to be able to attaine these skills how much more ought man to bee at the paines yea and cost too if it were required to get this admirable Skill to liue a religious life This most gainefull subiect is intreated of in this little Volume I may truely say that almost euery sentence in this little Treatise leads vs to much and rich treasure if the promises belonging to each dutie were annexed thereunto And therefore no Christian that loues his owne soule should thinke much of the paines of learning or practising these Rules I shall not need to exhort your Ladiship to the hearty care of those things you haue beene taught of God long since to profit haue learned Iesus Christ as the truth is in him your sincere profession and practise hath many witnesses and since you beleeued the Gospel of Saluation and were sealed by the Spirit of promise you haue a Witnesse within your selfe which will not faile in life or death to plead your aboundant consolation When I intreate of pietie righteousnesse mercie and temperance I intreate of things you haue aboue many profited in I haue presumed to dedicate these Directions to your Ladiship and not without reason You haue heard the preaching of them with speciall attention and haue bin a principall perswader to haue them published for the common good Being many wayes bound to acknowledge your Ladiship amongst my best hearers and friends I cannot but beseech your Ladiship to accept of this small testimonie of my vnfained obseruance of your many prayses in the Gospell and as a pledge of my thankefulnesse of all your workes of loue to mee and mine The God of Glorie and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ make you abound yet more and more in all the riches of his grace in this life and fill you with the comforts of the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ. Your Ladiships in the seruice of Iesus Christ to be euer commnaded N. BIFIELD THE Contents of the whole Booke Chapter 1. page 441. to the 448. THe Scope of the whole Booke is to shew briefly the choysest Ruâ—…s of life of all sorts Some obiections against this course answered and the warrant and profit of it shewed The easinesse of the course with some generall Directions Chap. 2. p. 448. to 470. THe Rules are either generall or particular The generall Rules concerne either the helpâ—…s to an holy life or the manner of well-doing Hee that would prepare himselfe to an holy course of life must doe diuers things and auoide diuers things The things he must doe are these 1. He must bee sure hee hath repeuted and doth beleeue 2. He must get knowledge how to doe well and that he may attaine knowledge 1. He must esteeme it 2. He must not consult with flesh and blood 3. He must redeeme the time 4. Hee must bee wise for himselfe 5. He must be swift to heare 6. He must study onely profitable things 7. He must striue to increase in knowledge 8. Hee must propound hâ—… doubts 9. He must be rightly ordered towards his Pastor to pray for him and obey him and not discourage him 3. Hee must auoid ill companie 4. Hee must resolue to practise these rules 5. Hee must order his outward calling so as he be freed from all needlesse incumbrances 6. He must keepe companie with such as doe liue well 7. He must not be a seruant of man 8. He must accustome himselfe to the thoughts of the comming of Christ. 9. He must not regard what the multitude doth 10. He must carefully remember to be in all things thankefull to God 11. He must studie to be quiet 12. He must be carefull to go on in a direct course 13. He must reade the Scriptures dayly 14. He must be carefull to preserue his first loue 15. He must especially striue for such good things as would make him more excellent in his place and calling 16. He must be often in the duties of mortification 17. He must obserue the opportunities of well-doing 18. He must be carefull of keeping the Sabbath 19. He must often meditate of the examples of the godly that excell in holinesse 20. He must daily pray God to direct him Chap. 3. p. 470. to 475. THus of what ee must doe what he must auoid followes and so he must take heed 1. Of 〈◊〉 2. Of rashnesse 3. Of carnall confidence 4. Of â—…asting to be rich 5. Of distrustfull fâ—…ares 6. Of adding to or taking from the Word of God 7. Of contempt of reproofe 8. Of beholding of vanitie 9. Of the beginnings of sinne Chap. 4. p. 475. to 491. NIne things to bee euer in our minds that in generall concerne the manner of well-doing for in all good workes wee must shew 1 1. Zeale 2 2. Sinceritie which hath in it Truth Respect to all Gods commandements A right end Obedience without obiâ—…cting Obedience in all companies 3. Constancie when wee doe good Without wearinesse Without discouragement Without resistance Without wauering Without declining 4. Feare 5. Simplicitie which is To rest vpon the word for the forme of holinesse and happinesse To be harmelesse To be simple concerning euill To loue goodnesse for it selfe To be meeke and lowly minded So to feare God as not to enuie the wicked 6. Circumspection which hath in it A respect of lesser commandements Abstaining from appearance of euill Obseruation of the circumstances of things Vnrebukeablenesse Auoyding euill when good might come of it 7. Growth which hath in it Abounding in goodnesse Finishing of holinesse Progresse 8. Moderation to bee neither iust nor wicked ouermuch which is expounded at large Chap. 5. p. 491. to 499. THus of the generall Rule the particular rules concerne either God or other men or our selues Our whole dutie to God concernes either his loue or his seruice The loue of God must be considered either in the foundation of it or in the exercise of it The foundation of the loue of God is the knowledge of God The Rules about the knowledge of God concerne either the right conceiuing of his Nature or our acquaintance with God That we may conceiue aright of the Nature of God 1. Wee must cast out all likenesses 2. We must striue to conceiue of him according to his speciall praises in his Word 3. Wee must bring with vs the faith of the Trinity 4. Wee may helpe our selues by the thinking of the Godhead in the humane Nature of Christ. 5. We must get cure for Atheisticall thoughts That we may be acquainted with God 1. Wee must prepare our hearts 2. We must begge acquaintance by prayer praying with all our hearts and early and constantly 3. Wee must giue our selues to God Chap. 6. p. 499. to 515. THus of the foundation of the loue of God the Rules that concerne the exercise of our loue to God either shew vs how to manifest our loue to God or how to preserue it We manifest our loue to God 1. By auouching him
and to bee acquainted with him Ier. 9. 24. CHAP. VI. Rules that order vs about the manifestation of our loue to God HItherto of the Rules that concerne the knowledge of God as the foundation of our loue to God The Rules that should order vs in the exercise of our loue to God follow those are of two sorts for either they concerne the manifestation of our loue or our preseruation in the loue of God we must shew our loue to God and we must keepe our selues in the loue of God Iude 21. In our manifestation of loue to God wee must looke to both the matter as the thing whereby and also the manner how wee should expresse our loue to God For the first there be diuers excellent Rules to be heeded of vs in our practice in obseruing whereof we may soundly proue the truth of our loue to God if we say we loue God wee must shew it by these things following 1. We must auouch God to be our God Deuter. 26. 27. and so we doe if we do not onely make choise of God aboue all things to set our hearts vpon him but also maintaine our choise by a constant refusall of all idols in the world euen all things which might entice vs to loue them in stead of God by sound affection and practice declaring our resolution to cleaue to God as our sufficient happinesse though all the world follow their profits or pleasures c. 2. We must prouide and prepare a place for God that he may dwell with vs wheresoeuer wee dwell Exod. 15. 2. It is a signe of our true loue to God why wee cannot liue without him Hee that can be content to liue in any place where he is not powerfully present in his ordinances shewes no loue to God It should be our chiefe care to seate our selues so in the world as the Lord and his presence may bee prouided for that he may reigne amongst vs by the Scepter of his word 3. We must shew our loue to God by our loue to the Lord Iesus the Sonne of God we must kisse the Sonne Psal. 2. vlt. And if any man loue not the Lord Iesus hee hath not the Father 1. Cor. 16. 22 Wee shew that wee loue God when wee highly esteeme Iesus Christ and make much of him in our hearts and striue to fire our affections towards him and this must bee our care through the passages of our life to forme in vs the loue of the Lord Iesus that we may long after him and haue the desires of our soules after him and his comming 4. We must shew our loue to God by walking with him Gen. 17. 1. Mic. 6. 8. The Lord doth not account it a signe of loue to offer to him a thousand rams or riuers of oyle but this is it that pleaseth him To humble our selues to walke before him Now we walke with God diuers wayes 1. When we set the Lord alwaies before vs remembring his holy presence and not daring to goe alone without thinking of God Psal. 16. 8. 2. When we nourish the motions of the Spirit and retire our selues of purpose to entertaine them 3. When wee daily haue recourse to those meanes by which the Lord is pleased to conuerse with men and not rest in the base vse of the meanes but striue to finde out the Lord in his holy presence in euery ordinance of his Psalme 63. 1 2. When we vse our selues to Soliloquies with God taking all occasions to speake to God by prayer and priuate meditation of things offered to vs out of which we could extract matter for frequent ciaculations lifting vp our hearts vpon the very first motions of good vnto God Psal. 63. 5 6. 5. When our hearts are fired with longing desires after his presence of glory in heauen 2. Gor. 5. 8. Thus of our walking with God 6. We should manifest our loue to God by honouring him For this is one speciall way by which God requires to haue our loue shewed to him Mal. 1. 6. Now there are many wayes by which in our conuersation we may declare our desire to honour our God as 1. By performing the care of businesses that concerne his Kingdome aboue all other businesses and shewing our respect of the duties of the first Table that concerne God before the duties that concerne men in the second Table wee honouring him by seeking his kingdome first First I say in the precedencie of time and first in respect of the measure of our affections Math. 6. shewing a desire to please him rather then all the world 2. By making a bold and open profession of Gods truth vpon all occasions without feare of oppositions or snares of the world 3. By grieuing heartily for the dishonour done vnto him by the blasphemies or profanenesse of his enemies Psal. 42. 3. 4. By directing all our actions to his glory striuing in all things to order them so that some way God may be praised by vs or others 1. Cor. 10. 31. 5. By our willingnesse to suffer any thing for his sake though it were extremities euen the losse of all worldly things yea and life it selfe if it were called to it 6. By honouring them that feare his Name and are begotten of him and beare his Image receiuing them and making much of them and defending them for the loue we beare to God himselfe Psal. 15. 4. 1. Ioh. 5. 1. 7. By hating them that are his enemies as if they were our own conceiuing more dislike of them for dishonouring God then for any wrongs they could doe vnto vs Psal. 139. 21 22. 8. We honour God when we speake of the Oracles of God with all reuerence as may become the nature and glory of them Commandement 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 9. We honour him by gifts bestowed vpon him when we bring to him our free-will offerings such as are the first fruits of all our increase when out of all things wherin God hath prospered vs wee with gladnesse consecrate a part for the furtherance of his worship or the maintenance of his poore Prouerbs 3. 6. Esay 60. 6. 10. We honour him when we praise him One vsuall way by which we honour great persons in the world is by taking all occasions to magnifie them by commending their vertues or their worthy acts And this is likewise one great way of honoring God and therefore with sorrow for our neglects herein we should study his prayses for the time to come and striue for language to be able readily to do so Now God is praysed diuers wayes some of them belong not properly to this place and therefore I will but touch them We praise God 1. When wee keepe and obserue carefully the solemnities set apart for his prayse as when wee celebrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which is therefore called the Eucharist because it is to be performed as a thanksgiuing and praysing of God 2. When
