them You see how many worthy and faithfull Ministers God hath taken away of late by death and shall the present Prophets live for ever O then in your day and time hearken regard repent beleeve live and thrive under holy and faithfull Ministers make more use of their doctrines of their rules of their counsels of their comforts of their experience and prayers the night will come when neither we nor you must worke any longer 4 Study the grounds and principles of religion better first lay good foundations and then build on them errours in the entrance weaken all in the progresse Take paines to know what that good and acceptable will of the Lord is a well bottomed Christian is like a well-bottomed vessell at sea which can ride out in all weathers no Christian stands so fast or thrives so well as the well grounded Christian 5 Be rather an agent then a disputant in religion the vanity of wit is to argue much but the sincerity of the heart is to doe much for doubtfull points and subtile novelties let others beat them and serve them and in the meane while pray thou much that thou mayest obey the truths which thou kno west In speculatives be wise to sobriety in practicals be as good as thou canst it is not the wittiest scholler but the truest Christian who shall goe to heaven 6 Be lesse formall and more fruitfull know that as we must be brought to an account for every word which we speake so much more for every word that God speakes Meere godlinesse is not enough under constant and great meanes of grace God expects much when he gives much if it doth not utterly cast thee yet it must excessively trouble thee to be thin in bearing when God hath been large in sowing 7 Let all Christians bee of more fruitfull hearts and charitable spirits one towards another There are treacherous and malitious hearts enough in the world thou needest not to helpe the divell to be an accuser of the brethren It is a sad thing when one Christian can hardly trust another and that they who should pitty and heale infirmities are yet inventers of lies and obloquies these are the wounds which my friends gave me said the Church in the Canticles If thy fellow Christian doe faile rather compassionate and succour him then hate and reproach him thou shalt never establish thy graces or name upon the ruines and scandals of another man if thou be a strong Christian be more tender if weake be more silent the strong should beare the infirmities of the weake and the weake should hearken to the directions of the strong your graces are strong and safety surer by love then by division therefore be of one minde and live in peace let brotherly love continue 8 Minde death often and prepare for it betimes hee who is a stranger to dying thoughts is ordinarily a stranger to a godly life thou wouldest hasten and better thy worke if thou didst more looke backe on thy life and more forward on thy death 9 Be diligent in your particular places the idle body can hardly hold a good soule that man is in danger who is all for heaven or all for earth both our callings must be regarded 10 Be much in praier the Christian usually gets the greatest blessings on his knees God is much with him in grace who is most with God in praier And pray not for your selves onely but for others and as for others so for me as Saint Paul desired of the Ephesians c. 6. 19. that utterance may be given unto mee that I may open my mouth boldly to make knowne the mystery of the Gospell that therein v. 20. I may speake as I ought to speake and so as the same Apostle in his ultimum vale said to those Ephesians the same I say unto you Brethren I commend you unto God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified FINIS The Table A ACtivity of love to set on graces p 144 Affections are many times dying p. 11. 45 Ardency of affections an exceeding helpe 1 to the remembrance of truths taught 2 to the holding fast of the truth p 198. 213 The different carriage of a weakened and a strengthened Christian under afflictions p 111 The application of Christ the ordinances and other meanes helpefull against decaying p 72. 98. 131 Apostasie from the truth seven causes of it p 272 Gods approbation to be studied p 158 A distinct apprehension of truths needfull to the remembrance of truths p 200 C CAuses of a dying condition p 16 Christ strengthens a languishing Christian three waies p 79 Comforts attend Christians and when p 40 Communion with God and its kindes p 38. 39 Conference about truths taught usefull p 201 Conscience to be joyned with science p 250 Conscience wounded and vexed p. 16. 40 Corruptions have a decaying power p 16 Considerations of a mans condition is necessary p 121 A dying conversation p. 10. 