is Preservation which you said was the second act on of the holy Spirit which he workes to bring to passe mans salvation M. Preservation The Preseruation of the Spirit is an action of the holy Spirit whereby he upholdeth them that are regenerate that they fall not away from grace but be kept to continue therein That the regenerate are kept in the state of grace is plaine by S. Peter who saith that they are kept unto salvation 1 Pet 1.3.5 And that they doe receive the end of their faith which is the salvation of their soules verse 9. And that they are kept thereunto by the holy Spirit is as plaine by the same Apostle where he saith they are kept by the power of God 1 Pet 1.5 which is the power of the holy Ghost Rom 15.13 For they are led by the Spirit Gal 5.18 They walke in the Spirit Gal 5.16 Rom 8.14 They live in the Spirit Gal 5.25 They are sealed by the Spirit Eph 1.13 strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man Eph 3.16 And they are sanctifyed by the Spirit wholly and preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Thess 5.23 2 Thess 2.13 And if the regenerate bee kept by the holy Spirit unto salvation then in respect of Gods keeping can they not fall from grace to misse salvatioÌ„ in the event end I know the strongest Christian is not able to stand of himselfe for even hee that standeth must take heede lest hee fall 1 Cor 10.12 And therefore hee must not be high-minded but feare Rom 11.20 I acknowledge also that there is nothing in grace it selfe as it is mans but that it might faile for it is received but in part in this life 1 Cor 13.9 And that which is but in part is imperfect and that which is imperfect may of it selfe faile Neither is there any thing in the particular grace of faith but that it might faile too for Peters faith might have failed if Christ had not prayed that it might not faile Luke 22.32 and Peters faith was the same for nature and kinde with the faith of all that are regenerate But though both these be true both of grace generally and of faith particularly yet for all this the truely regenerate do not fall from grace but are preserved therein for first touching grace in generall I say that it failes not for it is the anoynting which they receive and which abides in them 1 Iohn 2.27 and that which abides failes not for by it they are strengthened and preserved to Gods heavenly kingdome 2 Tim 4.18 Secondly touching the particular grace of faith I say that that failes not neither 1. because Christ prayed not onely for Peters faith that it might not faile but for the faith of all the Elect and Regenerate that theirs might not faile for he prayed that they might all bee kept by the Father in his Name that they may bee one in God as the Father and the Sonne are one Iohn 17.11.15.20 21 And Christ was heard and answered in all his prayers Iohn 11.42 2. The faith of the regenerate failes not in the end because they are kept by the power of God through faith 1 Pet 1.5 Now if they bee kept through faith then must they keepe the faith and be kept in it also else they cannot attaine salvation in the end for if the regenerate doe receive the salvation of their soules as the end of their faith 1 Pet 1.9 then must they by some meanes keepe their faith to the end I know and confesse that there bee many which thinke of themselves that they have indeede the true faith and grace and so are thought by others to have it when indeede they have it not and these after a sort may be thought to fall from faith and grace because in time they discover their hollownesse for their faith workes not by love Gal 5.6 nor their love by obedience Iohn 14.15 Nor is their obedience a sincere endeavour to keepe all Gods coÌ„mandements Iam 2.10 But this can not be called truely falling from grace because they had not grace indeed and they cannot fall from that they had not but from the profession of grace and faith And therefore for all this they that have true grace doe by Gods power keepe it and persevere in it for Paul did fight a good fight he finished his course and kept the faith 2 Tim. 4.6 They doe not withdraw themselues but beleeve to the salvation of their soules Heb 10 28 therefore they beleeve to the end P. Mee thâ—nkes you prove this poynt so directly by the word that I cannot tell what to say to the contrary but there bee many learned men of a contrary mind and therefore I pray prove it unto me by some reason also M. I will and it shall be by this which shall include diverse branches If the regenerate be not preserved by God in the state of grace so as they shall certainely bee saved in the end then it is either 1 because God cannot keep them or 2 because he will not keepe them or 3 because they haue no neede of his keeping or 4 Because God thinks it best to leaue every man to himselfe to keepe himselfe and to the use and choice of his owne freewill to persevere in grace and faith or to fall from it But neither of these are true as shall appeare in the particulars Therefore the Regenerate are preserved by God in the State of grace unto the end These foure particulars on which the