disguized Our loue must not be in speech and tongue onely but in deed and truth we must call 1. Iohn 3. 18. vpon God in truth and sincerity or else our prayers will be but meere lip-labour which God will not heare or regard And therefore Dauid vseth his sincerity in praying as an argument to perswade the Lord to giue him audience Giue eare saith he vnto my prayers which goe not out of fained lips And Ezechias his integrity of life as a reason to moue him for therepealing Psalm 145. Esa 29. 13. of the sentence of death and prolonging of his dayes Remember now O Lord saith he I beseech thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart c. Finally our preaching must not bee deceitfull like those which make Marchandize of the Word but as of sincerity of God and 2. Cor. 2. 17. Act. 10. 33. 1. Thes 2. 13. in the sight of God And our hearing likewise of the Word must be in sincerity as in Gods presence and as those that heare the Word not of man but of God For otherwise our seeming graces and vertuous actions like beautifull pictures which want life spirit and motion are not substantiall in Gods sight but shewes and shadowes onely if integrity and sincerity be wanting not looking vnto Gods glory or shewing any loue and obedience vnto him but onely vnto our worldly and carnall ends and by-respects of our owne pleasure profit or preferment §. Sect. 5 That the soundnesse of all graces and holy duties consisteth in the sincerity of them Thirdly we must performe all holy duties of a godly life in sincerity and integrity because otherwise wee cannot approue our selues for sound Rom. 2. 28 29. Christians accepted of God what outward shew soeuer wee make nor our badges and signes of Christianity such as will giue vnto vs any assurance that we are in the Couenant of grace for as the Apostle saith Hee is not a Iew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh But he is a Iew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God And though such duties as are done in hypocrisie may get the applause of men and gaine their praises causing them who doe them to be magnified and extolled yet God no further regardeth them then to vilifie condemne and punish them For hee seeth not as man seeth for man 1. Sam. 16. 7. looketh but to the outward appearance but God looketh vnto the heart In which regard that which is highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight Luk. 16. 15. of God as our Sauiour speaketh §. Sect. 6 Of the rewards of sincerity and integrity Fourthly because the Lord doth richly reward this integrity and sincerity with the blessings of this life and that which is to come For the Psalm 84. 11. Lord is a Sunne and a Shield he will giue grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly In this life hee multiplyeth all his fauours vpon them who serue him in sincerity and truth For he is good vnto them which are cleane in heart And to such he limiteth all his gracious Psal 73. 1. promises which he performeth vnto them vpon this condition only So he promiseth vnto the Kings of Israel and Iudah that hee will confirme 1. King 2. 4. and 3. 6. and 9. 4 5. their Kingdome vnto them and their posterity after them if they would walke before him in truth with all their heart and with all their soule Whereof it is that Salomon affirmeth that the Lord kept Couenant 2. Chron. 6. 14. and shewed mercy vnto his seruants that walked before him with all their hearts And therefore Ezechias intreateth God to performe this promise vnto Esa 38. 3. him and his posterity grounding his faith on his obseruing this condition seeing hee had walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart So God is neere vnto them that call vpon him to all that call vpon him in truth Psal 145. 18. and will saue and deliuer them from all perils and dangers and out of the hands of all their enemies For he saueth the vpright in heart as Dauid affirmeth Psal 7. 10. And so Salomon saith that the righteousnesse of the vpright shall deliuer Prou. 11. 6. and 28. 1. them which maketh them bold and confident as Lions in perillous times as elsewhere he speaketh In the life to come God also crowneth the Psal 84. 11. sincere and vpright seruice of the faithfull with ioy and happinesse for he giueth not onely grace in this life but glory also in the life to come to those that walke vprightly And such shall here dwell in his Tabernacle and Psal 15. 2. Prou. 28. 18. Psal 32. 2. and 119. 1. Math. 5. 8. hereafter in the Mountaine of his holinesse So Salomon saith that he who walketh vprightly shall be saued and Dauid affirmeth that the vpright shall dwell in Gods presence and our Sauiour Christ saith that they shall bee blessed in the vision and fruition of God which is the height and perfection of our heauenly happinesse And therefore seeing this integrity and sincerity is such a precious treasure as maketh vs both happy and blessed here and in the world to come it is no maruell if the faithfull haue alwayes esteemed it as their chiefest and choycest Iewell preferring it before all earthly things yea euen life it selfe as we see in the example of Iob who patiently suffered himselfe to be stripped of all his worldly substance but clasped so fast to his integrity when his wife and friends would haue pulled it from him that he would not leaue his hold to the very death God forbid saith he that I should iustifie you to wit whilest you goe about Iob 27. 5 6. to censure and condemne me of dissimulation and hypocrisie till I dye I will not remoue mine integrity from me My righteousnesse I hold fast and will not let it goe my heart shall not reproch me so long as I liue If then we delight in that wherein God chiefly delighteth and will doe that which he requireth and flee from that which he abhorreth if wee would haue our selues and our seruice accepted of him as perfect which notwithstanding are full of imperfections and corruptions If we would haue any true sauing grace or performe any Christian duty pleasing vnto God if we would be numbred amongst sound Christians or would inioy any of Gods blessings in this world or in the world to come then let vs labour daily in the vse of all good meanes whereby we may attaine vnto this sincerity and integrity of heart and performe all the duties of Gods seruice and of a godly life in vprightnesse and truth CAP. II. Of the meanes whereby we may attaine
hands because being created wee haue Act. 17. 28. Psal 104. 28. no power to subsist of our selues but wholy depend vpon God for the continuance of vs in our life and good estate for as the Apostle saith In him we liue moue and haue our being so that if he withdraw his assisting power we perish and returne vnto our dust By his all-ruling prouidence we are euery day in the yeere euery houre in the day and euery minute and moment in the houre preserued from innumerable dangers which otherwise would seaze vpon vs from the assaults of our many and mighty enemies and especially of that roring and deuouring 1. Pet. 5. 8. Lyon who is alwaies ready to destroy vs if wee were not preserued vnder the wings of the Almighty from his rage and malice By it wee are gouerned and directed in all our waies so as we cannot stirre a foote nor moue a hand nor open our eyes or eares nor speake a word if wee had not strength from him By it all the creatures become seruiceable vnto vs and worke together for our good which otherwise would bee our bane From God wee haue all the benefits which we inioy the Sunne which giueth vs light and vitall heate the ayre which wee breathe the earth which sustaineth vs the meate which feedeth vs the apparell which couereth our nakednesse and keepeth vs warme our health and wealth our peace plenty and prosperity and all other blessings fit both for necessity and for our comfort and delight And not onely the things themselues but all their vertue and vigour whereby they become profitable to those ends for which we vse them doe come from him and doe as meanes and instruments serue his Prouidence for the deriuing of all good vnto vs himselfe still remayning the chiefe and principall cause which worketh by them or can deriue vnto vs all things needefull without them if they bee wanting For it is he who feedeth vs by our meate by our clothes keepeth vs warme by our friends doth comfort and relieue vs for which vses they would be vneffectuall yea produce the cleane contrary effects if they had not from his blessing their power and efficacy Now to what end O man dost thou receiue daily at the hands of God such innumerable blessings but that thou shouldest acknowledge him the Author of them and praise him for all the good which he doth vnto thee Why doth hee preserue thy life but that thou shouldest liue to his glory Why doth hee make all his creatures in heauen and earth seruiceable vnto thee but that thou shouldest hereby be moued with more cheerefulnesse to serue him who hath created both them and thee Why doth he preserue thee from dangers and protect thee from enemies and deliuer thee out of troubles and afflictions but that thou shouldest glorify and serue him without feare in Psal 50. 15 Luke 1. 74 75. holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of thy life Why doth he giue the light of the Sunne but that thou shouldest shun the workes of darkenesse and serue him in the duties of thy calling Why doth he let thee breathe the ayre but that thou shouldst spend this breath in speaking singing to his praise Finally why doth hee feed and clothe thee and giue vnto thee those manifold blessings which thou inioyest but that by this rich wages hee may incourage thee to doe him faithfull and cheerful seruice which if thou neglectest and mis-spendest all the rich gifts which thou hast receiued to the dishonour of him that giueth them in the seruice of sinne and Satan and in satisfying of thine own carnall and sensuall lusts what dost thou hereby but bewray thine horrible ingratitude towards such a gracious and bountifull Lord and Master What dost thou but alienate his loue from thee and prouoking his wrath against thee mooue him in his iust displeasure to withdraw his gifts from thee which thou abusest or let thee inioy them in his anger to thy greater hurt leauing them with thee as testimonies to conuince thee of thy shamefull vngratitude and as talents lent vnto thee which when thou hast mis-spent to the dishonour of thy Lord or not imployed them in his seruice will but prepare for thee a fearefull account at the terrible Day of Gods last Iudgement CAP. XXXVII Two other reasons mouing vs vnto a godly life The first taken from Christ giuen vnto vs by his Father the other from the Couenant of grace made in him §. Sect. 1 Of the inestimable gift of Iesus Christ which should moue vs to loue and serue God THe fourth mayne benefit which God hath giuen vnto vs is his onely begotten and dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ to be our Head and Sauiour in whom we were elected by whom we were to be saued redeemed For being falne in Adam who was the head and roote of all mankinde and not onely partakers of the guilt and punishment of his sin but also of the corruption of nature deriued from him whereby we were disabled to all good and made prone vnto all euill it would not stand with Gods Iustice to elect or saue vs till it were fully satisfied and wee freed from this sinfull condition Which being a worke impossible to men and Angels in respect of that infinite price which was to bee payd God of his free grace and loue ordained and appointed in his eternall Counsell his Sonne to be our Sauiour and Redeemer and to this end to take our nature vpon him that hee might be vnto his elect the second Adam and the Head of his Church in whom he chose them to life and saluation which the first Adam lost both for himselfe and all his posterity For howsoeuer the free loue and meere grace and good will of God be the supreme and highest cause of our election and saluation and Christ in respect of it but a meanes or subordinate cause of working that for vs which Gods loue had first decreed neither was Christ the cause that moued God to loue vs John 3. 16. with this first loue and free grace but this loue the cause which moued God to giue his Sonne vnto vs to be our Sauiour and Redeemer yet may it be truely said that wee could no otherwise be elected then in Christ as our Head and the roote of all our righteousnesse that iustice and mercy meeting together God might be glorified in them both although we be not elected for him but of Gods absolute will and free grace which moued him to giue vs his Sonne and all other good which wee receiue by him And this the Apostle plainely affirmeth that God hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world and that he hath predestinated vs to the adoption of children by Iesus Christ Ephe. 1. 4 5. vnto himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made vs accepted in his Beloued
