of any commanded duty publick family or secret toward God or of any duty of Justice or Charity toward Man or of Sobriety toward thy self muster up the Holy Precepts of God and turn the edge of them against thy sin mingling them with Faith and Prayer Say how shall I dare to live in the neglect of these duties which God so expresly injoyns in his Word Is thy iniquity a sin of Commission then apply and turn the edge of the Prohibitions of the Word against that sin of thine say to thy Soul how shall I dare to do that which God so expresly forbids and which his Soul hates Make use of the Threatnings of Gods Word against thy sin in particular against thy Pride Passion Covetousness Uncleanness Drunkenness Deceit or any other sin And apply the Promises of Power against sin in general or particular against thy sins such as Mic. 7.19 Rom. 6.14 Ezek. 36.25 26 27. improve them to cleanse thee from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 7.1.2 Pet. 1.4 And also improve the Examples of Saints falling into sin and recovering out of it to make thee watchful against falls and quicken and forward thy recovery when overtaken and fallen V. Would you keep your selves from your iniquity then be jealous of and over your own Hearts and be very Watchful against that iniquity of yours you find your selves most prone to and against all occasions of it cut off from it all provisions all that would feed and fulfil these Lusts Rom. 13.14 cut sin short starve these sins of thine do not pamper them deny thy self in what ever tends to feed thy sin take heed of that company which thou findest is likely to draw thee into thy peculiar iniquity Deny thy self in things in themselves lawful that are not necessary that thou findest apt to insnare thee and lead thee to thy special sin I say things lawful that are not necessary you must in such a case forbear the use of But you must not forbear the use of such things as are necessary as Food and Physick for fear they should prove occasions of sin but you must be watchful in the use of them Much less must you forbear what is your duty to God or Men because you may be in danger to be proud or rest in duties nor must you decline serving God in your Generation as he gives you a call and opportunity to be serviceable to him the Church the World and civil Societies but you must double your Diligence and Watch and Guard against the sins that are apt to cleave to your Duties and against the Temptations that are apt to beset you in the Places Imployments Relations or Company you may be called to VI. Would you keep your selves from your most powerful and prevailing iniquity you who have a work and principle of Grace wrought in you by the Spirit of God labour to grow most of all in and most to exercise that Grace which is most directly contrary to that sin thou art most prone to and most easily and frequently foiled by for contraries do best and most effectually expel each other thus Oppression was Zacheus's sin and he kept himself from this his iniquity by performing the duty and exemplifying the Grace directly contrary to this sin namely making restitution and exercising mercy bounty and liberality giving the half of his Goods to the Poor Luk. 19.8 Cruelty was the Jailors Sin but when converted he keeps himself from this his iniquity by exercising the Graces most opposite to this sin namely courtesie and kindness to Paul and Silas Acts 16.24 33 34. Oh what a different carriage was here So Paul before his Conversion was a most bitter and cruel Persecutor of Christians and the Christian Religion but when Converted who more eminent than he in Preaching the Gospel and suffering for it God and do thou likewise Hath Covetousness Strait-heartedness and pinching from Pious and Charitable uses been your predominant iniquity and would you keep your selves from it Resolve then in God's strength to cross this Covetous temper and exercise the contrary Duty and Grace of Liberality and Heavenly-mindedness Is Pride in Apparel or in any other way whether of Heart or Life your Sin To keep you from this your iniquity resolve to lay aside all the Badges of Pride and in an especial manner set your selves to exercise the Grace of Humility to be cloathed with it both in the inward and outward Man Hath Passion rash Anger bitter and fierce Expressions in your Passion been your sin and would you keep your selves from it Then set your selves in the strength of Christ to the exercise of Meekness and Quietness of Spirit and calmness in Speech and Behaviour Hath Intemperance or Unchastity been your sin To keep you from this Exercise exact Temperance in Meat Drink Sleep Apparel and Recreations and Chastity in Heart Speech and your whole Carriage and by the diligent and believing use of these means and following these Directions you may come to keep your selves from your iniquities and thereby evidence your being upright before the Lord. FINIS Books Printed and Reprinted for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside A Body of practical Divinity consisting of above 176 Sermons on the Assemblys Shorter Catechisme by Tho. Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephens Walbrook London Sermons and Discourses on several Divine Subjects by the late Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. David Clarkson sometime Fellow of Clare-Hall Cambridge Mr. Pool's English Annotations on the Bible the 3d Edition with an Addition of a Concordance and Contents to each Chapter by Mr. Sam. Clark The Acts Decisions Decrees and Cannons of the Reformed Churches in France being a most faithful History of the rise growth and decay of the Reformed Religion in that Kingdom By John Quick Minister in London Boyses two Sermons against quenching the Holy Spirit Dr. Wallis's Theological Discourses on several Occasions with his Letters in vindication of the Holy Trinity Mr. Robert Fleming's Aspect of the Times His Discourse of Earthquakes occasioned by that which happened in the year 1692. The Rod or the Sword the present Dilemma of these Nations The Confirming Work of Religion or its great things made plain to ordinary Capacities His Funeral Sermon preached by Dr. Burgess Pacification touching the Doctrinal Dissent among our united Brethren in London being an Answer to Mr. Williams and Mr. Lobb both who have appealed in one point collected for an Error to this Author for his determination about it Mediocria Or the middle way between Protestant and Papist in a Paper of Justification The second Edition with Additions and a Letter to Mr. Williams The Righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel or an impartial Enquiry into the genuine Doct. of St. Paul in the great but much controverted Article of Justification To which are prefixed the Epistles of the Right Reverend the Bishops of Worcester Ely and Chester The Friendly Interposer
THAT Great Duty AND Comfortable Evidence Keeping our selves from our iniquity Opened and applied in some SERMONS upon Psal 18.23 By John Whitlock Minister of the Gospel in Nottingham LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst and are to be sold by John Richards Bookseller at Nottingham 1698. The Epistle to the Reader Christian Reader IT is not any desire of appearing in Print but meer importunity that hath prevailed with me to publish the few following Sheets For tho' I would not decline any thing that might tend to the honour of God and the spiritual good of any and tho' the Subject treated of viz. Mens finding out and keeping themselves from their iniquity be a matter of great and constant importance and that wherein much of the life of Religion and the power of Godliness doth lye yet this hath been so excellently and practically handled by the Reverend Dr. Bates that I could hardly prevail with my self to give my consent to the publishing of these Notes but have been at length overcome by the sollicitations of some whom I must confess I was leath to deny as being bound to honour them for their close walk with God and Zeal to propagate the Kingdom of Christ and the practice of real Holiness These Sermons as now printed with very little variation as to heads or expressions were preached forty years since in publick Anno 1657. and having occasion this year in a Lord's day course of Sermons upon Isa 53. to preach somewhat to the same effect upon those words in the 6th verse of that Chapter We have turned every one to his own way I was desired to print and have printed according to the Notes preached so long since when I spoke more largely to the Subject than I did when I returned upon it this year This is a true account of the occasion of these Sheets appearing thus in publick which it was convenient thou shouldst be acquainted with I shall add no more but my earnest prayers that God would make this Word profitable to my self and all that shall read it and to request thy prayers for me whom God hath graciously brought almost to the close of my seventy third year that God would be pleased more and more to fulfil to me that good Word of his Grace that they that are planted in the House of the Lord shall still bring forth fruit in Old Age they shall be fat and flourishing to the praise of the faithfulness and skill of God the blessed Husbandman and of the fatness and virtue of Christ the true Vine By such Christian remembrances of me at the Throne of Grace thou wilt exceedingly oblige him who earnestly desires more Grace to approve himself while in this Tabernacle The faithful Servant of Christ and Souls JOHN WHITLOCK Nottingham Jan. 1. 