our salvation by Christ But for so much as all our comfort stands in this that God who justifieth the ungodly hath freely given his Sonne and in him is reconciled to us being his enemies and hath by his Gospell called us and by his spirit wrought faith in our hearts to receive Christ so given unto us whereby wee being dead in sinne and having no goodnesse in us were made alive to God and so were new borne and then doe beginne to bee changed first in affection and then in conversation by little and little from a childe growing to a riper age in Christ Therefore if wee have this assurance of our new birth though we feele much weaknesse of the spirituall life yet wee ought not to doubt whether wee bee Gods children seeing hee that is so new borne as aforesaid can never dy but rather we are to remember 1. Wee are but children and therefore weak 2. Wee are very subject to many spirituall diseases some such as take away sense of life and therefore must seeke to bee cured and not despaire of life seeing wee cannot perish This cannot breede securitie in sinne to any for he that seeing himselfe miserable doth beleeve to bee saved by Christ cannot but love God and for love studie and travell to obey him no more then fire can be without heate so that they who say they thus beleeve and live not Christianly are lyars the truth is not in them If any tender conscience ignorant weak for so must they needs be should say I am such a one because they feele so little grace in them they may manifestly be disproved by the true effects of faith which no faith can be without true love of God his Word his Saints desire to please God griefe for former and present sinnes and such like If any hypocrite will say he thus beleeveth and in some measure thus liveth let him try his inward affections why hee doth all duty it will bee found not in love to God and recompence of his kindnesse but either for the credit of the world or mercenarily for obtaining Gods favour whom his securitie jollitie presumption and want of sense of his infirmities and of an holy feare of falling and care to please God in secret will descrie 3. A true beleever falling into sin ought if hee can hold his confidence though he be foulie fallen and rather lament that hee Gods childe should so dishonour his father for the doubting of Gods favour cannot raise him from his fall but the beholding of it is that alone which will breede holy and acceptable sorrow for sinne and conscience of amendment 4. It s evident that many of the carefullest Christians seeing their infirmities doe most doubt whether they have faith who yet for the most part in time of tryall finde more then others who bee more secure and confident but yet this is their fault that they looke too much to effects and not to the cause of their justification and in beholding the effects through ignorance and feare judge amisse not seeing the true effects of faith in them being blinded with their wants 5. This is found in many true Christians that they oft doubt of their salvation and feare they bee not Gods children because they see such sinnes and wants in themselves and hereupon be oft moved to greater care of an holy life thinking that otherwayes they may not beleeve and on the other side that if they see more mortification of their corruptions and more strength to good duties that they may boldly beleeve wherein they pittifully deceive themselves many wayes 1. That they often obtaine not their desire in mortification 2. That if they by this meanes prick themselves to more care for a season yet so soone as their feare is slacked their care is ended 3. That if their care should continue yet this is not that which can either cause them first to beleeve or else any way encrease their faith onely this can more certainely prove that they have and do indeede beleeve and so may comfort them for there is nothing that can beget or encrease faith but Gods promise and seales thereof truly applyed They therefore who doubting doe thus think to encrease faith by leading a better life doe take a wrong course and plainely shew that in their holy life they seeke themselves and not the Lord and are not moved thereto by the true love of God which is the chiefe mother of true obedience whereas they ought rather having good cause to doubt whether they have soundly beleeved seeing they finde in themselves no comfortable fruits of their faith to labour more stedfastly to beleeve that so their faith as fire encreaseth by the heate of it may send forth more fervent effects of love to God and obedience which shall then effectually comfort them seeing such fruits of such a root 6. In the deepest thoughts of our salvation this oft riseth up to weaken our faith that God having ordained some to destruction and yet to make the sole cause of mans perdition to bee in himselfe prepared a remedy for all and in his testament bequeathed it to all and publiquely proclaimed it to the world though for his part determining to give grace to receive it onely to his chosen and to leave the other to themselves what warrant wee have to beleeve that we are of them to whom God hath determined to give his grace and who indeed shal receive it and not of those who herein deepely deceive themselves whereunto the soundest answere is this that the secret determination of God is to himselfe and not to be enquired in to of us who cannot know our election till wee know our effectuall calling who to this end must attend to his revealed will wherein he certifieth all to whom the Gospell commeth that he would have none perish but beleeve therefore inviteth all of them exhorteth entreateth thē by his ministers to be reconciled unto him and sore threatneth if they beleeve not Upon all which this may bee concluded that its great sinne and follie for him to whom the Lord hath revealed his will concerning his salvation and by many meanes prepared him thereto as giving him sight and sense of his miserie knowledge of and unfained desire of Christ the onely remedy calling and commanding him to receive him together with cleere knowledge that he in his word hath promised this remedie to him for him I say its great sinne notwithstanding all this upon no ground but onely a suspicious feare to doubt that God will not yet save him but doth this to his farther condemnation whereof there is no feare but to such as contemne this grace or receive it in vain not being drawne thereby in truth to love and seeke Gods honour by unfained obedience to his will whereas all they who knowing the benefit by Christ in respect of the greatnesse of it
