in his word hath directed you to walk Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts even all Sins against the first and second Table living soberly towards yourselves righteously towards man and godly towards the Lord in this present world Observe and keep all his Commandements Yield and present your selves both Souls and Bodies living Sacrifices unto him Whether you live live unto the Lord or whether you dye dye unto the Lord that whether you live or dye you may be the Lords So live and walk also as Christ hath given you an Example Walk as Christ walked Walk in love as Christ hath loved us and hath given himself for us a Sacrifice an offering unto God for a sweet smelling Savour Walk in Love towards Iesus Christ as to love him beyond Father Mother Sister Brother or your own dearest lives For he hath loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own blood Walk in all well doing as Christ went about doing good every where and imitate him also in innocent and patient suffering for well doing commitâ—ing your selves and your Cause to him that judgeth righteously for herein he hath left us an Example that we should follow his steps 7. Remember the Lords-day-Sabbath the first day of the week unto which the seventh-day-Sabbath was translated by the Authority of Christ as appears by the after observation of that day by the Apostles and Apostolical Churches to keep it holy This is the Princess and Queen of all dayes This is the Glory of all the week For As on this day our blessed Saviour Rose from the dead triumphing victoriously over Death Grave Sin and all our Spiritual Enemies and thereby assured us of our Spiritual and Corporeal Resurrection by him As on this day our Saviour vouchsafed many of his apparitions to his Disciples instructing them and giving them commandements concerning the Kingdom of God On this day the Holy Ghost was most miraculously poured forth upon the Apostles On this day the Apostles and primitive Churches held their solemn Assemblies for the publick worship of God This is the solemn Mart and Market day for furnishing our Souls with all manner of Spiritual and Heavenly Provisions This is that Solemn Season and sweet opportunity which Christ hath afforded and ordained for acquainting us with Himself and the Mysteries of his Kingdom for maintaining our Communion with him in his Ordinances for edifying and perfecting of us in all Spirituals And as in the time of the Old Testament The Sacrifices of the Sabbath-day were to be double to those on the week day So our Spiritual Sacrifices on the Lords-days are to be twice so much as on any other day of the week Especially in Prayer and thanksgiving in Reading the Scriptures in Hearing the word preached in Partaking the Lords Supper in Catechizing in Shewing Mercy to the poor c. that so the sacred tincture and impressions of this day may remain fresh and lively upon your hearts all the week following 8. Let every day of the week be managed by you in a Christian sort To that End Be sure to present unto the Lord your Morning and Evening-Sacrifice of prayer and praise to God continually as God of Old appointed a Morning and Evening Sacrifice for every day in the week Holy David and Daniel Prayed thrice in a day Every day open with God in the morning and shut with God in the Evening by some religious ejaculation or savourly meditation Read daily some portion of Holy Scripture to keep up your acquaintance with God with Iesus Christ and his Spirit and the mysteries of true Religion And then follow the lawful affairs of your honest particular Calling diligently and righteously 9. Do ye Remember your Creator in the days of your youth while the evil dayes of old age come not nor the years draw nigh when ye shall say we have no pleasure in them Gods Eminent Saints have sought the Lord betimes and addicted themselves unto Godliness while they were young As David that man after Gods own heart while he was but a Youth Josiah that Phaenix King of Iudah while he was yet young but sixteen years old began to seek after the God of David And Timothy so highly commended by the Apostle Paul knew the Holy Scriptures from a Child Gr. from his insancy God in the time of the Law called for the first ripe fruits of the field and the firstlings of the flock to be offered unto him to teach his people how acceptable the first-fruits of our youth and life are to God O how happy are they that bear the yoke of Christ in their youth Hereby the flower of their age is best improved Hereby thousands and ten-thousands of sins are prevented Hereby they gain the longer time for walking with God for growing in grace for doing of good for increasing of Spiritual Experiences for treasuring up of Evidences and assurances of their Salvation and of preparing themselves for Heaven and eternal Glory 10. Herein alwaies exercise your selves to have a Conscience void of offence both towards God