Truth May what God doth as to them or others be construed in a right sense and improved to a right end that they may be brought nearer and made liker to God! 14. Be they much concerned about the Conversion of Persons and preservation or restauration of Gospel-Order in Churches Col. 2.5 May they long that there may be a great Addition to the Church and a great agreement to Rule of every thing in it 15. Have they much recourse to the great and precious Promises Are they not Breasts of Consolation and Wells of Salvation 1 Cor. 3.18 2 Pet. 1.4 Are not Promises as Glasses wherein the Lord's Heart is seen and through which Beholders are transformed into his Image and made partakers of his Holiness 16. May their Actions be free as from Contagion 1 Thes 5.22 Mala colorata so from suspicion may they shun the appearance of evil together with apparent evils may their wall savour of an Holy diligence and laboriousness 17. May Patience have a more perfect work in ' em James 1.2 3. may they take up and not onely bear the Cross of Christ may they have more and better Rule of their Spirits may they shew their strength by their standing under Burdens 18. Be they much in contrivances what they shall render to God or how they may most Honour him Psal 116.12 13. Let this be one of their Morning studies that he may have the glory of the Day and of their daily studies how he may be magnified by 'em in Life and in Death 19. Look they much above and before 'em at Heavens Glory Phil. 3.20 May their conversation be there whence they expect their Saviour at their Reward in the midst of their Work at their Crown under the weight of their Cross may their Eyes be 20. Joyn they together those gracious dispositions which seem to differ Be they courteous to all without sinful complyance with any Be they Zealous and yet withall Meek and Discreet Psal 2.11 mix they Reverence with their Rejoycing Bless they God for Temporals but themselves onely in him who is Eternal O that these Rules were set before Christians as Copies that they might write after 'em when they cannot in exactness of walking reach ' em Holy are and Happy shall they be that mourning for their defects and relying on the Lord Jesus in whom was no defectiveness put and press on towards perfection Rom. 11.18 Duty lyes at mens doors but Ability is derived from God's Grace May this hint which is often mentioned be always remembred by those whom the Lord hath Called A Fifth Instance OF THE RICHES OF GRACE TO WIT God's Covenanting with Man Isa 55.5 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you WHO would refuse him that speaks from Heaven Especially when he speaks in such melting moving Language as is found in the first Verses of this Chapter O what sweet and Holy Charms doth the Holy Ghost here use As a Learned Doctor said on another account O quam sacro fascino usus est Sententia D. Mortoni p. 25. I may say on this If Eloquence her self had a Tongue she could not use words of greater force As many words as there are so many Weapons and strong Arguments there are to Conquer and overcome the Opposition that is in sinners Hearts Quot verba tot tela Here is line upon line invitation upon invitation and that to every one that is a thirst Ver. 1. Engl. Annot to Gentiles as well as Jews All to whose Ears these Calls shall come are assured as much as truth can assure 'em that if their whole Souls come to and for a whole Saviour they shall have him Ver. 3. and with him Life even that Life that is most worth having and doth best deserve the name even length of days for ever and ever My Text is counted the last See Sedgwick on the Covenant I am sure it is not the least Reason wherewith the Lord's Call is backed Upon mens coming in the Lord will make with 'em a Covenant and that a Covenant that shall not be made void an everlasting Covenant Observe we 1. The Promiser God particularly though not onely the Father 2. The Promise which contains 1. The thing Promised making cutting or sticking this Covenant 2. Vide Polum ad locum The Subjects Recipient of the benefit of this Promise to wit such as answer the Invitation given pointed at in the word You whatever you have been for sinners Therefore Having thus made our way thereto we lay down The Doctrine God the Father out of his Free Rich Grace doth Covenant with Persons Of his Covenanting we read often and if when we read we do also weigh what is written in the Text will not the fulness and richness of his Grace be presented to us May we not well stand a while on every word before us and proclaim such Grace 1. How much is there in the