A Serious EXHORTATION To an HOLY LIFE OR Conversation With a clear Discovery Of The Nature of it what it is The Means of attaining it The Trials of it how it may be known The Motives or Inducements to it OR A profitable Companion For Conversion Illumination Confirmation Consolation By Robert Purnell LONDON Printed for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Brittain 1663. An Epistle To the READER Reader COnsider there are many wayes to Damnation and but one way to Salvation and that is strait and the gate narrow so that although the runners are many the obtainers are few Now that we may so run that we may obtain is my desire and endeavour in this little Piece for there is a way if we could light on it which I have pointed at how to possesse what we want how to live long in a little time and to have one Foot as it were in Heaven whilst the other is upon the Earth This small piece is the Birth of many Prayers and the sum and substance of many sweet Converses and Meditations and the Judgement of most precious Christians so that this Book is of great Worth though but of small Price The best and chiefest Authors that I have consulted withal in compiling the ensuing Treatise are the Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament so that here is no loose corns to blow off nor mis-spent words that I know of I did lately meet with a small piece about this bigness having the same Title Page upon the matter with this written by one Mr. Thomas Wadsworth sometimes Preacher at Newington near London in which Piece there are many choice things but I finding it lame or short as to the beginning carrying on and finishing the work of a Holy Conversation and finding the necessity of such a Piece in these loose Times wherein the Lords Day is profan'd his Ordinances slighted or adulterated his People despised c. I have made bold to put Pen to Paper and so to compose the ensuing Work which is neither deficient in necessaries nor abundant in superfluities Thou shalt finde it for Order Methodical for Matter Spiritual for Brevity Compendious for Use Precious c. Consider the Truth is the same in all Ages only it shines more and more clear from Age to Age until that which is perfect is come the Truth held forth is the same though with more of God and less of Man such addition is no innovation but illustration not a new light but new sight A man may not be said to make a new World when he makes a new discovery of the old My Friends labour to keep close to God in this loose Age spend not your precious time in complaining on others as most do but rather endeavour in the use of all means to reform your selves lay the Foundation of Mortification deep reserve no lust from the stroak of Jesus Christ let your Speech be seasoned with Grace take heed of neglecting or slighting any of the Ordinances of God in order hereunto read seriously this small Piece being a serious Exhortation to an Holy Life and Conversation and if thou wilt read so as to profit much by it consider observe these three things 1. Consider that Sanctification or an holy Life is the Eccho of Election and Holiness the Blossom of Happiness and Piety the inlet of Felicity whereas an unholy Life brings external internal and eternal misery upon Persons and Nations 2. Have no hand in any Plot but against Hells Policy have no design but against Sin learn how to act to thy God Fidelity to thy Prince Loyalty to thy self Humility so shalt thou be kept from future Falls and guarded from present Fears for God hath either the Castle of a Providence or the Ark of a Promise or the All-sufficiency of his own Grace for a retirement of his People in the greatest Storms and Tempests 3. Make a most strong Determination from the bottom of thy heart to embrace and observe whatsoever thou shalt finde to be the will of God though all the world should be against thee for it so shall all thy Duties and Services be regulated by Precept and winged by Promises Farewell A Serious EXHORTATION To An Holy Life And CONVERSATION THe Lord of Glory who is the great Master-piece of Speech when he speaks from Heaven he makes use of three several Texts of Scripture in one breath Mat. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him First This is my beloved Son that Scripture you have in Psal 2. 7. In whom I am wel pleased this we have in Isa 42. 1. Hear him this we have in Deut. 18. 15. This high and mighty one hath gather'd up all practicall Divinity into ten Precepts Exod. 20. and Moses reduceth them to four Heads Deut. 10. 12. And the Prophet Micah to three Micah 6. 8. and our Saviour Christ to two Mark 12. 29 31. and all that we can pray for or against into six heads or petitions Matth. 6. 9. to the 14. verse And the Apostle Paul reduceth all into one Rom. 13. 9. He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Now that I may manifest my love to my neighbour I do here present him with this little piece which I have for my own and his sake taken great care and pains in I shall reduce the body of this Book to these two great Doctrines of Grace and Works and so shall begin With the great Doctrine of Gods free Grace and End with the Doctrine of Works which is the ready way to get the apprehension and application of mercy to our selves The Papists say if we are freely justified by Grace we need not to do any good works and if we cannot fall from Grace we need not fear to commit sin but every true Christian will say that Faith and Works must go together in our conversation First To begin with the Doctrine of Grace if we minde and understand the Covenant of Grace justification by Grace the Doctrine of Grace we shall finde that the Apostles all along were very careful to keep this Covenant and Doctrine of Grace distinct from all other things they all along do oppose the Law and Grace Works and Faith our Righteousness and Christs Righteousness teaching us thereby how needful it is that they be kept each in his place asunder and that we do not as most do jumble them both together This Doctrine of Grace hath been and still is a bone of contention Why so because learning cannot reach it natural wisdom is confounded at it evil Angels do not know it most men do turn their backs upon it being bereaved of the knowledge of it or else corrupted from the simplicity of it Let the Reader consider these Scriptures all speaking to the same thing Rom.
