any righteousnesse of his owne the other that he hath received the grace of Gods spirit to leade an holy life either of which alone can give no sound rejoycing but both must goe together Rom. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Gal. 6. 14. 2. No Christian professor can have any sound comfort of his faith if hee finde no such matter in the remembrance of Christs comming as doth rejoyce his heart and so in some measure stirre up in him a longing after his appearance for howsoever a true faith may bee without some other effects yet this being the very principall of all cannot be wanting the want whereof shewing the want of faith is the cause of that little profiting and so of that little comfort which is to bee found in many whereas if this were more laboured for and so more attained to it would soone cause a great change in any mans profession and hereby indeed the face of our profession would be even almost renewed the alteration would be so great in all respects publick and private 3. There is no well ordered course in Christianitie where godly sorrow and joy be not continuall companions for severed wee runne into some extremitie 4. Whatsoever is the matter of true joy ought to bee a matter of thanksgiving to the Lord. 5. This is much to bee lamented that even among such as make some good profession very few finde that comfort in the Lord as to serve him with delight and so rejoyce in their portion as might draw others to desire the like This comes to passe by our security contenting our selves with our course of living without open reproach and our slothsulnesse loath to straine our selves any further The remedie must be by considering better our state how short wee come and be wanting as in many duties so in many comforts and finde not that full contentment in the Lord for this life and that to come which others do and so leese the sweet and have the sowre of our profession Iudge 1. It s not safe to judge of our selves or others for one action but to waite Gods leasure in revealing the truth 2. For the most part hard judging and false is the fountain of all breaches betweene Christians Iudgements 1. The Lord will spare his judgements in them in whom he seeth a true love of true religion for they that love religion will heare and hearing the word will not lie long in any knowne sinne 2. It s the greatest judgement that can bee to thrive in sinne 3. Let the wicked rebell as they will and think how by their subtilties they may escape Gods threatened judgements for a while yet they shall be pursued from farre and shall tast the heavie hand of God both fearefully and wonderfully as came to passe in Ahad 2 Chron. 18. 33. 4. In denouncing Gods judgements against any we ought to be so affected that we earnestly pray for them that they may bee delivered from them 5. The carefull beholding of Gods judgements on others is very profitable as whereby observing the causes thereof we may warily avoide them lest the like fall on us 6. The not observing of Gods judgements maketh so little either to feare them or love his mercies 7. Who so maketh not conscience to walke uprightly I will not free him from povertie from sicknesse from heresie for as well can and will the Lord punish the minde as the body Knowledge KNowledge must goe before obedience obeeience must follow knowledge apace Law 1. THe Law is often taken for the morall Law of God his precepts for the ceremoniall his judgements or righteousnesse for the sanctions of the Law whether the Lord either accomplish his promises to his children or executeth his wrath on his enemies 2. In these dayes offecurity the preaching of the Law is the neerest way to draw men to Christ out of themselves Learning The greatest Scholars have often most unstable mindes fullest of doubting and least staid in that they know and not able to keepe themselves from foule fallings or being fallen to comfort themselves or others Therefore the greatest Divinity is in teaching or learning the word of God as the word of God comparing spirituall things with spirituall things Love I. All our travaile in Religion to know God to beleeve in him to love and feare him and all our prayers exercises in the word and the like are referred to this to doe all good to our neighbour in our severall callings agreeable to that He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law Rom. 13. 8. and Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is to visit the fatherlesse c. Iames 1. 