off â—rom what he was and constrained to â—end and yeeld to what before it neither would nor could 1 Cor. 2. 14. Rom. 8. â— And hence it is that Gospel-obedience is called the Obedience of Faith as well as obedience to the Faith Rom. 16. 26. For it must be by the Faith of Christ in my heart that I submit to the Word of Faith in the Bible otherwise â—ll is to no profit as saith the Apostle The Word preached did not profit them it not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. For Faith alone can see the reality of what the Gospel saith and so I say argue over the heart to the imbracing of it 4. Faith is such a Grace as wil represent to the soul all things in their proper colours it doth not as doth unbelief and ignorance shew us all things out of order puting darkness for light and bitter for sweet but will set every thing in his proper place before our eyes God and Christ shall be with it the chiefest good the most lovely and amiable a Heavenly Life shall be of greater esteeâ— and more desirable than all the treâ—â—sures of Egypt Righteousness Sanctâ—â—fication will be the thing after which 〈◊〉 will most vehemently press because 〈◊〉 seeth not only Death and Damnation 〈◊〉 the fruits of sin but sin also in it selâ— distinct from the punishment belonginâ— to it a detestible horrible and odiouâ— thing Heb. 11. 25 26 27. Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10 11 12. Rom. 12. 9. By Faith we see this World hath nâ— abiding in it for us nor no satisfactioâ— if it were otherwise Prov. 33. 5. Heb 11. 15 16. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31 And hence it is that the People of God have groaned to be gone from hence intâ— a state that is both sinless and temptationless And hence it is again that they have run through so many Tryals Afflictions and Adversities even because of that Love to holiness of life that Faith being in their hearts did prompt them to by shewing them the worth and durableness of that which was good and the irksomeness and evil of all things else â—Cor 5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Heb. 11. 33 â—4 35 36 37 38 39. 5. Faith layeth hold of that which is â—ble to help the soul to bring forth Good Works It layeth hold of and ingageth â—e Strength of Christ and by that over-â—ometh that which oppresseth I can do â—ll things through Christ that strengthenâ—th me Phil. 4. 13. In a word A Life of Holiness and Godliness in this world doth so insepaâ—ably follow a Principle of Faith that 〈◊〉 is both monstrous and ridiculous to â—uppose the contrary What shall not â—e that hath life have motion Gal. 2. â—0 He that hath by Faith received the â—pirit of Holiness shall not he be Hoâ—y Gal. 3. 2. And he that is called to Glory and Vertue Shall not he add to â—is Faith Vertue 2 Pet. 1. 4 5. We are â—y Faith made good Trees and shall not â—e bring forth good Fruit Luke 6. 43. They that believe are created in Christ â—esus unto Good â—orks and God hath â—efore the world was ordained that we â—hould walk in them and shall both our second Creation and God's fore-ordinâ—â—tion be made frustrate Ephes. 1. 4. 〈◊〉 10. Besides the Children of Faith 〈◊〉 the Children of Light and of the 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 5. 5. Lights upon a Hill Caâ—â—dles on a Candle-stick and shall not the shine They are the Salt of the Earth shall not they be seasoning Mat. 5. 1â— 14. The Believer is the alone Man 〈◊〉 whom God sheweth to the World thâ— Power of his Grace the operation of hâ— Peoples Faith c. The unbelieverâ— reade indeed of the Power of Grace 〈◊〉 the Faith Hope Love Joy Peace anâ— Sanctification of the Heart of the Chriâ—stian but they feel nothing of that sin killing operation that is in these things these are to them as a story out of Româ— or Spain Wherefore to shew them iâ— others what they find not in themselves God worketh Faith Hope Love c. iâ— a Generation that shall serve him anâ— by them they shall see what they cannoâ— find in themselves and by this meanâ— they shall be convinced that though sinâ— â—nd the pleasures of this life be sweet to â—hem yet there is a People otherwise-â—â—inded even such a People that do inâ—eed see the Glory of that which others â—eade of and from that fight take pleaâ—ure in those things which they are most â—â—verse unto To this I say are Christiâ—ns called herein is God glorified Hereby are sinners convinced and by â—his is the World condemned 1 Thes. 4. â— 1 Pet. 2. 12. 3. 1. Heb. 11. 