Thirdly this should greatly move true Christians to strive after this vertue and to expresse it lively and shew it forth in all the fruits of it as first by declaring our affection to the afflicted with all tendernesse of heart and words of comfort secondly by using all our meanes and power to relieve them and helpe them out of distresse thirdly by pouring out our soules before God for them Love as brethren This is the third duetie charged upon them viz. the exercise of brotherly love This is vehemently urged in many Scriptures Rom. 12.10 Heb. 13.1 Ioh. 13.34 1. Ioh. 2.7 4.21 Now for the explication of this doctrine foure things would be distinctly considered of viz. 1 Who are brethren 2 What priviledge they have by the brotherhood or by being brethren 3 For what reasons we should so love them 4 With what kinde of love we should love them For the first Men become brethren one to another manie wayes as first by propagation when they are borne of the same bloud and so the children of the same parents are brethren and in a remoter sense kinsmen of the same bloud are brethren Luke 8.19 Secondly by Nation when men are countreymen they are called brethren especially when they descend originally from the fountaine of the same ancient families and so the people of the twelve Tribes were brethren Exod. 2.11 Thirdly by profession especially the profession of Religion makes all professors brethren Act. 11.1 1.16 And this was one of the first titles of love and relation in the Christian world Fourthly communion with Christ and so wee become brethren eyther by his incarnation Heb. 2.16 17. or in respect of our mystical union with him in his mysticall bodie Col. 1.2 Matth. 25.40 And so we are brethren with the Angels as they also are joined under this head Christ Iesus Rev. 19.10 22. So then if any aske who are the brethren here meant that wee must so love I answer they are such as are professors with us of the same religion fellow members of the body of Christ. But that we may more plainly see who are meant by brethren in the Scriptures it will bee profitable to observe that they are described by their holinesse The brethren we must love are such as are partakers of the holy calling Heb. 3.1 such as are begotten of God 1 Ioh. 5.1 such as will doe the will of God by sound practise Mat. 12.47 49. They are the holy brethren wee are here charged to love 1. Thes. 5.27 For the second our relation to the Godly as brethren ought not to be dispised for as wee are brethren by religion wee enjoy many excellent prerogatives for thereby wee partake of a heavenly calling Heb. 3.1 wee stand all in relation to God as his owne children by adoption Eph. 4.6 and so peace and the blessing of God as a father is upon us all Eph. 6.23 Gal. 6.16 and we are greatly beloved of God Rom. 1.7 and brought up in the same family Eph. 3.17 fed with the same diet and entertainment in Gods house and estated into an inheritance better than all the kingdomes of the world Rom. 9.17 And hereby also wee enjoy the fruit of the love of all the godly in the world even those that know us not in the face For the third There are many reasons why we should love the godly as our brethren above all the people in the world For first if to be all the children of one father have such a power over the naturall affections of men then should it not bee without power in religion Secondly this is charged upon us above many other things yea above all things wee should put on love Col. 3.14 and yet he had reckoned many excellent vertues before This was the speciall and one of the last commandements of our blessed Saviour which hee gave in charge when hee was going to his death 1. Ioh. 3.23 Ioh. 13. 34. Thirdly because this love comes of God and is a signe that God is in us and dwells in us and that wee doe indeed love God himselfe 1. Iohn 4.7 8 12 16 20 21. Fourthly wee have the example of God himselfe and Christ his Sonne that love them as their peculiar treasure above all the world and hee shewed them love by unspeakable benefits 1. Ioh. 4. 11 10. Fiftly because our soules will thrive and be edified as brotherly love is continued and encreased in us Eph. 4.16 Sixtly because the Godly they must bee our everlasting companions in heaven 1. Pet. 4.8 1. Cor. 13.8 and if we cannot see so much it is because wee are purblinde 2. Pet. 1. For the fourth point if any aske with what kinde of love wee should love them I answer that our love must have many properties in it 1 It must be a naturall love that is such a love as is not by constraint but ariseth out of our dispositions and inclinations as wee are made new Creatures in Iesus Christ 2. Cor. 8.8 2 It must be a sincere love a love without dissimulation Rom. 12.10 not in word but in deed 1. Ioh. 3.18 3 It must be a fervent love wee must love them earnestly and with great affection above all other people 1. Pet 4.8 brotherly kind love 2. Pet. 1.7 4 It must be a pure love that comes from a pure heart 1. Tim. 1.5 and projects not any iniquity 1. Cor. 13.6 and therefore must be a love in the Spirit Col. 1.8 5 It must be a diligent love that will expresse it by the daily fruits of it upon all occasions a labouring and working love 1. Thes. 1.3 Heb. 6.10 6 It must bee a speedy love that will not put off or delay a love that will not say Goe and come againe tomorrow Prov. 3.28 7 It must be an humble love a love that would ever serve the brethren not doe them good only Gal. 5.13 And that is further shewed by not respecting persons but loving all the Saints even those that are poore or sicke or in temptations or fallen by weaknesse Eph. 1.15 Prov. 19.7 Iam. 2. and that is also shewed by carrying our selves with all lowlinesse and meekenesse of minde in all long suffering and forbearing one another Eph. 4.2 8 It must be a constant love wee must love alwaies as well as earnestly Gal. 4.18 9 It must be a growing love that will still encrease and abound Phil. 1.9 1. Thes. 4.10 The use may be divers for Vse 1. First carnall Christians are by this doctrine sharply to be reprooved for their want of love to the brethren and for all the courses by which they shew their dislike or hatred of godly Christians This verie sinne is grievous in the sight of God for for this sinnes sake when they hate a godly Christian because his workes are better than theirs God reckons of them but as Cainites the seed of Cain yea as the children of the Divel 1. Ioh. 3.10 yea God will reckon
God and walke in his waies 3 It greatly staies and supports the heart of man in the evill day when temptations or afflictions befall us yet the comfort of our assurance sustaines us and refresheth us greatly For helpe in the evill day the Apostle saith wee should above all things put on the shield of faith which if it remove not the crosse yet it quencheth the fiery temptations of Sathan with which we may be assaulted Eph. 6.16 and it greatly helpes us against the feare and terrour of death Heb. 10.19 20 22. In a word it overcomes the world 1. Iohn 5.4 5. 4 The faith of a Christian is all his living hee lives by faith in all the occasions of life as his faith helps him when all other meanes failes him and makes all other meanes more successfull when he useth them The just man lives by faith The people in captivity that were Gods children raised a living for themselves in a strange land by their faith Hab. 2.5 5 It puts life into all the duties of religion or righteousnesse it worketh by love it sets all our affections on worke towards God and his people and creatures Gal. 5.6 6 It opens a spring of grace in the heart of a Christian every good gift from above is excited and made to flow from within him by the benefit of his certaine knowledge and assurance of faith Iob. 7.38 Now if any aske how a Christian comes to know his calling I answer 1 By his sensible feeling of his sinnes to be a heavie burthen to him of which hee is truely weary so as hee desireth more to be rid of them than of any burthensome crosse whatsoever Mat. 11 2â— 9.13 2 By his manner of receiving the voice of Christ and the preaching of the Gospell not in word but in power The voice of Christ hath a marvellous power over him above all things in the world which appeares by the effects of it For he feeles in hearing the word first such an estimation of it as he acknowledgeth nothing like it for power and wisdome 1. Cor. 1.23 24. Secondly he finds at sometimes especially such an assurance of the truth of his religion and the doctrine hee heareth that he is fully established and â—â—eed from his naturall uncertainties about the true religion Thirdly the Word worketh in him spirituall senses and very life from the dead which hee feeles in all parts of his conversation making conscience of his waies in all things bewailing his frailties and striving to be such as God would have him to be Fourthly it makes him to separate himselfe from the world avoiding all needlesse society with the wicked and exciting in him constant desires to use the world as if he used it not Fiftly much spirituall joy before the Lord even then when in respect of outward things he is in much affliction The most of these effects are noted 1. Thes. 1.4 5. 