all the sufferings of this life are not worthy the glory that shall be reveal'd Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 This light and momentary affliction c. Fourthly In the Resurrection of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth and certainty of his Resurrection we have the testimony of God Angels and Men for it 1 Cor. 15.3 to the end Secondly On the Ends of his Resurrection as First That he might declare to all the World that he was the Son of God true and very God Rom. 1.4 Secondly That He might manifest to all the World that he had fully satisfied the Justice of God John 16.8 9. Heb. 2.13 14. Thirdly That He might strengthen our faith in that full satisfaction and reconciliation He hath made for us whence that Rom. 4. last He died for our offences and rose again for our Justification and hence that Triumph Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemns It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again c. Thirdly The evidences you have in the Merits and Benefits of Christ's Resurrection Whether he be risen as our Head and will raise us up hereafter to glory which we may know thus if we be risen with him and by him from a state of death to a state of life and grace called the first Resurrection Revel 20.6 Such only shall have an interest in the benefits of the second Resurrection at the last day John 5.28 Fourthly What you must do to get an interest in the first Resurrection that you may come to have the comfort of the second and that is to attend constantly on the Ministry of the Word and to beg the Spirit of Christ to quicken that Word that it may quicken your dead Souls according to his promise John 5.25 Fifthly In the Ascension of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth of it by the testimony of Angels and Men Acts 1.10 11. Luke 24.51 52. Secondly The End of his Ascention to shew that he was true and very God in that he could lift up his Body into the Ayr 2. That he might open the Gate of Heaven for us which we had shut by our sin and prepare a place for us in it Heb. 10 19 20. John 14.3 4. Thirdly Take notice of the use you are to make of the Ascention of Christ which is To ascend daily in our hearts and affections to him Colos 3.1 2. Sixthly In the Session of Christ at the right hand of God First To take notice what it is viz. that Equality of Glory and Dignity Authority and Power He hath with his Father Phil. 2.6.9 Eph. 1.20 Secondly To meditate on the End of his Sitting there which is First That He may Rule and Raign until he hath made all his Enemies his Foot-stool 1 Cor. 15. Secondly That he may assure us that as he sits there in our name and nature so he will cause all his at the last to sit with him upon the same Throne of glory Rev. 3.21 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it which is the same Col. 3.1 2. Seventhly In the Intercession of Christ First To take notice what it is viz. the presenting of his active and passive obedience to his Father for the procuring all that grace and mercy he hath purchased and his Father hath promised to his Elect or if you will thus That part of his Priestly Office whereby for his satisfaction sake he desires wills and procures for all his Elect the acceptation of their Persons and Services and the remuneration of all their weak endeavours for his glory Revel 8.3 4. Revel 14.13 Secondly Meditate on the Ends of his Intercession as First That we may have the benefit of all he hath done and suffered for us which we could not had he not gone into Heaven to make Intercession for us Heb. 9.7.24 Secondly That so he might take away the iniquity of our holy things and render our Persons and services acceptable to his Father and so be able to save us to the uttermost 1 Epist John 2.12 Heb. 7.25 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it and that is In all our services still to draw neer to God in the name of Christ and beg the acceptance of our Persons and Service and all that grace we stand in need of for his Intercessions sake Col. 3. â—7 Heb. 4. last But then Eighthly To meditate on the great Priviledges that come by Jesus Christ to such as have a true actual and real interest in Him as 1. Remission of all our sins 2 Cor. 5.19 1 John 17. Rev 15. 2. Imputation of Christ's righteousness 2 Cor. 5.20 3. Reconciliation to God 1 Colos 20. And thereby 1. Peace with God and Conscience Men and Angels Rom. 5.1 Col. 3 15. Isai 11.6 Hos 2. end Heb. 1. last 2. Communion with the Father and the Son 1 John 1 3. 3. A spiritual right and title to all Creature-comforts which are lost by the Fall 1 Tim. 4.45 and all that is God's and Christ's all his Attributes Promises Providences 1 Cor. 3. 