for vs in Heauen Let vs not be like the foolish Iewes who loued the place of their banishment in Babel better then their Home Now our life is hid with God in Christ and wee know not yet what wee shall be but wee know when hee shall appeare wee shall be like him The Lord shall carry vs by his Mercie and bring vs by his Strength into the holy Habitation He shall plant vs in the Mountaine of his Inheritance euen the Place which hee hath prepared and Sanctuarie which hee hath established Then euerlasting ioy shall be vpon our head and sorrow mourning shall flie from vs for euer The Lord strengthen our Faith that through these mystie clouds of Affliction which now compasse vs wee may see that comfortable end which God in his Word hath discouered vnto vs. So that this Seâ—d thus prolonged and carryed for a long season is nothing else but Tentations continuing and succeeding one after another one still following vpon another But what is the end of this continuance euen this that they shall possesse eternall ioy and felicitie As the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes doth notably declare Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous Heb. 12.11 but grieuous here you heare of Teares neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousnesse vnto them that are exercised thereby Here you heare that they shall returne with ioy Albeit then that this Seed is prolonged and deferred yet it is not so for euer but the ioy that shall follow is euerlasting Thus the Kingdome of Christ consisteth not in the power and riches of the World but in eternall Redemption which wee must attayne vnto through great Afflictions and infinite Crosses wherein notwithstanding wee are supported by the Word and Prayer vntill we come to the fulnesse of our saluation in the Kingdome of Heauen Therefore euery day should we gird vp our Loynes remembring that Warning which the Angell gaue to Eliah as most pertinent vnto vs Arise and walke thou hast yet a great Iourney to goe 1. Kin. 19.7 Of the children of God sayth Theophilactus some are at home in their owne Countrey some are in the Iourney homeward but woe vnto them who are neyther in their owne Countrey neyther in the way vnto it We are not therefore to settle our selues here as if wee had no â—urther to goe but must walke forward through this valley of teares from strength to strength till at last we appeare before the face of God in Sion Wee are still detayned in Egypt wee haue not yet obtayned the Land of Promise Psal 84.7 How then shall I sing the Songs of the Lord in a strange Land Wee are not yet past the Red Sea nor the waste Wildernesse nor the fierie Serpents what shall we doe but water our Couch night and day with teares and with feare and trembling walke on the rest of the way which yet is before vs Seeing our life is walking take heed wee keepe the right way And seeing we are in a Iourney let vs take heed that wee keepe the way otherwise our life shall be a wandring from God not a walking toward God The way is Christ I am the way Iohn 14.6 if we abide in it we shall walke with God as Enoch did before God as Abraham did toward God as Dauid did O happy turne wherein Christ is both the End the Way and the Guide Let vs walke after Christ Bernard because hee is the Truth let vs walke toward Christ because hee is the Life If yee looke to the companies of men in the World yee shall see some in stead of following Christ flying from him for he who doth euill hateth the Light Others where they should follow him runne before him not waiting vpon his Light and Direction in matters of his Worship but follow their owne Spirit doing that which is good in their owne eyes they runne with zeale but not in the right way And we haue so much the more to take heede vnto the way For he that walketh after the flesh shall at length encounter with death Gal. 6.8 because euery mans course declareth what kinde of man hee is whether carnall or spirituall and what will be his End Hee that soweth to the Flesh of the Flesh shall reape corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting I am perswaded there is no man among vs who will not say hee would be at the best end which is eternall Life But here is the wonderfull folly of Men the proposed end of their Pilgrimage whereat they would be is Heauen but the way wherein they walke is the way that leadeth close to Hell Who will not esteeme him a Foole who in word sayth his Iourney is toward the South and yet for no mans warning will refraine his feet from walking toward the North but more foolish is hee who professing himselfe a Pilgrim trauelling towards heauenly Ierusalem keepes notwithstanding a contrarie course hauing his backe vpon Heauen and his face toward Hell walking not after the Spirit but after the Flesh O pittifull Blindnesse and Folly How many Witnesses of God haue forewarned thee in thy life all crying to thee with a lowd voyce This way wherein thou walkest O sinfull man is the way of Death Hee who liues after the Flesh shall die assuredly Yet wilt thou not returne nor change the course of thy life to walke after the liuing God that thou mayest be saued And hauing once found the right way Three profitable helps of a godly life which may leade vs vnto God let vs strengthen our selues to walke in it by those three most notable helpes of a godly Life deliuered vnto vs by the Prophet Dauid in three Verses of the 119. Psalme Psal 119. Verse 57. O Lord I haue determined to keepe thy Word 58. I haue made my Supplication in thy presence with my whole heart 59. I haue considered my wayes and turned my feet vnto thy Testimonies 1. Determination Determination is the first It is a good thing by settled resolution to conclude with thy selfe that thou wilt liue godly 2. Supplication Supplication is the second Except by continuall Prayer our Determination bee confirmed and strengthened by grace from God our conclusion which wee take to day shall vanish tomorrow 3. Consideration Consideration is the third and it is profitable to reduce vs againe into the way of God so often as of weakenesse we wander from it contrarie to our first determination These are the three helpes to keepe our heart in the way of God so necessarie that if without them wee doe any worke it is not possible but wee shall be snared And therefore as in a Ship which is readie to sayle so soone as the Sayles are hoysed vp presently some skilfull Mariner starts to the Rudder so euery morning wherein wee rise from our rest and make our selues
vs feele the fruit of it 400. Fiue godly Prayers 412 Preseruation Wee must remember the manner how God hath preserued vs in body soule 34. The end thereof to bee remembred in eight respects 35 c. Preaching Is a great blessing to them that enioy it 38 Presence See Trouble Preuaile See Enemies and Faithfull Pride Pride an horrible euill 70.71 A proud man his owne punishment 74. The miserable condition of a proud man 75. The difference betweene sinnes of pride and infirmity 77. Women exhorted to shun it 81 Professors Cold professors reproued 321 Promise We ought to be mindfull and credulous of Gods promises 41 c. Psalmes The Booke of Psalmes are an Epitome of the Bible 1. VVherefore these three expounded in this Booke are called Psalmes of Degrees 2. They are excellent Platformes of Prayer and Thankesgiuing 3. The Argument of the 124. Psalme 4. The Argument of the 125. Psalme 133. The Argument of of the 126. Psalme 258 Q. QVestion Three obiections or questions answered First what the reason is why the godly are neuer ouerthrowne 50. Secondly how it can be proued they still ouercome seeing they are often put to death by their persecutors 53. c. The third whether one that is elected may liue as he list 275 R. RAge See Church Reason Many walke crooked waies of humane reason 245 Redemption The reprobate hath no part in redemption 270. VVe must glorifie God continually for our redemption 276. The Meditation of our redemption is necessary in many respects 277. c. VVe must pray for our Redemption 306 Religion It is not in vaine to be religious 150. A true triall of Religion 25 Repentance Remembrance of Gods iudgements on others hastens it 92. As sinne is a falling so repentance is a