THE MARROVV OF THE ORACLES OF GOD. OR Diuers Treatises containing Directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex The seuenth Edition LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND most Noble Ladie the Ladie Lucie Countesse of Bedford MADAM THESE ensuing Treatises hauing receiued their birth at seuerall times being but little Ones sought them seuerall Guardians to protect them being now all ioyntly to goe into the world together to seeke entertain ment they humbly present themselues vnto your Honour beseeching your generall protection and your noble admission to doe you and your Noble Family their first ioynt-seruice and from thence they are contented to beare their aduenture for their entertainment abroad in the world And the rather am I emboldned thus to end them with this Petition to your Honour because in the first conception of them in the publike Doctrine you were pleased to conceiue so good hope of them as to desire the profit of their seruice as they should be 〈◊〉 and fitted thereunto As they are mine they are worthy of little respect but as they haue receiued spirit and life from the heauenly Word and will of God so they are meete to attend your most retired presence and to be trusted with the charge of your greatest treasure not doubting of your Honours noble and religious respect herein I desire to remaine Your Honours Chaplaine in the things of Iesus Christ â—…o serue you euer N. BIFIELD THE BEGINNING OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST OR A Catalogue of sinnes Shewing how a Christian may finde out the euils he must take notice of in his Repentance With Rules that shew a course how any Christian may be deliuered from the guilt and power of all his sinnes By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX Lament 3. 40. Let vs search and try our wayes and turne againe vnto the Lord. LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. THe Contents of all the six Treatises thou shalt finde in the first Chapter of the first Booke TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIES the Ladie ANNE CLEERE and the Ladie ANNE PINCH and the Ladie IONE HERICKE N. Bifield wisheth all increase of the true grace of Christ and the blessed fruition of the glory of God in heauen Worthie Ladies LAmentable are â—…he ruines into which the natures of men are generally fallen by their sinnes which appeares especially by the waies men take in the businesse of their soule The most men are cleane out of the way to heauen and walke in by wayes of their owne which are called in Scripture The waies of the wicked The waies of their owne hearts Peruerse waies Darke and slipperie wayes The way of iniquity All meeting in that broad way that leadeth to destruction being wholly ignorant of the way of life and peace yea the most of them speake euill of the good way of God and persecute it Some there are that are so farre enlightned as not to like the common roade way of the multitude and after some enquirie haue found them out wayes that seeme good in their owne eyes and they are wonderfully well pleased with their course but the issues of these wayes are death too as well as the former And the more is this danger increased vpon men because the way of life is but one and it is a narrow way and hard to find and may be sought by many and yet not found Yet this hope is left vnto forlorn men that there is a way to heauen and happines A way of righteousnesse and peace a way of mercy and truth a way of wisedome A way that men may securely and safely walke in a way in which Christ will guide theÌ„ God the Father will keepe them and the holy Ghost leade them by the hand and direct them in all the passages thereof Onely it concerneth vs to aske the way with all importunitie of God and to attend vnto the directions of the Word of God apply our hearts and suffer our selues to bee disposed aright that our eyes may see the saluation of God And in particular wee must looke to three things First that if the Lord shew vs that mercy to direct vs in the way we must take heede that wee neglect not or despise notthe care of walking in the way Second ly that with all diligence we auoide going about and make straight stops to our feet And thirdly with all feare watch our selues that we fal not off with the errors of the wicked from the good way of God and so our latter end be worse then our beginning I haue vndertaken by the assistance of God and the direction of this blessed word to single out the choisest things I could finde in the Scriptures concerning the entrance into the way of God and those first path which are called Holy Thâ—… substance of these directions I haue digested into the Treatise following which I dedicate vnto your Ladiships as a testimonie of my thankfulnesse for the respect you haue shewed vnto my Ministerie both in your constant resort vnto it in the weeke dayes while you liued in a neighbour Parish and in that two of you are pleased to come to liue amongst vs and so are become a part of my charge As also to manifest to the world my obseruance of your Ladiships for the good report you haue amongst the godly for the grace of Iesus Christ and your vnfeigned loue of the truth Beseeching your Acceptation Perusall and Patronage of these I take my leaue and commend your Ladiships to the God of Mercie and Truth who guide comfort deliuer sanctifie and preserue you all vnto the day of Iesus Christ. Your Ladiships to be commanded in Iesus Christ N. BIFIELD Febr. 12. 1619. The chiefest things contained in the first Booke CHAP. I. THE Contents of all the sixe Treatises briefely set downe pag. 1. to the 7. The persons whom those Treatises doe concerne p. 8 Encouragement to the studie of these things p. 8. to 11 Generall directions by way of preparation p. 11. 14. CHAP. II. THe Rules that shew distinctly what men must doe about their sinnes p. 14. to 36 Motiues to perswade to the care of these Rules p. 15 Three Rules of preparation pag. 16. 17 Foure things deliuer vs from all sinnes past p. 17 About the gathering of the Catalogue of sinnes p. 17 About the confession of our sinnes p. 22. to 24 About sorrow for our sinnes and how â—…t may be attained p. 24. to â—…7 About the application of the promises and how it may bee done p. 27. to 3â—… The speciall promise made to such as have-confessed and sorrowed for their sinnes p. 29. 30 How men may know
tryall by the Sacraments THe sixt and last way of triall of the estate of a Christian is by the Sacraments and in particular by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper For God hath appointed the two Sacraments to bee his broad Scales to assure his fauour vnto his people and because none but worthy receiuers can bee partakers of so great a priuiledge as the Couenant of Gods grace and the Gospel of Iesus Christ therefore hereby doth the true Christian distinguish himselfe from all men For in becomming a worthy receiuer hee doth diuers things not onely required in communicants but such as none but godly men can attaine vnto As 1. He doth forgiue his enemies as heartily as hee desires God to forgiue him his trespasses 2. Hee examines himselfe and vpon examination he both eateth with sowre herbes that is comes with some measure of griefe for his offences and withall finds as vnfained a desire that he might neuer offend God in anything as that God should there assure him of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes and that he will neuer punish him for any of them 1 Cor. 11. 3. The couenant of his heart is to cleaue to God and the care of godlinesse all the daies of his life 1 Cor. 5. 8. 4. He is in some measure perswaded of Gods loue to him in Christ and discernes the Lords Body so as he is secretly in some degree perswaded of the spirituall presence of Iesus Christ and of the operation of God so as he beleeueth that Christ will as certainly nourish his soule as the outward elements can any way be fit to nourish his body Marke 16. 16. Col. 2. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 5. He somtimes feeles the Holy Ghost inwardly setting to Gods Priuie Seale by sudden refreshings falling like the dew vpon his heart and establishing his soule before the Lord Eph. 1. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 6. His heart is knit vnto the godly more and more and increaseth in his resolution to cleaue to them onely and forsake all other professions of men in the world louing them vnfainedly and desiring it for euer to a partaker of their lot 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. CHAP. X. The directions that shew him how to get assurance by the helpes of those signes HItherto of the signes of the godly man Now followes the course that the weak Christian should take by the vse of the former signes of tryall to establish his heart in the assurance of Gods fauour and his owne eternall saluation My aduice is therefore that the weake Christian that findes want of establishment and cleare assurance should take the former signes of tryall and goe apart and set himselfe in Gods presence emptying his heart of worldly distractions and seriously consider of euery rule of tryall apart and gather out into some little paper-booke so much as in euery signe hee can clearely find to be in himselfe and that which hee durst through Gods mercy resolutely auouch to bee wrought in him by the grace of God And this I would haue him to doe with deliberation trying himselfe by one or two of the chiefe heads at most in a day spending no more time about it then he may well allow without wearinesse or dulnesse Now because he may be perhaps discouraged with the obseruation of diuers things which he may find wanting in himselfe in euery signe hee must therefore take sound notice of the distinction of Christians made by the Apostle Iohn 1 Iohn 2. who casts al true Christians into three sorts Some are Infants and either new borne or but weakely qualified with the graces of Christ yet are right and haue true grace in some measure Others are strong men that is such as haue the gifts of the Spirit liuely and in their power in them Others are Fathers that is such as haue had long experience in the powerful practice of godlinesse and haue beene long exercised in all kinds of well-doing Now all these three sorts may be supposed to come to these signes The weake Christian onely takes to a few of the plainest markes in the explication of each signe The strong Christian he takes to the most of the markes The Fathers they in a manner discerne all the particulars of Gods graces and the seuerall workings of them Each of these euen the weake Christian may see so much as may stay his heart in assurance and so settle his faith and ioy When there are many signes of one and the selfe-same thing it is sufficient if it can be demonstrated though it be but a few wayes seeing euery particular marke being warranted by Scripture hath force to conclude for assurance and to proue that wee differ from all the wicked men in the world Though at the first in reading but a signe or two thou get but a few things may comfort thee yet hold out till thou come to the end of all the signes and then thou shalt see a faire armie as it were of arguments to prooue thy election and saluation For whereas the most and best of vs if wee be asked this question By what markes doe we know that we are the true children of God and not wicked men If we answer on a sudden and by present memory we can scarce giue two sound reasons to prooue the infallibilitie of our happy estate which shewes that the most of â—…s liue at a great vncertaintie Now he that hath gone through the signes shall finde perhaps twenty or thirty or fortie seueral and distinct arguments or markes which when he hath collected them all together may serue to answer all the obiections of all the Diuels in Hell The gates of hell cannot preuale against his faith which I declare thus If the Diuell say Thou art a wicked man and an hypocrite thou mayest readily answer that by the grace of God in Iesus Christ thou art none such and mayest put the Diuel to proue by the Word of God that euer any wicked man did attaine to all those signes thou hast collected Which because it cannot bee done thou mayest with much rest and full assurance commit thy selfe to God and bind thy selfe by Couenant neuer more to dishonour him by such vnbeâ—…efe as to call his loue and his saluation into question If a three-fold cord cannot bee broken how weake then should thy heart be if thou shouldst feare thy estate vnto which God hath so sealed and so many wayes marked thee out for himselfe And for thy further satisfaction after thou hast collected thy signes together thou mayest carrie them to thy godly Pastor and desire him to peruse them and accordingly giue thee his ministeriall testimonie concerning them in the name of Iesus Christ and this may adde much satisfaction and rest to thy conscience If in reading any of the signes thou finde any speciall doubts at any hand suppresse them not but seeke resolution from doubt to doubt and from signe to signe Thou mayst gaine much profitable knowledge by propounding these cases
can men draw neere vnto God in the full assurance of faith if they will not be at the paines to examine themselues Heb. 10. 22. Or how shall we euer know that wee are of God or attaine vnto any confidence of faith as we ought to doe 1 Ioh. 5. 19. Eph. 3. 12. How fearefully this point of sound triall is neglected and how miserably most men are deceiued for want of it may appeare by this obseruation which may vsually be made of men in the most places viz. that many that are carnall men say they are godly and many that are godly men say they are but carnall Besides that a multitude of men both good and bad liue in securitie the one not caring to get out of so wofull an estate and the other not regarding the riches of Assurance The causes of this miserable securitie may be obserued and noted both in wicked and in godly men In wicked men these things may be easily discerned 1 A lothnesse to examine themselues and try their estates exactly for feare lest they should finde that they are not in a good estate Their hearts secretly condemne them and they thinke if they should take particular notice of their owne condition it would be found that they haue indeed no true grace in them and therefore they rather chuse to liue in that doubtfull estate then to be put out of doubt and made to know that they haue yet no right to the Kingdome of heauen neuer considering that the knowledge of our misery may be one degree to get out of it 2. In such as see all is not well with them the cause is slothfulnesse mingled with horrible presumption they had rather weare out their dayes in danger then be at the paines to vse the means for their owne repentance and reformation they will wretchlesly put it to the venture 3. Others will aduenture vpon their common hope of mercy they haue certaine generall confused apprehensions of mercy in God vpō which they wilfully engage their hopes without care of reformation or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God and so miserably perish their hopes prouing but as the house of the Spider and the imaginarie mercy failing them they die either as stockes without sense or as Iudas in horrible despaire 4. Others rest themselues vpon their outward profession of Religion and some general things wrought in them and the good opinion others haue of them so being somewhat neare the kingdome of God they are content to rest there as the Israelites did neare Canaan though they neuer possessed it We see many think there needsno more to be sure they are in a good cōdition then to heare Sermons abstaine from grosse outward prophannesse and to be well reputed of among the godly c. pleasing themselues with the shew of godlinesse though as yet they deny the power of it as hauing attained to other righteousnesse then the righteousnesse of the S◅ribs and Pharises 5. In multitudes of men there are seated euill opinions about assurance They thinke either it is impossible to bee had or it is needlesse or it is presumption to seeke it 6. All wicked men are hindered by their beloued sinnes which they are not willing to part with but of purpose forbeare the care of heauen that they may the more securely liue in sinne Thus of wicked men It is true also that many godly Christians haue beene and are extreamly faulty in neglecting the triall of their estates and their assurance and the causes of this negligence in them are diuerse as 1. Some are so much mis-led by the surmises of their owne hearts that they think that assurance would breed security and that it is a better way to keepe their owne hearts humble to be somewhat doubtfull not knowing that vnbeliefe is the chiefe cause of slothfulnesse and securitie and that the assurance of faith is the chiefe meanes to purge the heart and quiet the soule and works effectually in all the duties of loue 2. In the most Ignorance of their owne gifts and Gods promises is the cause for if Christians did see distinctly how far the Lord hath brought them by his grace and withall did behold the euidences of their faith and hope in Gods promises they should not faile of comfort and establishment of heart 3. Smothering of doubts and temptations is a great let in many diuers Christians are secretly and daily assaulted with certaine strange doubts which if they did propound get sound answer vnto their hearts would heale within them and the worke of faith prosper 4. Some Christians are kept without assurance through the ouermuch viewing of their owne daily infirmities in all parts of Gods seruice They are wicked ouermuch wheras if they would study those Scriptures that shew how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people notwithstanding their daily wants their hearts would be much eased and their minds cleerely resolued to trust vpon the euerlasting mercies of their God 5. In some the cause is found in the disease of their bodies Melancholy when it is growne to a disease is a most stiffe and pertinacious aduersary to Comfort and Assurance it doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies and is an humour so vnteachable that comfort for the most part is as water spilt vpon the ground And the more difficult it is to remoue this let because vsually the parties possest by this humour are so far from seeking help that they will not be perswaded that they are troubled with any such disease 6. Some Christians are hindred by their owne Passions they are so froward and vnquiet in their dispositions that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of setled assurance by their own habituall discont◅nts Frowardnes is a mischieuous distemp◅r that weakens both body and minde and assurance and strength of faith seldome dwels in an vnquiet minde 7. Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance they doe not try all things and keepe that which is good or they call not vpon God daily feruently and constantly to giue them the spirit of reuelation to shew them the hope of their calling and their glorious inheritance Eph. 1. 18 19. 8. A barren life is an vncomfortable life and contrariwise to abound in good workes hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnseparable companion of it 9. The loue of earthly things is another great impediment Many professours haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously seeke Gods Kingdome nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainement of assurance This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world 10. In some there lodgeth some secret sin which they know and do not purge themselues for and doth daily preuaile in them and
a sure way and delight thy selfe in much peace 6. Take heede of idlenesse and prouide to walke faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life 7. Bee sure thou hold a constant course of confession of thy sinnes to God and do it without hiding or extenuating iudging thy selfe for euery knowne sinne and especially praying against and resisting the sinne thou art most prone vnto 8. Bee not well pleased with they selfe till thou canst approue thy care to be good at home as well as abroad looke to this rule and take heede of frowardnesse and peruerse behauiour in thy family Thou wilt hardly get any comfortable euidence that thou art sound at heart if the vsuall family sinnes reigne in thee 9. Thou mightst wonderfully aduance and establish vprightnesse of heart in thee if thou wouldest carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his Word that whensoeuer thou didst â—…le â—…hy conscience wounded or smitten for any particular offence by the word of God that then without delay thou wouldst in secret 〈◊〉 to God and humble thy self â—… by confession and from that time forward remember to striue against that sinne And so like wise when God with some speciall glory of â—…is truâ—… doth affect thee in the hearing of some needfull duty to be done not to dare to delay but 〈◊〉 to the obedience of that good Word of God FINIS THE PROMISES OR A TREATISE SHEWING how a godly Christian may support his heart with comfort Against all the distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in his life Containing all the most comfortable places through the whole Bible orderly digested By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE MVCH Honored and right worthy Sir William Throgmorton Knight and Baronet and Sir Francis Darcie Knight N. Bifield wisheth the increase of all Grace and happinesse that accompanieth the loue of the Lord Iesus in sincerity IF the many crosses and temptations with which the life of all men euen the most godly is distressed bâ—… seriously weighed and withall the great disconsolation that too often surpriseth the hearts of most Christians bee compassionately thought on and if withall the singular glory of a godly mind framed vnto vnmoueable rest and stedfast contentment be throughly conceiued of it cannot but bee manifest that if a way may bee shewed how a Christian may fill his heart with comfort in any condition hee can fall into in respect of affliction that such a course is profitable and all ought to take notice of it and with all care paines employ themselues about it This by Gods assistance vpon apparent grounds of Scripture I haue endeuoured to shew in this Treatise and doubt not but by experience humble and godly Christians will finde much refreshing and establishment of heart if they apply themselues distinctly and diligently to draw of the water of life out of those wels of saluation opened for them euery where in this role of Gods promises This Treatise I present to your Worships vnder the countenance of your names desire to coÌ„mend it vnto the Church of God this I am induced to do for diuers reasons your forwardnesse in the profession of sincere religion for many yeeres the publike seruice you haue done in the Countrey in the administration of Iustice for the incouragement of the good and reformation of abuses your great care from time to time to plant painful profitable teachers in the places of your abode together with the excellent gifts with which God hath furnished your minds deserue to be freely publikely acknowledged in the Church of God in mine owne particular I haue beene so many wayes obliged that with much gladnesse I embrace this occasion to let the world know my desire to be thankfull for the many helps furtherances my ministery hath receiued from the countenance and endeuours of both your Worships as occasion â—…h at any time bin offered Desiring your acceptance hereof and praying God to preserue you in his fear without offence till the day of Christ and to enlarge in you the desire and power of wel-doing in all things I end and rest Isleworth Octo. 161â—… Your Worships in the seruice of Iesuâ—… Christ to be coâ—…anded N. Bifield The chief Contents of this Booke CHAP. I. THE drist of the whole booke is to shew abundant comfort against any distresse p. 282. Two things taken for granted viz. both the godly man shall bee distressed and also that comfort may be had in any distresse p. 284. The worth of those promises p. 283. 284. To whom the promises belong p. 284. The vse they will serue for being learned p. 255. 286. The infallibility of those promises proued by 13. arguments p. 288. to 293. The promises sealed foure waies p. 291. Six rules to be obserued if we will profit by the promises p. 293. 294. CHAP. II. Three sorts of promises p. 295. Sorts of afflictions in which wee need comfort p. 296. 297. 298. CHAP. III. 12. Priuiledges of the godly p. 300. to 308. CHAP. IIII. What is meant by outward afflictions p. 309. 10. Arguments of consolation to support vs against outward afflictions p. 3â—…0 to 319. CHAP. V. Men need comfort against reproaches p. 319. 12. Arguments of consolation against reproaches p. 320. to 328. CHAP. VI. Many principall obiections of the godly about reproaches answered p. 328. to 335. CHAP. VII Directions in the case of reproaches p. 335. to 336. CHAP. VIII How the godly may câ—…fort themselues in case of aduersaries p. 336. to 343. CHAP. IX 3. Things taken for granted about temptations p. 343. 344. Satan tempts vs fiue wayes p. 344. 345. 3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion p. 346. 347. 9. Occasions of temptation p. 347. to 35â—… CHAP. X. How many wayes a godly man may comfort himselfe against temptations p. 342. to 356. Sixe things in Christ comfort vs against temptations p. 353. 354. How farre forth wee may pray against temptations p. 366. How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptations p. 356. 357. CHAP. XI Two sorts of promises about infirmities p. 35â—… What is meant by 〈◊〉 p. 359. 9. Arguments of consolation against our daily infirmities p. 360. to 370. The goodnesse of Gods nature shewed in fourâ—… things p. 361 362. Many things comfortable in Christ. p. 363. 364. 9. Priuiledges about infirmities assâ—…ed vs in the Word p. 365. to 368. CHAP. XII Diuers obiections about our infirmities answered p. 370. to 375. About ignorance diuers comfortable meditations p. 373. 374. The explication of two excellent places of Scripture with the sundry answers of many obiections met withall in all these places from p. 377. to 385. CHAP. XIII Many consolations to support vs against the feare of falling away taken froâ—… the considerations 1. Of
neglect or forget to doe them Deut. 6. 17. and 32. 46. and 8. 11. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Prou. 4. 26. We must follow after righteousnesse 1 Tim. 6. 11. and binde directions as signes vpon our hands c. Deut. 6. 8. If wee could bee thus awakened this rule would breed vs vnspeakable good in our conuersation Fifthly he must endeauour to settle his head and his estate in respect of his worldly affaires It is a singular helpe to godlinesse to reduce our outward callings in order and euery dayes experience shewes that confusions in worldly businesse breed miserable neglect in Gods seruice And therefore hee that would profite in an orderly course of life must prouide to vse the world so as hee may serue the Lord without distraction He that would runne a race abstaineth from all things that might encomber him No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of life that hee may please him who hath chosen him to bee a soùldür And therefore we may not think it much if in our spiritual course God lay some restraint vpon vs in respect of the cares and encombrances in our outward callings 1 Cor. 7. 29 35 c. 2 Tim. 2. 4. 1 Cor. 9. 25. Sixtly hee must walke in the way of good men both setting before him their practice as patternes of imitation as also by conuersing with them that thereby hee may gather encouragement and helpe in well-doing Hee is deceiued that thinkes to go alone and yet go prosperously in the course of a godly life He may profit and learne by many things he heareth receiueth and seeth among the godly Prou. 2. 20. Phil. 4. 8 9. Seuenthly hee must not be the seruaÌ„t of men 1. Cor. 7. 23. Other mens humours must not be the directioÌ„ of his practice Hâ—… must so depeÌ„d vpon persons by hopes to get any thing by in this world as he be not thereby hindered in workes of Religion knowing that he is Christs freeman He must haste to and looke for the comming of Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 3. 12. Hee must often remember his latter end and daily set before his eyes the comming of Christ striuing to stirre vp in his heart the desire after Christ praying for it and dispatching those workes that may prepare him therevnto The remembrance of our accounts in the day of Christ will wonderfully quicken men to the care of well-doing and the cause of viciousnesse and miserable neglect and procrastinations of many is their forgetting of their latter end A great reason why the directions about godlinesse are not entertained is because men put far away from them the Day of the Lord whereas the remembrance of the reuelation of Iesus Christ would put spirit and life into vs. He dares not say from the heart Come Lord Iesus come quickly that is not resolued diligently to worke the works of Christ. 9. He must not stay for company but rather choose to runne alone or with a few then hazard the losse of the Crowne Our life is a race and as in a race men stay not for company but striue who may runne formost so it is in the race of godlinesse He must so runne as he may obtain hee must set out with the first and runne as it were for his life As hee must make vse of the societie of the godly so hee must not stay till his carnall friends and acquaintance will set out with him He must be of Ioshua's minde that if the whole world will liue in wickednesse and prophanenesse yet hee and his house will serue the Lord 1. Cor. 9. 24. and 14. 12. Ioshua 24. 15. Tenthly hee must in all things giue thankes when God giues him successe in any thing or prospers the meanes to him and helpes him with victory ouer any sin or strength to performe any duty or bestowes vpon him any spirituall blessing hee must remember to praise God in the name of Iesus Christ. This will quicken him Daily thankefulnesse will breede daily alacritie in well doing He that will not be thankfull for beginnings of successe in the practice of holy duties will not hold out This is the speciall will of God in Christ that we should in all things giue thankes 1. Thess. 5. 18. 11. He must studie to be quiet and follow peace with all men medling with his owne businesse and auoiding all occasion of contention that might distract him in his owne course A busie bodie is as good as no body in respect of sound progresse in sanctification It is an excellent skill to be able to auoide the intanglements of discord especially he must prouide to haue perfect peace with the godly Though God be able to sanctifie the oppositions of vnreasonable men yet wee must take heed of drawing needlesse troubles vpon our selues for that makes vs neither to be nor to be accounted the more holy but contrariwise The Apostle could not speake vnto the Corinthians as vnto spirituall men but as vnto carnall at the best but Babes in Christ and the reason was because there was strife and enuie and diuision amongst them Heb. 12. 14. Mark 6. vlt. 1 Cor. 3. 3. 12. His eyes must looke straight and his eye-lids right before him Prou. 4. 25. He must take heed of going about and fetching of compasse in religion Ier. 31. 22. Hee must bee still amyâ—… at the marke of the high price of his calling being sure that the things he employeth himselfe in tend directly to the furtherance of his saluation not lose his time in vnprofitable studies or practices proceeding froÌ„ one degree to another till he come to a ripe age in Christ. 13. He must be conuersant in the Scriptures and be familiarly acquaintâ—…d with them that they may dwell plenteously in him For those good words of God haue not onely light in them to direct vs but power also to assist vs to do what they require and by the daily reading and hâ—…ring of them wee shall bee excited to more care of wel-doing we must excercise our selues â—…n the Word day and night and neuer let them depart out of our hearts but keepe our hearts still warme with the heate that comes from them neuer suffering the warmth to goe out through our long forbearance of the vse of them Col. 3. 16. Psal. 1. 2. Iosh. 8. Esay 8. 16 20. 14. He must carefully 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 first loâ—…e Reuel 2. 4. The Lord is wont at some times or other about the first conuersion of a sinner to shew himself with such power in his ordinances and to reueale vnto him such glories in the merits and gifts of Iesus Christ and the happinesse of his estate in him that his heart is thereby fired to a cheerefull liking of the means of saluation and of godly persons and to a wonderfull desire of God and care to please God Now he that would prosper in a Christian course must be wonderfull carefull to
