Affections the motions and stirrings of thy will the out-goings of thy heart Rightly to order our Affections is one of our principall businesses in this life When they are rightly ordered and governed they do much further help on our course in Godlinesse Whereas disordered passions blind the judgment hurry away the will fill the heart and mind with disquiet and interrupt prayer and other holy duties Keep an especial watch theâ—efore over thy Affections Be careful they be not set on wrong objects nor suffered to grow unruly and exorbitant Grace doth not extinguish but rectifie affections Christ who was free from all sin was not without affections He was angry did grieve rejoyce Let it be thy care therefore to look to the right regulating of these powers and these affections that God hath placed in thee And to help thee in this work observe these Directions 1. Beg of God a sound mind a right understanding a clear judgment that thou maist be able rightly to discern between good and evil and maist not take shews and appearances for realities There is great danger in misapprehensions for as the apprehensions of the mind are weaker or stronger so the affections are hotter or cooler 2. Labour to bring thy will sense and appetite under subjection to right reason If sin do seem pleasant to thee as the forbidden fruit to Eve let reason tell thee 't is forbidden fruit and therefore thou must not touch it A man is Lord of himself when reason rules him but his own slave when wilfulnesse appetite or passion bear sway in him When the Coachman cannot rule the horses but is hurried violently away with them there is nothing but confusion to be expected so it is with a man whose reason is overborn or hurried away by his headstrong passions Affections are like fire and water good servants but very bad Masters Fire does well while 't is kept in the chimney water is useful while 't is kept within its banks if they break out they are veâ—y mischievous Elements Affections while they are moderated kept within their due bounds they are very serviceable but if they overflow those banks and bounds what a world of mischief follows 3. Labour to foresee such things before they come which may prove great provocations to thee and are like to kindle and excite thy passions Use precaution and wisely avoid such occasions as much as thou canst Passions are far moâ—e easily prevented than moderated And here premeditation is of singular use whereby the mind may fortifie strengthen it self against the exorbitancy of pâ—ssion before it arise by considering the unreasonablenesse of it and the bitter fruits and effects of it 4. Resist evil affections at the beginning before they grow high and headstrong Dash Babylons brats against the wall If they once get strength they may be too hard for thee Lusts and vile affections let alone do often end in grosse sins There are works of the flesh that follow lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.19 Love of pleasure if uncontroâ—l'd may end in drunkennesse or uncleannesse Envy and malice if uncheck'd may end in muâ—der or violence Judas allowing himselfe in Covetousnesse that brought him to deny his Master 5. Temperance and keeping under the body is an excellent means to mortifie lusts passions and vile affections He that pampers his flesh feeds his enemy And how much better is it to endure the pains of mortification here than the horrours of everlasting darknesse hereafter 6. Remember that when thy blood and Spirits are moved and thy passions are up whatever is presented to thy imagination tends to the delusion of thy soul Passions like some kind of glasses represent things falsely somtimes of a mountain they make a mole-hill and somtimes a mole-hill they magnifie into a mountain Therefore if it be possible in passion make no resolutions Let it be one of thy main cares then to suffer thy spirit and blood to cool and thy passions to sink and melt away and then thou wilt come to right apprehensions Many have grievously overshot themselves in passion and repented of it at leisure 7. Consider the root of all inordinate passion is self-love The larger the branches of passion the deeper the root of self-love Therefore labour to dig up the root and do not only lop off the branches Inordinate self-love ought to be subdued and mortified 8. Meditate often on the abasings sufferings death and passion of our Lord and Saviour Christ suffered for us leaving us an example saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.21 that we should follow his steps Was he crucified for us and shall not we crucifie our vile affections for him Did he renounce his own will to accomplish our salvation and shall not we deny our wills for him our corrupt wills The wills of the flesh and of the mind as the Apostle calleth them Eph. 2.3 The lustings of the lower and the upper soul Was he made of no reputation for us and shall we be proud Did he lay down his very life for us his enemies and shall not we forgive an enemy for his sake O labour from the consideration of Christs sufferings to mortifie thy lusts and vile affections 9. By earnest Prayer even the prayer of Faith seek for succour from Heaven against all thine inordinate affections Humbly plead that promise before the Lord Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 10. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6.17 and therewith labour to slay thy inordinate affections Apply the Commands and Threatnings of Gods Word to thy self when thou findest any strong passion or lust stirring in thee As suppose Anger be up in thee take that sword of the Spirit thou wilt find Eph. 4.26 27. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath â—â—ther give place to the devil If hatred against thy Brother be working in thee take that sword 1 John 3.15 Whoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him If thy heart be pestered with revengeful thoughts take that sword in Mat. 6.14 15. If ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses If lust be stirring in thee take that sword in Mat. 5.28 But I say unto you whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart If pride take that sword 1 Pet. 5.5 God resists the proud and gives Grace to the humble If Covetousnesse take that sword Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of covetousness for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth And 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of money is the root of all evil Thus if thou art well acquainted with the word of God thou maist find a sword to slay any inordinate
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
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
from and inconsistent with the nature of these Graces There is a great deal of danger in mistaking about these things Therefore let them ask themselves seriously whether they do indeed understand that true repentance follows upon a clear and full conviction of the evil odiousnesse and filthinesse of sin as that which is contrary to Gods holy Nature and is flat rebellion against his Lawes and Authority as that which defaces his Image depraves defiles pollutes the soul weakens its powers disenables it for holy operations and conforms it to the Image of Satan Whether they rightly apprehend the danger desert and mischievous effects and consequents of sin how it exposes the sinner to judgments spirituall temporal and eternal Whether ever they apprehended their own deep guiltiness both of Original and a huge number of actual sins Whether there ever has been wrought in them any deep contrition and hearty sorrow for their sins and that upon Gospel-grounds because they have so exceedingly dishonoured God pierced our dear Lord and Saviour grieved the holy Spirit brought a stain and defilement upon their soules and rendred themselves justly liable to the wrath and curse of God Whether their hearts have been wrought to a hatred and loathing of sin and to a forsaking of every known sin and are now really turned unto God Whether they have cleerly and without guile of spirit confessed bewailed their sins unto God their particular known sins particularly and all secret undiscovered unknown sins with a general confession And here that the sick person may the better examine himself and awaken his Conscience and may understand in some measure the number of his sins the several kinds of them and the various waies of offending God let him consider and ponder seriously of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments and the special sins against the Gospel For the more particular his repentance is the more pungent and afflictive it will be and so the more sincere and effectual Of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments The first Commandment requireth us to own and acknowledge Jehovah to be the only true God and our God and to adore worship and glorifie him accordingly The sins against this Commandment are 1. Atheism not believing there is a God or so living as if there were no God in the world to be obeyed and worshipped 2. Idolatry in having or worshipping more Gods than one or any with or in stead of the true God praying or giving any religious worship to Saints Angels or any other Creature 3. All compacts and consulting with the Devil all resorting to Witches and Conjurers which is in effect to go to the Devil himself 4. Making men the Lords of our Faith Consciences 5. Ignorance misapprehensions misbelief concerning God not labouring after the true knowledge of God nor endeavouring to understand aright his nature properties and works 6. Infidelity not believing his word or not believing it effectually practically so as to live according to our belief not beleeving his threatnings so as to be afraid of them nor his promises so as to be invited by them unto obedience and newnesse of life 7. Diffidence and distrust of his care and providence not depending on him for the supply of our wants not looking up to him for a blessing on our lawful endeavours tempting him by using unlawful means in stead of waiting his leisure Creature-confidence trusting in wit wealth friends c. and thereby withdrawing our hearts and dependance from God 8. Want of love to God Not cleaving to him with a fervent love apprehending him the chief good not loving him for his own infinite excellencies and for his goodnesse to us not loving him with all our affections and might but loving our selves our pleasures or profits or credit before him inordinate setting our minds and affections on other things besides God 9. Want of zeal and forwardnesse to promote his Glory Lukewarmnesse indifferency in the things of God not sorrowing for those raigning sins whereby his honour is eclipsed 10. Not fearing God so as to keep from any wilful offending of him timorousnesse fearing man more than God by committing sin to shun some outward suffering 11. Not rejoycing in God nor in his waies and Worship counting his waies grievous and burdensom Apostatizing from him forsaking his Worship and Service 12. Presuming groundlessely on his mercy while we go on in any wilful sin or despairing of it so