secret will reward thee openly Iam. 4.8.10 Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Thus farre of the meanes of Grace The next promises are when wee suffer persecution for well-doing for all that will live godly must suffer persecution therefore strengthen thy selfe with these promises THE LXII LEGACY If thou art railed upon for well-doing IF thou art railed upon for well-doing apply 1. Pet. 4.14 If yee be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you Mat. 5.11 12. Blessed are yee when men revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evill against you falsely for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you THE LXIII LEGACY If thou are persecuted WHen they persecute thee any other wayes even unto death apply Mat. 10.39 He that looseth his life for my sake shall find it Matth. 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven When we loose any earthly blessing for Gods cause apply Matth. 19.24 Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life This is the greatest and yet lawfull usury of all others to part with one outward blessing and to receive an hundred for it to loose a miserable life and to enjoy eternall life to suffer a short time and to have a great reward in heaven to be disgraced and to have the Spirit of glory rest upon us Therefore when thou art railed upon apply Blessed am I the Spirit of glory rests upon me therefore they cannot make me vile Art thou any way persecuted apply Theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven great is your reward in Heaven Take they thy life apply He that looseth his life for my sake shall find it Take they away any earthly blessing thou shalt receive an hundreth fold at this present therefore if Usurers gladly let out their money that hope to receive but eight in the hundreth bee ashamed of thy selfe that thou shouldst not give one for an hundreth when thou hast the promise of him that never failed to performe THE LXIV LEGACY Jn partaking with Gods people in suffering IN partaking with Gods people in suffering that thou maist be partaker of their comforts apply 1. Cor. 1.6 As you are partakers of the sufferings so shall ye be also of the consolation THE LXV LEGACY When thou art called to defend the truth WHen thou art called forth to defend the truth apply Matth. 10.19 When they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same houre what yee shall speake Luke 21.15 I will give you a mouth and wisdome which all your adversaries shall not bee able to gainesay nor resist Math. 10.32 Whosoever confesseth me before men him will I confesse before my Father which is in heaven When thou fearest thou shalt not be able to speake in defence of the truth apply It shall be given thee though thou hast it not before in that houre what thou shalt say If thou fearest the learning of thine adversaries and thine owne simplenesse apply I will give the not onely a mouth but also wisdome where-against they shall not be able to speake If thou want courage embolden thy selfe with this Christ will confesse thee before his father THE LXVI LEGACY If thou wouldest bring forth seasonable fruit for every estate IF thou wouldst bring forth seasonable fruit for every estate and for every duty apply Psal 1.3 Thou shalt as a tree which bringeth forth his fruit in season Ezek. 47.12 Hee shall bring forth fruit according to his moneths If thou art to speake or pray or doe any duty that thou maist doe it seasonably and have fitting words and thoughts apply Thou shalt bring forth fruit in season So in every estate prosperity or adversity that thou maist bring forth the fruits of it apply They shall bring forth fruit in season according to their moneths Thus farre about spirituall things The next promises are about earthly things and because Children are the most excellent therefore I will begin with them THE LXVII LEGACY IF thou hast children apply Ps 112.2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the just shall be blessed Deut. 7.13 He will blesse the fruit of thy womb Gen. 17.7 I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Isai 44.3.4 I will powre out my Spirit upon on thy seed and my blessing upon thine off spring and they shall spring up as among the grasse as willowes by the water-courses If thou desirest grace and Gods blessing for thy children apply I will powre my spirit and blessing upon thy seed If thou wouldest have them grow up in it apply They shall grow as among the grasse and as the willowes by the water courses If thou wouldest have them in covenant with thy selfe thy God to be theirs apply I will make an everlasting covenant with thee to be God to thee and to thy seed after thee Desirest thou outward things for them apply His seed shall bee mighty upon earth THE LXVIII LEGACY If thou wantest children IF thou wantest children apply Deut. 7.14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people there shall neither be male nor female barren among you Deut. 28.11 The Lord shall make thee plentifull in the fruit of thy body Psal 128.3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy children like Olive plants round about thy table vers 4.6 Loe thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. Thou shalt see thy childrens children If thou hast conceived apply this promise for keeping of it Exod. 23.26 There shall none cast their young nor be barren in thy land This and allother promises of earthly things are to to be applyed so farre as is good for us we are not to doubt of them THE LXIX LEGACY If the Lord deny thee children IF the Lord deny thee children apply Isai 56.5 To them will I give mine house and within my walls a place and a name better then of Sonnes and of Daughters I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off THE LXX LEGACY If thou wouldst have a comfortable and holy use of thy habitation IF thou wouldst have the comfortable and holy use of thine habitation apply Iob. 5.24 Thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace and thou shalt visit thine habitation and not sinne Psalme 91.10 There shall no evill befall thee neither shall any plague come