7. Object But if Faith doth so naturally â—ause Good Works what then is the reaâ—on that God's People find it so hard a matâ—er to be Faithful in Good Works I answer First God's People are â—ruitful in Good Works according to the proâ—ortion of their Faith if they be slender â—n Good Works it is because they are weak â—n Faith Little faith is like small canâ—les or a weak fire which though they shine and have heat yet but dim shining and but small heat when compared with bigger Candles greater Fire The reason why Sardis had some in it whose works were not perfect before God 〈◊〉 was because they did not hold fast bâ— Faith the Word that they had former 〈◊〉 heard and received Rev. 3. 1 2 3. Secondly There may be a great mistakâ— in our judging of our own fruitfulnessâ— the soul that indeed is candid and righâ— at heart is taught by Grace to judge 〈◊〉 self though fruitful yet barren upoâ— two accounts 1. When it compareth it life to the Mercy bestowed upon it Foâ— when a Soul doth indeed consider thâ— greatness and riches of the Mercy beâ—stowed upon it then it must needs crâ— out O wretched man that I am Rom 7. 24. for it seeth it self wonderfully tâ— fall short of a Conversation becominâ— one who hath received so great a benefit 2. It may also judge it self barren becausâ— it falleth so far short of that it woulâ— attain unto it cannot do the thing thaâ— it would Gal. 5. 17. 3. The heart oâ— a Christian is naturally very barren upâ—on which though the Seed of Graâ— that is the fruitfullest of all Seeds bâ—â—sowen yet the heart is naturally subjecâ— to bring forth weeds Mat. 15. 19. Now to have a good Crop from such ground doth argue the fruitfulness of the Seed wherefore I conclude upon these three things First That the Seed of Faith is a very fruitful Seed in that it will be fruitful in so barren a soil Secondly That Faith is not beholding to the heart but the heart to it for all its fruitfulness Thirdly That therefore the way to be a more fruitful Christian it is to be stronger in believing Now for the second thing to wit That every one that
was Israels Idolatry of old and the original of all her idolatrous practices Hos. 2. 5. For their Mother hath played the Harlot that is committed idolatry she that conceived them hath done shamefully for she said I will go after my lovers that gave me my bread and my waters my wool and my flax my oyl and my drink 3. It disalloweth of God's way of disposing his Creatures and would have them ordered and disposed of otherwise then his heavenly Wisdom seeth meet and hence ariseth all those discontents about God's dealing with us Covetousness never yet said It is the lord let him do what he pleaseth but is ever objecting like God against every thing that goeth against it and it is that which like a god draweth away the heart and soul from the true God and his Son Jesus Christ And he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions Mat. 19. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Now then that which engageth the heart that rejecteth the providence of God and that is for ordering and disposing of things contrary to God and for breaking with God upon these terms is Idolatry and all these do Covetousness The wicked boasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth Psal. 10. 3. Now the way to remedy this disease it is to learn the lesson which Paul had got by heart to wit In whatsoever state you are therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11 12 13. I come in the second place to speak a word of Pride and loftiness of heart and life Of Pride 1. Pride in general it is That which causeth a man to think of man and his things above what is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. 2. It hath its seat in the heart among these inormities Fornications Adulteries Lasciviousness Murders Deceit c. Mark 7. 21 22 23. and sheweth it self in these following particulars First When you slight this or that person though gracious that is look over them and shun them for their poverty in this world and chuse rather to have converse with others that possibly are less gracious because of their greatness in this World This the Apostle James writes against Jam. 2. 1 2 3. under the name of partiality for indeed the fruits of a puffed-up heart is to deal in this manner with Christians 1 Cor. 4. 6 7. Now this branch of Pride floweth from ignorance of the vanity of the creature and of the worth of a gracious heart Wherefore get more of the knowledge of these two and this sprig will be nipt in the head and you will learn to condescend to men of low degree Rom. 12. 16. Secondly It argueth pride of heart when men will not deny themselves in things that they may for the good and profit of their Neighbours And it argueth now that pride is got so much up into self-love and self-pleasing that they little care who they grieve or offend so they may have their way Obad. 12. 