27. Therefore as we are to bee carefull of all those duties we owe to ourselves so to others good or bad for all zeale in Gods service and profession of our love to God is vaine unlesse it make us carefull for the salvation and bodily preservation of our neighbour 2. There are no stronger meanes to make man and wife or two brethren or sisters living together in peace and love then to joyne together often in prayer and christian conference 3. By musing upon that which often the Scripturesdoe teach us concerning love that it is the fulfilling of the Law and to give all we have to the poore without love is nothing and especially that when our faith and hope shall cease love shall remaine most flourish in the life to come I doe grow to an admiration of the excellencie thereof the sense whereof I most feele when as by some good meanes as some sweet conference my affection is enlarged to any of Gods Saints me thinkes I tast of the happinesse to come then which what more delectable How great therefore is our folly and sinne who provide no better for our selves by encreasing this pleasure 4. The Lord doth often so work that the good affection wee beare to others doth breed the like love in them to us and so the contrary they of whom we thinke hardly have in like manner an heart burning against us 5. Wee must beware that we never further sin but if we love God wee must love them whom God loveth hate them whom God hateth Psal 15. 3. and 139. 21 22. how dare they then in whom are some good things hand over head be friends with Gods enemies Prov. 29. 27. The Lords day 1. Seeing by the appointment of the holy Ghost the Apostles did change the Jewish Sabbath on the seaventh day unto the next day for the memoriall of the Resurrection therefore wee are bound especially on that day to keepe a memoriall of Christs resurrection with thankes unto God for the same 2. There be two things specially needfull to bee much every Lords day in our mindes to uphold us in a conscionable sanctification thereof 1. The gaine to
when wee come at those things wherein either nature or custome doth breede delight The Regenerate and unregenerate It often falleth out by the wise providence of God that the unregenerate be in outward appearance so like the regenerate that they cannot bee discerned one from the other these falling so low in sinne those rising so high in obedience which the Lord so disposeth for the good of his children that they should never bee so contented with their measure as to cease their travaile for increase and so to waxe secure but rather that they might hereby bee stirred up to make their calling and election more sure and so worke out their salvation in feare and trembling In consideration hereof we must not bee dismayed when as we heare and see such to fall away of whom we have thought very well for the foundation of God remaineth sure neither must we be disquieted for that before-hand wee cannot descry such who deceive themselves but charitably judge the best yet wisely tarrying till the Lord shall descry them Notwithstanding this is evident by the Scriptures and experience that there be certaine notes and markes so proper to Gods children that every childe of God may bee led to see them in himselfe and no unregenerate person can in truth have howsoever many of them doe fondly dreame they have them and so deceive themselves who for the most part may by wise dealing with them be cleerely convinced in their owne consciences though through pride they will not confesse it These markes we speake of are of divers measures in Gods children according to their growth in Christ wee must take the least measure of them in this question lest in seeking to shut out the unregenerate we also shut out many of Gods truely begotten children though young and weake and yet on the other side lest in letting in the one wee admit the other wee must take such as be most speciall though rarely to bee found in professors Of this sort there be two the causes of our new birth and the proper effects thereof the causes bee more certaine the effects more apparent proofes thereof The causes of Regeneration be these and in this order God the Father of all the regenerate when he will ordinarily beget any sinner and child of wrath to become his childe doth of his owne mercy freely send his word and holy Spirit to effect the same 1. Working in him the sight of his misery and sound griefe of heart for the same which breeds a fervent desire to be delivered 2. The knowledge of the remedie with a like desire of obtaining the same 3. A sound knowledge that God hath given them this remedy and therewith a certaine perswasion it is theirs which they receiving are delivered from their miserie and so made Gods children being now new borne The effects of this new birth be these 1. A speciall joy of heart in the benefit received 2. An unfained love of God the sole Author of so great a benefit 3. Which breeds for the time past a deepe displeasure for dealing so wickedly with so mercifull a father 4. For the time to come an earnest desire and care to please God with 5. True obedience to his holy word even of meere love So also 6. A conscionable use of all such meanes as bee knowne fit to further this obedience 7. A godly sorrow in the sight of our inabilitie to please God and a longing desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ all which are