frequent the means of grace I mean the Ministry of the word that being the ordinary instrument whereby the Spirit of God who is the principal Author of grace doth convey grace into the hearts of sinners Whereupon the Apostle Peter affirmeth 1 Pet. 1. 23 That we are born a new not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God Where by being born a new is meant such a thorow change in us whereby we are brought out of the state of nature into the state of grace and so are made new Creatures having an infusion of new and holy habits or supernatural graces put into our hearts which blessing is ordinarily wrought in us through the Ministry of the Word Acts 2. 41. We read of three thousand sinners who had grace wrought in their souls by one Sermon Yea Acts 10. 44. It is said Whilest Peter was preaching the Holy Ghoss fell on all them that heard the Word And therefore O Young man as thou desirest true saving grace frequent the Ministry of the word take all occasions of hearing the same hoth in season and out of season And for thine incouragement know that as graceless and prophane hearts as thine have been sanctified by the Spirit of God as they have been attending upon the Ministry of the Word And who knoweth but thou maist find the same effect of the Word upon thy soul whilst thou art waiting upon it 3. Beware thou neglect not the day of grace There are certain seasons of Grace when the Lord makes tenders and offers of grace to the Souls of poor sinners Yea there is no man that lives in the bosome of the Church but probably he hath his critical day a certain time for grace which if he neglect it is a question whether ever it will be offered to him again Happy therefore and thrice happy are they who observe those seasons of grace and know in their day the things that concern their everlasting peace Now it may he God speaks home to thy Conscience now he warms thine heart and puts thereinto good purposes and resolutions It will be therefore thy wisedome carefully to observe and improve the same to thy Souls advantage not suffering them carelesly to pass away lest if thou lose the benefit of those blessed motions thou lose life and salvation for ever Luke 19. 41 42. Our Saviour tells the Jews they had a day of grace which because they slighted and neglected they should never enjoy it again the means of grace and salvation should be no more offered unto them God being a just God is it not just that he should reject them for ever who have for a long time rejected him that he should turn a deaf ear unto them crying unto him on their death beds for grace and mercy who would not hearken unto him calling upon them in the day of his merciful visitation Whilest therefore the day of grace lasteth whilest God stands knocking at the door of thine heart by the motions of his Spirit and admonitions of his Ministers speedily open to him embrace his motions be willing to follow the dictates of his Spirit in ways of obedience Thou knowest not when thy day of graee will end Though some mens day continueth to their old age some to the day of their death yet some mens day of grace may end in their youth and younger years Thy first day may be thine only day for Heaven loyter out that and thence forth it may be night with thee for ever Therefore O young man how doth it concern thee to take the first and present season Now hearken now accept and submit to mercy now give thy self unto God be his faithful servant to obey and serve him with all thy heart and strength or the day may be lost and thy soul lost for ever Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth thou maist suddenly be taken from the means of grace or the means of grace may be suddenly taken from thee The Sun of heavenly light which now shineth may set and thou be left in darkness The gate of mercy now opened to thee may be shut against thee The things belonging to thy peace may be hid from thee There is a time coming and we know not how near it is in which as Christ saith many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. Oh what woful yelling what pitiful crying and earnest knocking will there be then at the gate with Lord Lord open to us But all in vain having slighted and neglected their day of grace when they should have got Oyle into their Lamps and grace into their hearts 4. Be earnest with God in prayer who is the God of all grace that be would be pleased to vouchsafe unto thee his holy sanctifying Spirit which may quicken thy dead soul infuse the grace of life and make thee partaker of his holiness whereby thou maist become a new Creature Beg of God that he would not put thee off with the things of this world but together with his outward blessings or whether thou have them or not that he would bless thee with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus and that he would inrich thee in the Inner man with his saving and sanctifying graces What the Apostle Iames saith of Wisdom is true of all grace If any one lack it let him asâ—… of God that giveth to all men liberally and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not and it shall be given him Jam. 1. 5. O young man may grace be had for asking Ask and ask again never keep silence nor let fall thy suit till thou hast obtained And in thy Prayers plead that gracious promise Isa. 44. 3. I will pour Water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground That is where there is no sap of grace nor moisture of goodness upon such saith the Lord will I pour out my water my living water my grace shall flow down upon him and his soul shall be as a well watered garden Go therefore thou poor sinful soul who never yet to this day hadst one drop of grace within thee go thou to the Throne of Grace go to the Fountain of Grace lament thy sinful barren heart before God and plead his promise of pouring the spiritual water of grace upon the barren thirsty soul say unto him Lord make good this good promise unto me behold the dry and barren heart upon which no dew or rain from above hath ever fallen pity this hard and parched soul a drop Lord a drop from the fountain of living water God of grace give grace unto me and effectually work it in me And know for thy comfort that if God hath given thee a sense of the want of grace and an heart to pray for it it is an hopeful sign that he intends to bestow it on thee 5. Stir up in thy soul an earnest longing desire after grace To that
