many times So that there is great need of the witness of the Spirit besides all our evidences to put the matter out of doubt that we are effectually called and so it is writen Rom. 8.15 The Spirit himself witnesses with our spirits that we are the sons of God He makes a heart-affecting discovery of the love of God in Christ to the soul Rom. 5.5 excites and stirs up Faith in the heart to act afresh upon the Lord Jesus works some joy in the soul from the apprehension of our Acceptance in Christ The Holy Ghost sometimes in assuring us of Gods love in Christ takes Promises in the Scriptures and sets them with power upon the heart as I am He that blotteth out thy Transgressions for my own Names sake and will remember thy sins no more Not that all words of Scripture that are cast into our minds are from the Spirit of the Lord but sometimes from Satan sometimes Promises come into our minds in an ordinary way as other things come to mind that we have read or heard but when any word of Scriptute is given in and applied in a way of comfort to our spirits from the Spirit of God 1. It will take some Impression though it may be that when the Spirit comes to comfort and witness he many times comes not with such irresistibility as when he comes to sanctifie yet some Impression it will have upon the heart if not to fill it with joy and Triumphing of spirit yet some way to support it and bear it up 2. If it come from the Spirit it will be suitable and seasonable to our condition as if a poor Saint be in affliction and the Holy Ghost should give in such a word as that in Heb. 12.9 He afflicts us for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness this is a seasonable word but many will say that such a Scripture was given in to them in such a condition when as the Scripture was nothing suitable to their condition but they mistook the meaning of the place 2. When the Spirit giveth in Scripture usually though not alwayes it is when the soul is in some strait some great strait and then he giveth them in some word upon which he causeth them to hope 4. Such words of Promise as the Spirit applies thus to a soul are very dear to the soul ever after yea it makes the whole Word of God more dear to them and such words do abide upon the memory very long 5. They raise up thankfulness in the heart 6. They do not cherish us in any way of sin if you thought you had any word from the Lord to put you upon any thing that the Word saith is sin then you were mistaken Somtimes the Spirit of God in comforting and witnessing to us doth not make use of any particular places and Promises but makes a general Discovery of the Gospel and New Covenant and applies that to the soul and shews him that he hath an Interest in the New Covenant that he is one of those whose Names are written in heaven and is sprinkled with the blood of Christ which cleanseth him from all sin This also I would here note that the Spirit of God doth speak peace to the consciences of many Believers that yet think they have no peace and question the truth of Grace in their hearts I say though it comes not so high as Ravishments of spirit yet the Holy Ghost in some more secret way hath quieted their hearts How comes it to pass else that those Believers notwithstanding all their doubtings yet do really and experimentally find that they can go to God as to a Father in prayer they are carried out to put all their cases to God and trust him with all their concernments and they find that the rancour of their spirits is taken off against the Lord these things declare plainly that in some secret way the Spirit of God hath quieted their hearts and given them some satisfaction concerning their sincerity and Truth of Grace though it hath not been so plain as to some other Saints that have had full assurance and abundance of joy in the Holy Ghost thereupon Let not the Saints be impatient and fret to do evil if the Spirit don't presently give them assurance neither let them think that they shall never have assurance because they have been long without it The Lord oftentimes lets things come to the worst before he sends help Peace and Assurance may be very near when thou thinkest that there is almost now no hope yea this is observable that when the Holy Spirit shall give assurance after much doubting that assurance oftentimes is more lasting then others that have had comfort sooner But God lets some even spend their dayes in sighing and their years with heaviness and even mourn out their eyes and hearts and find no rest and peace in Believing the Lord makes known to us by such examples the bitterness of sin the power of his Terrours the danger of backsliding and that he only can speak peace Let Christians beware of getting a habit of complaining and doubting as I have known some have got such a habit of complaining that upon all occasions and in all company they must be laying out their doubtings not but that Christians should make known their troubles and fears in suitable times one to another both that others seeing the straits that they are in may pray the more for them and might comfort them with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God but I say many have such a habit of complaining that I had almost said whether they have doubts and troubles upon their spirits or no they think it not well if they have not some complaint to make and think that their godly friends expect it alwayes from them Some not considering what Faith is viz. the souls being brought off from all other things to depend and relie upon the Lord Jesus for eternal life they bear false witness against themselves that they do not believe in Christ thinking that faith is nothing but some high Ravishments and almost perfection whereas ask such souls Hath the Lord convinced you of your miserable estate by nature both in respect of the damning and domineering power of sin and they can truly say yea the Lord hath convinced me of this Ask them further Hath the Lord shewn you that all your own Righteousness can never save you nothing but a crucified Christ can do it the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath powerfully convinced me of this ask the soul further Hath the Lord ever made you truly sensible that you could not believe in your own strength but Faith was the Lords free gift and the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath made me sensible of this and you ask further Did you ever find an Almighty power of Gods Spirit drawing your heart to Christ to take him for the Lord your Righteousness so that
be observed by the hearers in the delivery of the word yet not so as to the Preacher himself by the observing of the inward frame of his heart some mens tone and art of speaking may counterfeit affections and other mens age and weakness of speech may hide very spiritual affections in that work 6 The blessed Spirit is the great thing in reading and hearing of the word 1 How clearely will the Spirit open a Scripture to a mans understanding when a man hath read many Expositors the Spirit of God is pleased many times to be the best Commentator 2 How the Spirit of God applyes the word read or preached with power many times upon the conscience and indeed then comes the word with power when it cometh in the Holy Ghost 1 Thes 1.5 and we should not observe only what we read or heard but what impressions the Spirit of God made upon the hearts in reading or hearing Those which Peter preacht to Act. 10. the holy Ghost fell on them when it is so with hearers then the word affects them indeed 3 The Spirit of God in hearing of the word sometimes enlargeth a soul and enlightneth it into a Truth far beyond what the Preacher made out in expressions 4 Yea the Spirit makes use of some passage in a Sermon many times to work upon a soul that was but a parenthesis and circumlocution or reflexion upon the hearers ignorance and dulness things that many would think might very well have been left out 7 The Spirit of God is of infinite use to us to lead us into Truth Joh. 16.13 He leads Believers into all truth all necessary truth to Salvation Gods spirit doth as it were print a body of divinity in the hearts of Believers and though many of them be of weak Judgement and not able to answer the subtile Arguments that may be brought against a Truth yet Gods Spirit keeps them in the Truth that they are not led aside 8 The Spirit brings things to our remembrace John 14.26 That though many an honest heart when he hath read or heard the word complains he can remember very little yet Gods Spirit will bring things seasonably to their Remembrance that it may be many years after when by reason of some Temptation or affliction they have most need of such a truth then they have such a place of Scripture or such a passage of a sermon heard long ago brought to their Remembrance by Gods spirit and shall be of mighty use to them The conscionable and diligent hearing and reading of the word is frequently blessed with seasonable remembrance yea Gods Spirit hath sometimes convinced and converted a soul by bringing things to Remembrance that were read or heard many years ago and then took no impression upon the soul that the benefit of hearing and reading of the word both by Believers and Unbelievers doth not always appear upon that instant but it may be a great while afâ—…r CHAP. XIII The Covenant between God the Father and the Lord Iesus our Surety IT s a thing of unspeakable comfort to know that the Covenant of Grace is an everlasting Covenant and that it was principally made with Christ as the head of the Elect several things shew that there was a Covenant and Agreement between God the Father the Lord Jesus concerning the work of Redemption Christ being called the surety of the better Covenant Heb. 7.22 shews that there was a Covenant between God the Father and him as there is between a Creditor and a Surety that Christ gave Bonds as it were to God the Father and payed the debt when Christ is called Gods servant Esay 42.1 holds forth as much that though Christ as to his Divine nature was equal with God yet as Mediatour he became the Fathers servant God the Father and he agreed and Covenanted about the doing of this great Work of saving sinners Yea in Psalm 89.28 God the Father saith my Covenant shall stand fast with him that is which Christ for many things in that Psalm shew that it s to be interpreted of Christ so then there is a Covenant that God the Father hath made with Christ the Mediatour which Covenant the Lord saith shall stand fast upon this account the Lord Jesus is said Revel 13.8 to be the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the world because that it was agreed and Covenanted between God the Father Christ that he should in the fulness of time be made flesh and die for sinners and therefore it was said to be done from the Foundation of the world because so it was written in the Volume of Gods Book that the Lord Jesus had agreed to come to do the will of God Heb. 10. which was to offer up one Sacrifice for sins for ever which was himself and for the same Reason it is said that the Promises are made to Abrahams seed which is Christ Gal. 3.16 not to seeds as of many but they are principally made to one saith he and that is Christ and this the Apostle asserts 2 Tim. 1.9 when he saith we are saved and called