rising 234. Repentance is a first death a first resurrection and first ascention 235. It is a worke of diuine power 236. It is no lesse miraculous then the raising of the dead 236 Reuolt See Backward S. SAluation The means apointed to attain saluation must be vsed of those that expect it 129 243 275. Mens folly herein 380 Sathan The prerogatiue of Sathan 309. Hee hath no power ouer vs but what God permits 398 Sauiour See Christ Seruice Seruice to God and Sinne diuersly performed by the godly 108. It is not in vaine to serue the Lord. 150 Sinne. Comfort for sinning after Repentance 205. It is dangerous to liue in knowne sinnes 217. Comfort for such as are grieued for their sinnes 219. Seruice to Sinne and God diuersly performed by the godly 108. In temptations to sinne what we must doe 123. A purpose not to sinne the marke of a sanctified heart 214. The secure sinner the greatest sinner 232. There is no rest for a sinner till hee returne to God 239. We are to shun occasions of sinne 249. We should not despaire for our sinne 250. We must beware of falling into sinne againe 251. Our manyfold sinnes are causes of inward mourning 371 Soule See Preseruation Snare The perils of the godly compared to a Snare 94. Our life lyes open to Sathans Snares from which God deliuers vs 99. and from the Snares of the vngodly 109 Speculation See Knowledge Spirit To the godly the Spirit of God is a Seale and Signet shewing they belong to God 103. The wicked doe not receiue the fruits of the Spirit ibid. Why the Lord in this life giues vs the first fruits of the Spirit and not the principall 104. Sathans darts may afflict the Flesh but cannot surmount the Spirit 173. The state of those that haue receiued the first fruits of the Spirit 306. The testimonie of it is not alwayes receiued in a like measure 311 Suffering Three things required to make our suffering a suffering with Christ 338 Superstition Many walke in the crosse wayes of superstition 244 Supplication an helpe to godly conuersation 382 384 T. TEares God is though men are not moued to mercy by teares 354 Temptations are Sathans snares laid to intrap vs 95. The godly endures great temptations 96. Comfort against Sathans temptations 165. Neither inward nor outward temptations can hurt the godly 166. God deliuers them from all temptations 183 184. yet they are subiect to many 324. which cause in them inward mourning 372. Wee must pray to God to helpe vs in them 373. the fruits of them 375 376. they last but a little time 355 Thanksgiuing Publique thanksgiuing after deliuerance required 15. Application of it to the Gun-powder Treason 16 17. In what sort wee should be thankefull for our deliuerance from that Treason 20. A godly prayer or thanksgiuing for our deliuerie from it 412 Time How time posts away 318. Time a most precious Iewell 319. How the time of the day should be spent 320 Tongue Miserable are those that bend their tongues against the godly 348. See Heart Traditions The traditions of the Pope are burthens to mens Consciences 301 Treason See Deliuerance and Thanksgiuing Triall Christs Members militant and triumphant not to be tryed by one Rule 106 Troubles The best triall of Religion 25. God deliuers his from all troubles 60 111. The godly glory in them 65. God the best helpe and first to be sought to in them 65 66. We see three things in them better then in prosperitie 98. God deliuers his out of them by his presence 113. and God preserues vs in them 196. The remembrance of Gods gifts a great comfort in them 269 Trust In God are all things fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust 140. The happinesse of such as trust in God 136. To trust in him is the greatest seruice we can doe him 145. He compasseth such as trust in him in all their troubles 165 Truth Some walke in the detestable and damnable wayes of wilfull spurning against the truth 246 V. VIgilancie Gods vigilancie ouer his 172 Vngodly The state of the vngodly accursed 153 Vnmercifull God preserues his from being hurt of the vnmercifull 166 Voluptuousnesse Many walke in the filthie myrie wayes of voluptuousnesse c. 246 Vowes Solemne Vowes a Christian dutie 8 W. VVAyes Many by-wayes beaten by many 243 We must be carefull we keepe the right way 378 385 Wants Gods children should not be discouraged with the sense and feeling of their owne wants 100. No comfort belongs to the wicked in the feeling of their wants 101 Welfare Gods prouidence the cause of our welfare 39 99 Wicked What the wicked are to the godly 87. Gods Iudgements on the wicked to be remembred and taken heed of 88 89 Women See Pride Word They are happy that delight in Gods Word 388 Workes See Accomplishment Worldling Different courses of the Christian and Worldling worth noting 329 Wrath. What wee are to doe in temptations of Gods wrath 123 FINIS Faults escaped in Printing Page 26. line 20 read had p. 45. l. 14. r. can p. 193. l. 9. r. or p â—06 l 1. r all the dayes of Iehoâ—ada p. 258. l. 10. r. people p. 283. l. 15. r. so we p. 314. l. 4. r. prayer p. 325. l. 7. r. is p. 347. l. 15. r. purpose
them downe to hell and deliuered them into chaynes of darkenesse to be reserued vnto Iudgement Secondly his iudgements on men Remember Lots wife Luk. 17.32 and how hee spared not the olde world 2. Pet. 2.5 bringing in a Floud vpon the world of the vngodly how hee turned the Cities of Sodome and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an ouerthrow and all to make them an example vnto those that after should liue vngodly Euen so the Lord knoweth how to reserue the vniust vnto the day of Iudgement to be punished 2. Pet. 2.9 10. chiefely those that walke after the flesh in the lust of vncleanenesse and despise gouernement c. Thus when Pharaoh hardened his heart against God Psal 136. the Lord caused the Red Sea to ouerthrow him 1 Sam. 15. When Saul grew rebellious and disobedient the Lord reiects him Acts 12.23 When Herod waxeth proud the Lord caused the very woormes to deuoure him When Caine played the vile hypocrites part the Lord makes him of a Prince Gen. 4. a Vagabond and a runagate vpon the face of the earth Mat. 27. When Iudas playes the hypocrite and prooues a villainous Traytor the Lord suffers him to despayre and make away himselfe When Ananias and Saphira lye vnto the holy Ghost Acts 5. they are both smitten with present death Thus if wee will seriously remember Gods iudgements for such and such sinnes euery forewarning will be a good forearming of our selues against all the sinnes of wicked and vngodly men The consideration whereof should moue vs to hasten our repentance not to liue in sinne any longer but to walke circumspectly in this present world Ephes 5.15 16. and redeeme the time because the dayes are so euill and to cease from sinne by the example of our Sauiour Christ and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world 1. Pet. 4.1 and to shun the paths of the wicked Iam. 1.27 not communicating with them in their sinnes Reuel 18.4 least wee be partakers with them in their plagues We must take heede Ioh. 5.14 and sinne no more lest worse things happen to vs. We mvst preserue our selues from sinne and watch lest that day come vpon vs vnawares and so finding vs vnprepared wee perish in our sinnes for looke how the day of death leaueth vs so shall the day of iudgement finde vs. As Salomon speaketh Eccles 1.3 Looke how the tree falleth so it lyeth This is a dutie indeede both befitting the times wherein wee liue as also best beseeming not onely our Christian Profession but an holy conuersation also which appeares in nothing more than in ceasing to doe euill and rising vp to newnesse of life and therefore as being the onely and principall duetie required Paul perswadeth it chiefely saying Phil. 1.28 Onely let your conuersation bee as it becommeth the Gospell of Christ Now wee cannot adorne the Gospell more then by preseruing our selues from the wayes of sinne and keeping our selues in the wayes of God neyther can we disgrace the Gospell more than by forsaking the wayes of God and liuing in our sinnes Verse 6. Our soule is escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler the snare is broken and wee are escaped THe Prophet amplifieth yet further by a