vertues to rule the heart and affections Secondly vertues regulating a mans words and actions Wee must seeke how to governe these in a way of duty and vertue But then againe for our severall conditions I shall name two more which will comprehend all that I desire First vertues to regulate every age and sex the particulars are men and women young and old every sex and age Secondly vertues for the ordering of every state and condition rich or poore learned or unlearned and in proportion to order us in every severall state and condition in affliction and prosperitie And these are the second branch of the first of those specials that are recommended two speciall vertues required in respect of our severall conditions as there were two before in respect of our severall parts But now in regard of our severall states and relations in which men are there be foure more The first two of which are to order us in a more private way The second two to regulate us in a more publique way As wee are single persons living in a solitary life there are morall ethicall vertues which must order our conversation suitable to the rule of dutie And then as we are publique persons in a family these are oeconomicall vertues to order families in the particular relations thereof husband wife parents children masters servants guests and hoasts There be ethicall vertues and oeconomicall vertues for the ordering of a more private way And when we come more publique to bee parts of a greater community there must bee vertues for that Now there may bee a double community which we may live in and in which we should have vertues to carry our selves as we ought to doe in such places There is a community Ecclesiasticall a Church society and body And there is a community Politicall and Civill and there are suitable vertues required to carry our selves as members of these bodies either Ecclesiasticall or Politicall There remaines now only the second branch of things to be done and practised viz. the helpes We have gone through the duties generall and particular I shall in a word recommend in the last place those things that I comprehended under the name of helps to the performance of duty And they are either More generall and publique or More particular and private The more publique helpes are the due and conscientious use of the ordinances of God appointed as First hearing of the word And second receiving of the sacrament And the due observation of times instituted by God and constituted by him First the observation of the Lords day in its continuall course Secondly of Fasts in a Christian way These are the more publique helpes and yet there may be some relation to privatenesse in these But now more privately as a mans face is towards God or As a mans face is towards the world there are helpes for those duties As we must labour to converse with God or as we must converse with men which way soever we turne our faces there may be and are helps for the ordering of our life in both Now the helpe in private in regard of a mans converse with God are First diligent reading and meditation upon the Word of God and divine truths Secondly another part of our communion with God is the continuall exercise of prayer and thanksgiving Then as wee stand in relation towards the world and are conversant in the world there be two other helpes First the conscientious use and improvement of the communion of Saints Second our fidelity and conscientious cariage in our particular vocations where there will be many other things But in all those the maine will be how all these may be done that they may be most usefull in the advancing of a most christian course in the use of the Word and Sacrament and Sabbaths and fastings and reading and meditation and prayer and thanksgiving and the communion of Saints and the conscientiousnesse in a mans vocation I say how wee may doe all these so as they may be most usefull to further us in the way of duty These are the more generall helps There are some more particular according to the particular cases of men I will propound but foure maine cases to which I will reduce all the rest First some things to helpe a man in the ingresse into the way of Religion I am faine to make a word or two for memories sake Secondly in the aggresse Thirdly in the congresse Fourthly in the progresse You shall see more plainly what I meane by and by There be helpes to bring a man that is not yet in a way of godlinesse to come into it Wherein the principall thing will be the due examination of what is the right way and a mans owne estate whether he be in that way or no and that being made cleare we must consider the helps that will put a man on to resolve on the entry into that way and to use the helpes that may set him upon it to enter it which is the ingresse or entrance Secondly in the aggresse or setting upon a Christian course there will come in helpes and directions how to lead a holy life and dye a holy death how to order a mans time and mannage his dayes and houres in Christian and holy courses so that he may both in life and death carry himselfe as becomes a Christian and be in such a state as a Christian may be that is for the aggresse or setting upon the worke Then thirdly in the congresse wherein is to be treated of our spirituall warfare helps to direct us to carry our selves