to finde strong comfort in the Lord and thereby good encouragement unto all godlinesse is daily to consider deepely 1. His owne miserable estate by nature that thereby he may be stirred up to cry with the Apostle O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death And 2. he is no lesse to regard the remedie here of in Christ that beholding the singular benefit thereof he may more uncessantly desire it and so 3. the truth of Gods promise that hee may be more and more assured that Christ is his and he the Lords that this may comfort and encourage him in all godlinesse 4. There is great difference betweene knowledge and faith for a reprobate may know by the word of God and so beleeve that God hath promised his Sonne to him as well as to others and yet not lay hold on this promise which is true faith which he onely doth who so receiveth Gods promise that thereby he is certainly perswaded that he shall have the thing promised which makes himselfe stay for his salvation hereon and patiently to waite and looke stedfastly for the same 5. The true doctrine of faith is a stranger much more the practise of it that men seeing themselves most cursed wretches yet should be assured that God hath given them his Sonne and in him eternall life for he that hath this assurance cannot but have much comfort even in afflictions and this only is it which will make a man willing to deny himselfe 6. It s a matter very weakely knowne much more weakely practised of most Christians to doe every thing in faith which must needes deprive them of much comfort if they live not securely contenting themselves with opus operatum for remedy hereof this is to bee knowne and laboured for of him that doth any thing in faith 1. That hee know the thing he doth in omitting or committing bee commanded of God and therefore endeavour to please God therein 2. That he know and remember Gods promise made in Christ to such obedience 3. That he give credit to this promise that God for Christs sake will accept his true though weake obedience 4. That hee with this perswasion doe offer up his service to God in the name of Christ How infinitely in all wee all doe faile is lamentable to consider especially that wee doe not the things we doe in faith and therefore no marvell it is though God withhold many sweet cōforts which otherwise we might finde 7. True faith in my judgement is never so quenched that neither the owner nor any other can see any life thereof but there is ever some fruit of the Spirit to be seen if we marke it 8. An holy life cannot make any unbeleever to beleeve neither properly increase faith but onely as fruits prove the tree good and shew in what sort we beleeve so no iniquity ought to hinder any from beleeving but only sheweth who beleeve not 9. Hinderances from faith are these 1. Securitie making no reckoning of it or too small or both either of ignorance neglect or contempt and therefore either never goe about it or too slightly using some meanes not all or not constantly to the end And 2. in such as make reckoning of it either presumption that they have it when they have it not or may and shall have it without such meanes used as without which it cannot be looked for or discouragements 1. That it is impossible for any or for them either so weake that they shall never hold out or so unworthy that God will not give it them 2. That it is over tedious to attaine to will cost too much paines or bring too much trouble by forgoing all delights and gaine or falling into many dangers and persecutions To remedie which 1. we must make chiefe reckoning of it as the pearle for which wee will sell all 2. Consider the difficultie that we suspecting our false hearts and weake strength may use all meanes to attaine it 3. Comfort our hearts by the word of the Lord that it s not only possible but easie even for us in our owne eyes most unworthy through him who is able to performe what he hath spoken and is more willing to grant then wee to seeke as appeares by his inviting us who seeke not after him 10. Faith is well likned to fire whereof if a man have a sparke covered in the ashes if he shall content himselfe therewith not labouring to encrease it in time it will goe out and if not hee shall yet have but small use of it and oft have much to doe to finde it So they who finde some faith in them and therewith content themselves shall soon leese it or be so to seeke of it that they have small use of it in their lives either to comfort them they are the Lords or to guide their lives whereas every one ought to kindle his litle sparke so that he might alwayes have the heate of it and warme others 11. Whosoever armes not himselfe with faith shall live securely or fearefully not comfortably 12. Qu. Whether is this speech I will goe to my father of faith or may it be before faith An. The parable is to bee understood of professors such as the Jewes were who were in profession the children of the covenant and had God for their father and therefore the ungodly among them and us are like the prodigall childe who returnes to his Father 13. It seemeth strange that a man being fully perswaded that God is true in all that he saith should yet not beleeve some things which he knoweth God doth say and so make God a lyar which is yet the sin of all men who know God and his word The cause hereof is not easily seene and therefore so hardly removed indeede if God speake any thing which our judgement cannot object against why it should not be we doe readily beleeve as of al things past and many to come that our bodies shall rise and wee come to judgemēt the wicked be dāned the godly saved but that we being ungodly shall be justified by Christ this is hardly beleeved not only because wee be naturally moved to feare that God for sinne will condemne us but also because wee measure God by man that he will not love such as hate him and doe good to his enemies 14. Our most holy faith is worthily compared to a noble princesse who hath ever harbengers going before to prepare for her and a goodly traine after so faith hath knowledge sorrow feare desire of pardon going before it as all the honourable Ladies of vertue peace of conscience love of God and men for his sake and such others follow after 15. The easiest tryall whether our faith be alive and burning not halfe dead and cold is by the temper of the heart
