say as Christ of the Fig-tree never fruite grow on thee more But as once borne ever borne So once gracious ever gracious though not in equall degree For the variety of graces existence prevents not the perpetuitie of its essence May not all the members of the body consume yet not totally So may everie part of the New-man and not wholy be wasted A truth it is that the beleever may thus fall First that the Church may question the soundnesse of his heart 1 Cor. 5.5 vse her publicke authoritie and deliuer him vp to Sathan Witnesse the incestuous person Also that he himselfe may haue strange and loose conceipts of his spiritual estate What did David Psal 51. And so that he may hardly if ever recover his former strength haue that neere and sweet communion with God 2 Chro. 16.10 and his Saints which he hath had Was not this the condition of Asa Yet for all that hath or can be said the seedes of grace shal never totally wast and perish Neither is it impossible but that he who hath fearefully fallen may recouer his former strength doe his first workes Iudg. 16.22 Haue we not an example of this in Sampson For God can and will too restore the declined Rev. 2.5 if no time be omitted meanes neglected And experience of this so great a dammage may perswade the Prodigall in the vse of his talent to be the better husband He who hath gone astray when he seeth his wandring and returning into his right path will he not trudge on the faster A bone being broke if once knit say Chiâ—urgions is the stronger After a long languishing disease nature hath recovered and that body receiued her former force bin the more healthfull a long season When the Sunne had gone backe many degrees who can tell 2. King 20.11 but in his re turne he gained what he had lost that all daies and nights might be of equall proportion according to the season as at the creation But beloved though this may be so it likewise may not A relapse is with great hazard recouered for nature is weakened the peccant humour strengthened So is it in this For when the New-man decreaseth the old increaseth both of which breed danger It s more easie to keepe the weake on foot than being fallen to lift him vp againe How ever yet is it possible Vse 4 And may Spirituall stedfastnes be fallen from Then try thy selfe if thou be or not revolted Tradesmen keepe a register of all their proceedings cast vp their accompts yeerely take a strict view how they decreased or increased their substance and should not Christians be as wise in their generation Make proofe therefore by the former Symptomes related Is thy spirituall eie grone dim in seeing Dost thou behold Christians as the person who receiued his sight did men walking like trees Isa 65.5 Saist thou to such stand a part come not neere me I am holier than thou Is thine eare dull in hearing what the spirit speaketh to the Churches Covet'st thou frothy windy stuffe Rev. 2.7 Contentest thy selfe at home with a printed paper And delightest in some new odde invention Canst not thou as in times past relish Angels food Bread from heauen Absentest thou thy selfe from the Lords table Or comming feedest on the sacred bodie of Christ without an eager appetite Are the actions of grace feeble And willingly omitted Wantest thou power in Prayer Is that pulse weake Trembling And yet thou never challengest thy selfe in that regard Is vnwholesome food well enough affected No way disturbant or better diet receiued not into the veines distributed but passeth thorow the draught vndigested Concoctest thou the word with wambling Feelest no reluctation of weaker sinnes heretofore distasted And for all this canst thou not admit of Physicke sharp and keene reprehensions Wilt thou quarrell with the man who seekes thy recouerie account him rash indiscreet and but thine enemie Then in good sooth thou art gone backe carried with the tide and fallen from thy stedfastnes But and if thou allowest this that thou dost mournest not for it neither striuest to returne to thy former strength motion thy declining is will full and thou maist feare an apostasie For these symptoms Characters as luskish reachings of a lazie body are the certaine forerunners of a finall revolting Wherefore as by this search examination thou maist try thine estate So if thou finde thou hast fallen labour to returne to thy former stedfastnes And to recover thee according to the order premised what helpes we can we will afford thee And they are of Direction Perswasion 1. We must call to remembrance what truth in the vnderstanding or in our conversation we haue fallen from and so returne vnto them 2. We are to consider what sinne we haue imbrased whether it be an errour in iudgement or practise and if we clearely discerne any then to cease from it For all our failings will and may be ranked vnder these two heads of Omission or Commission When the naturall body is weakened by refusing of wholesome meat or receiuing of noisome diet is not the way of corporall recoverie to feed on the former and to reiect the latter Even so must it be in the regaining of our spirituall strength we haue fallen from He who hath erred from the true way must take knowledge of his wandrings and returne to his wonted walke Wherefore begin though at the first faintly to heare reade meditate pray And also to cease from sinne avoide the occasions of evill then shalt thou by degrees be restored to thy Spirituall stedfastnes as a weake-sickly body by good diet moderat exercise to its former strength This is the way of direction that of perswasion being compounded of many particulars followeth 1. Cast in thy mind what an vncomfortable condition thou art fallen into compare it often with the times of olde Doe not slavish feares vpon the least occasion arise in thy soule Art thou not suspicious how the best question thy soundnesse be privie to thy secret slips Hidden failings Who would be reputed a prodigall Gal. 3.1.3 Or having bin accounted rich thought to banke Did not Paul on the same ground call the Galatians fooles Persons be-witched Will you saith he having begunne in the spirit end in the flesh 2. Consider that greater evils than these may attend thee For shall not the Lord with-draw his loving kindnesse from thee Change his countenance and seeme though he be not thine enemie Would not this like the divisions of Reuben Iudg. 5.16 cause thoughts of heart What will sooner make the Lover sigh Any thing than the angry frownes of his best affected friend Of all the burthens befell good Iob Iob. 29.2.3 it seemes the disaquaintance with his God did the most breake him therefore cried O that my soule were as in mouth spast As in the daies when the Lord preserued me His candle shined vpon me And by his
