forgerer and murtherer I would little doubt but to get the day It is proportionably so in this present point I meane betweene my regenerate illightned conscience and Satan Nay in this case should all the Deuils in Hell sweare the contrary did carnall reason naturall distrust or any other aduersary power cauill and contradict with neuer such irksome tediousnesse yet by the mercy of God I will not withstand that heauenly light standing in my conscience like an armed man I will neuer take away mine innocency from my selfe vntill I die But how do you know that you truly beleeue We may know perhaps that we haue some kind of faith but not that we haue the true liuely faith which will serue the turne for saluation I answer Saint Paul bids vs try and prooue our selues whether we haue that Faith by which Christ dwelleth in our hearts which is the faith of such as are accepted with God 2. Cor. 13. 5. Now it were strange if the blessed Spirit should bid vs examine and search for that which could not possibly be found out Againe if a man cannot be certaine that he beleeues with all his heart that is truly and sincerely Philips interrogatorie to the Eunuch Act. 8. 37. had beene in vaine and the Eunuchs reply rash and vnaduised Austin was cleerely of this mind that a man may be acquainted with the sincerity of his faith There is saith he a kind of glorying in the conscience when thou knowest thy faith is sincere thy hope certaine thy loue without dissembling But many say they beleeue and are deceiued thinking they haue that which they haue not How then can a man be certaine Answer So thousands amongst vs by the false spectacles of presumption making the bridge of Gods mercy broader then it is and larger then his truth which confines it onely to broken hearts are wofully deluded and ready euery moment to be drowned in the dungeon of fire and brimstone must therefore those few who are sincerely humbled for their sinnes truly beleeue and vpon good ground haue part in it be also deceiued Because mad men and men asleepe know not well that they are asleepe and rage must therefore men truly waking and wise not know certainely they are awake and in their wits The common people generally conceiue of the Sunnes magnitude that it is not past a foote round must therefore the certainetie of knowledge that it is many times bigger then the Earth be denied to the skilfull Astronomer Some men dreame that they are rich tumble themselues amongst their golden heapes and it is not so indeed when they awake doth no man therefore certainely know whether he be rich or no Conceiue proportionably of repentance an inseparable companion and effect of true faith which is then sauing when it is serious sincere and without hypocrisie and that may be manifest and cleerely discerneable to the heart that hath it Doe you thinke the seriousnesse of the Niniuites repentance was not certaine vnto them We haue receiued the Spirit of God saith Paul that we might know the things that are freely giuen vs of God which are not onely life euerlasting c. but iustification sanctification and such like I say sauingnesse of repentance as of faith consists not in the measure and muchnesse but in the sincerity and truth of which the true penitent may bee certaine as well as of his sorrow But now whereas the Popish Doctors being blind guides leade their hoodwinkt followers into such perplexed mazes of vncertainties and indeed impossibilities about contrition in respect of extension intension appretiation equiualence to sin no maruell though they pleade pertinaciously for the point and purgatory of doubting 3. By the effects and fruits growing from the roote of grace in the heart But there may be in the hypocrite an exact outward conformity and obedience I answer true it is that for the outside and carkasse as it were the workes of vnsactified men may be like to those of the godly but they are without the soule life and spirit which is in the worke of a true beleeuer to which he is no lesse priuy in his heart then to the outward worke which passeth thorow his hands And wee hold that workes done in vprightnesse of heart onely are they which truly testifie in this case Let euery true-hearted Nathaneel then comfortably conclude pardon and peace vnto his owne soule from all such fruits so qualified For instance in one Wee know that we haue passed from death to life because wee loue the Brethren 1. Ioh. 3. 14. I loue the Brethren therefore I am translated from death to life But is it possible for a man to know that he loues his Brethren as he ought and as the Apostle requires Saint Iohn makes it a signe of our being so translated therfore it may be knowne For signes manifesting other things must themselues be more manifest And Austin tels vs that a man knowes more the loue with which he loues then his brother whom he loues Thus may the Christian infallibly collect the sanctifying Spirit iustifying Faith sauing Grace to dwell in his heart by all good deeds holy duties inward or outward fruits springing from an vpright heart For as it followes and may be inferred infallibly and demonstratiuely from the effect to the proper cause in other things For example It is day therefore the Sunne is risen because day cannot be caused but by the Sunnes rising so in this point also explained as before If wee pursue and ply with true hearts the whole Trade of Christianity If we be sincerely exercised in the workes of holinesse iustice mercy and truth and walke humbly with our God we may build vpon it that we are truly blessed All such sound fruits of Faith are euident signes and demonstrations of our spirituall safety and standing fast for euer If ye doe these things saith Peter yee shall neuer fall 4. By the testimony of the Spirit which sometimes as in the time of more feruent prayer holy retyrednesse of mind heauenly meditation or in some quickning exercises of extraordinary humiliation or after some speciall important seruice done to God and his Church with humble sincerity and in true zeale or vpon the soule-searching passage of some well grounded Sermon of comfort and seasonable application of mercy or in the beginning of spirituall and end of naturall life as most needfull times or in the time of martyrdome and sincere sufferings for the Name of Christ c. I say at such times the Spirit may suggest and testifie to the sanctified conscience with a secret still hart-rauishing voice thus or in the like manner Thou art the Child of God Thou art in the number of those that shall be saued Thou shalt inherit life euerlasting And that as certainely and comfortably as if that Angell from Heauen should say to thee as he did to Daniel Greatly beloued And why should any Popish cauiller contradict this sith
contempt all the vile raylings and contradictions of Satans Reuellers and Popish insolencie For vainely to affect the acclamations and applause of worthlesse men or to bee deiected vnmanlily with their vniust accusations and anger are both equally ignoble and most vnworthy a man of Honour and vertuous resolution Yours shall bee the Crowne and comfort when all Popery and prophanenesse shall lye buried in the dust and dungeon of Hell In a word the thirstie longing of my heart and heartiest prayer shall euer be That you may shine euery day more and more gloriously in all personall sanctitie plantation of godlinesse in your owne Family and where you haue any thing to doe and in an holy zeale for setting forward the affaires of God when and wheresoeuer you haue any power or Calling That when the last period of your mortall abode in this Vale of teares which drawes on apace shall present it selfe You may looke death in the face without dread the graue without feare the Lord Iesus with comfort and Iehouah blessed for euer with euerlasting Ioy. Thus let all the sauing blessings of our most bountifull heauenly Father through Iesus Christ by the Holy Ghost be plentifully and for euer vpon your Honourable Selfe and all your sweet and Noble Children Your Honours most truely in all seruices for the saluation of your Soule ROBERT BOLTON A Table of the generall heads as they lye in order in the Booke SEruants of God singular from others in Sanctitie Puritie c. pag. 2 Gods free grace the 〈◊〉 of all our good p. 9 His wonderfull mercies to vs our horrible ingratitude p. 12 Personall goodnesse brings comfort and blessings vpon posteritie p. 18 True sauing grace neuer lost p. 22 Câ—…tions and meanes of perseuerance 25. 27 Gods seruants must noâ—… sâ—…ue the times p. 28 Euery Christians duty to walke with God p. 29. The reasons 30 To the performing of this there are 1. Generall preparatiues 1. Abandon resoluedly thy beloued sinne See 1. What it is 35 2. What thine is 36 3. Thine owne imposture in exchanging it 38 2. Hatâ—… Hypocrisie 43. Many here guilty meere pretenders to Religion ibid. Particular calling not to be left 48 3. Build thy resolutions on that maiâ—… principle Selfe-dâ—…iall 51 4. Liue the life of faith 〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉 53 5. Settle in thine heart a right conceit of the substance power and materials of Christianitie 157 6. Fortifie thy Spirit against the canker of worldly-mindednesse 60 7. Be infinitely rauisht with the loue of God The motiues 61 8. Prize inualuably the fruition of Gods pleased face 62 9. Watch ouer thy heart and keepe it in a spirituall temper 63 10. Meditate on thy future blisse 64 1. Obserâ—…e 〈◊〉 duties and our Carriage after them 69 3. Vse well thy solitariâ—… seasons of Meditation 71 4. And thy company 73. Here Danger of propâ—… company 74 How to conuerse with friends vnconuerted 86 5. Continually ply thy heart by 1. Captiuating it to grace 88 2. Watchfull guard ouer it 9â—… 3 〈◊〉 it toward Heauen 9â—… 6. Labour to represse thy raging passions as Anger the 〈◊〉 Morall 95 Religious 100 feare the Vanity tyraâ—…y of it 104 〈◊〉 10â—… 7. Order religiously thy tongue by Christian reproofe A duty 112 Here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 114. who dogs 〈◊〉 115 Directioâ—… iâ—… it 118 Extremes fainthearted silence 119 〈◊〉 Zeale 119 Reasons eâ—…orcing it 120 Holding silence 1. From vncharitable 〈◊〉 differenced from the censures of holy men 130 2. Sâ—…dering false accusing 137 3. Vnsauourie communication Hereof Heaâ—…enly discourse 146 8. Manage conscâ—…bly eâ—…ry action thou vndertakest Circumstances requisite iâ—… a comfortable action â—…b particularly 149 1. Thy Recreations See they be not Costly 154 Cruell 155 Wasting of time most precious 157 Incrâ—…aching vpon heauenly comforts 168 Differences betweene ioy spirituall and carnall 170 2. Visitations of great Ones vnsanctified Dangerous 181 Herein cautions 185 3. Naturall actions thus against Gluttony 195 Drunkennesse 200 Excessiue sleepe 205 4. Ciuill affaires Generall Here Doe as thou wouldest be done by 207 Abhorre wrongfull and vnconscionable dealing 210 Desire not delight not immoderately in any earthly thing For This is thy bosome sinnes parent 225 Thou wilt finde thy selfe insatiable vnsatisfiable 219 Particular for Marriage 1. Enter vpon it conueniently 234 2. Vse it comfortably here are duties Common to both 237 Peculiar to the Husband 244 Wife 250 5. Workes of mercy as well Spirituall as 257 Corporall Motiues to almes-deeds 261 Gods children often falsly charged with coâ—…etousnesse worldlinesse occasions of this imputation 276 Earthly mindednesse infinitely vnbecomming an heire of heauen 289 6. Spirituallestate where carefully auoide two extreames 1. Self-admiration proud oâ—…er-prizing of our owne graces 294 Here 1. The mysterie of selfe-deceit opened 299 2. Worke of Grace in the true Conuert 308 3. Sanctified men may be assured of their spirituall safety 317. and how 4. Sound perswasion distinguished from delusion 329 5. Preseruatiues against ouerweening 341 2. Deiected distrustfull vndervaluing of Gods mercies our graces the promises of life Here Against the heauy sad pensiue walking of some Saints 354 Reall causes and motiues of their ioy 359 Conceits and occasions of discomforts remoued 380 FINIS SOME GENERALL DIRECTIONS FOR A COMFORTABLE WALking with God GEN. 6. 