efficacy but because it layes hold on the free promises but from whence have the promises their strength even from the constant nature of Iehovah 2. Cor. 1.20 who alwayes gives a being to his word Desirest thou faith then take notice of Gods promises wouldst thou have thy faith like the light in the Lords Sanctuary never to goe out then acquaint thy selfe with Gods Promises know them well meditate on them conferre about them let them be continually in thy mind memory heart and tongue Satan laboureth in nothing more then to keepe us in unbeliefe especially of particular promises for he knowes if we believe them we shall in all things have the victory come before God with boldnesse carry peace in our owne bosomes to our graves and doe and suffer any thing for God 1. Iohn 5. Eph. 2. Rom. 15. Heb. 11. Oh the abundance of sweet cordiall comfort which all humble beleevers draw by faith out of every promise Now beloved these pretious Promises our breasts of consolation whereupon our happinesse so much depends lye hid in the holy Scripture as veines of gold in the earth Isa 66.11.12 Surely those that search those mynes to bring to light these treasures are worthy of great commēdation Wherefore I doubt not but the good paines of this blessed and faithfull servant of God will find good entertainment of all the children of the promises that hope to entertaine them who hath with great care and good evidence of spirituall understanding discovered and compiled the variety and use of all the promises in matters temporall spirituall and eternall So that here is a medicine for every disease and a salve for every sore Read them carefully and ponder them seriously and apply them faithfully And I beseech the good Lord who is the Authour of them that by his holy Spirit he would make them powerfull and effectuall in us Consider what is said and the Lord give us understanding in all things 2. Tim. 2.7 RVLES TO BE OBSERVED IN READING OF PROMISES WHatsoever Promise is made in generall to all the faithfull every one must particularly apply it to themselves as Gen. 3.14 the Messiah is promised to all every one must apply him to themselves 2. Whatsoever promise is made to any one of the faithfull if there be not some particular reason which tyes it to his person as was to Abraham for a sonne and his seed to inherit the land of Canaan every child of God hath right to it as you may see Ioshuah 1.5 I will not faile thee nor forsake thee This every one may apply to themselves as wee know the Holy Ghost applyes it Heb. 13.5 For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Which teacheth us to doe the like in all the rest of the promises 3. Vnder temporall promise to the Iewes are set forth the excellent promised graces which God will give to his people after the comming of Christ Ezek. 34.25 26 27. 4. When wee read the conditions of the promises they are not like to the duties of the Law made to the perfect fulfillers of them the promises are Evangelicall made to those which endeavour to keep them and the maine conditions of them are saith 5. In all the promises for increase of grace or meanes of grace or for any earthly things we must know wee shall have them so farre performed to us as the Lord seeth good for us 6. In our weak endeavourings to keep the promises we must believe the performance to us in by and through Christ In whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen that is as I conceive confirmed and made good to us in him 2. Cor. 1.20 when we can see nothing in our selves why they should be performed to us even then we are to claime them for Christs sake if thou be in Christ for if thou bee not in him no promise belongs to thee but that threatnings and judgements are thy portion and nothing else can wee claime as our due Sorrow weeping and bowling is that which God requireth of us and not laying hand upon the comfortable promises till wee hunger after Christ which God grant wee may doe more and more till we come to be satisfied with his image in the life to come Psal 17.15 THE FIRST LEGACY These promises I have observed for spirituall things FIRST ABOVT SINNE If we find nothing in our selves that may move God WHen we find nothing in our selves that might move the Lord to have mercy then apply these promises Isai 43.25 I even I am be that blotteth out thy transgression for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Isai 44.22 I have blotted out as a thicke cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sinnes returne unto me for I have redeemed thee Ier. 31.34 I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sinne no more Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle cleane water upon you and yee shall bee cleane from all your filthiness Isai 