to be the worlds friend is to be Gods enemy yea he esteemes it an honour to be evill spoken of by evill men because when a thing is best they will like it least and a grace to be disgraced for Christ who was farre more disgraced for him Besides the single approbation of one wise experimentall Christian is enough with him to countervaile the disdaine and dislike of a whole Parish of sensualists and an ounce of credit with God more worth then a tallent of mens praises And how little is that man hurt whom malice condemnes on earth and God commends in Heaven If he cannot avoyd their malice and evill words he will be sure not to deserve them which is much at one upon the matter for as the best confutation of their slanders is not by our great words but by our good works so his conscience knowing him innocent like a constant friend takes him by the hand and cheeres him against all his miseries However he will not in the least wrong his conscience to avoyd the imputation of singularity The scoffes of Atheists shall not beat him off from his Profession No if he does well hath Gods Word for his warrant and glory for his aime nothing can daunt or discourage him Neither the threatnings of fire nor the faire and large promises of cunning and cruell adversaries neither paine nor losse can make him shrinke from Christ much lesse the censures and scoffes of lewd persons The conscience of good intentions let their successe be what it will is both a sufficient discharge and comfort to his generous minde 3. § Through the studdy of vertue and Christian prudence he makes the servile passions of his minde feare and anger subject to the more noble faculties of his soule reason and understanding As appeares in the provocation of an enemy for let him be injured he will both forbeare and forgive well considering that it is the glory of a man to passe by an offence and that it is greater fortitude to overcome his owne passions then to vanquish a City Wherefore in stead of returning like for like he will pacifie his enemy with milde words and gentle behaviour which may be resembled to Milke that quencheth Wild-fire or Oyle that quenches Lime which by water is kindled and thinkes it enough for one to be angry at a time He is not like our Ruffians and sonnes of Beliall who when they are displeased with others will fly in their Makers face and teare the name of their Saviour in peeces even swearing away their part in that Blood which must save them if ever they be saved Nor like our Gallants whom the Devill hath so blinded and bewitched that they will contend for the way and strive for the wall even to the death and kill one another as though either of their honours were of more worth then both their soules Or admit one get the victory miserable is that victory wherein thou overcomest thine enemy and thy passions yea the Devill in the meane time overcomes thee perhaps thou slayest his body but the Devill slayes thy soule Nor like those sooles you see walking in Westminster Hall that like two Cockes of the Game peck out one anothers eyes to make the Lawyers sport No sayes he why should I vexe my selfe because another hath vexed me Or why should I doe my selfe a shrewd turne because another would And admit carnall reason shall alleadge to him that his enemy is unworthy to be forgiven rectified reason will answer but Christ is worthy to be obeyed who hath commanded me to forgive him And well may I beare with him when his Maker beares with me and forgive him when Christ hath forgiven me much more Nor can any repute him a coward for this his humble patience the true coward is your Hot-spur that feares the blasts of mens breath and not the fire of Gods wrath that trembles at the thought of a Prison and yet feares not Hell fire But the Beleever is as bold as a Lion if his cause be good yea to speake rightly there is no such coward none so valliant as the Beleever without Gods warrant he dares doe nothing with it any thing He feares none but the displeasure of the highest and runs away from nothing but sinne Indeed he more feares the least sinne then the greatest torment as may be seene in the Martyrs that noble Army But he is so farre from fearing an impotent enemy that he feares not death it selfe no not the Day of Judgement 1 Joh. 4.17 Luke 21.25 to 29. yea he is so strong withall that he is able to prevaile with God Gen. 32.26.28 Exod. 32.10 And overcome the world the flesh and the Devill 1 John 2.14 and 5.4 Gal. 5.24 and all this by his faith and prayer and not seldome does he overcome his enemy too by well-doing for he lives so well that his back-biting adversaries are either put to silence or constrained to praise God and speake well of him 4. § He is more knowing then the men of the world for as he hath the light of the Spirit and the eye of saith above them so the Word of Christ dwelleth in him plentifully in all wisedome and spirituall understanding and he increaseth daily in the knowledge of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ because God reveales himselfe to him in a great measure as to his friend Besides his knowledge is about the best things and