3 By the Image of the vertues of Christ in his heart by new gifts in some measure for when God calls a man he reveales his Sonne in him Gal. 1.15 16. There is begotten in him a likenesse of Christ his very disposition is changed into the similitude of the vertues of Christ God gives him a new heart with the Image of Christ stamped upon it and hee is like Christ in respect of lowlinesse of minde and meeknesse and contempt of the world and love of God and the godly mercy wisdome patience love of his very enemies and desire to live without offence and praying to God as to his father Quest. But if Christians may know their calling what should be the reason that so many Christians are so unsetled and are not assured of their calling Ans. Distinguish of Christians some are Christians in name and outward profession but not in deed beeing not at all converted though they have the meanes of conversion and this is the estate of the most men and women in all places Now some are indeede converted but are weake Christians as it were infants that lye but in the cradle of religion Now for the first sort the answer is easie They know not their calling because they are not called yea they are so far from knowing it that they generally are offended at it that we should teach that any body can know his owne calling certainly Carnall Christians then know it not because they have it not and in particular the causes why these Christians attaine not assurance is because they rest upon common hope of mercy in God which house is but like the house of a Spider and will give up the ghost when the evill day commeth upon them And besides they live in knowne sinnes which they love and preferre before all things can bee offered to them by the Gospell Now it is impossible to have true assurance and to lye at the same time in knowne grosse sinnes without repentance And further many Christians by their wilfull unteachablenesse and incurablenesse in sinning doe so provoke God that all meanes notwithstanding yet those things that concerne their peace are hidden from their eies Luk. 19.42 Now for the weake Christian the causes of his want of assurance are such as these Sometimes ill opinions about assurance either that it may not be had contrary to the charge given 2. Pet. 1.10 or if it be had it will not bee profitable contrary to the reasons given before Sometimes it is their ignorance they are so unexpert in the Scriptures that not discerning the frame of godlinesse in generall they can never tell when they fully know this or any other doctrine in particular And this let is the stronger when they smother their doubts and will not aske the way or seek resolution in things they understand not especially in cases of their owne consciences In some Christians this want of assurance ariseth from meare slothfulnesse though they bee often called upon and convinced yet they returne to their former carelesnesse and will not bee at the paines to use the directions given them for the setling of their hearts In some Christians it is a violent pronenesse in their natures to take offence at such infirmities or mistakings as they observe in such as have professed religion before them yea sometimes they take offence at the liberty of those that are truly godly though they abuse not their libertie And this offence is sometimes so deadly that they give way to the projects of renouncing of all religion because they have observed such things in those that professe religion As in the primitive church many Christians took grievous offence at other Christians for the use of their liberty in things indifferent so as the Apostle was affraid they would fall away and perish in their scandalls Lastly some Christians are not setled because when the evill day comes upon them they cast away their confidence and strive to thinke that because God afflicteth them therefore they are not his being for the
they doe soe is because they themselves did feele by experience how unable they were to beare crosses when they fell upon them It was this Peter that denied his Master upon the very sight as it were of adversaries and it was this David that gave this advice after himselfe had changed his behaviour before Abimelech as you may see by the title of the Psalme Which should teach us to bee thankfull for that publike or private quietnesse any of us doe enjoy and besides it should warne those unruly froward Christians that live not in quiet either at home or abroad to repent and amend their words and workes They cannot imagine what singular comfort and contentment they withhold from their owne lives and the lives of others If they did but know how much God abhors a froward Christian they would be more affraid than they are Thus of the generall observations The first part concernes the persons that are exhorted and they are described by two formes of speech the one Such as will love life the other Such as would see good daies If any man will love life From this forme of speech three things may be observed Doct. 1. That men by nature are prone to the love of life and so prone that the most men will breake all bounds and will love life whatsoever bee said to them or done to them This is a point so sensibly felt by the experience of the most that heare it that it needs no proofe If any man aske what the reason should bee why there is such an inordinate love of life in the most many things may be answered The first cause of it is the generall corruption of nature in the most men which came in by sinne To love it selfe is nature but to love life so pertinaciously is from degeneration and the great abasement of the nature of man that cannot now move it selfe towards the perfection of it selfe for unto the godly the change of life is an alteration that brings perfection Secondly ignorance and unbeliefe is the cause of it If men did know beleeve those glorious things God speaks of a better life they would loath this present life long to be in heaven Thirdly the cause in many is that their hearts are â—ngaged upon such perplexed and intricate projects about profit or pleasure or greatnesse in the world that they are not at leasure to examine the reasons of the love of life the heart of man is usually oppressed with some one or other of these projects Fourthly in all sorts of people there is such an incurable inconsideration that no warning from the Word or workes of God no experience of their owne or other mens can force them to a serious and constant meditation of the things concerne their true happinesse Fiftly the love of life ariseth in the most from the Idols of their hearts There is one thing or other that they have set their hearts upon in a vicious manner and this unreasonable love of their particular sinnes doth hold them downe in bondage to this present life and so cannot be cured of the disease till they repent of their beloved sinnes And the guiltinesse of their consciences makes them affraid of death and judgement and to embrace this present life upon any conditions And in godly people this inordinate love of life ariseth from the defect of particular repentance for it Thus of the first point Doct. 2. Men have cause to take off their affections and not to bee so desperately bent to the love of this present life This is a point very profitable to be urged and most men and women have need of it and therefore I will shew more largely the reasons why wee should not love life or not so inordinately as to be unwilling to leave it upon any tearmes The first reason may be taken from the commandement of Christ who gives this in charge to all that will bee his Disciples that they must not love life As they must deny themselves in other things so in this particular And hee so gives this in charge as hee seemes to threaten them with the losse of life if they love it so Luk. 17.33 Iob. 12.25 The second reason may bee taken from the example of the godly that have not loved life Iob detested life Iob 3. Salomon tels of a multitude of occasions that he had to hate life in his book of Eccles. and a multitude of godly men have shewed the proofe of it in laying downe their lives willingly when they have beene called to it Act. 20.24 Phil. 2.20 Heb. 11.35 37. The third reason may bee taken from the consideration of life in it selfe both in the nature of it and in the end of it for