Spirit of God enabled to perform that shall receive Remission of sins by Christ They that shall be made partakers of that great and inestimable benefit the Remission of all their sins by Christ are effectually called and enabled by the assistance of his Grace unfeignedly to believe the Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments RIGHT KNOVVLEDGE Or the chief things to be Known and Believed in order to Salvation They are reducible to these three Heads Concerning God Man The Mediator between God and Man CHAP. I. Concerning GOD. COncerning God we are to Know three things First His NATURE That there is One onely true God who is a Spirit infinitely glorious and being one in nature is yet three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and the Holy Ghost These are three and one after a wonderful and mysterious manner The Father God the Son God and the Holy Ghost God And yet not three Gods but One God Psal 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts 1 Cor. 15.34 Some have not the Knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Heb. 11.6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Isaiah 44.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isai 45.5 I am the Lord and there is none else There is no God besides me 1 Cor. 8.4 As concâ—rning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in Sacrifice to Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the World and that there is none other God but One. V. 5. For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods many and Lords many V. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Deut. 4.35 Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God And there is none else besides him Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is One Lord. Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God He is the living God and an everlasting King At his wrath the Earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you And how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Luke 24.39 A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Rom. 1.23 And they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible man and to birds and to four-footed beasts and Creeping things V. 25. And worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen Concerning the Trinity Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Mat. 3.16 And Jesus when he was baptized went straightway up out of the water and Lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him V. 17. And Lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 2 Cor. 13.14 The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Concerning God the Father Luke 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph 3.14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Concerning God the Son John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the Onely begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth V. 18. No man hath seen God at any time The Onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Heb. 1.2 He hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the world V. 3. Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sinnes sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high V. 8. But unto the Sonne he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdome John 10.30 I and my Father are One. 1 John 2.22 Who
is a Lyar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ He is Anti-Christ that denieth the Father and the Son V. 23. Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers And of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Amen Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God Acts 7.59 And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit V. 60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their Charge 2 Thess 2.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace V. 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work Concerning God the Holy Ghost Acts 5.3 But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost V. 4. Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God John 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever V. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 15.26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father Phil. 1.19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of Redemption 1 Cor. 2.13 Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost As your Fathers did so do ye 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Rom 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered V. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Acts 13.2 As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have Called them Titus 3.5 Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3.6 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own Rom. 5.5 And hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Mat. 12.31 Wherefore I say unto you all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men V. 32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come Secondly His PROPERTIES or ATTRIBUTES God is Eternal or without any Beginning or End Omnipotent or Almighty Omnipresent or every where present Omniscient or All-knowing Infinitely Wise Holy Just Mercifull Eternall Psal 90.2 Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth or the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Deut. 33.27 The Eternal God is my refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Omnipotent Gen. 17.1 And when Abram was Ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Isa 40.17 All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing and vanity Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Rev. 19.6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings saying Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Omnipresent 1 Kings 8.27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Psal 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence V. 8. If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there If I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there V. 11. If I say surely the darknesse shall cover me even the night shall be Light about me V. 12. Yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee Omniscient 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts understandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever 1 King 8.39 Then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his ways whose heart thou knowest for thou even thou knowest the hearts of all the children of men Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 139.2 Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts afar off V. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my waies V. 4. For
of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the Truth Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit V. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Col. 2.11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace Eph. 5.26 That he might Sanctifie and Cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Gal 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Eph. 3.16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man V. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love V. 18. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height V. 19. And to know the Love of Christ which passeth Knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulnesse of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 5 16. This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh V. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would V. 25. If we live in the spirit let us also walk in the spirit 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure He commanded his Disciples to preach the Gospel and instituted the two Sacraments viz. Baptism and the Lords-Supper Mark 16.15 And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature V. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God John 4.1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more Disciples than John V. 2. Though Jesus himself baptized not but his Disciples Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost V. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world Amen Mark 1.4 John did baptize in the wildernesse and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins Rom. 6.3 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death V. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Mat. 3.11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire John 1.33 And I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy he saveth us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 10.1 Moreover brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud and all passed through the Sea V. 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea V. 3. And did all eat the same spirituall meat V. 4. And did all drink the same spirituall drink for they drank of that spirituall Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Rom. 4.11 And he received the signe of Circumcision a seal of the righteousnesse of the Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not Circumcised that righteousnesse might be imputed to them also V. 12. And the Father of Circumcision to them who are not of the Circumcision onely but also walk in the steps of that faith of our Father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised Col. 2.11 In whom also ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in baptisme wherein also ye are
i. e. in spiritual exercises and Meditations and by meanes thereof in spiritual raptures and elevations of soul VIII The Church succeeding the Apostles held her seâ—f obliged to the same observation For even in times of persecution before any either Imperial Edict or Canon of Council enjoyned it the observation of this day was so taken notice of by the Heathen that it became a constant interrogatory to the Christians in their examining Have you kept the Lords day To which their answer was ever ready I cannot intermit it for I am a Christian and the law of God prompts me to it Baron 30.3 Memb. 5. Now if any man shall enquire how the Sabbath came to be translated into the Lords day I answer Christ in the fourty daies he staied upon the earth after his resurrection did sundry times appear to his Disciples teaching them the things appertaining to the Kingdome of God Acts 1.3 Therefore 't is probable the Apostles were instructed by Christ concerning the change of the day from the seventh to the eighth and had special order immediatly from himself concerning it 'T is evident Christ is Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2.27 And therefore had power not only to abrogate the old Sabbath but to surrogate and substitute the new in its room But whether this day were instituted immediatly by Christ himself or by his Apostles guided and infallibly inspired by his holy Spirit after his ascention still the day will be of Divine Institution And this Act of theirs will appear but the execution of a particular Command from the Spirit of Christ to that purpose For consider how Christ sent these Apostles As my Father sent me so send I you John 20.21 He that heareth you heareth me Luke 10.16 Go Mat. 28.19 There is their mission Teach all Nations There is their Commission What Why What things I command you and to assist and help you Lo I am with you alwaies to the end of the world not in corporal presence but by my Spirit the Comforter whom I will send you John 15.26 And he shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 14.26 This Spirit of Truth shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak He shall receive of mine and shew it you Thus we see the Apostles were undoubtedly inspired by the Spirit of Christ who revealed his will unto them And that they were thus acted by the holy Ghost they themselves testifie in their first Council It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us Acts 15.28 Thus we see there are two things whereon the Divine right of the Lords day is founded Upon the morality of the fourth Commandement and upon Evangelical Institution either by Christ himself or his Apostles And what the Apostles delivered by the dictate of the holy Ghost is as firm and indefeizable saies Cyprian de ablut pedum as what Christ himself Our Church reduceth the institution of this day as a weekly day to the fourth Commandement and as the first day of the week she foundeth it upon Apostolical practise and tradition I shall conclude this with the words of the judicious Hooker in his Eccles Pol. Book 5. parag 17. We are bound saies he to account the sanctification of one day in seven a duty which Gods immutable Law doth exact for ever although with us the day be changed in regard of a new revolution begun by our Saviour Christ yet the same proportion of time continueth which was before by way of a perpetual homage never to be dispensed withal nor remitted I come now to the second Particular The manner how we ought to observe this day 1. We ought to prepare for the Sabbath before it comes by a prudent care so disposing and dispatching our worldly businesses and affairs that they may be off our hands and out of our minds as much as is possible on that day that so our hearts may be more free and fit for those spiritual duties then required of us The Jewes before the Sabbath had a time of preparation Luke 23.54 Why should not we 2. We ought to sanctifie the Lords day not only by resting from worldly employments and recreations on other daies lawful but consecrating that rest unto God making it our delight to spend the whole time excepting so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy and such as are needful for the comfortable passing of the Sabbath in the publick and private exercises of Gods Worship and Service Such as Prayer Reading the Scripture Preparing for the publick duties Attending on the Word Singing the praises of God Private meditation on that which hath been preached Repetition thereof in the Family and religious conference to make the publick Ordinances the more profitable Take heed therefore of being found a slighter of those duties the neglect whereof cannot consist with any true vigour and power of Religion or any due care of our own or others soules that we ought to have a care of Consider God hath blessed and sanctified this day not only as a day of service to himself but as a time wherein he will confer blessings on the conscionable observers of it It is his special day of proclaiming and sealing pardons to penitent sinners 'T is a blessed day to the careful observers of it and sanctâ—fied to many gracious purposes The Sabbath was made for man said our Saviour Mark 2.27 i. e. For mans great benefit and advantage It would not be for the good and benefit of mankind to be dispensed with from the religious observation of it How much then are they to blame that make it a day of carnal rest a day of Idlenesse and jollity of feasting and pastimes which more alienate the mind from God than ordinary labours and take away the tast of spiritual things Some people if they have any visit to make or any odd businesse to do they refer them to this day Some keep the Sabbath as the Oxe they rest from their labours but serve not the Lord that day They are weary of the duties of the Sabbath they do not call the Sabbath a delight as it is Isa 58.13 Delight sweetens any labour How will people toyl at their sports and pleasures O had we spiritual hearts we should account the celebration of the Sabbath not only our duty but our priviledge By observing the Sabbath we continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of Creation and Redemption which contain a short abridgment of true Religion The Sabbath duly observed is a type of the everlasting rest that remaines for the people of God Heb. 4.9 How then can those ever think to come to Heaven and to keep an everlasting Sabbath in praising and adoring God to whom the celebration of a weekly Sabbath is so tedious and irksom here 3. Every true Christian is to take care not onâ—y to sanctifie the Lords day himself but that
Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments Concerning effectual Calling Rom. 1.6 Among whom are ye also the Called of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose V. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also Called and whom he Called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and Called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling Consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Eph. 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being inlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Acts 16.14 And a certain woman named Lydia a seller of purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous Light Eph. 4.1 I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called 1 Thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdome and Glory John 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day V. 45. It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to me V. 65. And he said therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 5.25 Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth V. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Ezek 36 16. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying V. 17. Son of man when the House of Israel dwelt in their owne Land they defiled it by their owne way and by their doings their way was before me as the uncleannesse of a removed woman V. 26. A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh V 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who somtimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death V. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his John 3.8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith that is in me Concerning believing the Gospel 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God V. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Eph. 1.16 Making mention of you in my prayers V. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him V. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the Glory of his inheritance V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power John 8.24 I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye beleeve not
the world he declared that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 3. The Angels in Heaven rejoyce at the repentance of a sinner Luke 15.10 Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth 4. Consider who are for thy repentance and who are against it God the Father Son and holy Ghost good Angels and glorified Saints all good Ministers and sincere Christians are for it None but the Devil and his Instruments are against it And which of these two parties wilt thou encline unto 5. Consider 't is not onely a Gospel duty but a Gospel priviledge The Law allowes no place for repentance 'T is an high favour God will pardon us upon our repentance and Faith in his Son 6. Consider All will sooner or later commend true repentance Be not thou one of them that will commend it when it is too late 7. Consider there is no other remedy For Without RepentaÌ„ce t is not consistent 1. With Gods justice we should be pardoned though repentance does not satisfie his justice yet sins unrepented of continued in cannot be pardoned without injustice 2. With his Mercy God is very merciful but 't is to penitent humbled sinners not obdurate impenitent transgressours 3. With the undertaking of Christ who came to call sinners to repentance to seek save those that were lost in their own eies He was exalted to be a Prince a Saviour to give repentance remission of sins Act. 5.31 8. If thou dost seriously and in good earnest repent of all thy sins it will be a great foundation of comfort to thee in time of distress If the Devil in time of temptation or the hour of death shall bring thy sins to thy remembrance and charge them upon thy Conscience to drive thee to despair O what a comfort will it be if thy Conscience can then truly answer though I have been guilty of such and such sins yet through the riches of Gods Grace I have in time of my health particularly humbled my soul for them I have retracted and undone them again by a serious repentance Believe it he that has truly repented of all his sins and has the bent of his heart turned towards God and is walking in a new course of life a steady course of Godlinesse has a surer foundation of comfort in his own soul than if an Angel should come from Heaven and tell him he should be saved Upon all these considerations let me advise thee begging the assistance of the Spirit of God to set upon the speedy practise of this so great so necessary yea so comfortable a duty Let not the deceitfulnesse of sin the cunning of Satan the hope of long life a vain presumption on the Mercy of God or any mistakes or prejudices against the Doctrine of repentance keep the off but laying aside all pretences excuses demurs whatever set upon it seriously and speedily and thou wilt find thereby through the blessing of God abundance of ease comfort satisfaction and settlement to thy Mind and Conscience Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confesse my transgression unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prâ—sper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 9. If we confesse our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse Psal 19.12 Who can understand his errours cleanse thou me from secret faults Psal 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all Job 13.26 For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth Psal 38.4 For mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burdeÌ„ they are too heavy for me Job 34.32 That whiâ—h I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Psal 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindnesse according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions V. 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin V. 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me V. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me V. 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow V. 9. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities V. 10. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me V. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me V. 16. Thou desirest not sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt offering V. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise See more Scriptures concerning repentance pag. 102. CHAP. III. Of Faith in Christ. UPon serious consideration of the evil and danger of thy sins renouncing all Confidence in thy self or any thing thou canst do to procure thy pardon and peace with God deliberatly and advisedly betake thy self unto Christ Jesus the only Mediatour and Peace-maker between God and man who once offered up himself a sacrifice on the Crosse for sin and is now in Heaven making intercession and presenting the Merits of his Obedience Sufferings and Death in the behalf of all such who being lost and undone in themselves do flie to him for help and relief and take him for their only Lord and Saviour With judgment and understanding give up thy self to this Saviour Cast thy penitent soul at his feet Rest and rely on him wholly and alone to be justified acquitted and discharged of all thy sins by his Merits to be sanctified by his Spirit to be commanded and disposed of by him and to be enabled by his Grace to persevere in the waies of Truth and Holinesse all thy daies and at last to be brought to Eternal life Intrust all thy hopes of pardon only on him Enter into a real Covenant with him to be for ever his resolving to live and die his faithful Disciple and servant And because really to close with Christ and savingly to believe on him is a matter of such exceeding high Concernment I shall 1. Explain the Nature of it 2. Lay down some Conclusions about it 3. Give some Motives and Incouragements to it Know therefore there is a two-fold Act of Faith 1. Of Adherence 2. Of Assurance I. When a poor sinner doth cast himself wholly on Christ crucified for pardon and life upon the warrant of
his benefits Psal 47.7 For God is the King of all the Earth Sing ye praises with understanding Col. 4.2 Continue in praier and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me V. 13. I will take the Cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Psal 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy mercy and for thy Truths sake Psal 106.21 They forgat God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt Psal 66.16 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Psal 105.2 Sing unto him Sing Psalmes unto him talk ye of all his wondrous works Psal 22.10 I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly Luke 17.17 And Jesus answered and said were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine V. 18. There are not found that returned to give Glory to God save this stranger Psal 69.30 I will praise the Name of God with a Song and will magnifie him with Thanksgiving V. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or Bullock that hath hornes and hoofes Psal 50.13 Will I eat the flesh of Buls or drink the blood of Goats V. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Eph. 5.20 Giving thanks alwaies for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing V. 18. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psal 146.2 While I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my being Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his Judgments unto Israel V. 20 He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant for with my staffe I passed over this Jordan and now am become two bands 1 Chron. 29.14 But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort for all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white robes and palmes in their hands V. 10. And Cried with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. V. 11. And all the Angels stood round about the Throne and about the Elders and four beasts and fell before the Throne on their faces and worshipped God V. 12. Saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdome and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 19.1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God V. 3. And again they said Alleluja V. 4. And the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sate on the Throne saying Amen Alleluja V. 5. And a voice came out of the Throne saying Praise our God all ye his Servants and ye that fear him both small and great Thirdly Be frequent and diligent in reading the holy Scriptures When thou readest the Commands the Promises the Threatnings therein contained think God speaks to thee in them And God must needs be true he cannot lie nor deceive Now there is sufficient evidence that the Scripture is his Word and written by the especial inspiration of his holy Spirit and that will appear if we consider these three things 1. The internal Light of its own perfection The holinesse and heavenlinesse of the matter the Majesty of the Stile the Consent of all the Parts the Scope of the whole which is to give all Glory to God and the full discovery therein made of the only way of mans salvation and reconciliation with God Which is a suitable way both to Gods Glory and mans Necessity 2. The many providential attestations and confirmations of the Truth of the things therein contained by real and undeniable miracles such as could not be wrought but by the power of God And surely if the Scripture had been only the device of men God would some way or other have disowned it ere this as a notorious abuse put upon him and not so constantly have preserved it in spight of the Devil and all his instruments who have laboured to banish it out of the world and to weaken the authority of it 3. The great and wonderful efficacy of the doctrine therein delivered to enlighten convince and humble sinners to drive them out of themselves and to draw them to Christ to conform them to the Image of God to subdue them to his will to strengthen them against temptations and corruptions to build them up in Grace to establish their hearts in holinesse and lastly to comfort them through Faith unto salvation As therefore the holy Ghost by special inspiration was the author of the Scripture and by extraordinary endowments was the author of the miracles wrought for its confirmation so also he is the author of the Faith of him that truly and unfeignedly believes it Yet he doth not cause us to believe by Enthusiasm without any reason or evidence but he enlightens the understanding removing the blindnesse and depravednesse thereof and shews us the credibility of the thing and the evidence of the truth that is to be believed and so perswades the heart to a belief thereof Indeed an historical belief of the Scripture which is true in its kind we may come to by rational perswasions without the special Grace or illumination of the Spirit of God but not that deep and firm belief which shall carry over the will effectually to God in Christ and captivate the whole man to the obedience of the Truth And when such a Faith and belief of the Scripture as this attended with sanctification is wrought in the soul the effect is a good argument to confirm the truth and excellency of such a Faith and belief 1. Labour therefore to work thy heart to a high and reverent esteem of the Word when thou goest to read it We should read it