third similitude the great perils and dangers of the faithfull being in the hands of their enemies as a bird that is taken in the snare is in the hands of the Fowler and yet notwithstanding they escape by the mightie power of God Euery tentation is a snare whether it be of the flesh or of the spirit persecutions torments imprisonment slander diseases and infirmities of the body bee snares which as they are permitted of God to exercise and strengthen our faith so by the malice of Sathan they are wrought to afflict and vexe Man that hee may bring them to infideltie and desperation and so into the snares of eternall death from the which snares but by the speciall grace of God there is no way to escape therefore saith Salomon Pro. 3.26 The Lord shall bee for thy confidence hee shall support and sustaine thy hope he shall encourage and establish thy heart and shall keepe thy foote from taking because it is an olde custome for the wicked to lay snares and spreade nets for the feet of the godly and as common a thing as for Fowlers and Hunters to set snares and traps for birds and beasts therefore the Lord doth graciously deliuer his from being taken in the same and when he himselfe doth lay his nets and his ginnes for the vngodly he will most prouidently take order that his owne be not intangled therein The like Allegory is vsed by the Prophet for the same purpose Psal 91.3 Surely hee shall deliuer thee from the snare of the Fowler and from the noysome pestilence True godlinesse will endure great tontations True godlinesse endureth great tentations euen as trees well rooted abides the blastes of strong windes and gold that is fine abides the tryall of fire Many wayes was Dauid tempted and among the rest the wicked by troupes and multitudes combinde themselues against him yet did he not forsake the Lawe of the Lord. Hereby may wee discerne a sanctified crosse from a cursed The crosse which makes thee better then thou wast how sharpe soeuer it bee if it worke a correction in thee thou mayst bee sure it is a blessing It is commonly in the mouths of many when they are in trouble we must thanke God for his correction But alas how can that be called a correction which corrects thee not if thou bee not corrected with Dauid thou hast matter of griefe in thy trouble but none of Ioy and so canst not say with Dauid Psal 119. it is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted Affliction in it one nature is euill being a punishment of sinne but the Lord who changed the bitter waters of Marah and made them sweete vnto Israell hath also changed to his children the nature of the crosse that not onely they find comfort in it but most happy effects are wrought in them by it And this being a prerogatiue of Gods children namely that euill shall be turned to their good as good to euill to the wicked be be not dismayed in afflictions but comfort thy selfe in the Lord thy God and in this that the prsent affliction tendeth vnto and endeth in good because it brings foorth the fruites of vnfeigned righteousnesse 3. things we see in trouble better then in prosperitie In trouble we see three things better then in prosperity First how prouident mercifull true the Lord is Secondly how weake miserable our selues are Thirdly how false and changeable the world is besides all these it is an effâ—ctuall meanes whereby the Lord beates downe the pride of nature and humbles for our sins Hagar was prowde and blinde in Abrahams house but in the wildernesse shee is
humbled and beginnes to looke to the Lord. Israel learned not to mourne vntill they were sent to Babell Ionas 1.5 Ionas sleepes in the shippe but wakes and prayes in the Whales belly Blessed is the man whom the Lord correcteth therefore refuse not the chastisement of the Almightie for tribulation bringeth foorth patience patience experience Rom. 5.4 5. experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Thus our life lyeth open alwayes to the snares of Sathan and wee as silly byrdes are like at euery moment to bee carryed away notwithstanding the Lord maketh a way for vs to escape yea when Sathan seemeth to bee most sure of vs by the mighty power of God the snares are broken and wee are deliuered experience hereof wee haue in those which are inwardly afflicted and with heauinesse of spirite grieuously oppressed that when they seeme to bee in vtter dispayre and ready now as you would say to perish yet euen at the last pinch and in the vttermost extremitie commeth the sweete comfort of Gods holy Spirit and rayseth them vp againe when we are most ready to perish then is God most readie to helpe Psal 94.17 Except the Lord had holpen mee sayth Dauid my soule had almost dwelt in silence The vse of this is to comfort the children of God who are often discouraged with the sense and feeling of their owne wants it is one of Sathans stratagems to try those by the rule of perfection who are yet in the state of proficients and wee had neede to beware of it Shall I giue that vantage to the aduersary as to thinke I haue no faith because it is but in a beginning or I haue no loue because it is little No but I will so hunger and thirst for more grace that I will still giue thanks for the grace I haue receyued for here wee haue no fulnesse our greatest measures is as the first fruites in respect of that which is to come One the other side because euery comfort which is giuen to the godly is turnd by profane contemners and workers into an occasion and nourishment of sinne This comfort vainely abused by profane men they are to know this comfort belongs not vnto them it is a common thing to them to excuse the want of grace O it is but a small grace which in this life is communicated to the best and they thinke their sinnes are well enough couered by this that all men are sinners as if there were no difference betweene sinne tyrannizing in the wicked and captiued in the godly or as beginning of grace in the regenerate did not separate them in regard of conuersation from the vnregenerate who are voyd of all grace Let vs therefore know that the Spirit of God whom the godly receiue is not onely called the first the earnest and the witnesse of God but also the seale and signet of the liuing God As the seale leaueth in the Waxe the similitude and impression of the forme which is it selfe so the spirite of God communicateth his owne image to all those to whom he seales against the day of redemption hee makes them new and holy creatures and this conuinceth carnall professors of a lye who say they haue receiued the first fruits of the spirite notwithstanding that their workes bee wicked and vncleane they may rather if they would tell the truth say as those who beeing demaunded whether they had receiued the holy Ghost or no answered Act. 19.2 Wee know not whether there bee an holy Ghost or no so may they instead of bragging of the first fruites of the spirite say in truth wee know not what yee call the first fruite of the Spirits Why the Lord giues vs not in this life the principall as well as the earnest And thirdly out of this description wee may gather that albeit wee haue no more but the first fruites of the Spirite yet are they sufficient to assure vs that hereafter wee shall enioy the whole masse in two respects It is accustomable to men to giue an earnest penny in buying and selling either when the summe is greater then they are able to pay for the present or when the thing bought is of that nature that it cannot presently bee deliuered but betweene the Lord and vs there is no buying nor selling hee giueth freely vnto vs both the Earnest and the Principall but first the one and then the other Not that the Lord is vnable to pay presently all that hee hath promised but because the Principall is of that nature that it cannot bee receiued till wee bee prepared for it 2. Tim. 2.6 As the Husbandman must sowe and tarrie with patience till the Haruest come as the VVarriour must fight before hee obtayne the Victorie and the Wrastler receiues not his Crowne till he haue ouercome neyther doth hee that runnes a Race obtayne the Prize till hee haue finished it So must the Christian bee exercised in all these before that the Lord possesse him in the promised