one drop of soule wisedome and saving knowledge guided by the feare of God is more worth then all humane learning And to this knowledge unbeleevers are meere strangers Yea be they never so wise and learned in other things they have onely the theory of this wisedome they can prattle of it by roate but they know not what it is by effect and experience Yea if a man want faith holinesse the love of God and the Spirit of God to be his teacher he shall not be able really and by his owne experience to know the chiefe points of Christian Religion such as are faith repentance regeneration the love of God the presence of the Spirit the remission of sinnes the effusion of grace the possession of heavenly comforts not what the peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost is nor what the communion of Saints meanes when every one of these are easie and familiar to the meanest and simplest Beleever And the reason is the Beleever digests his knowledge into practise and imployes it to the glory of the Giver his neighbours good and the furthering of his owne salvation He is neither ungrounded in the Principles of Religion nor unconcionable in the practice Each Booke or Sermon both increaseth his knowledge and lessens his vices Yea he will pick something out of every thing and gather honey from the selfe same thing that others will poyson Anothers hating the truth shall make him love it the more for he is instructed both by similitude and contrariety Whereas let the
A Touch-Stone To try by our knowledge belief and life whether we be Christians in name onely or Christians in deed OR The Character of a true Beleever that walks in some measure answerable to the Gospell his Christian profession and the millions of mercies he hath received By R. Y. of Roxwell in Essex 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your owne selves Know ye not your owne selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Printed at London and are to be sold by Andrew Crooke at the signe of the Greene Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1648. I Have perused this Treatise and approving it to be very pithy pious and profitable I allow it to be printed and published Iohn Downame THe Reader may think it strange that the Proofes are not alleadged but they were found to be so many in number that the very pointing to them would have taken up neere as much roome as the matter it selfe and so have doubled the charge which in that they are mostly to be given away could not be afforded Besides few use to turn to every Scripture and every sanctified heart is a Comment upon all that is herein delivered The CHARACTER of a true Beleever c. in reading whereof reflect upon your selves and see what comparison there is between that you are and what you should be and then with blessing from above it will much further you in your way to Heaven for therefore are we Christians in name onely because we think our selves Christians indeed and already good enough § 1. A True Beleever is one that God of his free grace and good pleasure hath chosen and elected to eternall life before the foundation of the World and whom Christ hath redeemed with his precious bloud § 2. He is effectually called and become a new Creature by regeneration being both begotten and borne a new of God by the immortall seed of the Word and the Spirits powerfull working with it And without this new Birth there is no being saved as our Saviour himselfe affirmes John 3.5 § 3. He is industrious after the meanes of Grace loves to heare Christs voyce and delights in it as finding a sweet relish therein is able to know when he speaketh and when the tempter he receives the Word not as the word of men but as it is in deed the Word of God with all readinesse for he resists not as the wicked doe but obeyes Christs call which worketh in him mightily for he findes it by experience quick and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and to the discerning of the very thoughts and the most secret intents of the heart § 4. His heart is circumcised or rather God takes away the stony heart out of his flesh and gives him a new heart in which he writes his Law and puts a new spirit into him even his owne Spirit causing him to walke in his statutes and keep his ordinances so as to doe them § 5. He sheds his love abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost who witnesseth to his conscience that he is become the childe of God whereby he hath union and communion with Christ partakes of the Divine Nature and becomes like God in holinesse § 6. He is brought out of darknesse into marvellous light hath his eyes opened to see the wonders of Gods Law and that vayle or curtaine which before was drawne over his heart 2 Cor. 3.15 16. taken away and is turned from the power of Satan unto God § 7. He is ashamed of his former conversation bewayles and mournes bitterly for all his sins actuall and originall of omission and commission secret as well as knowne lesser as well as greater yea as well for the evill which cleaves to his best workes as for his evill workes being more grieved for offending so good a