of the Law to do them Deut. 27.26 Ph. Yes that is whosoever breaks the Law is accursed unless he repents for it J. The Law doth not say unless men repent for breaking it they are accursed but it says absolutely they are cursed and I say whosoever keepeth the whole law and yet offendeth in one point he is guilty of all Gal. 3.10 Jam. 2.10 Mat. 5.19 Ph. I say so too that except men keep the Law of Moses they a cannot be saved and whosoever b know not and keep not the Law they are accursed Acts 15.1.24 Joh. 7.49 J. Doest thou know the Law Ph. Yes I know the Law for I am instructed daily out of the Law by our c Doctors of the Law and holy Priests c Zeph. 3.4 J. The Priests have done violence to the Law and they that d handle the Law know not the Lord d Jer. 2.8 Ph. Jehovah hath said that the Law shall not perish from the Priests for the Priests lips is to keep knowledg and we are to seek the Law at his mouth Jer. 18 18. Mal. 2.7 J God hath said also that the Law shall c perish from the Priests and that they f shall not every man teach his neighbour any more for all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest Jer. 31.4 Ph. I perceive thou goest about to destroy the Law J. Think not so for I am not come to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Mat. 5.17 Luke 16.17 Ph. I Sir I like that that we should fulfil the Law that we should perform it J. Yes Moses gave you the Law but a none of you keepeth it but b you have been partial in the Law c Ye pay tithe of Mint Annis and Cumming and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Mercy and Faith Joh. 7.19 Mal. 2.9 Mat. 23.23 P. It is true we may come shore in some things but he that keepeth the Law happy is he J. Thou that d restest in the Law and makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law thou doest dishonour God and causest many to f stumble at the Law verily I say unto thee thou g shalt be judged by the Law Rom. 2.17 ver 23. Mal. 2.8 Rom. 2.12 Ph. No I hope rather to be justified then to be judged by the Law J. Verily verily I say unto thee by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in God sight Rom. 3 20â— Gal. 3.11 Ph. How then shall I be justified J. The righteousness of God without the Law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3.21 Ph. What Righteousness is that J. Not a mans h own righteousness which is called the i righteousness of the Law but the k righteousness which is of God by faith h Phil. 3.9 i Ro. 2.26 k Ro. 4.13 Ph. What difference is there between the righteousness of the Law and the righteousness of faith J. Moses describeth the righteousness of the Law thus that the man which doth those things which the Law requireth shall live by them but the righteousness of faith saith whosoever believeth on me shall be saved Rom. 10.5.6 11. Ph. How can men be saved by believing in thee for thou art but one J. As by one l mans offence death reigned by one mucâ— mâ—â—â— they which receive abundance of grace and of the giâ—◠〈◊〉 righteousness shall reign in life by me Who am the m Son of righteousness n and made by God my Father to be righteousness unto men l Rom. 5.7 m Mal. 4.2 n 1 Cor. 1.30 Ph. Thou bearest record of thy self Joh. 8.13 J. o Though I bear record of my self yet my record is true p My Father also beareth witness of me and this is his witness that he hath given life and this life is in me his Son o Joh. 8.14 p 1 Joh. 5.11 Ph. But what say'st thou how was our Father Abraham and his seed who lived before thee justified and saved J. q Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad for l I was before Abraham and he and his spiritual seed were justified and saved by faith in me r Rom. 4.3.11 13 16. Gal. 3.14.18.20 Ph. But was not Abraham justified by works J. If Abraham were justified by works be hath whereof to glory but not before God for what saith the Scripture It is true Abrahams faith was accompanied with works Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness Rom. 4.2.3 Ph. If I be not justified by my good works to what end should I perform them J. Though thy good works cannot justifie thee before God yet they may glorifie God and be prafitable unto men Mat. 5.16 Tit. 3.8 Ph. Well then I am glad my good works be good for something J. Yes thy good works would be good for something if thy faith like Abrahams did work with thy works but thou doest not believe and all thy good works thou doest to be seen of men Jam. 2.22 Mat. 23.5 Ph. No I do not do my good works to be seen of men but to please God J. I tell thee that without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Ph. But God hath said if a man do well he shall be accepted J. It is not for their well-doing that men are