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A91363 A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences. Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell. Purnell, Robert, d. 1666. 1657 (1657) Wing P4237; Thomason E1575_1; ESTC R209217 254,040 517

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him he also sets his love upon him and manifests it unto him So that as election to life is by God the Father and redemption by God the Son so justification sanctification and restauration into the Image of God is by the Holy-Ghost So that in the unity of the God-head there be three of one substance power and eternity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy-Ghost the Father is of none other begotten nor proceeding the Son is eternally begotten of the Father the Holy-Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son See Math. 3. 16 17 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 1 4. 1 Joh. 1. 14. And that the Holy-Ghost is God will appear by these Scriptures Act. 5. 3 4. Peter reproving Annanias for lying said he did lie to the Holy-Ghost and so he lyed not to men but to God so again Isa 6. 9. I heard the Lord speaking which place Paul expounds of the Holy-Ghost Act. 28. 25. Of Gods Decrees WHatsoever God doth in time that did he decree to do from all eternity So that Gods decree is that whereby he hath from all eternity set down with himself whatsoever shall come to pass Ephes 1. 11. If any ask what things are decreed by God I answer 1 all things 2 with their causes 3 with their effects 4 circumstances and 5 manner of being Act. 2. 23. 4. 27 28. Ephes 1. 11. 1. This decree is most wise Rom. 11. 33. 2. Just Rom. 9. 13 14. 3. Eternall Ephes 1. 4 5. 1 Cor. 2. 7. 4. Unchangeable Heb. 11. 17. 5. Most free Rom. 9. 18. 6. The cause of all good Iam. 1. 17. Now the parts of this decree is two-fold first concerning Angels Secondly concerning man and of this decree concerning man there be two parts First Election Secondly Reprobation 1 Thes 5. 9. Iudg. 4. 5. As concerning Angels they also are of two sorts First good Secondly bad First good or excellent 1. For their nature 2. For their gifts 3. For their offices 4. For their estate Secondly bad or evill Angels God from all eternity hath determined of all things together with their causes effects circumstances of place and time means manner and end to the manifestation of his own glory Psal 99. 4. Mat. 10. 29. Rom. 9. 20 21. 11. 36. Pro. 16. 4. Of Election ELection is the decree of God of his free love and grace and mercy choosing some men to Faith holiness and eternall life for the praise of his glorious mercy 1 Thes 1. 4. 2 Thes 2. 13. Ephes 1. 4 5 6. Rom. 8. 29 30. The causes of election was none other but his meer good will and pleasure Luk. 12. 32. Rom. 11. 5. 9. 11. 16. Ephes 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 9. The end of election is the manifestation of the riches of his grace and mercy Rom. 9. 23. Ephes 1. 6. Quest Was not Christ and faith and holiness the causes of election Answ No the sending of Christ faith holiness and eternall life are only the effects of Gods love by which he manifesteth the infinite riches of his grace Ioh. 3. 16. 1 Ioh. 4. 10. Acts 13. 4. Titus 1. 1. Col. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 23. God ●eerly out of his good pleasure without the fore-fight of any good in the creature according to his unlimited soveraignty elected a certain number by name unto eternall salvation and he hath decreed to effect all the wayes and means for them and in them to bring them thereto see 2 Tim. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 2. 8. So some are elected unto life out of all sorts of people Mat. 20. 16. Rom 9. 24. Rev. 7. 9. That unto which God hath elected them is 1. To the Adoption of Sons 2. Sanctification of life here 3. And eternall life hereafter The first and only moving cause of Election is the good pleasure and love of God Ephes 1. 5. Rom. 9. 18. Ephes 1. 11. So that Faith is not the cause but the effect of election Act. 13. 48. God is no respecter of persons and yet he elected some and left others when he found no difference A man may come to know in time that he was elected before time 1. We come to apprehend this by Faith 1 Thes 1. 4. 2. By our effectuall calling 3. By our justification 4. By our sanctification Rom. 8. 30. 5 By the testimony of Gods Spirit Rom. 8. 9 16 17. 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 12. 2 Pet. 1. 2 3. 2Cor 1. 21 23. Of Reprobation REprobation is the wise just and absolute decree of God passing by and leaving some men unto themselves to suffer them to fall and to enflict upon them eternall punishment deserved by their sins for the praise of his unspeakable great justice Rom. 9. 11 13 22. Iude 4. Ier. 6. 30. The causes of this decree is the absolute will and good pleasure of God Mat. 11. 26. Rom. 9. 13. The end of this decree is not the condemnation of the creature 〈…〉 ●●●ifestation of Gods Justice Rom. 9. 22. Yet election and reprobation in a sense are not the causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation Election and reprobation they are but precedent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the causes and the execution thereof It is the fore-appointment of certain Angels and men unto everlasting dishonour God of his own free will determining to pass them by refuse or cast off and for sin to condemn and punish them with everlasting death Prov. 16. 4. Exod. 9. 16. Rom. 9. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 20. Mat. 25. 