godliness and how to attend and edify our selves by Gods Ordinances under confused corrupt disorderly prophane administration In a word hâ—w to perceive and performe the Crisis and Punctâ—lio of Piety pointed out and to be put into art by and under the present providence so as not to fliâ— into 〈◊〉 on either hand are such cases of conscience and doubts of minde which must but cannot with ease nor without much diligence and difficulty be resolved for our guidance in the strait narrow pathes which lead to life and glory Yet again consider this obscure untrodden and perplexed way to Heaven is more hard to find to enter by the many by-pathes and delusive deviations which lye on earth-side therof what necessity to try the Spirits many Spirits not being of God so maerrors in doctrine darkning the faith such subtill insinuations of seducers drawing from the truth that the Ministers of God cannot bâ—t fear the people should be beguiled from simplicity of the Gospell And the people cannot but find by Peters fall it is an hard matter to walk up rightly according to the truth of the Gospell the Devil transforming himself into An Angell of light is not soon or easily discerned or discovered good men may be catched with error yea Peter and Barnabas goodmen and Ministers may be carried away with the dissimulation of seducers for the false Apostles appear even as the Apostles Iesus Christ obscurity must provoke enquiry and serious study for the narrow bounds of truth and Piety are not discerned without much difficulty Heavens way opposed This is a way of no lesse obâ—curity then opposition Christianity is a constant militation Whatsoever be the mutation of humane affairs in the world the Church of Jesus Christ iâ— and must be militant till he come in Glory being entered we make no progress in piety without blowes Godliness is the takeing of a Garrison the Gate is hardly gained Heb 10.23 and that entered every steep in the streets is to follow the stroak of a begun victory after yea immediately after they were enlightned they endured a great fight of afflictions Israeâ— possesseth not the Land of Promise but by the persuit of Egypt passage through the Sea Conflicts with and unto the Conquest of the Sons of Anak and Kings of the Countries and sincere Saints must cut their wayes to heaven Ephe. 6.12 Wrestlâ—ng not with flesh and blood but against Principalities and powâ—rs against the Rulers of the darkness of this world and spirituall wickedness in high Places so subtle and many are the temptatiâ—nâ— of the Devil that it is hard for the most serious soldier under Christs Banner to be able to stand against the Wiles of th Devil Oh strait Gate Oh narrow way where our hands must h w and cut open the way in which our feet must rread if we will find eternall life this way is yet the more difficult and strait beccause our dâ—praved nature is averse unto this obscure opposed way The natural man is at emnity with Gâ—d mans soul cannot receive righteousness with out reluctancy Rom. 8.7 holiness is not only Supernatural and above our reach but contronatural and against our disposition Constitution and Inclination Heavens way is uphill and against heart we are loath to enter the Gate and more loath to proceed in the way to life many strive but are not able to enter we are by nature of dull Capacity to discerne sloathfull to endeavour and therefore move heavily in undertakeing the profession of piety we are by nature feeble ready to faint under difficulty fearfull uf heart ready to fall back on the first assaults of opposition we are by nature of a wandring spirit apâ— to go astray Errors and Schismâ—s are the fruits of our flesh VVe can easily deviate into by-pathes Gal. 5. turn aside from the way of truth a direct Course is a matter of great difficulty and much diligence Christians if in good earnest you seek life you must strive you cannot without great strugling unto and against vanquish the difficulties of obscurity opposition and your own averseness to the way to Heaven Strive to enter in at the strait gate for your entrance is indispensably Motive 2 necessary the gate to life is but one and no entrance into this gate without striving No possibility of salvation but in Gods way be it never so contrary to our own will And so narrow is the punctillio of piety and passage to life that a passion a point of good manners doth many times divert us and endanger our salvation Davids fretting did almost and Peters fear did altogether trip up his heels in the way of truth he walked not with a right foot yea Peters good manners must be sometimes rebuked by his Masters pity If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Be Gods way never so repugnant to reason a proud Naaman must stoop to it or retain his Leprosie to his ruine be the gate to heaven never so much against our Will we must into it for we have no other way He that loveth any thing though life it self better then Christ is not worthy of him The gate and way to life is most