Kingdome of his Sonne Christ Iesus Christs meÌ„bers militaÌ„t and triumphant are not to be tried by one Rule And this againe doe we marke for the comfort of the weake conscience it is Sathans subtletie whereby commonly hee disquiets many that because carnall corruption is in them hee would therefore beare them in hand that they are none of Christs in this hee playes the Deceiuer hee tryes vs by the wrong rule when hee tryes vs by the rule of perfect sanctification this is the square that ought to be layd to Christs members triumphant in Heauen and not to those who are militant here on Earth Sinne remayning in mee will not prooue that therefore I am not in Christ otherwise Christ should haue no members vpon Earth but Grace working that new disposition which Nature could neuer effect prooues vndoubtedly that we are in Christ Iesus Let this therefore be our comfort There is fleshly corruption in the Christian militant but he followes it nâ—â— That albeit there be in vs a fleshly corruption yet thankes be to God we walke not after it that is wee follow not willingly the direction and commaundement thereof It is true and alas wee finde it by experience that the regenerate man may be led captiue for a time to the Law of Sinne hee may be pulled perforce out of the way of Gods Commandements wherein hee delights to walke and compelled to doe those thinges which hee would not Yet euen at that same time hee disclaymes the gouernment of the Flesh mourning and lamenting within himselfe that hee should bee drawne from the obedience of his owne Lord and Gouernour the Spirit Iesus 〈◊〉 seruice 〈◊〉 Christiâ—◠〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 is â—hrowâ—e not by Oppression like that Israel gaue to Pharoah Exod. 56. And indeede it is worthie to be marked That what euer seruice the regenerate man giues vnto Sinne it is like the seruice that Israel gaue to Pharoah in Egypt throwne out by Oppression and therefore
hee calleth hee iustifieth whome hee iustifieth hee glorifieth The gift and calling of God is without repentance My sheep heare my voyce and follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish Iohn 20.27 28.29 neither shall any man take them out of my hands And the reason is we beare not the roote but the root beares vs our saluatiō depends not vpon our selues for then indeed we were in danger to fall away euery moment of an houre but it dependeth vpon him because we are in him through him we grow and increase yea the older we be in Christ the more do we fasten our roote and floorish they which are planted in the courts of the Lord shall florish in their old age and bring forth much fruite Vse And whereas other branches are many times pulled from their stocke either by the violence of the winde by the hands of men or at least consumed by length of time it shall not be so with them that are in Christ for they are kept by him as the root bearing branches Because I am not altered nor changed therefore are you not consumed O yee sonnes of Iacob and therefore right happy is the state of that man who is in Christ Iesus For neither life nor death things present Rom. 8.18 nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God And this comfort is confirmed to vs by most sure arguments Arguments to proue a Christians perseueranee Phil. 1.6 The first is taken from the nature of almighty God he is faithfull which hath promised And I am perswaded saith the Apostle Rom. 6.9 that he who hath begun this good worke will performe it vntill the day of Christ Iesus The second is taken from the nature of that life which Christ communicateth to his members We know that Christ being raysed from the dead dyeth no more This life of Christ is communicated to vs so that it is not wee that liue in Christ but Christ in vs. The third is taken from the nature of that Seed whereof wee are begotten 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Wee are borne anew not a mortall Seede but of immortall Now as the Seed is so is the life that comes by that Seed Our life therefore must needes be immortall This confuteth a damnable Doctrine of the Papists who hold and reach That a man elected called iustified and sanctified may for euer fall away and bee damned that he which to day is the deare child of God to morrow may become the child of the Deuill to day a member of Christ to morrow a Limbe of the Deuill to day an heire of saluation to morrow an heire of damnation Now what Doctrine can be more deuillish and vncomfortable this is nothing else but to set vp a Gibbet to torment the poore soules of Gods children to ouerthrow the nature of Faith to make God feeble and weake 2. Pet. 1.10 Psal 15. or foolish and vnwise which is manifest Blasphemy But we see here the Word of God tells vs this cannot be Rom 8.1 8.35 for what shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Nothing This may serue to reproue another sort of men who are ready to abuse this Doctrine Tush sayth the carnall and loose Christian it skils not how a man liues whether well or ill he that is elected and is a member of Christ shall be saued and he that is reiected shall be damned though he liue neuer so well Therefore they take libertie to sinne and make no conscience of any sinne whatsoeuer But they must know that God decrees a man as well to the meanes as to the end and it is impossible a man should be elected and called but he must liue well so he that is not elected called cannot liue well And it is all one as if a man should neuer eate or drinke and yet hope to liue and like well or lying in the fire or water and vsing no meanes to come out should not perish But wee must know that the end and the means must goe together and for a man to neglect or reiect the means it is in vaine for him to hope to be saued for if thou belong vnto God thou shalt in time be called and sanctified and where this worke is not yet alreadie wrought that man is as yet in the state of damnation Our helpe is in the name of the Lord. Here is matter of endlesse comfort to euery child of God that truly repents beleeues in Iesus Christ that howsoeuer throgh the malice of Sathan the temptation of the Deuill the alluremēts of the world and the corruption of our flesh we may grieuously sin fall Rom. 8.1 yet there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ the gates that is Matth. 16.18 al the power of Hell shal not preuaile against vs. If euer thou foūdst the sound work of grace in thee thou foundst Iesus Christ to dwell in thy hart by faith so that thou hatest all sin desirest in all things to please God though Sathan rage storme and all the gates of Hel rise vp against thee yet thou mayest comfort thy selfe in the Lord and say with Paul There is no condemnation to me that am in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thou mayest triumph with Paul and say Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen And if God be with vs who can be against vs. And againe I am perswaded nothing can seuer me from the loue of God in Christ Iesus no not sinne nor death it selfe Oh happie then and blessed is the estate of that man who is in Christ neyther life nor death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God PSALME 125. They that put their trust in the Lord c. THe Psalme going before is a Thanks-giuing The argument of the Psalme or a Sacrifice of Prayse because the godly see and by experience feele that the Lord is faithfull and helpeth them in the time of need This Psalme following contayneth also in a manner the same matter for it pertayneth to the Doctrine of Faith and exhorteth the faithfull likewise to a sure trust and affiance in the helpe of the Lord in all their necessities whereunto hee stirreth them vp with great and excellent promises It may also easily bee vnderstood by that which wee haue said before for like as God maketh all things of nothing and of Darkenesse Light so hee worketh by his Word that in Death there is nothing but Life They then which sticke to the Word and Promise of God and follow the same doe finde it true which Dauid sayth Hee spake the Word and it was done But before wee can come to this experience we must abide some trouble and therefore haue need of such exhortation as this Psalme here setteth forth Verse 1. They that put their trust in the Lord
