your actual sins your transgressions of Gods Law in the first and the second Table thereof your disobedience to the Gospel the aggravations of your sins Means 2. Reading the Word of God and other good books The rule whereby you are to examine your selves is the Word this is like a Candle which will give light in dark corners this is like a Glass which will discover spots in the face you must search the Word and try your selves hereby if you would have knowledge of sin and your spiritual state and you must search the Word if you would have knowledge and acquaintance with God and his will You may arrive to some knowledge of God by reading the Book of Nature the whole world is full of God and every Creature doth represent him but the world is full of sin too and the more immediate representations of the Creatures are sensitive things which our sense layeth hold on first and is apt there to stick without further piercing and searching to finde out God and where we have one provocation from the Creatures to love and serve him through the bewitching temptations of the world meeting with the worldly lusts of our hearts we have a thousand incitements and allurements from them to sin against God but the Word is full of God and no incitement there to sin full of perswasives to holiness and obedience God is to be seen more easily and he setteth forth himself there most conspicuously In the Book of the Scriptures you have the most glorious discoveries of God in his greatness majesty power holiness love mercy and the like and the way made known of acquaintance and communion with him if you would be acquainted with God in Christ you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures Read the Scriptures daily and search them Joh. 5. 39. read not only the history of the Word but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed 1 Tim. 3. 16. endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2. 14. when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word labour to understand and believe them when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them when with Prohibitions and Threatnings be cautioned against sin by them when you meet with promises labour to apply them to draw vertue from them Read this Book as the Word of God and hide it in your heart lay it up there as a choice treasure get your hearts cast into the mould of it get it written upon your hearts and let it have an influence upon your whole conversation and that you may the better understand and apply the truths of the Word read as you have time other good books which open the Scriptures and treat of needfull points of Religion especially such as direct in the great work of Conversion and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole conversation but above all Books read and study the Scriptures Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached It is by the foolishness of Preaching that God saveth such as do believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. however the preaching of the Word is to them that perish foolishness yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto salvation therein God doth put forth his power and maketh bare his arm in bringing salvation to lost souls Hear and thy Soul shall live Isa 55. 3. Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10. 17. Lydia's heart was opened whilest she attended upon the Word preached by Paul Act. 16. 14. Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Christs Ministers as an Ordinance of his own institution for the working and increase of Grace Look upon Ministers as Christs Ambassadours he that heareth them heareth Christ and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them turneth away his ear from Christ who by his Spirit in them speaketh from Heaven unto men and how impossible it is for such to escape the wrath of God see Heb. 12. 25. Much more shall not they escape that turn away their ear from him that speaketh from Heaven Hear the Word with reverence as the Word of God as if the Lord should speak to you from Heaven with an audible voice hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives as for the salvation of your Souls hear the Word with faith and love without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts and in hearing look not so much for those things which may please as for that which may edifie I mean do not regard so much mens fancies as the wholsom Truths of the Word which tend most to conviction edification to the killing of sin quickning and increase of Grace and nourishment of the spiritual life Means 4. Meditation The Word like Food must be digested by Meditation that it may turn to spiritual nourishment you must ponder and consider in your mindes the Truths of the Word that you may both understand them and get your Hearts affected with them and your Lives ordered by them Meditation is a great help in Heavens way such as are remiss herein cannot walk so steddily nor chearfully accustome your selves unto this duty set apart time for it I know that some complain of barrenness in their thoughts when they endeavour to meditate such I would advise if they have not that fruitfulness of thoughts themselves to supply them with matter that they would make use of others help let them meditate on the Scriptures they read on the Sermons they hear moreover I would offer some general heads for Meditation which you may make use of 1. Sometimes meditate on God his Attributes his infinite Majesty power holiness omnipresence omniscience eternity unchangeableness his infinite wisdom truth faithfulness justice goodness mercy and loving-kindness his Councels especially his eternal decree of Election which is of most sweet consideration to Believers his works of Creation and Providence 2. Sometimes meditate on Christ his near relations of Friend Brother Husband his needfull Offices of Priest Prophet and King 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit his way and workings on the minde and heart how he enlighteneth enliveneth strengtheneth comforteth c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace and the rich free suitable sure Promises of pardon grace salvation therein 5. Sometimes meditate on the Gospel and its priviledges Justification Adoption Sanctification Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost communications of grace c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four last things namely Death Judgement Heaven and Hell 7. Sometimes meditate and that frequently daily of such Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular sins which are most strong and prevalent and to the strengthening of your graces which you finde most weak and deficient Means 5. Prayer Pray secretly retire your selves from company into your Closets or some private place and there confess your sins and make known your requests to God that seeth and heareth in secret and hath
