the stress of my Salvation upon these t is true I cannot in conscience conform but I do not lay the stress of salvation on it as I did not lay the stress of my salvation on my being a Presbyterian I confess I am so have been it hath been my unhappiness to be alwaies on the sinking side yet I lay not the stress of my salvation upon it 'T is my conscience but it may be I have not so much light as another man and I profess in the presence of God could I conform without sin to my own 〈◊〉 I would if I should do any thing against my conscience I should sin and break my peace and conscience and all and never see good day do not then spend the strength of your zeal for your religion in censuring others That man that is most busie in censuring others is alwayes least employed in examining himself Remember good Iohn Bradford he would not censure Bonner nor Gardiner but saith he they called I. Bradford the hypocritical I. Bradford c. I do not speak this as though I can or did in conscience approve of those things for which I must suffer that I cannot approve of them but to take off people from those things that are so far from the foundation Look you but to the main things and look but into your own hearts examine them and then you need not be much perswaded to look about to others 2. You must take heed you be not loose Christians will you remember one thing from me the God of Heaven grant you never live to see it verified A loose Protestant is one of the fittest persons in the world to make a strict Papist Tell not me of his Protestantisme being a drunkard it is because his King oâ—… Countrey are Protestants where they live There is no Religion in a loose liver if ungodliness be in the heart it is no difficult thing for error to get into the head A loose heart can best comply with loose principles see if they will not be of any Religion in the world that is uppermost let the Turkâ—… prevail they would soon be of his Religion 3. Take heed of being worldly Christians oh this is the David that hath â—…lain his ten thousands A worldly heart will be bought and sold upon every turn to serve thâ—… Devils turn Come to a worldly heart and but promise him thirty pieces of silver he will betray his Saviour The temptations of the world are great upon us at this time you that are husbands and parents know it the world is a 〈◊〉 temptation but if we be overcome by the world and the world not overcome by us we shall never be able to overcome any one temptation that is offered to us Therefore that 's an admirable support In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world I have overcome the world for you and likewise I have overcome the world in you Oh Lord if thou wilt but overcome the love and the fear of the world if thou wilt but arm us against the smiles of the world then come what will we shall stand stedfast 4. Take heed you be not hypoeritical Christians i e. take heed you do not receive the truth and only receive the truth and not receive the truth in the love of that truth 2 Thess. 2. 10. You have received truth but have you received the truth in the love of that truth which you have received want of this is that damnable occasion to Popery And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they shall believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth 'T is just with God they should fall into errours whose hearts did never love real truths Better never receive the truth then to receive it and not in the love of it Take heed of being venturous and God tempting Christians what 's that when do I tempt God I tempt God when I do run into a Pest-house and say God will preserve me from the Plague Take heed of running upon temptations to sin whether it be in principles or in practice I could tell you of two spiritual Pest-houses in England if I had time for principles one and for practices another I do not say that I mean Play-houses on the one hand or Mass-houses on the other hand Certainly Bretâ—…ren I read of Iulian that wicked bloudy Apostate that he sunk into that his Apostacy first by going to hear Libanius preach mistake me not I am not against your hearing the Ministers of Christ for a man may be a true Minister though he be a bad man all the world can never answer the instance of Iudas who was a true Minister though a bad man while I plead for the truth of his Ministry I do not spread a skirt over the wickedness of his life The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses Chair hear them But that which I mainly aim at is this do not you go and run and venture your selves upon temptations you have heard of superstitious or Idolatrous worship you have a months mind to see this and what if so be when you are found in Satans way Satan should lay his â—…aw on you and claim to you what do you there in Satan's ground Would you be found when you come to die in a Play-house or in such a place where the true God is Idâ—…latrously worshipped 'T is a great truth if you would not be found in the Devils power do not be found in the Devils pound Brethren we must know Satan is bâ—…sie enough to tempt us we need not go to tempt him Eve lost all that she had by hearing one Sermon but 't was from the Devil Therefore if you would not have your pockets pickt do not trade amongst Cheaters 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. If any man â—…each otherwise c. then that ye have received and we preached from such withdraw thy self that 's a good honest laudable separation from such withdraw thy self 6. Where God doth not find a mouth to speak do not you find an ear to hear nor an heart to believe pray mind it this I am sure is of concernment This is one of the grand points in my Card or Compass on which I hope I shall venture all If any man come with a Doctrine not according to the word of God let him carry it whither he will what have I to do with it Either you come from God or no If you do shew me his word and I 'le believe it if not open your pack where you please c. where God doth not find a mouth to speak where you have not a precept promise threatning or example in the word of God let them talk their hearts out 't is nothing to me to my Religion
