deare though the Elect shall misse hell Lord bold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 17. 5. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe and I will have respect unto thy Statutes continually Psal 119. 117. 4. Watch thoughts Every day to watch that my thoughts be holy or lawfull and seasonable to ranke order and confine them within an holy compasse that I may gaze and meditate on God his unmeasurable goodnesse greatnesse beautie glory and to bring under and destroy every wicked and vaine thought and desire c. It is no burden to fix our minds and thoughts on things above where our life and joy and treasure is Where your treasure is there will your hearts be also The more wisdome leads us on high the more is our joy and the more we avoyd the snares below and the more wee injoy God in the invisible workings intentions desires elevations of heart with thoughts of sweetest raptures in which is peace joy triumph searching into the mysteries of grace in which is light is truth in its clearnesse purenesse fulnesse in gazing upon the most glorious object admiring God in his infinite attributes to contemplate on Gods boundlesse mercy in Christ Such as are exercised herein injoy great sweetnesse and delight they see and say as David How precious are thy thoughts to me O God c. Psal 139. 17. Such thoughts raise the heart and make it spirituall joyfull and thankfull willing and serious in all duties and holy services 5. Hearken unto conscience Every day to watch and hearken to the noyse of conscience that I may prise the peace of it indeavour to informe it and to doe nothing that shall offend it And herein doe I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience voyde of offence towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3. 9. 6. Watch affections Every day to watch that my affections be set right and that they move not without or contrary to my judgement and that they be set upon right objects and that they soare not too high nor descend too low but according as the object deserves meanly affecting meane things and not affecting corrupt reason as passion c. That my delight be not set immoderately upon any earthly things though never so excellent desirable or amiable and so to injoy them as expecting every day or houre to lose them Set your affections on things above Col. 3. 1. 5. Affections are the pulses of the soule and shew the state of it the affections are the motions of the will and the will is the principall seate of grace grace hath its birth in the understanding but her seate is more principally in the will actually and formally therefore the will is much to be observed in its tempers inclinations motions which are the affections of the soule all affections may be comprehended in love and hatred the first comprehends desire delight joy hope these are the acts of love and these are chiefly to be given to God wee must make him our trust love joy delight and our all in all esteeme and affect all things else under him and for him he is all-sufficient therefore we may well content our selves with him and to love him dearly then are the affections set right when with God wee are sicke of love Song 2. 5. Forsake not God who is a living fountaine for broken Cisternes Jer. 2. Love is the sweetest affection it 's pity it should be spent and lost upon vanities And when we set our affections strongly on things below it 's a mercy for God to take them from us to teach us and cause us to take more delight in God himselfe and those true unspeakeable and everlasting delights prepared for the Saints with himselfe Surely wee have cause to lament that we are so ready to set our affections on things below that they are so strong and unruly and so hardly subdued that it is not an easie thing to master our wils and appetites they so rage and dote so vehemently after vanities vanitie of vanities all is vanitie Eccl. 1. 2. 7. Watch time That every day I watch and endeavour to redeeme time because it is precious to improve it to know truth to injoy and obey God and to serve others in love redeeming the time because the dayes are evill Eph. 5. 16. Also our time is short it 's but as a thought a shadow a dreame a span long it is our duty and wisdome to preserve and redeeme time for every purpose and action Paul improves his time by the space of three yeares I ceased not to warne every one night and day with teares c. Act. 20. 31. Yet we lose many houres needlesly in sleeping in trifling in idle visits c. In which time good might have been done to many 8. Watch senses Every day to watch the windows of my soule my senses as eares eyes from unlawfull objects and lawfull when I perceive they would suck evill from them and shutting my eyes and eares if need be He shall dwell on high c. that stoppeth his eares from hearing of bloud that shutteth his eyes from seeing of evill Isa 33. 15 16. Thus we are commanded to take heed watch and pray Mark 13. 35. so take heed what yee heare It was Davids desire to God Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanitie Psal 119. 37. Job saw a necessitie to make a Covenant with his eyes Job 31. 1. For Satan is ready to convey much evill insensibly through these floud-gates of sin bad discourse inflames lust Davids roving eye caused him to fall foully and procured him much vexation and griefe who could have thought an idle glance could occasion so much mischiefe Expect no better fruit in suffering your hearts to run after your eyes fancy will take fire before we be aware but a foole will take no warning he will have his eyes in every corner of the earth Prov. 17. 