my soule be still impure Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 4. Acts 13. 24. Thirdly by Baptisme I was assured of the vertue of the death of Christ to kill sinne in me and shall I not beleeue the operation of God that he can deliuer mee from the powerfull temptations or inclinations to any sinne Shall I not seeke strength of Christ or shall I betray my selfe to the diuell and the flesh In Christ I am dead to sinne and shall I yet liue therein Rom. 6. 1 3. Col. 2. 12. Thirdly our Baptisme must bee vsed against the doubts of perseuering or whether we shall be kept vnto saluation and whether our body shall be raised againe at the last day for God hath assured all this vnto vs in our Baptisme that we haue our part not onely in the death of Christ but also in the resurrection of Christ and if Christ be raised in vs Christ can dye no more either in himselfe or in our hearts and the same power that raised him out of the graue will also raise vp our bodies at the last day as is pleaded Romans 6. 10. c. Galat. 3. 27 28. 1 Cor. 15. 29. 1 Pet. 3. 21. If we be baptized and beleeue we shall certainely be saued Mark 16. 16. Thus as it concernes our selues 3. In respect of others we are bound to the good behauiour in Baptisme as to acknowledge the communion of Saints so are we tied to preserue our selues in all brotherly loue with the godly who weare the same Liuery with vs and are Souldiers prest to the same warre and haue taken vpon them the same holy Vow with vs we are bound in Baptisme to loue them to stand for them aboue all other people and to liue with them in all holy loue to our liues end Eph. 4. 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12. 1â—… 1. 13. Gal. 3. 27 28. CHAP. XII Rules about the Lords Supper HItherto concerning Baptisme The rules that concerne the Lords Supper follow Now concerning this Sacrament we are charged with these things First Examination 1 Cor. 11. we must examine our selues and so eate and drinke Examine our selues so as we be sure there bee no sinne in our hearts and liues which we haue committed but we are desirous to forsake and doe vnfainedly iudge our selues for it being as desirous to forsake as we desire God should in the Sacrament forgiue it Secondly The diseerning of the Lords Body and Blood so comming to partake of these outward signes of Bread and Wine as we withall know and beleeue the presence of Christ and that God doth as effectually giue Christ to the soule of the beleeuer as he giues Bread and Wine to his body yea we must thus discerne and beleeue that he is there offered and giuen vnto vs also and that God doth not delude vs but as truly giues vs the Body and Blood of Christ as he doth by the Minister giue vs the Bread and Wine 1 Cor. 11. Thirdly The shewing forth of the death of Christ This is a solemnity where we must intend to make a solemne remembrance of the Passion and Death of our Sauiour not onely in being present at the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine but in raising vp in our heart a thankefull remembrance of his grieuous sufferings and death for our sins Math. 26. 1. Cor. 11. Fourthly Fellowship and louing communion with the godly which we both signifie and vow in the Sacraments and testifie before God and men that we wil cleaue vnto them aboue all the people in the world as being the same bread with vs euen members of the same mysticall Body of Christ 1 Cor. 10. Fifthly speciall reconciliation with such as we haue offended bearing malice to no man and desiring and seeking peace with all sorts of men Matth. 5. Rom. 12. Sixtly and lastly The vowes of sincerity resoluing to keepe this feast all our life in the vnleauened bread of sinceritie and truth euen to spend our daies in all vprightnesse of heart and vnfeigned hatred of all sinne and hypocrisie 1 Cor. 5. 8. CHAP. XIII Rules about Prayer THus of the Sacraments The Rules concerning prayer follow where besides the generall Rules that belong to all worship these things in speciall must be heeded concerning prayer 1. Thy words must be few Eccl. 5. 1 2. and the reason is because God is in heauen and thou art on earth He is full of maiesty and wisedome and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God without vaine repetitions and bablings pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God as affectation is ill in any thing so much more ill in prayer This rule may be vnsauory to the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale but let them take heede of wil-worship the words are so plaine in the text as they must informe themselues about them The Lord knew what was fittest for vs when he gaue vs this charge 2. Thy heart must be lifted vp in the performance of this dutie this is often imported in diuers Scriptures and this lifting vp of the heart hath diuers things in it 1. Vnderstanding thou must bee aduised what thou prayest for and know thy warrant that what thou askest is according to Gods will 1 Cor. 14. 15. Ioh. 5. 30. 2. Freedome from distractions thy heart must be cleansed from passions and lusts thy prayer must bee without wrath 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 8. And as the distractions arising from passion must be auoided so must al other distractions 3. Feruencie or the stretching out of the affections according to the matter of prayer thou must expresse the affections of prayer for God lookes at the prayer of thy heart not at the prayer of thy lips onely 3. Thou must pray with all manner of prayer according to the occasions of prayer Thou must pray at thy set times daily and thou must pray also with eiaculations as the Diuines call them that is those sudden and short speeches to God when thy heart is moued vpon speciall occasion Thou must vse Supplications Deprecations Intercessions Confessions giuing of thankes or the like according to thy necessities or the other occasions of thy life Thou must striue to get a fitnesse and language to speake vnto God for thy selfe in thine owne words as may best expresse the desires of thine heart Eph. 6. 18. 4. Thou must continue and perseuere in prayer without ceasing prayer must be the worke of thy whole life not an exercise for a fit for a day or two or a weeke or two or a moneth or two thou must make conscience of prayer alwaies Eph. 6. 18. 1 Thes. 5. 17. 5. When thy prayer is grounded vpon Gods will thou must be instant and not faint or be discouraged Thou must pray without doubting and wauering as resolued neuer to
be discerned by many things it worketh which are the fruits of it and by the fruits of Faith wee may know faith it selfe Faith is like the roote of a tree that lyeth vnder the ground and cannot be seene without much digging but by the fruit the tree beareth wee may know what kinde of roote it hath and of what sort it is Now the fruites of faith are these that follow and such like as 1. Loue to God and the godly for faith worketh by loue Gallat 5. 6. 2. Cleannesse of the thoughts and affections For faith purifieth the heart It maketh a man striue after inward purity as well as outward to get a cleane heart as well as cleane hands It worketh humiliation for inward sins as well as outward Act. 15. 9. and driues a man to seeke pardon in the Name of Christ for all sorts of inward perturbations and secret euils 3. Victorie ouer the World Faith ouer commeth the world 1 Iohn 5. 4 5. and so it doth when it maketh a man so rest vpon God and his truth and promise as if he be put to it to deny the respect of his owne credit or profit or pleasures or the displeasure of carnall friends or his hopes in matters of this world resting satisfied with the expectation of the treasures and pleasures of a better world yeelding himselfe ouer to be guided by Christ and his truth vnto the death Psalme 18. 14. Hee liues by his faith Gal. 2. 20. 4. Humilitie For a true faith excludes boasting of our owne labours gifts or praises and makes vs able out of the sense of our owne vilenesse to acknowledge all the glorie to Gods free grace and loune in Iesus Christ Rom. 3 27. Gal. 3. 22. The confession and profession of the truth Faith will make a man speake in defence of the truth I haue beleeued therefore haue spoken saith Dauid Psalme 116 which the Apostles plead to proue their faith also 2 Cor. 4. 13 14. 6 The putting on of righteousnesse which is not by the workes of the Law done by vs. The application of and relying vpon the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ is the proper and onely worke of true faith Rom. 10. 7 It opens a spring of graces in the heart of a true Christian he that is a true beleeuer is qualified with sundry heauenly gifts which were not in him by nature which gifts do daily discouer themselues in his heart flowing from thence as if there were a spring of liuing water in his belly Sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth be inseparable Iohn 7. 38. 2 Thess. 2. 13. CHAP. V. The tryall of a godly man by such heauenly gifts as serue him in his iourney to Heauen THus of his tryall in his humiliation and in his faith It followeth in the third place to try him by his gifts which are the fruits of faith The true Christian differs from the wicked man in two sorts of gifts Some of them are such gifts as are bestowed vpon him from aboue but serue him onely for spirituall vse while he is on the way in his iourney to Heauen and so onely in this life such as are the sacred thirst The loue to the word and meanes of his holinesse The spirit of supplication The loue of his enemies and his desire after the apparance of Iesus Christ. Other gifts hee hath which will accompany him home into his heauenly Countrey and abide vpon him for euer and are not abolished by death such as are sauing knowledge the loue of God and the loue of the godly First therefore of those heauenly gifts which will passe away and so he is qualified with fi◅e distinct holy gifts which cannot be found in any reprobate The first is his holy thirst which is an heauenly kind of appetite by which hee is carried to the desire of things aboue nature such as are the merits and righteousnesse of Christ the fauour of God the presence of God the full deliuerance from all sin the remouing of spirituall iudgements the saluation of other men and the like and this thirst is a signe the more infallible 1 Because it is constant and indelible in this life There is no part of this life but it continueth either in the sense of his affection or in the iudgement of his vnderstanding so as hee accounts spiritu◅ll things to bee the best things and though at some times his affection may be the lesse moued after them yet his appetite is daily renewed as it is in the hunger or thirst that is bodily 2. Because it is industrious For this holy thirst will guide him to a carefull vse of all the meanes by which good things may bee attained and doth not breathe it selfe out onely with sudden and vaine wishes or flashes of desire Psa. 27. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Psa. 63. 1 2. Psa. 1. 2. Acts 2. 37. 3. Because it workes a constant and secret meditation of heauenly things desired the heart frequently seekes after God day and night Esa. 26. 9. Psal. 63. 1 6. For what wee desire feruently wee thinke on almost continually 4. Because if the Lord quench his thirst and satisfie his desire in spirituall things the soule becomes as a watred garden and then followes in him an heauenly kinde of satisfaction and contentment with singular delight in the soule and vowes and wishes of infinite and eternall thankfulnesse Psalme 63. 4 5. Ieremiah 31. 25 26. And thus much of the first gift Secondly The loue to the Word is another signe that hee is the Child of God and a cleare euidence of his saluation Now because all sorts of wicked men may resort to the exercises of the Word and those that haue but a temporarie faith may shew a great estimation of the VVord and find ioy in the hearing of it and shew much zeale in things that concerne the word and may yeeld some obedience to the directions of the VVord also it is profitable to consider how the true Christian may proue that his affection to the VVord is more sincere then that affection which any wicked man can bring to the word And thus he may find that his heart is sound in his loue to the Word by these markes 1 By his manner of receiuing it when hee doth receiue the Word as the Word of God and not of men setting his heart before Gods presence being affected as if the Lord himselfe should speake vnto him This no wicked man dares doe he dares not present himselfe with the whole intendments of his heart before the Lord. For this signe the Apostle Paul acknowledgeth the Thessalonians to bee true Christians 1 Thess. 2. 13. 2 By his appetite to his Word For there is in a godly man as true an hūger after the Word as the food of his soule as there is in his stomacke after the food of his body which shewes it selfe to be the more
