her withdrawn from her husbands company that should have been her guide and stay and walking toward the forhidden Tree Her gazing thereon gives him advantage to insinuate with falacious Queries and to infect her with his serpentine Breath Adam quickly felt the direfull Touch of that sinfull contagion and turned form his God to follow the charms of that subtile enemy toward his own Ruin Thus man tasted the fruit of that deadly Tree which gave him the Knowledge both of good and evil by sinfull privation and wofull probation to the utter undoing of his whole Posterity Our whole nature was so totally and universally poisoned thereby that like the spawn of venomous creatures all men draw from him through theâ—e parents loins the cursed Principles of sin and sorrow Ignorance Error Atheism Unbelief with all the rest of that Serpents feed do brood in mans heart still to draw him further from God and Bliss towards Earth and Hell till Grace enterpose God suffers all this evil to bring a greater good out of it by his over-ruling of all men and devils to his glorious ends in a holy manner The eternal thoughts of his gracions Love toward his Elect in Christ doth he in due time effectually demonstrate promising Christ to them giving him for them and through his Spirit bestowing him on them in drawing them to him that they may walk with him and worthy of him His Gospel is the word of Reconciliation which offers and gives his Tearms of mercy to be treated upon between him and them By that voice from Heaven he calls them off from their sinfull march and stops them in the midst of their wofull career wherein they follow the Prince of darkness toward destruction Mans sinfull life is a wretched walk in Satans company through the inchanted allies of a conceited Paradise of seeming pleasures profits and preferments All men please themselves in such Illusions and delusions till the Spirit of Christ takes away that inchanted vail from their eyes to shew them convincingly both their folly and their misery That Gospel-voice of Christ which sounds in the ears of all sorts promiscuously is carried into the very hearts of his peculiar People by distinguishing Grace to turn them efficaciously from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God Through his glorious vertue he cals them to Glory and Vertue whom he did foreknow and predestinate them he thus called justified and glorified This effectual Vocation makes the great difference between men and men the most remaining still strangers thereunto Many never hear the least hint thereof many do openly reject it and many are found to profess owning thereof that never come up to the full terms of it This miscarying mistake being so facile and frequent so pleasing and pernicious it concerns all to review with care all their evidences to saving purpose Whilst so many walk so unworthily we have all most need to take cognizance of our case and course Most men walk in Lies and few are found walking in the Truth Self is the grand Idol of this back sliding degenerating Age The best are too subject to walk after the Lusts of their own eyes and to chuse their own waies when left to themselves The purest state of Primitive Christians need frequent and mutual quicknings much more do our daies Our Christian Vocation is so eminent that our unworthy walking of the same cannot but cast on all a proportionable meameasure of Reflection 'T is our choice honour and happiness to honour God and enjoy him in Christ walking before him as heroical Saints have done in all Ages places and Relations Our holy Vocation doth much resemble that lovely Eden that Garden of Pleasure planted by the Lords hand for mans delight and exercise in his friendly state of Communion with God Christ himself is our Tree of Life standing in the midst of the Paradise of God whose leaves and fruits abound with soveraign vertue for the healing and strength of the Nations Variety of spiritual Ordinances and temporal Comforts he affords herein most liberally for Pleasure and help Sin is the only Tree forbidden unto us which may not be fed on without danger of death natural and civil spiritual and eternal His own society God himself is pleased to assure and vouchsafe there also by the sweet breathings of his gracious Spirit in every Institution of his appointing His Presence and Blessing still do come along with that fresh Gale in the cool of the day to solemnize the match between Heaven and Earth in the Spring of his Grace and ripen all things towards the fulness of his glorious Harvest Idleness therein he cannot endure but allots to every one his Task that all may work for him and like him in converse with him The Father works hitherto said the Son and I work so doth the Spirit work in all his People to direct excite and enable them to this Heavenly Work How curiously gallant is such a Walk as this with such a company and in such an Eden wherein all things conspire to render Christs friends most holy and happy Should not this prevail with Rational Souls to prefer Christs waies before all the Worlds bewitching Braveries Should not carnal Hearts be eflectually drawn to admire and embrace the Beauties of Holiness upon Christs own Terms of conjugal Consent Should not Spiritual Hearts be quickned thereby to walk worthy of such a Vocation wherewith they are called Should it not oblige them to utmost Diligence in the best Improvement of all effectual means to the mutual quickning of each other in order thereto The lively Resentments thereof obliged my thoughts and engaged my Resolutions of pressing my self with my christian Auditory more vigorously to this choice Duty and noble Exercise The substance of those five Sermons which were publiquely delivered on this theme is here contracted in a plain Essay which some friends have conceived might be of further use by such a publication as this The blessing of heaven go along with it that this small Tract may prove an open door into the Lords Garden wherein his Spirit may lead you by the hand to your chief good to your God in Christ from grace to grace from strength to strength I shall leave you with him in such a blessed walk that you may not be longer interrupted from passing through the varieties thereof but may feed all your spiritual senses most deliciously in his Paradise walking before him and worthy of him in your fellowship with him If you reap benefit from this poor contribution bless God for it and rememember him at the Throne of Grace who cordially desires to be serviceable to God and his People though he finds still cause to acknowledge
