believe and that believing we might have life through his name 1. The Scriptures of truth are the ground of Faith as they do give a man sufficient ground and warrant to believe whatsoever is contained in them this was the ground of Abrahams faith and of Davids faith remember the word upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. 2. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith as it is a sure word as we are not to believe any thing that is not contained in Scripture so we need not doubt of any thing that is promised in them they are the faithful sayings of God 3. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith as it is a touchstone to try all doctrines by Isa 8. 20. John 5. 39. 4. They may be said to be the ground of Faith as they hold forth all things necessary to salvation and all things necessary to be believed Again they may be said to be the ground of Faith because in them the Lord doth command us to believe 1 Joh. 3. 23. Joh. 6. 29. Again in the Scriptures there are many solemn invitations to poor sensible sinners to come and take milk and wine and the water of life freely And many precious promises to those that do come with many examples left upon record how well those have sped that did come all these are grounds and encouragements to believe The Springs of Faith how God doth beget it in an unbeliever THere is no natural power in man to produce a cause within its self this great grace of Faith is no fruit of the wisdom of the flesh nor is it the birth of a corrupt will The immediate and sole cause of Faith is the Spirit of God He it is who is greater then the heart who can perswade and draw the heart and change and renew the Spirit There be means appointed by God which he doth ordnarily bless for the production of faith as he hath ordained means for the revelation of Christ so he hath sanctified means to lead the soul unto him to implant Faith 1. God lets the soul see that it is the command of God that he should believe and that faith is the gift of God without which we can do nothing acceptably it is through grace that men believe yet men are to use the means now the great and ordinary means by which God works faith in the hearts of men it is the preaching of the word See Act. 13. 48. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to life believed Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation 2. The preaching of the word doth discover to the soul its extream misery and great need of Christ and makes him say men and brethren what shall I do to be saved 3. It is that which casteth down all the reasonings arguments and disputes of the mind against the conditions of Christ and renders all the terms of Christ upon which he will be taken as most equal fair and resonable 4. It is that which clears the way for the soul against all its fears and unbelieving doubts it layes before the sinner the freeness of Gods mercy the fulness of Christs Redemption the willingness on Christs part to accept of him 5. It is that sets the soul in a patient expectation to lie at the Pool for ever to attend the assemblies of the Saints and to enquire in his Temple till the soul can take a close with Christ by true believing 6 Means to get faith take one promise and charge that upon the heart and if the heart be stubborn and will not yeild then take another if that will not do then take another and lay that home upon the heart and never leave this work till you have gotten some smal measure of Faith 7. Make as much conscience of those commands that require you to believe as you do of those commands that do require you to hear read and meditate and pray Lastly consider for thy encouragement that blessed text Psalm 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in those that hope in his Mercy See Psalm 33. 18. The Impediments Lets and Hinderances of Faith AS the Eunuch said to Philip here is water what hinders me that I may not be baptized so may I say to my self and others here in the Gospel is Christ set out to the life here are arguments fair enough to draw on our souls to Christ what hinders that we do not believe and receive Christ The first impediment to the getting of Faith is gross ignorance whatsoever is contrary to knowledge the same is contrary to Faith the soul must have light for all its motions for the eye to see and the understanding to perceive and for the heart to embrace those ignorances that is a hindrance to faith fals in these three parts 1. They are ignorant of their own sinful condition 2. They are ignorant of Gods just disposition towards them 3. They are ignorant of Christ and all his excellencies what he is God or man or both they know not him in both his natures neither in his Offices Actions Passion Benefits Vertues they understand not how God hath manifested love in Christ to what end he was made man what is in him more then in any other Alas they think not of these things Now how is it possible for the soul to believe or to be perswaded to believe in Christ or to labour for this precious faith which is a stranger to it self to God to Christ 2. A second impediment of Faith is a vain confidence of natural righteousness this was it which kept off many of the Pharisees the text saith that they trusted to their own righteousness they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own rigteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3 6. 3. A third impediment of faith is the honour of the world how can you believe saith Christ which receive honour one from another John 5. 44. again Mat. 19. 22. He went away sorrowful without faith for he had great earthly possessions John 7. 48. Have any of the Pharisees believed on him Motives to believe or divers Arguments from Jesus Christ himself to perswade us to believe 1. OUR Lord Christ doth lay his command upon us John 14. 1. ye believe in God believe also in me John 6. 29. this is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent 1 John 3. 23. this is his Commandment that we believe on the name of the Son of God even Jesus Christ 2. The second motive is or may be thus consider that Christ plainly saith that he that will not believe shall be damned John 3. 18 36. Excellency prevails much with an ingenious nature and necessity with the worst
uncertain he that understands not the true nature and doctrine of Justification cannot enjoy true stable and constant peace but remains unstable apt to be led away with every wind of Doctrine in the right understanding of this point is treasured up a fountain of soul-reviving consolation Surely by what hath been said it doth most plainly appear that a Christians happiness depends not upon his own doings but on Christ who is of God made unto us Righteousness Sanctification c. who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace See 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 8. Sanctification admits of degrees Justification neither of Rules nor degrees when we cannot apprehend God in a way of Sanctification yet we are then comprehended of God though our actual righteousness be but as menstruous rags and often fail us yet then even then we have the righteousness of Christ presented to us Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength their righteousness is of me saith the Lord Isa 54. 17. And this Righteousness as it is ours by imputation so it is perfect and endureth for ever and is the foundation of all blessedness therefore let us rest satisfied with Christs righteousness and add nothing to it let our hearts say with David Psalm 71. 15 16 19 24. I will make mention of thy righteousness even of thine only and wait upon him in Faith prayer and patience who hath promised that he will be as a dew to Israel and that he shall grow as a Lilly and cast forth his fruit as Lebanon Hosea 14. 6 7. Of Faith the quality object acts seat subject inseparable concomitants and degrees of Justifying Faith the difficulty of believing and the faculty of mistaking about it FAith gives courage and confidence in greatest difficulties and dangers but unbelief raiseth fear where no fear is Psalm 23. 4. Believing is the ready way the safest way the sweetest way the shortest way the only way to a well-grounded assurance now Faith is An habitual frame or a believing disposition of heart whereby man is inclinable to believe whatsoever God hath said in his word Or It is a grace of God whereby the heart and will of a sensible sinner doth take and embrace Jesus Christ as tendred in the Gospel in his person and offices and doth wholly and only rest upon him for pardon of sin and for eternal life Gods eternal decree is the original cause of it Acts 13. 48. The instrumental cause of it is the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. The immediate and singular cause of it is the Spirit of God Gal. 5. 22. That the will or heart of a man should be brought off from it self and to abhor its own condition and sufficiency and to take Christ as God tenders him to be the only rock upon which a man must build his salvation and to be the only Lord to whose Law and will we must resign up our whole soul this ariseth not from natural causes or mans own free will Of the Object of Faith NOW the object of Justifying Faith is the whole Trinity God the Father the ultimate object God the Son the immediate as he is joyntly one with the Father in justifying a sinner John 14. 1. ye believe in God believe also in me now whole Christ is the object of Faith Christ you know is God and man and he is to be considered as a Priest as a Prophet and as a King now God tenders him in all these to sinners and Christ is willing to bestow himself on them as one who can and will assuredly save all that come to him but saith Christ if you would have me to be your Priest to save you you must also be willing to have me to be your Prophet to instruct you and direct you and to be your King and Lord to command you you must resign up your selves to my Scepter and Government for I am a Lord as well as a Saviour and I will be taken as both or else you shall have part in neither I will be taken as Lord and King to command all the heart to dispose all the waies to rule the very thoughts Of the subject of this Faith THE subject of this Faith is a sensible sinner there are two sorts of sinners 1. Some generally corrupted both in their natures and in their lives and they are as unsensible as they are sinful they know not their own vileness these are not the subjects of this precious Faith 2. There are sensible experienced sinners who loath themselves and groan under the burden of their sins I must confess there are several degrees of this sensibleness neither dare I to assume the height and latitude of it unto the terms or horrour and terrour and dejections before he can believe in Christ no though these sharp throws are manifest in some yet let us not make them a rule for all but this be sure that the heart looks not towards Christ until it feel it self to be sinful and lost then and not till then the soul looks out and enquires after a Saviour and anon he finds it written that Christ â—ame not to call the righteous but sinners and that Christ was sent to find that which was lost and that the whole need not a Physitian but the sick and that he is sent to preach liberty to the Captives Of the Seat of Faith THE seat or habitation of Faith is the heart or will or both Rom. 10. 10. with the heart man believeth unto righteousness Acts 8 37. and Philip said if thou believest with all thy heart thou mayst now before Faith takes up his seat in the heart or in order to it 1. There is a looking to Jesus John 19. 37. 2. There is a coming to him Mat. 11. 28. John 6. 37. 3. There is a leaning upon him Cant. 8. 5. 4. There is an embracing of him Cant. 2. 6. 5. There is a taking hold of him John 1. 12. Col. 2. 6. 6. There is a believing in him and that with the heart and there is the seat of Faith Of the ground of Faith THE ground of believing is the word of God the Scriptures of truth he that doth say he doth believe in God having no Scripture ground he doth deceive himself the ground of Faith is without our selves not a light in us or any thing done by us the ground of Faith is God in his word doth offer us Christ and Christ cals us unto him and saith he will in no wise cast us off but if we believe in him we shall have eternal life now this is a word of truth and this word of his is worthy of all acceptation and whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope John 20. 31. But these things are written that we might
