of all that 's done before us or upon us 12. Acquiescence in him as our God in Christ Ps 116.7 our God in Covenant our All in All resting our selves in our relation to him Ps 73.25 enjoyment of him whatever else we want and whatever our condition be Ps 17. ult Ps 16. ult 'till we come to glory to see him as he is to be perfectly like unto him and for ever with him Read Mr. Strong of Communion with God and Dr. Owen of Communion with God Brinsly SECT VI. Of Assurance THat you may not want any needfull directions for the hightning of your Comfort peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost excuse the brevity and take these notes of Assurance 1. It is the ordinary as the desireable priviledge of holy persons mortifying corruptions exercising graces 1 Pet. 1.8 Ps 36.7 Rom. 5.5 walking daily before the Lord and in communion with him to have comfortable assurance of the love of God interest in Christ 1 Pet 1.3 4 5 6. pardon of sins state in grace title to the promises and their inheritance in the Kingdome 2. If it be otherwise with any 't is probable Ps 51. Cant. 5.2 there are some unmortified corruptions neglected graces disordered conversations estrangements from God or something extraordinary in the way of God's dispensation Is 50.10 the prevalency of temptation distemper in constitution which are to be enquired after However it be 1. 2 Pet. 1.5 Practise the methods in the former Directions with care and diligence in truth and in sincerity 2. Ps 51. Rom. 16.16 Eph. 1.17 18. Beg the spirit of Adoption to enlighten our understandings shine upon our graces and make the application 3. Reflect upon your selves your state and your exercise Rom. 16.16 1 John 3.19 20. Gal. 2.20 and comparing them with the word in the light of the spirit your consciences bearing witnesse in the holy Ghost of sincerity upon the tryall accordingly passe the sentence for your Assurance and make the application cast off your doubts give glory to grace and make progresse to glory 4. Where things are doubtfull upon enquiry Hab. 2. Is 50.10 Cant. 5. the best way is to put it out of doubt by practice in the actings of the graces and performance of the duties waiting God's time and keeping his way and trusting in his mercy through Christ Jesus till he be pleased to answer your doubts to rebuke your temptations to give his spirit and to cause the light of his countenance to shine upon you 5. Learne moreover not to question the goodnesse of the father the merits of the son the power of the spirit 1 Joh. 5.11 12. the truth of the promises the probability of your interest if any way likely much lesse the hopes of arriving safe to glory being found in the sincere discharge of duty Cant. 8.7 leaving the wildernesse of the world and sin in our affection and conversation and leaning on our Beloved 6. Expect not considerable measures of comfort but in proportions of Duty Ps 84.7 and some progresse made in practicall Christianity 7. 2 Cor. 1. beg 1 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. There are speciall seasons for speciall Assurances as entrance upon of discharge of some great undertakings in the life of Religion or some great tryall and exercise suppose of suffering and the best is alwaies reserved for the needfull and proper season 8. Having gotten it keep it and that with humility thankfulnesse and diligence Jude 20 21. Cant. 5.2 with progresse in the way where in you got it Take heed of abusing it by security wantonesse or worldlinesse 9. Look and long for heaven Rev. 22.20 there all is perfected Most Sermons have somewhat towards this in their Vses of Examination and Consolation and some more especially on this subject search out your Notes and study them Besides these there are diverse Treatises aâ— Baxter's Directions Bolton's Instructions Sibbes his Soules Conflict Symonds desertâ—â— Soules case and cure Roberts Evidences Ambrose middle things Ford of Adoption Cripplegate Exercise SECT VII The Life of Faith 1. IN the life of Faith are considerable 1. the purposes 2. the object and 3. the actings of Faith 1. The purposes of it are usually for justification mortification sanctification consolation and salvation 2. The Objects are God's love truth power c. Christ's person relations offices life death resurrection and ascension c. 3. The Acts of faith are apprehension of the object assent to the truth consent to the gift application of the whole