shining lights in the Doctrine of their lips and life adorned still with his Vrim and Thummim Lights and Perfections as was prefigured by the holy Garments designed by the Lord for the vesture of his Church-officers It concerns all Gods people to look carefully to the trimming and feeding of those Lamps and to walk in their Light as becomes the Children of the Light and as God himself is in the Light that their mutual communion may be truly owned a fellowship with God by the Spirit of his Son else he threatens hard the removal of his Candle-stick when people grow wanton playing by their Light blowing at it abusing of it throwing water thereon and following false Lights in stead thereof The Lord would have them attended and obeyed in every Ordinance according to his Word as his Messengers and Heraulds his Stewards and Embassadors his Officers and Ministers authorized by special power qualifying them and Authority comissioning them to every part of his service He that hears them and receives them hears and receives him He that slights and rejects them slights and rejects him and the Father that sent him as he sends them in his name The slight and abuse of his spiritual Officers he hath in all ages dreadfully punished after many warnings He would not have them indeed lord it over the faith of Believers nor act as Lords of his Heritage but perform their office with Love and tenderness humility and self-denial yet with all Authority in his name and strength This Treasure they have in earthen vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of man and are to be received as an Angel of God even as Jesus Christ as the Galathians did for which Paul commends them They should be quickned to their work as need requires and diligently attended therein in all orderly meetings whether fixed or occasional every Christian should carefully prepare for and seasonably repair to the place at the time appointed as they did still in Primitive days though then in much danger that all may be ready as before God to perform their duty with affectionate attention and submissive application with fervent zeal and holy self-denial for future Improvement To be first at a feast and last at Church early with the world and late with God ardent in fleshly things and cold in Spirituals active in worldly trifles and trifling in Divine affiairs vigilant about earth and dormant about heaven shews a great measure of carnality too prevailing in our days even among Gods people The Lord quicken all your hearts that we may more effectually stir up our selves and others by the diligent improvement of all due means through his blessing to this eminent duty of Walking Worthy of our Vocation for his Glory and our eternal Welfare To every one that walks according to this Rule Peace shall be and Mercy upon the Israel of God FINIS Psal. 73. 28. Can. 1. 2 4 7 9. Eph. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proâ— 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 〈◊〉 2. 5. Rev. 17. 14. 1 Cor. 2. 15. Eph. 1. 23. Col. 3. 11. Psal. 73. 25. Can. 5. 10. Can. 3 4. Rom. 3. 11. Rom. 6. 6. 21. 1 Cor. 2. 2. Phil. 3. 9 10. 1 Cor. 2. 4. 2 Chro. 15. 2. 1 Chro. 28. 9. Gen. 17. 1 2 3 4. c. 2 Cor. 11. 9. Eph. 6. 10. Deut. 33. 16. 1 Cor. 9. 24. Psal. 33. 11. Eph 1. 3 4 5 9 11. 1 Kin. 8. 15. Pro 16. 4. Gen. 3. 1 2 9 7 82 c. Eccle. 7. 29. Rom. 5. 12 15 16 17 18 19 21. Ioh. 3. 6. Iob 14. 4. Gen. 6. 5. Gen. 8. 21. Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6. Ier. 31. 3. Gen. 3. 15. Rom. 5. 8. Ioh. 6. 44 45. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Joh. 5. 25. Heb. 12. 25. Eph. 2. 2 3. Eph. 4. 17. Phil. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 3. 16. Aâ—â— 26. 18. Joh. 16. 8 9 10. Act. 26. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rom. 8. 28 29 30. Mat. 22. 14. Mat. 11. 25 Psal. 147. 19 20. Act. 14. 16. Luk. 14. Mat. 22. 3 5 6 12 13. Jer. 23. 14. 3 Ioh. 4. Psal. 81. 11 12. Isa. 66. 3. Rom. 7. Rev. 2. 7. Rev. 22. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 8. 2 Pet. 1. 2 3. Gen. 2. 17. 1 Ioh. 2. 1. Rom. 6. 23. Isa. 59. 21. Exo. 20. 24. Isa. 64. 5. Ioh. 3. 8. Gen. 2. 15. 2 Thess. 3. 10. Iâ—h. 5. 17. Isa. 26. 12. Rom. 8. 11 13. Psal. 110. 3. Hos. 2. 14 19. Mat. 22. 14. Ioh. 3. 3. 5. 6. Mat. 18. 3 Gal. â— 15. 2 Cor. 5 17. Eph. 4. 24. Act. 26. 18. 1 Iâ—h 3. 14 â— Pet. 1. â— Ioh. 8 32 36. 1 Ioh 5. 1◠〈◊〉 1. 1â— Rom. 9. 11. Rom. 4. 17. Num. 14. 24. Psal. 22. 6 Isa 41. 4â— Psal. 45. 13. Psal. 110. 3. 1 Cor. 2. 14 15. Luke 17. 21. Can 1. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 26 27. 1 Kin. 8. 38. Iam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 22. Psal. 14. Psal. 53. Mat 22. Luke 14. Psal. 26. 2. Psal. 139. 23. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Jer. 17. 9. Mat. 25. Ioh. 16. 8 9 10. Rom. 8. 15. Hos. 2. 14. Jer. 4. 3. Act. 26. 18. 1 Cor. 1. 30 Act. 9. Act. 16. 14 30 31. 1. Pet. 1. 5. Col. 1. 13. Hos 11. 2 3 4. Can. 1. 2. Ioh. 6. 44. Can. 2. 14. Can. 5. 2 3 c. Zech. 12. 10 11. Psal. 29. 2 3 5 9. Heb. 4. 12. Can. 5. 3 4 5 c. Mat. 9. 9. Luk. 19. 23 c. Gal. 5. 24. Gal. 5. 6. Gal. 6. 14. Mat. 10. 38. Mar. 8. 34. Luk. 9. 23. Psal. 73. 24. Mat. 11. 28 29. Rom. 7. 25 26. Psal. 31. Psal. 119. Rev. 17. 14. 2 Pet. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 28 29 30. Rom. 8. 32 33 34 35. Ver. 36 37. Rom. 11. 29. Ioh. 10. 3 4 27 28 29 30. Mat. 9. 13. Luk. 19. 9 10. Isa. 47. 13. Luke 15. Isa. 44. 20. Mat. 11. 28. Rom. 10. 14. Isa. 26 3 4. Ioh. 7. Pro. 3. 6. Exo. 20. 24. Isa. 64. 5. Mat. 16. 19 20. Mat. 6. 6. 2 Cor. 12. 9 10. 1 Tim. 1 12 13 14 15 16. Ezek. 36. 26 27. Jer. 32. 39 40. Gen. 17. 2 3. Gen. 48. 15. Lev. 26. 3. Deut. 25. 33. Iosh. 22. 5. Gen. 4. 22. Gen. 6. 9. 1 Kin. 9. 4. 1 Kin. 20. 3. Luk. 1. 6. Num. 14. 24. Act. 9. 31. Psal. 110. 3. Gal. 3. 25. 1 Cor. 13. 12. Rom. 17. 15 16 18 19 21 23. Gal. 5. 16. 2 Thess. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 1 Ioh. 2. 6. 1 Cor. 11. 1. Mat. 11. 29. Ezek. 36. 20. Eph. 2. 10. Tit. 2. 11 12 14. Tit. 3. 8 14. Psal. 18. 25 26. Pro. 14. 34. Pro. 10. 9. Pro. 28. 18. Pro. 3. 17. Isa. 64. 5. Pro. 3. 6. Pro. 15. 24. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. Psal. 81. 11 12. 2 Thess. 2. 9 10 11 12. 2 Pet. 2. 19. 2 Pet. 3. 3. Iud. 18. Ioh. 14. 6. Heb. 10. 20. Ier. 6. 16. Eph. 2.