sincere because it is constant hee desires the Word at all times and as his appointed foode daily as it is in the bodily appetite though after feeding the stomack may seeme to bee full and satisfied yet the hunger reuiues againe euery day so is it with the heart of a Child of God whereas wicked men regard the Word but by fits and in a passion and then at length fall cleane away from the affection to it Psal. 119. 20. Iob 23. 12. 3. By his loue to them that loue the Word 4. By his sorrow because other men keepe not the Word Psal. 119. 136. 5. By his vnfained estimation of the Word aboue all worldly things accounting it to bee an happy portion to enioy the word in the power and profit of it Psa. 119. 14 72 111. 6. By his desire and delight to exercise himself in it day and night that is constantly Psa. 1. 2. 7. By his griefe either for the want of the m◅ans by which the Word might be taught vnto him with power accounting such want of the meanes to be a sore famine or for want of successe in the vse of the meanes when he doth enioy it Psalm 42. 3. Amos 8. 12. 8. By the extent of his loue to all the Word of God euen the Law that with threatning shews him his sin and searcheth out his most secret corruptions being most affected with that ministery that doth most sharply rebuke sinne 9. By his resolution to labour as hard for the food of his soule as men doe or he would doe for the food of his body Iohn 6. 27. Amos 8. 12. 10. By the cōstant sweet taste he finds in it especially when it is powerfully preached Psal. 19. 10 2 Cor. 2. 15. 11. By the end hee propounds vnto himselfe in the vse of the word which is that hee might not sin and that his wayes might be pleasing to God hiding the word in his heart to this purpose Psal. 119. 11. 12. By his willingnesse and resolution to deny his owne reason and affections his credit his carnall friends his profites or his pleasures in anything when God should so require it of him and vpon any occasion to shew his heartie respect of the Gospell Marke 10. 29. 1 Cor. 1. 18. 13. By the effects of it as 1. When for the loue he bears to the Word hee will seperate himselfe from the wicked that might any way with-draw his heart or endanger his disobedience Ps. 119. 115. 2. When he accounts the Word to be his chiefe comfort in affliction and finds it to be the maine stay and solace of his heart Psal. 119. 23 24 50 51 54 143. 3. When it workes in him effectually the redresse of his wayes and freedome from the dominion of sinne Iohn 8. 32. Psalme 119. 45 9 59 1 Thessalonians 2. 13. 4. When it workes in him certaine and sensible assurance of heart before God This assurance is an infallible signe of the right vse of the Word 1 Thessalonians 1. 5. And thus of the second gift The third gift is the spirit of praier or supplication as the Prophet Zachary cals it Zach. 12. 10. and this gift hee hath aboue all wicked men which hee shewes many wayes as 1. Hee askes according to Gods will 1 Iohn 5. 14. 2. He prayes with perswasion that God will heare him Hee beleeueth in some measure that hee shall haue what hee prayes for Hee prayes in faith Marke 11. 24. Iames 1. 6 7. Psalme 6. 9. 1 Iohn 3. 22. 3. He prayes in the Name of Christ and is affected with the sense of his owne vilenesse and relies vpon the merits and mediation of Iesus Christ Iohn 14 13. Psa. 86. 1 2. and 143. 1 2. 4. He will pray at all times Iob 27. 9. Psal. 106. 3. 5. He is feruent in prayer his heart praieth he hath the affections of prayer Iames 5. 16. Psalm 6. 8. 6. Praier makes him exceeding weary of the world it giues him such a taste of his owne sinfulnesse and of Gods goodnesse and of the glory of Heauen that he is vehemently carried with desire to bee absent from the body that hee might be present with the Lord Psa. 39. 12. 7. When he knowes not how to pray as hee ought the Spirit prepares his heart excites in him holy desires supplyes him sometime with words sometime with affections and sometimes worketh inward vnexpressable groanes which yet it presents to God as effectuall prayers Romans 8. 26 27. 8. Hee findes an holy rest and quietnesse in his conscience and heart with spirituall boldnesse and confidence of trust in God if he heare him graciously and answer him in mercy Psalme 3. 4 5 6. and 116. 17. and 91. 15. Ieremiah 33. 3. 9. He loues the Lord exceedingly for hearing his prayer and desires to keepe himselfe in the loue of God Psalme 116. 1. Iude 20. 21. 10. His prayers proceed from an heart that loues no sinne but desires to depart from iniquitie and to doe that which is pleasing in Gods sight 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Ioh. 3. 22. 11. He loues prayer in others 2 Tim. 1. 21. 12. Hee striues against deadnesse of spirit and distractions as an heauie burthen Psalme 86. 3. 4. 13 He makes praier his chiefe refuge and he will pray though prayer bee in neuer so much disgrace Psalme 69. 10 13. and 142. 25. And thus of the third gift The fourth gift is the loue of his enemies Any Christian may loue such as loue him but to loue his enemies is onely to be found in the true Christian which he proues by these tokens of the sinceritie of his loue 1. He can pray heartily for them yea in some cases he can mourne and humble his soule before God for them in their distresses Psal. 35. 13 14. 2. Hee desires their conuersion so vnfainedly that hee is sure if they were conuered hee could reioyce in them as heartily as in those hee now much delights in 3 Hee can likewise forgiue them their particular trespasses against him being more grieued for their sinnes against God then for the wrongs they doe him Math. 6. 14. 4 He can freely acknowledge their iust praises 5 He cannot onely patiently endure their reuilings but can forbeare when he could bee reuenged by bringing shame or miserie vpon them 1. Peter 3. 9. Rom. 12. 14. 1 Sam. 24. 18 19. yea he doth as he hath occasion striue to ouercome their euill with goodnesse being willing to helpe them or relieue them in their miserie and doe th◅m any good for soule or body The last gift which is found in the true Ch◅istian while he is in the way in this life is His loue of the appearing of Christ which hee shewes 1 By the longing after the time of Christs comming whether by death or iudgement 2 By his gladnesse at the promises or signes of his particular or generall commings 3 By his often meditations of that day and his hearty prayers for the
hastening of it Neuelat 22. 10. 4 By his daily care to dispach all those godly duties which hee desires to doe before his death and accordingly by his willing disposing of his estate and endeuours to set his house in order And this desire of Christs comming is apparently the more sincere in him 1 Because it ariseth out of his loue to God and his hatred of his owne sinnes and his wearinesse vnder the obseruation of other mens sinnes 2 Because this desire is accompained with the care of the meanes by which he may be prepared for saluation 3 Because hee is thus affected euen in his prosperity when hee thrines in the world and is not in any uotable distresse Hitherto of his triall in such gifts as he is endowed withall in this life onely his triall in the gifts that will abide in him for euer follow CHAP. VI. His triall in respect of such heauenly gifts as will not bee abolished by death THe gifts that will abide in him for euer are these three Knowledge the loue of God and the lou◅ of the brethren These are perfected and not abolished by death And first in this knowledge he differs from all wicked men and so in diuers things as First in the things he knowes he knowes the nature of God in a right manner he knowes God in Iesus Christ hee knowes the vilenesse of his owne sinnes hee knownes after an effectuall manner the mysteries that concerne the saluation of his soule hee knowes his owne conuersion and the forgiuenesse of his sinnes and the things that are giuen him of God Math. 13. 13. Iohn 17. 3. Ier. 31. 34. 1 Cor. 2. 12. Hee knowes that Iesus Christ is in him 2 Cor. 13. 5. Secondly In the cause of his knowledge For flesh and blood did not reueale those things vnto him hee came not by them by the vse of naturall meanes but they are wrought in him by the word and Spirit of God Mathew ◅6 17. 1 Iohn 2. 27. and 5 10. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Thirdly In the effects of his knowledge for 1. It breeds in him an vnspeakeable refreshing and gladnesse of heart in Gods presence Psalm 36. 9 10. Psalme 119. 2 It inflames him to a wonderfull loue of the Word of God aboue all earthly things Psalme 119. 97 98. 3 It workes in him an effectuall sauouring and tasting of the goodnesse of spirituall things Rom. 8. 5. 4 It inclines him to a constant obedience and practise of Gods will Prou. 8. 9 17. Iohn 7. 17. Deut. 46. It redresseth his waies Psalme 1◅9 10. 1. Iohn 2. 3. and 3 24. 5 It beares downe pride and conceitednesse and frowardnesse and makes him humble and teachable Prou. 3. 5 6. and 8 13 14. Iames 3. 17. Fourthly In the proprieties of his knowledge for 1 It is infallible his knowledge hath much assurance in many things with strong confidence and resolution at some times especially when hee is before God 1 Thes. 1. 5. 2. It is indelible it cannot be vtterly blotted out it is fast grauen in his heart cōtrary doctrine or persecution cānot raze it out Ierem. 3◅ 34. Ephes. 4. 13. Pro. 4. 5 6. 4. It is sincere for first it inclineth him to giue glory to God and receiue all truth as well as any truth He receiues the doctrine of God though it bee aboue reason against the common opinion of men or crosse his profit or desires or the like Secondly it leades him principally to vnderstand his owne way and guides him to study the things chiefly that concerne his owne reformation and saluation Prou. 14. 8. Col. 3. 16. And thus he differs from wicked men in his knowledge Secondly in his loue to God hee hath these things which no wicked man can attaine to 1. Hee hath a deliberate inward inflamed estimation of God aboue all things accounting his louing kindnesse better then life and the signes of his fauour his greatest ioy Psal. 63. 3 11. 2. He loues and longs for the Lord Iesus Christ with certaine and sincere affection Ephe. 6. 24. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 3. He delights in Gods presence and shewes it by his vnfained loue to his house Psal. 26. 8. and by his heartie griefe for Gods absence Cant. 3. 1. and by his carefulnesse to set the Lord daily before him walking in his sight Psal. 16. 8. 4. He hates sinne heartily because God hates it and he dislikes sinners because they hate God accounting Gods enemies as if they were his owne enemies Psal. 139. 21 22. and 97. 10. 5. He constantly desires to be like God in holinesse being carefull to approue his affection to God by his obedience to his commandements so as it is not grieuous to him to receiue directions but serues God with all his heart being fearefull to displease God in any thing Ioh. 14. 21. 1 Ioh. 5. 3. Deut. 10. 12. and 11. 22. and is more affected with Gods approbation then al the praise of men Rom. 2. 29. 6. Hee is much affected with Gods mercie and the blessings bestowed vpon him which hee thankefully remembers to the praise of Gods free grace Esay 63. 7. Psa. 63. 2 3 4 6 8. and 107. 22. Iob 36. 24. Deut. 16. 2. 7. Hee loues all the godly for this reason chiefely because they are like vnto God in holinesse as being begotten by him 1 Iohn 5. 1. 8. Hee is heartily vexed for any dishonour done to God as for any disgrace offered to himselfe 9. Finally He shewes it in diuers cases that befail him in his course in this life as 1. If he bee put to suffer any thing for Gods sake he endures it with much ioy and patience 1 Thes. 1. 6. Acts 5. 14. Iohn 22. 15 to 19. 2. If at any time hee offend God by his owne faultinesse hee is heartily grieued cast downe and doth constantly desire to forsake any sinne though neuer so pleasing and gainefull vnto him rather then he would displease God Math. 26. 75. 3. In all streights and wants he runnes to God relying vpon God as his defence rocke and refuge in all times of troubles making his moane vnto him and powring out his prayers and complaints before him Psa. 18. 1 2. Thus of his loue to God Thirdly his loue to the godly doth also distinguish him from all the wicked men in the world because here are diuers things to be noted in his affection to them which cannot bee found in wicked men 1. As first he loues the godly aboue all other sorts of men in the world he accounts them as the onely excellent people Psal. 16. 3. 1 Iohn 3. 14. and affects them as if they were his naturall kindred Rom. 12. 9 10. 2. He loues them not for carnall respects but for the graces of God in them for the truths sake and because they are begotten of God 1 Iohn 5. 1. 2 Iohn 1. 2. 3 Iohn 1. 3. He delights in their fellowship and societie in
as to submit himselfe to what he shall finde therein required to be beleeued or done or auoided Other rules he may finde in the directions for the priuate reading of the Scriptures as also in Rules of life Thus of sauing Knowledge That thou maiest inflame in thy heart the loue of God 1. Thou must auoid with speciall care these things First Forgetfulnesse of God Thou must not dare to go whole daies or weekes without communion with God or remembring his holy presence Secondly the loue of the World We cannot loue the Father while our hearts dote vpon any earthly thing Of necessity some degree of the contempt of the world must be bred in vs before we can loue God 2. Wee must labour for a distinct knowledge of the dreadfull prayses of Gods Nature and Workes as they are described in the Scriptures or may be obserued by experience This is a needfull direction and miserably neglected 3. VVe must frequent his house especially when his glory doth shine in the power of his Ordinances in his Sanctuary 4. Wee should especially studie the mercies of God and all the good things hee hath promised or giuen vnto vs that wee may after a solid manner cause our hearts to know how infinitely we stand bound to God 5. Wee should obserue carefully and daily our owne sinfulnes and vilenesse and vnworthinesse For vnlesse wee cast out self-selfe-loue wee shall neuer get in the true loue of God 6. Wee should pray much for an holy course in prayer doth breed in men a wonderfull loue of God and admiration of that fellowship which thereby they haue with God 7. We should resort often to such as vse to speake much of the praises of God and marke the experience of Gods wonderful prouidence or the glory of his Word 8. It will much further the loue of God to get and increase in vs a louing respect of and behauiour towards such as feare God and beare his Image Thus of the loue of God Concerning the loue of the brethren two questions may bee demanded The one what wee must doe to get a hearty loue to the godly and the other what we must doe to preserue it when it is gotten For the first hee that would heartily bee affected towards all the godly with a brotherly loue must obserue these Rules 1. Hee must not haunt with vicious persons nor goe with dissemblers nor hold needlesse society with such as hate godlines and godly persons Psalme 26. 4 5. 2. He must much meditate of Gods loue to him and of the great things were done by Iesus Christ and of those rich mercies are offered him in Christ and of the wonderfull loue that God and Christ do beare to true Christians and how glorious they shall be in the kingdome of heauen The arguments taken from Gods loue to vs or Christs suffering for vs are often vsed in the first Epistle of Iohn to perswade vsto the loue of the brethren as 1 Iohn 4. 8 9 10 11 12. Psalme 16. 2 3. 3. Hee must take notice of Gods peremptory commandement who requireth this of him as one principall duty that hee loue the godly with an vtter disclaiming of him if hee doe not loue them 1 Ioh. 3. 10 11 12 13. For the second That he would continue and increase and abound in loue 1. He must seeke and hold and not forsake the fellowship that he hath with the godly in the Gospel but make them the constant companions of his life Heb. 10. 25. 2. When he finds his affections stirred vp he must make vse of all opportunities by his deeds to shew the fruits of his loue vpon all occasions of mercie and well-doing else affections will dye in him The fruits of righteousnesse must be sowed by practise 1 Ioh. 3. 18. If affection bee onely in shew or in words or in the conceptions of the heart and be not expressed and made fast by the engagements of practise it will much decay if not wholly be lost 3. He must by all meanes take heed of discord with any of them striuing with a resolution to take things in the best part to beleeue all things and endure all things suffering long without enuy or reioycing in iniquity doing all things without reasonings or murmurings or censuring or complaining auoiding vaine ianglings and selfe-conceitednes begging of God an ability to beare with the infirmities of others See further directions about this point in the Rules of Life CHAP. IX Hitherto of the directions that concerne the attainment of the sacred gifts of the minde Now it followeth to shew what thou must doe that in all thy wayes thou mightest walke vprightly and attaine vnto sound sincerity of heart and life HEE that would walke vprightly or take a sound course to continue in his vprightnesse must earnestly looke to these rules 1. If thou haue beene guiltie of any grosse sinne know it is vnpossible thy heart should bee vpright till thou haue with speciall repentance humbled thy selfe before God for that sinne and that also by conscionable practise thou keep thy selfe from the great transgression Psalme 19. 