all wicked men after death when they come into the other world will wish in earnest with all their hearts and souls that they had minded nothing but the service of God and exercising themselves unto godliness There there it is that the whole world that now lyeth in wickedness and will not believe the word and wisdom of their Maker will all set their hands and seals to the truth of that which I am now endeavouring to evince When God sends his Officer death to arrest sinners for the vaste summs which they owe to his justice for their breach of his laws and this Serjeant according to command from the King of Kings executes his writ and delivers his prisoner to the Divels Gods Iaylors and they seize as so many roaring Lions on the poor trembling prey and hale them to their own den hell that dungeon of eternal darkness where sinners see and are assured that all their meat must be flakes of fire and brimstone and all their drink a cup of pure wrath without mixture and all their Musick howling and weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth and all their rest torments day and night for ever and ever and all their Companions frightful Devils and a cursed crew of damned wretches and all this to come upon them for not making religion their business whilst they were on earth Then O then they will wish with all their souls and strengths again and again that they had minded the Christian mans calling and made religion their business whilst they were in this world though they had been slaves or beggars or vagabonds and had lived in poverty and disgrace and prisons and fetters during their whole pilgrimage Now Reader if the witness of one enemy be a double testimony what is the witness of all the enemies of God and Godliness on the behalf of the Lord and his ways against themselves Shall it not prevail with thee to set speedily and diligently about the work of Christianity Ah how dumb wilt thou be struck another day if thou wilt not believe either God or good men or thy conscience or thy companions or all the world 12. and Lastly Is not that worthy to be made thy business upon which thine eternal life or death salvation or damnation doth depend Consider it friend here is salvation and damnation before thee eternal salvation and eternal damnation and they depend upon thy making religion thy business or neglect of it O what weight is there in these few words Make religion thy business and thou art eternally blessed be formal and careless about it and thou art cursed for ever upon the one and the other turneth thine eternal estate The Almighty God hath under his own hand set down this making religion thy business to be the onely terms upon which heaven shall be had and it is impossible to alter or abate his price Ioh. 6. 27. Mat. 6. 33. Philp. 2. 12. Canst thou be so foolish as to think that Christ and happiness and eternal life can be obtained upon easier conditions whea he must make God a liar and the Gospel a lie which the Divel himself is not so wicked as to think possible who arriveth at the port of bliss without exercising himself to Godliness The promises ever since the world was had the same conditions and ever will whilst the world shall endure The Gospel is therefore called the everlasting Gospel because it will continue without the least change or alteration the same for ever Thou mayst be confident that God doth not as some indiscret Citizens ask much more for his eternal glory and life men then he intendeth to take I say again ponder it for this argument hath more in it then thine understanding can possibly conceive or imagine Is not that worthy to become thy business and main work in this world upon which thine everlasting weal or wo thine endless estate in the other world doth depend Reader if that doth not deserve all thy time and pains and soul and heart and infinitely more upon which unchangable joy or eternal torments hang then I am sure nothing doth Alas all the things of this world whether about food or raiment or houses or lands or wives or children nay and life it self are but toys and trifles and shadows and nothings to an everlasting condition in the other world O that thou wert but able to conceive what it is to be eternally in fullness of pleasure or eternally in extremity of pain to be frying in flames for ever or bathing in rivers of delight for ever To enjoy God in his ordinances though it be but imperfectly and in a low degree one hour one day how sweet is it His tabernacles are highly amiable upon that account One day in thy Courts is better then a thousand elswhere But to enjoy God fully immediately and for ever too O how superlatively how infinitely pleasant and delightful will it be To be in Gods lower house though but a little time under some pious powerful Minister how reviving and refreshing is it But to dwell in his upper house for ever O blessed are they that dwell in that house they always praise thee The eternal presence of God will cause an eternal absence of all evil and an eternal confluence of all good O Reader who will not work hard labour much exercise himself to Godliness night and day do any thing that God commandeth suffer any thing that God inflicteth forbear any thing that God forbiddeth to be saved eternally to be infinitely blessed in the fruition of God for ever Surely its worth the while to obey the counsel of God in order to eteâ—nal salvation On the other side eternal damnatian how dreadful is it if it be but the scratch of a pin for ever or a little ach of the head for ever it woâ—ld be very doleful but a violent head-ach or tooth-ach or fits of the collick or stone for ever oh how intolerable would they be But ah how terrible is the wrath of God for ever darkness of darkness for ever the fire of hell for ever to which all the wracks and torments in this life are next to nothing Ah who can dwell in everlasting burnings I suppose thou woulst avoid thy wicked companions and forbear thy sinful courses do any thing thou couldst rather then to boyl in a furnace of scalding water for a thousand years nay one year and wilt thou not make religion thy business when otherwise God himself hath told thee thou shalt boil in a furnace of scalding wrath infinitely worse then scalding lead for ever ever ever Consider what thou hast read and the Lord give thee understanding that thou mayst be wise to eternal salvation Reader these twelve Questions being proposed I desire thee to answer them to him before whom thou shalt answer ere long for all the motions of thy heart and passages of thy whole life and I shall not detain thee longer in the passage though it be much
man in this world The greatness of the price the blood of God doth to every rational understanding fully speak the preciousness of the pearl Now how clear and plain is it in the word of truth that the Redeemer gave himself to redeem us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of goodworks Tit. 2. 14. That being delivered out of the hands of our enemies we might serve him in holiness and righteousness all our days Surely Reader that which the Son of God who thought it no robbery to be equal with God thought worthy the taking on himself the form of a servant and the suffering the spite and malice of men the wrath and rage of devils and the frowns and fury of his father to purchase for thee doth deserve to be minded and regarded by thee as thee onely thing thou followest after and setst thy self about during thy pilgrimage Alas All the pains and labour and watching and working and time and strength and lives of all the men in the world are not equivalent to one drop of the blood of Christ or the least degree of his humiliation and wilt thou deny to make that thy business for which he shed so much blood and laid down his life 6. Is not that worthy to be made thy business which is the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost and for which the Spirit is infused into the hearts of men The worth of the Father doth speak the desert of the Child Though men who pretend to honour the Father for his work of Creation and to admire the Son for his work of Redemption blasphemously deride and wretchly slight sanctification which is the work of the Spirit yet undoubtedly the work of the Spirit is no whit inferiour to either nay is the beauty and glory both of Creation and Redemption as being the end and perfection of both The Father created the world in order to the new creation by the Spirit as that choice work man ship which he resolved should bring him in the largest revenue of praise and honour T is the new heavens wherein dwelleth righteousness that doth most declare the glory of God and the Firmament of sparkling graces that sheweth forth his most choice and curious handi-work Sanctification is the travel of the Sons soul a spiritual sacred life the great end of his death The Son redeemed man from slavery to sin and Satan and unto the service of righteousness by layino down the price thereof his own most precious blood One of the Sons main works was to purchase the re-impression of Gods Image on man the actual performance of which is the peculiar office of the Spirit hence he tells us Ioh. 14. I go away that the comforter may come and again Ioh. 6. The Spirit was not yet given i. e. so plentifully and universally because Iesus was not yet glorified And therefore we read that in few days after his ascension to acquaint us what was one main end and fruit of his death and suffering he powreth down the holy Ghost in an extraordinary manner and measure So that Creation the work of the Father doth as it were provide the matter the wax Redemption the work of the Son buyeth the Image of God the Seal and Sanctification the work of the Spirit stampeth it on the soul. Now Reader doth not the Sanctification of the Soul deserve to be thy main business when it is the curious work of the holy Spirit as that which the Fathers eye was chiafly on in thy Creation and the Sons in thy Redemption Is not that worthy to be made thy business which addeth a real worth to every thing and without which nothing is of worth or value Every one will grant that what is so richly excellent as to ennoble and add an intrinsick value to whatsoever it is affixed and the lack of which maketh every thing be they in other respects never so precious low and mean must needs deserve to be our business Truely Friend such is holiness it makes the word of God a precious word more to be embraced then gold yea then much fine gold The Ordinances of God precious Ordinances the people of God a precious people the excellent of the earth What is the reason that some in the account of him who is best able to judge though they be never so rich or beautiful or high and honourable in the world are called Dross Chaff Stubble Dust Filth Vessels of dishonour and counted Dogs Swine Vermine Serpents Cockatrices but want of holiness What is the reason that some though poor and despised and mean and houseless and friendless are esteemed by him who can best discern true worth The glory of the World the glory of Christ a Royal Diadem a Royal Priesthood higher then the Kings of the earth more excellent then their Neighbours Princes in all lands such of whom the world is not worthy but because they are godly persons an holy people Why are some Angels advanced to the highest Heavens waiting always in the presence of the King of Kings honoured to be his Ministers and Deputies in the Government of this lower world when other Angels are thrown down into the lowest Hell for ever banished the Celestial Court and bound in chains of darkness as prisoners to the day of execution but holiness in the former and want of it in the latter 8. Is not that worthy to be made thy business which will and can refresh and revive thee in an hour of death and enable thee to sing and triumph at the approach of the King of terrors The Master of Moral Philosophy tells us that its worth the while for a man to be all the time he lives learning how to dye well The unerring spirit of God acquaints us that it ought to be our great work to be wise for our latter end Doubtless it must be a rich costly cordial indeed and deserves not a little time and pains and charge to prepare which can keep a man from fainting in such a day of extremity wherein our honours and treasures friends wives children nay our flesh and hearts will fail and forsake us That cannot be of mean worth which can make a man encounter his last enemy with courage and conquest at the sight of which Kings and Captains and Nobles and the greatest Warriers have trembled as leaves with the wind and their hearts melted as grease before the fire Now Reader Godliness is that wine which will cause thee to sing at the approach of this Goliah and enable thee as Leviathan to laugh at the shaking of his spear when whole hosts of others without Godliness flie like Cowards before it and would give all they are worth to avoid fighting with it Heark what a challenge the godly sends to this adversary daring it to meet him in the field O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the