God then for that it doth or might bring him shame or punishment in this life or in Hell § 8. He now findes that the Law is spirituall binding the heart as well as the hands to which holy and just rule he brings all his thoughts words and actions and so sees himselfe out of measure sinfull as being guilty of all manner of concupiscence having broken every one of those righteous precepts Exodus 20 more times and wayes then he hath haires on his head not being able of himselfe to thinke a good thought for that all the powers of his soule and members of his body are wholly and originally corrupted § 9. He sees himselfe as guilty of Adams sinne being in his loynes as any Heire is liable to his Fathers debt and esteemes it the Mother and Nurse of all finding it like the great wheele in a Clocke that sets all the wheeles on moving while it seemes to move slowest and therefore hates and bewailes it as the most soule hatefull secret deceitfull and powerfull evill § 10. Whereupon finding himselfe in a lost condition and confessing that he hath deserved all the plagues of this life and of that which is to come and groaning under the burthen of sinne utterly dispairing of all helpe in himselfe he is solicitously carefull in the use of the meanes to attaine faith in the promise of Gods mercy made in Christ finding no rest untill he get some assurance vehemently hungering and thirsting after and earnestly praying for the pardon of sinne waiting on the Lord with patience § 11. He humbly unfainedly and freely confesseth all his sins so farre as he is able with the severall circumstances which aggravate the same to his owne shame and Gods glory § 12. He will take an holy revenge on himselfe even to the denying of his owne reason and affections his credit carnall friends profits pleasures and whatever else might hinder and by restoring goods or monies evill gotten though it were long since and when he was a servant in case he be able § 13. He unfainedly desires to forsake all sinne as being in some measure dead to it Christ by his Spirit having freed him from the power and dominion thereof and in part abolished it at least he so parts from all iniquity and hates every false way that no one sinne doth raigne in him for when he doth commit any evill it is full sore against his will as being led captive to it by the strength of Satans temptations and his owne corruptions for he never commits it freely and willingly and with full consent he allowes not of the evill he does no he will not premeditately and in times not utterly deserted doe the least evill that the greatest good may come of it neither is there any sinne he knowes by himselfe were it formerly never so pleasing to him but he desires as heartily that he might never commit it as that God should never impute it He likewise hates sinne throughly and universally and therefore is truly
away wherefore cast not both thine eyes upon thy sinne but reserve one to behold the remedy looke upon the Law to keepe thee from presumption and upon the Gospell to keepe thee from despaire this is both a sweet and an even course But as an empty Vessell close luted though you throw it into the midst of the Sea will receive no water so all pleas are in vaine to them that are deafned with their owne feares for as Mary would not be comforted with the sight and speech of Angels no not with the fight and speech of Jesus himselfe till he made her know that it was Jesus so untill the Spirit of God sprinkleth the conscience with the blond of Christ and sheds his love into the heart nothing will doe no Creature can take off wrath from the conscience but he that set it on wherefore the God of peace give you the peace of God which passeth all understanding yea O Lord speake thou musick to the wounded conscience thunder to the seared that thy Justice may reclaime the one thy mercy releeve the other and thy favour comfort us all with peace and salvation in Jesus Christ § 75. The comfort of what hath been said in these seven last Sections is intended and belongs to weake Christians troubled consciences and those that would faine doe better but let no unbeleever impenitent or prophane person meddle with it for all such are to know that their very best services as praying and fasting and receiving and giving of Almes c. because they are not done in faith and obedience to the Word and that God may be glorified thereby are no better in Gods account then if they had staine a Man or cut of a Doggs neck or offered Swines blood or blessed an Idoll as himselfe affirmes Isay 66.3 Nor will God accept of any action unlesse it flowes from a pious and good heart sanctified by the Holy Ghost yea civill honesty severed from true piety humility saving knowledge sincere love to God true obedience to his Word justifying faith a zeale of Gods glory and a desire to edifie and win others God will neither accept nor reward but account of their morall vertues as of shining or glistering sinnes because they spring from pride ignorance infidelity selfe-love and other such carnall respects as many examples prove namely Caines sacrifycing 1 John 3.12 the Iewes fasting Isay 58. those reprobates preaching in Christs name and casting out Devills Matth. 