57.18 I have seene his wayes and will heale him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners These promises are free made by the Lord not for any thing that is in man as you may see in Isaiah 43. from the 22. verse to the 25. for the Lord saith They had not called upon him but wearied the Lord brought him no offering yea wearied him with their sinnes and yet in the 25. verse hee saith for his owne sake hee would forgive their sinnes These promises wee shall have alwayes need of as at our conversion so afterwards many times wee shall in our owne feeling finde nothing in our selves to perswade us of the pardon of our sinnes then wee must flye to these free promises When thou seest nothing in thy selfe why the Lord should pardon thy sinnes and therefore doubt'st of the pardon of them apply I am he that puts away thy sinnes for mine owne sake When thy sinnes rise up as a cloud that thou canst see nothing but them apply I have put away thy sinnes as a cloud When thou fearest the multitude of thy sinnes apply You shall be cleane from all your sinnes THE II. LEGACY If we feare God will remember our sinnes to punish them When wee fear God will remember our sinnes before committed to punish us for them apply Ier. 31.34 I will remember his sinne no more Ezek. 18.22 His transgressions which hee hath committed shall not be mentioned to him but in the righteousnesse which hee hath done shall he live Ezek. 33.16 None of his sinnes that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him THE III. LEGACY If often sinning cause thee doubt of pardon WHen thine often sinning causeth thee to feare that God will not pardon thee apply Iob. 33.27.28.29 He looketh upon men and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profiteth me not hee will deliver his soule from going into the pit and his life shall see the light Loe all these
things worketh God oftentimes with man Wherefore believe not Satan that perswades the contrary nor let thy corruptions make thee bold to presume of pardon for though God promise pardon yet it is to the penitent not to the presumptuous as vers 27. THE IV. LEGACY If thou despaire WHen thou art at the pits brinke of despaire and art dryed up with sorrow then goe to some faithfull Preacher that is able to preach Christ unto thee and apply these promises Iob. 33.24 25 26. Then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going downe to the pit I have found a ransome His flesh shall bee fresher then a childs hee shall returne to the dayes of his youth He shall pray unto God and he shall be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy for he will render unto man his righteousnesse Isai 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is farre off and to him that is neare saith the Lord and I will heale him When thou commest to the uttermost extremity for sinne apply I will have mercy on him and deliver him that he goe not downe to the pit When thou fearest that God or his Ministers will not speake peace unto thee apply I have received a reconciliation I create the fruit of the lips to be peace to them that are farre off and to them that are neare When thy sorrowes have withered thee up apply He shall returne as in the dayes of his youth and his fiesh shall be as the flesh of a child If in this estate thou fearest God will not heare prayers for thee apply He shall pray to God and he will be favourable to him When thou fearest thou shalt not be able to looke upon the Lord with joy apply Hee shall see his face with joy When thou seest not any thing in thy selfe that should cause thee not to believe this apply He will render to man his righteousnesse which is I thinke Christs righteousnesse for whose sake he will doe it THE V. LEGACY If thou findest sinne an heavy burden and Satan pursuing VVHen thou feelest sin an heavy burden and Satan pursuing thee with many feares by reason of the same flye to Christ and apply Matth. 11.28 29. Come unto me all yee that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 1.21 He shall save his people from their sinnes Rom. 16.20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Isai 32.2 And a man shall bee as a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest as rivers of waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great rocke in a weary land Thus doth Christ to the soule that flyes to him If Satan pursue thee apply He is an hiding place If stormes of temptations and afflictions doe arise apply He is a refuge against the tempest If thy soule bee ready to faint through weakenesse apply He is a river of water in a dry place to revive thy spirits and as the shadow of a great rocke under which thou maist safely repose thy selfe When thou findest thy sinnes very heavy apply I wil ease you When thou hast no rest in thy foule because of sinne apply You shall find rest to your soules Hee shall save his people from their sinnes both from the punishment and the power If thou fearest length of time in temptations apply The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly THE VI. LEGACY If thou turne from sinne and yet doubt of pardon WHen thou turnest from sin and doubtest of the pardon of it apply Isai 1.18 Though your sins be as sckarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall bee as wooll Isai 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne unto the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Micah 