upon him with his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 6. God hath in wisdome and love left sin in his to keepe them humble in the sense of sinne and that wee may know what we are and our strength that wee might exercise the graces of the Spirit faith for pardon wisdome watchfulnesse self-deniall c. which we could not doe if wee had no sinne and that we might long to be in heaven where we shall injoy a full freedome from all sinne and that wee might love and prise Christ more seeing we stand in such need of him to pardon and heale us and that wee might daily depend upon Christ against it and live upon the fulnesse of Christ which wee should have no need in this kinde if we could not sinne and that wee might not scorn nor insult over any and that Gods power may appeare in preserving a little grace in a soule so full of sinne and also the power of his grace in subduing so many and so strong sinnes and that wee might admire that rich grace that can love such as we are and pardon our so many and great sinnes The use of this is if it be so first expect not full freedome of sinne here as some dreame Secondly doe not sinne that grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2 3 8. but in obedience to God and love to him use all meanes against it all thy dayes strive against it in the strength of Christ the love of Christ will teach thee and cause thee to doe so Thirdly Be not over-pressed and sunk under it but live by faith in all infirmities say as Paul I glory in my infirmities not as they are sins but because by them Gods power and goodnesse is the more seene both in pardoning and healing see Rom. 5. 20. 6. 1 2. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Rom. 3. 7 8. c. What if I should say all the Lords are the more happy they were sinners else how could they have been capable of mercy and heaven and union with God c. If there were not evill it would not be knowne what is good justice and mercy had not been known therefore how could God be knowne his wisdome in drawing good out of evill nor his infinite love in sending Christ to dye could not have been known and man could not come to that full happinesse in Christ if there had not been sin Sin should not hinder our faith it is hard to beleeve the pardon of seventy seven sinnes in a day yet faith is able to beleeve it and also to keep a sinner from being perplexed in his spirits with any sinne or trouble so as to hinder the soule from rejoycing in God all the day long faith looks to Jesus Christ his bloud intercession and obedience who hath payd all our debts 1 Joh. 2. 1. and now wee are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6. 15. So that the weakest beleever may say in the middest of all my imperfections have as much of the love or God and union with him acceptation reconciliation full and perfect righteousnesse in Christ to cover all my defects as the best Saint ever had and my state shall be as happie as any of theirs and were it not for Christ all their holinesse could not helpe them and they might cry they are unprofitable in all and had also perished in their sinnes Can a man be profitable to God Job 35. 7 Surely no and what shall hinder me of having as much happinesse and glory in heaven as the best Saint Oh who can expresse the sweetnesse that is in this doctrine of free grace to an humble soule and it is wonderfull sweet and it is a strong tie to God in all holinesse I know men of base spirits unbeleevers will catch at what I say but if they doe who can helpe it the children must have bread and if such dogs will snatch it to their perill be it as for you who love sin so as you are not willing to part with your sinnes that you desire to make Leagues and Covenants with sinners hell and death and the devill you take incouragement to sin because God is rich in grace c. Oh consider if yee have hearts yee are those who turne the grace of God into wantonnesse yee are still in your sinnes yee are the dogs touch it not it is not for you Christ saith It is not meet to cast the childrens bread to dogs Maâ— 7. 6. A childe of God is described by a desire to feare the Name of God Nehe. 1. 11. 1. Those that live the life of faith in infirmitie they eye Christs sanctification and injoy comfort in it 2. There is a harmony between that soule and Gods command Speake Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3. 10. 3. He is not offended at Christ at any thing he requires Blessed is he that is not offended in me Mat. 11. 6. For this is the love of God that we keepe his Commandements and his commandements are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. 4. He lookes at the word of God for his rule and his desire is wholly to be ruled by it he will trust God and relie upon his word 5. He eyeth Christs strength in his promise for helpe and by faith makes it his own Psal 46. 