as Paul (f) Acts 28.5 spake of this viper though it fasten about me I hope I shall both pluck out my self ish (g) Mat â—5 29 30 eye and cast it from me too chop off my self ish hands and cast them from me also yea and throw out my self ish holiness it self unto the dogs I hope to see the (h) Job 31.22 ar mof all self fall from its shoulder-blade and broken from the bone broken in pieces (i) psal 89 10. as Rahab and serv'd as the Midianites as Sisera as Jabin at the brook of Kison If not piety must say within me (k) Jer. 10.20 my Tabernacles are spoil'd my cords are broken there is none to stretch forth my Tent any more and to set up my curtains and wo is me I must say to the power of godliness if any live in me (l) 2 Ki 20.1 set thy house in order for thou shalt dye and not live for sure I am selfishness wipes out spirituality of obedience as a man (m) 2 Ki 21.13 wipes out a dish wiping it and turning it upside down Nebuchadneuzar like it makes a decree that every power of the powers of the soul that shall (n) Dan 3.5 6. hear the sound of its cornets flutes and harps shall fall down and worship the golden images that it sets up and if any grace withstand it must be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace of rage and malice like the woman in the Revelation it is (o) Rev 18.21 array'd in purple and scarlet-colour'd pretences deckt with gold precious stone and pearl in its professions and hath in its hand a golden cup like a sacred chalice but it is full of abominations and filthiness of its fornications upon its forehead should be wrote Mystery Babylon the great the mother of harlots and abominations of the heart and life wherefore thou oh my God send thou the Angel of the Covenant (p) Rev 18.21 the mighty Angel indeed and by his holy spirit let him take up thy word like a great milstone and cast this Babylon into the sea and let it be found no more at all in my soul or any of its wayes As (q) Exo 15 4 5. Pharaoh's chariots and his host were cast into the sea and his chosen captains drown'd in the red sea so let the deeps cover my self ishness and all its Aegyptian crew let them sink into the bottom as a stone Amen my God Amen 17. A Soliloquy with my Soul about its evidences for Divine Love OH my soul my soul (r) Pro. 24.24 25. He that saith to the wicked thou art righteous him shall the people curse Shall nations abhor him I prethee He that saith to his wicked self Thou art righteous shall not God curse him too shall not Saints also abhor him (s) Psal 39.1 Take heed then to thy wayes that thou sin not with thy tongue Keep the mouth of thy very heart also with a bridle while thy wicked lusts are before thee (t) Job 12.6 The tabernacles of them who rob and take from Gods promises their comforts which they give them not do prosper for a while but the wealth of evidences for heaven (u) Pro 13.11 got by vanity will be diminish'd when they that gather them by laborious consulting the conditions of Gospel promises shall increase The devil's beasts do not know (x) Isa 1.3 their Owner nor his Asses their Master's crib Without are dogs which neither ken their being dogs but dream themselves God's children nor believe themselves without divine favour but conceit them wrapt up in the bowels of it Thousands I am out of doubt thousands of Christ's (y) Mat 25.33 37 44. sheep think they are goats but thousands of thousands among Satan's goats think they are sheep Many in whom Christ is think (z) 2 Co 13.5 they are Reprobates but more who are Reprobates think that Christ is in them Oh my soul my soul If I my self (a) Gal. 1.8 or an angel from heaven do preach to thee any other Gospel or salvation on any other Terms than what are delivered in Christ's own hold it accursed He that doth (b) Joh â—â— 21. the truth cometh to that light e're his deeds can be made manifest that they are of God (c) pro. 18.17 It being first in thy own cause thou shouldst seem just God thy very near Neighbour will be sure come search thee out He leads corrupt (d) Job 12.17 self-counsellers away spoil'd and makes partial Judges of themselves fools and believe me the (e) Mat. 24.35 heaven of presumptions making shall pass away but his works will not pass away (f) pro. 20.6 Most men and especially the worst will proclaim every one his own righteousness but a faithful friend to God who canfind for all that My soul I am sure thou hast those within thee which (g) Isa 30.10 say to thy Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not right things speak unto us smooth things but for the love of Christ don't let them make (h) Isa 28.15 thee make lyes thy refuge and undersalshood hide thy self God has written to thee excellent things in counsel and in knowledge (i) pro. 22.20 21. that he might make thee not guess but know not the probability but certainty of the words of Truth (k) Pro. 3.5 6. Lean thou not then to thy own understanding but in all thy wayes acknowledge them (l) Job 38.2 3. Don't darken counsel by words without knowledge Gird up now thy loins for I will demand of thee and answer thou me Hath thine eye seen God (m) Job 42.6 7. so as that thou abhorrest thy self in dust and ashes Are all thy springs in God and (n) Psal 121.1 2 dost thou lift up thy eyes to no other hills for thy salvation Dost find that 't is indeed his (o) Psal 104.28 29. opening his hand that fills thee with good and 