to live honestly not onely to mean well and think honestly or to talk but to live honestly 2. Their honesty was universal In all things not in one or two particulars willing to live honestly Visibility and universality are Popish marks of a true Church and Protestant marks of a true Christian An Hypocritical Iehu may do some things a Murderous Herod may do many things but an upright Paul is in all things willing to live honestly A Ship that is not of the right make cannot sayl trim and a Clock whose Spring is faulty will not always go true so a person of unsound principles cannot be constant and even in his practices The Religion of those that are inwardly rotten is like a fire in some cold climates which doth almost fry a man before when at the same time he is freezing behind they are zealous in some things as holy duties which are cheap and cold in other things especially when they cross their profit or credit as the Mount Helga is covered with Snow on one side when it burneth and casteth out cynders on the other side but the holiness of them that are sound at heart is like the natural heat which though it resort most to the vitals of sacred performances yet as need is it warmeth and hath an influence upon all the outward parts of civil transactions It may be said of true sanctity as of the Sun there is nothing hid from the heat thereof Psa. 19. 5. When all the parts of the body have their due nourishment distributed to them it s a sign of an healthy temper As the Saint is discribed somtimes by a clean heart Psa. 73. 1. Mat. 5. 8. so also sometimes by clean hands Iob. 17. 9. because he hath both the holiness of his heart is seen at his fingers ends He is as the Ark pitched within and without with the same as he is sometimes characterised by sacred duties Psa. 24. 6. and 119. Rev. 1. 3. so at other times by righteous dealings Psa. 15. Isai. 58. because he mindeth both if either be separated from the man you kill the Christian for though he may be a man without either he cannot be a Christian without both The Greek Word for Sincerity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is very elegant and signifieth quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a trial as is made of things by the Sun-light as the Eagle according to Aristotle bringeth her young to the Sun to try whether they are Spurious or Legitimate so the actions of a sincere Christian will endure the open Air the light of the Sun He is as the street of the New Ierusalem transparent glass all one without and within you may see through him He dares appeal both to God and men for the holiness and righteousness of his conversation Ye are witnesses and God also how holily and justly we have had our conversation in the world 1 Thes. 2. 10. Reader never please thy self in the name of a Christian if thou hast not the nature of Christianity which giveth God and Man their due T is not the great sound of a Professor nor the loud noise of holy performances that will speak thee sincere if thou makest not conscience of thy carriage towards thy Neighbours The Sadduces derive their name from Zeduchim or Zadducaeus a just man but the worst men saith the Historian got the best names The Alcaron of the Turks hath its name from brightness Al in the Arabick being as much as Karan in the Hebrew to shine or cast forth a brightness when t is full of darkness and fraught with falshoods T will be little comfort to thee though the world commond thee for a holy man if God condemn thee for an Hypocrite Doth not the word of truth tell thee that they who are partial in the Law have no part in the Gospel and that none are justified by Christ but those that are just towards Christians Do not think thy spiritual constitution to be sound if plague-sores break out on thy body The Gods saith Aristotle do not so much respect the costliness of the Sacrifice as the conversation of the Sacrificer Sure I am the true God rejects those prayers seem they never so glorious where the Petitioner is unrighteous All thy Oblations will be vain if thy conversation be vicious the sweetest Incense is unsavoury if the hands that offer it be filthy Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomination to me the New Moones and Sabbaths the calling of Assemblies I cannot away it is iniquity even the solemn meeting Tour new Moons and your solemn Feasts my soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear them And when ye spread forrh your hands I will hide mine eyes from you Yea when you make many prayers I will not hear But what is the reason that all these Ordinances which were of Gods own appointment are thus rejected Your HANDS are full of blood Isa. 1. 13 14 15. An unclean hand tainteth whatsoever it toucheth Secondly Consider The Credit of Religion is engaged in thy publique dealings More eyes are upon us when we walk abroad then when we are at home and therefore it concerns us to be handsome in our habits and very circumspect in our carriage A Professour may be rotten-hearted in holy duties and the world never the wiser they are ignorant of it and so do not disgrace Religion for it but if he be once unrighteous in his dealings the whole Country will quickly ring of it and cry him up for a Cheat and his Religion for a cozenage God indeed looks most to our hearts whether they be sound and accordingly esteemeth of our performances but men look onely to our hands whether they be clean and accordingly judge of our profession If the servants of religion behave themselves unseemly their Mistress shall be sure to bear the blame When David had defiled Bathsheba the name of God was blasphemed A Saint cannot do evil before men but he occasions sinners to speak evil of God If there be any spots on a Christians Coat the world will soon spie them and be ready in scorn to ask Christ himself as the Patriarchs did Iacob See whether this be thy Sons coat or no To look high by thy profession and live low and basely in thy practices will betray both thy self and the Gospel to scorn and derision Augustin confessâ—th there were many such in his time who professing the Christian Religion did by their licentious lives give great scandal and with them the Maniches were wont to reproach the whole Church of Christ though the Church did disown them and though she could not reclaim them she did disclaim them Aug. de moribus Ecclesiae Cap. 34. The wicked first watch for a godly mans fall and then are big with blasphemy against Godliness Like Miners they work hard though unseen to blow up a Saints name The Psalmist tells us They compassed us in our steps
great mercy to our selves The Oyl of grace like the Widows 2 King 4. 6. increaseth by powring out an opportunity is a special season which God affordeth us for the benefit of our own and others souls When time and helps meet and marty their off-spring is opportunity Thou dealest with those at one time whom thou mayst never see again possibly their hearts being big with sin they bring forth in thy presence either swearing or slandering or mocking at holiness now God gives thee an opportunity by a prudent affectionate reproof and by serious savoury advice to kill those brats of Hell as soon as they are born and to make the Parents barren in regard of such a cursed brood for ever after which if thou neglectest thou shalt never have again The Bird of opportunity is usually upon the wing she flieth away of a sudden and we never fee her again therefore whilst thou hast her make the best use of her Thou thinkest it may be that thy counsel to such men would be but cast away as pure water in a nasty sink but do thy work which is to endavour their conversion and leave the success which is Gods work to him Benhadads Souldier drew a Bow at a venture and his Arrow pierced within the joynts of the Harness and slew Ahab the man shot the Arrow at he knew not who but God levelled it at the King amongst all the company Do thou draw the Bow according to thy duty and God may so direct the Arrow of admonition as to make it enter the sinners heart and let out the very life of his sin Sometimes things are done best on a sudden Tiberius was happier in his extempore speeches then those which he made upon study and premeditation Thou mayst as Philip to the Eunuch fall in with a person on a sudden whom thou never sawest before nor shalt ever see again and by seasonable counsel be instrumental to his eternal comfort It may be thou meetest with such as do believe then thy care must be to build them up Saints must be Land-markâ— to direct others in the way to life Apollos was a stranger to Aquila and Priscilla but coming into his company they expounded to him the way of God more perfectly Act. 18. 25. The members of the mystical body must be helpful to one another Christians with whomsoever they converse ought to endeavour either their gaining to or growing up in Jesus Christ. Alexanders body was of so exact and rare a constitution saith the Historian that it perfumed every place where he came The gracious soul being it self filled with spikenard and Calamus and Cassia and all sweet spices may well leave a sweet savour among the persons with whom he converseth They are dead and withered grains of Corn out of which there doth not one ear spring up A Good Wish of a Christian in Relation to his dealings with all men wherein the former Heads are applied THe Living and Eternal God whose I am and whom I am infinitely bound to serve whose unquestionable dominion over me calleth for universal subjection from me having commanded me in his word to be holy as he is holy in all manner of conversation and to walk by rule in my commerce with men as well as in my immediate converses with his glorious Majesty I wish in general that I may make Religion my business not onely in my sacred duties but also in my civil dealings that I may trade with God in divine performances as if men saw me and traffique with men in humane affairs as knowing that God beholdeth me and herein dayly exercise my self to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and towards all men I Wish in particular that my earthly actions may never clash with or incroach upon my heavenly calling that I may not endanger the loss of Religion in the throng and crowd of outward dealings but may be so limitted and directed therein by Gods Law that all my works may be â—orship and when I am labouring for my body and family I may be furthering the good of my soul and my eternal felicity that as my chief natural quality Reason commandeth in my lower actions of eating and drinking so my supernatural excellency Religion may bear sway in every passage of my life Lord who hast given me a perfect rule and appointed me to order my life in all things according to it be pleased to write all thy laws in my heart that I may be tender of both Tables love thee with all my soul and strength and love my Neighbour as my self for thy sake If one link of the golden chain of thy commands be broken the whole is dissolved they love one another too well to part company where one precept is wilfully despised all are disobeyed Thou hast said it He that breaks one is guilty of all O enable me to be as universal in my conformity and duty as thou art in thy mercy and bounty for then shall I not be ashamed when I shall have respect to all thy Commandements I Wish that the soundness and integrity of my heart may appear in the cleaneness and purity of my hands The sound will speak what Mettal the Bell is of the Flowers that shew themselves above ground will declare the nature of the root which lieth hid How often doth the face discover the faults of the vital parts If my tongue and speech be double my spirit cannot be single If my actions be unrighteous my inward man must needs be irreligious How grossely do I delude my self if I presume that I am holy because I mind the first Table if I be dishonest and live in the breach of the second when there is so much Religion in the duties of the second Table that there can be no Religion without them My deceitful heart is apt to suggest that it s but a small matter If I should supplant my Brother and that there is no such need of care in my ordinary outward carriage But my Soveraign to whom I have sworn Allegiance hath told me in the word of truth Mat. 23. 23. that justice and mercy are the weighty matters of the Law and hath commanded me Micah 6. 8. to do justly and to love mercy throughout my whole life O that I might never allow my self in the breach of those precepts which in the worlds blind judgment are the least of his commands and by my pattern teach men so lest I be found at last the least in the Kingdom of Heaven Lord thou hast enjoyned me to keep thy Law as the Apple of mine eye Prov. 7. I know a small thing will pain a little dust will offend mine eye but thy Law is infinitely more tender thy Word forbids and condemneth the smallest wandring the very conception of sin in a vain thought much more its birth in an unrighteous action is abominable and odious to it Thou hast commanded me to keep thy
swell never so much by unlawful means yet t is but like the swelling of the dropsie a presage of death O my soul what will it avail thee to be rich here and to be a beggar hereafter and that for ever Thou pretendest to purity but thy God tells thee that holiness and righteousness are like Husband and Wife joyned by him together and none may part them asunder Thou art unsound in all thy sacred duties if thou art unrighteous in thy civil dealings When the unjust dealer is cast into the unquenchable fire what will become of the great Professour What is the hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God shall take away his soul Iob 27. 8. When the Thief is taken and carried to the Goal all the money he hath stollen is taken from him When Death seiseth thee and sendeth thee to the Prison of Hell all thy ill gotten goods must be left behind When thou art lost eternally what will become of thy unjust gains Thy Children may be ranting with it on Earth and thou art roaring for it in Hell Ah! what dear contracts dost thou make to sell thy present peace and thy future endless joy for a little perishing pelfe The comfort of thy life now consisteth in communion with thy God but he that saith He hath fellowship with God and walketh in darkness is a lyar 1 Ioh. 1. 6. Thy God hates to taste of those Waters which run out of such musâ—y Vessels Muchless will he suffer any of such rotten hearts and stinking breaths to draw neer to him in Heaven Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. No such Cattel shall ever come into the Celestial Court Unrighteous Heathens shall be shut out of Heaven and surely then unrighteous Christians shall be cast into the lowest Hell O let the fear of thy God ever possess thee that the love of this World may never pollute thee Manifest thy love to thy Saviour by loving thy Neighbour as thy self Blessed God who lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity the Scepter of whose Kingdom is a righteous Scepter who wilt render unto every man his righteousness and who hast appeared to me by that grace which teacheth me to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live righteously in this present evil world Let thy good Spirit fill me with all the fruits of righteousness Do thou so lead me in the paths of equity for thy names sake that I may follow after righteousness and inherit a â—ure reward I Wish that I may be righteous in every relation wherein I stand and towards all persons with whom I deal that I may give to Superiours the things that are theirs to Inferiours the things that are theirs lest by denying either I rob all My God is no respecter of persons but just in all his ways and righteous in all his works When shall I imitate his blessed Majesty He tells me Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doth righteousness at all times If I expect the blessing propounded I must mind the righteousness enjoyned and that is to be righteous at all seasons O my soul what encouragement hast thou to do justly upon all occasions thy righteousness shall have a large recompence Thy Children may fare the better The just man walketh in his integrity and his Children are blessed after him Nay thy whole Family The voice of joy and Salvation is in the Tabernacle of the righteous Whereas thou mayst fear that thy plain dealing may bring thee and thine to poverty thou bast his promise that he will make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous Above all thou thy self wilt have the greatest solace Thy righteousness shall answer for thee in time to come and whereas the dishonest wealth of others is a corroding worm to gnaw their consciences thy justice will afford thee present comfort In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare but the righteous doth sing and rejoyce Prov. 29. 