to escape that ye may be able to bear it Rom. 5.3 But we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience Rev. 13 10. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints 5. As thou must continually depend on God for a supply of all those Graces and comforts thy soul stands in need of so likewise thou must depend daily on his Fatherly care to be furnished and supplied with all such outward mercies as thou standest in need of for this life Mat. 6 11. Give us this day our daily bread Psal 84.11 For the Lord is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly 1 Tim. 4.8 For bodily exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto Life and Godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to knowledge and vertue 6. Humbly depend on him for direction and guidance in all thy lawful waies and to be counsell'd in difficult cases and matters of great concernment to thee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding V. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Prov. 16.9 A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Psal 32.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eie Psal 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to Glory Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him V. 6. But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering c. 7. Daily trust in him to be protected and preserved from dangers evils and mischiefes as far forth as he shall see it good for thee and that his holy Angels may have charge over thee and may perform all those good offices for thee which he hath appointed them to do for those who shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation Psal 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Mat. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven Psal 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty V. 4. He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust V. 10. There shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling V. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy waies V. 12. They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone 8. Trust in him to be blessed and made successeful in all thy lawful endeavours For though man do his endeavour yet successe is only his to give Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Psal 62.5 My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain V. 2. It is in vain for you to rise up early and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrowes for so he giveth his beloved sleep 9. Look up to him and humbly depend on him to have all lawful enjoyments and possessions sanctified to thee that they may be sweetned to thee with a sense of his love and favour in Christ and then they will be blessings indeed Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 10. Humbly trust in him for the assistance of his holy Spirit to enable thee daily to grow in Grace and to persevere and hold out in the waies of truth and holinesse till thou attainest the end of thy Faith even the salvation of thy soul 2 Pet. 1.5 And besides this giving all diligence adde to your Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge V. 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godlinesse V. 7. And to Godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity 2 Pet. 3. ult But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen 1 Cor. 10.12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultlesse before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy V. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and ever Amen 1 Cor. 1.8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation Luke 22.32 But I have praied for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the authour and finisher of our Faith c. John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world
they should be blamelesse and harmlesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and a perverse nation among whom saies he ye shine as Lights in the world 'T is a high point of Grace not to be snared with the evils of our own times 4. Against all occasions and temptations thou foreseest are likely to endanger thy soul We that pray to God not to lead us into temptation must not run our selves into it A prudent man should therefore forethink and consider in the morning what temptations he is like to be encountred with that day that so he may if possible decline them or else set his guards the stronger against them A weak temptation that takes us unawares will prevail more than a stronger forseen A prudent man saith Solomon Prov. 22.3 foreseeth the evil and hideth himself but the foolish go on still and are punished 'T is a point of true spiritual wisdom to foresee sin afar off in the occasions and temptations that lead to it and by avoiding the one to prevent the other 'T is easier and safer for the Fowl to passe by the snare while she is yet out than it is to wind her self out again when she is once in Watch and pray saies our Saviour to his Disciples Mat. 26.41 that ye enter not into temptation If ye do rashly enter the lists of temptation a thousand to one such is mans naturall weaknesse you will not come out without some foil 5. Against dishonouring God in the use of lawful things such as meat drink apparel lawful refreshments c. Remember that 't is in the use even of things indifferent that Satan most usually setteth his snares for Gods servants for here the snare is not so visible as in grosser sins and he prevaileth more often against those that be not grossely prophane and ungodly by the immoderate or undue use of things in themselves lawful than by drawing them to such things as are simply evil and unlawful The Devil knowes well that he that will do all he may do will soon be drawn to do somwhat he ought not to do 'T is dangerous to come near the borders and confines of sin Those that will go to the utmost extent of their Christian Liberty and venture themselves so near the brink do many times fall into the pit of sin All things saith the Apostle are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient 1 Cor. 6.12 and 10.23 All things i. e. not all things absolutely but all things in their own nature indifferent are lawful to me yet all such things are not alwaies expedient 'T is better for us many times to forbear many things we may do it will never be grief or offence of heart to us as was said to David in another case 1 Sam. 25.31 than be once overtaken in what we should not do 6. Watch against Errour As thou must be careful to keep thy heart from sinful lusts and thy life from being spotted and stained with sinful practises so thou must be vigilant also to keep thy judgment sound and thy mind from being tainted and fly-blown with Errour Thou must take heed of a corrupt judgment as well as a rotten heart and a wicked life 'T is a great judgment to be given up either to an erroneous mind or to vile affections Some there are that seem very strict in their lives and pretend as much tendernesse in matter of morality as Lot did of his guests Gen. 19. yet are very loose as to their judgments exposing them as he his Daughters to be defiled with any corrupt Doctrine that comes to their doors Julian the Apostate was a just temperate strict man but a bitter enemy to Christ Some that are sober in their lives are yet drunk with Errour But let such consider that as they say of fish they begin to stink at the head so a corrupt judgment is very frequently a beginner and introducer of a depraved conversation Men in this age are wanton and play with opinions but believe it 't is not of small moment what opinions we hold and whether we be sound in the Faith or no. Grace and Truth use to thrive together The way of truth is the way of life and errour tendeth to death The Apostle tels us of pernicious Doctrines and damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 that bring swift destruction Truth in the mind preserveth an awe of God in the heart But false Doctrines blind the mind harden the heart deprave the conversation destroy the Churches peace and provoke the Lord to have a controversie with a people where they are tolerated Rev. 2.14 15 20. And we should be the more watchful over our selves in this particular because Errours are so agreeable to corrupt Nature and Conscience does usually lesse regret a man for Errour than for unholinesse and many times also they sute a corrupt interest namely profit and worldly advantage and then people are in great danger to be caught by them To keep thee therefore from Errour take these few Directions 1. Labour to be well-grounded in the truth Let the foundation be laid sure else the building with every ruffling wind will be apt to totter Ungrounded Christians who never understood the true grounds of the Religion they have taken up and how it is built on the Scriptures when they meet with Arguments against it which they never heard of before and which they through their unskilfulness cannot answer they presently yield to errour and think because they cannot answer them therefore no body else can But if thou wouldst not be carried away with every wind of Doctrine Labour rightly to understand the true grounds of Christian Religion And to this end study the Scriptures with humility and be much in prayer that God would guide thee by his holy Spirit into all saving truth and keep thee from falling into errour And remember that what has been commonly received by the people of God and embraced and practised by the Saints in all ages is not lightly to be rejected and deserted Can any rational man think God would leave the generality of his people to errour and seduction of mind Consider with thy self therefore whether it be not safer to follow the footsteps of the flock of Christ than to be led away by pretenders to new light the Scripture having given so many cautions to beware of seduceâ—s 2 Pet. 3.17 18. 2. Rest not in a bare knowledge of the truth but reduce thy knowledge into practise Be sincere in the Religion thou professest and let the truths of God like leaven season thy mind will and affections and have a powerful influence on thy life When men are in love with Gospel-truths for the goodnesse sweetnesse and benefit they tast in them they will labour to hold them fast Those that have any experience in their own hearts of the comfort and efficacy of the Doctrines of Repentance Faith in Christ and daily watchfulness will not easily throw them
immutable Lawes to his people doth first apply himself to them as Jewes rouzing their attention by inculcating the late signal mercies he had confer'd on them hereby to excite them to a more strict observation of what he was now to give them in charge so that though the introduction be proper to the Jewes yet the commandements have a larger extent and are spoken alike to all Now 't is very observable the Jewish or Saturday Sabbath or seventh from the creation is not in expresse terms commanded in the fourth Commandement That we shall perceive if we look over the Commandement 1. Remember thou sanctifie the Sabbath day The Sabbath day it is you see and not the seventh from the Creation Observe saies Zanchy God said not Remember thou sanctifie the seventh day but the day of rest that is the day that is consecrated to rest either immediatly by himself or mediately by the Church directed by the Holy Ghost whatsoever day it be So that the day must be of Divine Institution 2. God telleth us distinctly what Sabbath he here means viz. the weekly He saith Sanctifie the Sabbath in the singular number not Sabbaths in the plural The observation not of many festivals but of one onely is there enjoyned saith the learned Junius 3. The Sabbath must be sanctified but what day is appointed for it Six daies shalt thou labour Six daies are ours The seventh is the Sâ—bbath A seventh God will have But what seventh He saies not the seventh from the Creation He names no day as intending the day should change He saith only the seventh i. e. The seventh after six working daies 4. But is the determination of this one in seven in our power No for it must be the Sabbath of the Lord thy God i. e. which he hath already or should hereafter declare to his Church to be his Sabbath It must be Gods own choice Now that the fourth Commandement is moral will appear if we consider 1. Except it be moral there cannot be ten Commandements and yet so we find Deut. 10 4. And he wrote on the Tables according to the first writing the ten Commandements which the Lord spake unto you in the Mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the Assembly And the Lord gave them unto me To keep some time holy to the Lord and to keep that time which he should appoint is absolutely moral Now 't is plain a Sabbath God must have by the perpetual Ordinance of the fourth Commandement Remember thou sanctifie the Sabbath day i. e. That day which for the time being God hath marked out and appointed for his own And he hath declared his Will concerning the limitation of it Six daies shalt thou labour c. But the seventh is the Sabbath so that one in a week he must have If this Commandement enjoyn no particular and set time under the Gospel then are there but nine Commandements Why should the Sabbath be put among the moral Lawes of the Decalogue if it were only ceremonial And wherein does the designation or limitation of one day in a week for Gods service seem ceremonial It being a memorial of Gods creating the world in six daies and resting the seventh this being a benefit wheâ—ein all mankind intercommon the Jewes can claim no property therein several to themselves 2 If we look upon the Sabbath of the fourth Commandement we shall find it stript of all legal observances For those things which are urged as ceremonial and several of the Jewes touching the Sabbath are all post-scripts and by-laws not one emergent from the fourth precept As no fire to be kindled Exod. 16 23. No meat to be dressed Exod. 17 5. These were peculiar to the Jews We must distinguish therefore between those precepts of the Sabbath that occur elsewhere the fourth Commandement What is ceremonial touching the Sabbath we must apply to them what is moral we must restrain to this See Mr. Lestrang's learned Treatise of the Sabbath Thus we have seen how God had from the Creation to the Law from the Law to Christ a day appointed and that by himself to his own Worship And hath he lesse reason to require it under the Gospel Surely no. IIII. From Christs resurrection on the first day of the week very early in the morning Luke 24.1 John 20.1 The Sabbath was changed to that day in honour of our Saviour who that day rising from the dead finished the work of our Redemption The Jewish Sabbath slept its last in the grave with our Saviour though its shadow indeed walked a while after but it self the old Sabbath expired then and immediatly entred the Lords day From the resurrection of Christ immediatly when Christ himself was but newly up from that very day whereon he arose doth Augustine derive the beginning of the Evangelical Sabbath The Lords day saith he by the resurrection of Christ was declared to be the Christians day and from that very time of Christs resurrection it began to be celebrated as the Christian mans Festival Epist ad Jan. 19. c. 13. This was the first day of our Saviours appearing to his Disciples and the first Christian Sabbath he honoured with his beatifical presence Joh. 20.19 20 26. The next was the eighth day after V. Well our Saviour is ascended Let us now see what honour the holy Ghost whom he promised to send his Apostles hath conferred on this day The holy Ghost descendeth But on what day Why the first day of the week It was when Pentecost arrived and that fell that year on that day On this day the Apostles were solemnly though closely assembled in prayer and holy duties and the holy Ghost descended upon them Acts 2. VI. The next mention of Apostolical observation of this day occurreth Acts 20. v. 7. The first of the week the Disciples being come together to break bread i. e. The Sacramental or Eucharistical bread Paul preached to them That for his practise Now his precept for the day is plainly implied 1 Cor. 16.1 As I have ordained in the Churches of Galatia so do ye v. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gathering when I come He ordains their collections for the poor Saints and oblations should be on that day And why should that day be the Almes-day or Collection day rather than any other had it not been observed holy in those times and that the Congregation did use on that day to assemble The Collection therefore being enjoyned on that day the Lords day was consequently enjoyned VII About sixty years after as Calvisius out of Irenaeus computes we meet with this day apparrelled in a Christian Name not stil'd the first day but the Lords day which probably was then current among the Christians else the holy Ghost would not have used it Rev. 1.10 St. John saies he was in the Spirit on the Lords day
Psal 58.4 We read of some Zach. 7.12 That made their heart as Adamant stone that they might not hear 'T is a sad complaint the Prophet makes And yet many Ministers may in these daies make the same I have stretched out my hands all the day long to a disobedient and gainsaying people Isa 65.2 Rom. 10.21 3. The itching ear 2 Tim. 4.3 4. The Apostle speaks of some who having itching eares did turn away their eares from the Truth unto Fables When men affect only new things and another Gospel as Paul speaks Gal. 1. They are half gone into Heresie Plain Doctrines that tend to the conviction of sin that discover the necessity of conversion that shew mans lost and undone condition by nature his only remedy by Christ the necessity of Holinesse and new obedience these serious truths are too stale for many curious eares But remember they were carnal people who complained they had nothing but the old burden Jer. 23.33 34. II. Apply what thou hearest to thy self Job 5. ult Hear thou this and know it for thy self Do not ward off the blowes of the Word from thy self Do not say within thy self this reproof concerns such an one c. The Jewes being pricked in their hearts Acts 2.23 said What shall we do not what shall others do to be saved No plaister can do us good except it be applyed III. Lift up thy heart in frequent mental ejaculatory prayers unto the Lord to set the truths thou hearest home upon thy soul Lord help me to remember and practise this lesson Lord help me to forsake this sin Lord strengthen my Faith in the belief of this Truth As the Disciples when Christ told them how oft they should forgive an offending brother Luke 17.5 they instantly pray Lord increase our Faith IV. Mix Faith with the Word Heb. 4.2 The Apostle tels of some that the Word profited not bccause they did not mix it with Faith O cursed infidelity How many thousand souls hast thou destroyed How many thousand Sermons hast thou made unsuccesseful St. James tels us The Devils believe and tremble That is more than many a wicked man does Thus much of thy behaviour in time of hearing Thirdly After hearing practise these Directions 1. Labour to keep alive those good motions those good inclinations those Heavenly affections and stirrings of Spirit which thou foundest in time of hearing Thou wilt quickly cool when out of the Congregation if thou take not heed 2. When thou goest from the Congregation be willing to speak and confer of what thou hast heard labouring thereby to work those truths on thy own heart and on the hearts of others O how sad is it that people as soon as ever they are out of the Congregation fall a talking of any thing rather than the Sermon they have heard They are free to talk of bargains or news or any thing else But they are ashamed of such precise discourse as to speak of the truths they have heard though they concern them never so much 3. Let such as are governours of Families revive the truths they have heard in publick by repetition in their Families Our memories are weak and Commands had need be repeated to forgetful servants At first hearing many truths may be lost through distraction and wandring Paul in his Epistles does often repeat the same passages and renew the same exhortations And he tels the Philippians C. 3. v. 1. To write the same things to them was not to him grievous but for them safe 4. Retire thy self and meditate on the truths thou hast heard and labour to fasten them by prayer in thy heart Let thy Conscience in secret preach them over to thee again Luke 2.19 'T is said Mary pondered those sayings in her heart O how few will spend a secret hour on the Lords day to consider and meditate on what they have heard One main reason Sermons do no more good is because people so soon forget them And why do they forget them so soon But because they do not consider and meditate on them when they have heard them Heb. 2.1 Therefore saies the Apostle we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip And 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all 5. Be not a bare hearer but a doer of the Word Speedily set upon the practise of what thou hast learned to be thy duty Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own soules Jam. 1.22 Some do not care to hear because they have no mind to practise Some hear and rest in it 'T is practise that proclaims the sincerity of our profession In hearing we may look like Saints but in doing we live like Saints Practise is the best commendation of a Sermon Having thus shewed thee what thou must do 1. Before hearing the Word 2. In hearing the Word 3. After hearing the Word I come now to give thee some Motives to quicken thee to the practise of these Directions 1. Consider such as wilfully neglect to prepare their hearts before they come to hear do tempt God to withdraw the assistance and blessing of his holy Spirit from them when they are come Presume not on Gods assistance in an Ordinance if you neglect to prepare for it If the ground be not well prepared we do not expect a crop 2. Consider and remember the Devils care is not only to disturb thee at the Ordinance but to indispose thee for it before thou comest The Devil is stirring early on the Lords day morning He is at work betimes Be sure he hath a mornings draught for thee he will be presenting and suggesting something to thee to unfit and indispose thee for the duties of the day 3. Consider as thou art more or less careful to prepare so wilt thou ordinarily more or lesse tast the sweetnesse of the Ordinance Preparation is like exercise before a meal It will make thee come with the better appetite to the Word and relish it the better 4. Consider preparation is not only advantageous in order to the Ordinance but it brings advantage to us considered in it self By preparation we have communion with God We come to uâ—derstand our selves and the case of our own souls Whilst thou art preparing thy Graces are increasing the work of Heaven goes on 5. Consider If thou makest Conscience thus to behave thy self before in and after hearing of the Word as thou hast been directed thou wilt find it a great evidence of the sincerity and uprightnesse of thy heart Outward respects may make people come to Church but to take pains thus with their hearts beforehand argues a true desire after communion with God and a real willingnesse to profit by the Word and to grow in Grace 6. Consider what a choice mercy it is to enjoy the Gospel 'T is not a dish
from and inconsistent with the nature of these Graces There is a great deal of danger in mistaking about these things Therefore let them ask themselves seriously whether they do indeed understand that true repentance follows upon a clear and full conviction of the evil odiousnesse and filthinesse of sin as that which is contrary to Gods holy Nature and is flat rebellion against his Lawes and Authority as that which defaces his Image depraves defiles pollutes the soul weakens its powers disenables it for holy operations and conforms it to the Image of Satan Whether they rightly apprehend the danger desert and mischievous effects and consequents of sin how it exposes the sinner to judgments spirituall temporal and eternal Whether ever they apprehended their own deep guiltiness both of Original and a huge number of actual sins Whether there ever has been wrought in them any deep contrition and hearty sorrow for their sins and that upon Gospel-grounds because they have so exceedingly dishonoured God pierced our dear Lord and Saviour grieved the holy Spirit brought a stain and defilement upon their soules and rendred themselves justly liable to the wrath and curse of God Whether their hearts have been wrought to a hatred and loathing of sin and to a forsaking of every known sin and are now really turned unto God Whether they have cleerly and without guile of spirit confessed bewailed their sins unto God their particular known sins particularly and all secret undiscovered unknown sins with a general confession And here that the sick person may the better examine himself and awaken his Conscience and may understand in some measure the number of his sins the several kinds of them and the various waies of offending God let him consider and ponder seriously of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments and the special sins against the Gospel For the more particular his repentance is the more pungent and afflictive it will be and so the more sincere and effectual Of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments The first Commandment requireth us to own and acknowledge Jehovah to be the only true God and our God and to adore worship and glorifie him accordingly The sins against this Commandment are 1. Atheism not believing there is a God or so living as if there were no God in the world to be obeyed and worshipped 2. Idolatry in having or worshipping more Gods than one or any with or in stead of the true God praying or giving any religious worship to Saints Angels or any other Creature 3. All compacts and consulting with the Devil all resorting to Witches and Conjurers which is in effect to go to the Devil himself 4. Making men the Lords of our Faith Consciences 5. Ignorance misapprehensions misbelief concerning God not labouring after the true knowledge of God nor endeavouring to understand aright his nature properties and works 6. Infidelity not believing his word or not believing it effectually practically so as to live according to our belief not beleeving his threatnings so as to be afraid of them nor his promises so as to be invited by them unto obedience and newnesse of life 7. Diffidence and distrust of his care and providence not depending on him for the supply of our wants not looking up to him for a blessing on our lawful endeavours tempting him by using unlawful means in stead of waiting his leisure Creature-confidence trusting in wit wealth friends c. and thereby withdrawing our hearts and dependance from God 8. Want of love to God Not cleaving to him with a fervent love apprehending him the chief good not loving him for his own infinite excellencies and for his goodnesse to us not loving him with all our affections and might but loving our selves our pleasures or profits or credit before him inordinate setting our minds and affections on other things besides God 9. Want of zeal and forwardnesse to promote his Glory Lukewarmnesse indifferency in the things of God not sorrowing for those raigning sins whereby his honour is eclipsed 10. Not fearing God so as to keep from any wilful offending of him timorousnesse fearing man more than God by committing sin to shun some outward suffering 11. Not rejoycing in God nor in his waies and Worship counting his waies grievous and burdensom Apostatizing from him forsaking his Worship and Service 12. Presuming groundlessely on his mercy while we go on in any wilful sin or despairing of it so as to neglect duty 13. Unthankfulnesse for those great mercies he hath so freely bestowed upon us not acknowledging them or letting them slip by without any regard or notice being too apt to ascribe Gods blessings to our deserts or endeavours sacrificing to our own net to our own wit or parts not ascribing all Glory to God 14. Insensiblenesse under his judgments or discontent at his dispensations Impatience under his Fatherly chastisements not accepting the punishment of our iniquities without murmuring or repining not amending by his corrections but either fainting despairing and charging God foolishly 15. Not yeelding such sincere and universal obedience to him as we ought both in heart and life 16. Not having a high and an adoring esteem of God not demeaning our selves humbly before him according as our vilenesse and his infinite surpassing excellencies do require The second Commandment shews the manner how the true God must be worshipped and requires the observing and keeping pure entire all such religious Worship and Ordinances as he hath appointed in his Word Inward Idolatry is opposed to the first Commandment outward to this The true God is to be worshipped only in that way that he himself hath appointed Therefore Idolatrous and superstitious Worshippers of him he cals haters of him and expresses a very fervent zeal for his own Worship and a revengefull indignation against all false Worship as being spiritual whoredom The sins against this Commandment are 1. All will-worship superstition or corrupting the Ordinances of God by mans inventions 2. Making any Images for a religious use either of the true God or of false 3. Making any representation of God of all or any of the Three Persons in the Trinity either inwardly in our minds or outwardly in any kind of Image or likenesse of any creature whatsoever or worshipping of it or God in it and by it 4. Worshipping of God any way not agreeable to his Nature and not warranted by his Word which requires he should be worshipped in Spirit and Truth with uprightnesse and sincerity he being a spiritual and most pure Being without any visible form or shape Therefore all formality unspiritualnesse and meer bodily Worship is that which he cannot away with The third Commandment requires we should honour and reverence the most holy and glorious Name of God and that all his Titles Attributes Ordinances or whatever else he is pleas'd to make known himself by be holily and reverently used by us This Commandment
