thereby doth it not vsually peruert and spoile them of what they seemed to haue had breaking all bonds of ciuill honesty and so makes them worse then bruit beasts without vnderstanding Doe not the poore receiue the Gospell when the rich and mighty are sent empty away because either they cannot come or come with their outward man their hearts runne after their couetousnes Is the word entertained with such otherwise thē for state or cōplement or else to make them merry To condemn the rashnesse and folly of such as will reproue or to deride their flattery that will call light darknesse must it not dance after our pipe and serue our lusts to harden vs in sinne and ripen vs to vengeance Is not thus the prosperity of the wicked their destruction Prou. 1. Psal 55. Ier. 48.11 and not their conuersion Doth not the old sent remaine in Moab because he was not changed from vessell to vessell but enioyed constant prosperity thereby was setled on his lees and rooted more obstinately in natures dregges thereby exercised more greedily and desperately the lusts thereof Ose 4.7 Psalm 78. Ose 5. Can the change of the outward estate change the inward man from worse to better As they were increased so did not Gods people rebel against him who in their afflictions sought vnto him deceitfully Is not here a change from better to worse we fawne on God till we haue our desires and when our turne is serued then depart from vs Lord we will not the knowledge of thy waies what profit shall we haue if we serue the Almighty Iob. 21.15.16 We haue now no need of God and therefore it is in vaine to serue him As for walking in a ciuill calling Ciuill honesty no euidence of conuersion howsoeuer this being sanctified by the spirituall may be a meanes to lay vp a good foundation against the day of Christ 1. Tim. 6.19.20 yet to the naturall man there is not a more dangerous outward meanes to exclude grace then the greatest measure of honesty that is seene therein For is it not the grace of this calling to rest in it selfe for good successe without inuocation of Gods assistance or reference to his blessing Is not our pursuit hereof a priuiledge to exempt from holy duties We must liue and therefore we cannot be bookish We haue no leasure to the Church Or is it not enough to come when we may haue leisure Is it not sufficient that we are not Papists in profession though we are Papists in ignorance and prophanation to yea grosse Idolaters in making our belly our God the world our confidence Is it not meritorious that we giue almes and receiue our maker once a yeere Psal 15.4 that we are no whores nor theeues we doe no body any wrong we liue of our own doth not this vtterly exclude religion in the family doth it not banish all loue to the power of religion doth it not extinguish all sense of inward corruption Is it not to sticke in the forme of Religion and so to renounce the power thereof Is not this to say in our hearts there is no God seeing he is onely in our lippes and not in our raynes do we not deny him in our liues and carnall worship who is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth howsoeuer we boast that we know him enough And doe our mouthes otherwise acknowledge him then at best by prophaning his great name and blaspheming it ordinarily in our daily communication Nay is it not a price proposed to incourage diligence in these worldly businesses euen licence to prophane the Sabbaths to despise the word c. And what if men keepe touch and day in paiments and contracts What if a little eie seruice be vsed in the outside of their wares Is it for conscience to God to whom they desire to approue the truth of their hearts or onely a care for the maintenance of trading and mutuall commerce which without this outward seeming equity must needs be abolished Who will trust or shall be trusted if word be not kept But is it kept any further then may cleere from touch of mans law Is promise kept here to our hinderance so we may winde out by the arme of flesh Is the substance of our wares any thing lesse then answerable to the shew Is not God robbed of his glory while we sacrifice to our labour and wit Is not this great Babel which I haue built for the honor of my name c. Eccl. 9.1 Surely as these outward things are common to all so no man knoweth loue or hatred either by prosperity or aduersity Well may a good man by right vsage make these good vnto him but these of themselues may well make him worse otherwise they haue no power inwardly to better him Onely it belongeth vnto God through the ministery of his word to conuert the soule as tendring to this end vnto vs Psal 19. 