profession turn aside and desert the cause of Christ 2 Tim. 2. 19. 5 When God hides his face in a suffering hour Ier. 17. 17. 6 When Satan falls upon us with strong temptations to question the grounds of our sufferings or the Souls interest in Christ Now t is heard to keep the heart from turning back and the steps from declining Gods ways The eleventh question then shall be this 11. Case How the heart may be kept from relapsing under the greatest sufferings for religion If the bitterness of sufferings at any time cause thy Soul to distaste the way of God and take up thoughts of forsaking it stay thine heart under that temptation by propounding these 8. questions solemnly to it 1. Quest. What reproach and dishonour shall I pour upon Christ and religion by deserting him at such a time as this This will proclaim to all the world that how much soever I have boasted of the promises yet when it comes to the tryal I dare hazard nothing upon the credit of them and how will this open the mouths of Christs enemies to blaspheme O better I had never been born then that worthy name should be blasphemed through me shall I furnish the triumphs of the uncircumcised shall I make mirth in Hell O if I did but value the name of Christ as much as many a wicked man values his own name I would never endure to see it exposed to such contempt will proud dust and ashes venture death yea Hell rather then a blot upon their name and shall I venture nothing to salve the honour and reputation of Christ 2. Quest. Dare I violate my conscience to save my flesh who shall comfort me when conscience wounds me What comfort is there in life liberty or friends when peace is taken away from the inner man when Constantius threatned to cut off Samosatenus his right hand if he would not subscribe somewhat that was against his conscience he held up both his hands to the messenger that was sent saying he shall cut off both rather then I will do it farewel all peace joy and comfort from that day forward â—ad Zimri peace that slew his master said Iezebel so say I here had Iudas peace had Spira peace and shall you have peace if you tread in their steps O consider what you do 3. Quest. Is not the publick interest of Christ and religion infinitely more then any private interest of my own T is a famous passage that of Terentius Captain to Adrian the Emperour he presented a petition to Adrian that the Christians might have a temple by themselves to worship God apart from the Arrians the Emperour tore his petition and threw it away bidding him to aske somewhat for himself and it should be granted but he modestly gathered up the pieces of his petition again and told him if he could not be heard in Gods caâ—se he would never ask any thing for himself Yea even Tully though an Heathen could say ne immortalitatem quidem contra rem publicam he would not accept even of immortality it self against the Common-wealth O if we had more publick we should not have such cowardly spirits 4. Qu. Did Iesus Christ serve me so when for my sake he exposed himself to far greater sufferings than can be before me His sufferings were great indeed he suffered from all hands in all his offices in every member not only in his body buâ— in his Soul yea the suffâ—rings of his Soul were the very Soul of his sufferings witness the bloody sweat in the garden witness the heart melting and heaven rending outcry upon the crâ—ss My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and yet he flinched not he endured the cross despising the shame Alas what are my sufferings compared with Christs he hath drunk up all that vinegar and gall that would make my suffeâ—ings bitter When one of the Martyrs was asked why he was so merry at his death Oh said he it is because the Soul of Christ was so heavy at his death did Christ bear such a burden for me with unbroken patience and constancy and shall I shrink back for momentary and light affictions for him 5. Qu. Is not eternal life worth the suffering of a moments pain If I suffer with him I shall raign with him O how will men venture life and limb for a fading crown swim through seas of blood to a throne and will I venture nothing suffer nothing for the Crown of Glory that fadâ—th not away my dog will follow my horses heels from morning to night take many a weary step through mâ—re and dirt rather then leave me though at night all he gets by it is but bones and blows If my Soul had any true greatness any sparks of generosity in it how would it despise the sufferings of â—he way for the glory of the end how would it break down all difficulties before it whilâ—st by an eye of faith it sees the forerunner who is already entred standing as it were upon the walls of Heaven with the Crown in his hand saying he that overcometh shall inherit all things come on then my Soul come on there is eternal life laid up for them that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory honour and immortality Rom. 2. 7. 6. Qu. Can I so easily cast off the socieâ—y and company of the Saints and give the right hand of fellowship to the wicked How can I part with such lovely companions as these have been how often have I been benefited by their counsels Ezra â—0 3. how oâ—ten refreshed warmed and quickned by their company Eccles. 4. 10 11. How often have I fasted and prayed with them what sweet counsel have I taken with them and gone to the house of God in company and shall I now shake hands with them and say farewell all ye Saints for ever I shall never be among you more come drunkards swearers â—â—asphemers persecutors you shall be my everlasting companions O rather let my body and Soul be rent a sunder then that ever I should say thus to the excellent of the earth in whom is all my delight Quest. 7. Have I seriously considered the terrible Scripture Comminations against back-sliders O my heart darest thou turn back upon the very points of such threatnings as these Ier. 17 5 6. Thus saith the Lord cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord for he shall be like the Heath in the Desart and shall not see when good cometh i. e. the curse of God shall wither him root and branch And Heb. 14. 26 27. If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful looking for of Iudgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries And again verse 38. If any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him as if he should say take