Religion the means is to perform such religions duties and services as God hath appointed for the attaining this end Now if we rest in the means i. e. in a bare performance of religious duties without desiring to enjoy God in them or labouring to get our hearts into a better frame by them and aiming at those higher ends to which they were appointed our services are rather a mocking of God than a true and sincere worshipping of him It will do us no good to be of the right Religion as to external profession if we be slight and formal and perfunctory in the duties of that Religion Take heed therefore of having only a form of Godlinesse and denying or secretly hating the power thereof What will it profit any man to be thought godly and religious if God know him to be ungodly Our Saviour hath told us that except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and yet theirs was outwardly a very strict religiousness we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Mat. 5.20 6. Take heed of contenting your selves with meer civil honesty and a fair just outward conversation This is very commendable yea and necessary but this is not sufficient to salvation Without regeneration and true conversion there is no salvation to be expected Not only loose livers but meer civil persons need a further change There are many people that applaud themselves in their own righteousnesse they give every one their own they defraud no man they pay what they owe to all men Do they so I am glad of it But let us a little examine whether they be so just as they pretend Possibly they give every man his due and would not defraud any man willingly or knowingly of any thing I commend them for it But do they give God his due They owe their hearts to him They owe sincere obedience and spiritual worship to him They are bound to love him above all and delight in communion with him and to make Conscience of the duties and services he requires They ought to fear and reverence his holy Name to delight in his Word to sanctifie his day to attend upon his Ordinances to be tender of his honour to decline all waies of sinning against him either by wicked thoughts irregular affections sinful words evil actions Their whole life ought to be a living unto God and his Glory ought to be their end and aim in all their undertakings They ought to renounce the devil the world and the flesh and to serve him faithfully all their daies Now then come and let us consider Do they do thus Do they indeed give every one his own Do they give unto God what of right is due unto him They make Conscience of being just towards men and they do well in it but are they careful also of paying God what they owe to him And what kind of righteousnesse call you this to be righteous towards men and unrighteous and unjust toward God Is this a righteousnesse any man dare stand upon and plead for his justification before Gods Tribunal You see then there is more required than an honest outward fair conversation to save the soul 7. Take heed of deceiving and ill-grounded hopes of Heaven Secure your state in Grace and then your title to Glory is unquestionable Look to your evidences for Heaven Take heed of mistakes about the great work of repenting and believing in Christ Many think they have those Graces when indeed they have only a shadow of them Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith Prove your selves Whoever is in Christ is a new Creature old things are passed away old carnal principles old sinful inclinations old wicked practises old ungodly company are passed away and left by them that are true converts Ask your selves whether your repentance be a repentance unto life whether your Faith be a saving Faith What the true characters of Repentance and Faith are you may find in the 2d and 3d Chapters of the second Part of this Treatise 'T is carnal hopes that deceive the world and hinder people from looking after a saving conversion Content not your selves therefore to say you hope you shall be saved but prove and try whether you are such persons as God hath promised salvation to Prove by marks of Grace in your souls that you are true converts and then hope for salvation and spare not and the Lord confirm your hopes Great things and of everlasting consequence should be made as sure as is possible Ask your selves what evidences you have you are converted 'T is proof must carry it and not confident presumption Take God in Christ for your only happinesse and end And Christ as Mediatour for your only Lord and Saviour Accept him for your Sovereign as well as for your Saviour Be sensible of your continual need of his Bloud Spirit and intercession and give up your selves sincerely to him to be justified sanctified guided directed and everlastingly saved by him Let his Interest be uppermost in your souls and you are blessed for ever 8. Pray earnestly unto the Lord to be established in the truth and to be preserved from Errour giddinesse and apostacy which is the sin and shame of these times Let not the different Opinions that are now going be an offence unto you Remember that though men are mutable and change from one opinion to another and grow wanton and wild-headed yet God and Christ and the Scripture and Heaven and the way thither are still the same These change not Mind you these things Take heed of that threefold Apostacy that this age is too guilty of Namely 1. Of Judgment from the Truths of God 2. Of Affection from the Ordinances of God 3. Of Conversation from that sober humble and circumspect walking which all true Christians should make Conscience of Let not the treachery of false brethren dishearten you He is the right Souldier that is not discouraged by those that run away but still presseth on to victory In a word lay not out your zeal on externals or opinions and the smaller matters of Religion Look to it that there be in you an unfeigned and fervent love to God his Truth and children Let most of your daily care be about the right ordering and governing of your hearts and affections Labour to mortifie lusts and advance Grace To conclude this separate speedily from the sins of Christians but never from the Ordinances of Christ 9. Count those your best friends that lovingly and faithfully admonish you of any sin or evil they see you going on in If you were going ignorantly into a house infected with the plague you would think that man your friend that pluckt you back and acquainted you with your danger What a madnesse then is it for any man to be offended and angry with him that out of true good will and charity to his soul desires to preserve him from everlasting perdition Can it be thought by any sober man
a malicious thing to endeavour to save a soul from sin and Hell 10. Take heed of prejudices against a strict and holy walking with God The Lord deliver you from that mad opinion of the world that like not serving God so much nor making so much ado to be saved Consider is there any thing in the world doth better deserve your care and diligence and will better pay you for it I know carnal people think the way of Religion a melancholick and sad way But I must not spare to tell them the truth They will never live a truly safe peaceable and comfortable life till they are converted and have engaged their hearts in an humble holy walking with God They ignorantly flee from Godlinesse as from sorrow and trouble but the truth is they flee from joy and peace What should trouble that man that is a member of Christ and has escaped out of the power of Satan and is freed from the wrath of God and the danger of everlasting misery O Neighbours let not the ignorant scorns and senselesse reproaches of wicked men discourage you He that hath good grounds to believe that he shall live for ever in Glory With God and his holy Angels as soon as his soul parts from his body I think is a happy man and so will be acknowledged by every one that has not lost his reason and understanding There is a time coming when the proudest and most stubborn sinner will be glad to change condition with the meanest Saint Let me therefore intreat all those that have entertain'd any hard thoughts of the waies of Godlinesse but to make triall what a holy life is and if they do not find more comfort in a serious turning unto God and in a sincere endeavour to approve their hearts unto him then in the waies of sin let them take their course let Heaven go 11. Nourish and maintain a tendernesse of Conscience Be very circumspect in your daily walking Look upon sin as the greatest evil Make up every breach between God and your souls betimes Pray earnestly for the guidance of the Spirit of God and to be kept from Temptations 12. Have a care of your Families that true Piety and Godlinesse may be countenanced encouraged and promoted in them Let your houses be Bethels houses of God and not Beth-avens houses of iniquity If you neglect family-duties and the religious observation of the Lords day and private instruction and so let those under your care be nuzled up in ignorance prophanenesse and ungodlinesse provide to answer it to God when he shall call for you Remember I faithfully warned you of the sin and danger of such neglects I cannot expect Religion should ever much thrive among us till Governours of Families be careful to train up those under their Government in the Principles of true Piety and in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Lastly Labour to maintain peace and love among your selves Mark 9.50 Have salt in your selves and peace one with another Labour to get your hearts seasoned with the graces of humility self-denial and true Charity and this will keep you in peace among your selves Let there be no heart-burnings contentions brawlings backbitings or defamings heard of among you Help one another on towards heaven Imitate that which is good wherever you find it but learn evil of no man Encourage one another in the waies of Godlinesse Abhor to draw or intice one another to any sinfull course or practise Do all offices of kindnesse and humanity one for another As you have opportunity let it be your desire and endeavour to do good to every body hurt to no body Learn that hard lesson of forgiving wrongs and injuries and praying for and wishing well to those that are your enemies 'T is a hard lesson but Gods Spirit can teach it you Remember our Saviours Words in Matth. 6.14 15. For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses And the words of the Apostle Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of mind meeknesse long-suffering V. 13. Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye V. 14. And above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnesse V. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful I shall conclude with that divine and affectionate exhortation of the same Apostle Phil. 4.8 Fâ—nally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things And now O Lord thou who hast put into the heart of thy unworthy servant to write these things for the good of this people be thou pleased by the gracious and effectuall working of thy holy Spirit to make them useful to them and to all others into whose hands they shall come for the promoting knowledge Faith and obedience among them and the furthering of their salvation What is here agreeable to thy holy Will write upon their hearts O let it not be in vain that this help is afforded them Grant successe I humbly beseech thee to this poor endeavour and take thou all the Glory Good Lord give this people a right understanding in all things Guide them in the way wherein they should go to attain eternal life Open the eyes of the ignorant among them turn the hearts of the prophane reduce the erroneous and encrease thy Graces daily more and more in the hearts of those whom thou hast savingly wrought upon O let thy blessing be on this people God Almighty blesse them Let Truth and Holinesse reall Piety and the power of Godlinesse Let soundnesse of mind and uprightnesse of heart and life let true Faith and fervent love let charity and good works through the operation of thy holy Spirit abound among them That so living here in thy fear and serving their generation according to the Will of God they may at last through thy infinite mercy and the merits of our blessed Lord and Saviour be received into thy Heavenly Kingdom This is the earnest and hearty Prayer of Your very affectionate though unworthy Pastor Samuel Cradock Dr. Reynolds his EPISTLE TO THE READERS AS in humane bodies some parts are vital others only integrall some necessary to the being others to the well being integrity and beauty of them So it is in Theologicall Doctrines some are more fundamental and immediatly necessary to life and Godliness others such as do greatly accomplish and adorn Christians that have attained unto them and are of singular use for the edification of
who is a Spirit infinitely Glorious and being One in Nature is yet Three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and The Holy Ghost These are Three and One after a wonderfull and mysterious manner The Father God The Son God And the Holy Ghost God and yet not three Gods but one God Secondly His Properties or Attributes God is Eternal or without any Beginning or End Omnipotent or Almighty Omnipresent or every where present Omniscient or All-knowing Infinitely Wise Holy Just Mercifull Thirdly His Works which are principally two 1. Creation 2. Providence I. Creation Concerning which we must know 1. That God made the world and all the Creatures therein both visible and invisible by his Almighty power and Created them all very good 2. The chief of his Creatures are Angels Men. 3. All the Angels were at first made holy and happy Spirits Some continued in their obedience to God and are still Angels of Light Others fell from God through Pride or some other sin and are become Devils of Darknes Concerning the Creation of Man see farther in the next Chapter II. Providence As God Created the World and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power So he upholds directs disposes and governs them all by his Providence Nothing so Casual but he disposes of it No Agent so free as to be exempted from his Controule No affliction or Evil of Punishment but he hath a hand in it But as for sin he neither is nor possibly can be the Author or Approver of it CHAP. II. Concerning Man COncerning Man we are to know and understand these three things 1. The happy Condition in which he was made 2. His Fall 3. The way of his Recovery by Christ 1. The Holy and happy estate in which God created man at first Namely after his own Image in Knowledge Holinesse and Righteousnesse with Dominion over the Creatures here below writing his Law on mans heart requiring perfect obedience from him and giving him power to perform it promising the continuance of him in that happy estate if he obeyed and threatning him with death if he disobeyed which is called the Covenant of works 2. The miserable Condition into which man threw himself by sin Our first Parents by the temptation of Sathan disobeyed God broke his righteous Law and Commandement and thereby cast themselves out of the Favour of God became the Slaves of Satan and liable to the curse of the Law and brought a great depravation of soul and body upon themselves And such as our first Parents were such must their posterity needs be For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean says Job Chap. 14.4 They having lost the Image of God themselves the holinesse and happinesse in which they were made could not conveigh it to their posterity So that the nature of man is now become corrupt prone to evil backward to good And this miserable condition is derived to us from Adam by our immediate Parents and as men come to be born in several Ages and generations so they actually participate of the sap that comes from the first root we being therefore all of us in so bad a Condition by nature and by custome and practice in sin having made our selves much worse and more abominable in the sight of God more guilty and liable to his wrath we are to know and consider that this woful state of sin and misery is by no means to be rested in But seeing we are fallen into so lamentable a condition we must speedily endeavour to get out of it And therefore let us remember that without Conversion there is no hope of Salvation Except a man be born again and made a new Creature he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God 3. The blessed way found out and appointed by God for mans Recovery out of this miserable state which is by the undertaking and mediation of his onely Son CHAP. III. Concerning the Mediator between God and Man COncerning the Mediator between God and man Christ Jesus We must know and understand these seaven things 1. What manner of person he was He was God and Man in the same person The Eternal Son of God The second Person in the Trinity took to himself our humane Nature a humane soul and body and united it after a wonderfull manner to his Godhead And so God and Man became one person 2. How he became man He was born about sixteen hundred and odd years ago of the Virgin Mary who was of the seed of Abraham and of the Family of David as was foretold in the Scriptures being Conceived in her by the Almighty power of the Holy Ghost without the help of man and without sin and was Called Jesus Christ 3. How he Lived He Lived about three and thirty years here upon Earth a most holy innocent sinless Life performing perfect obedience to the Law of God And as the great Prophet of God who was promised Deut. 18.15 Acts 3 22. he declared his Fathers will in his heavenly discourses and Sermons and wrought many miracles to confirm his doctrine and to prove himself the true Messias and the Eternal Son of God 4. How he Died Being betrayed by Judas forsaken by his Disciples scorned and rejected by the World through the malicious prosecution of the Jews and unjust sentence of Pilat he was Condemned to be Crucified and being tormented by his persecutors and having conflicted with the Terrors of Death and felt and born Gods wrath He endured the painful shameful and cursed death of the Crosse there as a Priest offering up himself a Sacrifice to God and a Ransome and Propitiation for our sins 5. What became of him after his Death He being buried rose again the third day and after Fourty days continuance on the earth in which time he frequently appeared to his Disciples and others teaching the things appertaining to the Kingdome of God he ascended into Heaven and is now in Glory with the Father where he intercedes for and presents the Merits of his Death and Sufferings in the behalf of all them that unfeignedly repent of their sins and do truly beleeve on him And being made King and Head of his Church and Lord of Angels and Men he shall come from Heaven again in great Glory to judge the quick and the dead at the Last day 6. What was the End and Intent of Christs Coming into the world The chief End and Intent of his Coming into the world was to save Lost and undone sinners to procure their pardon reconciliation with God by his Merits to Sanctifie their Natures by his Holy Spirit and to bring them to everlasting Life And to this end he appointed his Ministers to preach the Gospel unto the world and instituted the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper to signifie and keep in remembrance the great and inestimable benefits of his Death and Sufferings 7. What they are effectually Called unto and through the assistance of the
there is not a word in my tongue but Lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Acts 15.18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Infinitely Wise 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the Only wise God be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God How unsearchable are his judgements and his waies past finding out Rom. 16 27. To God Only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen Infinitely Holy Isa 6.3 And one cried unto another and said holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his Glory Rev. 4.8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Isa 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones 1 Pet. 1.16 Because it is written be ye holy for I am holy Just Job 34.10 Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding far be it from God that he should do wickednesse and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity V. 11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him and cause every man to find according to his waies V. 12. Yea surely God will not do wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert judgment Jer. 9.23 Thus saith the Lord let not the wise man glory in his wisdome neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches V. 24. But let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindnesse Judgement and Righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. Deut. 32.4 He is the Rock his work is perfect for all his waies are Judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Gen. 18.25 Shall not the judge of all the earth doe right Merciful Psal 119.68 Thou art good and doest good teach me thy Statutes Psal 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy Nehem. 9.17 And refused to obey neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them but hardened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their bondage but thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsookest them not V. 31. Neverthelesse for thy great mercies sake thou didst not utterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and a merciful God Psal 103.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Jer. 3.12 Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Exod. 34.6 And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth V. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children and upon the Childrens children unto the third and fourth generation Psal 145.7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodnesse and shall sing of thy righteousnesse 1 John 4.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love V. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Isa 28.21 For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon that he may do his work his strange work and bring to passe his act his strange act 2 Cor. 1.3 Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all Comforts Isa 30.18 And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you for the Lord is a God of judgement blessed are all they that wait for him Psa 78.38 But he being full of compassion forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not yea many a time turned he his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath Luke 6.36 Be ye therefore merciful for your heavenly Father is merciful Thirdly His WORKS which are principally two 1. Creation 2. Providence I. Creation Concerning which we must know 1. That God made the world and all the Creatures therein both visible and invisible by his Almighty power and Created them all very good 2. The chief of his Creatures are Angels Men. 3. All the Angels were at first made holy and happy Spirits Some continued in their obedience to God and are still Angels of Light Others fell from God through Pride or some other sin and are become Devils of Darknes Concerning the Creation of Man see farther in the next Chapter Creation Col. 1. â—6 For by him were all things Created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things are Created by him and for him V. 17. And he is before all things and by him all things consist Nehem. 9.6 Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made Heaven the Heaven of Heavens with all their Host the earth and all things that are therein the Seas and all that is therein and thou preservest them all and the Host of Heaven worshippeth thee Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Rev. 15.3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of god and the song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy waies thou King of Saints Heb. 3.4 For every house is built by some man but he that built all things is God Psal 145.10 All thy works shall praise thee O God and thy Saints shall blesse thee Rev. 4.11 Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast Created all things and for thy pleasure they are
by Beelzebub the Prince of the devils 1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil V. 10. In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the devil whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother Rev. 12.9 And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent Called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world he was cast out into the Earth and his Angels were cast out with him 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Job 1.7 And the Lord said unto Satan whence comest thou then Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro in the Earth and from walking up and down in it Luke 22.31 And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Mat. 8.29 And behold they cried out saying what have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God art thou come hither to torment us before the time V. 31. So the devils besought him saying if thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine Mat. 4 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the divel 2 Cor. 6.15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidel Zach. 3.1 And he shewed me Josuah the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him V. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan the Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire James 2.19 Thou beleevest that there is One God thou dost well the divels also beleeve and tremble Luke 4.33 And in the Synagogue there was a man which had a Spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a loud voice V. 34. Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God Acts 19.15 And the evil Spirit answered and said Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye Eph. 4.26 Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil Acts 5.3 And Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land Psal 78.49 He cast upon them the fiercenesse of his anger wrath and indignation and trouble by sending evil Angels among them Acts 26.18 To Open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse unto Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me The next of Gods works to be considered and understood by us is II. His Providence As God Created the World and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power So he upholds directs disposes and governs them all by his Providence Nothing so Casual but he disposes of it No Agent so free as to be exempted from his Controule No affliction or Evil of Punishment but he hath a hand in it But as for sin he neither is nor possibly can be the Author or Approver of it Heb. 1.3 Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the expresse Image of his Person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high Col. 1.17 And he is before all things and by him all things Consist Psal 36.6 Thy Righteousnesse is like the great Mountains thy judgments are a great deep O Lord thou preservest man and beast Mat. 10.29 Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father V. 30. But the very haires of your head are all numbred V. 31. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows Dan. 4.34 And at the end of the daies I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto Heaven and mine understanding returned unto me and I blessed the most High and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his Kingdome is from generation to generation V. 35. And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the army of Heaven and among the inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou Prov. 16.33 The Lot is cast into the Lap but the whole disposing thereof is from the Lord. Psal 103.19 The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdome ruleth over all Acts 17.25 Neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things V. 26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation V. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are also his off-spring Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Lam. 3.37 Who is he that saith and it cometh to passe when the Lord commandeth it not Isa 45.6 That they may know from the rising of the Sun and from the West that there is none besides me I am the Lord and there is none else V. 7. I form the Light and create darknesse I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Amos 3.6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Prov. 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Jer. 31.35 Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a Light by day and the Ordinances of the Moon and the Stars for a Light by night which divideth the Sea when the waves thereof roar the Lord of Hosts is his Name Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearcheable are his judgements and his waies
