can men draw neere vnto God in the full assurance of faith if they will not be at the paines to examine themselues Heb. 10. 22. Or how shall we euer know that wee are of God or attaine vnto any confidence of faith as we ought to doe 1 Ioh. 5. 19. Eph. 3. 12. How fearefully this point of sound triall is neglected and how miserably most men are deceiued for want of it may appeare by this obseruation which may vsually be made of men in the most places viz. that many that are carnall men say they are godly and many that are godly men say they are but carnall Besides that a multitude of men both good and bad liue in securitie the one not caring to get out of so wofull an estate and the other not regarding the riches of Assurance The causes of this miserable securitie may be obserued and noted both in wicked and in godly men In wicked men these things may be easily discerned 1 A lothnesse to examine themselues and try their estates exactly for feare lest they should finde that they are not in a good estate Their hearts secretly condemne them and they thinke if they should take particular notice of their owne condition it would be found that they haue indeed no true grace in them and therefore they rather chuse to liue in that doubtfull estate then to be put out of doubt and made to know that they haue yet no right to the Kingdome of heauen neuer considering that the knowledge of our misery may be one degree to get out of it 2. In such as see all is not well with them the cause is slothfulnesse mingled with horrible presumption they had rather weare out their dayes in danger then be at the paines to vse the means for their owne repentance and reformation they will wretchlesly put it to the venture 3. Others will aduenture vpon their common hope of mercy they haue certaine generall confused apprehensions of mercy in God vpō which they wilfully engage their hopes without care of reformation or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God and so miserably perish their hopes prouing but as the house of the Spider and the imaginarie mercy failing them they die either as stockes without sense or as Iudas in horrible despaire 4. Others rest themselues vpon their outward profession of Religion and some general things wrought in them and the good opinion others haue of them so being somewhat neare the kingdome of God they are content to rest there as the Israelites did neare Canaan though they neuer possessed it We see many think there needsno more to be sure they are in a good cōdition then to heare Sermons abstaine from grosse outward prophannesse and to be well reputed of among the godly c. pleasing themselues with the shew of godlinesse though as yet they deny the power of it as hauing attained to other righteousnesse then the righteousnesse of the S◅ribs and Pharises 5. In multitudes of men there are seated euill opinions about assurance They thinke either it is impossible to bee had or it is needlesse or it is presumption to seeke it 6. All wicked men are hindered by their beloued sinnes which they are not willing to part with but of purpose forbeare the care of heauen that they may the more securely liue in sinne Thus of wicked men It is true also that many godly Christians haue beene and are extreamly faulty in neglecting the triall of their estates and their assurance and the causes of this negligence in them are diuerse as 1. Some are so much mis-led by the surmises of their owne hearts that they think that assurance would breed security and that it is a better way to keepe their owne hearts humble to be somewhat doubtfull not knowing that vnbeliefe is the chiefe cause of slothfulnesse and securitie and that the assurance of faith is the chiefe meanes to purge the heart and quiet the soule and works effectually in all the duties of loue 2. In the most Ignorance of their owne gifts and Gods promises is the cause for if Christians did see distinctly how far the Lord hath brought them by his grace and withall did behold the euidences of their faith and hope in Gods promises they should not faile of comfort and establishment of heart 3. Smothering of doubts and temptations is a great let in many diuers Christians are secretly and daily assaulted with certaine strange doubts which if they did propound get sound answer vnto their hearts would heale within them and the worke of faith prosper 4. Some Christians are kept without assurance through the ouermuch viewing of their owne daily infirmities in all parts of Gods seruice They are wicked ouermuch wheras if they would study those Scriptures that shew how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people notwithstanding their daily wants their hearts would be much eased and their minds cleerely resolued to trust vpon the euerlasting mercies of their God 5. In some the cause is found in the disease of their bodies Melancholy when it is growne to a disease is a most stiffe and pertinacious aduersary to Comfort and Assurance it doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies and is an humour so vnteachable that comfort for the most part is as water spilt vpon the ground And the more difficult it is to remoue this let because vsually the parties possest by this humour are so far from seeking help that they will not be perswaded that they are troubled with any such disease 6. Some Christians are hindred by their owne Passions they are so froward and vnquiet in their dispositions that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of setled assurance by their own habituall discont◅nts Frowardnes is a mischieuous distemp◅r that weakens both body and minde and assurance and strength of faith seldome dwels in an vnquiet minde 7. Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance they doe not try all things and keepe that which is good or they call not vpon God daily feruently and constantly to giue them the spirit of reuelation to shew them the hope of their calling and their glorious inheritance Eph. 1. 18 19. 8. A barren life is an vncomfortable life and contrariwise to abound in good workes hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnseparable companion of it 9. The loue of earthly things is another great impediment Many professours haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously seeke Gods Kingdome nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainement of assurance This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world 10. In some there lodgeth some secret sin which they know and do not purge themselues for and doth daily preuaile in them and
the tryall without despaire for the signes doe not shew them that they cannot be saued but onely that for the present they are not in the estate of saluation actually which though it may and ought to be grieuous vnto them to consider in what fearefull misery and sinne they liue in yet they haue reason to know and beleeue that they may bee saued as well as others yea the acknowledgemeÌ„t of their misery is one step to saluation Now that wicked men may not die but take a course to bee saued two things are by them to be attained first the arguments of hope that proue they may bee saued and that there is remediâ—… for their miserie Secondly the rules that shew them what they must doe which being done they may be certaine of their saluation For the first that they may be saued these things may hopefully assureâ—… 1. That God hath sworne that he desires not that the wicked should die but rather that he should turne from his â—…uill 〈◊〉 â—…d liue Ezâ—…k 18. 31. 2. That God hath with singular patience borne with him all this while and hath not laid him beneath for all his sinnes wâ—…o long since deserued hell and the Lord hath taught it too that he is patience that men might repent and be saued Rom. 2. 4. 2 Peter 3. 9. 3. That God offers his grace to all and hath made no exception against any particular man and therefore why shouldest thou except thy selfe from saluation when Gods grace is tendred to thee as well as others God sends his Gospell to euery creature euen to all Nations Marke Chap. 16. ver 15. 4. That God hath sent his owne Sonne to bee a sufficient sacrifice and propitiation for the sinnes of men He is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Iohn 1. Romanes 3. 25. 1 Iohn 2. 1. and in him God is well pleased and would haue all men know that hee is content to take satisfaction from Christ Math. 3. 17. 5. That God hath placed them in the visible Church and doth yet continue the meanâ—…s that is able to saue their soules Acts 20. 32. Iam. 1. 21. 