and Man That so living in all good conscience before God This may be matter of singular comfort and rejoycing to you in your greatest afflictions and distresses the Testimony of your Consciences that in simplicity and godly sincerity you have had your Conversation in the world 11. Imploy and improve to the utmost all the Times and Talents wherewith the Lord hath intrusted you to his Glory your own or others Benefit That when the time of reckoning shall come he may both command you and richly reward you and not condemn and punish you with that wicked sloathful and improfitable Servant 12. Hold fast the Platt-form of Sound words in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That so you may not be carryed aside with every wind of false doctrine but may be the Children of the Truth And to this End constantly retain in your Memories the Catechisme wherein you have been trayned up now a long time together For this is an excellent Brevial or Sum of the true Christian Religion very useful to direct you both in the Faith and Practice in the right wayes of God against error and iniquity 13. Stand not at a stay much less go backward in the affairs of Religion But still grown in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Take heed of backsliding Having put your hand to Christs plow Look not back For then you will be unfit for the Kingdome of God Be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord Be faithful to the death and christ will give you a Crown of Life 14. Love God Father son and Holy Ghost over
23. Lydia Act. 16. 14 15. The Jaylor and his House Act. 16. 25. to 35. Many Gentiles Act. 11. 18. and 15. 19. Many at Ephesus Act. 19. 17. to 21. The Thessalonians 1 Thes. 1. 5. to 11. The Thief on the Cross Luke 23. 40. to 44. They that crucified and consented to the death of the Lord Jesus Christ even 3000 of them Act. 2. 36 37 c. All these are propounded as examples to allure thee and cords to draw thee unto initial Repentance 6. Impenitency is most dangerous 1. Is rebellion against Gods Command Act. 17. 30. Isa. 1. 16 20. 2. The fruit of a blinded mind and hardned heart c. Ioh. 12. 40. Rom. 2. 5. 3. Seals up the Natural man in his state of sin and misery Exod. 34. 7. God will not clear the impenitent guilty and how woful is that state of sin and misery Act. 26. 18. 4. Shuts him eternally out of Gods Kingdom Mat. 18. 3. 5. Treasures up wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. 5. 6. Renders their condition who live under the Gospel worse then that of Heathens at the judgement-day Mat. 11. 20. to 25. 7. Exposeth impenitents to all judgements in this present world Lev. 26. 23. Amos 4. 6. to 13. And to everlasting damnation in the world to come Luke 13. 3 5. Ezek. 18. 20 26 30 31. 7. True Repentance is most desirable and beneficial to the penitent Soul For 1. It is never to be repented of 2 Cor 7. 10. 2. It thorowly removes the Natural mans sinfulness though never so great Isa. 1. 16 17 18. and 55. 7. Luke 24. 47. Act. 5. 31. and 3. 19. And wretchedness though never so deep Act. 26. 18. Luk. 15. 32. Ezek. 18. 27 28. 3. It returns the Sinner unto God the only supream Good Act. 26. 18. Zech. 1. 3. 4. It occasioneth much joy To the Saints on Earth Act. 15. 3. To the Angels in Heaven Luke 15. 7 10. And as it were to God himself Luk. 15. 20. to 25. 5. It intituleth the Penitent to sundry precious Promises As Isa 1. 16 17 18. and 55. 7. Ezek 18. 21 22. Zech. 1. 3. Act. 26. 18. 6. It is the ready way to Life and Salvation Act. 11. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 10. 7. It puts into possession of the Inheritance of the Saints of the Kingdom of Heaven even Paradise it self Act. 26. 18. Mat. 18. 3. Luke 23. 41 42 43. XVIII Direction SEarch out and try the truth of thy Repentance as well as of thy Faith lest in this necessary Grace and fundamental Duty thou mistakest a shadow for a substance an appearance for a reality and so overthrow the whole Fabrick of thy Christianity Mock-Repentance counterfeit Repentance is of no account at all with God nor of any avail for spiritual blessings or eternal Salvation Hos. 7. 16. Ahab got no spiritual good 1 King 21. 27. Nor Iudas Mat. 27. 3 4 5. by their counterfeit repenting Sincere Repentance may be discovered by the 1. Antecedents 2. Constituents 3. Concomitants And 4. Consequents thereof I. The Antecedents going before true Repentance are Conviction Illumination Godly Sorrow Hatred of Sin 1. Conviction of sin if true and sincere when it 1. Leads a man from sin to sin from actual to original Psal. 51. 1. to 6. 2. Smites the Conscience sharply for sin Psal. 51. 3 8. Act. 2. 37. 3. Provokes the Soul to seek for remedy Act. 2. 36 37. contra Mat. 27. 3 4 5. 2. Illumination touching Christ the remedy against sin Act. 26. 18. If true 1. Gives a more clear and perfect insight into the mystery of Christ and Christianity then any Natural man hath 1 Cor. 2. 