what Christ saith you shall speed you have the promise of Christ which is security sufficient to satisfie thy soule for Christ is in you and no man can hunger and thirst after righteousnesse viz. Christ but such as are blessed Mat. 5. 6. and the Spirit of God dwels in you and Christ is in you and they that are led by the Spirit of God out of themselves to Christ for light and life and strength are the children of God Rom. 8. 9 10 11 14. Indeed there are many sweet promises in the Word but they are all for beleevers but I am none I grant none may apply a promise of life but onely such as beleeve yet the promises are for all the elect thou knowest not but thou art one of them when God shall please to give thee faith thou shalt know thy interest in them Act. 13. 48. In the meane time stay thy selfe with this that the Lord Jesus gave himselfe for enemies and justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. Whilest wee were yet sinners Christ dyed for us While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 8. 10. Therefore be not discouraged God may save thee also The Lord saith I will have mercy upon her that hath not obtained mercy and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say Thou art my God Hos 2. 23. Oh sweet place therefore by no meanes yeeld not to thy feares nourish no jealousies against God but resolve in Christs strength to cleave to his Word as Psal 119. 49. And here hold saying My beloved is mine and I am his Song 2. 16. I would gladly beleeve but I dare not Thou shouldst not admit nor give way to any discouragement to hinder thy going to Christ seeing Christ cryed saying If any man thirst let him come to mee and drinke Joh. 7. 37. The Spirit and the Bride say Come and whosoever will let him come Rev. 22. 17. The Lord takes pleasure in them that feare him and in them that hope in his mercy Psal 147. 11. He will not quench the smoaking flax Mat. 12. 20. From whence is thy feare sure it is occasioned or much increased by them who bid persons beleeve forbid them againe by their saying Take heed what you doe you may be deceived it is not so easie a matter to beleeve you must first be so sensible of sin and so humbled for it c. before you may beleeve Now they conceit they are not so and so qualified therefore they dare not beleeve also they are scared with the many things hypocrites may doe how farre they may goe and so set them short of hypocrites which must needs discourage them yet the word of God requires no such teaching for men to learne before they may beleeve for when the soule seeth it selfe lost by reason of sinne and is at a stand not knowing what to doe the first thing they are to doe is to beleeve in Jesus Christ as appeares Acts 16. 31. The word requires nothing of them before they may beleeve therefore wee may not for none may presume above what is written If thou desirest to beleeve thy will is in part regenerated and thou doest in some measure beleeve though weakly as he did that said Lord I beleeve help my unbeliefe Mark 9. 24. Gods servants are described by a desire to feare his Name Nehe. 1. 11. Psal 145. 19. Psal 147. 11. There can be no desires without faith 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. a man cannot desire that which he beleeves not to be so Heb. 11. 6. Many give God their hearts and doe not know it and so are troubled because they do not know what is meant by the heart nor where it is seated I speak not of the heart of flesh Rom. 8. 5 6 7. there is a carnall minde and a spirituall minde in men I speake of the heart mystically and spiritually which is principally seated in the will so that what it wills or desires there is the heart and to that which the will most wills or desires to that is the bent of the heart unto Now if the soule were to have its choice of every thing that one thing that the soule should chuse would any question whether they loved it and that their hearts were not unto it for as no soule can be sensible of the want of Christ untill the soule be possessed of him Rom. 8. 10 11. so no soule
3. 28. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. The bloud of Jesus Christ makes us cleane from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. To despaire of the mercy of God because our sinnes are great were to limit God in his mercy which is a greater sin and an adding sin to sin therefore for the greatest sinne a beleever can commit he ought not to moane without hope for no sin he can commit can never put him into a state of condemnation or under the curse Rom. 8. 1 2 3. And whilst we live in this world God healeth not our sinfull natures wholly nor takes it away quite the flesh lusteth Rom. 7. yet God ever esteemes his as they are in Christ and not simply as they are in themselves Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Paul saith I my selfe keep the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Sin doth the evill that beleevers doe see Rom. 7. 15. 17. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Consider Nehe. 9. 16 17 c. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 103. 14. God is never an enemy to his though they greatly sinne against him Psal 51. We are not beloved for our own sakes nor any thing in our selves but for Christ in whom God is well pleased Mat. 3. 17. Therefore nothing in us or that we doe can make us to be loved more or lesse God may well say of himselfe I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. His love is as himselfe ever the same and Christ in whom we are beloved ever the same Heb. 13. 8. therefore a beleevers hope joy and coÌ„fidence is to be ever the same in Christ Ps 23. 1. So we are commanded to Rejoyce alwayes Psal 5. 11. 32. 11. Let them exceedingly rejoyce Psal 40. 16. Psal 68. 3. and to rejoyce evermore Againe I say rejoyce 1 Thes 1. 5. 16. Phil. 4. 4. The joy of the Lord is our strength Neh. 8. 