8 9. 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9. These are the generations of Noah Noah was a iust man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God IN this dreadfull and dismall story of the old Worlds degeneration and destruction falling away and final ruine here stands in my Text a right orient and illustrious Starre shining full faire with singularitie of heauenly light spiritual goodnes and Gods sincerer seruice in the darkest midnight of Satans vniuersall raigne and amidst the horriblest hell of the strangest confusions idolatrous corruptions cruelties oppressions and lust that euer the earth bore Noah I meane a very precious Man and Preacher of Righteousnesse to whose Family alone the true worship of God was confinde when all the world besides lay drowned in Idolatrie and Paganisme ready to bee swallowed vp into an vniuersall graue of Waters which was already fashioned in the clouds by the angry vnresistable hand of the all-powerfull God who was now so implacably but most iustly prouoked by those rebellious and cruell generations that Hee would not suffer His Spirit to striue any more with them but inexorably resolued to open the windowes or floudgates of heauen giuing extraordinarie strength of influence to the Stars abundance to the Fountaines of the great deepe commanding them to cast out the whole treasure and heape of their waters taking away the retentiue power from the clouds that they might powre downe immeasurably for the burying of all liuing creatures which breathed in the ayre Noah and his family excepted From whence by the way before I breake into my text take this Note Doctr. The seruants of God are men of
and rare felicitie in pitching iust vpon the golden meane as they conceiue betweene prophanenesse and precisenesse infamous notoriousnesse and persecuted strictnesse But that Prouerbe in the meane time falls pat vpon their pates There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse And at length most certainely the iust execution of that terrible commination Reuel 3. 16. will crush their hearts with euerlasting horrour confusion and woe But I should be endlesse in the discouery of this hidden and hellish gulph of hypocrisie wherein thousands are swallowed vp euen in this glorious Mid-day of the Gospell For a man may assoone find out the way of an Eagle in the Ayre the way of a Serpent vpon a Rocke the way of a Ship in the midst of the Sea and the way of a man with a maid as to tracke the cunning and crooked footsteps of this foule fiend in the false hearts of Satans followers Only take notice that thou canst neuer possibly delight in God or euer comfortably come neere him if thou giue any entertainment vnto it in what forme soeuer it represent it selfe or whatsoeuer vizor it offers vnto thee though neuer so fairely varnished and guilded ouer with the Deuils angelicall glory III. Build and erect all thy resolutions and conclusions for Heauen and Gods seruice vpon that strong and purest pillar that maine and most precious Principle of Christianitie Selfe-deniall No walking with God no sweete communion and sound peace at his Mercy-Seate except for his sake and keeping a good conscience thou be content to denie thy selfe thy worldly wisdome naturall wit carnall reason acceptation with the world excellencie of learning fauour of great Ones credit and applause with the most thy passions profit pleasures preferment neerest friends ease libertie life euery thing any thing And feare no losse for all things else are nothing to the least comfortable glimpse of Gods pleased face From this Principle sprung all those noble resolutions and replies of Gods worthiest Saints and Souldiers That of Hester for the preseruation of the people of God Well saith she I wil goe in vnto the King which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish That of Micaiah sollicited strongly by the messenger to temporize in managing his Ministery with sutablenesse and conformity to the Kings pleasure and plausiblenesse of the false prophets As the Lord liueth what the Lord saith vnto mee that will I speake That of Nehemiah Should such a man as I flee As if he should haue said Tell not mee of fleeing my resolution was pitcht long agoe if need require to lay downe my life and lose my blood in the Lords battels That of Paul when his friends were weeping and wailing about him What meane you to weepe said hee and to breake mine heart For I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus That of Ierome If my father stood weeping on his knees before mee and my mother hanging on my necke behind me and all my brethren sisters children kinsfolke howling on euery side to retaine me in sinfull life with them I would fling my mother to the ground despise all my kinred run ouer my father and tread him vnder my feet thereby to run to Christ when hee calleth me That of Luther dealt with earnestly and eagerly not to venture himselfe amongst a number of perfidious and blood-thirstie Papists As touching me saith he since I am sent for I am resolued and certainely determined to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ yea although I knew there were so many Deuils to resist me as there are tiles to couer the houses in Wormes That of a most renowned Italian Marquesse Galeacius Carracciolus tempted by a Iesuite with a great sum of money to returne from Gods Blessing at Geneua to the warme Sunne in Italy Let their money perish with them who esteeme all the Gold in the world worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit That of George Carpenter Martyr My wife and my children are so dearely beloued vnto me that they cannot bee bought from mee for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bauaria but for the loue of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them That of Kilian a Dutch Schoole-master to such as asked him if he loued not his wife and children Yes said he If the world were Gold and were mine to dispose of I would giue it to liue with them though it were but in prison yet my soule and Christ are dearer to me then all IV. Exercise thy selfe continually and bee excellent in that onely Heauen vpon Earth and sweetest Sanctuarie to an hunted soule the Life of faith Which to liue in some good measure is the duty and property of euery liuing member of Christ Iesus Loue therefore and labour to liue by the power of faith the life of saluation sanctification preseruation 1. Of saluation thus Let thy truely-humbled soule grieued and groaning vnder the burden of sinne throw it self into the meritorious and merciful armes of Iesus Christ wounded broken and bleeding vpon the Crosse and there let it hold and hide it selfe for euer in full assurance of eternall life by vertue of that promise Ioh. 3. 36. Hee that beleeueth on the Son hath euerlasting life For hauing thus laid hold vpon him He by his Spirit doth communicate first himselfe vnto thee then both the merit of his death for remission of thy sinnes and of his actiue obedience for thy right to saluation and happinesse and withall the power of his Spirit to quicken thee to the life of grace in this World and to raise vp thy body to the life of glory at the last day 2. Of sanctification If thou keepe thy faith the fountaine roote and heart as it were from which all thine other graces spring in life and vigour thou shalt pray more comfortably bee more couragiously patient heare the Word more fruitfully receiue the Sacraments more ioyfully passe the Sabbaths more delightfully conferre more cheerefully meditate more heauenly walke in all the wayes of new obedience with more strength and conquest ouer corruptions For ordinarily euery Christian shall finde the exercise of other graces to bee comfortable or cold according to the liuelinesse or languishing of his faith 3. Of preseruation both temporall and spirituall In crosses afflictions and all Gods outward angry visitations by the power of such promises as those Psal. 89. 33. and 50. 15. Heb. 12. 7 8 11. 1. Thes. 3. 3. Act. 14. 22. Luke 9. 23. Isai. 63. 9. In the course and carriage of thy particular Calling the duties and workes whereof if thou discharge with conscience diligence and prayer thou mayest goe on with comfort contentment and freedome from that torturing and racking thoughtfulnesse from those restlesse and cursed carkings of carnal worldlings
wherein they basely languish and lose their soules and leaue the successe issue and euent of all thy labours and vndertakings vnto the Lord whatsoeuer it may bee resting sweetly and euer relying vpon that gracious promise Heb. 13. 5. I will neuer faile thee nor forsake thee In ordering and guiding the affaires of thy family depend by faith vpon Gods blessing the strength and sinew of all sound comfort and true contentation that way See Psal. 127. In the losse of outward things for thy loue and seruice vnto God by beleeuing that Man of God 2. Chron. 25. 9. The Lord is able to giue thee much more then this Nay in the losse of all earthly things in euery kind see Habac. 3. 17 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Oliue shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meate the flocke shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalles yet I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my saluation Consider also for this purpose Iobs patient blessing of God vpon the surprize and concurrence of an vniuersall misery Iob 1. 21. In pangs of the New-birth spirituall infancy weakenesses of faith prayer godly sorrow and other graces by those cordiall refreshing promises Reu. 21. 6. Math. 5. 6. Isa. 42. 3. and 40. 11. and 57. 15. In oppositions against the raising or restauration of spirituall buildings by the Ministery of the Word or in temptations against a mans personall progresse and holding out against Gods waies vnto the end by renouncing our owne strength disclaiming the arme of flesh and crying in euery encounter Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hoasts What art thou O great mountaine c In languishings and tremblings after relapse into some old or fall into some new sinne by such precious places as these 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Luk. 17. 