Consider how God expects to be honoured by our thoughts as well as by our words and actions by the workings of the heart as well as by the way of the life Holy thoughts are something of the root of an holy life who knows how much precious fruit may be in a good thought It 's true if they die as soon as they are born and bring forth nothing God will but lightly regard them but there is great hope that where the Grace that is in the heart does put forth into holy thoughts it will thence spring up into holiness of life Therefore O Young Man forget not daily to render unto God thy Thought-service as well as thy Tongue-service and the rather because thou hast more opportunities for the one than the other Thou hast not always opportunity for outward performances but thou mayst when thou pleasest think of God and the matters of Eternity where-ever thou art What can hinder thee from giving a Visit to Heaven every hour and oftner Send these winged Messengers up constantly let there be frequent comings and goings betwixt Heaven and thine heart let thy Messengers go up and they will doubtless bring thee down gracious and comfortable returns He whose eye is much upon God his Eye will affect and warm and quicken his heart and beget upon it the very Visage and Image of God in the view of whose Face he lives These good Spies sent up in search of the good Land above will return with such Clusters of the precious Fruits thereof as will revive and incourage and also strengthen the heart for that hard service it may be put to in its journey thither None make such haste Heaven-ward and such sensible Progress in their way as they whose eye is continually there 7. Whensoever thou goest unto God in Prayer amongst other thy sins bewail the multitude of vain worldly wanton thoughts that lodge in thine heart and there Revel it day and night Think it not enough to confess the outward acts of sin but likewise the inward contemplative wickedness and speculative filthiness which is in thine heart For the outward acts of wickedness are no more transgressions of the Law than the inward thoughts which do beget and produce the outward acts And sinful thoughts are the more abominable for that they are the Fountain and Original of all actual sins Such therefore as please themselves with this fancy that they were never guilty of outward acts of Uncleanness Drunkenness Murther Oppression and the like so long as they entertain and harbour inward lusts after those or any other sins and live in contemplative wickedness they shall find those to their cost and woe as dangerous as the outward gross acts of wickedness and uncleanness Besides we ought to bewail our vain thoughts because of the number of them which indeed are numberless Not a moment of our lives but swarms of vain thoughts arise in our hearts so that though they may be accounted lesser sins in comparison of outward gross acts yet by reason of their multitude they may prove as dangerous as they Many Sands by their multitude may sink a Ship as well as a few great Mill-stones So vain wicked worldly wanton thoughts by reason of their number and multitude may sink a Soul to Hell as well as a few outward gross acts Therefore O Young Man thou hast cause to humble thy self for thy sinful thoughts as well as for thy sinful words and actions And having confessed them unto God then amongst thy Petitions let one be for Grace to inable thee to keep down all wicked wanton thoughts and to give thee his sanctifying Spirit which may spiritualize thy carnal heart making it more holy and heavenly fit to produce heavenly thoughts CHAP. XIX Of the well ordering and governing our Words II. AS thy thoughts must be well ordered and governed so likewise thy words which is of special importance for preservation both of our outward and inward peace and wherein consisteth much of the truth and reality of our Religion For if a man seem to be Religious and bridleth not his tongue but breaketh out into bitter and reviling speeches that mans Religion is vain or to no purpose Iam. 1. 26. Though his Profession be glorious yet it will little advantage his Soul Therefore Solomon adviseth next to the keeping our hearts to keep our tongues Prov. 4. 23 24. we ought to be the more careful of our tongues 1. Because we are very prone to offend therein corrupt speaking being the ordinary issue of our corrupt nature 2. Christ hath delivered it as a certain truth That for every idle word that men shall speak they must give account in the day of Iudgment And that by our words we shall be justified and by our words we shall be condemned Mat. 12. 36 37. Because mens words do declare what their inward disposition is therefore by their words are they justified or condemned Beware therefore O Young Man that thou dost not vainly and causleslly increase thy accounts either by rotten and unsavoury or by idle and unprofitable discourses Far be it from thee to use this wind of words as Bellows to kindle against thy self the flame of Gods wrath here and the fire of Hell in the life to come But rather let it be thy care with the Prophet David To take heed to thy ways that thou offend not with thy tongue Psal. 39. 