16. Oh there is enough in the Lord Jesus to satisfie thee at all times he is an unchangeable object of true joy in him onely is all our hope and happinesse whose bloud hath payd all the debt of all thy sinnes It 's Christ that died who now shall condemn surely none Rom. 8. 33. Therefore let not thy fall cause thee to question the love of God seeing thy salvation depends not upon thy repentance or holinesse but from Gods free grace Rom. 9. 15 16. Isa 43. 24 25. 57. 17. Ezek. 16. 1. to 9. My little children these things I write unto you that yee sin not 1 Joh. 2. 1. And for any to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse that is the sweet mercy and consolations of God to incourage them in their sinning they are led by the Spirit of the Devill he is their father and his works they do Joh. 8. I speak to you that regard iniquitie Psal 66. 18. that love sin and delight in it and are bold and venturous upon it and can drinke downe iniquitie like water Job 15. 16. You at present are in the gall of bitternesse and whiles it is so with them here is no consolation for them thâ—â—e may not be numbred with them who through weaknesse and temptation or want of watchfulnesse are overtaken and fall into sinne which they hate by not shunning the occasions of sinne c. Surely all the Lords have need to pray as David did to God Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 17. 5. Howsoever it be be not out of hope although thou didst persecute the truth as Paul did and them that professed it Act. 9. 1 2. yet afterwards he preached the faith Gal. 1. 23. thou knowest not but God may convert thee also The servant of God having fallen into sinne is to rise by faith for shall a man fall and not rise Jer. 8. 4. When I fall I shall arise Micah 7. 7. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth the iniquitie and passeth by the transgressions of the Remnant of his people Micah 7. 18 19 20. God subdues the corruption that is in his not all at once but by degrees therefore he saith I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes will I remember no more Heb. 8. 12. God hath nothing against those who are in Christ 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yee are in Christ But alas I feele my heart is hardened There is much hardnesse of heart in a childe of God and they feele it and complaine of it and mourne under it which is from the new heart in them To feele hardnesse is from softnesse and the condition of an experienced childe of God O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardened our hearts from thy feare doubtlesse thou art our father thou O Lord art our father Isa 63. 16 17. Their hearts were hardened yet they were the children of God Motives or incouragements to beleeve NOtwithstanding faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. it floweth from the Spirits operation in the heart therefore our beleeving is said to be the worke of God Joh. 6. 28. the operation of God Col. 2. 12. the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. The Spirit inlighteneth our understandings and boweth our hearts to beleeve So that without the Spirit of Christ we can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. Ephes 1. 19. It is through grace that men beleeve Act. 18. 27. yet men are to use the meanes for when in the preaching of the Word we bid persons to doe so and so we expect the holy Spirit of God to put power to the words spoken to make them effectuall to enable the creature to obey as He said unto me Sonne of man stand up upon thy feet and the Spirit entred into me when he had spoken unto me and set me upon my feet Ezek. 2. 1 2. And the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live Joh. 5. 25. Else it were in vaine to speak to dead men 1 Pet. 4. 6. To beleeve c. is a spirituall worke and all men by nature are spiritually dead Eph. 2. 1. 5. 14. onely they beleeve whose hearts God opens as Acts 16. 14. None can beleeve but they to whom it is given Phil. 1. 29. Therefore such words as these Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Act. 16. 30 31. in this sense are to be understood for it is not in him that willeth and him that runneth c. Rom. 9. 16. it is God that worketh both to will and to doe Incouragements to beleeve 1. Because the Gospel is to be preached to every creature he that beleeves shall be saved Act. 16. 16. There is no precept or command for any to doubt none are exempted or forbidden to beleeve see Act. 16. 30 31. 1 Joh. 3. 23. but men are commanded
the contrary and to follow after faith and to lay hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2. By beleeving we come to know our interest in Christ and of our salvation by him Whosoever beleeves in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 15 16. He that beleeves in the Sonne hath everlasting life vers 36. see Joh. 6. 40. 3. By beleeving we honour God He that receives his testimony hath set to his seale that God is true Joh. 3. 33. Joh. 5. 10. therefore none can beleeve too soone or too confidently or too constantly 4. If yee beleeve not surely yee shall not be established Isa 7. 9. There is no true quietnesse and settlement of soule without beleeving also thou standst by faith thou fallest into sinne by unbeliefe Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 9. 12. The word preached is precious and powerfull yet it profited them not because it was not mixed with faith Heb. 4. 2. 5. It 's faith that rids the soule of all its distempers doubts feares discouragements Rom. 5. 1. we may not separate the Spirit from faith nor faith from the Spirit 6. By faith in Christ thou shalt be kept in perfect peace it will sweetly transcendently refresh thy soule Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. By faith we apprehend Christ our justification the fruit of which is joy and peace 7. By unbeliefe we adde sin to sin in the highest nature if we beleeve not what God saith our act of unbeliefe accuseth God to speake falsly He that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is impossible for God to lye The strength of Israel cannot lye 1 Sam. 15. 