We receive the Law from the hand of Jesus Christ to be a rule for us to walke by and herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 8. And the Saints injoy sweet priviledges by walking close with God see 1 Pet. 4. 14. To him that orders his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. God sheddeth his love into the hearts of his in his time and measure which love so constraines them that they cannot choose but love God againe for his great love Rom. 5. 5. Ephes 4. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Which love as it is apprehended by them so it constraines them to obey him and there is no faith true but that which workes by love Gal. 5. 6. and to all that love God his commandements are not grievous Joh. 14. 15. 1 Joh. 5. 1. 3. And God hath chosen us that wee should be holy and without blame before him in love Ephes 1. 4. 2. 10. 4. 1. But this doctrine hath ever been slandred and opposed by Papists Arminians and such as they are but let those that can see judge whose lives are most according to the Word they that hold with it or against it 3. The life of faith in Sanctification This consists in two branches The first is the soules cleaving to God in Christ our Sanctification which is for my pardon and peace and assurance of glory 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who is made unto us sanctification The second is the soules cleaving to Christ in his promises to change my nature clense and renew my heart and life and to worke all our workes for us and be a quickning Spirit in us 1 Cor. 15. 45. I will heale their backslidings Hos 14. 5. He will subdue our iniquities Micah 7. 19. Sinne shall not have dominion over you c. Isa 57. 18 19. I have seene his wayes and will heale him and heale all thy diseases Psal 103. 8. This was Christs prayer Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Word is truth for their sakes sanctifie I my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth Joh. 17. 17. 19. There is much unevennesse in us it should be a great griefe unto us that we cannot honour God no more in our conversation that our spirits are so much estranged from him as they are and unto holy and divine things which should be familiar and more delightfull unto us All that are the Lords have received great love from him which should greatly ingage their hearts to walke as becometh Saints in a holy course and conversation according to the Word of God every day and all the day long to injoy God and obey him according to his word Of infirmities An infirmitie is such a weaknesse as when the heart is upright yet by reason of some impediment it cannot doe the good it would and doth the evill it would not Infirmities are the imperfections of good actions There is an infirmitie which ariseth from some impediment which a man would faine remove but cannot There is an infirmitie that ariseth for want of growth in grace A sin of infirmitie is alwayes with griefe and sorrow and where there is no griefe for it it is no infirmitie It is a sin of infirmitie in him who desires to be informed of it and to be reproved for it and to know how to leave it when he is ashamed of it and will not plead for it but complaine to God against it and is grieved humbled for it and useth meanes against it There is no childe of God that is wholly free from infirmities therefore every beleever is to live by faith in all their infirmities 4. The life of faith in infirmities Which consists in two things First It is the soule cleaving to God in Christ that he will be to us according unto his promise a God of love and mercy unto us for ever notwithstanding all our omissions and commissions excesses and defects Secondly and that he will supply all our wants for soule or body as if we had never sinned according to his Covenant with Jesus Christ and us in him that it shall stand fast for ever with him Psal 89. 27 28 29. For the first If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities Psal 103. 3. Whom he loves once he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isai 53. 3. Which is confirmed by two immutable things Oath and Covenant c. That wee might have strong Consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. Through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13. 20. If his children forsake my Law and walke not in my Judgements if they breake my Statutes and keepe not my Commandements then will I visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquitie with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse I will not take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to faile my Covenant will I not breake my mercy will I keep for him and my Covenant shall stand fast with him Psal 89. 30 31 32 33 34. They and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neckes and hearkened not to thy Commandements and refused to obey c. But thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull and slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsakest them not Nehe. 9. 16 17 18 19 20. In our greatest falls when the soule is subject to doubt of pardon consider our God will abundantly pardon c. Isa 55. 7 8 9. I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. And am mighty to save Isa 63. 1. With the Lord is plenteous redemption Psal 130. 7 8 9. I have blotted out thy sins returne unto mee for I have redeemed thee Isa 44. 22. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that we are but dust Psal 103. 14. If thou shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand But there is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared Psal 130. 3 4. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him Psal 103. 13. 17 18. Thou art a God ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee Psal 86. 5. But thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull and slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsakest them not though they dealt proudly and hardened their neckes and hearkened not to thy Commandements and refused to obey Neh. 9. 16 17. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Ps 103. 10. He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was
time and cut off needlesse expences too by time that time is sweet and precious in which the soule beholds God and glory and hath communion with him when wee consider how farre short we come of our dutie we may say with griefe and sorrow Lord what is man a very vanitie And notwithstanding wee come farre short of what we ought to doe wee are not to sit downe discouraged but to live by faith in all infirmities above infirmities beholding and enjoying thy joy and peace with God when thou art at the worst as knowing no infirmitie can lessen the love of God to those who are his yet are wee to take notice wherein wee come short with griefe looking up to him by faith for more strength to serve him better esteeming it a great priviledge to be circumspect in all our actions to God and man There be some other sever all things contained in this Treatise which I trust will be of use to some and as for the directions concerning the Scriptures they have been observed by many to be necessary to cut off many errors I have added some other things my whole aime and scope in all I have written is first to sustaine comfort and incourage the discouraged soule from sinking in despaire by reason of their many and great sinnes secondly to withdraw the soule from the life of its own hand to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation Thirdly that the soule might know and live in the assurance of the love of God which will fill the soule full of life sweetnes and joy Fourthly that the soule should obey Christ and live to his glory and suffer for him Fiftly to prevent errors and to recall such of the Lords who have through mistake fallen into them by the wiles of Satan You are not to expect vaine Philosophy nor intising words of the wisdome of man for here it is not I have desired and endeavoured to make the truth appeare by the evidence and demonstration of the holy Scriptures as that which is most safe and profitable for our soules to venture themselves upon and seeing they are to be our onely rule search the Scriptures to see whether what I have declared be so or no and I trust you shall find it true and sweet though others through mistake may call it error Now the Lord of heaven and earth enable thee and all his to looke up to him to be taught by him to enjoy him and to walke so before him that they may honour him and that their joy may be full Extoll him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah and rejoyce before him Psal 68. 4. The most mightie whose name is Jah his servant SAMUEL RICHARDSON Faults escaped in the Printing Page Line Word Read 33. 23. filled fitted 55. 3. Eph. Colos 56. 10. live leave 111. 23. Pauls parts 185. 26. shau shall 219. 3. sure faâ—re 265. 17. difference discerne 256. 26. save serve 276. 6. meanes mens consequences 315. title free grace free will 318. 12. of ours dash out 325. 12. men if men 365. 14. noyse voyce The other mistakes correct or passe by in love THE MISERABLE ESTATE of a Man by nature ISAI 44. 20. He feedeth upon ashes a deceived heart hath turned him aside that be cannot deliver his soule nor say Is there not a lie in my right hand THese words declare the dead and miserable estate of a man by nature 1. In this he is described to be one that is without knowledge and understanding for he hath shut their eyes that they cannot see and their hearts that they cannot understand vers 18 19. They are in the state of nature in the state of death as appeares vers 16 17. 2. The food he eateth is described to be ashes 3. He hath an appetite unto them he lives upon them he feedeth upon ashes 4. The end of his feeding is that he might live and deliver his soule 5. But he is mistaken he is deluded he is turned aside 6. The cause of this delusion is from his owne heart which deceives him and turnes him aside 7. Here is the strength of his delusion in that he cannot say Is there not a lye in my right hand 8. The sum of all is his soule is taken prisoner by Satan he is a captive to him and so kept by him that he cannot deliver his soule Ashes That is to say 1. groundlesse hopes 2. false conclusions 3. Idolatry 4. duties 5. ordinances 6. comforts 7. joyes 8. ravishment 9. or what else soever yee can name except Jesus Christ is ashes Jesus Christ is the true bread other things may be taken for bread and in appearance have the same colour and forme like this bread but let them seeme what they can they are no bread indeed but ashes But Christ is the true bread his flesh is meat indeed and his bloud drinke indeed He is the living bread which came downe from Heaven if any man eate of this bread he shall live for ever Joh. 6. 32. 35. 48. 51. 55. c. Feedeth upon ashes This implies he hath an expectation to injoy satisfaction from them his going to them application of them contentednesse with them declares he hath satisfaction in them and lives upon them The words opened By heart is meant the understanding and will Deceived heart mis-informed by Satan darkened Aside from Christ in whom is deliverance rest and satisfaction Turned him viz. the understanding and will hath a power to turne the soule Soule is meant the whole man a principall part being put for the whole Deliver escape the danger he is in A lye viz. that is that which will deceive me in not being unto me that I take it for that which will not be that to me I need that which will not performe that it promiseth to be to me Hand that which holds mystically the understanding c. Right hand that is most eminent for use viz. in those things which are most eminent that are of greatest concernment the soule is deceived 1. A naturall man is sensible of the want of something he needs for his soule therefore he saith Wherewith shall I come before the Lord shall I come before him with burnt offerings with calves of a yeare old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of Rivers of oyle Shall I give my first-borne for my transgression the fruit of my body for the sinne of my soule Micah 6. 6 7. All this is ashes 2. There is not any life or strength to be expected from ashes they are no food fit to eate as ashes naturally corrupts the body and destroys it so here they fill the soule with corruption and will kill and destroy the soule at last as they that have no bread must dye for hunger Luk. 15. 17. 3. The food naturall men live upon is ashes they have no better food to live upon bread they have none they know not where any