not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began which shews that God the Father and Christ dealt together about the Redemption of souls before the world began and all things agreed on and made sure between them This the Lord Jesus means John 10.16 when he saith there were other sheep which he must bring home why must he bring them home how was he bound to it only by this Covenant and Agreement with God the Father wherein he had covenanted to do it Thus then it may be expressed in three particulars 1. God the Father decreed the salvation of the Elect all those expressions where he is said to chuse them love them with an everlasting Love evince so much 2. God the Father appointed the Lord Jesus to be the Way and means by which they should be saved therefore is Christ said to be appointed by God the Father Heb. 3.2 therefore God is said to lay help upon him for poor sinners Psalm 89. and therefore God is said to appoint us to obtain by our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.7 this is everywhere spoken of in the Scripture 3. God the Father made a sure Covenant with the Lord Jesus and agreed with him that he should do this great Work of bringing many sons unto glory And so as we may express it to our Capacities under the Notion of a Covenant there were several things agreed on between God the Father and Christ our Mediatour 1. They agreed of price what that Ransom should be that should discharge poor sinners and make full satisfaction to Gods Justice and it was agreed that it should be the death and blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus this is expressed Heb. 10. where Christ saith to God the Father Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not according to the Law but in
changed their God for that which cannot profit O shall the Heathens be constant to their dumb Idols and shall not we be constant to the living God 8. Slighting of God after we have had some acquaintance with God is quite contrary to the course of his dealings with us Ezek. 36.11 God promises to be better to us in the end then in the beginning He will give us more Communion with him and glory afterwards then he hath done yet and if God be better and better to us shall we grow worse and worse to him God forbid Now O that we might recover that we might remember from whence we are fallen and Repent and do our first works 1. Bathe our selves by faith in the blood of Christ for the pardoning of all our backslidings look upon God in Christ as not ready only to pardon our sins when we were in gross ignorance but to heal all our back-slidings because he loveth us freely Hos 14.4 Jer. 3. the beginning Look upon our Father as having a best Robe to put upon a poor Prodigals back and shoos to put upon his feet though the poor backsliden soul hath scarce a shoo to his foot as we say he hath worn out all 2. O look for fresh and new workings of Gods Spirit upon our hearts to create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us It s said of the Lord that he reneweth the face of the earth that he doth every Spring when Winter hath made the earth to look as if it were cloathed with sackcloath the Lord in the Spring putteth on a new face and dress upon the earth the Birds sing the Trees flourish the grass grows this is our case in our Winter of backsliding a Winter indeed O look that God now should bring a spring time upon thy heart is there not need 3. O look at the heart to be renewed a clean heart saith David good Lord after his backsliding Psalm 51.10 O I would have that bone set right that I may walk in thy Statutes that instrument well tuned Dauid doth not say only Lord let me never commit Murder and Adultery again but Lord give me a clean heart O that hath bred all this mischief the foulness of my heart Lord therefore cleanse that 4. If ever the Lord quicken us again be more watchful and keep close to God if we recover out of this dangerous disease let us have more care of our souls health have a care of spiritual surfets 5. And look that our Recovery be through that the humour be not only diverted but purged away 6. Count all our outward enjoyments nothing but sit mourning in Sion until God graciously visit us 7. Labour to see not only in general that we have backslidden but particularly wherein that we may return no more to folly And those who yet have thriving spirits keep in with that God that smiles upon you say not that it is impossible that thy soul should wander as a Bird from her Nest but watch and pray lest you enter into temptation Often consider that these last times will be times of much backsliding of Professors 2 Tim. 3. O get particular and distinct Knowledge wherein Professors do commonly backslide and get your hearts deeply affected with them and remember what special notice God takes of those that keep close to him in a time when many fall off Thus he took notice of Noah Gen. 7.1 and of the sons of Zadock Ezek. 44.15 Expect to be tempted and tried by an hour of temptation and look not only to be tryed as to conversation but as to Judgement as to Opinions Sathan will have a bout with you with that Weapon of Error How many are fallen off that way but labour to have more grounds out of the Word and clearer light for all you hold Let plain Christians who have no skil in Controversies yet furnish themselves with Scriptures for every point as for the Godhead of Christ Justification by Christ and the like and labour to have your hearts given up to the Truth you know put not your selves upon Temptations in hearing every body suspect those Opinions that neither further your Communion with God nor his most holy People but straiten you in both stick close to the Word and not move a hairs breadth from it Don't love to dispute against that which you are convinced to be Truth to shew your parts and reach Take in the benefit of other light in your doubts and look up to the Spirits guidance to lead you into all Truth CHAP. IX Of Assurance and peace of Conscience ALL Believers have not Assurance some Believers walk in darkness and see no light Esay 50.10 A true Saint may be in great doubtings so great as Heman complains that his troubles were so great that they did as iâ— were distract him yea a Believer may be a long time in that condition Psalm 88.15 Heman was so exercised from his youth up There are several causes why many Believers are in great doubts about their spiritual estates as 1. want of constant meditation upon Gods free Grace in Christ 2 Falling into great sins 3. The often prevailing of the same corruption 4. Want of answers of prayers 5. Some great cross and affliction that is befallen them that they are tempted to think would never have befallen them if the Lord loved them this mistake hath disturbed the peace of many a Child of God 6. The not meeting with communion with God in Duties if God loved me saith the soul would he let me come and go from his Ordinances and take no notice of me 7. The subtile Disputes of Satan against our Sincerity in the ways of God many times baffle us and make us fit to give up the cause 8. The observing that a Hypocrite may go far strikes many a Child of God into a great fear whether he be gone beyond a Hypocrite or no 9. Unacquaintedness with Gods workings upon our hearts we know but in part as we know not all the evil in our hearts so a Saint doth not know all the good and Grace that God hath put into them 10. The weakness of Grace but like a graine of mustard seed in our hearts the least of all seeds so Faith and Sincerity lies like a small mustard seed among huge clods of corruption and the soul hath much ado many times to see this grain of mustard seed among these clods Thus and many other wayes a true Child of God may fall into great doubts and fears about his spiritual estate indeed if men know of no workings that have been upon their spirits it s a sign they are yet in a natural estate the Saint of God knows that there have been workings of the Spirit and convictions upon him but he feareth that they were but common workings such as are upon Hypocrites and Reprobates and not the saving work of Gods Spirit that he questions whether he hath gone beyond the stony-ground hearers
for Christs sake hath forgiven us there will be something amiss in our carriages towards our Brethren and if we do not forgive where will our love be Minister to the wants of the Saints according to our abilities freely without grudging do not unsaint our Brethren because of some ignorance and error The Patriarcks are supposed to have been ignorant that Polygamy the having of more wives then one was a sin the disciples ignorant of Christs death and resurrection at the first visit the Saints those that are the poor especially when they are under afflictions not only to comfort them but because then usually there is much good to our selves in converse with them 21. If God hath made our days hitherto days of outward prosperity compassed us about with fulness of the creature watch against sin the more David committed those three great sins of murder adultery numbring the people when he was in prosperity and greatness And do good while we have estates or oppornity and look and prepare for afflictions don 't think God will always use thee to such fair weather and if God continue prosperity learn heavenlyness not to stick in the creature learn moderation not to surfer on the creature and daily make wise observation of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature 22. If Afflictions come see if thou canst find out the particular cause of them which sometimes may be known by the time when it comes As for Nebuchadnezar Daniel 4. to be struck just when he had been saying Is not this great Babel which I have built it was easie to know that his pride and vain glory was the cause of that woful affliction that came upon him and so Herod Act. 12. to be just smitten with death when the people cryed it was the voice of a God and he took that to himself it was easie to see that that was the cause of his death so also we may sometimes know the cause of our afflctions by that way of affliction that God useth to us it may be so like our sin as Davids affliction in the â—…eath of the Child that was by Bathsheba Vriah's wife 1 Sam. 12. it was easie to know that that sin was the cause of the childs death and so Adonibezeck Judg. 1.6,7 when he had his Thumbs and great Toes cut off he presently was convinced what was the cause of the affliction because he had served threescore and ten Kings so himself Sometimes God shews us the cause of our afflictions by setting it up upon the hearts of our Brethren among whom we live Sometimes he sets it home upon our own Spirits that such a sin is the cause of it but if the Lord never let us know all our days the particular cause of many afflictions yet we are to kiss the rod submit to his hand search and trie our waies humble our selves under his hand and walk more closely with him in the whole course of our lives 23. Take heed that we offend not with our Tongues let our words be few take not up most of the time in discourse when better gifts are present but be swift to hear let our discourse be seasonable to time place company if they be wicked such discourse as may awaken and convince if they be strong Saints such discourse as may be sutable to them sometimes it is not fit to speak in