29. Nor can it be any dishonour to God nor hurt to thy selfe to hope in his mercy and to beleeve in him therefore when thou art tempted to unbeliefe set before thee the evill of unbeliefe 8. As bad as thou canst be have been received to mercy Jesus Christ came to save sinners This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. When thou layst in thy bloud behold it was a time of love Ezek. 16. 8. He justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 5. 8. 10. therefore have hope Feare not but beleeve Luk. 8. 50. The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night Psal 42. 8. Hope thou in God vers 5. Be not afraid onely beleeve Mark 5. 36. 9. Unbeliefe straitens thy heart and stoppeth thy mouth hinders thy thankfulnesse and praising of God thou shalt be dumb because thou beleevest not Luk. 1. 20. 10. Unlesse we beleeve we can never glorifie God He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe but was strong in faith giving God the glory Rom. 4. 20. Quest From whence is it that many of the Lords children have so many doubts and feares Answ It ariseth from many severall causes as 1. From ignorance of the fulnesse and freenesse of the promise Isa 55. 2. or mindlesnesse and heedlesnesse of the promise Heb. 2. 1. 3. And from corruption in the heart opposing grace Rom. 7. 4. And from the bodies distemper with melancholy 5. or from the conscience being inlightened which sides with the Law against it selfe Rom. 7. 24. 6. or from unskilfulnesse in the Word of righteousnesse Heb. 5. 13. 7. And from unbeliefe which takes the Law and applies it to it selfe which occasioneth feares and feares doubts 8. And from loose walking with God 9. Or from the Spirits not operating in the soule the Spirit when it acts speakes peace and causeth faith to act more strongly Rom. 8. 16. Meanes to quiet and settle a troubled soule in assurance of the love of God God gives peace to his by meanes as appeares 2 Thes 3. 16. Commune with thy heart and make diligent search to find out what it is that troubleth thee Psal 77. 6. Aske a reason of thy soule why it is disquieted why it is cast downe Psal 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted Psal 42. 5 6. Examine from whence all thy discouragements come they come not from God for his voyce is onely comfort unto his people he hath declared himselfe to be mercifull and gracious and slow to anger and plenteous in mercy He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according unto our iniquities Psa 103. 3 4. 8. 10. c. His voyce is comfort Comfort yee my people speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned Isa 4. 1 2. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill Jer. 29. 11. Nor come they from Christ he doth not trouble nor discourage any He binds up the broken-hearted he proclaimes peace liberty he comforts all that mourne he gives beautie for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and garments of praise for the Spirit of heavinesse c. Isa 61. 1 2 3. Luk. 4. 18. He is gracious and pitiâ—ull He will not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed Isai 42. 3. His voyce is full of love tendernesse all his words are sweet words as Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Feare not it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Cast youâ— care upon me I will care for you Phil. 4. 6. Christs voyce is open to me My sister my love my dove my undefiled Song 5. 2. On sweet words of Christ to his Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God he is the greatest and most sweetest comforter he causeth no discouragements but removes them all by revealing and applying to the soule the love of God and carrieth the soule by faith from all discouragements to God who is love peace where the soule is to rest Psal 116. 7. and to be filled with his sweet peace Therefore all our discouragements do proceed 1. From the Devill who is an enemy to faith He taketh the word out of mens hearts lest they should beleeve Luk. 8. 12. 1 Thes 3. 5. 2. Our own hearts Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evill heart in departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. 3. Or the lying vanities we have chosen but they that harken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercy Jonah 2. 8. Give no way to any discouragement at all though it doe seeme never so just and reasonable c. This was Davids sin to admit of a parley with that which might tend to discourage him saying Will the Lord cast off for ever doth his promise fayle for evermore I said this is my infirmitie Psal 77. 7 8 9 10. As soone as he saw his infirmitie he had other thoughts of God saying Who is so
to wound thy faith and confidence in God not onely for an answer of thy prayer but of thy persons acceptance Nay rather charge all upon thy corruption and want of preparation exercise of grace and be the more carefull and watchfull for time to come and learne to distinguish between a nullity and a defect and in a word if thou art sensible of thy sin in praying and art sorry for it thy imperfection is passed by and thou doest not pray in fashion The Spirit of God discovers deadnesse indisposition and unbeliefe and the like in prayer flesh and bloud cannot discover these and the Spirit of God onely makes the conscience tender and pliable 4. Let the frame of thy Spirit be alwayes thankfull and chearfull after prayer whether thou beest inlarged or straitned inwardly or outwardly alone or with others for when thou art at the best thou standst in need of a Jesus looke upward then by faith upon thy Advocate and when thy defects are most and thou art at the worst will not the same Jesus save thee yea surely and if thou groundest thy comfort upon a right bottome rightly thy comfort and the cause of it is the same because Christ is the same Heb. 13. 