houses of clay Job 4. 18 19. And all those whom God hath revealed his Sonne unto they see an exceeding transcendent beautie in him and he is precious unto them 1 Pet. 2. 7. They loth and abhor themselves Job 42. 6. Because they see in themselves nothing else but vilenesse filthinesse and unworthinesse Ezek. 16. 63. and it sets out the mercy of God the more that it is freely given unto the unworthy Ezek. 16. 9. Incouragement It makes most for the glory of God to give great things and is it not a disparagement for a King to doe otherwise The Lord is a great King a mightie God Isa 9. 6. He doth great things past finding out and wonders without number Job 9. 10. Feare not the Lord will do great things Joel 2. 21. For with God nothing shall be impossible Luk. 1. 37. Measure not the Lord by thy selfe For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes saith the Lord for as the heavens are higher then the earth so are my wayes higher then your wayes and my thoughts then your thoughts Isa 55. 8 9. And those who are made wise by God looke not so much to their basenesse as unto his greatnesse Zach. 9. 17. 10. Incouragement That which moves God to shew mercy is onely in himselfe nothing in the creature Ezek. 16. 3. to 9. Nor any thing the creature can doe cannot move God to shew mercy I will doe away thy sinnes for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. God shews mercy because he will Micah 7. 18 19. 11. Incouragement The greater our sinnes are and our sensiblenesse of unworthinesse the more we shall love God when we know that our sinnes are pardoned Luk. 7. 41 42 43 47. 12. Incouragement The mercy of God is infinite it hath no part or forme therefore it is not capable of any addition or defect therefore infinite shouldst thou need thousands of Seas of mercy to pardon thy sinnes God hath not the lesse notwithstanding he hath given so much If I had all the sins upon me that can be committed or but one sinfull thought this consideration makes it all one Oh I worlds of sin in this Ocean vanish and come to nothing Rom. 11. 33. Oh the depth of the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes 3. 8. 13. Incouragement The Name of God it 's infinite also The Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. Yea it 's the nature of God The Lord is very pitifull and of tender mercies Jam. 5. 11. All mercy and pitie is from him and all that is or hath been is but a drop to that Ocean of that pitie and mercy that is in him We are ready to sin but God is much more ready to forgive mercy pleaseth him it 's his delight Micah 7. 18. He is plenteous in mercy Psal 86. 5. Thou art a God ready to forgive 14. Incouragement The price that is for the sinnes of such as beleeve is infinite also count all thy sins and still they are the acts of a finite creature and is not Christ satisfaction above them he is God 1 Joh. 5. 20. His righteousnesse is farre greater then thy sinnes therefore be they great or small he is able to disanull them all 15. Incouragement The Covenant of grace is not made with us nor can it be broken by us but with Christ If they break my statutes and keep not my Commandements neverthelesse my loving kindnesse will I not take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to faile my Covenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Psal 89. 31. 33 34. My Covenant shall stand fast with him vers 28. So then the Covenant is made with Christ and that it was not made for our good workes nor can we disanull it by our sinnes for it 's sure perpetuall and everlasting Heb. 13. 20. It 's not founded upon a rotten and sandy foundation as thy selfe and duties are Oh wonder at Gods wisdome and love that it is not made with us nor is it in our keeping loe it 's founded upon the word promise of an eternall God and what ever is in God is God God is unchangeable Micah 3. 6. therefore the Covenant stands sure for ever Heb. 13. 20. But the discouraged soule still replieth I am perswaded I have committed the sin against the holy Spirit and that is unpardonable Heb. 6. 4. Those who have committed this sin tread under foot the Sonne of God and count the bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing and doe hate God and Christ Joh. 15. 24. In that thou art afraid thou hast committed this sin it is certain thou hast not committed it because such as have so sinned are past feare or feeling being given up to a reprobate sense Ephes 4. 19. I am afraid the day of grace is past to me and so nothing can doe me good You must not give way to such a thought who knows but the Lord may returne Jonah 3. 19. Is this the way thinkest thou to enjoy the assurance of his love to nourish jealousies against his love Surely this is not the way Shouldst thou not rather say as David did How precious are thy thoughts to me O God great is the summe of them if I should count them they are more then the sands Psal 139. 17 18. The number of the sands are many yet Gods thoughts of love exceeds them Be not afraid onely beleeve Mark 5. 36. Christ received sinners Luk. 15. 1 2. If thou thinkest the day of grace is past because thy sinnes are great c. this will not prove it minde what God saith I have spred out my hand all the day to a rebellious people that provoke me to anger continually to my face Isa 65. 2 3. If thou desirest to returne to God thy day of grace is not past Rev. 2. 20. If we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes c. 1 Joh. 4. 9. I doe not beleeve I am elected c. so nothing can doe me good This is a secret and you must not meddle with Gods secrets Secret things belong to God and revealed things to us Deut. 29. 29. It 's one of Satans deceits to tell a soule that God hath no mercy for him when the soule hath obtained mercy or when it is not farre from him It is certaine these thoughts come from Satan because they are contrary to God in his word as Gen. 3. 2 3 4. It 's the nature of unbeliefe to be inquisitive and curious to find out any pretence that it may seeme to doe well in not harkening to what God saith in his word Heb. 10. We must not hearken unto Satan nor yeeld to him but resist him meddle not with election fix thy eye upon Christ as a sutable good for thee who is able to save thee and wait upon him in
no more Heb. 10. 17. So that now wee may draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of faith for he is faithfull that promised vers 22 23. Let not thy comfort depend upon thy personall Sanctification because from it there can no sure selected constant comfort flow To seek comfort from Sanctification and not from their Justification in Christ is a cause of much trouble in many a weake beleever for Sanctification hath nothing to doe with Justification nor salvation as any cause of it Also Sanctification admits of degrees but Justification admits of neither rules nor degrees and is more glorious then Sanctification our Justification depends not upon our apprehending of it nor in our receiving of it but upon the effectualnesse and merit of what our sweet Lord Jesus hath done for us Heb. 10. 14. 18 19. So that now wee may well have boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Jesus vers 20. Justification is apprehended by faith Heb. 11. 1. Joh. 8. 56. Faith doth evidence to us our justification for the Scripture saith all that beleeve are justified Act. 13. 39. It is possible to have a full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 22. therefore faith is an unquestionable evidence and when faith is hidden and doubtfull Justification is not apprehended and when faith is hidden and doubtfull Sanctification is not evident but doubtfull and so cannot evidence to us our Justification the effects of Sanctification cause men to question their Justification therefore no effect of Sanctification can evidence to the soule its Justification and that soule that by Faith apprehends his Justification by Christ not onely knoweth it but may live upon it injoying the sweet fruit of it peace joy strength without any considering the effects of Sanctification in himselfe And seeing Christ is made Sanctification to a beleever 1 Cor. 1. 30. why may not a beleever live upon his own and say I have Sanctification in Christ which is perfect my actuall righteousnesse doth often faile me but Christs righteousnesse indures for ever Psal 111. 3. therefore I will fetch all my comfort from Christ and my Justification by him and as wee are not to conclude our Justification from any effect of Sanctification so wee are not to conclude that apprehension of Justification to be from God as shall take men off the meanes and rules of Sanctification because it is to the dishonour of God for men not to walke holily according to the word of God Tit. 2. 14. Prize and preserve the peace of thy conscience Be sure yee allow your selves in no sinne but in the power and strength of Christ to hate and abhorre with the greatest indignation all sinne and the appearance of evill it is better to dye then to sinne there is that which accompanieth sinne which strikes at a beleevers peace and comfort and will damp straiten and oppresse their comfort joy and peace in God unlesse God doth wonderfully strengthen their faith in him And such as live by faith and injoy sweet peace in him have found sin to be an enemy and a let to their faith and comfort it having often unsetled and disquieted and clouded their soules peace though indeed it ought not so to doe for we are to remember that sweet place Heb. 10. 17. Their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more This alone is able to settle a soule it being full of sweetnesse and life Doe not trouble thy selfe with any thing that may befall thee in case thou wert certaine great troubles shall befall thee be not troubled at any trouble much lesse for future trouble nor thinke not to incounter with supply a future trouble with a present strength if many and great troubles come God is alsufficient and will remove them or give strength to beare them when they come 1 Cor. 10. 