all outward things to his hearts wish Zacheus had mercy enough when saluation was come to his house hee neuer got so fast before as now he forgoes restores he was neuer compassed with mercy till now though he was a great rich man neuer so rich as now when he was impouerishing himselfe to entertaine Christ in his house and heart Iacob when he saw Iosephs face his best beloued Son now saith he I haue enough let me now dye seeing I haue seene my sonne Iosephs face how much more shall we haue enough to see the face of the well-beloued Sonne of God yea and God himselfe in that wel-beloued one appeased and fully pacified Simeon hauing seen Christ with his eyes and held him in his armes Now Lord said he let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seen thy saluatiō but to see christ by the eye of faith hold him in our hearts will make death much more welcome to vs we shal think we haue enough the sweet sense of it will frame the mouth to speake plentifully of it as our Prophet doth in this place neither can any good heart either lightly account or speake slenderly of such a mercy neither content it selfe with slight meanes to get it or with superficial phrases in holding it In a word if once wee can claspe hold on this mercy of God in pardoning our sinnes we could desire euen to liue no longer in this world were it not to come to a more full sense fruition of it Where hee addeth from henceforth and for euer by rhese words he sheweth that this vigilancy of the Lord our God ouer vs is not temporall but eternall according to that which he sayd before in the first verse of this Psalme they shall remaine for euer Let vs learne therfore out of this Psalme that our constancy and perseurance consisteth in this that we are defended by the power and prouidence of the Lord on euery side Verse 3. For the rodde of the vngodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put their hand vnto wickednesse HEre the Prophet plainly decalreth that the people which rest vnder this defence and protection are afflicted and subiect to all miseries and calamities as touching the flesh although they be compassed about with high and mighty mountaines as touching the spirit as Sathan can neuer surmount yet touching the flesh and the old man they lye open on euery side to the darts of Sathan and of the world for God by these means will afflict and exercise the flesh that sinne and the foolishnesse of the flesh may be mortified in them and that spirituall wisedome and the inward man may increase this is the cause why we are according to the flesh as a broken hedge and as a citie Whose walles are cast downe and so lyeth open to the enemy on euery side Hereof cometh intollerable blasphemyes cruell torments and bloody slaughters of the Saints of God for the flesh hath no walles no munitions to defend it but the spirite therefore the flesh is in danger to all stormes and tempests as the Prophet Esay sayth which haue sayd vnto thy soule bow downe that we may go ouer thou hast layd the body as the ground and as the street to them that went ouer These afflictions wee must needes suffer and by patience ouercome them and withall we must beware that by these outward afflictions the inward man be not weakened or ouercome resting in the assured hope and trust that the Lord will neuer forsake vs but that wee are in the bosome of the Father and are closed within most sure and strong holds so that now although our goods our Wiues our Children yea our liues also be taken from vs yet wee shall neuer bee spoyled of our Christ by whom we are so surely defended that in the middest of all our tentations hee will make a way for vs to escape or else giue vs strength to beare them Blessed is the Man who indureth tentation Iam. 1.12 for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him Thus wee see what consolations the holy Ghost setteth forth vnto them which beleeue the word for vnto such as looke for a better life then this is all things are here full of calamities and miseries death followeth death as Saint Paul saith and we continually die one temptation followeth another vntill at the length by the death of the flesh all miseries shall cease and haue an end This verse therfore admonisheth vs that wee must suffer many troubles yet so that at length wee shall be safe and set at libertie from them although not in this life yet in the life to come as this verse full of consolation doth promise vs. Notwithstanding this promise seemeth incredible both to vs which suffer and also to them which persecute and aflict vs for if wee behold the same with our outward eyes what can be more false yea the contrary seemeth to bee most true behold our Sauiour Christ was hee not so forsaken hanging vpon the Crosse that the rod or scepter of the wicked rested vpon him did it not rest likewise vpon the Prophets the Apostles and orher holy Martyrs this matter then if we consider it with our outward eyes hath another meaning then the words doe import for they promise that the Scepter of the wicked shall haue no power ouer the godly and yet all Stories and examples doe testifie the contrarie therefore the holy Ghost calleth vs backe to the purpose and counsell of God reuealed in his word and commaundeth vs to weigh and consider not what we suffer but what is decreed with the Lord in heauen and he that can so sequester himselfe from the beholding of his afflictions and tentatfons and yeelde himselfe wholy to the will of God and there rest is a right diuine yea hee that is ignorant hereof in true diuinitie knoweth nothing at all for what knoweth he which is ignorant that God is such a God as will not suffer the godly to bee oppressed of the wicked For seeing he hath said I am the Lord thy God he will neuer suffer that which is his owne to bee wrested either by the world or by the gates of hell out of his hands if he then abide and continue they shall also continue for euer which are his Thus to beleeue and thus to lay hold on things inuisible is true diuinitie and true spirituall wisedome indeed Whereupon we may ground this proposition out of the inuisible counsell of God God hateth the wicked and loueth the iust ergo he will damne and destroy the wicked and will deliuer and saue the iust And heere we see that which is the chiefest thing in all Psalmes and Prophets to spring out of the first precept I am the Lord thy God Now haue we to learne how wee may apply this verse rightly and to our great comfort for
things of nothing that he is carefull of vs and for vs whether we be afflicted in the flesh or in the spirit and that he is more mindfull of our deliuerance then we our selues can be Here haue wee then a singular promise and consolation as if he should say the rodde of the wicked grieueth you but be of good comfort my people and patiently endure it for I will not suffer the tentation so farre to preuayle ouer you that your confidence and trust in me shall vtterly fayle you stormes and tempests shall arise and your dangers shall seeme so great as though the waues should presently swallow you vp but I will not suffer you to perish I will bridle their rage and make an end of the rodde of the wicked If Sathan and your owne Conscience doe accuse you as most wicked and vnrighteous yet will I not leaue you destitute of my righteousnesse Thus doe Tentations teach vs the true vse and meaning of the first Commandement the which none without Afflictions and Tentations shall rightly know or vnderstand Hereby the Prophet will teach vs that our Afflictions are but short and endures but a while The rodde of the wicked shall not lye for euer vpon the backe of the righteous The time of our trouble in holy Scripture is called sometime a Day of Triall and sometimes an Houre of Tentation As our Sauiour said to the three Disciples Mat. 26.40 Can yee not watch with mee one houre so may he say to vs all as oft as wee faint vnder trouble Can ye not suffer with me one houre It was the comfort that Athanasius gaue to the Church in his time that Iulian should be but a stormie little Cloud that would quickly passe by And it is certainely true both of the troubles