as to neglect duty 13. Unthankfulnesse for those great mercies he hath so freely bestowed upon us not acknowledging them or letting them slip by without any regard or notice being too apt to ascribe Gods blessings to our deserts or endeavours sacrificing to our own net to our own wit or parts not ascribing all Glory to God 14. Insensiblenesse under his judgments or discontent at his dispensations Impatience under his Fatherly chastisements not accepting the punishment of our iniquities without murmuring or repining not amending by his corrections but either fainting despairing and charging God foolishly 15. Not yeelding such sincere and universal obedience to him as we ought both in heart and life 16. Not having a high and an adoring esteem of God not demeaning our selves humbly before him according as our vilenesse and his infinite surpassing excellencies do require The second Commandment shews the manner how the true God must be worshipped and requires the observing and keeping pure entire all such religious Worship and Ordinances as he hath appointed in his Word Inward Idolatry is opposed to the first Commandment outward to this The true God is to be worshipped only in that way that he himself hath appointed Therefore Idolatrous and superstitious Worshippers of him he cals haters of him and expresses a very fervent zeal for his own Worship and a revengefull indignation against all false Worship as being spiritual whoredom The sins against this Commandment are 1. All will-worship superstition or corrupting the Ordinances of God by mans inventions 2. Making any Images for a religious use either of the true God or of false 3. Making any representation of God of all or any of the Three Persons in the Trinity either inwardly in our minds or outwardly in any kind of Image or likenesse of any creature whatsoever or worshipping of it or God in it and by it 4. Worshipping of God any way not agreeable to his Nature and not warranted by his Word which requires he should be worshipped in Spirit and Truth with uprightnesse and sincerity he being a spiritual and most pure Being without any visible form or shape Therefore all formality unspiritualnesse and meer bodily Worship is that which he cannot away with The third Commandment requires we should honour and reverence the most holy and glorious Name of God and that all his Titles Attributes Ordinances or whatever else he is pleas'd to make known himself by be holily and reverently used by us This Commandment
Spirit of God enabled to perform that shall receive Remission of sins by Christ They that shall be made partakers of that great and inestimable benefit the Remission of all their sins by Christ are effectually called and enabled by the assistance of his Grace unfeignedly to believe the Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments RIGHT KNOVVLEDGE Or the chief things to be Known and Believed in order to Salvation They are reducible to these three Heads Concerning God Man The Mediator between God and Man CHAP. I. Concerning GOD. COncerning God we are to Know three things First His NATURE That there is One onely true God who is a Spirit infinitely glorious and being one in nature is yet three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and the Holy Ghost These are three and one after a wonderful and mysterious manner The Father God the Son God and the Holy Ghost God And yet not three Gods but One God Psal 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts 1 Cor. 15.34 Some have not the Knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Heb. 11.6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Isaiah 44.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isai 45.5 I am the Lord and there is none else There is no God besides me 1 Cor. 8.4 As concâ—rning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in Sacrifice to Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the World and that there is none other God but One. V. 5. For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods many and Lords many V. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Deut. 4.35 Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God And there is none else besides him Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is One Lord. Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God He is the living God and an everlasting King At his wrath the Earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you And how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Luke 24.39 A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Rom. 1.23 And they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible man and to birds and to four-footed beasts and Creeping things V. 25. And worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen Concerning the Trinity Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Mat. 3.16 And Jesus when he was baptized went straightway up out of the water and Lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him V. 17. And Lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 2 Cor. 13.14 The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Concerning God the Father Luke 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph 3.14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Concerning God the Son John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the Onely begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth V. 18. No man hath seen God at any time The Onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Heb. 1.2 He hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the world V. 3. Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sinnes sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high V. 8. But unto the Sonne he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdome John 10.30 I and my Father are One. 1 John 2.22 Who
by Beelzebub the Prince of the devils 1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil V. 10. In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the devil whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother Rev. 12.9 And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent Called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world he was cast out into the Earth and his Angels were cast out with him 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Job 1.7 And the Lord said unto Satan whence comest thou then Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro in the Earth and from walking up and down in it Luke 22.31 And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Mat. 8.29 And behold they cried out saying what have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God art thou come hither to torment us before the time V. 31. So the devils besought him saying if thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine Mat. 4 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the divel 2 Cor. 6.15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidel Zach. 3.1 And he shewed me Josuah the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him V. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan the Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire James 2.19 Thou beleevest that there is One God thou dost well the divels also beleeve and tremble Luke 4.33 And in the Synagogue there was a man which had a Spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a loud voice V. 34. Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God Acts 19.15 And the evil Spirit answered and said Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye Eph. 4.26 Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil Acts 5.3 And Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land Psal 78.49 He cast upon them the fiercenesse of his anger wrath and indignation and trouble by sending evil Angels among them Acts 26.18 To Open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse unto Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me The next of Gods works to be considered and understood by us is II. His Providence As God Created the World and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power So he upholds directs disposes and governs them all by his Providence Nothing so Casual but he disposes of it No Agent so free as to be exempted from his Controule No affliction or Evil of Punishment but he hath a hand in it But as for sin he neither is nor possibly can be the Author or Approver of it Heb. 1.3 Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the expresse Image of his Person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high Col. 1.17 And he is before all things and by him all things Consist Psal 36.6 Thy Righteousnesse is like the great Mountains thy judgments are a great deep O Lord thou preservest man and beast Mat. 10.29 Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father V. 30. But the very haires of your head are all numbred V. 31. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows Dan. 4.34 And at the end of the daies I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto Heaven and mine understanding returned unto me and I blessed the most High and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his Kingdome is from generation to generation V. 35. And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the army of Heaven and among the inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou Prov. 16.33 The Lot is cast into the Lap but the whole disposing thereof is from the Lord. Psal 103.19 The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdome ruleth over all Acts 17.25 Neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things V. 26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation V. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are also his off-spring Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Lam. 3.37 Who is he that saith and it cometh to passe when the Lord commandeth it not Isa 45.6 That they may know from the rising of the Sun and from the West that there is none besides me I am the Lord and there is none else V. 7. I form the Light and create darknesse I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Amos 3.6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Prov. 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Jer. 31.35 Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a Light by day and the Ordinances of the Moon and the Stars for a Light by night which divideth the Sea when the waves thereof roar the Lord of Hosts is his Name Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearcheable are his judgements and his waies