13. Mind seriously those promises of God that are sutable to thy condition separate thy selfe to meditate upon them as Prov. 18. 2. hide them in thy heart as Mat. 13. 44. There is strength and sweetnesse in the promise thou maist venture thy soule upon God in his promise and live upon it thou knowest not but God may reveale his promise to thee and settle it sweetly and fully upon thy soule by his almightie power as Ephes 1. 19 20. Therefore let not Gods promises be strange to thee but feed upon them eat them Eate O friends drinke abundantly O beloved Song 5. 1. Leave not the promise untill thou beest refreshed revived raised ravished with Gods rich grace and infinite free love and thy heart inlarged with thankfulnesse and obedience unto God againe for the exceeding riches of his mercy Eph. 2. 9. His plenteous Redemption Psal 130. 7. Treasure up experiences of Gods goodnesse unto thy soule but who among you will give eare to this who will hearken and heare for the time to come Isa 42. 23. Remember the dayes of old I have considered the dayes of old and the yeares of ancient time Psal 77. 5. Thou hast been my helpe Psal 63. 7. I was brought low and he helped me see 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. Psal 89. 49. Keepe thy heart calme and quiet from all passions as feare griefe c. The still soule can best heare and know Christs voice his still voyce but where feare vexation and distempers dwell they are not aware of Christ nor themselves and commonly they that feare most have least cause as they had the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and the Angel said unto them Feare not for behold I bring you tidings of great joy Luk. 2. 9 10. When the soule is troubled with any passion it is not at the command of faith Luk. 24. 41. the violence of their joy hindred their faith Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Quietnesse is the stay of the soule to doe or receive Be contented with thy present estate and fill not thy head heart or hand with any more businesse then thou must needs Consider Heb. 13. 5. Take heed of the cares of this life Luk. 21. 34. 15. Trouble not thy selfe with needlesse supposed feares if thou doest thou drawest upon thy selfe reall sorrow and unnecessary discontent there be many that are possessed with bitter sorrows from supposed sufferings Order thy conversation aright To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. Want of wisdome to dispose of of diligence to dispatch what necessitie requires to be done in the right time and place hath produced such inconveniences as hath unavoydably caused trouble a disquieted and an unsetled spirit Walke with God in his wayes ordinances they are for thy comfort strength joy and peace in him there is no quiet to those that worship the beast Rev. 14. 10 11. Use Gods means but live not upon ordinances but upon God in them for meanes alone are not sufficient to doe
thou maist have peace joy strength another none of these to day God may shew himselfe to thee and in a moment of time he may hide himselfe to day rich and injoy many friends with health to morrow sicke and poore and friends all gone c. Gods acting in us and upon us is not alwayes as he is unto his as God is in himselfe unchangeable ever the same so he is to his ever the same however he may seeme to be Heb. 13. 8. Isa 45. 7 8. 15. with Song 5. 6. Isa 8. 17. Therefore make a good construction of all that God doth do to thee his actings in us or upon us is the accomplishing of his will for his glory and the good of his that which I thinke worst for me may be best for me however it be God is good and good to me Psal 73. 1. This I see and say and injoy in both Pray to God that he may give unto thee the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him that yee may know what is the hope of your calling Eph. 1. 17 18 19. Say unto my soule I am thy salvation Psal 35. 3. I beseech thee shew me thy glory Exod. 33. 18. Cause thy face to shine upon me Psal 80. 3. Establish O God that which thou hast wrought in us Psal 68. 22. Avoyd sadnesse of spirit and rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. Sadnesse of spirit hinders us in thankfulnesse to God also it breeds uncomfortablenesse and unsetlednesse in us an unchearfull spirit is unfit for duty for what wee goe about unchearfully we are soone weary in it if not of it When our spirits are calme united and chearfull then we act more comfortably and such a frame of spirit is fittest to praise God sadnesse of spirit fitteth us to yeeld to discouragements if we be sad wee injoy not the comfort of any thing chearfulnesse is as it were the life of our spirits chearfulnesse inlargeth our spirits and fits us to receive happinesse and to expresse it Frequent and wisely improve those whom God hath setled who are able to direct thee and informe thee in the knowledge of the grace that is revealed in which is fulnesse of joy 1 Job 1. 4. Mind and remember that which makes for your peace and joy if yee forget your resting place as Jer. 50. 6. it is no wonder if yee be troubled Yee have forgotten the exhortation that speaketh unto you as unto children Heb. 12. 5. Wee have no present actuall comfort further then we have remembrance Know no meanes of themselves are sufficient to quiet and settle thy soul it 's the work of the Spirit to answer all discouragements it is God alone that creates the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is afar off and to him that is neere saith the Lord and I will heale him Isa 57. 19. It 's God which stablisheth us 1 Cor. 1. 21. These things I write unto you that your faith and hope may be in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. Now the God of peace give you peace alwayes by all meanes 2 Thes 3. 16. Vse of Exhortation to all that beleeve 1. To admire the greatnesse and sweetnesse of Gods love in his free grace to thee it is a mercy to heare of it how much more to have interest in it and to injoy it being possessed of it Isa 61. 2. Take thy own portion and treasures provided for thee Col. 2. 3. and ever live in the eternall love of God in Christ to thee this object is sweet sâ—ll durable sufficient to satisfie thee at all times rest satisfied in Christ 3. Dedicate thy selfe and all thou hast freely to him who gave himselfe fully and freely for thee who suffered yea dyed so freely for thee Oh how should this love ingage our hearts to walke with God to be holy as he is holy c. yea doe all and suffer for him for the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walke in them Hosea 14. 9. 4. Declare to others Gods goodnesse unto thy soule use meanes that others may injoy the same mercy with thee Be yee mercifull as he is mercifull forgive and give unto others soules or bodies freely for so thou hast received 5. Be content with thy estate inward or outward though many crosses and miseries attend thee for if God be enough as he is thou hast enough oh let not many nor great troubles inward or outward dismay thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. for though they may seeme long yet they cannot last long The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Loe I come quickly Rev. 22. 20. 6. As Christ is all thy happinesse so let him be all thy comfort and the supply of all thy wants expect all you need and can desire yea that God can give that is for thy good it is certaine thou shalt have all thou needest Psal 34. 10. Seeing he hath freely given us his Sonne how shall he not with him give us all things freely Rom. 8. 32. 7. Watch and pray lest yee fall into temptation and abuse this favour and turne this grace into wantonnesse 8. Stand fast in this libertie of Christ in which he hath made you free as Gal. 5. 1. 9. Rejoyce alwayes evermore and let thy joy be full in God thy portion They shall rejoyce in their portion Isa 61. 7. 10. Be wonderfully thankfull to God for all his exceeding grace and mercy unto thee in that he hath given thee beautie for ashes and everlasting joy shall be to thee Isa 61. 3. 7. 2. Vse of Comfort and Consolation to all that beleeve Oh deare yea most deare and precious souls who can expresse your happinesse glory for the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad Psal 126. 3. Oh now the great work of your Redemption is finished to your hands by him whose works are all perfect Heb. 10. 14. So that there is nothing of this work left for thee to doe Now thou maist come unto the throne of grace boldly now all is payd it 's God that justifieth who shall condemne surely none Rom. 8. 38 39. It 's not sin nor Satan nor any thing else shall hinder thy interest in Christ or injoyment of him for thy union with the Lord Jesus shall never be dissolved Christ lives for ever Heb. 7. 25. and seeing Christ lives yee shall live also Joh. 14. 19. Therefore thou art not onely happy now but thou shalt be so for ever thou shalt receive the end of thy faith the salvation of thy soule 1 Pet. 1. 9. Joh. 5. 24. Christ is enough to comfort us in the sight of all our sinnes and to make us happy in all our miseries There is a day a coming which will make amends for all in the meane time make mention of the loving kindnesse of the Lord and the praises of the Lord according to all the Lord hath bestowed on us c. according
eate or what yee shall drinke nor yet for your body what yee shall put on is not the life more then meate and the body then rayment Behold the fowles of the ayre they neither sow nor reape nor gather into barnes yet God feedeth them are yee not much better then they O yee of little faith Which of you by taking thought can adde one oubit unto his stature Take no thought for after these things seek the Gentiles you heavenly Father knoweth that yee have need of these things Mat. 6. 25. to the end see Rom. 8. 32. Luk. 12. 15. Cast all your care upon him for he careth for you be carefull for nothing but in every thing let your requests he made known to God with thankesgiving Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as yee have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. In thy ignorance consider Wee have such an high Priest as can have compassion on the ignorant Heb. 5. 2. If any want wisdome let him aske it of God who gives liberally and it shall be given him but let him aske in faith without wavering Jam. 1. 5. Having fallen into passion to keepe thee from sinking under it consider what the Apostles said Wee are also men of like passions with you Acts 14. 15. Elias was a man subject to the like passions as we are c. Jam. 5. 17. And so of all other infirmities He will heale all thy diseases c. Psal 103. 8. If wee did live in Christ by faith more our infirmities would be lesse For a supply of all wants My God shall supply all you need according to his riches by Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 6. 19. Christ is able and will supply all our wants 5. The life of faith for graces and in the exercise of them To beleeve They shall trust in the Name of the Lord Zeph. 3. 12. This is his Commandment that yee should beleeve on the Name of his Sonne Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3. 23. To increase in faith They shall grow from faith to faith Rom. 1. 17. To live by faith The just shall live by faith Rom. 1. 