suffers much by her Watchmen page 282 The Churches peace disquieted by many page 277 The Church troubled by her own Children page 280 The Church scandalized by her distractions page 288 God is highly offended with the Churches disturbers page 289 Many blessings attend on the Churches peace page 287 The Church militant like a ship on the Sea page 341 God will arise for his Churches succour page 340 Company if good comfortable in our journey page 200 Complements not altogether to be condemned page 137 Conditions required in both Covenants yet with a difference page 437 God performes the Condition for us that he requires of us ibid. The benefit of a good Conscience and horrour of an iâ—l conscience page 272 Covetous persons no sure Friends page 46 No Creature can comfort us whilst the Creator hides his face page 270 D. DAngers are to be prevented page 247 Under the greatest Darknesse seek for light page 135 Dead should not be diâ—quieted page 276 The Devill may enter into a Dead Corps and move it page 275 A double dealer not to be trusted page 47 Decree when past all hope is past page 259 Delayes whet desires page 227 God may Delay us and yet heare us page 224 Why God Delayes before he answers page 225 Meanes to sustaine our hearts under Delayes page 229 What to do when God Delayes us page 231 Denyals how to be made page 216 Depopulatours like Caterpillars page 93 Desires should be kept within bounds page 176 Rules given to that purpose ibid. Desires in some cases should reach beyond our abilityes page 181 God is better to us then our Desires page 349 He doth not alwayes answer our Desires in the same degree nor kind page 345 Gods gratious denyalls are better then his angry yieldings page 355 Discipline no family may be without page 25 Discouragements should not keep us from seeking to God page 302 Doggs their fidelity to their Masters page 193 Doore Heaven hath two leaff'd page 425 426. It stands not alwayes open page 427 No enterance into Heaven but by the Door ibid. When the Door may be said to be shut page 259 The Door is open whil'st meanes are continued page 260 When the Doore is shut Prayer is not speeding page 259 All Doors fly open to Prayer page 433 Drunkennesse brings to beggary page 94 The Drunkard not to be trusted page 47 It is a signe of Drunkennesse to forget what we heard at a Sermon page 13 E. Earlinesse twofold page 422 Earnest we must be for small things as well as great yet not with the like degree page 362 Eloquence of superiours is in Action page 12 Enemy reconciled hard to trust page 48 Endeavours must second our Prayers page 415 Enough is a language few can speak page 178 Epicurism one of England's sins page 164 Evill of two sorts page 181 How of two Evils we may chuse the lesse page 184 Example of Christ is our Samplar page 10. 15. The force of the Rule lyes in the Example page 11. Excuses sinfull manifold page 236 Experience what page 453 What is required to make Christian Experience page 460 It is good reasoning from Experience page 453 In what sense it is said to be the Mistris of fools page 455 None so wise but may learn by it page 455 Experience teacheth what reading cannot page 456 Experience may be bought too dear page 455 The benefit that comes by Experience is great page 456 How to make a right use of Experience page 458 Our Experiments to be pleaded to God page 459 It is not alwayes safe to ground our confidence upon former Experiments page 460 Others should be acquainted with our Experiences page 463 Eye of God is healing page 185 God sees through his Eye-lids page 342 F. FAith of a Christian not grounded on sense yet confirmed by it page 454 Family the Foundation of all societyes page 16 Familyes to be instructed by Governours page 15 It is a great honour to a family to be Godly page 18 The sad complaint that untaught familyes will one day make against Governours page 19 Neglect of instructing Families whence it ariseth page 20 Familyes should have Church-Government page 24 All that offer themselves may not be admitted into our Familyes page 23 In good Familyes may be some bad page 28 Familiarity with God in a humble way God admitts of page 399 Famine the sad face of it discovered page 96 The effects of it shewed page 97 Sin causeth God to send it page 100 Fare homely contented