accepted with my Father but they are made acceptable in me and their works are accepted for my sake Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.6 Ph. But am I no nearer Heaven that perform good works than this finfull and ungodly Publican J. Thou Hypocrite that justifiest thy self and judgest another I tell thee that Publicans and Harlots shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven before such as thou art Mat. 7.5 and 21 31. Ph. Oh untrue and false doctrine to say that those cursed men who know not the Law should be saved before us who are the children of Abraham Joh. 7.49 8.33 J. Thou blind and self-conceited Pharisee understandest thou not the Scripture I will have mercy and not sacrifice for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance And I say unto thee unless thou doest believe in mee thou art not the child of Abraham Mat. 9.13 Gal. 3.26 Ph. I believe in the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob whose child and servant I am J. If thou didst believe in God thou wouldest also believe in me but thou art the child of the Devil and in bondage to this day Joh. 8.44 Gal. 4.25 Ph. How am I in bondage J. Thou art under the curse of the Law and under the power of sin and Sathan and canst never be made free unless I make thee free Joh. 8.34 35 36. Ph. How doest thou free men J. By my a death and sufferings I satisfie the Law by the b power of my resurrection I overcome death and by my Spirit I m cast out Sathan and n subdue sin a Gal. 3.13 b 1 Cor. 15.55.57 m Mat 12.28
to thee Prov. 8.30 Psa 88.16 102.10 9. When thou wast an enemy and stranger to God my Father I made peace between him and thee and reconciled thee to him by my death and sufferings Rom. 5.10 Col. 1.20.21 Eph. 2.12 13. 10. When thou wert a slave to the Devil and a fire-brand of Hell I did rescue thee from the power of the one and redeem thee from the plague and punnishment of the other 2 Tim. 2.25 Amos. 4.11 Heb. 2.14 1 Thes 1.10 P. Oh Lord I did not deserve any of this from thee J. True thou didst not deserve it but yet I did it freely and out of my love to thee Rom. 3.24 Eph. 5.2 P. Are all my sins Lord satisfied for and done a way by thy death J. Yes they are perfectly satisfied for and absolutely done away out of my fathers sight never to be imputed again to thee 2 Cor. 5.19 P. And is there nothing now in the way that hinders me to be saved J. No there is nothing for I have taken all things out of the way that hindred thee to be saved Col. 2.14 P. And am I to do nothing to be saved J. No nothing at all towards thy own salvation for I have bought thee from death and purchased thee life and salvation 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Eph. 1.14 P. Shall I then be saved Lord J. Yes if thou wilt believe and trust wholly and only upon me and upon my righteousness and merits thou shalt be saved Joh. 3.36 Rom. 9.33 and Rom. 10.9.11 P. Lord I would believe but I partly am afraid to believe and partly I am so weak I cannot believe J. Thou poor fearful heart fear not but be strong Esa 35.4 But tell me why thou are afaid P. Least I should presume or least I should believe and have no ground for my faith J. It is not presumption for thee to do what I command thee but it is obedience and is not my word of promise a sufficient ground for thy faith 1 Joh. 3.23 Joh. 5.24 P. Doest thou then Lord command me to believe J. Yes fear not believe on me and thou shalt be saved Lu. 8.50 with Act. 16.31 P. But Lord though thou commandest me yet I have no power to believe J. I will write my Laws in thy heart and will inable and give thee power to believe Heb. 8.10 Mat. 12.21 P. Lord if thou wilt also give me power to believe I will acknowledg I am nothing but what I am in thee and that I have nothing but what I have received from thee J. Doest thou not believe P. Oh yes now Lord I do believe Joh. 9.38 J. This is the work and gift of God that thou doest believe for flesh and blood hath not wrought this in thee Joh. 6.29 Eph. 2.8 P. Oh Lord I do acknowledg it to be thy work but I am afraid I shall loose this faith again J. I that am the Authour of thy faith will also finish it be therefore of good chear for thou art one of my Fathers children and of my Saints and my spirit shall abide in thee for ever Heb. 12.2 Joh. 1.12 Joh. 4.14 John 7.38 39. P. Lord I have sinned against thy Father and against thee and I am unworthy to be called either his Son or thy Servant Luk. 15.21 J. Son thy sins are forgiven thee sin no more Luk. 5.23 John 8.11 P. Lord I am afraid I shall sin again though I desire and resolve never to do it But what Lord if I should sin against my will J. Thou canst not sin willingly and wilfully for my seed of grace