17. To continue in the faith He that beleeves in me though he were dead yet shall be live c. Luk. 22. 32. 1 Pet. 1. 5. In exercise of faith Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3. Joh. 11. 25. 7. 38 39. He is a buckler to all them that trust in him Psal 18. 30. He that puts his trust in the Lord mercy shall compasse him about Psal 32. 10. To know God Thou shalt know the Lord Pro. 1. 23. They shall all know mee Jer. 31. 33 34. To love God Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart Mat. 22. 17. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart that thou maist love him with all thy heart and soule Deut. 30. 6. I have declared thy Name that thy love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them Joh. 17. 26. In loving God He that loves me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my selfe unto him and dwell with him Joh. 14. 21. 23. To seeke God That they should seeke the Lord Act. 17. 27. Seeke yee the Lord. In seeking God Blessed are all they that seeke him with their whole heart Psal 119. 2. The Lord hath not forsaken them that seeke him Psal 9. 10. Your hearts shall live that seeke him Psal 69. 32. They shall praise the Lord that seeke him Psal 22. 26. They that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing To feare God I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 39 40. They shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Hosea 3. 5. In fearing God The Lord takes pleasure in them that feare him Psal 147. 11. He that feares the Lord him shall he teach the way that he shall choose Psal 25. 12. There is no want to them that feare him viz. feare lest they sinne against him Psal 34. 9. He will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great Psal 115. 13. To hope in God In hoping in God The Lord takes pleasure in those that hope in his mercy Ps 147. 11. Wee are saved by hope Rom. 8. 24. Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord Ps 146. 5. Be of good courage he shall strengthen your hearts all yee that hope in the Lord Ps 31. 24. To waite on God Waite I say on the Lord and he shall strengthen thy heart Psal 27. 14. In waiting on God They shall not be ashamed that waite for me Blessed are they that waite for him Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what he hath prepared for them that waite for him Isa 49. 23. Isa 30. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 9. To delight and rejoyce in God Thou shalt have thy delight in the Almightie thou shalt rejoyce in God in thy Name shall they rejoyce all the day our hearts shall rejoyce in him Isa 41. 16. Psal 89. 16. Psal 33. 21. To praise God The living he shall praise thee daily shall he be praised they shall praise the Lord who so offereth mee praise glorifieth me Isa 38. 19. Psal 72. 15. Psal 63. 3. Psal 22. 26. Psal 50. 23. To injoy peace with God Let him take hold on my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Isa 27. 5. To love the Saints This is his Commandement that we should love one another 1 Joh. 3. 23. Little children love one another see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Joh. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 22. By this shall all men know that yee be my Disciples if yee love one another Joh. 13. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 14. To love enemies Love your enemies doe good lend hoping for nothing againe and your reward shall be great c. Mat. 5. 43 44. Luk. 6. 35. To judge our selves They shall judge themselves worthy to be destroyed Judge your selves and yee shall not be judged Ezek. 36. 31. 2 Cor. 11. 31. To mourne for sinning against God I will powre upon them the Spirit of grace and they shall mourne Your sorrow shall be turned into joy Blessed are they that mourn in faith for they shall be comforted Zech. 12. 10. Joh. 16. 20. Mat. 5. 4. In poverty of spirit To him will I look saith God that is poore and of a contrite spirit c. Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heaven Isa 66. 2. Mat. 5. 3. In desires after Christ c. Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and drinke if any man thirst let him come to me and drinke
I will give to him that is athirst of the fountaine of water of life freely Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled A bruised Reed shall be not breake and the smoaking flax shall be not quench And if there be a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath By faith Abraham offered Isaac Of a truth this poore widow hath cast in more then they all The desires of the righteous shall be granted Isa 55. 1. Joh. 7. 37. Rev. 21. 6. Joh. 7. 33. Mat. 5. 6. Isa 42. 3. 2 Cor. 8. 10 11 12. Gen. 16 17. with Heb. 11. 27. Luk. 21. 3. Prov. 10. 24. Psal 37. 4. To be meeke Seeke meeknesse The meeke will he teach his way and will save all the meeke of the earth he will beautifie the meeke with salvation Psal 25. 9. Psal 76. 9. Psal 149. 4. To be sincere Thou Lord requirest truth in the inward parts Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Psal 51. 6. Mat. 5. 8. To confesse our sinnes Confesse thy sin If we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from all iniquitie If any man say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profiteth me not he will deliver his soule from going downe into the pit and his life shall see the light 1 Joh. 1. 9. Job 23. 27 28. To forgive others Forgive unto seventy seven times in a day thou shalt forgive Forgive and yee shall be forgiven If yee forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will forgive your trespasses against him Luk. 17. 4. Mark 11. 25 26. 6. 37. Mat. 6. 14. Ephes 4. 23. To be a peace-maker Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God Mat. 5. 9. To devise good Mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good the liberall deviseth liberall things Pro. 14. 22. Isa 32. 8. To selfe-deniall If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe Maâ— 16. 15. To watch But let us watch and be sober blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching blessed is he that watcheth Maâ— 13. 37. 1 Thes 5. 6. Rev. 16. 15. Luk. 22. 37. Mat. 24 47. To be patient Be yee also patient in your patience possesse your sâ—ules James 5. 8. Luk. 21. 9. After he had patiently indured he obtained the promises Heb. 6. 15. To be contented Be content with those things yee have Heb. 13. 5. To resist the Devill Resist the devill and he will fly from you Jam. 5. 4. To resist sin Sin shall not have dominion over you Rom. 6. 14. Not to be afraid of the world Yee are of God little children and have overcome them and greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world Joh. 16. 33. see 1 Joh. 4. 4. To subdue the flesh If yee mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit yee shall live Rom. 8. 13. Live to the glory of God and your own and the Saints comfort To be mercifull Be yee mercifull as your heavenly Father is mercifull Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy Mat. 5. 7. Jam. 2. 13. To give to the poore See that yee abound in this grace also Cast thy bread upon the waters and after many dayes thou shalt find it He that gives to the poore shall not lacke Blessed is he that considereth the poore the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble the Lord will preserve and keepe him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse Eccl. 11. 1. Pro. 28. 17. Psal 41. 1 2 3. To give chearfully God loves a ohearfull giver 2 Cor. 9. 7. To give bountifully He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully The liberall soule shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered himselfe If thou draw out thy soule to the hungry and satisfie the afflicted soule then shall thy light rise c. 2 Cor. 9. 6. Prov. 11. 25. Isa 48. 10 11. Who so shall give a cup of cold water in the Name of a Disciple because he belongs to Christ verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward in heaven Mat. 10. 42. Mark 9. 41. 6. The life of faith in the use of meanes It is the souls cleaving to God in Christ for a blessing upon his Ordinances or the meanes he hath appointed that we may receive strength from them and profit by them The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Pro. 9. 29. I am the Lord that teacheth thee to profit Isa 48. 17. Faith beleeves God will blesse his own meanes seeing he hath appointed them all to this end therefore all must needs be effectuall So it is the duty of a beleever to use all constantly closely wisely despise not them because they seem weak and silly to flesh and bloud know by their use under God a holy life is preserved and observe how thou thrivest by them use all if by any meanes thy wants may be supplied Phil. 3. 11. And honour not any of them as to exclude or sleight another Some there be that are guiltie herein men onely prise that themselves like But oh yee sonnes and daughters of God love yee and use yee all Gods meanes they are all for his glory and thy good let not any of them be a stranger to thee the neglect of one may hinder the fruit of another the command is to all the Lords to use all and if we be weake in the use of meanes what should we be if wee used them not let not the difficultie of any dismay thee consider seriously the soveraigntie of God in all his commands and what obedience to God meanes and what God requires for matter manner measure time and end To pray consider such places as these Pray continually I will powre upon them the Spirit of grace and supplication Aske and ye shall have If yee which are evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to those that aske him And all things whatsoever yee shall aske in prayer beleeving yee shall receive What things soever yee desire when yee pray beleeve that yee receive them and yee shall receive them Verily I say unto you whatsoever yee shall aske the Father in my Name he will give it you And it shall come to passe before they call I will answer and while they yet speake I will heare 1 Thes 5. Zech. 12. 10. Mat. 7. 7 8 9 11. Luk. 11. 13. Mat. 21. 22. Mark 11. 24. Mat. 16. 23. Isa 65. 24. To read the word Give attendance to reading Behold I will powre out my Spirit upon you and make knowne
