for this stedfastnes Are we not capable of it God able to giue it Is it not promised to them that seeke it Hath not Christ procured it Be not the meanes great to effect it Or shall not the Spirit haue will and power to apply it Why then labour we no more for it Spend our time consume our dayes without it And as it may be had So is it worth the hauing Will a wise man take a dwarfe to his prentice Make choice of weake willowes to be the posts of an house Or presse children for souldiers I trow not Then if ever we would be the servants of the most high God Acts 16.17 timber in his Spirituall Temple fight vnder the colours of the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah 1. Pet. 2.5 and be crowned with glory immortall Rev. 5.5 get we this Stedfastnes For our Captaine Christ our Lord and chiefe Master admits of none but strong men in his armie tall Cedars to build him an house and stones of the firmest temper to be placed in the walles We liue in good dayes better then our forefathers before vs So that lesse strength was expected from them then will be at our hands For God is equall in all his wayes lookes for encrease answerable to the times and meanes Wherefore be thou assured that where much is given Mat. 25.20 much shall be required and why should it not Had we a plant in our garden should we water it morning evening prune it hedge round about it and for all this labour did it not grow shoote vp flourish would we not rend it vp by the rootes cast it forth and suffer it to dye to wither And shall not the Lord do so to vs if we attaine not to the forenamâ—d stedfastnes What could he haue done more for vs then he hath done Will he suffer vs alwaies to cumber the ground Make the place barren Luk. 13.7 No no he will send forth his Vine-dresser giue him astrict charge to cut vs downe And say to vs as Christ did to the Figtree never fruite grow on thee more I can tell you Mar. 9.14 that this would be a sorrowfull season a dismall day and a wofull feareful sentence whose eares would not tingle and haires bristle to heare it And rather then vndergoe it wish he had never been borne Wherefore get wisedome and faith and stedfastnes and abound in all And when thou hast it in the habit then bring it into act exercise thy selfe lay thy pollicie bend all thy might to be deeply rooted grounded in the grace of God and all times to be doing A weake man in the gifts of the spirit is like to him who hath many corporall infirmities both his person and motion are vnpleasant vnprofitable Who will Commend a feeble beast Or who desires to backe one that halteth And so much for this point And fall from your owne stedfastnes The next thing we obserue out of these words is this that Doct. 2 A Spirituall stedfastnes may be fallen from It may though it should not ought not else why did the Apostle giue out this charge publish this Caveat Or why are beleeuers so often forewarned premonished to beware to take heed of it And what a cloud of witnesses in the holy letters haue we recorded who fell from it 2 Sam 11.4 11 Neh. 13.26 What a fall had David one of the Lords worthies His goodson was a long time carryed downe the winde went backe many degrees Gal 2.13 Peter also had a sudden but a shrewd slip pulling Barnabas downe with him Rev. 2.4 But what doe I talke of tell of single persons 2. Tim. 1.15 1 Kin 12.20 when as whole Churches tribes nations haue turned backward as Galatia Ephesus all Asia and the Iewes Now for the more full and profitable prosecution of this point we will first declare what this defection is with the kinds degrees of it next the grounds and causes of it thirdly the symptomes that attend it and last of all from the forenamed particulars make application where 1. Remedies to recover the declining Christian shall be prescribed 2. H lpes to support him who standeth annexed And 3. directions for the young convert added these things being premised let vs goe on A falling from Spirituall stedfastnes I The fall from Spirituall Stedfastnes defined is a decay of the degree of grace obtained For as Spirituall stedfastnes is a firme retention of the degree of grace acquired So by the rule of contraries this must be a losse of the measure thereof receiued And this decay Distributed may be of the Habit. Acts. The habit of grace may be derceased Some there be who hold that the habit admits not of the least losse or damage for as the Moone say they hath various aspects yet hir body nothing diminished So would these haue it with the habit of grace in a sanctified person But I rather accord with them who are otherwise minded And that for these succeeding reasons 1. For is it not a Created thing 2. It is a separable adjunct may be rent from its proper subject for it results not out of the principles which giue man his essentiall being as the facultie of risibilitie doth These arguments make it possible 3. As the habit in the vse of the meanes may be strengthened So by the neglect thereof why should it not be weakened 4. From the rule of opposites corruption we all agree may be decreased and then why may not grace be also diminished These two latter reasons make the position as the former possible if not more then probable Quest To take it then for granted that the habit may be decayed in a found Christian Solut. it may be demanded in what degree For the solution of this question may it be thought worthy to passe we answer that seldome if ever is it wasted to that degree it was of at the first infusion or if it should proceed so far yet never beyond it our reason For as we were meere patients at the first reception So are we no agents in its destruction Lose we may what addition by our Cooperation with it we haue gained but not the least dramme of that the which without our coworking was at our effectuall call infused A natural father could he prevent it would not suffer his Sonne to wast the stocke he primarily conferred on him although he might winke at the mispending of what he by the vse thereof hath gained And then shall our heavenly who can let permit his children to consume his talents he first imparted to them Againe our Apostle in this place admonisheth the Saints to beware that they did not fall from their strength or strengthening not from the habit of grace or that bulke as I may call it the which as a seed in the soyle of their soules was at the time of their conversion scattered but from that degree they since
but the vngodly Are without bonds in death except the transgressor Brethren infidelitie will raise in mans hart loose conceipts of God and of his nature almost perswade that seeing is not beleeving Had not the Prophet such thoughts as these Was he not almost by these Sophistications fallacies well neere turned out of the way Cast vpon his backe And runne the path of open profanesse Without doubt they stayed his steps for a time hindred his holy progresse Reade Psal 73. Per totum 4. Carnal confidence that is whatsoeuer we trust in except Christ Iesus The Iewes had Abraham for their father Moses to their master teacher Circumcision the seale of righteousnesse the Arke Temple Oracles all holy ordinances and worshipped at Ierusalem yet excluding Christ the true Paschall Lambe the Messiah premised What was al they did or had but a confidence in the flesh Was not Paul an Hebrew of the Hebrewes Of the kinred of Israel And of the tribe of Beniamin Circumcised the eight day Brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel And profited aboue manie Phil 3.3 a Pharisee by profession zealous towards God And lived after the most strict sect of that religion And what was all this Acts 26.5 Christ being denied of him but a fleshly confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified and truly sanctified haue an eye look back to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified truly Sanctified haue an eye looke backe to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And a step from grace Giue we an instance of this without exception What say you of the Galatians Would not they haue their workes concur with the obedience of Christ in the act of iustification And for this cause be they not sayd to haue ended in the flesh Gal. 3.3 Fallen from the grace of God This is a secret yet a certaine truth that a man may be carried away to place some confidence in his owne worthines and if he doe according to that degree he falleâ—h from Spirituall stedfastnes For Christ must be all in all Col. 3.11 else no setlednesse and therefore for this very thing we truly affirme that Rome is fallen from the faith and led away with the errour of the wicked 5. Weakenesse of grace To speake properly this is not a reall or positiue cause of declining yet by occasion may haue a finger in the businesse For grace as all other things is apt to conserue it selfe and no agent by intention of its owne diminution Put a small portion of fire into a bundle of greene wood will not the act thereof by its ouer-strong adversarie in some degree be weakned So grace being a little one corruption big and mighty and besetting it round why may it not also in part be extinguished Gal. 5.17 For flesh and spirit are contraries lodge in the regenerate person are alwaies quarelling whence it comes to passe that grace being vnequally matched is over-mastered and quenched though not totally coÌ„sumed Yea doubtlesse were it not for the spirit of God who at al times stands by the new-man and in everie conflict as Eli the lampe with oyle 1. Sam 3. Ioab David with a new created power releeues him the old-man wold put out the caÌ„dle of his life coÌ„quer overcome him 6. Want of knowledge experimentall When a tradesman hath a stocke followeth his calling seeth how customers come in hath daily doings whereby he augmenteth his substance gaineth great things and winneth reputation will it not animate put spirit and life into him to be constant in the execution of his vocation And so will it be with the experienced Christian When he can say by proofe Psal 6 9. the Lord hath heard my prayer performed his promise comforted me in trouble and to this day hath never failed or forsaken me he will goe on in the continuall practice of holy actions 1. Cor. 6.8 thorough good report and evill report without the least relaxation There is a misterie in godlines the which being learned will make a Christian stedfast immooueable When a man hath tasted of the good word of God savingly felt the power of the world to come and is familiarly acquainted with the ravishings of the spirit nothing can stay his steps hinder his progresse to the land of the living Doth not a tradesman know in the time of bargaining the worth of skill What when commodities are deere money will doe How sweet a thing it is to gather out of a great heape Not to be beholding or to take vpon trust of his neighbour And the same doth an experienced professed Christian He vnderstands the necessitie of faith and grace when God as I may say sets Christ and salvation to sale and how were he now without the treasure of the spirit constrained like the fiue foolish virgins to borrow of his acquaintance Mat. 25. in a day of dearth he were quite vndone Who is so vnwise but knowes that goods are alwaies profitable Money will can do manie things A diligent hand maketh rich Pro. 10.4 And to him who hath Luk. 8.18 shall be giuen But too few vnderstand the gaine of Godlinesse the vse of grace the purchase may be made therwith what credit such men haue with God and what promotion he will conferre vpon them who carefully seeke it conserue it Ignorance in this thing makes manie banke-rupts politicall spirituall Now the contrarie of all these we haue mentioned will be excellent helpes for the firme retention of grace receiued Wherefore keepe thy body in good plight feede on choice meates walke in pure aire vse moderate labour recreation And drinke a little wine 2. Tim. 5.3 to prevent thy corporall infirmities Consider how plants spread in a fertile soyle beasts feed fatter in a fresh pasture and in the vse of the lawfull meanes meanes all kind of creatures thriue prosper Col. 3.5 mortifie also fleshly lusts crucifie the whole bodie of sinne for in so doing 1. Cor. 9. vlt. thou shalt remoue rubs out of the way curb the Oldman binde him to good behaviour See in like sort thou increase thy faith and that will expell infidelitie consume it as fire doth subble and driue it out of the heart to dwell as Hagar in the wildernesse And shall not hope in Christ make the Newman lustie Strong Arme him against feare Foule despaire And in all assaults cheere vp his spirits Be sure to grow in grace For is not a feeble person subject to trip To stumble Catch a fall When able bodies hould out March valiantly Win the field In a word get experience of Gods dealing with the righteous what sound ioy there is in the
powerfull practise of religious duties vnspeakeable comfort in suffering for well doing Thus doe and when Sathan doth tempt thee his sworne slaues persecute thee the world allure thee and the flesh resist thee thou shalt say to all with Indignation Neh. 6.11 get yee hence Shall such a man as I am flee Do this wickednesse to liue Offend my good God Gen. 39.9 And hazard the finall estate of my soule Nay rather let my arme fall from my shoulder Iob. 31.22 Psal 137.5 my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth And thus much of the inward causes of declining the other from without vs follow 2. Chro. 21.13 1. Wavering-minded companions He who walkes with such will in time walke as such When the kings of Iudah fell from the true worship of God did not the subiects also Did not Peter by his example Gal. 2.13 seduce Barnabas his fellow-labourer The one led awry the other followed What was the cause Samson lost his strength Was it not too much familiaritie with dancing Dalilah This is not the least blocke in the way 2 The fierie triall of affliction Luk. 2.35 Peirce the Soule of Marie with this sword will not the hearts of manie be discouerd 2. Tim. 1.15 Put Paul in prison all Asia straight forsake him Let Iesus be condemned his owne Disciples will be offended Oh! Affliction is harsh to flesh and bloud skin for skin Iob. 2.4 and what will not a man do to saue his life This winde where and when it bloweth causeth the strong to stagger and trippeth vp the heeles of manie weake ones 3 Personall wrongs vndeserved iniuries Nabals churlish dealing with David well deserving gaue him a sudden slip staide 2. Sam. 25.11.15 for some season his spirituall motion What else made the good subiects of Salomon 2. Chro. 10 7.16 to fall from his Son Rehoboam to cry what portion haue we in David Or inheritance in the sonne of Iesse O Israel see to thine owne house Had the king spoke kindly to them giuen them good words they would haue bin his servants for ever 4 Publicke scandall When the Word preached but seemes to sound against a mans person then he recoiles like an overcharged Cannon on no other occasion did many of Christs followers forsake him Ioh. 6.66 walke no more with him Were not the Galatians in the same predicament Gal. 1.9.10 What else had a foot in their retrogradation And is any thing more common in our daies than for the people to take offence at the doctrine Sometimes from the habit of their Teachers 5. Example of supposed great ones Hence sprung these speeches Doe any of the Rulers follow him Of the Pharisees beleeue on him Ioh 7.48 Moses is our Teacher and doth this man restraine learning to himselfe Ioh. 9.29 We know God spake to the one 1. Sam. 8.5 But as for this fellow we know not whence he