vice the gainer An unsound conscience is large and can swallow downe any thing the sincere conscience is strait and the least bone though but such as are in little fishes will sticke in her throat Neglect of smaller matters may justly bring our obedience in greater matters in suspition the same God that requires our fidelity in the one requires it also in the other A gracious heart is like the eye troubled with the least more certainly hee that is unjust in a little will bee also unjust in much Is the uprightnesse of others of Gods servants more highly esteemed by thee than thine owne Doest thou see greater excellencies in them than in thy selfe Feelest thou no bottome in other mens praises when thy heart tells all is not well within An humble Christian hides himselfe in the closet and as in prayer so in all good duties shuts the doore he is much affected with a sense of his owne infirmities resting it selfe wholly upon the power of God to be perfected in her weaknesse and is many times more humbled for the mixtures and defilements of good workes than for some workes simply evill in themselves he desires to be good rather then to be thought so Are the sinnes of others and the sorrowes of the Church as sensible and bitter to thy soule as thine owne Canst thou forget thy selfe and thy particular businesse to lay these to heart Doest thou rejoyce alwayes to be crossing and thwarting thy selfe in those succours and supports of sinne which thy corruption suggests Is that experience which thou hast of sinne and of grace no dead but a stirring experieÌ„ce quickening thee to duty and mortifying corruption in thee so as not onely knowledge but conscience also swayes thee to Christian duties and art thou as carefull to persevere in grace as once to imbrace it these are good signes Cheere up therefore thy drooping spirit the Lord by the power of his grace hath tooke possession of thee Nothing but grace alone is able to keep the love of sinne out of the heart though peradventure some other thing may keepe it out of thy hand Civility and hypocrisie may a little snib sinne or bid it for a while stand aside and give way to better things but it is onely grace that strikes this Goliah dead It is onely the spirit which subdues the flesh But wee must know there is a great deale of difference betweene forsaking of sinne through the strength and power of grace and for other carnall ends and by-respects for an hypocrite may sometimes forsake sinne not out of any love to God or hatred of ill but because sinne leaves him happily hee feares it will bee some losse or discredit to him or else fit meanes and opportunity of committing it serve not his turne and therefore hee forbeares It is nothing for a man to bee chast where there is no provocation to uncleanenesse Here was the tryall of Iosephs integrity that though the occasion were offered by his owne Mistresse to doe the deed in such secresie and security that no eye perceived it yet the feare of God overruled him Many seem to bee meeke and moderate men while they are well dealt with but let some injury bee offered and the contrary will appeare That wee are indeed which wee are in temptation Examine thy heart then in this particular what is the ground of that divorce which seems to bee betwixt thee and thy olde lusts If it flowes from any thing in the world but the love of God and goodnesse thou art in a wretched conditioÌ„ be thy thoughts of thy selfe never so pleasing Art thou one whose heart likes well of sinne though thou canst not or darest not commit it Art thou one who when thou art convinced and rebuked of thy failings thy heart riseth against the reproofe though for thy credit and profit sake thou seemest to welcome and thankfully entertaine the same I tell thee thou art in a dangerous condition thou hast but weake and slender evidence of the spirits prevailing in thy heart But why saith the Apostle here yee shall dye and not yee shall be damned in as much as that is chiefly meant Because the Spirit of God would drive men from sinne by that which is most fearefull to their present apprehension the remembrance of death doth more forcibly move the minde than the remeÌ„brance of Hell though hell bee a thousand times more grievous then death for our affection is moved according to our knowledge of the thing that which most wayes is knowne affecteth most wee know hell onely by faith but we know death to bee fearefull by reason and sense because we feel it growing upon us eveâ—y day The opposition made here by the Apostle warnes us that a necessity lyes upon us to mortifie our sinfull lusts It stands upon our lives unlesse we slay sinne sinne will not faile to slay us It is like a Serpent in our bosome which cannot live but by sucking out that blood whereby wee live What pittiful folly is this we hate them which pursue our bodily life we eschew them by all meanes that would spoile us of our worldly goods onely wee cannot hate Sathan to the death who seekes by sinne to spoyle us of eternall life That same commandement which was given to Adam and Eve If ye eate of the forbidden tree ye shall dye is in effect here given to us all If you live after the flesh you shall dye let not us make an exception where God hath made none every sinne to us is that forbidden tree to Adam if wee meddle with it we shall finde no better fruit than he found Bitter death growes upon the pleasant tree of sinne for the wages of sinne is death It is therefore a point of great wisdome to discerne betweene the deceit of sinne and the fruit of sinne Hee that would rightly know the face of sinne when it stands before him to tempt him let him looke backe to the taile of that sinne which he hath already committed and the sting which it leaves behinde it The perishing pleasures of sin are paid home with everlasting perdition it is done in a moment but brings forth death and breeds a worme that will never die Men may sleep in their sinne but their damnation sleepes not Every mans state in this life is a prediction of that condition which hee shall have hereafter Hee that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but hee that soweth to the spirit shall reape immortality and life No man commeth to heaven or hell but by the way that leads thereunto A wicked life is a thorow-way to the place of darknesse But a godly life is the direct path to salvation As the tree fals so it lyes and it commonly falls on that side which did most bend towards the earth before if the greatest growth of our affections and actions spring out after the spirit no doubt we shall fall on the right