to God as a thing which to touch were Sacriledge that you may be ready on all occasions in all regular and due wayes to bring out for the relief of the Poor you know objects abounding in every place and you may expect warrantable means for dispensing of what God shall put into your hearts in this matter Mr. Sclater's Farewell Sermon 1 JOHN 5. 1. â—…1 Whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Christ is born of God ' and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him Little Children keep your selves from Idols THis General Doctrine I have already delivered unto you from this Text which indeed is the marrow and substance of the whole Chapter That Gospel-believing is a Duty which they that really perform are highly priviledged by to their greatest advantageâ—… I have spoken concerning Gospel-believing and that it is a duty and that they that do really perform it are highly dignified and priviledged by it as hath been made to appear from the Chapter that which remains to be done and shall be as God enables the work of this morning is to make improvement of this Doctrine which is one of the most material and momentous Doctrines that can be preached to us Gospel-believing it hath most precious priviledges entailed upon it whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ that Jesus is the Son of God that Jesus is come in the Flesh is borâ—… of God knows God and shall be eternally blessed of God and with God surely then the World runs upon a very great mistake I have hinted something already to that purpose but I have left the more full discussion and discovery of the matter untill now Why who is there among the generality of common Professors that is not very pregnant to hold forth this to be their Faith If so be that it should be put to the Question Friend What is your Faith what Belief are you of Why not one in a thousand I think but will be apt to say Why truly I will give you this Account There is a Gospel which is preached among us and in the World and this Gospel doth hold forth this for true Doctrine That Iesus the Son of Mary that was born at Bethlehem is the Christ is the Messiah which was promised by the Father and which the World did live in expectation of so long This Iesus I believe is the Son of God this Iesus I verily believe is come in the Flesh and he is come to be the Saviour of the World this is the Belief and that which is the common profession that is made by the generality of people Why but will you consider now this Text and other Scriptures which speak fully to this purpose Whosoever doth believe this That Iesus is the Christ the Son of God that he is come in the Flesh whosoever believes this is of God is born of God And it doth clearly appear and may be most convincingly made out that many thousands that profess their belief concerning these things yet notwithstanding are not born of God Why certainly there must needs be a great and gross fallacy in the business Gospel-faith and Believing it is not so common a thing as many take it to be and therefore if this be Gospel-faith and that which doth interest persons in such great and precious priviledges truly it concerns us to look well to it that we be not mistaken concerning this Belief Now this I would say there is something in it to be considered with respect to the time wherein Christ appeared visibly to the World and the after-times wherein the Apostles did hold forth these great Doctrines of the Gospel concerning Christ. And this we are to say that in such a time as that was when this was the Critical point as it were the discriminating thing in such a time for any to make this profession and to hold forth this to be their Faith and Belief that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God it was of high signification and might very well as to man beget a comfortable confidence and hope concerning such persons that certainly they were born of God as to man and according to rational Charity it might be very probable that in such Persons as did thus believe and professe this to be their Faith and Belief there were some blessed beams upon their Souls for mark ye it hath been thus in the World and among the people of it concerning matters of God and Godliness that there hath been such and such a Truth that hath been the Critical Truth as I said that hath been as I may so say the Shibboleth whereby people are distinguished one from another I allude to that passage in Iudges concerning the Gileadites they made a profession of themselves to be such and such and they were put to it to pronounce Shibboleth they that could not speak out the word and clearly pronounce it they were not judged to be the persons that they professed themselves to be but they that could do it held their liberty so sometimes such and such a Doctrine is ordered out to be a distinguishing point upon the account of the desperate opposition that the World makes against it and upon this account the Priests and the Rulers and the rest of the World were desperately bent against Christ they called him Jesus but could not endure him to be called Christ the Son of God it was an Act and Decree amongst them That whosoever should confess Jesus to be the Christ should be put out of the Synagogue should be excommunicated Now for persons at such time wherein it was as much as their Liberty it may be their Lives were worth to own that Jesus Christ was the Son of God for persons now at such a time to own this Jesus that was in so mean a condition to be the Christ there is very much in it infinitely more then for persons now to take up this profession Why because this Doctrine hath obtained in the World and it is a Doctrine among Papists as well as Protestants there is no such danger now for Persons to be of this Belief But shall I say this That for all that to believe this really according to the right account and true genuine interpretation of Gospel-believing the Case is the same with them and with us at this day setting aside the consideration of time and times the danger then and the encouragement now the Case is the same Gospel-believing of these truths according to a genuine interpretation of Gospel-believing it is the same now as then and then as now And therefore we must consider and look further I would put these few things to your consciences You profess this to be your faith you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God that he is come in the flesh these things you profess to believe and if you do so indeed you are highly priviledged people blessed of God and shall be
to all Eternity But do you not mistake Do you believe this that Jesus is the Christ How came you by this belief What account can you give of it How were you brought over to this Belief Did you not come to this Faith and Belief by common report You were born to this Doctrine You look upon it as that which is the benefit you have by your being born in a Nation and among a People that profess the Name of Christ and this hath been instilled into you by education and upon this account you take it Did you ever buy this truth It is a truth that Jesus is the Christ how came it to be yours Did you ever buy this truth Buy it I say buy it For the very truth is we are never able to make out a good Title to any Gospel-truth untill such time as we can say we have bought it How why by serious meditation studying the Scriptures searching into them seriously pondering and weighing of them crying mightily to God that he would manifest them to us and encountring temptations from without from within being at a point willing to engage liberty and estate and life and all for this truth's sake Can you say We have pondered and are so fully satisfied about it as that if all the world should come in a way of contradiction and rise up in opposition to us and come with fire and sword to beat us out of this truth yet we are resolved to stick to it Can you give such an account of your selves that you have not taken it up on a common report but are able to say there hath been an inward Revelation made of these things to your souls that there hath been a sanctified work of the Spirit upon your understandings that you come to see into the mystery of these Gospel restimonies Is there an habitual frame of spirit wrought in