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
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
sing Davids Psalms 3. Answer the Objections made against it 4. Give some Rules and Directions how Christians may practise this Ordinance to the Glory of God and to their own great benefit and spiritual advantage For the First Singing of Psalms was once an Ordinance of God in the Church and a part of Divine Worship and never repealed under the Gospel Psal 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to him with Psalms And 't is sorted with other duties that are of a perpetual obligation as Prayer Hearing the Word c. v. 6. 7. 'T was practised by those eminent Saints of God Moses Deborah Barak David the sweet Singer of Israel Solomon and others whose Songs and Hymnes we have recorded in the old Testament 2. The Prophesies in Scripture that foretel the state of the Church under the Gospel do speak of Psalms to be used as a part of Gods Worship and Service then Compare Rom. 15.9 with Psal 18.49 Rom. 15.9 And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written for this cause I will confesse to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy Name Psal 18.49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the Heathen and sing praises unto thy Name 3. We have several exhortations to it in the New Testament Eph. 5.18 And be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit V. 19. Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymnes and Spiritual Songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spirituall Songs singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. Jam. 5.13 Is any among you afflicted let him pray is any merry let him sing Psalms 'T is spoken generally Is any merry let him sing c. not that it is unlawful to sing at other times for then it might be argued as well that 't is not lawful to pray but when sad but as prayer is the best remedie for sorrowes so thanksgiving or singing to Gods praise is the proper duty in the time of Mercies and Comforts In Misery the proper duty is prayer In Prosperity giving thanks 4. We have Directions and Rules given us how to sing in a right manner Namely with Grace in our hearts unto the Lord Which directions were needlesse if singing of Psalms were not a duty under the Gospel 5. We find it practised by our blessed Saviour and his Disciples Mat. 26.30 And when they had sung an Hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives And by Paul and Silas Acts 16.25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them 6. In the primitive times it was frequently practised insomuch that the Heathens took notice of this use and custome among the Christians Pliny writing to Trajan the Emperor tels him of the Christians morning Hymns or Psalms to Christ and God as an usual practise in their solemn Worship I come now to the Second thing That 't is lawful and warrantable to sing Davids Psalms 1. Because no composures can be equal to those of Gods Spirit If any Psalms therefore are to be sung then surely such as are given by Divine inspiration as Davids were Those excellent composures being part of the Word of God and full of Heavenly matter tending to instruction and consolation and being consigned to the use of the Church ought to be preferr'd before the composures of private persons ordinarily gifted and not infallibly assisted Observe that 2 Chron. 29.30 Moreover Hezekiah the King and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the Seer and they sang praises with gladness As for that extraordinary gift of composing Psalms by the sudden suggestion of the holy Ghost which was given to some of the members of the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 14. it is now ceased with other extraordinary gifts as that of Tongues and Healing c. 2. The Apostle in those two places before mentioned Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 by using those three words Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs does seem plainly to point at Davids Psalms for they answer exactly to those three Hebrew words Shirim Tehillim Mizmorim whereby Davids Psalms were called divided and distinguished 3. 'T was the custome of the Jewes to sing some of Davids Psalms in the night of the Passeover as Scalliger Buxtorfius and others skill'd in their customes inform us Those Psalmes were those six from the 113th to the 119th which were call'd the great Hallelujah And 't is more than probable Christ with his Disciples followed their custome herein because in other things he observed their usual Passeover Rites I come now to the Third thing to answer the Objections usually made against this duty Obj. 1. Some scruple to sing in a mixt Congregation where wicked men joyn that praise not God in a right manner Ans To render praises is a duty all men owe to God David cals on all creatures to sing praises to God Psal 145. And all the Kingdomes of the Earth are bidden to praise the Lord Psal 68.32 Though therefore wicked men do not praise God as they should yet they sin more in not doing it at all then in not doing it in a right manner 2. In Exod. 15. We find Moses and the Children of Israel sang praises to God together And yet surely there were some wicked persons among them Paul in the ship Acts 27.35 gave thanks to God before Infidels and professed Heathens If the presence of wicked men should hinder the acceptation of those that are sincere the people of God were in a most sad condition being never certain but some secret Hypocrite may be in the most pick'd Assembly But the best is God will accept us according to our integrity not our company God will hear the bleating of one sheep though in the midst of a thousand wolves If the wicked take the Name of God in vain sin lies at their own doors We warn them against it If they do not their duties as they should must we therefore neglect ours Obj. 2. Why should we sing Psalms Cannot we read them for our instruction Ans Singing will affect and raise and quicken the heart to praise God more than reading The voice is a great matter to quicken our hearts both in prayer and singing The people of God formerly did not think it enough to say what God had done for them but they did sing it that their hearts might be more affected warmed raised enlivened and lifted up in the praises of God Obj. 3. Some are offended we sing on daies of fasting and humiliation Ans All Psalms are not fit for all occasions There ought to
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
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
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
unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate V. 16. Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shal be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee V. 17. And unto Adam he said because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life V. 18. Thornes also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eate the hearb of the field V. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return 1 Tim. 2.13 For Adam was first formed then Eve V. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression V. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety 2 Cor. 11.3 For I feare least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Gen. 5.3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty yeares and begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image and called his name Seth. Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 8.21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evill from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done Rom. 5.12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned V. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life V. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Job 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he which is borne of a woman that he should be righteous V. 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water Job 14.4 Who can bring a Clean thing out of an unclean Not one Rom. 3.9 What then are we better then they no in no wise for we have before proved both Jewes and Gentiles that they are all under sin V. 10. As it is written there is none righteous no not one V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse 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 2 Tim. 2.26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken Captive by him at his will Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 7. Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sin V. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not V. 23. But I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members V. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and Desperately wicked who can know it Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vaine The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins V. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Aire the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience V. 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 Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them 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 Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Hos 14.1 O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity 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 the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God V. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him
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
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
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
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
whipping from him In patience therefore possesse thy soul Solomon saies If the Iron be blunt put the more strength to it Eccles 10.10 So say I if the affliction be strong put the more patience to it Let patience have its perfect work not only its half work in thee Patience meets God in such an humble way as discreet Abigail met David let not my Lord be angry Impatience and fretting against the Almighty is just as if a man should beat his shinnes against an iron bar or as if he should throw a stone against Heaven that will be sure to fall on his owne head And further consider the way to have what thou desirest is to submit to God and lay thy self at his feet When thy soul is wrought to that perfect submission that thou canst truly say here I am let the Lord do with me what seemeth him good Let the Lord please himself and he shall please me thou hast conquered the difficulty of living in this world Thou hast got that precious art of chimistry that will extract gold out of any thing Thou wilt be able in some measure with blessed Paul to say I have learned in all estates to be content O labour and pray for this happy posture of Spirit and that thou maist attain unto it be especially careful to secure thy interest in his favour who is the great Governour of the world and disposer of all events What a strong consolation will it be to thee if this God be thy God thy reconciled Father in Christ thou maist then be assured all things shall work together for thy good Let the wind blow from what point of the compasse it will it shall blow thee on towards thy haven Thou needst not fear the bitterest potion if it come from the hand of a loving Father The Cup that my Father hath given me shall I not drink it saies our Saviour John 18.11 What my Father prescribes I have no reason to fear any hurt from If God be thy Father and thou his adopted child th u maist comfort thy self with this that whatever he takes from thee or deprives thee of he will supply to thee again as one saies either in kind or in kindnesse some way or other he will make it up to thee Kindnesse is Gods sure pay to his children if he takes all and gives himself to thee he makes thee an abundant amends 'T is want of Faith that we cannot find all in God And as this consideration will exceedingly becalm thy mind in afflictions so when God dispenses himself in a way of mercy to thee it will exceedingly raise and quicken thy heart to thankfulness Thou wilt give God the Glory of all his mercies Thou wilt not sacrifice to thine own net to thine own wit wisdom industry friends or any second cause much lesse to chance fortune or good luck as ignorant people speak but thou wilt cast the Crown of all thy mercies at his feet humbly ascribing all Honour and Glory unto him He will be owned and acknowledged by thee as thy chief Lord. Thou wilt look upon thy self as holding all from him and to be but his tenant at will and therefore obliged to pay him his rent duly and faithfully And what is the rent he requires of thee but only to give him the Glory of all his mercies and to honour him and magnifie him in the use of them In a word to love him and thank him to serve him and obey him and to walk humbly before him all thy daies Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Isa 5.12 And the harp and the viol the tabret and the pipe and wine are in their feasts but they regard not the work of the Lord neither consider the operation of his hands Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts Mat. 10.29 Are not two Sparrowes 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 Sparrowes Prov. 16.33 The lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Prov. 21.1 The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will 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 Hab 1.16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net and burn incense unto their drag because by them their portion is fat and their meat plenteous Lam. 3.37 Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass when the Lord commandeth it not Isa 45.7 I form 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 the City and the Lord hath not done it Psal 46.11 The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah Psal 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Micah 7.9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my cause and execute judgment for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse 1 Sam. 3.18 And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him and he said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Job 1.21 And Job said naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. 2 Sam. 16.10 And the King said what have I to do with you ye sons of Zerviah so let him curse because the Lord hath said unto him curse David who shall then say wherefore hast thou done so 2 Sam. 15.25 And the King said unto Zadok carry back the Ark of God into the City if I shall find favour in the eies of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation V. 26. But if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him Deut. 8.10 When thou hast eaten and art full then thou shalt blesse the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee V. 11. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God in not keeping his Commandements and his Judgments and his Statutes which I command thee this day V. 12. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full and hast built goodly houses and hast dwelt therein V. 13. And when thy heards and thy flocks multiply and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied and all that thou hast is multiplied