to commend it selfe Looke up to heaven for a blessing upon it and desire the Lord to goe along with thee in it and prosper the same for thy soules good which he heartily desireth who rests Thine in the Lord Jesus I. T. THE CARNALL PROFESSOR ROM 8. V. 13. For if yee live after the flesh ye shall die but if through the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the body yee shall live IN the Chapter going before the Apostle having delivered the double use of the Law first the proper use to shew men the way to live if in case they were able to fulfill and keepe it Secondly the accidentall use by reason of Sinne which is imployed in condemning us by discovery of our transgression to comfort the distressed heart of a poore sinner hee describeth in the latter end of the former Chapter a speciall meanes to shun this inevitable danger namely the righteousnes obedience and sufferings of Christ And in this Chapter further enlargeth the same by way of confirmation unto the 5. verse After which lest it might bee thought that a Christian may live as hee list being freed from sinne by the merits of Christs death or that a profane person should claime any interest in that blessed sacrifice of Christ he further proveth by many pregnant reasons that every Christian ought to endeavour after holines that thereby hee may prove himselfe to be truly ingrafted into Christ by participating of the fruit of his Spirit and that hee is in deed and not in word only a true Christian by his unblameable life and conversation as the goldsmith is knowne by his costly peeces or any mechanicall artificer by the works which his hāds accomplish In the verse I have read unto you the Apostle concludeth very effectually amongst the rest of his arguments that wee must live according to the spirit and not according to the flesh seeing the one designeth and noteth unto us life the other death both most infallible tokens of our future estate and condition So that if any man or woman be desirous to know what shall betide them after this life If any be desirous to know even the secrets of God I mean his determination as touching themselves their wives their children friends or foes after death let them resort to the Holy Ghost speaking in this place and converse with their owne hearts if they finde the quickning spirit but as a lively sparke raked up amongst the great heap of their owne corruptions they shall assuredly live for ever If they find onely meere flesh and blood to be their guide then wo to them they are in the state of Castawayes and lost creatures be they Prince or Peere noble or ignoble rich or poore there is no difference nor exception with God and therefore they ought speedily to sue for their deliverance through favour by the Sonne of God lest death prevent them to their everlasting misery But it may be these titles of Flesh and Spirit are unknowne or at least not observed through the subtlety of Sathan thickning the eye of dexter and right discerning therefore that we may throughly kenne the flesh in despight of the flesh and judge in the spirit of the spirit let us for our furtherance herein consider these sixe profitable observations 1. What Flesh is 2. What it is to live in the flesh 3. What that death is which is here threatned as a just punishment to such as live after the flesh 4. What the Spirit is 5. What it is to mortifie the deeds of the flesh 6. What is meant when he saith they shal loue 1. The word Flesh is sometimes taken for the body as 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us clense our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit that is of soule and body 2. For the humane nature of Christ who was put to death concerning the flesh 3. For this present life If thou take a wife thou sinnest not neverthelesse such shal have trouble in the flesh 4. For the outward aspect and appearance Yee know how through the infirmitie of the flesh I preached the Gospell 5. For the ordinary course of nature Gal. 4. 29. Hee that was borne after the flesh c. 6. For whole mankind All flesh is grasse c. 7. For naturall corruption and inclination of the mind will and affections to that which is against the Law and so it is taken in this place The reason why the holy Ghost termeth this naturall corruption inherent in the soule as well as the body by the name of flesh is because so strict is the Union betwixt the one and the other in an unregenerate man that as a loving couple they seeke the preservation of each others estate and like Hypocrates twins they laugh together they weepe together and are alike affected A bloody heart and a bloody hand a false heart and a false tongue a lascivious mind an adulterous eye yea and which is more so strangely sometimes is the soule overcome with the love of the body that whereas by nature reason should command and rule the flesh as the weaker vessell the belly and backe so subtly insinuate and creep into favour with the understanding that as the foolish wife with her beauty and composed devices over-ruleth her husband though a man of understanding So these importunat cravers never give over their suite unto reason they make it a drudge to sensuality and an attorney to sollicit the cause of meere grosse and carnall pleasure In consideration whereof I meane because of this mutuall intercourse of the soule and the body in accomplishing of sin many learned Divines have made this a question Whether the soule bee first infected with the contagion of the body or no but of that I will not stand it being besides our present purpose onely thus much I note that therefore the Holy Ghost nameth the flesh to intimate the mutuall confederacy betwixt the soul body of man how that by reason of sin he is now wilfully made a slave and vassall to fleshly desires And therefore likewise it may bee supposed that the Holy Ghost nameth the flesh onely as a man that blameth the provoking Wife for the lewd action done by her husband For albeit sinne lyeth principally in the soule as poyson in the teeth yet it sheddeth and disperseth it selfe at his pleasure actually into the members of the body of whom it is aptly accomplished as occasion is offered And as the whole toad is called a venomous creature because of some one part preserving poyson the rest being capable of the same virulent infection So the whole man is said to bee sinfull not as if the body of it selfe as it consisteth of bones sinnewes and living arteries can properly bee said to be sinfull otherwise then as the house is said to be wicked because of the wicked dwellers Albeit I graunt as the serpent was a fit instrument for the devil because of his subtilty so
having thy hand in every impious action with this imperious style sic volo sic jubeo I will and command it to bee so not respecting whether the thing bee crooked or straight right or wrong good or bad then is thy will meerely carnall and doth dominere like a blinde King or ignorant Pilot sitting at the sterne of the whole man and yet not skilled in one starre nor knowing one point of the card nor respecting the Compasse nor regarding the point of the diamond but downe the river with the full saile of affections and tempests of sudden passions no regard to the country whither wee saile no respect of the hidden rockes no consideration of fearefull gulfes no casting of anchor no notice of the Climate c. no marvell then if blinde will make in the end a sudden and fearefull shipwracke both of soule and body Heart To conclude if in thy heart as in a cage thou finde the uncleane birds of adultery and fornication the viper of malice and cockatrice of envy the hydra of covetousnesse consisting of many heads having in their fronts the superscriptions of thee very violence perjury murther and idolatry If in thy heart thou find infidelity security pride confidence in the creature c. If it bee full of hardnes so as no sinnes no judgements no hopes no feares no promises no instructions are able to awaken and melt the same If it bee full of impotency not altered by the invitations and intreaties of God to returne unto him not perswaded by the fruitlessenesse of all sinnefull lusts to forsake them If it be full of folly and madnesse so as all the creatures in the world are