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
sunne when it shineth 6. At the best iudge wee wisely of our best measure of grace is it either any other then what the Saints haue gone before vs in who yet notwithstanding through pride Math. 26. and the effects thereof haue taken many a foul fall Remember we Peters vaine boasting and what a plunge it put him to Consider Dauids pride in numbring of his people did he not smart deeply for the same was not his humilitie the best meanes to make his peace againe 2. Sam. 24.15 16. Or is it such but that still wee are not perfect and therefore must wee not forget what is behinde that wee may hasten to what is before Philip. 3.12.13 7. And alas what is all wee haue in comparison of our Lord and Master Iesus Christ hath hee not commanded vs to bee lowly and meeke hath hee not done all for vs that wee may boast of nothing did hee not walke before vs in great patience and humility euen humbling himselfe to the death for our sakes is not all our holinesse a drop of that Ocean lesse then a drop in comparison thereof and shall seruants ride on horsebacke when their master went on foote Eccl. 10 shall wee bee proud of his graces when hee was so abased in the greatest measure of his owne And therefore practise wee thus 1. View we our selues often in the glasse of the Law to abase vs throughly 2. And see wee a farre off into the glorious inheritance How to preuent this pride so farre exceeding any worth of our weldoing are the afflictions of this life worthy of the glory that shall bee reuealed Rom. 8.24 who are wee that God should thus aduance vs 3. In steed of iudging others let vs dayly examine our selues so shall wee bee more compassionare of our brethren considering our selues Galat. 6.1 so shall we still thinke vilelyer of our selues that so we may be fitter for mercy from our God 4. And labour wee dayly to renue our life in Christ that wee may haue still to reioyce in him and not in our selues that his glory may swallow vp all pride of flesh and his loue may still preuaile in vs to the further denyall of our selues that so still wee may be found in Christ not hauing our own righteousnes that being dayly perfited by his grace we may bee found of him in peace at his glorious appearance 5. To this end bee wee willing to endure afflictions and maintaine we tendernesse of conscience in all our wayes 6. And obserue we wisely our inward corruptions labour we to discerne the deceitfulnesse of our hearts and shall we not abhorre our selues because we know not our hearts shall wee not much more bee abased knowing them to be so abominable so froward so rebellious so touchie and full of horrible wickednesse such blasphemous thoughts such filthy motions if we do not tremble hereat is it not because yet the feare of God hath not seized vpon vs because yet we do not endeauour to worship God in Spirit and truth Ioh. 4.24.25 7. And so dayly prepare we our selues to death and iudgement Is here any time to be puffed vp seeing we must passe through horrors is it not wisedome to fight loe that we may enter in at the straight gate shall the righteous very hardly bee saued and shall wee not then work out our saluation with feare and trembling Phil. 2.12 Math. 7.11.12 8. And seeing many seeke to enter in and shall not bee able Luke 13.21 ought wee not dayly to suspect our selues shall not he that standeth take heed lest he fall shall we be high minded or not rather euer feare our selues least we also bee deceiued in our standing and so depryued of our hope Lastly That we be not deceiued in the judgement of spitituall pride and so be justly chalenged therewith 1. To stand vpon assurance of saluation no pride Know we that it is not pride and presumption to be assured of our saluation as the Papists chalenge seeing God hath commanded vs to make sure our election and hath giuen vs his word and Spirit to seale it vp vnto vs but rather pryde to question Gods truth not to beleeue his word not to accept so pretious a jewell 2. Neither to labour to perfection 2. It is not spirituall pride to labour to perfection though we exceed our selues and goe before others not shuting our religion to the will and ability of man but extending it wisely to the rule of the word and example of Christ seeing God hath commanded it and Christ hath begun it and hee will perfect it and all things worke together for the best vnto his Elect rather it is pride to dreame of perfectiō when we wil vse no meanes thereto nay grosse presumption and impudency in such as seeme to condemne vs of pride for labouring after perfection seeing they all perswade themselues that they haue already attayned it is it not the common voyce that all is well wee need no meanes of building we hate to be reprooued we haue bene alwayes of the same beleefe we feare we may be too holy are not these the ordinary dreames of generall perfection and therefore if they haue attayned this perfection with such ease will they fault vs that take such paynes for it should they not rather pity vs and further that we may attayne it more easily or if they condemne for labouring to perfection doe they not condemne themselues 3. No not to confesse Christ in the time of triall that they neuer had it seeing it cannot be had without great labour 3. Neither is it spirituall pride to make a good profession of the truth to confesse the Lord before men to sticke to the truth in time of trial is not this a denying of our selues to confesse the Lord Is it not an abasing of our selues that God may haue the glory Will it not be a pride in the flesh to humble vs Is it not a triall of our soundnesse that we will endure for Christ Is it not a spurre to perfection Rather it is pride to deny our Master as if we were ashamed of him It is horrible Pride of life and loue of the world that causeth this deniall we dare not confesse him because we loue the praise of men more then the praise of God If we were truely humbled we would in all things glorifie God If we set not by our flesh we would not quitch at any troubles Remember what caused Peter to deny his Master and the Lord giues vs vnderstanding in all things 4. And is it not an imputation of pride when we are vniustly challenged to maintaine our Innocency We iustifie our selues we will be found in no fault we will condemne our Iudges of wrongfull measure Is it not the practise of the world to iustifie the wicked and condemne the righteous And yet it thinketh to doe God good seruice in censuring the children of God because they are contrary to
