Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	angel_n	earth_n	prayer_n	2,072	5	5.8252	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17397	The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Beginning of the doctrine of Christ. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Spirituall touchstone. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Signes of the wicked man. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Promises. aut; Rules of a holy life. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Cure of the feare of death. aut	1630 (1630)	STC 4222; ESTC S120511	234,877	800

haue what hee will aske of him that is able to giue what hee can aske Marke 11. 24. Ephes. 2. 10. The ninth priuiledge is The seruice and attendance of the Angels The Angels doe pitch their tents about those that feare God Psal. 34. 7. and are ministring spirits to euery heire of saluation Heb. 1. vlt. Oh the dignity and safety of that man whom the glorious Angels do guard and attend vpon The poorest Christian hath a better guard vpon him then the greatest Monarch in the world that is not a Christian. The tenth priuiledge is the Communion of Saints he is mystically vnited in one body to all the worthies that are in heauen or earth and doth effectually enioy the benefit of communion of Saints too large to be here reckoned vp If it were no more but the profit he hath by the prayers of the godly all ouer the world were it not a great fauour Eph. 2. 19 3. 6. Phil. 1. 5. Col. 2. 19. besides all the comforts hee hath in the fellowship with the godly The eleuenth priuiledge is the inheritance of the earth which is restored to him in Christ so as he now possesseth that which he hath of the earth by as good a title as euer Adam held Paradise yea so as whatsoeuer in the whole earth is good for him shall not be withheld from him Math. 5. 5. Psal. 84 11 12. Outward prosperity he is sure of so farre as it is good for him Iob 8. 7. Psal. 37. 5. The last priuiledge is that Inheritance immortall incorruptible and that fadeth not reserued for him in heauen which for excellency passeth all that which euer the eye of m saw or the eare of man heard or the heart of man can conceiue 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Now then to summe vp all this let a Christian tell his owne soule plainly and vpon cleare proofe by the signes of a childe of God that he is in fauour with God and that Christ is his and that he hath obtained strange deliuerance and that all his sinnes are forgiuen and that the holy Ghost dwels in him and that the image of God is restored in him and that he is free to Gods house and that he may beg any thing of God and that he hath Angels to waite vpon him and that he is neere of kinne to all the Saints in the world and that he is Lord of the earth and that hee shall certainly goe to heauen when he dieth Let this I say be told to his soule can he be dismaid will not the Peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding keepe his heart and minde and that constantly for euer CHAP. IIII. Shewing how the godly may support their hearts against all outward afflictions HItherto of the Priuiledges Now it followeth that I should open those consolations that may support the hearts of men against all the distresses of this life And first I would shew how the Lord is pleased to comfort his seruants in seuerall Scriptures against all the outward afflictions may befall his seruants in this world By outward afflictions I meane such as these wants losses wrongs troubles exile imprisonment sicknesse feares pouerty or any other thing wherewith the life of man is molested in any condition Now there are many excellent wayes of abundant comforts against these or any of these as First if wee consider by the commonnesse of them All thing●… fall alike in these things Eccles. 9. 2 3. Euery man that is borne of a woman hath but few dayes and is full of trouble Iob 14. 1. Christ had no Disciple but he is told afore hand Hee must take vp his crosse and that daily Luke 9. 23. There can be no affliction but what accompanieth or may accompany the nature of man 1 Cor. 10. 13. The same afflictions are accomplished vpon our brethren which are through the world 1 Pet. 5. 9. And we haue the Prophets and greatest worthies of the Lord for an example of suffering Iam. 5. 10. And 〈◊〉 the godly must through many tribulations enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14. 22. Secondly if wee consider that God takes notice of vs and of all our trials The Lord knowes the way of the righteous Psal. 1. 6 None of our 〈◊〉 are hid from him All our desires are before him and our groaning is not hid from him Psal. 8. 9. he knowes our soule is in aduersity Psal. 31. 