Divine Oracles in every branch of Gods Word All the expressions that describe it testifie so much being equivalent with regeneration and conversion the new Creature and new man the translation of men from Darkness to Light and from Death to Life their bearing of his Image and partaking of the Divine nature their coming out of Bondage into Liberty by Redemption from Satans Kingdom into Christs own Kingdom c. Instances might be given of the excellency of every part hereof with relation to this Christian Vocation The Precepts requiring it the Promises assuring of it the prefigurations typifying it the Presidents performing it are all eminent All Instructions and Incouragements thereto all Threats and Punishments for the neglect and abuse thereof do eminently ratifie the same The Reason of it is as remarkable if we consider the Cause and Terms the Properties and Effects thereof 1. THE Cause is eminent It s God himself that calls thus by the Spirit of Christ internally and externally His Divine Excellencies shine here in their Brightness This is his Work-man-ship in the product whereof all his glorious Attributes concur harmoniously He is the fountain and the final Cause whence it flows and wherein its terminates He is the Prime and choise Agent who appoints and over-rules all Means in tendency thereto His Voice gives the formal Impression of it upon that matter which his Spirit disposes orderly according to his eternal purpose to be a fit subject for the Reception and Improvement thereof He speaks actively and effectively calling things that are not that they may be according to the good pleasure of his Will God thus considered both Essentially and personally is the eminent Cause of this Vocation not any meer Creature nor any thing considerable in it either in Gods purpose or execution Reason 2. The Terms of it are eminent Ones both the terminus à quo whence they are called and terminus ad quem to which they are called It s from slavery to freedom from a sinfull to a gracious state from the Power of Satan to God from misery to felicity from the drudgery of Hell to the glorious Grace of Heaven Is not this call then a most eminent One Reason 3. The Properties of it do further ground its Eminency it is a high calling a holy heavenly Vocation free and full sure and singular Nothing excellent in any creature but it sets out the choise qualities of this noble Vocation It s the highest Preferment which the most high can afford in his Kingdom to his best friends Children and Spouse It s the conforming of them in holiness to that which is the Top of Divine Excellency It comes from Heaven leads to Heaven and trains up for Heaven gradually efficaciously It s of his free gift to sinfull unworthy Wretches to fill them with the fulness of Christ It s surely made out and made good in a singular manner to all the Vessels of Mercy prepared for Glory through Grace Here are eminently fulfilled the fathers purpose and the sons purchase in proper applications of every Covenant-promise through the operations of his holy Spirit freely and fully surely and singularly in an high holy and heavenly manner All the Properties thereof are most eminent Reason 4. The Effects demonstrate its Excellency also This Vocation renders men truly noble and eminent It raises up their spirits to the best pitch of generous magnanimity to the scorning of all sinfull baseness It stamps the characters of Divine Nobleness upon their souls giving them so large an Interest in the royal blood of the King of Saints They are hereby qualified with that Princely Spirit which enobled Caleb to act so eminently for God and the publique So far as Christians harken to this Call it works on them and by them in a choise manner to the promoting of the Lords Interest and the publique Weal against all internal and external enemies of both This is it that duly improved makes all sorts of Christians eminently usefull in their respective places whether superior or Inferior The Application may 1. Inform our Judgement in two Corollaries 1. Of the Excellency of Grace which cals Christians thus eminently Carâ—â—… hearts cannot see any beauty nor comliness therein no more then in Christs own person who was accounted a Worm and no Man Yet is the Kings Daughter all glorious within in the beauties of Holiness though blind eyes cannot discern it The natural man understands not the things of Gods Spirit neither indeed can he because they are spiritually discerned but the spiritual man judges of all things spirituall by due comparing thereof The Kingdom of God said Christ comes not with ostentation and observation but is within you and among you like the Curtains of Solomon whose out side appears like the Tents of Kedar What if God do not thus call many noble nor many wise nor many rich after the flesh that his Grace may appear to be free Doth not he make them truly noble rich and wise whom he thus effectually calls Have not the famous Worthies of all Nations in all ages learned in