41. Of the Creation ALthough God made man of the dust of the earth yet he could have made him of nothing as he made all things else of nothing in six daies Heb. 11. 3. Exod. 20. 11. 1. In the first day were created the heavens and the earth and light Gen. 1. 1 2. Iob 38. 7. 2. In the next day was the out-spreading firmament or heavens the division of the waters above from the waters beneath Gen. 1. 6 7. 3. In the third day there was a two-fold work first a gathering of the waters in one place secondly a bringing forth of hearbs Gen. 1. 9 10 11 12. 4. In the fourth day was made the Sun Moon and Stars to give light on the earth and to be for signs and seasons and for dayes and years Gen. 1. 14 15 16 17. 5. In the fift day there was a twofold work the creation of all sorts of fish in the sea and fouls in the air Gen. 1. 22 23. 6. In the sixth day there was also a twofold work the creation of all sorts of beasts upon the earth and the creation of man whom the Lord made in his own Image Gen. 1. 24 25 26 27. 7. The seventh day the Lord made a Sabboth of rest and blessed that day above all other dayes and did also sanctifie it The
2. He gives repentance which is a flower that grows not in natures garden Jer. 13. 23. The Ethiopian cannot change his skin nor the Leopard his spots and that he doth give repentance as a gift to his doth appear by these Scriptures Acts 5. 31. 2 Tim. 2. 25. 3. He gives his Spirit Rom. 5. 5. 1. John 3. See Iohn 14. 26. 4. 13. 4. He gives a soul skill to lay hold upon and sweetly to apply the precious promises to himself 5. He gives peace Iohn 14. 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 6. He doth give pardon of sins and that pardon of sins is a gift will appear Acts 5. 31. Acts 26. 18. compared with Psal 32. 1 2. 7. He doth give grace Iohn 1. 16. of his fulness we shall receive grace for grace 8. And lastly He gives himself Rom. 8. 32. he that hath given us his son how shall he not with him also give us all things In a word the Lord doth give his people spiritual and heavenly gifts pure gifts wine without water light without darkness gold without dross See Rev. 22. 1. James 3. 17. He gives soul-satisfying gifts most permanent and lasting and most useful gifts I had intended to have written something of the difference between Common and Special gifts and of the vast difference between the gifts that Christ gives and those the world gives But my Book I see would then swell too big c. I shall to this add but this word Christ doth voluntarily and freely give these gifts and graces never did a mother more willingly give her child suck then Jesus Christ bestows grace upon his people Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. So much of the graces gifts and vertues of the Spirit we shall now come to speak of the Ordinances of the Gospel in which these gifts and graces must and ought to be exercised I shall speak of ten or eleven of them which are standing Ordinances remaining to this day in full force and vertue Of the several Ordinances of the Gospel 1. OF the Assembling of our selves together 2. Of preaching and prophecying and attentive hearing 3. Of joynt prayer and supplication 4. Of singing and praising God together 5. Of the Ordinance of Baptism 6. Of the Lords Supper or breaking of bread 7. Of Collections for the poor 8. Of Reading the Scriptures 9. Of Admonition private and publick 10. Of Suspention 11. Of Excommunication First of the Ordinance of Assembling our selves together THE Church of God is in Scripture resembled to a natural body wherein are many members united to each other and to one head by one Spirit now in order to this union we are to assemble our selves together in obedience to that great command Heb. 10. 25. Not for saking the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is Psal 122. 1. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go unto the house of the Lord. Those Saints that are assembled together according to a Gospel institution are a communion of Saints arising from a clea● apprehension of their union with Christ and his members 1 Cor. 12. 13 14. For by one Spirit we a●e all Baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit for the body is not one member but many members Ver. 20. For now are they many members but one body Now when a man comes to see that every one in whom the Lord Jesus appeareth is a member together with him in the same body whereof Christ is the head then his heart longeth to joyn himself in fellowship with such who have fellowship with the Father and the Son 1 John 1. 3. And so goes out by the foot-steps of the flock and propounds himself to the Church and puts himself upon the tryal of the truth of that work of grace in his heart So that a Church is at first gathered by the word preached and faith received of them that hear it Mat. 28. 