6. Surely in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength Isa 45. 24. 6. He will with courage incounter against what ever opposeth God and contend earnestly for the faith once given to the Saints Jude vers 3. 7. He is sensible of good and evill and layeth to heart his own and others sins Acts 20. 31. 8. No sinne he commits doth so discourage him and sinke him but he can joy and rejoyce in Christ his joy and sorrow is not legall but evangelicall or spirituall and therefore may be in one Saint both at one and the same time 1 Thes 5. The second branch of this life of faith in infirmities it is to live upon Christ in his promise to helpe us against all our infirmities upon such places as these If thou beest in deadnesse of heart consider Behold my servant shall sing for joy of heart Isai 65. 14. In thy Name shall they rejoyce all the day Psal 89. 16. In dumbnesse consider The tongue of the dumbe shall sing c. Isa 35. 36. The mouth of the righteous shall speake wisdome and his tongue talkes of judgement Psal 37. 30. In forgetfulnesse The Spirit shall bring all things into your remembrance Joh. 14. 26. When thou art in feare of want consider There is no want to them that feare him Psal 34. 9. Trust in the Lord and doe good and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37. 3. Seeke yee first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all things else shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 34. Take no thought for to morrow shall take thought for it selfe sufficient to the day is the evill thereof Take no thought for your life what yee shall
deare though the Elect shall misse hell Lord bold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 17. 5. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe and I will have respect unto thy Statutes continually Psal 119. 117. 4. Watch thoughts Every day to watch that my thoughts be holy or lawfull and seasonable to ranke order and confine them within an holy compasse that I may gaze and meditate on God his unmeasurable goodnesse greatnesse beautie glory and to bring under and destroy every wicked and vaine thought and desire c. It is no burden to fix our minds and thoughts on things above where our life and joy and treasure is Where your treasure is there will your hearts be also The more wisdome leads us on high the more is our joy and the more we avoyd the snares below and the more wee injoy God in the invisible workings intentions desires elevations of heart with thoughts of sweetest raptures in which is peace joy triumph searching into the mysteries of grace in which is light is truth in its clearnesse purenesse fulnesse in gazing upon the most glorious object admiring God in his infinite attributes to contemplate on Gods boundlesse mercy in Christ Such as are exercised herein injoy great sweetnesse and delight they see and say as David How precious are thy thoughts to me O God c. Psal 139. 17. Such thoughts raise the heart and make it spirituall joyfull and thankfull willing and serious in all duties and holy services 5. Hearken unto conscience Every day to watch and hearken to the noyse of conscience that I may prise the peace of it indeavour to informe it and to doe nothing that shall offend it And herein doe I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience voyde of offence towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3. 9. 6. Watch affections Every day to watch that my affections be set right and that they move not without or contrary to my judgement and that they be set upon right objects and that they soare not too high nor descend too low but according as the object deserves meanly affecting meane things and not affecting corrupt reason as passion c. That my delight be not set immoderately upon any earthly things though never so excellent desirable or amiable and so to injoy them as expecting every day or houre to lose them Set your affections on things above Col. 3. 1. 5. Affections are the pulses of the soule and shew the state of it the affections are the motions of the will and the will is the principall seate of grace grace hath its birth in the understanding but her seate is more principally in the will actually and formally therefore the will is much to be observed in its tempers inclinations motions which are the affections of the soule all affections may be comprehended in love and hatred the first comprehends desire delight joy hope these are the acts of love and these are chiefly to be given to God wee must make him our trust love joy delight and our all in all esteeme and affect all things else under him and for him he is all-sufficient therefore we may well content our selves with him and to love him dearly then are the affections set right when with God wee are sicke of love Song 2. 