6. Ah! who would not sow righteousness when he shall certainly reap so much mercy Though others as if they had pitchy hands take to themselves whatsoever they touch to the defiling of their own souls and like whirlpools suck in all that comes neer them to their own destruction do thou mete out all thy dealings by that royal measure Whatsoever thou wouldst that men should do to thee do the same to them for this is the Law and the Prophets When thou art buying or selling or about any bargain with thy Neighbour reflect upon thy self Would I be glad to be thus dealt with Were I in this mans case would I be willing that he should serve me as I serve him Am I as plain-hearted as true as just in my carriage towards him as I would desire him to be in his trading with me Would I be contented to be defrauded should I take it well to be defamed Is this action of mine such as I could be contented to receive the like Do I in this business love my Neighbour as my self Lord who hast promised that the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance in this world and shall shine as the Sun in the other world and who hast put the unrighteous and lovers of themselves in the front of that black list which is for the unquenchable fire do thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies that I may serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life I Wish that I may mind righteousness in my words as well as in my works and not dare to hide deceitful and foul intentions under fair and fawning expressions To say what is true and to be true to what I say is the property of a true Christian My God is a God that cannot lye his people are a people that will not lye If I therefore be found a lyar how unlike am I both to God and his people Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight Though lying lips may be perfumed with sweet words to men yet God smells the stench and loatheth the ill savour of those rotten inwards whence they proceed And though truth may beget hatred from men such sweet breath is his love and delight He is the God of truth His Law is the truth His Gospel is the word of truth His Son is the true and faithful Witness O that truth of heart truth of words and truth in deeds may be all in me which are so agreeable to the true God and so acceptable to the God of truth Can that tongue lye so loud to men which even now called so loud on God Shall those hands be filching in my Neighbours pocket which were so lately lifted up to Heaven in prayer Is my speech given me for my glory and shall it be the driveling of a Divel that father of lyes Lord let
enough to check the greatest for their crimes How plain was Seneca in reproving Nero Diogenes in reproving Alexander and Zeno Nearchus It s said of Suetonius that in writing the lives of the twelve Caesars he took the same liberty in declaring their vices which they took to commit them and shall not Christians be as bold to check sin as others are to act it Reader what love dost thou show to thy Neighbour if thou seest him wounding and piercing his inestimable soul and thou dost not endeavour though against his will to hold his hand If thou shouldst see him take a Knife to stab himself at the heart thou wouldst not stay to ask his leave or fear his anger but do thy utmost to hinder him and canst thou see him destroying his soul and not seek to prevent him That pity without question is the best which relateth to the better part There was a barbarous Law among the Lacedemonians That no man should tell his Neighbour any ill news that befel him but every one should be left in process of time to find it out himself Alas what will become of poor sinners if none should tell them what they are doing whither they are going till they come to find it in the place of torments Were love burning in our hearts as fire was in the Temple or were our faces towards one another like those Cherubims which covered the Mercy Seat with their wings we should not onely not lie in sin our selves but also endeavour that others should not die in their sins That person who refused to smite his Neighbour when commanded in the name of the Lord was slain by a Lion 1 King 20. 35. If we refuse to smite sin Gods wrath will smite us Because this duty is of such concernment I shall give thee some few brief directions 1. Be sure that which thou reprovest be a sin and not a lawful or indifferent thing Some shew much heat but little holiness in keeping a great stir about nothing The Israelites raised a great Army to fight against their Brethren upon a supposition that they had built an Altar for sacrifice Iosh. 22. 16. Eli was mistaken in chiding Hannah for drunkenness and thinking she was not sober because she was almost overwhelmed with sorrow 1 Sam. 2. T is dangerous to apply corroding medicines upon supposition that the person hath a festered sore or to cut a man for the stone who is not troubled with that distemper It were better by much to be silent then to cry out against that which we cannot by Scripture prove to be sin He that reproves the deed will do more hurt then good if he be not able to convince the doer Tit. 1. 9. To some it may be said as Iob to his friends who accused him of Hypocrisie because of his calamity as if the stick could not be straight because t was brought to the fire How forcible are right words but what doth your arguing reprove Job 6. 25. Right words have great weight naked truth will be too hard for armed error but what power have mistaken or misapplied arguments what doth such arguing reprove Such arguings seldom reprove any but the arguer and him they always reprove 2. Reprove seriously Reproof is an edged tool and must not be jested wiâ—h Cold Reproofs are like the noise of Cannons a great way off nothing affrighting us He that reproves sin merrily as one that takes a pride to shew his wit and make the company laugh will destroy the sinner instead of the sin There are those that spit out their friends with their tongues and laugh them into enemies Sharpness and acuteness doth ill in sportful festivals but it becomes purging potions Lightness is commendable is nothing but worst in things that are weighty A vain jesting admonition is like rubbing a person with a poisoned Oyl which spreads the more for being put into such a fleeting suppleness The Areopagites banished Stilpo for proving by his Sophistry that Minerva was no Goddess alledging this for their reason that it was not safe for any to dally with things that were Divine Reproof is strong Physick and worketh many times to purpose and therefore is not to be given in jest Sin which is the object of it is not to be played with nor Hell its consequent a jesting matter Titus 1. 13. The Apostle enjoynes Titus to reprove sharply the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may be sound in the faith He that mindeth his Patients health will not toy or trifle or play with his mortal diseases the flesh must feel the plaister or it will never eat up the corruption in it Shouldst thou apply an healing plaister to skin the wound aloft when there is need of a corrosive to take away the dead flesh thou wouldst be false and unfaithful to thy friend When the water was bitter and the ground barren Elisha cast a cruse of Salt into it and it healed both Reproof like Salt must have in it both sharpness and savouriness Alas how fierce is that wrath how hot is that fire to which poor sinners are liable and wilt thou sport with their souls and joyn with them in making a mock of sin Saints must be zealous not onely in good works but also in reproving evil workers The Command is Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their trangression and the house of Jacob their sin Isa. 58. 1. This belongs in some sense to every member as well as to the Minister They must reprove sin powerfully cry aloud lift up thy voice as a trumpet particularly shew my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin Admonition without serious Application is like an Arrow with too many Feathers which though we level at the Mark is taken by the Wind and carried quite from it Some men shoot their Reprehensions like Pellets through a Trunk with no more strength then will kill a Sparrow those make sinners beleive that sin is no such dreadful evil and the wrath of God no such frightful end He that would hit the mark and recover the sinner must draw his arrow of Reproof home Reproof must be powerful the hammer of the word breaks not the heart if it be lightly layd on If the flesh doth not feel the plaister it will hardly be healed by it It must also be so particular that the offendor may think himself concerned Some in reproof will seem to aim at the sinner but so order it that their arrows shall be sure to miss him As Domitian when a Boy held for a mark afar off his hand spread with his fingers severed he shot his arrows so that all hit the empty spaces between his fingers Be the reproof never so gracious the Plaister never so good it will be ineffectual if not applied to the Patient 2 Sam. 12. 7. Act. 2. 36 37. 3.
of fire be kept from consuming and as Gideons fleece be moyst when all the earth about it is dry O that I might as Fish retain my freshness in the saltest waters and never savour others vices or follow their steps who depart from the Commandements of my God Lord whose promise is to thy Disciples They shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them Mark 16. 18. Is it not thine own hand writing and canst thou fail of fulfilling it O let thy powerful presence accompany me whithersoever thy providence calleth me Let thy preventing grace preserve me from receiving harm and thy quickening mercy enable me to do good that whereas thine enemies are apt to speak evil of me as an evil doer they may be ashamed who falsly accuse my good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 3. 16. I Wish that I may be so far from receiving prejudice that I may be profited by the worst of those with whom I associate As my God created nothing in vain so he permits nothing but to some good purpose T is true wicked men are Dogs Mat. 7. 12. prone to faun on me that they may defile me but even of Dogs there may be a good use The Flock is the more safe from Wolves and the House from Theives through their watchfulness They are dust apt to breed vermine but some creatures live upon it as their Aliment and in it as their Element and the basest rubbish may be serviceable about the foundation of a building The Guts and Garbage of some beasts are food to others Doth not experience teach us that many Fowls draw nourishment from unclean and filthy Carcasses Why may not my stomach be so good and my spiritual constitution so strong as to concoct such unwholsom food Lycurgus taught the Lacedemonians vertue not onely by the pattern of their Sober Ephori but also of the drunken Helots their slaves Poisons are as necessary as the best diet if they be in the hands of him who is able to improve and prepare them Beer is the better the more lively and brisk for the grouns that are in the same vessel with it O that my graces might be the more quick and active for the lees of others vices that their sins might increase my sanctity both in making me more thankful to him who maketh me to differ and more watchful over my self lest I fall from my own stedfastness The Mariners are directed in their sailings by Rocks and Shelves as well as by the Northern star My God instructeth Jonah by the shadow of a Weed Go to the Pismire thou sluggard consider her provident ways and be wise to follow them Observe the men of this world O my soul consider their wicked ways and be wise to avoid them Ask these beasts of the earth and they will teach thee nay shame thee How unwearied are they in the pursuit of the world how diligent about their works of darkness how often do they lose their sleep to do mischief and neglect their food and callings to indulge their fleshly lusts whilst thou whose Master is the Lord of Glory whose service is the onely freedom and whose recompence will be infinite art loytering and lazing upon the bed of security O that thou mayst learn industry about the concernments of heaven and eternity from others industry about the affairs of this earth for a few days and take shame to thy self that Satans Servants should be more forward to gratifie their Soul-destroyer then thou art to please the blessed Saviour Lord it is thy prerogative to cause light out of darkness and to bring good out of evil teach thy servant to gather figs from these thistles and to be the better because others are so bad Because the wicked forsake thy law therâ—fore let me love thy commandements above gold yea above much fine gold I Wish that though in pursuance of my calling I do afford my â—ompany to sinners I may never bear them company in their sins True Gold will not change its colour or nature for the hottest fire The Rock keeps its place and is immoveable notwithstanding the continual dashing of the water The earth is not hurt either by the heat of Summer or cold of Winter Though much dirt be flung at a post well oyled it will not stick My God hath enjoyned me Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness Whence I learn these three things 1. That sin is a work of darkness The Prince of darkness is its Father It s his natural off-spring therefore called the work of the Devil Iohn 8. 44. A dark heart is its Mother there it s conceived thence it s brought forth In dark holes these vermine breed and swarm Ephes. 4. 18. Hos. 4. 1 2 3. 2 Cor. 4. 4. It s portion is utter darkness blackness of darkness for ever all its inheritance lieth in darkness and the shadow of death 2. I learn that the works of darkness are unfruitful The sinner makes a sad market of all his wicked wares He soweth vice and reapeth vanity promiseth himself much pleasure and sindeth it wholly unprofitable What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death O what a frightful monster is this miscreant It hath fruitlesness in the beginning shame in the middle and death in the conclusion 3. I learn that I onght not to have fellowship with these unfruitful works of darkness Indeed I have little reason if I consider the two former particulars yet how prone am I to it either by my silence when they sin or by my secret complyance with them in their sin My corrupted heart is like Touch-wood ready to take fire by the least spark When others are bold to blaspheme God I am apt through an ungodly bashfulness to hold my peace little considering that I must one day answer as well for my sinful silence as for every idle word It s my duty to hold the jewel of my faith fast lest Satan steal it from me to hold my profession to the end lest by leaving my Colours I lose my Crown but not to hold my peace in the quarrel of truth lest by suffering sin in others I wrong my own soul Where is my love to others if I stand still whilst they destroy themselves It may well break the strings of my tongue as of the Son of Cyrus when sin like the Persian is ready to kill my Father or Brother or Neighbour Evil men are like Traytours with whom if we act or conceal we are guilty Where is my love to my self if I take others intolerable burthens on my own back Sin is a load too heavy for the stoutest for the strongest to carry Should I by my silence give consent to others Oaths or Lyes or Ieers at godliness and godly men I become a party in their bonds and liable to make satisfaction for their debts and may