Christs school with Theodosius to account their Relation to Christ the choisest flower of their honor and happiness Coroll 2. Observe hence also the baseness of every sin Original Habitual Actual It is sin that so notoriously opposes maligns and hinders this eminent Vocation Sin is that unworthy Varlet that cheating Mountebank who dares vâ—e it with the Lord and give a counter-call to millions of Souls Sin is that impudent Strumpet that bewitches the simple with flattering Charms of seeming pleasure profit and credit thereby to keep off Customers from hearkening to Christ Sin like the Hyena counterfeits often the shepheards voice in many disguised Seducers to draw in silly sheep into her snares Sin is that Monster which Panther-like draws brutish sensualists by plausable allurements into her cruell clutches This is the Dalilab that inveigles and captivates so many Sampsons by her juggling Tricks Sin is that cunning Rook which draws out of Christs road so many Travellers into the crooked wayes of error and baseness by misperswasions Is it not sin that debased the glorious Angels and the first Adam and hath made them Maps of wâ—â—tchedness that were at first Mirrors of happiness Is it not baser then Hell it self being the cause and founder thereof Nothing vile enough in the worst of Creatures to express this unworthiness of sin The poison and bane the venome and pest the excrements and filthiness of the very worst kind are mentioned in Scripture to point at the inexpressible baseness of sin This dung and dirt this puddle and vomit this filthiness and excess of naughtiness is the inveterate and desperate enemy of our eminent Vocation Vse 2. This should convince every Christian nominal and real of their unanswerableness 1. NOminal Christians that have
A Pleasant WALK TO HEAVEN Through the New and Living Way which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us and his sacred Word reveals unto us Published by CLAUDIUS GILBERT B. D. Minister of the Gospel at Limrick Prov. 3. 17. The waies of Wisdom are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are Peace Psal. 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord Act. 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied Hos. 14. 9. The waies of the Lord are right the just shall walk in them but the Transgressors shall fall therein Jer. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord stand in the waies and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and you shall find rest for your souls But they said we will not walk therein Eph. 5. 15 16. See that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the Time because the daies are evil Gen. 5. 24. And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Phil. 3. 18 19 20. Many walk of whom I tell you weeping c. But our Conversation is in HEAVEN LONDON Printed for Francis Titon and are to be sold at the sign of the three Daggers in Fleet-street 1658. To my Highly honoured Vncle Colonel Henry Markham a Member of the Parliament AND To my worthily Honoured Aunt Mis Esther Markham his Endeared Consort Dearly Honoured and Beloved in the Lord IT is good for man to draw near to God whose fellowship is the cheifest good the Fountain of all Good The Psalmist found still the choice experience of that Divine Oracle and therefore commended it so highly to others The very beginnings of spiritual acquaintance with Christ are so savory to a sanctified heart that this precious Wine cannot but cause his lips to magnifie the sweetness thereof Grace is the lively Image of the living God resembling him still in activeness of communication and Holiness of Conversation They that have tasted how good the Lord is in his Word and waies cannot but be moved by the strong Impulse of such experiences to incourage still themselves and others to such a heavenly Communion with their God and faithfulness to him The best good is still most communicative diffusing its streams and displaying its Rayes to all round about The Followers of the Lamb have their reason and all other Powers of the Internal and external Man Spiritually ennobled and sublimed to discern all things by a Divine Light and make choice of Christ for their All in All incomparably before all things else Having once found him whom their souls do unfeignedly love their desire is still to keep close to him and walk worthy of him as far as his Grace is enabled through his Spirit that dwels in them to rule there for him They cannot but find strong Endearments obliging ther hearts to be soliciting still others with themselves to this Divine Exercise It hath pleased that Father of Spirits to make such an Impress thereof upon my Conscience that it engages me to judge my self deeply for former neglects and binds me forcibly to more diligent care for future occasions This small Piece now presented to you will speak my ressentments more expresly about this Subject It comes out in a very plain dress and without trimming the matter thereof being sufficient to commend its own worth to candid Christians and intended for the lowest forms of Christs school as well as for his Graduates It is my serious purpose with the Apostle not to know any thing ministerially and practically save Iesus Christ and him crucified in the efficacy of his Resurrection and in the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death It s not therefore the inticing words of mans wisdom I would delight in and labour for but the demonstration of his Spirit and Power Herein I would studiously design through his Grace to imitate Paul as he followed Christ None but Cbrist none but Christ was the Motto of a famous Martyr I would make it my desire and joy my Resolve and endeavour through the supplies of his Al-sufficient Spirit Your Acquaintance with him is best