brethren is there yet a Prophet gone out to declare when these things shall have an end But because this dolefull obiect is more remote therefore though it should not the lesse lamented Let vs draw neerer home And take a view of our owne Nation Hath not Death cruell death haunted the Court Citie Countrey Killed our King Slaine our Nobles And turned into small dust sixtie-six-thausand of the common subiects Call for the aged and let them if they can tell when so many in so short a revolution of time haue vealed the head And given vp the Ghost But what effect hath followed this dreadfull mortalitie Is not England London especially as proud covetous prophaine And secure as ever I doubt not but that some have laid these iudgements to heart brought foorth fruite worthie amendment of life Math 3.8 But as the Disciples sayd of the five loaves and two fishes what are they amonge so many Alas Alas The dead carkesses of neighbours kindred friends like rotten dung spread on the earth have caused the seeds of wickednesse in the lives of a huge multitude but to shoot vp grow the faster What then shall we can we expect without a change to be the end For will not God take vengeance on such a people as this Zeph. 2.2 You therefore before the decree come foorth Who make profession like Moses stand in the gappe pitition the Father of mercie And the God of all consolation not to enter into iudgement with this sinfull generation but to put the evill day farre from vs. Pray for the life of our King the peace of our Land And the continuance of the Gospell to vs and our posteritie from generation to generation Cry in the eares of the Lord of hoasts to powre downe the Spirit of wisdome and resolution vpon his own annointed that he may guide the great people committed to his charge in the way of truth be the ioy of all his chosen and a terror to all his enemies That the Sun of that morning may never rise or that day numbred to the Monthes of the yeere when it shall be sayd the Adversary hath invaded the land the Arke of God is gone from our English Israel If we sit secure take heede of a Spanish whip a Catholike scourge For what priviledge have we Iudah Ierusalem And our Neighbour kingdomâ—s have not inioyed Why then may we not feare the like correction Chiefly if we lye in the same sinnes Now that you may be prevented of or prepared for the invasion of Foes fiering of Beacons roaring of Cannons sacking of Cities ravishing of wives deflouring of virgins tossing infants on Pikes rending of members a sunder and resisting vnto bloud Heb. 11.37 Consider what I have sayd And write in this short succeeding Tractat. Heb. 11.37 Better Counsell to vndergoe the harshest torments to flesh and bloud than I have in these few lines I cannot give thee Read them for thy selfe Pray for me And the rather in that thou little knowest how short a time thou hast Thine in the Lord Iesus Iohn Barlow February 23. 1626. The particulars in this tractat prosecuted are in this Table related Doctrine 1. A Spirituall stedfastnesse may be obtained Pag. 6. Spirituall stedfastnesse defined Pag. Distributed into Habituall Vnderstanding Wil afections Pag. 12. Practicall Internall Externall Pag. 15. Doct. 2. Spiriuall stedfastnes may be fallen from Pag. 30. And it is Described Divided into Habit Totall Partiall Pag. 31. Acts Inward Outward Pag. 35 Causes of Apostasie Within vs. Without vs. Pag. 37 Symptomes of declining Pag. 55. Helpes to recover the deâ—lined Pag. 70. How to support him who standeth Pag. 78. Rules for yong Converts Pag. 85. Doct. 3. Error leadeth from stedfastnes Pag 89. Error defined in Generall Speciall Legall Evangelicall Pag. 90. And either may be in Iudgement Vniversal Partiall Pag. 93. Practise Weakenesse Willfulnesse Pag. 69. Doct. 4. The way of error is the way of the wicked Pag. 104. Doct. 5. By one error many may be seduced Pag. 108. Doct. 6. Error discovered to be avoided P. 114. The shops of error and prophanenesse Verse 18. Doct. 1. Admonition to be seconded with direction Pag. 131. Doct. 2. Growth in grace required of a Christian Pag. 146. 1. If grace be of a growing nature Pag. 138. 2. May he who hath it increase it Pag. 139. 3. Doth everie Christian grow Pag. 139. 4. Can its habit be decreased Pag. 141. 5. Is it possible to stand at a stay Pag. 144. 6. Or be augmented and not discerned Pag. 145 Doct. 3. All graces to be increased Pag. 195. May one grow and not another Pag. 198. An obiection removed Pag. 169. Doct. 4. Christians are to grow in the knowledge of Christ Iesus Pag. 208. This knowledge is Intellectuall Of his person Offices Pag. 214. ExperimeÌ„tal To our selves To others Pag. 222. Severall hereticall opinions concerning Christs Person and Offices confuted Pag. 224 Divers texts of Scripture perverted are cleared Pag 225 Doct. 5. Christ Iesus mans Saviour Pag. 24â— And that in respect of his two Natures Divine Humane Pag. 244 Obedience Actiue Passiue Pag 248 Salvation Defined Explicated Pag. 253 Obiections produced refelled Pag. 258 A forcible exhortation in the conclusion Pag. 260. A SEASONABLE DISCOVRSE OF Spirituall stedfastnes 2. Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before take heede lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your owne stedfastnesse THE Apostle Peter The Logicall resolution having the Spirit of prophecy in the beginning of this Chapter foretelleth that in the last dayes shall come Scoffers walking after their owne lusts saying where is the promise of Christs appearing for are not all things as they were since the Creation The which hereticall opinion hee by many strong arguments confuteth And so with severall admonitions and exhortations concludeth this his Epistle Wherefore to speake as the thing is in these verses are contained both an admonition and a direction and in the admonition these following particulars may be considered observed First the persons to whom it is directed next the ground and thirdly the matter of it For the Persons they are layd downe Collectiuely Yee or by an adjunct tytle beloved The ground is implyed in the word therefore and expressed in this sentence Seing ye know these things And the matter hath a twofold branch ignorance and backesliding both which properly adhere to the wicked yet by occasion may cleaue to the godly Lest ye also being led away with the errour of these Mockers fall from your owne stedfastnes Ye my Countrymen beleeving Iewes The Theologicall exposition and all succeeding Churches and grounded Christians Beloved the object of my affection I being an agent but you patients Therefore in this word is closely implyed the ground of this admonition it being a word of relation Seeing you know these things here is plainely expressed the full foundation of the admonition for the
equall measure of holines and sanctitie And that for severall reasons 1. One is of ancient standing another of yesterdaies planting 2. Some haue had much watering and dressing others little in compâ—rison of them 3. And all are not a like dilligent to redeeme the time and vse the meanes inioyed Besides God for Speciall ends may conferre more vpon some one Christian at his first conversion then another shall haue acquired at the day of his dissolution yet for all this to keepe and conserue what they haue be it lesse or more from diminution is to continew in the fore mentioned stedfastnes A child as the aged man may retaine his naturall strength So may a babe as the growne Christian his Spirituall in Christ Iesus Stedfastnes distributed Obserue further that this stedfastnes is Habitual Practicâ—l Both these are in our definition comprehended by the Apostle intended And without question may be procured They differ as cause and effect For the former in nature preceads the latter giues an essentiall being to it as the father to his Sonne neither for a moment can exist without it Take away the habit or any degree of it and proportionably the act perisheth whence it may be as a wise Teacher our Apostle primarily intends habituall at the second hand practicall stedfastnes For conserue the fire and it will heat retaine the habit and it will worke Againe habitual stedfastnes is in the Vnderstanding Will and