2 last 4. A sanctified use of every estate both of Prosperity and Adversity Health and Sickness Life and Death Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good c. 4. Priviledge Adoption of us into his Family to be the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever living God Eph. 1.5 Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 5.1 5. Sanctification of our natures Acts 26.18 Sanctified by Faith in Christ 1 Thes 5.21 The God of Peace sanctifie you throughout c 2 Pet. â— 4 Whereby we are enabled to die unto sin and live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2.24 6. Acceptation of our Persons and all our Services notwithstanding all our infirmities and imperfections Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 7. Inhabitation of his Spirit to assist us in all our duties and lead us in all our ways 1 Joh. 3 last Rom. 8.14.26 8. Confirmation and establishment in a state of Grace Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 1.5 9. The continual Intercession of Jesus Christ for all that Grace and Mercy we stand in need of Heb. 7.25 1 Joh. 2.2 3. 10. Lastly The Consecration of Souls and Bodies Rom. 8.30 John 17.22 Tenthly To meditate if you would have the comfort of the forenamed Priviledges To meditate I say on the Evidences of an actual and real interest in Christ and that 1. Because it is expresly commanded 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith Know ye not that Ghrist is in you c. 2. Because the most do deceive themselves herein flatter themselves that they are Christ's and Christ is theirs because they are baptized into his Name and make a profession of him to whom Christ will say at the last Day I know you not c. Luke 13.25 And therefore to search and see the interest you have in Him be not only nominal and professional but actual and real Q. Well then How may we know it Ans By the Grounds of it the Means of
THE PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN OR A Summary View of the Chief Heads OF PRACTICAL DIVINITY In order to The Begetting Preserving and Increasing the Life and Power of Godliness in the Hearts and Lives of Professors Laid down in a Plain and Succinct manner by way of Meditation Drawn up and principally intended for the Use and Benefit of the Citizens of Exeter and especially those that were his peculiar Flock By J. B. once their Pastor I have more Vnderstanding than all my Fathers for thy Testimonies are my Meditation Psal 119.99 Meditatio Mentis Ditatio A Mind well Imployed is Grace well Improved LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible on London-Bridge and are to be sold by Michael Hide Book-Seller at Exeter 1670. To the Candid Readers especially those that were his Usual Hearers in the City of Exeter Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Timothy 1.2 Dearly Beloved in our best Beloved and Dearest Lord and Saviour KNowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle even as my Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me 2 Pet. 1.14 I have endeavoured that you may be able after my Decease to have those things always in Remembrance which I have Taught unto you In order to it I have Selected and Contracted the choisest and most necessary Truths to be Known Believed and Practised by you for the furthering of the Edification Consolation and Salvation of your Souls I have done all very briefly plainly and by way of Meditation If you desire to know the Reasons of my so doing and committing all to Writing you may be pleased to take this short Account First I have done it so briefly that I might not burden your Memories and that your Heads and Hearts might be the more intent on the most special things such as are of nearest and greatest Concernment to your Souls and I hope that I may say without Boasting that I have written Much in a Little and if you will but weigh well what I have Written you may find a great deal more Matter than Words I have backed all with Scripture-Proofs some with more some with less that so you might the more clearly see the Truth of all only citing the Text not the Words but only to some places that so the Book may not swell too big Secondly I have done it in so plain and familiar a Style that I might condescend to the Capacity of the meanest Schollar in Christ's School and because Truth when it is in the plainest Dress is most Comely It 's a signe of a Weak Stomack to mind more the Garnishing of the Dish than the Meat in it the sin of too many here and every where to Like the Dressing more than the Food and to look more to the Words than to the Matter and therefore my Endeavour hath been to do what the Wise Preacher did before me Eccles 12.10 The Preacher sought out Acceptable Words even Vpright Words of Truth that is profitable and Comfortable Words True and Faithful Words that so I might Prodesse magis quam placere non alta sed apta proferre not High words but Fit words because as Good Matter without Fit Words is but as Good Meat in a Sluttish Dish so Neat words without Solid Matter is but Copiosa egestas a Gaudy Poverty both together are most acceptable Thirdly I have done it by way of Meditation