and take no care of their precious Souls and know not when they Dye whether he that comes after them shall be a Wise man or a Fool Eccl. 21.9 if he be a wise man a little will serve him with Gods blessing if wicked he puts a Sword into the hand of a Fool to do himself and others a greater mischief Oh how much better is it for their own peace and their Childrens profit to plead the Covenant to Instruct Correct Admonish Counsel Comfort and incourage their Children in the ways of God and use their utmost Endeavour to make them Gods Children an Ancient thus writes Sabrian ad Eccles cath lib. 3. p. 441. Disciplinam parentes deus jubet thesaurisare filijs non pecuniam perennia praecipit non peritura conferre God commands Parents to hoard up Disciplin not Money for their Children things of a perpetual not perishing nature what a base and sordid thing is it to prefer a Swine to a Son to provide for a Beast and cast out a Child and yet most Parents bestow more care of their Cattel than of their Childrens Souls they give their Children nature but deny them nurture Yea they propagate corruption to them but do not travel over them till Christ be formed in them they glory in being Fathers of their Flesh but cry not to the Father of Spirits for the best life in their Childrens dead Souls they promise at their Baptism to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord but know not what that meaneth and have no heart to learn that they may teach Oh what account will these perjured Parents give another day Remember God will call you to account what Answer will you give when he shall Say where is the Childs Soul that I committed to thy trust what care hast thou taken of it where are thy Tears Prayers Groanings Earnings of Bowels for thine own Bowels didst thou not know that thy Child had a Soul that its Soul was polluted with Sin that it must be born again not only of Water but of the Spirit or could not be Saved that though I was to be the Efficient cause yet thou must be the Instrument to begin and carry on this Work and hast thou struck one stroke in this work by faithfull endeavours or hast thou earnestly desired me to do that for thy Child that thou couldest not thou knowest thou hast done neither and therefore thy Childs Blood shall be reqiured at thy hands what Apology wilt thou then make for thy self Dost thou think to come off by Saying I sent him to School to learn or to the Minister to be Catechised this is more than some will do but is this all is not paternal care thy personal duty was not thou charged with thy Childs Soul may not God justly blast other teachers pains as a punishment of thy negligence and doth not thy bad Example at home unravel all that others teach them Wo Wo be to such wicked wretched Parents In the name of God I charge you as you will not have your Children accuse and curse you in Hell for ever concern your selves deeply about their Everlasting State think they can never do well if they do not well for another World they will never be dutifull to you till they be Obedient to God train them up for God and you consult at once Gods Glory the good of Church and Common-wealth your own Comfort and their Eternal felicity true Grace qualifys persons for every condition for he that is really good will be relatively good a good King and Subject Father and Child Master and Servant Heathens knew this that the way to form Persons into a due mould of civil Subjection is a literate and vertuous Education thus the King of Babylon conquering Judah ordered the Kings seed Dan. 1.3 4 and Princes to be trained up in the learning of of the Chaldeans and our own Historys tell us that when the Romans conquered this Island Julius Agricola brought Noble mens Sons to Rome and caused them to be educated in liberal Sciences whereby they gradually tamed the furious temper of the Brittains so that the Inhabitants here became of gentle spirit and peaceable Subjects much more will Christianity and true Piety bring persons into a regular conformity it expells Barbarity and produceth Civility Hospitality Frugality and yet a discreet liberality a divine Benediction is entailed upon Sincere Religion Godliness is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4.8 having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come if your Children be Godly they will be fit for any thing and all things will conduce to their good And You Oh children suffer a word of Exhortation from one that hath had Experience of childhood Youth riper age and is arrived at old age and hath been a teacher of others above forty years and may say to you as Augustus did to his mutinous Army Audite me juvenes quem juvenem senes Audierunt Hear me Young men whom sometimes Old men have heard and obeyed God forbid you should be head-strong sons of Belial Yoakless and so run headlong into the pit of destruction Be not like the wild asses colt break not thro' Parents tears Prayers counsels and commands to Hell Alas that any young persons should desperatly contradict the perswasions of Ministers the motions of the Spirit the checks of their own consciences the sad warnings of their undone companions and the rods of God on their own backs and haste through all these to the pit and never stop till they be swallowed up in that Infernal Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone you will say what would you have us to do I answer Act as Rational Creatures inure your selves to Solemn consideration Consider that you are Creatures of an higher rank than Bruits that you have Immortal never dying Souls that God made you to Glorify and injoy him that he hath given you a rule to act by in order to another state in the other World that Sin hath depraved your natures hath diprived you of Gods Image brought you under his curse that Christ came to redeem Sinners that saving Faith doth interest Souls in Christ that Faith is the gift of God that in your Baptism you were ingaged to forsake the World Flesh and Devil Consider your sins since you were baptized confess them to God review and renew your Baptismal vow actualy renounce all other claimers and give up your Selves to the Lord understandingly Deliberately Vniversally and Perpetually improve Jesus Christ as the way the truth and the Life Espouse his interest joyn with Gods People Obey all his commands Attend on him in all his Ordinances Be sure you be sincere Exercise every Grace aim at Perfection keep a constant watch over your hearts and ways maintaining a dayly warfare against all Spiritual Enemies prepare for death and consider where you must lodg when the King of Terrours lays its cold hand of Arrest
all these and shall consider the Text in a two fold notion or relation 1. In a domestical sense 2. In a personal respect The former refers to David's House the latter to his Heart and Soul this blessed Covenant was David's chief relief in both these cases from the former observe That notwithstanding the sins and sufferings in a godly mans family which occasion much grief to his Spirit yet he is supported and satisfied with Gods gracious Gospel covenant From the latter acceptation observe this Doct. That Covenant Relation is the foundation of a dying Christians safety satisfaction and salvation It is the former Doctrine I shall say something to at present CHAP. II. The Doctrine cleared from the Text some things premised THE principal point I propose from the Text concerns David's family for 1. He mentions his house in the beginning of the Text. 2. The latter end of the verse refers to his house Although he make it i. e. my house not to grow i. e. to increase in number power honour The former part of the verse is variously rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nec tanta est domus mea apud Deum Nor is my house so great or of so much worth with God Alass what is my house at best my pedigree is mean and base David disdains not to reflect on his despicable original though advanced to the culminating point of civil and spiritual promotion as a King and Prophet he magnifieth God and villifieth yea nullifieth himself 2 Sam. 7.18 Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto others thus plus est quam haec domus mea ante Deum Chaldee Jon. i. e. there is more in the Covenant than this my house before God All the Families in the World amount not to so much as one Messias he he only is the noble flourishing branch springing out of my Family that 's worth us all who conveys life and sap to us all Isa 11.1 this is the Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a branch growing out of its Roots and they shall hang on him all the glory of his Fathers house Isa 22.24 my whole family would fall to ruine but for him on whose behalf it must be upheld that he may be born of it yea who only upholds it Others thus quamvis not sit