meanes in such an estate before said deny our pleasures and provoke our selves to humiliation till God reforme us this being indeed a just cause of fasting and generally not to rest in any exercise of religion whereby the heart is not bettered 3. Wee should so esteeme the benefit of preaching the Gospell that wee should redeeme it with our losse travailes griefe as S. Paul 2 Thess 3. 8. and therefore be farre from refusing to preach to those that would but cannot releeve us for want of living 4. That we may be occupied in this high service of the ministerie with the greater delight and so rejoyce therein wee are to remember that its a most high honour to be admitted and used of God as his instruments in saving soules that no worke is more profitable that hereunto the Lord himselfe called us not we intruded our selves that the Lord in some sort blesseth our labours bestowing upon us not a few encouragements therein 5. The externall ministerie must proclaime salvation by Christ to all without exception and compell all but it s the inward operation of the Spirit to draw and incline any one to apply by faith the generall to himselfe 6. They that teach not themselves cannot teach others 7. Where the people heartily desire by prayer the ministery of the word the Lord will send them faithfull ministers and will multiply his graces in them but if the people be carelesse they shall have a minister which for abilitie either cannot or for affection will not deliver the truth unto them 8. Although the Lord hath promised a speciall blessing to the publick ministerie of his word yet we must not tye his wisedome to the ordinarie meanes either of begetting or encreasing our faith but if any shall at any time have more effectuall feelings by private conference let him neither contemne nor neglect the publick ministerie but with all holy and humble thankfulnesse yeelde this soveraignty to the Lord that hee is to dispose his gifts when to whom by whom and where it pleaseth him 9. It is not to be doubted but that God hath pardoned the sinne of rash entrance into the ministerie unmeet through want of gifts when as he blesseth the minister both with able gifts and a pure minde and also giveth a blessing thereby unto his people Therefore though one have no assurance for his first calling yet from hence may he gather that God now accepteth thereof 10. A minister must be like a wise tills-man who having sowen his feede long after lookes for the fruit of his labour 11. Two things especially may warrant both the speakers and the hearers of their doctrine If their calling be good and godly and if the generall course of their doctrine be sound and pure Ier. 16. 17. 12. When there is no vision the people perish those then onely to whom the feete of them which bring glad tidings of salvation bee precious shall be saved others that neglect them neglect salvatiō 13. In bringing men to God first shew them that there is certaine salvation for them if they will then that there is a way thereto which is by the fight of sinne wherein they must bee humbled as low as may be 14. A minister comming in a new place ought first to preach the truth therby to win credit in the consciences of the people then to envey against corruptions which may breede man hurts to himselfe and others 15. In examining a mans conscience a minister is thus to proceede by the law to try whether he hath a knowledge feeling and misliking of his sins or not whether he hath any feare of Gods judgements for sinne or faith in his promises whether by particular applying of these things to himselfe he can shew any effects by prayers Sacraments new birth and repentance 16. It s a greater thing in a Pastor to deale wisely and comfortably with an afflicted soule and soundly and discreetly to meete with an heretick then to preach learnedly 17. It s a fault of our time that too hastie tryall is made of a mans gifts in the ministerie to the great hurt of the Church Mirth Wee must bee merry in the Spirit not in the flesh Mistrust In mistrust its good to set before us Gods wayes upon others in our presumption Gods judgements Mortification It s very profitable to quicken us in mortification to set our olde sinnes often before us and to search the bottome of our corruptions in day sinnes night sins c. that shaming our selves we may be humbled and seeing the height length and depth of sinne wee may the neerer comprehend the same measures of Gods mercies to us in Christ Motions 1. When good motions are stirred up in us it s good as soone as may bee to draw them to practise lest either we forget them or want opportunity to doe them and for helpe of memory to set them down in writing 2. The cause of much weaknesse in minde and body comes not from Satan alwayes but from our selves in wandering after the motions of the flesh A Good Name THese be two effects of godlinesse and notably maintaine one another favour and a good name which bee better then riches as at all times and in all persons may be seen without which all gifts helpe little 2. Wee ought in no case to hurt the good name of our brethren as whereby he is more wronged then by the losse of goods 3. Wee ought to bee most carefull by all good meanes to maintaine our owne good name and therefore learne how it may be gotten and preserved as also if we be discredited what profit to make thereof 4. Seeing a good name ariseth of a good life without this to be well reported of is a fierce punishment of God being a great hardening of the heart in sinne and hinderance from repentance 5. The first step to a good name is to avoide carefully and continually all evill outward and inward and especially wherunto wee bee by nature most inclineable for as one dead flie corrupteth an whole boxe of oyntment so doth some one sinne often crack the credit of a man of good report before Gods children are especially to be carefull herein because of the hatred of the world who will commend their owne though never so prophane if there be but any naturall gift but contrariwise if any of Gods children be never so full of grace if hee have but one infirmitie or bee once overtaken with some sinne the world will count him a wicked man and thereby take occasion to speake evill of their profession As open so secret sinnes and corruptions of the heart doe bring out of favour with God who will soone detect us and make our secret sinnes come to light as he often hath for hee can make his dumbe creatures