2. He gives repentance which is a flower that grows not in natures garden Jer. 13. 23. The Ethiopian cannot change his skin nor the Leopard his spots and that he doth give repentance as a gift to his doth appear by these Scriptures Acts 5. 31. 2 Tim. 2. 25. 3. He gives his Spirit Rom. 5. 5. 1. John 3. See Iohn 14. 26. 4. 13. 4. He gives a soul skill to lay hold upon and sweetly to apply the precious promises to himself 5. He gives peace Iohn 14. 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 6. He doth give pardon of sins and that pardon of sins is a gift will appear Acts 5. 31. Acts 26. 18. compared with Psal 32. 1 2. 7. He doth give grace Iohn 1. 16. of his fulness we shall receive grace for grace 8. And lastly He gives himself Rom. 8. 32. he that hath given us his son how shall he not with him also give us all things In a word the Lord doth give his people spiritual and heavenly gifts pure gifts wine without water light without darkness gold without dross See Rev. 22. 1. James 3. 17. He gives soul-satisfying gifts most permanent and lasting and most useful gifts I had intended to have written something of the difference between Common and Special gifts and of the vast difference between the gifts that Christ gives and those the world gives But my Book I see would then swell too big c. I shall to this add but this word Christ doth voluntarily and freely give these gifts and graces never did a mother more willingly give her child suck then Jesus Christ bestows grace upon his people Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. So much of the graces gifts and vertues of the Spirit we shall now come to speak of the Ordinances of the Gospel in which these gifts and graces must and ought to be exercised I shall speak of ten or eleven of them which are standing Ordinances remaining to this day in full force and vertue Of the several Ordinances of the Gospel 1. OF the Assembling of our selves together 2. Of preaching and prophecying and attentive hearing 3. Of joynt prayer and supplication 4. Of singing and praising God together 5. Of the Ordinance of Baptism 6. Of the Lords Supper or breaking of bread 7. Of Collections for the poor 8. Of Reading the Scriptures 9. Of Admonition private and publick 10. Of Suspention 11. Of Excommunication First of the Ordinance of Assembling our selves together THE Church of God is in Scripture resembled to a natural body wherein are many members united to each other and to one head by one Spirit now in order to this union we are to assemble our selves together in obedience to that great command Heb. 10. 25. Not for saking the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is Psal 122. 1. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go unto the house of the Lord. Those Saints that are assembled together according to a Gospel institution are a communion of Saints arising from a cleaâ— apprehension of their union with Christ and his members 1 Cor. 12. 13 14. For by one Spirit we aâ—e all Baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit for the body is not one member but many members Ver. 20. For now are they many members but one body Now when a man comes to see that every one in whom the Lord Jesus appeareth is a member together with him in the same body whereof Christ is the head then his heart longeth to joyn himself in fellowship with such who have fellowship with the Father and the Son 1 John 1. 3. And so goes out by the foot-steps of the flock and propounds himself to the Church and puts himself upon the tryal of the truth of that work of grace in his heart So that a Church is at first gathered by the word preached and faith received of them that hear it Mat. 28. 19 20. but to come to particulars I shall according to my measure speak or write of the Ordinance of assembling under these two heads 1. As it relates to those that are converted but never as yet joyned to any Church of Christ 2. As it relates to those that are converted and joyned to the Church of Christ 1. As it relates to those that are converted but never as yet joyned to any Church of Christ in order let them consider that it is their duty to propound themselves to and endeavour to joyn with the Church For first the Lord in his Word doth command it And secondly the example of the primitive Saints whose foot-steps we are to follow doth call for it and therefore you no sooner read of a people converted but the next news they were baptized and added to the Churches and good reason why because God commands us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together And secondly although our being depends not upon our joyning with a Church of Saints yet our well-being doth much depend upon it If any ask how or by what means is a Church at first gathered I would say to them again What is written how readest thou you are to observe no other Rule means or way then what is either exprest implyed or included in the holy Scriptures of truth where we may find out the right Ordinanâ—es Ministry and Government The right Constitution of a Church of Christ or the way at first to gather a Church 1. LET seven eight nine or ten or more of those men that are most sound in the Faith and most unblamable in their lives and conversation appoint one day to fast and pray together and earnestly seek unto God for his direction herein and toward the end of the day let them one by one give an account of the work of grace upon their hearts and of the hope that is in them and then give your selves up to the Lord and one to another by the will of God with no other Covenant then this to endeavour as God shall enlighten and enable you to walk together in the appointments Ordinances and institutions of Christ the head of the Church exprest implyed and contained in the Scriptures of truth which you take to be your rule c. 2. In the end of this meeting appoint your next meeting both time and place expecting the presence of Christ with you to assist and teach you according to his promise Mat. 18. 20. See the assemblies Annotations on this verse 3. You having proceeded thus far you may look upon your selves as a Church of Christ in its infancy and when other Christians by the word preached and Faith received desire to joyn with you in this or the next meeting let their names be propounded which being done let the brethren appoint a meeting to confer with them about the time when the place where the manner how the Lord did first appear
God and Angels the solemn dignity of these sacred Mysteries the weighty business of saving souls and who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. 2. Against too much fear consider it doth become the business you are about for you should speak the word with boldness Acts 4. 29. God hath promised his assistance that his strength shall appear in your weakness Again consider tim erousness in the speaker will much hinder the efficacy and power of the word on the hearers so that the most proper manner of Elocution is with Modesty and Gravity I have dwelt longer upon this point then I intended I proceed to the next Whether the Minister may receive money or wages for preaching yea or no. AS the ministry of the Gospel is an ordinance of God So hath the same God ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. Again we read Gal. 6. 6. that it is the duty of the people so to do Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Luke 10. 7. for the labourer is worthy of his hire 2 Cor. 11. 8. I robbed other Churches taking wages of them to do you service 1 Cor. 9. 9. For it is written in the Law of Moses thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the Corn doth God take care for oxen ver 10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written ver 11. if we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things I shall answer some objections and present a few cautions and so close up this point Object But we read of the Apostles or at least some of them that they did preach the Gospel of Christ freely as appears 1 Thes 2. 9. 2. Cor. 11. 7. Answ Let the reader consider these two things in answer to this objection 1. That the Apostle doth reckon it an abusing of his power 2 Cor. 11. 7. 2. He put his labouring with his own hands among his afflictions 1 Cor. 4. 12. 3. He did not want a power to command them to maintain him 2 Thes 3. 8 9 For there was a commission from the Lord as well to live of the Gospel as to preach the Gospel which no man can deny unless he deny the Scripture to be his Rule or else remain ignorant in that rule But withall take these cautions a Gospel maintenance by the Lord appointed is for none but a Gospel Ministry plants of his own planting the other plants are to be pluckt up then also this maintenance must be collected in a Gospel way not by Tythes and commencing suits at Law and taking away their goods by violence c. There are some of our national ministers that have need to be better taught before they be better fed if any make hire or wages the end of their work they are hirelings not Gospel ministers Of Attentive Hearing VVE have heard what is the duty of the preachers now let us see what is the duty of the hearers the same God that Commands his Ministers to speak as an oracle of God unto edifitation exhortation and comfort commands us that are hearers to hearken to his voice in them and to attend upon the same without distraction whiles the Minister is speaking let us be searching the Scriptures to see if those things be so yea or no. 1. We are to endeavour to understand what we hear 2. To believe what we understand 3. To treasure up and keep in memory that we do believe 4. To practise what we keep in memory 5. To communicate to others what God hath taught us It is not enough that the word be rightly preached and dispensed unless it be rightly heard and received some there be that are all ear all for hearing no thing for practising others there be that are all tongue all for speaking others are all eye all for searching and enquiring others are all hand all for receiving nothing for communicating and no marvil then that we hear so many Sermons to so little purpose let us seriously consider these three Scriptrues Prov. 1. 24 28. Because I have called and ye refused ye shall ball upon me and I will not answer you Mich. 3. 4. As you have behaved your selves to me so will I to you you shall cry unto me but I will not hear you Zach. 7. 13. Therefore it is come to pass that as he cryed and they would not hear so they cried and I would not hear them saith the Lord of Hosts What shall I say more by attentive hearing our Judgements come to be informed and the corruptions of our hearts discovered James 1. 