former times page 164 Feast not to be judged of by full cupps page 168 Some Feasts made not for laughter but for slaughter page 168 Rules for Feasting given page 170 Fervency wherein it consists page 358 Flattery all smooth language is not page 137 Food of the soul is to be sought after and motives thereunto page 175 Counterfeit Friends of divers sorts page 37 Friends true very few page 35 The world is a Time-serving Friend page 59 The flesh a Table-Friend page 60 The Devill a Treacherous Friend ibid. No Creature stands in such need of a Friend as man page 44 The sad condition of a Friendlesse man page 103 What Friends to make choyce of page 46 The bad wayes that some take to procure Friends page 51 The best way to obtaine them page 52 To find Friends when there is no need and to want them when there is need are both alike easie page 105 A true Friend was borne for his Friend page 107 Earthly Friends are subservient to God page 108 Earthly Friends faile us page 109 Praying Friends are best Friends page 205 Earthly Friends not to be confided in page 72 Difference amongst Friends may arise page 69 Such differences are hardly composed page 42 Adversity tryes Friends page 64 No change of state can cause any alteration in a Friends affections page 102 A Friend may be in want page 71 A Friend may deny his Friends request yet remain a Friend page 214 A Faithfull Friend a great treasure page 41 A Friend will judge his Friends case to be his own page 187 Friends love not to be suspected page 66 Two sorts of Friends to make use of in the time of Affliction page 103 Three sorts of living Friends page 104 Dead Friends to whom we may resort in our distresse page 105 Some would make the Devill their Friends page 111 Friend Paramount God only is page 108 He is generally a Friend to all page 56 But to the Godly in a more speciall manner ibid. A high honour to have God for our Friend page 59 How to be assured that God is our Friend page 64. 112 Gods Friends cleave close to him in tryalls page 64 Gods Friends love his Friends page 65 A great encourgement to come to God in that he is our Friend page 113 God only can be Friend us at all times in all places and in all our wants page 108. 109 He communicates his purposes to his Friends
unto you Ask it shal be given you Seek and you shall find Knock and it shall be opened unto you 10. For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened A Summary of all the Principal Doctrines both Literal and Mystical Collected and Illustrated in this Commentary upon the Parable of a Friend going to his Friend at Mid-night With the severall Uses and Applications thereof made Vers 5. And he said unto them Which of you shal have a Friend and shall go unto him at Mid-night and say unto him Friend lend me three loaves Doct. 1 PRescribers should exemplifie their Prescripts by their own Practise Pag. 9. Vse 1 Thence Ministers are directed how to preach profitably Pag. 10 Vse 2 And all Superiours advised to go before Inferiours in Christian Duties Pag. 11 Vse 3 And all Exhorted to be Practical as well as Verbal Pag. 12 Doct. 2 Christ makes choice of tractable Spirits to teach and instruct in the ways of Piety Pag. 13 Use Thence such as have tractable Spirits may be encouraged to attend unto the Word Pag. 14 Doct. 3 Our principal Care should be of our own Cure Pag. 15. Reas 1 For that God's honour is thereby most advanced Pag. 16. Reas 2 The good estate of the Church and State furthered Ibid. Reas 3 Our own comfort and profit is thereby enlarged Pag. 17 18. Reas 4 And that love which we owe to those under our Charge manifested Pag. 19. Use 1 Therefore the want of this Care in Governours is to be lamented Pag. 19. Use 2 And all Governours of Families perswaded to set up Religion in their Houses Pag. 22 Use 3 And Inferiours exhorted to submit to a Religious Government Pag. 30. Doct. 4 It is a profitable way of Teaching to administer Instruction by way of Interrogation Pag. 31 Use Therefore the want of this kind of Teaching is to be much lamented Ibid. Doct. 5 Matters weighty should be pressed upon the Conscience after the best manner Pag. 32 Use And thence Ministers perswaded so to Preach as that their Hearers may be best edified and affected Pag. 33 Doct. 6 A fast Friend is hard to find Pag. 33 