you whereby you are carried out to close with every truth of God and to close with it upon this account because of a divine authority stampt upon it When we give assent to common truths but not with a common spirit but in the strength of an inward conviction we assent to it upon the account of an unction that we have received from the Holy One and we assent to this and that truth upon the account of a divine authority which we see to be stampt upon it and withall we find that there are suitable workings of our heart in the loves and desires and delights of them to these truths as there will be a kindly working of the heart where there is a right assent suitable to the truths assented to as If there be a threatning the Soul assents to it and will tremble before God If a promise be made or a Gospel-revelation it will be accompanied with a holy rejoycing in God that ever he should make such a Promise or Revelation and then there will be a holy resolution of spirit Come what will come I will never part with this truth I have bought the truth that was my duty and having bought it I will never sell it that is my duty too Can we give such an account as this But then withall let me a little further improve that which I have already spoken from the Chapter You say this is your belief That Jesus is the Christ the Son of God but can you give an account of those priviledges that are entailed upon this belief For you must know that the priviledges which belong to such will serve as Evidences that they are such Now if you believe it is your priviledge to be boâ—… of God and this being born of God must be the evidence of this belief Can you give an account of you being born of God If you are not born of God you do not believe That Jesus is the Christ. Can you givâ—… an account of your overcomming the World Are yoâ—… such as are enabled to stand out in opposition to thâ—… eâ—…rors and heresies and corrupt doctrines and practâ—…ses that are in the World Can you beâ—…r up agaiâ—… the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and the priâ—… of life If you are in slavery to the world in bondage to the beggarly rudiments of the world you are mistaken That Jesus is the Christ For he that believeth according to a true interpretation of Gospel-believing That Jesus is the Christ doth overcome the world and by vertue of this belief he is enabled to get a conquest over the world and over corruptions that are in it through lust And then again You profess to believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God Oh! but you are able to give an account that you have believed into this Jesus and upon this Jesus for that is it the Text holds forth He that believes that Jesus is the Christ doth believe on Jesus the Christ Are you by vertue of this believing which you profess drawn out to a closing with Christ do you roll your selves upon him own him for Righteousness and Salvation and are willing to yield your selves up in subjection to him You believe Jesus to be the Christ but do you believe on that Jesus whom you profess to be the Christ Now this being thus laid down as a Foundation I would infer thus and so go on to a farther branch of this Application Either you do really believe with a Gospel-believing these Truths and Doctrines concerning Christ or you do not Why they that profess they do but in truth they do not there is a clear and manifest contradiction which this profession meets withal and that upon the accounts I have formerly given As alas this Profession suffers contradiction generally generally the Professors of this Faith that Jesus is the Christ do clearly make a flat contradiction and I am very confident that there are thousands that if they should be put to the Trial Will you stick to this Truth If you do it shall cost you the loss of your Liberty and Estates nay your Life shall go for it Oh I am very apt to think that you shall have thousands that will turn their backs upon this Profession renounce this Profession Now concerning such this I would say First that the Condition of such persons as are not right in Gospel-believing is a most mournful and miserable Condition however it may be with them in other respects yet it is sad to think what a Condition they are in for consider first of all they that do not perform this Great Duty of Gospel-believing according to the truth and reality of it I will tell you what they do they do give God the lye they do by interpretation tell God to his face that he is a very Lyar and what higher blaspheming can there be than to give the lye to the God of Truth every one will be apt to bless themselves and say Oh far be it from me God forbid that I should be charged with such an horrid impiety as
this Oh but Brethren the very truth is it is a very common thing by interpretation to give the lye to God and all that do not believe according to that Gospel-believing that you have heard do tell God to his face that he is a Lyar. How doth that appear Why take a little help such as I am able to give you To profess that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God that he came to be the Saviour of the world is ordered out to be our Righteousness is sent of God to preach Liberty to Captives to heal diseased Souls and to deliver poor Creatures from the bondage of the Devil these things People generally profess to believe but mark you now they never come to Christ nor never set in with him upon this account and to this purpose Oh Lord thou art the Jesus the Annointed of God I come to thee for life I am a poor dead Creature I am in a state of unrighteonsness and thon art given to be for Righteousness Lord I fly to thee for it I am a poor diseased creature the Plague is upon my soul and thou art appointed to heal the Soul of the Plague I come to thee for healing There is not one of thousands that come thus to Christ. Will you now see how the lye is given to God I profess for my part saith one I know no such matter Jesus is the Christ and I profess to believe so and he is appointed of God for such and such things he is sent to preach liberty to the Captives I know not that there is any such bondage Christ came to save sinners alas I know no need of any such salvation by him he came to heal diseased souls I am well enough what need have I of Christ What is this but to give the lye to God He that receiyes not Christ makes God a lyar for he doth in effect say Lord thou sayest so and so concerning the World I know nothing of all this and so the lye is given to God And is it nothing to give the lye to the great God the God of truth And I tell you while you profess this Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God and in the mean time flye not to him you believe him to be the Son of God and that all Authority is given unto him and you will not subject to his Authority why you give the lye to God and is this nothing 2. Consider the sad condition of such as believe not according to a right Gospel-believing they are such as are lyable to the dreadfullest touches from the Devil that possibly can be He that believeth is born of God overcomes the World and is enabled to keep himself that the wicked one doth not touch him with a mortiferous touch but I tell thee