6. to 15. 2. Melts the Heart into love to Christ and tears or at least mourning for sin Luke 7. 37. to the end 3. Conducts the Soul like the Star to Christ Ioh. 6. 45. 4. Inclines the Soul to deny do and suffer any thing for Christ. Phil. 3. 7 8 c. Act. 9. 4 5 6. Heb. 10. 32 33 34. 3. Godly Sorrow and Contrition working Repentance 2 Cor. 7. 10. If true and sincere 1. Wounds the Heart most for sin as it is against God Psal. 51. 4. As against Christ. 〈◊〉 12. 10 11. 2. Drives the Sinner to seek spiritual relief Act. 2. 36 37 c. Luke 7. 37 c. 3. Deeply humbleth and abaseth the Soul Ezek. 36. 31. Luke 15. 17 c. 4. Secretly refresheth the Heart that it can mourn for sin Isa. 61. 3. Dolet de morbo gaudet de medicina Lâ—ments at the malady rejoyceth at the remedy 5. Is very great Zech. 12. 10 11. Psal. 38. 3. to 11. 6. Is permanent and lasting Psal. 51. 3. 7. At last works Repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 4. Hatred of Sin if sincere 1. Ariseth from true Love to God that cannot endure sin Psal. 97. 10. 2. Comes from due esteem of Gods Word that detects sin Psal. 119. 113. 128. 3. Flows from true Love to Holiness and Righteousness Psal. 45. 7. 4. Is chiefly for the sinfulness of it Gal. 5. 17. 5. Is Universal against every sinful way Psal. 119. 104. II. The Constituents of the proper Nature of Repentance Aversion from evil and Conversion to God Act. 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 9. discover the truth of Repentance viz. 1. Aversion from evil if upright 1. Is from sin cordially and really hated Psal. 119. 104. 2. Is from sin for its sinfulness against God Gen. 39. 9. 3. Is consequently from all known sin Ezek. 18. 21 30 31. 4. Is also from his own more peculiar iniquity to which by Natural Constitution Calling Temptation c. he was more specially inclined Psal. 18. 22. 5. Is from the power of sin Col. 1. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Eph. 2. 1 5. With crucifying and mortifying of sin Col. 3. 5. Gal. 5. 24. 6. Is constant and continuing 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. 7. Is joyned with eschewing fellowship with others in their sins Eph. 5. 11. Psal. 1. 1 2. 2. Conversion to God if sincere 1. Is upon serious consideration Luke 15. 17. to the end Ezek. 18. 27 28. 2. Is immediately unto Christ the way to God Act. 11. 21. with Ioh. 14. 6. 3. Is unto God as a reconciled Father in Christ. Luâ—e 15. 18 19 20 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20 21. 4. Is by the regenerating Spirits operation Iohn 3. 3 5. Eph. 2. 18. 5. Is to God cordially and entirely Ioâ—l 2. 13. 1 Kings 8. 47 48. 6. Turneth to God so as to resign himself to Gods Power and Government Act. 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. 7. Turneth to God with fixed resolution never to turn away from him Deut. 10. 20. with Psal. 86. 11. and 73. 25 26. III. Concomitants accompanying true Repentance may give some light to the truth of Repentance Noscitur ex comite qui nondignoscitur exse A man is oft-times better known by his company rather then by himself These are Concomitants or Companions
combing thine head entring the flesh may make thy death's wound as it befel Ruffinus the Consul A Needle thrust into thy brest by a child born in thiue arms may hasten thy death as it befel Lucia the Daughter of Aurelius And when Death hath severed soul and body what shall become of thy soul Shall it ascend or descend Shall it live or shall it die c. O never think that thou who livedst and diedst without God in this world shall after death ascend to God or live with God in the world to come 7. Thou in thy Natural state canst not escape the damnation of Hell but shalt have part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second Death there to be excruciated with torments numberless easeless remediless and endless Mat. 23. 33. Rev. 21. 8. Rom. 6. 23. Gen. 2. 17. Mat. 25. 41 46. Iude verse 7. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25. 30. There their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Mar. 9. 43 44. There not one drop of water from the top of a finger shall be vouchsafed to cool a tormented tongue Luk. 10. 24 25 26. There thou shalt have pain of loss and pain of sense There thou shalt have plenty and penury plenty of torment penury of comfort There will be Amissio Coeli The miss of Heaven which was often tendered thee but thou didst refuse Privatio Terrae The loss of Earth which thou hadst but couldst not keep Positio Inferni The Position of Hell which thou shalt have and canst not be delivered from it There will be universality extremity eternity of unpityed misery upon thy soul and body without the least alteration mitigation and cessation Oh wretched Natural man Might thy torments in Hell be brought to an end after so many millions of years as there are Stars in Heaven Atomes in the Air Dust in the Earth Drops in the Sea Grass-piles on