c. Of the declining state of man THis age of man is subject to envy and covetousness as the former age was to ambition and carking cares whereby it appears that mens passions and sins do rather change then forsake them for carnal delights to which young men are most addicted do change in their delcining age unto envy and covetousness and sometimes their avarice doth change to ambition a godly man at this age is fitter for counsel then for action because their passions are commonly more moderate their experiences greatter their Judgement more solid and their counsels safer Job 12. 12. With the ancient is wisdom and in length of years understanding but this declining age of man is not free from vanity it being subject to envy at another mans prosperity c. Of the Decrepit or old age of man THE decrepit age of man begins a little after sixty and ends when death strikes them with his dart Rom. 6. 23. the wages of sin is death the old age of man except it be endued with free-grace and sanctified by the Spirit of God it is the vanity of vanities and the misery of all miseries for the innumerous infirmities incident to it viz. bald-headed stooping under dotage wrinkled face rotten teeth stinking breath testy with choler withered with driness dimmed with blindness filled with diseases overwhelmed with sickness and bowed together with weakness having little use of any sense but of the sence of pain what shall I say more trace man from his mothers womb to the grave you shall find him nothing but a piece of vanity in his best estate Ps 39. 5. First in his very conception they may be extinguished by ill scents and vapours bruises or fals then in their infancy by the quinsie convulsions measels or the small pox then in their youth by the sword plurisie and burning feavers then in the next age apoplexies bloody fluxes and consumptions then in their declining age by the stone and the gout dropsies palsies c. And in old age aches cough stone and divers other casualties so that I may conclude with Solomon that the lives of natural men are meer vanity and vexation of Spirit Of the Pollution and Misery of the soul in this life THE understanding is full of vanity Psal 94. 11. 2 Cor. 4. 4. The will of man is wholly depraved it is contrary to God his word and Spirit in all things it will not depend nor wait on God as for the memory that also is full of corruption that will forget the things that is commanded to remember and remember the things that we should forget and as for the conscience that also is wholly corrupted it is neither clear to see things that are amiss nor sensible of sins committed and whereas it should excuse or accuse it doth abuse and pervert the light it hath by making great sins small c. And as for our affections they come as a tempest either to make us over-joy or over-grieve what shall I say more the wretched soul is so deformed with sin defiled with lust polluted with filthiness outraged with passions pined with envy overcharged with gluttony boyling with revenge transported with rage so that the glorious Image of God is transformed into the ugly shape of the Devil our understanding is darknned our will depraved our affections disordered our memory misimployed our conscience benummed Of the Miseries attending both body and soul in the hour of death if they see not their interest in Christ DEath in the Scripture is called the King of terrors and the fear of death makes many subject to bondage all their life for death is a messenger that hath something to say to every man and he often speaks to all that would fain be heard but most men are not at leisure to hear what he hath to say no not till old age nor then neither well after all the forementioned troubles in comes death and looks the old man grim and black in the face and neither pittieth his age nor regardeth his long endured Dolours but battereth all the principal parts of his body and arresteth him to appear before the great judge of Heaven and Earth at the bar of his Justice then the old man fals into a cold sweat over all his body and a trembling in all his members the head aketh the face waxeth pale the nose black the eye-strings break the tongue faltereth the throat rotleth whilst he is thus summoned to appear at the great assize of Gods court behold a quarter Sessions and goal Delivery is held within him where reason sits as Judge and his conscience being now awakened puts in a bill of Inditement wherein is alleadged all the evil deeds that ever thou hast committed and the good deeds that ever thou hast omitted and all the curses and Judgements that are due to every sin Never such a bill put up against the greatest Traitor in any court of men thou must hold up thy hand at the bar for all the sins that ever thou didst commit in the whole course of thy life the bill of Indictment it self runs thus 1. Thou art accused for many sins of omission in leaving undone many good things that God in his word required of thee 2. For spoiling all the good things that ever thou didstin thy life by mixing the poyson of thy own corruption with them 3. For sinning in secret as if God had not seen it because men do not and hereby denying as it were Gods Omnipotency 4. For presuming sometimes to sin openly to the Dishonouring of the God of Glory before all the world 5. For sinning against all sorts of men against thy Parents in thy youth thine equals in thy manly age thine inferiours in thy old Age. 6. For sinning against God himself immediately by abusing his Name and Ordinances 7. For sinning against mens Souls Lives Goods Chastity good Name and all that was near and dear to them 8. For sinning against thy own soul and all the good things God hath given thee by intemperance and otherwise 9. For sinning against Gods holy Ordinances in neglecting or abusing them 10. For sinning against Gods Mercies abusing Health Wealth and Liberty and Parts and Gifts 11. For sinning against Gods Judgements as if thou caredst not for his pleasure nor fearedst his displeasure 12. For sinning against the checks of thy own conscience that often forbad thee to sin but could not be heard 13. For sinning against the motions of Gods spirit and so putting the Lord upon complaning and Christ upon bleeding and the Spirit upon grieving 14. For drawing others to sin by thy bad examples and counsels 15. For incouraging them in their sins by approving of them 16. For not reproving them for sin as if thou wast afraid to speak for God against those that dishonour him 17. For not punishing sin where thou hadst power and authority and wast required to do it 18. For a world of precious time that thou hast mispent
heart Isaiah 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips saith that humble soul so humble Job cries out of the iniquity of his youth Job 13. 26 c. so humble David sighs it out Psalm 51. 3. My sin is ever before me so those many converts Titus 3. 3. For we our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another but after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared 2. Though they are to be called to mind it must not be with stupidity of heart but with a broken and bleeding and a contrite heart in the day of our prosperity we are not to forget our former poverty but to consider that we are not worthy of that calling of that Gospel and of that grace tendred to us in the word 3. It must not be done with despondency of mind neither the truth lyeth between two extreams we must not call them so to mind as to discourage us and make us unwilling to come to Christ c. 1. The first Reason why that people in a converted state should often call to mind the sin and misery they were in before conversion because by so doing we shall be provoked to magnifie and admire the riches of Gods grace none in the world do more admire Gods grace and mercy then those that are most sensible of their own sin and misery See 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2. Reason because this will kindle a great deal of pitty and compassion in our souls towards those that remain yet unconverted Titus 3. 2 3. I Paul and thou Titus were sinful as well as they and did serve divers lusts as well as they let us pitty them and help them out of this state of sin and death Reason 3. Because this will make us more watchful and careful Eph. 5. 8. You were sometimes darkness saith he but now are you light in the Lord walk therefore as children of the light 2 Sam. 7. 18. Who am 10 Lord God said King David and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And Saint Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. remembers himself and leaves it written for others to read that he had been a blasphemer a persecutor and injurious a low meditation for an high Apostle yet profitable to himself and others Whether the Dominion of sin may not be taken away where yet the life of sin remains SIN may live where it doth not reign and dwell where it is not welcom it is true the Scripture doth say they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts but here the Scripture doth not speak of a total subduing of sin as if every lust and corruption should be quite subdued but only this far to give a deadly blow to sin that sin shall not reign nor bear sway in thy soul as it hath done formerly the dominion of sin is taken away but the life and being of it is continued for a little time As Hagar would dwell with Sarah till she beat her out of doors so will sin dwell with grace till death beat it out of doors there shall be some remainders of sin still in the best of Gods servants but sin shall not reign in their mortal bodies sin may live in a Saint and yet the Saint not live in sin Let us now examine in what cases and with what limitations strength of corruption may consist with strength of grace the resolving of this question is of very much use 1. Though sin be strong yet grace may be strong too in thy soul though thy sin be great if thy sorrow be great too it evidenceth thy grace is so also 1 Chro. 23. 12. 2. If you find a strong opposition against your corruptions though you cannot fully subdue sin yet do you strongly oppose it then there is strength of grace in the soul though there be strong corruptions in the body 3. There is strength of grace where there is strong cries to God against thy sins this argues grace and the strength of grace Deut. 22. 25 26 27. 4. There is strength of grace in that man or woman that is resolved in the strength of Christ to conquer his strong sins or die conquering of them our Lord Christ when two things were set before him either to sin or die he chose death rather then sin and by degrees he works his Spouse to the same mind 5. That strength of grace may be consistent with strength of corruptions I might instance in many precious Saints I will mention one for all the rest and that is in Peter who had not only truth and reality but eminency and strength of grace For though temptations and corruptions did sometimes prevail yet he had strong affections towards Christ he did out-strip many of the Disciples 1. He was the man that of all the Disciples wept most bitterly for his sins Mat. 26. 75. 2. Peter was the first that ran to the Sepulchre to see what was become of Jesus John 20. 5. 3. He was the man who hearing that Christ was risen leapt into the Sea for joy John 21. 7. 4. He was the first man that made the first Sermon and first preached the Gospel after the Ascension of Christ Acts 1. 15. 5. He had that love to Christ as strong as death for he suffered death afterwards for Christ but now although in the cases before mentioned strength of grace may be consistent with strength of corruption yet there are other cases wherein they are altogether inconsistent though there may be strong grace and strong corruption in the soul yet the reign of any one corruption in the soul yet the reign of any one corruption is utterly inconsistent with grace and the strength of it See Rom. 6. 12. 7. 23. And when I say there is a consistency between grace and corruption I would be understood of spiritual and inward corruption viz. of hardness of heart Spiritual pride deadness in duties c. For into gross external open acts of sin strong Christians do seldom fall How far a true Christian may be tainted with errour in Judgement and yet at last be restored Sometimes even Gods own children are even overcome with erroneous opinions One whom the Lord had received into favour might erroneously hold himself bound in conscience to the Legal difference of daies and meats under the Gospel Rom. 14. 1. to the 7. The Apostles themselves erroneously deemed Christ should be a worldly King Mark 10. 37. to 41. And this errour was not cured in them though they were eye witnesses of his passion and resurrection Acts 1. 6. And the Church of Galatia erred grosly in the point of Justification mingling Moses with Christ the works of the Law with Faith in Justification Gal. 3. 4 5 c. by which it doth appear that regenerate persons may for a time be insnared in some errours that are gross and dangerous and