whatever thou art that art under the powerof unbelief thou art in danger of a dreadfull touch from the Prince of darkness and if thou livest and diest in a state of unbelief thou wilt fall under the power of condemnation Remember what our Saviour speaks and consider well of it You stand out in opposition to my Doctrine but I tell you Except you believe that I am He you shall dye in your sins A dreadful word you shall die in your sins and what then be damned eternally This is the condition of all such as are in a state of unbelief but then on the other hand in case we be able to give a good account of our believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and of our believing on him concerning whom these Testimonies are given Oh what cause have all such to rejoyce in their condition The condition of such persons is happy beyond all expression and comprehension who have owned these Truths owned that Jesus of whom the faithful Testimonies are given Now all the Chapter according to the account I have given you comes in to the purpose of comforting and rejoycing the heart of such Persons Here is your comfort now really believing according to a right interpretation of Gospel-believing this is your priviledge you are the Persons that are born from above you are the Persons that shall be enabled to over come the World to bear up against all opposition that Men and Devils can make against you you are the Persons that have the Witness within you and you shall be able to bear up against all the contradictions of Sinners you are the Persons that have Christ and have eternal life by him you shall have it nay you have it already He that believeth on the Son of God hath eternal life he hath it in the beginnings of it and shall have it in the compleat state of it being brought over to Gospel-believing you may come with boldness to God in a way of prayer with holy confidence that whatever else you ask believing you shall have a good account of it God doth not neglect any believing prayer of a believing soul And all the Priviledges of the Gospel are entailed upon you and you are entitled unto them and you shall have the Benefit of them while you live and when you die unto all Eternity Well may it be said of such a Person Blessed is he and she that hath believed with a Gospel-believing Gospel-Truths and Testimonies concerning Christ and on Christ on whom those Testimonies are given for there shall be a full and perfect accomplishment of whatever God hath spoken with his mouth concerning such And then lastly If the Grace of God hath brought us over to a closing with Christ of whom these truths and testimonies are given why the last Branch of the Application is but this That you would but justifie your Believing and labour to manifest the reality of your Believing according to the Gospel by a suitable walking This is that that shall be the cloling up of this Application Oh Brethren Let us consider well our Saviour tells us in Mat. 11. Wisdom is justified of her Children Why if ever we mean to approve our selves to be Wisdom's children our care must be for to give in our Justification of Wisdom's sayings and for to carry it in a congruousness and suitableness unto that Gospel-believing which we profess to be by grace brought over to Why but what is that you will say Why consider the Text and see what remains of the Chapter I shall make it out give it up to you in this way Why First of all this is one special Duty that lies upon you That you would study your Mercy and know what God hath been to you and done for you and how highly you are dignified and not to be alwayes in a fluctuating state and upon the questioning and disputing point but to come to some well grounded confidence that you may be able to say We know that this and that is our condition and this and that is our dignified priviledge that we are planted under Do but mark how the Point in hand doth charge
and to your sorrow finde the want of confirmation You cannot but know how the strongest are put to it in trying hours or at death Will slack and unsetled hopes of another life such distempered hearts fight and encounter with such tryals Never think of dying comfortably if you follow not after confirming grace 16. It should humble you the more that you have been so long so many years in the School of Christ and love God c. no better Should not you in this Apprenâ—…iceship have learned better your Religion and been â—…eachers of others when perhaps if in the principles you are assaulted you will show your weakness as soon as any May not Christ say Have I been so long time with you and yet have you known liv'd c. no better reached no higher attained no further weaklings still Nay consider in this time what advantage have you had for growth A tree planted on a barren wilderness may not grow so much as in a fruitfull place but you have had the plenty and power of the Ordinances of God the choisest of the means and helps of salvation 17. Consider the nature of true grace tends to this will you cross the nature of it shall we be such weaklings in Religion which crosse so the nature of grace For grace the more it 's exercised the more it encreases 18. Heaven it self is perfection and the work of a Christian is to press towards heaven and therefore 't is to press towards perfection You should make towards the end in a manner and way that is suitable to the end Persons that enjoy so much already and hope for so much greater should not put off God with such little things 19. Little grace shall have but little glory You know not how great a difference there is between the least and highest in the Kingdom of God Nay 't is not only for a Christian to desire to be glorified but to enjoy the highest degree in glory to serve God with the best and improve his Talent to the utmost that his heavenly reward may be according A Christian should not slight it when 't is tendred to him and in his eye Quest. But how shall I know I have attained this confirming grace Answ. These signs following shew a Christian confirmed and strong in grace which I will name that you may know what to aim at and what to desire There is not so great a difference between a King and a Beggar between the greatest health and sicklyest man as between a strong usefull Christian and a poor lâ—…nguishing soâ—…l c. 1. A confirmed Christian is one that can resist many subâ—…il and strong temptations not only a single temptation but when Satan assaults on every side with errors on both extremes with importunities of several parties with temptations of prosperity offered of adversity felt or feared strong temptations that seem to lay a necessity of yielding on a weakling that makes him say I must do it to save my liberty family life c. A strong Christian can say there is no necessity he can make light of those temptations that seem to be a necessity to other persons he can confute a subtil Sophister and deal with a cunning Adversary Satan cannot so easily go beyond and out-wit him 2. He can do great excellent and useful works is serviceable to God if he have opportunity in business of greatest consequence he doth not serve God only in some little and inconsiderable things but in his place sets himself to the Work