Manna wherewith God fed Israel in the wildernesse called Angels food surely not because the Angels did eyther make or eate it but were onely the stewards of God to conuay it to his people Thus are we taught that it is a more blessed thing to giue then to receiue if eyther we will follow the Lord or his most excellent creatures in heauen and earth But strange it is to see how many wretched worldlings there are like vnto Nabal monsters of the earth liuing so in it as if their mouthes were wide enough for all Gods creatures and whatsoeuer were giuen them were giuen them for themselues onely Or like that cursed gulfe in the salt and dead sea which swalloweth vp the whole riuer of Iordan into her bosome and is neither her selfe bettered thereby neyther yet sends out any part thereof againe to the good of others such cursed creatures are they who receiue good things from God in great abundance and are neyther changed by them in themselues neyther yet will suffer any of those goods to flow from them to the benefit of others their barraine hearts hauing caused to them withered hands which are able to giue nothing Or if at any time they giue it is as if their right hand should giue vnto their left that is they giue to their owne onely Or as if the Cloudes being full of raine and standing ouer some thirstie ground should be carryed away by the winde to disburthen her treasures of water in the Sea so doe they while all they giue is bestowed on such as haue more then themselues and that vnder hope of a greater benefit to returne to themselues againe To moue vs therefore to the performance of this christian dutie wee will shortly consider the losse that comes by neglect thereof and the great vantage by the faithfull discharge of it The losse is euident if wee will keepe that which God bids vs giue be sure wee shall lose it As Manna gathered more then God commanded turned into wormes so riches kept more then God allowes becommeth vnprofitable to the possessor Yea where men will not pay to God that dutie for their goods which hee requires it is a righteous thing with him to send his officers to punish them such as the Caterpiller the Canker-worme and the Grashopper Many haue cast their wares vnprofitably into the Sea with the marriners of Ionas ship which they would not profitably bestow vpon the land and by pestilence many haue beene compelled to cast out the prouision which they had gathered for their owne mouthes to the vse of others for whom it neuer came into their mindes to prouide it The gaine againe wee get by giuing is euident out of that place Psal. 112. Hee that distributeth and giueth to the poore his righteousnesse remaineth for euer if wee compare that which wee giue vnto others with that which remaineth to our selues that which wee giue is a perishing thing but that which remaineth is induring And this shall yet appeare more clearely if we consider the example of Elijah and the widdow of Sarepta the Lord â—…ed his Prophet sometime by Angels sometime by Rauens and so hee might haue done still all the time of the famine but it pleased him to change his steward and to send him to the widdow of Sarepta not so much that Elijah should be nourished by the widdow whom before without her hee had nourished as that the widdowes portion might be blessed by Elijah Thus is it true that the giuer of almes if hee giue it rightly gets more then he giues as Abraham and Lot gaue perishing meate but receiued immortall Angels Plus pauper tibi confert quam à te accipit the poor giues thee more then hee gets from thee said Ambrose Si nudum vestias teipsum induis iustitia if thou clothe the poore thou dost clothe thy selfe with righteousnesse Si peregrinum sub tectum inducis ille acquiret tibi sanctorum amicitias aeterna tabernacula if thou bringest the stranger vnder thy roofe hee shall purchase to thee the friendship of the Saints and eternall tabernacles Therefore S. Paul when he was going to Ierusalem to relieue the necessitie of the Saints there with a contribution from the Churches of Grecia besought them to pray for him that his seruice at Ierusalem might be accepted What is this he commeth to giue almes and yet prayeth that his gift may be accepted Surely because the seruice by which we minister to Gods Saints brings more good to vs then any thing wee giue is able to doe vnto them vtilior est eleemosyna danti quà m illi cui datur The Censure But now the hands of many which are eyther stained with idlenesse or blotted with bribery bloud tricks of deceit and all sorts of vncleannesse proues that all are not Christians indeed who now vsurpe the Christian name CHAPTER VII Of his Feete The Lords Command GOD pondereth all the pathes of men Prou. 5. 