is Likely from the same ground the people would haue a king other nations had so As with the fashion we deale with religion if great men vse it all follow it but if not we cast it off 6. Disreputation When persons haue rare parts faire promises but not promoted then they turne Priest Iesuit as Sanders Stapleton to get preferment This may be the cause why Demas forsooke Paul cast off his calling 2. Tim. 4.10 And as some thinke became an Idol-priest at Thessalonica However that was this cord pulleth many from the right path wherin sometimes they had walked I might here mention many more as the habites of pleasure seate of promotion titles of honor paritie with nobles commande of the vulgar and revenge on the adversarie false teachers falls of great ones seeming foolishnes of Gods ordinances glorious shewes of holinesse counterfeit miracles and shining ceremonies The chaire of securitie sad lookes of the forward simplicitie of honest hearted Christians or their sillinesse rather Adde to all these the Divels cunning Sathans enterprises alwaies stinting vs at the heele to dimme the eye of the minde wither the hand of faith or eclipse its obiect This red Dragon with his depths coales of envie boiling vp all the forenamed parts in the Cauldron of his malice will make such a filthie scumme to ascend the which being smelt of the New-man were it not for the good Physition of our soules who cureth all diseases would cast him into a totall irrecouerable consumption Here before we proceed to the next generall head it is to be obserued how these causes mentioned may be applied as wel to him who hath but a forme of godlines as to the sound Christian and that they doe not onely hinder the exercise of grace but also weaken the habit Sometimes working it as Ioab stabbed Abner to the heart at once now and then successiuely as a thiefe is said to quench the Candle For some are like a strong poison that dispatcheth its patient quickly others a lingring disease which killeth certainely thee not suddenly These things being inserted let vs proceed to the next head 1. Symptomeâ— of declining When we haue not so cleare an apprehension of the worth of grace and the meanes to procure it increase it as in former time If the glory thereof be darkened and we account faith loue hope but as common favours in some degree we are declinâ—d When the corporall eye behouldes externall obiects not changed â—rom their naturall glosse but dimmely it argueth a decay in the organ the facultie of seeing So when the good word of God the sacred gifts of the spirit present themselues to our internall senses as broken notions ordinarie things not as Baulme to cure our deadly woundes Angels food to refresh our never dying Spirits and the onely pence whereby to purchase a pardon for our sinnes the loving kindnesse of our God and the land of eternall rest then is the habit of our vnderstanding decreased When we see the fore-specified things as grasse vnder our feet common passengers we meete withall as if we saw them not questionlesse we haue catcht a fall 2. If we want an eager appetite after the doctrine of sound words the bread and water of life feed on them more for feare and fashion than loue and affection we haue just cause to suspect our selues That stomake growes weake which desires nouelties longs for vncouth things And having fed twice or thrice on wholsome meates begins to turne When men picke out some odde author tye themselues to him in their continuall studie talke of him quote him commend him as the onely Champion of all the learned be they who or what you will their spirituall eie-sight and appetite are weakened and the New-man is in a fit of languishing He who leaues the road-way is out of the way 3. Ion. 1.3 c. A neglect of our particular callings When Ionah will not to Ninevie but pay his fare
not an emptinesse a weakenesse in all What one grace is perfect at the first infusion Adams were at his creation not ours at our regeneration Iustified we are in one act absolute in a moment For the obiect matter of it is without vs imputed to vs but sanctified we be by degrees in that grace is inherent wrought in vs by way of infusion addition Things easily got are the lesse regarded We must therefore with much strugling finish the measure of our full and entire Sanctification Reas 2 And haue we not the remainders of the old-man left within vs The feeds of all the kinds of corruption in some degree vnmortified What then but increase of grace can expell these Will Sathan driue out Sathan How then should his kingdome endure It is the manie fingers of the new-man which must dispossesse these vncleane spirits For knowledge as light darkenesse dispelleth ignorance faith as winde chaffe blowes away infidelitie And loue as heat cold banisheth hatred yet these must be stronger than their contraries otherwise it will not cannot be Reas 3 Againe hath not a Christian severall sorts of temptations And will they not like Goliahs brags grow greater and greater What Or who shall quench these fierie darts Plucke the Devils weapons out of his hands And hurle him against the wall Any thing but faiths and hopes increase It is a truth that every particular grace of the Spirit hath an opposite adversarie within man and speciall temptation from without him and that a strong one Therefore a growth in all of them is necessarie to conquer and overcome their contrarie enemies Reas 4 In a word should we not grow at all we were but dwarfes and in some not every grace would breed deformitie Is it not a comely thing to see a plant spread all her branches equally A bodie thrive in each member proportionably What then Is this commendable in the outward and not the inward man Should but one finger stand at a stay would we not count it a blemish Shall we not blush then at the other And thus you see it stands with reason how Christians must grow in all graces they haue receiued Quest But may one grace grow and not another Ans I iudge so For the bent and inclination of mans minde may be more set to encrease one than another And if this be so why may he not Shall his intention be made frustrate Also occasions are often offered to exercise one more than another And shall not many acts cause a stronger habit Else how should tribulation bring foorth patience Rom. 5.3 Againe the frequent vse of one its probable by accident may hinder the augmentation of some other For severall charitable actions may occasion pride though not of their owne nature This chaffe will cleaue to the best graine now if pride grow will not humilitie for a season stand still And will it not appeare from the rules of Contraries Shall we not see the wicked grow in one corruption decay in another And that not onely of such as haue the most contrariety as Covetousnesse and Prodigalitie but of those that be Disparats as drunkennesse and gluttonie admitting of farre lesse dissention in nature Obict You will obiect that faith is a radicall Grace and infuseth her force into all which flow from her equally Grant it be so yet Sol. that hinders not Doth not the roote send her iuice and vigor into all the branches in like sort not withstanding externall causes as the rise of the Sunne fall of the dew and blast of the winde not all like striking all the boughs may occasion a disproportion Vse 1 May we not from this ground soundly lesson the Romanists And the troupe of bastard protestants among vs For let the growth of their graces be iudged by the effects and in reprouing of them shall we wrong them Do they not bragge of knowledge and defend ignorance Commend faith formed yet liue like infidels Extoll loue and cherish deadly hatred Exalt hope and leaue men in despaire Vow chastitie and mainetaine the stewes Haue they not candles to burne on their altars Gunne-powder to blow vp Parliament houses Will they not grant Pardons And imbrue their hands in the bloud of Innocents Blesse God with their tongues And curse his annointed in their hearts Great devotion the yshew in appearaÌ„ce when destruction and calamitie be in their practise Rom. 3.16 2 Tim. 3.13 What can I say of them But that they grow from evill to worse deceiuing and being deceiued For they can lye and tell truth with one very breath send forth sweet and bitter water from the selfe-same fountaine Grow in grace and encrease in corruption Cry out for vnitie and sow the seedes of enmity And that which surpasseth all A Iesuit can liue a Traytor dye a Catholike Martyr Therefore of the Serpents brood and spawne of the Divell be they And be there not some among vs in the same predicament Who goe in knowledge forward Yet like the Crabbe in practise mooue backward Boast of great faith when their good workes are little ones Haue peace in their heads But as Sampsons Foxes Iudg 15.4 certaine firebrands in their tailes Doe they not call for prayer cry downe preaching Are not these monsters Deformed Satyres Rather than compleate Christians Throughout sanctified persons 2. King 17. vlt. These resemble those who feared God yet served their Idols Vse 2 But beloued let it not be so with you but adde to your vertue 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. faith to your faith knowledge to your knowledge temperance to your temperance patience to your patience godlâ—nesse And to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse For if these things be in you and abound you shall neither be barren nor vnfruiâ—full Christians in the Church must not be like stones in the building alwayes in bulke equal neither grow as the bul-rush bigger and weaker but burnish as the Cedar waxe strong as the Oake Gods plants must achieue an augmentation Of each branch everie member a consolidation Thy lâ—ue must be hot thine hatred deadly thy desires eager and thy zeale burning Thy faith never failing thy hope longing thine anger fierce thy delights ravishing yea thy griefe deepe thy feare terrible and thou thy selfe prooue more than a conqueror Rom. 8.37 But aboue all graces grow in faith Th' Apostle Iude exhorts the people to edifie one another in their holy faith Iude. 20. For faith is the roote from the which all other branches spring the fountaine out of which flow all the rivers of holy actions and the sure foundation that supports the whole building of godlinesse Wherefore if faith decrease every gift of the Spirit will wither dye the waters of sanctification runne weakely be dryed vp And the goodly frame of our new erected Temple reele and totter Doubtlesse manie and great advantages hath a Christian by his faith For it raiseth the dead iustifieth the wicked purifieth the heart It comforteth the feeble
Apostle doth not intend the things hard to be vnderstood in the Epistles of his beloved brother Paul but the mis-interpretations which the vnlearned and vnstable deduce and draw from them to their owne perdition Take heede beware watch haue an eye a kind of presidiarie or Martiall guarding of a mans selfe Lest yee also being led away or led away together a Metaphoricall speach it seemes borrowed from a traueller who by the wandring of others is subject to be seduced With the errour mistaking false opinion or wandring from the true way the Apostle continueth on in the Metaphor Of the wicked the proper signification of the word is one Lawlesse or as some will for whom no law is put and appointed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth to the Hebrew word rashang which is by interpretction restlesnes for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 privativa and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if we should say in English vnsetled Fall slyde or goe downe as starres Your owne that which in the vse of the meanes you haue obtained and the Lord conferred â—mparted Stedfastnes Strength stablenes confirmation and that Spirituall not Corporall Whereas in the last dayes shall arise scoffers The Metaphrase walking after there owne lusts and perverting the word of truth to their owne perdition I doe therefore admonish you my well affected Countrymen and by you all succeeding Churches especially knowing these things before that you be circumspect and set a Martiall watch ouer your selues lest you together with these erroneous and vnsetled persons through ignorance or weaknes be seduced and led away from the right path the doctrine of godlines and so be deprived of the Lords ordinances he hath imparted and you your owne selues obtained Now in the deduction of doctrines we will begin with the last words of our text first and as Ruth after Boaz his reapers gleane and gather the fullest and best fed eares which the hand of the Holy-Ghost hath let fall for the Spirituall bread and nourishment of our soules Doctrines deduced Fall from your owne stedfastnes From this sentence we in the first place collect that Doct. 1 A Spirituall stedfastnes may be obtained Psal 27 vlt. and 51.12 and 112.7 The Prophet David commands it prays for it and confesseth that some did obtaine it possesse it And doth not the Apostle also perswade to the same 1 Cor. 15. vlt. crying be stedfast immooueable For this end did he not desire to see the Romans Rom. 1.11 Send Timotheus to the Thessalonians And doe not his fellow-labourers Vrge 1 Thes 3.2 presse the same thing Iam. 5.8 Who then hath cause to question the truth of this Doctrine If any shall Rev. 3.2 reason may releeue him Reas 1 For is not man a Subject capable of it may he not be fitted to receiue it Is not the facultie of his vnderstanding in respect of its essence Sound his will of power strongly since his fall bent to action And hath he not affections violent passionate Memorie too to retaine iniuries things done of old Fallow ground Ier. 4.3 may be manured receiue good seed and bring foorth fruite fifty an hundred fold Waxe if the signet be imposed will it not take a faire stampe a semblable impression a slip rent from the tree may liue bud beare in abundance if set into a flourishing stocke the Body though dead the soule re-infused will reviue mooue and performe its naturall operations And what if we affirme Ephe. 2.1 that man by nature is as a liuelesse log a sencelesse stone Iohn 15.5 and a withered branch Yet this must be vnderstood in regard of Spirituall motion not graces and stedfastnesse reception Reas 2 Againe shall we thinke any thing impossible with God In no sort Matth. 19.26 except it crosse his owne nature and contradict the truth of things and doth this we haue in hand either of them What or who is he dares say so From a privation to a habit there is no regresse or returne by the rule of Philosophie Ioh. 9.6.7 but in the Art of Theologie Ioh. 11.44 it may be found Hath not God opened the eyes of him that was borne blind raised the dead to life and could if he would haue made stones reasonable men Heb. 11.3 Did he not at the beginning make al things of nothing And be there any greater opposites Contradictions then these Where may they be had Is not Logick the Art of reason Silent or dare we imagin that the hand of Iehovah is shortned His power weakned What a height of blasphemie were this Without controversie to Create is little lesse difficult then to remake and amend Reas 3 And if this were not thus for what end was preaching appointed Sacraments ordained and Prayer commanded are these giuen in vaine For no end What greater impietie Deeper degree of indignitie can be offered against God and his holy powerfull Ordinances Is not the word mightie in operation Heb. 4.12 able to pull downe strong holdes And repaire his decayed image Rom. 1.17 His ruinated Temple Is it not Spirit and life Ioh. 6.63 And hath not Christ promised that the dead hearing it shall liue Certainely this seede Iohn 5.25 being sowne in the Lords chosen closes will prosper not a corne thereof shall miscarie Wherefore let Sathans plots not Gods purpose be frustrate and brought to naught Reas 4 Finally let me aske thee a question Shall not Christ be of abilitie to recouer what Adam of imbecillitie lost The Holy-Ghost to build what the vncleane Spirit did destroy What if Sathan be strong Is not the Archangell able to match him breake his head and grinde him to powder Shal not the Creator conquer the Creature Gen. 3.15 the yonger here shall serue the elder What a depth of infidelitie were it to dispute Doubt of this Why then let it euer remaine as an infalible truth that a Spirituall Stedfastnes may be obtained For what the sonne hath purchased by the Spirit shall be applyed Ioh. 16.15 Now for our further information it may thus be defined Stedfastnes defined Spirituall stedfastnes is afirme retention of the degree of grace received In this definition two things are chiefly to be considered the Genus a firme Retention and the Difference of the degree of grace received We call it a firme stable or setled retention the which truth is in the holy letters pressed though vnder various termes 2. Timo. 1.14 That worthy thing which is committed to thee keepe Rev. 2.25 hold what thou hast Let no man take away thy Crowne and many the like And it is a firme retention or setled conseruation of grace and Sanctification not of gold silver place promotion for these we catch as the living hold as men dead nothing shall plucke them out of our hands We adde of the degree or portion For all the regenerat haue not one