Another thing held forth to us in this Ordinance is the rising again unto newness of life Romans 6 4. Therefore we are buried with him by Eaptism verse 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be raised in the likeness of his resurrection 4. Another thing held forth in this Ordinance is the Baptism of the Spirit Act. 2. 38. compared with Act. 11. 16. 5. Another thing held forth in this blessed Ordinance is the resurrection of the body See Col. 7. 12. Rom. 6. 5 8. I suppose the Reader will grant that a child is not capable of apprehending believing and applying these and the like things held forth in this Ordinance and that God requires that such as are baptized should first believe Mat. 28. 19. Act. 8. 12 13 36 37 38. Mat. 3. 6. Act. 10. 47 48. But because this controversie is handled at large in other treatises such as desire further satisfaction may have recourse to them Now what art thou doing O man that callest me and others Anabaptists for our obedience to God in this blessed Ordinance whilest thou art rejecting his counsel if thou say was not I baptized heretofore I answer if I were baptized with God-fathers and God-mothers Common prayer book Cross and Surpliss and by a Minister made by the Bishops all which are voted down as Antichristian and the manner of that Baptism was also by sprinkling water upon my face concerning which the Scripture is silent how may I be assured God will own such a Baptism for his Ordinance Blame me not then if I endeavour to follow Christ herein who was baptized when he came to years and commands me so to walk as I have him for an example 1 John 2. 6. compared with Mat. 3. 15 16. I shall close up all that I have to say at this time to this Ordinance with two words of advice the one to those that own Baptism according to the Scripture Rule when people are capable of it the other to those that rail mock and deride the people that are baptized calling them Anabaptists 1. You that have taken up this Ordinance beware of laying a greater stress upon it then ever God appointed you viz. it was never appointed to break love and Communion and to quench the Spirit and to justle out some other Ordinances nor to shut out the weak in the Faith nor to put them upon doubtful disputations my brethren let me tell you I have rather chosen to weep it out before the Lord in my closset then to publish to the world what I have heard and seen amongst you what know you not that all Christians are one in Christ and partakers of one Spirit promises graces and have right to all Priviledges what know you not that all Saints are fellow-members fellow-souldiers fellow-travellers co-heirs fellow-sufferers and fellow-Citizens having the same father being cloathed with the same robe ruled by the same word inclined to the same work will you shut out those that God hath received and stop the mouth that God hath opened and refuse communion with those that have fellowship with the Father and the Son and that are faithful to what they know are all blind that doth not see by your eyes 2. You that so exceedingly cry up Baptism of Infants and cry down all baptizing of believers Let me tell you that through prejudice weakness and blindness you cry up that which you have neither precept nor example for in all the book of God and cry down that which there is precept upon precept for and example upon example I even tremble to think what a sad account you will give to God for this one day if you say you can prove the baptism of Infants by necessary Deductions from Scripture and Inferences and Consequences then let me ask you how you durst to make use of any of these to cross plain precepts and examples Of the Lords Supper or breaking of bread another standing Ordinance of the Gospel 1. OF the Lords Supper what it is 2. Wherein Baptism doth differ from it 3. Preparations to the Lords table required 4. The actions of the Administrator of this Ordinance 5. The actions of the receiver and duty in receiving 6. Who they are that may partake of this Ordinance 7. The ends and uses of the Lords Supper 8. The duties to be performed after receiving First of the Lords Supper what it is IT is a sealing or confirming Ordinance of the Gospel wherein by the outward elements of bread and wine sanctified by the word and prayer and exhibited by the Minister and rightly received by the communicant assurance is given to those that are ingrafted into Christ of their continuance in him and relation to him receiving nourishment by him unto eternal life or it is a second confirming Ordinance of the New Testament wherein God by the signs of bread and wine signifieth sealeth and offereth to every faithful receiver the body and blood of Christ for his spiritual nourishment and growth in Christ and so confirmeth him in the Covenant of grace The matter of the Lords Supper is partly outward as bread and wine and partly inward as the body and blood of Christ those outward elements signifying Christ and him crucified with all the benefits of his death passion even whole Christ with all the fruits of his mediation Mat. 26. 26 27. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Wherein doth Baptism differ from the Lords Supper seeing they are both confirming Ordinances IN regard of the thing signified Baptism as hath been said is a seal of our entrance into the Church of God the Supper of the Lord is a seal of our continuance in the same the one of our new birth the other of our spiritual growth the former is ordained to this end that being out of Christ by nature we being born again might now be ingrafted into his body Tit. 3. 5. Joh. 3. 5. the latter that being in Christ by grace we might continue and encrease in him 1 Cor. 10. 16. and 11. 23. 1 Pet. 3. 21. The Supper of the Lord is to be received as often as he shall give occasion Baptism but once for there is but one entrance into Christ but many degrees of growth up in him Of the Preparation to the Lords table THere ought to be a careful preparation before the action and great heed in the whole action and a joyfull and thankful close and shutting up of it all which ought to be performed as well by the minister as the people 1. Let there be a due search and tryal of our own souls whether we can find in our selves the things which God doth require in worthy communicants viz. 1. by examining our wisdom and knowledge both of Gods will in general and of the nature and use of this holy ordinance in particular whether we can give a reason of the representation of Christ in the bread and wine and see our need of it and what we may
and stand on thy guard having put on all the armour of Christ as a valiant souldier constantly maintain war and thou shalt usually obtain victory resolve in the strength of Christ either to conquer or dye conquering for let no man think to dance and dine with the Devil and afterwards to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven Let us therefore live in Christ and not in our selves for in our selves there is a body of lust corruption and sin and a Law accusing and condemning but if we live by faith in Christ and in the apprehension of his love laying hold on the life righteousness obedience satisfaction of him whom the pirit cals ours saying Christ is ours and we are Christs and Christ is Gods and thus a believer is blessed only in a righteousness without not with in and all our assurance confidence and comforts are to flow in unto him through a channel of faith and not of works by faith we ought to live above sin infirmities temptations desertions sense reason fears doubts it makes the yoke of Christ easie and sweet it states the soul in the possession of heaven whilst the body remains on earth by faith we can cheeâ—fully part with and suffer deprivation of the sweetest outward comforts and enjoyments and welcome death knowing that we do but exchange the worst place and things for better the Lord Jesus having spoken peace to the soul that he hath paid all his debts for it and that his sins shall be remembred no more now the soul knows it is happy and enjoys the comfort of it 7. Make thy will in time of health and leave all things clear upon both books of shop and conscience that thou mayst have nothing to do but to dye and to meditate upon and to have faith in the precious promises which speak of rest joy peace and perfect happiness which is provided for us in heaven firmly believing that God will after this life give us all those things with himself which he hath promised as certainly as thou hast in thy will given to thy relations such and such things for them to enjoy and so exercise faith in the resurrection of thy body 1 Thes 4. 16. to have a spiritual body 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. to have a glorified body Phil. 3. 21. to have fulness of knowledge Ephes 3. 18 19. to have fulness of joy and pleasure Psal 16. 11. sâ—ch as shall be internal pure full spiritual and eternal where no misery hunger cold nakedness pain grief nor weariness but rest without labour in rest tranquility in tranquility content in contentment joy in joy variety in variety security in security eternity c. thus shalt thou that hast prepared for death aforehand dye sweetly whilst others that put off preparation to the last O what a hurry be they in Oh the anguish that their souls endure they apprehending God angry with them the Devil accusing them earth leaving them heaven refusing them hell claiming them soul and body parting friends weeping and themselves hopeless going they know not whither But to a godly man death is neither strange nor fearful unto him not strange because he dyed dayly not fearful because whilst he lived he was dead and his life was hid with Christ in God to dye then is nothing else but to rest from our labours and to go home to our fathers house unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of Angels to the general assembly and Church of the first born to God the Judge of all and unto the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament whilst his body is sick his mind is sound for God maketh all his bed in his sickness Psal 41. 3. and as his outward man decayeth the inward man â—renewed day by day when the speech of his tongue saltereth the sighs of his heart speaks lowder unto God when the sight of the eyes faileth the Holy Ghost illuminates him inwardly with abundance of spiritual light sometimes he is saying with Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. and with David Psalm 42. 