19 20. but to come to particulars I shall according to my measure speak or write of the Ordinance of assembling under these two heads 1. As it relates to those that are converted but never as yet joyned to any Church of Christ 2. As it relates to those that are converted and joyned to the Church of Christ 1. As it relates to those that are converted but never as yet joyned to any Church of Christ in order let them consider that it is their duty to propound themselves to and endeavour to joyn with the Church For first the Lord in his Word doth command it And secondly the example of the primitive Saints whose foot-steps we are to follow doth call for it and therefore you no sooner read of a people converted but the next news they were baptized and added to the Churches and good reason why because God commands us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together And secondly although our being depends not upon our joyning with a Church of Saints yet our well-being doth much depend upon it If any ask how or by what means is a Church at first gathered I would say to them again What is written how readest thou you are to observe no other Rule means or way then what is either exprest implyed or included in the holy Scriptures of truth where we may find out the right Ordinan●es Ministry and Government The right Constitution of a Church of Christ or the way at first to gather a Church 1. LET seven eight nine or ten or more of those men that are most sound in the Faith and most unblamable in their lives and conversation appoint one day to fast and pray together and earnestly seek unto God for his direction herein and toward the end of the day let them one by one give an account of the work of grace upon their hearts and of the hope that is in them and then give your selves up to the Lord and one to another by the will of God with no other Covenant then this to endeavour as God shall enlighten and enable you to walk together in the appointments Ordinances and institutions of Christ the head of the Church exprest implyed and contained in the Scriptures of truth which you take to be your rule c. 2. In the end of this meeting appoint your next meeting both time and place expecting the presence of Christ with you to assist and teach you according to his promise Mat. 18. 20. See the assemblies Annotations on this verse 3. You having proceeded thus far you may look upon your selves as a Church of Christ in its infancy and when other Christians by the word preached and Faith received desire to joyn with you in this or the next meeting let their names be propounded which being done let the brethren appoint a meeting to confer with them about the time when the place where the manner how the Lord did first appear
Creator the Gospel commandeth us to worship him in Christ as our Saviour the Law like Pharaoh requires brick but allows no straw the Gospel both allows strength and supplies Rom. 10. 5 6 8. But yet as the Law saveth us not without the Gospel so the Gospel saveth us not without the Law which directeth us in our duty both to God and man Deut. 5. 32. At the giving of the Law the mountain burned the trumpet sounded the people fled and Moses trembled and all this to teach us that we should be very careful to perform obedience to the same Object What was the Ceremonial Law Answ It was that which did prescribe orders for direction in rites of outward worship only shadowing the grace of the Gospel Heb. 10. 1. But the substance of this Law being come those shadows are utterly abolished by the death of Christ and therefore the use of them now would be a kind of denyal of his death Quest What was the Judicial Law Answ That wherein God appointed a form of civil government of the Common-wealth Now this Law is not utterly revoked and abolished by Christ for he came not to over-turn any good government Quest What is the Moral Law Answ That which commandeth perfection of godliness and righteousness and directeth us in our duties both to God and man Deut. 5. 32 12. 32. Quest Are not we delivered from this Law by the means of Christ Answ From the burden of the Law exacting in our own persons perfect obedience and from the curse of the Law due unto disobedience we are delivered by Christ Gal. 3. 10 11 12 13. but from the commandment as a rule of life we are not freed Jam. 2. 8. For the Law doth lay a charge upon all the powers of the soul viz. First it doth charge the understanding to know every duty even all the will of God it chargeth the judgement to discern between good and evil it chargeth the memory to retain it it chargeth the will to chuse the better and to leave the worse it chargeth the affections to love those things that are lovely and to hate things that are uncomely Of the ten Commandments THe ten Commandments are divided into two tables Deut. 4. 13. and 10. 1 4. Which Chirst called the two great Commandments Mat. 22. The four first do contain our duty to God and the six latter our duty to man The first commandment is Thou shalt have no other Gods before me This commandment directs us to the choice of the true God and the entertaining him in all our thoughts in which there are nine things enjoyned and three things prohibited or forbidden 1. Knowledge Joh. 17. 3. 2. Remembrance Eccles 12. 1. 3. Love Deut. 6. 5. 4. Trust Prov. 3. 5. 5. Hope Psal 146. 5. 6. Fear Isa 51. 12 13. 7. Humility Mich. 6. 8. 8. Patience Lam. 3. 39. 9. Obedience 1 John 5. 3. Things prohibited or forbidden in this first commandment 1. Atheism Heb. 11. 6. 2. Heresie Tit. 3. 10 11. 3. Apostacy Heb. 10. 26. The second Commandment Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them Exod. 20. 4 5. This second commandment layes before us the solemn worship that is to be performed unto God without images and ceremonies This second commandment doth prohibit seven things and enjoyn six things four ordinary two extraordinary The things prohibited or forbidden are these seven 1. Idolatry Psal 97. 7. 2. Will-worship Col. 2. 23. 3. Superstition Act. 17. 22 4. Traditions Col. 2. 8. 5. Schism 1 Cor. 11. 18. 6. Witch-craft Exod. 22. 18. 7. Confusion 1 Cor. 11. 21. Things commanded and enjoyned in this second commandment are first ordinary secondly extraordinary First ordinary Extraordinary 1. Prayer 1 Thes 5. 17. 2. Preaching Mal. 2. 7. 3. Seals or Sacraments 4. Discipline Mat. 18. 17. 5. Fasting Lev. 23. 19. 6. Feasting and thanksgiving Ester 9. 