the company of weak trembling Saints what horrible temptations other Saints have unless it be to comfort them that they are not alone but others of Gods children are tempted as well as they otherways weak Saints many times fall into great torment of spirit that they shall be tempted as they are and that they shall sink under the Burthen Do not use to commend your selves neither affect in discourse to give others occasion to commend you do not delight in rough and harsh speeches be wary to whom we open our hearts in secret matters not unless they can keep Councell and give Councell use heavenly discourse among godly men for want of that makes their company to be little better then other mens in discourse be not silent when there is cause to speak out of affected gravity nor speak out of for wardness or indiscretion when our silence is better 24. Prize the Scriptures as the word of God so they are called over and over Blessed is he that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it Now the Lord is revealing light out of the Scripture more and more Satan tempts many to deny the word of God all Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the breathing of God 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men of God wrote the Scriptures and they wrote them as they were moved by the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forcibly carried out of themselves and above themselves by the holy Ghost By the word of God when the Scriptures are so called is meant that which God hath spoken that which he hath said and therefore for men to boggle at the expression and say the Scriptures are not the Word of God but only Christ is the Word of God it is as much as to say the Scriptures are not what the Lord hath spoken and what holy men wrote as they were moved by the holy Ghost as the holy Ghost indited this is a horrible temptation it is true Christ is called the word so is he the Eternal Word of God but the Scriptures also are the Word of God the written Word of God Where this temptation prevails upon men that they question the Scriptures being the word of God by degrees they throw up all Religion all truths one after another and though they do it at first under the notion of living in the spirit and of the Light within them yet at last they turn very Atheists and thus after a generation of grosly ignorant and superstitious persons there is risen up a multitude of deluded and erroneous persons even in the fundamentals of Religion But O let those that are the Lords people study the word of God day and night try all things by the Word get sutable hearts to the Word that we may understand it the better look up to the Spirit that indited the Scripture to be our Expositor and comment upon them and often try our selves by the word and take heed to all our ways according to the word read it ofner then other books and give up our hearts to all the Truths of it 25. Lay up experiences which are better then Cabinets of Jewels lay up experiences of the comfortings of the Spirit of his gracious influence in prayer and other duties lay up experiences of the ravishing consolation that flows from Christs blood lay up experiences of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature and of Gods care over us to keep us from many sins and errrors when we have had great temptations to them take special times to meditate of all the special experiences we
A MANUALL OF Practical Divinity For the Benefit of weak CHRISTIANS the informing their Judgements the quickning their Affections and directing their Conversation WITH Several Things that may be of use for the Convincing and Awakening those that are yet in their natural Estate By MARTIN FYNCH Pastor of the Church of Christ at Tetney in Lincoln-shire LONDON Printed by R. W. for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles near the West end of Pauls 1658. To the READER I Published some years since a little Treatise called Milk for Babes in Christ which foundsome acceptance with some new born Babes in Christ especially in the West Countrey and those parts as I am informed have taken off a great part of two Editions of that Book and some there to whom I am a stranger do desire I should publish someting further for whose sake with others I have written these few sheets wherein there is some more Milk for Babes in Christ and a little stronger Meat for those that are more grown Christians but I can pretend to little of that might I but feed any of Christs Lambs it were much for such a poor Creature as I am What you have here is especially for weak Christians whom sometimes weak gifts may edifie God doth not all by men of great parts but useth also the weak things of the world that no flesh might glory in his presence It s God that makes our gifts to be accepted of the Saints and usefull to them yea God makes the weak gifts of his servants sometimes very acceptable and refreshing to his people what is wanting in our writings he can supply by the presence and supply of his own Spirit in the reading of them The wind bloweth where it listeth so doth Gods Spirit breath in whose books as well as preaching he pleaseth and more or less as it pleaseth him without which all our writings prove to others jejune and dry One writes and another one preacheth and another thou knowest not which shall prosper the ones labors or the others or whether both shall be alike good for all our works are in the hand of the Lord. The Assistance of Gods Spirit in writing or preaching the spiritual Affections God giveth the sincerity simplicity and humility of a mans own heart and some faith that God giveth of his blessing satisfie a mans own heart much in such undertaking Nothing becomes those that the Lord makes any use of in these things more then an unfeigned humility of heart having no confidence in themselves and performances and a true dependance upon the Lord in all they do Those that cannot add one cubit to their own stature by all the Light and gifts they have without the gracious Influences and workings of the Spirit upon their hearts what can their Light and Gifts help others communicated by preaching or writing without the concurrence of the same Spirit What then are we or any of our Labors that we should not say We and they are nothing And if God will accompany any of them with his blessing it s his free Grace How easily can God blast all those Sermons and Books that are preached and printed in the pride of a mans own heart How often hath the Lord said in such cases there is so much self there I will not be there and so the performance is lost We know Gods Spirit hath not so wrought in the preaching of the word for conversion of souls as it hath done formerly It may be reading of good books is not so blessed to mens souls neither as it hath been few are converted yet more preaching through Mercy amongst us then ever none will complain of too much preaching though they do of too much printing But what is the reason that so few are converted Is not there excellent gifts for preaching possibly excelling in some respect the gifts and clearness of the light of former Ages but yet there must be the Arm of the Lord revealed the mighty drawing of the Father without which men cannot come to Christ And it may be that before the Lord accompany the preaching of the word with much success the Lords Servants shall not only in a doctrinal way know that its God that giveth the Increase but their hearts shall be so possest with the consideration of it that they shall lie more low before the Lord in their work and cry mightily for the pouring down of the Spirit But how many mistaking these things will slight outward means because its Gods Spirit that maketh all succesfull this temptation hath not only taken with many grosly ignorant persons who hearing of Gods eternal Election and of his distinguishing Grace throw up all outward means presently and in the sullenness of their spirits say There is no Hope but also many professors of Religion have withdrawn themselves from a constant and conscionable attendance upon the means of Grace Therefore this I have observed that it is expedient when ever we speak to persons of that necessary doctrine of the inward and efficacious workings of the Spirit to be that which makes all ordinances succesfull even then to give due cautions that according to the word this is no ground of neglecting any outward Ordinances and duties But who seeth not a formal spirit on the one hand and a wanton spirit on the other breaking in upon us The Lord put a stop to the spirit of error amongst us recover the dying withering languishing spirits of Professors send forth a reconciling Spirit among his people give more light into the Discipline of his house send forth more labourers into his harvest and bless them that are already at his work Tetney in Lincoln-shire 16. of Vulg. MARCH 1658. MARTIN FYNCH The CONTENTS THE wicked and miserable estate of man by nature chap. 1 How men deceive themselves and think that their estate is good chap. 2 Great Salvation in Christ for sinners ch 3 The freeness of the Salvation we have by Christ chap. 4 The Convictions and workings that are oftentimes upon men that are never converted chap. 5 The ways and temptations by which many souls miscarry under legal workings and a spirit of Bondage chap. 6 The saving work of Gods Spirit upon the heart chap. 7 The woful backsliding of many Professors and the way of their Recovery chap. 8 Of Assurance and Peace of Conscience chap. 9 The Ministry of Angels and their serviceableness to the Church chap. 10 The glorious times that shall be before the last day of Judgement chap. 11 The Influences of the Spirit chap. 12 The Covenant between God the Father and the Lord Jesus our Surety chap. 13 The Saints comfort against Death chap. 14 The Holiness of Believers chap. 15 The way of Believers joining in Church-fellowship chap. 16 The right use of the Law chap. 17 The true Humility that is in the Lords people chap. 18 General Directions chap. 19 How the Lord is pleased effectually to call some after they have been long in