1657 8. That Great Duty and comfortable Evidence Keeping our selves from our Iniquity Psalm 18.23 I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity THIS Psalm is a Psalm of Thanksgiving the occasion of which the Title of the Psalm acquaints us with viz. the Lord 's delivering of the Psalmist from the hands of all his Enemies and from the hand of Saul But I shall not spend time in looking back to the foregoing verses but come immediately to the Text it self wherein you have these two parts or things considerable 1. David's solemn and serious profession of his sincerity I was also upright before or with him 2. The proof and evidence of this his sincerity and I kept my self from mine iniquity Briefly to open the words I was also upright before him i. e. sincere in the bent of my heart approving my heart to God setting the Lord before me carrying my self in the habitual frame of my heart and in the general course of my conversation as under God's Eye This being upright is in the Scripture in several places stiled being perfect Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou perfect or as it is in the Margin upright or sincere so Job 1.1 8. c. 2. v. 3. Job is said to be a perfect and upright man the latter word explains the former No meer man on Earth is legally perfect with a perfection of degrees for legal perfection is full conformity to God a sinless perfection but every true Believer is Evangelically perfect that is upright and sincere perfect with a perfection of parts as a Child that hath all its faculties and members is a perfect Child tho' it be not arrived at its full growth and stature Yea the Believer is perfect in his design and aim breathing and endeavouring after perfection and shall at last immediately after death be made perfect in holiness And I kept my self from mine iniquity i. e. I watched over my heart observed my self used all means of God's appointing to keep my self from sin David doth not arrogate to himself or ascribe his keeping himself from his iniquity to his own strength either of Nature or of Grace received for he was very sensible and readily acknowledged that he could not keep himself but that it was God his special Grace and the continued and renewed Aids of his Spirit that could keep him from his iniquities and inable him to walk uprightly before him that it was God in Christ it was Jesus he looked to as the Author and finisher of his Faith and all other Graces but he knew God works by means and on men not as stocks or stones but they must use God's approved means to keep them and tho' they be passive in the turning act of Conversion yet God then infuses a principle of spiritual life into them and requires they should use the means depending upon God by Faith Prayer and Watchfulness to make them effectual for the keeping them from their iniquities From mine iniquities i. e. that special sin which he found himself most prone to and was most easily and frequently foiled and overcome by which by his constitution condition of life or temptation he lay more peculiarly open to that which in his unregenerate state was his beloved sin and after his Conversion might be his tyrannizing and too often prevailing corruption He might probably in his distressed condition when persecuted by Saul be tempted to impatience unbelief lying making hast using indirect means revenge and the like and he indeavoured to keep himself from these The Doctrine is Doct. It is the duty of all that profess to be God's people and an evidence of their sincerity to keep themselves from their special sins those which they are most prone to and may properly call their iniquities Now for the handling of this Doctrine I shall 1. Lay down several Propositions for the more clear opening of it 2. Shew wherein mens own iniquities do lye and where men may search for them so as to be able to find out what their special sins are This I shall do somewhat towards in the Doctrinal part but in the Application more fully shew the signs of those
between the Authors of those Papers the one called A Report the other A Rebuke of that Report In order to a reconciliation between the Presbyterians and Independants All four by Mr. John Humfrey A Sermon preached before the King and Queen Nov. 5. 1692. By Richard L. Bishop of Bath Wells David Jones's Farewel Sermon preached to the united Parishes of St. Mary Woolnoth and St. Mary Weolchurch-Haw in Lombard Street His Sermon of Family Duties A Brief Tract on the 4th Commandment wherein is discovered the cause of all our Controversies about the Sabbath day and the means of reconciling them Recommended by the Reverend Dr. Bates and Mr. John How A Defence of Mr. M. H's brief Enquiry into the Nature of Schism and the Vindication of it With a brief Historical Account of Nonconformity from the Reformation to this present time Englands Allarme being an Account of Gods most confiderable Dispensations of Mercy and Judgment towards these Kingdoms for 14 years last past A Sermon preached at the Assizes at St. Edmonds-Bury in Suffolk March 18. 