offered thee despise not but blesse God for the same accordingly making use thereof to his glory and thine owne good Farewell A. SYMSON THE AVTHOVRS PRAYER AT the writing of this Booke MOst gratious God and loving Father pardon forgive all my sinnes and write those things in my heart by thine holy Spirit which shall be written in this booke that as this booke shall through thy grace helpe my memorie so thy Spirit may sanctifie my meditatious that thorow this grace I may heare to understand understand to be moved in my affections and not for a time but for ever to remember meditate and practise thy word with an holy and humble perseverance thorow thy deare Sonne and our only Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen THe lips of the righteous feed many Prov. 10. 21. Hee that winneth soules is wise Prov. 11. 30. The Preacher was wise hee still taught the people knowledg yea hee gave good heed and sought out and set in order many proverbs Eccles 12. 9. I will meditate also of all thy workes and talke of all thy doings Psal 77. 12. O how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day Psal 119 97. Who so is wise and will observe those thâ—ngs even they shal understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Psal 107. 43. Preach the word bee instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort 2 Tim. 4. 2. THE PRINCIPAL heads of all things contained in this book A. ADmonition Page 1 Affections Page 2 Affliction Page 3 Angels Page 11 Anger Page ibid. Assurance of Gods favour Election and salvation Page 12 Atheisme Page 24 B. Baptisme Page 24 Benefits or blessings Page 26 Birth-day Page 31 Buying and selling Page ibid. C. Calling Page 33 Christ Page 34 Christian Page 36 Christianity Page 36 A Civill life Page 40 Comforts Page ibid. Communion Page 46 The Commnnion of Saints Page 48 Compassion Page ibid. Complaint Page 49 Concupiscence Page ibid. Conference Page 50 Confidence Page 53 Conscience Page 54 Consent Page 57 Contempt of grace Page ibid. Contentation Page 59 Contracts Page 60 Corruption Page 62 Good Counsels Page 63 D. Holy Dayes Page 64 Death Page ibid. Decay in grace Page 68 Delay Page 73 Delight Page ibid. Devils Page ibid. Discerning Page 77 Discipline Page 78 Despaire Page 79 Distrust Page 80 Doctrine Page 82 Doubting Page ibid Dreames Page 99 Dulnesse and deadnesse Page 100 Duty Page 102 E. Earnestnesse Page 102 Ease Page 103 Elect and Reprobate Page ibid. Evills Page 104 Excuse Page ibid. Examples Page 105 Exercise Page ibid. F. Failings Page 106 Faith Page ibid. Falls Page 133 Familiarity Page 135 Fasts Page 136 Feare Page 137 Feasts Page 139 Feeling Page 140 Fellowship with the wicked Page ibid The Flesh Page 141 Flock Page 142 Friends Page 142 G. Gift Page 143 Gods favour Page ibid. Gods goodnesse Page 144 Gods glory Page ibid. Gods mercy Page 147 Gods patience and long-suffering Page 148 Gods providence Page 149 Gods will Page 150 Godly Page 151 Godlinesse Page 153 Gospell Page 158 Grace with the growth therein Page 159 Griefe Page 182 H. The Heart Page 184 Helpe Page 185 Hereticks and Heresies Page ibid. An Holy life Page 187 Hope Page 188 Humiliation Page 189 Humility Page 193 Hypocrisie Page ibid. I. Ignorance Page 193 Indifferent Things Page 196 Infirmities Page 197 Ioy. Page 198 Iudge Page 202 Iudgements Page ibid. K. Knowledge Page 205 L. Law Page 205 Learning Page 206 Love Page ibid. The Lords day Page 210 M. Magistrate Page 211 Man Page ibid. Mariage Page 213 Meanes Page ibid. Meditations Page 214 Memory Page 218 Mercies Page 219 Ministers or preachers Page 220 Mirth Page 230 Mistrust Page ibid. Mortification Page ibid. Motions Page 231 N. A good Name Page 231 Nurcery of the Church Page 240 O. Offences Page 240 P. Parents Page 241 Patience Page 242 Peace and joy Page ibid. To please God Page 246 Poore Page 248 Popery Page 249 Praise and dispraise Page 250 Prayer Page ibid. Pride Page 260 Priviledges of the Saints Page ibid. Profession and professors Page 263 Promises Page 265 Punishment of sinne Page ibid. R Reconciliation Page 267 Regeneration Page 269 The Regenerate and unregenerate Page ibid. Remembrance of good Page 277 Renewing Page 278 Repentance Page ibid. Reports Page 279 Reproofe Page 280 Riches Page 282 S. Sacrament Page 282 Saints Page ibid. Salvation Page 283 Satans courses subtilty and temptations Page 285 The Scriptures Page 295 Selfe-love Page ibid. Sicknesse Page 299 Sinne. Page ibid. Slander Page 304 Sorrow for sinne Page ibid Soule and b 〈…〉 Page 318 Spirituall decay Page 319 Disquiet Sp 〈…〉 rit 320 Godly Strife Page ibid. Students Page ibid. Suffering Page 321 Selfe-Suspition Page 322 T. Table-talke Page 323 Teares Page 323 Temptations Page 324 Thankes Page 328 Thoughts Page 329 Tryall of a mans selfe Page 331 The truth Page 335 Time Page 336 Y. Vertue Page 337 Visions Page 339 W. Warfare Page 340 Watchfulnesse Page ibid. Wishes Page 341 The word of God Page ibid. Worldly mindednesse Page 346 Worldly wisedome Page 347 V. Young children Page 349 Z. Zeale Page 350 TIME WELL SPENT Admonition 1. MAny can stirre up themselves which cannot admonish others much lesse they which admonish not themselves can admonish others 2. Having admonished our brother in meeknesse and not prevailing its good to require him to trie his conscience after his sleepe what peace he hath in refusing our admonition 3. To speake to the consciences of others to rip up secret smnes a man must marke diligently his owne heart whereby hee shall see the secret corruptions of flesh and blood which are in all men Affections 1. An excellent tryall of our affection of anger grief joy c. is by this whether they make us fit to serve God or not 2. It s a notable point of wisedome to make our affections knowne in company as little as may be as did Ioseph and not to be extraordinarie at the table either in joy or sorrow without speciall cause but privately with some godly friend or onely with the Lord to powre out our hearts 3. Every excessive affection bringeth his owne punishment anger griefe love jealousie and the rest as daily experience sheweth Affliction 1. The onely way to moderate and sanctifie our earthly and naturall sorrow which in it selfe is not unlawfull but necessarie as a meanes to make us seeke to the Physitian of our soules is this so oft as we feele the prickes thereof which bee in none continuall but have their fits so oft wee should consider of the end why the Lord hath sent them and so continueth them that so by labouring to make the right use of them not only our mindes may bee withdrawne from vaine discoursing of our losse but also by making some profitable use of them wee may sooner attaine to the end why they were sent which alone
