be or what others are yet let not this discourage vs in our present measure or from attaining further because he which hath giuen others more is the same also vnto vs and will bee in like measure both accepting what he giues for the present and perfiting of his owne worke in due season 2. That though wee are sometimes ebbing and sometimes flowing in the measure of holinesse yet our God is alwayes the same vnto vs. And therefore measure wee not his loue by our different measure of increase but rather resolue we that as when we increase more we haue more cause to loue him because hee answers our endeauours so when we seeme to goe backward we haue then cause to loue and trust him more that so hee may recouer vs as wee haue more need of his loue when wee faile to lead vs forward againe so we haue as great need of his loue when we haue done our best to emptie vs of all carnall respects of vaine-glory c. that so it may appeare his onely loue hath occasioned this increase all this seruice shall redound to his glory 3. That in the worke of grace wee must liue by Faith and not by sense not measuring our estate by what wee are in our selues but by what wee are in Christ not what we are for the present but what wee shall be in the life to come And therefore comfort we ourselues that as the least sparke of grace is an euidence that we are ingrafted in the Vine so being the Vine we shall be daylie purged and prepared to bring foorth more fruite that what wee doe for the present shal be accepted as perfect in Christ and the more sense wee haue of the imperfection thereof the more may we be assured of our interest in Christ Iesus the more shal we be prouoked still to be found in Christ not hauing our owne righteousnesse that so in him and through him the worke may be perfited Fourthly Make wee tryall of increase by these markes 3. That wee grow in euery part aswell inward as outward 2. That we discerne our corruptions more and are more humbled for them 3. That our affections to the world are more lessened and quieted 4. That we are more contuetned with our estates and can more cast our care on God 5. That we are more willing to endure afflictions and ready to lay downe our liues for the Name of Christ 6. That wee can more grieue for the sinnes of the time and yet labour more hartilie the conuersion of sinners 7. That wee are more sober and wise in the vse of Christian libertie 8. That wee are more cheerefull and able to holy dueties and so doe more hunger after our dissolution and are willing to die 9. That he can be emptied of all by respects yea of all respect vnto our selues for the glory of God 10. That wee finde such sinnes most weakened to which formerly we haue bene most subiect 11. That howsoeuer we differ in practize yet still our desires are more enflamed especially vpon our fayling to more constant obedience Lastlie For our comfort learne wee that our God that commands perseuerance giues grace to the same and therefore we shall continue and not finally decay wee shall leaue out first loue but not loose it altogether 1. Philip. 6. Iohn 13. Luke 22.33 Wherein note That euery conuert hath a first loue that is Doct. 7. Euery true conuert hath a first loue when God hath reuealed his loue vnto him in Christ and by the Spirit of God it is shed abroad in his heart then is the heart of a sinner inflamed to loue God againe then is it enlarged with ioy vnspeakable and glorious 1. Pet. 17. for so great saluation then doeth it striue to expresse it thankfulnesse vnto God for so great mercie then is loue as strong as death much water can not quench it Cant. 8. And this is called his first loue and it is discerned by these markes 1. By his renouncing of all in comparison of it and parting with the dearest for the enioying of it First loue discerned by markes Matth. 13. Ioh. 6. Coloss 3.1 so did the Apostles forsake all in act so must we forsake all in affection and in act too so farre as it may hinder our enioying of Christ Zacheus Luke 19.6.7 2. When we endure any affliction for the Wordes sake 1. Thess 1.9.10 and that with great ioy in the holy Ghost Hebr. 10. Ephes 1. submitting our selues to the power of the word though it be neuer so bitter to the flesh and crosse the lusts thereof 3. When we reuerence highly the Ministers of the Gospell Galath 3.4 thinking nothing too deare for them Act. 16. 4. When we cleare our conscience of all sinne by which our sweet fellowship with Christ may bee hindred so Zacheus Luke 19. not being ashamed to confesse our particular sinnes and renouncing them vnfainedly 5. When for Christs sake we loue his poore members 1. Tim. 1.15.16 17. and impart of our worldly goods bountifully to their reliefe Luke 19. Zacheus 1. Ioh. 2. Ioh. 13. Psal 16.2 6. When wee continue in the powerfull meanes of the diuine worship Act. 2. 7. When we consult not with flesh and blood nor communicate with it but doe vtterly renounce the same in regarde of heauen Act. 9. Galath 2. Matth. 