50 Truths taught to be kept in a mans conversation p 215 Lively consociation what p 135 D DAmping of communion with God p 38 Depression of heavenly strength p 36 Delight taken in godly company p 108 Delightfulnesse in love p 145 Diligence in love ibid. True doctrines discovered from false in seven things p 240 Seven disadvantages in a weakened condition p 92 Desertion a consequent of decaying p 40 A dying disposition opened p 8 Christians are dying in seven respects p 10 Dying in duties how knowne p 44 53 E EXamination neglected the evill of it p 22. 23 Excesse in passion dangerous p 28 Excellency hath two things in it p 217 Expressions of grace 1 passionate 2 deliberate p 63 Extenuatiōs of excellencies by decayings p 34 Truths are to be embraced p 248 F FAintnesse in acts of religion p 53 Faith a radicall and strengthening grace p 14. 142 Forgetfulnesse of the word evill and hurtfull p 190 Formality to be checked p 69 G MEn may decay in gifts and graces and how p 13 14 Graces given to men for three ends p 54 Graces are inclining inlarging and cleansing principles p 55 56 57 Graces bestowed are to be kept in repaire p 88 Graces diffused and graces imployed how to be understood p 64 H HEaring not enough for a Christian p 187 A plaine and a pliable heart p 132 Helpes first to remember secondly to hold fast truths p 198. 238 Hold fast the truth p 210 Divine truths a Christians heritage p 219 Humbling under decayings p 67 Deep humiliation a meanes to strengthen a decayed Christian p 123 I IEalousie and three things arising from it p 70 Inconstancy and its causes p 232 Implantation of holy principles what it is p 74 Interruption in duties p 64 Decaies in judgement p 12 The imperfection of our estate before God p 157 Truths held fast in judgement p 211 L THree things in love furthering duties p 144 145 Loyall affection to the truth p 299 Ten legacies p 253 M MEditation an helpe to memory p 199 Meanes to keepe up graces p 67 Meanes to recover out of a dying condition p 73 Meanes of strengthening p 121 N NEglect and its danger p 19 O COnstant operation what p 200 Opposition against dying causes p 137 Ordinances and three things about them 97 P THree sorts of people living under the meanes p 7 Perfection and a striving unto it p 68 Perfecting of holy principles p 75 Persistance in holy truths p 202 Practise a keeper of truths p 202 Practicall remembrance what it is p 167 Practicall truths what they are p 175 Preparation to the ordinances p 97 Physicking the soule what p 22 Dying in profession what p 10 Truth is held by profession p 214 R REasons for the strengthening of a spirituall condition p 84 Reasons to hold fast divine truths p 216 Active reformation what p 128 Truths taught are to be remembred p 163 The nature sorts waies causes and meanes of rememembrance p 160. to 202 Resistance of sinne p 102 Rising of graces p 110 Solid resolutions p 125 Resolution to cleave to the truth p 249 Revolting from doctrine p 228. and in conversation 231 S SIlence in heaven what and when p 41 Sin and a Christian in sinning p 60 61 Seriousnesse in society p 71 Standing at a stay p 70 Strengthening of spirituals under decayes p 74. 78. 83 Supplication must be ardent p 129 Suspition of a mans owne condition p 42 Sen siblenesse and spiritualnesse not equall p 62 T TImes of spirituall troubles p 41 Truths add their sorts p 175 205 206 Divine truths is Gods trust p 220 Three things about a trust p 221 Z A Case resolved about decayings in zeale p 62 FINIS Errata PAge 8. line 16. for a reade secondly p. 147. l. 3. for wit r. we all know c. p. 221. l. 4. for instructed r. intrusted Octob. 22. 1639. Imprimatur IOH. HANSLEY
CHRISTS Counsell to his languishing Church of SARDIS OR The dying or decaying Christian with the meanes and helpes of his recovery and strengthening BY OBADIAH SEDGWICKE B. of D. late Preacher to the Inhabitants of S. Mildreds Bredstreet London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 1. 6. Frustra velociter currit qui prius quam ad metas venerit deficit Greg. mor. l. 2. c. 40. LONDON Printed by T. B. for L. FAWNE and S. GELLIBRAND at the brasen Serpent in S. Pauls Church-yard 1640. To the right Worshipfull Captaine Nicholas Crispe Esquire and Mistresse Anne Crispe his pious consort To Master Samuel Crispe and Mistresse Katharine his vertuous wife with all the rest of the Parishioners my loving friends the Inhabitants in Saint Mildreds Bredstreet My deare and worthy friends SAint Bernard with a very apt phrase answered a speciall friend of his challenging of him in the streines of affection thus O scrutans renes et corda Deus c. quòd diligam illum ex dono tuo suo merito tu scis ego sentio quatenus autem diligam tu scis ego nescio that is Oh Lord thou who knowest and searchest the inmost closets of the heart that I love my friend thou knowest it and I know it how much I love him thou doest know but I doe not know The same I apply to my selfe and all of you if suspecting my affection to you because of my departing from you Lord thou who knowest all things thou knowest that I love them and I know it how much thou onely knowest but I cannot expresse You were a people of all that hitherto I have lived with and of all that ever I preached unto of the most