with their firebrands to burn up the good Corn As Simeon and Levi they are brethren in iniquity the instruments of cruelty are in their habitations Shall they as Ananias and Saphira agree together to tempt the Spiâ—it of the Lord and shall not Saints agree together to please the Spirit of the Lord Surely if sinners have their Come with us let us lay wait for blood let us all have one purse Saints may well â—ave their Come let us go up to the House of the Lord Come let us walk in the light of the Lord â—sa 2. 5. Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a Covenant not to be forgotten It is confiderable that though sinners differ never so much amongst themselves yet they can unite against the Lord and his chosen Herod and Pilate before at odds can comply as friends and joyn together against the Lord Christ. As Dogs of differing colours disagreeing bigness and of several kinds that sometimes for bones and scrapâ— fight and mangle and tear one another can with one voice and cry and consent pursue the poor innocent Hare So the Kennel of Sathans Hell-hounds though sometimes they quarrel among themselves about the honours and riches of this world and are ready to rent one another in peices yet can with open mouth and full cry all joyn to persecute the harmless Lambs of Christ. We read of such different mettal such a speckled rabble gathered together against Israel that one would think the diversity of their Countries Constitutions Customes Languages Lusts should have kept them from melting and running into one piece Yet Lo they all unite against Gods people They take crafty counsel against thy people They consult against thy hidden ones They have said Come let us cut them off from being a Nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance For they have consulted together with one consent they are confederate against thee The Tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites of Moab and the Hagarens Gebal and Ammon and Amalek the Philistines and the Inhabitants of Tyre Assur also is joyned with them and they have holpen the Children of Lot Psalm 83. 3 to 9. Shall such a cursed crew agree together to pull down Sion and not the blessed Company of Gods Children unite to build it up O! how shameful is it that Satans black Regiment should with one consent watch for us as the Dragon for the Man-child to devour us And as Herod for the Babes of Bethlehem to destroy us And that we should not watch over one another for our safety and defence It may well be our grief that the Children of this World are wiser in their Generation then the Children of Light T is true the combination of wicked men is no true union but rather a conspiracy against God and against their own souls Satan serving them by drawing them into this league and making them to be of one hellish heart infinitely worse then Scyron and Procrustes famous Robbers in Attica served the poor Travellers why by cutting short the taller and stretching out the lesser brought all to an even length with their bed of brass Yet such a confederacy may well move us to pity such distracted ones and doth too much reflect upon us for our dissentions Thirdly Consider the backwardness of our own hearts to any good and the need we have of all helps to quicken them towards heaven How averse are our souls to any thing that is spiritual How many excuses pretences delays will they make To sin man needs no Tutor he can ride post to Hell without a spur but how backward to do that work which he must do or be undone for ever The stone is not more untoward to flye nor lead to swim then our carnal hearts to exercise any grace or perform any duty incumbent on us Our head-strong passions hurry us our worldly interests byass us and our desperately wicked hearts draw us from God and Heaven If the wood be green there is need of constant blowing or the fire will go out when the iron is so dull it must go often to the Whetstone or little work can be done with it It s no wonder that the Spirit of God useth precept upon precept line upon line here a little and there a little when man is like the wilde Asses colt so blockish and dull to understand Gods way and so backward and heavy to walk in it How much are we in the dark about the ways and Word and Truths of God! and how apt through mistakes to stumble and fall calling evil good and good evill and do we not want their company who carry a light a lanthorn with them How often do we flatter our selves that we are rich in grace and in the favour of God when its little so looking on our selves through the false spectacles of self-love and doth it not behove us to be much in their society who will set before us a true looking-glass wherein we may behold the native countenance of our souls without any fraud or falshood We are full of doubts and want counsel and Physitians that are able themselves will in their own cases ask advice of others We are liable to many sorrows and want comfort and who can give it us better then those who fetch all their cordial waters out of Scripture We are apt to slumber and nod and neglect our spiritual watch the flesh is drowsie and the cares of the world fume up into our heads and incline us to sleep what then will become of us if we have none to jog and awaken us It will go but ill with the new man if whilst he hath so many enemies to hurt him he hath never a friend to help him Exhort one another daily lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. I have somewhere read of a King that having many servants some wise some indiscreet some profitable some unprofitable was asked why he would keep those foolish unprofitable fellows To which he answered I need the other and these need me and so I will have them all about me I am sure weak Christians need the strong its ill for a tottering house to have no prop and strong Christians may need the weak That knife which is best mettal may sometimes need a dull Whetstone The smallest wheel nay pin in a Watch is necessary and so each needing the other there is great need they should hold together While there is flesh and spirit combating within us and the worse so potent and likely to conquer we shall want all manner of Auxiliaries to relieve the better part Fourthly Consider The evil of neglecting Christian Communion I know the Children of God must sometimes be solitary there are some duties which cannot otherwise be performed and some callings which cannot otherwise be followed but as there are seasons for solitariness so also for society to forbear the society of Saints without
was the debtor God-man the surety who made satisfaction to God the Creditour How he was born of a mean woman that we might be born of the most high God he was tempted that he might conquer Satan for us and succour us when tempted by him what a life he led filled with miracles and miseries what a death he died embittered with shame and pain and all that we might be exalted to eternal honour and pleasure How he triumphed over Death the Grave the Curse of the Law Satan and Hell in his Resurrection and ascended into Heaven leading Captivity Captive appears in his Fathers presence pleading his death as the prise of his Chosens fafety and life sitteth at his right hand and ever liveth to make intercession for us Its precepts excel all the commands and Statutes and Laws that ever were in the World in purity and justice and goodness much more then the Firmament of Stars doth a Wisp of Straws Its promises are exceeding great and precious of special efficacy superlative excellency and unquestionable certainty In a word the Scripture hath all in it requisite either for counsel or comfort for necessity or delight for knowledge or action for direction in life or consolation in death 3. The form of the Scripture renders it worthy my highest esteem and hottest affection 1. It s inward form is That perfect correspondence and agreement between the commands and promises laid down in the word and that infallible and certain truth of Gods own understanding The books of men are sutable to their minds and their minds being but in part sanctified their works must be answerably imperfect but the Lords understanding being infinitely pure and true his word must bear some proportion to it God is truth without the least shadow of error holy without the least tittle of mixture hence his word is certain without the smallest colour for doubts Thy law is the truth pure not admitting of the least sin or darkness Thy word is very pure therefore doth thy servant love it Because of its exact conformity to the eternal will of God it s called his word As a man maketh known his mind by his words so doth God hence it s called the mind of God Pro. 1. 23. The Word of God 1 Pet. 1. 15. The counsel of God Act. 20. 27. The Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. The Law of God Psalm 1. 2. Not onely in regard of its Author which is the divine wisdom but also in regard of its matter which is the divine will 2. It s outward form is both plain and difficult according to Gregory so shallow that lambs may wade in it and so deep that Elephants may swim in it It s stile is so plain as to encourage the most unlearned and yet so difficult as to exercise the greatest Scholars and most profound Rabbies To those that are babes in understanding the Scripture is milk to them that are men in knowledge the word is strong meat It s therefore called light the nature of which is both to discover it self and other things also Thy word is a light to my feet and a lanthorn to my paths It s a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts Psa. 119. 105. 1 Pet. 1. 19. It is plain in regard of fundamentals and things necessary to be known and done What we are to believe concerning God the mediatour our own estate of innocency apostacy recovery what we are to practise in order to salvation are all perspicuous and clear to ordinary capacities Though there be some whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine upon them yet all wisdomes ways are plain to him that understandeth 2 Cor. 4.4 Pro. 8. 9. The Scripture sheweth the greatest simplicity both in words and phrases and figures that the weakest need not be afraid of searching into it There is such obscurity also in things not absolutely necessary to salvation that the deepest understandings need not be ashamed of reading and studying it Peter affirmes that in the Epistles of Paul there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some things hard to be understood There are such abstruse texts in the word of God that no man can make a certain comment on them The Jews themselves confessed that in the latter end of Ezekiel there are many things mentioned which are beyond all their apprehensions against which and all other difficulties in the Old Testament they comfort themselves according to the expression of the woman of Samaria Messias venturus est qui nobis annunciabit omnia The Messias will come and tell us all things Now the wise God seeth fit to let some truths in Scripture be dark 1. To shame us for our ignorance which is the fruit of our fall from him The pride and height of man is laid low by the profound and hard places in the Word of God 2. To quicken us to diligence in reading and meditating and comparing Scripture with Scripture The deeper a mine of gold lyeth in the earth the harder we must labour to dig it out 3. To raise our price of the Word of God We are apt to slight things that are easie and ordinary and to value things at the highest that cost us dearest 4. To provoke us to pray to God that he would give us his key whereby we may unlock this cabinet of precious Jewels He onely that made the Scripture can best acquaint us with his mind in the Scripture therefore David intreated divine light that he might understand the divine Law Psa. 119. 18. Open mine eyes that I may see the wonderâ—ful things of thy Law 4. The final cause of the word will speak it full of value and worth Namely the glory of the great God and the salvation of lost man The honour of God shines more brightly then the Meridian Sun through the whole Heaven of the Scripture The Scripture exalteth God in regard of his infinite nature and being his transcendent excellencies and perfections his eternal decree his works of creation and providence It advanceth God in all his attributes declaring to us 1. His wisdom how he is the onely wise God the foolishness of God is wiser then the wisdom of men yea that Angels themselves are fools to him His understanding is infinite 2. His Power how he is mighty in strength the Almighty God to him nothing is impossible doth what ever he pleaseth can do more then he will do 3. His mercy how he is full of mercy rich in mercy the Father of mercys hath multitudes of tender mercies his mercy endureth for ever hath an heighth and depth and length and breadth in it which none can reach 4. His Iustice how he fails not the least in the performance of his promises and accomplishment of his threatnings how he will by no means clear the guilty not the greatest of his favourites not