8. And if Christ be thine shall not he disanull all thy sinnes as well as one seeing he is able and willing But this is the childrens bread this pearle is not to be cast to swine 5. If in prayer thy heart have been opened and inlarged thy faith strengthned and thy conscience eased c. count it a sweet mercy be thankfull to God for all for want of taking notice of Gods goodnesse and thankfulnesse for it it is just in stead of light to possesse darknesse and for feeling to finde deadnesse c. 6. Presse after what thou hast prayed for in the use of meanes Pro. 2. 3 4 5. there is the prayer indeavour and blessing As he that makes prayer the end of his prayer rests in his prayer and prayes to no purpose So he that doth not in good earnest pursue with zeale and conscience the grace good things he prays for Ioseth his prayer The Saints pray to put their prayers in practise we tempt God to aske that wee use not meanes to attaine our indeavours must second our prayers Pro. 20. 4. It is for hypocrites to pray and returne to their lusts with more freedome as if they intended to have libertie to sinne Such prayers are odious to God take we heed that what we build up with prayer wee pull not downe by our practice by remisnesse sleightnesse frothinesse of Spirit it had been well if this knowledge had not been experimentall but a word is sufficient to the wise 7. Expect and wait patiently for a full answer of thy prayers in Gods time and way consider Psal 40. 1. Rev. 3. 10. Hab. 2. 2 3. Wee should be loth to lose any part of the answer of our prayers and that we may wait wee must first be sure we have a promise that wee shall speed that wee may feed our minds with the meditation of it this is necessary for the time of fulfilling may be long lest wee faint Psal 147. 11. Psal 135. 6 7. Have patience and tary that comes hardly is oft most prized but lightly come lightly goe God knows the fittest season to doe us good take not a delay for a deniall many things God hath promised he hath not set down the time or yeare but when it 's best for us let God alone for the time and ye shall see what God will do Watch we what event our prayers have and observe Gods dealings with our selves and others both with his and his enemies and be thankfull for any answer of prayers The Saints are often afflicted that they may often pray and that often praying they might pull downe many benefits from the Lord and returne many praises unto him wee sinne against God and hurt our selves for want of thankfulnesse For hearing the Word 1. Labour to be informed of the excellency and preciousnesse of the mercy to heare the Word and that no treasure of this world is like it for goodnesse beautie and truth there is nothing like the Word it informes convinces comforts what comfort is like to this if the heart be not lost in profits pleasures forth and ease 2. Prize the Word 1 Pet. 2. 3. Above all things we prize precious things and for such as love their lusts let them consider Ezek. 14. 7 8. 3. Heare not for noveltie c. but let your ends be good in obedience to God to know and practise 4. Deny thy selfe thy own wisdome see the Lord in all be a foole that thou maist be wise set God above all and say Speake Lord for thy servant heareth 5. Come in faith beleeve God can speake in particular to thee whether weake or strong and supply thy wants Micah 2. 7. to the end Isa 48. 17. eye the promise If any man will doe his will he shall know whether the doctrine be of God or no Joh. 7. 17. Heare and your soules shall live Isa 55. 3. Beleeve the promises meditate on them plead them apply them as thy own portion and rest satisfied and contented with them they that have the promise are sure enough 6. Come with a resolution to learne and a heart resolved to practise what God saith say as David Psal 119. 33 34. Psal 86. 11. And covet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 12. 31. Consider 1 Cor. 12. 4. 1 Cor. 3. 4. 22. 7. Come emptie in the sense of want he filleth the hungry but the full are sent emptie away Luk. 1. 51. Pro. 27. 7. Emptie of distractions and worldly thoughts and affections Exod. 3. 5. Emptie of prejudice of man gifts or meanes be humble the humble he will teach Psal 25. 9. 8. Pray to God to prepare thy heart and to open thy eyes Psal 119. 18. Shew me thy truth and blesse it to me pray that he that speakes may not seeke himselfe and so rob God and that he may speake as he ought to speake Col. 4. 4. In hearing take heed to your eyes eares hearts Luk. 8. 18. Ezek. 40. 4. 1. Consider thou art in the presence of God and consider Job 21. 6. Psal 16. 8. Acts 10. 33. 2. Attend diligently Isa 55. 23. Watch that nothing come between thee and it sleepe not wander not gaze not Luk. 8. 18. Consider Act. 8. 6. And the people with one accord gave heed to those things that Philip spake 3. Heare for thy selfe and mind especially that which most concernes thee 4. Heare with understanding and judgement Mat. 13. 13. Mat. 15. 10. Joh 21. 11. Put a difference between truth and error The simple beleeveth every word Prov. 14. 15. Take heed what yee heare Mark 4. 24. and whom yee heare and how yee heare 5. If thou canst observe the methode and scope of the speaker to helpe memorie 6. Heare with thy