6. That God hath declared himselfe concerning sinne that there is one onely sinne that in it selfe is simply vnpardonable all the rest may be forgiuen 7. That God hath saued as great sinners as they such as were Manasses Mary Magdalen Dauid Paul Many amongst the Corinthians were fornicators drunkards raylers and the like yet were iustified sanctified and saued 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. And these haue obtained mercy that in them Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a patterne to them which should afterwards belâ—…eue to euerlasting life 1 Tim. 1. 13 16. CHAP. V. Shewes how faith may be gotten THE rules of directions follow This then is the question What should a man doe that he may be sure of his saluation the man I say that for the present doth not finde the grace of Christ in his heart I answer That his principall care must be to vse all meanes to get the graces of the godly Christian formed in his heart And herein the Lord hath shewed vnto men singular mercy that as hee hath shewed wayes in his Word how his seruants may discerne the graces that are so many signes and pledges of Gods loue and their owne saluation so hath he in the same word laid downe cleere directions that shew how euery grace may be attained and formed and nourished in the hearts of men And first I will begin with Faith And the question is What should a man doe that hee might attaine Faith Hee that would beleeue must obserue these rules 1. Hee must in the first place betake himselfe to Gods promises For without the promise of grace it is impossible Faith should euer bee formed aright in a man hee must labour to see what the Lord saith distinctly vnto sinners I will instance in that one promise Ioh. 3. 16. God so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Now his care must bee seriously to marke and cleerly to vnderstand Gods meaning which in this promise is to assure saluation to any in the world that wil beleeue in Christ. 2. He must then consider Gods commandement concerning faith that God doth require him to beleeue and is so farre from being displeased with him for beleeuing in Christ that for this cause hee will damne him in hell if hee beleeue not Iohn 3. 18. 1. Iohn 3. 23. Hee doth as exactly require vs to relye vpon this course of saluation by Iesus Christ as hee doth require any thing of vs in the morall Law and as we ought not to sweare or commit adultery or steale so ought wee not to dare to liue without beleefe in Iesus Christ. 3. Hee must pray heartily to God to giue him a heart to beleeue and to forme faith in him for faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Hee should pray ouer the promises and beseech God to incline his heart to rest vpon them as the best treasures in the world cry vnto the Lord Lord helpe my vnbeleefe 4. Hee must absolutely lay aside all thought of his owne righteousnesse by the workes of the Law and looke onely to Iesus Christ and the righteousnesse in him else he will faile of the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 3. 5. Hee must waite vpon the powerfull preaching of the Gospell as the onely outward ordinarie meanes to beget faith offering his soule daily vnto God and attending to the Word of God ready to obey the motions of the Spirit knocking at the doore of his heart in the ministerie of the Word knowing that from this ordinance of God he is to expect the gift of faith he should betake himselfe to it with resolution to waite with daily expectation till the Lord bee pleased to send the Holy Ghost into his heart And this is a generall rule for this and all other graces of the Spirit as men loue their owne soules so they must prouide to liue where the Word of God is preached constantly in the power of it for from thence they shall receiue vnspeakeable helpe and furtherance in all the wayes of God Rom. 10. 14. CHAP. VI. Shewing how true humiliation may be attained THus of Faith In the next place he must labour for true and sound humiliation for his sins and to this end he must distinctly striue to get formed in him two things 1. pouerty of spirit 2. godly sorrow for to these two belong all the branches of true humiliation For the attaining of spirituall pouerty these rules are of great vse First make a Catalogue of thy sinnes which thou mâ—…yest â—…o either by memory or by booke By memory thus Goe aside set thy soule before the Lord as if thou werest presently to be
whether their confession and sorrow for their sinnes be right or no. p. 32. 33. 34 Three sorâ—…s of men may profit by these Directions p. 34 Other vses of the Catalogue of sinnes p. 35 The misery of such as will not bee aduised to take a sound course about their sinnes p. 35 CHAP. III. THE sinnes against the whole Law where of originall sinne ignorance procrastination vaine-glory security hypocrisie self-loue inconstancy c. p. 37. to 41. CHAP. IIII. THE diuision of the sins against the first Table and the sorts of sinnes against Gods Nature pag. 42 to 53 Seuen monstrous offences p. 43 Of naturall Atheismâ—… p. 44 And Epicurisme p. 45 Of the defects of grace and the mis-placing of our affections p. 45 46 How many waies men sin against the mercy of God p. 48. 49 and the feare of God p. 50. 51 and the trust in God p. 51. 52 CHAP. V. HOw many wayes men offenâ—… against the meanes of Godâ—… worship p. 53. How many wayes men offend By not-worshipping p. 53 54 By will-worshipping p. 55 By Idol-worshipping p. 56 CHAP. VI. HOw many wayes men sinne against the manner of Gods worship p. 57. Offences that may be committed in the manner of doing any part of Gods seruice p. 58 Sinnes en hearing p. 58 Sinnes in prayer p. 59 Sins about the Sacraments p. 59 Sinnes about an oath p. 60 CHAP. VII SInnes about the time of Gods worship p. 61. Three secret offences against the Sabbath p. 61. The open breaches of the Sabbath p. 62 63. CHAP. VIII THE diuision of the sins against the second Table The sinnes Of wiues and Husbands p. 64 65. Of Children and Parents p. 65 66. Of Seruants and Masters p. 67 68. Of Subiects and Magistrates p. 68. Of Hearers and their Ministers p. 69. CHAP. IX SInnes against the persons of men p. 69 1 By omission p. 70 2 By commission where The sinnes internall p. 71. to 74 The sinnes externall In gesture p. 74 In words p. 74 In workes p. 76 77 How we sinne against the bodies of men p. 78 How against the soules of men p. 79. to 81 CHAP. X. THe sins against Chastity p. 81 In the grosse acts p. â—…2 In the thoughts and affections and senses and gestures and words p. 83 The occasions of vncleannesse p 84. 85. 86 CHAP. XI SIns against the estates of men p. 86 Internall p. 86 Exterrnall Of omission p. 87. 88 Of commission where the seuerall waies of stealing p. 88. 89 with the aggrauations to p. 90. 91 CHAP. XII SInnes against the good names of men p. 92 By omission p. 92 By commission Internally p. 92 Externally p. 93. to 99 CHAP. XIII OF the sinnes without consont p. 96 CHAP. XIII HOw many wayes men offend against the Gospel p. 97. Sins against Christ. p. 97 98. Sins against repentance p. 98 99 Sinnes against Faith p. 100 Sins against the Spirit of grace p. 100. THE PREFACE TO THE READER containing the Scope of all the Sixe Treatises and certaine generall things which by way of Introduction belong vnto them all FOrthy sake Christian Reader I haue beene willing to prepare for the Presse Sixe little Treatises Which may informe thee of six things of the greatest consequence that I know can concerne thee in this life And though I haue reason to abase my selfe in the acknowledgement of mine owne frailtie and insufficiency for these things yeâ—… thou hast cause to awaken to thâ—… consideration of the matter which so neerly concerneth thee vsing the helpe of this labour tiâ—… God affoord thee better helpe from more able instruments The matter in all of them is so necessary that I know not which of them thou mayest safely neglect The first thing which any man disposing himselfe for the Kingdome of God will and ought to inquire after is What he should doe to be rid of those so many sinneâ—… he hath beene and is guilty of Rid I say from thâ—… guilt and danger of them and from the power and dominion of them For the satisfaction of thy conscience in this most needfull question I haue in this first Treatise gathered for thee out of the whole Bible a Catalogue of those sinnes which in our repentance God will haue with speciall notice to be confessed and auoided And these sinnes I haue set downe as neere as I could in the expresse words of the text that thou mightest see the Lord himselfe describing thy offences and so mightest haue no excuse or doubt to imagine that it was but the iudgement of some men that made such things to bee thought to bee sinnes By this course of surueying the whole Scriptures I haue both found out diuers particular offences plainely proued