God Alsufficient or the Almighty God Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 17. 1. knowing that unless his faith were firm his steps could never be even If he had not beleived Gods power he could not be evangelically perfect And hence that father of the faithful became so eminent in obedience from the strength of his faith It s said of him Isa. 41. 2. that he came to the foot of God That Child was dutiful indeed that when his Father did but stamp with his foot left what ever he was about though it were never so delightful or gainful to him and ran to his Father to know and obey his commands Thus truly did Abraham when God called him to turn his back upon his relations and the place of his nativity nay to sacrifice his Isaac the child of the promise as well as of his love he did not question Gods pleasure nor quarrel with his precepts but obeyed them presently and all from his faith His strong faith caused strong obedience Heb. 11. It s observable that all the noble and heroick acts of obedience of the Lords Worthies mentioned in that little book of Martyrs were performed under the conduct and command of faith Faith is one of the best Antidotes against the poison of prophaness and one of the greatest helpes to holiness None are more faithful to God then they who have most faith in God They who beleive will be careful to maintain good works Tit. 3. 8. As the natural heat is the life of the body and as that increaseth with the radical moysture strength and health abound So Faith is the life of the soul as that is strong or weak his godliness is more or less He that is highest in affiance is highest in obedience This is the strength of the soul According to a Mans strength such is his walk either straight or stumbling According to a mans Faith such is his life either even or crooked 1. Faith destroyeth sin 2. It enableth to live to God 1. It killeth sin If the Pulse of a Christianâ— hand or life beat uneven it is because his Faith which is his heart doth faulter This is the shield of the soul which secures it against all assaults and dangers Other peices of the Christians Armour are serviceable to defend particular parts of the new man as the Girdle of truth the loyns rightâ—ousness the brest the Gospel of peace the feet but Faith is a Shield moveable at pleasure and surroundeth and guardeth the whole man With favour wilt thou compass him as with a Shield Psa. 5. ult Faith secureth the head from evilâ—principles What sense denieth and reason understandeth not Faith beleiveth Aristotle reading Moses concerning the Creation is reported to say Egregie dicis domine Moses sed quomodo probas Thou speakest nobly but how dost thou prove it The answer to him is easie By Faith we believe that the world were made of God Heb. 11. 2. Faith clears up the understanding and scattereth the mists of error The pesence of this Sun disperseth those Clouds Faith secureth the heart from evil purposes It s the besome that sweepeth out such dust and keeps the heart clean Having their hearts purified by Faith Act. 15. 9. Faith entertaineth the King of Saints into the heart it sets him on the throne and these traytours flye before him His presence makes these Rebels to hide their heads Who ever could find in his heart to hug sin whilst he was viewing by faith his bleeding Saviour Faith secureth the hand from evil practices The Martyrs chose the flames rather then the denial of their Master and all because of their Faith Those Worthies of the Lord of whom the World was not worthy through Faith stopped the mouths of Lyon-like lusts quenched the violence of hellish fires were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection Heb. 11. 33 34 35. By Faith we stand 2 Cor. 1. 24. As a Souldier under the protection of his Shield stands his ground and doth his duty notwithstanding the shot that are made against him So a Christian under the protection of Faith keeps his place and mindeth his work whatsoever opposition he meets with Faith like Ioab stabbeth this Abner under the fifth rib it wounds fin mortally Hope like Saul hath slain its thousands but Faith like David it s ten thousands Whole Armies of Lusts have turned their backs at the sight of this Warriour By Faith the walls of Ierico fall down Whilst unbeleif liveth no sin will dye All iniquity sheltereth it self under the Banner of infidelity If once the banks of Faith be broken down a flood of wickedness will rush and flow in What made Abraham deny his Wife and expose her to such temptations and wickedness but unbeleif What made Isaac tread in his Fathers steps and leave Rebecah to the Heathens luste but unbeleif What made David dishonour his God by his uncomely carriage before Achish and injure his soul by his unholy language that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul but unbeleif What made Peter deny and forswear his Master but unbeleif These tares were sown by the enemy when the husbandman Faith was asleep had they believed the power and faithfulness of God to defend them in their dangers and distresses without their lyes and his grace and bounty to reward them largely for all their sufferings for his sake had they believed that God when he called them to straights would without any sinful means have brought them off safe on earth or safe to Heaven they would never have used such sinful shifts for their own safety Faith would secure the soul against all those temptations and prevent such sinister and sinful doings He that beleiveth maketh not haste He will patiently wait Gods leasure and submit to his pleasure and not venture upon forbidden courses and unlawful ways to deliver himself out of distress Vnbeleif is the dung which makes the soyl of corrupt nature so fruitful in the unfruitful works of darkness Whence cometh such immoderate love of a perishing world but from want of Faith and Beleif of that transcendent glory that is to be revealed Whence cometh such dulness and deadness in holy duties but from unbelief either of the holiness and jealousie of that God with whom we have to do or of his goodness and mercy that his reward will pay the charge of diligence in his work Whence comes such cozening and cheating and over-reaching in dealings with men that from distrust of Gods power and providence as if he could not or would not spread a Table for his Children in the most barren Wilderness Whence comes that impatience and murmuring in adversity but from want of Faith which would encourage the heart in the Lord his God in the saddest estate and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom nor the Vine yeild its fruit enable the soul to rejoyce in the Lord and be glad in the Rock of his salvation Whence
in my dealing and discourse with such men Lord thou knowest the poor silly children of men are unable to judge of eternal affairs according to their weight they are quickly lost when in their thoughts they begin to launch into that boundless Sea The ponderousness of the subject is ready to affright and press them down being so much beyond and above their shallow understandings But wouldst thou please to enable them though it were but to peep into the other world and to behold through some Crevice what is doing and enjoyed there both by thy friends and thine enemies they would soon have other thoughts of thee and thy service and other carriages when they are about thy work the greatest seriousness would then be too little the greatest ardour would not be thought enough for thy worship they would then indeed be fervent in spirit when they are serving the Lord. O teach thy servant though he cannot see into the other world with the eye of sense yet so to look into it with an eye of faith that he may transact the concerns thereof with that diligence faithfulness and fervency which thou acceptest and whilst he liveth be zealous of good works I Wish that my heart may be so affected with pity towards sick and afflicted persons that I may often and earnestly remember them in my prayers A little Captive considering the Leprosie of her Master was instrumental for his cure by crying out Would God my Lord were with the Prophet that is in Samaria for he would recover him of his Leprosie I have more reason when I behold a Leprous soul near its last gasp to look up to Heaven with Would to God that poor creature were with Jesus Christ that great prophet of his Church who is able and willing to enliven and pardon and sanctifie and save Would to God he would be perswaded to come to Christ to cling to Christ to close with Christ for he would recover him And what do I know but my prayers may be prevalent on his behalf Christ when dying prayed for his enemies for them that imbrued their hands in his blood and shall not I pray for my friends when they are dying and possibly ignorant whether they are going My Prayers are a cheap courtesie and diminish nothing of my estate either spiritual or temporal Their misery is an awakening motive to the duty Never did they stand in such need of help from others and wrastling with God on their behalves as now that they are taking their journey into a far Country and entring upon an unchangeable condition They may say to me as Nehemiah to Geshem I am doing a great work c. I am going to die to bid adieu to all the folly and vanity and comforts of this world to take possession of my long home of the place wherein I must abide for ever O pray for us that we may be pardoned and saved that we may repent and believe that we may die in the faith and obtain the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life eternal They have many distractions upon their own spirits by reason of pains and bodily distempers and the loss and lamentation of their Kindred and Relations that they cannot poure out their hearts to God with that freeness and seriousness and earnestness which probably they desire Their enemies and assaults and temptations at such a time are more quick and strong and violent and full of rage having but a short time I must now pray for them or never pray for them Now beg mercy for them or never beg mercy for them When their life is gone all tears and cries and groans for them are in vain Davids greatest passions for dead Absolon were to no purpose They are then gone the way they shall not return and fixed in that place whence they shall never remove Lord I confess that my narrow heart hath not pity enough for afflicted and sick and dying souls and my weak hands have not power enough to supply or support them in their sad estates but thou hast both O be pleased to look down from Heaven the habitation where thine holiness dwelleth Behold their miseries hide thy face from all their iniquities out of thine infinite fulness releive their necessities Let the eyes of their souls be opened to see their sins and their Saviour before the eyes of their bodies be closed Give them patience and strength answerable to the burden thou layest on their backs Enable them to do their last works well and let them be better then their first Open thou their lips and let their mouths shew forth thy praise before they go to the place of silence Stand by them in their last conflict with their enemies Death and Devils that they may over come both be more then conquerours through him that loves them and pass through the jaws of death to the joys of a blessed eternal life I Wish that my soul may be the more sound for every visit I bestow