the nature of it it is but a winde or a vapour Iam. 4. so meane a thing that no man can well tell how to describe it perfectly which is the greater wonder that it should get the love of all the world and yet no body knowes what it is hee loves And for the end of it it is not in the power of man to number his owne daies God hath set an appointed time for every mans death and though they love life never so much they cannot hold it beyond that time Iob 7.1 And besides our times are so hid that a man cannot bee sure of a moneth a weeke a day an houre and shall our hearts be so bewitched with that which wee know not how long wee shall enjoy Iob 24.1 and the rather because there are so many waies for life to goe out at though but one way to come in And further we can find no means that hath sufficient power to make a man live God hath so reserved the power of life in his owne hands that none of the meanes we use to preserve life can do it to make it hold out for a moment if God doe not from above give speciall assistance Man liveth not by bread Mat. 4. and if a man had abundance of all worldly things yet a mans life consisteth not in that Luk. 12.15 c. The fourth reason may bee taken from the profession of a Christian or his state or relative calling or condition in this life First we are Christs spirituall souldiers Now men that goe to war intangle not ahemselves with the things of this life that they may please them that have chosen them to bee souldiers 2 Tim. 2.4 Secondly we are pilgrims and strangers in this life and therefore nothing should be more easie to us than to be weary of the present condition and to long to be at home Thus did the Patriarches Heb. 11.13 Thirdly in this life we are but poore cottagers that dwell in poore houses of clay and shall wee love to be here rather than in those eternall mansions 2. Cor. 5.1 Iob. 14.2 The fift reason may be taken from the sinnes of life Even sinne is a disease and a loathsome contagious one Now then see what life
of it 58 Attire vitious 14 waies 63 B Blessing kinds thereof 204 Blessings how inherited 214 How they may be gotten 216 How grow in comforts of them 217 Brethren who are so 189 Motives to love as Brethren 190 Brethren how to be loved 191 Rules for brotherly love 193 Brethren how to bee respected in case of sinne 194 C Calling to Christianity 205 Necessity of knowing it 208 Chastity in married persons 44 Motives thereto 45 Preservatives of Chastity 46 How a Chaste wife may be discerned 47 Christians divers sorts of them 209 Church of Rome not to be agreed unto 187 Cohabitation of husbands and wives 114 Compassion 188 What bowells of Compassion import 196 How Compassion rightly ordered 196 Conversion why all not at once converted 31 Corruptible things 71 Courtesie 199 D Daies evill in what respect 229 Daies good in what respect 232 Discords in opinions 184 Causes thereof 185 Divorce 118 Doing well 107 Motives thereto 107 E Earthly things vaine 224 Why they are not to bee loved 226 Example Two vertues of good example 88 How example bindos 90 F Feare of God how shewed 52 Motives to Feare 51 Feare how discerned 50 Feare servile of wicked 48 Who are without Feare 54 Frowardnesse the causes and effects thereof 80 G Good actions how marred 106 Grace manifold 163 What Grace excludes and includes 165 Graces previledge 166 Who sinne against Grace 168 Guile Signes of spirit without Guile 19 H Heart See Man of the heart Heires to Gods Saints 132 Markes of Heires 136 How to carry themselves 138 Men women all Heires 169 Husbands to live quietly with wives 2 Sixteene motives thereto 3 Helpes thereto 6 Causes of disorder betwixt them 5 Husbands duties why in the last place 111 Motives for Husbands to doe their dutie 112 Husbands to dwell with their wives 114 Cases for absence 115 Separation vnlawfull 116 Husbands must dwell with knowledge 123 Husbands must honour their wives 126 I Incorruptible things 73 Ioy spirituall 156 K Knowledge divine excellent 119 Meanes of making Knowledg powerfull 121 How man dwells with Knowledge 123 Properties and effects of Knowledge 144 L Life naturall 224 A meane thing 139 Life spirituall 141 Degrees of it 141 Originall of it 144 Nature of it 144 Nourishers of it 147 Difference betwixt spirituall and eternall life 149 How spirituall life is attained 157 Helpes thereto 158 Signes therof 160 Properties thereof 161 Duties required by vertue of spirituall life 162 Life of man short 234 Love of Life 223 How life to be prolonged 228 Love See Brethren M Man of the heart 66 Wherein he excells the outward Man 67 His naturall condition 68 How he ma be mended 69 How knowne to be right 70 Meckenesse what requisite thereto 76 Helpes to attaine it 81 Minde All of one minde 180 Helpes thereto 182 Miseries of life how avoided 219 N Nullities of Mariage 116 O Obedience six things required thereto 25 Old times what respect to be had thereto 92 P Peace 155 Pittie Motives thereto 168 See Compassion Pleasing God rules for it 84 Praiers excellency 171 Sorts of Praiers 173 How praier is hindred or interrupted 174 Pure how Saints are so stiled 40 Q Quietnesse See Meekenesse How kept quiet in trouble 177 R Repetition of the same things what imported thereby 9 Revenge 201 Revolting causes thereof 17 Righteousnesse 154 S Salvation how furthered 34 Sarah's Daughters 103 Scripture Gods Word 22 See Word Separation betwixt man and wife 116 Spirituall life See Life Subjection of Wives 1â— See Wives T Trust in God Signes thereof 95 Excellency of it 97 Effects of it 97 Rules about it 99 V Vnitie of minde See Minde W Winning men 29 Divers waies thereof 17 Signes of being wonne 18 Divers kinds of Winning 27 How Ministers win Soules 29 How wicked wonne by our conversation 36 How Wives may winne their Husbands 37 WIVES See Husbands See Women Why Wives dueties largely set downe 8 Why Wives ought to be subiect 12 In What Wives are subiect 13 How Wives must be subiect 14 Sonnes of Wives against subiection 15 Wives how they may win their husbands 37 Wives Chastity how seens 47 Wives feare of husbands 55 Wives amazement how caused 109 Women See Wives Women ought first to bee taught their duty 7 Womens frailties 129 Word of God to be obeyed 23 See Scripture FINIS Generall scope Note 16. motives for man and wife to live quietly and comfortably together Vsc. Five speciall causes of disorder betweene man and wife Helpes for man and wife to attaine an orderly and quiet life Reasons to prove that women ought to be taught their duties aswell as men Why the Apostle is so large in setting downe wives duties What things are imported by often repeating of them Note 8. reasons why wives ought to be subject Why the Apostle chargeth wives only with subjection In what things they are to be subject The maner how they must submit In wht cases the wife ought to subject her selfe Particular sinnes of the Wife against subjection Divers waies of winnnig men Note Causes of revolting in many are divers 9 signes to know whether wâ— be wonne effectually 6. things required to sound obedience Divers kinds of winning Note What a Minister must doe to winne soules To be wonne what it imports Note Why all are not converted at once Divers waies from God to further our salvation Doct. â— By what meanes we may winne wicked men in our conversation What things a wife must especially practise to winne her husband Note Vse In what respects godly men are said to be pure Vse Note Motives to chastity Preservatives of chastity How a chast wife may be discerned Reasons why wicked men are smitten with a servile feare Feare two waies considered Reasons why we ought to express this feare of God in our conversation By what waies we must shew this feare of God By what waies we are to expresse this feare of God towards men What sorts of men have not Gods feare Wherein wives shew their fear of their husbands 11. Reasons against vaine attire in women 14. Waies by which apparell or dressing our selves becomes vicious What the man of the heart is His originall Wherein bee excells the outward man His naturall condition very miserable many waies Especially in his workes which are abominable By what means the man of the heart may be mended How we may know when the man of the heart is right Note 7. Things are incorruptible Note What things are requisite to meeknesse Motives to meeknesse Odiousnesse of frowardnesse from the causes and effects of it Helpes for the attaining of quietnesse and meeknesse Rules for our practise so as God may be pleased with us Note â—â—o singular â—ertues in a â—ood example â—hen an examâ—â—e bindes In what things Antiquity is ill pleaded In what cases respect is to be bad unto old times Signes of such as trust in God Reasons proving the excellency of this trusting in God Admirable effects
