that more foolish than common boast of a good heart when the tongue is foul and the life filthy For when smoak comes out of the chimney there must needs be fire on the hearth When the floods of wickedness come gushing out at thine hands and mouth thire must needs be a spring in thine heart which mantains them CHAP. VII WHerefore take heed of flattering or soothing thy self up with a vain and false hope which is much more common in the World than that which is sound and good even as bastard Pearls are more frequently worn then true Pearls are And in case thou wouldest be loosed from the chains of thy sins and delivered from the chains of plagues That thou wouldest have the same Christ with his precious blood to free thee that shall with his Word sentence others Then endeavour to become a true and real Christian and resolve so neer as thou canst to obey Christ in all that he commands And indeed if Christ be formed in any he destroyeth the devils power which formerly he had in them Heb. 2.14 15. and his wicked works 1 John 3.8 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Wherefore cease to do evil learn to do well Isa 1.16 17. For fruitfulness is the best argument that we are begotten anew Nor can it be denied but the signs of salvation are to be sought in our selves as the cause in Jesus Christ Our Justification is to be proved by the fruits of our Sanctification and though faith alone justifieth yet justifying faith is never alone but ever accompanied with spiritual graces the beauties of the soul and good works the beauty of graces Yea they are as inseparable as the root and the sap the sun and its light And as fire is to be discerned by heat and life by motion so a mans faith may be discerned by the fruits of it Wherefore fancy not thy self to be a Christian until thou beest one and when thou art so thou wilt by help from above endeavour to bring into captivity every thought and thing to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 1 Joh. 2.4 And indeed the very end of Gods electing and of Christs redeeming us was that we might be holy Ephes 1.4 Matth. 19.17 And therefore he binds it with an Oath that whomsoever he redeemeth out of the hands of our spiritual enemies they shall worship him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives Luke 1.70 to 76. 1 Pet. 2.24 They therefore that never came to be holy were never chosen never redeemed Other Scriptures to this purpose are many see onely Tit. 2.12 14. 1 Pet. 2.24 Mat. 19.17 Nor ought any indeed to call upon Christ or once to name him with their mouths except they depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 And take this for a rule If Christ be not our King to govern us he will neither be our Prophet to forewarn nor our Priest to expiate I speak this in hope that God may it to some one that shall read the same but for the generality It is as meer lost labor to preach unto men the things of God before they be truly humbled with the sight of their wants as it is to offer light to a blinde man to speak to a deaf man or to labor to make a bruit Beast wise as Cyprian hath it CHAP. VIII THus I have proved That all who walk contrary to the Gospel are so far from being Christians that they are the Devils servants who in the end will pay them their deserved wages I come now to shew who are Christians in appearance onely or almost Christians and what their reward will be the former I fear are two thirds of the Nation these in all probability are two thirds of the Residue And of this sort are first such as are meerly civil or moral because they take morality and restraining grace for piety and renewing grace conviction for conversion reformation for regeneration True morality and civility may commend us to men like our selves that see only the outside but not to God who knows the heart nor will it bring us to Heaven and Salvation They may suppose themselves in a good estate but except they be renewed renounce their own righteousness and seek to be justified onely by Faith in Christ and his righteousness Thieves and Harlots shall go before them into the Kingdom of Heaven as our Saviour told their brethren the Scribes and Pharisees who counted themselves just and trusted to their own merits Matth. 21.31 32. Luk. 18.10 11 12. Besides as nothing is more easily broken then that which is most hard so notorious offenders are nothing so hard to be convinced and converted as the civilly honest which also greatens their misery though their condition of it self is very deplorable For all such are to know that their very best services as praying and fasting and receiving and giving of alms c. because they are not done in faith and obedience to the Word and that God may be glorified thereby are no better in Gods account than if they had slain a man or cut off a dogs neck or offered swines blood or blessed an Idol as himself affirms Isai 66.3 Nor will God accept of any action except it flow from a pious and good heart sanctified by the Holy Ghost Yea civil honesty severed from true piety humility saving knowledg sincere love to God true obedience to his Word justifying faith a zeal of Gods glory and a desire to edifie and win others God will neither accept nor reward but account of their moral vertues as of shining or glistering sins because they spring from pride ignorance infidelity self-love and other the like carnal respects as many examples prove namely Cains sacrificing 1 Joh. 3.12 The Jews fasting Isa 58. those Reprobates preaching in Christs name and casting out Devils Matth. 7.22 23. and the like whose outward works were the same which the godly perform And what saith S. Austin most excellently There is no true Vertue where there is no true Religion and that conscience which is not directed by the Word even when it does best does ill because it doth it not in faith obedience and love Secondly let them know that being out of Christ they are bound to keep the whole Law Gal. 5.2 3. or stand liable to suffer the penalty thereof for not keeping it For though this be the condition of the New Covenant Believe and thou shalt be saved yet all that they have to trust unto is Do this and live Rom. 10.5 And cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them Gal. 3.10 And I wish that they would seriously think of it and what need they have of Christ whom they rather persecute then obey his Gospel in love Indeed let them get a true lively and justifying faith Put ye off concerning the former conversation the Old man which is corrupted