7.22 23. and the like whose outward workes were the same which the godly performe and what saith Austine most excellently There is no true vertue where there is no true Religion and that conscience which is not directed by the Word even when it does best does ill because it doth it not in faith obedience and love § 76. Secondly let them know that being out of Christ they are bound to keepe the whole Law Gal. 5.2 3. or stand liable to suffer the penalty thereof for not keeping it for though this be the condition of the New Covenant Beleeve and thou shalt be saved yet all that they have to trust unto is Doe this and live Rom. 10.5 and cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to doe them Gal. 3.10 And I wish that they would seriously thinke of it and what need they have of Christ whom they rather persecute then obey his Gospell in love § 77. Indeed let them get a true lively and justifying faith put ye off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupted through the deceiveable lusts and be renued in the spirit of your mindes and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4.22 23 24. and then Christ and all his benefits and promises will belong unto you but not before in the meane time you are in your bloud Ezekiel 16.6 and have to answer not onely for your originall guilt but for every thought word and action of yours from your infancy Matth. 9.12 13. Luke 1.53 Gal. 5.1 to 7. enough to startle you if you be not starke dead § 78. But perhaps thy heart and conscience is not onely Sermon but Thunder proofe and then nothing will doe good upon thee the case of all incorrigible ones yea most men now adaies are judgement proofe and let them be never so cleerly convinc'd from the word that they are in a dangerous condition all thoughts thereof presently passe away like the sound of a Bell that is rung or if not Satan can furnish them with an evasion be the case what it will amongst many of his delusions I will mention two of the principall and which I hold to be the strongest barres to keepe men out of Heaven that can be named The first is this Never regard will he say to a poore soule what a few melancholly Precissions say when every one doth so and so or every one is of this or that judgement yea doe not such and such the like who are wiser and greater and better men then your selfe They are of another minde neither doe they trouble themselves so much about Religion and yet they looke to speed as well as the precisest yea will he say Doe ye not see many Ministers and great Professors of Religion who pretend it is good being religious and holy and presse others to it that doe onely pretend it for they live as loosely and deale as unjustly as any other men and they are not ignorant of what they doe and this you may be sure of that if they did speake as they thinke they would doe as they speake therefore what should ye be so singular will ye be wiser then all your friends or neighbours yea then ninety and nine parts of the Kingdome What a mad conceit were this then yeelds the poore soule and counts it a pleasure too that he is seduced and by this kinde of Sophistry Satan prevailes with millions yea I have ever noted that this one artlesse perswasion of others doe so prevailes more with the world then all the places of reason but this plea or argument is not more common and taking then it is sortsh and dangerous if it be well lookt into for besides that it is Gods expresse charge Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill Exod. 23.2 and Saint Pauls everlasting rule Fashion not your selves like unto this world Rom. 12.2 Our Saviour Christ hath plainely told us That the greatest number goe the broad way to destruction and but a few the narrow way which leadeth unto life Matth. 7.13 14. And Saint John That the number of those whom Satan shall deceive is as the sand of the sea Revel 20.8 and 13.16 Isay 10.22 Rom. 9.27 yea that the whole world lyeth in wickednesse 1 John 5.19 whereas those whom Christ hath chosen out of it and that beleeve the Gospell are but a little flocke and few in number Luke 12.32 Revel
charitable with his Masters goods nor wastfull with his Parents If a Master he useth his servants so as considering that himselfe is a servant to a greater Master To a good servant he is kinde and liberall and having staid long with him and done him good and faithfull service he will at the end of his yeares not onely make him free but give him a bountifull reward answerable to the good service he hath performed and by this he is more inriched He will not bid his servants tell lyes or being at home to say that he is abroad He loves not to raile or speake evill of Magistrates as being sent of God for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that doe well In chousing them he will have respect to their piety and fitnesse and not to wealth favour or any other either private or base ends He is no Neuter when Gods cause is in danger but he will helpe the Lord against the mighty He imployes himselfe in some lawfull