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his beritage hee retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy He will turne againe he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depths of the sea Prov. 21.13 He that confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes shall find mercy 1. Ioh. 1.9 If we confesse our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse When thou seest thy soule of a sinfull colour apply Though they be red like crimson they shall be as white as wool If thou fearest God will hardly be intreated apply He will have mercy for he is ready to forgive If we feare that our sinnes have taken such strong hold upon us as wee shall never get from them apply He will cleanse us from all our unrighteousnesse Seeing God promiseth to be the cleanser feare not the hardnesse of the worke THE VII LEGACY If thou wouldst have thy manifold rebellions subdued VVHen thou feelest many rebellions in thine heart and life and wouldst have them not only pardoned but subdued apply Hos 14.5 I will heale their backe-sliding Which promise as I thinke containes thus much that God will not only pardon but heale us and instead of rebellious hearts and lives will give us obedient hearts and lives for as healing followeth the curing of sicknesse so obedience doth the curing of rebellion Micah 7.19 He will subdue our iniquities When thou feelest sin very strong flye to this promise and apply the strength of him that promiseth against then strength of sinne it is the Lord that hath promised to subdue it what though Sinne and Satan joyne their force together yet the Lord is stronger then all their force wee need not doubt THE VIII LEGACY If thy heart bee hard and full of corruption VVHen thou feelest thine heart hard and full of corruption apply Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh Deut. 30.6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule that thou maist live When thou feelest thine heart worldly carnall apply I will circumcise thy heart A new heart will I give thee When nothing will breake thine heart apply the power of Iehovah that hath promised to cure thee in taking away thy stony heart THE IX LEGACY If unbridled nature break out into passion VVHen thou canst not bridle nature but it breakes forth into violent passions to contention apply Isai 11.6 The Wolfe also shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye downe with the Kid and the Calfe and the young Lyon the fatling together a
little child shall lead them Such shall bee the power of the Gospell that those which are by nature like Wolves and devouring beasts shall dwell very peaceably and if wee find our nature such we must apply the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe Micah 7.19 He will subdue our iniquities and will cast all our sinnes into the depth of the sea that which is cast into the Sea as it appeareth not in sight so wee cannot get it againe though wee would so will God doe by your sinnes cast them out of his sight so as wee shall not returne to them any more presse him with his promise and you shall find more then you thinke THE X. LEGACY If thou be in bondage to some sin VVHen thou feelest thy selfe in bondage to some sinne apply Iohn 8.32 You shall know the Truth and the truth shall make you free Rom. 6.14 Sinne shall not have dominion you When thou feelest thy bondage that thou canst not doe good or keep thy selfe from evill apply The truth shall make you free If thy sinnes often prevaile against thee apply Sinne shall not have dominion over you Psal 130.8 He shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities THE XI LEGACY If thou fearest the breaking out of strong sinnes VVHen thou feelest some sinne so strong in thee that thou fearest it will breake out to Gods dishonour and the blemishing of Religion apply 1. Thess 5.23.24 That your whole spirit soule and body may be preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Faithfull is he that calleth you who also will doe it That God which hath called thee will keep thee blamelesse unto the comming of Christ therefore use the meanes and rest upon the Lords faithfulnesse which never faileth them which trust in him 2. Thes 3.3 But the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish you and keepe you from evill 1. Ioh. 1.9 If we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse By cleansing as I thinke is meant not onely from the guilt of sinne but the the power of it that the filthinesse of it shall not appeare in our lives and conversations When sinne pursues thee hard to make thee fall doe thou pursue the Lord with prayers for performance of this promise and doubt not of the issue Micah 7.19 Hee will subdue our iniquities And to these adde the prayer of Christ Iohn 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keepe them from the evill Now what greater evill than sinne therefore though thy prayers bee but weake against it yet hee hath prayed that was alway heard therefore fight and be sure of victory THE XII LEGACY When thou art stayed from sinne by admonition WHen thou art stayed from sinne by admonition appy Ezek. 3.21 If thou warne the righteous man that the righteous sinne not and he doth not sin he shall surely live because he is warned When any admonish thee obey and it shall bee life to thy soule therefore receive the admonition and apply He shall live because he is admonished THE XIII LEGACY If thou fearest God will destroy thee for sin IF thou fearest God will destroy thee for thy sinnes apply Ezek. 18.30 Turne your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Matth. 