have the sweet and saving impressions of Gospel-Truths feelingly and powerfully conveighed to your hearts then only to understand them by a bare ratiocination or a dry syllogistical inference Leavetrifling studies to such as have time lying on their hands and know not how to imploy it Remember you are at the door of Eternity and have other work to do those hours you spend upon heart-work in your closets are the golden spots of all your time and will have the sweetest influence into your last hour Never forget those Sermons I preached to you upon that subject from 2. Kings 20. 2. 3. Heart work is weighty and difficult work an error there may cost you your souls I may say of it as Augustine speaks of the Doctrine of the Trinity Nihilo facilius aut periculosius erratur a man can erre in nothing more easily or more dangerously O then study your hearts 2. My next request is that you will carefully look to your Conversations and be accurate in all your waies hold forth the Word of life be sure by the strictness and holiness of your lives to settle your selves in the very consciences of your enemies Remember that your lives must be produced in the great day to judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. Oh then what manner of persons ought you to be You have many eyes over you the Omniscient eye of God that searches the heart and reins Rev. 2. 23. The vigilant eye of Satan Job 1. 7 8. The envious eyes of enemies that curiously observe you Psal. 5. 8. The quick and observant eye of Conscience which none of your actions escape Rom. 9. 1. Oh then be precise and accurate in all manner of conversation keep up the power of godliness in your Closets and Families and then you will not let it fall in your more publick imployments and converses in the world I have often told you that it is the honour of the Gospel that it makes the best Parents and Children the best Masters and Servants the best Husbands and Wives in the world My third and last request is that you pray for me I hope I can say and I am sure some of you have acknowledged that I came at first among you as the return and answer of your Prayers And indeed so it should be see Luke 10. 2. I am perswaded also I have been carried on in my work by your prayers 't is sweet when 't is so see Ephes. 6. 18 19. And I hope by your prayers to receive yet a farther benefit even that which is mentioned Heb. 13. 18 19. Philem. 22. And truely 't is but equal you should pray for me I have often prayed for you Let the Pulpit Family and Closet witness for me and God forbid I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you Yea Friends your own interest may perswade to it what mercies you obtain for me redound to your own advantage if God preserve me it is for your use and service the more gifts and graces a Minister hath the better for them that shall wait on his Ministry the more God gives in to me the more I shall be able to give out to you I will detain you no longer but to entreat you to accept this smal testification of my great love and have recourse to it according as the exigencies of your condition shall require Read it consideringly and obediently Iudge it not by the dress and stile but by the weight and savour of what you read 'T is a good rule of Bernard in legendis libris non quaeramus scientiam sed saporem i. e. in reading Books regard not so much the science as the savour That it may prove the savour of life unto life to you and all those into whose hands it shall come is the hearty desire of Your loving and faithful Pastor JOHN FLAVELL From my Study at Ley in Slapton Octob. 7. 1667. Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of Life THe Heart of man is his worst part before it be regenerate and the best afterwards It is the seat of Principles and fountain of Actions The eye of God is and the eye of the Christian ought to be principally fixed upon it The greatest difficulty in Conversion is to win the heart to God and the greatest difficulty after Conversion is to keep the heart with God Here lies the very pinch and stress of Religion here 's that that makes the way to life a narrow way and the Gate of Heaven a straight Gate Direction and help in this great work is the scope and summe of this Text wherein we have 1. An Exhortation Keep thy he are with all diligence 2. The Reason or Motive inforcing it For out of it are the issues of Life In the Exhortation I shall Consider 1. The Matter of the Duty 2. The manner of performing it 1. The Matter of the Duty Keep thy Heart Heart is not here taken properly for that noble part of the Body which Philosophers call the primum vivens ultimum moriens the first that lives and the last that dies but by Heart in a Metaphor the Scripture sometimes understands some particular noble facultie of the Soul in Rom. 1. 21. it is put for the understanding part their foolish Heart i. e. their foolish understanding was darkened And Psal. 119. 11. It is put for the Memory Thy Word have I hid in my Heart And Iohn 1. 3. 20 It is put for the Conscience which hath in it both the light of the Understanding and the recognitions of the Memory If our heart Condemn us i. e. if our Conscience whose proper Office it is to condemn But here we are to take it more generally for the whole Soul or inner Man for look what the Heart is to the Body that the Soul is to the Man and what Health is to the Heart that Holiness is to the Soul Quod sanit as in corport id sanct it as in corde The state of the whole Body depends upon the soundness and vigour of the Heart and the everlasting state of the whole man upon the good or ill condition of the Soul And by keeping the Heart understand the diligent and constant use and improvement of all holy Means and Duties to preserve the Soul from sin and maintain its sweet and free communion with God Lavater in loc will have the word taken from a besieged Garrison begirt by many Enemies without and in danger of being betrayed by treacherous Citizens within in which danger the Souldiers upon pain of death are commanded to watch and whereas the expression keep thy heart seems to put it upon us as ourwork yet it doth not imply a sufficiency or ability in us to do it we are as able to stop the Sun in its course or make the Rivers run backward as by our own skill and power to rule and order our hearts we may as well be our own Saviours as