2. As the heart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God when shall come and appear before him come Lord Jesus come quickly So when the appointed time of his dissolution is come knowing that he goeth to his father and redeemer in the peace of a good conscience he saith Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace c. and so surrenders up his soul as it were with his own hands into the hands of his heavenly Father saying with David Into thy hands O Father I commend my soul for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth and so saying with Stephen Act. 7. 59. Lord Jesus receive my spirit Thus far of the preparation for death with a taste of the sad condition of one dying out of Christ and the sweet condition of a Christian dying that is a member of Christ that did prepare for death before it came I had once intended here to have spoken to the sad condition of the ungodly after death resurrection and last judgement and also of the blessed condition of all that dye in the faith after death resurrection and last judgement but that will not fallin order here but towards the end of this book when we come to speak of the resurrection of the body and last judgement when Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom to his Father and God shall be all in all I shall proceed now to speak of the second coming of Christ in power and great glory c. The great and terrible day of the Lord is near dawning and the glory of all flesh staining the Kingdom of Christ appearing and the restitution of all things approaching this great Mysterie opened the grounds thereof examined the truth cleared and the ignorance of many in this Mysterie discovered THat very self-same Jesus which was born in Bethlem and suffered at Calvary even he shall come again the same Jesus not another Act. 1. 11. shall so come again as he was taken up viz. Visibly substantially apparently to all yea in the same manner yea it is added as you have seen him that we might not allegorize the matter we are kept to the very manner now for the probation of this truth we have 1. The testimony of all the Prophets 2. We have the testimony of all the Apostles 3. We have the testimony of Angels all bearing witness to this truth 1. We have the testimony of the Prophets see Acts 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive untill the time of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the the world began but especially the Prophets since Samuel ver 24. yea and all the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken
now lye hid shall then be made known Luke 18. 17. and 12. 2. there is nothing covered that shall not then be revealed 1 Cor. 4. 5. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness Matthew 24. 30. Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and mens hearts fail for fear and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth Joel 3. 16. the Lord also shall roar out of Sion and utter his voice from Jerusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people Christ shall come terribly and yet seasonably THe day of the Lord is great and terrible who can abide it Joel 2. 11. There hath not been ever the like neither shall there be Joel 2. 2. there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since the creation Dan. 12. 1. Then shall be great tribulation such as was not from the beginning to this day Matthew 24. 21 22. A fire stream shall come forth before him and ten thousands shall be ministring unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand shall stand before him and the judgement shall be set and the books opened See Dan. 7. 10. Jude 14. Yet this coming will be seasonable to all that have an interest in him and did look for him and hasten to his coming and love his appearing for now they shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. Isa 25. 9. and Isa 2. 3 4. Rev. 21. 4. There be four things that Christ hath already done for his flock and five things he is now doing and six things more he will finish when he comes THere are four things that he hath already done viz. 1. He hath taken our nature upon him Heb. 2. 16. 2. He hath taken our sins upon him Isaiah 53. 6. 3. He hath taken the curse due to us upon himsef Gal. 3. 13. 4. He hath fully satisfied Divine justice for us Isa 53. 11. Then there are five things that he is now doing for us viz. 1. He is at the right hand of the Father making interceslion for us Heb. 7. 25. 2. He is teaching us as a Prophet and preserving us as a King and healing us as a Physitian and feeding us as a Shepheard c. 3. He is preparing for the destroying of Antichrist 2 Thes 2. 8. 4. He is making good his promise in pouring out his Spirit 5. He is turning our disunion into union Zeph. 3. 9. Then there be six things more that he will do for us when he comes 1. He will unvail himself and every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. 2. He will gather his spiritual Kingdom Psal 50. 5. 3. He will establish his Kingdom on the top of all kingdoms Isa 2. 2. 4. He will restore our judges as at the first and counsellors as at the beginning Isa 1. 26 5. He will make his enemies his footstool Psalm 110. 1. 6. He will make his people the head and not the tail Deut. 28. 13. Dan. 7. 27. Many more things hath Christ done for us many more he is doing and many more will he do when he comes Let the reader take notice these that I have named are but a taste Of the resurrection of the dead at the second coming of Christ THough the resurrection of the dead is above nature and mans corrupt reason yet it is neither against nature noragainst right reason the Scripture proves the resurrection of the dead by many testimonies examples types and reasons c. 1. The resurrection is proved by testimonies Job 19. 25 26. Dan. 12. 2. Hos 13. 14. Mat. 22. 31. and 27. 52. John 5. 28 29. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Thes 4. 2. By example of those that were raised 1 King 17. 22. 2 King 4. 34. 2 King 13. 21. Matthew 9. 25. and 27. 52 53. Luke 7. 14. John 11. 11. Acts. 9. 40. and 20. 10. 3. By types as Aarons rod budding Numb 17. Of the Jews returning from Babylon Ezek. 37. but chiefly of Enoch and Elias Gen. 5. and 2. Kin. 2. 4. This resurrection is also proved by reasons drawn first from the Covenant of God which is not broken by death Mat. 22. 30. But the chief reason is drawn from Christ who is not only the type and example of our resurrection but the beginning also thereof For the Life of the body the Church is from the head There is a first and a second Resurrection 1. THe first Resurrection as most do affirm is a Resurrection from the death of sin to the Life of Righteousness this is a Revocation from a state of death to a state of Life 2. There is a resurrection of the same body that man had in this life Iob 19. 26. The form of this resurrection consisteth in the re-union of body and soul and restoring of the deâ—d to Life and in the suddain change of those that remain upon the earth at his coming c. This resurrection is either of the godly or of the wicked There is a Resurrection to Life and another to condemnation John 5. 29. 1. Of the godly they shall be first raised and then freed not only from corruption and bodily defects but shall be crowned also with Glory 1 Thess 4. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Agreeable to this Text is that in Rev. 20. 4 5. I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God which had not worshipped the beast nor his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand years Ver. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand years were finished this is the first resurrection blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second Death hath no power the Apostle Paul speaks to the same thing 1 Cor. 15. 23. But every man in his own order Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his Coming 1 Thess 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Cor. 15. 42 43 44. It is sown in corruption it is raysed in incorruption it is sown in dishonour it is raised in Glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body ver 49. As we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly Adam The bodies of the Elect being thus first raised they shall have most excellent and supernatural qualities I will instance in four 1. As before they shall be raised in power whereby they shall be freed from all wants and weakness and enabled to continue without the use of meat and drink
of their Creed and so fall to judging railing and condemning men for not doing as they do contending for Cummin and Annis putting off a hat and wearing ribans c. and not only so but also hate malign and most bitterly and uncharitably censure all those that differ from them Reader I shall here in this Book present thee with all that I have learned or at least with the sum and substance of all that I have gained this four and twenty years by reading the Scriptures hearing of Sermons conferring with Christians and perusing their writings together with several things that God hath immediately darted in upon my heart but I have not received as I know of nor here presented any of the mediate or immediate teachings save that and only that which is agreeable to the word of God as far as I understand his mind therein neither have I made it my work to contend for or cry up any particular interest but rather it doth much grieve my heart to see what a state most menare in here each tugging for his interest and so whilst they are contending for the garment the power of Religion is much abated I would intreat thee Reader to weigh things in the ballance of Righteousness love and impartiality and then I am confident that there will be none that hath the work of grace upon their souls unless they be under some violent fit of temptation but in the main will sweetly own and spiritually bless God for the revelation of the precious things contained in this little Book here being something of every thing needful to be known and practiced for the obtaining of which I have imitated the Bee that goes forth of the hive and gathers hony from several sorts of flowers and hearbs and sometimes from weeds And for the compiling of these things together as they have a connexion and dependance one upon another I have borrowed a little time from my particular calling and from my sleep and recreation If I have done this work well it is that which I desired but if slenderly and meanly it is because I could do it no better I must confess I rather lisp then speak plain in the things of God wherefore cover all my imperfections with a mantle of love for it hath been compiled in the midst of many personal tryals if thou find any imperfections yet let not the truth of God suffer through my weakness to the Law and to the testimonies wherein I come short of writing according to that rule it is for want of light I hope I shall be content to decrease so the glory of God in the gift of Christ and Covenant of grace may increase let my name perish so his may flourish let me cut off like a Weaver and dye so his name and glory may live I shall no longer detain thee from the thing it self which treats of that which is of great concernment to all in the reading of which if thou shalt receive any light or reap any spiritual benefit give all the praise to the Lord and pray for him who is a lover of all that fear the Lord under what form soever they be or by what name or title soever they are known ROB. PURNEL A Table of the principal heads in general and the connection of these points together and dependence of them one upon another OF God the Father Of God the Son Of God the Holy-Ghost Of Gods decrees Of Election Of the Creation Of Angels Of Man Of the Sou l. Of Mans fall Of Providence Of Mans recovery Of Vocation Of the Covenant of Grace Of Justification by Grace alone Of Sanctification or a holy Conversation Several strong reasons why the Saints should walk holily Of Justification and Sanctification wherein they differ and wherein they agree Of Faith Of