generall union with your selves and of the most liberal and unwearied affection to your Minister the maine scruple many times to mee was lest divers of you should out-stretch your measures All the respects which you owed and shewed to my Ministery and all the encouragements which you heaped on my selfe I doe now the second time publikely acknowledge and as my thankfulnesse presents it self to you all so in speciall manner to you much honoured Captaine and your worthy wife by whose good opinion and affection I was through Gods mercy brought unto that place you have so advanced your favours both to my selfe and some friends of mine that I doe most gladly embrace this present occasion of publike testimony and acknowledgement not that it is sufficient to cleare all accounts but onely that you may know kindenesses long since given are never lost in a thankefull breast My desire for you all is that ye may be saved and my desire to you all is that yee would seriously answer the many precious and heavenly opportunities of Gods grace it is not onely a vanity but a danger a danger both extreame and sure to dally with our soules God hath sowne much seed by many of his servants among you and beleeve me he expects an harvest wee cannot answer great meanes with great sinfulnesse or little goodnesse To whom any thing is given of them something is required even the man of one talent was made accountable but to whom much is given of them much shall be required My deare friends if ye be wise be wise for your selves be good indeed You honour our ministery and provide well for your owne eternall good when you goe into an holy way and goe on in that way the sight is incongruous and the account will be sad when Ministers doctrines are very heavenly and peoples conversation are very earthly and sinfull a melting heaven and a hardned earth meet ill At length let us see our sermons and pains in your lives we preach and dye and men heare and dye we preach out our health our strength our lives Oh that our hearers would take pitty on us and mend their hearts and waies If we boast that our meanes are greater then others wee must tremble also to thinke if our accounts before God should prove worse then others Therefore for your parts as you have begun so with all alacrity and industry continue and persevere Our life is short duties many worke daily and reward sure and enough An eternity with God should make us good and keepe us doing and hold us faithfull and make us fruitfull To the everlasting arms of his protection and to the perpetuall influences of his grace and mercy in Christ he commends you all who is to you all Your much obliged and affectionate friend OBADIAH SEDGWICKE To the Reader IF thou expectest in this Treatise what is curious and branched over with art spare thine eye any further travell it is not here divine doctrines serve rather for the stomacke then the palate In preaching these Sermons I followed Saint Cyprians directions to Donatus to make choise not of Diserta but Fortia I looked very little at harmony which might take the eare but most of all at energy which might reach the conscience I know well that there is a lawfull and seasonable use of learning I am not of his minde who would have Preachers study no booke but the Bible onely this Ministers if I mistake not must consider their auditors and then and there use their choiser learning when and where it may not amaze but profit when all is summed up this will be found the most comfortable truth no Preacher is so learned as he who can saue soules And now if thou pleasest reade the worke and receiue this counsell from me aboue all striue for spirituall life it is thy greatest honour to be good and when thou hast obtained it take heed of dying the dead man and the dying Christian are two sad sights it is wofull either to be a brand falling into hell or to be a star falling downe from heauen the rising sunne is more and more beautifull but the waining moone is more full of spots and darkenesse though all may not be lost yet his shipwrackes are high who hath lost much in his jewels and almost all in his comforts no more but this keepe heauenly things as thou wouldest keepe heauen it selfe Thine in any spirituall furtherance OBADIAH SEDGWICKE CHRISTS COVNSELL to His languishing CHURCH REVEL 3. 2 3 verses Be watchfull and strengthen the things that remaine which are ready to dye for I have not found thy works perfect before God Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent c. THe author of this Booke was IESUS CHRIST the pen-man was Iohn the Apostle the matter of it is generally mysterious the persons whom it concernes are the seven Churches in Asia but the scope of it extends to all the Churches succeeding the Apostles to the end of the world Ephesus the first of these Churches is taxed for apostasie Smyrna the second of them is encouraged to constancie Pergamus Thyatira the third and fourth of them are charged for permission of some idolatry Sardis the fifth of them is deepely
