Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	according_a	covenant_n	grace_n	4,414	5	6.5149	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88578	A Christians duty and safety in evill times Delivered in severall sermons, upon four texts of scripture, viz. Christ's prayer the saints support, on Iohn 17 15[.] A divine ballance to weigh all doctrines by, on 1 Thes.5. 21[.] A Christians great enquiry, on Acts 16.30, 31[.] A description of true blessedness, on Luke 11. 28[.] By that faithfull messenger of Jesus Christ, Mr Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence-jury, London. Whereunto is annexed The saints rest, or Their happy sleep in death. As it was delivered in a sermon at Aldermanbury, London. Aug. 24. 1651. By Edmund Calalmy. B. D.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.; Calamy, Edumnd, 1600-1666. Saints rest.	1653 (1653)	Wing L3147; Thomason E1434_3-4; ESTC R209589	82,542	242

Enquirie after Heaven then how few in the World shall come to Heaven Vse 2 Secondly from the Resolve that the Apostle gives to the Jaylors Question Believe on the Lord Iesus Christ rest on Christ for thy Salvation on his Merits on his Blood and on his Righteousnesse Hence learn what a great benefit and priviledge the children of men have by liveing under a Covenant of Grace for although they cannot be saved by what they can doe themselves yet they may be saved by what Iesus Christ hath done for them Thou canst not bee saved by all thy doing but thou maist be saved by believing by resting and relying on Jesus Christ expecting salvation by what hee hath done and suffered in thy stead in thy behalfe Had wee layn under a Covenant of Works then it had been Doe this and live but a Covenant of Grace saith Believe and live The condition of the Covenant of Workes is That we should give an exact and perfect Righteousnesse of our own unto God the Righteousnesse of another will not serve the turn And in this Covenant little will not be accepted for much the will for the deed the Sentence of Absolution shall be pronounced if ye be found without spot or blemish compleatly righteous but the Sentence of Condemnation if ye be found unrighteous in the least tittle This Covenant speaks not one word of Hope or Help Mercy or Peace to the poore lost sinner but pronounceth him accursed for the least transgression for the least deviation from the righteous Law of God and there is no place left for Repentance no place left for Mercy upon the breach of the Covenant Adam by one sin made all his posterity miserable and the Apostle saith Gal. 3.10 Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to doe them So that there is no possibility of life by the Covenant of Workes because in our lapsed estate in our estate of corruption the Covenant of Workes is impossible to bee fulfilled by us since the day that sin came into the world that Adam eat the forbidden fruit never did any man fulfill the Covenant of Workes for there is no man that sineth not 1 Kings 8.46 2 Chron 6 36 2 Chron 6.36 There is not a just man upon the Earth that doth good and sineth not Eccle. 7.21 Eccl. 7.20 In many things we off end all Iames 3.2 Iames 3.2 O then what cause have we to admire the infinite unspeakable mercy goodnesse of God in makeing this Covenant of Grace with man a sinner this new Covenant when the former was violated which is as it were a plank after a ship-wrack that when man had voluntarily transgressed the righteous Law of God and thereby justly deprived both himselfe and his posterity of that life and blessednesse which was promised in that Covenant and was fallen under the Death and Curse which God had threatned for the breaking and transgressing of that Covenant yet notwithstanding that such should bee the infinite Mercy of God that he should not insist upon the forfeiture that he should not binde us up to the Covenant of Workes but take us out of the hand of his justice and put us into the hand of his Mercy not dealing with us according to our deserts but according to the exceeding riches of his Grace in his unsearchable Wisdom when Men and Angels were at a losse finding out a Remedy to help and relieve a poore forlorn lost sinner that is cast by the Covenant of Works not sparing his only begotten Sonne Jesus Christ the righteous the Mediator of the New Covenant Heb. 12.29 Heb. 12.24 who hath satisfied Gods justice slain that enmity which was betwixt God and us and made peace for us For in this Covenant of Grace the righteousnesse of Christ and satisfaction made by Christ is held forth and tendred unto the justice of God the Surety is punished and the Debtor is spared Esa 53.6.5 Esaiah 53.6.3 the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquity the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes wee are healed And the Apostle saith 1 Iohn 2.1.2 1 Iohn 2 1.2 If any man sin wee have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he is the propitiation for our sins So that here mercy may be found to help and relieve a poore sinner which is lost in the Covenant of Workes ●in this Covenant of Grace God accepts of the Will for the Deed hee doth not stand so strictly upon it as to cast the sinner out of favour for every transgression but as a father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him Psa 103.13 Psal 103.13 that is those that are faithfull with God in Covenant those that strive to doe the Will of the Lord and flie to his grace for pardon and acceptance those that repent of their transgressions and promise and perform upright obedience For in this Covenant here is place for Repentance and mercy for the penitent Acts 3.19 Acts 3.19 repent that your sinnes may bee blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And Proverbs 28.13 Prov 28.13 whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes shall have mercy But under a Covenant of Workes there is no place left for Repentance nor mercy for the penitent Here then wee see the inestimable the unspeakable benefit wee have by a Covenant of Grace for now by laying hold on Jesus Christ by a true and lively faith by resting and relying on what hee hath done and suffered in our stead and in our behalfe we may lay a rightfull and infallible claim unto the Kingdom of Heaven Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved FINIS A DESCRIPTION OF True Blessednesse Text. Luke 11.28 But hee said yea rather blessed are they which bear the Word of God and keep it IN the obscure humanity of Jesus Christ there did break forth such a glorious lustre of his Divinity that though as to his person he was deemed despicable and contemptible yet the words that he spake and the works that he did declared him to bee no lesse then the Son of God The words hee spake declared it his enemies themselves being judges John 7.46 Iohn 7.46 The Officers answered never man spake like this man And for the workes he did the miracles he wrought of them it is said That it was never done thus from the begining of the World As upon his healing of the man born blinde say they Iohn 9.32 It was never heard that a man born blind could afterwards see His miracles wrought admiration in the hearts even of those men The coherence of the words in whom it wrought envy The miracle he wrought in this chapter which was the disposessing of the

wee are grown wanton and are become weary of it so that now if a Minister preach of Faith Repentance Mortification Zeal Selfe-deniall and Heavenly mindednesse these are accounted thred-bare Doctrines Now when the Lord shall see a people grow weary of and wanton with the Gospel he will cut them short he will make them know the worth of the Gospell by the want of the Gospell When the Israelites once loathed Manna God quickly suffered them to bee hunger-bitten He that runs may read our sin and danger in this particular for those very people that did with delight wait upon the Ordinances of Jesus Christ oh how are they become weary of Ordinances those people that accounted the six daies tedious and thought it long before the Sabbath came now do not care for sanctifying of a Sabbath all the yeare long those people that could not live a day without the Gospell can now live not only without but above the Gospell like those we read of 1 Cor. 1.12 who were so high flown that they scorned Paul Apollo and Cephas and cried up only Christ Now when once a people grow weary of the Gospell it will not bee long before the Gospell grow weary of them and depart from them Demon ¦ stration 3 Thirdly it appeares that the Gospell is in danger to be removed from us by reason of the great encrease of such Opinions as are contrary to the Gospell as are destructive to the power and purity of it When once men shall use strong endeavours to bring in a Toleration of all Religions that is the way to bring us to no Religion at all Ezek. 43 8 Ezekiel 43.8 When the people had set their Threshold by Gods Threshold and their Post by Gods Post that is when they added their Traditions their own Inventions to Gods Precepts then there was a wall bevreixt God and them this their wickednesse was as a wall of Separation God was departing from them Those that plead for a licentious Toleration of all Opinions doe as much as in them lies to put a wall of seperation between God and England Demon ¦ stration 4 Fourthly An encrease of damnable errors and heresies is a Demonstration of the Gospels remove The Gospell is the Sun that shines in our horizon heresies are as foggs and mists that darken the bright beams of the Sun One well observes that it was not corruption in manners that did unchurch the Church of Rome but mearly corruption in Doctrine Rev. 12.15 when the woman was flying into the Wildernesse Rev. 12.15 it is said The Dragon out of his mouth poured out a flood of water to drown the woman This flood of water was a flood of Herefies and peculiarly the Heresie of Arianisme If the Lord should suffer the Dragon to pour out a flood of Heresies to overflow the Land wee may then justly fear the removal of the Gospel from us Demon ¦ stration 5 Fiftly The implacable opposition that is against the settlement of Church government is a Demonstration of the Gospels remove T is true Government is but the hedge the Gospel is the fruit but if you break down the hedge the fruit will be little this is the way to have the field over-run by the wild Boar. It was Luthers saying at his first declining from the Church of Rome that the Gospel did get more prejudice by seven years suspension of a well ordered Government then it could recover in forty seven years afterwards and the Lord grant it prove not thus with us Now by all this it may appear that we are in great danger to have the Gospel taken away from us oh how carefull then should we be to improve the means of grace whilst we do enjoy them for if the Gospell is gone all is gone we had better loose the light of the Sun then the light of the Gospell for 1 If the Gospell goes from a people peace goes from a people the remove of the Gospell of peace will cause the going away of your peace 2 If the Gospell goes plenty goes as well as peace 3 If the Gospell goes if the worship of God be taken away our safety is gone The Ark was the Israelites safety when the Ark was taken away their strength and safety was taken away When the Jewes did reject the Gospell so that it was translated to the Gentiles then the Romans came and took away both their place and Nation 4 When the Gospel goes our civil Liberty goes when the Iewes once sleighted the Gospel they lived no longer free men but became slaves