not be condemned in the life to come yet it is not as they are innocents for thē they should neuer come into iudgment but as offenders who by their sinnes and negligence in his seruice haue deserued these and farre greater punishments Though he chastizeth euery Heb. 12. 6 7. sonne whom he receiueth yet not being faultlesse but when by their sins they haue displeased him that he may bring them to repentance and amendment And therefore he prescribeth this repentance as a meanes to preuent his corrections seeing by reason of naturall frailty and corruption we cannot be wholly innocent As many as I loue I rebuke and chastize Apoc. 3. 19. be zealous therefore and amend Though he make afflictions to serue for soueraigne salues to his Children yet he would not apply them to the whole skinne and sound flesh but because they haue sores which need to be cured being so festered that the balme of his benefits will not heale them Finally when by afflictions he weaneth them from the loue of the world it presupposeth that they dote too much vpon it and argueth that if as they ought they did lothe and contemne it in comparison of spirituall graces and heauenly glory they should not haue it imbittered vnto them For what mother would rub her teat with mustard or wormewood to weane her child if he had wit and will to leaue it in due time So that if we would carefully flee sinne and please our heauenly Father by doing our duty we should not need to feare stripes but should be continually cherished and incouraged with rewards If we would not surfet of sinne and wound our consciences we should not be troubled with the bitter medicine and sharpe and searching salue But we might with comfort and assurance apply Gods promises of preseruation both from outward and inward afflictions euen when they are most rife in the world and seaze vpon others round about vs according to that of Eliphaz to Iob He shall deliuer thee in sixe troubles yea in seuen there shall no euill touch Iob 5. 19. Psal 32. 10. and 91. 3 4. Pro. 3. 21 22 23 24. thee And that of the Psalmist Many sorrowes shall be to the wicked but he that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compasse him about Thirdly if by our sinnes we haue brought afflictions vpon vs yet walking before God in our ordinary course after an holy manner we shall haue heereby this priuiledge that those afflictions which are pernicious vnto others both in respect of their soules and bodies shall not be able to doe them any harme Or though like the Serpent they bite them by the heele and cause some temporary smart yet being armed with the brest-plate of righteousnesse they shall not hurt their vitall parts nor any whit hinder them of euerlasting happinesse Yea contrariwise through the good blessing of God and assistance of his holy Spirit sanctifying them to their vse they with all other things shall worke together for their good by drawing them neerer vnto Rom. 8. 28. God through vnfained repentance by mortifying their sinnes weaning them from the world strengthening them in all grace and by being vnto them infallible signes of Gods loue and their adoption In all which and innumerable other respects they may conclude not from the sense and smart of their afflictions which as the Apostle speaketh seeme not Heb. 12. 11. ioyous but grieuous but from the fruits of righteousnesse which spring from them that it is good for them that they haue been afflicted that they might Psal 119. 71. Lam. 3. 27. learne Gods Statutes and that it is good for a man that he beare the yoke from his youth yea that they are blessed whom the Lord chasteneth and teacheth Psal them out of his Law Finally by leading of a godly life wee haue this priuiledge in respect of our afflictions that we shall haue seasonable deliuerance out of them when as it shall be most fitting both for Gods glory and our owne spirituall and euerlasting good For as the Wise man saith The righteousnesse of the vpright shall deliuer him but transgressors shall Pro. 11. 8. be taken in their naughtinesse So the Psalmist saith that many are the troubles Psal 34 17 19. of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth them out of all For When the righteous cry the Lord heareth and deliuereth them out of all their troubles according to his gracious promise Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will Psal 50. 15. deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me And therefore this also should effectually mooue vs vnto the duties of a godly life feeing heereby all estates are sanctifyed vnto vs and euen afflictions themselues are turned to our good which in their owne nature are the punishments of sinne For seeing through our intemperate lusts we oftentimes surfet of the pleasures of sinne and thereby cast our selues in to many afflictions as it were dangerous diseases who would not esteeme much of such a cordiall as will keepe the poyson of the disease from the vitall parts yea which will cause the sicknesse it selfe to become a meanes of increasing and confirming our spirituall health But such a cordiall is true godlinesse which conuerteth afflictions which in their owne nature are the diseases of our soules and states caused by surfetting vpon sin into notable helpes and meanes for the bettering of our spirituall estates by making vs to flee sinne more carefully whereupon we haue surfetted and by confirming and increasing all Gods graces in vs. §. Sect. 6 That God inwardly guideth the godly by his grace and holy Spirit The fourth priuiledge which the Lord bestoweth vpon the godly is that as he outwardly gouerneth defendeth and preserueth them by his 1 Cor. ◠16. and 6. 19. wise and powerfull prouidence so hee giueth vnto them an inward guide to direct and rule them to excite vphold and strengthen them in all good courses to purge them from all their corruptions and to inable them vnto euery good worke euen his owne holy Spirit and that not to visit them sometimes by fits but to dwell in them as in his temples and to keepe in their soules and bodies continuall residence that hee may be alwayes ready to direct and guide them in all their wayes to strengthen their weaknesse and to comfort their feeble hearts that they may not faint in their Christian course And this the Lord promiseth to the faithfull I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my Statutes and Ye shall keepe my Iudgements and doe them Neither doth this Spirit come alone but richly and royally attended with a choyce troope and traine of all sanctifying and sauing graces as faith hope charity patience humility and a good conscience with the rest which are of incomparable more value then the whole world as bringing with them for the present the greatest comfort and contentment and being for the time
estate both in respect of the time present and to come In respect of the present a good conscience will make vs beare and brooke all estates not only with patience but also with comfort and ioy in the holy Ghost If we be in prosperity and abound with Gods blessings it warranteth vnto vs the lawfull vse of them and witnesseth vnto vs that we are heires and right owners and not thieues and vsurpers that they are Gods talents which being imployed to aduantage for Luk. 19. 17. Matth. 25. 21. the glory of our great Lord and good of our fellow seruants they shall be doubled and redoubled when we are called to giue account of them that they are pledges of Gods fauour in this life and earnest-pennies of euerlasting ioy and happinesse in the life to come If we be in aduersitie and affliction a good conscience like the good Angell holding vs by the hand in this firie furnace will secure vs that wee shall not receiue any harme For it will testifie vnto vs that these curses in their owne nature are through Gods mercy turned into blessings that they are testimonies of Gods loue seeing as many as he loueth he chastizeth and signes of our Apoc. 3. 19. adoption for the Lord correcteth euery sonne that he receiueth and they are Heb 12. 6. Rom. 8. 37 38. bastards and no sonnes whom he correcteth not That they will not separate Gods loue from vs but our loue from the world That they are not poysons to kill vs but medicines to cure vs of our spirituall diseases fannes and files and fires to winnow vs from our chaffe scowre vs from our rust and purifie vs from the drosse of our corruptions Finally that whatsoeuer they seeme to flesh and blood yet they shall worke together for the best Rom. 8. 28. to them that loue God and that though they be bitter and vnpleasant for the present yet they shall bring foorth the quiet fruits of righteousnesse to Heb. 12. 11. them that are exercised thereby In respect of the time to come a good conscience doth giue vnto vs truely and according to the Scriptures this comfortable and ioyfull euidence that we shall continue euer to be holy and happy perseuering to the end in Gods grace vnto saluation not by vertue of our owne strength but through the power and promises of God For he hath assured vs that he will put his feare in our hearts that wee may Ier. 32. 40. not depart from him That though we haue many fierce Wolues to assault vs and be but silly weake Sheepe vnable to make resistance yet our Shepherd Christ being infinitely stronger then they none shall be able to pull Ioh. 10. 28. Ioh. 13. 1. Ier. 31. 3. vs out of his hand That whom God loueth he loueth with an euerlasting loue and to the end that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and finally that though we be many wayes tryed yet the Lord will neuer suffer 1. Cor. 10. 13. vs to bee tempted aboue our power but will giue a good end and issue to all our tentations §. Sect. 3 That a good conscience maketh vs cheerfull in Gods seruice Lastly a good conscience maketh vs cheerefull and diligent in Gods Esa 30. 21. 1. Ioh. 2. 27. seruice and willing to doe all things which are pleasing in his sight So the Prophet speaking of the faithfull saith that they should heare a voyce behind them saying This is the way walke ye in it when yee turne to the right hand and when ye turne to the left That is besides their outward teaching in the Ministery of the Word they should haue an inward teacher to direct and admonish them euen the Spirit of God speaking vnto them in the heart and conscience And this is that which Dauid meaneth where he saith that his reines did teach him in the night season that is the voyce Psal 16. 7. of conscience which did shew him the wayes of God and mooued him with cheerefulnesse to walke in them The which is the maine end at which the conscience aimeth in witnessing and sealing vnto vs all the former comforts For therefore the conscience giueth vnto vs that comfortable testimonie that wee are deliuered out of the hands of all our spirituall Luk. 1. 74. enemies to the end that we should not still serue them but worship our Lord and Redeemer in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our liues that he hath bought vs at so deare a price that we should glorifie him 1. Cor. 6. 20. in our soule and body because they are not our owne but his who hath redeemed them that we are freed from sinne that it may no longer raigne in Rom. 6. 12 18. our mortall body but being deliuered out of this cruell tyrannie we should become the seruants of righteousnesse that our consciences are purged from Heb. 9. 14. dead workes that we may serue the liuing God that wee are reconciled vnto God by the death and sufferings of Christ that we may aboue all things esteeme our peace with him which was so dearely purchased and not bee inticed with the hire of the whole world to doe any thing displeasing vnto God or which might breake or disturbe our peace with him seeing this were to vnder-value this inestimable price as being of lesse worth then worldly vanities and to tread the precious blood of Christ vnder our filthy Heb. 10. 26 29. feete as an vnholy thing and euen to despite the Spirit of grace with which we are sanctified Therefore it witnesseth vnto vs that we are sanctified that we may be made carefull to bring foorth the fruits of sanctification to his glory that hath called vs out of darkenesse into this marueilous 1. Pet. 2. 9. light and out of the bondage of sinne and Satan into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God That though our sanctification be imperfect and Rom. 8. 21. stained with many corruptions yet through Christ it is accepted of God to this end that we might be made more cheerefull and diligent in seruing so gracious a Lord. For what greater incouragement can there be vnto vs in the performance of all good duties then to bee assured that our labour of loue shall not be lost and that whatsoeuer we doe shall be taken in good part and richly rewarded though neuer so imperfect if we desire and indeuour to doe the best we can Finally a good conscience giueth vnto vs this comfortable testimony that we are most happy in all estates that no estate though neuer so much crossed and afflicted may discourage vs from going on in the wayes of godlinesse seeing no misery can make vs miserable but euen our afflictions themselues shall aduance our happinesse and that we shall neuer lose either grace or glory but constantly hold out in the Christian race of godlinesse and righteousnesse vntill we be crowned with the