with affyance and working in love and obedience as at first in closing with Christ 2. Rom. 4.20 The life of faith is highly acceptable with God comfortable honourable and necessary to the Christian 1. Gal. 2.10 Phil. 3.9 Act. 3.19 To live the life of faith for justification 1. Renew thy repentance daily for commissions of sin and omissions of duty in sorrow confession and supplication to God in Christ 2. Rom. 3.25.26 Rom. 5.12 c. Let Faith first apprehend the grace of God and look on Christ as thy Second Adam Head Surety and Sacrifice meditate his perfect obedience and his death therein Gal. 3.13 the pacification of wrath the satisfaction of Justice the removall of the curse Dan. 9.24 Heb. 10.16 Heb. 9.24 1 Joh. 2.2 Luk 22. Rom. 3.25 Gal. 2.20 Joh. 3.3 sin taken away in its guilt everlasting righteousnesse brought in and a Covenant of Grace established see this pleaded in his intercession and tendered in the Gospell sealed in the Sacraments and to be applied by faith 2. Apply it 3. Assent unto it 4. Rest upon it 5. Speak peace to thy conscience 6. If the sence of it make thee thankfull cheerfull and fruitfull to God and Christ Rom. 5.1 Heb 10.2 Psal 103.1 2. 2 Cor. 5.14 c. Ram. 8.34 c. 1 Cor. 15.55 56. Acts 3.19 Rom. 7.13.14 7. Reject the temptations of Sathan to unbeliefe silence the accusations and condemnations of thy conscience lay aside the slavisn feares of the wrath of God the terrors of death and judgment And 8. Long for the publick and solemne declaration of all in the last day 2. Live the life of faith for Mertification of sin 1. Set home upon thine heart the sinfullnesse of sin Rom. 7.13 14. and the necessity of its destruction Be willing to it and resolved for it 2. Be sensible of thine own weaknesse and inability to performe it Rom. 7.24 Rom. 7.25 Rom. 6. beg 3. Act faith on Christ for it 1. Let faith bâ—hold Christ Jesus upon the Cross procuring and purchasing thy freedome Rom. 7. Ezek. 36.26 from the dominion power and presence of sin in Gods time and Gods way 2. Let faith see the promises of Mortifying and cleansing grace in the blood of Christ established Rom. 6.9 10. Psal 51.7 Rom. 6.12 Rom. 8.34 Gal. 5.25.26 3. Let faith apply them 4. Let Prayer
him you have interest in him you may apply your selves to him and there need no question but you shall receive abundantly from him only you must enlarge your desires and heighten your faith and use the means châ—rishing the spirit weeding out corruptions and exercising your graces Be much in prayer Mat. 25. put in suit the promises beg for influences take heed of pride and be humble take heed of worldly mindednesse and be heavenly Phil. 3.20 be not careless in duties but servent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. Converse much with the Scripture warme and enlarge your hearts with the sence of the love of God and Christ 2 Cor. 5. Rom. 5.5 Heb. 11. lock often towards the promised reward keep in your eye the examples of the best Christians Heb. 12.1.2 but especially Christ Jesus as your great example rest not in measures Phil. 3.10 intend towards perfection and the state of the resurrection from the dead Neglect the improvement of no grace Jude 20.21 but especially lay out in vitall graces and for others be most carefull for the most needfull in your capacity and condition the like where you are most weak Be nothing in your selves be all in Christ Rev. 3.2 Phil. 4.13 This is the way to encrease it in the habit only further know Eph. 1.21.22 that as grace abounds in the heart so it need to do in the life 1. In the frequent actings of the same graces Eph. 4.7 as they are required 2. In the diverse actings of severall graces as the case may command it Col. 1.10 And in the lively and vigorous actings of all You have a reward enough to encourage all 1 Cor. 15. you have waies enough to put forth all you shall have grace of influence to furnish all Heb. 13.20 21. â— Thes 1.11 12. you have ingagements enough from the love of God the grace of Christ the gift of the spirit the promises of the Gospell the priveledges of Grace the hopes of glory to provoke to all Such things considered and such meanes used will also serve to keep up your hearts in a lively frame of spirit and readinesse for duty and service this will quicken you when dull enlarge when straitned and set all the wheeles of your soules on going Lastly Look to your standing and perseverance 1 Thes 3.8 Pro. â—ep Heb. 6. Rev. 2. Heb. 10. Ps 51. Apostacies are dangerous some are desperate the least is too bad though you loose not your crown yet loose not your comfort your communion with God your evidences your earnests no nor your graces themselves Ps 51.29 thougst in the least degrees you may loose your Jewels though not your crown and the sparks of diamonds the shings of gold and the minute degrees of grace are too precious to be lost Therefore reglect not the meanes Rev. 3.1 takâ— heâ—a of omissions watch against your temptation sit 〈◊〉 loose from Christ abate not in your exercise here withall remember that you stand not by your own strength Rom. 11. 