not able to cure it full of infidelity ready to depart from the living God under-valuing his precious promises and mistrusting his power full of pollution and uncleanenesse full of unsearchable deceit and wickednesse a very forge and mint wherein all manner of sinnes are framed in secret purposes and desires from whence they spring forth into life and action then is thy heart also nothing but flesh thy whole man nothing but rottennesse and corruption If it bee asked herein how I distinguish betwixt the Elect and the Reprobate for albeit Gods children bee purged through the blood of Christ yea and the force of sinne in some measure weakened in them and inherent sanctity begun in all the parts of their soules by the holy Ghost even in this life yet fleshly corruption is still harboured and the roote of every sinne remaines in the best putting forth the hemlocke of a wicked practice in their Christian course I answer yet can they not be said to live according to the flesh seeing the substance as it were and principall tenour of their lives is directed according to the Spirit As the aire in the dawning of the day is not wholly so dark nor wholly so light as at night and noone day So is the estate of the regenerate not all flesh as the wicked nor all Spirit as them that are glorified but partly flesh and partly spirit grace and corruption not severall in place but in reason to be distinguished yea the flesh is more in measure than the spirit and therefore Paul calls the Corinthians otherwise justified and sanctified yet carnall and we are said to receive but the first fruits of the Spirit whilest we are here Notwithstanding for all this such is the power of the Spirit that albeit it be small like David yet it is able ordinarily to prevaile against that uncircumcised Philistim the flesh And further it is of such inestimable vertue that as one graine of muske giveth a stronger perfume than many other grosse smells So doth that sweeten all our actions in the nostrils of God And as a man albeit all the parts of his body be dead so that he neither knowes nor sees nor can speake yet if he have any life in a corner of his heart any breath or any motion remaining none will be so hard hearted as to pull him out of his bed and bury him as a dead man So although in this life we have many a dead palsie many a dint many a dry buffet by the hand of Sathan yet so long as the breath of God is in us and we keepe the truth of the spirit like the star of a diamond it will cause us to shine in this darknes of our corruption and like an antidote preserve us against eternall death A word of application to two sorts and I proceed First to the Ministers of Gods word let mee speake my thoughts with griefe of heart Such is the universall impiety of this decayed age so apparent to the spiritual eye so weighty in the hand of him that wisely pondereth it that I feare me the Lord is neere and the day of visitation approacheth Is it not a strange thing to consider our Ministers how ignorant how arrogant how dissolute and carelesse many of them are to omit the empty caske the idoll minister what strange children doth our mother the Universitie nourish in her bosome how wanton how unbroken proud and licencious Theologie a science of living well and blessedly for ever is made a stepping stone to promotion a matter of disputation and idle speculation and the meere stuffe wherewithall to make a sermon Practice and obedience is commended to the people but as for the Clerke that belongs not to him It is well if hee reprove sinne soundly in the pulpit though he be utterly dissolute in his owne person Beloved to speake according to the spirit and yet live after the flesh is an infallible note of an hypocrite let men make what they can of it Not that I byte the faithfull shepheards of Gods flocke in any place whatsoever seated in this our Church so farre is it from mee to touch the Lords annointed or to harme his Prophets But the licencious preacher is the man I taxe as being the shame and discredit of the Lords Ministery As concerning the people to undertake to single out all the fleshly and carnall professors of the Gospell were to number the drops of the great Ocean to tell the starres and to cypher the sands of the sea shore The sonnes of Adam have so covered the earth that a righteous man is scarce to be found a man that indeede warreth against the flesh grieveth at the times and sigheth for our sins Are there not many among us which beginne in the Spirit and end in the flesh that faint in the race and embrace the world hot in the beginning key-cold in the ending stayning their names and defiling their soules I speake of the better sort which as it seemes thinke the Lord too long a comming and therefore will fall too and stay no longer Is it not a grievous thing to behold many an ancient in Israel to be so sowly overseene as to sell their birthright for a messe of pottage their God for a peece of bread and the unspeakable
despaire and in the wicked to torment them before their time yet in respect of God a most friendly admonition for by this a man is suffered in a vision to see and feele the torment of hell to know the price of Christs blood to labour by all meanes possibly to make sure his election In the wicked also it hath this use I could never have thought it possible for a mortall man to have beene capable of that measure of distresse had not the Lord in his mercy for the further subduing also of my bedlame flesh suffered mee sometimes to behold and feele the flashings of hell through his grace causing me as a child to be stilled by the view of fearefull beasts If then in a dream or in a mans life time there may bee such an incredible horror that it may cause the eyes to stare the tongue to rave the haire to stand an end How much more hideous will it be when really and in deede with perfect knowledge sense broad waking we shall feele the strokes of the Almighty the terrours of God shall lay hold of us In consideration whereof in the name of God as you tender your eternall welfare enter into the examination of your selves and discerne of your estates whether they bee carnall or no cry out for the spirit you heare what the Holy Ghost saith If you walke after the flesh ye shall dye How strangely doth the sentence of Corporall death appall a man though pronounced by a wretch like himselfe and shall not the doome of death eternall given out by the Holy Ghost at all astonish you Oh let not Sathan harden your hearts resist the devill and he will flye from thee It is a Commandement and a promise What faire warnings doth God give unto men by himselfe and Ministers by the motions of his Spirit and checkes of our consciences from time to time and shall we bee so voide of grace as to make our selves a booty for Sathan to stand still while he deprives us of our lives and soules and all Me thinks reason should something prevaile with us in things so neerely concerning our best good But alas a hardened heart like Pharaohs a flint an adamant a marble spirit no admonition will serve its turn where grace is wanting no impression takes any roote Men will make triall and then beleeve A feareful experience this is thou maist first try in an earthly cause and then be warned but from hell thou canst not returne Remember Dives credit not the multitude Olde Tophet is wide and large humble thy selfe therefore betime and repent of thy grievous sinnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But if ye mortifie As before the Apostle described an infallible token of death so here he proceedeth to shew in like manner a teckmerion or a certaine signe of life and that is the killing and slaying of sinne which is called Mortification For as seed which thou sowest is not quickened before it die or this corruptible body glorified before it be for a season dead and buried So neither is the manâ—ramed â—ramed in us which according to God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse untill the olde man bee wounded and laid for dead in us which like a gyant standeth up to expell and oppose the prosters and meanes of all holinesse And this is the cause that the holy Ghost maketh mention onely of this weakning of the force of sin through the death and buriall of Christ not excluding the other part of sanctification which is vivification viz. a vertue flowing from the resurrection of Christ causing us also to rise to newnesse of life It were to small purpose to bring place upon place to prove that which through the whole booke of God is so cleerely apparant How shall we that are dead to sin live yet therein They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof What can be plainer than this As the Physitian first purgeth before hee giveth a restorative so every one that shall be saved hereafter must first receive an allayer of his corruption here he must first be launced before he can be healed You may know the body of sinne in all his particular members by that which hath beene spoken touching the Flesh. Let every man woman here present examine himselfe from top to toe what cure is wrought by the spirit in his soul whether the kingdome of sinne and Sathan be demolished and weakned and the Kingdome of Jesus Christ advanced and built up in him whether corruption dyes and grace lives in his heart I beseech you deale faithfully with your owne soules and answer me directly to these interrogatories Are thy words which heretofore have beene full of prophanenesse and worldlinesse now directed to Gods glory and the good of those among whom thou livest Are thy thoughts which heretofore were loose and ungodly now bounded within a sacred compasse and spent wholly on heavenly things Is thy understanding informed of the mysteries of Christs Kingdome Is thy memory which heretofore hath beene stuffed with trash and toyes now capable and greedy of divine knowledge Doest thou order every passage of thy life by direction out of Gods word Art thou inwardly conscionable in the performance of holy duties Doth the tendernesse of thy coÌ„science smite thee not onely for grosse and open sinnes but even for vaine cogitations and the least appearance of any evill Art thou watchful against all occasions and temptations of sinne Doest thou feele thy selfe grow and increase in the wayes of holinesse Hast thou such a gracious taste of the glory of God and eternall life that thou desirest to meete thy Saviour in the clouds not so much to be rid out of the miseries of this life as to bee freed from the heavy burthen of sin which hangs so fast upon thee In a word doest thou so judge of things now as thou wouldest doe hereafter when thy soule is best able to judge as in the houre of death and the day of distresse Doest thou approve of things as they further thy last account as they commend thee more or lesse unto God and will bring true peace or sorow to thy soul at last and no otherwise then blessed and happy is thy condition and know this for the comfort of thy soule that thou art dearely beloved of God yea his peculiar one and precious in his eyes Sathan and all the powers of darknesse are fast chained up for ever doing thee any hurt Thou shalt never more bee afraid of evill tidings though the earth be moved and the mountaines fall into the midst of the Sea yet thy heart shall abide strong and comfortable I dare boldly pronounce that God is reconciled unto thee and that his sweete love which never changeth hath seized on thy soule What will it availe a man to say he is rich like the bragging Laodicean and yet be extreame miserable poore and naked what will it
further any of us to say we feele the decaying of sinne when as the Kingdome of Sathan still flourisheth in us Away with this glozing and deceitfull dealing hypocriticall holinesse is worse then professed wickednesse this it is so odious in Gods eyes that hee will plague those in whom it ruleth with his severest judgments those very good workes wherein the hypocrite seemeth to make hast to heaven cary him post to hell Nothing brings the soule more into a generall consumption then this sinne it deprives a man of true peace of conscience hardens his heart and fills him with such inward perplexity that hee dares not looke God in the face with any comfort The deeds of the body The meaning of the holy Ghost is not that wee should cut off the outward acts of sinne onely like many a dissembling hypocrite which hath the gift of restraining his affections that they breake not out but that wee should kill sinne at the heart and in the cradle then shall wee make sure worke and never hereafter stand in feare The next way to drench the conduit is to dry up the fountaine In vaine dost thou loppe sinne unlesse it be deprived of its master roote It may be thou wilt say that is a thing impossible Indeed to thee which art wholly evill it is marke therefore what followeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the Spirit This is that little David which taketh the Goliah of our corrupt nature and choppeth off his head this is hee that bringeth light out of darknesse life out of death which shineth as a starre through the watry clouds of humane infirmitie As there bee divers acceptations of the word flesh so also of the Spirit sometimes it is taken for the soule sometimes for naturall reason but that is not here meant To omit all other constructions the word Spirit in this place is taken for that created quality of holinesse which by the holy Ghost is so wrought in the minde will and affections of a man whereby the power and force of sin comes to be abated the faculty of holines inherēt sanctity is renewed in us But why doth the Apostle say if yee mortifie is it in our power to deprive sinne of its life and being It pleaseth God to speake of things as done by us when as indeed they are wrought in us Such is his fatherly wisedome that oft he ascribeth those things to us which hee himselfe secretly effecteth Wee mortifie the deeds of the body but it is by the spirits helpe the strength to subdue sinne is put into us from heaven Wee are as able to shake the foundation of the earth with our little finger as to shake our sin by our owne strength Nature will not slay our lusts it must be the Spirit of Christ corrupt nature labours by all meanes to preserve its owne being Hee that goes among Lions must needs be torne in pieces sinnes are Lions and will soone destroy us if God help us not Mortification of sinne is possible through the Spirits assistance otherwise impossible When therefore thou feelest pride covetousnesse lust growing upon thee looke for power from above or else thou art undone Pray in the words of Iehosaphat Lord there is no strength in mee to stand against these sinnes neither doe I know what to doe but mine eyes are towards thee Alas how are we overcome of evill whereas we should