now shine so clearely so comfortably vpon vs in the face of Christ Iesus our Lord seeing that we being holden vnder sinne and Sathan and sitting in the shadow of death vvere neuer able in any wise by any meanes whatsoeuer procured by our selues or others Angels or any creature else to haue recouered our selues but should haue lyen rotting in that vvoful and damnable estate and so haue perished eternally if God of his meere loue had not vouchsafed speciall grace and fauour vnto vs and that vvhen vve were his enemies Rom. 5.10 Isay 49.9 Luke 1.79 and freed and redeemed vs from that miserable bondage and thraldome yea from the power of darknesse euen death and destruction it selfe and translated vs into that glorious libertie of his Saints in light and this by no smal or ordinarie meanes 1 Pet. 1.18 but by the shedding of the precious blood of Christ his deare son our blessed Sauiour who loued vs and according to the determinate counsell and decree of God gaue himselfe to be crucified slaine for vs euen for vs that had dealt most treacherously and rebelliously against him made our selues altogether vnworthy of the least mercy and fauour of his O mercifull God heauenly father giue me to see vvhat and how great this benefit is which I haue receiued from thee in and through thy Christ Let me euer be mindfull of it and vnfainedly thankefull vnto thee for it yea as this bountifull and inestimable goodnesse of thine towards me so sinfull a wretch and so vnworthie a creature as I am and haue beene deserueth all praise so let mee indeuour by al meanes to set forth and to publish the same vnto the glory of thy grace whereby in the riches of thy loue through thy beloued thou hast done so great and wonderfull things for me for which I can neuer be sufficiently thankefull nor returne that praise which is most due vnto thee Oh that thou wouldest draw me yet neerer vnto thee cause me euen to melt in loue towards thee my God and Sauiour and with heart voyce and life to magnifie and extoll thy name yea to giue vp my selfe both body and soule and all that is within me vnto thy seruice and to the aduancement of thy glory both now and euer Amen Thankefulnesse to God for all his fauours towards vs especially that wonderfull loue of his in our redemption IF GOD had giuen vs nothing but our being wee ought to be stirred vp with the remembrance of that alone to be thankeful vnto him and to acknowledge his mercie and goodnesse towards vs herein But now seeing that hee maketh vs Lords of all these senselesse and vnreasonable creatures Psal 8.6 whereas hee might haue made vs bruitish and voyd of sense and reason like vnto them 21. for wee were all made of the same common matter vvith them and were in his hands as the clay in the hand of the potter to bee wrought to what forme and fashion it pleased him the Creatour of all things 42. seeing he hath preferred vs before all these visible creatures making them to serue vs whereas he might haue subiected vs vnto them and in euery creature both in heauen and earth doth sparkle towards vs his loue with innumerable benefits yea which is the summe of all in Christ vpon the Crosse casts forth the flame of perfect charitie and of his infinite vnspeakeable mercie and kindnesse towards vs sure our hearts are frozen and euen dead within vs if vvee be not moued to loue him with an entire and vnfained loue How should vvee bee affected vvith these things O blessed LORD touch my heart with a true and liuely sense and feeling of the riches of that endlesse incomprehensible loue of thine towards me inlarge this narrow heart of mine that I may be able in some measure with all thy Saints to comprehend the bredth Eph. 3.18.19 length depth and height of that wonderfull and vnspeakeale kindnes of thine towards me in thy Christ which passeth all knowledge Inflame my affections with the meditation thereof and let mee be constrained thereby to loue thee with all my heart with all my soule with all my strength euer to acknowledge thy free grace and marueilous goodnes towards me and for the same to sing prayses vnto thee continually who onely art worthy to be praised and magnified now and for euer Amen Who are the redeemed of Christ THey that are Christs are led by the spirit of Christ that dwels in them rules them Rom. 8.9.14 gouernes sanctifies them thorowout It freeth them from the law of sinne and death and causeth them to liue the life of grace and holinesse Rom. 8.2 they are crucified with Christ in regard of their corrupt and fleshly nature and the sinnefull lusts and affections thereof Gal. 2.19 5.24 1 Cor. 3.16.17 2 Cor. 6.16 so that they liue not now as they did before but Christ liueth in them maketh them a mansion and a holy temple fitted and prepared for the blessed and glorious God to rest and to abide in for euermore This is a truth that the Scriptures of God haue sealed and therefore cannot be denied or once doubted of except we will giue the lie vnto the spirit of truth it selfe who hath spoken it Whose then are they that are led altogether by the spirit of the vvorld euen that vvicked spirit that worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience by the spirit of enuie Ephes 2.2 maliciousnesse vncleannesse prophanenesse c. walking after their owne lusts following the sway of their owne corrupt and sinnefull nature and delighting in fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the minde resisting the spirit of grace and rebelling against Christ Luk. 19.14 and that light which hee hath reuealed vnto them in his word so that they will not haue him to rule ouer them Surely Luk. 19.14 1 Ioh. 3.8.10 they are exceeding blinde and marueilous full of selfe-loue and vaine presumption if they can thinke that they are Christs redeemed by his bloud and iustified by his grace nay if they can once imagine themselues to be otherwise then of Satan the god of this world such as if they continue in that estate wherein they are he will cause to be slaine before his face Luk. 19.27 Rom. 8.13 when hee shall appeare in the brightnesse of his glorie yea Psal 2.9 2 Thes 1.8 Matt. 25.46 bruise and crush them in pieces as it vvere with a rod of yron and cast them into hell where they shall be kept for euer in chaines of darkenesse with the rest of those damned spirits because they haue taken part with Sathan against Christ and shewed themselues to be enemies to him in refusing to beleeue obey his blessed Gospell Let not therefore their owne hearts which are very deceitful nor Sathan who hath beene a lyar a murtherer from the beginning deceiue delude