any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish V. 30. For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones V. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 12.27 Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular Col. 1.18 And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence Col. 2.19 And not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ V. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Judge of quick and dead John 5.22 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the son V. 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgement also because he is the son of man Rom. 14.9 For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living V. 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother we shall all stand before the Judgement seat of Christ. Acts 1.11 Which also said ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 10.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead Mat. 13.40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire so shall it be in the end of this world V. 41. The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and them which do iniquity V. 42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth Jude 6. And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under darknesse unto the judgement of the great day V. 14. And Enoch the seventh from Adam prophecied of these saying behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints V. 15. To execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him 2 Pet. 2.4 For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into Chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgement Mat. 26.64 Jesus saith unto him hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of Heaven 1 Thes 4 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first V. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the aire and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 2 Thes 1.7 And unto you which are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels V. 8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his power Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works Dan. 7.10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the judgement was set and the books were opened V. 13. I saw in the night visions and behold one like the son of man came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the ancient of daies and they brought him neer before him V 14. And there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdome that which shall not be destroyed Acts 17.30 And the times of this ignoranâ—â— God winked at but now he commandeth all men every where to repent V. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in â—ightâ—ousnesse by that man whom he haâ—h ordaiâ—â—d whereof hâ— hath given assurance unto all meâ— in â—hat he hath raised him from the dead 1 Cor. 15.51 Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed V. 52. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed Rom. 2.5 But thou after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God V. 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds V. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and immortality eternal life V. 8. But unto them which are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath V. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile V. 10. But Glory Honour Peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile V. 11. For there is no respect of pâ—rsons with God V. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Eccles 12.14 For God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil 2 Tim. 4.1 I Charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and in his Kingdome V. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him V. 10. For we must all
appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in the body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad V. 11. Knowing the terrours of the Lord we perswade men 2 Pet. 3.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up V. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godlinesse V. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet Mat. 19.28 And Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 16.27 For the Son of man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Heb. 9.28 So Christ wâ—s once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Mat. 25.31 When the son of man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory V. 32. And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats V. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left V. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world V. 35. For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in V. 36. Naked and ye clothed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in Prison and ye came unto me V. 41. Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 6. What was the End and Intent of Christs Coming into the world The chief End and Intent of his Coming into the world was to save Lost and undone sinners to procure their pardon and reconciliation with God by his Merits to Sanctifie their Natures by his Holy Spirit and to bring them to â—verlasting Life And to this end he appointed his Ministers to preach the Gospel unto the world and instituted the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper to signifie and keep in remembrance the great and inestimable benefits of his Death and Sufferings Luke 19.10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners Mat. 1.21 And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his Grace Jer. 33.6 In his daies Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness 1 Cor. 15.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation V. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of our Faith even the salvation of our souls Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit Heb. 7.23 And they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death V. 24. But this man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood V. 27. Who needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeem'd us from the curse of the Law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Col. 1.14 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins V. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled V. 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Col. 2.14 Blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross V. 15. And having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Heb. 10.11 And every Priest standeth daily ministring and offering often times the same sacrifices which can never take away sins V. 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God V. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified V. 18. Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin V. 19. Having therefore Brethren boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus V. 20. By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh V. 21. And having an high Priest over the house of God V. 22. Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water To sanctifie their Natures 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thankes alwaies to God for you brethren beloved
that I am he ye shall die in your sins Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved John 14.6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me John 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Gal. 1.6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel V. 7. Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ V. 8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise V. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his Glory Eph. 2.4 But God who is rich in mercy for his great love where-with he loved us V. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeved and therefore have I spoken we also beleeve and therefore speak Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned 1 Cor. 1.23 But we preach Christ Crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishnesse V. 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdome of God 1 Cor. 3.11 For other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ Concerning Repentance Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand for to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgivenesse of sins Mat. 4.17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Mark 1.14 Now after that John was put in prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome of God V. 15. And saying the time is fullfilled and the Kingdome of God is at hand repent ye and believe the Gospel Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 20.20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publikely and from house to house V. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 26.19 Wherefore O King Agrippa I was not disobedient to the Heavenly vision V. 20. But shewed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 1 John 1.9 If we confesse our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse Josh 7.19 And Joshua said unto Achan my son give I pray thee Glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him and tell me now what thou hast done hide it not from me Acts 11.18 When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life Ezek 18.30 Therefore will I judge you O house of Israel every one according to his waies saith the Lord God repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine V. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 36.31 Then shall ye remember your owne evil ways and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations V. 32. Not for your sakes do I this saith the Lord God be it known unto you he ashamed and confounded for your owne waies O house of Israel Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning V. 13. And rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Rev. 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Luke 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Acts 17 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent V. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 1.16 Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil c. V. 18. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as wool Luke 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God Luke 17.3 Take heed to your selves if thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him V 4. And if he trespasse against thee seaven times in a day and seaven times in a day
shall any man pluck them out of my hand V. 29. My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Jer. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 1 Cor. 10.12 Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time V. 9. Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your Souls 2 Tim. 2.19 Neverthelesse the Foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth V. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us V. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakednesse or peril or sword Rom. 8.37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us V. 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come V. 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Luke 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren 2 Theâ— 3.3 But the Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evil Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption Concerning the members of Christ John 15.1 I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman V. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit 1 Cor. 12.12 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ. V. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 1.2 Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Called to be Saints with all that in every place Call upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and Lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and with Palmes in their hands Rom. 11.16 For if the first fruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Eph. 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 3.15 Of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named Eph. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ V. 13. Till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Mat. 16.18 And I say unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 23.8 But be not ye Called Rabbi for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren V. 9. And call no man your Father upon the earth for one is your Father which is in Heaven V. 10. Neither be ye called Masters for one is your Master even Christ. Concerning the new Covenant Heb. 8.8 For finding fault with them he saith behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah V. 9. Not according to the Covenant I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. V. 10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people V. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesse and their iniquities will I remember no more Mark 16.15 And he said unto them goe ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature V. 16. He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved but he that beleeveth not shall be damned Jer. 31.31 Behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah V. 34. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more John 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance V. 16. For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator V. 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength whilst the Testator liveth Heb. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Ezek. 36 26 A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and will give you an
the promise although he hath no assurance in himself how the Lord will dispose of him This is commonly called Faith of Adherence or Recumbency II. When a soul that hath thus cast himself on Christ reflects upon what he hath done and comparing it with the Gospel promises becomes by the assistance of the Spirit bearing witnesse with his Spirit confidently perswaded of his interest in Christ and that he shall be saved by him This is call'd Faith of Assurance Now the former is that Faith which is the Condition of the new Covenant by which a sinner is freely acquitted of all his sins and accounted as a righteous and just person in Gods sight To this Faith there are these six things required 1. A real firm belief of the truth of the Gospel a true historical Faith concerning Christs person undertaking and performance and that he came to be a Mediatour and Peace-maker between God and man 2. A deep sense and feeling of the heavy burden of sin with true sorrow and humiliation â—hereupon The soul is brought to see its undone condition by sin before it closes with Christ 3. A firm perswasion that there is no other way of salvation but by Christ alone 4. A clear knowledge that Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him and willing to save and ready to receive such as do own him for the true Messias and unfeignedly give up themselves unto him 5. An earnest desire a real thirsting after an Interest in this Saviour 6. An actual giving up the soul to Christ depending on him wholly and alone for pardon and life firmly trusting in him to be justified sanctified and everlastingly saved by him This is the soul truly and really united unto Christ And being by Faith and Love thus joyned to the Lord as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 6.17 is one Spirit i. e. is governed by one and the self-same Spirit The Scripture sets forth this admirable spiritual union by these four earthly resemblances By the union 1. Of the Husband and Wife Eph. 5.23 The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body 2. Of the Head and Members Eph. 1.22 23. Hath put all things under his feet and given him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body 3. Of the stones in the bullding with the foundation whereon they rest and are built Eph. 2.22 In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.11 4. Of the Vine and the Branches John 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the Branches So that when we do willingly betroth our selves to Christ and consent to take him for our Lord and Husband and to be his loyall spouse when we are willing to be in subjection to him and to be ruled by him as the members of the body are by the head when we depend and rest and rely on him alone for our salvation as the stones rest on the foundation Lastly when we derive Grace and Holinesse from him as the branches derive juice vertue and sap from the root and stock and do bring forth fruits in him and to him then is there a real and spiritual union wrought between Christ and our soules Thus much concerning the Nature of saving Faith The Conclusions I shall lay down concerning it are these 1. Though Christ hath paid down a sufficient price on the Crosse for the ransoming and buying in of lost and undone sinners yet we are not justified and absolved from the guilt of our sins till we do actually close with him by Faith 2. True saving Faith is not a strong perswasion that all a mans sins are pardoned by Christ's Merits and that he is in Gods Favour and in a good state and condition For 't is evident many of Gods dear servants are exercised with doubts and feares concerning themselves and many Gracelesse wretches that never felt the burden of sin nor ever made much Conscience of walking holily are most confident of their own good condition Therefore this confident ungrounded perswasion cannot be true Faith for then hardnesse of heart would make the best Faith and he that could presume most and be most secure and free from doubts would be the truest believer For a man to be confident of his good condition while he lies under the power and reign of sin is the grossest unbelief in the world 'T is to believe the flat contrary to what God hath revealed in the Word 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not saith the Apostle that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither fornicatours nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Therefore a confident resting on Christ for salvation if it be not a resting according to the Word will not serve the turn 3. Fiducially and savingly to believe on Christ is not an act of mans power but wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God who doth effectually enlighten perswade and draw the heart and assist and enable the soul to give up it self unto Christ Beg therefore the assistance of this blessed Spirit whom God hath promised to give to them that ask him Luke 11.9 And in the aid of his Grace give up thy self unfeignedly unto Christ to be justified sanctified and everlastingly saved by him 4. A true believer may fear and be in doubt that he hath not given up himself to Christ unfeignedly and this fear may proceed from the abundance of his love to Christ and earnest desire to be assur'd of an interest in him which makes him think he can never be certain enough of him Love is sollicitous and full of fears lest it should misse the person beloved 5. They that truly close with Christ do take him for their Lord as well as for their Saviour None come to Christ by Faith and savingly believe on him but they cleave to him by love also and live to him by obedience True Faith on Christ will beget love to Christ and love will bring forth obedience 6. The surest mark of true believing in Christ is a new and holy life 'T is the property of Faith to purifie the heart and so to work a change in the life and conversation Dost thou make Conscience therefore of all Christ's commands And art thou careful to refrain thy feet from every evil way Who ever is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Hath the love of Christ shed abroad in his heart and that love constraines him to yeeld sincere obedience Hath the Spirit of Christ Rom 8.9 not only to comfort him but to counsel and direct him to lead him in the paths of truth and holinesse and to uphold him from taking any desperate and irrecoverable falls either in matter of judgment
are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit which are Gods Rom. 2.6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds V. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and immortality eternal Life V. 8. But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the Truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath V. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Mat. 16.24 Then said Jesus unto his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Crosse and follow me 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the world and more abundantly to you-wards Isa 38.3 And said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And Hezekiah wept sore Acts 24.16 And herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a Conscience void of offence toward God and toward men Tit. 2.11 For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men V. 12. Teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world V. 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ V 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable unto men Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Mat. 22.36 Master which is the great Commandement of the Law V. 37. Jesus said unto him thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all soul and with all thy mind V. 38. This is the first and great Commandement V. 39. And the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self V. 40. On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets Mark 12.32 And the Scribe said unto him well Master thou hast said the truth for there is one God and there is none other but he V. 33. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his neighbour as himself is more than all whole burnt offering and sacrifice Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid yea we establish the Law CHAP. V. Of Communion with God 5. LAbour to maintain a daily close Communion with God in these particulars following 1. Awake with God in the morning 2. Forget not to poure forth thy soul in secret prayer and praise before him 3. Read the Scriptures 4. Live continually as in the sight and view of God 5. Live by Faith 6. Observe all the passages of his Providence towards thee 7. Be continually watchful First Awake with God in the morning When I awake I am still with thee sais holy David Psal 139.8 The morning is an embleme of the Resurrection when our bodies shall awake from the sleep of death and that long day shall arise upon us that shall never have any night O how shouldst thou then when sleep fals from thine eyes lift up thy soul in praises and thanksgivings to the Lord for his gracious Providence over thee in the night season Had not he been exceeding gracious thou mightst have slept the sleep of death and from the darknesse of the night been sent away into outer darknesse Let not the commonnesse of this mercy diminish but the continualness of it rather encrease thy thankfulnesse O when thy body awakens how shouldst thou awaken and stirre up thy soul also to some holy and pious Ejaculations such as the sweet Singer of Israel used to send up to God O Lord thou art my God early will I seek thee I laid me down and slept and thou hast sustained me I have been safe under the shadow of thy wings thy faithfulnesse and truth have been my shield and buckler And now Lord lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon me instruct me in the way wherein I should go and guid me with thine eye Teach me thy way O Lord and I will walk in thy Truth O knit my heart to thee that I may fear thy Name And hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Let me walk circumspectly this day redeeming the time Let my soul put on the Lord Jesus and be clothed with the white robe of his righteousnesse and adorn me with the saving Graces of thy holy Spirit c. After some such pious ejaculations sent up to the Throne of Grace labour to get thy heart possessed with deep strong and powerful apprehensions and impressions of Gods holinesse Majesty Omni-presence Omniscience Consider with reverence and humbly admire and adore his glorious wisdome his almighty power his gracious Providence his truth and faithfulnesse and especially his tender love and mercy in Christ Jesus And if such thoughts as these make strong and deep impressions in thy mind in the morning thou art the more like to be in the fear of God all the day after and to have thy mind possessed both with reverential and delightful thoughts of his Majesty Psal 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee Job 7.17 What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him V. 18. And that thou shouldst visit him every morning and try him every moment Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not V. 23. They are new every morning great is thy faithfulnesse V. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore I will hope in him V. 25. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon the Earth that I desire besides thee Eph. 5.14 Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee Light Rom. 13.11 And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation neerer than when we believed V. 12. The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darknesse and let us put on the
armour of Light Eph. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Rom. 13.13 Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and envying V. 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts therof Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty Land where no water is Psal 59.16 But I will sing of thy power yea I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble Psal 35.28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousnesse and of thy praise all the day long Psal 3.5 I laid me down and slept I awaked for the Lord sustained me Psal 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty V. 4. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Psal 4.6 There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us Psal 32.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guid thee with mine eye Psal 86.11 Teach me thy way O Lord I will walk in thy Truth unite my heart to fear thy Name Psal 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 90.17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us establish thou the work of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it Secondly Omit not daily to poure forth thy Soul in secret and fervent prayer before the Lord humbly confessing and bewailing thy sins with a deep sense and feeling of the evil danger and desert of them begging earnestly as for thy life a ful and free pardon and discharge of them all in the blood of Christ and humbly imploring the aid and assistance of the holy Spirit to enable thee to mortifie thy corruptions to resist temptations and to perform in a right manner all the duties required of thee Be much in this duty of secret prayer if ever thou intendest to save thy soul to honour God here or to be happy with him hereafter And remember that to pray unto God in an acceptable manner is not to say over a few prayers or to utter a few petitions Patrat-like in a formal cold customary manner where there is not a true sense and feeling of sin and misery and where the desires of the soul are not carried out earnestly to seek for mercy and relief from God through Christ there can be no true hearty praying such as God will accept though the outside and external part of the duty be performed never so speciously God more regards the sighes and tears and broken expressions of a truly contrite and humble heart that are powred forth in secret before him than the most set and exactly form'd devotions that proceed either from formality or hypocrisie If thou wouldest therefore pray aright beg the assistance of the holy Spirit of God to help and enable thee for we know not how to pray as we ought except the Spirit help our infirmities Beg therefore the assistance of the Spirit to work and quicken in thy heart those apprehensions affections and Graces which are requisite for the right performance of this duty And with that gracious assistance labour to pray 1. With humility and reverence having an high and awful apprehension of the Majesty of God 2. With a deep sense and feeling of thy wants and necessities and with brokennesse of heart and true contrition for thy sins 3. Offer up thy prayers and supplications to God in the Name of Christ the only Mediatour between God and man not barely mentioning his Name but drawing thy encouragement to pray and thy hope of acceptance in prayer from his Merits Mediation and Intercession 4. Pray in Faith humbly trusting in Gods Power Goodnesse Faithfulnesse and gracious promises made in Christ not so much a Christians prayer as his Faith in prayer prevaileth with God And 't is a great encouragement to Faith to consider there is not only bounty in God but bounty engaged by promise O how great are the priviledges of Saints God is their Father willing to hear their prayers Christ is their Advocate willing to present their requests the holy Ghost is their helper and assister to draw up their requests for them 5. Lift up pure hands without wrath as the Apostle adviseth 1 Tim. 2.8 Before thou settest thy self to this duty labour to get thy heart purged of all malice wrath ill will and desire of revenge if there be any such vile affection in thee towards any body When thou goest to pray thou goest to beg forgivenesse of thy manifold sins from God which thou canst not reasonably expect if thou art not willing to forgive others Our Saviour hath taught us to pray forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And this is very remarkeable he resumes this petition of all the rest to explain and by a strong reason to enforce Mat. 6.14 15. For if you forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Remember therefore that it is thy duty heartily to forgive those that have done thee any wrong and to pray for them that God would pardon them in his Son and give them such a frame of heart that they may please him and be blessed by him both here and hereafter This is a good signe of Grace to pray for a blessing on our very enemies 6. Pray in sincerity Looke that thy end be right and that thy aim be at the Glory of God There is a great deal of difference betwixt a carnal desire and a gracious supplication Jam. 4.3 Ye ask and have not because ye ask amisse to spend it on your lusts Praiers that want a good aim do usually want a good issue When thou findest thy heart running out by a perverse aim check it and disclaim it the more solemnly If our praiers be not directed to the Glory of God there is little hope that when we receive the talent we pray for we shall employ it to our Masters use They that cannot ask a mercy well seldome use it well 7. Labour to pray with zeal fervency warmth and holy importunity with sensiblenesse and strong workings of affection 'T is easie to say a prayer in a formal cold manner when the heart is nothing affected with it but possibly wandring while the lips are praying But that is true prayer when the soul reaches out after those things it praies for in holy ardent and spiritual