23 24. Nay that precious grace of Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10. 17. Acts 13. 48. Eâ—h 1. 13. 1. Then let us take heed how we do hear Luke 8. 18. 2. Take heed what we do hear Mark 4. 24. 3. Let us take heed whom we do hear Jer. 27. 9. Compared with John 10. 27. How to remember what is preached 1. BE well acquainted with the principles of religion and of the Scriptures by frequent Reading of them 2. Be much in conferring with experienced Christians about the ordinances of God and duties of Christians 3. Be well acquainted with the method of preaching and for that there is three Rules 1. Hear several men 2. Hear frequently 3. Read now and then some Sermon books 4. Eat sparingly and drink moderately and so fâ—ame thy mind to these ensuing things 1. Consider the text with its parts 2. The doctrines with its proofs 3. The reasons and grounds for demonstration and confirmation 4. The uses and applicacion these things being considered there are six thing to be practised 1. In hearing Sit or stand all the time without moving as little as you can 2. Keep your eye from staring about look intently either upon the Minister or some other thing 3. Keep your ear all the time very attentive to what is delivered as if thou wert to hear for thy life for so thou art 4. Call home thy wandring mind and keep it close to what you hear 5. Repeat the first principal heads to your self twice or thrice and the rest successively 6. Sermon being ended repeat to your self at large and beware of charging your memory with worldly businesses and daily exercise your memory to retain some things for custom is a second nature and use makes masterdome A Rule to try all Doctrines by THE Scripture is the standard by which we are to try all Doctrines by it is the touchstone or test therefore we should maintain no opinion stifly till we have tried it throughly 1. Whatsoever doctrine doth advance the will of God as well as the grace of God which doth teach us what we should do for him as well as what he hath done for us that Doctrine is true 2. That doctrine that doth advance
4. Consider the nature and cause of justification more particularly viz. Justification is when God meerly of his own grace and free will forgiveth our sins and pronounceth us just and innocent Though Gods Law was by us violated we are absolved from sin and punishment by the grace of God and merits of Christ apprehended by faith and so by him all that believe are justified in all things in which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13. 39. Justification is an act undivided and all at once and so it differs from sanctification which is done by degrees all different eminent acts as justification sanctification renovation are but one act in God I shall close up what I have to say to this thing by desiring the reader seriously to consider these precious Scriptures all speaking to the same thing Rom. 4. 5. Now to him that workoth not but beleiveth on him that justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Rom. 11. 6. And if By grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace So having spoken to the nature of justification give me leave also to lay down the usefulness of it as to us and the benefits every beleiver have by it the greatest thing that we can desire next the glory of God is our own salvation and the sweetest thing we can here obtain is the assurance of our salvation In this life we cannot get higher then to be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed all godly people shall enjoy a Heaven when they leave this earth some enjoy a Heaven whilst they are here on earth that Christians may enjoy two Heavens let them enquire after diligently seek for and cheerfully embrace this Doctrine of justification freely and only by the grace of God as the cause through Christ as the way the Holy-Ghost as the worker and evidencer 1. This Doctrine is as the foundation and basis of all Christian Religion 2. This Doctrine is the inlet of all spirituall divine peace and consolation 3. This is the root and spring of all Gospel obedience 4. This Doctrine is the great stop and bar to keep out all floods of errour 5. This Doctrine is the main support of a soul under all trialls 6. This is the great Doctrine by which Satans kingdom is undermined and overthrown 7. This is the Doctrine that Satan doth most war against either to pervert or corrupt 8. This Doctrine is the most hardest piece to be learned it being wholly supernaturall in every part of it above the reach of nature and all things in us do oppose it 1. This Doctrine is the foundation and basis of all Christian Religion as doth clearly appear by these severall instances 1. To begin at the bottom our Election is the Election of grace and according to the good pleasure of his will Ephes 2. 4 5. 2. Our Vocation is according to his grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace given us in Christ before the world began 3. Regeneration is of Gods own will Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth 4. Faith it self is the gift of God Philippians 1. 29. Ephes 2. 28. 5. Justification is freely by his grace Rom. 3. 24. and a free gift Rom. 5. 15. 6. Forgiveness of sins is according to the riches of his grace Ephes 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace 7. Eternall life is the gift of God Act. 15. 11. But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Rom. 6. 23. The gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If any ask what is the nature of this free grace I answer grace in its proper notion signifies that free goodness favour or good will whereby God is moved to open the eyes of the blind mind and to let him know the love of God that passeth knowledge If any ask why the Doctrine of the Gospel is called by the name of grace I answer because it was only Gods free good will to bestow it upon those that did most want it If any ask farther why this free grace was ever bestowed at all or why one age or place of the world should receive is rather then another or why God should discover this great misterie was kept secret since the world began to those who were sinners of the Gentiles who served dumb Idols or why God should be found of them that sought him not or be made manifest to those that asked not after him I can give no other answer then that 1 Cor. 1. 29. that no flesh should glory in his presence or that in Mat. 11. 35 26. Even so Father because it seemeth good in thy sight Whoever builds and builds not upon this foundation doth build upon the sand and his house in a storm and tempest will fall Mat. 7. 27. or if any man build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is see 1 Cor. 3. 10 11 12 13 14 15. 2. This Doctrine is the inlet of all spirituall divine peace to the soul There is a vein through which this peace that passeth understanding is conveyed to the soul which the men and women of the world know not Isa 59. 8. The way of peace they know not they have made to themselves crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not find peace Rom. 3. 17. the way of peace have they not known in a word no man or woman under heaven can know the way to this peace untill the Lord give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide their feet into the way of peace Luk. 1. 79. No man can receive retain and enjoy this peace of God unless he wait on God at the springs of peace 1. The first spring of peace is faith Rom. 5. 1. being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ faith seeth Christ to be our peace Ephes 2. 14. and from him freely given to us John 14. 27. and the vein through which it runs to the soul is the vein of faith laying hold on and applying of the free grace of God to the soul Rom. 15. 13. 2. The second way of peace is this a man must not only know it where it is and believe it but he must stay himself wholly upon God in the constant expectation of the increase and supply of it Isa 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose heart is stayed on thee 3. The next vein or spring
ever read or from any true Christian hear that any man or woman that was acquainted with and in some good measure established in this Doctrine of grace infected with and overcome by these floods of errour that doth now swarm among us Oh how doth Satan pollute and defile the souls and judgements of men with Christ-dishonouring and soul-undoing opinions viz. That Ordinances of the Gospel are poor carnal low things wholly denying some and slighting the rest saying that the Scriptures are not the Word of God nor the ground of Faith nor the Rule of life nor a true Judge in differences and controversies also denying interpretations and expositions of the Word which is 1. First By God commanded 1 Cor. 14. 1. 2. This was practised by the godly Matth. 1. 23. 3. This is profitable for the unfolding of obscure places Neh. 8. 8. Now these and the like things the Lord in his Word doth call ungodliness because it in part or in whole denies what he hath commanded and opens a door for men to do the contrary Now for a remedy herein let every Christian study pray and enquire for and stand in the grace of God See that blessed place 1 Peter 5. 12. Exhorting and testifying that it is the true grace of God in which ye stand or wherein ye stand Agreeable is this text to the former Rom. 5. 2. By whom we have access by Faith into this grace wherein we stand now their standing in this grace did fence them from all false doctrines and erronious opinions Papists and Arminians which hold a falling away from grace know not the difference between the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace their errour is this they teach as a principle of Religion that those that are adopted sanctified and planted into Christ may fall away and perish this Doctrine is contrary to the whole tenor of the Covenant of Grace injurious unto God and uncomfortable unto the Saints it would shake the foundation of Gods election if those that are once sanctified should fall away and perish for those only whom he knew before those only doth he sanctifie now if he hath in mercy drawn us to himself it is a sign he hath loved us from everlasting Jer. 31. 3. our calling and sanctification is according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28 30. 2 Tim. 1. 9. and those that are sanctified justified and called are all first chosen and thence faith is called the Faith of Gods elect Titus 1. And those that are sanctified are said to be chosen unto it Eph. 1. 3 4. so that the foundation of Gods election standeth sure and so our state in Grace is sure also as being built on that foundation which cannot be removed and this doth Christ make good in that speech of his Mat 24. where speaking of the strong delusions which many should be deceived withall he saith that those deceivers should shew forth such signs and wonders that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect if it were possible but that they cannot do the elect cannot perish c. 5. This Doctrine is the main support of a soul under all tryals when all things fail Gods grace and free love doth never fail I will not leave thee nor forsake thee saith the Lord Heb. 13. 5. compared with Joshua 1. 5. 1. Gold and Silver may fail yea all earthly treasures do make themselves wings and flieaway and the labour of the Olive may fail Hab. 3. 17. 2. Our nearest and dearest friends may fail Job 19. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 16. 3. Our eyes may fail Psalm 119. 123. mine eyes fail for thy salvation and for the word of thy righteousness 4. Our tongues may fail Isa 41. 17. 5. Our strength may fail Psal 31. 