of God doth the great Work of his Majesty faithfully The service of God to him is more easie and delightful as to go ten miles is more easie to the healthful than one to a sickly person he can go through God's service with pleasure ease and delight without tyring fainting siting down or giving over 3. He can digest the hard Truths aud Providences of God that are ready to puzzle perplex and overset the stomach of a weak Christian He hath laid his foundation to which he reduces all things of difficulty and by the help of those great truths he hath received he can easily see through the difficulties of all that are yet before him He can tell how to reconcile those things in Scripture that seem contradictions where he meets with a difficulty he can easily discern the cause is in himself and that there is an undoubted way of reconciling them though he hath not attained to it He can easily quiet his soul under the most difficult providences and interpret them so as is consistent with the truths of God which must expound them he reconciles Promise with Providence and Providence with Scripture whereas a weak Christian is ready to say A hard saying who can â—…ear this and that And it is the difficulty of these kinds of Truths that make so many turn their Religion because not able to digest the hardest Truths of God Cross providences makes them question God's love c. 4. He is one that can exercise various graces without setting one against another destroying or contradicting one another He can do many works believe many Truths perform many Duties at once He can rejoyce and sorrow at once and make his sorrow an help to his joy and his joy an help to his sorrow and so exercise both in that nature as will not directly hinder or weaken one another He can tell how in such a time as we are in to rejoyce yet to be humble to be cast down at God's feet in the sense of the sins we have committed and of God's displeasure c. yet to rejoyce in the mercies we have and do expect to possess He doth not look all upon sin all upon affliction or all upon mercy but can eye every thing and give every thing its part can exercise graces methodically gives truths and providences their proper place in his meditations and affections and this makes his life orderly beautiful regular and useful whereas a weak Christian let him set himself against one temptation he is taken in another if he humble himself in soul he can do nothing but humble weep grieve fear and be ready to cast away all comfort all sense of the love of God if he set himself to the consideration of the grace of Christ he is apt to forget Humiliation and to be puffed up with spiritual Pride c. Thus he hath not skill strength and ability to carry on all the whole work of grace together 5. A strong Christian sinks not under those burdens that would press down and overwhelm a weak Christian he can bear heavy burdens and more easily away with them making it a recreation to bear some things that another would sink under and cannot bear It is thy weaknesse that makes thee make such a stir when God layes on thee personal family publique afflictions that makes thee shrink under them strength of grace would enable to see God and glory in the midst of them and
they may after all attain to the Crown Answ. I shall leave with you twenty Directions and as many as there are there are not more then you must practise and take them as if they were the last Directions I should give you and take them as practicals not as notionals that you must live upon as long as you live First See that the foundation be soundly laid in your head and heart in matters of your Religion In your head i. e. that you well understand what Religion is what the Christian Religion is what God is what it is for God to be yours in his Attributes and Relations unto you what he is and will be unto you what you are and must be unto him what sin is how odious wherein its evil consists what is sin and what not what sin hath done in the world and what state it hath brought transgressors into what Christ is what he hath done for man's recovery and redemption what he hath wrought gives and offers to the world The end and design of God in the work of mans redemption The tender of the Gospel-Covenant of grace freeness largeness and excellency of the grace of this Covenant The end of our Religion the everlasting glory that is revealed in the Gospel what it is how sure and how great When you understand these things get a sound and radicated belief concerning the Truths of the holy Scripture revealing all these things And think it not enough that the Scripture is true or that you are resolved so to believe but get the best grounds for your belief be well established on those grounds Read the Scripture much till you are acquainted with and relish the matter and language and feel the power until all be delightful to your souls in reading And be not ashamed to understand the Fundamentals look to your Catechisms The Fundamentals of Religion you must understand and receive And when you have got them into your head be sure you get them into your heart and never think any truth received as it ought till it hath done some special work on your heart till you believe that God is Almighty Just Holy c. and all the Attributes of God have made their holy impression on your heart that the sanctifying knowledge of God hath warmed your affections captivated your souls that God be inthron'd in your hearts by the belief and knowledge of your minds Know your selves so as to be humble know Christ so as he may be sweet unto you and exalted by you set up Christ in your souls nearest to your hearts know sin so as to hate it c. 'T is the entertainment of the good things of the Gospel by the Will that is the principal part of your Religion 'T is a matter of lamentable consequence in all your lives when there is not a sound work at the heart how little life will there be from any truth in reading or hearing The Fundamentals of Religion must be so received as not only to have an old heart mended but a new heart made Thus understand believe and give up thy heart to that thou believest and understandest 2. Know and remember the work of your Salvation must be as long as you live and that you have never done till you have done living I give this direction because I find something in Christianity the remainds of Carnality is apt to hinder c. and some Professors when converted they are reconciled to God and safe c. but there 's a great deal to be done after c. 3. Understand well Wherein it is your confirmation stability rootedness and growth in Religion doth consist The chief part of your growth in Grace is not to know more things then you knew before but to grow in the knowledge belief entertainment and improvement of the same truths that at first you did receive not that you may not or should not know more for the clear knowledge of the Fundamentals guide you unavoidably to the sight of many other truths which a darker knowledge of those Fundamentals will not discover to you 'T is not an addition to your former knowledge but the clearer knowing sounder believing heartier entertaining and improving of the truths you knew at first as the health of a man consists