Reas 1 For that true Friendship is onely amongst the good Pag. 34 Reas 2 Few are of the same disposition and likeness Ibid. Reas 3 And the present times are more corrupt then ever Pag. 35. Use 1 Therefore many are much mistaken in point of Friendship Pag. 35 Use 2 And those that have Friends admonished to prize them Pag. 41 Use 3 And it makes much to our shame that there is so little true Friendship amongst us Pag. 42 Use 4 Nor should we much wonder at it that we find few Friends faithful Pag. 43 Doct. 7 None but may find the want of a friend Pag. 44 Reas 1 For that man is like a Bee and cannot live alone Ibid. Vse 1 Thence the pride of some men's spirits is reproved Pag. 45 Vse 2 And all adwised to make fure of a Friend Ibid. Doct. 8 It is a sad case to be in want Pag. 53 Vse 1 Therefore such should be pitied and relieved Pag. 54 Vse 2 And all advised not heedlesly to bring themselves into it Ibid. Vse 3 And above all other wants the Soul's want is most to be lamented Pag. 55. Doct. 9 God is the good man's Friend Pag. 56. Reas 1 For he hath entered into a league of Friend-ship with them Pag. 57. Reas 2 The same Communion that is betwixt Friends is betwixt God and them Ibid. Reas 3 He is alwayes ready to hear them and pleasure them Pag. 58. Vse 1 Thence we may be informed of the Honour that God hath put upon the godly Pag. 59. Vse 2 And directed whither to go to find a Friend Ibid. Vse 3 And such as have God for their Friend may be comforted Pag. 63. Vse 4 And all admonished to take heed of wronging the Friends of God Pag. 70. Doct. 10 A Man that hath a Friend may notwithstanding be in want Pag. 71. Reas 1 For that there is a great narrownesse of Affection in the Best Ibid. Reas 2 And a great narrownesse of Power in Friends to help Ibid. Reas 3 And a great narrownesse of Discretion in helping Ibid. Vse 1 Therefore none should think all such friendlesse as be in want Ibid. Vse 2 Nor should any put too much confidence in earthly Friends Pag. 72. Doct. 11 Gods own Friends may be in a necessitous Condition Ibid. Reas 1 For that all earthly things are mutable and inconstant Pag. 73. Reas 2 It may so fall out through Sathan's malice Ibid. Reas 3 But principally through Gods providentiall Administration Ibid. Reas 4 God hath an Eye herein to his own Glory Pag. 75. Vse 1 Therefore let such as are full be admonished not to be secure Pag. 78. Vse 2 And the Hearts of such be supported as are in a needy condition Pag. 82. Doct. 12 Want of Bread is a great want Pag. 88. Reas 1 For that of all Blessings given for sustentation of this life none is more necessary Pag. 89. Reas 2 Nor doth the Want of any other temporall Blessing bring into the like distresse Pag. 90. Use 1 Therefore from hence the necessity of Tillage may be inferred Ibid. Use 2 And those who have a hand in bringing a want of Bread on themselves or Narion reproved Pag. 91. Use 3 And we be stirred up to blesse God for our present plenty Pag. 96. Use 4 And convinced of the necessity of Bread for the Soul Pag. 100. Doct. 13 A faithfull Friend is a sure Harbour Pag. 101. Reas 1 For a Friend that is neer is better then a Brother farr off Pag. 102. Reas 2 A Friend loveth at all times and is born for adversity Pag. 102. Vse 1 Wherefore desire God to raise us up some Friend in the day of Adversity Pag. 103. Vse 2 And learn what use to make of Friends in our Calamity Ibid. Vse 3 And such as pretend Friendship would be exhorted to be faithfull Pag. 105. Doct. 14 God is the Friend to whom the godly address themselves in trouble Pag. 107. Reas 1 For his Name is a strong Tower and sure defence Pag. 108. Vse 1 Therefore such are to be reproved as withdraw their Hearts from God Pag. 110. Vse 2 And we directed to fly to God alone in all our wants Pag. 112. Vse 3 And the godly comforted who have such a God to fly unto Pag. 115. Doct. 15 Diligence must be used in Distresse for Redresse Pag. 116. Reas 1 For God and the means enjoyned to be used may not be severed Ibid. Reas 2 The Promise is made onely to such as use their endeavours Ibid. Vse 1 Wherefore those who think carelesse Christians to be the choisest Christians are much mistaken Pag. 116. Vse 2 And we better advised them to fit still in the time of trouble Pag. 117. Doct. 16 Prayer is the best Remedy in the day of