the ground or as there have been moments of time since time begun it would be some comfort to thee in enduring them some hope of being delivered from them But this eternity of Death and Torments will quite break thy heart would make the very stinging of Ants and Fleas intolerable Eternity is the very Hell of Hell One said O deadly life O immortal death What shall I term thee Life And wherefore then dost thou kill Death And wherefore then dost thou endure There 's neither life nor death but hath something good in it for in life there is some ease and in death an end but thou hast neither ease nor end What then shall I stile thee Even the bitterness of both for of death thou hast the torment without any end and of life the continuance without any ease God hath substracted both from life and from death all that is good the residue he hath mixed together and therewith tempered the torments of Hell O bitter Cup which all sinners impenitent shall drink at Gods hand This this O Natural man is a brief shadow of thy sinful and wretched condition by Nature But the one half the tenth part is not told thee O How can thine heart hold from breaking thine eyes from dropping thy bowels from turning within thee How canst thou eat or drink with any comfort How canst thou slumber or sleep one night in quiet How canst thou possess or go about any worldly thing with delight whilst thou art ingulfed in this sinful and woful Natural condition II. Direction BE clearly and fully convinced in thy Conscioâ—ce O Natural man That thou still remainest in this thy sinful and wretched condition un-converted un-regenerate un-renewed until this present day That thou art still in the first Adam and not as yet transplanted into Christ the last Adam That thou art still in thy sinful and miserable state of Nature and not hitherto translated into an holy and happy state of Grace That thou art in thy sins still 1 Cor. 15. 17. Thou art in the flesh still Rom. 8. 8. Thou art dead in sins and trespasses still Eph. 2. 1 5. Col. 2. 13. Thou art in darkness and very darkness it self still 1 Ioh. 2. 9 11. Eph. 5. 8. Thou art an enemy to God still Rom. 8. 6 7. Col. 1. 21. Thou art wholly displeasing to God still Rom. 8. 8. Finally That thou art in thy cursed and damned state still Gal. 3. 10. Ioh. 3. 18 36. Here therefore I shall offer to thee chiefly two things for thy most serious consideration viz. I. That it is most necessary for thee O Natural man to be throughly convinced That thou still remainest in thy most sinful and wretched state of Nature even until now For 1. Vntil thou beest throughly convinced O Natural man that thou still remainest in thy sinful and wretched state of Nature thou wilt be apt to flatter thy self into a fond and groundless imagination that thou art in a good spiritual state towards God especially if thou hast been kept by Gods common restraining grace from grosser sins and hast been exercised in some outward acts of Religion and righteousness Thus the un-convinced Pharisee though in his un-justified Natural state had an high opinion of his good spiritual state beyond other men and beyond the Publican and bragg'd of it even in his prayer to God because he avoided some gross sins and practised some outward duties Luk. 18. 9. to 15. Thus Paul before his conviction and conversion thought himself alive once without the Law by reason of his outward unblameableness legal priviledges and external exercises of Religion but when the Commandement came and convinced him sin revived and he died Compare Rom. 7. 9. with Phil. 3. 4 5 6. Thus the Laodicean Angel had an high opinion of his own good estate till Christ convinced him of the contrary and taught him the right way of bettering his condition Rev. 3. 16 17 18 19. The Natural man's self-opinionateness of his good estate seals him up incurably in his bad estate Many might have attained to a great degree of Christianity if they had not presumed themselves to be Christians good enough already 2. Vntil thou art fully convinced O Natural man that thou still remainest in thy sinful and wretched state of Nature thou wilt never be kindly humbled for nor become weary of thy Natural state Without conviction there 's no true sence of sin and misery without true sence of sin and misery who will be humbled for it or weary of it Conviction How did it humble Manasses 2 Chron. 33. How did it abase Paul Act. 9. Who can clearly see his own Natural sinfulness and wretchedness and not abhor himself as in dust and ashes Zech. 12. 10 c. 3. Vntil thou beest kindly convinced of thy present sinfulness and wretchedness by Nature thou wilt never seriously and sincerely seek out for supernatural remedy When Peter's Hearers were convinced and pricked in heart then they presently repair to the Apostles saying Men and