4. 5. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Titus 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Rom. 11. 6. And if it be by grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace so that the righteousness whereby we are justified before God is a perfect righteousness which is the righteousnesse of Christ alone Heb. 1. 8 Mat. 6. 33. Rom. 4. 6. So again Psal 71. 15 16 19 24. and Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength I will saith David make mention of thy righteousness even of thine onely So that in this Justice and Mercy as Psal 85. 10. both meet together Justice in that God will not justifie a sinner without a perfect righteousness and yet Mercy in that he will accept such a righteousness that is neither in him nor done by him but by his surety for him There are these eight points or heads in this Doctrine of Free Grace This Doctrine is the Foundation and Basis of all Christian Religion This Doctrine is the inlet of all Divine peace and consolation This is the root and spring of all Gospel obedience This is the great stop and bar to keep out all floods of error This Doctrine is the main support of the Soul under all trials This is the great Doctrine by which Arminianisme and Popery is overthrown This is the Doctrine against which Satan doth most War endeavouring either to pervert or to corrupt it This Doctrine is one of the hardest to be learned it being above the reach of nature To begin with the first of these This Doctrine is the foundation and basis of the true Christian Religion as doth appear by these few instances Our Election is the Election of Grace and according to the good pleasure of his will Ephes 1. 4 5. Our Vocation is according to his Grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace c. Regeneration is of Gods own will Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth Faith it self is the gift of God Philip. 1. 29 Ephes 2. 8. Our justification is freely by his Grace Rom. 3. 24. and a free gift Romans 5. 15. Forgiveness of all our sinnes is according to the riches of his Grace Ephes 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Eternal life is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord see Acts 15. 11. Now if any shall ask why God should discover this great mystery which was kept secret since the world began to us who are sinners of the Gentiles who in time past served dumb idols or why God should be found of them that sought him not or made manifest to them that asked not after him I can give no other answer then that 1 Cor. 1. 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence or that Mat. 11. 25 26. Even so Father because it seemed good in thy sight As this Doctrine is the foundation and basis of the true Religion so in the second place it is the root and spring of all Divine peace and consolation Now peace and joy comes into the soul by these veins By the vein of our acquainting our selves with him Job 22. 21. By the vein of believing in him Romans 5. 1. Rom. 15. 13. By the vein of staying our selves upon him Isaiah 26. 3. And so much for the second head This Doctrine is the root and spring of all Gospel obedience how do men write of a serious exhortation to an holy life and conversation if they discover not the way to it Our Saviour saith the tree must be made good before the fruit can be good The Branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine Joh. 15. 4. so that this Doctrine is the root and spring of all true obedience for this Doctrine being received and retained works these five things in the heart and soul viz. Faith Love Fear Willingness and Chearfulness and from these as from five springs doth Gospel-obedience flow True obedience doth flow from faith whence it is called the obedience of faith Rom. 16. 26. So also love constrains them in whom it is to walk holily John 14. 23. If a man love me he will keep my words Psalm 26. 3 4. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth True obedience doth spring from an holy fear Psal 119. 161. My heart doth stand in awe of thy words so Noah being warned of God was moved with fear and prepared an Ark Heb. 11. 7. As it springs from Faith Love and Fear so it ariseth from a willing minde Psal 27. 8. When thou saidest seek ye my face my heart answered Lord thy face will I seek Gospel-obedience is or ought to be performed chearfully or delightfully Psalm 40. 8. Thy Law is in my heart as well as in thy book I delight to do thy will O God By all which it doth appear that this Doctrine of Grace is the root and spring of an holy Conversation seeing in God are all our springs and from him are all our supplies to enable us to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any lust to resist any temptation to bear any affliction In a word the Lord tells us without him we can do nothing This Doctrine of Free Grace is the great stop and barre to keep out all false Doctrines and floods of Errors The floods of all Error flow in at the door of ignorance and specially ignorance of this very thing viz. the Error of the Papist the Quaker the Arminian together with all the instability formality legallity that more or less is found amongst people of all perswasions or at least most of them springs into them at the door of the ignorance of this precious Doctrine of Free Grace Now for a remedy herein let every Christian study pray enquire for and stand fast in the Free Grace of God see that blessed place 1 Pet. 5. 12. Exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand Rom. 5. 2. By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand so that it is most clear and plain that their standing in this grace did fence them from all false Doctrines and erroneous Opinions whilst others that were ignorant of this Doctrine remain seeking their salvation partly by Grace and partly by Works as Rom. 9. 32. Wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at the stumbling-stone c. This Doctrine is a main support of a soul under all