22. The third Commandment is this Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Exodus 20. 7. This third commandment doth inform us how we should glorifie God aright in the actions of our common life without swearing or blaspheming This third commandment doth prohibit four things and enjoyn five things The things forbidden or prohibited are 1. Oaths Jer. 4. 2. 2. Vows Numb 30. 2 3. Lots Prov. 16. 33. 4. All unreverent and unholy use of his name and prophaning of his titles properties actions and Ordinances either by mouth or action Lev. 21. 32. Mal. 1. 6 12. Things commanded or enjoyned in the third commandment in the sanctifying of God 1. His names Deut 28. 15. 2. Attributes 1 Pet. 3. 15. 3. Word Psal 50. 16 17. 4. Works Psal 58. 10 11. 5. Religion Ephes 4. 1. The fourth Commandment is this Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Exod. 20. 8 9 10 11. This fourth commandment doth inform us of a certain day set apart for Gods service as the Sabbath or Lords day This fourth commandment doth prohibit certain things and enjoyn many other things Things prohibited 1. The making of it a common day Neh. 13. 15 2. Vain speech about wordly things Isa 581. 3. 3. Idleness feasting pastimes Exod. 32. 6. 4. The doing that on the Lords day which is no day lawful Mar. 3. 4. Ezek. 23. 37 38. 5. The imploying others in worldly business Things commanded or enjoyned to be done on that day 1. Hearing and reading the word Luk. 4. 16 22. Act. 13. 14 15. 2. Prayer and singing of Psalms 3. Visiting and relieving the sick 4. Examining our selves and those that belong to us 5. Catechising our families The fifth Commandment runs thus Honour thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be l●ng in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Exod. 20. 12. This commandment layes before us the duties we owe one to another in regard of our particular relation unto such as are our superiors inferiors and equals In a word the fifth commandment presents us with the duty of 1. Magistrates 1 Tim. 2. 2. 2. Ministers 1 Pet. 5. 2. 3. Parents Eph●s 6. 4. 4. Masters Col. 4. 1. 5. Husbands Ephes 5. 25. 6. Noble and rich 1 Tim. 6. 17. 7. Aged Tit. 2. 2 4. 8. Subjects Rom. 13. 1. 9. People Heb. 13 17. 10. Children Ephes 6. 1. 11. Servants 1 Pet. 2. 18. 12. Wife Ephes 5. 24 33. 13. Poor 1 Sam. 25. 8. 14. Young Lev. 19. 32. The sixth Commandment runs thus Thou shalt not murder Exod 20. 13. This commandment layes before us our duty in the preservation of mens persons and living in peace and meekness In this commandment there are five things forbidden and four things enjoyned The things forbidden are these and such like 1. Unjust anger
man it is to be taken for many for instance Cant. 3. 8. Every man had his sword on his thigh Mic. 4. 4. Every man shall sit under his Vine 1 Cor. 4. 5. Every man shall have praise of God Now consider every man in the world had not a sword to wear nor a Vine to sit under neither shall every man have praise of God so every man is not to be taken for every man in the world particularly but if it were granted that Christ tasted death for every man particularly and that all have some Benefit by the death of Christ viz. Their natural lives and the possession of the creatures yet it doth not follow if he tasted death for every man that therefore he suffered the wrath of God for every man and the punishment due to all for their sins Mat. 27. 34. He tasted the vinegar mingled with gall but he would not drink it and may there not be some mysterie held out thereby to the point in hand you that are spiritual Judge Quest Doth not God give to every man some Talent or Talents which if a man did improve should be increased Answ Yea and there is no man that doth avoid so much evil and do so much good as he ought and might consider that to some the Lord doth give natural Talents as Wisdom Wealth Art c. And to other spiritual Talents or Gifts as to Pray Prophesie Interpret and God may very justly damn men for not improving what he g●ves them therefore we read that the very Heathen that had but the very Light of Na●ure and walked not up to that will be inexcusable at the day of judgement but withall consider this that to sin against the Law of Nature only is enough to damn men yet the improvement of the Law of Nature is not sufficient to save men for there is a Knowledge of Christ Faith in him and Obedience to him required as absolutely necessary to salvation John 17. 3. John 3. 36. Luke 19. 27. Compared with Rom 1. 20 21. Rom. 2. 15. These Scriptures compared together will prove the whole answer to this question Quest How came the Sabbath day to be changed from the seventh day to the first and from a Sabbath day to the Lords day Answ By divine authority as may appear by the practice of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles John 20. 19. compared with Act. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. This is the day they preached prayed brake bread and collected for the poor And so it came to be called the Lords day Rev. 1. 10 Because the special dedication thereof was to the Lords service So then this day was changed from the seventh to the first and from a Sabbath to a first or Lords day because it might serve for a thankful memorial of Christs resurrection for as God rested from his Labour on the last day of the week so Christ ceased from his labour and afflictions on this day Matthew 28 1. compared with Gen. 2. 