7. And as he takes notice of all our troubles so he takes notice of all that is good in vs Hee knowes them that are patient and trust in him Na●…um 7. Thirdly if wee consider the wonderfull compassion of God in the afflictions of his people he doth not willingly afflict but regards vs with pitie with loue thinkes of redeeming vs and sends the Angell of his presence to comfort and saue vs and in all our afflictions is afflicted with vs Esay 63. 8 9. Fourthly i●… wee consider the high estimation that God holds of his seruants notwithstanding their afflictions Crosses may make men loue vs the lesse but they doe not a i●… discommend vs before God Hee can take notice of his seruants in their distresses as well as if they did shine in the greatest outward splendor in the world This is the consolation that GOD speakes to vs euen when he corrects as to his children and for that reason wee should not refuse his chastening Heb. 12. 6. Prou. 3. 11. We may bee honourable in Gods sight though wee be in a most forlorne and despised condition in the world we may I say bee precious in Gods sight greatly beloued Esay 43. 4 5 6. The Apostle Peter shewes that a poore seruant when he suffers hard words and ill vsage from his master doth herein finde acceptation with God 1 Peter 2. 19 20. Now this is an instance beyond exception For what condition more vile then of a seruant and what crosses were likely to be disregarded of God sooner then these domesticall indignities yet we see a proofe of the regard and loue of God euen in those things 5. Fifthly if we consider the victory of Christ ouer the world Our Sauiour vseth this as a consolation he tels his Disciples In the world they shall haue trouble but hee would haue them bee of good comfort hee hath ouercome the world so as now they shall neuer bee hurt by their troubles Their crosses may bee too hard for thē to master but Christ can order them so as in him they shal haue victorie ouer them But of this more afterwards Ioh. 16. 33 Sixthly if wee consider the presence of the holy Ghost hee is giuen of Christ and the Father to bee our Comforter and as our afflictions abound so shall our consolations also Ioh. 14. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Now how shall a man be dismayed that hath Gods Spirit within him to hearten him and assist him and refresh him and make glad

conuersation may be formed in thee 1 The worth of the promises Eph 〈◊〉 6 9 P●… 4 Rom. 4. Rom. 9. Eph. 3. 6. 2. To whom the promis●… belong Eph. 2. 12. Gal. 4. Gal. 3. 22. Heb. 6. 17. 1 Tim. 4. 8 3. The vse of the promises 〈◊〉 Tim. 6. 7. 8. 〈◊〉 Pc●… ●…4 4 The infa●…libilitie of the promises proued by ●…waies 〈◊〉 They are all but a●… o●…e promise 〈◊〉 From the nature of God 〈◊〉 From the antiquity of them 4 From Gods writing 5 Fromm Gods oath 9 From the messengers sent about them 7 From the ministerie of Christ him selfe 8 From the death of the Testator 9 From our Ano●…uting 10 From the exte●… of the promiser 11 From the time of giuing the promise The promise sealed 4 wayes 〈◊〉 In his Councell 2. In his Sonne 3. In his Spirit 4. In the Sacraments 13. For experience 6. Rules to be obserued if wee will profit by the promises 2 Cor. 1. 20. Rom. 4. 14 Gal. 3. 22. Rom. 4. 16 Ps. 119. ●…1 Hebr 6. 18. Heb. 6. 12. 3. Sorts of promises 1. Priuiledges 2. Comforts in afflictiō 3. Rewards of certaine graces Sorts of afflictions Note 12. Priuiledges of the godly 1. The loue of God Eze. 36. ●…8 Ioh. 14. 21. 3. Properties in Gods loue 1. It is free 2. It is eternall 3. It is infinite The secōd priuiledge is the giu●…ng of Ch●…t to them The third is deliuerance and th●…t from diuers grieuous things The fourth is forgiuenes of sin The 〈◊〉 is the inhabitation of the holy Ghost The sixt is the restoring of Gods Image The 7 is freedome in Gods house The 8 is the hearing of his prayer The nin●… is the attendance of Angels The te●…h is the c●… munion of Saint The 〈◊〉 is the inheritance of the earth The 〈◊〉 is the inheritance of heauen What is meant by outward afflictions The godly man may comfort himselfe against afflictions by the consideration 1. Of t●…e commonnesse of the●… Of Gods knowledge of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and desires Of Gods compassion Of Gods high estimation of vs. Of the victorie of Christ. Of the holy Ghost comforting vs. Of the issue o●…t of trouble Of the measure of out afflictions Of th●… short continuance of them Of the good ●…ffects of them What thou must do in thy affliction Men need comfort against reproaches Thoumaist comfort thy selfe in th●… consideration 1. Of the notice God takes of them 〈◊〉 Of Gods great account of vs 〈◊〉 Of thy good report among the godly 4 Of thy Praise thou shalt haue in the day of Christ. 5 Of praise from them that now reproach thee 6 Of the small things-thou suf●…rest Of the example of Christ. 8 Of the cause of thy reproaches 〈◊〉 Of the condition of all the godly 10 Of the presence ●…nd assistance of the Holy Ghost 11 Of the condition of those men that doe reproach thee 1. 2. 