her Affection They are like Mice in a Barne or Wasps about a Galley pot they swarme about us whilst something may be had So long as we are in a flourishing estate they will as birds in Summer build in our boughes but the leaves being fallen they delight not in our shadow Such were Adoniahs Friends no sooner had he usurped the Crown and proclaimed himself King but many joyned with him As Joab the Generall of Davids Army 1 King 1.7 and most of the chief Captaines and Commanders besides Abiathar the high Priest And yet saith the Text vers 8. the mighty men that belonged to David were not with him He had not the strength of the Armie on his side albeit he had most of the mighty Commanders of Soldiers for that they were not true unto him For all the shew that they made they did not respect Adoniah so much as their own ends therefore no sooner was Solomon proclaimed but they left Adoniah to himself to make good his own Title Such Friends David found in his prosperity Shemei was no Railer nor yet Achitophell a Traitor 2 Sam. 15.31 2 Sam. 16.5.13 Ester 7 8 9. but when the times turned they could turne with them and prove both Hamans Friends who had before smiled in his face and kissed his feet now finding the King incensed against him are ready to cover his head and help him to the halter 2 Tim. 4.16 And such Friends St. Paul found many who pretended love yet in his trouble forsook him and would not stand by him If they follow him it shall be with Peter a farre off And such a Time-serving Friend was Pompey to Cicero as we read in a storie who slipt out at a back dore when Cicero flew to him for safe-guard of his life and so left him to the mercy of his enemies Such Friends as these you may have many who sing to the tune of Fortune as they say they keep time but ever sing the Base saith one So that the case albeit these abound may be still put unto you Which of you shall have a Friend Secondly Ecclus. 6. Vers 9. Pro. 26.23 Psal 118.12 there is a Treacherous and a Perfidious Friend that turneth to enmitie and taketh part against thee and in contention he will declare thy shame Solomon resembles these to Potsheds overlaid with silver drosse Prov. 26.23 David to Bees they come about me like Bees saith he Psal 118.12 The Bee hath both hony and a sting so these have hony in their mouths but gall in their hearts One compares these to silken halters Mel in ore Fel in corde to halters for that they will strangle and choake a man to silken ones for that their words are smooth and soft as David found Psal 55.21 Others resemble them to Hangmen Diog. Laertius who with the one hand embrace a man when with the other they pluck out his bowels Or to Butchers who claw the Oxe on the â—ibs that they may have the fairer blow at his head Of such Friends as these Jeremiah gives warning Jer. 9.4.8 Judg. 9.6.23 1 Sam. 18.17 22.9 cap. 9.4.8 Such Friends were the Sichemites to Abimelech Judg. 9.6.23 Saul and Doeg to David 1 Sam. 18 17. and 22.9 And such Friends to Christ were those spyes sent forth by the Scribes and Pharises who feined themselves to be good men that they might the sooner entrap him in his talk Luke 20.20 Cassius and Brutus of whom the History makes mention were such treacherous Friends to Caesar Ptolomie King of Aegypt to Pompey Luk. 20.20 whose head he sent to Caesar for a present Antipater to Alexander Zophyrus to the Babylonians who betrayed them to Darius And such a one was Banester who betrayed the Duke of Buckingham his Master in the dayes of Richard the third which treachery was revenged by God both on him and his as our Chronicles mention These Friends are like Familiar Divells which forsake their Witches when they have brought them into fetters or at best but like Moses-rod they will seemingly be for a while a staffe to stay us but anon of a rodd they are turned into a Serpent mortally to sting us Many such Friends the world is full of but not a true Friend is to be found amongst them all Thirdly Vers 10.11.18 there is another kind of Friend that the Sonne of Syrach makes mention of A Back and Belly Friend who is a Companion at our Tables and will be as we our selves in prosperity The heart of these Friends are in our Pâ—â—ts or Pockets Aes in praesenti perfectum format amorem find them somewhat to give and they will find in