1 2. As the one therefore was specially sanctified in regard of the Creation of the world so was the other in respect of the restauration and redemption of the world which of the two is a greater work then the Creation So then the sourth Commandment doth not require a seventh day from the Creation but a seventh day in general so then it doth not hence follow that we should rest the same day the Lrod rested but that we should rest from our works one day in seven as he rested from his which day under the Law he appointed to be the last day of the week so nothing hindereth but by his special appointment under the Gospel it may be the first day and yet the substance of the Commandment nothing altered if any reply and say why doth not the new Testament mention this change I answer because we read of no question moved about the same in the Apostles time so then a Sabbath day the Lords day or the first day of the week which is all one is constantly and perpetually to be observed and never to cease till it be perfectly consummated in the heavenly Sabbath Heb. 4. 9 10. The Jews were to work six daies and rest the seventh day first work then rest but now we are to rest the first day and work the following dayes first enter into rest and then work as an effect of that rest We read John 10. 27. And Christ said my sheep hear my voice Quest How are believing man and women said to be his sheep Answ First we are said to be his by donation God gave us to Christ 2. We are said to be his by purchase he bought us with a dear price 3. We are said to be his by Covenant 4. We are said to be his by Covenant 5. We are said to be his by Marriage 6. We are his by birth we are born from above Quest Whether a godly man ought to pray when he hath not the fresh gales of the spirit drawing him forth thereunto Answ Then is the principal time to pray but not the only time for he is to pray also at other times first we are commanded to pray at all times Luke 18. 1. Luke 21. 36. Secondly we have example as well as precept to prove this truth Psalm 119. 25 154. David in the midst of deadness fals to prayer for quickening saying quicken me according to thy word Quest Whether it be the duty of a wicked man to pray seeing we read Prov. 15. 8. That the Sacrifices of the wicked is an Abomination to the Lord Answ It is undoubtedly the duty of a wicked man to pray and the Priviledge of a Christian that he can do it though they that have no faith cannot seek Christ as they ought yet it is their duty to pray and to seek after Christ Psal 79. 6. Pour out thy wrath upon the Heathen that have not known thee and upon the Kingdoms that have not called upon thy name So again Jer. 10. 25. If the not calling upon the name of God be a sin then to call upon the name of God is a duty Hence Peter calls upon Simon Magus Acts 8. 22. Though an unbeliever to pray The Pharisee and the Publican both went to the Temple to pray Luke 18. 10. So again Ephraim Jer. 31. 18. Yet not converted prays unto the Lord to turn him Again we may see 1 Kin. 21. 27. Ahab humbled himself and rent his cloaths and put sack-cloath upon his flesh and fasted ver 29. I will not saith the Lord bring the evil in his daies but in his sons daies I will bring the evil upon his house So then it doth plainly appear that it is the duty of all men to pray only it is the priviledge of the regenerate they can pray in the spirit and with understanding too a Christians seeking of God is the effects of Gods seeking of him and a mans praying before faith is the effect of the common
the City in perils in the wilderness enticed by Satan allured by the world deceived and cheated by our own heart Oh how wilt thou do to lanch out into the Ocean dost thou know what will become of thee in another world is thy peace made with God is thy person justified art thou in a state of grace art thou born again art thou converted and become as a little child hast thou repented doth thy righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees if so it is well if not thou shalt never enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 3. 5. Matthew 18. 3. Luke 13. 5. Mat. 5. 20. 4. Let us consider that death hath something to say to every one of us he is no respecter of persons sometimes he snatcheth away the babe newly born sometimes the child sometimes the young man sometimes the middle age and alwayes the old aged he respects no mans person be he rich or poor high or low strong or weak beloved or hated godly or ungodly wherefore call thy self to account every evening examine what evil hast thou hated this day what vice hast thou stood against this day in what part thou art bettered now then thou wast in the morning Seneca reports of a heathen man that would every night ask himself these questions I have heard of a heathen after his conversion that was tempted to some sin he thrust his finger into the fire saying sin soul if thou canst burn and so overcame the temptation 5. Let us consider that death to a godly man is but a change of place not of company we shall have the company of the same Father Son and Spirit and Saints and all the spirits of just men made perfect a believer in this world is not in his own place therefore oh Christians weigh anchor hoise sail and be gone death to a Christian will put an end to all unprofitable things here we change joy for sorrow health for sickness strength for weakness honour for dishonour plenty for poverty beauty for deformity friends for foes silver for brass gold for copper c. now death puts an end to all these Rev. 21. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow neither shall there be any more pain Rev. 14. 13. therefore blessed are the dead that die in the Lord death also doth put a change to our employment our employment in this world doth lye much in praying groaning sighing mourning wrestling and fighting against the world flesh and Devil Ephes 6. 