and tributary to the Romans 5 The dignity and splendor of a Nation goes when the Gospell goes as old Eli said when the Ark was taken The glory is departed from Israel And t is said Math. 26. Math. 26. That Bethelem was not the least amongst all the Princes of Iudah Micah 5.2 yet Micah saith chap. 5. v. 2. That Bethelem was the least that is the least in regard of its scituation and small number of inhabitants But not the least as Matthew speaks because the Messiah was there borne and the Gospell there preached The Gospel of Christ made Bethelem more then it was and therefore it is that Capernaum is said to bee lifted up to Heaven because the glad tidings of the Gospel was there published Now if God should take away the Gospel from us he would leave us as Bethelem the least of a thousand Citties We should not measure the greatness of a City by the great trade and great number of people therein but by the flourishing of the Gospel there in London will be the least City of a thousand if the Gospel bee removed from it Oh then what cause have wee to know and consider in this our day the things that concerne our peaoe least hereafter they bee hid from our eyes And not content our selves with a bare hearing of the Word but bee doers of it expressing the power and authority thereof in our lives and conversations Object But you will say No man can keep what hee heareth If they only are blessed that hear the Word of God and keep it that practise what they hear then where is a blessed man to bee found for where is that man alive that can keep that can live answerable to what he hears I hear many a sin reproved which I cannot forbear I hear many a duty pressed which I cannot perform I hear many a grace perswaded unto which I cannot act Now how can any man bee blessed seeing hee cannot keep what hee heareth Answer Didst thou indeed live under a Covenant of works Vnder the Covenant of Grace God accepts of the Will for the Deed. thou couldest never be a blessed man because thou canst never keep what thou hearest according to that exactnesse which a Covenant of works requires for that commands a man to keep the whole Law to keep it perfectly and to keep it personally But for thy comfort know

take liberty to try all Preachers page 67 2 We must not be scepticks in Religion page 71 3 VVe must not bring the Scriptures to our Opinion but our Opinion to the Scriptures page 71 4 VVe must not be over confident of our opinions page 72 Four Reasons why we should try all Doctrines 1 Because erronious Teachers may carry a resemblance to them that preach the truth page 73 2 The Scripture foretells that there shall be many false Teachers in the latter dayes page 74 3 False Doctrines are published very craftily pag 76 4 There is an aptnesse in our nature to be turned aside unto error p. 79 Three general Directions about trying of Doctrines 1 The Scripture is to bee the standard by which we are to try all Doctrines p. 82 2 Cleare principles of truth must rather bee maintained then disputed page 84 3 VVe must not be consident in any opinion untill wee have tryed it throughly page 85 Nine Rules for trying of all Doctrins that wee heare 1 Whatsoever the Word of God doth expresly hold forth to be believed and received p. 85 2 Whatsoever Doctrine advanceth the grace of God in Christ p. 87 3 Whatsoever Doctrine doth advance the Will of God p. 87 4 Whatsoever Doctrine doth advance all the attributes of God ibid 5 Whatsoever Doctrine discovereth the sinfulnesse of vain thoughts p. 89 6 Whatsoever Doctrine advanceth all truth ibid 7 Whatsoever Doctrine tends to settle a troubled Conscience ibid 8 Whatsoever Doctrine tends to the advancement of Godlinesse 90 9 Whatsoever Doctrine will abide the tryal p. 91 All these Doctrines are sound and to be embraced On the Contrary 1 Whatsoever Doctrine is not to be found in Scripture p 86 2 Whatsoever Doctrine debaseth the grace of God in Christ p. 87 3 Whatsoever Doctrine makes the Will of God ●or obediance and the grace of God for Salvation to be contrary ibid 4 Whatsoever Doctrine doth rob God of his glory in any of his attributes 88 5 Whatsoever Doctrine requireth only outward reformation p. 89 6. Whatsoever Doctrin is pleasing to the corrupt nature of man p. 89. 7 Whatsoever Doctrine leaves a distressed Conscience without any bottome to rest upon p. 90 8 Whatsoever Doctrine tends to licentiousnesse p. 91 9 Whatsoever Doctrine will not endure the tryall p. 92 All these Doctrines are false and to be abhorred Text. Acts 16.30 1. And said sirs what must I doe to be saved And they said beleive on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved 1 Observation Men of the most despicable condition in the world may become the objects of Gods pardoning mercy page 97 2 Observation God by his providence doth many times so bring it about that afflictions shall bee a means to make men look after Salvation p. 99 3 Observation VVhen once men come to make a dilligent Enquiry after Heaven there will then appear great alteration in their passions and affections page 99 The words of the Text explained Six things observed from the form of speech the Iaylor used page 102 Doctrine Above all things in the world this is the most needfull thing for the sons of men to make Enquiry after namely what they must doe to bee saved page 103 Three Cautions for the right understanding of the Doctrine 1 VVee must not expect to bee saved by doeing page 104 2 No man can be saved without doeing page 105 3 Heavenly care doth not exclude lawfull worldly care page 106 Four Reasons why wee must enquire what we must doe to be saved 1 Because the soul is the most excellent thing in the world page 107 2 Heavenly care is the ready way to bodily welfare page 108 3 Because the Devil makes great enquiry how to