1 Pet. 1.25 3 4 5. but by the love of the father the blood of the 〈◊〉 the power of the spirit and the performance of the promise For this reflect on Sâ—rmons of regeneration John 3. at Petrocks Walking in the lighâ— at Mary-Moores on Joh. 12.35 and on Phil. 3 2. last v. and Noahs walking with God on Gen. 6 at Mary Arches c. you may find much more in Ball of Godliness Love of grace Burges his Spirituall refinings Burroughs gracious spirit Burroughs Conversation becoming the Gospell and his Heavenly Conversation Bolton's Walking with God T. Taylor circumspect walking and Bishop Taylors Holy living Gouge Of Relative duties whole duty of man Ambrose Media Goodwins growth in grace c. Cripplegate Exercise Reyner Henner Reynolds life of God SECT IV. Of the Christians daily walk EVery day hath its duty in Common and ordinary Heb. 3. and some daies in extraordinary actings of grace and performance of duty to the Glorifying of God and to the working out of our salvation for this take and practise these directions following the word be your rule the spirit be your guide and Christ Jesus be your strength 1. Psal 5.3 In the Morning when you awake lift up your heart to God be thankfull for the mercies of the night desire the guidance grace mercy and providence for the day send up some Holy Ejaculations Consider what may be most likely the duty and temptation of the day set your spirituall watch ingage your hearts with God and warme it with the thoughts of his love and the hopes of his kingdome 2. Psal 1.2 Season your hearts with some portion of his word read first what may next come to your hands proceed then in your ordinary course for your morning reading of the Scriptures work what you have read upon your heart Ps 5.3 by serious meditation and then address your selfe to God as you have place and opportunity in solemne prayer from thence in fit season ere the occasions of the world fall in discharge the duties in your family 3. Rom. 12.11 Eph. 6.7 Apply your selfe with diligence to the duty of your Calling in the fear of God with a good Conscience depending on his presence favour and blessing 4. Keep upon your hearts Gen. 17.1 the sence of the eye of God that sees all the ear of God that heares all and the hand of God that records all especially the word of God that is to rule all and his providence to blesse all do nothing that may displease him do every thing according to his will and to his glory 5. In temporall employments and secular occasions act spirituall graces mind eternity your spirituall concernments Phil. 3.20 send frequent holy ejaculations towards Heaven and so maintaine Communion with God throughout the day and in the midst of your employments 6. Watch against the temptations of the day the occasions to sin and the first motions and stirrings of corruptions and those either rooted in thy disposition 1 Pet. 5.8 1 Pet. 2.11 or occasioned in thy calling 1 Pet. 5.8 2.11 Take heed of sinning 7. Take not only care of sinning but be found as occasion is offered in all well-doing Is 1.16 Tit. 2.12 Mica 6.8 Adorne the Gospell and approve thy self a Christian by acts of Righteousness Justice and Equity in all thy dealings and withall of mercy and charity as it lies before thee 8. Take care of thy words let none be profane Math. 12.36.37 1 Pet. 3.10 sinfull frothy uncharitable but true and seasoned with grace administring grace to the hearers use not too many words in buying and selling hear few stories that little concern you and tell less Think before you speak remember there is an account to be made of words by these also thou shalt be justified Math. 12.37 and by them thou mayest be condemned