4. 1. Sam. 12. 20. 1. Iohn 1. 9. From this last place a reuerend Diuine collects this comfort If we see our vnworthinesse and with broken hearts acknowledge it God is faithfull and iust to forgiue it bee it neuer so great But this is a iewell fit onely for the eare of a sincere Christian when out of the fearefulnesse of his distrustfull spirit he puts off all comfort though truely humbled after ensnarement in some more speciall affrighting sinne Let no swine trample vpon it In all kindes of temptations by the power of that promise 1. Cor. 10. 13. Nay euen amidst varietie of them by obeying that precept Iam. 1. 2. My brethren count it all ioy when you fall into diuers temptations In spirituall desertion by refreshing and resting thy sinking soule in the meane time vntill the Lord returne vpon that surest Rocke Isa. 30. 18. Blessed are all they that waite for him Most blessed deare and sweetest Sanctuary If the Christian die in that waiting state he shall be certainely saued For the holy Ghost pronounceth him blessed In the deepe and almost despairing apprehensions of thine extreme vilenesse and as it were nothingnesse in grace by apprehending that most mercifull promise from Gods owne mouth Isa. 43. 25. In thy perplexed and troubled thoughts about returne after backsliding by those comfortable encouragements Ier. 3. 1 12 13 14 22. Hos. 14. 1 2 4. In doubts of losing the loue of God and life of Grace by consideration of those passages in Gods Booke where it appeares that the loue of God vnto his child in respect of tendernesse and constancy is infinitely dearer then that of a most louing mother to her little one Isai. 49. 15. stronger then the stony Mountaines and Rocks of flint Isa. 54. 10. as constant as the courses of the Sunne and of the Moone and of the Starres and of the day and of the night Ier. 31. 36. and 33. 20. nay as sure as God himselfe Psal. 89. 33 34 35. In the Haile stormes of slanderous arrowes and empoysoned darts of disgrace by cleauing to most glorious promises 1. Pet. 4. 14. Mat. 5. 11. In the valley of the shadow of death by an assurance of Gods mercifull omnipotent presence Psal. 23. 4. In the extremitie depth of such desperate distresses and perplexities wherein in thy present feeling thou canst see and find no possibilitie of helpe from Heauen or Earth God or Man but art both helpelesse and hopelesse as the Church complaines Lam. 3. 18. by such like places as those Isai. 33. 9 10. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Gen. 22. 14. Exod. 14. 13. Psal. 78. 65. In euery thing or any thing that shall or can possibly befall thee prosperitie or pouertie crosse or comfort calmnesse of conscience or tempests of terror life or death c. by extracting abundance of vnconquerable patience and peace of soule from those three heauenly golden conduits of sweetest comfort Rom. 8. ver 18 28 32. Thus in any trouble of soule body good name outward state present or to come thou mayest by the soueraigne power of faith working vpon the Word not onely draw out the sting and expell the poison of it but also create a great deale of comfort to thy truly-humbled soule and maintaine it in despite of all mortall or infernall opposition in a constant spirituall gladnesse For all those promises whereupon thy heauy heart in such cases may repose and refresh it selfe haue their being from the blessed name Iehoua see Exo. 6. 3. and therefore are as sure as God himselfe they are sealed with the bloody sufferings of his onely Sonne and therefore as true as truth it selfe and if thou be in Christ are all as certainely thine as the heart in thy body or blood that runnes in thy veines Nay and a little more for thy comfort the glory of Gods truth is mightily aduanced and himselfe extraordinarily pleased by thy more resolute stedfast and triumphant cleauing vnto them What a blessed sweete and heauenly life then is the life of faith V. Apprehend in thy minde and settle in thine heart a true estimate and right conceit of the substance and power marrow and materials of Christianitie Which doth not consist as too many suppose In outward shewes profession talking in holding strict points defending precise opinions contesting against the corruptions of the times in the worke wrought externall formes of religious exercises set-taskes of hearing reading conference and the like in some solemne outward extraordinarie abstinences and forbearances censuring others c. But in righteousnesse peace ioy in the holy Ghost in meekenesse tender-heartednesse loue in patience humilitie contentednesse in mortification of sinne moderation of passion holy guidance of the tongue in workes of mercy iustice and truth in fidelitie painfulnesse in our Callings conscionable conuersing with men in reuerence vnto superiours loue of our enemies an open-hearted reall fruitfull affectionatenesse and bounty to Gods people in heauenly-mindednesse selfe-deniall the life of faith in dis-esteeme of earthly things
and eagernesse to doe more good still and rather want matter and meanes then readinesse and resolution to propagate it selfe And this way now may the poorest Christians bee plentifull in workes of mercy and enrich the richest with spirituall almes Which in the meane time may comfort the bountifull hearts of those who are true of heart to whom the Lord out of his best wisedome hath denied this earthly drosse But yet for all this I would haue you know that I know none not the poorest excepted or exempted from seasonable ministring to the corporall necessities also of their brethren We haue a Precept from blessed Paul Ephe. 4. 28. That we must worke with our own hands that we may haue to giue to him that needeth And a noble president in the poore Widdow Mark 12. 44. who cast her two mites into the Treasurie which was all shee had euen all her liuing And if any heere make a counterplea of their pouertie I would know if there bee any so poore which is not able to giue a cup of cold water onely and yet this from a sincere heart shall bee both graciously accepted and certainly rewarded Matth. 10. 42. And therefore in a second place I infinitely desire and intreate and this is that which in this point I would specially presse and perswade with deepest impression that euery one which hath giuen his name vnto Christ rich or poore according to his power and proportion would with singular care and conscience addresse himselfe to a fruitfull affectionate and constant discharge of this much honoured dutie of almes-giuing in this kinde also properly so called 1. For we are bound to abound in this grace also Therefore saith Paul 2. Cor. 8. 7. As yee abound in euery thing in faith c. see that you abound in this grace also There is no religious Professour of any reputation vpon good ground with the Church of God but takes to heart and desires to bee exact in all commanded Christian duties euery day as Prayer reading Scriptures c. Vpon thy secret then and solitarie reuise and suruey of the day past call thy selfe to a strict account as for others so concerning this dutie also of doing good vnto all men especially vnto them who are of the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 10. for the discharge of this dutie ought also to bee daily if thy abilitie will beare and the necessities of the poore shall require In the morning sowe thy seed and in the euening withhold not thy hand Giue a portion to seuen and also to eight Eccles. 11. 6 2. and let the sense and consciousnesse of any omission neglect or sloth in performing it wound thy conscience also humble thy soule and quicken thine heart with new life of resolution and more liuely endeuour to mend euery morning and perfume as it were thine euery dayes walking with God and this sweet smelling sacrifice also of mercifulnesse bounty and loue Phil. 4. 18. Let this duty likewise with the rest fall within the compassâ—… of thy seuerest search penitent melting renued vowes in all thy more solemne selfe-examinations before the Sabbath Sacraments vpon dayes of humiliation c. It is a profitable consideration to thinke that a customary grosse neglect of any one Christian dutie in its season of which the conscience is or may be conuinced may iustly dampe and dead the lightsome and fruitfull performance of all the rest For example A willing knowne omission of priuate Prayer or set reading the Word euery day may intercept and restraine the sweet influence of Gods woonted refreshing mercy and the fructifying beames of his pleased countenance from thine heart in the vse of all the other ordinances an affected idlenesse and dis-imployment of any one grace in the soule when seasonable occasion calleth for improouement may blast the comfortable exercise and sensible comfort of all the rest For example If thou suffer thy patience ordinarily to sleepe when thy disauowed passions begin to breake in vpon thee like a torrent and heate thine heart with their swelling poyson or when some crosse doth nettle thy desire of ease no maruaile though thou finde a faintnesse also to seize vpon thy faith brotherly kindnesse loue zeale ioy and peace in beleeuing c. Why then when thou feelest thine inward man to begin to languish and the whole body of Christianitie to grow as it were towards a consumption amongst other inquisitions why doest thou not also feare out of a godly iealousie and labour to finde out whether the coldnesse of thy charity and too much neglect of releeuing the poore members of Iesus Christ may occasion thy spirituall dampe It is the duty and property of euery true-hearted Nathaneel as to haue respect to all Gods Commandements Psal. 119. 6. so though they cannot in perfection and height yet with truth and sincere endeauour to haue respect to a conscionable vse of all the ordinances to the performance of all holy duties and exercise of all spirituall graces in their due seasons 2. If the world hath locked vp thine heart and congealed the bowels of thy compassions towards the poore let the blaze of thine outward profession shine neuer so faire manage the heartlesse representations of externall holinesse neuer so demurely keepe the times and taskes of daily duties with neuer so great austeritie nay though thou bee able to amuse weaker Christians with some affected straines and artificiall feruency in Prayer for by the meere power or rather poyson of hypocrisie and vaineglory a man may pray sometimes to the admiration of others especially lesse iudicious hauing cunningly collected the most moouing passages for that purpose from the best-gifted in that kinde and then giuing an enforced action and life vnto them in the deliuerie as some in other cases act other mens inuentions to the life I say for all this if the holy heate of brotherly loue doth not warme thine heart and vpon occasion worke affectionately and effectually I dare say thou art rotten at the heart-roote there is no true loue of God in thee no grace no hope of saluation Let that terrible and flaming place against all couetous Pharises 1. Ioh. 3. 17. dissolue thy frozen-heartednesse this way and enlarge the bowels of pitie towards the poore brethren of Christ Iesus or else neuer looke hereafter to looke him in the face with comfort or to finde mercy at that Day Marke it well and meditate vpon it Whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth vp his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him 3. But aboue all other motiues of mercifulnesse to the poore which in the Booke of God are very many and most quickening methinkes that argument which Paul presseth to this purpose 2. Cor. 8. 9. should melt the most flinty heart For yee know saith he the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes hee became poore that yee