affections For as the faculties so the habits of them are distinct and may be distributed God when he sets vpon the soule to Sanctifie it plants a divine light in the vnderstanding whereby truth and error be cleerely discerned the narrow path to heaven and the spacious Gate that leadeth to hell This is called ey salue Rev. 3.18 or the annoynting which teacheth all things Also the Lord infuseth a new created power into the will and affections 1 Io. 2.27 enabling them to covet and imbrace good to reiect and shunne evill so farre foorth as the vnderstanding part apprehendes and presents them It s a fond dreame of the Arminians that grace should not be habitually infused at our conversion or if it be it is no Sanctifying grace of the Spirit here 's a new doctrine indeed But doth not knowledge expell ignorance Faith infidellity Shall not that then which abolisheth corruption be iustly stiled a grace of Sanctification Nay these men maintaine that the Act in divine graces preceads the habit as if burning should goe before fire Wit whether wilt thou Mat 12.33 Must not the tree first be good before the fruit can doth pure water Iam. 3.11 spring out of a troubled fountaine True it is that many Acts confirme and perfect the habit Rom. 5 3. but yet giue not its essentiall being passing this let vs goe on As for practicall stedfastnes that is Externall Internall Christ admits of this division when he saith Matth. 15 8 these people draw neere me with their mouths and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me The former without the latter is profitable for nothing Who more frequent and constant in externall shewes and Ceremonies than the Pharisees of old the Papists in our times and yet both the most abhominable Hypocrits in the world Take Paul praying 1. Cor. 14 24. it is in the vnderstanding and spirit preaching it is in power authoritie Singing it is with grace and gladnes of heart 2. Tim. 1.7 Where is the ground of his greatest ioy He serues the Lord in the law of his mind Of his deepest griefe The law of his flesh rebels against the law of his minde Rom. 7.22.23.24 This man would obey God with the whole man or he accounts himselfe a miserable wrecthed man O what sweet internall straines haue issued from that setled sanctifyed spirit Psal 139.27 How deere speaking of God are thy thoughts vnto me They are exceeding many Whom haue I in heauen Psal 73.28 but thee When shall I appeare in thy presence Psal 16.8 I set thee alwaies on my right hand Thy law do I loue I will meditate there on night and day Psal 17. vlt. And when I awake I shall be fatisfied with thine image Psal 119.77 Where knowledge is planted in the minde it will see him who is invisible still casting the eye that way amidst a million of other obiects If faith be once rooted in the will let Heretickes dispute Sathan roare the world tempt and death terrifie it stands fast is vnshaken Grant it be moved it s but a little and then afterward with more eagernes affiance like a resolute souldier his fallen armes layeth hold on the Lord Iesus cleaveth faster vnto him These are some of the internall motions of Spirituall stedfastnes as for the external it is when we bring the members of the body to a constant course in holy actions to preach read heare meditate sing pray with any other outward act whatever Now from all which hath beene said what a large path of application haue we to walke in to pace thorow Vse 1 In the setting foorth it confuteth such who conceite it a thing impossible to acquire this Spirituall stedfastnes with the kinds of it but what marvaile When they neglect the meanes omit the season conserue a strong habit of corruption in them by pampering the flesh and a setled course of evill doing are strangers from the life of God haue not one graine of grace neither ever felt the least wound of Mortification should we demand of these the like to Pauls question haue you receiued this Spirituall stedfastnes since you were baptised Acts 19.2 We might expect the like answere for how many would reply We haue not so much as heard that there is a spirituall stedfastnes Or as Festus concerning the Apostle they haue no certaine thing to say of it Acts 25 26 So these may haue milke in their breasts marrow in their bones and corporall stabilitie be able to plow sow runne and ride without wearines this is all they thinke of care for yet doe but obserue the course of these men and shall you not see how they never doubt question the procuring of any other kind of stedfastnes if it fal within the fathome of a created possibility And harshlie censure all who tread not in the highest step and lift not the toe into the loftiest stirrop of profanes For were it to drinke soule-slaying healthes he who comes not to their pitch is condemned casheered as an vnworthie companion to kindle and smoake if he once deny the pipe must get him gone and be packing Is he vnfit for his calling Or careles in the execution of it With open mouth they cry such a man is simple an Idiot and worthy to die a begger Will he not hold out at Dice and Cardes from sunne to sunne Then he is no body nor a commendable Gamester Doth he ever grow
that time had acquired obtained But be it granted that the habit cannot be decreased yet the acts without doubt may be remitted being by some strong enemie from within or without vs opposed the Sunne may be eclipsed his beames restrained when his bodie remaines perfect nothing wasted So is it here However though we thus write we are of opinion that were this Spirituall cessation of long duration it would greatly in danger the habit For as we haue sayd it growes by vse decayes by disvse as we find by experience that naturall habits doe by naturall operations relaxations Obserue further that this decay of the habit and acts of grace be Totall Habituall falling subdivided Partial Totall When the habit is wholy destroyed or all the acts of it vniversally suspended the former befell Adam of speciall grace at the creation Rom. 5.14 And Alexander of common after mans redemption But this kind of fall we take it is not in this place by our Apostle intended 2. Tim. 4.14 nor incident to them who are vnto Christ Iesus by the Spirit vnited Partiall is for the habit of grace may be decreased and its acts remitted in the most regener at person Now this latter kind Is Inward Outward Inward in Iudgment then in the will and affections For the vnderstanding may not only be weakned from the cleare appreheÌ„ding of the truth formerly obtained but also Gal 3.1 as in the Galatians with errour corrupted For they fel froÌ„ the doctrine of iustification in the true rule ground of it mixing their owne workes with the obiect matter of it which is Christ and his obedience actiue passiue This was their iudiciall fall Againe in the will and affections Rev. 2.4 Video meliora c. there may be partiall decay This was the fall of the Church of Ephesus which is sayd to haue left her first love And a truth it is that a man may hold the doctrine sound in respect of iudgment and yet fall from it in regard of practise For the hahit of grace in the vnderstanding is distinct from that in the wil affections whence spring these various declinings And as inwardly So outwardly may we fall from the acts of grace the which in time past we haue performed Dauid doubtlesse was sound in iudgment when he fell so foully in his practise And a man may haue a will to do well when the externall effects may be blasted