9. 1 Cor. 10.31 Tit. 2.12 In all refreshments of food or recreation be sober serious and spirituall 10. Upon rovings and wandrings call in thine heart Eccles Prov. and let not thy thoughts be too far dispersed or too long disingaged from communion with God soul-concernments and matters of Eternity 11. Eph. 4.26 Take heed of passions rash anger sudden surprisals or provocations that may be offered Do no wrong take notice of little forgive much forbear retaliation in words or actions in great affronts be not too much disturbed and commit events and returns to God 12. Eph. 6.1 Eph. 5.22 Fill up Relations with relative duties whether as superior or inferior or equall be obedient to the commands of Superiours according to the will of God be respectfull kind and friendly to equals be moderate tender and gentle to inferiors Do evill to none but good to all 13. Beware of your company Eph. 5.7.11 Ps 15. have no more to do with wicked persons then of necessity you must let their presence be your burthen and their profanenesse your abhorrency let them know that you do not like them Let the good be welcome entertaine them as Christians receive from them or give to them what may be spirituall Let your time be pretious Eph. 5.16 and little or none be wasted fill up all with necessary duties that belong unto it or find out something good and commendable to improve it On moments of time depends eternity let not spirituall and temporall duties interfer but let each have their proper seasons run not from thy particular calling to exercises of the generall when unseasonable neglect not the generall for the particular when thou hast thy freedome 15. Let not the world or the things of the world be too earnestly desired eagerly persued 1 Joh. 2.15 Phil. 4.11 affectionately imbraced be thankfull for and content with necessaries what 's more let it be improved in the chearfull service of God in works of piety and charity Keep thine heart at a distance and loose from all and be contented to part with all Heb. 10.34 when called to it knowing that Heaven is thine inheritance and God himself thy portion 26. Observe the waies and methods of God's providence towards thee from day to day consider the graces to be exercised on such occasions Live the life of dependance on God's providence and subjection to his will be thankfull for his mercies and endure his chastisements Let extraordinary dispensations have extraordinary observations 17. Remember to walke with God humbly Mica 6.8 Tit. 2.12 cheerfully obediently and believingly Carry your selves to men respectfully righteously friendly demean your selves sâ—berly gravely prudently bear all injuries patiently receive all Kindnesses thankfully do all Courtesies readily 18. Suffer no guilt contracted to lie long upon you but be often examining your selves Ps 19 Ps 32. beg on sence of sin renew your repentance and faith on the bloud of Christ and returne to Duty 19. Tit. 2.13 Doe something every day towards the last in mortifying corruption strengthning graces increasing knowledge furthering your assurances drawing nearer to Heaven in thoughts on it desires after it preparations for it 20. In the evening of the day Ps 4.4 reflect on what hath past cast up accounts be humble for defects repent of transgressions be thankfull for mercies renew your acquaintance with God as you have opportunity in solemne duties of praier meditation and reading the Scriptures or some good Books performe these duties as also your family duties in good season Ps 3.5 Ps 4. ult see Ps 1 42. 16. When all is done remember Mortality and Eternity Act repentance and faith and commit your soules and bodies and family to God and to his keeping SECT V. Of Communion with God THE Convert may noâ—â— advance to a more especiali 〈…〉 God and that not only as 〈…〉 â—â—iviledge See 1 John 1.3 c. 〈…〉 20. Job 22.21 R For such as have int◠〈…〉 God Rom. 5.1 accesse to God acceptaâ—â—â—â—ith God are beloved of him may 〈…〉 and derive from him This 〈…〉 partly presupposeth and partly requireth what we have in these following particulars and it may be in some other 1. Heb. 10.19 20. It presupposeth reconciliation with God through the mediation of Christ apprehended by faith answered in repentance pursued in obedience and maintained in walking before him 2. It immediately followes union with Christ Eph. 2.18 relation to God and inhabitation of the Spirit 3. It supposes the qualification of the person in conformity to God Ps 15. and assimilations to him 4. Joh. 14.21 It is maintained