5. Forsake not God who is a living fountaine for broken Cisternes Jer. 2. Love is the sweetest affection it 's pity it should be spent and lost upon vanities And when we set our affections strongly on things below it 's a mercy for God to take them from us to teach us and cause us to take more delight in God himselfe and those true unspeakeable and everlasting delights prepared for the Saints with himselfe Surely wee have cause to lament that we are so ready to set our affections on things below that they are so strong and unruly and so hardly subdued that it is not an easie thing to master our wils and appetites they so rage and dote so vehemently after vanities vanitie of vanities all is vanitie Eccl. 1. 2. 7. Watch time That every day I watch and endeavour to redeeme time because it is precious to improve it to know truth to injoy and obey God and to serve others in love redeeming the time because the dayes are evill Eph. 5. 16. Also our time is short it 's but as a thought a shadow a dreame a span long it is our duty and wisdome to preserve and redeeme time for every purpose and action Paul improves his time by the space of three yeares I ceased not to warne every one night and day with teares c. Act. 20. 31. Yet we lose many houres needlesly in sleeping in trifling in idle visits c. In which time good might have been done to many 8. Watch senses Every day to watch the windows of my soule my senses as eares eyes from unlawfull objects and lawfull when I perceive they would suck evill from them and shutting my eyes and eares if need be He shall dwell on high c. that stoppeth his eares from hearing of bloud that shutteth his eyes from seeing of evill Isa 33. 15 16. Thus we are commanded to take heed watch and pray Mark 13. 35. so take heed what yee heare It was Davids desire to God Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanitie Psal 119. 37. Job saw a necessitie to make a Covenant with his eyes Job 31. 1. For Satan is ready to convey much evill insensibly through these floud-gates of sin bad discourse inflames lust Davids roving eye caused him to fall foully and procured him much vexation and griefe who could have thought an idle glance could occasion so much mischiefe Expect no better fruit in suffering your hearts to run after your eyes fancy will take fire before we be aware but a foole will take no warning he will have his eyes in every corner of the earth Prov. 17. 24. he must and will hearken unto a tale-bearer Prov. 25. 23. And so he hath his heart filled with anger and revenge but when he is wiser he will cry out with shame and griefe that all is vanitie and vexation of spirit as Eccles 1. 2. 9. In outward things Every day to watch to make some good use and draw instruction from the creatures and passages of Gods providence so to mind heavenly things by naturall So did Christ upon mentioning of bread Mat. 16. These things below make themselves wings and fly away but fly thee by them from them before them 10. Watch in lawfull things Every day to watch narrowly with care and heedfulnesse in the use and injoyment of things lawfull viz. meat drinke sleepe apparell marriage visitations and recreations c. Our nature is prone to excesse herein and we oft sinne more and are in greater danger by lawfull things then by unlawfull because wee feare grosser evils more then we do the
him that our spirits may be composed and our whole man rightly disposed craving his strength to inable us to a right performing of this holy dutie In particular 1. For the person he must be accepted must be a Sonne Rom. 8. 15. Also all that pray ought to put away all wrath strife envie c. God esteems so highly of peace that he will have his service stay till it be accomplished Mark 11. 25. Mat. 5. 24. Therefore we should take heed that there be no such distempers found in us by him who knows our hearts for it will choake conscience and weaken our boldnesse with God If we regard iniquitie God will not heare our prayers Psal 66. 18. Such as love their sins God loatheth their prayers The prayer of the wicked is abomination to God God looks at the heart Christ saith When thou prayest forgive Such a forgive not others pray without life 2. Prize prayer have it in that esteeme which God puts upon it God hath honoured prayer so that every one that useth it is the better for it for every one that asketh receiveth Mat. 7. 8. 3. Set times apart for to pray and separate thy selfe to some place where thou maist be alone and out of the hearing of others if thou canst that so thou maist freely powre out thy soule to God without hypocrisie for a mans desire he will separate himselfe Pro. 18. 1. Christ chose a time before day early in the morning and one of the places he chose was a Wildernesse Mark 1. 