literall sense of Scripture which ariseth from the words duly understood is the onely true and proper sense 14. Scriptures must be understood according to the largest extent of the words except there be some restraint of them by the matter phrase and scope of them as the word grace 1 Pet. 1. 13. or by some other place of Scripture it appeares they must be restrained 15. They must be expounded simply according to the letter except necessitie compell to depart from a literall sense to a figurative 16. Wee must not take a figurative speech properly nor a proper speech figuratively Mat. 26. 26 27. This is my body is a figurative speech it is a great servitude to take signes for things of which words be but signes 17. Where there is a sentence in Scripture which hath a tropicall or borrowed word we may not think the whole place figurative as Mat. 26. 28. 18. That which is said to one must be understood to be said to all in the like case and condition as appeares by comparing Joshua 1. 5. with Heb. 13. 5. For of the like things there is the like reason and judgement to be given let the circumstances be considered wisely 19. A particular example will afford a generall instruction when the equitie of the thing done is universall and the cause common otherwise not 20. The Scripture puts upon dead things the person of such as speake by a fiction of a person Ps 19. The firmament speakes c. So Rom. 19. 20 21. Psal 98. 7 8. By this manner of speech wee are moved to affect the things spoken and more easily brought to understand them 21. By bodily things the Scripture leads and lifts us up to divine thus a hand applied to God signifieth his working power so an eye his knowledge a heart his will his foot his presence or government wings his care or protection a mouth his word or commandement a finger his might and a soule put for the essence of God 22. The Scripture ascribes the names of things unto the similitudes and representations as 1 Sam. 28. 14 15. 23. That exposition that causeth an absurditie to follow is a false exposition Rom. 4. 14. 10. 14 15. 24. The word heart is commonly put for the soule of man 25. There is such a necessary and mutuall relation between faith and Christ the object that where one of these is expressed alone the other is included Christ onely is the matter of our righteousnesse 26. The Scripture divers times expresses the antecedent by the consequent Rom. 9. 33. with Isa 28. 16. For not making haste in Isaiah Paul saith Shall not be ashamed shame confusion being an effect which followeth haste 27. The Scripture useth one word twice in one sentence with a different signification Joh. 4. 35. Harvest is taken first for earthly and in the latter place for spirituall harvest So the word water in Joh. 4. 13 14. First elementary secondly spiritually viz. the graces of the Spirit 28. The word of commanding is often put for wishing as Let thy kingdome come â—hy Name be hallowed that is Oh that thy Name were hallowed Let him kisse me Song 1. 1. for oh that he would kisse me 29. Crying in Scripture doth often betoken a strong noyse outwardly but inwardly compunction and fervency of spirit and affection Rom. 8. 15. Heb. 5. 7. 30. Things proper to the body are ascribed unto the soule as hunger thirst to declare the earnest desire of the soule because the soule is unknowne unto us the Scripture very oft speaketh of invisible things by visible and shadoweth spirituall by corporall 31. A hyperbole is sometimes in Scripture this kind of speech expresseth more then can be signified by the proper acceptation of that speech it increaseth the truth as Gen. 13. 16. 15. 5. The meaning is no more then that his posteritie shall be very great as Gen. 17. 4. so Joh. 21. 25. 32. It is usuall in Scripture to put all for many 1 Tim. 2. 3. Mat. 3. All Jerusalem and Mat. 4. 23. All diseases So on the other side many is put for all as Rom. 5. 9. And whether all or many is meant may be knowne by observing the matter handled 33. Nothing is for little Joh. 18. 20. Also small and none for few Act. 27. 33. and alwayes for often 34. The negative particle not is often put comparatively and respectively not absolutely and simply as Hosea 6. Not sacrifice viz. rather then or not sacrifice in respect of mercy see Jer. 32. 33. So not is put for seldome Luk. 2. 37. 35. The word ever or everlasting doe not properly signifie eternitie in every place where it is used but great continuance as Psal 32. 14. 36. In Scripture the word untill doth not alwayes exclude the time following but signifies an infinite time or untill viz. eternitie 1 Cor. 15. Mat. 28. 28. Mat. 5. 26. That is to say never and also a certaine limit of time 37. The copulative particle and is often when it is not joyned to other matter as Psal 4. Ezek. 2. 1. 5. 1. And so often else-where Also this particle therefore or then is not alwayes illative or argumentative Rom. 8. 1. Oâ— it coupleth words outwardly to that which the Prophet heard inwardly 38. The particle if is not alwayes a note of doubting but of reasoning as Rom. 8. 31 Joel 1. 14. Acts 8. 22. Sometimes it notes the difficultie of the dutie and sometimes the necessitie of the thing and sometimes it is put for doubtingly Mat. 3. 14. 39. When a Substantive is repeated or twice mentioned in one case it signifieth emphasis or force as Lord Lord secondly a multitude as droves droves Gen. 32. 16. many droves thirdly distribution as 1 Chron. 16. a gate a gate 2 Chron. 19. 5. Levit. 17. 3. a Citie and a Citie that is every Citie fourthly diversitie or varietie as Pro. 20. 20. A weight and a weight that is divers weights An heart and a heart divers or a double heart 40. A Substantive repeated in divers cases if it be in the singular number it argueth certainty as Sabbath of Sabbath Lamentation of Lamentation Micah 3. 4. If it be in the plurall number it signifieth excellency as Eccl. 1. 1. Vanitie of vanities Song of Songs Cant. 1. God of Gods Psal 136. 2. King of Kings Lord of Lords for most high and excellent 41. Repeating of an Adjective and of a Substantive sometimes signifies increasing as Holy holy holy Jehovah Jehovah Temple Temple c. 42. A Verbe repeated or twice gone over in a sentence makes a speech more significant or else it shewes vehemency certainty speedinesse as to dye by dying Gen. 2. And is my hand shortened in shortening Isai 30. 2. 43. A Conjunction doubled doth double the deniall and increase it the more Shall not perceive Mat. 13. 14. 44. A figurative speech affords matter to nourish our faith as Mat. 15. 35. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Acts 9. 4.