it a i. e. Although my Family and Kingdom be not so holy as to perform the conditions of the Covenant so exactly as God requireth we are guilty in many respects before God and he hath whipt us sore yet Gods Covenant is the ground of my hope for my Family and I doubt not but my Lord will make it good And what David saith of his Family any Child of God may say of his except in the peculiar case of the Messiah springing out of his loins Thence we may safely draw this Doct. That notwithstanding the sins and sufferings in a godly mans Family which occasion much grief to his Spirit yet he is supported and satisfied with Gods gracious Gospel covenant In handling this point I shall 1. Premise some things fit to be known 2. Give the proof of the point 3. Answer a main objection 4. Make a short Application The things to be premised are four 1. What may befal a Godly mans family 2. Why are these a grief to his Spirit 3. What is the Covenant that supports him 4. What is in the Covenant to bear him up A word of all these briefly 1. What may fall out in a godly mans family that may occasion his grief Answ I shall reduce these to two heads 1. Corruptions breaking out 2. Afflictions breaking in on his house sin and suffering and indeed suffering is the proper fruit of sinning 1. Corruption may break out in godly families I shall not need to instance in Adams Noahs Abrahams Isaacs yea even in Jacobs Aarons Samuels c. I shall keep to David's Alas corruption brake out sadly 1. In himself 2. In his Children 1. David was guilty of 1. Sins of Ommission possibly not instructing restraining or not punishing Ammon Absolom and not crossing Adonijah 2 Kin. 13.21 1 Kin. 1.6 David was too indulgent for which he smarted Yea 2. He was guilty of foul sins of commission as Adultery and Murder of his faithful Servant Vriah 2 Sam. 11.4 27. rashness towards Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 19.29 sometimes lying changing his behaviour c. 2. His Children also were deeply guilty Ammons Incest 2 Sam. 13.23 28. 2 Sam. 15.1 1 Kin. 1.7 Absolom's Rebellion and Adonijahs Ambition Alas that there should be found such gross abominations in godly David's Family yet this was not his case only it 's said of Samuel that his sons walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment 1 Sam. 8.3 2. And what a flood gate of troubles did these sins open which gushed in upon him deep called to deep Psal 42.7 all Gods Waves and Billows went over him Remember David and all his Afflictions Psal 132.1 saith he how numerous how ponderous some of his desireable Children dying in the height of their career by the eminent hand of justice one died in infancy to punish his iniquity 2 Sam. 12.14 besides forreign Enemies he had a doomy morning noon evening what bloody Wars with Saul and his house with Philistines Ammonites what sad Tragedies Insurrections Commotions Confusions threatning a total Dissipation and extirpation so that David might call some Child Beriah as Ephraim did because it went evil with his house 1 Chron. 7. 21 22 23. and so it hath done with many a good mans house 2. Why are these breakings out of sin and breakings in of sufferings in their Families such a grief to godly householders An. For the first it must needs trouble them 1. Because by sin God is greatly displeased his name much dishonoured Religion discredited the hearts of the Godly sadened the wicked scandalized hardened Motes in Professors are beams Mountains in the eyes of Prophane what will they say they are no better than we what are they but a pack of hypocrites to what purpose is all their whining and praying Our Children carry as civilly as theirs where 's the Covenant they boast of Hence David Psal 42.3 My tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say unto me where is thy God 2. They are greatly afflicted with the sins of Children because the beloved of their Souls are endanger'd they are pieces of themselves as their own Souls how can I endure to see my own flesh scorched and tormented in Hell-flames Oh! that Child that came out of my Loins my Bowels to be separated from God a companion with Devils a Fire-brand in Hell the mention of it sinks my Spirits Is all my labour lost their Souls lost oh who can endure to think of it no wonder if that be the first of Solomon's Proverbs Prov. 15.28 ch
draw out my heart to thee in vain when a Father bids his Child ask he designs to give thou wilt not let this blessed spirit breathe in vain in my soul Wilt thou inlarge my heart and not grant my request Psal 38.9.15 Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee In thee O Lord do I hope thou wilt hear me O Lord my God Thou hast raised my heart in Expectation wilt thou not give me the mercy I expect 8. Lord is not thy Glory concerned in this affair as well as my comfort And yet my comfort is something in thine eye For thou sayst Ps 118.15 The voyce of rejoycing and salvation is in the Tabernacles of the righteous And alas What joy can there be in a family when a foolish Son is heaviness both to Father and Mother Prov. 10.1 and a disturbance to the whole house But oh thy Name is dishonoured by my own flesh wicked men hardened some scandalized by the miscarrying of the Children of the Covenant But on the other hand if Covenant-grace be spread upon my childs heart by Converting-grace many will glorifie God Gal. 1.24 His own Soul will be the actual lively Trumpet of Divine Glory by confessing sin and turning to God thy Omniscience Grace and Omnipotency will be made glorious And who can tell how many may be won to God by his Example 1 Pet. 2 1â— 2 Thes 1 1â— and every Convert Glorifies God in the day of their visitation and at the great Day God will be glorified in his Saints Lord consult thy Glory 9. Lord thou hast given me some incouragement concerning this Child I am praying for When my Child was young he was very hopeful now he is grown up my hopes are dasht He hath now embraced the world or is fallen into bad company and courses the less are my hopes now because he is a woful Apostate and sins against more light than others and this daunts and damps my spirit however I will pray and wait still for what is a daunting to me Gen. 22.14 is rather an advantage to thee In the mount of the Lord it is seen When the knife is at Isaac's throat Hos 2.14 the valley of Achor is a door of hope When men say our bones are dryed our hope is lost Ezeck 37.11 12. we are cut off for our parts then the graves are opened and there 's life from the dead The case is mine I am saying as Jonah I am cast out of his sight yet will I look again toward thy holy Temple The other look may fetch the mercy There 's a may be in the case Can a Child of so many Prayers and Fears miscarry This brings to mind a passage in Melchior Adamus De vitis Theol. Germ. pag. 724. It is this The mother of Hunnius being with child of him had a Vision She thought she was in the Church and took up a Reed or a Straw or such a small thing While she held it in her Fingers it so increased that she was almost oppressed with its weight even to death She presently saw it turned into a Pillar of the Temple Then she was eased of her burden This was verified in her Son Hunnius who though religiously educated and hopeful in Childhood yet fell into bad Company and then into horrible Temptations and sad Apprehensions That he had committed the sin against the Holy Ghost but by Grace was recovered and proves an excellent instrument in the Church of God This may be of use to poor afflicted desponding Parents 10. Lord If thou deny my suit and glorifie thy Justice in the rejection and damnation of My child I must and will acquiesce in thy Soveraign righteous Will It 's hard to bring my heart to it but I will say Thy Will be done Rom. 11.33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearchable are thy judgments and thy ways past finding out I my self deserve to be forsaken and cast into Hell I have many a time told thee I must for ever justifie God with flames about mine ears if thy justice be glorified in my destruction for all my abominations And if thou deal thus with my beloved Off spring I will say The Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works Dan. 9.7 Righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto me and mine confusion of faces I submit my all to thee and thank thee for grace in my own soul and hopes of Glory and if my wilful child may not bring a revenue of Glory to free Grace I will be content with thy raising up a revenue of Glory to thy Justice in his just condemnation Obj. But what tender-hearted Parent can be contented to see his Child damned Answ You must distinguish betwixt Nature and Grace Nature loves its own and cannot bear to see part of it self in misery Yea grace cannot but desire cannot but earnestly breathe