wonne by them to sound obedience to the Word of Christ nor can grieue them more than by their wilfull resisting of the meanes 3 It requires a great deale of spirituall policie and skill to winne soules a Minister that would doe it must sometimes be like a Foxe It is written of the Foxe that when he is very hungry after prey and can finde none he lyeth downe and feineth himselfe to bee a dead carcasse and so the Foules fall upon him then he catcheth them Even so a Minister that hungreth after the winning of his hearers must sometimes be driven to make a very carcasse of himselfe by denying himselfe and turning himselfe into all formes that his hearers may bee enticed to flocke to his doctrine Paul is faine to deny his maintenance and to become all things to all men even to be a servant unto all that hee might winne some 1. Cor. 9.19.20.21.22 Yea sometimes a man to entice his people must deny his owne profit and make himselfe like a dead carcasse in respect of profits that so he may the better allure them to fall upon him in his minstery Some people will never be caught if the Minister bee bussling amongst them for the utmost of his Rights but if a man will endure to be stript of his Rights sometimes they will goe to heare such a man and so may be catched And thus from the Etymologie of the Word The matter it selfe imports divers things done upon the person so gained as also it notes some thing in the disposition of the party that is to winne and withall something in the estate to which he is wonne For the first when a man is said to be wonne it imports first that he is brought to see that hee is lost in his former estate Secondly that he is brought to confesse his misery and sinne and withall to yeeld himselfe with humilitie of minde to bee disposed of by the supreme Conquerours and withall that he giveth over all opposing of the way of godliness Which may serve for tryall to all such as account themselves gained to godlinesse for such as oppose sincerity or see not they are lost or yeeld not themselves to be disposed of by Iesus Christ are not indeed wonne whatsoever they professe For the second it notes That such as are truly godly shew their affection to such as they are linked to in the bonds of nature by their earnest desire after the salvation of the soules of such as they are tyed to in those bonds Thus Paul desired the salvation of the very Nation he was of thus parents shew their love to their children by bringing them up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord and thus here godly wives shew their love to their husbands in endevouring to winne them to godlinesse and the obedience to the Word Which serues also to trye the affections men professe they beare to their kindred or neighbours or any they are linked to in nature or affinity Parents love not their children that endevour not to get grace for them aswell as riches and so neighbours should shew their love by admonishing instructing and edifying one another 1. Thes. 5.14 For the third in that hee saith indefinitely Wonne not mentioning to what it imports That such as are wonne to true godlinesse are likewise wonne to all happinesse even to Gods kingdome in respect of their right to it especially if they be effectually converted Hee is wonne to glory that is wonne to grace which also may serve for tryall for if thou canst find that thy heart is wonne to sound sanctification thou maist from thence assure thy selfe of thy salvation as certainly to be had as it is certaine thou hast sanctification They also This Also imports two things First that the Word of God never winnes so many but there are still more to be wonne though thousands were converted among the Gentiles yet still there was hope of winning more In the spirituall husbandry all times are not times of harvest and in the harvest all the spirituall graine is not ripe at once The Iewes were first to be gotten in and then the Gentiles were ripe for the harvest Iohn 4. and when the fulnesse of the Gentiles is come in by that time the Iewes will be ripe againe and so it is in particular countries cities parishes families And as in winnowing though it bee done with never so good a winde or skill yet some graine will still be in the chaffe so it is in places where the most good hath been done by the meanes And herein God is better than the naturall husbandman for the naturall husbandman will never winnowe the chaffe over againe for a few graines of corne nor will he thresh over his strawe againe if but a few cornes of wheate or barley bee in the strawe but God will winnowe a great heape if it were but at length to find one graine of spirituall corne It may be often observed that in some places God sets his servants to thresh or winnowe in great assemblies of chaffe and yet after divers yeares labour it may be they get but one graine of corne that is convert after much toile perhaps but one or two soules Now if any aske why all that belong to God are not converted all at once I answer that it were sufficient to satisfie us if we knew no more but that it pleased God to have it so it is his will it should be so But yet that it is a wise providence of God so to order it may appear in divers things for by continuing the meanes to call his owne Elect thus by degrees the wicked are left without excuse Besides the godly while they looke for the daily discovery of new converts are thereby put to the exercise of many graces and dueties as diligence compassion charity a winning conversation meeknesse prayer exhortation and the like And besides the outward peace of the Church is thereby preserved for if it were knowen once that all the Elect in any place were called there would follow such violent opposition from the greater worser sort as there would bee no place of rest for the Church in the world They would all bee of Caines minde if God had declared his testimony on both sides from Heaven And therefore at the day of judgement â—ssoone as he hath parted the Elect and Reprobate and sentenced them he disposeth so of them as they shall never live together againe And further if all the Elect were gathered at once the world would bee at an end for then Christ would deliver up the kingdome to his father 1. Cor. 15.24 and therefore Ministers should continue painefull in their labours as remembring that they are set to worke for the edification of the Church till Christ come againe Eph. 4 12. And though the most of their present hearers have refused the Word of God and are hardened yet they may see cause of constancie because
men that have a portion in spirituall things should not bee troubled for want of these earthly things seeing if they had them they would last but awhile Iames 1.9 and therefore having food and raiment they should be content Thus of the first doctrine Doct. 2. Earthly things doe not adorne a man As they are corruptible so they doe not make a man any whit the more comely which is true in these foure senses following First they doe not adorne a man in the sight of God He respects it not whether a man bee poore or rich bond or free cloathed or naked in robes or in ragges Gal. 3.28 Secondly they adorne not the inward man they adde nothing to the minde or heart of man Thirdly they adorne not with true ornament but onely with a shew for if the glory of the world bee like a withering flower what true ornament can it bee to weare such withered things Fourthly they adorne not for continuance All apparell for the body of a man and all ornaments for his house or state any way they are the worse for wearing and will weare cleane out in the end And therefore for the use first How vaine a thing is the pride of life and secondly wee should therefore know no man after the flesh but to reckon of mans worth by better things than worldly things Doct. 3. A third doctrine is evidently to be observed out of these words that is very comfortable for godly Christians such as the Apostle supposed these to bee to whom he writes and that is That godly Christians have right to all incorruptible things That which is not corruptible if they seeke they may possesse It is their owne God would have them put it on as they put on their apparell He hath adorned his children with the gift of all incorruptible things heavenly treasures are theirs and they may lay hold on them and lay them up as their certaine riches and portion Mat. 6.20 Hee grants eternall life to them that seeke glory and honour and incorruptible things that is hee grants them an eternall possession of spirituall things Rom. 2.7 Now that this doctrine may be more evident and full of comfort it is profitable to inquire distinctly what is incorruptible and will last alwaies and so we shall finde by the testimonies of the Scriptures that seven things are incorruptible 1 God is incorruptible Rom. 1. and God is their God by covenant and as David saith he is the strength of their heart and their portion for ever Psal. â—7 26 Psal. 119.57 and God his mercy and his love and his power is everlasting His mercy endures for ever Psal. 136. and his loving kindnesse shall never be taken from him Psal. 89. 