offered vnto vs. Neither must we thinke it sufficient vnto a godly life to reserue his Sabbaths for Gods seruice and spend the rest of the weeke in the seruice of the world and our owne lusts nor that we serue him in some things and these in others nor on some other dayes besides the Sabbath or some part onely of euery day reseruing the rest to liue as we list But wee must constantly and continually in euery thing and at euery time performe seruice vnto God in all our actions and throughout our whole course and conuersation not onely in abstaining from all sinne which he hath forbidden but also in performing of some Christian duty of holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety which he hath commanded or in vsing the meanes whereby wee may be inabled vnto them Neither is God alone serued when we performe some religious act as praying hearing the Word singing Psalmes or some eminent workes of charity and sobriety but also in the meanest duties of the basest calling yea euen in our eating and drinking lawfull sports and recreations when as wee doe them in faith which not onely assureth vs that these actions are commanded 1. Cor. 10. 31. of God and warranted by his Word but that we and our workes are accepted of him and so inableth vs to doe them with cheerefulnesse and delight as being not chiefly the seruice of men but of God And also when in doing these our ordinary businesses which belong to our callings wee doe repose our trust and affiance in God that hee will blesse vs in them and giue them such successe as shall be most for his glory and our good and inioy the fruit and benefit of them as blessings sent from God with praise and thankesgiuing And when as in them we haue an eye and due respect to God seeking in them chiefly his glory and doing them in loue and obedience to his Commandements and not for necessity only praise or profit feare of punishment or hope of reward which though we may respect secondarily and in some degree in the ordinary actions of our liues yet not first and principally if we would be accounted to doe God seruice in them And in the next place to our owne and our neighbours mutuall good especially the inriching of vs with spirituall graces and the euerlasting saluation of their and our owne soules §. Sect. 2 That no time is exempted from Gods seruice prooued first by testimonies of Scripture In which generall sense if we take the seruice of God and thus largely with these references vnderstand the Christian duties of a godly life then is there no day houre or minute wherein we are not to bee exercised in some of them And this appeareth both by testimonies of Scriptures and firme reasons The Scriptures require that our whole liues be spent in the seruice of God and that we daily performe vnto him the duties of holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety So the Apostle would haue vs to walke daily according as God hath directed vs and make his Word the rule of our conuersation from which we must neuer swarue neither on the right Gal. 6. 16. Psal 119. 9. Ios 1. 7. hand nor on the left and to keepe a continuall watch ouer our selues lest there be at any time in any of vs an euill heart of vnbeliefe in departing from the Deut. 5. 32. Heb. 3. 12 13. liuing God and to exhort one another daily whilst it is called to day lest any of vs should be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne The Apostle Peter perswadeth vs to passe the whole time of our soiourning heere in the 1. Pet. 1. 17. Pro. 28. 14. feare of God and not some part of it onely which we can best spare and that we liue no longer the rest of our time in the flesh according to the lusts of 1. Pet. 4. 2. men but the will of God seeing the time past of our liues may be enough yea farre too much to haue walked and wrought after the will of the Gentiles The Tit. 2. 11 12. grace of God appearing hath taught vs to deny all vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue soberly righteously and godly whilest wee continue in this present world And therefore hath the Lord redeemed vs that being deliuered out Luk. 1. 74 75. of the hands of our enemies we might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life Of which we haue also examples in the Scriptures in the Saints and seruants of God who after their conuersion passed their whole time in his feare and spent their strength in doing vnto him continuall seruice So Enoch is said to haue walked Gen. 5. 22. with God that is in the whole course of his pilgrimage to haue kept him in his sight and to haue carried himselfe in all his actions as in his presence that he might be accepted of him And Dauid as he maketh it a marke of a blessed man to meditate and exercise himselfe in the Law of Psal 1. 1 2. God day and night so doth he in many places shew that it was his owne practice My mouth saith he shall shew foorth thy righteousnesse and thy Psal 71. 15. Psal 55. 17. Psa 119. 97 11◠145. 2. Act. 26. 7. 2. 46. saluation all the day for I know not the numbers thereof Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and cry aloud O how loue I thy Law it is my meditation all the day I haue inclined my heart to performe thy Statutes alway euen vnto the end Euery day will I blesse thee and will praise thy name for euer and euer So the Apostle saith of the whole Church of the Iewes that they did instantly serue God day night and particularly of himselfe that it was Act. 24. 16. his continuall exercise to haue alwayes a good conscience voide of offence towards God and towards men But the best president of all for our imitation is our Sauiour Christ who spent his whole time in doing the workes of him that sent him in the day time preaching and doing miracles and workes of mercie that he might bring saluation vnto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel and in the night sequestring himselfe for prayer meditation in the mount of Oliues Secondly God hath giuen his Law not that we should sometimes obserue his Commandements and sometimes breake them but that we might obserue them daily and continually in all things and at all times and that it might serue as a rule and squire according vnto Psal 119. 9. which we are to frame our whole liues and euery particular action For there he prescribeth duties to be performed at all times on his Sabbath and on the sixe dayes besides the generall duties which belong to all and those that respect vs in our particular callings the duties of piety whereby we offer vnto him immediate seruice and
the fall as the participation of Adams sinne guilt and punishment The propagation of their sinne and misery to all their posterity Their originall sinne and corruption of nature both in respect of their soules and bodies The ignorance and vanity of our mindes the errour of our iudgements the wickednesse and worldlinesse of all our imaginations the impurity stupidity and horrour of our consciences the losse of our freedome of will in chusing that which is good their auersenesse and rebellion against the will of God and pronenesse to all euill the blockishnesse of our memories to receiue into their keeping any good motions and their slippery feeblenesse to retaine them the infidelity security and hardnesse of our hearts the corruption and disorder of our affections and passions the pollution of our bodies their feeblenesse and lumpish heauinesse vnto any good action From which root of originall corruption haue sprung all kinds of actuall transgressions we being made thereby vtterly vnable so much as to thinke a good thought or to will that which is good Whereof it commeth to passe that our best actions in this state of corruption and vnbeliefe are no better then sinne how glorious soeuer they seeme to the world And heere wee may meditate of the seuerall kinds of actuall sinnes those that are internall as wicked thoughts errours in iudgement forgetfulnesse in our memories vncleane and carnall lusts and those which are externall secret or manifest raigning or not raigning of omission or commission in our words or deeds which we haue committed as principals or accessaries Sinnes of ignorance or of knowledge of infirmity and frailty or of contumacy and rebellion which wee haue wilfully and presumptuously committed against God The like matter of meditation the punishment of our sinnes doth minister vnto vs As namely that by our sinnes wee haue made our selues subiect to the fearfull wrath of God the curse of the Law all the plagues and punishments of this life As all external miseries which are innumerable respecting our estate as pouerty penury losses and crosses or our bodies as heat cold hunger thirst sicknesses and diseases shortnesse and vncertainty of life and death it selfe So also the internall miseries of the soule as terrours of conscience and griefes of minde or contrariwise to be giuen vp of God to our security and hardnesse of hart infidelity finall impenitency and to a reprobate mind And finally the eternall and euerlasting punishments of body and soule in their separation from God and the vnspeakable torments of hell fire And finally we may meditate of the remedilesnesse of this our miserable condition in respect of any created helpe of men Angels or any creature as the top and consummation of all our misery seeing the infinite Iustice of God being offended by our sinnes would not admit of any finite satisfaction The which kind of meditations vpon sinne and punishment serue not only to humble vs before God by bringing vs vnto a true sense of our sinne and misery to make vs to deny our selues in the worke of our Redemption and to fly vnto Christ but also cause vs to admire and praise Gods mercy and goodnesse patience and long-suffering who hath so long borne with vs in the state of infidelity and hath not inflicted vpon vs all these fearfull punishments which our sinnes haue deserued yea to inflame our hearts with most feruent loue towards God and his Christ and holy Spirit who seeing vs in this wretched plight loaded and defiled with the filth of sinne and guilty and liable to all punishments and miseries did pitty vs in this miserable estate and when there was no other meanes of saluation and deliuerance from all these euils wrought our freedome and redemption by the death and obedience of the Lord of life §. Sect. 6 Of the great worke of Redemption by our Sauiour Christ The which great worke of our Redemption by Christ doth aboue all other parts of Diuinity minister vnto vs most plentifull and fit matter for our meditations as seruing notably to worke in our hearts a true hatred of sinne to inflame them with Gods loue to worke them to his feare to kindle in them the zeale of his glory to confirme our faith strengthen our affiance and hope renew our repentance and to stirre vs vp to performe with all cheerfulnesse the duties of a godly life that by walking before him in holinesse and righteousnesse we may glorifie him who hath redeemed and made vs his owne at so high a price Now the poynts which heere affoord vnto vs matter of meditation are manifold As first that it was necessary wee should haue a Sauiour and Mediatour betweene God and vs seeing in his Decree of Election he hath ordained the meanes as well as the end and that none but Christ could saue vs who is the foundation of our Election In Christ wee may meditate both vpon his person and offices And in his person consider both his natures and states both of humiliation and exaltation Heere wee haue plentifull and profitable matter of meditation concerning the Incarnation of Christ his Conception by the holy Ghost in the wombe of the blessed Virgin the framing and sanctifying of his humane nature the assuming and vniting of it to the Diuine nature by a substantiall vnion without confusion separation or alteration of either nature in their properties His Birth and Circumcision and that this Christ borne of the Virgin Mary is the true Messias So likewise we may meditate on his Office of Mediatorship as that he is the alone Mediator betweene God and man How he was called to his office and the testimonies of it of his Baptisme fasting in the Wildernesse and Diuine vnction with the Spirit aboue measure Of the eternity of his Office and parts of it being anoynted of God to bee our Prophet Priest and King Of his Propheticall Office whereby hee hath both outwardly reuealed vnto vs the knowledge of God and his will and inwardly inlighteneth our minds to conceiue it by his grace and holy Spirit and of the confirmation of this doctrine by miracles Of his Priestly Office and of his All-sufficient satisfaction for our sinnes Of his perfect obedience both actiue whereby he hath fulfilled the Law for vs and passiue whereby he hath suffered all those punishments which were due vnto vs for our sinnes And this yeeldeth vnto vs most excellent and profitable matter of meditation in all the parts thereof as his tentations in the Wildernesse by the diuell the manifold miseries which hee indured as pouerty hunger wearinesse contempt disgraces scoffes and bitter taunts reproches slanders reuilings and such like which he suffered in the whole course of his life and those his passions and sufferings a little before his death as his internall and bitter agony in the Garden where his wrastling with Gods wrath and the burthen of his Fathers heauie displeasure for our sinnes which he had taken vpon him forced out of his most blessed