in like manner did they revile the Prophets c. Luk. 6. 22 23. 1 Pet. 1. 14. In persecution for Christ All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kingdome of Heaven If we suffer with him wee shall also reigne with him 2 Tim. 3. 12. Mat. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 18. In losses for Christ He that forsakes house or brethren or father or mother or house or lands he shall receive a hundredâ—old here and in the world to come eternall life Mark 10. 29. 30. Mat. 19. 28 29. In imprisonment for Christ The Devill shall cast some of you into prison that yee may be tryed c. Rev. 2. 10. In death for Christ He that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it Be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee a crowne of life Mat. 10. 39. Rev. 21. 7. Rev. 2. 10. For the calling of the Jewes See Isa 60. 2 3 4 5 c. For the destruction of Antichrist and all the enemies of the sonnes of Sion See Rev. 17. 16. 18. 8. 21. c. 7. The life of faith concerning protection from dangers and for a supply of all wants For protection He shall give his Angels charge over thee The Lord is thy keeper I will preserve thee and keepe thee He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous There shall not a haire of your heads perish Psal 91. 11. Psal 121. 8. Isa 49 8. Job 36. 7. Luk. 21. 18. Christ prayed holy Father I pray thee keepe them from â—â—ill Joh. 17. 15. To be delivered from the wicked The Lord shall helpe them and deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him 2 Thes 3. 2 3. Psal 34. 40. To be delivered from the harlot Who so pleaseth God shall escape from her Eccle. 7. 26. To be delivered from unreasonable creatures The beast of the field shall be at peace with thee Thou shalt be at league with the stones of the field Pro. 5. 23. If in warre He shall redeeme thee from the power of the sword Job 5. 20. If in famine In famine he shall redeeme thee from dearth Job 5. 20. To finde pitie in captivitie He made them also to be pitied of those that carried them captives Psal 106. 46. If in water When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee c. Isa 43. 2. If in fire When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt nor shall the flame kindle upon thee Isa 43. 2. If in sicknesse The Lord will strengthen thee upon the bed of languishing Thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse and heale all thy diseases Psal 41. 3. Psal 103. 3. Exod. 23. 25. To be preserved from all evill He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch thee He shall preserve thee from all evill Job 5. 19. 2 Thes 3. 3. Psal 121. 7. For clothing Take no thought for your body what yee shall put on Is not the body more then rayment For your heavenly Father knoweth yee have need of these things Why take yee thought for rayment Consider the Lilies c. Shall be not much more cloth you O yee of little faith Mat. 6. 25. See Psal 37. 16. Mat. 6. 28. 30. 3â— For food in famine Trust in the Lord and verily thou shalt be fed Bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure Psa 37. 3. Isa 33. 16. In the dayes of famine they shall be satisfied Isa 37. 19. For dwelling He shall dwell on high Isa 33. 17. To be hid in a time of danger Set a marke upon their foreheads c. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem Feare thou not and to Sion c. The Lord thy God in the middest of thee is mightie he will save c. Zeph. 3. 16 17. God will remember his Thou shalt not be forgotten by me Isa 44. 21. For successe of our labour Whatsoever he doth shall prosper Thou shalt eate of the labour of thy hands They shall not build and another inhabit they shall not plant and not eate They shall not labour in vaine c. For they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord c. Psal 1. 3. Psal 128. 2. Pro. 12. 11. 14. Isa 65. 22. If thou be falsly accused consider He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light c. Psal 37. 6. For a good name consider Pro. 10. 7. Zeph. 3. 20. Isa 56. 5. Psal 111. 6. For children Thy wife shall be a fruitfull vine Thou shalt see thy childrens children Psal 121. 3. 6. For sleepe So he giveth his beloved sleep Thy sleepe shall be sweet Psal 127. 2. Pro. 3. 24. Job 11. 19. Zeph. 3. 13. For a supply of all we need My God shall supply all your needs Phil. 4. 9. 6. If in prospericie consider Jer. 29. 5 6. These things yee may have and use them while they last and while God sees good we shall not meet with any change but change or no change God will never change but be to us ever the same Heb. 13. 5 6. 8. The life of faith in adversitie Which is for the soule to submit to God and to be contented to be in a hard or low condition if God so order it and to be fitted to say as Jesus Christ did The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drinke it Joh. 18. 11. see Phil. 4. 11 12. And as Jesus Christ had not any trouble nor not an houre sooner then God predestinated Job 8. 20. so ought we to beleeve that all trouble of what kinde soever shall not nor cannot come unto us untill the Lord see fit to send it and that as Christ did passe through all so certainly we shall and that quickly Joh. 7. 30. Joh. 16. 33. In every affliction and crosse that comes upon thee beleeve and say it may be the Lord will doe me good by this crosse Rom. 8. 28. it is appointed of my Father for my good I stand in need of it if need be yee are in heavinesse for a season 1 Pet. 1. 6. And while it continues with me the Lord will be both light peace and strength unto me untill the time come which cannot be long that afflictions crosses and troubles shall be no more when I shall rest from all â—abour paine and sorrow That God will be with his in trouble I will be with him in trouble The Lord will be a refuge to his in time of trouble Psal 91. 15. Psal 9. 9. Psal 37. 39. That the trouble shall not be above our strength I will correct thee in measure Jer. 30. 11. see 1 Cor. 10. 13. To gaine by afflictions God afflicts us for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse Heb. 12. 11. c. see Job 13.
23. For deliverance out of trouble c. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all Joh. 5. 19. Psal 19. 17 Psal 50. 15. For speedy deliverance My salvation shall not tarry Isa 46. 13. 9. Every day to live the life of faith concerning the time past Which is to consider and call to remembrance and to see God in his dealings to us ours and others both for soule and body I have considered the dayes of old and the yeares of ancient time Psal 77. 5. This is to injoy time past as present David made this a part of his meditation oh how sweet is it to muse of Gods mercies unto us from our birth that I should be borne of such as feared God and so injoy better education then others or else that I should be borne of haters of God and instead of good education had bad and was brought up in ignorance and prophanenesse and how I have been tempted to desperate sinnes or healed those breaches how strangely God brought us to better places unexpected or undeserved and how neere and often we have been to be cut off by death by sicknesse casualties desperate practices by others and by our selves and how great bondage we have been in by sinne being filled with despaire terror and wrath without hope of ever being pardoned Ephes 2. 12 13. and yet for God to fill my soule with joy peace in beleeving Rom. 5. 1. and in how great bondage I was unto sinne not able to restraine my selfe and out of hope of ever having strength against such strong lusts and yet God hath subdued them Oh great change and also how we were convinced of our state of death we are in by nature and by what meanes But if we had been borne in India or Turkey or Rome we should either have never heard of a Jesus or seene no light or to no purpose Also how God hath preserved us in Babylon and brought us out of it if thou beest so and preserved us from the errors of the wicked rotten tenets as Pelagianisme his free will and power by nature Arminianisme with his free will so by grace as he may choose whether he will be saved or no and so under pretence of inlarging Gods grace robs him of all to grace himselfe in his indeavours and sets the crowne upon his own head So some deny the Morall Law and word of God to be a Rule to them to walk by and so are lawlesse and where there is no Law there can be no transgression and now are the last times in which iniquitie and abominable errors doe abound and shall more abound that which God hath said shall be must be no man nor men can hinder it some denies Election and originall sinne c. the Lord in mercy open their eyes I was once wrapped up and sunke in Arminianisme and had so continued but the Lord in mercy pulled me out Oh how sweet should that love be to us which keepes us from these errors or brings us out of them and the Lord will in his time be full Redemption to all his Also consider how we have been freed from many sorrows and sicknesses which others indure having little or no rest day or night and what meanes we injoy for our soules which others want and it may be never heard of and blesseth them unto us Also in what straits wee have been in how the Lord hath helped us in them and delivered us from them and how God hath provided and doth provide for us meanes of living friends and comforts strangely and unexpected and how strangely God hath given us good wives or husbands or so orders it that bad ones sends us to God or weanes us from the world c. These mercies with a thousand more to us and ours requires our meditation to strengthen our faith and to endeare our hearts to God exceedingly and to be more inlarged in thankfulnesse and to sucke sweetnesse in the remembrance of such experiences Mercies forgot are as nothing to us and wee cannot be thankfull to God for them though they were never so many or great Who so is wise and will observe these things shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. 10. Every day to live the life of faith in Glorification Which is to behold the rest peace glory and happinesse c. in heaven which is provided for us and also to beleeve that God will give us after this life all these things with himselfe which he hath promised us in his word see Acts 20. 23. Acts 26. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 4. For the resurrection of my body He that beleeves in me I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 40. To have a spirituall body It is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body 1 Cor. 15. 44. Our bodies shall be more glorious then the Sun in the firmament because that is but a naturall body To have a powerfull body It is raised in power 1 Cor. 15. 43. To have a glorified body and like Christs It is raised in glory 1 Cor. 15 43 44. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. To have fulnesse of knowledge And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge and be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. And know even as I am known 1 Cor. 13. 12. To have fulnesse of joy and pleasures In thy presence is fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Ps 16. 11. Joy inward pure spirituall full in heaven wee shall have no misery no hunger cold nakednesse paine griefe wearinesse but rest 2 Thes 1. 7. To have Rest I shall have rest 2 Thes 1. 7. without labour In this Rest tranquillity in this tranquillity contentment in this contentment joy in this joy varietie in this varietie securitie in this securitie eternitie To have life We shall also live with him 2 Tim. 2. 11. Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. When Christ who is our life shall appeare Col. 3. 4. To have everlasting life Who shall receive life everlasting in the world to come Luk. 18. 30. Mat. 19. 29. Joh. 4. 40. Then shall I never die nor end being for continuance eternall To injoy the presence of God with Saints and Angels When Christ our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Father I will that they which thou hast given me be with me where I am Joh. 17. 24. To see the Lord as he is Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not appeare what we shall be but we know when we shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3. 2. Then shall we see him face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. To behold his glory That they may behold my glory Joh. 17.