10. My strength faileth because of mine iniquity 6. Our flesh and our heart may fail us Psal 73. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever 7. Our spirits may fail us Psal 143. 7. Hear me speedily my spirit faileth me hide not thy face from me But now saith the Lord although the labour of the Olive may fail and thy nearest and dearest friends fail and thine eyes fail and thy tongue fail thy strength fail and flesh and heart fail yet I will be with thee I will never fail thee as thou mayst see by what I have left written for thy learning in these following Scriptures Josh 1. 5. Josh 21. 45. 23. 14. 1 King 8. 56. Heb. 13. 15. Yea search the whole Scripture and enquire of all the Saints whether I did ever fail any one soul that did put his trust in me thus thou mayest see that a Believer is blessed only in a help without him not within and all his assurance confidence and comfort doth flow to him from the fountain of free-grace through the channel of faith and not of works believing himself happy for what another even Christ hath done for him not for what he hath done or can do the joy of a Believer would alwaies be unspeakable did he alwaies apprehend his happiness in and by Christ alone In a word the pure glorious matchless and spotless righteousness of Christ is a souls righteousness and resting place when the soul finds that he wanders no more from mountain to hill as formerly he did Whoever you are that read these lines search whether you are gotten into this rest if not with all speed get into this resting place for Satan is walking about as a roaring Lyon and though he cannot rob a Christian of his Crown yet he will do what he can to rob him of his comfort and peace to make his life a burden and an hell to him to cause him to spend his daies in sorrow and mourning sighing and complaining in doubting and questioning saying in these or the like words surely I have no interest in Christ my graces are not true my hope is but the hope of an hypocrite my confidence is but presumption and my enjoyments are but delusions Then when a soul is thus beweldred and troubled the Lord many times discovers his free grace and love and that expells ignorance and slayeth the souls enemies and by this love the Lord draweth the soul to himself in love again Gods way of support of a soul in trouble and tryal is a way of love therefore he saith Behold I will allure her and speak comfortably unto her Hos 2. 14. his love is free full and eternal I will saith he love them freely Hos 14. 4. I will draw them with the cords of a man with the bonds of love Hos 11. 4. And so the soul comes to have great joy and pleasure Psal 16. 11. No misery as hunger cold nakedness pain grief or weariness shall much disquiet the soul it will rest fatisfied in God alone in this rest there is tranquility in tranquility contentment in contentment joy in joy variety in variety security in security eternity
Christ and thou shalt be saved Now might not the Jaylor have replyed as many do now in our daies and say I can as well make a world work miracles overturn mountains as believe by mine own power therefore Paul and Silas why bid ye me believe To this I answer though it be true that every commard of God is alike difficult to flesh and blood that a man can indeed as well make a world as make a prayer aright a man may as well subdue an army of men as subdue one lust did not the Lord convey a power into the soul together with the command viz. If God command a man to believe and gives him power to believe the work will soon be done Ezek. 36. The Lord commands to make a new heart now a man is no more able to make a new heart then to make a new world therefore as we said before he promiseth in the same place to give a new heart and in another place it is said mortifie your lusts now this a man cannot do of himself but the same God that commands us to kill our lusts will kill them for us Micah 7. 18 19. He will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Again God commands us to repenâ— but we are no more able to repent or to shed one tear for sin then a rock is to give out water or we are no more able to repent then to turn the stream or to make a slint flesh till the Lord give us a repenting heart he hath promised to give repentance to his people So that the commands in Scripture doth not shew what the creature can do but what he should do yet not by our own natural power but by his assisting grace to enable us to do what of our selves we cannot do therefore we should pray with Saint Augustine Lord give what thou commandest and then command what thou pleasest To draw towards a conclusion to this point let me acquaint the Reader of what I have observed amongst all sorts of men with whom I have more or less conversed viz. First the Papist both in their writings and discourses cry up and press all people to be doing good works The Arminian his cosen Jerman pleads for the same and that almost if not altogether from the same principle to the same end the new upstart Quakers fals in and closeth with these old errors pressing people to do the thing that is commanded but not as it is commanded so many of our brethren of the Presbyterian party being in and under a spirit of bondage themselves preach the Law before the Gospel and put their hearers to act for life but not from life So also our brethren of the Independant party and those of the Baptist party many of them to my own knowledge do more mind the things they do for God in way of obedience to his commands then they do the principle from which the rule by which and the end to which they do it and when they have done it even these also are apt to lay too great a stress upon it So then the Papist freewiller Quaker Presbyterian Independant Baptist all these preach teach and cry out to all their hearers for a holy conversation nay to come a little nearer home the word of God cals upon us for it our own consciences call for it and check us for our remissness therein nay the Christians with whom we converse expect it from us what remains then but that we be found in the practices of it but let us beware we rest not upon it for as we are not to conclude our justification from any effects of sanctification so we are not to conclude that apprehension of justification to be from God which takes us off the means waies and rules of sanctification the Ranters error springs up in them for want of this distinction In a word to say no more duty is the matter of promise as well as Gods mercy as doth most clearly appear by these Scriptures 1 Cor. 2. 12. Ephes 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. Acts 5. 31. Joh. 8. 32. And our holy conversation is not the cause of our salvation but the effect neither do I hold that there is any free will in man neither do I believe that any man hath or ever since the fall had any will or power of himself without God to do any thing that is good for in him as the Scripture saith we live move and have our being so that in through and by God and Christ we may do all things for he is a Sun and a shield and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that wait on him Psal 84. 11. Yet God hath given all men enough to leave them without excuse what man is there that knoweth not that if he make use of all the opportunities will power and understanding that God hath given him but he may avoid more evil and do more good then he hath done or doth now do Of Justification and Sanctification how they differ and wherein they agree GOD in Justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ to us in Sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace in us In Justification we read sin pardoned in Sanctification we read sin subdued the one doth free all Believers from the warth of God that they never fall into a state of condemnation the other neither equal in all nor in this life perfect in any but going on and growing up to perfection Again Justification and Sanctification differ thus to wit Justification is the imputing of anothers justice to us to wit Christ Sanctification is the impression of Justice that it may be in us In Justification there is satisfaction of Christ In Sanctification there is the obedience of a Christian Justification is a perfect and absolute undivided act at once Sanctification is a work begun not equal in all but carried on in all by degrees Justification is first Sanctification afterwards consisting in separation from sin filthiness and common pollution Justification and Sanctification are two inseparable companions where one doth dwell the other will lodge and as Election is the proper work of the Father as Eph. 1. 3 4. Redemption of the Son 1 John 2. 1 2. So Sanctification is the proper work of the Holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 6. 11. Now there are four things considerable to shew us wherein we are to keep our Justification and Sanctification distinct the one from the other 1. We are to keep Justification and Sanctification distinct in respect of the subject and matter of this which is not any thing in us or done by us but the personal and spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ made over to us 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2. It is our duty to keep up our Iustification distinct although it be not accompanied with Sanctification although there be failings in us the Prodigal in Luke 15. came and confessed his sin as a
nature When the Leapers saw that they must either venture their lives or dye they would out into the Camp when the Prodigal saw he must famish abroad or repair home he would then back to his fathers house when the woman with the issue of blood had spent all and grew worse and knew not whither to go or what to do then she comes to Christ now if thou hast not so much ingenuity as to come to and believe in Christ in obedience to his command yet let thy necessity prevail with thee or else the Leaper and Prodigal shall rise up in judgement against thee were we in Adams created innocency then we need not to look after a Saviour but we are fallen but we are broken but we are sold under sin but we are transgressours from the womb but we are by nature the children of disobedience and wrath 3. He doth invite us to come and to believe by the Prophets Isa 55. 1 2 3. He beseecheth us by the Apostles to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 20. He cals upon us by his Church and spirit to take of the water of life Revelat. 22. 17. and after all this he waits upon us to be gracious to us Isaiah 30. 18. 4. Our unbelief grieves the very heart of Christ he grieved at their unbelief he complains at our backwardness to believe O fools and slow of heart to believe Nay and he sheds tears because we believe not on him when he came neer the City he wept over it c. 5. Motive Consider there is none who have right to thy soul but God and Christ our souls are Gods workmanship and Christs purchase why then should we not give to God and Christ that which is their own 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. ye are not your own ye are bought with a price God put forth his own power to make thy soul and Christ shed his heart blood to redeem thy soul and wilt thou through unbelief withhold it from him 6. Christ outbids all Merchants for thy soul he outbids the world sin and Satan is there any one of them that presents Redemption unto thee is there any one of them that can procure remission and pardoning mercy for thee is there any one of them that can satisfie the wrath of God for thee which can make thy peace which can present thee righteous before the judgement seat which can settle eternal life upon thee all this can Christ do none of this can they do Behold here is laid before thee life and death life if thou dost believe death if not now chuse you whether what shall I say more by believing we honor God Iohn 3. 