Repentance Of Sin the nature of it Of Knowledge First Of God Secondly Of our selves Of Experience Of Enjoyment Of the grace of love 1. First to God 2 To his People Of the Grace of hope Of Perseverance Of the several gifts and Graces of the Spirit Of the several Ordinances oâ— the Gospel 1. Of the assâ—mbling of our selves together 2. O preaching and prophecying 3. Of Prayer and supplication 4. Of singing and praising God together 5. Of the Ordinance oâ— Baptism 6. Of the Ordinance oâ— the Lords Suâ—per 7. Of the Collection or the poor 8. Of reading the Scriptures 9. Of Admonition private and publike 10. Of Suspension 11. Of Excommunication Of Assurance of Salvation Of the difference between the Law and the Gospel and of the several sorts of Laws Of the ten Commandments and what each of them doth prohibit and enjoin Of the Lords prayer and the several petitions therein contained Of the World Flesh and the Devil the three great enemies of man Of afflictions and why the Lord doth afflict his own people When a man may be said to suffer for well-doing and when for ill-doing The Lord is many times better then promise never worse Mercies and deliverances are many times nearest to us when we think they are farthest of The Lord doth hand forth mercies by the rule of contraries He doth not despise the day of small things The order of causes how the Lord comes down-ward from the causes to the Effects and how we must go upward from the effects to the causes Mans life is or should be guided by seven vertues Several Divine Sentences Divers knotty questions answered and seeming contradictions reconciled and many scruples of conscience removed Of the shortness of mans life and of the misery that doth attend every age thereof Of the misery attending both body and Soul at the hour of Death Of a Bill of inditement at that time brought against us Of the sad condition and misery of all out of Christ after death Of our preparation for death that we may be ready when it comes Death to a Christian is but a house a bed a sleep The great and terrible day of the Lord is near proved 1. By the testimony of the Prophets 2. By the testimony of the Apostles 3. By the testimony of Angels 4. By the immutability of Gods decree 5. By the infallibility of his promises 6. By the impartiality of his justice There are four things that Christ hath already done and five things he is now doing and six things more that he will do when he comes Of the resurrection of the dead at Christs second coming Of the first and second resurrection Whether there be any such things as the personal reign of Christ and if so what it is Of the last judgement 1. The signs that go before it 2. What is meant by it 3. Oâ— the place where it shall be 4. Of the person who it is that shall judge the world 5. Of the time how long the judgement shall last 6. Out of what all people shall be judged 7. The day of judgement will be a great day The sad condition of all Christless after
3. Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken to you now the word doth purifie these severall wayes 1. As an antidote against sins Psal 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee 2. As a lamp discovering the spot Rom. 7. 7. I had not known sin but by the Law 3. As a star conducting to Christ the fountain of purifying 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Zach. 13. 1. 4. As a rule according to which we are heedfully to order our conversation Psal 119. 9. wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed thereto according to thy word 5. As a motive in the precious promises of it 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of â—â—esh and spirit The ninth thing to be considered of is this wherein doth the Covenant of grace and the Covenant of works differ FOR answer hereunto consider the vast difference between the Law and the Gospel viz. the Law affords not a drop of grace it bestows nothing freely the language of the Law is do thou and live if not die no work no wages but in the Gospel the yoak of personall obedience is translated from believers to their surety there is nothing for them to pay all that they have to do is to hunger and feed their happiness is free in respect of themselves though costly to Christ who by his merits hath purchased for them whatsoever they would obtain and by his Spirit worketh in them whatsoever he requires The First Covenant of works is old the Covenant of grace is new the first is the Law of the letter the second is the Law of the Spirit the first is a Law of death the second is a Law of life the first was wounding the second is healing the first a naturall law the second a spirituall law the first a law of types the second a law of substance the first was to be done away the second is to continue the first a Covenant of earthly blessings the second a Covenant of spirituall blessings the first was to stand for a time the second was to stand for ever Again this Covenant of grace doth differ from the Covenant of works in the universality and large extent of it the first Covenant requires a righteousness in us the second doth give and accept of a righteousness which is anothers and imputed to us It is true that Religion for the substance thereof was ever one and the same and unchangeable as appears Heb. 13. 8. Ephes 4. 5. Jude 3. Acts 26. 22. Tit. 1. 1 2. And so the word of God written by Moses and the Prophets did contain whatsoeever was needfull for the salvation of the Israelites Deut. 4. 2. 12. 32. Psal 1. 2. Mal. 4. 4. Hos 8. 12. Luk. 10. 26. But the in New Testament our Saviour made known unto his Disciples the last and full will or Covenant of his heavenly father Iohn 14. 26. 15. 15. 16. 13. 1. 18. and what they received of him they faithfully preached unto the world Acts 20. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. 3. Gal. 1. 8. 1 John 1. 3. And the sum of what they preached is committed to writing and left upon record for our learning Act. 1. 1 2. Joh. 20. 31. 1 Joh. 5. 13. Act. 8. 5. 1 Cor. 2. 2. Rom. 10. 8 9 10. The difference between the Covenant of works and the Covenant of grace may be reduced to these three heads 1. The first was a ministration of the letter a naked Commandment carrying with it no aptness disposition or ability to keep it 2. It breeds enmity and fear looking on God as a hard taskmaster and so fils the soul full of terrours 3. It is a ministration of death namely by the curse to them that keep it not But the Covenant of grace is a ministration of the Spirit requiring no more then what it promiseth to give In a word it is a ministration of the Spirit of love freedom and righteousness and of life for that it shews the guilty a righteousness to satisfie the Law and the way to obtain a Pardon 4. The first Covenant was made altogether upon condition on both sides the condition on Gods part was they should live the condition on mans part was he must do this but in this Covenant there is not any condition I mean in the Covenant of grace True it is could we justifie the Law by keeping it the Law would justifie us in and by that obedience to it But now the Law is become weak and unable to justifie any man though powerfull and strong enough to condemn every man 5. In the Covenant of works a man is left to stand by his own strength but in the Covenant of Grace God undertakes to keep us through faith to salvation 6. In the Covenant of works Gods highest end is the glorifying of his Justice and in the Covenant of grace it is to glorifie his grace The voice of the Covenant of works is like the first speech of Nathan to David Thou art the man the voice of the Covenant of grace is like his after-speech The Lord hath put away thy sin the voice of the Covenant of works is the soul that sinneth shall die Ezek. 18. In the Covenant of grace he saith Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner 7. There is help for such as break the Covenant of works but no help for such as make void the Covenant of grace The tenth thing to be enquired into is this what is Gods oraer and method that he generally makes us of to bring his people into the bond of the Covenant and to bestow the blessings of the Covenant upon them FIrst in the making up of the Covenant between God and us God is the first with us he is the first mover he begins with us before we begin with him we should never seek to be in Covenant with him if he did not first allure us and draw us invite us and intreat us Ezek. 20. 37. I will bring them saith the Lord into the bond of the Covenant it is the Lord that brings them they do not first offer themselves 1. God prepares his own way for entring into Covenant with us and then he finisheth the work and in this preparation he doth these three things 1. He breaks us of our Covenant with hell and death and makes us sensible of our undone estates makes us to see that we are without God without Christ without hope that we are not under mercy that we are not as yet of his people Eph. 2. 1 Pet. 2. 2. He opens to us his mind and will shewing himself willing to receive us to grace and to enter into a new Covenant with us yet again to take us to be his people and he to be our God and so he goes into the streets and open places as
rely upon his providence for all the means of this temporal life and to rest contented with that allowance which he shall think fit for us Psal 4. 11 12. Yea in this petition we beg health wealth food sleep rayment house c together with all the helps and means to attain them and that he would give us care and conscience to get those needfull things by lawfull means that labouring with our hands the thing that is good we may eat our bread Eph. 4. 28. 2 Thes 3. 12. 5. The fifth petition And forgive us our debts as even we forgive them that are debtors to us In this petition there is a frank and humble confession that we have sinned and stand guilty of original and actual transgressions and that there is no power in us to make satisfaction sor our sins for by the Law as by an obligation every man standeth bound to keep it holy and continually Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. James 2. 10. So that the breach thereof even once and in the least point maketh us debtors presently as having forfeited our obligation So that no man can make amends unto God for it considering that whatsoever he doth after the breach is both imperfectly done and if it were perfect yet it is due by obligation of the Law and therefore cannot go for payment no more then a man can pay one debt with another 6. The sixt and last petition And lead us not into temptation but delievers from evil In this petition we pray that not only our sin may be pardoned but also that it may be mortified Rom. 6. 1 2. and that we may be either kept from temptation or preserved by his grace from being hurt thereby 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 12. 9. The effect of temptation without the special grace of God is extreamly evil to wit sin and damnation 1 Tim. 6. 9. Now seeing we cannot be tempted without the will of God Job 1. 10. nor resist without his power 2 Cor. 12. 