known to him and to his friends that have had acquaintance with your selves If this poor Tract may be found any way serviceable to the improvement thereof my heart shall rejoyce and bless God for it Your zeal for him and his cannot be forgotten of him nor of them Your labor of Love cannot pass unrewarded from God whatever construction or retribution it meets with from man The Lord is with you whilst you be with him The various experiences of his Word and Rod Spirit and Providence formerly dispensed and lately renewed toward you will be still of singular use and help being duly remembred and improved Walk still before him in the perfect waies of his uprightsness as Abraham and his faithful Worthies were directed by him so shall you be sure of his covenant-mercy in the performance of your covenant-duty His grace will be still sufficient for you and his strength gradually perfected in your weakness Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might for the promoting of his Interest in your respective stations and motions against all spiritual enemies The good Will of him who dwelt in the Bush rest upon you both and all your Relations near and farther off for Direction Assistance and Blessing In him I delight to be known demonstratively as occasion serves Your cordially endeared and obliged Nephew to serve you upon the best accompt Claudius Gilbert From my Study in Limrick May 19. 1657. To all the Friends of Christ called to be Saints Christian Friends MAns Life is a short Walk towards Eternity A Race wherein Mortals continually move nearer to their endless unchangeable State whether of Weal or Wo. The great God who is Al-sufficiently blessed in himself was pleased to give Man a Being capable of Eternal Communion with Himself The Councils of his heart absolutely purposed before time he fulfils in time by the works of his hand that he might glorifie himself in all his Divine Excellencies He at first made man after his own Image having made all the world for his service His rational soul that Divine Extract that Work-manship of Heaven received as much perfection from God as such a finite Creature could manage in conformity to his infinite Creator His Blessedness consisted then in walking with God in that glorious state wherein all Creatures were at his command as so many steps leading him to that God whom they did so clearly represent to him Satan soon envied mans felicity having desperately cast away himself from the like condition He sets on the woman finding
Hast thou found thy self drawn so effectually by the cords of his love as by the Bands of man that thou couldst not resist any longer Hast thou heard the voice of thy Beloved so attentively and affectionately so submissively and applicatively that conjugal consent hath followed on thy part to be wholly and constantly his Hath his pardoning and renewing Grace sounded so powerfully in his Word and Ordinances that thy soul could not but eccho and resound a believing penitential Return Hath the effusion of his gracious Spirit so melted and mollified thy heart that it could not but pour forth it self into a Spirit of supplications Did the sight of him whom thou didst behold as crucified by thee and for thee pierce through thy very heart to the killing of sin and quickning of thy soul that thou couldst not but mourn bitterly at the sense thereof Hath that voice of his broken the Cedars and cleft the mountains of thy corruptions whilst Gods servants in his house were speaking of his Glory Hast thou felt his word sharper within thee then any two-edged sword piercing deeply discovering all and dividing energetically between sin and self by a spiritual Anatomy Hath his knock and voice wrought upon thee as they did on the Spouse to call thee away from thy secure bed and sluggish slumber into a diligent Inquiry after him pursued incessantly till thy Beloved be found Hast thou given Christ eminent entertainment in some proportion to his eminent Vocation as Matthew and Zachaeus did being called by him 3. The Consequents following this Call are likewise eminent His called Ones are his faithfull ones following him fully in an obedience of faith and love Hath he thus effectually prevailed with us to make us faithfull loving and obedient according to his Articles of marriage in every Relation condition and occasion Is our obedience cordial and constant universal and perpetual at least in our purpose and endeavours Is there no Duty we would willingly neglect no sin we would leave unmortified no mercy of his that we would not fruitfully improve Is his Will our Rule his Glory our End his Grace our Principle his Spirit our strength whether in superior or inferior places in every Ordinance and Providence Doth our faith work by love to him and all his peculiarly fervently orderly and continually Is it our desire and delight design and labor to follow him through fair and foul through the Cross to the Crown through many tribulations into his Kingdom of Grace and Glory Have we none in Heaven but him none upon Earth in comparison of him If thy Vocation be a saving one it s an eminent One in the exercise of every Grace in the crucifying of every Lust in the resisting of every Temptation in the bearing of every Affliction upon his account Art thou as willing to take up his yoak and to learn practically of him meekness and lowliness as thou art desirous of his Rest Dost thou as chearfully studiously obey every Precept as thou delighest in every Promise of his gracious Covenant Is it thy trouble and grief that thy self and others do so dishonour and disobey him Is it thy chief joy to see him honoured obeyed by any of his Doth the sense of thy sinfulness still conflicting within make thee to cry out against thy wretched self Doth the sight of his Grace any