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
take away the iniquity of thy servant These ejaculatory prayers are as it were messengers sent post to Heaven when time is not afforded for continued prayer for some speedy help And as they hinder no businesse but being duly performed further it much every way so no businesse can hinder them When a Minister is preaching and finds his heart cold and livelesse in the service or when in solemn prayer he finds his spirit indisposed dry and barren How may he speed one of these swift and silent messengers one of these fervent ejaculations to Heaven for help and assistance When a Christian is hearing the Word of how much advantage is it to send up such silent and fervent prayers that God would set home such or such a Doctrine upon his heart or help him to forsake such a sin then reproved or enable him to believe and embrace such a Truth When Christ was preaching to his Apostles that hard lesson of brotherly forgiveness we find in the 17th of Luke v. 5. They sent up that holy ejaculation Lord encrease our Faith A man that is riding or walking or employed in his lawful calling may thus converse with Heaven and yet no waies hinder his present businesse And further to perswade thee to the practise of this direction consider I. These ejaculatory prayers do very much honour God in that they acknowledge him to be a God that can understand the language of our hearts and the least movings of our desires towards him and that he is a God hearing prayers and a very present help in time of trouble II. They are a good means to keep our hearts spiritual and heavenly and in a good frame Strangenesse often growes between God and our soules for want of these And many affecting providences loose their kindly work upon us for want of a present lifting up of our hearts in some sutable ejaculations III. They are a special means to fit us for more solemn prayer We must begin duties with duties God prepares the hearts of his people to pray acceptably unto him by these preparatory ejaculations But here observe these few cautions and directions 1. Take heed of formality slightness and customariness in them Let them be serious and fervent and from thy heart Nothing more usual with many peoâ—le than God forgive me Lord blesse me God help me when the heart is nothing affected nor does it send up these as earnest requests unto the Lord looking for an answer 2. Use these holy ejaculations not only in a way of petition but also of thanksgiving Thus our Saviour Father I thank thee Mat. 11 25.26 Thus David often as may be seen in his Psalms that are full of such holy breathings and affectionate thanksgivings 3. Take heed under this pretence of laying aside or neglecting solemn prayer in a continued way For that many ignorant people are apt to do thinking a few formal short ejâ—culations to be devotion enough and begrutch God any more of their time 4. Get a deep sense of thy own Weaknesse inability insufficiency and of thy continual need of help from God and that will dispose thy heart to be ready in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make thy requests known unto God Direct 2. Retire thy self every night and review and reflect upon all thy actions and whole behaviour in the day past We read that God himself when he created the world every day looked over his own works Surely God had no need to examine his works that were so exact and perfect but 't is written for our instruction that we should do so likewise Therefore for the keeping thy Conscience clear from guilt it will be very requisite thou shouldst take thy self in private before thou liest down to sleep and consider thy whole carriage and behaviour that day that so thou maist by a serious humiliation retract and undo whatever has been amisse and maist make all streight between God and thy soul If thou findest out thy sins when they are but a day old before they become customary and have taken root they will be more easily removed by serious and speedy repentance and applying thy self to Christ for pardon But for want of this frequent self-examining and soul-purging the heart becomes hardned sin gets root the devil gets possession and the soul is more and more alienated from God To conclude this head of Watchfulnesse Let it be thy serious and fixed purpose every morning through the assistance of Grace not willingly or knowingly to commit any sin or to do any thing thy Conscience shall tell thee is displeasing to God But if contrary to thy serious intention through infirmity sudden surprizal violence of temptation incogitancy thou dost at any time fall humble thy soul before the Lord bewail and confesse thy fault with sorrow and grief and speedily recover thy self by a serious repentance and flying to the blood of Christ for pardon When thy peace is broken with God at any time by sin rest not till it be made up again And rise from thy fall with a greater detestation of sin a stronger resolution against it with a greater love to Christ and thankfulnesse for his pardoning Grace And begging help from God be more watchful for the future Matth. 25.13 Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh Matth. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Matth. 13.35 Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the master of the house cometh at even or at midnight or at the cock-crowing or in the morning V 36. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping V. 37. And what I say unto you I say unto all Watch. Luke 12.37 Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Luke 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkennesse and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares V. 36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwaies that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and to stand before the Son of man 1 Cor. 15.34 Awake to righteousnesse and sin not Rom. 13.11 And knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed 2 Tim. 4.5 Watch then in all things endure afflictions do the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministry 1 Pet. 4.7 The end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer 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 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong Col. 4.2 Continue in prayer and watch in the same with