33. by believing we come to be established Isa 7. 9. by believing we are kept in perfect peace Isa 26. 3 4. Rom. 5. 1. Our naked cleaving to God in his free promise will carry down all our distempers at once and fill our souls with peace in believing O how can we look so many sweet promises in the face and harbour so many misgivings in our hearts Rom. 9. ult whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed Of the evil of unbelief and the springs of it and the misery that doth attend it VNbelief doth rob the soul of all joy comfort and content Nay further unbelief doth throw reproach upon God Christ and the promises and gives Satan the greatest advantage against us he that lives without Faith lives without comfort joy peace and content by unbelief we add sin unto sin in the highest nature 1 John 5. 10. Unbelief straightens the heart stops the mouth and hinders thankfulness thou shalt be dumb because thou believest not Luke 1. 20. Unbelief is the door that lets in condemnation John 3. 18 30. He that believeth not is condemned Rev. 2. 8. The fearful and unbelieving shall be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone 1. It is the greatest sin in the world because it is a sin against the greatest love in the world John 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. It is a sin for which there can be no remedy for asmuch as it is a sin against the only remedy the Sentence of the Law may be repealed by the Gospel but the sins against Gospel remedy there is no appeal it is a sin that makes void and vain all the Covenant of grace turning all the sweetness thereof into bitterness and all the truth of it to a lie 1 John 5. 10. Unbelief binds all our sins upon the soul and so murders the soul it grieves the heart of Christ leaves all our sins upon record leaves us to answer for our selves it is a sin against the greatest love against the only remedy makes void the Doctrine of grace and breeds an indisposition towards all holy duties it is a dishonouring to God a denying of Christ a murderer of the soul a belying of God a denying of Christ and a crowning of Satan it doth without doubt proclaim the Devil a Conqueror and lift him up above Christ himself Judas did sin more by unbelief and despairing then by betraying of Christ In a word doubts fears and discouragements proceed neither from God Christ nor the Spirit of truth but they do proceed First from the Devil he either tempts us to sin and that will cause us to doubt or else he doth tempt us to doubt and that will cause us to sin Secondly they proceed from our own hearts Heb. 3. 12. Thirdly from the lying vanities that we hearken unto Jonah 2. 8. Fourthly from ignorance heedlesness and forgetfulness Fifthly from unskilfulness of the word of righteousness Heb. 5. 12. 7. Sixthly from want of watchfulness Seventhly from building our hopes and comfort upon that which is mutable and uncertain viz. our own personal Sanctification and not upon Christ and our free Justification Eighthly from our own false reasonings making Sense Reason and Feeling the Judge of our spiritual condition Ninthly from our ignorance of the love of Christ and the Covenant of Grace The Characters Marks or Signs of true Faith c. THere are many characters or discoveries of this Faith of the Gospel called the Faith of Gods Elect which worketh by love First the habit of this Faith is infused into the soul by God in regeneration Eph. 2. 8. John 1. 12 13. Secondly this habit so infused is brought to act by the Fathers drawing the soul to Christ Iohn 6. 44. Thirdly faith being thus infused and acted doth chearfully accept of Christ upon his own terms viz. self-denyall bearing the Cross and following Christ Luke 9. 23. Iohn 1. 12. Faith having thus accepted and received Christ begins to taste such sweetness and pleasantness in him that Christ is most pleasant to the soul 1 Pet 2. 3 7. So the soul by degrees comes to be filled with joy and peace in believing Again Faith having thus taken and tasted Christ contends after a fuller perfection even after assurance Col. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 22. 1. True Faith is not only a justifying
no pleasure in him Again Luke 9. 62. And Jesus said unto him no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God Surely those that fall off from a true Church of Christ and persevere therein to the end shall hear Christ say to them as in Luke 19. 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me How dreadful is this sin of falling off First it is sharply threatned of God Proverbs 14. 14. Heb. 10. 38 39. Secondly this sin is severely plagued Matthew 12. 43 44 45. compared with 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. Again See 1 John 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us These were once in the Church but never truly of the Church for then they would have persevered their apostacy therefore doth evidence their hypocrisie false rotten professors will and in all ages hath thus apostatized The wind blows not away the wheat but the chaff c. And so much of the first Ordinance of assembling our selves together Of the Ordinance of preaching who they are that ought to preach the manner how the time when the place where the persons to whom how this gift of preaching may be obtained and whether the Minister may receive mony for preaching how to remember and a rule to try all doctrines by 1. Of the Ordinance of preaching THat preaching and prophesying is a standing Ordinance of God will at large appear if we consider these and the like Scriptures 2 Tim. 4. 2. Preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine Mat. 28. 19 20. compared with Mark 16. 15. And he said unto them go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved The business of preaching is to make new creatures and to turn Lions into Lambs the Preacher is but an instrument in the hand of God to make an unbeliever to believe he is Gods workmanship Ephes 2. 10. An ax makes no Artificial thing but by influence from the Artificer neither doth a pen write but by his help that handles it So Preachers and preaching is but instrumental in the hand of the Spirit to make you Christs 2 Cor. 3. 2. They may be only called Ministers by whom the people believe God was mighty by Peter and Paul Gal. 2. 8. Ministers are but the Rams horns but God throws down the wals of Jericho Mens hearts are as the everlasting doors but God opens them as he did Lydia's or else all the preaching will be in vain Who they are that ought to preach the Gospel THose to whom the Lord hath given the Word Psalm 68. 11. The Lord gave the Word and great was the company of those that published it But principally those are to preach open and apply the Scriptures that are set apart by the Church or Churches to that work of the Pastor and Teacher who by the Word of life are to feed the Flock over which they are the over-seers Acts 20. 28. Titus 1. 5. But in the exercise of prophesie such as are not in office in the Church may exercise their gifts to speak unto edification exhortation and comfort after the publick ministry by the Teachers and under their direction and moderation whose duty it is if any thing be obscure to open it if doubtful to clear it if unfound to refute it if imperfect â—o supply what is wanting See 1 Cor. 14. 3 29 30 31. If any say farther how is that exercise proved in the Scripture I answer 1. By the example in the Jewish Church where men though in no office either in Temple or Synagogue had liberty publickly to exercise their gifts as doth clearly appear by the Scriptures Luke 2. 42 46 47. Luke 4. 16 17 18. Acts 8. 4. 11. 19 20 21. chap. 13. 14 15 16. chap. 18. 24 25 26. 2. It will yet farther appear by this commandment of Christ and his Apoâ—â—les Luke 9. 10. Luke 10. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 14. 1 5 30 31. 3. It will further appear by the prohibiting of women to teach in the Church hereby liberty being given unto men their husbands or others 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. 4. This will yet more fully appear by those most excellent ends which by these means are to be obtained as 1. The glory of God in the manifestation of his manifold graces See 1 Pet 4. 10 11. 2. That the gifts of the Spirit in men be not quenched 1 Thes 5. 19 20. Quench not the spirit despise not prophesying that is stop not the motions of the spirit in your selves nor restrain the gifts thereof in others 3. For the fitting and tryal of men for the Ministry 4. For the preserving pure the Doctrine of the Gospel which is more indangered if some one or two alone may only be heard and speak Act. 2. 42. 5. For the debating and satisfying of doubts if any do arise Act. 13. 15. 6. For the edifying of the Church and conversion of others always provided 1. That he speak not as one that hath any authority over them but as a fellow member 2. That he have the gift of prophesie to speak as an Oracle of God to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. 3. That he speak not in opposition to nor in any way undervaluing of those that are set apart by the Church as Officers over them for they are called to the greatest and weightiest employment in the world Yea such an employment that would certainly break the backs not only of the best and strongest men but even of the very Angels should not God put under his everlasting arms No labour to that of the mind no travel to that of the soul those that are faithful in the Lords vineyard no doubt find it so and so with Paul often say who is sufficient for these things I have read of Luther that he would often say that if he were again to chuse his calling he would dig or do any thing rather then take upon him the office of a Minister Of the manner how the Preacher is to preach 2 Cor. FOR we are not as many which corrupt 2. 17. the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 1 Cor. 2. 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power Their work is to make dark things plain not plain things dark and obscure It is most observable concerning God the Father who is the great Master-piece of speech when he spake from heaven he makes use of three