1. For thy better help therein take these few Directions 1. Be not too free of thy tongue but let thy words be few knowing that in multitude of words there wanteth not sin but he that refraineth his lips is wise Prov. 10. 19. And Prov. 17. 27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit knowing when to speak and when to keep silence and vers 28. Even a Fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise because he hath this happiness not to discover his want of wisdom Many a mans folly and ignorance would not appear could he but keep his own counsel And the Apostle Iames Chap. 1. 19. exhorteth to be swift to hear and slow to speak To which purpose Nazianzen well observeth how God hath appointed a double guard to keep in the tongue namely the lips and two rows of teeth that it might be restrained from breaking out by this double fence Be not therefore lavish in words but sparing in thy speech for silence is an excellent Vertue and saveth many a mans Credit Reputation and Conscience 2. Let your converse one with another be more fruitful communicating your experiences your comforts and supports one to another exhorting one another and provoking one another to love and good works This questionless is one end of Gods bestowing his gifts and graces upon us that we might impart what we have received to the spiritual good and benefit one of another And hereby shall we increase and improve our own gifts and graces by communicating we
is pleasing unto God 3. There is that delight in the ways of godliness as upholds the heart of a Christian under all the losses crosses and 〈◊〉 he meets withal in this world and which will yield him abundance of comfort upon his Death-bed What was that which comforted King Hezekiah when he lay under the apprehension of death but the testimony of his Conscience that he had walked with much sincerity in the ways of godliness Isa. 38. 3. By all which it appeareth that godliness doth not deprive men of all joy and delight but rather the more godly any are the more joyful at least the better right and title they have thereunto whereupon saith one Wouldst thou live chearfully then live godly The which should be an incouragement unto all Young Men who are yet unresolved speedily without any further delay to consecrate their Youth and younger years unto God and his service betimes to walk in the ways of godliness that so their lives may be the more comfortable and joyful If the Lord shall be pleased to incline any of your hearts thereunto you will have cause to bless God for it not only so long as you live here but even to all Eternity in the highest Heavens For by devoting your selves to God and his service betimes even from your Youth many sins will be prevented which otherwise will be committed by you much more good will be done by you and much greater will be your glory hereafter 5. Obj. I have time enough before me and therefore may for a while longer allow my self my liberty Hereafter may be time enough to turn from my sins unto God and to mind the eternal welfare of my Soul A. 1. Consider as the shortness so the uncertainty of thy life How many have we known in our own experience who when they have promised themselves life for many years have then been suddenly taken away Thou who sayest thou hast time enough before thee canst thou upon good ground assure thy self of another day If not what folly yea what madness must it needs be to live one day longer in such a condition in which if thou shouldst die thou art miserably undone to all Eternity True it is God hath promised pardon and forgiveness to such as in truth and sincerity turn from their sins unto him but he hath not promised the morrow to him that deferreth If thou sayest though I am not sure to live another day yet I am likely being in good health and strength I answer Peradventure thou mayest live another day But what man in his right senses would put his Everlasting Salvation upon a Peradventure Peradvenâ—… thou mayest die the next day even whilst thou art 〈◊〉 in sensual pleasures and delights and then 〈◊〉 sad is thy case like to be to all Eternity The possiâ—… of a sudden and unexpected death should meâ—… be an effectual argument to perswade every man speedily without farther delay to reform and amend his life The Merchant having a fair Wind will not defer to hoise up sail saying we have time enough because it is possible the Wind may turn and he lose his opportunity The Husbandman having a fair day will not defer the carrying home his Corn when it is fit to take it in because it is possible the next day may prove 〈◊〉 In all cases about our worldly affairs a possibility of danger hath the force of an argument for present care And why should it not as well awaken our Souls to a speedy amendment of our ways 2. Thou who still delayest to hearken unto the Call of God in the Ministery of the Word woing and beseeching thee speedily to abandon thy sins and to walk in the ways of holiness know assuredly that he will not always wait on thee his patience will not ever attend thee As there is a time of Grace in which the Gate of Mercy stands open so there is a time of Judgment in which this Gate will be shut and aâ—…l possibility of entry taken away Psal. 32. 6. David speaketh of a time in which God may be found which implieth that there is a time in which God will not be found Though thou cryest out against thy sins and cryest unto God for mercy yet will he not hear thee but turn a deaf ear to all thy prayers So the Lord threatneth Prov. 1. 