certainly Causa sive qua non if we will not strive we cannot enter and if we do not strive let us profess Christ at what rate we will and possess the dispensations of Christs Gospel priviledges of his Church and presence in what measure we can when we would enter life we may knock in vain for the Lord will protest he knoweth us not we were not under his conduct in the way and may not therefore come into his communion in the end of our Religion Strive to enter in at the stait gate for the success is certain Motive 3 unto serious and constant diligence your industry shall be inforced to its end God is not bound but he doth not deny his grace to such as strenuously studiously press in the way of his commandments This is the Argument by which the Apostle perswadeth diligence and activity for salvation Work out saith he your own salvation for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his own pleasure Such as proceed in the conflict under Christs Banner shall not fail of the conquest such as persevere in pressing forward shall find the grace of Christ sufficient for them until they apprehend that for which they were apprehended of Christ Jesus Our Saviour indeed telleth us many did strive but were not able but you must understand it aright they strove unto not in the act they strove under the pangs of conviction put forth many good purposes but these proved abortive and never passed into act their hearts were never indeed set on God on Christ on Holiness their judgements were herein informed but their affections were not herein inflamed for he that hath an heart shall never want strength to go to heaven strive in the entring proceeding act and we shall
Father but if any of them start from or turne out of the way they are not like to see him Schismes I grant may be in the Church and they are sinfull and sad but Schismes from the Church are immediately subverting to Salvation unfitting contentions may arise between Paul and Barnabas Acts. 15.39 unto an undue heat concerning Society with a defective brother insomuch that they may part asunder the one passing to Cyprus the other to Gilicia anâ— yet both may meet in Heaven But Barnabas and Peters Contrariety to the course of Christianity in a slavish compliance with the Circumcision is to be contradicted by a zealous Paul as destructive to salvation Gal. 2.11 12 13 14. I withstood him to the face for he was to be blamed because he walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel Hooper Ridley may with two much heat expostulate the retaining Popish rites Ceremonies appendant to Religion in the reformed Church yet agree in the straite and fiery pssage to heaven But Saunders cannot in charity hope in heaven to meet Pendleton turning back upon the Truth or Grinwald who would not pledge him in the Cup of his Martyrdome foâ— the truth of the Gospell I desire to have Charity towards all men but Charity must operate in due proper Acts according to the quality of the Object the charity which commendeth countenanceth concludeth certainty of life unto the many wanderers out of heavens way in the by-pathes of their own fancy and humour unto the contradiction of the Truth and casting off Gods Ordinances and Gospell ministry and cutting themselves off from the communion of the Church is a foolish pitty inconsistent with the knowledg of Gods order for mans salvation such as make many and contrary wayes to Heaven may make a noise and professions of holiness in the world but will in the end find themselves mistaken and others by them misguided unto the losse of eternall life unto which there is but a Gate a Way one single Gate and Strait way not to be declined It is indeed true the heavenly City is said to have twelve Gates but we must observe this City is the end not Gate of the Christians journey The City of life to which the narrow way doth lead and the multiplicity of these Gates are Metaâ—horically mentioned to amplify the Gâ—ory thereof Mans dignity is ample and abundant free and full but mans duty is auxious and afflicted strait and narrow all that enter into the City with 12. open gates must enter at the one Strait gate and travell in the one Narrow way which leadeth thereunto such as walk at large in sight of Heaven will find themselves locked out of this glorious palace when their past professions of Christ will make them think it hard I have done with the Subject or thing spoken of viz. the means of mans Salvation the Gate the way to life I must now passe unto the Predicate or thing spoken of this Gate and Way The predicate and that is it is Strait and narrow This predicate doth declare the property of the passage unto Glory it is strait narrow or as some strait low close little as others or serious sorrowful say others It is a Metaphor made use of to make knwon the Difficulty Danger which doth attend Travellors in the Way to life happiness as a strait Gate cannot be entered with ease nor without stooping and many times Stripping a mans self of all things