of good so but withall ever and anon he is doing of some evill his weakened graces cannot beare him up against strong occasions and temptations his gold lies much in the ashes Simile and like a lame man he is not only halting in his best motion but ever and anone quite downe the snuffe gets above his candle 4 For delightfulnesse hee is almost a stranger to exact Christians and doth not honour them so much as formerly but secretly feares their company and judgement he is perhaps more ashamed or else more afraid of them his conscience is yet so apprehensive that hee interprets every glance as a secret checke of his decayings Thus is it not with the strengthened Christian whose graces are high carefulnesse great usefulnesse large godlinesse even and* great delights taken psal 16. 1. up amongst the best and choicest Christians Hee himselfe still growes better and others by him 5 In respect of consolation the declining sunne creates the longer and darker shadowes and the decaying Christian brings on himselfe either the sharper terrors or deeper griefs the sicke bed is full of paines neither his owne spirit nor Gods Spirit speake peace unto him He who of bad begins to be good may have much tranquility but he who of good becomes lesse good ever becomes more undelightfull to God and most unquiet with himselfe Simile The ship which goes out in low ebbes fals foulest on the sands so Christians who ebbe in graces shall alwaies flow with sorrowes But it is otherwise with the strengthened Christian for rising graces breed stronger comforts and longer there is not onely no troubling accusation but a most surpassing excusation in conscience he hath a better heart and shall therefore finde a more quiet spirit for conscience speakes peace answerable to our being more good and doing of it Alas that thou shouldest still walke like a Benoni a childe of sorrow whereas the other Christian lives like a Barnabas a sonne of consolation 6 In respect of affliction the weakened in active graces is ever most weake in passive duties generally hee hath more crosses and or himselfe lesse wisedome and strength to bear them because hee is growne worse therefore his afflictions are increased and because his abilities are sunke therefore the afflictions crush and prick him much the more Sampson who could easily breake thorow many cords and barres yet when weakened a few Philistines were too hard for him He cannot be so patient nor yet so confident nor yet so diligent in a suffering condition His weakened graces can neither administer strength nor yet subdue those workings of impatience so that he is almost sunke and split with calamities his decayed ship can scarse abide any foule weather But when personall sicknesses come and the apprehension of death at which times his conscience is thoroughly wakened ah how bitter how terrible are the thoughts and disputes of his heart at such a time much like those of him who apprehends his condition not to be good Oh how the pulses of his disturbing and disturbed conscience worke what reflexions on his former waies what comparison of his former flourishings with present decayings what feares of approching before the Lord what smart sentences on himselfe what sudden and vehement exclamations Oh Lord saith he I would not yet dye I am fallen much from my God Lord spare me a little that I may recover my strength my decayed strength before I go hence and shall be no more seene It is not so with the strengthened Christian but as in active duties hee is more forward so in passive duties he is more sufficient in losses in crosses yea in death it selfe hee is more submissive and confident he can with Iob be as willing to receive evill at the hand of God as good and doth not only rejoyce in his favours but in his strokes and is as ready to go to his father as to serve God his good master 7 In respect of Gods manifestation the Lord is pleased diversly to manifest himselfe to his people sometimes in admirable motions and suggestions of his spirit sometimes in more quick excitations of their spirits sometimes in singular confirmation of them with assistances for extraordinary works sometimes by secret impressions of his favour and love upon their consciences which doth revive their hearts as wine and satisfie their soules as with marrow so David speakes Psal 63. But now the weakened Christian he darkens this heaven over his head he hath not that comfortable sight of God that assurance of his favour that joy of the holy Ghost David lost the joy of the spirit and the voyce of gladnesse the arme of God is Psal 51. not so revealed in him for doing of good nor the face of God so open unto him at all Whereas the strengthened Christian findes it otherwise he hath a better heart and a fairer day his communion is sweet with the Lord hee still seeks the Lord and often findes him enjoyes him in his power and enjoyes him in his gratiousnesse the Lord meets him that worketh righteousnesse and remembers him who remembers the Lord in their waies Now thinke on these things O thou fallen and decayed Christian and rest not in thy weakenesse but recover and strengthen thy spirituals againe Three things I will let fall Three things which perhaps may fetch and quicken thee againe 1 Though thou art far sunk yet thou maiest be raised again 2 If thou doest rise again the Lord will graciously pardon thy decaies 3 If thou wilt set upon the strengthening worke the Lord will worke in thee sufficient strength 1 Thou maiest be raised and strengthened againe and that may appeare thus unto