24. he must and will hearken unto a tale-bearer Prov. 25. 23. And so he hath his heart filled with anger and revenge but when he is wiser he will cry out with shame and griefe that all is vanitie and vexation of spirit as Eccles 1. 2. 9. In outward things Every day to watch to make some good use and draw instruction from the creatures and passages of Gods providence so to mind heavenly things by naturall So did Christ upon mentioning of bread Mat. 16. These things below make themselves wings and fly away but fly thee by them from them before them 10. Watch in lawfull things Every day to watch narrowly with care and heedfulnesse in the use and injoyment of things lawfull viz. meat drinke sleepe apparell marriage visitations and recreations c. Our nature is prone to excesse herein and we oft sinne more and are in greater danger by lawfull things then by unlawfull because wee feare grosser evils more then we do the
and without it increaseth love it makes the mercy of God fresh unto us it is the life of hearing reading conference praying c. By it all meanes are made profitable unto us it reveales truth to us and acquaints us with our selves it makes all to become our owne it removes lets and settles truths upon our spirit it breeds good affections and quickens them and makes us profitable to others and makes things easie sweet unto us and fires the soule with love it helpeth the memory and stirres up affection and filles us with experiences and inableth us to apply it to our owne use and benefit of others Judge then how usefull this duty is and what a treasure we forgoe when we neglect it Before Meditation 1. Reade and conferre with reverence and diligence Psal 119. Reading the Word fits us to meditate on it 2. Be sure thou hast fit texts or occasions of matter forelaid sutable to thy wants and spirits provide matter sutable of all sorts precepts promises c. Be not barren of fit matter to meditate on fit for thy necessitie and capacitie 3. Choose a fit time the morning is the fittest time for religious duties and noon and evening day and night Psal 1. 3. We ought to frequent this duty for the morning Psal 119. 147. Mark 1. 35. for the night vers 148. In the morning our memories are the quickest and strongest and our selves the readiest to conceive things our naturall powers being revived have the greatest libertie at night we are more dull and heavie Idolaters will rise early in the morning to worship an Idoll Oh that we were so wise to prevent the morning light Psal 119. 147. Mary came early to the Sepulchre Mat. 28. The holy Spirit came upon them in the morning Act. 2. It was the third houre of the day Consider Jer. 7. 13. Joh. 8. 2. Mat. 21. 28. 4. Separate thy selfe to this worke for a mans desire he will separate himselfe Pro. 18. 2. 5. Choose a fit place as for prayer so for meditation where thou maist not be disturbed by any thing 6. Love the Word of God and meditation will follow Psal 119. What we love we thinke on love drawes our affections according to the love we have to any thing so accordingly is our pleasure study and delight in it 7. Beleeve God will blesse it unto thee 8. Pray to God to blesse it unto thee In Meditation 1. Looke up to God and mourne for thy estrangement of spirit from holy things which should be familiar and bend thy selfe after separation of thy thoughts from frothy things to consider seriously of the truths set before thee and looke up to God for strength to resist a hard wandering dead defiled heart which makes thee weary of the worke of God 2. Let the Word of God be the object of thy meditation Psal 1. 2. Psal 119. 99. and from generals proceed to particulars 3. Meditate but of one thing at once and at one time and observe order 1. travell with our memories 2. judgement 3. our affections before we come to make use of it in our hearts after our memories let thy judgement consider what weight the thing is of how it concerns Gods glory our selves or others and whether we have it at all or in such a measure as we need and may have how we came by it what are the lets of getting and injoying it and how they may be removed what meanes are to be used to attaine it both for manner measure end time and having so done rest not in overfights but stirre up and provoke our affections accordingly and so worke it upon our hearts Take an instance when we come to make use of that we meditate of in our hearts and affections thus put case it be some speciall promise how happie were I if I could injoy it what things here below are like unto it then proceed to remove all the objections and temptations against it lay all in the promise and hold the promise untill thou canst sucke sweetnesse out of it till faith and comfort issue in thy soule if any should do all this unlesse God adde his blessing with his almighty power blesse meanes to us all is nothing yet wee must use the meanes 4. If in meditation thy minde rove and wander after other matters as soone as thou perceivest it sigh deeply to God and fall to prayer to be established from whence Satan our corruptions would draw us and having desired the Lord to deliver thee from a vaine light and frothy spirit c. fall to meditation againe After Meditation 1. Wee must ever be mindfull to be humble and thankfull 2. The more thou meetest with the Lord in this way let it more incourage thee to frequent it and make it a great part of thy communion with God and be as joyfull when God hath blessed it unto thee as any can be when they finde a mine of gold or great spoyle Directions for the understanding of the sense of the letter of the Scriptures 1. WHen the word one God is expressed the Father and the Holy Spirit is included as appeares in Joh. 17. 