against the Infections of the times or a Faithful Watch-word from Mount-Sion to prevent the ruin of souls whereby some special considerations are presented to sinners Admonition to Saints and Invitation to Backsliders published for the good of all by the Elders and Messengers of several Churches in Wales A Warning Piece for the â—lumbring Virgins or an Alarm to the friends of the Bridegroom being some awakning Meditations upon Christs own Watch-word Mat. 26.41 by Ge. Scortrech Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln recommended to the Reader by Joseph Caryl William Greenhill Geo. Griffith Books against the Quakers A Faithfull Discovery of a treacherous Design of Mystical Antichrist displaying Christs Banners but attempting to lay waste Scriptures Churches Christ Faith Hope c. and establish Paganism in England being an Examination of the Doctrines of the people called Quakers by Joseph Kellet John Pomroy Paul Glisson A Confutation of the Quakers being an Answer to ninteen Quaeries propounded by them and answered by S. Eaton Minister of the Gospel in Cheshire A Testimony to the true Jesus and the faith of him wherein the way of the people called Quakers is examined and weighed being an Answer to James Nailors Book called Love to the Lost by T. Higgenson A Looking-Glass for the Quakers by T. Collier The Conviction of James Nailer and his black Spirit demonstrated by Lieutenant Ellis Bradshaw Books printed in the Welch Language VIZ. The Bible with singing Psalms The New-testament alone The Practice of Piety The sincere Convert Some part of the Works of Mr. Rees Prichard sometimes Vicar of Landyfre in the County of Carmarthen Some Catechisms together with several other Books in Welch Sold at the three Bibles in Pauls-Church-yard near the West end CHAP. I. The wicked and miserable estate of man by Nature BY Nature our heart which should be the best part of us is the worst a deep and bottomless pit of sin God saw the imaginaton of the heart of man was only evil continually Gen. 5.5 God seeth it whose eyes are so piercing like a flaming fire but few of us see it all our dayes never until God anoint our eyes with his eye-salve then we cry out we are unclean we are unclean God many times begins in the conversion of a sinner with this to shew him the sin of his nature how desperately wicked his nature and heart is beyond all the sin that hath broke out in his practice that there is a great fire of sin upon the hearth of the heart from whence all those sparks fly out of the chimney of the life and practice O we are by nature full of sin as the Toad is full of poyson and that poyson we spit out is but little to what is within this Root of sin is of a spreading nature it grows faster in wicked mens hearts then Grace doth in the Godly that we grow worse and worse and though by education afflictions terrors of conscience the branches may be lopt off yet the Root of sin in the heart doth spread daily O wretched men that we are that our heart which should be the Presence Chamber for the King of Heaven that this is a cage of unclean Birds and when we want opportunities of Uncleanness Theft Murder Voluptuousness outward pomp and applause then our wicked hearts will act over these things in a speculative way delighting our selves in the thoughts of them Therefore it is that the Scripture sets out conversion by A new heart Ezek. 36. Washing the heart from wickedness Jerem. 4.14 and forsaking our thoughts Esay 55. because our hearts are so opposite to God by nature and so contrary to the heart that God puts into us when he makes us new Creatures and therefore it is that when our eyes are opened we grow sick of our own hearts and cry out Lord deliver me from this proud worldly unclean deceitful unbelieving vain hard heart There is no cozening and cheating tricks in the world but our hearts have them that if there were no Devil to delude us yet our own hearts would everlaftingly cheat us Our hearts by nature are like a rotten stinking Fen from whence arise continual fogs mists and vapors which are a stench in the nostrils of God Satan hath a mighty power over us that maâ—icious subtile strong man armed he ruleth in the â—hildren of disobedience Eph. 2.2 Adam by his â—all hearkening and yielding to Satan chose â—im for his God the Devil cals us his House Matth. 12.44 there he is at bed and board â—e keeps the keyes and bolts and locks all the â—oors against Christ and unless Christ that is â—…ronger then he bursts them open he dwels â—here for ever O consider this all ye that are 〈◊〉 your natural condition that Satan hath posâ—…ssion of you that you are possest with the Devil though not in a bodily way as in Christs â—…me the Devil possessed many yet he hath posâ—…ssion of the heart Satan fortifies the hearts â—f men makes them strong Garrisons against â—…e Lord Jesus Now we are in a faln estate and liable to Gods everlasting wrath and there is such inâ—itations to come to Christ that we may be deâ—…vered from the wrath and Hell to come we have such cursed perverse hearts that we will not come to Christ that we may have Life but rather die in our sins we say as those Luke 19.27 that Christ shall never raign over us as soon as ever we hear Christ knock and call at the door of our hearts we run and bolt the door against him and unless he please by an Almighty and irresistible power to change our wills we never believe on him O how through unbelief we refuse great Salvation and do as it were bid God shoot all his Arrows at us we stand in the dreadful storm of Gods wrath and will not come to Christ the shelter and covertâ— from the storm we open our naked brests and bid God strike with the sharp sword The way of our wretched hearts is that if God never look after us we never look after him if we should live never so many thousand years in the world after we are converted we seek him iâ— some poor measure we seek the Lord and hiâ— strength and Grace and Spirit but before wâ— look not after him but if he come near to uâ— in afflictions in the Ministry of his Word oâ— common Reproofs and convictions of his spirit we say unto God Depart from us we desiâ—… not thy Christ thy Spirit and the knowledge oâ— thy wayes We cannot do any thing that God will accept of though we be never so serious stricâ— as doubtless many Papists and others are Aristotle and others of the Heathens that could write so many Books of Philosophy yet could not tell how to make one acceptable prayer to God all their vertues were but as a Toad painted over with fair colours or as a Silken stocking upon a wooden Leg a man by nature wants faith hath
to think how many checks of conscience and motions of the Spirit you put by what terrour will it be to you to think what holy Saints you opposed and jeared what precious means of Grace you slighted and what pains you took for the world and how careless you were for your poor souls O think it no smal matter to die in thy natural estate and be damned if once thou come to hell there will be no ease nor end of thy misery for ever If God should but say to the damned in hell that after a hundred thousand years they should come out of their torments it would be some lightning to their hearts but there will be no end the worm dies not and the fire goes not out Christ goes over with those words three times almost together Mark 9.44,46,48 because he would have men in their natural condition take special notice of it that if they die out of him they will be miserable for ever miserable indeed to be alwayes dying alwaies burning alwaies weeping alwaies suffering the torments of Hell O therefore consider the state that thou art in before it be too late there is corruption and sin enough in one mans heart to undo all the men in the world if it were divided to them O then how easily will it undo one soul Know then if we be not justified freely by Gods Grace in Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of the Lord we must unavoidably perish for ever Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3.7,8 The time of Gods patience the time of Grace is but a short time therefore called a day To day if you will hear his voice It s but a day in comparison of Eternity nay in comparison of Eternity a mans daies upon earth are but as a moment or the twinkling of an Eye and the time of Grace is but a short time but a day in comparison of the greatness of the work that is to be done the making of our calling and Election sure It s but a day in respect of the uncertainty of our enjoying the means of Grace and it s but a day in respect of the uncertainty of our lives for in a moment we go down to the grave and all our thoughts perish To day therefore hear his voice come in to Christ do not say to morrow is soon enough do not put off the offers of Grace for now is the accepted time this is the day of Salvation CHAP. II. How natural men deceive themselves and think that their Estate is good IT S a great mercy for a man that is not in a state of Grace to know that he is yet without Christ but men flatter themselves that they are Christians and Saints when there is no cause in the world for it Men deceive themselves in their spiritual estate sometimes by not examining their condition many men never take thought whether they have Christ or no and if men do examin their spiritual Estate usually it is by false signs as outward performance of Duties or outward abstinence from many gross sins It s a sad thing when we have nothing to evidence a good estate but outward thing no work upon our hearts but only we have performed many Duties and sat under Ordinances so did they Isa 58. the beginning And many deceive themselves in their spiritual Estate by shunning a heart-searching Ministry they call for a Minister that may prophecy to them smooth things there is many mens Ministry that never touches upon the heart hath little tendency that way And men have a way to excuse sin and so think they are in a good estate though they live in all manner of sin as Adam laid the fault upon Eve and Eve shifted it off to the Devil Men that never pray in their Families never read the word in their Families lay the fault upon business Another way whereby we often deceive our selves in our spiritual estates is by looking upon the failings that the Saints have and so flatter our selves that our condition is the same with theirs thus men will say David did so and so and Peter did deny Christ Yea But David and Peter believed in Christ and mourned heartily for their sins A Saint hates all sin do you do so Again By Nature we are ignorant of the true nature of every Grace and therefore are easily deceived in our estate we do not know the true nature of saving faith we think it lies only in knowing that Christ dyed for sin we are ignorant of the nature of Repentance how the Love of God in Christ doth break the heart and we think if we give to the poor then we have Charity whereas in the Scriptures account a man may give all his goods to the poor and yet want true Charity 1 Cor. 13. And then men are loth to examin themselves to purpose whether they be in the faith or no for fear they should despair if they come to see their estate is not good though alas very few despair and its one thing for a man to be convinced of his estate being bad and another thing to despair for though he be not converted yet he may be converted afterwards Likewise the quietness and stilness of many mens consciences makes them think that they are in a good estate when as that may be a great Judgement upon them it s one thing to have true Peace of Conscience and another thing to have a seared Conscience There are certain plain signs that a man is not in a state of Grace which are evident in many and in such great Characters that he that runneth may read them as if men jear at the Spirit of God and jearat men for having the Spirit of God that they will say This is a man of the Spirit Dost thou think that thou art a Saint All Saints have the Spirit of Christ in them and they are led by the spirit of God Rom. 8.14 and they prize the Spirit highly And if men be wholly ignorant of the way of Justification by the blood of Christ and declare plainly that they seek life by their own obedience and Righteousness it is evident that they are not in a good estate for all Believers desire to be found in Christ having on them the Righteousness which is of God by Faith and how many by this may be convinced that they are not in a good estate Or if men live in all manner of sin allow themselves in drunkenness swearing and the like These transgressions of the wicked say within my heart saith David That the fear of God is not before their eyes Psal 36.1 Let men say what they will if that they commit iniquity with greediness it is evident that they know not Christ in a saving manner For he that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the Truth is not in him 1 Joh. 2.4 Indeed Hypocrites may