return 1 King 12. 28. to the end and 19. 14 18. 2 King 17. 3. to 24. 5. The two Tribes of Iudah and Benjamin remaining grew very wicked from time to time especially in the reigns of wicked Kings insomuch that at last the face of all things in the Church was so corrupt that both the King Priests and people grew to such an height of impiety that there was no remedy and God gave them into the hand of the Chaldeans who destroyed them without pity and carried them captive to Babylon where they were in thraldom 70 years together 2 Chron. 36. 11. to 22. 6. Many of the Jews after their return from the Babylonish Captivity whereby they should have been reformed fell into sundry offences in the dayes of Nehemiah which he endeavoured to reform as most oppressive Usury Neh 5. 7 c. Prophanations of the Sabbath-day Neh. 13. 15. to 23. Marriages with Wives of Ashdod Ammon and Moab Neh. 13. 23 c. 7. Finally In the dayes of Antiochus the whole face of Religion was miserably corrupted and the conscientious were cruelly persecuted 1 Mac. 1. 45. to the end And when our Blessed Saviour became incarnate the whole affairs of Religion lay miserably prostrate and defaced See Mat. 5. and 6 and 7 and 15 and 23. Now all these things Considered How few can we rationally imagine to have been plucked out of their sinful and wretched state of Nature when iniquity so abounded in the Church 3. By the Scarcity of the Truth Life and Power of Godliness and Christianity even in the Visible Churches of Christ now under the New Testament the fewness of those that are effectually recovered out of their Natural state of Sin and misery may further appear For 1. In our Blessed Saviours dayes as the Scribes and Pharisees had in a manner engrossed all Religion to themselves as is none were Religious but they Luk. 18. 9. c. Phil. 3. 5. Act. 26. 5. So the whole Religion of the Scribes and Pharisees stood in outward Forms hypocritical appearances c. Rather then in any sincere Realities Math. 6. 2. 5. 16. and 15. 2. to 10. and 23 2 to 8 13. to 34. and therefore our Saviour tells his hearers plainly That Except their Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees they shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 20. 2. The Apostle Paul hath prophecied of perillous times to come in the last dayes viz. That men shall cloak and shelter their many notorious abominations under a form of Godliness denying the Power thereof 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. 3. In the New Testament we are oft informed how rare and precious true Religion is As That Christs flock is but a little flock Luk. 12. 32. That of the ten Virgins the one half were foolish having lamps of Profession no Oil of Grace in them Math. 25. 1. c. That in the flower of the Church as there is Wheat so there is Chaff and more Chaff than Wheat Mat. 3. 12. That of four sorts of Hearers there are three naught Mat. 13. Luk. 8. And that it is very observable If out of the Visible Church you take away All the notoriously Prophane All the meer Moral and Civil honest men All the gross Hypocrites whose hypocrisy half an eye may discern all the privy close Hypocrites who know themselves to be Hypocrites and all formal Hypocrites or Temporary believers that believe only for a time Luk. 8. 13. Mat. 13. 20 21. the Residue will be very few in Comparison that are plucked by the hand of Heaven out of their Natural state of Sin and misery and thereby prepared for eternal felicity V. Direction EArnestly and Effectually lay to heart O Natural Man How happy it would be for thy poor Soul to he one of those few recovered out of the Sinful and wretched state of Nature rather then one of those many that live and die and so perish therein eternally Luk 13. 24. Mat 7. 13 14. O do not follow a multitude to do evil Exod. 23. 2. To walk according to the Course of this World to do as most do to swim down the Common stream c is the Natural man's way and delight Eph. 2. 1 2 3. But 't is no safe way The broad way hath most Company but the worst issue Destruction The Narrow way hath fewest passengers but the best Event eternal life Mat. 7. 13. 14. Will it not be infinitely better for thee To be converted with afew then to remain carnal with a Multitude To be Justified adopted acquitted at last day and eternally saved with a few rather then to be held guilty cast out of Gods family condemned at the last day and eternally tormented with the greatest multitude will it be any ease to thy 〈◊〉 to be tormented with the greater Company when the numerousness of the Tormented will but augment and aggravate one anothers torments Oh it will be far happier for thee to be in Abraham's bosom with one Lazarus then to be tormented in infernal Flames with Dives and all his five brethren Luk. 16. 23. 