24. Sight is higher then presence To be transformed into glory We are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. This shall be more full in glory Then shall wee appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. To have full communion with God Wee shall be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Union is higher then sight communion is higher then union as it flowes from it full communion is more we shall have as much as we shall desire wee shall be filled with it wee shall injoy the quintessence of all sweetnesse fulnesse goodnesse in God and shall be raised inflamed and ravished with him and be wholly taken up with admiring and praising him without any intermission or wearinesse this is our greatest good and blessednesse and the end of our being To be for ever with the Lord So shall wee be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. Eternall communion with God As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. It transcends the utmost expectation of the most inlarged heart Wherefore comfort one another with these words vers 18. Faith beleeves the promises of glory and so lives comfortably in expectation of fruition when faith shall end in vision our eternall joyes draws on apace in the meane time lay hold on eternall life let faith beleeve it and hope expect it and patience waite for it to make this life tolerable bepatient indure all it will not be long ere glory come and continue for ever for this cause wee faint not 2 Cor. 4. He that lives by faith in glorification lives a sweet comfortable life in Christ his righteousnesse and is fruitfull sincere and content Lastly To dye by faith Which is to resigne up our soules to God beleeving death shall be a passage to glory When Christ who is my life shall appeare then shall I appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. These all dyed in faith Heb. 11. 13. The righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14. 32. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Rev. 14. 13. When I awake I shall be satisfied in thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. Why should I feare that I would not escape what hurt will it be to me to enter into glory I cannot have my happinesse unlesse I goe unto it THE SAINTS DAILY DUTY AND DESIRE The severall Branches of the Saints daily duty and desire to walke with God every day 1. WHen I awake to thinke on GOD and to be thankfull to him for rest and sleepe and preservation from sin Satan and dangers satisfying my soule with the Lord craving his strength to walke with him all the day long reverently and seriously to minde him and obey him When I awake I am still with thee Ps 139. 18. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. see Act. 11. 23. Commune with your heart upon your bed and be still Psal 4. 4. It is good to season strengthen and perfume our spirits if time will permit with some sweet thoughts of God as that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He is not changed Here is strong consolation in this sweet meditation My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. It is good for me to draw neere to God Psal 73. 28. To make him the object and end of all my actions O that my understanding had a more full cleare and glorious sight of him and a more perfect inward eternall and full communion with him then should my will and affections be more satisfied and more inflamed with unwearied desires high and restlesse aspirations after fresh additions of intercourses and communion with him The sight of God to a Saint is glorious and the knowledge and often meditation of him will raise and inlarge the soule Every childe of God hath in him an earnest desire to have communion with him to injoy his blessed presence and to see his glory As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God when shall I come and appeare before him Psal 42. 1 2. Nor will a seldome communion satisfie them it must be frequent and full it is a contempt of God to be willing to live without him and so much he injoys God as he seriously minds him and so much as wee desire God we follow after God for desire is the soules following of God and as God draweth we follow Song 1. 4. Unlesse the Lord fix and fasten the heart upon himselfe it will be fixed on things below and wander after vanities and fill both head and heart with them he that knoweth what it is to injoy God is sensible of the want of him and thinkes he can never have enough of him his soule will faint for him because nothing lesse then God can content him Psal 119. 81 82. Jer. 14. 8. Psal 13. 1. Exod. 33. 13 14 15. 18. So the soule lives where it loves and where it loves it lives and there is nothing more active and stronger then love for love is as strong as death the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Song 8. 6 7. 2. Live by faith Every day to live by faith in all estates and conditions the communion the soule hath with God is by faith in justification in sanctification in infirmities in graces in meanes using in duties and for a supply of all wants every day to live the life of faith in glorification 3. Watch heart That every day I watch my heart to keepe it continually still cleane spirituall content and that I observe warily the first and secret motions of my heart least I be unawares catched and insnared in sinne and that I doe not receive any thing without it be warranted in the word of God Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Pro. 23. 17. Thy heart is deceitfull take heed of it consider Jer. 17. 9. Heb. 3. 12. Luk. 6. 45. If wee cease to watch our hearts they quickly become vaine Consider how it was with David 2 Sam. 12. 9. and Peter Mat. 26. 72. our experience might teach us that our hearts are worse then wee tooke them to be when wee are crossed or tempted wee shew what metall wee are made of the best have cause enough to looke to themselves if one sinfull thought be admitted concerning the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne the will is ready enough to accept the motion consent forecast the accomplishment the affections adde heat and strength the heart travels with iniquitie and in time by opportunitie sin is brought forth and delight and custome wraps a man up in sinne that he cannot get out such carelesnesse may cost
secret insnarements that attend lawfull things so that many are deceived and insnared and insensibly drawne into many excesses before we be aware to the dishonour of God griefe of our selves and others the fooles minde was all for his ease and his belly meate and drinke Luk. 12. 19. 11. Watch in things indifferent Every day to watch that I use not indifferent things securely and carelesly but to have regard to others weaknesses indevouring that my actions be such as I may defend with a good conscience All things are pure but it is not lawfull to doe things with offence it is good neither to eate flesh nor drinke wine nor do any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth or is offended or made weake Rom. 14. 21 22. These words doe prove that wee ought to forbeare the doing of that which is in it selfe lawfull if it can be omitted without sin in case another is not perswaded of the lawfulnesse of it and so is offended at it I grant he takes offence when none is given for if I doe that which is lawfull I give no offence therefore in being offended it is his fault and weaknesse yet if I know he is offended with it and yet shall do it he therewith is grieved c. I in so doing sin against God and him though otherwise I might doe it yet in this case it is condemned in the Word and it cannot defend it with a good conscience 12. Watch against sinne Every day to take heed and watch against every sin and that I defend no sinne in my selfe nor lessen it under no pretence of corruption temptation or for the sweetnesse or smalnesse of it nor inwardly favour it but to resolve against all sinne with the occasions of it and the appearance of it to be jealous against it and fearful of falling by it and ever to shew some dislike of it Levit. 19. 17. Looke we to sin at the first motion of it consider we the roote of it and the end of it and presently looke up to God for strength against it beleeve and pray against it and avoyd all the occasions of it Come not neere the doore of her house Pro. 5. 8. First we should be afraid to sinne because we are commanded to do otherwise by God secondly lest by it we dishonour God his truth and servants thirdly lest by it we incourage others to sin fourthly and fill our soules with sorrow because wee have sinned against so great and gracious and loving Father A sensiblenesse of sinne and a heart easily touched with remorse for it may stand with the assurance of pardon of it and when any hath by reason of frailtie sinned though it seeme to be in the least measure abhorre it with the greatest detestation and cover it not with any excuses or pretenses whatsoever see Ezra 9. 2 3. Rev. 2. 2. 13. Every day watch the tongue To watch that my speech be not vaine and idle and frothy but powdered with salt to take heed of speaking against others especially such as are the Lords that I disgrace none nor insult over any remembring my own weaknesses and that I wrest not mens actions and words but take them in the best sense so farre as I can with a good conscience and without prejudice of the truth Idle words are forbidden Let your speech be alwayes with grace seasoned with salt c. Col. 4. 6. Neither filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thankes Ephes 5. 4. My tongue shall talke of thy righteousnesse all the day long Psal 71. 24. If you love to finde fault lay on there where you see most which will be your selfe if you can see Consider hast thou no unbeliefe Psal 31. 22. 116. 11. Privy pride 2 Cor. 12. 7. Secret hypocrisie Psal 51. 10. Atheisme and thoughts of blasphemy self-love self-seeking self-confidence Psal 30. 6. Unprofitablenesse Psal 106. 6 7. Nehe. 9. 35. Hardnesse of heart Isa 63. 17. Blindnesse of mind ignorance Pro. 30. 2 3. Unruly passion Psal 73. 3. 22. Securitie lukewarmnesse Song 1. 6. Abusing lawfull things Deut. 32. 15. Nehe. 9. 38. Unthankfulnesse for mercies Hos 8. 12. And want of mourning for the sinnes of others Ezek. 9. 4. Isa 42. 19 20. Want of courage for the truth Jer. 9. 3. Deadnesse dulnesse heavinesse wearinesse indevotion distractions and indisposednesse of heart in holy duties Mat. 26. 40 43. Hast thou no forgetfulnesse Mat. 8. 18. Inconstancy Hos 6. 4. Doest thou walke comfortably in thy Christian course Art thou never cast downe Psal 43. 