Spiritual Exercise for his Glory and his peoples good through the supplies of his Holy Spirit Do we move herein by a generous Spirit as Constantine and Theodotius the senior and junior Marcian and Pulcheria those Imperial Lights of Christianity King Lucius the Brittain and famous Alfred the Saxons Glory whose Courts and Palaces were accounted Christs Oratary and Academy whose heads and hearts whose tongues and hands were continually employed with chearfulness in this noble work of religious helpfulness Do we cordially labour to contribute our time and skill our Strength and Interest our Credit and Wealth our Power and Authority to the utmost for the promoting of this signal duty in all christian reciprocations of advice and help through the Lords Assistance Is it our grief and trouble that we have done and yet do so little towards it Is it our joy to see others faithfull and diligent about it Are we moved with indignation against all sinfull Obstructions that hinder the same Are we content to break through all obstacles and difficulties that might retard us from it Are the Lords Encouragements from Heaven efficaciously prevailing with us above and against all Discouragements from Earth and Hell still re-enforced against this work of Christ 2. In our civil Capacity do we demonstrate the like studious industry for Christian helpfulness in each relation domestical and political either as Superiors or as Inferiors either as Governors or as governed Do Magistrates and people Officers and souldiers Parents and children Husbands and wives Masters and servants friends and Neighbours in City and Countrey observe the Lords Will about this grand Affair of so much import to his Glory and the publique weal in the furtherance of each others good Is it our desire and delight purpose and Labour to be found watchfully diligent and self-denyngly active about it Do we gladly redeem all opportunities of improving our Talents and laying out our best abilities through Gods help to the best advantage of serving one another in Love as becomes all the subjects of Christs Kingdom are we cordially willing to be told of our faults and mind others of theirs with meekness and Zeal prudence and patience tenderness and faithfulness Do we judge our selves for our sinfull Jealousies and causeless prejudices our indiscreet carriages and unchristian deportments towards those above us about us under us Do we encourage others to deal freely with us and bear with their weakness mistakes and miscarriages making still the best construction of their speech and actions Are we candid in our address to others and ingenuous in our acceptance of their endeavours though mean and homely to our apprehensions Are we still labouring to get and improve such a noble genius as the Roman Senator expressed who would freely forgive all to others but nothing to himself being most severe to our own selves but most tender to others Are we of Titus Princely disposition to account that day lost wherein we have not been doing some good to others Do our actions express effectually what the famous Painter said verbally nullus dies sine lineâ no day passing without some real effects of our Christian helpfulness Do we studiously labour in every occasion in every company to do and receive no hurt when we cannot do and receive good as we would desire Do we therefore carefully avoid all the degrees and appearances of evil exercising our selves with choice diligence to keep a conscience still void of offence towards God and Man Do we thus help others upon Christs account with a general Love of pitty to sinners and a special Love of delight towards Saints using all due means for reciprocal Aides in our Christian Walk becoming the sutable decency and honourable pre-eminence of our heavenly Calling 4. This Truth yields also choice consolation to zealous Christians officiously employed about this great business of mutual quickning each other in the Lords Wayes Honour and pleasure comliness and profit do still attend it however carnal minds may mis-judge thereof It s good to be found thus acting for Christ and like Christ from Christ and through Christ in christian benevolence and beneficence Though some harshness and difficulties may be met withall from the hands of men to discourage you as in all other eminent Duties yet comfort and help will never be wanting from the Lords gracious hand Christs famous Axiome is strongly inforced by the Apostle to chear up all Christians about this great work 'T is more blessed a thing said the King of Saints to give then to receive The next royalty is to receive in Love what is given in Love for councill or assistance The surest way to receive most from God is to give most to men on his score Such a laying out is the best laying up That precious seed is cast into Christs lap which is bestowed upon men for his sake His bosom never yet proved a barren soil but will surely return a plentifull Crop He that gives to the poor whether in Spirituals or in Temporals lends unto the Lord Who will repay it with the best advantage Faithfull advice bestowed an obedient ear will be found a Jewel beyond Gold and Pearls He is wise and happy that hearkens to reproof in the Judgement of the wisest of men and will find such Physick singularly healthfull though for a time it may smart and gripe whilst it is working out of his ill humours A rebuke enters more into a wise man then a hundred blows do into