thanksgiving 1 Thes 5 6. Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober Rev. 3.2 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God V. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent if thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee Rev. 16.15 Behold I come as a thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments Eph. 6 10. Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might V. 11. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil V. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places V. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand V. 14. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breast-plate of righteousnesse V. 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace V. 16. Above all things taking the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked V. 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God V. 18. Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance c. CHAP. VI. CArefully make use of all good means God hath appointed for the begetting and increasing saving Knowledge and Grace in thee Under this head I shall treat of these five Particulars 1. The Observation of the Lords day 2. Hearing the Word 3. Singing Psalmes 4. Religious Conference 5. Retired holy Meditations 1. Concerning the Observation of the Lords day Be careful religiously to observe the Lords day the Christian Sabbath The Law of Nature dictates to us that there ought to be a due proportion of time set apart for Gods solemn Worship and Service God hath in his Word appointed one day in seaven to be kept holy to him which was the last day of the week from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ and the first day of the week ever since and so to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath and in the new Testâ—ment call'd the Lords day I shall here do two things 1. Shew the Reasons why we should observe this day 2. The Manner how we should observe it The first I shall shew in these Particulars following I. We find a Sabbath instituted by God himself from the beginning Gen. 2.2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made 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 Before we read of the fall of Adam we read of a seventh day blessed and sanctified by God himself God blessed the seventh day that is dispensed a peculiar favour towards it exalted that day above the rest which is intimated in the next words he sanctified it that is he separated and consecrated it to his own holy Worship and annexed a blessing to the observation of it Adam did not need a day of rest in innocency by reason of any bodily wearinesse that would have betided him upon his six daies labour in his calling of husbandry yet God saw it convenient to enjoyn him to set apart one day in seven to enjoy more especial communion with his Creator Now if Adam in innocency when he had no sin in him had need of a Sabbath to take him off from the works of his calling that he might converse with God more immediatly in holy duties and exercises How much more need have we in this corrupt estate who are so prone to sin and had need of all helps against it Well then we find in the very beginning that the Law concerning the Sabbath was given while the whole Nature of mankind was in our first Parents even before they fell They might have lived here on the earth without sin but they were not to live without a Sabbath After the fall when Enos was born of Seth the son of Adam it is said that then men began to call on the Name of the Lord Gen. 4. ult That is as I take it to call upon his Name in publick Assemblies And most like it is the day they observed was the same that Abel and Seth and Adam observed before them and the rest of the Patriarchs after them Namely that day of the week in which God himself rested having finished the great work of the worlds creation Even before the Law saith learned Mercer upon Gen. I doubt not but this day by Gods teaching was solemn and sacred to those primitive Fathers Neither did the observation thereof saith Peter Martyr loc com cap. 7. begin with the giving of the law in Sinai but it was celebrated before Of the same opinion is the judicious Rivet who answers all Arguments brought to the contrary in 2 Gen. Exerc. 13. And indeed there is no reason to think otherwise For besides that in Adams heart the Law of Nature was perfectly imprinted and to consecrate some time to the Worship of God was and is a member of that Law 'T is more than probable God did dictate and prescribe to Adam all circumstances of his Worship which by tradition past to his posterity and were in their several Families until Moses observed II. We find a Sabbath observed by the Patriarchs in Exod. 16. Before the giving of the Law we find there an expresse charge touching the observation of it and two such Miracles to ratifie and set a value upon it v. 22 27. as seldom we read of greater The Manna fell in great plenty on the six daies and on the seventh none 2. Being gathered on the sixth day it remained sweet to the seventh and not so on any other day Observed therefore it was at this time and surely in obedience to Gods command For we must not impute will-worship to these holy men I shall end this with the words of the learned Paraeus in Com. on Gen. God sanctified the Sabbath in the very prime creation and doubtless that sanctification was observed in the Patriarchal Families III. After all this we find the day again for the better observation of it proclaimed on Mount Sinai Exod. 20. and that in a very dreadful and glorious manner having a more solemn entrance into it and more solemn reasons to hedge it in and confirm it than any of the other Commandements God being to give his moral and
gates of Jerusalem on the evening of their Sabbath If any Merchants come any worldly thoughts or businesses let them stay without till the Sabbath be over The work of mens Callings is not only in their hands but in their minds and heads A Minister may have a great Congregation yet but a few hearers if their minds be stuft with the world before they come if they bring their trades their bargaines their plow their worldly businesse along with them As therefore we read of Abraham in Gen. 22.5 That when he went up to the Mount to offer Sacrifice he left his servants and the Asse in the valley behind him so should we our worldly cares and businesses when we go to worship God and to hear his Word 2. Consider and meditate on the great concernment and importance of the Word 'T is the ordinary means God hath appointed for the working that great work of conversion without which no salvation and for the edifying and building up those that are already savingly wrought upon Jam. 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Christ Jesus saith Paul through the Gospel Rom. 10 17. Faith cometh by hearing Indeed sin and consequently death came by hearing at the first by our first Parents listening to and believing a tempting Spirit But now Faith and consequently life comes by Hearing through the operation of the blessed Spirit of God in the Word Rom. 1.16 The Gospel 't is the power of God unto salvation Labour therefore to have an high value and esteem of the preaching of the Gospel God hath appointed his Ordinances not in Soveraignty only but in Mercy to us As our Saviour said of the Sabhath Mark 2.27 The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath So may I say of all the Ordinances of God they were ordained for man for mans benefit and not man made for them And therefore the great benefit that with Gods blessing may be expected from them if we duly attend upon them should make us highly value them Indeed it is one of the devils stratagems in this age to urge the efficacy of the Spirit as a plea for the neglect of means Whereas Gods Spirit does usually work in and by the means and rarely if ever when the ordinary means are slighted 'T is true God himself is not tyed to means nor to any of his own Ordinances yet he ties us to make use of them when we may have them That soul cannot expect to be instructed by Gods Spirit who is a slighter and neglecter of Gods ordinary means Further consider the intent of the Word is not only to regenerate but to nourish increase and perfect the Graces of the Saints Eph. 4.11 12. Our knowledge is imperfect Those that know most may learn more We need new inforcements of duty Our affections are dull and need a new excitement None so wise so knowing a Christian but he may receive some benefit from a different handling of what he himself knew before Therefore seeing the preaching of the Word was ordained for so great and signal benefits to mankind 't is just with God that they that have slight thoughts of it should be barren under it 3. When thou art going to hear consider whither thou art going Thou art going to meet the great God of Heaven and Earth A God that is not to be dallied with Levit. 