them any longer Iere. 17.9 Iohn 8.4 Let them know what they are and whose they are and let them as they haue cause feare and tremble whiles they thinke of it and labour by all meanes to dispossesse that euill spirit that heretofore hath had the rule sway ouer them and in stead therof to haue the holy sanctifying spirit of God dwelling and abiding in them crucifying and mortifying their wicked and corrupt nature quickening them vnto a spirituall life and leading them forward continually to the constant and conscionable practise of all the duties of righteousnesse and holinesse required of them that hereby they may haue the Lords seale set vpon them Rom. 8.14 and be marked out for the redeemed of Christ Iesus those whom he hath bought from this world and Sathan to liue with him in glorie for euer Gratious LORD as it hath pleased thee of thy free and vndeserued grace to redeeme me by the bloud of Christ my Sauiour to vnite me to him by a true sauing and iustifying faith apprehending and laying hold of his merits and absolute satisfaction for my full reconciliation vnto thee so vouchsafe also in the riches of thy mercies and for thy promise and couenant sake Ier. 32.40 Ezek. 36.26.27 made with mee in that beloued One to indue me with the spirit of Christ vnto true sanctification and holinesse both of heart of life and of conuersation poure out those cleane waters vpon my soule which may purge and cleanse me from all iniquitie let me finde the flesh daily more and more crucified in mee with the sinnefull lusts and affections thereof and let mee feele the spirit powerfull and effectuall in mee yea mightily preuailing within me to the mortifying and abolishing of the olde man of sinne and to the subduing of euery corruption especially those which heretofore haue bene the strongest in mee and had the greatest hand ouer mee as also to the quickening and increasing of euery sauing grace in mee faith loue hope ioy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse meekenesse sobrietie temperance patience godlinesse and the rest that so not onely liuing but also walking in the spirit yea hauing the spirit of thy Christ ruling and raigning in me I may be more assured daily vpon good euidence that I am not of the world nor of Sathan but that I am a true and liuely member of the mysticall body of the Lord Iesus redeemed by his pretious blood shed for mee that I am his and he is mine Cant. 2.16 Ioh. 17. ver 10.23 24. Ephes 2.6 4.10 Ioh. 14.2.3 and that together with him after a while I shall be raised vp vnto those heauenly places into vvhich hee is already ascended and where I shall enioy that blessed fellowship and communion of thee the euer-liuing God in the fulnesse of ioy and blessednesse lauding and praising thee vncessantly with all thy chosen Saints and elect Angels for euermore and that onely through the merits of my blessed Sauiour to vvhom with thee O Father and thy gracious Spirit three distinct persons but one most wise â—â—d glorious God be ascribed as due is all honour might and maiestie dignitie and dominion both now and euermore Amen Hypocrisie the vanitie and danger of it HOW great is the folly of those that chuse rather to serue God in hypocrisie then in truth and sinceritie to seeme to be holy then to bee so indeed They please not God yea rather they are an abhomination vnto him Psal 5.6 his soule loaths them because they make the outward badge and cognizance of his children a cloake of their impietie and wickednesse They want that vvhich is the life of a Christian true spirituall comfort and constant and heauenly ioy Iob 20.5 They lose that blessed reward vvhich is promised vnto them and them onely that walke in vprightnesse and singlenesse of heart before him Gen. 17.1 Prou. 10.9 and that vizzard which through vanitie they haue put vpon them to delude the world withall shall at length be plucked off from their faces to their shame and perpetuall reproach and infamie For that vvhich is fained and counterfait cannot stand long Mat. 21.19 and it is a true saying Hee that begins Religion in Hypocrisie ends in Apostasie O blessed LORD let my heart be alwayes vpright before thee Let it be my desire euer rather to bee more then I seeme to bee then to seeme to bee that vvhich I am not for alas what will it auaile mee to dissemble before thee my God who art of so cleerâ— eyes that nothing can be couered or hid from thee Iob. 26.6 who art the seer and the searcher of the very heart and reines Heb. 4.13 Pro. 15.11 and discernest the secretest thoughts and intents of the minde and soule yea long before they are O farre be it from me to turne aside into crooked wayes vvith those that are workers of iniquitie Psal 125.5 Iob. 15.34 27.8 Matth. 