13 14 15. Thirdly It argueth pride of heart when sober reproofs for sin and unbeseeming carriages will not down with thee but that rather thou snuffest and givest way to thy spirit to be peevish and to retain prejudice against those that thus reprove thee Saith the Prophet hear ye and give ear be not proud for the Lord hath spoken that is hear the reproofs of God for your sins and break them off by repentance But if ye will not hear my soul shall weep in secret for your Pride c. Jer. 13. 15 16 17. So also in Hosea They will not frame their doing to turn unto their God for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them they have not known the Lord and the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face c. Hos. 5. 4 5. This argueth great senslesness of God and a heart greatly out of frame Fourthly It argueth Pride also when a reproof or admonition will not down aswell from the poorest Saint as from the greatest Doctor and it argueth a glorying in men 1 Cor. 3. 21. and that they would that their faith should stand in their wisdom and not in the Power of God that is of naked Truth 1 Cor. 2. 5. Fifthly It argueth pride of heart when a man that hath this or that in his heart to do in reference to God but yet will slight a sober asking counsel and direction of God in this matter The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God saith David Psal. 10. 4. Sixthly It argueth pride of heart when persons are tickled with the thoughts of their own praise and that secretly lust after it that think of themselves and others above what is written which those do who do not acknowledge that man in his best estate is altogether vanity But such kind of people have forgot the Exhortation Be not high minded but fear Rom. 11. 20. And also that there is a knowledge that puffeth up and edifieth neither themselves nor others 1 Cor. 8. 1 2. Wherefore to such the Apostle saith Be not desirous of vain glory but in holiness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Phil. 2. 3. Gal. 5. 26. Pride also there is in the outward carriage behaviour and Gesture which is odious for Christians to be tainted with and this pride is discovered by mincing words a made carriage and an affecting the toyes and baubles that Satan and every light-headed fool bringeth into the world As God speaketh of the Daughters of Zion They walk with stretched-out necks wanton eyes mincing as they go and making a tinckling with their feet Isa. 3. 16. A very unhansome carriage for a people that profess Godliness and that use to come before God to confess their sins and to bemove themselves for what they have done How can a sence of thy own baseness of the vileness of thy heart and of the holiness of God stand with such a carriage dost thou see the vileness of thy heart the fruit of sin and art thou afflicted with that disagreement that is between God and thy heart that layest the reins on the neck of thy lusts and letest them run whither they will Be not deceived Pride ariseth from ignorance of these things 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. A sense of my vileness of what I have deserved and of what continually in my heart opposeth God cannot stand with a foolish light and wanton carriage thou wilt then see there is other things to mind than to imitate the Butter-fly alas all these kind of things are but a painting the Devil and a setting a carnal gloss upon a Castle of his thou art but making gay the spider is thy heart ever the sounder for thy fine gate thy mincing words and thy lofty looks nay doth not this argue that thy heart is a rotten cankered and besotted heart Oh! that God would but let thee see a little of thy own inside as thou hast others to behold thy outside thou painted Sepulchre thou
believeth should be careful that their Works be Good This followeth from what went just before to wit That the heart of a Christian is a heart subject to bring forth weeds There is Flesh as â— well as Spirit in the best of Saints and as the Spirit of Grace will be alwayes putting forth something that is good so the Flesh will be putting forth continually that which is evil For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit as the Spirit against the Flesh Gal. 5. 17. Now this considered is the cause why you find so often in the Scriptures so many items cautions to the Christians to look to their lives and conversations As Keep thy heart with all diligence Prov 4. 23. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13 Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatever a man soweth that shall he reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 7 8. All works are not good that seem to be so It is one thing for a mans wayes to be right in his own eye and another for them to be right in God's Often that which is in high estimation with men is abomination in the sight of God Prov. 30. 12. Luke 16. 15. Seeing Corruption is not yet out oâ— our natures there is a proneness in us tâ— build upon the right foundation Wood Hay and Stubble instead of Gold and Silver and precious Stones 1 Cor. 3. 11 13 14 15. How was both David the King Nathan the Prophet and Vzza the Priest deceived touching Good Works 1 Chron. 17. 1 2 3 4. 1 Chron. 13. 9 10 11. Peter also in both his defending his Master in the Garden and in diswading of him from his sufferings though both out of love and affection to his Master was deceived touching Good Works Mat. 16. 22 23. John 18. 9 10. Many have miscarried both as to Doctrine Worship and the prosecution of each 1. For Doctrine Christ tells the Jews That they taught for the Doctrines of God the doctrines and traditions of men Mat. 15. Mark 7. As also saith the Apostle They teach things they ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 1. 11. 2. Also touching Worship we find how frequently men have mistaken both for time place and matter with which they worshipped 1. For time It hath been that which man hath devised not which God hath commanded 1 Kings 12. 32. They change the Ordinances saith Isaiah Isa. 24. 5. They change God's Judgments into wickedness saith Ezekiel Ezek. 5. 6. 2. For place When they should have worshipped at Jerusalem they worshipped at Bethel at Gilgal and Dan in Gardens under Poplers and Elms 1 Kings 12. 26 27 28 29. Hos. 4. 13 14 15. Isa. 65. 2 3 4 5. 3. For the matter with which they worshipped Instead of bringing according to the Commandment they brought the lame the torn and the sick they would sanctifie themselves in Gardens with Swines-flesh and Mice when they should have done it at Jerusalem with Bullucks and Lambs Isa. 66. 17. Again Touching mens prosecuting their Zeal for their Worship c. that they do think right How hot hath it been though with no reason at all Nebuchadnezzar will have his Fiery-Furnace and Darius his Lyons-Den for Nonconformists Dan. 3. 6. 6. 7 c. Again they have persecuted men even to strange Cities have laid traps and snares in every corner to intrap and to intangle their Words and if they could at any time but kill the Persons that dissented from them they would think they did God good service Acts 26. 11. Luke 11. 53 54. John 16. 1 2. But what need we look so far from home were it not that I would seal my Sayings with Truth we need look no further to affirm this position than to the Papists and their Companions How many have they in all ages hanged burned starved drowned wracked dismembred and murdered both openly and in secret and all under a pretence of God his Worship and Good Works Thus you see how both Wise men and Fools Saints and Sinners Christians and Heathens have erred in the business of Good Works Wherefore every one should be careful to see that their works be good Now then to prevent if God will miscarriage in this matter I shall propound unto you what it is for a Work to be rightly Good First A Good Work must have The Word for its authority Secondly It must as afore was said flow from Faith Thirdly It must be both rightly timed and rightly placed Fourthly It must be done Willingly chearfully c. 1. It must have the Word for its authority Zeal without knowledge is like a metled Horse without eyes or like a sword in a mad-man's hand and there is no knowledge where there is not the Word For if they reject the Word of the Lord and act not by that What Wisdom is in them saith the Prophet Jer. 8. 9. Isa. 8. 20. Wherefore see thou have the Word for what thou dost 2. As there must be the Word for the authorizing of what thou dost so there must be Faith from which it must flow as I shewed you before For whatever is not of faith is sin and without faith it is impossible to please God Now I say without the Word there is no Faith Rom. 10. 17. As without Faith there is no good let mens pretences be what they will 3. As it must have these two afore-named so also it must have first right Time and secondly right Place 1. It must be rightly timed Every work is not to be done at the same time every time not being convenient for such a work There is a time for all things and every thing is beautiful in its time Eccles 31. 