10.3 I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me When the people went to hear the Law Exod. 19.10 The Lord said to Moses Sanctifie the people and let them wash their clothes What does this speak to us that Christians should only wash their hands and faces and put on their best apparrel when they come to hear the Word No the Apostle James Jam. 1.21 tels us Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meeknesse the ingrafted Word that is able to save your souls If thou findest thy Spirit slight and wandring to fix it and make it serious think with thy self and imagine how it was with the Israelites going to receive the Law of God When the Mount was all on a flame of fire the trumpet sounding louder and louder the people trembling and sore afraid This is to beat the Devil with his own weapon for he often prevailes upon us by casting in sinful Imaginations Consider therefore how the Lord is present in an especial manner where his Word is preached Surely the Lord is in this place as Jacob said of Bethel Gen. 28.16 The apprehension of Gods presence in the assemblies of his people will preserve in thee an awful and reverent disposition of soul 4. Before thou goest fail not to poure forth earnest and fervent prayers unto the Lord and that in behalf 1. Of the Minister 2. Of thy self I. In behalf of the Minister that the Lord would teach him what he should teach the people and direct and enable him to declare the mind of God and to preach such truths as may tend to the benefit and salvation of thine and others soules Certainly if people did more seriously and more frequently pray for their Minister that the Lord would bless and prosper his labours and direct him to divide the Word aright to give to every one their portion to feed the people with knowledge and understanding he might expect a greater blessing and assistance in his studies and they more benefit by his endeavours How earnestly does Paul beg prayers Rom. 15 30 Now I beseech you brethren for the Lord Jesus Christs sake and for the love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me v. 31. That my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the Saints And Eph 6.18 Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit for all Saints v. 19. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel v. 20. That therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Col. 4.3 Withal praying for us that God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds v. 4. That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak II. In behalf of thy self 1. That the Lord would fix thy mind and make it serious When the mind is serious truths are apt to make impression 2. That he would enlighten thy mind and open thy heart as he did the heart of Lydia Acts 16.14 that thou maist have a clear and right understanding of those truths that concern thy salvation 3. That he would give thee a heart to believe and embrace the truth in the love of it that truth may not only float in thy phantasie but sink down into thy heart Rom. 10.10 With the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse There is a Faith of the head and a Faith of
the heart Devils and wicked men have the Faith of the head but they have no such belief as affects the heart and makes it close with truth and love it and embrace it 4. That the Spirit of God would set in with the preaching of the Word and make it effectual for the beating down of thy corruptions 'T is a remarkeable expression that in Isa 8.11 The Lord spake to me with a strong hand not with a meer voice but a strong hand Pray therefore thus Lord speak to my lusts and corruptions this day with a strong hand let them feel thy power and the strength of thine arm that so they may be effectually destroyed in me 5. Labour to come with a teacheable and tractable frame of Spirit Receive with meeknesse the ingrafted Word James 1. Christ was anointed to preach glad tidings to the meek Isaiah 61.1 There are three sorts of Spirits far from this temper 1. The cavilling Spirit that is forward to cavil at the Word and to frame Objections against it 2. The wrathful Spirit that is fierce and ready to rise up in armes against the just reproofs of the Word When such are admonished or warned they revile Conviction that should humble provokes them There is a great deal of difference between those two places and expressions Acts 2.37 Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do And Acts 7.54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth Here is a great deal of difference between being pricked at the heart and feeling compunction for sin in their Consciences as it was with the true converts in the former place and being cut to the heart and vexed when they heard their sins reproved as it was with the malicious and obstinate Jewes in the latter A guilty Conscience thinks the Minister aims at him in particular and intends to disgrace him he thinks he commits a trespasse by treading upon his ground and coming so close to his Conscience It stuck in Herods stomack when John touched him about his Herodias But observe it those that most storm at a reproof are usually those that most deserve it 3. The earthy obdurate spirit Let the Minister say what he will he is Sermon-proof He is resolved to hold his own Indeed his sins may well be call'd his own 'T is a sad word that is spoken of the Pharisees and Lawyers Luke 7.30 They rejected the counsel of God against themselves And that of the Jewes Acts 13.46 Ye put it from you namely the Word of God and judge your selves unworthy of eternal life Lo we turn to the Gentiles But now a meek spirit is a teacheable and tractable spirit A tender heart is apt to receive impressions as you may observe in persons whose hearts are softned by afflictions How do Sermons work on such Labour therefore to come with such a frame of spirit to hear the Word as those did in Acts 10.33 Wee are all here present before the Lord to hear the things that are commanded thee of God 6. Come with an appetite with a longing desire to the Word Nothing makes wholsome food more savoury and sweet than appetite Some people come to Church as sickly people do to a Feast they sit down for company though they have no stomack 'T is in vain to come to a Sermon without a spiritual appetite Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be satisfied 'T is our Saviours own promise Mat. 5.6 O that people were such to their Ministers as those Job speaks of C. 29.23 Who waited for him as for rain gasping after the Word as the chapt earth for showers O that there were some such Divine affections in us as were in holy David that