trials when all things do fail free Grace and love doth never fail Heb. 13. 5. compared with Joshua 1. 5. our nearest and dearest friends may fail our eyes may fail our tongues may fail our strength may fail our flesh and our hearts may fail our spirits may fail but the Lord hath promised that he will never fail nor forsake us Josh 21. 45. and 1 Kings 8. 56. what shall I say more the pure glorious matchless and spotless Righteousness of Jesus Christ is a souls righteousness and resting place But he that understands not this Doctrine his life must needs be a burthen to him he is apt to spend his dayes in sorrow and mourning sighing and complaining in doubting and questioning sometimes saying within himself my confidence is but presumption and my enjoyments are but delusions Whereas on the contrary he that understands receives and abides in the Doctrine of Grace doth rest satisfied in God alone in this rest there is tranquility in tranquility contentment in contentment joy in joy variety in variety security in security an assured hope of eternity This Doctrine is that by which Satan is or shall be overthrown and his kingdom turned up-side down it was Satan that tempted our first Parents to eat the forbidden Fruit it was Satan that put Cain upon murdering Abel it was Satan that provoked David to number the people it was Satan that put Peter upon perswading of Christ not to suffer it was Satan that put treason into the heart of Judas it was Satan that put Ananias upon lying Now there are no weapons but spiritual weapons that will stead the soul in combating with the Devil and what greater weapon hath the Lord put into our hands than this free love of Christ to us Ephes 6. 13. to the 16. This is the Doctrine that Satan doth most war against either to pervert or corrupt as those who know his wiles may easily perceive Oh! how hath Satan caused the Church of Rome to pervert and corrupt this Doctrine The Papist saith if we are freely justified by Grace we need not do any good works and if we cannot fall from Grace we need not fear to commit sinne How hath he corrupted and perverted this Doctrine in the Quaker Arminian and Formalist it would be endless to reckon up his wiles herein This Doctrine is one of the hardest points in Religion to be learned it being above the reach of nature and all natural parts c. To do well and have well is natural but to believe and live well is supernatural to be righteous by anothers righteousness and to be saved by anothers suffering these are mysteries and paradoxes which no natural man perceiveth 1 Cor. 2. 14. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discern'd so that as in 1 Cor. 1. 21. The world by wisdom knew not God but remains ignorant of the Righteousness of God and so go about to establish their own Righteousness and seek salvation as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9. 32. not considering that it is impossible to obtain salvation hereafter or any firm settled peace here if our confidence towards God be grounded upon our own best and choicest performances seeing there is something polluted and something defective for all our duties are tainted with disproportion to rule and beleapor'd with spots and blots so that it is in vain to expect a bed of rest in the barren wilderness of our own performances for that bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himself on it and the covering is too narrow for one to wrap himself in it O the spots the blots the blemishes that are to be seen upon the face of our fairest duties so that the best of us may say with the Prophet Isa 64. 6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags therefore let us say no more to the works of our own hands Ye are our gods for in the true God the Fatherless finde mercy Hosea 14. 3. Therefore in vain is salvation hoped for from the Hills or from the multitudes of Mountains therefore let us not be like the Spider spinning out a Web of his own and so think to climb up to Heaven by a thred spun out of our own bowels no no that will not do the Law that we have broken must have a perfect personall universall and perpetuall obedience or else we remain under the curse from which there is nothing that can relieve us but that which is answerable to the evil of sin Now there is no righteousnesse in the world that is proportionable to the evil of sin but the righteousness of Christ onely For Our own righteousness is too short and is called a menstruous rag and so cannot cover us and menstruous so that if it should cover us it were but to cover filth with filth Neither is the righteousness of the Law large enough if a man could keep it because it will not acquit us for former disobedience see Gal. 3. 21. compared with Rom. 8. 3 4. Neither can the righteousness of all the Angels do it because this also is a created righteousness a finite righteousness and no way proportionable to the evil of sinne If we should weep as many tears as the Sea holds drops and humble our souls as many dayes as the world hath stood minutes all this were too short to purchase the pardon of one sin if the stung Israelites had made a medicine of all the best Herbs in the Wilderness and a plaister of all the sovereign ingredients in the whole world and applyed it with Mountains of Prayers and Seas of tears this would not have helped them if withall they did not look upon the Brazen Serpent the free grace of God in Jesus Christ In a word God will have all blessings and happiness to flow from Free Grace That the worst of sinners might have strong ground for hope and comfort For the praise of his own glory and exaltation of his own Grace That vain man may not boast That our mercies and blessings might be sure to us Yet for all this let men have a care that in crying down the righteousness of works they do not cry down the works of righteousness Object If there be a reward hereafter for our Works how can it be of Grace Answ It is of Grace that the Lord doth put it into our hearts to minde it It is of Grace that the Lord doth enable us to do it It is of Grace that Works shall be rewarded seeing they are but our duty And so much for the Doctrine of Grace now we come to the Doctrine of Works Object If our Election Vocation Regeneration Justification Sanctification Acceptation and Salvation be of Grace and onely of Grace what need is there of so much crying up and pressing of Works or an Holy Life and Conversation Answ There are many strong prevailing Arguments to engage us and all people to an Holy Life notwithstanding all is of Grace take