superfluous and many times many things necessary nor can men walk in a narrow way with any great pleasure or freedome no not without striving and pressing many times to the pinching of their bodyes and perplexing their mind how to pass forward and make their way through unto the attainment of the desired end and an arrivall at their intended places of life and rest such is mans estate in the use of the means of Grace for the obtainment of Glory in his entrance into and walking in Christ Jesus our Lord Heaven is not had with so much ease as most men imagine and the light negligent carriage of too many Christians gives men cause to think Religion is not a business of such facility to follow and maintain as many dream and suppose a Christians Conversation is not so smooth and current as many do conceive Oh no the Gate of righteousness is more strait the way of holiness is moâ—e narrow such who will enter it must strip themselves of all superfluities of sin and worldly substance they must east off the works of darkness and a l that sin which câ—mpasseth then about Heb. 12.1 and cast abroad their worldly comforts being read to distribute 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. willing to communicate selling that which they have to give unto the poor sometimes the passage may be so strait that they must strip themselves of their very necessaries Lands Livings Friends Houses Brethren Sisters Wife Children and Life it self without which they cannot praise God nor pâ—ess in the way to life Lying dead in the way by pressing for motion and progress in the course of Christianity is many times the event of the Saints labour and their actual formal entrance into the City of life nor doth the straitness of this gate or narrowness of this way call for and more necessitate the soul to be thus stripped then that when thus it do also stâ—op bow down bend unto the very dust and creep on its very belly the will must be subdued unto resigned up to Gods will in doing in suffering Thy will be done is the Childes only cry and in heavens way we must become Children Isai 55.7 little Children Mans reason must be resigned up to divine Revelation The wicked man must forsake his own thoughts as well as the unrighteous man his wayes Naamans proud heart must stoop to the Prophets counsel and wash in Jordan or he must not lose his Leprosie Gods Word must cast down every imagination and every high thing which exalteth it self against the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 10.5 and bring into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ Whosoever will walk with God must walk humbly with God Christians in heavens way must like Christ stoop at Gods will under the rage of men bow down under the fury of the Oppressor and let the wicked passe over them they must sometimes give their back to the smiters and their cheeks to them who pluck off the hair Isai 50.6 they must not hide their face from shame and spitting they must in many perplexities passe into the possession of Life and Glory Heavens way is not high enough for sinfull man to stand upright in they must proceed with pain and grief affliction and anxiety for strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life This Gate is said to be strait and this way narrow in many respects or for many
and hath determined Israel could never have possessed Laish though the Gates stood open if they had stood still Judg. 18. and not advanced towards it Heaven is not the event of idleness but of activity when the Lord hath once bounded determined directed the Gate the way of life must move in it with all care and constancy 1 Tim. 9.12 Luke 13.24 1 Cor. 9.24 Phil. 3.14.2.12 diligence endeavour industry is required from men for the effecting of their Salvation They are called upon to fight strive and wrestle run press proceed in Gods Commandements to work out their own Salvation I could never yet understand or approve the mute non moving Religion of such Quakers who pretend most to Gods Guidance Miserable are the desires and hopes of life which strive not unto the attainment and security thereof vain are the professions of God which provoke not motion towards God such who call Christ Lord Lord hear him and assent to the truth of what he speaketh but will not do what he saith will find the Gate of life shut against them when they would but cannot have admittance not every one who saith Lord Lord but he who doth the will of my Father are in the Gate the way ver 21. and shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven saith our Saviour in this very Sermon and shortly after this very Text God hath determined his worship declared his will appointed his Ordinances Men therefore must with all care caution constancy and diligence attend observe and do the same the Gate the way to life is mans activity in faith and obedience mans labour in word and Sacraments Mans industry to do the several duties of his general and particular Calling having known the will of God