on Gods part by teachings of the Spirit influences of grace Rev. 3.20 Cant. 5.1 Ps 25.14 testimonies of Love and earnests of his glory On the Christians part by what here followeth 1. Addresses to God in holy duties Ps 73.28 Ps 100. solemn or occasionall through Christ and by the Spirit 2. Apprehensions of God his glory Joh. 17.3 his grace love and goodnesse revealed in his word through Christ and applied by the Spirit 3. Adorations of God high thoughts of him with humble worshippings praises Ps 100.4 and acknowledgments 4. Affections to God in Christ Ps 42.1 Ps 63.1 running out in love desire delight and joy 5. Ps 36.7 Cant. 8.5 Affiance in God through Christ in his grace goodnesse truth faithfulnesse power and providence 6 Activity of grace in holy duties Cant. 4.16 proper in times seasonable in manner spirituall in measure fruitfull 7. Ps 16.8 Cant. 2.7 Actuall intentions of God and of his glory and of being well pleasing to him in the frame of our hearts in the course of our lives and especially in our holy duties 8. Applications of his love Cant. 1.2 c. Rom. 5.5 6 c. upon the discoveries of it in his word the shedding of it abroad in our hearts by his Spirit the evidence of it in his graces and the experience of it in his mercies 9. Acquainting him with our necessities Phil. 4.6 Cant. 2.14 desires cases and conditions from day to day provided it be humbly heartily believingly it may be freely and with holy familiarity as a friend with his friend a child with his father and the spouse with her husband and this whatever be our distresses and dangers troubles and sorrows wrongs and injuries wants and weaknesses temptations and infirmities 10. Attendance to the methods of his providence Job Ps 8. Cant. 5.4 and the motions of his spirit with the observation of his works and the opening of our hearts unto his word hearkning to his whispers sensible apprehensions of his approaches to your soules not suffering our selves to be unmindfull of him estranged from him 11. Attributing all our mercies and refreshments Eph. 3. ult spirituall and temporall with the hopes of eternall to his free grace and mercy in Jesus Christ giving him the glory
5.43 and 4. keep then a good courage Math. 10.28 SECT XI Of Spirituall Retirements REtirements are sometimes from necessity through the providence of God Cant. 2.14 Is 26. ult the rage of Sathan and the malice of the World Rev. 12.6 14. and sometime from choice for privacy in duty and freedome from distraction Math. 6.5 6. Improve such for meditation prayers reading and maintaining communion with God Leave the world behind you desire God's presence and believe his promise SECT XII Of Meditation MEditation is necessary comfortable but difficult Take these Directions for it 1. Make conscience of the duty Ps 1. Ps 119. not only occasionally but solemnly and frequently 2. Take the fit and freest times for it 3. Lay aside for that time worldly occasions and thoughts 4. Set your self in God's presence 5. Begin with Prayer to God for direction presence and blessing 6. Pitch your thoughts on some suitable and seasonable heart-affecting subject as the excellency and use of the Scriptures the Attributes of God the state of Innocency Sin state of nature covenant of grace Christ his Offices excellencies c. death satisfaction c. the love of God the love of Christ faith and other particular graces c. Meditate often of the sinfulness of sin the vanity of the creature the love of God the excellency of Christ death the resurrection judgment heaven and helâ— sometimes When you would meditate on these understand first the doctrine of them and what is considerable in them for that purpose read in some doctrinall book on such a subject and after that by meditation consider and work upon your hearts to affect them without this help you will be able to do little on most subjects For subjects and books on those subjects Dr Wilkin's Ecclesiastes may direct you for this use as others for another 7. Observe if you can a good method for which see directions in books If you cannot follow their methods follow Davids in the Psalms Ps 116.5 Ps 42. Sometimes let it be prayerwise sometime by way of Soliloquie or discourse with your selves or take some good bock and work what you read upon your heart 'till you have discerned the truth tasted the sweetnesse and felt the power of it The briefe Notes in these Sections are intended for your