after the spiritual and eternal good of our Children And 't is not only lawfull but duty to desire it Yet if God deny it Grace brings man's Will to a due submission to the Divine disposal for the more a Christian is like to God the more is his Will melted into God's Will and therefore will a Child of God rejoyce in the execution of Gods justice upon dearest carnal Relations at the great Day As sanctified Levi in the cause of God Deut. 33.9 said to his Father and his Mother I have not seen neither did he acknowledg his Brethren nor knew his own Children Nature will be in a sort swallowed by grace in Gods good pleasure That was a remarkable passage of a gracious Gentlewoman that had a vicious Son who fell into many debaucheries and into one hainous Act which sunk her tender spirit But recovering her self she said to him with some warmth Ah! my sinful Son thou hast cost me many a Tear Groan and bitter hour but a day is coming when I shall triumph in seeing the just vengeance of God excecuted upon thee this did so appall the young Gentleman that he laid it to heart repented and became a new man to the joy of his Godly Mother But 2. You must distinguish about Damnation and look on it as under a double notion 1. as a state of compleat Sinning Blaspheming and hating God to the utmost God calls you not to be content with this which is so directly contrary to the Grace of God in the Christian nor yet may you be content to have your Child separated from God the cheifest good which is the worst part of hell But 2. Hell may be considered as a place or state of torment and misery to the Rational Creature and upon this account you must not be contented simply to have your Child tormented which is abhorent to nature but your Souls must be so overr-uled with the Divine pleasure as where his will is
THE Best Entail OR Dying Parents Living Hopes for their surviving Children grounded upon the Covenant of Gods Grace with Believers and their Seed BEING A short Discourse upon 2 Sam. 23.5 WHEREIN Is a Collection of several Covenant-Promises to support the Faith and some Pleas to direct and quicken the Prayers of Gods Covenanted People for their surviving Posterity By O. H. Minister of the Gospel Psal 90.16 Let thy Work appear unto thy Servants and thy Glory unto their Children LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside 1693. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY To the Right Honourable Philip Lord Wharton My Lord THe concernedness your Lordship hath for the worthy Branches of your Noble Family is demonstrated to all whom you esteem Friends by the constant subscription with your own hand Remember me and my Family in your Prayers by which your Lordship at once testifies your natural Affection and true Piety Your earnest desire of the best good and the means by which that must come from God even duon the wings of a believing Prayer Your Lordships request hath the force of a command the obligations laid upon many hundreds of both Ministers and People extort from us in point of Gratitude both many thanksgivings to God and renewed supplications for your Lordship that the blessing of Abraham may successively continue in your Noble Family to be blessed and be a blessing Oh happy Family where the precious Pearl of Covenant grace Enamels the Gold-ring of worldly honour 'T is true the Divine Oracles say Not many Mighty not many Noble are called A good Lady added Blessed be God that it saith not not any Once at last God will have an Emperour a Constantine saved Augustine saith wittily a poor Lazarus is laid in rich Abrahams bosom Sacred Writ records a Noble Theophilus and an Elect Lady And Ecclesiastical History furnisheth us with a large Catalogue of Illustrious Branches of Noble Families planted in the House of the Lord and like fixed Stars of the first Magnitude have shined bright in their proper Orb and conveyed great Influence to their Inferiours In which rank God hath placed your Honour whose Morning Star of early Piety continues still shining bright to a good old Age and hath cast many resplendent Beams of favour upon Indigent Persons to spread the favour of Divine Knowledg amongst ignorant souls in the Country for which the loyns of the Poor and souls of the Instructed will bless you in this and the other world I doubt not my Lord but your gracious spirit Eccho's to the dying speech of holy David to whom a succession of Piety in his seed was more Eligible than of Royalty and large Revenues What can be compared to this one comprehensive promise I will be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Yet this is the rich priviledg of Gods Covenanted Servants Mines of Gold Mountains of Pearl can bear no proportion to this one word My God This is light in darkness life in death an heaven in the midst of hell The sense of this is the only Cordial to the fainting Spirits of Gods afflicted Children Yea saith one if but one little drop of Divine Love should fall into a Damned Soul in Hell it would sweeten or swallow up those bitter Torments And next to the priviledg of Gods being our God His being our Childrens God claims the Preeminence For Parents anxious thoughts run out for their Childrens well-doing in this and the other world If God help us to own him he will not forsake us or ours It 's true Grace comes not by succession yet oft in succession The Line of Covenant-love reacheth to many Generations and the more numerous pious Predecessours are the greater is the shower of Blessings So a Learned man reads that paternal benediction of Jacob to Joseph Gen. 49.26 The blessings of thy Fathers are strong with the blessings of my Progenitours As the more waters run into one Channel the deeper it grows Your Lordship then may hope for multiplied accumulative blessings on your Noble Progeny If that be found Divinâ—ty which was a Maxime amongst the Jewish Rabbies That the Divine Glory rests on Noble Stemms however beams of love reflect with greatest lustre when descending on honourable Personages Therefore should we pray most ardently for those of highest rank as in the greatest capacity of doing most good and a godly man or Minister must not only with David serve his own generation by the will of God Acts 13.36 but with the blessed Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1.15 Endeavour that posterity may be able after their decease to have Divine Truths always in remembrance This my Lord hath been the great care of your Honour and as natural motions are quickest towards the end so the nearer your Lordship approacheth to your center and Haven the more sedulous and active are you to lay a foundation of Religion in future Generations thereby also laying up in store for your self a good foundation for time to come 2 Tim. 4.19 so laying hold on Eternal Life for the accomplishing of this great End A poor inconsiderable worm casts his Mite into my Lords Treasury and prostrates himself at your Lordships Feet in this Dedication in testimony of my real gratitude for your unparallel'd kindness and condescention to so ignoble a person Withal recommending this small Treatise to your Lordship to encourage your heart and strengthen your hands in God under the smarting breaches in your Noble Family venturing it into a critical world under your Lordships auspicious Name not doubting a pardon of this boldness and a candid acceptance following it with my poor Prayers that it may obtain its desired success upon the rising Generation and provoking Parents to improve this blessed Covenant hoping that when your Lordship hath filled up your days with Grace and tranplanted your Soul into the Coelestial Paradise some of your Seed shall rise up in your room as Plants of Renown to bear your Image and Name and follow your gracious Example while Sun and Moon endure Which is the daily Prayer of My Lord Your humble and devoted Servant Oliver Heywood A PREFACE OR AN EPISTLE to the READER THere is nothing in the World I am very confident lyes so near the heart of a gracious Christian next to the Glory of God and his own Souls Eternal happiness as the Spiritual good of his dear Children nature binds him to love his own Christianity regulateth and Spiritualiseth this love fondness is not true love but faithfulness love to their bodies is but bruitish without love to their Souls i'ts like a doting on the Case and throwing away the Jewel the Soul is the man the unseen part is the best part where the Soul is lodged when parted from the Body there must the Body lodg in Heaven or Hell Oh that men understood and well digested this surely they would not so unweariedy toil and tread to get Estates for their Children