we must up and be doing having seen the way of righteousness we must stretch our Limbs and actively strive and press forward in it though man is Passive in receiving the first Principles of Grace and all subsequent strength to duty he must be an Agent in the pursuit of Glory I never could believe man had of himselfe free will to good nor that man could ever enjoy God without doing good with the force of a free will God may turn our faces towards Zion but we must go thither on our own legs they go from strength to strength every one in Zâ—on until they appear bâ—fore God Psal 8â— 7 Christ Iesus may first apprehend us but we must follow after reach forth unto those things which are before us press forward that we may apâ—rehend that for which we are apprehended of him Phil. 3 12. the sâ—rings may enforce but the wheels themselves move in the clock the Spirit helpeth our infirmitieâ— But we must pray believe c. It is Christ who strengthneth us but content in all conditions â— 12 knowledâ—e how to want and abound patience under provoking afflictions must be our own act Salvation is God gift but we must seek it and receive it like our selves by serious studious zealous constant motion in the way of God commandements he thaâ— sits still when he sees his way shall never come to his journeys end the natural language of saving conviction is what shall we do Be assured Christians the who enter not the â—ate Acts. 2 37. move not in the way get not unto life Be ye therefore not slothful but followers of them who through faiâ— unto duty Heb. 9.11.12 It s order and patience in difficulty inherit the promise Secondly in this Metaphor we may observe as the nature sâ— the order of the means which leadeth unto life it is a Gate a way firâ—â— a Gate then a Way mens motion unto entrance and after progress in the way of Gods prescription and limitation God is 〈◊〉 God of order nor must we think him more regulaâ— in humane society the things of the world then in the Affairs which concern his own Glory and his peoples Salvation they who act prepostrously in the things which conceâ—n men do reproach the maker and they who act 〈◊〉 offerously in the 〈◊〉 thinâ— which concern God reproach thâ—iâ— Redeemer nature aâ—â— necessity doth make a Gate of entrance proceed the wâ— of progress to any propounded â—end Inch â—tion must 〈◊〉 before process thougâ— there is in some sense and caâ—e an â—â—trance without pâ—â—gress in the wayk of God there cannot poâ—ssâ— be a proâ—â—ess without entrance many may indeed begin in point but end in the flesh run well in the first acts but be hiâ—dred in the couâ—se of Christianity after they have known thâ— way of righteousness and escaped the pollutions which are 〈◊〉 the world through lust they â—ay be again entangled therein aâ— overcome and turn frâ—m the holy Commandement some who are 〈◊〉 far from the Kingdom of Heaven may fall short of it and soâ— who are almâ—st may never be altogether Christians but none 〈◊〉 walk in him who have not first recâ—â—ied Christ the Lord noâ— can be edified who are not entred into the most holy Faith the Scriptures and Ordâ—nances of God Psal 119.130 Heb. 6.1 do represent unto us the Gate before the Wâ—y of Glory the entrance of the word of God which doth make wise the simâ—le the first principles of the Oracles of God the fâ—undations of saith the first Conception and sâ—â—ming Christ in the soul the Sacraments of God are suited to this order Baptism is a seal of an Imitation to the Church engrafâ—ing into Christ Incorporation to the Saints The Lords supper is a Sacrament of growth and continuance in Christ of progress in the way of saith and true Religion and such aâ— move not in this order cannot possibly pass unto eternal life It is in Grace and Religion as in nature and secular affairs and in both It is all one not to undertake an enterprize or â—o invert the order of motion necessary to any end They tâ—at enter not the Gate may moâ—â— and go forâ—ard but not into tâ—e City they who lay not the foundation may form a frame but cannot build any standing structure such who secure not their Birth and are not rooted in Christ cannot grow up in him It is with many preposterous Christians as with rash gâ—ddy Concellors who dispose the Conquest and divide the Bears skin before they consult the war-fare or go out to kill the Bear or like wandring beggars who being in constant motion neither know nor care whither they go so they have but an house in their eye so many having heard of Heaven and Holiness wander with a blind affection any ways in which they may keep that within sight but never consider whether they have entred the Gate of this Enclosure Let me tell you many will prove this destructive to them that they take a view of the dignitys without any care of the dutys of a Christian and grow great and strong in the joye confidence and expectations of Saints who are strangers yea enemies to the