24 25. Because I have called you to amendment and reformation and ye refused to hearken unto me But have set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproofs I will also laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me but they shall not find me For the Lord usually punisheth the slighting of his Grace in our younger years with the denying of it in our elder Hence it is that the Apostle S. Paul so much presseth the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very now Behold saith he NOW is the accepted time NOW is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. The time present is the only time the time to come is no time but a matter of meer uncertainty And therefore saith he Heb. 3. 7. To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your hearts Where the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to day signifieth the time present and implieth that the present opportunity of Gods offering Grace ought to be imbraced thou must hearken unto him now that he calleth upon thee in the Ministery of his Word and motions of his Spirit to give over thy sinning Trade and give up thy self unto him and his service Now that God hangs forth the White Flag of Mercy and is willing to be gracious to thee Now that Christ is woing and beseeching thee to cast away thy sins and to cast thy self upon him to own him for thy Lord and Saviour Now that the Spirit of God is striving with thee surely it will be thy wisdom speedily to turn from thy sins unto him If thou put him off till hereafter and thereby quench the motions of his Spirit how justly may he for ever reject thee 3. Thou who upon a pretence of having time enough before thee dost procrastinate and delay to look after God and Heaven consider as the weightiness so the multitude of works to be done by thee in order to thy Salvation Hast thou not a dead Soul to be quickned a dark understanding to be enlightned with the knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ an hard heart to be softned a proud heart to be humbled an unclean heart to be purified and cleansed a multitude of head-strong lusts to be mortified and subdued manifold temptations to be resisted and conquered Hast thou all these and many more things to do in reference to thy future happiness and yet wilt thou trifle away thy precious time in vanity and pleasure yea in sin and wickedness saying thou hast time enough before thee Know that the forementioned
end consider the excellency thereof Consider I say the excellency of grace it is the beam of the Divine Nature a spark and ray of glory which puts such an excellency upon a person that all others are vile persons in comparison of him A gracious soul is the rarest piece of all Gods workmanship of more worth than all the wealth and riches in the world Nothing so graceth a man as grace doth being the image of God in man whereby he becomes like unto his Creator which is the greatest excellency that can be conferred on a Creature It was this that made all Gods servants so famous in their generation It was not their wealth their parts or the like but their graces their faith their patience their zeal for God and the like These kept their names fresh when the names of wicked graceless wretches do rots and are perished Grace is aromatical it embalmes the living names of dead Saints whereupon a gracious person when he dies is said to carry a good conscience with him and to leave a good name behind him I grant that carnal men through their ignorance of the true worth of Saints being blind in spiritual matters have a low and mean esteem of them But could they look into their inward parts and discern their true worth they would acknowledge them all-glorious within more precious than fine gold I shall close this Direction with a word to those who have some comfortable evidence of the truth of grace in their hearts exhorting them that they content not themselves with any measure or degree of grace but labour and strive after perfection adding Grace to Grace and growing from one degree of Grace unto another till they be perfect men and women in Christ Jesus Though you ought to be contented with a competency of worldly wealth yet never talk of a competency of grace nor take up with any degree of it already obtained as if you had enough and needed no more St. Paul though he was content with a little of the world yet not with a little of grace he reached forward and pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3. 13 14. It was the Motto of Charles the fifth Plus ultra that is more yet or further yet And it ought to be every Christians Motto Go on to perfection To perswade you thereuno take these Arguments 1. Hereby you will gain a comfortable evidence of the truth of Grace in you For true grace hath this property that though it be weak yet it will grow and increase mightily as he that loveth silver is never satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase saith the Wise man Eccl. 5. 