overcome evill with good we shake at the very noyse of temptation and give in presently wee have power over our eyes tongues or thoughts but let sinne passe in and out at pleasure All which shews how nothing wee are in our selves Sathan and the world are too strong for us standing in our owne might but by leaning on the power of God we remaine invincible whatsoever inordinatenesse a true Christian espies hee presently endeavours the killing through the efficacy of Christ. Indeed passions are not so bridled nor corruptions so quelled that they doe not stir but the force and power of them is so farre subdued that they shall not raigne or hale us ordinarily to that which is euill Hast thou been long kept under by some customary vice against which thou hast resolved and resolved but canst not prevaile Get thee to Christ by the help of his Spirit thou shalt get victory over all thy infirmities Die to thy selfe renounce the broken reede of thine owne freewill which hath so often deceived thee and put all thy trust in the grace of Christ that will crucifie thy olde man and give him his deaths wound be weake in thy selfe and strong in the Lord and through his might thou shalt be more than conquerour As faith encreases the power of corruption will decay and languish this fires the heart with such an unquenchable love to God that in comparison of obedience it contemneth the whole world besides It puts into us both courage and constancy to fight against the strongest lusts and set upon the practise of the most difficult duties notwithstanding all opposition from the world and devill yea though wee have beene foyled or taken the repulse Hee will not feare the subduing of the most head-strong passion who resteth upon God for power and abilitie nor bee dismayed because once hee hath received a foyle who depends upon God for strength to recover nor dread the might of his greatest adversary who knowes that God will bee at his right hand to sustaine him nor start aside in the most difficult dutie whose heart is fast linked unto the Lord and relyeth upon his grace to be enabled to whatsoever he is pleased to call him In the affaires of this life we love to excell and outstrip others and in matters of Religion to bee dead and lumpish is it not abominable would we raigne with the Saints hereafter and not labour with them now receive the price and not runne the race divide the spoile and not fight the battle The Merchant undertakes dangerous adventures to raise his estate yet alas what is the gold of India to the joyes of heaven a fading possession to an eternall weight of glory When once we discern what love the Lord beareth to us we cannot but returne love for love when a man considers hath Christ given himselfe for mee forgiven me so many debts conferred favours of all kindes upon mee what then shal I retribute to him againe O my soule why doest thou not resigne thy selfe to the pleasure of his will in every thing run when he calleth and doe what he requireth at thy hands what doest thou feare wherewith art thou entangled God is thy Father and Soveraigne to him thou owest thy selfe and all that thou hast thy honour wealth life or whatever is more precious then those Thou canst not love thy selfe as is meete if thou deny not thy selfe to follow the Lord in all things Is there any thing too hard tobedone for his sake too deare or good for him what hast thou in heaven or
earth worthy to be affected but thy Saviour What is to be dreaded but his displeasure Is there any recompence to the joyes of heaven any danger to the torments of hell any pleasure to the sense of Gods favour Resolve then with thy selfe and say I have fully purposed to observe thy commandemēts for they are the joy of my heart but Lord I leane not upon mine owne strength but upon thy grace who givest both to will and to doe thou hast commanded me to keep thy testimonies give mee I pray thee to doe what thou requirest Teach me the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it to the end Some understand by the mortifying of sinne not onely the first wound which it receives at a sinners first conversion but also the whole practice of repentance renewed thorow the whole course of a mans life for a man after his conversion is continually to lie in armes against his owne flesh and to stir up the spirit with the forces thereof which otherwise will bee overwhelmed with the adversary not able to maintaine the fight For Christians whilest they are here are not wholly flesh nor wholly spirit but a part of each God hath placed in our bodies two inmates of contrary dispositions two strangers of divers natures and qualities not in the highest degree for then they would utterly expell one another but in a remisse māner which causeth this bickering and skirmishing in our inward man Now whereas every one whose understanding is renewed seeth the drift of his flesh however thorow the deceit thereof he doth not alwaies feele it give mee leave to prescribe some few directions wherby he may come to have his corruptions subdued and temptations vanquished that they triumph not over his spirit to the disquiet of his conscience That which I shall principally commend to every Christian is that hee buckle about him the compleat armour of God wee must not fly away from Sathan a run-away never makes a good conclusion of his temptations Some sins indeed are best conquered by flying but from sathan it is neither possible nor lawfull to fly However stand it out what if we quake better tremble every veine than sinne better die in the place than fly from the place Resist the devill and he will fly from you we are sure to conquer if wee keepe our ground Sathan will play his part to hold his hold and will never out unlesse hee be forced When a man comes to abhor his lusts then hee gives sinne its deaths wound It is the nature of sin not to be driven away without force and violence A few angry lookes and sharp words will not doe it you may rate away your dog but sinne is not so easie removed as appeares in many who will speake bitterly against their lusts calling themselves beast and wretch but presently they returne to their former courses Whē thou hast therefore to do with sinne have no compassion fight against it with all thy might never leave till thou hast got the heart bloud of it out so much as thou sparest sin so much thou hurtest thy selfe Saul spared Agag but it was his ruine and if thou sparest sinne it will cost thee the Kingdome of heaven kill therefore thy sinnes or they will kill thee It is a case of life and death bee carefull old wounds must have strong medicines What adoe have wee to bring under our unruly lusts hee that favours these let him want favour we weede our gardens and are ever weeding sins are ill weeds and grow apace our hearts are a step-mother to goodnesse and a natural mother to vice therefore bee alwaies dealing with it The Captaine that batters the enemies fort a day or two and then gives over gives the more courage to his enemy and loses his labour In this life thou shalt never want something to be mortified Hast thou begun to repent never give over so long as thou hast a heart to sigh for thy sinnes Sathan that strong man will not yeeld possession suddenly looke how much power wee get to resist sinne so much power Sathan loseth there is never a prayer wee make nor act of resisting that wee doe use but gives the devill a knock and