liberty or esâ—ate are hunâ—ed after and I cannot secure them O let me leave them in thy hand the poor leaveth himself with thee and doth his God fail him no Thou art the helper of the fatherless Psalm 10. 14. that is thou art the helper of the deâ—â—â—ute one that hath none to go to but God And that is a sweet Scripture Psalm 112. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord he doth not say his ear shall be priviledged from the report of evil tidings he may hear as sad tidings as other men but his heart shall be priviledged from the terrour of those tidings his heart is fixed 11. Rule Consult the honour of Religion more and your personal safety lesse Is it for the honour of Religion think you that Christians should be as timerous as Hares to start at every sound will not this tempt the World to think that whatever you talk yet your principles are no better than other mens O what mischief may the discoveries of your â—ears bâ—fore them do 'T was a noble saying of Nehemiah Chap. 6. 11. Should such a man as I flee and who being as I am would flee Were it not better you shâ—uld dye than that the World should be prejudiced against Christ by your example for alas how apt is the World who judge more by what they see in your practises than by what they understand of your principles to conclude from your timâ—râ—usness that how much soever you commend Faith and talk of Assurance yet you dare trust to these things no more than they when it comes to the tryal O let not your fears lay such a stumbling-block before the blind World 12. Rule He that will secure his heart from fear must first secure the eternal interest of his soul in the hands of Iesus Christ. When this is done then you may say now World do thy worst You will not be very solâ—citous about a vile body when you are once assured it shall be well to all eternity with your precious souls Fear not them saith Christ that can kill the body and after that have no power that they can do The assured Christian may smile with contempt upon all his enemies and say is this the worst that you can do what say you Christians are you assured that your souls are safe that within a few moments of your dissolution they shall be received by Christ into everlasting habitatious Well if you be sure of that never trouble your selves about the instruments and means of your dissolution Object O but a violent death is terrible to Nature Answ. But what matter is it wâ—en thy soul is in Heaven whether it were let out at thy mouth or at thy throat whether thy familiar friends or barbarous enemies stand about thy dead body and close thine eyes alas it is not worth the making so much ado about nihil corpus sentit in nervo cum anima sit in coelo thy soul shall not be sensibâ—e in Heaven how thy body is used on earth no it shall be swallowed up in life 13. Rule Learn to quench all slavish Creature fears in the reverential fear of God This is a cure by diversion 't is a rare piece of Christian Wisdom to turn those passions of the soul which most predominate into spiritual Channels to turn natural anger into spiritual zeal natural mirth into holy chearfulness and natural fear into an holy dread and awe of God This method of Cure Christ prescribes in that fore-mentioned place Mat. 10. like to which is that in Isa. 8. 12 13. Fear not their fear But how shall we help it Why sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and your dread Natural fear may be allayed for present by natural reason or the removal of the occasion but then 't is but like a Candle blown out with a puff of breath which is easily blown in again but it the fear of God extinguish it then 't is like a Candle quencht in water which cannot easily be re-kindled 14. Rule Lastly Pour out those fears to God in Prayer which the Devil and your own unbelief pour in upon you in times of danger Prayer is the best out-let to fear where is the Christian that cannot set his probatum est to this direction I will give you the greatest Example in the World to encourage you in the use of it even the example of Jesus Christ Mark 14. 32. when the hour of his danger and death drâ—w nigh he gets into the Garden separates from the Disciples and there wrestles mightily with God in Prayer even unto an Agony in reference to which the Apostle saith Heb. 5. 7. Who in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryes and tears to him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared he was heard as to strength and support to carry him through it though not as to deliverance or exemption from it Now Oh that these things might abide with you and be reduced to practise in these evil dayes that many trembling souls may be established by them 5. Seas The fifth Season to exert this diligence in keeping the heart is the time of straits and outward pinching wants although at such times we should complain to God and not of God the Throne of Gracâ— being erected for a time of need Hâ—b 4. 16. yet when the waters of relief run low and wants begin to pinch hard how prone are the best hearts to distrust the Fountain When the Meal in the Barrel and oylin the Cruse are almost spent our faith and patience are almost spent too Now 't is difficult to keep down the proud and unbelieving heart in an holy quietude and sweet submission at the foot of God 'T is an easie thing to talk of trusting God for daily bread while we have a full Barn or Purse but to say as the Propher Hab. 3. 17. Though the Fig-tree should not blossome neither fruit be in the Vine c. yet will I rejoyce in the Lord. Sure this is not easie The fifth Case therefore shall be this 5. Cafe How a Christian may keep his heart from distrusting God or repining against him when outward wants are eithâ—r felt or feared This Case deserves to be seriously pondred and especially to be studied now since it seems to be the design of Providence to empty the people of God of their creature-fulness and acquaint them with thâ—se straits which hiâ—herto they have been altogether strangers to Nâ—w to secure the heart from the fore-mentioned dangers attending this condition these follâ—wing Consiâ—erations through the blessing of the Spirit may prove effectual And the first is this 1. Consid. That if God reduce you to straits and necessities yet he deals no otherwise therein with you than he hath done with some of the choicest and holiest men that ever lived Your