and hard that nothing will please him which hath infirmitie whereas indeed as hee knoweth what wee doe or can doe so hath hee revealed himselfe to bee as readie to bee pleased with the meanest endevours and to forgive and beare with wants as ever parents were Againe if we had not infirmities what need we Christ one main benefit of his being to cover our infirmities so then wee ought to beleeve that God in Christ will forgive and accept us 4. To have a sweet feeling of Gods fatherly love and so to know and be assured our names are written in heaven that wee cannot perish being as Christ teacheth the matter of greatest joy as whereon all other comforts depend and without which there can bee no sound joy no marvaile though so few attain thereunto it being reserved for such of Gods children as be deepest in favour with him the rest but seldome and the hypocrite never soundly but in fancie enjoying the same Though this bee the free gift of God given to whom and so long as pleaseth him yet bee there many lets which keepe men from it and meanes to attaine and keepe it Besides the common contemners even in those that faine would have this assurance and oft mourne for it there be many lets 1. A great part bee ignorant how or whereon to build this assurance the most building their faith on their life which cannot be sound and oft faileth and can never be constant whereas the true building is to build life on faith and faith onely upon Gods mercy and truth revealed in his word not to the righteous and godly but sinners and ungodly thus Seeing the Sonne of God who hath given himselfe to worke mans redemption hath freely offered himselfe to save me a wretched sinner voide of all grace and subject to damnation promising fully to save me if I will come to him and wholly cast my selfe upon him receive him for my Saviour Lord and Husband and giving my selfe wholly body and soule to be his to serve him for ever therefore knowing and beleeving that hee both can and will indeed fully performe his promise and defiring to enjoy the same doe faithfully give and betroth my selfe to him and thereon doe build my assurance that I in him shall obtaine Gods favour and all the fruits thereof for my present cōfort and eternall happiness 2. Another great and common let of this spirituall joy and comfort in the Lord even in those that oft complaine of the want thereof is this that they will not goe to the price of it that is valuing it above all wee can aske or thinke therefore to sell all for it forgoe any thing for it and seeing what will keepe us from it to put it away though as deare as our right eye our gaine credit ease and pleasure and knowing any meanes that will helpe us to it to spare no cost no time no labour but constantly to use all meanes till wee get it and so to keepe it Now seeing this is tedious to our corrupt nature many through meere forgetfulnesse minding other things too much let all this care and travell alone seldome or sleightly minding this matter Others of meere slothfulnesse neglect to take the paines for it whereas without much paines it will not bee gotten and kept and none can bee too much Others too much in love with the world seeing the attaining and keeping of this assurance of God favour will not stand with the use of any unlawfull gaine credit in the world or vaine delight or with the abuse of lawfull therefore the covetous ambitious and voluptuous loath to forgoe any part of their wealth pomp and state of their braverie feastings pastimes and the like can never get or hold this pretious treasure of rejoycing in the Lord. Among those may be reckoned such who not so much choaked with these yet seeing that to hold this confidence will cost them sore trouble and many afflictions of meere fearefulnes and over-tendernesse being loath to suffer any thing are discouraged from seeking it and so content to live without it Others through meere distrust that they shall never attaine or hold it faint and give over In some there hath been some foule and reproachfull sinne which lyeth as a thorne in the flesh that til it be pulled out there is no ease which they loath to see and more loath should bee seene and they should beare the shame of doe so hide and smother that in the end it flameth out to their greater confusion In all the Lord hath his stroke who for these or other most just causes often hideth his loving countenance from his owne children and though he love them will not let them see it lest they should abuse it and to make them set more by it to seeke it earnestly above all when they want it and to keepe it charily when they have it The remedies of all the former diseases be the earnest labour for the contrary vertues more to value this pearle more to minde it to spare no paines in prayer meditation and other good exercises love and desire nothing in comparison hereof to hearten our selves against al discouragements and to be content to suffer any thing for it and to rest on Gods mercy and truth that as he hath given an heart to seeke so wee shall in the end obtaine and therefore to be patient and constant to the end to pull up any stub in our conscience by wise meanes cleering our selves before God and the world as need requires and lastly to consider the many tokens wee have of Gods love though hee seeme to frowne upon us and to hide his face 5. He that most denyeth himselfe and of love yeelds himselfe wholly to God may have most assurance of his effectuall vocation and election 6. Hee that feeleth his heart fully perswaded of his Salvation must examine whether it breede answerable love zeale and care to please God with griefe for offending his Majestie else may it be but presumption Atheisme Atheisme is more to bee feared then Papisme seeing many renounce Popery who yet care not for Christianity Baptisme 1. A Godly man may have his childe baptized of a minister though unreverently handling that holy mysterie that being alone the ministers sinne and which cannot hinder the blessing of Gods ordinance the Apostles being very ignorant baptised 2. The Fathers presence is requisite at the baptizing of the childe to promise for it or if he cannot come to certifie the congregation that hee would have his childe baptized and make that promise by others which present hee ought 3. Baptisme is a seale of the Crosse of Christ 4. The childe of an harlot may bee baptized though not for her sake yet for the forefathers within the same generation Benefits or Blessings 1. In all our mirths and rejoycing wee are to remember