she hath lost and still increase in holinesse nor vtterly reiect vs for our failings yet would not he haue vs lie in them 6. Wherein obserue we the care of the Lord Iesus vnto his Church Doctrine 5. that though shee was not ouertaken with any grosse and apparant euils that she did not altogether faile in doing of good yet hee doth here reprooue her for some measure of decay for omitting what she should haue done intending thereby to prouoke her to perfection and to recouer her of her failings that so she may grow to perfect holinesse Whence we may further learne that the Saints of God are to be reprooued fos sinnes of omission euen for omitting or neglecting that which they should do yea for failing in the measure thereof aswel for grosse and apparant breaches of the will of God Thus haue the Prophets reprooued the people of God for failing in what they should haue done and for carelesnesse in holy dueties Thus was Eli chalenged of the Lord for neglecting to reprooue his sonnes 1 Sam. 2. Thus are the Corinthians charged for neglecting due preparation to the Holy Sacrament for neglecting the due execution against the incestuous person 1. Cor. 5.2.3 1. Cor. 11.23.24 The Reasons hereof 1. Because the Saints doe not easily take notice of these failings if they auoyd scandalous euils if they do in any sort performe outward duties yet they fayle in the measure as not performing them in zeale and courage and herein they many times thinke they may bee excused because they are not yet perfect because they are subiect to infirmities or by carnall wisedome bee induced to more moderation as they call it or abatement in them yea happily vnder pretence of Christian liberty may haue some allowance hereunto 2. It is that wherein the Saints doe most fayle in and may most dangerously deceiue themselues hereby as 3. That these sinnes of Omission may be occasions to giue vs vp to grosse and open sinnes euen to commit many foule offences against the Law of God as causing the Lord to leaue vs to our owne lusts that so neglecting what we should doe we may commit what we should not to the confounding of our carnal confidence and prouoking to more zeale as 2. Sam. 12. Are not many ouertaken with the sinnes of the time because they cannot mourne for them or couragiously remooue them 4. These sinnes of Omission doe most grieue Gods Spirit and chalenge the power of sanctification most hinder our growth in grace and are dangerous occasions to hypocrisie and lukewarmenesse And this serueth to reprooue the fashion of the Times which is either not to reprooue at all or at the most to reprooue for grosse and open sinnes as for faylings in what wee should doe these are either not touched at all or rather excused and iustified vnder the pretence of infirmities and in that specially the power of godlinesse is generally chalenged of too much more then needs therefore this measure is approoued as being what flesh and blood can doe what is common with the time what will best serue the loosenesse and indifferency thereof what will best secure vs against the snares thereof 2. Here is matter of tryall that if we take aswell to heart our faylings in what we should doe yea be humbled in our wants when wee haue done our best aswel as for grosse and open prophanesses this is a good testimony of the power of Grace that the Lord hath begun his worke in vs and so by this narrow tryall intends to make vs better 3. Wee are hereby also taught how to deale with our owne hearts euen to bee iealous of our selues especially for sayling in holy dueties to examine our hearts principally in this case how wee are colde in prayer insensible of Gods iudgement that we cannot mourne for the sinnes of the Time that wee do not reprooue the common sinnes thereof the abominable swearing prophaning of the Sabbaths c. for this shall be a meanes to keepe vs from the like abuses this shal be a gratious helpe to increase in holy dueties and so to submit to a conscionable ministery to this end comforting our selues that if wee belong to God our gratious Lord will not let vs scape in the least sayling but if his worde will not preuaile he will come against vs with some secret or open chastisement to recouer vs betimes and so to preuent vs from Apostasie that we may increase and follow hard after the marke And this is that which we further learne herein That though the Lord accept the purpose of the heart and will not quench the smoaking flaxe Doctrine 6. yet he would haue vs recouer our selues and grow in grace and follow hard after the marke we must abound in grace and be plentifull in good works The elect must goe forward and perseuere in grace labouring to perfection we must doe the first worke nay wee must thriue in well doing expressing outwardly what wee inwardly desire and subduing the whole man to the obedience of the spirit 1. Col. 1. Pet. 2.1.3 Ephes 1. Phil. 2. Pet. 1.8 Psalm 92. Iob 17.9 1. Thes 5. perseuering with all patience and constancie vnto the end Eph. 6.13 And that First because the Lord hath commanded That wee should be holy as he is holy 1. Pet. 1.13 Reasons 14 c. 2. Christ Iesus hath deserued to make vs perfit by his perfect obedience 3. And by his Spirit dayly dwelleth in vs to leade vs into all truth 4. Hereby we make sure our election and attaine to the certaine knowledge thereof 2. Pet. 1.10 Ioh. 7. 5. Hereby we make our selues meete for that glorious inheritance 1. Col. 11.12 6. Hereby wee prouoke others to glorifie God Matth. 5.16 17. and strengthen the weake 7. Wee daunt and confound the enemies of the Gospell 1. Pet. 2. stopping the mouth of all iniquitie and reproach 8. And adorne and beautifie our glorious profession 1. Phil. 27. 9. And gaine more glorie to our blessed God Math. 5.10 And this serueth Vses 1. Of reproose to those that deceiuer themselues with good intents and motions Of such as go backeward To condemne 1. all those that flatter their hearts with good intents when they are vtterly voide of good fruits Prou. 3. Esa 29. 2. Such as stent their measure of holinesse by flesh and blood and such carnall Rules as square thereto 3. As also those that vpon presumption that they are better then others cease to better themselues and so standing at a stay in religion goe backward therein 1. Cor. 4. Reuel 3. As feare to be noted of singularitie 4. And those likewise that feare to abound in holinesse zeale c. lest they be accounted singular noted men precise vaine-glorious c. As iustifie decayes 5. And these especially that haue not only slacked their zeale in religion but doe iustifie this decay as being now more wise sober c. in their profession where
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