on sick bodies There is not so much danger of catching their outward diseases as there is hope of increasing my spiritual health if I am not wanting to my self The sick and dying bed is a Pulpit out of which I may be instructed more fully in many serious truths though the sick or dying man be speechless King Joash obtained three famous victories over the Syrians by visiting sick Elisha and might have gotten a compleat conquest over them if it had not been his own fault The sight of sick and dying men may assist me in my conflicts with the three great enemies of my present purity and future comfort and bliss It teacheth â—e how vain it is to make provision for that flesh which will it self ere long be provision for wormes Ah how foolish am I to pamper and please that which instead of releiving or refreshing will in my extremity pierce and pain me It teacheth me that the world it self is the greatest Cheat and Impostour in the world That though it laughs and smiles on men dandling them on her knees and hugging them in her armes whilst they are in health and promising all sorts of comforts and pleasures yet in their sickness and misery she turns them off and leaves them as Absolons Mule did him to be â—hot through with the heart-cutting arrows of eternal death By discovering the emptiness and falseness of these two seeming ends the flesh and the world it helpeth me to overcome my third enemy and to repel the fiery darts of the Devil The cup of temptation which hath so often bewitched me to drink down his deadly poison had its prevalency from the worldly profit with which the out-side was guilded or the fleshly pleasure with which the in-side was sweetned Ah! could I but bid an hearty defiance to the World and the Flesh and conquer them I need not fear the wicked one They are the powerful Advocates by which Satan pleads and too often prevails with
militant Calvin was heard before his death often to sigh out How long Lord How long will it be ere thou avenge the blood of thy Servantsâ— The people of God are the purchase of Christ and of the same family and body with the dying Christian and therefore must needs be dear to him 4. For his Benefactours and those that have done good to him and his Paul had received some kindness from Onesimus he refreshed him in his bonds and in the 2 Tim. 1. 8. which was the last of his Epistles and thought to be written but a little before his death for he tells us in it I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand how pathetically doth he pray for him The Lord grant that he may finde mercy at that day 5. For our enemies This is to follow Gods pattern who doth good for evil and to obey his Precept who commandeth us to pray for them that despitefully use us Stephen when departing out of the World intreats mercy for them who were cruel to him Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7. 60. Our blessed Saviour dying begs hard for their eternal lives who were the instruments and authors of his bloody death Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23. 34. Thirdly In an holy exercise of Faith Courage Repentance Charity and Patience 1. Faith It s the Character of Gods Children that they live by Faith and they dye in the Faith Hab. 2. 6. Heb. 11. 31. The waters say some of the Pool of Bethesda wherein the Priest washed the sacrifices before he offered them was of a reddish colour to note that men must be washed by faith in the blood of Christ before they are ready to be offered a Peace-offering to God by death The dying Christian must expect strong assaults against the bulwark of his faith but what-ever he let go he must keep his hold on Christ. I know no grace that the Devil is such a sworn enemy to as Faith and I know no season that he is more diligent in to overthrow their faith then when they are under some dangerous sickness therefore it s the observation of a good man that he seldom seeth a sick Saint followed close with temptations to recover of that sickness for Satan knowing he hath but a little time useth all his craft and strength to separate the soul from the Rock of his salvation Upon a dying bed reflect upon former experienes of Gods love to thy soul and recollect the former evidences of of thy title to Christ and thereby to Heaven I must tell thee though the certainty of thy salvation depend upon the truth of thy Faith the comfort of thy dissolution will depend on the strength of thy Faith Faith is the shield of the soul and therefore above all in thy encounter with thy great enemy Satan and thy last enemy death take the Shield of Faith Eph. 6. 14. Epaminondas after his victory at Loâ—ctrum wherein he was mortally wounded understanding that his Buckler was safe bid his Chirurgion boldly to pluck out the Dart that stuck in his side and died cheerfully The Saint the Souldier of Christ who is wounded even to death and keepeth his Shield of Faith safe may leave the world with courage The Apostle Paul who knew whom he had beleived 2 Tim. 1. 12. rings a challenge in the ears of death O death where is thy sting and sings a triumphant ditty at the approach of death The time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. When Iacob had beleived the report of Iosephs life his heart was revived Is Joseph yet alive saith he I will go down and see him before I dye When the true Israelite can firmely credit the testimony which God hath given of Iesus the Son of Ioseph how he being an enemy was reconciled to God by the death of his Son and shall much more being reconciled be saved by his life and by faith can cling on him his heart though dying is then enlivened O with what comfort can he take his journey into the other world When Philip viewed his young Son Alexander Now saith he I am content to dye Old Simeon springs young again at a sight of Christ and having embraced his Saviour in the armes of faith as well as in the armes of his body he begs a dismission out of this valley of tears being assured thereby of an admission into fulness of joy Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Having with an eye of faith beheld Christ he counts his life but a bondage and desires to depart or be loosed from fetters as the word signifieth and is taken Mat. 27. 17. We read of the Lords worthies that by faith they stopped the mouths of Lions Death is a fierce and cruel Lion but faith will pull out its teeth that it cannot hurt us or stop its mouth that it shall not devour us This grace like the Angel sent from Heaven when Daniel was cast into the Lions Den will save the Christian from being torn in peices O Friend The Robes of Christs righteousness is the onely Coat of Male which can defend thy soul against the shot of death If thou canst with Moses go up to Pisgah and take a view by faith of the Land of promise thou wilt comfortably with him lay down thine earthly Tabernacle Iob desired death as eagerly as the Labourer in an hot summers day desires the shadow Paul longed for it as vehemently as the Apprentice for the expiration of his Indentures and all because they had first beheld Christ by faith It s no wonder that many of Gods Children have called earnestly to be laid to bed knowing that it would prove their everlasting happy rest and when their bodies are carried by mortal men to their Mother Earth their souls should be conveyed by glorious Angels to their Father in Heaven 2. Courage A Christian should be a Voluntier in death Many of the Martyrs were as willing to dye as to dine went to the sire as chearfully as to a Feast and courted its pale and gastly countenance as if it had bee a beautiful Bride When King Lysimachus threatned Cyrenaeus Theodorus with Hanging Istis quaeso inquit ista horribilia minitare purpuratis tuis Thedori quidem nihil interest humine an sublime putrescat Threaten these terrible things to thy brave Courtiers Theodorus cares not whether he rot in the Air or on the Earth Cyprian said Amen to his own Sentence of Martyrdom Hierom reports of Nepotianus that he gave up his life so chearfully that one would have thought he rather walked forth then died When Ignatius was led from Syria to Rome to be torn in peices of wild
in their dealings and more frequent in their thefts These Cheats that do it cunningly as Rabbits making holes under ground and so think themselves secure will at last be fereted out and slain 3. His Case and Cover of his sin I am become rich I have found me out substance in all my labour they shall find none iniquity As if his riches did prove him to be righteous and his prosperity had argued him free from all impiety Whereas God suffereth many like ravenous birds to build their Nests on high with stollen materials intending at last by some fierce blast of providence to bring them down and destroy the whole brood Thieves seldome finde joy in their new purchases but never stability Geese say some if they chance to take hold of a root with their bill they will bite and pull so long to have it that many times they break their necks before they leave their hold So unjust men by their greediness to inrich usually ruine themselves such goods are like the Fox which Plutarch mentions the Lacedemonian boy to have stollen and rather then he would be discovered put it into his breeches but it quickly did tear out his bowels Be righteous in the manner of thy selling The Seller may not exact upon the Buyers necessity but sell by the rule of equity I am not bound to sell cheap because I buy cheap neither may I sell dear because I buy dear Not my buying or selling so much as the price of the Market should be my standard Though I conceive a Market rate to be most righteous yet its wicked by keeping in commodities to raise the Market He that with-holdeth Corn the people shall curse him Prov. 11. 26. Such a man like a corrupt imposthumated member would draw all the nourishment to himself and cares not though the other parts of the body perish but the people shall curse him This Oak which will suffer no small trees to thrive neer it will in time fall with the breath of so many curses Probably you would know whether a Tradesman that knoweth such and such commodities will fall very much by Letters which mention several Ships comming home laden with them or some other way may not sell off his own wares at the present price and hide his news from his Country Customers Reader I shall answer it with a question not much unlike it in an Heathen Author expecting that Christians should not be excelled by Heathen A man brings a Ship of Corn from Alexandria to Rhodes saith Cicero in a time of great Famine he may have for it what priâ—e he pleaseth he knoweth of many more Ships which will be there the next day may he conceal this from the Rhodians No saith the Orator And what sayest thou Reader In all thy Contracts Purchases and Sales cast an eye upon that golden rule mentioned by our Saviour Mat. 7. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets This is the Royal Law the golden Rule the Kings High-way and the standard of all righteousness Whatsoever in a well ordered judgement thou wouldst have others do to thee and thine do the samâ— to them and theirs supposing conditions alike for this is the sum and epitome of all that is delivered in the Law and the Prophets concerning thy carriage towards others Hierom commended this saying to a holy woman to be written on her heart as an abridgement of all righteousness Lactantius saith It s the root and foundation of all equity Severus the Emperor had often this saying in his mouth and caused it to be proclaimed by the Cryer as often as he punished a Souldier for injuring any other It s very profitable for a Christian in his dealings with others to make frequent appeals to his own Conscience Would I be dealt thus with were I as this man is or as this woman Would I be willing to have this measure measured to me or mine Would I be glad to be served so as I serve others Is this to love my Neighbour as my self Reader such serious Soliloquies may prevent much unrighteousness Though Charity begins at home in regard of order yet not in regard of time for a man no sooner loves himself aright but he loves his Neighbour as himself That Proverb came from the Devil Every man for himself and God for us all For God saith Let no man seek his own but every man anothers wealth And again Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self 1 Cor. 10. 24. Gal. 5. 24. He is but a beast that preyeth for himself alone Inanimate creatures are beneficial to others Fire Ayr Earth Water are all serviceable to others beside and more then to themselves How soon would the frame of nature be dissolved if every thing should be confined within the narrow compass of self Water moveth downward Fire upward naturally yet both will cross their own nature to prevent a Vacuum and preserve the Vniverse Besides I must tell thee that the Subjects house as well as the Kings Throne is preserved by righteousness That speech of Nevessan the Lawyer is contrary to Scripture He that will not venture his body shall never be valiant and he that will not venture his soul shall never be rich Righteousness not Robbery is the way to Riches He goeth the farthest way about that endeavours to increase his strength by sucking others blood or to get an estate by injustice Nay he takes a contrary course for he pulls down on his head the Divine curse which like an Hectick Feaver will cause an irrecoverable Consumption of all his comforts both temporal and spiritual Such treasures and owners are like the Canaanites to the Land the Land will groan till it spue them out Treasures of wickedness profit nothing Prov. 10. 2. Observe Reader 1. The Excellency of these Comforts in themselves they are Treasures that is heaps of outward good thing the word includeth a multitude for one or two will not make a treasure and a multitude of precious things for an heap of sand or coales or dust is not a treasure but of silver or gold or some excellent earthly things It is here in the plural Treasures Noting the greatest confluence of worldly comforts Note 2. The impiety of the owners they are treasures of wickedness The Purchaser got them by sinful practices They were brought into his house slily at some back door He was both the receiver and the theif Treasures of wickedness because gotten by wicked ways and imployed to wicked ends There is an English Proverb which too many English men have made good That which is got over the Devils back is usually spent under the Devils belly When sin is the Parent that begets riches it many times hath this recompence that they are wholly at its service and command 3. The vanity of those treasures they profit nothing Treasures of wickedness profit
Precepts diligently O that my ways were directed to keep all thy Commandements Though I abound and am never so strict in thine Ordinances if I be careless and loose in my Contracts with men thou canst espie the evil constitution of my soul notwithstanding such painting Thou canst see the rottenness of my heart in the rottenness of my wares under the false gloss I put upon them And if thy moral precept find not obedience with me my spiritual performances will never find acceptance with thee The Pie a speckled Bird whose Feathers were white and black was unclean Should I seem pious in those duties which concern thy worship and yet be perverse in my dealings with men I am in thy judgement a wicked person Thou hast said of such Shall I count them pure with the wicked ballances and with the bag of deceitful weights Micah 6. 11. If there be iniquity in my hands there is hypocrisie in my heart How clearly doth a person that picketh and chooseth his food liking this and loathing that though neâ—er so wholsom prove a foul stomach and how fully do I demonstrate secret filth in my inward parts if I pick and choose amongst the food of my soul the precepts When the soul is clean and sound every command will be sweet if my heart be sincere all my dealings will be square O let me never be like those Pharises who made long prayers for a cover that they might prey the more closely upon their Neighbours but let thy spirit in my heart send up the sap of grace into every branch of my life that all the passages thereof may abound in the fruits of righteousness and I may esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right I Wish that the glory of Religion may be so dear to my heart that I may render it amiable to the eyes of others by walking every way sutable to my profession The name of my God is holy and reverend and shall I offer it to reproach Some write that the Iews would not foul their mouths with that unclean word of blaspeming God but always expressed it by a contrary word of blessing God If it were so execrable that they hated to speak it shall I be so vile as to act it It were a sin to wrong a man of his good name what is it then to rob my God If I dress my self in the livery of Christ and in that habit wallow in the mire of unrighteous dealings I give up the blessed Redeemer to the scorn and derision of the world Every one that nameth the name of Christ should depart from iniquity The colours of Christ which I wear cause many to look upon me Every professor is like a City on an Hill visible to all Spots are sooner seen in scarlet then in sackcloth Blots appear fouler in a strict professour then in a loose and prophane person None wonders to see swine dirty but to see the Ermins beautiful skin bemired is prodigious How watchful are the wicked to observe my wandrings All my familiars watch for my halting they mark my steps when they watch for my soul If they can sinde the least tincture of falseness in my words or colour of unfaithfulness in my works they soon make it much greater looking on it through the Spectacles of malice How quick do they post it abroad and publish it amongst their companions I hear the defaming of many fear on every side Report say they and we will report it What a shame was it that the Great Turk should take the violated Covenant of the Hungarian King out of his bosoâ—e and present it to the blessed God as the act of those that wore his livery and prosest them selves his servants When those that should be the beauty of Israel are slain in the high places and those that by their profession are the mighty fall in the streets they soon tell it in Gath and publish it in Askelon the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce the Sons of the uncircumcised triumph then the banks of blasphemy are broken down and the floods of scoffs and scorns come pouring in And when they went among the Heathen they prophaned my holy name when they said to them These are the people of the Lord. How doth the World conclude Surely the Parents are very bad whom their own Children discommend so much Certainly there is little love or power or faithfulness in their Father when his own Sons dare not trust him for a little food but go up and down to steal and filch from others O how ordinary is it for the prophane to throw the dirt of professours sins on the face of their profession None give such wounds to the credit of the blessed God as some who pretend to be his own children The higher the place is whence a stone fals the deeper it piercethâ— No blows more mortal then those of a Thunder-bolt My profession is high if my practices be vile and base I strike religion to the very heart O let me never be so vile a Traytor as by my sordid courses like Judas to betray the holy Iesus to the buffetings and mockings of his adversaries Why should I harden the bad by my sinful shifts in their wickedness Shall I be the Divels broker to put off those rotten wares for him of cozening and cheating which otherwise might lie upon his hands Why should I sadden the good Shall I cause them to hang down their heads with sorrow as the Patriarchs did theirs when the cup was found in Benjamins sack Lord thou art tender of the Reputation of thy chosen and hast many a time wrought wonderfully for their renown and credit When the wicked world hath blown upon their names endeavouring to blast them and make them unsavoury thou hast magnified thy power to vindicate their honour And shall I make thy glorious name contemptible when thou makest my vile name honourable Can I be so void of love to thy Majesty as to tread upon that name of thine that is more worth then Heaven and Earth Besides Many a season I have pleaded thy name in prayer and that with success My voice hath been in the behalf of my own soul For thy names sake pardon mine iniquity for it is great Thou art my Rock and my Fortress therefore for thy names sake lead me and guide me When thou haste answered me Behold I even I am he that blotteth out thine iniquities for my names sake I will defer my anger for mine names sake and for my praise will I refrain for thee that I cut thee not off O how many a blessing hath thy name been both the Oratour to procure and the Messenger to bring when many others have treated to little purpose that that hath been the undeniable Ambassadour to prevail for peace and pardon Thy name hath been by shelter in many a storm and my supply in many a straight and shall I be an enemy to that