in time of distresse of conscience and in matter of Satans temptations which every Christian more or lesse will have and meet withall Lastly in the progresse helpe for perseverance how to hold out in daily proficiency and perpetuall perseverance to the end These are all the heads whereof There are foure in the porch and frontispice and foure times twelve in the pile and edifice the rest of the building Twelve generals concerning things to bee knowne and beleeved of God and man in generall And twelve concerning God and man in particular according to their particular states And twelve for matters of life duties to be performed And twelve helps that are to be used to help us in the performance of those duties And thus you have the whole building and according to the words of our text an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or a forme of sound and wholsome words FINIS SER. I. Doctrine The Object Generally propounded Words Sound and wholsome Words For the Substance of matter Soundnesse of Vse Soundnesse of manner A form of sound words The matter intirely collected Method aptly digested The speciall circumscription of the Object Divine truths Fundamentall truths The summe of them is Christ The parts are faith and love Summe of all is Christ Parts are Faith apprehensive Love active SERM. II. Act Have them The copy of them Written Printed The originall laid up in the Understanding Memory Affection Keepe them Patronize thē with Best abilities couragiously Authority cautiously Practise them sincerely fruitfully and constantly Propagate them seriously by planting watering Manner as A sacred Depositum A choice treasure The Persons Paul Timothy Every Christian Proofe By Scripture Examples Testimonies Reason Necessity Utility A Band of Verity Vnity Vnanimity Heresie To crontroversies A key of understanding A locke of memory A helpe of use to Profit by others To be profitable to others Application Generall Iustification of observers of this rule Persons whether Paul Timothy or the Church Manner whetherby Publik Creeds Confessions Private writings for Vnlearned in Catechismes Learned in a Body of Divinity Reprehension of Perfidiousnesse Negligence Folly Exhortation to The Church To take care For learners Children Youngmen Fathers Caution Let it be Choyce Close Charitable Changeable Ministers to Expound Expectation Dogmaticall Historicall truths Private Christians Force to duty Fear no difficulty SER. III Premise Generalls Nothing Perfect For matter Or Method But in away Prudentially Any forme is Tolerable though Indifferent this is Different Comprehensive Not pleasant Frontispice Happinesse True Religion True Church Scriptures Edifice Things to be knowne and beleeved Concerning God His nature Unity of essence Trinity of persons Works of God Kindes and species of them Creation Providence Objects of them Reasonable creature Angels Good Bad. Man Immortality of soule Conscience Things fundamentally premised Covenant Seales of them Law Sanctions Things formally considered Principles of human actions Grace of God· Our free will The fruits that grow from these Good workes Sins or evill workes Things particularly to be knowne concerning God and man In regard of the different states of men Substantially different State of innocency Of the fall Circumstantially different State of grace Under the old Testament Under the new Severall acts of God Perfecting our salvation From the state of sin to grace by acts Fundamentall by purpose Predestination Reprobation Redemption By purchase Formall Vocation effectuall Iustification actuall From grace to glory Incoate Sanctification priviledges Gubernation exercises Consummate Resurrection Iudgement Glorification Condemnation Life to be done and practised Duties to be performed by the strength of grace Generall Primary and predominant in duties to God and man Vertues Theologicall Philadelphicall Secondary and concomitant vertues Cardinall Circumstantiall Speciall Regulating our lives in the Parts Heart Affections Words Actions Conditions in respect of Sex Age Estate Condition States and relations More private In a single and solitary life Vertuess Ethicall More publique in a family Oeconomicall In a greater community Ecclesiasticall Politicall Helps to be used in Universall conversation Publique meanes Hearing the word Receiving the Sacrament Times Sabbath Fasting Private towards God Contemplative Reading Meditation Prayer Thanksgiving Towards man Active Communion of Saints Particular vocation Particular condition In the ingresse Examination Resolution Aggresse Holy life Death Congresse Spirituall warfare Progresse Perseverance