desires Sighs and groans are the Language God understands When God meaneth to bestow any blessing he usually stirs up the hearts of his people earnestly to pray for it And the effusion of the Spirit of supplication that holy yet humble importunity that spiritual violence and wrestling and striving and pleading with the Almighty is a happy presage of an approaching blessing 8. Beg spiritual blessings and the things appertaining to the soul primarily and with greatest earnestnesse Beg temporall mercies and such as concern this life and thy welfare here with an humble submission unto God resigning thy will to his most holy will earnestly begging that what he sees not good for thee nor fit to be granted thee he would make thee willing and contented to be without 9. To supplication forget not to adde praises and thanksgivings to the Lord for all his benefits for his innumerable favours confer'd on thee in the course of thy life past and also for thy present enjoyments Especially quicken and provoke and awaken thy soul to lift up the high praises of God for his inestimable love in sending his Son to be a ransome for sin and sending his Holy Spirit to convince of sin and of righteousnesse and to perswade and enable thy heart to close with Christ And lastly upon the receipt of any new mercy and favour from God offer up a cheerful and hearty sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in and through the mediation of Christ by whom alone our Persons and Sacrifices are accepted with God And to direct and quicken thee to this duty of rendring praises to the Lord Consider 1. That praise is Gods Tribute his Custom 't is all the Impost he sets upon his Blessings There are three things to be considered in a mercy 1. The mercy it self 2. The Comfort and sweetnesse that may be enjoyed in the use of it 3. The Glory Honour and Praise that is due for it The two former God freely gives us he only reserves the latter as a tribute and homage to himself 2. Praising God for former mercies invites him to bestow new mercies God will be bountifull to those that he sees thankfull and from whom he receives Glory and acknowledgment 3. Praising God is the beginning of Heaven 't is the employment of the holy Angels and glorified Saints there 4. To have a heart delighting in praising God is a great evidence in conjunction with others of sincerity self-love forceth prayer oftentimes from us but to praise God aright cometh from a more heavenly affectâ—on and a sanctified frame of heart 5. To set upon this duty of praising God is one of the best waies to mitigate any sorrowes that at any time are upon us If we can work our hearts to praise him for the mercies that are continued to us it will exceedingly abate the sense and feeling of any present Crosse or affliction that lies upon us 6. Consider who they are that are the most unthankfull to God even Devils and damned Spirits who are full of envy malice and pride they will not praise God but do wretchedly blaspheme him and wicked men who imitate their Father the devil And wouldest thou be like these Upon these Considerations stir up thy heart to be much in this heavenly duty of praising God and remember 1. To praise him with thy heart 2. To praise him with thy tongue 3. To praise him with thy life Let there be an abiding sense of his favours on thy heart and let thy life and conversation praise him also Let thy works praise him that others seeing thy good works may glorifie thy heavenly Father Labour to secure thy state in Grace and thy interest in Gods favour through Christ and then thou maist be assured that whatever God gives thee he gives it thee in pure love all comes swimming to thee in the blood of Christ and this Consideration will exceedingly raise thy heart to thankfulnesse and make thy tongue sound forth the praises of the most High These Directions may help thee in the performance of that great Christian duty of praier and thanksgiving After thou hast praied Consider 1. What thou hast praied for As before praier we should consider and labour to find out our wants So after prayer we should consider of our petitions and what we have begged of God 2. Humbly expect a gracious answer and return to thy praiers not for any worthinesse or desert in thy self or praiers but for Christ's sake alone 3. Serve Providence in the use of fair and lawful means for the attaining those good things thou hast prayed for 4. To Prayer add watchfulnesse If through Grace thy heart hath been wrought to a good temper and holy frame in prayer labour to keep it afterward labour to preserve those apprehensions and those affections in thy soul which thou foundest in time of prayer And therefore one well adviseth that for some little time after we have prayed we should keep our selves silent and quiet nor presently and in the next moment as some do but fair and softly removing our hearts from our prayers to our worldly businesses and occasions Zach. 12.10 And I will poure upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have peirced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely Son and shall be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first born Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered V. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Eph. 3.12 In whom we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the Faith of him Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them John 14.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son V. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus John 16.23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall Sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Isai 48.17 Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I
not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah V. 6. For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time that thou maist be found surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him Psal 17.1 Hear the Right O Lord attend unto my Cry give ear unto my Prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest Praiers unto thee shall all flesh come Mich. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his Heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in Mercy Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth V. 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them Psal 50.15 And call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Dan 9.14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doth for we obeyed not his voice Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven 1 John 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternall life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God V. 14. And this is the Confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us V. 15. And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions we desired of him Psal 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Eph. 6.18 Praying alwaies with all praier and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men V. 2. For Kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty Jam 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed the effectual fervent praier of a righteous man availeth much Maâ— 5.44 But I say unto you love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you 2 Sam. 7.29 Therefore now let it please thee to blesse the House of thy Servant that it may continue for ever before thee for thou O Lord hast spoken it and with thy blessing let the House of thy servant be blessed for ever 1 John 5.16 If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto unto death there is a sin unto death I do not say he shall pray for it Gen. 18.27 And Abraham answered and said behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes Luke 18.13 And the Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eies unto Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner V. 14. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted Psal 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Job 22.27 Thou shalt make thy praier unto him and he shall hear thee aad thou shalt pay thy vowes 1 Sam. 1.15 And Hannah answered and said no my Lord I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Cor. 14.15 What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Mark 11.24 Therefore I say unto you what things soever ye desire when ye pray beleeve that ye receive them and ye shall have them Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Mat. 26.39 And he went a little farther and fell on his face and praied saying O my Father if it be possible let this Cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Acts 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but praier was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Mat. 6.9 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Luke 11.2 And he said unto them when ye pray say Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done as in Heaven so in earth Thanksgiving Col. 3.17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name Psal 67.2 That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all Nations V. 3. Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Psal 86.12 I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy Name for evermore V. 13. For great is thy mercy towards me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Hell Psal 103.1 Blesse the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name V. 2. Blesse the Lord O my Soul and forget not all
as a Letter written by the hand of God from Heaven unto us If an Angel should bring us a letter from Heaven we should highly value it and regard it The Bible is a message sent from Heaven to acquaint us with the mind of God If we own the divine authority thereof let us read it with reverence and due regard 2. Beg the Spirit of God that endited the Scripture that inspired and infallibly guided and assisted the pen-men thereof to open thy eies to illuminate thy mind and to encline thy heart to a full belief and perswasion that it is the very Word of God and to bring over thy will to a sincere obedience and compliance with the will of God therein revealed 3. Remember that all things necessary to mans salvation are either expresly set down in the Scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced there-from Unto which nothing is at any time to be added either by new revelations or traditions of men it being a perfect Canon a perfect rule of Faith and life St. John who outlived the rest of the Apostles sealed up the Canon Rev. 22.18 19. which was a great mercy to the world For God saw what a liberty man enclin'd to in divine things and therefore needed to be tyed up to a rule which here is given us There is enough delivered in the Scripture to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 What should a Christian desire more and the Apostle tels us we ought to give heed thereto till the day-star arise in our hearts that is till we have full communion with Christ Mr. Manton on Jude For our reward in Heaven is expressed by the morning-star Rev. 2.28 To him that over-cometh I will give the morning-star 4. Take notice that those things that are necessary to be known believed and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other that not only the learned but the unlearned also in a due use of the ordinary means God hath appointed may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them If there arise any question about the true and full sense and meaning of any Scripture it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly The certain rule of interpreting the Scripture is the Scripture it self The Scripture saies Camero is so penn'd that they that have a mind to know may know They that have a mind to wrangle may take occasion enough of offence and justly perish by the rebellion of their own reason for God never intended saith he to satisfie men of a stubborn and perverse wit And Tertullian long before him hath told us that God hath so disposed the Scripture that they that will not be satisfied might be hardened 5. And lastly Remember that the supream Judge by which all conâ—roveâ—sies of Religion are to be â—ried all decrees of Councils opinions of ancient writers doctrines of men and private spirits are to be examined in whose sentence we are to rest can be no other than the Holy Spirit of God speaking in and by the Scriptures for what the Scripture saies God speaks by it Isa 8 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me V. 4â— For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so V. 12. Therefore many of them believed also of the honourable women which were Greeks and of men not a few Luke 16.29 Abraham saith unto him they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them V. 31. And he said unto him if they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts V. 20. Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation V. 21. For the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus V. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse V. 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Luke 10.26 What is written in the Law how readest thou Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Deut. 17.18 And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a Copy of this Law in a book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites V. 19. And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the daies of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these statutes to do them Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Psal 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word V. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths V. 130. The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his Judgments unto Israel V. 20. He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Mat. 4.4 But he answered and said it is written man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God V. 7. Jesus said unto him it is written again thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God V. 10. Then he saith unto him get thee hence Satan for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Eph. 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone Luke 24.27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself V. 44. And he said unto them these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things
Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Gen. 5.24 And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Heb. 11.5 By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and upright in his generation and Noah walked with God Prov. 5.20 And why wilt thou my Son be ravished with a strange woman and embrace the bosome of a stranger V 21. For the waies of a man are before the eies of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings Gen. 39.9 There is none greater in this house than I neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee because thou art his wife how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 42 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day this do and live for I fear God Job 34.21 For his eies are upon the waies of man and he sees all his goings V. 22. There is no darknesse nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 27.6 My righteousnesse I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Isa 38.3 And Hezekiah said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore 1 John 3.20 For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things V. 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the Grace of God we have had our conversation in the world but more abundantly to you-wards Psal 32.2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile Psal 78.34 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God V. 35. And they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer V. 36. Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth and they lied to him with their tongues V. 37. For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety yeares old and nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Eph. 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen Fifthly Labour daily to live by Faith Having given up and committed thy penitent Soule into the hands of Christ to have thy pardon and peace procur'd by his merits and intercession learn also daily to trust and depend on the goodnesse of God and his gracious promises for a supply of all such blessings both spiritual and temporal as thou standest in need of I shall shew thee what it is to live the life of Faith in these ten particulars 1. Seek unto the Lord and daily trust and depend on him for the assistance of his holy Spirit for Grace and strength effectually to enable thee to subdue thy corruptions and to mortifie all sinful vile affections in thee Luke 11.9 And I say unto you ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 10. For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened V. 11. If a Son shall ask bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a Serpent V. 12. Or if he ask an egge will he offer him a Scorpion V. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Jam. 4.5 Do ye think the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy V. 6. But he giveth more Grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble 2 Cor. 12 9. And he said unto me my Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me Rom. 6.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 2. Trust in him to enable thee to resist and overcome the temptations wherewith thou shalt be assaulted from the Devil or the world Mat. 6.13 Lead us not into temptation 2 Chron. 32.31 Howbeit in the businesse of the Ambassadours of the Princes of Babylon who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the Land God left him to try him that he might know all that was in his heart 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour V. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith Jam. 4.7 Resist the Devil and he will flee from you 1 John 2.15 Love not the world nor the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him V. 16. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life is not of the Father 1 John 5.4 Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith John 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil V. 20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word 3. Humbly depend on him to assist and enable thee to perform all the duties both of thy general and particular calling with sincerity diligence and delight 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me Psal 87.7 All my Springs are in thee 4. Trust in him to enable thee to bear all the afflictions he shall please to lay upon thee with patience affiance in his mercy and submission to his will Col. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but with the temptation will also make a way
And that thou maist the better practise this excellent lesson of living by Faith take these further Directions Direction 1. Labour to strengthen thy assent to the truth of the word of God Unbelief it is a mother sin There was a faultring of assent in our first parents to the truth of Gods commination concerning eating of the forbidden tree else they had not fallen so sadly and still 't is the ground of all miscarriages of hardness of heart and apostacy Heb. 3.12 13 Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin He that beleeveth not the judgments and threatnings of the Word will not stick to do any evil and he that doth not believe the promises will not be forward to any good All neglect and coldnesse in holy duties cometh from the weaknesse of our Faith there is a decay at the root Did we firmly believe the Glory of Heaven and the happinesse of the life to come we would be earnest and zealous for the obtaining of it Direction 2. Labour to be well acquainted with the promises of God and learn to stay thy soul upon them If an able potent friend promise help in troubles how are we cheared with it Ought not the promises of God then to be a strong consolation to us The proper life of a Christian is to take his comforts and supports from the promises of God and not only from his outward providences God many times alters the dispensations of his Providence but does not alter his promises The promises are the Saints inheritance Isa 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord Whilst Christ is at Gods right hand and the Bible in the hand of gracious persons they need not be dejected in any condition Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me So David chides his soul and rebukes his feares Psal 42.5 and Psal 77.10 This is my infirmitie He bewailes his unbelief and chides his heart for dejection and distrust of Gods Providence Direction 3. Live upon God and account him all in all even in thy highest and fullest enjoyment of the creature Let not the creature be the object of thy trust at any time Trust and dependance is the greatest homage and respect we can yeeld to the Creatour Therefore Job Chap. 31.24 saies If I have made Gold my hope or have said to the fine Gold thou art my confidence V. 25. If I have rejoyced because my wealth was great and because my hand had gotten much c. V. 28. I should have denied the God that is above Men are very apt to make riches the staffe of their lives and the stay of their posterity and so their hearts leaning on them are taken off from God The great danger of riches is the trusting in them Mark 10.23 Jesus saith unto his Disciples how hardly shall those that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God V. 24. And the Disciples were astonished at his word But Jesus answereth again and saith unto them children how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdome of God How many rich men are there that look upon themselves as it were intrenched within their estates and so promise themselves security against all dangers Thus God is not regarded but their wealth and worldly greatnesse is made their rock and fortress therefore covetousness is called Idolatry Col 3.5 And the covetous man an Idolater not so much for his love to riches as his trust in riches Take heed therefore of making an Idol of the creature do not build thy happinesse or felicity on any thing thou dost here enjoy When God affords thee creature comforts trust not in them Live upon God in the use and live upon God in the absence of the creature Direction 4. Use lawful and fair means for accomplishing and bringing about thy lawful designes but let thy main trust be on God Do thy duty and commit thy self and thy affairs to him in quietnesse of heart For a man to say he trusts in God and yet neglects to do his duty this is but to mock God a moderate care in the management of our affâ—irs is very commendable which puts a man upon praier and an humble diligence in the use of lawful means that once done a Christian should labour after a holy moderation and composednesse of Spirit and should take heed his heart be not fixed too much on any thing here below to his disturbance He should put all his waies and affairs into Gods hands He should wait patiently how God will cast his affairs and then submit and acquiesse in the issues of Providence O how sweet a life leads that Christian who lives in continual dependance on God! This kind of life discharges the creature of all that is burdensom of all carking cares and tormenting fears It leaves nothing upon him but a conscionable use of the means no life makes us so humble so lowly so nothing in our own eies as this life of Faith which fetcheth all from God Faith useth means but trusteth in God alone In all thy affairs therefore still seek to the Lord and apply thy self unto him and trust in him We are dark creatures and easily overshoot our selves we have not wisdome enough to manage our own affairs God can counsell us when we know not how to give counsell to our selves And God takes it well to be advised with by us Hereby we acknowledge our subjection to him when we will nor stir a foot without advising with him when we desire not to be ordered by our own wisdome but trust in the Lord with all our hearts and do not lean to our own understanding as Solomon advises Prov. 3.5 Take heed therefore of inordinate carefulnesse and distrusting God Consider the evil of rhis sin in these four particulars 1. No sin more dishonours God and robs him of his Glory than this sin doth It cannot indeed rob God of his essentiall but it does of his declarative Glory We glorifie God declaratively when we trust in him and thereby declare to the world that we own and acknowledge those his excellencies of wisdome power mercy faithfulnesse which his Word ascribes unto him And therefore 't is said of Abraham Rom. 4.20 That he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God V. 21. As being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform ver 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness Unbelief doth blemish all those four attributes of God before mentioned his Wisdom his Power his Goodnesse his Faithfulnesse 't is an