21. therefore ponder thou also all the pathes of thine owne feet and let all thy wayes be ordered aright turne not to the right hand nor to the left but remoue thy foot from euill Prou. 4. 26. Make straight steps to your feet least that which is halting be turned out of the way Heb. 12. 13. Refrâ—…ne thy feete from the path of the wicked Prou. 1. 15. and keepe the way of the righteous Prou. 2. 20. The path of the righteous is to decline from euill and hee keepeth his soule that keepeth his way Prou. 16. 17. But aboue all take heed to thy soote when thou entrest into the house of God Eccles. 4. 17. The Christians Prayer for Grace to obay this Command O Lord thou who keepest the feete of thy Saints and hast prepared an holy way by which they who are polluted cannot passe I beseech thee to make thy way plaine before my face that my feet slide not from thy pathes Direct my wayes to keepe thy statutes and guide my feet in the way of peace to the glory of thy name through Iesus Christ Amen Another I Know O Lord that the way of man is not in himselfe neyther is it in man to walke and direct his steps Therefore I pray thee send out thy light and thy truth let them lead mee and bring me to thine holy mountaine and to thy tabernable that so my goings being ordered by thee my steps may be directed in thy word and iniquitie haue neuer dominion ouer mee for Iesus Christs sake Amen The Christians Practise of this Command MY feet haue followed thy steps I haue kept thy way and haue not declined Iob. 23. 11. my feete haue not made haste to deceit Iob. 31. 5. and I will still refraine them from euery euill way that I may keepe thy word Psal. 119. 101. for thy word is a lantherne to to my feet and a
and commit my soule vnto God as vnto my faithfull Creator 1. Pet. 4. 19. The Christians last prayer made in the body HOW excellent is thy mercy O God therefore doe I trust vnder the shadow of thy wings Psal. 36. 7. O blessed is the man whom thou dost choose and causest to come vnto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thy holy Temple Psal. 65. 4. Thou shalt giue him drinke out of the riuers of thy pleasures for with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall wee see light Psal. 36. Send out therefore thy light and thy truth Psal. 43. 3. and let thy good spirit lead me vnto the Land of righteousnesse Psal. 143. 10. Carry mee O Lord by thy mercy and bring me in thy strength to thy holy habitation plant me in the mountaine of thine inheritance euen the place which thou hast prepared and the sanctuary which thou hast stablished Exod. 15. 3. that I may see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing Psal. 27. 13. Turne away my soule from the pit and illuminate it in the light of the liuing Iob. 33. 30. Let me behold thy face in righteousnesse and let me be satisfied with thine Image Psal. 17. 15. For in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 9. Into thine hands O Lord I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed mee O Lord God of truth Psal. 31. 5. Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Act. 7. The end of the vpright man is peace Psal. 37. 37. As many as walke according to this rule peace shall be vpon them and vpon the Israel of God Gal. 6. 16. A THANKS-GIVING NOW vnto him that is able to keepe vs that we fall not and to present vs faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy To God onely wise be glory maiestie dominion and power both now and euer Amen Iude. 24. FINIS THE TABLE The Table of the first Part. Chap. 1 OF his new birth or Regeneration Fol. 1 Chap. 2 Of his new Senses Fol. 14 Chap. 3 Of his new Food Fol. 28 Chap. 4 Of his new Growth Fol. 36 Chap. 5 Of his new Apparrell Fol. 46 Chap. 6 Of his new Names Fol. 56 The Table of the second Part. Chap. 1 OF his inward man Fol. 60 Chap. 2 Of his new minde Fol. 65 Chap. 3 Of his new Will Fol. 78 Chap. 4 Of his Conscience Fol. 87 Chap. 5 Of his Loue. Fol. 99 Chap. 6 Of his Hatred Fol. 110 Chap. 7 Of his Feare Fol. 117 Chap. 8 Of his Confidence Fol. 133 Chap. 9 Of his Ioy. Fol. 141 Chap. 10 Of his Griefe Fol. 150 Chap. 11 Of his griefe arising of a troubled Conscience Fol. 159 Chap. 12 Of his Patience Fol. 166 Chap. 13 Of his Anger Fol. 177 The Table of the third part Chap. 1 Of his outward Man Fol. 190 Chap. 2 Of his Eares Fol. 197 Chap. 3 Of his Eyes Fol. 206 Chap. 4 Of his Tongue Fol. 216 Chap. 5 Of his Eating Fol. 234 Chap. 6 Of his Hands Fol. 248 Chap. 7 Of his Feet Fol. 260 Chap. 8 Of his Company Fol. 269 A short description of the Christians departure out of the body Fol. 280 FINIS Martial 1 Ioh. 1. 8. Act. 8. 