Bernard When we aske of God saith S. Bernard euen those things that concerne this present life our praiers are not so soone out of our mouth but they are written in his booke and we ought saith he to bee assured that he will either giue the thing it selfe which we haue asked or other things which hee knoweth to be more profitable for vs. To conclude Prayer is the most mightie and fruifull work of Charitie seeing by it we help our neighbours present and absent knowne and vnknowne great and little and that both with Spirituall and Corporall good things drawing by our Prayers the blessing of God vpon them Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his Will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ To whom be glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A NECESSARY Prayer for the great deliuerie from the Gun-powder Treason O Blessed Lord and euerliuing God whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Wee thy poore vnworthy Creatures do heere powre forth our hearts vnto thee that we may neither vngratefully remember thy gratious benefits nor vngratiously forget thy seuere Iudgements who both in the one and the other hast beene beyond all measure so gratious vnto vs. We thanke thee O Lord for all the externall and internall graces bestowed vpon vs the Spirituall and Corporall the Ecclesiasticall and Terrestiall blessings which we haue receiued O Lord thou knowest that without thy helpe we cannot auoid our ruine We beseech thee O Lord let this thy mercy towards vs and our great deliuerance daily put vs in minde to be thankfull vnto thee O God we were without all meanes to foreknow such a miserie and without all Iudgement to vnderstand such a mysterie haddest not thou O Lord of thy great loue to true Religion and mercy to vs giuen meanes to discouer it O Lord if this had not beene we had beene blowne vp we had beene smothered we had beene dismembred we had beene persecuted we had been vndone Wherefore good Lord seeing thou didst bring vs to the graues mouth but hast not giuen vs ouer vnto death wee haue imprinted in our minds the horror of the danger and excited our soules to thankefulnesse for the rescue and therefore wee prayse thee wee blesse thee wee worship thee wee glorifie thee and wee render to thee all thanks Honor and power wee ascribe vnto thee for this thy gracious preseruation And wee beseech thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome To this end wee beseech thee to blesse our gracious King Iames our supreme Head next vnder thee O Lord make all thy good to goe before him day and night vphold his Crowne maintaine his State giue him continuall peace long life and much happinesse mercifully heare him in all his Petitions and effectually worke for him in all dangers Furthermore we beseech thee to blesse our Noble Prince Charles the Prince Elector Palatine the Lady Elizabeth his Wife and their hopefull Issue and the righteous Cause and when it shall make most for thy glory and their good giue them victorie O Lord ouer all their Enemies And we entreat thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome thy assistance to the Gospell and euer blesse the Persons and Consultations of that High Court with holinesse safety that we may inioy our Liues Liuings our Religion our King and that his Off-spring after him may sit vpon his Throne till the comming of Christ Iesus to our comfort thy glory to whom we offer our selues our soules and bodies to be at thy seruice for euer and euer Amen Amen ¶ A Morning Prayer for a Familie O God of glorie and Father of mercy eternall and incomprehensible Maiestie in whom we sinfull Creatures doe liue mooue and haue our being fauourably heare our vnperfect Prayers and mercifully grant our needful suites We sinfull creatures doe sue vnto thee for grace hoping in thy mercie towards vs which is ouer all Keepe vs we beseech thee this day as thou hast kept vs this night past Keepe vs in thy feare faith and loue O Lord turne thy face from our sinnes wherein we haue so delighted and blot out all our misdeeds alter our hearts and wash and cleanse vs from all staines and corruptions in the blood of thy Sonne forgiue vs all that is past euen all the euill that wee haue done or thought and graunt vs the assurance of that forgiuenesse sealed vp in our Consciences by thy holy Spirit Kindle thy loue so feruently in our hearts that wee may detest whatsoeuer is against thee and thy Word Forgiue vs our great contempt and intollerable barrennesse in good workes our soule vnthankfulnesse and the abuse of thy graces and strike our stony Hearts with the Rod of thy feare that wee may attayne vnto a due thankfulnesse for thy benefites and a most vnfayned and earnest repentance for all our sinnes O Lord wee pray thee send thy blessing vpon all our labours and giue vs a willing minde to helpe them that haue neede according to our abilitie and so prepare our hearts in all our businesses that wee may alwayes begin it in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing that whatsoeuer wee shall doe it may prosper Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Mediator and Redeemer in whose Name wee further pray vnto thee saying that forme of Prayer that hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ An Euening Prayer for a Familie BLessing and glory and wisedome and thanksgiuing and power and might be vnto thee O Lord most high and immortall God for thy gracious goodnesse and mercie extended to vs this day past and alwayes notwithstanding all our Wickednesses which cry dayly against vs and our Enemies that would swallow vs vp Wee beseech thee O Lord be still our God and our Lord and continue thy gracious and mercifull fauour vnto vs forgiue vs all the euill that wee haue committed this day or any time heretofore teach vs to sorrow for our sinnes and separate them from vs that would separate vs from thee O Lord pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes remoue from vs those things which our Consciences are afraid of assure vs of thy gracious Pardon and renew vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may vnfainedly hate and detest whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee and graunt good Father that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee in holynesse and newnesse of life Bee thou our shield and defence against the suggestions illusions and temptations of Sathan against all the allurements and baits of the flesh with all alterations prouocations changes and chances of the world sanctifie vs with thy grace that we may keepe our bodyes
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
them as wee may see most apparently Where it is sayd Mat. 25.32 that he will gather all nations before him and that he will separate them one from another as a Sheapheard separates the sheepe from the Goates sending some to hell and carrying others with him into heauen Let vs then neuer feare in any perill or danger whatsoeuer whether of war famine plague or the like lest wee should perish with the wicked hand ouer head we see he hath a care of his own and what he will doe he can doe if it be good for vs to escape these worldly woes we are assured wee shall as we are sure we liue And if otherwise it please him to wrap vs with others in the outward punishment yet shall we euer bee sure to be distinguished from them in the eternall payne and those outward griefes shall bee but meanes to leade vs to euerlasting ioyes Now therefore saith he like as mount Sion or our holy city Ierusalem is neuer moued but remaineth sure and safe by the mighty protection of the Lord in all extremities so he that trusteth in the Lord shall be defended against the furious rage of the world and the gates of hell for euer pronouncing this to bee chiefest anchor of our saluation onely to hope and trust in the Lord To hope and trust in the Lord is the greatest seruice that we can doe to him and that is the greatest seruice that wee can doe vnto God for this is the nature of God as I haue sayd to create all things of nothing therefore hee createth and bringeth forth in death life in darknes light this to beleeue is the very nature and most speciall property of faith when God then seeth such a one as agreeth with his owne nature that is which beleeueth to finde in danger helpe in pouerty riches in sinne righteousnesse and that for Gods owne mercies sake in Iesus Christ alone The nature of faith him can God neither hate nor forsake for he worshippeth God truely which putteth his whole trust in the mercy of God With this seruice God is highly pleased because he delighteth of nothing to make something so hee made the world of nothing so hee raysed the dead who so then consenteth to Gods nature and obeyeth his will there hoping for something where nothing is he it is that pleaseth God and shall neuer be remoued That is they shall neuer be remoued from Gods fauour they shall neuer bee remoued from the constant graces of the spirit in their soules or hurtfully in the way of a curse frō outward good estate nor vnseasonably bee cut off from the earth Now because some of these iudgments seeme sometimes to fall on some righteous persons who for a season being separated from the comfortable sight of Gods kindnes and fauor towards them and their estate in appearence is wholly ruinated Therfore the word doth well beare it agreeing with that of Salomon that the righteous shall not be remoued for euer though they seeme to be cast downe for a time yet they shall be restored againe Therfore godly men must needs be in safety because they be Gods childrē whō he in Christ hath begotten to himself by the immortall seed of the word Wee see here the constancy of Gods children The constancy of Gods children no winde of tempration can remoue or ouerthrow them they are like rockes in the sea enduring euery waue like trees planted by the riuer side Gods owne plantation they may be shaken but not ouerturned they abide rooted and stablished by the Lord such is the nature of faith that it carryeth vs out of our selues into the Lord and makes vs leane vpon him rest in him and liue in him They who abide in themselues resting in any thing that is in them either wisedome strength or merits shall be found to haue built their house on the sand which will not continue but such as goe out of themselues and trust in the Lord haue built their house on the rocke that shall neuer faile them Therfore cleaue ye fast vnto him and feare not be of good comfort though others be cursed yet you shal be blessed for you see