worse soften or harden you will bring you neerer to Heaven or Hell and will be either the savour of life or death to you 2 Cor. 2.16 Secondly As you are entring into the publick Assemblies to think and say with Jacob How dreadful is this place It is no other than the Gate of Heaven to set your selves in the presence of the great God and carry your selves there with all fear and reverence seeing there are not only Men but the Angels and the Great and Holy God to take notice both of your inward and outward behaviour And see you stay and not depart without the Blessing Thirdly After the publick Assemblies as you go home to meditate on what you have heard when you come home search the Scriptures whether things are so to repeat and confer with those in your Family about it to press the remembrance and practise of what you have heard on your selves and them after this to go apart and spend the rest of the day in Examination what you have profited and in meditation on the Word and Works of God and that Eterâ—â—â— Sabbath you are to celebrate hereafter in Heaven where you shall keep a Sabbath not only without weariness but with infinite delight and then conclude the Sabbath with prayer and praise pray for a blessing on the truths made known to you and for the pardon of all those infirmities you have discovered before in and after duty in publick private or secret and that God would accept of your weak endeavours and unfeigned desires to honour him in and for the all-meritorious Intercession's sake of Jesus Christ And then praise God for one Sabbath more liberty of communion with Him his Presence with you assistance of you and blessing of his Ordinances to you and so end the day as you began it As you gave Him the first of your thoughts when you rose so give Him the last of your thoughts when you lie down that so your dreams may savour of your Sabbath-days exercises Thirdly After the Sabbath to hold forth in your lives and conversations all you have heard and prayed for that so the blessing of the Sabbath may bring a blessing on all your labours the Week following Amen The Second Duty is Prayer to God And here First before Prayer to meditate First On the infinite distance between God and you as Creatures especially such finful Creatures Eccles 5.2 Secondly To make your addresses to the Throne of Grace only in the Name Worthiness and Mediation of Jesus Christ Col. 3.17 Thirdly To take notice of the special sins you are to confess the evils you are to â—â—precate or pray against the good things you are to Petition and the Mercies you are to return thanks for Fourthly Because we know not how to pray as we ought To beg the Spirit of Grace and Supplication to help your infirmity and keep your hearts close to Him in duty Fifthly To remember that we pray for all men especially for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 3. and for all Saints Eph. 6.18 Secondly In the time of Prayer remember to do it with humility and reverence Heb. 12. end In sincerity and truth John 4.24 With feeling and servency James 5.16 17. and in faith and love Heb. 11.6 1 Tim. 2.8 Thirdly After Prayer to look-after an Answer Live what you have prayed and labour in the use of the means for that you have prayed as you are commanded Prov. 2.3 4. The Third Duty is Hearing the Word First Before Hearing remember whom you go to hear not only Man but God who speaks in and by Man 2 Cor. 5.20 Secondly Because man can but speak to the Ear beg the Lord to give his Spirit that may speak to the heart Thirdly That the Spirit may make the Word effectual to the end God hath appointed it take heed you come not with prejudice against the Minister or the Word spoken by him James 1.21 1 Peter 2.1 Fourthly That you endeavour to bring humble honest and upright hearts to the hearing of the Word Luke 8.15 Micah 2.7 Doth not my word do good to him that walks uprightly Secondly In the time of Hearing First To set your selves in the special presence of God and remember He observes not only your outward but inward carriages with what hearts every one comes and sits before him 1 Sam. 16.17 Ezek. 33.31 Secondly To attend heedfully to the things that are spoken as Lydia did Acts 16. Thirdly To apply particularly what is spoken not to others but to your selves as John's hearers did Luke 3.10 Because what is spoken to one is intended to all Mark 13. last and unless it be applyed by faith it will not profit Heb. 4.11 Thirdly After Hearing First To discourse of what you have heard and not as the manner of too many is to talk presently of other Persons and Things Secondly To search the Scripture with the noble Beraeans whether things be so or no Acts 17.11 Thirdly To work all into your hearts and lives by Meditation Prayer and Practise because the promise of a blessing runs only to such Psal 103.17 and Luke 11.28 Otherwise without practise every Sermon will be preacht over by God and Conscience again at the last Day with such horror and terror as you will never be able to hear it John 12.48 The Fourth Duty is Reading of the Scriptures First Before it to think what a great blessing it is to enjoy this blessed Book and have liberty to look into it when 't is denied to many others not only amongst the Papists but amongst us through their own and their Parents neglect of learning them to read Secondly To remember that this is a duty that lies upon all Persons private as well as publick People as well as Ministers both to read the Scriptures First In respect of the express command of God Mal. 4.4 John 5.39 Col. 3.16 Secondly In respect of the great benefit and comfort that comes by it 2 Tim. 3. the 3 last Rom. 15 41. Psal 1.2 Revel 1.3 Thirdly In reading First To lift up an Ejaculation for understanding of it praying with David Psal 119.18 Open my eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Secondly To read with Application as David Psal 40.8 It 's written of me that I should do thy will It was no where written so of David in particular only he applied the general command to his particular Thirdly After reading with David also to hide God's Word in your heart Psal 119.11 And see that you order your conversation according to it Vers 9. The Fifth Duty is Receiving the Lord's Supper First Before it to see whether you can finde your selves in a state of grace and that you have those Sacramental graces of knowledge faith repentance obedience love and an appetite to this Ordinance all which are required to qualifie and fit Souls for communion with Jesus Christ in that Ordinance This duty of Self-examination you may see
an enlightening enlivening mortifying sanctifying quickning strengthning and establishing Spirit in you as you know you have life by your breathing moving walking so you may know you have the Spirit of God if he breathe and move in you and enable you to walk in the ways of God's Commandments more especially by this if you find him to be a spirit of sanctification in you to sanctifie you throughout in your whole man and in your whole Conversation for He is a Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1.4 and sanctifieth all his 1 Cor. 6.11 so as with David to hate every false way and have respect to every command of God Ps 119.6.12.8 Thirdly You may know it by this if you be careful not to quench the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 or grieve the Spirit Eph. 4.30 but heedfully to hearken to his Voice Isai 30.21 and follow his guidance Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.25 Fourthly By this if you go wholly out of your selves in every duty and enter upon it as in the name of Christ so by the strength of his Spirit as you are exhorted Eph. 6.10 and David did Psal 71.16 Fourthly If you find that you have not yet received the Spirit then to meditate on the many and weighty motives there are to quicken you to labour after the Spirit I will but name a few drawn from the Necessity and the Utility of it 1. There is an absolute Necessity of having the Spirit of God and that in these two respects 1. Because without the Spirit of Christ you can receive no grace from Christ for it is the Spirit that is the sole Author and Worker of grace in any therefore called the Spirit of Grace Zach. 12.10 And the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1.4 and the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord Isai 11.2 2. Because without the Spirit you cannot perform any duty so as to please the Lord and to profit by it As for instance 1. Not hear the Word for without the Spirit the Word is but a dead and killing Letter 2 Cor. 3.6 It was he that opened the heart of Lydia to attend unto what was spoken so as to live by it Acts 16. 2. Not to pray effectually without the Spirit Rom. 8.26 2. Many and great will be the benefits that will come to you by having the Spirit 1. He will be a Spirit of Inhabitation to dwell in you honour you so far as to make you his House and Temple 1 Cor. 3.16 2. He will be a Spirit of Illumination to enlighten you with the knowledge of God's mind and will to teach you all things John 16.12 and bring all things to your remembrance John 14.26 3. A Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1.4 To sanctifie you throughout in Spirit Soul and Body 1 Thes 5.23 To inrich you with all sanctifying graces Gal. 5.22 4. A Spirit of Consolation to cheer up your Spirits in and under affliction Rom. 14.17 John 14.16 5. A Spirit of Intercession teaching to pray Rom. 8.26 6. A Spirit of Direction to guide you in all your ways and lead you into all truth Rom. 8.14 and 16.5 In a word a Spirit of Adoption and Salvation Rom 8.16 Ephes 1.13 and therefore in all these respects to labour after the Spirit of Christ But you will say What must we do to procure this Spirit 5. You must take notice of and meditate on the means of procuring the Spirit which are amongst others these 1. You are to give the Spirit the glory that is due to him Well then Q. What must we do to procure the Spirit A. 1. You are to give the Spirit the glory that is due to him by acknowledging him to be true and very God every way equal with the Father and the Son to believe in him and rest on him for illumination sanctification and salvation as well as the Father and the Son for the ignorance and unbelief of this our Saviour shews to be the cause why the World receives him not John 14.17 Secondly You are to know and acknowledge that by nature you want the Spirit of God and thereupon to hunger and thirst after him for the promise is he will pour out his Spirit upon such Isaiah 44.3 John 7 37 38. Thirdly You are to attend and wait upon God in the Ministry of the Word wherein the Spirit is given Acts 10.44 Gal. 3.2 Fourthly You are to love the Lord Jesus Christ and express your love by keeping his