word Prophets he saith Let him that prophesieth prophesie according to the analogy of faith {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I know there may bee some disputes what may be the true and exact meaning of the analogy of faith For present I take that which is not contemptible nor from a contemptible author viz. Calvins interpretation which is that by faith is meant there the prime and fundamentall axioms of faith the fundamentall truths of Religion and all doctrines that are delivered in the Church must hold analogy hold proportion with those prime and fundamentall truths which are the forme of sound and wholsome words by which al other must be regulated and squared that they may hold analogy and proportion with that And in this same Epistle the next Chap. 2.15 he saith Study to approve thy selfe to God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth now this seems rather directly to ayme at or at least directly to suppose that there should bee a forme of sound or wholsome words in the delivery of which a man should approve himselfe so as that he needs not to be ashamed and according to the analogy of which he should divide the word of God aright holding proportion with it though I confesse there may be another interpretation though it seeme not so sutable to that place as to be able to speake a word properly to every one as it may concerne him to the weake to strengthen them to the strong to build them up farther and farther to the tempted to arme them so some would have the meaning of it to be but this seemes not to me to be the right for the dividing of the word of truth aright seemes rather to intimate a dispensing of it in such truths and soundnes as may agree with the forme of sound and wholsome words And in the 1 Pet. 3.15 the Apostle there requires not only of Ministers that they should have a forme of sound and wholsome words and that they should be able to deliver themselves in that fashion but hee seemeth to require there so much of people of Christians by that precept that he doth injoyne them there that they might be able or ready to give an account or reason of their hope that is in them that is to be able to apologize for it and to stand up in the defence and maintenance of it Now if a man be not well grounded in a forme of sound and wholsome words if hee understand them not remember them not nor be versed in them he will never bee able to give a reason an account of his faith and hope much lesse will he be able to maintaine and defend it against the hereticall and superstitious cavils and objections that will be raised against it which every Christian is bound in some degree to ayme to get an ability of and indeed it will be the foundation of his stedfast standing for no man can be stedfast in that which he knowes not nor feeles the bottome of Therefore we should bee versed in the grounds of Religion in a forme of sound and wholsome words that containes the principles of faith and that we may be able to know what is our duty And there is something to the same purpose in the Rom. 6.17 Ye have obeyed from the heart the forme of doctrine which was delivered to you But I shall omit that for the present and I shall give the ground of this 2. The ground and reason of it that which makes this appear to be a truth and a considerable truth that we should all labour to get and hold fast a form of sound and wholsome words even the sum of religion is because 1. There is a great necessity of it 1. Not only in regard of the Commission and injunction that lieth upon us the trust that God hath committed to us as I did intimate before we are but depositors and God hath committed this to our care and charge charged us with it and expects our faithfull discharge in it not only because of this I say but 2. In regard of the manifold oppositions and danger of corruptions of divine truths by the subtilty of Sathan and his instruments and their malice If Christians and the Church of God did not throughly acquaint themselves with it and bottome themselves on it they could never be able to justifie the wayes of God and the truth of God nor to vindicat that from the many subtill windings which the Serpent will use to corrupt and pervert the truth I purpose not largely to expatiat but only to give a hint of things and therefore I shall but adde a second 2. It is of great utility as there is a great necessity of it if we would not have the truth overwhelmed nor errors to be spread over and overgrowne in the face of the Church So there is an infinite benefit and advantage and utility that redounds to the Church of God by this course of having both in general in particular by every Christian of a form of sound and wholsome words there is I say an infinite benefit and utility besides the necessity of it that would redound to the Church of God in generall and to every Christian in particular by this Let me name but some few and but name them 1. Those truths the main truths of Religion being preserved pure and sound and uncorrupted will be a great band of Verity Vnity and Vnanimity 1. Of verity it will be a band to hold together all the truths of God if the main ones be kept if the fundamentall principle be purely kept it will be a band to hold and soder together all the other truths and to rectifie them if there should be any swerving And as a great band of verity so it will be a band of unity in the Church of God and unanimity For herein lyeth the unity of the Church of God not that every man agree in every particular opinion concerning every particular thing but if they do agree in the main foundation of Religion in those things which are sufficient to salvation and such are sound and wholsome words such as that all that are to be saved are to be saved by beleeving and practising of them If they be retained though there be other differences yet this will be a band of unity to make them close and soder together 2. But then secondly as this will be a band so it will be a bar too A barre against Heresie and Controversie It would be a bar against heresie This will be as it were a bar of fortification to keep out the entry and incroaching and prevailing of heresie If we stand upon our guard and upon good ground in the maintenance and defence of the maine truths there will be no breach for heresies to enter in then it will much keepe them off But the neglect of our watch