thee by bringing forth the fruits of new obedience but I shall be able to better my speed and to runne the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt Psal 119. 37. inlarge my heart O thou therefore who chiefly delightest in the sacrifice of an humble heart and contrite spirit create in me a soft and tender heart and renew in me a right spirit Frame me according to thine owne will that thou maist delight in me and dwell with me yea according to thine owne couenant for thou hast promised to giue me a new heart and a new Ezek. 11. 19. and 36. 26. spirit and that thou wilt take away from me my stony heart and giue vnto mee an heart of flesh Thou art glorified in me when I bring forth much fruits of Iob. 15. 8. new obedience O be not wanting vnto thine owne glory by suffering me to be defectiue in fruitfulnesse but after I haue brought forth some purge me againe and againe that I still bringing forth more fruits thou maist be more glorified §. Sect. 7 Inforcement Yea Lord my wants are not small and therefore my suit must not bee slight I must still wrastle with thee by my prayers and strong cryes and not let thee depart without a blessing I am weake to preuaile but I haue thy truth to support me who hast promised that I shall obtaine if I follow Luk. 18. 1. 8. my suit without fainting O then make good thy word vnto thy seruant Psalm 119. wherein thou hast made me to put my trust Giue me a melting heart which will relent and resolue easily into teares of repentance I am much defiled with the filthinesse of my sinnes and a little washing will not make me cleane Purge me thorowly therefore O my God and multiply my washings first and chiefly in the blood of Christ which will cleanse mee from the ingrained guilt of my crimson and scarlet sinnes and wash mee in the lauer of Regeneration and in the waters of vnfained repentance which will by vertue of the former washing helpe to purge mee from the filth of my corruptions Turne me O turne me vnto thee my God and Lam. 5. 21. Cant. 1. 3. so shall I be turned draw me and I will runne after thee Rectifie and fructifie my more then ordinary barrennesse with the extraordinary showres of thy grace and warme my heart with the beames of thy loue that whatsoeuer good seed of thy Word shall fall into it may take deepe root and bring forth plentifull fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse that as I haue heretofore more then many others dishonoured thee by my sinnes so also I may now glorifie thee in some good degree by bringing forth in more then an ordinary manner and measure plentifull fruits of new obedience §. Sect. 8 Confidence And now comfort thy selfe O my soule for thy God hath granted what thou hast so feruently craued Yea it is the end why hee would haue thee to aske because he hath a desire to giue and that by discouering thy beggery and pouerty he might take occasion to discouer the riches of his bounty He that hath inlarged thine heart with these feruent desires hath done it purposely to this end that hee may fill it and satisfie them Thou couldest not so much as aske this grace of repentance if the Spirit Rom. 8. 26. of God did not helpe thine infirmities and inable thee to pray with sighes and grones which cannot be vttered and how can thy God reiect that prayer which his Spirit inditeth and is made according to his owne will Yea be confident my soule for thou canst receiue no repulse in this suit seeing he himselfe hath commanded thee to aske it and promised to giue it He who is true of his promise and omnipotent in performance hath bound himselfe by his gracious Couenant that hee will take away thy stony heart and giue thee an heart of flesh that thou shalt looke vpon Zacb. 12. 10. him whom thou hast pierced and shalt mourne for him as a man mourneth for his onely sonne and be in bitternesse for him as one is in bitternesse for his first-borne That he will write also his Law in thine heart that louing and obeying Jer. 31. 33. and 32. 42. it thou maist neuer depart from him And his Word is yea and Amen his promises as good as present payment Yet my soule to helpe thy weakenesse he hath giuen vnto thee already some first beginnings of repentance Phil. 1. 6. Rom. 11. 29. as an earnest of the rest that yet is wanting Hee hath begun this worke of grace in thee and therefore his gifts being without repentance he will surely perfect it Wait vpon him then O my soule by faith yea wait vpon him not onely with patience but also with ioy and comfort for he that hath promised will come and will not tarry and will Habak 2. 3. worke in thine heart such sorrow for thy sinnes as he himselfe shall accept as sufficient and cause thee to bring forth such plentifull fruits of new obedience as shall glorifie him and seale vp in thine heart the assurance of thine owne election and saluation §. Sect. 9 Congratulation and thanksgiuing Thrice happy then my soule art thou now in thy God who wast in in thy selfe wretched and miserable for he hath not onely made with thee the Couenant of grace wherein hee hath assured thee of the pardon of thy sinnes and of his fauour in which consisteth thy life and blessednesse but also hath inabled thee to performe the condition of faith and repentance whereby thou art assured that thou hast thy part and interest in all his promises Reioyce therefore in the Lord and againe reioyce Praise and Phil. 4. 4. magnifie his great and glorious Name who hath been so good and gracious vnto thee Thou wast in wofull misery by reason of thy sinnes and the punishments due vnto them but hee hath deliuered and made thee happy and hath both offered vnto thee ioy and blessednesse and also the meanes whereby thou maist attaine vnto it Hee hath shewed vnto thee the way of life and hath giuen vnto thee both will and ability to walke in it What wilt thou now returne vnto him O my soule for all the Psal 116. 11. good that hee hath done vnto thee Yea what canst thou returne that is worth acceptance but that which thou hast receiued from this fountaine of all goodnesse yet though hee hath giuen all vnto thee something there is which he will be pleased to receiue from thee as though it were thy gift euen the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing Nothing else canst thou giue but this free-will offring nothing else doth he require who is so absolute in all perfection that hee needeth nothing A fit oblation my soule frō such a child to such a Father from so meane poore a subiect to so rich and high a Soueraigne Take then into thine hand the Cup
Apostle perswadeth Christians in diuers callings to performe their duties in them that they might not cause the Word of God to be blasphemed 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tit. 2. 5. seeing it is the common custome of worldly and wicked men to to lay the faults of Professours vpon their profession and to impute their scandalous sinnes to their much going to Church and hearing of the Word as though their profession and hearing were the cause of their wicked and vnlawfull courses whereas in truth they would if they abused them not bee as strong cables to draw them from all impiety and vnrighteous dealing And contrariwise he would haue them to liue in an holy conuersation that they might adorne the doctrine Tit. 2. 10. of God our Sauiour in all things For men are apt to speake of the Religion and truth which wee professe either in the better or worser part according to the fruits which we bring forth of it in our liues thinking our Religion to bee pure and good if we approue our selues to bee so by our holy and Christian practice and conuersation but contrariwise if like those of whom the Apostle speaketh wee haue onely a forme of Godlinesse and in our liues deny the power there of or professe 2. Tim. 3. 5. that we know God but in our workes disclaime him being abominable and Tit. 1. 16. disobedient and vnto euery good worke reprobate wee shall open their mouthes not onely against vs but also against all Professours of Gods true Religion yea euen against the Religion and Doctrine of truth it selfe which we professe For if euer Dauid himselfe fall into foule sinnes it will not onely tend to his owne dishonour but also giue occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme as though he were 2. Sam. 12. 14. a patrone or approuer of such crimes §. Sect. 5 The 1. reason that we may auoid giuing of offence And so much of those reasons which respect God The second sort respect our neighbours from whom also wee may draw diuers arguments 1. Cor. 10. 32. to perswade vs to an holy conuersation And first because we shall being vnblameable auoid giuing vnto them any iust offence eitherby laying stumbling blockes in their way whereby they should be hindred from the professing of the true Religion when as they are able to take exceptions to the liues of Professours or if they bee religious bee grieued in their righteous soules when they see our liues full of blots and blemishes or make the weake fall by our ill 2. Pet. 2. 7 8. example The which we must carefully auoid because our Sauiour Matth. 18. 7. pronounceth a fearefull woe against those by whom such offences come and contrariwise labour with the Apostle to exercise our selues Acts 24. 16. dayly in this that wee may haue alwaies a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Secondly we may be moued to the practice The second reason of al holy duties of a godly life that we may gaine those that are without to Christ to imbrace that true Religion which we professe For if we haue our conuersation honest among the Gentiles they seeing our good 1. Pet. 2. 12. workes will glorifie God in the day of their visitation And this argument the Apostle Peter vseth to perswade wiues vnto their dutie that they which 1. Pet. 3. 1. obeied not the Word might without the Word be won with their Christiā conuersation The which so much preuailed with the Apostle Paul that he vtterly denied himselfe and his owne will and became all things to all men that he might gaine some to Christ and was content to please all 1. Cor. 9. 19 22. Chap. 10. 33. men in all things not seeking his owne profit but the profit of many that they might bee saued And how much more then should we with all willingnesse walke in such a course of holinesse and righteousnesse which in gayning others will profit our selues and not onely saue them by gayning them to Christ through our good example but assure our selues also of our saluation Finally wee may be perswaded vnto all The third reason holy and Christian duties because they so much tend to the good and profit of our brethren who are in the same holy communion with vs. First because by the light of our godly liues we shall moue them together with vs to glorifie our heauenly Father who is the Author Matth 5. 16. and Fountaine of all good things which they see in vs. Secondly because we shall edifie them by our good example and moue them to imitate those good things they shall see in vs and by our communion and fellowship with them like kindled coales on the same heape wee shall inflame their zeale and by an holy emulation make them striue to match vs in their Christian duties as the Apostle sheweth in the example of the Corinthians whose zeale in Christian beneficence 2. Cor. 9. 2. had as hee saith prouoked many And thus hee perswadeth Timothy to bee an example vnto beleeuers in word in conuersation in charity 1. Tim. 4. 12. in spirit in saith in puritie And exhorteth vs all to consider one Heb. 10. 24. another to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes To which purpose nothing can bee more effectuall then good examples when as we see those duties constantly performed by our brethren with much comfort and delight which wee feared as tedious troublesome and almost impossible and in this regard durst not vndertake them Finally wee shall doe good to our brethren euen in the duties themselues both of piety by teaching admonishing exhorting comforting and counselling them that neede our helpe and also of mercy by feeding the hungry clothing the naked visiting the sicke and such like workes of Christian charity whereby wee minister vnto their necessities CAP. XL. Of such reasons moouing vs to the duties of a godly life as respect our selues §. Sect. 1 The first reason taken from that dignity vnto which God hath called vs. IN respect of our selues there are also many effectuall arguments and reasons which may mooue and perswade vs vnto all duties of a godly life As first that high and heauenly dignity vnto which God of his free grace and goodnesse hath called vs out of a most miserable and wretched condition which should effectually mooue vs to walke worthy this high and excellent Eph. 4. 1. calling as the Apostle exhorteth vs. For wee were in darkenesse and in the shaddow of death but the Lord hath called vs into a marueilous light reuealing cleerely vnto vs the knowledge of himselfe and his will the great mystery of saluation by Iesus Christ and the meanes whereby we may be made partakers of the fruits and benefits of it in which respect it becommeth vs to walke as children of light circumspectly not as fooles Eph. 5. 8 15 16. 1. Th. 5. 5 6 7 8 Col.