in their measure in every regenerate person and doe at least in some measure grow more and more till he be dissolved Now if any unregenerate shall fondly dreame all these to be in him for if he be utterly wanting in any of them then thereby hee may be convinced to bee unregenerate he is as narrowly by his life to be searched as may be and a thousand to one hee shall be convinced but if such cannot descry himselfe nor be by others let him hold his comfort so long as he can till it shall bee manifest he deceived himselfe If yet any shall think himselfe in good estate when as his life shewes the contrary then is it to be avouched to him that he utterly deceives himselfe imagining that to be in him which is not even as it is with an hungry man in his dreame hee thinkes he eateth and when he awakes his soule is empty Isay 29. 7. even so this worldling rockt asleepe with his present peace thinkes himselfe in good case but when he is awaked by Gods judgements then he findeth himselfe most miserable such were mâ—ny of the Church of Laodicea which said they were rich c. and knew not they were wretched Rev. 3. 17. Againe me thinkes it fareth with these men as it is with many in some dangerous disease which hath deprived them of the sense of their paine and weaknesse who therefore say they be well and feare nothing so these being deadly sicke in soule have no sense thereof and thinke themselves in a good estate or as it is with one that is drunke They have striken me but I was not sicke Prov. 23. 35. So these drunken with the world feele not the wounds of sinne see not their owne misery Remembrance of good 1. Seeing there is no action of our life for which we have not lâ—arned at some time or other some profitable direction for the same it s much to bee endeavoured that such matter may be present with us as is fittest for the time otherwise much danger must needes ensue 2. The best meanes to remember the word is to be truly touched with it either in griefe or joy for they leave strongest impression Renewing It s an happy thing to redeeme the renewing of the inner man with the decay of the outward Repentance A Godly Physitian having patients grievously tormented willed them first to be reconciled to God before they sought his helpe which they neglecting and hee knowing them open sinners dismissed them saying The Lord having laid his rod upon you I dare not take it off you without the shew of some fruits of repentance which they doing were healed Reports 1. Men by ill reports raised of them must learne to be forewarned lest they fall into such a sinne and thankfully must receive the correction that wheras God might have made them suffer for ill he doth rather for well-doing 2. This is Gods great mercy that when men have evill thoughts God doth cause them to be evill spoken of for the act whereby they ought to be moved to search their hearts and finding it within though it never burst forth they are to profit hereby to correct their hearts and to be thankfull to God that hath kept theÌ„ by this meanes from the act which otherwise might have broke forth to their discredit 3. God
security and Satan overcome us without wrestling for if we feare it too much he overcomes us before wee fight 7. All temptations come either of ignorance or want of feeling 8. As Iacob left not striving though his thigh were loosed till he had the blessing no more must we faint in our temptation though we be humbled till wee obtaine the victorie 9. As striving against our temptations they soon depart for little paines we enjoy longer ease and quietnesse so in not resisting the temptation the same encreaseth and our little pleasure is paid with long griefe and bitter 10. This is a sure experiment whether the sinne which often tempteth us shall prevaile or not if the more we be tempted the more we be grieved for it strive against it and labour more for the contrary vertue it shall not long continue but if the first comming of sin wrought this care and griefe and the second waxed lesse the◠it will prevaile unlesse the former course be speedily repaired Thankes Such are meere mockers of God and deepe dissemblers which make great profession of thankes in words but have little or no care by their lives in obedience to testifie the same Thoughts 1. A man is not to spend his thoughts after the abundance of these earthly things for the roving of the heart after the world is a wonderfull hinderance to a godly course 2. It is found by many true Christians a very hard thing to keepe their minds upon heavenly matters the reason is manifest that being by nature earthly our mindes sinke downe thither as the stone downward and will not without force bee carryed upward Our onely help must be that wee doe acquaint our mindes to ascend upward that at length they may bee acquainted with the path and so as readily goe in it as in the former 3. A principall cause why so many be troubled in their holy exercises