't is his hiding his face that troubles thee Art thou sure of this Dost verily believe (p) Psal 84.11 that God is the Sun who gives thee all thy light without any efficiency of thy lower Moon and Stars and that he is the onely shield in life and death Is he in good earnest thy love (q) Isal 119.16 delight desire and joy and hope Hast thou said as he sayes to all other gods Ye shall die Is (r) Psal 97.10 he Lord of lords God of hosts I am that I am wonderful Counsellor and mighty God See the whole Law Gospel Holy Faithful and True in thy inmost reins Is his Son God-man crucified under his Fathers wrath satisfactoriously meritoriously and victoriously dying rising triumphing and interceding at his Fathers right hand thy life light bread raiment ark City of Refuge Priest Prophet King Is God the (s) Joh. 14.18 holy Spirit thy Enlightner
Quickner Convincer Converter Comforter Is thy being shapen in sin and conceived in (t) Psal 51.3 5. iniquity ever before thee Dost set thy secret sins before thee thy (u) Psal 90.8 hidden ones in the light of thy countenance Dost smell them stink ready to choak thee bowing thee ready to break thee and killing thee all the day long Tell me is the Law the delight of thy eyes and dost keep it in them Dost make it a light to they feet as well as thy brains Canst say without lying thou hast not a (x) 2 Co 1.9 comfort in all the world but it springs from one or other of the Lord's promises Does his threatning (j) Isa ult 2 3. word make thee tremble Dost live by sense as a horse by carnal reason as a man or by faith as a Christian Has thy faith any (z) Acts 26.18 eyes do they see God heaven helf death and Judgment every day every duty every time of seriousness and that as real certain indisputable things (a) Jer. 6.10 Has thy faith any ears can it and does it hear the voice (b) Job 35.10 of God in his Word and providential works that which natural men do no more hear than stocks and stones Don't thy natural (c) Eze 12.2 ears hear the Minister speak a great deal while thy spiritual ears don't hear God speaking one word of it Don't lye but tell me Hast ears for God's mouth as thou hast for men Has thy faith (d) Psal 135. a nose one that smells myrrh aloes cinnamon in every Truth and every good notion practice and person together with fire and brimstone in every sin though sweetned with profit pleasure honour love of Kings themselves What manner (e) Psal 34 8. of Tast has thy faith Does secret converse with God in bed at board on horseback in closet c. Does converse with thy self and Christ's members as such Do duties of all kinds such as most exclude thy own carnal ease and mens carnal peace and fayour Do these tast indeed and in good earnest so well (f) Psal 119.103 as honey to thy (g) 1 Pe 2.3 palat Do they affect thee with so palpable a pleasure and sweetness And lastly for God's sake tell me what feeling is thy faith of Can't it let thee go without its robes about thee but strait feel the sterming wind of God's wrath and scorching Sun shine of his fury and that as plain as thy naked body would feel a December frost or March wind on a hill Is God thy All art thou all Gods and that in secret sober sadness Canst vow and protest to Father Son and Spirir that thy heart labours after and can't and won't be satisfied without (h) 2 Co 13 14. the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God the Father and the communion of God the Spirit If so Go in peace and the God of peace be with thee Amen Lord Jesus Amen Amen 17. A Soliloquy with the World OH World World (i) Joh. 8.48 Say I not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil Nay rather is not thy name (k) Mar 5 9. legion and art thou not many Abaddons and Apollyons I am sure thou hast oft caught Saints themselves and they have been (l) Luk 8. 29 33. bound with thy chains and fetters breaking God's holy bonds And as for unregenerate Swine into whom thou entrest and art not soon dispossess't thou hurriest them down into the lake where they are cloathed with fire and brimstone The Devil had less specious (m) Ge 3. apples of old to delude eye with than thy apples of gold in pictures of silver be If that serpent did not eat and feed men with thy dust we might triumph over him oh Serpent where is thy sting (n) Joh 8.44 oh Devil where is thy victory He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth and wast not thou a like apostate of whom God said Thou wast very good and by and by (o) Ge. 1.31 Gen. 3.17 cursed thee that once barest good fruit for the use of man's body now nothing but thorns and thistles at least husks for soul and body I 'le say 't (p) Jud 6. Thou kept'st not thy first estate but art now reserved to the jud gement of the great Day And I 'le vow my judgement is that if I don 't in the mean time drownthee in the (q) Rev 12.15 flood of my penitential tears and burn thee out of my soul with the fire of my love and zeal for a better world the flood cast out of thy mouth will swallow me up and I shall find the God of this world a consuming fire For if any Devil (r) Heb 2.15 has the power of death I dare say 't is the world to whose (s) Eph 6.12 principalities and powers mankind so conforms its life 'T is the world makes every (t) Luk 22.3 5. Judas in it and we betray not Christ to our lusts till that enter into us and covenant with us Nor keep we back any thing from