first word I Which points out the first Founder of the New Covenant the first Person in the Trinity the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Will God that humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven Psal 113.5 6. vouchsafe to look with favour on Offenders here on Earth Will he look on man with an Eye of Love that sees how he hath lost and defaced his Image And that leads me to consider 2. What emphasis and force there is in the last word You. In what a plight doth God find those he Covenanteth with Ezek. 16. beginning Will the most High condescend so low as to deal familiarly with Subjects yea with Rebels What was man in his first estate that God should make with him a Covenant of Friendship What then is the Son of man Heb. 2.6 or man in his fallen state that God should make with him a Covenant of Reconciliation Will God indeed make a Second Covenant with him that is chargeable with the wilful violation of the first 3. See the Ark of the Testament opened Is not God's Covenanting an Act of his Free Rich Grace All grant that his Goodness some say his Grace though not Gospel-grace was shew'd in the Covenant of works God might have exercised his Sovereignty in giving Adam a Law without expressing his Bounty in promising him such a Life upon his obeying it See Doctor Bates his barmony Rom. 5.7.8 His Covenanting with man put an Honour on him and in rendring his Obedience more free rendred it more firm What honour and favour then is it to man that is in his Blood that in a Covenant-way God saith to him Live 4. Doth not the Property of this Covenant to wit its being everlasting advance mans Priviledge by it and consequently God's Grace in it This Covenant was everlasting as to the Foundation of it which was laid in the Covenant of Redemption and will be everlasting as to the benefit giving men a Title to
Nostro loco instead of us and for Sin when He had none of His own to dy for yea for our sins that is to expiate 'em 1 Tim. 2.6 and take off the guilt of 'em so that He is stiled a Ransome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Polhill one that put His Soul into the stead of ours yet they assign other ends of His Dying and exclude that great end of His being a Propitiatory Sacrifice at which my Text points 2. And do they not make way to their denying that Christ made satisfaction to infinite Justice when they deny Him to be an infinite Person They what in 'em lies degrade Him and deprive Him of the Honour of His Deity Officio non Naturâ when they say He is only God by Office and not by Nature Had He not been very God could He have made payment for the debts owing to God And whilst they thus detract from the dignity and death of the Son do they not draw a Cloud betwixt their Followers and the Love of the Father Had He not been His Fathers own proper Son and so of one and the same Nature with Himself Isai 53.10 or had not His Death been an Offering for sin His Father's Love had not broken out in such great Lustre But if you will believe 'em one great Motive which moves 'em to deny the satisfaction made by Jesus Christ is that the asserting of this doth directly thwart with the Grace of His Father How say they can Redemption be of Free-grace if it be through and for a full purchase But doth not this set one part of my Text against another and represents that as inconsistent with the Fathers Love that is rightly represented as the great proof thereof According to the sentiments of our choicest Writers I write what followeth 1. It was wondrous Love in God the Father that He would accept satisfaction at the hand of a Surety when He might have exacted it at the hand of every sinner See Mr. Bunsby on the Mediator Mr. True-man Though the payment made by Christ is valuable yet it was Rich Grace that it was not refused 2. It was wondrous Love in God the Father that this Surety His blessed Son was so far of His own providing that He is said to set Him forth Rom. 3.25 to lay help on Him The Scripture speaks of Him as the first Motioner of this matter Isai 53.10 as having the first hand at and in the Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption 3. The management of redeeming work by the hand of God the Son had the heart of His Father going along with every passage of it It s called the pleasure of the Lord His pleasure in the Abstract that wherewith He is exceedingly pleased He was pleased with putting His Son to pain as it had a reference to the freeing of Sinners from it 4. It is a wondrous Love in God the Father that He that gave His Son to obtain Redemption for