equall measure of holines and sanctitie And that for severall reasons 1. One is of ancient standing another of yesterdaies planting 2. Some haue had much watering and dressing others little in compâ—rison of them 3. And all are not a like dilligent to redeeme the time and vse the meanes inioyed Besides God for Speciall ends may conferre more vpon some one Christian at his first conversion then another shall haue acquired at the day of his dissolution yet for all this to keepe and conserue what they haue be it lesse or more from diminution is to continew in the fore mentioned stedfastnes A child as the aged man may retaine his naturall strength So may a babe as the growne Christian his Spirituall in Christ Iesus Stedfastnes distributed Obserue further that this stedfastnes is Habitual Practicâ—l Both these are in our definition comprehended by the Apostle intended And without question may be procured They differ as cause and effect For the former in nature preceads the latter giues an essentiall being to it as the father to his Sonne neither for a moment can exist without it Take away the habit or any degree of it and proportionably the act perisheth whence it may be as a wise Teacher our Apostle primarily intends habituall at the second hand practicall stedfastnes For conserue the fire and it will heat retaine the habit and it will worke Againe habitual stedfastnes is in the Vnderstanding Will and affections For as the faculties so the habits of them are distinct and may be distributed God when he sets vpon the soule to Sanctifie it plants a divine light in the vnderstanding whereby truth and error be cleerely discerned the narrow path to heaven and the spacious Gate that leadeth to hell This is called ey salue Rev. 3.18 or the annoynting which teacheth all things Also the Lord infuseth a new created power into the will and affections 1 Io. 2.27 enabling them to covet and imbrace good to reiect and shunne evill so farre foorth as the vnderstanding part apprehendes and presents them It s a fond dreame of the Arminians that grace should not be habitually infused at our conversion or if it be it is no Sanctifying grace of the Spirit here 's a new doctrine indeed But doth not knowledge expell ignorance Faith infidellity Shall not that then which abolisheth corruption be iustly stiled a grace of Sanctification Nay these men maintaine that the Act in divine graces preceads the habit as if burning should goe before fire Wit whether wilt thou Mat 12.33 Must not the tree first be good before the fruit can doth pure water Iam. 3.11 spring out of a troubled fountaine True it is that many Acts confirme and perfect the habit Rom. 5 3. but yet giue not its essentiall being passing this let vs goe on As for practicall stedfastnes that is Externall Internall Christ admits of this division when he saith Matth. 15 8 these people draw neere me with their mouths and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me The former without the latter is profitable for nothing Who more frequent and constant in externall shewes and Ceremonies than the Pharisees of old the Papists in our times and yet both the most abhominable Hypocrits in the world Take Paul praying 1. Cor. 14 24. it is in the vnderstanding and spirit preaching it is in power authoritie Singing it is with grace and gladnes of heart 2. Tim. 1.7 Where is the ground of his greatest ioy He serues the Lord in the law of his mind Of his deepest griefe The law of his flesh rebels against the law of his minde Rom. 7.22.23.24 This man would obey God with the whole man or he accounts himselfe a miserable wrecthed man O what sweet internall straines haue issued from that setled sanctifyed spirit Psal 139.27 How deere speaking of God are thy thoughts vnto me They are exceeding many Whom haue I in heauen Psal 73.28 but thee When shall I appeare in thy presence Psal 16.8 I set thee alwaies on my right hand Thy law do I loue I will meditate there on night and day Psal 17. vlt. And when I awake I shall be fatisfied with thine image Psal 119.77 Where knowledge is planted in the minde it will see him who is invisible still casting the eye that way amidst a million of other obiects If faith be once rooted in the will let Heretickes dispute Sathan roare the world tempt and death terrifie it stands fast is vnshaken Grant it be moved it s but a little and then afterward with more eagernes affiance like a resolute souldier his fallen armes layeth hold on the Lord Iesus cleaveth faster vnto him These are some of the internall motions of Spirituall stedfastnes as for the external it is when we bring the members of the body to a constant course in holy actions to preach read heare meditate sing pray with any other outward act whatever Now from all which hath beene said what a large path of application haue we to walke in to pace thorow Vse 1 In the setting foorth it confuteth such who conceite it a thing impossible to acquire this Spirituall stedfastnes with the kinds of it but what marvaile When they neglect the meanes omit the season conserue a strong habit of corruption in them by pampering the flesh and a setled course of evill doing are strangers from the life of God haue not one graine of grace neither ever felt the least wound of Mortification should we demand of these the like to Pauls question haue you receiued this Spirituall stedfastnes since you were baptised Acts 19.2 We might expect the like answere for how many would reply We haue not so much as heard that there is a spirituall stedfastnes Or as Festus concerning the Apostle they haue no certaine thing to say of it Acts 25 26 So these may haue milke in their breasts marrow in their bones and corporall stabilitie be able to plow sow runne and ride without wearines this is all they thinke of care for yet doe but obserue the course of these men and shall you not see how they never doubt question the procuring of any other kind of stedfastnes if it fal within the fathome of a created possibility And harshlie censure all who tread not in the highest step and lift not the toe into the loftiest stirrop of profanes For were it to drinke soule-slaying healthes he who comes not to their pitch is condemned casheered as an vnworthie companion to kindle and smoake if he once deny the pipe must get him gone and be packing Is he vnfit for his calling Or careles in the execution of it With open mouth they cry such a man is simple an Idiot and worthy to die a begger Will he not hold out at Dice and Cardes from sunne to sunne Then he is no body nor a commendable Gamester Doth he ever grow
weary in getting or spending Want the least skill omit any oportunitie vntill he become immooueable invincible in a setled path of impietie He is reputed a lazie person a destroyer of good fellowship and deserues the whipping post And notwithstanding all this if they liue in Palpable ignorance obtaine not the knowledge of holy things never acquire one graine of faith procure the weakest Anchor of hope purchase any sacred feare of the most high learne not how to Call vpon God Confesse their sin petition for what they would haue and to be constant in well doing though they haue time meanes for all these and their saluation depends thereon Yet God and Man must hold them excused O heartlesse people Most vnhappie generation Vse 2 At the second step this serueth to taxe such who holding that this stedfastnes may be had yet striue not for it These haue a price in their hands but no willing hearts Luk. 14.19 One must as in old time goe veiwe his farme a second prove his Oxen a third burie his father And a fourth married a wife that he cannot stand about it Some log or other letteth We haue too few rooted in knowledge grounded in faith or stablished with hope Psal 107.27 Every windy doctrine puffes them out of the way makes them stagger and reele like a drunken man The report of a Cannon will cause a faint hearted souldier to quake to tremble And any terrible tidings 1. Timo. 1.19 constraine many to Shipwracke their faith split a good conscience in peices Some as Naball are halfe dead at a threate 1. Sam. 2 5.37 Iudg. 9.36 others with Gaal for all their boasting feare the very shaddow of a mountaine Doe not many among vs read the Bible as beasts runne into bushes on stormie rainie daies Heare a sermon as he who hath an ague mooues his body when they feele the fit to come vpon them Pray as the deafe man speaks when God roundes them in the eare by some heavie iudgment sing Psalmes as beggers worke never but and scarcely then when authoritie inioynes them Giue almes as Iordan fills hir banks rarely in a yeares revolution And receiue the Sacrament when the silly Papists eate an egge to shame Lent and themselues too and that 's but once per annum and then at Easter our Vnderstandings are seldome set on God the Obiect of all perfection our affections with great difficultie are raysed to him our faith fixed on his never failing promises And our wills be weakly bent to runne the pathes of his Commands so that as the Leper cryed I am vncleane I am vncleane We may we are vnsetled we are vnsetled He is one of a thousand who can truly testifie of himselfe that he meditateth vpon God relieth on him and hath his heart firmely fixed on the Lord for some in a great degree lose the very habit of grace others the acts thereof and the most with much wavering hold what they haue obtained Are we not tossed like a feather by the wind Carryed about as a Cocke-boate with the least gust Rev. 2.4 ready as Peter to sinke after a few steps made on the water With Ephesus We haue left if not lost our first affection run from the husband of our youth mispent our portion Hos 2.7 And as the Dog to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 the Sow to hir wallowing in the mire turned to our former wickednes and lapt vp that sinne which in times past we had spued out with great eagernes greedines They who like the Galathians receiued their Ministers as an Angell of God are growne slacke Gal 4.14.15 in giving to him his deserued honour yea peradventure would were the power of their hands equall to the malice of their hearts plucke forth his eyes do him a mischiefe but beloved these things are not ought not to be so Vse 3 And to make a further progresse in following the point if a Spirituall stedfastnes may be procured Let vs try whether we or no haue obtained it Hath the Oldman receiued his deaths wound is he peirced thorow the sides Broken in peices Not able to stand Doth the New feed sat grow strong sing like birds in the pleasant spring is the eye of thy mind opened to see clearely the wonders of the law Deepe mysteries of the Gospell With the vanitie of all Earthly things Is thy soule filled with Faith Loue Hope and all the graces of the holy Ghost Is the pulse of the flesh feeble Of the Spirit firme Canst thou preach in season out of season Heare without wearines Pray Continually and beare crosses with Contentation Dost thou hunger after the bread of heaven Thirst for the water of life And that as often as for thy appointed foode Where be thy thoughts for the most On God or the World Earth or Heaven What are thy words ordinarily Corrupt or Sanctified Thy Actions Good or Evill To be briefe art thou strong in the the Lord and his mightie powâ—r As able now to fight the good Ioshua 14. fight of faith as Caleb was the battels of his God many yeares agone Is thy life ever flowing with the streames of holines as a never dying Spring Thy last crop better then the first And thy meate and drinke daily to doe the will of thy heavenly Father Then be of good comfort Ioh 4.34 forthy labour in the vse of the meanes 1. Cor. 15. vlt. hath not been in vayne in the Lord. But alack How many are ever learning 2. Tim. 3.7 and never come to the knowledge of the truth Full of vnbeleefe noâ—withstanding their long profession of the Gospell And scarce worthy to be numbred among the stedfast For Catechise our people how many know little Nothing Look into their actions are they not vnsetled Follow them home veiw their order there And how few call vpon God desire his blessing Or with the Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 search the Scriptures to boult out the truth they haue heard May not the Ministers complaine of our people as did there Master how long must we be among you When will you procure this stedfastnes Mar. 9.19 O yee of little faith Lesse stabilitie We Preach and you heare we Pray and you too in appearance we giue and you receiue Angels foode Mat. 6.30 bread from heauen the Sacred body of the Lord Iesus and yet you are not it s to be feared established Men like a green Nut sticke still in the husk are shaken as the reed with the least winde weake they be as water and haue need notwithstanding the long time and great meanes they haue enioyed to learne the first principles of religion Heb. 5.12 But is this well done Will God thinke we take it well at our hands Or be contented to receiue his talent with so great damage disadvantage Vse 4 But now to finish our course in the pursuing of this doctrine seeing it may be had strive we