Commandments for Christ hath promised to give his Spirit unto such John 14.15 16 17. Fifthly You are to be earnest and constant in Prayer for the Spirit to be given in to enlighten and enable you to every duty God calls you to the gift of the Spirit is a great gift and the greatest next to Christ his Son too great indeed for us to ask but not for God to give for he delights to give and do great things for his and not only commands us to ask him but makes many promises to incourage us Ezek. 36.25 26. Joel 2.28 29. Zac. 12.10 most clearly Luke 11.13 Fifthly If you would have the Spirit to obey the Spirit in his motions and excitements within and without Isa 30.20 21. and take heed you do not resist grieve or quench the Spirit Isai 63.10 Eph. 4.13 1 Thes 5.19 Sixthly Having obtain'd the Spirit to take notice of and meditate on the means you are to use for the preserving and increasing communion with him as First To take heed of and shun such sins as cause him to depart for instance 1. Take heed of quenching the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 now the Spirit is quenched as Fire is either by with-drawing Fuel or casting-on of Water and filth so is the Spirit when Men either neglect the means and seasons of grace or else hearken unto and cherish the motions of sin and Satan and the World hence that Exhortation Isai 30. To hearken unto the Voice behind us and not turn to the right hand or to the left Secondly Take heed of grieving the Holy Spirit of God Eph. 4.30 Now the Holy Spirit is grieved as by all sin so especially by open and scandalous sins such as lying dissembling idleness rotten communication unbridled passion anger wrath revenge as you may see clearly Eph. 4 25. to the end Thirdly Take heed of resisting the Holy Ghost which is a higher degree of sinning when Men and Women not only refuse to hearken unto the Voice of the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word but even fall fowl on the Doctrines and truths that are taught out of the Word and quarrel with the Ministers for their plain and faithful dealing with them as the Israelites did with Jeremy 43.1.2 and the Jews with Stephen Acts 5.71 Fourthly Take heed of tempting the Holy Ghost as Ananias and Sapphira did Acts 5.1 to the 10. Q. When do Men tempt the Holy Ghost to take vengeance on them A. You may see in that place when they will profess and pretend that which is not in
any onâ—â— leave every one as he findes the temper of his body and spirit most inclin'd and disposed to Thirdly Though none strictly bound to any part of the Day yet none to leave themselves at random and at large to do it at any time of the Day but appoint some set-time for it either the Morning or Evening either before or after Supper or a little before we compose our selves to rest The reason is because if we should leave our selves at randome we should never be constant in this Exercise but shift it off from one time to another Fourthly When you have set the time then be careful to observe it constantly unless some urgent necessity prevent because otherwise fickleness and unconstancy will keep us from profiting by it and soon make us weary of it Secondly For extraordinary Seasons they are amongst others these First When the spirit of God doth in a more than ordinary manner move and incline to it when the Spirit lifts up the heart to Heaven then to lift up with him to nourish and cherish those motions Secondly When you are under more than ordinary trouble of Spirit then to apply your selves to this duty for Cordials are never more seasonable than in times of fainting Psal 94.19 2 Cor. 4. 2 last verses Thirdly When either Age or sickness do summon us to death then is a fit season to meditate on God and the things of God when all other things in the World begin to leave us then to think on those things will never leave us for it 's observable in the Saints they have been most heavenly in their mediations affections and expressions towards their end as Jacob Genes last Moses Deut. 33. 33. chap. our Saviour in the 14 15 16 17. chap. of John we should follow them in the same practise As the pulling down of one Ballance is the lifting up of another so the drawing down of the body to Earth should be the lifting up of the Soul to Heaven As the Soul here is usually at the worst when the Body is at the best so the Soul should be at the best when the Body is at the worst The fifth Circumstance is the Manner how we are to perform this duty and that is thus Cordially reverently seriously affectionately constantly and orderly First Cordially because it 's not the meditation of the head but the heart God looks unto Prov. 4. My Son give me thy heart Luke 2.19 Mary ponder'd Christ's sayings in her heart Psalm 19. last and 49.3 Secondly To do it reverently remembering and considering he is a great King and his Name is dreadful amongst the Heathen Malachy 1. ult therefore to take heed of any unreverent or careless behaviour in his presence and worship as being a great dishonour to him and that which he sharply reproves in those formal and lazie Priests Mal. 1. about the end Thirdly Seriously so as to keep the mind intent upon the business in hand and not to give way to any other thoughts though they be good thoughts because they are unseasonable at that time and will thrust out the other and so make both useless to keep also a narrow watch over our hearts and senses that they be not avocated or drawn aside by other objects Fourthly Affectionately so as to have our affections stirred and warmed and wrought upon by those things we meditate on as David here in the Text My Meditation of him shall be sweet and I will be glad in the Lord so to think on spiritual and heavenly things as they may leave an impression upon the Soul as the Seal doth on the Wax that so your affections may answer your cogitations as the Wax doth the Seal and the Eccho the voice As for Example when you think on the glorious Majesty of God to make your hearts stand in aw of Him when on his Love Grace Mercy to have your Hearts thereby indear'd to him Secondly When on Christ the amiableness and fulness that is in him and in him for you to have your desires drawn out the more after nearer sweeter fuller communion with him when on the Holy Ghost his sweet motions and invitations to have your Hearts opened to receive Him and obey Him in them Fourthly When on the Word to do it with a particular Application Fifthly When on God's Works of Mercy and Justice to have your Hearts melt with the one and tremble at the other Sixthly When on your selves your sins and corruptions to be humbled under them when on the Evidences of God's love and grace to rejoice in them Seventhly When on the World and the things of it to have your hearts disingag'd from them and hang loose to them Lastly When on Death to live in a continual expectation and a religious preparation for it when on the Judgment-Day to cast up your accounts sit in judgment on your selves that you may not be condemn'd with the World so think on Hell as your Hearts may tremble at sin that made it and so think on Heaven that your conversation may be there where you hope e're long to have your Habitation to all Eternity Fifthly To do it constantly so as to observe the due and the appointed time or otherwise omission and intermission may soon cause amission and so dead the affection as to become weary of it and cast off the duty and therefore to be constant in it and continue so long in it until our hearts be affected with what we think and we receive some benefit by it Sixthly To do it orderly for God being a God of Order he loves Order in us to this end to have an eye to three things the Ingress the Progress and the Egress As for Example to begin with Hearing or Reading and then go on with Meditation or thinking on it and then end all with Prayer for as Mr. Greenham well said Hearing and reading without Meditation is useless Meditation without reading and hearing fruitless and both without prayer will be successless miss a blessing More distinctly and fully First for the Ingress or Entrance upon it we are to prepare for it by making choice of some particular subject most sutable to your present condition and then lift up an Ejaculation for the Lord direction assistance and blessing on it Secondly For the Progress in it to observe a Method in it either such as Scholars use to do in Meditation on a subject as First The Definition or Description Secondly The Division or kind or parts Thirdly The Causes efficient material formal final Fourthly The fruits and the effects and the like Logical heads all which you may see exemplified in Bishop Hall's and Mr. Roger's Seven Treatises or thus which I conceive a more profitable way for our more ordinary sort of hearers being not acquainted with this art to proceed in your Meditations as you are taught First On the Doctrine then the Proofs then the Reasons then the Uses and in them the signs motives means You
willing as he is able Psal 84.11 1 Tim. 4.8 More particularly First That he will give them his Spirit to work all in them and for them Ezek. 36.26 Luke the 11. Secondly That he will give them the sanctifying knowledge of himself and his will Ezek. 36.26 Thirdly That he will pardon all their sins and look upon them as righteous in his Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 21. Fourthly That he will sanctifie their natures to the mortifying of their corruptions and the quickning of their graces Rom. 6.4 5. 8. the 13. Jer. 31.33 Ephes 2.1 Fifthly That he will take away their heart of Stone and give a heart of Flesh the double Spirit and give a single Spirit the froward Spirit and give a teachable Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and chap. 36. Sixthly He will not only give grace but growth in grace Malach. 