thee 1 Repentance is possible for any sinnes which are committed and if renewed repentance be possible then a recovery againe is possible for as much as our recovery again consists very much in a renewed repentance 2 Yea and we have examples of weakened Christians strengthened againe as we know in David exceedingly wounded but yet recovered and Peter grievously falling but graciously rising againe 2 If thou doest strengthen thy condition the Lord will mercifully pardon thy former decayings I confesse that there may be sore grounds of feare to intangle and depresse the spirit of a decaid Christian for his sins by which he hath decayed may perhaps be hainous for the kinde and also high for the circumstances being against knowledge against the workings of conscience against the workings of his graces against the tender love of God in Christ shewed to him more then to another so that his heart may strongly misgive him whether the Lord will ever looke upon him more and accept of him into favour But this I say that be thy decayings what they will either for the matter of them or causes of them or circumstances of them if thou doest rise againe by a renewed repentance I assure thee that the Lord will pardon thee and accept of thee in Christ looke as the
or slubberlie performance of them and therefore they get not that strength over spirituall corruptions nor that fruitfull supply to their graces and consequently slip into dangerous languishings and decayings 7 Inactivity in our places and relations is another cause of spirituall languishing and decaying Simile A lazy Christian will quickly prove a dying Christian the Physitians doe observe that as too violent exercise overthroweth health so likewise too much rest may cause extreame sicknesse because therein the superfluous humours are not carried or breathed away and the spirits and naturall heat are not stirred up to performe their proper functions It is even so with Christians in respect of their graces if they let them lye still and dead they will quickly grow weake and dying though their life be an implanted by an operation of Gods spirit yet it is preserved by an operation of our spirits therfore grace is compared to fire which must be stirred up and blowne He who will not use grace will quickly lose it or decay in it But Christians many times imploy not their graces they do not any good with them they doe not stir up their hearts to beleeve to lay hold on God to call upon him to walke before him they doe not lay their knowledge their zeale their love c. in their particular relations but live together and do no good together meet together and provoke not one another unto further holinesse 8 Lastly all perturbations or excesse in passions cause a languishing V. Fernel l 1. de morb causis cap 18 p. 198. and therefore they observe in nature that immoderate feare or griefe or anger or joy or agony which consists of anger and feare or desire or care all these or any of these by their immoderation doe checke the spirit naturall heat immarcescere spiritus calorem and consequently diminish health and strength And surely so it is in the spirituall condition all inordinate affections are the empayrers of grace whether it bee desires of the world or delights in it or fears of men or griefe for losses c. but I cannot now inlarge Vse I now come to the application of this point which shall be in the first place to reflect upon our owne hearts to see in what condition our spirituall condition is whether we be not Sardians yea or not either having a name onely but are totally dead or if we doe live whether that life of ours be not growne so weake that wee are almost dying Reasons to move you to search your hearts in this particular are these 1 Many among you who Three things professe and have a name and I hope the truth also of grace doe not get on you doe not make progresse you have not advanced your selves in your spirituall condition Though the Lord hath given you plentifull and rich meanes yet what you were many yeers agoe the same you are now a man may say of you as we doe of our friends whom wee see perhaps once in ten yeeres that they looke and are just as wee found and left them then So many of you after many yeeres preaching and hearing are just as you were have not attained to any further perfection in holinesse Now it is an ill symptome this for a staying heart is seldome otherwise then a decaying heart Creation though perfect at once yet it is not so with sanctification the old saying is Non progredi est regredi grace is either getting or losing Simile like a river either fuller or lesser or like an oake growing or dying 2 Many persons expresse palpable decayings all who know them can see and say how strangely they are altered they are scarcely knowne now to be Christians but by the judgement of the most favourable charity who formerly have beene very forward even to exemplarity The judgements of men are so altered with fond opinions their strictnesse of conversation is so strangely slack'd into that which they themselves were wont to call a licentiousnesse of walking there is such a dumbnesse growne in their families and withall there is such a chilnesse come upon their affections oh where is that thy former zeale and love and joy and pitty and brokennesse of heart and flames for Christ and desires of strength and assurance and circumspection to please thy God 3 Though we be not dead Christians yet if we be dying Christians it makes our condition very evill and very sad 1 Very evill no man can Evill 1 