11. There is a time to pray a time to hear a time to read a time to confer a time to meditate a time to do and a time to suffer Now to be hearing when we should be preaching and doing that is yeelding active obedience to that under which we ought to suffer is not good Christ was very wary that both his doings and sufferings were rightly timed John 2. 3 4. 13. 1 2. and herein we ought to follow his steps To be at plow in the field when I should be hearing the Word is not good and to be talking abroad when I should be instructing my family at home is as bad Who so keepeth the Commandment shall feel no evil thing and a wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgement Eccles. 8. 5. Good things mis-timed are fruitless unprofitable and vain 2. As things must have their right time so they must be rightly placed for the misplacing of any work is as bad as the mis-timing of it When I say things if good must be rightly placed I mean we should not give to any work more than the Word
her own fictions Why 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle ought the wife to carâ—it towards her husband Let the woman â—ith Paul learn in silence with all subjectiâ—â— but I suffer not a woman to teach or to â—urp authority over the man but to be in â—â—â—ence 1 Tim. 2. 11 12. It is an unseemly thing to see a woman 〈◊〉 much as once in all her life-time to â—â—fer to over-top her husband she ought 〈◊〉 every thing to be in subjection to him â—â—d to do all she doth as having her warâ—â—nt licence and authority from him â—nd indeed here is her glory even to be â—ider him as the Church is under Christ. â—ow she openeth her mouth in Wisdom and 〈◊〉 her tongue is the Law of kindness Pro. â—1 26. 3. Take heed of affecting immodest â—parel or a wanton gate this will be evil both abroad and at home abroad will not only give evil example but so tend to tempt to lust lasciviousnâ— and at home 't will give an offence 〈◊〉 godly Husband and be cankering to 〈◊〉 godly Children c. Wherefore as saâ— the Apostle Let womens apparel be moâ—â—â— as becometh women professing Godliness 〈◊〉 Good Works 1 Tim. 2. 10. not with bâ—â—â—dered hair or Gold or Pearls or coâ—â—â—aray And as 't is said again Whose â—â—â—dorning let it not be that outward adorniâ—â— of plaiting the hair and of wearing gold 〈◊〉 of putting on of apparel but let it be hidden man of the heart in that which not corruptible even the ornament of a mâ—â— and quiet spirit which is in the sight of Gâ—â— of great price For after this manner in a time the holy women also who trusted God adorned themselves being in subjectâ— on to their own husbands 1 Pet. 3. 3 4 5 â— But yet do not think that by the suâ—â—jection I have here menâ—â—ned that I intend women should be their husbanâ— slaves Women are their husbands yoâ— fellows their flesh and their bones aâ—◠〈◊〉 is not a man that hateth his own flesh 〈◊〉 that is bitter against it Ephes. 5. 29. Wherefore let every man love his wife as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband Ephes. 5. 33. The wife is master next her husband and is to rule all in his absence yea in his presence she is to guide the house to bring up the Children provided she so 〈◊〉 it as the adversary have no occasion 〈◊〉 speak reproachfully 1 Tim. 5. 10 13. 〈◊〉 Who can find a vertuous woman for her price is far above Rubies A gracious woman retaineth honour and guideth her affaires with discretion Prov. 31. 10. Prov. 〈◊〉 16. Prov. 12. 4. Object But my husband is an unbeliever what shall I do Answ. If so then what I have said before lyeth upon thee with an ingagement so much the stronger For first â—â—y husband being in this condition he â—â—ll be watchful to take thy slips and inâ—mities to throw them as dirt in the â—â—e of God and thy Saviour 2. He will be apt to make the worst of 〈◊〉 one of thy words carriages and gesturâ— 3. And all this doth tend to the poâ—â—â—sing his heart with more hardness pâ—â—â—dice and opposition to his own salvâ—â—â—on Wherefore as Peter saith ye wâ—â—â— be in subjection to your own husbands 〈◊〉 if any obey not the word they may also wâ—â—â—out the word be won by the conversatiâ—â— the wives while they behold your câ—â—â— conversation coupled with fear 1 Pet. 3â—â— 2. Thy husbands salvation or damâ—â—â—tion lyeth much in thy deportmentâ—â— behaviour before him wherefore if thâ—â— be in thee any fear of God or love thy husband seek by a carriage fullâ— meekness modesty holiness and a huâ—â—ble behaviour before him to win him the love of his own salvation and thus doing how knowest thou O womâ—â— but thou shalt save thy husband 1 Cor. â— 16. Object But my husband is not only unbeliever but one very froward peevâ—â— and teasty yea so froward c. that I kâ—â— not how to speak to him or behave myâ—â— before him Answ. Indeed there are some wives â— great slavory by reason of their ungodâ—y husbands and as such should be pitâ—ed and prayed for so they should be â—o much the more watchful and circumâ—pect in all their wayes 1. Therefore be thou very faithful â—o him in all the things of this life 2. Bare with patience his unruly and â—nconverted behaviour thou art alive â—e is dead thou art principled with Grace he with Sin Now then seeâ—ng Grace is stronger than Sin and Verâ—â—e than Vice be not overcome with â—is vileness but overcome that with thy â—ertues Rom. 12. 