4.2 Lastly That he will never leave the work of his grace until he hath perfected grace in glory Jer. 32.39 40. Phil. 1.6 Seventhly To meditate of the Signs of being actually in Covenant as First a lively faith working by love to God and all that is God's John 3.16 Gal. 5.5 Secondly A Reciprocation of promises as God promised to be our God so we to be his People Deut. 26.16 17. as he promised to give Christ and grace and glory so we promise faith and love and new obedience Thirdly The Counterpane or Copy of the Covenant they that enter into Covenant one with the other you know each Party hath a Counterpane or Copy of it so is it between God and the Soul as the Covenant is reciprocal so the Copy of the Covenant is drawn on the heart Jeremy 31.34 Fourthly They have the Spirit of God to reveal and make known this Covenant to them Jeremy 31.34 and to enable them to do what is required in the Covenant Ezek. 36.26 27. Fifthly Such as are in Covenant they have the fruits and effects of of it as First Softness of heart Ezek. 11.19 Secondly Sincerity of obedience Ezek. 11.19 20. Thirdly Growth in grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Fourthly Perseverance in grace Jer. 32.39 Fifthly A conscionable care to renew their Covenant with God upon every breach of it Jer. 50.5 Eighthly To meditate on the means of getting an interest in the Covenant if you do not yet find your selves actually in Covenant as First To humble your selves under the abuse of his grace in the first Covenant Secondly To give him the glory of his grace in vouchsafing to enter into another and a better Covenant not only to give grace but perseverance in grace Thirdly To be willing to Covenant with God as he with you Deut. 26.16 17. This Day the Lord thy God hath c. Fourthly To close with the great design of God in saving of poor lost sinners in making such a Covenant with them in Christ and in order to it to renounce the former Covenant of works all your own righteousness and desire with the Apostle to be found only in Christ having his righteousness that is by faith the righteousness of God Phil. 3.9 Because by the works of the Law no Flesh living can be justified Rom. 3. The Jews going about to establish their own righteousness made void to them the righteousness of Christ Rom. 10.3 Yea and you are to renounce all other Covenants with Sin Satan and the World for God will never enter into Covenant with those that are in Covenant with his Enemies Isai 28.15 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end Fifthly To go unto God by servent and constant Prayer and entreat him to remember his Covenant and glorifie his grace in it upon you by giving his Spirit for the enabling you to close with his great Design in the Covenant That he would put his Law in your heart and write it in your inward parts and give you that new Spirit which may cause you to walk in his Statutes and keep his Commandments and do them Ezek. 36. Ninthly To meditate on the many and weighty motives there are to quicken every one to get an interest in this Covenant of Grace as First The sad and miserable condition of all such as are without Covenant They are without God in the World and without hope viz. of a better life After this Eph. 2.12 They must look to be judged by a Covenant of works and if Men be not able to yield obedience to any one command of God as they ought and yet bound to yield obedience unto all the whole Law or no life do they must all or die eternally for the breach of the least Commandment Deut. 27. last The consideration of this should make every wicked man tremble to continue a moment in his natural unregenerate state and speedily to come unto Christ Yet further consider the miserable condition of men in this so long as they are without Covenant they cannot expect any blessing or mercy from God either corporal or spiritual outward or inward for all blessings and mercies they are conveyed to a People in and by virtue of the Covenant Zach. 9.11 Whatsoever men have and enjoy being out of Covenant they have it in wrath and not in mercy as a curse and not a blessing Mol. 2.2 Secondly Meditate on the happy and blessed estate of such as are actually in Covenant they have an interest in God and Christ his Spirit and all that is theirs 1 Cor. 3. two last Hos 2.18 to the end And as all that is good in God and Christ is yours so all that evil that is yours in Christ's Your sins 2 Cor. 5 last and your sufferings Isaiah 63. He is afflicted in all your afflictions Secondly You may go boldly to the Throne of Grace for the supply of all your wants Heb. 4. last and with assurance to be accepted and answer'd in whatsoever you shall ask according to his will 1 Ioh 5.14 Thirdly It 's that will bring you comfort in the saddest condition you are or can be in When they spake of stoning David He encouraged himself in the Lord his God 2 Sam. 23.5 Again To meditate on the excellent properties of this Covenant How that it is the most free sweet full and unchangeable Covenant First For the Freeness of it there was nothing in Us to move him to it but his own grace therefore call'd a Covenant of grace nothing requir'd on our part but only faith Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16 31. Secondly For the Sweetness of it you may see it in these three things First He requires no more of us than he promiseth to work in us by his Spirit Ezek. 36.27 Secondly He promiseth to overlook all our unwilling trespasses faultings and failings where they are bewail'd by us and to accept the will for the deed the endeavour for the work 2 Cor. 8.12 our imperfect obedience for perfect Heb. 11.17 Thirdly He will look upon accept of the perfect Obedience the full satisfaction of Jesus Christ for us as if we had yielded
Consider what they come for sc for sin Though there be other causes yet this is always one cause Lament 3.39 Wherefore doth the living man complain c Psal 130. last Miea 7. I will patiently bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned If sin lies heavy all afflictions will be light Luther gives this reason why he slighted the rage of the Pope the Emperor and all his Enemies They are all little to me saith he because sin is so weighty 3. Consider to what end they come Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good Gen. 15.20 Heb. 12. He corrects us not for his pleasure but for our profit Phil. 1.19 I know this shall turn to my Salvation 4. Be careful to justifie God in and under all even the greatest afflictions As Ezra 9. Thou hast punished us less than we deserve Psal 119. of very faithfulness thou hast corrected me and the Church Lament 3. It 's the Lord's mercy we are not consumed Isai 24.15 The command is Glorifie God in the Fire sc of Affliction which is as a Fire to try you humble purge you and purifie you 5. Be filent and patient under it as Job 1. last and David Psal 9.9 Remembring and considering wnatsoever your sufferings are 1. They are from a Lord whose will cannot be resisted and a Father whose will ought readily to be obeyed a wise Father that knows what is better for his Children than they do for themselves a compassionate Father that will not afflict too much because he knows whereof they are made that they are but dust Psal 103. nor too long least the Spirit faint and the Soul that he hath made Isai 57. Secondly Because whatsoever your sufferings are they are little or nothing in respect of what our sins made Christ to suffer 2. In respect of the many and bitter things many of his Saints have and do suffer 3. Those evils our sins deserve we should suffer 4. Those Eternal sufferings Christ hath redeem'd us from 5. That exceeding excessive weight of glory that will follow these sufferings 2 Cor. 4. end 3. In respect of those many sweet gracious and holy ends God hath in the Afflictions of his which you saw before in your Meditations on God's supporting grace 6. Lastly To hearken unto and obey the voice of God in his Rod Mica 6.9 The Lord's Voice cryeth unto the City c. The Rod of God hath a Voice as well as the Word when Men will not hearken unto and obey God's Voice in the Ministry of the Word then God sends his Rod and awakens Conscience opens Mens Ears and Seals up instructions Q. But what is the Voice of the Rod what doth it teach and instruct men in Ans That you have in four places of Scripture 1. That of Job 22.21 Acquaint thy self with God and be at peace so good shall come unto thee 2. That Lament 3.39 Wherefore doth the living man complain let him search and trie his ways and turn again unto the Lord. 3. That of Peter 1 Pet. 5.6 Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time 4. That Ezek. 18.31 Cast away all your transgressions and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit For why will you die O House of Israel 7. To be thankful that as God of faithfulness hath corrected us so of the same faithfulness he hath not taken away his loving kindness That he hath corrected us in so much measure and mercy dealt not with us according to our deserts but the multitude of his free tender and unchangeable mercies our afflictions not so many and great but God's mercies more and greater if not in temporals yet in spirituals though poor in the World yet rich in Christ though we want the smiles of the World you have the favour of the great God though not the riches of the World yet we have the riches of grace though not the pleasures of the World yet the peace of a good Conscience 8. Not only to be thankful for them but joyful in them and under them though not in respect of the nature of them which is evil for so they are not joyous but grievous Heb. 12. Yet in respect of the concomitants Pardon and Peace and the consequents Salvation and Glotification as they 1 Thes 1.4.6 This is the meaning of that James 1.2 My brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers Temptations or Afflictions There are two Sights saith Luther the Devil most delights-in To see a wicked man merry and a Saint sorrowful but there are two Sights that do intollerably vex him sc To see a sinner mournful for his sin and a Saint joyful under his sufferings Luther's Colloq Mensal Cap. 37. And therefore I say be joyful and comfortable under all your affl ctions in respect of the blessed issue and fruit of them as the Saints before us Acts 5. last Rom. 5.3 4. 9. To be fruitful under them What that fruit is you are to bring forth under them you may see in Isai 27.9 By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged c. And David Psal 119.67 It 's good for me that I have been afflicted 10. To live still by faith in God's promises and providences for supporting Grace under and deliverance out of all as the Saints have done before you First You have many promises to encourage you take notice of and meditate on a few 1 Cor. 10.13 Psal 91.15 Isai 41.10.27.9 10. Psal 34.19 Secondly You have many also of the Saints going before you in this as Job 15 13. David Psal 42 last Psal 9.10 Paul 2 Cor. 1.10 And we are commanded to follow them in the same practise Heb. 10.35 end Lastly To follow all with Praver that Faith and Patience may have their through and perfect work The Rod may be sanctified before it be removed That as your sufferings abound so your Consolations may abound by Jesus Christ Amen The Fifth Head concerning the Worship and Service of God Sect. 1. About this to meditate on these sew things What it is Where and When and How and Why we are to worship God 1. What it is for the understanding of this to consider Servants you know owe unto their Lord a service of honour and of labour for the protection and provision they have from them and such do we owe to our Soveraign Lord and Master Mal. 1.6 So that this worship of God it is that Homage and service which every one owes unto Him and which he requires and expects from them and for their Creation Redemption Vocation and the daily protection and provision he makes for them Math. 4.10 Deut. 10.12 and vers 21. Psal 29.1 2. And here to take notice This Worship of God it 's either External or Internal First External God is to be worshipped with the Body and every part of it Joshua sell on his face and worshipped Josh 5.14 Moses bowed his head and worshipped Exod. 4.32