to be so which I could not obserue to be mentioned in any exposition of the commandements which I had and also diuers things proued clearely to be sinnes which were onely barely â—…ffirmed to bee so in other writers I haue likewise plainely shewed thee by expresse Scripture what course thou maiest distinctly take to be rid of thy sinnes a course that cannot faile thee being grounded on the most euident directions which God himselfe hath prescribed vnto thee if thy owne slothfulnesse procâ—…astination or wilfull peruersenesse binder thee not And I doubt not but by experience thou wilt confesse the course is comfortable easie considering the great benefit and rest thou mayest bring to thy conscience thereby The second thing a man would desire to bee satisfied in that hath beene entred into the practise of Repentance is How hee might come to bee infallibly assured concerning Gods fauour and his owne saluation and for answer hereunto I haue in the second Treatise gathered out of the Scriptures signes of Gods owne making by which men may try their estate these such as both describe wicked men not yet in Christ and such as describe godly men that shall certainly bee saued And withall I haue now added directions how by the helpe of those signes men may settle their assurance and how such as yet want those signes may attaine them The third thing euery Christian ought to seeke satisfaction in is this How a man that hath attained vnto the assurance of saluation when hee dies may comfort and establish his heart against all the miseries and distresses which may and will befall him in this life before his death And to this end I haue gathered out of the whole Scriptures those admirable consolations which may bee abundantly sufficient to vphold him with much ioy in the worst estate that can befall him And this is done in the Treatise which I call the Promises The fourth question a carefull Christian that hath thus found out the gaine of godlines would aske is this what he should doe in the whole course of his life to glorifie God who hath thus loued him and giuen his Sonne to dye for him and purchased such a glorious inheritance for him And for answer hereunto
faults in others and to be guilty of great offences himselfe Mathew 7. 5 In vain-glorie and minding too much our owne praises And so also he offends That boasteth of a false gift Prou. 27. 1. That iustifieth himselfe ouermuch Iob 35. 2. That boasts of to morrow Prou. 17. 1. That measures himselfe by himselfe 2 Cor. 10. 12. 6. In flatterie Psalme 12. 3. Prou. 27. 14. and 26. 26. 7. In iustifying the wicked Prou. 17. 15. and 24. â—…4 CHAP. XIII HItherto of the sinnes with consent of the will The sinnes before consent of the will are 1. To want desire of the good and well-fare either of himselfe or other men 2 To conceiue euill thoughts Matth. 15. 19. or couer euill 3. To delight in the inward contemplation of euill whether in dreames or awake though it bee without purpose to act them outwardly Iude 8. Iames 1. 14. Hitherto of the sinnes against the Law CHAP. XIIII Shewing how many wayes men offend against the Gospel THe sinnes against the Gospel may bee referred to foure heads as they are sinnes Against Christ. Against Repentance Against Faith Against the graces of the Spirit 1. He sinnes against Christ That saith he is Christ Math. 24. 5. That denyeth directly or by consequent that Christ is come in the flesh 1 Iohn 4. 3. and 2. 23. That hath base thoughts of Christ Esay 53. 3. That saith hee hath no sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7 8 10. That worships God without Christ Iohn 17. 3. 1 Iohn 2. 23. That vseth not Christ as his own and onely Aduocate 1 Ioh. 2. 2. 1. Tim. 2. 5. That loues not the Lord Iesus Christ with inflamed affections 1 Cor. 16. 22. Eph. 6. 24. Philip. 3. 8. 2 Hee sinnes against repentance That confesseth not his sinnes without hiding distinctly Prou. 28. 13. Psalme 32. 5. That mourns not for his sins Ier. 5. 3. That forsakes not his sinnes Prou. 28. 13. Yea hee sinnes against repentance That repents fainedly Ieremi 3. 10. That repents desperately as Cain and Iudas That repents too late Iob 27. 8 9. That repents by halues and in some things onely as Ahab and Herod That falls away from his repentance 2 Peter 2. 19 20. The aggrauations are To be wise to do euill Ier. 4. 22 To pursue euill Prou. 11. 19. To reioyce in doing euill and make a mocke of sinne Prouerbs 2. 14. and 14. 9. To be without shame and to declare his sin like the Sodomites Esay 5. 9. Ier. 3. 3. To be incorrigible Ier. 5. 3. To fret because hee is crossed in sinne Prou. 19. 3. To blesse himselfe against the curses of the Law Deut. 29. 19. To freeze in security Zephan 1. 12. To refuse to returne 3. He sinnes against Faith That beleeues not in Iesus Christ for his iustification and saluation Iohn 3. 17. Yea he offends That is carelesse and neglects the assurance of Faith Heb. 6. 12. Rom. 1. 16. That in affliction doubts of Gods fauour and goodnesse Esay 41. and 49. 14 15. The aggrauations Not to seeke after God at all Zeph. 1. 6. Not to stir vp our selues to take hold on God when mercy is offered Esay 64. 7. Not to answer when God calls Esay 50. 2. To forsake our owne mercy or scoffe at the signes of it Iohn 2. â—…8 4. He sinnes against the graces of the Spirit 1. That receiues the grace oâ—… God in vaine 2 Cor. 6. 1. 2. That turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse Iude 4. 3. That falls away from the grace of God either wholly by forsaking the acknowledgement of the truth 2 Peter 2. 20. Or in the same measure by losing his first loue Reuel 2. 4. 4. That tempts grieues or quencheth the Spirit Eph. 4. 30. 1 Thess. 5. 19. 5. That despites the Spirit of grace and of malice persecutes the knowne truth which is the sinne against the Holy Ghost Hebrewes 10. 26. FINIS THE SPIRITVALL TOVCH-STONE OR THE SIGNES OF A GODLY MAN Drawne in so plaine and profitable manner as all sorts of Christians may try themselues thereby Together with directions how the weake Christian by the vse of these Signes may establish his assurance By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX 2. Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selues whether ye be in the Faith proue your selues Know ye not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except yee bee Reprobates LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIES the Ladie Ruth Scydamore increase of peace and ioy in beleeuing HOw great the benefit of assurance of Gods fauour and of our owne saluation is those onely know that are either scourged with the conflicts and terrors of their owne doubtings or that are solaced and established with the sweet dewes of refreshing that arise from a rooted â—…nd well grounded Faith If men studie assurances so much for their outward possessions in this world how much more earnest and diligent should men be to assure Gods loue and the inheritance of the glory to come There is not a clearer signe of a prophane heart then to account these cares needlesse nor doe I know a iuster exception against any religion then that it should teach that when a man hath done what he can to obserue the directions of that Religion yet he cannot be sure he shall goe to Heauen But since I know that all that are possessed of the grace of Iesus Christ doe account assurance great riches I therefore conceiue hope that my paines about this subiect will not be altogether vnacceptable and the rather because in this present Treatise I haue endeauoured to expresse the signes of triall in a much more easie way then before and besides haue added directions that shew how a weake Christian may establish himselfe in his assurance I make bold to dedicate my new assay herein vnto your Ladiship You haue heard the substance hereof preached and receiued it with much gladnesse and in the priuate vse of these signes you haue beene pleased to professe to the glory of God that you haue found much contentment and establishment of your owne assurance Your eminencie in the sincere profession and practise of true Religion and the shining of the graces here treated of long acknowledged by many witnesses haue made you worthy to bee publikely obserued and praysed in the Churches of Christ and your great respect and fauour shewed to mee hath made this way of testifying my thankefulnes but as a small pledge and assurance of my desire to doe your Ladiship any seruice in the things of Iesus Christ. Thus beseeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart and to prosper you in all things that concerne the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ our mighty God and Sauiour â—…end and rest Your Ladiships to be commanded N. BIFIELD CHAP. I.