a fool Such will find the rare benefit of having their sores duly clensed and dressed when others â—…all smart in shame and sorrow for their wilfull neglects The weeding of their ground will cherish the goods plants and increase their fruit when others shall be found overgrown with Brambles and Nettles through their selfish contemptuous laziness They shall be secured from the enemies wiles who have been observant of all warnings given when others carelesness shall expose them to the Stratagems and cruel insultings of the Lords malicious adversaries Zealous Christians shall reap the comfort of their officiousness in their friendly Reciprocations of quickning helpfulness Though their seed time may appear gloomy and stormy yet shall their harvest be serene and joyfull 5. A solemn Exhortation should be hence pressed upon all Christians to attend this work and buckle to it with faithfull diligence and prudent zeal with carefull observance and tender cautiousness with sensible affection and sober discretion in every relation condition and occasion Do we need inducements to quicken us thereto Have not all the considerations hitherto hinted at sufficient force to perswade us with cogent Arguments to such a duty so eminent and so expedient Let all Christs friends be then efficaciously urged thereto personally and domestically politically and ecclesiastically 1. Personally going before others in an Exemplary way of gracious behaviour Le ts therefore begin at our own hearts and
A Pleasant WALK TO HEAVEN Through the New and Living Way which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us and his sacred Word reveals unto us Published by CLAUDIUS GILBERT B. D. Minister of the Gospel at Limrick Prov. 3. 17. The waies of Wisdom are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are Peace Psal. 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord Act. 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied Hos. 14. 9. The waies of the Lord are right the just shall walk in them but the Transgressors shall fall therein Jer. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord stand in the waies and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and you shall find rest for your souls But they said we will not walk therein Eph. 5. 15 16. See that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the Time because the daies are evil Gen. 5. 24. And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Phil. 3. 18 19 20. Many walk of whom I tell you weeping c. But our Conversation is in HEAVEN LONDON Printed for Francis Titon and are to be sold at the sign of the three Daggers in Fleet-street 1658. To my Highly honoured Vncle Colonel Henry Markham a Member of the Parliament AND To my worthily Honoured Aunt Mis Esther Markham his Endeared Consort Dearly Honoured and Beloved in the Lord IT is good for man to draw near to God whose fellowship is the cheifest good the Fountain of all Good The Psalmist found still the choice experience of that Divine Oracle and therefore commended it so highly to others The very beginnings of spiritual acquaintance with Christ are so savory to a sanctified heart that this precious Wine cannot but cause his lips to magnifie the sweetness thereof Grace is the lively Image of the living God resembling him still in activeness of communication and Holiness of Conversation They that have tasted how good the Lord is in his Word and waies cannot but be moved by the strong Impulse of such experiences to incourage still themselves and others to such a heavenly Communion with their God and faithfulness to him The best good is still most communicative diffusing its streams and displaying its Rayes to all round about The Followers of the Lamb have their reason and all other Powers of the Internal and external Man Spiritually ennobled and sublimed to discern all things by a Divine Light and make choice of Christ for their All in All incomparably before all things else Having once found him whom their souls do unfeignedly love their desire is still to keep close to him and walk worthy of him as far as his Grace is enabled through his Spirit that dwels in them to rule there for him They cannot but find strong Endearments obliging ther hearts to be soliciting still others with themselves to this Divine Exercise It hath pleased that Father of Spirits to make such an Impress thereof upon my Conscience that it engages me to judge my self deeply for former neglects and binds me forcibly to more diligent care for future occasions This small Piece now presented to you will speak my ressentments more expresly about this Subject It comes out in a very plain dress and without trimming the matter thereof being sufficient to commend its own worth to candid Christians and intended for the lowest forms of Christs school as well as for his Graduates It is my serious purpose with the Apostle not to know any thing ministerially and practically save Iesus Christ and him crucified in the efficacy of his Resurrection and in the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death It s not therefore the inticing words of mans wisdom I would delight in and labour for but the demonstration of his Spirit and Power Herein I would studiously design through his Grace to imitate Paul as he followed Christ None but Cbrist none but Christ was the Motto of a famous Martyr I would make it my desire and joy my Resolve and endeavour through the supplies of his Al-sufficient Spirit Your Acquaintance with him is best known to him and to his friends that have had acquaintance with your selves If this poor Tract may be found any way serviceable to the improvement thereof my heart shall rejoyce and bless God for it Your zeal for him and his cannot be forgotten of him nor of them Your labor of Love cannot pass unrewarded from God whatever construction or retribution it meets