Sinners sends His Spirit to apply it to ' em In a word Salvation is not a whit less a Donative or Gift to us because it was a purchase to Christ The Third Inference is It is no wonder that the Lord Jesus Christ is so precious to and prized by true Believers well may they count Him their Honour Do not the best of 'em most mourn 1 Pet. 2.7 that they do not Love and value Him more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Grace is spoken of as transcendent and it bespeaks such a character 1. He came so He came freely according as in the Volume or head of the Book Heb. 10.7 8 9. it is Written of Him He was under no obligation to us and His Father that sent Him did nothing like forcing Him 2. He knew well how costly the work of Redemption would be and was foreseen coming Cant. 2.8 leaping on the Mountains of difficulty that were before Him 3. He also understood that not a few would make light of Him and His Sons Sufferings and the best would be far from walking up to and worthy of His Love And had not His Grace been so great to us yet His own excellencies had called for the best of our affections But at present we will present His amiableness in the Glass that is nearest us Jo. 4.10 This Doctrine teacheth us to set the highest esteem on Him See Mr. N. Heawood on this Is He not the gift of God the Father the chief comprehensive and conveighing gift the gift of His Heart as well as His hand the Messiah the sent and Commissioned one to make peace between Heaven and Earth and that by His being made a Burnt Offering and Sacrifice on the behalf of Sinners Should not the Son of God's Love be highly beloved The Fourth Inference is Sin may well be called what it is the Evil. Rom. 7. Surely the Apostle hath not wrong'd it in saying that it shews it self exceeding sinfull and intimating that it cannot be called by a worse Name than its own The evil of sin is seen in other Glasses but in none more clearly than in that of the Gospel That God the Father sent and set forth His Son to be a Propitiation for Sins doth speak and set forth the extream evil that is in Sin The Drowning of the old World See Doctor Arrowsmith the Burning of Sodom are not such full Proofs thereof as Christs being made a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the taking it away is It was more that He who was the God of Nature should suffer for it than if the whole Course of Nature had suffered I look not on my self as one competent for the determining of that great suit that hath depended among great Divines whether it was absolutely necessary that Divine Justice should receive Satisfaction that so sinfull Men might receive Pardon or in other words Whether Gods punishing sinners flow meerly from His Will or from His Nature also Vel uno verbo See Nortons Orth. Evan. from Cal. Whether He might as some have said have taken it away with a word or that in order to the removal of it blood even the blood of one that as to His Person was infinite was to go These things I with some confidence Write 1. The Holy Scriptures speak expressly Exod. 34.6 that God will by no means clear and acquit the Guilty Heb. 9.22 that without shedding of Blood there is no Remission and as Sin let in Death there must be the Death of one able to make a Compensation to God in order to the taking away sin See Mr. Burgess on Justif part 2. and some think it less meet to dispute what God might have done seeing He hath told us what He will do and not do 2. There are not a few Phrases found in Scripture Hebbak 1.13 that ascribe the punishment of sin to His Nature and not to His Will only and all are agreed that God
Christ save the Name of Christ others have no more of him but the Notion of him and a third sort have no more of him but the Vizor or appearance of him 4. Without diligence in this work of Tryal there is little hope that there should be a true decision and determination of the point Where that Faith is that doth apprehend Christ it may be but as a grain of Mustard-seed very small and so lye less open to sight 2. There is a feigned and counterfeit Faith that is so like the unfeigned and sincere one that it must be a work of time and care and there is need of help from above to distinguish them 5. It is of great use and advantage to Persons to know how things stand with them 1. If they find they have not an Interest in this Propitiation this may prove a good step towards the attainment of it by putting on a Mournful Prayerful seeking after it 2. If they find that they are Persons of so good an Interest how may their Hearts leap for joy 1 John 5.12 He that