discern the truth that you may embrace it in the love of it and you shall easily believe lyes the Cautions in Scripture are to no purpose to men who cast off distinction take heed what you hear beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the like are insignificant directions to men of no distinction the neglect of distinction will make Peter a sinfull Conformist as well as those pointed at in Heb. 10 25. were sinfull non-communicants there is no estate in which we are in the world which is not on both hands bounded with sin are we Prosperous it is a narrow point to receive the Creatures of God with thanksgiving to use them humbly and with sobriety not unto pride and tyranny security and carnall confidence in the casting off God or contempt of our brethren with discretion to esteem enjoy and use them as Gods good blessings and yet not to abuse them to the satisfaction of our sensual lust and the entangling of our souls in sin How Hard do we find it in the day of affliction and distresse to shun sinfull senselesse Apathie Stoicall stupidity and impatient anxiety peircing grief or fear heart-perplexing God-provoking Cares and Complaints not to lay aside nor let our naturall passions break out beyond the bounds of sobriety reason or Religion to fear without fretting discerne danger without diffidence to be angry without envy to grieve without grudging to mourn without murmuring to be stricken and smitten of God afflicted all the day long and lye in siâ—ence without repining or charging God foolishly or charging piety to be perplexing folly but to lay our Mouthes in the dust under our opressed innocency because the Lord hath done it to be reviled of men and not to revile again to be oppressed and persecuted yet free from revenge to blesse them that curse us and pray for them who despitefully use us is a lesson not easily learned truly friends my experience hath found it a strait Gate a narrow way to retain quick and lively sences under the restraint of a lively faith to fear and grieve and yet not fly in the face of men or forget God I cannot but observe Apathy in afflictions is manifest prophanesse Isa 42.25 and impatiency is no lesse then impiouâ— God aggravateth Israel prophanesse by their Stupidity and shamefull Apathy Ier. 5.3 when he set them on fire round about they knew it nâ—t It burned them and they layed it not to heart Isa 22.12 13 14. he observeth as an argument of insensibility under his hand He complaineth of them as impudently impious because when they were striken they did not grieve He chargeth it as an inniquity indelible to be merry and joviall in Feasts and full expressions of joy when his providence and their perplexing state doth call for weeping and mourning and on the other hand he rebuketh excesse of passion as no lesse prophane Isa 15.12 13. Who Art thou that art affraid of the fury of the oppressor and forgetest the Lord thy maker not to fear is inhumane to fear without faith is Vnchristian not to care is contrary to reason to care unto vexations diffidence concerning future events is contrary to true Religion not to mourn in misery is incongruous to men Subjects of sence and reason to mourn as without hope is incongruous to Christans in whom reason is rectifyed and directed to expectation of a better change The nature of patience doth charge sin on both extreams it presupposeth it preserveth passions existent whilst it aboundeth restraineth regulateth the same we have heard of the passions of Job I could never understand the patience and meekness of Malefactors who suffered the utmost sorrows under the greatest most manifest Guilt without the least of grief or fear commotion of mind or perplexing apprehension Yea under the greatest ostentation of joy peace being cannonized by their friends for Martyrs on the only ground of their confidence which to the Blasphemy of Christianity and its Martyrs they call Christian courage sure I am that they who rejoyced with joy unspeakable and full of Glory beleiving in whom they had not seen were in heavinese under all kind of grief through manifold temptations and they who trusted in the living God who had delivered and would deliver were by the power of their passions pressed out of measure and above their Strength a due deportment in every condition as men and Christians is a narrow strait an estate of great difficulty and danger the same bounds and strait Limitts attend our relation and the dutyes thereof How hard for Subjects as sincere David to retain Loyalty and affection towards oppressing persecuteing Princes How hard for Servants to be subject to their Masters not onely the meek and gentle but also to the froward to do well and suffer for it patiently is an hard saying who can bear it This Straitness attends our whole Conversation and the course of our lives in common as Christians to continue Communion with Christs Church under many and great Corrupcions and not to comply with and conforme unto sinfull impositions not to leave Gods Ordinances when made grievious to the Soul by humane Appendants and disorder