the seed of David according to the flesh V. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge John 3.34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oile of gladnesse above thy fellows Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell Acts 10.38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil for God was with him 3. How he Lived He Lived about three and thirty years here upon Earth a most holy innocent sinless Life performing perfect obedience to the Law of God And as the great Prophet of God who was promised Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 he declared his Fathers will in his heavenly discourses and Sermons and wrought many miracles to confirm his doctrine and to prove himself the true Messias and the Eternal Son of God 1 Pet. 2.22 Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth Heb. 7.26 For such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens Heb. 4.15 For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Psal 40.7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me V. 8. I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart Gal. 4.4 But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto mee unto him ye shall hearken Acts 3.22 For Moses truly said unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you John 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you John 2.11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his Glory and his Disciples beleeved on him V. 23. Now when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover in the Feast day many beleeved in his name when they saw the miracles which he did John 6.14 Then those men when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did said this is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world John 10.41 And many resorted unto him and said John did no miracle but all things that John spake of this man were true John 15.24 If I had not done among them the works which no other man did they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father John 5.36 But I have greater witness than that of John for the works that the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me John 10.25 Jesus answered them I told you and ye beleeved not the works that I do in my Fathers name they bear witnesse of me V. 37. If I do not the works of my Father beleeve me not V. 38. But if I do though ye beleeve not me beleeve the works that ye may know and beleeve that the Father is in me and I in him John 14.11 Beleeve me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else beleeve me for the very works sake Acts 2.22 Ye men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know 4. How he Died Being betrayed by Judas forsaken by his Disciples scorned and rejected by the World through the malicious prosecution of the Jews and unjust sentence of Pilat he was Condemned to be Crucified and being tormented by his persecutors and having conflicted with the Terrors of Death and felt and born Gods wrath He endured the painful shameful and cursed death of the Crosse there as a Priest offering up himself a Sacrifice to God and a Ransome and Propitiation for our sins Matth. 26.3 Then assemhled together the Chief Priests and the Scribes and the Elders of the People unto the Palace of the High Priest who was Called Caiaphas V. 4. And Consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him V. 47. And while he yet spake Lo Judas one of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief Priests and Elders of the people V. 48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a signe saying whomsoever I shall kisse that same is he hold him fast V. 49. And forthwith he came to Jesus and said Hail Master and kissed him V. 50. And Jesus said unto him Friend wherefore art thou come then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him V. 56. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled then all the Disciples forsook him and fled V. 57. And they that laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiphas the high Priest where the Scribes and the Elders were assembled V 59. Now the Chief Priests and Elders and all the Councill sought false witnesse against Jesus to put him to death V. 60. But found none yea though many false witnesses came yet found they none at the last came two false witnesses V. 61. And said this fellow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to build it in three days Mark 14.61 But he held his peace and answered nothing again the High Priest asked him and said unto him art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed V. 62. And Jesus said I am and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven V. 63. Then the High Priest rent his Clothes and saith what need we any further witnesses V. 64. Ye have heard the blasphemy what think ye and they all condemned him to be guilty of death Mat. 26.67 Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands
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
risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Gal. 3.27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls Acts 16.33 And he took them the same hour of the night and wash d their stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway Acts 8.37 And Philip said if thou beleevest with all thine heart thou maiest and he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God V 38. And he Commanded the Chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him Gal. 3 14. That the blessing of Abrahâ—m might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through Faith Acts 2 38. Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost V. 39 For the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall Call 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbeleeving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbeleeving wife is sanctâ—fied by the huâ—band else were your Children unclean but now are they holy Mark 10.13 And they brougâ—t young Children to him that he should touch them and his Disciples rebuked those that brought them V. 14. But when Jesus saw it he was muâ—h displeased and said unto them suffer the lit le Chiâ—dren to come to me and f rbid them not for of such is the â—ingdome of God V. 15. Verily I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the Kingdome of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein V. 16. And he took them up in his armes and put his hands upon them and blessed them Luke 7.30 But the Phaâ—isees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him Acts 8.13 Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondred beholding the miracles and signs which were done John 3 5. Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Eph. 5.25 His bands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it V 26. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Lords Supper Mat. 26.26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to his Disciples and said take eat this is my body V. 27. And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it V. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins V. 29. But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the Vine untill that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdome Mark 14.22 And as they did eat Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to them and said take eat this is my body V. 23. And he took the Cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they drank all of it V. 24. And he said unto them this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many Luke 22.19 And he took bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying this is my body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me V. 20. Likewise also the Cup after Supper saying this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you 1 Cor. 11.20 When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper V. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread V. 24. And when he had given thankes he brake it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying this cup is the new Testament in my blood this do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me V. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come V. 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread V. 21. Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table and of the table of devils 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 Acts 20.17 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech untill midnight 1 Cor. 5.6 Your glorying is not good know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump V. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand soules V. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 2 Thes 3.6 Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us V. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed V. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother 7. What they are effectually Called unto and through the assistance of the Spirit of God enabled to perform that shall receive Remission of sins by Christ They that shall be made partakers of that great and inestimable benefit the Remission of all their sins by Christ are effectually called and enabled by the assistance of his Grace unfeignedly to believe the
that I am he ye shall die in your sins Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved John 14.6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me John 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Gal. 1.6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel V. 7. Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ V. 8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise V. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his Glory Eph. 2.4 But God who is rich in mercy for his great love where-with he loved us V. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeved and therefore have I spoken we also beleeve and therefore speak Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned 1 Cor. 1.23 But we preach Christ Crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishnesse V. 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdome of God 1 Cor. 3.11 For other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ Concerning Repentance Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand for to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgivenesse of sins Mat. 4.17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Mark 1.14 Now after that John was put in prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome of God V. 15. And saying the time is fullfilled and the Kingdome of God is at hand repent ye and believe the Gospel Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 20.20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publikely and from house to house V. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 26.19 Wherefore O King Agrippa I was not disobedient to the Heavenly vision V. 20. But shewed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 1 John 1.9 If we confesse our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse Josh 7.19 And Joshua said unto Achan my son give I pray thee Glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him and tell me now what thou hast done hide it not from me Acts 11.18 When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life Ezek 18.30 Therefore will I judge you O house of Israel every one according to his waies saith the Lord God repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine V. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 36.31 Then shall ye remember your owne evil ways and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations V. 32. Not for your sakes do I this saith the Lord God be it known unto you he ashamed and confounded for your owne waies O house of Israel Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning V. 13. And rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Rev. 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Luke 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Acts 17 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent V. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 1.16 Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil c. V. 18. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as wool Luke 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God Luke 17.3 Take heed to your selves if thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him V 4. And if he trespasse against thee seaven times in a day and seaven times in a day
