shewed any other than Christ himself think not when Saint Paul said that he was made all things to all men [l] 1 Cor. p. 22. that therefore he did at his pleasure that which God had directly forbidden to be done that therefore he did make himself a libertine or establish libertinism or purchase a protection for every man to do what seemeth good in his own eyes but that in matters free and indifferent and undetermined which were not iepugnant to the Word which were neither forbidden nor commanded by God such as may indifferently be either used or not used with a good conscience according as the rules of godly discretion circumstances duely considered shall direct he without hurting the faith or offending the righteous changed himself into all fashions and applyed himself to the conditions of all that by all means hee might save some 9. FRom particular privileges in Scripture appointed by Almighty God for some singular choice purposes as from the Israelites spoiling the AEgyptians of their Jewels [m] Exod. 12.36 or Samsons pulling down the house upon himself and others [n] Judg. 16.30 as from Elias his calling of fire from heaven [o] 2 Kings 1.10 or Elisha his cursing the children [p] 2 Kings 2.24 or the like collect not generall precepts or perpetuall directions for the Church extraordinary facts are no ordinary rules every example is not a Law to bind every man to equall practice thy argument taken from example is naught unless thy warrant be alike good 10. SUch allegories as thou findest expounded in the holy Scriptures imbrace as rules of Gods worship matters of faith and parts of religion necessary to salvation but such as mens severall devices frame out of them and commend to the world as hidden senses newly found out neither believe them nor desire to know them but leave them to such as love a hidden divinity and a secret religion devised in their own conceits which will not abide the triall of the light such pleasing various fancies without sacred evidence of Gods certaine approbation are but plausible allusions and no probative allegations can never work in the heart a full Theologicall perswasion Conceive not with some passionate Papists in the heat of their disputations that Gods Word is a potentiall onely no active rule that the Scriptures are not authenticall without the authority of the Church that the authority of the Scriptures dependeth upon the authority of the Church necessarily Not go for advice to the Church necessarily but to the Law and to the testimony saith the Prophet Isaiah [q] Isaiah 8.20 at that least examin and try the truth Not what saith the Church but what is written in the Law how readest thou saith our Saviour [r] Luke 10.26 Not the Church but the Scripture is the sole and supreme Judge of all questions and Controversies of religion The Church cannot give thee faith whereby thou believest in Christ and layest hold of eternall life It is the Scripture that worketh it by the inspiration of the holy Spirit Thou mayest set the diall by the Sun Thou canst not set the Sun by the diall Thou mayest appeal from the judgment of the Church to the Scriptures Not from the Scriptures to the Church 12. AS the wisemen stretched not their course beyond the direction of the star [Å¿] Matth. 2.9 10 11. so wander not thou in thy discourse beyond the direction of the word so much knowledge of divine mysteries as God hath revealed in his sacred volumes content thy self with and offer not thy self to prie any further into them Be sure thou make a resting place where God hath placed a full point resigne thy self up to his wisedom adore his Counsels and be not overcurious in any of his doings Neither suffer any within thy walk and power to make any superfluous questions about them If any do out of infidelity or too much curiosity Answer him briefly with that holy and judicious Father Saint Austin than whom few could better resolve doubts Do thou dispute it I will believe it Do thou reason it I will admire it [t] Tu disputa ego credam tu ratiocinare ago mirabar and rather seriously adore the worker than curiously inquire the manner 13. GIve free eares of body and full regard of mind to whatsoever God speaketh in a plain form and frame of words but give an excellent heedfulnes to the Lord where he useth a singular manner of speaking There conceive some speciall thing is to be marked there think thou art called to that speciall parenthesis of our Saviour who so readeth let him understand [u] Matth. 