truth of this argument doth stand shall all be proved in order 1 That God is able to keep the regenerate in the state of grace is plaine by Paul who saith that God was able to keep that which he had committed unto him 2. Tim. 1.12 By the Apostle Iude who saith that God is able to keepe them from falling Iude v. 24. And no marvell seeing they are in his Fathers hands and in his Christ saith none is able to pluck them out of his or his Fathers hands Iohn 10.28 29 and therefore they shall never perish ibid. 2 That God is willing to keepe the truly Regenerate that haue grace indeede is as evident by Saint Paule where he saith that God shall confirme them unto the end 1 Cor. 1.4.8.9 He that had begun a good worke in them will performe it untill the day of Christ Philipp 1.6 and God is faithfull who shall stablish them and keep them from evill 2 Thess 3.3 and Paul affirmes that God would preserve him to his heavenly kingdome 2 Tim 4.18 3. That the regenerate had neede to bee kept by God in the state of grace will easily be proved if wee consider 1. that their corrupt nature and infidelity a fruit of it are not quite subdued in them as long as they live Rom 7.17 18. Heb 3.12 2. That grace is but imperfectly received in this life as hath been shewed even now 3. That Sathan seekes to winnow
faith or beleefe in Christ is good wheÌ„ it works in us by love to God and our neighbour Gal 5.6 and is shewed by good workes Tit 3.8 Iam 2.18 and when it stirres us up to sincere obedience to Gods commandements Hebr 11.8 4. Our feare of God is right when we feare him as much for his mercy as for his justice Psal 130.2 and feare more to sinne against him than to be punished by him Psal 4.4 Gen 39.9 5. Our love of God is good when it stirres us up to keepe his Commandements Iohn 14.15.23 when wee love him for those excellent perfections of wisedome and goodnesse that are in him as well as for the benefits that come from him and when it stirres us up to hate evill and sinne Psal 97.9 10. 6. Our hope in God namely for the resurrection to eternall life and for Christs second comming is right when being grounded on the Scriptures Rom 15.4 wee comfort our selves in our afflictions with it 1 Thess 4.13.18 when wee patiently waite Gods leisure for the obtaining of things promised 1 Thess 1.3 Rom 8.23 and when it purifies our hearts 1 Iohn 3.3 and makes us deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live righteously and godlily and soberly in this present world Titus 2.12 13. P. Good Sir I humbly acknowledge my selfe beholden to you for your care over me and paines with mee I hope I shall never forget it but endeavour to shew my selfe thankefull The Lord requite your labour of love to me in private by a greater blessing upon your ministery in publike and by prolonging your life health and strength for Gods glorie and the good of his Church in Iesus Christ. The Lord bee with you Sir and with your studies FINIS A PRAYER FOR GRACE TO Seeke to serve God and bee saved MOst glorious Lord God and heavenly Father Reu 4 11 who art worthy of all honour and service Iam 4 12 and who art able to save and destroy Luk 17 10 Thy unprofitable servant unworthy of salvation Acts 13 46 doth desire to humble himselfe before thee freely acknowledging that howsoever I am convinced in my judgement that nothing in this world doth so neerely concerne me to looke unto as thy service and mine owne salvation yet my heart tells and smites me that I have minded nothing lesse then these and that I have with much greedinesse sought after health and wealth worldly pleasures and treasures which only belong to the body this present life as if they only were worth my seeking and were more able to afford me true content than thy service and my salvation Thou hast brought me into the world and made me a member of thy Christian Church chiefly for to get grace into my heart that I might serve thee and live in thy feare and also to get peace into my conscience that I might dye in thy favour and be eternally saved 2 Cor 6 2 for now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation But I have neglected the prerogative of thy service Rom 9 2 Hebr 2 4 and so great salvation and have spent my precious time and thoughts in the pursuite of carthly things which I should have counted but as losse and dung Phil 3 8 in comparison of winning Christ and with him salvation as if I had beene borne to no other end but to serve the world sinne and Satan and to make provision fâ—r the flesh Rom 13 14 to fulfill the lusts thereof O Lord God when I call to minde and consider my vanity and folly yea ungracious wickednesse in trampling under my feete such precious pearles as are thy service Hebr 10 29 and my salvation I am confounded in my selfe wondcring at thy patiencc that couldst so long endure such an ungratefull wretch to live in thy Church yea I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee because this mine iniquity is increased over my head Ezra 9 6 and my wickednesse is growne up unto heaven crying for vengeance upon such contempt of thy grace Iohn 3 19 it being condemnation to love darknesse more than light earth more than heaven and the world more than thee or mine owne soule But thy mercy O Lord God is over all thy workes Psal 145 9 138 8. and endures for ever It is as great as thy Majesty and thy goodnesse is as much as thy greatnesse and the blood of Iesus Christ is able to wash mee so cleane from my sinnes Reuel 1 5 that I shall be holy Eph 5 27 and without blemish before thee therefore there is hope in Israel concerning this thing Ezra 10 2 And therefore upon the bended knees of my heavy laden soule I most humbly cry thee mercy most mercifull Father for this and all other my sinnes originall and actuall committed against the Law and the Gospell and with all the powers of my soule most earnestly beseech thee for the Lords sake Dan 9 17 Isay 53 11 Acts 3 14. Mat 3 17 thy righteous servant the holy One and the just in whom thou art well pleased to forgive me to be reconciled unto me and to shed thy love into my heart by thy holy Spirit Rom 5 5 which may beare witnesse to my Spirit c. 8 16. that I am thy Childe beloved in thy holy Childe Iesus Acts 4 27 Let thy mercy move thee to looke upon his righteousnesse to justify me when thy justice would make thee looke upon my sinnes to condemne me Accept of him for my surety Hebr. 7.22 and of the price of his blood for my ransome 1 Pet 1 23 Thou hast said O blessed God that whosoever comes Mat 11 28 unto thy Sonne Iesus Christ Ioh 6 35. and beleeves in him with an heavie laden soule wearie of their former wickednesse thou wilt ease and forgive them 1 Iohn 1 9 Oh be just and faithfull to make good this promise unto me to ease and to save me I desire to honour thy infinite mercy and thy Sonnes unvaluable merits by seeking to them onely and trusting in them alone for salvation O be thou pleased also to magnifie them upon me for I have as much need of them as any 1 Tim 1 â—5 being the chiefe of sinners and the saving vertues of them shall be magnified in the cure of my soule as well as of any other It hath pleased thee heavenly Father to give unto me in some measure a sight and sense of my sins particularly of my neglect and contempt of thy service and my salvation Oh be pleased I beseech thee yet more and more to discover unto me the folly and foulnesse of this and all my sinnes that my heart may be so broken with godly remorse and sorrow for them that I may leave them and live no longer in them but cleave unto thee to serve thee in new obedience for what will it profit
respect of all afflictions on our brethren wee must 1. have a fellow-feeling of the same upon them as if they were on our selves Rom. 12.15 Heb. 13.5 1 Pet. 3.8 2. We must pray for them for their ease remedy and deliverance if it bee Gods will or a sanctified use of them Iam. 5.14 Psal 35.13 3. We must helpe to releeve them in the same as we are able and to deliver them out of the same Matth. 14.14 Iob 31.20 Thirdly in respect of some temptations and afflictions that have beene sanctified to us or our bretheren so that wee have received from them through Gods good grace some holy fruit of righteousnesse wee must 1. acknowledg Gods goodnesse in them Psal 73.1 119.69.71 2. We must blesse God for them Iob 1.21 3. We must rejoyce and comfort our selves in them Iam. 1.2 3. because 1. they are not Gods vengeance but chastisement Hebr. 12.5 2. They come from God not as an enemy but as a father reconciled in Christ 2 Sam. 7.14 Hebr 12.5 3. God is moved to send them in love Rev. 3.9 and that they shall not separate us frō the love of God in Christ Rom. 8.38 39. 4. God aymed in these afflictions at some spirituall good Hebr. 12.10 Phil. 3.10 5. The event of them shall be their and our furtherance in grace Psal 119.71 37.37 unto salvation Phil. 1.19.28 P. Sir you have beene very large and long to your great paines in teaching mee how to serve God with duties that have respect to himselfe in consideration of his divine Attributes that bee in him and also of his Ordinances and workes proceeding from him I pray you proceede to my duties unto my Neighbour M. They are of 2. kindes 1. such as are common to all and every one 2. such as are peculiar to some P. What are those duties that are cōmon to all M. They are 1. generall namely 1. to love our neighbour as our selves Matth. 22.39 2. to doe unto him as we being guided by true reason would have him to doe to us Math. 7.12 2. special which are five P. Which are they M. The first is to maintaine his place and authority office and preheminence in common-wealth Church or family Exod. 20.12 which is the 5. Commandement The second is to preserve his life health and bodily strength Exod. 20.13 which is the 6. Commandement The third is to cherish the chastity of our neighbour and neither by lookes or gestures words or actions to assault or violate the same Exod. 20.14 which is the 7. Commandement The fourth is to further the profit and lawfull gaine of our neighbour and in nothing of the least worth to seeke his losse and dammage Exod. 20.15 which is the 8. Commandement The fifth is to uphold his credit and good name and not to