let him feele any ioy in the time of prayer or that he finde his heart in any degree to melt hee should bee wonderfull thankefull if he can get but one teare in prayer or that he find his heart in any degree to melt and this obseruation of Gods goodnesse letting him know that hee regards his particular requests will melt his heart indeed further and perhaps set him all on a flame in desires to praise God and to abase himselfe euen to the dust before the Lord Hosh 3. 5. 1. Thess 5. 4. That Rule of the 4. Acknowlege thy faults to others Apostle Iames is sometimes of singular vse in this case of breeding softnesse of heart and that is acknowledging your sinnes one to another when in secret we make our moanes to wise mercifull Christians and shame our selues for our speciall offences it many times hath melting of heart ioyned with it so as that heart that before seemed hardened and dry now easily dissolues into teares Iam. 5. 5. To go into the house 5. Go into the house of mourning of mourning may bee in this case profitable resort to such as be in sorrow for the hand of GOD vpon them especially such as mourne through the affliction of their Spirits Conuerse with humble tender-hearted Christians Eccles 7. 6. In all the seruices of 6. Take heed of distraction in Gods seruice God be sure to draw neere to God and keep thy minde from distraction and hypocrisie The Sunne cannot haue such force to melt the waxe as the beames of Gods presence haue to melt the heart Iam. 4. 6 7. 7. The Apostle Paul being 7. Studie the tenth Commandement a sturdy Pharise had his heart beaten to powder with the feare of the tenth Commandement that told him hee must not lust The knowledge and consideration of the aboundance of sinne-guiltinesse hee had drawne vpon himselfe by the inward fruits of his euill nature kil'd him out-right brake his pride and mortified him as hee at large repeates Rom. 7. 8. Remember the Passion 8. Remember the sorrowes of Christ for thy sin of thy Sauiour the pouerty banishment ignominy temptations the apprehension forsaking arraignement condemning and cruell death which hee suffered for thy sinnes Looke vpon him that was pierced for thy sake Zach. 12. 12. 9. If of thy selfe thou 9. Get others to pray for thee canst not yet attaine vnto sorrow for thy sinnes get some godly Christian that is endued with the gift of prayer to ioyne with thee in priuate that so the Lord may bee pleased to grant in heauen what we of him doe aske on earth 10. Lastly If al other means 10. Vse fasting faile then set a day apart by fasting for the day of a fast was called the day of afflicting or humbling the soule Leu. 16. both because it was the maine duety to bee striuen after on that day and besides because the Lord vsually did blesse his owne Ordinance so as he gaue an humbled heart to those that sought it of him CHAP. VII Shewing how the Spirit of Adoption may bee attained and also how the seuerall gifts of the Spirit may be framed in vs. THus of humiliation It followeth that I shew how hee may attaine to the other sacred gifts which are markes of a godly man as in the first sort of gifts how hee may attaine to the loue of the Word the gift of Prayer the feare of God the loue of his enemies and the desire of the comming of Christ But before I enter vpon these it is necessarie to shew him how hee may attain the Spirit of Adoption which is necessarie for these and all other graces Quest And concerning the How the Spirit of Adoption may bee had Spirit of Adoption if any aske how it may be obtained Or rather how it may bee stirred vp in vs that we may feele his working in vs Ans I answer that hee is had 1. He must pray for it and stirred vp by inuocation God is pleased to declare himselfe willing and ready to bestow his holy Spirit vpon men if they aske him of him by hearty prayer Hee that hath giuen vs his Sonne will not deny vs the Spirit of his Sonne to be giuen into our hearts Gal. 4. 7. And this our Sauiour Christ assures vnto vs in the Parable Luke 11. 9. And I say vnto you Aske and it shall be giuen you Seeke and yee shall finde Knock and it shall be opened vnto you 10. For euery one that asketh receiueth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened 11. If a sonne shall aske bread of any of you that is a father will hee giue him a stone Or if hee aske a fish will hee for a fish giue him a Serpent 12. Or if hee aske an Egge will hee giue him a Scorpion 13. If yee then which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the Holy Ghost to them that desire him 2. We must waite vpon 2. Waite vpō Preaching the preaching of the Gospell where the Holy Ghost vsually falls vpon the hearts of men 3. When wee feele the 3. Cherish the motions of the Spirit motions of the Spirit knocking at our hearts or any way surprising vs wee must with all readinesse open the doores of our hearts that the King of Glory by his Spirit may enter into vs. Quest The next question is How wee may get a loue to the Word then what we should do to get and preserue in vs the constant loue to the VVord Ans 1. The answer is first 1. Settie vnder a powerfull Ministery that we should seeke to settle our selues vnder the powerful preaching of the Word euen such a Ministery as doth set out the glory of the Truth and of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ 2. Wee must make a 2. Pray God to quicken thee conscience of it to pray vnto God to quicken vs and inflame our hearts to the loue of his Lawes as Dauid often did Psal 119. 