the difference of being religious and being prophane of louing Christ loathing him this difference here will make a fearefull difference in the world to come when no man can helpe it had he the treasures of all the earth to purchase his ease with all and therefore remember your selues betimes turne to the Lord with all your hearts serue him in holines righteousnes all the dayes of your liues that so you may be blessed both here in this world and in the world to come First this may seeme to reproue that cursed yet common opinion of the world namely that of all men the godly man is most miserable We see here the Lord himselfe doth proclaime from heauen that he accounteth the godly man and him that trusts in the Lord a blessed and happy man but yet the world that is the wicked men in the world iudge and deeme the godly man wretched and miserable such a man as truely feareth God hates all iniquitie disliketh lewd company makes conscience of good duties as to pray in his family to instruct his seruants and children is diligent and carefull to frequent Sermons this man is an Owle among Birds whooted at and poynted at and of all men he most contemned But as Paul sayth thus it must bee We are brought vpon the Stage wee are made a gazing-stocke to wicked men and accounted as dung for Christs sake Secondly this may serue to stop their mouthes that say and thinke it is in vaine to serue the Lord that it is lost labour to bee religious that there is no good got by hearing of Sermons and leading of a godly life it is and euer hath beene the cursed thoughts of mans heart to thinke so as in the time of the Prophet Malachy Mal. 3.14 It is lost labour to serue the Lord and what good comes there by seruing of God So in these dayes it is cleare men thinke it is in vayne to bee religious to liue godly and in all thinges to labour to keepe fayth and a good conscience before God and men But it is manifest here that it is not in vaine to serue God nay it is that alone that bringeth a man to happinesse and true comfort here and eternall measure of glory in the world to come withall this may serue to cōfort euery child of God against all the discouragements of the world by Satan his cursed instruments Namely that whatsoeuer thy estate be Heb. 11.24.12.23 Psal 125. verse 1. neuer so poore in this world and subiect to neuer so many afflictions yet if thou be a godly man certainely then thou art blessed thou that art in Gods fauor thou that art reconciled to God in Iesus Christ and hast thy sins pardoned eternall life belongs vnto
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 labouring to approue our selues vnto GOD keeping faith and a good conscience which hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And wee must euer entertaine this holy resolution that nothing should draw vs from God and godlinesse 2. Cor. 1.12 This is our reioycing saith Paul the testimonie of a good conscience that is in simplicitie and godly purenesse and not in fleshly wisdome c. This yeelds vnto vs much comfort that our hearts can witnesse with vs that wee haue done our duties in obedience to Gods will Verse 4. Do well O Lord vnto them that be good and true of heart THE Prophet saith not heere doe well Lord to the perfect and such as offend in nothing but to the good and true of heart The good and true of heart are they which are of a single sincere and vpright heart for these are they which are most accepted of God although they also through infirmitie doe some times offend Heere is matter of great comfort to the Children of God that fall of weaknesse and infirmitie into the same sinne after repentance and such is the depth of Sathans temptations that he tels them that the Children of God fall not into the same sinne againe after their repentance if they doe hee telleth them that there is no place for a second repentance but this is false for the promises of God are without limitation of times or consideration of sinnes or respect of persons he will receiue to mercy all repentant sinners whether their sinnes be committed before or after repentance whither once or often so that they renew their repentance according as they haue sinned anew This pardon Christ himselfe publisheth Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and heauy laden and I will refresh you Mat. 11.28 Yea the Lord inioyneth vs sinfull men to forgiue our Brother seauentie times seauen times if hee turne againe and say it repenteth me So that wee see this is a maruellous comfort to all such as groane vnder the burthen of sinne that haue fallen through infirmitie into one sinne often let not such be discouraged but assure themselues that albeit with Peter they fall often yet with him if they repent truly and weepe bitterly for their sinnes the Lord is mercifull to forgiue them their sinnes not that wee should liue proudly presumptuously stubbornely and obstinately against him but if wee fall through frailtie Psal 103. Psalme 103. The Lord knoweth whereof we be made hee remembreth that wee are but dust The Child of God not alwayes at one stay Hence wee learne that the Childe of GOD is not alwayes at one stay but there is an entercourse in the estate of a Christian man or woman sometimes full of comfort ioy and peace of conscience and sometimes