I can be Answ The Lord knows how to make use of the poorest child or servant that he converts sometimes he converts a child or servant and so brings Religion into a Family his Love is not grounded upon our serviceableness we bring glory to Gods Grace by our coming to Christ and the poorer creatures we are the more glory redounds to the free Grace of God in saving us Besides The weakest Saint when he comes to Heaven shall be able to sing Praises and Halleluiahs to God as well as the most eminent and if God had only looked at serviceablness he had made choice of the fallen Angles before us who could have done more service then any of us God can make the poorest Creature an eminent Saint and though it may be you may not have such gifts and opportunities of service in an outward way yet you may do God much service in an inward way fearing him loving him trusting in him admiring of his Love And let those that are in Christ and justified freely by Grace watch against any thoughts that may arise in their hearts of any worthiness in themselves as if they had any form or comliness for which they should be desired but only that God hath been gracious because he would be gracious and this is certain that the more a man grows in Gospel-grace the more wonderfull will the Love of God in Christ be to him that the souls of Believers are oftentimes astonished at the free Grace of God to them and cry out in the warmth of their Spirits Never love like to this Love let all the Angels in Heaven wonder at it to eternity CHAP. V. The Convictions and Workings that are oftentimes upon men that are never converted MAny men that are never converted have mighty Convictions upon them that they see they have been very sinfull and are ready to despair as Judas did Mat. 27. they are so troubled in their Consciences sometimes men are convinced of the vanity of the world which they have set their hearts so much upon they will cry out with Severus the Emperour Omnia fui nihil mihi profuit I have had honour and riches and those things and never the better and they will sometimes say Now none but Christ O give me Christand I have enough this is in some worldly disappointments and discontents and in the trouble and confusion of their Spirits How mightily was Balaam inlightned and convinced Num. 23. and Num. 24. he was convinced of the blessed Estate of the Saints and desired in his way to die the death of the righteous There are many that are so inlightned that they get a great deal of knowledge and shall tell Christ at the last day Mat. 7. We have prophesied in thy name that they have preached Christ to others and yet are shut out for ever from the presence of the Lord. Indeed Those that are not savingly wrought upon and yet are much inlightned commonly they fall into great Errors and if they be in Church-fellowship they will usually go out from the Saints because they were not of them joined as Members in Christs mystical body 1 Joh. 2.19 This last age wherein Gifts and Knowledge are more common then heretofore afford many sad instances of this that many have had only common inlightning and because they never received the Truth and ways of God that they seemed to own in the Love and Power of them therefore God giveth them up to strong delusions and errors 2 Thess 2.10,11 And these in Gifts go beyond many of the true Members of Christ but they are kept when the Lord leaveth others with their parts and gifts to be deluded with error God knows how to make use of the parts and gifts of Hypocrites and those that have only common inlightnings that while they are in the Churches of the Saints God may make their parts and gifts of use to the Saints God makes use of their falling away to shew his people by whom they are kept and how excellent the Grace of Christ in the hearts is above parts and common inlightnings When this sort of Professors have been most flourishing and best in appearance and high in the thoughts of many for Religion some of eminent Grace and acquaintaince with the ways of God have seen the rottenness of their hearts and have said that they were but Hypocrites as their falling away did afterwards manifest And this sort of Professors have usually a mighty itch upon their Spirits after novelty of opinions that they rove from one opinion to another and are seldom setled in any thing but take up and lay down and if they have found an opinion wherein they stick they presently pass sentence upon all Professors be they never so eminent in Grace that agree not with them in that Thus many that have common inlightnings will for a time make profession of Religion and perhaps have high notions afterwards turn very Atheists neither pray nor hear nor discourse of heavenly things but grow as proud and covetous prophane as any other and so the Scripture speaks of them that they have Consciences seared with an hot Iron return with the dog to his vomit being but dogs yet in the sight of God and with the swine after all their outward washing and reformation to their wallowing in the mire O What deep convictions have many men and cry out of their sins and the people of God rejoyce and hope that these are the pangs of the new birth and yet these men either pacifie their Consciences many times with legal Reformation with their own righteousness and leaving those particular sins which have so galled their consciences without ever becoming new creatures or else time wears out their trouble and they grow more prophane and wicked then ever they were before and among other sins that they are given up to by the righteous hand of God they will fall to mighty opposition and rage against the Saints of God But were these men united to Christ by faith No in no wise as the Heaven is higher then the Earth so is the work of the Spirit upon a true Believers heart above all the convictions and inlightnings and profession and outward reformation of those that fall away Nebuchadnezzer had great convictions yet we do not know that ever he was converted however not before he was driven from men to the beasts of the field Dan. 4.31,32 yet before that he had great convictions First By Daniels interpreting of his dream Dan. 2.47 He told Daniel that his God was the God of Gods and the Lord of Kings yet presently he fell to Idolatry Dan. 3. and commanded all to worship the golden Image which he set up and was so impudent as if he had lost all his former conviction saying verse 15. to the three Children when they would not worship his Image What God is there that can deliver you out of my hand But this is observable that many
to sin as it hath been that is a sign of a backsliding heart I do not say if the Conscience be not so scrupulous but if it be not so tender for when a man comes from under the Law and the Spirit of bondage he shall not have such a scrupulous conscience as he had before as people in that condition many times will scruple Whether they may eat or drink because they are unworthy of the creature with iunumerable other Scruples of that kind and it is a great Mercy to be freed from a scrupulous conscience it s one way by which God doth in a way of Judgement deprive men of the use of the lawfull comforts of this life when they have them in possession but I speak of true tenderness of Conscience a heart standing in a holy fear and aw of Gods word such a tender Conscience as Joseph had Gen. 39.9 How shall I do such great wickedness and so sin against God 2. Sign If there be a general neglect of secret Duties or constant deadness or formality in them this is a sign of a backsliden heart when a soul could have watcht for opportunities to pray and could have prayed with groans and sighs that can not be uttered and now duties are generally neglected or we have nothing but hard hearts and dry eyes in them 3. Sign If there be a general neglect and carelesness of assembling our selves with the Saints and holding communion with them its rare to see a man that hath left meetings and Communion of Saints that doth not fall wofully either as to error of conversation 4. Sign If there be an itch upon the Spirit after novelty of opinions and teachers and a disregard of those whom the Lord hath made Instruments of good to us heretofore thus the people forsook Paul 2 Tim. 1.15 Were not the Galathians much backsliden that now slighted Paul whom God had made an Instrument of so much to them that they would have parted with any thing to him 5. Sign of backsliding is If Professors grow worldly and earthly who have sat loose from the world heretofore Do we see a Professor that now holdeth his hands from doing good to poor Saints and grows now an oppressor and is all for racking and that which is called now in these days by the fine word Improvement know that that man is backsliden and gone back 6. Sign If men grow careless of offending their Brethren and will grow touchy with a whole Church Men usually when they break with God in some secret way they are never well till they have broken with his People time was when they could have born more from a single brother then now they can with a whole Church 7. Sign If men quite leave off using means to convert their Relations and Neighbours to draw them to Christ time was when thou hadst a heart to be speaking of the ways of God to thy friends and neighbours and now thou canst come into their company and nothing but Complements or Worldly discourse If men leave off to take care of the publique cause and interest of Christ and mind not whether Religion get ground in the town and country this is a sad sign of a backsliden heart 8. Sign If men grow careless of Gospel-institutions as hearing the word Church-fellowship breaking of bread O sometimes you counted it above all earthly things to have a name in Gods house and to see the Lords goings in the sanctuary and now you have no stomack it s a sign of want of Spiritual health 9. Sign If that though there be some stirring affections now and then yet if the constant frame of the heart be worse then formerly this is a sign of a backsliden heart A man through obstructions may have flushings in his face which may make him look wel but if his constant complexion be pale and wan we say he is not right so here if our hearts are grown dead in duties hard after the commission of sin backward to duties and our thoughts generally vain it shews some great distemper though at times by fits we have some stirring Affections 10. Sign When we grow high and are puft up with our knowledge that now all the Saints in Town and Country are nothing to them and all their gifts they think are nothing to theirs 11. Sign When we grow intimate companions of wicked men the falling at ods with the Saints and the falling in with wicked men is a sad sign of a backsliden heart they are both put together Mat. 24.49 eating and drinking with the drunken and smiting our fellow servants 12. Sign If we cannot bear opposition from the world in our Christian course as we have done but are fit to comply time was when