8. c. 8. And being rauished with the sweetnesse of the loue of Christ Luke 22.33 wee enlarge our selues to declare the same to our brethren labouring to bring them to Christ by plucking them out of the fire Ioh. 1.18 Iude 22. The wisedome and mercie of our God in vouchsauing his children vpon their conuersion this liuely and ardent affection of holy loue is manifold Reasons of this first loue First hereby to scale vnto them the trueth and assurance of this blessed Change by this sensible and sweet change of their affections that whereas before they could not relish and brooke the power of the worde neither had any delight in the excellent but esteemed their persons contemptible and odious deemed of their wayes as madnesse or hypocrisie now finding by the mercie of God their hearts enflamed to the loue of the worde though it vtterly confound all former hopes and cut off wholly all future expectations for the flesh and withall pretending such to bee most deare vnto them who are hated of the world and in regarde of outward appearance are not able to requite our loue and yet because they are in Christ are therefore for his sake to be beloued may wee not hence assuredly conclude vnto our soules that wee are translated from death to life because wee loue the brethren is not this our euidence that wee are now chosen out of the world because we loue those whom the world hates is not this an argument that wee are now in Christ because his loue onely constraines vs to loue his members and seeing our loue vnto them is to make them like
vnto vs is it not our testimony that we are conuerted vnto Christ and could wee submit to that word which is so reiected of the world so irkesome to our corruptions vnlesse the loue of Christ did constraine vs in obedience to his Maiestie vnlesse this loue of Christ did hereby prouoke to haue all our imaginations brought in subiection by the power thereof that so wee might retaine nothing to grieue the blessed Spirit vnlesse we were ouercome by the power of Christs loue to receiue the stampe of his Spirit and furniture of his graces whereby wee might in some measure shewe our loue vnto our Christ could wee possibly receiue the worde in such affliction and yet with such ioye in the holy Ghost vnlesse the loue of Christ did ouerflow in our hearts to so allow vp all those troubles vnlesse all such troubles were hereby counteruailed with vnspeakable Comforts And had we not need of some speciall meanes also to preserue vs from falling away though we haue tasted how sweet the Lord Iesus is yea certainely our old enemie will now seeke by all meanes to re-enter againe and hee wants not his occasions euen from the estate of our first conuersion to attempt the same For either now vpon our conuersion the world will steppe in with it glorious and pleasant baites of prosperity and great matters to search and blast if it be possible the birth in the bud or if it cannot diuert and withdraw vs from the right end of our calling yet at the least to coole and hinder vs in the pursuit of the true end and that by pretence of our Christian libertie because now we haue right in the best and why may we not vse them who more fitly for these who are better able to vse them especially if we shal be caried to measure our inward estate by them Or if this will not preuaile but that it is the will of our gratious God that by manifold tribulations wee must enter into the kingdome of heauen then Satan will put in on the other side to drowne the birth by whole flonds of tribulations Reu. 12. stirring vp our own house to become our enemies because we wil not be ruled by them because our contrary courses doe secretly condemne them stirring vp the great ones to persecute vs as enemies to gouernment disquieters of the common peace yea rather then fayle adding affliction to affliction labouring to perswade vs that because we are thus afflicted therefore God hates vs and so we are deceiued in our estate we are not the beloued of God Against all these serues this speciall grace of our first Loue the power whereof is such that it proues both an excellent preseruatiue against the allurements of prosperity as hauing so rauished the heart taken it vp to an higher quest that the loue of the world is esteemed no better then doung in steed of louing the same our holy feare is procured lest it may infect vs and therefore holy wisedome gained to haue as little to doe with as we may lest it do infect vs and so also becomes a gratious remedy against the flames of affliction as so selling our hearts in the assurance of Gods loue that all things shall worke together for the best so preparing vs by the loue of Christ to encounter any afflictions so enabling vs for the loue of Christ to endure the greatest troubles so assuring vs that through Christ Iesus we shal be more