33. and with everlasting compassion he hath received them to favour Esay 54. and with everlasting love hath hee loved them Ier. 31.3 and in the Lord Iehovah is everlasting strength for the protection and preservation of his people and therefore they may trust upon him for ever Esay 26.4 and therefore if all people will walke every one in the name of his God godly men ought much more to walke in the Name of the Lord their God for ever and ever Mich. 4.6 2 The Word of God is incorruptible and lasts beyond all end 1. Pet. 1.24 Psal. 119.89 And this is the heritage of the godly Psal. 119.111.127 the truth shall bee with us for ever 2. Iohn 2. 3 The righteousnesse of Christ is everlasting Dan. 9. 24. and this righteousnesse is theirs so as they may put it on as a garment and it makes them righteous before God Rom. 13. ult 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Cor. 5.21 4 Gods covenant is incorruptible everlasting Esay 55.4 and it cannot be abrogated but the godly shall have the benefite of it for ever 5 The gifts of saving grace are incorruptible and their hearts can never bee drawne dry but the spring of grace will be in some measure on them And through theâ—â— graces the godly have everlasting conversationâ— for Gods gifts and 〈◊〉 iâ— without repentance 〈◊〉 4.14 â— Thes. â— 10 Rom. 11. This love is incorruptible 2. Cor. 13. and everlasting joy 〈◊〉 upon their heads Esay 61. so the 〈◊〉 of saving knowledge will abide in the godly for ever 1. Iohn 3. and their meeknesse and a quiet spirit is reckoned an ornament that is not corruptible But of this afterwards 6 Good workes are incorruptible so the righteousnesse of the just will last for ever 2. Cor. 9.9 and though he dye yet his workes will follow him to Heaven Rev. 14.13 so Psal. 139.24 Lastly Heaven and the glory of it is everlasting Gods kingdome is an everlasting kingdome 1. Tim. 6.11 and that glory is an eternall weight of glory 2. Cor. 4.14 Wee have an house that is eternall in the Heavens 2. Cor. 5.1 our inheritance there is immortall undefiled withereth not away 1. Pet. 1.3 The uses may be divers Vse 1. For first it should teach us to strive to be such as may have our portion in incorruptible things and so we must first take off our affections from all things that may offend as resolved if our right eye offend us to plucke it out and if our right hand offend us to cut it off that is to deny all sinfull things though they were as deare to us as our right hand or right eye Mat. 9.45 Secondly we must be such as yeeld our selves to obey the voice of Christ and to bee ruled by him He gives eternall life to his sheep wee must bee sheepe then for hearing his voice and tractablenesse Iohn 10.29 Thirdly we must give glory to God and rely upon his promise of grace in Iesus Christ we must be beleevers Iohn 3.16 Fourthly we must by patient continuing in well-doing still seeke immortality Rom. 2.7 Thus of the first use Vse 2. Secondly seeing the portion of the godly lyes in incorruptible things wee should not be much troubled for any wants or losses in corruptible things Wee have so large an inheritance in things that will last for ever that it should bee no grievance to us though wee should want those transitory things of the world Vse 3. Thirdly for this reason such as abound in earthly things should bee the more willing to distribute them and give them for good uses seeing those things are not their portion and therefore they neede not bee over-carefull for the keeping of such things Vse 4. Fourthly hence we may gather infallibly That the godly can never fall from grace for Gods mercies cannot corrupt or fall away and his gifts are without repentance If they could be lost then they were corruptable aswell as earthly things But this is a comfort that must not bee taken away that God will establish Sion for ever Psal. 48.8 and though the world passe away and the lusts thereof yet he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1. Iohn 2.17 and though the servant may bee cast
of God are capable of this Grace Heb. 9.16 Ioh. 1.13 And in particular wee must have a true justifying faith Ioh. 1.12 For as was shewed before we come to the right of Sonnes onely as wee are ingrafted into Christ upon whom all the inheritance is originally and fundamentally conferred and into Christ wee cannot get but by faith And further wee must looke to the sound mortification of the deedes of the flesh Rom. 8.13 and know that none can inherit but such as ouercome the power of their corruptions and are not in bondage to any sinne Rev. 21.7 And more specially God requires in all such as will be his sonnes that they bee such as are not in bondage to the passions and perturbations of the heart 〈◊〉 for hee hath promised that the meeke shall inherit Mat. 5.5 Thirdly we must forsake all needlesse society familiarity with the wicked of the world if wee will be Gods sonnes and daughters and resolutely refuse to be corrupted with the sinnes of the times as the Apostle shewes at large 2. Cor. 6.17 18. Fourthly wee must be such as are described Esay 56.4 5 6. Wee must make conscience to keepe Gods Sabbaths and chuse the thing will please God being more desirous to please God in all things than naturall children are to please their earthly parents and take hold of Gods Covenant as resting upon this preferment and the promises of it as our sufficient happinesse And that we may be the more established in the knowledge of our Adoption it will bee good for us to try our selves by the signes of such as are Gods adopted children 1 Such as are Gods children by Adoption haue this marke They are made like unto God their Father in holiness in some truth of resemblance 1. Pet. 1.25 And this they shew two waies first by purifying themselves and sound humbling of their soules for their sinnes that deface the Image of God in them as Saint Iohn saith Every one that hath this hope purifyeth himselfe as he is pure 1. Ioh. 3.2 3. Secondly by imploying himselfe constantly in doing righteousnesse for hereby the children of God are knowne from the children of the Divell 1. Ioh. 3.10 2 In the last recited place you may discerne another signe of a sonne and heire to God and that is the love of the godly as his brethren and fellow heires Hee that loveth not the brethren is of the Divell not of God 1. Ioh 3.10 3 The gift of prayer is a signe of Adoption and that we have received the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 16. By the gift of prayer I meane not the skill to utter words to God in a good form of words and variously but the gift to speake to God in prayer both with confidence in God as in a father and with the affections of praier which the phrase of crying Abba Father imports 4 A Child of God discovers his Adoption by the manner of doing good dueties hee doth serve God not with servile respect but with filiall affection hee loves to be Gods servant as may be gathered Esay 56.6 5 To love them that hate us and blesse them that curse us and doe good to them that persecute us is a signe that wee are children to God as our heavenly father Luk. 6.35 Mat. 5. The second impression that this glory of Adoption should make upon our hearts should be to stir up us to cary our selves in this world as becomes the children heirs to such a father as God is And so in generall it should wonderfully fire us to all possible care to be holy as he is holy and to expresse more to the life the Image of Gods grace and holinesse 1. Pet. 1. 14 15. And that in all manner of conversation striving to carry our selves as the sonnes of God without rebuke in the middest of this froward and wicked world all sorts of the men of the world being so ready to reproach such as are Gods people that if they will speake evill it may be onely for our good conversation in Christ Phil. 2.15 16. And in particular wee are charged in Scripture with certaine speciall and choise things that doe greatly adorne and grace the life of a child of God that is an heire of heaven if we be Gods heirs and he be our father 1 Wee should be Peace-makers for our father is the God of peace and this will force men to call us the sonnes of God Mat. 5.10 2 Wee must not render reviling for reviling but rather blesse seeing wee are heires of blessing as the Apostle urgeth it ver 9. 