and precisely keepe an holy dyet and direction for our lives these things are most needfull to be thought on 1. How crasie and feeble soules we have how seldome in any good temper how soon distempered how hardly recovered to any good plight all which may be seene by looking backe into our lives and considering how our lives have beene much out of frame seldome a good stomack ever weake unto any good duty and ever some diseases breaking out upon us some sores ever running never long without paine without some deadly palsies benumming our senses ever in feare of death and such like 2. How unpleasant an estate this is and little to be desired is duely to be weighed that hereby wee may be much more quickened to seeke the remdie aforesaid 4. How empty of Gods grace we be and how full of noysome thoughts and lusts how negligent and unprofitable in all heavenly exercises may wee our selves perceive as in like manner our barrennesse in all good workes that few are moved to blesse us and God for us doth appeare unto others as likewise our many and strong corruptions no lesse to be seen in our profession then spots in our face such as our apparant negligence and drowsinesse in all holy duties our overmuch lightnesse and mirth our vaine talke pride covetousnesse frowardnesse hastinesse impatience and such like 5. A principall cause of the little growth of most Christians doe I finde to be this that whereas all the strength of a Christian commeth from his food Christ and this food is received by faith only insuch sort that the morestrongly we beleeve the more wee receive Christ be nourished by him and so on the contrary yet few they be who so much as know how to edifie themselves in their most holy faith more then to heare and pray which are found insufficient as if a man in a ditch should cry for helpe and use no other meanes or pray for meate and seek none and how then can they resume the shield of faith as the Christian Soldier is exhorted yet many take a wrong way which brings little helpe namely to encrease their faith by repentance whereas there is no sound repentance which comes not from faith and therefore rather we must by our faith encrease our repentance which as the fruit shall justifie the tree good The onely right way that I can conceive of to encrease faith is to remember and duely weigh all Gods promises generall and particular that beholding what the God of truth in the word of truth doth say unto us we may give credit unto it and so be assured of receiving whatsoever he hath promised which cannot but singularly comfort a Christian and so encourage him to all cheerefull obedience This being so the chiefe cause I speake of of our little growth in Christianitie is this that of all matters in the Scriptures Gods promises are least remembred and regarded in our private meditations or conferences yea I may say in our publique ministerie whereas these above all other as the nurses of our faith and so of all Christianity are daily to be meditated on and dealt with and for this cause I doe commend it to every true Christian as a singular meanes of bettering his whole course that hee labour by all meanes to have in memory store of Gods promises generall and particular that whatsoever he take in hand to heare read pray conferre fast give almes admonish correct exhort and the like yea also in all his outward and earthly affaires that I say before he set on any of these to lay before him Gods promises that so he may doe all in faith and therefore with comfort of Gods blessing therin the practise whereof what change it will bring let experience shew sure I am it will be great 6. Forasmuch as wee know but in part and beleeve in part and therefore even they who are regenerate must grow up in Christ therefore it is a duty belonging to them also as well as to the unregenerate daily to desire more and more to be partakers of Christ that they may be more cured 7. That which even the best are to strive against be vaine wandrings of the minde about needlesse matters and a sloathfull neglect of good meditations and other private exercises the nourishers of all grace 8. The earnest panting and desire after grace is fitly compared unto the breath of the naturall bodie which is alwayes in him that hath life though weaker at one time then another yea sometimes in a swoune seeming quite gone 9. All graces are like to tender plants whereof many will so goe into the ground that all their life is in the roote which in time will spring out again and others if they be not cherished and have the sunne to shine on them wither 10. We pray oft for many graces but either know not or use not the fit meanes to obtaine and encrease the same as 1. For knowledge to read heare studie and conferre 2. For having God in due remembrance to stirre up our mindes often to think of him in all things 3. To meditate on Gods greatnesse and glory for reverence 4. On his promises for faith 5. On his power and truth for trust and hope 6. On his Wisedome and Righteousnesse for patience 7. On his love to us for love 8. On his glory for zeale 9. On his truth and justice for feare 11. Our growth in grace doth in nothing more shew it selfe then in our continuall care to please God in all things for they that seldomest looke to their wayes how they please God shew they least love God and they be forwardest and may have most rejoycing who most care to please him wherein as many be ignorant how to please God so even of them the fewer have such regard as were meet 12. A great enemy of our growth in grace is a light regard of our disease as in the bodily if wee thinke it small we looke not for helpe but if wee feare it is deadly wee use all meanes for recoverie 13. There can be small joy to any of their life if they gaine not grace yet nothing harder It s so contrary to nature and hath so many hinderances yet there be meanes which well used wee shall surely grow else not but indeed either wee use the meanes too seldome or too slightly a speciall gift of God it is to keepe a constant delight in them 14. It s not enough for the comfort of a Christian that he is perswaded he is new borne but he must see that hee grow up in Christ and be encreased in grace for its a sore token he is not in Christ who growes not but is well contented for they that have tasted how sweet the Lord is cannot but desire more howbeit this is very hard and rarely seen