1.21 He shall save his people from their sinnes When thou fearest the greatnesse or multitude of thy sinnes will bee thy destruction apply Iniquity shall not be your ruine When thou seest no meanes of safety apply He that is Christ shall save his people from their sinnes THE XIV LEGACY If thou be tempted to uncleannes IF thou be tempted to uncleannesse apply Prov. 2.16 Hee shall deliver thee from the strange woman 1. Thes 5.24 Thy body shall bee kept blamelesse untill the comming of Christ THE XV. LEGACY If thou canst not find out thy sin for which God corrects thee IF thou canst not find out thy sinne for which God correcteth thee apply Iob. 39.9 If they bee tyed with the cords of affliction then will I shew them their worke and their sins A wise Father will not correct his child but hee will shew him wherefore how else should hee amend his fault much more will the Lord. But we enjoy not many promises because we sue not for them Thus farre about Sin the next about Grace THE XVI LEGACY If thou doubt of salvation In doubt of salvation apply God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Iohn 3.16 Iohn 5.24 Hee that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Iohn 8.51 If any many keepe my saying he shall never see death Iohn 11.25 Hee that believeth in me though hee were dead yet shall hee live And whosoever believeth in mee shall never see death If thou doubt that thou shalt perish and not be saved apply Hee that believes in Christ shall not perish but shall have everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation Labour to believe these Promises for that is required of thee for the obtaining of what is promised THE XVII LEGACY If thine heart bee as a wildernesse barren of good WHen thou findest thine heart as a wildernesse barren of good apply Esai 35.1 2. The wildernesse and the solitary place shall bee glad for them and the desart shall rejoyce and blossome as the Rose It shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing This promise is made to the Church and every member of it may apply it to themselves therefore when thou feelest thine heart as a desart wildernesse and wast ground void of good full of bryers and thornes of sinne then know thou shalt not only bring forth sweet smelling graces like Roses but also all abundance of them Pro. 11.28 The righteous shal flourish as a branch Prov. 13.4 The soule of the diligent shall be made fat Hos 14.5.6 I will be as the dew to Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots like Lebanon His branches shall spread his beauty shall be as the Olive tree his smell as Lebanon When wee want meanes to make us fruitfull apply The Lord will be a dew to Israel When wee desire to flourish and grow vp in grace apply He shall grow as the Lilly his branches shall spread If thou wouldest shine forth in the beauty of holynes apply His beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and as the Lillies whose glory is greater then Solomons in all his Royalty If thou wouldest have thy graces send forth a sweet smell apply His smell shall be as Lebanon If thou fearest the continuance of this estate apply He shal fasten his roots as ahe trees of Lebanon It matters not how great our barrennesse be when God will
be a dew to us it will quickly make us fruitfull we shall bring forth fruits glorious to the sight as the Lilly and as the Olive tree and the sent of our graces shall be a sweet smelling savor as the trees of Lebanon Therefore though thou feelest thy heart yet barrē thou hast used means long yet art not fruitfull still use the meanes and beleeve for therein did Abraham glorifie God that hee beleeved above hope that Sarah should have a Son whose wombe was barren and by yeeres past child-bearing so though thine heart remaine barren in thine own feeling after long use of meanes yet still follow seeking in the meanes and believe for we have as sure promises and as faithfull a performer as Abraham had Iesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever Iohn 7.38 He that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life THE XVIII LEGACY If thou wantest holinesse WHen thou art troubled for want of holinesse apply Exod. 19.6 You shall be an haly nation Deut. 28.9 And the Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himselfe The Lord will make thee holy therefore Sinne nor Satan nor wicked men cannot hinder thy holinesse for he that makes thee holy is stronger then all and doth what he will 1. Thess 5.23.24 The God of peace shall sanctify you throughout in spirit soule and body Faithfull is he which calleth you which will also doe it THE XIX LEGACY When thou canst not offer up any sacrifice WHen thou canst not offer up any sacrifice to God of prayer or prayse or thy selfe in sacrifice apply Exod. 19.6 Yee shall bee unto mee a Kingdome of Priests God promiseth that wee shall be Priests that is such as shall offer up sacrifice unto him for that was the Priests office Therefore when thou findest thy selfe unable to pray or praise the Lord or to offer up thy selfe to God soule and body strive in faith grounded on the promises that he which commanded hath also promised to make us able to doe it for he hath said We shall be Priests Malac. 