suffer thine eyes to bee blinded and dazeled with the sudden flashes of worldly vanities which like lightening passe swiftly away and leaue nothing behind but blacke darknesse so as thou canst not discerne the beauty and brightnesse of spirituall graces and heauenly excellencies Doe not content thy selfe with a slight and superficiall view of these following reasons which perswade thee for thine owne good vnto the duties of a godly life nor to haue read them ouer with a curious eye rather to see what may bee said then with a purpose to make vse of them for thy practice of holinesse if thou be thorowly conuinced by euidence of truth shining in them but ponder them seriously with thy selfe and if thou finde them to beare any waight be perswaded by them to neglect no longer thine owne good nor to deferre and put off the seruing of God in the duties of a godly life but seeke first his Kingdome and righteousnesse when as thou shalt plainly discerne Deut. 6. 24. that his glory and thy good are through his mercy so matched together that thou canst not seeke the one but thou shalt assuredly finde the other §. Sect. 2 That by leading of a godly life we are assured of freedome from all our sins both in respect of their guilt punishment and corruption Now the good things which accompany the duties of a godly life are either the benefits which as fruits and effects attend vpon it or those speciall and rich priuiledges wherewith God of his free mercy is pleased to crowne his owne graces and to reward as with rich wages that poore seruice which we performe vnto him The benefits which follow a godly life are either priuatiue consisting in our freedome from euill or positiue in the fruition of good and both of them either temporall or eternall The priuatiue benefits of this life are many according to the multitude of euils vnto which it is liable both in respect of sinne and punishment from which in the greatest and worst part we are by the benefit of a godly life freed and deliuered For first if wee leade a godly life it will be a meanes to assure vs of our freedome from the guilt of all our sinnes by sole vertue of Christs death and blood-shed applyed vnto vs by faith both in regard that these holy duties of a godly life are the vndoubted fruits of a liuely faith approuing it to bee sincere and vnfained and as fruits of our Sanctification assuring vs that the same vertue of Christs death and Resurrection which wee finde effectuall for the mortifying of our sinnes and our spirituall quickening vnto holinesse and newnesse of life hath been already alike effectuall vnto vs for the freeing of vs from the guilt of sinne in our Iustification of which the other are but fruits and effects And secondly wee shall hereby be freed in the greatest part from our fleshly corruption and innumerable actuall sinnes seeing those Psal 119. 9 10 11. that are carefull to please God in the duties of a godly life doe bend their whole force in the vse of all good meanes for the subduing of their carnall lusts that though they dwell yet they may not rule and raigne in them resist as much as in them lyeth all the tentations of their spirituall enemies alluring and drawing them into sinne and keepe a conscionable and diligent watch ouer themselues that they may not wittingly and willingly commit any thing which Gods Law hath forbidden and condemned Whereof it commeth to passe that howsoeuer they are sometime and it may be not seldome ouertaken through humane frailty and infirmity and so contrary to their purpose and resolution are led captiue into sinne yet are they by this care and circumspection preserued from falling into any knowne transgression for the most part and from hainous and grieuous sinnes which wound and waste the conscience and like the hectique feuer consume the graces of God as it were the vitall spirits which preserue the spirituall life into which worldly and carnall men who neglect the duties of a Godly life doe ordinarily fall and make them as it were their ordinary trade Or if through violence of tentation and neglect of keeping their watch they haue been surprised vpon a sudden and ouertaken of such sinnes yet hauing this care to please God in the duties of a godly life this will but very rarely happen and when it doth yet they doe not like wicked men multiply their transgressions by committing often the same hainous sinne nor impenitently continue in it from day to day and yeere to yeere but being through frailty falne they doe not lye still but labour to come out of it by vnfained repentance Now how inestimable this benefit is which accompanyeth a godly life whereby in the greatest part we get victory ouer our corruptions by which others are conquered and as slaues held captiue and preserued from falling into innumerable and those the most hainous sinnes it will easily appeare if we consider the greatnesse of the euill from which we are hereby deliuered namely from sinne which aboue all things in the world is most odious vnto God and most pernicious vnto our soules and bodies as being the root and fountaine of all those mischiefes and miseries vnto which men are lyable both in this life and the life to come §. Sect. 3 That by leading a godly life wee are freed from the punishment of our sinnes The which also may be a second motiue to perswade vs vnto a godly life in that being thereby in the greatest part freed from our sinnes in respect Prow 19. 23. of their corruption and sinfull acts and wholly in assurance of faith from the guilt of them by vertue of Christs death and obedience applyed vnto vs we doe also hereby escape the punishments which are due vnto them Of both which the saying of Salomon is verified The feare of the Lord tendeth to life and he that hath it shall abide satisfied he shall not be visited with euill to wit either of sinne and punishment And againe The Prou. 14. 27. feare of the Lord is a fountaine of life to make vs depart from the snares of death For first the faithfull which walke in the waies of holinesse and righteousnesse are wholly freed by the death and sufferings of Christ from all punishments properly so called which are inflicted to satisfie Gods Iustice seeing Christ hath made full satisfaction for all their sinnes and therfore as it would not stand with the Iustice of God to let them goe vnpunished so neither that they should be twice punished once in our surety and the second time in our selues as I haue proued at large in another place Christian Warfare the third part Whereas those who make no conscience of their wayes and neglect the duties of a godly life being out of Christ doe beare the punishment of their sinnes themselues both in this world and the world to come Secondly by
leading of a godly life they also escape many temporary Heb. 6. 6 7 8. iudgements and sharpe afflictions whereby God like a gracious and wise Father doth correct his children when they neglect their dutie and sinne against him which differ nothing from the punishments that are in this life inflicted vpon the wicked in their matter and oftentimes very little in the quantity and sharpnesse of the stripes but onely in the causes from which they proceed which is the loue of a gracious Father towards the one and the anger of a iust and seuere Iudge towards the other also their diuers ends the chastizements of the Faithfull being intended for their good and amendment that they may not being iudged be condemned with the world but 1. Cor. 11. 32. the punishments of the wicked for the satisfying of Gods Iustice by inflicting on them deserued punishments But howsoeuer the sinnes of the Faithfull cannot moue the Lord to reiect them or cause his loue to depart from them seeing it is one branch of the couenant made in Christ that he will loue them with an euerlasting loue and pardon all their sinnes yet they doe moue him to correct them with the rod of men and Ier. 31. 3 31 33 34. 2. Sam. 7. 14. Psal 89. 31 32. Heb. 12. 6. Apoc. 3. 19. the stripes of the children of men for he chastizeth euery sonne whom he loueth and receiueth that being pulled out of their sinnes by strong hand which they would not flee and forsake out of meere loue they may by their vnfained repentance and amendment escape eternall condemnation as wee see in the example of Dauid the Corinthians and many others The which his iust yet gracious seuerity there is no possible 1. Cor. 11. 31 32 33. meanes to escape no not though Noah Daniel and Iob should intercede for vs or any other who are most highly in his fauour vnlesse Ezek. 14. 13. we preuent these sharpe corrections by leading a godly life and fleeing from sinne which is the cause of them or stay Gods hand by turning from our sinnes by vnfained repentance Which course if wee take wee shall be freed not onely from eternall punishments but also from temporary afflictions which our sinnes doe bring vpon vs vnlesse it be such as the Lord inflicteth for the triall of his graces in vs that being approued they may be crowned with an answerable measure of ioy and heauenly happinesse According to that of Salomon A prudent man foreseeth the euill and hideth himselfe but the simple passe on and are punished Or if by our sins we haue brought them vpon Pro. 22. 3. vs yet repenting of them and returning into the waies of righteousnesse we shall when we crie vnto God obtaine helpe and deliuerance according to that of the Psalmist The righteous crie and the Lord heareth Psal 34. 17. and deliuereth them out of all their troubles Seeing then no chastening for the present seemeth ioyous but grieuous what a strong motiue should Heb. 12. 11. this be to perswade vs to forsake all our sinnes and to serue the Lord in the duties of a godly life seeing wee haue hereby this singular benefit of being freed from temporary afflictions which are so sharpe and bitter vnto vs A third benefit which will redound vnto vs by leading of a godly life is that being vnblameable giuing vnto none any iust cause of offence we shall hereby stop the mouthes of wicked men so as they shall not be able to reproch vs nor blemish our good name by their calumnies slanders with any shadow or colour of truth And this was a strong reason to moue the Apostle to walke in a godly vnblameable life that by exercising himself herein he might haue alwaies a conscience voyd of offence towards God towards men And this Act. 23. 1. 24. 16. Tit. 2. 7 8. argument he vseth to perswade Titus to shew himselfe in all things a patterne of good workes that he who was of the contrary part might be ashamed hauing no euill thing to say of him Thus the Apostle Peter exhorteth vs to sanctifie the Lord in our hearts and to haue a good conscience in all things 1. Pet. 3. 15 16. that whereas wicked men speake euill of vs as of euill doers they may be ashamed that falsely accuse our good conuersation in Christ And perswadeth the Faithfull to abstaine from fleshly lusts and to haue their conuersation honest 1. Pet. 2. 11 12. among the Gentiles that whereas they spake euill of them as of euill doers they might by their good workes which they should behold glorifie God in the day of visitation And thus he moueth subiects to shew all obedience to Magistrates because it is the will of God that by wel-doing Vers 15. they should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Or if wee cannot thus farre preuaile with them by our holy conuersation in respect of their maliciousnesse but that they will seeke to disgrace vs by their vniust slanders and reproches yet may wee in the confidence and peaceable cleerenesse of a good conscience stand out against them as a brazen wall beating backe their false calumnies vpon their owne heads and like immoueable rockes returne their fome and froth vpon themselues when as all that heare them shall condemne their malice and fals-hood Yea they shall by their slanders but giue occasion vnto all men to speake of our innocencie in which respect as Iob speaketh though they should write a booke against vs Iob 31. 35 36. wee might take it vpon our shoulders and binde it as a crowne vnto vs and that not onely a Crowne of Fame in this life but of Glorie also in the life to come according to that of our Sauiour Blessed are Matth. 5. 11 12. yee when men shall reuile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of euill against you falsely for my sake Reioyce and bee exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heauen And that of the Apostle Peter If yee be reproched for the Name of Christ happie are yee for the 1. Pet. 4. 14. Spirit of Glorie and of God resteth vpon you Now what a strong reason this should bee to mooue vs to walke vnblameably in the duties of a Godly life it may hereby appeare if wee consider how precious and excellent a good name is seeing as the Wiseman speaketh A Good name is rather to be chosen then great Riches Pro. 22. 1. and louing fauour rather then Siluer and Gold And is to be preferred before the most precious oyntment seeing it smelleth most sweetly both to our selues and others which are neere and farre off Eccl. 7. 1. §. Sect. 4 That a godly life doth much strengthen vs against Satans tentations A fourth benefit of a godly life is that it much strengtheneth vs against the assaults of Satan and so armeth vs against all his