damn the soul page 109 4 If thou loosest thy soul thou loosest all page 110 1 Use For rebuke of them that Enquire after notionall Questions page 112 That enquire onely after earthly things page 113 That enquire how to damn themselves page 114 2 Use For examination whether we are in an estate of Salvation Page 115 This may be known 1 By the Methods God takes with those whom he intends to save page 115.117 2 By the Impressions which hee works on their hearts page 118 The second part of the Text explained God promises to give what hee commands page 121 Faith and Repentance must bee joyned together pag 124 Doctrine It is the duty of all those that expect salvation to beleive in Iesus Christ page 126 Every assent unto the word is not beleiving page 128 A Description of saving faith page 129 The great benefit and priviledge wee have by living under a Covenant of grace page 131 The differences betwixt the Covenant of works and Covenant of Grace page 132 There is no possibillity of life by the Covenant of works page 133 In the Covenant of grace there is place for repentance and mercy for the penitent 136 Text. Luke 11.28 But hee said yea rather blessed are they which hear the Word of God and keep it Observation From the context viz. good Children are a great praise and blessing to their parents page 140 The words of the Text explained p. 141 Observation you must take heed that you bee not tickled with pride when you hear your selves or yours commended page 142 Eight Observations from the manner or form of expression that Christ doth here use page 143 to 151 What is meant by keeping the Word of God page 150 1 A keeping it in memory page 151 2 A keeping it in practice ibid Doctrin They are rather blessed that hear the Word of God and practise what they ●ear then the mother of Iesus Christ was for bringing him into the World page 152 The idolatry of the Church of Rome detected and confuted page 153 Five Reasons why such as hear the Word of God and keep it are blessed 1 Christ doth account such to stand in a nearer relation unto him then his naturall friends page 155 2 They shall persevere when others apostastatize page 156 3 The Lord makes glorious promises unto such page 157 4 They may be instrumentall to bring others unto blessednesse page ib 5 They themselves shall surely come to blessednesse although they should not bring others unto Heaven page 158 Vse For lamentation that people will not seek after blessednesse when they may have it upon such easie tearms 160 Five Considerations to set home this Vse 1 If thou dost not practise what thou hearest thou wilt but aggravate thy condemnation 160 2 Thou art voyd of love to God 163 3 Thy profession is nothing worth ib 4 Thou canst have no assurance of the love of God unto thee 165 5 Thou wilt provoke the Lord to take away the Gospell from thee 166 Foure Demonstrations that wee are guilty of barrennesse under the meanes of grace 1 It appears because the Lords own people complain of their unfruitfulnesse page 167 2 By the sad complaint of Christs Ministers who discerne but little

that thou art under a Covenant of Grace which doth not require a perfect but a sincere obedience to the Law of God which accepts of the Will for the deed O remember that thou art not under a Covenant of works but a Covenant of Grace which accepts of what Christ hath done and suffered for thee if thou art a beleiver as if done in thine own person Though indeed that is true which Christ said to the young man Math. 19.17 If thou wilt enter in to Life keep the Commandements Yet you must know that Christ spake this unto him because he knew him to bee of a Pharisaicall temper and that he thought to bee saved by his good works But if Christ should say thus unto any of us thou shalt goe to Heaven if thou keepest every Command thou shalt never goe to Heaven if thou breakest any one Command The Lord have mercy on us we should then all perish to eternity But Christ saith Beleive and live Now promise not work is the object of Faith V●nl●m tanquam ex fide non ex debito sper●mus Rom. 4.16 Therefore Ambrose was wont to say let us hope for pardon as of faith not of debt In a word make conscience to keep what thou hearest bewaile thine inabillity to fullf●ill the Law of God do what thou canst mourn that thou canst doe no better and then God will say though thou canst not keep the Law compleatly yet my Sonne hath kept it for thee I accept of his obedience as thy obedience and his righteousnesse as thy righteousnesse O what grace and mercy is here how may this chear up your hearts in the midst of all discouragments that lie upon you Again for thy comfort know that if in sincerity of heart thou endeavourest to keep what thou hearest in divine acceptation it is all one as if thou hadst perfectly kept all that thou hearest If it bee the desire and labour of thy soul to obay Gods Will and observe his Commands in divine acceptation it is looked upon as if it were actually done by thee It is worthy your notice what is said Heb. 11.17 By faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac and hee that had received the promise offered up his only begotten Son Abraham did not actually doe it But because Abraham did it in the purpose of his heart because the desire and resolution of his soule was to obay Gods Command therefore the Scripture accounts it as done O take this for thy comfort thou that art a son of Abraham that walkest in the steps and faith of Abraham the very desires and purposes of thine heart are looked upon as if they were really and actually done If thou wouldest pray better hear better and practise more then thou doest in divine account this is looked upon as if thou hadst already done it FINIS THE SAINTS REST OR Their happy Sleep in DEATH As it was delivered in A SERMON At Aldermanbury London Aug. 24. 