we could truly say My soul is athirst for God even for the living God My soul pants after Christ after his pardoning Mercy and sanctifying Grace as the Hart panteth after the water brooks We should then see Sermons work other effects than now we do But when people come either with no appetite no desire and love to the Word but sit down in the Congregation meerly for fashion or company sake or when they come with distempered pallats with prejudices and prepossessions against the simplicity of the Gospel the most Evangelicall Truths are to them but as a banquet of sweet meats unto swine they had rather have husks They can relish may be some witty jingling discourse but the preaching of Christ and him crucified which Paul thought so richly of is too stale a Doctrine and too flat a note for their eares 7. Having sought to the Lord and taken pains to bring thy heart into right frame come with expectation to profit 'T is often said in the Gospel Be it unto thee according to thy Faith And truly usually people profit by Sermons according to their expectations But take here this Caution Do not ground thy expectation on the parts or gifts of the Minister but on Gods promise looking for his blessing to accompany his own Ordinance Usually people speed according to their aim and expectation They that come to hear mans voice do hear it 'T is said of Pauls companions Acts 9.7 That they heard a voice Acts 22.9 'T is said they that were with him heard not the voice They heard a sound but heard it not distinctly as Christs voice Some only hear an outward sound the voice of man but not the voice of God in the Word Thus much of preparation before Hearing Secondly I come now to give some Directions how thou shouldst carry thy self in time of Hearing I. Hear with the most fixed attention thou possibly canst Attend with reverence and seriousness Many weighty Truths are lost by negligent hearing Though it cannot be expected that we should be totally free from wandring thoughts yet we ought to be watchful and not to allow our selves in them And when we perceive our hearts gone we should speedily recall them David saies of Idols they have eares and hear not Psal 115 6. We have too many such Idols in our Congregations There are three sorts of eares that are not the hearing eares I mean that hear aright 1. The dull ear When people allow themselves in drowsinesse and carelesseness What impressions is it possible the Word should make on a man that is asleep What knowest thou O sleeper but whilst thou hast slept those truths have been delivered which hadst thou duly minded might have tended to thy everlasting salvation If such a Judgment befel him that slept in the night and that at an exceeding long Sermon Acts 20.9 10. What shall we say of those that sleep in the day at a Sermon of an hour long 2. The stopp'd ear Some are resolved sinners They stop their eares like the Adder against the voice of the Charmer Charm he never so wisely
better example Timothy was train'd up by his parents and that from a child in the holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 Want of instruction at home is one main reason of the unprofitablenesse of preaching 2. A Priest to offer up the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise for them and with them 3. A King to rule command and govern for Christ in his own house Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord c. A Master of a Family has a greater command and authority over those in his own house than any Minister has He is more with them and has his eie more upon them He should therefore improve his power for God and be like the good Bishop described 1 Tim. 3.4 ruling well i. e. Religiously his own house having his children in subjection with all gravitie So much of the second particular the directions how Governours of Families should discharge their duties towards those under their Government I come now to the third and last to shew whence the neglect of this so great and necessary a duty proceeds There are several causes of it 1. Ignorance Some are so ignorant themselves they know not how to instruct others They know not how to pray with their Families Oh let all such presently apply themselves with all care and seriousnesse to learn the things that concern their salvation that they may discharge their duties towards their relations And let them know it is their duty to labour for ability to pray and for that gift whereby upon all occasions they may in an humble and fitting manner express the desires of their hearts unto the Lord. In the mean time till by seeking to God for his Spirit to enable them and by a faithful endeavour they have attain'd to some measure of this gift they may use some good prescribed form Only let them be exceeding watchful over their hearts for fear of that formality and meer lip-service which in such cases we are more especially in danger of 2. Carelesness Some are of Gallio's temper Acts 18.17 They care for none of these things They think this more ado than needs They will provide portions for their children look that their servants do their work but for Religion the one thing absolutely necessary they do not much trouble themselves 3. Worldly-mindednesse Some are so worldly they cannot afford time for Gods Worship and Service Not a swine about the house but shall be served morning and evening but God is not regarded 4. Prophanenesse Some are so far from having any religious care of their Families to pray with them to instruct them c. that they deride these duties and scoffe at those that make conscience to perform them They through the pride of their hearts think it a disparagement to them to set up the practise of these things in their houses Wretched worms Is God become a shame to his creatures Who are they or what is their Fathers house that they are too good to be the servants of the most High Let them make their peace with that Scripture Mark 8. ult Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels 5. Loose Opinions under pretence of new Light setting people at liberty from the observation and practise of those duties whereby the life and power of Religion is most maintained and preserved Let Governours of Families therefore beware of all these things and whatever else may hinder them from a Conscionable discharge of their Duties Gen. 18.19 For I know him that he will command his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. 