10. So he that hath true grace in him will never think he hath enough of it but will be ever desiring and endeavouring after more They who have once tasted of the sweetness of grace are not satisfied with a little the more they drink the more they thirst till they have drank their full draught in the Kingdome of God It may justly be doubted whether there be any truth of grace where there is not a desire and endeavor after an encrease therein It is an ill sign to sit down satisfied and rest contented with a little Sure thou hast none at all who art satisfied with that little grace thou thinkest thou hast 2. To stir you up to labour after a greater measure and higher degree of grace consider that after the work of grace hath been wrought in you there is a great deal more work to be wrought by you many lusts to be conquered much corruption to be subdued many temptations to be resisted many graces to be exercised several duties to be performed many of them hard and difficult to flesh many great things to be done and bitter things to be indured for Christ you may be called to the fiery trial and to suffer the loss of all that is dear unto you How can you imagine to go through all all these works with a small degree of grace and measure of strength 3. The stronger Christians you are the more helpful will you be unto others who are weak and infirm and consequently the more honourable for it is more honourable to give than to receive Therefore how doth it concern you to strive to increase your store that you may have by you to help the needy and be useful in your generations by instructing the ignorant resolving the doubtful comforting such as mourn reproving such as are scandalous converting such as are unconverted strengthning such as are weak in grace Oh what a Blessing might you be to all your relations yea to all with whom you do converse How should the ears that heard you bless you yea and bless God for you Iob. 9. 11. CHAP. IX Containeth Directions how to live a godly and gracious Life BEtake thy self to live a godly and gracious Life For thy help therein take these Directions I. Direction At thy first awaking in the morning lift up thine heart to God in a thankful acknowledgement of his mercy to thee the night pass in giving thee such quiet rest and sleep whereby thy body is refreshed and thou inabled for the duties of the day And beg of God that he would so assist thee with his Grace and Holy Spirit that all the thoughts of thy heart and words of thy mouth and works of thy hands the day following may be acceptable in his sight And in regard the Devil at thy first awaking is very watchful to take possession of thine heart by casting in some wicked worldly wanton thoughts it will be thy wisdom to prevent him by fixing thy heart on some spiritual subject as on God his Word or Works his Providence or Properties Good thoughts in the Morning will so season thine heart that thou shalt retain the favour of such a gracious beginning all the day after II. Direction to a godly life So soon as thou art ready before thou goest about the works of thy Calling withdraw thy self into some private place and there pour out thy Soul unto God by fervent and effectual prayer Be sure to open thine heart to God before thou open thy Shop to men This secret prayer we find commended by Christ himself Matth. 6. 6 When thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father that is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly And we find that what he commanded himself practised for Mark 1. 35. it is said In the Morning Christ went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed How careful the servants of God have been therein none will question who are acquainted with the Scriptures Besides all the Benefits of prayer in general secret prayer hath these 1. It will be some testimony of the sincerity of thine heart A man may joyn in Publick and Family-prayer meerly in
freely publish our own naughtiness the pride the follies the frowardness of our own hearts as we do our Brethrens what a name should we get us in the world Let us rather in this shew our selves the Children of our heavenly Father As he doth unwillingly see the faults of his Children and passeth by many of their transgressions Micah 7. 18. so let us be loth to see or hear of the infirmities of Gods Children but rather pass them by and with the Garment of Charity cover their nakedness I deny not but we may judge the Tree by the Fruit If we see a man apparently guilty of lewd scandalous sins and impenitently continuing in them we may leaving his final damnation to the Searcher of all hearts judge and censure him for the present to be in a most wretched estate But we ought not to be too Critical in observing the slips and infirmities of our Neighbours and then without sufficient reason and with joy and delight to speak of them unto others For the preventing whereof I would commend unto you that Lesson which the Heathen Philosopher taught his Schollars namely In the seeing or hearing other mens faults to inquire Numquid ego tale whether I have done the like or whether I may not do the same or worse For there is in every one of us that Original corruption which containeth in it the seeds of all sins which would spring forth in us as notoriously as in others did not God keep them down either by his renewing or restraining Grace By reason of this Original corruption the best of us have a disposition to the vilest sins Therefore saith the Apostle Gal. 6. 