Psal 39.1.3 as of Peter in the deniall of his master The Prophet purposed to looke to his waies not to offend with his tongue 2 Cor. 16.10 But this was too painful for him therfore he spake vnaduisedly with his lips When that Godly king imprisoned the Seer his iudgment was sound yet his practise corrupt But ordinarily when the inward asts be remitted then the outward are stinted II. Thus having finished the first thing proposed we proceed to the second the causes of these declinings And they be Within vs. Without vs. Causes from within vs. Melancholie for its a true axiom that the soule followes the disposition and temperature of the body the forenamed humour hath various and strange operations drawing a blacke and mournefull curtaine over the New-man casts hidious conceits into the minde and presenteth to the eye of reason the manifold mishapen ougly formes of approaching death burnes and consumes the purest spirits the immediat instrument of the soules acts Or so clogges them with thicke fumes that she cannot lift vp the wing and soare into the third heaven but like a weather-beaten or limed fowle falls downe and makes her motion on the earthie Center creepes on the Globe And Dailie hourly raiseth such cogitations as these Loue why thou art but passion zeale furie ioy madnesse hope a groundlesse conceit And all the graces of the spirit but the operations of meere nature or a more pure disposition of corporall temperature whence it often comes to passe that such who be pestered with the forenamed peccant malady complaine of the soules corruption when it s nothing else but the bodies bad indisposition grow thereby to be out of heart cease from spirituall action and so consequently fall from their former setlednesse He who is ignorant of this thing well may he be an aged person but I am sure no expert Christian. 2. Some raging lust vnmortified affection When such a passenger is in the ship of mans soule like another Ionah it will vnsettle all Was not David strong in the grace of God How came it to passe then that he in some degree fell from his former stedfastnes Why he was of an hot Sanguine complexion which provoketh much to the sinne he committed 2. Sam. 11. now being not carefull enough to curbe that natural pronenesse of certaine was an internall cause of his foule declining Gen. 39.12 Ioseph in this it seemes out-stript him For he resisted though strongly tempted was likely as yong as David had none he six wiues as appeareth And had he disputed with flesh and bloud as forcible arguments to haue allured him What a broade differeÌ„ce was this for David a king to goe in to a subiect and Ioseph a servant to runne from his mistris had noe more bin mentioned Was not his sonne Salomon Neh. 13.26 in his youth a rare yong man Yet in his elder yeeres carried away with outlandish women Why so in plaine english his lust was let loose his affection not mortified He trod not in the steps of holy Paul who laboured with his hands 1. Cor. 9. vlt. fasted often brought his body into subiection that the flesh might not over-master the spirit The like might be the fore-runner to Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest and his wiues looking backe to Sodome If the reines hang vnder his feete the strongest readiest footed beast may stumble catch a fall Cut all the feet equall the table stands stedfast else not 3. Vnbeleefe this workes greater woundes in the soule than ever any mountebanke profest to cure in the bodie It as a moth the garment eates vp the glosse of grace like the worme the Gourd of Ionah smits faith at the roote causeth it to wither and makes the acts thereof feeble liuelesse What mists will this Iugler raised in our vnderstandings Earthquakes within vs Blinde the eie of reason to question common principles Doubt of what we haue knowne by experience How subtilly will this Sophister argue Dispute What Are not all things alike from the beginning Where is the promise of Christs câ—mming 2. Pet. 3 4. When shall the Iewes be called Rome ouerturned Gog and magog destroyed And all Israel saved Mala. 3.14 Are not the wicked advanced Isa 59.15 They who tempt God delivered And he that refraineth from evill made a prey What profit is there in serving the Almightie Seeking the kingdome of heaven Calling vpon the name of the Lord Art thou not poore Despised Psal 37.1.2 c. Persecuted Who flourish
but the vngodly Are without bonds in death except the transgressor Brethren infidelitie will raise in mans hart loose conceipts of God and of his nature almost perswade that seeing is not beleeving Had not the Prophet such thoughts as these Was he not almost by these Sophistications fallacies well neere turned out of the way Cast vpon his backe And runne the path of open profanesse Without doubt they stayed his steps for a time hindred his holy progresse Reade Psal 73. Per totum 4. Carnal confidence that is whatsoeuer we trust in except Christ Iesus The Iewes had Abraham for their father Moses to their master teacher Circumcision the seale of righteousnesse the Arke Temple Oracles all holy ordinances and worshipped at Ierusalem yet excluding Christ the true Paschall Lambe the Messiah premised What was al they did or had but a confidence in the flesh Was not Paul an Hebrew of the Hebrewes Of the kinred of Israel And of the tribe of Beniamin Circumcised the eight day Brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel And profited aboue manie Phil 3.3 a Pharisee by profession zealous towards God And lived after the most strict sect of that religion And what was all this Acts 26.5 Christ being denied of him but a fleshly confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified and truly sanctified haue an eye look back to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified truly Sanctified haue an eye looke backe to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And a step from grace Giue we an instance of this without exception What say you of the Galatians Would not they haue their workes concur with the obedience of Christ in the act of iustification And for this cause be they not sayd to haue ended in the flesh Gal. 3.3 Fallen from the grace of God This is a secret yet a certaine truth that a man may be carried away to place some confidence in his owne worthines and if he doe according to that degree he falleâ—h from Spirituall stedfastnes For Christ must be all in all Col. 3.11 else no setlednesse and therefore for this very thing we truly affirme that Rome is fallen from the faith and led away with the errour of the wicked 5. Weakenesse of grace To speake properly this is not a reall or positiue cause of declining yet by occasion may haue a finger in the businesse For grace as all other things is apt to conserue it selfe and no agent by intention of its owne diminution Put a small portion of fire into a bundle of greene wood will not the act thereof by its ouer-strong adversarie in some degree be weakned So grace being a little one corruption big and mighty and besetting it round why may it not also in part be extinguished Gal. 5.17 For flesh and spirit are contraries lodge in the regenerate person are alwaies quarelling whence it comes to passe that grace being vnequally matched is over-mastered and quenched though not totally coÌ„sumed Yea doubtlesse were it not for the spirit of God who at al times stands by the new-man and in everie conflict as Eli the lampe with oyle 1. Sam 3. Ioab David