not to cease the offerings of the Lord when the prophaness and violent disorder of the Sons of Elie make them loath the same to hear them who say but do not onely because they are in Moses chair to beware of the leaven of the Pharises being bound to hear them who ordinarily teach for doctrines the traditions of men and make the word of God of none effect to retain Church unity under its impurity and attend Gospel-ministry in prophane subjects to be zealous for reformation without running into or striking hands with separation is hic labor hoc opus to religious hearts who walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel a strait gate a narrow way a narrow Crisis and point of duty which cannot be declined without danger sin lying on both hands by defect or excess to destroy us the way to heaven is apparently strait and narrow because thus bounded and terminated and for this reason our Saviour doth declare it so to be In this Sermon our Saviour doth direct exact obedience into a narrow Crisis and place perfection in a strait punctilio The scope and drift of the Sermon is to shew the bounds and limits of the way of life the restraints of Religion which the error and superstition of the Jews had broken down to the facilitating of their passage to Heaven His most pleasing Preface propoundeth poverty of Spirit mourning meekness purity and peâ—seâ—ution and the like perplexing properties as Conditions of the Beatitudes he doth declare His directions unto duty begin with a determination of dread He that breaketh the least of these Commandements shall be least in the kingdome of Heaven and so proceeding to terminate duty by a clear exposition of the Law he placeth the breach of the Law in a little narrow
prove he whâ— hath begun his good work shall and will perfect it unto the day of his Grace Motive 4 Strive we to enter the strait gate for the end is more worth then the utmost of our endeavours Heaven will make amends for all the hardship of the way thither How did the Patriarchs press on the bare perceptions of faith not having received the promise which we have performed but seeing them afar off Heb. 11.13 saluting them at a distance our Lord Jesus hath led us this way for the joy which was set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame The conscience of duty will make a sincere Saint confess that in the most exact of his obedience he is an unprofitable servant but when we shall come to make a sensible comparison between the dignity we receive and the diligence we used the difficulties we felt we shall find cause to cry out by Grace we are saved The light and momentany afflictions through which we pass here are not to be compared to the exceeding eternal weight of glory which we shall enjoy hereafter Our present pressing fighting striving in heavens way may cost us many a weary step and weeping eye many sighs and groans many prayers and tears many careâ— and fears many an aking head and heart It may cost us our best worldly enjoyments dearest Relations and our very life but cost what it will it can never cost too dear If once we arrive at this Haven we shall sit down without the least repining repenting thought that ever it cost so dear we would not for ten thousand times as much have lost eternal life Christian Friends I hope the consideration of these things will excite your diligence and provoke you to press through the many difficulties and dangers which are in the way to heaven and stir up your selves to strive to enter in at the strait gate and go forward in the â—arrow way which leadeth unto life What now remaineth but that I present you with some few Directions which being well observed may facilitate your passage to glory alleviate your burden and make Christianity the course of piety a course of more delight and ease Observe therefore these Rules for your help herein Go not without God march after the Captain of your Salvation Help 1 under the conduct of the Lord of Hosts the presence of God is the prop of the soul in all perplexity the most certain protection of his people in all their distresses and dangers the only assurance and encouragement that God ever gave or his servants ever desired in all their undertakings of difficulty and danger was his presence Jeremiah must stand as an iron wall and pillar of brass against Kings Princes Priests Prophets people under the alone protection of I will be with thee saith the Lord So also do the Ministers of the Gospel Gods presence is the best security in all our straits his Spirit will guide us into all truth resolve all our doubts and be a voyce unto us saying This is the way walk in it When we are ready to wander on the right or on the left hand his Providence will supply all our wants his Grace wâ—ll support all our weakness in a word whatsoever be our temptation his wisdom will find for us a way of escape that we may be able to bear it for if God be with us who can be against us what can be too hard for us I know how to want and how