with from man The Lord is with you whilst you be with him The various experiences of his Word and Rod Spirit and Providence formerly dispensed and lately renewed toward you will be still of singular use and help being duly remembred and improved Walk still before him in the perfect waies of his uprightsness as Abraham and his faithful Worthies were directed by him so shall you be sure of his covenant-mercy in the performance of your covenant-covenant-duty His grace will be still sufficient for you and his strength gradually perfected in your weakness Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might for the promoting of his Interest in your respective stations and motions against all spiritual enemies The good Will of him who dwelt in the Bush rest upon you both and all your Relations near and farther off for Direction Assistance and Blessing In him I delight to be known demonstratively as occasion serves Your cordially endeared and obliged Nephew to serve you upon the best accompt Claudius Gilbert From my Study in Limrick May 19. 1657. To all the Friends of Christ called to be Saints Christian Friends MAns Life is a short Walk towards Eternity A Race wherein Mortals continually move nearer to their endless unchangeable State whether of Weal or Wo. The great God who is Al-sufficiently blessed in himself was pleased to give Man a Being capable of Eternal Communion with Himself The Councils of his heart absolutely purposed before time he fulfils in time by the works of his hand that he might glorifie himself in all his Divine Excellencies He at first made man after his own Image having made all the world for his service His rational soul that Divine Extract that Work-manship of Heaven received as much perfection from God as such a finite Creature could manage in conformity to his infinite Creator His Blessedness consisted then in walking with God in that glorious state wherein all Creatures were at his command as so many steps leading him to that God whom they did so clearly represent to him Satan soon envied mans felicity having desperately cast away himself from the like condition He sets on the woman finding
we should obtain favour who sinned so Ignorantly so Unbelievingly so hainously this is mercy indeed That we should be called into his house and Kingdom that were by nature Children of wrath and the slaves of Hell this is Grace indeed Should not this provoke us to Improve it faithfully in our respective Employments towards God and Man and therefore to observe the next Conclusion Conclus Christians are eminently obliged to walk worthy of their Vocation Two words explained will clear the sense Walking Worthy 1. WAlking {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} imports a constant and pleasing Exercise by a Metaphor borrowed from bodily motion to signifie Emphatically the spiritual motion of the whole Man in all the ways of God with continued progress from Truth to Truth from Grace to Grace from Strength to Strength It holds forth the circling and compassing of the full period of Gods Will and mans duty in the review and observance of all particulars by an exact and accurate inspection thereof as a man about his Garden a Commander about his charge Thus it implies a multiplicious Act of every power and part of a Christian 2. Worthy {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} digne This Adverb doth express fitness but not meritoriousness it betokens here a comely sutableness and honourable preheminence which becomes such a Vocation as the learned observe from the due compare of numerous Scriptures The Calling of a Christian requires from him such an answerable walk wherein â—ne {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and Decorum of all things orderly proportioned should reflect much Glory and Lustre thereon in preferring the same before all lesser matters and worldly Bables That all Christians are thus obliged to walk appears clearly from all Divine expressions and Administrations This is the Scope of Gods Mercy and the sum of mans Duty so eminently inculcated in holy writ The first part of the Lords gracious Covenant is expressed by the many precious Promises of putting his Spirit within men that they may walk in his Statutes and effectually keep his Judgements of renewing their heart that they may not depart from him c. The second part thereof is held out in answerable precepts of of walking before him after him eminently as becomes his Call This was the Character of Honor put upon all the Lords Worthies whose Presidents give us such famous Memorials from the Pen of the Holy Ghost Thus Abel and Enoch Noah and Abraham David and Asa all the Patriarchs all the friends of Christ are remarkably described The Apostolical Instances do pregnantly abound with Directions and Motives Prayers and Practises of the like Comport Thus Zecharias and Elizabeth walked in all the Commands of the Lord blamless Thus Caleb followed him fully and the Churches were edifyingly multiplied walking in the fear of God This Sun-light needs no further proof A three fold ground moves efficaciously thereto Ingenuity Congruity and Expediency Ground 1. INgeuuity is a powerfull Principle a spiritual Instinct in the new Creature All things are moved by their peculiar Instinct to their proper work for matter and manner answerable to their Being The true Christian is ennobled with a generous Spirit that makes him willing in the day of Christs power to fulfill after him as Caleb did This Ingenuous Spirit cannot but aâ—â— them energetically to Ingenuous motions So far as they live in the Spirit they must needs walk after the Spirit It s for want of Grace that any are found to walk unworthily The best know and act graciously but in part Regeneration is indeed universal in every part but not total in any part The Lords Spirit gradually renews the