for the least of their offences how he hath manifested his justice in the deluge brought on the old world in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in his carriage towards Apostate Angels rebellious Israelites his own chosen people and the Medâ—atour his own Son when he took upon him mans sin in the instruments of eternal death which he hath prepared in Hell for sinners and the solemn triumph which justice shall have at the great day and to all eternity in the other world 5. His holiness how he loaths sin with the greatest abhorrency cannot behold the least iniquity shoots the arrows of his vengeance against its actours and authors will be sanctified in or upon all that approach him is terrible in his holy places forbiddeth the least complyance with sin though but in a sudden thought and makes it his end in his providences ordinances the gift of his Son his Spirit to make men holy I might shew how it exalteth him in all his properties but I pass on It glorifieth him in every part of it Its precepts and commands speak his purity and dominion its promises and covenant speak his boundless mercy and compassion its threatnings and comminations speak his justice and jealousie its prophesies and predictions speak his wisdom and omniscience The Scripture tendeth also to the eternal good of men It is helpful to beget a soul to Christ Of his own will begat he us again by the Word of truth The Word of grace is instrumental for the conveyance of grace Act. 2.37 Rom. 10. 14. It is helpful to build the soul up in Christ as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. Grace is increased by the same means by which it is generated as the same Sun that begets some living creatures is helpful for their growth The Word of God of stones raiseth up children to Abraham and of Children maketh Young men and Fathers It is so penned that all sorts of persons all ranks of Christians may be directed into the way of truth and guided by it in the way of life It is able to make us wise to salvation To shew the path of life 2 Tim. 3. 15. Psa. 16. 11. As Ioshua it leads the Israelites into Canaan All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable 1. For Doctrine Where Scripture hath not a tongue to speak I must not have an ear to hear Scriptura est regula fidei Scripture is the rule of faith Hence the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is called a foundation Ephes. 2. 20. 2. For reproof It is the hammer of Heresies Ignorance of Scripture is one main cause of error Ye err not knowing the Scripture By this sword of the Spirit Christ vanquished Satan Mat. 4. 4. and the Jews Ioh. 5.45 and Sadduces Mat. 22.29 Lapidandi sunt haeretici sacrarum literarum argumentis Hereticks are to be stoned with Scripture arguments saith Athanasius The Word of God hiâ—s that unclean bird in the eye and wounds it mortally 3. For correction of manners The sword of the Word pierceth the sinners conscience like Christ to the woman of Samaria It tells him all that ever he did and makes him smite upon his thigh and say What have I done Scripture is a glass which sheweth him the spots that are in the face of his heart and life 4. For instruction in righteousness It is the way in which we should walk the rule of our spiritual race What is written on some Psalms may be written on every Psalm and Chapter in the whole Bible Maschil or Psalm for instruction Its precepts teach us what to follow its prohibitions tell us what to forsake Its promises are to allure us to sanctity its threatnings to affright us from sin the good example of the Saints speaketh as Christ to Peter Follow thou me the wicked actions and ends of sinners cry aloud as Abner to Ioab Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the end 5. For comfort There is no such cordial for a fainting spirit as a promise in the Word The Gospel in the Greek is glad tidings and not without cause This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me When souls have been ready to despair under the sense of their wickedness and to sink in deep waters the Word of God hath held them up by the chin and preserved them from drowning Vnless thy law had been my delight I had perished in mine affliction 6. For salvation the Word is called the Kingdom of heaven partly because it revealeth Gods thoughts of such an inestimable happiness to the children of men The celestial Canaan was terra incognita till that discovered it He hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel partly because it prepares the soul for heaven the Word sanctifieth and so saveth precious souls By filling us with grace it fitteth us for glory Rom. 1.16 Ioh. 17.17 Partly because it is the seed of heaven As the Harvest is potentially in the seed and a tall Oke potentially in an acorn so heaven and eternal life is potentially in the Word of life It is called The grace of God that bringeth salvation It bringeth salvation to men and it bringeth men to salvation Secondly Consider it O my soul in its properties they will also speak its preciousness 1. It is pure and holy there are some dregs that will appear in the exactest writings of the best men when they have been shaken by a critical hand but none could ever justly fasten the least filth upon the holy Scriptures The Word of Christ is like the Spouse of Christ There is no spot in it The Alcoran of Mahomet alloweth Polygamy promiseth sensual pleasures as the reward of his servants but the Scripture winketh not at the least sin no not so much as in a motion of the heart or a glance of the eye and its promises are also pure and spiritual The Doctrine of the wisest Heathen and Philosophers were a mixture of good and bad Theft was no fault amongst Lycurgus Laws but if done slily commended highly Aristotle permitted revenge and obscene jesting which Scripture expresly forbids Thy word is very pure The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times There is not the least dross of evil or error in it 1. It s principal Author is the original and exemplar of all holiness his nature is the pattern and his will the rule of purity Exod. 15. 4. Isa. 6. 3. 2. The Scribes of it were holy men moved and actuated by the Holy Ghost 3. It s effect is to sanctifie and make holy Ye are clean through the word that I have given you 4. The matter of it is holy Its commanding part is holy The Law is holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. It s assertory part is holy what it affirmes to be is what it denyeth to
be is not Psa. 19. 7. It s promissory part is holy both formaliter in its own nature and effective in its end and fruit It s Historical part is holy other books are properly called prophane Histories in distinction from this The Scriptures expressions are pure of the most impure actions He knew her no more men with men doing what is unseemly Gen. 38. 26. Rom. 1. 27. 2. It is powerful As fire it can melt the hardest mettal As an Hammer it can break the most stony heart Ier. 23. 29. 1. It is powerful for Conviction It sets mens sins before their eyes and makes them behold their ugliness and deformity whether they will or no It tells the sinner as Elisha concerning the Syrian King to the King of Israel what he doth and saith in his bed-â—hamber in the retiring room of his heart It makes the spirit of the stoutest sinner to treâ—ble as the leaves with the wind and though he strives to put off his quaking fits by some humane cordials yet he finds his soul-Ague still continuing upon him Sturdy Murderers of Christ spring in trembling and an earthly Felix quakes under the power of this word This voice of the Lord is powerful it â—hakes the Cedars of Lebanon The batteries of the word have shaken the sensless conscience and shattered the flinty hâ—art in peices 2. It is powerful for conversion It is able to change the nature and turn an heart of stone into an heart of flesh It hath many a time inlightned dark minds to see the things which they never saw enlivened dead souls and enabled them to stand up from the dead The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul It hath dispossessed the strong man cast him out of his strong holds wherein he had raigned many years and subdued the soul to another Lord and Soveraign What hath been said of God may be said of the Word in the hand of the Spirit Who ever resisted its will How powerful is that word which can make the proudest creature that scorned former reproofs and precepts threatnings and judgements to cry and weep bitterly like a child under the rod that can create the new creature the choicest of Gods works By the word of the Lord are the new Heavens wherein dwelleth righteousness made and all the glorious host thereof of sparkling graces by the breath of his mouth 3. It s powerful for conquering spiritual enemies The noble victories atchieved by the Lords Worthies are most of them obtained by this sword of the Spirit Whole armies of sins have been discomfited and forced to flie before the face of this weapon God hews these by his Prophets and slays them by the word of his mouth This word like the rod in the hand of Moses worketh wonderfully for the destruction of such Egyptian enemies Satan is another enemy of the Christians but as powerful and as politique as he is he falls down like lightening from heaven before the preaching of the word This sword hath so wounded that Leviathan that destroyer of souls that he can never recover himself They overcame him i. e. the Devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony Rev. 12. 11. In a word it must needs be strong for it is the power of God to salvation The rod of his strength Rom. 1. 16. Psa. 110. 2. 3. It is perfect It contains in it all that is necessary and sufficient for our eternal salvation It is a full and compleat rule and measure both of things to be believed and practised it will admit no addition because it is defective in nothing it will suffer no diminution for it is redundant in nothing If any man shall add unto it God shall add anto his plagues If any man shall take away from the words of this book God shall take away his part out of the book of life Jesus Christ who was the great Teacher sent from God was faithful in his office and gave his Church whatsoever Precepts or Doctrines were needful for her in order to her endless good He tells us Whatsoever I have heard of the Father I have made known unto you Joh. 15. 15. And his Apostle speaks to the same purpose Act. 20. 21. I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God Besides it is able to make the man of God perfect and throughly furnished unto every good word which it could never do if it were not perfect it self Nil dat quod non habet Nothing can give that which it hath not in it self either formally or virtually Traditions are no way necessary to compleat the Canon of Scripture Since God did reveal his will in writing every age had that revealed to it which was sufficient for that age to make such as then lived wise to salvation but as God was pleased to reveal more the latter did assist us in the understanding of the former â—herefore so long as any truth was necessary to be more fully known he inspiâ—ed holy men to do it and the compleating of the divine Canon was reserved for Christ and his Apostles Ioh. 15. 15. and 7. 8. and 6. 13. Act. 20. 27. Gal. 1. 6 7 8. 4. It is true and certain Not a tittle of it shall fail It is calâ—ed truth the truth thy truth the Scripture of truth the word of truth the Gospel of truth a more sure word the comparative for the superlative the most sure word Christ prefers it before information from the dead the Apostle before Revelation from Angels or auy other way whatsoever 1. The Precepts of it are true they are perfectly agreeable to the mind of the speaker Thou art near O Lord and all thy commandments are truth Psa. 119. 5. The words of men may be true but the word of God onely is truth There is no error no mixture in it t is therefore called sincere milk 1 Pet. 2. 2. 2. The Promises of it are true They are accomplished to the least particle of them Hence they are called the sure mercies of David The Promises of God are unquestionable because their speaker is unchangeable and one for whom it is impossible to lie They are sure hold and will eat their way through all the Alpes of opposition Not one good thing haâ—h failed of all that the Lord our God hath promised Joshua 21. 45. 3. The Histories of it are true Whatsoever is written in it of the first or second Adam of any persons or nations is exactly true â—here never was fuch an impartial historian as the inditer of the word This is the Book which hath no Errata's in it 4. The threatnings are true The sinner shall as certainly feel them as he reads or hears them He shall as surely be damned as if he were already damned therefore he is said to be condemned already to speak its certainty He shall find the gnawing worm and the eternal fire as unquestionably as if he felt them at