1. Per. 1.18 not corruptible things as siluer and gold which make outwardly happy in this life but the precious blood of Christ 1. Ioh. 1.8 as a Lambe vndefiled without spot whreby we are cleansed from all our sinnes and redeemed from our vaine conuersation receiued by the tradition of the fathers 8. Profession Practise Math. 7. Luke 8 Mark 6.25 But harken I pray you vnto a further plea of the hypocrite Haue we not heard thee teaching in our streets Nay Haue we not taught in thy name Haue we not receiued the word with ioy and done many things accordingly Can the best doe more Doe not we in many things offend all Is not this a sufficient euidence of an effectuall conuersion Surely where the grace of God which bringeth saluation to all men Tit. 2.11 hath appeared effectually there it teacheth vs not onely to eschew all euill in thought Math. 5. Act. 15.19 warde and deed but on the contrary to prosecute all good both 1. inwardly in heart and minde as being purified by faith whereby with constant purpose we cleane vnto God and also 2. outwardly in the life and conuersation Iam. 3.1 Act. 11.23 Ephes 1. Rom. 12.1 1. Cor. 6. yea generally and vniuersally hauing respect to all Gods commandements Psal 119.7.8 and constantly also continuing and abounding yea increasing in grace and finishing our course that no man take away our Crowne Reuel 3. 1. Cor. 15. Profession and some practise of religion no euidence of true conuersion 2. Cor. 2.14 Ioh 15. Psal 119. Ezech. 33 3◠31. Heb. 4.2 58. Ephes 3. Collos 1.2 Pet. 1.8.9 2. Tim. 4.3 Phil. 13. And therefore seeing the word of God must be a sauour of death vnto death vnto some who are to bee renounced and made inexcusable thereby hence is it that though they receiue it 1. with ioy as being rauished with the sweetnesse thereof yet being not mixed with faith it becomes vnprofitable yea a witnesse aegainst them and so the ioy of the hypocrite
witnesse a good profession as being inwardly furnished with gifts and outwardly led foorth by the Spirit to maintaine the cause of Christ Iesus our Sauiour The one of these we shall discerne How to discerne inward sufficiencie to make open profession of saith in the time of trouble 1. By sound knowledge of the cause in particular which we are to make good by whatsoeuer sufferings so that our iudgements are throughly informed and so our consciences conuinced with the trueth doe finde rest and comfort therein Ephes 3. Phil. 1. 2. By our ardent loue vnto that trueth which wee haue apprehended and hearty desire that by any our neuer so great affliction it may bee glorified in the hearts of the Saints 1. Philip. 27. 3 By our especiall apprehension of Gods singular mercy towards vs in accounting vs so worthy as to make profession of that truth 4. Hence we euen long and desire to taste of that cup which the profession of that truth may cost vs. 5. Yet so as that our most ardent desires are subiect to contrary buffetings for feare of our owne inability in our selues and therefore John 19. 6. Rather desiring the grace of the Spirit so to conduct vs in the combat that Gods cause may be honoured in our constancy therein then we in any sort magnified thereby nay that we shall haue in respect of the flesh any good issue out of them howsoeuer we haue many gracious promises yea likelihoods for the same 7. And therefore simply submitting our selues to the will of our gratious Father rather to vndergoe any the most grieuous extremity then the least disparagement may redound to his glorious truth 8. Finding in our selues a gratious contentment in our God arising vpon long experience of the deceitfulnesse of the world and faithfulnesse of our gracious Father and 9. So discerning in our selues a readines to death as being prepared thereto by daily mortification and experience of our sweet society with our blessed God 10. As that withall we especially for this end desire life euen to witnesse a good profession and giue glory vnto our God in auouching and sealing vp his eternall truth with our moment any sufferings To this end 11. Finding in our selues an ability of faith relying rather on Gods promise to guide vs with his counsell then our owne experience to wade thorow the affliction Thus may we discerne inward sufficiency to make profession of our faith And for outward calling How to discern an outward calling to make publike profession of faith in troubles and leading forth by the Spirit thereunto there are these markes of it First in respect of vs as that 1. We haue already published and declared that truth and so now much more it being called in question are to iustifie the same 2. Are also prouoked by our people that haue depended on vs to make good the same for the establishing of their faith lest our suppressing or deniall may shake and make shipwracke thereof 3. Are especially called thereto by the Magistrate who may require a reason thereof and forced by the gainsayings of the enemy to defend the same Secondly in respect of the truth And that 1. When it is openly resisted and gainsaid of a peruerse generation not onely priuately and indirectly and when 2. By the suppressing thereof the glory of our God is necessarily impeached the power of religion vndermined