the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. J. Janeway The Saints encouragement to diligence in Christs service both by Mr. James Janeway A discourse concerning the Education of Children Convivium Caeleste a plain and familiar discourse concerning the Lords Supper both by R. Kidder The Saints perseverance asserted in its Positive-ground against Mr. Ives by Tho. Danson A Wedding-ring fit for the Finger by VVill. Secker An Explanation of the shorter-Catechism of the Assembly of Divines by Tho. Lye The life and death of Tho. Hall A Plea for the Non-Conformists tending to vindicate them from Schism by a Doctor in Divinity The flat opposition of Popery to Scripture by J. N. Chaplain to a Person of Honour The Weavers Pocket book or Weaving spiritualiz'd by J. C. D. D. Two disputations of Original sin by Richard Baxter The History of Moderation The welcome Communicant The little-peace-maker discovering foolish Pride the Make-bate Philadelphia or a Treatise of Brotherly love by Mr. Gearing Reformation or Ruine being certain Sermons on Levit. 26. 23 23. by Tho. Hotchkis The Riches of Grace displayed to which is added the priviledge of Passive obedience and 52 proposals in order to help on Heart-humiliation by VVill. Bagshaw The parable of the great Supper opened in 17 Sermons by John Crump A present for Teeming-women by J. Oliver Non-conformity without Controversie by Benj. Baxter A Treatise of Closet-Prayer by Richard Mayo The Religious Family by Philip Lamb. A discourse of the prodigious Abstinence of Martha Taylor Index biblicus multi-jugus or a Table of the holy Scripture wherein each of its Books Chapters and particular matters are distinguished and Epitomized The day of Grace with the Conversion of a Sinner by Nathanael Vincent An easie and useful Grammer for the learning of the French Tongue by Mr. Gosthead Gentleman The Miners Monitor or advice to those that are employed about the Mines A Protestant Catechism for litte Children A Scripture Catechism by Samuel Petto A Catechism according to the Church of England Nero Tragidea Cornelianum dolium Wilsons Catechism Elenchuus motuum nuperorum in Anglia Cackaines Poems Croftons Foelix Scelus or prospering-profaneness provoking holy conference by Zach. Crofton Gramaticus Analyticus by the same Author Alexanders advice to his Son H. Excellency of Christ set forth Phelps Caveat against Drunkenness Lamentation for the loss of a good man Antidote against desperation Bury against Drunkenness Wadsworths last warning to Sinners Dr. Wilkinsons Counsels and Comforts to afflicted Consciences Cappello and Bianco a Romance Calys Glimpse of Eternity Period of humane Life Defence of Period of humane Life both written by the Author of the whole Duty of man c. An Answer to the period of humane Life Survey Quakerism Tho. Vincents Explication of the Assemblies Catechism Vincent on Prayer On Convertion and dayly Grace Covert from storm Worthy Walking Parsons Letter to VVem Adams Catechism Lambs New Years Gift Perks way to mend the World Burys Antidote against the fear of Death Mr. Corbets Kingdom God among men with a Tract of Schism Self-imployment in Secret by John Corbet Solomons Proverbs Traughtons Popery the grand Apostacy Heywoods Christ displayed Bishop Reignolds Meditations Mr. Edward Wests Legacy Gerhard on Death Whole Duty of Youth Welcome Communicant Ames Marrow Diuinity Tho. Vincent against the Quakers being the sandy Foundation shaken A warning to young men or Brinkhursts Narrative Mr. Kiddars help to smallest Children in their understanding of the Church-Catechism Thomas Vincents Himns Bartlet on the Sacrament Greens needful preparatory to the Lords Supper Dr. Collings of ordinary matter of Prayer Wilsons Childs Trade Scandrets Catechism Sheffields Catechism Much in a little or an abstract of Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof for Infants Baptism Some brief Directions for the improvement of Infants Baptism Books Twelves Drexellius Repository Meads Spiritual Wisdom Nathanael Vincents little Childs Catechism The duty of Parents towards their Children A little book for little Children A method and instruction for the Art of divine Meditation All three by Tho. VVhite The considerations of Drexelius on Eternity The shadow of the Tree of Life by M. M. The Psalms of David newly translated more plain smooth and agreeable to the Text than any heretofore Mr. Henry Lukin's Life of Faith FINIS
premised 1. The Children of men do owe obedience unto God as their rightful Lord and Governour and consequently it concerns them to examine whether the Lord has been obeyed or other Lords have had and still have the dominion over them Man did not make himself neither is he able to perserve himself and he is farthest off from being able to redeem and save himself therefore man is not his own 't is impious in him to speak that language Psal 12. 4. Who is Lord over me But that God who gave him his being who holds his soul in life and alone can redeem and save his soul from wrath does justly lay claim to him as his subject and require obedience from him 2. The Sons of men are under a law which they are obliged to keep as a rule of righteousness God himself has given them a law which is holy just and good they are therefore to examine what respect they have had to this law Whether it has been kept as it ought like the apple of the eye Or whether it has been hated and broken and cast behind the back For sincere obedience and life and death and disobedience are joyned together Deut. 30. 19 20. 3. We are all of us not only under a law but under the eye of our Lord and Law-giver continually He compasses our path and our lying down and is acquainted with all our ways Psal 139. 3. And shall we be ignorant of our own ways His eyes behold his eye-lids try the children of men Psal 11. 4. When we would look more intently our eye-lids are more contracted Gods eye-lids are mentioned to signifie how intently he eyes when he tries the Children of men and shall not they prove and try themselves 4. Naturally we are prone to nothing but what is contrary to that Law and Rule we should walk by The Apostle sticks not to say that the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can it be Rom. 8. 7. And as the heart of man is desperately wicked so 't is deceitful above all things and it manifests its deceitfulness in concealing and hiding that it may hold fast its wickedness Those that have such hearts how jealous should they be of them How careful to prove and to pry into them And suppose there be a new nature given yet upon proof 't will be found that there is too too much of the old remaining 5. We are endued with a power of self-reflection and may take notice both of our hearts actions There is a law written in our hearts by nature which does in part discover what we should do and be but the Word of God much more fully informs us of our duty We may erect a Bar or Tribunal in our own souls and call our selves before it Conscience can first be Witness and afterwards a Judge And truly a right judging of our selves is one way to escape being condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 31. 6. All must be Summoned to give an account of themselves unto God at last Rom. 14. 12. So then every one of us must give accout of himself unto God 2 Cor. 5. 10. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body whether it be good or evil Should we not then try and prove our selves before hand repent of our evil deeds believe in the Mediator and throughly amend our doings that we may be found of our Lord and Judge in peace These propositions premised I shall open the nature of this duty of self-proving 1. Self-proving implies a serious Inquisition and Search into our selves Psal 77. 6. I communed with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search And truly a diligent search is but needful for as Augustine observes Grande profundum est homo Man is a great deep and therefore 't is difficult for a man to sound himself and to come to the bottom of his own heart Job speaks of the secrets of nature and says there is a path which no fowl knoweth and which the Vultures eye though it be so piercing hath not seen Job 28. 7. But the secrets of the heart are more abstruse and hard to be found out The Heathen Poet advised Tecum habita Dwell with thy self our thoughts should dwell much upon our selves that we may find out the utmost of our selves Our whole man is to fall under our inspection our ways our words our senses our souls are all to be lookt over 2. Self-proving implies a fear of self-deceit The Apostle cautions against being deceived by man Eph. 5. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words against being beguiled by Satan 2 Cor. 11. 3. But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ He cautions also against self-deceit 1 Cor. 3. 18. Let no man deceive himself He that is not jealous over himself will easily mistake and may go out of the World mistaken and after death the mistake will be impossible to be corrected we must therefore take heed to our selves that our spirits deal not treacherously 3. Self proving implies using the Light of the Word of God This Word is quick and powerful and as the Anatomists Knife dissects all the parts of the Body and lays even the inmost of them open unto view so the Word like a sharp and two edged Sword does pierce through all and divides between Soul and Spirit i. e. between Nature and Grace for the natural man is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the meaning may be that the Word discovers not only the corruption in the Affections and the inferior faculties of the Soul but also that depravation and sin which is in the faculties which are Superior and discerns what the intents and thoughts and reasonings of the heart are Heb. 4. 12. Unless we make use of the light of the Word we shall be lost in the dark while searching our selves The Word makes manifest the very secrets of the heart and hereby 't is plain that God who searches the heart is the Author of this Word and does accompany it 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. We find an Hearer convinced of all and judged of all the secrets of his heart are made manifest and worshipping God he acknowledges God is in the Preachers of a Truth 4. Self-proving implies comparing our selves with that Rule whereunto we ought to be conformed The Commands of God lay an obligation upon the whole man We are required to cleanse our hands and purifie our hearts Jam. 4. 8. We must be holy in all manner of Conversation and our affections must be set on things above not on Earthly things our Minds also and Consciences must be purged from their defilements Now a comparison is to be made between what we should be and what we are This bringing our selves to the right
We have known and believed the love that God hath to us 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know that we have passed from death to life And v. 19. Hereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall assure our hearts before him This assurance was not the effect of a particular and extraordinary revelation peculiar to that first age of Christianity but was the result of those charcters of Grace which are to be found even in the Saints now as well as then The consolations of the Spirit were not confin'd to the Primitive times but as a Comforter he is to abide with the Church for ever Joh. 14. 16. And indeed those who walk in the fear of God may expect the comforts of the Holy Ghost without any presumption The Apostle bids us to draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 22. And 2 Pet. 2. 10. We are commanded to give diligence to make our calling and election sure What impiety is it then to say that Assurance is an impious confidence What is it that the Church of Rome does not strike at She strikes at our Liberties at our Lives would clasp the Book of the Gospel and lock it up in an unknown Tongue She would baffle our very senses and lord it over our Consciences and exercise dominion over our Faith and rob us of our peace and comfort and joy in Gods Salvation Vse 2. It may serve for a great and just lamentation that this duty of Self-proving is so exceedingly neglected by the generality even of those unto whom the Gospel is preached Multitudes are as unconcerned what is likely to become of them in another World as if there were not a pin to chuse between Heaven and Hell as if eternal Life did not deserve to be desired and eternal Death were not worthy of their fear Men are willing to know whether they thrive in the World there is anxious enquiring what the Parliament does and what the times are likely to prove whether peaceable and prosperous or full of tumult and confusion But alass alass 't is no part of the enquiry of the most among us What Eternity is likely to prove to them whether an Eternity of horror and woe or an Eternity of joy and blessedness A great number live in the prophane and total neglect of God and godliness and will not give the Gospel so much as the hearing but truely there are also many who will pray attend upon the Word preached and profess high and talk religiously who never talk with themselves nor call their hearts to task nor speak such language as this to themselves O animula vagula blandula Quae nunc abibis in loca O my Soul in what state art thou And where art thou likely to be lodg'd when once thou hast left this earthly Tabernacle The consequences of this neglect of Self-examination are fatal and truely lamentable 1. These careless Sinners that prove not themselves know not themselves they know neither their Sore not the way of Cure their Sins are hid from them and so they must needs be strangers to Repentance and godly Sorrow they remember not their own wickedness so as to mourn and condemn themselves therefore God will remember it so to condemn and punish them He that is ignorant of himself must needs remain impenitent and hard-hearted and such do treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. 5. 2. The not proving themselves is the ground of Sinners presumptuous confidence False hope cannot bear a serious Trial but they that try not themselves are full of such hopes and such hopes the stronger they are the more destructive The hope of them that are Hypocrites and forget God is compared to a Spiders Web 't is spun out of themselves but 't is easily cut off and they and their Hope shall perish together Job 8. 13 14. They that prove not themselves in how certain danger are they of building their house upon the sand And when the Rain descends and the floods come and beat upon their house 't will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 27. 3. They that prove not themselves hide their faces and esteem not the Lord of Life and Glory they feel not their sickness they sancy they are whole and value not Physician they are more afraid to be cured of their Disease than to die of it They have no hunger and so they slight the bread of life they never were weary and heavy laden and so they mind not him that alone can give them rest they never were thirsty in a Spiritual sence so the invitation is not hearkned to to come and drink of the Water of Life freely for want of proving themselves they know not in what a most wretched and lost condition they are no wonder then if they neglect great Salvation and how shall such escape Heb. 2. 3. When the Apostle says How shall we escape He does not say what to intimate that the punishment which will follow upon neglecting the great Salvation whereof Christ is the Author is much sorer than tongue can utter or heart is able to conceive or reach 4. They that prove not themselves know not what they are doing they are breaking a Law most worthy to be kept with as great chariness as the Apple of our Eyes they are engaged in the service of Sin whose wages is Death and Hell they are the Devils Vassals who hates and strives to ruine those who serve him with the greatest labour they are provoking the Lord more and more to anger and provoking themselves to the confusion of their own faces 'T is very bad and sad work they are employed about and because they neither prove their work nor themselves they do not in a penitential way cry out What have we done But what they have done they will do still whatever comes on 't therefore the Lord complains Jer. 8. 6. I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done Every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battel 5. They that prove not themselves know not whither they are going these careless Sinners consider not that their most pleasant Sins will be as bitter and as deadly as the very gall of Asps at last that of Solomon is verified in them Prov. 14. 12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death The end of that broad way our Lord speaks of his hid from the multitude which go in it They are blind and do not see afar off nay though Death is near at hand and Hell follows immediately upon Death yet they do not see it Woe unto them they fly from God and they run post haste towards ruine and do not understand what dreadful and everlasting destruction they are near till they have actually and utterly destroyed themselves and that beyond
of the Spirit supposes that we are convinced of Sin and Righteousness it also supposes that we are sanctified in Heart and Life in a degree and long for perfect Holiness The Spirit then heightens the actings of Grace and evidences the Change he has wrought and makes us plainly to perceive and feel that we hate our sin prize our Redeemer and Love and Fear and Desire after our God And this real change in our Heart being evidenced then our relation unto God is also shewn that we are the Children and Heirs of the Lord Almighty that his love to us is Everlasting and his kindness shall never depart from us Satans mouth is now stopt and the Spirit causes the Conscience from the Word to be quieted and satisfied clouds are scattered doubts and fears are removed consolation is strong and joy unspeakable and glorious Thanks millions of Thanks be unto God for the Mighty Comforter Who gives a check to Hell and says Let their be Light and Joy where before there was darkness and doubtting and sorrow Who evidences Electing Love from Everlasting and causes Triumph and Rapture of Spirit in assured expectation of glory to Everlasting 10. Let me add one Word more having attained Assurance of the Love of God Take the right course to keep what you have gotten Here I shall name a few particulars 1. Be low in your own Thoughts if you continue humble God will continue to re vive and comfort you Esa 57. 15. 2. Offer unto your God and Father Thanksgiving If you are thankful for the light of his countenance that 's the way to have his face still to shine upon you 3. Take heed of presumptuous sins David lost his joy when he ventured to be unclean and bloody nay take heed of lesser sins for these will dead the Heart grieve the Holy Ghost and dispose to greater 4. Be very serious in the Ordinances of Christ if the House if the Table of the Lord be neglected you will kill your comfort frequent the Lords Temple if you would see his Beauty that is his glorious holiness and have a continued sense of his Love Ps 27. 4. 5. Study the unchangeableness of Gods Love in Christ and the sureness of his Covenant This will be matter of perpetual gladness to see your selves in the Heart and hands of the Father and of Christ from whose love none can separate you Rom. 8. ult out of whose hands none can pluck you Joh. 10. 28 29. 6. Walk continually in the fear of God This is the way to have the Spirits Consolations Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout Judea and Samaria and Gallilee and were edified and walking in the Fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplyed 7. Use this World as not abusing it 1 Cor. 7. 31. If you are too much taken with worldly comforts your spiritual ones will abate but if in reference to earthly things you rejoice as if you rejoyced not your joy in the Lord will be the greater Look upon your selves as strangers and that this present World is but the House of your Pilgrimage then Gods statutes will be your Songs and fill you with the greater joy Psal 119. 54. 8. Husband your time to the best advantage and have the end of time in your eye Dye daily 1 Cor. 15. 31. If you think much of your dissolution it will make you so wise as to keep your Evidence for Heaven clear and to take heed of blotting them that you may have them to shew when stepping into Eternity In the second place I am to direct you how to prove your selves before you engage in that Ordinance of the Lords Supper To come to the Lords Table is a duty which Christ commanded when he was dying And if the words of a Dying Father or of adying Friend are remarked and remembred how much more the command of a dying Redeemer The circumstance of time is very observable which the Apostle mentions 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. The same night in which he was betrayed the Lord Jesus took the Bread and break it to set forth his own being bruised and wounded killed for the Transgressions of his People He bids his Church Do this that they might remember what He their Head had suffered for them When the Pass-over was instituted and was eaten at Evening and the Children of Israel were brought out of the Land of Aegypt out of the House of Bondage Moses says It was a Night much to be observed unto the Lord Exod. 12. 42. Oh! How much more is that time to be observed when Our Lord Jesus wrought a far greater and more glori-Redemption and Deliverance when being himself delivered for our offences and raised again for our Justification he saved his Church from the Wrath of God the Devils power the Dominion of sin the sting of Death and the vengeance of Eternal Fire Upon the first day of the week Christ ceased from his own works as God did from his upon the seventh day of the week There remaineth therefore the Greek Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sabbath or rest unto the People of God Heb. 4. 9 10. This Ordinance of the Supper is in no wise to be Administred unto all though they be never so ungodly We are indeed to Preach the Gospel to every Creature but there must be at least a professed subjection to the Gospel or else persons are not to be admitted to this Holy and Heavenly Banquet Those who are for Railing in the Communion Table I wish they were for a Spiritual Rail of Scripture Discipline and that in the Administration of these sacred Mysteries there were a separation made between the Precious and the Vile In the more pure and ancient times two sorts of Persons were debarred from the Lords Table the Catechumeni and the Lapsi the ignorant and not well instructed in the Faith and those who had fallen into scandalous sins And why should either of these be admitted now to eat and drink Judgment to themselves To prevent the incurring of the guilt instead of receiving the benefits of the Blood of Christ the Apostle prescribes self-examination Now That he who would be a welcom Guest at the Lords Table may prove himself thorowly and to purpose let him seriously and as in the Presence of God propose unto himself these following Questions 1. Am I acquainted with or a stranger to the great things of the Gospel Do I know the Mystery of God and of the Father and of christ Or is the black vail of ignorance still upon my Heart The Apostle speaks of some who have need to be taught which are the first principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5. 12. And am not I one of that number How can I pretend to Faith in Christ or Love to God if I have not so much as a notional knowledge of either The Communicant must have some Knowledge of the fundamental Doctrines of the Christian
have Can I lay all that I have and my self too at his feet And not complement or dissemble with him when I say I and all is at his service Do I yeild my whole Heart my whole Man unto my Lord without any reserve As Christ gave himself for me and gave himself to me so am I perswaded that I cannot dispose of my self better or so well as to give up my self to Him O My Soul is any thing too much too good or good enough for Jesus Behold God in the Flesh in the Manger upon the Cross and in the Grave and if he condescendded obeyed and suffered and purchased so much for thee O Be perfect and intire in the resignation of thy self to him Thou readest of a Nonsuch Convert 2 King 23. 25. And that was Josiah Like unto him there was no King before him that turned unto the Lord with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might neither after him arose there any like him Surely 't is thy duty and Interest to write after this excellent pattern 16. The Communicant should ask himself Am I desirous to be faithful in Gods Covenant to the last Breath Do I count I obtain great mercy when I am made thus faithful Have I counted the cost of being a Disciple And is my love of the Lord and of Godliness greater then my fear of persecution Do I distrust my corrupt and timerous Nature and beg that my Lords Grace may be sufficient Look O My Soul as thy Head did unto the Joy that is set before thee and start not at the Cross which is the way to the Crown Persecution will sit thee for Heaven may speed thee thither Fear not men since the worst is the best they can do that is set thee by Death out of their reach and send thee to thy Fathers house and bosom Faint not at Troubles for these light afflictions which are but for a moment do work for persevering Saints a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 17. The Communicant should Examine himself Am I taught of God to love my Brethren 1 Thess 4. 9. Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and all kinde of Malice is leaven that is to be purged out All that come to the Table should put on as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of mind Meekness Long-Suffering Forbearing one another and Forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any as Christ forgave them so also should they do And above all these things they should put on Charity which is the Bond of Perfectness and the Peace of God should rule in their Hearts whereunto they are also called in one Body Col. 3. 12 13 14. 15. As there is a representation of the Body of Christ in this Ordinance of the Supper so there is some signification of the Love and Unity that ought to be in the Body Mystical that is to say the Church of Christ the Apostles Words are plain 1 Cor. 10. 17. For we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread You see how you are to prove your selves and what questions to propound to your own souls before you come to the Lords Table And if your Consciences can answer for you before God in the affirmative unto such questions as these You may without presumption conclude that you are the Children of God that you have a right to come to your Fathers Table and that the Bread of Life belongs to you In the Third place I am to direct you how you may prove and call your selves to an account every day that you may walk with the greater circumspection The God of Heaven is the Lord of Time he observes how our Time is husbanded whether well or ill and he can put a period to it when he pleases And if we did seriously observe what fills up our time so many days would not be spent and lost in sin and vanity It was an Heathen who said he had lost a day when a day passed without doing of good which shews he used to reflect upon the actions of every day whether they were Good or Evil. I would advise you much to observe your selves Never any more spend a day as if you were never to account for that day but remember what the Apostle Paul says Eph. 5. 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the Time And the Apostle Peter gives the like charge 1 Pet. 1. 17. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear Towards the Evening of the day it will not be amiss to retire and laying aside other business to converse with thy self and ask thy self these or such like questions 1. Did I wake with God in the Morning and in his strength resolve to walk with God all this day long Every one of us should resemble David who said How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God! When I awake I am still with thee Psal 139. 17 18. The first Fruits of our Thoughts should be offered up unto God and if the first Fruit be Holy all the rest of our Thoughts are the more likely to be free from wickedness and vanity And as the soul should be lifted up to the Lord at the very first unlocking of the senses so there should be a resolving and forecasting how to please and glorifie him Every day we live the main end of our living should be minded and that is to honour that God who is our Maker Benefactour Saviour for off him and through him and to him are all things and to him belongs the Glory for ever Rom. 11. ult 2. Ask thy self Did I willingly leave my Bed that I might go to Prayer and search the Word of God And did I long for and enjoy Communion with God in these duties Many will leave their Beds most readily when they are to go a pleasant Journey or when they hope to drive on an advantagious bargain or when they are to put on their finest Clothes But how few do shake off sleep in a morning that they may go to the Throne of Grace where the truest both pleasure and profit is to be found David lookt up to Heaven assoon as his Eyes were open Psal 5. 3. My Voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Nay he says Psal 119. 147. I prevented the dawning of the Morning and cryed I hoped in thy Word Early Prayer and Searching of the Scripture is the way to obtain a blessing at the beginning of the day the influence of which may be perceived all the day after Communion with God in the morning may knit the Heart so fast to him as that no Temptation may be able to draw it away from him afterwards It was a pretty passage of Herbert Who read a Chapter when
the great interest and business of us all to please him Though others live without God in the World and forget him days without number yet we should be under the powerful impressions of those great Truths That God is All-Seeing that God is All-sufficient and we should walk before him and be perfect for the Eyes of the Lord run too and fro through the whole Earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose Heart is perfect towards him 2 Chron. 16. 9. 13. Ask thy self What care have I had to adorn the Gospel this day and to win those who are without to a love and liking of Religion The wicked hate instruction and cast the Word behind them they will not be at the pains to look into the Book of the Gospel and therefore let them be able to read the excellency and the efficacy of the Gospel in the lives of those that are Professors With well doing we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men We should be Blameless and Harmless the Sons of God without Rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation among whom we should shine as Lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. Calling your selves to an Account thus every day will make the Authority of Conscience to be more own'd and reveverenced The Heart will be the better kept within bounds when it knows it must be Catechised at Evening and severely chidden for every Transgression By this course the practise of Repentance will be promoted if there be a falling into sin and we shall rise and recover the sooner and if we are enabled to walk before God in Truth from day to day and keep a Conscience void of offence we shall the more thankfully and comfortably take notice of the Grace of God in us and with us by which we are what we are and which is not bestowed upon us in vain 1 Cor. 15. 10. And if every day we should thus prove ourselves Vpon the Lords Day we should do it much more We should not be so Sacrilegious as to wast any of that hallowed Time We should examine whether our Hearts took their flight to Heaven at first waking and continued there without descending all the Day We should examine whether God had our thoughts and the very cream and strength of our Affections and the World and the concernments of it were made to stand by while our Hearts did Worship We should examine whether our discourse was altogether spiritual whether Earthly Employments and Recreations were laid aside and whether our Souls did indeed rest in God and Jesus Christ And resist Satan and disallow of every thing which might be a Distraction Deading and Disturbance We should seriously reflect upon our secret Duties and our manner of engaging in publick Ordinances and see whether God was pleased and manifested his Gracious Presence Power and Love And whether our Souls were indeed profited and delighted in the Closet in the Family in the Sanctuary Every Sabbath is indeed a Golden season of Grace which it much concerns us to improve and we should be unsatified unlesse we endeavour to spend it after such a manner in the Affectionate and delightful admiration and Worship of the Lord as the Saints in Heaven do celebrate an Eternal Sabbath VSE IV. Shall be of Exhortation unto the duty in in the Text be perswaded all of you to examine and prove your selves And that the Word of Exhortation may be the more prevalent it shall be particularly directed unto several sorts of Persons First Let Wicked men that are notoriously ungodly prove themselves And truly such at the first view of themselves may presently perceive whose they are Satan works more openly in these scandalous Children of Disobedience and leads them Captive in the sight of all Their Cursing and Swearing their hating of Gods Word and Sabbath and Messengers their Fornication and Adultery their Stealing Injustice and Lying their Covetousness and Drunkenness and Railing at Religion and Abhorring all that are serious These things are the Devils Badg and Livery and plainly declare that such person are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of Iniquity Oh you that declare your sin as Sodom and hide it not You cannot deny your wickedness pray be at last convinced of it and think what will be the end of the course you are taking Let these five words of advice be acceptable 1. Look about you and see innumerable Evils compassing you about Psal 40. 12. How vast is the number how heinous the nature and how high and horrid the aggravations of your inquities Your sins are as Scarlet and Crimson indeed your Trespasses are grown up to the very Heavens and notwithstanding your great Abominations you have been impudent and hardhearted Your Necks have been like an Iron sinew and your Brows Brass and your Hearts like an Adamant-stone you have refused to be ashamed and to return The least of all your sins is enough to damn you and should not the consideration of so many and such great ones daunt and fright you That God who is to judge you knows what you have done He has compassed your Paths has heard your words has lookt into your Hearts is acquainted with all your wayes Psal 139. 1 2 3. And has not forgotten any of your evil works and wickednesse Let all this fill you with trouble and make you tremble 2. Look within you and take notice of a Fountain of sin there The Lord that searches the Heart of man gives it a very bad report Gen. 6. 5. God saw that the Wickedness of man was great upon the Earth and every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was only Evil continually And Christ who knew what was in man expressely tells us that out of the Heart of man proceed all the Evils whereby he is defiled Matth. 15. 19 20. Satan indeed is your Enemy and he showes himself so in Tempting you to Evil but all your sins are properly your own Hearts Off-spring the principal blame is to be laid at your own door Your corrupted natures make you Devils Tempters Enemies to your selves destroyers of your selves Jam. 1. 14 15. Every man is Tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth Sin and Sin when finished bringeth forth Death 3. Look above you and behold an angry God a God angry particularly with you and can you stand before his indignation Take notice of the Mountains quaking the Hills melting the Rocks overturned the Heavens Astonished the Devils trembling when the Lord is Wrath and do you think that you can prosper if you harden you selves against him His Wrath is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of men Rom. 1. 18. When that Wrath is felt how heavy will it be found 4. Look beneath you and see a flaming Furnace That 's a dreadful fire indeed which never shall be quenched which will always
was once a Child of Wrath and Disobedience I am become an Heir of God and a Joint-Heir with Christ unto that inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled and which fadeth not away Nay my Lord who has loved me and washed me from my sins in his own blood hath made me a King and a Priest unto God and his Father and I must reign for ever for of this Kingdom which I have now a Title to and a sure promise of there shall be no end Oh rich Oh free Oh glorious Grace I am at a loss for an expression high enough to set forth the thousandth part 〈◊〉 my Lords incomparable kindness my shallow Conceptions cannot reach what is incomprehensible Therefore I must be silent in a joyful admiration MEDITATION LIII What shall I render unto the Lord My All is due my All is too little and by rendring my All I secure my All and so am still more benefited and I become more my Lords debter I find my self most happily puzzled with my Lords goodness He gives himself to me and requires that I should give my self to him but in so doing not He but I receive the benefit All the retributions thou requirest O my God and Father are but to do my self more kindnesses Duties are my priviledges All thy precepts are for my profit and my peace and pleasure to obey them Thou art beyond all compare the very best Master Oh let my ear be boared for I will serve thee for ever let my Heart be circumcised that I may love thee Eternally There is a sweetness in the acting of every Grace There is great peace in keeping of thy law there is an amiableness in thy Tabernacles thy power and thy glory are seen in thy sanctuary and though that word Suffering may sound harsh yet upon experience suffering will be found the most delightful paâ—â— of Christian obedience MEDITATION LIV. My Lord did not stick at suffering and why should I Why should the Cross daunt me If I will be indeed Godly Persecution is to be expected The old Serpent is full of hatred and so are his seed and their hatred is implacable But when I consider my Lords love and power and presence Hells Malice and the Worlds Rage become contemptible times of suffering are times of the sweetest solace Those are not unreasonable injunctions Count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations and Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven The Spirit of glory and of God does rest upon his suffering Saints so that they glory in tribulation they rejoyce in it as a dignity when they suffer shame for the name of Jesus they are gainers by their losses they gain an hundred fold in this World besides the Kingdom in the other World MEDITATION LV. O my soul follow thy Lord though he lead thee in rough ways and paths of great affliction If sufferings abound consolation shall abound and grace shall be sufficient The Cross of Christ though the outside of it be affrighting yet it is lined with love and easily born And if it should come to pass that Life must be taken away What better use can Life be put to then to lay it down for the Testimony of Jesus The painfullest deaths have proved many times most pleasant What raptures of joy have the Martyrs had at the stake and in the flames Prudentius of old observed Mors Christianis ludus est That Death was but a sport unto the Christians Remarkable is that passage of Bainham the Martyr when his arms and legs were half consumed by the fire he spake these words O ye Papists you look for miracles and here now you may see a miracle for in this fire I feel no more pain then if I were in a bed of Down it is to me a bed of Roses Resolve therefore O my soul undauntedly to undergo whatever tribulaon thou meetest for the sake of Righteousness Rely upon thy faithful God who will not suffer thee to be tempted above what his Grace shall enable thee to bear with joy as well as patience MEDITATION LVI Thy death O Lord is to be shewn forth till thou comest 't is proper for me to think of thy coming and to rejoyce at the thoughts of it My Lord and Redeemer will certainly appear the second time without sin to Salvation And when he shall appear I shall be like him and appear with him in glory Time and days do fly away apace and the comming of my Lord draweth nigh That will be the day of my open absolution of my full and compleat Redemption of my joyful and triumphant Coronation How full of glory and of love will be the face of Jesus then Ah! where shall the ungodly and sinners then appear How will the greatest and the stoutest of them even the Kings and Cheif Captains and mighty men tremble and call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and cover them from the face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb But though most of mankind be full of horror I if I am a true Believer shall be full of joy and after I have been openly acquitted own'd and crown'd before Men and Angels Whither Oh whither will my Lord carry me Into those Mansions he is gone to prepare into the presence Chamber of the King of Glory Where God himself will be All in All. MEDITATION LVII I find some sweetness in the way and means of grace what shall I find in the end if in vale of Tears such joy be found what will be enjoyed in a paradise of delight if in the midst of labours and fightings and temptations I find so much satisfaction what contentment will an Everlasting rest afford me Augustine speaks excellently Soliloq cap. 35. Intra in gaudium sine tristitia ubi erit omne bonum et non erit aliquod malum ubi erit quicquid voles et non erit quicquid noles O gaudium vincens omne gaudium laetitia sine dolore lux sine tenebris vita sine morte ubi juventus nunquam senescit ubi decor nunquam pallescit ubi amor nunquam tepescit gaudium nunquam decrescit ubi dolor nunquam sentitur gemitus nunquam auditur ubi triste nihil videtur ubi malum nullum timetur quia summum bonum possidetur Enter O my soul into joy without sadness Where there shall be a presence of all good an absence of all evil where there shall be every thing which thou desirest nothing at all that thou dislikest O joy surpassing all other joys Gladness without Grief Light without Darkness Life without Death There Youth shall never grow old Beauty shall never fade Love shall never wax cold and Joy shall never be diminished there sorrow shall never be felt one sigh shall never be heard