with by-thoughts is this that they be not exercised at other times to governe their mindes in chasing away vain evil thoughts and in holding their minds and hearts to good things without which travaile I see not how the former disease can bee cured on the other side he that shall bestow good travaile this way shall finde the yoke of Christ easie and no tedious thing to live godly but shall be freed from many falls reproches sorrowes and discouragements which many daily meetwith be filled daily with such comforts as many professors seldome tast of though they would Triall of a mans selfe 1. Then may a Christian soundly judge his state good when hee findes all heavenly matters a recreation to him and his earthly affaires his labour 2. There is nothing more necessary than daily more and more to make sure our calling which most professors be either ignorant of or negligent in deceiving themselves Let every one therforeduly examin himself in these points whereby he shall cleerely see his state as whether he be carelesse of his state towards God such not knowing or not regarding how it is are most miserable or carefull whether fearefull either not knowing or not assured how to be saved both dangerous and damnable to such as die so Rev. 21. 8. or comfortable whether upon faith alone or workes alone both deceitfull or upon faith confirmed by works which onely i◠sound for tryall whereof consider what thou beleevest that thou shalt bee saved by Christ this onely justifieth the beleefe of nothing else why thou beleevest because thou knowing thy selfe miserable and Christ as willing as able to ease thee laden comming to him doth therefore in heart come unto him with assurance to be eased seeing he promised Whether thou have thy conscience bearing thee record and because the heart is deceitfull if thou seest the effects hereof in the chāge of the heart peace in God love feare and the like and both thy selfe and others may see thy course hereupon amended and daily bettered 3. The soundest tryall whether we have received Christ is by our comfort and care 1. such as finde neither must bewaile their state else no hope 2. such as be in doubt must never give over till they finde those 3. such as finde those must encrease them which will not bee easie for prosperity and adversity will quench joy in the Spirit Thus must wee seeke for comfort by removing all that may discomfort and using all meanes to maintaine it as above all to thinke oft and deeply on Gods goodnesse to us which will stirre up faith and love 4. It s a godly wisedome to suspect and try our willingnesse and unwillingnes to any thing so strong and deceitfull are our affections 5. Many are altogether looking to the outward corruptions others to the inward the meane betweene both is best as a man is in tryall and temptation such a one is hee The Truth 1. The best thing in us is to love the truth and to hate heresies and that not because the time doth so serve as to praise profit or preferre them that love the truth though all the world loved heresies and hereticks though all be against us and love them 2. As for the love of the truth the Gospell proceeded from fishermen to be embraced of the more learned sort so for want of love thereof it s to bee feared that heresie beginning in the simpler sort will infect the learned and if God purpose to punish the blindenesse of our age hee can as well send an hereticall Spirit into 400 of our learned preachers as hee sent a lying Spirit in 400. Prophets Time 1. To have a watchfull eye over the expence of our time that no part of it slip away without doing some good and that especially which most appertaines to us is a notable meanes to make us walke all the day long with God as the holy fathers did 2. As the wicked will dearely buy the time to commit iniquity and that secretly which they dare not publiquely so Gods children in the midst of sinners if they want that strength to professe publickly yet ought they to redeeme all opportunities for exercise of godlinesse prayer and fasting Vertue AS the right way is but one and by-wayes many so the vertue commanded being one the sinnes contrary thereto be many which as it s to bee seene in all other so in true liberalitie and that kinde of goodnesse which pertaines to the goods of our neighbour The vertue required is that we have an earnest desire that our neighbour may have a benefit as well as our selves and therefore that we procure their good as our owne but the contrary vices bee many not easily seene for our hearts bee deceitfull for when we finde our selves indifferently voide of one sort of covetousnesse wee imagine we are as free from all when as it is nothing so for many in buying and selling can deale conscionably