Church fruitfull to you beneficial to any I shall rejoyce my prayers shal be for their successe and for your happinesse Yours in the service of your Faith A. B To the Christian Reader CHRISTIAN READER ACcept I pray thee from the hands of one of the meanest of the sons of the Prophets this insuing Treatise I know it might have been tendered unto thee by the hands of some more eminently learned and better known in the Church on whose judgment thou mightest more safely have reposed thy self yet well knowing the worth of it to be such as that it will discover it self I rather choose to let my meannesse appear than not to perform the debt I owe to the memory of the Reverend Author I am not ignorant that this undertaking of mine together with the Sermons themselves will be exposed to many censures some there are whom no Sermon pleaseth longer than it is in hearing or otherwise than it is extant in their own broken notes but these forget that respect should he had unto the publike good there are many precious labours of godly men that are not fit to vanish into the air or to be buried in obscurity Others take offence at the imperfection of them because not left written by the Author but onely taken from his mouth I confesse if the Author had published them himself they would have come forth more refined and better digested than now they do yet the good they may thus do prevails more for the sending of them forth than some imperfections that usually accompany the taking of other mens Sermons may do to suppresse them If my judgmâ—nt fail me not there is so much compleatnesse in them as that though the Author might have uttered Plura more in lines yet be could not have said Plus more in substance and effect to any point that he hath handled Others will except against them and accuse them as Lucilius did the writings of Fabianus Papyrius because they are so plain to such I shall in the behalf of the Author borrow that Apologie that Seneca made for him Mores ego non verba composui animis praedicavi non auribus Epist. 100. They are indeed so plain as that the simple may understand them and yet not so unpolished as that the friendly and judiciously curious may scorn them what is here presented to thee is expressed in the Authors own words without adding to them or detracting from them as well as it could be taken from his mouth it is published by and compared with the exactest copies that could be gotten The methodicall Analysis prefixed before the Sermons was left under the Authors own hand as it is here tendred unto thee though he did for the most part write all in Latine yet this Analysis was left in English which you have inserted in the Margent answerable to the severall particulars treated on Let not any prejudice forestall thee I shall onely say unto thee as Philip to Nathaniel Come and see reade and consider and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Thine in the service of the LORD A. B. The ANALYSIS Of the Chapter and of the Observations as it was made by the Author and left under his own hand for the help of memory 2 TIMOTHY 1.13 1. Analysis 1 Generall 1 Of the Epistle 1 Circumstances of 1 Persons written 1 To Timothy 2 By Paul 2 Time 1 During bands 2 Before dissolution 2 Substantiall scope 2 Of the Chapter 1 Entrance 1 Salutation vers. 2. 2 Introduction contains his love 1 Great proved by 1 Prayer for him 1 Night and day 2 Without ceasing 3 With thanksgiving 2 Desire to see him 4. 2 Grounded approved from his 1 Tender love to Paul tears 4. 2 True faith to God 5. 1 Lineall 2 Cordiall 3 Growing improved to impart by writing 1 Scope Sum 6. Stir up grace 2 Reason 7. Given for courage 2 Continuation where a double 1. Admonition Be thou not 1 Negative 8. pressed from 1 Nature of Gospel 9 10 1 Ashamed of 1 Testimony 2 Mee 2 Afraid 2 Condition of Paul his 1 Cause of suffering 11 12. 2 Confidence 12. 2 Affirmative 1 Hold 13. 2 Keep 14. 2 Provocation from example of 1 Inconstant Deserters 15. 2 Constant Adhaerers propounded with Prayer Praises 1 First 1 Prays mercie to houshold 16. 2 Praises 1 Charity 2 Constancie 3 Zeal 16 17. 2 Second 18. 2 Speciall 1 Prays mercie to soul 2 Praises ancient kindnesse 2 Observation It is a matter of great consequence for all to have and keep a form of sound and wholsome words in the grounds of Religion as a sacred depositum and rich treasure 1 Explication 1 Proposition 1 Object in 1 Generall 1 Words 2 Wholsome for 1 Substance of matter 1 Truth 2 Use â— Form of words 3 Form 1 Matter intirely collected 2 Method aptly digested 2 Speciall 1 Divine 2 Fundamentall 1 Summe Christ 2 Parts 1 Faith apprehensive 2 Love active 2 Act 1 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} have them 1 Written 2 Printed 1 Copy of them 2 Originall laid up in treasure of 1 Memory 2 Understanding 3 Affection 2 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} keep them 1 Patronize with 1 Ability Cautiously 2 Authority Couragiously 2 Practise sincerely 