the conquerours ouer them so sweetning all our troubles vnto vs that we shal be prouoked to loue our God the more in that hee accounts vs worthie to suffer with his sonne Iesus so confirming vnto vs that those light afflictions which are but for a moment shall procure vnto vs an inestimable weight of glorie in the Heauen This is our first loue these are the markes thereof and by the same it is graciously preserued and encreased Vse To condemne flashes and tastes To trie our conuersion 1. Whereby all those sudden flashes and fained and inconstant affections of hypocrites are reiected Heb. 6.4 and 2. We put to the tryall for the soundnesse of our conuersion if we haue found such a loue in our hearts by such euident markes 3. The world is heere condemned that boasts of the fauour of God when it hath no argument of it conuersion by this loue To reprooue the worlds deceit To comfort the Saints nay esteemeth it a wonder and madnesse to be conuerted 4. And the Saints are comforted that seeing their loue vnto God dependeth on his loue vnchangeable to them 1. Ioh. 4.1 Therefore as his is vnchangeable Ioh. 13.1 so shall theirs bee well they may leaue it but they shall neuer lose it And yet it is a great affliction that they leaue their loue Although of a certaintie Doct. 6. The Saints may leaue their first loue so did Dauid Peter Salomon c. Psal 51. Galat. 2. 1. King 11. The Elect may leaue their first loue And the reasons are Because as the fire is slacked by two meanes either by withdrawing fuell from it or putting water or ashes thereto So there are two meanes And by what meanes whereby the loue of the Saints doth decay in them Either when they faile in such meanes as doe nourish the same or Doo adde such as may corrupt and coole Namely Meanes of leauing first loue 1. Withdrawing and neglecting that should nourish it when either they 1. Neglect the powerfull ministerie of the word c. 1. Thess 5.19.20 submitting to carnal or lucklesse meanes 2. The constant practize of priuate and publike prayer 3. Or the fellowshippe of the Saints Hebr. 10.24.25 4. Or the motions of the Spirit 5. Or neglect to examine their hearts dayly 6. Or faile in daylie repentance 7. Or neglect to conoert others 8. Or abate of holy order and discipline which holds vp the power of godlinesse as if now wee could be lawes vnto our selues Or else doe adde that which may corrupt 1. As spirituall pride of Gods graces 2. Carnall policie subiecting religion to the same 2. adding what may coole and quench it 3. Prosperitie and setting their hearts thereon through couetousnesse Psalm 119. Luke 18.1 Tim. 6. 4. Abuse of Christian libertie in the enioying of pleasures c. 1. Cor. 10 1. Cor. 8. and vse of things in different 5. A corrupt and carnall Ministery 1. Spirituall pride an occasion to leaue our first loue and hovv Concerning spirituall pride as Conuerts are subiect hereto in regard 1. That now not being as others yea as themselues were yea being in some measure made partakers of the diuine nature and aduanced to the hope of so glorious an inheritance 2. Pet. 1.3 may they not hereby be entised to iustifie themselues and despise their brethren to condemne where they should endeauour to conuert c. Esay 5.6 2. Euen their desire to keepe themselues in this estate may bee an occasion to Satan
sunne when it shineth 6. At the best iudge wee wisely of our best measure of grace is it either any other then what the Saints haue gone before vs in who yet notwithstanding through pride Math. 26. and the effects thereof haue taken many a foul fall Remember we Peters vaine boasting and what a plunge it put him to Consider Dauids pride in numbring of his people did he not smart deeply for the same was not his humilitie the best meanes to make his peace againe 2. Sam. 24.15 16. Or is it such but that still wee are not perfect and therefore must wee not forget what is behinde that wee may hasten to what is before Philip. 3.12.13 7. And alas what is all wee haue in comparison of our Lord and Master Iesus Christ hath hee not commanded vs to bee lowly and meeke hath hee not done all for vs that wee may boast of nothing did hee not walke before vs in great patience and humility euen humbling himselfe to the death for our sakes is not all our holinesse a drop of that Ocean lesse then a drop in comparison thereof and shall seruants ride on horsebacke when their master went on foote Eccl. 10 shall wee bee proud of his graces when hee was so abased in the greatest measure of his owne And therefore practise wee thus 1. View we our selues often in the glasse of the Law to abase vs throughly 2. And see wee a farre off into the glorious inheritance How to preuent this pride so farre exceeding any worth of our weldoing are the afflictions of this life worthy of the glory that shall bee reuealed Rom. 8.24 who are wee that God should thus aduance vs 3. In steed of iudging others let vs dayly examine our selues so shall wee bee more compassionare of our brethren considering our selues Galat. 