22. Act 6. Act. 16. Act. 17. Tertull. Apologet. Aug. de Temp. 215. Gregor morâ—… lib. 1. Ber. in Cant. ser. 66. Chrisost. in Math. Ber. in Cant. ser. 15. Aug. de Temp. ser. 17 Basil. hexaâ—… hom 10. Marke our naturall miserie Behold what a loue the Father hath â—…ewed vs. See the will of God concerning our sanctification a 1. Cor. 15. 50. b Matth. 5. 8. c 1. Ioh. 3. 2. d 2. Cor. 3. 18. e Ioh. 17. 24. f Matth. 5. 36. g Iob. 14. 4. h Iames 3. 8. i Eccles. 1. 15. k Luk. 18. 27. l Psal. 146. 8. m Psal. 107. 34. n Psal. 104. 30. o Rom. 4. 17. p 2. Cor. 1. 9. q Heb. 6. 7. God is the author of our regeneration it is not done by vs. The seed of our new birth is Gods word The manner of his working it vnspeakable 1 Our election is not knowne to vs before our Regeneration 2 Regeneration is the first manifest effect of God his mercie toward man 3 And the first lesson we must learne in Christs schoole 4 Our first generation and our second compared together Iob. 25. 6. Ephes. 2. 5 By nature we haue nothing in vs can profit vs to saluation Bern. in Cant. Serm. 35. Rom. 1. 18. 6 For in a naturall man there is nothing but the blind leading the crooked 7 Natâ—…lists boasting of the priuiledges of their first birth are to be pitied 8 Ignorance of the doctrine of Regeneration is now mexcusable 9 By what names Regeneration is expressed in holy Scripture Basil. in Epist. 41. ad Caesar. 10 What Regeneration is 11 Of the change made in Regeneration Ephes. 4. 22. Basil. de Sancto cap. 15. 12 Regeneration of the Soule consists in two 1 The first is mortification of the old man 13 Corrupted nature compared to an old man for three causes 14 Sinfull nature is neuer old in the wicked 15 Regeneration cannot be without spirituall paine and dolour 16 Sathan a great troubler of vs in the worke of our Regeneration 17 But he fights in vaine for God wil finish it Luk. 11. 22. 18 2 The second is viuification of the new man 19 Regeneration of the body consists in two 20 Regeneration will not be perfected til the resurrection 21 Of our parents in the new generation 22 The naturall mother discerned from the stepmother 23 The Church of Rome a strumpet and a stepmother 24 The lawful and kindly sonnes of God discerned from the bastard Naturally wee are borno senselesse of heauenly things Spirituall Senses required to saluation a Luk. 8. 10. b Psal. 119. 88. c Ephes. 2. 8. d Mark 9. 24. e Luk. 17. 5. f Psal. 119. 18. g Hos. 2. 14. h Reuel 2. 29. i Psal. 34. 8. k 2. Cor. 2. 16. l Ioh. 20. 31. m 1. Cor. 6. 17. The Christian by regeneration receiueth the new senses Of hearing Of seeing Of smelling Of tasting Of touching 1 The Christian liues as soone as he is conceiued 2 Sense and motion two principall effects of life In the natural man motion goes before Sense not so in the Christian. 3 No imperfect nor mutilate children borne by the new generation 4 The first Sense restored in Regeneration is Hearing Bern. in Cant. Serm. 28. 5 We must heare the Lord before we see him Bern. in Cant. serm 41. 6 For by hearing our â—…ies are cured and prepared to see God Bern. in Cant. serm 48. Psal. 48. 8. 7 A warning for such as refuse to heare the word of the Lord. Prou. 28. 9. 8 Eares of the man regenerate are internall Reuel 2. Matth. 13. Aug. Hâ—…m 28. 1. Sam. Psal. 85. 8. 9
signified by that name In the eyes of worldlings a Christian is despised and accounted but the offskowring of the earth the cause of this contempt is their ignorance they see the earthen vessell but know not the treasure which is within it or else for loue of the treasure they would imbrace the vessell But against this contempt of men wee haue to set that honourable estimation which God hath of a Christian for the high and honourable stiles which Gods giues him testifie that in the Lords account the Christian is an high and honourable person Againe the manifold names which are giuen him declare that it is not one grace onely but manifold graces of God which must concurre to make vp a Christian and this doth teach vs that it is not so easie a thing to be a Christian as commonly is supposed Last of all the honourable stiles giuen the Christian admonish him to walke worthy of his calling that he may answere the names which God hath giuen him since hee is the free-man of God the brother and the member of Christ why shall he abase himselfe to the seruitude of Sathan and sinne The Censure But now the contrary conuersation of many proues that all haue not the Christians disposition who now vsurpe the Christian name THE SECOND PART WHEREIN IS DISCRIBED THE DISPOSITION OF HIS INWARD MAN CHAPTER I. Of his Inward Man The Lords Command MAN looketh to the outward appearance 1. Sam. 16. 7. but I am the Lord who searcheth the heart and the reynes Iere. 11. 20. therefore my Sonne keepe thine heart with all diligence Prou. 4. 23. wash it from thy wickednesse Ierem. 