their hearts to Love These are like the Reflexion of a Looking-glasse they will imitate any gesture that you use right Dotterell-catchers if you smile they will smile if you frown they will do so if you make a stand they will if you spread out a wing so will they if you hold the neck aside they will do the like As did Alexander's flatterers if thou stoopest with thy shoulders so will they do as did Plato's Schollars in imitation of their Master As thou art they will be as thou doest they will do Such Friends were those spoken of Hos 7.3 -6. Hos 7.3.6 John 6.26 who make Princes glad with their lies and flatteries And those the like who followed our Saviour for the Loaves and Fishes more for the meat then for the miracle Hic dat epulis accumbere Divum They seemed to say with Aeolus in Virgil this man keeps a good house come we will after him whilst the pot boiles their affections will Many such there are in the world who like Flyes come to the Honey pot like Ants come to the Wheat yet saith Seneca the Flyes are no Friends to the Honey nor the Ants to the Wheat Many of these Friends you may have and yet the question may be asked Which of you shall have a Friend As for true Friendship we may say of it as sometimes the Duke of Buckingham said to Bishop Morton in Richard the third's dayes It is gone on Pilgrimage and no man knowes when it will returne Wherefore Dan. Hist 231. be not deceived in point of Freindship think not to find all them Friends that would be counted so Julian the Apostate is not presently a Friend to Basil though in writing unto him he styled himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou art my Friend and beloved Brother Scarce a lettter comes unto thee but either the superscription or subscription mentions a Loving Friend But as it was said of Adrian by the multitude of Physitians the Emperour is dead so it may be as truly said by the multitude of Friends such as pretend themselves to be so many a man is undone for want of a true Friend In short Esteem not every hanger-by that pretends Friendship to you in prosperitie a fast Friend take away the Idoll-gold and then
and truth will abide for ever For as Religion ties a man to God so inseparably that all the Gates of Hell cannot sever him so it unites one Christian soul to another so firmly that no outward occurrences no tortures no torments no temptations can dissolve it as appeares in the Primitive and latter times when Christians could not be brought one to betray another by any meanes that could be used But till Religion tye and Faith binde all friendship whatsoever is but as Claudius spake of Seneca's style in writing as Sand without Lime or a Beesom unbound No firmness can there be in that love which is not founded on God and godliness The Heathen have much gloried in those golden payres of stedfast friends Cicero lib. de amicitia who have bin ready to lay down their lives one for another mentioned before Howbeit in all ages and times of the World they were able to reckon up but very few such and those for the most part forged and counterfeit rather to teach what should be done then what was truly done And yet if such friendship had bin ever practised and such friends ever extant it had bin begun and ended in the flesh and therefore no other then corrupt and carnal for where God doth not couple together and tye the knot and where the glory of his name is not the mark we aim at there the life of true friendship is wanting The former examples of supposed friends being fastned together without the glew of Religion and the true fear of God albeit it made a goodly shew of rare love in the eyes of natural men yet it is not to be marched with that friendship which is inter bonos between those that are truly godly and religions who have the bond of the spirit and a good conscience to joyn them together You are my old acquaintance saith Austin to a friend of his but never my true friend antequam Chrsti sanguine glutinati before we were caemented by the blood of Christ And Constantine the great was of this Resolution in the choyce of friends and servants that none could be true to him that was not true to his God It is grace that conglutinates hearts and ties them fast together neither nature education benefits nor any of these not all