calling he lives not idely He will not company with wicked persons for feare of being infected by them nor joyne in Marriage either with Idolaters or prophane persons least he should learn their customes Nor give his Children in marriage to them for the same reason He is carefull to preserve his Childrens chastity and therefore he will in due time provide fit matches for them Be he Parent Master or Magistrate he will thinke it no disparagement to his greatnesse if Christs Ambassadour shall as he is bound require him to give some testimony that he is a Christian before he intrudes himselfe to the Lords Table Yea he will as Christ hath commanded him be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in him though in the presence of others that are not so rich ancient or learned as himselfe though he was never in so many yeares examined and indeed none but proud and ignorant persons will stand upon comparisons in Gods Worship for pretend they what they will the genuine reason is they are ashamed to make knowne their ianorance If a Minister he will not preach to please but to profit nor will he date to serve at the Altar without being holy 10. § He hath low and meane thoughts of himselfe therefore the Lord makes him excell and shewes his strength by him He abhorres to thinke himselfe better then others because God blesseth him more with outward blessings or hath bestowed more inward gifts and graces upon him then upon others well knowing that God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble He is not lifted up nor cast downe with mens flatteries or slanpers He forgets his good deeds and therefore God remembers them he remembers his evill deeds therefore God forgets them He is not envious nor given to strife but of a meeke and quiet spirit peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated He affects rather plainesse then pompe and will rather refuse places of honour then eagerly pursue after them He never stands so secure but he will take heed least he fall and preferres an humble feare before a presumptuous confidence He makes conscience of small sins least they should prove wedges to greater When he is tempted to evill the feare of God keepes him innocent And it is alwaies in his minde that God seeth all things and is ever beholding him He will neither deny nor deminish nor justitie his sinne nor shift it off to others If he have falne into an evill he will beware of doing it the second time well knowing that there is no laying hold of the Promises without making conscience and obeying the Precepts He will not mock his admonisher scoffe at the meanes to be saved nor make himselfe merry with his owne Damnation as the desperately wicked doe He turnes not his back upon any truth nor flyes from any instruction he hateth not the light yea he loves that Minister best that most makes manifest the secrets of his heart as knowing that God is in him of a truth He will not refuse a Pardon because he dislikes the Messenger Indeed he least regards those Ministers that the world admires as well weighing what St. John saith 1 John 4. They are of the world therefore speake they of the world and the world heareth them we are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the spirit of errour ver 5.6 He is faithfull to his friend for his love extends to his soule he will speake of his faults to his face of his vertues behinde his back The deep and devillish plots of wicked Polliticians never enter into his thoughts because the feare of God keeps them out Or if they offer to intrude themselves they have not the least admittance for he so sarre forth as he can refraines all dispute with sinne Satan or his instruments He is no Health-drinker for he abhors Drunkennesse as the root of all evill and rot of all good and scornes the reputation of good fellowship He is none of those that Peter speakes of who have eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease to sinne that gaze upon every faire face and lust after every beautifull woman He will not be caught nor yeeld to the imbraces of an Harlot though her lips drop like an Hony-combe and her mouth be smoother then Oyle though she offereth her selfe in the streets and lyeth in wait for him at every corner Yea he is wise enough to consider that it may not be a woman but the Devill in the likenesse of a woman as some have thus been cheated 11. § So you have in part seene how he loves and seares and serves the Lord and seekes his glory and the good of others but which is very observeable shall I shew you how the Lord blesseth him in every thing he takes in hand or that does befall him I pray observe the severalls and then if you be not yet a Beleever you will neglect no meanes indeavour or opportunity to obtaine such a blessed condition the particulars are many I le mention a few only First if he be in prosperity as he shall be sure to have plenty of all outward things if God sees it would be good for him so that he shall lend to others but shall not borrow himselfe He will be accordingly thankfull and as God blesseth him more or lesse so will he doe good and the more rich the more rich will he be in good workes and the more ready to distribute and communicate For he is pittifull and ready to shew mercy where is need and to defend rescue and deliver the oppressed out of the hands of their enemies and oppressors if he have power and opportunity to doe it And by reason of his bountifulnesse to the poore he becommeth more rich so that he is not more ready to pray for blessings in his want then he is to give thankes for them