Causally decay in good but by something that is bad it is alwaies some sinfull evill which makes us to wither in spirituall good And then it is a thing very 2 Formally evill in it selfe if it be a sinne not to thrive in grace it must be a greater sinne to be dying in grace And then it occasions much 3 Eventually sinne for it were a wonder to see a man dying in grace and not withall living in sinne however beleeve it that sinnes will live the more strongly in thee by how much the more weakely grace doth live in thee when naturall heat growes low then doe diseases multiply and grow high if that which should keep downe sinne be kept downe by sinning how exceedingly sinfull maiest thou prove 2 Very sad the Christian condition is excessively perplexed and prejudiced by it v. gr 1 There is an extenuation of 7 Effects of it our chiefest excellencies Simile our gold is now clipt and washed Beloved we have not more reall excellencies here on earth then gracious and holy qualities If the naked soule be more worth then a whole world what is grace the which highly elevates and advanceth the soule But even our graces in a decaying condition are droop ing and pining for a man to have a finger withering is nothing to that as to have his heart consuming to behold a candle put out what is that to behold the Sunne growing dim or purblind When graces decay then that To lose an house a friend c. but which is as the heart to the members or as the Sunne to the earth or as the soule to the body a vitall spring decayeth as she said about the taking away of the Arke that we may say of diminution in grace Now the glory is departing from Israel now thy honour is lying in the dust the lesse good thou growest the more vile thou becommest it is as if thy faire hand should become leprous or thy sunne set at noon day 2 It is a depression of our heavenly strength when Sampsons haire was off he was then as other men he lost his haire and lost his strength too Simile When the fountaines are low and roots weake then the streames prove thinne and branches grow almost fruitlesse for these are the principles of being and of assistance unto them Our graces are a kinde of Springs to our gracious abilities when we be lesse good we shall alwaies doe the lesse good and the more evill Thy wheels
my grace is weakened when I yeeld to sinne but it stands in strength when it stands in defiance and conflict with sinne it argues the violence of sinne to breake out against grace and also it argues the potency of grace to keepe the soule from serving unruly and boysterous lusts 3 Betwixt sinne in temptation and sinne in the affection even a strong castle may be assaulted and a stout Christian much tempted then the spirituall part is weakened when sin is favoured If as there is much temptation in thy sinfull flesh so there is much detestation on thy spirituall part thy bow yet abides in strength Object But another Christian replies if these signes of decaying be right which you deliver then surely I am in a dying frame for heretofore when as I thought God looked on me in mercy in quickening me from the dead I had a very melting heart for sinne and a surpassingâ—y zealous love to God and his glory but now I finde no such height and flames and measures Sol. To this I answer 1 You must distinguish betwixt equall sensiblenesse and equall spiritualnesse upon the inchoation of grace there may be more sensiblenesse for as much as grace erects it selfe much in the affections of whose acts we are more apprehensive being more neere to sense but upon the advance in grace there may be more spiritualnesse though not such a sensible griefe in the affection yet a pure lothing of sinne and displicence with our selves in the will 2 Betwixt passionate expressions and deliberate or judicious expressions I confesse that heretofore thy zeale and love might be more passionate and violent but now they worke upon more pure and mixt grounds and for ever know it argues the grace to be the more strong which can act its parts with lesse turbulency and unquietnesse 3 Betwixt grace generally diffused and it particularly imployed at the first all the water ranne as it were in one channell grace exerted it selfe mostly in the humbling part and therefore seemed to be very much because very much imployed in a particular but upon further knowledge of Christian duties grace diffuseth its strength to all the acts of holinesse it is not the lesse because the more improved onely it is the lesse perceived Simile as health and strength are when totally diffused over the whole body 4 Betwixt interruption and corruption spirituall principles may sometimes be interrupted Simile like a river which yet is scrambling over the bay by temptations the passages are not alwaies so open for operation the very ineptitude of a mans temper may occasion unequall expressions of the visible act actus Imperati and yet there may be no weakening and decaying in the spirituall condition for the invisible frame actus eliciti are sure and full still the will and desires doe act as much as ever though the tongue or hand cannot render it and besides this the worke is made up by a secret humbling which is so unavoydably hindred from an open acting 6 But lastly if upon solid grounds when wee are our selves we finde a manifest inequality of our present with our former condition in grace then counsell is better for thee then comfort and mee thinkes no better advise can be prescribed then that of Christ himselfe to the Ephesian Church slaking in her first love Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and doe thy first works Vse 2 If though upon perusall of these trials you finde your selves not to be in a dying condition 1 Then first blesse the arme of the Almighty God who hath given grace and upheld it 2 Beseech him for ever to preserve and increase thy spirituall qualities all thy daies it is by his goodnesse that thou art good and of his strength that yet thou abidest in thy strength 3 Vse all the meanes thou canst to keepe up thy graces that thou sink not into a dying condition Meanes to preserve us from a dying condition be these 1 Be humble Simile the high tide quickly ebbes and the highest sunne is presently declining faith is the champion for our graces and feare the watchman and humility the nurse Spirituall pride fils our fancies but impaires our graces now a man thinkes he hath enough and then he is sure to lose much if any thing keepes us from being low in grace it is this that we still grow low and poor in spirit In the Rickets they have large heads but weake feet so c. 2 Strive for further perfection 2 Pet. 3. 17. 18. in holinesse 2 Pet. 3. 17. the most of what wee have is but the least of that we want He that will not strive to be better will be worse in temporals we should insist more on our receits and that will make us thankfull in spirituals wee should insist more on our wants and that will make us fruitfull 2 Pet. 1. 5. Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge 6 v. and to knowledge temperance c. 8 v. for if thou doe these things they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull c. 3 Quit all formality in all holy duties take heed of the first coolings much impiety may hang upon much indifferency a coole spirit is alwaies a losing spirit he who gives way to do duties in a slight manner will after a while be able scarce to performe them in any manner But as the rule was Hoc age so still keep up thy spirit with the duty stir up thy graces in all duties put out thy heart and strength in holy actions of praying and hearing and that will keepe thee alive in grace A conscionable and cordiall acting of good is blessed not onely with a preservation of grace but likewise with an addition and increase 4 Maintaine an holy jealousie and feare of decaying Blessed is the man who feareth alwaies saith Salomon Prov. 28. Three things arise from this One is tender watchfulnesse against all decaying occasions Another is frequent search and examination of our spirits and estates Quicke repairings of all faylings all which preserve us from a notorious decaying or dying 5 Be prudently serious in christian society spend not thy houres in vaine disputes lest while thou studiest odde notions thou in the meane time losest precious grace There are disputes which end onely in division and there are inquiries which tend to edification rather studie to make thy selfe better then to prove another to be bad 6 Keep up uprightnesse and by no meanes away with hypocrisie say not the sinne is little Simile for many a man hath dyed of a little wound and we all know that the small end of the wedge makes way for the greater nor say it is secret a man may dye of a secret stab as well as of an open wound When the children of the Prophets tasted of the pottage they cried out Mors in olla death is in the pot and so shall wee finde upon experience that there goes a dying influence with
lively in living works but performeth spirituall works without much spiritualnesse But the strengthened Christian hath workings in his workes or as in Ezekiel there was a wheele within a wheele he serves the Lord with a fervent spirit and with all his soul hee is exceeding glad to obey and is much grieved that he can obey the Lord no better Acceptation of duty the Lord doth not looke so upon his offerings as on the duties of a strengthened Christian it is true that the Lord doth not despise the day of small things even weake services are graciously respected by him but when Christians weaken their owne operations they doe weaken also Gods acceptations for the Lord is pleased differently to answer his servants according to their different dispositions and tempers faint seekers have but faint answers and resolute petitioners get plentifull answers from him of good 2 In respect of the ordinances here also the weakened Christian is very short of the strengthened Christian both For preparation unto them his heart is not put in such a frame to come and converse with God he will not take that paines before he comes to the word hee doth not by precedent meditations and prayers bring such a receptivity and and teachablenesse of heart to the word nor for the Sacrament perhaps he comes and thrusts on the worke but retires not himselfe examines not himselfe humbles not himselfe hungers not thirsts not nor considers his particular necessities so rightly to dispose his soule for an holy communion with God but is more full of carnall indulgence to himselfe and study rather for apologies to excuse his neglect then by preparative duties to fit himselfe For application of them hee stands under the ordinances with more distractions with lesse attentions with an unclosing spirit the word workes not so on his heart nor his heart on the word He stands under the ordinances with a more distracting spirit or else with a more fearing spirit lest the Lord will finde him out for his revoltings and either hee dares not come to the Sacrament or if he doth hee is not able for his life almost to be confident and perswaded of Gods love towards him in Christ For fructification he buyes not at the market suckes not and thrives not by the breasts nor makes that use of them as the other doth nor doth hee improve them so to the benefit of his spirituall condition as the other doth the counsels commands exhortations reproofes promises they are generally to him in his weakned estate as water on the rock or as the waves to Ionah sleeping in the ship they have not that virtutem moventem that authority over his drowsie spirit But the strengthened Christian hath farre more easie passages the word and Sacrament have their sweet and facile impressions on his understanding will and affections by discoveries of sinne and threatnings he feares the Lord and hates sinne more By discoveries of goodnesse and mercy and Christ his faith gets more and his love riseth more By discoveries of duties and commands his cares and desires abound more in him they are still humbling or still purging still raising or still upholding of him he is more and more built up and edified in his holy faith his communions with God are more cordiall and more beneficiall there is still a fuller and sweeter conjunction betwixt his soule and Christ 3 In respect of corruptions which are the very bane and poyson and shame of his soule and sore woundings and impairings the weakened Christian is found much underfoot and is more in bondage and lesse sensible of it gray haires appeare more on him unruly lusts get more head againe and he either hardly feeles them or faintly resists them He is now become as a wounded man over whom every coward can insult The strength of tender perception of sinne failes and the strength of resolute opposition and the strength of frequent conquest so that his soule is much imbased by lusts his resistance are either 1 None 2 Or faint 3 Or fruitlesse But he is overborne by the tide more easily like an unskilfull rower or a sicke man by a thrust But it is otherwise with the strengthened Christian who now can leade captivity captive he is mighty in prayer and resolute in defiances and generally happy either in making sinfull motions to flye or in preserving his soule from yeelding unto them either hee is more quiet or lesse guilty He is a greater enemy to sinne a surer conquerour and still a lesser servant 4 In respect of conversation it is true that the Christian must be gold without and gold within hee must be like the heavens excellent in substance and beautifull in appearance a good heart is not enough but also a good life and walking like a Spring which is for common good and not for private But the weakened Christian in his conversation fals short of the others who is strengthened in many respects v. g. 1 For strictnesse though it be a kinde of garment yet it hangs more loosely and like one of the Planets Simile though a starre in heaven yet sometimes nearer sometimes more distant from the equinoctiall There is not that exact conscionablenesse in holy walkings but a sordid complying many times with the acts and waies of unworthy societies or at least his graces are out-dared and over-awed so that when hee should expresse them for Gods glory he is afraid to speake or worke 2 For profitablenesse every good man should be like a tree on which one may gather fruit he is to be a steward of the manifold gifts not inclosing but imploying of them for the benefit of others his boxe of oyntment should be opened If thou be good thou art bound also to doe good for graces are given not onely to make us good but also to make us to doe good but thus it is not with the decaying Christian He being now fallen into a penurious stocke of grace hath almost lost the art and skill of profitablenesse his acts seeme rather to be those of civility then piety he may be as facetious but is not so religious in conversings his discourses are more censorious and insolent then substantiall and edifying I confesse that some Christians cannot so draw out their treasure through a bashfulnesse of spirit but he is growne lesse active because lesse able his barrennesse is in the cause and not in the instrument So that he may eat and drink with others but no good comes from him his lips preserve not knowledge nor doth his communication administer grace to the heare whence it followes 1 That God hath little or no glory by him 2 That the Saints have little or no delight in him 3 That his conscience hath little or no comfort in it selfe 3 For cleernesse his river is not so sweet but ever and anon it proves brackish his sunne though it runs its course yet it is frequently clowded so is it with his life he is not doing
not bolstered up with high clamours and with artificiall lyes But truth is naked and plaine it is neither of a cruell nature like Caine nor of a subtile spirit with Absalom nor of a lying spirit with Ahabs false Prophets it flatters no man nor beguiles any being truth it is not ashamed of light or triall and it alone can maintain it self against all contrary quarrels a good cause is like a good conscience even a bulwarke to it selfe like the sunne in its light and heat against all clouds c. 5 The duration of them truth like the sunne hath runne down through all ages not that all men have embraced it but that by some it hath still beene embraced some one or more hath still beene at the barre to beare witnesse unto it New men have still risen up and sometimes out of the ashes as it were of the dead to maintaine and either by tongue or pen or bloud to defend the truth but Erroneous doctrines as they want an inward harmony so also an outward consent like a