sin a mortifying blow by fighting against our lusts what ever wee see and feele at first wee doe and shall conquer corruption at last Repell evill motions at their first onset if wee resist at the beginning the worke is halfe done wee shall find Sathan a coward but if wee resist not wee shall find him a lyon wee must trust neither our selves nor sathan with any temptation Begin as soon as the temptation begins to peepe and where sathan begins doe thou begin despise not the least sin a small wound may kil a man in time little gashes make way for greater If the enemy assault one way and the garrison defend another way the towne is lost Sathan will try his skill and doe his uttermost to prevaile against us why should wee not then improve our graces to make head against him we may preserve our selves from being conquered by him though we cannot utterly subdue him There is no possibility of remaining safe without resistance they are much deceived who think though they have no spirituall armour upon them they may rest secure Alas what can a naked man doe hee can no more free himselfe from the power of the devill than a poore silly lambe from a roaring lyon If we bee foyled the fault is our owne for God gives us means to stand fast Who would not be kept from spiritual wounds hurts from eternall bondage to sin and sathan 2. Beware of pride swelling in the body is dangerous so is it in the soule when a man pleases himselfe with his owne weldoing his heart is soone puffed up Hee that thinkes to stand by his owne strength shall suddenly fall the weakest shall be able to overcome their greatest enemies being under-propped of the Lord. In every strong encounter we must look for supply from above It is dangerous to looke for that frō our selves which wee must have from Christ. All our strength lies in him as Sampsons did in his haire therefore dependant spirits are alwaies the best Nothing is stronger than humility that goeth out of it selfe or weaker than pride that resteth upon its owne bottome Sathan knowes that nothing can prevaile against Christ or those that relye upon him therefore hee labours to keepe men in selfe dependancy If you would in truth mortifie sinne represent it to your thoughts as the most hurtfull hatefull and most loathsome thing in the world and represent to your minde the obeying of Gods will as the most sweete profitable and excellentest thing whatsoever and then you cannot but shunne the one and embrace the other for Sinne is the onely object of Gods infinite hatred he hates nothing at all properly but iniquity Now what a bedlam is hee who willingly commits any sinne
the empty parched soule that comes unto him Hee is an overflowing fountaine his grace is unsearchable his store can never bee diminished Hee filleth the empty and satisfieth the poore that he might bee acknowledged the well-spring of all grace and goodnesse Lastly be sure to keepe the flesh under by stopping all passages of provision for it cleere thy minde of sinfull cogitations blot out of thy memory ribald speeches and obscene jests preserve thy heart from unlawfull lusts wicked desires and unruly passions Keepe thine appetite from intemperance and excesse thy tongue from corrupt communication thine eares from ungodly and dishonest discourses thine eyes from waton wicked objects and finally thy body from sloth and idlenesse effeminate delicacie and carnall pleasures It fares with the flesh and the spirit as with two mortall enemies in the field hee that by any meanes aideth and strengtheneth the one doth thereby make way for weakening of the other Hee that joyneth with the flesh doth oppose the spirit and hee that standeth on the spirits side doth bring the flesh into captivity Who would strengthen an enemie to oppugne himselfe wee give stings and weapons to the flesh arming it against the spirit when as wee pamper the body with delicacy inflame it with wine handle it daintily and nourish inticements and provocations to lust in it If the flesh be full fed it will despise the Spirit and commit many outrages in a Christian soule Yea it will waxe proud and insolent foyle the regenerate part and force it to live in miserable slavery Better to become a swine-heard with the prodigall than to bee a servant to our base lusts The heathen could say he was borne to more noble ends than to bee a slave to his owne body and shall not our spirits bee elevated to a higher pitch of excellency than his as having God for our Father and Christ for our elder brother which of us enobled by birth and liberally brought up being clothed with lothsome some ragges and defiled with noysome excrements would not hastily strippe them off and with indignation cast them away This flesh of ours doth us more mischiefe than the devill himselfe alas hee could never hurt us were we not first betrayed by this inbred enemy yea it is worse then hell and damnation as being the cause of both without it hell were no hell neither could destruction fasten upon us All the outrages and horrible crimes which are committed in the world may challenge the flesh for their chiefe cause and author It was this that pierced our Saviours hands and feete which moveth men daily to crucifie him afresh and trample his precious blood under their filthy feet and can we finde in our hearts to have any peace or truce with such a malicious enemy shall we not rather with implacable rage and constant resolution assault pursue and wound it to the death shall we not rather take part with the Spirit in warring against the flesh and disfurnish all provision and munition from the one that the other may be furnished with all necessaries Our spirit is the better part and should bee most regarded Who would deprive his soule of so sweet a guest to entertaine inordinate lusts The more familiar Sampson was with Dalilah the more was God a stranger to him For the weaknes of the flesh encreaseth the strength of the spirit even as cōtrariwise the strēgth of the flesh bringeth weaknesse to the spirit and indeed what wonder is it for a man to be made stronger by the weakening of his enemy who would purchase the pleasure of a base sinne at so high a rate as to lose the comfortable society of Gods blessed Spirit what meanest thou to admit such a mate into thy heart with which Gods spirit cannot sort It may bee thou wilt not rudely bid him get out of doores yet thou mayest weary him forth by welcomming such guests into thy soule as he can no wayes brook Oughtest thou not much rather to crucifie the flesh and walke in the spirit that so thou mayest not fulfill the lusts thereof doth not God call upon thee to slay thy corruptions to doe thy best not onely to subdue them but to put them to death encouraging thee thereunto by a gracious promise that if through the spirit thou doest mortifie the deeds of the body thou shalt live both the life of grace here and of glory hereafter What is the use of all this but to stir us to looke about us seeing wee have so secret and subtill and adversary to circumvent us Thinke not the Christian combat ended when some few battles are fought that thou art now out of danger rather expect and prepare for more Many stout Captaines have been overthrowne because after a cōquest they feared no fresh assault The flesh is restlesse in its assaults ever besieging us wee can neither fly from it nor chase away that from us it is not therefore sufficient to make good onsett