the Wayes of Gods Commandements 1. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Truth in the belief of the Truths of the Word without turning aside into wayes of Errour there are wayes of Errour which will lead you as certainly and more securely to Hell than the wayes of open profaneness The Apostle tells us of damnable errours as well as open damnable sins 2 Pet. 2. 1. and we read of some that are damned for believing a lye that their delusion hath been the cause of their damnation 2 Thess 2. 11 12. The Devil leads as many as he can in the cords of more gross and known sins towards the place of endless misery but if any of them begin to perceive their thraldom and danger if their eyes be a little opened and Conscience awakened and hearts affected and they are perswaded to look after their salvation then he endeavours to draw them into wayes of Errour he hath his Agents and Ministers who are very subtle and crafty and lye in wait to deceive who with good words and fair speeches insinuate poysonous doctrines and pretending more glorious discoveries higher and more excellent wayes draw them out of the way of the Word and Ordinances into paths of darkness where they wander and lose themselves for ever where they are tossed up and down and beaten to and fro with every winde of doctrine unto the shipwrack of their Faith and their Souls As you hope for salvation you must take heed of Errour diligently inquire after Truth search for it as for silver and digg for it as for hidden treasures digg for it in the golden Mines of the Scriptures let the Word of God be the only Rule of your Faith and having found the Truth keep it hold it fast labour to fix it in your mindes let it be as a girdle about your loins lay it up in your heart let it be rooted there apply your selves to Christ as a Prophet to lead you by his Word and Spirit into all Truth and to keep you from being deceived and deluded and keep close to the Ministery and Ordinances of Christs Institution which the Lord hath appointed to continue unto the end of the World for the edifying establishment and perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4. 11 12 13 14. 2. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Gods Commandements you must patiently continue in well-doing if you would obtain immortal glory Rom. 2. 7. you must endure to the end if you would be saved Matth. 10. 22. you must be faithfull unto the death if you would gain the Crown of life Rev. 2. 10. It is absolutely necessary unto salvation that you hold out in the wayes of God none but such which come to the end of the race will obtain the prize the Gate of Heaven lyeth at the further not the hither end of the Holy Path therefore you must stedfastly persevere in this way if you should fall down you must rise again and go on if you should fall back or through mistake turn aside you must return again and make the more haste but if you should fall off if you should fall away as some have done who have seemed very zealous and forward Christians as to the outward Profession you are lost you are cast-awayes and you will tumble and fall down into the bottomless Pit from whence there is no returning Be not then followers of them that draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul Heb. 10. 39. Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6. 12. It is a glorious Inheritance that is before you that is promised and prepared in Heaven let this encourage you to diligence and perseverance unto the end I shall conclude with the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Thus I have given you Directions What things you must do that you may be saved CHAP. VI. II. THE Second and last thing for your guidance in the way of Salvation is To shew you what Means you must make use of to help you in these things There are Ten Means to be used in order to the attaining of Salvation 1. Self-examination 2. Reading the Word of God and other good books 3. Hearing the Word Preached 4. Meditation 5. Prayer 6. Christian-conference 7. Watchfulness 8. Sanctification of Fasting-dayes 9. Sanctification of Sabbath-dayes 10. Improvement of Sacrament-dayes Means 1. Self-examination You must examine your selves if you would see your selves lost you may read the mistake of the Laodiceans Rev. 3. 17. Thou sayest I am rich and encreased in goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched miserable and poor and blinde and naked You must examine and prove your spiritual state that you may have a right judgement thereof that you may perceive how poor and wretched and miserable you are whilest you are in a state of Nature You must examine your selves that you may get a sight and sense of sin Jer. 8. 6. I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done every one turned to his course as the Horse rusheth into the battel You must examine what you have done if you would repent of your sins you must search and try your wayes if you would turn from your evil wayes you must commune with your hearts and come to your selves with the Prodigal if you would return unto God and turn your feet unto his Testimonies Be serious then in this great duty of Self-examination and that you may be so I would advise that you would set apart time for it when your thoughts are most free and affections most sedate and quiet get out of the hurry of the world and lay aside other business for a while and withall separate your selves from company and retire into secret where you may be free from external disturbances and interruptions whatever indispositions and withdrawments of heart you finde force your selves to the work resist Satan who will endeavour to divert and discourage you Set your selves in the presence of God desire him to search you beg his help in the duty labour to keep your minde close to it if vain thoughts arise and would hurry you away look up to Christ to rebuke them and to bring them into captivity and obedience unto himself And then sit down and seriously consider what you have done ever since you came into the World and withall think with your selves what you will do when your life and this world shall come to an end Take a review of your sins they are noted down upon the book of your Consciences peruse this book and if you extracted a Catalogue of your sins it might be a help to you Note down your original sin