3 Wee should live without care as knowing that wee have a heavenly father that careth for us Mat. 6.32 And seeing wee are heires of a better world wee should not love this world nor set our hearts upon such mean things as this world can afford 1. Ioh. 2.15 4 If wee be Gods sonnes wee should be willing to submit our selves to his correction If wee yeeld that power to the fathers of our bodies how much more to the Father of our spirits Heb. 12.9 But especially take heed that we provoke not God by carelesnesse and boldnesse in favouring any corruption Deut. 32.18 19. Thirdly our Adoption should be a singular consolation to us against all the miseries of this life It matters not though our life bee hid and though it doe not appeare to the world what wee are and though wee have many crosses and losses and persecutions yet the thought of our inheritance with God should swallow up all Whatsoever wee are now yet when Christ appeares wee shall appeare in glory and there can be no comparison betweene the suffering of this life and the glory to be revealed upon us Rom. 8.17 Mat. 19.29 Col. 3.2 4. 1 Ioh. 3.2 And that wee may be the more comforted wee should often pray to God to shew us by degrees and to make us know the riches of our inheritance both in what we possesse in this world and what wee looke for in heaven And thus of the title of our dignities We are heires Of life Now follows to consider what we inherit and that is Life We are heires of life It is somewhat a strange speech but yet if wee consider of it Life is a most sweet thing there can be no happinesse without it A living Dog is better than a dead Lyon But as life is to be taken here it is a Treasure above all treasures in the world But the enquirie into it is very difficult it is wonderfull hard to find out what life is especially to describe or define the life here mentioned as the glory of Gods adopted ones Life in Scripture is either naturall or spirituall as for naturall life especially since the fall that is so poore a thing as to be an heire to it is no great preferment By naturall life I meane that life that men live while they are unregenerate I say that life is a very poore thing
our selves incombrances by our owne rashnesse or indiscretion And lastly when with all knowledge we joyne lowlinesse of mind and meekenesse that meekenesse that is called meekenesse of wisdome by Saint Iames. Thus of the meanes to attaine life The signes follow There are divers waies to try our selves whether eternall life be begunne in us as 1 By the savouring of those things that are immortall Our mortall life relisheth nothing but what is transitory and eternall life findes happinesse in nothing but what is eternall or tends to it Thus a man that is endued with this life esteemes with sense grace above riches spirituall treasures above all earthly In particular the desire after the Word of God is a signe that we are at least new borne babes in Gods kingdom if so be wee desire it with a kind of naturall affection as the childe doth the breast and constantly and as the word is sincere and with an unfained desire to grow in grace and goodnesse by the power of the Word Rom. 8.5 1. Pet. 2. Iohn 6.27 2 By our knowledge of God in Christ as hath beene shewed before when it is such a knowledge as workes not onely admiration but also sound transformation of our hearts and lives 3 There is a kinde of sorrow that the Apostle saith is to salvation 2. Cor. 10.7 and that is such a sorrow as is voluntary and secret for our sinnes and for all sorts of sinnes Rom. 7. Esa. 6.5 Esa. 1.16 and as they are sinnes and not for other respects and such a sorrow as quieteth the heart and leaveth a vehement desire of reformation and is most stirred by the sense of Gods goodnesse Hos. 3.5 Esa. 1.16 and is found in prosperity as well as adversitie 4 By our love to God for if the light of life bee in vs and that wee are truely acquainted with God as our God in Christ the heart hath seene that that will make it in love with God for ever and shew it by his estimation of Gods loving kindnesse and all the signes of it above all things in life Psal. 63.2 11. and by longing after the comming of Christ 2. Tim. 4.8 and by grieving for Gods absence Cant. 3.1 and by his feare to offend God in any thing Iude 20. and by his willingnesse to suffer any thing for God and the Gospell 1. Thes. 1.2 5 By our love of the brethren The Alpostle Iohn with great confidence of words makes this a signe that wee are translated from death to life 1. Ioh. 3.14 and it is infallible if we so love them as we account them the only excellent ones Psal. 16.3 and desire them as the onely companions of our lives and if it bee for the grace and goodnesse is in them 1. Ioh. 5.1 2. Ioh. 1.2 and if it be notwithstanding their infirmities or adversities and if wee love all the brethren without respect of persons 6 To conclude this point generally If eternall life bee begun in us wee are new creatures borne againe the Image of God is restored in us in some degree Ioh. 3.5 Tit. 3.7 5. Colos. 3.10 and we are such as are fully resolved to spend our daies in the way of righteousnesse and a holy course of life Prov. 12.28 8 The properties of this life follow and they are five for 1 It is unspeakable eye hath not seene nor eare heard nor can the heart of man conceive what God hath prepared in life for them that love him 1. Cor. 2.9 2 It is free it is not given by merit but is the free gift of God Rom. 6. ult 3 It is certain for there is an Act for it in Gods councell Men be ordained to life and their names written in the booke of life Act. 13.48 Phil. 4.4 and God hath bound himselfe by many promises in his Word to the believer and besides hath confirmed it with an oath Heb. 6.17 and Christ is gone into heaven to make the place ready for all the heires of life Ioh. 14.3 and further wee have it already begun even eternall life begun Ioh. 17.3 4 It is a life by assimilation that is such a life as is fashioned in likenesse to the life of another even Iesus Christ according to whose Image wee are created Col. 3.10 And who shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body Phil. 3.21 5 It is eternall A life that will last as long as God liveth it will never have an end Divines expresse the etâ—rnitie of it in part by this similitude Suppose a little Bird came to the Sea once in a thousand yeares and tooke up onely one drop of water and so should continue to take every thousand yeares onely one drop what an unspeakable space of time would it be before the Sea would be drunke up and yet eternity is a lasting beyond that unmeasurably Thus of the explication of the doctrine concerning life The uses follow and Vse 1. First what a strong impression should this doctrine have upon the hearts of all unregenerate men How should life and heaven suffer violence How should this force open their eies that they might awake from that fearefull lethargie and stand up from the dead that Christ might give them this light of life How should they unchangeably resolve to seeke Gods kingdome first above all things and above all gettings strive to get understanding What shall it profit them to winne the whole world and lose their owne soules But especially the doctrine of life should melt the hearts of all the godly and imprint upon them the care of many dueties as 1 They have cause to wonder at the exceeding riches of Gods kindnesse to them in Iesus Christ in providing such an inheritance for them Eph. 2.7 2 They should pray earnestly to God to open their eyes more and more to see the glory of this life and effectually to take notice of the high dignity of their calling and riches of their inheritance in life Eph. 1.19 3 This should marvellously weane their hearts from the cares of this present life and from the love of earthly things seeing their inheritance lyeth in spirituall and eternall life 1. Cor. 7.31 Heb. 13.4 5. 11.13 Col. 3.1 2. Phil. 3.20 4 Since they have found this precious life by the Gospell they should therefore take heed they be not carried about with divers and strange doctrine nor trouble themselves with doubtfull disputations or unprofitable questions They have found the words of eternall life and whither else will they goe Tit. 3.7 9. Heb. 13.9 5 This should make them love one another as such as shall bee companions in life for ever Yea they should receive one another as Christ received them to glory Ioh. 13.34 Eph. 4.2 5.1 Rom. 15.7 And in particular husbands should make much of their wives and masters of such servants as are heires with them of the grace of life as this Text shewes and Col. 3.24 6 They should strive to shew the