all the Attributes of God the justice of God as well as the mercy of God the holiness of God as well as the grace of God which doth teach us piety towards God and Charity towards men according to Scripture rule that doctrine is true 3. That doctrine that doth teach us to bottom upon Christ alone for Salvation and not upon our own works or qualifications that must needs be true 4. That doctrine that tendeth to the informing of the judgement and reforming the heart and conform the life to the whole will of God that doctrine is true and good 5. That doctrine that doth lead out by the footsteps of the Flock to teach us to have respect to all the ordinancesto seek for and to keep all the commands of God that doctrine is true 1 Chron. 28. 8. Of Prayer and Supplication another standing ordinance of the Gospel 1. OF the nature of it what it is 2. Whom we must pray to 3. For whom we are to pray 4. What extraordinary prayer is 5. The necessity of Prayer 6. The posture to be used in Prayer 7. The place where we are to pray 8. The time in which we are to pray 9. Motives to encourage us to pray 10. Means to be used to obtain the Gift of Prayer 11. Hinderances of Prayer 12. Several sorts of prayer never answered 13. How many wayes doth the Lord answer Prayers 1. Of the nature of it what Prayer is Prayer is a speaking to God face to face wherein we speak to him in Faith Humility Sincerity and Fervencie of Spirit it is Jacobs Ladder by which a soul climbs up to Heaven and it is Noahs dove that goeth forth and returns not till it brings an answer of peace Or prayer is a calling upon God alone in the name of Christ by the help of the Holy Ghost or it is the earnest request of an humble and sanctified Heart together with thanksgiving in behalf of our selves and others with assurance to be heard in what we pray for according to the will of God Phil. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 26. Psal 50. 15. Eph. 6. 18. 1 John 5. 14. James 1. 6. Or Prayer is a Familiar speech with God in the name of Christ 1 John 5. 14. Opening the desires of our hearts unto him and a pouring out of the heart before him for the things we need Psal 50. 15. Jer. 33. 3. Lam. 2. 19. Or prayer is a spiritual gift and grace of the holy Ghost teaching us both what to pray for and how to pray enabling us to pour out our souls unto the Lord with sighs that cannot be uttered Psal 62. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Psalm 145. 18. the Lord is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth Heart and tongue must go together word and work lip and life prayer and practice must eccho one to the other it is not the greatness of the voice nor the multitude of words nor the sweetness of the tone nor the studied notions nor the Eloquent expressions but truth in the inward parts that is prevalent with God now the properties of effectual prayer are these 1. That we pray understandingly 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with Understanding 2. That we pray earnestly and importunately James 5. 16. compared with Luke 11. 8. 3. That we pray constantly Luke 18. 1. Men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint See Luke 21. 36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes 4. We should pray in Faith without wavering James 16. 5. In truth without faining Psal 145. 18. Psal 17. 1. 6. We should pray in humility without swelling Luke 18. 13. 7. We should pray in zeal without cooling Jam. 5. 16. 8. We should pray with resolution to use all good means for the obtaining the things we pray for c. The Heart may pray without the tongue with fruit and feeling 1 Sam. 1. 10. But the tongue without the heart is nothing but vain babling Whom we are to pray unto SUrely we are to pray to God alone and to none other for he alone as the great Searcher of all hearts heareth the voice and knoweth the meaning of the Spirit of Prayer Psalm 25. 2. Rom. 8. 27. Jehosaphat oppressed by his enemies to whom goes he to complain to none but unto God 2 Chron. 20. 12. To whom went David to complain of the bitter words of Cush the Benjamite to none but unto God Psalm 7. 1. O Lord my God in thee do I put my trust save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me He alone is able to grant whatsoever we demand Eph. 3. 20. Wherefore seeing he alone hears all prayers heals all Sinners knows all Suiters Jer. 31. 18. 2 Chron. 7. 14. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Psal 44. 21. He alone hath love enough to pity all and power enough to relieve all our wants and necessities to him alone we are to pray and to none other Mat. 11. 28. Thus we must pray only to God in the only name and for the only sake of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ the alone Mediator between God and man 1 Tim. 2. 5. For whom we are to pray FIrst for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. even our enemies Mat. 5. 44. because they bare the common Image of God Jam. 3. 9. So that we are to pray for all sorts and degrees of men especially publike persons as rulers and such as are in Authority 1 Tim. 2. 2. and for Ministers that watch over our souls Ephes 6. 19. Col. 4. 3. So also we are to pray for our selves us and ours for all things that we want either for soul or body that doth concern our being or well being And if we be not answered at the present or in the same kind that we desire 2 Cor. 12. 9. yet sooner or latter we are sure to receive even above that we are able either to ask or think if we continue with constancy patience and importunity to seek unto him according to his will Luke 11. 5. and 18. 1. 1 John 5. 14. And that we ought to pray for others will yet further appear by this viz. Abraham prayed for Abimelech Gen. 20. 17. Jacob for his sons Gen. 49. Paul for the people and they for him 1 Thes 1. 2. this kind of prayer is called intercession What extraordinary prayer is EXtraordinary prayer is that which is made upon some special occasion or extraordinary accident falling out felt or feared upon a whole Nation City Family or Person by reason whereof our prayers are both longer and ferventer then at other times Psalm 119. 62. Acts 12. 5. Joel 2. 15. Ionah 3. 6. See Ezra 9. Dan. 9. and Nehem. 9. In these times of Fasting or extraordinary praying or both we are most earnestly and fervently to call upon God either for the obtaining of some singular benefit or special favour that we stand in great need of or for the avoiding of some special punishment or notable judgement hanging
for answers or rendring praise for mercies received Psal 5. 3. Luk. 2. 37. The motives to encourage us to pray PRayer is a jewel of grace bequeathed by Christ unto us Luke 11. 2. Again it is the hand of Faith the Key of Gods treasury the souls Solicitor the hearts armour-bearer the minds interpreter Mat. 7. 7. Ephes 6. 18. It procureth all blessings preventeth all curses 2 Chron. 7. 14. Further it sanctifieth all creatures that they may do us good 1 Tim. 4. 5. seasoneth all crosses that they can do us no hurt 2 Cor. 12. 18. Lastly it keepeth the heart in humility the life in sobriety strengthneth all graces overcometh all corruptions subdueth all temptations maketh our duties acceptable to God our lives profitable unto men and both life and death comfortable to our selves Act. 9. 11. Ephes 6. 18. Iude 20. Acts 4. 24. What shall I say more for our encouragement to pray unto God but only this consider and that seriously the Lord is never worse but many times better then his word Solomon did only ask in prayer for wisdom 1 King 3. 11 12. And the Lord gave him more wisdom then he did ask and riches and honour to boot Again we read 1 Sam. 1. Hannah prayed but for a son and the Lord gave her a son and a Prophet too for her son Samuel was a great Prophet So again for our encouragement to pray we read Gen. 17. That Abraham prayed saying Oh that Ishmael might live before thee ver 19. And God said Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and as for Ishmael I will answer thy prayer and make of him a great Nation ver 20. Again we read that Jacob prayed Gen. 28. 19. and said O Lord if thou wilt give me raiment to put on and bread to eat thou shalt be my God and the Lord gave him all that he desired and much more Gen. 32. 10. For with my staff said he came I over this Jordan but now I am so exceedingly encreased in goods that I am become two bands See Gen. 33. 4 5 6. Again we read Mat. 18. 24 26. Of one that was in debt ten thousand talents and the mony being demanded the debtor desired but dayes of paiment and the Lord forgave him the whole debt ver 27. Shall I crave leave to instance only in one more then consider that place Acts 3. 3 4 5 6 7 8. A certain man lame from his mothers womb asked an alms of Peter and Iohn and they gave him a mercy above and beyond what he asked yea a mercy to him worth more then the whole world they healed him of his lameness insomuch that he leaped and rejoyced and praised God ver 8. The means to be used to obtain the gift of prayer FIrst labour to get some true feeling of thy misery for sense of misery breeds desires of mercies Mat. 15. 22. when the soul panteth most the heart prayeth best and increase in knowledge that the head may guide the heart 1 Cor. 14. 15. For what we know is worth the having we will not lose for want of asking Pray for the Spirit of Prayer which helpeth and healeth our infirmities and teacheth us both for manner measure and matter to lay open all our necessities Rom. 8. 26. Luke 11. 13. Of the Lets and hinderances of prayer THe sensuality of the men and women living in pleasure drowning all their desires in delights and their prayers in pleasures 2 Tim. 3. 4. These men are lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God and therefore pray not to him Another hinderance is that state of stupidity of worldlings that think they have no need of praying but of carking and caring toyling and moyling in the world Luke 12. 17 18. Phil. 3. 19. Who mind only earthly things Again roving imaginations inordinate affections dulness of spirit weakness of Faith coldness in feeling faintness in asking weariness in waiting too much passion in our own matters and too little compassion in other mens miseries Mar. 9. 24. Isa 38. 13 14. Several sorts of Prayer never answered 1. HE that prayeth and yet regardeth iniquity in his heart the Lord will not hear his prayer Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer 2. He that prayeth and yet hateth to be reformed drawing neer with the lips but having his heart far from him Isa 29. 13. 3. Those that pray and yet turn their â—ars from his precepts he turneth away his ears from their prayers Prov. 28. 9. 4 Those that pray and yet continue in unbelief their prayers shall not be answered Jam. 1. 7. letnot that man so much as think he shall receive any thing from the Lord. 5. Those that pray and yet continue in senseless impiety so that the cry of our sins unrepented of drowns the voice of their prayers Zech. 7. 13. 6. Those that would neither hear nor answer God when he called and cried unto them see Prov. 1. 24. 28. Mich. 3. 4. 7. When we either cause or suffer the afflicted to cry without hearing the Lord hearing us cry in our afflictions without helping Gen. 42. 22. How many wayes doth the Lord answer the Prayers of his people 1. HE doth answer many times in giving the very thing we ask So Solomon did ask wisdom and the Lord gave it So Hanna prayed for a Son and the Lord gave her a Son So also Acts 10. 30 31. Dan. 9. 19 20 21. Acts 12. 13 14. 2. The Lord doth answer the prayers of his people in giving them faith to believe and patience to wait the Lords leasure till he doth give the mercy prayed for So Heb. 5. 7. 2 Cor. 12. 8 9 10 11 12. 3. The Lord doth many times answer our prayers although he doth not give us the very thing we ask but a better in the room of it Gen. 17. 18 19. Psalm 35. 13. 4. He doth answer our prayers many times in giving as full Satisfaction to the soul in the absence of the mercy prayed for as if it had received it Hab. 2. 3. Another stanning Ordinance of the Gospel is thanksfiving or Singing of Psalms and Spiritual Songs making melody to the Lord in our Hearts PRaise or thanksgiving is a reverent acknowledgement of his mercies the heart being cheared with some taste of his goodness acknowledgeth all to come from his mercies goodness wisdom and power which makes the Soul as in Psal 32. 11. to rejoice in the Lord and to shout for joy Psal 107. 8 15 21 31. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men This is to be done with the Spirit and with understanding 1 Cor. 14. 15. As prayer and petition ariseth from the feeling of our miseries so doth praise from feeling of Gods mercy petition beggeth what we want and praise acknowledgeth what and wheuce we have it Rev. 15.