24.15 where the Lord speaketh strictly and artificially be sure to add to thy accustomed diligence a strict and artificiall diligence set thy attention where he setteth his words 14. WHatsoever scriptures thou readest or hearest attend them carefully and apply them usefully some way or other unto thy self for whatsoever was written afore time was written not at all adventures or as histories to heare or read for pleasure but for our learning that we thorough patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope [w] Rom. 15.4 What shall a salve do be it never so soveraigne if it be not layd to the sore or what can the medicine availe if it be not applyed to the disease We do not find it written of David in particular that he should do the will of God and yet in the volume of the book it is written of me saith he that I should do thy will O God I am content to do it [x] Psal 40.7 and yet he applies it in particular to himself as if it had been spoken to him by name 15. BE not like those bare-tonguy Christians in these dayes whose mouths are full of religion but their hearts altogether empty who shew their faith by words not by works who think to be perfectly trusted for their pure talking Ty not Gods Word to thy tongue but bind it to thy fingers not onely profess it with thy lips but express it also yea chiefly in thy life write it not in a scroul as the Romanists do Saint John's Gospell tying it about their necks for externall preservation or as the Pharisees did the Decalogue between their browes for externall signe of holiness but write it in the table of thine heart that thou mayest the better remember to put it in practise 16. TO Countenance sin allege not examples hope not to stand upon the fall of others conclude not thy self safe if thou canst produce some holy men that have gon before thee in the same sins we may not imitate the vices but the vertues of good men sanctity goes not by presidents but by precepts we are not to live by examples but by the Word whereby our actions must be guided as by a rule and by no example without it Examples in Scripture are not all written for our imitation that we may learne what
and their roomes rather than their company who have forsaken God and whom God hath forsaken with the which loathsom and despicable men more virulent and contagious than the breath of a Basilisk we may neither eat nor drink that is not familiarly converse Evill words corrupt good manners [w] 1 Cor. 15.33 and what then doth evill company do Oh what dangerous infection hath evill conversation often brought and wrought in those who had made no small progress in Christianity conversation breedeth that in continuance that is not beaten off in any continuance 69. ARe they onely now adayes held complete and furnished cap-a-pe that can sort themselves to all companies that can indifferently converse with all manner of persons yea though they know their ill qualities as well as if they were stamped in their foreheads yet consider with all diligence whom thou admittest into thy house or in whose house thou betakest thy self to dwell avoid all private and customary conversation with the wicked though not publick commerce [x] Malorum consortia fugere debemus quoad privatam consuetudinem non quo ad publicam conversationem Ambrosius offic lib. 1. cap. 18. Decline their very presence as much as thou mayest except thou be to discerne their diseases and minister medicines to cure them or necessity of some duty of religion or of thy vocation or love or humanity command thee to be with them What man in his right wits would wittingly and wilfully thrust himself into the hands of thieves having no less charge than the precious graces of Gods Spirit about him Enter not into the path of the wicked saith Salomon and go not in the way of evill men avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away [y] Prov. 4.14 15. what an heap of words doth he use and to what serve so many repetitions but to shew the exceeding danger of communicating with the wicked and how hardly we are drawn to leave them 70. BEtter others by thy company or by thy company better thy self Either alwayes learn some good of others or be teaching some good thing to others Hath thy neighbour any resplendent grace make it thine Hast thou any rare gift make it his what rather should be the center of all our conversation and conference than to help and further one another in knowledge and the practice thereof than to make those that are bad good and those which are good better 71. FLatter not thy self that any sin is the less the more commit it walk not on the bolder in any sin because thou seest a multitude of fellowes in it For what is an unregenerate and unsanctified company but a rout of Rebells and an heap of confederates conspiring together against God Even the learnedst heathen thought it not the least part of their glory to steer a course like the Antipodes clean opposite to the liking of the vulgar How much more though thou hast multitudes wilfully to go before thee shouldst thou know whom they follow before thou willingly follow and joyn thy self with them If thou offend with others thou shalt be punished with others and if thou sin with great troupes thou shalt suffer with great troupes canst thou think it will be any consolation unto thee in the end that as thou hast not sinned alone so thou shalt not be punished alone what profit hath the thief that is going to the place of execution to see a train of many others bear him company Is his judgment any whit the soster or is his comfort any whit the sounder 72. PUll up thy spirits and excite thy self not onely to do good but to be chief in doing good but to labour like S. Paul more abundantly than others (z) 1 Cor. 15.10 Hasten and strive in any good course to run before others to lead them the way that thou mayest have the greater and better reward in that great day The chief and principall in any good work that draw on and encourage others in the way of godlyness by their earnest example