13. 2. Thou must in a speciall manner watch and striue against hypocrisie and that intwo things chiefly First that in thy setting out into religion thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace Secondly that in Gods seruice thou by all meanes auoide distractions and so resist and checke thy pronenesse of heart thereunto iudging thy selfe seuercly when thou so offendest till thou bee able in some happie degree to serue God with thy spirit as well as with thy body The habit of dissembling with God is extremely dangerous 3. In thy conuersation take heed of that feare full carelesnesse of the most 〈◊〉 shewed in the knowne and wilfull practice of sinne vpon pretence that it is but a small offence or secret Take heed of the sinnes of deceit how gain of all so euer they might be to thee thou maiest together with vprightnesse lose the kingdome of heauen for daring so wilfully to breake one of those little commandements Math. 5. 19. Take heed in generall of a stiffe and wilfull heart they are seldome vpright that are heady and peremptory and hard to bee perswaded Iam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29. Heb. 2. 4. 4. As much as may bee accustome thy heart to the obseruing of Gods presence walke as before him Gen. 17. 2. 5. Yeeld thy selfe ouer to bee wholly guided by Gods Word Without knowledge the minde cannot be good Prou. 19. 2. and hee that walketh according to this rule shall haue peace in his heart and conscience Gal. 6. 16. Let Gods Law be the light for thy seete and the lanthorne for thy paths Psal. 119. Labour therefore to get a particular warrant for the lawfulnesse of thy practice in the occasions of thy calling either generall or particular where thou doubtest enquire so shalt thou walke in
haue what hee will aske of him that is able to giue what hee can aske Marke 11. 24. Ephes. 2. 10. The ninth priuiledge is The seruice and attendance of the Angels The Angels doe pitch their tents about those that feare God Psal. 34. 7. and are ministring spirits to euery heire of saluation Heb. 1. vlt. Oh the dignity and safety of that man whom the glorious Angels do guard and attend vpon The poorest Christian hath a better guard vpon him then the greatest Monarch in the world that is not a Christian. The tenth priuiledge is the Communion of Saints he is mystically vnited in one body to all the worthies that are in heauen or earth and doth effectually enioy the benefit of communion of Saints too large to be here reckoned vp If it were no more but the profit he hath by the prayers of the godly all ouer the world were it not a great fauour Eph. 2. 19 3. 6. Phil. 1. 5. Col. 2. 19. besides all the comforts hee hath in the fellowship with the godly The eleuenth priuiledge is the inheritance of the earth which is restored to him in Christ so as he now possesseth that which he hath of the earth by as good a title as euer Adam held Paradise yea so as whatsoeuer in the whole earth is good for him shall not be withheld from him Math. 5. 5. Psal. 84 11 12. Outward prosperity he is sure of so farre as it is good for him Iob 8. 7. Psal. 37. 5. The last priuiledge is that Inheritance immortall incorruptible and that fadeth not reserued for him in heauen which for excellency passeth all that which euer the eye of m saw or the eare of man heard or the heart of man can conceiue 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Now then to summe vp all this let a Christian tell his owne soule plainly and vpon cleare proofe by the signes of a childe of God that he is in fauour with God and that Christ is his and that he hath obtained strange deliuerance and that all his sinnes are forgiuen and that the holy Ghost dwels in him and that the image of God is restored in him and that he is free to Gods house and that he may beg any thing of God and that he hath Angels to waite vpon him and that he is neere of kinne to all the Saints in the world and that he is Lord of the earth and that hee shall certainly goe to heauen when he dieth Let this I say be told to his soule can he be dismaid will not the Peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding keepe his heart and minde and that constantly for euer CHAP. IIII. Shewing how the godly may support their hearts against all outward afflictions HItherto of the Priuiledges Now it followeth that I should open those consolations that may support the hearts of men against all the distresses of this life And first I would shew how the Lord is pleased to comfort his seruants in seuerall Scriptures against all the outward afflictions may befall his seruants in this world By outward afflictions I meane such as these wants losses wrongs troubles exile imprisonment sicknesse feares pouerty or any other thing wherewith the life of man is molested in any condition Now there are many excellent wayes of abundant comforts against these or any of these as First if wee consider by the commonnesse of them All thingâ—… fall alike in these things Eccles. 9. 2 3. Euery man that is borne of a woman hath but few dayes and is full of trouble Iob 14. 1. Christ had no Disciple but he is told afore hand Hee must take vp his crosse and that daily Luke 9. 23. There can be no affliction but what accompanieth or may accompany the nature of man 1 Cor. 10. 13. The same afflictions are accomplished vpon our brethren which are through the world 1 Pet. 5. 9. And we haue the Prophets and greatest worthies of the Lord for an example of suffering Iam. 5. 10. And 〈◊〉 the godly must through many tribulations enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14. 22. Secondly if wee consider that God takes notice of vs and of all our trials The Lord knowes the way of the righteous Psal. 1. 6 None of our 〈◊〉 are hid from him All our desires are before him and our groaning is not hid from him Psal. 8. 9. he knowes our soule is in aduersity Psal. 31. 7. And as he takes notice of all our troubles so he takes notice of all that is good in vs Hee knowes them that are patient and trust in him Naâ—…um 7. Thirdly if wee consider the wonderfull compassion of God in the afflictions of his people he doth not willingly afflict but regards vs with pitie with loue thinkes of redeeming vs and sends the Angell of his presence to comfort and saue vs and in all our afflictions is afflicted with vs Esay 63. 8 9. Fourthly iâ—… wee consider the high estimation that God holds of his seruants notwithstanding their afflictions Crosses may make men loue vs the lesse but they doe not a iâ—… discommend vs before God Hee can take notice of his seruants in their distresses as well as if they did shine in the greatest outward splendor in the world This is the consolation that GOD speakes to vs euen when he corrects as to his children and for that reason wee should not refuse his chastening Heb. 12. 6. Prou. 3. 11. We may bee honourable in Gods sight though wee be in a most forlorne and despised condition in the world we may I say bee precious in Gods sight greatly beloued Esay 43. 4 5 6. The Apostle Peter shewes that a poore seruant when he suffers hard words and ill vsage from his master doth herein finde acceptation with God 1 Peter 2. 19 20. Now this is an instance beyond exception For what condition more vile then of a seruant and what crosses were likely to be disregarded of God sooner then these domesticall indignities yet we see a proofe of the regard and loue of God euen in those things 5. Fifthly if we consider the victory of Christ ouer the world Our Sauiour vseth this as a consolation he tels his Disciples In the world they shall haue trouble but hee would haue them bee of good comfort hee hath ouercome the world so as now they shall neuer bee hurt by their troubles Their crosses may bee too hard for theÌ„ to master but Christ can order them so as in him they shal haue victorie ouer them But of this more afterwards Ioh. 16. 33 Sixthly if wee consider the presence of the holy Ghost hee is giuen of Christ and the Father to bee our Comforter and as our afflictions abound so shall our consolations also Ioh. 14. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Now how shall a man be dismayed that hath Gods Spirit within him to hearten him and assist him and refresh him and make glad
therfore thy case is the more comfortable because thou feelest the weight and burthen of thy sinnes as the places of Scripture following most euidently and comfortably shew namely Psalme 34. 15. The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open vnto their cry Math. 11. 28 29. Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and heauy laden and I will ease you Takemy yoke on you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowly in heart and you shall find rest vnto your soules Ierem. 31. 25. For I haue satiate the wearie soule and I haue replenished euery sorrowfull soule And their soule shall bee as a watered garden and they shall haue no more sorrow the latter part of the 12. verse c. Esay 63. 9. In all their troubles he was troubled and the Angel of his presence saued them In his loue and in his mercy hee redeemed them and he bare them and carried them alwaies continually Psalm 31. 21 22. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath shewed his maruellous kindnesse towards mee in a strong Citie Though I said in my haste I am cast out of thy sight yet thou heardest the voyce of my prayer when I cryed vnto thee Psal. 103. 9. He will not alwayes chide neither keepe his anger for euer Ob. But I offend daily Sol. That is cleerely answered in Gods promise For he saith he will multiply pardon or abundantly pardon Esay 55. 7. Ob. But I find I grow worse then I haue beene my heart is much out of order Sol. If there be an heart in thee desirous to returne there is comfort also against this distresse The Lord will heale thy backe-stiding if thou take vnto thee words to confesse thy falling away Hosh. 14. 2 3 4. Behold saith the Lord I will bring it health and cure and I will cure them and reueale vnto them the abundance of peace and truth Ieremie 33. 6. There is healing in the wings of the Sonne of righteousnesse and yee shall goe forth and grow vp as the Calues of the Stall Malachy 4. 2. Ob. But I am extremely burthened with my ignorance this is a continuall grieuance vnto mee Sol. There are many comforts against ignorance 1. It is a speciall promise of God in the new Couenant that he will write his Laws in thy heart and hee will make thee to know the Lord Thou maist goe boldly to the Throne of Grace to beg further illumination of the Spirit of God This is one of the suits God cannot deny 2. God hath promised to leade thee by a way which thou hast not knowne Hee will preserue thee by his knowledge though thou bee vnacquainted with the way thy selfe He that lede his people from Babel to Sion when they scarce knew a foote of that long way wil leade thee in the straite way from Earth to Heauen if thou seeke a way of God as they did Esay 42. 16. 3 We haue such an High Priest as knowes how to haue compassion on the ignorant He that required that propertie of the High Priest in the Law will much more expresse it himselfe Hebrewes 5. 1 3. 4. This must be thy glory and the crowne of reioycing that though thou be ignorant of many things yet thou knowest God and Christ crucified and this is eternall life Iohn 17. 3. 5 The Ministers of the Gospel are ours and therefore if wee attend vpon the Word and continue in it we shal know the truth their instructions shall bee daily distilled into thy heart like drops of raine 1 Cor. 322 23. 6 The anointing thou hast receiued shall teach thee all needfull things and leade thee into all truth 1 Iohn 2. 27. 7 There is a seed of heauenly doctrine cast into thy heart which shall euen remaine in thee It is indelible it cannot be blotted out 1 Iohn 3. 9. 8 Lastly Knowledge is the gift of Christ and as wee know that he is come so we beleeue that he will giue vs vnderstanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true euen in his Sonne Iesus Christ this is the true God and eternall life I Iohn 5. 20. Ob. But we want or haue lost the meanes of knowledge our Teachers are taken frem vs. Sol. It is true Where vision faileth the people faint but yet 1 After God hath giuen you the bread of affliction and the water of aduersity hee will restore Teachers and no more restraine instruction Esay 30. 20. 2. Though thou see no way of helpe yet thou knowest not how God can prouide He can open Riuers on the tops of mountaines and he maketh the wildernesse a standing poole when his people thirst and cry vnto him Esay 41. 17. 18. 3. If ordinary meanes faile and bee denied God will then supply of his Spirit make that meanes which is left to suffice for thy preseruation and building vp Philip. 1. 19. Now that there may bee the more abundant support vnto our hearts in this case of infirmities I will open two places of Scripture that doe meet with the most obiections of our hearts The first is Exodus 34. 6 7. where the Lord proclaimeth the goodnesse of his nature that all men may take notice of it and giue him the praise of his rich grace where hee so describeth the Lord that in his titles hee giueth an answer to many obiections 1. If thou say thy infirmities may alienate the Lord from thee He answers that he is Iehouah alwayes the same vnchangeable Hee will not alter his loue towards thee but loue thee to the end and for the more assurance he repeated that title twice because he knowes we most doubt of that and haue most need to be succoured with that argument as the foundation of all our comfort 2. If thou say thou hast strong inclination to sinne or strange temptations or great impediments or many aduersaries and discouragements Hee answers that hee is God or strong to signifie that nothing shall hinder the worke of his grace towards thee but hee will keepe thee by his power and maketh his grace sufficient for thee 3 If thou say Hee is of pure eyes and cannot but discerne thy faults and sinne is sinne in the sight of God He answers That he is mercifull 4 If thou say Thou deseruest no such mercy He answers That he is gracious and doth not stand vpon desert He will shew mercy not because thou art good but because he is good 5. If thou say The daily repeating and renewing of thy sinnes may prouoke him though hee be mercifull and gracious He answers That hee is long-suffering 6 If thou say Thou hast many defects and wants to bee supplyed He answers That he is full of goodnesse 7 It thou say Thou art ashamed of thy ignorance which is more then can be conceiued Hee answers That he is abundant in truth to supply thy defects and to performe his promise though thou haue but a little faith 8.