because it is only Meditation that brings home any Truth to the Heart and makes it useful and profitable the Bee which only lights on the Flower and doth not stay on it gathers no Honey it is her abiding a while on it that sucks out the Sweet of it That Person that takes a Cordial and holds it only a little while in his Mouth and then puts it out will find little benefit by it so will He that Hears and Reads the Word and never Meditates on it it 's only Meditation that makes every Truth sweet and profitable and because what Chrysostome sayes of Faith is true of Meditation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it doth make God and Christ his Precepts and Promises and all we See and Hear and Read to be ours it applies and digests and assimilates us into the Nature of those Spiritual and Heavenly things we meditate on 2 Cor. 3. ult Fourthly I have put all in Writing 1. Because as Abel by his Faith being dead yet speaketh Heb. 11.4 So this Treatise may speak and live when I am dead as Christ and his Apostles now in Heaven yet by their Doctrine Examples and Writings they preach unto the Saints on Earth 2. That so what hath slipped out of your car might be recalled by the eye Lam. 3.51 and the Eye might affect the Heart with what you have formerly heard A good mans Words may pass as Wind in the Aire when what he Writes may prove of weight on the Heart as the Apostle's words did 2 Cor. 10.10 Whence it is that Sacraments say some excel Sermons because in Sermons Truths are only Audible to the Eare but in Sacraments things are Visible to the Eye 3. Because by Writing Ministers they communicate their Labours not only to those at home but abroad and so profit more by their Writing than they do sometimes by their Preaching 4. Because by Writing a Ministers Labours are more permanent and abiding upon the Heads and Hearts of those that make use of them Sermons as one Well are as Showrs of Rain that Water for the present when-as Books are as Banks and Heaps of Snow that lye long on the Earth and keeps the Corn more warm in the Winter In all these respects I have put Pen to Paper and communicated these Meditations to your Eye as well as your Ear. If any object There are Books enough Printed and of this Subject also of Meditation I grant it I am of his Judgment who said For Polemical Tractates which hold up different Opinions A few are too many but for Practical Treatises which press to the Duties of Holiness Many are too few which made Austin to say Vtile est plures libros à pluribus fieri the more the better so long as they are helps to the promoting of Godliness The Reasons is obvious because we find by sad and general Experience though most are willing to know yet very few are forward to practise what they know and therefore all helps little enough to quicken them to Duty And the rather because what Aristotle said of his Ethicks is much more true of Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's not Knowledge but practise that denominates and evidences any to be a truly knowing Christian and Religious Man He that knows Gods will and doth it not is a Lyar 1 Epistle John 2.4 A Fool Math. 7.27 and worse than so the more any knows without Practise the more like he is to the Devil who knows more than any but practiseth nothing besides there 's nothing will more aggravate the sin
a Chain hath the whole Chain so he that hath one saving sanctifying grace in truth hath all what is said of original sin una essentiâ sed multiplex efficientiâ is true also of sanctifying grace though but one in it self yet it is vertually all I shall give you only three evidences of each such as desire more may see them in other Books where they are fully handled 1. For the truth of sanctifyed knowledge it is thus evidenced it is experimental practical and humble First Experimental Phil. 1.9 Secondly Practical Psal 111. last Thirdly Humble Prov. 30.2 2. For the truth of sanctifying faith it is thus evidenced it is a self-emptying working converting faith 1. It is a self-emptying or self-denying faith it makes a Soul to deny his own righteousness in point of Justification and acceptation and with the Apostle desires to be found only in Christ's righteousness Phil. 3.8 9. to disclaim also his own ability for any thing that is spiritually good 2 Cor. 3.5 and to enter upon duty only in the Name and Strength of Christ Phil. 4.12 Secondly It is a working faith that which works by love to God and unto others for God's sake Gal. 5.6 It is still working-out corruption Acts 15.9 and working-in grace Acts 26.18 Thirdly It is a conquering faith that which enables a Soul to with-stand and over-come temptations from within and without 1 Ep. John 5.4 This is the victory that covercomes the World even our faith Q. What 's meant here by World A. Partly the Men of it that lye in wickedness 1 Ep. John 5 19. and partly the lusts of the World as the honours riches and