againe heauie and sad yea full of sorrow and perplexitie euen as a man in an ague sometimes sicke and sometimes well and as it is with trees sometimes winter and sometimes summer This is the state of all Gods Children as Dauid Ioseph Hezekias Iob c. and continuall experience prooueth this that the estate of Gods Children ebbes and flowes hath their change when as they walke directly and vprightly with God then they haue peace and comfort but when that they start aside and commit some wicked sinne then they finde torments of conscience and great griefe of mind This shewes vs what is the state and condition of the Childe of GOD in this life hee is not so heere sanctified as that hee feeles no corruption of sinne to hange about him but rather such a one as feeles the burthen of his corruptions hindering him in this his course of Christianitie vnder which hee grieuously sighes and groanes labouring by all good meanes to bee disburthened Indeede it is a matter of great comfort to feele the graces of Gods Spirit as Faith Loue c. but no Childe of GOD can alwaies feele the comfort of grace but as fire that is raked vp in the ashes it is hid from his feeling for a time but at the length it will breake out againe to his great ioy and comfort Well seeing this is the state of Gods Children heere they finde great peace and comfort sometimes griefe and sorrow let vs not bee to much discouraged but rather when as by our falls and slippes wee haue weakened our comfort let vs intreat the Lord to renew our comfort againe let vs doe as a poore traueller who if he misse his way and goe out of it he will hasten into it againe and trudge and plucke vp his heeles with all speed to recouer that which hee hath lost So let vs when we haue sinned and gone out of the way make hast to returne and as a man that hath beene long sicke and growne feeble and weake will vse all meanes to gather vp his crums and to recouer his former strength againe So let vs when wee haue lost some part of our comfort and heauenly strength let vs I say vse all blessed meanes to recouer our former health and comfort againe Let vs pray much reade much heare much and meditate much let vs bewaile our former sloth and make our steps more vpright in time to come to Gods kingdome c. A purpose not to sinne the marke of a sanctified Heart Note heere that it is the speciall fruite and marke of a sanctified Heart and of the Minde renewed to haue a purpose not to sinne but in all things to please God and to doe his Will to walke with God in all his Commaundements Whereas on the contrarie Psal 50.17 when a Man hath a purpose to liue in any knowne sinne it is a fearefull and a manifest signe of a naughtie and wicked Heart For when the Heart is truely sanctified then will bee brought this right Spirit not to sinne in any thing I doe not say that the Man sanctified and regenerate doth not sinne at all but hee hath no purpose to sinne no delight in sinne but beareth a constant purpose in all things to please God When hee can say with Dauid I haue refrayned my feete from euerie euill way Againe Hee that is borne of God sinneth not that is Iohn 3.9 with full purpose of heart with delight in Sinne and as they purpose not to sinne so they endeuour it they are afraid and suspect themselues shunne the Occasions of Sinne Gen. 39.9 and striue against their owne Corruptions and Sathans Temptations This Doctrine doth euidently conuince the greatest number to bee such as neuer had the true Worke of Sanctification wrought in them Their Hearts bee not sanctified and their Mindes are not renewed Why Namely because they want this marke and fruite of a sanctified heart for though they heare of their sinnes bee told of them and the fearefull iudgements of GOD denounced against them yet they will not leaue them nor forsake them but will continue in them yea though it cost them the losse of Gods
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
Spirit of Grace the Spirit of Prayer that is with the redemption which was wrought by Christ the prayer of the faithfull and of the redeemed for although our redemption be fully wrought and we redeemed by the bloud of the Sonne of God yet it is necessarie that we should pray for this redemption as Christ also in his Prayer commands vs to doe that Gods Name may be sanctified Mat. 6. Which notwithstanding we know to be holy and sanctified alreadie That the Kingdome of God may come which is come and is within vs alreadie Also Christ sayth Father glorifie thy Name and the Father answered I haue glorified it and I will glorifie it againe Also Saint Paul sayth I count not my selfe to haue attained vnto it c. hee meaneth the fulnesse of the knowledge of Christ and perfect taste of the power of his Resurrection This is it which I touched before that this benefit of the Gospell this inestimable gift of our Redemption and Life euerlasting is easie to be vttered with words but most hard to be beleeued with the heart For wee haue in this life not the Tenths Rom. 8.23 but the first fruits of the Spirit but the flesh liueth fully and wholly in a manner strong and lustie True it is that wee haue entred one foot into the Kingdome of God and haue thereby obtayned the assurance of the Promise Thess 4.1 but wee must not there rest wee must