nor from the rebukes and scourgings of an awakened Conscience which are no small punishments 3. Let it be thy care to suppresse and crush bad thoughts at the very first rising Do not at all consent or comply with them but abhor and abandon them presently and cry out unto the Lord for help against them Take heed of representing or acting sin in thy thoughts If thou wouldst keep thy soul pure beware of speculative sinfulness 4. Be carefull to have a stock of good materials alwaies in readinesse for thy thoughts to work upon Have some good subjects ready to present and offer to thy mind to entertain thy thoughts with A good man hath a good treasure in his heart out of which he bringeth forth good things Mat. 12.35 Let thy mind therefore have alwaies some good heads to meditate on As the evil and danger of sin the necessity of conversion thy absolute need of Christ the vanity of the creature the shortnesse and uncertainty of this life the everlastingness of thy future state c. 5. Avoid Idlenesse and allow not thy self in melancholy If thou dost not employ thy mind about that which is good it will busie it self about evil The mind of man if it be not well emploied will be ranging and roving all over the world and will be intent on things it should not The spirit of man is active and restlesse 'T is like a mill it will be either grinding of that which is put into it or else working upon it self wearing and wearying it self in foolish fruitless and unconcerning thoughts Idlenesse is a grand occasion of impure and impertinent thoughts 'T is the devils hour in which he takes advantage to fill and defile mans mind with wicked suggestions and melancholy disposeth the mind to strange absurd incoherent unreasonable imaginations to many sad perplexing afflicting thoughts Man disquieteth himself in vain saith the Psalmist Psal 39.6 framing many imaginary evils and grievances to himself which God hath not really laid upon him Let it be thy care therefore to keep thy mind well employed either in the duties of Piety or the works of thy particular calling When thou dost relax thy mind at any time from being intent on serious things for thy necessary refreshment be careful to allow thy self onely in innocent cheerfulnesse When the loines of thy mind are ungirt and thy thoughts let loose to run at random and have not Conscience set over them as a Governour thou art in great danger of sinning against God 6. Do not cumber thy self with too much worldly businesse that will overcharge thy mind with solicitude and force too many earthly thoughts upon it it will fill thee with distracting disturbing thoughts and torturing cares When Martha was careful and troubled about many things she neglected the one thing necessary Luke 10.41 42. 7. Leâ—rn to spiritualize earthly objâ—cts and to raise holy meditations from them This will be an excellent and advantageous employment for thy mind This was our blessed Saviours practise and canst thou follow a better example 8. Learn to divert and put by bad thoughts by introducing and bringing in some good thoughts that are contrary to them into their roomes Thus overcome evil thoughts by good thoughts If self magnifying thoughts come in bring in self abasing If distrustful put thy soul upon thinking of Gods Faithfulness If revengefull think how much thou needest forgivenesse from God Thus let one wedge drive out another 9. Beg of God to new mould thy mind and to put it into such an holy and heavenly frame that it may be fit to produce good thoughts as a good tree doth bring forth good fruit Beg that Grace may be the Law of thy mind Rom. 7.23 Pray earnestly act Faith and put thy trust in the power and promise of God for the casting down of all sinful imaginations in thy soul and subduing thy thoughts to the obedience of Christ 10. If thou wouldst keep bad thoughts out of thy mind be ready to entertain the gracious motions of the blessed Spirit of God Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me O do not grieve this holy Spirit do not repell so blessed a guest who knocks at thy heart in many a sermon and by many a providence and sues for entrance that he may make thee happy What! shall the devil with his wicked suggestions be let in and shall the King of glory with his train of Graces be shut out O let it not be 11. Remember that if thou willingly entertainest and lodgest in thy mind wicked thoughts now and diest in an impenitent and unconverted state thy thoughts will be thy executioners and tormenters in Hell As light as thou makest of evil thoughts now they will then prey upon thy soul as so many vultures and be a never-dying worm in thy Conscience And the more to quicken thee to practise these directions Consider This will be a great argument of thy sincerity and of the truth of Grace in thee if thou art conscientiously watchfull over thy thoughts Many restraints lie upon the outward man to over-awe it and keep it from evil but the power of Grace does then much appear when it commands the inward man and laies restraints upon our thinking faculty that we dare not allow our selves in any sinful thoughts Psal 119.97 Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day V. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Mat. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies V. 20. These are the things that defile a man Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Psal 63.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips V. 6. When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Psal 94.11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou maist be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Psal 49.11 Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever their dwelling places to all generations they call their lands after their own names Psal 119.59 I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Prov. 16.3 Commit thy workes unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Secondly Watch over thy
affection any rebellious lust that rises up in thee Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Tit. 2.12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and Godly in this present world Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul Eph. 2.3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others Prov. 25.28 He that hath no rule over his owne spirit is like a City that is broken down and without wals Prov. 16.32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a City Eph. 4.26 Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil V. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption V. 31. Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice V. 32. And be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 1 Cor. 14.20 Brethren be not children in understanding howbeit in malice be ye children but in understanding be men Eccles 7 9. Be not hasly in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosom of fools 1 John 3.15 Whosoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him 2 Cor. 12.20 For I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not lest there be debates envyings wraths strifes backbitings whisperings swellings tumults Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Jam. 1.20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Luke 9.55 But he turned and rebuked them and said ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another 1 Pet. 3.4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Thirdly Watch over thy words Gods servants in all ages have seen a great deal of reason to resolve within themselves to take heed of offending with their tongues and to pray earnestly to the Lord that he would please to set a watch before their mouths and to keep the door of their lips 'T is a great part of Religion rightly to govern and bridle the tongue If any man seemeth to be religious and bridleth not his tongue this mans religion is vain Jam. 1.26 And the transgression of the tongue is the rather to be watched against because of the natural pronenesse that is in us to offend in that kind We are exceedingly apt to fall into this sin partly because of that quick intercourse that is between the tongue and the heart so that we sin in an instant partly because speech is an Act we perform without labour and so we the more easily offend this way And lastly because the sins of the tongue are very pleasing and compliant with corrupt nature Therefore St James saith Jam. 3. v. 2. If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man i. e. Not only a beginner but one that is come to some ripenesse and growth in Christianity his care and watchfulnesse over his words argues him to be a sound sincere and upright Christian Oh how much reason have we to be seriously humbled for the errours and miscarriages of our tongues Divide the sins of man into two parts saies Nazianzen and one half of them are the sins of the tongue One reckons up twenty four sins of the tongue and yet possibly he hath not reckoned all 1. Taking Gods Name in vain in ordinary communication 2. Unlawful swearing 3. Lying 4. Cursing 5. Perjuâ—y 6. Blasphemy 7. Rash and unlawful vowes 8. Heartlesse and hypocritical praying 9. False accusing 10. Open railing reviling and reproaching 11. Secret defaming backbiting and whispering 12. Scoffing jeering scorning giving biting quips and girds 13. Ribaldry filthy speaking scurrulous jesting rotten communication 14. Menacing and threatning revenge 15. Deceiving and cheating 16. Proud boasting and self magnifying 17. Rash judging and censuring 18. Vain and idle tatling 19. Flattering and soothing in evil 20. Enticing and alluring to sin and wickedness 21. Seducing into errour 22. Murmuring and repining 23. Disclosing secrets contrary to promise To all which may be added 24. Sinful silence Of which more afterward Oh how vile are we if one member be guilty of so much sin Not without reason therefore hath St. James in his third Chap. v. 6. described an evil Tongue to be a fire a world of iniquity and set on fire of Hell i. e. from the Devil the Father of lies malice and virulency They that nourish an evil tongue nourish that which comes from Hell and which will carry them thither without serious and timely repentance The tongue can no man tame as he goes on v. 8. that is of himself without the concurrence of Divine Grace Pray therefore for this Grace that thou maist take heed to thy words that thou offend not with thy tongue And for the better regulating and governing of it observe these Directions 1. Begin at thy heart if thou wouldst rightly govern thy tongue Pray as David did Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Mat. 12.34 The disorders of the tongue usually proceed from the distempers of the heart Idlenesse of words from vanity of thoughts Rashnesse of speech from hastinesse of Spirit Boasting and proud brags from pride of heart Reviling and open reproaching from inward malice The foul stomack betraies it selfe in a stinking breath The naughtinesse of the heart vents it self by the tongue A heart stor'd with wisdom and grace will discover it self in savoury discourse 2. Let thy end and aim in speaking be to glorifie God and to do good to others That word is an idle word and utterly lost which tends to no good purpose Either speak somthing better than silence or
erroneous yet we are to be sensible how God is dishonoured and thousands of soules endangered by their pernicious errours And therefore it deeply concerns us to have a care of our selves to preserve our owne soules from this infection and not of our selves only but to have a regard to our posterity also that we transmit truth down to them We would be willing to leave our estates to our children And shall we not be more careful to leave them truth Believe it we are to perform the part of faithful Trustees and to keep the Doctrine of salvation pure and unmix'd as much as in us lies and so to leave it to those that are to come after us 8. and Lastly Consider how the Scripture has forewarned us there must be Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 Now there is a twofold necessity Absolute Conditional 1. Absolute when a thing cannot possibly be otherwise as God must needs be just 2. Conditional when a thing must be supposing such another thing to be before As suppose the Sun be risen it must be day so here upon supposition of these two things 1. Satans malice 2. Mans Corruption there must be Heresies Far be it from us ever to think that God imposes a necessity on any to be Hereticks but he permits them suffers them to spring up in the Church and that for these three reasons 1. That his glorious truths may be the more cleared up and evidenced and strongly confirmed and maintained Many parts of true Doctrine have been but slenderly guarded till assâ—ulted by Hereticks then old evidences have been searched and found out Many truths have been occasionally most cleared and setled by the opposition of the Adversary 2. That they that are approved may hereby be made manifest This is an effect the Devil never intended by raising Heresies But 't is the Chimistry of Heaven to bring good out of evil That is pure gold that endures the trial of the fire A quick smart wind severs the solid grain from the chaff They are but chaff who are blown away with every wind of Doctrine The good wheat remaines still in the floor of the Church When you see an Army march you know not who is valiant and who not when the enemy approaches then is the trial 3. That the obstinate may be rendred inexcusable who wilfully shut their eies against these more open manifestations and greater clearings up of the Truth which occasionally by the opposition of the adversary God is pleased to afford his Church Jude v. 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints V. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction V. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of V. 3. And through Covetousnesse shall they with feigned words make marchandise of you whose judgment now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slumbreth not 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils V. 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron 2 Tim 2.17 And their word will eat as doth a Canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus V. 18. Who concerning the truth have erred saying the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching eares V. 4. And they shall turn away their eares from the truth and shall be turned unto fables Acts 20.29 For I know this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock V. 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them 2 Tim. 3.6 Of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts V. 7. Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth V. 8. Now as Jannes Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith V. 13. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves V. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits Mat. 24.11 Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many V. 24. There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Anti-Christ shall come even now are there many Anti Christs whereby we know it is the last time V. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them V. 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Gal. 4.17 They zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude us that you might affect them Tit. 1.10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the circumcision V. 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject V. 11. Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ V. 4. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached or if ye
receive another spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him V. 13. For such are false Prophets deceitfull Workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. V. 14. And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light V. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of righteousnesse whose end shall be according to their works Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galatians who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eies Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you Gal 5.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest c. V. 20. Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 For there must be also Heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you Heb. 13.9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing the heart be established with Grace c. Eph. 4.14 That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cuning craftiness whereby they ly in wait to deceive Gal. 1.6 I marvel ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel V. 7. Which is not another but there be some that trouble you would pervert the Gospel of Christ V. 8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you let him be accursed 1 Cor. 3.11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering 1 Tim. 1.19 Holding Faith and a good Conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack 1 Thes 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so 2 Pet. 3.15 As our beloved Brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you V. 16. As also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Mâ—t. 4.5 Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy City and setteth him on a pinacle of the Temple V. 6. And saith unto him if thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone Jude v. 17. But beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 18. How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts V. 19. These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit 2 Thes 2.10 Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved V. 11. For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie V. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse Rev. 2.14 I have a few things against thee because thou hast them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication V. 15. So hast thou also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate V. 20. I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel which calleth her self a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your omn stedfastnesse V. 18. But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Jude v. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy V. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen I have now dispatched the second Particular The things thou art to watch against I come now to the third the thing thou must watch for Thirdly Watch for and take all fit opportunities to glorifie God and to do good This is to be like our blessed Lord and Saviour who went about doing good and made every place where he came the better for him How much good may a seasonable word dropt for God do A sin wisely reproved and discountenanced a good hint well improved some good counsel seasonably given of how much advantage to the soules of others may these things prove This is to be on Gods side and true to his party We say A wise man makes more opportunities than he finds but a fool neglecteth those he has It should be our real design in all companies either to do good or to receive good And this will turn to a comfortable account in the day of recompences I come now to the Motives to quicken thee to this great and necessary duty of continuall watchfulnesse First Consider how naturally we are all prone to be secure and carelesse and want of watchfulnesse betraies us to most of the sins we fall into Secondly Consider the vigilancy of the tempter Shall he be so watchful to destroy us and shall not we be watchful to keep our selves from his malice 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Eph. 6.11 Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil Thirdly Consider the necessity of perseverance whereunto a concurrence of our care and diligence is required Whoso endureth to the end saith our Saviour Matth. 10.22 he and he only shall be saved Let us all run with patience saies the Apostle the race that is set before us Heb. 12.1 Now in worldly races none gaineth the prize but he that getteth first to the goal but in the spiritual race not only he that cometh first but whoso holdeth out to the last he is sure to win and obtain the prize Be faithful to the death and I
those under his charge do the like Every Governour of a Family should resolve with pious Joshuah Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Observe it True Religion and the power of Godliness hath there usually most flourished where the Lords day hath been most conscientiously observed And many direful judgments have befallen the violators and prophaners of it Gen. 2.2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all the work which he had made V. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made Lev. 23.3 Six daies shall thy work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings Nehem. 13.19 And it came to passe that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day Isa 58.13 If thou turn away thy feet from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own waies nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Luke 23.54 And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on V. 56. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement Exod. 23.12 Six daies shalt thou do thy work and on the seventh day thou shalt rest that thine Oxe and thine Asse may rest and the son of thine hand-maid and the stranger shall be refreshed Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean and have hid their eies from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned among them Ezek. 23.38 Moreover this they have done unme they have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have prophaned my Sabbaths Amos 8.4 Saying when will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat c. Lam. 1.7 Jerusalem remembred in the daies of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the daies of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her the adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Ezek. 20.20 Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall be a sign between me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Isa 56.2 Blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing evil V. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths and chuse the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant V. 6. Also the sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord to be his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my Covenant V. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt Offerings and their Sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people Mark 2.27 And he said unto them the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath V. 28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Psal 92. Title A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Luke 4.16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech untill midnight 1 Cor. 16.1 Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay up in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it 2. Hearing the Word We live in an age wherein through the rich mercy of God there is much good preaching but 't is a general complaint there is so little profiting We see not those gracious effects of the Word that were to be desired and wished And certainly one main reason of it is few take care to hear in a right manner as they ought to do That therefore thou maist so hear as to profit I shall shew thee 1. What thou art to do before thou hearest by way of preparation 2. What thou art to do in time of Hearing 3. What after thou hast Heard For the First Thou must prepare thy heart before thou comest to hear Rash entring on duties is seldom successeful If the ground be not prepared the seed is lost that is sown therein Plow up the fallow ground of your hearts saies the Prophet Jer. 4.3 and sow not among thorns In a fallow piece of ground you know thorns and briers weeds and thistles use to grow And such a thing is mans heart naturally which if let alone and no paines taken with it will quickly be overgrown with hurtful cares stinking lusts and distempered affections And therefore St. James adviseth Jam. 1.21 That before we go to hear the Word we should lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse i. e. all evil frames of heart And how hard a matter that is I appeal to the experience of every true and sincere Christian That holy man Gerson professes he many times spent some hours before he could get his heart in tune for solemn duties Gods children have entred comfortably on duties â—hen they have been serious and careful in their preparations for them To help thee therefore to prepare thy heart for the Word take these Directions 1. Lay aside as much as possibly thou canst all worldly thoughts cares and businesses that thy mind may be free for God and the impressions of his Word and holy Spirit On Saturday night shut up the gates of thy heart against the world as Nehemiah Chap. 13. v. 19.20 did the
that is set on every table God hath not done so for every Nation as for this No Island so far from Jerusalem had the light of the Gospel so soon as this And I know not any particular promise whereby the Gospel is entailed on this or any other Nation If we slight the Gospel for ought I know we may quickly forfeit it and provoke God to take it from us When the Israelites despised Manna God quickly sent serpents among them If we despise the Manna of his Word and count it light food God may justly send Serpents among us I mean such deceivers as with their pernicious Doctrines may poison many souls to their everlasting destruction 7. Lastly Consider though the Gospel may continue to the Nation yet thou or I may quickly be deprived of our personal opportunities of enjoying of it I have heard of one lying on his deathbed that cryed out Call time back Call time back Thou maist shortly cry out call Sermons back call Sabbaths back and all in vain if thou neglectest the present opportunity and season of Grace Consider the Spirit of God will not alwaies strive with the children of men Consider this may be the last Sermon that ever thou maist hear Some one Sermon will be the last And think thus with thy self such a gale of the Spirit as now I feel may never be afforded me again Shall I be so foolish then as not to yeeld to these blessed motions To day while it is called to day hear his voice and harden not thy heart Luke 8.18 Take heed therefore how ye hear Eccles 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they do evil Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher V. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your souls V. 22. But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves V. 23. For if any man be a hearer of the Word and not a doer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glasse V. 24. For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was V. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed 1 Pet. 2.1 Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisie and envies and evil speakings V. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby John 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods Words ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God 1 Cor. 2.14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Prov. 2.3 Yea if thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding V. 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Mat. 13.3 The parable of the sower and the four sorts of ground Luke 8.5 The parable of the sower and the four sorts of ground Mat. 13.14 And in them is fulfilled the Prophesie of Esaias which saith by hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive V. 15. For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their ears are dull of hearing and their eies they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eies and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them V. 16. But blessed are your eies for they see and your ears for they hear 1. Thes 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye recieved it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 1 Sam. 8.7 And the Lord said unto Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them 1 Thes 4.8 He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit Luke 24.32 And they said one to another did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoil Jer. 6.10 To whom shall I speak and give warnning that they may hear behold their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken behold the Word of the Lord is to them a reproach they have no delight in it Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip Prov. 4.4 He taught me also and said unto me Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live V. 21. Let them not depart from thine eies keep them in the midst of thine heart Deut. 11.18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my Words in your heart and in your soul c. Isa 48.17 Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go 3. Of Singing of Psalmes Neglect not that excellent and Heavenly Ordinance of singing Psalms and lifting up the praises of the most high singing with understanding and making melodie to God in thy heart Many people in this age not understanding the reasons and grounds of the duties of Religion they perform when they are questioned are apt to lay them aside I shall therefore here do these four things 1. Shew that Singing of Psalms is a Gospel-duty 2. That it is lawful and warrantable to