prepared for them that love him Mark 9.43 And if thy hand offend thee cut it off it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched V. 44. Where their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched V. 45. And if thy foot offend thee cut it off it is better for thee to enter halt into life than having two feet to be cast into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9.46 Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched V. 48. Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal Life 1 Tim. 1.19 Holding Faith and a good Conscience which some having put away concerning Faith have made shipwrack THE Second PART Concerning PRACTICE OR A DISCOURSE containing several usefull Directions to be Practised by those who seriously desire to save their SOULES CHAP. I. Of Consideration 1. AT convenient times use to be alone and laying aside all worldly cares businesses spend now and then a secret hour in strict Self-examining and Considering how the case stands between God and thy soul Ask thy self these two serious Questions First What is it thy heart is most set upon What is thy great care thy main designe What is it that doth most deeply and most frequently possesse thy thoughts What is it that thou dost most love and prize and most desire to enjoy Is thy mind so spiritually inlightened as to see the lovelinesse of God and the greatnesse and excellency of that Glory that is to be had with him so as the main drift and bent of thy heart is after the enjoyment of God and to be happy with him forever Or dost thou find that the main bent of thy heart is to the things of this World to the Profits the Pleasures the sensual satisfactions of this life and these things thou most mindest regardest and labourest for these thy thoughts and heart most run upon Secondly Ask thy self whether ever thou didst feel and apprehend thy self in a lost and undone condition by reason of thy sins Hast thou not seen thy selfe in danger of everlasting misery Hast thou ever put this serious question to thy selfe what shall I do to be saved Hast thou in this or the like manner ever discoursed with thy self O my soul how stands the case with me What am I Am I a true Convert a real Penitent a new Creature one born again Have I an interest in Christ And is my peace made with God through him or am I as yet in the state of Nature under the guilt of all my sins with the wrath of God abiding on me If so is this a Condition to be rested in Let me advise thee as thou lovest thy soul to deal faithfully and in good sadnesse with thy self Let me advise thee to review and seriously to reflect upon the whole course of thy life past And besides thy natural vilenesse Consider how many actual sins failings miscarriages and violations of Gods righteous Law omissions of good commissions of evil thou hast been guilty of in the several parts of thy life and in the several places where thou hast lived Believe it few people do reckon up one sin of ten that they are guilty of Allow thy Conscience therefore a liberty to speak freely to thee and to set thy sins in order before thee And if thou findest thy self for the present in a bad condition and that the case is not with thee as it should be consider whether it will not be an extream folly and madnesse to go on in that course not minding nor regarding speedily to turn to God and to settle the great affairs of thy soul while thou hast time O Remember remember thou hast a precious and immortal soul that must be shortly either in Heaven or Hell either in unconceiveable Joyes or in endlesse easelesse and remedilesse torments Doth it not therefore concern thee to consider and cast about how to attain the one and escape the other Doth it not behoove thee to look to the securing of the main Chance and to deliver thy self from the wrath to come Believe it nothing undoes mankind more than want of due and serious Consideration than want of frequent examining the state of their Consciences and often pondering and thinking of their everlasting Concernments 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your owne selves know ye not your owne selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Psal 119.59 I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies V. 60. I made hast and delaied not to keep thy Commandements Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would Consider their latter end Hag. 1.5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts Consider your waies Lam. 3.40 Let us search and try our waies and turn again to the Lord. Gal. 6.4 Let every man prove his owne work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another V. 5. For every man shall bear his owne burden Psal 77.6 I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with mine own heart and my Spirit made diligent search Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God Ezra 8.22 The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him CHAP. II. Of Repentance HAving seriously examined thy Conscience and impartially considered thy waies and course of life and the state of thy soul towards God The next duty I would advise thee beging the assistance of the Spirit of God to set upon the speedy practise of is true and serious and unfeigned repentance I shall therefore for thy benefit 1. Open the nature of true repentance 2. Give some directions about it 3. Some motives to it Repentance unto life is an Evangelical Grace wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God And the parts of it are these six 1. Conviction 2. Contrition 3. Hating and loathing sin 4. Confession of sin 5. Forsaking sin 6. Conversion and turning the bent of the heart towards God First Conviction The Spirit of God first opens a sinners eies before he breaks a sinners heart The soul of a true penitent is convinced and made apprehensive of these three things 1. The evil odiousnesse and filthiness of sin 2. The danger desert and mischievous effects and consequents of it 3. It s own deep guiltinesse both of Original and Actual sin I. The evil of sin appears in these seven particulars 1. 'T is contrary to Gods holy Nature 2. To his righteous Lawes 3. It
the promise although he hath no assurance in himself how the Lord will dispose of him This is commonly called Faith of Adherence or Recumbency II. When a soul that hath thus cast himself on Christ reflects upon what he hath done and comparing it with the Gospel promises becomes by the assistance of the Spirit bearing witnesse with his Spirit confidently perswaded of his interest in Christ and that he shall be saved by him This is call'd Faith of Assurance Now the former is that Faith which is the Condition of the new Covenant by which a sinner is freely acquitted of all his sins and accounted as a righteous and just person in Gods sight To this Faith there are these six things required 1. A real firm belief of the truth of the Gospel a true historical Faith concerning Christs person undertaking and performance and that he came to be a Mediatour and Peace-maker between God and man 2. A deep sense and feeling of the heavy burden of sin with true sorrow and humiliation â—hereupon The soul is brought to see its undone condition by sin before it closes with Christ 3. A firm perswasion that there is no other way of salvation but by Christ alone 4. A clear knowledge that Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him and willing to save and ready to receive such as do own him for the true Messias and unfeignedly give up themselves unto him 5. An earnest desire a real thirsting after an Interest in this Saviour 6. An actual giving up the soul to Christ depending on him wholly and alone for pardon and life firmly trusting in him to be justified sanctified and everlastingly saved by him This is the soul truly and really united unto Christ And being by Faith and Love thus joyned to the Lord as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 6.17 is one Spirit i. e. is governed by one and the self-same Spirit The Scripture sets forth this admirable spiritual union by these four earthly resemblances By the union 1. Of the Husband and Wife Eph. 5.23 The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body 2. Of the Head and Members Eph. 1.22 23. Hath put all things under his feet and given him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body 3. Of the stones in the bullding with the foundation whereon they rest and are built Eph. 2.22 In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.11 4. Of the Vine and the Branches John 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the Branches So that when we do willingly betroth our selves to Christ and consent to take him for our Lord and Husband and to be his loyall spouse when we are willing to be in subjection to him and to be ruled by him as the members of the body are by the head when we depend and rest and rely on him alone for our salvation as the stones rest on the foundation Lastly when we derive Grace and Holinesse from him as the branches derive juice vertue and sap from the root and stock and do bring forth fruits in him and to him then is there a real and spiritual union wrought between Christ and our soules Thus much concerning the Nature of saving Faith The Conclusions I shall lay down concerning it are these 1. Though Christ hath paid down a sufficient price on the Crosse for the ransoming and buying in of lost and undone sinners yet we are not justified and absolved from the guilt of our sins till we do actually close with him by Faith 2. True saving Faith is not a strong perswasion that all a mans sins are pardoned by Christ's Merits and that he is in Gods Favour and in a good state and condition For 't is evident many of Gods dear servants are exercised with doubts and feares concerning themselves and many Gracelesse wretches that never felt the burden of sin nor ever made much Conscience of walking holily are most confident of their own good condition Therefore this confident ungrounded perswasion cannot be true Faith for then hardnesse of heart would make the best Faith and he that could presume most and be most secure and free from doubts would be the