draw the other foot after that is wee must continually encrease and goe forward in the knowledge of Grace and of Faith And for this cause the Prophet Zacharie sayth That the Spirit of Prayer is powred forth vpon vs which Spirit requireth this encrease in vs. And S. Paul sayth Rom. 8.22 That the Spirit sigheth with sighes that cannot be expressed yea and that euery creature also groaneth for the deliuerance of the Children of God Wherefore whilest wee are in this Body which presseth vs downe as a heauie Burthen and hindereth vs that wee cannot fully apprehend these things wee haue not onely the Spirit of Grace but the Spirit of Prayer also that we might be assured of the grace and good will of God towards vs for Christs sake in whom we beleeue and yet should not cease to pray that God would make perfect in vs that hee hath begun Sathan neuer ceaseth to assayle our Faith Hope and other Vertues which God hath planted in vs. Sathans prerogatiue And this prerogatiue hath Sathan because the Grace which is begun in vs is not yet perfect therefore he fighteth so busily against these beginnings fearing lest they should come to perfection Such is the life of Christians which haue already receiued the first fruits of the Spirit who by experience doe learne that these things cannot be fully apprehended but that in the meane while they shall oftentimes slip yea and sometimes dangerously fall so that the sparke of Faith and of the Spirit may seeme in them to be vtterly quenched As it happened to Dauid in his Adulterie 2. Sam. 11. wherein they haue need of helpe to rayse them vp againe as Christ answered to Paul My power is made perfect in infirmitie The infirmitie is theirs and remayneth theirs whilest they liue but the power and strength is Christs alone one dramme of the grace of Christ in the soule of a Christian makes him more precious in the eyes of God then any remnant-corruption in him can make him odious Therefore is it that the Lord giues vnto them the Names of his Beloued his Seruants his Sonnes his Saints who are so onely in part Both these are true Those that are borne of God sinneth not and againe If wee say wee haue no sinne wee deceiue our selues the one wee haue of the fruits of the New Man the other of the remnants of the Old Man Let vs therefore be continually displeased with our inhabitant Corruption that wee despaire not nor be discouraged neither let vs so complaine of our Sinnes that we become false witnesses against the grace of God which is in vs. If there were nothing in vs but that we haue by nature our state were most miserable but seeing besides nature there is in vs a new workemanship of grace frō which the Lord accoūts vs new and spirituall men we haue God be thanked matter of cōfort Let vs yet further consider This testimonie of the Spirit is not alwayes perceiued in a like measure of them that haue it that this testimonie of the Spirit is not all times enioyed in a like measure for that were to enioy Heauen vpon Earth The Lord doth therfore in such sort suspence it that sometimes he lets his children feele it for their consolation and againe withdrawes it from them for their humiliation When they feele it they so abound in ioy that all the terror and threatnings of Sathan all his promises and allurements are despised of them and trodden vnder their feet they sing within themselues that glorious Triumph of the Apostle Rom. 8.32 Who shall seperate vs from the loue of God But this ioy proceeding from the fulnesse of Faith continueth not the voyce of the Spirit of Adoption waxing somewhat more silent feares and doubts succeeds in that same heart which before abounded in ioy And if hereby the weake Conscience be cast downe remember that the more thou art displeased with thy selfe the more thy Lord is pleased with thee for thy dayly pollutions hee hath appointed daily washings in that fountaine which he hath opened to the house of Dauid for sinne and for vncleannesse sweepe out thy sinnes euery day by the beesome of holy anger and reuenge Cyprian and water the house of thy heart with the teares of contrition seeing we cannot be without some wounds of Conscience let vs daily goe to the next remedie that with spirituall medicines wee may cure them Chastising our selues euery morning and examining our selues vpon our bed in the euening The first fruits of our heart and tongue euery morning should be offered to God And remember O man that thou owest euery day the first fruits of thy heart and tongue to the Lord our God shouldst thou thinke of any thing before that first thou remember him in the morning or should thy tongue speake of any thing before the first fruits of thy speech be offered vnto him by Prayer and praysing of his holy Name Thus we see the great necessitie of prayse and how it ought to be continually vsed among the faithfull if not with the mouth yet with the heart and heartie sighes vnto God according to the words of S. Paul Colo. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you plentiously Signifying that they ought to be continually exercised therein not onely by teaching the same to others publikely and priuatly but also by earnest Meditation and Prayer when they sit at home in their houses when they walke by the way when they lye downe and when they