it and the Fruits of it 1. By the Grounds of it whence it ariseth and they are these 1. A sight and sense of their lost condition that they came into the World without Christ before Men be convinced of this they will never look out after Christ Eph. 2.12 2. It ariseth from sound Humiliation under the fight and sense of their lost condition so as to be willing upon it to break off the League between the Soul and every sin for a Graft must be cut off from the old Stock before it can be set into a new This you may find in those new Converts Acts 2.37 And the Jaylor Acts 16.29 2. You may know it by the Means of it now these are four whereof there are two on Christ's part sc His Word and his Spirit and two on our part sc Faith and Love By these as so many Bands and Ligaments the union is made between Christ and the Soul By the two former God draws the Soul home to Christ By the two latter he unites and knits it to Christ 1. The Word of Christ that is the Ordinance by which he cuts them off from the old Stock and ingrafts them into the new Acts 26.18 therefore called the ingrafted Word James 1.21 Now Souls are cut off from the old Stock by sound Humiliation under their sinful and miserable condition by nature so as to be willing to have the League broken between the Soul and every sin to part with all for Him And they come to be ingrafted to Him when they are made willing to receive Him on Gospel-terms not only as their Saviour but their Ruler 2. Another Means and the principal is the Spirit of Christ 1 Joh. 3. last which the Lord gives effectually to accompany his Word for the cutting them off from the old Stock and ingrafting them into the new and this the Spirit doth by convincing them of sin righteousness and judgment Joh. 16.8 By being in them first a Spirit of Bondage and then of Adoption Rom. 8 15. By mortifying of their Corruptions Rom. 8.13 and quickning them with Grace Vers 10 11. 1 Cor. 6.11 3. Another Means or Band of our union with and interest in Christ is a lively Faith taking us off from our own righteousness and causing us to rest and rely only on the righteousness of Jesus Christ for Justification and Salvation Joh. 3.16 Phil. 3.9 4th Means or Band is an unfained Love to Christ for his lovely Self and all his Members for his sake Joh. 14.21 1 Joh. 3.14 3. You may know it by the fruits of it which are especially these 1. A through change of heart and life 2 Cor. 5.17 2. Subjection and obedience to his Laws and Commandments Joh. 14.15.21 15.14 Then are you my friends if you do whatsoever I command you and Heb. 5.9 3. Conformity to him in heart and life doing and suffering living and dying Rom. 6.5 6. 1 Joh. 2.6 2 Tim. 2.12 4. A constant adherence to him in faith love and obedience with full purpose of heart not to depart from him Heb. 3.14 Tenthly To meditate on what we are to do for the getting and clearing up our interest in Christ and all he hath done and suffer'd for us to this end mind well a few directions as First Look to this that you be throughly convinc't of and humbled under your sinful and miserable condition out of Christ so as to find your selves in a lost and undone condition Luke 19.10 Sick in Soul with the confideration of it Mat. 9.13 Burdned with and weary of your sins Mat. 11.29 And pricked in your hearts as they Act. 2.37 for this is the first work of the Spirit of God in bringing in a Soul to Christ viz. the convincing him and humbling him under his sin and misery by reason of sin Joh. 16.8 Secondly To hunger and thirst after an interest in Christ above all other things in the World Isaiah 55.1 Revel 22.17 so as with the Apostle To account all things but loss and dung in comparison of it Phil. 3. Thirdly You are to be willing to take Him on Gospel-terms such as he therein offers himself as these First To take Him in all his Titles and Offices not only as your alone Jesus but Lord and Christ Rom. 13. end Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and so Acts 16.31 Secondly Be willing to deny our selves and tâ—â—e up his Cross to follow Him Mark 8.34 willing to part with all and every sin yea all and every thing to follow Him as Christ advised the young man Luke 19. Sell all thou hast and come and follow me c. For as a Noble Lord said well That Person may be deceived that thinks to save any thing by his Religion but his Soul meaning his Religion might cost him the loss of all Thirdly Give up your selves to Him in a Universal sincere and constant obedience and conformity to Him and all his commands expresly requir'd Heb. 5.9 Heb. 3.14 John 15.14 Fourthly You are to endeavour to lay hold on Him and close with Him and be united to him by faith and love Rom. 11.19 20. Eph. 3.17 Gal. 5.6 John 14.21 And that you may to wait constantly on the Ministry of the Word and beg the Spirit of God effectually to accompany it for the begetting and working of this faith and love whereby you may be actually and really united to him and made one with him 1 Cor. 12.13 Eleventhly To meditate on the motives and incouragements you have to get and clear up your interest in Christ You have seen enough in what hath been said before yet take two or three more First Consider the miserable condition of a man our of Christ in these particulars First So long as Men are without Christ they are without Covenant without hope and without God in the World Eph. 2.12 Secondly They lie under the guilt of all their sins Rom. 3.19 and that you cannot stand under the guilt of one sin that first sin how much less under the guilt of such innumerable sins Thirdly You remain still in Vassallage and slavery unto the basest and 〈…〉 Tyrants Sin Saâ—an and the World Eph. 〈…〉 Fourthly You sin in all you think and 〈…〉 do Pro. 15.8 Rom. 8.7 Titus 1.15 〈◊〉 Every thing you have and use is accurâ—ed to 〈◊〉 Deut. 28 16. to the end Mal. 2.2 Sixthly Theâ—◠〈◊〉 but a step between you and Hell John 8.21 1 Cor. 6.9 Mat. 25. last Secondly Consider the happy estate of a man in Christ he is freed from all that is truly evil and instated in all that is truly good First He is freed from all evil both of sin and punishment from the evil of sin both the guilt of it and the filth of it 1 John 1.7 Rom. 8.1 Rom. 6.14 Secondly He is instated in all that is good As the Wife is by her marriage in all the honours riches pleasures of her Husband so is the believing Soul in all the honours riches and
Lord. Secondly To meditate on such things as may not only fit and prepare you for death but meditate on such things as may make you willing to die and help you to die comfortably What are they Mind here well for they are of special use to you As first 1. The certainty of another and a better life after this nothing so sure as that by what you have seen already by the testimony of Scripture and many weighty grounds of it in your meditations on the Life of Glory 2. Meditate on the evidences you have of an interest in that better Life of Glory as your interest in God in Christ in the Spirit and in the Graces of the Spirit as your effectual Vocation Justification Adoption Sanctification and those Graces unto which 't is promised as Saving Sanctifying Knowledge Faith Repentance Obedience love to the Saints the Truth sincerity and uprightness of your heart in all to which you may see it frequently promised Psal 84. to the end Psal 37. v. 37. Isa 57.2 Thirdly To meditate on the many and weighty grounds God hath given to encourage your Faith and strengthen your Patience and cause both to have their perfect work 1. To encourage your Faith as 1. his immutable decree 2 Tim. 2.19 2. His unchangeable Love Jer. 31.3 3. His everlasting Covenant Jer. 32.39 4. His continual Intercession Heb. 7.25 5. His almighty Power to keep them through Faith unto Salvation 2 Pet. 1.4 however we should let go our Faith yet he will hold it fast by his Spirit 2. The grounds to strengthen our Patience 1. It 's a Lord whose Will cannot be resisted a Father who ought readily to be obeyed a wise Father who knows what is better for his Children then they do for themselves a pittiful tender-hearted Father that is afflicted in all the afflictions of his that will not afflict his too much because he knows whereof they are made that they are but Dust nor too long lest the Spirit faint and the Soul which he hath made a Father from whom they have received all the good they have had and therefore to be contented to receive a little evil and the rather because it is in order to their spiritual and eternal good Rom. 8.2 Ah! but the pains of my Body are great and the pangs of Death are bitter but to quiet your spirits under these Consider 1. That the pangs of Death are sometimes less then the pains they feel before as to Mr. Bolton who said to his Friend that askt him How it was with him when the pangs of death were upon him He said to him Your cold hand is the greatest pain I feel in his Epistle to the Four last Things 2. You are content to undergoe a great deal of pain here for a little gain how much more should you for an eternal gain These pains are but like the throwes in Travail to bring forth eternal Life 3. Whatsoever your pains and sufferings are they are little or nothing to those your sins made Christ to suffer and that many of his dear and precious Saints have and do suffer and to those eternal sufferings Christ hath redeemed you from and that exceeding excessive and eternal weight of glory that will follow your sufferings 2 Cor. 4.17 Fourthly To meditate on the many and great evils that Death will free you from as 1. from a body of Sin and Death that is still inclining you to evil and indisposing you to good still dulling deading and distracting you in all the services you do 2. From a wicked World wherein continually we see and hear what doth and should more vex our souls 2 Pet. 2. 