truest believer For a man to be confident of his good condition while he lies under the power and reign of sin is the grossest unbelief in the world 'T is to believe the flat contrary to what God hath revealed in the Word 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not saith the Apostle that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither fornicatours nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Therefore a confident resting on Christ for salvation if it be not a resting according to the Word will not serve the turn 3. Fiducially and savingly to believe on Christ is not an act of mans power but wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God who doth effectually enlighten perswade and draw the heart and assist and enable the soul to give up it self unto Christ Beg therefore the assistance of this blessed Spirit whom God hath promised to give to them that ask him Luke 11.9 And in the aid of his Grace give up thy self unfeignedly unto Christ to be justified sanctified and everlastingly saved by him 4. A true believer may fear and be in doubt that he hath not given up himself to Christ unfeignedly and this fear may proceed from the abundance of his love to Christ and earnest desire to be assur'd of an interest in him which makes him think he can never be certain enough of him Love is sollicitous and full of fears lest it should misse the person beloved 5. They that truly close with Christ do take him for their Lord as well as for their Saviour None come to Christ by Faith and savingly believe on him but they cleave to him by love also and live to him by obedience True Faith on Christ will beget love to Christ and love will bring forth obedience 6. The surest mark of true believing in Christ is a new and holy life 'T is the property of Faith to purifie the heart and so to work a change in the life and conversation Dost thou make Conscience therefore of all Christ's commands And art thou careful to refrain thy feet from every evil way Who ever is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Hath the love of Christ shed abroad in his heart and that love constraines him to yeeld sincere obedience Hath the Spirit of Christ Rom 8.9 not only to comfort him but to counsel and direct him to lead him in the paths of truth and holinesse and to uphold him from taking any desperate and irrecoverable falls either in matter of judgment
his benefits Psal 47.7 For God is the King of all the Earth Sing ye praises with understanding Col. 4.2 Continue in praier and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me V. 13. I will take the Cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Psal 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy mercy and for thy Truths sake Psal 106.21 They forgat God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt Psal 66.16 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Psal 105.2 Sing unto him Sing Psalmes unto him talk ye of all his wondrous works Psal 22.10 I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly Luke 17.17 And Jesus answered and said were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine V. 18. There are not found that returned to give Glory to God save this stranger Psal 69.30 I will praise the Name of God with a Song and will magnifie him with Thanksgiving V. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or Bullock that hath hornes and hoofes Psal 50.13 Will I eat the flesh of Buls or drink the blood of Goats V. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Eph. 5.20 Giving thanks alwaies for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing V. 18. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psal 146.2 While I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my being Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his Judgments unto Israel V. 20 He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant for with my staffe I passed over this Jordan and now am become two bands 1 Chron. 29.14 But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort for all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white robes and palmes in their hands V. 10. And Cried with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. V. 11. And all the Angels stood round about the Throne and about the Elders and four beasts and fell before the Throne on their faces and worshipped God V. 12. Saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdome and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 19.1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God V. 3. And again they said Alleluja V. 4. And the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sate on the Throne saying Amen Alleluja V. 5. And a voice came out of the Throne saying Praise our God all ye his Servants and ye that fear him both small and great Thirdly Be frequent and diligent in reading the holy Scriptures When thou readest the Commands the Promises the Threatnings therein contained think God speaks to thee in them And God must needs be true he cannot lie nor deceive Now there is sufficient evidence that the Scripture is his Word and written by the especial inspiration of his holy Spirit and that will appear if we consider these three things 1. The internal Light of its own perfection The holinesse and heavenlinesse of the matter the Majesty of the Stile the Consent of all the Parts the Scope of the whole which is to give all Glory to God and the full discovery therein made of the only way of mans salvation and reconciliation with God Which is a suitable way both to Gods Glory and mans Necessity 2. The many providential attestations and confirmations of the Truth of the things therein contained by real and undeniable miracles such as could not be wrought but by the power of God And surely if the Scripture had been only the device of men God would some way or other have disowned it ere this as a notorious abuse put upon him and not so constantly have preserved it in spight of the Devil and all his instruments who have laboured to banish it out of the world and to weaken the authority of it 3. The great and wonderful efficacy of the doctrine therein delivered to enlighten convince and humble sinners to drive them out of themselves and to draw them to Christ to conform them to the Image of God to subdue them to his will to strengthen them against temptations and corruptions to build them up in Grace to establish their hearts in holinesse and lastly to comfort them through Faith unto salvation As therefore the holy Ghost by special inspiration was the author of the Scripture and by extraordinary endowments was the author of the miracles wrought for its confirmation so also he is the author of the Faith of him that truly and unfeignedly believes it Yet he doth not cause us to believe by Enthusiasm without any reason or evidence but he enlightens the understanding removing the blindnesse and depravednesse thereof and shews us the credibility of the thing and the evidence of the truth that is to be believed and so perswades the heart to a belief thereof Indeed an historical belief of the Scripture which is true in its kind we may come to by rational perswasions without the special Grace or illumination of the Spirit of God but not that deep and firm belief which shall carry over the will effectually to God in Christ and captivate the whole man to the obedience of the Truth And when such a Faith and belief of the Scripture as this attended with sanctification is wrought in the soul the effect is a good argument to confirm the truth and excellency of such a Faith and belief 1. Labour therefore to work thy heart to a high and reverent esteem of the Word when thou goest to read it We should read it
thy words When love rules in the heart the law of kindnesse is in the tongue 14. Lastly Consider what Solomon saies Prov. 10.19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin and he that refraineth his lips is wise Due and befitting silence is many times a great preseâ—ver of innocency but when the tongue runs very fast and speaks more than comes to its share 't is ordinarily a servant either to pride or passion Psal 39.1 I said I will take heed to my waies that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me Psal 17.3 I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgresse Psal 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips Mat. 12.34 O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh V. 35. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things V. 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment Prov. 13.3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction Jam. 1.26 If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain 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 V. 3. Behold we put bits in the horses mouthes that they may obey us and we turn about their whole body V. 4. Behold also the ships which though they be so great and are driven of fierce windes yet are they turned about with a very small helm whithersoever the Governour listeth V. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth V. 6. And the tongue is a fire a world of iniquity so is the tongue amongst our members that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire of Hell Col. 4.6 Let your speech be alway with Grace seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace unto the hearers Eph. 5.3 But fornication and all uncleannesse or covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints V. 4. Neither filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners Psal 106.33 They provoked his spirit so that he i. e. Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips Prov. 15.28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things 1 Sam. 2.3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly let not arrogancy come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Prov. 10.11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked V. 19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin but he that refraineth his lips is wise V. 20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver the heart of the wicked is little worth V 21. The lips of the righteous feed many but fooles die for want of wisdome Prov. 17.27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome and his tongue talketh of judgment Psal 34.12 What man is he that desireth life and loveth many daies that he may see good V. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile Psal 12 4 Who have said with our tongue will we prevail our lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 140.3 They have sharpned their tongues like a Serpent adders poison is under their lips Selah Rom. 3.13 Their throat is an open sepulchre with their tongues they have used deceit the poison of aspes is under their lips V. 14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse Prov. 16.27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil and in his lips there is a burning fire Prov. 15.4 A wholesom tongue is a tree of life but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit V. 7. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge but the heart of the foolish doth not so Prov. 14.3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride but the lips of the wise shall preserve them Prov. 12.18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword but the tongue of the wise is health Prov. 17.5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished Prov. 31.26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of kindnesse Tit. 3.1 2. Put them in mind c. To speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meeknesse unto all men Mat. 5.22 But I say unto you that whosâ—ever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha shall be in danger of the councel but whosoever shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell-fire Levit. 19.16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people Prov. 11.13 A tale bearer revealeth secrets but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter Prov. 25.18 A man that beareth false witnesse against his neighbour is a maul and a sword and a sharp arrow Prov. 20.19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips Psal 15.1 Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle V. 2. He that speaketh the truth in his heart V. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour Jer. 18.18 And they said come let us devise devices against Jeremiah come let us smite him with the tongue and let us not give heed to any of his words Job 5.21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh Psal 31.20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues Prov. 6.1 My son if thou be surety for thy friend if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger V. 2. Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth thou art taken with the words of thy mouth Prov. 12.13 The wicked is snared by the
erroneous yet we are to be sensible how God is dishonoured and thousands of soules endangered by their pernicious errours And therefore it deeply concerns us to have a care of our selves to preserve our owne soules from this infection and not of our selves only but to have a regard to our posterity also that we transmit truth down to them We would be willing to leave our estates to our children And shall we not be more careful to leave them truth Believe it we are to perform the part of faithful Trustees and to keep the Doctrine of salvation pure and unmix'd as much as in us lies and so to leave it to those that are to come after us 8. and Lastly Consider how the Scripture has forewarned us there must be Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 Now there is a twofold necessity Absolute Conditional 1. Absolute when a thing cannot possibly be otherwise as God must needs be just 2. Conditional when a thing must be supposing such another thing to be before As suppose the Sun be risen it must be day so here upon supposition of these two things 1. Satans malice 2. Mans Corruption there must be Heresies Far be it from us ever to think that God imposes a necessity on any to be Hereticks but he permits them suffers them to spring up in the Church and that for these three reasons 1. That his glorious truths may be the more cleared up and evidenced and strongly confirmed and maintained Many parts of true Doctrine have been but slenderly guarded till assâ—ulted by Hereticks then old evidences have been searched and found out Many truths have been occasionally most cleared and setled by the opposition of the Adversary 2. That they that are approved may hereby be made manifest This is an effect the Devil never intended by raising Heresies But 't is the Chimistry of Heaven to bring good out of evil That is pure gold that endures the trial of the fire A quick smart wind severs the solid grain from the chaff They are but chaff who are blown away with every wind of Doctrine The good wheat remaines still in the floor of the Church When you see an Army march you know not who is valiant and who not when the enemy approaches then is the trial 3. That the obstinate may be rendred inexcusable who wilfully shut their eies against these more open manifestations and greater clearings up of the Truth which occasionally by the opposition of the adversary God is pleased to afford his Church Jude v. 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints V. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction V. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of V. 3. And through Covetousnesse shall they with feigned words make marchandise of you whose judgment now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slumbreth not 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils V. 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron 2 Tim 2.17 And their word will eat as doth a Canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus V. 18. Who concerning the truth have erred saying the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching eares V. 4. And they shall turn away their eares from the truth and shall be turned unto fables Acts 20.29 For I know this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock V. 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them 2 Tim. 3.6 Of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts V. 7. Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth V. 8. Now as Jannes Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith V. 13. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves V. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits Mat. 24.11 Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many V. 24. There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Anti-Christ shall come even now are there many Anti Christs whereby we know it is the last time V. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them V. 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Gal. 4.17 They zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude us that you might affect them Tit. 1.10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the circumcision V. 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject V. 11. Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ V. 4. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached or if ye
receive another spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him V. 13. For such are false Prophets deceitfull Workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. V. 14. And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light V. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of righteousnesse whose end shall be according to their works Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galatians who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eies Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you Gal 5.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest c. V. 20. Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 For there must be also Heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you Heb. 13.9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing the heart be established with Grace c. Eph. 4.14 That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cuning craftiness whereby they ly in wait to deceive Gal. 1.6 I marvel ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel V. 7. Which is not another but there be some that trouble you would pervert the Gospel of Christ V. 8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you let him be accursed 1 Cor. 3.11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering 1 Tim. 1.19 Holding Faith and a good Conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack 1 Thes 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so 2 Pet. 3.15 As our beloved Brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you V. 16. As also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Mâ—t. 4.5 Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy City and setteth him on a pinacle of the Temple V. 6. And saith unto him if thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone Jude v. 17. But beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 18. How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts V. 19. These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit 2 Thes 2.10 Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved V. 11. For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie V. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse Rev. 2.14 I have a few things against thee because thou hast them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication V. 15. So hast thou also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate V. 20. I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel which calleth her self a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your omn stedfastnesse V. 18. But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Jude v. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy V. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen I have now dispatched the second Particular The things thou art to watch against I come now to the third the thing thou must watch for Thirdly Watch for and take all fit opportunities to glorifie God and to do good This is to be like our blessed Lord and Saviour who went about doing good and made every place where he came the better for him How much good may a seasonable word dropt for God do A sin wisely reproved and discountenanced a good hint well improved some good counsel seasonably given of how much advantage to the soules of others may these things prove This is to be on Gods side and true to his party We say A wise man makes more opportunities than he finds but a fool neglecteth those he has It should be our real design in all companies either to do good or to receive good And this will turn to a comfortable account in the day of recompences I come now to the Motives to quicken thee to this great and necessary duty of continuall watchfulnesse First Consider how naturally we are all prone to be secure and carelesse and want of watchfulnesse betraies us to most of the sins we fall into Secondly Consider the vigilancy of the tempter Shall he be so watchful to destroy us and shall not we be watchful to keep our selves from his malice 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Eph. 6.11 Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil Thirdly Consider the necessity of perseverance whereunto a concurrence of our care and diligence is required Whoso endureth to the end saith our Saviour Matth. 10.22 he and he only shall be saved Let us all run with patience saies the Apostle the race that is set before us Heb. 12.1 Now in worldly races none gaineth the prize but he that getteth first to the goal but in the spiritual race not only he that cometh first but whoso holdeth out to the last he is sure to win and obtain the prize Be faithful to the death and I
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