lesse sometimes with more liberty of spirit sometimes with lesse sometimes with more comfort sometime with lesse Sol. Yet let nothing discourage thee or take off thy spirit from the worke but follow on to know the Lord and his strength against all temptations against all suggestions against all discouragements against all thine owne feares and feelings and inequality of operations yet give not over but Keep up thy services still retain frequent communion with God still be begging still for the strength of Iesus Christ to raise thee heare still use the prescriptions till health comes thou art in the way and must not rest till thou hast obtained If thou breakest off before thou hast regained thy strength thou wilt fall backe againe and also lose all thy new endeavours for thy recovery in grace Thus much for the second proposition I proceed now to the third of which I can but give a touch lest I be hindred in the prosecution of the matter in the next verse I have not found thy works perfect c. That the estate though visibly Thirdly faire to the eyes of men yet it may be really imperfect in the eyes of God Amongst the Churches Sardis had a name that it lived but with God it had not that name and estimation Wee Christians have the judgement of charity but God hath the judgement of infallibility we looke onely on the skin and surface of actions but God looks into the hearts and spirits of persons wee judge of the heart by the actions but God judgeth of our estates by the heart Now the outward acts upon severall arguments and for severall ends and inducements may be extreamely different from the inward habit and disposition Persons for their credits sake and for their peculiar advantages may draw out acts naturally good when yet their spirits stand not right either for principles or ends of those acts so that notwithstanding al their profession their estate may bee imperfect before God partly For the frame and constitution of soule For the vigour and fulnesse of acting For the scope and intentions in performing For the mixtures in matters of faith or conversation But I cannot now inlarge in this singular affection Vse 1 Onely it may teach us above all to looke unto our spirituals as they abide in and flow from our hearts and soules upon which principally the Lord lookes he searcheth the hearts and reynes and approveth the actings of the heart more then of the hand and therefore wee reade that he had first respect unto Abel and then unto his offering 2 To study Gods approbation more than mans it is not sufficient nor safe that either wee alone judge our estates to bee good or that men judge them to be so unlesse the Lord findes them to be so every Christian is that as God judgeth him to be and he stands or fals according to this righteous judgement of the al-seeing and al-knowing God And so I take leave of that verse and proceed to the next Remember therefore how thou Revel 3. 3. hast received and heard and hold fast and repent In these words you have the other branches of the spirits speciall directions to the Church of Sardis which are three viz. 1 Remembrance remember Three branches therefore how thou hast received and heard 2 Persistence and hold fast 3 Renewed repentance and repent Briefly to open the words Remember sometimes the word is taken for the act of a particular faculty of the rationall soule which is called by the Philosophers Reminiscentia and then it is the calling backe of a thing or object formerly knowne and laid up in the memory Sometimes it is taken for the act of serious consideration appertaining to the judicious faculty of the soule wherein apprehended truths are well weighed throughly thought on or considered of in both respects I conjecture it may bee taken in this place How some reade that word rather thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what remember i. call to minde and consider what thou hast received and heard as if it were a word declaring the matter but rather in this place it imports the manner and therefore it is well translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How noting the manner how Christ taught and prescribed them at the first and also the manner how they embraced those holy rules of his for doctrine conversation Thou hast received and heard that is assented unto and embraced those truths and directions of Christ where is expressed first their ancient subjection or embracing of the doctrine of Christ received and secondly the meanes or way thereof viz. by hearing and heard I cannot possibly with any profit insist on all the observables out of these and the other words considering that little part of time which remaines for me to worke amongst you only I will point at three singular propositions viz. 1 That holy truths once received Three propositions are often to be remembred and thought on Remember c. 2 That acceptance of truths is not enough but Christians must adde thereto a persistence in truths hold fast 3 That renewed repentance is required of Christians as well as initiall and repent You see that all these propositions naturally flow from the text and are very proper for us and for the occasion upon which they are handled I begin with the first of them viz. Doct. That holy truths once received are often to be remembred and thought on There are three things which should fall into a frequent consideration 1 Our former sinnes and this will keepe us humble 2 Gods former mercies and this will make us thankfull 3 Received truths and this will make us dutifull and fruitfull The Iewes were to binde them as frontlets between their eyes Deut. 6. 