10. But in the world to come our employment will lye in praising and magnifying the Lord Again our enjoyment shall be changed as well as our employment we shall change our unconstant enjoyment for a more constant 1 Thes 4. 17 18. We shall change our dark and obscure enjoyment for a more bright enjoyment 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face here we receive grace for grace there we shall receive glory for glory 6. Consider unto what familiar things death is compared and presented to one that is in Christ sometimes it is termed a house Job said I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house of all living Job 30. 23. Sometimes it is represented as going to bed Isa 57. 2. Sometimes death is stiled a sleep Dan. 12. 2. What shall I say more death to a wicked man is the king of terrors but Christ came to deliver his flock from the fear of death and the grave is embalmed by Jesus Christ he lay there three dayes c. 2. As in our preparation for death there are the foregoing things to be considered so in the next place there are some things to be practiced and the work we have is two-fold 1. Get a title to Gods love 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title which is or may be done by improving these five things 3. Improve the present opportunity and put not off to the last minute as most do 4. Store up a stock of faith store up a stock of promises and store up a stock of prayers against that day 5. Endeavour so to live every day as if it were thy last day 6. Gather up all thy evidences and spiritual experiences and keep them in mind and heart 7. Make thy will in time of health and leave all things clear upon thy book both in shop and conscience 1. In all thy gettings be sure to get a title to Gods love and then get assurance that thou hast a title the first is done by action the second is done by examination The action or actions are these 1. GIve diligence to make thy calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. and that a man may so do shorten worldly business and be moderate in the use of worldly pleasures so foolish are we that whilst with much care and labour we go about to make those things certain which are most uncertain we make those things uncertain which might be made most certain he that hath two Irons in the fire at once spoyls one whilst he attends the other See what care most have to make good their titles to settle their inheritances upon their heirs shall we not be as careful to settle our interest to eternal glory if we be quiet now yet the Devil will find a time to try thy evidences for heaven and call our title into question sickness and death are times of weakness to us wherin he like a subtile enemy displayes all his art O consider the misery of doubting persons at their death think upon the anguish that their souls endure they apprehend God angry with them the Devil accusing them earth leaving them heaven refusing them hell claiming them soul and body parting friends weeping and themselves hopeless going they know not whither O then O then let us make our calling and election sure before hand as worldly men get riches in health to cherish them in sickness and as the Bees get hony in summer to feed on in the winter even so should we in time of health get good grounds of assurance that so we might live enjoy and dye in peace and rise in perfection and raign in happiness 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title viz. make a curious narrow impartial diligent search into thy own soul and see what humility what self-denial what sin-abhorrency what love to Christ what delight in his Ordinances what zeal to Gods glory what contempt of the world what desires after the society of the Saints what sympathizing with them in their afflictions and if thou findest any impressions of grace any spiritual work any saving savoury distinguishing operations upon thy heart c. canst thou mourn in secret for open and secret sins dost thou de●ire to have sin purged as well as pardoned dost thou leave sin from a right principle to a right end and so through the Spirit mortifie the
think it not safe rashly to define where the place of the last judgement shall be Of the Person who it is that shall judge the world THE chief power of judicature shall be in Christ for to him all power is given and from whom no appeal can be made to any superiour This judge shall be visible to all both in respect of brightness and majesty in which he shall appear but so that his sight shall be terrible to the wicked but joyfull to the Godly Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead and both reprobate and elect shall hear the sentence of the judge to the one it shall be full of horror to the other full of comfort Mat. 25. 34. Come ye blessed vers 41. Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels now where as many texts of Scripture say the Saints shall judge the world that is to be understood that they shall approve of Christs sentence and praise the wisdom and justice of God therein Of the time how long the Judgement shall last VVE read in the Scripture that the time is a day but there are three opinions among Christians about this word day 1. Some take the day here spoken of precisely and properly as if the day of the last judgement should not exceed that space and proportion of time 2. Some conceive that by the day is meant a thousand years because some are said to sit on thrones and have judgement given unto them that is power of Judging and to live and reign with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20. 