many promises in whom his heart delighted If he had been to part with him by a naturall death in an ordinary way the tryal had not been so great but he was to part with him as a Sacrifice wherein he was to be cut in pieces c. But yet had some other man been the Executioner of his Childe it had been something but Abraham himself must do this thing Now consider how can we be the Children of Abraham except we walk in his steps he trusted upon God although he had but his bare word for it and gave God his own time to make good his own promise and he was ready to part with the dearest thing for God at the first word and he believed in Hope against hope O! that thou and I could do the same One would think that the Love of Christ the Promises of Christ the Presence of Christ the Example of Christ and the Recompence of Reward held forth by Christ should make us hold on and hold out but if great Love great Mercy great Forbearance great Entreaties great Wages will not prevail with us to forsake our Sins and lead an Holy Life Oh! Lord what will become of us for without holiness no man shall ever see the Lord c. The second place of Scripture is Psal 63. 1 2. Oh God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Here you have desire upon desire you have the very flower and vigour of his Spirit the strength and sinews of his Soul the prime and top of his inflamed affections all strongly working after a fuller enjoyment of God and a greater measure of conformity to him in a Holy Life and Conversation Now Obedience Sanctification or an Holy Conversation is necessary 1. In respect of God 2. In respect of our selves 3. In respect of others 1. It is necessary in respect of God To manifest our Loyalty and Subjection to our Dread Sovereign and Sacred Majesty the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Rom. 6. 16. His servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto life see John 8. 34. compared with 2 Pet. 2. 19. It is necessary to glorifie his name Matth. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven see 1 Pet. 2. 12. compared with 1 Thes 2. 12. To testifie our thankfulness to God in appointing his Son our Lord Jesus Christ to descend as low as Hell to fetch us from thence and to ascend up as high as Heaven to carry us thither In a word whatsoever we have we have received from him whatsoever we are or have we owe to him so that we may say as Paul Rom. 11. 36. Of him and through him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Good works or an holy conversation is necessary to beautifie the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. Let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel of Christ so 2 Cor. 9. 13. So much for the first of these good works are necessary in respect of God to shew our obedience to glorifie his Name to testifie our thankfulness and to beautifie his Gospel c. 2. Good Works are necessary in respect of our selves As they are pipes of conveyance of both the apprehension and application of mercy Psalm 50. 23. To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God see Psalm 107. 43. compared with 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. An holy Conversation is a sweet demonstration of our sincerity and reality our Saviour saith a Tree is known by its fruits so we may know where Faith is by its works and where Love is by its effects 1 John 1. 6. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth They are necessary as to our being and well-being Psalm 37. 3. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Mat. 16. 27. He will reward every man according to his works This is the way to make our calling and our election sure 2 Pet. 1. 5. to the 11. verse for if you do these things you shall never fall for so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 3. Good works or an holy Conversation is necessary in respect of others Tit. 3. 8. They that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works for these things are good and profitable to men and that in this four-fold respect To stop the mouths of wicked men 1 Pet. 2. 17. For this is the will of God that with well-doing they may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men This made wicked Saul say to David 1 Sam. 24. 17. Thou art more righteous then I for thou hast rewarded good for evil To encrease the joy of the Lords people we read in the second Epistle of John v. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the truth It is a great encouragement to one Christian to see the forwardness of another in the wayes of well-doing see Col. 2. 5. To win others to the embracing of the Gospel and to an Holy Life and Conversation 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. That they may be won whilst they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear c. most sure it is that a a man doth teach by his Conversation as well as by his Doctrine It is good to others for an example of holiness John 13. 15. I have done this good work to leave you an example said our Lord Christ see 1 Thes 1. 7. So that ye were examples to all that believe Many have been convinced by example to lead an holy Life that would not by precept By all which we may see that an holy Life is necessary in respect of God our selves and others Oh! that thou that readest these Lines and I that write them might in good earnest set about this work that it might go well with us and our Children Deut. 5. 29. for this is the way to have the Lords blessing upon us in all that we set our hands unto Psalm 1. 3. In this the Children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Châ—ist gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Therefore Be ye holy saith the â—ext as I am holy for without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12. 14. We shall come now having gone thus far to give you the summe of all with some farther addition and confirmations to the point in hand and enquire into these