21. 'T is a shame for â—â—ose that are gracious to be as lavishing 〈◊〉 their words c. as those that are â—raceless They that are slow to wrath â—re of great understanding but they that â—re hasty in spirit exalt folly Prov. 14. â—9 3. Thy wisdom therefore if at any â—â—e thou hast a desire to speak to thy â—â—sband for his conviction concerning â—â—y thing either good or evil it is to observe convenient times and seasons There is a time to keep silence and a 〈◊〉 to speak Eccles. 3. 7. Now for the right timing thy intenâ—â—ons Consider first his disposition and taâ—â— him when he is farthest off of those filâ—â—â— passions that are thy affliction Abigâ—â— would not speak a word to her churâ—â— husband tell his wine was gone foâ—â— him and he in a sober temper 1 Saâ— 25. 36 37. The want of this observâ—â—â—on is the cause why so much is spokâ—â— and so little effected 2. Take him at those times when 〈◊〉 hath his heart taken with thee and whâ—â— he sheweth tokens of love and deliâ—â—â— in thee Thus did Esther with the Kiâ—â— her husband and prevailed Est. 5. 3 â— and 7. 1 2. 3. Observe when convictions seizeâ— his conscience and then follow theâ— with sound and grave sayings of the Scriâ—â—tures Somewhat like to this dealt Mâ—â—noah's wife with her husband Judg. 1â—â— 22 23. Yet then 1. Let thy words be few 2. And none of them savouring of a lording it over him but speak thou still as to thy head and lord by way of intreaty and beseeching 3. And that in such a spirit of simpathy bowels of affection after his good that the manner of thy speech and behaviour in speaking may be to him an argument that thou speakest in love as being sensible of his misery and inflamed in thy soul with desire after his conversion 4. And follow thy words and behaviours with Prayers to God for his soul. 5. Still keeping thy self in a holy chaste and modest behaviour before him Object But my husband is a sot a fool and one that hath not wit enough to follow his outward imployment in the world Answ. First though all this be true yet thou must know he is thy head thy lord and thy husband 2. Therefore thou must take heed of desiring to usurp authority over him he was not made for thee that is for
it is both quickâ—ed and bringeth forth fruit * Rom. 3. â—1 22 23 24 25. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 5. â—1 * John 1. 16. Now then seeing Good Works do flow â—om Faith and seeing Faith is nourished 〈◊〉 an affirming of the Doctrine of the â—ospel c. take here these few Consiâ—rations from the Doctrine of the Gosâ—â—l for the support of thy Faith that â—ou mayest be indeed fruitful and rich 〈◊〉 Good Works First The whole Bible was given for 〈◊〉 very end that thou shouldst both believe this Doctrine and live in thâ— comfort and sweetness of it For whaâ— soever things was written afore-time wâ—â— written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. John 20. 31. Secondly That therefore every Promise in the Bible is thine to strengthen quicken and incourage thy heart in believing Thirdly Consider that there is nothing that thou dost can so please God as believing The Lord takes pleasure in thoâ— that fear him in them that hope in his meâ—cy Psal. 147. 11. They please him because they imbracâ— his Righteousness c. Fourthly Consider that all the with drawings of God from thee are not fâ—â— the weakening but for the tryal of thâ— faith and also that what-ever he suâ—fereth Satan or thy own heart to do 〈◊〉 is not to weaken Faith Job 23. 8 9 â— 1 Pet. 1. 7. Fifthly Consider that believingâ— that which will keep in thy view 〈◊〉 things of Heaven and Glory and that â—t which the Devil wil be discouraged sin weakned and thy heart quickned and sweetned Heb. 11. 27. Jam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 9. Ephes. 6. 16. Rom. 15. 13. Lastly By believing the Love of God is kept with warmth upon the heart and that this will provoke thee continually to bless God for Christ for Grace for Faith Hope and for all these things either in God or thee that doth accompany Salvation 2 Cor. 2. 