delivering them over to Satan their lusts to be hardened God oft punisheth sin with sin Rom. 1. 74. Sundry interrogations in Scripture as Rom. 10. 14 15. have the force of a negative that is to say they cannot Some againe do so aske a question as they require have an expresse answer Psal 15. 1. Rom. 11. 1. 3. 12. It is to quicken attention or to urge more vehemently the affection or to prepare way for some weightie discourse 75. The title God is sometimes put absolutely and in the singular number then it notes the Creator or the essence Sometimes it is used with an addition as in Exodus I have made thee God of Pharaoh or in the plurall number Psal 84. I have said yee are Gods and vers 1. In the assembly of Gods then it belongs to the Creator see Rom. 1. 7. Sometimes essentially as Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit So the word Father is sometimes put essentially for the deity Mat. 6. Our Father Sometimes distinctly The Father is greater then I. Ignorance in these Rules causeth errors concerning God 76. Words of knowledge and sense doe signifie besides action and affections as God knoweth the wayes of the righteous Psal 1. 6. And that he knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Apoc. 2. 3. is meant he knowes them with love favour and approbation to reward and crown them Also it is said whom he foreknew Rom. 11. 2. with 1 Pet. 1. 2. is meant his eternall love imbraceth these as his owne for he knew barely before all reprobates and devils and their works too but not with favour and allowance Also the word Remember is a word of sense yet it often importeth care love delight 1 Cor. 11. Doe this in remembrance of me Gen. â—8 77. Legall and Evangelicall promises must not be distinguished by bookes but by the nature and condition of the promises for Legall promises may be found in bookes of the New Testament as Rom. 2. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. 10 5 Gal. 3. 10. 12. And Evangelicall promises of grace are in the old Testament as Psal 132. 1 2. Jer. 32. 31 32. c. Observe them according to these two rules following 78. If promises of temporall or eternall things are propounded upon condition of workes they are Legall Christ onely hath kept the Law and they which beleeve are to claime them by this tide conveyed to them by faith in Christ 79. All promises for this life or a better which are made as one condition of beleeving repenting working for these are workes though imperfect are onely effects and fruits of faith and not conditions nor causes but are onely to declare what persons God will save Godlinesse hath the promises c. 1 Tim. 6. He that beleeveth c. Joh. 3. And to understand them in any other sense is Legall see Psal 1. 1 2 3 2 Cor. 7. 10. 80. Touching such places where morall duties are commended and commanded they must be understood according to these Rules following as 1. though no word be spoken oâ— Christ yet it must be understood that he alone is the whole cause of every part of our salvation Act. 4. 12. 81. All morall duties are then commended in any partie when the partie which doth them is first in Christ and his sinnes pardoned through his death as 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 11. 6. Our best duties are imperfect if in Christ accepted if out of Christ mens best duties cannot cause them to be accepted 82. All good workes must have a pure heart Gods glory for the beginning and the end having a conscience to God in obedience to his Word unlesse the person be accepted the bare deed or action cannot please God 83. Where blessednesse is promised to morall duties doing those places are not to be considered as causes thereof for Christ is the cause of all out onely to declare what persons they are which God doth save and what the Saints dutie is to doe 84. These duties must not be understood in the strictnesse and rigour of the morall Law but of a continuall and unfained desire purpose and indeavour to doe them This rule prevents scruples and feares which weake ones have through the sense of their wants and failings 85. The Scriptures use to call them sonnes which by nature are no sonnes to them whose sonnes they are called but they are sonnes legally and by succession thus Salathiel being sonne of Neri naturally Luk. 3. 27. is legally and by succession made the son of Jechoniah whom he succeeded in the kingdome as Mat. 1. 12. 86. After this manner Zedekiah or Jehoiakim 1 Chron. 36. 10. and his sonne 1 Chron. 3. 16. His brother by generation his sonne by right of succession By this Rule the two Evangelists Matthew and Luke are reconciled in their Genealogie for Luke followeth the naturall order and Matthew the legall order 87. Many things are said in Scripture by anticipation and recapitulation 88. In Scripture some things are spokeÌ„ well when righteous things are taught rightly as Repent and beleeve c. Or secondly when evill things are taught evilly when wicked things are perswaded as To curse God and dye Or thirdly when good things are uttered evilly when some right thing is said with a perverse mind as Joh. 9. Be thou his Disciple Or fourthly evill things well spoken and dishonest things uttered in honest termes as David went in to Bathsheba and Rom. 1. 26. 89. The Scripture speaks many things in the person of the ungodly men whose crooked words it doth report unto us as well as their deeds 90. That word which seemeth to forbid goodnesse or to command wickednesse is a figurative speech as Vnlesse a man eate my flesh c. This is wickednesse because the word is pure it cannot allow any thing against honesty of manners or veritie of faith 91. Tropes and figures in Scriptures are not to be accounted lies as for Christ calling Herod a Fox and himselfe a Vine a Dore c. Because there is no purpose to deceive in them but by meet resemblance to expresse the truth 92. Similitudes are rather to make darke things plaine then to prove any doubtfull thing similitudes are not argumentative as Stewards in Joh. 15. 93. To make allegories and figures where none are in exposition is licentious dangerous and hurtfull 94. In things that be subordinate the affirming the one doth not sollow the denying of the other 95. All interpretations must be fit as well as true 96. It is a ready way to all error to interpret Scripture by prejudice in favour of some opinion of our owne 97. In Scripture a betrothed woman is called a wife Mat. 1. 20. and so of the man Deut. 22. 23. Because betrothing is an essentiall part of marriage yet the solemnization is necessary unto comelinesse and avoyding of offence 98. That interpretation is corrupt that builds not up in faith and love 99. A figurative speech in Scripture does more