1 Fruitfully 2 Constantly 3 Propagate seriously by 1 Planting 2 Watering 3 Manner as a 1 Sacred depositum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Choice treasure {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 4 Persons 1 Paul 2 Timothy 3 Christian 2 Proof 1 Scripture 1 Examples 1 All the Epistles 2 Hebrews 6.1 2 Testimonies 2 Reason 1 Necessity 1 Rom. 12.6 2 Tim. 2.15 3 1 Pet. 3.15 4 Rom. 6.17 2 Utility 1 Band of Unity Verity 2 Bar against Heresie Controversies 3 Key of Understanding 4 Lock of Memory 5 Help of Use to 1 Profit by others 2 Profit others 2 Application 1 Generall 1 Justification of observers of this Rule 1 Persons with other 2 Manner wherefore by 1 Paul 2 Timothy 3 Church 1 Publick 1 Creeds 2 Confessions 2 Private writings for 1 Unlearned catechists 2 Learned bodies 3 Reason 1 Fidelity 2 Zeal 3 Wisdom 2 Reprehension of the 1 Perfidiousnesse 2 Negligence 3 Folly 3 Exhortation to 1 Church 1 Care provide for 2 Caution let it be 1 Learners 1 Children 2 Yongmen 3 Fathers 2 Teachers 1 Choice 2 Close 3 Charitable 4 Changeable 2 Ministers 1 Expound 1 Historicall Truths 2 Dogmaticall Truths 2 Expatiate 3 Christians 1 Force to duty 2 Fear not difficulty 2 Particular 1 Generals 1 Promise nothing 1 Perfect for both 1 Matter 1 Prudentiall 2 Tolerable 3 Indifferent 4 Different 5 Comprehensive 2 Method but in a way 2 Pleasant 3 Particular of Divinity 1 Too Scholasticall 2 Comprehended already 2 Desire of 1 God 2 You. 2 Specials 1 Instruction 4 Truths 2 Errors 3 Doctr 2 Expedition 1 Whole work 2 A point a day An exact Systeme of Divinity PRESENTING 1 A Porch or Frontispice premising
thing as I conceive Now there be two things most principall to make the matter of words that are delivered wholsome and sound 1. The soundnesse of truths of holy truths 2. The soundnesse of use and profitablenesse And they are here chiefly recommended to Ministers and in due place to all to have a speciall care of having preserving and keeping very charily such sound words and truths as that 1. There may be no words no Doctrines no principles delivered in the Church of God but such as may be full of certain and holy and pious truths such as are agreeable with truth according to the word of God according to the analogy of faith that is the first the soundnesse of truth 2. But the other kinde of soundnesse or a second branch of it may be a soundnesse of use that their words may be such as are fit for edification There may be many things true but there may be so little substantialnesse so little solidity so little materialnesse for any use so frivolous and so low that there may be no great advantage or benefit which can come to the Church by hearing or receiving them therefore the Apostle includes this that as there should be a care that nothing but the sound and wholsome truth of God should be delivered so that it might be such solid and substantiall truth as may be very conducible for the building up and edifying of the Church of God not frivolous and vain and curious disputes and questions which rather make men swell and puff up and rather make contention and jangling but such as are solid and substantiall necessary and profitable truths for edification that is another branch 2. But then besides the soundnesse of the matter there is the soundnesse of the manner or form of words in which these things are delivered they must not be delivered in an affected language in a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as the Apostle oftentimes in the Epistle expresseth not in a vain tinkling sound of words tickling the ear to please mens fancies and to draw mens carnall delight in the hearing of the words that are delivered but grave and sober expressions such as may be subservient to the matter to conveigh substantial truths in an edifying and profitable way it must be such a form of words and indeed there may be a great failing and a man may be to seek a language if he will affect a curious and neat contrivance of words and having found it it will be far from the gravity of the businesse And truly if we were as we should be rightly affected when we come to the house of God and have to deal with divine things we would not look after the dresse of words and the tyre of words which is the poorest and the meanest that can be and scarce worthy to be looked after unlesse it may be in a wholsome way to conveigh wholsome words It is a base and poor thing to come in publike places to gape and pry into this womans dresse and the other womans toy this fashion and t'other fashion and more basely sordid in the house of God and it is as base in the kinde of it for a man to come to Gods house where he comes to seek food for his soul and to hear the oracles of God that God should not be able to please him unlesse he speak tinkling and tickling words to fancie and humour him Is it meet for God or doth it become the majesty of God to speak in such a language as is not befitting him Majesticall language noble language sublime language is the proper language of GOD to conveigh divine things It may suit well with a Courtier to affect some scrapings of language but not with a King for as they use to observe there is a difference between a pedantick stile and a majestick stile a boy that hath but his Academicall learning he may in his orations affect and it