and of all the instruments thereof Let vs waite a while on our God with patience and wee shall see them no more Therefore seeing the vse of afflictions and sorrowes of the godly is but for a time to exercise their faith and patience and therefore cannot be perpetuall for when the tryall is ouer the burthen must bee remooued The time of Winter is bitter and barren and cold through Frosts and Stormes but besides that it is profitable for the Earth and Plants to kill Weedes and Wormes and to mellow and rot the Ground it is a forerunner of a pleasant spring and a fruitfull haruest such is the state of the godly often here Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse sometimes departs further off and leaues the beleeuer in a wintrous estate laid open to many stormes and sad showers but besides that all this winter prepares the soyle and kils the weeds and vermine of the soule it goes before an happie spring and haruest which wil bring in fruits of righteousnesse to those that are exercised I goe away for a while and ye shall be sorrowfull but I will come againe and your heart shall reioyce and your ioy shall none take away Here is then first of all a notable ground of patience in sorowes The rod of the wicked shall not lye for euer vpon the backe of the righteous And seeing God hath set the time how long they shall last and shall not exceed the appointed time This should alwayes learne vs patience yea hee hath not onely set a time of duration but also of exchanging thy sorrowes into ioy Art thou in any trouble or vnder any molestation of Satan Are wicked men vnder reproch scandall hatred persecution c it is a storme too violent to last long nay it shall bee changed into a calme into a faire and comfortable season Suppose thou bee in the Night of disgrace blacked and darkened by wicked ones as Dauid was Suppose thou haue things layd to thy charge that thou neuer knewest and art forced to repay that which thou neuer tookest yet wait still the good time after thou hast endured a little scowring all the soyle will tend to thy brightnesse and the time comes that God will make thy innocencie to breake out as the light Art thou sicke in thy Soule or pained in thy Bodie and seest no way but present Death wait the time and thou shalt meete not onely with perfect cure but perfect health also onely see thou makest Christ thy Physician God had appointed a time of Abrahams tryall for three dayes but the third day turned his sorrow into ioy in which hee had the comfort both of his sonne and his owne obedience Ionas had his appointed time of sorrow in the belly of Hell in the bottome of the Sea when hee was cast out of sight but at the end of three dayes hee was cast on the dry ground and his sorrowes and feares were turned into ioy and prayses The Theefe on the Crosse was euen in the hands of death his paines and sorrowes encreasing as hee felt his life decreasing how did our blessed Sauiour comfort him and support him with patience but with this assurance that the end was comming and a time appointed which should instantly turne that shame and sorrow into glorie and ioy This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Lazarus was not onely in the hands but in the House of Death foure dayes yet a time was appointed euen the fourth day wherein the bands of Death were to be loosed and hee restored to his former life And thus shall it be with all the Disciples of Christ whose troubles shall not last alwayes the longest they can last is but for this life and while they doe last they haue the comfort of both those Petitions of Christ first That the Father would keepe them in the World and secondly that after they be safely passed through the World and the troubles and disgrace of it They may be where himselfe is Iohn 17.24 to behold his glory This serues to comfort the godly in their troubles that they shall be preserued in them and from them The Gates of Hell shall not preuaile against them First Sathan the red Dragon may create them trouble so that they shall want no molestation that hee can procure them but hee cannot hinder their deliuerance nor without leaue hinder their peace no nor touch an haire of their head Secondly the wicked of the World will see they want no tryals or vexation but on the contrary God will see they shall not want seasonable deliuerance hee will not leaue him in his hand And although such is their inbred malice that they would neuer take off their Rods from the backes of the godly yet God will not suffer the Rod of the vngodly alway to lye on the lot of the righteous Thirdly Psal 37.8 if their owne sinnes beset them hard and so dismay them as though they should neuer get freedome And this is the strongest band of all which tyeth them to trouble and all other troubles were but a play so that the heart were perswaded of the pardon of Sinne as the Saints in sicknesse of Conscience
fauour and the losse of their owne soules let vs not deceiue our selues Let vs try our hearts by this rule whether they bee sanctified or not dost thou finde a dislike of all sinne and an hatred of them Hast thou a constant and resolent purpose no more to sinne against thy GOD wittingly and willingly hast thou a resolute purpose by the grace of GOD to walke before him all thy dayes this is a signe of a pure and vpright heart and that it is sanctified But doest thou finde no such resolution no such purpose but rather contrarie a purpose to runne on in them let man say what he can in Lying Stealing Drunkennesse Whoredome Ignorance Contempt of the Word c. Say what thou wilt professe what thou wilt it is a cleare case thy heart is naught it is filthie not sanctified For it is impossible that a man should haue true repentance and an heart truely sanctified and yet keepe a purpose to liue in his knowne sinnes And therefore it conuinceth all such to be impenitent sinners and notorious hypocrites yea if they leaue many sinnes and yet purpose to liue in one Mark 6. it argueth the heart is not sanctified Herod left many yet liued in Incest c. Know this therefore whosoeuer thou art that if thou takest libertie to thy selfe to liue in any knowne sinne thou canst haue no assurance that thou art yet within the couenant of Grace Blessednesse is no part of thy portion Hee must become a new Creature that shall enter into the new Ierusalem For according to Dauids speech if wee regard any one Sinne in our hearts the Lord will not heare vs. The young man in the Gospell remembred many sinnes and iustified himselfe as cleare from the breach of the Commandements in the second Table but his Couetousnesse which was in his heart hee remembred not And therefore when our Sauiour bad him goe sell all that hee had and giue to the poore hee went away sorrowfull Matth. 19.21 22. for hee had great Possessions Wherefore wee must resolue our selues of the great necessitie of this point of generall reformation of all sinne condemning our selues for euery sinne for if wee liue and lye but in one sinne that one sinne is a sufficient weight to presse vs downe to Hell Let vs therefore cast euery sinne away which is as great weight Heb. 12.1 and lay aside euery sinne with which we are beset This Doctrine may serue for the comfort of Gods Children who are much grieued for their sinnes and infirmities when they fayle and come short of good duties and sometimes start aside as sayth Saint Iames Iam. 3.2 In many things wee sinne all and the iust Man falls seuen times a day but if thou canst truely say it is against thy purpose I hate the sinne I commit I condemne it I had no purpose to doe it my desire was to please God then thou mayest haue comfort thy heart is sound God will not condemne thee for it The Lord will spare his children as a father his onely sonne A child is going to Schoole and his purpose is so to doe in the way he falls into some companie and stayes there too long and playes the truant but it is against his purpose euen so the child of God purposeth to serue God and to please him in all things and hath no purpose to sinne but by some temptation of the Diuell or allurements of the World hee is ouertaken I doe the euill I would not I cannot doe the good I would hut I delight in the Law of