Spirits of all his that they may walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the Lusts of the flesh The natural Principle of all things moves secretly and sweetly strongly and sutably successively and successfully So doth a Christians Spirit by ingenuous Instincts in each relation and occasion Ground 2. Congruity presses thereto also that there may be a due Correspondence in a Christians walk answering his Call All Bodies natural artificial and Political subsist orderly by a congruous disposal and composure of all parts in their harmonious Symmetry towards their proper actions The like appears in the Body of Christ in his house and Kingdom It s most congruous that his own members should move in their place answerably to their Call that his Children and friends his servants and Spouse should duly observe their respective Relations It s most rational just and equitable that such a Decorum should be duly maintained in a Christian walk Disorderly Christians are most absurd and irrational in their unworthy Walkings They are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} without rank and reason most incongruous in their unsutable uncomely motions about good and evil Sin is the Ataxie and Dyscrasie the Disorderer and Distemperer of all things So far as any walk sinfully they walk unworthily Incongruously The sweet Harmony and sure stability of things depend upon their congruity and due composure in station and motion Is it not congruous that every Member should walk worthy of his Head that every part should keep its due proportion and respect to the whole He that saith that he abides in him ought also to walk even as he walked The Apostle would have Christians therefore to be his Followers as far as he was a follower of Christ It s most congruous that Christs Disciples should learn of their Master and write after him that his Souldiers should keep close to him and march after his steps Ground 3. Expediency hath a strong influence into the same with Reference both to God and Man 1. WIth Reference to God a Christians worthy Walk is most expedient for his honor and service Unworthy walking is most disgracefull and disadvantagious to his name and cause to his Truth and Grace to his friends and ways The Glory of all his Attributes is deeply concern'd in his Peoples walking He minds them of it still in his Word and Providence Christiani sancte vixissent said the Heathen in Dirision Si Christus sancte docuisset These are the People of the Lord that are gone forth out of his Land said the reproaching Gentiles of the Jews unworthy carriage in their transplantations Gods honor should be dearer unto us then our best comforts We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good woks which he before ordained for us to walk in His Interest requires that all his Children Servants and Subjects should walk like him and with him before and after him from him and for him 2. With Reference to man a Christians worthy walk conduces wonderfully to the publique Good and his own Credit and Comfort very many wayes Christians should be studious to maintain good works as things most profitable to men They are redeemed by
Christ to be a peculiar People zealous of good works The welfare of the whole depends very much upon the worthy Demeanor of every part in its respective station and motion Unworthy walking is the great Obstructer of all publique Interest civil and sacred Thereby are the wicked hardned in sin and the godly grieved and discountenanced The Cement and Juncture of all societies are Impaired and ruinated by the same Truth and Peace Righteousness and Holiness are still affronted and basely abused thereby The very props and bases of every common-wealth shake and totter by unworthy courses God will not own them that will not own him He walks against such as walk against him With the Upright will he shew himself upright and against the froward will he appear froward Our own personal good is signally engaged therein in all temporal and spiritual regards A righteous walking exalts a Nation but sin is the reproach of any person or people He that walks uprightly walks safely and comfortably All the ways of Wisdom are pleasantness and all her paths are Peace He meets him that works righteousness walking and remembring him in his ways to direct their steps who acknowledge him in all their ways The way of Life is above to the wise to depart from Hell beneath Christians unworthy carriage is the blast of all Credit Comfort and Conscience Their worthy walking is most expedient for their own and others good Many are won to Christ by the good Conversation of the very women which have long resisted the Spirit and word of God The Life of Christians is the very Life of their Christianity making most lively Impressions upon others Examples are much more efficacious then Precepts for good against evil Docemur praeceptis ducimur exemplis Christ himself appeared an eminent Pattern as well as a Principle of holiness to lead all his people towards happiness Vse 1. See hence the sinfulness of Libertinism Notional and Practicall 1. NOtional Libertinism is most unworthy whose Principles are found so directly opposite to a Christians worthy walking Many such loose Tenets spread now like a Gangrene and ulcerous Cancers whose case and cure we have touched by Scriptural help in our Libertine schooled as also in our Antidote and in our Peace-maker lately published The famelistical quaking Opinions raked out of the old Gnosticks Dung-hils Popish rubbish and German sinks are put to sale under specious disguises and refinements Their pretended Light and self-sufficiency their Pharisaical Monkish Holiness and sinless perfection their blasphemous abuses of God the Father Son and Spirit of his Word and Grace Sabbath and Ordinances of Christs Merits and Satisfaction with the rest of such