is eased if he speed well in prayer Psalme 116. 1 6. 14. Hee daily keepes an assise vpon his owne soule hee iudgeth himselfe for his sinnes before God arresting accusing and condemning his sinnes Hee confesseth his sinnes particularly to God without hiding any sinne that is without forbearing to pray against any sinne hee knowes by himself out of any desire he hath still to continue in it and by this signe he may be sure he hath the Spirit of God and that his sinnes are forgiuen him Esay 4. 4. Psal. 32. 5. 1 Iohn 1. 7 9. 1 Cor. 11. 32. 15 His requests are daily powred out vnto God Hee cryes vnto God with affection and confidence though it be with much weakenesse and many defects as the little child doth vnto the father and thereby hee discouers the Spirit of adaption in him Rom. 8. 15. Zacha. 12. 10. Ephesians 3. 12. 16 Hee is vnfainedly desirous to be rid of all sinnes as well as one There is no sin he knowes by himselfe but he doth desire as heartily that he might neuer commit it as he doth that God should neuer impute it This is a neuer failing signe a fundamentall one 2 Tim. 2. 19. 17. Hee is content to receiue euill at the hand of God as well as good without murmuring or letting go his integrity as beeing sensible of his owne deserts and desirous to approue himselfe to God without respect of reward This proued that Iob was an holy and vpright man Iob 1. 1. and 2 3 10. 18. Hee dislikes sinne in all euen in those that are neere and deare vnto him in other respects 1 King 25. 12 13 14. 19. Hee is innocent from the great transgressions and keepes himselfe from his owne iniquity He is not subiect to the damnation of sinne Sin doth not reigne in him Psal. 19. 13. 2. Sam. 22. 24. 20 He finds a desire to be rid of sinne and to humble himselfe for it in prosperitie as well as aduersitie He leaues sinne before sinne would leaue him He forsakes it then when hee could commit it without apparent danger Iob 8. 5 6. 22 Or if he be in aduersity his heart is vpright without lying or dissimulation Hee so seeketh the pardon of his sinnes then and so promiseth amendment as that he is also carefull to practise it when he is deliuered He is not like the Israelites mentioned Psal. 78. 36. 37. 22. Hee makes a supernaturall valuation of spirituall things accounting them as pearles of the best price not too deare bought if he purchased them with all the worldly things he hath and contrariwise accounting himselfe exceeding poore if hee want them or the means of them Mat. 13. 45 46. Ps. 42. 63. 1 3. 23. Hee hath lost his wonted taste in earthly things his heart is not transported with the admiration of them or the inordinate desire after worldly things He loues not the world and this life as he was wont to doe Though he vse the world yet he easily confesseth himselfe to be a stranger and pilgrim here He giues ouer the vnnecessary pleasures and profits of this life Heb. 11. 13. 1 Ioh. 2. 14 15. Rom. 8. 5. He is wearie of the world and willing to forgo societie with the men of this world the workers of iniquitie Psal. 6. 8 9. and 36. 12. and 26. 1 2 3 4. 24. If the Lord be silent and answer not his desires but hides his face his spirit faileth and he is as one that goeth downe into the pit it troubles him as a sore crosse and so contrariwise Psal. 26. 1. and 88. 13 14 15. and 143. 7. Iohn 16 23 28. 25. If hee hath beene a man subiect to boisterous violent and hurtfull affections he is now become tame Of a Lyon hee is become a Lambe and a little child may lead him Esay 11. 6. 24. Hee hath a spirit without guile Psalme 32. 2. Hee is more desirous to be good then to bee thought to be so and more seeks the power of godlinesse then the shew of it Iob 1. 1. Prou. 20. 6 7. His praise is of God and not of men Rom. 2. 29. And thus much of the triall of his humiliation The signes of his faith follow CHAP. IIII. The tryall of a godly man by his Faith FAith is the next thing to bee tryed in a child of God And in as much as there are diuers kindes of faith and experience shewes in many that giue no signes of repentance that they will not bee beaten from a confident presumption that Christ dyed for them euen for them in particular it stands vs in hand to try our perswasion by true rules of Scripture that so if it will abide the trial of the touchstone we may lay it vp as a hid treasure and a wonderfull grace of God and if otherwise wee may repent vs of presumption as a deceiueable sinne But before I open the signes of this sinne the Reader must be admonished of three things First that I intend not by these signes to shew how faith may be bred or begotten in vs but how faith may be proued and declared to be in vs. For it is the promises of God in the Scripture that breed faith nor can humane reason beleeue such great things from God for any thing that is in vs but onely because wee see the Word of God assuring such happinesse vnto such as lay hold vpon them So that that which breeds faith is the reuelation of Gods promises by his Word and Spirit Yet notwithstanding the assurance of faith is much increased and confirmed by the sight of those signes of the truth of our faith and other graces of God in vs. Secondly that I stand not precisely vpon the order of these graces of God in vs nor determine that question which graces are wrought first in the heart of a man but that which I haue specially aimed at in the order of setting them downe is to begin at those that either first appeare in a Christian or are easiest as I conceiue to bee discerned in him Thirdly that I intend especially the tryall of such Christians as agree in this that they a re perswaded that Christ died fo r them that so the true Christian may see reason to comfort himselfe that his perswasion is no presumption as is the perswasion of the most It is true that diuers of the signes of faith here to be handled will shew faith in the weakest Christian though he will not yet be brought to acknowledge any perswasion For this perswasion may bee secretly wrought vpon the heart as it is when it relieth vpon the merits of Christ onely for saluation though the iudgement of the Christian be not resolued against his doubts The question then is how a Christian may trie his perswasiō of Gods mercy and his interest of Christs mer◅ts whether it be right or no. For
of thy particular conscience The least gaine that can bee imagined by this course is that whereas before thou hadst few euidences or none for thy estate thou shalt now haue many of all sorts and it must needes bee thy owne way wardnesse if assurance follow not For these signes will ransacke thee and try thy very heart and reignes and all thy secretest desire and practices Yea this benefit thou maiest reape by the signes that they wil tell thee all the dayes of thy life how it is with thee whether thou goe forward or backward For if by examination now thou gather out all thou canst finde by thy selfe these will not onely lie by thee to helpe thee against any temptation at any time but besides if thou try thy selfe againe either against the next Sacrament or the next yeere thou mayest discerne what ground thou hast gotten or lost If thou prosper thou wilt discerne it by taking in diuers things in each signe which before thou durst not acknowledge and besides it will exceedingly shew thee what thou wantest in each grace of God and so what thou shouldest set thy selfe about and get thy wants supplyed It will at all times make a true Anatomie of thy estate which to the well aduised Christian ought to bee accounted a matter of great moment The God of peace giue thee all peace and ioy in beleeuing If thou receiue any good by this Treatise praise God and pray for me FINIS THE SIGNES