8. to which Salomon alludes in Pro. 6. 21. binde Deut. 6. 8. Pro. 6. 21. them continually upon thy heart and tye them about thy necke and Eccles 12. 11. they are to be as nailes Eccl. 12. 11. fastened Looke on David and this was his practise Psal 119. Psal 119 15. I will meditate in thy statutes there once then reade verse 23. thy servant did meditate in thy statutes there is the second time but then reade verse 48. I will meditate in thy statutes there is the third time what speake I of once or twice or thrice see him in verse 97. Oh how I love thy law it is my meditation all the day The Apostles are frequent in their exhortations to this purpose to remember to lay up to keepe in minde not to forget the holy doctrines delivered by them nay and Christ pressed the same also upon themselves upon many occasions But for the cleere opening of this proposition premise with me these particulars 1 The frequent remembring of former truths must be a remembrance by way of subiection and not by way of contradiction we must not remember them and question them much lesse abuse and pervert them least of all oppose
and despise them 2 The remembrance must be ingenuous and not preiudiciall though we must sticke to yet not in the truths received our former remembrance must not contract a present or future neglect of any other truths which God shall reveale unto us as when many remember the Sermons of dead men and slight the discoveries of the living 3 There is a threefold remembrance of former truths One is notionall Simile which is like the often looking into a glasse or when a person beholds truths as hee doth pictures gaze on them and that is all Another is verball when a person renues his acquaintance and complements with truth onely his memory onely loades his tongue like a naked Astronomer who knowes heaven and can onely talke of it A third is practicall when the remembrance is like a cloud descending on the plants Simile or like a fire felt as well as seene this kinde of remembrance hath three degrees in it for it is partly Directive when truths remembred are made a compasse for us to sayle by or copies for us to write after still teaching and guiding us how to draw the lines and letters of our conversation Affective when truths remembred are like the conference of Christ rising from the dead burning and inflaming of our hearts with most affectionate love unto them Effective when truths remembred are truths obeyed we often consider former doctrines and still better our present conversations After this practicall forme are wee to remember received truths 4 There is 1 A materiall remembrance which is partly of the things themselves partly of the revelation of them partly of the manner and meanes of revealing them 2 Formall remembrance of For the manner five waies truths received which is rather of the manner how wee our selves did receive them we are often to thinke on truths received not onely as they stand in proposition or revelation but also how they stood with us when wee did receive them for energy or operation and thus I conjecture we are to remember truths received 1 With what estimations and admirations wee did receive them Simile like those people who have the Sunne but halfe the yeere they run after it and are ready to adore it in its approch so when we did receive holy truths at the first we received them as the very oracles of God not as the words of man but as they are indeed the words of God 2 With what subjection of spirit we did receive them wee did not onely admire their excellency but felt their efficacie the word came not in word onely but in power and authority over our very consciences and this power was a full power and an easie power the truths which wee received did command and awe and order our whole man and wee too were most willing to resigne up our selves to the obedience of the Gospell in all things and to be cast into that mould of heavenly doctrine 3 With what affections wee did receive them O then those conflictings of spirit Heb. 10. 32 Heb. 10. 32. those bathes of griefe and heavenly compunction with them Acts 2. 37. those flames Acts 2. 37. of love with those Christians Acts 4. 32. those raptures of joy Acts 4. 