be a wise choice made Many of the Psalmes David penn'd and sung when his mind was full of anguish and grief and so he eased his heart by lamenting his sad condition before the Lord. Observe the Title of Psalm 102 A prayer of the aflicted when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. Therefore our singing on fasting daies is not to make us merry but to affect and melt our hearts with a deep sense of our sins Penitential Psalms provoke to sadnesse as Eucharistical to joy and rejoycing Obj. 4. Davids Psalms do not suit our conditions Is it not absurd to give people Davids Conditions to sing and for them to tell God it is so with them as it was with David when possibly 't is nothing so Ans 1. All Scripture is profitable for doctrine reproof correction instruction c. 2 Tim. 3.16 And written for our learning and comfort Rom. 15.4 And therefore the Psalms also 2. The Psams seem principally written for a threefold use 1. For Instruction and admonition 2. For Consolation 3. For Praise and Thanksgiving Now what passage is there in Davids Psalms but thou maist accomodate to thy self one of these waies Suppose David said I am not puft in mind Psal 131. And thou findest thy heart prone to pride here is a word of admonition to thee So that whilst thou art reciting and declaring Davids humble frame and condition thou oughtest to lift up thy heart to God that he would work the like frame in thee Lord thy Servant David could truly say I am not puft in mind Good Lord grant me this Grace also Suppose thou canst not find in thy self such a love to Gods Law as was in David Psal 119. Then there is a word of Instruction to thee teaching thee what thou shouldst do Thou oughtest to pray to have such a Divine Affection to the Law of God kindled in thee So that we sing Psalms as we read them for the benefit and good use we may make of them 'T is therefore no more a lie to sing them than to read them By singing as by reading them we recite and repeat what God has revealed in his Word for our admonition and instruction And though we cannot make some passages our own by using them for our selves and in our own name as David did yet we may make them our own by a sweet meditation on them for our benefit and edification I come to the Fourth thing to give some Rules and Directions how Christians should practise this duty aright I. Sing with understanding and attention of mind to the matter sung Labour to understand the mind and meaning of the holy Ghost in the Psalm you sing Psal 47.7 Sing ye praises with understanding II. Labour to sing with Grace in â—he heart i. e. with a gracious frame of spirit Our singing must not be a lip labour an outward bodily exercise only pleasing our selves or others with the tune of a Psalm But we should look to it that our hearts be well tuned as Maries was Luke 1.46 My soul doth magnifie the Lord c. III. Labour to exercise and act those peculiar Graces which the matter sung requires and gives occasion to God looks at the heart and how a man is affected within 1. Some Psalms are laudatory and set forth the high praises of God from the consideration of his glorious Nature Attributes and Works In singing these we should stir up our hearts to love God to fear him to trust in him and our hearts should prompt our tongues to sound forth his praises 2. Some are petitionary containing supplications for spirituall blessings such as pardon Grace the favour of God or temporall such as direction protection provision c. Here we should look up to God as the only author of these mercies and humbly pray to him for them 3. Some are Eucharistical containing thanksgivings to God for mercies received private or publick spiritual or temporal 4. Some contain precepts and instructions to fear God to love him to walk in his waies being backed with promises to encourage us thereunto Some declare the evil waies of sinners and the judgments of God that attend them to deter us there-from 5. Some contain imprecations and prayers for judgments on enemies Here we are not to pray for or wish the same judgments on our private enemies But 1. We may meditate on the fearful judgments of God that hang over the heads of all wicked and impenitent transgressours that so we may fear to be like them 2. We may pray for the like judgments on all the implacable and incurable enemies of Christ and his Kingdome 6. Some contain the sad complaints of the Church under afflictions Here thou maist meditate on the sufferings of the Saints and lift up thy heart to God to give thee also suffering Graces IV. Let there be a wise choice made of Psalms to be sung according as our present necessities and occasions do require V. Let thy end in singing be that God may be honoured thy self and others edified that the Graces of Gods Spirit may be excited and exercised in thy self and others 4. Religious Conference 'T is the duty of all true and sincere Christians to labour to further one another Heaven-ward And surely religious conference rightly mannaged is a great means of increasing knowledge and Grace among Christians Communion of Saints is an Article of our Faith The Apostle tels us Rom. 12.5 We being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Such a body true believers are by their union with Christ and ought to be by communion and fellowship one with another for their mutual edification There ought to be a mutual serviceablenesse among Christians and helping one another on in gracious courses I shall therefore 1. Give some Arguments to perswade to it 2. Some Directions about it 1. We have many exhortations to it in the Scriptures 1 Thes 5.11 Wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another even as also ye do Heb. 10.24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works v. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching Heb 3.13 But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin 2. We find this practised by the primitive Saints Acts 2.42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking bread and in prayers 3. To this end God hath given several Gifts and Graces to his people 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Cor. 12.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 4. Where Christians are most frequent and most faithful in
the Lord God said it is not good that the man should be alone I will make him an help meet for him 4. Nature it self proclaims it in respect of the sex the female being inferiour to the male Man is the Image and Glory of God and the woman is the Glory of the man 1 Cor. 11.7 2. From the Transgression For the woman though the latter in Creation yet was the former in transgression Gen. 3.6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eies and a tree to be desired to make one wife she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat v. 12. And the man said the woman whom thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the tree and I did eat 1 Tim. 2.14 Adam was not deceived i. e. first and by Satan but the woman being deceived was in the transgression not only sinning her self but drawing her husband into transgression also 3. From the titles of head and guide given to the husband in the Scriptures which declare him to be the Superiour 1 Cor. 11.3 The head of the woman is the man Eph. 5.23 For the Husband is the head of the Wife even as Christ is the head of the Church Prov. 2.17 Which for saketh the guide of her youth and forgetteth the Covenant of her God II. Reverence Eph. 5.33 Let the wife see that she reverence her husband Reverence is a mixture of love and fear 1. The wife must intirely love her husband Tit. 2.4 And desire to do him good and not hurt all the daies of her life Prov. 31.12 Love must sweeten her whole behaviour towards him And this love must proceed from a due estimation of him as her Head and Guide Judgment 't is the sourse and spring of affection What the mind esteems not the heart affects not That which we highly prize we dearly value And if the wife truly esteem her husband her carriage and behaviour towards him will be with all sweetness amiablenesse and due respect and regard 2. She ought to fear not with a servile slavish but a liberal free ingenuous fear like that true Converts bear to God springing from love and joyn'd with love least she give him any just occasion of displeasure and discontent 1 Cor. 7.34 The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and in Spirit but she that is married careth for the world how she may please her husband III. Obedience 1 Cor. 14.34 The Apostle tels us women are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the Law What Law Why Gen. 3.16 Thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee Also Tit. 2.5 To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed And in 1 Pet. 3.6 Sarah is propounded as their pattern Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham c. Bâ—t what kind of obedience is it the wife is to render to the Husband The Apostle tels us Col. 3.18 Wives submit your selves to your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Which hints to us these two things 1. It must be done in obedience to God to the Commandment and the Ordinance of God It must be a religious conscientious submission A Heathen woman may do all the outward duties of a good wife for her credit sake or peace at home or from principles of natural honesty But a Christian woman besides these motives should do it out of Conscience to Gods Command out of a desire to please God and to approve her heart to him as unto the Lord as the Apostle speaks Eph. 5.22 Having a respect to the precept and enjoynment of Christ This may take away that common Objection of some women if my husband do not his duty to me Why should I do mine to him His faultinesse and neglect of his duty will not excuse thy non performance of thine For thou owest this duty not only and principally to him but to the Lord who requires it of thee whether thy husband do his or no. And further the worse the husband is the more need there is for the wife to carry her self with such gentlenesse and sweetness towards him as may be most like to win him for so the Apostle advises 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives The discreet kind loving behaviour of the wife towards her husband though a bad man may be a great means to reclaim him whereas the ill fruits of the wives unquietness are very notorious How many are there that to avoid the noise of a froward wife have fallen to company keeping and by that to drunkennesse poverty and a multitude of mischiefs Let all wives therefore be careful not to administer such a temptation 2. It must be in the Lord i. e. in all lawful commands It must not extend to any thing that is against God For otherwise 't is here as in the case of other Superiours God must be obeyed rather than man If the Husband command a thing though not unlawful yet very inconvenient and imprudent let the Wife calmly and mildy shew him the inconveniencies thereof and perswade him to the contrary but if she cannot win him by fair intreaties let her not finally refuse to obey nothing but the unlawfulnesse of the command being a sufficient warrant for that And further she must manifest her obedience in two things 1. In being willing to be admonished of her husband in case of any failing not returning a snappish answer again but readily reforming what is amisse 2. In being willing to be advised by him Not but that she may advise him in some cases and on some occasions For what a servant may do much more may a wife do as we find 2 King 5.3 1 Sam. 16 15 16. but this must be done with wisdom and discretion The admonition must be given seasonably not as Physick in a fit It must be done with that softnesse and mildness that it may appear 't is love and not anger that makes her to speak 4. And lastly She is to be a meet helper to him both in spiritual and temporal concernments 1. In the mannaging of domestical affairs the house being her proper sphear Tit. 2.5 The Apostle saies Wives should be keepers at home Not daughters of Dinah but of Sarah They must have a vigilant and watchful eye over the affairs of the Family They must guide the house as 't is 1 Tim 5.14 Every wise woman Solomon saies Prov. 14 1. buildeth her house but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands Prov. 31 27. She looketh well to the waies of her houshold and eateth not the bread of Idlenesse 2. She must bear a part
discern their failings Not with eye service Eph. 6.6 Good servants when their Masters eye is not upon them see him that is invisible and desire to perform the duties of their places carefully and conscientiously that they may escape not only their Masters but Gods anger who will call them to account So much of the duties of servants The Motives to incourage them to a cheerfull performance of them are these two 1. By performing their duties in this manner they will adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour Tit. 2.10 The world will then see True Religion is not meerly a Name but a powerfull thing rendring men good in all their relations It will render Religion amiable to the World 2. They shall not lose their reward God will plentifully reward them if out of conscience to his command they be faithfull Eph. 6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free Col. 3.24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. Let servants therefore set these two motives alwaies before their eyes to make them faithfull and cheerfull in their duties Eph. 6.5 Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ V. 6. Not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart V. 7. With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men V. 8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free Col. 3.22 Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh not with eie service as men pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God V. 23. And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men V. 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. V. 25. But he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respect of persons 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own Masters worthy of all honour that the Name of God and his Doctrine be not blasphemed V. 2. And they that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather do them service because they are believing and beloved partakers of the benefit These things teach and exhort Tit. 2.9 Exhort Servants to be obedient to their own Masters and to please them well in all things not answering again V. 10. Not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 1 Pet. 2.18 Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward V. 19. For this is thank-worthy if a man for Conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully V. 20. For what Glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God Mat. 8.9 For I am a man under authority having Souldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my servant do this and he doeth it Luke 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship c. Prov. 30.21 For three things the earth is disquieted c. V. 22. For a Servant when he reigneth c. CHAP. XIII Of the Duties of Parents and Children FIrst Of the Duties belonging to Parents which are these Nine I. To dedicate their children to Christ in their infancy and by the Sacrament of Baptism to enter them into his Family This is a Duty Parents ought not to delay It being most reasonable that they who have been instruments to convey the stain and pollution of sin to their poor Infants should be careful early to bring them to Christ and give them up to him to be washed with his blood and to be sanctified by his holy Spirit For Infants stand in need of Christ for their Saviour They are capable of Grace and the principle of a new life as well as of Original sin They are capable of the Spirit of Christ of being united to him of being blessed by him They are capable of receiving a Sacrament viz Baptism the Circumcision made without hands Col. 2.11 12. as well as the Infants of the Jewes who were Circumcised and thereby admitted visible members of that Church and seal'd and marked as it were for God And 't is plain the Covenant of Grace stands now in force to the Children of Believers under the Gospel Act. 2.39 The promise is to yâ—â— and to your Children Were it not so the converted Jewes should have losse by believing in Christ if their children should be excluded from the promise who stood in it two thousand years before under the other administration And how then could the blessing of Abraham come on the Gentiles According to Galat. 3.14 Which blessing was I will be a God to thee and to thy Seed Gen. 17.7 How could Believers be Heirs according to the promise as 't is Gal. 3.29 if their Children should be excluded from the promise For the Childrens right to the promise is part of the Fathers inheritance The promise is I will be a God to thee and to thy seed Further consider how the Covenant of Grace for substance though not for manner of administration hath alwaies been one and the same And in the Old Testament it took in Children And can we think it leaves them out now under the Gospel Therefore seeing the Children of Believing and Christian Parents are within the Covenant they ought to partake of the Seal of the Covenant and to be admitted visible Church-members by Baptisme the only way under the Gospel of admitting members into the Church Gods Seal is to be put upon them in their Infancy and when they come to riper years they are to ratifie and confirm their engagement If they will own that Master and faithfully serve him into whose Family they were listed when young they may enjoy many happy priviledges thereby if not they shall be sure to smart for their falling off and Apostacy Therefore Christian Parents should early bring their Children to Christ and by Baptism enter them and enroll them into his Family humbly beseeching him to receive them into his Favour and Love into his Care and Protection to unite them to himself by his holy Spirit to regenerate them to destroy the old Adam the corrupt nature in them and to renew them after his own Image in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse and lastly to strengthen them by his Grace that they may resist and prevail against the world the flesh and the Devil and
Ministers sow Spirituals the people should not begrudge them if they reap some of their temporals 1 Cor. 9.14 God hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live upon the Gospel 'T is but just and reasonable that they who by undertaking that holy Calling are taken off from the waies of gaining a livelihood in the world shouâ—d be provided for by them whose souls they watch over And seeing the people receive Spiritual things from them viz. Instruction and Assistance towards the obtaining eternal life 't is agreeable both to reason and Scripture they should receive temporals from the people Yet this ought not to be a Ministers chief end and aim in setting his hand to this plow but to Glorifie God in the saving of Souls For what will it profit a Minister to gain his peoples Tithes and by negligence and carelesnesse to lose his peoples Souls Ministers are to be Lights to their Flocks and both by their Doctrine and life to shew them the way to Heaven What a horrible ingratitude and unworthinesse is it then in those men who endeavour to extinguish those Lights either by withdrawing the Oyl of maintenance or blowing them out with the wind of persecution Prov. 29.18 Where there is no vision the people perish Hos 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Jer. 3.15 And I will give you Pastours according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Mal. 2.7 For the Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts Isa 30.20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eies shall see thy teachers Mat. 13.52 Then said he unto them therefore every Scribe which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man which is an Housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasury things new and old Eph. 4.11 And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers V. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12.28 And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then Gifts of healings helps Governments diversities of Tongues 2 Cor. 3.6 Who hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Tim. 2.15 Study to shew thy self approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth Col. 1.28 Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.1 The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a witnesse of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed V. 2. Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind V. 3. Neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage but being ensamples to the Flock Col. 4.17 And say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received from the Lord that thou fulfill it 1 Thes 2.4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing men but God which trieth our hearts V. 5. For neither at any time used we flattering words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is witness V. 6. Nor of men sought we Glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensom as the Apostles of Christ V. 7. But we were gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children V. 8. So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own souls because ye were dear unto us V. 10. Ye are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that beleeve V. 11. As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children V. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom Glory V. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that beleeve V. 19. For what is our hope or joy or Crown of rejoycing Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming V. 20. For ye are our Glory and Joy 1 Cor. 16.15 I beseech you Brethren ye know the house of Stephanas that it is the first fruits of Achaia and that they have addicted themselves to the Ministry of the Saints V. 16. That ye submit your selves unto such and to every one that helpeth with us and laboureth Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you V. 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you and all the Saints They of Italy salute you 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine 2 Cor. 12.15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the lesse I be loved 1 Cor. 9.7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof or who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock V. 8. Say I these things as a man or saith not the Law the same also V. 9. For it is written in the Law of Moses thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. V. 11. If we have sown unto you Spiritual things Is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnall things V. 13. Do ye not know that they which minister about Holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar V. 14. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Rom. 15.27 For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their Spiritual things their duty is also to minister to them in carnal things Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things V. 7. Be not deceived God is not mocked whatsoever a man sowes that shall he reap c. Mat.
hear this hath been thy manner from thy youth that thou obeyedst not my voice Prov. 1.24 Because I called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded V. 25. But ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof V. 26. I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Lev. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the Lord. Isa 3.5 And the people shall be oppressed every one by another and every one by his Neighbour the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient and the base against the honourable So much of the Duties belonging to Young persons I come now to speak to the Ancient The main and principal care of those that are in years should be to make all strait and even between God and their own soules to secure their state in Grace and their Title to Glory For their Sun is setting their race is almost run Though the younger may die yet the old must die and after death comes judgment Let all ancient persons therefore take these following Particulars into their serious consideration I. The case of all old people that are yet in an unconverted state is very sad and dangerous For 1. This world and the contentments thereof are in a manner done with them The evil daies are come upon them wherein they must needs say they have no pleasure in them 2. Usually they labour under many weaknesses and bodily infirmities If they have not the comfort of a good Conscience to support them and to be the staffe of their age how exceeding miserable must they needs be 3. If they have lived long under the means of Grace and continued unconverted till old age 't is a hundred to one whether they ever be converted or no. 'T is rare to hear of any that have gone on in a long course of carelesseness and security and been habituated and hardned in sin that in their old age have turned to God See the Reasons before mentioned p. 510. 4. If they die in their sins they will receive a greater condemnation The furnace will be hotter for them than for young sinners They have contracted a greater debt The heap of their sins is greater Certainly it will be more tolerable in the day of judgment for Er and Onan who were cut off betimes in their sins than for sinners that are threescore or fourscore years old If the Judge at the Assizes do meet with an old theef or an old cut purse that have had many warnings and still go on in their wickednesse they seldom scape Let all old impenitent sinners think of this How may God say of such Heer 's an old covetous worldly-minded man an old swearer or drunkard an old hater of Godlinesse and slighter of Religion an old ignorant carelesse wretch a neglecter of Family-duties one that should have instructed his children and servants and bred them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord but in stead thereof has given them an ill example and done me a great deal of dishonour c. I have forborn him fourty fifty sixty years He has often quenched the good motions of my Spirit my Ambassadors could never prevail with him to leave his sins Now therefore O ye evil Angels this day this week this year require his soul of him and bring him to judgment O how exceeding sad is the case of an old unconverted man or woman II. Nothing is more to be admired at than that ancient people should go on in their sins not minding speedily and seriously to turn to God For 1. The lease of their lives is almost expired And is it not a strange madnesse they should make no provision for another world 2. They have many warnings they must go hence dim eyes feeble legs trembling joynts Eccles 12.3 The Sun and the Light is darkned the keepers of the house tremble the strong men bow themselves the grinders cease c. Their bodily weaknesses warn them they must not ftay long here 3. They have but a little time to watch and the Bridegroom will come and if they get not Oyl into their lamps now they will be for ever shut out III. Though their condition be very sad and dangerous yet it is not desperate if they will yet bestir themselves For let them consider these four things 1. God hath declar'd a greater delight in the conversion of sinners whether young or old than in their destruction and damnation Ezek. 33.11 Say unto them as I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil waies for why will ye die O House of Israel 2. The promises of God do stand in force and will be made good to repenting returning sinners whether young or old True Repentance is never too late but late repentance is seldom true All sorts of sins are pardonable to reall penitents and true believers 3. There is efficacy and vertue enough in Christs blood to cleanse not only young but old sinners from all their sins 4. Christ is willing to accept old sinners if they will repent and forsake their sins and really turn to him and close with him on his own terms being willing to take him not only for their Saviour but for their Lord and King and to yield up themselves in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and holy Spirit Christ did not come to save men by bringing them to Heaven in their ungodlinesse or to Glory in their sins but to destroy their sins that would keep them out of Glory IV. Though ancient people that have gone on in a long course of ignorance carelessness neglect of God and the concernments of their souls should be convinced they are at present in a bad condition in an unconverted state yet it does not thence follow they must needs so continue and utterly and finally despair but they should awaken themselves delay no longer and speedily set themselves to get out of this miserable condition while there is a possibility of escaping the danger of it 'T is no folly to be wise for their souls to be wise for Eternity at last Therefore let them remember now if ever V. They should be exceeding careful they do not deceive themselves with ill grounded hopes of Heaven peesuming it will go well with them in the other world when they have no reall foundation for such a confidence A false ungrounded hope is but a dream of a waking man If a condemned Malefactor should frame a pardon for himself in the prison and think to be saved by that would it not prove a miserable cheat put upon himself Does it not concern every one therefore to consider whether the hope of pardon and forgiveness they pretend unto