9. If it be his blessed will that he would not let us fall into the one unless he preserve us in the other and that he would tie up Satan and restrain his malice and power or else make us wise to know and avoid his stratagems Of the World Flesh and Devil the three great enemies of man First of the World TAke the world in all its beauty bravery and glory and you shall find sorrow attend worldly joy danger attend worldly safety and loss attend worldly joy labours and tears attend worldly prosperity Where one thousand are destroyed by the worlds frowns ten thousand are destroyed by the worlds smiles it sings to us and sinks us it kisseth us and betrayeth us Let heaven be a mans object and the world will soon be a mans subject the fashion of this world passeth away why should we set our eyes upon that which is not heaven hath a foundation the earth hath none again worldly light is mixt with darkness Joy with sorrows pleasure with pain honour with dishonour riches with want wine with water honey with gall and our Sugar with wormwood and roses with prickles in a word worldly comforts entertained with great delight are seldom lost without exceeding great Sorrow and grief Of the Riches of this world THE good things of this world are not so absolutely given us but that God retains still a right to it and an interest in it and may demand it how and when he please And usually the worst of men have most of these outward things and the best of men have least of earth and most of heaven A man may be great and graceless with Pharaoh honourable and damnable with Saul rich and miserable with Dives A man may have enough of the world to sink him but he can never have enough of the world to save him A man may as soon fill a bag with wisdom and a chest with vertue or a circle with a tryangle as the heart of man with any thing here below therefore it is better to be gracious then great inwardly holy then outwardly happy the riches of this world although well gotten are but like the manna those that gathered less had no lack and those that gathered more had little or none to spare the consideration of this raysed up the spirits of those Saints Heb. 11. to triumph upon all the beauty bravery and glory of the world they having acquaintance with and an interest in a better and more durable riches these are uncertain riches For one storm at Sea one coal of fire one false friend or one unavised word may make a rich man a beggar and a prisoner altogether Oh how do riches hinder the actings of Faith upon God how do they interrupt our sweet communion with God how doth it abate our love to the people of God and cool our love to the things of God oh the deadness dulness and the barrenness that attend men having large possessions in this world and when they fall sick a crown of Gold cannot cure the head ach nor a velvet slipper the gout nor a chain of gold about the neck cannot take away the pain of the teeth Many times he that we account the richest man is the poorest man in the world VVE account him a poor man that doth want meat for his belly cloaths for his back and money in his purse and a house to put his head in and in this respect every man that is out of Christ although the most richest and honourablest man in the worlds account is but a poor man 1. He is a poor and beggarly man that hath no money in his purse now if your bags be full of gold and silver and your hearts empty of grace you are poor and beggarly in a Scripture account yea you are poor and blind and miserable and naked Rev. 3. 17. 2. He is a poor man that hath no meat to put in his belly but every man that is out of Christ doth not nor cannot feed upon that true manna the bread of life nor drink of that water of life John 6. 55. 3. He is a beggarly man that hath not an house to put his head in this is the case of all those that have no interest in Christ when death cometh they know not what to do nor where to go unless it be into a dungeon of darkness full of devils and damned Spirits Mat. 25. 41. 4. He is a poor man that hath no clothes to put on his back thus every man out of Christ is not only poor but naked too Rev. 3. 17. surely he is the poorest man in the world for he wanteth an interest in God Christ the Spirit and promises he wanteth peace with God and peace in conscience he wanteth acceptation and reconciliation he wanteth righteousness Justification and adoption and redemption he wanteth the pardon of sin and power against sin and freedom from the reign of sin he wanteth those riches that perish
do believe and threaten eternal death to those that do not seeing it is not in their power by nature Answ 1. That he might by means of those promises and threats work us unto that which by nature we are averse unto 2 Cor. 5. 11 20. 2. That we might appear more inexcusable when neither promises nor threatnings will move us to imbrace free mercy Acts 13. 46 51. Acts 18. 6. 3. That the grace of God might as well appear in giving us power to believe as in giving Christ and in him forgiveness of sins to be believed Rom. 9. 16. Rom. 11. 5 6. 4. That we might apply our selves unto God in the use of those means that he hath appointed for the working of Faith in us John 6. 27. Isa 55. 3. 5. That we might wholly deny our selves and search and by searching find in the Covenant of grace matter of free conveyance of power to believe whatsoever is required to be believed Rom. 10. 17. John 5. 39. Rom. 4. 16 c. We read John 3. 3. except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God and we find that he that is born of God 1 John 3. 9. doth not commit Sin Q. How or in what sense he that is born of God is said not to commit sin Answ 1. He sins not that is he doth not make it his trade as others do he sins not out of malice nor alloweth himself in a course of sin if sin dwelleth in him it doth not reign in him Rom. 6. 12 14. 2. If he do through some strong temptation fall into any sin he sins with an unwilling willingness and with a dissenting consent Rom. 7. 15 19. So that they that are born of God do not commit sin as they do who are unregenerated 3. They that are born of God do not commit Sin That is they do not sin against Gospel remedy as others do Jesus Christ is the Gospel-remedy Acts 4. 12. the going on in a state of unbelief and impenitency not accepting of Christ by Faith and repentance as a Saviour and Mediator is sinning against this Gospel-remedy Acts 16. 31. Compared with John 1. 11 12. 4. He that is born of God doth not sin presumptuously and with wilfull obstinacy they sin rather out of infirmity then of insolency out of weakness rather then willfulness they do not so much overtake faults as faults overtake them Gal. 6. 1. In this sense he that is born of God doth not sin or that that is born of God doth not sin but for all this in another sense the best of men do sin and have in them sin Original and too often fall into actual who can understand his errours Psal 19. 12. Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Prov. 20. 9. there is no man that sinneth not 1 Kings 8. 46. 2 Chron. 6. 36. But before I proceed further I will give you a Catalogue of those places of Scripture that speak of man as free from sin and then another Catalogue of those places of Scripture that affirm we have sin in us and lastly do what I can to reconcile them together Of spotless Saints THou art all fair my love there is no spot in Cant. 4. 7. thee that is no such spot as the wicked man hath Deut. 32. 5. Ephes 5. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle 2 Pet. 3. 14. That you may be found in him without spot or wrinkle Rev. 14. 5. For they are without fault before the throne of God Col. 1. 22. You who were enemies in your minds now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight ver 28. that we might present every man perfect in Christ Col. 2. 10. You are compleat in him Ezek. 16. 14. Thou art comely through my comeliness saith the Lord that I have put upon thee 2 Cor. 5. 21. He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Psalm 55. 13. The Kings daughter is said to be all glorious within Whatsoever grace there is in Christ there is something of the same stamped upon every true Christian viz. Is Jesus Christ called the beloved of God so are the Saints too is he called the Son of God the Saints are also called the Sons of God Is Christ called heir the Saints are said to be heirs co-heirs with Christ Is he said to be elect and precious so are the Saints 1 Pet. 1. 2. He is called the light of the world they are also called light in the Lord Ephes 5. 8. Is he said to be full of grace and truth so are the Saints too some of them as Stephen full of grace Acts 7. 55. and Mary full of grace c. They were once blind but now they see once slaves but now sons once dead but now alive once drakness but now light once an heir of Hell but now an heir of Heaven once Satans bond men but now Gods free men once under the Spirit of bondage but now under the Spirit of Adoption that seals up the remission of sins the Justification of their persons and the salvation of their souls c. Of the spots in the best Saints THe most holy and best of Christians in this life have in them sin original and thence too often fall into sin actual who can understand his errors Psalm 19. 12. Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Prov. 20. 9. There is no man that sinneth not 1 Kin. 8. 46. and 2 Chron. 6. 36. In many things we sin all Jam. 3. 2. There is not a Just man upon earth that doth good and sineth not Eccles 7. 20. If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us and if we say we have not sinned we make God a lyer for he hath said in his word that we all have sinned 1 John 1. 8 10. see also Rom. 7. 5 23 24. Again the Testimony of the best of Saints in all ages doth testifie that none of them all have been without sin in this life no not Abraham the Father of the faithfull Gen. 12. 13 19. 20 2 5. not Isaac Gen. 26. 7 8 9. not Jacob Gen. 27. 19 20 24. not Moses and Aaron Psalm 106. 33. Deut. 32. 50 51. Exod. 32. 2 12. not David Psalm 51. 1. to 10. 38. 3 4. not Peter Mat. 26. 33 34 35 70. not Paul himself Gal. 2. 11 12 13. Rom. 7. 18 20. How to reconcile these Scriptures together seeing the one saith they have Spots the other saith they have none 1. WE are to put a difference between Spot and Spot as the Lord doth Deut. 32. 5. Their Spot saith he is not the Spot of my people so his people had not Spots and yet they had Spots
miserable then the beast that perisheth in the ditch for I must go to answer before the Judgement seat of the Righteous judge of heaven and earth where I shall have none to speak for me and I cannot excuse my self my own heart already condemns me I must needs therefore be condemned before his Judgement seat me thinks I hear that doleful sentence Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angels If I should say Lord If I must depart from thy blessed presence then bles me before I go Then he will answer me as in the text Depart ye cursed Lord if I must depart and depart without a blessing and with a curse let me go into some good place no saith the Lord in the same text Depart ye cursed into Hell fire but Lord if I must depart and depart cursed and be cast into Hell fire Let me stay but a little while there then the Lord will answer as in the same text Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire But Lord saith the damned soul if I must depart and depart cursed into everlasting fire Let me have good company there no saith the Lord Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels These shall be thy companions Oh horror to to think Oh grief to consider Oh cursed be the day wherein I was born cursed be the man that shewed my Father saying a child is born unto thee Cursed be the man because he shew me not Oh that my mother might have been my grave How is it that I came forth of the womb to endure these hellish Sorrows and that my daies should thus end with eternal shame And thus he who made earth his Paradise his belly his God his lust his Law and so sowed vanity now he reapeth misery in his prosperity he neglected to serve God in his adversity God refuseth to save him and the Devil whom he served now at at last pays him his wages thus far of the miseries of the soul and body in Death which is but cursedness in part Of the sad Condition and Misery of all out of Christ after death ANd here I shall not say much but only give the Reader a tast of that state and then speak at large to this thing towards the close of this book when we speak of the last Judgment and end of all things Now the misery of the soul after death