through his Son is rendred Propitious and Gracious to to them will at last confer Glory and Blessedness on them The Marks or Signs which I shall lay down for Persons to proceed by in their Trying will be couched under the four following Questions wherewith I will adventure to pose every one that takes me for an Adviser 1. Hast thou felt as well as seen the need thou standest in of Christs being a Propitiation and thereupon an Advocate for thee Hast thou seen thy sins as moats in the Sun abounding Hast thou felt them as an intolerable burthen on thee Hath Divine wrath as due for them been frightful to thee Dost thou own thy best done Duties as insufficient for the appeasing of Wrath and satisfying of Justice how good soever they are in their own place Art thou afraid of setting them in Christs place Some things like these may be in Hypocrites and those things may not at some times be so evident to and in true Believers as they desire But where is there an Hypocrite that is poor in Spirit Mat. 5.3 Or a true Believer that in his ordinary frame is not 2. Dost thou when alone and meditating on the Rich Grace of God in Christ Jesus cry out O the depth Are those thoughts in thee that on a Death-bed were uttered by one of the ablest and choicest of young men What me Rom 7.24 25. Lord why me Shall such a one as I am have the benefit of this Propitiation Would the Father give his Son or will the Son give himself to me Hypocrites are apt to admire themselves and not Free-Grace or Free-Grace in order to self-magnifying Sincere Christians when they dare not say they have embraced Christ are apt to wonder that he is offered them 3. Hath thine Heart known what it is to be supported from the consideration of the Love of God and his exceeding Rich Grace in his Son when it hath been near sinking upon a sight and sense of the numerousness and heinousness of sin that hath beset yea o'erturn'd thee Canst thou remember the word speaking of this Grace upon which God hath caused thee to hope Psal 119.49 When sin reviv'd in Paul's sense of it it was the discovery of abundant Grace that upheld him 1 Tim. 1.13 14 15. The unsound Professor knows less of Heart-failures and if he have apprehensions of Rich Grace he is for making it a Cloak for sin And the infirm Believer that is less acquainted with Triumphs is yet through the displays of Rich Grace kept from being swallow'd up of Troubles 4. Art thou desirous to have thine Heart raised and enlarged in love to God Dost thou rejoyce so far as any have reached Glorying Love Mr. Baxter And when thou canst feel little more than what one styles Lamenting Love are there some stirrings of desiring Love in thee Art thou studious to please God And best pleased with thine Heart when it is readiest to run in the way of Obedience to him If thou lovest God 1 John 4.19 it is from his loving thee first If this Fruit grow in and from thee thou art joyn'd to the Root of Jess When I have written all I can yea when able Writers have done so many will trust as they speak and not try they 'l take it for granted they have received Jesus Christ the Lord though they have nothing like a Proof of it Be it known when men dare not bring their Gold to the Test there is great cause to fear it is not pure and right John 3.20 21. Truth in the inward parts doth affect and not avoid the Light O that they who are willing to try were Humble did attend to the Rule of Tryal the Word of God and did wait for the Spirit 's shines on them The Third Rule of Duty hath a particular reference to those that upon Examination do or may find that as yet the Love of God the Father and his beloved Son as a Propitiation have not been believingly embrac'd by them They should attend to the Advices that are most proper for them whereof The first is Be they willing to entertain Convictions that the Fathers Love and the Sons Blood have hitherto been slighted by them In order to their Conviction in general I shall offer what follows 1. What mean those low thoughts they have of the everlasting Gospel wherein Christ and his Fathers Grace are revealed The Feet of them that bring glad tidings Rom. 10.14 15. should be beautiful in their Eyes but their Faces are not Light from Heaven should be welcomed on Earth but alas it is not so 2. How is it that when the Gospel finds some Entertainment in their Heads it hath no better room and reception in their Hearts Their Hearts do not burn within them when the joyful sound is in their Ears 2 Thes 2.10 The love of that great Truth is not receiv'd together with it nor indeed are such with whom I am dealing