past finding out Eph. 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will Prov. 21.1 The Kings heart is in the hands of the Lord as the Rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will Ezra 7.27 Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart to beautifie the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem Dan. 5.23 But thou hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of Heaven and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee and thou and thy Lords thy wives and thy Concubines have drunk wine in them and thou hast praised the Gods of silver and Gold of Brasse Iron wood and Stone which see not nor hear nor know and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy waies hast thou not glorified 1 Sam. 3.18 And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him and he said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Psal 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Job 1.21 And said naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the name of the Lord. Psal 97.1 The Lord reigneth Let the earth rejoyce Let the multitude of Isles be glad â—hereof 〈◊〉 1.13 Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man V. 14. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed CHAP. II. Concerning Man COncerning Man we are to know and understand these three things 1. The happy Condition in which he was made 2. His Fall 3. The way of his Recovery by Christ 1. The Holy and happy estate in which God created man at first Namely after his own Image in Knowledge Holinesse and Righteousnesse with Dominion over the Creatures here below writing his Law on mans heart requiring perfect obedience from him and giving him power to perform it promising the continuance of him in that happy estate if he obeyed and threatning him with death if he disobeyed which is called the Covenant of works Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him V. 5. For thou hast made him little lower than the Angels and hast crowned him with Glory and Honour V. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet Gen. 1.26 And God said let us make man in our Image after our likenesse and let them have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over the fowle of the aire and over the Cattle and over all the earth and over every Creeping thing that Creepeth upon the Earth V 27. So God Created man in his own Image in the Image of God Created he him male and female Created he them V. 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over the fowl of the aire and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth Eccles 7.29 Lo this only have I found that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that Created him Eph. 4.24 And that ye put on the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Gen. 2.7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul V. 16. And the Lord God Commanded the man saying of every tree of the Garden thou maist freely eat V. 17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Gal. 3.12 And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them Rom. 10.5 For Moses describeth the righteousnesse which is of the Law that the man which doth those things shall live by them Rom. 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves V. 15. Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their consciences also hearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another 2. The miserable Condition into which man threw himself by sin Our first Parents by the temptation of Sathan disobeyed God broke his righteous Law and Commandement and thereby cast themselves out of the Favour of God became the Slaves of Satan and liable to the curse of the Law and brought a great depravation of soul and body upon themselves And such as our first Parents were such must their posterity needs be For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean says Job Chap. 14.4 They having lost the Image of God themselves the holinesse and happinesse in which they were made could not conveigh it to their posterity So that the nature of man is now become corrupt prone to evil backward to good And this miserable condition is derived to us from Adam by our immediate Parents and as men come to be born in several Ages and generations so they actually participate of the sap that comes from the first root we being therefore all of us in so bad a Condition by nature and by custome and practice in sin having made our selves much worse and more abominable in the sight of God more guilty and liable to his wrath we are to know and consider that this woful state of sin and misery is by no means to be rested in But seeing we are fallen into so lamentable a condition we must speedily endeavour to get out of it And therefore let us remember that without Conversion there is no hope of Salvation Except a man be born again and made a new Creature he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Joh. 3.3 Gen. 3.6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she tooke of the fruit thereof and did eate and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eate V. 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons V. 8. And they heard the voyce of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the coole of the day And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the Garden V. 13. And the Lord God said
turn again unto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Concerning Faith in Christ Acts 16.31 And they said beleeve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life V. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God John 8.24 For if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins John 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day V. 47. Verily verily I say unto you he that beleeveth on me hath everlasting life Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world V. 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who somtimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph. 2.8 For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God V. 9. Not of works lest any man should boast John 12.44 Jesus cried and said he that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me V. 46. I am come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darknesse Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher V. 17. So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God 1 Pet. 2.6 Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded John 4 42. And they said unto the woman now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Heb. 11.13 These all died in Faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Gâ—l 2.20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Acts 15.11 But we believe that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved even as they Eph. 6.16 Above all take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shâ—ll be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Heb. 6.12 That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and patience inherit the promises Rom. 4.2 For if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory but not before God V. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of debt V. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man to whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works V. 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God Rom. 3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of sinne V. 21. But the righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets V. 22. Even the righteousnesse of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God V. 24. Being justified freely by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. V. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God V. 26. To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus V. 27. Where is boasting then it is excluded by what Law of works nay but by the Law of Faith V. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by Faith without the deeds of the Law Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Phil. 3.9 And be found in him not having mine owne righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached forgivenesse of sins V. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses Heb. 12.24 Unto Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Gal. 3.20 Now a Mediator is not a Mediator of one but God is one Rom. 8.1 There is therefore no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. James 2.22 Seest thou how Faith wrought with his works and by works was Faith made perfect John 16.27 For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have beleeved that I came out from God Jude 20. But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the holy Ghost V. 21. Keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Concerning Holinesse and sincere obedidience Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the Glory and praise of God Heb. 13.20 Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant V. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord
require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Jam. 2.14 What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath Faith and have no works can Faith save him V. 15. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food V. 16. And one of you say unto them depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body what doth it profit V. 17. Even so Faith if it hath not works is dead being alone 1 John 2.3 And hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandements V. 5. But whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him 2 Pet. 1.5 And besides this giving all diligence adde to your Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge V. 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godlinesse V. 7. And to Godlinesse brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindnesse Charity V. 8. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. V. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see far off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Tit. 2.11 For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men V 12. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 1 Pet. 2.12 Having your Conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation V. 15. For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life Mat. 25.21 His Lord said unto him well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. V. 22. He also that had received two talents came and said Lord thou deliveredst me two talents behold I have gained other two talents besides them V. 23. His Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Luke 17.10 So likewise ye when ye have done all these things which are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Job 22.2 Can a man be profitable unto God as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself V. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous or is it gain to him that thou makest thy waies perfect Job 35.7 If thou be righteous what givest thou him or what receiveth he of thine hand V. 8. Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousnesse may profit the son of man Mat. 23.23 Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye pay tithe of Mint and Annis and Cummin and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgement Mercy and Faith these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Mat. 5.20 For I say unto you except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Gal. 5.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long Suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith V. 23. Meeknesse Temperance against such there is no Law 2 Cor. 8.12 For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Heb. 6.10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints and do minister Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Rom. 6.6 Know this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha Mat. 22.37 Jesus said unto him thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind Acts 10.35 But in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and harmless the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the world Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgement of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death not only doe the same but have pleasure in them that do them Rom. 6.1 What shall we say then shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound V. 2. God forbid how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein V. 15. What then shall we sin because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid V. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse 1 John 1.6 If we say then we have fellowship with him and walk in darknesse we lie and do not the Truth V. 8. If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 John 3.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Concerning Perseverance Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye doe these things ye shall never fall John 10.28 And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither
or practise These are the Conclusions I come now in the third place to the Motives and Encouragements to believe in Christ 1. Consider for thy encouragement how able Christ is to save thee There is more merit in the Son of God to obtain our pardon than there is guilt of sin in us to merit condemnation For the person suffering being as to his God-head infinite and the merit and value of his sufferings depending on the dignity and worth of his person the satisfaction made must needs be infinite and so abundantly sufficient 2. Consider his willingness and readinesse to accept to mercy all poor humbled sinners that come unto him He never rejected any man that came unto him and acknowledged him for the true Messias and unfeignedly gave up himself to be saved by him His willingnesse to save sinners cannot but appear to thee if thou considerest these three things 1. His gracious words before he came into the world The Prophet in the person of Christ proclaims thus Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters c. 2. His free and general invitation when he was in the world John 7.37 In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cried saying if any one thirst let him come to me and drink And Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 3. His great kindnesse to poor sinners expressed after his ascention and leaving the world Rev. 22.17 Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely That these were the words of Christ appeares v. 20. where 't is said He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly 3. Consider that to believe and rest on Christ crucified and to take him for our Lord and Saviour is to perform that act to which justification and remission of sins is promised John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Christ and all his benefits are promised to a believing soul Wilt thou not therefore give up thy self to him 4. Consider 't is the duty of all truly humbled sinners to go to Christ and believe in him 'T is the duty of a sick man to apply himself to a skilful Physitian and as such an one must not destroy his own life by a wilful refusing the Physick that would cure him so neither must the humbled sinner destroy his own soul by refusing to close with Christ He must not add to all the rest of his sins unbelief and a wilfull neglect of Christ and the salvation by him purchased and so freely offered 5. Consider that the humbled sinner by believing in Christ does not only bring comfort and salvation to his own soul but also in an eminent manner brings Glory to God When thou though discouraged in thy self by reason of thy sins darest venture thy soul in the hands of Christ When thou makest thy way through all doubts scruples and misgivings of heart and takest Gods bare Word because he hath said it thereby setting thy seal to his truth and faithfulnesse and dost resolve to throw thy self on his free Mercy and Christ's Merits for pardon and life to lay thy soul at Christ's feet and to clasp about him though he kill thee This is an excellent and an heroical act of Faith which brings Glory to God as Abrahams Faith did Of whom it is said Rom. 4.20 That he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God 6. Consider 't is the greatest folly and madnesse in the world for an humbled sinner not to close with Christ and commit his soul unto him What an irrational and unprofitable sin is unbelief If we go not to Christ Where can salvation possibly be had As those lepers reasoned 2 King 7.3 If we sit still we perish That person is sure to be damned that keeps off from Christ There is no way therefore for a poor sinner but to venture himself into the hands of Christ to give up his soul sincerely to him and to resolve with himself if I perish I will perish at his feet 7. Lastly If you think you have cause to fear that Christ is not yet yours and as yet you have no interest in him my advice is that you now go unto him now strike up the Covenant between him and you Defer no longer Let this be the marriage-day Now give up thy self unfeignedly to be pardoned sanctified commanded disposed of and everlastingly saved by him and rest assured he will on no terms cast thee out John 3.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wildernesse even so must the Son of man be lifted up V. 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life V. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life V. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 5.40 And ye will not come to me that ye might have life John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtlesse and I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. V. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by Faith See more Scriptures concerning Faith p. 106. Covenanting with God Deut. 26.17 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God to walk in his waies and to keep his Statutes and his Commandements and his Judgments and to hearken unto his voice Josh 24.21 And the people said unto Joshua nay but we will serve the Lord. V. 22. And Joshuah said unto the people ye are witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen you the Lord to serve him and they said we are witnesses CHAP. IV. Of the new Nature and reformed Life 4. HAving thus solemnly given up thy self to Christ labour to walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing being fruitful in every good work Let it be thy daily care begging the assistance of the Spirit to enable thee to mortifie the old man to crucifie the flesh with its affections and lusts to weaken impair and destroy the dominion of the whole body of sin and to put on the new man that thou maist be strengthened furnished with all saving Graces to the practise of true holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord As Christ
by his divine power raised and quickned his own body when it lay in the grave so he conveighs a spiritual life into all his members raising them from the death of sin and enabling them to walk in newnesse of life I live saith Paul Gal. 2.20 yet not I but Christ liveth in me And the life of Jesus is made manifest in our mortal bodies 2 Cor. 4.11 He that abideth in me and I in him saith our Saviour John 15.5 bringeth forth much fruit Beg therefore earnestly of the Lord that thou maiest be sanctified throughout in Spirit Soul and Body That thy Understanding Conscience and Will thy sensual affections and desires and thy whole outward man may be put into and kept in a good order and frame that the fear of God may dwell in thine heart continually and his Law be written in thy inward man Look to the bent and frame of thy heart that it be right towards God If thy heart be once ordered aright thou wilt look that thy outward conversation be ordered aright also Let it appear therefore thou art a living member of Christ by being a new Creature by unliving and undoing thy former sinful course Live not henceforth in any known sin but speedily forsake whatever thou knowest to be evil and displeasing unto God any kind of way Labour to testifie the sincerity of thy repentance and Faith by an holy life and an unblameable Conversation Set thy self in good earnest to walk religiously and