and Ecclesiastical body The Prince cannot say to the Subject he hath no mind of him nor the Subject to the Prince he hath no need of him for he is the Minister of God to us for good The like may be said of Ministers if they need our Temporals we need their Spirituals Know therefore that Superiours need the prayers of Inferiours because They resemble God more then others They have a greater charge lies upon them They have more tentations standing on higher ground They have more influence to do good they set the lesser wheels in motion They commit more faults and seldome sin alone They have more opportunities They must give a greater account at the last day The best assistance that can be given them by Inferiours is to pray that the special presence of God may be with them Let inferiours remember these things and it will keep them from envy murmuring ambition reviling c. §. 6. Of the Love of God A True Christian loves God no more with the world to boot then though he were all alone without the World It is God a Christian loves in the creature and he loves them for God as the Fisherman loves the fish for the pearle that is in it He that loves not God above all loves him not at all Joseph loves his Mistriss his Master and God but when his Mistris's love rose up against his Duty and love to his Master away he runs as he would have forsaken his Masters had it been contrary to God For a True Christian stands alwayes ready to forgo all for the love of God True love to God is sincere supream universal constant Our obedience to Christ is a sure ground of our love to him If you love me keep my Commandments Joh. 14.15 Or love to Christ is a sign We are beloved of Christ 1 Joh. 4.19 From Christs love to us spring all the blessings of time and eternity §. 7. A Dialogue between a Minister and a Christian Chr. Pray Sir which is the way to Heaven Min. Your ready way lies in the Ordinances which is the King of Heavens high-way Chr. Which are they Min. The Ordinances of God are 1. The Word both read by us and heard from Ministers The Duties here to be observed are before it Preparation at it Attention after it Practise 2. The Sacraments and seals of the Covenant which are 1. Baptism the type Circumcision the duties going before it Prayer following after the care of a new life 2. The Lords Supper the Type the Pass-over duties herein going before examination at it the use of faith to apprehend and apply Christ after it a tryal what benefit we have received an amendment of life a care to keep our Covenant with God 3. Prayer the Key of Heaven the type incense Duties before it are searching and emptying our hearts in it fervency of Spirit and Faith after it care to walk worthy of Mercy past present future Take the Spirit for your guide you cannot miss the way there be no turnings to the right hand or the left Follow your Leader doubt not By an unknown Authour §. 8. How to preserve Love among Christians 1. Avoid groundless suspitions and jealousies which will be the break-neck of true Charity 2. Keep down thy natural passions and in fighting with them be sure to watch the first rise of them and fight with that that thou knowest the strongest Passions are an unnatural heat that prey upon brotherly love and charity 3. Be courteous in thy salutations This draws out and strengthens love 4. Bear one anothers infirmities 5. Stand for thy Christian friends when they be spoken against 6. Pray for one another heartily 7. Visit the afflicted in their misery 8. Hold fast to the Truth 9. At some times part with that which is thy right Do nothing to make any hate thee suffer something to make them love thee 10. Interpret doubtfull things in the most charitable way 11. Take not all advantages for gaine or opportunities to rise and get preferment in the world be contented others should out-shine thee 12. Ever remember the three great supporters of love Humility which wins others Diligence which helps others â—â—d quietness which pleases others Be good with quietness do good with chearfulness and receive good with thankfulness This is the way to promote and increase love §. 9. The Spiritual Touch-stone Twelve Graces that distinguish a true Saint from a counterfeit one 1. Brokenness of heart for and from all sin 2. Mourning for other mens sins as Lot David Jeremy Ezra Nehemiah Paul did This is an argument of great sincerity for we never read any in Scripture did this but Godly men 3. The grace of self-denyal in the extent of it to be able to deny natural worldly religious self this is a grace none but a true Christian can attain to 4. To love God for himself not onely because he is our good but because he is the chief good not onely to make our Heaven our God buâ—â—o know and believe God himself is our heaven and happiness 5. To love a child of God because he is a child of God and the more eminent he is in grace the more to love him to love all the Godly as well as some to love their