those under his charge do the like Every Governour of a Family should resolve with pious Joshuah Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Observe it True Religion and the power of Godliness hath there usually most flourished where the Lords day hath been most conscientiously observed And many direful judgments have befallen the violators and prophaners of it Gen. 2.2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all the work which he had made V. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made Lev. 23.3 Six daies shall thy work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings Nehem. 13.19 And it came to passe that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day Isa 58.13 If thou turn away thy feet from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own waies nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Luke 23.54 And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on V. 56. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement Exod. 23.12 Six daies shalt thou do thy work and on the seventh day thou shalt rest that thine Oxe and thine Asse may rest and the son of thine hand-maid and the stranger shall be refreshed Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean and have hid their eies from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned among them Ezek. 23.38 Moreover this they have done unme they have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have prophaned my Sabbaths Amos 8.4 Saying when will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat c. Lam. 1.7 Jerusalem remembred in the daies of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the daies of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her the adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Ezek. 20.20 Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall be a sign between me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Isa 56.2 Blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing evil V. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths and chuse the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant V. 6. Also the sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord to be his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my Covenant V. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt Offerings and their Sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people Mark 2.27 And he said unto them the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath V. 28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Psal 92. Title A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Luke 4.16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech untill midnight 1 Cor. 16.1 Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay up in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it 2. Hearing the Word We live in an age wherein through the rich mercy of God there is much good preaching but 't is a general complaint there is so little profiting We see not those gracious effects of the Word that were to be desired and wished And certainly one main reason of it is few take care to hear in a right manner as they ought to do That therefore thou maist so hear as to profit I shall shew thee 1. What thou art to do before thou hearest by way of preparation 2. What thou art to do in time of Hearing 3. What after thou hast Heard For the First Thou must prepare thy heart before thou comest to hear Rash entring on duties is seldom successeful If the ground be not prepared the seed is lost that is sown therein Plow up the fallow ground of your hearts saies the Prophet Jer. 4.3 and sow not among thorns In a fallow piece of ground you know thorns and briers weeds and thistles use to grow And such a thing is mans heart naturally which if let alone and no paines taken with it will quickly be overgrown with hurtful cares stinking lusts and distempered affections And therefore St. James adviseth Jam. 1.21 That before we go to hear the Word we should lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse i. e. all evil frames of heart And how hard a matter that is I appeal to the experience of every true and sincere Christian That holy man Gerson professes he many times spent some hours before he could get his heart in tune for solemn duties Gods children have entred comfortably on duties â—hen they have been serious and careful in their preparations for them To help thee therefore to prepare thy heart for the Word take these Directions 1. Lay aside as much as possibly thou canst all worldly thoughts cares and businesses that thy mind may be free for God and the impressions of his Word and holy Spirit On Saturday night shut up the gates of thy heart against the world as Nehemiah Chap. 13. v. 19.20 did the
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
Psal 58.4 We read of some Zach. 7.12 That made their heart as Adamant stone that they might not hear 'T is a sad complaint the Prophet makes And yet many Ministers may in these daies make the same I have stretched out my hands all the day long to a disobedient and gainsaying people Isa 65.2 Rom. 10.21 3. The itching ear 2 Tim. 4.3 4. The Apostle speaks of some who having itching eares did turn away their eares from the Truth unto Fables When men affect only new things and another Gospel as Paul speaks Gal. 1. They are half gone into Heresie Plain Doctrines that tend to the conviction of sin that discover the necessity of conversion that shew mans lost and undone condition by nature his only remedy by Christ the necessity of Holinesse and new obedience these serious truths are too stale for many curious eares But remember they were carnal people who complained they had nothing but the old burden Jer. 23.33 34. II. Apply what thou hearest to thy self Job 5. ult Hear thou this and know it for thy self Do not ward off the blowes of the Word from thy self Do not say within thy self this reproof concerns such an one c. The Jewes being pricked in their hearts Acts 2.23 said What shall we do not what shall others do to be saved No plaister can do us good except it be applyed III. Lift up thy heart in frequent mental ejaculatory prayers unto the Lord to set the truths thou hearest home upon thy soul Lord help me to remember and practise this lesson Lord help me to forsake this sin Lord strengthen my Faith in the belief of this Truth As the Disciples when Christ told them how oft they should forgive an offending brother Luke 17.5 they instantly pray Lord increase our Faith IV. Mix Faith with the Word Heb. 4.2 The Apostle tels of some that the Word profited not bccause they did not mix it with Faith O cursed infidelity How many thousand souls hast thou destroyed How many thousand Sermons hast thou made unsuccesseful St. James tels us The Devils believe and tremble That is more than many a wicked man does Thus much of thy behaviour in time of hearing Thirdly After hearing practise these Directions 1. Labour to keep alive those good motions those good inclinations those Heavenly affections and stirrings of Spirit which thou foundest in time of hearing Thou wilt quickly cool when out of the Congregation if thou take not heed 2. When thou goest from the Congregation be willing to speak and confer of what thou hast heard labouring thereby to work those truths on thy own heart and on the hearts of others O how sad is it that people as soon as ever they are out of the Congregation fall a talking of any thing rather than the Sermon they have heard They are free to talk of bargains or news or any thing else But they are ashamed of such precise discourse as to speak of the truths they have heard though they concern them never so much 3. Let such as are governours of Families revive the truths they have heard in publick by repetition in their Families Our memories are weak and Commands had need be repeated to forgetful servants At first hearing many truths may be lost through distraction and wandring Paul in his Epistles does often repeat the same passages and renew the same exhortations And he tels the Philippians C. 3. v. 1. To write the same things to them was not to him grievous but for them safe 4. Retire thy self and meditate on the truths thou hast heard and labour to fasten them by prayer in thy heart Let thy Conscience in secret preach them over to thee again Luke 2.19 'T is said Mary pondered those sayings in her heart O how few will spend a secret hour on the Lords day to consider and meditate on what they have heard One main reason Sermons do no more good is because people so soon forget them And why do they forget them so soon But because they do not consider and meditate on them when they have heard them Heb. 2.1 Therefore saies the Apostle we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip And 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all 5. Be not a bare hearer but a doer of the Word Speedily set upon the practise of what thou hast learned to be thy duty Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own soules Jam. 1.22 Some do not care to hear because they have no mind to practise Some hear and rest in it 'T is practise that proclaims the sincerity of our profession In hearing we may look like Saints but in doing we live like Saints Practise is the best commendation of a Sermon Having thus shewed thee what thou must do 1. Before hearing the Word 2. In hearing the Word 3. After hearing the Word I come now to give thee some Motives to quicken thee to the practise of these Directions 1. Consider such as wilfully neglect to prepare their hearts before they come to hear do tempt God to withdraw the assistance and blessing of his holy Spirit from them when they are come Presume not on Gods assistance in an Ordinance if you neglect to prepare for it If the ground be not well prepared we do not expect a crop 2. Consider and remember the Devils care is not only to disturb thee at the Ordinance but to indispose thee for it before thou comest The Devil is stirring early on the Lords day morning He is at work betimes Be sure he hath a mornings draught for thee he will be presenting and suggesting something to thee to unfit and indispose thee for the duties of the day 3. Consider as thou art more or less careful to prepare so wilt thou ordinarily more or lesse tast the sweetnesse of the Ordinance Preparation is like exercise before a meal It will make thee come with the better appetite to the Word and relish it the better 4. Consider preparation is not only advantageous in order to the Ordinance but it brings advantage to us considered in it self By preparation we have communion with God We come to uâ—derstand our selves and the case of our own souls Whilst thou art preparing thy Graces are increasing the work of Heaven goes on 5. Consider If thou makest Conscience thus to behave thy self before in and after hearing of the Word as thou hast been directed thou wilt find it a great evidence of the sincerity and uprightnesse of thy heart Outward respects may make people come to Church but to take pains thus with their hearts beforehand argues a true desire after communion with God and a real willingnesse to profit by the Word and to grow in Grace 6. Consider what a choice mercy it is to enjoy the Gospel 'T is not a dish