it by thy providence water it with the showres of thy grace and so quicken it with the beams of thy favour that it may bring forth much fruit to thy glory I Wish that I may like Enoch walk so with my God in all my actions whilst I walk amongst men that in thy good time my soul may be translated and I may not see death either as the wicked in this World do with terrour or as the damned in the other World do in torment to their everlasting woe Lord thou art Jehovah Tsidkenu the Lord my righteousness be pleased to cloath my person with the robe of thy Sons imputed righteousness that my nakedness may not appear before Men and Angels to my eternal shame let all my actions be covered with the garment of thy Spirits imparted righteousness that they may be acceptable and amiable in thine eye Let thy grace so fill my heart that godliness may be visible in my hands and I may thereby draw others towards Heaven Thou hast said Behold I make all things new what wilt thou then do with this old corrupt nature of mine O Renew that or nothing will be new to my comfort O God create a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me I know the time will come that thou wilt create new Heavens and new Earth wherein shall dwell righteousness My body is the Earth and my soul is the Heaven which thou hast already made but might thy servant prevail with thy Majesty to create my soul thy new Heavens and my body thy new Earth wherein may dwell righteousness how infinitely should I be bound tâ— thy distinguishing mercy Thy hands have made me and fashioned me O give me understanding that I may keep thy Commandements Were my soul bespangled with the glorious stars of thy graces and my body embroydered and curiously wrought so as to be the Temple of thy Spirit then indeed thou mightest reâ—lect upon what thou hadst made with complacency for behold it would be very good Hast thou not made the great World for man and the little World Man for thy self When shall I be so pure as to invite thy presence and so sanctified as to be set apart from all others and to be only for thy service O make it appear that I am thy workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which thoâ— hast before ordained that I should walk in them If thou pleasest to set forth this Heaven and Earth this little Epitome of the creation in a new edition I know it would be done in so fair a Character as to delight thine eyes and to raviâ—h the hearts of all that behold it T is confest the Copy was perfect when it came out of thy hands there was no unrighteousness or impatience not the least blot or blemish in it but my Parents who transmitted the book to the world through their unfaithfulness filled it from the beginning to the end with errors Adam begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image The first sheet went off the press through his cursed falseness and negligence imperfect and full of faults and the many millions that followed have still retained the same defects Yet Lord since thy Son was at the cost of a new impression Let it please thee for his sake to be at the pains of correctâ—ing this volume so effectually that those who look into it may read righteousness courtesie meekness faith humility patience heavenly-mindedness printed in so large a Letter free from the former errors that they may so like it as to embrace and imitate it O then I shall be assured that at the general Resurrection when thy last hand shall pass on me and I shall be published in the newest and last edition none of those blots and blurs wherewith I have defiled it shall be found in it but thy Image shall be printed on me in such a lovely Character and in so perfect a manner that thou wilt delight in me and I in thee for ever and ever Amen CHAP. II. How Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness in the Choice of their Companions SEcondly Thy duty is to make Religion thy business and to exercise thy self to Godliness in relation to thy Company Man saith the Great Philosoper is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natures good-fellow as one Englisheth it a creature in love with Company Cosmographers observe that the farthest Islands of the World are so seated that there is none so remote but that from some shore of it another Island or Continent may be discovered as if nature hereby invited Countries to mutual commerce God never intended that the World should be a wilderness nor the chief inhabitants thereof as barbarous Beasts to live alone lurking in their Monksâ— and Nuns and Hermits who under pretence of Sanctity sequester themselves from all society are so far from more holiness and being better Christians then others that they seem to have put off the very humane nature and not to be so much as Men. Vnclean nasty persons love to be always private and by their good will would neither seeâ— nor be seen of others Birds of Prey flye always alone and Ravenous Brutes come not abroad till others are retired Psa. 104. 23. Our very senses speak that God would have us sociable nay it s the natural voice of our tongues for our speech and hearing and sight would be in a great degree lost and our Makers end in giving us those Organs and Instruments for converse much frustrated if every man should immure himself in his own Cell The graces and spiritual riches of Saints would in some measure be useless if they did not deal with some to whom they might distribute them The Law of man condemneth ingrossers of external goods and the Law of God condemneth ingrossers of spiritual good things They who study to Monopolize all to themselves undo others As the World shall never want poor men that the wealthy may always have objects of Charity and opportunities of laying out and improving those talents which are committed to their trust so the world shall never be without needy Christians that those who are rich in grace may have fit objects and occasions of imploying their gifts The Moralists axiom is right Omne bonum quo communius eo melius Every good thing is so much the better as it hath many sharers in it In this sense there is a truth in that It is not good for man to be alone Not that it was a formal evil but inconvenient Infinite wisdom hath so dispenced his gifts and graces that no man is so sterile but he hath something wherewith to profit others nor any man so furnished and fruitful but he standeth in need of others help The Head cannot say to the Foot much-less the Foot to the Head I have no need of thee The King himself who seemeth to have least want cannot subsist without the meanest workmen even them that grind
enough to check the greatest for their crimes How plain was Seneca in reproving Nero Diogenes in reproving Alexander and Zeno Nearchus It s said of Suetonius that in writing the lives of the twelve Caesars he took the same liberty in declaring their vices which they took to commit them and shall not Christians be as bold to check sin as others are to act it Reader what love dost thou show to thy Neighbour if thou seest him wounding and piercing his inestimable soul and thou dost not endeavour though against his will to hold his hand If thou shouldst see him take a Knife to stab himself at the heart thou wouldst not stay to ask his leave or fear his anger but do thy utmost to hinder him and canst thou see him destroying his soul and not seek to prevent him That pity without question is the best which relateth to the better part There was a barbarous Law among the Lacedemonians That no man should tell his Neighbour any ill news that befel him but every one should be left in process of time to find it out himself Alas what will become of poor sinners if none should tell them what they are doing whither they are going till they come to find it in the place of torments Were love burning in our hearts as fire was in the Temple or were our faces towards one another like those Cherubims which covered the Mercy Seat with their wings we should not onely not lie in sin our selves but also endeavour that others should not die in their sins That person who refused to smite his Neighbour when commanded in the name of the Lord was slain by a Lion 1 King 20. 35. If we refuse to smite sin Gods wrath will smite us Because this duty is of such concernment I shall give thee some few brief directions 1. Be sure that which thou reprovest be a sin and not a lawful or indifferent thing Some shew much heat but little holiness in keeping a great stir about nothing The Israelites raised a great Army to fight against their Brethren upon a supposition that they had built an Altar for sacrifice Iosh. 22. 16. Eli was mistaken in chiding Hannah for drunkenness and thinking she was not sober because she was almost overwhelmed with sorrow 1 Sam. 2. T is dangerous to apply corroding medicines upon supposition that the person hath a festered sore or to cut a man for the stone who is not troubled with that distemper It were better by much to be silent then to cry out against that which we cannot by Scripture prove to be sin He that reproves the deed will do more hurt then good if he be not able to convince the doer Tit. 1. 9. To some it may be said as Iob to his friends who accused him of Hypocrisie because of his calamity as if the stick could not be straight because t was brought to the fire How forcible are right words but what doth your arguing reprove Job 6. 25. Right words have great weight naked truth will be too hard for armed error but what power have mistaken or misapplied arguments what doth such arguing reprove Such arguings seldom reprove any but the arguer and him they always reprove 2. Reprove seriously Reproof is an edged tool and must not be jested wiâ—h Cold Reproofs are like the noise of Cannons a great way off nothing affrighting us He that reproves sin merrily as one that takes a pride to shew his wit and make the company laugh will destroy the sinner instead of the sin There are those that spit out their friends with their tongues and laugh them into enemies Sharpness and acuteness doth ill in sportful festivals but it becomes purging potions Lightness is commendable is nothing but worst in things that are weighty A vain jesting admonition is like rubbing a person with a poisoned Oyl which spreads the more for being put into such a fleeting suppleness The Areopagites banished Stilpo for proving by his Sophistry that Minerva was no Goddess alledging this for their reason that it was not safe for any to dally with things that were Divine Reproof is strong Physick and worketh many times to purpose and therefore is not to be given in jest Sin which is the object of it is not to be played with nor Hell its consequent a jesting matter Titus 1. 13. The Apostle enjoynes Titus to reprove sharply the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may be sound in the faith He that mindeth his Patients health will not toy or trifle or play with his mortal diseases the flesh must feel the plaister or it will never eat up the corruption in it Shouldst thou apply an healing plaister to skin the wound aloft when there is need of a corrosive to take away the dead flesh thou wouldst be false and unfaithful to thy friend When the water was bitter and the ground barren Elisha cast a cruse of Salt into it and it healed both Reproof like Salt must have in it both sharpness and savouriness Alas how fierce is that wrath how hot is that fire to which poor sinners are liable and wilt thou sport with their souls and joyn with them in making a mock of sin Saints must be zealous not onely in good works but also in reproving evil workers The Command is Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their trangression and the house of Jacob their sin Isa. 58. 1. This belongs in some sense to every member as well as to the Minister They must reprove sin powerfully cry aloud lift up thy voice as a trumpet particularly shew my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin Admonition without serious Application is like an Arrow with too many Feathers which though we level at the Mark is taken by the Wind and carried quite from it Some men shoot their Reprehensions like Pellets through a Trunk with no more strength then will kill a Sparrow those make sinners beleive that sin is no such dreadful evil and the wrath of God no such frightful end He that would hit the mark and recover the sinner must draw his arrow of Reproof home Reproof must be powerful the hammer of the word breaks not the heart if it be lightly layd on If the flesh doth not feel the plaister it will hardly be healed by it It must also be so particular that the offendor may think himself concerned Some in reproof will seem to aim at the sinner but so order it that their arrows shall be sure to miss him As Domitian when a Boy held for a mark afar off his hand spread with his fingers severed he shot his arrows so that all hit the empty spaces between his fingers Be the reproof never so gracious the Plaister never so good it will be ineffectual if not applied to the Patient 2 Sam. 12. 7. Act. 2. 36 37. 3.