I will give to him that is athirst of the fountaine of water of life freely Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled A bruised Reed shall be not breake and the smoaking flax shall be not quench And if there be a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath By faith Abraham offered Isaac Of a truth this poore widow hath cast in more then they all The desires of the righteous shall be granted Isa 55. 1. Joh. 7. 37. Rev. 21. 6. Joh. 7. 33. Mat. 5. 6. Isa 42. 3. 2 Cor. 8. 10 11 12. Gen. 16 17. with Heb. 11. 27. Luk. 21. 3. Prov. 10. 24. Psal 37. 4. To be meeke Seeke meeknesse The meeke will he teach his way and will save all the meeke of the earth he will beautifie the meeke with salvation Psal 25. 9. Psal 76. 9. Psal 149. 4. To be sincere Thou Lord requirest truth in the inward parts Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Psal 51. 6. Mat. 5. 8. To confesse our sinnes Confesse thy sin If we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from all iniquitie If any man say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profiteth me not he will deliver his soule from going downe into the pit and his life shall see the light 1 Joh. 1. 9. Job 23. 27 28. To forgive others Forgive unto seventy seven times in a day thou shalt forgive Forgive and yee shall be forgiven If yee forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will forgive your trespasses against him Luk. 17. 4. Mark 11. 25 26. 6. 37. Mat. 6. 14. Ephes 4. 23. To be a peace-maker Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God Mat. 5. 9. To devise good Mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good the liberall deviseth liberall things Pro. 14. 22. Isa 32. 8. To selfe-deniall If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe Maâ— 16. 15. To watch But let us watch and be sober blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching blessed is he that watcheth Maâ— 13. 37. 1 Thes 5. 6. Rev. 16. 15. Luk. 22. 37. Mat. 24 47. To be patient Be yee also patient in your patience possesse your sâ—ules James 5. 8. Luk. 21. 9. After he had patiently indured he obtained the promises Heb. 6. 15. To be contented Be content with those things yee have Heb. 13. 5. To resist the Devill Resist the devill and he will fly from you Jam. 5. 4. To resist sin Sin shall not have dominion over you Rom. 6. 14. Not to be afraid of the world Yee are of God little children and have overcome them and greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world Joh. 16. 33. see 1 Joh. 4. 4. To subdue the flesh If yee mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit yee shall live Rom. 8. 13. Live to the glory of God and your own and the Saints comfort To be mercifull Be yee mercifull as your heavenly Father is mercifull Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy Mat. 5. 7. Jam. 2. 13. To give to the poore See that yee abound in this grace also Cast thy bread upon the waters and after many dayes thou shalt find it He that gives to the poore shall not lacke Blessed is he that considereth the poore the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble the Lord will preserve and keepe him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse Eccl. 11. 1. Pro. 28. 17. Psal 41. 1 2 3. To give chearfully God loves a ohearfull giver 2 Cor. 9. 7. To give bountifully He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully The liberall soule shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered himselfe If thou draw out thy soule to the hungry and satisfie the afflicted soule then shall thy light rise c. 2 Cor. 9. 6. Prov. 11. 25. Isa 48. 10 11. Who so shall give a cup of cold water in the Name of a Disciple because he belongs to Christ verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward in heaven Mat. 10. 42. Mark 9. 41. 6. The life of faith in the use of meanes It is the souls cleaving to God in Christ for a blessing upon his Ordinances or the meanes he hath appointed that we may receive strength from them and profit by them The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Pro. 9. 29. I am the Lord that teacheth thee to profit Isa 48. 17. Faith beleeves God will blesse his own meanes seeing he hath appointed them all to this end therefore all must needs be effectuall So it is the duty of a beleever to use all constantly closely wisely despise not them because they seem weak and silly to flesh and bloud know by their use under God a holy life is preserved and observe how thou thrivest by them use all if by any meanes thy wants may be supplied Phil. 3. 11. And honour not any of them as to exclude or sleight another Some there be that are guiltie herein men onely prise that themselves like But oh yee sonnes and daughters of God love yee and use yee all Gods meanes they are all for his glory and thy good let not any of them be a stranger to thee the neglect of one may hinder the fruit of another the command is to all the Lords to use all and if we be weake in the use of meanes what should we be if wee used them not let not the difficultie of any dismay thee consider seriously the soveraigntie of God in all his commands and what obedience to God meanes and what God requires for matter manner measure time and end To pray consider such places as these Pray continually I will powre upon them the Spirit of grace and supplication Aske and ye shall have If yee which are evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to those that aske him And all things whatsoever yee shall aske in prayer beleeving yee shall receive What things soever yee desire when yee pray beleeve that yee receive them and yee shall receive them Verily I say unto you whatsoever yee shall aske the Father in my Name he will give it you And it shall come to passe before they call I will answer and while they yet speake I will heare 1 Thes 5. Zech. 12. 10. Mat. 7. 7 8 9 11. Luk. 11. 13. Mat. 21. 22. Mark 11. 24. Mat. 16. 23. Isa 65. 24. To read the word Give attendance to reading Behold I will powre out my Spirit upon you and make knowne