OF THE WICKED MAN TOGETHER WITH Directions that shew how the seuerall Gifts and Graces of Gods Spirit may be maintained NEEDFVLL FOR SVCH AS want those Graces and for such as desire to increase in them By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIE the Ladie Bridget Tracie Nicholas Bifield wisheth all prosperity in the things of the Kingdome of CHRIST MADAM BEing destitute of a better gift to bestow vpon your Ladiship to testifie my thankefulnesse or obseruance I present this little Treatise vnto you It may haue more vse then it shewes for For if things shine more cleerly when their contraries are set by them then may this description of the estate of a wicked man by Signes serue much to establish the godly in the point of Assurance when he seeth himselfe freed from those fearefull forlorne markes And if men vse to make much of all those directions by which any gaine or treasure may be certainely compassed then ought the Directions not to bee despised that shew how the Spirit of God and the Graces thereof may bee attained For by these directions both those that want the true graces of Christ may here learne how to get them and such as haue them but in weake measure may by the same Rules learne how to increase them I haue beene induced to thinke of your Ladiship in this Dedication partly in acknowledgement of the great respect due to the Family out of which you came as it hath beene a principall meanes of causing the light of the Gospel for many yeeres to shine in those places where the people had sitten in darkenesse and in the shaddow of death And partly drawne by the many praises I haue obserued in your Ladiships since the time of your noble soiourning in the noble Familie you now liue in Your great respect of my Ministery and your constant paines to employ your selfe about religious duties deserue from mee more acknowledgment then so meane a gift as this can discharge Madam you are happy aboue many that God hath inclined your heart to beare the yoke of Christ in your youth and discerne the glory of the spirituall kingdome of Iesus Christ. Your meeknesse assures me libertie to beseech you to goe on in the good way of God and to cleane fast with all heartie affection vnto the Truth as you haue learned Iesus Christ. It shall bee a great increase of your glory to increase in the knowledge and grace of Christ and in sound deniall of your selfe and contempt of the world to fashion your selfe to all the courses by which you may bee pleasing in the eyes of God whiles multitudes in the Gentri◅ of the land of both sexes by following foolish vanities forsake their owne mercie Now the God of peace sanctifie you throughout so prosper his owne worke in you that your whole spirit and soule and body may bee preserued blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ March 9. 1618. Your Ladiships to bee commanded in Christ Iesus N. BIFIELD THE CONTENTS THE Preface shewing the necessitie of the tryall of mans estate and the causes why wicked men will not try themselues and also why diuers godly persons are negligent herein Page 119. to 209. CHAP. I. THirtie signes of an open wicked man pag. 209. to 218. CHAP. II. THirteene signes of an hypocrite pag. 218. to 222. CHAP. III. SIxteene signes of such Professors as are likely to fall away page 222. to 226. CHAP. IV. SEuen arguments of hope that shew a wicked man that he may bee saued if hee will bee directed page 226. to 230. CHAP. V. HOw hee may get faith page 230. to 234. CHAP. VI. HOw he may get to be poore in spirit pag. 234. to 239. How hee may attaine godly sorrow page 239. to 245. CHAP. VII HOw the Spirit of Adoption may be had pag. 245. to 247. How hee may get alone to the Word pag. 247. to 250. How hee may get the gift of prayer pag. 250. to 255. How he may attaine to the feare of God pag. 255. to 256. How he may be made to loue his enemies page 256. to 258. CHAP. VIII HOw sauing knowledge may be gotten and increased pag. 238. to 260. How the loue of God may bee wrought in vs. pag. 260. to 262. How the loue of the godly may be attained and how it may bee preserued pag. 262. to 366. CHAP. IX HOw vprightnesse and sound sincerity of conuersation may be attained pag. 266. to the end THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIAN and carefull Reader HOw necessary it is for all sorts of men in the visible Church to trie their estates whetherthey be true Christians or no may appeare by the expresse charge giuenin the Scriptures concerning it The Apostle Paul chargeth men to examine themselues whether they be in the faith and whether Christ Iesus be in them vnlesse they be reprobates 2. Cor. 13. 5. And the Apostle Peter would haue all Christians diligently to make their calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1. 10. And the like commandemēt lay vpon them in the Church of the Iewes in the old Testament as may appeare by that exhortation Lam. 3. 40. Let vs search and try our wayes and turne againe vnto the Lord and the Prophet Dauid in this case chargeth men to commune with their owne hearts Psal. 4. 4. How
cannot haue such force to melt the waxe as the beames of Gods presence haue to melt the heart Iames 4. 6 7 3. 7. The Apostle Paul being a sturdy Pharisee had his heart beaten to power with the feare of the tenth Commandement that told him Hee must not lust The knowledge and consideration of the abundance of sinne-guiltinesse he hath drawne vpon himselfe by the inward fruits of his euill nature kil'd him outright brake his pride and mortified him as hee at large repeates Rom. 7. 8 Remember the passion of thy Sauiour the pouerty banishmēt ignominie temptations the apprehension forsaking arraignment condemning and cruell death which hee suffered for thy sinnes Looke vpon him that was pierced for thy sake Zach. 12. 10. 9. If of thy selfe thou canst not yet attaine vnto sorrow for thy sins get some godly Christian that is endued with the gift of prayer to ioyne with thee in priuate that so the Lord may bee pleased to grant in Heauen what we of him doe aske on earth 10. Lastly If all other meanes faile then set a day a part by fasting for the day of a fast was called the day of afflicting or humbling the soule Leu. 16. 29. both because it was the maine duty to bee driuen after on that day and besides because the Lord vsually did blesse his owne ordinance so as hee gaue an humbled heart to those that sought it of him CHAP. VII Shewing how the Spirit of adoption may bee attained and also how the seuerall gifts of the Spirit may bee framed in vs. THus of humiliation If followeth that I shew how he may attaine to the other sacred gifts which are markes of a godly man as in the first sort of gifts how he may attaine to the loue of the Word the gift of Prayer the f◅are of God the loue of his enemies and the desire of the comming of Christ But before I enter vponthese it is necessary to shew him how he may attain the Spirit of Adoption which is necessary for these al other graces And concerning the Spirit of Adoption if any aske how it may bee attained Or rather how it may bee stirred vp in vs that we may feele his working in vs I answer That hee is had and stirred vp by inuocation God is pleased to declare himselfe willing and ready to bestow his Holy Spirit vpon men If they aske him of him by hearty praier Hee that hath giuen vs his Sonne will not deny vs the Spirit of his Sonne to be giuen into our hearts Gal. 4. 6. And this our Sauiour Christ assures vnto vs in the Parable Luke 11. 