way made good to thee melt thy soul into gratefull acknowledgements and sutable Returns as it did in Paul David and the rest of his called ones Dost thou eminently improve that calling thus eminently vouchsafed unto thee consider it well Vse 4. This speaks comfort to the Lords chosen faithfull called Ones Your Vocation is most eminent so is the Cordial that flows from it against sin and sorrow the flesh and the world self and Satan He hath called you to Glory and Vertue through Glory and Vertue who is faithfull and will also do it Whom he did fore-know them he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he called whom he called them he justified whom he justified them he glorified Therefore shall all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose Is not this golden chain of your salvation a Soveraign Antidote against all fears from within and without to be carefully laid up and laid out as the Apostle did Thou trembling soul whose heart is tender that wouldst fain love Christ and loth sin above all that thou mayest follow his call is not this thy priviledge Shouldst not thou join with him in casting the Gantlet and biding Defiance to sin and Satan to self and the world as he instructs thee in the following Context Who shall separate us from the Love of God Shall Tribulation c. Nay in all these we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Mayst thou not through his name confidently resolve with him also and be perswaded that neither Life nor Death nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Thou hast his Word and Oath his Hand and Seal his Purpose and Promise his Purchase and Covenant his Grace and Glory yea himself with his al-sufficiency engaged to thee for it what canst thou look more for The more unworthy and insufficient thou art in thy own eyes the more is thy right cleared to his Worthiness and sufficiency His Gifts and Calling are without Repentance being carried on in this saving manner though his common Gifts and external Calling admit often of a change as appear'd in Saul Judas and the Like temporary Believers Though thy hand be weak yet his is strong enough thy strength and stay lies in him alone and not in thy self Though thou often break yet doth he not break who cals his sheep by name to eternal Life Thy Vocation is eminently divine for freeness and fulness sureness and singularness to sense thy Soul against all enemies and discouragements Whom doth he seek and save but that which was lost in a perishing state Vse 5. This should finally excite every One to look in earnest after such an eminent Vocation that the same may be faithfully Improved The whole world is cast into two Ranks of uncalled and called Persons both are to be effectually dealt with 1. UNcalled sinners that never gave yet hearty Obedience to the Call of Christ These are of various sorts abounding every where to be spoken to as their case requires Some are most ruled by one Lust some by another some openly others more closely whilst they all follow the call of sin and reject Christs Call Should not all such be vigorously pressed to listen to his voice before it be too
Christ to be a peculiar People zealous of good works The welfare of the whole depends very much upon the worthy Demeanor of every part in its respective station and motion Unworthy walking is the great Obstructer of all publique Interest civil and sacred Thereby are the wicked hardned in sin and the godly grieved and discountenanced The Cement and Juncture of all societies are Impaired and ruinated by the same Truth and Peace Righteousness and Holiness are still affronted and basely abused thereby The very props and bases of every common-wealth shake and totter by unworthy courses God will not own them that will not own him He walks against such as walk against him With the Upright will he shew himself upright and against the froward will he appear froward Our own personal good is signally engaged therein in all temporal and spiritual regards A righteous walking exalts a Nation but sin is the reproach of any person or people He that walks uprightly walks safely and comfortably All the ways of Wisdom are pleasantness and all her paths are Peace He meets him that works righteousness walking and remembring him in his ways to direct their steps who acknowledge him in all their ways The way of Life is above to the wise to depart from Hell beneath Christians unworthy carriage is the blast of all Credit Comfort and Conscience Their worthy walking is most expedient for their own and others good Many are won to Christ by the good Conversation of the very women which have long resisted the Spirit and word of God The Life of Christians is the very Life of their Christianity making most lively Impressions upon others Examples are much more efficacious then Precepts for good against evil Docemur praeceptis ducimur exemplis Christ himself appeared an eminent Pattern as well as a Principle of holiness to lead all his people towards happiness Vse 1. See hence the sinfulness of Libertinism Notional and Practicall 1. NOtional Libertinism is most unworthy whose Principles are found so directly opposite to a Christians worthy walking Many such loose Tenets spread now like a Gangrene and ulcerous Cancers whose case and cure we have touched by Scriptural help in our Libertine schooled as also in our Antidote and in our Peace-maker lately published The famelistical quaking Opinions raked out of the old Gnosticks Dung-hils Popish rubbish and German sinks are put to sale under specious disguises and refinements Their pretended Light and self-sufficiency their Pharisaical Monkish Holiness and sinless perfection their blasphemous abuses of God the Father Son and Spirit of his Word and Grace Sabbath and Ordinances of Christs Merits