wretched trash are diametrally cross to the Truth in hand The conceit of universal Toleration of all things pretending to Conscience though clearly evil is of the like Tendency as also many of the Romish Principles pointed at elsewhere Those who think themselves bound to follow the Light within in every suggestion without regulation and Limitation of the Scripture-Light cannot but run into thousand hazzards and disorders towards delusion and confusion Such expose themselves to every unclean and lying Spirit that hath but cunning to bait his hook for them To be given up to our own hearts Lusts to walk after our vain Imaginations is the sorest Judgement that God Inflicts upon the Despisers of his word and ways Such spiritual Judgements usher in temporal plagues personal and publique witness the Records of all ages and places Oh! The sin and woe of such unworthy Doctrines which draw so many from the ways of God into the crooked paths of Delusion and Desolation 2. Practical Libertinism appears hence a most unworthy thing so wretchedly contrary to a Christians Walk The corrupt defluxions of notional Brains do soon infect their hearts and their hands Their wretched opinions do quickly putrifie their affections and conversations Levelling Principles do sadly break out in Levelling Practises to the razing down of every Ordinance Divine and Humane The deadly weeds that were kept under ground in the winter of former persecution do now grow apace in this spring of Liberty and Reformation Whilst Christ is offering a Divine Liberty to good and from evil Satan is promoting a hellish Liberty from good unto evil This is the Libertinism which the simple plead for and wise men abhor as most opposite to our christian walk and unworthy of the least Patronage from Christs name and friends This sinfull Liberty is wofull slavery to Satans drudgery Whilst such promise themselves and others Liberty they themselves are the slaves of wickedness walking after their own Lusts How unworthy are they of Christs Name that walk so unworthy of his Holy Vocation Vse 2. It affords a just Reprehension to all that walk unworthily whether sinners or Saints Sin raigns in the most remains in the best So far as the ways of sin are trod upon so far do Christians walk unworthy of Christ The whole world lies in wickedness being like a great Bog wherein multitudes utterly loose themselves The way of Truth and Grace is a royal causey built at the costs of Heaven quite through the same Christ himself is the personal way his Word the Doctrinal way and mans Duty the practical way paved by the Lord for his People to walk in This new and living way is the good old way whereto all Gods friends were called in all ages through faith in his name Whilst poor Creatures are wandring from Christs road they skip from one Hillock to another venturing a thousand plunges among swarms of spiritual Tories towards destruction if Grace prevent not Because this vast Bog is fairly garnished with flourishing grass it deceives millions that do prefer it before Christs high road which is hard and stony scattered over with briars and thorns by the subtilty of the common enemy Thus whilst sinful wretches are walking apace towards seeming pleasure profit or preferment from one grassie plot to another they ingulf themselves into dreadfull quagmires of sin and sorrow Consider it all ye that walk still in your Love and course of Ignorance and Pride Unbelief and Wordliness under the guidance of cheating Impostors and fleshly Lusts How unworthy of Christs name are you that walk so unworthily after Vanity and Lies to the shamefull disgrace of your Profession Could you but see your Ghostly Leader whom you follow so constantly in your sinfull ways what amazement would seize on your heart Satan himself is that Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that rules mightily in the Children of Disobedience after whom you walk according to the fashion of this world whilst you have your Conversation among them in the Lusts of your flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind Paul himself acknowledges it to have been his own and others case before Conversion being by nature Children of Wrath even
worthy who count themselves most unworthy His personal Worthiness is Imputatively applied to them who still disclaim their own personal Worthiness His Implanted Worthiness is progressively imparted to them who keep close to him resting on him alone in the diligent use of all due means through saith in his name He makes them worthy not by any merits of congruity or condignity in a Popish sense but by fitness and sutableness making it their honor and happiness to conform to him in the glorious Characters of his Divine Holiness Noscitur à socio qui non cognoscitur à se Men are best known by their company and walk They that are still walking with the Lord will be clearly discerned by his eminent Communications A continual walking in the Sun cannot but tranfuse a proportionable measure of Light and Heat They have most of God and will do most for him that are most with him Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousness is most communicative in all the Beams of his gracious Appointments through the glorious operations of his Holy Spirit Those that honor him will he surely honor when those that despise him shall become vile as Dung His exact followers will be often slandred and derided for their preciseness and accurateness he takes care therefore to see them righted in the best season and way They shall fare no worse then he himself doth and shall be sure of Soveraign Cordials against all faintings Their worthy walking is like to be costly and chargeable but his Al-sufficiency will make full amends If they be content to deny themselves in any thing for him he will not deny himself or any thing to them If they be found faithfull