the Lord concerning the inner Man This is Pauls comfort and this is the comfort of all Gods children if they can truely say I doe the euill I would not I delight in the Law of God that God will accept the will for the deed Therefore let this be thy comfort A prisoner that hath escaped out of Prison would fayne goe twentie miles in one houre but by reason of his Bolts and Fetters he cannot goe one mile It is thus with Gods children Here they would faine escape from the prison of sinne and shake off the Fetters of vngodlinesse that hang on so fast Heb. 12.1 but so long as the Fetters are on and they clothed with the garment of the flesh there will corruption leake out of them It is Gods great mercie vnto the godly that they haue freedome of Spirit that their Soules are at libertie and that they can sigh and grone and desire to be eased Phil. 3.4 Our perfection in this life is rather in desires thē in deeds Satisfaction shall follow desires and God shall giue vs more then we desired Mat 5.6 Our perfection in this life is rather in godly desires then in a full obtayning of things desired yet haue the godly this comfort that where desires goe before satisfaction shall follow for the Lord hath promised to fulfill the desires of them that feare him Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousnesse for they shall be satisfied Yea sure it is how great soeuer our desires bee wee cannot desire so much as the Lord hath to giue vs for hee is rich in mercie able to doe abundantly aboue all that wee can aske or thinke Example hereof wee haue in Zaccheus Luk. 19.3 Hee desired but to see Christ and hee got not onely a sight of him but familiar speech of him yea Christ went to his House and dyned with him and made him by grace the Child of Abraham So shall the Lord doe to all his Children hee shall giue them more then eyther they desired or looked for at his hands For the heart of man cannot vnderstand those things which God hath prepared for them that loue him Oh the riches of Gods vnspeakable mercie Oh the endlesse comfort and felicitie of all those that truly and vprightly remember God and seeke his glory with their whole heart This comfort wee haue that if wee aske any thing in prayer wee shall receiue it Whatsoeuer wee aske wee receiue of him because wee keepe his Commandements and doe those things which are pleasing in Gods sight 1. Ioh. 3.22 If we reade the Scriptures heare the Word c. blessed shal we be if we keepe it according to that in the Reuelation Blessed is he that readeth Reuel 1.3 and they that heare the wordes of this Prophecie and keepe those things which are written therein Our Goods Cattell Corne and all things belonging to vs Deut. 28. shall be blessed of God if we remember to obey his voyce and to doe as he would haue vs yea our children shall be blessed after vs Prou. 20.7 for Blessed is the vpright man and blessed shall his seed be after him Yea as Dauid speaketh Blessed is the man that meditates in the Law of God day and night comfort in the creature yet shall hee bee forced to acknowledge that all the labour vnder the Sunne Eccles 1. is but vanitie and
the wine in a cup. We must watch ouer our selues both alone and in company and not run into bad company least we come home by weeping crosse as Peter did Secondly we must not lye in our fals a man in his iourney if hee fall and lye still shall neuer come to his wayes end and if hee rise quickly though it hinder him a little it shall not bee much The Saints all of them recouered themselues out of their fals by renewing their Faith and Repentance A man out of his way must come backe againe the sooner he returnes the lesse is his labour Peter presently went out and wept bitterly and so was restored to Christs fauour Thirdly suppose thy fals be grieuous and often into the same sins yet let them not hinder thee still out of the way For as the Childe of GOD must neither presume nor purpose sinne so must he not despaire of rising hauing fallen into sinne seeing the promise is that If a mans sinnes for hainousnesse be as red as scarlet vpon his true repentance they shall bee made white as Snow And the parable teacheth that if a sinner offendeth seuenty times seuen times in a day and as often truly repent he shall be as oft forgiuen Fourthly after such falls we must be more warie and careful least we fall in the same manner A man yea a beast will be more carefull when it comes by the same place where it caught a fall yee cannot get it into the same hole againe Dauid no doubt would not count the Tribes againe after that fall in numbring them Thirdly hold on in this way constantly with perseuerance for the end of a worke crowneth it and the end of a way gladdeth and resteth the wearie traueller and this rest is without end Many set forth on this way but are discouraged by the hardnesse of the entrance whereas if they were a little entred the way would be pleasant and the yoake of Christ easie and sweete Others haue gone yet further but at length looke backe yea goe backe when a man would haue thought they had escaped the filthinesse of the world and these haue lost a great deale of labour and comfort Others yet farther then they as the bad earth euen so farre as a man could perceiue no difference betweene them and sound Christians and apparent difference was there none but in perseuerance and yet wanting soundnesse haue suffered shipwracke euen at the hauen and so their former righteousnesse is all forgotten a great deale of way they had gone and much worke had they rid whereof they shall neuer see crowne nor comfort Oh beware of wearinesse and relapse As towards the end of his way the traueller is most cheerefull so should we and the rather because first euery one affects a good end euen Balaam and will we not endure a little difficultie for it Fourthly seeing there are a number that deceiue themselues about their estate in which they are thinking that their waies are right when God knowes they are the pathes that leade to hell they boast of their supposed good when indeed it is nothing but a meere delusion of the Diuell to blinde the eyes of their minds to make them seeme that which they are not they boast and bragge of Iustification and yet liue without Sanctification Such people are out of the way and all this while they doe nothing else but deceiue their owne soules for he that is Iustified is also Sanctified and after Iustification there will follow Sanctification Wouldst thou then know whether thou hast throughly and effectually remembred thy fals and art conuerted and that God hath Iustified thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes and acquitting thee from the guilt and punishment of thy sinnes and that God accepts thee through Christ as righteous before him and that thou shalt neuer be condemned for thy sinne then examine thy Sanctification Doest thou leaue thine waies and walke in the waies of GOD Doest thou vse all good meanes to come to saluation and auoide all occasions which might draw thee to destruction In a word doest thou deny thy selfe and wholy resigne vp thy selfe to bee guided by Gods Spirit in all things then thou art Sanctified and so maist approoue thou art Iustified else not Rom. 8.1 Now there is no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus There is Iustification who are such as walke not after the flesh Ephe. 2.10 but after the Spirit there is Sanctification It is the end of our new Creation and second birth Psal 125.5 which God hath ordained viz. to walke in good works Lastly in a word vtterly to renounce all sinne to hate loath detest and abhorre it so as to haue nothing to doe any more with it but to vow and resolue against it and so leaue it and forsake it and daily more and more to be out of loue with it and our selues for it is a most true signe of him that hath rightly searched himselfe and is truly conuerted Pro. 28.13 and such a man shall obtaine mercy at Gods hand in this world and euerlasting mercy in the world to come Wherefore seeing we haue these promises 2. Cor. 7.1 let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and finish our sanctification in the feare of God Signifying that it is not sufficient to purge our selues in