a controversie with the inhabitants of the Land because there is no knowledge of God in the Land 1 Cor. 15. Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Hos 4. 6. My people are destroyed for want of knowledge Prov. 1. 22. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge Ephes â— 17. Therefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is 2 Tim 3. 15 16. And that from a child thâ—u hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation ver 16. For all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness ver 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works How must we read the Scriptures 1. FIrst endeavour to see the excellency of the Scriptures set a high price upon them and then thou wilt take more delight in them Jer. 6. 10. The word of the Lord is to them a reproach they have no deâ—â—â—ht in them whereas David that did delight in the Lord he did meditate in them day and nihgt Psal 1. 2. 2. Let us endeavour to get the Scriptures written in our hearts as well as in our minds and to that end we should pray constantly and wait diligently for the Spirit of revelation to open the seals of that book 3. Observe these eight rules and read the Scriptures 1. Read them diligently and carefully 2. Read them frequently 3. Read them believingly with an expectation to gain something by reading 4. Compare Scripture with Scripture when you read them compare spiritual things with spiritual 5. Pray meditate and study to find out the spiritual meaning of those Scriptures that be dark and hard 6. Take heed of allowing thy self in any secret sin against or contrary to the Scriptures he that doth so may read long enough and understand nothing 7. Be much in the practice of what thou hast already learned he that is faithfull in a little shall have much more 8. Pray frequently and fervently to the Lord. 1. To help thee to understand what thou readest Mat. 24. 15. and Mat. 13. 5. 2. Believe what thou understandest 3. To apply what thou dost believe 4. To affect and hide in thy heart what thou dost apply 5. To keep and retain in memory what thou dost affect 6. To communicate as opportunity is offered what you keep surely he that thinks himself too good to read and to be ruled by the word will at last be found too bad to be owned by God c. Of Admonition private and publike PRivate admonition is betwixt brother and brother Levit. 19. 17. Mat. 18. 15 16. The other publike by the messengers of the Churches or Officers when the private will not prevail Mat. 18. 17. 1 Tim. 5. 20. The degrees of private admonition are two the former is most private done by one the other is private also but more publike then the first and it is done by two or three at the most whereof he that first admonisheth must be one Matthew 18. 15 16. Now publike admonition is that which is done by the whole Church or the Minister assisted by the Congregation 1 Tim. 5. 20. For if the second warning serve not our Saviour would have the offendor presented to the Church as to the highest court Mat. 18. 17. Who therefore hearing their admonition is to be received notwithstanding his former obstinacy I shall say no more to this in this place because I shall speak more fully to it when I come to speak of the Ordinance of excommunication Of Suspention SUspention is a certain separation of him that will not amend by admonition from some things that are holy in the Church as the use of the Lords Supper or from officiating in any office in the Church till he repent and when he doth he is not by and by to be admitted to all priviledges of the Church but to remain suspended for a time till the fruits of repentance may better appear for if some in the Law Num. 9. 6. for a certain pollution in a lawful duty for burying the dead were suspended from the Passover much more in the Gospel for such obstinacy it is agreeable to the Gospel to execute the sensure of suspention after two admonitions upon a known offence Of Excommunication THE Church of Christ is in Scripture resembled to a natural body wherein are many members united to each other and all to one head by one spirit growing up in unity now as in the natural body there may be many infirmities so also it is in this mystical body sometimes it may be Subject to distempers by the drinking in of untruths sometimes windy humorus of pride high-mindedness c. and so distemper it sometimes a Palsie humor of deadness and benummedness seise upon it sometimes feaverish fits of violent headiness may inflame it but God whose temples it is hath provided for it against such distempers whereof this of excommunication is is one Now if any ask what it is then I answer Answ It is the casting of a stubborn sinner out of the Church and a delivering him unto Satan who being thus disfranchized of all the liberties and deprived of all the benefits and common society of the Church is separated as it were from that protection it once had This ordinance is to be administred to such as are desperately wicked that have nothing profited by the former censures but still continuedin their former wickedness of obstinate and malicious resisting all means graciously used to reclaim them Now the end of this casting out is twofold either respecting the good of the person excommunicated or the rest of the Church 1 Cor. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 1 20. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus This must be done in wisdom tenderness courage and faithfulness to this end to gain our offending member a gain and to obey God in this command also praying to God for his blessing upon his own ordinance and that he would keep us from those sins that we deal with others for Of assurance of Salvation 1. THE nature of it 2. Whether it be attainable in this life 3. Of the several sorts and degrees of assurance 4. Of the trials of assurance how it may be known 5. To labour and endeavour for it is our duty 6. Of the benefits of it and arguments to perswade us to endeavour to gain it which are five 1. The want of it doth hinder thankfulness 2. Assurance will settle a soul upon Christ 3. Assurance doth sweeten all other blessings to us 4. Assurance doth put us upon our duty be it what it will 5. Assurance doth ease us of the world and mounts the Soul above it
safety there be two effects of this blessed assurance one is joy the other is peace it glads the heart and it pacifies the heart 3. Assurance will sweeten all other blessings to us we shall see them handed forth to us in love here is saith the soul plenty of food and â—ayment and friends and God is my God too my sins are pardoned too but the want of this may check all our mercies 4. Assurance will put us upon all kind of duty viz. What shall I render to the Lord for all his mercies I will either do or suffer or any thing for him that hath done so much for me 5. Assurance will mount the soul above the world and make the soul to live out of its self in the Spirit upon Christ unto God above the world under Ordinances looking to election behind and perfection before O the blessed favour of God the evidences of our Union with Christ this is like the light of the Sun which puts out the light of ten thousand candles those that have so much as to make up assurance for heaven will never complain of too little on the earth these things considered doth lay before us two things 1. The benefits of assurance Secondly it doth bespeak the reader if he have it not to labour for it Of the springs of assurance or means by which it is attained THE work we have to do is two-fold First get title to Gods love Secondly get assurance that thou hast a title the first is done by action the second is done by examination He that would get assurance must not cut off any of the pipes of conveyance neither make use of them sluggishly A sluggish spirit is alwayes a lazy spirit he that will find rich minerals must dig deep he that will be rich must be diligent and sweat for it he that will taste the kernel must crack the shell he that will have the marrow must break the bone he that will wear the garland must run the race He that will ride in triumph must get the victory a lazy Christian shall alwaies want four things comfort and content confidence and assurance Heb. 6. 11. and we desire that every one would shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Faith O how can we look so many sweet promises in the face and harbour so many misgivings in our hearts First take one promise and charge that upon the heart and if the heart be stubborn and will not yield then take another if that will not do then take another and lay that home upon the heart and never leave or cease this work till thou hast made thy calling and election sure and make as much conscience of these commands that requires thee to get assurance as you do of those commands that requires thee to pray read and hear assurance is heavenly wages that God gives not no loyterers though no man doth merit assurance by obedience yet God usually crowns obedience with assurance Joh. 14. 21 22 23. 1. Diligently improve those notable assuring Ordinances the Word Lords Supper and Praye r to help on all the former directions 1. The word was therefore written 1 John 5. 13. That believers might know they have eternal life let it therefore dwell in you richly Col. 3. 16. 2. The Lords Supper seals up remission of sins therefore be at the Lords table frequently but be sure to partake of it worthily 3. Prayer that not only spreads open a mans heart but pierceth the heavens creeps into the bosom of God and sometimes furnisheth the doubting spirit with assurance in the very exercise of it 2. Spring of assurance cherisheth and improveth all your graces but especially assuring graces knowledge Faith and hope by knowledge we discern our selves by Faith we appropriate to our selves and by hope we patiently wait for full enjoyment 3. Quench not grieve not the Spirit of God for that spirit is sent to assure us most convincingly clearly and satisfactorily 4. Go on from faith to faith add one grace to another so shall an entrance be administred to thee abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ See and well consider this portion of Scripture 2 Pet. 1. from ver 5. to ver 12. Of the impediments of assurance 1. THE first impediment of assurance that I shall name is this our measuring of the merey and bowels of God by the narrow scantling of our dark understanding 2. Another is our making sense reason and feeling the sole judge of our spiritual condition 3. Another impediment of assurance is our retaining so many despairing thoughts not considering that despair is one of the worst sins viz. It is a dishenour to God and a reproach to Christ a resisting of the Spirit of Grace and a murderer of the soul a belying of God a denying of Christ and a crowning of Satan and a proclaiming the Devil conqueror Jâ—das did sin more by despairing then by betraying of Christ 4. Another impediment of assurance is our not reading and believing these and the like precious promises Num. 14. 19 20. Exod. 34. 6 7. Mich. 7. 18 19. Isa 30. 18 19. Psalm 38. 34. to the 40. Psal 103. to the 13. Jer. 3. 1. to 12. Luk. 15. 20. to 24. 1 Tim. 1. 13 14 15 16 17. 5. Another impediment of assurance is our living in the neglect of some of Gods Ordinances when we wait on God in some of his wayes but not in all viz. Some will wait upon God in hearing the word of life and yet neglecting the breaking the bread of life sometimes God will give assurance in one Ordinance and deny it in another that we may seek his face in all 1 Cor. 28. 8. 6. Our dallying with sin he that doth lye down in sin must live in fear there is no assurance for us unless we offer up our Isaac and part with our Benjamin pull out our right eye and cut off our right hand c. The evil of doubting or want of assurance WE cannot in any one thing more gratifie Satan and wrong our own souls then to live in a state of doubting we wrong our selves in point of comfort and content and in point of peace and in point of boldness a man that lives without assurance leaves his soul open to many blows and knocks frowns and wounds from God from the world from carnal friends and from Satan besides if we live and dye in unbelief John 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already by the Law and the Gospel and by your own conscience all these have passed the sentence of condemnation upon that state already the sin of unbelief is a great sin and it is our sin to give way to it We nourish a snake in our bosom that will sting us to death to doubt and to despair of mercy is to make the God of truth a lyar 1 John 5. 10. Doubting makes the countenance sad and the hands to hang down and