with a new created power releeues him the old-man wold put out the caÌ„dle of his life coÌ„quer overcome him 6. Want of knowledge experimentall When a tradesman hath a stocke followeth his calling seeth how customers come in hath daily doings whereby he augmenteth his substance gaineth great things and winneth reputation will it not animate put spirit and life into him to be constant in the execution of his vocation And so will it be with the experienced Christian When he can say by proofe Psal 6 9. the Lord hath heard my prayer performed his promise comforted me in trouble and to this day hath never failed or forsaken me he will goe on in the continuall practice of holy actions 1. Cor. 6.8 thorough good report and evill report without the least relaxation There is a misterie in godlines the which being learned will make a Christian stedfast immooueable When a man hath tasted of the good word of God savingly felt the power of the world to come and is familiarly acquainted with the ravishings of the spirit nothing can stay his steps hinder his progresse to the land of the living Doth not a tradesman know in the time of bargaining the worth of skill What when commodities are deere money will doe How sweet a thing it is to gather out of a great heape Not to be beholding or to take vpon trust of his neighbour And the same doth an experienced professed Christian He vnderstands the necessitie of faith and grace when God as I may say sets Christ and salvation to sale and how were he now without the treasure of the spirit constrained like the fiue foolish virgins to borrow of his acquaintance Mat. 25. in a day of dearth he were quite vndone Who is so vnwise but knowes that goods are alwaies profitable Money will can do manie things A diligent hand maketh rich Pro. 10.4 And to him who hath Luk. 8.18 shall be giuen But too few vnderstand the gaine of Godlinesse the vse of grace the purchase may be made therwith what credit such men haue with God and what promotion he will conferre vpon them who carefully seeke it conserue it Ignorance in this thing makes manie banke-rupts politicall spirituall Now the contrarie of all these we haue mentioned will be excellent helpes for the firme retention of grace receiued Wherefore keepe thy body in good plight feede on choice meates walke in pure aire vse moderate labour recreation And drinke a little wine 2. Tim. 5.3 to prevent thy corporall infirmities Consider how plants spread in a fertile soyle beasts feed fatter in a fresh pasture and in the vse of the lawfull meanes meanes all kind of creatures thriue prosper Col. 3.5 mortifie also fleshly lusts crucifie the whole bodie of sinne for in so doing 1. Cor. 9. vlt. thou shalt remoue rubs out of the way curb the Oldman binde him to good behaviour See in like sort thou increase thy faith and that will expell infidelitie consume it as fire doth subble and driue it out of the heart to dwell as Hagar in the wildernesse And shall not hope in Christ make the Newman lustie Strong Arme him against feare Foule despaire And in all assaults cheere vp his spirits Be sure to grow in grace For is not a feeble person subject to trip To stumble Catch a fall When able bodies hould out March valiantly Win the field In a word get experience of Gods dealing with the righteous what sound ioy there is in the
powerfull practise of religious duties vnspeakeable comfort in suffering for well doing Thus doe and when Sathan doth tempt thee his sworne slaues persecute thee the world allure thee and the flesh resist thee thou shalt say to all with Indignation Neh. 6.11 get yee hence Shall such a man as I am flee Do this wickednesse to liue Offend my good God Gen. 39.9 And hazard the finall estate of my soule Nay rather let my arme fall from my shoulder Iob. 31.22 Psal 137.5 my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth And thus much of the inward causes of declining the other from without vs follow 2. Chro. 21.13 1. Wavering-minded companions He who walkes with such will in time walke as such When the kings of Iudah fell from the true worship of God did not the subiects also Did not Peter by his example Gal. 2.13 seduce Barnabas his fellow-labourer The one led awry the other followed What was the cause Samson lost his strength Was it not too much familiaritie with dancing Dalilah This is not the least blocke in the way 2 The fierie triall of affliction Luk. 2.35 Peirce the Soule of Marie with this sword will not the hearts of manie be discouerd 2. Tim. 1.15 Put Paul in prison all Asia straight forsake him Let Iesus be condemned his owne Disciples will be offended Oh! Affliction is harsh to flesh and bloud skin for skin Iob. 2.4 and what will not a man do to saue his life This winde where and when it bloweth causeth the strong to stagger and trippeth vp the heeles of manie weake ones 3 Personall wrongs vndeserved iniuries Nabals churlish dealing with David well deserving gaue him a sudden slip staide 2. Sam. 25.11.15 for some season his spirituall motion What else made the good subiects of Salomon 2. Chro. 10 7.16 to fall from his Son Rehoboam to cry what portion haue we in David Or inheritance in the sonne of Iesse O Israel see to thine owne house Had the king spoke kindly to them giuen them good words they would haue bin his servants for ever 4 Publicke scandall When the Word preached but seemes to sound against a mans person then he recoiles like an overcharged Cannon on no other occasion did many of Christs followers forsake him Ioh. 6.66 walke no more with him Were not the Galatians in the same predicament Gal. 1.9.10 What else had a foot in their retrogradation And is any thing more common in our daies than for the people to take offence at the doctrine Sometimes from the habit of their Teachers 5. Example of supposed great ones Hence sprung these speeches Doe any of the Rulers follow him Of the Pharisees beleeue on him Ioh 7.48 Moses is our Teacher and doth this man restraine learning to himselfe Ioh. 9.29 We know God spake to the one 1. Sam. 8.5 But as for this fellow we know not whence he is Likely from the same ground the people would haue a king other nations had so As with the fashion we deale with religion if great men vse it all follow it but if not we cast it off 6. Disreputation When persons haue rare parts faire promises but not promoted then they turne Priest Iesuit as Sanders Stapleton to get preferment This may be the cause why Demas forsooke Paul cast off his calling 2. Tim. 4.10 And as some thinke became an Idol-priest at Thessalonica However that was this cord pulleth many from the right path wherin sometimes they had walked I might here mention many more as the habites of pleasure seate of promotion titles of honor paritie with nobles commande of the vulgar and revenge on the adversarie false teachers falls of great ones seeming foolishnes of Gods ordinances glorious shewes of holinesse counterfeit miracles and shining ceremonies The chaire of securitie sad lookes of the forward simplicitie of honest hearted Christians or their sillinesse rather Adde to all these the Divels cunning Sathans enterprises alwaies stinting vs at the heele to dimme the eye of the minde wither the hand of faith or eclipse its obiect This red Dragon with his depths coales of envie boiling vp all the forenamed parts in the Cauldron of his malice will make such a filthie scumme to ascend the which being smelt of the New-man were it not for the good Physition