help on those heads and are left to your inlargements on purpose or take the Scriptures and meditate on what you read 8. Keep your hearts to the work quicken them when dull 9. Intend heart-work especially in this exercise the quickning of grace strengthning of faith and stirring of affections 10. Close up with prayer and as opportunity is afforded solemne and with respect to the subject of your meditation Read Bp Hall's directions for meditation and Baxter in his Everlasting Rest and Whites and Ambrose in his Middle things SECT XIII Of Prayer I Need not set before you its necessity and excellenny Rom. 8.15 16. the spirit of Adoption will reach you to cry Abba Father Gal. 4 6. 1. 1 Thes 5.17 Be frequent in prayer often in solemne and even constantly in ejaculatory and occasionall 2. Be fervent and spirituall Rom. 8.26 Rom. 15.30 3. Be humble and lowly Gen. 18.27 Ezr. 9.6 4. Believing 5. Importunate Luk. 18. More particularly 1. Keep your hearts in a praying frame Eph. 6.18 Ps 5.3 Math. 6.9 2. Mind the occasions and opportunities 3. Prepare your selfe to it by meditation 2 Sam. 7.27 4. Take right apprehensions of God as your father in heaven as a spirit great and glorious but your God and Father in Christ take up suitable apprehensions to your occasion as God shall direct 5. Humble your soules in sence of sin to be confessed 6. Affect your hearts with the mercies to be desired 7. Jacob. Hos 12.3 4. Wrestle with God with Arguments proper 8. Content not your selfe with the bare performance without affection of heart and enjoyment of God 9. Keep close to the duty as near as you can without distraction Math. 6.7 Eccl. 5.2 Rom. 8.26 Phil. 4.6 Math. 6. Eph. 6.19 10. Affect not words nor length 11. Joyn praises with praiers 12. Be not private spirited in prayer but remember others especially the Church of God 13. Take delight in this duty 14. rest not in prayer but in Christ Eph. 3.12 John 14.13 through whom present your person and prayers unto God with faith 15. Look after your prayers Ps 5.3 and God's answers to them Read Cobbet of Prayer Gee of Prayer Ambrose his Directions ia his middle things T. Goodwins return of prayer Ford of Adoption Cripplegate exercise 14.17.19 SECT XIV Of Sanctification of the Lords day 1 BE setled in the doctrine of the Morality of the Sabbath 4th Comm For this purpose read Sermon Notes and books especially Cawdry and Palmer Shepheard and Whites appendix to his directions for reading the Scripture 2. Prepare for it desiring the day Exod. 20. composing your worldly affaires and laying them aside in the evening before set your heart in order towards a Sabbath and desire God's presence and blessing for the day approaching 3. In the morning awake with God proceed to private and family duties be more large and solemne in them then at other times spend intervals in meditation holy conference reading and prayer 4. Is 2.3 Ps 122.1 Ps 100. Hasten to publique ordinances lay aside prejudices and take care to give God your hearts See Burroughes of Gospell worship and other treatises of that Nature 5. Lev. 26.42 If you want publique opportunity enquire into the cause if sin be in it humble your soules justify God and accept of the punishment of your sin pray for pardon act repentance with faith in the bloud of Christ lament after the Lord. 1 Sam. 3. Ps 42.84.63 6. Rev. 12.14 Ps 42. Make up your want in private worship 1. Begin with prayer confession of sin and supplication for a blessing with praise to God 2. Read much of the Scripture Psalmes Old and New Testament Meditate upon it draw your observations and worke them on your hearts observe Gods teachings and impart them to any with you 3. Pour out your hearts more largely in prayer 4 Take some good Sermon Notes or some choice book and spend a Sermon time in it and suppose you were hearing it in the publick congregation 5. Close up with prayer and praises desiring a blessing In intervals of time take refreshments naturall with spirituall affections thoughts discourses Let the rest of the time be spent as in the morning in meditation reading Is 56.6 Is 58.13 conference and prayer In the afternoon at the solemn time do again as in the morning After that as in the intervals reflecting on what you read observed and were taught of God that day renew your family and your closet duties as in the morning and be much in Thanksgiving Let the day be improved for God and with him Keep out the