4. and giue it vnto mee Pro. 23. 26. Let the hid man of the heart be vncorrupt 1. Pet. 3. 4. and keepe thy selfe in thy spirit Malach. 2. 15. Cast off concerning the conuersation in time past which is corrupted and put on the new which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4. 22. The Christians Prayer for Grace to obay this Command O Lord my God I know that thou tryest the heart and hast pleasure in righteousnesse and that the man is blessed in whose heart are thy wayes therefore O Lord take away from mee the stony heart and giue me a heart of flesh put a new spirit into my bowels let neuer mine heart be diuided from thee O my God but let it be vpright in thy statutes and faithfull before thee knit it to thee that I may feare thy Name so shall I neuer be ashamed Another O Lord my God who brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the sheepe through the bloud of the euerlasting couenant worke I beseech thee that which is pleasant in thy sight and grant according to the riches of thy grace that I may be strengthened by the spirit in the inward man that Christ may dwell in mine heart by faith and so my whole Spirit soule and body may be kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus to whom be praise and glory for euer The Christians Practise of this Command I Haue prepared mine heart to seeke the Law of the Lord and to doe it Ezra 7. 10. I will not regard wickednesse in mine heart Psal. 66. 18. for I haue set the Lord as a seale on my heart and signet on my arme Cant. 8. 6. My heart abhorres all labour that is wrought vnder the Sunne Eccles. 2. 20. onely I delight in the Law of God as concerning the inward Man Rom. 7. When the Lord saith to me seeke yee my face my heart answereth O Lord I will seeke thy face Psal. 27. My heart is purified in obaying the truth 1. Pet. 1. 22. and it shall cleaâ—…e to the Lord without separation 1. Cor. 7. 35. THE OBSERVATIONS THE Christian soiourning in the body consisteth of an outward Man and an inward eyther of them hauing their owne kinde of life senses actions and operations of so contrary qualitities that as saith the Apostle when the one is decaying the other is renuing By the one he walkes among men and hath his conuersation honest in the world by the other hee walkes with God as Henoch did and hath his conuersation in heauen In all his outward behauiour hee sheweth himselfe an example of godlinesse so that euen in his countenance gesture and language hee carries a print of godlinesse as the high Priest had grauen on his fore-head holines to the Lord but his chiefe care is to deck the hid Man of the heart which before God is a thing much set by But in this age many carry the name of Christians who neuer knew what this inward Man is and farre lesse hath felt the power of his spiritual life they are not the holy temples of God which should be more beautifull within then without as was Ierusalems Temple but are painted sepulchers pleasant without full of rottennesse within hauing the faces of men and the hearts of beasts If the Lord Iesus whose eyes are like fire and who with one looke can see them both within and without come to iudge them hee will not giue sentence of them as hee did of Nathaniel Behold an Israelitie in whom there is no guile but will charge them with that which Simon Peter said to Simon Magus I see that thou art in the gall of bitternesse and band of iniquitie and that thy heart is not right in the sight of God The Censure And hereby also it may be knowne that all haue not the Christians disposition who now vsurpe the Christian name CHAPTER II. Of his New Minde The Lords Command THE light of the body is the eye if the eye be single the whole body shall be light but if thine eye be wicked then all the body shall be darke wherefore if the light that is in thee be darknesse how great is the darknesse Math. 6. 22. Take heed then that the light which is in you be not darkenesse Luke 11. 35. for yee are the children of light therefore sleepe not as others doe but watch and be sober 1. Thes. 5. 6. not as vnwise but vnderstanding what the good will of the Lord is Ephe. 5. 17. Not as other Gentiles who walke still on in the vanitie of their minde hauing their cogitation darkned and being strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them Ephe. 4. 17. but be yee changed by the renuing of your minde that yee may proue what is the good and acceptable will of God Rom. 12. wise in that which is good simple as concerning euill Rom. 16. 19. But be not wise in your selues neyther high minded Rom. 12. 16. If any man thinke that hee knowes any thing the same knowes nothing as he ought 1. Cor. 8. 2. An high mind goes before a fall Prou. 29. 23. Neyther will the Lord