will remain in thee and if thou sinnest through weakeness and frailty I will be an Advocate propitiation for thy sins 1 Joh. 3.9 1 Joh. 2.12 P. Is it then thy will Lord that I should have forgiveness of my sins and doubt no more J. Yes sure for these things have I spoken that thou shouldest have a full assurance and doubt no more P. But what if Sathan when he sees me sin will tempt me to doubt again J. Say unto him that I am faithful and just to forgive thee thy sins and that my blood cleanseth thee from all sin 1 Joh. 17. P. But Lord wilt not thou have me to confess my sins J. Yes I will have thee confess them and forsake them 1 Joh. 1.9 Prov. 28.13 P. But Lord is it thy mind that I should always be sorrowful J. No but it is my mind rather that thou shouldest always rejoyce and have strong consolation Phil. 4.4 Heb. 6.18 P. Oh Lord I cannot chuse but cry and mourn and be ashamed and hate my self for all my former wickedness and ungodliness Ezek. 16.61 J. Thou maiest do that and yet hold fast thy confidence for the spirit of mourning and the spirit of grace and adoption may be in thy heart at once and the one not destroy the other Zac. 12.10 P. Lord how is that J. Thou maist mourn at the sight of thy sins as they were committed against me and for thy denying felling and crucifying me and yet thou maiest believe because I have said so that they are all pardoned As Josephs brethren cryed and complained for their guiltiness in selling him yet they were glad that he was alive and could help them in their distress Gen. 42.21 22. P. Now Lord thou hast taught me what I should do in respect of my self but now Lord I would do something for thee J. Come then and follow me Mat. 9 9. And be arose and followed him The second Conference between Christ and a Pharisee Pharisee THen one of the Pharisees came to him and asked him what shall I do to work the work of God John 6.28 Jesus This is the work of God that thou believe in him viz. me whom he hath sent Joh. 6.29 Ph. But Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life Mat. 19.16 J. If thou wilt be saved by doing then keep the Commandements Ph. I have kept them all from my youth Mat. 19 20. J. Then thou art no sinner Ph. Yes we are all sinners but I thank God I am not as other men are Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican Luke 18.11 J. Why what doest thou more than this Publican Ph. I fast twice in the week and give tithes of all that I possess and concerning the Law I live blameless Luk. 18.12 Phil. 3.6 J. Hast thou never read that they which followed after the Law of Righteousness have not attained to the Law of Righteousness Rom. 9.31 Ph. No I never observed that but I remember another text where God saith I gave them my Satutes and shewed them my Judgments which if a man do he shall live in them Ezek. 20.11 J. Daest thou think to go to heaven by doing Ph. Not by doing only but by doing good and departing from evil J. But doth not the Law say cursed is he that observeth not all things that are written in the words
nothing 1 Cor. 8.2 Rom. 3.11 By Grace I know in part 1 Cor. 13.12 In Glory I shall know even as I am known 1 Cor. 12. 30. By Nature My services were abominable Pro. 15.8 By Grace My services are acceptable 1 Pet. 2.5 In Glory My services shall be rewarded Mat. 6.4 and 10.41 31. By Nature I was like a beast Psal 73.22 and 45.12 By Grace I am like a Prince Gen. 23.6 Rev. 1.6 In Glory I shall be like an Angel Luke 20.36 32. By Nature My body was the Temple of sin Rom. 6.12 By Grace My body is the Temple of the holy spirit 1 Cor. 6.19 In Glory My body shall be raised spiritual 1 Cor. 15.44 33. By Nature I did glory in my shame Phil. 3.19 By Grace I am ashamed of my sin Rom. 6.21 In Glory I shall be without sin and shame Heb. 9.28 34. By Nature I was like the dirt and mire most filthy Isa 57.20 and 10.6 By Grace I am like the Moon in beauty Cant. 6.10 In Glory I shall be like the Sun in Glory Mat. 10.43 35. By Nature I sate in the shaddow of death Luk. 1.79 By Grace I do sit virtually in the Kingdom of Life Eph. 2.6 In Glory I shall sit on his Throne Eternally Mat. 19.40 Rev. 3.21 The Character of a true Christian with some Divine Contemplations Observations and Directions to a Holy Life 1. A True Christian is one that hath had clear convictions of sin especially his Master sin unbelief and of Christ that is the want and worth of him and of Judgment that is of punishment as the due desert of sin Joh. 16.8 2. He is unbottomed and broken off from himself he hath no confidence in himself his Birth Education Parts Performances and best works are impure and imperfect in his own sight Phil. 3.3 Isa 64.6 3. He is hardly brought to believe he hardly believes that he doth believe and hardly casts away his confidence when he doth once truly believe 4. Upon selfe suspition he doth greatly desire to be searched and doth earnestly search himself Psal 139.1 and last and Psal 77.6 5. He doth resolve never to go on in any sin or to neglect any duty 6. He prays to God most against his dearest and Master sin and praises God most when he hath power against it 7. He never repents for any sin he hath forsaken for any good he hath done or for any affliction he hath suffered for Christ 8. He hath Love to all Christians and seeks Unity among all and makes Union and Godliness the ground of his fellowship and Communion Phil. 1.5 1 Pet. 2.17 Rom. 14.4 1 Cor. 1.9 10. 