3. From the dissention of Brethren who are continually undermining the credit and comfort one of another which made Melancton so willing to die when a Friend of his askt him how it was with him and whether he were willing to die He answered Oh yes Not only that he might be freed from a body of Sin and Death and a wicked World but from the dissention of Brethren and go there where all shall be perfected in love 4. From a malicious Devil that is still tempting us to evil and discouraging us from all that is good walking up and down like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. In a word from all Labours Pains Fears Doubts Sorrows Sufferings Rev. 14.13 Rev. 21.4 Death will perfectly cure you of all Diseases Corporeal and Spiritual at once both an aking Head and an unbelieving Heart a sickly Body and a distemper'd Spirit the best Physitian that ever you met with Fifthly To meditate on the many and great benefits Death will help you to as that glorious Place Company Imployment Priviledges you saw before in the Life of Glory the continual Presence of God the blessed Vision of God the immediate perfect and everlasting communion with God perfection of Holiness fulness of Joy and an everlasting Sabbath Sixthly To consider the evil of being unwilling to die By this Christians manifest too much ignorance unbelief hypocrisie love to the World senslesness of the body of Sin and Death that World of wickedness they live in and hereby procure more disquiet to their Spirits and hasten Death the sooner upon them besides the great unreasonableness of it that when God should be so willing of their company they should be so unwilling of his and when Christ should be content to leave Heaven and to come to Earth for them they should be unwilling to leave Earth to go to Heaven that they might enjoy him and know and profess it to be best of all to be with Jesus Christ Seventhly To meditate on the good of being willing to die Hereby you will make a vertue of necessity seeing you cannot put it off therefore you will voluntarily yeeld to it hereby you will manifest your hatred of sin contempt of the World Faith in God's Promises Love to God desire of immediate Communion with him honour your Christian Profession and make Death the less terrible to you Eighthly and Lastly Consider what the Apostle sayes 1 Cor. 13. to the end Death is yours Yours no way to hurt you but every way to do you good 1. No way to hurt you because however it be a Serpent yet 't is a Serpent without a sting by stinging of Jesus Christ to death it lost its sting so that though it may hiss yet it cannot hurt however the Devil brought Jesus Christ unto the Cross unto Death unto the Grave yet therein Jesus Christ out-shot the Devil in his own Bow spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of it openly tryumphing over them on the Cross Col. 2.15 And that it can no way hurt you appears further by these Particulars 1. In that it is not the destruction or annihilation either of Soul or Body but onely the alteration and change of their condition for the better As for instance 1. In the Body The Body by Death is freed from
Inwardly The inward frame so admirable as David wonders at it Psalm 139.13 to 17. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made c. 2. For the outward form of it 1. Man was made naked whereas all other Creatures have Scales Horns Feathers and nothing so beautiful and comely as Man nakedness was an Ornament before the fall 2. Man was made with the Countenance upward whereas all other Creatures have it downwards 3. With Speech to express his mind to the edification and comfort of others 4. With Hands which all other Creatures want whereby he might rule and govern the Creatures feed and cloath himself and dispatch all his business 2dly To meditate on the excellent and honourable use of the Body in that God hath made it not onely the Organ and Instrument of the Soul to work in and by it but the Habitation of the Holy Ghost to dwell in it and his Temple to offer up Spiritual Sacrifice to God in it the meditation of this will make you the more watchful and careful to preserve it in purity and chastity 1 Thes 4.4 5. to use every sense and member of it as Instruments of Righteousness and Holiness to the glorifying of God Rom. 6.19 2 Cor. 6. last Rom. 12.1 Thirdly Of the Tongue In it to meditate on the ends wherefore God gave it which are especially two 1. To glorifie God whence the same word in the Hebrew that signifies Tongue signifies Glory because we are to glorifie God with it Psa 108.1 35.28 63.5 2. To edifie others Psa 37.30 Ephes 4.29 The building them up in Saving-Knowledge and Grace 1 Thes 5.11 2. To consider the great need we have to imploy it to these ends 1. Because God hearkens and hears if any man speaks aright Jer. 8.6 2. Because God hath corrected rash and unadvised speaking in his most eminent Saints as in Moses Psal 106.32 33. 3. Because for every idle word that men shall speak they must give an account at the Day of Judgment 4. Because in the right usage of the Tongue the fear of the Lord and the comfort of a mans life doth chiefly consist as you may see by comparing the 11th verse with the 12 and 13 of the 34th Psalm The serious meditation of this will make us take better heed to our tongues as it did David Psal 39.1 and pray with him Psal 141.3 Set thou a watch before my mouth and keep the door of my lips To look to this our Speeches be wise deliberate gracious and profitable Fourthly Of the Talents In and about them consider 1. There are none but have some Talents given of God to imploy for the glory of God and the good of others some have Talents of Gifts and Grace more means and seasons of Grace then others some have Talents of Health Strength Wealth Honour some more some less some ten some five some one and all these put into their hands to imploy for their Lord and Masters advantage for the glory of God and the good of Souls their own and others especially those under their charge as you may see Mat. 25. And to whom much is given much will be required Luke 12. And therefore to enquire every one what Talents we have received and how we have prized them and improved them whether we have or do imploy them to the ends God gave them and as our Consciences and Conversations can witness for or against us to be humbled and thankful accordingly 2. To consider what abundance of Peace Joy and Comfort the well imployment of these Talents will bring unto you when you come to lie upon your Death-beds Isa 38.3 Remember how I have walkt before thee in Truth with a perfect heart sayes Hezekiah and what abundance of horror and terror will fall upon your spirits if you neglect your Talents or the misimployment of them as it did upon him that cryed out at his end Diem perdidi Deum perdidi meipsum perdidi I have lost the day my God and my self To the one he will say Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruler over much To the other Take him and bind him hand and foot and cast him into utter darkness c. To the one Come ye Blessed for I was an hungry To the other Go ye cursed c. for I was an hungry and ye gave me no meat c. Mat. 25. A serious meditation on these things will stir you up to a more diligent and careful imployment of your inward and outward Talents to the glory of God and the good of your own and others Souls Fifthly Of Time In and about that to meditate on these things 1. The preciousness of Time so precious it is that on the well or ill imployment of it depends the eternal wel-fare or ill-fare of your Souls so precious as all the Gold and Silver in the World cannot purchase one moment of it when its past which made one cry out bitterly A World of Wealth for an Hour of Time so precious as nothing the damned in Hell will more bewail then the loss of it and if there were any hope of getting out would imploy it better even from the beginning of the World to the end could they live so long 2. Consider the greatness of the work we have to do and the little time we have to do it in 1. For the greatness of the Work it is to glorifie God serve our Brethren save our Souls clear up our interest in Christ make our Calling and Election sure work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and how little time have we for the doing all this Ars longa vita brevis Let us ponder it seriously it is but a moment of time in comparison of Eternity and on this moment depends the eternity of our well-being or ill-being and therefore concerns us very much to spend it very well and the rather because Tam diu vivimus quam bene vivimus We have lived no longer then we lived well 3. Consider the uncertainty of our time here Our dayes on earth are as a shadow and there is none durable or abiding 1 Chron. 29.15 Solomon sayes There 's a time to be born and a time to die Eccless 3.2 but mentions no time of living as if it were so short that it were not worth the naming and this short time when it 's past cannot possibly be recall'd and the time to come none of ours the time present only is ours and therefore see that be imployed well in some duties either of our particular or general Calling we should be either like Christ alwayes doing good or like Mary still receiving good Heb. 3.13 2 Thes 3.1 Behold now is the accepted time c. 4. Consider how highly not onely the wise Christians but the very Heathens have prized time so as to account that day lost wherein they have not done some good with Tongue or
worse but not a better man he may conceit himself a better man and the men of the World may esteem him the better for his abundance of these things his high Place his brave Apparel his great Revenues but God esteems no man the better for these things Job 34.19 Job 36.19 2. They cannot profit or better the Soul hurt it they may and do as for instance 1st They keep them from looking after piety Luke 14.18 2ly They distract them in duty Ezek. 33.31 3ly It makes them unfruitful in duty Mat. 13.22 They may better his outward condition he may eat more and go finer and lie easier but they cannot better his inward condition help to Pardon or Peace Grace or Glory Thou and thy Money perish with thee that thinkest the Gift of God may be purchased with Money said Peter to Simon Magus Acts 8.20 God will not give away his Graces as the Indians do their Gold for Gaudes and Rattles Toyes and Trifles 3. Unprofitable to the Body Can Honour or Wealth buy Health or get a stomach to meat or procure ease rest and sleep No we find by experience the contrary he that hath most of these outward things can but eat and drink and cloath himself and so doth a poor man and with more comfort and contentment many times then the Rich and hath usually a a better appetite to his meat and more sweet sleep after his labour Eccl. 5.11 Job 20.22 4. Unprofitable likewise to his Posterity How often have you seen after that men have toyled and turmoiled in the World all their dayes for their Children their Children to be either suddenly snatcht away from their Wealth or their Wealth from their Children How often have you seen the Proverb made good Covetous men have either Prodigals or Fools to their Children such as either presently consume it away or are soon cheated of all If you would observe it you may find many Parents bewailing their folly at the last that they have toyled so much in the World for such wicked and rebellious Children and many Children cursing the time that ever their Parents left them so great and ill-gotten Estates according to that Job 21.19 5. However they may afford them some comfort in the day of prosperity and in a day of peace yet not in the time of Adversity and in a day of Calamity in a day of Sickness Death and Judgement 1st Not in a day of common Calamity when the Judgments of God are upon the Land Sword Famine Pestilence 1 Sam. 12.21 Prov. 11.4 Zeph. 1. last Ezek. 7.19 2ly In Sickness It is not high Places honourable Titles full Bags great Revenues that can prevent or remove Stone Gout Strangury Feaver or any Sickness or Pain it 's true they may procure Physicians and Medicines but those kill rather then cure without the Lord. 3ly In the hour of Death Job 27.8 What is the hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul All the Rich Fools Wealth could not keep his Soul one night longer Luke 12.15 20. 