3. 2. All the attributes or workes of God are proper to any of the three without exception of any of them so Christ is said to create the worlds Heb. 1. 2. 3. Repentance in God notes no change in God who is immutable but in the thing or action 4. The word of God notes authoritie sometimes it notes onely excellency as Psal 1. 5. 17. 5. The Scriptures must not be understood against Christ but for Christ 6. Whatsoever is truly and soundly collected from Scripture is to be beleeved and rested upon as well as that which is expresly written yet no Ordinance of Christ nor the administration of it but it is plainly expressed in Scripture and depends not upon consequences much lesse meanes 7. It is usuall in Scripture to attribute that to the instrument that efficacy and force which belongs to the Author as 1 Tim. 4. 16. Rom. 3. 28. 5. 4. Deut. 5. 22. Heb. 13. That good meanes may be respected and bad sleighted 8. In a parable the minde scope and intention of the Spirit of God is to be marked above all it must be expounded and no further strained then things agree with the principall drift as Mat. 20. 1 2. The scope is God is not a debtor to no man straine no parable 9. We may not interpret Scripture by allegories unlesse we be able to prove the allegoricall sense by some other place of Scripture 10. In interpreting Scripture we must take the sense from the word and not bring one to it 11. Comparison of places together darker with plainer is the way to understand it Nehe. 8. 8. 12. There can be but one onely proper true sense of one place of Scripture which we are chiefly to search after and rest in wee may not make every Scripture speake every thing 13. The
but attaine unto such a deep measure of humiliation and sorrow for sin then they think they have an evidence for heaven but alas this is no evidence save onely of great ignorance in that they see not death in their best duties the Lord may say to you who worke so hard for life Thou hast found the life of thy hand therefore thou wast not grieved Isa 57. 10. Thou comfortest thy selfe in thine own sparkes but sorrow is all the comfort such comfort can produce yee shall lie downe in sorrow Isa 50. 11. When we say our good works are not the way to life men esteeme it a grievous error yet Christ saith I am the way Joh. 14. 6. Are thy works Christ or no if no then they are not the way for Christ saith true and if Jesus Christ is to be unto us all in all Col. 3. 11. Our best workes are to be unto us nothing at all our workes make us not the better before God nor to be more beloved of God but declare us to be what wee are made by God the Papists doe good works to be saved but we abhorre it because it is condemned by God therefore all those who expect and hope for mercy because they leave their sinnes as they say and do many good works consider what I say unto thee Alas poore soule thou art still in the state of nature in the gall of bitternesse thou art not quite plucked up off of thine own stocke of self-workes and self-concurrence with Christ and therefore art not planted into Christ thou art ignorant of the righteousness of God which is the cause why thou goest about to establish thine own righteousnesse and so long as thou doest so thou canst not submit to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 13. But diddest thou know what a righteousnesse Christ is thou couldst not but have preferred it before thine own righteousnesse yea it would be esteemed by thee but drosse and dung to his as Phil. 3. 8 9. And unlesse the Lord Jesus open thine eyes and reveale his righteousnesse unto thee thy righteousnesse which thou joynest with Christs for salvation will of a certaine worke thy destruction unto all eternity Publicans and harlots are neerer salvation then thee when you who worke for life are Pharisees and if you dye in this estate you must perish Mat. 21. 31 32. Luk. 7. 29 30. I know many will cavill and say if Christ must doe all and man nothing then men need not care what they doe but live as they list Answ As it is our dutie so it is our desire to doe whatsoever the word of God requires but we are not commanded to doe any thing to procure the pardon of our sinnes but in reference to service and dutie I count my selfe to be never the neerer Heaven for my best workes then if I had done nothing else but blaspheme God But what saith the Scriptures Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt but to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 2 3 4 5. Wee are saved not according to our workes but according to his own purpose and grace 2. Tim. 1. 9. When wee were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 10. I will doe away thy offences for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. A new heart also will I give thee Ezek. 36. 26 27. 31. I have seene his wayes and will heale him Isa 57. 17. I have blotted out thy sinnes returne unto me c. Isa 44. 22. When thou wert polluted in thy own bloud I said unto thee Live When thou wert in thy bloud thy time was the time of love and I covered thy nakednesse c. Ezek. 16. 6. 8. All unto whom the mystery of Gods love and free grace is revealed they cry grace grace Christ Christ Christ is all in all nothing but Christ their prayers teares duties devotions and all of theirs is nothing to them in respect of acceptation or justification or salvation they are now dead to working they doe no workes in the world to attaine any of these all theirs is vanished and is quite drowned in the infinite Ocean of Gods free grace It is so that God might have all the glory Eph. 1. 