the mind are not onely preserued but also much improoued by continuall exercise so vertuous actions and workes of piety and righteousnesse being the exercises of our faith doe tend much to the strengthening of it whereas contrariwise by the neglect of these duties it is much weakened and by the contrary vices and acts of sinne exceedingly shaken and grieuously wounded In which regard the Apostle ioyneth the holding of faith and a 1. Tim. 1. 19. 1. Cor. 15. 58. good conscience because the one will not stay without the other being such louing twins as cannot be diuided but liue and die together More especially the duties of a godly life doe confirme our faith in the assurance of our election not as causes for the election of God is free of grace and Rom. 11. 6. Eph. 1. 4. not of workes but as the effects and fruits of it and as the end vnto which wee are elected for wee are not chosen because wee were holy but to the end that wee might bee holy as the Apostle sheweth Thus the Apostle Peter exhorting vs to make our calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1. 10. prescribeth this as the onely meanes the ioyning of one vertue and Christian duty with another telling vs that if wee doe these things wee shall neuer fall The Psalmist likewise setting downe the markes and signes whereby wee may know whether God hath chosen vs to dwell in his holy mountaine maketh this the first chiefe to walke vprightly and work righteousnesse Psal 15. 2. 24. 4. and to haue cleane hands and a pure heart Secondly hereby our faith is perswaded of Gods grace and loue in Christ For by keeping of Gods Commandements we are assured that we loue God according to that of the Apostle Iohn Whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the loue of God perfected 1. Ioh. 3. 6. 1. Ioh. 4. 19. and consequently that he loueth vs seeing we loue him because he loued vs first our loue being but a sparke of that diuine and infinite flame Thirdly of our effectuall calling this being the meanes which the Apostle prescribeth to make it sure For heereby we know that the grace of God 2. Pet. 1. 10. Tit. 2. 11 12. bringing saluation hath shined vnto vs when as we are taught thereby to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world that wee haue in a sauing manner heard Gods Word when hauing receiued it into honest hearts wee haue brought foorth fruits Luk. 8. 15. with patience That wee are ingrafted into Christ the true Vine when Ioh. 15. wee bring foorth the ripe Grapes of holinesse and righteousnesse That wee are trees of righteousnesse of Gods owne planting when like the tree planted by the riuers of waters wee bring foorth fruit in due season That wee are good men when out of the good treasure of our heart Psal 1. 2. Mat. 7. 17 18 20 we bring foorth that which is good That wee are of God and the Sheepe of Christ when we heare Gods Word and follow him And that wee are truely Luk. 6. 45. a kinne to Christ when wee doe the will of his Father which is in heauen Ioh. 8. 47. Mat. 12. 50. Fourthly by a godly life and the workes of piety and righteousnesse our faith is assured of it selfe that it is liuely and vnfained for as our good workes doe shew it vnto others so also they approoue it vnto our selues as being the fruits of this tree and the very breath of this body without which it is but a dead stocke and rotten carkasse For as the Apostle Iames Iam. 2. 17 26. telleth vs Faith if it haue no workes is dead being alone And as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without workes is dead also Fifthly our faith is heereby assured of our iustification and of all the fruits and benefits that doe accompany it As that we are freed from our sinnes both in respect of their guilt and punishment by the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ when as by the vertue and power of them we feele our selues deliuered from the corruption of them so as they doe not rule and raigne in vs as in former times and quickned in the inner man vnto holinesse and newnesse of life That we are reconciled vnto God when as we feele an earnest desire and constant indeuour wrought in vs of pleasing him in all things That we are his children by adoption and grace when we liue as it becommeth his children and resemble our heauenly Father in holinesse and righteousnesse That we are sanctified by his Spirit when as wee bring forth the fruits of our sanctification in a godly and Christian life That we haue vnfainedly repented of our sinnes when as wee bring forth fruits worthy amendment and doe daily exercise our selues in good workes Finally that we are Citizens of heauen and heires of euerlasting happinesse when as we haue our conuersation there setting our hearts and affections on things aboue and not on things beneath and when hauing Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 2. Joh. 3. 2 3. this hope that we shall be made like vnto Christ we haue purged our selues as he also is pure §. Sect. 4 That a godly life strengthneth and increaseth our hope and confidence in God The second spirituall benefit of a godly life is that it strengtheneth and increaseth our hope and confidence in God grounded vpon this assurance Psal 34. 15. that hee will preserue all those that feare and serue him from all euill all perils and dangers and the malice and might of all their enemies and that he will prouide for them all things necessary seeing he who is so bountifull euen to his enemies will not let his owne children want any thing that is good who haue a desire to serue and please him So that they which feare the Lord haue great cause to trust in the Lord as the Psalmist Psal 115. 11. exhorteth because he is their helpe and shield And this made the three Children so confident that they cared not for the rage of the Tyrant nor for the fiery Furnace though seuenfold hotter then ordinary because they had serued God with a good conscience and thereby were assured that the God whom they serued was both able and willing to deliuer them Dan. 3. 17. This made Daniel to serue God constantly whom hee had formerly serued notwithstanding the cruell edict of the King because he well knew that the God whom he serued was able to deliuer him from the Lions as Dan. 6. 16. Darius also acknowledged From which confidence there arise diuers other singular benefits as inward ioy and comfort in all estates seeing in this confidence we haue cast all our care vpon God patience in all troubles seeing we trust assuredly in God for helpe and deliuerance in that time which shall be most seasonable both for his glory
occurrent The which ioy far exceedeth all the ioyes of the world For they satisfy not but leaue the soule empty so that the ioy of one pleasure doth but stirre vp the appetite to hunger after another which if it should not be inioyed leaues nothing but sorrow behind whereas this as our Sauiour speaketh is a full ioy in the fruition of God partly in sense and feeling according Iohn 15. 11. to that of the Psalmist O taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34. 8. and partly in the assurance of faith which maketh vs reioyce in expectation of full fruition Worldly ioy is short and momentany like the crackling of thornes vnder a pot which causeth a suddaine blaze as suddenly Eccles 7. 6. goeth out but the ioy of the Spirit is lasting and permanent and Iohn 16. 22. no man as our Sauiour saith can take it from vs. That consists in eating and drinking and the inioying of such company as are like our selues but this in the soules fruition of her beloued Spouse whose loue is Cant. 1. 2. better then wine seeing his fauours are so full of rauishing delight that the heart is not able to containe them as we see in the example of the Spouse in the Canticles who being brought by her Bridegroome into his banketing house was so filled that she euen surfeted of his delicacies which forced her to cry out Stay me with flaggons Comfort me with Cant. 2. 4 5. apples for I am sicke of loue Of which sweete and gracious entertainment of the faithfull soule the Psalmist also speaketh They shall bee abundantly Psal 36. 8. satisfied with the fatnesse of thy House and thou shat make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasures Finally the ioy of worldlings accompanieth their prosperitie but when the euill day commeth it leaueth and forsaketh them and is turned into sorrow and griefe of heart but the godly reioyce euen in their tribulation affliction in their assurance of Gods loue and because they know that they shall worke together for their good these light and momentany afflictions causing vnto them a farre Rom. 5. 3. Rom. 8. 28. 2. Cor. 4. 17. Iam. 1. 2. most excellent and an eternall waight of glory They account it all ioy as the Apostle Iames speaketh when they fall into diuers tentations knowing that the tryall of their faith worketh patience And when they are persecuted for righteousnesse sake they being blessed in their sufferings reioyce Matth. 5 10 11 and are exceeding glad because their reward is great in heauen And thus the Apostle saith that the Thessalonions receiued the Word in much affliction 1. Thes 1. 6. and with ioy in the holy Ghost And that the Hebrewes tooke ioyfully the spoyling of their goods knowing themselues that they had in heauen a better and induring substance The which ioy is a supernaturall gift and fruit of the sanctifying Spirit which all cannot attaine vnto but the faithfull only and therefore the Apostle prayeth for the Romans that Rom. 15. 13. the God of hope would fil them with all ioy and peace in beleeuing that they might abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost It is a priuiledge wherin wicked men haue no portion but is peculiar to the godly in whom the Kingdome of God is begunne in this life which none inioy but they Matth. 6. 33. which seeke also his righteousnesse seeing it consisteth not onely in peace Rom. 14. 17. and ioy in the holy Ghost but also in righteousnesse as the Apostle speaketh and therefore seeing those things cannot bee separated which God hath conioyned we must labour after righteousnes if we would be partakers of this ioy vnto which if we doe attaine we shall assuredly be filled with it For if the Apostle reioyced in it as in his Crowne Phil. 4. 1. 1. Thes 19. 20. and ioy when he had beene a meanes of conuerting others and bringing them into the way of truth and righteousnesse and if the Apostle Iohn reioyced so greatly that he professeth he had no greater ioy in any outward Ioh. Epist 2 4. and Epist 3. 3 4. thing then when he saw his children walking in this way then what inestimable ioy must this needs cause vnto vs when our selues by walking in the way of holinesse and righteousnesse doe attaine vnto the assurance of our owne happinesse §. Sect. 5 The last speciall priuiledge is Christian liberty The last speciall priuiledge peculiar vnto the godly which the Spirit bringeth is Christian liberty whereby being freed out of the hands of all Luk. 1. 74. our spirituall enemies we serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnesse without feare and so attaine vnto the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God seeing his seruice is perfect freedome and haue power and dominion ouer all the creatures so as wee may vse them to all purposes both for necessity and comfort hauing full right and interest in them by our adoption The which priuiledge also is a fruit of the Spirit according to that of the Apostle Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty And is deriued vnto 2. Cor. 3. 17. vs when as the holy Ghost by a liuely faith applyeth vnto vs the vertue and efficacy of Christ Iesus his death and satisfaction whereby this liberty was first purchased for vs in which respect our Sauiour also challengeth vnto himselfe this power and prerogatiue of setting vs at liberty as being our alone Redeemer who hath deliuered vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies If saith he the Sonne shall make you free you shal be free Ioh. 8. 36. indeed We were subiect to the wrath of God but our Sauiour hath freed Gal. 3. 13. vs from it and by satisfying his Iustice hath reconciled vs vnto him We were vnder the curse of the Law but hee hath freed vs by being made a curse for vs. Wee were the wretched slaues of Satan and in the state of death and condemnation but hee by his death hath destroyed him that had Heb. 2. 14 15. the power of death that is the deuill that he might deliuer them who through the feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage Wee were seruants to the world and the vassals of the earthly Mammon but Christ hath ouercome the world both for himselfe and all his Elect Ioh. 16. 33. and so set vs at liberty out of this thraldome Wee were the seruants of sinne which made vs slaues to all other enemies and obeyed it in the wicked lusts thereof for as our Sauiour saith Hee that committeth sinne Joh. 8. 34. is the seruant of sinne For his seruants wee are whom wee obey whether of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnesse And though with the Rom. 6. 16. Iewes wee were ready to boast of our freedome and as it were out of our store to promise liberty vnto