14. Psal. 103. 1 2 3 4. The Doctrine of the forgiveness of sins received by Faith will make notable work in the heart of a sinner to bring forth Good Works But secondly For as much as there is body of Death and Sin in every one that hath the Grace of God in this world and because this body of death will be even opposing that which is good as the â—postle saith Rom. 7. 21. therefore take these few particulars further for the suppoâ—sing that which will hinder a fruitful life â— Keep a continual waâ—th over the wretchedness of thy own heart not to be discouraged at the sight of thy vileness but to prevent its wickedness for that will labour either to hinder thee from doing Good Works or else will hinder thee in the doing thereof for evil is present with thee for both these puâ—poses take heed then that thou do not â—â—sten to that at any time but deny though with much strugling the workings of 〈◊〉 to the contrary 2. Let this be continually before thy heart that God's eye is upon thee and seeth every secret turning of thy heart either to or from him All things are â—â—ked and bare before the eyes of Him wâ—â— whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. 3. If thou deny to do that good whicâ— thou oughtest with what thy God 〈◊〉 given thee then consider that though◠〈◊〉 love thy soul yet he can chastise 〈◊〉 thyâ—inward man with such troubles 〈◊〉 thy life shall be restless and comfortâ—â— 2dly And can also so blow upon thy 〈◊〉 ward man that all thou gettest shâ—â— put in a Bag with holes Psal. 89. 31 â—â— 33. Hag. 1. 6. And set the case he should license but one Theef among thy Substance or one spark of Fire among thy Barns how quickly might that be spent ill and against thy will which thou shouldst have spent to God's glory and with thy will and I tell thee further that if thou want a heart to do good when thou hast about thee thou mayest want comfort in such things thy self from others when thine is taken from thee See Judg. 1. 6 7. 4. Consider that a life full of Good Works is the only way on thy part to answer the Mercy of God extended to thee God hath had mercy on thee and hath saved thee from all thy distresses God hath not stuck to give thee his Son his Spirit and the Kingdom of Heaven saith Paul I beseech you therefore by the Mercies of God that you present your bodies a living Sacrifice to God holy acceptable which is your reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. See Mat. 18. 32 33. 5. Consider that this is the way to convince all men that the Power of God's things hath taken hold of thy heart I speak to them that hold the head and say what thou wilt if thy faith be not accompanied with a holy Life thou shalt be judged a withered branch a wording professor salt without savour and as lifeless as a sounding Brass and a tinckling Cymbal Joh. 15. Mat. 5. 13. 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. For say they shew us your faith by your works for we cannot see your hearts Jam. 2. 18. But I say on the contrary if thou walk as becomes thee who art saved by Grace then thou wilt witness in every mans Conscience that thou art a good Tree now thou leavest guilt on the heart of the wicked 1 Sam. 24. 16 17. now thou takest off occasion from them that desire occasion and now thou art clear from the blood of all men 2 Cor. 11. 12. Acts 20. 26 31 32 33 34. This is the Man also that provoketh others to Good Works The ear that heareth such a man shall bless him and the eye that seeth him shall bear witness to him Surely saith David he shall never 〈◊〉 moved The Righteous shall be had in eveâ— lasting remembrance Heb. 10. 24. Job 29. 11. Psal. 112. 6. 6. Again the heart that is fullest of Good Works hath in it least room for Satans temptations and this is the meaning of Peter where he saith Be sober be vigilant that is be busying thy self in Faith and Holiness for the Devil your adversary goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. He that walketh uprightly walketh safely and they that add to Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge to Knowledge Temperance to Temperance Brotherly-kindness and to â—hese Charity and that abounds therein he shall neither be barren nor unfruitful he shall never fall but so an entrance shall be ministred to him abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 9 10. Prov. 10. 9. 7. The Man who is fullest of Good Works he is fittest to live and fittest to die I am now at any time ready to be offered up saith fruitful Paul 2 Tim. 4. 6. Whereas he that is barren he is neither fit to live nor fit to dye to dye he himself is convinced he is not fit and to live