5 The secret evils in us might put us in remembrance of our selves and silence us from insulting and disgracing others for their weaknesses 14. Observe the frame of my spirit Every day to observe the passages of my spirit before God in my actions and duties and expect strength from Christ in the use of meanes to act and whether I be sutably and inwardly affected with a sensiblenesse of what I want of God or from God or thankfull and humble eying my defects and with what faith and fervency I seeke God and observing how God answers my prayers and wait upon him for an answer of them 15. Watch to doe others good Every day to desire and indeavour to doe my dutie according to my relation and station to give a good example religious instruction loving admonition seasonable reproofes c. using meanes to doe all the good I can to others soules and bodies with an earnest intention with all care and deare affection See Acts 10. 24. Joh. 1. 40 41. If a husband if thou art a father or a master or a wife or a childe or a servant be a friend to friends and to enemies doe good Be thou an example in word in conversation in charitie in spirit in faith in puritie 1 Tim. 4. 12. 16. Watch to prevent evill Every day that I stand upon my watch every moment to prevent evill and to prepare and receive good having an eye to observe and a heart bent to resist all Satans assaults either from the world or flesh alone or with others knowing Satan watcheth to doe me a mischiefe and to consider that my fathers eye is upon me who hath commanded us to keepe his precepts diligently Psal 119. 4. Oh that my wayes were so directed to keepe thy Statutes Psal 119. 5. I said I will looke to my wayes Psal 39. 1. Watch and pray lest yee enter into temptation Mat. 26. 41. Watching keeps the soule awake ir is to have grace in a readinesse for action 17. Watch against occasions of sinne Every day that I decline watchfully all occasions of falling from my first love fervency heavenly mindednesse as dead company formalnesse in religious duties coldnesse or neglecting the meanes praise of men profit outward pompe mirth pleasure ease outward contentments that I exceed not nor sinke not under any of them but set light by others favours and frownes Seeke not your selfe
out of your selfe in the conceits of other men he that is little in his own eyes will not be troubled if he seeme so to others he that is troubled because others words answer not his desires he shall never live quietly and he that priseth others praises he injoyeth neither God nor himselfe 18. To sympathize with others Every day to take notice and sympathize with the sorrowes and sufferings of those that are the Lords and to be content to stand or fall into any sorrow or sufferings with the Church of Christ to part with estate friends libertie life If I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth Psal 137. 6. Lam. 1 2 3 4 5. Chapters 19. To meditate Every day to meditate upon God in his goodnesse unto me and mind what God hath prepared for me in heaven and how I may be preserved from sin selfe c. and order my conversation aright Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide Gen. 24. 63. doe so or enter into thy closet Mat. 6. 6. Consider Psal 1. 2. 32. 4 5 6. Heb. 10. 38. Jos 1. 8. The book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night Meditation is wonderfull sweet and profitable by it wee winde up our minds from things below Col. 3. 4 5. and injoy God and thy selfe and live in heaven while thou art in the earth refreshing thy selfe with the great varietie of those invisible comforts in heaven the interest joy rest that thou shalt finde at last we might meditate of the miseries frailtie and shortnesse of the time we have to live here and how we may prevent sin beare the crosse deny our selves live by faith be contented in want grow in grace escape temptations keepe a good conscience and what is my duty to God and man and-wherein I come short what mercies I injoy and how I live by faith in every thing how I profit by afflictions or am thankfull to God for his sweet mercies to my soule or body and a thousand profitable things in which the soule may finde sweetnesse and if yee be risen with Christ seeke those things that are above Col. 3. 1. By faith and meditation keepe thy heart above to view thy everlasting glory filling thy selfe with joy injoying the joyes of heaven which I shall certainly and quickly injoy unutterable unconceivable and infinite bottomlesse boundlesse endlesse Oh the ocean of the joyes of heaven the greatnesse of sweetnesse in so great confluence of all joyes pleasures and delights which shall be for ever and never have an end 20. Watch to deny selfe That I daily deny my selfe wit wisdome carnall reason learning favour of men applause passion ease libertie and all things for God Consider Luk. 14. 20. 33. Mat. 16. 24. Mark 8. 34. Luk. 9. 23. It is good thus to crosse our selves if we could deny our selves every thing would be easie for us to doe for all things are so sure under us as we are above our selves in the same measure we are spirituall or live by faith so much we deny our selves such as cannot deny themselves are not able to indure the troubles and indignities of this world but will shrinke and fall off in the day of battell Luk. 14. 28. 31. 21. To be humble That in all my actions I be humble and meeke sincere serious fervent chearfull For humilitie and meeknesse consider Mat. 11. 29. Sinceritie Deut. 18. 13. Ephes 6. 14. Joh. 1. 47. Without faith and sinceritie all is nothing worth Fervency Fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11. Jam. 5. 16. Fervent prayer Chearfulnesse Rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. A chearful and a willing spirit is most sutable and acceptable wee oft looke not so much what is done as from what affection it is done an unchearfull spirit is soone weary if we be overwhelmed with sorrow feare c. and if we be filled with lightnesse vanitie wee are unfit for any service of God 22. Watch in use of meanes That I use the meanes to injoy and increase in holy resolutions desires purposes c. to injoy God and the things of God for God With my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not wander from thee Psal 119. 10. If resolution be wanting if thou beest forgetfull sloathfull thou art like to be a poore Christian Oh the strong and restlesse desires and the unweariednesse thereof after God of a heart touched with his love and tasted of his sweetnesse 23. Watch to joy in God That every day I rejoyce in God my union with him and interest in him and priviledges and happinesse by him c. and in the exercises of his graces and his word and Saints as the temptations chiefest joy and greatest advantage I was in his love before the world was love was the cause he shed his bloud for me it is his love that preserves me and crowned with it I shall be to all eternitie 24. That I scorne none That I sleight none nor checke any with their deformitie of body dulnesse or weaknesse of wit or memory meannesse of outward estate birth or smalnesse of gifts parts c. and to pitie those who are still in their sinnes Consider who made the difference between him and thee see 1 Cor. 4. 7. Job 10. 10. Psal 39. 13 14. 16. Isa 28. 26. In spirituall things Ezek. 16. Isa 43. 25. Rom. 5. 11. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Phil. 1. 29. Rom. 3. 24. Ephes 2. 10. The free grace and love of God onely maketh the difference and if God should convert him he may soone become better then thee or me 25. To know the vanitie of the creature Every day to consider the vanitie of these outward things and the hurt wee receive by them how wee exceed in our affections unto them notwithstanding they are not ours and may in a lesse time then an houre be taken all from us or us from them and that we are often distracted and unsetled by them to the end I may with more content want them and be weaned from them in my injoyment of them and so to use the liberties of this life soberly so as to be bettered by them All things below are full of transitorinesse mortalitie and change vanitie of vanities c. all is vanitie Eccl. 1. 2. These things are under the Sunne Eccle. 2. 7. but above is constancy and eternitie of all excellencies perfections and pleasures we have no certainty of any thing below Eccl. 1. 2. 1 Cor. 5. 25. Pro. 23. 4. Luk. 12. 15. Experience makes it appeare the more men possesse of outward things the lesse many use and injoy the more wee love them the more we are crossed with them and the more they have the more they are in want because of their insufficiency uncertainty and perishing nature Religion oft payeth for mens getting riches and oft suffers most by them 26. Watch in solitarinesse That
harder to deny him the next time 9. Consider your relation and station art thou partaker of the promises of Christ Ephes 3. 10. an heire of Christ a fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2. 19 Oh then doe not so dishonor Christ to take a member of Christ and make it a member of Satan to Serve sinne this were a great wrong to Christ We were sometimes darknesse but now we are light in the Lord walke as children of the light Ephes 5. 8. And seeing we are the sonnes and daughters of God Gal. 4. 6. Kings and Priests to God Rev. 5. 10. It is wonderfull unsutable for such to sinne for that were to serve Satan and doe his drudgery Eph. 4. 20. Yee have not so learned Christ Eph. 4. 17. This I say and restifie in the Lord that yee henceforth walke not as the Gentiles walke in the vanitie of their minds Christ gave himselfe for his that they should be holy Tit. 2. 14. Rom. 6. 10. see 1 Joh. 3. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Wee were chosen to be holy therefore I may not sinne Ephes 1. 4. Rom. 8. 29. 10. Consider the eye of God is ever upon you Heb. 4. 14. Pro. 15. 3. 16. 6. 11. Let the love of Christ constraine you to hate and oppose every evill way 12. Nourish the motions of the Spirit Quench not the Spirit walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. Nourish zeale and hatred against every sinne 13. Examine your selves and wayes daily Keepe your heart as your life Pro. 4. 23. Reforme the inside Job 14. 4. and Satan shall not prevaile 14. Consider the shortnesse of time we have here to live our time is short also the pleasures of sinne are but for a season Heb. 11. 25. 15. Know your interest in Christ and profit by affliction both which destroys sinne 16. Hearken unto the noyse of conscience if conscience saith doe it not hearken unto it doe it not lest conscience be silent and yee hardened 17. When the pleasure of sinne is presented unto thee present to thy thoughts the sting sinne will leave behinde it with the many evils that attend it also present to thy selfe a greater and better pleasure and sweetnesse which is thine and that thou if thou be the Lords shall injoy for ever with him oh minde home and what is there pleasures for evermore set your affections on things above where your crowne of glory is 1 Cor. 9. 