the soul will survive the body O take heed that when your souls come forth of their houses of clay that they be not cast into the deep and dark prison of Hell 2. Your souls are more precious than the whole world our Saviour esteem'd them so and he best knew the worth of souls who knew the making of them and made purchase of so many lost souls see Matth. 16. 26. What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Suppose that you had your hearts-desire in the world that your baggs should throng in your Coffers till there were no more room your gold and silver should encrease without number suppose you had great possessions abroad large revenues stately houses fruitful gardens and orchards pleasant groves and walks spacious fields and meadows which as the Poet saith would weary the wings of a Kite to fly over in a day suppose that you had sweet and beautiful wives at home like loving Hindes and pleasant Roes unto you like fruitful Vines about your houses that you had towardly and hopeful Children like Olive-plants round about your Tables that you had most kind and faithfull friends of most pleasant conversation that you had servants horses chariots coaches doggs hawks and all sorts of serviceable and delightful creatures the best and in the greatest number at your commands to attend your pleasure suppose you were cloathed with purple wrapped in fine linnen adorned with gold and silver and pretious stones and had the most rich and glorious Attire that the greatest cost and art could make for you suppose that your food were most delicious that Aire Earth and the Sea were ransack'd to provide dainties for your Table that your courses were served up with the most rich and generous Wine the most sweet and harmonious musick suppose that you were laden with titles of honour and had all the Crowns and Scepters of the earth laid at your feet and that the whole world had you in the highest esteem and were in willing subjection unto you yet what would it profit you to gain all these things or any thing else that the heart of man could desire in the world and lose your souls which are a thousand fold more pretious the gain of these things are but for the body and but for a while whereas the loss of the soul is for ever and when the soul is lost all is lost when the soul leaveth the body a period is put to all earthly enjoyments and the more you have of these things the more grievous will it be to part with them Think with your selves that you must dye certainly and may dye suddenly and then if not before you will acknowledge the worlds vanity and the preciousness of your souls which are of longer duration than the age of ten thousand worlds put together and what is the gain of the world which is so transitory and temporal in comparison with the loss of the soul which is immortal and whose loss is irrepairable a loss in the estate may be recovered Riches may fly away upon the wing and sometimes return upon the wing again as in the case of Job but the loss of the soul can never be recovered when once the soul hath taken wing and is fled into the lower regions it will never find wings to return again to its former estate O therefore whatever you lose take heed you do not lose your souls your souls are very precious seek after their salvation 2. It is the salvation also of your Bodies which I would have you endeavour after I do not mean the salvation of your bodies from sufferings which Religion doth sometimes call you unto nor a salvation of your bodies from sickness and temporal death which Religion doth not exempt any from but the salvation of your bodies from perpetual death and pain of Hell you may pamper your flesh for a while on Earth which may make it a more fit bait for the Worms in the grave and your bodies after death may be at rest and take a sweet sleep for many years in the dust but there is a morning approaching after the long night of death and many hours of darkness in which the graves will be opened and the dead will be awakened and then your bodies will come forth of the dust and they will be adjudged by Christ unto most horrid and endless torments in Hell to burn for ever in unquencheable Fire if you be found under the guilt of sin O therefore labour after the salvation of your Bodies when your bodies now are sick you endeavour to get them cured when they are full of pain you use means to get the pain removed and you will fly as fast and as far as you can from natural Death and you will do much to lengthen out and strengthen the thred of your life though do what you can it will in time be cut asunder and death which hath you upon the chase will overtake and overcome you whatever resistance be made O labour to get deliverance from the pains of body which are prepared in Hell for the damned Fly O Fly from eternal Death and the strokes of Gods wrath which will come upon the bodies of the wicked hereafter if you would not have those faces scorched those eyes and tongues and hands rosted and that flesh broiled and fearfully tormented in the flames of Hell fire labour after salvation As you love then your selves your souls and bodies seek after your salvation CHAP. III. Motive 2. FRom the consideration of the Salvation which you should endeavour to obtain and here I shall set before you some properties of this salvation to move you the more effectually to seek after it 1. It is a great Salvation 2. It is a rare Salvation 3. It is a necessary Salvation 4. It is a possible Salvation 5. It is a neer Salvation 6. It is an evident Salvation 7. It is a free Salvation 8. It is a sure Salvation I. It is a great Salvation and that both in regard of the thing it self and in regard of the causes of it 1. It is great in regard of the thing it self As in Motion so in Salvation there is the terminus à quo and the terminus ad quem the term from which and the term to which that which people are in Salvation delivered from and that which in Salvation they attain unto both which are exceeding great 1. That which people in Salvation are delivered from There are six great evils which those that are saved are delivered from 1. From sin the greatest evil of all from the guilt of sin Eph. 1. 7. and the power the reigning power of sin Rom. 6 14. 2. From Sathan the greatest enemy of all from his power and tyranny Col. 1. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 26. 3. From the Law the evil which it occasioneth namely the provoking to concupiscence and