upon you and make your Accounts streight against that great reckoning day and be sure you put on Christ and improve him as your Advocate that he may Answer for you at that day These things I do but touch for my great design is the quickening and incouraging of Parents on the behalf of their Posterity some whereof are left to themselves by the Lord to go astray which occasioned Mr. Lawrence's excellent Treatise of Parents Groans nor is it his case only but many others also some particular instances are fresh in memory which have brought some Godly Parents gray hairs with Sorrow to their Graves some well known Servants of God having never seen any hopeful symptoms of Grace upon some or all ther Children in their Life time and had some sad temptations to question the truth of of God in his Covenant yet even in the very pangs of Death reacht to and claspt hard this Blessed Word dying in the hopes of its Efficacy for themselves and theirs and the subject being recommended to me was accordingly treated on in a Funeral Discourse which upon request I was willing to transcribe for the incouragement of Poor afflicted Parents that are bowed down with heart-grief for their offending Children I confess the subject is novel and singular and such as I have not seen any Treatise upon and having walked in an untrodden path I hope I may obtain a pardon from God and Man of some Erratick motion whilst the tendency is Gods Glory and the good of Souls I hope none will reject this Treatise because it seems a limited Subject as if they were not concerned in it for as 't is handled it is extensive to all Parents Children yea such as have no Children are dealt with in this small Treatise for their Instruction and Consolation such as it is I commend to Believing Praying Parents following it with my poor Prayers that all the Children of the Covenant may be Covenanted Souls and that Parents may be comforted in the Grace of God in their Posterity and both may meet in Glory and if any reap and receive any advantage I have my reward and do humbly beg the Incessant Prayers of all that can Pray For The poor Servant of Christ and the Church O. H. A General Scheme or view of the Chief Contents of this Treatise Chap. 1. The Context cleared the Text explained 10 Doctrines briefly hinted Page 1. Ch. 2. The main Doctrin Propounded Cleared Explained by some things premised 9. Ch. 3. What this Covenant is and who are concerned in it 16. Ch. 4. Six grounds of hope which Parents have from the Covenant for their Children 24. Ch. 5. Six other grounds of Incouragement to Parents for their surviving Children 32. Ch. 6. An Answer to a great objection in seven particular Considerations 39. Ch. 7. An use of Conviction to Irreligious Parents and graceless Children 48. Ch. 8. An use of Exhortation to Children both of Vncovenanted and Covenanted Parents and to such as have no Children 59. Ch. 9. Another branch of Exhortation to all Parents that have Children ten motives to do their utmost to leave them within the Covenant what means to be used 69. Ch. 10. The last mean to be used for Childrens good is Earnest Prayer for them Twelve several Pleas and Arguments helping Parents in Prayers Some Cases of Conscience answered 79. These Books Written and Published by Mr. Oliver Heywood are to be sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside THE Sure Mercies of David being the fruits of some Meditations from Isa 55.3 Christ displayed as the choicest gift and best Master from Joh. 4. â—0 And Joh. 13.13 Written by Mr. Nath. Heywood and published by Mr. Oliver Heywood Israels Lamentation after the Lord Being some Meditations upon 1 Sam. 7.2 The Holy Life and Happy Death of Mr. John Angier Closet Prayer Or a Christians Duty from Mat. 6.6 Baptismal Bonds renewed On Psal 50.5 Meetness for Heaven upon Colos 1.12 designed for a Funeral Legacy Advice to an only Child or excellent Counsel to all Young Persons containing the Sum and Substance of Experimental and Practical Divinity Written by an Eminent and Judicious Divine for the Private use of an only Child now made publick for the Benefit of all Published by Mr. Oliver Heywood Dying Parent 's Living Hopes for their surviving Children c. 2 Sam. 23.5 Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my Desire although he make it not to grow CHAP. I. The Context cleared the Text explained Doctrines raised THese words contain dying Davids living comfort the Covenant was the only Cordial to his fainting Spirits when the World lookt black about him here 's light ariseth out of obscurity just as it was with Oecolampadius dying and clapping his hand on his Breast cried hic sat lucis here 's light enough so David and a Believing Soul looking above sees all good in the Covenant looking within sees the countervain of it saith here here alone is light Job 29.3 by his light I walk through darkness This shall be my vade mecum or companion through this Pilgrimage of the World and this only shall be my viand and viaticum support and supply when I pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death Farewel empty filthy World welcome the immediate presence of my Covenanted God I am going from a Prison to a Pallace from sorrow to solace from Sin to sweet Injoyment of God and the only foundation of my hopes is this Gospel Covenant A sad and sorry dying Miser ready to breath out his sensual senseless Soul got a Jacobus piece of Gold clapt it to his Breast saying Some wiser than others but I will dye with this Cordial at my Heart but at last pluckt it away saying it will not do alas it will not do Gold it self is no Cordial it cannot disarm death nor arm against it it hath lost its vertue nothing but Gods Covenant will stand in stead the dying Child of God is like a Standard bearer who when the battel is lost wraps himself in his Colours and therein is safe marching triumphantly through Armies of Enemies untoucht into his Fathers Pallace Oh happy Soul that injoys and improves this Covenant The Context tells us that these be the last words of David not absolutely as though he breathed his last after he had uttered them for there are several expressions and transactions after but comparatively they were uttered towards the latter end of David's Life Now the dying words of Pious men are gracious serious ponderous they use not to spend their breath about trifles In the Context we have 1. The Porch or Introduction 2. The Temple and excellency of the Gospel Covenant In the Porch or Introduction we have these two things 1. The Penman instrument or Amanuensis who spoke these words David 2. The Authour
who dictated them 1. The Penman or Instrument David is described these four ways 1. By his natural descent the Son of Jesse 2. By his Royal Dignity raised up on high 3. By his Divine Unction anointed of God 4. By his Employment Exercise sweet-Psalmist of Israel whose breath is sweet to this Day 2. The Authour that dictated to David Viz. 1. The Holy Ghost Spirit spake by me Viz. 2. God the Father the God of Israel Viz. 3. Jesus Christ the Mediator of the Covenant called here the Rock of Israel as he is called 1 Cor. 10.4 2. In the Temple or the Matter David speaks are also two things considerable 1. The nature of David's Regiment 2. The Excellency of the Covenant For the former which unfolds to us the nature and properties of David's Kingdom as the type and of Christs as the Antitype in four particulars 1. The holiness of it he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God a brave character 2. The happiness of it he shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth a morning without clouds 3. The fruitness of it as the tender grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain 4. Here 's an uncomfortable exception with reference to David's Family and Kingdom in these words Although my house be not so with God 2. Here 's an Excellent description of the nature properties and suitableness of the Gospel-Covenant in these four particulars Viz. 1. The dureableness of it Everlasting 2. The orderliness of it Ordered 3. The sureness certainty of it 4. The suitableness to David as to his 1. Present desires in this World 2. Eternal Salvation hereafter You see the Text is a full store house a rich treasury a blessed Magazine whence we may fetch both meat and medicine food and physick work and reward all things that concern grace and glory 1. The Text then presents to us David's case and 2. Cure 1. His Case is presented negatively Although my house be not so with God 2. His Cure positively which is the Covenant that 's a Salve for all Sores a Remedy for all Maladies a Supply for all Wants I am not ignorant that some carry the sense thus Although my house be not so with God i. e. my house is not such an unstable inconstant thing to alter and change as the Weather from a glorious Sun-shine morning to a dark cloudy gloomy evening so it may prove a stormy rainy day no no my House and Family is fixed setled splendid and compleat if