deceitfull brooke they are spent after a while or like commotions in a state Simile though strong or long yet they come to an end at length either some speciall judgements on the ringleaders or the authority of Princes as Alexander against Arius or the prayers of the Saints or the decision of lawfull counsels have still cashiered these meteors but as it is said of divine mercy that it endures for ever the same is affirmed of divine truth it runs from one generation to another till Christ make his Church triumphant the militant Church shall be the pillar of truth 6 The conformity of them to the rule or word Erroneous doctrines like unsound flesh cannot abide handling and Simile like an ill favoured woman would have all glasses broken But truth like sound gold will endure a touch-stone truth will be found truth upon search bring it to the conscience it will worke as truth bring it to the death-bed it will uphold as truth bring it to the scriptures it will hold out as truth 2 When truths upon search are found to be truths then embrace them for the truths sake not upon personall and mutable causes or ends 3 Firme refolution after tryall by which our knowledge comes to be cleare and without doubt there must be now a plain resolution and purpose of heart in cleaving to such faithfully evidenced truths thou must by an immoveable faith as it were root thy very heart in the truths of Christ as Saint Paul though bonds and afflictions though good report or evill though death it selfe abide him for Christ come what will come disputes fancies errors troubles losses I have found the truth and it will I hold for ever 3 Loyall affection then it is loyall when it is inclusive to every truth c. exclusive to nothing but truth this loyall affection will make us to first doe secondly suffer thirdly cleave love truth and then truth will be held I held him and would not let him goe said the Church then in love with Christ Cant. 3. Love is the easiest key to open the heart to Cant. 3. Christ and the strongest locke to keepe sure the truth in our hearts when thou hast experimentally felt the heavenly strength and comfort of Gods truths then wilt thou certainly sticke unto them 4 Ioyne conscience to science O when people have the truths still sounding in their eares and ungodlinesse still stirring and ruling in their lives it cannot be that they should have strong hands who have wicked hearts Hymeneus made shipwracke of faith and of conscience both together 1 Tim 1. 19. Therefore strive to obey the 1 Tim. 1. 19. truths adde to thy faith vertue be a doing Christian as well as a knowing Christian 5 Be watchfull in prayer to God with David to uphold thee with Saint Peter to establish thee still to keepe thee that thou mayest keepe his truths excellent is that speech of Bernard S. Bernard in Psal qui habitat pag. 283. Basil neque enim quae habemus ab eo servare aut tenere possumus sine eo that God by whose light alone we know the truth by his strength alone we keepe it Thus much for the text and now for the occasion and here I cannot be long neither my affections nor yours will admit of large discourse onely a word of you and a word to you Of you so regardfull have you beene to my Ministery so loving to my person so faithfull in your maintenance so cheerefully encouraging generally from you all but chiefly from the chiefest that had it pleased the Lord to have given mee health the which I have scarce enjoyed one whole yeere together since I have beene heere I should not have stirred easily from such a people for the best preferment that could be conveniently offered unto me I speake my heart freely I cannot tell on which side the unwillingnesse is most whether on your part who are left or on my part who am constrained to leave you But to say no more of your goodnesse give mee leave for the close of all to leave a few Legacies with you being all my friends and hearken to my words as the words of a dying man for the Lord knowes how short my daies may be My Legacies are these 1 Lay out more time for your soules the soule is a precious thing the soule is a corrupted thing sinnes are in it much guilt is upon it there is a Christ that it needs holinesse that it must have heaven that it would have thy body is but clay thy soule a spirit the world a vanity thy soule immortall all is well if the soule be wel nothing is well if that be evill I beseech you pray more heare more know more confer more doe more and more for your soules when you come to dye you will then finde it to be all your worke O then whiles health is in you make it thy chiefest worke to seeke the kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof for your soules feed not the slave and starve the childe 2 Vpon good grounds make sure of a reconciled God live not in an unreconciled condition no enemy like an ill conscience and a good God study the right of thy sinnes and the bloud of Christ repentance from dead workes and faith in the Lord Iesus so shalt thou behold the face of God and live The waies of reconciliation with God and the setling of thy conscience about it may cost thee many prayers and teares and diligent studies but the love of God and heaven will answer and recompense all 3 Wisely improve all heavenly seasons the Lord hitherto hath continued unto you daies of peace and salvation heavenly opportunities publike and private and I beseech him for ever so to doe Now receive not the grace of God in vaine lay hold on these occasions if there be not wisedome to improve them there may be sadnesse for neglecting