not in having every day variety of food but in the partaking and digestion of the same food that 's fittest for him get but a more perfect conviction or concoction of what you knew before and this is your growth You may grow in the knowledge of Gods attributes by knowing them more clearly orderly distinctly satisfactorily and believingly then before There is a world of difference in the manner of knowledge between a dark and a clear knowing of things Grow in greater love to them and greater skill in entertainment improvement and practise of them 4. Grow downward in humility and inward in the knowledge of your selves and above all maintain a constant abhorrence and jealousie of the sin of Pride grow in humility and fly from Pride keep a constant apprehension of your unworthiness and weakness of the odiousness and danger of the sin of spiritual pride so called because exercised about spiritual things of being pufft up with pride of any thing in your selves of being too confident in your selves Below in own and expect not nor desire others good thoughts of you Humility lies not in humility of opinion speech garb or carriage but in opposition to high thoughts of our own parts gifts godliness when we think of these above their worth still remember Psal. 25. Prov. 26. 19. Isai. 57. 15. Ioh. 22. 29. As ever you would grow in grace and be confirmed Christians keep a low esteem of your selves be mean in your own eyes be content to be mean in others and hearken not to secret flatterers that would puff you up Take heed of any thing that would puff you up c. 5. You must understand that you are Disciples in Christs School where Ministers are his teachers and guides the Ordinances his means for his peoples good and the Scripture the Book you must learn therefore keep in this order keep under these Guides commit your souls to those that are faithful and fit for souls to be intrusted with And when you have done with humble submissiveness to their teaching keep in this School under those officers in their Discipline and dwell in the Catholick Church and Communion of Saints and understand the duty of Pastors and People Heb. 13. 17 18. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Obey them that have the Rule over you If God had seen the poor Christians sufficient to support themselves he would never have made it the duty of all to be marshalled and rank'd in several Schools Ranks Orders and all to walk in this Order to Heaven If you withdraw from under Christ's Officers and Ordinances you are in danger of being snatcht up as straglers Quest. What shall we do Whom shall we take for our guides
to my salvation Object But what ground have you for this Ans. Iesuit I will tell you my ground this is my great hold I have against Popery Could they convince me of this that I must believe with an implicite faith because they say it I think it would not be long before I turn'd Papist Quest. But why must I not believe it with an implicite faith Ans. Look you into those three great Scriptures Mat. 15. 2. Why do thy disciples transgresse the traditions of the Elders The Jewes come and tell Christ he was not a true Son of the Church of the Jewes he was disobedient to the Church of the Jewes why thou hast Disciples that walk not as they ought what do they do they commit an unpardonable sin They transgresse the Traditions of the Elders they break one of the greatest Commandements What 's that tradition They wash not their hands when they eat bread This was the great sin and they charge it on him eat with unwashen hands why why bring you in this tradition what have you to say for it what 's that to the purpose prove Iesus Christ that there is any thing in the Word of God that is against 〈◊〉 But prove you out of the Word of God where they are bound to wash before they eat If you will give out your imposition make out your institution and let me tell you you talk of tradition but first you set up an Altar God never thought of and secondly you pull down Gods Altar Why do you also transgress the Commandment of God by your tradition For God commanded saying Honour thy Father and Mother and he that curseth Father or Mother let him dye the death But ye say Whosoever shall say to his Father or Mother It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me and honour not his Father and Mother he shall be free thus have ye made the Commandement of God of none effect by your Traditions Ye Hypocrites you are told of it long ago well did Esaias prophesie of you saying This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me They draw near wash their hands wash their cups and have filthy souls They honour me with their lips c. But though their principles their heart is bad their worship is good is it not No In vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men So then my Brethren remember all those that teach for doctrines the precepts of men in vain do they worship God Here 's an innocent command You must wash before you eat if you do not wash you do transgress the traditions of the Elders but let you starve Father and Mother if you give but to the Church to a Nunnery Friery c. 't is all one so that all those that will for doctrines teach the traditions of men will render the commandments of God of none effect in vain do they worship me Look therefore whereever God doth not find a tongue to speak do not you find an ear to hear nor an heart to believe Christians if you expect Christs benediction always call aloud for Christs Institution so Col. 2. 18 19. one of the greatest steps you have against Popery Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary hâ—…mility and worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind c Deut. 12. 32. What thing soever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor â—…minish from it There are no Wens in the body of Gods Precepts therefore none of them to be cut off You must not deal with Gods Ordinances as that Tyrant Procâ—…stâ—… did with men if they were too long for his Bed he would cut them shorter if too short he would pull their limbs out of joynt to make them longer Never think your selves in Conscience bound to lend an ear to that which God doth not find a mouth to speak 7. Would you stand fast beware of shaking doctrines what are those there are a great many of such doctrines that are shakings give me leave to instance in three or four 1. As you love your souls beware of all doctrines that tend to and preach up licentiousness loosness and prophaneness Should any tell you you may lawfully violate and prophane the Sabbath do not believe it the doctrine of the Gospel is a doctrine of godliness it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world therefore if you find any doctrine at any time that should have the least tendency to incourage you in any sin know 't is a doctrine against the Gospel 2. Whereever you find any doctrine that shall tend to the lifting up of mans free-will and debasing of Gods free grace know 't is a wicked doctrine and against the genius of the Gospel Perhaps the Papists will tell you we are alivâ—… Paul tells you we are dead They say that we can do any thing many things that we talk to the World we cannot do they say that we can save our selves and those with Christ if we will whereas the Apostle tells you 1 Cor. 1. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned It may be they will tell you a natural man may love God with his heart really as so savingly whereas the Apostle tels you Rom. 8. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject unto the Law of God neither indeed can be Remember it in all those Doctrines wherein we do agree with those whom we call Pelagians and their brood the Arminians so far we agree with the Iesuits and the worst of Papists 3. As you would avoid Hell avoid all those Doctrines that would lift up self-righteousness and debase the righteousness of Christ. I fear I shall never be in that capacity that I would to stand you in stead in this particular I confess I am against forty things in Popery but my whole soul is here ingaged if that Doctrine be a truth I never expect salvation by God either I must be saved by Christ alone or else I must not be saved by Christ at all though Christ will never save me without sanctification yet Christ never intended my sanctification should merit his salvation Be as holy as you can as if there were no Gospel to save yet when you are as holy as you can you must believe in Christ as if there were no Law at all to condemn you Come and tell me of the Merit of Saints c. I will believe that truth when I believe the Whore of Babylon to be Christs Spouse See Phil. 3. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 21. 8. Would you stand you must be praying Christians I confess when most of
who have made the practising every opinion to be their trying of it till they have run themselves into all opinions but 't is by the Scripture you are first to try and then to practise who are like the Noble Bereans that were more noble then those of Thessalonica because they searched the Scripture To bring the Truths that have or shall be taught you or the Doctrines that shall be imposed upon you to the word of God to see whether they be according to the Truth or no for false Doctrines and false Worship of all things they hate the Scripture most they are like falâ—…e coyn or false Jewels which go best in the night false coyn will not endure the Touchstone nor false Jewels the day no more will false Doctrines the Scripture therefore it will be a great way to discover them 2. It will be a great way to vanquish them Eph. 6. Above all take the sword of the Spirit the word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which we slay Heretical Doctrines and by which we are to slay sinful practises All those stones that the Davids of God have flung at the Geliah's of Error they have been taken out of the brook of the Scriptures therefore reduce all Doctrines offered you to believe all worships that are taught you to practise to the word of God 1. All Doctrines that are taught you to believe reduce them thither there 's no profession of faith to be built but the stones must be fetched from that mountain If you believe divine truths but not because the Scripture propounds them your faith is but humane If you believe any thing the Scripture doth not speak your faith is Diabolical the word of God and your faith must run parallel All that is written you must believe and you must believe nothing but what is written This was the Rule of the Old Testament Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony to the Law that is to Moses and to the Testimony that is to the Prophets if they speak not according to these there 's no light in them When any thing was offered to Christ by way of enquiry his common answer was How readest thou Luke 10. 26. How is it written When the holy Apostle Paul would redresse the abuse of the Lords Supper he does not carry the Corinthians to these and these Fathers to this and that use and custome but brings that how it was delivered from the Lord he reduces them to the institution What I have received from the Lord that I have delivered to you The word of God is perfect in respect of Doctrine and in respect of worship So that whatsoever is offered you to believe you must try it by the perfect rule for 't is given by Divine institution to make the man of God perfect and wise to Salvation it is such a Canon about Doctrines to be received as nothing must be added nor taken from it Rev. 22. Therefore it 's called a Testament Now no man dares add to another man's last Will and Testament who shall dare to add a faith to the Faith of Gods Elect to that which Christ hath delivered I will give you this as a certain observation that there never was any thing of false Doctrine brought into the Church or any thing of false worship imposed upon the Church but either it was by neglecting the Scripture or by introducing something above the Scripture 2. Bring hither all practice of worship as well as Doctrines to be believed try the wayes and forms of Christs house by the word of Christ he shews us the patterns thereof the outgoings and returnings thereof he was faithful in all his House even as Moses was who did not leave a pin of the Tabernacle but did appoint it There is nothing decent and comely in the Church which is so much pleaded for but what comes in by Christs institution Whatever you worship without a warrant from the word of God or by whatever means you worship without a warrant from the word of God you worship you know not what Ioh. 4. 2 't is Will-worship and by the same Rule you receive one Will-worship you may receive twenty 't is vain worship it will never reach the end of your Communion with God for he is a Spirit and seeks such worshippers it will never bring you to the enjoyment of God therefore in point of worship bring it to the word of God and as to faith and worship say Hitherto my faith and my worship shalt thou go and no further This rule rightly improved it will dis-intangle you from the hooks and take you off from the baits of those cunning Fowlers for to such the Apostle doth compare them in the New Testament who seek to betray souls from the simplicity of Gospel-faith Never any did invent false doctrine but to put up them they put down the Scripture and they put out the eyes of Christians to make them bend to it before they use other means to compel them their great work is to darken the light of the truth and in the room of the Scripture to be your rule they set up other Rules which because there are three marvellous Popular I desire to mention them in opposition to this Rule I have given you There 's a three-fold Rule men would set up to deceive poor souls The name of a Church Ancient Customes The Generality of those where they live 1. The specious Name of a Church to make that a rule to Doctrine and to worship It was the plea of the Popish party in the Marion daies What will you not believe the Church hath not the Church power to make Institutions and Canons about this and that and the other will you not believe the Church will you go out from the true Church Thus do men that go about to deceive nothing like it as to the catching and deluding many poor souls by making the Church their rule It was the way of of the Popish party of old and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ in that measure and degree it has had you must expect it again therefore let me caution you against it Can we enquire who this Church was It was only the decree of the proud Church Antichrist of old and the Antichristian Clergy who as you may read in their Stories would Lord it over the Faith of Gods heritage I must tell you the name and custome and way of the Churches of Christ is a reverend holy thing even of that that is a true Church 'T is a weighty Argument when the Apostle saith We have no such Custome nor the Churches of Christ And therefore I do fully close with him that said No sober man will go against Reason No Christian against the Scripture and no peaceable minded man against the Church But then the Church must shine by a Divine Scripture Light If that be a rule it must be ruled by