not in my outward affairs at present yet in the Messiah to come out of my Loynes in the fulness of time his Kingdom will appear and shine most gloriously and break in pieces all other Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever so you read Dan. 2.44 But though that be a great truth I am apt to incline to those Interpreters that take this as a concession concerning the defects and imperfection of Piety and Tranquillity in David's Family q. d. I must needs confess that neither I nor my Children have lived so exactly or ruled so uprightly in the fear of God as we ought we have had our faults and folly which have clouded our Consciences and Reputation and therefore have not injoyed such uninterrupted prosperity as we might had we walked more closely and exactly and therefore sad Clouds and Storms have darkened and disturbed our Heaven yea oft benighted our state domestical political ecclesiastical as well as personal my Children have not been like tender Grass springing up to maturity but some of them cut off in the prime of their days I have been banisht from my Throne and family not suffered to build God an House nor abide in his Sanctuary my wounded Spirit hath sighed out many heavy groans God hath oft with-drawn his Grace hid his Face and left my Soul on the brink of hellish despair yet for all this I can in my lowest ebbs cast my Eye upon the Gospel-Covenant and fetch relief from that in my lowest state inward or outward Many Doctrines may be drawn out of this large and full Text. Doctrine 1. That it 's a singular mercy to be be trusted with a Family This is implied and owned by David in 1 Chron. 17.16 25. God setteth the solitary in Families Psal 68.6 Doct. 2. House-holders must make inspection into their Families So doth David here and Psal 101.2 3. he had a large Family State-affairs on his hands yet prays with his Family 2 Sam. 6.20 puts it not off to Stewards or Chaplains See Prov. 27.23 Doct. 3. A Religious Family is to be with God Although my House be not so with God he earnestly desires all the members of his Family might be with God laments the contrary for the Lord is with them that are with him 2 Chron. 15.2 Doct. 4. The best Families have their defects and imperfections David's Family for all his care may be far from the rule not only as to individual members but as to the complex body of a Family there were disorders even in Christs own Family Doct. 5. Family-faults bring family plagues family-defects produce family-afflictions God will not spare sinning families though dear to him nay they shall smart soonest and sorest Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the families of the Earth therefore I will punish you Doct. 6. Family-miscarriages do greatly trouble gracious house-holders He speaks of it with sad resentment Oh what bitterness is it to a godly Father Master to find disorders in such as are under his charge Doct. 7. The Covenant of Grace is extensive and comprehensive The godly have much comfort and content in it with reference not only to themselves but their houses and families Doct. 8. The Covenant of Grace is Everlasting It is from all Eternity in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt Father and Son Tit. 1.1 2. and endures for ever Psal 111.9 Doct. 9. There is a comely and admirable order in the Gospel-Covenant An order of persons in the Fathers Election Sons Redemption Holy Ghosts Application believers reception An order of things supream subordinate causes means instruments promises priviledges principles and practices all keep their places they do not interfere or thwart each other Doct. 10. The Gospel-covenant is sure and stable Things are not left at uncertainties nor depend on the mutable Will of Man as of old it was with Adam but they are the sure Mercies of David Isa 55.2 and 54.9 10. Doct. 11. There 's that in the Covenat that answers a Christian's desires As the Christians desire is mainly carried to it so there is that in it which answers and satisfies those desires desires are vast and immense but the contents of the Covenant run parallel and are every way adequate to just desires Doct. 12. A Christians Salvation is wrapt up in the Gospel covenant Upon this may a Child of God venture his Soul Eternal Life is contained and comprehended in it I wave
11.16 If the Root be holy the Branches are also holy So in humane Laws the Father and the Heir are but one Person of this opinion is Mr. Perkin's and produceth the testimony of the Antients as St. Augustin and Bernard saying it is meet and for the honour of God that to whom age denies their own Faith Grace should grant to them a benefit by the Faith of another Perk vol. 1. fol. 486. where he answers Bellarmine's objection That by this means Children shall be born Believers and so be conceived and born without original sin Answ Believing Parents sustain two persons one whereby they are men and thus they bring forth Children having Mans Nature with all the corruptions of nature the other as they are holy men and Believers and thus they bring forth Infants that are not so much their Children as the Children of God and Infants are Gods Children not by vertue of their birth but by means of Parents Faith which intitles them to all the blessings of the Covenant Thus he But this is not the subject of our present design and consideration CHAP. IV. What grounds of hope Parents have from the Covenant for their Adult and surviving Children THE second head in the prosecuting of this Doctrine is the proof of the point That notwithstanding the sins and sufferings breaking forth in a godly man's Family or breaking in upon it which occasion much grief to his Spirit yet he is and hath reason to be supported and satisfied from Gods gracious Gospel-covenant I am very sensible I have undertaken a difficult province and walk in an untrodden path But this I may confidently affirm that whatever befalls a covenanted Soul he may fetch all good out of this blessed treasury for 1. Either his Children shall be laid hold on by converting Grace or 2. They shall not if they be oh what cause will he have to magnifie Covenant-love on their behalf if not still he will exceedingly adore Covenant-grace on his own behalf that hath made him to differ and in the worst case will find something in the Covenant for supporting his Spirit and sanctifying his bitter cup of Affliction in the death of Children As to this latter I shall say nothing but refer you to a small Treatise of Mr. John Flavel's called the Balm of the Covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted Saints from this text But my present business is to gather up such gracious promises as a Nosegay or Posie out of the Garden of Scripture as may refresh the drooping hearts of Gods poor Children sorrowing for the miscarriages of their Children that they may turn them into Prayer or use them as a Cordial to support them till the Lord shine upon the Souls of their beloved off-spring In general observe that as the Covenant of Grace is a blessed constellation So every promise is an orient refulgent Star to give both light and influence to the weary Traveller in this dark and dismal dispensation wherein he is appalled through sad fears that his Child shall be a cast-away The Question is what grounds of hope from Scripture have godly Parents for their Children that are grown or growing up and likely to survive or out-live them The resolving of this is of exceeding great importance and having searched the Sacred Records I do find twelve sorts of Promises that may incourage Parents Hearts 1. The first and chief is God himself Gen. 17.7 For I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their Generations for an Everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee This extends both to Abraham's natural Seed and afterwards to his Spiritual Seed all Gentile-believers Rom. 4.12 18. Oh what a priviledge is this whatever God is hath or can be or do is for believers of all that 's communicable divine power wisdom goodness mercy holiness justice is the portion of Believers and their Seed whatever they can ask or expect in a God shall be in due season laid out in them and for them this one word is the substance and confluence of all good spiritual temporal eternal Deus meus omnia My God is the most extensive and comprehensive word in the World what can a man desire more and no less will give a gracious Soul content for himself and his Seed no less is in the Covenant Jer. 31.33 Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord. Psal 33.12 God in some sense may be the God of Nations Families as well as Persons and if some boast of Pedigree Wealth Honour numerous Posterity Worldly Prosperity yet let David reckon up the Epitome the summa totalis of mans felicity he will thus conclude happy is