the great benefit of our deliverance from the Spaniards in 88. and from the Gun-powder-treason on the 5. of November by meanes wherof wee enjoy those blessings wee daily partake of 2. As our hearts must rejoyce in Gods benefits so we must be perswaded that the same flow from Gods fatherly love in Christ else can wee not give spirituall thankes but either none at all or only carnall 3. Being perswaded that Gods benefits towards us proceede from his love the same should so kindle our love that we should heate thereby all that come neere us as fire doth the want whereof shewes our great unthankfulnesse 4. Whereas the most professors bee in nothing more hindered from growth in grace yea and most from true happiness then by the abusing of those earthly blessings they enjoy health wealth beauty strength wit learning credit friends which through their sinne further their miserie and shall witnesse against them this must be accounted an high favour to a true beleever to have grace so to use those that they all may become his friends to further his happinesse whereby hee shall become more assured of Gods everlasting favour and have so many witnesses of the same 5. This right use stands either tovvard God 1. That they bee received thankfully so as every vvay they bind us more to him more to love him rest upō him seeke to him serve him 2. That they be all used to his glory Man Our selves Temperatly so as they no vvay hinder our proceeding but make us fitter Providently Soule Body Neighbours Justly Psal 15 Mercifully Prov 6. Whereas there is no one thing which more hinders our spirituall life then our care for earthly it s the speciall favour of our Lord Jesus to free us from this care and to shew us a way how we may bee abundantly provided for of all things necessarie for this present life that so wee may more seeke spirituall this he doth by teaching us thus to pra◠Give us this day our daily bread whereby he puts as it were a privy key into our hāds to open all Gods treasures that by prayer of faith we may fetch from God 7. Many times the Lord above all meanes doth bestow a blessing upon his children even more then they could looke for that they should not stay too much upon the meanes but acknowledge every good gift to come from him and therefore stay themselves on him and to the same end also many times he crosseth them in the meanes that either they cannot use them or using them they prevaile not even to humble them that he may be God above all 8. When God bestoweth any good gift upon us its good to feele some crosse to seale and season it in us 9. We often want outward blessings because we so little esteeme inward graces 10. It s a common thing with the Lord to blesse before he punish Birth-day The celebration of a mans birth-day may bee used of some and at some times without pompe superstition or carnall pleasure Buying and Selling. 1. In buying and selling wee must bee carefull that every one may have benefit and in selling rather to bee under the market then otherwise 2. In buying and selling this may bee a good rule to guide us to doe as wee would be done unto for example when wee sell consider wee whether knowing the marketable price and goodnesse of the thing wee would gladly give so much as wee demand if wee would not wee deale not justly so in buying but herein take wee heede that our hearts deceive us not whereto we be very prone 3. It s a sore disease cōmon dangerous among the best professors that they for love of gaine doe many wayes injure their neighbour and allow themselves many practises contrary to love as buying a thing deare to sell for more then its worth when they sell it and so casting their losse on their neighbour 4. In buying and selling this is a sure rule to be sure our neighbour gaines by us Calling 1. IF earthly men in earthly things do swallow up great troubles and with cheerefulnesse undertake and accordingly undergoe many hard travells for the satisfying of their desires in pleasure or profit how much more ought wee which be Christians especially Ministers to cheere up our hearts with the hope of our gaine that with glad hearts we might studie pray preach and performe the like exercises 2. They who have double allowance of food and wages should doe double service therefore the rich should more pain fully labour in their vocations 3. No troubles unlesse they bee in case of meere ungodlinesse may make us forsake our callings which are never free from trouble 4. Whensoever we be out of our calling Satan hath fit occasion of tempting us Christ 1. Two things are necessarily required to espouse us to Christ the one to use the pure meanes the other to use these meanes with pure hearts 2. The onely way to come to and receive Christ is upon good knowledge of his excellencie to desire him and by the free offer and faithfull promise of himselfe to us poore sinners to give credit to his word taking him for our Lord and Saviour to give our selves wholly body and soule to him to be his faithfull Spouse and servants for ever 3. By this among many other notes may one know whether he indeed hath received Christ If he finde such