this hour hence God appeals to the consciences of the Jews whether though the Prophets died his threatnings which were denounced by those Prophets did not live and take hold of them Zach. 1.5 5 It s true in the Predictions and Prophesies The predictions of the Israelties distress in Egypt four hundred years and deliverance thence of their possessing Canaan of Cyrus birth of the Jews redemption out of the Babylonish captivity of the four Monarchies and of Christs coming in the flesh his mean birth afflicted life death buriall ascention are all already accomplished Those Prophesies in Daniel and Revelation concerning the future estate of the Church the ruine of Pope and Turk the vocation of the Jews and the glorious and pure condition of the people of God in the latter days shall all to a tittle be fulfilled It s observable therefore that some predictions that were or are future are set down in the present tense To us a son is born Babylon the great is fallen is fallen to assure us that they shall be as certainly fulfilled as if they were fulfilled already Isa. 9. 6. Rev. 18. 6. It is the rule of all truth Other Books are true no farther then they are agreeable and commensurable to this All other sayings and writings are to be tried by this touchstone It is not what sense saith or what reason saith or what Fathers say or what General Councils say or what Traditions say or what Customs say but what Scripture saith that is to be the rule of faith and life Whatsoever is contrary to Scripture or beside Scripture or not rationally deducible from Scripture is to be rejected as spurious and adulterate To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speak not according to this it is because there is no light no truth inâ— them Isa. 8.20 3. Consider it O my soul in its names and they will speak much to the excellency of its nature What is this Word which thy thoughts are now upon It is called Scripture or Scriptures by an Antonomasie or excellency of phrase as the most worthy writings that ever saw the light It is called the Word of God both in regard of its efficient cause which is the Spirit of God the material cause which is the mind of God the final cause which is the glory of God It is called the Law of the Lord the law of liberty the law of saith a lawâ— a royal law the book of the law the book of the Lord the book of life the Gospel of peace the Gospel of God the Gospel of Gods grace the counsel of God the charge of God the breath of God the mouth of God the oath of God the Oracles of God the paths of God the wisdom of God It is called a thingâ— the good part the key of knowledge the key of Heaven tidings of salvation glad tidings of peace a good way a perfect way a narrow way Many other titâ—es it hath which shew the excellency of this Word of truth 4. Consider it O my soul in its comparisons which will shew thee somewhat of its perfections Whereunto is this Word resembled it is resembled to light to a lamp Solomon tells us The commandment is a lamp and the law is light T is likely he learned it of his father Thy word is a light to my feet and a lanthorn to my paths saith David Prov. 6 23. Psal. 119. 105. 1. It is light for its clarity and beauty Light is the ornament of the world which is most incorporeal of all corporeal beings therefore termed spiritual Though it discovers all the pollutions of the earth yet it is not polluted therewith The word is the glory of this lower world The law is spiritual and its beauty is not faided nor its purity stained by all the filth of false doctrines and heresies which have been cast into the face of it from the beginning of the world to this day The word of the Lord abideth for ever 2. Light is pleasant and delightful darkness is affrighting and dreadful but light is refreshing and reviving Light is sweet and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun Eccles. 11.7 The word of God is sweet and its a pleasant thing with the eyes of faith to behold the glorious sun of divine truths The eye is not more affected with curious sights nor the ear with ravishing musick nor the pallate with rare meats then a spiritualized understanding with spiritual truths David found not onely delight in the singular but delights in the plural number all sorts and degrees of delights in the word of God Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me but thy commandments are my delights His delights in the Law of God were so rare and ravishing that they quite extinguished all sensual delights as the light of the day the light of a candle and drowned the noise of all his crosses and troubles by their loud and amazing melody Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a pleasant Garden wherein every flower yeilds a fragrant savour Ambrose to a feast wherein every book is a dainty dish affording food both pleasant and wholsom 3. Light discovereth and maketh things manifest The night conceals things and the day reveals them That which maketh manifest is light Ephes. 5. 13. Light discovers things in their proper shapes and colours whether beauties or deformities When the Sun appeareth we see the dust in corners and dirt in Ditches which before lay hid The word of God maketh a discovery of an unknown world of sin in the heart of man and the great mystery of iniquity which lay hid there I was alive without the Law but when the commandment came sin revived and I dyed Rom. 7. 9. The faults and spots and defects of his duties were visible by the light of the word All things are naked and open before it It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. The word sheweth the beauty of holiness the love and loveliness of the Redeemer 4. Light directs us how and where to walk In the night we wander and go out of the way we stumble and fall but the day helpeth us both to see our way and to walk in it without stumbling If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world Iohn 11. 9. The word of God doth preserve us from sin and guide our feet in the way of peace Luk. 1. 73. It is our Poleâ—stâ—r as we are Mariners our Pillar of fire as we are travellers The Law of God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide Psa. 37. 31. Our feet by the light of the word are preserved from falling and our steps from sliding Psalm 119. 105. 5. Light scattereth darkness As the Sun
where it ariseth and displayeth its beames dispelleth mists and clounds causeth an alteration in the face of the Air and makes the shadows to flie before it that they cry like Iacob to the Angel Let me go for the day breaketh so the light of the word scattereth that darkness which was before upon the minds of men 1. It dispelleth the darkness of error Mat. 22.29 Naked Truth conquereth Armed Error and Little David with his small stones out of the silver streams of the Sanctuary the great Goliah of Heresie With this silly women have confuted and conquered profound Doctors notwithstanding their deep and intricate arguments and have wounded them as mortally as that woman without weapons did Abimilech that great Captain with a Milstone 2. It dispelleth the darkness of ignorance The word is the key of knowledge and openeth the door that lets us into the treasures of wisdom and knowledge It is that precious eye-salve with which our blind eyes being anointed see It is sent to open the eyes of the blind and to turn men from darkness to light When the word comes the people that sat in darkness see a great light Act. 26. 18. Mat. 4. 16. 3. It dispelleth the darkness of prophaness this weapon of the word stabbeth lust under its fifth rib and letteth out the very heart blood of it The Devil puts off his rotten wares in the dark shops of Heathen and unbelieving and unchristian Christians but where the word hath arisen upon any soul it discerneth his cheat and is too wise to be cozened by him By what means may a young man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy word Psa. 119.9 The word is resembled to Rain to Water to Dew Moses tells the Israelites My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain and my speech distil as the Dew Christ calls it the water of life Joh. 6. 35. 1. Rain is from above God keeps that key under his own girdle Can any of the vanities of the Heathen cause Rain Art not thou he Jer. 14. 22. Man may speak long enough to the cloâ—ds before they will distil one drop but if God command those bottles they are presently unstopped and poure down in abundance He covereth the Heavens with Clouds and prepareth Rain for the earth Psa. 147. 8. Thus the Word of God came down from above Every of the Pen-men of it might have spoken as David The Spirit of the Lord spake by me 2. Sam. 23. 2. It did immediately inspire me what particulars to utter and in what phrases to deliver them That which is said of some of the Prophesies may be said of every Book and of every Chapter and Verse in every Book Thus saith the Lord The word of the Lord which came to Amos The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it It is all one to say The Scripture saith and God saith Compare Rom. 4. 3. and 10. 11. with Rom. 9. 25. and Heb. 4.3 and Gal. 3. 21. with Rom. 11. 32. Some observe that the word which Moses useth for Doctrine dropping like Rain signifieth received Doctrine because the Doctrine in the word is received from God not devised by men Deut. 32. 2. I received from the Lord that which I also delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. 32. 2. Rain is mollifying and softning When the earth hath been like Brass and Iron under our feet by long drought or hard frosts a few good showres supple it and make it tender Therefore David speaking of the earth saith Thou makest it soft with showres Psa. 65. 10. So the heart of man is compared to a stone to a rock to a flint to an adamant the hardest of stones for its hardness hath been suppled and softned by the word The Jews that had imbrued their hands in the blood of Christ had certainly very hard hearts The thought of such a murder would have made a deep impression upon any conscience that were not seared with a red hot Iron yet this word preached melted them as hard mettal as they were When they heard these things they were pricked to the heart Peters Sermon like Moses rod fetcht water out of the Rock Act. 2. 37. David upon the disorder and intemperance of his soul in the matter of Vriah had an hard swelling which continued and increased upon him several moneths yet when Nathan comes and gently baths it with this Oyl of the Word it groweth soft and tender as appeareth by the title of Psa. 51. A Psalm of David when Nathan the Prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba 3. Rain maketh the earth fruitful therefore some call it the earths Husband because it helps the earth to bring forth He watereth the hills from his chambers the earth is satisfied with his works he causeth the grass to grow for the earth and hearbs for the service of man Psal. 104. 13,14 so Psal. 65.9,10,11,12 So the Word of God turns that heart which was as a barren wilderness into a fruitful meadow 1 Pet. 2. 2. 4. Rain reviveth and refresheth the earth when the earth is chopt and faint when it gaspeth and is weary a showre of rain recovers and refresheth it the Psalmist tells us that upon such droppings from above the pastures and valleys shout for joy they also sing Psa. 65.13 Thus the Christian scorcâ—ed with the apprehension of Gods wrath due to him for sin draweth all his comfort and refreshment out of those wells of salvation the promises of the word When conscience is sore and raw through the wounds sin hath made in it and the weight of guilt that lieth continually grating upon it He sendeth his word and health them Psal. 107.20 David had experience what an healing medicine the Word was In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. When Philip had preached the word to the Eunuch he went away rejoycing That milk which runs from the breasts of the two Testaments is never sucked with the mouth of faith without abundant satisfaction that wine which which is drawn from the pipes of the promises rejoyceth the heart of man indeed These things are written that your joy may be full The Saint never sits at a fuller table of joy then when he is feasting on the dainties of the Gospel O my soul how many thoughts mightst thou spend about those several things to which the word is aptly and excellently resembled It is compared to Armour to a tree of life to a portion to milk to strong meat to pastures to seed to an ornament of grace to rest to a Crown of glory to hidden treasures to gold tried in the fire to a glass to oyl and oyntment all which as so many curious colours well laid may help thee to admire and prize more the beauty of that face which they resemble and represent Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou Word of God Many books have done vertuously have acted famously for the overthrow of sin and
a Bee though the Bee be fled works it self into the flesh deeper and diffuseth its venome more strongly causing the greater pain that every man unless foolish will speedily pull it out lest he encrease his own anguish Truly so doth sin though the honey the pleasure of it be gone yet the sting remains and the longer it is before it is pulled out by Faith and Repentance the deeper it works it self into the soul and the more sorrow it will put us to in this or the other world T is examination at night that brings the soul to mourn for and repent of its failings in the day T is like the tree which Câ—esias speaks of in describing India that besides fruit distilleth certain tears of which are made Precious Amber or as the drops of the Vine its excellent against the leprousie of sin Ephesus would never repent till they examined and considered whence they had fallen When sin is admitted into the soul and as a Theif in the night stole in at unawares when the eye of the souls watchfulness was fallen asleep Examination will light the Candle of the word and search the house narrowly and find out this ill guest and before it hath done so much mischief as it intended apprehended it indict condemn and execute it Examination every day is like purging the body at the beginning of a distemper which takes it before it hath habituated it self and so is much the more easily repelled An enemy may much sooner be forced out of his holds when he hath newly taken possession then when he hath continued so long as to cast up his banks make his ditches placed his Guns and fortified them After we have been foiled by our spiritual enemies and by examination find out the cause it will make us more watchful at that gate at which they enter'd and careful of that particular wherein they got the advantage of us As when David had received intelligence that the Amonites had given his Army some small defeat he sends Ioab word of the reason they went too near the City and wisheth him to make the battel more strong against the place 2 Sam. 11. So examination finds out the reason of a Christians defeat by Satan either it was through self-confidence or want of spiritual watchfulness or love to some known sin and helpeth the Saint to bewail the cause of his defeat and directeâ—h him how to provide better against the next onset Frequent examination keepeth the conscience raw and tender that the least touch of sin will be offensive and troublesom to it When the heart is used to yeild at a small Willow it will never be quiet under a great Oak Searching into our souls makes sin more loathsom to us Whilst these filthy sinks are unstir'd they do but little disturb us or annoy us with their filthy savour but when by examination we rake into them their noysom stench offendeth us extremely and shews us what need we have of cleansing Examination every night will help the Christian to a good nights rest How comfortably may he lye down who hath made all even with his Maker and heard his everlasting Father bidding him Good-night How quietly may he sleep who hath his pardon under his Pillow he needs not fear any Officer to call him up at midnight and attach him for any treasons or misdemeanours It s said of Cato that constantly at evening he would call to mind what ever he had seen read or done that day It was Pythagoras rule to his Scholars That they