humilitie discretion and puritie Vnto the humilitie of thy conuersation belâ—…ng these rules 1. Be soft shew all meekenesse to all men 2. Harken to the words of those that are wise 3. Stand not in the place of great men Vnto the discretion of thy conuersation belong these rules 1. Speake what is acceptable 2. Auoid those that cause diuisions 3. Make no friendship with the angry man 4. In the euill time be silent 5. And communicate not thy secrets 6. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours house 7. Restraine thy passions 8. Blesse not thy friend with a loud voyce Vnto the paritie of thy conuersation belong these rules 1. Refraine thy tongue from euill 2. Especially auoid filthy speaking foolish talking and iesting 3. 〈◊〉 reâ—…elling and drinking Chap. 22. p. 582. to 584. OVt of companieâ—… 1. Conceiue loue to all men 2. Pray for all sorts of men 3 Prouide to liue Honestly without scandall Iustly without deceit Peaceably without strife Chap. 23. p. 584. to 592. THus of righteousnesse Mercy followeth and vnto Mercy is requisite 1 Willingnesse 2 Labour 3 Laberalitie 4 Humilitie to be shewed fiue wayes 5 Faith in two respects 6 Discretion in foure respects 7 Sympathie 8 Sinceritie in fiâ—…e things Chap. 24. p. 592. to 601. THus of the Rules that order our carriage towards all men Towards some men followes as they are either wicked or godly As for the wicked 1. Hold no needlesse societie with them 2. When thou must needs come into their companie carry thy selfe wisely that thou mayst if it be possible win them and to this end shew 1. Thy mortification 2. Reuerend speech in matters of God and Religion 3. Meekenesse of wisedome 4. Reseruednesse in eight things 5. Mercie 6. Vndauntednes in a good cause 7. Patience 8. Loue to thy enemies Chap. 25. p. 601. to 608. THus of our carriage towards wicked men In our carriage towards the godly the summe of all is Walke in loue and the particular Rules concerne either the manifestation of our loue vnto them or the preseruation of loue to them Sixe wayes to manifest our loue to the godly 1. By courtesie 2. By receiuing them 3. By bearing their burthens 4. By prouoking them to good duties 5. By faithfulnesse in their businesse 6. By employing our gifts for their good Chap. 26. p. 608 to 613. FOr the preseruation of our loue to the godly some things are to be done other things to be auoided The things to be done are 1. Labour to be like minded 2. Follow peace 3. Couer their nakednesses 4. Confesse your faults one to another Chap. 27. p. 613. to 618. TEn things to be auoided 1. Suites in Law 2. Dissimulation 3. Conceitednesse 4 Reioycing in iniquitie 5 The minding of our owne thigns 6 Ficklenesse 7 Vaine-glorie 8 Iudging 9 Euill words complaining 10 The forsaking of their fellowship Chap. 28. p. 618. to 622. OTher Rules which concerne onely some of the godly 1 Such as are falne 2 Such as are weake 3 Such as are strong 4 Such as are especially knit to vs in friendship 1 Those that are falne are either falne from God or from thee from God either grosly or by infirmitie and so are guiltie of foule vices or extreme omissions 1 Warne them and reprooue them 2 If they mend not auoid them 3 If they repent for giue them Toward such as are falne from thee by trespassing against thee obserue these rules 1 Either speake not of it or so as thou vexe not as it 2 In great wrongs two things are to be done First When the trespas is secret reproue him priuately If he mend not reproue him before witnesse If he yet mend not make the Church acquainted with it If he will not then aâ—…nend hold him as an Heathen or a Publican Secondly If hee repent forgiue him as often as he saith it repenteth him Chap. 29. p. 622. to 625. 2 TOwards such as are weake 1 Wee must not intangle them with doubtfull Disputations concerning Ceremonies or things indifferent 2 Wee must beare with their weakenesses 3 We must not offend them 4 We must encourage and comfort them 5 In things indifferent we must suffer a little restraint of our owne libertie to please them 6 Towards strong Christians First We must acknowledge them Secondly We must set their practise before vs as examples of imitation Thirdly We must submit our selues to them to haue their iudgements in all doubtfull thing Fourthly How we may carrie our selues towards our speciall friend 1 Neuer forsake him 2 Giue him heartie counsell 3 Be friendly to him 4 Communicate thy secrets to him 5 Loue him with a speciall loue First As thine owne soule Secondly At all times Thirdly It must be a sincere loue that lookes not for bribes Fourthly It must be such a loue as will reach to his posterity if need be Chap. 30. p. 625. to 631. RVles that concerne our selues are of two sorts 1 Either our generall or particular calling Concerning our generall calling 1 Our Faith 2 Our Repentance 3 Our Hope 1 Concerning our Faith wee must be expert in the Catalogue of Promises that concerne infirmities mentioned in the third Treatise Our iudgement must be established particularly in the Doctrine of the Principles expressed in the fifth Treatise 2 Concerning our Repentance one Rule is of singular use and that concernes the Catalogue of present sins mentioned in the first Treatise 3 Concerning our Hope foure things 1 Wee must pray earnestly for the knowledge of the great glorie is prouided for vs. 2 We must vse all diligence to perfect our assurance of Heauen when we dye 3 Wee must accustome our thoughts to the daily contemplation of Heauen that our conâ—…ersation may be in Heauen 4 Wee must striue to enable our selues for the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ and to be able to wait for his comming Chap. 31. p. 631. to 6. 6. SEuen things to bee auoided in our particular calling 1 Slothfulnesse 2 Vnfaithfulnesse 3 Rashnesse 4 Passion or perturbation 5 The temptations of our calling 6 Worldlinesse 7 Prophanenesse Chap. 32. p. 636. to 640. HOw wee must carry our selues in affliction Eight things to be auoided 1 Dissembling 2 Shame 3 Impatience 4 Discouragement 5 Trust in carnall friends 6 Perplexed cares 7 Sudden feares 8 Carelesnesse of thy wayes Fiue things to be done in the time of affliction 1 Wee must pray and call vpon the Name of the Lord. 2 Wee must beare our crosse with patience and contentation 3 Wee must vse all good meanâ—…s for our deliuerance 4 Wee must be sure to shew our trust in God and cast our burthen on the Lord. 5 Wee must shew our obedience to God foure wayes First By submitting our selues to Gods will Secondly If wee iudge our selues and acknowledge our sins to God Thirdly If we be constant in the good wayes of godlinesse Fourthly If we learne more righteousnesse and are made by our crosses to doe holy duties with
or prouocation but wee must also carry our selues discreetly and to this end there are these excellent Rules First thou must consider to speake what is acceptable and auoid what may irritate there is singular vse of this rule if it were followed Prou 10. 31 1â—… and 13. 3. Secondly thou must marke those that cause diuision and offâ—…nces and auoide them and shun the society of such Rom. 16. 17 18. This will breed thee much peace and deliuer thee from much suspition in others Thirdly thou must make no friendship with the angry man for either by much conuersing with him thou maist learne his waies or else it will be a snare to thee that thou shalt neither know how to keepe his fauour nor yet how to breake off from him without much vnrest and inconuenience Prou. 22. 24 25. Fourthly it is a great discretion in euill time to bee silent In things wherein thou mayest endanger thy selfe and not profit others it is thy best way and a wise course to forbeare speech of such things Amos 5. 13. Fiftly so likewise it is thy discretion in matters of dangers to forbeare the communicating of thy secret to any though thou mightest be tempted to a perswasion of trust in those to whom thou wouldest reueale them It may often repent thee to haue spoken but seldome to haue held thy peace Mica 7. 5. Sixthly withdraw thy feet from thy neighbours house lest he be wearie of thee and hate thee this is an excellent rule giuen by Saloman Prou. 25. 17. If thou wouldest conuerse with reputation take heed of idle gadding from house to house when thou hast no occasion or employment thou mayest draw hereby much secret contempt and loathing of thee when thy emptinesse and vanity shall be thereby discouered An empty conuersation that hath in it no exercise of pierie or vertue if it bee frequent occasioneth secret and vnutterable scorne 7. Restraine thine owne passions in conuersing There are none so wise but if they shew their passions of immoderate anger feare griefe yea or ioy they discouer much weaknes in their disposition which would bee couered if they did bridle the excesse of their passions A wise man couereth shame when a foole is presently knowne It is the best praise not to haue such weaknesses but the next to this is by discretion to bridle our selues so as we may hide our weaknesses from breaking out Lastly thou maist make good vse of that direction of Salomon about thy friend Blesse not thy friend with a loud voice rising early in the morning for it may bee accounted a curse to thee Take heede of flattery which in stead of effecting thine owne ends may bring thee out of all respect He doth not forbid the iust praise and encouragement of friends but the intending of praise of purpose to the vttermost notice of thy friend this is to praise him with a loud voice and the affectation of preuenting others in praising and of doing it in such things as are not yet suâ—…iently knowne to be praise-worthy and to set ones selfe so to praise as if he studied to doe nothing else but humour his friend especially if it be but once perceiued that thou doest it but for thy owne ends It is a great part of wisedome to know how to speake of the praise of others so as neither sinister ends be intended nor the humouring of those we praise to doe it sparingly and seasonably is a great discretion And thus of the Rules that make our conuersation amiable in respect of discretion Thirdly that our conuersation may not be hurtfull offensiue we must looke to the purity of it and so these rules following are of singular vse First in generall Refraine thy tongue from euill and thy lips that they speake no guile Psal. 34. 13. For he that keepeth his mouth keepeth his soule Prou. 21. 23. Take heed of the vsuall vices of the tongue for thereout may come much mischiefe and discontent to thy selfe and others Secondly in particular looke to thy selfe carefully that thou auoide those three euils mentioned by the Apostle Ephes. 5. 4. viz. filthy speaking foolish talking and iesting By iesting he meanes those biting iests that vnder pretence of shewing wittines or conceit doe secretly leaue disgrace vpon the persons whom they concerne Thirdly auoid with detestation the excesse in drinking and reuelling and suffer thy selfe vpon no pretence to bee drawne to giue way to thine owne practice in them 1 Pet. 4. 3. CHAP. XXII How we must carry our selues out of company THus of thy carriage in generall in company Now out of company thou must looke to these things First thou must fashion thy heart by the vse of all good meanes to the loue all sorts of men This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loue of men is a vertue little thought on yet greatly necessary as a foundation of all practice in conuersing with others and we should labour to abound in loue towards all men 1 Thess. 3. 12. Secondly remember to pray for all sorts of men This is a precept giuen vs in charge by the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 1. and belongs to this place and we ought to make conscience of it according to the occasions of our callings or acquaintance with other men wee should euen in secret seeke to profit our neighbours by praying for them Thirdly we should prouide euen out of company to order our affaires so as that we may liue 1. Honestly without scandall 1 Cor. 10. 32. Phil. 1. 10. 2. Iustly without deceit or fraudulent dealing Leuit. 19. 35 36. 1 Thess. 4. 6. 3. Peaceably without strife with any if it be possible Prou. 3. 29 30. Zach. 7. 10. Heb. 12. 14. CHAP. XXIII Rules about worke of Mercy HItherto of the Rules that concerne Righteousnesse Mercy followeth Now in shewing mercy diuers things are charged vpon vâ—… First willingnesse We must giue cheerefully For the Lord loueth a cheerefull giuer We must loue mercy as well as shew mercy Our hearts should be euer answerable to our power We must bee readie and prepared to shew mercy abhorring delayes and putting off of time or seeking excuses Our eares should be open to the cryes of the poore Yea rather then be behind hand we should sel that we might giue almes Mich. 6. 8. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 2 Cor. 9. 4 5 6 7. Prou. 22. 22 23. Luke 12. 33. Prou. 3. 27 28. Secondly Labour and Diligence We should take paines and worke hard according to all the occasions of mercy This is the Apostles phrase God will not forget your worke and labour of loue Heb. 6. 10. We must be forward to doe those workes of mercy that require our paines and trauell about them as well as those we may doe and sit still 2 Cor. 8. 16 22. Thirdly Liberalitie We must open our hands wide Deut. 15. 8. we must be rich in good workes 1 Tim. 6. 18. We must not giue sparingly 2 Cor. 9.
Pet. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 14. Now the rules which in particular bind vs to the good behauiour in respect of our loue to the godly concerne either the manifestation of our ioue to them or the preseruation of our leue to them We must shew our loue to the godly diuers wayes First by courtesie and kindnesse towards them and that in a speciall manner being affectioned towards them with a brotherly loue and kindnesse No brethren in nature should shew more kindnesse one to another then Christians should Eph. 4. 32. Rom. 12. 10. Secondly by receiuing and entertaining them we must receiue one another and be barbarous one to another and this with entirenesse of affection Negatiuely it must be without grudging 1. Pet. 4. 9. Affirmatiuely we must receiue one another as Christ receiued vs into glory that is First without respect of desert We haue done nothing to deserue heauen yet Christ hath receiued vs to glory So though the godly haue not pleasured vs any way greatly yet because they are the children of God wee should make much of them and entertaine them gladly Secondly not thinking any thing too deare for them Christ hath not ennied vs the very glory of heauen and therefore what can we doe to the brethren that should answer the example of Christ Rom. 15. 7. Thirdly by bearing their burthens for so we should fulfill the Law of Christ Galat. 6. 2. There are two sorts of burthens presse the godly One inward such as are temptations and their owne corruptions the other outward such as are afflictions of all sorts Now in both these this rule holds for when we see a godly Christian mourne and lament his distresse in respect of his â—…firmities or temptations we must beare his burthen not by soothing him in his sinne as if it were no sinne but by laying his griefe to our owne hearts and striuing to comfort him with the promises of God This is not to make our selues guilty of their sinnes but to helpe them out of their griefe by consolation out of their sin by direction Note that this is charged vpon vs when sinne is a burthen to them not before for till then wee are rather to reprooue them or admonish them But then we are to taâ—… notice of this rule when they confesse their sinnes and are weary of them and sorry for them And thus also in their outward burthens wee must beare them by comforting them and aduising them and helping them and shewing our affection to them as if it were our owne case so farre as we haue a calling and power to helpe them Fourthly by considering one another to prouoke vnto loue and good workes Heb. 10. 24. Note the dutie and the manner how it is to be done The dutie is to stirre vp others all we can to the increase of loue and abundance of all good workes the manner is shewed two waies First we must prouoke them to it both by example and by exhortation and all good wayes that might fire in them the desire of well-doing Secondly we must consider one another we must study the estates of others their wants impediments meanes gifts callings c. and accordingly apply our selues for the best aduantage to helpe them forward It is not enough to doe it occasionally but we must meditate of it and castabout how where and when we must yeeld this helpe and incouragement and furtherance Fiftly by doing whatsoeuer we doe for the godly heartily and with all faithfulnesse as if it were for our selues or our owne brethren or kindred in nature not being slothfull in seruice or such as disappoint the trust reposed in vs we should doe all things we vndertake for them with all sidelity and care 3 Ioh. 5. Rom. 12. 