their reward no doubt shall be exceeding great they shall have a chief and principall compensation the wages shall be sure to be according to the works 73. ADmire not all the fayings and doings of worshipfull wealthy men Neither think that all that have power and titles are surely wise but rather more especially pray for them that they may be wise for it is good yea necessary for them who have gotten the greatest inheritances to get the greatest wisdom that will make their possessions yet better and that will bring them to a better use of their possessions that will incite them to prayer and thankfulness that will moove them to compassion and mercy and make them able and ready to exercise every good duty in their calling As on the other side their wealthyness without wisdom will be a ginne and temptation to lewdness and but as a sword in a madd mans hand 74. LEt not the dew of Heaven and the store of the Earth become snares unto thee and occasions of falling If thou be hedged about with outward blessings and God have given thee great abundance to enjoy If riches increase though by never so honest means though never so well gotten or well saved or well imployed yet trust not in them boast not of them set not thy heart upon them set thy eyes and hands and marks and seals upon them but not thy heart at least settle not thy heart upon them settle that wholy and soly upon God settle not the least piece of it upon any other delight whatsoever God loveth indeed a broken heart as the Psalmist saith (a) Psal 51.17 but not broken into pieces between him and the world but a wounded heart he meanes lanced and torn with anguish for sins because it is guilty of much undutifull and offensive carriage towards God 75. SEarch not so much after pedegrees as after piety which is the chiefest ornament of a Christian Neither respect so much first and noble birth in the world as second and new birth in Christ what is the best bloud worth without the best belief what boots it to be well descended if thou be ill disposed to be before others in greatness if thou be behind them in grace what avail ancient progenitors without answerable duties and goodness according what shall it profit thee to come of nobles according to the flesh if thou nothing resemble them in the Spirit He is Noble who is the Child of God who is born from above he is honorable being son to a King brother to a King Heb. 2.11 heire to a King Rom. 8.17 yea to the King of glory Psal 24.7 to the King of all Kings higher than the highest Ecclesiast 5.7 If thou esteem true nobility labour by faith to be engraffed into Christ and to be invested into the vertues of a Christian to have thy name written in the book of life and to be reckoned in the
serve him to believe his truth and walk in his Commandments Him will God love most who shall winne most to the love of God (f) Is in amore Dei major erit qui plurimos ad ejus amorem trahit Greg. in hom wherefore hath God given thee light but that thou shouldst give light to others How canst thou be sure of thy own calling if thou hast no delight to call others Thou art not turned to God thy self if thou bear not that heart that thou wouldst even think thy self happy mightest thou be a means to turn another unto God The Prophet Isaiah that Evangelical Prophet and Prophetical Evangelist prophecying of the Kingdom of Christ bringeth in the people so full of zeal that they stir up one another saying Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in in his paths (g) Isaiah 2.3 And Zachariah saith They that dwell in one City shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts (h) Zachar. 8.21 74. BE not wise to thy self Be not a niggard of thy knowledge but communicate thy knowledge to others Cover not thy candle with a vessel neither put it under a bed but set it on a candlestick that they which enter in may see the light (i) Luke 8.16 So shalt thou perform the intent of thy stewardship so shalt thou be of the number of those who profiting teach and by teaching profit knowledge may fitly be resembled to the Widows oyl which the more it was powred out the more it increased knowledge may be well likened to the five loaves which the more they were distributed the more they multiplyed As contrariwise if knowledge be not imparted it will be impaired If we keep it private we shall be deprived of it 75. ARt thou learned and able to teach others yet disdain not that any should teach thee what mortal meer man ever attained to that depth of judgment as not to be yet ignorant in many profitable concernments Even in the same profession that may be hidden from one which is known to another to attend is no hinderance but that a man may speak to speak is no hinderance but that a man may hear therefore Job matcheth them together saying Let a man of understanding tell me there is he prepared to learn let a wise man harken to me (k) Job 34.34 there is he provided to speak speaking and hearing amongst all that are wise-hearted cannot be prejudicial one to another 76. ATtend as often and as carefully as thou mayest to all wholesome and convenient directions Be more desirous to harken to others than to hear thy self but especially when thou meetest with such as excell in knowledge as are filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisedom and spiritual understanding by whom in many things thou mayest exactly cure thy ignorance by learning in silence who are as profitable Well-springs plentifull and perpetual such as fail not nor can be drawn dry at any time whose hearts feed their mouths and thereout excellent observations in one usefull respect or other readily flow as a free stream from a full fountain 77. COntemn not neither lightly pass over such things as thou seest but seriously search and seek not only what temporal but especially what spiritual use thou canst draw from them that may enrich thy soul and help to build thee up in Christ Jesus learn wich the Bee to gather celestial honey as well from the weed as from the flower learn by the Dust thy baseness by the Grass thy frailty by the Ant diligence by the Sheep patience by the Oxe thankfulness by the Clouds bountifulnes learn by the Darknes the time of thy ignorance by the Light the time of the Gospel by every thing something that may wean thee from earth and win thee to Heaven 78. COmmune often with thy own heart and let thy spirit make diligent search wherein thou hast offended in thought word deed by sins of omission or commission against God thy neighbour and thy self stand not in thine own light be not partial but examin thy self earnestly thoroughly uprightly Neither only examin but upon examination condemn thy self fall at Gods feet and humbly cry for mercy Thus if thou judge thy self before thy self in this thy day thou shalt not be condemned in the last day before the Judgment Seat of Christ in the presence and audience of all the world 79. DIscover to thy Surgeon thy sores to thy Physician thy disease to Almighty God thy sins It is a good disgrace that procureth grace He preventeth his cure that doth not publish his cause (l) Ipse sibi denegat curam qui suam medico non publicat causam Aug. epist 188. The Lord indeed knoweth all things but yet requireth thy confession is acquainted with all thy wishes and all the volutations of thy mind but nevertheless expecteth thy words (m) Novit Deus omnia vocem tatamen tuam expectat Ambros de poenit l. 1. cap. 23. 80. THink not thy self immediately made clean from all thy iniquity transgression and sin if thou shed a few tears and bewail them but be sorrowful for them and sorrowful that thou canst be no more sorrowful considering that if a river were turned into tears flowing from thine eyes thou couldst never sufficiently be grieved for thy offences if God should in his Justice only require it and yet dispair not but take a true and comfortable and fast hold upon God by a lively faith who is gracious and abundant in mercy whose mercy hath neither bottom nor measure who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should repent and live disliking himself for his manifold misdemeanors and cleaving to God for his manifold mercyes 81. BE not so cast down in the sight of thy own unworthyness as to think because thou deservest not Gods mercy therefore thou shalt never be partaker of it For how plentiful are his gracious promises every where of favour and compassion the which though there be no cause in thee why he should confirm yet is there cause enough in himself why he should perform who whatsoever he will he can and whatsoever he hath promised he will who alwayes useth to be as good as his word who is infinite in his mercy and infallible in his truth 82. IF thou wouldst repent truly and thoroughly pray earnestly to the Lord that it would please him of his infinite compassion to look upon thee with the eyes of his grace The most merciful God is the only giver of repentance unto life n (m) Act. 11.18 It is not in mans power to repent when he will but when God will It is not thy own or any others indeavour that can do any thing in this way till God put to his help untill Christ did
which he useth of his goodnes towards us to convey to our feebleness good things and to make us more secure of his love They are the King of Kings gracious pardon to confirm the weakness of our faith to make good the truth of his own promises to seal up unto us forgiveness of sins Being then by Gods institution very available frequent them with a feeling of thy wants with a reverence of his ordinances with hungring after his graces with calling upon his Name to fit thee and prepare thee for that heavenly work 90. DEceive not thy own heart with a Zodiack of false signes Rest not thy self in seeking after common gifts general knowledge and illumination diversity of tongues and interpretation of tongues all which are common to all sorts of men both good and bad but labour and covet to be partaker of such gifts as are peculiar and proper to the elect do always accompany salvation and eternal life but labour to feel a certain knowledge of thy reconciliation to God in Christ the gifts of regeneration a dying unto sin and rising up to newness of life the grace of hearty prayer meekness in bearing rebukes delight in those that excel in vertue comfort in distresses and such like which the elect of God find in some measure wrought in them If these be in thee and abound thou shalt have that peace of conscience through them that passeth all understanding but if