that time had acquired obtained But be it granted that the habit cannot be decreased yet the acts without doubt may be remitted being by some strong enemie from within or without vs opposed the Sunne may be eclipsed his beames restrained when his bodie remaines perfect nothing wasted So is it here However though we thus write we are of opinion that were this Spirituall cessation of long duration it would greatly in danger the habit For as we haue sayd it growes by vse decayes by disvse as we find by experience that naturall habits doe by naturall operations relaxations Obserue further that this decay of the habit and acts of grace be Totall Habituall falling subdivided Partial Totall When the habit is wholy destroyed or all the acts of it vniversally suspended the former befell Adam of speciall grace at the creation Rom. 5.14 And Alexander of common after mans redemption But this kind of fall we take it is not in this place by our Apostle intended 2. Tim. 4.14 nor incident to them who are vnto Christ Iesus by the Spirit vnited Partiall is for the habit of grace may be decreased and its acts remitted in the most regener at person Now this latter kind Is Inward Outward Inward in Iudgment then in the will and affections For the vnderstanding may not only be weakned from the cleare appreheÌ„ding of the truth formerly obtained but also Gal 3.1 as in the Galatians with errour corrupted For they fel froÌ„ the doctrine of iustification in the true rule ground of it mixing their owne workes with the obiect matter of it which is Christ and his obedience actiue passiue This was their iudiciall fall Againe in the will and affections Rev. 2.4 Video meliora c. there may be partiall decay This was the fall of the Church of Ephesus which is sayd to haue left her first love And a truth it is that a man may hold the doctrine sound in respect of iudgment and yet fall from it in regard of practise For the hahit of grace in the vnderstanding is distinct from that in the wil affections whence spring these various declinings And as inwardly So outwardly may we fall from the acts of grace the which in time past we haue performed Dauid doubtlesse was sound in iudgment when he fell so foully in his practise And a man may haue a will to do well when the externall effects may be blasted Psal 39.1.3 as of Peter in the deniall of his master The Prophet purposed to looke to his waies not to offend with his tongue 2 Cor. 16.10 But this was too painful for him therfore he spake vnaduisedly with his lips When that Godly king imprisoned the Seer his iudgment was sound yet his practise corrupt But ordinarily when the inward asts be remitted then the outward are stinted II. Thus having finished the first thing proposed we proceed to the second the causes of these declinings And they be Within vs. Without vs. Causes from within vs. Melancholie for its a true axiom that the soule followes the disposition and temperature of the body the forenamed humour hath various and strange operations drawing a blacke and mournefull curtaine over the New-man casts hidious conceits into the minde and presenteth to the eye of reason the manifold mishapen ougly formes of approaching death burnes and consumes the purest spirits the immediat instrument of the soules acts Or so clogges them with thicke fumes that she cannot lift vp the wing and soare into the third heaven but like a weather-beaten or limed fowle falls downe and makes her motion on the earthie Center creepes on the Globe And Dailie hourly raiseth such cogitations as these Loue why thou art but passion zeale furie ioy madnesse hope a groundlesse conceit And all the graces of the spirit but the operations of meere nature or a more pure disposition of corporall temperature whence it often comes to passe that such who be pestered with the forenamed peccant malady complaine of the soules corruption when it s nothing else but the bodies bad indisposition grow thereby to be out of heart cease from spirituall action and so consequently fall from their former setlednesse He who is ignorant of this thing well may he be an aged person but I am sure no expert Christian. 2. Some raging lust vnmortified affection When such a passenger is in the ship of mans soule like another Ionah it will vnsettle all Was not David strong in the grace of God How came it to passe then that he in some degree fell from his former stedfastnes Why he was of an hot Sanguine complexion which provoketh much to the sinne he committed 2. Sam. 11. now being not carefull enough to curbe that natural pronenesse of certaine was an internall cause of his foule declining Gen. 39.12 Ioseph in this it seemes out-stript him For he resisted though strongly tempted was likely as yong as David had none he six wiues as appeareth And had he disputed with flesh and bloud as forcible arguments to haue allured him What a broade differeÌ„ce was this for David a king to goe in to a subiect and Ioseph a servant to runne from his mistris had noe more bin mentioned Was not his sonne Salomon Neh. 13.26 in his youth a rare yong man Yet in his elder yeeres carried away with outlandish women Why so in plaine english his lust was let loose his affection not mortified He trod not in the steps of holy Paul who laboured with his hands 1. Cor. 9. vlt. fasted often brought his body into subiection that the flesh might not over-master the spirit The like might be the fore-runner to Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest and his wiues looking backe to Sodome If the reines hang vnder his feete the strongest readiest footed beast may stumble catch a fall Cut all the feet equall the table stands stedfast else not 3. Vnbeleefe this workes greater woundes in the soule than ever any mountebanke profest to cure in the bodie It as a moth the garment eates vp the glosse of grace like the worme the Gourd of Ionah smits faith at the roote causeth it to wither and makes the acts thereof feeble liuelesse What mists will this Iugler raised in our vnderstandings Earthquakes within vs Blinde the eie of reason to question common principles Doubt of what we haue knowne by experience How subtilly will this Sophister argue Dispute What Are not all things alike from the beginning Where is the promise of Christs câ—mming 2. Pet. 3 4. When shall the Iewes be called Rome ouerturned Gog and magog destroyed And all Israel saved Mala. 3.14 Are not the wicked advanced Isa 59.15 They who tempt God delivered And he that refraineth from evill made a prey What profit is there in serving the Almightie Seeking the kingdome of heaven Calling vpon the name of the Lord Art thou not poore Despised Psal 37.1.2 c. Persecuted Who flourish
light I walked thorow darknesse 3. And if thou rouze not vp thy spirit be assured that thou shalt be awaked For fearefull dreames may fall vpon thee strange visions in the night present themselues vnto thee and crosses thicke and threefold follow thee close vntill thou returne to thy former tast For shall God lose his labour And his child his soule May not the Lord shut thy wombe Slay thy posteritie Call for a famine Send the sword to wound thee The Pestilence to kill thee Grant thou escapest all these may not a worse arrest thee What if he correct thy sin with sinne That the Church cast thee off Excommunicate thee What pleasure canst thou take in all thy priviledges Maist thou not rather suspect every moment to be swallowed vp of overmuch heavinesse 2. Cor. 2.7 4. But let it be admitted all these might be avoided Yet will not Sathan tempt thee Bend the strong bow of his malice feather his firie darts Set them in the nocke loosse them from the finger of envie strike thee to the hart Hast thou bin his but in the months past When thy eye was first opened And thy corrections sealed Then let the bitternes thou at that day feltest cause thee to awake Eph. 5.14 and stand vp from the dead Suppose in this declining condition thy soule should be taken from thee However it might land safe yet would not the passage be fearefull What flesh but will tremble to die in a sleepe To awake on the suddaine at its everlasting home And to depart in a spirituall decay what is it else Mat. 25.5 but the foresaid evill Wherefore O thou declining Christian Present these obiects to the eie of thy minde take a strict view of them meditate thereon continually and let them never slip out of thy remembrance When they would wander call them backe tye them to thee binde them fast And that with the coards of a solemn Promise Vow Oath vntill they haue wrought thy perfect cure recovered thy wonted health let them never leaue thee forsake thee If thy eie as its apt enough be once off them say to it Gen. 3.9 as God to Adam where art thou In what be thy thoughts imploied Is not â—his one thing necessarie Thinke and thinke often how thy companions begin to whisper thy God to gâ— beyond the vail thine enemies to insult Sathan to arme himselfe and be thou awaked Consider that the sword is in varnishing the palgue descending famine approching Iob. 28.14 and death the king of feare hasting to kil thy body carrie away thy soule Say at the morning in thy setled thoughts why may not my life set before the Sun When thou liest down my bed be my graue And my sleepe my death Let this cry still sound in thine eares that a declining estate is woefull fearefull and the extreamest of all extremitiâ—s to a beleeuer Doe this and thus then shalt thou returne from the Chambers of hell thy spirit lift vp the wing mount on high and soare aboue all the swelling waters of iniquitie Thy brethren say vnto thee the Lord is with thee Iudg. 6.12 thou valiant man and blessed art thou among many Thine adversaries shut their black mouths spit their venom in vaine And wish that their last end might be like vnto thine Numb 23.20 Yea thy God shall descend from heaven scatter the black cloudes breake thorow them all and smile in thy face say well done my servant my sonne giue his Angels a second charge over thee put his spirit with more power into thee And as with David be with thee whithersoever thou goest 2. Sam. 8.6 Thou shalt tread on the adder and yong Dragon Psal 19.12.13 walke in the valley of death feare no evill nor tremble at the mâ—st terrible tydings But as astately ship vnder saile having a fresh gale her colours spred swiftly and yet securely hast to the shore and cast anchor at the road of eternall rest And that when back-sliding professoâ—s shall either shipwrack their consciences split all a pieces sinke the fraight of their soules in the bottomlesse gulfe or like a distressed barke which hath spent her maine maste sprung a plank cut her tackling and cast it over boord with great hazard and terror put in and saue themselues Vse 5 Here let him who standeth take heed lest he fall For a spirituall stedfastnes 1 Cor. 10.12 we see in some degree may be fallen from decayed And then why should it not cleaue vnto thee What priviledge hast thou to avoide it Aboue thy brethren Haue not the tallest Ceders in Gods Sanctuarie been shaken The strongest sometime staggered And is this any new thing in the world Wherefore take thou heed to thy standing eye well thy foot steps keepe a strict watch ouer all thy waies that this evill doe not overtake thee ceize vpon thee And to prevent it practise these subsequent particulars as remedies 1. Be humble in thine owne eie Haue a low conceipt of thine owne worthines Helpes to support him who standeth When men like leaven begin to swell or as the Pharisee to boast set the best side out such without controversie are not farre from a fall Was not this the fore-runner of Peters deniall Pro. 16.18 And good Ezekiahs backsliding So true is it that pride goeth before a slip Luk. 1.53 and an high minde leads to destruction God giueth grace to the poore in Spirit but sendeth the conceited-rich emptie away Low growing trees escape the storme stand vp right when such as shoot vp mount a loft with a small gust are often shaken sometimes overturned Carrie a meane saile and never feare shipwracke of grace and faith For so long God sits at the helme 2. Rather question thy selfe suspect thy standing Feare is a bad getter yet a sure keeper And who sooner catch a fall than they that runne without regard Many haue bank't at vnawares when good-take-heed was not their factor The best Physition our kingdome had D. Butler dyed say some of a consumption And being demanded why he did not prevent it his answere was he never feared it Our proverb is that death comes oft at vnawares And retchlesse people dye poore Sure I am graces decay may be sudden the soules exchequor well neere emptie Pro. 10.4 when treasurer providence takes a nap a wakes to play A diligent hand maketh rich an evill fore seene is halfe avoyded Wherfore alwaies feare to fall but chiefly when the meanes of standing are neglected 3. Shunne the rash censure of weake and declining brethren The Iew was neerest to apstatize when he the most scorned the Gentile The dog which daily licketh others sores soonest sometimes catcheth a surfeit He who without pittie visits the poore may perhaps fall into the like disease and himselfe become a patient Those who reiected Iphtah not long after were his sutors Iudg. 11.7 1. Cor. 12.21 and made him Iudge Say
not to the weakest member I haue no need of thee make no pharisaicall comparisons Luk. 18.11 c. lest the Publican goe away iustified thy selfe not Haue I not seene yong converts outstrip the aged Thessalonica was not first called yet exceld her sisters Davids worthies were they all the eldest sonnes Consult and giue sentence 4. Also avoide sinne Thess 5.22 abstaine from every appearance of evill Aboue all things doubtingly doe nothing the least slip makes way to a fall any wavering act will vnsettle the soule When men grow over-bold in walking neere the brinke at vnawares may they tumble downe He who will doe all he may shall now and then do what he would not I am sure should not A smal moate in the eie wil weaken it cause it to water And to discerne the externall obiects but darkly dimmely Is not that man blessed Rom. 14.22 23. who condemneth not himselfe in the thing which he alloweth And he that doubteth if he eate is he not condemned For he doth it not of faith And an act not effected in faith is it not a sinne Overventurous Merchants haue lost all 5. Neglect no meanes not the weakest Everie ordinance of God is good if lawfully vsed What if it begin not the worke May it not further it When the children of the Church hang all on one breast haue not their mothers teates in any equall proportion of acceptation shall not the father draw that dugge dry we so much desire to sucke at With-hould the milke of grace from flowing thereat thorow into the Cisterne of our soules And as none are to be reiected So with constancie let them all be vsed Rather had I for the cursorie performance of a dutie be checked than for a totall omission condemned Wherefore heare read meditate pray however dully deadly for intermission will not helpe but hinder against another season 6. Consider that they only who persevere shall but besaved all revolting Apostate must perish What the which is necessarie if thou recover Will it not cost thee much toile Great torment grace once lost is not with ease regot This playing at get againe as Gamsters speake is alwaies without comfort often without commoditie If there be therefore any true ioy in thy soule the least spark of the Spirit kindled cherish it conserue it Reade not these things without regard view them not with a slight eie but with anxious devotion the most serious meditation Let others harmes teach thee to beware And know this one thing for certaine it may be the Preacher speakes by experience Rev. 2.4 that if thou loose thy first live thou wilt be wearie of thy life never eat or drinke with comfort And but a dreame of death will cause thy haire to bristle Iob. 5. vlt. thy hart to tremble in thy body Heare this and learne it for thy selfe for thy good Vse 6 And this doctrine may serue to instruct those who be about to step into the way and course of a Christian that they looke faâ—re before-hand what another day may bring foorth what they are incident vnto Some become proselits pricke forward at the first but a none giue in and tyre Where lies the cause They knew not that grace got might be lost