6. Jer. 9. 24. and that man might not boast Rom. 3. 9. but obey God freely Luk. 1. 74. But I have no worke of grace wrought in me The Spirit shall convince the world of sin and of righteousnesse Joh. 16. 7 8 9 10. God hath begun his worke in thee if he hath convinced thee of sinne and of righteousnesse To be convinced of sin implies Such a discovery of sinne which causeth the soule to see her selfe guiltie and utterly lost and undone by reason of sin they confesse themselves are vile and they abhorre themselves Job 42. 6. They loath themselves for their deeds Ezek. 20. 43. Esteâ—ming themselves as beasts Psal 73. 22. The soule is convinced so as to have no hope Jer. 2. in any thing it can doe to helpe it selfe out of that miserable state of sin he is undone in nature he cannot doe any thing from whence he may expect salvation or have any hope of it for a man cannot expect life and salvation from Christ alone untill the soule be taken off of all other things in respect of life This vision of God causeth the soule to see themselves and say There remaineth no strength in me my comelinesse is turned in me into corruption Dan. 10. 8. That is my best workes my righteousnesse is defiled and is sinne now sinfull selfe and righteous selfe are alike if there be any difference the last is the worst now the creature hath nothing to procure Christ nor no strength to beleeve in him the holy Spirit discovers to the soule that there is nothing but darknesse and death in our best duties He is so convinced of sinne that he justifieth the justice of God if he perish in his sin as Psal 51. 4. Gen. 44. 16. See Leviticus 26. 41 42. Micah 7. 9. 2. Sam. 15. 26. Lam. 3. 28 29. It is from grace to be taken so off of nature and he that is so taken off of nature hath grace is begotten and borne of God For when the soule is taken off his own bottom it must have another to rest upon or else it sinkes therefore when God takes away the soules false soundation which was her false hope God gives the soule a better in himselfe The teaching and drawing of the Father Joh. 6. is this that all men have sinned and are in an estate of death and that in Christ there is a ransome in which is life and all happinesse and that this Jesus and all that he hath done is for him When the soule hath heard and learned this there is a power goeth with this teaching which carrieth the soule by faith
12 13. Can babes work and yet if they die in that estate they shall not misse of glory 1 Job 2. 12. It is one thing to be justified and another to be sanctified so it is one thing to live another to be borne and to worke is distinct from both there is as much difference between some of the Lords as there is betwixt willing and doing some are termed carnall 1 Cor. 3. 1. others spirituall Thou maist be begotten but not borne if in bondage and then it is not the season of growing as another season is If thou beest ignorant or in temptation thy understanding is clouded and thy heart being distempered with feare so as Job 23. 8 9. and thou art not fit to judge of thy growth is a new borne babe 1 Pet. 2. 2. fit to judge of its growth Also consider it may be thou art in Gods way and so thou doest not use his meanes or not rightly consider Psal 1. 3. with Song 4. 12. there thou shalt grow I am much tempted by Satan that I have no grace Satan tempts Christs babes to cast away their confidence which is forbidden Heb. 10. 35. therefore if Satan tell yee that yee have no faith thou maist reply if I have it not in the act to my knowledge I may have it in the grace it selfe if he say that he knows and you know you have no grace at all Reply the Devill knows not and if I should thinke so I may be deceived as fire raked up in ashes appeares not and gives neither light nor heat so corruption doth hide and obscure grace 1 Cor. 3. 1. And if I have no grace why let yee me not alone as yee doe others and as yee did me when I tooke my fill of sin then ye told me I had faith when I had none I have found yee a lyer therefore I will not hearken unto you and I am the more confident I have grace because ye tell me I have none He is a lyer and the father of it Joh. 8. 44. But suppose I have no grace there is no reason why I should despaire because every one of the Lords were once without grace in the estate of nature At that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel strangers c. having no hope and withouâ— God in the world but now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ Eph. 2. 12 13. which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2. 10. Many are ordained unto eternall life which did not actually beleeve nor had any grace at all I nor any doe not know but I may be one of them also therefore I know no reason to despaire nor will despaire doe me any good it is better to use the means wait upon God trust him with my soule if mercy come I shall be happy and shall have cause to praise him There is nothing too hard for God Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane Jer. 32. 17. Mat. 8. 2. I cannot pray nor doe any thing to purpose therefore I have no grace Unbeliefe deads the heart and hinders thy living upon Christs strength It is so with thee that thou mightst see a need of Christ Joh. 15. 5. and live upon him who hath promised to be a full supply to his If God hath given thee a desire to obey him say not it is nothing because God saith it's something 2 Cor. 8. to 11. he gives this and if this be all thou hast it is accepted vers 12. and he will grant thy desire He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he also will heare their cry and will save them Psal 119. 