him till this (u) Act 5.30 Satan fills our hearts to oppose the Holy Ghost Thou oh world art the Satan that standest ever at our right hands to resist us and I vow I think (x) 2 Ch 10.10 thy little finger thicker than the loins of all the Devils in hell If the Saints must judge (y) 1 Co 6.2 the world and the things of the world I doubt not but they will judge them the worst enemies next to lusts after them If they resist the Devil he will fly from them but the earth abideth for ever a Tempter and its Herods which seek the life of Christ within us will never be dead We may chuse whether we will give any place to the Devil or no but the world must have our backs on which it makes but too often very long furrows and our bellies in which it leaves its Idol-gods Of all its clothes how few there be that won't be found naked and uncovered with Christ's Garments I cannot think without horrour and surely did it poyson as many bellies as souls it would have few to feed Oh world world Miserable are thy men and miserable the servants (z) 2 Ch 9.7 which stand continually before thee and hear thy wisedom though with that pleasure of which the world is not worthy I assure (a) Ecc. 1.8 thee my eye is satisfied with seeing thee and my ear with hearing thee The Devil brags of thy (b) Mat 4.9 All these things but God calls thy things things which are not and if that damn'd Ghost did not think my soul worth a thousand of thee he would scarce be so busie with me to give my soul in exchange for thee I know by my experience (d) Jer. 2.13 thy cisterns are broken and can hold no water My comforts in eating and
as other mens and though their love comes up like a flower it 's obnoxious to be cut or trod down like grass (g) Mat 6.30 which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven Be thou my friend who changest not but lovest to the end yea world without end (h) Rev 2.10 who art faithful to the Death and givest thy friends a crown of Life whose love neither death can strike (i) Ro 3.38 39 nor life consume nor angels stop in the way nor principalities (k) Ro. 13.2 and powers resist to any but their own damnation nor things present cross nor things to come annoy nor heighth pull down nor depth swallow up nor any other creature do any other injury unto Oh my God make me know men (l) Jam. 1.8 are double-winded and their love is unstable in all its waies (m) He. 12.15 any root of bitterness may spring up and trouble it the rust of money (n) Mat 6.19 may corrupt it thieves may break in and steal it An unbridled tongue may ride over it and spoil it Oh make me sell all I have to get thy love thy love which is an inheritance (o) 1 Pe 1.4 5. incorruptible undefiled and that fades not away reserv'd in heaven kept through my faith indeed but by thy power unto salvation Make me know good Lord That all the friends on earth can't make one (p) Mat. 5.36 hair of my head white or black nor by (q) Mat 6.27 taking ever so much thought add one cubit to my stature when sick or sorrowful there 's not one to whom I can say (r) Mat. 8.2 7. If thou wilt thou canst make me clean and whole nor can a soul of them say I will come and heal thee (s) Job 7.38 But oh my God he that believeth in thee though he were dead yet should he live Thou canst (t) Ezo 37.6 lay sinews upon dry bones cover them with flesh and breath in life 'T is but a word (u) Heb 11.3 and a world with thee (x) Ecc 1.15 that which is crooked thou canst make strait and that which is wanting thou canst number it My God my God I beseech thee put away my lovers and friends from me and (y) Job 19.13 let my acquaintance be estranged from that intimacie and perpetuitie of converse with them which hinders my communion with thee Though of all things below they are the sweetest they cannot (z) Pro 30 8. feed me with food convenient for me though I am greatly prone to put (a) Pro. 25.19 confidence in them I find that confidence in them in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt Though they have (b) Eph 4.28 stole away too too much of my affection already Oh my God let them steal no more Enable me to (c) Luk 14.26 hate my very father as much as is requisite to come a friend to thee Be thou my whole acquaintance and let me be ever with thee either in delights or desires Let me be a (d) Psal 119.23 companion of all them that love thee but let my communion be with and my strong confidence be in thee who art never better known than trusted Amen my God and Saviour Amen Amen! 10. A Soliloquy with God of the Holy Scriptures BLessed God (x) Job 6.25 how forcible are right words thine I am sure are Right because thine and right forcible because they are such (y) Jer. 23.29 hammers as break the very Rocks of my heart such a fire as pierces into my inmost depths and reaches the dross (z) 1 Co 2.9 which no Eye hath seen or ear heard Such Monitors as whoever won't hear (a) Luk 16.31 would not believe if one came from the dead Such as (b) Psal 119.9 cleanse the ways of even young men themselves so hard to be reclaimed that David cries out astonishedly Wherewithall shall a man young cleanse his waies Of very stocks and stones thy word (c) Mat. 3.9 has rais'd up children to Abraham It is (d) Isa 43.1 the arm of God yea and very sword too God the Father's arm God the Son's (e) 1 Co 4.20 power God the (f) Eph 6.17 Spirits sword Oh my God (g) Pre. 15.23 words