is thou thy selfe hast innumerable sinnes and there is no man alive that sinneth not in the whole world now if every man have innumerable contagious diseases what a loathsome pest-house is this world to live in The thoughts of a man can reach to the depth and length of this argument but inconsideration buries all wholsome counsell motives But besides this respect of sinne a Christian findes from his owne sinnes if there were none else in the world great cause to be weary of life first because sinne argues the imperfection of his nature both in soule and body and so long as he is in this sinfull life he can never have a perfect nature now a a man that loves himselfe for this reason would never love life Rom. 7.23 Secondly because sinne is an offence to God now a child of God should therefore loath life because by sinning he doth injury to God his mercifull father and in the most holy Christians this argument hath extraordinary force The sixth reason may be taken from the crosses of life Hath not every day his griefe Is there any estate or degree of men free from them Are not those whom God loves corrected yea and perhaps more than other men Seriously thinke of what thou dost suffer in thy particular What diseases or infirmities are in thy body What unquietnesse and vexation doest thou suffer in the house where thou livest What crosses doe follow or feare thee in thy calling Yea doth not thy religion breed thee trouble If the reproaches and oppositions be considered of which godly men somtimes suffer we might say with the Apostle Of all men they are most miserable 1. Cor. 15.19 Paul saith he was a man crucified while he lived Gal. 2.20 and did alwaies in his body carry about the dying of the Lord Iesus 2. Cor. 4.10 Besides consider of the danger of what may come upon thee in life What if war come or the pestilence or sudden poverty that cannot be cured or fearefull diseases that will fill thee with horrible paine Nay what if thou shouldest fall into some shamefull fault Oh what were the misery would follow upon it The seaventh reason may bee taken from the extreame vanity of those things that seeme to be felicities in life all the things in life that with any colour of reason can be made objects of thy love are either the people of the world or the commodtties of the world Now for the first of these thou hast no reason to be in love with life for the people of the world with whom thou livest for 1 Amongst all the thousands of men and women thou seest in the world it may bee there is scarce one that loveth thee entirely scarce one from whom thou maiest enjoy delight or comfort They are poore things thou canst have from the rest whether they be neighbours or strangers More then thou givest thou shalt not receive unlesse it be in poore complements of salutations and ceremonies of life 2 If thou didst excell in the priviledge of being loved by friends kindred wife or children yet reckon how smal a portion of thy life is refreshed from them there is sometimes more delight in one poore dreame than will be had this way in a long time 3 Thinke of it what changes and losses thou doest or maiest suffer if there were any thing worthy thy love in friendship or acquaintance thy friends may be daily lost either by the change of their mindes from thee or by distance in habitation or by death and the pleasure is had by thy acquaintance is made not worth the having either by interruption or by discord and taking of offence or want of power or will to helpe when thou hast most need 4 Who would not hate life for this very reason which I now give Let a man consider by experience in all others how little the world cares for him If thou wert to dye what would the world care or almost any in the world let it bee thy wife children neighbours hearers dearest friends yea thy religious friends what would any of these care for thy death Looke not at their words but note it in their deeds How few will be sorry for thee or for how short a time and how soone wilt thou bee cleane forgotten or how poore a thing is the greatest memory any man hath when he is dead Doest thou live to heare this and yet wilt be so mad as to love life for the love thou bearest to any other 5 The evill thou sufferest from the world is greater than the good thou canst get by it thinke of the reproaches injuries oppositions contempts persecutions infections thou maiest finde from unreasonable men How many thousand would triumph over thy poore fame if thy feete doe but slippe Lastly the company thou shalt have of Angells and spirits of just men in another world should make thee loath all these things in this life whether thou respect number or power or dearnesse in friends even in such as must be companions of thy life and therefore for the company that is in the world thou hast no reason to love life The commodities of the world are lands houses money honour credit beauty pleasure and the like now men have no cause to be so in love with these if they consider 1 How small a portion they have of these If a man had won the whole world and the glorie of it yet it were not worth the having if he must lose his owne soule Nay if it were all had upon the best conditions yet it would not make a man truely happy and therefore much lesse these silly parcells of the world wee can attaine to Eccles. 1.3 2 These are all common things and that in two respects first there is nothing new now to be had which hath not been had heeretofore ordinarily What is now hath beene before and will be afterwards Thou canst enjoy no felicity of life that can be proper to thy selfe Eccles. 1.9 10. 3.15 And then further all these things a fool may enjoy as well as a wise man and a wicked man as well as a godly man A man shall never know love or hatred by these things for they fall alike to all sorts of men Eccles. 2.14 3 All things are full of labour who can utter it If men doe reckon the paines and care and unquietnesse and wearinesse they are put to about the getting or keeping or using of these things they would finde little cause to love them especially considering that unto the use of the most of these is required a daily labour with toile that men that possesse these things cannot possesse themselves they are so overburthened with the cares and labours of life Eccles. 1.8 4 If a man had never so much of these things yet they cannot satisfie him his soule will not bee filled with good The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing Hee that loveth silver shall
not be satisfied with silver Man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vain Eccles 1.9 5.10 Psal. 39. A shadow is something in apparance but nothing in substance if a man would seeke to claspe it or receive it to himselfe 5 All these things are transitory and uncertaine and mutable which may be considered of three waies First if thou love these things thou art not sure thou canst keepe them they may be lost suddenly and fearefully for either they may wear out of themselves or they may be taken from thee they are liable to vanitie in themselves or to violence from others Matth. 6.19.20 1. Pet. 1.24 Secondly if thou be sure to enjoy them yet they will be suddenly lost to thee because thou canst not make thy heart to take delight in the same things still for not onely the world passeth away but the lusts therof also 1. Iob. 2.15 Eccles. 6.1 7. 9.3 Thirdly if neither of these befall thee yet thou art mortall thou must be taken from them and thy life is short like a dreame and passeth away like the winde and thou art but a stranger and pilgrime here and thou must carry nothing out of the world but in all points as thou camest into the world so must thou goe hence Psal. 90. Iob 7.7 Eccles. 5.13 14 15. All flesh is grasse Esay 40.6 6 That a man may receive much hurt from them they may steale away our hearts from God The amitie of the world is the enmity with God Iam. 4. They are like pitch to defile there is a snare and temptation in all of them they fill mens hearts with foolish noysome lusts and a man may damne his soule for too much loving of them 1. Tim. 6.9 Phi. 3 18. and they may serve to witnesse against a man at the day of judgment Iam. 5.1 Lastly consider that there is no comparison betweene the commodities of this life and the commodities of the life to come There are rivers of pleasures for evermore Psal. 16. ult There are Crownes of honour and glorie such as will neither be held with envie nor lost with infamie there shall men possesse enduring substance Heb. 11. treasures not liable either to vanity or violence Matth. 