3 12 Of the course God will take for thy clearing and comfort Ob. Sol. Ob. 2. Sol. Ob. 3. Sol. Ob. 4. Sol. Ob. 5. Sol. Ob. Sol. Ob. 7. Sol. Ob. 8. Sol. Ob. 9. Sol. Ob. 10. Sol. Ob. 11. Sol. Foure wayes to auoid reproaches He may comfort himselfe from the consideration 1. Of the common condition of all the godly 2. Of Gods appointment 3. Of our refuge in God 4 Of the prediction of Christ. 5 Of the d●…liuerance promised 6 Of Gods iudgement vpon our aduersarie●… 7 Of the effects and consequents 〈◊〉 Of our own gaine by them 2. Things taken for granted Satan tempts vs fiue waies 〈◊〉 Sorts of temptations by suggestion 1 T●…mptations to blasphemy 〈◊〉 Temptations to particular sinnes Temptations to despaire 9 Occasions of temptations Solitarines Security Pride Anger Dalliance with euill thoughts 6 Intemperate vse of outward things 7 Vnsetled●…es in faith 8. Triall of faith 9. Relapse into some grosse sin Hee may comfort himselfe from the consideration 1. Of the common condition of the godly 2. Of the measure 1 Of the short continuance 4 Of diuers things in Christ as 1 His example 〈◊〉 His victory ouer the diuel 〈◊〉 His sympathy 4 His in tercession 5 His vertu●… for he ling vs. 6 His suc cour 5 Of the ●…sue out of temptatiō 6. Of the effects Ob. How wee m●…y pray against temptations How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptations Note Two signes Two sorts of promises What is meant by infirmities The comforts raised from the consideration 1 Of thy age in Christ. 2 Of thy condition now vnder Grace 3 Of the fruitfulnes may b●… in a weake Christian. 4 Of the goodnesse of Gods nature For he is 1 Gracio●… 2 Merciful 3 Slow to anger 4 Ready to forgine 5 Of the hope of strength Of many things in Christias 1 His opinion of vs. 2 His comdassion 3 His Intercession 4 His blood 5 The imputation of his righteousnesse The helpe of the Ministerie Of diuers particular fauors God hath assu●…ed vs of Note Of what God may bring thee to 8. Constructions about ignorance in the godly The full explication of the words in Exo 34. 6 7. The full explication of the words in Ezek ●…6 ●…5 c. Foure things may assure vs that God will keepe vs from falling away 1. His promises 1 Cor. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Hi●…●…cree 3 Three attributes in God viz. His faithfulnesse His power His loue 4 His seale What God will doe to keepe vs from falling away Three things in Christ may comfort vs 1. His intercession 2 His office here in 3 His power 3 Things in our selues may comfo●…t vs Those promises referred to three he●…des The scope Thy warra●… The profit of the course The easinesse of the course Marke this direction The rules of life are either generall or particular The generall rules concerne either The helps to a godly life Or secondly the manner of wel doing Who so will addresse himselfe to an holy course of life And hee that would prosper in seeking knowledge must obserue nine Rules 1. He must esteeme knowledge 2 He must not consult with flesh and blood 3. He must redeeme the time 4. He must be wise for himselfe 5 He must be swift to heare 6 He must study only profitable things 7 He must st●…ue to increase in knowledge 8 He must propound his doubts 9 He must be rightly ordered towards his Pastor 1. To pray for him 2 To obey him The third rule Hee must get out of euill company 4 He must resolue to practise 5 He must settle his outward estate 6 He must keepe com pany with the godly 7. He must not be the seruant of men 8. He must looke for the comming of Christ. 〈◊〉 H●… must not regard what the multitude doth 10 Hee must in all things giue thanks 11. He must stu●…y to be quiet Note 1 Thes 4. 11 1 Hee must k●…epe a strict co●…rs in following onely profitable things 〈◊〉 He must be 〈◊〉 daily in the reading of the holy Scriptures 14 Hee must k●…pe his fi●…st

my soule be still impure Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 4. Acts 13. 24. Thirdly by Baptisme I was assured of the vertue of the death of Christ to kill sinne in me and shall I not beleeue the operation of God that he can deliuer mee from the powerfull temptations or inclinations to any sinne Shall I not seeke strength of Christ or shall I betray my selfe to the diuell and the flesh In Christ I am dead to sinne and shall I yet liue therein Rom. 6. 1 3. Col. 2. 12. Thirdly our Baptisme must bee vsed against the doubts of perseuering or whether we shall be kept vnto saluation and whether our body shall be raised againe at the last day for God hath assured all this vnto vs in our Baptisme that we haue our part not onely in the death of Christ but also in the resurrection of Christ and if Christ be raised in vs Christ can dye no more either in himselfe or in our hearts and the same power that raised him out of the graue will also raise vp our bodies at the last day as is pleaded Romans 6. 10. c. Galat. 3. 27 28. 1 Cor. 15. 29. 1 Pet. 3. 21. If we be baptized and beleeue we shall certainely be saued Mark 16. 