Self-Examination WITH The likeliest means OF Conversion AND Salvation OR Haypy and welcome advice if it meets with a Soul ingenious The which being thought by many worth the transcribing at no small charge is now published for the good of all By R. JUNIUS LONDON Printed by D. Maxwell and are to be sold by Mrs. Crisps at her Shop in Popes-head Alley 1663. IMPRIMATUR Ex. Aed Sab. Maii 12. 1663. Geo. Stradling S.T.P. Rev. in Christo Patr. D. Gilb. Episc Lond. à Sac. Domest Self-Examination With the likeliest means of Conversion and Salvation CHAP. I. THose that are to paint or print a pitcht field within the compass of a sheet or two of paper can make but few Souldiers whole and compleat but are forced to set down for the most part their heads onely or their helmets So I intending to say onely enough of these Subjects shall be brief and but select out here and there that which will make most for my purpose and the Readers benefit It is the Abstract of Religion to imitate and obey him whom we profess to worship neither are we worthy to be called Christian except we imitate Christ and endeavour to frame our lives according to the Rules which he hath prescribed in his Gospel And why was the Name Christian at first used but to denominate the true Disciples and followers of Christ and to distinguish them from the Heathen as appears Act. 11.26 But now to our shame be it spoken let any one compare mens lives with Christs life or those Rules which he hath given us and he shall be forced to confess that either the Gospel is none of Christs or few among us are Christians And yet there is scarce a man in the Nation be he never so vicious and wicked but he will say he is a Christian and hopes to be saved by Christ which alone may move wonder to astonishment How much more if we shall compare the numberless number of our great and grievous abominations wherewith our land is filled from corner to corner with the many and great means which God hath afforded for our reclaiming The principal end for which man was created after the Image of God and endowed with gifts and abilities above all other visible creatures was that we might honour love and serve our Creator and enjoy communion and happiness with him for ever And for the same end also did the onely Son of God die when we by eating the forbidden fruit had turned that Image of God into the Image of Satan being in reason past hope of recovery even to redeem us out of the hands of our spiritual enemies that we might serve our Creator and Redeemer according to those precepts which he hath given us in his Word and to set forth the praise of him who hath done all this for us Luke 1.73 74 75. That we should be holy and without blame before him That he might purge us to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works That we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts And that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world And withal That we might enjoy everlasting communion and happiness with our Blessed Maker and Redeemer as the Holy Ghost sets it down Ephes 1.4 Tit. 2.12 14. 1 Pet. 2.24 2 Tim. 2.19 Psal 116.12 13 14. But alas most men know no other end of their Creation but Recreation no other end of their Redemption but to satisfie their lusts to eat drink sleep sin and make others to sin to pursue their profit pleasure honour This as they suppose is all that Christ expects from them For this is the sum of their Lords Prayer Creed and Ten Commandments Whence like men sleeping in a Boat they are carried down the stream of this World until they arrive at their Gravesend Death without once waking to bethink themselves whether they are going to Heaven or Hell So living like Beasts because they think they shall die like Beasts and never give any account of what they have either acted or left undone The lusts of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is all the Trinity that most men worship As for answering the end of our Redemption which cost 〈◊〉 less a price than the Blood of Christ Men do not at all mind it or if they do they apply Christs Passion as a warrant for their licentiousness not as a remedy and take his deâ—â— as a licence to sin his Cross as a Letters Patent to do mischief so turning the grace of God into wantonness as if a man should head his drum of rebellion with his pardon As O the pride covetousness cruelty damnable hypocrisie the cursed swearing and cursing abominable and worse then beast-like drunkenness adultery lying slandering persecuting contempt of Religion and all goodness grinding of faces like edged tools spilling of blood like water racking of rents detension of wages and workmens hire incredible cruelty to servants inclosing of Commons ingrossing of commodities griping exactions with straining the advantages of greatness Unequal levies of legal payments spiteful suits griping usury bribery perjury partiality