his holy and pure nature cannot sinne or doe any euill which is contrary vnto it And as well may we say that the glorified Saints who are crowned with ioy and happinesse haue lost all their liberty because they are so confirmed by supernaturall grace that they cannot sinne as that we are depriued of it because wee are restrained by Gods Word and holy Spirit from all manner of wickednesse or that a sonne hath lost his liberty when hee liueth according to his Fathers will that dearely loueth him and is freed from the gouernement of some base slaue who egged and thrust him on in all wicked courses which in the end would depriue him of his fathers loue and iustly disinherite him of his desired patrimony Yea let vs know that as sinne is the greatest bondage so the seruice of God is the greatest and best liberty when as we are stablished in all grace and goodnesse by his free Spirit Psal 51. 12. and submit our selues to be guided directed by it in all our wayes as the body by the soule For as the Apostle speaketh Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty Let vs know that as our Sauiour Christ came amongst vs 2. Cor. 3. 37. to take away the sinnes of the world both in respect of the guilt punishment and corruption so also as our Redeemer to free vs out of bondage and to purchase for vs perfect liberty which is that being deliuered out of Luk. 1. 74 75. the hands of all our spirituall enemies wee should worship and serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse before him without feare all the dayes of our liues Of which liberty himselfe speaketh If the Sonne shall make ye free ye shall bee Ioh 6. 36. free indeed And therefore let vs not hearken to the flesh which abuseth and deludeth vs by giuing vnto things false names gracing the bondage of sin and thraldome vnto our owne lusts with the glorious title of liberty and disgracing our Christian liberty and freedome from sinne with the name of bondage but knowing that this was one speciall end of Christs comming and dying for vs that hee might destroy the workes of 1. Joh. 3. 8. the deuill and free vs out of the bondage of sinne let vs stand fast in Gal. 5. 1 13. the libertie wherewith Christ hath made vs free and not bee intangled againe with the yoke of bondage And seeing he hath called vs vnto liberty let vs not abuse it for an occasion to the flesh as the Apostle exhorteth §. Sect. 2 That a godly life doth not take away friendship and good society but rather increaseth it The fifth obiection against a godly life is that it taketh away all familiar friendship and good fellowship all merry meetings and ciuill conuersation from amongst men estranging their minds one from another and making them to delight more in solitarinesse then in company To which I answere that if by these glorious names of friendship good fellowship and ciuill conuersation bee meant the common commerce which worldly wicked men haue one with another in the workes of darkenesse and pleasures of sinne in gluttony and drunkennesse in May-games misrule and madde merriments in carnall reuellings Stage-playes Wakes and Morrice-dances in swaggering swearing backebiting and corrupt and filthy communication in dycing carding and spending both their time and states in vnlawfull gaming then is it no blemish or aspersion vnto a godly life but rather an high praise and commendation that it breaketh off such wicked and dangerous societies and reformeth such pernicious disorders as alwayes end in griefe and vexation But if hereby bee vnderstood true friendship and Christian familiarity and acquaintance lawfull meetings and ioyfull feasting with one another in the true feare of God then doth not a godly life abolish them but rather confirme and increase them among all true Christians For purging away the corruptions and rectifying the disorders of societies and conuersation and making them truely ciuill and religious it causeth them to be much more comfortable and profitable and consequently more frequently to bee affected by all those who taste the sweetnesse and benefit which commeth of them without any sting of sinne or after-tang of bitter griefe As wee see in the example of those Christians which liued in the first age of the Act. 2. 46. Primitiue Church who tooke exceeding ioy in the Communion of Saints in mutuall conuersing one with another and in their frequent meetings to eate and drinke and reioyce together And therefore vnlesse any will presuppose that sinne is the only bond of all good fellowship and that we cannot take pleasure in one anothers company vnlesse wee ioyne together to displease and dishonour God and that we can neuer be merry so long as he is with vs And vnlesse we account that onely to be ciuility when as we shew no dislike of sinne but soothe and bolster yea incourage and thrust on all that beare vs company in the wayes of wickednesse let vs not falsly affirme that a godly life is any hindrance to ciuill conuersation or that it depriueth vs of the mutuall ioy and comfort which wee might otherwise take in friendship and fellowship one with another §. Sect. 3 That a godly life doth not bring with it want and pouerty The sixth obiection is that godlinesse bringeth with it want and pouerty as appeareth first by common experience and innumerable examples of those who being most religious and conscionable in all their courses come as far short of other men in worldly wealth as they exceed and go before them in piety and honest dealing in so much as it is growne into a common yet wicked Prouerbe that plaine dealing is a Iewell but he that vseth it shall dye a begger And secondly it standeth with reason that it should bee so seeing piety letteth passe and refuseth many aduantages by which those that want it doe increase their wealth and improoue their worldly estate For their thoughts lesse runne vpon earthly things being taken vp with heauenly their indeuours are more faint and weake in pursuing them then theirs who haue set their hearts vpon them their time and strength is not so wholly imployed in getting and keeping riches They lose much which they might get because they will not vse vnlawfull meanes as fraud and deceit extortion and oppression because they will not lye and confirme it with an oath for their aduantage nor prophane the Sabbath by selling and buying and labouring in their callings nor keepe seruants vnder them who make no conscience of these things though they bee neuer so profitable nor follow the bent of the times and soothe euery one in their humour of whom they may make any aduantage And finally because they will not stoope to euery baite of profit which is cast before them vntill by due examination in the Court of Conscience it may appeare to bee honest and lawfull To which I answere first that
grieued because they no more grieue vs. Let vs after reconciliation desire and indeuour in all things to please thee and chuse rather to displease our selues and all the world then thy Maiesty Let vs confirme our Faith in the assurance of pardon by forgiuing those who haue trespassed against vs and that not in shew onely but in truth and sincerity Let vs not onely forgiue iniuries but also forget them and approue our sincerity in remitting by our readinesse to performe all good duties vnto them that wee may ouercome euill with goodnesse Let vs passe by offences and shew our wisdome in our slownesse to Anger and Reuenge Let vs doe good to those that hurt vs and pray for those that persecute vs. Giue vnto vs not onely the grace of Iustification and the Remission of our sinnes but also of Sanctification and the spirit of fortitude whereby wee may mortifie sinne and be inabled to resist the tentations of the flesh the world and the deuill Let vs not when we are washed with the blood of Christ and freed from the guilt and curse of sinne defile our selues againe nor be intangled in the yoke of bondage but let vs stand fast in the liberty which Christ hath purchased for vs. Let vs not abuse our liberty as an occasion to the flesh and because we are freed from sin sin the more freely but being deliuered out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies let vs worship and serue thee without feare in holinesse and righteousnes before thee all the dayes of our liues Let vs continually watch pray that we doe not enter into tentations seeing our spirituall enemies are euer most busie malicious in assaulting those whom thou hast pulled out of the kingdome of darkenesse and made subiects of thy Kingdome and seruants of thy family Let vs consider our owne weakenesse and our enemies power and let this mooue vs with more feruency to craue thy helpe and assistance Establish vs O Lord by thy free Spirit and so strengthen vs with thy wisdome and power that we may be able to stand against the artificiall and cunning tentations of the deuill Doe not giue vs ouer to the Tempter nor leaue vs to our selues but with the tentation giue an happy issue that we may haue the vpper hand and be preserued from all euill We craue not to be freed from tentation but that wee may not be tempted aboue our power Yea try vs O Lord as much as thou wilt so that being tried wee may be found approued Let vs quench the fiery darts of the deuill with the shield of Faith and not admit of his suggestions but nippe them in the head when they are first offred vnto vs. Leade vs not O Lord into tentation giue vs not ouer to our owne lusts to be hardned with the deceitfulnesse of sinne nor to the world to be carried away with the desires thereof nor to the deuill to be ouercome with his tentations and to be carried away captiue to doe his will Let those weakenesse which we discerne in tentation make vs to rest more entirely vpon thy power Let vs in the sight of them be truely humbled turne them to our good and make vs more carefull in the vse of all good meanes to attaine vnto more strength Let vs not fall away in the time of tentation but enable vs to withstand our enemies in the euill day and hauing finished the fight let vs stand fast and be kept by thy power through faith vnto saluation Let vs alwaies be prepared for the day of battell and put on thy whole armour that wee may be enabled to resist our enemies Let vs not tempt thee by running into tentation and expose our selues to Satans baytes and snares before they be offered vnto vs. Let all our trials and tentations tend to our good and the more inrich vs with Spirituall graces and so further our euerlasting saluation Doe not O Lord punish in vs one sinne by giuing vs ouer to another neither leaue vs to our owne lusts to the hardnesse of our hearts or to a reprobate minde to commit sinne with greedinesse Giue vs thy sanctifying Spirit and enable vs thereby not onely to fight against the flesh but also to subdue and mortifie our earthly members our inordinate affections and euill concupiscence Renew vs by thy Spirit that we may no longer be carnall but Spirituall walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Let vs not be carried away with the world or ouercome with the tentations either on the right hand or on the left But let vs ouercome the world by Faith Giue vs the Spirit of Wisdome to preserue vs that we be not ensnared with worldly wiles keepe vs from being corrupted with rotten speeches and the inticements and ill counsels of the wicked let vs not stumble at their scandals and offences nor be mis-led by their euill ensamples preserue vs from the contagion of their company and let vs not be conformed to their fashions but notwithstanding all their tentations let vs constantly perseuere in the course of holinesse and righteousnesse Giue vs grace to renounce all worldly lusts ambition couetousnesse and voluptuousnesse Weane our hearts from earthly vanities and let vs vse the world as not abusing it Crucifie vs to the world and the world vnto vs and let vs liue as pilgrims and strangers vpon the earth and Citizens of heauen Let vs minde heauenly things and contemne the things of the world as meere vanities in comparison of Spirituall graces and heauenly glorie Let vs not be ouercome with worldly afflictions but either in whole or in part release vs of them or else arme vs with patience that wee may beare them and indure tentation that so being approued wee may receiue the Crowne of life Tread downe Satan vnder our feet shew thy power in our weakenesse and glorifie thy Name in our victory Perfect the worke of our Sanctification Redemption which is begun in this life not only free vs in part from our corruptions but conforme vs wholy to the glorious Image of thy Son Deliuer vs from euery euill thing and preserue vs vnblameable to thy heauenly Kingdome Let vs shake off security and be vigilant and watchfull let vs aboue all obseruations looke to our hearts Let vs keepe a narrow watch ouer our tongues and senses let vs make a couenant with our eyes and turne them away from beholding vanities Let vs long after our full deliuerance and finall victory ouer our spirituall enemies and seeing we shall not absolutely be freed from sinne and perfectly sanctified in this life let vs earnestly desire to be dissolued to be with Christ that so being fully deliuered from the body of this death wee may performe vnto thee such perfect seruice as thou requirest Confirme our Faith in this assurance that thou wilt heare our prayers and grant our requests seeing thine is the Kingdom whereby thou hast right to giue whatsoeuer we