company and to take their reproofs kindly is the distinguishing character of a true Saint 6. To advance the Glory of God in thought word and deed and to rejoyce that Christ is magnified whatever becomes of us 7. To prize Jesus Christ for himself as well as his rewards to prize his Kingly and Propheticall as well as his Priestly Office to prize him above all things and at all times is a sure note of a child of God 8. Every branch in Christ bringeth forth fruit every true Saint is a growing and a fruitfull Saint A picture of a Child doth not grow but a living Child doth 9. A true Saint is heavenly-minded his thoughts his affections his hope joy desire his speech his conversation are all heavenly 10. A true Saint is careful to redeem his time Natural men make no conscience of idle thoughts idle words and idle time 11. He is known by the Uniformity and universality of his obedience to the will of God he hath respect to all Gods Commandments he is holy and honest A true Christian makes conscience to abstain from the sins of both Tables and to do the duties of both Tables that he may keep a conscience void of offence towards God and Man 12. Every true Saint hath a thankfull heart a thankfull tongue and a thankfull life §. 10. The seven last words of Christ The first was a word of mercy for his persecutors Luke 23.34 Father forgive them they know not what they do The second was a word of free-grace to the penitent thief Luke 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The third a word of care and affection for his dear Mother Joh. 19.26 27. Behold thy Son
keeping us from sin for Sorrow follows sin as the shadow doth the body 3. It preserves from lying and continuing in sin he that observes this order if he falls in the day through infirmity he rises the same day by repentance and evens his recknings with God through the mediation of Jesus Christ 4. It will keep us from foul and heynous sins from conscience-wasting sins which a man falls not ordinarily into but by degrees lessening his care and remitting in his duty as we see in David and Solomon The observing this daily order stops the disease in the beginning quenches the fire in the spark kills the Serpent in the Egg. 5. It makes a mans life very comfortable and joyfull The more carefully and constantly a man walks with God the more peace and joy he will find and retain By this means we shall be more fit for holy duties and to perform them in a right manner hereby we shal the more easily prepare our selves for a holy Communion By this way also we shall with more success manage our spiritual Conflict even to triumph over Satan Hereby we shall realize the profession of Religion we have been so solemnly dedicated to in our baptism Lastly hereby we are fit to live in all times and thus living we shall be fit to dye What need he that hath thus orderly walked with God fear Death since he knows he goes to that God with whom he is at peace §. 12. A Direction to Christians how to carry themselves in Evil dayes especially in in times of fear and danger 1. It highly concerns every man to examine and prove himself whether he be in the Faith or no how the case stands between God and him Lam. 3.40 Hag. 1.5 If we will not try our selves we shall be tryed and wo unto us if we be found too light 2. We should be every day weaning our hearts from the world Things that hang on a pin easily fall off but things that are glued are hardly severed inordinate love to any worldly thing makes the cross ten times heavier and it is like a heavy burthen on a sore back Let not thy heart so cleave to these things that judgements should rend and tear them from thee but let thy affections be so mortified that they may fall off easily as Elijahs mantle when he went up to Heaven 3. Be twice as much exercised in Religious Duties as before When Judas was plotting Christ went to the Passover When Haman was revelling Esther with her Maids were praying It is good to be well employed when God is riding circuit in his judgements Blessed is that Servant who when his Lord comes is found so doing 4. Labour to keep a good Conscience that though thou hast trouble without thou mayest have peace within No comfort like a good conscience it is a continual feast it is like that good Woman Prov. 31.12 It will do thee good and not evil all thy dayes no torment like a bad one for it is like that evil Woman Prov. 19.13 that is a continual dropping but drops fastest in a rainy day 5. Inure thy self to some hardiness Delicate persons can hardly suffer Soft flesh if it be pinched soon swells They that know not how to lay aside their fashions how will they endure the want of the necessities of Nature We should therefore deny our selves somewhat in meat drink and apparel and pleasures and abase our selves least the Lord abase us 6. Make sure of the favour of God It will be very sad to have God and man against us both at once The wrath of a King is