Treason and Rebellion Sacriledge simonaical contracts and soul-murther scurrility and prophaneness cousening in bargains breaking of promises perfidious underminings atheism and a world of the like In so much that there is scarce one of an hundred whose knowledg belief and life is in any degree answerable to the Gospel And so far are we from loving and serving Christ that we hate and persecute those that do it and that for their so doing And which does exceedingly aggravate our shame and wickedness we have all vowed in our Baptism to serve Christ taken presse-money and great wages of him to that end given security by Sureties that we will fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil Yet in a most shameful manner the most of us have renounced our Vow made to him fled from his Standard and fought for Satan and the World seeking to win all we could from Christ by tempting to sin and by persecuting such as we see better then our selves Nor does our Vow in Baptism more aggravate our sin then does the great means that Christ hath used to bring us out of darkness into light and from the power of Satan unto God As why do we in this Land enjoy so much light and means of grace more then other people Why hath God delivered us from Paganism and Popery and revealed to us his Word so plainly and fully Why hath Christ continued his Gospel the best of blessings amongst us more then an hundred years With such supply of able Ministers that no Nation under Heaven may compare with us Yea when neither his word mercies nor any ordinary means would serve the turn why hath he at several times and after sundry manners visited us with several judgments to try what they would do but to invite and call us to repentance and to mind us of our many
is said of the seemingly righteous he shall be almost saved 1 Pet. 4.18 Acts 26.28 Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God Mark 12.34 As good not at all as never the nearer as good never run the race as miss of the goal and prize we run for Wherefore content not thy self with being almost a Christian but see thou beest one altogether and in good earnest For all who are but almost Christians shall be but almost saved and to be saved almost is to be damned We know almost a son is a bastard almost sweet is unsavoury A Christian almost is like a woman that dieth in travail almost she brought forth a son but that almost killed both the mother and the son too If thou believest almost thou shalt be saved almost As we may say of a Thief that hath a pardon brought him whilst he is upon the Gallows he was almost saved but he was hanged and his pardon did him no good To be almost a Christian is to be like the foolish Virgins that had Lamps but without oyl in them for which they were shut out of Heaven though they came to the very door Matth. 25.10 11 12. Wherefore it concerns all that would go to Heaven and be indeed saved to become Christians indeed and in good earnest CHAP. XIII ANd what I say unto these I say unto all as well prophane persons and civil men as to formal professors yea it were to be wished that each man that hath a soul to live eternally in bliss or wo would look himself in this glass and try himself by this touchstone All that have any care of their own souls or that prefer not everlasting flames of fire and brimstone in Hell before an eternal weight of super-abundant glory in Heaven Nor will a wise man need much pressing to this work for what saith St. Bernard A wise man foreseeth the torments of Hell and preventeth them onely a fool goes on merrily until he feels them and then says I had not thought Now that every man ought to examine himself we have the Apostles injunction 2 Cor. 13. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove ye your own selves know ye not your own selves How that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Vers 5. And the necessity thereof is very great For as Chrisostome speaks every particular man is either the childe of God and a member of Christ or a childe of the Devil John 8.44 Of the womans seed or of the Serpents Gen. 3.15 For there is not a mean between them Secondly We should the rather do it because there are but a few that are real and sincere Christians here and there one like timber trees in a wood or like gold and jewels among other stuff Those whom Christ hath chosen out of the World to believe in his name are but a small number a little Flock compared with the multitude Luke 12.32 As do we not read That the greatest number go the broad way to destruction and but a few the narrow way that leadeth unto life Matth. 7.13 14. That the whole world lieth in wickedness 1 John 5.19 That the number of those whom Satan shall deceive is as the sand of the Sea Revel 20.8 That all both small and great rich and poor free and bond receive the mark of the Beast in their foreheads Revel 13.16 Whereas they that believe the Gospel are but few in number Rom. 10.16 Isa 53.1 That many are called and but few chosen Matth. 20.16 and 22.14 That though the number of the Children of Israel are as the sand of the Sea yet onely a remnant shall be saved Rom. 9.27 There were but eleven righteous persons in the old world All Sodom afforded but ten Elijah saith I onely remain a Prophet of the Lord but Baals Prophets are Four hundred and fifty 1 Kings 18.22 Micha complaineth of the multitude of the wicked in his time and small number of the faithful Mic. 7.2 Behold saith Isaiah I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel Isa 8.18 and in Chap. 53.1 Lord who hath believed our report Lord saith Saint John thou hast but a few names in Sardis Rev. 3.4 We read also that the whole City went to drive Christ out of their coasts not a Gadarean was found that either dehorted his fellows or opposed the motion Matth. 