any righteousnesse of his owne the other that he hath received the grace of Gods spirit to leade an holy life either of which alone can give no sound rejoycing but both must goe together Rom. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Gal. 6. 14. 2. No Christian professor can have any sound comfort of his faith if hee finde no such matter in the remembrance of Christs comming as doth rejoyce his heart and so in some measure stirre up in him a longing after his appearance for howsoever a true faith may bee without some other effects yet this being the very principall of all cannot be wanting the want whereof shewing the want of faith is the cause of that little profiting and so of that little comfort which is to bee found in many whereas if this were more laboured for and so more attained to it would soone cause a great change in any mans profession and hereby indeed the face of our profession would be even almost renewed the alteration would be so great in all respects publick and private 3. There is no well ordered course in Christianitie where godly sorrow and joy be not continuall companions for severed wee runne into some extremitie 4. Whatsoever is the matter of true joy ought to bee a matter of thanksgiving to the Lord. 5. This is much to bee lamented that even among such as make some good profession very few finde that comfort in the Lord as to serve him with delight and so rejoyce in their portion as might draw others to desire the like This comes to passe by our security contenting our selves with our course of living without open reproach and our slothsulnesse loath to straine our selves any further The remedie must be by considering better our state how short wee come and be wanting as in many duties so in many comforts and finde not that full contentment in the Lord for this life and that to come which others do and so leese the sweet and have the sowre of our profession Iudge 1. It s not safe to judge of our selves or others for one action but to waite Gods leasure in revealing the truth 2. For the most part hard judging and false is the fountain of all breaches betweene Christians Iudgements 1. The Lord will spare his judgements in them in whom he seeth a true love of true religion for they that love religion will heare and hearing the word will not lie long in any knowne sinne 2. It s the greatest judgement that can bee to thrive in sinne 3. Let the wicked rebell as they will and think how by their subtilties they may escape Gods threatened judgements for a while yet they shall be pursued from farre and shall tast the heavie hand of God both fearefully and wonderfully as came to passe in Ahad 2 Chron. 18. 33. 4. In denouncing Gods judgements against any we ought to be so affected that we earnestly pray for them that they may bee delivered from them 5. The carefull beholding of Gods judgements on others is very profitable as whereby observing the causes thereof we may warily avoide them lest the like fall on us 6. The not observing of Gods judgements maketh so little either to feare them or love his mercies 7. Who so maketh not conscience to walke uprightly I will not free him from povertie from sicknesse from heresie for as well can and will the Lord punish the minde as the body Knowledge KNowledge must goe before obedience obeeience must follow knowledge apace Law 1. THe Law is often taken for the morall Law of God his precepts for the ceremoniall his judgements or righteousnesse for the sanctions of the Law whether the Lord either accomplish his promises to his children or executeth his wrath on his enemies 2. In these dayes offecurity the preaching of the Law is the neerest way to draw men to Christ out of themselves Learning The greatest Scholars have often most unstable mindes fullest of doubting and least staid in that they know and not able to keepe themselves from foule fallings or being fallen to comfort themselves or others Therefore the greatest Divinity is in teaching or learning the word of God as the word of God comparing spirituall things with spirituall things Love I. All our travaile in Religion to know God to beleeve in him to love and feare him and all our prayers exercises in the word and the like are referred to this to doe all good to our neighbour in our severall callings agreeable to that He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law Rom. 13. 8. and Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is to visit the fatherlesse c. Iames 1. 27. Therefore as we are to bee carefull of all those duties we owe to ourselves so to others good or bad for all zeale in Gods service and profession of our love to God is vaine unlesse it make us carefull for the salvation and bodily preservation of our neighbour 2. There are no stronger meanes to make man and wife or two brethren or sisters living together in peace and love then to joyne together often in prayer and christian conference 3. By musing upon that which often the Scripturesdoe teach us concerning love that it is the fulfilling of the Law and to give all we have to the poore without love is nothing and especially that when our faith and hope shall cease love shall remaine most flourish in the life to come I doe grow to an admiration of the excellencie thereof the sense whereof I most feele when as by some good meanes as some sweet conference my affection is enlarged to any of Gods Saints me thinkes I tast of the happinesse to come then which what more delectable How great therefore is our folly and sinne who provide no better for our selves by encreasing this pleasure 4. The Lord doth often so work that the good affection wee beare to others doth breed the like love in them to us and so the contrary they of whom we thinke hardly have in like manner an heart burning against us 5. Wee must beware that we never further sin but if we love God wee must love them whom God loveth hate them whom God hateth Psal 15. 3. and 139. 21 22. how dare they then in whom are some good things hand over head be friends with Gods enemies Prov. 29. 27. The Lords day 1. Seeing by the appointment of the holy Ghost the Apostles did change the Jewish Sabbath on the seaventh day unto the next day for the memoriall of the Resurrection therefore wee are bound especially on that day to keepe a memoriall of Christs resurrection with thankes unto God for the same 2. There be two things specially needfull to bee much every Lords day in our mindes to uphold us in a conscionable sanctification thereof 1. The gaine to