24. Such as thinke on the supposed pleasure and sweetnesse of sinne are deceived and inshared by it but give no eare to the lying noyse of sinne and Satan they have faire pretences for a foole as Pro. 23. 2. as that you may be saved notwithstanding or resist it the next time but oh the deceitfulnesse of sinne 18. Pray to God earnestly and constantly for strength against sinne with thankfulnesse for any preservation from sinne watch and pray at the first approach of sinne change thy object and fall to prayer Phil. 4. 6. 19. Beleeve God will give thee strength and subdue all thy iniquities in his time thou shalt overcome them be not discouraged if thou beest sometime too weake give not over continue resisting in due time thou shalt prevaile beleeve your prayers shall be answered and that as there is strength enough in Christ to subdue sinne and that you shall injoy it we are never overcome by sinne but by reason of the weaknesse of faith therefore above all take the shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. Eph. 4. 12 13. 20. Apply sutable promises against sinne consider Eph. 5. 5 6 7. Rom. 6. 11. Psal 119. 6. God hath said Sinne shall not reigne over you Rom. 6. Do as Mat. 17. 21. The Lord will preserve you from every evill worke and preserve you till he bring you to glory The necessitie excellency and benefit of Prayer THe Lord our God hath commended Prayer to be a helpe to us in all our necessities and that we might love it and improve it to his glory and our good saying Aske and it shall be given you Mat. 7. 7. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you Isa 50. 15. Prayer hath great promises annexed unto it James 4. 5. Mat. 7. It procures wisdome James 1. 5. The Spirit of grace is given to such as pray Luk. 11. 13. It quickens the graces of God in us it 's a remedy against all evils Joh. 3. 8. 10. Psal 107. Prayer is a means to fit us for those good things our soules desire Jam. 1. 5. Consider Exod. 14. 15 16. Jonah 2. 1. 10. It hath healed the sicke and raised the dead unloosed chains and unlocked prisons and delivered the Saints of old Act. 12. 5. 7. 11. and of late and put in persecutors in their places It hath set free the Lambes and shut up the Wolves we may truly say the Lord hath slaine Og King of Basan for his mercie indures for ever And Prayer caused the Sunne to goe backe yea to stand still Josh 10. 12. By it we beare great burdens and are made better by them understand me of prayer in faith By it Jacob prevailed with God Hos 14. 3 4. God delights to heare his pray Song 2. 14. By it we draw neere to God and have communion with him and in a sort are familiar with God and know his minde it ingageth Gods power and truth Prayer is the most universall helpe it is good for all and at all times in all things and is most easie and ready to the Lords in all places in all times Would you doe good to your brethren friends enemies frequent and improve this spirituall and heavenly dutie Concerning the duty of Prayer To prayer three things are necessary 1. A spirituall disposition before 2. a spirituall behaviour in 3. and a spirituall carriage after The first includes preparation to this duty That preparation is a dutie God requires consider 1. God commande it God saith I will be sanctified in them that draw neere me Levit. 10. 3. Prepare to meet thy God Amos 4. 12. Prepare your hearts unto the Lord 1 Sam. 7. 3. Prepared for every good worke 2 Tim. 2. 21. 2. The Saints have practised it Jehosaphat prepared his heart to seek God 2 Chron. 19. 3. Ezra prepared his heart Ezra 7. 10. O God my heart is fixed Object This is Gods worke Answ True Thou wilt prepare their hearts O God Psal 10. 17. in the use of meanes 3. There are promises annexed to preparation If thou prepare thy heart c. see Job 11. 13. see what is promised vers 15 16 17 18 19. An evill not to doe it And Rehoboam did evill because he prepared not his heart to seeke the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 14. What preparation is in generall Preparation it is an holy consideration of God with whom we have to doe and how unfit wee are to have so neere communion with
literall sense of Scripture which ariseth from the words duly understood is the onely true and proper sense 14. Scriptures must be understood according to the largest extent of the words except there be some restraint of them by the matter phrase and scope of them as the word grace 1 Pet. 1. 13. or by some other place of Scripture it appeares they must be restrained 15. They must be expounded simply according to the letter except necessitie compell to depart from a literall sense to a figurative 16. Wee must not take a figurative speech properly nor a proper speech figuratively Mat. 26. 26 27. This is my body is a figurative speech it is a great servitude to take signes for things of which words be but signes 17. Where there is a sentence in Scripture which hath a tropicall or borrowed word we may not think the whole place figurative as Mat. 26. 28. 18. That which is said to one must be understood to be said to all in the like case and condition as appeares by comparing Joshua 1. 5. with Heb. 13. 5. For of the like things there is the like reason and judgement to be given let the circumstances be considered wisely 19. A particular example will afford a generall instruction when the equitie of the thing done is universall and the cause common otherwise not 20. The Scripture puts upon dead things the person of such as speake by a fiction of a person Ps 19. The firmament speakes c. So Rom. 19. 20 21. Psal 98. 7 8. By this manner of speech wee are moved to affect the things spoken and more easily brought to understand them 21. By bodily things the Scripture leads and lifts us up to divine thus a hand applied to God signifieth his working power so an eye his knowledge a heart his will his foot his presence or government wings his care or protection a mouth his word or commandement a finger his might and a soule put for the essence of God 22. The Scripture ascribes the names of things unto the similitudes and representations as 1 Sam. 28. 14 15. 23. That exposition that causeth an absurditie to follow is a false exposition Rom. 4. 14. 10. 14 15. 24. The word heart is commonly put for the soule of man 25. There is such a necessary and mutuall relation between faith and Christ the object that where one of these is expressed alone the other is included Christ onely is the matter of our righteousnesse 26. The Scripture divers times expresses the antecedent by the consequent Rom. 9. 33. with Isa 28. 16. For not making haste in Isaiah Paul saith Shall not be ashamed shame confusion being an effect which followeth haste 27. The Scripture useth one word twice in one sentence with a different signification Joh. 4. 35. Harvest is taken first for earthly and in the latter place for spirituall harvest So the word water in Joh. 4. 13 14. First elementary secondly spiritually viz. the graces of the Spirit 28. The word of commanding is often put for wishing as Let thy kingdome come â—hy Name be hallowed that is Oh that thy Name were hallowed Let him kisse me Song 1. 1. for oh that he would kisse me 29. Crying in Scripture doth often betoken a strong noyse outwardly but inwardly compunction and fervency of spirit and affection Rom. 8. 15. Heb. 5. 7. 30. Things proper to the body are ascribed unto the soule as hunger thirst to declare the earnest desire of the soule because the soule is unknowne unto us the Scripture very oft speaketh of invisible things by visible and shadoweth spirituall by corporall 31. A hyperbole is sometimes in Scripture this kind of speech expresseth more then can be signified by the proper acceptation of that speech it increaseth the truth as Gen. 13. 16. 15. 5. The meaning is no more then that his posteritie shall be very great as Gen. 17. 4. so Joh. 21. 25. 32. It is usuall in Scripture to put all for many 1 Tim. 2. 3. Mat. 3. All Jerusalem and Mat. 4. 23. All diseases So on the other side many is put for all as Rom. 5. 9. And whether all or many is meant may be knowne by observing the matter handled 33. Nothing is for little Joh. 18. 20. Also small and none for few Act. 27. 33. and alwayes for often 34. The negative particle not is often put comparatively and respectively not absolutely and simply as Hosea 6. Not sacrifice viz. rather then or not sacrifice in respect of mercy see Jer. 32. 33. So not is put for seldome Luk. 2. 37. 35. The word ever or everlasting doe not properly signifie eternitie in every place where it is used but great continuance as Psal 32. 14. 36. In Scripture the word untill doth not alwayes exclude the time following but signifies an infinite time or untill viz. eternitie 1 Cor. 15. Mat. 28. 28. Mat. 5. 26. That is to say never and also a certaine limit of time 37. The copulative particle and is often when it is not joyned to other matter as Psal 4. Ezek. 2. 1. 5. 1. And so often else-where Also this particle therefore or then is not alwayes illative or argumentative Rom. 8. 1. Oâ— it coupleth words outwardly to that which the Prophet heard inwardly 38. The particle if is not alwayes a note of doubting but of reasoning as Rom. 8. 31 Joel 1. 14. Acts 8. 22. Sometimes it notes the difficultie of the dutie and sometimes the necessitie of the thing and sometimes it is put for doubtingly Mat. 3. 14. 39. When a Substantive is repeated or twice mentioned in one case it signifieth emphasis or force as Lord Lord secondly a multitude as droves droves Gen. 32. 16. many droves thirdly distribution as 1 Chron. 16. a gate a gate 2 Chron. 19. 5. Levit. 17. 3. a Citie and a Citie that is every Citie fourthly diversitie or varietie as Pro. 20. 20. A weight and a weight that is divers weights An heart and a heart divers or a double heart 40. A Substantive repeated in divers cases if it be in the singular number it argueth certainty as Sabbath of Sabbath Lamentation of Lamentation Micah 3. 4. If it be in the plurall number it signifieth excellency as Eccl. 1. 1. Vanitie of vanities Song of Songs Cant. 1. God of Gods Psal 136. 2. King of Kings Lord of Lords for most high and excellent 41. Repeating of an Adjective and of a Substantive sometimes signifies increasing as Holy holy holy Jehovah Jehovah Temple Temple c. 42. A Verbe repeated or twice gone over in a sentence makes a speech more significant or else it shewes vehemency certainty speedinesse as to dye by dying Gen. 2. And is my hand shortened in shortening Isai 30. 2. 43. A Conjunction doubled doth double the deniall and increase it the more Shall not perceive Mat. 13. 14. 44. A figurative speech affords matter to nourish our faith as Mat. 15. 35. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Acts 9. 4.