6 7 8 9 11. Yea we should care for their good and profit as we would care for the good of the members of our owne body for such are they to vs in the mysticall body of lesus Christ as the former place to the Romanes sheweth Lastly we should shew our loue to the godly by employing the gifts of our mind as may be best for their good As euery man hath receiued the gife hee must so minister the same as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God There are diuersity of gifts in the godly as knowledge vtterance prayer and the like Now these are giuen to profit withall 1 Pet. 4. 10. 1 Cor. 12. As for example The lips of the wise must disperse knowledge Prou. 15. 7. So when Christians meete together as any haue receiued a doctrine or a Psalme or an Interpretation so must he minister it for the profit of others 1 Cor. 14. 26. and so must we help one another by prayer either absent or present 2 Cor. 1. 11. CHAP. XXVI How we should preserue our loue to the godly THus of the rules that concerne the manifestation of our loue to the godly Now there are further diuers things to be obserued for the preseruation of our loue to them and these may bee cast into two heads for they are either such things as we must doe or such things as we must auoide The things that wee must doe to preserue loue are these First we must striue to be like minded in matters of opinion many discords or abatements of affection grow among Christians for their offences of opinion in diuers things It is true that difference of Iudgement should not cause difference in affection If we cannot be of one minde yet we should be of one heart yet we see the contrary and therefore euery Christian should make conscience of it to be so wary and so humble in his opinions especially in things doubtfull or not so necessary as to take heed of admitting what might shew dissent from the godly or if he must needs dissent yet to be very wary how he discouer it to the vexation or entanglement of others Now because this is very hard to perswade Christians vnto marke how vehemently the Apostle speaks of it Rom. 15. 5 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to bee like minded that ye may with one mouth and one mind glorifie God Wee must learne of the Apostle to pray feruently for this that our natures and the natures of others with whom we conuerse may be fitted hereunto and 1 Corinth 1. 10. the Apostle adiâ—…res them by the name of Iesus I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that ye all speake the same thing and that there be no diuions amongst you but that yee bee perfectly ioyned together in the same mind and in the same iudgement And in the Epistle to the Philippians Chap. 2. ver 1 2 3. he vrgeth them with strange vehemencie to import the necessity of this duty If saith he there be any consolation in Christ or any fellowship of the Spirit or any bowels of mercy be like minded hauing the same loue
being of one mind And certainely this earnestnesse in requiring this duty imports that some peruerse Christians will smoake one day for th◅ir presumption and waywardnesse and pride of opinions 2. Wee must follow the things which may make for outward peace and to this end we must labour to shew all meekenesse in our carriage and long-suffering in forbearing one another and forgiuing one another Ephesians 4. 2 3 4. 3. Wee must striue to heare our affection to such a degree as that it may be able to couer the infirmities of others He must get a couering loue that will liue constantly in the loue of the godly A loue that will couer a multitude of faults 1 Pet. 4. 8. Prou. 10. 10. 4. We must confesse our faults one to another Iames 5. 16. It doth exceedingly preserue loue if men when they haue offended or wronged others would quickly and easily and heartily acknowledge their offences Nor doth this rule hold in case of trespasse onely but when wee haue not wronged others yet discrcetly to complaine of the corruption of nature that cleaues to vs and the infirmities which daily trouble vs. This doth worke not onely compassion but great increase of affection in others towards vs For acknowledgement preuents their secret loathing of vs for such frailties if they should discerne them And besides it makes them the willinger to giue vs leaue to reprooue their faults when they see we are as willing to reprooue our owne besides the ease it brings to our own hearts many times to make our moane to others when our consciences are troubled CHAP. XVII What we must auoide that our loue may be preserued THus what wee must doe to preserue loue Now further that loue may bee preserued amongst the godly these things following are to be auoided First Suits in Law A Christian must haue many considerations of his cause before it can be lawfull for him to goe to law with his brother These kinds of contentions are most vnnaturall amongst Christians and proue not onely scandalous in respect of others but extremely grieuous and poisonous to themselues 1 Cor. 6. 1 4. Secondly Dissimulation our loue must bee without faining in deede and in truth not in shew or in words Rom. 12. 9. 1 Iohn 3. 18. Thirdly Conceitednesse This is a vice that extremely vexeth others and alienateth affection we must not be wise in our selues but rather in lowlinesse of minde esteeme another better then our selues shew it both by making our selues equall to them of the lower sort and by going before others in giuing Honour and Praise Rom. 12. 10 16. Phil. 2. 3 4. Pro. 12. 15. Fourthly reioycing in iniquity Our loue must be holy and pure if we would haue it preserued It must haue nothing in it that is vnseemly nor must it be an affection that will take pleasure in the vices or faults of those with whom we cōuerse 1 Cor. 13. 5 6. Fifthly the minding of our owne things we must not study for our selues and our owne ends onely in conuersing 1 Cor. 13. 5. The meaning is not that we should leaue our callings and our houses to spend the greatest part of our time in our neighbors houses but he prohibits 1. Worldlinesse and excessiue cares about our businesse and the things of this life which hinders needfull society with the godly and secondly hee forbids selfe-loue in conuersing when men in all things aime at their owne profit or pleasure or credit and doe not as well seeke the good of others we may minde our owne things but not onely 6. Sixthly Ficklenesse and Vnconstancy we must looke to it that brotherly loue continue Heb. 13. 1. and to this end wee must looke to the leuity of our owne natures and striue to make good by continuance the affection we haue conceiued and professed to others Some are of such vnconstant dispositions that they will loue vehemently for a fit and suddenly fall off without reason but not without singular shame and blemishing of their reputations For such tempers are hardly fit for any societie Now this must be repented of and reformed Seuenthly we must take heed of vaine-glory and ouer eager desire of credit and estimation aboue others For this is the cause of much vnrest in our own hearts and of much interruption in brotherly loue And why wouldst thou be so highly esteemed of Thou considerest not the hard taske thou layest vpon thy selfe to be euer carefull to answer that great praise or estimation thou desirest Nor markest thou how thereby thou art made to offend against thy brother by enuying him by backbiting or other wayes of prouocation nor yet how little this commends thee to God Gal. 5. 26. Eighthly take heed of iudging thy brethren not but that thou mayst say that sinne is sinne but looke to thy selfe in two things First that thou censure not thy brother about things indifferent or doubtfull such as ceremonies were and are This is flatly forbidden Rom. 14. 3 13. Secondly that thy suspitions transport thee not to condemne thy brother for hidden things the things of darkenesse and counsels of the heart till thou be sure of the fault or offence thou maist not iudge or censure 1 Cor. 4. 5. Ninthly if there be any occasion of grieuance that loue may be renewed or preserued looke to two things First that thou render not reuiling for reuiling 1 Pet. 3. 9. Secondly that thou grudge not against thy brother or by whispering depraue his actions or back-bite him or complaine against him to his disgrace in things where the right is not apparently discouered Iam. 5. 9. Lastly if thou wouldest preserue thy selfe in the loue of the godly then thou must take heed of forsaking the assembling together of the Saints Thou must preserue all wayes of exercising the Communion of Saints and hold fellowship with them in Gods House and in your owne dwelling Prophanenesse must not draw thee from the Temple nor worldlinesse from society and louing and profitable conuersation with thy godly friends and acquaintance Heb. 10. 25. CHAP. XXVIII How we must carry our selues towards such as are fallen HItherto of such rules of conuersation as direct vs in our carriage towards the godly considered in generall Now there are other rules which concerne onely some of the godly namely 1. Such as are fallen 2. Such as are weake 3. Such as are strong 4. Such as are especially knit vnto vs in friendship For the first those that are fallen are either fallen from God or fallen from thee Such as are fallen from God are either fallen grosly and of habit or by infirmity and suddenly Those that are fallen grosly are either guilty of soule vices or else of extreme omissions such as that which the Apostle instanceth in of idlenesse and the generall neglect of their callings Now towards both these thou must be thus ordered First warne
loue 15 He must couet the best gifts 16. He must often humble his soule be fore God 17 He must watch for the oppor tunities of wâ—…-doing 18 Hee must be 〈◊〉 of sanctifying the Sâ—…bbath 19. Hee must often thinke of â—…he example of the godly that haâ—…e excâ—…lled 20. He must daily seek 〈◊〉 way of God He must â—…oide 1. Carelesnessâ—… Rashnes 3. Carnall confidence 4. Hast to be rich 5. Distrustfull 〈◊〉 6 Adding to or ta king from the Word of God 7 Coâ—…teÌ„p of reproof 8. Beholding vanity 9. The be ginning of sinne There are 5 things to be still remembred which concerne the manner of wel-doing Zeale with continual willingnes and feruen cie 1. Sinceritie which hath in it fiue things 1 Truth 2 Respect to al Gods commandements 3 Right end 4. Obedience with out expostulation 5. Obedience in all places The third thing required in the maner of well-doing is constancie And hee is constant that doth good duties 〈◊〉 Without discouragement 3. Notwithstanding impediments 4 Without wauering 5. Without declining 4. Feare Simplicitie which is 1 To rest vpon the Word for the formes of holines and happines 2 To bee harmelesse 3 To bee simple concerning euill 4 To loue goodnesse for it selfe 5. To 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6. Feare God and not enuie the wicked The sixth is circumspection which hath fiue things in it The 7 is growth or increase Which hath three things in it 1 Abounding in goodnes 2. Perfecting of holinesse 3. Progresse 〈◊〉 Tâ—…m 4. 2. 1 8. Faith The last is moderation The place in Eccles. 7. 16. expounded The diuision of the particular rules The subdiuision The rules that con cerne the right knowledge of God of 〈◊〉 sorts That wâ—…e â—…ay conceiue â—…right of Gods nature 1 Wee must cast 〈◊〉 all likenesses 6. Wee must conceiue of him according to his prayses 3. Wee must beleeue the Trinity of Persons 4. Thou maist conceiue of God in the Humane Nature of Christ. 5. Thou must resist Atheistical thoughts 2. Of acquaintance with God That thou maiest bee aquainted with God 1. Thou must prepare thy heart 2 Thou must beg it by prayer 2. We must beleeue the Trinitie of Persons 3. 4. Thou must giue thy selfe to God Other things about our knowledge of God Rules about the exercise of our loue to God Sâ—…en wayes to manifest our loue to God 1. By auouching him to be our God 2 By prouiding him a place to dwel where wee dwell 3. By shewing our loue to Iesus Christ. 4. By walking with God Men walke with 5. wayes 6. By honouring God to waies of honoring God Rules about the praise of God When wee commend God diuers things are to be obserued 6 By trusting in him How wee must shew it that wee â—…rust God How wee may proue that wee trust God in distresse In relying vpon God in affliction We must auoid fiue things 7 By obeying him 2 Things in the manner of shewing our loue to God 1. Feruencie 2. Feare Eighâ—… wayes by which wee shew our feare of God About reioycing in God What it is to reioyce or delight our selues in God What wee must doe that wee might bee able to ioy in God Ruleâ—… about the seruice of God 9. Things to bee remembred in euâ—…ry part of Gods worship Rules about the publike worship of God 1. All must come 2. With all possible reuerence 3. And zeale And this zeale wee shâ—…uld shew sixe wayes 4. With one consent Three other rules gathered out of the Ps. 52. 8 9. Rules that order vs in hearing the Word of God 1 Before we come 1. In the time of hearing Noâ—… 3. After we haue heard Rules about Baptisme 1. Abouâ—… our children 2. About our selues In 〈◊〉 thingâ—… How Baptisme may help vs against sin 3. In respect of oâ—…hers Rules about the Lords Supper 1. We must examine our selues 2. We must discerne the Lords Supper 3. We must shew forth Christs death 4. We vow to cleaue to the godly 5. We must be reconciled 6. We vow an holy life Rules about prayer Thy words must be few 2. The heart must bee listed vp 3. Vse all manner of prayer 4 Thou must perseuere in prayer 5. Thou must be instant without fain ting or discourage â—…tat 6. With supplication for all Saints 7 In all things giue thankes Rules about reading the Scripture 1 Reade daily 2 Meditate of what thou readest 3. Confer vpon it 4. Resolue to obey Rules about singing of Psalmes The rules about vowing Rules about swea ring The rules about a religious fast Rules about the Sabbath 1. The preparation to it 2. Of the celebration of the Sabbath Rules that direct our carriage towards men Towards all men And so 1 in company Wâ—…th due râ—…spect of Religion Auoiding vaine ianglings in three thingâ—… How wee must behaue our selues in company concerning the faults of others Note Reproue but hate not Passe by mâ—…re frailties Rules that concerne the inoffensiuenesse of our carriage in company An humble behauiour hath three things in it 1. 2. 3. Note 8 Rules that concerne discretion in our behauiour Three rules that concerne the purity of our conuersation 1. The rules that order vs out of company 8. Things required in shewing mercy 1. Willingnesse 〈◊〉 Labour 3. Liberalâ—… ty 4. Humility Humility shewed fiue waies in doing workes of mercy 5. Faith in two respects 6. Discretion in 4. things 7. Sympa thy 8. Sinceritie in fiue things Needlesse socretie with them must bee auoyded Great wisdome required in conuersing with them Diuers things that affect the hearts euen of the worst men are 1. A mortified life 2. Reuerend speech of Religion 3. Meekenes of wisdome 4. Reseruednesse in foure things 5. Mercy 6. Vndauntednesse in a good cause 7. Patience in affliction Sixe waies of manifesting our loue to the godly 1 By courtesie 2. By receiuing them 3. By bearing their bur thens Note 4. By prouoking them to good duties 5. By faithfulnesse in all their businesse 6 By enioying our gifts for their good What wee must do to prâ—…serue our loue to the godly We must labour to be of one iudgement with them 2. We must 〈◊〉 peace 〈◊〉 We must couer their weakenesse 4. We must confesseour faults one to another 10. Things to be auoided 1. Suits in Law 2. Dissimulation 〈◊〉 Conceitednesse 4. Reioycing in iniquitie 5. Worldlinesse and selfe-loue 6. Ficklenesse 7. Vaine-glory 8. Iudging 9. Euill words and complaining 10. Forsake not their assembly How we must carry our selues towards such as are fallen from God How wee must carry our selues towards such as trespasse against vs. How wee must carry our selues towards weake Christians How wee must carry our selues towards the strong How wee must carry our selues towards our special friend How we must carry our selues in our â—…enerall calling 1 In matters of faith 2 About thy repentance 3 About thy hope 7. Things to be auoi ded in our particular calling 〈◊〉 Vnfaithfulnâ—…sse 3. Rashnes 4