3. Take heed of excessiue 3. Take heed of worldly cares cares and the ouerteaching of thy desires in the imployments of the world or the immoderate vse of worldly delights for those choake the seed of the Word and alienate the affections from it and so doth any grosse or beloued sinne Heb. 3. Math. 13. 4. Take heed also of 4. And of personall discord with such as feare God personall discord with such as feare God especially with thy Teachers for this doth by secret degrees make the heart carelesse and negligent and in some things wilfull and if it bee not looked to in time will bring men from the liking of the Word as they haue beene drawne from the liking of such as loue the Word 5. Take heed of vngodly 5. And of vngodly company company For in such company is quenched the sparkles of liking when they
of our loue euen towards them that hate and persecute vs. 2. There is none so wicked but they haue something good in them and worthy to be respected 3. Our enemies doe vs good though they intend it not we ought to like the very rod that mends vs and regard the water that washeth vs white make much of the stone that tryes vs and the glasse that shewes vs our spots and not mis-like the tents that search our wounds 4. If euer God turne their hearts they will be effectuall instruments of our praise and Gods glory in the day of their visitation they will then willingly beare the shame of their owne sinfull oppositions I forbeare to set downe the directions for the attainement of the loue of the appearing of Christ because I haue at large handled that point in the Treatise of the Cure of the feare of Death CHAP. VIII Thus of the directions that concerne the first sort of gifts concerning the attainement of the other graces the directions now follow ANd first for the attainment How to get and increase sauing knowledge 1. He must be wise for himselfe of sauing knowledge and the increase of it these directions are of excellent vse 1. First in hearing or reading the Scriptures he must bee wise for himselfe that is marke distinctly what hee heareth or readeth that may specially concerne himselfe Prou. 9. 12. 2. He must study those 2. He must study only profitable things things exactly which most concerne him auoiding vaine questions and fruitelesse contemplations and vaine ianglings and controuersies he must especially labour to know Gods Nature aright and the distinct manner of Gods true Worship how he may serue him hee must study to know his owne particular offences and Christ crucified as his Sauiour with the benefits of his meditation the necessary things that concerne his owne Iustification Sanctification and finall Saluation 3. Hee must redeeme the 3. He must redeeme the time time and by forecast and order prouide so that som time may be dayly allowed for holy studies to recouer his former time lost 4. He must inquire and 4. He must propound his doubts take counsell hee must take heede of smothering his doubts but must carefully seeke satisfaction to his conscience as occasion ariseth There is more profit in this rule then many 5. He must not consult with flesh and bloud Christians are aware of 5. Hee must take heede of consulting with flesh and bloud He must not regard other mens opinions or his owne carnall reason but resolue to giue the glory to Gods Word so as to submit himselfe to what hee shall finde therein required to bee beleeued or done or auoided Other Rules he may find in the directions for the priuate reading of the Scriptures as also in the Rules of life Thus of Sauing Knowledge How the loue of GOD may bee wrought in thee That thou maist inflame in thy heart the loue of God 1. Thou must auoide with speciall care these things First Forgetfulnesse of 1. Thou must auoide forgetfulnes of God the loue of the world God Thou must not dare to goe whole daies or weekes without communion with God or remembring his holy presence Secondly the loue of the world Wee cannot loue the Father while our harts dote vpon any earthly things Of necessity some degree of the contempt of the world must be bred in vs before wee can loue God 2. We must labour for 2. Thou must study Gods prayses a distinct knowledge of the dreadfull praises of Gods Nature and Workes as they