neuer come neere the requitall of the least inch of His infinite loue towards thee which reacheth from euerlasting to euerlasting 1. He bore thee in the bosome of this His free loue from all eternitie and that so dearely that from the same eternity He decreed that His owne deare Sonne should die for thee 2. Hee brought thee out of the abhorred state of being nothing into the ranke of his reasonable and noblest creatures 3. Hee bought thee againe when thou hadst wilfully lost thy selfe with the hearts-blood of His onely Sonne 4. He preserues thee euery day from a thousand dangers a thousand deaths which might seize vpon thee both from within and from without 5 He will shortly crowne thee with euerlasting life fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore 3. Thirdly confider the vnquenchable impatiencie of Christs inflamed loue vnto thee now washed with His Blood and beautified with His grace Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast rauished my heart saith He to the Church and by consequent to euery true Christian my sister my spouse thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke Now loue is of that alluring nature that many times it will draw loue from a man when there is no louely part in the partie louing What a deale of loue then doth the Soueraigne Lord of all goodnesse the well-spring of all beauty excellencie and sweetnesse exact at our hands especially sith wee are his meere creatures in respect both of our naturall being outward state gracious state and state of glory See how His spirituall amiablenesse is shadowed by outward beauties Cant. 5. 10. VIII Prize the fruition of Gods pleased face a neerer communion and acquaintance with His blessed Maiestie the loue and light of His countenance and thereupon a free and frequent accesse with an humble boldnes vnto the throne of Grace at a far higher and more vnualuable rate than heauen and earth as a very reall fruitfull fore-taste of eternall ioyes For to say no more at this time If thou hold an holy familiaritie with thy God and He looke pleasedly vpon thee thou shalt graspe Iesus Christ more sweetly and feelingly in the armes of thy Faith partake more plentifully of the ioyfull freedome presence and communication of His comforting Spirit be garded more strongly and narrowly by His glorious Angels sucke more sweetnesse and heauenly Manna out of the Ministerie and other His blessed Ordinances walke in safetie amongst the creatures like an vnconquerable Lyon Thou shalt bee in a league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee when thou goest thy gate shall not be straite and when thou runnest thou shalt not fall when thou sleepest thy sleepe shall be sweet thou shalt dwell safely and none shall make thee afraid Thou shalt neuer more be afraid of any euill tidings or of destruction when it commeth when thou passest thorow the waters thy God shall bee with thee and thorow riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee c. And if at any time thou bee seized vpon with any crosse or calamitie from any of the creatures any trouble or temptation from man or Deuill any lowring or crueltie from the iniquitie of the times or persecuters of the Truth yet the refreshing beames of Gods pleased face shining vpon thy heart through the darknesse of such discomforts will sweetly mitigate reuiue and infinitely make amends for all The poyson and curse of them shall neuer come neere thy soule The Lord in the meane time like an Eagle flutttering about her nest will most tenderly defend and protect thee Esa. 31. 5. and at length most certainly come like a yong Lyon roaring on his prey for thy rescue and glorious enlargement Isa. 31. 4. IX Labour by a constant watch to keepe thy heart in a spirituall temper still and still sweetly content and fruitfully conuersant in the Mystery of Christ and Secrets of His Kingdome which thou shalt more easily doe If thou first reioyce in God his Word Graces as thy chiefest ioy and greatest aduantage 2. By all earthly things be drawne to the loue of heauenly For though God hath appointed but one Sabbath in seuen dayes for his more solemne publike worship yet to a Christian euery day is sanctified to be a rest from all the deeds of the flesh wherein he is to walke with his God and shew forth the religious keeping of his heart and good conscience in euery action of his whole life so making euery passage of his particular Calling a part of Christian obedience and dutie vnto God 3. Let the noblenesse of thine inlarged Spirit as infinitely disdaine to be any wayes vpon any termes in bondage to the corruptions of the times so finde a farre sweeter rellish and take incomparably more contentment in the seruices of thy Lord and his holy Ordinances then in all his outward benefits and fauours of this life For as the best of these abused will most certainly at the Barre of God turne scourges and Scorpions to the worldling conscience and in the meane time there is no man so assured of his honour of his riches health or life but that hee may be depriued of either or all the very next houre or day to come so the other will prooue vnto the Christian hauing beene conscionably and constantly exercised in them as a rich stocke to bring in comfort patience and inward peace in his most neede and greatest extremity 4. Assoone as thou discouerest any spirituall weakenesse or decay any extraordinarie assault temptation deadnesse c. complaine betime cry mightily vnto God giue him no rest neither giue ouer seeking vntill hee returne vnto thy soule with power and life againe If ordinarie meanes will not preuaile presse vpon him with extraordinary if then he doe not reuiue thee with woonted quickning vigour waite with a patient wakefull longing of all the powers of thy soule and then all this while thy soule is still in its true spirituall temper and a most blessed state See Isa. 30. 18. 5. Decline watchfully all occasions of falling from thy first loue feruencie and heauenly-mindednesse as spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie desire to be rich discontinuance of thine intimatenesse with the godly neglect of thy particular Calling or dayly watch ouer thy heart vngodly company forme in religious duties coldnesse and customarinesse in the vse of the meanes c. 6. Suffer not thine affections to bee chained downe and set too much vpon those things which the common sort and greatest part of men seeke after insatiably and slauishly sinke vnder praise profit credit acceptation with the world fauour of great Ones mirth pleasures ease feare sorrow earthly contentment preferment wealth long life or any worldly thing but debase and dis-esteeme all other delights in respect of doing Gods will
All-seeing Eye the curbe of the last Commandement and checke of a tender conscience to range thy thoughts into order to confine and keepe them within a holy compasse from their vaine and impertinent vagaries 2. That thou must be accountable and answerable for euery wandring thought as well as for idle words and wicked actions Now consider what numberlesse swarmes of imaginations passe the Forge of thy phantasie euery day and therefore if thou be not extraordinarily and exactly vigilant eye-full ouer thy heart thou mayest iustly feare that vpon the opening and illightning of the booke of thy conscience at those two dreadfull dayes of Death and the last Iudgement innumerable armies of exorbitant thoughts which haue lyen in ambush as it were in the secret corners of thy deceitfull heart will charge vpon thee with a farre heauier account then perhaps thou art aware of or hast seriously thought vpon heretofore 3. That Gods glory must aswell shine in thy thoughts in the inuisible workings intentions desires and eleuatious of the heart as in thine outward conuersation As God exacts and expects honour and seruice from his Children in words and workes so there is also a Thought-seruice a Thought-worship that I may so call it which is very pleasing and precious in his eyes as springing more immediately from the heart wherein he principally delights and because the secrecie of it is attended with more sincerity Remember therfore to render with all reuerence and zeale vnto the Father of Spirits and Lord of thy soule the dayly tribute of thy Thought-seruice as well as the Tongue-seruice and Handseruice And the rather and more plentifully 1. Because opportunities abilities and meanes may faile for outward performancee but the heart is euer at leasure and libertie to thinke nobly No times no tyrants no wants or restraint can hinder it from an inuisible fruition of Gods owne Selfe with thoughts of sweetest rapture and reuerence of loue and lowliest adoration from bathing it selfe in the meritorious Blood of the Immaculate Lambe with thoughts of inexplicable peace ioy and triumph from cleauing to the promises of life and diuing into the Mysterie of Grace with extraordinary dearenesse purest delight victorious faith from being as a mountaine of Myrrh and Incense sending vp a spirituall Sacrifice of praise-full thoughts infinitely admiring and magnifying the glory and goodnesse of that mercifull Hand which writ thy name with the golden Characters of his endlesse loue in the Booke of Life from all beginnings suffered the dearest and warmest Blood in His Sonnes Heart to be spilt as water vpon the ground for the washing of thy body and soule from sinne and after a span of time will set a Crowne of Eternitie vpon thy head composed of all comfort rest and peace ioyes pleasures and felicities c. And also because besides Gods more speciall acceptation and more certaine sinceritie of this inward inuisible seruice it is ordinarily full of more spiritualnesse intention and life by reason that it is neerest and most immediate to the obiect of Adoration The best man though he may labour to doe his best euery way yet he shall find a difference and degrees in his ability to discharge and the executions of his Duties Deuotions and seruices towards God His workes doe not euer answere with that exactnesse to his words His words cannot expresse so to the life the thoughts of his heart The thoughts of his heart come infinitely short of the excellency of God Those streames which are next to the well-head are strongest and purest The thoughts of a sanctified heart laying hold vpon with immediate apprehension and neerest imbracements that most amiable holy and glorious Obiect God Himselfe blessed for euer and his sweetest Attributes giue Him His due and reuerent Attributions with more heartinesse life and heauenlinesse then his words or Actions are woont though all a mans best and vtmost in thought word and deed falls too fearefully short of that which we owe and ought to doe 2. A continuall excubation and narrow watchfull guard ouer thy heart It is like a Citie liable euery moment both to inward commotion and outward assault The fountaine of Originall impuritie though its mayne streame and bloodie issue bee stayed and in some good measure stopt by the sanctifying power of Christs sauing Blood yet it doth still lesse or more bubble vp rebelliously The world doth labour continually with her three great battering Engines of Pleasures Riches and Honours to lay it waste and rob it of all heauenly treasures The Deuill watches euery opportunity to hurle in his fiery darts to cast all into combustion and thereby further to enuenome and inrage the already too much impoysoned viciousnesse and impetuousnesse of our corrupt nature Precious therefore and worthy all practise is that Precept of Salomon Keepe thy heart aboue all keeping Prou. 4. 