28. and with all the ungodly of the World VI. Direction FUlly be convinced O Natural Man How impossible a thing it is for thee or for any of the Sons of Adam to be effectually brought out of this Sinful and wretched state of Nature into an holy and happy state of Grace by any ability or sufficiency of our own or by the Sole Assistance or influence of any meer Creature in the whole world This is a point of great Consequence For clearing of it I shall endeavour to shew 1 what Natural man cannot do for delivering himself out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature 2. What he can and ought to do 3. How for not doing what he can and ought to do he shall justly perish for ever I Natural man in order to his effectual Recovery out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature cannot do these things following O Natural man thou canst do none of these things viz. 1. Thou canst not Circumcise thineheart from its natural filthiness Deut. 30. 16. nor take away thine heart of Stone canst not remove the natural hardness of thine heart in unbelief impenitency and Sin Nor free thy self from thy Death in Sins and trespasses This is Gods peculiar work Ezek. 36. 26. Eph 2. 1. 5. 2. Thou canst not furnish thy self with the Spirit of God the Spirit of Grace of Regeneration of Renovation nor with the Principle and Habits of Grace infused into the Soul as Repentance unto Life Faith unto Salvation c. These are not of ourselves they are the proper Gifts of God See Zech. 12. 10. Ezek 36. 26 27. Act. 11. 18. and 5. 31. Eph. 2. 8. 3. Thou canst not Actuate Exert and draw into Exercise the Principles and Habits of Divine Grace already infused and instilled into thy Soul but by Gods special assisting and Co-operating Grace Turn
1. to 4. Dan. 9. 24 25 26. Act. 10. 43. 2. By the many Types of Christ representing him as a Redeemer Restorer and Deliverer of his people Moses and Aaron Types of Christ as delivering Israel out of Egypt Act. 7. 37 38. The Judges and Kings Types of Christ as saving Israel from their enemies Iudg. 16 30. Psal. 2. The Sacrifices slain and their blood shed and sprinkled Types of Christ who by his death and blood should expiate our offences c. Heb. 9. 9. to the end and 10. 1. to 19. 3. By the many Names and Titles given unto Christ clearly declaring him to be the eminent Medium or Mean of lapsed man's Recovery He is to this end stiled A Mediator betwixt God and man 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 9. 15. A Redeemer Isa. 59. 20. Rom. 11. 26. Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. A Ransom for many 1 Tim. 2. 6. A Sacrifice for sin offered once for ever Heb. 10. 12. A Propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. A Propitiation through faith in his blood Rom. 3. 25. A Reconciler of the world to God 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. We are reconciled to God when we were enemies by the death of his Son Rom. 5. 10. By whom we have received the Atonement Rom. 5. 11. The Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world Joh. 1. 29. The Deliverer that shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodliness from Iacob Rom. 11. 26. A Saviour which is Christ the LORD Luk. 2. 11. Who came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. The chief Captain or Arch-duke of our salvation Heb. 2. 10. An Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. With divers such like Denominations 4. By the many saving benefits which he hath meritoriously obtained and purchased of God for us by his obedience sufferings and death As Satisfaction to Gods justice for our sins Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 10. 5. to 22. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Redemption from all our spiritual bondage Eternal Redemption Heb. 9. 12. Reconciliation to God Rom. 5. 10 11. 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. Adoption into Gods Family Gal. 4. 4 5 6. Remission of sins and Justification Eph. 1. 7. Rom. 3. 25. Heb. 9. 14. and 10. 12 14 17 18. Mortifying and crucifying of our old man Rom. 6. 6 7. Conquering of death and him that as an Executioner had the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2. 14 15. Col. 2. 14 15. Appearing for us as our Advocate by representing the merit of his blood in Heaven Heb. 9. 24. and 7. 25. 1. Ioh. 2 1 2. Making a new and living way for us through the vail of his flesh which was rent with sufferings by his own blood into the holiest of all Heaven it self Heb. 10. 19 20. III. That this Iesus Christ is the only Mediator the only Saviour of sinnetrs the only meritorious Mean of lapsed mans Recovery out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature There is one Mediator betwixt God and man the man Christ Iesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. Neither is there Salvation in any other For there is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Act. 4. 