Keeping and propagating one of the most glorious truths that Iesus Christ was risen from the dead yet a thing that is farthest off from sense and reason wherein I suffer trouble mark Paul does not say wherin I make trouble no but wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer unto bonds but the word of God is not bound If this blessed and glorious Apostle would have had the faith of God bound and have contented himself with sinful silence and not propagated the Gospel Paul might have been free but Paul would not have the word of God bound therefore Paul would suffer for it Shall we go higher a great deal then this You have the glorious commendation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon this account that he gave a free and full account of the Doctrine of his Father and of his glorious person before Pontius Pilate a bloody Persecutor It was not by saying to his Disciples Fight nor by saying my Kingdom is not of this world but that he gave a glorious confession before the face of Pilate of the righteousnesse of his truth Doctrine Gospel and of his person Fear to ensnare the freedom of the truth with your own liberty do not ensnare it to your own lusts nor to the will of any man O that we could study and improve these Scriptures more it would make us fear God more man lesse this is that that would make us say as holy David Ps. 119. 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy words for he that hath the most fear fear on you and upon you you will be more afraid to fall into his hands It is a childish thing for a Christian to tread down the belief of any Doctrine or practice any worship for fear of man who hath no more power to hurt us then we give him our selves by our fear Fear not him that can but kill the body c. It was the way of Gods people formerly that they came to divide between duty commanded by God and commanded by man you may read in all the dayes of Antichrists persecution from the beginning they came to divide in matter of obedience to God and his truth and worship and obedience to man Christians nothing but a suffering spirit will help you to this for there is no other way of Obedience in this case to authority but to suffer under it meekly Patiently as lambs This made the three children to divide between the command of God What sayes Nebuchadnezzer Every knee that bows not shall be cast into the Furnace very well as for that matter say they O King we are not carefull to answer thee for we will not bow down c. What will they not Obey him yet they will obey him by suffering as becomes Christians as is the example of Christ as if they should say Truly we are terrified with hell too We are terrified by the threats of the great King and we are likewise terrified by the threats of the great God he is able to deliver us out of your torments you are not able to deliver us from his torments so in the case of Daniel Arm your selves with this Resolution of suffering and lying down patiently and meekly under those things that you cannot do so that God may be honoured by your holy resolution upon this Account for truly you never do contend successfully for the faith of the Gospel till you contend by suffering for it is said They overcame by the blood of the lamb you never make Religion your businesse till the world see you can let such great things go as life estate liberty to keep it Then wisedome is justified of her children You never glorify the truths of God so much by practice or writing as by suffering for them Those glorious truths against Popish justification mixing of works with faith Transubstantiation Purgatory Idol-worship against all those things that were superadded contrarie to Gods justification there is such a glory upon the truths that it is hard for the Popish power ever to darken them again because we see them written in the honourable and blessed scars of the witnesses and burnings of those glorious Martyrs If you would take one another by the hand when God takes away our faithfull guides and say Brethren Sisters Friends come let us hold together there 's no way in the world to hold on together like suffering for the Gospel really would get more advantage by the holy humble sufferings of one gracious Saint meerly for the word of righteousnesse then by ten thousand Arguments used against Hereticks and false worship Compare Phil. 1. 12 13 14. with the 27 28 and 29. verses How is Paul's bonds a furtherance of the Gospel Paul no doubt was called an evil doer one that sowed Heresie and was hated every where saith he Many of the Brethren of the Lord waxed confident by my bands and were much more bold to speak the word without fear Here 's the great encouragement and then he comes to give you a precept and that 's in the 27. verse and he speaks it as one that was leaving of them Onely let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ that you may stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by your Adversaries for unto you it is given not onely to believe but also to suffer c. It is given to you as a duty given to you as a priviledge O that you would confirm one another and in slippery times hold up one another by the hand do it in going after Gods call and in this way suffering for those truths you cannot otherwise hold and maintain Truly Christians you had need be armed with Resolution for the world is alwaies counting the things Gods people have suffered for very little and they count it prudence not to meddle therein Those men that have easie soft terms to comply that they have a latitude to do any thing I believe some Christians are of that opinion that they would even think the Saints of God were ill advised to venture their all upon those truths they see others died and suffered for It 's a sad thing many Christians study to draw out the lines of obedience as far as the honesty of the times will give them leave but no farther that they would go on with the Lord Jesus to the High Priests hâ—…ll and there deny him or that would be willing to do anything for Christ but are willing to suffer nothing for Christ you very little honour Jesus Christ in this and you will very little honour your selves at the last It is upon this account that Christians if they see even against plain conviction of Conscience and the word that there are super-instituted things broke in as in Conscience they cannot submit to yet they can comply why they may be used lawfully though not superstitiously But saith