9. And I say vnto you Aske and it shall bee giuen you Seeke and ye shall find Knocke and it shall be opened vnto you 10. For euery one that ask◅th receiueth and hee that seeketh find◅th and to him that knocketh it shall be opened 11. If a Sonne shall aske Bread of any of you that is a Father will he giue him a Stone Or if he aske a Fish will he for a Fish giue him a Serpent 12. Or if hee aske an Egge will he giue him a Scorpion 13 If yee then which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the Holy Ghost to them that desire him 2 Wee must waite vpon the preaching of the Gospel where the Holy Ghost vsually falls vpon the hearts of men 3 When we feele the motions of the Spirit knocking at our hearts or any way surprising vs we must with all readinesse open the doores of our hearts that the King of Glory by hi◅ Spirit may enter into vs. The next question is then What wee should doe to get and preserue in vs the constant loue to the Word 1 The answer is First That we should seeke to settle our selues vnder the powerful preaching of the Word euen such a ministerie as doth set out the glory of the truth and of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ. 2 Wee must make conscience of it to pray vnto God to quicken vs and inflame our hearts to the loue of his Lawes as Dauid often did Psa. 119. 3 Take heed of excessiue cares and the ouer-reaching of desires in the emploiments of the world or the immoderate vse of worldly delights for those choake the seed of the Word and alienate the affections from it and so doth any grosse or beloued sin Heb. 3. Math. 13. 4 Take heed also of personall discord with such as feare God especially with thy Teachers for this doth by secret degrees make the heart carelesse and negligent and in some things wilfull and if it be not looked to in time will bring men from the liking of the Word as they haue been drawne from the liking of such as loue the Word 5 Take heed of vngodly companie For in such companie is quenched the sparkles of liking when they are kindled yea and the flames of affection are much dulled in whom they are best excited Psal. 119. 115. 6. Such as find some beginnings of desire after the Word and liking to it must take heed that they estrange not themselues from the exercises thereof For if they heare or reade but now and then either the heart will neuer bee throughly heated or if it bee it will easily waxe cold againe and yet herein some are to bee warned to take heed of disordered excesse for that will breed dulnesse as well as neglect As when they will reade daily for diuers houres or when they prouide vnto themselues an heape of Teachers as some that liue in great Cities thinke it Religion to heare all sorts of men and all the Sermons can bee come vnto As if the power of godlinesse lay onely in the vse of the meanes of godlinesse 7. We must practise what we heare and labour to shew foorth the fruit of the doctrine He that would bee in loue with husbandry must sow his seed in his ground and then the gaine of the Haruest will still allure him to like the Trade If wee be fruitlesse hearers of the Word wee cannot loue it or if we doe it will be but for a flash or small time Thus of the loue to the Word He that would learne to pray must follow these directions 1. He must goe to God in the Name of Christ and beseech him to giue him words and by his Spirit teach him to pray It is God onely can make a man speake a pure Language For hee onely can instruct the heart of man and endue it with this heauenly gift Romans 8. 26 Ephesians 6. 18. 2 It will much helpe him to ioyne himselfe to such as call vpon the N◅me of the Lord with a pure heart ◅specially in the dayes of their humiliation 2 Timothy 2. 22. 3 There are three distinct things which a man may with singular profit propound vnto himselfe in his prayers
If thou say Thou doest beleeue that God is all this vnto some men and that Abraham and Dauid and others that were in great fauour with God haue found all this But for thy selfe thou art so vile a creature and so meane a person as it is not for thee to expect such great things of God He answers That hee keepes mercy for thousands He hath not spent all vpon Dauid or the Patriarks or Prophets or Apostles or Martyrs or Ministers but he hath an Ocean of goodnesse still to be shewed without respect of persons to al that come vnto him for mercy 9. If thou yet say Thou art guiltie of diuers sorts of sinnes and that it is not one offence onely but many that lye vpon thee and some of them such as thou darest not name they are so vile He answers that he forgiues iniquitie transgression and sinne that is all sorts of sinnes of nature of weaknes or of presumption 10. If any other should say this is a doctrine of liberty and may embolden men to sinne Hee answers to that hee will by no meanes cleare the wicked those are fauours onely hee will declare to the penitent that are weary of their sinnes and would faine â—…ffend no more 2. The second place is Ezek. 36. 25. to the 37. where many obiections are euidently answered the consolations being fitted of purpose so as euery word almost preuents some doubt might arise in mens minds as 1. Ob. I am exceeding lothsome and a creature extremely filthy in respect of my sinnes Sol. I will powre cleane water vpon you that is I will wash your soules in the fountaine of my grace and both forgiue you and sanctifie you 2. Ob. Oh it cannot bee that any meanes should doe me good I am so totally defiled Sol. Ye shall be cleane it is easie for God to cleanse vs it is our owne vnbeleefe hinders vs God hath promised our cleansing 3. Ob. O but my sins are great and grosse sinnes I haue offended more grieuously then other men Sol. From your Idols and from your filthinesse will I cleanse you though thy sinnes were as great as idolatry in the first Table or whoredome in the second yet God can forgiue and sanctifie thee 4. Ob. But my nature is so bad that if I were forgiuen I should offâ—…nd againe Sol. A new heart will I giue thee Where God forgiues our sinnes he giues vs another disposition and change our natures verse 26. 5. Ob. O but I am so ignorant I cannot but offend Sol. A new spirit will I put within you Hee will giue vs vnderstanding and wisedome 6. Ob. But I am so dull and hard-hearted that I am not sensible of my owne distresse and wants and cannot bee affected with the excellency of the goodnesse or promises of God Sol. I will take away the stony heart out of your body God will cure vs of hardnesse of heart 7. Ob. But if my heart were softned and that I had some feeling it would grow hard and senslesse againe Sol. I will giue you an heart of flesh 8. Ob. O but if all this were done for me yet I know not how to order my selfe and what to do to goe on in a religious course of life Sol. I will put my Spirit within you verse 27. 