c. otherwise in matters Wherein we may be silent 1. Of difference which reach not thus far we may be silent respecting the peace of the Church and dealing rather with our God in prayer for the reformation of such breaches and by all priuate and peaceable meanes rather enduring an inconuenience or couering an infirmity then by any publike opposition making a rent and diuision in the Church of God 2. As also if our persons rather in malice are aimed at then the truth oppugned we may auoide the rage by flying concealing c. 3. At leastwise though we be not altogether silent yet so far we may conceale the truth 1. As it is not demanded 2. And may satisfie the honest purpose of the questioner 3. Yea may happily by stumbling of him and turning his edge vpon another so thereby diuert his malice from our selues So did our Sauiour put the Pharisies and Sadduces together and thereby escaped So did he for a time goe aside and walked no more openly neither committed himselfe vnto them because he knew what was in them and his time was not come Nay may we not shape such an answer to our aduersary not only to conceale part of truth as Samuel did 1. Sam. 16. but euen to giue vp the wicked to their owne counsels that will not obey the truth bidding them goe vp and prosper as Michaiah did 2. King 22. yea in an holy derision vpbraiding their carnall confidence Reioyce oh young man and take thy fill Eccl. 11. And seeing they will not be reclaimed and hate to be reformed may not the prudent keepe silence in such euill times 2. Chron. 2. Amos 5. Or so only speake as to leaue the incorrigible to their lusts Prou. 9. ceasing to rebuke a scorner that we may wisely auoid his hatred and so pronouncing the wrath of God against him in yeelding him vp to his owne lusts as that he may blesse his soule in this fearefull liberty and we by this wisedome may maintaine our holy liberty Oh that we were wise to consider of these things and to whom the arme of the Lord shall reueale them Ose 14. For the waies of the Lord are righteous and the iust shall walke in them but the wicked shall fall therein As for the changing of our features and habits for a time to auoid vnnecessary trouble herein I take it Names and habits whether they may be changed and how far Names not to be changed we may thus far be iustified As though 1. Not to change our names And that because they are of a diuine institution as well as ciuill imposed not only to make distinction of our persons from others but to be witnesses and pledges of our profession and both memorials of Gods former mercies towards vs as also euidences of Gods euerlasting couenant with vs to be our protector and preseruer for euer And therefore not to be denied if we be demanded the same lest therein we deny our faith neither to be changed because our profession must not be changed Especially seeing by deniall or changing we shall not onely not aduantage our selues to the thing we intend namely not to be knowne seeing by other markes of proportion or complexion we may be bewrayed but being discouered we shall hereby adde vnto our affliction not only being iustly exempted out of Gods protection by reiecting the badge thereof our names but exposed also the rather to the rage of man as being tainted hereby with dissimulation c. Abrahams name changed and no warrant because this was
either of doubting in faith or corruption in life 1. Cor. 8. Rom. 14. 4. That herein also wee not onely auoyde what may hurt but in all spiritual wisedome doe that which may further to the best good euen the saluation of the soule 1. Cor. 9. 5. And all this to the onely praise of our glorious God through Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 10.31 Thus may wee bee falsly charged to haue left our first loue and thus may we be established against these false imputations But say what others fasten vpon me 8. Whether want of feeling of former comforts may be a iust imputation that we haue left our first loue that I feare in my selfe I feele not that joy and inward comfort I sometimes had these ouerflowings and extraordinary sweetnesse though I faint after them and refresh my soule with the meditation thereof yet I finde them not so abound and runne ouer as in former times may I not hereby conjecture that I haue lost my first loue nay may I not feare that all is lost Nay now I finde it contrary with me insteed of ioy I am ouerwhelmed with sorrowes insteed of Gods gratious presence I feare hee hath forsaken mee I haue no answere in prayer no comfort in any duety the sorrowes of the deepe doe seaze vpon me and the jawes of hell doe gape vpon me Surely the Lord giue thee wisedome heerein that thou doest not wrong thine owne heart and prejudice the wisedome and mercy of thy God Remember that thou liuest by faith not by sense 2. Cor. 3.7 though thou seest no outward meanes yet thy saith will assure thee that God is able will prouide him a sacrifice