and Satisfaction with the rest of such wretched trash are diametrally cross to the Truth in hand The conceit of universal Toleration of all things pretending to Conscience though clearly evil is of the like Tendency as also many of the Romish Principles pointed at elsewhere Those who think themselves bound to follow the Light within in every suggestion without regulation and Limitation of the Scripture-Light cannot but run into thousand hazzards and disorders towards delusion and confusion Such expose themselves to every unclean and lying Spirit that hath but cunning to bait his hook for them To be given up to our own hearts Lusts to walk after our vain Imaginations is the sorest Judgement that God Inflicts upon the Despisers of his word and ways Such spiritual Judgements usher in temporal plagues personal and publique witness the Records of all ages and places Oh! The sin and woe of such unworthy Doctrines which draw so many from the ways of God into the crooked paths of Delusion and Desolation 2. Practical Libertinism appears hence a most unworthy thing so wretchedly contrary to a Christians Walk The corrupt defluxions of notional Brains do soon infect their hearts and their hands Their wretched opinions do quickly putrifie their affections and conversations Levelling Principles do sadly break out in Levelling Practises to the razing down of every Ordinance Divine and Humane The deadly weeds that were kept under ground in the winter of former persecution do now grow apace in this spring of Liberty and Reformation Whilst Christ is offering a Divine Liberty to good and from evil Satan is promoting a hellish Liberty from good unto evil This is the Libertinism which the simple plead for and wise men abhor as most opposite to our christian walk and unworthy of the least Patronage from Christs name and friends This sinfull Liberty is wofull slavery to Satans drudgery Whilst such promise themselves and others Liberty they themselves are the slaves of wickedness walking after their own Lusts How unworthy are they of Christs Name that walk so unworthy of his Holy Vocation Vse 2. It affords a just Reprehension to all that walk unworthily whether sinners or Saints Sin raigns in the most remains in the best So far as the ways of sin are trod upon so far do Christians walk unworthy of Christ The whole world lies in wickedness being like a great Bog wherein multitudes utterly loose themselves The way of Truth and Grace is a royal causey built at the costs of Heaven quite through the same Christ himself is the personal way his Word the Doctrinal way and mans Duty the practical way paved by the Lord for his People to walk in This new and living way is the good old way whereto all Gods friends were called in all ages through faith in his name Whilst poor Creatures are wandring from Christs road they skip from one Hillock to another venturing a thousand plunges among swarms of spiritual Tories towards destruction if Grace prevent not Because this vast Bog is fairly garnished with flourishing grass it deceives millions that do prefer it before Christs high road which is hard and stony scattered over with briars and thorns by the subtilty of the common enemy Thus whilst sinful wretches are walking apace towards seeming pleasure profit or preferment from one grassie plot to another they ingulf themselves into dreadfull quagmires of sin and sorrow Consider it all ye that walk still in your Love and course of Ignorance and Pride Unbelief and Wordliness under the guidance of cheating Impostors and fleshly Lusts How unworthy of Christs name are you that walk so unworthily after Vanity and Lies to the shamefull disgrace of your Profession Could you but see your Ghostly Leader whom you follow so constantly in your sinfull ways what amazement would seize on your heart Satan himself is that Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that rules mightily in the Children of Disobedience after whom you walk according to the fashion of this world whilst you have your Conversation among them in the Lusts of your flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind Paul himself acknowledges it to have been his own and others case before Conversion being by nature Children of Wrath even
sweep before our own door that we may the better give and receive help Be we sensible of our own mistakes and miscarriages humbled for them weary of them watchful against them through faith in Christs name Beware especially of our darling Lusts our greatest enemies that are to be daily crucified Having so many precious Promises made to us in him Let us cleanse our selves of all filthyness in flesh and Spirit to perfect holiness in the fear of God Let the Grace of God teach us effectually to deny ungodliness and all worldly Lusts and to live soberly justly holily in this present evil world Be we often judging of our selves and willing to know the worst of our selves 〈◊〉 Beware we of self-Love and self-pleasing self-seeking and self-conceitedness Our hearts being so misteriously deceitfull and so desperately wicked above all things are never to be trusted Le ts not rest on any creature or in any degree of Grace received but still depend on Christ and derive from him in our progress towards further perfection all needfull help even Grace for Grace through his holy Spirit Let 's be mean and low in our own eyes throughly convinced of our unworthiness and insufficiency that we may be glad of any help from others in our Christian Walk 2. Domestically in each of our Oeconomical Relations whether conjugal between man and wife or Parental between parents and children or despotical between masters and servants Mistresses and Maids Let every one study their Duty and mind their own work with alacrity and sincerity as before God and