that People whose God is the Lord Psal 144.12 15. Happy Parents that bequeath such a Legacy to their Posterity though they leave them in Poverty 2. Next to that and a mean to injoy God is Jesus Christ the Mediator of the Covenant Isa 42.6 I will give thee for a Covenant of the People for a light of the Gentiles it 's true God vouchsafed to the Jewish Nation this priviledge Rom. 9.5 that of them as concerning the Flesh Christ came but they cannot monopolize this glorious gift Eph. 2.13 for now in Christ Jesus we who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ and poor Gentiles laying hold on the Covenant are become free Denizons of all Jewish priviledges that are essential to Salvation Gal. 3.28 for we are all one in Christ Jesus and promises are to us that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 2.39 even Christ himself in whom all the promises of God are yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.0 Nor can any man have an interest in any one promise for himself or seed without an interest in Christ there never was or will be any Covenant betwixt God and Man since the fall but through Christ he then that hath Christ hath something to plead for his Children more than another hath Col. 3.11 he only is all and in all for our selves and ours And they shall hang on him all the glory of his Fathers House the off-spring and the issue all vessels of small quantity Isa 22.24 All believers are Gods family and by Faith in Prayer they may freely hang upon him off-spring i. e. Children Grand-children the smallest and least of the Vessels that are in their house he will not refuse them but lovingly entertain them himself will take Infants into his Arms as himself being an Infant was taken into old Simeons Arms and both old and young are blessed by him Oh happy Parents that lay surviving seed in so warm a bosom they cannot miscarry that have Christ for their Guardian 3. Another Legacy that Parents may leave their Children is the third person of the blessed Trinity the Holy Ghost Isa 44.3 4. For I will pour Water upon him that is
thirsty I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring and they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water courses There 's no interest in God or Christ but by the operation of the Spirit the Holy Ghost proceeding from Father and Son teacheth believers all things convinceth of Sin reneweth the will Joh. 14.16 26.16.8 13. begetteth faith uniteth the Soul to God filleth the empty vessel with divine gifts graces influences comforts all the good things of Heaven are conveyed into the Soul by our Lords substitute the Spirit assisteth quickneth inlargeth supporteth and satisfieth yea saith the Christian I have had much experience of the Spirits help in my own Soul but what reason have I to hope for the like to my Children Look on the text again I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed it shall not come on them by drops but be poured on them abundantly they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost see the full promise in Joel 2.28 accomplished Act. 2.17 18. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall Prophecy It 's true there 's something in that Promise Arbitrary and extraordinary suited to that dispensation but something there is also usual permanent and essentially necessary to true Christianity which God makes good to believers and their seed in all ages Oh happy Children that have the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the communion and communications of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 4. Children of Believers are rightful heirs of all Gospel-priviledges I may in a sound sense say of them as Paul of the Jewish Church Rom. 9.4 who are Israelites to whom pertaineth the Adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the Promises there are two sorts of priviledges 1. External as the Ordinances they being born within the Pale of the Visible Church have the Prayers of Gods People for them Rom. 4.11 As the Children of Abraham had the Seal of Circumcision at eight days old so Children of Believers are Baptized being Disciples of Christ Mat. 28.19 and so have Gods Sheep-mark set upon them betimes and are taken into his peculiar protection and growing up and owning their Baptismal Covenant they enjoy 2. Those Essential Priviledges that accompany Salvation as Reconciliation Adoption Justification and are in a fair way to Eternal Salvation for they lye in the Road of Free-grace under the droppings of the Sanctuary where the Spirit is wont to breathe the breath of Spiritual Life if any be proper heirs of Gods special care and Ordinances surely it 's the Children of Gods People Psal 69.35 36. For God will save Zion and build the Cities of Judah who shall have the benefit of this Salvation He answers the Seed also of his Servants shall inherit it and they that love his name shall dwell therein Parents have pray'd for the Churches Deliverance and their Children shall reap the fruit of their Prayers so Psal 102.28 The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their Seed shall be established before thee there 's a double mercy here 1. In restoring Ordinances 2. In vouchsafing this priviledge to the Children of Believers Oh what would a Child of God give to know that his Posterity should see better days You have it in the Promise and may have it in the performance if you reach out the hand of Faith to receive it for your selves and yours 5. Children of Believing Parents shall be converted to God by Ordinances Psal 110. 3. The People shall be willing in the day of thy Power i. e. in dispensing of powerful Ordinances in the beauties of holiness for holiness is full of glory from the Womb of the Morning i. e. from the beginning of Christs entrance upon his Kingdom thou hast the Dew of thy Youth i. e. those young men of the Seed of the faithful that shall be born to the Messiah resembling Dew for quality and quantity for number and strange manner of Genaration But a plainer text we have in Isa 29.22 23. Jacob shall not now be ashamed neither shall his Face now wax pale through the loss of good blood or death of godly But when he seeth his Children the work of my hands in the midst of him they shall sanctifie my name Oh blessed sight to behold Gods Image and Workmanship in the Souls of our Children this is far better than to behold our Image upon them Gods Picture is drawn by his own hand with the Pencil of his Word and Spirit the discovery of this will raise high Monuments to the glory of Free-grace Lift up thine Eyes saith God Isa 60.45 Thy Sons shall come from far and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side I know it means Gentlie-converts And 't is so much the more of concern to us Isa 49.22 Another text saith they shall bring thy Sons in their arms with great care and tenderness as nurses carry young infants in their bosoms that they be not hurt Oh what a brave sight is it to see converts flocking to Christ and into his Church like doves to their windows or lockers Isa 60.8 the Seventy Translate it as Doves with their young ones unto me You may hope for your childrens saving conversion having those encourageing promises 6. Godly Persons natural Children may and shall be useful instruments of publick good to the Church of God Isa 49.17 Thy Children shall make haste or as others render it thy builders And her Children were her builders as we read in Ezra and Nehemiah That is a glorious day when destroyers are gone and the Churches Children build Zions Temple and Walls But so it shall be Isa 58.12 And they that shall be of thee i. e. thy Children Spiritual or Natural or both shall build the old Wast places thou shalt raise the Foundations of many generations Is not this worth something to have blessed Instruments of Reformation raised out of your loyns as Magistrates or Ministers how did it glad Davids heart that his Son Solomon must build God an house 2 Sam. 7.13 He shall build an house for my name David ecchos ' verse 18. Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And what if a Zerobbabel or a Joshuah proceed out of thy loyns who knows but some of thy posterity may be raised up as godly Ministers to convert sinners to God hope and pray for all things are possible with God and thou hast incouragement from the Covenant CHAP. V. More grounds of incouragement to Parents from the Promises 7 ANother incourageing word to Parents for their Children is that principles of grace and profession of godliness shall continue to future generations Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall
of God! I shall give some Motives and Directions 1. For Motives I beseech you consider Eph. 23. 1. That your Children are Children of wrath as well as others You begot them as Men not as Holy Men for Grace was adventitious Adam begot a Son in his own likeness Gen. 5.3 after his own Image not Gods which he had lost For Grace comes by spiritual regeneration not by natural generation You gave them a sinful and miserable being O study to give them an holy and happy being They are born in sin Travel over them till Christ be formed in them Gal. 4.19 If you cannot make them good yet lament that they are so bad You have done them a dis-kindness Labour to do them this kindness to plant Grace in them 2. Your Children are more inclined to Vice than Vertue they are born like the wild Asses Colt Job 11.12 with a byas Hell-wards and an antipathy in their nature to what is good For the carnal mind is enmity against good Rom. 8.7 Aelian tells of a Whore that boasted she could easily get Scholars away from Socrates but Socrates could get no Schollars from her Wrong is always before right naturally the left hand before the right Children need not be taught what is bad they learn that fast enough but you 'll find much ado to beat into them what is good 3 Yet they must learn Divine Truths and their Duty or never be happy One thing is needfull If they die as they are born Luke 10.4 with their backs on God they are undone for ever they are become like the beasts that perish But it 's better be a beast Eccl. 3.2 than to be a rational man like a beast The one goeth upwards to be judged by God and condemned to eternal torments but the Sensitive spirit of a beast goeth downwards to the Earth And however some think the Beast shall not lose its individuation yet it is not capable of Moral Evil and so of the Punishment of Hell as a rational but a graceless soul is Would you not have them far worse than Beasts Oh! take pains to work grace in them else no salvation Mat. 18.3 4. They are capable of Instruction For this end was the Book of Proverbs written Prov. 14. To give subtilty to the simple to the young man knowledg and discretion Aristotle indeed saith That a young man is not a fit hearer of Moral Philosophy or of Ethicks but he speaks of what is De facto non de eo quod fieri debet what is usually not what ought to be Children can learn Trades Toys why not Scriptures Catichisms It 's not enough to tell the capacity of many Children were they Idiots or Natural Fools destitute of Common Reason it were a lamentable judgment of God and a sore affliction to Parents But they have members of Body use of Reason Oh! do what you can to add Grace You are taken with their outward Feature wit Parts these qualifie them not for Heaven till Gods Image be super-induced 5. Parents have great advantage in beginning with their Children whilst young Now they are young and tender soonest reduced Like young twigs quickly bended or a young Horse easily broken or a young Hawk soonest brought to the lure Take them betimes before they be hardened in sin and you may most likely prevail but if they be let alone awhile they 'll be past dealing with Custom in sin makes them like the Aethiopian in his skin Jer. 13.23 or the Leopard spots Besides teach them betimes and they will more likely retain it It is an usual saying Liquidae sunt puerorum memoriae Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odoremtesta diu Childrens memories are soft and soonest take impression and clear or free from disturbance and so retain it longest Season a New Vessel and it will keep that favour long Let Cloath be died in Wooll and after in Cloath the colour will be most lively and durable The Application is easie 6. Parents are betrusted with their Childrens Souls as well as Bodies Ezek. 18.4 All Souls are mine saith God and he concredits them to the tuition of Parents as a precious Talent or depositum saying as Pharoah's Daughter to Moses Mother Exod. 2.9 take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy Wages so saith God when the Child is Born and Baptized to Parents I devolve the charge of this child on thee look to it Ezek. 3.17 if it miscarry through thy default its blood will I require at thy hand thou must give an account of its Soul go then to God and say as Manoah concerning his Son Sampson Judges 13.12 how shall we order the Child And how shall we do unto him Fetch your instructions from God and assistance also for your Childrens good consider of a reckoning day 7. By this you will manifest your own sincerity or sinisterity your love to God and your Children or your hatred Remember no man is really good that is not Relatively good When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren saith our Lord i. e. Luk. 22.32 evidence the sincerity of thy conversion by endeavouring the good of others Grace is like Fire that turns what it toucheth into its own nature if you do not your endeavour to bring others especially your seed into covenant it 's a shrewd sign you are not your selves in Covenant with God then wo be to you Oh cursed Parents of cursed Children Are you so indifferent whether Christs Kingdom be reared and erected in your Family that you 'll scarce put up a prayer or speak a word to promote it Where is your love to Christ that loved Souls so dearly And where is your true love to your natural off-spring if a Beast be fallen in a Pit will you not help him out Hast thou more care of a Swine than the Soul of thy Child 8. Satan lyes at the catch for your Children that Fiend of Hell hunteth daily for the precious Soul of thy dear Child he got possession when thy Child came into the World and he makes it his business to keep possession and will do till Christ that 's stronger than he cast him out Luk. 11.22 and wilt thou see a Dog a Bear the Lion of Hell hurry away thy Child Man and not cry out to Heaven for aid O heard-hearted miscreant doth not nature teach the Hen to fly at the glade that would take her Chickens yea the Sheep to turn upon the Dog that would catch her Lamb And art thou so far degenerated as to cast of all pity to thine own bowels Oh Monster of Mankind hast thou laid aside Humanity as well as Christianity 9. The Church and Commonwealth require this office of love from you to your Children and if you neglect their Education you take a course to corrupt both It 's worth observing that the Heathen Romans sued in their Courts
some pleas Arguments and Encouragements not to move God but to quicken your Faith Hope and Importunity Thus then say 1. Lord this Covenant thou hast made with Believers and their Seed did spring only from the Fountain of thy Free-grace this Promise commenced before I had a Being and therefore could not depend on any worthiness in me Deut. 7.7 8. the Lord did not set his love on Israel because they were better than others but because he loved them the love of benevolence produced the love of complacency it 's an Everlasting love both in its original and duration Jer. 31.3 it hath no cause but in Gods breast and shall have no end Lord for thy words sake 2 Sam. 7.21 compared with 1 Chr. 17.19 yea for thy Servants sake viz. Christ who is Gods Essential word and according to thy own heart hast thou done all these great things hadst thou seen any stop or obstruction on my part thou wouldest have forborn making this Covenant But such a Covenant there is and Grace made it look into thine own heart Lord and as Grace only made it so let Grace perform it 2. Lord Thou art true and faithful in the performance of thy promises Mercy made this Covenant with Abraham Mic. 7.20 Numb 23.19 Psal 89.35 Truth performs it to Jacob thou art not as man that thou shouldst lye thou hast sworn by thy holiness that thou wilt not lye unto David well Lord in hopes of the performance of thy Covenant I married begot Children gave them up to God in Baptism wherein thou tookest them as thine own and dost thou now repent of thy choice Oh no thou hast told me in thy word Isa 54.9 10. that thy Covenant-promises are as sure as the Waters of Noah not overflowing the World Jer. 31.35 36 37. yea the Mountains and Hills will sooner depart than God go back from his word yea his Covenant is as sure as the Ordinances of Heaven Sun Moon and Stars as sure as day and night Lord my Soul having got such good hold of thee by Faith I will not let go this hold but stick fast till thou make good thy promise to me and my seed I am resolved to sue thy Bond by Faith and Prayer till thou pay this debt 3. Lord thou hast made this Covenant good to others thou hast performed the mercy promised to our Fathers and remembred thy holy Covenant Luk. 1.45 55 72. there hath been a performance of the things spoken by the Lord never could any stand forth and challenge thee for the breach of promise from the beginning of the World to this day and I humbly hope thou wilt not begin with me Gen. 13.16 17 18. thou madest a promise to Abraham of a numerous off-spring and inhabiting Canaan and thou didst perform all to a