is either particular or general particular is that which liteth upon the soul immediately as soon as she is separated from the body she is said to stand before the throne of God and so forthwith she is carried by the evil Angels with violence into hell where she is kept as in a prison in everlasting pains and chains under darkness unto the Judgement of the great day but not in that extremity of Torments which she shal receive at the last day there thy lascivious eyes shall be afflicted with sights of ghostly spirits Thy curious ears shall be affrighted with hinous noyse of howling Devils and the gnashing teeth of damned Reprobates thy dainty nose shall be cloyed with noysom stench thy delicate taste shall be pined with intolerable hunger and thy drunken throat shall be parched with nnquenchable thirst thy mind shall be tormented to think how foolishly thou hast lost heaven and gotten hellish pains for momentary riches thou hast lost the eternal treasure and changed heavens felicity for hells fury where thou shalt have punishment without pitty misery without mercy sorrow without succour crying without comfort mischief without measure torment without ease where the worm dyeth not and the fire is never quenched where the wrath of God shall fall upon the soul and body as the flame of fire doth on the Lump of pitch or brimstone in which flame thou shalt ever be burning and never consumed ever dying and never dead ever roaring in the pangs of death and never rid of those pangs this is the second death which every damned Reprobate must suffer so long as God and his Saints shall enjoy bliss and felicity in Heaven for evermore Hitherto of the misery of man in the state of corruption now followeth the means that every one should use to escape this sad condition that they may not go out as the snuff of a candle but lay down their lives in peace in assurance or at least some hope of their salvation A Preparation for death that it may not come upon us before we are ready to dye DEath having something to say to every man in every state and condition it is but reason that all should hearken to the message Now he that desires to live sweetly and die comfortably let him observe these and the like Rules First there are six things to be considered Secondly there are seven things to be practised First of the first there are six things to be considered viz. 1. The fewness of our years moneths weeks and dayes 2. The frailty of our Nature 3. The Many dangers we every day pass through 4. That death is no respecter of persons 5. That death to the godly is but a change of place not of company 6. Consider that death to a Christian is but a house a bed a sleep a rest c. 1. The fewness of our years moneths weeks and dayes here in this life is swifter then a weavers shuttle Job 7. 6. It is a shrub a leaf a reed a rush a grass a smoak a cloud a wind a water a bubble a vapour a shadow a nothing and so at our best estate altogether vanity Psalm 39. 5. Isa 64. 6. Psalm 102. 3. 2 Sam. 14. 14. Jam. 4. 14. 1 Chron. 29. 15. 2. Consider the frailty of our nature Psal 39. 4. Lord make me to know my end and the measure of my dayes what it is that I may know how frail I am such is the swiftness of mans dayes and shortness of mans life and frailty of his nature that the swiftest shortest and frailest things for the most part that we read of are not swift frail and short enough to compare mans life unto mans body is but a magazine and hospital of diseases and diseases are but the messengers or forerunners of death when diseases are in the house then death is at the threshold when sickness is in the chamber death is at the window our body is but a cottage of clay and that so frail and crasie as were it not once or twice every day daubed over it would fall about our ears wheresoever we go we are fain to drag this clod this clay whereas Angels free from the shakles of flesh can move from earth to heaven and from heaven to earth even as swift as can our thoughts Oh that we were as low in heart as condition 3. Consider the many dangers we every day pass through 2 Cor. 11. 26. In perils of waters in perils of Robbers in perils amongst our friends and foes in perils in
the City in perils in the wilderness enticed by Satan allured by the world deceived and cheated by our own heart Oh how wilt thou do to lanch out into the Ocean dost thou know what will become of thee in another world is thy peace made with God is thy person justified art thou in a state of grace art thou born again art thou converted and become as a little child hast thou repented doth thy righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees if so it is well if not thou shalt never enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 3. 5. Matthew 18. 3. Luke 13. 5. Mat. 5. 20. 4. Let us consider that death hath something to say to every one of us he is no respecter of persons sometimes he snatcheth away the babe newly born sometimes the child sometimes the young man sometimes the middle age and alwayes the old aged he respects no mans person be he rich or poor high or low strong or weak beloved or hated godly or ungodly wherefore call thy self to account every evening examine what evil hast thou hated this day what vice hast thou stood against this day in what part thou art bettered now then thou wast in the morning Seneca reports of a heathen man that would every night ask himself these questions I have heard of a heathen after his conversion that was tempted to some sin he thrust his finger into the fire saying sin soul if thou canst burn and so overcame the temptation 5. Let us consider that death to a godly man is but a change of place not of company we shall have the company of the same Father Son and Spirit and Saints and all the spirits of just men made perfect a believer in this world is not in his own place therefore oh Christians weigh anchor hoise sail and be gone death to a Christian will put an end to all unprofitable things here we change joy for sorrow health for sickness strength for weakness honour for dishonour plenty for poverty beauty for deformity friends for foes silver for brass gold for copper c. now death puts an end to all these Rev. 21. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow neither shall there be any more pain Rev. 14. 13. therefore blessed are the dead that die in the Lord death also doth put a change to our employment our employment in this world doth lye much in praying groaning sighing mourning wrestling and fighting against the world flesh and Devil Ephes 6. 10. But in the world to come our employment will lye in praising and magnifying the Lord Again our enjoyment shall be changed as well as our employment we shall change our unconstant enjoyment for a more constant 1 Thes 4. 17 18. We shall change our dark and obscure enjoyment for a more bright enjoyment 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face here we receive grace for grace there we shall receive glory for glory 6. Consider unto what familiar things death is compared and presented to one that is in Christ sometimes it is termed a house Job said I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house of all living Job 30. 23. Sometimes it is represented as going to bed Isa 57. 2. Sometimes death is stiled a sleep Dan. 12. 2. What shall I say more death to a wicked man is the king of terrors but Christ came to deliver his flock from the fear of death and the grave is embalmed by Jesus Christ he lay there three dayes c. 2. As in our preparation for death there are the foregoing things to be considered so in the next place there are some things to be practiced and the work we have is two-fold 1. Get a title to Gods love 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title which is or may be done by improving these five things 3. Improve the present opportunity and put not off to the last minute as most do 4. Store up a stock of faith store up a stock of promises and store up a stock of prayers against that day 5. Endeavour so to live every day as if it were thy last day 6. Gather up all thy evidences and spiritual experiences and keep them in mind and heart 7. Make thy will in time of health and leave all things clear upon thy book both in shop and conscience 1. In all thy gettings be sure to get a title to Gods love and then get assurance that thou hast a title the first is done by action the second is done by examination The action or actions are these 1. GIve diligence to make thy calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. and that a man may so do shorten worldly business and be moderate in the use of worldly pleasures so foolish are we that whilst with much care and labour we go about to make those things certain which are most uncertain we make those things uncertain which might be made most certain he that hath two Irons in the fire at once spoyls one whilst he attends the other See what care most have to make good their titles to settle their inheritances upon their heirs shall we not be as careful to settle our interest to eternal glory if we be quiet now yet the Devil will find a time to try thy evidences for heaven and call our title into question sickness and death are times of weakness to us wherin he like a subtile enemy displayes all his art O consider the misery of doubting persons at their death think upon the anguish that their souls endure they apprehend God angry with them the Devil accusing them earth leaving them heaven refusing them hell claiming them soul and body parting friends weeping and themselves hopeless going they know not whither O then O then let us make our calling and election sure before hand as worldly men get riches in health to cherish them in sickness and as the Bees get hony in summer to feed on in the winter even so should we in time of health get good grounds of assurance that so we might live enjoy and dye in peace and rise in perfection and raign in happiness 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title viz. make a curious narrow impartial diligent search into thy own soul and see what humility what self-denial what sin-abhorrency what love to Christ what delight in his Ordinances what zeal to Gods glory what contempt of the world what desires after the society of the Saints what sympathizing with them in their afflictions and if thou findest any impressions of grace any spiritual work any saving savoury distinguishing operations upon thy heart c. canst thou mourn in secret for open and secret sins dost thou deâ—ire to have sin purged as well as pardoned dost thou leave sin from a right principle to a right end and so through the Spirit mortifie the