35. Sometimes a mountaine and a garden and when that cannot be had he faith When thou prayest enter into thy Closet c. Wee should so pray and worship God as men set free from all other things So we need avoyd all occasions of hypocrisie Hypocrites stand in corners of the streets because they love to be seene of men 4. Before thou prayest spend a little time some thoughts concerning what God is and what may raise thy heart and incourage thee to draw neere to God Consider what be thy chiefe wants lets temptations corruptions also to consider the sutable promises of a supply fits the soule to pray also to consider what mercies we have received above others and what cause wee have to be thankfull to God 5. Prayer requires our ends to be holy and right placed as to injoy God and for grace to obey him and last and least of all for such things as chiefly concerne our selves as peace c. If the end be nought or good and not right placed we aske amisse Jam. 4. 6. Deny thy selfe and come empty headed hearted handed of all that is thy own that God and his grace may be all in all emptinesse raiseth our hearts in prayer 7. Mind thy own inabilitie to doe any thing that is spirituall and looke up to Christ by faith for strength eying his promise we are no more able to pray or doe any spirituall worke of our selves then to remove a mountaine at once 8. Consider God in his attributes that he is great gracious mercifull slow to anger c. and that he is so to thee and that he is neere thee yea present with thee all in God is ready to helpe his his ocean of grace cannot be exhausted spent his fountaine doth nothing decay though multitudes draw from it 9. When thou comest to God thinke thou canst not have too high thoughts of God nor too low ones of thy selfe Dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. a worme corruption so Job Thou canst not set God high enough nor thy selfe low enough if we could see our own filth we should stinke worse then the filthiest carrion in our own nostrils 10. Come to God with a heart that is large chearfull by faith in assurance of person and prayer accepted hate suspitions and jealousies of God see Ps 65. 2. 7. 7. 4. 7. aske chearfully such as goe not chearfully to God know not what a God they go to say to thy soule Come O soule rejoyce be chearfull for thou art a going to thy God 11. Be abased under thy pride formalitie coldnesse dulnesse deadnesse and breake through all impediments to goe to God in prayer 12. Empty thy selfe of all distractions cares and clogs of spirit that thou maist be free when thou comest to God hold thy heart close to God in love zeale meeknesse c. 13. Observe fit times and seasons to goe to God in yet prefer that season wherein God and thy own heart sends thee to prayer before a set time imbrace it gladly and quickly so sweet a motion of the Spirit put it not by till another time I prevented the dawning of the morning and cryed Psal 119. 147. with Mark 1. 35. 14. Be sensible of others wants especially for such as are the Lords that you may pray with a feeling of their necessities 15. Pray for grace to stirre thee up to pray and fit thee with sutable matter sutable to the occasion either for the Church thy selfe or others and to enliven us in all abhorre forme and fashion pray not in print they are deadly enemies to spiritualnesse pray from an inward feeling and sensiblenesse of thy wants book-prayers is such a crutch as it makes them that use it quite lame we are not so much to looke to a set order of words as to a well ordered heart weak expressions in uprightnesse of heart the Lord likes well but if there be nothing but well framed sentences God abhorres them 16. Above all come to God in faith Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him on whom they have not beleeved see Heb. 11. 6. Jam. 1. 6. Mark 11. 24. This is the most spirituall grace to come to God with above all other no other save this can fasten upon a promise thou canst not see God without faith whatsoever thou needst beleeve that promise Every one that asketh receiveth Mat. 7. 8. Christs incense and odors of his sacrifice Rev. 8. 4. is for him that beleeves Faith gives force and life to prayer it troubles not Satan to make a thousand prayers full of teares if they be without faith according to our faith so is our prayer Rom. 8. 38. Faint faith faith prayers prayer without faith is but beating the ayre according to thy faith be it unto thee Consider Mat. 21. 22. All things are possible to him that beleeves Mark 9. 22. Let him aske in faith saith James nothing wavering that is in a certain assurance to be heard and that his request shall be granted Jam. 1. 6. 17. Read and meditate before prayer if time will permit for the better preparing our hearts thereunto The graces of the Spirit uprightnesse purenesse thankfulnesse integritie soundnesse of heart and the like these will inable inliven and fit thee to pray These well observed and God blessing them will fill thee with heavenly affection and rid thee of thy own inventions manner and ends c. Oh all yee sonnes and daughters of the