tittle yea to a minute the least Iota did not fail or fall to the ground and thou art as great as good as powerful as merciful now as ever Gen. 18.14 Job 42.2 thou sayest is any thing too hard for the Lord My Soul Eccho's No I know that thou canst do every thing with God all things are possible I believe Lord help my unbelief thou art able to reduce my Prodigal Child to convert my stubborn Child Oh give a proof of thy power in this great work 4. Lord thou hast made good the Promise to my own Soul my Parents improved and pleaded thy Covenant for me a sinful wretch and wilt thou not make the same good to mine I must say as once Solomon Thou hast kept with thy Servant David my Father 1 Kin. 8.23 24. that thou promisedst him thou spakest also with thy Mouth and hast fulfilled it with thy hand as it is this day Blessed be the God of my Fathers that hath not cut off his kindness from me that am the Seed of those faithful ones that are now at rest with thee I my self can rise up and bear witness to thy faithfulness Ecce signum Behold a testimony of Divine love Psal 86.16 17. thou hast shewed me a token for good who am the Son of thy handmaid and I take this as a pledge of more kindness to mine Psal 116.16 thou hast loosed my Bonds wilt thou not also knock off the Fetters of sin from my poor Child I was as wicked as any and cost my Father and Mother many a tear and groan but thou heardest their Prayer wilt thou not also hear me 5. Lord I do find all that I want for my self and seed within the compass of the Covenant for as thou hast promised to be my God and pardon sin so thou hast undertaken to work the conditions thou requirest as absolutely necessary for obtaining the priviledges of the Covenant thou say'st they shall all know me from the least to the greatest of them Jer. 31.34 i. e. as I understand it young as well as old Deut. 30.6 thou sayst the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy Seed to love the Lord thy God Again thou say'st They that dwell under his shadow shall return Hos 14.7 amongst whom are Children and that he will turn the hearts of the Fathers with the Children Mal. 4.6 so some read it this is enough Lord may my Children be savingly converted I have all my desire for this shall be their Salvation and I have these promises under thy hand and surely they are not insignificant 6. Yea Lord thou hast converted some whose immediate Parents were not in Covenant and whether their remote Parents were so who can tell I plainly discern thou sometimes leapest out of the ordinary road reaching over the heads of some nearlier related to lay hold on strangers hearts and I do not grudge them this mercy but adore the freeness of Divine Grace only my Soul fetcheth some encouragement thence Rom. 11.17 23. Hos 2.23 will my Lord graft into the true Olive some wild branches and not take in natural Wilt thou say Ammi my people to them that were not thy people and wilt thou say Lo ammi to such as cling to thee are resolved not to forgo thee Oh my Lord the exuberancy of Free-grace to strangers is an incouragement to me and thus I say will my Father give such lumps of bread to Dogs and can he not afford a crum to a Child I see some whose Parents never spake a word to God for them eminent in Grace and Monuments of free-grace and shall any of my Children which thou hast taken into thy Family be shut out of thy doors I hope not 7. Lord if thou hadst a design to deny my suit thou wouldst have shut my mouth in prayer for thy word saith Psal 10.17 Thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear An inlarged heart in Prayer is not only a mean but a pledge of gracious audience surely thou wilt not send thy Spirit into my heart and
save to the uttermost Heb. 12.6 Jam. 1.6 7. all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost i. e. to the utmost extent of the Covenant-grant yea saist thou I believe his ability but I question my right coming therefore 2. There is a particular persuasion that God will grant this request Ergo for this child or in this case 't is true sometimes the Lord doth impress this upon the Spirit with power that this Mercy shall be granted this Child shall be Converted but this is not necessary for the obtaining of the Mercy a godly Soul may want faith to believe the issue of his Prayer and yet be heard as you see in David Psal 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes Mark it he had no particular faith for his preservation yet he prayed still nevertheless Saith he Thou heardest the voyce of my supplication when I cryed unto thee Observe it the want of his Faith hindred not the fruit of his Prayer nor will it do of thine 2. What ailes thee to follow so hard after God Is it not a principle of Faith Hast thou not laid hold on Gods Covenant for thine own Soul What means that frequent renewing of thy Covenant with the Lord in taking God to be thy God chiefest Good and utmost End and thy dedicating thy all to the Lord This shews thou art in Covenant for this is the Essence of saving Faith and thy being so much concerned for thy Seed declares plainly thy being in Covenant Thou goest daily to the Lord in earnest pleadings for thy Children and wilt not be beat off like the foresaid woman though one while he answers not another while he gives discouraging answers And is not this sincere faith Our Lord accounted it so in the woman that weathered out so many affronts in her importunate pleas And are not thy motions still more vigorous Poor soul thou art following the Lord with tears sighs and groans for thy wandring Child saying still Mar. 9.24 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief I will still express my desires of Grace for my child or children nothing else shall serve my turn Civility will not please me nor profit them without Sanctity I am not satisfied with Gifts without Grace Common Grace without Saving Grace Carnal men are well content to see their Children Witty Ingenious Industrious and likely to thrive in the World good Husbands notable Tradesmen and likely to come to preferment But oh my Lord thou knowest my breathings I look further My soul longs for a principle of Grace and a Portion in another World This is all my desire and all my Salvation Yea you 'l say But I am afraid I offend God by being too importunate Who can tell whether my Child be Elected and if not it 's in vain to pray I cannot alter Gods Decree Deut. 29.29 I Answer The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things that are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever that we may do all the words of this Law You must not make Gods hidden Councels but his holy Scriptures the Rule of your Prayers 1 Tim. 2.4 God saith he will have all men saved Thus his Will is manifested and I told you the Warrant you have to believe and pray for the Children of the Covenant and you cannot be too importunate so as you do not limit the Holy One of Israel and as longas there is life there is hope Therefore continue your Prayers the term of your natural life unless God take you off by some remarkable Providence I knew a very gracious zealous woman many years ago who was weeping and wrestling with God in an Out-house in the night for the precious Soul of her Prodigal Son who was now fallen sick and upon his Death bed and while she was groaning out her soul with tears and strong cryes she thought she heard a voyce saying to her Be content what I have done I have done She rose off her knees could not speak a word more went away quieted and upon enquiry found that her Son breathed out his last breath at that very instant in a Town two miles thence I am not credulous of such Storys but have great reason to believe the truth of it yet the instance is singular However this is a truth that God shuts up the Spirit of Prayer when he doth not intend to hear a good Woman so God had never denyed what she had asked of God in Prayer One objected a child of hers dying she replyed it's true but I could never Pray for that Child Gods assistings or withdrawings often portend the event But 't is safest for us to suspect some fault in our Persons or Prayers if God do not hear us for our Children therefore it becomes us to search our Consciences and Conversations to find out the Sin confess it beg a pardon in the Blood of Christ and Mortify it and then Pray say as Divine Herbert's Church Lock and Key I know it is my Sin which locks thine ears and binds thy hands Out-crying my requests drowning my tears Or else the chilness of my faint demands But as cold hands are angry with the Fire and mend it still So I do lay the want of my desire Not on my Sins or coldness but thy will Yet hear Oh God! only for his bloods sake which pleads for me For though sins plead too yet like stones they make His bloods sweet current much more loud to be The End