affection to Christ in heaven as is in a betrothed virgin to one whom shee dearly loveth being beyond sea thinking the time long till shee enjoy his sweet fellowship This is too too rare Christian It were a very profitable labour for our selves and others to have the whole Anatomie of a Christian laid forth distinctly in all the vertues pertaining to him in all the corruptions cleaving to him with all the promises of God and priviledges both in this life and the life to come for encouragement as in like manner all the threats and miseries of the wicked here and hereafter to enforce abstinence from sin every of them gathered cleerly out of the Scripture with the quotations Christianitie 1. It may be justly complained that if the whole course of our best professors except very rare men ministers and people here and there one were rightly examined that they are so far off from that course which is by precept and example laid out to us in the Scriptures that the most have neede to begin all againe and to lay a better foundation in the assurance of their salvation for want whereof wofull effects follow generally such a contentednesse in their estate because of some conscience of duty remaining in them that there is no sighing after a better life and therefore no great endeavouring for it which breeds an uncōfortable reckoning in the end and
reveale them or our friends to fall out with us and so reveale them to whom before we made them knowne or our owne mouth to confesse them either at unawares or in sleepe by dreames or in sicknesse by raving or in frenfie to vomit out thine owne shame or else the torment of thy evil conscience shall wring it out yea if all these should faile the Lord is able to raise a strong suspition in the hearts of others that thou art such a one and therby discredit thee as this is a good meanes to provide for a good name so is it a good rule of all godlinesse to be affraid of secret evills yea in heart and thought A second step of procuring and keeping a good name is to have a godly jealousie over all our doings that they give no occasion of suspicion of evill though we doe not that which is simply evill procuring things honest following and seeking after things of good report so also to be plentifull in good workes one or two being insufficient our light must shine before men Mat. 5. 6. In doing good wee must looke that it be with a sincere affection and 2. with discretion the want of eithertakes away the credit of well-doing by Gods just punishment so that a simple soule shall see the shifts wherewith the wise worldlings bleare mens eyes 7. When we are ill reported of for well doing its good first before wee cleare our selves to examine our hearts in what manner we did it and finding wickednesse therein to be humbled for it before the Lord and receive it as Gods correction to amend us if we finde our heart upright then let us learne that God tryeth us whether we will leave doing well for ill report and therefore with patience to endure this triall and commend our innocencie unto him who maintaines good and honest hearts 8. They which are so past shame that they care not for the Church discipline for their open sinnes little profit by the Magistrate 9 Many that are put to open shame are sorowfull therefore but not aright for it is not because they sinne against God others are sorrowfull for their sin which wrought them shame but the devill bewitcheth them that their sinne is not so great and many doe worse and this shame will not continue long prove a wonder but of nine dayes continuance whereby they be hindered from repentance and though at the first they without dissembling promised amendment yet neglecting the meanes to further their repentance thus bewitched they fall to their sinnes againe They that will profit by such discredit are to labour that as their faces blush before men so their soules may be confounded before the Lord that being humbled by godly sorrow it may please God to raise them up Now to try godly sorrow these be two rules 1. If we can with contented mindes take the punishment as correction from the Lord and yet mourne for our sinne and that in such manner as giving place to Gods justice in punishing we can labour for forgivenesse of sinnes And 2. if when we can conceale our sinne yet wee freely with David confesse it when a sin is committed yet so closely as none can probably suspect him the offendant may conceale his sinne if it can be done without another sinne but if an oath be lawfully required the truth must be told Nurcerie for the Church It were an happy nurcerie for the Church if every grounded Pastor would traine up in life learning doctrine discipline some toward Scholar to make him more fit for the Church as Moses did Ioshua Elias Elisha Ieremie Baruch Christ his disciples Paul Timothie Offences IN private offences a man may goe to his private prayers before he be reconciled till opportunitie be