stedfastnes obtained much decayed A wise builder casts vp his accounts not only what expence it will cost him to lay the foundation reare the wall steake the roofe paint and perfect the whole edifice but also being finished to support it conserue it This vse Christ Iesus the cheife Architector makes of it presseth it seemeth from the same ground And backes it with a strong reason For if he doe not will not his neighbors mocke hâ—m Luk. 14.29.30 and say This man began to build but was not able to make an end Wherefore thou that art almost a Christian and resolued altogether to be one minde this And to my power at this thy entrance I shall lend thee my helping hand 1. Rules of direction for yong converts Before thou set a foot in this good way place one stone in this new building be carefull to lay a sure foundation He who errs in the entrance the further he travailes of necessitie must the more wander And that house which is founded on the vnsetled sends Mat. 7.24 of certaine will fall Ignorance of the truth and worth of our profession are the ring leaders to bacâ—slyding What made the Apâ—stles and common people so resolute being opposed persecuted imprisoned They knew the words of eternall lâ—fe that the Gospell they preach and professed Ioh. 6.68 Rom. 1.16 was the power of God to saluation He who begins well may ende well when he that doth not without a change cannot Col. 3.2 2. In the next place withdraw thine affections from the things below Fixe them on things aboue No man can serue two contrarie masters Mat. 6.24 God and mammon For follow the one And flee from the other The yong man who had great possessions possessing his hart at the first step gaue backe the like made Demas to revolt When men will be Christs Disciples and shake not hands with this world Amos 3.6 they never stand The old saying was is there any evill in a Citie and God hath not done it Thus Now is there any back slider and the loue of money hath not turned him 1 Cor. 7.31 He who would dye rich in grace must resolue to liue poore or as the wicked their knowledge vse the world as if he vsed it not 3. See thou prepare for the worst as hope for the best Mat. 10.34 He who is forearmed must be forewarned Christ told his followers he came to set fire cause the sword The Iew expecting peace and prosperitie when his hops failed fell from the faith Haue I not beheld a man in a common muster march in furie Charge and discharge Breake pike vpon pike as one skilfull valorous And for all this in a hot skirmish the report of a peice hath caused him to quake the fall of his next fellow strucke him with so great a feare that he hath stood as one halfe dead and gathering heart was first in the flight Wherefore if thou wouldest prooue a worthie warriour of Iesus Christs campe Heb. 22.1.4 fit thy selfe to fight in the Cannons mouth to resist vnto blood For vnexpected crosses wound deepe kill deadly 4. And when thou hast gone this three fold step then march on with deliberation Mat. 26.70 For violent motions though sometimes strong yet seldome are the pâ—rmanent Aguish fits breed flushings blazing Comets soonest fall hastie curres bite least heady horses quickly tire The trumpets sound was lowder lowder So a Christians pace should be faster faster The wind riseth by degrees the spirit bloweth stiffest last else suspect its a counterfeit blast Grace may in this without danger imitate nature Shall you not see a weake spring breake foorth at the side
soule descend not into their secret mine honor Gen. 49.6 be not thou vnited to them Make Christ thy wisdome righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1.30 sanctification and redemption Put him on with the eye of knowledge and the hand of faith by application Rom. 13.14 imitation Let him be all in all His word thy card his example thy compasse to saile the troubled and raging seas of thy spirituall voiage vnto the land of everlasting life Where thou wantest skill begge his Spirit obey his motion So shalt thou avoide the hazard of all shelues and sands Art thou in doubt Fearest thou ship-wracke Ioh. 16.13 Put him in minde of his promise and he will lead thee into all truth and at the last land thee safe where the stormes never arise waters swell or the windes blow The shops of error And here let me exhort you of this famous Citie to beware of the shops of all errour and prophanenesse But you will say which be they My answer is A playhouse A dicing-house A brothell-house and A tipling-house I had almost said of all these Gen. 20.11 as Abraham of Abimelechs the feare of God is not in them Rev 2.13 Or as Iohn writes of the Church of Pergamus I know their workes and their dwelling place even where Sathans throne is For what is a Play-house but the cheating Exchang where the sacred Scriptures are abused the glorious name of God blaspheamed lies and fables set to sale And all kindes of obscenitie scurrillitie bought and sould for readie silver Is it not the Devils forge where the bellowes blow the hammer beats on the bodyes of corruption vntill lust be enkindled smoake and burne to the bottome of hell And for the Dicing-house how should I describe it Paint it foorth in its propper colours It s the Common hall where Thieues and Robbers Gentlemen and Beggers meete together Sweare and lye Cozen and cheate Deceive and are deceived So that povertie arrests them or that which is worse often comes to passe a Ty-burne tippet with one cross-cast sends them to their longhome But what Will such reply are not lotts in recreation lawfull cautions being vsed we hope Cards and Dice are harmelesse creatures can murder no man I tell thee vpon such tearmes I may play with a Beare For cannot I pull out his eyes Dash foorth his teeth Cut off his clawes Muzzell his mouth Chaine him fast to a stake And keepe me a loofe Farre from his reach And then will he doe any man harme Prodigall know this that wise persons digge not pits wherein people may perish thinke they are excused when they forewarne men of the danger Nor feed on that dish having varietie of sound meates which will cause death if but mist in the dressing Goe thou and doe likewise lest a worse thing follow Now for a Brothel-house it s the Synagogue of Sathan the very suburbes of hell Or if you will the noysome Pest house of the Devill For such as tread her steps enter within her doores haue received the sentence of death not one of a thousand Pro. 2.19 that ever returnes againe For shall not God take vengeance of all those who burne in lust prostrate themselues to an whore And offer soule and body a living and acceptable sacrifice to the Devill I tell such in the Apostles owne words 1 Cor. 6.9.10 that they shal neuer inherit the Kingdome of heaven For whoremongers and adulterers the Lord will iudge And as for a Tiplâ—â—g-house its Nabals Inne whither fooles flocke and resort to drink smoak kindle quench shout roare as if Devils were come from hell in the shape and similitude of men A Tap-house now in England is like Purgatorie at Româ— There when men haue lead a lewd and loose life that they may escape a worse evill pardons are procured and they be sent to Purgatorie Here when Prodigalls haue mispent their portion shipwrackt their substance to a-voyde beggerie we grant them a Licence to sell â—le And if one godâ—y Iosiah pull them down we haue two gracelesse Iehoiachims to reare them vp againe lest the full tale of drunkards should be diminished But O yee men of God flee these things Set a crosse on all these doores step not over the thresh-houlds Psal 139.22 hate them as David the Lords enemies with a perfect hatred When the spirits of these Butteries intise thee consent thou not Say vnto them with indignation I will none of your waies Can men tread on Serpents and not be stunge Carrie coales in their bosomes and not be burnt Live amonge the infected and escape the contagion Swallow poyson and not dye the death Without controversie the fore-named places And the sinnes ascending from them haue infected the aire provoked heaven drawne downe the late great devouring Pestilence Are not some sparkes of this consuming fire yet smoaking in the corners of your Citie And if you by these abhomiations still incense the Lord Ier. 22.19.20 may not the bellowes of his iustice reinkindle them to burne you and your habitations to dust and ashes Is it not the mercie of God that you who heare me this day are left a live How comes it to passe that you fell not when so many thousands gaue vp the Ghost Are you not compounded of the same principles Formed in the same mould Did you not breath in the same aire Feed on the same foode To be plaine haue you not committed the same if not greater sinnes Let then the long suffering of God lead you to repentance Rom. 2.4 And diswade you from the least appearance of evill You haue heard what error is where it lodgeth 1 Thess 5.22 And being discovered how it is to be avoyded Now blessed are they and none but they who vnderstand the truth and keepe it VERS 18. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ The Logicall resolution THe Apostle in the precedent words having admonished the people to take heede or a double evill the former that they should not be led away with the errour of the wicked the latter nor fall from their owne stedfastnesse he in this verse now prescribeth a two fold remedie to prevent both The one is groweth in grace for that wil support them the other increase of knowledge for it will direct them Now because the most errours and heresies which shall spring vp and spread in the latter dayes may be and are about Christ Iesus he maketh mention of him Consider the words in themselves The Theologicall resolution and they containe a single act Grow And a double subiect Grace and Knowledge which knowledg is amplified by its obiect Iesus Christ And he described by a twofold relation Lord Saviour Grow This word is a metaphor and comprehends in it motion and augmentation the former as we see in the starres and planets may be without the latter but the second
is so simple not to aske the right way as to demand if he doe not wander Brethren take heed therefore what you heare how you heare lest it be for the worse not the better as after a flash of lightning we expect thunder So when admonition is gone foorth have an eye to direction to caution But we will step to the words themselues where let it be noted that Doct. 2 Growth in grace is required of a Christian Ephe 5.18 and 6.10 Name me one Church not called vpon to practise this dutie Doth not the Apostle bid the Ephesians 2. Cor. 13 11. be strong filled with the spirit The Corinthians to be perfect 1 Thess 4 1 The Thessalonians to abound more and mâ—re His Son Timotheus 2. Tim. 2.1 to be strengthened with grace Are not the righteous said Psal 84.7 to goe from strength to strength Pro. 4.18 And to shine more and more till the perfect day Reas 1 For it s a thing commendable What more praise-worthie than grace Psal 4 c. Shall not then the increase therof be laudable Augmentation of any good subiect Rev. 5.2 hath in the holy letters due commendation For are not Psalmes dedicated to him Acts 7.55 who excelleth The opening of the seale to the most worthie ascribed Wherefore is Steven said to be filled with faith Neh. 7.2 Hanani to feare God aboue many Moses stiled Num. 13.3 the meekest man on earth 1. Chro. 11. Why are Davids worthies described by the greatnesse of their power Might Severall taxed for their weakenesse Feeblenesse Except groweth in goodnesse were greatly to be extolled Wherefore as Iohn of his friend 3. Iohn 12. I conclude of graces increase that it s well reported of all men and of the truth it selfe And for that cause to be desired increased And is it not also profitable What growth can equall this What increase like to this increase Shall we descend to particulars Doe we not by the augmentation thereof recover the great losse we had in Adam our father Are we not restored by it to that glorious image wherein at the first we were created Made more sutable to our head the Lord Iesus Will it not support vs with patience to vndergoe all kindes of crosses With ease to performe holy duties And the more grace here the greater glorie hereafter Who questions any of these things As the Apostle saith of the excellencie of the Iew Rom. 3.1.2 and benefit of Circumcision So may we of growth in grace that its profitable every manner of way The doctrine being prooved before it be applied certaine questions are to be propounded resolued Whether grace or not be of a growing nature We affirme it is in man not God Else why are we bade to grow Grace resembleth seed the which being sowen in the furrowes of mans soule springeth first into a blade next to an eare And in the end to a ripe corne Mat. 13.23 Doth not the parable of our Lord proue this Mar. 4.28 Grace in a Christian is not like a starre in the skie or stone in the center alwaies equal But as the Ceders of Lâ—banon growes greater and greater stronger and stronger But as a man who hath grace increaseth in it He may For there 's a vacuitie in the most sanctified vessell Grace like a bullet in a molde is not perfected in a moment the soule at the first infusion of it is not filled with it It riseth by degrees Ezek. 47 3 4. as the waters of the sanctuarie the which came first to the ancles then to the knees from thence to the loynes And so to a river that could not be passed over As in the vnion of soule and body man was filled with corruption So at their disiunction he comes to his highest pitch of sanctification It may further be demanded if each Christian doe Grow in grace For answer to this If mans life be considered in the bulke that is from the instant of his conversion vnto the time of his dissolution then doubtlesse he doth grow But if we breake it into parcels as weekes monthes yeeres he may not increase therein For as a tree he may haue his winter stand at a stay if not decline Againe he may be said to grow and not to grow at one and the same season by way of comparison because at all times his growth is not equall A tradesman this yeare gaines an hundred pounds to his stocke the next he adds but fiftie here is an increase though not proportionable to the former And this seemes to be the condition of the Church of Ephesus shee is commended for not fainting Rev 2.3.4 And in the next words checked for the losse of her first loue A Travaâ—ler runnes fast at the first mittigates his speed towardes the end of his iourney yet in that he is going still he may be said to proceed although his pace be not at all times equall So may we conclude of this supernaturall motion 4 Can the habit of grace be decreased This question in the former verse we haue affirmatiuely resolved onely an obiection by some experienced Christian here may be produced Now he beleeves anon he doubts this houre he hopes the next he feares One day he praies willingly fervently but another he is slow could in the action What Doth the habit of grace increase and decrease in these different kindes of motion For resolution we are to know that in the most regenerat person Gal. 5.17 there is as grace So corruption from which contrarie principles spring contrarie effects Also that both of these haue coadiutors by whom they are assisted in their operations The spirit is alwayes present to conserue mooue and stirre vp the grace of God in his children So is Sathan with the Masse of corruption But neither of both it may be at all times in equall degree whence when there is no diversitie of grace or corruptions Existence yet there may be varietie of the strength of their severall operations For when the power of the externall cause is remitted the actions of grace and corruption are also weakned and so the contrarie As with a ship it falleth out with a Christian sometimes He hath a faire fresh gale from the Spirit and at that time he makes a speedie passage a none the blast is slacked and then his course to the land of life is but slow We may not therefore conclude that the habit of grace in this diversitie of effects is dâ—caâ—ed No more then we will that the sailes of the barke be furreled because its course is somewhat weakened Againe varying the obiect alters graces operations For when a Christian casteth his eye on his strong corruptions his manie actuall transgressions his pronenesse to evill vnwillingnesse to good calleth to minde how the promises and vowes he hath not performâ—d the which at his conversion with a most setled resolution from him proceeded