1 Sam. 1.21 And the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly Sacrifice and his vow Acts 10.2 Cornelius a devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much Almes to the people and prayed to God alway CHAP. XI Of the duties of Husband and Wife I Shall first speak of the Duties common to both and then more particularly of those that belong to each of them severally They owe to each other Love Faithfulnesse Helpfulnesse I. Love There ought to be a firm and inviolable love between them grounded on Gods Ordinance and their own Covenant and not meerly on natural or civil respects and being so neerly united and made one flesh they should have but one heart They should have the greatest tendernesse and kindness for each other imaginable If any unkindnesse should at any time happen to arise between them they should never sleep in displeasure but both readily agree to a speedy reconcilement The Sun should not go down on their wrath Love must sweeten all their speeches carriage and actions towards each other 'T is love will make all the duties of a married life easie and all the cumbers and crosses tolerable This love must for measure exceed and surpasse their love to any other creature There must be between them both the love of goodwill desiring heartily the welfare of each other and the love of complacency delighting in each other Want of love between man and wife is no mean sin II. Faithfulnesse and that of several sorts 1. That of the bed They must keep themselves pure chast from all strange embraces and with the greatest abhorrence detest any motion or temptation that way They must not embrace the bosom of a stranger Prov. 5.20 They must be constant to each other and confident of each other Jealousie is the pasport of love 2. They must keep each others secrets 3. Conceal each others infirmities 4. Be faithful to each other in the mannaging their worldly affairs 5. If any difference arise not let it take vext for jars concealed are half reconciled whereas if they be once divulged 't is a double labour to make up the breach and stop the mouths of people abroad III. Helpfulnesse They are to be mutuall helpers each to other both in spiritual and temporal things 1. They should endeavour to help one another on towards Heaven to promote and encrease knowledge and Holiness in each others souls designing to meet together and live together for ever in Heaven They should pray together and for each other 1 Pet. 3.7 They should faithfully wisely and lovingly admonish one another of any failings they discern in each other This is of all other the truest and most valuable love Nay indeed How can it be said they do love at all if they can contentedly let each other run on in a course that will bring them to eternal misery True
praise of them that do well 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort therefore that first of all' Supplications Prayers 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 Godliness and Honesty Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy people Acts 23.5 Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High Priest for it is written thou shalt not speak-evil of the Ruler of thy people CHAP. XV. Of the Duties of people towards their Pastours and Ministers HAving spoken of the Duties of Children to their Natural Parents and of Inferiours to Magistrates their civil Parents I come now to those of people to their Ministers their Spiritual Parents Thus St Paul tels the Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.15 That in Christ Jesus he had begotten them through the Gospel And the Gallatians Chap. 4.19 That he travels in birth of them till Christ be formed in them Their Duties to them are these four First To esteem them very highly in love for their work sake as the Apostle commands 1 Thes 5.13 And surely this will seem very reasonable if either 1. The Nature of their work be considered or 2. Who it is that employes them I. Their work is of all others most excellent No Calling or employment more honourable than the rescuing of precious Souls out of the hands of Satan and from endlesse perdition II. 'T is a great and an hard work They are 1. To instruct the people to feed them with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3.15 And teach them the right way to Salvation 2. To pray for them To be the Lords remembrancers and their Sollicitors in the Court of Heaven 3. To be an Example to the Flock in a holy and unblameable life and conversation 4. To visit the sick 5. To labour the setling the distressed Conscience 6. To watch over the Flock to preserve them 1. From corrupt Doctrine 2. From a corrupt Conversation And to this end to endeavour the reclaiming the disorderly by admonitions and such other Censures as Christ hath left in the Church Their work therefore is such as ought in all reason to procure them love and esteem it being of so great advantage to the world Josephs Office in delivering out corn in a time of Famine made him justly honoured by the Egyptians How worthy an employment is it then to deliver out the Manna of Gods Word the food of life to the souls of men who without it are in danger to perish everlastingly 2. Consider who it is that employes them They are Ambassadors for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 Ambassadors by the Law of Nations are to be treated with a respect answerable to the quality of those that send them Therefore Christ tels his Disciples when he sends them out to preach He that despiseth you despiseth me he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luke 10.16 It seems 't is a worse businesse than people ordinarily consider to despise the Ministers of Christ Let those think of this who make it their design and sport to put affronts upon the persons and to deride the Calling of the Ministers Certainly there will be a strict account requir'd of all that derision slanders reproaches and hard usage the faithful Ministers of Christ do meet with in the discharge of their places and calling And further if it be Christ that employes them then let those consider seriously of it who dare presume to exercise the Offices of this sacred function without being lawfully Call'd thereto What is this but as if a man on his own head should go as an Ambassador from his Prince The Apostle saies of the Priests of the Law which yet are inferiour to those of the Gospel That no man takes this honour to himself but he which was call'd of God Heb. 5.4 Certainly they that usurp sacred Offices for which they are not duly fitted and to which they were never lawfully call'd will be able to give but a very sad account to God when he reckons with them for this their presumption Let me advise such to read the story of Corah in Numb 16. Who being arrogant and ambitious would needs take upon him the Priesthood and he and his accomplices rise up against Moses and Aaron and their plea is all the Congregation are holy ye take too much upon you Wherefore lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord So that we see this levelling humour is no new thing in the world To make head against Moses and Aaron to oppose Magistracy and Ministry you see was Corahs sin Take heed of imitating him lest you perish likewise in the gainsaying of Corah Jude v. 11. You may read the sad end of him and his Company Num. 16.32 And so much of the first Duty people ought to pay to their Ministers They ought to love and esteem them Secondly They ought to pray for them that they may be furnished with all those Graces and Gifts and blessed with such assistances of Gods Spirit as may enable them to discharge that holy Calling faithfully and successefully Of this I have spoken more P. 323. Thirdly They ought conscientiously to attend upon their Ministry and submit to their Spiritual guidance and direction really endeavouring to grow in knowledge and Grace thereby Obey them saith the Apostle Heb. 13.17 that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls c. Whatsoever they out of Gods Word shall make manifest to be his Will and Command is to be obeyed seeing 't is not they but God requires it according to that of Christ He that heareth you heareth me Luke 10 16. And this whether it be delivered by way of publick preaching or private exhortation for in both so long as they keep them to the Rule which is Gods Word they are the messengers of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 People therefore must labour to grow in Spiritual knowledge and Grace answerably to the means of Grace afforded them and thereby strengthen the hands and encourage the heart of their Minister in his work The proficiency of the people in knowledge and holiness is the Crown and rejoycing of every Faithful Minister and though God will not reward him according to his successe but his sincerity and industry yet nothing more troubles him then to see his multiplied pains not answered with desired successe Let people therefore look to it that they bring forth the fruits of the Gospel that is preached to them The Husbandman laies his ground fallow when he sees it will not bring forth Corn so as to quit charges The Kingdom of Heaven saies our Saviour shall be taken away from you and given to others which will bring forth the fruits thereof Mat. 21.43 'T is just with God to take away the means of Grace from a people when he sees they live unprofitably under them Fourthly Seeing