19. Christ will not quench the smoaking flâ—x Isai 42. When we see no fire we know there is fire by the smoake holy desires cannot be in a soule that hath no grace Psal 145. 19. Desire after grace is an act of spirituall life an act is from a faculty a faculty is from life and being a dead man cannot desire none can desire that which they beleeve not to be nor that they doe not love desires if spirituall they flow from faith love and are a part of what it desires A will to obey may be all that a beleever can find in himselfe at some time To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not for the good I would I doe not but the evill I would not that I doe Rom. 7. 18 19 20 21. Presse after obedience to God yet know our greatest holinesse cannot justifie us before God For by grace are yee saved through faith and that not of your selves c. Not of workes lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 8 9. Even the strongest of the Lords are but weake creatures and the highest perfection they can attaine unto in this life is a fight of our imperfections and a desire and endeavour to obey and to live upon Christ by faith see Phil. 2. 12 13. And was not Paul one of the most strongest beleevers see Rom. 8. 37 38 39. yet what saith he of himselfe and his words are the word of God That which I doe I allow not for what I would that I doe not but what I haâ—e that doe I To will is present with me c. Rom. 7. 14. to 25. He had no power to doe what he would yet he lived by faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2. 20. I find no willingnesse to duties I find no relish in them so that I often omit them Unwillingnesse to duties argueth much corruption from whence omissions often flow God may have begun his work in thee although it be thus with thee it may arise from divers causes as from unbeliefe doubting of acceptance of person and dutie and it 's no wonder if such have little list to obey also eying infirmities and not Christ also with them and not exercising grace especially faith little love to Christ loving temporall things deads the heart and makes it carnall weaknesse of grace or from Gods not affording present strength sloath and ease that slayeth the soule undiscreet doing duties out of their season ignorance of the nature of duties and what God requires in some causes ignorance of the sweetnesse of spirituall duties So the soules sicknesse which hinders the soules relish of spirituall things also weaknesse of body is a great enemy to action My flesh and my heart fayles but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73. 26. he never fayles Surely I am deceived I have no grace because I am not able to subdue my passions This declares rather weaknesse of grace then otherwise and it 's certain it is not from a want of truth of grace if
24. Sight is higher then presence To be transformed into glory We are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. This shall be more full in glory Then shall wee appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. To have full communion with God Wee shall be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Union is higher then sight communion is higher then union as it flowes from it full communion is more we shall have as much as we shall desire wee shall be filled with it wee shall injoy the quintessence of all sweetnesse fulnesse goodnesse in God and shall be raised inflamed and ravished with him and be wholly taken up with admiring and praising him without any intermission or wearinesse this is our greatest good and blessednesse and the end of our being To be for ever with the Lord So shall wee be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. Eternall communion with God As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. It transcends the utmost expectation of the most inlarged heart Wherefore comfort one another with these words vers 18. Faith beleeves the promises of glory and so lives comfortably in expectation of fruition when faith shall end in vision our eternall joyes draws on apace in the meane time lay hold on eternall life let faith beleeve it and hope expect it and patience waite for it to make this life tolerable bepatient indure all it will not be long ere glory come and continue for ever for this cause wee faint not 2 Cor. 4. He that lives by faith in glorification lives a sweet comfortable life in Christ his righteousnesse and is fruitfull sincere and content Lastly To dye by faith Which is to resigne up our soules to God beleeving death shall be a passage to glory When Christ who is my life shall appeare then shall I appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. These all dyed in faith Heb. 11. 13. The righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14. 32. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Rev. 14. 13. When I awake I shall be satisfied in thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. Why should I feare that I would not escape what hurt will it be to me to enter into glory I cannot have my happinesse unlesse I goe unto it THE SAINTS DAILY DUTY AND DESIRE The severall Branches of the Saints daily duty and desire to walke with God every day 1. WHen I awake to thinke on GOD and to be thankfull to him for rest and sleepe and preservation from sin Satan and dangers satisfying my soule with the Lord craving his strength to walke with him all the day long reverently and seriously to minde him and obey him When I awake I am still with thee Ps 139. 18. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. see Act. 11. 23. Commune with your heart upon your bed and be still Psal 4. 4. It is good to season strengthen and perfume our spirits if time will permit with some sweet thoughts of God as that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He is not changed Here is strong consolation in this sweet meditation My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. It is good for me to draw neere to God Psal 73. 28. To make him the object and end of all my actions O that my understanding had a more full cleare and glorious sight of him and a more perfect inward eternall and full communion with him then should my will and affections be more satisfied and more inflamed with unwearied desires high and restlesse aspirations after fresh additions of intercourses and communion with him The sight of God to a Saint is glorious and the knowledge and often meditation of him will raise and inlarge the soule Every childe of God hath in him an earnest desire to have communion with him to injoy his blessed presence and to see his glory As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God when shall I come and appeare before him Psal 42. 1 2. Nor will a seldome communion satisfie them it must be frequent and full it is a contempt of God to be willing to live without him and so much he injoys God as he seriously minds him and so much as wee desire God we follow after God for desire is the soules following of God and as God draweth we follow Song 1. 4. Unlesse the Lord fix and fasten the heart upon himselfe it will be fixed on things below and wander after vanities and fill both head and heart with them he that knoweth what it is to injoy God is sensible of the want of him and thinkes he can never have enough of him his soule will faint for him because nothing lesse then God can content him Psal 119. 81 82. Jer. 14. 8. Psal 13. 1. Exod. 33. 13 14 15. 18. So the soule lives where it loves and where it loves it lives and there is nothing more active and stronger then love for love is as strong as death the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Song 8. 6 7. 2. Live by faith Every day to live by faith in all estates and conditions the communion the soule hath with God is by faith in justification in sanctification in infirmities in graces in meanes using in duties and for a supply of all wants every day to live the life of faith in glorification 3. Watch heart That every day I watch my heart to keepe it continually still cleane spirituall content and that I observe warily the first and secret motions of my heart least I be unawares catched and insnared in sinne and that I doe not receive any thing without it be warranted in the word of God Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Pro. 23. 17. Thy heart is deceitfull take heed of it consider Jer. 17. 9. Heb. 3. 12. Luk. 6. 45. If wee cease to watch our hearts they quickly become vaine Consider how it was with David 2 Sam. 12. 9. and Peter Mat. 26. 72. our experience might teach us that our hearts are worse then wee tooke them to be when wee are crossed or tempted wee shew what metall wee are made of the best have cause enough to looke to themselves if one sinfull thought be admitted concerning the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne the will is ready enough to accept the motion consent forecast the accomplishment the affections adde heat and strength the heart travels with iniquitie and in time by opportunitie sin is brought forth and delight and custome wraps a man up in sinne that he cannot get out such carelesnesse may cost
secret insnarements that attend lawfull things so that many are deceived and insnared and insensibly drawne into many excesses before we be aware to the dishonour of God griefe of our selves and others the fooles minde was all for his ease and his belly meate and drinke Luk. 12. 19. 11. Watch in things indifferent Every day to watch that I use not indifferent things securely and carelesly but to have regard to others weaknesses indevouring that my actions be such as I may defend with a good conscience All things are pure but it is not lawfull to doe things with offence it is good neither to eate flesh nor drinke wine nor do any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth or is offended or made weake Rom. 14. 21 22. These words doe prove that wee ought to forbeare the doing of that which is in it selfe lawfull if it can be omitted without sin in case another is not perswaded of the lawfulnesse of it and so is offended at it I grant he takes offence when none is given for if I doe that which is lawfull I give no offence therefore in being offended it is his fault and weaknesse yet if I know he is offended with it and yet shall do it he therewith is grieved c. I in so doing sin against God and him though otherwise I might doe it yet in this case it is condemned in the Word and it cannot defend it with a good conscience 12. Watch against sinne Every day to take heed and watch against every sin and that I defend no sinne in my selfe nor lessen it under no pretence of corruption temptation or for the sweetnesse or smalnesse of it nor inwardly favour it but to resolve against all sinne with the occasions of it and the appearance of it to be jealous against it and fearful of falling by it and ever to shew some dislike of it Levit. 19. 17. Looke we to sin at the first motion of it consider we the roote of it and the end of it and presently looke up to God for strength against it beleeve and pray against it and avoyd all the occasions of it Come not neere the doore of her house Pro. 5. 