16. Thus as it concernes our selues 3. In respect of others we are bound to the good behauiour in Baptisme as to acknowledge the communion of Saints so are we tied to preserue our selues in all brotherly loue with the godly who weare the same Liuery with vs and are Souldiers prest to the same warre and haue taken vpon them the same holy Vow with vs we are bound in Baptisme to loue them to stand for them aboue all other people and to liue with them in all holy loue to our liues end Eph. 4. 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12. 1●… 1. 13. Gal. 3. 27 28. CHAP. XII Rules about the Lords Supper HItherto concerning Baptisme The rules that concerne the Lords Supper follow Now concerning this Sacrament we are charged with these things First Examination 1 Cor. 11. we must examine our selues and so eate and drinke Examine our selues so as we be sure there bee no sinne in our hearts and liues which we haue committed but we are desirous to forsake and doe vnfainedly iudge our selues for it being as desirous to forsake as we desire God should in the Sacrament forgiue it Secondly The diseerning of the Lords Body and Blood so comming to partake of these outward signes of Bread and Wine as we withall know and beleeue the presence of Christ and that God doth as effectually giue Christ to the soule of the beleeuer as he giues Bread and Wine to his body yea we must thus discerne and beleeue that he is there offered and giuen vnto vs also and that God doth not delude vs but as truly giues vs the Body and Blood of Christ as he doth by the Minister giue vs the Bread and Wine 1 Cor. 11. Thirdly The shewing forth of the death of Christ This is a solemnity where we must intend to make a solemne remembrance of the Passion and Death of our Sauiour not onely in being present at the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine but in raising vp in our heart a thankefull remembrance of his grieuous sufferings and death for our sins Math. 26. 1. Cor. 11. Fourthly Fellowship and louing communion with the godly which we both signifie and vow in the Sacraments and testifie before God and men that we wil cleaue vnto them aboue all the people in the world as being the same bread with vs euen members of the same mysticall Body of Christ 1 Cor. 10. Fifthly speciall reconciliation with such as we haue offended bearing malice to no man and desiring and seeking peace with all sorts of men Matth. 5. Rom. 12. Sixtly and lastly The vowes of sincerity resoluing to keepe this feast all our life in the vnleauened bread of sinceritie and truth euen to spend our daies in all vprightnesse of heart and vnfeigned hatred of all sinne and hypocrisie 1 Cor. 5. 8. CHAP. XIII Rules about Prayer THus of the Sacraments The Rules concerning prayer follow where besides the generall Rules that belong to all worship these things in speciall must be heeded concerning prayer 1. Thy words must be few Eccl. 5. 1 2. and the reason is because God is in heauen and thou art on earth He is full of maiesty and wisedome and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God without vaine repetitions and bablings pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God as affectation is ill in any thing so much more ill in prayer This rule may be vnsauory to the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale but let them take heede of wil-worship the words are so plaine in the text as they must informe themselues about them The Lord knew what was fittest for vs when he gaue vs this charge 2. Thy heart must be lifted vp in the performance of this dutie this is often imported in diuers Scriptures and this lifting vp of the heart hath diuers things in it 1. Vnderstanding thou must bee aduised what thou prayest for and know thy warrant that what thou askest is according to Gods will 1 Cor. 14. 15. Ioh. 5. 30. 2. Freedome from distractions thy heart must be cleansed from passions and lusts thy prayer must bee without wrath 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 8. And as the distractions arising from passion must be auoided so must al other distractions 3. Feruencie or the stretching out of the affections according to the matter of prayer thou must expresse the affections of prayer for God lookes at the prayer of thy heart not at the prayer of thy lips onely 3. Thou must pray with all manner of prayer according to the occasions of prayer Thou must pray at thy set times daily and thou must pray also with eiaculations as the Diuines call them that is those sudden and short speeches to God when thy heart is moued vpon speciall occasion Thou must vse Supplications Deprecations Intercessions Confessions giuing of thankes or the like according to thy necessities or the other occasions of thy life Thou must striue to get a fitnesse and language to speake vnto God for thy selfe in thine owne words as may best expresse the desires of thine heart Eph. 6. 18. 4. Thou must continue and perseuere in prayer without ceasing prayer must be the worke of thy whole life not an exercise for a fit for a day or two or a weeke or two or a moneth or two thou must make conscience of prayer alwaies Eph. 6. 18. 1 Thes. 5. 17. 5. When thy prayer is grounded vpon Gods will thou must be instant and not faint or be discouraged Thou must pray without doubting and wauering as resolued neuer to