on his account that we may be ready to entertain kindly and gratefully to reciprocate all quickning help We should Labour to please one another for their good though still with due regard of our own station that priority and superiority may be orderly managed and maintained according to Gods Word David gives us an eminent Instance in the Psalm 101. throughout by his own purpose and practise as Abraham Job also Joshua and the rest of the Lords Worthies Pauls Epistles and other Scriptures direct all sorts in their respective families to their several duties becoming each of their Relations therein 3. Politically in the civil state there are publique relations also between Superiors Inferiors and equals wherein Christians are to be pressed to a diligent use of the most effectual means tending to their mutual quickning Magistrates supream and subordinate with all Officers civil and military of a greater and lesser magnitude have a special Interest and Influence therein There are many ways of help wherein all sorts of Inferiors are concernd and may be of of singular helpfulness Neighbours and Equals should not neglect any opportunity of doing and receiving good preventing and removing Evil by due Reciprocations The Spirit of Christ in his Holy Word explains at large the peculiar Ties obliging each of them charging every one thereto with varieties of Instructions and Encouragements to that purpose 4. Ecclesiastically in the Church of Christ there are likewise divers relations engaging the Children and Servants of God by the nearest and the dearest bonds to this Grand work and spiritual Exercise of Christian assistance for reciprocal good in the family and Kingdom of Christ Scripture takes notice of two special ranks of Christians therein some called to rule as publique Officers others under rule as private Members 1. RUlers in the Church are publique Officers duly qualified and orderly called in a regular way of probation and approbation to the charge of Gods house What their office is and persons should be Divine Records testifie at large They are termed his Stewards and Heraulds his Messengers and Ambassadors Shepheards and Guids Angels and Stars Nurses and Trustees to declare at once their Duty and Dignity Some were extraordinary needed at first planting of the Gospel qualified with answerable Gifts and attended with the like success Such were the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists whose work being done their office expired together with their gifts The ordinary Rulers continue as Christs Residents to the worlds end the need and use of their office continuing still whilst such do act becomming their function they prove shining and burning Lights indeed helpfull to each other for the good of the flock They are often minded of their work requiring special diligence and care that looking to themselves and to their Doctrine they may save themselves and those that hear them instrumentally in subserviency to the Lords Spirit The Lord binds them to their good behaviour as such who are singularly trusted upon account with the richest Treasures both of Heaven and Earth If any of them degenerate as unsavery Salt they become most vile fit but for the Dung-hil Optimi corruptio is still pessima If they be not good they are very bad Their Burthens and Snares Oppositions and Difficulties are so numerous that they do need mutual helpfulness in a special manner Their due correspondency and orderly associations their frequent meetings and brotherly compliance are much to be desired promoted and improved being usefull helps through Gods blessing to the better discharge of their Duty Their Circumstantial differences in opinion or practise should not hinder them from this great Duty but rather quicken them thereunto that they may be found to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Their Ministerial work and pastoral care cannot but oblige them in a signal manner to be still stirring up of themselves and others for the reviving nnd improvement of all the Gifts and Graces bestowed on them that they may be most exemplary to others in all the ways of Christ Secondly Private Christians being Christs subjects the sheep of his pasture the members of his Body and Family his trained Souldiers and Disciples in his school have as much need of this mutual helpfulness 1. More generally towards all fellow-members 2. More particularly towards their spiritual Rulers 1. More generally Christians are strongly obliged to use all effectual means for their reciprocal exciting of one another that they may walk worthy of their Vocation in every Ordinance and Providence of Christ as becomes their spiritual Relations Multiplicious Helps doth the Word of God provide to that end to the right use whereof they are still vehemently pressed especially those that do follow which we shall but hint being so copiously amplified in sacred Writ and commented on by so many choyce Pens 1. Cordial Affection and indearing Love uniting them to each other in Christ through the singular Operations of his Holy Spirit This is the Garment they are to put on as being the bond of perfectness wherein they are to resemble him most in loving one another as himself loved them This was Christs Legacy commended to them so persuasively by the Lord himself as the choyce fruit of his gracious Spirit and the only