9. In reading the Scripture he observes what helps on his holiness and teacheth self-denial as well as what increaseth knowledg 10. He cares not what he hath whether he goes nor what he suffers with Christ and for him without sin 11. His faith helps on his holiness and his holiness helps up his faith 12. Though he alwaies resolves to follow Christ through every condition yet he much suspects and fears that he shall not be able to hold out 13. He seeks and prizes holiness to serve God here as much as happiness hereafter 14. He fears God and sin more then men and suffering Gen. 39.9 Dan. 3.17.18 15. He neglects not his duty though he knows there is great danger in doing of it Deut. 6.10 16. He is one that is careful to lay in and to get true grace in his heart as well as in his profession as the wise Scribe Mat. 13. and wise Virgin Mat. 25. 17. He can and dare do nothing against the Truth 2 Cor. 13.8 especially if he knows it 18. He cleaves to the Lord and follows after the Lord fully in the worst times and when others forsake him Num. 14.24 Joh. 6.68 19. He respects all and rejects none of Gods commandments Psal 119.6 2 Sam. 22.23 20. He takes patiently and thankfully the harshest words and the hardest dealings of God 1 Sam. 3.18 2 Kings 20.19 Job 1.14 to the end 21. He is much affected with and afflicted for the sufferings of the Godly and the sins of the wicked as David Jeremiah Lot Paul c. 22. He is one that when he is recovered from his former backsliding remembers his former good condition and prizes it and praises God and hates his sin more then he did before Hos 2.7 and 14.2.3.8 23. He seeks and esteems sincerity more then any garnishing gifts prizes plain and poor Christians that are honest and upright more then they that have parts and wealth if they be less sincere 24. He is one that exerciseth a good conscience in all things 25. He is one that fears God and his name and desires Grace for Grace sake Neh. 1.11 26. He is one that prays at his first conversion Acts 9.11 God hath no still-born Children 27. He beholds Christ in the deepest affliction as well as in the most spiritual ordinance 28. He believes he shall sooner overcome his outward Enemies by praying for them then by praying against them 29. He prefers Christ before self and suffering before sinning 30. He desires to live so holy that we may keep Christ in heaven undispleased the spirit within him ungreived his conscience undefiled unwounded and unseared his profession unstained his brethren unoffended and poor sinners unstumbled 31. His care is to wait on God to walk with God to work all his works in and for God to bring his will to submit to the will of God in all things to glorifie God and to gain good to himself by all he doth and suffereth to do what good he can to others and receive what good he can from other Christians to deny himself and to be found in Christs righteousness without his own Phil. 3.9 32. A true Christian will desire to be freed from 1. Doubts of his Eternal condition 2. From the power of corruption 3. From the fire of the Law in his conscience 4. From the fierce Temptations of Sathan 5. From scruples in matters of opinion 6. From wicked places and persons where he can neither do nor receive good nor be without danger of Evil 7. From a bad frame of heart as hardness straightness Lukewarmness 8. From the fear of Death 33. A true Christian desires 1. To know God in Christ 2. To know himself in Christ 3. To know Christ in him 4. To know himself as he was without Christ Eph. 2.12 1 Tim. 1.13 Wicked and wretched in respect of sin unwilling to good and weak in respect of good Rom. 3.9.10 11. and 8.7 and 5.6 A Miscellany of Divine Contemplations Observations and Directions to a Holy Life 1. A Christian is to put forth his faith in prayer and afterwards to follow his prayer with faith 2. Reading of the Scripture helps Meditation Meditation Prayer and Prayer every good work 3. Man may come too late to God when the door is shut but God never comes too late to men Luk.