and hee shall heare thee and thou shalt render thy vowes Iob 33. 26. He shall pray vnto God and he will be fauourable vnto him and he shall see his face with ioy for he will render vnto man his righteousnesse Psal. 34. 15 17. The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open vnto their cry The righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and deliuereth them out of their troubles Psal. 50. 15. Call vpon mee in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shall glorisie mee Iohn 15. 16. That whatsoeuer ye shall aske of the Father in my name he may giue it you Iohn 16. 23. And in that day shall ye aske me nothing Verily verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye aske the Father in my name hee will giue it you For the second it may much comfort vs if we consider that God will not onely heare our praiers in generall but our voice Psal. 5. 3. Our very desires Psal. 10. 17. Our teares Psalme 29. 12 The very naming of Christ shall not be done without regard 2. Tim. 2. 19. Our groaning Psal. 102. 20. When we are destitute of words to expresse our selues our groaning our teares yea the very desires of our hearts is an effectuall prayer to God He doth not looke what wee doe say but what wee would say If we come like little children and but name our Fathers name and cry making moane it shall bee heard 3. But in the third point appeares the wonder of his compassion For 1. God will heare without despising their prayer Psalm 102. 17. 2. He will not reproach them nor hit them in the teeth with what is p●…st or their present frailties Iam. 1. 5. 3. He will prepare their hearts too he will as it were helpe them to draw their petitions Psal. 10. 17. 4. He takes delight in hearing their prayers Prou. 15. 8. 5. Hee lookes from heauen of purpose to heare their groanes Psal. 102. 19 20. his eares are open there is not the least impediment in his hearing Psal. 34. 15. It is his very nature to be a God that heareth prayers It is not contrary to his disposition Psal. 65. 1 2. 6. Hee thinkes thoughts of peace to giue an end expectation Ier. 29. 11 12 13. 7. He will be plenteous in mercy to them that call vpon him Psal. 86. 5. Iam. 〈◊〉 5. He giueth liberally 8. He will answer them and sometimes shew them wonderous things which they know not Ier. 33. 3. 9. Hee will refresh them also with much ioy and comfort of heart He will be many times as the dew vnto their hearts Iob 33. 26. 10. It is a singular compassion that he will heare euery one that comes with petitions to him he will except no man all shall bee heard whosoeuer asketh shal haue Mat. 7. 7. Luke 11. 10. 11. It is yet more compassion that God will heare them in all they aske whatsoeuer they desire of him in the Name of Christ They may haue what they will Marke 11. 24. Iohn 15. 7. 12. The Spirit shall helpe their infirmities when they know not what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26. 13. God will crowne the praiers of his Seruants with this honour that they shall be the signes both of their sanctification and of their saluation Iohn 9. 31. Rom. 10. 13. If God heare their prayers hee will receine them vp to glory 14. Lastly The Lord shewes a wonderfull compassion in the very time of hearing prayer he will heare in the morning Psa. 5. 3. In the very season the due time when wee are in trouble yea so as hee will in our affliction in a speciall manner let vs know that hee is our God and that hee will deliuer vs Zach. 13. 9. Psa. 50. 15. and 91. 15. He is ready to be found Psal. 46. 1. Daniels praiers were heard from the very first day he made them Daniel 10. 12. Yea God will heare vs while we speake vnto him and answer vs before we can expresse our selues vnto him many times Esay 65. 24. Yea the Lord heareth the prayers of his people euen when they thinke they are cast out of his sight Psalme 31. 22. FINIS THE RVLES OF A HOLY LIFE OR A TREATISE CONTAINING the holy order of our liues prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage Towards God Towards men Towards our selues With generall Rules of Preparation that concerne either the helpes or the manner of a holy conuersation By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX Psalme 50. vlt. To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt for Robert Allot at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE NOBLE AND RELIGIOVS Lady the Lady Mary Vere increase of ioy and peace in beleeuing MADAM IT was most truely said by the Apostle of the Gentiles Godlinesse is great gaine Importing thereby that if a man would be incited to the care to get any thing for the profit might come thereby it should bee godlinesse No skill in the world being comparable