And as the dog to his vomit vnto his old sinnes he hath returned to doubt and stagger he is constrained But on the contrarie when he seriously considereth what change the Lord hath wrought in him what long experience he hath of his loving kindnesse what great things beyond his expectation he hath done for him how that he alloweth not what he committeth but of weakenesse not willfulnesse falleth into such such a sinne And that it is so and was so w th the best of Gods children then is â—e strangely â—xalted â—nd cry to with râ—ioycing who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen Rom. 8.33 I thanke the Lord that in the law of my mind Rom. 7.25 I serue him though in my flesh I serue sinne 5 May grace for any season neither admit of augmentation or diminution Why not For Whatsoever is in the rule may be in the thing ruled or thus What is possible in the nature of things may come to passe Example A man may goe forward backward or stand still What then should hinder that a Christian may not neither increase nor decrease but hold what he hath A stone cast vp into the aire being at the point of its ascent presently descends Yet will it make some little stay though scarce sencible before its returne And why may not the like be in this Spirituall motion But not to goe forward is to goe backward True if we vnderstand it of the acts and exercise of grace or in that God requires a continuall growth vntill we giue vp an account of our talents else not For the habit may neither suffer increase not decrease for a very short season If it should not be thus would it not follow thar the spirits of iust men nor the blessed Angels should ever come to the period of perfection but still grow as we vse to speake in infinitum I am not ignorant how that some men be of a contrarie iudgement Let the wise iudge But what May not grace increase and a man not perceiue it Yes of certaine For desire of gaine may take away the sence of growth nâ—glect of casting vp our spirituall aâ—counts hinders the apprehensioÌ„ of graces increase a iealous suspicion breedeth doubt of what we haue And augmentation is not easily perceiued Infants grow yet are ignorant of it the haire waxeth white but not discerned And the Sunne ascends without perception So may it be in this supernaturall motion Eager minds weake iudgements suspicious persons and want of experience discouer not secret obiects see them not as in truth they are When fire is first kindled in a cottage there is much smoake little heate the one flies out at the doore chimney window and every crevise in the walls the other in the meane while is not apprehended Now tarrie but a verie short season and the reeke wasteth the flame increaseth so heere When the holy-Ghost sets this fire which is from heaven on the hearth of mans heart he on the sudden seemes to burne in spirit to haue zeale in abundance no sinne can stand before him notwithstanding he for the present hath but a sparke a small measure his coale rather smoaks than glowes Ancient house-keepers know the former so doe aged disciples the latter by experience Againe When grace is first infused the yong convert thinkes himselfe rich having not a drop before For he compares some with none which are the greatest opposits Now more being added to that he hath received the augmentation is not so easily perceiued because the inequalitie twixt some thing and somthing is not so great as that which is of something with nothing Giue but a pennie to the poore who before had none he now can better discerne himselfe to haue silver than the increase of his coine a farthing being added to it by reason of the more fell opposition in the dissentanie rules These questions being thus resolued the point remaineth to be applied Vse 1 In the first place it confuteth two kindes of people the Familist and the Papist The former holds that when a man is fullcome he is perfect as Adam our father was in Paradise And we say so too but then he must be considered after his fall not before it The latter maintaines how a man in the estate of grace may absolutely keepe the whole law of God doe workes worthie of merit yea of super erogation the which cannot be except we defend perfection here of sanctification But what saith the Evangelist I. Iohn 1.8 if we affirme that we haue no sinne be it actuall or original we deceiue our owne soules and the truth is not in vs. Wherfore if the Papists and familists will haue the first let them also take the second For why should they not Vse 2 And it serues at the second hand to reprooue these who instead of growth in grace grow in corruption True it is that many increase but it is in a contrarie subiect Psal 37.7 For are not some of vs such as the Prophets haue described Out faces shine our eyes stand out with fatnesse Our breasts are ful of milk Iob. 21.24 our bones of marrow Collops we haue in our flankes we be lustie and strong yet this were not to be condemned but that the causes thereof are evill as ease fulnesse of bread Ezek. 16.49 and abundance of idlenesse Another kind there be who be growne mightie to powre in strong drinke Isa 5.22 whose shapes are monstrous A short belt will not winde about their exteÌ„ded bodies nor a suite of small size cover their vnfathomed shoulders These drinke soule-slaying healths till their heads grow heavie their hearts light and all who feare God grow ashamed of them Will you see a drunkard marching in his hellish colours His eyes water his nose runnes his tongue stammers and his breath stinkes his mouth drivels his lips quake his spittle fals and his feete stumble Bring him to the field he can neither plow nor sow to the market buy nor sell set him at the table there if he speake he spues lay him in bed he wallowes in his filthie vomit and as a Boare in a loathsome franke or stinking fly defiles himselfe O that thâ—se gracelesse men would learne that God for this kind of growth is growne angrie at them And that if they repent not and a mend they must another day will they nill they drinke whole violes of his purest wrath vntill they grow giddy-headed heavie-hearted and with Nabal and Belshazzar their damned brethren 1 Sam. 25.36 Dan. 5.26 Gen. 19.9 tumble into the bottomlesse pit of hell Others like Nimrod are growne mightie hunters not of the hare and deere for that so far as my iudgement leads me is commendable warrantable But of mens pursses places persons emptying the first possessing the second and persecuting the third for if Christians in preaching and professing of the Gospell doe but conioyne which th'apostle in-ioynes power with
the forme of godlines 2. Tim. 3.5 they cry out against such as the Edomites of the Israelites Psal 137.7 downe with them down with them even to the ground But let these know that though their consciences be growne sencelesse God shall bring vpon them swift damnation For 2. Pet. 2.1 he is wise in heart mightie in power Iob. 9.4 who ever grew fierce against him and hath prospered And we haue an evill beast a slow-belly growne vp among vs how should we define him He is one who selleth time vseth his money as though he vsed it not striues to prevent the contingent acts of Gods prouidence And rather than the forfeiture of a band will forfeit his freedome in the kingdome of heaven And if you demand why he doth so he replies like him who being found breaking of his neighbours hedge and reprooued answered is it not better to doe thus than to be idle Certainely if David the which he never will prooue not a lyer Psal 15.5 a vsurer shall never inherit the mountaine of holinesse And what Is not the weaker sex growne mightily in wickednesse Haue we not some so masculine that they walke in their doublets Ride in their coates And salute with their caps Were but their hearts answerable to their habits their spirits proportionable to their apparell why might they not at our common musters be prest foorth for souldiers I will nor can giue such any precise precepts for cloth or colour forme or fashion yet take this in generall Suppose that now thou wert to come vnto iudgement to hold vp thy hand before the ancient of daies And to receiue thy last doome thy finall sentence of life or death eternally Wouldest thou appeare in a pointed body With embroydered haire A curled head A painted face A French ruffe And a naked brest Then as the Prophet to Naaman the Syrian 2. King 5.19 I say vnto thee goe in peace But if thou wouldst not change thy garments alter thine attire lest death on the sudden strike thee the Iudge come in an houre thou art not a ware of weigh thee in the ballance of the sanctuarie strip thee naked and cloath thee with shame eternall Shall not the husband grow iealous of that wise who at his returne is abaâ—hed to meete him in her daily habit I appeale vnto thee But alas For all that can be said according to the Apostles prediction we grow worse and worse 2. Tim. 3.13 deceiving and being deceiued The truth is we are so growne that the heavens grow blacke the earth barren and the whole frame of nature groanes for our growth Rom. 8.22 What should I tell you of the late Famine The blazing starre The invndations of waters The bloudie warres The late Plague wherein so many thousands haue vealed the head and given vp the Ghost Yea doth not the spirit grieue and groane for our vnnaturall growth Eph. 4.30 Wherefore let vs by vnfeined repentance and new obedience ease him of this burden or we shall groane vnder the direful wrath of the most high for ever Psal 50.22 ever O coÌ„sider this you who forget God lest he teare in pieces there be none nothing to deliuer you Vse 3 The vse of this doctrine also serues soundly to lesson some of the better sort For doe they grow in grace increase in goodnesse I wish the Lord had not iust cause to say of our nation Rev 2.4 I haue somewhat against thee Haue we not them amongst vs who haue bin as zealous as Peter in appearance but now haue cooled their harts in warming their hands at â—aiaphas his fire Others who seemed as strong and vpright as an oake are growne weake fitting themselues to everie forme and figure in the congregation like water in a vessell Haue we not many who in times past put foorth their fingers to all pious vses But now plucke them backe draw them in as the slug her hornes Ranne well and now are letted Began in the spirit end in the flesh It s a disputable question whether we haue more Bankers in goods or grace Prodigalls who haue mispent their corporall or spirituall portioÌ„ England as Ephesus hath left though not lost her first loue Our affections were hardly kindled but soone cooled our coale glowes a while and anon ends in smoake and smother 1. King 1.1 We resemble David in his olde age little heat is within vs not any will begot into vs. Few like Caleb Iosh 14.11 are at this day as able to fight the battailes of the Lord as in former time What a weake pulse beats in all places Scarse sensible We are like a forc't peece of land whose second crop is worse then the former We heare and reade much yet in shape as Pharaohs cattell are lanke and leane deformed and ill favoured But beloved this should not ought not to be so Let but a man lye speechles fall into a consumption and become a bankrupt Oh! this like a passing bell in the eares of the world rings a dolefull sound And all who heare it smite their hands shake their heads at it send foorth deepe sighes heavie groanes But the meane while Prayer may be tongue-tyed Faith ship-wrackt and a good Coâ—science split in shivers yet few for these things haue the least thoughts of heart no sorrow doth pierce vs losse of this kind pinch vs. What the Apostle forewarned in these last daies is come to passe for we are plucked away with the errour of the wicked and are fallen from our owne stedfastnesse Vse 4 Are Christians to grow in grace Let vs all then looke about vs weigh the proficiencie we haue made in this Schoole Hast thou no grace It s high time to gather some Anie Striue to increase it Art thou declined Recover thy losse Hitherto hast thou growne Why adde to thy stocke still augment thy store For this dutie concernes all and therefore we will presse the point so as every person may reape profit by it You well know that a thing must be had before it can be increased For who prunes a liuelesse plant Waters a dead stake Tryall then is in the first place necessarie if we haue any seeds of grace at all 1. Signes of found grace Dost thou find and feele an emptinesse of grace in thy selfe A great want of it Then in truth tho not in full measure thou hast it For blessed are the poore in spirit Mat. 5.3 And what is this povertie but an act arising from grace whereby we sensiblie apprehend an emptienesse thereof in our soules By grace we feele grace as with one hand we doe the other Dead men perceiue no want when living persons behold their penurie Let him who is truly gracious cast his eye whither he will he seeth a vacuitie of grace in all creatures an insufficiencie to relieue him Iob. 28.14 To the depth he saith it s not to be found in thee