move with great agility and nimblenesse We shall not be clogg'd as now but shall be able as the Learned think to move upwards and downwards freely like a bird in the aire 3. Or Lastly Our bodies after the resurrection may be termed spiritual because they will then be more fitted and disposed for spiritual uses for the enjoyments and employments of Grace 4. Our bodies shall be made powerful They are sown in weakness but shall rise in power The power and strength that glorified bodies shall have will be wonderful In this life the eye is dazeled at the brightnesse of the Sun but then it shall be strengthened to behold glorious sights and not be dazeled at them The body shall be enabled and strengthened by God to bear that exceeding and eternal weight of Glory that shall be allotted to it 5. Unto all these glorious perfections and endowments we may add this one more the great priviledge and happiness we shall have to behâ—ld with our bodily eyes our blessed Saviour as man That we shall see our Redeemer with these eyes Job plainly testifies Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the later day upon the earth V. 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God V. 27. Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another c. And that this sight will add much to our happinesse we need not doubt The sight of Christ as man is the next object as one saith well to the beatifical Vision Mr Calamy in his Serm at Dr Boltons Funeral For the fulnesse of the God head dwells in him bodily and doth as it were radiate through his body Hence there must needs arise much joy to the beholder both from the eminency of and our interest in this Object Christ in Glory and Christ in Glory ours As much of the Creator as is possibly visible in the Nature of man will be to be seen in Christ As much contentation as the Creature can be made partaker of by the sight of any visible Object will be the portion of the beholders of Christ as he is man See Mr. Nortons orthodox Evangelist So much for the blessedness of the Body II. The Saints in Heaven shall be blessed in their Souls Let us enquire wherein this blessednesse consists 1. The understanding being enlarg'd and widened shall have a right knowledge a clear sight and vision of God Now we see through a glasse darkly 1 Cor. 13.12 but then face to face now we know but in part but then we shall know even as we are known our knowledge of God now is very imperfect but then we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 2. The will shall be perfected with absolute and indefective holinesse with exact conformity to the will of God and perfect freedom from all servitude to sin 3. The affections shall be set right by an unalterable regularity There shall be a constant cleaving of heart to God a constant loving of him without satiety or wearinesse Here are many startings aside to the creature but in Heaven there will be an eternal fixed delight and complacency in God 4. The Soul will enjoy a full immediate uninterrupted communion with God and fruition of him Whilst we are here at home in the body we are absent from the Lord saies the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.6 Here our comforts come in by the ministry of Ordinances but there God will be all in all to us immediatly 1 Cor. 15.28 III. The Saints in Heaven shall be blessed in their Company Oh what blessed company is there in the new Jerusalem There is God and Christ and Angels and Saints How will God the Father welcome us Well done good and faithful servants enter into your Masters joy How will our Redeemer welcome us How joyful will he be to receive us who shed his blood to bring us thither How will the Holy Angels welcome us They delight in the good of men When man was created those Morning Stars sung together and those Sons of God shouted for joy Job 38.7 When Christ came to redeem man an Heavenly host of them praysed God Luke 2.13 When man is converted there is joy in Heaven among those blessed Spirits Luke 15.10 How much more rejoycing will there be when we come to be glorified Lastly How will the blessed Saints welcome us Our old acquaintance with whom we have prayed suffered familiarly conversed Memory is not abolished in Heaven as one observes but perfected Mr. Manton in his Sermon at Mrs. Blackwels Funeral Therefore those whom we knew here we shall know again A Minister shall see his Crown and the fruit of his labours 1 Thes 2.19 Those that have been relieved by us shall welcome us into Heaven who therefore are said according to some Interpreters to receive us into everlasting habitations Luke 16.9 Yea we shall know those whom we never saw Why else is it made a part of our priviledge to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob Mat. 8.11 In the transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elias dead many hundred years before So shall we as 't is more than probable know one another O what blessed company shall we converse with in the City that is above IV. And Lastly The Saints in Heaven shall be blessed in this They shall have the perpetual enjoyment of all this blessednesse secured to them without any fear of ever losing it or being deprived of it The Saints shall never put off their glorious robes after they have once put them on Their state is a sure eternal state of actual delights Though there be several degrees of glory in Heaven yet he that enjoyes the least degree is fully satisfied with what he enjoyes He desires not one degree of Glory above what he possesses What now remaines but that we presse this duty upon our selves frequently to meditate on this coelestial Glory Many great benefits will accrue to us thereby 1. This will abate our thirst after earthly things One houres serious musing on the glory that is above would cause the soul to be as a weaned child to the glory that is here below 2. It will make sufferings light Rom. 8.18 For I reckon saies the Apostle that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us 3. It will make us serious in Duties It will make us pray earnestly hear attentively walk circumspectly Serious thoughts of Heaven will make us shake off lazinesse and sloth and with fervency of Spirit to serve the Lord. 4. It will stirre us up to an earnest desire of that righteousnesse to which such a Glory appertaines and to a careful and constant performance of those commands to which such a reward is so graciously promised Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Men do but deceive themselves who think to passe immediatly from a