good Companions will advise and direct my feet in the ways of peace If I fit in darkness and see no light by their counsel and comfort I may learn the way out of the mist. If I am perplexed in any labyrinths they may help me to unty that knot of which I have been labouring long in vâ—in to find an end If I be falling they will be props to support me if I wander they will be guides to reduce me if I be dull they will be whet-stones to quicken me if I do well they will be fathers to encourage me whatever my want be they will endeavour to supply me and whatever my condition be they will be like-minded both weeping with me in my sorrows and rejoycing with me in my joys Besides if I expect the presence of my God who is rich in mercy and the God of all consolations where can I find him sooner then in his Temple they are the Temple of God and I will dwell in them His Saints on Earth are his lesser Heaven wherein he takes up his abode O my soul what an Argument is here to perswade thee to fellowship with the Saints Theirs is the onely good fellowship Their Communion is a Conjunction in the service of thy God and tendeth abundantly to thy spiritual advantage and edification Thy Redeemer calls them the light of the world and they will guide thee in the way which he hath cast up The salt of the earth and they will preserve thee from corruption Their conversations are living Commentaries upon that word which is thy rule and so will both plainly teach thee thy duty and powerfully provoke thee to do it Their expressions will by savoury and help thee to learn the language of Canaan The tongue of the just is a tree of life and beareth excellent fruit The lips of the righteous feed many Besides amongst these Children thou mayst be sure to meet with the everlasting Father Where two or three are gathered together in my name I will be in the midst of them Though but two or three that the wicked despise them for their paucity though two or three never so low and mean that the world scorns them for their poverty yet if gathered together in his name they shall not fail of his presence Surely nothing will prevail more with a faithful Spouse to joyn with any company then this She shall meet with her beloved Husband amongst them O of what great price is this one promise I will be in the midst of them His presence like the nearer approaches of the Sun in the Spring will refresh their hearts with the warm beams of his love when they are chill and almost dead with the cold of frights and fears and cause in their souls a new shooting of grace that notwithstanding any foregoing winter of barrenness they shall now abound in the fruits of righteousness What can they or thou O my soul want which his presence will not supply Art thou laden with sin he can give thee rest art thou full of sorrows he is the conâ—olation of Israel art thou poor in grace with him is durable riches and righteousness art thou dull and dead in spirituals he is the Lord of life and can quicken thee He hath power enough to subdue all thy lusts he hath wisdom enough to resolve all thy doubts he hath grace enough to pity all thy weaknesses and mercy enough to pardon all thy unworthiness He is able to save to the uttermost Nay thou hast not only his Promise to meet thee in his Garden amongst his people but thou hast also his Performance of it for thine encouragement Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be unto you And when he had so said he shewd unto them his hands and his side then were the Disciples glad when they had seen the Lord Then said Iesus unto them again Peace be unto you As my Father hath sent me so send I you And he breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost O the value of those Jewels which are lockt up in this Cabinet All the Crowns and Scepters of the world had they been thrown in amongst the Disciples could not have caused the thousandth part of that comfort nor have brought any degree of that profit which the Disciples had by the presence of the holy Jesus Consider his words Peace be unto you peace be unto you Never did sweeter words or more melodious musick ever sound in humane ears What tidings could be more welcom to them that had known the terrors of an angry God and felt the curses of his righteous Law Didst thou never see a poor debtor arrested by severe Serjeants and hailed to the Goal in which nasty miserable place he was like to continue whilst he lived with wringing of hands and watering of cheeks and doleful screeches and afterwards upon the payment of his debts by some loving Surety with what clapping of hands and gladness of heart he was enlarged If so thou hadst some poor resemblâ—nce of that exuberancy of joy which the Disciples felt when they saw the Lord and heard those blessed words Peace be unto you They were all liable every moment to the arrest of divine justice for those vast sums which they owed to the Holy and Jealous God and in continual danger to be hurried by Divels his Officers to the Prison of Hell whence they could never have come out Now his appearance to them did evidence that the Law was satisfied that all their debts were discharged in that the Surety who took upon him the payment of them was by order of the Iudge released What news could find more acceptance with those that dreaded the fury of the Lord more then death and esteemed his favour far before life then that which did speak him reconciled to them And farther observe the work of the blessed Redeemer And he breathed on them Receive ye the Holy Ghost As if he had said I know your unbeleiving hearts will think the news of a reconciled God and of peace with him too good to be true behold therefore his love-token Receive the earnest of his favour his holy Spirit who knoweth his mind fully and was at the Council-Table of Heaven when all your names were engrost in the book of life and all the methods of grace and good-will towards poor sinners were debated and concluded and is sent to you on purpose to reveal them to you and assure you of them and therefore is an unquestionable evidence that he is at one with you This O my soul was the blessed Heavenly Banquet which the Redeemer entertained his Disciples with when they met together and wouldst thou miss such a feast for all the World Lord thou lovest the Assemblies of thy Saints they are the habitations
they die and all else are weary of them may well cry out by way of admiration O Lord the earth is full of thy goodness The earth is full of thy glory What rich mines may I dig out of the bowels of the earth when my God is angry the earth shakes and trembleth and the foundations thereof are moved and shall not my flesh tremble for fear of the God of the whole earth and my soul be afraid of his righteous judgements His hand hath laid the foundation of the earth and his right hand hath spanned the Heavens â— when he calls they stand up together and shall not I hear his call and obey his command Lord if the earth be thine and the fulness thereof the world and all that dwell therein Whos 's then am I Surely thine O help me to disown all title to my self to quit all my interest in my self and to live as one that is not his own but the Lords the earth is full of thy riches let my heart be full of thy righteousness and that will turn earth to me into heaven whilst I am full of thy likeness and thy love If we consider the Ocean that amazeth a beholder with its fierce countenance and seems to have neither banks nor bottom how it threatens the earth with its boysterous billows as if it intended to swallow it up in a moment and yet when it hath swoln it self to the height of its pride and its insulting waves have shewed their teeth how soon it retreats like a coward as if it were afraid of the smallest worm and had already outgone its bounds and commission what innumerable Fish both small and great take up their chambers in the waters and finde their food in the jaws of that devourer what multitudes of massy Vessels she fetcheth off from one Island and carrieth upon her back as a Porter his burthen and sets them down safe at another how she playeth with them what frights she puts them in by the way as men do little children tossing them up to heaven and then throwing them down again as if her belly should be the certain place of their burial and after all her frowns and fury refresheth them with her smiles and favour and doth but prepare them thereby to salute their harbour with the greater joy and gladness how she sendeth out of her store-house provision for the several families of the world furnishing the several pipes and aquaeducts of the earth with fresh springs and streams for the comfort of Man and Beasts If we but confider these things what cause shall we have to say with the Psalmist They that go down into Ships see his wonders in the deep and with those Mariners What manner of man is this whom the Winds and the Seas obey What manner of God is this who gathereth the waters of the Sea together and layeth up the Floods in store-houses who shutteth in the Ocean with bars and doors and saith Hitherto shalt thou come and no further and here shall thy proud waves be stayed who puts a bridle in the jaws of such a monster and when she threatens nothing but death and destruction puls her in and makes her retreat to her own den without doing the least hurt O what a God is this whom the rugged blustring winds and raging boistrous seas obey What excellent conclusions may a Christian gather from such premises Do the Winds and Seas obey God as stubborn and surly as they are and shall not I obey him Are they kept within their banks and shall not I be kept within my bounds Lord thou stillest the noise of the Seas the noise of the Waters and the tumults of the people O why dost thou not quiet the headstrong passions in my breast Thou observest how they roar and make a noise continually what frightful stormes they raise within me If thou wouldst but say to them in their height and heat Peace be still there would presently ensue a calm O suffer not these high winds to overturn me nor these swelling waters to overwhelm me I am even ready to sink save me Master or I perish Thus a Christian may consider the works of God either collectively or severally both in their insides and outsides to his marvellous advantage As the Rabbies say of the Word I may say of the Works of God Turn it over and over and over again for all is in it Turn them over and over and over again for all is in them There is wisdom in them in their variety diversity of natures subordination and serviceableness each to other O Lord how marvellous are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all There is Power in bringing with a breath the whole Creation out of the barren womb of nothing He spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast There is Mercy in providing so bountifully for every of his creatures The whole earth is full of thy goodness There is Faithfulness in upholding all things in their being Thy faithfulness is unto all generations thou hast established the earth and it abideth yea mercy and truth meet together Thy mercy O Lord is in the heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds Every of Gods works is so profitable that as the Aromatick fruit not onely the kernel is a Nutmg but the skin of it is Mace As in a fair suit of Arras though the hangings never appear to their full advantage but when they are opened in all their dimensions and seen together yet a small shread may assure you of the excellency of the colours and richness of the stuff So though the Divine Perfections would appear most in their beauty and glory if we were able at one view to behold the whole world in its several eminencies and beauties yet a little part of it may speak the worth and richness of the whole It was an honest speech of a Monk who being asked how he could endure that life without the pleasure of books answered The nature of the creatures is my library wherein when I please I can muse upon Gods deep Oracles The Egyptians were instructed by Characters and Hieroglyphicks by something presented to the eye notions were represented to the understanding Reader it is thy priviledge that thou mayst perform this duty in any place No sight no sound but may afford matter for meditation If thou walkest in thy garden thou mayst turn it into an Eden by delightful meditations Dost thou behold the flowers standing in their ranks what a goodly shew they make thou mayst think what a lovely â—ight it is to see Christians contînuing in those several places and stations in which God hath set them Some flowers open and shut with the sun so doth the Christian observe the shining and withdrawing of the Sun of righteousness Some flowers dye having a worm gnawing their root so will all hypocrites wither and come to nothing notwithstanding their gaudy shew Flowers are tender things and must