are described in the Scriptures or may be obserued by experience This is a needfull direction and miserably neglected 3. Wee must frequent 3. Thou must frequent his house his House especially when his glory doth most shine in the power of his Ordinances in his Sanctuary 4. Wee should especially 4. Thou must study Gods mercies studie the mercies of God and all the good things hee hath promised or giuen vnto vs that wee may after a solid manner cause our hearts to know how infinitely wee stand bound to God 5. We should obserue 5. Thou must obserue thy daily infirmities carefully and daily our owne sinfulnesse and vilenesse and vnworthinesse For vnlesse we cast out self loue we shall neuer get in the true loue of God 6. Wee should pray 6. Thou must pray much much for a holy course in prayer doth breed in men a wonderfull loue of God and admiration of that fellowship which thereby they haue with God 7. Wee should resort 7. Thou must resort to experienced Christians often to such as vse to speake much of the praises of God and marke the experience of Gods wonderfull prouidence or the glory of his Word 8. It will much further 8. Thou must behaue thy selfe louingly towards the godly the loue of God to get and increase in vs a louing respect of and behauiour towards such as feare God and beare his Image Thus of the loue of God Concerning the loue of the brethren two questions may bee demanded What we must doe to get the loue of the godly The one what wee must doe to get a hearty loue to the godly And the other what wee must doe to preserue it when it is gotten For the first hee that would heartily be affected towards all the godly with a brotherly loue must obserue these Rules 1. He must not haunt 1. Auoide the company of the wicked with vicious persons nor goe with dissemblers nor hold needlesse societie with such as hate godlinesse and godly persons Psal 26. 4 5. 2. Hee must much meditate 2. Meditate much of Gods loue to vs. of Gods loue to him and of the great things were done by Iesus Christ and of those rich mercies are offered him in Christ and of the wonderfull loue that God and Christ doe beare to true Christians and how glorious they shall bee in the Kingdome of heauen The arguments taken from Gods loue to vs or Christs suffering for vs are often vsed in the first Epistle of Iohn to perswade vs to the loue of the brethren as 1. Ioh. 4. 8 9 10 11 12. Psalm 16. 2 3. 3. He must take notice 3. Consider Gods commandement of Gods peremptory commandement who requireth this of him as one principall duty that hee loue the godly with an vtter disclaiming of him if hee doe not loue them For the preseruation of our loue 3 things must bee looked to 1. Ioh. 3. 10 11 12 23. For the second that hee would continue increase and abound in loue 1. Hee must seeke and hold and not forsake the fellowship that hee hath with the godly in the Gospell but make them the constant companions of his life Heb. 10. 25. 2. When hee finds his affections stirred vp hee must make vse of all opportunities by his deeds to shew the fruites of his loue vpon all
put out of doubt and made to know that they haue yet no right to the kingdome of heauen neuer considering that the knowledge of our misery may be one degree to get out of it 2. In such as see all is 2. They are slothfull not well with them the cause is slothfulnesse mingled with horrible presumption they had rather weare out their daies in danger then bee at the paines to vse the meanes for their owne repentance and reformation They will wretchlesly put it to the venture 3. Others will aduenture 3. They rest vpon the common hope vpon their common hope of mercy They haue certaine generall confused apprehensions of mercy in God vpon which they wilfully engage their hopes without care of reformation or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God and so miserably perish their hopes prouing but as the house of the spider and the imaginarie mercy failing them they die either as stockes without sence or as Iudas in horrible despaire 4. Others rest themselues Or 4. vpon their outward profession of Religion vpon their outward profession of Religion and some generall things wrought in them and the good opinion others haue of them and so being somewhat neere the kingdome of God they are content to rest there as the Israelits did neere Canaan though they neuer possessed it Wee see many thinke there needs no more to be sure they are in a good condition then to heare Sermons and abstaine from grosse outward prophanenesse and to bee well reputed of among the godly c. pleasing themselues with the shew of godlinesse though as yet they deny the power of it as hauing attained no other righteousnesse then the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises 5. In multitudes of Or 5. they haue euill opinions about Assurance men there are seated euill opinions