of our soules who cureth all diseases would cast him into a totall irrecouerable consumption Here before we proceed to the next generall head it is to be obserued how these causes mentioned may be applied as wel to him who hath but a forme of godlines as to the sound Christian and that they doe not onely hinder the exercise of grace but also weaken the habit Sometimes working it as Ioab stabbed Abner to the heart at once now and then successiuely as a thiefe is said to quench the Candle For some are like a strong poison that dispatcheth its patient quickly others a lingring disease which killeth certainely thee not suddenly These things being inserted let vs proceed to the next head 1. Symptomeâ— of declining When we haue not so cleare an apprehension of the worth of grace and the meanes to procure it increase it as in former time If the glory thereof be darkened and we account faith loue hope but as common favours in some degree we are declinâ—d When the corporall eye behouldes externall obiects not changed â—rom their naturall glosse but dimmely it argueth a decay in the organ the facultie of seeing So when the good word of God the sacred gifts of the spirit present themselues to our internall senses as broken notions ordinarie things not as Baulme to cure our deadly woundes Angels food to refresh our never dying Spirits and the onely pence whereby to purchase a pardon for our sinnes the loving kindnesse of our God and the land of eternall rest then is the habit of our vnderstanding decreased When we see the fore-specified things as grasse vnder our feet common passengers we meete withall as if we saw them not questionlesse we haue catcht a fall 2. If we want an eager appetite after the doctrine of sound words the bread and water of life feed on them more for feare and fashion than loue and affection we haue just cause to suspect our selues That stomake growes weake which desires nouelties longs for vncouth things And having fed twice or thrice on wholsome meates begins to turne When men picke out some odde author tye themselues to him in their continuall studie talke of him quote him commend him as the onely Champion of all the learned be they who or what you will their spirituall eie-sight and appetite are weakened and the New-man is in a fit of languishing He who leaues the road-way is out of the way 3. Ion. 1.3 c. A neglect of our particular callings When Ionah will not to Ninevie but pay his fare
applie the Apostles phrase 2. Cor. 6.12 We are not made straight in God but in our owne bowels David could pen more Psalmes in time of warre than we haue leisure to read in these daies of peace Luk. 7.9 The Centurion in gleaning gathered more faith than we reape who haue the full harvest I speake it to thy shame henceforward make no such complaints but see what God doth for thy soule and let thy growth and the meanes be equall He who thus doth Rom. 2.4 doth well And whereunto the Lords bountifullnesse should I am sure ought to induce him III. Neither will I omit thee O thou decaied and declin ng Christian who hast wasted part of thy stocke diminished thy store What merchandise of more worth What gaine to the increase of grace Shall not then the losse be equall The dammage proportionable Will it not grieue the husbandman to see his tenderest plants wither The rankest corne become blasted Doth not a consuming body breed sorrow Presage death and what patient in such a case if not growne desperat seekes not recoverie The Prodigall Gamster doth he not sigh at his losse And with an eager mind play at get againe Shalt thou then suffer this precious treasure to waste Permit the buds of grace to pine Perish O see thou doe not so but seeke to the Physitian betimes take restoratiues to recover thy former health thy wonted strength Hos 2.7 Returne to thy first husband For at that time was it not better with thee than now What content comfort canst thou finde in praier that 's cold Short And not mixed with fervencie Will flesh halfe boyled delight the palate Nourish the body Hath not the Lord threatned Rev. 3.16 to spue the luke-warme Christian out of his mouth Can he away with a sluggard A non-proficient in his service Doth not our master expect to receiue his talents with advantage And shall not the idle servant be condemned Awake therefore Eph. 5.16 thou who sleepest stand vp from the dead And Christ shall giue thee light more increase of grace Consider how thou art fallen into what a pittifull case thou hast plunged thy soule And tye thy selfe to thy ancient taske vse a constant course in holy actions every day reade some portion of Christs loue-letters See his great affection how friendly he invites thee and be allured Psal 119.25 Call and cry Lord quicken me cause thy face to shine giue me the spirit of life and power restore me to the wonted ioy of thy salvation Psal 80.3 Psal 51.12 Wash thee seven times in the river Iordan bath thy selfe in the poole of repentance sing Psalmes in secret And get thee into the company of the strongest hotest Christians So shall thy flesh become as a childs the leprie of sinne weare away thy vigour returne thy hart waxe warme burne within thee Loue-songs no more inflame lust than the song of songs increase stirre vp grace What bangling kite with a loftie flier mendes not her pitch What fainting beleeuer with one who staggers not but will grow in fa th Suppose thou findest in thy selfe a backwardnesse to good duties Shall not the omission thereof make thee more vnfit the next season Vse limmes and haue limmes is our English proverbe vse grace haue grace a Christians experiment But if all this moue thee not to recouer thy decaied stock to do thy former workes then thus reason why may not I shrinke backe Retyre Proue an Apostate Or Iob. 31.14 how shal I answer God when he returns to iudgement Sure I am that if thou be his he will not long suffer thee to sit on thy lees but remoue thee from vessel to vessell How long Ier. 48.11 thinkest thou will the Lord indure thy lingring Brooke thy wambling Take heed lest one of these daies he boyle thee vp by some sharpe schorching fire of afflictioÌ„ What if the spirit of feare should re-fall thee 1 Sam. 16.14 The sword of thine enemie pierce thee The spreading plague infect thee The food of thy soule be taken from thee Or thou Amos. 8.11 by some foule publicke offence left to scandalize thy profession Then hast thou not spunne a faire threed Will not thy ill husbandrie prick thy fingers Shalt thou not goe mourning all thy life long And at the last leaue a weake evidence a feeble testimonie of thy soundnesse of thy salvation behind thee 1. Cor. 15.34 Awake therefore to do righteously Think and thinke againe of these things set them before the eye of thy soule Iudg. 16.3 So shalt thou as Sampâ—on when he saw the Philistines approach neere him gather thy forces together vp begâ—n and fâ—â—e for thy life IIII. Now in the conclusion I haue a word of exhortation vnto thee thou thou who hast kept what thou hast And nâ—t consumed the least mite of thy stocke Psal 87.4 Thinke not that this is all which Gâ—d requireth of thee but grow still Proceed from strength to strength be rooted deeply grounded in the grace of Christ Iesus Col 1.23 and 2.7 Spreade thy branches farre and wide shoote vp and sprout on high be strong as an ell-boare Let no vacuitie as nature admits not any be in thy vessel but be filled to the brimme Be a mightie valiant man exceed the godly 