24.51 23.27 whom thou hatest and to whom thou hast threatned endlesse and euerlasting destruction and confusion without recouery but let it be my continuall care and endeuour to serue thee in spirit and in trueth all my dayes and to walke continually as in thy presence seeking to please thee and to increase more and more in all the fruites of righteousnesse and perfect holinesse that so my vvhole course may bee acceptable vnto thee I may bee filled vvith the ioyes of thy spirit heere Iob. 8.21 15.11 those sweet and heauenly refreshings which the hypocrite may talke of but neuer soundly tasted of and bee crowned vvith glory heereafter in thy kingdome for euermore Amen God beareth with the frailties and weakenesses of his Children PARENTS delight in their Children not onely vvhen they are come to mans estate but also vvhen they begin first to creepe on the ground and to speake some few words in an imperfect manner And vvill GOD our heauenly Father despise the poore endeuours of his vveake and little ones Psal 119.5 vvho cry vnto him continually for strength and abilitie to performe that which hee requireth of them Rom. 7.24 and grieue yea mourne vncessantly that they are not able to walke with more stedfastnesse and sinceritie in his wayes Farre be it from vs once to thinke or imagine this for what were this else then to make the Lord lesse pittifull Psal 86 15 and 145.8 lesse tenderly affected and compassionate towards his then earthly Parents are vnto theirs the very thought whereof is no small sinne but exceeding displeasing vnto him whose loue towards his children doth infinitely surpasse and exceede the naturall affection of any Parent whatsoeuer Psal 27.10 euen as farre as the heauens exceede the earth Psal 103.11.13 their loue being but a shadow of that which is in him in an infinite and vnspeakeable manner yea what were it else then to call his truth and faithfulnesse into question and to deny
him desirous to be vnloosed and to finde ease comfort and refreshing in him but their hearts are euen dead vvithin them and they are strangers from this life of grace and y Gal. 2.20 faith which is in Christ Iesus And no maruell then that there appeares in them so little or no loue of him so small desire to please him and to testifie their loue and thankefulnes vnto him by their new obedience and carefull and conscionable walking in his commandements seeing they neuer tasted fully of the sweetnesse and the exceeding ioy and comfort arising from that wonderfull benefit and vnspeakable mercie which is sealed vp to the soules and consciences of true penitent sinners and such as haue receiued Christ by a sauing faith to be their wisedome z 1 Cor. 1 30. their righteousnesse their sanctification and redemption O mercifull LORD how great is thy goodnesse and mercy towards mee that whereas thou sufferest many yea the greatest part of the world still to wander in the wayes of wickednesse and to sit in the shadow of death and darknesse eyther not seeing their misery and wofull and most wretched estate and condition or else seeing it to be so secure so carelesse and so hard-harted as not to regard it and to labour to come out of it being beguiled through the deceitfulnesse of their owne harts and the craft and delusion of Sathan yet in the vnsearchable riches of thy abundant grace and a 1 Tim. 1 14.17 mercy towards mee in Christ Iesus hast opened mine eyes vvhich before were shut vp as well as others and turned me from darkenesse to light and from the power of Sathan vnto thee my blessed Lord and Sauiour raising mee out of the graue vvherein I was dead and buryed deliuering me from the Kingdome of darkenesse and translating mee into the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne giuing me assurance of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes and a comfortable hope and expectation of that ioyfull inheritance prouided for thy Saints and chosen ones in the highest heauens What shall I returne vnto thee answerable vnto so great loue vnto such fatherly compassions and vnspeakeable mercies of thine towards me Thou mightest haue suffered mee to continue in my blindnesse and ignorance as well as others to haue beene as carelesse as secure and as hard-harted as any others and so to haue perished with them dreaming that all had beene well with me whiles I lay rotting in my naturall and corrupt estate For what am I or what haue I beene that thou shouldest respect me more then others Thou mightst for my sinnes so many and so grieuous iustly haue forsaken mee as thou hast done them But thou hast not so dealt with mee Blessed be thy name both now and euermore O touch my heart with the due meditation of this thy gracious goodnesse towards mee And teach mee daily to labour to feele this worke of thine more and more effectuall in me by renuing my repentance for my sinnes whereby I haue and doe daily and hourely displease thee in the breach of thy righteous lawes and commaundements Let me see my sinnes and transgressions and the misery vvhereunto they make me subiect and seeing them let me bewaile them yea lament and mourne for them and be truely humbled with the consideration of them Let me freely and vnfainedly confesse them vnto thee and that vvith shame and sorrow of heart And let them cause me wholly to renounce my selfe to iudge and condemne my selfe yea to abhorre my selfe and to flie vnto thee in the name of thy Sonne my blessed Sauiour in whom there is mercy and plentifull redemption b Psal 130.7 Let me hunger and thirst after his righteousnesse more then after any thing else vvhatsoeuer yea let me highly esteeme of it and make more precious account of it then of all the riches and treasures of this world desirous though with the losse of all other things to winne Christ and to be found in him clothed and couered with those precious robes of his And let me by the hand of a true sauing faith apply vnto my selfe the merits of his death and passion his righteousnesse his obedience