love thereof they willingly parted with much of their earthly goods and possessions to lay up treasure in heaven Abraham and Sarah left their own country and possessions to look for a City whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. 10 15 16. David preferreth one day in this place before a thousand elsewhere Psal 84. 10. Elias earnestly besought the Lord to receive his soul into his Kingdom and went willingly though in a fiery Chariot King 19. 4. Saint Paul having once seen heaven continually desiâ—eth to be dissolved that he might be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Saint Peter having espyed but a glimpse of eternal glory in the mount wished that he might dwel there all the dayes of his life Mat. 17. 4. saying Master it is good for us to be here c. Christ a little before his death prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent glory Joh. 17. 5. And the Apostle witnesseth Heb. 11. 2. that for the joy which was set before them they endured the cross and despised the shame 1 Pet. 5. 4. and when the chief Shepheard shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away c. this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration decay or consumption waste or diminution mans eternal condition admits of no comparison revocation or conclusion c. What use we may make of all these precious things 1. EXcellent arguments may be drawn to pres-Christians to a holy life 2 Pet. 3. 11. see ing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness and ver 14. Wherefore seeing ye look for such things give diligence that ye may be found in him in peace It is our duty to live in a continual expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus with our loins girt and our lamps burning for blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing 2. Consider that here is a fountain opened for Christian comfort and ground for patience in all troubles that there shall be an end a Christians hope shall not be cut off if in this life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. But here lyes the comfort and patience of true Christians theywait for another world and they know it is a just thing with God to give them rest after their labours 2 Thes 1. 9. and a crown after their combate 2 Tim. 4. 8. and after their long Pilgrimage an everlasting habitation 2 Cor. 5. 1. Be patient saith the Apostle and settle your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh James 5. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 9. When they that have sown in tear shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. 3. Consider that assurance of that blessed state may be attained in this life we know faith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. That if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed we have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens these things saith John I have written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. I am sure saith Job 19. 25 26 27. that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my self shall see and mine eyes shall behold when I awake saith David I shall be satisfied with thy Image Psal 17. 15. 4. The consideration of this should provoke us to be such as may be made meet for this inheritance of the Saints in light and to endeavour to attain and retain the earnest of the Spirit whence we may be alwaies able to say we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. and to fill the soul with strong consolation against the sufferings of life and the fear of death and to work an answerable conversation that whether absent or present we may so walk as we may be accepted of him 5. The consideration of this should put us upon a patient waiting for and a longing expectation of our change which draweth on a pace and not to put that off as most do to the last year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and then to the last week of that moneth and then to the last day of that week and then to the last hour of that day and then to the last minute of that hour and so time shall be no more and we shall not find repentance although we seek it with tears 6. Consider that the cause of our salvation and so of our glorious condition is Gods meer love and favour without any merit of ours Luke 12. 32. It is our Fathers good pleasure to give us a Kingdom Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Ephes 2. 8. By grace we are saved through faith and not of our selves it is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. everlasting life is the gift of God and though eternal life be called a reward yet it is not of merit but of mercy let this be grounded in our hearts that the Kingdom of heaven is not a stipend of servants but an inheritance of Sons which they only obtain that lay hold on his mercy Romans 5. 8. compared with 1 Tim. 6. 12. and 19. 2. Now as hath been said as the love of God is the cause of our salvation fo Jesus Christ is the way Joh. 10. 9. Joh 14. 6. 3 The holy Spirit is the guide in that way as in Joh. 16. 13. 4. The Scriptures of truth is the rule Gal. 6. 16. Isa 8. 20. 5. The evidence of this salvation is faith Heb. 11. 1. It is true the instrumental cause offering and proclaiming salvation is the Gospel but the instrumental receiving and applying it is faith and the cause sealing it inwardly to our souls is the Spirit of God the external and instrumental seals thereof are the two confirming Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper 6. The anchor of this salvation is hope Heb. 6. 19. 7. The effects of this salvation is love to God because he loved us first and a holy conversation if ye love me saith Christ keep my commandments and they that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works which are found and required in the way to the Kingdom but they are not the cause of reigning Of the end of the world THE consequents of the last judgement is life eternal in heaven or hell and the end of the world having finished the former let me point to the latter and I have finished what I intended we read Mat. 24. 3. that Peter James John and Andrew Mark 13. 3. came to Christ and desired him to satisfie them in these three questions 1. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple 2. Concerning
Christs second coming and the signs thereof 3. Concerning the end of the world c. The answer to the first question is from ver 4. to ver 23. The answer to the second is from ver 24. to ver 36. The answer to the third question is from ver 36. to the end of that Chapter In which Christ tels them that the very day and hour no man knoweth that day is hidden from us that we might not be secure but alwayes prepared expecting the day of his coming and hope for it and have a special care that that certain uncertain hour come not upon us unawares Luke 12. 40. The end of the world is the destruction of this visible universe as the wicked are thrust into hell and the godly entred into heaven this is called the consummation of the world it shall be destroyed by fire 2 Pet. 3. 6 7 10 12 c. but what kind of fire this is he only knows who is himself a consuming fire Some understand that this world shall be destroyed only in its quality others in its substance they who think it shall be destroyed only in qualities mean a purging and restauration of it to its primitive institution But the reader may do well to take notice that it is one thing to be restored and changed into a better state and another thing to wax old like a garment and to vanish like smoak to be dissolved to melt to be burned to pass away to be no more as these Scriptures affirm 1 Cor. 7. 31. Psal 102. 26 27. and Heb. 1. 11. Isa 51. 6. Mat. 24. 35. 2 Pet. 3. 7 10 12. Rev. 21. 1. FINIS An Alphabetical Table of the principal matters contained in this Book A OF assembling our selves together Pag. 199. Of admonition publike and private p. 282. Of assurance of salvation p. 285. 1. The nature of it p. 286. 2. Whether assurance may be attained in this life yea or nay p. 287. 3. The sorts or degrees of it p. 288. 4. Of the trials of assurance p. 289. 5. It is our duty to labour for it p. 290. 6. Of the benefits of it p. 291. 7. Of the springs of assurance p. 292. 8. Of the impediments of it p. 294. 9. Of our sad condition without it p. 295. 10. Many have it not that think they have it p. 297. 11. Of the reasons wherefore the Lord doth not give it speedily p. 298. 12. It is very hard to recover it if once lost p. 299. Of afflictions p. 323. Why the Lord doth afflict his own people p. 324. He doth try their truth and strength by it p. 325. How to know what sin God aims at in affliction p. 327. Of Angels p. 9. How a man should act p. 88. B. OF the Ordinance of Baptism p. 254. 1. Of the essence of it ibid. 2. Of the exercise of it p. 255. Of the condition of man in his birth p. 385. Of the bill of inditement of twenty Articles brought against man upon his sick bed p. 392. C OF the Creation p. 8. Of the Covenant of Grace p. 20. 1. What is the sum or substance of it ibid. 2. With whom this Covenant was first made p. 25. 3. When this Covenant was made p. 28. 4. Whether there be any conditions of it and if so what they are p. 30. 5. Whether it be one and the same Covenant of grace that was in force before the Law and under the Law and now under the Gospel p. 35. 6. Whether this Covenant may not be broken as was the Covenant of works p. 38. 7. What means one should use to get into this Covenant p. 41. 8. When one may be said to be in this Covenant p. 44. 9. Wherein the Covenant of grace and the Covenant of works do differ p. 47. 10. What is Gods order and method in bringing a people into Covenant p. 50. 11. What are the blessings and benefits of this Covenant p. 53. 12. Whether most men and women in the world are not under a ovenant of works p. 56. Of the ten Commandments and what each of them doth prohibit and enjoyn The first Commandment doth enjoin nine things and forbid three things p. 303. The second Commandment doth prohibit seven things and enjoyn six things p. 304. The third Commandment doth prohibit four things and enioin five things p. 305. The fourth Commandment doth prohibit five things and enjoin five things ibid. The fifth Commandment doth enjoin fourteen things p. 306. The sixth Commandment doth prohibit five things and enjoin fourthings p. 307. The seventh Commandment doth prohibit eight things and enjoin seven things p 308. The eighth Commandment doth prohibit seven things and enjoin five things p. 308. The ninth Commandment doth prohibit seven things and enjoin five things p. 309. The tenth Commandment doth prohibit four things and enjoyn four things p. 310. The order of causes how the Lord comes down from the causes to the effects p. 336. 1. Of the coming of Christ p. 414. 2. The time of his coming is near p. 418. 3. Of the manner of his coming p. 421. 4. Of the signs of his coming p. 422. 5. Christ shall come visibly p. 423. 6. The posture that a Christian should be in at his coming p. 423. 7. It is the duty of all to wait for his coming p. 424. 8. Of the benefits that a Christian shall have at Christs coming p. 425. 9. What should the consideration of his coming put us upon p. 427. 10. The sad condition of all out of Christ at his coming p. 428. 11. He shall come terribly p. 430. The right constitution of a Church of Christ or the way at first to gather a Church p. 201. There are four things that Christ hath already done five things he is now doing and six things more he will do when he cometh p. 431. D. A Rule to try Doctrines by p. 231. The Lord doth not despise the day of small things p. 334. Several Divine sentences p. 340. The miseries attending both body and soul at the hour of death p. 391. Of the sad condition of all out of Christ after death p. 399. In order to our preparation for death consider p. 400. 1. The fewness of our dayes ibid. 2. The many dangers we every day pass through ibid. Death to a Christian is but a change of place not of company p. 401. Death is no respecter of persons ibid. Death to a Christian is but a house a bed a sleep ibid. Of the duration of the miserable estate of the damned in hell p. 452. Of the Devil p. 321. E. OF Election p. 6. Of Experience p. 167. Of Excommunication p. 284. How far a true Christian may be tainted with error in judgement and yet be restored p. 155. Of enjoyment p. 168. Of the end of the world p. 466. F. OF the faith of Gods Elect. p. 108. 1. Of the nature of it ibid. 2. The Object of this faith p. 109. 3. The Subject of it