1 Sam. 10 23. as much in this spirituall growth as Saul the common subiects in corporall who was higher by the head and shoulders Christians should resemble the most honorable of Davids worthies equall the first three Yea 1. Chro. 11 21. like the brethren of Gedeon every one be as the child of a king Iudg 8.18 A waster of his stocke is much condemned So is a Dwarfe in stature derided Shall we then decrease our heavenly substance Or with the North-pole be still at a stand Let the motion of other men somewhat incite thee provoke thee who are never satisfied Eph. 5.18 When Drunkards are filled with wine be thou with the spirit When thou seest an Elimas a Sorcerer full of the Devill with Barnabas Acts 13.9.10 be thou filled with faith and the holie Ghost When worldlings whose portion is in this life ayme at stately buildings Large possessions great ruffes cuffes let thy care and scope be to excell in this one thing necessarie Luk. 10.42 exceed them as much in grace as they thee in the contrarie graine For thus to doe is acceptable to God Mat. 16.28 profitable for thee For all men What if a man could winne the whole world yet want grace would it be any benefit vnto him Whereto may I compare him who hath much many things yet without grace But to a peece charged with shot not equalled with powder Will Can such a person discharge his calling Be liberall to pious vses No no his coine lyes rusting in his chest Luk. 7.5.9 Acts. 9.39 2 Tim. 1. vlt. his corne rotting in
not an emptinesse a weakenesse in all What one grace is perfect at the first infusion Adams were at his creation not ours at our regeneration Iustified we are in one act absolute in a moment For the obiect matter of it is without vs imputed to vs but sanctified we be by degrees in that grace is inherent wrought in vs by way of infusion addition Things easily got are the lesse regarded We must therefore with much strugling finish the measure of our full and entire Sanctification Reas 2 And haue we not the remainders of the old-man left within vs The feeds of all the kinds of corruption in some degree vnmortified What then but increase of grace can expell these Will Sathan driue out Sathan How then should his kingdome endure It is the manie fingers of the new-man which must dispossesse these vncleane spirits For knowledge as light darkenesse dispelleth ignorance faith as winde chaffe blowes away infidelitie And loue as heat cold banisheth hatred yet these must be stronger than their contraries otherwise it will not cannot be Reas 3 Againe hath not a Christian severall sorts of temptations And will they not like Goliahs brags grow greater and greater What Or who shall quench these fierie darts Plucke the Devils weapons out of his hands And hurle him against the wall Any thing but faiths and hopes increase It is a truth that every particular grace of the Spirit hath an opposite adversarie within man and speciall temptation from without him and that a strong one Therefore a growth in all of them is necessarie to conquer and overcome their contrarie enemies Reas 4 In a word should we not grow at all we were but dwarfes and in some not every grace would breed deformitie Is it not a comely thing to see a plant spread all her branches equally A bodie thrive in each member proportionably What then Is this commendable in the outward and not the inward man Should but one finger stand at a stay would we not count it a blemish Shall we not blush then at the other And thus you see it stands with reason how Christians must grow in all graces they haue receiued Quest But may one grace grow and not another Ans I iudge so For the bent and inclination of mans minde may be more set to encrease one than another And if this be so why may he not Shall his intention be made frustrate Also occasions are often offered to exercise one more than another And shall not many acts cause a stronger habit Else how should tribulation bring foorth patience Rom. 5.3 Againe the frequent vse of one its probable by accident may hinder the augmentation of some other For severall charitable actions may occasion pride though not of their owne nature This chaffe will cleaue to the best graine now if pride grow will not humilitie for a season stand still And will it not appeare from the rules of Contraries Shall we not see the wicked grow in one corruption decay in another And that not onely of such as haue the most contrariety as Covetousnesse and Prodigalitie but of those that be Disparats as drunkennesse and gluttonie admitting of farre lesse dissention in nature Obict You will obiect that faith is a radicall Grace and infuseth her force into all which flow from her equally Grant it be so yet Sol. that hinders not Doth not the roote send her iuice and vigor into all the branches in like sort not withstanding externall causes as the rise of the Sunne fall of the dew and blast of the winde not all like striking all the boughs may occasion a disproportion Vse 1 May we not from this ground soundly lesson the Romanists And the troupe of bastard protestants among vs For let the growth of their graces be iudged by the effects and in reprouing of them shall we wrong them Do they not bragge of knowledge and defend ignorance Commend faith formed yet liue like infidels Extoll loue and cherish deadly hatred Exalt hope and leaue men in despaire Vow chastitie and mainetaine the stewes Haue they not candles to burne on their altars Gunne-powder to blow vp Parliament houses Will they not grant Pardons And imbrue their hands in the bloud of Innocents Blesse God with their tongues And curse his annointed in their hearts Great devotion the yshew in appearaÌ„ce when destruction and calamitie be in their practise Rom. 3.16 2 Tim. 3.13 What can I say of them But that they grow from evill to worse deceiuing and being deceiued For they can lye and tell truth with one very breath send forth sweet and bitter water from the selfe-same fountaine Grow in grace and encrease in corruption Cry out for vnitie and sow the seedes of enmity And that which surpasseth all A Iesuit can liue a Traytor dye a Catholike Martyr Therefore of the Serpents brood and spawne of the Divell be they And be there not some among vs in the same predicament Who goe in knowledge forward Yet like the Crabbe in practise mooue backward Boast of great faith when their good workes are little ones Haue peace in their heads But as Sampsons Foxes Iudg 15.4 certaine firebrands in their tailes Doe they not call for prayer cry downe preaching Are not these monsters Deformed Satyres Rather than compleate Christians Throughout sanctified persons 2. King 17. vlt. These resemble those who feared God yet served their Idols Vse 2 But beloued let it not be so with you but adde to your vertue 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. faith to your faith knowledge to your knowledge temperance to your temperance patience to your patience godlâ—nesse And to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse For if these things be in you and abound you shall neither be barren nor vnfruiâ—full Christians in the Church must not be like stones in the building alwayes in bulke equal neither grow as the bul-rush bigger and weaker but burnish as the Cedar waxe strong as the Oake Gods plants must achieue an augmentation Of each branch everie member a consolidation Thy lâ—ue must be hot thine hatred deadly thy desires eager and thy zeale burning Thy faith never failing thy hope longing thine anger fierce thy delights ravishing yea thy griefe deepe thy feare terrible and thou thy selfe prooue more than a conqueror Rom. 8.37 But aboue all graces grow in faith Th' Apostle Iude exhorts the people to edifie one another in their holy faith Iude. 20. For faith is the roote from the which all other branches spring the fountaine out of which flow all the rivers of holy actions and the sure foundation that supports the whole building of godlinesse Wherefore if faith decrease every gift of the Spirit will wither dye the waters of sanctification runne weakely be dryed vp And the goodly frame of our new erected Temple reele and totter Doubtlesse manie and great advantages hath a Christian by his faith For it raiseth the dead iustifieth the wicked purifieth the heart It comforteth the feeble