1. Brethren if any man be overtaken with a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self least thou also be tempted That is considering thine own frailty how thou mayst easily be overtaken with the same the like or a greater sin therefore deal as mildly and mercifully with him as thou wouldst others should deal with thee or thou art like to find the same measure from others to find others as ready to censure and judge thee as thou hast done thy Brother who will have as little care of thy Credit as thou hast had of his For it oft falls out by the just Judgment of God that they who are lavish in publishing their Brothers failings do find others as forward to speak of and spread their faults Do as thou wouldst be done by Wouldst thou not be evil spoken of speak not evil of others Wouldst thou not be made a by-word and a reproach and a Table-talk thy self let not others be made so by thee CHAP. XVIII Of the well ordering our Thoughts HAving shewed sundry Vices whereunto Young Men are much addicted that so they may carefully avoid the same I come now to another direction for the leading a godly and gracious life which is this Keep a strict watch over thy self in those things which concern thine own person For thy help therein observe these Rules 1. Be careful of thy thoughts Care of and about thoughts is a special discovery of a godly man Other men do seldom any more than wash the out-side let what will lodge within them Or if Conscience sometimes put them upon a restraint of inward passions and lusts yet when do we find any of them make Conscience of a thought For the better keeping thy thoughts in order put these things in practice 1. Give God thy first thoughts by prepossessing thine heart at thy first awaking with thoughts of his infinite Purity Wisdom Power Mercy Truth or the like Excellencies in him Thus did David Psal. 139. 18. When I awake I am still with thee that is so soon as I awake my thoughts are upon thee meditating on thy Word and works whereby his heart was exceedingly fenced and guarded both against the suggestions of Satan and the wicked risings of his own heart Holy and spiritual thoughts in the Morning will so season thine heart that thou mayst retain the savour of so good a beginning all the day after 2. Do thine utmost to keep bad thoughts out of thine heart but if they have entered in and got possession suffer them not to lodge and continue there but thrust them out of doors by head and shoulders so soon as they appear We cannot hinder Birds from flying over our heads yet may we easily prevent their Nestling there So the best of men cannot always hinder the hovering of worldly wanton thoughts in their hearts yet must they deny them Harbour there by a speedy rejecting of them 3. Make it thy business frequently to raise and extract holy and useful thoughts as from all Gods dealings with thee so from what thou seest or hearest yea from all accidents and occurrences As the Philosophers Stone is said to turn all Metals into gold so by this Heavenly Chymistry mayst thou turn all earthly things into some spiritual advantage and extract the pure gold of spiritual thoughts from common objects and occurrences 4. In regard the spirits and thoughts of men are very active always busied if they be not set upon good objects they will be working upon bad it will be thy wisdom to get such a Treasure of Divine Truths and Gospel Mysteries as may furnish thy heart with abundance of matter for holy and spiritual thoughts and to be much in exercising thy self upon them Matth. 12. 35. A good man saith our Saviour out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things that is sendeth out suitable Emanations for the good and comfort of his own Soul as well as others Mens layings out are according to their layings up Such as have a Stock of Spiritual Provision I mean have treasured up many precious Promises many Gospel-mysteries and Scripture-truths in their hearts will be able to bring forth as favoury discourses in company for the benefit of others so many spiritual thoughts when they are alone for the good and comfort of their own Souls 5. Oft consider Gods Omnisciency whereby he knoweth not only all our secret works whether good or evil but also the thoughts of our hearts Thou knowest saith David my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts afar off Psal. 139. 2. There are two things which God is said to know afar off the Pride of man and the Thoughts of man He hath it seems a severe eye up on each of these He minds our thoughts before they come into our minds while they are in the Chaos in the confused Womb of the Soul before they are expresly conceived and formed God knoweth them and therefore must needs know what we think when we think Surely O Young Man didst thou seriously consider this thou wouldst be more fearful of sinning in secret and more watchful over thy thoughts not suffering any worldly wanton or exorbitant thoughts to lodge and harbour in thy breast much more to rule and domineer there 6.
company welcom and acceptable unto all Yea it will win the hearts of all with whom you have to do and even knit them unto you Davids courteous carriage made all the servants of Saul to respect him Yea it is said All Israel and Judah loved him 1 Sam. 18. 16. On the other side Churlishness Bitterness Testiness and such other Vices which are contrary to this Vertue alienate mens minds from them yea and exasperate them against them But withal take notice that this courtesie and gentleness must neither make thee an Hypocrite and Dissembler nor over-familiar with thy Inferiours especially such as are in subjection under thee For Gods Image which all Superiours carry must be respected of them and accordingly must they carry themselves Nor yet must this make any over-remiss in reproving Offenders for so would this comely Vertue be turned into an hurtful and dangerous Vice indeed it serveth to sweeten reproofs that they may be better accepted Be courteous to all but beware of connivence much more of compliance with evil men in their sins Let not pretence of being courteous draw thee aside to be vicious III. Carry thy self humbly towards all men thinking better of others than of thy self The truth is that man who well knoweth himself knoweth more of himself of his own weakness and vileness than he can know of most others and therefore he may well have a meaner esteem of himself than of others especially such as are of his Rank and betwixt whom there is not too too palpable a difference If he have apparently better gifts than others yet his humble mind will make him think that others may have more true inward grace and sincerity because he knows more of the deceit of his own heart than he can of others This Vertue of Humility though it be primarily seated in the heart yet from thence it extendeth it self to a mans outward conversation and proves a most lovely and adorning Grace which doth adorn our Christian Profession and obtaineth favour both with God and Man whereas a proud haughty spirit is hated both of God and Man Solomon ranketh haughty eyes in the first place among such things as the Lord hateth and his Soul abhorreth Prov. 6. 