and his full and perfect satisfaction being certainly assured that all the promises of the Gospell belong vnto me And let the knowledge and full perswasion hereof cause me to reioyce yea to glorie in thee and in this vvonderfull and vnspeakeable mercy of thine towards me euen with that ioy of thy spirit which is most glorious c 1 Pet. 1.8 and fill my heart and soule with that peace which passeth all vnderstanding And with all let it stirre me vp continually to walke before thee in all holy obedience desiring and endeauouring in all things to please thee and to approue my selfe and all my actions vnto thee dying daily more and more vnto sinne and liuing vnto righteousnesse and labouring by all meanes to bee cleansed from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and to grow vp to full holinesse d 2 Cor. 7 1 in thy feare that thus I may haue good euidence that I am thine that thou hast wrought thy gracious vvorke in me and wilt perfect it daily more and more till thou bringest me vnto that glory which thou hast prepared for me in thy heauenly kingdome through the merits of thy Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour to whom with thee and thy Spirit be all praise power and dominion both now and euermore Amen The godly man is alwaies blessed neuer miserable THe godly cannot but be alwaies blessed * Iob. 5.17 yea then when he seemes to be most miserable in the eye of the vvorld and to sense and carnall reason For when he is at the worst hee hath those things vvhich hee would haue being contented with any a Phil. 4.11 estate which the wise and gracious disposer of all things seeth fittest for him yea he cannot haue better things in regard of his present estate in this life then those things vvhich he hath and enioyeth euen then when he is laden and oppressed vvith many miseries Is he humbled through afflictions this is that which he vvould haue b Ier. 10.24 Iames 1.2 10 he had rather be continually vnder the Crosse then destitute of those excellent graces of c Rom. 5.3 patience humility d Mat. 11.29 Ioh. 12.26 without which he cannot be the disciple of Christ nor approued of God e Psal 4.6 119.13.5 of vvhom aboue all things he desires to be accepted and fauoured Is he poore he is vvell contented therewith seeing he is largely recompensed with the greater supply of those better riches * Phil. 4.19 those heauenly treasures both of grace and glory Hee would not change his portion with the greatest and richest Monarch in the world that aboundeth in worldly wealth f Psal 4.6.7 and wanteth those spirituall and heauenly treasures which he enioyeth and which shall neuer be taken from him vvhereas the
dangerous pathes Giue mee eyes to discerne of the true good that vvhereunto I was created and let my heart be wholy set vpon the same let mee not be led as the bruite beast is vvith those things which are sensible and carnall but as in mercy and goodnesse thou hast stamped thine owne Image in mee and set my face to thee-wards so Lord let me alwayes be looking vp vnto thee and meditating of those things vvhich are spirituall and heauenly Psal 119.148 that so after a few dayes spent heere below on this sinnefull earth in these earthly cottages where there is nothing but miserie and vanitie I may liue with thee aboue in those coelestiall mansions and enioy that glory and happinesse vvhich is endlesse and vnspeakeable and that onely through the merits of thy Sonne my blessed Sauiour and Redeemer who hath purchased so great things for me to whom vvith thee and thy gracious spirit be all prayse and glory both now and euermore Amen The end of the Preface Election WHY the LORD hath elected vs vnto life and suffâ—red others to vvalke in the way vnto death and euerlasting perdition there can no reason bee giuen but onely this that it was his owne good will and pleasure Rom. 9.11 11.5 Gal. 4.9 2 Tim. 1.9 Ephes 1.5 Iam. 1.18 it is so because it pleased him it should bee so Oh then how infinitely are the Lords chosen bound vnto him in that he hath taken them vnto himselfe and let goe thousands of others who deserued this fauour at his hands as much as they did How should their harts be inflamed towards him for that so free vnspeakeable loue and kindnesse towards them How should it euen inforce them to seeke by all meanes to testifie their vnfained loue and thankefulnesse vnto him for the same Rom. 15.36 Ephes 1.6 Col. 1.12 O blessed Lord how vvonderfull is thy goodnesse towards me how vnsearchable are the riches of thy free grace which through thy Christ thou hast vouchsafed vnto me denying the same vnto others who might haue made as good claime vnto it as I. Thou hast written my name in thâ— booke of life when thou mightst haue suffered mee to haue my part and portion amongst those that being reiected and forsaken of thee and cast out of thy presence shall perish and be damned for euermore Thou hast chosen me vnto life and saluation before all worlds without any merits or deserts of mine euen because it pleased thee O Father and because thou hadst a loue vnto me thou hast chosen me to be one of that small number that little flocke of thine Luk. 12.32 foâ— whom thou hast prepared a kingdome and in whom thou wilt make the riches of thy grace and glory to appeare in most glorious manner Oh what shall I returne vnto thee Psa 116.12 answerable vnto this marueilous loue and goodnesse of thine towards me O doe thou affect my heart with it continually let the remembrance thereof constraine mee to loue thee to reuerence thee to sing praises vnto thee yea to seeke by all meanes to glorifie thee being feruent in the duties of pietie and holinesse vvhich thou hast commanded and fruitfull in all those good workes vvhich thou hast prepared for mee to walke in Graunt this I