nor yet to hold out the brunt of some assaults but all must be finished how bitter so ever ere we can looke for victory We must resist unto bloud and bee faithfull unto the death if ever we expect the crowne of life He that prevaileth in some conflicts and is at length vanquished cannot be said to overcome Saul fought many of the Lords battels valiantly but hee withdrew himselfe and the Lord forsooke him though thou hast done much yet give not over so long as there remains any thing to be done Consider not what conflicts have beene endured as how many are still to bee encountred Regard what is to come rather than what is past timerously to cease from resisting temptation is dangerous to our selves and dishonorable to God it maketh Sathan to insult over us and get advantage against us let us not thinke if we yeeld the field the devil will bee contented It is not the glory of conquest that he seeketh so much as our destruction which when I consider I cannot but bewaile the naked condition of many persons who suffer their armour to hang on the wals and rust never putting it on to any use Alas what benefit can come by a thing that lies dead doe we thinke we stand in no need of it or that God made this defence in vain experienced Christians find the contrary Our life is nothing but a continuall warfare so long as we are in this mortall body carnall motions will rise in our hearts though wee cut them off they spring out againe though thou quench them they are kindled againe will thou nill thou they soone returne they may be subdued but cannot bee rooted out It is no easie work to lead a christian life considering the continuall conflict of these two parties the flesh and spirit of so contrary dispositions within us It is impossible wee should ever walk after the one unlesse we resist the other Sathan will bee sure to take part with corruption and
hand and be blessed but if otherwise they grow downeward and thou live after the flesh assuredly thou shalt fall on the left hand and perish irrecoverably Wee shall not be judged according to the particular instant of our death but according to our general course of life 〈◊〉 according to our deeds in that present but according to the desires of our hearts before But seeing they who walke after the flesh are dead already why doth the Apostle say You shall die I answer both are true every ungodly person is now dead but yet a more fearefull death abides them For albeit they be dead in sinne and deprived of the favour of the Creator yet the vaine comforts of the creature doe so bewitch them that they know not how miserable and wretched they are but when the last sentence of damnation shall bee pronounced against them they shall not onely bee banished from the presence of God into everlasting perditiō where the fire of the Lords indignation shall perpetually torment them but they shall also bee stripped of all comfort and refreshment from the creature whatsoever The least degree of their punishment shall be a fearefull famine of worldly supportments Hee that knowes any thing of the narrow way to heaven of the nature of Gods justice and the cunning sleights of Satan of the difficulty of true repentance and how fearfully mans heart is hardned by custome and continuance in sinne would not delay making peace with God till his last houres for ten thousand worlds Which when I consider I cannot but deplore the iniquity of our times wherein not onely carnall men have set themselves to worke all manner of sinne with greedinesse but even they which heretofore have probably seemed to mortifie the deeds of the body doe now renue the battle and are in outward view reconciled and shake hands with the flesh Now are the dayes wherein the love of many shall waxe cold when men shall bee lovers of themselves lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God Oh how is the Spirit quenched and the flesh inflamed every where shew me the man that truly endeavours the suppressing of sinne Oh this is a hard taske it requireth much patience and vigilancie and will bring no small paine and sorrow to the flesh in the end What then be not dismayed thy future peace will more then recompense thy present trouble What availes a little outward flashy joy when the conscience is disquieted and vexed within who would redeeme a moment of pleasure with eternity of paine All is but bitter sweetes so long as sinne raignes What is the reason of these fearefull outcryes and desperate conclusions of Christians concerning their spiritual estate Whence is it that they taking Satans part in accusing and condemning themselves do utter such dolefull exclamations as these when conscience is throughly awakened Alas I have most wretchedly spent the prime and strength of mine age in vanity and pleasure in lewdnesse and lust The best of my time hath been wofully wasted in obeying Sathan and serving my selfe and therefore though I be weary of my former wayes and looke backe upon them with a trembling heart and grieved spirit yet I am affraid God will never vouchsafe to cast his eye of compassion upon my soule Though I have beene a professour long yet many times my heart is full of doubting when I call to minde the hainousnesse of my unregenerate life and see since I was enlightened and should have behaved my selfe in forwardnesse and fruitfulnesse for God answerable to my former folly and licentiousnesse in evill so many slips and imperfections every day and such weake distracted discharging of duties commanded both towards God and man that my very spirits sink within me Many times when I reach out the hand of my faith to fetch some speciall promise into my soule for refreshing and comfort comparing advisedly my owne vilenesse and nothingnesse with the riches of mercy and grace shining therein I am overwhelmed with admiration and thinke with my selfe how is it possible that this should bee Can such glorious things belong to such a wretch and worme as I am I cannot deny but there is mercy enough in God but for me such a notorious wicked liver as I am mercy for me surely it cannot be Alas I have beene no ordinary sinner my corruptions have carryed me beyond the villanies of the vilest creature you can name the enormity of my wayes have set an infamous brand upon mee in the sight of the world besides those secret pollutions and sinfull practises which no eye ever beheld save God alone Had I not beene extreamely outragious and gone on thus with a high hand I might have had some hope but now all expectation failes me I despaire of salvation c. Oh the feares and perplexities which pursue the soule when sinne is once committed conscience unpacified will rave and dragge a sinner before Gods tribunall The sting of an accusing conscience is like an Harlot more bitter then death Who so pleases God shall escape from it but the sinner shall bee taken in it Conscience being disquieted no earthly thing can asswage and mitigate it Yee shall live After that God hath called iustified and sanctified a poore sinner hee glorifieth him at last with himselfe in eternall blisse Death is but a sleepe to such as are in Christ wherein the body is separated from the soule rotting in the earth a while that it may bee the more capable of glory hereafter but the soule is immediately transported into heaven and there remaineth unto the last judgement praising God and expecting the consummation of the Kingdome of glory Before