8. First we should be afraid to sinne because we are commanded to do otherwise by God secondly lest by it we dishonour God his truth and servants thirdly lest by it we incourage others to sin fourthly and fill our soules with sorrow because wee have sinned against so great and gracious and loving Father A sensiblenesse of sinne and a heart easily touched with remorse for it may stand with the assurance of pardon of it and when any hath by reason of frailtie sinned though it seeme to be in the least measure abhorre it with the greatest detestation and cover it not with any excuses or pretenses whatsoever see Ezra 9. 2 3. Rev. 2. 2. 13. Every day watch the tongue To watch that my speech be not vaine and idle and frothy but powdered with salt to take heed of speaking against others especially such as are the Lords that I disgrace none nor insult over any remembring my own weaknesses and that I wrest not mens actions and words but take them in the best sense so farre as I can with a good conscience and without prejudice of the truth Idle words are forbidden Let your speech be alwayes with grace seasoned with salt c. Col. 4. 6. Neither filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thankes Ephes 5. 4. My tongue shall talke of thy righteousnesse all the day long Psal 71. 24. If you love to finde fault lay on there where you see most which will be your selfe if you can see Consider hast thou no unbeliefe Psal 31. 22. 116. 11. Privy pride 2 Cor. 12. 7. Secret hypocrisie Psal 51. 10. Atheisme and thoughts of blasphemy self-love self-seeking self-confidence Psal 30. 6. Unprofitablenesse Psal 106. 6 7. Nehe. 9. 35. Hardnesse of heart Isa 63. 17. Blindnesse of mind ignorance Pro. 30. 2 3. Unruly passion Psal 73. 3. 22. Securitie lukewarmnesse Song 1. 6. Abusing lawfull things Deut. 32. 15. Nehe. 9. 38. Unthankfulnesse for mercies Hos 8. 12. And want of mourning for the sinnes of others Ezek. 9. 4. Isa 42. 19 20. Want of courage for the truth Jer. 9. 3. Deadnesse dulnesse heavinesse wearinesse indevotion distractions and indisposednesse of heart in holy duties Mat. 26. 40 43. Hast thou no forgetfulnesse Mat. 8. 18. Inconstancy Hos 6. 4. Doest thou walke comfortably in thy Christian course Art thou never cast downe Psal 43. 5 The secret evils in us might put us in remembrance of our selves and silence us from insulting and disgracing others for their weaknesses 14. Observe the frame of my spirit Every day to observe the passages of my spirit before God in my actions and duties and expect strength from Christ in the use of meanes to act and whether I be sutably and inwardly affected with a sensiblenesse of what I want of God or from God or thankfull and humble eying my defects and with what faith and fervency I seeke God and observing how God answers my prayers and wait upon him for an answer of them 15. Watch to doe others good Every day to desire and indeavour to doe my dutie according to my relation and station to give a good example religious instruction loving admonition seasonable reproofes c. using meanes to doe all the good I can to others soules and bodies with an earnest intention with all care and deare affection See Acts 10. 24. Joh. 1. 40 41. If a husband if thou art a father or a master or a wife or a childe or a servant be a friend to friends and to enemies doe good Be thou an example in word in conversation in charitie in spirit in faith in puritie 1 Tim. 4. 12. 16. Watch to prevent evill Every day that I stand upon my watch every moment to prevent evill and to prepare and receive good having an eye to observe and a heart bent to resist all Satans assaults either from the world or flesh alone or with others knowing Satan watcheth to doe me a mischiefe and to consider that my fathers eye is upon me who hath commanded us to keepe his precepts diligently Psal 119. 4. Oh that my wayes were so directed to keepe thy Statutes Psal 119. 5. I said I will looke to my wayes Psal 39. 1. Watch and pray lest yee enter into temptation Mat. 26. 41. Watching keeps the soule awake ir is to have grace in a readinesse for action 17. Watch against occasions of sinne Every day that I decline watchfully all occasions of falling from my first love fervency heavenly mindednesse as dead company formalnesse in religious duties coldnesse or neglecting the meanes praise of men profit outward pompe mirth pleasure ease outward contentments that I exceed not nor sinke not under any of them but set light by others favours and frownes Seeke not your selfe
delivering them over to Satan their lusts to be hardened God oft punisheth sin with sin Rom. 1. 74. Sundry interrogations in Scripture as Rom. 10. 14 15. have the force of a negative that is to say they cannot Some againe do so aske a question as they require have an expresse answer Psal 15. 1. Rom. 11. 1. 3. 12. It is to quicken attention or to urge more vehemently the affection or to prepare way for some weightie discourse 75. The title God is sometimes put absolutely and in the singular number then it notes the Creator or the essence Sometimes it is used with an addition as in Exodus I have made thee God of Pharaoh or in the plurall number Psal 84. I have said yee are Gods and vers 1. In the assembly of Gods then it belongs to the Creator see Rom. 1. 7. Sometimes essentially as Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit So the word Father is sometimes put essentially for the deity Mat. 6. Our Father Sometimes distinctly The Father is greater then I. Ignorance in these Rules causeth errors concerning God 76. Words of knowledge and sense doe signifie besides action and affections as God knoweth the wayes of the righteous Psal 1. 