disgrace him by word or action in the least manner or measure Exod. 20.16 which is the 9. Commandement P. What are those duties that are peculiar to some of our Neighbours M. 1. Such as are due to godly and sincere Christians as namely 1. brotherly love and religious affection Hebr. 13.1 when wee therefore love them not because they are men or our kindred or beneficiall to us but because of their graces and Christian vertues eminent in them 2. Patience to beare with their weaknesses and cover their infirmities Gal. 6.2 1 Pet. 4.8 2. Such as are due to some namely as they are tyed to us by any bond of nature or law as husbands and wives parents or children Masters or Servants or the like of which duties you may reade at large in a booke made by D. Gouge D Gouge of Houshold duties who hath written fully and to excellent purpose thereof P. Sir my desire is to know and doe the whole revealed will of God and therefore as you have instructed mee in my dutie 1. in respect of God and 2. in respect of my Neighbour so I beseech you also to tell mee in the third place what is my dutie of service unto God in respect of my selfe M. I will and because you consist both of a body and of a soule Duties in respect of our selves and have a double calling to live in namely a civill calling and a Christian calling therefore will I briefly shew you the summe of your dutie in respect of all foure P. Sir I thanke you I pray you then shew me my duty in respect of my bodie M. It is this to possesse your vessel in holinesse and honour that is in chastity temperance and sobriety without pride or luxury chambering or wantonnesse continually restraining the senses parts and members thereof from being weapons and instruments to let in or let out sinne and withholding them from the occasions and opportunities of doing evill 1 Thess 4.4 5. Tit. 2.12 Rom. 13.13 P. What is my dutie in respect of my soule M. To be watchfull over it and over all the powers and faculties thereof that you grow not loose or secure in sinne yea to bee circumspect in all your wayes that you be not deceived by your own deceitfull heart the worlds vanities and Satans subtleties Prov. 4.23 2 Tim. 4.5 Eph. 5.17 6.13 to 19. P. What duties appertaine to me in my Christian calling M. These seven chiefly 1. To bee zealous and discreete humble and sincere in the profession of Christian religion Revel 3.19 Rom. 12.3 Iam. 3.17 Tit. 1.16 2. Daily to repent of our sinnes and to cry God mercie by faith in Christ as wee sinne daily Matth. 6.12 3. So to live as those that looke to die and to rise unto judgement at the second comming of Christ Acts 17.30 31. 24.17 18. Deut. 32.29 4. To mortifie our sinfull and corrupt nature 1. by applying to our selves the commandements promises and threatnings of the word Col 3.5 and 2 by denying to our selves all occasions meanes and opportunities of sinne Matth. 5.29 30. 5. To moderate our desires to the profits pleasures and honours of the world considering the vanity of them Eccles 1.2 and not to be discontent with our present state nor to covet our neighbours Hebr 13.5 Tit 2.12 Exod 12.17 Rom 7.7 6. To make sure unto our selves our calling election and salvation by growing in the number and measure of Christian graces 2 Pet 1.5 10. 7. To strive and endeavour to continue and persevere in well-doing and patient suffering for conscience sake Matth 10.22 Iam 1.25 Rev 2.25 2 Tim. 4.7 8. P. And I pray you good Sir what duties appertaine to mee in my civill calling course and trade of life M. These seven principally 1. Diligence painfulnesse without idlenesse 2. Thess 3.7 8. 2. Cheerefulnes and joyfulnes without being weary of well-doing Deut 12.7.2 Thess 2.13 3. Moderation without plodding and moyling carking and caring through distrust to the neglect of our bodily health and salvation Hebr. 13.5 Matth 6.33 4. Honesty and righteousnesse without wronging others or deceiving them 1 Thes 4.6.12 5. Charity in
and soule to seeke God Deut 32.46 and to obey his Commandements Deut 32.46 Yeeld your selfe to the Lord 2 Chron 30.8 and subscribe unto him Isay 44.5 2. You must be rooted and grounded in the knowledge love of Gods service Deut 10.11 11.13 Isay 56.6 Eph 3.17 2 Thes 2.10 3. You must often renew your promise and purpose vowe covenant and oath of serving God Psal 119.106 39.1 17.3 61.8 Ezra 10.3 2 Chron 15.32 4. You must not be formall and ceremoniall onely in Gods service to doe it publikely in the Church onely or privately in the family onely where others may see you but secretly in your closet where none is present but God and you must serve God with the intention of your minde and affection of your heart carefully conscionably 2 Tim 3.5 Tit 1.16 Acts 23.1 26.7 5. You must be jealous and suspicious of your selfe lest there be in you a deceitfull and an vnfaithfull heart to withdraw you from Gods service Hebr 3.13 6. You must seriously consider the danger of apostacy and the benefit of perseverance in Gods service 1 Pet 2.20 21. Heb 6. 