desirous it may be so 3. Are not those of them that have some Notions of the worth of Christ far from a due and practical valuation of him 1. Will they sell all that they may obtain the Pearl of great price Is not there some sin or other in the Heart Mat. 13.45 to which it cleaveth fast with which it will not part for Christs sake Flesh-pleasing or Worldliness or Pride bear sway in them 2. Are there not some pieces of Service which they will not touch with especially those of a secret and inward Nature Do they aright come to Christ Mat. 11.28 29. who reject his Yoke 3. Do they when their Duties have been largest and their gifts highest keep up a sharp Appetite to Christ and Free-Grace And now I will offer some passages for the Conviction both of the Profane and of those that are at best but Civilians mere
to John 3.19 Joh 21.14 O how many avoid Knowledge and affect Security The Second is Driving a trade and course of Profaneness being Creatures of carnal pleasures The Third is Minding savouring Animalia voluptatis 1 Tim. 5.6 Phil. 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and relishing Earthly things mainly if not onely Eating dust is that the Serpent is Condemn'd to far unfit is that Food for the Seed of the Woman The Fourth is Gal. 4.29 2 Thes 2.10 Having an aking Tooth and envious Heart at the better sort of People The Fifth is Setting light by God's Word and being void of the love of the Truth I proceed to instance in marks that are good but Not Conclusive Sundry have 'em who have not been Effectually Called The First is Escaping some of the more gross pollutions of the World * See Mr. Fowler Men may be without open Crimes and yet without Christ Luke 18.11 If we believe the boasting Pharisee he was no Adulterer or Oppressor The Second is Being at times found in some Duties for the matter of 'em commendable Such as 1. Hearing the best Ministers Mark 6.20 Herod sate under John Baptist's Teachings 2. Praying in publick and private Hypocrites have made many and long Prayers 3. Observing some Fast-days Isa 58 2 3. Had not the Pharisee two in a week The Third is Luke 18.11 Being entrusted with and interested in choice Church-Priviledges Such as 1. Being joyn'd in and to a good Society Were not foolish Virgins with the wise Mat. 25.1 2. Being washed with the water of Baptism Acts 8. Was not Simon Magus so 3. Being admitted to the Holy Table Mat. 7. Luke 13.26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratias gratis daras The bare Plea of eating and drinking in Christ's presence will be found insufficient The Fourth is Attaining Gifts that are desirable and to others Edifying Such as 1. Being able and apt to enlarge in Prayer on sundry occasions 2. Prophecying in Christ's Name Mat. 23.14 Mat. 7.20 21 22. or Preaching very plausibly I add The Unconverted may 1. Seem Zealous for the Sabbath 2. Declare for Reformation 3. Jer. 42.4 5. Acts 8.24 Come to Ministers with Cases 4. Beg a share in their Prayers Now we come to marks Inclusive They on and in whom they are are without doubt called to be Saints And it may pass for an adequate or even sign of such a Calling if Persons do earnestly desire and endeavour to bear and express ' em Such desires and endeavours weak Christians are acquainted with and the furthest reaching Hypocrites strangers to May therefore Readers be careful in considering ' em And full of longings that they may have more and more experience of ' em 1. The first is more general to wit having a new Heart or Principle of Spiritual Life and Love Dr. Bolton This is as one said the great crack found in many Vessels that are found in God's House or Church consider'd as visible Mat. 7. latter end They build without regard to a good Foundation and bear without reference to the root of the matter Some Fruit they have but about having the Seed of God they are not concern'd They are seen moving in some Holy Duties but never felt breathings after that Divine Nature from whence such motion should flow Many are chain'd and not chang'd or have onely known a change of their sins and not of their Souls they do not long after a thorough change 1. That their Understandings may not onely discern between good and evil 2 Cor. 5.17 but also between good and good the good that may serve 'em and that which can satisfie ' em 2. That their wills may be set against sin and for and on God Where a renewing work is Effectual Calling hath certainly been about which we may have better Information from the following Particular Signs The first is Brokenness and Poverty of Spirit If we speak of persons of Years