we made nothing of scoff and jears and now we can scarce bear them but are fit to suit our ways to the world that they may let us alone this is a sad saln Spirit 13. Sign If a mans heart is not affected with the thoughts of Gods free Grace in Christ as heretofore this is a sad sign of a spiritual consumption time was when a Sermon of free Grace was like the honey and the hony comb but if ever God recover us the Doctrine of Gods free Grace in Christ will be the sweetest Doctrine in all the world to us I shall not stand to aggravate this backsliding and revolting from the Lord the Lord aggravate it upon our Spirits only that 1 Though the sould be recovered and come safe to heaven yet it hinders our present serviceableness to God and now is our working time Heaven is the time of receiving our time of enjoying 2 The backsliding of professors grieves the Spirit of God more then the sins of other men 3 They bring an evil report upon the ways of God that those that are without will say See what their Religion is it s only a little heat a sudden passion such a one hath done going to Sermons and Meetings now 4 It s a mighty dis heartning to young Beginners to see old Professors backslide and grow so dead Satan perswades them that they will do so too and therefore you had as good never enter upon the profession of Religion you see the ways of God are so strict that they soon grow weary of them thus Satan temps many young Beginners 5 Backsliden Professors are dangerous company for any body wicked men are hardened by their company and thriving Saints are deaded and offended 6. That is a great aggravation of our sin herein that it is without all cause as the Lord said Jer. 2.5,6,7 What iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they have forsaken me Doth not God keep a good house and doth he not bountifully reward that we run away from him 7. Wicked men are constant they don't fall off from their wayes and shall we fall off from the wayes of God Jer. 2.11,12,13 Have the Nations changed their Gods but my people have
The Law is taken into the hands of Christ and is made a rule for Believers to walk by the Believers Salvation or Damnation doth not depend upon his obedience or disobedience to the Law for he is freed from the Law as a Covenant of Works yet he is not freed from duty and filial obedience but the Law as it is a rule of obedience stands in force and is to be obeyed by all Believers Several reasons to prove it 1 Christ expounds the Law Mat. 5. and cleareth up the strictness and spirituality of the Law more 2 Else the breaking of the Law would be no sin which would be a monstrous opinion 3 The same things that the Laws forbids are set down in the new Testament to bring damnation 1 Cor. 6.9.10 as Idolatry Adultery Thest Covetousness 4. The new Covenant promises the putting of Gods Laws into our mind and writing them in our hearts Heb. 8.10 therefore the Gospelis no enemy to the Law but writes it in our hearts as it was writen in stone and gives us principles to obey it 5 Paul after his conversion looked upon it as a mighty work of Gods Spirit upon him that he delighted in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 7.22 that is that God had given him a heart to delight to do those things the Law called for which shews that Believers are to make the Law as a rule of obedience Thus a Believer is not without Law to God but is under the Law to Christ as Paul saith he was 1 Cor. 9.21 that is as the Law is taken by Christ into his own hands and held forth by him to his people as a rule for their obedience to him so a Believer is under the Law every Command of it and every breach of it is sin even in Believers The Believer is not freed from the Do this of the Law but when the Law saith Do this and live he is freed from that he doth not expect life by his doing those things in the Law for he is justified freely by Grace he liveth not by his doing but by the faith of the Son of God who loved him and gave himself for him And for the threatnings of the Law Not'do this and die the soul that sinneth it shall die this a Believer is freed from for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 Christ hath redeemed them from the curse of the Law by being made a curse for them Gal. 3.13 Quest How may a man know whether he hath a Gospel-work upon his heart or that he is yet under Law as a Covenant of works and hath only legal workings upon him Answ 1. Such as do not think it is a hard thing to come off from the Law as a Covenant of works to trust alone in the righteousness of Christ such may well suspect that there hath been only a legal work upon them for its the hardest thing in the world to rest only upon Christ though it is easily said 2 Such as do not know the Law from the Gospel and the Gospel from the Law in their main Principles and terms there are too many that know not in the least measure no not with a notional knowledge what the difference between the Law and the Gospel is such may well think that they are not yet come off from the Law as a Covenant of works 3 Such as have their hearts rise against Gospel-preachers and Professors as Gal 4.29 As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now A man that is upon the Law for life hath a strange enmity in his heart against those that look to be justified freely by Grace 4 Such are under the Law as a Covenant of works as cannot bear the vilifying of mans righteousness as to Justification though he heareth the same persons urge it never so vehemently as to Sanctification and walking before God to all well pleasing O if thou canst not freely say that all thy own Righteousness is as menstruous rags and that when thou hast done all thou art but an unprofitable servant then thou maist justly fear thy estate 5 Such as think they have kept the Law themselves like the young man in the Gospel All these things have I kept from my youth 6 Such are under the Law yet as have had legal breakings for sin but never had the least Gospel sorrow for sin who have never in the least mourned for sin because it peirced Christ but only because it pierceth themselves Let all labor for a right understanding of the Law in which take their directions 1 Look upon the Law as requiring perfect obedience so strict as that it will not abate one farthing to a sinner there is no compounding with the Law 2 Count your selves utterly unable to keep the Law 3 Count the forfeiture for breaking of the Law to be no less then eternal damnation 4 Always look upon Christ as having a righteousness answering the Law fully Rom. 10.3.4 Rom. 8.3,4 5 Count your selves under all the wrath and curses of the Law except you be in Christ Gal. 3.10 whatsoever are the intentions of God and the merits of Christ for an elect person yet uncalled he being considered as a child of old Adam he is under the curse he doth not in his own person enjoy the state of freedom which God hath graciously purposed to bestow upon him and the Lord Jesus hath purchased for him though yet it is impossible for the Law to throw the Elect person into hell because God will certainly bestow upon them in his own fit season the Grace that Christ hath purchased for them 6 If you be in Christ reckon not your selves to have to do with the curses and threatnings of the Law but see them all taken away by Christ from you 7 Often seriously remember that many perish everlastingly by their mistaking of the Law and resting in the Law that you may see by the Epistle to the Romans and Galathians where the Apostle shews the danger of resting in the Law and shews how forward men are to do so 8 Never go out in your own strength to obey the Law but fetch strength from the promises of the Gospel to obey the commands of the Law 9 In the reading of Scripture observe what places are most properly Law and what places are especially Gospel and make those which are Law and Duty to come in after free Justification to come in as filial obedience to the Lord. 10 When a soul hath been enabled to yield a good measure of obedience to the Law and Commands of God yet he must rely upon the Lord Jesus by faith as freely and alone justifying him he cannot spare the least part of Christs Righteousness after all the holiness he hath attained to but is still to desire to be found in Christ not having on him his own righteousness but that which is by
and very low in their own eyes aâ— for the sins of our unconverted Estate which we should often think of so as to admire Gods free Grace in calling of us out of darkness and to have new sorrow for old sins so as to put forth fresh acts of Faith for pardon so as to avoid all Occasions and Temptations to draw us to those old sins again so as to rely mightily upon Christs strength to keep us and so as to be humble and very low all our days The Lord many times sets on old sins upon the Consciences of his people with some terror but then it is usually when we are either in danger of falling into those sins again or have our hearts grow proud and puffed up forgeting what we were formerly but that God hath loved us freely And so our daily sins after Conversion our deadness and formality and unserviceableness all call for great humility of heart and self-abhorrence CHAP. XIX Some directions for Believers in their walking with God and their conversation in the world 1. LEt all Saints be well acquainted with Gods workings upon their souls the time and manner and be sensible of the backwardness and opposition of their own hearts to all the grace that God hath wrought in them that God hath magnified his Grace exceedingly in all the good that he hath done them Our Iniquities and the stubborness of our hearts testifie against us but God hath made it appear that he hath done all that he hath done for us for his own names sake 2. Be sensible of the corruption of our hearts remember all the iniquities of our youth get sound Repentance for the sins of our unregenerate estate when we knew not God observe our great backslidings since our Conversion and the sins that do most easily beset us and loath our selves for them and beg special Grace and strength from Christ where we are most weak and tempted 3. Renew our Faith daily upon Christ and meditate upon Gods free Grace in Christ which is notonly to be taken as a cordial in some swooning fits but our daily food for we live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 4. Getting Intimacy with the spirit of God and wait daily for his comforting teachings strengthnings and sanctifying influences and seasonable bringing of Scriptures and truths to our remembrance refuse not his light when he would teach us any thing though it be a despised persecuted Truth and never so contrary to our former apprehensions quench not his motions when he would put us upon any duty resist not his motions to stop us in any way of sin be thankfull for all his visits for his visitations preserve our Spirits we will thank a godly man for a visit much more the blessed Spirit count all our Prayers and services but as dead carcases if there be not the Spirits breathings and influences in them grieve him not who is our Comforter and makes us glad be not proud of his enlargements but let him have the praise of them 5. Be constant in all duties and Ordinances private and publique and be carefull that we neither be dead nor formal nor rest in