holily before God righteously and uprightly before men and soberly and temperatly in the Government of thy self Let it be thy daily exercise with Paul to keep a good Canscience void of offence towards God and towards man Be careful of the duties both of the first and second Table And read often and carefully observe our Saviours Sermon in the Mount coâ—tained in the fifth sixth and seaventh Chapters of Matthew In summe beg a continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ that though thou art to wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against Principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses and against manifold temptations from the world yet notwithstanding through the aides of Grace the regenerate part in thee may overcome and that thou maist grow in Grace and be daily perfecting holinesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are past away behold all things are become new 1 Cor 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Eph. 4.22 That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts V. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on that new man whiâ—h after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil 1 John 2.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walk even as he walked 1 John 3.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Eph. 3.16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man V. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love V. 18. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth V. 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulnesse of God 1 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God I eb 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and body be preserved blamless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 5.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen Gal. 5.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Uncleannesse Lasciviousness V. 20. Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies V. 21. Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God V. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith V. 23. Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law V. 24. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and harmlesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the world 2 Pet. 1.5 And besides this giving all diligence add to your Faith vertue and to vertue Knowledge V. 6. And to Knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godlinesse V. 7. And to Godliness Brotherly kindness and to Brotherly kindness Charity 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Pet. 1.14 As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance V. 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Cor. 6 19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own V. 20. For ye
are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit which are Gods Rom. 2.6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds V. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and immortality eternal Life V. 8. But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the Truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath V. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Mat. 16.24 Then said Jesus unto his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Crosse and follow me 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the world and more abundantly to you-wards Isa 38.3 And said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And Hezekiah wept sore Acts 24.16 And herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a Conscience void of offence toward God and toward men Tit. 2.11 For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men V. 12. Teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world V. 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ V 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable unto men Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Mat. 22.36 Master which is the great Commandement of the Law V. 37. Jesus said unto him thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all soul and with all thy mind V. 38. This is the first and great Commandement V. 39. And the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self V. 40. On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets Mark 12.32 And the Scribe said unto him well Master thou hast said the truth for there is one God and there is none other but he V. 33. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his neighbour as himself is more than all whole burnt offering and sacrifice Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid yea we establish the Law CHAP. V. Of Communion with God 5. LAbour to maintain a daily close Communion with God in these particulars following 1. Awake with God in the morning 2. Forget not to poure forth thy soul in secret prayer and praise before him 3. Read the Scriptures 4. Live continually as in the sight and view of God 5. Live by Faith 6. Observe all the passages of his Providence towards thee 7. Be continually watchful First Awake with God in the morning When I awake I am still with thee sais holy David Psal 139.8 The morning is an embleme of the Resurrection when our bodies shall awake from the sleep of death and that long day shall arise upon us that shall never have any night O how shouldst thou then when sleep fals from thine eyes lift up thy soul in praises and thanksgivings to the Lord for his gracious Providence over thee in the night season Had not he been exceeding gracious thou mightst have slept the sleep of death and from the darknesse of the night been sent away into outer darknesse Let not the commonnesse of this mercy diminish but the continualness of it rather encrease thy thankfulnesse O when thy body awakens how shouldst thou awaken and stirre up thy soul also to some holy and pious Ejaculations such as the sweet Singer of Israel used to send up to God O Lord thou art my God early will I seek thee I laid me down and slept and thou hast sustained me I have been safe under the shadow of thy wings thy faithfulnesse and truth have been my shield and buckler And now Lord lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon me instruct me in the way wherein I should go and guid me with thine eye Teach me thy way O Lord and I will walk in thy Truth O knit my heart to thee that I may fear thy Name And hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Let me walk circumspectly this day redeeming the time Let my soul put on the Lord Jesus and be clothed with the white robe of his righteousnesse and adorn me with the saving Graces of thy holy Spirit c. After some such pious ejaculations sent up to the Throne of Grace labour to get thy heart possessed with deep strong and powerful apprehensions and impressions of Gods holinesse Majesty Omni-presence Omniscience Consider with reverence and humbly admire and adore his glorious wisdome his almighty power his gracious Providence his truth and faithfulnesse and especially his tender love and mercy in Christ Jesus And if such thoughts as these make strong and deep impressions in thy mind in the morning thou art the more like to be in the fear of God all the day after and to have thy mind possessed both with reverential and delightful thoughts of his Majesty Psal 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee Job 7.17 What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him V. 18. And that thou shouldst visit him every morning and try him every moment Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not V. 23. They are new every morning great is thy faithfulnesse V. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore I will hope in him V. 25. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon the Earth that I desire besides thee Eph. 5.14 Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee Light Rom. 13.11 And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation neerer than when we believed V. 12. The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darknesse and let us put on the
Affections the motions and stirrings of thy will the out-goings of thy heart Rightly to order our Affections is one of our principall businesses in this life When they are rightly ordered and governed they do much further help on our course in Godlinesse Whereas disordered passions blind the judgment hurry away the will fill the heart and mind with disquiet and interrupt prayer and other holy duties Keep an especial watch theâ—efore over thy Affections Be careful they be not set on wrong objects nor suffered to grow unruly and exorbitant Grace doth not extinguish but rectifie affections Christ who was free from all sin was not without affections He was angry did grieve rejoyce Let it be thy care therefore to look to the right regulating of these powers and these affections that God hath placed in thee And to help thee in this work observe these Directions 1. Beg of God a sound mind a right understanding a clear judgment that thou maist be able rightly to discern between good and evil and maist not take shews and appearances for realities There is great danger in misapprehensions for as the apprehensions of the mind are weaker or stronger so the affections are hotter or cooler 2. Labour to bring thy will sense and appetite under subjection to right reason If sin do seem pleasant to thee as the forbidden fruit to Eve let reason tell thee 't is forbidden fruit and therefore thou must not touch it A man is Lord of himself when reason rules him but his own slave when wilfulnesse appetite or passion bear sway in him When the Coachman cannot rule the horses but is hurried violently away with them there is nothing but confusion to be expected so it is with a man whose reason is overborn or hurried away by his headstrong passions Affections are like fire and water good servants but very bad Masters Fire does well while 't is kept in the chimney water is useful while 't is kept within its banks if they break out they are veâ—y mischievous Elements Affections while they are moderated kept within their due bounds they are very serviceable but if they overflow those banks and bounds what a world of mischief follows 3. Labour to foresee such things before they come which may prove great provocations to thee and are like to kindle and excite thy passions Use precaution and wisely avoid such occasions as much as thou canst Passions are far moâ—e easily prevented than moderated And here premeditation is of singular use whereby the mind may fortifie strengthen it self against the exorbitancy of pâ—ssion before it arise by considering the unreasonablenesse of it and the bitter fruits and effects of it 4. Resist evil affections at the beginning before they grow high and headstrong Dash Babylons brats against the wall If they once get strength they may be too hard for thee Lusts and vile affections let alone do often end in grosse sins There are works of the flesh that follow lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.19 Love of pleasure if uncontroâ—l'd may end in drunkennesse or uncleannesse Envy and malice if uncheck'd may end in muâ—der or violence Judas allowing himselfe in Covetousnesse that brought him to deny his Master 5. Temperance and keeping under the body is an excellent means to mortifie lusts passions and vile affections He that pampers his flesh feeds his enemy And how much better is it to endure the pains of mortification here than the horrours of everlasting darknesse hereafter 6. Remember that when thy blood and Spirits are moved and thy passions are up whatever is presented to thy imagination tends to the delusion of thy soul Passions like some kind of glasses represent things falsely somtimes of a mountain they make a mole-hill and somtimes a mole-hill they magnifie into a mountain Therefore if it be possible in passion make no resolutions Let it be one of thy main cares then to suffer thy spirit and blood to cool and thy passions to sink and melt away and then thou wilt come to right apprehensions Many have grievously overshot themselves in passion and repented of it at leisure 7. Consider the root of all inordinate passion is self-love The larger the branches of passion the deeper the root of self-love Therefore labour to dig up the root and do not only lop off the branches Inordinate self-love ought to be subdued and mortified 8. Meditate often on the abasings sufferings death and passion of our Lord and Saviour Christ suffered for us leaving us an example saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.21 that we should follow his steps Was he crucified for us and shall not we crucifie our vile affections for him Did he renounce his own will to accomplish our salvation and shall not we deny our wills for him our corrupt wills The wills of the flesh and of the mind as the Apostle calleth them Eph. 2.3 The lustings of the lower and the upper soul Was he made of no reputation for us and shall we be proud Did he lay down his very life for us his enemies and shall not we forgive an enemy for his sake O labour from the consideration of Christs sufferings to mortifie thy lusts and vile affections 9. By earnest Prayer even the prayer of Faith seek for succour from Heaven against all thine inordinate affections Humbly plead that promise before the Lord Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 10. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6.17 and therewith labour to slay thy inordinate affections Apply the Commands and Threatnings of Gods Word to thy self when thou findest any strong passion or lust stirring in thee As suppose Anger be up in thee take that sword of the Spirit thou wilt find Eph. 4.26 27. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath â—â—ther give place to the devil If hatred against thy Brother be working in thee take that sword 1 John 3.15 Whoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him If thy heart be pestered with revengeful thoughts take that sword in Mat. 6.14 15. If ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses If lust be stirring in thee take that sword in Mat. 5.28 But I say unto you whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart If pride take that sword 1 Pet. 5.5 God resists the proud and gives Grace to the humble If Covetousnesse take that sword Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of covetousness for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth And 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of money is the root of all evil Thus if thou art well acquainted with the word of God thou maist find a sword to slay any inordinate
be of Gods granting or their own framing whether they have any warrant or promise from Gods Word that they shall be sav'd Or whether they do only strongly presume it without any sufficient ground Oh what loose and sandy foundations do many build their hopes of Heaven upon such as these 1. Their outward profession of Christianity and a formal performance of religious duties But as the Apostle speaks Rom. 2.28 29. He is not a Jew who is one outwardly who has onely the circumcision of the flesh but he is a Jew who is one inwardly whose heart is circumcised So he is a true Christian upon whose heart the saving work of conversion hath pass'd who hath felt the power of Grace upon his soul really turning it unto God The fair and broad leaves of an outward profession will nothing avail if the fruits of real holiness and sanctification be wanting Gal. 6.15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new Creature 2. Their moral and civil deportment their fair and honest conversation in the world and freedom from grosse sins Now though outward righteousnesse be not only exceeding commendable but also necessary to Salvation yet 't is a dangerous thing to rest upon and by that only we cannot conclude any man to be in a good state and condition to God ward For 1. You shall find it many times accompanied with ignorance or very little savoury knowledge of God and spirituall things 2. Such persons usually see no necessity of regeneration and the new birth but content themselves with a meer moral change and freedom from gross sins and the practise of some morall vertues no new nature being wrought in them but the old nature only varnished over with civil education 3. There you shall not find for the most part any great prizing of Christ or labouring to get an interest in him and yet if the soul be not really united to him no justification sanctification or salvation can be expected 4. The chief care is usually about an outward fairnesse and unblameableness of conversation little care about mortification of inward lusts right tempering the affections True Grace presseth upon us heart-duties as well as externall obedience prohibits inward and heart-sins as well as outward filthinesse 2 Cor. 5.18 If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new 5. The Glory of God is not the chief aim and end as it should be in whatever we do 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God 6. There is usually a greater care to perform the Duties of the second Table then of the first You shall have some men very just in their dealings good neighbours and of a commendable conversation as to the world who yet may be are very negligent and carelesse of Gods Worship of Family duties of the Lords day c. Nay many times are professed haters and enemies to the practical power of Godlinesse So that we see more is requir'd than meer civility and an outward moral uprightness to ground a hope of salvation upon Paul before his conversion was concerning the righteousnesse of the Law blameless Phil. 3.6 Yet when God had savingly enlightened his soul what a doom doth he pass upon himself and cals his self righteousnesse dung which he accounted Gold before 3. Some reformation that is wrought in them They have left some sins they were formerly given to But 't is not only the forbearing of some sins but an inward loathing hating abhorring and forsaking all known sins that is a good evidence of a gracious state There must be a care to mortifie inward lusts and the corruptions of the heart as well as to abstain from outward acts of sin To mortifie our sins is a Sacrifice well-pleasing to God In a Sacrifice these two things were requir'd 1. That it should be slain not die of it self If thy lusts and sins rather leave thee than thou them or abate and die meerly through age or the decay of natural vigour this change is wrought in thee not by Grace but by age 2. A Sacrifice was to be offered to God If thou do leave thy former sins and do it not out of obedience to God but for thy credit sake or profit or some temporal advantage this is not the Sacrifice God delights in 4. The good opinion others have of them Others think them good Christians why should not they think so of themselves But let them consider that which is a sufficient ground for another to think well of us is not a sufficient ground for us to think well of our selves A fair outward deportment free from scandal and offence is a sufficient ground for another to think well of us but we must feel some inward saving work of Grace upon our hearts before we judge our own condition to be good 5. Comparing themselves with others they find they are not so bad as many others But 't is no security to any mans soul to be better than others except those others be in a safe condition 6. The untroublednesse of their Consciences All untroubledness of Conscience is not an Argument of a safe condition Some peace of Conscience arises from ignorance security sleepinesse deadnesse 'T is one of Gods greatest judgments to afford a man an untroubled Conscience in a sinfull course To be like Jonah ready to be drown'd and yet fast asleep But now the peace of a good Conscience usually followes upon humiliation and sorrow for sin and closing with Christ and resigning the soul up to him for pardon and Grace Such a Conscience does not only not accuse as the slumbring Conscience of a wicked man may do but acquits and discharges and comforts upon Gospel grounds 7. They thrive and prosper well in the world So they may and yet have all their portion in this life if they have no other evidence of Gods favour 8. God is merciful and ready to pardon 'T is true the King of Heaven is a merciful King pardoning iniquity transgression and sin But upon what terms hath he promised pardon to sinners for our hope of pardon must have some promise in the Word for its bottom and foundation or else we do but meerly delude our selves And we must also know that God is just as well as merciful and his threatnings are the object of our Faith as well as his promises Try your hopes therefore before you trust them Examine and prove whether you are such to whom God hath promised pardon or no Has God in the Scriptures declared he will pardon sin to any that go on in their sins that repent not of them nor betake their souls to Christ for pardon and Grace But possibly most ancient people will here tell me they do repent they do believe on Christ with all their hearts and hope to be sav'd by him But alas how miserably