my words unto you 1 Tim. 4. 13. Rev. 1. 3. Pro. 1. 23. To meditate Thou shalt meditate therein day and night Blessed is the man that meditateth on thy Law day and night My meditation of him shall be sweet the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding Josh 1. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 15. Psal 1. 1 2. Psal 104. 34. Psal 49. 3. To holy conference The mouth of the righteous speakes wisdome the lips of the wise disperse knowledge my words shall not depart out of thy mouth they that feared the Lord spake oft one to another c. They that love it shall eate the fruit thereof Prov. 15. 17. Pro. 18. 21. Maâ—a 3. 16. Psal 37. 30. Psal 71. 24. Isa 59. 21. To heare Christ and his Ministers Blessed is the man that heares me watching daily at my gates Heare and your soules shall live Pro. 8. 34. Isai 55. 3. To be baptized See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized and Philip said If thou beleevest with all thy heart thou maiest and they went both downe into the water and he baptized him Acts 8. 36 37 38. He that beleeves and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 16. For Saints to receive the Lords Supper Doe this in remembrance of me it was given for you Take eate this is my body Luk. 22. 19. Joh. 6. 58. To be prepared for duties Thou wilt prepare their hearts If thou prepare thy heart c. Psal 10. 17. Job 11. 13 14 15. To obey God As soone as they heare of me they shall obey me Ezek. 36. 27. To be fruitfull in season His leafe shall be greene and he shall not cease from yeelding fruit he shall bring forth his fruit in season his leafe shall not wither Jer. 17. 8. Psal 1. 2 3. For abilitie to obey God The righteous also shall hold on his way and he shall be stronger and stronger they goe from strength to strength every one of them Surely shall one say In the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength my God shall be my strength I will goe in the strength of the Lord he gives power to the faint and to them that have no might be increaseth strength They that wait upon the Lord shall renue their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and shall walke and not be faint I can doe all things through Christ that strengthens me God gives strength and power to his people blessed be God Job 17. 9. Psal 84. 7. Isa 45. 24. Isa 49. 5. Isa 40. 29 30 31. Phil. 4. 13. Psal 68. 35. In all temptations That it shall not be above that wee are able to beare and for a good issue out of all temptations There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that yee are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that yee may be able to beare it 1 Cor. 10. 13. Jam. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 20. To know the truth He that will doe his will he shall know whether the doctrine be of God or no The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth The meeke will he teach his way He that feareth the Lord will he teach in the way he shall choose Joh. 7. 17. Joh. 16. 13. Psal 25. 9. 12. For direction in all our wayes I will direct all his wayes I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe I will guide thee with my eye For this God is our God for ever and ever and he will be our guide even untill death Isa 45. 13. Ps 32. 8. Psal 48. 14. To reprove others Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke him and not suffer sin upon him He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour then he that flattereth with his tongue The feare of man bringeth a snare but to them that rebuke him shall be delight and a good blessing shall come upon them Levit. 19. 17. Pro. 28. 23. Pro. 29. 25. Pro. 24. 25. To correct children c. The rod and reproofe give wisdome but a childe left to himselfe bringeth his mother to shame but if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not dye thou shalt beat him with the rod Pro. 25. 15. Pro. 29. 15. Pro. 23. 13 14. For husbands to love their wives Husbands love your wives Ephes 5. 25. 28. 33. For wives to obey their husbands Wives obey your husbands in every thing lawfull Ephes 5. 24. For children to obey their parents Children obey your parents in the Lord Ephes 6. 1 2. For servants to obey their Masters Servants be obedient to those that are your Masters Ephes 6. 5 6 7. To obey Gods commands In keeping them there is great reward Psal 19. 11. Blessed are they that do his commandements Psal 19. 11. Prov. 37. 27. Rev. 20. 6. Rev. 22. 14. To leave false worship See 2 Cor. 6. 16 17 18. To dwell in Sion and to injoy the priviledges thereof The ransomed of the Lord shall come to Sion with joy I will take one of a Citie and two of a family and bring them to Sion They that love his Name shall dwell therein Isa 35. 10. Jer. 3. 14. Psal 69. 36. To be fruitfull there Those that are planted in the house of God shall flourish in the Courts of our God and bring forth fruit in old age and be fat and flourishing All that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed of them which the Lord hath blessed They goe from strength to strength every one of them in Sion c. Ps 92. 13 14. Isa 61. 9. 62. 12. Psal 84. 7. That God is present there He dwels in his Church He walkes in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes Thou that dwellest in the gardens Rev. 2. 1. with Rev. 1. 10. Song 5. 1. 6. 2. 8. 13. For the acceptation of their services there see Song 5. 1. with Deut. 12. 5 6 7. For his blessing there The Lord shall blesse thee out of Sion I will abundantly blesse her provision they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house blessed are they that dwell in thy house for they shall he still praising thee Psal 132. 15. Psal 36. 8. Psal 84. 4. For protection there Thou shalt hide me in the time of trouble in the secrets of thy Tabernacle Psal 27. 4 5. For Saints to agree in the truth I will give them one heart and one way Jer. 32. 39. To have joy and gladnesse there The Lord shall comfort Sion and joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thankesgiving and the noyse of melody Isai 51. 3. In reproaches for Christ Blessed are yee when men revile you for my sake falsly rejoyce and be glad and leape for joy for behold great is your reward in heaven