17. As for man he naturally hateth pride in another though he love and like it in himself which is a great condemnation of the sin of pride But as for the humble and lowly-minded man he doth exceedingly gain the hearts and affections of others unto him Humility is so comely and graceful a Grace that it makes him who is decked therewith amiable and gracious in every mans eye Whereas none are more disdained than the proud none are better respected both by God and Man than the humble for it is abundance of Grace that makes men humble as it is abundance of Fruit that maketh Trees most bow God highly prizeth them and accordingly bestoweth his choicest graces on them Men usually lay up their richest Wines in the lowest Cellars and God lays up his choicest mercies in the lowest hearts Yea God himself delights to dwell in the humble Soul Isa. 57. 15. God hath but two Thrones the highest Heavens and the lowest hearts He overlooks the frame of Heaven and Earth to look on a poor humble heart Isa. 66. 1 2. not with a bare look of intuition but with a look of favour complacency and delight Though the Lord be the most high yet hath he respect to the lowly Psal. 38. 6. They are Gods Iewels in high esteem with him yea they are Gods Glory Isa. 4. 5. They give all glory to God and therefore God loves to exalt them to honour So that Humility is the readiest way to Honour Many make it the chief design and the main business of their lives to contrive how they may be great and honourable in the World and often it is that Honour flies from them as the shadow from him that pursues it But if they would study to be humble and so carry themselves towards all they would find that the speediest way to exaltation For saith Christ himself Mat. 23. 12. Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted even to honour here if God sees it good for him but howsoever to glory hereafter which is the highest and best preferment for Mat. 5. 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven True Humility stands in being low in our own eyes and being content to be low in the eyes of others Get this Heart humility and that will prevent those thoughts which would puff thee up in thy self and those lofty carriages which tend to set thee up in the World Let it be thy care to approve thy self in all good Conscience towards God and let him alone to take care of thy good name among men IV. Be as serviceable to others as thou canst As it was the meat and drink of our blessed Saviour to be doing good unto others So let it be thy meat and drink even thy chief delight to be doing all the good thou canst Let not any opportunity of doing good slip out of thy hands but as the Wise Man adviseth Eccles. 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might that is whatsoever ability or opportunity of service God affordeth unto thee either in thy general or particular Calling improve it with all care and diligence endeavour with thy might to do all the good that possibly thou canst in thy Generation This we find was the mind of our Saviour for saith he Joh. 9. 4. I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day Now what was the work of Christ but to do all manner of good as any opportunity was offered whether by word or deed The phrase used by the Evangelist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to work the work is an Hebraism and implieth a thorow acting or doing of a thing a doing it heartily and that with all care and diligence Thus should we make it our chief care and endeavour yea the main and principal work of our lives to do all the good we can in the world accounting that the happiest time in which we can do the most good And surely it is the greatest honour we are capable of here to be any way serviceable to God and his people and that which will bring much peace and comfort to our Souls and Consciences Be not a man for thy self be a common good be willing to serve thy Generation Let it not be said of thee It had been as well for the World if this man had never been born CHAP. XXVIII Of Mercy towards such as are in misery which implieth both a compassionate heart and an helping hand V. BE merciful towards such as are in misery Luk. 6. 36. This mercifulness or mercy is such a compassion of the heart whereby a man is moved to help and succour others in their misery So