6. And that he knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Apoc. 2. 3. is meant he knowes them with love favour and approbation to reward and crown them Also it is said whom he foreknew Rom. 11. 2. with 1 Pet. 1. 2. is meant his eternall love imbraceth these as his owne for he knew barely before all reprobates and devils and their works too but not with favour and allowance Also the word Remember is a word of sense yet it often importeth care love delight 1 Cor. 11. Doe this in remembrance of me Gen. â—8 77. Legall and Evangelicall promises must not be distinguished by bookes but by the nature and condition of the promises for Legall promises may be found in bookes of the New Testament as Rom. 2. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. 10 5 Gal. 3. 10. 12. And Evangelicall promises of grace are in the old Testament as Psal 132. 1 2. Jer. 32. 31 32. c. Observe them according to these two rules following 78. If promises of temporall or eternall things are propounded upon condition of workes they are Legall Christ onely hath kept the Law and they which beleeve are to claime them by this tide conveyed to them by faith in Christ 79. All promises for this life or a better which are made as one condition of beleeving repenting working for these are workes though imperfect are onely effects and fruits of faith and not conditions nor causes but are onely to declare what persons God will save Godlinesse hath the promises c. 1 Tim. 6. He that beleeveth c. Joh. 3. And to understand them in any other sense is Legall see Psal 1. 1 2 3 2 Cor. 7. 10. 80. Touching such places where morall duties are commended and commanded they must be understood according to these Rules following as 1. though no word be spoken oâ— Christ yet it must be understood that he alone is the whole cause of every part of our salvation Act. 4. 12. 81. All morall duties are then commended in any partie when the partie which doth them is first in Christ and his sinnes pardoned through his death as 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 11. 6. Our best duties are imperfect if in Christ accepted if out of Christ mens best duties cannot cause them to be accepted 82. All good workes must have a pure heart Gods glory for the beginning and the end having a conscience to God in obedience to his Word unlesse the person be accepted the bare deed or action cannot please God 83. Where blessednesse is promised to morall duties doing those places are not to be considered as causes thereof for Christ is the cause of all out onely to declare what persons they are which God doth save and what the Saints dutie is to doe 84. These duties must not be understood in the strictnesse and rigour of the morall Law but of a continuall and unfained desire purpose and indeavour to doe them This rule prevents scruples and feares which weake ones have through the sense of their wants and failings 85. The Scriptures use to call them sonnes which by nature are no sonnes to them whose sonnes they are called but they are sonnes legally and by succession thus Salathiel being sonne of Neri naturally Luk. 3. 27. is legally and by succession made the son of Jechoniah whom he succeeded in the kingdome as Mat. 1. 12. 86. After this manner Zedekiah or Jehoiakim 1 Chron. 36. 10. and his sonne 1 Chron. 3. 16. His brother by generation his sonne by right of succession By this Rule the two Evangelists Matthew and Luke are reconciled in their Genealogie for Luke followeth the naturall order and Matthew the legall order 87. Many things are said in Scripture by anticipation and recapitulation 88. In Scripture some things are spokeÌ„ well when righteous things are taught rightly as Repent and beleeve c. Or secondly when evill things are taught evilly when wicked things are perswaded as To curse God and dye Or thirdly when good things are uttered evilly when some right thing is said with a perverse mind as Joh. 9. Be thou his Disciple Or fourthly evill things well spoken and dishonest things uttered in honest termes as David went in to Bathsheba and Rom. 1. 26. 89. The Scripture speaks many things in the person of the ungodly men whose crooked words it doth report unto us as well as their deeds 90. That word which seemeth to forbid goodnesse or to command wickednesse is a figurative speech as Vnlesse a man eate my flesh c. This is wickednesse because the word is pure it cannot allow any thing against honesty of manners or veritie of faith 91. Tropes and figures in Scriptures are not to be accounted lies as for Christ calling Herod a Fox and himselfe a Vine a Dore c. Because there is no purpose to deceive in them but by meet resemblance to expresse the truth 92. Similitudes are rather to make darke things plaine then to prove any doubtfull thing similitudes are not argumentative as Stewards in Joh. 15. 93. To make allegories and figures where none are in exposition is licentious dangerous and hurtfull 94. In things that be subordinate the affirming the one doth not sollow the denying of the other 95. All interpretations must be fit as well as true 96. It is a ready way to all error to interpret Scripture by prejudice in favour of some opinion of our owne 97. In Scripture a betrothed woman is called a wife Mat. 1. 20. and so of the man Deut. 22. 23. Because betrothing is an essentiall part of marriage yet the solemnization is necessary unto comelinesse and avoyding of offence 98. That interpretation is corrupt that builds not up in faith and love 99. A figurative speech in Scripture does more