6.1 so shall we still thinke vilelyer of our selues that so we may be fitter for mercy from our God 4. And labour wee dayly to renue our life in Christ that wee may haue still to reioyce in him and not in our selues that his glory may swallow vp all pride of flesh and his loue may still preuaile in vs to the further denyall of our selues that so still wee may be found in Christ not hauing our own righteousnes that being dayly perfited by his grace we may bee found of him in peace at his glorious appearance 5. To this end bee wee willing to endure afflictions and maintaine we tendernesse of conscience in all our wayes 6. And obserue we wisely our inward corruptions labour we to discerne the deceitfulnesse of our hearts and shall we not abhorre our selues because we know not our hearts shall wee not much more bee abased knowing them to be so abominable so froward so rebellious so touchie and full of horrible wickednesse such blasphemous thoughts such filthy motions if we do not tremble hereat is it not because yet the feare of God hath not seized vpon vs because yet we do not endeauour to worship God in Spirit and truth Ioh. 4.24.25 7. And so dayly prepare we our selues to death and iudgement Is here any time to be puffed vp seeing we must passe through horrors is it not wisedome to fight loe that we may enter in at the straight gate shall the righteous very hardly bee saued and shall wee not then work out our saluation with feare and trembling Phil. 2.12 Math. 7.11.12 8. And seeing many seeke to enter in and shall not bee able Luke 13.21 ought wee not dayly to suspect our selues shall not he that standeth take heed lest he fall shall we be high minded or not rather euer feare our selues least we also bee deceiued in our standing and so depryued of our hope Lastly That we be not deceiued in the judgement of spitituall pride and so be justly chalenged therewith 1. To stand vpon assurance of saluation no pride Know we that it is not pride and presumption to be assured of our saluation as the Papists chalenge seeing God hath commanded vs to make sure our election and hath giuen vs his word and Spirit to seale it vp vnto vs but rather pryde to question Gods truth not to beleeue his word not to accept so pretious a jewell 2. Neither to labour to perfection 2. It is not spirituall pride to labour to perfection though we exceed our selues and goe before others not shuting our religion to the will and ability of man but extending it wisely to the rule of the word and example of Christ seeing God hath commanded it and Christ hath begun it and hee will perfect it and all things worke together for the best vnto his Elect rather it is pride to dreame of perfectiō when we wil vse no meanes thereto nay grosse presumption and impudency in such as seeme to condemne vs of pride for labouring after perfection seeing they all perswade themselues that they haue already attayned it is it not the common voyce that all is well wee need no meanes of building we hate to be reprooued we haue bene alwayes of the same beleefe we feare we may be too holy are not these the ordinary dreames of generall perfection and therefore if they haue attayned this perfection with such ease will they fault vs that take such paynes for it should they not rather pity vs and further that we may attayne it more easily or if they condemne for labouring to perfection doe they not condemne themselues 3. No not to confesse Christ in the time of triall that they neuer had it seeing it cannot be had without great labour 3. Neither is it spirituall pride to make a good profession of the truth to confesse the Lord before men to sticke to the truth in time of trial is not this a denying of our selues to confesse the Lord Is it not an abasing of our selues that God may haue the glory Will it not be a pride in the flesh to humble vs Is it not a triall of our soundnesse that we will endure for Christ Is it not a spurre to perfection Rather it is pride to deny our Master as if we were ashamed of him It is horrible Pride of life and loue of the world that causeth this deniall we dare not confesse him because we loue the praise of men more then the praise of God If we were truely humbled we would in all things glorifie God If we set not by our flesh we would not quitch at any troubles Remember what caused Peter to deny his Master and the Lord giues vs vnderstanding in all things 4. And is it not an imputation of pride when we are vniustly challenged to maintaine our Innocency We iustifie our selues we will be found in no fault we will condemne our Iudges of wrongfull measure Is it not the practise of the world to iustifie the wicked and condemne the righteous And yet it thinketh to doe God good seruice in censuring the children of God because they are contrary to