regard any that are wise in their owne conceit Iob. 37. 24. but pronounceth a woe against them Esay 5. 21. Let therefore the same minde be in you which was in Iesus Christ who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God but made himselfe of no reputation and was found in shape as a seruant Philip. 2. Deck yee also your selues in lowlinesse of minde 1. Pet. 5. 5. that yee may walke worthy of the calling wherevnto yee are called with all humblenesse of minde Ephe. 4. Furthermore thinke of those things which are of good report are which and true honest iust pure pertaining to loue Philip. 4. 8. Let there not be in your heart a wicked thought Deut. 15. 9. for many minde earthly things whose God is their belly and whose glory is their shame Philip. 3. 19. But vnto him who doth thinke on good things shall be mercy and truth Prou. 14. 22. The Christians Prayer for Grace to obay this Command O Lord I am a man void of Counsell neyther is there any vnderstanding in me I am not sufficient of my selfe so much as to thinke a good thought but my sufficiency is of thee for thou Lord dost giue wisedome and out of thy mouth comes knowledge and vnderstanding thou art he who puttest wisdome into the reynes and giuest vnderstanding to them who haue erred in spirit I therefore pray thee O Lord if I haue found fauour in thy sight shew me thy way that I may know thee thy hands haue made me and fashioned me Lord giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy commandements lighten my darknesse that being filled with the knowledge of thy will I may walke in thy light studying alwayes to doe that which is good and pleasant in thy sight through Iesus Christ. Another O Lord who didst command light to shine out of darknesse make it I beseech thee to shine in mine heart to giue me the light of the knowledge of thee my God in the face of Iesus Christ take away good Lord the vaile wherewith my mind is couered that I may behold as in a mirrour thy glory with open face and may be changed into the same Image by thy spirit let me not be of the number of those Infidels whom the God of this world hath blinded that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ who is the Image of God should not shine vnto them but make me to abound more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that I may discerne betweene good and euill and betweene things which differ one from another and may be kept pure and without offence till the day of Christ filled with the fruits of righteousnes which are by Iesus vnto the praise and glory of God Amen The Christians Prayer for Grace to obay this Command ONce I was darknes but now I am light in the Lord Eph. 5. 8. I walked in darknesse and dwelt in the land of the shadow of death but now the light hath shined vpon me and I haue seene light Esay 9. 2. and God hath giuen me a minde to know him who is true 1. Iohn 5. 20. for his word is my wisdome and vnderstanding Deut. 4. 6. and his commandements haue made me wiser than mine enemies for they are euer with me yea I haue had more vnderstanding then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation Psal. 119. 99. I will not any more lift vp my minde vnto vanitie but I will thinke vpon God in the night Psal. 63. 6. and I will meditate in the Law of the Lord continually Psal. 119. 97. and of the beauty of his glorious Maiestie and his wonderfull acts Psal. 145. 5. And I will alwaies giue thanks to him who hath made me meet to be partaker of the inheritance of his Saints in light who hath deliuered me from the power of darknesse and hath translated me into the kingdome of his deare Sonne to whom be praise and glory for euer Amen Col. 1. 13. THE OBSERVATIONS AS in the first creation God began at the light so in the second he begins at the illumination of the mind and the mind changed and renued by the Lord worketh a change also of the will and affections Naturally the minde of man is darke proud and prophane the ignorance that is in it being both a punishment of mans first sinne a sinne it selfe and the cause of all other sinne For man aspiring to an higher knowledge then God vouchsafed vpon him lost the knowledge wherewith God endued him by creation except some generall notices of good and euill which like sparkles of fire couered with the ashes of mans corrupt nature are left in him to make him inexcusable By his first creation he was made a companion of Angels but falling from that honour hee became a companion of beasts and hath so far degenerated from that which God made him that hee hath assumed the very properties of beasts wherefore also God giues vnto him the name of a beast Quidenim an non tibi videtur ipsis bestijs bestialior homo ratione vigens ratione non viuens And now seeing restitution is proclaimed in Christ how carefully should hee take heede to himselfe that hee despise not grace which is offered by his first fall hee fell from light to darknesse his second fall shall cast him into vtter darknesse the transgression of the couenant of workes made him a companion of beasts but the contempt of the couenant of grace shall make him a companion of damned Diuels And as this ignorance is a punishment of mans first sinne so is it also a sinne as is euident out of 2. Thes. 5. 