4. He mourns in secret when God is dishonoured These are such flowers of Paradise that were never seen to grow in natures garden until the new man was put on and the party renewed in the Spirit of his mind let us then make the word and spirit the judge of our condition for if we make sense and reason the judge of our condition we must resolve to lâ—ve in fear and lie down in sorrow Quest Whether man hath a free will yea or no Answ Mans will is free to all that is evil so said the Apostle to do evil is present with me but how to do that which is good I find not So man hath free will to do evil but no will to do good because the one is natural the other is supe natural Rom. 9. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy poor man would be like the spider spinning out a thred of his own and so think to climb up to heaven by a thred spun out of his own bowels Jâ—b 8. 14. This thred will be cut off there is an emptiness and insufficiency in our nature to any thing that is spiritually good we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but all our sufficiency is of God we have no grace but what we receive from Christ and grace is no grace unless it be every wav free therefore we have little reason to boast of the freedom of our will to any thing that is spiritually good because our will is not free till it be by grace made free we have no power to become the Sons of God till it be given us to believe in his name Quest Whether a man may fall from grace yea or no Answ A true Christian can never totally and finally fall away from grace it is true there is a kind of seeming holiness which may be lost and a form of godliness which may vanish and come to nought Heb. 6. 4 6. and 10. 29. It is true also that Gods own people called and chosen may nâ—uch damp and quench the grace of God which is in them and may shew much infirmity in particular fals the sense of it may be much lessened power of it weakned the degree of it abated but the habit cannot be utterly lost the life of it never goes out consult with these Scriptures and they will prove this truth Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love 2 Tim. 2. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure Heb. 7 25. He ever liveth to make intercession for them John 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and no man shall pluck them out of my hand 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation Now if any say a man may fall away from grace let me ask him 1. Is the surety of the New Testament grown so uncertain Heb. 7 22. 2. Is the promise now come to be so mutable 3. Is the power of God grown so weak 1 Pet. 1. 5. 4. Is the will of God become mutable 2 Tim. 2. 19. 5. Is the free eternal and everlasting love of God become changable John 13. 1. Isa 54. 10 The mountains shall depart and the hils be removed but the kindness of the Lord shall not depart men and Divels shall as soon dethrone God pluck the Sun out of the firmament and Christ out of the bosom of the Father as they shall pluck a believer out of the arms of Christ or rob him of his interest in the precious promises what shall I say more A Christian is but a weak subject to fall but he hath a strong God a strong Saviour and strong promises he hath a foundation first a sure foundation secondly it is a foundation of God that cannot shake but standeth firm c. Quest How should a godly man or woman follow their particular calling with comfort pleasure ease and delight that so they might live sweetly till they go hence and at last dye comfortably Answ The Scripture shews that men must have a calling and teacheth them how to beliave themselves in it Tht first Adam and the second the two only innocent persons that ever lived upon the earth had both of them a calling Adam drest the garden and Christ was a Minister of the circumcision Gen. 2. 15. Rom. 15. 8. 1. How a man may and ought to follow his calling providently Proverbs 27. 23. and 2 King 2. 23. 2. Diligently Eccles 9. 10. with Genesis 31. 6. 40. 3. Faithfully not trusting to our own toyling without building upon Gods blessing Deut. 8. 18. Prov. 10. 22. 4. Moderately not hindring our selves in the exercise of Religion Luk. 10. 39 40. c. not wearing away our bodies with excessive toyl Exod. 18. 18 c. avoiding excessive care which disturbs and annoies the heart Psal 108. 1. 1 Tim. 2. 8. not with a will to be rich but to be imployed for Gods glory 1 Tim. 6. 9. 2 Cor. 12. 14. Ephes 4. 28. Observe a few rules in buying and a few rules in selling First in buying 1. Do not say the commodity is naught when you know it is good Prov. 20. 14. 2. Do not give counterfeit mony Gen. 23. 16. 3. Do not long defer the paying when you have bought Prov. 3. 27 28. 4. Do not buy those commodities that are not fit to be sold as stollen good Monuments as Crosses Beads and Images Amos 2. 16. then in selling 1. Do not multiply words in selling in a multitude of words there is sin saith Solâ—mon 2. Do not sell thy commodities by false weights Amos 8. 5. Micah 6. 10. 3. Do not work upon the ignorance or simplicity of him that comes to buy 1 Thes 4. 6. 4. Do not imbase a commodity from its primative worth and yet sell it at the full price Amos 8. 6. Isa 1. 22. In a word in all our endeavours and pains let us be without care 1 Pet. 5. 7. casting all your care upon him for he careth for you Psal 37. 3 4 5. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwel in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shâ—ll bring it to pass Prov. 16. 3. Commit thy way to the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Psal 55. 22. cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee remember the world was made of nothing Heb. 11. 3. and Job tels us that it doth hang upon nothing Job 26. 7. therefore to depend upon it is to depend upon nothing Prov. 24. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not surely the fashion of this world passeth away and here we have no continuing City our bodies are cottages of clay which shortly will beblown down by the
wind of death yea their falling began with their building Quest Whether a godly man may buy and sell eat and drink travel and discourse with an ungodly man or men Answ We find in the Scriptures that a good man is to love his enemies and to do good unto all Gal. 6. 10. The Lord doth cause the Sun to shine and the rain to fall upon them therefore beware of judging and condemning them are they proud who can tell but God may humble them are they unclean who can tell but God may cleanse them we ought to be courteous in our behaviour towards them Gen. 23. 7 12. Abraham bowed himself to the people of the Land Christ was tender hearted towards them he wept over them that were to shed his blood and we are to own and commend what there is of God in them so it is said Christ did love the young man in the Gospel for those natural parts that there were in him God is the fountain of common gifts as well as of saving grace The Lord doth make use of them to bring out of their loyns many precious men and sometimes he doth make use of them to help the woman and sometimes to awaken his people and put them upon their guard but in all our conversings with wicked men take heed to these things 1. Walk warily and circumspectly before them Phil. 2. 15. For you are in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having therefore your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles ver 15. For so is the will of God that with well doing we put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 2 Beware of envying at their prosperity because God hath prohibited that Psalm 37. 1. Consider they have their reward here in this life Prov. 24. 19. There is no reward to a wicked man in another life 3. Beware of cracking a good conscience to procure their favour as Judas did consider their favour is fickle and it is a madness to lose the favour of God to gain the favour of his enemies 4. Beware of omitting those duties that God requires of you for fear of them this is to life up man more then God Consider omission may damn a man as well as commissions and hereby we shall gratifie carnal men by omitting of good duties for fear of them and by this we shall stagger those that were coming on in the wayes of God 5. Beware of too deep a familiarity with them and that for these reasons First because they have no communion nor fellowship with God Ephes 2. 12. They are without Christ in the world and have communion with Satan 1 John 5. 19. The whole world lyeth in wickedness Again deep communion with them is very dangerous to your souls Joseph by this began to swear by the life of Pharaoh and Peter being a little in bad company how soon could he swear and lye both one after another Quest Whether recreation be lawful and if so what recreation and when to be used and how long and how oft Answ Recreation in some pleasant and harmless exercise is lawful as might appear by the testimony and practices of many good people sometimes making use of their liberty therein observing these and the like rules 1. In and by things lawful not vain as filthy or slanderous songs 1 Cor. 15. 33. Psal 69. 12. 2. Not foolish talking and unsaintlike jesting Ephes 5. 3 4 3. Not dicing carding stage-playing and fidling 4. We are not to use recreation as we do meat and drink but as wine seldom and little at a time 1 Tim. 5. 23. Then there are times in which no recreation is either lawful or expedient 1. On the Sabbath or Lords day it is altogether forbidden Isa 58. 13. 2. In the time of mourning for it becomes no body to be jolly when God is angry Isa 22. 12 13. Mat. 9. 55. 3. It must be done in a fit time as our occasions will bare that we may redeem time and not set spurs to a running horse as it were a benefit to be rid of time that is neither for our profit here Proverbs 21. 17. nor our safety hereafter Mat. 25. 30. 4. It must be made use of in a fit manner for no more then we are willing to lose 5. It must be carried on soberly not over earnestly it is dangerous for a man to give up himself too much to pleasurable things 1 Cor. 7. 31. for wisdom must be the moderator of our mirth and content Eccles 2. 3. 6. This also must be done in good company not with men of evil manners lest we bring our selves to be in danger to be partaker of their sins Quest In as few words as may be answer me to these eight things 1. Election what it is 2. The causes of it 3. The ends of it 4. The effects of it 5. The Subjects of it 7. The properties of it 8. The signs of it Answ I have spoken to Election before in its place but seeing here are more particulars then there I have spoken unto I shall answer each briefly 1. As to election what it is consider that it is a special decree of God touching the conferring of eternal salvation by Christ the Redeemer to certain men of meer mercy and good will 2. As to the causes of election it is the love of the Trinity God Almighty Father Son and Holy Ghost The manner of working peculiarly to each of them the Scripture expresly sheweth that the Father and the Son did elect us Ephes 1. 4. John 15. 16. In which we may not exclude the Holy Ghost who hath one common God-head with them 1 Joh. 5. 7. So that the cause which moved God to elect was his meer good will and nothing else as appears by these ensuing undeniable reasons 1. By the word of God he hath predestinated us according to the good pleasure of his will Ephes 1. 5. Rom. 11. 5. So then we are not elected for foreseen faith for every cause is before the effect now faith is after election Act. 13. 48. So in the next place we are not elected for any foreseen works for the Apostle doth exculde all works from being either causes of election or reprobation Rom 9. 11 12. 3. The ends of election may be reduced to these three heads 1. The glory of God and the celebration and declaration of his mercy Romans 9. 23. Ephes 1. 6. 2. The second end is that we should be ho. ly Ephes 1. 4. He did not chuse us because we were then holy but that we might be holy 3. The third end is the salvation and glory of the elect therefore they are said to be ordained to eternal life and prepared unto glory and chosen unto salvation Acts 13. 48. Rom. 9. 23. 2 Thes 2. 13. 4. The effects of election are the mediation of Christ adoption vocation saving faith justification glorification in a word Gods election is the root of all gifts of God in