prepared for them that love him Mark 9.43 And if thy hand offend thee cut it off it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched V. 44. Where their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched V. 45. And if thy foot offend thee cut it off it is better for thee to enter halt into life than having two feet to be cast into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9.46 Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched V. 48. Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal Life 1 Tim. 1.19 Holding Faith and a good Conscience which some having put away concerning Faith have made shipwrack THE Second PART Concerning PRACTICE OR A DISCOURSE containing several usefull Directions to be Practised by those who seriously desire to save their SOULES CHAP. I. Of Consideration 1. AT convenient times use to be alone and laying aside all worldly cares businesses spend now and then a secret hour in strict Self-examining and Considering how the case stands between God and thy soul Ask thy self these two serious Questions First What is it thy heart is most set upon What is thy great care thy main designe What is it that doth most deeply and most frequently possesse thy thoughts What is it that thou dost most love and prize and most desire to enjoy Is thy mind so spiritually inlightened as to see the lovelinesse of God and the greatnesse and excellency of that Glory that is to be had with him so as the main drift and bent of thy heart is after the enjoyment of God and to be happy with him forever Or dost thou find that the main bent of thy heart is to the things of this World to the Profits the Pleasures the sensual satisfactions of this life and these things thou most mindest regardest and labourest for these thy thoughts and heart most run upon Secondly Ask thy self whether ever thou didst feel and apprehend thy self in a lost and undone condition by reason of thy sins Hast thou not seen thy selfe in danger of everlasting misery Hast thou ever put this serious question to thy selfe what shall I do to be saved Hast thou in this or the like manner ever discoursed with thy self O my soul how stands the case with me What am I Am I a true Convert a real Penitent a new Creature one born again Have I an interest in Christ And is my peace made with God through him or am I as yet in the state of Nature under the guilt of all my sins with the wrath of God abiding on me If so is this a Condition to be rested in Let me advise thee as thou lovest thy soul to deal faithfully and in good sadnesse with thy self Let me advise thee to review and seriously to reflect upon the whole course of thy life past And besides thy natural vilenesse Consider how many actual sins failings miscarriages and violations of Gods righteous Law omissions of good commissions of evil thou hast been guilty of in the several parts of thy life and in the several places where thou hast lived Believe it few people do reckon up one sin of ten that they are guilty of Allow thy Conscience therefore a liberty to speak freely to thee and to set thy sins in order before thee And if thou findest thy self for the present in a bad condition and that the case is not with thee as it should be consider whether it will not be an extream folly and madnesse to go on in that course not minding nor regarding speedily to turn to God and to settle the great affairs of thy soul while thou hast time O Remember remember thou hast a precious and immortal soul that must be shortly either in Heaven or Hell either in unconceiveable Joyes or in endlesse easelesse and remedilesse torments Doth it not therefore concern thee to consider and cast about how to attain the one and escape the other Doth it not behoove thee to look to the securing of the main Chance and to deliver thy self from the wrath to come Believe it nothing undoes mankind more than want of due and serious Consideration than want of frequent examining the state of their Consciences and often pondering and thinking of their everlasting Concernments 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your owne selves know ye not your owne selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Psal 119.59 I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies V. 60. I made hast and delaied not to keep thy Commandements Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would Consider their latter end Hag. 1.5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts Consider your waies Lam. 3.40 Let us search and try our waies and turn again to the Lord. Gal. 6.4 Let every man prove his owne work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another V. 5. For every man shall bear his owne burden Psal 77.6 I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with mine own heart and my Spirit made diligent search Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God Ezra 8.22 The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him CHAP. II. Of Repentance HAving seriously examined thy Conscience and impartially considered thy waies and course of life and the state of thy soul towards God The next duty I would advise thee beging the assistance of the Spirit of God to set upon the speedy practise of is true and serious and unfeigned repentance I shall therefore for thy benefit 1. Open the nature of true repentance 2. Give some directions about it 3. Some motives to it Repentance unto life is an Evangelical Grace wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God And the parts of it are these six 1. Conviction 2. Contrition 3. Hating and loathing sin 4. Confession of sin 5. Forsaking sin 6. Conversion and turning the bent of the heart towards God First Conviction The Spirit of God first opens a sinners eies before he breaks a sinners heart The soul of a true penitent is convinced and made apprehensive of these three things 1. The evil odiousnesse and filthiness of sin 2. The danger desert and mischievous effects and consequents of it 3. It s own deep guiltinesse both of Original and Actual sin I. The evil of sin appears in these seven particulars 1. 'T is contrary to Gods holy Nature 2. To his righteous Lawes 3. It