1. The Lord shall appeare in staming fire to render vengeance vnto all them that know not God Thirdly it is a cause of other sinnes as we are taught by the Apostle Eph. 4. that the Gentiles wer strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them As Balaam went on blindlings in an euill course because he saw not the Angell standing with a naked sword against him so the wicked walke boldly in their sins because they know not the danger thereof A body destitute of eyes cannot discerne the day from the night a friend from a foe nor the pit from the plaine no more can a darkned minde discerne the manifold snares of Sathan but as our Sauiour saith where the blinde leads the blinde both of them must fall at length into the ditch so where a blinded minde is the directer of a corrupted will what can the end be but fearefull damnation and yet no better is mans miserable estate by Nature But this naturall ignorance is remoued in the regeneration and a holy light created in the minde of man which the Lord workes by degrees as hee opened the eyes of
non est ibi dissolutio est vitae said Augustine where no feare of God is there is dissolution of life It is semen Iustitiae said Bernard the seed of righteousnes without which can be no ingresse into godlinesse without it can be no religion said Lactantius quod enim non metuitur contemnitur quod contemnitur non colitur for that which is not feared is contemned and what is contemned cannot be worshipped In a word it is in holy Scripture compared to a naile which being stricken into the heart of man by the hand of God keepeth it stable that neither the tyranny nor deceit of sinne can carry it away therefore doth the holy Ghost conioyne these two feare God and cleane to him The Censure But now the licentious liues of many in this age led without all feare of God proue that all haue not the Christians disposition who now vsurpe the Christian name CHAPTER VIII Of his Confidence The Lords Command THe Lord is God in heauen aboue and in earth beneath Ios. 2. 11. blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust regardeth not the proud Psal. 40. 4. for they who trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which cannot be remoued Psal. 125. 1. The eye of the Lord is vpon them that trust in his mercy to deliuer their soule in death and to preserue them in famine Psal. 33. 18. The Lord is good and as a strong hold in the day of trouble and hee knoweth them that trust in him Nahum 1. 7. Therefore trust in the Lord for euer and you shall be assured 2. Chron. 20. Trust in the Lord and hee shall comfort thine heart Psal. 2â—… 14. Commit thy way to the Lord trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe Psal. 37. 5. Hee that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay vpon his God Esay 50. 10. for in the Lord is strength for euermore Esay 26. 4. But in his owne might let no man be strong 1. Sam. 2. 9. leane not to thine owne wisedome Prou. 3. 5. for he that trusteth in his owne heart is a foole Prou. 28. 26. Neither put you your trust in Princes nor in the Sonne of man Psal. 146. for confidence in man is like a broken tooth Prou. 29. there is no help in him his breath doth depart and hee returneth to his earth then his thoughts perish Psal. 146. 4. Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and doth make Flesh his arme and with-drawth his heart from the Lord. Ierem. 17. 5. The Christians Prayer for Grace to obay this Command O Lord who dost preserue the state of the righteous and art the hope of Israel seeing all that forsake thee shall be confounded and they that depart from thee shall be written in the earth it is good for me to draw neere vnto thee O Lord therefore be thou my strong rock wherunto I may alwyes resort be thou the glory of my strength that by thy fauour my horne may be exalted for my shield appertaineth to the Lord and my King is the holy One of Israel Haue mercy on me O God haue mercy on me for my soule trusteth in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will I trust till these afflictions ouerpasse Giue me help against trouble for vaine is the help of man and let thy mercy be vpon me as I trust in thee through Iesus Christ. Amen The Christians Practise of this Command TRuely the hope of hils is but vaine and the multitude of mountaines but in the Lord our God is the health of Israell Ieremie 3. 