spoken in season how good are they but when are thine out of season When (h) 1 Pe 2.2 we are babes they are milk (i) Pro 16.24 sweet and nourishing When grown they are strong meat making us go in thy wayes without weariness yea (k) Psal 19.5 run without fainting when in bitterness of sin and sorrow they are honey pleasant and purgative too When in doubts they are Counsellors when fainting (l) Can 2.5 they are flagons of soul-reviving cordials and apples of comfort When quite dead and the spirit gone (m) Jo. 6 6â— the words which thou sayest they are spirit and they are life (n) Jam 1.18 We are begotten by thy holy word (o) psa 119.93 as many as are born of God! We are fed by the same and no better fed than taught neither O my God there is not a (p) Psa 119 105. word in my tongue but thou knowest it altogether Oh would to Christ there may not be a (q) Psal 139.4 word in thy Book but I may know it altogether (r) Jam 1.5 Praised be thy holy Name thou dost not say If any man want wisdom that then he shall strait be damn'd for a fool but sayest That then he should ask it of thee Lord I ask of thee that (s) 2 Ti. 3.15 wisedom to salvation which thy word alone is able to give me I observe That all worldly wise withour this are (t) Mat. 10.16 as harmless as serpents as wise as doves without hearts they are wise to do evil in the form of godliness but to do good as good they have (u) Jer. 4.22 none the least knowledge What are all humane Authors that I should take knowledge (x) Psal 144.3 of them Or the most Learned that I should make account of them (y) Isa 55.8 9. Their words are not as thy words nor their notions as thy notions As the heavens are high above the earth so are thy words high above their words thy notions above theirs Methinks of all the Books in my Studie it is my Bible onely which can use the mighty Lords own words (z) Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved All the ends of the earth (a) Pro. 8.18 20 21 14. riches and honour are with me yea durable riches and honours lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgement That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their treasures Counsel is mine and sound wisedom I am understanding I have strength Other Books I confess with their
much (b) Pro. 7.21 fair speech do cause me to yield with the flattering of their lips they force me But when they draw me from thy Book oh my Book I find my going after them is just a meer oxes going to the slaughter and a fools to the correction of the stocks Other books (c) Pro. 25.14 boast in Title pages of false gifts and are meer clouds and wind without rain but thine gives good and (d) Jam 1.17 perfect gifts coming down from the Father of lights (e) Pro. 23.35 They have stricken me with reproofs and 〈◊〉 was not sick they have beaten me with inculked rebukes and my conscience felt it not but in thy word the (f) Mar. 26.75 Cocks crow so loud that they will make one go out of â—â—n (g) Luk 22 62. and weep bitterly that one can go out no further The word (h) Mal. 3.2 is a Refiners fire and suffers some cleansing inside and out Theirs maketh Scribes and Pharisees painted sepulchres but no (i) Joh. 1.49 true Israelites in whom there is no guile (k) Isa 5.12 the harp and the viol are in their feasts the tabret and pipe of the excellency of mans wisedom pleasing words and tinkling cymbals But thy Book gives (l) Can. 15.1 the myrrh with spice the honey with the honey-comb the wine with milk Oh my God thou hast made great (m) Psal 136.8 9. lights in thy word the Sun the Moon the Stars of precepts promises and providences else would this world be (n) Joh 10.21 22 a land of darkness and the shadow of death A land of darkness as hells darkness it self of the shadow of death without any order and where the light would be as darkness Some deal with thy word as (o) Ru. 1.14 16. Orpah with Naomi go some part of the way with her kiss her and then leave her But oh may my soul as Ruth's cleave to it and for ever say Whither thou goest I will go where thou lodgest I will lodge thy wayes shall be my wayes and thy God shall be my God (p) psal 145.10 11 12 14 15. All thy works do praise thee O Lord and thy Saints do bless thee they speak sweetly of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power but 't is thy word makes known to the sons of men thy mighty Acts of Creation and Redemption and the glorious Majesty of thy Kingdom 'T is thy word upholds all them that fall and raises up those that be bowed down Out of thy word thou givest the best meat to them whose eyes wait upon thee Thy gracious providences often make me cry out (q) psal 136.1 10 15 16 O give thanks to the Lord for he is good But 't is thy Word onely makes me add His mercy endureth for ever For why 'T is by thy Word that thou smitest Aegyptian lusts in their first-born and overthrowest reigning sins and their hosts of snares and temptations in the Sea of thy grace red with the Bloud Royal of thy Son 'T is by thy Word thou leadest thy people through the valley of sin ond sorrow into the heavenly Canaan 'T is thy Word that in the wilderness of this world (r) Psa 105.41 opens very rocks that waters gush out yea (s) Psal 107.35 that turns my part of this wilderness into a standing pool of mercies and my dry ground into water springs 11. A Soliloquy with the Soul about its sloth O My soul my soul (z) Pro. 2.6 16. 