these be not in thee whatsoever knowledge thou hast besides though thou hast tasted of the heavenly gift been inlightned by the Spirit been partaker of the holy Ghost tasted of the good word of God and received the Gospel with joy thou shalt find no more sound comfort in them than many most wicked men have had who were enlightned by God but shall never be saved who attained to great and high knowledge but never grew so high as faith 91. ACcording to the truth of the Word in mercy revealed unto thee grow in grace more and more and make every day some progress to the Kingdom of heaven still press and indeavour onwards to obtain it Thou shalt find many lets and hinderances in the way which to pass over may seem to be hard in the beginning especially if they be looked upon with an eye of flesh but a setled course and continuall practice of faith and repentance will within a while make all that was laborious lightsome the matter easy and evident and the way plain and comfortable A scorner seeketh wisedome and findeth it not but knowledge is easy to him that understandeth (w) Prov. 14.6 that understandeth to desire it and humbleth himself 92. THink not thy self discharged either by Gods soveraigne or by the Priests subordinat working but that thou must also put to thy help and work out not the price but the assurance of thy own salvation (x) Philip. 2.12 but that thou must also by using the appointed means by walking in all the Commandments of God without reproof and continuall increasing in sanctification which is a signe and seal of our justification procure to thy self an assurance of thy election (y) a Pet. 1.10 but that thou must also by fighting the good fight and keeping the faith put thy self into an expection of the Crown of righteousness (z) 2 Tim. 4.8 If thou wouldst be sure to have salvation follow then must holy and carefull serving of God go before 93. HAst thou but little abilities and few gifts either of nature art or grace bestowed upon thee beholdest thou a double portion in others and a poor pittance in thy self yet be not dismay'd be not out of heart but in an humble cōtentation devout thankfulness proceed according to thy power and thy labour shall not be in vain in the Lord God desireth not toreap where he hath not sown nor requireth he much but where he hath given much He looketh not for labouring beyond thy strength nor travailing further than thy gifts can reach When Ezechiah pray'd for the people that the Lord would pardon every one that prepared his heart to seek the Lord God of his Fathers though he were not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary the Lord heard him and harkened unto him and healed the people (a) 2 Chro. 30.18 19 20. 94. COntent not thy self with knowledge and understanding with utterance and discourse or with ability to dispute and determine many difficult points of Religion though these faculties be in thee very eminent and singular but consider what faith thou hast to believe and conscience to perform obedience but look what power Gods Spirit hath in thee to sanctification of life to amendment of errours and misdoings of the Spirit illuminating the fruits are often given to the wicked Balaam and Saul may Prophesie Caiphas may have some transient revelations but the fruits of the Spirit sanctifying are vouchsafed to none but onely to Gods Elect Not he that knoweth most but he that maketh best use of what he knoweth is the man whom God will know and prefer in the day of eternal retribution in the day of his glorious appearance when he shall destroy all the wicked and make happy his own for ever 95. THe free-hearted Jews stil brought either gold or silver or pretious stones or fine linnen or spices or silk or hair or one thing or other to the building of the material tabernacle and they left not building till they were prohibited by proclamation In building thy spiritual tabernacle to the Lord leave not praying reading hearing learning meditating applying practising till thou be stayed by death In thy spiritual progress repine not at thy pains past neither think much of that which is to come but keep on still Be not weary of good intents and gracious imployments 96. LEt the examples of thy neighbours dying round about thee daily thy own decaying in strength and health the many calamities in this dangerous world incite thee to apply whilst thou hast time both thy body and mind to do good stir thee up to prepare thy self both in profession and practise for thy departure so shall neither life nor death no not sudden death part thee from thy Saviour so shall death be unto thee nor death indeed but a bare name and no worse so shall death not be terrible unto thee but as welcome as quiet sleep to a wearied and over-wearied traveller 97. BE not so heartless as to fear death nor yet so senseless as to pray for death before the time appointed by the Lord thy Governour It is a sin to work thy death before men and it is a sin to wish thy death before God Indeed death which bringeth the dissolution of nature and is a passage to a better life is a welcom guest to them that are the Lords all the godly do make themselves ready to receive him to meet and intertain him Death to the wicked cometh with a sting but to the godly