12. Direct X. KNow also O Natural Man That Iesus Christ hath wrought Recovery and obtained Redemption for lapsed man from his sinful and wretched State of Nature into an Holy and Happy State of Grace As he is God-man Testator Surety and Mediator of the New Testament Executing his Mediatory office to this End as Prophet Priest and King both in his State of Humiliation and Exaltation The former Direction shows that Jesus Christ and he alone is Sinful man's Recoverer This declares How and in what way he hath Effected and obtained man's Recovery and Redemption In an abstruse and most mysterious way viz. 1. As he is God-man in one Person This I have elsewhere abundantly cleared There see 2. As he is Testator Surety and Mediator of the New Testament or New Covenant This also see elsewhere explicated and Confirmed for brevity sake 3. As he Executed his Mediatory office in a Prophetical Priestly where his Satisfaction to Gods justice for our sins is at large handled pag. 1607. to 1618. and Kingly way both in his state of Humiliation and Exaltation All these I have elsewhere cleared Consult the place that I may not actum agere Whereby I hope you will not lose your labour Direct XI LEt this sink deep into shine heart O Natural man That this Iesus Christ God-man the only Mediator and Saviour's Most able and Most willing 〈◊〉 Receive and Save all Lapsed Sinners that come unto him and to God by him 1. Iesus Christ is most able and sufficient to save all unto the Uttermost that Come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. Mat. â—8 18. c. Col. 1. 19. He is not an impotent but an omnipotent Saviour Rev. 1. 8. whether we regard his Person or Office 2. Iesus Christ is most willing to save all that come unto him Both these I have already demonstrated Consult them there at large to avoid prolixity here Direct XII MArk well notwithstanding O Natural man That there 's a vast difference betwixt Christs obtaining of Redemption and Recovery for lapsed man and Christs applying of that obtained Recovery and Redemption so lapsed man Betwixt these there are two great differences 1. Christ hath obtained eternal Redemption for us immediately by his own Person and the merit of his obedience Heb. 1. 3. and 9. 12. Eph. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. Eph. 1. 7 8. Christ applies this obtained Redemption to us immediately by his Spirit effectually working Faith and all saving grace in us that so we may close with Christ have union to him and communion with him Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Eph. 2. 8 9. Gal. 5. 22. Ezek. 36. 26 27. Deut. 30. 6. Eph. 1. 13 14. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2. Christ hath obtained Recovery and Redemption for his Elect joyntly in fulness of time by his blood Gal. 4. 4 5. Eph. 1. 3. to 9. The vertue of his sufferings extending it self to them all from the beginning to the end of the world As the Sun in the Meridian line in the fulness of the day diffuseth his light heat and influence backwards towards the East as well as forward towards the West Eph 1. 10. Col 1. 20. But Christ applies this Recovery and Redemption which he hath wrought and purchased in due time to his Elect severally as he calls them particularly unto the fellowship of his Son 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Thes. 2. 13 14. And he calls some in their youth some in their manly-age some though very few in their old age some at the third hour some at the sixth some at the ninth and some at the eleventh hour of their day Mat. 20. 1. to 17. Direct XIII NO Sinner in
in Iesus Christ and favour with God when you die and As ever you hope to be set at Christs Right hand among his Sheep and to be Sentenced by Christ with them to his Everlasting Kingdom at that great and glorious day of his Appearing That you use all possible Care diligence and endeavours by the Grace and assistance of the Holy Spirit of God against all these fore-mentioned impediments unto Salvation and all such like that they may be removed out of your way to happiness and not be any hindrances at all to your Eternal Glory and Salvation And that this may be the more effectually enterprized and performed by you Let these Ensuing Instructions sink deep into your hearts and be most studiously seriously and sincerely pursued and practiced in your Lives viz. 1. Be deeply and thoroughly Convinced of the extream Sinfulness and wretchedness of your Natural State and Condition in the first Adam How you were shapen in iniquity and conceived in Sin Yea dead in Sins and trespasses and by Nature Children of Wrath even as others And How from this Original and Vniversal Corruption of your Natures your whole course of life is answerably corrupted also Every imagination of the thoughts of your hearts and consequently every word of your mouths and every Action throughout your lives being Evil onely evil continually evil so long as you continue in your Natural state and condition So then while you remain in the flesh you cannot please God nor can have anâ— actual Hope of Salvation upon any solid ground 2. Hence you may evidently See and must needs