Mat. 5.3 hath not that Heart been broken that is sound Is Conversion there where Contrition hath never been They who can witness that they are not onely humbled but humble Non solùm humilitati sed humiles broken in a good degree for sin from sin and from their former self-confidence who as they know they are vastly indebted to Divine Justice they feel they have nothing wherewith to pay and are undone if Christ appear not as their Surety who have a quick sense of their want of Sanctifying Grace and that supplies can onely be had with and through him have an hopeful evidence of their being Called A Second is Cleaving to and glorying in the Lord Jesus as a None-such for a Mediator and Reconciler of God to man by his merit and man to * See Mr. Herles God by his Spirit as Wisdom for their Direction Righteousness for their Justification 1 Cor. 1.30 Sanctification as freeing from the Reign of sin and Redemption at last from all sort of Suffering Phil. 3.3 Rejoycers in Christ are of the Circumcision or Spiritually Circumcised A Third is Choosing God in Christ as the Treasure saying from their Hearts Whom have we in Heaven but thee Psal 73.25 And what is that on Earth that we desire besides thee Thou art that Sun whose presence makes a day in our Souls Thou art All in All in Heaven and best of all on Earth both in the want and enjoyment of Creature-Comforts Is God liv'd on as their Portion by any that are uncalled A Fourth is Waiting for the guidance and influences of the Holy Spirit Art not they the Sons of God that are led by this Conductor Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.25 And living in him desire a design to walk in and after him longing that he would mortifie their Flesh and revive their Spirits The Fifth is Bending Ordinances and Providences both favouring and frowning against sin still striking at the Head and Heart of it aiming at its Death Gal. 5.24 and arguing for it from Mercies and Judgments and longing that at Sermons it may receive some Deaths-wounds Is it thus with any save the Called A Sixth is 2 Pet. 1.5 6. Having growth and strength of Grace in desire being for adding to Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge c. for building up themselves on the Rock of Ages Gal. 5.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Polum ad locum and for shewing that Love Joy Meekness Long-suffering c. are one and the same Fruit of the Spirit and for being every day stronger and stronger The Seventh is Having respect to all God's Commandments Not wilfully making balks in such good and holy Ground Psal 119.5 6. Tit. 2.11 12. Bish Rainbow but studying to walk Godly Righteously and Soberly as one in my Youth gloss'd on those Adverbs acting in those good ways from a good Habit and regarding the manner and end with the matter of Duties The Eigth is
Isa 62.1 2 3. Breathing much after the flourishing of Zion For her sake not being silent but praying that she may have Peace Peace freedom from Divisions within Psal 122.6 and not onely Persecutions from without that her Children may resemble their Heavenly Father and be full of Soul-prosperity The Ninth is Keeping up a Watch against all sin Mark 13. last and temptations thereunto Carrying in mind that the World is their great Adversary 1 John 2.16 Haec tria pro trino numine mundus habet and its Profits Pleasures and Honours are the great Baits it lays to ensnare ' em The last is Prizing Heaven as it is a place and seat of perfect Holiness and accordingly making preparations for it in exercising true and endeavouring for more through Purity I much fear many will trust and not try and too many will be slighty in their trying and not beg that God would search and try ' em Psal 26.2 If upon Tryal weaker Christians do find any one sure mark with a desire that the rest may be found on 'em it is a good sign More good Divines than one have said Dr. Sibbs Mr. Hollingsworth One right Grape cannot grow on a Thorn But let the unsound know their going about to divide between Graces and Duties is of ill signification The Fifth Inference is They who have not heard the voice of God nor known what his Calling is should not rest in their present condition but call on him whose Calls have Power in 'em to give 'em the Call they have heard and read of Know they 1. As far as any of 'em are off he can easily make 'em hear 2. As vile as any of 'em are John 5.25 1 Tim. 1.15 his Grace can fully forgive 'em and move him to call 'em Of this Paul had full Proof And in order to their being so Priviledged 1. May they be for seating themselves under a Ministry in which there is plainness 1 Cor. 1.21 clearness and seriousness thereby God usually calls 2. May they use all earnestness as those that would not be denyed Prov. 2.2 3 4. 