may be more tollerable for him to affect pen and Inkhorn language and as they term it to affect a flourishing sound of words but for a Prince it is besides his decorum I say for a Prince on his Throne of Majesty to speak curiously it becomes not the majesty of the place and much lesse doth it become the majesty of Gods ordinances that there should be any thing so curiously in the dresse of words as to draw mens eyes and ears so that they do not minde the things but the words and are carried away with petty phrases but I must not be large There is another thing words and sound and wholsome words of truth and profitablenesse and wholsome for the manner of delivery in a grave and sober manner such as becomes the oracles of God 3. But what is that same {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that same form of sound words this one thing that the Apostle intimates I shall afterward when I come to the Application expresse more particularly of it but for the present I shall comprehend all in these two things which I conceive are enough A form of sound and wholsome words I conceive the Apostle means the matter intirely collected a collection of the principles of Religion and the principles of Divinity a sufficient and intire collection and drawing together and imbodying as it were of the necessary principles of Religion which every Minister should have a care to conveigh to the people and every people care to treasure up In the matter I say an intire and sufficient collection I know there be many degrees of it but I shall touch that afterward for the present I expresse it onely in the generall a sufficient intire collection of the main truths and principles of Religion to take care to conveigh them very solicitously to the hearing of the people 2. But then again though this be the main in my apprehension that the Apostle here intends yet I will not exclude another thing too which seems to be included viz. Method aptly digested Some care must be of the method as well as of the matter that there might be a sufficient collection of all fundamentall principles that it might be digested as well as collected in some usefull method the word it self {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} according to the genuine signification of it seems to aim at this for it is no more but a generall delineation or draught and the truth is it is impossible that where there is a multitude but that multitude must be regulated by some order if multitudes of principles be delivered without an order it is without its beauty and it will be a great prejudice and hindrance both to the understanding and attention of them and to the memory and retention of them and therefore I suppose this is here likewise comprehended the words seem to import it however I say not that the Apostle fully intends this because it is but accidentall yet I do
is committed to the Church of God than those divine truths that God hath been pleased to reveal and commit unto us they are such as the glory of God depends on them and the salvation of a man depends on them two of the most important things the Church nay that the World hath and therefore we should keep them as we have respect to the glory of God or as we tender our own salvation which is more than our lives I I say Gods glory and our salvation which is much more than our lives is committed to our trust when those Divine truths are deposited with us 4. The Persons that are obliged that is the last thing to be explained whom this injunction concernes Here is but one directly expressed and that is Timothy but yet we may extend it and that with good analogy and upon good ground and reason further as 1. Paul he must have a care of it of keeping of it himself and committing it to the care of others and stirring up and provoking others It concernes Paul they that are highest and most principall in the Church it concernes them principally and originally that they should have a care of them they should be the the first wheels the primum mobile that set all the others on work and have a grand care of keeping this depositum 2. All Timothies all the ministers of Gods Word who are Gods {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} his dispencers his stewards and whom God hath reposed speciall trust in It is committed to their care in an especiall manner and they should looke to it 3. The whole Church of God and every Christian as this is a depositum though committed personally to some yet not meerly for their personall good but for a publique and an universall good Divine truths and the integrity and purity and soundnesse of them is a thing that concernes not only though chiefly the Ministers but it concernes the whole Church of God and all Gods people that they should be preserved without violation without contamination being given for a publique good and the publique good of all and every one in particular depending on it so that it concerns all and every one in their places Thus of the explication 2. The Proofe I shall come now briefly so farre as the point will extend and the thing bee requisite and convenient to demonstrate and prove the truth of it and then to descend to the application as farre as will concerne my present scope First of all premising this that I shall not endeavour no not so much as meddle