9. Ob. If the Lord do giue me his Spirit yet I feare I shall not be ruled by it but offend and grieue the Spirit of God through ignorance and want of strength Sol. I will cause you to keepe my statutes and yee shall keepe my iudgements and doe them The Lord will worke our workes for vs and teach vs to obey and giue vs power to doe what hee commandeth 10. Ob. I finde a maruailous vnfitnesse in the very things of my outward estate Sol. Yee shall dwell in the land the Lord will blesse vs in outward things as well as in spirituall 11. Ob. But when I come to vse the creatures me thinks I see such vnworthinesse in my sâ—…e that I am almost afraid to meddle with them Sol. I gaue the land to your fathers you hold these outward blessings not by your deserts but by my gift and my gift is ancient I bostowed these things on your fathers 12. Ob. It may be so our fathers were in couenant with God and more eminent men and more worthy then we Sol. Ye shall be my people and I will be your God Gods couenant of grace is with the fathers and their generations after them if he haue bene the fathers God he will be thy God also and thou shalt be of his people 13. Ob. O but I finde such daily sinnes and I am polluted in euery thing I do I am many waies vncleane Sol. I will also saue you from your vncleannesse God will multiply pardon he will forgiue vs and comfort vs against our sinnes after calling 14. Ob. But how shall I beleeue all this for I see God hath plagued vs by famine scourged vs with great want which still lies vpon vs. Sol. I will call for the corne and increase it and lay no more famine vpon you and I will multiply the fruite of the trees and the increase of the field c. 15. Ob. But there is no condition on our part Sol. Yes for all this shall bee done vnto you when you remember your owne euill wayes and your doings that were not good and shall lothe your selues for your iniquities and for your abominations These comforts belong to vs when we are throughly displeased with our selues for our faults And besides for all this must the Lord be sought vnto we shall obtaine all or any of these but we must aske first verse 31. 37. CHAP. XIII Shewing how a godly man may comfort himselfe against the feare of falling away HItherto of the comforts against our daily infirmities The consolations against the feare of our falling away follow We may three wayes comfort our selues against this feare namely if we consider God or Christ or our selues 1. In God there are two things of excellent obseruation both of them exprest in the Scriptures The first is that he hath vndertaken to preserue vs from falling away The second shewes vs distinctly how he will performe this For the first that God will keepe vs from falling away wee haue foure things to assure vs. First the promises of God directly to that end for he assures vs that his Elect shall enioy the worke of their hands and shall not labour in vaine Esay 65. 22 23. The smoking weeke shall not bee quenched nor the bruised reed broken Esay 42. 3. Not one of them shall bee lacking in the whole flocke Ierem. 23. 4. God will build them and not plucke them downe he will plant them and not pull them vp Ier. 24. 6. He will confirme vs in and to the end that wee may bee blamelesse in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ for God is faithfull who hath called vs to the fellowship of his
neglect or forget to doe them Deut. 6. 17. and 32. 46. and 8. 11. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Prou. 4. 26. We must follow after righteousnesse 1 Tim. 6. 11. and binde directions as signes vpon our hands c. Deut. 6. 8. If wee could bee thus awakened this rule would breed vs vnspeakable good in our conuersation Fifthly he must endeauour to settle his head and his estate in respect of his worldly affaires It is a singular helpe to godlinesse to reduce our outward callings in order and euery dayes experience shewes that confusions in worldly businesse breed miserable neglect in Gods seruice And therefore hee that would profite in an orderly course of life must prouide to vse the world so as hee may serue the Lord without distraction He that would runne a race abstaineth from all things that might encomber him No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of life that hee may please him who hath chosen him to bee a soùldür And therefore we may not think it much if in our spiritual course God lay some restraint vpon vs in respect of the cares and encombrances in our outward callings 1 Cor. 7. 29 35 c. 2 Tim. 2. 4. 1 Cor. 9. 25. Sixtly hee must walke in the way of good men both setting before him their practice as patternes of imitation as also by conuersing with them that thereby hee may gather encouragement and helpe in well-doing Hee is deceiued that thinkes to go alone and yet go prosperously in the course of a godly life He may profit and learne by many things he heareth receiueth and seeth among the godly Prou. 2. 20. Phil. 4. 8 9. Seuenthly hee must not be the seruaÌ„t of men 1. Cor. 7. 23. Other mens humours must not be the directioÌ„ of his practice Hâ—… must so depeÌ„d vpon persons by hopes to get any thing by in this world as he be not thereby hindered in workes of Religion knowing that he is Christs freeman He must haste to and looke for the comming of Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 3. 12. Hee must often remember his latter end and daily set before his eyes the comming of Christ striuing to stirre vp in his heart the desire after Christ praying for it and dispatching those workes that may prepare him therevnto The remembrance of our accounts in the day of Christ will wonderfully quicken men to the care of well-doing and the cause of viciousnesse and miserable neglect and procrastinations of many is their forgetting of their latter end A great reason why the directions about godlinesse are not entertained is because men put far away from them the Day of the Lord whereas the remembrance of the reuelation of Iesus Christ would put spirit and life into vs. He dares not say from the heart Come Lord Iesus come quickly that is not resolued diligently to worke the works of Christ. 9. He must not stay for company but rather choose to runne alone or with a few then hazard the losse of the Crowne Our life is a race and as in a race men stay not for company but striue who may runne formost so it is in the race of godlinesse He must so runne as he may obtain hee must set out with the first and runne as it were for his life As hee must make vse of the societie of the godly so hee must not stay till his carnall friends and acquaintance will set out with him He must be of Ioshua's minde that if the whole world will liue in wickednesse and prophanenesse yet hee and his house will serue the Lord 1. Cor. 9. 24. and 14. 12. Ioshua 24. 15. Tenthly hee must in all things giue thankes when God giues him successe in any thing or prospers the meanes to him and helpes him with victory ouer any sin or strength to performe any duty or bestowes vpon him any spirituall blessing hee must remember to praise God in the name of Iesus Christ. This will quicken him Daily thankefulnesse will breede daily alacritie in well doing He that will not be thankfull for beginnings of successe in the practice of holy duties will not hold out This is the speciall will of God in Christ that we should in all things giue thankes 1. Thess. 5. 18. 11. He must studie to be quiet and follow peace with all men medling with his owne businesse and auoiding all occasion of contention that might distract him in his owne course A busie bodie is as good as no body in respect of sound progresse in sanctification It is an excellent skill to be able to auoide the intanglements of discord especially he must prouide to haue perfect peace with the godly Though God be able to sanctifie the oppositions of vnreasonable men yet wee must take heed of drawing needlesse troubles vpon our selues for that makes vs neither to be nor to be accounted the more holy but contrariwise The Apostle could not speake vnto the Corinthians as vnto spirituall men but as vnto carnall at the best but Babes in Christ and the reason was because there was strife and enuie and diuision amongst them Heb. 12. 14. Mark 6. vlt. 1 Cor. 3. 3. 12. His eyes must looke straight and his eye-lids right before him Prou. 4. 25. He must take heed of going about and fetching of compasse in religion Ier. 31. 22. Hee must bee still amyâ—… at the marke of the high price of his calling being sure that the things he employeth himselfe in tend directly to the furtherance of his saluation not lose his time in vnprofitable studies or practices proceeding froÌ„ one degree to another till he come to a ripe age in Christ. 