to that skill of beeing able to lead a godly life for the sure and speedy and matchlesse gaine it will bring vnto a man For besides that it only hath the promise of a better life godlinesse were to bee desired and with all possible diligence to be sought after for the very gaine of it in this life For to omit the consideration of the fauour it breeds with God and the vnspeakeable treasures of the grace of Christ which alwayes goe with it it were to be desired for the immediate effects it workes vpon men in it selfe For if men loue themselues what should they desire more then that which tends to make themselues perfect What should it aduantage a man to haue all things good about him if himselfe bee ill and vile If men that were onely guided by the light of nature could some of them see clearely that nothing was so good for a man as to liue well when yet they knew no other liuing well then what was prescribed in their naked and naturall Ethickes then how much more happy must it be for a man to liue a Religious life by which he is brought more neere to God himselfe and farre aboue the condition of any naturall man Yea if there were no more to be had by it but the peace and rest it brings vnto a mans heart it were aboue all outward things to bee desired For no man walkes safely that walkes not religiously nor can any actions of men produce any sound tranquillity and rest of heart but such actions as are prescribed by true Religion What shall I say If for none of these yet for it selfe were a godly life to bee had in singular request For if men with much expence of outward things seeke but the skill of diuers naturall and artificiall knowledges and thinke it worth their cost but

those sins that doe presently annoy thee Hold on this course constantly till thou hast gotten power against al or any of them as thou findest vertue against any of them so alter thy Catalogue giuing thankes for the sinnes thou gettest head against and putting them out of thy Catalogue The paines is little it is once done for a long time and thy memory will easily carry thy speciall present faults Besides this distinct daily remembrance of thy present sinnes will make thee more watchfull against those sins and thou maiest once a yeere or once a quarter or before euery communion examine thy selfe anew and mend thy Catalogue by putting in any corruption which thou discouerest then or at any time to arise anew in thee and putting out such euils as by prayer thou hast gotten victory against Thus maiest thou see the state of thy soule distinctly all the dayes of thy life discerning when thou goest forward or backward Besides this course of daily iudging thy selfe keepes thee out of the danger of any wrath of God Concerning thy hope there are foure things for thee to do First pray constantly and earnestly for the knowledge of the great glory is prouided for thee Thou must forme the admiration of heauen in thee by prayer for naturally it is not in vs Ephes. 1. 18 c. Secondly thou must vse all diligence to perfect thy assurance of heauen when thou diest Heb. 6. 12. 1. Pet. 1. 13. Thirdly thou must striue to accustome thy thoughts to the daily contemplation of heauen that thy conuersation may be in heauen Phil. 3. 20. Fourthly thou must striue to direct thy heart and enable thy selfe to the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ thou must labour for that skill distinctly to be able to waite for the comming of Iesus Christ and to shew that thou louest his appearing 1. Thes. 1. 10 and 2. Thes 3. 5. Gal. 5. 5. 2. Tim. 4. 8. CHAP. XXXI Rules that order vs in our particular calling THus of the rules that concerne thy generall calling In thy particular calling there are seuen things to bee auoided The first is slothfulnesse and thou art guilty of this sinne both when thou doest not the labours of thy calling and when thou obseruest not the reasons and opportunities of thy calling Prou. 10. 4 5. And that thou maiest be free from this sinne thou must auoide together with it the occasions of it And so thou must auoide 1. The loue of sleepe Prou. 20. 13. 2. Good fellowship and haunting of Alehouses and Tauernes and keepi●…g company with dissolute persons Prou. 21. 17. 3. Wandring from thine owne house euen that vnnecessary going from house to house though it be not to places of ill fame Fourthly thou must take heede of pertinacious entertainment of doubts and obiections about thy calling thou shouldest be afraid of excuses for idlenesse especially to be so selfe-willed as to be glad of any thing may seem to patronize thy slothfulnes Pro. 20. 4. 15. 19. 26. 16. And therefore to conclude this rule when thou art about thy calling what thou dost do with all thy power Eccl. 9. 10. rest not in words or pratling He is not diligent that brags much of what worke he can or will doe but he that doth it indeed Pro. 14. 