beseech thee for thy mercies sake and for the merits of thy deere Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour in whom thou imbracedst mee from euerlasting with so great loue and fatherly compassions and to whom with thee and that good spirit of thine which hath sealed the assurance hereof vnto mee be ascribed as due is all honour 2 Cor. 1.22 glory prayse Maiestie dominion both now and for euer Amen Those that are elected vnto life and saluation are elected also vnto the meanes whereby to attaine vnto the same IF GOD hath ordayned mee vnto life saith the carelesse and secure wretch I shall be saued doe I what I will or liue I how I list and if otherwise I must needes be damned doe I what I can or what course soeuer I take and therefore soule liue at ease Eccl. 11.9 sport thy selfe in the pleasures and delights of sinne walke in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes let all griefe be put farre from thee take no thought for the time to come for howsoeuer thy life be thou shalt surely come vnto the end which is appoynted for thee and whereunto thou art destinated and ordayned of olde O vaine man how hath Sathan deluded thee yea how wilfully and foolishly doest thou deceiue thy selfe and beguile thine owne soule whilest thou reasonest after such a fond and strange manner thereby laying a snare with which if thou bewarest not in time thou art sure to be intangled to thy vtter confusion Deut. 29.19.20 See thy folly If God hath decreed that thou shalt liue any longer thou shalt liue till the date of that time be expired which hee hath appoynted though thou neyther eate nor drinke nor vse any meanes to preserue thy life and if he hath decreed that thou shalt die shortly thou must needs dye then what meanes soeuer thou seekest to continue and prolong thy life wilt thou therefore hereupon refuse thy meate and neglect the meanes whereby thy life should be maintained and preserued reasoning with thy selfe in this wise if God hath appointed that I shall liue then I shall liue without the vse of these and if otherwise I must dye of necessitie all the world cannot helpe mee would not thine owne reason conuince thee of great senslesnesse herein and would not all that should heare of thee condemne thee for thy simplicitie yea extreame folly in that as one destitute of all vnderstanding thou vvouldest through such a sottish opinion breake in sunder the thread of thy life before the time and euen wilfully hasten thine owne destruction and in a desperate moode digge a pit for to bury thy selfe in before thou wert dead yea when as thou mightst yet see many dayes in the Land of the liuing Good Lord although the foolish and vngodly perish in their vaine and vvicked imaginations yet let not any of thy seruants fall into their snares but giue true wisedome and vnderstanding vnto all those that loue and feare thy Name Grant that as wee desire the end which vvee hope for euen life and glory in thy Kingdome so wee may be alwayes carefull to vse those meanes duely Ephes 1.4 1 Pet. 1.2 whereby vve may attaine vnto the same working out our saluation with feare and trembling and that as wee are desirous to escape death and destruction so wee may be as carefull to shun those things which are the cause and procurers thereof and to auoid those paths which lead directly to the congregation of the dead and damned Thus doing vvee shall not dye but liue and be saued eternally The Booke of Nature NExt vnto the Booke of Bookes the sacred and holy Scriptures which
my selfe to be a sinfull man d Rom. 7.24 laden with many sins and iniquities full of frailte and infirmities The good which I would d Rom 7.19 I cannot doe and the euill which I would not that do I. Many waies doe I continually sinne against thee both in omission of the good which thou hast commaunded and in commission of the contrarie euill sinne cleaueth e Heb. 12.1 Rom. 7.17 24 vnto me in my best actions and performances wherein I desire most to please thee and to approue my selfe vnto thee yea it compasseth me about on euery side and holdeth me in a kinde of bondage and thraldome vnder it so that my soule mourneth many times secretly vvithin me and panteth f Psal 119.131 after thee desiring to bee loosed from this bodie of sinne and to inioy that perfect libertie and freedome and that full enlargement from this misery vvhich thou hast promised vnto thy Saints and seruants Haue mercy vpon me O most mercifull Lord haue mercy vpon me and according vnto thy free and gracious promise looke downe vpon me with the eye of thy fatherly compassion accept my vveake and inperfect desires as if I vvere able to performe that perfect obedience vnto thee vvhich thy law requireth Deale vvith mee as thou vsest to deale with thy children Behold I desire thy commaundements g Psal 119 40 accept me according to that which I haue and not according to that vvhich I haue not Let the truth of my inward affection be as the perfection of action before thee my desire to serue thee as if I did teÌ„der much better seruice to thee then I do or can doe Heale my infirmities I humbly pray thee and quicken me euery day more and more vvith thy grace and spirit that so I may vvalke before thee in all thy vvaies with more cheerefulnesse and sinceritie and howsoeuer I haue cause to be discouraged in regard of my selfe and my manifold imâ—erfections vvhen I enter into thy presence yet hauing respect to those sweet and gracious promises vvhich thou hast made vnto me in thy Christ in vvhom thou lookest alwaies vpon me and in vvhose righteousnesse thou wilt now and euer accapt mee couering all my infirmities vvith that perfect obedience of his Let me alwaies approach vnto the throne of thy grace with comfor and boldnesse being assured that I shall find