10. chapters Matth 10.22 Revel 2.10 7. You must pray to God to keepe you in his name Ioh. 17.11 Iude 24 2 Cor 12.8 9. P. I pray you good Sir now shew me the end why I must serve God M. Not to be justified and saved thereby for this is to worke for wages as a base servant and not as a good sonne nor yet out of any carnall worldly ends or respects as vaine glory and the good opinion of men or worldly profit but for a threefold end 1. In respect of God that hee may be glorified thereby whose service it is by appointment and to whom it is to bee performed Matth 5.16 1 Cor. 10.31 2. In respect of others that they may be either wonne to the same service with us or confirmed in it 1 Pet 3.5 3. In respect of our selves that wee may make good proofe of the truth of our faith and thereby make sure unto our selves the good will of God towards us and that hee meanes to save us Rom 12.1 2. P Now in the last place I pray you shew me the meanes whereby I may come to practise this service of God M That you may indeede practise Gods service which you knowe and affect you must doe these things 1. You must put away renounce and wholly leave shake off your former service of sin the world and Satan 1 SaÌ„ 7 3 else you cannot serue God Iosua 24 19 You must be purged from dead works Heb 9 14. you must dye to sinne 1 Pet. 2.24 Put off the old man Eph. 4.22.23 2 You must seeke to God for grace to enable you to serve him Heb 12.28 3. You must stirre up the grace of God in you when you have received it you must use it well 2. Tâ—m 1.6 Matth. 25.20.22 P. How may we bee moved to leave the service of sinne Satan the world M. By beleeving and laying to heart remembring and considering the sinnefulnesse and damnablenesse of that service together with the excellency of Gods service remedy whereof wee have heard before in the motives to Gods service P. How may I be moved to seek to God for grace to enable me to his service M. 1. By knowing and feeling your neede of grace and that without it you are unable to serve God Luke 17.10 2 Cor 3.5 2. By beleeving and considering the sufficiency and essicacie of grace to enable you to serve God and to abide in you and to keepe you in his service 2 Cor 12.9 I Ioh 2.27 Ioh 4.14 P. How may I be stirred up well to use the grace of God when I have received it M. By considering 1. that the grace of God is given to you for this end namely that you might serve God with it Heb. 12.28 Luk. 19.13 2. that God is worthy to be served with the grace which himselfe hath given for without him we can doe nothing that good is Revel 4. 3. That if you will use a little measure of grace and stirre vp your selfe to serue God with it then shall your talent hereof increase Mat. 25.20.21 P. Sir I humbly thanke you for your paynes with me and patience towards me I am loth to be over-bold with you at once and to interrupt your studies too long I hope it will not bee offensiue to you if when I haue suffâ—ciently thought vpon these your instructions touching seeking to serue God which is the first thing you propounded unto me if at another time I repaire unto you in the second which is seeking to be saved M. You shall bee welcome if you come at the beginning of the weeke at which time I haue most leasure In the meane time the Lord be with you and blesse my labours for the furtherance of you the rest of my people in the service of God unto salvation by Iesus Christ Amen SEEKING to bee saved when we dye Minister VVEll met good Neighbour how have you done since you were with me last and how doth your family Parishioner The beter for you Sir I praise God and for your good â—nstructions you gaue me M. Much good may they doe you I desire that God may haue the praise of them and you the profit I hope that at least you remember what was the summe of our conference then P. I were much to blame if I should forget that being a point that so neerely concerned me and which you handled so largely By your favour it was this that I ought to seeke to serve God while I live in this world But good Sir you mentioned there another duty like unto this which I greatly desire you would instruct mee in at your convenient leisure If I should not be too tedious I would resort unto you at the beginning of the weeke for further instruction in that also M. You shall not bee troublesome but welcome I would I had in my Parish more of your minde for then should I conceive hope that they minded good things seeing they inquired after them and repaired unto mee for private information over and above my publike Ministery If you will Neighbour goe home with mee now and wee will conferre together about it But can you tell mee what that second point of Christian duty was P. Yes that I can I thanke God though my memory be bad enough It was this I take it I must seeke to be saved when I die Me thinkes it is a necessary duty and it is good reason I should practise it but I would faine have some good arguments to binde mee to the practise of it that I might not faile to doe it being so needfull M. I will satisfie your desire and the reasons that I shall propound unto you to perswade you to the practise of this duty shall be drawne into some heads for the helpe of your memory The