to abound I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me was the Apostles and is every Saints experience Christian Friends your progress towards heaven is as a Wilderness-march to the Land of Promise stir not without God Take up Moses resolâ—tion Verily if thou go not with us we will not go up hence Be not put off with an Angel the Angels are undoubtedly ministring spirits to the heirs of salvation We owe much to God for the Ministry of the Angels they pitch their tents about them that fear him and keep them in all their ways But my beloved the difficulties which attend our salvation can only be vanquished by a Divine Arm Isa 49.25.51.14 15. they are too strong for any created being to divide the Sea when the waves roar upon the Captive exile hastening to be delivered it is the work of the Lord of Hosts to take away the captive from the mighty and to deliver the prey of the terrible is the proper act of the mighty God of Jacob. Move not without God as ever you mean to move with strength and success for of our selves we can do nothing the Lord is he who worketh our works in us and for us both to will and to do Help 2 Get and study a right Map of Heaven get the description of the City of life for the nature and scituation thereof will not onely enflame your affections and add wings to your endeavours but will help us to guess how to steer our course thitherward To be well skilled in the Map is the great benefit of travel And to have good intelligence of the enemies Quarters is the great advantage of Warfare The paths of peace are only made known by Wisdom The Prince of life can only reveal the state and passage unto life The Lord Jesus resolved his Disciples to be more then half in Heaven when he could assure them they knew the place and they knew the way My beloved cleave closs to the Scriptures and study them they shew the new Jerusalem which is above the Rivers Rocks and shelves the Ports Creeks Straits and narrow passages which you pass the dangers and difficulties which attend you in your passage the people and Enemies you must encounter and how you may direct your selves in all these Christians know that the light of Nature is too dark to describe the dignity or difficulties the dictates of men the traditions of the Church the determination of Council the Laws of Princes are improper imperfect directions to the duties whereby we travel to Heaven I despise not those but give them their due honor But I would have you to remember Israels wilderness-march to the Land of promise was in every step directed by the immediate Oracles of God And the eie of Faith did direct the Patriarchs through many narrow strait passages to seek the City not made with hands and the Scriptures were written that you may beleive Christ is the way and that by beleiving you may have eternal life search then the Scriptures for in them you think and I am sure you have eternal life Gain an account what it may cost you to get to Heaven Praemonitus Help 3 praemunitus a foreseen Charge is easily defrayed our Saviours Advice is that we be wise Master builders and politique Warriors to forecast a capacity to effect before we undertake an enterprize and to compleat the Fabrick before we lay the Foundation he who can account all things loss and dung in
comparison of Christ will easily insult over difficulty in Heavens way and triumphantly resolve neither distress nor tribulation nor persecution nor peril nor sword nor famine nor nakedness shall be able to seperate from his love of Christ Rom. 8.38 39. but in these he shall be more then a Conqueror they who consider it is written of Gods Servants for thy sake we are killed all the day long and accounted sheep for the slaughter will not think much to lay down or lose his life in the Gate by pressing in the narrow way to life Convince we our selves that Christ will have our all or none of us he will be imbraced above all he hath declared whosoever loveth Lands Houses or Wife or Children or life it self better then him is not worthy of him we then shall easily deny our selves and take up our cross and follow him Remember we that through much tribulation we enter into Heaven that the true Religion and course of Godliness did and doth call for the loss of all outward comforts and propound future glory a better and more during substance we shall then take joyfully the spoyling of our goods expectation maketh hard things to be born with ease Grave upon the soul principles of true Religion the first principles Help 4 of the Oracles of God for these as the basis or ground plot of any building as the axioms of any Art or Science or as the first draught of the Picture do facilitate and direct the future structure and perfection and are in all straits eminently serviceable Gods method to make his people walk in his way is to write his Law up in their hearts uncatechised souls having confused notions of faith which through want of order and ability do perplex and entangle themselves in the ways of