32. Acts 16. with Lydia Acts 16. yea those extensions of zeale with the Galathians to Saint Paul Gal. 4. Gal. 4. the word had a surpassing influence upon all our affections to melt and convert to raise and dispose of them 4 With what resolute loyalty so that we did hate and defie all contrary errors and waies and so were our hearts sworne to divine truths and as it were espoused to them that wee once resolved to live and dye in those truths and for those truths wee could not endure any mixture with them nor heare of any divorce from them 5 With what reverence wee did embrace the Ambassadors of heavenly truths they were as the Angels of God to us we were like almost with Cornelius to adore the Peters and Pauls I meane the ministers of God revealing his truths unto us the feet of them who brought unto us the glad tidings of our salvation were beautifull and most acceptable unto us Now here are two questions briefly to be resolved Quest What truths heard and received we are often to consider and remember Sol. To this I answer 1 There must be an endeavour to remember all the truths as Christ said of the fragments gather them up and let none be lost so it must bee said of holy truths on which the soule hath formerly fed gather them up all let none be lost Simile You see that the Goldsmith doth not onely looke after the massie piece of gold but he carefully lookes after every ray and dust of gold and preserves it Every truth of God is precious it is more precious then gold it is excellent and as it is excellent in it selfe so it may be usefull to us Simile there is not a star in heaven but is of some good to the lower world so there is not one truth of God but may be of some good use to a Christian But if either for the multitude of truths or the sublimity of truths or for the obscure manner of discovering these truths or for the impotency and irretentivenesse of an unholding and unclasping memory or for the space of time since truths were delivered and received it so fals out that all heard and once received truths will not stand upon record into which they have beene entred but are in many places defaced and cancelled 2 There must at least bee a faithfull remembrance of the most necessary and chiefe truths namely of those which more immediately and intimately and unauoydably concern our salvation of the which for methods sake I conjecture there may be three heads viz. 1 That vitall truth concerning Christ and faith in him this is the great fundamentall truth Note 2 That vivificall truth concerning repentance in the conversion of the heart from dead workes 3 That practicall truth concerning obedience in ordering the life and course of a converted person As the moralists say of Fame or of a mans good name Omnia si perdas famam servare memento Qua semel amissâ postea nullus eris i whatsoever commodity you lose be sure yet to preserve that iewell of a good name That is so choyce a iewell that whatsoever a man loseth hee must yet take heed and care of that The same may bee said of these forenamed truths though through some defect or frailty or malignity any other historicall or problematicall truths may slip from us yet these must be written in our hearts with the point of a Diamond and as in marble the characters of them are to bee kept fresh and alive and are never to be blotted out Object And why this faithfull and frequent remembrance or renewed consideration of truths heard and received Sol. Reasons thereof many 1 Though sometimes an assent may be
covenant and vow what was our baptisme but a devoting and solemne vowing of our selves to be faithfull to Christ and to his truths wee solemnly professed that none should be our Lord but God and that we should be his faithfull servants unto our lives end yea and wee have ratified this vow many a time by comming to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Now if we doe not hold fast the truths of Christ but forsake them or any of them wee are guilty of extreame perjury not in a matter betwixt man and man but betwixt God and man thou art forsworne again and againe unto the Lord thy God and hast as much as in thee lies made voyd the covenant of grace and life for thy poore soule 4 Consider but the necessary uses of divine truths and then we will acknowledge that they are to be held fast The use of the word or divine truths respects the everlasting and happy condition of the soule from the beginning to the end thereof Everlasting and true happinesse is the end and scope that every Christian lookes at and divine truths serve him fully and effectually to this end both to discover it and to bring man unto it There are many things required to set us in the true way to bring a man to heaven v. g. 1 Conviction of his sinfull condition but the word inlightens the minde and convinceth the conscience 2 Contrition for sinne but the word pricks our hearts as Acts 2. and humbles them 3 Conversion of soule but the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule Psal 19. 7. by it comes faith into the soule Psal 19. 