for the least of their offences how he hath manifested his justice in the deluge brought on the old world in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in his carriage towards Apostate Angels rebellious Israelites his own chosen people and the Medâ—atour his own Son when he took upon him mans sin in the instruments of eternal death which he hath prepared in Hell for sinners and the solemn triumph which justice shall have at the great day and to all eternity in the other world 5. His holiness how he loaths sin with the greatest abhorrency cannot behold the least iniquity shoots the arrows of his vengeance against its actours and authors will be sanctified in or upon all that approach him is terrible in his holy places forbiddeth the least complyance with sin though but in a sudden thought and makes it his end in his providences ordinances the gift of his Son his Spirit to make men holy I might shew how it exalteth him in all his properties but I pass on It glorifieth him in every part of it Its precepts and commands speak his purity and dominion its promises and covenant speak his boundless mercy and compassion its threatnings and comminations speak his justice and jealousie its prophesies and predictions speak his wisdom and omniscience The Scripture tendeth also to the eternal good of men It is helpful to beget a soul to Christ Of his own will begat he us again by the Word of truth The Word of grace is instrumental for the conveyance of grace Act. 2.37 Rom. 10. 14. It is helpful to build the soul up in Christ as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. Grace is increased by the same means by which it is generated as the same Sun that begets some living creatures is helpful for their growth The Word of God of stones raiseth up children to Abraham and of Children maketh Young men and Fathers It is so penned that all sorts of persons all ranks of Christians may be directed into the way of truth and guided by it in the way of life It is able to make us wise to salvation To shew the path of life 2 Tim. 3. 15. Psa. 16. 11. As Ioshua it leads the Israelites into Canaan All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable 1. For Doctrine Where Scripture hath not a tongue to speak I must not have an ear to hear Scriptura est regula fidei Scripture is the rule of faith Hence the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is called a foundation Ephes. 2. 20. 2. For reproof It is the hammer of Heresies Ignorance of Scripture is one main cause of error Ye err not knowing the Scripture By this sword of the Spirit Christ vanquished Satan Mat. 4. 4. and the Jews Ioh. 5.45 and Sadduces Mat. 22.29 Lapidandi sunt haeretici sacrarum literarum argumentis Hereticks are to be stoned with Scripture arguments saith Athanasius The Word of God hiâ—s that unclean bird in the eye and wounds it mortally 3. For correction of manners The sword of the Word pierceth the sinners conscience like Christ to the woman of Samaria It tells him all that ever he did and makes him smite upon his thigh and say What have I done Scripture is a glass which sheweth him the spots that are in the face of his heart and life 4. For instruction in righteousness It is the way in which we should walk the rule of our spiritual race What is written on some Psalms may be written on every Psalm and Chapter in the whole Bible Maschil or Psalm for instruction Its precepts teach us what to follow its prohibitions tell us what to forsake Its promises are to allure us to sanctity its threatnings to affright us from sin the good example of the Saints speaketh as Christ to Peter Follow thou me the wicked actions and ends of sinners cry aloud as Abner to Ioab Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the end 5. For comfort There is no such cordial for a fainting spirit as a promise in the Word The Gospel in the Greek is glad tidings and not without cause This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me When souls have been ready to despair under the sense of their wickedness and to sink in deep waters the Word of God hath held them up by the chin and preserved them from drowning Vnless thy law had been my delight I had perished in mine affliction 6. For salvation the Word is called the Kingdom of heaven partly because it revealeth Gods thoughts of such an inestimable happiness to the children of men The celestial Canaan was terra incognita till that discovered it He hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel partly because it prepares the soul for heaven the Word sanctifieth and so saveth precious souls By filling us with grace it fitteth us for glory Rom. 1.16 Ioh. 17.17 Partly because it is the seed of heaven As the Harvest is potentially in the seed and a tall Oke potentially in an acorn so heaven and eternal life is potentially in the Word of life It is called The grace of God that bringeth salvation It bringeth salvation to men and it bringeth men to salvation Secondly Consider it O my soul in its properties they will also speak its preciousness 1. It is pure and holy there are some dregs that will appear in the exactest writings of the best men when they have been shaken by a critical hand but none could ever justly fasten the least filth upon the holy Scriptures The Word of Christ is like the Spouse of Christ There is no spot in it The Alcoran of Mahomet alloweth Polygamy promiseth sensual pleasures as the reward of his servants but the Scripture winketh not at the least sin no not so much as in a motion of the heart or a glance of the eye and its promises are also pure and spiritual The Doctrine of the wisest Heathen and Philosophers were a mixture of good and bad Theft was no fault amongst Lycurgus Laws but if done slily commended highly Aristotle permitted revenge and obscene jesting which Scripture expresly forbids Thy word is very pure The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times There is not the least dross of evil or error in it 1. It s principal Author is the original and exemplar of all holiness his nature is the pattern and his will the rule of purity Exod. 15. 4. Isa. 6. 3. 2. The Scribes of it were holy men moved and actuated by the Holy Ghost 3. It s effect is to sanctifie and make holy Ye are clean through the word that I have given you 4. The matter of it is holy Its commanding part is holy The Law is holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. It s assertory part is holy what it affirmes to be is what it denyeth to
Murthers and Adulteries and Blasphemies and Prophaness of wicked men cry aloud in mine ears that God is patient The persecutions and oppressions and prayers and cries and tears of good men proclaim to my conscience that God is patient The Sabbaths and Ordinances and seasons of grace and offers of pardon and life which both good and bad enjoy speak plainly and distinctly The Lord is patient O that mine eyes could see it mine ears hear it my mouth taste it my mind discern it and my soul rellâ—sh it in all these O thou beautiful beam darted from the Sun of Righteousness that callest poor mortals to life when they are at the brink of death thou that art the wonder of glorious Angels and glorified Saints be thou unto me as a bundle of myrrhe and a cluster of camphire always unto me let me love thee much for my own sake because thou hast done so much for me but most for the Lords sake because he is all in all unto me Well O my soul how wilt thou requite the kindness thou hast received from this Patience of thy God! When Ahashuerus an Heathen had read and considered how Mordecai had saved his life by discovering the two trayrours that sought to lay hands on the King he cried out What honour hath been done to Mordecai for this and could take no rest till he had given him some signal honour Thou hast read for thy whole life is a Book written within and without with it how the Patience of thy God hath saved thy life the life of thy soul when sin and Satan conspired together to take it away now wilt thou not say within thy self What honour hath been done to the patience of God for this and be unsatisfied till thou hast done it some honour for this good office it hath done thee What love doth that friend deserve who saves thy life What esteem doth that hand of pity merit that keeps thee out of the bottomless pit What thanks is that Messenger worthy of that brings thee a condemned sinner certain news of a reprieve and great hopes of a pardon Surely the respect thou owest to the patience of God which doth as much for thee as all this should be very great especially considering thy disrespects formerly to the God of Patience have been very grievous Lord I acknowledge I have formerly much abused thy patience uâ—ing it as an encouragement to prophaness and turning thy grace into wantoness but now through thy strength I will no longer despise the riches of thy forbearance but be led through thy goodness to repentance I know thou intendest it as a City of refuge to the penitent not as a sanctuary to the presumptuous O let me never make it a pillow for an hard heart but a plaister for a wounded spirit Let this servant of thine and friend of mine obtain his errand and accomplish the end for which thou hast sent him Thou sparest me here that thou might spare me hereafter thou waitest upon me that thou mightst be gracious unto me and art long-suffering because not willing that any should perish but that all might come to repentance O that therefore I might wait upon thee in all thy providences and ordinances for grace that so thy long-suffering may be unto me salvation Thou hast told me Though the sinner live an hundred years and God