disobedience Rom. 7. 5 6. and the evil which it denounceth namely Gods curse Gal. 3. 10 13. 4. From the world not in regard of their place but in regard of their course Gal. 1. 4. Joh. 15. 19. Joh. 17. 16. 5. From Death the sting of death and the fear of death at least the grounds of fear Heb. 2. 14 15. 6. From wrath the wrath of God which is to come 1 Thes 1. 10. 2. This Salvation is great in regard of that which in Salvation people do attain unto All the priviledges of the Gospel are wrapt up and included in the word Salvation Election is the foundation of it Effectual calling is the begining of it Justification Adoption and Sanctification are contained in it and Glorification is the consummation of it This Salvation then is great in regard of the thing it self 2. This Salvation is great in regard of the causes of it 1. Efficient 2. Meritorious 3. Instrumental 4. Finall 1. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the efficient cause and that is God the Father Salvation is ascribed to him as the author Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he saved us God is the cause of our Salvation 1. as he hath chosen us unto Salvation Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world which Election being of Free grace we are said to be saved by Grace Eph. 2 5. 2. As he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world to purchase Salvation for us Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Gal. 4. 4 5. When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them which were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons 3. As he revealeth this Salvation unto us by the Preaching of the Gospel for which end he qualifyeth and sends his Ministers upon this Embassage to make known the glad tydings of Salvation 4. As he conferrs Salvation actually upon us in our effectual calling Justification Adoption Sanctification and Glorification all these are from God Now that must needs be a great Salvation which is effected by the great God especially if we consider that it is the greatest and most glorious of all his works in the world and unto which all his other works have some kind of tendency 2. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the meritorious cause and that is the Lord Jesus Christ the excellency and greatness of whose nature office and sufferings do demonstrate the greatness of this Salvation which was purchased by him The sufferings of Christ were most properly the meritorious cause of mans salvation and they were the greatest sufferings that ever were endured insomuch as 1. They were the sufferings of the greatest person as man he was the head of the creation in regard of dignity he was a greater King than Solomon Matth. 12. 42. a greater Prophet than Moses Heb. 3. 3. a greater Priest than Aaron even a Priest after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7. Moreover he was God as well as man God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. and though the God head could not properly suffer yet through its union in the same person to the Manhood it put an efficacy in his suffering and strengthened the humane nature to undergo greater sufferings as to the value of them in that short space of time than all the Angels and Men in the world had their strength been united together in one person could have endured if the greatest extremity of misery had been layd upon such a one unto all eternity For 2. The sufferings of Christ were equivalent unto eternal death and the torments of the damned in Hell yea they were far exceeding as is evident because Gods infinite Justice is hereby fully satisfied and there is sufficiency of merit in them for the redemption of the whole world not only of Believers but also of Unbelievers not only of Men but of Devils too Christs sufferings were of infinite value not in regard of the sufferings but in regard of the Divine nature so closely united unto the Humane nature Therefore the salvation purchased by these sufferings must needs be a great salvation 3. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Instrumental Cause and that is Faith faith is a grace of great worth and excellency insomuch as it doth not spring from any root or power of nature but is wrought by the power of God and requireth such exceeding great power in the effecting of it we read of the exceeding greatness of Gods power towards them that believe according to the working of his mighty power Eph. 1. 19. which shews that the salvation is great which is effected by this grace of Faith 4. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Final Cause and that is the manifestation of Gods glory 1. The glory of his Wisdom in contriving such a way for Mans salvation which no created understanding could have thought of 2. The glory of his Justice which is as fully satisfied through Christs sufferings as if all Believers had been eternally punished 3. And chiefly the glory of his free grace and mercy which is set forth and magnified so eminently in all the degrees of mans salvation that nothing may be ascribed unto Man but all unto God alone Thus you see that this salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Thing it self and in regard of the Causes of it It is so great salvation as it hath no comparison and is beyond expression therefore labour to attain this salvation some endeavour to get a great Estate others to get great Friends others to get great honour and repute in the world do you labour to obtain this great salvation which doth exceed all in greatness it is a high and noble design and is worthy your uttermost care and diligence in seeking after it other things are but small things meer toyes and trifles in comparison nothing in the world hath the least degree of worth compared with this so great salvation I shall be more brief in speaking of the other properties of this salvation II. This salvation is a Rare Salvation I mean that few do obtain it Many are called few are chosen Matth. 20. 16. Many are damned few are saved There are many troops of sinners that are prosting in the broad way of destruction it is but a thin scattered company that are pressing forward in the narrow way of life and salvation this is evident from the Answer of our Saviour upon the Question propounded unto him Luk. 13. 23 24. Then said one unto him Lord are there few that be saved And he said unto them Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not