should no night suffer sleep to seise their senses till they had three times recalled the accidents and passages of the day O what a shame is it that Moralists who had no true sense of the benefit of such a duty should out-go the Christian in the performance of it That many persons should know the Chronicles of other Countries or Kingdoms some ages past and yet not know the passages of their own souls one day past Reader If thou wouldst walk closely with God and keep even with him reckon daily with him Call thy self to a strict scrutiny What do I how live I where am I is the work I do warrantable by the word or no is my life the life of Faith of Holiness or no am I in Gods way under his protection or no Have I truth of grace the power of godliness or do I please my self with the form of it Do I thrive and increase in grace or do I decay and decline Suppose I were to dye this night what ground have I to hope for Heaven what assurance that I shall escape the power and rage of frightful Devils What evidences have I that I am a new creature engrafted into Christ and thereby entitled to life and bliss Thus feel the pulse of thy soul enquire into its state visit it often and see how it doth Call thy self to an account for thy sins Let heart and life sins open and private sins omissions commissions personal relative be all reckoned for Ask thy soul as Rebecah Why am I thus Why am I so false to my God so unfaithful to my Covenants The heart is like a Ditch into which filth is continually running and therefore it behoveth thee by examination to be always emptying it The Stable that is daily fowled must be daily cleansed The hands that are daily contracting dirt must be daily washed Our souls are more polluted and diseased then our bodies we have always a filthy issue of sin running which we must be daily searching into and dressing or our stench will make us loathsom to and unfit for any communion with God or his people Call thy self to an account daily for thy mercies Ask thy self How much am I indebted to my God what privative what positive mercies do I partake of what old what new what night what day mercies what mercies at home what abroad what personal what domestical what national mercies do I enjoy or am a sharer in what bodily what spiritual mercies do I receive what time what talents have I to trade with and reckon for This will help the soul to be speedy and hearty in thankfulness and force it to Davids Interrogation What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits What hot love should I return what an holy life should I lead Do this daily It is much better to pay sums when they are little then when they are large Wise men that are able find it the best way to pay ready money for their wares Neglect herein causeth many mistakes and inconveniencies and many times differences amongst friends Having spoken to this particular in the sixth Chapter I shall say no more to it here though indeed I judge it next to a new nature not inferiour to any means of godliness Ninthly If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness Avoid the occasions of sin he that would avoid the commission of sin must avoid the occasions of sin If we
Giant of sin get in but a limb he will quickly get in his whole body Wanton thoughts if not stifled bring forth actual uncleanness Sin is like water if we give it the least way run it will in spight of us If we get not the conquest over it in its infancy we shall not overcome it when it is brought to maturity He that cannot put out a spark will be much more unable to put out a flame The smallest of these twigs will prove thorny bushes if not timely stubbed up The Horse must be broken when a Colt and the Lion tamed when a Whelp It s best to deal with sin as Iocasta with Oedipus to cast it forth in its infancy The Israelite must dash these Babylonian Infants against the wall if he would be a blessed man Isa. 13.18 The Christian that checketh and curbeth sin when it first appeareth doth as David to the Philistine wound it in the forehead and so slayeth it certainly As the Snail by little and little creepeth up from the root of the tree to the top consuming the leaves as it goeth and leaving nothing behind it but filth and slime So sin gradually infecteth the whole man This poison if not presently vomited up as soon as taken down flieth to and destroyeth the vitals The Apostle calleth it a Canker and truly so it is in regard of its spreading nature both as to persons from one man to another and to parts from one faculty of the soul and member of the body to another How dreadful was the effect of a few boys joyning with Massianello in Naples anno 1647. whom the officers and people laughed and jeered at instead of subduing What murders and burning Palaces and Churches did ensue and arise from so contemptible means Therefore as wise Princes will be heedful to suppress riots and petty insurrections knowing that if they be let alone they will break out into open rebellion and cause much bloodshed and mischeif So Reader do thou stifle and kill sin in the womb before it be quick lest thou like the young Serpents if brought forth it tear out thy bowels and its birth cause thy death Twefthly If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness study the knowledge of God T is ignorance of God that is the original of all sin Did men know the sad fruits of his fury they durst not by sin provoke him Did men know the sweetness of his favour they would do they would suffer any thing to please him It is in the mist of ignorance that they lose their way and wander from him who is the chiefest good The Devil is bound in chains of darkness and so are all his Children They who know God most love him most and fear him most and trust him most It is life spiâ—â—tual and the seed of life eternal to know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Joh. 17. 3. All godliness all grace is seminally in the knowledge of God and floweth from it They who with open face behold the Lord though but as in a glass are changed into his image from glory to glory from one degree of grace to another â— Cor. 3. 18. They who know the infiniteness and immensity of his being cannot but despise all things for him esteem all things as nothing to him as nothing without him look on the whole creation as less then nothing in comparison of him Ah what admiring reverent thoughts of that being of beings of him whose name is I am have they who lanch a little for 't is but a little that they can here into this Ocean All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity they cannoâ— but desire and labour to enjoy so boundless a portion They who know the power of God cannot but fear him and stand in awe of his presence and threatnings They fear him who is able to cast soul and body into hell Heb. 12. 27 28. They will depend on him because there is no want which the Almighty cannot supply no weakness which he cannot remove no danger which he cannot prevent or support in Acquaintance with him who is mighty in strength makes the Christian resolute in Gods cause and as bold as a Lion at his call and command They who know the eternity of God will chuse him before temporal vanities What are the pleasures of sin for a season in his eye who seeth the pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore What are the honours on earth to him who knoweth the eternal weight of glory What are temporal relations in comparison of the everlasting Father Nay what is his natural life to eternal life no good is little that is eternal how great then is the infinite and eternal God They who know the wisdom of God will submit to his Providences and acquiesce in all his dispensations He is wise in heart his understanding is infinite and he knoweth what is best for thee and me and all others and therefore there is all the reason of the world why I should rest in his will and be satisfied in his pleasure It is the Lord saith the soul in his greatest afflictions who is infinite in wisdom and knoweth what will do me most good Let him do what seemeth good in his eyes They who know the faithfulness of God will credit his word and make him the object of their Hope and Faith They that know thy name will trust in thee Psa. 9. 10. His truth commandeth our trust We will rely on faithful men who will not lye but the Christian seeth infinitely more reason to rely on the faithful God who cannot lye They who know the mercy and love and goodness of God will love and admire and trust and praise him The knowledge of his love to us will call out our love to him as one that deserves it being infinitely amiable in himself and the more deserving of our love for his love to such loathsom ones as we are It will cause us to rely on him for infinite love joyned with infinite strength and faithfulness will not cannot deceive us It will help us to see the odious nature of sin in that it is an abuse of infinite love The goodness of God will lead the soul to repentance They who know the holiness of God will sanctifie him in their approaches to him and walk humbly and watchfully with him They know that sin is loathsom to him because contrary to his holy nature and therefore they hate it they know that holiness is lovely as it is his Image and Excellency and therefore they follow after it They are upright and serious and zealous and humble and reverent in their holy performances because therein they have to do with such a holy God They who know the anger of God will stand in awe and not sin They know that God is not to be mocked for it is a fearful thing to fall into the
love of creatures is a canker which in time will eat up the very life of godliness Reader If thou art risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ is It is recorded by divers Historians both of the East and West Indians and some Blackamoors in Guinea between both that many subjects willingly dye with their Princes and Women with their Husbands that some Men give their Wives others their Children others their Servants to be buried alive in the Grave with their Kings to serve him as they conceit in the other world that some Women cast themâ—elves into the fire in which the dead bodies of their Husbands are consumed If those can cast away and contemn the world and all things in it for the love of a poor wretched creature what a shame is it to Christians if the love of Jesus Christ their Head their Prince their Husband do not mortifie them to the world and make them dispise all in it to injoy him whilst they live and to be with him where he is when they dye 4. Allow thy self in â—o known sin This like a thief used to the shop which will steal away all thy gains and keep thee assuredly from thriving in thy heavenly calling There is no possibility of making Religion thy business without the gracious concurrence of the holy Spirit he it is that must lay the foundation rear up the building and perfect what he beginneth but thou canst not expect his company or assistance if thou harbourest any corruption in thy heart though this Dove may flye to thee desirous to make its abode with thee as the Dove went of out the Ark yet if it behold the earth under water thy heart in any way of wickedness it will return again whence it came Doves will lye clean or be gone Bees will not continue in a stinking or impure Hive therefore those that would not loose them prepare the stools where they set them with perfumes and sweet-smelling boughs lest ill savours force them to forsake their stations Thus saith Chrysostom deals the holy spirit Our souls are the hives which if perfumed with grace invite his presence but if polluted with any known sin provoke him to depart O let there not be any way of wickedness in thee if thou wouldst run the way of Gods commandments CHAP. XIV Motives inciting Christians to exercise themselves to Godliness The Vanity of other exercises The brevity of mans life The Patterns of others THirdly I shall annex some Motives to quicken thee to exercise thy self to godliness and then conclude the Treatise First Consider The vanity of all other exercises and labours The wise man begins his Ecclesiastes with Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity and after a large and exact demonstration thereof makes this use and ends his book with Hear the conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep his commandements for this is the whole duty of man It may be Reader thou takest much pains and spendest much time thou risest early and sittest up late and wastest thy body and wearest out thy strength and toylest and moylest about the things of this life but alass to what purpose to what profit The foot of all thy accompts when at the end of thy life the total comes to be summed up will be onely Ciphers and signifie nothing Thou workest all this while at the labour in vain like the Disciples thou fishest all night and catchest nothing thou spendest thy strength for what is not bread and thy labour for what will not satisfie If the word of truth and the God for whom it is impossible to lye may be beleived all the things of this life separated from godliness are lying vanities broken cisternes ashes lyes wind vanity of vanities and things of naught Joh. 2. 8. Ier. 2. 13. 1. Sam. 12. 21. Hos. 10. 13. and 12. 1. Eccles. 1. 2. Hab. 2. 13. It is Chrysostoms saying that if he had been to Preach to all the world and could so have spoken that all should have heard him he would have chosen that Text O mortal men how long will ye love vanity and follow after leasing Democritus gave that for the reason of his continual laughter which occasioned his Country-men to look on him as distracted That when he beheld the labour and diligence the running and riding the sweating and painting nay the fighting and killing of men to get one above another and to heap up a fading treasure he could not but deride their folly Indeed though the Heathen laughed at the ridiculousness of such persons the sensible Christian seeth great cause to weep at the emptiness and unprofitablenss of such actions and the madness of the Agents Cyprian advised his friend Donatus to suppose himself at the top of the highest mountain and thence to behold the tumults and chances of this wavering world and told him that then he could not but either laugh at it or pity it It s no such wonder that brutish horses should leave good provender to feed on litter as some Jades do but that men who are indued with reasonable souls that seeming Christians who have a Table spread before them with hidden Manna with Angels food with meat indeed and drink indeed withal tâ—e dainties of Heaven should neglect these and feed on ashes may well be matter both of admiration and lamentation The holy Ghost tells such that they follow after vain things which cannot profit them 1 Sam. 12. 21. All outward things are like an olive or date stone hard to crack or cleave but when with much labour they are opened they are nothing worth The Wise Moralist speaking of such laborious loyterers as work hard for nothing compares them to such as spend many months to learn to write with their feet and when they have learned it are never the Better for it Caesar compares them to such as fish for gudgeons with a golden hook hazard more then the fish when taken are worth Life is precious health and strength and time are precious because all these have a relation to an eternal estate now how foolish is he that wasteth them upon toys and trifles and neglecteth provision for the other world Surely every man walketh in a vain shew surely they are disquieted in vain Psal. 39. 6. Observe Rearder how dearly men pay for their guilded nothings for their earthen potsherds coverd with silver dross they walk up and down run hither and thither disquiet themselves with cares and fears and heart piercing frights and vexations for a vain shew The people labour in the fire and weary themselves for very vanity Habbak 2. 13. Their work is hot and hard they labour in the fire even to lassitude and weariness But is it about the noble concerments of their immortal souls Is it that their sins may be pardoned the vitiosity of their natures healed and that their souls may be fitted for the heavenly mansions No it is for very vanity For that which will