1651 being the next Lords Day after Mr LOVE was put to death By EDMUND CALAMY B. D. Iohn 11.11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Psalm 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints LONDON Printed for E Brewster and G Sawbridge at the signe of the Bible on Ludgate-hill near Fleetbridge 1653 THE Saints Rest OR Their happy sleep in Death Text. Acts 7.60 the later part And when hee had said this hee fell asleep THese words contain in them the happy closure and upshot of Stephens life wherein we have three particulars 1. The Person that fell asleep 2. The Speech that he made when he fell asleep 3. What he did when he had finished his Speech First We have the Person that fell asleep and that was Stephen He was a man full of faith and full of the Holy-Ghost as you may see Acts 6.5 He was the first Martyr that ever suffered for the cause of Christ hence I might gather this Doctrine viz. That the best of men are subject to violent and unnatural deaths Stephen that was full of the Holy Ghost was stoned to death and Iohn the Baptist that was full of the Holy-Ghost from the very womb was beheaded Peter was crucified and so was Andrew Isaiah was sawed asunder Ieremiah was stoned and Zacharias was slain between the Temple and the Altar But I shall passe this The second part of the Text is the Speech that Stephen made when hee fell asleep Hoc dicto obdormivit that is when hee had finished his prayer He fell asleep Hence observe That it is an excellent way to close up our lips with prayer To die praying is a most Christian way of dying They stoned Stephen calling upon God After this manner Christ died hee prayed Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and having thus said he gave up the ghost This he did that it might be a patern to all Christians Prayer is a necessary duty at all times but especially when we are adying and that for these three Reasons 1. Because when we are to die we have most need of Gods help for then the Devil is most busie and we most weak 2 Because when we are to die wee are to beg the greatest boon of God that is that he would receive us into his heavenly Kingdom Now prayer is the chiefe means to obtain this mercy for it is Porta Coeli Clavis Paradisi the Gate of Heaven a Key to let us into Paradise Therefore we have great reason to die praying 3. Because when a Saint of God is dying he is then to take his last fare well of prayer In Heaven there is no praying but all thanksgiving there is no need in Heaven therefore no prayer in Heaven Now a Saint of God being to take his leave of prayer when he is to die therefore it is fit he should die praying I beseech you remember this pattern in the Text St Stephen died caling upon the Lord. Let us die praying as that Emper or said Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori so may I say Oportet Christianum mort praecantem it behoves a Christian to die praying Quest But what was the substance of Stephens prayer Answ He prayed for himselfe and he prayed for his persecutors 1 He prayed for himselfe Lord Iesus receive my spirit verse 59. 2 Hee prayed for his persecutors Lord lay not this to their charge v. 60. I will not enter upon this part of the Text for it would swallow up all my time Therefore I shall wave it and come to the third part which is that which by Gods assistance I purpose to speak unto viz. What Stephen did when hee had finished his prayer When he had sayd this he fell asleep that is he died Behold here the magnanimity the piety and the Christian courage of Stephen The people were stoning of him and gnashing their teeth upon him and the good man dies with as much quietnesse of minde as if he had died in his bed he fell

they came into the world Are there not many that have lived to gray haires and are hastening to the grave who never put their hands to any work which God sent them into the world for to doe Beloved I would leave with you one sad text of Scripture and it is worthy to be engraven in gold Esay 65.20 Esa 65.20 There shall no more thence be an Infant of dayes nor an old Man that hath not filled his daies for the Child shall die an hundred years old but the siner being an hundred years old shall be accursed This is the most dismal text that I know of in the old Testament to wicked men yet comfortable to the godly It is a promise of the conversion and bringing in of the Gentiles I will give you the sence of it There shall be no more an infant of dayes That is A man that hath lived to many dayes to many yeares and yet hath no more Knowledeg of God hath done no more service to God then a very infant There were many such that lived in the time of the Prophets that were men of dayes yet infants in understanding Knowledg Nor shall there be an old man that hath not filled his dayes That is the old man that doth not act grace that doth not serve and glorifie God that doth not fullfill the duty of every day that fills his daies with sin and not with righteousnesse this is the man that hath not filled his daies There are many such old men in the world whose wrinckled faces and gray-haires doe declare them to be fourscore years of age yet in regard of grace and knowledge they are not come to the age of 14 years Now how may this justly be for rebuke to any of you who are infants of daies who have done God no more service and are no more acquainted with God then Children you have lived many daies but they have bin emptie daies your hearts are full of sin no marvell then that they are so emptie of grace Is there not many a man woman who may with shame and sorrow thus reflect upon selfe before God Have not I lived to 40.60 nay it may be 80 years yet Lord thou knowest my daies are emptie daies I have not done any good all my life