grace mercie of thee vvho neuer faylest in any thing vvhich thou hast promised but shewest thy selfe to bee abundant in goodnesse and truth aboue that vvee are able to aske or thinke To thee be prayse for euer Amen True loue of God how it may be discerned from that which is counterfeit and hypocriticall MAny there be that in word professe they loue God but few that loue him indeed and in truth Wilt thou know therefore vvhether his loue be in thee or no whether thy heart be rightly affected towards him Consider then what I shall say vnto thee yea vvhat God himselfe vvho is the truth it selfe speakes vnto thee vnto mee vnto all of vs. They that loue him doe first finde that they are loued of him a 1 Ioh. 4.19 And this loue of his shed into their hearts causeth them to loue him againe and their loue towards him manifesteth it selfe First by a care and delight to keepe his commaundements So he sayth If ye loue mee keepe my commandements b Ioh. 14.15.21.23.24 15.14 And againe c 1 Ioh. 5.3 This is the loue of God that we keepe his commandements They are not grieuous or burdensome vnto them but they delight in them concerning the inner man d Rom. 7.22 yea they are an easie yoke and a light burden vnto them e Math. 11 30 Although they oft faile and cannot but faile in the performance of them in regard of the reliques and remainders of sinne and corruption vvhich are in them and vvill be in them vnto death f Heb. 12.1 cleauing as fast vnto them as their skinne doth vnto their flesh yet as farre as they are regenerate and renued by grace their hearts are set vpon them g Psal 119 40. Hebr. 13.18 they finde much sweetnesse in them they desire and indeuour with all their soules to keepe and obserue them not one but all of them h Psal 119.6 yea it is their full resolution and their constant endeuour to yeeld themselues flexible and pliable thereunto in all things They make holy vowes and enter into couenant vvith themselues yea they bind themselues as it vvere by a solemne i Psal 119.106 oath and promise to performe them to the vttermost of their strength and power Their heart k Psal 119 vers 20. breaketh in a manner for the earnest desire and feruent affâ—ction they haue thereunto yea like the chased and vvearied Hinde they l Vers 131 pant after them Thus they that loue the Lord delight in all his Commandements both in knowing them and in keeping and obseruing them and therefore they are carefull in vsing the meanes whereby they may be furthered herein as reading the Word hearing the same preached godly conference receiuing the Sacraments Prayer c. they ioy herein and make much account of these and all other blessed ordinances of the Lord they are pretious in their eyes they esteeme more of them then of their appointed food m Iob 23.12 And hereby it doth appeare indeed that their hearts are toward the Lord that they doe loue him truly and sincerely Againe their loue to him sheweth it selfe by a hatred n Psal 97.10 of all euill which they know to be hatefull and displeasing vnto him aboue all things Hauing a sense and feeling of his loue and fauour towards them yea of the exceeding riches of his grace and kindnesse towards them in CHRIST IESVS they burne in loue againe towards him and this loue of theirs towards him in a speciall manner restraineth them from all sinne and draweth yea forceth and constraineth them to the contrary vertues For they iudge it a meet o 2 Cor. 5.14.15 1 Pet. 4.1.2 and most equall thing that seeing Christ in loue to them hath died for their sinnes that therefore they euen in loue towards him should be dead vnto sinne for which hee died and that as hee rose againe to manifest his victory and triumph ouer sinne and Sathan and to raise them out of the graue of sinne to the life of righteousnesse and holinesse so that they also should liue no more vnto themselues and to their sinnes but to him who so loued them that he died for them and gaue his pretious bloud to wash and cleanse p Tit. 2.14 them from all sinne and iniquitie and to make them a righteous seed q 1 Pet. 2.9 a holy nation a peculiar people that they should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called them out of the darkenesse of sinne death into that maruailous light both of his
of thy blessed Spirit whereby I may be fitted and inabled in some sort to walke worthy of thee to whom I desire wholly to deuote my selfe and whatsoeuer is in me How to ouercome the World HE that vvould ouercome this World must first ouercome himselfe bringing his sensuall appetite and desire in subiection vnto his reason and his reason vnto the will and word of God If hee can doe this once the victory and conquest will be easie otherwise impossible Herein lies the valour and fortitude of a Christian O most mightie Lord GOD the GOD of my strength without whom I can do nothing in whom and through whom all things strengthen me with thy grace and effectuall power that I may be able to subdue the corruption of my sinfull and rebellious nature whensoeuer it riseth vp against me that I may lay the axe close vnto the root and cut downe and plucke vp euery secret sinne that hath gotten any place in me that so I may mortefie euery inordinate affection of my heart which might be any hinderance to the worke of thy grace in me that thus hauing power ouer my selfe and that inbred enemie which lieth secretly lurking in my bosome and in the inmost parts of my soule I may with lesse difficulty vanquish and ouercome this present euill world and all those outward enmities vvhich at any time shall oppose themselues against mee and the powerfull operation of thy holy blessed spirit within me which I humbly and earnestly desire thee that it may be renued daily more and more and brought vnto further perfection Ruling