death and day of judgment and bring him in unspeakable gain before the aery honours and withering vanities of this life Reader If thou wilt give conscience free liberty to speak its mind I know it will tell thee that no calling is comparable to this for profit The gain of Godliness is real gain rich gain certain gain eternal gain 1. It s real if the word of truth may be trusted its fruit is therefore called substance in distinction from earthly riches which are shadows I will cause them that love me to inherit substance 2. It s called also true riches other riches are fained hence also godly men are said to be rich towards god and other men to be rich in this world It s rich gain as it hath relation to the best part it makes the soul of man truly precious as it is serviceable to our last end and prepareth man for the fruition of God and also as its reward is unconceivable The vessels of mercy shall swim in an Ocean of glory Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can the heart of man conceive what God hath layd up for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. It s reward is beyond all expression above all apprehensions no comparison can fully resemble it no understanding conceive it 3. It s eternal gain Other gains are fading deceitful brooks dying flowers withering goards and vanishing shadows Riches are not for ever Pro. 29 Man in honour abideth not Psa. 49.2 The pleasures of sin are but for a season Heb. 11. 25. But this gain is for ever The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever both in the nature of it t is incorruptible seed and in the fruit of it which is the gift of God eternal life Though other trades shall all fail as useful onely in this needy World though other callings shall vanish and time it self shall be no more yet this trade this calling shall râ—n parallel with the life of an immortal soul though gold be a corruptible mettal the gain of this calling is better then much fine gold it s an inheritance undefiled incorruptible Our work whether in doing or suffering the Will of God is but for a moment but it works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory O what an happy good what an excellent gain is that which is eternal Mary hath chosen the good part which shall never be taken from her When thy Lands and Houses shall be taken from thee thy place and dwelling shall know thee no more when thy Friends and Relations shall be taken from thee Son of Man behold I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke when all the comforts of this life shall serve thee as vermine and lice do a dead man though they stick close to him in his life run from him at death this Calling will stand by thee encourage thee never leave thee nor forsake thee In other things thou chosest for that which is most lasting If thou buyest an house or beast or suit of apparel thou art desirous to have that which is most durable and strong O why shouldst thou not chose that good which is everlasting When Demetrius had taken Megara and his Souldiers plundered the City he fearing the Philosopher Stilpo might receive some loss sent for him and asked him whether any of his men had taken any thing of his Stilpo answered No for I saw no man that took my learning from me Godliness is such Wealth such Learning as will abide with thee in general plunder indeed neither men nor Devils can rob thee of it 4. It s certain gain He that sets up of this trade may be trusted for none ever brake of this calling God himself whose is the earth and the fulness thereof is bound for them and hath undertaken for their perseverance and growth and gains The Merchant that trades into the other world is not properly a Merchant-venturer for the Gospel which is the Ensurance Office hath engaged infinite power and love and faithfulness for the security and safe return of all the Vessels which he sends forth The Promises are all yea and amen the sure mercies of David The Covenant of grace which containeth all their gains and riches is stable in all things and sure 2 Cor. 1. 20. Isa. 55. 6. 2 Sam. 23. 5. If there were a free trade proclaimed to the Indies and every man that went promised as much gold as he would desire and a certainty of making a good voyage who almost would stay at home what crowding would there be to Port-Towns and what hast to take shipping Reader Though God will not suffer this to be in reference to earthly treasures knowing out of his infinite wisdom how hurtful they would be to immortal souls yet he offereth thee all this and infinitely more in calling upon thee to mind godliness He saith to thee as Ioseph to his brethren Gen 45. 18. Come unto me and I will give you the good of the Land of Egypt and ye shall eat the fat of the Land Come unto me and I will give you the good of Canaan and ye shall eat the pleasant fruits of that Land flowing with Milk and Honey O Reader didst thou know the worth of this jewel thou wouldst trample upon all the wealth of this World as dung in comparison of it Little dost thou think or imagine the advantage the vertues of this Diamond It is the true Loadstone that draweth all good to it Luther saith of one Psalm This Psalm hath done more for me then all the Potentates of the World I may say to thee This calling will feed thee with bread that came down from Heaven and cloath thee with fine linnen the robes of Gods own righteousness t will protect thee and maintain thee t will advance and honour thee t will inrich and ennoble thee in life refresh and rejoyce thee in death crown and reward thee after death do more for thee then all the Princes or Potentates Relations or Posâ—Possessions Persons or Comforts upon Earth can do In thy prosperity and enjoyment of outward good things godliness would like Sugar and Spice correct their windiness and make them wholsom and profitable to thee It would like Elisha's Meal and Salt make thy Meat sweet and savoury and thy drink pleasant and refreshing to thee It would make thy bed soft and easie thy garments warm and sweet sented T will so far abate thy appetite to this luscious food that thou shouldst not feed immoderately to the surfeiting thy soul. As the fiery bush which Moses saw in the Mount Horeb though it was in a flaming fire did not consume Or as the shining worm that being cast into the fire doth not waste but is thereby pâ—rged from its filth and made more beautiful then all the water in the world could make it So Affliction should not ruine but reform and purifie thee In the greatest danger this will be thy
Did not ye hate me and expell me out of my Fathers house why are ye come unto me now ye are in distress Didst not thou hate me and expell me out of thy heart and house didst thou not deride and jeer and persecute me against all the commands and threatnings and promises and intreaties of God and his word and why art thou come to me now thou art in distress I must tell thee thou wilt then weep and howl and lament to God as the Israelites did in their extremity Deliver us only we pray thee this day Lord help me Lord save me Deliver me this day from the jaws of the roaring Lion Lord let not hell shut her mouth upon me Who can dwell in everlasting burnings who can abide devouring flames But thou mayst expect the same answer which God gave them Go and cry to the gods which ye have chosen let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation Go to the flesh and the world Go to thy riches and honours and sinful delights which thou hast chosen and preferred before me and let them deliver thee in this time of thy tribulation Where are those gods the rocks in which thou trustedst Let them rise up and help thee and be thy protection Iudg. 11. 6 7. Iudg. 10. 15 32. Deut. 37. 38. A Saint can sing in such a day of trial knowing that death is come to him as the Angel to Peter striking on his side not to hurt but to awaken him to beat off his fetters and set him in the glorious liberty of the children of God The Saint and the Sinner never differ so much at least in open view as in their ends Sin in the bud is sweet but in the fruit bitter and holiness though at first draught seems not so pleasant yet afterwards is all sweetness Though the path of sin be smooth and pleasing to thy flesh yet thou wilt find it slippery and killing to thy spirit It s like an evening star to usher in a night of blackness of darkness for ever The way of holiness is more harsh to the body but the onely Nectar of the soul Ah Reader if thou wilt but choose it thou wilt find by experience that t will be like Hannibal's passage over the Alpes a way which will require some pains but t will lead thee into the heavenly Paradise at that did him into the worlds garden Italy Reader Let me therefore bespeak thee or rather God himself Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Turn unto me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turn unto thee saith Lord of Hosts Zach. 1. 3. After all thy neglect and contempt of God and his word after all thy wandrings and wickedness thou hast one call more to turn and live In which thy Maker doth three times pawn and interpose the authority of his name to confirm his word The Lord of Hosts three times he doth as it were bring his Angels his Hosts with him in this precept and promise as once to Sinai at the delivery of the law 1. As witnesses of his truth 2. As avengers of him on them that despise his call 3. As rejoycers for those that turn unto him O friend Consider it that God who might have turned thee into hell commandeth thee now after all thy folly and lewdness to turn to him yea he promiseth that if thou dost come at his call he will meet thee half way and turn unto thee It is not for his own sake that he is so earnest with thee for he can be happy without thee he hath no addition by thy salvation he suffereth no diminution by thy damnation but he calleth on thee for thy good that thou mightst be happy in his favour It was the saying of Antigona that she ought to please them with whom she hoped to remain for ever Ah doth it not concern thee to please that God upon whom thoâ— dependest for thy eternal weal or wo When Antiochus was in Egypt in armes against the Romans they sent P. Popilius with other Ambassadours to him where when he had welcomed them P. Popilius delivered some writings to him containing the mind of his Masters which he he commanded Antiochus to read which he did Then he consulted with his friends what was best to be done in the business Whilst he was in a great study P. Popilius with a wand that he had in his hand made a circle about him in the dust saying Ere thou stir a foot out of this circle return thy answer that I may tell the Senate whether thou hadst rather have war or peace This he uttered with such a firm countenance that it amazed the King wherefore after he had paused a while he answered I will do what the Senate hath written or shall think fit Reader I shall onely allude to it and conclude Thou art if in thy natural estate a rebel against God thy heart is full of enmity and thy life of treason against his blessed Majesty thou art daily discharging whole vollies of shot against him he hath sent me as his Embassadour to offer thee terms of peace and to require thee in his name to throw down thine armes and to submit to his mercy I know thou art ready to consult with thy seeming friends but real enemies the world and the flesh what thou wert best to do in this case but whilst thou art thus musing I charge and command thee in the name of God and by his authority who sent me to thee that before thou closest the book thou returne to thy Maker in thy conscience thine answer whether thou hadst rather have peace with him whose wrath is infininety worse then death and whose favour is better then life or war If considering the excellency necessity and profit of godliness thou sayst I will through the help of Christ do all that the Lord hath written or thinketh fit to be done in order to my recovery out of this estate of woe and misery I shall inform thee that God is ready to receive thee the Spirit to assist thee thy Saviour to embrace thee the rich and precious promises of the Gospel containing pardon love peace eternal life are all ready to welcome thee But if thou deniest thy God thy real able and faithful friend and wilt gratifie thy profest though politick enemy the Devil so much as to continue in thine ungodly courses I must assure thee that Phrygan like thou wilt repent when it is too late and be taught by woful experience that it had been far better to have hearkened to the Counsels and Commands of God that with prudent Prometheus thou mightst have forseen a danger and shund it then to walk on in the broad way to hell with foolish Epimetheus without any consideration till thou art unconceivably and irrecoverably miserable and plunged in that lake and amidst those dreadful torments of which there is no FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE Chief Heads contained in the foregoing