piety many times in a blind zeal they confound the substance and Circumstances of Gods Ordinances and make a defect in the one equally heinous as in the other and not knowing how to guide their judgments they charge upon themselves duties whereof their relation or condition doth deny them to be capable be sure you lay in the soul the first principles of the Oracles of God and then leave them by a regular progress in Christianity sure I am that some yea many souls are ship-wract for want of ballanced judgements many lose all by lifting themselves up to the dignities of Saints not once acquainting themselves with the duties of Saints and pretend unto the joys of beleiving without once pondering the principles of faith the unacquainted with will easily ere from the faith seducers need no better a Subject for their design then simple souls affected to but ignorant of the truth and way to life Help 5 Get keep and exercise a spirit of discerning In all your getting get understanding Wisdom to guide our affairs will make our burden easie the spirit of grace and sanctification is a spirit of discerning the spiritual man judgeth all things Heavens way is in nothing so strait and narrow as in the bounds wâ—ich restrain us the dangers which on all sides limit it true piety lyeth in such narrow points that without a clear judgment and good understanding we cannot hit it the Devil and his instruments are so politique and subtle that without a spirit of discerning they will readily delude they lead captive silly souls through want of wisedom we entangle our selves and many times make stumbling stones in our own way want of judgment causeth superstitious scrupulosity rash censuring vain presumption and feigned reverence he that is not able to discern between good and evil will many times condemn good as evil and take evil for good will through fear of sin fly duty or be bold to rush into sin without fear he will not respect or he will renounce Gods Ordinances because of mens disorders or else he will impose his own inventions and think to please God by a voluntary humility By the spirit of discerning beleivers must prove Doctrines trie the spirits distinguish Ministers know the Devil when appearing an Angel of light differ Christs Church from the flocks of Christs Companions and discern Gods Ordinances from humane inventions conversant about them or in their room and stead and direct their own conversation in and according to the speciality of duty which the providence of God and their present state doth require And know how to chuse or refuse things indifferent and sever them from things necessary and walk with even upright feet according to the truth of the Gospel Follow God with the ease and freedom of those Travellers who see and know their way no difficulty like darkness in the things which are to be beleived and done because life and eternal life is dependant thereupon Give up your selves your whole selves to the will of God Subjection Help 6 is an estate of ease nothing but a stubborn nature and perverse Will can perplex them who are at the command of others How easie are the haâ—d things of Warfare by the keeping of the Souldiers in strict obedience to their Officers shall not it be much more such to us if we will yeild free and full obedience to the Captain of our Salvation Let therefore your judgement guide affection piety prevail against policy what you should against what you would do Let Gods Will once revealed become unto you the reason of all obedience in action and acquiescency in passion pray heartily and in truth Father in Heaven let thy will be done captivate carnal reason and bring every proud thought and high imagination in subjection to the will of Christ debates of flesh and blood are distracting to the mind and destructive to the soul Paul found not a more ready way then not to reason with flesh and blood when God was pleased to reveal himself to him Let the eye of reason read Gods will revealed and then by faith silence the dictates and lead câ—ptive this depraved power resignation unto Gods will is the formality of true obedience therefore called obedience of faith and this obedience can be the oneâ—y easie property of Gods Children Gods will is and can be the onely warrant of his worship to offer God mans inventions is to go a whoring from him and to rebel against him our Religion must be according to his express direction It is the great anxiety of the godly to know the will of God but obedience or a readiness and resolvedness to beleive what he shall speak to do what he shall direct and to suffer meekly what he shall dispose is a discharge thereof for he that will do shall know the Will of God the bending carnal wrangling reason to the pleasure of the most high will pass us with much ease through the strait Gate and narrow way which doth lead to life Help 7 Go in good Company it is not good for man to be alone was Gods reason for creating humane society solitude is not more sad then dangerous two