the comming of Christ the powers of heaven shall be shaken Sunne and Mooone shall suspend their light the starres shall seeme to fall from heaven the Elect shall rejoyce the reprobate shall tremble the whole universe shall bee consumed with fire and depart with a noise of the chariot wheeles the earth and elements with the workes thereof shall be consumed in a moment and brought to nothing At the same time shall the trumpet be heard soūded by an archangell Christ shall come in the clouds with great power glory with a troop of angels Then the Elect which were dead at the hearing of the trumpet shall rise with their bodies and the rest alive shall be changed in a moment and all of them shall bee made like the glorious body of Christ. After which they being gathered before the throne of God shall bee separated from the reprobate and caryed in the aire set upon the right hand of God where they shall heare this sentence Come ye blessed c. After which they shall enjoy everlasting happinesse the parts whereof is eternall life and perfect glory This eternall life is that fellowship with God whereby God of himself is life unto the Elect. They shall not need meat drinke sleepe aire heate cold breath physick apparell the light
of the sun or moone for the spirit of God shall bee instead of all these from whom immediately they shall bee quickened for ever Their glory consisteth in this that they shall continually behold the face of God 2. They shall be like unto Christ just holy incorruptible glorious honourable beautifull strong nimble 3. They shall possesse the new heavens and the new earth they shall joyfully praise and laud the name of the Lord world without end FINIS A Table of the principall heads A DIsorderly Affections discovered Page 41 Misery of being guided thereby 47 Antidotes against sinne 65 B BEginnings of sinne to be resisted 190 Better be in hell than offend Christ. 197 Body not to be pampered 220 C HOw a man may know whether his heart be carnall 87 Conscience corrupted and how 33 What a stirring conscience is 35 Carnall men indocible 38 Corrupt motions natural to a carnall heart 61 A fleshly conscience described 93 The distresse of conscience that betides the wicked 154 The estate of a creature cursed of God 131 Rejoycing to crosse a mans selfe a signe of sincerity 244 D DEath what is meant by it here 127 What the first death is 141 The second death described 133 Then the most secret sinne shall be discovered 149 Danger of being unarmed 191 218 Discovery of a true Christian or infallible marks to try himself by 236 Christians should discerne betwixt the deceit of sin and the fruit of sin 252 F FAith a speciall means to overcome temptations 212 How it doth this 213 Nothing hurts us so much 〈◊〉 our owne flesh 220 Forsakings of sin different 246 Flâ—sh what it signifieth 7 It disperseth sinne into the whole man 11 Why naturall corruption is called by the name of flâ—sh 8 It cleaves close to our nature 50 What it is to be fleshly minded 31 It derives venome upon every action 51 It tempts daily 52 It continually warres against the spirit 55 It is unwearied in sinfull follicitations 59 It raignes in naturall men 57 Not so in the godly 100 They are part flesh and part spirit 101 We must fight with Sathan if wee would overcome him 186 G GRace abides not in a carnall memory 96 How a man may know whether grace hath got the upper hand in him 230 Grace cannot stand with the Regiment of sinne 232 Nothing but grace can subdue sin To bee deprived of Gods favour an unspeakeable misery 141 246 H HEart narrowly to be watched 64 An unsound one discovered 99 The thorne in our flesh should humble us 70 Want of Humiliation very prejudiciall to the soule 73 Symptomes of a good heart 237 Hypocrites speake after the spirit and live after the flesh 107 Hypocrisie the danger of it 170 L LAw hath a double use 1 Little sins very dangerous 117 Lust growes never old 62 Losse of Gods presence what it is 138 Loathsomnesse of sin described 194 M MIsery of being under the flesh 16 Memory corrupt through sin 36 How discerned 94 No member to be trusted alone 85 Man by nature uncapable of goodnesse 27 Hee hath nothing in himselfe to glory of 80 Mortification described discovered 165 183 How we are said to mortifie sin 174 Meanes to subdue the flesh 185 Markes of a spirituall Christian. 239 Jealousie over our hearts a meanes to keepe out sinne 69 Licentious Ministers reprooved 106 O ORiginall sin a hereditary disease 48 It overspreads the whole man 88. 49 It is full of propagation 63 Its manner of tempting us 81 P FLesh powerfull to bring about its projects 57 Policies of the flesh to be studied 76 Pride disableth to resist temptations 192 Provision for the flesh must be hindered 219 Peace with the flesh dangerous 226 Carnall Professors reproved 109 Discovered 112 Our present condition a prediction of our future 253 Price of sin infinite 199 R SInners shall be exceedingly reproched at the day of judgment 146 Root of sin must be killed 171 Reason a weak thing to expell temptations 214 S SOule corrupted by sin 23 Sin must be slaine or it will slay us 250 Signes of a fleshly mind 50 Sinne the greatest ill 197 Hainous sins waste the conscieÌ„ce 116 To live in any sin a signe we are under Sathans bondage 120 Many begin in the spirit and end in the flesh 109 Impenitent sinners shall surely bee damned 122 Society with the devills every sinners portion 151 The Spirit onely can mortifie the flesh â—5 Sinne is not driven away with an â—â—gry locke 186 Signes of the Spirits prevailing in us 235 A Christians strength is in God 216 193 Severity against our owne sinnes a blessed signe of grace 240 T TEmptations of the flesh undiscernable 77 Tendernesse of conscience a speciall preservative against sin 201 It is a great blessing 202 Yet may be turned into a curs 203 Tryall of a true Christian. 166 V VOyce of conscience to bee hearkened to 206 Vniversall hatred of sin discovers a gracious heart 241 W WIll since the fall corrupted 39 A corrupt will discovered 96 Men weake in themselves 176 Every sinner underualues the bloud of Christ. 200 FINIS 1 Pet. 3. 18 1 Cor. 7. Gal. 1. 13. Esay 44. 7. Reas. Gen. 6. 3. Genes 8. John 3. 6. Rom 7. RoÌ„ 7. 21. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Rom 7. 45. Rom. 1. 19. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Luk. 24. 45 Quest. Answ. Tit. 1. 15. What a dead conscience is 1. Tim 4. What a stirring conscience is Phil. 2. 3. Luke 15. Rom. 7 Rom. 7. Iames 1. 14. Joh. 14. 30. Gal. 5. 1 Pet. 2. Mar. 9. 24. Rom. 6. Rom. 7. 23 Rom. 7. Heb. 13. 5. Hos. 14. James 4. 7. Eccles. 1. 8. Vse Job 31. 1. Psal. 39. Gen. 39. Psal. 101. Vse 3. Gal. 5. Iob 31. 1. James 3. 6. Psal 39. 1. Rom. 12. 2. Vse Ephes. 4. 23 2 Cor. 3. 1 Rom. 8. Vse 1. Vse 2. Phil. 3. 8. Mat. 5. Quest. Answ. Obiect Answ. Acts 5. Mat. 25. Eccles. 11. Job 27. Job 2. Rev. 2. 11. Rev. 21. 18 Quest. Answ. 1 Thes. 4. 16. Mat. 25. Quest. Answ. Job 1. Psal. 139. 1 Joh. 2. 18. Esay 66. Rev. 22. 8. Mat. 13. 1 Cor. 15. What vivification is Rom. 6. Gal. 5. Revel 3. Quest. Answ. 2 Chro. 20 Psal. 119. Ephes. 6. 2 Tim. 2. 1 Pet. 5. 1 Sam. 15. 2 Pet. 2. Deut. 28. 18. Psal. 51. 2. Sam. 24. 10. Acts 24. 26 Jonah 4. 4. 1 Joh. 5. 4. Rom. 4. 7. Vse Heb. 12. Bellum est non triumphans Quest. Answ. Rom. 7. Rom. 7 22 1 Pet. 4. Col. 3. Psal. 40. Mat. 16. 25 Quest. Answ. Every sin is as the forbidden fruit Eccles. 11. Obiect Answ. Vse Prov. 7.