slight esteem and neglect of prayer publike and private A Christian so disarmed is nakedly exposed to the malice of his raging enemies to be captivated into errour and sin at Satans pleasure All the great wonders of the latter dayes are to be carried on by prayer The spirit of the living creatures that moves in all the wheels of Providence turns this grand wheel of fervent prayer to make all the rest work energetically and effectually Christians should speak to God often for each other 4. Seasonable Exhortation for mutual Instruction and quickning to the further knowledge and practice of Gods will This is a choyce help often pressed unto which the best do need Let 's saith the Apostle consider one another to provoke one another to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching Upon all occasions of Christian conference either more private or more solemn our speech should be stil seasoned with the salt of Grace that we may know how to answer and edifie every man No corrupt communication should proceed out of our mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may administer grace to the hearers No filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks should proceed from us Exhort one another daily whilst it is called to day least any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin and edâ—fie one another as ye also do building up your selves in your most holy faith for the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall Thus Paul in all his visits made it his work to strengthen the Disciples teaching all how to improve their abilities and opportunities with care and prudence faithfulness and diligence modesty and humility Thus he directs the due ordering of solemn conferences among the Corinthians and others The sense of our former neglect and loss of much precious time should deeply humble us and strongly quicken us to redouble all possible industry and solicitous labour to Redeem the remainder of our Life in such an excellent way of mutual helpfulness Contribution doth the Lord require from every person towards the building of his Tabernacle and repairing of his Temple The poor mans Rams-skins and the Widows mite are as acceptable coming with good will as the rich mans silks gold and Jewels Thus Aquila and Priscilla helped Apollos taking him unto them and expounding to him the way of God more perfectly Is not this much better then worldly talks and telling of stories or carrying of tales in daily visits 5. Faithful admonition for conviction of and help against what evil appears in another This is expresly enjoyned by the Lord thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Yet then account him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother We should to that end make straight paths for our feet least that which is lame be turned out of the way but rather let it be healed Looking diligently least any man fail of the Grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled Lest there be any spiritual or corporal fornicator or profane person among you like Esau who for one morsel of bread sold his birth-right Take heed therefore brethren least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God but exhort one another c. Christ himself gives us a sure Rule to be carefully observed if thy brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother But if he will not hear then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established And if he will not hear them tell it to the Church The Primitive Christians were eminent for this I my self saith Paul am perswaded of you my brethren that ye also are full of goodness filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another Brethren saith James if any of you do err from the faith and one convert him let him know that he which converts a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins This choyse help should be as willingly received as given He that being often reproved stiffens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without Remedy This Fraternal act of true Love distinct from the Rulers Authoritative acts whether Doctrinal or Disciplinary requires much caution and wariness tenderness and wisdom meekness and fidelity with mutual watchfulness Christians should not curiously pry into anothers failings nor maliciously search into doubtful unknown matters to trouble or disgrace him True Love thinks no evil but covers a multitude of faults We should be moved with sincere respects to Gods honour to our neighbours good that his faults may be dressed and healed confessed and amended by the right use of this Divine Medicine orderly applyed Christians therefore should look well first to themselves to pluck every beam out of their own eye and proceed by the sure Rule of Gods own word herein not upon their own conceptions attending all circumstances of time person place and manner so prudently that good and no evil may be done thereby In personal injuries that concern our selves much of pardoning ingenuity is still expedient that we may still manifest this Duty to proceed from our obedience to Christ and zeal for his Name as from tenderness to our Neighbours comfort and credit Much sugar is needful to sweeten this Pil which of it self is very harsh and bitter unto flesh and blood It s an Ordinance of chief worth and use eminently appointed and blessed from the God of Heaven to the healing of all distempers infesting his people This spiritual bone-setting and Chirurgical dressing is no bunglers work but challenges all due skil and care from Christians hearts as from their eyes and hands 6. Chearfull Condonation in freely pardoning all injuries done us by others mistakes Christ expresly requires though it be to seventy times seven from day to day Rancor and Revenge he abominates though the sweetest morsel to a carnal heart When you stand praying saith Christ forgive if you have ought against any that your Father which is also in heaven may forgive you your trespasses and if you do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive you your Trespasses Be ye kind one to another saith Paul tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you Put on therefore as the Elect of