in a little he will make them Rulers over much If they carefully make his Interest theirs he will be sure to make theirs his own If they part with brass for him they shall receive gold from him If they spend a few moments in his work they shall rest with him in his eternal Bliss If they conflict for him they shall conquer and triumph with them If they sow in tears they shall reap in joy If they follow him in the Regeneration they shall sit with him in the Throne of Majesty No work or wages no company or walk so excellent below but it comes Infinitely short of his They that walk worthy of his calliug shall be sure to Inherit the comforts thereof There is no Condomnation to them that are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Vse 5. A Vigorous exhortation should be hence also pressed on all Christians Are not all eminently obliged to walk worthy of their Vocation both general and particular Do we need Arguments to move us thereto Are not Ingenuity Congruity and Expediency of sufficient force to perswade all sorts to this signal Duty so pleasurable and profitable so sutable and seasonable so honourable and so comfortable Shall wicked men toil early and late to walk after sin Satan and self in observing the Lusts of the flesh and shall good men think much of any cost or care in walking after Christ and observing the motions of his Spirit ratified to them by his Word and Providence Should not the time past suffice us that hath been so wofully mispent in fulfilling the will of the flesh Is it not high time for every one to redeem the Time and walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise because the the days are evil Why should any Christian be found walking as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind having their Understanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the hardness of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to commit Iniquity with greediness If we have learned Christ better let it appear in our worthy walking for many walk of whom we must witness with a bleeding heart that their God is their belly their Glory their shame who mind earthly things Should not our Conversation witness our corporation to be in Heaven from whence we expect a Saviour If we live in the Spirit le ts also walk after the Spirit that we may no longer follow our fleshly Lusts What pitty it is that this Divine Walk should be so unfrequented whilst sinfull worldly walks are continually crouded with multitudes What a shame is it that so much labor should be still bestowed upon this carcase this bag full of filth and bones whilst so little care is taken of our Immortal souls Shall Jews and Turks Papists and Pagans walk more sutably to their profession then reformed Christians Shall not Gods Interest and honor prevail efficaciously with us to walk worthy of his great and glorious Name which is called upon us Are not we all eminently concerned therein according to our Respective Stations and motions publique and private Civil and Sacred Let all Superiors and Inferiors study and pray believe and consult resolve and endeavour more effectually for this gospel-Gospel-duty so Important and necessary 1. Superiors are eminently called thereto that they may walk worthy of the Lord who dignifies them with the Title and function of his Deputies and Representatives He would have them to do most for him and be most like him who receive most from him and have most account to render to him They bear his Image and Authority natural and moral in a singular way that they may be directed excited and enabled to honor and promote his Power and Will more spiritually and efficaciously Their Work and Burthen troubles and snares are much more then others they therefore need still to be most watchfull and diligent in their Christian Walk His Promises and Encouragements Preceps and Directions Menaces and Judgements are eminently dispensed towards them for good against evil They are his Lieutenants and high Stewards to Rule under him according to his Word for his Glory and their Inferiors good Boleslaus King of Bohemia was wont to carry his Fathers Image in his Bosom and often to kiss it with a solemn wish that he might do nothing unworthy of such an eminent Parent and Pattern Should not all Superiors be often viewing and embracing the Lords Divine Image carrying in their heads and hearts the gracious Characters of Christs Righteousness and Holiness that they may still act and walk worthy of such a Father Magnates will still be Magnetes persons of Honor and Power are great Loadstones that will draw many either to good or evil Superiors are the Looking-glasses of their Families City and Country by whose president most will dress themselves Like heavenly Bodies in superior Orbs they still carry a forcible Influence whether benign or malign by their multiplicious Aspects and Motions Like the grand wheels of Clocks and Watches they Regulate or disturb all the rest Like Jeremies figs they do much good or much hurt The Jews were once