4ly In the day of Judgment all the World is so far from profiting as they shall see all in fire about their ears have nothing left but an account how they got and kept and imployed it and the more they have had of this Worlds good and the less good they have done with it and the more they have abused it the more and greater will be their torment 5ly All they have of the World cannot save them from Hell Luke 16.23 Rev. 21.8 nor mitigate their torments there Dives could not procure a drop of Water to cool his scorched tongue Luke 16.24 25. So as you see clearly and fully what unprofitable and helpless things these of the World are without Grace they cannot free from any thing that is truly evil Sin or Pain nor help to any thing that is truly good Pardon or Peace they cannot keep sickness from the Body or trouble from the Mind or terrors from the Conscience or the Soul out of Hell they may make men worse but never the better 6. Think on the Deceitfulness of the things of the World They do promise to men much help and comfort or rather men promise to themselves much by them but both they and themselves deceive themselves and meet with bitterness instead of sweetness and trouble instead of comfort therefore called deceitful Riches Mat. 13.22 Like Jael seeds men with Milk but pierceth their heads and hearts afterwards with sorrow like Joab and Judas who salute with a Kiss but stab to the heart 7. On the Hurtfulness of them Especially being got and kept by unlawful means and used and imployed to unlawful ends they keep them from a great deal of good and expose them to a great deal of hurt 1. They keep men from a great deal of good as the minding the glory of God and the good of Souls both their own and others keep them either from using the means of Grace or from profiting by them Ezek 33.31 32. Luke 18.19 2. Expose them to a great deal of evil both of Sin and Punishment the wrath and curse of God and Man both here and to all eternity in Hell as you may see clearly Eccles 5.13 1 Tim. 6.9 10. James 5.1 2 3. Hence it is that Solomon stiles them not only Vanity but vexation of Spirit because they are still vexing men either with cares in getting or fears in keeping or sorrows in losing and our Saviour compares them to Thorns because they are still piercing both head and heart with troubles in getting and grief in parting with them 8. Meditate on the great folly and madness of men in minding affecting and pursuing these things of the World before and more then the things of God and Christ and his Spirit and Kingdom and the wellfare of their own precious and immortal Souls The Spirit of God brands them frequently in the Scripture for Fools or the Fools and the worst of Fools Prov. 1.22 Mat. 23.17 18. Luke 12.19 20. and not without cause 1. He is a Fool that is not able to discern between Copper and Gold Pebles and Pearls that will part with the richest Coyn for the richest Counter what are all temporal things in comparison of spiritual and eternal Excellencies but dross and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offal and Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ Grace and Glory as the Apostle stiles them Phil. 3. 2. He is a Fool you know that minds onely things present and nothing for the future A wise man foresees the evil and hides himself but a fool passeth on and is punished Prov. 22.5 A wise man fore-sees and fore-casts his business but a fool doth neither And such fools are all worldly wise men all for this present World and nothing for another I have read a story of a certain great Man that having many Houses was wont every month to go from one House to anothe◠and send Harbingers before
and terror ere they dyed if they do not here they shall hereafter Qui non credunt sensiant they shall find and feel it hereafter that Hell is no Fable and the Devils are no Nominals but Reals not imaginary but afflicting Spirits Spirits ordained for Vengeance tempters of men here to sin and tormentors hereafter for sin 2. Take notice what they are This you may understand by the several names given to them in Scripture as 1. in respect of their nature they are called Spirits i. e. Spiritual Substances or Substances without a body whereby they are distinguished from the Souls of Men that are united to their Bodies 1 Kings 22.21 Matth. 18.6 Luk. 10.20 2. In respect of their corrupt nature they are called Evil Spirits Luke 8.2 1 Sam. 18.10 1 Joh. 3.12 3. They are called lying Spirits 1 Kings 22.22 and unclean Spirits Matth. 10.1 4ly In respect of their great knowledge they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Levit. 17.7 1 Cor. 10.20 i. e. Understanding Spirits which we read or Devils though they be more fitly called Devils because they are continually doing evil 5. In regard of their Pride Power and Dominion in the World they are called the Prince of the Air Ephes 2.2 and the Godd of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 6. In respect of their Properties he is called the Tempter because continually he is tempting to evil and the Deceiver because he alwayes deceives men in the promises he makes and Accuser because he is still accusing God to Man and Man to God and the Destroyer because he is still plotting and practising ruine and destruction unto Souls 1 Pet. 5.8 So as put all together the Devils are evil and wicked Spirits abounding in knowledge and power to do mischief still tempting to sin imployed about delighting in nothing else 3. How became they such evil Spirits For the understanding of this you are to take notice 1. That they were by creation good and as good every way as the Elect Angels as Understanding Wise Pure Potent every way equal and no way inferior to the Good Angels Gen. 1. last 2. Though they were created good and as good as the Elect Angels yet they voluntarily fell from this good Estate and became as evil as they were good John 8.44 Jude 6. The Angels that left their first estate c. The cause of their fall was their sin 2 Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell c. What their special sin was is not clearly revealed in the Scripture but probably conceived to be their pride from that place 1 Tim. 3.6 where he adviseth That a Minister should not be a Novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil implying that their sin was either pride or mixed with pride 4. What their punishment is And this consists in two things 1. The grea◠corruption of their Nature whereas by Creation they were very good and holy by their fall they became extreamly evil and the greatest enemies to holiness whereas by Creation they had the Knowledge of of God's whole Will and an actual conformity to it by their fall they were deprived though not of their Natural yet of their Supernatural Knowledge and all Sanctified Knowledge and this Knowledge they have now it is accompanied with an implacable hatred of God and obstinate impenitency and final desperation The second part of their punishment is The Curse of God or the Infinite and Eternal Wrath of God which St. Peter layes down in four branches Having sinned 1. They were cast down viz. out of Heaven 2. Cast into Hell 3. Under everlasting Chains of Darkness 4. Reserved to the Day of Judgement for the full pouring out of God's Wrath and Vengeance upon them In the interim they are permitted to come out of that local place of Hell and to walk up and down in the World for the punishment of the wicked and the exercising of the Godly 5. To take notice what their Office and Work is And that is To be a Tempter an Accuser a Tormentor these three the Devil is continually exercised in 1. He is a continual tempter unto sin and therein behaves himself as a subtil Serpent and discovers himself to be that wicked One. 2. He is a continual Accuser of God to Man and Man to God and one Man to another and therein shews himself to be a Deceiver and a Murderer and the Father of Lies John 8.44 3ly He is a continual Tormentor and Troubler of men for sin and therein shews himself a Fiery Dragon and a Roaring Lion and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Destroyer of Souls this work God permits him to be imployed in in a double respect 1. The Wicked and 2. the Godly to punish the one and exercise the other 1. To punish and plague the wicked 1. In their Souls and that 1. by giving the Devils power to tempt them to sin and prevail over them by his temptations as over Ahab's false Prophets 1 Kings 22.22 2ly By giving power to them to vex and to terrifie their Consciences 1 Sam. 16.14 23. An Evil Spirit was sent to vex Saul and Psalm 78.49 Evil Angels were sent to vex and terrifie the Egyptians 2. To punish them in their bodies by giving leave to the Devil to possess them and torment them rend and tear them in pieces as History tells us he hath done the bodies of many wicked Hereticks Blasphemers and Apostates and at last to carry them to Hell as he did Dives Luke 16. Then 2ly their Office is to exercise the Godly 1. Sometimes in their Bodies by afflicting them as he did Job's Body Job 2.7 2. In their Souls by suffering Satan to tempt them and trouble them though not finally prevail over them as over the wicked however Satan sought to winnow Peter like Wheat yet Christ prayed that his Faith should not fail Luk. 22.32 Though he buffeted Paul yet God promised his Grace should be sufficient for him 2 Cor. 12.7 9. 6. VVhat their Properties and Qualities are They are very Knowing Subtil Powerful Wicked and Malicious Spirits 1. For their Knowledge That must needs be very great 1. In that by creation they were like to the good Angels in Knowledge 2. Their knowledge since hath been much increased by the long experience they have had of all God's Revelations and manifestations in the World Job 1.8 9. But yet however they know so much and more of God then others yet they know not mens hearts but only by conjecture for 't is only God's prerogative to be the searcher of the heart 1 King 8.39 Neither do they know what the Grace of Regeneration is nor what the comforts of the Spirit are for these are props to the Elect. 2. For their Subtilty we read of the Wiles of Satan Ephes 6. and the Depths of Satan Rev. 3. This subtilty of theirs appears in these Particulars 1. In