prolong his days yet it shall not go well with the wicked His preservation is but a reservation to the sorer and greater destruction Though thou sufferest long thou wilt not suffer always and when thou strikest impenitent ones the slowness of thy pace will be recompenced in the heaviness of thy hand The longer the child of vengeance is in the womb of the threatning the bigger it groweth and the more pain it will put the sinner to when it cometh to the birth of its execution O how dreadful will my doom be when thou comest to reckon with me for all thy patience if I do not at this day prevent it by repentance If thy patience do not now make me bend hereafter it will make me bleed It s a sweet friend but a bitter enemy No fury like that which is extracted out of abused patience T were far better to be sent from the Mothers breasts to everlasting burnings then to live many years at the charge of patience and then to die impenitent If I cause thee to suffer long now in vain thou wilt cause me to suffer long in the other world and the more dreadfully for thy long-suffering in this Since thou art gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness O take me not away in thy long-suffering but give me to mind in this day of thy patience the things that concern mine everlasting peace that I may to eternity give thee honour and praise for thy wondrous and boundless patience Amen CHAP. VI. How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness on a Week-day from Morning to Night FOurthly Thy duty is to exercise thy self to Godliness every Week-day I have spoken in the first part how a Christian may make Religion his business on a Lords-day I shall therefore in this place discover how he may do it on a Week-day Every day with a godly man is an holy Sabbath to the Lord Godliness is not his holy days or high days but every days work and his exercise every part of every day I have enclined my heart to keep thy statutes not by fits and starts but always unto the end Psa. 119. 112. The Flower called Heliotropium or Turn-sol turneth its face towards the Sun from morning to night so doth the true Christian towards the Sun of righteousness The Command of God is Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long Prov. 23. 17. And the carriage of holy men is answerable hereunto The twelve Tribes served God instantly day and night Act. 26. 7. As the Angels though they are imployed up and down in the world for the service of the Saints yet they always behold the face of their Father so the Children of God though they are occupied about civil and natural actions are called hither and thither as their occasions are yet they pass the whole time of their soâ—journing here in fear That Watch is naught that goeth onely at first winding up and standeth still all the day after that mans religion is little worth that like Epâ—raims goodness is as a morning cloud or dew which vanisheth away ere noon The Rivers run ever towards the Sea notwithstanding that hills and rocks and mountains interpose and force them to their winding Maeanders nay their compass about is not without profit for they water those grounds in their passage through which they seemed to wander The person that hath the living water of grace in him is always tending towards the Ocean of his happiness notwithstanding his seeming diversions by his worldly actions and particular vocation nay he is doing good
savour of it So if godliness and the immediate worship of God do first in the morning possess my soul my natural and civil affairs will probably rellish of it Again Mens hearts are generally upon that in the morning which they esteem their happiness and portion The covetous Muck-worm no sooner openeth his eyes but his â—eart is tumbling in his heaps The voluptuous beast no sooner wakes but he is sporting in sensual waters The ambitious Peacock no sooner is able to think but his gay Feathers and gaudy dress for that day come into his mind and why should not my heart send its first thoughts into Heaven Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire in comparison of thee The Birds early in the morning salute the rising Sun with their sweet notes and shall not I the Sun of righteousness Further My wants my mercies call for morning duties I walk in the midst of deaths of dangers every day and shall I dare to travail without my defence Men cloath their bodies against the sharpness of the weather and why not their souls against the assaults of the flesh the world and the wicked one There is no safety without this breast-work If Satan take me out of my trenches and strong holds as Joshua did the men of Ai it will be no wonder if he roâ—t and ruine me If I do not bless God in the morning how can I expect that he should bless me in the day Is any earthly Prince so prodigal of his favours as to throw them away upon those that esteem them unworthy to be desired If I do not serve the Precepts of God I am presumptuous to look that his providence should serve meâ— Should I undertake my affairs on earth before I have dispatched my business with heaven I am a notorious Cheat and Theif I am a Theif to God by robbing him of his glory and that natural allegiance which I owe to my Maker I am a Theif to my self in robbing my self of that blessing which I might have on my callings and undertakings O that prayer might be the girdle to compass in the whole body of my natural and civil dealings and concernments And that I could every day of my life forestal the worlds market by setting early about closet and family duties Suitors find it fittest to wait upon and dispatch their business with great persons betimes in the morning Lord freedom of access to thy throne of grace is an unspeakable favour Access is hard to earthly Princes No worldly Court is so open as to admit all comers Those that with much difficulty present their Petitions are often against all reason denyed Thy gates are open night and day all that will may come and be welcome Thou invitest souls to come into thy presence and delightest to hear and grant their prayers Thine eares are more open and ready to hear then their mouths to ask Thou pressest upon many undesired blessings but denyest none who ask not stones instead of bread Importunity never angers thee the more fervent and frequent my soul is with thee the more prevalent Thou fillest the hungry with good things and dost not send any that desire thy grace empty away from thy gate What care I how little notice or knowledge the Nobles of the earth will take of me when I can speak so freely to their better their Soveraign and not fear a repulse O teach me the right art of begging and then I need not be afraid of poverty If I be but skilful to follow that trade my returns will be both â—â—re and large Thy mercies are renewed upon me every morning so are my necessities O let my prayses and prayers be as frequent and early I will bless the Lord at all times his praise â—hall be continually in my mouth O God my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee in a dry and barren Wilderness where no water is My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up I Wiâ—h that having done with the more immediaâ—e service of my God in Praying and Reading both in my Closet and Family I may proceed to serve him in my Shop and Particular Calling When God saith Man is born to labour I must not sing with the fool Soul take thine ease An idle person is like Caterpillars and Mice that devour Gods creatures and do no good to others It s pity he ever lived the book of whose life is filled up with nothing but Cyphers Nature never intended men to be drones to feed on others labours nor bats to spend their lives in the company of sleep the brother of death My God my soul my family my country do all call upon me to be diligent in that calling whereto he hath called me My God is a pure act himself and hath capacitated all his creatures for action He created all men but never made a sluggard The idle person wholly degenerates from the end of his being and receiveth his faculties in vain The command for civil labour hath the same divine stamp as that for sacred rest I have also his pattern for my encouragement as well as his precept for my warrant Hitherto my father worketh and I work My soul also stands in as much need of exercise as my body Idleness is the door at which diseases enter into both Rust eats up vessels that are laid by and unused The mind is never more bright then when it is in imployment from doing nothing we proceed to do evil Idleness is not onely a vice it self but also hath this unhappiness to usher in all other This is the least advantage of industry that it gives the soul no leasure to play with sin or to entertain the wicked one Standing waters do not sooner putrifie then lazy souls T is action that preserves the â—oul in health As Gâ—ats dance up and down in the Sun and then sit down and sting the next hand they seize upon So they who have no time to work have much to imploy in slandering and backbiting others One sin never goeth alone Again my Family may well rouze me out of the bed of laziness If I expect supply of their wants it must come in with Gods blessing at the door of diligence I am stealing from my wife and children all the while I am loytering The Heavens may cause seed sown to ripen into a joyful Harvest but untilled land will afford no crop save of weeds or stones Once more My Country commands me to my calling I am but an ill member in the body Politique if as a diseased part I take of its nourishment but rather hinder its growth then contribute to its health A jarring string is not more prejudicial to the rarest Viol in the hands of a skilful artist then an idle person to the musick and composure of the universe The most venemous