these together that can tie so strong a Love-knot as Faith doth and will do See then that you get into the Communion of Saints seek for a Friend in that Society where men are joyned together in the unity of the Spirit and ratified by the bond of Faith Common friendship we may and ought to have with others as to cat and drink buy and sell visit and have civil commerce with them but for this inward and strict friendship whereby out hearts are united in neerness and dearness think not to find it any where but in that Communion When other friends forsake us they that are truly Religious will stick fastest to us Say not then in chusing of thy Friend as Joram said to Jehu 2 King 9.22 Is it peace Jehu so Is it wealth is it pleasure is it honour if thus then be thou my Friend But is it Religion is it grace is it vertue if so then as Jehu said to Jehonadab the Son of Recab Give me thy hand 2 King 10.15 It is Religion only and godliness that unites souls Quest. Is every one of that Communion fit to make a bosom Friend of may not one be preferred before another in point of friendship Even in Christianity Resp there is a difference of love All the Saints are to be loved as true Christian friends of us yet our hearts may bâ— enlarged to one more then to another and the superlative of our Affection may be place on some whom we make our bosom friend that is not on the rest without any disparagement at all to our discretion or charity Our blessed Saviour whose Affections were most pure had one Diâ—ciple whom he loved above the rest that leaned on his bosom Joh. 21.20 He loved all except Judas John 21.20 and that with an everlasting and endless love yet John was the beloved one this special Affection of Christ towards him was holy yet humane and proves the lawfulness of preferring one before another in point of friendship Secondly Friendship is aptly resembled unto marriage in many respects amongst others this is not the least As there must be some equality betwixt those who are to be married so there must be some equality betwixt those who are intimate bosom Friends Every good man is not a fit march for every good woman It is not enough to be vertuous and religious but to be sutable There must be some parity and equality and fitnesse in Paires as is in a paire of Gloves or a paire of Shooes so in a paire of Friends Cavendum est in ipsa electione vel dilectione nenimis cito dâ—ligamus Aug. de amicir c 15. Tu omnia cum omico delibera sed de ipso prius Senec. de benif lib. 6. c. 34. Him whom we take so near unto us for a serious friend freely to communicate our selves unto we may not leightly make choice of but either after long experience of his fidelity and wisdome or upon some singular motive we are wiâ—ely to judge and freely to credit And thus much of the choice of Friends for want of which wisdome there is so much complayning as was said before Now a word or two of the way how to get and procure Friends It is an ill way that some men take to procure Friendship and that is with the price of some sin So Abraham by fordid flatery stoal away the hearts of his Fathers subjects 2 Sam. 15.5 And Hezekiah endeavoured to obtain Senacheribs favour by sacriledge 2 King 18.16 But the friendship thus purchased was not long enjoyned 2 King 18.16 for Senacherib still persisted in his enmity against the Jewes as appears in the words following Yea sometimes it falls out that Friends so procured with hate us more then they loved us before As Ammon did Thamar after he had defiled her 2 Sam. 13.15 And Henry the fifth coming to the Crown repenting of his riotous course in his youth banished from the Court all those that had seduced him And there is a way which most of the world take to procure Friendship by large gifts and presents of which Solomon speaks Prov. 19.4 But friendship thus obtained as one saith is but like a fire of straw or stubble Pro. 19.4 which burns brightly whilst it ha's matter to feed upon but that being neglected it is soon extinguished and comes to nothing Gifts may be used to continue friendship But not to begin it If thou giâ—est any thing let iâ— be because he is thy Friend not because thou wouldest have him to be so And yet there is a good way of procuring friends by gifts and benefits which the world takes no notice of