for a peâ—rlâ— Act. 18.25 or the devill for holy water They thinke religion with Gallâ— 1 Pet. 3. â—5 to be buâ— a matter of â—ames and â—ords No reason can they render of their faith The best signe of their Christendome is that they were bâ—ptized and O that their liues would testifie so much But if thâ—y cry out they are no drunkards nor swearers no theeues nor vsurers nor Papists nor Puritans goe to Church heare a Sermon receiue as they call them their Easter rightings and contribute to a Preacher why then they imagine they haue strucke all dead We can say the best sort of such our Creed and our confession our ten Commandements and our Pater noster And what need we more Will not this serue our turne Who would not pittie these people And mourne for their miserie What heart so hard will not weepe over our Ierusalâ—m Luk. 19.41 And with Ieremie wish that his eyes were a fountaine of teares Ier. 9.1 to bewaile the slaâ—ne of the daughter of this ignoâ—aâ—t nation What sinne more dangerous More generall than this no knowledge of Christ Iesus And what lesse regarded Lamented Every man in his place strives to be his crafts-master ignoraÌ„ce of al kinds is hated condemned yet this we haue in hand is too much affectâ—d hath great many friends May not the Prophetâ— of these times cry with them of former ages Isa 49.4 we haue spent our strength in vâ—ine Hos 4.6 And the people perish for want of knowledge Heare this O ye sonnes of Adam 2 Thes 1.8 Will not God come in flaming fire to render vengeance vpon all who know him not Mat 15.14 And if the blind lead the blind shall not both fall into the ditch of condemnation Vnderstand this at the last that ignorance is the roade way to death and hell And whosoeuer treades her hidden steppes shall take vp his lodging in the land of everlasting darkenesse Be not deceiued God is not mocked For what a man soweth that shall he reape He therefore who scattereth the seedes of ignorance shall gather the ricke of endlesse perdition and destruction Vse 3 And you who haue so much knowledge of Christ as thorow the vnsearchable mercie of God may serue to saue your soules be not content therewith but be filled with Spirituall wisdome Col. 1 9. and vnderstanding The more thou seest into this mysterie the greater will be thy admiration Take a strict view of the secret worke of the whole frame of nature with the most skilfull and curiouâ— inventions of profoundest men alas the better we vnderstand them the lesser is our astonishment at them But it is not So with this and these thingâ— we haue in hand For as our knowledge increaseth â—f Christ and of his acts of old the more wonderfull will they appeare vnto vs because no found reason can be rendred of the forme of his person or manie of his proceed â—gs And truly as our â—nowlâ—dge is augmented our loue will be inflamed our faith confirmed And all the actions of grace the which flâ—w from vs bettered A man oâ— vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit Pro. 7 27. His affections burne within him his confidâ—nce is immoueable and his hope never faileth fainteth why was Paul so resolute to doe all things 2 Tim. 1.12 Suffer all things He knew him whom he had trusted that the Gospâ—ll was the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 the which he Preached professed O that we could tread in this mans stepps be like minded to him He would reioyce in nothing but Christ speake and spread nothing but him 1 Cor. 1.1 c. He was never wearie in naming of him and therefore in nine verses he ten-times makes mention of him Christ was the obiect of his vnderstanding will affections faith feare Col. 3.11 yea all in all How would he chant it with his tongue penne when he smelled this sweete savour Pleasant odour This sent like sugar did sweeten all the bitter sorrowes he sustained like a pretious graine of Muske perfumed his most stinking afflctions What marvaile then if he desired to know noâ—hing else but Christ Iesus and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 For what is the exactest knowledge without him But a blinde vnprofitable science Faith But a wild groundlesse confidence Patience Except a stupid sencelesse blockishnesse Or any internall habits Morall actions But sowre grapes Glistering vices And though vnto some this may seeme a paradox yet a Christians who hath a sound mind is a thorowly-well furnisht Artists A Logician For he can argue disput and render a reason of his religion by the never-erring dictate of the spirit A GraÌ„marian who speakes and that distinctly with a new tongue the language of Canaan as a Saint an Angell A Rhetorician for he is able by his pronunciation to pierce the highest heavens procure audience and prevaile with the King A Geometrician measuring the height depth and breadth of the best and greatest Globe the Loue of God An Arithmetician numbring the dayes of old and future ages sinnes pardoned prevented iudgements inflicted remooued favours conferred promised and all things how they are now ordered and in their due season for ever shall be established A deepe Eagle-eyed Philosopher that discernes betwixt grace and nature flesh and spirit And O great secret how the bodie followes the temperature of the soule in a regenerate Person Without controversie he who knowes Christ knowes all things he that is ignorant of him 1. Cor. 81.2 nothing as he ought to know And in this sence as many more Christ may be said to be all in all to Iew Gentile Col. 3.11 to Barbarian Scythian Vse 4 And O thou purblind want and dul-sighted moale get wisdome get vnderstanding of Christ and forget not Seeke into these mysteries search into these so profound depths for they are more pretious than pearles And all thou canst desire are not to be compared to them Meanes thou hast if thou haue an heart motiues strong and many if thou wilt be allured He who would be skilfull in any science wil he not read the choâ—cest authors Purchase the most ancient manu-scripts And be a companion to the cunning Artist Shall we not then doth is and more too for the gaining of so excellent knowledge What if it make not such a stirre and ratling in the world as others Is any like it To be equalled to it If thou wander in thy spirituall progresse Ioh 16 6. is not Christ thy leader Art thou in doubt Is not he the author Heb. 12.2 Finisher of thy faith Dost thou faint he is thy life and length of daies Deu. 30.20 Are not the holy letters the swadling-bands wherein the babe Iesus is wrapped That I say not the expresse image of his person 1 Cor. 9.22 Is he not made all things compared to all things that he might win some of each ranke