thorow everie one of his conduits then vse all for who can tell what the least may bring foorâ—h 4 Entertaine every good motion open the gates let them in bid them well-come feede them cherish them as the best guests that ever came to thy soule Many sparkes make a fire sundry drops Isa 30.21 fill the bankes Hearest thou this voyce whispering in thine eare Acts. 5.9 This is the good way Listen to it Heb. 10.29 vnderstand its errand and doe what and as it inioynes thee Acts 7.51 Know that resisting makes way to grieving 1 Thess 5.19 grieving to despiting And despiting to quenching the little sparke of grace within vs And if that goe out we are vndon Should I enlarge the time would be too short therefore we will winde vp all according to the Spirituall condition of everie person in a round particular exhortation 1. And first I will begin with thee who hast not reaped any the least fruits of the spirit Ier. 4.3 in the soyle of whose soule this seed was never scattered I say to all such plow vp your fallow grounds sow not among thornes For it s now high time to seeke this graine What 's the man without grace but a dead dog A verie Devill And firebrand of hell Never was any blessed without it Cursed who did possesse it What shall I or can I say of it It s the water of life which raiseth the dead the honie that opens each Ionathans eyes the tree which makes the bitter rivers sweete whose leaues heale all wounded spirits This oyle will make him see clearely who was borne blinde to speak the language of Canaan distinctly being dumbe from his mothers wombe It boareth the deafe eare to heare what the spirit speaketh to the Churches setteth an hungrie appetite on the stomacke of the soule seasoneth its palate And giues a pleasant rellish to all heavenly nourishment It stops the bloudie issue of sinne dries vp that fountaine which all the Physitians in the world could never cure And looseth the anklebones of the aged creeple to stand leape and runne with ioy the paths of Gods commands O grace What shall I say of thee How should I commend thee Thou art a wonder-worker in this present world strange things bringest thou to passe everie day And O ye sons of earthie Adam how should I intreat you a graine of this mettall is worth a million of gold a stemme of this tree all the Cedars in Lebanon And a drop of this water all the baulme in Gilead Yea were the hugest hils the choycest pearles the mightiest rockes the most pretious stones And the vnfathomde Globe a shining Chrysolite yet one corne of this sand more than the Sunne a Candle in brightnesse and goodnesse exceeds them all As the wise man of money I say of it that bread nourisheth wine refresheth but grace is all in all Wouldest thou purchase Plant Build Why grace will doe it It will make thee a glorious temple of Gods sacred Spirit the adopted child of God the father And a coheire with the Lord Iesus of earth of heaven In trouble it will comfort thee in bondage free thee and being faint put valour into thee Yea when the gracelesse man shall tremble at a paper-Canon quake at the wagging of a leafe lagge like a starcht ruffe in a showre of raine And wish he had never bin bornâ— Then shall the gracious man hoyse vp his saile lance into the deepe cut the swelling waues passe by al shelues and sands salute death the King of terrors with an holy scorne and put in safe at the key of Canaan the land of everlasting life II. And now let me turne my speech to thee who hast laid the foundation of grace begunne to build goe thou on perfect the worke of thy Sanctification faine would I adde to thy mite and winde thee vp a pegge higher Haue I not told thee that graces increase is commendable Profitable for all things Men of great stocke trade to the east Indies when they of lesse store but barter with their doore neighbours a candle inlightneth a narrow roome the Sunne a whole world A single coat keepes backe a weake shot a double one the most fierie piercing bullet A child shrinkes vnder a cushion and a feeble bodie stumbles at a straw Want of water makes the Mill to stand a sparke sets not the pot a boyling And a drop of wine refresheth not the Spirits Our greene harâ—s are not easily inflamed our stiffe wills bent to action And our frozen affectioÌ„s need much blowing Our sacrifices are but offered vp with smoake our corruptions are not quite licked vp and the cursed worke of Sathan is not thorowly dissolved in vs. Wherefore wouldest thou not revolt Shrinke backe And fall from thy former stedfastnes Why grow in grace Wouldest thou with ease performe holy actions With patience beare all kindes of crosses Doe much good Haue fullnesse of ioy And be a shining light A burning candle Then let grace haue her perfect growth Strong men stand fastest long-winged Hawkes fly swiftest larg-sailed ships runne speediest great Planets shine brightest full purses make merriest And big-boned bodies beare easiest Grace to a Christian is as mettall to the horse mainner to the earth And the Moons to the tyde As feathers to the fowle wheeles to the charriot And the soule to the body So that want grace and we are but feeble liuelesse creatures bring forth no crop beare lanke eares if any and that very seldome Many complaine that they are in good duties cold in prayer slow to heare empty of coÌ„fort stagger in faith question their salvation impatient in troubles And shrug at the remembrance of death But where lies the fault Who is blamworthy Any except thy selfe Knowing thou hast a present help A speedy remedy to redresse all but striues not for it What a shame is it that we living in so good daies In a land which floweth with milk hony Levits in most corners on 't The kingdom of heaven come to our doores And maÌ„na falling with in our tents morning evening should complaine of feeblenes Weakenes Had we cruel wars garmeÌ„ts tumbling in bloud our Cities sackt besieged as Samaria that we were constrained to eate the fruit of our loynes to preserue our natural liues Or had we a Ieroboham to rule over vs who would repaire the high places make Priests of the basest people consecrat to Baall pull downe Bethel build Babel and cause all the Lords Prophets to fall on the sword why then to complaine to be a yong plant an Infant in grace were somewhat more tollerable Me thinkes I like Ionah doe well to be angrie when I consider how long how wonderfully we haue enioyed great means to be strong men and women in the Lord and we can hardly keepe soule and body together We looke like spirits pinde sterved And not living fresh growne Christians I may in respect of spirituall food fitly
the Garner as lead in the Cannons belly Who built the Iewes a Synagogue Made coates for the poore Refreshed Paul in bands Were they not persons furnished filled with the hot actiue mightie working powder of grace Consult and see Wherefore thou Embrio Thou Neo-phyt Who art formed in the Churches wombe graffed into the true oliue tree and now beginst to bud to flourish be not content with a meane stature an ordinarie growth but be thou enlarged And O thou Prodigall Luk. 15.13 Whose portion in part is spent come to thy selfe confesse thy fault returne to thy father be thou reconciled So shalt thou like that valiant Nazarit Iudg 16.22 29 recover thy decaied strength binde the wedding garment faster to thee lay hold on the pillers of promise pull downe Sathans throne and cast the gates of hell from off her hinges And thou growneâ— Christian I must raise thee to an higher pitch wind thee to the greatest period if possible of sanctification For thou art not to rest at an ordinarie degree of grace but to encrease like Noahs floud vntill all the vacuities of thy emptie channels be filled the tops of the aspiring hills mountaines be covered And the depth be vnmeasurable not to be sounded It were to be wished that every Christian could giue the like testimonie of himselfe Iob. 32.18.19 as doth Elihu I am full of matter my bellie is as wine which hath no vent it is readie to burst like new bottels Grow we should not onely in quantity of grace but also in the qualitie of it Our gifts are to be of a more â—ure and defecate nature When an apple comes to it bignesse we see it growes in colour taste and proceedes to a better rellish a more delectable temper and so it should must be with vs Christians Wherefore let no meanes be omitted which may further thee nor incentiues vnthought on that may provoke thee And first make it thy chiefest care daily imployment to crucifie the old-man with all his lusts Gal. 5.24 Smite him on the face none shall revile thee beate him blacke blew it s no breach of law Bray this foole in a morter stampe him to powder burne him into ashes and bereaue him of his life Or deale with him as it was done to the Levits concubine Iudg 19. force him to death cut him in twelue peeces send them into the coasts of Golgâ—tha And if no man will God shall commend thee reward thee for it But because when thou hast done thy best and worst some palme of this cursed Iezabell will remaine 2 King 9. some part of his skull vndevoured And some drops of his bloud not lapped vp yet for all this be not out of hart waxe not fainte in this quarrell but lay on load play the man stil As the Philistines by Sampson Iudg 16. plucke out his eyes shaue of his haire cause him to grinde in the mill of mortification and take away his strength Inioyne him to keepe a perpetuall fast creepe on his brest or with the serpent licke vp the dust and so fall into a sensible incurable consumption Stop his cares as Stevens auditors with David curbe him by a bit And like Agabus with the girdle of the word binde him hand and foote Suffer him not to kicke to spraule or moue a very finger to peepe listen or whisper For if he doe he will recouer renew his vigour and buffet the new-man Strangle all his ill motions at the conception burie them in the wombe Let not one of them haue a timely birth And if for all this as it is like enough he will be medling not brought to subiection then make him a Mendicant grant him a passe to beg Or if not so liue like the Monke in the order of idlenesse lazines may it please you consecrate him to Baal permit him to be his Priest that he may lash his scurvie skin lance his putrified flesh And at the last with Iudas become his owne executioner Doe thus for none but Sathan will mourne at his death seeke to raise him vp againe When this Saul is slaine then shall little David grow stronger and stronger fiercer and fiercer 2 Take further advise and be a companion to those who feare God haue all thy delight Psal 119 63. and 16.3 in the most excellent Christians The better the obiect is the more content it giues to the senses And is not the best of all things most to be desired When Christ talked with his Disciples Luk. 24.32 their hearts grew hot within them When Paul met Sylas Acts 18.5 he burned in spirit Will not the greenest billet fire with the drie And one flaming bavin kindle a thousand One who is strong in the grace of God by a secret operation conveieth as the loadstone into iron power and vigour into all who touch him His praiers conference gestures and whole carriage is it not like a costly banquet which calleâ—h foorth the fainting Spirits armes them with a fresh infused power as if a man had bin at the wine Doubtlesse the more we apprehend the worke of grace in any the more will it reviue the new-mâ—n in vs curb the old And by an over-ruling command binde all his lawlesse members to the peace Yong plants thriue not vnder dropping trees weake Christians grow not in lewd company such a fire warmes the hands cooles the heart kindleth the flesh quencheth the Spirit 3. And if by serious examination thou finde in thy selfe some raging corruption for as Abraham his beloued sonne each convert hath his darl ng sinne then vp with it by the rootes aboue all other To it with the mattocke of the law downe with it to the ground for such a weede vnmortified will nourish all the rest about it Want of wit in this kind of husbandrie makes the good graine of grace to grow slowlie looke lancke and leane When men would haue a rough field fitted for the plow will they not first rid vp the strongest trees And then fall to the weaker Therefore set vpon thy vnruliest lust fight not with small or great in the entrance of this battell but with the Prince onely Giue him not a blow and be gone But hack and hew vntill he fall on the ground 1 Sam. 17.51 For when this Giant is dead all the armie will faint be put to flight And with the turning of an hand be conquered overcome 4. Adde to all private and frequent prayer Secret meales make a fat body Closet-duties a wâ—ll-liking minde Will not the tender dew that falls in the silent night more refresh and cause the herbes to flourish than a great showre of wet in the stirring day For the one is lesse mingled with the sunne and winde of hypocrisie than the other And God like man giues the choicest richest gifts in secret Iam. 4.6 When thou hast this and thus done be humble in thine owne eye haue a low conceit of
thy gracious stocke never once dreame of enough nor of being rich for that is the high way to bancke to loose all Came not Christ to lay the hilles equall And to raise vp the vallies Luk 3.5 To make the crooked pathes streight And to fill the emptie vessells was not the Church in an error which said shee was incrâ—ast Had all things Rev. 3.17 Nay was shee not poore 1. Cor. 5.7 Naked Blinde Miserable And wanted all things O that we could purge out the old leaven abstaine from all actuall sinnes be conversant in the vse of all Gods holy ordinances 1 Thes 5.22 entertaine all the motions of his spirit And be poore in our owne apprehension Then would grace grow Luk. 1.53 the new-man flourish And the old receiue his deaths-wound be pierced thorow his sides and broken in peeces Then then should we be rare Saints on earth shining lights in this darke world Phil. 2.15 leade our liues in righteousnesse Luk. 1.75 holinesse And doe more than gracelesse men imagine can be done by any created nature Wherefore when thou feelest thy soule to mourne thy Spirit to faint thy heart melancholy dumpish all a mort then looke vp to heaven rouse thy selfe fall to meditation minde the daies of old And call vpon thy God Cry Lord helpe me quicken me a wake my soule So shalt thou like the dead child neese seuen times 2 King 4.34.35 c. waxe warme and returne to thy former life and strength This course if thou constantly obserue the power feeling comfort and all the effects of grace in a short time by little and little will strangely grow wonderfully thriue vntill thou come to that period full perfection the Lord hath appointed for thee and promised to thee in Christ Iesus Incentiues to grow in grace And as no meanes are to be omitted neglected So all motiues inducing to this growth must be minded remembred thus therefore expostulate with thy selfe What Doe not plants grow Animats thriue And are the covetous or ambitious ever satisfied Will not Citizens aime at the most honorable place Merchants venture for the choicest commodities And all tradesmen desire the greatest gaine Shall not a Christian then striue for perfection Let theirs yea Pauls resolution be emulated imitated of thee Phil. 3.11 who if possible would haue attained to the resurrection of the dead As some will to haue bin as perfect as the glorified persons in the day of iudgement In the estate of nature wast thou not insatiable Did sinne ever giue thee full satisfaction I tell thee that champions of Sathan must be champions of Christ Such as haue bin full of corruption Eph. 5.18 must be filled with the Spirit And the more we grow in grace will not corruption the lesse burden vs Shall we not with the more ease if not wholly cast it off beare it The bird which hath the most feathers mounteth highest conserues her bodie from many brusings So surely by this increase we should soare vp to heaven be freed from innumerable heart-breakings Why haue we inioyed so great meanes Seene so many good dayes But to grow strong And grace Why should not thy excellencies allure all men to affect thee Procure thee What Art thou not of a soule-curing qualitie care in this present world And onely to be found in the vessels of honour Where thou pitchest thy Tent like a Priâ—ce thou art attended with royall companions as Wisdome Faith Hope Loue and what not As in the absence and presence of the planets all elementarie bodies heate and coole lighten and darken reviue and dye So by thy contrarie motion doth every christian Thou art as the spring and oyle which turne all the wheeles of soule and body to run the pathes of Gods precepts Rev. 22.2 the vine which beareth all kindes of fruits Thy branches feed the tender Roes being cropped thy iuyce wil heale all diseases when once applied Where thou fallest like the showers in May the barren fields grow fruitfull bring foorth in great abundance And multiplie the seed of the word to an hundred fold Never was covetouse chuffe when his garners were full of good graine more glad the Grasier having his lands stockt with the choicest cattell more merrie Nor the Prodigall with his purse extended with pieces more