'T is in thy own conceit That such a sluggard as thou is wiser than seven men that can render a reason Dost think it enough as (a) Mat. 9.20 the woman with the bloody Flux only to come behind Christ and touch the hem of his garment Hers was a Flux of Blood thine of such sins as made a Flux of Christs Blood Her disease but of Twelve years thine of almost twice twelve for thou wast conceiv'd in it (b) Mat 9.21 As she said of Christ darest thou say of Christian Religion If I may but touch its garment I shall be whole If not why standest thou idle hath not God sent thee to hotter work (c) Mar. 6.8 9 7. Is this like a Disciple of Christ to be projecting for scrip bread money in thy purse and two coats and not be caring for power of thy unclean spirit and being shod with the sandals of the Gospel Art thou my soul the Bethlehem wherein Christ is born or the Sodom wherein pride idleness and fulness of bread reigns (d) Pro 21.25 The desire of the slothful Christian to be saved damns him because his hands refuse to abound in the work of the Lord. (e) Mat. 19.20 All these things have I kept from my youth up was the word of an hypoorite and very likely an Apostate 'T is another diligence (f) 2 Pe 1.10 ensures Election and secures from falling Be not (g) Jam 1.22 Jam. 1.21 deceiv'd oh my soul with vain words It is the doing Christian onely that undoes not himself A mans own words are not as God's able to save his soul Salvation must be (h) Phil 2.12 work'd not talk'd out Examine thy self prove thy self oh my soul for knowest thou not that great industry is in thee (i) 2 Go 13.5 except thou beest a reprobate Not to do well or (k) Gal 6. to be weary of well doing is a manifest token of God's being weary of thee and thy being so of him and every such (l) Heb. 10.38 drawing back finally persisted in is to perdition ' Tell not me there is a lion or singularity in the way a lion of censoriousness in the streets I shall be bit Thou must be so but who can help it If Christ (m) Mal 10 16 25. will send forth his Disciples in the midst of lions and wolves 't is so much the better for you if you are bit soundly you will be the more like your Master (n) Heb 10. The sacrifice of thy fame the offering the burnt-offering of it on this account is such as God will not despise but has pleasure in Men indeed and of repute for piety too many won't endure (o) 2 Ti 4.3 sound doctrine much less convincing conversation But God will have us do more (p) Mat 5.47 than others either do or allow us to do Oh my soul look right before thee Were it not better that men should say to thee and thy graces Why do ye more than others by way of accusation than that Christ when he comes should say What do ye more than others by way of condemnation Christ (q) Mat 7.29 Read the four Evangelists thy Doctor teaches not as the Scribes but as one having authority Don't thou live as the Scribes but as one having activity Christ thy Saviour did and suffered nothing but miracles for thee double miracles to wit because he did
it and very reason too in a great measure they drive it from Saints yea from men They make its dwelling with (t) Dan 4.31 32. Hos 12 1. beasts of the field they make it to eat the grass with carnal oxen with Ephraim to feed on the wind and follow after the Eastwind yea they sometimes turn the children (u) Mat 3.9 of Abraham into stones obdurate and insensible As for acts of Devotion (x) Hos 13.3 Prayer Meditation c. Vain thoughts make them First to be as the morning cloud and as the early dew as the chaff driven with the whirl-wind out of the floor and as the smoke out of the chimney which leave no sign behind them And Secondly to be meer (y) Jud. 12 13. clouds without water trees whose fruit wither without fruit twice dead pluck'd up by the roots raging waves of a sea of hypocrisie foming out the souls shame they make them grievous to us and odious to God As for the means of Devotion holy Meditation alone holy conference with Christians holy use of God's Word and good Books Oh my soul sadly dost thou know how vain thoughts make one (z) Rev 3.16 spue them out of ones mouth or at least tast no more in them than in the white of eggs Thou knowest vain thoughts make the heart like the Leviathans firm as a stone yea hard as a piece of the nether milstone and then let God's Books or his Saints or both say to us as Job to his friends (a) Job 27.11 I will teach you by the hand of God that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal Yet they will be utterly contemn'd and be to us Physicians of no value As for the Opposites and Contraries of Devotion Pride earthlymindedness Atheism it self vain thoughts are those which took them out of the (b) Psal 22.9 10. Psal 25 13. womb upon vain thoughts they were cast from the very breasts and vain thoughts were their Gods even from the belly Vain thoughts make them to dwell at ease and to lift up their heads above the heads of Humility Heavenlymindedness and practical piety All things methinks of every sort sayes to vain thoughts You are our (c) Psal 142.5 refuge and our hiding-place You are the hills whence cometh our help They will not in truth my soul they will (d) Psal 3.5 Hos 13.8 not be affraid of ten thousands of Sermons which set themselves against them They will lye down and sleep and awake while vain thoughts sustain them Sermons Conferences