our duties pray against distractions in duties which is a sin that is very hardly mortified 6. Watch against errors in judgement be not taken with the outward appearance of those that bring opinions knowing that Deceivers will come in Christs name Mat. 24. and will transform themselves into Ministers of righteousness Nay follow not men that are really godly without light out of the word for godly men know but in part do not reject every thing that seemeth to be new for many Truths especially about Discipline are revealed in these last times which godly men in former times were ignorant of that though God revealed to them the necessary Truths to Salvation yet in other things they are mistaken 7. Expect Temptations every day and be sensible of our own weakness to stand in an evil day labor to know that our Temptations are Temptations don 't venture upon Temptations don't come too near the devils forts and think we can retreat when we wil don't think that the devil plays only one game at once he hath many stratagems at once if he cannot prevail to draw to sinfull lusts he will endeavour to draw to Error if he cannot sink the soul with terrors he will labor to puff it up with Gifts be not confident when we have gotten a victory over Satan and think we have routed him he will not leave us so but will rally his forces again and give us open battell or lie in ambush for us Sometimes Satan only feigns himself to be overcome and comes afterward with more success yea a soul that hath got the better through the strength of Christ in some great temptation wherein Satan hath seemed to fight with all his forces yet may be worsted in a less temptation if Christ the Captain of our Salvation do not lead us on 8. Be well skilled in the Promises and meditate in them day and night and go not to the Promise upon legal terms close with the Promises of free Grace such as Ezek. 36.27,28 Jer. 31.32,33 before we close with the Promises that are made to Grace already wrought such as are made Mat. 5. to such as are poor in Spirit and hunger thirst after righteousness close with Christ before we close with the promises for all the Promises are Yea and Amen in him and through him to them that are in him 2 Cor. 1. And they are made first to Christ Gal. 3.16 as the head of the Elect let every Promise be as a stream to lead us to Christ the head and wel-spring of the Promises who hath all that in him that all the Promises put together do contain 9. Though in our young time we have been carried out in holiness in some comfortable measure yet be careful least in our old age and when we have been Professors a great while we do not fall off from our first love and zeal and tenderness of Conscience we read of Asa 2 Chron. 15. what great things he did for God in his young time yet in the next Chapter we see how much he fell and Solomon in his young time was fearfull of Idolatry but in his old age he was mightily carried away with it not only young Christians but old Saints of twenty or thirty years standing had need walk circumspecty 10. Practice that great duty of self-examination daily and desire of God to search us and try us and make us to know our iniquities and give us sound humiliation for them for godly men may lie a great while in a sin before they be truly sensible of it as David before he was truly sensible of that sin of Adultery as appears by 2 Sam. 12. that it could not be less then three quarters of a year for when the Prophet Nathan came to him the child that he had by
Bathsheba was born for in the fourteenth v. Nathan told him that the child that was born to him should die and so verse fifteen The Lord strake the child and so for his sin in numbring the people 2 Sam. 24.8,9,10 it was nine moneths and twenty days that the people were numbring and all that time David was not sensible of the sin but in the end of that time the Text saith His heart smote him and he said I have done very foolishly and what a sad thing is it that a sin should be three quarters of a year unrepented of and such great sins A Saint of all men in the world had need have his eyes about him and if it be possible have a thousand things in his eye together and surely if there are some sins that we commit and don't know them and mourn only in the general for them we should mourn the more for these sins we are convinced of and apply Christs blood to cleanse us from secret faults 11. Think daily of the greatness and freeness of Gods Love to us who hath taken such a course of mercy to us when he might have taken a course of Judgement well saith the Scripture That as the Heavens are higher then the Earth so is his mercy towards them that fear him and so are his thoughts of Mercy above ours What is all our mercy and pitty unto His Peter talks to Christ of forgiving seven times a day Christ tels him Ay seventy times seven such is Gods forgiveness his Mercy our mercy to others is commanded and is our duty but Gods mercy is free our mercy to others ariseth from Gods mercy to us but Gods mercy ariseth from him self our mercy is but to some few his to thousands and ten thousands we oftentimes repent of our Mercy he repenteth not O whilst we live and when we die think much and speak much of free Mercy O the infinite expressions of it in the giving of Christ for us and to us What a Miracle of Mercy is our perseverance notwithstanding all our backslidings the daily meditation of free Grace is an approved receipt against hardness of heart this will soften the heart and bring it to godly sorrow for sin to admiration we are said to have hearts like an Adamant stone Zech. 7. Now the Adamant stone is the hardest stone in all the world it will cut glass with ease no hammer nor fire will stir this stone yet this Adamant stone being steeped in Goats blood new and warm that will soften it so will our adamant hearts be softened being steeped in the thoughts of Gods free Grace being steeped in the blood of the Lord Jesus that scape-goat that carried away our sins into the Land of forgetfulness 12. Though we shall have daily infirmities whilst we are here below yet watch against sin and especially have a care we make no eminent turns from God there are some sins that grieve Gods Spirit above others David had many sinful failings he told a lye to Abimelech 1 Sam. 21.2 feigned himself mad 1 Sam. 21.13 made a rash oath concerning Nabal 1 Sam. 25.22 was very cruel to the Ammonites 2 Sam. 12. numbred the people in self-confidence 2 Sam. 24. commited Adultety with Bathsheba 2 Sam. 11. Yet it is said of David 1 King 15.5 that he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of his life but in the matter of Vriah Some think it is spoken of his Government that that only was amiss in his Government that he murdered Vriah but I rather think that this is only mentioned because it was the most eminent turn from the Lord that ever David made the sin that grieved the Spirit of God above all other in comparison of which God did not take notice of other failings that sin of murdering Vriah was a mighty deliberate contrived sin 2 Sam. 11. He wrote letters about it and plotted it which is a great aggravation of any sin and he might have many checks of conscience that while it was a bloody sin it was a very disingenuous sin to take away his life that was fighting for him it was a cloaked sin 2 Sam. 11.25 He put it upon the chance of war it was a very scandalous sin and his Adultery might be comprehended in it for that was against Vriah as well as the murder it was the effect of his Adultery and where one sin is the effect of another it is a great aggravation of it O therefore watch and pray that though we have many weaknesses and much deadness yet that we may not so wickedly depart from our God 13. Labor to be heavenly in the night season we are but a little heavenly in the day time we had need be heavenly in that time of retirement in the night season David meditated of the Lord in the night watches and at the dawnings of the day commit our thoughts to God in the night seasons to prevent vain and sinful dreams God can leave a sweet savour upon our spirits in the night 14. Observe when we pray for others what hints of Gods Spirit we have that he will hear us God hath a secret way to bring some into our prayers and to cast others out of our prayers as Jer. 7.16 God bad Jeremiah not pray for the people it s a sad thing when a Minister finds no enlargement of Gods Spirit to pray for the people where he liveth but I say observe when we pray for any wicked man or for our relations what hints of Gods spirit are upon our hearts that we shall be heard a praying Father sometimes praying for his child in the cradle may have such faith in Prayer such hints of Gods Spirit that he knows God will answer these Prayers though it be twenty years hence and he be dead and gone others again when they pray earnestly for their Children find no Faith no Ptomise no impressions of Gods Spirit all their days that God will hear them for them 15. Lay up Prayers for jorneyes and travails that God would make us heavenly and holy abroad as well as at home besides the need we have of his protection from the dangers that are in Travail but the danger of sin is most to be taken heed of many men will commit those sins abroad that they will not at home Iudah Gen. 38.14 at Timnah a City of the Philistines fell into the sin of whoredom with his daughter in Law unknown this sin he committed abroad in his jorneying which he was zealous against at home and would have his daughter in law burnt for it Therefore I say Lay up Prayers afore hand for all our travails not only for outward Protection and success in our affairs but for our Spirits that God would keep them holy and in communion with himself for abroad we may have these temptations that we have not at home and we may want the company of Saints which hath a secret strange influence upon