8.34 When Pilate asked what shall be done with Jesus all with one consent cried out Crucifie him crucifie him Matth. 27.22 There was a general shout for Diana for two hours together Great is Diana of the Ephesians not one man took Pauls part Act. 19.27 28. Yea the chief Jews told Paul that his sect was every where spoken against Act. 28.22 How then does it concern every man of us to bethink our selves whether we be of that small number and to mistrust the worst of himself as all the wise and sincere hearted do witness the Apostles Mat. 26.22 And for want of this many go to Hell while they think themselves in the way to Heaven As why else did those Jews so confidently boast themselves the children of Abraham when indeed they were the Devils children Joh 8.44 And those Revel 3.9 say they were Jews when indeed they were of the Synagogue of Satan as the Holy Ghost tells us And so at this present because men are called after Christs name and wear his cognisance they not once doubt but they are Christians beyond all exceptions CHAP. XIV WHence it were to be wisht that a seperation were made between such as serve Christ in sincerity and such as serve him not as Jehu made a separation between the servants of God and the worshippers of Baal 2 Kings 10.23 This were the way to make men look into themselves But Thirdly and lastly There can be nothing of greater consequence to the careless For are Formal Professors almost saved and yet perish Do you that are not so much as formal stand and tremble For if they that have gone beyond us fall short of Heaven what shall become of such as fall short of them If he shall perish who is almost a Christian what shall they do that are not at all Christians If he that owneth and professeth Christ and leaves many sins for Christ may notwithstanding be damned what then shall his doom be who dishonoureth Christ and refuseth to part with one sin one lust one oath for Christ and takes up arms against him and all that worship him in sincerity If he that is outwardly sanctified shall yet be eternally rejected and shut out of Heaven then surely the filthy Adulterer the Swinish Drunkard the hellish Swearer and Curser the prophane Sabbath-breaker the foul-mouthed scoffer and slanderer of the Saints much more If there be a woe to him that falls short of Heaven then how sad shall their woe be that fall short of them that fall short of Heaven O that God would make the consideration of this an awakening argument to sinners that are asleep in their lusts without the least fear of death or dread of damnation Now to wind up all with a word of exhortation If by what you have heard the Spirit of God hath stirred up in your hearts any good motions and resolutions to receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your souls If you be convinced that you are not as you should be real Christians and do resolve upon a new course let your resolutions be peremptory and constant and take heed you harden not again as Pharaoh the Philistins the Young man in the Gospel Pilate and Judas did Resemble not the Iron which is no longer soft then it is in the fire Be not like those that are Sea-sick who are much troubled while they are on shipboard but presently well again when they are come to shore For that good saith S. Gregory will do us no good which is not made good by perseverance If with these premonitions the Spirit shall vouchsafe to stir up in your hearts any good motions and holy purposes to obey God in letting your sins go quench not grieve not the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 Return not with the dog to thy vomit lest thy latter and prove seven-fold worse than thy beginning Matth. 12.43 45. as it fared with Julian the Apostate and Judas the Traytor Yea as you tender the good of your own souls set upon the work presently Provide with Joseph for the dearth to come and with Noah in the days of thine health build the Ark of a good conscience against the floods of sickness Imitate the Ant that provides her meat in summer for the winter following Yea do it while the yerning bowels the bleeding wounds the compassionate arms of Jesus Christ lie open to receive you whilst ye have health and life and means and time to repent and make your peace with God As you tender I say the everlasting happiness and welfare of your almost lost and drowned souls As you expect or hope for grace or mercy for joy and comfort for Heaven and salvation for endless bliss and glory at the last As you would escape the direful wrath of God the bitter sentence and doom of Christ The never dying sting and worm of conscience The tormenting and soul-scorching flames of Hell and everlasting separation from Gods blissful presence strive after those graces wherewith a true Christian is qualified Nor do I ask any more but that you will now hearken unto Christ as you would have Christ another day hearken unto you Onely by way of caution expect not that this should be done by any power of thine own For a child may as soon create it self as a man in the state of nature regenerate himself Eph. 2.1 2 Cor. 3.5 We are swift to all evil but to any good immoveable Wherefore as when David came to fight with Goliah he cast away Sauls armour so do thou in this case cast away all trust and confidence in thy self and onely set forward in the name of the Lord God of Israel and be sure to use the means that God hath appointed and that power which Christ shall give thee and then he will not be wanting on his part As in that case of the Prodigal Son Luke 15.17 to 25. Consider what I have said and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS