less just for their iniquity God doth say of himself I am the Lord and change not his love is as himself ever the same and Christ in whom thou art beloved the same yesterday to day and the same for ever and hereupon should we live by Faith and rejoyce evermore with joy unspeakable and full of glory Heb. 13. 8. 1 Thes 5. 16. Psal 32. 11. 4. Because whatsoever thoughts we have of God he is unchangeable if he doth withdraw himself and lead thee into the wilderness it is that he may speak comfortably to thee Hos 2. 14 15. and all this while thou hast his promise with thee and his faithfulness is engaged unto thee Isaiah 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will have mercy upon thee Jer. 51. 5. Neh. 9. 16 17. Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them to the end Iohn 13. 1. 5. God doth ever look upon his as they are in his Son and not simply as they are in themselves they dwell in Christ and he in them they live in Christ and their life is hid with Christ in God and when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory and be found in him not having their own righteousness c. These Scriptures do fully prove all the fore-going reasons why a Christians hope joy and comfort should be the same in God at all times and so live by faith and not by sight Hos 2. 19 20. Jer. 3. 14. Jer. 33. 8. Isa 62. 5. Heb. 8. 10 12. Ezek. 16. 62 63. Heb. 3. 6. Jer. 33. 20 21. Hosea 14. 5. Isa 61. 10. Isa 54. 5. Jer. 31. 9. Heb. 3. 17 18. Heb. 6. 17 18. Rom. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Rom. 8. 28 33 35 38 39. Isa 41. 10 Isa 57. 18 19. Isa 54. 7 8. Heb. 10. 19 20 22. Psalm 46. 1 2 3 4. Rom. 8. 1 2. John 13. 1. Isa 63. 16. Psal 89. 30 31 33. Several waies for a believer to hold fast his confidence in God at all times To live by Faith in infirmities is to live upon Christ and his promises viz. If under temptations 1. Cor. 10. 13. there is a promise of supportation and deliverance In deadness of heart Isa 35. 5 6. there is a promise of relief and quickning If fallen by transgression Jam. 5. 17. yet there is others of the Lords own in the same case If thou seest thy duty and want strength to do it here is help and strength for thee Job 17. 9. Psalm 84. 7. Isa 45. 24. and 40. 29 30. Jer. 17. 8. Psal 1. 2 3. Psal 92. 13 14. Isa 61. 9. In Christ thou hast perfectly obeyed the Law perfectly suffered and satisfied for all thy sins to the justice of God so that in Christ thou art perfectly just and righteous and thereupon it is said Col. 3. 3. Ephes 2. 6. that our life is hid with Christ in God and we are raised up with Christ and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus though in thy self there is a body of lust and corruption and sin and there is a law revealing sin accusing and condemning but if we live by faith in Christ and in the apprehension of his love believing in the life righteousness obedience satisfaction and glory of him whom the Spirit cals ours Christ is ours we are Christs and Christ is Gods he then lives out of the power of all condemnation Christ being the end of the Law for righteousness and thus a believer is blessed only in a righteousness without not within and all his assurance confidence and comforts to flow into him through a channel of faith and not of works believing himself happy for what another even Christ hath done for him not for what he hath done nor can do for himself for when we are at the best we are but vanity Psal 39. 5. and unprofitable servants Luke 17. 10. Now this believing in God is attended with these five blessed things 1. It is the highest piece of obedience to God Rom. 16. 26. It is called the obedience of Faith 2. It doth put a new engagement upon God to make good his promise upon which faith is grounded Psal 119. 49. Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope 1 Chron. 5. 20. 3. Consider also another priviledge is this the greatest mercies that ever came into a soul comes in a way of believing Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 5. 1. being justified by Faith we have peace with God c. 4. By it we give the greatest honour to God John 3. 33. He hath set to his seal that God is true but he that believeth not hath made him a lyar 1 John 5. 10. 5. This is the way to have God take pleasure in us Psal 147. 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in those that fear him in those that hope in his mercy Psal 33. 18. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy The joy of a believer would be alwaies unspeakable did he alwaies apprehend his happiness in and by Christ Jesus Faith in Christ supplies all wants it honours God as Heb. 11. the whole Chapter and God honours those most that live by it by it saith the Scripture the Elders obtained a good report by faith we may live a life to God of joy in him our righteousness as if we had never sinned by faith we live above sin infirmities temptations desertions sense reason fears and doubts Faith sweetens the sweetest mercy and the bitterest miseries it renders great afflictions as none it is the bulwark of the souls strength and comfort by Faith we cheerfully readily and universally and constantly obey God In a measure it makes the the yoak of Christ easie and sweet it states the soul in the possession of heaven whilst the body remains on earth as John 3. 36. By faith we view the glory of heaven and know our selves to be happy even then when to a carnal eye we seem most miserable By faith we can cheerfully part with and suffer deprivation of the sweetest outward comforts and enjoyments and welcome them knowing that we do but exchange the worst things and place for a better those that live up by faith live upon God and are refreshed in his house which is plentifully stored with all desirable dainties having this welcome eat O friends and drink abundantly It is O believer thy portion duty and priviledge thus to do O then O then let us at once believe that God will be to us according to his gracious promise and Covenant notwithstanding our daily omissions and commissions excuses and defects according to that portion of Scripture Psal 89. from 30.
the City in perils in the wilderness enticed by Satan allured by the world deceived and cheated by our own heart Oh how wilt thou do to lanch out into the Ocean dost thou know what will become of thee in another world is thy peace made with God is thy person justified art thou in a state of grace art thou born again art thou converted and become as a little child hast thou repented doth thy righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees if so it is well if not thou shalt never enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 3. 5. Matthew 18. 3. Luke 13. 5. Mat. 5. 20. 4. Let us consider that death hath something to say to every one of us he is no respecter of persons sometimes he snatcheth away the babe newly born sometimes the child sometimes the young man sometimes the middle age and alwayes the old aged he respects no mans person be he rich or poor high or low strong or weak beloved or hated godly or ungodly wherefore call thy self to account every evening examine what evil hast thou hated this day what vice hast thou stood against this day in what part thou art bettered now then thou wast in the morning Seneca reports of a heathen man that would every night ask himself these questions I have heard of a heathen after his conversion that was tempted to some sin he thrust his finger into the fire saying sin soul if thou canst burn and so overcame the temptation 5. Let us consider that death to a godly man is but a change of place not of company we shall have the company of the same Father Son and Spirit and Saints and all the spirits of just men made perfect a believer in this world is not in his own place therefore oh Christians weigh anchor hoise sail and be gone death to a Christian will put an end to all unprofitable things here we change joy for sorrow health for sickness strength for weakness honour for dishonour plenty for poverty beauty for deformity friends for foes silver for brass gold for copper c. now death puts an end to all these Rev. 21. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow neither shall there be any more pain Rev. 14. 13. therefore blessed are the dead that die in the Lord death also doth put a change to our employment our employment in this world doth lye much in praying groaning sighing mourning wrestling and fighting against the world flesh and Devil Ephes 6. 10. But in the world to come our employment will lye in praising and magnifying the Lord Again our enjoyment shall be changed as well as our employment we shall change our unconstant enjoyment for a more constant 1 Thes 4. 17 18. We shall change our dark and obscure enjoyment for a more bright enjoyment 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face here we receive grace for grace there we shall receive glory for glory 6. Consider unto what familiar things death is compared and presented to one that is in Christ sometimes it is termed a house Job said I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house of all living Job 30. 23. Sometimes it is represented as going to bed Isa 57. 2. Sometimes death is stiled a sleep Dan. 12. 2. What shall I say more death to a wicked man is the king of terrors but Christ came to deliver his flock from the fear of death and the grave is embalmed by Jesus Christ he lay there three dayes c. 2. As in our preparation for death there are the foregoing things to be considered so in the next place there are some things to be practiced and the work we have is two-fold 1. Get a title to Gods love 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title which is or may be done by improving these five things 3. Improve the present opportunity and put not off to the last minute as most do 4. Store up a stock of faith store up a stock of promises and store up a stock of prayers against that day 5. Endeavour so to live every day as if it were thy last day 6. Gather up all thy evidences and spiritual experiences and keep them in mind and heart 7. Make thy will in time of health and leave all things clear upon thy book both in shop and conscience 1. In all thy gettings be sure to get a title to Gods love and then get assurance that thou hast a title the first is done by action the second is done by examination The action or actions are these 1. GIve diligence to make thy calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. and that a man may so do shorten worldly business and be moderate in the use of worldly pleasures so foolish are we that whilst with much care and labour we go about to make those things certain which are most uncertain we make those things uncertain which might be made most certain he that hath two Irons in the fire at once spoyls one whilst he attends the other See what care most have to make good their titles to settle their inheritances upon their heirs shall we not be as careful to settle our interest to eternal glory if we be quiet now yet the Devil will find a time to try thy evidences for heaven and call our title into question sickness and death are times of weakness to us wherin he like a subtile enemy displayes all his art O consider the misery of doubting persons at their death think upon the anguish that their souls endure they apprehend God angry with them the Devil accusing them earth leaving them heaven refusing them hell claiming them soul and body parting friends weeping and themselves hopeless going they know not whither O then O then let us make our calling and election sure before hand as worldly men get riches in health to cherish them in sickness and as the Bees get hony in summer to feed on in the winter even so should we in time of health get good grounds of assurance that so we might live enjoy and dye in peace and rise in perfection and raign in happiness 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title viz. make a curious narrow impartial diligent search into thy own soul and see what humility what self-denial what sin-abhorrency what love to Christ what delight in his Ordinances what zeal to Gods glory what contempt of the world what desires after the society of the Saints what sympathizing with them in their afflictions and if thou findest any impressions of grace any spiritual work any saving savoury distinguishing operations upon thy heart c. canst thou mourn in secret for open and secret sins dost thou deâ—ire to have sin purged as well as pardoned dost thou leave sin from a right principle to a right end and so through the Spirit mortifie the
and stand on thy guard having put on all the armour of Christ as a valiant souldier constantly maintain war and thou shalt usually obtain victory resolve in the strength of Christ either to conquer or dye conquering for let no man think to dance and dine with the Devil and afterwards to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven Let us therefore live in Christ and not in our selves for in our selves there is a body of lust corruption and sin and a Law accusing and condemning but if we live by faith in Christ and in the apprehension of his love laying hold on the life righteousness obedience satisfaction of him whom the pirit cals ours saying Christ is ours and we are Christs and Christ is Gods and thus a believer is blessed only in a righteousness without not with in and all our assurance confidence and comforts are to flow in unto him through a channel of faith and not of works by faith we ought to live above sin infirmities temptations desertions sense reason fears doubts it makes the yoke of Christ easie and sweet it states the soul in the possession of heaven whilst the body remains on earth by faith we can cheeâ—fully part with and suffer deprivation of the sweetest outward comforts and enjoyments and welcome death knowing that we do but exchange the worst place and things for better the Lord Jesus having spoken peace to the soul that he hath paid all his debts for it and that his sins shall be remembred no more now the soul knows it is happy and enjoys the comfort of it 7. Make thy will in time of health and leave all things clear upon both books of shop and conscience that thou mayst have nothing to do but to dye and to meditate upon and to have faith in the precious promises which speak of rest joy peace and perfect happiness which is provided for us in heaven firmly believing that God will after this life give us all those things with himself which he hath promised as certainly as thou hast in thy will given to thy relations such and such things for them to enjoy and so exercise faith in the resurrection of thy body 1 Thes 4. 16. to have a spiritual body 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. to have a glorified body Phil. 3. 21. to have fulness of knowledge Ephes 3. 18 19. to have fulness of joy and pleasure Psal 16. 11. sâ—ch as shall be internal pure full spiritual and eternal where no misery hunger cold nakedness pain grief nor weariness but rest without labour in rest tranquility in tranquility content in contentment joy in joy variety in variety security in security eternity c. thus shalt thou that hast prepared for death aforehand dye sweetly whilst others that put off preparation to the last O what a hurry be they in Oh the anguish that their souls endure they apprehending God angry with them the Devil accusing them earth leaving them heaven refusing them hell claiming them soul and body parting friends weeping and themselves hopeless going they know not whither But to a godly man death is neither strange nor fearful unto him not strange because he dyed dayly not fearful because whilst he lived he was dead and his life was hid with Christ in God to dye then is nothing else but to rest from our labours and to go home to our fathers house unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of Angels to the general assembly and Church of the first born to God the Judge of all and unto the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament whilst his body is sick his mind is sound for God maketh all his bed in his sickness Psal 41. 3. and as his outward man decayeth the inward man â—renewed day by day when the speech of his tongue saltereth the sighs of his heart speaks lowder unto God when the sight of the eyes faileth the Holy Ghost illuminates him inwardly with abundance of spiritual light sometimes he is saying with Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. and with David Psalm 42. 2. As the heart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God when shall come and appear before him come Lord Jesus come quickly So when the appointed time of his dissolution is come knowing that he goeth to his father and redeemer in the peace of a good conscience he saith Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace c. and so surrenders up his soul as it were with his own hands into the hands of his heavenly Father saying with David Into thy hands O Father I commend my soul for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth and so saying with Stephen Act. 7. 59. Lord Jesus receive my spirit Thus far of the preparation for death with a taste of the sad condition of one dying out of Christ and the sweet condition of a Christian dying that is a member of Christ that did prepare for death before it came I had once intended here to have spoken to the sad condition of the ungodly after death resurrection and last judgement and also of the blessed condition of all that dye in the faith after death resurrection and last judgement but that will not fallin order here but towards the end of this book when we come to speak of the resurrection of the body and last judgement when Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom to his Father and God shall be all in all I shall proceed now to speak of the second coming of Christ in power and great glory c. The great and terrible day of the Lord is near dawning and the glory of all flesh staining the Kingdom of Christ appearing and the restitution of all things approaching this great Mysterie opened the grounds thereof examined the truth cleared and the ignorance of many in this Mysterie discovered THat very self-same Jesus which was born in Bethlem and suffered at Calvary even he shall come again the same Jesus not another Act. 1. 11. shall so come again as he was taken up viz. Visibly substantially apparently to all yea in the same manner yea it is added as you have seen him that we might not allegorize the matter we are kept to the very manner now for the probation of this truth we have 1. The testimony of all the Prophets 2. We have the testimony of all the Apostles 3. We have the testimony of Angels all bearing witness to this truth 1. We have the testimony of the Prophets see Acts 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive untill the time of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the the world began but especially the Prophets since Samuel ver 24. yea and all the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken
causes of this great work of creation was first his love to man and the shewing forth his own glory and the fulfilling of his decree to the end that God may be known and honored of his creatures c. his eternall power and God-head is seen in raising all things out of nothing By his word alone Isa 40. 12. Rom. 1. 20. Ier. 10. 12. 51. 15. And his infinite wisdom is made known by them Psal 104. 24. Of Angels ANgels are spiritual creatures compleat and immortall yet finite Heb. 1. 13 14. Col. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 11. 26. 53. Psal 68. 17. Mat. 22. 30. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 1. 7. Psal 104. 4. There be two sorts of Angels first good secondly bad The good Angels they praise God worship the Son they are heavenly messengers from the Father to defend the faithfull they have wrestled eaten been received as strangers had their feet washed they shall gather the elect from the four corners of the earth they shall come with Christ to judgement they be excellent creatures 1. For their nature Isaiah 6. 2. Daniel 9. 21. 2 Thes 1. 7. 2. For their gifts 2 Sam. 14. 17. Mat. 6. 10. Luk. 15. 10. 1 Cor. 13. 1. 3. For their offices Dan. 7. 10. Rev. 5. 11. 4. They be excellent for their estate Mat. 18. 10. 5. They be wise and of great understanding 2 Sam. 14. 20. They were the first creatures that ever God made there be also severall orders of Angels viz. Archangels Cherubims and Seraphins yet lay all these things together it will appear that righteousness of Angels is but the righteousness of creatures but the righteousness that the Saints are cloathed with is the very righteousness of Christ and in this respect the meanest Saint is more excellent then the most glorious Angel in heaven they are by God sent forth for the good of his people hence they are called ministring spirits and they minister to the Saints many wayes In their life by defending them from their enemies the Angels of the Lord pitch their tents about them that fear him Psal 34. 7. An Angel it was that slew the army of the Assyrians That delivered Peter out of prison as also preserved Lot Psal 91. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes Gen. 32. 5. An Angel encouraged Iacob when he feared his brother Esau an Angel it was Luke 1. 30. who bid Mary not to fear and who stood by Paul and bid him be of good cheer Act. 27. 24. By an Angel was the incarnation of Christ foretold to the Virgin and by a multitude of Angels was it proclaimed afterwards an Angel leads Philip to expound the Scripture to the Eunuch sets Peter at liberty to preach the Gospel bids Cornelius send for Peter to be instructed by him and prayes Paul to come over to Macedonia to help them none are so nobly attended as Saints they have a life-guard of Angels to encompass them about Angels are as carefull of the faithfull as a nurse of her sucking child they bear them up in their arms that they dash not their feet against a stone Of Man ALL men by nature are equally made of one earth and blood and every poor Christian is as dear unto God as a mighty Prince Man was wonderfully created and more wonderfully redeemed The Lord hath assigned his heart to wisdom the belly to avoidance the breast to health the liver to anger the gall to bitterness the spleen to laughter the kidneys to craftyness the loyns to strength the ribs to comeliness the Lord having finished the excellent frame of heaven and earth he cals a counsel to build that excellent tabernacle Man into whom he breathed the spirit of life this man did far exceed all other creatures that amongst them all not found any one fit or meet to be a companion for him or to have society with him and so the Lord made him a help meet for him this man was the master-piece of all Gods works to whom the Lord did give an unlimited prerogative over the beasts of the field the fouls of the air and the fish of the sea but man by his disobedience became inferiour to the most despised creatures and we all his posterity are more miserable and fuller of vanity then any of the unreasonable creatures viz. other creatures by the benefit of nature can stand upon their legs and seek after their food when young but man the Lord of them all must be swadled in clouts being no way able to help himself the young chickens as soon as ever they are hatched can run after their dam to seek for food and have that wisdom to hide themselves under her wings at the fluttering of the Kite the lambs calves and young costs stand suddenly upon their legs to seek their dams teats But man would perish if his mother by her naturall affection did not bring the nipple of her breasts to his mouth and rock him upon her knees Of the Soul THE soul of man is a spirituall substance immortall and invisible endued with memory understanding and will or the soul is a substance immortall invisible united to the body and endued with many admirable faculties as life sense and reason to this end principally that God might be truly honored and duely worshipped Or the soul is a spirituall invisible and immortall substance endued with power to understand and will this soul is at one instant both created and united to the body and by the power and faculties of the soul man is capable of happiness or of the the cheif good or greatest misery or thus the soul of the Saints is a spirituall and immortall substance created after the Image of God and renewed after the immortall Image of God in Christ the soul is a real and very being as the body is only of an higher kind the body is of the earth the soul is immediately from God Of Mans Fall THE devill himself being fallen cometh to the garden in the form of a Serpent Adam and Eve being in Paradise and looking upon themselves as indeed they were the most excellent piece of all the creation bearing the Image of God their Creator the Lord having left them a law he leaves them to the fredom of their own will the devil boards the woman thus hath God said ye shall not eat of such a tree it is a likely thing that the Lord cares what ye eat what do you think he stands upon an apple this is the first assault which the woman weakly resisteth and answered doubtfully we must not eat lest we die then the devil perceiving the woman to stagger and the ground of her faith to shake he plants all his pieces and purposes for a second storm and stands up and saith to the woman ye shall not die at all can there be any hurt in an apple Oh silly woman God he affirmeth and faith ye shall die the woman saith I must
c. Of the declining state of man THis age of man is subject to envy and covetousness as the former age was to ambition and carking cares whereby it appears that mens passions and sins do rather change then forsake them for carnal delights to which young men are most addicted do change in their delcining age unto envy and covetousness and sometimes their avarice doth change to ambition a godly man at this age is fitter for counsel then for action because their passions are commonly more moderate their experiences greatter their Judgement more solid and their counsels safer Job 12. 12. With the ancient is wisdom and in length of years understanding but this declining age of man is not free from vanity it being subject to envy at another mans prosperity c. Of the Decrepit or old age of man THE decrepit age of man begins a little after sixty and ends when death strikes them with his dart Rom. 6. 23. the wages of sin is death the old age of man except it be endued with free-grace and sanctified by the Spirit of God it is the vanity of vanities and the misery of all miseries for the innumerous infirmities incident to it viz. bald-headed stooping under dotage wrinkled face rotten teeth stinking breath testy with choler withered with driness dimmed with blindness filled with diseases overwhelmed with sickness and bowed together with weakness having little use of any sense but of the sence of pain what shall I say more trace man from his mothers womb to the grave you shall find him nothing but a piece of vanity in his best estate Ps 39. 5. First in his very conception they may be extinguished by ill scents and vapours bruises or fals then in their infancy by the quinsie convulsions measels or the small pox then in their youth by the sword plurisie and burning feavers then in the next age apoplexies bloody fluxes and consumptions then in their declining age by the stone and the gout dropsies palsies c. And in old age aches cough stone and divers other casualties so that I may conclude with Solomon that the lives of natural men are meer vanity and vexation of Spirit Of the Pollution and Misery of the soul in this life THE understanding is full of vanity Psal 94. 11. 2 Cor. 4. 4. The will of man is wholly depraved it is contrary to God his word and Spirit in all things it will not depend nor wait on God as for the memory that also is full of corruption that will forget the things that is commanded to remember and remember the things that we should forget and as for the conscience that also is wholly corrupted it is neither clear to see things that are amiss nor sensible of sins committed and whereas it should excuse or accuse it doth abuse and pervert the light it hath by making great sins small c. And as for our affections they come as a tempest either to make us over-joy or over-grieve what shall I say more the wretched soul is so deformed with sin defiled with lust polluted with filthiness outraged with passions pined with envy overcharged with gluttony boyling with revenge transported with rage so that the glorious Image of God is transformed into the ugly shape of the Devil our understanding is darknned our will depraved our affections disordered our memory misimployed our conscience benummed Of the Miseries attending both body and soul in the hour of death if they see not their interest in Christ DEath in the Scripture is called the King of terrors and the fear of death makes many subject to bondage all their life for death is a messenger that hath something to say to every man and he often speaks to all that would fain be heard but most men are not at leisure to hear what he hath to say no not till old age nor then neither well after all the forementioned troubles in comes death and looks the old man grim and black in the face and neither pittieth his age nor regardeth his long endured Dolours but battereth all the principal parts of his body and arresteth him to appear before the great judge of Heaven and Earth at the bar of his Justice then the old man fals into a cold sweat over all his body and a trembling in all his members the head aketh the face waxeth pale the nose black the eye-strings break the tongue faltereth the throat rotleth whilst he is thus summoned to appear at the great assize of Gods court behold a quarter Sessions and goal Delivery is held within him where reason sits as Judge and his conscience being now awakened puts in a bill of Inditement wherein is alleadged all the evil deeds that ever thou hast committed and the good deeds that ever thou hast omitted and all the curses and Judgements that are due to every sin Never such a bill put up against the greatest Traitor in any court of men thou must hold up thy hand at the bar for all the sins that ever thou didst commit in the whole course of thy life the bill of Indictment it self runs thus 1. Thou art accused for many sins of omission in leaving undone many good things that God in his word required of thee 2. For spoiling all the good things that ever thou didstin thy life by mixing the poyson of thy own corruption with them 3. For sinning in secret as if God had not seen it because men do not and hereby denying as it were Gods Omnipotency 4. For presuming sometimes to sin openly to the Dishonouring of the God of Glory before all the world 5. For sinning against all sorts of men against thy Parents in thy youth thine equals in thy manly age thine inferiours in thy old Age. 6. For sinning against God himself immediately by abusing his Name and Ordinances 7. For sinning against mens Souls Lives Goods Chastity good Name and all that was near and dear to them 8. For sinning against thy own soul and all the good things God hath given thee by intemperance and otherwise 9. For sinning against Gods holy Ordinances in neglecting or abusing them 10. For sinning against Gods Mercies abusing Health Wealth and Liberty and Parts and Gifts 11. For sinning against Gods Judgements as if thou caredst not for his pleasure nor fearedst his displeasure 12. For sinning against the checks of thy own conscience that often forbad thee to sin but could not be heard 13. For sinning against the motions of Gods spirit and so putting the Lord upon complaning and Christ upon bleeding and the Spirit upon grieving 14. For drawing others to sin by thy bad examples and counsels 15. For incouraging them in their sins by approving of them 16. For not reproving them for sin as if thou wast afraid to speak for God against those that dishonour him 17. For not punishing sin where thou hadst power and authority and wast required to do it 18. For a world of precious time that thou hast mispent
sleep and other former helps 2. They shall be raised as before in incorruption whereby they shall never be subject to any manner of imperfection blemish sickness or death 3. In Glory whereby their bodies shall shine as bright as the Sun in the firmament Three glimpses of which Glory were seen first in Moses face secondly in the transfiguration thirdly in Stephens countenance Three instances and assurances of the Glorification of our bodies at that glorious day see Exod. 34. 27. Mat. 17. 2 3 4. Acts 6. 15. 4. In agility whereby our bodies shall be like Angels free from these shakles of clay and so move from heaven to earth and from earth to heaven even as swiftly as can our very thoughts they shall saith the Prophet renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Aeagles they shall run and not be weary they shal walk and not faint Now if any ask how long it shall be after this first resurrection before the rest of the dead shall rise then I answer we find it recorded Rev. 20. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not untill the thousand years were finished I dare not expound this text for want of Light Now as we read of a first and second resurrection so we read of a first and last Judgement or of a particular and general Judgement Viz. Every man in particular appears before the Judgement after the hour of his death Heb. 9 27. But fully and generally upon all men after the second coming of Christ Act. 17. 31. The death of every one severally goeth immediately before the particular Judgement so the general resurrection of all goeth before the final judgement which shall be at the last day but there shall be a great distance of time between the resurrection of the Elect and the reprobate So there shall be a great difference between the resurrection of the one and of the other c. Viz. 1. The Elect shall be raised as members of the body of Christ by vertue derived from his resurrection the reprobate as malefactors shall be brought forth of the prison of the grave by vertue of the Justice of God 2. The Elect shall come forth to everlasting life which is called the resurrection of life The reprobate to shame and perpetual contempt called the resurrection of Condemnation 3. The bodies of the Elect shall be spiritual that is glorious powerful nimble Phil. 3. 21. But the bodies of the Reprobates shall be full of uncomeliness and horror and lyable to extream torment Of the Reign of Christ or kidgdom of Christ in this world though not of this world AS to this point I cannot write as to the former but under correction and with submission to better Judgements I crave leave to present mine and then let me tell the Reader I have seriously read once and again over and over all that I have heard of and met with both for the personal Reign and also against the personal Reign of Christ and searched the Scriptures and debated and reasoned with Christians many times for many moneths and I cannot yea I dare not positively affirm any such thing nor totally in any sense warily understood deny it For the Scriptures seem to point at such a thing although I do not find it so fully confirmed as many people of note pretend it doth so then although I dare not say the Kingdom of Christ is of this world yet I dare not deny but his Kingdom in a sense may be in this world Though I cannot affirm that he shall Reign personally on earth a thousand years yet I have some ground to affirm that he shall Reign spiritually aâ—d have a spiritual Kingdom for a season or else what means that Scripture Rev. 11. 15. And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign Doth not this Scripture point to the same thing Dan. 7. 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high and all Nations shall serve and obey them Doth not the Prophet Isaiah speak to the same thing Isal 2. 2 3. And it shall come to pass in the last daies that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hils and all Nations shall flow unto it for out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Isai 1. 26. And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning Jer. 3. 15. And I will give you Pastors according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the Light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold Isai 11. 6. Then shall the Wolf dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid c. Vers 7. And the Cow and the Bear shall feed their young and the Lion shall eat straw like the Ox. ver 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Jer. 32. 39. And I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever Zech. 14. 9. Then the Lord shall be one and his name one Zeph. 3. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the Lord to serve him with one consent Act. 3. 19. Is not this the times of refreshing that shall from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 21. Is not this the time of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophets since the world began Compare this with Acts 19. 21. and Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22. Shall not the Jews be converted and imbrace the Gospel and the fulness of the Gentiles come in Rom. 11. 12. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles How much more their fulness ver 15. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world What shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead ver 26. And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer and he shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Isa 35. 6 7. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for in the wilderness shall waters break forth and streams in the desart and the parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water Deut. 28. 13. Dan. 7. 27. Then the Lord shall make his people the head and not the tail Zeph. 3.
dwelleth Righteousness beholding and being filled with the fruition of the glorious presence of God and of the Lamb Jesus Christ in the company of innumerabl Angels and Saints 1 Cor 13. 10. Psal 16. 11. Rev. 3. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Psal 17. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 17. Heb. 12. 22. O what variety of joyes may be considered in the glorification of man in the delights of heavenly mansions and in the blessed society of the Saints but chiefly in the beholding of God the body glorified the soul shall be far more prefect then it was in the state of innocency for in it shall be understanding without error light without darkness wisdom without ignorance reason without obscurity the Lord shall in the sight and hearing of all world pronounce unto his servants Matthew 25. 34. Come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world 1. Come ye here is our union and communion with the Trinity 2. Blessed here is our absolution from all sins and our endowments with all happiness 3. Of my father here is the Author from whom proceeds our felicity 4. Inherit here is faith ending in fruition and the promises in possession 5. The Kingdom behold our birth right according to grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. 6. Prepared See Gods fatherly care for his chosen John 14. 2. 7. From the foundation of the world O the free and eternal love of God in Christ having made this introduction let me crave leave of thee reader to speak more particularly of the most glorious state of a Christian in heaven after the sentence of absolution at the last day of judgement and to this point I shall rather lisp then speak being not able to conceive much less to describe that most excellent bliss and eternal wait of glory but we may take a scantling thereof thus the Lord in his word doth set forth to our capacity the glory of our eternal life after death in eight things 1. Their bodies shall shine as the brightness of the Sun 2. The soul shall be far more perfect then it was in the state of innocency 3. Consider the place where we shall be and that is in the third heaven 4. Consider whose presence we shall enjoy Father Son and and holy Spirit Saints and Angels c. 5. In this sâ—ate we shall know one another 6. In this state we shall speak one to another 7. Consider the variety of joy that there shall be in heaven 8. Consider the duration and continuance of this blessed state 1. Their bodies shall shine as the brightness of the Sun in the firmament like the glorious body of Christ The Glory of a thousand Suns made into one will be but as sack-cloath to that wherein Christ shall appear in mans nature he being in the Glory of his Father Mat 16. 27. And we shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their father as appears in this Scripture Mat. 13. 43. 2. The soul shall be far more perfect then it was in the state of innocency sor in it shall be understanding without errour Light without darkness wisdom without Ignorance reason without obscurity memory without oblivion the Will also shall be without perversness joy without sorrow pleasure without pain In the slate of innocency there was in man a possibility not to Sin but in the state of Glory there shall be no possibility to sin In a word both body and soul in heaven shall be in such a blessed state that neither our tongue can express it nor our mind conceive it The soul shall be more happy in being present with Jesus Christ in heaven then if it had been present with Adam in the state of innocency Adam was instated only in an earthly paradise but now thou being with Christ art instated in an everlasting Kingdom Again Adam though pleased in a state of innocency yet he was liable to lose that blessed slate and did lose it though he were a perfect creature but by Christ we are instated in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken or lost Again When Adam was made by God in innocency he enjoyed only the society of beasts on the earth and birds of the air but when Christ brings a soul to heaven God the Father Son and holy Ghost Angels and Saints shall be his companions 3. Consider the place where the Saints shall be after the Judgement and that is in the third heaven we read of Saints departed that they see the face of God They that are in the third heaven are in the presence of God the Saints departed are in the third heaven they are in paradise Luke 23. 43. which is the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2 4. The place of the blessed is usually known by the name of the third heaven the third heaven is a shining body created immediately of God the throne of his special presence and of the gracious manifestation of his perfections and the habitation of the blessed both Angels and men The whole Region of the air unto the Moon is in Scripture called the first heaven from the Moon to the highest stars inclusively the second heavâ—n That which is above these the place of happiness is the thiâ—d heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. This third heaven is called a house not made with hands 2 Cor. 5 A City whose makâ—r and builder is God Heb. 11. 10. The City of the living God Hâ—b 12. 22. This is Châ—ists fathers house John 14. 2. Paradise Luke 23 43. Heaven the Heaven of Heavens 1 Kin. 8. 27. The woâ—ld 〈◊〉 this is the great City of the gâ—eat King he measured with the reed twelve thousand â—urloâ—gs the length and the bredth and the height of it are equal Rev. 21. 16. It is the Court of God and Christ wherein are habitations for in numerable company of Saints and Angels John 14. 2. Heb. 12. 22 23 24. This heaven of heavens hath twelve foundations Rev. 21. 14. The matter of the building of the wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure gold like unto clear glass Rev. 21. 18. the form four square ver 16. Twelve thousand furlongs that is fifteen hundred English miles square the gates are in number twelve made of twelve pearls every several gate was of one pearl ver 21. Situate East West North and South three looking every way ver 13. Having ingraven upon them the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel and twelve Angels for the keepers of them the streets are of pure gold ver 21. It s Temple is God and the Lamb its Light the glory of God and the Lamb its Inhabitants are the Lords people ver 24. It s water a pure river of Life Chap. 22. 1. Its fruits are the fruits of the tree of Life ver 2. In a word there is no place so glorious by creation so beautiful with delectation so rich in possession so comfortable for habitation
that against fundamentals of Faith Christ and his Offices those are fundamentals 1 Cor. 3. 11. Eph. 2. 20. yet the Apostles as we said before till the sending of the Holy Ghost upon them were in an errour about Christs Kingly Office taking it to be temporal rather then spiritual Justification by Faith alone is a Fundamental Rom. 3. 28. Gal. 4. 5 6. yet for a season as before the Galatians lay under that gross errour of that necessity of Legal works with Faith But it is a dangerous thing for any of the Lords people to fall into such gross errours hereby their minds are darkened Eph. 4. 18. and corrupted 2 Cor. 11. 3. bewitched Gal. 3. 1. Now consider how grievous it is to have a mans mind corrupted if the mind be darkness how great is that darkness c. Oh here is the love of God in restoring his people again into the truth and yet for all this he calls them the children of truth 1 Joh. 3. 19. they can do nothing against the truth but for the truth 2 Cor. 13. 8. their loins are girt about with truth Eph. 6. 14. whereas carnal men remain in errour and are men 1. Of corrupt minds destitute of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 8. and turning away their ears from the truth 2 Tim. 4. 4. 2. Or they hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. 3. Or they are not able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 7. 4. They have no love to the truth 2 Thes 2. 9 10. and no wonder if such persons be unstable and led away with the errour of the wicked c. Of Knowledge first of God secondly of our selves the properties of it and means of attaining it and the benefits we have by it Of Knowledge TO lack knowledge is a very evil thing to scorn to learn is worse and to hate knowledge is worst of all Hos 6. 6. I desired the Knowledge of God more then burnt offerings Hos 4. 1. The Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the Land because there is no knowledge of God in the Land 1 Cor. 15. Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Hos 4. 6. My people perish for want of knowledge Prov. 1. 22. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge Prov. 2. 16. When wisdom entereth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul discretion shall preserve thee understanding shall keep thee Eph. 2. 17. Therefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is What shall I say more knowledge is that understanding which we have both of God and his Word and Will and of our own selves it is a store-house of all wisdom and the beginning of salvation it is a spiritual vertue to speak little and well words are the shadow of works and works the substance of words much talking and little practising is like to an empty vessel that doth give a greater sound then they that be full much knowledge little practise is like a great tree that makes a large shew but bears no fruit To close up this first of knowledge in general let me tell the Reader that a man without knowledge is as a workman without hands or as a painter without eyes or as a traveller without legs or as a ship without sails or as a bird without wings or as a body without a soul there is a threefold knowledge or illumination First general and natural the light of Reason Secondly spiritual and supernatural Thirdly there is a knowledge of middle illumination betwixt these two more then meerly natural but less then truly supernatural Of the knowledge of God SOme have not the knowledge of God saith the Lord by his servant Paul I speak this to your shame 1 Cor. 15 c. Again another Scripture saith This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17. 3. Again it is death to be ignorant of him for he will come in flaming fire rendering vengeance on them that know him not 2 Thes 1. 8. So that all regenerate persons have true knowledge though it be an imperfect knowledge they do truly though weakly know God as doth appear in these Scriptures Jer. 31. 34. John 6. 45. 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. 1 John 5. 20. In a word to know him is to know all things for they have their being from him to be ignorant of him is to be ignorant of all things So that such an one doth know nothing as he ought to know Let the reader turn to the first page of this book where I have laid down as much as I understand in this mysterie Of the knowledge of our selves IT is a most excellent thing for a Christian to know himself and then at the best he would see himself to be but vanity and an unpofitable servant to God and so begin to cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils Oh what are the best of men they have no better lodging for his noble soul then a cottage of clay and that so frail and crasie as were it not once or twice a day dawbed over it would fall about his ears and wheresoever he goes he is forced to carry this clog this clay Whereas Angels free from these shakels of flesh can move from heaven to earth even as swiftly as can our very thoughts Nay take the best piece in man his soul search and see his understanding is full of darkness blindness and vanity Psal 94. 11. 1 Cor. 2. 24. Unteachableness and incredulity See 2 Cor. 4. 4. Secondly the will of man is wholly depraved as being contrary to God his will word and spirit in all things it will not depend nor wait on God it is unconstant in good resolutions it is very apt to disobey the will of God as we may see in Father Adam Thirdly as for the memory that is also full of corruption that it will forget the things that it should remember and remember the things it should forget it will hold fast trifles and let go matters of moment Fourthly The Conscience that is wholly corrupted that is without feeling whereas it should excuse or accuse It doth abuse and pervert the light it hath by making great sins small and small sins great Fifthly Our affections they are also corrupted they come as a tempest and carry us away either to make us over-love or over-grieve or over-joy and so we hate our brother whom we should love and love our lusts whom we should hate What shall I say our understanding is darkened our will depraved our affections disordered our memory misimployed and conscience benummed c. We were conceived in sin brought forth in iniquity we have lived in vanity and without the riches of Gods grace we shall dye in misery The Charecters or Properties of true knowledge 1. THE knowledge that is from God subjects the soul
now lye hid shall then be made known Luke 18. 17. and 12. 2. there is nothing covered that shall not then be revealed 1 Cor. 4. 5. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness Matthew 24. 30. Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and mens hearts fail for fear and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth Joel 3. 16. the Lord also shall roar out of Sion and utter his voice from Jerusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people Christ shall come terribly and yet seasonably THe day of the Lord is great and terrible who can abide it Joel 2. 11. There hath not been ever the like neither shall there be Joel 2. 2. there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since the creation Dan. 12. 1. Then shall be great tribulation such as was not from the beginning to this day Matthew 24. 21 22. A fire stream shall come forth before him and ten thousands shall be ministring unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand shall stand before him and the judgement shall be set and the books opened See Dan. 7. 10. Jude 14. Yet this coming will be seasonable to all that have an interest in him and did look for him and hasten to his coming and love his appearing for now they shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. Isa 25. 9. and Isa 2. 3 4. Rev. 21. 4. There be four things that Christ hath already done for his flock and five things he is now doing and six things more he will finish when he comes THere are four things that he hath already done viz. 1. He hath taken our nature upon him Heb. 2. 16. 2. He hath taken our sins upon him Isaiah 53. 6. 3. He hath taken the curse due to us upon himsef Gal. 3. 13. 4. He hath fully satisfied Divine justice for us Isa 53. 11. Then there are five things that he is now doing for us viz. 1. He is at the right hand of the Father making interceslion for us Heb. 7. 25. 2. He is teaching us as a Prophet and preserving us as a King and healing us as a Physitian and feeding us as a Shepheard c. 3. He is preparing for the destroying of Antichrist 2 Thes 2. 8. 4. He is making good his promise in pouring out his Spirit 5. He is turning our disunion into union Zeph. 3. 9. Then there be six things more that he will do for us when he comes 1. He will unvail himself and every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. 2. He will gather his spiritual Kingdom Psal 50. 5. 3. He will establish his Kingdom on the top of all kingdoms Isa 2. 2. 4. He will restore our judges as at the first and counsellors as at the beginning Isa 1. 26 5. He will make his enemies his footstool Psalm 110. 1. 6. He will make his people the head and not the tail Deut. 28. 13. Dan. 7. 27. Many more things hath Christ done for us many more he is doing and many more will he do when he comes Let the reader take notice these that I have named are but a taste Of the resurrection of the dead at the second coming of Christ THough the resurrection of the dead is above nature and mans corrupt reason yet it is neither against nature noragainst right reason the Scripture proves the resurrection of the dead by many testimonies examples types and reasons c. 1. The resurrection is proved by testimonies Job 19. 25 26. Dan. 12. 2. Hos 13. 14. Mat. 22. 31. and 27. 52. John 5. 28 29. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Thes 4. 2. By example of those that were raised 1 King 17. 22. 2 King 4. 34. 2 King 13. 21. Matthew 9. 25. and 27. 52 53. Luke 7. 14. John 11. 11. Acts. 9. 40. and 20. 10. 3. By types as Aarons rod budding Numb 17. Of the Jews returning from Babylon Ezek. 37. but chiefly of Enoch and Elias Gen. 5. and 2. Kin. 2. 4. This resurrection is also proved by reasons drawn first from the Covenant of God which is not broken by death Mat. 22. 30. But the chief reason is drawn from Christ who is not only the type and example of our resurrection but the beginning also thereof For the Life of the body the Church is from the head There is a first and a second Resurrection 1. THe first Resurrection as most do affirm is a Resurrection from the death of sin to the Life of Righteousness this is a Revocation from a state of death to a state of Life 2. There is a resurrection of the same body that man had in this life Iob 19. 26. The form of this resurrection consisteth in the re-union of body and soul and restoring of the deâ—d to Life and in the suddain change of those that remain upon the earth at his coming c. This resurrection is either of the godly or of the wicked There is a Resurrection to Life and another to condemnation John 5. 29. 1. Of the godly they shall be first raised and then freed not only from corruption and bodily defects but shall be crowned also with Glory 1 Thess 4. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Agreeable to this Text is that in Rev. 20. 4 5. I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God which had not worshipped the beast nor his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand years Ver. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand years were finished this is the first resurrection blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second Death hath no power the Apostle Paul speaks to the same thing 1 Cor. 15. 23. But every man in his own order Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his Coming 1 Thess 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Cor. 15. 42 43 44. It is sown in corruption it is raysed in incorruption it is sown in dishonour it is raised in Glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body ver 49. As we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly Adam The bodies of the Elect being thus first raised they shall have most excellent and supernatural qualities I will instance in four 1. As before they shall be raised in power whereby they shall be freed from all wants and weakness and enabled to continue without the use of meat and drink
of Christ upon earth and if so what it is p. 434. Of perseverance p. 193. Q Divers hard questions answered and seeming contradictions reconciled and many scruples of conscience removed p. 347. R OF repentance unto life p. 133. Of reading the Scriptures p. 277. How to read the Scriptures p. 281. Who they are that ought to read the Scriptures p. 279. Why we ought to read the Scriptures p. 280. Of the resurrection of the dead at Christs second coming p. 432. Of the first and second resurrection p. 431. The manner how the Godly shall be raised and how the wicked p. 433. Of reprobation p. 8. S OF sanctification or a holy conversation p. 88 to p. 101. 1 Of the nature of sin p. 135. 2. How sin creeps up and gets head in man p. 136. 3. Of the great danger of small sins p. 137. 4. Of the mischief brought upon man for one sin p. 139. What hurt sin doth a Saint p. 140. 5. The best way to mortifie sin p. 141. 6. in in the best Saints and most times in the best actions done by them p. 146. 7. Of the vast difference between the sinning of the regenerate and unregenerate p. 148. 8. How many wayes the Lord is said to forgive sin p. 150. 9. Whether sins before conversion ought to be called to mind after Conversion p. 151. 10. Whether the dominion of sin may be taken away when the life of sin remains p. 153. Of singing and praising God in Psalms Hymns and spitual Songs p. 247. Of Suspention p 283. Of the Lords Supper another standing ordinance of the Gospel p 263. 1. What it is ibid. 2. Wherein it doth differ from baâ—tism p. 264. 3. Of the preparation to the Lords Supper p. 265. 4. â—f the actions of the administrator p. 266. 5. The actions and duty of the receiver p. 268. 6. Who they are that may pertake of this Ordinance p. 269. 7. Of the ends ands uses of the Lords Supper p. 270. 8. The duty of all after receiving p. 271. Of the shoâ—tness of mans life and misery that doth attend every age thereof p. 383. 1. Of the Condition of man in his birth p. 385. 2. Of the state of child-hood p. 386. 3. Of the stâ—te of youth p. 387. 4. Of the state of manhood ibid. 5. Of the declining state of man p. 388. 6. Of the decrepit state or old age p. 389. Of the soul of man p. 〈…〉 The soul shall be far more perfect and excellent was in the state of innocency p. 454. The Saints after death shall be in the presence of Father Son and Holy-Ghost Angels and Saints p. 458. 1. In this state we shall know one another p. 459. 2. In this state we shall speak one to another ibid. 3. Of the duration of this blessed estate p. 460. When a man may be said to suffer for well doing and when for evil doing p. 329. T THE great and terrible day of â—he Lord is near proved p. 414. 1. By the testimony of the Prophets ibid. 2. By the testimony of the Apostles p. 415. 3. By the testimony of the Angels p. 416. 4. By the immutabilâ—ty of Gods dec ree ibid. 5. By the infallibility of his promises ibid. 6. By the impartiality of his justice p. 416 V OF Vocation p. 17. W OF the world flesh and devil p. 314. Of the riches of the world p. 315. He that men account the richest man in the world is many times the poorest man p. 316. FINIS Some Books printed and sold by Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles neer the West end of Pauls AN Epitome of all the Common and Statute Laws of England in Fol. The Faithful Counsellour or the Marrow of the Law in English in 4. to The Priviledges of the People vindicated in 4. to All three by William Sheppard Esquire The Retired mans Meditation or the Mysterie and Power of godliness By H. Vane Knight Vindiciae Justificationis Gratuitae Justification without Condition or the free Justification of a sinner Explained Confirmed and Vindicated By W. Eyre Minister of the Gospel at New-Sarum Mr. Baxter's Aphorisms of Justification Examined and Answered By J. Crandon in 4. to An Exposition of the whole Book of Canticles wherein the Text is Explained and useful observations raised thereupon by J. Robotham in 4. to Gospel Holiness or a saving sight of God and the glorious Priviledge of the Saints By Waltâ—r Craddock Preacher of the Gospel in 4. to A description of Jerusalem with a Map By H. Jesse in 4. to A Store-house of Provision for further Resolution in several Cases of Conscience viz. of living above Ordinances of walking in Fellowship with the unbaptized of Laying on of hands c. Also a small Catechism for babes and little ones all three by H. Jâ—sse The Right Constitution of a Common-wealth with some Errors of Government and Rules of Policy in 8. vo A Brief History containing most of those notable Occurrences and Revolutions that happened in those late contests between King and Parliament being a short mention of things from 1637 to 1648. by T. May Esquire Milk for Babes in Christ or Meditations Observations and Expeâ—iences with divers cases of Conscience resolved the glorious Priviledges of them that are Christs with the way to know whether we are of that are Christs with the way to know whether we are of that blessed number Also Election before the foundation of the World asserted and the faith of Gods elect what it is By Martin Finch Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln-shire in 8. An Anti-Diatribe or the Apologie of some Ministers and godly people asserting the Lawfulness of their administring the Lords Supper in a select company proving also the necessity of Examination in order to a more holy Church-fellowship being an answer to Mr. Humphreys's general Admission By H. Saunders Minister of Hollesworth in Devon The Bible in Welsh with several other Wâ—lsh Books Lazarus and his Sisters discourse of Paradise or a conference about the excellent things of the other world A Discoverer of some plots of Lucifer against the Children of men The Yearning of Christs Bowels towards his languishing friends By S. Moore Minisâ—er of the Gospel The Gate of Tongues unlocked and opened or a Seed-time of all Tongues and Sciences being a Short way of teaching and thoroughly learning the Latine English French c. Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus his Divine Pimander in 17 Books together with his second book called Asclepius containing 15 Chapters with a Commentary done into English By Dr. Everard Some Sermons preached on several occaâ—â—ons By P. Sterry Christian experiences from Scripture-evidences under these several heads viz. 1 â—omfort for Believers against their fears and dismayings 2. Comfort for Believers from their spiritual incomes 3. Mans fruitlesness without saving faith 4. Counsel unto Saints as sojourners and strangers 5. Mâ—ns folly in determining by present Events or State of things By R. Coler preacher of the Gospel in Wiltshire These written by T. Collier viz. The Right Constitution of a Visible Church of Christ with its order and Ordinances The Day Dauning relating to the calling of the Jews and Christs second coming The Confession of Faith of several Churches of Christ in the Weâ—t signed by several officers of the said Curches A Catechism for the instruction of youth A Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an enquiring Christian about the Authority of the Scriptures and the principles of the Quakers The personal appearing and Reign of Christs Kingdom on the Earth stated An Antidote against the Infections of the times or a faithful Watch-word from Mount-Sion to prevent the ruine of souls whereby some special considerations are presented to sinners Admonition to Saints and Invitation to backsliders Published for the good of all by the Elders and Messengers of several Churches in Wales A Warning Piece for the Slumbring Virgins or an Alarm to the friends of the Bridegroom being some awakning Meditations upon Christs own Watch-word Mat. 26. 41. By Ge. Scortreth Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln Recommended to the Reader by Joseph Caryl William Greâ—nhill Geo. Griffiths Books against the Quakers A Faithful Discovery of a treacherous Design of Mystical Antichrist displaying Christ's Banners but attempting to lay waste Scriptures Churches Christ faith hope c. and establish Paganism in England being an Examination of the Doctrines of the people called Quakers By Joseph Kellet John Pomroy Paul Glisson A Confutation of the Quakers being an Answer to nineteen Queries propounded by them and Answered by S. Eaton Minister of the Gospel in Cheshire A Testimony to the true Jesus and the faith of him wherein the way of the people called Quakers is examined and weighed being an Answer to James Nailor's Book called Love to the Lost by T. Higgenson A Looking-glass for the Quakers By T. Collier