like the roaring of a Lion But who knows the power of Gods anger 7. Make much of the Promises and get them in thy heart and labour to have them in a readiness upon all occasions Thy word saith David hath comforted me in my affliction God uses more words in promises then in any dispensation of his will when he threatens he speaks shortly when he promises he speaks largely 8. Get into thy heart the sound and experimental knowledge of the Truth and a fervent love to it It is the truth that thou art like to suffer for and a man can never suffer for that he doth not know much less for that he doth not love 9. Labour to better thy Knowledge in the Doctrine of Afflictions to know the nature usefulness end of them how to judge rightly of them how to bear them how to improve them fix in thy mind such things as these There is no Son of God without Chastisement That no Affliction comes but by the will of God That by Afflictions we are made both serviceable and conformable to Christ That all troubles losses strokes are proportioned to our strength that they all are for our profit and good the more we believe these things the more comfortable and couragious we shall be in evil dayes 10. Christians should by holy confeâ—â—nce edifie and comfort one another Mal. 3.16 They should improve the communion of Saints for instructing strengthning encouraging one another 11. Meditate often of the attributes of God the former experiences of Gods dealing with his people and the joyes of heaven and the reward is set before us as Christ did Heb. 12.1 as Moses did Heb. 11.27 and Paul Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 12. Spare no sin unmortified Entertain no Dalilah no Herodias for in an evil day it will work more woe and bitterness then we are aware of It will fill thee with tormenting fears and racking doubts One fire-ball will burn thy house one sin unrepented of will burn thy soul Do not hide iniquity in thy heart when God is making inquisition for it 13. In an evil time the prudent shoulâ— keep silence There is a time to speak and a time to be silent Many times ouâ— speaking dishonours God gratifies enemies discovers corruption discredits religion endangers our persons Wâ— should therefore pray to God to set watch before our lips especially in evâ—â— times and endeavour our words may be few true and spiritual 14. But we must not be silent as tâ— God in ceasing to pray unto him for iâ— is his Command Call upon me in the day of trouble and he expects wheâ— his chastning is upon us we should pouâ— out our prayer unto him and that iâ— affliction we should seek him early thaâ— we should pray oftner and better The nearer Christ came to his suffering the more earnestly he prayed Go then and enter into thy Chamber and shut thy door Get under the wings of the Almighty and say with David Thou art my hiding place Psal 32.7 I fly unto thee Lord to hide me Psal 143.9 15. With other exercises of piety joyn â—harity exercise mercy forgive thy â—nemies be reconciled to thy brethren â—isit the sick and imprisoned plead the â—ause of the widow give a portion to even and also to eight for thou knowâ—st not what evil shall be upon the earth â—ccles 11.2 Therefore saith the Coâ—â—tous heart
dishonour Love his Children for his sake Long to hear from him and let him hear often from us Rejoyce in his gifts but more in his â—resence Invite him to come unto us Do nothing to grieve him Be comforted in this our friend will â—ever be our enemy and our enemy â—hall never find us friendless §. 19. Of the Providence of God in two cases how it is abused and how it may be improved The Doctrine of Gods providence is â— most comfortable Doctrine to Gods Children and that which we should â—abour to have a distinct knowledge of Two things at present I shall briefly â—ouch upon 1. To shew how the providence of God is abused 2. How the providence of God may be improved for the comfort of the Godly in some common cases that may befall them 1. Quest How is the providence oâ— God is abused I answer the providence of God iâ— most sadly abused these four wayes 1. When the providence of God is noâ— observed and taken notice of hereupon God loses that Glory he might have from us and we lose that comfort we might have if we did observe how alâ— things come from God and are ordered by him It is true that there are mysterious workings in the providence of God which some think was set out by the hands under the wings of the living creatures Ezek. 1.8 But of those things that are seen and visible we take little notice of them of which God complains Isa 5.12 There are several things in the providence of God the not observing whereof speaks us guilty of abusing it 1. When we take no notice how the attributes of God his wisdom holiness power truth love justice shine forth in all his works 2. When we observe not the bush â—urning and not consuming the eminent â—reservation God gives to his Church â—ending