23. which thou mayest doe with more successe and comfort if first thou watch ouer the windowes of thy soule the sences as the Worthies of old were woont with extraordinarie ward See Iob 31. 1. Psal. 119. 37. It is incredible what a deale of pollution and ill the Deuill conueyes insensibly through these Flood gates of sinne into their bosomes who are carelesse and watchlesse this way To instance in the eare and eye What balles of Wild-fire as it were doth many an obscene and filthy tongue set on fire of hel throw thorow their eares into mens hearts with rotten and ribald talke which after begets within worlds of speculatiue wantonnesse and flames of Lust Many false reports drop from the slanderers mouth into the eare which after in the heart becomes the cursed seed of heart-burning spite and mentall murder at the least And such wicked weeds cannot but fructifie very rankely in such a naturally sinfull soile A Tale-bearer tells thee that such an one said of thee so and so when as in truth it was neither so nor so Thou presently thereupon conceiuest thoughts of vnkindnesse displeasure and it may be of rage against that man that neuer thought the ill Heere thou spillest innocent blood for thy heart may kill as well as thy tongue and hand It is fit therefore for euery honest face to furnish and fill it selfe with frownes of distaste and indignation at the approach of any Tale-teller As the North wind driueth away raine so doth an angry countenance a back-biting tongue Pro. 25. 23. Concerning the Eye Dauids wofull example may warne the holiest men to the worlds end to bee very watchfull with a most restlesse and eye-full iealousie ouer that wandring sence An idle glance vpon Bathsheba was like a theeuish boy thrust in at a rich mans window which lets in a number of villanous desperate Cut-throats to ransacke and robbe the house it being not resisted at the first drew after it such a blacke and bloody traine that robbed his royall heart of much heauenly wealth and wounded his soule as deepely and dangerously as perhaps any of Gods seruants
let her brests satisfie thee at all times be thou rauished alwayes with her loue See also Eph. 5. 25. Methinkes this charge from the holy Ghost being often reuerently remembred should euer beate backe and banish from both their hearts all heart-rising and bitternesse distaste and disaffection all wicked wishes that they had neuer met together that they had neuer seene one anothers faces c. When the knot is once tied euery man should thinke his wife and euery wife her husband the fittest for him of any in the world Otherwise so often as he sees a better he will wish that his choise were to make againe so fall off from respect to this Commandement and from kindnesse and loue to his owne Which is an inexpiable disparagement to Gods prouidence and an execrable empoysoner of Marriage comforts 2. That by the power of the honourable Ordinance of Marriage the two are made one And therefore they ought to be as louingly and tenderly affected one vnto the other as they would be to their owne flesh 3. The compassionate and melting compellations which Christ and his Spouse exchange in the Canticles My faire one my sister my loue my Doue my vndefiled my welbeloued the chiefe of ten thousand c. whose chaste and feruent loue that of married couples should resemble and imitate 4. That these mutuall expressions and exercise of this matrimoniall loue are very powerfull to preserue chastity and purenesse in body and spirit on both sides It is noted of Isaac that he loued Rebekah dearely and this was a speciall preseruatiue that hee fell not to Polygamy or concubines as many of the Patriarkes did II. Faithfulnesse 1. In respect of the Marriage-Bed which they ought on both sides to keepe inuiolable vndefiled and honourable Wherein if they transgresse besides an whole hell of spirituall miseries they strike at the very sinew heart and life of the Marriage Knot and become liable if the Magistrate should doe as God commanded amongst his people to the bloody stroke of a violent death And therefore it behooues all that enter this state to bee humbled and repent for all former wantonnesse or else a thousand to one it will breake out either into a sensuall immoderate abuse of the Marriage which the Fathers call Adultery with a mans owne wife or else into a lustfull hankering after the strange woman 2. In respect of domesticall affaires and businesses of the family The care and burthen whereof is common to them both The Husband that hath a prodigall and slothfull wife doth but draw water with a Siue as the Heathen man said and casts his labours into a bottomlesse sacke And the wife that is maâ—…cht with an idle vnthristy Husband drawes a Cart heauy laden through a sandy way without a Horse By which is intimated an impossibility of thriuing in the world and prospering in their outward state 3. In the concealement of each others secrets It is a very vnnaturall and monstrous treachery to publish one anothers faults and frailties or any thing which in hope of keeping counsell they haue communicated one to another They are ill birds as they say that defile their owne-nests and franticke Bedlams that so throw dirt in each others faces III. Patience Which is as precious and needfull an holy dutie as I can possibly commend in this case for comfortable conuersing together For a more prepared and constant exercise whereof consider 1. That two Angels are not met together in a Matrimoniall state but a sonne and daughter of Adam And therefore they must looke for infirmities frailties imperfections passions and prouocations on both sides 2. That it is a charge giuen to all That the Sunne must not goe downe vpon their wrath much more to Man and Wife linked together in the neerest bond 3. That there neuer did nor euer will come any good by the falling out of Man and Wife Well may they thereby become ridiculous to their seruants a by-word to their neighbours Table-talke to the Countrey troublers of their owne house and as a continuall dropping one vnto another but they shall neuer gaine by their mutuall hastinesse passions and impatiencie What good can come by a mans anger and indignation against his owne flesh What prodigious madnesse is it for them to grow strange whom so many and perpetuall bands haue tyed so fast and who without dearest and most intimate familiarity can neither enioy ciuill contentment or peace of conscience Suppose that the heart should fall out with the head and deny vnto it those spirits which become animall in the braine and serue for exercise both of sence and by consequent of the higher part of the soule What would follow but distemper distraction and madnes Or that the head should fall out with the body and thereupon restraine from it the influence of animall spirits the instruments of the quickning and moouing it What would become of the head when the body were dead Proportionable mischiefes and miseries fall out vpon the Marriage-state by falling out strangenesse bitternesse and angry reseruednesse betweene the parties This grace then will be of excellent vse and must be exercised many wayes 1. In bearing with the wants and weakenesses infirmities and deformities of each other And let the man for the woman is the weaker vessell remember for this purpose how many faults frailties and falls and how many times Christ remits and pardons to his Spouse the Church And hee ought to loue his wife as Christ doth the Church Eph. 5. 25. The body doth not reiect the head because it is bald or but one eyed The head rageth not against the body because it is deformed or diseased but doth rather condole and sympathize 2. About crosse accidents in the family losses in their outward state going backward of businesses c. They must not lay the fault one vpon another to the breaking out into choler impatiencie and stamping but both ioyne with blessed Iob in that sweet and meeke submission to Gods pleasure The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. 3. In waiting for the conuersion of one another if either prooue vnconuerted In which case be patient pray and expect Gods good time We haue God himselfe a sweet Patterne for this purpose See before pag. 102. Or if the one be but a Babe in Christ weake in Christianity deale fairely louingly and meekely Let our Lord Iesus his tender-heartednesse to spirituall younglings teach vs mercy this way See Isa. 40. 11. IV. An holy care and conscience to preserue between themselues for there is a coniugall as well as virginall and viduall chastity the marriage bed vndefiled and in all honour and Christian purity It ought by no meanes to be stained and dishonoured with sensuall excesses wonton speeches foolish dalliance and other vncleane incentiues of lust which marriage should quench not inflame Euen in wedlocke intemperate and vnbridled lust immoderation and excesse is deemed