conclude That there is so great a necessity of a Supernatural Remedy against this your Natural State of Sin and Misery and against all the Sinfulness of your Natural Conversation by the Application of Jesus Christ unto your Souls and the Effectual operation of his Spirit to that End upon your hearts That without such applying of Christ by Faith unto you and the operation of his Spirit in and upon you by Effectual Calling Conversion Regeneration Renovation and Sanctification you can never Enter into the kingdom of God and be Eternally Saved 3. Therefore See that ye come unto Jesus Christ by Faith without delay and Receive him as your onely All-sufficient Saviour that is able to save you to the uttermost Accepting him upon his own terms of denying your selves taking up your Cross daily and following him So Iesus Christ will be unto you Wisdom to guide you in the way to Heaven Righteousness to wash away all your Sins by his bloud and justifie you freely by his spotless Righteousness imputed unto you Sanctification to furnish you sufficiently with all treasures of Grace out of his fullness of Grace and Redemption to deliver you from all your bondage under Sin Satan the curse of the Law the Wrath to come and all your Spiritual Enemies O thrice happy Everlastingly happy shall you be if once Iesus Christ become yours and you his Then you shall be espoused to the best Husband in the world The God and Father of Iesus Christ will be your God and Father The Spirit of Christ will be your Comâ—orter the Kingdom of Heaven shall be your Everlasting Joynture yea All things The World and Life and Death and things present and things to come All shall be yours Then All things shall work-together for good unto you Sickness as well as health Adversity as well as prosperity Death it self as well as life Then nothing in the world shall ever be able to separate you from the Love of Christ or from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Then no Condemnation shall ever befall you in this or in the world to come O happy Souls that ever you were born if you be born again and Christ be formed in you Christ is the Desire of all Nations Let him be the Desire of your Souls Christ is the chief among ten thousand Lâ—t him be the Chief of your choice Christs mouth is Sweetnesses yea all of him is Desires O let your hearts be even ravished with him at all times Say with that faithful Minister and Martyr of Iesus Christ Mr. John Lambert as he was now dying in the flames None but Christ none but Christ In a word I say to every one of you as sometimes Bernard said unto one sweetly Let IESVS be alwaies in thine heart Let Him be unto thee thy meat and drink thy sweetness and Consolation thy Hony and thy Desire thy Reading and thy Meditation thy Prayer and thy Contemplation thy Life and Death and thy Resurrection For Christ is All in All 4. Now Forasmuch as true saving Faith in Iesus Christ is not of our selves but the free gift of God and ordinarily God is pleased to work it in the hearts of his Elect Instrumentally by the Hearing of his Word faithfully preached Efficaciously by the Co-operation of his holy Spirit by which Means also it is nourished and increased Therefore be ye all of you Diligent and Constant Hearers of the Word of Christ faithfully preached Applying things spoken particularly to your selves treasuring them up in good and honest hearts and bringing forth the suitable fruit thereof by an Vpright practice in your lives and take singular heed that you never gâ—ieve quench or resist the operations stirrings or motions of the Spirit of God in the use of his Word and Ordinances or at any other times For Iesus Christ by his Word and Spirit especially stands at the door of your hearts and knocks and if any will open unto him he will come in unto him and Sup with him and he with Christ 5. For the increasing also of your Inward Peace Spiritual Ioy and Comfort Give all diâ—igence to make your Calling and Election sure Examining your selves frequently and seriously whether Jesus Christ be in you yea or no But how shalâ— this be done By comparing your Hearts Lives and Experiences with the written Word of God through the assistance and guidance of Gods Holy Spirit For to this End the Word of God was written to us and the Spirit of God is given to us that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God and that we may know that we have eternal life And for your more ready help in this weighty business you may make use of many Characters marks or Notes of Tryal which I have at large laid down in sundry of my Printed Books which you have by you Take heed you be not strangers to your own hearts and Spiritual States 6. As you have received Jesus Christ the Lord so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the Faith Be not Christians only in Name and outward Shew but inwardly sincerely and in good earnest So live and walk as Christ