c. would meet every of thy sins and rent the caul of their hearts They would make their strong holds like (e) Nah 3.12 fig-trees with the first ripe figs if they were but shaken they would fall Were it not that (f) Psal 125.2 as the mountains stand round about Jerusalem so vain thoughts stand so about my corruptions that the means of Grace can't have full reach of them Would my God but cast down my (g) 2 Co 10.5 Rev. 18 2. Psal 10.4 imaginations and bring my thoughts into captivity and the obedience of Jesus then should my heart be no longer the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird But hear oh my soul if God be in all thy thoughts vanity and sin will be in all thy best words and deeds For the love of Christ go cry to thy God and say (h) Pro 6.2 Thou art snar'd with the thoughts of thy heart Beg him for Christ's sake that their root may be dryed up and they may bear no more fruit yea though they should bring forth Hos 9.16 that he would stay even the beloved fruit of their womb and dash their little ones against the stones Now consider this oh ye the poor beginnings of grace and comfort within me least vain thoughts (i) Psal 50.22 tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you 20. A Soliloquy of idle words (a) Gen 15.5 LOok now toward Heaven oh my soul and tell the stars if thou be able to number them Lift up thine eyes (b) Gen 13.14 16. look abroad from the place where thou art Northward and Southward Eastward and Westward if thou canst tell the stars and count the dust of the earth then may thy (c) Job 6.25 Mar. 7.18 words also be numbred words of which there 's not one but is very forcible whether right or no for though but too oft thou makest the words of God of none effect in one sense God will never make thine of none effect in another but will by them (d) Mat 12.37 or justifie or condemn thee (e) Jam 3.10 Out of every of thy so many words a blessing or curse is sure to proceed and wo be to thee if God make thee an offender for a word unrepented of For as every unsanctified tongue so every vain word thereof is it self a world of iniquity yea behold 't is (f) Psal 51.5 shapen in iniquity and in sin doth the heart conceive it 'T is by nature a (g) Eph 2.3 child of wrath even as other works of disobedience 't is of its (h) Joh 8.44 Joh. 8.48 Luke 10.17 father the Devil and the works of its father it will do damn it self and its corrupted hearers Say I not well to every of thy idle words then Thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil Devils without all peradventure they are and oh would God thou couldst now go say Lord these devils are subject to me in thy Name If (i) 1 Joh 3.8 such as commit sin be of the devil I am certain they are his genuine seed and issue for why (k) Ro. 3.23 sin dwelleth in them and they are carnal sold under sin they lay on thee weights and make actual sins easily beset thee Yea farther oh my soul thy idle words have not only sinned all of them and come short of the (l) Ro. 7.13 14. glory of God but they have made many to be sinful through them who else had not known the sins imparted to them In a word idle words the plague of their plagues is they become (m) 1 Jo 2.2 propitiations for sin and not for ones own onely but the whole companies God's word is indeed the (n) Psal 119.105 Read Isa â— 8 Phil. 2.16 light to our feet and the due lanthorn to our paths But the very truth is there 's a kind of ignis fatuus a false light sparkling out of ones own words which generally does lead our feet and chalk out our paths Nor have evil communications a little influence on like manners every word of ours is ordinarily a word of life in a sense God rarely holding our hearts when once (o) Psal 12.4 Psal 2. our lips are our own and our hands ever breaking his bonds asunder and casting his cords behind us assoon as his
dwelling-place in evil companies There breaks he the arrows of the Almightie the shield of Faith the sword of the Spirit and the whole armour of God Oh my soul (f) Psa 1.1 't is bad walking in the counsel of the ungodly 't is worse standing in the way of sinners and to sit in the feat of the scornful is worst of all unlikely to dwell in God's holy Hill is that man in whose eyes a vile person is not contemned Of evil companie (g) Job 42.5 6. I had long heard by the hearing of the ear but when my eye saw it and by sad experience I felt it I abhor'd it and my self for no more abhorring it in dust and ashes (h) Psal 149.8 For it binds the motions of the holy Spirit in chains and the Dictates of conscience in fetters of iron and it works with (i) 2 Th 2.10 such deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish by it that few who (k) Pro. 2.19 go in unto it return again nor take hold such of the paths of life Thy good companie be to me but as a very lovely (l) Eze. 33.32 song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well upon an instrument Though I hear their words and either do them not or not as I ought Yet alas in evil companie all things are said and done too unto edification They build one up in vanity and sinful-mindedness and the (m) 2 Co 10.4 5. weapons of their warfare I will say it are though carnal yet mightie through the Devil without and devilish Justs within to the pulling down of the strongest holds of Grace and casting down holy apprehensions and every divine