through his pouertie might bee rich Shall the onely deare innocent Sonne of the All-powerfull and euer-blessed Lord and King of heauen and earth dis inrich as it were and disrobe his heauenly Highnesse of that Royaltie and Maiestie aboue and become so poore that whereas the Foxes haue holes and the birds of the ayre haue nests yet Hee not where to lay his head that through his pouerty and powring out his hearts blood hee might crowne vs with the inestimable riches of heauenly glory with ioyes and pleasures more then the starres of the firmament euen for euer and euer and shall not we Wormes and wretches most vnworthy the least bit of bread we put into our mouthes part with our superfluities sometimes both in respect of the necessity of nature and exigencie of estate as the Schoolemen speake to relieue the fainting soule of him for whom Christ died and which he would take as done vnto himselfe Matth. 25. 40. were it but a cup of cold water onely Mar. 9. 41. Monstrous vnthankfull cruelty mercilesnesse meriting without Gods singular mercy and turning mercifull our selues the fiercest flame in the dungeon of fire and brimstone 4. The last and euerlasting doome at that great and dreadfull Day must passe vpon vs according to our carriage in this kinde Then shall there be a seuere and sincere search and enquirie made after workes as the signes euidences and outward demonstrations of faith and the roote of grace in the heart or of vnbeliefe and rottennesse at the heart-roote and consequently as arguments of a righteous doome passed vpon the Sheepe and Goates That glorious sentence of absolution Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world which sounds out nothing but pleasures ioyes delights glories beauties felicities crownes kingdomes Angelicall entertainments beatificall-visions spirituall rauishments highest perfections vnutterable exultations of spirit sweetest varieties eternities shall be pronounced vpon the godly according to the effects and fruits of their faith to teach vs in the meane time what faith to trust vnto and rest vpon for iustification euen that which works by loue and at that day to let all the world see Angels men and deuils that the kingdome of Heauen is giuen onely to true-hearted Nathaneels honest Professours working beleeuers Now in the text for this purpose there is singled out with special choice an eminent Synechdochicall instance in one of the worthiest effects of faith and noblest fruit of grace euen the point I now presse and labour to perswade an open-hearted reall fruitfull bounty and loue to Gods people and distressed members of Christ Iesus for Christs and their goodnesse sake But that other doome of damnation Depart from me you cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his angels which breathes out nothing but fire and brimstone stings and horrours woe and alasse flames of wrath and the Worme that neuer dyeth trembling and gnashing of teeth seas of vengeance torments without end and past imagination shall passe vpon the reprobates for omission and neglect of this noble dutie For mercilesnesse to the poore members of Christ vnkindnesse to Christians hard-heartednesse towards the houshold of faith is one of the ranckest bitterest weeds which growes out of a gracelesse heart a cleare pregnant euidence that all was naught and a notable remembrancer as it were to that high and euerlasting Iudge that his blessed Spirit neuer dwelt there How deeply then doth it concerne euery Christian to practise and ply vpon all opportunities that most gainefull art of almes-giuing which shall be so highly honoured at that great Day before that glorious vniuersall presence when euery mercilesse man shall cry to that Rocke this mountaine to fall vpon him and hide him from the wrath of that iust God which will flame vnquenchably and euerlastingly against all those who in this life haue shut vp their bowels of pitty against His poore and been dogged towards the dearely beloued of his Soule I know Bellarmine labours to empoyson this last passage with his false glosse and Popish sophistry The causall coniunction For Matth. 25. 35. as hee there cauils intimates and implyes workes meritoriousnesse I say no. For is there a Note of consequence and order not of the cause or any meritorious causality The causall coniunction in Grammar doth indeed serue to shew the reason of a former sentence but it doth not necessarily shew a reason from the cause of a thing but many times also from the effect and other kind of arguments And Logick also reacheth that there be diuers kinds of causes principall and lesse principall c. Bellarmine replyes Doth not Christ there speake in the same manner of the rewards of the godly and of the punishments of the wicked But no man can say that in these words Goe ye cursed c. that the cause is not rendred but onely the order and consequence implyed For the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. 23. I answer By the like fallacy also doe the Popish Impostors pleade for Iustification by Workes Euill workes damne therefore good workes saue Most falsely as appeares by that rule in the Topicks The consequence is of no validitie where there is not a perfect contrarietie Now betweene good and euill workes there is no perfect contrarietie for euill workes are perfectly euill against the Law of God but good workes are not perfectly good according to the Law of God By the same reason neither doth it follow Eternall death is the wages of sinne therefore eternall life is the wages of good workes 5. If thou lay out to the poore cheerefully seasonably liberally and yet but according to thy abilitie thou shalt become which besides the onely course of growing comfortably rich is also a Crowne of infinite honour Creditor euen to thy Creator Hee that hath pitie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lord and that which he hath giuen will he pay him againe Prou. 19. 17. And in the meane time for repayment in due time thou hast securitie infinitely aboue all exception a Bill vnder his owne hand euen his owne blessed Booke wherein to faile were to forfeit his Deity if I may so speake which is prodigious blasphemie to imagine Now what a keene spurre and inflaming motiue is this to bee mercifull that wee shall make God himselfe our Debter the euer springing Fountaine of Blisse and Lord of all goodnesse who doth all things like himselfe omnipotently bountifully aboue all expectation as becomes the mighty Soueraigne of Heauen and Earth If he worke he makes a world If he be angry he drownes the whole face of the Earth If he loue the hearts-blood of his dearest Sonne is not too deare If he stand vpon his peoples fide he makes the Sunne to stand still and the Starres to fight If he repay hee giues his owne All-sufficient Selfe with the ouerflowing torrents
resolution to saue a mans soule more is the pitie is many times a notable curbe to keepe him from growing rich and into reputation with the world Gods blessings euen in temporall things I deny not are sometimes very plentifully vpon the right owners Gods owne children and both heauenly and earthly happinesse haue beene wreathed together by the mercifull hand of God and set vpon their heads but if wee looke vpon the common courses holden in the world that way and in all forecast of carnall reason hee is likeliest to grow rich and rise who is resolued to damne his soule In ordinary conceit of prophane policie and apprehensions of worldly wisdome Ioseph mist a great deale of earthly contentment and in a precise humour put from him much possibilitie of preferment by not yeelding to the impure sollicitations of his wanton Mistris Micaiah in not iumping with the foure hundred false prophets in their lying flatterie to please the two Kings Ionathan in not ioyning with his father Saul for the preuention and confusion of Dauid Had a sensuall worldling beene in Iosephs case an vnsanctified Minister in Micaiahs an ambitious Absalom in Ionathans assuredly they had all yeelded to the seuerall temptations The conscience of an vnregenerate man will marueilously stretch it selfe and grant out very large dispensations especially when any speciall glory profit or pleasure of the world is in pursuit and possibilitie It was so in all ages and at this day many a good man many times of great spirit worth and vnderstanding sits obscurely in a very low roome and is kept vnder in meane estate by the worlds oppressions because he dare not displease God or enlarge his conscience proportionably to the vast gulfe of the times corruptions This is the very true reason why folly is set in so great excellency and sinceritie seated in the low place why so many seruants are on horsebacke and so many Princes walking as seruants on the ground Sith therefore the Christian is happily restrained by the checks and tendernesse of a good conscience from all vnwarrantable meanes and vnconscionable courses of getting though his bowels bee most compassionate his heart heated with true charitie and his desires enlarged to doe good vnto all and all the good he can yet he is many times kept short by reason of his short pittance from those outward reall expressions and effects of charitie to which his tender-hearted zealous affection is inwardly truely inflamed and from those more bountifull effusions and liberalities which rich worldlings may out of the tythe nay the thousandth part of their ill gotten goods plentifully performe 3. Thirdly Christians know themselues bound in conscience to a carefull prouision for their Families to diligence and faithfulnesse in their callings from all vnnecessarie expences and the prodigall effusions of goodfellowship from ambitious affectation of applause and vaineglory by Pharisaicall ostentations and therefore to the greedy obseruation of carnall eyes and vndiscerning spirits of vnregeneration which want no malice to mistake or cunning to apprehend any shadow or shew of any seeming aduantage for the disgrace of good men they seeme and are miscensured to hold vpon the world to feede vpon earthly-mindednesse not to bee so open-hearted good-natur'd and charitably affected as other good fellowes as they call them which make no such profession of purity and precisenesse And this misconceit of Gods children is made more passable by the prophane plausiblenesse of vaineglorious worldlings It is sooner and more easily entertained because vnconscionable men take any compendious course of growing rich which their couetous humour suggests vnto them and by allowance and exercise of vnlawfull meanes of getting bring in many times great store of wealth with much ease and therefore neede not toyle so in their trades or follow the businesses of their proper callings with such attention and exactnesse And if at any time they resolue to be more bountifull and liberall they commonly make choyce of those times places persons and other circumstances whereby as they thinke their good natures may be most noted and their names grow greatest for extraordinarie kindnesse and good-fellowship 4. The Christian doth encline and enlarge the bowels of his speciall compassion towards the necessities of the Saints and conueyes the noblest issues and effects of his inflamed charitie into the bosome of Gods child And indeed hee is so prest by the commandement Doe good vnto all men but especially vnto them who are of the houshold of Faith And there was neuer more need For howsoeuer worldlings may bee bountifull one to another and exercise many mutuall offices of kindnesse and carnall loue among themselues yet for the most part they are very vncompassionate straitlaced and hard-hearted toward distressed Christians Nay ordinarily they are rather ready to combine and contribute their malices policies and purses to throw them downe lower into outward want and misery then to put to their helping hands for their recouery comfort and enlargement though it were in their sufferings for Gods cause and testimony of a good conscience So that as Christian distresses are the principall obiect of the Christians compassion and bounty So worldlings are onely heartily kind and openhearted to the men of the World Now that you may rightly vnderstand the point you must conceiue that the good deeds and commendable parts of an vnregenerate man are euer carried more boisterously and with greater noyse are entertained of the World with a farre more general applause and notice then the godly actions and diuine Graces of Gods children The World deales with men in this case saith a worthy Diuine as it deales with Witches and Physicions the Witch though shee faile in twenty things yet if she doe some one thing aright though it be but small the world loueth and commendeth her for a good and wise woman But the Physicion if hee worke sixe hundred cures yet if through the waywardnesse of his Patient or for the punishment of his Patients sinne he faile but in one that one faile doth more turne to his discredit then his manifold goodly and notable cures doe get him praise In this manner saith hee doth the world deale with men If a worldly man haue but an outward gift of strength of speech or of comelinesse he shall be greatly praised and counted a goodly man though he be an Idolater or a prophane person and though hee swimme and flow ouer in all manner of vices But let the child of God bee truely zealous in true Religion let him bee honest and holy in conuersation yet if there be but one infirmitie in him or if he haue through weakenesse fallen into some one sinne that one infirmitie against which he striueth or that one sinne for which he is grieued shall drowne all the Graces of God in him bee they neuer so great and the World will account him a most wicked man It is iust so in this particular A prophane man many times
A sound and vndeceiuing perswasion that thou art euerlastingly lockt in the armes of Gods mercy and loue grounded vpon the Word seconded and set on by the Spirit is a most rare and rich Iewell which doth infinitely out-shine and ouerweigh in sweetenesse and worth any rocke of Diamond Cristall Mountaine or this great Creation were it all conuerted into one vnualuable Pearle and therefore is infinitely enuied and assaulted mightily on all sides It is continually hunted like a Partridge on the Mountaines by naturall distrust the policy of Satan and all the powers of darkenesse There is not a wicked spirit but is transported with implacable indignation against that heauen vpon earth and therefore rages and roares about thee still to rob and bereaue thy humble brest of such an heauenly Iemme Besides the two maine ends and generall aimes of all the malice and machinations of those apostated angels 1. the dishonour of God and 2. the discomfort of mens soules In this poynt they are peculiarly enraged with extreme hellish anger to see a mortall man a childe of Adam crowned by Gods mercifull hand euen in this life with right and interest and as it were an earnest penny of the Inheritance with the Saints in light and of those blessed Mansions of glory and rest of which by their Apostacy and pride they haue vnhappily and euerlastingly depriued themselues Neither onely so but they imploy also their Agents enuious to the grace of God and thine owne fearefull heart to charge falsely many times vpon thee Hypocrisie and delusion left that white stone giuen thee by the holy Ghost the splendor and sweetnesse whereof none knoweth but hee that hath it should fairely shine vpon thy sad soule with that lightsomenesse and comfort as it both may and ought Whereupon it must needes follow that if thy perswasion be well grounded and assurance true it will be accompanied and often exercised with feares iealousies doubts distrusts varieties of temptations Satans firiest darts iniected scruples contradictions of flesh and blood cauils of carnall reasons want of comfortable feelign c. which will many times necessarily driue thee to cry mightily to God and complaine at the Throne of grace against all this hellish ordnance and assaults of thy vnbeleeuing heart by the wrastling of faith to warme thy â—…oule with meditation vpon the promises to re examine and reuise thy grounds to confirme thy watch to resort for counsell strength and comfort to the quickening meanes experience of former sweet feelings and motions of the Spirit to truly iudicious Diuines experienced Christians dayes of humiliation bookes of best rellish to a spirituall taste c. But now on the contrary side his presumptuous confidence and groundlesse conceit lyes in the Pharises bosome with much quietnesse and security without doubting difficulty contradiction or any such adoe The reason is his carnall heart is well enough content and meddles not because it still feedes vpon the delights of his darling sinne without disturbance Satan is too subtill to interpose tempt or interrupt in such a case For he well knoweth that his foundation is falsehood his hope of heauen but a golden dreame and therefore in policy he holds his peace that hee may hold him the faster Take notice by the way that that very thing which makes many a truehearted Christian to doubt of himselfe and of the soundnesse of his spirituall state should put him out of all doubt euen often exercise with doubts temptations multiplyed attempts against his faith and assurance of Gods loue prayed against humbly resisted and opposed with cleauing vnto the tenderheartednes of Christ truth of his promises though for the present he hath little or no feeling no such ioy and peace in so beleeuing And that very thing vpon which the deluded Ones doe build and many times boast themselues to wit that they are vntroubled vntempted in point of faith and pretended assurance may returne an infallible remonstrance to their own consciences that they are certainely deceiued For doubtlesse that faith which is neuer assaulted with doubting is but a fancy Assuredly that assurance which is euer secure is but a dreame Many a Pharise stands by the bedside of the sincere Professor visited with affliction of conscience and many heauy temptations secretly and sinfully pleasing himselfe in the vnblessed calmenesse of a groundlesse confidence and in his freedome from such terrors and spirituall troubles when as himselfe is like an Oxe fatting in the greene pastures of impunity and outward prosperity for the day of slaughter But the afflicted party is as precious gold purifying in the Lords refining furnace that hee may afterward come out and shine more gloriously 4. In that heart to which the Spirit of God testifies that we are His children Ro. 8. 16. doth the same Spirit create many feruent eiaculations strong cryes vnutterable groanings verse 26. The testimony of the Spirit is euer attended with the Spirit of prayer That glorious glimpse shining into the soule and assuring it of saluation is so sweete so heauenly so rauishing so transcendent and incomparably aboue all earthly ioy that it warmes the spirit of a man with quickning life liberty to powre out it selfe in the presence of his Lord and his God before the Throne of Grace sometimes in more hearty triumphant and as it were winged prayers at other times in those which are more faint and cold yet edged with infinite desires that they were more feruent and therefore by the way as it were mingled and perfumed with the soueraigne satisfactory incense in the Golden Censer which the Angell of the Couenant holds in his hand are graciously accepted of him which by an excellency and title of highest honour is stiled the Hearer of Prayers or at least with vnexpressable groanes and inward wrastlings for preseruation recouery enlargement of that same comfortable assurance it selfe and of all other holy graces and fruits of the Spirit purity of heart conquest ouer corruption neerer communion with God spirituallmindednesse and such other heauenly guests amongst whom it is woont to dwell with delight and represent it selfe more comfortably But now on the other side euery deluded Pharise is a meere stranger to the power of Prayer His presumption and groundlesse confidence is but a weede which will grow of its owne accord and therefore is not sensible of any necessity neither feeles any want of constant prayer from a broken heart vniuersall obedience or the holy precisenesse of the Saints to support it 5 An assurance of Gods Loue vpon sure ground doth mightily quicken keene and spurre forward the ingenuous Christian to more holinesse hatred of sinne resolution in good causes watchfulnesse ouer his heart walking with God Hauing these promises saith he let me cleanse my selfe from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Hauing this hope I will labour to purifie my selfe euen as He is pure To
let the principall motiue passe it is impossible but that the feeling consciousnesse that Gods free loue through Christ hath freed vs from eternity of torments one houre wherein is infinitely more stinging and terrible then all the tortures that all mankind hath doth or shall endure from the Creation to the end of the world and certainely interessed vs to eternity of ioyes one houre wherein doth incomparably surpasse all the delights of this wide world were they collected into one lumpe of pleasure I say it cannot be but that such an assurance should stirre vp the blessed soule to do or suffer any thing for Christs sake rather to die then turne Papist to doe worthily in Ephrata and bee famous in Bethlehem But now the other groundlesse confidence being in truth but a fancie must needes bee powerlesse fruitlesse vnactiue and makes the deluded rather secure carelesse presumptuous onely formall 6. The blessed Spirit is woont to spring in our hearts with heauenly refreshing and his sweetest testimonie especially at such times as these When wee retire and recollect our selues to conuerse with God in a more solemne and solitary manner opening our consciences breaking our hearts and powring out our soules into his bosome when wee are preparedly and fruitfully exercised in the ordinances in our innocent patient sufferings for good causes and conscience sake when we feele that wee haue conquered or well curbed some corruption by the power of Prayer in the beleeuing contemplation and reuise of our change and the infallible markes thereof when we meditate effectually vpon the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue vnto vs with which hee hath loued vs from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon dayes of humiliation c. But that other counterfeit flash keepes a deluded Pharise in a fooles Paradise continually he is ordinarily at all times alike peremptory in the point of assurance You shall not take him any weeke in the yeere any day in the weeke any houre in the day without a bold perswasion and protestation if neede be That he hopes to bee saued as well as the precisest Hee is as confident this way when he is cauilling against the purity of the Saints and power of Godlinesse as when he is the deepest in his Pharisaicall deuotions 7. The presumption of the Pharise is ordinarily at the height in his height of outward prosperity and when Gods Candle shineth faireliest vpon his head with worldly blessings But the perswasion of the Christian is for the most part then strongest when the world most frowneth vpon him for his forwardnesse and in heate of persecution 8. Those that are deluded with a groundlesse confidence haue ordinarily beene so conceited of themselues euer since they may remember or had any thoughts of heauen and that without consciousnesse of any conuersion change or supernaturall sauing worke vpon their soules at all For though the deuill seales it with more security vpon their hearts by his counterfeit Angelicall glory yet hee findes matter enough in our corrupt nature ministred originally for such a golden dreame and imaginary castle in the aire But the testimony of the Spirit and that other true perswasion is supernaturall and neuer felt before conuersion nor euer to be found but in a regenerate soule I doubt not but many Christians to their singular comfort further assurance can tell their experiēce of both Their bold peremptory ill grounded presumption in their vnregenerate time and their now true kindly sweet perswasion so much enuied and assaulted by Satan accompanying their conuersion 9. Naturall presumption guilded ouer with the deuils delusion euer shrinkes in the wetting Troubles of conscience fiery tryals heauy crosses the face of the Prince of terrour disastrous and dismall times dissolue it into nothing But the oher true testimony holds out like armour of proofe against thickest haileshot of all aduersary power Nay it is woont to shine and shew it selfe with vnited vigor and more lightsomnesse within in the greatest dampe of outward discomforts and most confusions abroad 10. The Christian can giue sound reasons for his resolution in the point of assurance from his conuersion holy conuersation loue of the brethren vniuersal obedience c. those meanes I mentioned before proper to the Child of God But put the Pharise to prooue in this case and perhaps hee will not bee able to say so much as his formall deluded brother Luk. 18. 