hands of the living God for our God is a consuming fire They know his fury is terrible intolerable none can abide it no sinner can avoid it therefore they hate sin the object of it and flie to Christ who delivereth from it O what a work a gracious sanctifying work doth the knowledge of God make in the soul It makes the understanding to esteem him above all the will to chose him before all the affections to desire him to delight in him more then all the whole man to seek him to serve him to honour and praise him beyond all in Heaven and earth What is the reason that God is so much loved admired and worshipped and glorified in his Church when all the World besides despise him but this In Judah is God known his name is great in Israel Psa. 76. 1. O Reader be confident of this the more thou knowest of the excellencies of God the more thou wilt prize his Son submit to his spirit crucifie the flesh contemn the world fear to offend him study to please him the more holy thou wilt be in all manner of conversation Hence the main work of Christs prophetical office was to reveal God to the world And the Devils great work is to keep men from this knowledge of God knowing that it will tend so exceedingly to their sanctification and holiness and to the overthrow of his interest The Miller mufleth and blindeth his Horse that draweth his Mill and thereby keeps him at his round deceiving him in making him to think he goeth forward The first work of the Philistines was to put out Sampsons eyes and then they made him grind at their Mill and make them sport The Eagle saith Pliny Nat. Hist. lib. 10. cap. 20. before he setteth upon the Hart rolleth himself in the Sand and then flyeth at the Staggs head and by fluttering his wings so dustieth his eyes that he can see nothing and then striketh him with his Talons where he listeth Satan darkneth mens understandings and thereby commandeth their wills and affections and destroyeth the whole man If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that perish whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 4 5. When men are spoken in Scripture to be vicious and prophane they are onely said not to know the Lord and there is no knowledge of God in the land Ier 4 22. Hos. 4â— 1. and when God undertakes in his Covenant of Grace to sanctifie and make men holy he is said to put his knowledge in their hearts and his promise is They shall all know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 10. Ier. 31.34 And they that would grow in grace are commanded in order thereunto to grow in knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. Ignorance is the mother of all irreligion of all atheism Ephes. 4. 18. They are alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts As Owles sinners may see in the night of this world have some knowledge in worldly affairs but they cannot see in the day are ignorant of spiritual of heavenly things Sin like the pestilence David speaks of walketh in the dark Psa. 91.5 And Satan is the enemy that soweth his tares by night This is one cause why sin is called a work of darkness It is from that darkness which is in mens understandings that they turn their backs upon God and run upon their own eternal ruines It were impossible for the rational creature to be so desperately mad as to play with the wrath of God and slight the love of God to neglect his mercy and despise his justice if they did but know God When Princes go incognitâ—s in a disguise and aâ—e unknown then they are disesteemed Hence they who are obstinately prophane and resolved on wickedness say unto God Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Job 21. 14. The hooded Hawk that seeth not the Partridge will never flye after it The Israelites pitched in Mithkah which signifieth sweetness before they removed to Cashmonah which signifieth swiftness They onely who know the sweetness of God will flye to him with swiftness Ignoti nulla cupido He who knoweth the Allsufficiency of God will never turn to the Creature even as the Bee if it did not find honey enough in one flower would never hasten to another Those that are ignorant of God abound in all manner of Atheism and wickedness The Families which know not God will not call on his name There is no truth no mercy but lying and stealing and swearing and killing where there is no knowledge of God Hos. 4. 1 2. 'T is no wonder to see blind men stumble and fall and break their limbs I do not marvail to see ignorant men who know not God to live without him to turn him out of their hearts and houses as if they had no dependance on him or ingagements to him Whence is it that men are regardless of their souls and eternal estates that they dance over the unquenchable lake and are merry and jovial at the very brink of destruction that they despise the God that made them preserveth them bought them and hath them in his hands and at his mercy every moment that they slight his Son his Spirit his Law his Love his wrath his promises of eternal life as if they were things of no value and rather fit to be trampled on then esteemed that they can lye down and sleep and rise up and eat and dâ—ink and follow their sports and pleasures and laugh and sing under the guilt of sin and curse of the Law and infinite wrath of the Lord but their ignorance of God Ah did they but know his holiness his Jealousie his Power his Justice they they would sâ—oner undergo any misery that men could inflict on them then incur his anger or provoke him to jealousie they would never neglect â—is Worship or put him off with a few heartless prayers Ludentes cum Deo ut pueri cum suis puppis as Calvin hath it Playing with him as children with their babies when they come immediately to his presence and pretend to seek his face The holy times under the Gospel wherein the people of God shoâ—ld be of one heaâ—t are spoken of as proceeding from this cause The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea Isa. 11.9 The perfection of grace and holiness in heaven will be the effect in part of this knowledge of God When we shall see him perfectly we shall be perfectly like him 1 Ioh. 3.2 Reader be perswaded therefore to study this knowledge of God think no labour too much for itâ— pray and read and hear and confer and mourn that thou mayst know God Beleive it it is a jewel that will pay thee well for all
thy pains Encline thine ear unto wisdome and apply thy heart unto understanding Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdom and out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding Prov. 2. ver 2 3 4 5 6. Did men but spend that time and strength about the knowledge of God which they spend in endeavouring to raise their families and advance their parties and interest and to suppress them that in their apprehensions stand in their way we should quickly have a Nation as famous for peace and love and holiness as now it is notorious for divisions and prophaness CHAP. XIII Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness A contented Spirit Avoiding those things that hinder Godliness THirteenthly If thou woulst exercise thy self to Godliness Labour to get a contented frame of heart A setled fixed frâ—m of heart as to all outward occurrences is like Ballast to a Ship which will help it to sail trim in all waters whereas a discontented spirit is as a light smal boat in the Ocean tossed about with every blast and always in danger of drowning I doubt not but the great Apostles diligence to learn this lesson perfectly I have learned in what state soever I am to be contented I know how to be abasâ—d and how to abound Philip. 4. 12. was a special means of his extraordinary growth and proficiency in grace It is generally observed that peevish persons whom nothing pleaseth are usually lean and thin in their bodies but those who are of chearful tempers and not overmuch troubled with any disasters are thriving and healthful The discontented soul whom eveâ—y heat or cold above ordinary puts into a fright or fever will rather decline then increase in his spiritual health but the Christian who is ever chearful in his God and Saviour and lives about these lower things as one indifferent about them will never be hindered by them in his work of holiness As a sickly man is hindered in his journey by every storm and ready to run to an House or stand under an Hedge at every shower so is a discontented person ready to turn aside or stand still at every unexpected providence when a contented man like a lusty resolved travellar keeps on his course whatsoever weather comes Godliness requires a contented mind to grow in 1 Tim. 6. 6. It is said of the Pelican that she is caught by the Shephards in this manner They lay fire not far from her nest which she finding and fearing the danger of her young seeks to blow out with her wings so long till she burns her self and makes her self a prey out of foolish pity to her young So many men out of unwise pity to their relations and possessions when they are at any time in danger for want of this contented spirit and qâ—iet submission to infinite wisdom trouble themselves so much and so long about them till they make themselves a prey to Satan and no whit preserve or secure those persons or things about which they are so immoderately anxious and sollicitous Whilst we are in this world we must expect various winds some sharp some warm some nipping some refreshing some with us some against us and unless we are prepared for all by an holy pliableness we shall be injured by every one Every strong wind whether with us or against us will be ready to overturn us if we want this ballast There is no condition in this life so blessed as to afford the perfection of content and yet there is no estate in this life so wretched but a Christian may be contented with it If thou hast as much as thou wantest thou hast as much as in reason thou desirest and therefore hast cause to be contented The way to true Riches saith Plato is not to increase our heaps but to diminish the covetousness of our hearts It were well for the world saith another if there were no Gold in it but since its the Fountain whence all things flow it s to be desired but onely as a pass to travail to our journeys end without begging Every man is rich or may be so if he will equal his mind to his estate and be but poor in his desires He that hath most wants somthing as Haman when he had the commander of one hundred and twenty Provinces at command He that hath least wants nothing if he want not a contented spirit He that can bring his heart to an even poize in all providences will avoid many temptations and escape many snares in which others are entangled The want of this renders many a mans life as unserviceable to God as uncomfortable to himself The discontented person like the Sea is seldom seen without storms and tempests A small mattâ—r puts him out of order and joynt and so unfits him for spiritual actions As hot Iron the smallest drop sets him a hissing like a rufled skein of silk every way taken to compose him entangleth him Discontent like Ink poured into a Bottle of Water turns all into blackness O Frind beware of it It hinders from praying A discontented man will rather poure out his passions then any sober prayers before the Lord. It hinders examining our selves Though quiet and calm waters will like a glass if we look into it shew us the image and likeness of our selves yet troubled and muddy waters will make no such representation Though the heart when calm and contented may shew us the face and features of our souls yet if muddied by discontent they cannot do it It hinders from hearing The noise of passion drowns the voice of the Preacher Men must with meekness receive the ingrafted word if they desire it should save their souls Iam. 1. When a Fountain is troubled there can no Water be drawn out of it but what is filthy and unsavoury When a person is discontented all his duties are distasâ—eful and unacceptable to God Therefore Christ more then once diswads his Disciples from it Let not your hearts be troubled Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid Joh. 14. 1 27. Diogenes resolved since many evils would befal him to keep himself steady in all he would oppose Resolution to Fortune Nature to the Law his Reason to his Affections But the Christian hath a better guide and better grounds for contentedness There be several thoughts which may quiet and compose the heart in all occurents 1. That Infinite wisdom ordaineth whatsoever befalleth me and the present condition that I am in is ever best for me If a greater portion of outward good things had been good for me I had had it my Father is not so careless of his Children as to deny them any thing that is good for them and if it be not good for me why