7. which gets Christ Rom. 10. 17. Rom. 10. 17. by it comes repentance Acts 3. 19. 4 Augmentation of grace but by the word wee are built up Acts 20. 32. and grow more and more 5 Perseverance in grace but by the word wee are kept and established to the end it is the power of God unto salvation Rom. 1. 16. Rom. 1. 16. What should I say more reade the Apostle summing up all in 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is giuen 2 Tim. 3. 16. by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse 17 That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all good workes 15 Yea they are able to make us wise unto saluation through faith â—hich is in Christ Iesus Againe there are many incouragements comforting and supporting in our way as divine consolations of the spirit of God peace in conscience joy in the holy Ghost all which are the myrrhe dropping onely from divine truths thy word hath comforted me said Dauid thy word hath quickned mee in the house of my pilgrimage they were the joyes of his heart and in the daies of his calamity they were the stay of his heart Now put all together if divine truths shew us the true happinesse if they onely put us into the true way unto that true happinesse if they onely keepe us in that way if they onely comfort and strengthen us in that way if they onely bring us to the end of our faith even the salvation of our soules will we not ought wee not to hold them fast Vse The first use of this point shall be to convince and reprove the wonderfull inconstancy of the sonnes of men that slipperinesse and unsetlednesse of spirit which is to be found amongst them Consider divine truths as they lye 1 In doctrine we may now complaine as the Apostle did of the Galathians chap. 1. verse 6. Gal. 1. 6. I maruell that ye are so soone remoued from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospell Some revolt from the Protestant doctrine to the Popish leven others fall off from the orthodoxe articles of our Church to Anabaptisticall fancies and Socinian Blasphemies and the Lord be mercifull unto us what daily unsetlednesse and giddinesse possesseth us if any novelty of doctrine though a root of bitternesse start up and be delivered with any confidence or cunning of deceiving wit how instantly we flye off from our old truths how greedily and madly wee sucke in poysonous errours and being thus driven with every winde what tempests of railing and disgraces doe wee heape upon those who crosse our ficklenesse with constant vindications and assertings of the true doctrines of faith and life It makes mee to pitty this great and famous City whiles I behold a colluvies a very rabble of all opinions and such a going and comming touchings at and saylings off from the land of uprightnesse One weeke this is a truth and almost an article the next weeke it is no such matter but some other thing is the right Simile Thus wee play many times with great truths as children doe with their Babies one while embrace them anone breake them and throw them into the dirt But are there so many waies to heaven as men will make or hast thou power to coine other articles of faith at pleasure or will the Lord beare all this resting and mocking with his truths Two things makes mee feare the Lord will punish us in the Gospell one is our generall barrennesse in life another is our great sicklenesse in matter of truths 2 In conversation many times we hold the truth in unrighteousnesse wee doe not prize the truth and love it nor live according to it with constancy but as the Prophet cryed out how is the beautifull City become an heape so may wee say of many how is their righteous walkings degenerated into an ungodly living their wine is sowred and lamp put out But I will tell you the reasons and causes of all this inconstancy The causes of constancy and apostacy v. g. 1 Men are very ignorant and therefore very inconstant ignorance is the great spunge to sucke in errours as pride is the great Bawd to vent them Chaffe may be tossed any way that which is weak is also light 2 Though their apprehensions be large yet their affections are foule they know truth but love sinne which is contrary to truth Simile now a foule stomacke ever makes an ill head and a secret love of sinne works out the strength of truth in the minde men doe the more easily grow erroneous who first grow irreligious 3 There is an itch of pride Evah and Adam would know more then was fit and therefore lost all that was good you never reade of a proud person but either his life was notoriously tainted or his judgement notably corrupted the greatest errours have fallen from those that have beene most proud and have beene tooke up by those that have beene most ignorant 4 And then also many have Athenian wits they long for novelties though the old wine be best yet their palate must be in the fashion for new there is a sore vanity in a naturall minde that it cannot long fixe on any estate or on any truth 5 A colloging