time In Scripture dialect when good men die they are said to die in a good old age But an old Drunkard an old Adulterer or an old Swearer dieing in an old age it is a bad old age not a good old age When you come to d●e then Conscience will reflect upon you and say I am an old man but I have not done the work which God sent me in to the world for to doe I have read of an old Disciple who was 90 years of age and being asked the question how old he was he said he was 45 years of age they answered your gray-haires discover you to be much more saith he if that you reckon number of years I have lived fourscore and ten but if I compute how long I have lived a devoted life to God then I am but 45 for the other halfe of my time I lived a dead man O how many are there in the world that have lived as dead men all their dayes There is a passage in Eccles 7.17 Ecles 7.17 Be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish why shouldest thou die before thy time Some Interpreters carry it this way A man walking in drunkenesse excesse and riot doth as it were shorten his daies Others That he that thus lives is dead whilst he lives before his time of death and when death comes he is twice dead Indeed a man cannot die before Gods time Iob 14.5 Iob 14.5 Seeing his dayes are determined the number of his months are with thee thou hast appointed his bounds that hee cannot passe Now though thou canst not die before Gods time yet thou maist die before thy time that is when thou comest to die before thou art prepared and fitted to die before thou hast done thy worke thou art the man that dost die before thy time And that I take to be the meaning of those words O think of it Though thou canst not die before Gods time yet thou maist die before thy time before thou art fitted for death before thou hast done the worke for which God gave thee thy life If Iesus Christ did pray that his Disciples might not die before they had done their work then what blame are they worthy of from whom if they should live till Doomes day God should have no more service then now he hath and in whom he should then see as much sin as now he doth The next Use is a use of Comfort 3 Vse for Comfort If it be so that Jesus Christ doth not desire that his People should be taken out of the world untill they have don their work Then all you that are Gods people know that as long as God doth continue you here in the world he hath work for you to doe Suppose thou art thrown into Prison consider that is a part of thy work thou must doe for Iesus Christ If thou art a Minister of the Gospel and art under Poverty Repoach or cruel Persecution for Righteousnesse sake consider that this is part of the service that thou art to do for God Christ will not take you away when you have halfe your work for to doe but when you have finished your work then you shall go for to receive your wages I remember a saying of Mr Bolton Bolton when hee was on his Death-bed saith hee O Lord this is my comfort that though I have ended my dayes yet I have done my worke before I die This is comfortable indeed to a godly heart but dreadful to you that are wicked who when you have ended your daies have not begun your work have not begun to serve your God O this will be great gauling of Conscience unto you another day O this will be the worm that will gnaw upon you in hell to all eternity to remember that God set you out your work for to do in this world and vouchsafed you both time and meanes for the accomplishment of it but you trifled away your time sinned away many heavenly opportunities of grace and mercy played all the day long when you had so much work for to doe so that when your daies were at an end you had not begun your work As it was with Charles the King of Sicily Charles King of Sicily who cried out with consternation of heart I have not begun to live and yet I am now going to die O let not this guilt lie upon your Consciences let not this be the worm to gnaw you in Hell to remember that you lived long in the world yet did not the work for which God sent you into the world Now I proceed to the fourth Observation out of these words 4 Doctrin I pray

that Doctrine is unsound Rule 7 Seventhly whatsoever Doctrine doth necessarily tend to settle and compose a troubled Conscience by teaching us to bottom only upon the merits of Christ for salvation and not upon our own good works that Doctrine is sound But that Doctrine which leaves a distressed perplexed Conscience without any sound bottom to rest upon by teaching men to place the stresse of their salvation upon the mutable Will of man this is not only an uncomfortable but an unsound Doctrine Rule 8 Eightly that Doctrine that tends to the advancement of godlinesse in a mans Christian course which as the Apostle speakes Titus 1.1 acknowledgeth the truth which is after godlinesse which conduceth to the perfecting of holinesse that puts us on to diligent care to work out our salvation with feare and trembling that helps on the work of grace in the soul that tends to inform the judgement reform the heart and conform the life to the whol Will of God that Doctrine is true and good But on the contrary that Doctrine which tends to Licentiousnesse and Libertinism causing men to neglect the Ordinances of God and to grow weary of Congregationall Worship Family Worship and Closet Worship that turns the grace of God into Wantonnesse that magnifies the Death of Christ but destroyes the Life of Christ that sets up the Blood of Christ the Priestly Office of Christ but regards not the Commands of Christ the Kingly Office of Christ that makes men confident of Mercy but carelesse of Repentance that makes Christ mercifull but leaves them sinfull or at the best brings them but to a form of godlinesse without the power thereof