the Spirit abroad we may want such opportunities of secret duties as we have used at home which may put the heart much out of frame 16. It s a great matter in Religion for Saints to walk with God in our relations if our Parents be alive we are to honor them and be subject to them so was Christ to his Parents for our example Luke 2.51 yea the Apostle would have Children requite their Parents for all their care and cost and not be stuborn and undutifull if they don't do for them as they would if God brings into the Relation of a Husband he is to love his wife and not be bitter and harsh and like a Nabal that the wife may not miss her other dear relations that she hath left to cleave unto him but find all made up in his love yea if the wife be barren the husband must not think much with her when Hannah 1 Sam. 1.6,7,8 was troubled because she bare no Children to her Husband Elkanah he comforted her and said Why art thou grieved Am not I better then ten Sons If God calls to the relation of a Wife we know what directions the Scripture gives for the Wife to be subject to her Husband yet many godly women that are close walkers and tender-conscienced otherways yet do not seriously consider enough lay that Duty upon their consciences but though their Husbands through their Love may cover it yet they must look upon it as a sin before the Lord. Let Husband and Wife beg of God to give them suitable affections one to another and mingle all their conjugal love with spiritual If God call to be a Father then the Scripture tells us that we must bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord be not an Eli to our Children he though he was a good man yet failed much in this 1 Sam. 2.22,23,24,25 he was too indulgent to them for he should not only have spoken as he did but he should have reproved them more sharply and should have put his sons out of their office in which they were so wicked bless God if he work Grace in our Children for he is not bound to them he hath no need of our posterity but can take out of the prophanest families if he please the most eminent Saints have had prophane Children care not only for outward things for them but that they may be the Lords that when we are dead and gone they may know the God of their Fathers and when we are rotten in our Graves they may stand up in our steads to own and love and walk with that blessed God that we in our pilgrimage walked with If God call us to be maisters of Families and have servants then we are as David to walk in our houses with a faithful heart instruct our servants and family in Gods ways as God knew Abraham would do and forbear threatning and give them that which is right for their service and if they be sick not to throw them off to shift for themselves but as the Centurion went to Christ for the cure of his servant so should we look out for cure for them If we be to marry we are to marry in the Lord not to marry carnal yoak-fellows for their beauty or riches some have paid dear for that for while they have married carnal yoak-fellows they have either been carried too much away with their sins or have lost so much of their Liberty in Gods ways that they have gone with sorrow to their graves Be well acquainted with the Covenant of Grace get distinct knowledge of it Many Professors are very dark in the blood of Christ insomuch that they loose their peace almost upon every sinning and so have legal repentance for sin when they should have Gospel-repentance which is the Repentance that Believers should have called Zach. 12.10 mourning over Christ crucified and mourning as for an only Son which is not only great mourning but mourning out of Love 18. Count upon opposition from the world and never think if we walk with God to escape the worlds censures the thoughts of this to frame our actings in Religion so as to keep peace with carnal people hath made some comply so far as to lose their zeal and be a shame to Religion 19. When we have any orderly opportunities put into our hands in any thing to lift up the name of God in our generations let it not slip but put our necks to the work if we are clear in the work and our call to it for it may be there will never such an opportunity of service to God be put into our hands all our days again now is our working time now we have opportunities for Reformation and converting others which we shall not have in the Grave whether we are going 20. Walk in love with the Saints break not with them upon every small difference of Judgement if you see some truth that they are dark in it may be they see much more in other things then you do watch against the Beginning of differences Do not every thing you may when you are in the presence of weak Saints 1 Cor. 10.32 consider the tempers of these Saints we converse with their natural tempers their education temptations corruptions and walk tenderly and wisely towards them carry our selves humbly towards all Saints especially when we differ in any thing from them for many times not so much the thing wherein we differ from others breaks love between and us as our high and proud carriage in that matter In all our care to walk in love with the Saints and not to give them offence look up to God to send a Spirit of love between you for somtimes when a godly man hath it in his eye to order a business so as to give no offence to his Brother yet not looking to God in it offence is taken whereas at other times when we have done that which might justly give offence to our Brethren and our heart looks up to God to prevent offences and breaches God covereth wonderfully these things and holds our Brethrens eyes and thoughts from looking upon them and so graciously prevents the folly and rashness of our spirits in making a breach with our Brethren for God can send an evil spirit of discord between men as he did in a way of Judgement between Abimeleck and the men of Sechem Iudg. 9.23,24 And God can send forth a Spirit of Love that brethren may live together in Unity give always the respect that is due to godly men according to their age and condition that God hath placed them in the world beware of vanity and unprofitable converse with godly men God oftentimes punishes that with foolish and causless breaches let all our reproofs to our brethren be with tenderness and a Spirit of meekness else they will provoke forgive our brethren freely and from the heart what may be amiss in their carriage towards us as God
not the spirit of Christ hath not Christ to present his Duties to God the Father and to take away the Iniquity of them and then what can he do acceptible to God It s the way of our hearts by nature that if we do any thing that is good for the matter of it we make use of it to keep us at a further distance from Christ and closing with him by faith that we trust to our Duties for Salvation and thus if we do any thing for God it is out of base ends as Jehu did either for applause to be accounted Religious and zealous for God or to stop the mouth of conscience or else we think to make our good works a Ladder to climbe up to Heaven by We are blind in spiritual things having our understandings darkned and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in us and blindness of our minds Eph. 4. that all the my steries of the Gospel are Riddles to us and till we plough with the Lords Heifer the Spirit of God we cannot understand those Riddles when the Lord came to convert Nicodemus how blind and ignorant did he find him Joh. 3. and when he came to convert the woman of Samaria how ignorant did he find her we may see John 4. It s a wonderful thing how in conversion God makes the ignorant to understand Doctrine how in a month or two God helps them to pray and discourse so knowingly and spiritually that before were perfect sots and almost as ignorant of God as the Beast that perishes And in the Description of our natural estate Tit. 3.3 we are said to be foolish we are like fools and mad men and indeed men will call themselves fools first or last either here if they are converted or in Hell What fools are we to prefer the world before Christ For this the Lord called the rich man fool Luke 12. and what fools are we that having but one precious Jewel our souls that we will fell it for every base lust we are more foolish then Esau was in selling his Birth-right for a mess of pottage And what fools are we to make no provision for Eternity The Ant is wiser that provideth her meat in the Summer but we take no care for the long winter of eternity And what fools are we to set our selves against the Saints of God who are as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye Christ tels Paul its hard for him to kick against the pricks Act. 9. He makes the persecuting of the Saints to be as foolisâ— and dangerous a thing as for a man to kick knock his shins against the pricks And what fools are we that though we will not neglect Fairs and Markets yet will neglect the means of Grace and opportunities of getting Christ And what fools are we that when Christ knocks at our doors will not let in such a blessed guest that brings the Spirit and a new Heart and a pardon and eternal life with him And what fools are we that will build our eternal condition upon the sands of our own Righteousness and not upon Jesus Christ If a man should build a house upon the sands we should say he is a fool indeed the next Tide will wash it away and the ground will sink and give way all this folly and a thousand times more is in our hearts by nature but we see it not There is a strange forwardness and earnestness in us naturally to sin and a lothness to leave sin insomuch that men will be in a rage against those that would stop them in their sinful courses and though God send many afflictions as upon Pharaoh yet men turn not to the Lord indeed when men can scarce turn them in their beds they will say they will leave their wicked courses but when the affliction is over they will be as bad as ever men are so loth to part with their sins naturally that they will undo their souls unto all eternity rather then part with their lusts as Nero's mother enquiring whether her son should be Emperour she was told that he should be Emperour but then he should kill her she out of the pride and ambition of her spirit said Let him kill me so he be but Emperour so the Word of the Lord tels us that if we go on in our sins and are not converted our souls will be damned to all eternity and men say in their hearts Let me be damned so I may enjoy my base lusts O what wickedness is in the heart Men will not fall out with themselves and sins until they come to hell except they be converted but in hell men will fall out with their sins and say O thou cursed pride O cursed drunkenness O cursed uncleanness O cursed unbelief that hath undon our souls for ever And if the Lord never convert us but leave us in a state of Nature to die out of Christ how infinitely miserable shall we be for ever The wages of sin is death Rom. 6.14 Rom. 1.18 Eph. 5.6 The wrath of God like a huge Mountain will lie upon a sinners back in hell to crush him to pieces you will alwayes see God frowning upon you O think of this if thou beest not brought out of the state of Nature and ingraffed into Christ thou wilt be separated for ever from the Lord you shall never enjoy communion with him a glimpse of whose Reconciled face in Christ is worth ten thousand Worlds you will never taste one drop of those Rivers of Gods pleasures for ever of which the Saints shall have their fill O that will be a dreadful word Depart from me ye cursed Depart from me whose Loving kindness is better then Life Depart from me a day in whose Courts is better then a thousand elswhere go among the Devils who like roaring Lions seek to devour you When once men come to Hell there will be no means of Grace for ever Eccles 9.10 No work nor device nor knowledge in the grave No more dealings of Gods Spirit with men no inward nor outward comfort nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth which shews extremity of torment in Hell The Saints indeed when they die their places and Relations know them no more nor they them but then they know a better place Heaven and enjoy better Relations but a natural man leaveth all his outward comforts and goes into infinite torments O thou that are in thy natural condition give ear to this and flee from the wrath to come it may be now thou knowest not how to spend a day without some pastime or other O how wilt thou spend eternity in Hell where thou shalt never have a drop of water to cool thy tongue O consider what heart-distracting heart tormenting thoughts you will have in Hell if the Lord never convert you here how sadly will you remember what great sins you committed and with what hardness of heart how will it torment you