them full and seasonable relief â—n all troubles and dangers the substence of the Church when the design â—ower and malice of the world is aâ—ainst it seems no less then a continued â—iracle to one that weighs all circumâ—â—ances 3. When we observe not how emiâ—ently God infatuates enemies disapâ—oints and frustrates their expectations â—â—d that when they have travelled and â—â—ought things to the birth that all â—â—ings are ready for execution the deâ—â—gn and counsels are ripe for action then God overthrows all these are things â—hat run into our senses daily and eveâ—y age gives proof of them yet who obâ—â—rves these things 4. Not observing Gods vindicative â—ustice in a way of retaliation when God doth as we may say cry quit with â—icked men punishing them in that very way and kind they have sinned against him as in Adonibezek Judges 〈◊〉 in the case of Sodom burning with lusâ— it is burnt with fire they were guilty of unnatural lust and fire hath an unnatural motion it comes downward Thuâ— God threatens drunkards Hab. 2.15 16. to give them cup for cup spewinâ— for spewing So Isa 33.1 a Text ofteâ— to be read to oppressours and perfidiouâ— men You shall have spoiling for spoiling and treachery for treachery Agaiâ— Joel 3.6 7 8. a good Text for cruâ— men God threatens to pay them in theiâ— own kind Therefore David ofteâ— magnifies the Lord for this work of hiâ— providence Psal 7.16 Psal 9.15 16 And at the destruction of Babylon thâ— Angel of the waters glorifies God foâ— this Rev. 16.5 because he had thâ— judged thus they sinned thus theâ— were punished 5. When we observe not how thâ— providence of God is a fulfilling thâ— Word of God The providence of Goâ— well understood and applyed is a most â—lear excellent comment upon Gods â—ord Thus we see Jehu a naughty â—an yet 2 Kings 9.26 37. in the case â—f Gods justice upon wicked Ahabs â—â—mily mark how he comments This is â—he word of the Lord this is the fulfilling â—uch a threatning The thing in it self â—as good to observe how God in his â—orks makes good his word but the â—ffection in Jehu was naught We have â— example of Christs Disciples when he â—is purging the Temple Joh. 2.17 â—is Disciples remembred it was writâ—n The zeal of thy house hath eaten me â—p Some say if two Lutes be equally â—â—ung and tuned though they be laid â— several places yet strike one the â—ther will sound so when God strikes â—pon the string of providence presentâ— the word answers it this is done â—â—at the Scripture might be fulfilled â—he bread I eat is a fulfilling the Scriâ—ture he is ever mindful of his Covenant he hath given meat to them thaâ— fear him Psal 111.5 The preservation I have are a fulfilling the word Psal 91. he shall keep thee in all thy wayes A seasonable calling to mind the word oâ— God when we see the works of God iâ— a sign of a gracious heart and a sanctified memory whereas the not regarding God the not seeing him in the things he doth and gives to us is a sign of a degenerate heart and the abuse oâ— Gods providence 2. Providence is abused when from thence men take occasion to sin from it and that among others is done thesâ— three wayes 1. When any conclude they may sin because God in his providence can turâ— it to good This is that presumptioâ— corrected by the Apostle Rom. 3.8 Leâ— us do evil that good may come of it which was a slander cast on the Apostles as if they had taught such Doctrine God is indeed the soveraigâ— cause of all events yet this excuses noâ— instruments for what God doth very justly men may do very wickedly 2. When we do not distinguish between tempting providences and the commands of God we must follow providence no further then we have the Word for our rule Because Achan followed providence he stole the Babylonish garment but because David followed the word of God he durst do no harm to Saul though providence had put him in his hand There are tempting and permitting as well as directing and commanding providences and it requires a great deal of wisdome to cut an even thread between Gods providence and mans improvidence between providences of wrath and providences of mercy We err most dangerously when we do engage in actions providence seems to favour when there is a plain express word against them when we mis-interpret Gods providences to think God in his works likes that and encourages to that he hath in his word forbidden is as sad a mistake as a poor creature can run into and it is a great sign of infatuation when a man sees and observes what may encourage him and thinks himself clearly and powerful called to it and is stark blind and can take no notice of the stops checks rebukes and discouragements God lays in his way To make providence a cloak for any unlawful action is to abuse the dealings of God Remember God is not mocked nor can any fig-leaves hide from him who hath a penetrating eye and whose judgement is according to truth 3. When the providences