1693. before the Lord Chief Justice Holt and Judg Rooksby c. By Sam. Peck Lecturer of Ipswich An Account of the Blessed Trinity argued from the Nature and Perfection of the Supreme Spirit coincident with the Scripture-Doctrine in all the Articles of the Catholick Creed By Will. Burrough Rector of Chenis in Bucks An Exposition of Verse 2d of the 4 Chap. of the Romans with an Appendix on Chap. 3. Ver. 27. By VValter Cross M. A. A Sermon preached upon the Death of that Pious and Learned Divine John Collings D. D. By Martyn Finch Minister in Norwich The Midnight Cry A Sermon on the Parable of the 10 Virgins by John Mason M. A. The Churches Security in the midst of all Difficulties and dangers explained and asserted in a Sermon By R. VV. Minister of Kidderminster in VVorcestershire His Sermon at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Baldwin Minister of the Gospel A Sermon preached on the Death of the late Queen Mary By Andrew Barnet Remembrance and Imitation of deceased Holy Rulers A Sermon preached at Rotterdam March 15. 1695. N. S. the day of Her Majesties Funeral By John Spademan M. A. Minister of the English Church there The Cause and Cure of Strife and Divisions In two Sermons preached in London March 12 and 26. 1695. By Richard Mayo A Discourse on the Love of Christ By VVilliam Sheppard A. M. and Minister of the Gospel at Oundel in Northamptonshire The Nature of Justification opened from Rom. 5.1 By Mr. Gibbons sometime Preacher at Black Fryers London One Dissertation concerning the Antiquity of Temples wherein is shown that there were none before the Tabernacle erected by Moses in the Wilderness From Histories Sacred and Profane By Joseph Hill M. A. Editor of Schrevelius Lexicon A Sermon preached in the City of Exeter on the Thanksgiving day April 16. 1696. God glorified and the Wicked snared A Thanksgiving Sermon for the happy Preservation of His Majesty King VVilliam III. from a most horrid and barbarous Assassination By A. S. Sheba's Conspiracy and Amasa's Confederacy Or a modest Vindication of the National Association Feb. 25. 1695. The Protestant King protected the Popish King detected and defeated In a Sermon preached at St. James Clarkenwell April 16. 1696. the day of Publick Thanksgiving for the Deliverance of His Majesty King VVilliam from Assassination and His Kingdom from Invasion by the French both by D. Pead Chaplain to his Grace John Duke of Newcastle The glorious reward of faithful Ministers declared and improved in a Sermon upon the occasion of the Funeral of Mr. Hen. Newcome A. M. late Pastor at Manchester By John Chorlton A Funeral Sermon on the Death of that pious Gentlewoman Mrs. Judith Hammond late Wife of the Reverend Mr. George Hammend Minister of the Gospel in London By John Howe Peace in War by Christ the Prince of Peace A Sermon preached on the late Publick Fast June 26. 1696. By Francis Fuller M. A. Scripture Justification Or a Discourse of Justification according to Scripture Light By Samuel Clark M. A. A Sermon preached on the late Day of Thanksgiving Decemb. 2. 1697. By John Howe Minister of the Gospel to which is prefixt Dr. Bates's Congratulary Speech Nov. 22. 1697. to the King in the Name of the Dissenting Ministers in and about London Comfort in Death A Funeral Sermon preached upon the Death of Mr. Tim. Cruso late Pastor of a Church in London By Mat. Mead. Remarks on the Affairs of Trade of England and Ireland By VValter Harris Gent. The Fountain of Life open'd Or a display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial Glory in 42 Sermons on various Texts A Treatise of the Soul of Man Husbandry Spiritualized Or the Heavenly use of Earthly things All 3 by Mr. John Flavel Discourses upon the Rich Man and Lazarus by Tim. Cruso Mr. Timothy Cruso's three last Sermons Tutamen Evangelicum or a Defence of Scripture Ordination against E. G. Exceptions in a Book intituled Tentamen Novum The Helmet of Hope distinguished from the Hope of Hypocrites by Andrew Barnet Minister of the Gospel Trading spiritualized on which Tradesmen and others may enlarge on their Meditations in 2 parts By W. Bagshaw A calm and Sober enquiry concerning the possibility of a Trinity in the Godhead in a Letter to a Person of Worth in 3 parts By Mr. John Howe Mr. Masons Spiritual Songs or Songs of praise to Almighty God on several Occasions The 5. Edition to which may be added Penitential Cries The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification open'd in sundry practical Directions To which is added a Sermon of Justification By Mr. Walter Marshal A Family Altar erected to the Honour of the Eternal God or a solemn Essay to promote the Worship of God in private Houses together with the best Entail Or dying Parents living Hopes for their surviving Children grounded upon the Covenant of Gods Grace with Behevers and their Seed A new Creature or a short discourse opening the Nature Property and Mecessity of the great Work of the New Creation on the Souls of Men. All by Mr. Heywood Min. of the Gospel A Present for such as have been sick and are recovered By Mr. Nath. Vincent M. A. An Earnest call to Family Religion in 18 Sermons By Sam. Slater M. A. An Argumentative and Practical Discourse of Infant Baptisme The Second Edition Poor Man's Help and Young Man's Guide The Third Edition Both by William Burkit M. A of Pembrook Hall Cambridge Now Vicar of Dedbam in Essex The Swearers Doom a discourse setting forth the great danger sinfulness of rash and vain Swearing By I. Ross M.A. Prayers for the use of private Families with Graces Sacramental Hymus Collected chiefly out of such Passages of the New Testament as contain the most suitable matter of Divine Praises in the Celebration of the Lords Supper By Joseph Boyse of Dublin in Ireland Select Hymns out of Mr. G. Herberts Poems A Collection of Divine Hymns suitted to ordinary Tunes Holy Confidence well improved by Nehemiah and the Jews a Sermon preached to the Societyes for Reformation of Manners at Salters Hall on Monday Aug. 16 1697. By Mat. Sylvester The Golden Sunffers or Christian Reprovers and Reformers Charactered Cautioned and encouraged a Sermon preached to the Societys for Reformation of Manners in London Feb. 15. 1697. Rules and Motives to the Duty of Prayer The Characters of a Godly Man both as more or less grown in Grace Proofs of Gods Being and of the Scriptures Divine Original All four by D. Burgess The Grand Question reselved what we must do to be saved or Instructions for a Holy Life A Call to seriousness in Religion Good Councel to the Converted and Unconverted All 3 by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter Monthly Preparations to the Holy Communion By R. B. Published by Mat. Sylvester Sacramental Preparations for the Holy Communion in short By a Reverend Divine of the Church of England Mr. John Showers Sacramental Discourses Mr. Vine's Treatise on the Lords Supper A Looking Glass for the Unmarried wherein they may see these 5 things 1. The Benefits Helps and Comforts of a happy Marriage 2. How to proceed regularly in order to it 3. How to make a happy Choice 4. How to demean themselves to each other in order to Family Peace and Concord 5. The Relative Dutys of Husband and Wife By Mr. Edward Bury Min. of the Gospel Death improved Immoderate sorrow reproved By Mr. Edward Bury A most familiar explanation of the Assemblies shorter Carechism in which their larger Answers are broken into lesseparcels thereby to let in the light by Degrees into the mind of the Learners A sure Guide to Heaven Both by Joseph Allein Advice to an only Child or Excellent Councel to all young Persons A Saint indeed Or the great work of a Christian opened and applyed from Prov. 4.23 A Token for Monrners Divine Conduct or the Mystery of Providence These three last by John Flavel Minister of the Gospel Ornaments for the Daughters of Zion Or the Character Happiness of a Vertuous Woman By Cotton Mather Calamy's Godly Mans Ark or City of Refuge in the day of his Distress The Day of Doom in Verse Mead's Almost Christian or the False Professor Tryed Cast Invisible Realities demonstrated in the Holy Life and Triumphant Death of Mr. John Janeway Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge An Account of the Life and Death of Mr. Philip Henry Min. of the Gospel near Whitchurch in Shrophire who dyed June 24. 1696. Recommended by Dr. Bates Vincents Explanation of the Assemblys Shorter Catechisme Redemption of Time the Duty and Wisdom of Christians in evil days By John Wade Minister of Hammersmith A Brief Concordance to the Holy Bible in a new Method By Samnel Clarke M. A. A Short and Faithful History of the Rise and Progress of the late War Singing Psalms Vindicated from the Charge of Novelty In answer to Dr. Russel Mr. Marlow c. Scripture Light about the Gospel Ordinance of Baptisme Much in a little An abstract of Mr. Baxters plain Scripture Proof for Infants Church Membership Some brief Directions for improvement of Infan Baptisme By W. Bagshaw Improveableness of Water Baptisme By Dr. Collinges Burkit of Infant Baptisme Scripture Warrant sufficient for Infant Baptism By G. Firmin Infant Baptism of Christs appointment by S. Peâ—to A Dialogue about Infant Baptisme By Dr. Gilpin FINIS