about assurance They thinke either it is impossible to be had or it is needlesse or it is presumption to seeke it 6. All wicked men are hindred by their beloued 6. They are letted by their beloued sinnes sinnes which they are not willing to part with but of purpose forbeare the care of heauen that they may the more securely liue in sinne Thus of wicked men It is true also that many godly Christians haue beene and are extremely Why some that are godly neglect the triall of their estates faulty in neglecting the triall of their estates and their Assurance and the causes of this negligence in them are diuers As 1. Some are so much 1. Euill opinions mis-led by the surmises of their owne hearts that they thinke that Assurance would breed security and that it is a better way to keepe their owne hearts humble to be somewhat doubtfull not knowing that vnbeleefe is the chiefe cause of slothfulnesse and security and that the assurance of faith is the chiefe meanes to purge the heart and quiet the soule and workes effectually in all the duties of loue 2. In the most Ignorance 2. Ignorance of their owne gifts and Gods promises is the cause for if Christians did see distinctly how far the Lord had brought them by his grace and withall did behold the euidences of their faith and hope in Gods promises they could not faile of comfort establishment of heart 3. Smothering of doubts 3. Smothering of doubts and temptations and temptations is a great let in many Diuers Christians are secretly and daily assaulted with certaine strange doubts which if they did propound and get sound answer vnto their hearts would heale within them and the work of faith prosper 4. Some Christians are They are wicked ouermuch kept without Assurance through the ouermuch viewing of their owne daily infirmities in all parts of Gods seruice They are wicked ouermuch whereas if they would study those Scriptures that shew how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people notwithstanding their daily wants their hearts would bee much eased and their minds cleerly resolued to trust vpon the euerlasting mercies of their God 5. In some the cause is 5. Melancholy found in the disease of their bodies Melancholy when it is growne to a disease is a most stiffe and pertinacious aduersarie to Comfort and Assurance It doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies and is a humor so vnteachable that comfort for the most part is as water spilt vpon the ground And the more difficult it is to remoue this let because vsually the parties possest by this humour are so far from seeking helpe that they will not bee perswaded that they are troubled with any such disease 6. Some Christians are 6. Passions hindred by their owne Passions they are so froward and vnquiet in their dispositions that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of settled Assurance by their owne habituall discontents Frowardnesse is a mischieuous distemper that weakens both body and minde and assurance and strength of faith seldome dwels in an vnquiet minde 7. Others want assurance 7 Neglect of the meanes because they neglect the meanes of Assurance they do not try all things and keep that which is good or they call not vpon God daily feruently and constantly to giue them the spirit of reuelation to shew them the hope of their Calling and their glorious Inheritance Ephe. 1. 18 19. 8. A barren life is an 8. A barren life vncomfortable life and contrarywise to abound in 1 Cor. 15. 58. good workes hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnseparable companion of it 9. The loue of earthly 9. Too much loue of earthly things things is another great impediment many Professors haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously seek Gods Kingdome nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainement of Assurance This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world 10. In some there lodgeth 10. Secret sinne some secret sinne which they know and do not iudge themselues for and doth daily preuaile in them and this either keeps out faith or keepes it downe in the cradle that it can get no strength When I say secret sinnes I mean secret from others not from themselues For sinnes of meere ignorance God doth not scourge in his seruants so as to withhold his graces from them CHAP. I. Containing the signes of open wicked men THE tryall of the estates of all sorts of Christians may bee performed by examining themselues by two sorts of signes some are such as describe the wicked man and some such as describe the godly man and of the tryall of the godly man I haue intreated before Wicked men in the Church are not all of a sort for some are manifestly prophane and carelesse of the Kingdome of God and some are in outward shew such as professe the seeking of Gods Kingdome but yet in deed and in heart are without God