things and reioyce in nothing so much as in the assurance of thy loue and when the light of thy countenance shineth vpon mee Remooue out of my way all lets and impediments which might hinder me in my Christian course or so assist mee with thy grace that I may ouercome them Stablish me with thy free Spirit that I may not onely begin well but also continue in all grace and goodnesse vnto the very end of my life and let me be stedfast vnmoueable and alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord. And with these my prayers and supplications I doe also ioyne my praises and thankesgiuing lauding and magnifying thy great and glorious Name for thine inestimable loue and the fruits and testimonies thereof shewed vnto me euen from before all beginnings vnto this present day For that thou hast of thy free grace chosen mee to life and saluation created mee after thine owne similitude and likenesse in wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse redeemed me at so deare a price out of the miserable bondage of my spirituall enemies effectually called mee by the sound of the Gospell to the knowledge of thy truth vnited me vnto Christ by thy Spirit and a liuely faith and made me partaker of all his benefits for my iustification by his righteousnesse and obedience and for some degrees of sanctification begun in mee whereby thou hast subdued the power of sinne that though it dwelleth yet it doth not raigne in me and hast wrought in me some desire resolution and indeuour to serue and please thee For that thou hast watched ouer me with thy prouidence in the whole course of my life and namely this night past and hast thereby preserued mee from all perils from the terrours of the night and the malice of mine enemies and hast refreshed me with quiet rest and now raised me vp in the strength thereof to doe thee seruice O Lord inlarge my heart that I may duly consider of thy manifold and rich mercies and bee thorowly inflamed with the apprehension of thy loue What am I my God that thou shouldest be thus gracious vnto mee who am altogether lesse then the least of thy mercies yea worthy of thy greatest punishments O that I could loue and praise thee according to thy bounty and goodnesse And being so poore that I haue nothing to repay and thou so rich that thou neither needest nor requirest any thing else O that I could euer remaine a gratefull debter hauing mine heart filled with thankfulnesse and my mouth with thankesgiuing And now Lord I further beseech thee to continue still my God and guide to direct leade and vphold mee in all the wayes of holinesse and righteousnesse Take mee into thy gracious protection this day and euer and watch so ouer mee with thy all-ruling prouidence that I may be preserued safe from all enemies worldly and spirituall and from those manifold dangers which incompasse mee on euery side Giue mee grace so to spend this day that some glory may redound vnto thee by my seruice some profit and benefit vnto those with whom I liue and some further assurance vnto my selfe from the increase of sauing graces discerned in mee and spirituall strength in all good duties of my saluation and eternall happinesse Order and gouerne all my thoughts that they may be religious and honest my speeches that they may bee wise and seasoned with grace and all my workes and actions for the well performing both of the generall duties of Christianity and the speciall duties of my calling blessing so all my labours that I may be cheered and comforted in them by my prosperous successe in all my good indeuours Supply vnto mee all temporall blessings and the necessary comforts of this life and let mee liue at thy finding and receiue whatsoeuer I inioy as the gifts of thine owne hand and pledges of thy loue that I may returne the praise which is due vnto thee for them and vse them as helpes to further mee in all duties of thy seruice Finally I beseech thee good Lord to vouchsafe these and all other benefits not onely vnto mee but also to thy whole Church and euery particular member thereof especially to this in which I liue Multiply thy fauours vpon our Soueraigne Lord the King our noble Prince the Prince Electour Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth his wife with their issue vpon the honourable Lords of the Priuie Councell the Magistrates and Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments the afflicted members of Iesus Christ my friends and benefactours kindred and acquaintance and especially vpon this whole family giuing vnto vs all grace that wee may keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and so ioyne together with our hearts and minds in all duties of thy seruice as that we may ioyntly inherit that eternall happinesse of thy Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and thine holy Spirit bee rendred all glory and praise might Maiesty and Dominion both now and euermore Amen Another priuate Prayer for the Morning O Almighty and eternall God our most gracious and louing Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore sinfull seruant being in my selfe vtterly vnworthy to appeare in thy glorious presence doe yet in the Name and mediation of Iesus Christ offer vnto thee my prayers and supplications in obedience to thy Commandements and in some assurance of thy gracious promises rendring vnto thee from the bottome of mine heart all humble and hearty thankes for thy manifold mercies and abundant blessings multiplied vpon mee both in respect of spirituall and heauenly priuiledges which concerne my euerlasting saluation and of temporall and earthly benefits appertaining to the good of this life and my present estate in this place of my Pilgrimage For that thou hast freely loued mee from all eternity and of thy meere grace hast chosen mee vnto life and glory without any respect of my workes or worthinesse For creating mee according to thine owne Image and redeeming me out of the estate of sinne and death For calling mee effectually by thy Word and Spirit and making mee a seruant of thine owne family and a member of Iesus Christ whereby thou hast giuen mee iust title vnto him and all his benefits For making with mee the Couenant of grace adopting mee in him to bee thy child vnto a liuely hope of my heauenly inheritance For iustifying mee in his righteousnesse imputed vnto mee and applyed by a liuely faith and sanctifying mee with thy Spirit giuing mee some power ouer my corruptions and some desire and indeuour to serue and please thee in the duties of a godly life For watching ouer mee with thy prouidence euer since I had my being and birth shielding mee from dangers deliuering mee out of manifold euils and prouiding for mee all things necessary both for my soule and body For preseruing mee this night past from all perils giuing vnto mee quiet rest and bringing mee in safety to see the light adding yet another day to
my life that therein I may doe thee seruice and vse all good meanes for the furthering and assuring of my saluation O Lord giue mee a true sense and feeling of thy loue that I may loue thee againe and a liuely apprehension and taste of thy rich mercy and goodnesse that mine heart and voyce may returne vnto thee the praises that are due Yea so much the more O Lord increase my thankfulnesse by how much the lesse worthy I am of the least of thy mercies by reason of my manifold and grieuous sinnes For I confesse vnfainedly that miserable estate in which I am by nature both in respect of my originall corruption in which I was conceiued and borne whereby all the powers and faculties of my body and soule haue beene wholly defiled and vtterly disabled vnto all duties of thy seruice for which I was created and that I haue made my selfe much more miserable by adding heereunto actuall transgressions whereby I haue broken all and euery of thy Commandements in thought word and deed both by omitting the duties which thou hast commanded and committing the contrary vices and sinnes which thou hast forbidden the which as they are for the quality of them haynous so doe they in number exceed the haires of mine head and the starres of heauen Yea Lord I haue not onely thus sinned against thee in the dayes of my ignorance when as I neither had any knowledge of thee and of thy will nor so much as any desire to serue and please thee but euen since the time that thou hast called mee to the knowledge of thy Truth and by the good motions of thy Spirit hast perswaded mee to imbrace professe and practise it since thou hast allured mee by thy gracious promises to serue thee and hast incouraged mee heereunto by innumerable blessings and large testimonies of thy fauour I haue often sinned against thee through frailty and infirmity and not seldome against my knowledge and conscience Oftentimes I haue neglected thy seruice to serue in the meane while mine owne sinfull lusts and when I haue vndertaken it I haue performed it oftentimes after a cold and formall manner with much weakenesse and wearinesse vnchearefulnesse and deadnesse of heart and spirit By all which my sinnes thus multiplyed against thee I haue iustly deserued to bee depriued of all thy blessings and benefits and to bee ouerwhelmed with all those fearefull punishments threatned in the Law respecting both this life and the life to come O Lord my God affect my heart with vnfained sorrow in the sight and sense of this my sinne and misery And as it is a burthen too heauy for mee to beare so let mee haue such a feeling of it that I may hunger after the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ and apply it vnto mee by a liuely faith and so make good the Couenant of grace which thou hast made with mee one speciall branch whereof is this that thou wilt remember my sinnes no more I confesse that I haue offended thy Iustice but my Sauiour Christ hath satisfied it by paying my debt to the vttermost farthing accept therefore of his satisfaction and impute not vnto mee that debt which hee hath discharged I haue deserued eternall death and condemnation but hee was condemned that I might bee acquitted and hath suffered the bitter death of the Crosse and thine anger due vnto my sinnes that I might bee freed from death and thy displeasure and therefore O Lord I beseech thee for his sake to take away the guilt and punishment of all my sinnes that they may neuer bee imputed vnto mee in this life nor in the life to come And being thus iustified by faith and at peace with thee let mee also obtaine peace of conscience in the assurance of the remission of my sinnes and thy loue and fauour in Iesus Christ Giue vnto mee thine holy Spirit and thereby seale mee vp vnto the day of my Redemption and make mee thine owne Child by adoption and grace Let mee approoue my selfe to bee thy Child by resembling thee my heauenly Father in holinesse and righteousnesse by hating and forsaking all that is euill and by louing and imbracing all that is good Sanctifie mee thorowout in my soule and body and let mee not onely make an holy profession with my mouth but let it proceed from my heart and bee expressed in the whole course of my life Encourage mee in this worke against all difficulties by assuring mee that thou wilt bring it to good effect and let mee apply vnto my selfe thy gracious promises which assure mee as well of my sanctification and victory ouer my corruptions as of my iustification and freedome from the guilt and punishment of my sinnes Let mee set continually before mee thy Law as the rule of my life and labour to conforme my obedience in all things thereunto denying vngodlinesse and all worldly lusts and liuing holily and religiously in respect of thee righteously and charitably in respect of my neighbours and temperately and soberly in respect of mine owne person Let mee labour to obserue thy whole Law in forsaking all sinne especially that which is most sweet and pleasing to my corrupt flesh and in imbracing all vertues and Christian duties which thou hast commanded especially those vnto which my nature is most auerse Let mee not content my selfe with such an hypocriticall holinesse as is destitute of righteousnesse nor with such a meerely morall righteousnesse as is without holinesse but let mee approoue my piety to bee sincere by my iustice charity and mercy and let these bee sanctified by my true godlinesse and religious deuotion Let mee not stand at a stay contenting my selfe with that small measure of sanctification which is begunne in me but let mee daily striue in the vse of all good meanes whereby I may attaine vnto more perfection and so sanctifie them vnto mee by thy holy Spirit that they may bee effectuall to perfect that good worke which thou hast begunne Inrich mee more and more with all sanctifying and sauing graces with the knowledge of thee and thy will a liuely faith in Iesus Christ vnfained repentance for my sinnes firme affiance and confidence in thee feruent loue of thee and my neighbours yea euen mine enemies for thy sake Inflame mine heart with an ardent zeale of thy glory replenish it with thy feare that it may neuer depart from thee Strengthen mine hope in the assured expectation of all thy gracious promises especially those which concerne my euerlasting happinesse giue mee patience in all my troubles thankefulnesse for all thy benefits peace of conscience spirituall ioy in the assurance of thy loue and the grace of perseuerance in the profession and practice of thy true Religion vnto the end Remoue all stumbling blockes of offence out of my way comfort me against all discouragements and arme me against all the tentations of my spirituall enemies that they may neuer preuaile against me Take me into thy gracious protection