23. Some trust in Chariots and some in Horses but I will remember the name of God my Lord Psal. 20. 7. The eternall God is my refuge and vnder his armes I am for euer Deutro 33. 27. I will not say to the wedge of Gold thou art my confidence Iob. 31. 34. but O Lord thou art my fort my strength and my refuge in the day of affliction Ierem. 16. 9. I trust not in my Bow nor my sword thou sauest me from mine aduersaries Psal. 44. 6. My defence is in the munition of rocks Esay 33. 16. euen in the Lord who preserueth the vpright in heart Psal. 7. 10. he is my rocke my fortresse the horne of my saluation and my refuge Psal. 81. 21. he is the strength of my heart Psal. 73. 26. his Name is a strong tower Prou. 18. therefore I will trust in the Lord and will not feare what flesh can doe vnto me Psal. 56. 4. THE OBSERVATIONS IN a worldling feare and confidence consists not together the one of them weakeneth the other in a Christian it is not so his feare of God is not without confidence in God neither is his confidence in God without feare of God and of this it is euident that the confidence by which the feare of God is weakened and empayred is carnall and not Christian. Christian confidence is that grace of God whereby the beleeuing man rests so vpon the promises of God that in greatest commotions and temptation he abides fixed stedfast and vnmoued As a rocke in the Sea beaten with the waues which are raised by euery Winde so liues a Christian in the world an obiect of all tentations sometime impugned by trouble comming from God sometime by trouble comming from men and sometime by trouble comming from Sathan but in all these assured confidence sustaines him For in such troubles as come immediatelie from God it is the Nature of faith that by it his Children cleaues fastest to God when hee seemes sharpliest to put them from him they runne to the hand that strikes them and will know no other Come and let vs returne to the Lord for he hath spoyled and hee will heale vs he hath wounded and he will binde vs vp So deeply is the assurance of Gods truth rooted in their hearts that their conclusion is set downe with that holy man Iob albeit the Lord would slay me yet will I trust in him And as for all those troubles that come by men they consider that they are moderated by God according to that which our Sauiour said to Pilate Thou couldst haue no power ouer mee were it not giuen thee from aboue And in this by manifold experience hath God confirmed them For hee made the Barbarians courteous to Paul Artarxerxes fauourable to Nehemiah the keeper of the prison friendly to Ioseph yea the Lyons peaceable to Daniel Againe hee raised Absalom against Dauid to chastise him he made Pharaoh rigorous to Israel that so hee might winne them from the loue of Egipt Seeing it is so that their harts are ruled by God to like or dislike his Children as hee sees may be for their good why shall trouble comming from them disquiet vs And by the same consideration is the
it is come to passe by a most iust recompence vt qui exteriori negligenter vtitur oculo interiori non iniustè caecetur that hee who negligently vseth the exterior eye should iustly be blinded in the interior The necessitie of this rule shall yet better appeare to vs if we consider that it is not the eye which seeth there is one within that lookes out at the window of the eye to wit the soule if the soule be spiritually disposed there is nothing wee looke to shall offend vs if otherwise then euery thing we looke vnto becomes a snare vnto vs. Mâ—…lta enim retia tenduntur nobis à diabolo for many nets are spread out by Sathan wherein to trap vs yea if our hearts be not kept in a good estate ipsi nobis oculi retia sunt The second rule for gouernment of our eyes is to acquaint them with pouring out of teares for the miseries which our sinnes haue brought vpon vs. The same eyes which God hath giuen vs for organes of our sight hee hath also giuen vs for conduits of our teares therefore we see that in Nature children first mourne with their eyes before they looke on any thing to delight in it Thus if the sight of the creature moued vs to mourne as there is no creature which hath not in it a witnesse of that vanitie whereunto for our sinne it is subiect it should not so readily be a snare vnto vs to entrap vs in sinne as it is For as the Children of Noble men looking to pleasant buildings and lands which sometime belonged to their Fathers but now are possessed by others are rather moued to mourn then to laugh so we when we see the heauens altered the earth accursed the soueraigntie ouer the creatures taken from vs and in euery creature a foot-step of that misery which is the punishment of our Apostacie haue more need to mourne for those miserable effects of our sin then vainly to be delighted with an apparent beautie of the creature The Censure But now the great number of them who looke with wandring eyes Esay 3. 