thing that exalts it self against the works of Satan True it is evil companie cannot enjoyn or enforce yet (n) Phil 9 10. as Paul did Philemon for loves sake it will beseech us to entertain again those very sins which we have renounced Satan cannot force but shrewdly can he tempt and I much mistake if evil companie be not the very brightness and (o) Heb 1.3 13. Pro. 2.27 express image of his person Nay and methinks I hear the Devil saying to all companie Sit you at my right hand and I will make some of your enemies my foot stool Deep oh my soul deep is the ditch and narrow is the pit of evil company and it is almost (p) Heb 8 4. impossible for those who are once so darkned as to tast their hellish gifts and be made partakers of the damned Ghost who is never more an Abaddon and Apolluon than in evil company ever again to return savingly to the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls (q) Rev 2.13 I know the works of such as dwell in evil companie even where Satan's seat is they hold fast Satan's name and deny not his service No wonder that Elihu cries out (r) Job 34.7 8. What man is like Job if once he goes so much as in companie with workers of iniquitie and walks with wicked men David said once to Abigail (s) 1 Sa. 25.32 33. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me Blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou But alas How oft have I said Cursed be my own sin in unnecessary visits and resorts cursed be their advices and cursed their wayes It was a true report which I had heard in my minoritie and childhood of the Acts and madness of evil companie howbeit (t) 2 Ch 9.5 6 7 I believed not their words who told me thereof till my eyes had seen it And behold oh my soul my soul and all that is within me Behold the one half was not told me the sin of evil companie and its infectiousness exceed the fame thereof Cursed are their men and cursed their servants which stand continually about them and hear their folly Psal 24 7.9 Open the gates of the house and of the heart to evil companie and without the least doubt the Prince of darkness shall come in and when he comes shall find or make the heart emptie swept and garnish'd for his use Egypt was no house of Bondage comparable (u) Exo 20.1 to that of Egyptian Companie nor is ever the Lord's flock so carried away captive as when they are carried by their own heedlesness or worse into the Synagogue of Satan for these captivities (x) Jer. 13.17 weep thou oh my soul in secret places my eye shall weep sore and run down with tears 'T is evil companie oh my soul that deceives its neighbor (y) Pro 26.19 18 25 26. throws fire-brands arrows and death and saith Am not I in sport Oh when it speaks fair believe it not there are seven abominations in its heart Their hate is covered with deceit may their wickedness be shewn before the whole Congregation of God In a worse sense than Paul's We are made of the filth of the world when we have fellowship with those who are so (z) Mat 11.19 2 Cor. 6.14 Christ was a friend indeed to Publicans and sinners and so may we Though he held companie he held no communion with them nor may we His companie with them was to reform them Wo to us if our company-keeping with men evil be not to make them good and with a care they make not us evil Had the Prince of this world any thing in him to catch him by nothing at all Wo then to us who have so much for him to catch us by if we make so bold as he in some cases (a) Psal 119.63 David was companion to all them who feared God and kept his precepts in order to which he took a very good and it may be the onely course when he resolved that he would not know (b) Psal 101.4 a wicked person If I will imitate my God (c) Psal 7.11 who is angry with all wicked every day I must be angry every day with my wicked self and beware of my own companie and why not as well of all wicked companie (d) Pro. 15.9 A wicked man is loathsome to God why should he be lovely to me or how can he if I am like God in my affections Had the Lord Christ thought it impossible for me to converse with worldly men without holding communion with them I am perswaded he would have (e) Joh. 17.15 prayed the Father to have taken me out of the world which sith he has not I resolve to sojourn if providence will require me in (f) Psal 120.5 Mesech and have my habitation in Kedar But to put away (g) Psal 119.119 all the wicked like dross to beware of devils very much but of men more and put a wide difference between men and brethren And now Acts 15 13. oh my soul to confirm thy faith and animate thy zeal herein I charge thee before the Trinitie and the elect Angels to con well Two Texts