and be worthy commendation who yet in free giving are very backward who therby may see their love to the world others be frank enough in giving and hard in buying and selling too much seeking themselves who may besides their covetousness suspect their hearts bee false and moved to give for some finister respect as privie pride to be wel spoken of or secret merit to please God thereby or that their conscience could not else bee quiet but feare Gods displeasure whereas the true root of this grace ought to be faith in Christ love to his needie members for which cause only freely to relieve is in none but Gods deare children Againe some are not so scraping in getting as pine at their losses and are miserable in spending others prodigall be extreame in getting by hook or crook so that this love of the world shewes it selfe in many things Visions There may bee visions now but extraordinarie which must have no credit without the word for Satan will twice or thrice shew the truth that thereby in weightier matters he may seduce Warfare HE that feels not his life a battle and so feares his adversarie and is grieved with the wounds of sinne can have small comfort in Christianitie Watchfulnesse 1. Watchfulnesse is a looking to our selves for our soules health oft required standing in avoiding all hurtfull things and procuring all good 2. As security sets open to all danger whereby many fall as appeareth by the examples of David Solomon and Peter so through watchfulnesse are many upholden 3. Watchfulnesse is either generall which must be in every action or speciall at set times and upon speciall occasions Wishes Wee must bee carefull of our wishes lest the Lord grant them when we would not have them as often falleth out The word of God 1. It is ever best to note the generall vertue of the word and not to use exceptions but upon particular and constraining necessitie 2. The cause why wee profit not in the word is because wee pray not to have our hearts striken therewith 3. Who so heares the word carelesly no marvell though he have no delight therein 4. The word of God of it selfe doth only as a light reveale Gods will and cannot work on the heart but that is onely the work of the Spirit who by the word lighteneth humbleth feareth comforteth perswadeth 5. This sore evill have I observed among many diligent hearers of whom is to bee well hoped for some worke of grace in them as a chiefe cause why they heare much with little profit and therfore no growth can be seene in them yea rather a decaying namely that they content themselves with such a marking of that which is delivered as that they can in any measure report what they heard and approve thereof which as its necessary so its insufficient and can little edifie the soule in sound godlinesse and therfore ought not to pacifie the conscience whereas that onely hearing can soundly edifie and ought to pacifie when as our hearts be delighted in the knowledge revealed or confirmed and our consciences pricked with the sense of those sins whichbe rebuked in such sort that we can at our most convenient time turne aside and bewaile them and labour by prayer with the Lord for forgivenesse and power unto amendment or otherwise bee drawne by hearing of our duties to deâ—â—re and purpose to performe them and so make new covenants with the Lord hereof wherein this care is so much the more necessarie for that this fruitfull hearing is the principall nurse of all Christianitie Besides this there is another great danger in that wee so soon let slip our hold forget or neglect our purposes and so soone waxe weary in good courses But it s to be hoped that they who have in truth purposed and begunne well shall be recovered from their falls and quickened afresh by new instructions which especially doth commend the necessity of continuall hearing or living under an ordinary ministerie 6. As nothing more concernes our bodily life then food so for our spirituall life the word 7. Our chiefe default in hearing is that wee are not so affected with sorrow or comfort as that we be perswaded to leave the sinne and doe the duty spoken of 8. Touching the hearing of the word on the weeke dayes this may be resolved that if our work be such as cannot at another time be done or bee for the present well omitted its lawfull for us to stay therefrom A tryall whereof may bee had in this if a man of honour or great credit with us should require us at such times to come to him whether wee would deny him or not if we would not deny him how can we with good conscience deny the Lord our presence in the congregation Worldly-mindednesse It s a matter much to be lamented that among so many Professors we see so exceeding few scarce one of a thousand who hath apparantly overcome the world by his faith setting light by these things below the heavenly having wholly his heart Though it bee our desire to have our hearts withdrawne herefrom yet so weakly doe we labour the same that with shame we may bewaile our want Worldly-wisedome It s the shame of our holy profession that the children of the world are in their kinde wiser than the children of light The wisedome of worldlings for this world is admirable how deepe a reach have they to see into their matters how quick to spy out all advantages to forecast all doubts to prevent all that may crosse them and to follow all opportunities to attain their desires and to make all sure O but how retchlesse and babish be most Christians for grace and happinesse Some securely defer all to God taking no thought what shal become of them others content themselves with bare shewes to have a name of Christianitie others with smal beginnings as though every little were enough most deceive themselves with foolish conceit their care is better then it is few or none match the worldling in prying into the privy commoditie of Christianitie and so valuing it aright in deep reach to compasse these in forecasting all doubts and preventing all impediments taking and pursuing all occasions sparing no cost time paines of attaining and never give over till we be sure and then with all watch and ward to hold fast that wee have gotten and daily to encrease the same Young children YOung children may be taught things concerning God Zeale 1. SEeing the most zealous in time doe coole it s a most necessary prayer that God would keep us in our age from the sinnes of the time we live in 2. We are to take heed that the love of mens persons slack not our zeale in rebuking sin in them and that our zeale against sin slack not our love to the person 3. It s a godly