precious promises of Pardon and Peace with which you are to arm your selves against all temptations to despondency under the persecutions and afflictions you meet with in the way of Holiness 4. By the Shield of Faith you are to understand a true and lively Faith in Christ and those Promises which are all Yea and Amen in him with which you are to arm your selves against all temptations to unbelief that so those darts of Satan may not fire and trouble your spirits 5. By the Helmet of Salvation you are to understand a well-grounded hope of Salvation with which you are to arm your selves against all temptations to despair 1 Thess 5.8 These are the several pieces of Defensive Armour 2ly For the Offensive Armour or the Weapons you are to use they are two the Sword of the Spirit and Prayer 1. The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God you must not suffer this to sleep in the Scabbard but weld it against Satan as Christ did Mat. 4. Thus it is written c. 2. To take the other Weapon Prayer without which the Sword of the Spirit will do little good for as it was said of Scanderbegs Sword it would do little without Scanderbegs Arm is much more true of this it will do us but little good without the Lord's Arm and therefore still to ply the Throne of Grace for his Spirit to go along with his Word and by it to give you power and victory over Satan Having thus furnished your selves with Armour and Weapons you must stand upon your Watch. Had you an Enemy that were potent and politick that watched every opportunity to do you mischief you would heedfully keep your watch against him would you not how much more against Satan the Adversary an Enemy so full of Power and Policy and that continually walks up and down like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour And here that you may keep your Watch 1. You must be careful to avoid all those things which may give him an occasion to tempt you especially these two Idleness and Evil Company for your own as well as others experience will tell you by these the Devil most prevails and therefore to watch against them as the wise Man exhorts you Prov. 5.8 23.31 2. You are to hearken to the counsel of Peter 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober and watch without sobriety no watchfulness Intemperancy in the use of the creature exposeth men to sleep rather then to watch and therefore if you would be able to keep your Watch you must be sober that is moderate in your desires to and in the use of all Creature-comforts Honours Riches Pleasures because these are the Baits under which he hides his Hooks of Temptation that they may not be discerned and therefore Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known in all things The third direction You must resist him in all his temptations especially unto those sins you are most inclin'd to by your particular Constitutions Places and Callings and then the Promise is he shall fly James 4.7 That you may do this the more effectually have an eye to two things 1st The right manner of resisting him that is thus Speedily Universally Couragiously Self-denyingly Wisely and Constantly 1. Speedily in the first injection of any evil motion Ephes 4.26 Give no place to the Devil no lodging to any evil thought Jer. 4.14 For if this old Serpent get in his head he will soon draw in his body after therefore to break his head by withstanding the first motion 2. Resist him Universally in every temptation the least as well as the greatest take heed you do not slight him because it is a small one a small leak may sink a Ship as well as a great and a little sin sink a Soul to Hell as well as a great where it is allowed of and liv'd in Mat. 5.19 3. Resist him Couragiously seeing your Captain the Lord Jesus Christ hath given him his deaths wound spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of it openly tryumphing over them on the Cross Col. 2.15 4. Do it Self-denyingly going out of your selves and labouring to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes 6.10 5. Do it Wisely so as to observe what he most aims at for he useth to fit his temptation to every ones disposition and observes what every one most loves and delights in Lastly Do it Constantly not giving over until you have got the victory for the promise of reward is only to those that overcome Rev. 3.21 There is no safety in flying no piece of Armour for the back and therefore to chuse rather to die manfully then fly cowardly Heb. 10. last If any draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him 2dly To furnish your selves with Arguments whereby you may be enabled to resist all his temptations to sin such as these the purity of God's Nature the severity of God's Justice the ugly hateful hurtful nature of sin the dear price that was paid for the expiating of it the terrible threatnings of God against sin the many precious promises God hath made to such as deny themselves in it and the certainty of victory if we continue to fight against it Rom. 6.14 Mich. 7. to the end And thus of the Remedies against the Temptations of Satan in general Secondly I shall give you a few directions against his hideous and hellish temptations to Atheism Blasphemy Self-murder c. and so conclude this Subject And here 1. Take notice that there is no temptation that befals any but is common to all 1 Cor. 10.13 and therefore let not the Devil perswade you none have such wicked thoughts as you for Prov. 27.19 As in Water face answers to face so doth the heart of one man unto another even the vilest every one being equally corrupted by nature 2. It 's God's usuall manner when he is about to convert any and pull them out of the snare of the Devil to let loose Satan upon them to exercise and afflict them with the injection of such hideous hellish thoughts of Atheism Blasphemy Self-murder c. that so he may humble them the more thorowly and work them to a serious consideration of their spiritual and eternal condition 3. Consider Christ was assaulted with such Atheistical blasphemous self-murdering thoughts as you may see Mat. 4. from 1 to 11. and he was tempted with them that he might have a fellow-feeling of your infirmities and know how to succor you under your temptations Heb. 2. end and here is our comfort he hath vanquisht him for us Col. 2.15 Heb. 2.14 therefore to reject him stedfastly in the Faith the promise is He shall fly and fall 4. When Satan would tempt you to despair because of the hideousness and hellishness of these thoughts remember him of what Christ told him that he was a lyar and a murderer in it John 8.44 For it is not the multitude or greatness of sin can
will teach you sayes Job to trust in God for a livelyhood Mat. 6.26 and to know your times and seasons for every work Jer. 8.7 The Dove will teach you Innocency and Sympathy the little Birds to sound forth praises to God every morning and evening Cantat a lauda Deo laudes gratissima summo Hinc vos in gratâ—s gratu lacessit avis 3. Ask the Fishes of the Sea and they will teach you sayes Job The Sea by her continual fluctuating and foaming will mind you of the continual unquietness and resâ—lesness of wicked men Isa 5â— 20 They are like the troubled Sea c. The Fish of the Sea they will shew you the misery of want of Government they being every one without a Ruler so as the lesser are still devoured of the greater Hab. 1. Why hast thou made mâ—n like the Fishes of the Sea c. XX. When you are to go to wait an God in the use of his Ordinance think what a mercy it is to have the Doors of God's Sanctuary open when they are shut to others to see Souls flock to the Ordinances as the Doves to the Windows that some Souls might still be added to the Church and brought into Christ and built up further in Grace and gracious practices When you are to hear the Word remember you are not only to hear a Man but God who speaks in and by Man who hath said His Word shall not return in vain but surely prosper to the end he sends it Isa 55. last And if it be not the savour of Life it will of Death 2 Cor. 1. end When the Sermon is ended remember though the Minister have done the Sermon is not done until you have done and practised it if it be not practised it will be preached over with more terror another day when you will not be able to hear it XXI When you are walking abroad and meet with any Christian Friend think if it be sweet with a dear Christian Friend upon Earth Oh how sweet will it be to meet with all in Heaven When you hear of any good news from them then think Oh what good news hath Christ brought from Heaven and did the Angel sing at the time of his Birth and hath the Spirit of God brought home and spoken unto my heart if it be bad news that you have heard yet think and comfort your hearts with this However you have sad expectations from Earth yet you have comfortable expectations from Heaven God and Christ and the Spirit is yours and will be for ever yours 1 Cor. 3. last Psal 112.7 When you hear of any Prodigies or dreadful appearances of God in the Heaven or the Earth or the Sea then think and say How terrible O Lord art thou in all thy wayes Who knows the power of thy anger what mean these dreadful tokens of thy displeasure make me and all to fear and tremble before thee When you see or hear the corruption of men to break out into Drunkenness Uncleanness Blasphemy Persecution c. then think and say as Bradford the Martyr Lord what a wicked heart have I what cause have I to give glory to Grace that keeps under corruption in me that does not break out in me as in others When any cross or affliction befals you on the day in Body Soul Name Estate think say Lord what sin is it that thou correctest shew me my sin sanctifie this affliction and do me good by it When any mercy is renewed upon you and yours think and say Oh how great is that goodness thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou workest daily for the Children of men Psal 31. XXII When the day draweth towards an end remember you are nearer to your end by one day then you were in the morning as the night approacheth towards you so do you to the Grave and for ought you know may be your last day When you look up and see the Stars appear in the Heaven think thus