11 12. Sure I am all that hee can produce for that purpose being tryed by the Touchstone of Gods Truth will prooue too light and inconsequent Reuise the false mediums and insufficient grounds discouered before and you shall perceiue that none of them can possibly inferre a comfortable conclusion 11. The Laodicean longs farre more for gold then growth in grace thinkes himselfe already rich enough in Religion and that he hath attained that very temper which euery wise man should rest vpon without any more medling that if hee should stirre forward he should be too precise if he should grow any worse he should be too prophane and therefore concludes I haue need of nothing But the illightened Christian hauing truely tasted of the assurance of Gods loue is infinitely greedy of growing in grace of conquering corruptions of neerer communion with his Christ of doing his God all the most glorious sincere seruice hee can possibly before hee goe downe into the pit and be seene no more His performances by the grace of God are many his endeauours moe but his desires endlesse and euer vnsatisfied with his degree of well-doing his present pitch of grace and measure of obedience Thus hauing premised a discouery of spiritual self-deceit whereby many so ouervalew themselues in point of their spiritual estate that they conceiue they are very right whereas in truth and tryall they are starke rotten at the root Their case herein is like that mans who lying fast asleepe vpon the edge of a steepe Rocke dreames merrily of Crownes Kingdomes and the very confluence of all earthly contentments conceiuing that hee wallowes himselfe in the ouerflowings of all worldly felicities but vpon the sudden starting for ioy breakes his necke and tumbles into the bottome of the Sea They are lulled asleepe by the deluding charmes of the Deuill vpon their beds of presumptuous security all their life long dreaming of no danger at all but euer confident their case is good enough to God-ward but their consciences being awaked vpon their beds of death or at farthest at Gods Tribunall they are suddenly swallowed vp of despaire and drowned in euerlasting perdition I come now to forewarne and forearme the true Christian that with all watchfulnesse and constancie hee would euer labour to preuent and defeate the secret assaults and insinuations of that white Deuill as a worthy Diuine calls it Spirituall pride A guilded poyson which Satan that cunning Alchymist and hellish Spider doth first extract out of the very sweetest and fairest flowers in Christs Garden I meane the most holy vertues and
Fatlings ready prepared and now reuealed to the Beleeuer by the Spirit For the third Heare the voice of sweetenesse and peace Esa. 27. 2. Sing vnto her A Vineyard of red Wine Sing sounds nothing but ioy lightsomnesse and mirth Unto her the sexe of more amiablenesse tendernesse and loue A Vineyard Vineyards Orchards Gardens and such inclosed Plots are as it were the flowers starres and Paradises of the earth Of Wine as though the Vine-trees of this Inclosure brought not foorth the grosser and vncrushed Grapes but more immediately the refined and pure blood of the Grape Red The most generous sparkling delicious wine A Vineyard is as it were the Diamond of the Ring wine the sparkle red the splendour of the sparkle all excellencies sweetenesses transcendencies where God opens expresses his heart and loue to his Church or any of his Chosen For the fourth Let thy faith peruse with enlarged Meditations those precious passages of gracious inuitation and bountifull entertainement Mat. 22. 3 4. Isa. 55. 1 2. Pro. 9. 2 3. Cant. 2. 3 4. Thou shalt sucke and be satisfied euen with the brests of consolations Thy dearest and most glorious Mother which is clothed with the Sunne treads vpon the Moone and weares on her head a Crowne of twelue Starres shall sweetly and tenderly beare thee vpon her sides and handle thee vpon her knees Isa. 66. 11 12. For the fifth It is compared to a wedding Feast and that of a Kings sonne which is woont to be honoured and crowned with height and variety of all magnificence and Maiestie ioy and triumph mirth and musicke When an humbled soule is first made sure to the Sonne of God the ioyfull harmony of all good hearts that heare of it and the triumphant Halleluiahs of the blessed Angels in heauen concurre in consort as it were of congratulation for so happy a match in gladnesse and ioy for so holy a change This Feast begins at thy first betrothing when thou receiuing a Ring as it were beset with fiue precious stones 1. Righteousnesse 2. Iudgement 3. Louing kindnesse 4. Mercies 5. Faithfulnesse It is afterward continued with many gracious passages of loue and sweetest entertainements on both sides euen in this life as appeares in Solomons Spirituall Loue-song It shall at last be crowned with an euerlasting Iubilee and pleasures moe then the Starres of the firmament in number when the Lambe receiues his wife into his neerest and dearest embracements euen into full possession of the most blessed neuer-ending Kingdome of heauen bought for her full dearely with his owne hearts blood Then our Feast of grace ends in the endlesse fruition of Glory How merry then ought wee to be in the meane time who are admitted and enrighted to this gracious and glorious Feast Of expressing which to the life the finest fare and most exquisite delicates of all earthly feasts come as farre short as the dull earth comes short of the glistering heauen a grosse mortall body of the preciousnesse of an euerliuing soule An inch of time of the length of eternity For corporall dainties fat a fraile body for a span of time with earthly food accompanied with a little poore vanishing delight of sence But spirituall food fills an immortall soule with heauenly Maâ—…na out of the mysterie of Christ attended with purest ioy and sincerest pleasures through all eternity 6. As thou doest honour Gods Iustice in trembling at his threats and throwing thy selfe into the dust as extremely vile and fewell for hell vnder his mighty hand and the piercing Maiesty of his pure Word representing clearely vnto thy conscience and pressing terribly vpon it the hainousnesse of all thy lusts iniquities abominable prouocations of the eyes of his glory and diuine indignation flaming against them so when thou findest and feelest thy heart truly wounded by the sword of the Spirit with remorse and sorrow for thy sinnes weary with the heauy weight and burthen of them possessed with sincere hatred and lothing of euery euill way thou oughtest and are bound in conscience and by the commandement of the holy Ghost to glorifie Gods truth in his promises of mercy by throwing thy selfe into the blessed armes and bleeding embracements of the Lord Iesus dying vpon the Crosse in whom they are all yea and Amen with much assurance and peace with vnspeakeable and glorious ioy And the rather because the speciall season and onely opportunity of thy magnifying and honouring the sweet influence of Gods dearest mercies tender-heartednesse and truth vpon humble soules through the precious promises of life is in this life In the world to come they shall all bee accomplished vpon thee to the vtmost and crowned with a cleere vision and full fruition of that euer-blessed and most glorious Maiesty Then faith for euer expires and we see face to face These things being so and most sure let euery true-hearted Nathaneel be heartily intreated nay iustly charged in the name of Iesus Christ by the blessed Spirit the fountaine of all comfort as hee will answer it at the glorious Throne of Mercy erected in heauen vpon purpose to make him euerlastingly merry that hee henceforth most resolutely and for euer cast out of his conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lambe and out of the Kingdome of Christ ouerflowing with Peace and Ioy now comfortably established in his soule those intruding vsurpers Tyrants onely naturall Lords ouer naturall men I meane horrours of guiltinesse false feares slauish terrours damps and droopings all vncomfortable pensiuenesse deiections and feare And leauing such Harpies as these and heart-eaters onely to the grumbling and guilty consciences of all those that hate to be reformed and Satans slaues as their proper furies let him with an holy violence against the deuils cruell assaults and contradictions of his owne distrustfull heart and with a cheerefull spirit lay hold vpon his iust inheritance and euerlasting portion purchased for him by the bitter and painefull sufferings of the Sonne of God euen floods and fresh successions of sweetest ioyes shed and showred downe continually from the Throne of Grace vpon his vpright heart in great abundance if hee will but onely vouchsafe to open the doore by the hand of faith that the blessed beames of such lightsomnesse and comfort shining from the face of Christ may come in Let his soule full fairely arayed with its heauenly roabes to which the beauty of the morning brightnesse of the Moone and glory of the Sunne are but a shadow and listning sweetly to that melodious Song composed all of Peace and Ioy Pleasures and Pardon of finne which the mercy of God makes in the eare of its faith fall to and fill it selfe at the Wedding Feast of the Kings Sonne with those euer-springing riuers of spirituall refreshing out of the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue reuealed in the mysterie of Christ by the ministery of the Word and Sacramentall grace as with marrow and fatnesse Let it sucke aboundantly and be satisfied with the