16. with eyes full of adultery 2 Pet. 2. 14. with hauty eyes and eye-lids lifted vp Prou. 30. 13. proueth that all are not Christians indeed who now vsurpe the Christian name CHAPTER IIII. Of his Tongue The Lords Command HEe that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life Pro. 13. 3. yea hee keepeth his soule from affliction Prou. 21. 23. for life and death are in the power of the tongue Prou. 21. 23. Specially be not rash with thy mouth neither let thine heart be hastie to vtter a thing before God for God is in the heauen and thou art in the earth therefore let thy words be few Eccles. 5. 1. and vse not thou vaine repetition as the heathen who thinke to be heard for their much babling Mat. 6. 7. But before all things sweare not neither by heauen nor by earth nor any other oath Iam. 5. 15. but let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoeuer is more then these commeth of euill Mat. 5. 37. And say not this day or to morrow we will goe into such a citie but if the Lord will and we liue we will doe this or that Iam. 4. 13. In many words there cannot want iniquitie but he that refraines his lips is wise Pro. 10. 19. If any man among you seem to be religious and refraine not his tongue but deceiues his owne heart this mans religion is vaine Iam. 1. 26. A wise man concealeth knowledge Prou. 12. 23. and hee that hath knowledge spareth his words yea euen a foole when hee holdeth his peace is counted wise Prou. 17. 27. In all labour there is abundance but the talke of the lips bringeth want Pro. 14. 23. be yee therefore swift to heare but slow to speake Iam. 1. 19. Put away from thee a froward mouth Prou. 4. 24. and cursed speaking Colos. 3. 8. for cursing and blessing ought not to proceed out of one mouth no more then out of one fountaine proceedeth sweet water and bitter Iam. 3. 10. Lye not one to another Iames. 4. 11. keepe thy tongue from euill and thy lips that they speake no guile Psalme 34. 13. Speake the truth euery man to his neighbour Zach. 8. 16. for a righteous man hateth lying words Pro. 13. 5. And see you speake not euill one of another Iam. 4. 11. Put away all filthy speaking also out of thy mouth Colos. 3. 8. neither let fornication once be named among you nor filthinesse nor foolish talking nor iesting which are things not comely but rather giuing of thanks Ephes. 5. 3. for euill speeches corrupt good manners 1 Cor. 15. 33. And generally let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouthes but that which is good to the vse of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers your speech being gracious alway and powdred with salt Colos. 4. 6. The Christians Prayer for Grace to obay this Command SEt a watch O Lord I beseech thee before my mouth and keepe thou the doore of my lips Take neuer the word of truth vtterly out of my mouth but open thou my mouth and my lips shall shew forth thy praise yea I shall be filled with thy praises and with thy glory euery day So let thou the words of my mouth be alway acceptable in thy sight O Lord my redeemer Amen The Christians Practise of this Command I Will keepe my mouth brideled and will take heede that I sinne not with my tongue Psal. 39. 1. I haue purposed that my mouth should not offend Psal. 17. 3. I will speake no vaine word Esay 58. 13. but with my mouth will I declare thy praises O Lord from generation to generation Psal. 79. 13. I will not hide thy righteousnesse within my heart but will declare thy truth and thy saluation and will not conceale thy mercy and thy truth from the great congregation Psal. 40. 10. Yea the praises of God shall be in my mouth continually Psal. 34. and my tongue shall intreat of thy word Psal. 119. 172. I will sing to the Lord all my life and will praise him while I liue Psal. 104. 33. At midnight will I rise to giue thanks to thee O Lord. Psal. 119. 62. I preuent the morning watch to cry to thee Psal. 119. 147. Seauen times in the day doe I praise thee Psal. 119. 164. yea all the dayes of my life will I praise thee as long as I haue any being will I sing to my God Psal. 146. 2. Thy statutes shall be my songs in the house of my pilgrimage Psal. 119. 54. and my mouth shall daily rehearse thy righteousnesse and thy saluation for I know not the number Psal. 71. 15. Moreouer I will speake vnto man as before God in Christ Iesus 2 Cor. 12. 19. A deceitfull tongue shall not be found in