cloaths I must have money I am sure these things are necessary for me for I must not starve I but is there not an higher necessity here whether I have bread or no whether I starve or no I must look to it that I be be not damned for ever Skin for skin and all that a man hath will a man give for his life Job 2. 4. I but skin and flesh and bone and life and all must go rather than lose my soul. If I can live and maintain my self here in an honest way it must be done If I can be a rich man and a good Christian a wealthy man and a godly man 't is well enough But whether I be rich or poor I must have Christ and Life and Christ I cannot have without turning from my sins to him What O my soul art thou such an enemy to Godliness that thou wilt rather die than become a Godly man Art thou so in love with a carnal and earthly life that thou wilt sell thy life to the Devil rather than change thy course will thy necessity prevail nothing with thee Thou art in necessity O my soul in necessity of Christ in necessity of pardon in necessity of Grace and holiness Thou art ready to perish a slave to Lust a slave to the Devil these Tyrants are thrusting thee down to the eternal prison thou art in necessity of Christ there 's no hope of escaping but by getting thee into Christ. 2. Would it not be for my profit to turn How can I spend my time to better advantage than by making the everlasting Kingdom sure to me Whom dost thou O my Soul account to have been wise men and the best husbands in the World whose care and whose labour have best turned to account either those who have gotten oyle into their Lamps that have been sowing to themselves in righteousness that have been laying up to themselves treasure in Heaven or they that have had their occupation wholly about this earth or else loytered their time in mirth and idleness which of these two sorts dost thou think are best provided for whose Harvest or Vintage is like to be the most plentiful and blessed However thou judgest now in this sowing day yet when the reaping-day comes then in which of the two cases wouldst thou be either of those who had sown in Righteousness and reap in mercy or else in case of those which have sown in the flesh and reap Corruption which have sown in Iniquity and must reap in wrath and fire would it not be more to thy profit to reap with the righteous and the godly than with the wicked and ungodly Why does the case stand thus Is it both necessary and profitable for me to be a sincere Convert to the Lord Come my Soul away with all excuses away with all delayes come in this day and yield thy self to the Lord come give thy self come joyn thy self to him in a perpetual Covenant that shall never be forgotten CHAP. VIII Containeth a direction unto Young men how to get a stock of Grace III. AT thy first setting up content not thy self with a competent stock of mony to begin the World withal but be sure likewise to get a good stock of Grace Thou art to drive two Trades together a trade for thy body and a trade for thy soul and each trade must have its distinct stock to be maintained upon 'T is like to be but poor trading where there is no stock to begin upon Thou maist as well drive a Trade for thy body without a stock of mony as a Trade for thy soul without a stock of Grace Get a stock of saving Grate a stock of Faith and Love and habitual holiness upon the wise improvement of this thou wilt grow rich unto God This is the true riches the best riches a little of it is more worth than all the world For 1. Riches oft prove hurtful to the owners of them Eccl. 5. 13. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun namely riches kept for the Owners thereof to their hurt proving oftentimes occasions of sin unto them being the bellows of pride and the fuel of Lust. But Grace always proveth an exceeding great advantage to the Owners thereof Never any man suffered by having too much grace It s good upon all accounts For it sanctifies mens earthly riches teaching them how to use and improve them to the glory of God the good of others and comfort of their own Souls Yea grace sanctifies not onely blessings but likewise crosses and afflictions turning them to their good For all things shall work together for the good of every gracious Soul of every one that loves and fears God Rom. 8. 28. Whereupon saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2. Worldly riches are uncertain they make to themselves wings and fly away Prov. 23. 5. Sure it is that within a short time either they will be taken from us or we from them either they will leave us or we must leave them Yea they are such slippery ware that the harder we graspe them the sooner they will slip out of our hands Whereas Grace is a blossome of Eternity which will abide with us for ever It doth not only continue with us so long as we live here but it endureth with us to all Eternity therefore called durable riches Prov. 8. 18. I know some tell us of falling away from Grace True it is a Christian may lose 1. The comfortable sense and feeling of Grace so that in his own apprehension it may be utterly lost 2. He may lose some degree of saving Grace for Faith is sometimes more lively and strong and sometimes more dull and weak Yea all Graces have their full and wane their ebbings and flowings 3. He may lose the powerful operation of Grace I mean the acts of Faith and other Graces may be intermitted and suspended when as the Graces themselves are not abolished but continue with us for ever In which respects you may discern the transcendent excellency of Grace above riches How should the consideration thereof prevail with you to labour in the use of all means God hath sanctified for the attainment thereof To help you therein take these Directions 1. Mourn and weep if possibly for thy graceless condition take up a lamentation and say Woe and alas that ever I was born especially that I have lived thus long in a graceless condition without God and without Christ in the World O what will become of me if I die in this estate Surely hell and damnation must needs be my portion to all Eternity Thus make thy closet an House of mourning and know that the mourning of thy Soul will cause the earnings of God's bowels towards thee so that he will not deny grace to a mourning Soul 2. As thou wouldst have grace