and is ready to cherish them that are cast downe He does not expect a full growth of Grace in the Cradle of a mans conversion yea he yeelds the best Christians in this their state of imperfection their graynes of allowance as our Saviour did to his Apostles § 58. He is not of a reprobate judgement in thinking good evill and evill good neither hath he a base esteeme of Gods people and their wayes as it fares with our scoffing adversaries who looke upon zeale and holinesse with the Devills spectacles nor so farre from being holy himselfe that he hates holinesse in others or so stupidly sottish as the rude rabble who will professe that they love Christ yet hate all such as any way resemble him He will take heed of persecuting the godly either with hand or tongue and as he will not condemne the just so he will not justifie the wicked nor favour them § 59. He rejoyceth when the righteous are exalted and grieves when the wicked beare rule He is no enemy to reformation but earnestly desires the same and furthers it all he can § 60. He is so farre from taking offence when none is given that he will not be offended when offences come as at the scandalous lives of Professors or at the multitude of Heresies that are daily broached though they grieve his very soule but when strange things happen he makes a wholsome construction thereof § 61. He cannot heare God blasphemed or dishonoured without being moved thereat yea he is as heartily vexed for any dishonour done to him as for any disgrace offered to himselfe He hath an holy care and endeavour in all places and companies to walke so as he may win glory to God honour his profession and give no offence or occasion to the enemies of God to speake evill of him he acknowledgeth all good to come from God and that all glory is to be given to him and accordingly endeavours to honour and serve him with his riches wisedome and what other gifts or abilities he hath neither is he dumbe in publishing his praise nor backward to justifie him in his judgements He will not worship an Image or God in the Image he seldome sells things tending to Idolatry or any other sinne or uses lots in sporting He feares God and feares sin and this dispelleth in him all other false fond and foolish feares which others that are voyd of the feare of God are grievously and perpetually perplexed withall as namely he fears not that his serving of God wil prove his undoing he neither feares nor observes the flying of Fowles the signs of Heaven the sight of a live Snake the crossing of an Hare the croaking of a Raven the scritching of an Owl the howling of a Dog the dreaming of Gardens green Rushes or dead friends to eat an Egge in Lent or flesh on a Friday never racks his Conscience whether the Crow cries even or odde in a morning or whether he leaves the Crosse on his right or left hand as he goes whether it be Childermas Day or not when he takes a Journey or undertakes any businesse or whether the Salt-seller falls from or towards him it is all one to him nor does stumbling at a threshold presage any evill to him at all he never crosses his breast nor sprinckles his fate when he is to goe abroad nor nailes Horse-shooes at his doore and yet speeds never the worse neither old Wives nor Starres are his Counsellors a Night-spell is none of his guide nor Charmes his Physitian Erra Pater is no part of his Creed neither weares he Ammulets or Paraselsian Characters about his neck you shall never heare him talke of luckey handsell and Fortune to him is an asse Buggs never fright him nor Fairies pinch him neither will he put confidence in any such superstitious and devillish sopperies as the ignorant and superstitious doe no he will not be beholding to the King of Hell for a shooe-tye § 62. He seekes the good and to preserve the peace of the place he lives in and can comfort himselfe with this that in his very Calling and publicke imployments his aime and indeavour is not more at profit or credit then at the glory of God and good of others he hath an humble and publick spirit delights in doing good offices and is active to pleasure others and can make him selfe a servant to all that stand in need of him § 63. Nor is he partiall in his obedience but universall making conscience of every duty and all that God commands the first Table as well as the second and the second as well as the first framing his will to Gods Will in every thing even labouring to be perfect and holy as his Father in Heaven is and to imitate Christ be conformed to his likenesse and to be holy as he was in all parts of his conversation and that at all times and in all companies as conscientious alone and in private where God onely