pleasures of it 1 Ep. John 2.16 so victorious as it enables them to hold fast their confidence to the end Heb. 3.14 Heb. 11.19 and makes them more than Conquerors over all their spiritual Enemies Rom. 8. the end 3. For the truth of repentance that is evidenced thus It is a universal sincere and continued repentance 1. It is universal for all and every sin little as well as great secret as well as open one as well as another Psal 119.104 128. Secondly It is sincere from the heart Joel 2.13 Thirdly It is continued and renewed daily as we renew our provocations Ephes 4.26 Let not the Sun go down on your wrath Fourthly The truth of obedience evidenced thus 1. It is universal without partiality John 15.14 2dly Sincere without hypocrisie 2 Chron. 28.9 3dly Constant without Apostacy Mat. 10.22 Rev. 2.10 Fifthly The truth of your love thus evidenced 1. It is spiritual for Grace sake and the Truths sake 2 John 2. to the Elect Lady whom I love in truth and for the Truths sake 2. It 's impartial to one Saint as well as another Colos 1.4 3. It 's permanent and abiding unto death like Ruths to Naomi the ground of it is Gods unchangeable love to his Jer. 31.3 Sixthly The truth of your fear of God thus evidenced 1. If you fear to sin rather then to suffer fear the displeasure of God more than the displeasure of Man Luke 12.4 5. 2. If you fear him for his Mercy as well as his Justice his Goodness as well as his Greatness Psal 130.4 Hosea 3. last 3. If you fear to sin against him in secret where there is no eye to observe you but only Gods as Joseph Gen. 39.9 and Job 31.1 4. Seventhly The truth of your hope in God thus evidenced 1. If it be grounded on the Scripture Rom. 15.4 2. If it purifie the Heart and sanctifie the Life 1 John 3.3 3. If it cause you patiently to wait on God for the fulfilling his promise 1 Thes 1.3 If now you would know whether you are brought out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace try your selves by these clear evidences out of the Word of God or believe it Friends God and Conscience and Satan will try you to the purpose at the last when you will wish but all too late you had hearkened unto Counsel and tryed your selves if you cannot find yet these evidences of such a gracious state be exhorted in the next place Eighthly To meditate on the many and weighty Motives the Scripture layeth before you to quicken you to look into and labour after a work of Grace as the absolute necessity the transcendent Excellency and the great Utility of it 1. There is an absolute necessity of it 1. In respect of the Decree of God because he predestinated his to Grace before Glory to be conformable to the image of his Son Rom. 8.29 in Grace here and in Glory hereafter Ephes 1.4 2dly In respect of the revealed Will of God 1 Thes 4.7 This is the Will of God even your Sanctification 3dly A necessity of it in respect of your Salvation for without Regeneration no Salvation John 3.6 without Holiness no Happiness Heb. 3.14 2. There 's a transcendent excellency in it for Grace is no other then the Off-spring of God a beam of the Divine Majesty John 1.13 a spark of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 that which is called elsewhere the Name of God Isa 57.15 the Seed of God 1 John 3.9 the Will of God 1 Thes 4.3 the Image of God Ephes 4.24 the Life of God Ephes 4.18 the Glory of God Rom. 3.23 Exod. 15.11 because God sees more of himself in a gracious Soul and more of his own Glory in the poorest Saint then in all the glory of the World Isa 43. begin 2. Because it 's that which puts a lustre on all other things Honour Wealth Birth Beauty Gifts Parts all without Grace is but as a Jewel in a Swines snout Embroiderings on a Fools Coat whereas a little true sanctifying Grace honours the poorest in the eyes of God of Angels and Saints Isa 43. Psal 15. Psal 16. All my delight is in the Saints 3. Consider the great Utility and Benefit that comes by Grace 1. It will interest you in all the Promises 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable for all things it hath the promise of this Life and that to come 2. It will fortifie you against all the temptations of Satan to unbelief Doth the Devil tempt you to distrust Gods love to you and your right to Heaven charge you with Hypocrisie why pull out the evidences you have of a Work of Grace and let him shew if he can if ever any wicked man or Hypocrite had such evidences the Devil may sooner prove himself a Lyar then a Saint to be a Hypocrite 3. It will bring you contentment and make you a gainer in and by every condition as it did the Apostle Phil. 4.11 1 Tim. 6.6 4. It will sweeten and sanctifie every estate and condition to you Prosperity Adversity Health Sickness Life Death Rom. 8.28 5. It will support chear and comfort you in every estate both of Life and Death 2 Cor. 1.12 6. It will not only accompany you to the Grave where all other things leave you but to the Tribunal of