23. The second sin to be auoided in thy particular calling is vnfaithfulnesse Pro. 20 6. and so thou must take heed of breach of thy promise in thy dealings with men Psa. 15. 4. and also thou must take heed of all deceitfull courses all waies of fraud and coozenage It is an hatefull thing in men when they are such as canot be trusted either because they make not cōscience of keeping their words or because they will vse so much cunning deceit and dissimulation and lying in their dealings The third sin to bee auoided is Precipitation hastines and vnaduised rashnes rising out of the leuity of mens minds or their wilfulnes Prouidence and wise diligence is wonderfull requisite vnto a right ordering of our selues in our callings Pro. 21. 5. The fourth sinne to be auoyded is Passion or perturbation and that hath in it both vncheerfulnesse and vnquietnesse Vnch●…erfulnesse when men are not content with their callings or gifts or estates 1. Cor. 7. 17. Vnquietnesse when men are froward and carrie themselues peeuishly or cholerickly with those that are about them This sinne of frowardnes is vehemently censured and condemned in Scripture Pro. 11. 29. Psa. 37. 8. Pro. 16. 32. 19. 11. 25. 28. whereas God requires a quiet contented and merrie heart Pro. 17. 22. Eccl. 9. 7 8. The fifth thing to be auoided and shunned is the Temptations of thy calling euery calling in the world is assaulted with certaine temptations they are vsually of two sorts For first in all callings there are certaine vnlawfull courses held for gaine by wicked men which we call the sins of such a calling These vniust courses thou must learn to auoid and abhorre and so exercise thy calling as thou shun those sinfull courses vsed by wicked men in that calling Secondly euery calling is assaulted with crosses and afflictions now in these afflictions the diuell is wont to tender ill counsell to perswade to sinne or the vse of vnlawfull meanes or other sins of distrust in God all these thou must auoid Sixtly thou must take heede of worldines or setting thy heart vpon those earthly things thou art to deale with in thy calling Thou must euer be ready to confesse and shew it by thy practice that thou accountest thy selfe to be but a stranger and Pilgrim in this world Heb. 11. 13. and if riches increase thou must looke to it that thou set not thy heart vpon them Psal. 62. 10. Thou must vse the world but not loue the world 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Thou maist oughtest to be carefull to doe the duties of thy calling but thou must in nothing bee carefull about the successe but submit thy selfe in all things to God Math. 6. 1. Cor. 7. 32. Thou must behaue thy selfe like a weaned child Psal. 131. 1 2. Take heed of eating too much hony Pro. 25. 16 27. 1 2. The seuenth and last thing thou must auoid is profanenesse which is to vse the workes of thy calling without exercising thy selfe in the Word of God and daily prayer for Gods blessing vpon thy labours and the creatures thou art to vse Psal. 90. 1. Tim. 4. 3 4. Gen. 24. 11 12 26 27. CHAP. XXXII How wee should carrie our selues in the time of affliction THus of the Rules of carriage which concerne thy selfe at all times Now follow the Rules that shew thee how to behaue our selues in time of affliction and aduersitie When thou art in affliction thou must consider what thou must auoid and what thou must doe Thou must auoid eight things First Dissembling Make not thy selfe poore when thou ar●…rich nor sicke

looke how wee dye as whither wee shall goe when we are dead 2. Christ dyed a cursed desth that so euery death might bee blessed to vs For hee that liues holily cannot dye miserably Hee is blessed that dyeth in the Lord what kind of death soeuer it be CHAP. XXI Shewing the cure of this feare of death by practice HItherto of the way of curing this feeare of death by meditation It remaines now that I proceed to shew how the cure is to be finished perfected by practice for there are diuers things to be heeded by vs in our daily conuersation which serue exceedingly for the extinguishing of this feare without which the cure will hardly euer bee soundly wrought for continuance The first thing we must frame our liues to for this purpose is the contempt of the VVorld wee must striue earnestly with our owne hearts to forgoe the loue of worldly things It is an 〈◊〉 thing ●…o be willing to dye when our hearts are cleansed of the loue of this world Wee must leaue the world before the world leaue vs and learne that lesson heartily To vse the world as if wee vsed it not Neither ought this to seeme too hard a precept for they that striue for masterie abstaine from all things when it is but to obtaine a corruptible crowne how much more should we be willing to deny the delights of this world and striue with our natures herein seeing it is to obtaine an incorruptible crowne 1. Cor. 9 24 25. VVe must learne of Moses who brought himselfe to it willingly to ●…orsake the pleasures of Egypt and to choose rather to suffer affliction with Gods people then to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter Heb. 11. 