Though your life here be hid with Christ in God yet when he shall appear you shall appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 and then your bodies shall shine as the Stars Dan. 12. When you see the dark night to come upon you and you begin to light Candles then think if outward darkness be so uncomfortable how much more is the inward darkness of the Soul and utter darkness in Hell if the light of a Candle be so comfortable how comfortable is the Life of Grace here and will be the Life of Glory hereafter When you are about to put off your Cloaths think thus It will not be long ere I must be uncloathed of this body of Sin and Death and if I be so willing to the one why not to the other that I might be cloathed with my House from Heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 And if I be so willing to go into Bed to take my rest that I may have renewed strength for Body and Spirit to fit me for the service of the next day why should I not be as willing and more willing at God's call to lay down my body in the Grave there to rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering and to be raised up at the last day with renewed and perfect strength both in Soul and Body to be still serving and glorifying God to all Eternity Remember still O my Soul thy sleep is but the Image of Death the Bed the Image of thy Grave and the Sheets of thy Winding Sheets the biting of the Fleas but the gnawing of the Worms on the Body the crowing of the Cock in the morning the sounding of the Trump of God at the last day by the Voice of the Arch-Angel Awake ye dead and come to Judgment Isa 57.2 1 Thess 4.16 Lastly When you are about to sleep labour to sleep with precious thoughts of God for such as your thoughts are when you are about to sleep such will your thoughts be when you awake When we rake up fire in the Ashes at night so we usually find it in the morning and such I say as our thoughts are of God when we sleep will be when we awake In a word Think of your sleeping in Jesus and your awaking and appearing with him in glory in the morning of the Resurrection And thus I have as briefly as I could with any profit to you directed you how to make a Spiritual use of whatsoever presents it self to your senses from morning to evening at home and abroad What remains but that we put in practice what we see to be our duty motives to iâ— and directions for it you have had before I need not add any more onely this consideration there 's a double use God expects we should make of every Creature a natural and a spiritual and if we should content our selves only with the natural use without the Spiritual we should lose the one half and the best half of that comfort in the Creature which God gave it for and we shall do no more then natural carnal sensual men yea the very Beasts do and therefore if we will evidence our selves to be Christians indeed that mind the wellfare of our Souls as well as our Bodies then to apply our selves more then ever we have done to the practice of this sweet weighty and profitable duty of Meditation both Solemn and Occasional Which that we may blessed Lord thou who hast put it into the heart of thy weak and unworthy Servant to study and write these things for the good and comfort of thy People be thou graciously pleased by the effectual working of thy Holy Spirit to make them useful to all into whose hands they shall come for the promoting and carrying on the Work of Grace in their hearts and lives and the furthering of their everlasting Salvation Oh Lord I pray thee let it not be in vain that this or any other help is afforded them but do thou give success to the weak endeavours of thy unworthy Servant so as there may be glory to thee profit to them and comfort to him who hath found that grace in thy sight to be accepted and enabled to be any way instrumental for their help and comfort in the way homeward to everlasting life This is and shall be the Prayer of Your Affectionate and Antient Pastor J. B. FINIS
Heb. 9.14 Omnisciency 1 Cor. 2.10 Omnipresency Psal 139.17 Omnipotency 2 Tim. 2.7 Isaiah 11.2 Thirdly Because those works are applied to him which are proper to God as Creation Gen. 1.2 and Conservation Job 33.4 Psal 33.6 Regeneration and Sanctification John 3.6 1 Cor. 12.6 Fourthly Because the divine worship is given to him as Mat. 28.19 Go Baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Therefore true and very God Thirdly That he proceeds from the Father and the Son is evident John 15.26 and hence he is call'd the Spirit of God Rom. 8.11 and the Spirit of the Son Rom. 8.9 and so much the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies because he is spired or breathed from them as you may see further John 16.14 15. Secondly To meditate on the Offices of the Spirit and these either respect Christ his Word or his Church First For those respecting Christ they are these First The Spirit formed Christ's humane nature in the Womb of the Virgin Mary Luke 1.35 36. Secondly The Holy Ghost anointed Jesus Christ as he was Man with gifts and graces and that without measure and having thus consecrated him and furnished him with gifts for the great office and work of a Mediator he with God the Father sent him into the World for the accomplishing that work Isai 61.1 and 11.2 Acts 10.38 John 3.34 John 1.32 Thirdly The Holy Ghost descending from Heaven and resting upon him visibly in the shape of a Dove did publickly shew him and Seal him in his Baptism Mat. 3.16 Fourthly The Holy Ghost witnesseth that Jesus Christ who was crucified was the Son of God the true Messiah Act. 5.31.32 He witnesseth also to the Doctrin of Christ's Resurrection in which he was declared mightily to be the Son of God Rom. 1.4 Secondly For the Offices of the Spirit in and about the Word of God take notice first 't was He inspir'd holy Men of God with the mind and will of God infallibly dictated it unto them and guided them in the penning or writing of it 2 Pet. 1.20 Acts 1.16 Mark 12 36. Heb. 9.8 Fourthly He quickens the Word so as to make it effectual to quicken dead Souls without Him 't is but a dead and a killing Letter John 6.63 He makes it quick and lively in operation to the dividing between the Soul and the Spirit the Joynts and the Marrow the searching-out and discovering the secrets of the heart Heb. 4.12 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 10.4 5. It is he that speaketh by it to the Churches Revel 2.7 Revel 3.22 Rev 14 13. Thirdly His Offices in respect of the Church and People of God these are either common to all or peculiar to the Elect First For those common to all they are such as these First To give life and preserve life in all Job 33.4 Ps 139.14 15. Secondly To bestow gifts and abilities on men for their particular callings and functions both sacred and civil as 1 Sam. 11.6 Judges 11.29 1 Cor. 12.9 10. Mat. 7.22 Thirdly Restraining-grace whereby they are kept from many evils which they would otherwise run into as Abimelech Gen. 20.6 Fourthly To act and over-act all the gifts and parts and power of men to his own glory and the good of his Church and People Zach. 4.6 Secondly For those that are peculiar to the Elect they are such as these First To unite them unto Christ their head and the mystical Body of Christ the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 6.17 Secondly To inhabit or dwell in them as his House and â—emple Rom 8.11 1 Pet. 4.17 Thirdly To illuminate them with the saving sancâ—iâ—â—ing experimental knowledge of God in Christ John 16.13 Fourthly To convince them of sin righteousness and judgment John 16.8 First Of Sin particularly the sins of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel that This is 〈◊〉 which lays them open to the wrath of God in Life and Death and after Death John 3. last Mark 16.16 Secondly Of righteousness how that there is none in them to make them stand acceptable in the sight of God the Garment of their own righteousness and good works is a Garment too short to cover their nakedness their own righteousness is but as a filthy Rag but the righteousness of Christ that is a perfect righteousness such as God accepts for poor sinners and makes them stand so righteous in God's sight as if they had never sinned this appears in that Christ is gone to the Father which he could not have done if he had not fulfilled all righteousness Thirdly Of Judgment how that he has judged and condemned the Serpent and his Seed the Devil and the wicked World so as they shall never prevail against his Elect Mat. 16.18 The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and that there is true and sound judgment to be found only in the Christian Religion and not in any Idolatrous and false Religion and that Christ hath the government of his Church upon his own Shoulders and all that subject and submit unto his Government shall by it judg and condemn at last the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 Fifthly To humble them under and mortifie in them the deeds of the Flesh Rom. 8.13 Sixthly To quicken them with spiritual Life Rom. 8.11 Regenerate and sanctifie them John 3.5 and Evidence it to them 1 Cor. 6.11 Seventhly To help them in and under all their infirmities in duty Rom. 8.26 John 14.26 Eighthly To direct and guide them in all their ways Rom. 8.14 Psal 143.10 Ninthly To support and comfort them in all their sorrows and sufferings Rom. 5.5 John 4.26 Tenthly To witness to their Spirits that they are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 Eleventhly To Seal them up to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 Eph. 1.13 Twelfthly To be the earnest and first fruits of their Eternal Salvation Eph. 1.14 Rom. 8.23 Lastly To confirm strengthen and establish them in every good word and work to the end Eph. 1.13 Eph. 4.12 13. Again Thirdly To take notice of and meditate on the Evidences you have of the receiving and indwelling of the Spirit of God in you because If any have not the Spirit he is none of Christ's Rom. 8.9 1 Ep. John 4.13 Hereby we know he dwells in us and we in him by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 John 3.24 Q. But how may we know that we have receiv'd the Spirit and that he dwells in us A. Thus 1. By the way and means in and by which he is given and receiv'd and that is the Ministry of the Word Acts 10.44 Whilst Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on those that heard him and hence the Ministry of the Gospel is call'd the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 and Men are said to receive the Spirit by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 Secondly You may know you have the Spirit by this if you can finde the foregoing acts and operations of the Spirit upon the hearts of the Elect If he be