1.11 In every place incense shall bee off ered to my name and a pure offering which is spoken of the believing Gentiles therefore thou being one of thē shalt be able to offer up pure offerings THE XX. LEGACY When thou feelest but litle grace WHen thou feelest litle grace knowledge faith love repentance all very litle apply Iob. 8.7 Though thy beginning be small yet thy later end shall greatly increase Matth. 13.12 Whosoever hath to him shall bee given and hee shall have abundance Therefore let not thy small beginnings discourage thee but if thou canst prove thou hast some grace then joyne faith and diligence together and they will quickly make thee rich THE XXI LEGACY When all thy graces are weake WHen thou findest all thy graces very weake and no strength to performe any spirituall duty either prayer or fasting or any other duty then apply Psal 29.11 The Lord will give strength unto his people Isai 40.29.31 He giveth power to the faint and to them which have no might hee increaseth strength They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not faint When thou feelest by selfe faint stay thy selfe with this promise Hee gives strength to him that fainteth When thou feelest no power apply to him that hath no strength he increaseth power If thou hast lost thy power then stay thy selfe with this they shall renew their strength If thou art ready to give over through wearinesse then gather strength from this They shall run and not bee weary and walke and not bee faint And if thou findest not these promises performed unto thee either thou endeavourest not to keepe the conditions or else thou art negligent in searching out the promises or cold in suing for them the Lord will bee sought to for the performance Isai 41.10 I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse Isa 26.4 Trust thou in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Iehovah is everlasting strength To know there is strength in the Lord is no comfort unlesse we know it shall be for us Therefore since it is given for a comfort it must include this promise Thus the Lords strength for evermore shall bee imployed for our good Therefore when we want for either soule or body we must fixe our confidence in him who will not faile us if we seek unto him THE XXII LEGACY When thy heart is dryed for want of Grace WHen thou feelest thy heart dryed up for want of grace that thou canst not send forth any water of grace in thy thoughts words and works apply Isa 44.3 I will powre water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the drye ground Isai 58.11 The Lord shall satisfy thy soule in drought and make fat thy bones and thou halt bee like a watred garden and like a spring of waters whose waters faile not Ier. 17.8 He shall be as a tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat commeth but her leafe shall bee green and shall not bee carefull in the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeilding fruit Ier. 31.12 Their soule shall beee as a watred garden Iam. 4.6 God giveth grace unto the humble Isa 35.6 7. In the wildernesse shall waters break out and streames in the desert And the parched ground shall be come a poole and the thirsty land springs of waters That is the most barren heart shall abound with grace according to that promise Ioh. 7.38 Out of their bellies shall flow rivers of the waters of Life Isa 41.17 18. When the poore and needy seeke water and there is none and their tongues faile for thirst I the Lord will heare them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will open rivers in high places and fountaines in the midst of the valleyes I will make the wildernesse a poole of water and the drye land springs of water I will plant in the wildernesse the Cedar the Shittah-tree and the Mirtle and the O live tree I will set in the desart the Firre-tree and the Pine and the Box tree together So now though thou feelest thy heart barren know that God will bee thy Gardiner to thy barren heart to make pooles and plant pleasant grapes of graces therefore seeing he taketh upon himselfe the worke feare not the badnesse of the ground for hee will make it good as a fruitfull garden THE XXIII LEGACY If thou wantest the spirit IF thou feelest thou wantest the spirit of God apply Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you Luke 11.13 If yee then being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give
in earth Psal 335.6 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts so shall I talke of thy wondrous works Psal 11.27 6. Remember thy Word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119.49 Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Psal 113.5 7. Incline my heart unto thy Testimonie and not unto Covetousnesse Psal 119.36 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me thou knewest my paths Psal 142.3 8. My soule is continually in my hand yet doe J not forget thy Law Psal 119.109 Stablish thy word unto thy seruant who is devoted to thy feare Psal 119.38 A POSTSCRIPT TO ALL TRVE BELEEVERS Gracious Beleevers KNowing you to be the only heires of those rich and precious promises which it hath pleased our gracious Father freely to give unto his freely beloved Children I have presumed without your knowledge to bequeath unto you a fatherlesse child brought forth into the world without the parents knowledge hoping you will not be unwilling to let it passe under your favourable protection For the subject matter of it it is very beautifull and of such use as