26. And to this end we should first restraine all needlesse cares and businesse of this world and study so to be quie●… as to meddle with our owne busines and to a●…idge th●…m into as narrow a scantling as our callings will permit Secondly we should auoid as much as may be the societie with the fauorites and minions of the World I meane such persons as admire nothing but worldly things and know no other happinesse then in this life that speake onely of this World and commend nothing but what tends to the praise of worldly things and so to the enticing of our hearts after the World And withall wee should sort our selues with such Christians as practise this contempt of the World as well as praise it and can by their discourse make vs more in loue with heauen Thirdly we should daily obserue to what things in the world our hearts must run and striue with God by prayer to get downe the too much liking and desire after those things Fourthly we should daily be pondering on these meditations that shew vs the vanitie of the world and the vilenesse of the things thereof Thus of the first medicine Secondly we must in our practice soundly mortifie our beloued sins our sins must dye before we dye or else it will not be well with vs. The sting of death is sin and when we haue pull'd out the sting we need not feare to entertaine the Serpent into our bosome It is the loue of some sin and delight in it that makes a man afraid to dye or it is the remembrance of some foule euill past which accuseth the hearts of men and therefore men must make sure their repentance and iudge themselues for their sins and then they neede not feare Gods condemning of them If any aske me how they may know when they haue attained to this rule I answer VVhen they haue so long confessed their sinnes in secret to God that now they can truely say there is no sinne they know by themselues but they are as desirous to haue God giue them strength to leaue it as they would haue God to shew them grace to forgiue it Hee hath soundly repented of all sin that desires from his heart to liue in no sin And vnto this rule I must adde the care of an vpright and vnrebukeable conuersation It is a maruellous encouragement to dye with peace when a man can liue without offence and can iustly plead his integrity of conuersation as Samuel did 1 Sam. 12. 3. and Paul Acts 20. 26 27. and 2 Cor. 1. 12. Thirdly Assurance is an admirable medicine to kill this feare And to speake distinctly wee should get the assurance first of Gods fauour and our owne calling and election for hereby an entrance will bee ministred into the Heauenly Kingdome And therefore haue I handled this doctrine of the Christians assurance before I meddled with this point of the Feare of Death Simeon can dye willingly when his eyes haue seene the saluation Feare of death is alwayes ioyned with a weake faith and the full assurance of faith doth maruellously establish the heart against these feares and breeds a certaine desire of the comming of Christ. Paul can be confident when he is able to say I know whom I haue beleeued and that hee is able to keepe that which I haue committed to him 2. Tim. 12. Besides wee should labour to get a particular knowledge and assurance of our happinesse in death and of our saluation Wee would study to this end the Arguments that shew our felicitie in death And to this purpose it is of excellent vse to receiue the Sacrament often For Christ by his Will beq●…eathed heauen to vs Ioh. 17. and by the death of the Testator this Will is of force and is further daily sealed vnto vs as internally by the Spirit so externally by the Sacraments Now if wee get our Charter sealed and confirmed to vs how can we be afraid of the time of possession He is fearelesse of death that can say with the Apostle Whether I liue or dye I am the Lords Rom. 14. 8. 4. That charge giuen to Hezekiah concerning the setting of his house in order Esay 38. is of singular vse for this cure Men should with sound aduice settle their outward estates and dispose of their worldly affaires and according to their meanes prouide for their wife and children A great part of the feare and trouble of mens hearts is ouer when their Wills are discreetly made but men are loth to dye so long as their outward estates are vnsettled and vndisposed It is a most preposterous course for men to leaue the making of their Wils to their sicknesse for besides their disabilities of memory or vnderstanding which may befall them the trouble of it breedes vnrest to their mindes and besides they liue all the time in neglect of their duty of preparation for death 5. Wee may much helpe our selues by making vs friends with the riches of iniquity we should learne that of the vniust Steward as our Sauiour Christ sheweth Since wee shall be put out of the Stewardship we should so dispose of them while wee haue them that when wee dye they may