6.20 an inheritance immortall and undefiled and that withereth not and lieth in heaven 1. Pet. 1.3.4 Thus of the second doctrine A third Doctrine may be gathered out of these words and that is That in some cases there is a permission of the love of life In that he gives rules to such as will love life it imports that God is contented to suffer or tolerate that humour in men Now this toleration may be considered of as it is granted to some men or as it extends in some sort to all sorts of men Some men that are in high place and have publike imployments and are about some speciall service for the glory of God and good of the Church or Common-wealth in these men the desire to live longer in it selfe is not sinfull This was the case of David and Hezekiah Now further unto all sorts of men the Lord doth allow a certaine kinde of liking of life so as they observe such cautions and rules as he appoints as namely that the cares of this life hinder not the preparation for death or the provision for a better life and withall that they limit not God for the time of life but be willing to dye when God calls for their lives Now for a conclusion to this point I would advise those that have such a minde to live here to looke to certaine rules which will prevaile with God to grant them long life if any thing will prevaile as first they must bee exhorted to take heed of overmuch desire of life they must moderate their desires after life If they could once attaine to it to bee content to die when God will it may bee they should finde life prolonged according to that of our Saviour Hee that will lose his life shall finde it Secondly such as have parents in nature or religion must be verie carefull to give them due honour for to such God hath promised long life in the fift Commandement Thirdly godlinesse hath the promises of this present life as well as of the life to come and therefore ever the more godly we are in all manner of conversation the longer wee may be likely to live and contrariwise a prophane man hath no assurance to live out halfe his daies Thus of the first forme of speech The second forme of speech by which the persons hee adviseth are described are such as will see good daies And see good daies Before I come to the observations here is worke of large enquiry and consideration about the sense for these words import That in the life of man there be some good daies and some evill daies Physitians tell us in their profession of some daies in the yeare that bee good daies and some that be evill daies for their directions and superstitious and idle people in the world tell us that there are some good daies to beginne businesses in and some evill It seemes here the Prophet David in Theologicall contemplation findes that in the life of man some daies be good and some bee evill This would be enquired into And that wee may finde out which bee good daies wee must first enquire which be evill daies and that by Scripture account And that wee may distinctly understand this wee must enquire which be evill daies 1 For wicked men 2 For godly men The daies of wicked men must bee considered more generally or more specially generally all the daies of the wicked are evill both because hee is a transgressour every day and because the curse of God is upon him all his daies even then when hee lives longest and enjoyes most prosperous times Esay 65.20 Every day the wrath of God hangeth over his head and every day God judgeth him Psal. 7. either in soule or body or name or estate either by withholding his blessings or by mingling the curse with the good things hee enjoyeth Psal. 78.33 as the Israelites under censure of death from God More specially the daies of the wicked man are evill eiin this life or after this life In this life his daies are evill in two speciall senses either in respect of the shortning of them or in respect of the afflicting of them It is a speciall evill to some wicked men that their daies on earth are shortned Some men live not out halfe their daies and dye in the middest of their daies Psal. 55.24 Ier. 17.11 and so it is a curse that his daies are few Psal. 109.8 Eccles. 8.13 Againe the daies of wicked men are said to bee evill in respect of some speciall judgements of God to bee powred out upon them for their sinnes These daies are called the daies of Gods wrath and anger and daies of Gods visitation Isa. 10.3 the day of
of this trusting in God Helpes to attaine this grace of trusting in God Rules to be observed in our right trusting in God Vid. 1. Tim. 5.5 Ier. 49.11 Note Doct. Godly women daughters of Sarah three waies What things marre a good action How we are said to do well Reasons why we ought alwayes to be doing well Causes of amazement in wives Why Husbands duties are noted in the last place Motives to perswade Husbands to be carefull of their duties What things cohabitation doth import Reasons why husbands ought thus to dwell with their wives In what cases it is lawfull for the husband to be absent Whether separation from bed and boord be lawfull Cases of Nullitie Concerning Divorce what rule is to be observed Excellency of divine knowledge in many respects Meanes to give power to our knowledge What this dwelling with knowledge imports How many waies husbands honour their wives In what things women are more frayle than men How godly men come to be heires Wherein the greatnesse and glory of our Adoption appeareth What kinde of persons we must be to attaine this Adoption Marks of Gods heyres and adopted children How Gods heirs must carry themselâ—es Naturall life but a meane thing in divers respects Degrees of spirituall life The originall of this life It hath its originall from God three waies The nature of it consists in a saving knowledge or celestiall light Which knowledge must haue these properties and effects in it Divers things nourish this life This life differs from eternall life many waies 1 In respect of place 2 In respect of the meanes that preserve this life 3 In respect of the company 4 In respect of the quality of the life it selfe 5. In respect of the effects of life in each degree as to instance 1. For righteousnesse 2. for peace 3. for joy What men must doe to attaine this life A Christian hath many helpes to attain it Signes of this life are six Properties of this life are five What duties this doctrine should compell godly men to practise Grace manifold What is meant here by grace Two wayes considered What is excludes What it includes What priviledges follow on such as enjoy Gods grace Men transgresse against the grace of God many waies Godly men and women are heyres together many waies The excellency of prayer appeares in many respects From whence the sorts and difference of Prayer doth arise Prayer may be hindred seven waies in the bearing of it How it is interrupted in the making of it Five things of singular use to keepe us quiet in trouble Note For what reason we ought to be all of one minde Helpes unto unity of minde 2 Pet. 1. ult Aggravations against discord in opinion Many are the ill causes of dissenting In what things we may not be of one minde with the Church of Rome Wherein we expresse our compassion The motives or reasons to perswade us to it Who are brethren Reasons to perswade us to love as brethren With what kind of love we are to love the brethren Rules to be observed that brotherly love may continue Either such things we are to avoid Or such things wee are to praâ—lise How to order ourselves towards our brethren in case of sinne against God or trespasse against us Three caveats to be looked unto in our loving of them What things bowells of compassion or mercy import When our bowels of mercy are right Motives to bee pittifull What things are comprehended under courtesie Divers kindes of blessing When wee blesse in deed Wherein particularly For what reasons a Christian should bee much affected with the consideration of his calling Reasons proâ—ng the necessity of knowing our calling and assurance By what means a christian comes to know his calling Divert sorts of Christians Carnall Christians know not their calling and why Causes why many weake Christians know not their calling Note Godly men doe inherit blessings many waies 1. From men 2. From their owne consciences 3. From God and that divers waies In this life godly men have Gods blessing three waies What we must doe to get Gods blessing How godly men may grow in the comforts of Gods blessing Note Note For what reasons men ought to take off their affections from the love of this life In what respects the vanity of earthly things appeare Men have no reason to bee in love with earthly commodities and that for divers causes In what cases it may be lawfull for some persons to be in love with this life What such must doe to prolong their life What daies are evill in respect of wicked men Wherein godly mens daies are evill Great difference betweene the evill daies of wicked and godly men Evill daies common to wicked and godly men What are good daies in generall In particular there are divers sorts of good daies to the godly Mans life is short In what respect it is short Causes why most mens lives are so short Vses