had Parents 1. WHen children have infirmities their parents are to see whether they have not received such sinnes from them if they have they are rather to pray for their children then too much to correct them lest they persecute their owne sinnes in their children 2. The Lord often in his children correcteth the immoderate love of parents to their children for naturall causes as Abraham with Ismael Isaac with Esau David with Absolom and Adoniah so of husbands to their wives 3. If a maide may not performe her vow to the Lord without her fathers consent much lesse her contract to man Patience 1. In greatest troubles there is no greater ease then patience and sufferance as a great cause of madnesse is impatiency of minde or Gods sudden wrath for sinne against conscience 2. Patience then possesseth the soule when our outward wants are thereby supplyed Peace and Ioy. 1. It s not to bee marvelled though so few attaine to the joy in the holy Ghost and to such sweet rejoycings in Gods love which is the height of our happinesse here so that the more this is felt and kept the more heavenly is the life and death 1. The worser sort have no knowledge nor care whether God like or dislike their wayes but blindlie hope all is well till evill come and some of these though they feare God is angry with them yet shake it off and forget it at least flightly appease him 2. A second sort be grieved hereat and this takes away their joy as it ought but seldome come they to sound comfort and lesse rejoycing though fearefull to offend 3. A better sort be warned by their harmes and so more wisely keepe their peace not willingly angering God by leaving undone their duty or presuming to doe contrary but indeede to please God those usually walke with much peace and can come boldly in Gods presence and so sometimes finde a glorying in the Lord and exultation in the Spirit best of all The way then to maintaine our peace and so rejoyce is to consider how we please God if not then 1. not to be quiet but mourne 2. not to languish in sorrow but seeke reconciliation 3. to be chary in maintaining peace which in time will breede rejoycing for which labour we by due meditation on Gods love for infirmities ought not to breake our peace so as there be a true bewailing and striving against them but presumptuous sinnes and God much more will beare with many faults where there is a care to to doe better 2. Although the love of God bee the originall cause of our salvation yet in respect of us the grace of Christ is the first to worke assurance thereof in our hearts for this cause in blessing the people that is set in the first place The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which they first conceive to be the beginning of their blessing To Please God 1. It s a common and a sore evill that there is so little care whether God be pleased or not and therefore so little labour to please him without which there is no fruit or comfort
like children 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. There must be a grovvth in godlinesse In knowledge of the truth there must be no stay There is to be no liking of our estate but in the practise of godlinesse That vve may be furthered in godlinesse vvhat things vvee are to consider 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Who profiteth most in godlinesse Hovv necessary it is to have a resolute purpose to practise pietie The Apostafie of others must avvaken us to bevvare The bare historie of the Gospel not applied by faith hovv burtfull it is The Gospel strange to Reason The meanes considered greater grovvth in grace might have beene got then is Why there is so little grovvth of grace amongst us Most Christians use not a full but an half dyet or else by some ill meanes hinder the same Simil. Christians must seeke and keepe an holy dyet and direction for their lives Christians must not be as men sold to their appetite What things vvee are to consider that vve may keepe an holy dyet and direction for our lives 1. 2. Our emptinesse in grace barrennesse in good vvorkes many and strong corruptions too too palpable A principall cause of the little grovvth in grace No sound repentance which comes not from faith The onely right way to encrease faith Of all matters in the Scriptures Gods promises are novv least regarded Store of Gods promises to be had in memorie about every particular duty Even the regenerate must daily desire to be further partakers of Christ What vvee are to strive against The earnest panting after grace compared to the breath of the body Graces like to tender plants Meanes to obtaine and encrease grace 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Grovvth in grace vvherein it chiefely appeareth Note An enemie of grovvth in grace Simil. Nothing harder then to get grace It is more then apparent that vvho so grovveth not in grace is not in Christ Simil. Among Christians many botchers In vvhat particulars our grovvth must appeare 1. 