sees him as if his greatest enemy or all the world did behold him he hath a spirit without guile and is more desirous to be good then so accounted and more seekes the power of godlinesse then the shew of it and therefore keepes a narrower watch over his very thoughts then any other can doe over his actions and is accordingly grieved for them He makes conscience of the smallest things required or forbidden in the Word and is as carefull to shun the very occasions of sinne or least appearances or first motions of sinne as actuall sinne it selfe not daring to gratifie Satan in committing the least sinne or neglect God in omitting the smallest precept § 64. He does not serve God by the precepts of men nor feare his displeasure for breaking their traditions neither does he think himselfe sanctified by outward performances as doe our Formalists and Protestants at large who stand more upon circumstance then substance and upon outward priviledges then inward graces but he serves God in spirit according to Christs Gospel for he lives and beleeves and heares and invocates and hopes and feares loves and worships God in such manner as his Word prescribes without addition or demination neither does he follow the examples of the greatest number or the greatest men or the greatest Schollers because Christ hath plainely told him That few of either sort compared with the multitude shall be saved of which small number he strives to be § 65. All which he performes with cheerefulnesse being ever willing and ready to doe good and in sincerity and simplicity with a single heart without buy ends as loving righteousnesse and mercy and doing good duties meerly out of love to God and goodnesse and because God commands them that he may be glorified and others edified thereby yea he would doe what he is able out of love to Christ though himselfe should never have credit not benefit by it here nor hereafter earnestly desiring grace that he might more honour him and
resolution be peremptory and constant and take heed thou harden not againe as Pharaoh the Philistines the young man in the Gospell Pilate and Judas did Resemble not the Iron which is no longer soft then it is in the fire be not like those that are Sea-sick who are much troubled while they are on Shipboard but presently well againe when they are come to shore for that good saith Gregory will doe us no good which is not made good by perseverance If with these premonisions the Spirit shall vouchsafe to stir up in thine heart any good motions and holy purposes to obey God in letting thy sins goe quench not grieve not the Spirit 1 Thess 5.19 returne not with the Dogge to thy vomit least thy latter end prove seven fold worse then thy beginning Matth. 12.43.45 As it fared with Julian the Apostate and Judas the traytor O it is a fearefull thing to receive the grace of God in vaine and a desperate thing being warned of a Rock wilfully to cast our selves upon it Neither let Satan perswade you to deferre your repentance no not an houre least your resolution proves as a false conception which never comes to bearing for as ill Debtors put off their Creditors first one weeke then another till at last they are able to pay nothing so deale delayers with God Besides death may be suddaine even the least of a thousand things can kill thee and give thee no leasure to be sick § 85. Secondly or if death be not suddaine repentance is no such easie worke as to be put off to sicknesse and though true repentance be never too late yet late repentance is seldome true and indeed there is small hope of repentance at the houre of death where there was no regard of honesty in the time of life and Millions are now in Hell who thought they would repent hereafter not being wise enough to consider that it is with sinne in the heart as with a tree planted in the ground which the longer it groweth the harder it is to be pluckt up or a nayle in a post which is made faster by every stroke of the Hammer As what saith the Holy Ghost Can the Blacke Moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill Jer. 13.23 § 86. Thirdly or suppose after many yeares spent in the service of sinne and Satan thou art willing to relinquish thy lusts and offer to God thy service and best devotions at the last gaspe will he accept of them No he hath expresly told us the contrary Prov. 1.24 to 32. yea is it likely that God will accept of thy dry bones when Satan hath suckt out all the marrow That he will give his heavenly and spirituall graces at the houre of death to those who have contemned them all their life Yea is it not most just and equall if God will not be found of those that were content to loose him If he shut his eare against their prayers calling to him for pardon that stopt their eares against his Voyce calling upon them for repentance The Lord hath made a promise to late repentance not of late repentance if thou convertest to morrow thou art sure of grace but thou art not sure of to morrowes conversion if in any reasonable time we pray he will heare us if we repent he will pardon us if we amend our lives he will save us but for want of this timely