3. Job 42.8 John 14.16 May they engage the Prayerful to engage in Prayer for ' em 4. May they when they dare not say they have an Interest in Christ Pray that he would take 'em into and bear 'em on his Heart and prevail with his Father to speak so to 'em by his Spirit that they cannot but hear O that there were such hearts and workings in sinners The Sixth and last Inference is They that are indeed and in truth the Lord 's Called ones 1 Pet. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should shew forth the Vertues and thereby the Praises of him that hath called'em 1. Psal 103.1 Should not their Hearts lead in their Praisings Should not all their Powers and Forces be called into this Service Are they not above others engaged and enabled thereunto 2. Psal 149.6 Should not the High Praises of God be in their mouths Should not the Calves of their Lips be offered to God 3. Eph. 4.1 Should not their Lives be referred to his Honour That they may be so May the Twenty Rules following be attended to O that they were more Answer'd by em 1. Psal 139.1 2 7. He is totius oculas Live they in and under a full and powerful apprehension of God's Omniscience Is he shut up or shut out any where And doth he not see their ways and Hearts with whom he is 2. Omne honum in summo bono Maintain they a constant dependence on God's All-sufficiency Is not all good bound up in the chief good Cannot he easily supply all wants Gen. 17.1 support under all pressures and fit for all Services 3. May there be on and in 'em abiding and influencing thoughts of the extream evil of sin See Dr. Goodwin c. Rom. 7.13 Is it not as truly as usually said A worse name than its own cannot be given it O that it more appear'd in its own ugly colours 4. Do they frequently review and reflect on the dishonour done to God by their sins past Psal 40.12 especially their heightened ones Can they fully number or weigh ' em And should not the sight of their black feet be very humbling to ' em 5. Take they into serious Consideration the shortness and insufficiency of their own Righteousness As to appeasing the wrath satisfying the Justice and procuring the favour of God Phil. 3.7 8. can Raggs cover ' em Can defiled Raggs cleanse ' em 6. Be they much in admiring the Riches of Grace which hath fully provided for 'em and the design thereof carried on by Christ for ' em Micah 7.19 Is not Gods Grace as the depths of the Sea which they cannot fathom And as the heights of Heaven which they cannot reach And doth not Grace that brought Christ down from Heaven to Earth intend to bring them up from Earth to Heaven 7. Keep they as near as near may be to the Blessed Jesus Gal. 2.20 Close they with his Person apply they his Righteousness and imitate they his Example May he lye Day and Night between their Breasts May they live on him as All and in All 8. Prize they the special Presence and wait they for the special Assistance of the Holy Spirit Gal. 5.16 May he more and more inspire their Souls and Services May he subdue their Corruptions and draw out their Graces 9. Keep they their Hearts under a deep and endearing sense of God's many great and choice Mercies to ' em How precious have his thoughts been to them-wards Rom. 12.1 Can they know the sum of ' em And hath not his hand of Grace in sundry Instances been lifted up high 10. Be they for out-shooting the Heathens in their own Bow and out-stripping 'em in the Vertues wherein they excell'd * See Reverend Mr. Porter This hath been styled borrowing the Jewels of the Egyptians and gathering the Flowers in Natures Garden to deck themselves with It 's a shame that they in and of the Church should be less sober chaste 1 Cor. 5.1 or just than some our of it 11. Study they to be extraordinary adorning the Doctrine of their Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 May their Beds and Boards may their Shops and Fields may their employments and refreshments carry a mark of Holiness on ' em Zech. 14. last 12. Husband they their time and the seasons of Grace therein afforded to the best purpose and profit Eph. 5.15 May they not willingly trifle or squander away one Golden Hour but fill up every day with proper Duty 13. Be they for making a good use of the Word and Works of God Be they loath to be as leaking or broken Vessels Heb. 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the late Reverend Dr. Owen thereon lest they take in Errors or let slip