4. but I conceive that this judgement and reign of a thousand years cannot be understood of the last Judgement because death the last enemy shall in the resurrection be destroyed now after the end of the thousand years mentioned by Saint John Satan shall be loosed out of the prison and the nations deceived by him shall compass the camp of the Saints about and the beloved City and fire shall come down from God out of heaven and devour them all 3. Others seem more safely to apprehend that the day here mentioned is to be taken improperly for time indefinitely it being in Scripture very ordinary to put a day for time in an acceptable time have I heard thee in a day of Salvation have I helped thee Isa 49. 8. If thou hadst known in this thy day Luke 19. 42. Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day John 8. 56 c. there must be a day wherein that great work of judgement must begin but the duration thereof is to be measured by the nature of the thing and the counsel of God so I can determine nothing peremptorily concerning the continuance of the last judgement By what or out of what we shall be judged AND the books were opened and the Revel 20. 12. dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works c. by those books are meant partly Gods omniscience and partly mans conscience God to whom all things are naked and open needs no books to help his memory as man doth yet we read that he hath two books the one is called the book of life the other of knowledge of the first there are four kinds the first is of predestination to life eternall and in this book some are so written that they cannot be blotted out others are written but in appearance and hope many hope their names are recorded in heaven but when they fall from this hope then they may be said to be blotted out of this book this is the book of life eternal Secondly there is a book of life temporary which is nothing else but the condition and state of this life out of this book did Moses David and Paul wish themselves to be blotted out The third book of life is the Scripture as containing those precepts and means by which we may obtain life eternal The fourth book of life is our conscience informing us of all the good and bad actions of our life This book is opened sometimes in this life but shall be laid open to us in the last day The other book we read of is of knowledge which is threesold viz. 1. The book of Gods general knowledge whereby he takes notice of all men whether they be good or bad of this every man may say with David Psal 139. 16. in thy book are all my members written c. 2. The book of Gods particular knowledge of this see Psalm 1. the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous and 2 Tim. 2. the Lord knoweth who are his this is the knowledge of approbation in this book they are not written to whom Christ will say at the last day depart from me c. of this David speaketh Psalm 69. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous 3. The third book of knowledge is that wherein the actions of wicked men are recorded and which shall be laid open to them Deut. 7. 10. Judgement was set and the books where opened c. The day of judgement shall be a great Day THIS day shall be a great day first in respect of the judge attended with a great number of Saints and Angels even all his Servants waiting upon him 1 Thes 1. 13. Secondly this day shall be great in respect of the judged as they fall under a four-fold consideration 1. In respect of the greatness of their company and number 2. In respect of the greatness of their ranks and dergees 3. The greatness of their faults and offences 4. In respect of the greatness of their rewards and recompences 1. In respect of the greatness of their number Matthew 25. 32. and 2 Thes 2. 1. We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body 2. The day shall be great in respect of the greatness of their ranks and degrees the high and mighty Emperors as well as the poorest out-casts the tallest Cedar as well as the stoutest heart must bend and break at that day Psalm 110. 5. there will be no other crowns worn at that day but the crowns of righteousness no other robes but those washed in the blood of Christ 3. The day of judgement will be great in respect of their faults and offences the least sin will appear exceeding great the smallest offence unpardoned is against a God infinite the least sin will then be looked upon as that which put God upon complaining Christ upon bleeding and the Spirit upon grieving Oh how will the scarlet crimson transgressions at which natural conscience is affrighted appear at that day those blasphemies murthers open oppressions unnatural uncleanness c. 4. This day shall be
causes of this great work of creation was first his love to man and the shewing forth his own glory and the fulfilling of his decree to the end that God may be known and honored of his creatures c. his eternall power and God-head is seen in raising all things out of nothing By his word alone Isa 40. 12. Rom. 1. 20. Ier. 10. 12. 51. 15. And his infinite wisdom is made known by them Psal 104. 24. Of Angels ANgels are spiritual creatures compleat and immortall yet finite Heb. 1. 13 14. Col. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 11. 26. 53. Psal 68. 17. Mat. 22. 30. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 1. 7. Psal 104. 4. There be two sorts of Angels first good secondly bad The good Angels they praise God worship the Son they are heavenly messengers from the Father to defend the faithfull they have wrestled eaten been received as strangers had their feet washed they shall gather the elect from the four corners of the earth they shall come with Christ to judgement they be excellent creatures 1. For their nature Isaiah 6. 