that Doctrine is erronious and dangerous Truth ever advanceth godlinesse but erronious Doctrine is contrary thereunto 2 Tim. 2.16 2 Tim 2.16 Shun prophane and vayn bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse We finde in our dayes the fruit of vain bablings and Disputes to be the broaching of such damnable Opinions as these viz That a man must not mourn for sinne must not confesse sinne must not pray for pardon of sinne and thus three parts of Prayer are taken away So concerning the Decree of God that if they bee decreed to bee saved they shall bee saved let them live as they list and if they bee decreed to bee damned they shall bee damned let them doe what they can Whereas the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation should bee a spur to stir us up in pursuit after holinesse So concerning the Law of God that it is of no use to believers And many such like pernicious Doctrines are occasioned by vain Disputes all which tend to more ungodlinesse which is enough to prove them to be false for truth ever advanceth practical godlynesse in a mans Christian course Rule 9 Lastly Doctrines of truth will be true when they are tryed truth fears no tryal it is error that fears the light that creeps into houses and dares not appear in publique that seiseth upon silly women laden with corruption as the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3.6 but dares not encounter with a knowing Christian 2. Tim. 3.6 And therefore it is that the Turks doe forbid any man to dispute against their Alkoran And therfore it is that the Church of Rome will not suffer the common people to read the Bible but they must pin their Faith upon other mens sleeves and believe as the Church believes And thus they cause their Errors and Idolatries to bee swallowed down whereas were they brought into the light the weaknesse and sinfulnesse thereof would appear The sum of all is this When you heare any Doctrine delivered compare it with the VVord of God and if you finde that it doth crosse any part of the old or new Testament believe it not for it is not Truth but Error These Rules and Directions for the trying of such Doctrines as you hear may be of great advantage unto you in these loose and erronious times if the Lord give you hearts to make a right improvement thereof Nay Conscience doth not tell mee of any thing delivered unto you repugnant unto the Scripture But trust nothing that I preach untill you have tried it and if you finde any thing disagreeable to the written Word of God reject it Prove all things hold fast that that which is good FINIS A CHRISTIANS great Enquiry Text. Acts 16.30 31. And said sirs what must I doe to be saved And they said beleive on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt bee saved THis Text is propounded by way of interrogation the manner of its composure intimates that it is the Ebulition of a perplexed mind the Quere of a distempered and distressed soul and that about a businesse of the greatest moment in the World There are many critical curious and controversial Questions that men enquire after in these daies But this Question that the poor Jaylor here asked is a Question of the greatest concernment that ever can bee made by any man It was no lesse then this what he might doe to be saved The Question seems to be the expression of a man in great anguish and consternation of mind and truly the matter the Question is about is such as might trouble all the World As a grave Divine answered one that came unto him saying Sir I am troubled about my Salvation saith hee freind it is a businesse that might trouble all the World So here this poor man cries out to Paul and Silas what must I doe to be saved I shall not spend time about the Explication but shall dispatch what I have to say in a practical prosecution of these words Before I come to the points of Doctrin I intend to handle There are 3 concurrent circumstances about the words from whence 3 Observations will arise 1 From the consideration of the condition of the man that propounds this serious Question a Iaylor a calling in those times especially full of infamy because the followers of Christ were most of all in bonds when Oppressors and men of violence escaped free yet behold a Iaylor the object of pardoning mercy Hence Observe 1 Observation From the condition of the man that propounds this Question That men of the most despicable condition in the World may become the objects of Gods pardoning mercy Salvation is not impailed within the rank of the rich and honourable of the World but sometimes men of the lowest rank become the objects of Gods mercy Pardoning grace reacheth sometimes to the vildest and most notorious sinners in the World Christ came not to call the righteous Mark 2.17 but sinners to repentance 2. From the consideration of the occasion or manner of this Jaylors conversion for it is said In the night there was a great Earth-quake in the prison and the Keeper awakened out of his sleep and when he arose he saw all the prison doores open and thinking that all the prisoners had been gone hee was in great perplexity of minde