the affections how necessary THE affections of mans heart are endlesse and vnsatiable they can neuer be satisfied a Eccl. 1.8 yea the more that they are yeelded vnto the more doth the inordinatenesse and distemper thereof increase VVhat a vanitie therefore is it for any one to giue libertie vnto his rouing and disordered minde and by seeking to quench that thirst to make it the more vehement as it is vvith those that are falne into the dropsie LORD giue mee vvisedome vvhereby I may learne rightly to moderate all my affections and not to follow the sway of them nor to suffer my selfe at any time to bee carried or drawne away vvhether the inordinate motion and desire of them shall lead mee but so to restraine and rule them that I may liue a quiet and contented life free from those manifolde distractions b Pro. 25.28 vnto vvhich they are continually subiect vvho haue not learned to keepe themselues vvithin those limits vvhich thou hast prescribed and appointed to them Affections must bee made Seruants and not Masters AS the Schoole-master is to his Scholler or a Master vnto his Seruant so ought reason to be vnto the affections of euery one It must alwayes beare rule ouer them and haue them at commaund or else they vvill quickly bee disordered and quite out of frame yea they vvill carry away a man headlong vvith violence into much mischiefe and miserie as vvee see wilde and fierce horses oft times runne away vvith an vnguided Coach or Wagon to the ouerthrow of them that are carried in it O LORD thou seest vnto how many vnruly passions and distempered affections I am continually subiect vvhich make mee oftentimes lesse fit for the performance of good duties and holy exercises then otherwise through thy grace I should be Let it please thee to giue me the masterie and power ouer them yea graunt that I may alwayes subiect them to the rule of right reason and to the direction vvhich thy Word giueth that so being well ordered and disposed they may not bee as they haue beene le ts and hinderances but as they should be seruiceable and conuenient helpes and furtherances vnto vertue piety and godlinesse euen to all Christian duties which thou requirest of mee How dangerous it is to be giuen vnto the World HE cannot be a good Seruant that is addicted to his pleasures and delights or that is giuen to follow his owne businesse ouermuch and doth not principally intend his Masters affaires Hee can neuer be a good Disciple of Christ nor a faithfull Seruant of God whose minde is set vpon earthly things a Mat. 6.24 vvho is carried away with the pleasures and delights of sinne or much addicted to the profits and commodities of this vaine and transitory world or otherwise wedded vnto his owne rouing and vnstayed affections and doth not wholly consecrate b Rom. 12.1 and dedicate himselfe vnto the Lord and to his worship and seruice vvith restraint from all those things vvhich might be any hinderance or encumbrance vnto him in the same O my God how vnworthy am I to be called thy Seruant to call thee my Lord how vnable am I to performe that dutie and seruice which thou requirest of me O be thou mercifull vnto mee notwithstanding my vnworthinesse pardon my great vnprofitablenesse heretofore Inable mee daily more and more for the discharge of the duties of thy seruice which thou hast commaunded and vvhereunto thou hast called me Let neither the sinfull pleasures nor the deceiueable profits fruitles commodities of this fading c 1 Cor. 7.31 1 Ioh. 2.17 and decaying vvorld cause me at any time to be slacke slothfull or any wayes vnfaithfull in thy businesse in my calling but giue mee grace euer to renounce these things euen whatsoeuer may at any time in any sort vvithdraw mee from my dutie or be any hinderance vnto mee in the ready vvilling and cheerfull performance of that seruice vvhich I owe vnto thy Maiestie yea let mee alwayes deny d Luke 9.23 Mat. 10.37 Luke 14.26 my selfe and euen hate e my deerest friends and neerest acquaintance if the matter standeth so betweene thee and them yea euen my life it selfe rather then bee found vvillingly defectiue in my dutie or vnfaithfull in thy seruice vvho hast euery way beene so good and gracious vnto mee and freely promised to reward mee so f liberally Psal 19.11 1 Cor. 15.58 Rom. 2.7 Ioh. 12.26 so plentifully euen vvith the riches of glory honour immortalitie and euerlasting life and happinesse in thy kingdome yet not for the worthinesse of my workes but for the merits of my Sauiour for vvhose sake thou crownest what good thing soeuer it pleaseth thee g Heb. 13.21 to worke in me To him together with thee and thy blessed Spirit be all praise and glory now and for euer This world a Prison THis World is the godly mans Prison hee is continually laden with the chaines a Heb. 12.1 of sinne and misery which lye heauy vpon his soule and cause him like a distressed captiue b Rom. 7.23 to sit mourning c Psal 120.5 Rom. 7.24 all the day long and with great earnestnes and vehemencie to call and cry d Rom. 8.21 2 Cor. 5.2.4.8 for reliefe Yea hee is as it were in a darke dungeon e 2 Cor. 5.7 Col. 3.3.4 so that hee cannot see