robs and deprives the soul of Gods Image consisting in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse 4. It depraves disorders distempers the soul weakens the powers of it disables it for holy operations and brings a corrupt disposition into it 5. It defiles the soul and leaves such a blot and stain upon it that nothing but the blood of Christ can wash out 6. It enslaves the soul to the devil 7. It makes the soul like unto the devil Holinesse is Gods Nature Sin and wickednesse is the devils 'T was sin that at first turn'd Angels of light into devils of darknesse And if we could separate sin from them they would cease to be devils and clear up again into Angels of light II. The great danger of sin appears in that it brings such a guilt upon the soul as makes it liable to Gods wrath and curse and to punishments 1. Temporal Sickness pain vexation misery death which to the wicked are truly punishments and fruits of Gods vindicative justice and have their sting still in them 2. Spiritual 1. Losse of the favour of God and communion with him 2. The immediate strokes of his anger on the soul wounds of Conscience drops of his wrath horrour of mind despair 3. Hardnesse of heart a Spirit of slumber blindness of mind a reprobate sense to be given over to vile affections and to Sathan These are most fearful judgements 3. Eternal Such as concern the soules immortall condition after this life And they are either punishments of loss or pain 1. Of loss in being for ever banished from the presence of the Lord and the joyes of Heaven 2 Thes 2.9 being punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the Glory of his power 2. Of pain consisting in those exquisite and unconceivable torments which shall be inflicted on the dâ—mned set forth in Scripture by everlasting fire utter darknesse the worm that never dies the fire that is not quenched chains of darkness the blackness of darkness for ever the lake of fire and brimstone c. As therfore the nature of sin is out of measure sinful so the punishments are out of measure fearful III. The soules deep guiltinesse appears by considering 1. It s Original sin In which three things are to be noted 1. The guilt of Adams particular transgression in eating the forbidden fruit imputed to us He was the head and common Father of mankind and we were legally parties in that covenant which was at first made with him For God established his covenant with Adam principally in respect of his Nature and not so much in respect of his Person so that by consequence it must follow that all who are partakers of that Nature are bound by that Covenant And therefore we cannot but expect to be liable unto the guilt which followed upon the breach and violation of it Rom. 5.12 c. 2. A want of original righteousnesse Rom. 3.23 All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God that is of the glorious Image of God which was at first stamped upon man 3. A corrupt disposition in mans nature in place of original righteousnesse These two latter being the sad effects of Adams sin Now this depravednesse of nature this great aversenesse to good and pronenesse to evil is call'd the old man and the body of sin Rom. 6.6 The sin that dwelleth in us Rom. 7.17 The body of death Rom. 7.24 The flesh as opposite to the Spirit and Grace Rom. 7.18 25. The Law of the members Rom 7.23 Col. 3.5 A mans own lust Jam. 1.14 where 't is expresly distinguished from actual sin as being the procreant cause of it 2. It s Actual transgressions where are to be considered 1. Omissions of good and the duties required that might and ought to have been done 2. Commissions of evil Offending Against the Law even both Tables of it Against the Gospel 3. Doing that which was good in an evil manner slight and undue performance of holy duties 4. The aggravations of these sins in regard First Of the greatnesse of many of them Every one has some black daies in his Calender some more high and great offences whereof he hath been guilty and for which he is to be more deeply humbled Secondly The number of them if we consider 1. Wicked thoughts 2. Inordinate Affections 3. Sinful words 4. Evil actions Thirdly That many of them have been committed 1. Against mercies 2. Against judgments 3. Against promises and vowes of better obedience Secondly Contrition Godly sorrow brokenness of heart for sin To be sorry for what we have done amisse is something towards repentance but it is not the whole of it Gracious humiliation is a deep and hearty grieving for all our sins and that upon these Gospel Motives 1. Because we have by our sins highly displeased and offended our gracious God whom we had all the reason in the world to have studied to please The displeasure and offence of God is that which sets the soul a bleeding and mourning evangelically Consider therefore what is the Spring of thy sorrow If the punishment or shame of thy sins touch thee nearer than the offence of God 't is a sign thy sorrow is not right 2. Because our sins pierced our dear Lord and Saviour and put him to such grievous painful and shameful sufferings 3. Because by our sins we have brought a horrible defilement and stain on our souls 4. Because we have made our selves liable to the wrath and curse of God and deserve to be separated from the Lord and to be punished among devils and damned fiends for ever This in conjunction with the former is an Evangelical motive I confesse to weep and howl and grieve meerly for the wrath and punishment sin has brought upon the soul is such a sorrow as Judas had his share in and the damned in Hell exceed in it But this sorrow does not use to leave the soul in a better disposition for obedience in time to come as godly sorrow doth 2 Cor. 7.10 Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto life And take notice by the way this Godly sorrow is not a flower that growes in the Garden of nature A hard heart is Adams Legacy There may be a flexible nature where there is a hard heart that knowes not how to mourn and grieve for sin in a right manner Godly sorrow is voluntary The soul is active in it prayes for such a melting frame is thankful for it is best pleased when the heart is soft and tender and deeply affected for its sins and offences against God 'T is not so in worldly sorrow for in that we are meerly passive It comes upon us without sending for or being bidden welcome by us Thirdly Hating and Loathing sin The Spirit of sanctification works a secret antipathy an irreconcileable hatred in the soul against sin The true penitent hates sin as sin As David said Psal 119.128 I hate every false way True hatred is to the whole kind When