that is set on every table God hath not done so for every Nation as for this No Island so far from Jerusalem had the light of the Gospel so soon as this And I know not any particular promise whereby the Gospel is entailed on this or any other Nation If we slight the Gospel for ought I know we may quickly forfeit it and provoke God to take it from us When the Israelites despised Manna God quickly sent serpents among them If we despise the Manna of his Word and count it light food God may justly send Serpents among us I mean such deceivers as with their pernicious Doctrines may poison many souls to their everlasting destruction 7. Lastly Consider though the Gospel may continue to the Nation yet thou or I may quickly be deprived of our personal opportunities of enjoying of it I have heard of one lying on his deathbed that cryed out Call time back Call time back Thou maist shortly cry out call Sermons back call Sabbaths back and all in vain if thou neglectest the present opportunity and season of Grace Consider the Spirit of God will not alwaies strive with the children of men Consider this may be the last Sermon that ever thou maist hear Some one Sermon will be the last And think thus with thy self such a gale of the Spirit as now I feel may never be afforded me again Shall I be so foolish then as not to yeeld to these blessed motions To day while it is called to day hear his voice and harden not thy heart Luke 8.18 Take heed therefore how ye hear Eccles 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they do evil Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher V. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your souls V. 22. But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves V. 23. For if any man be a hearer of the Word and not a doer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glasse V. 24. For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was V. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed 1 Pet. 2.1 Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisie and envies and evil speakings V. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby John 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods Words ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God 1 Cor. 2.14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Prov. 2.3 Yea if thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding V. 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Mat. 13.3 The parable of the sower and the four sorts of ground Luke 8.5 The parable of the sower and the four sorts of ground Mat. 13.14 And in them is fulfilled the Prophesie of Esaias which saith by hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive V. 15. For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their ears are dull of hearing and their eies they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eies and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them V. 16. But blessed are your eies for they see and your ears for they hear 1. Thes 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye recieved it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 1 Sam. 8.7 And the Lord said unto Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them 1 Thes 4.8 He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit Luke 24.32 And they said one to another did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoil Jer. 6.10 To whom shall I speak and give warnning that they may hear behold their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken behold the Word of the Lord is to them a reproach they have no delight in it Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip Prov. 4.4 He taught me also and said unto me Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live V. 21. Let them not depart from thine eies keep them in the midst of thine heart Deut. 11.18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my Words in your heart and in your soul c. Isa 48.17 Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go 3. Of Singing of Psalmes Neglect not that excellent and Heavenly Ordinance of singing Psalms and lifting up the praises of the most high singing with understanding and making melodie to God in thy heart Many people in this age not understanding the reasons and grounds of the duties of Religion they perform when they are questioned are apt to lay them aside I shall therefore here do these four things 1. Shew that Singing of Psalms is a Gospel-duty 2. That it is lawful and warrantable to
this duty there usually they are in a most thriving condition both as to knowledge and holinesse As Countreys that maintain a trade and commerce together do inrich each other 5. 'T is a good way to prevent seduction into errour Christians are better able to resist errours by their united forces and mutual counsels than singly and alone The Church is said Cant. 6.10 to be terrible as an Army with banners But straglers and such as go alone are often snatcht up How easie is it to pervert and draw one single person into any dangerous errour who neglects the benefit of other Christians advice and counsel 6. It will be a good means to increase love in the hearts of Christians one towards another And Love is Christ's Livery John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Thus much of the Arguments to perswde to this duty The Directions follow I. Let Christians in their Religious Conferences have this principally in their aim to edifie one another to further one another Heaven-ward to do good to one another soules II. Let them labour for those Graces that are requisite for this duty Such as these 1. Sobriety of judgment 2. Humility and lowlinesse of mind 3. Ingenuity acknowledging and prizing the Gifts and Graces they see in each other 4. Self-denial condescending to them of low parts going a slow pace rather than outgoing the young and tender lambs 5. Love affability encouraging weak beginners 6. Inoffensivenesse 7. Sincerity and plain heartedness III. Let them avoid censuring or judging the Spiritual state of others Such persons meet together for the worse and not for the better IV. Let them decline controverted points such things usually gendring strife and variance and apply themselves to speak of things that are practical As of God and his Goodnesse Of Christ his Person Offices and Merits Of the Covenant of Grace Of the Doctrine of justification Of the patience and self-denial of those that are gone before us Of Heaven and the Glory of that Kingdom How did the Martyrs in prison by such ravishing discourses set one another at liberty from the fears of death How did holy Bradford's sweet and cheerful company make the very dungeons lightsom and palace-like to his fellow-prisoners as themselves confessed These and such like practical matters will be the fittest subjects for Christians to discourse of when they meet together V. Let them impart their experiences and the methods of Gods dealings with themselves or others How they got rid of such a corruption vanquished such a temptation attain'd to a facility in such a duty Let them impart what may tend to the advancement of Holinesse VI. Let them provoke and stir up one another to Holinesse to Love and to good works admonishing and exhorting one another to watch and take heed to their waies seeing so many watch for their haltings like those the Prophet speaks of Jer. 20.10 All my familiars watched for my halting c. VII If any fallings out or jars shall happen among them at any time let them be prudently and seasonably healed and made up And in this case praying together and for one another is of singular use Let them as the Apostle speaks in another case Jam. 5.16 Confesse their faults one to another and pray one for another that they may be healed if their minds have been distempered and ill-affected one towards another 5. Retired holy Meditation Holy Meditation is the acting of the mind upon some Divine Object in order to the working upon the affections and raising fome fit resolutions in the soul therefrom tending to Gods Glory and the furtherance of Holinesse How many Christians are there that live in a constant neglect of this so exceeding useful duty by which all other duties are improved and by which the soul digesteth truths and draweth forth their strength for its nourishment and refreshing Certainly Meditation rightly mannaged doth exceedingly tend to the advancement of Piety I shall therefore 1. Give some Reasons why we should practise it 2. Give some Directions as to the manner how we should perform it I. Consider this was the practise of many of the eminent Saints of God recorded in the Scriptures Isaac and David were much in this Duty II. Consider the great benefit of it duly performed T is an excellent means 1. To encrease knowledge and to make the mind serious and solid None are more knowing setled established Christians than such as are much in Meditation 2. To stir up and awaken the Graces of Gods Spirit in us Hereby we awaken our Faith inflame our love strengthen our hope enliven our desires encrease our joyes in God we loosen our affections from the world and fore-acquaint our selves with the Glory that is to come 3. To make the Word profitable Meditation is the digestion of the soul 'T is not the taking in of food but the stomacks concocting of it that makes it turn to blood and Spirits For want of this How many Sermons are lost and do no good The Word will not profit us except we take time to think upon it 4. To prepare the heart for prayer and other holy duties Meditation tunes and prepares and fits the heart for solemn Worship 5. To antidote and fortifie the soul against sin and temptation If men would but often consider of the evil and danger of sin it would be a great means to deter them from the practise of it 6. 'T is an excellent help and means of Communion with God 'T is the souls perspective whereby it sees something of the Glory and happinesse of that Kingdom that is above Thus much of the Arguments for it I come now to give some Directions how it should be managed I. Pitch upon some convenient time of the day for this duty A Christians timing his duty aright is a great help to him in the right performance of it Some have chosen the morning for this duty and some the evening We have examples of both in Scripture Of our Saviour we read Mark 1.35 And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Gen. 24.63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide II. Pitch upon some convenient retired place The wise man tels us Prov. 18.1 Through desire a man having separated himself seeketh and intermedleth with all wisdome First he separates himself then intermedleth with wisdom There is nothing the Devil more spights than this that a man should often retire and separate himself from the world to meditate on his everlasting concernments The Devil cannot endure a man should consider whether he be journeying towards Heaven or Hell III. Get a good stock of profitable materials to meditate on as the Attributes of God His promises of remission sanctification reward The love of Christ The evil and danger of sin The vanity of the Creature The