with the proofe of every particular or presse the confirmation of every particular contained in the explication as being not so requisite but to carry the maine summe of the point We see this to be a cleere and a divine truth that it is the duty of all especially Ministers whom God hath especially intrusted to look to the preservation of the purity of a forme of sound doctrine of sound and wholsome words we may see it I say 1. By Scripture and 2. By ground of reason 1. Out of Scripture besides this place wherein it is punctually and fully expressed and no wonder because the injunction belongs in a more especial manner unto Ministers and there being not in many places this charge committed and particularly directed to them but in this Epistle of Paul to Timothy wherein it is principally set downe but yet it is divers times repeated in Scripture And I shall give some other places which warrant the same thing 1. The Apostles recommend this to us by their owne example I will give but one generall instance in that kinde and one particular The generall instance of the duty is this you shall finde that almost every Epistle of Paul and in some proportion it is observable in all the rest of the Epistles I say almost in every Epistle there is an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} i. e. there is a delineating a drawing of a platforme of wholsome words according to the substance that is here mentioned and according to this object faith and love For all matters of religion are matters of faith or matters of love in the practice and exercise of faith and this is commended to us in all the Epistles the former part and the greater part of all the Epistles is to deliver matters of faith to rectifie mens judgements and season them rightly with the knowledge of divine truths necessary to salvation and the latter part of the Epistles is to descend to practicall duties to the fruits of faith in the matters of love which is the compasse of all Christian duty And amongst others that first Epistle of all is to this purpose which was not placed first for order of time because first written nor so much for the order of dignity because the Romanes were the principall people in the world it is not therefore I say placed first of all the Epistles but because it containes this more fully and expresseth a form of sound and wholsome words there doctrines of faith and duties of life that issue and flow from faith as fruits of it are more cleerly distinguished and more fully expressed than in any other although it is in some sort in all Now besides this generall instance I shall give but one particular instance and that is in Hebr. 6.1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the beginning or principles of the doctrine of Christ let us be led forward to perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance unto dead workes and of faith towards God There is expressed both what the principles are and what that same forme of sound or wholsome words is the doctrine of Baptisme as in the next verse laying on of hands resurrection from the dead There are some few heads repeated which are as milke for babes the forme of sound words which are at least for beginners in the first beginnings and rudiments of Christianity and those that are the first points in religion The Apostle gives for babes a form of catechising a forme of sound and wholsome words And there is intimated in that place that as there is a shorter and briefer forme of sound and wholsome words for a manuduction or entrance to beginners so there must bee a larger fuller forme and more compleat that did extend farther and comprehend more in the knowledge of Religion and the things that belong to it for those that are come to more perfection and ripenesse of yeares 2. But besides these examples there be divers testimonies which seeme to ayme at the same thing I will mention two or three In Rom. 12.6 the Apostle there begins to direct every one for the discharge of their duties in their severall places in the Church according to the right manner and among the rest the rule that is given for those that are Ministers called there in a generall sense of the
second place to passe from our humble exhortation to the Church for Ministers this might bee an exhortation to them that as they should take care of all other parts of Divinity so they should take care of this to ground themselves in and withall communicate to others a forme of sound and wholesome Words not words only but wholesome words and a form of wholesome words to load the people through the maine things not one but all to deliver the whole truth of God as the Apostle speakes though in somewhat a different sence Time hath prevented me in a word therefore there be three wayes of ministeriall exercise as I humbly conceive which might be most advantagious and usefull if they were used 1. The first thing that I would have done which might be exceedingly usefull though not so well regarded is a course of the meere and bare Exposition of Scripture to goe through a whole Chapter or some part of it and so to explicate it and deliver the full summe It would bee wonderfull profitable and necessary to acquaint the people with the whole Chapter and the maine scope and principall things that are in it and goe no further not to descend into