against the time to come This is so needfull a duty that they who have nothing but their own labor are bid and bound to spare out of that for those who cannot work Christ accounts all to be lent to himself which is given to his poor members He is slighted when they are slighted The rich are entrusted with their own and the poors portiâ—n also that they may be bountifull and others gratefull and that God may be honoured both waies Christ became poor to enrich us that we might be able and willing to Relieve the poor It must be our wisdom not to feed others lusts whilst we labour to supply their wants and to prevent their becoming poor if we can by all due means regularly appointed by Divine and humane Laws To do good and to communicate forget we not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased whilst we destribute to the necessities of the Saints being given to hospitality Therefore let your gift be ready as a matter of bounty not covetousness He that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly Let every one give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loves a chearfull Giver Paul presses this at large in the eight and ninth chapter to the Corinthians and appointed the first day of the week as the fit season for it being the christian Sabbath well known and observed in all christian Churches according to Christs Prediction and Institution ratified still by the Apostolical celebration thereof Who so hath this worlds goods saith the beloved Apostle and sees his brother have need and shuts out his bowels of compassion from him How dwells the Love of God in him My little Children let us not love in word nor in tongue but in Deed and in Truth This was Gods statute Law if thy brother be waxen poor or fallen into decay then thou shalt relieve him Christ blesses those and welcomes them his Fathers Kingdom who have been carefull to visit and refresh him in his little ones under troubles and wants A nigardly religion is no good Religion When God hath opened the heart the hand will not be shut up What a shame it is that any Christian should wantonnize in superfluitites and yet be sparing in the supplying of others Necessities Christ bids us make friends of the Mammon of iniquity which may receive us into eternal dwellings All our abilities should be so improved as that we may thereby comfortably walk in the way to Heaven through the Grace of Christ That Faith which is destitute of Good Works is but a dead faith True Faith works still by love to God and to man upon Gods account Good works are owned by the Truth and friends of Christ to be via regni though not causa regnandi we cannot be saved without them nor yet by them Christians should be ashamed to be out-stript by Turks and Pagans Jews and Papists in justice and Charity 10. Impartial administration of Ordinances Censures and Christian helps to all concerned in a regular way so that the meanest may be condescended to not slighted by any partiality in what their case requires In ecclesiastical as in civil judgment Gods forbids all partial respectings of persons that bring in neglect of justice due to any one This excludes not civil respect due to any person not confounding the proportion and distance which Providence hath settled among men in their subordinate relations In religious matters it is Grace that makes the difference between man and man They who have the least degree thereof have their common share in Christs family of portion and priviledge as all the members in the body natural to the meanest of them have their common Interest in the whole God would not have spiritual matters carried on by any selfish byasses but would have Christians to stoop one to onother to be of the same mind one towards another not minding high things but condescending to men of low estate and not being wise in their own conceit Christ himself taught his Disciples so by his own practise washing their feet stooping to them teaching them to submit to the lowest office of Love and help for each others good after his Pattern seeing the servant is not greater then his Lord You shall not Lord it one over another saith the Lord himself but who soever will be great among you let him be your Minister and who soever will be chief among you let him be your servant This humble way of mutual condescension and serviceableness is the most honourable conformity to the King of Saints the fountain of Honour and the best means of gaining Repute among wise men When it began to be neglected in the Primitive Churches the Apostles were forced to quicken them by cogent arguments to this choice Duty to convince them of the contrary evil My brethren saith James have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons c. Grace indeed teaches good manners and makes every Christian respectfull to others according to their rank giving honor and obedience to whom it is due according to Gods Word Yet doth it also teach condescension that the poorest may not be disregarded nor defrauded of such meet helps and provisions as the Lord hath ordered for them in his Kingdom and Family All societies require such an orderly care of all their members in Politicals as in Spirituals and whilst every one is labouring with prudent submission to give respect to others as sweet harmony and mutual compliance arise from thence and afford the choice fruits of credit and profit pleasure and preservation 11. Stedfast continuation in all the wayes of Christ abiding in him and keeping close to his people in every Ordinance and Providence not yielding to the least beginning of Apostacy from God and his service Herein Christians should be mutually helpful in corroborating and strengthening each other that they may be further rooted and grounded in Christ to walk in him as they first Received him Christ gives a warning to all by the Parable of the stony ground soon withering away for want of Root Though such for a time rejoyce in the Word yet they endure but for a while and are soon offended Paul is fain to press the Hebrews very hard about this very point shewing the danger of Revolt the excellency of perseverance their need of mutual helpfulness thereto assuring the Lords assistance Grace and Reward and comforting against all discouragements Demas is mentioned with a brand of Infamy that all may beware of making Shipwrack of faith and a good conscience as also Himenaeus Alexander Philetus and others in forsaking Christ to embrace this present world Backsliding from the Lord will be found as woful as it is sinful We must therefore beware of the least beginnings and appearances thereof Nemo derepentè fit pessimus Sin gets force by degrees coming on like a Tide