to turne my feete g Pro. 4.14 from their pathes and to walke before thee in truth and sinceritie and in singlenesse of heart that so whereas they shall euer be wretched and miserable I may haue assurance that I am and shall be blessed both now and euer Amen The godly life the onely happie life ALL things in this life are vaine a Eccle. 1.8.14 and come to nothing riches health beautie strength glorie or whatsoeuer the heart of man can desire or which might seeme to promise vnto men the greatest felicitie happines VVho is so blinde that seeth not how fading and transitorie they are euen those that are of the greatest perfection and excellencie aboue others They haue an end and passe away as if they had neuer beene b Eccle. 1.11 Psal 119.96 But the feare of the Lord indureth for euer c Psal 19.9 Psal 112. True Religion and Godlinesse they abide with vs in life and in death and for euer This is as the tree of life in the Paradise of God vvhich giueth life d Pro. 12.28 22.4 19.23 happinesse to them that delight not onely to tast but also to feede and fill themselues with it This is as it were a cleare fountaine of liuing waters e Ioh. 4.14 vvhich spring vp to euerlasting life and glory in the kingdome of God It crownes a man vvith many graces f Prou. 10 27 Deut 28.3 c. Psal 1.19 and blessings heere and hereafter vvill giue him enterance into the fulnesse and perfection of all blessednesse when all other things shal appeare to be as they are vaine shadowes dreames and fancies that shall satisfie the soule with the abundance and accomplishment of all glorie and happinesse Oh then how great is the folly of those that seeke more after these fading g 1 Cor. 7.31 1. Ioh. 2.27 and perishing things then after that which is farre to be preferred before them that labour more to be h Psal 4.6 rich healthfull strong honourable c. then to be truly religious men fearing God and such as delight to walke conscionably before him in his wayes that striue more to abound in the pleasures profits and preferments of this world which are but as smoke and soone vanish away i Psal 49.17.18.19.20 leauing the owner of them neuer a vvhit the better then in grace and godlinesse which hath the promises of blessednesse both in this life * 1 Tim. 4.8 and in the life to come O LORD indue mee daily more and more with that wisedome which is from aboue discouer vnto me yet more and more the vanitie of all things here below Let me consider how * Psa 82.7 146.3.4 Iob 21.33 Princes the greatest men die and how their fauour and honour fadeth with them let me consider how one generation goeth and k Eccl. 1.4 another commeth and how euen those things which are of greatest perfection * Psal 119.96 and in greatest account amongst men perish come to an end quickly though insensibly to them especially that haue not eyes to discerne the course of them And on the other side cleere my dimmed sight by the cleere shine of thy grace and blessed Spirit that I may behold how great the reward of true Religion and godlinesse is what perfect and constant yea euerlasting blessednesse there is in walking vprightly before thee in the vvayes which thou hast prescribed vnto me that so making a choise of the better part * Luke 10.42 I may be truly blessed of thee both in life and death and for euermore The godly life is the onely comfortable and contented life MAny are afrayd to be religious for feare they should loose the comfort content which before they enioyed in their sinful vanities l Eccl. 11.9 lead a more heauy a dumpish discomfortable life wanting those sweet morsels with vvhich they were wont to glut themselues till they surfetted on them O vain man that so fondly imaginest that thou shalt finde comfort and happinesse vvhere it is not to be found m Eccle. 1.14 and that thou shouldest depriue thy selfe of it by taking that course wherby thou only mightst attaine vnto it n Eccl. 12.13 Why dost thou suffer thine owne heart thus to deceiue thee yea Sathan with his sleights o 2 Cor. 2.11 thus to beguile and delude thee causing thee to follow after shadowes and to let goe the substance euen that onely vvhich can make thee happy thy life comfortable and full of desired sweetnesse whereas now for want of it thou languishest in vaine hopes restles pursuite of that which is elsewhere to be found then thou dreamest yea euen by those very meanes by vvhich thou fearest thou shouldest depriue thy selfe of it Know at length thine errour and learne to get true vnderstanding and a right discerning of those things which concerne thy * Luk. 19.42 peace happinesse The godly life onely it is vvhich is the truly comfortable and contented life If thou wilt not beleeue the Saints of God p Psal 4.4 Rom 5.1 1 Pet. 1. Phil. 11.12 who speake out of their owne experience q Ioh. 3.11 euen those things which they haue felt and tasted of through the Spirit of grace vvhich dwels in them hauing had proofe also of both estates euen that wherein thou who art yet a carnall and vnregenerate man now art as also of that wherin through the mercy of God they now stand being sanctified and regenerate by the Spirit of God and such as vvould not returne to their former estate wherin thou liuest nor exchange theâ—r present comforts for their former â—aâ—ities though they might haue I say not with Balaam r Num. 12.28 a house full of Gold and Siluer but the whole world yea tenne thousand worlds if it might be If thou wilt not I say beleeue these vvho notwithstanding ought to be credited being well acquainted with those things vvhich they testifie yet beleeue God himselfe vvho hath sayd and sealed it in those diuine Oracles for a certaine and vndoubted truth vvhich none except hee vvill proclaime himselfe to bee a profest Atheist one vvhich denies God and his Word which is of infallible truth dare euer denie or once call into question in any sort viz. that the life of the wicked is nothing but vanitie and s Eccles 1. miserie they being like a restlesse and raging Sea t Isa 57.20 vvhich casts out mire and dirt continually their fearâ—s and sorrowes v Iob 15.21 being many and the euils x Psal 32.10 vvhich attend vpon them infinite the godly on the other side ful of comfort heauenly solace peace y Prou. 24 20. Rom. 5.1.14.17 Psal 97.11 Pro. 15.15 Phil. 4.4 ioy and much sweetnesse such as none know nor can conceiue of but they that haue tasted of it z 1 Pet. 2.3 and which after they haue once tasted