2. Daniel 9. 21. 2 Thes 1. 7. 2. For their gifts 2 Sam. 14. 17. Mat. 6. 10. Luk. 15. 10. 1 Cor. 13. 1. 3. For their offices Dan. 7. 10. Rev. 5. 11. 4. They be excellent for their estate Mat. 18. 10. 5. They be wise and of great understanding 2 Sam. 14. 20. They were the first creatures that ever God made there be also severall orders of Angels viz. Archangels Cherubims and Seraphins yet lay all these things together it will appear that righteousness of Angels is but the righteousness of creatures but the righteousness that the Saints are cloathed with is the very righteousness of Christ and in this respect the meanest Saint is more excellent then the most glorious Angel in heaven they are by God sent forth for the good of his people hence they are called ministring spirits and they minister to the Saints many wayes In their life by defending them from their enemies the Angels of the Lord pitch their tents about them that fear him Psal 34. 7. An Angel it was that slew the army of the Assyrians That delivered Peter out of prison as also preserved Lot Psal 91. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes Gen. 32. 5. An Angel encouraged Iacob when he feared his brother Esau an Angel it was Luke 1. 30. who bid Mary not to fear and who stood by Paul and bid him be of good cheer Act. 27. 24. By an Angel was the incarnation of Christ foretold to the Virgin and by a multitude of Angels was it proclaimed afterwards an Angel leads Philip to expound the Scripture to the Eunuch sets Peter at liberty to preach the Gospel bids Cornelius send for Peter to be instructed by him and prayes Paul to come over to Macedonia to help them none are so nobly attended as Saints they have a life-guard of Angels to encompass them about Angels are as carefull of the faithfull as a nurse of her sucking child they bear them up in their arms that they dash not their feet against a stone Of Man ALL men by nature are equally made of one earth and blood and every poor Christian is as dear unto God as a mighty Prince Man was wonderfully created and more wonderfully redeemed The Lord hath assigned his heart to wisdom the belly to avoidance the breast to health the liver to anger the gall to bitterness the spleen to laughter the kidneys to craftyness the loyns to strength the ribs to comeliness the Lord having finished the excellent frame of heaven and earth he cals a counsel to build that excellent tabernacle Man into whom he breathed the spirit of life this man did far exceed all other creatures that amongst them all not found any one fit or meet to be a companion for him or to have society with him and so the Lord made him a help meet for him this man was the master-piece of all Gods works to whom the Lord did give an unlimited prerogative over the beasts of the field the fouls of the air and the fish of the sea but man by his disobedience became inferiour to the most despised creatures and we all his posterity are more miserable and fuller of vanity then any of the unreasonable creatures viz. other creatures by the benefit of nature can stand upon their legs and seek after their food when young but man the Lord of them all must be swadled in clouts being no way able to help himself the young chickens as soon as ever they are hatched can run after their dam to seek for food and have that wisdom to hide themselves under her wings at the fluttering of the Kite the lambs calves and young costs stand suddenly upon their legs to seek their dams teats But man would perish if his mother by her naturall affection did not bring the nipple of her breasts to his mouth and rock him upon her knees Of the Soul THE soul of man is a spirituall substance immortall and invisible endued with memory understanding and will or the soul is a substance immortall invisible united to the body and endued with many admirable faculties as life sense and reason to this end principally that God might be truly honored and duely worshipped Or the soul is a spirituall invisible and immortall substance endued with power to understand and will this soul is at one instant both created and united to the body and by the power and faculties of the soul man is capable of happiness or of the the cheif good or greatest misery or thus the soul of the Saints is a spirituall and immortall substance created after the Image of God and renewed after the immortall Image of God in Christ the soul is a real and very being as the body is only of an higher kind the body is of the earth the soul is immediately from God Of Mans Fall THE devill himself being fallen cometh to the garden in the form of a Serpent Adam and Eve being in Paradise and looking upon themselves as indeed they were the most excellent piece of all the creation bearing the Image of God their Creator the Lord having left them a law he leaves them to the fredom of their own will the devil boards the woman thus hath God said ye shall not eat of such a tree it is a likely thing that the Lord cares what ye eat what do you think he stands upon an apple this is the first assault which the woman weakly resisteth and answered doubtfully we must not eat lest we die then the devil perceiving the woman to stagger and the ground of her faith to shake he plants all his pieces and purposes for a second storm and stands up and saith to the woman ye shall not die at all can there be any hurt in an apple Oh silly woman God he affirmeth and faith ye shall die the woman saith I must