Gods prouidence discouered herein Iob. 13 15. Gen. 22. Yea though thou hast no inward feeling of comfort yet shalt thou trust in God euen though he kill thee And this is the victory of thy faith euen to beleeue aboue feeling thus is thy faith perfited euen laying holde on things not seene when it is depriued of the sense of things past Heb. 11.1 present And may not thy God withdraw these comforts from thee for the further tryal of thy faith and loue vnto his Maiestie that thogh thou want that comfort which heretofore thou hast had yet stil thou canst giue glory vnto thy God in beleeuing his word and enlarge thy loue vnto his Maiesty Rom. 4.20 euen when he seemes to haue forsaken thee And canst thou haue a better tryall of the power purenes of thy faith then aboue hope to beleeue vnder hope in the promises of thy God subiecting thy chiefest good vnto the glory of thy God and through want of present sense being guided to forget what thou hast enioyed lest through spirituall pride thou mightest rest therin rob God of his glory thou doest the rather make haste to that which is before by the power of thy faith seeing a farre off yea laying fast hold on eternall life by renuing thy strength in Iesus Christ And seeing wee are now assured of the trueth of our conuersion by this seale of Gods loue shed abroad in our hearts working in vs a feare of his Maiesty and refreshing our hearts with vnspeakeable cōforts haue we now such need of the continuance of them as if all were lost because we still feele them not or we could not goe forward without the daily sence thereof will we still be children that haue neede of dandling and entticing with such toies or rather are we not growing to be men and so to be hardned with trials and strange abasings And is it not best to be abased within that so we may be fitter for any outward emptying Is it not fit to be a while disused of these spirituall ioyes that so we may most hunger after euerlasting ioy that we more earnestly labour and hasten thereafter And may we not giue our God iust cause to withdraw his countenance from vs by falling into grosse sinne doting on the fading ioyes of the world c. and so we may be so wisely scanted of perfect ioy as that still we shal be recompenced with what is fitter for vs for the present with what may further vs to eternall comforts Is not the Lord herein wonderfull that by withdrawing sense of present ioy he both purgeth vs of such euils as may corrupt the same namely spirituall pride and security and also causeth vs hereby to lay faster hold on Iesus Christ who only must perfect the worke that is begun in vs And canst thou expresse thy loue in greater measure vnto thy God then to loue him then when he seemes to haue forsaken thee then to follow after him when he seemes to run from thee doth not this aduance the sincerity of thy loue doth not this exceedingly approue thy conformity to thy Sauiour that as he was contented to be abased in himselfe yea to become of no reputation that thou maist be accepted so thou art contented to be emptied that God may be glorified thou canst willingly want present comfort that thy God may haue vnfained worship when now not so much for thine owne sake as for his glory thou dost beleeue in him when though he kill thee yet thou wilt trust in him And canst thou be a looser where the Lord is such a gainer by thee canst thou leaue thy loue when the Lord doth purpose to trie the soundnesse of it when the Lord prouoketh thee to liue by faith when by the power of faith he will thus enable thee to lay hold of eternall life Note Surely as this is the life of faith to exceed present sense so this want of present comfort thus conceiued and applied shall be both a meanes to enable thee to make better vse of such ioy when the Lord shall againe turne his countenance vpon thee and in the meane time minister exceding comfort vnto thy soule that thou dost constantly beleeue in Resolution herein and vnfainedly loue the Lord thy God And therfore doubt not herein of any decay of thy loue vnto thy God because the Lord in his wisedome for thy triall withdrawes the present pledges of his loue from thee For neither couldst thou endure at all in thy sense of this want of present comfort if thy God did not secretly vphold thee with inward and vnspeakable consolations And in that thou discernest want of ioy may it not be so much because thou wantest that which thou hast had Note as that by faith thou apprehendest that vnspeakeable ioy which thou hast not which that it doth euacuate and empty thee of sense of present comfort it is no more maruell then that the glorious light of the Sun should obscure the light of a candle or that a drop shold not be discerned being cast into the main ocean Only for thy full satisfaction herein examine thy heart in this case by these rules Triall hereof First that thou hast not giuen thy God iust occasion to withdraw these