consideration Dives prayed but was not heard Esau wept but was not pittied the foolish Virgins knockt but were denied and so thousands have cried unto God at the houre of death and found no repentance but they dyed as they lived and went from dispaire unto destruction Wherefore as you tender the good of your owne soule set upon the work presently provide with Joseph for the dearth to come and with Noah in the dayes of thine health build the Arke of a good Conscience against the flouds of sicknesse imitate the Ant who provides her meat in Summer for the Winter following yea doe it while the yerning bowels the bleeding wounds and compassionute arms of Jesus Christ lyes open to receive you whiles ye have health and life and meanes and time to repent and make your peace with God As you tender I say the everlasting happinesse and welfare of your almost lost and drowned soule as you expect or hope for grace or mercy for joy and comfort for Heaven and salvation for endlesse blisse and glory at the last as you would escape the direfull Wrath of God the bitter Sentence and Docme of Christ the never dying sting and worme of Conscience the tormenting and soulescorching flames of Hell and everlasting separation from Gods blisfull presence abjure and utterly renounce all wilfull and affected evill To which end § 87. In the next place be diligent to heare Gods Word powerfully preached which is the sword of the Spirit that killeth our corruptions and that unresistable Cannon-shot which beateth and battereth downe all the strong holds of sinne and Satan § 88. Thirdly ponder and meditate seriously on Gods inestimable love towards us who hath nor spared to give his onely beloved Sonne out of his bosome to dye for us and to purchase thereby every good thing we doe enjoy either for soule or body even to the least bit of bread we eat and this will make thee if thou hast any ingenuity to direct all thy thoughts speeches and actions to his glory as he hath directed thy eternall salvation thereunto and often force thee to breake out into this or the like expression What shall I render unto thee O Lord for all thy benefits but love thee my Creator and become a new creature § 89. Fourthly consider that the Lord beholdeth thee in all places and in every thing thou dost even as the eyes of a well drawne Picture are fastened on thee which way soever thou turnest yea consider him as a just Judge who will not let sinne goe unpunished and this will make thee keep a narrower watch over thy very thoughts then any other can doe over thine actions § 90. Fifthly if thou wilt be safe from evill workes avoyd the occasions at least if thou wilt keep thy selfe from iniquity have no fellowship with the workers of iniquity for it is not more hard to finde vertue in evill company then to misse vice They were mingled among the Heathen saith the Psalmist and what followes they learned their workes Psal 106.35 yea how soone was Peter changed with but comming into the High Priests Hall and the like with David and Salomon which made David to say so soone as he had considered it Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity for I will keepe the Commandements of my God Psal 119.115 knowing that he could not doe the one without the other And indeed the choise of a mans company is one of the most weighty actions of our lives for our future well or ill being depends on that election and many a man had been good that is not if he had but kept good company § 91. Sixthly and lastly but chiefly and principally omit not to pray for the assistance of Gods spirit otherwise thy strength is small yea except God give thee repentance and removes all impediments that may hinder thou canst no more turne thy selfe then thou couldest at first make thy selfe We are not sufficient of our selves to thinke much lesse to speake least of all to doe that which is good 2 Cor. 3.5 John 15.4 5. we are swift to all evill but to any good immoveable wherefore beg of God that he will give you a' new heart and when the heart is changed all the members will follow after it as the rest of the Creatures after the Sunne when it ariseth importune him for grace that thou mayest firmely resolve speedily begin and continually persevere in doing and suffering his holy Will desire him to informe and reforme thee so that thou mayest neither misbeleeve nor mis-live to regenerate thy heart change and purifie thy nature subdue thy reason rectifie thy judgement reforme and strengthen thy will renew thy affections and beat downe in thee whatsoever stands in opposition to the Scepter of Jesus Christ not forgetting that prayer is the key of Heaven as Ambrose calls it And now for conclusion if thou receivest any power against thy corruptions forget not to be thankfull and when God hath the fruit of his mercies he will not spare to sow much where he reapes much Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding to strive after those graces wherewith a true Beleever is quallified and whereof I have given you a Copy in the fore going Character FINIS Adde this Character of A true Beleever as an appendix to The Cure of Misprision