iocunde than the man is whose heart is replenished with grace O grace glorie is thy vnseparable companion as shame the inevitable consequence of sinne Where thou openest the eye all the divine attributes of God as his omniscience omnipresence omnipotence yea his very iustice smile vpon it are delectable vnto it For if grace be with vs who or what can be against vs Grace in thy soule will assure thee of mercie in Christ And if thou be secured of that what needest thou to feare What can be terrible or dreadfull vnto thee The more Wiâ—e Iust Potent thy friend 〈◊〉 will it not the more comfort â—hee Reioyce thee And is not El-shaddai the Lord of earth and heaven thy fast friend Thy everlasting Father Let them then feare who haue cause For thou hast none Grow in grace and thou maist goe thorow the world as a man whose minde is in a deepe studie Like Ahimahaz who had speciall hast of a waightie businesse gaze on nothing heare nothing 1. Cor. 7.30 31. vse it all things in it as though thou vsedst them not Thy conversation shall be in heaven thy thoughts on him who is invisible Phil. 3.20 that never man saw and lived And having as Peter past the first and second watch thou shalt come to thy selfe in the presence of God Acts. 12.10.11 where is fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 al variety of pleasures at his right hand for evermore O thou who readest hearest these lines binde them to thee thinke often on them And till thou be stronâ— in Grace which is in Christ Iesuâ— let them never depart from theâ— Now if all that we haue said caâ— not allure thee I say no more vnto thee but wish when it is too late thy carelesse neglect of graces increase may not repent thee Whereas our Apostle exhorts to grow in grace vers 5.6 more is included then mentioned For what in the first chapter in particulars he named Gen. 3.2 and 4.20 here in the bulke are comprehended And as a tree is for trees chaâ—et for charets Psal 78.2 parable for parables So is Grace put for al the gifts of the spirit Mat. 13.35 Whence it will follow that Doct. 3 An increase of all graces is required of Gods children Name what grace you will and an augmentation is required vrged Rom. 1.17 1 Thes 4.10 Eph. 4.15 Are not the Romanes incited to grow in faith The Thessalonians in loue And the Ephesians in all things Paul in other places calls for it prayes for it Iude. 2. So doe his fellow-Apostles in their Epistles Reas 1 For is there
minded quencheth Sathans fierie darts ouercomes the world It bringeth good tydings from God to man vniteth the creatures to the Creator and saveth the sinner What is faith but the choicest Grape in Canaan The prime fruite of the spirit The essentiall forme of a Christian And the pâ—râ—e which purchaseth heaven It s like the poole of Bethesda which cureth the cripples 1 Sam. 2.22 the sword of Saul that never came emptie And the bow of Ionathan which never bended backe from the blood of the slaine the fat of the mightie For crosses faith will assure thee that the Lord sends them their burden shall not exceed thy abilitie and that like a thunder clap they rattle more than hurt That they are the cognisance of Christ the Physitian of the soule shall handle thee gently stay but a very little whilâ— and at their departure leaue a blessing behind them This baulme heales all diseases helpes at a dead lift and cures when nothing can And what shall I more say For the time would be too short for me to tell of Gedeon Barak Heb. 11.32 c. and of Sampson of Iephtah David Samuel and of the Prophets who thorow faith subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnes obtained promises stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fâ—re escaped the edge of the sword of weake were made strong waxed valiant in battell resolute in warre and put to flight whole armies of their enemies For when reason presents these things vnto thee as so many shee bearer roaring Canons implacable Divells And the promises of God the acts of divine providence And the kingdom of heaveÌ„ no better than fate destinie broken notioâ—s at the best but like some ruinated and forraged Countrie thâ—n will faith giue them luster make them shine And as it were with open face appeare and stand foorth in a most glorious forme and order Grow in faith and thou shalt be able to breake a bow of steele lift vp the wing soare on high sleight temptations defie the devill and bid death doe his worst A great faith will fill thy soule with ioy thy life with good works and the whole world with prayses Faith if big and strong will make thee a noble warriour in the Lambes campe one of a thousand A man as David according to Gods owne heart It will ascend to heaven lay hold on thy suretie satisfie thy creditor And bring thee a quittance for an vniversall an everlasting discharge of all thy debts originall actuall past and to come But I must confesse that what I presse is hard to practise For Sathan daily desires doth winnow it When its seed is first sowne in the soyle of our soules faine would he rend it vp by the roots but finding that a matter impossible because it is of Gods planting then will he by his subtile suggestions tempt vs to question the truth of its obiects And when this wil not serue his turne neither that we may proue graine for his garner then with his sieve he will tosse tumble vs vp and down to prevent faiths act separate it from its proper obiect and keepe vs in a continuall intercourse of doubting staggering Beloved of all the strings which be on the instrument of my soule I finde none more to iarre than this of faith O how hardly is it turned How suddenly out of temper It will proue a pretie peece of service in the time of tryall day of temptation to rely on God to cast all our care on him However yet there is hope for the Lord hath blessed Faith once And it shall be blest for ever the elder shall serue the yonger And in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Having finished the first thing wherein we are to grow we proceede to the second From the which we are instructed that Doct. 4 ChristiaÌ„s are to grow in the knowledge of Christ Iesus Who better acquainted with Christ than Paul th'apostle yet did he not striue to increase his knowledge of him His desire was among the Corinths to know nothing but Christ Iesus 1. Cor. 2.2 and him crucified No time would he omit meanes neglect that he might apprehend him Phil. 3.12 of whom he was apprehended The charge he gaue his sonne Timotheus may serue further to confirme the proposition Doth he not command him 1. Tim 4.13 to attend vnto reading Doctrine Exhortation And may not reason inforce it Reas 1 For is not Christ the Being of Beings The naturall Sonne of God the Father The brightnesse of his glorie Heb. 1.3 And the ingraven forme of his person Are not all the treasures of Wisdome and Holinesse Col. 2 3. hid in him Doth not the fulnesse of the God-head dwell in him bodilie Is he not coeternall Coessentiall And coequall with the most high Will you heare his owne testamonie I Ioh. 10.30 and the Father are one The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his waies before his workes of old Pro. 8.22 c. when there were no depths I was brought forth no fountaines abounding with waters yere the mountaines were setled or the hills created while as yet he had not made the earth nor the fields neither raised the highest part of the dust of the world When he prepared the heavens set a coÌ„passe vpon the face of the deep And established the clouds aboue I was there When he gaue the Sea his decree commanded the proud waues should not passe their boundes and when he appointed the foundations of the earth then was I by him as one brought vp with him and I was daily his delight reioycing alwayes before him And this being thus Phil. 2.6 is it any robbery for Christ to be equall with God Was not the Word made flesh 1 Ioh. 1.1.2 Dwelt amongst vs And did we not behold his glory as the glorie of the onely begotten of the Father Ioh. 1.14 full of grace and truth What obiect more wonderfull Better deserues our knowledge Did not the Angels desire to peepe into this mysterie 1 Pet. 1.12 And shall not we Then are we blame worthie Reas 2 Consider also what he hath done for vs. Hath he not elected vs Ioh. 15.16 before the world was In these good daies created vs of nothing Beautified vs in a comely manner Iob. 10.10 Imprinted his owne image vpon vs Psal 8.6 And we by sinne having spoiled our selues with no lesse price than the shedding of his sacred bloud 1 Pet. 1.19 redeemed vs Recovered the great damage we lost in Adam our father And restored vs to a farre better condition Psal 103.1.2 than was allotted to vs at our first creation It is he who pardoneth all our sinnes healeth all our infirmities delivers our soules from hell And from whom all the good we inioy we haue receiued Are not all things from him Ioh. 1.3 For without him was not made Ioh. 5.17 any thing that was
for a peâ—rlâ— Act. 18.25 or the devill for holy water They thinke religion with Gallâ— 1 Pet. 3. â—5 to be buâ— a matter of â—ames and â—ords No reason can they render of their faith The best signe of their Christendome is that they were bâ—ptized and O that their liues would testifie so much But if thâ—y cry out they are no drunkards nor swearers no theeues nor vsurers nor Papists nor Puritans goe to Church heare a Sermon receiue as they call them their Easter rightings and contribute to a Preacher why then they imagine they haue strucke all dead We can say the best sort of such our Creed and our confession our ten Commandements and our Pater noster And what need we more Will not this serue our turne Who would not pittie these people And mourne for their miserie What heart so hard will not weepe over our Ierusalâ—m Luk. 19.41 And with Ieremie wish that his eyes were a fountaine of teares Ier. 9.1 to bewaile the slaâ—ne of the daughter of this ignoâ—aâ—t nation What sinne more dangerous More generall than this no knowledge of Christ Iesus And what lesse regarded Lamented Every man in his place strives to be his crafts-master ignoraÌ„ce of al kinds is hated condemned yet this we haue in hand is too much affectâ—d hath great many friends May not the Prophetâ— of these times cry with them of former ages Isa 49.4 we haue spent our strength in vâ—ine Hos 4.6 And the people perish for want of knowledge Heare this O ye sonnes of Adam 2 Thes 1.8 Will not God come in flaming fire to render vengeance vpon all who know him not Mat 15.14 And if the blind lead the blind shall not both fall into the ditch of condemnation Vnderstand this at the last that ignorance is the roade way to death and hell And whosoeuer treades her hidden steppes shall take vp his lodging in the land of everlasting darkenesse Be not deceiued God is not mocked For what a man soweth that shall he reape He therefore who scattereth the seedes of ignorance shall gather the ricke of endlesse perdition and destruction Vse 3 And you who haue so much knowledge of Christ as thorow the vnsearchable mercie of God may serue to saue your soules be not content therewith but be filled with Spirituall wisdome Col. 1 9. and vnderstanding The more thou seest into this mysterie the greater will be thy admiration Take a strict view of the secret worke of the whole frame of nature with the most skilfull and curiouâ— inventions of profoundest men alas the better we vnderstand them the lesser is our astonishment at them But it is not So with this and these thingâ— we haue in hand For as our knowledge increaseth â—f Christ and of his acts of old the more wonderfull will they appeare vnto vs because no found reason can be rendred of the forme of his person or manie of his proceed â—gs And truly as our â—nowlâ—dge is augmented our loue will be inflamed our faith confirmed And all the actions of grace the which flâ—w from vs bettered A man oâ— vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit Pro. 7 27. His affections burne within him his confidâ—nce is immoueable and his hope never faileth fainteth why was Paul so resolute to doe all things 2 Tim. 1.12 Suffer all things He knew him whom he had trusted that the Gospâ—ll was the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 the which he Preached professed O that we could tread in this mans stepps be like minded to him He would reioyce in nothing but Christ speake and spread nothing but him 1 Cor. 1.1 c. He was never wearie in naming of him and therefore in nine verses he ten-times makes mention of him Christ was the obiect of his vnderstanding will affections faith feare Col. 3.11 yea all in all How would he chant it with his tongue penne when he smelled this sweete savour Pleasant odour This sent like sugar did sweeten all the bitter sorrowes he sustained like a pretious graine of Muske perfumed his most stinking afflctions What marvaile then if he desired to know noâ—hing else but Christ Iesus and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 For what is the exactest knowledge without him But a blinde vnprofitable science Faith But a wild groundlesse confidence Patience Except a stupid sencelesse blockishnesse Or any internall habits Morall actions But sowre grapes Glistering vices And though vnto some this may seeme a paradox yet a Christians who hath a sound mind is a thorowly-well furnisht Artists A Logician For he can argue disput and render a reason of his religion by the never-erring dictate of the spirit A GraÌ„marian who speakes and that distinctly with a new tongue the language of Canaan as a Saint an Angell A Rhetorician for he is able by his pronunciation to pierce the highest heavens procure audience and prevaile with the King A Geometrician measuring the height depth and breadth of the best and greatest Globe the Loue of God An Arithmetician numbring the dayes of old and future ages sinnes pardoned prevented iudgements inflicted remooued favours conferred promised and all things how they are now ordered and in their due season for ever shall be established A deepe Eagle-eyed Philosopher that discernes betwixt grace and nature flesh and spirit And O great secret how the bodie followes the temperature of the soule in a regenerate Person Without controversie he who knowes Christ knowes all things he that is ignorant of him 1. Cor. 81.2 nothing as he ought to know And in this sence as many more Christ may be said to be all in all to Iew Gentile Col. 3.11 to Barbarian Scythian Vse 4 And O thou purblind want and dul-sighted moale get wisdome get vnderstanding of Christ and forget not Seeke into these mysteries search into these so profound depths for they are more pretious than pearles And all thou canst desire are not to be compared to them Meanes thou hast if thou haue an heart motiues strong and many if thou wilt be allured He who would be skilfull in any science wil he not read the choâ—cest authors Purchase the most ancient manu-scripts And be a companion to the cunning Artist Shall we not then doth is and more too for the gaining of so excellent knowledge What if it make not such a stirre and ratling in the world as others Is any like it To be equalled to it If thou wander in thy spirituall progresse Ioh 16 6. is not Christ thy leader Art thou in doubt Is not he the author Heb. 12.2 Finisher of thy faith Dost thou faint he is thy life and length of daies Deu. 30.20 Are not the holy letters the swadling-bands wherein the babe Iesus is wrapped That I say not the expresse image of his person 1 Cor. 9.22 Is he not made all things compared to all things that he might win some of each ranke