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
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
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
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
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
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