2. 3. Most seeing theiâ— vvant of grace yet profit but a little therein The causes hereof 1. 2. 3. Remedies 1. 2. 3. We are like to die beggers Our after fruits must exceed our first What the care for invvard graces vvoâ—keth Why many be so barren in grace What graces do not alvvayes succeede one another Gods graces are the svveetest in our new birth Hovv vve may lament the sinnes of others The vvant of feare or griefe hovv dangerous The use to be made in cares of extremity The heart chiefely to be controuled The Lord best pleased vvith the heart A signe of an hard heart An hard heart hovv dangerous it is The Remedie thereof The fittest time for God to helpe What use to make of the practises of hereticks The ground of heresie Heresie novv to be feared Such are not in Christ vvhich are alive unto sin dead unto God Presumption an hinderance to an holy life The Remedie The commodities of a godly life inducements thereunto Foure properties of true hope Hope of others how long to be continued A grievous frailtie in travailing about some duties to forget and neglect others Why the Lord thus exerciseth his Saints Christians must not be content vvith the doing of some duties but grovv in al. Note Hovv to obtaine Gods speciall mercies At vvhat time danger vvorketh most The profit of humiliation An effect or fruit of humiliation A note of true humiliation A true triall of humilitie Hypocrisie in dispraising ones selfe Palpable ignorance in these times Hovv to goe and come from the house of God Hovv to vvorke on the ignorant by setting before them the joyes of heaven and paines of hell Why at sometimes they may be done at sometimes not From generall rules particulars may bee dravvne What the sense of our vvants ought to vvorke in us The fight of our selves a meanes of perseverance How particular infirmities are no hinderances Hovv to speak charitably of others infirmities Difference betvveene the godly and ungodly about the infirmities of others Tvvo chiefe causes of joy 1. 2. Comfort in the remembraÌ„ce of Christs second comming True faith cannot bee vvithout this effect Godly sorrow and joy fit companions The matter of joy and tháksgiving one Many vvant delight in Gods service The cause The remedie Not safe to judge of one action The effect of hard judging In vvhom God vvill spare his judgemeÌ„ts A great judgement to thrive in sinne Gods judgemeÌ„ts shall seise upon the vvicked Hovv vvee are to bee affected in denounceing Gods judgemeÌ„ts What profit to make of Gods judgemeÌ„ts on others Not to observe them hovv hurtfull Not to make conscience of our vvayes hovv dangerous Obedience must follovv upon it The Lavv Gods precepts judgments or righteousnesse hovv taken The preaching of the Lavv necessarie Defects in the greatest Scholars What is the chiefest divinitie To doe good unto others is the end of all duties vvithout vvhich all our profession is vaine Hovv to live in love and peace The excellencie of love Note Love dravveth love as hatred doth hatred Those are to be loved vvhom God loveth The Christian Sabbath a memoriall of Christs resurrectioÌ„ Hovv to be upheld in a conscionable sanctification of the Sabbath A Magistrate may conceale a fault Man the most excellent creature doth most dishonour God Gods justice herein Naturall gifts not sanctified make the possessor thereof more odious Note When to submit ones selfe unto this condition Why many are more dull vvhen they have most meanes Gods Spirit not to be tyed to any one meane Vpon vvhat things Christians are to meditate Most are unskillfull in the art of meditation The cause hereof When the things vve heare or read become our ovvne What things bee fittest for for daily meditatioÌ„ What meditation it The oftner vvee meditate the better Hovv to meditate on the vvord Reading meditatioÌ„ and prayer must accompany one another Hovv to remember good things Simil. At vvhat time vvee are to speake of Gods mercies and vvhat then vve are to think upoÌ„ Favourably to bee exercised in conscience is a principall mercie Many in teaching others doe not teach themselves The chiefe cause here of The Remedies Not to practise vvhat vvee preach hovv dangerous it is Wee must be tronhled hereat Note The Remedie Hovv vvee are to esteeme the preaching of the Gospell Hovv vvee may delight in our ministerie Difference betvveene the externall ministerie and invvard vvork of the Spirit Who are unfit teachers To vvhom the Lord sendeth carefull or carelesse teachers In begetting or encreasing faith Gods vvisedome is not to be tyed to the ordinary meanes Hovv to knovv vvhether the Lord hath pardoned the sinne of raâ—h entâ—ance into the ministerie Wherein a Pastor must resemble a plovvman The truest triall of doctrines Who they are that shall be saved vvho not An order in bringing men to God What a minister is first to preach vvhen he commeth to a place Hovv to deale vvith a mans conscience Whercin the skill of