which have flaming swords to keep thee out of ill companie The one is Gen. 3.15 The other Rev. 22.11 All between remember but these repeat thou every morn noon and night Amen 22. A Soliloquy with God of my Soul LOrd (a) Psal 119.79 Psal 139.14 thy hands have made me and fashioned me But nor 1 nor my parents know how I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the very (b) Isa 40.6 grass-plat of my flesh and even such (c) Psal 139.6 knowledge is too wonderful for me it is high I cannot attain it But as for my spiritual substance (d) Heb 10.34 Heb. 12.9 my better and induring substance my spirit whereof thou art the immediate Father how that lives moves and has its being what it is how it-acts how it lives man knows not it (e) Job 28.21 23. is hid from the eyes of all living God onely understands the way thereof and knows the place thereof Though it dwell in a clod of earth and a few drops of blood all the world to it is as nothing as a (f) Isa 40.15 17. drop of a bucket and the small dust of the ballance less than nothing and vanity it takes up the Isles as a very little thing Oh my God my bodie is not so little a a thing to the whole world as the whole world is to my soul fewer such bodies would fill the world than such worlds would fill my soul Thou hast but little in saying The world is mine and the fulness thereof than thou magnifiest thy self when thou sayest (g) Eze. 18 4. All souls are mine souls (h) Heb 11 38. of whom the world is not worthy I have read of the ends of the earth and (i) Psal 135.7 I have seen an end of all perfection herein But the capacitie of my soul I find exceeding broad so broad that nothing less than what (k) Jer. 13.24 sills Heaven and earth too can fill it and if thou oh my God wilt fill it when 't is (l) Luk. 1.53 hungry with good things thou must fill it with no worse nor less than the fulness of God The (m) Lu. 58. heles of the earth may contain foxes and the worlds nests may hold unclean birds nay each of them possibly may say (n) Psal 132.14 This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it But alas my soul hath not where to lay its head herein Thy (o) Psal 15.1 tabernacle oh my God thy holy hill thy House not made with hands is the least it can dwell in The whole Earth is not a livelyhood for one soul without thee nor were Heaven it self tenantable did not thy presence make it a Court. Thou didst once bid man (p) Ge. 1.28 replenish the earth but never the earth replenish man whose soul thou knowest (q) Pro. 30.15 and makest one of those things which are never satisfied and say not 't is enough till it has as much more than the World as the (r) Gen 3.14 Creator is than the Creation Oh my God I find that my soul cannot go upon its belly and eat dust if thou thy self wouldst tell me of the Kingdoms of the earth (s) Mat 4.9 All these things will I give thee for thy portion it would utterly be (t) Can 8.7 contemn'd I find my soul is opinionated that 't is a substance of more value than many sparrows and will not be put off with a this-years nest nor with (u) Luk 12.19 goods laid up for many years neither no lease for less than eternity No inheritance besides an (x) 1 Pe 1.4 incorruptible and in no place but heaven will satisfie it much less at all gratifie it If thou shouldst bid it go seek a happiness it would return Lord (y) Joh 6.68 to whom shall I go thou hast the words of eternal life it would say Lord every of thy (z) 1 Ti 4.4 creatures is good and nothing to be refused for a servant but I will call none upon earth master while I breath (a) Joh 18.36 Had Christ's Kingdom been merely of this World I would never have fought for him so much as now I have and will though I am driven out of the World But the very truth is (b) Joh 3.16 God has so loved the World that I will never love it I read in thy holy Book of many things lost of but two that I think of won Solomon mentions (c) Pro. 11.30 Phil. 3.8 winning of souls St. Paul winning of Christ let me win but those Two and let Ziba take all for me I cannot be exceedingly anger'd or pleas'd (d) Jon. 4.6 7 10. Isa 5.10 with the gourds which come in a night and perish in a night Oh my God I find that whereas Christ's soul vvas made an offering for sin most men make their souls an offering to sin But my soul mindful of its primitive glory and likeness to God declares its (e) Ro. 1.18 Job 20.9 Wrath against all sin offers it self to thee and resolves if thou vvilt not yet sin shall not have it it vvill not serve sin or abide by its crib Nor vvill it humble and (f) Psal 113.6 abase it self to behold amorously the things that are on earth In comparison of God it (g) Job 42.6 abhors it self in comparison of it self it abhors the gain of the vvhole World The World vvhose (h) Mic. 6 10. scanty measure is an abomination to it and to all of vvhose Treasures the Heaven-born (i) Joh. 8.23 Spirit saith not infrequently as Jesus to the Jewes Ye are from beneath I am from above Ye are of this World I am not of this World Adding that (k) Mat 5.18 Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not a jod or tittle of its substance shall pass away (l) Hab. 3.17 Though the fig-tree blossom not nor fruit be in the vines Though the labour of the Olive fail and the fields yield no meat Though the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls Though Moab reproach and Ammon revile Zeph. 2 8. my spirit can sustain its infirmity and through Christ prosper too but without him enjoyments are torments and gains losses Wherefore surely oh my God I may say of humane souls That man knoweth not the price and it is so far from being (m) Pro 28.13 found in the land of the living that with infinite justice and prudence we may all cry out What shall we give in exchange 23. A Soliloquy with God of Evidences for Heaven OH my God I cannot but ever and anon break out into such a Quaery of Heaven as Abraham put to thee of Canaan Lord God How shall I know (a) Ge. 15.8 That I shall inherit it I thank thee O Lord I do not yet hear thee say of it to me as of that Canaan to Moses I have