presumptuous confidence Paul saith Beleive and be Saved Faith and Repentane must bee joyned together to let you know that that Repentance which is not joined with Faith is but a legal sorrow Therefore one saith beleive the other saith repent to shew that ye must joyn both together Had only this answer bin given Beleive and be saved Men would then have said that it is but a short cut to Heaven it is but beleiving Peter saith Repent and bee Saved to shew that both must come into the Christians practise that Faith and Repentance must goe hand in hand together if ye do expect Salvation Now this I note the rather because there are some men that are all for beleiving on Jesus Christ and not at all for repentance and mourning for sin These make Peters answer to bee no answer at all Then there are others that are all for repentance they are troubled in spirit and distressed in mind they wish their heads were water and their eyes a fountain of tears they think by their sorrow for sin to make an attonement with God but they do not at all rest on Jesus Christ by faith Now these men make Pauls answer to be no answer at all But remember you must Repent and be Saved with Peter and you must Beleive and be Saved with Paul But I shall only breifly speak to the answer which Paul and Silas here give Doctrin And from thence observe That it is the duty of all those that expect Salvation to beleive in Iesus Christ But me thinks I hear some say If this be so surely then Salvation may be had on very easy terms for do not all beleive on Jesus Christ God forbid that any should be so wicked as not to beleive on their Saviour I answer Indeed there are many that have a kinde of beleife an historical notional common dead faith such a faith as Simon Magus had as the stony ground had as the Devils have who beleive and tremble This faith a man may have and goe to Hell But there are few in the World who have a lively precious unfained faith which the Scripture doth indeed account beleiving in Christ which whosoever hath shall never perish but have everlasting life Few there are that are willing to receive Christ as he is tendred in the Gospel to receive Christ as a King to rule them as well as a Jesus to save them Few that are willing to receive a naked Christ Christ with his Crosse as well as Christ with his Crown Few that are as ready to give up themselves to Christ for Sanctification as to take Christ for justification Most people love the Preistly office of Christ to purchase Salvation for them but they doe not love the Kingly office of Christ to conquer Corruption in them they would be willing to have Christ receive them into Heaven but they are not willing to receive Christ into their hearts In the day of their callamitie when they lie upon their sick beds and the terrours of death take hold upon them then none but Christ none but Christ But in the day of their prosperity when the World smiles upon them and Riches Health surrounds them then Christ is disesteemed by them they see no beauty in him why they should desire him For there is no wicked man in the World will take Christ upon Gospel tearms in the time of his health and outward prosperity And moreover most people think that it is the easiest matter in the World for to beleive that it is but Beleiving that it is in their power to beleive at any time when they will and that they can beleive time enough when they lie upon their Death-beds Not considering God puts forth the same almighty power when he workes faith in the soul as he did when hee raised up Jesus Christ from the dead as the Apostle shewes 1 Ephe. 19.20 Eph. 1.19.20 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who beleive according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead It is as impossible for a man by his own power to make himselfe to beleive as to create a world or give a being to himselfe And here consider that every assent unto the Word is not beleiving Bellarmine indeed saith that beleiving is only a bare assent to the Word but if saving faith did only consist in a bare assent to Scripture truth then there would bee multitudes of beleevers in the World but such beleivers God will never own 2 Consider that Faith is not a presumptuous confidence the nature of Faith doth consist in this It is a grace of God wrought in the heart of an humbled sinner What Saving ●aith ●● who doth discern his sins to be enough to Damn him and all his own Righteousnesse to bee too little to Save him therefore he goeth out of himselfe and rests and relies wholly on the Righteousnesse of Iesus Christ expecting Salvation only by him Now should wee take a Survay of all the sons of men where should we finde them that do thus beleive on Jesus Christ How few are there in the World that feele their sins pressing fore upon them that see all their Righteousnesse and Religious performances to be things of no vallue in point of justification that finde in their souls longing desires after Jesus Christ that they may bee found in Christ not having their own righteousnesse that roul their burdened souls upon Jesus Christ resolving that if they perish there they will perish Certainly Beloved should men try their hearts by this description of Faith there would be found but few beleivers in the World Vse Now for a word of Application And first from the Enquirie that the poor man makes Sirs what must I doe to be Saved Inference 1 Hence learn to take heed that you doe not make Enquiry after toyes and trifles and in the mean time neglect the great matters of Eternal Life It was a sordid spirit in that King Sardanapalus who would bee Spining and Carding amongst the women when hee should have bin Ruling and Governing his Kingdome There are many men that are of this base and ignoble temper they spend their time their strength and labour in base and sordid imployments and in the mean time neglect the great and important affaires of an heavenly Kingdom Inference 2d A second Inference is this If so be there are but few in the World that make Enquirie how to be saved Then hence wee may conclude that there are but few in the World that shall bee saved There are many in the World that never came so far as with that morall yong man spoken of in Math. 19. to ask this Question Math. 19 what good thing shall I doe that I may inherit eternall Life that never with the Jaylor enquired What must I doe to be saved Oh beloved if the most of the World doe never make