our selves to be justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ 1 Joh. 5. 3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments so again Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my commandments See the 21. and 23. ver 7. In our obedience to him he doth manifest these things to us that we have right to the tree of life Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City that is in the obedience he shall have the manifestation of that 2 Pet. 1. 11. For so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so he is manifested to be the Author of salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Behold obedience to God is the way of conveyance to us so it is a lively evidence to others that we are the Lords Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples because our faith which is the evidence of things not seen to us is proved to others to be true by its works Jam. 2. 18. Behold here is the Lords going downward from the causes to the effects now we must go upward from the effects to the causes 1. God shews us what is our duty and puts us upon doing it and for the doing of it those that behold it and hear of us judge us to be true Christians 2. In the doing of it God manifests himself more and more to our souls in the keeping of his appointments there is great reward for so an entrance is administred to us abundantly 2 Pet. 1. 11. 3. The cause of our obedience is our love to God If ye love me keep my commandments 4. The cause of our love was our seeing that God did love us first 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 5. The cause of our faith in Christ is the preaching of the Gospel Rom. 10. 17. 6. The cause of the preaching the Gospel to us was Christs dying for us 7. The cause of Christs dying for us was Gods great love of pitty to us-wards even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 4. So then Gods love was the cause of sending his son o deye for our sins Christs dying and rising again is the cause of the Gospeâ—s being preached The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our believing Our believing is the cause of our justification from sin the knowing of our selves free from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of him and in onr obedience is the manifestation more and more conveyed to us So by our obedience others have some evidence of our faith in Christ Mans life is or should be guided by these vertues 1. FAith whereby we believe in and lay hold on God for something promised 2. Hope and that is either for pardoning mercy or for glory 3. Charity whereby we love God as the only good and his people and our enemies in obedience to his command 4. Prudence 1. In our hearts to guide our thoughts 2. In our mouths to order our speeches 3. It should be in our words to grace or adorn our actions 4. In the intelligence to understand things present 5. Prudence to guess at things to come 6. Prudence to recal matters past 5. Temperance which moderates our desires and brings the Appetite under a rule of reason that it may not exceed the rule of moderation 6. Perseverance which continueth in doing and suffering valiantly 7. Justice which giveth every man his due without self-love fear or ranckor it binds us to give due to God to our parents and kindred verity and equity in all that we do in order to our duty herein 1. Sense perceiveth 2. Imagination representeth 3. Understanding formeth 4. Wit deviseth 5. Reason judgeth 6. Memory preserveth 7. Intelligence apprehendeth 8. Contemplation in the prosecution perfecteth Several Divine Sentences First of Christ HE that was the Son of of God became the son of man that we who were the sons of men might become the sons of God He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the rightâ—ousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. The more vile Christ made himself for us the more dear he ought to be unto us therefore let us beware of Christ-dishonouring and soul-undoing opinions All good things are in Christ eminently perfectly and eternally Faith in the blood of Christ the witness of the Spirit of Christ a sense of feeling and the love of Christ and the hope of reigning with Christ are the only things to be desired Christ is as well the fountain of common gifts as of saving grace A true Christian cannot find fulness in the creature nor sweetness in sin nor life in any Ordinance without Christ he will weep over other mens weaknesses and rejoyce at their graces We must lean more upon Christ and less upon our own strength lest with Peter we rest upon some old strength and fall before a new temptation Christ can heal a soul speedily perfectly freely and eternally Oh that Christ should shed his blood for those sins that we never shed one tear for A true Christian doth labour for unity in the Church as well as purity he loves to see Christs coat without rent as well as without spot Phil. 3. 15. Christ did admit his spouse into the garden sweetly though she kept him out of her house sluggishly What a poor soul doth for Christ sincerely that our precious Saviour takes sweetly though it be done ill he doth accept it well Nay though we carry our selves in our choicest performances very weakly yet he doth carry himself towards us very sweetly and doth accept of that which we do kindly although done in much infirmity let us enter into his service and we shall soon experience his sweetness Christ doth weigh the heart of the giver more then the value of the gift and delights to see his people give cheerfully though they cannot give bountifully Let us give over measuring his mercy by the narrow scantling of our dark understandings though difficulties may arise and Christians hearts may fail yet the work of Christ shall go on c. Of affliction for sin in Sentences GOD is as severe in punishing as he is gracious in pardoning his house of correction is his School of instruction God had one Son without corruption but no Son without correction he had one Son without Sin but no Son without Sorrow A Soul may be dearly beloved although soarly afflicted sin and punishment are linked together if thou wilt be sinful thou must be miserable Oh what is the state of a man
miserable then the beast that perisheth in the ditch for I must go to answer before the Judgement seat of the Righteous judge of heaven and earth where I shall have none to speak for me and I cannot excuse my self my own heart already condemns me I must needs therefore be condemned before his Judgement seat me thinks I hear that doleful sentence Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angels If I should say Lord If I must depart from thy blessed presence then bles me before I go Then he will answer me as in the text Depart ye cursed Lord if I must depart and depart without a blessing and with a curse let me go into some good place no saith the Lord in the same text Depart ye cursed into Hell fire but Lord if I must depart and depart cursed and be cast into Hell fire Let me stay but a little while there then the Lord will answer as in the same text Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire But Lord saith the damned soul if I must depart and depart cursed into everlasting fire Let me have good company there no saith the Lord Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels These shall be thy companions Oh horror to to think Oh grief to consider Oh cursed be the day wherein I was born cursed be the man that shewed my Father saying a child is born unto thee Cursed be the man because he shew me not Oh that my mother might have been my grave How is it that I came forth of the womb to endure these hellish Sorrows and that my daies should thus end with eternal shame And thus he who made earth his Paradise his belly his God his lust his Law and so sowed vanity now he reapeth misery in his prosperity he neglected to serve God in his adversity God refuseth to save him and the Devil whom he served now at at last pays him his wages thus far of the miseries of the soul and body in Death which is but cursedness in part Of the sad Condition and Misery of all out of Christ after death ANd here I shall not say much but only give the Reader a tast of that state and then speak at large to this thing towards the close of this book when we speak of the last Judgment and end of all things Now the misery of the soul after death is either particular or general particular is that which liteth upon the soul immediately as soon as she is separated from the body she is said to stand before the throne of God and so forthwith she is carried by the evil Angels with violence into hell where she is kept as in a prison in everlasting pains and chains under darkness unto the Judgement of the great day but not in that extremity of Torments which she shal receive at the last day there thy lascivious eyes shall be afflicted with sights of ghostly spirits Thy curious ears shall be affrighted with hinous noyse of howling Devils and the gnashing teeth of damned Reprobates thy dainty nose shall be cloyed with noysom stench thy delicate taste shall be pined with intolerable hunger and thy drunken throat shall be parched with nnquenchable thirst thy mind shall be tormented to think how foolishly thou hast lost heaven and gotten hellish pains for momentary riches thou hast lost the eternal treasure and changed heavens felicity for hells fury where thou shalt have punishment without pitty misery without mercy sorrow without succour crying without comfort mischief without measure torment without ease where the worm dyeth not and the fire is never quenched where the wrath of God shall fall upon the soul and body as the flame of fire doth on the Lump of pitch or brimstone in which flame thou shalt ever be burning and never consumed ever dying and never dead ever roaring in the pangs of death and never rid of those pangs this is the second death which every damned Reprobate must suffer so long as God and his Saints shall enjoy bliss and felicity in Heaven for evermore Hitherto of the misery of man in the state of corruption now followeth the means that every one should use to escape this sad condition that they may not go out as the snuff of a candle but lay down their lives in peace in assurance or at least some hope of their salvation A Preparation for death that it may not come upon us before we are ready to dye DEath having something to say to every man in every state and condition it is but reason that all should hearken to the message Now he that desires to live sweetly and die comfortably let him observe these and the like Rules First there are six things to be considered Secondly there are seven things to be practised First of the first there are six things to be considered viz. 1. The fewness of our years moneths weeks and dayes 2. The frailty of our Nature 3. The Many dangers we every day pass through 4. That death is no respecter of persons 5. That death to the godly is but a change of place not of company 6. Consider that death to a Christian is but a house a bed a sleep a rest c. 1. The fewness of our years moneths weeks and dayes here in this life is swifter then a weavers shuttle Job 7. 6. It is a shrub a leaf a reed a rush a grass a smoak a cloud a wind a water a bubble a vapour a shadow a nothing and so at our best estate altogether vanity Psalm 39. 5. Isa 64. 6. Psalm 102. 3. 2 Sam. 14. 14. Jam. 4. 14. 1 Chron. 29. 15. 2. Consider the frailty of our nature Psal 39. 4. Lord make me to know my end and the measure of my dayes what it is that I may know how frail I am such is the swiftness of mans dayes and shortness of mans life and frailty of his nature that the swiftest shortest and frailest things for the most part that we read of are not swift frail and short enough to compare mans life unto mans body is but a magazine and hospital of diseases and diseases are but the messengers or forerunners of death when diseases are in the house then death is at the threshold when sickness is in the chamber death is at the window our body is but a cottage of clay and that so frail and crasie as were it not once or twice every day daubed over it would fall about our ears wheresoever we go we are fain to drag this clod this clay whereas Angels free from the shakles of flesh can move from earth to heaven and from heaven to earth even as swift as can our thoughts Oh that we were as low in heart as condition 3. Consider the many dangers we every day pass through 2 Cor. 11. 26. In perils of waters in perils of Robbers in perils amongst our friends and foes in perils in