part but it must be both from internall corruptions of the soule as also the externall pollutions of the body and to labour for the feare of God without which wee are impudent and bold in committing of vncleanenesse which wee would not dare to attempt if the feare of God were firmely setled in our hearts teaching vs also not to make a shew of holines for a time but to goe on constantly and to finish our Sanctification dayly proceeding in a holy course adding more holinesse still to more that so holding out vnto the end we may receiue the end of our Faith the saluation of our soules For he that continueth vnto the end 1. Pet. 1.9 he shall be saued PSALME 126. When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Sion wee were like them that dreame The Argument of the Psalme TOuching the Captiuitie whereof the Prophet speaketh in this Psalme The Interpreters doe not agree Some vnderstand it to be meant of the Captiuitie of Babylon some of the Captiuitie vnder the Romans other some do thinke that the Prophet meaneth heere all the Captiuities and deliuerances of the Prophet according to that promise that if they should at any time be led into Captiuity for their transgressions and by repentance should returne vnto the Lord Of what manner of Captiuitie this Psalme treateth he would shew mercy vnto them and bring them home into their land againe but in mine opinion they go neere to the sence and true meaning of the Psalme which doth referre it to that great and generall Captiuitie of mankind vnder Sinne Death
297 Comfort See Crosse Affliction Temptation Trouble and Sinne. Confidence In our greatest Mutations we must put our confidence in God 162 Constancie The constancie of Gods Children 147 Consideration so necessarie that without it no state of our life can be well ordered 382 384 Contempt Comfort against contempt of Men. 84 353 Conuersation In our Christian conuersation there must be a continuall progresse 247 Conuersion A true signe of conuersion 256 Corruption See Flesh Couetousnesse Many walke in the ruggie way of Couetousnesse 247 Creator Euery Creature in their kind sends vs to the Creator 239 Creature It is a vaine thing to take pleasure in the Creature 240 Crosse How a sanctified Crosse is discerned 96 D. DAnger breedeth feare without measure 23. Past by dangers are to be cald to mind 44 Day how it should be spent 320 Death The godly need not feare it 168. It is a Victorie if we suffer for Christ 396. Life and it two Twinnes 397 Degrees See Psalmes Deliuerance Publique Thanksgiuing required after it 15. Application of this to our Times especially to the Powder-Treason 16 17 c. In what sort we should be thankfull for Deliuerance from it 20 c. Gods Deliuerances to be remembred 28. God still deliuers his 60 109 176. Depart How the wicked depart from God 233. Desire Our perfection stands rather in desire then deeds 222. God still giue vs more then we desire ibid. Determination an helpe to godly conuersation 382 384 Despaire Wee should not dispaire for our grieuous sinnes and falls 250 E. ELect No elect Child of God can finally perish or fall away 125. We must labour to be in the number of the Elect. 273 End The end of a Christian better then his beginning 30. See accomplish men Enemies We are vnable of our selues withstand them 27. The faithfull still preuaile against their enemies 47. God preserueth hiâ— from all enemies 60. Dauids enemies described 70 F. FAith Not to trust to that which the eye seeth but to that which the word offereth and promiseth is a matter of Faith 157. The nature of Faith 148 Faithfull No force can preuaile against them 58. God hath a double care of them 186. Their state but weak being left vnto themselues 228 Fauour In what fort we should remember Gods fauour to vs. 44 Fall The child of God cannot finally fal away 125. What to bee done in our fals 249. We must not lye still in them 250. and must beware of falling againe 251 Flesh There is fleshly corruption in the Christian Militant but he followes it not 107 Sathans darts may afflict the flesh but cannot surmount the Spirit 173. He that walketh after the flesh encountreth with death 379 Fruits See Heart and Tongue G. GEntiles The Gentiles being pertakers of the deliuerance from sinne and death do magnifie God for it as well as the Iewes 295. 296. 299. They and the Iewes are become one Church 300 Gifts See Trouble God There is all things in God fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust 140 Godly What the wicked are to the godly 87. They are esteemed in a miserable case by the wicked 149. Comfort for them when the wicked esteeme them not 179. What their state is in this world 353 Godlinesse True godlinesse indureth great temptations 96. It is great gaine 141. We must go on in the waies thereof vnto the end of our liues 385 386 Gospel Wee should comfort our selues with the Gospel when Sathan terrifieth with the law 292. The inestimable benefit of the Gosp 302 Goodnesse We must not trust to our owne power and goodnesse 231 H. HEart Who are the good and true of heart 207. The marke of a sanctified heart 214. We must offer the first fruits of our heart to God euery morning 313 Humilitie How humilitie is wrought in the godly 71 Hurt No hurt befals them whom Gods loue 86 I. IEwes and Gentiles are become one Church 300 Ignorance Many walke in the blind waies of Ignorance 243 Impatience See Affliction Ioy. The Ioy of the godly for their deliuerances 26. Especially their redemption by Christ Iesus 263. 264 c. The worldling hath no true Ioy 374. The ioy which God hath reserued for vs in heauen we must not expect to haue on earth 374. Ioy oftentimes faileth the most faithfull 357. The godly haue only true ioy 365 Iudgements Vpon the wicked to be remembred and taken heed of 88. 89. The remembrance of them hastens repentance 92 Iustification How to proue our Iustification 254 K. KIng The godly haue free accesse to the King of heauen 322 Knowledge Speculation a naked knowledge without experience and practise 289 L. LAughter See Gospel and Ioy. Law The office of the law of God 286 302. Sathan terrifieth with it 288. An answer fit to be giuen Sathan when he terrifieth with the Law 291 Life Our life lies open to Sathans snares 99. Three profitable helpes for a godly life 381. An exhortation to a godly life 401. Wee must prepare our selues for the life to come 377 387. Life and Death two twins 397 Lot The lot of the righteous what it signifieth 182 Loue. The vice of selfe-loue hard to be cured 404 M. MAn There is no cause why we should feare man 59. Because men cannot hurt vs vnlesse God permit it 399 Meanes See Saluation Mercy God compasseth his with his mercies 165. What mercies the godly doe chiefely esteeme 170. Gods mercies is with his Children in the house of death 160 Morning See Heart and Prayer Mortall Man is vaine and Mortall 79 Mourning The causes of mourning without vs 370. and within vs 371. Hardnesse of heart hinders it in this age 369. Reasons moouing vs to Mourning 358. The godly subiect to it in this life 360. If we mourne not now we shall not reioyce hereafter 366. The scoffers of Mourning reproued 366. 367 Mutations See Confidence N. NAme Our onely Sanctuary is in the name of the Lord in all our afflictions 115. Comfort against such as seeke to take away our good name 342 Nets See Snares O. OBiection See Question Occasion Wee must be carefull to auoid all occasions of doing euill 249 Office What the intent and office of Gods Law is 287 P. PEnitent A true penitent man walkes cleane contrary to his former course 237 People See Beleeuers Permission Without the permission of God neither the deuill 398. nor men can hurt vs. 399 Perils See Danger and Snare Persecutors We should not be dismaied though we see the Persecutors come to the end of their enterprises 390 Perseuerance Arguments to prooue Christian perseuerance 126. Confutation of the Papists in this point 128. We are constantly to perseuer in a religious course 202 252 Pope See Traditions Powder See Treason Prayer The Spirit of Grace and Praye must be ioyned together in the faithfull 306. The excellency and necessitie of Prayer 407. c. We must not bee weary or faint-hearted in Prayer though God deferre to make