13. He must be conuersant in the Scriptures and be familiarly acquaintâ—…d with them that they may dwell plenteously in him For those good words of God haue not onely light in them to direct vs but power also to assist vs to do what they require and by the daily reading and hâ—…ring of them wee shall bee excited to more care of wel-doing we must excercise our selues â—…n the Word day and night and neuer let them depart out of our hearts but keepe our hearts still warme with the heate that comes from them neuer suffering the warmth to goe out through our long forbearance of the vse of them Col. 3. 16. Psal. 1. 2. Iosh. 8. Esay 8. 16 20. 14. He must carefully 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 first loâ—…e Reuel 2. 4. The Lord is wont at some times or other about the first conuersion of a sinner to shew himself with such power in his ordinances and to reueale vnto him such glories in the merits and gifts of Iesus Christ and the happinesse of his estate in him that his heart is thereby fired to a cheerefull liking of the means of saluation and of godly persons and to a wonderfull desire of God and care to please God Now he that would prosper in a Christian course must be wonderfull carefull to
and affections yea our very consciences are still impure within vs there is no good nature in vs in any one faculty of our soules but there is a miserable mixture of vile infection Secondly this is the worses because this is incurable There lieth vpon vs a very 〈◊〉 of sinning wee cannot but offend Of the flesh it is well said I can neither liue with theâ—… nor without thee The flesh is an inseperable ill companion of our liâ—… wee can go 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 it c. Thirdly if wee consider but some of the effects of this corruption in 〈◊〉 as 1. The eiuill warre it causeth in our soules there is no businesse can bee dispatched that concernes our happinesse without a mutiny in our owne hearts The flesh is a domesticall Rebel that daily lusts against the Spirit as the Spirit hath reason to lust against the flesh Galatians 5. 17. 2. Secondly the insufficiency it â—…eeds in vs for our callings The greatest Apostle must in this respect cry out Who is sufficient for these things Though Gods worâ—…e be all faire worke yet we see that euery man is extremely burthened with the defects and mistakings and insufficiencies which befall him in his course of life 2. It works a perpetuall madnesse in the heart of a man in some respects worse then that of some lunatickes For they are mad at some times of the yeere onely or chiefly but man is seldome or neuer free from this inward madnes of heart Salomon saith The heart of the sonnes of men is full of euill and madnesse is in their hearts while they liue and after thnt they goe to the dead Now this madnesse appeares in this that men can neuer bring their hearts to a settled contentment in the things they enioy but death coms in vpon them before they know how to improue the ioy of their hearts in the blessings they enioy whether temporall or spirituall This vile corruption of nature diffuseth gall into all that a man possesseth so as it marreth the taste of euery thing 4. It fils our hearts and liues with innumerable euils it ingenders and breeds infinitely swarmes of euill thoughts and desires and abundance of sinnes in mens liues and conuersations so as godly Dauid cries out Innumerable euils haue compassed me about and I am not able to looke vp They were more then the haires of his head therefore his heart failed him Psal. 40. 12. 5. It is continualy madnes to beâ—…ray vs to Satan and the world in all the occasions of our life 6. It will play the Tyrant if it get any head and leade vs captiâ—…e and giue wretched lawes to the members yea euery sinne which is the brat bred of this corruption is like a fury to fright and amaze vs there is a very race of diuels bred in vs when Satan and the flesh ingender together in vs. 2. And as wee are thus miserable in respect of the remainders of corruption so are we in respect of the remainders of the punishment of sinne vpon our spirits Our hearts were neuer fully free since the first transgrssion our minds are yet full of darkenesse that eueÌ„ godly men do seriously cry out They are but as beasts they haue not the vnderstanding of men in them And in many passages of life they carrie themselues like beasts Psalme 32. 9. Eccles. 3. 18. The ioyes of Gods presence are for the greatest part kept from vs our consciences are still but in a kind of prison when they goe to the sâ—…at of iudgement to giue sentence in any cause they come forth with fetters on their legs as prisoners themselues besides the many personall scourges light vpon our soules in this life 3. Lastly the very condition of our bodies should not bee ouerpleasing to vs our deformities and infirmities the dangers of further diseases should tire vs out and make vs account it no louely thing to be present in the body while wee are absent from the Lord. And thus of the miseries of our liues also Now it remaines that I should proceed to the second sort of contemplations that is those that are remoouals namely such meditations as take off the obiections which are in the hearts of men CHAP. XII Comforts against the paine of Death THere are in the minds of all men certaine Obiections which if they could be remoued this feare of Death would bee stocked vp by the very rootes I will instance in some of the chiefe of them and set downe the answers to them Some men say they should not be afraid of death considering the gaine of it and the happinesse after death but that they are afraide of the paine of dying It is the difficulty of the passage troubles them For answer hereunto diuers things would be considered of to shew men the folly of this feare First thou likest not death because of the paine of it Why there is paine in the curing of a wound yet men will endure it And shall death doe so great a cure as to make thee whole of all thy wounds and diseases and art thou so loth to come to the Cure Secondly there is difficulty in getting into an Hauen Hadst thou rather bee in the tempest still then put into the hauen Thirdly thou likest not death thou sayest for the paine of it Why then likest thou life which puts thee to worse paine Men obiect not at the paines of life which they endure without death There is almost no man but he hath endured worse paines in life then he can endure in death and yet we are content to loue life still Yea such is our folly that whereas in some pains of life we call for death to come to our succours yet when wee are well againe we loue life and loath death Fourthly we are are manifestly mistaken concerning death for the last gaspe is not death To liue is to dye for how much wee liue so much we die euery step of life is a step of death He that hath liued halfe his dayes is dead the halfe of himselfe Death gets first our infancie then our youth and so forwards All that thou hast liued is dead Fiftly it is further euident that in death there is no paine it is our life that goeth out with paine Wee deale herein as if a man after sicknesse should accuse his health of the last paines What is it to be dead but not to be in the world And it is any paine to bee out of the world Were wee in any paine before we were borne Why then accuse we death for the paines our life giues vs at the parting Is not sleepe a remembrance of death Sixthly if our comming into the world be with teares is it any wonder if our going out be so too Seuenthly besides it is euident that wee make the passage more difficult by bringing vnto death a troubled and irresolute minde It is long of our selues