every particular in it onely by this interpretation to make the people acquainted with the Scripture This indeed is the lowest degree 2. And then there is another thing which I would have them to doe to take another course like that of ours viz. preaching upon severall texts and severall points but yet so as these severall points might hold connexion to be made up in a body of Divinity for the comprehension of all things necessary to be knowne which we now intend and that is another way 3. But then there comes in a third thing as the first should comprehend the explanation of the Scriptures and the second should be for all the doctrinals so if there were a third thing added which is a course to comprehend all the exemplary historicall parts of the Scripture part by part treating in them not of every particular part of the Text but of the most remarkable examples in them As how God hath governed and preserved by his providence the Church in all ages from the very beginning of the world till the flood and from that till the promulgation of the Law and from that till the building of the Temple and so till the Nativity of Christ and so carrying all along this would be an admirable thing to strengthen religion by seeing how God in all ages hath managed his Church how he hath gone along with it and supported his truth and shewed his goodnes and mercy in a sweet and gracious way and so in all the Scripture to marke out all the singular passages and examples of Gods providence These would be best altogether although every one of them be good in particular 3. To all private Christians this may force them to their duty the exhortation that I should presse on them should bee in a word that 1. They would not thinke this to be a thing out of their spheare and walke and therefore that they would labour and aime not onely to have some scramblings and scrapings some broken ends of knowledge to harp upon this point and that point But to labour and strive to come to the knowledg of a form of sound and wholsome words to the whole body and frame of Divinity at least according to their capacities every one according to their form If he be a child in yeeres and apprehension to have the lowest kind labour to come to the lowest form and so for yong men and fathers to carry it along through all degrees So that let no Christian thinke this without the compasse of his duty or unprofitable for him for he shall gaine by it aboundance of benefit and profit He may gaine all the benefit I mentioned before It will help his understanding and his memory and his performance of duty make him receive more profit by others and make him more profitable unto others it will every way advantage him 2. And let no man thinke that there is an impossibility in it for him and that it is only for the learned for besides that ordinary blessing that God hath vouchsafed us in letting us have the Gospel he hath vouchsafed more extraordinary wayes of knowledg in our times than in any other As it is with trees they are sometime so laden with fruit that they doe even bow downe to the ground againe so as that a child may gather from them God hath so filled this age with knowledge and so plentifully vouchsafed it that it bowes downe that it offers it selfe to us and that so familiarly and facily that none of ordinary capacity it being in our owne language and tongue but may attaine unto it even children and withall the difficulty will be taken off if we consider that it is not required in the highest degree but according to the degree and capacity of every one God doth not require the highest forme of those that are of the lowest but onely the highest of the high and the low of the low capacity And there is no Christian but in some form or other at least is capable of it It were worth the while therefore to set our selves about it to labour to attain the summe of divine truths and to carry it as a rich treasure about us to make us exquisite for every practise and discourse {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 TIMOTHY 1.13 14. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed to thee keep by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us WEe observed out of these words one main point viz. It is a matter of high concernment for all to have and to keep cautiously as a sacred depositum as a rich treasure a form of sound and wholsome words in Divine and fundamentall truths especially We have dispatched the explication and confirmation and application There remaines nothing now but that which I promised to discharge viz. to acquaint you according to this rule and my present scope it being my purpose to enter on a form of sound and wholsome words even to comprehend the whole body of Divinity at least the substantiall and maine truths that are necessary to be known and beleeved to salvation but before I enter into any particulars which will be severall and many I will give you at first a prospect of all a generall delineation of the whole compasse and course which if God permit life and liberty I intend to go through I was at a stay a long while with my self whether I should do it or no their seeming no beauty or profitablenesse in a meer beholding of a bare Skeleton a naked anatomy of the summe of Religion But I consider with my selfe that we spend many houres houres