no child of God can passe to Heaven without it and in that regard it shall bee no shame unto you whom the Lord hath honoured with the grace of believing to accept of this small Treatise from one that desires your prospering in your soules and bodies There is no blemish in this that I dedicate unto you but such as came by the hands of the unskilfull bringer forth of it which only minded their own good in it And weighing dayly the beauty of it and the sweet refreshing strength which flowed from it for the overcomming of those three deadly enemies the Devill Sin and the World they desired that Ged would bee pleased to move the minds of some of his most skilfull workmen to put to their hands to frame a more perfect work upon so perfect a subject and to give a more comely forme to this so beautifull a subject and till then they intended to smoother in their bosomes the beauty of this rather then to bring it forth with the blemishes of their unskilfulnesse But the good that may be gayned by it being unutterable I hope grace in the hearts of Gods people will cause them like the Bee to suck out the sweet and nourishing vertue of these fragrant flowers that grow here and there in the garden of Gods word and not with discontent to cast away this pleasant posy gathered out of the celestiall Eden of the sacred Scriptures because an unskilfull hand and indeed unworthy hath bound them up together not so orderly as might please the curious eye of man no nor their owne neither was it their ayme so to doe J fany gaine any good by it the gatherer of these sweet flowers together neither deserves nor desires thanks for they intended it to none but to themselves and some private friends whose importunity wrung some copies from them and now without their consent have published it And now since it is published and cannot bee stopped the Lord cause it to worke in all his according to that which he hath given the promises for to work in the hearts of his people even to make them partakers of the divine nature 2. Pet. 1.4 And as a meanes to make them to take every day a litle posy from the rest one of the promises gathered together and apply it to thy selfe see how thou standest in need of it and every word in it and then apply it to thy selfe by faith and let it stirre thee up to goe to God in prayer for the accomplishment of them unto thee then waite in the diligent use of all meanes for the gayning of them and you shall find God not only making you heires of promises but you shall be comfortable possessours of those many good things which God hath promised to Beleevers The more you meditate and the oftner you â—ay upon them the more good will you see in them and find flow from them I say no more but I doubt not but your experiences of good by these promises will be more then I can make knowne unto you I desire the God of mercies our loving father in our Lord Iesus Christ in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen to make you dayly find experimentally the truth of all his gracious promises FIVE TABLES FOR THE Right and Ready finding out of any Promise in this Booke for the comfortable supply of present necessity the number shewes the page where the Promise wee would have is to be found The 1. Table Concerning sin RVles for reading the Promises If we find nothing in our selves that may move God pag. 1. If wee feare God will remember our sinnes to punish them pag. 4. If often sinning cause thee doubt of pardon pag. 5. If thou despaire pag. 6. If thou findest sinne an heavy burden and Satan pursuing pag. 8. If thou turn from sinne and yet doubt of pardon pag. 10. If thou wouldst have thy manifold rebellions subdued pag. 13. If thy heart be hard and full of corruption pag. 14. If unbridled nature break out into passion pag. 16. If thou be in bondage to some sin pag. 17. If thou fearest the breaking out of strong sinnes pag. 18. When thou art stayed from sinne by admonition pag. 20. If thou fearest God will destroy thee for sinne pag. 21. If thou bee tempted to uncleannesse pag. 22. If thou canst not find out thy sinne for which God corrects thee pag. 23. If thou doubt of salvation pag. 24. The 2. Table Concerning Grace IF thine heart be as a wildernesse barren of good pag. 25. If thou wantest holinesse pag. 29. When thou canst not offer up any sacrifice pag. 30. When thou feelest but little grace pag. 31. When all thy graces are weake pag. 32. When thy heart is dry for want of grace pag. 35. If thou wantest the spirit pag. 38. If looking on Gods love thou canst not love God againe pag. 39. If thou canst not bring thine heart to delight in the Lord. pag. 40. If thou feelest not Gods feare in thine heart pag. 41. If thine heart will not praise the Lord. page 42. If thou wantest wisdome pag. 43. If thou canst not understand Gods voyce pag. 44 If thou canst not see into the mysteries of the Gospell pag. 45. If thou seest a good way and hast no power to walke in it pag. 46. If thou wantest memory pag. 48. When thou seest thine ignorance pag. 49. If thou desirest grace and art not fatisfied pag. 52. If thine heart be dead pag. 54. If thou fearest falling away pag. 55. If thou art falne pag. 58. When the Lord hath forsaken thee p. 60. When thou feelest thy vilenesse pag. 62. When thou feelest thy spirituall poverty pag. 64. When thou art in a strait pag. 65. If thou fearest Satan will cause thee to fall pag. 67. If thou canst not profit by the word of God pag.