evil fancies roving and ranging lusts and covetings of that which is our neighbours arising from our corrupted natures and accompanied with delight and pleasure though our wils do not consent to the accomplishing of them Before in the other Commandments the deed was condemned that was hurtful and injurious to our neighbour as also the setled will and resolved determination to act it but here evil thoughts and stirrings in the soul the first bublings of concupiscence the very desire and lust and loose hankering after any thing that is our neighbours is forbidden though there be no full consent given thereto 3. Envying and grieving at the good of our neighbour and rejoycing at his sufferings 4. All inordinate motions affections and desires of heart after any thing that is his 5. Not endeavouring to suppresse evil thoughts and the first motions to sin but favouring and entertaining them rouling them with delight in our minds not labouring to keep our hearts with all diligence and to subdue lust and concupiscence which is the root and fountain of all sin and wickednesse The sins against the Gospel are reducible to these two Heads Unbelief Impenitency Unbelief hath several degrees I. Not labouring to acquaint our selves with the History of the Gospel nor with the duties promises and priviledges thereof though it contains the best glad-tidings and of the greatest consequence to us that can be imagined II. Not assenting to it so firmly as we should but being apt to be carried about with every wind of Doctrine with any new erroneous phansie and so to have our minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ and to prove unsound in the Faith III. Not so loving esteeming and highly valuing of it as we should not sufficiently admiring that miracle of Divine bounty wherein the love of God was so wonderfully manifested towards us in sending his only begotten sonne into the world that we might live through him IV. Making light of Christ and undervaluing the great love of our blessed Redeemer treading under foot the Merits of the Sonne of Gâ—d and prophaning the blood of the Covenant and thereby labouring to render Christs passion of none effect not counting all things losse and dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord not counting him all in all not rejoycing and glorying in him and him crucified by whom alone we receive atonement not esteeming his favour and loving kindnesse better than life it self V. Not living by Faith in all estates and conditions not embracing the promises of the Gospel with so much readinesse and adhering to them with so much stedfastnesse as the excellency and certainty of them does require not improving nor applying this rich treasure of Gospel-promises unto the various occasions of this temporal life not looking upon them as our Heritage and esteeming them the joy of our hearts VI. Being apt to rely on our own righteousnesse our own services or Graces and thereby endeavouring as much as in us lies to deprive Christ of his Saviourship VII Not owning Christ in all his offices not being willing to accept of him as well for our Lord as our Saviour for our Prophet to guide us as well as for our Priest to make atonement for us not being willing to be obedient to his Lawes and Precepts to be sanctified by his Grace and holy Spirit as well as to be saved by his merits this heart of unbelief does prove many times a root of apostacy and departure from the living God The second sin against the Gospel is Impenitency which hath several degrees also I. When notwithstanding God hath in some measure discovered to us our miserable and lost condition by reason of the Covenant of works which admitted of no repentance we have not yet humbled our selves in any proportion to the multitude and greatnesse of our sins though the Gospel and Covenant of Grace call us to it and require it of us as that without which we are not to expect pardon II. Not being inquisitive after our sins nor endeavouring to examine and find out our particular failings but rather to hide and excuse them III. Not being humbled and grieved for them considering the great injustice folly unkindnesse we have expressed by them IV. Not resolving and striving against them not improving advantages for the avoiding and subduing of them V. Refusing to repent though God vouchsafe time and means hardning the heart by a custome and delight in sin being prone to maintain justifie or extenuate sin And thus much of the sins against the Law and against the Gospel Upon these Heads not only sick persons but such as are in health also should examine themselves when they intend more solemnly to humble their soules before the Lord. And they may have further helps herein from Dr Wilkins's discourse concerning the gift of prayer When sick persons therefore have advanced thus far let them then in the next place ask themselves Thirdly Whether they do indeed rightly understand and firmly believe the history of the Gospel who Christ was what manner of person what were his Offices what he did and suffered for what ends and purposes he came into the world Whether they understand that he came not only to save and deliver from Hell and everlasting punishment but also to destroy sin undo the works of the Devil to crucifie and subdue our lusts mortifie our earthly members turn us from darkness to light to illuminate our mind to give repentance to work Faith to make us alive to God to enable us to serve him in righteousness and holinesse to recover Gods interest in us and to bring us back to him again And let them consider how their hearts have been affected with these things Fourthly Whether they have and how long they have in truth and sincerity applied themselves to Christ to receive from him these great and glorious benefits namely to have their pardon procured by his Merits and intercession to have a supply of all Grace from him and their natures sanctified Whether they have sought to him as to a Physitian to heal their soules and rid them of their distempers Whether they have accepted him as their Prophet to guide them as their Lord and King to govern them as well as their Priest to make atonement for them Whether they do not believe in him and trust in him groundlessely and presumptuously as carnal people do only to be delivered and freed from Hell and wrath to come without yielding up their hearts in sincere obedience to him desiring unfeignedly to be guided and governed by his holy Spirit and to be sanctified by his Grace Fifthly Whether they have received power and strength from Christ by the effectuall operation of his holy Spirit to mortifie the old man the old Adamical nature to crucifie the flesh with its affections and lusts to fight with and to subdue pride earthly-mindedness sensuality self-love malice envy and other vile affections so that they
are not under the dominion of sin but of grace Whether they have put on the new man and have a new nature wrought in them which consists in knowledge righteousnesse and true holiness Whoever is in Christ is a new creature old things are past away 2 Cor. 5.17 And whoever has not the Spirit of Christ is none of his Rom. 8.9 They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit V. 5. To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 6. Let them consider therefore whether ever they found a powerful work of Grace upon their hearts whether the Spirit of Christ dwell in them whether his Law be written in their hearts whether his Glory be their end whether indeed they are alive unto God what strength they have for active and passive duties whether the Word be their delight whether they pray fervently delight in communion with God in his waies and Worship whether they obey him sincerely and walk humbly before him whether they bear afflictions patiently suffer reproaches joyfully Sixthly Whether they have for any considerable time made Religion the great businesse of their lives apprehending the chief happinesse of man to consist in reconciliation with God pardon of sin in a gracious frame of heart in communion with God and a faithful serving of him whether they have set their affections on things above have had their conversation in Heaven have pressed earnestly after the Glory of the other world have laid hold on eternal life have been treasuring up for eternity have improved their Talents for God have been serviceable to him in their generation If their Consciences upon a serious search can bear witnesse that through Grace it has been thus in some good measure with them then they have great reason to encourage their hearts in the Lord and to awaken all the powers of their soules to blesse his holy Name for working so gracious a frame of heart in them And let them still seek to the same fountain of Grace that he would please to perfect holinesse more and more in them till he bring them into the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant Heb. 12.22 But if the case has not been thus in any considerable degree and measure with them but upon a serious search they find they have been ignorant and mistaken about or too negligent and carelesse of the great things that concern their salvation then let them bewail their sad condition and cry mightily to God to give them his holy Spirit to enlighten their minds to convince them throughly of their sins of the danger folly and pollution of them to give them a heart to repent in good earnest to bestow upon them a broken and a contrite Spirit to dissolve their stony hearts into that Godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation never to be repented of and which bringeth forth fruits meet for repentance to discover to them their great need of a Saviour to draw their soules effectually unto him that they may close with him sincerely and resolvedly for those ends and purposes for which he came into the world namely to procure our pardon by his Merits and to sanctifie our natures by his Grace and holy Spirit to mortifie our corruptions to deliver us from Satans power and to bring us back again unto God And for the better information of their minds in the things they should know and believe in order to their salvation and to direct their practise I must refer them to the three first Chapters of the first part of this Treatise and the second and third Chapters of the second part which I desire them heedfully to mind and ponder upon Besides these Directions already mentioned there are some others also very requisite for sick persons to mind and regard As I. They should settle their estates and worldly affairs if they have not already done it as in prudence they should in time of health so that their minds may be free and vacant for spiritual exercises and not disturbed with earthly cares and businesses And those that have estates let them not forget to be charitable and to dispose something to pious uses knowing that with such sacrifices offer'd in a right manner and to a right end God is well pleased II. If they remember any wrongs or acts of injustice they have done to their neighbours or those with whom they have had dealings let them make restitution or labour to give them satisfaction as they are able that the guilt of those sins remain not on their Consciences III. If they be at variance with any let them seek reconciliation and freely and heartily forgive those that have done them wrong remembring how much they stand in need of forgivenesse from God IV. Let them give good counsel to those about them and the friends that come to visit them and exhort them earnestly to mind the working out their salvation in time of health and not to set their hearts on this world on the pleasures or profits of it which will not avail them in the day of death Let them advise them now to live unto God now to lay a good foundation against the time to come The words of sick and dying persons use to be much heeded and remembred V. Let them in the intervals of sharper pains look over their life past and recollect Gods wonderful favours and blessings bestowed upon them to stir up their hearts to praise and magnifie his holy Name How many are there that if they would read over the history of their life past may find matter enough of praise and to provoke them to send up some such thankful ejaculations as these Blessed be the Lord in all my life time I never broke a bone never fell into the hands of robbers never into publick shame or noisom diseases I have not begg'd my bread God gave me a right shape of body the right use of my understanding careful and pious Parents good and bountiful friends a religious education delivered me in such and such a danger heard my prayers in such particular pressures of my spirit c. O what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me VI. Let them decline as much as they can the visits of vain and worldly persons who by their carnal and frothy discourses are like to disturb and hinder them in their preparations for death and those spiritual meditations and exercises they should be employ'd in Those that visit sick persons or attend about them should not talk to them as 't is too common of vain worldly needlesse businesses but of things that concern the welfare of their soules And to this Head I may
man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Of Heaven We have seen what will be the state of the damned We come now to speak of the blessedness of those that die in the Lord i. e. in the favour of God in a state of peace with him being members of Christs mystical body When they die their souls are carried by Angels to Christ and by him presented to God the Father as the fruit of his purchase So that they are presently blessed upon the departure of the soul out of the body but shall be more blessed at the general resurrection when soul and body being reunited the Judge shall set them at his right hand and pronounce upon them this gracious sentence Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Matth 25.34 Which done they shall go away into life eternal as it is v. 46. The Glory and Blessednesse of this state we come now to enquire into and there are two things wherein it consists 1. In a total removal of all evils 2. In a confluence of all good necessary to the happinesse of the Creature First All evils are removed There are three great evils we labour under here 1. The evil of sin 2. Of temptation 3. Of affliction None of which shall trouble the Saints in Heaven 1. The evil of sin is there removed Sin is the great evil the children of God complain of with so much sadnesse in this world Here the Spirit lusteth against the flesh and the flesh against the Spirit but in Heaven there shall be no sinful lusts to war against the soul Paul shall not there complain of a law in his members rebelling against the law of his his mind Nor câ—y out Oh miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. There shâ—ll be no blindness in the mind perversenesse in the will disorder in the affections no concupiscence in the members no rebellion in the flesh the old Adam is left in the grave never to rise more The dominion of sin the Saints are delivered from in this life but there the very being of it is removed Grace weakens sin Glory quite abolisheth it Into Heaven nothing enters that defiles There we shall be under anâ— happy impossibility of offending God 2. The evil of temptation The world is a place of snares a valley of temptations the devils circuit What abundance of temptations are we assaulted with here continually either from the Devil the world or our own corrupt Natures In Paradise there was a tempter but there is none in Heaven No Serpent can creep in there Here we had need pray continually Lord lead us not into temptation There we shall be fully delivered from it 3. The evil of affliction In Heaven there is an absolute freedom from all misery pain labour want or whatever else might afflict us All sorrow shall be done away as well as all sin Sorrow is the fruit of sin and when the mother is dead no more off-spring can be expected Whatsoever is painful and burdensom to Nature is a fruit of sin and a brand and mark of our rebellion against God Here we are subject to a number of necessities hunger thirst cold wants of several sorts In Heaven the children of God shall enjoy perfect freedom from whatsoever is troublesom Grief fear temptation sicknesse pain of body anguish of mind shall be heard of no more for ever When the Saints are once past death they are past the fear of all misery When their bodies are once lapt up in their winding-sheets they are past all tribulation Heaven is a happy ayre where none are sick There is no such thing as agues feavers gouts or the grinding paines of the Stone There is nothing to discompose the mind or afflict the body The Saints shall there be freed from the necessities of Nature such as eating drinking sleeping c. Meat is for the belly and the belly for meat but God shall destroy both it and them 1 Cor. 6.12 The use of meats and of the stomack and belly is there abolished Here we are almost continually in want of something or other but there we shall be above meat and drink and apparrel c. Here we have a mixture of pleasures and sorrows both good and evil are to be received from the hand of God in this life but there is fulnesse of joy for evermore I shall conclude this with that comfortable place Rev. 21.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Secondly A Second thing wherein the blessedness of Heaven consists is in a confluence of all good necessary to the happiness of the Creature The Saints in Heaven will be blessed 1. In their bodies 2. In their soules 3. In their Company 4. In an absolute security of enjoying all this blessedness for ever without any fear of losing it or being deprived of it I. They will be blessed in their bodies The bodies even of the best of the Saints are for the present vile bodies instruments of sin and subjects of diseases but the Lord Jesus Christ shall at the day of judgment raise these vile bodies and change them into the likenesse of his own glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. The bodies of the Saints are the members of Christ and no member of his shall remain in death They are the Temples of the holy Ghost and therefore if they be destroy'd they shall be raised again For if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in us as he doth in the Saints and by so dwelling makes their bodies Temples he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us Rom. 8.11 The Holy Ghost will not forsake his mansion and ancient habitation Therefore he raiseth it up and formeth it again into a compleat fashion like Christs glorious body The bodies of the Saints when dead and separated from their souls are not separated from Christ as we shewed before And therefore are said to be dead in Christ to sleep in Jesus as 't is 1 Thes 4.14 While dead they are united to Christ and by vertue of this Union Christ as their Head will raise them at the last day and at their resurrection they shall be changed as to their qualities though their substance shall not be altered The Ancient Christians when they rehearsed that Article of the Creed I believe the resurrection of the flesh were wont to adde even of this my flesh 'T is necessary the same flesh should be raised again For it cannot stand with Gods justice that one body should sin and another body be damned That he that sinned in one body should
state of corruption to a state of Glory Would we enter into Glory let us labour to secure our state in Grace Grace and Glory do not differ specifically but gradually When a soul is brought into a state of saving Grace it is entred into a state of Glory For as God hath prepared Heaven for his children so he prepares his children for Heaven Grace is the Nursery of Glory As the plants of righteousness grow fit for Heaven they are removed to Heaven and shall be for ever with the Lord. O Lord prepare and fit my soul for this new Jerusalem into which no unclean thing can enter Give me true repentance for all my sins and wash away the guilt of them in the blood of thy dear Son my Lord and Saviour Sanctifie me throughout both in soul and body by thy Grace and holy Spirit and enable me to glorifie thee in this life that I may hereafter enter into thy Kingdom into that eternal state of Glory bliss and purity O let me not have my portion in this life but when thou sendest for me out of this world by death Lord receive my soul for thy free mercy and my Saviours merits sake into those Heavenly mansions where there is fulnesse of joy and pleasures at thy right hand for evermore Amen John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 1 Cor. 2.9 But as it is written eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle be dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Col. 1.12 Giving thankes unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Heb. 10.34 For ye took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance Heb. 12.22 But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels V. 23. To the general assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect 1 Thes 4.17 And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Heb. 6.19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vail V. 20. Whither the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek Mat. 25.23 His Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 2 Cor. 12.4 How that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter Luke 16.22 And it came to passe that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Heb. 11.10 For he looked for a City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God 1 Pet. 1.4 To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you 1 Pet. 5.4 And when the chief Shephard shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Glory be to God in the highest On earth peace Good will towards men FINIS BOOKS Printed for and are to be sold by JOHN ROTHWEL at the Fountain and Bear in Cheap-side A Mr. AInsworth Arrow against Idolatry in fol. 12 Dr. Ames Cases of conscience Engl. Marrow of Divinity 4 On Peter 4 D. Arrowsmith Tactica Sacra sive de milite spirituali pugnante Vincente Triumphante Annotations on the Bible by the Dutch Ministers fol. Assembly Confes Catechism large and small in 4 with Scriptures at large B M. Bradshaw Sin against the H. Ghost 12 M. Bridges Babylons downfal 4 M. Bohemus on 100 Scriptures opened 8 M. Broxolme on Perkins Six Principles 8 M. Bucklers Assize Sermon C M. Church Miscelanies of the Attributes of God The Creatures of God 4 Good mans Treasury 12 Of Ejaculations 12 His Golden Sayings 12 Pocket companion 12 M. Culverwells Light of nature 4 White stone alone 8 M. Clark Of Persecution and Lives of Ministers folio M. Cravens Catechisme 8 M. Cotton of singing of Psalmes 4 Catechising and Conference by the Ministers of the Isle of Wight D M. Dales Shepherdizing of Lambs 8 D. Drake De sanguine 4 M. Dyke of Epping His Right Receiving of Christ 8 Safety in case of danger 8 Select Sermons of Quenching the Spirit and Pardon of sin c. 8 F Mr Fenner of Affections 4 Of Conscience 4 Alarm for drousie Saints 4 Wilful Impenitency 4 Catechism On the Creed Lords Prayer Ten Commandments M. Ford of Baptism Catechising and first Fruits of Davids Government 8 His Catechise against the Anabaptists G Germany Lamentations Octavo Invasion Octavo Prodigies Octavo H M. Hughes Of Affliction the benefit of it 4 Funeral Sermon 4 Parliament Sermon 4 M. Hooks New-Englands Tears 4 New-Englands Sense 4 M. How of Universal Redemption 4 Pagan Preacher silenced 4 M. Haines Grammar 8 M. Hanmer Of Confirmation L M. Lockier Balm for bleeding England and Ireland 8 Communion of Church Militant Discovery of Sincerity 8 Olive Leafe 8 Parliament Sermon 4 Englands Wounds 4 Love Grace with its different degrees 8 Zealous Christian 4 Heavens Glory and Hels Terror 4 Effectual Calling 4 Combat between the Flesh and Spirit 4 Directory of a Christian 4 The Penitent Pardoned 4 The Dejected Souls Cure Administration of Angels 4 Gods Omni-presence The Sinners Legacy to their posterity 4 By Mr. Calamy By Mr. Whitaker By Mr. Ashe By Mr. Taylor Longland On the four last things Death Judgment Hell and Heaven 12 M M. Milton His Reason of Church-Government 4 Apology for Smectymnuus M. Mathers Catechism 8 Reply to M. Rutherford 4 P M. Pool His Answer to Biddles Denial of the H. Ghost to be God 12 His Vindication of the Ministry 4 A Pacification between the Lutheran and Reformed Churches 8 M. Perrot The Scripture Stability R Bp. Richardson his choice Observations on the Old Testament as a supplement to the large Annot. fol. M Robouroâ—gh against Goodwin about Justification 4 Mâ— Robinson Christ is all in all 4 M. Ruttons Sermon before the Lord Mayor S Smectymnuus redivivus first and second Parts about Episcopacy and Presbytery 4 M. Shepherd on the Sabbath with Cases of Conscience 8 Of Subjection to Christ 8 On the Parab of the 10 Virg. 4 D. Sibbs Miracle of Miracles 4 Glorious feast of the Gospel 4 His Glance of Heaven 12 Spiritual mans aim 12 His Charter of a Christian 12 Conference between Christ and Mary after his Resurrect 12 On 2. Epist Cor. Chap. 4. 4 D. Stoughtons Sermons in his younger years 4 His form of sound words with the righteous mans plea to true Happinesse 4 Heavenly conversation Two Sermons 12 D. Seaman of Ordination 4 His Solomons choice 4 Head of the Church 4 Glasse for the times 4 Mrs. Scots exemplary life and death drawn up by several Minist T Thaesaurus Poeticus 12 D. Tuckney Balm for Gilead 12 Death disarmed A Sermon at D Hills Funeral 12 None but Christ 12 M. Tutty Funeral Sermon V M. Venning Orthodox Parodoxes 8 New Command octavo Mysteries Revelat. octavo Milk and Honey Second Part. octavo Warning to Backslid octavo Way to Heaven 4 octavo Sermon on the 5th of November W Wise Virgin A Narrative of Gods dealing with a child of eleven years of age and her gracious speeches in time of her affliction Published by three Ministers 8 M. Whitlock and M Reinolds Funeral Sermon of Francis Pierpointe Esq
by his divine power raised and quickned his own body when it lay in the grave so he conveighs a spiritual life into all his members raising them from the death of sin and enabling them to walk in newnesse of life I live saith Paul Gal. 2.20 yet not I but Christ liveth in me And the life of Jesus is made manifest in our mortal bodies 2 Cor. 4.11 He that abideth in me and I in him saith our Saviour John 15.5 bringeth forth much fruit Beg therefore earnestly of the Lord that thou maiest be sanctified throughout in Spirit Soul and Body That thy Understanding Conscience and Will thy sensual affections and desires and thy whole outward man may be put into and kept in a good order and frame that the fear of God may dwell in thine heart continually and his Law be written in thy inward man Look to the bent and frame of thy heart that it be right towards God If thy heart be once ordered aright thou wilt look that thy outward conversation be ordered aright also Let it appear therefore thou art a living member of Christ by being a new Creature by unliving and undoing thy former sinful course Live not henceforth in any known sin but speedily forsake whatever thou knowest to be evil and displeasing unto God any kind of way Labour to testifie the sincerity of thy repentance and Faith by an holy life and an unblameable Conversation Set thy self in good earnest to walk religiously and holily before God righteously and uprightly before men and soberly and temperatly in the Government of thy self Let it be thy daily exercise with Paul to keep a good Canscience void of offence towards God and towards man Be careful of the duties both of the first and second Table And read often and carefully observe our Saviours Sermon in the Mount coâ—tained in the fifth sixth and seaventh Chapters of Matthew In summe beg a continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ that though thou art to wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against Principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses and against manifold temptations from the world yet notwithstanding through the aides of Grace the regenerate part in thee may overcome and that thou maist grow in Grace and be daily perfecting holinesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are past away behold all things are become new 1 Cor 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Eph. 4.22 That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts V. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on that new man whiâ—h after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil 1 John 2.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walk even as he walked 1 John 3.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Eph. 3.16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man V. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love V. 18. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth V. 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulnesse of God 1 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God I eb 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and body be preserved blamless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 5.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen Gal. 5.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Uncleannesse Lasciviousness V. 20. Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies V. 21. Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God V. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith V. 23. Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law V. 24. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and harmlesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the world 2 Pet. 1.5 And besides this giving all diligence add to your Faith vertue and to vertue Knowledge V. 6. And to Knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godlinesse V. 7. And to Godliness Brotherly kindness and to Brotherly kindness Charity 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Pet. 1.14 As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance V. 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Cor. 6 19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own V. 20. For ye