〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pierced through as we are The darts of temptation were thrown at Christ as well as they are at us 4 Christ was thus tempted that the Saints might know that great Temptations might consist with great love yea the greatest Temptations with the greatest love For what greater Temptations then Christ had in the fourth of Matthew But many poor Saints are fit to think that if God loved them and they had Truth of Grace they should not have such Temptations whereas Christ him self who was so infinitely beloved of the Father and had so much Grace and was so full of the Spirit had all manner of temptations and truly Satan as he made the world his last temptation to Christ Mat. 4. offering him the Glory of the World to see whether Christ would be allured with that even so doth he deal oftentimes with the Saints that after he hath tempted them much in their first conversion with blasphemous thoughts scruples about every thing almost and with infinite more temptations his last temptation when they grow old shall be to draw them to the love of the World to grow covetous and earthly in the old age of their profession to see if he can slily draw their hearts from God and take them off their zeal and life in religion by minding of earthly things the Lord Jesus who himself overcame this Temptation and who prayed for his members Joh. 17. that the Father would keep them from the evil of the world yea and Gal. 1.4 gave himself for us to deliver us from this present evil world He breaks this snare of this cunning Fowler Satan that our foot be not taken Again the Lord Jesus suffered by reproaches and persecution from the world this also was requisite 1. That he might succour his people in such cases 2. That the Saints might not think much to suffer from the world when the Master of the House had done it 3. That the Saints might not think that they are Hypocrites and have not sincerity because that the world raileth on them and persecutes them for Christ he had no sin and yet the world would have dirt to cast in his face 4. That the Saints in all these sufferings which they endure might have an example of patience from Christ who when he was reviled reviled not again O Blessed are they that fall into this pittiful Samaritans hands the Lord Jesus a pittiful and merciful high Priest indeed Are they poor he knows how to succour and pitty them in that condition for he had not whereon to lay his head Do they lie under the apprehension of Gods wrath Christ knows how to succour them in that condition for he knows what a burden that is which made him cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Is a poor creature come to his dying hour Christ knows what the pangs of death are Thus the Lord Jesus hath not only infinite Love as God but as Mediatour and as one that hath shot the same gulphs of temptation that we are to pass through The carriage of Christ upon earth towards sinners is to be diligently studied by those who would see the heart of Christ towards sinners and what infinite riches of mercy God bestoweth upon us in him he converted many in his own person and of the poorest sort Fishermen and men of mean rank many of them and as few of them were mighty and Noble so few of them were of the Wise men after the flesh though Christ could as easily have made Herod the learned men of those times have followed him as Matthew and the rest That follow me that Christ spake to Matthew accompanied with that Almighty Power of the Spirit that it came to his heart withal would have made any of them have followed Christ O the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory that he would condescend to keep company constantly with a few Fishermen and other poor people in the dayes of his flesh when he could have called all the Princes of the earth to wait upon him the Lord of all he could have fetcht them from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear his Wisdom and to minister unto him and though Christ would use many harsh words to the Pharises because they trusted that they were righteous in themselves and despised others yet how sweet in his carriage to others even bringing Publicans and Harlots into the Kingdom of God! O his compassions to the very bodies of men healing their sick O the affectionate expressions of Christ to his Disciples a little before his death recorded in John and what affectionate Prayers he put up for them to the Father and for all that should believe on him through their word John 17. And behold what manner of affection he discovered after he was risen He appears first to Mary Magdalen that had been such a great sinner sends word to Peter that had denied him of his Resurrection and never mentions his fall O what manner of Mediatour hath God provided so full of merit so full of Grace to be communicated to sinners so full of compassions towards sinners Thus God hath laid in Sion a sure Foundation a tried Stone a precious corner Stone and he that believeth on him shall not be ashamed Whatsoever evil and mischief sin brought upon us Christ freeth us from it that are in him Sin made God and us to be at odds Christ Reconciles us and makes God and a poor sinner friends never to fall out more He hath made peace by the blood of his Cross Col. 1.20 Our sins made a horrible stench in the Nostrils of God Christs death was a sweet smelling savour to God Eph. 5.2 to take away that stench Sin brought the wrath of God upon us Christ delivereth us from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 Sin brought us into prison Christ maketh us free and we are free indeed John 8. Esay 61.1 Eph. 1.7 We have the Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of sins There is nothing but great things and wonders in what God hath done for sinners in Christ He raiseth a poor soul that believeth in Christ to a better estate then ever we had before we fell that our latter end after all our prodigality is better then our beginning for we are made immutably happy and Righteous by Christ we have union with the Lord Jesus the second person of the Trinity in an intimate Conjugal manner which Adam had not before the fall we stand upon free Promises an absolute Covenant there was no such Promise so free and absolute without Conditions before the fall as that after the fall Gen. 3. The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head yea a Believer in Christ hath not only created gifts as the first Adam but the Influences of the Blessed Spirit and the strength of Christ by which a soul can do all things Phil. 4.13 that so he is fitted for
prayer and all duties whether our Communion with God be more or less in them FINIS CHAP. XX. How the Lord is pleased effectually to call some after they have been long in their natural Estate and have been very wicked GOd is pleased to suffer some of his Elect to go on a great while in Ignorance and to fall into great sins before he convert them as Matthew Zachaeus Mary Magdalene an elect person yet God leaveth her to be possest with seven devils and to be a Harlot before he convert her Paul an elect person yet God leaveth him a great while to go on in a Pharisaical way and to be a grievous Persecutor before the Lord convert him The Thief upon the Cross was an elect person yet the Lord let him run on a long time in his sins for these he is sentenced to die theâ—… the Lord converts him now there are many reasons why the Lord in his insinite wisdom suffers many elect persons to fall into so much sin before the Lord convert them As 1 because God will make it more eminently appeare that it was his meer Grace to save them and convert them God doth convert many in their young time before they have run into much prophaness others God leaveth to go on a long time in prophaness and though he could have converted them before yet he doth it to magnifie his own Grace 2 And God doth it that men might be the more humble after their Conversion remembring what great sins they fell into before the Lord called them 3 Hereby mens conversion is more remarkable to themselves and to others and tends much to the awakening of others when they shall see a notorious sinner so changed it may startle others exceedingly 4 That the worst of sinners might not be hardned and go on desperately in their sins and say There is no hope no but seeing others converted after they have gone on so long in sin that they might now come to Christ and say I will have no more fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but cast my self upon the free mercy of God in Christ 5 That we might use means to convert the greatest sinners and not say There is no hope that that Drunkard and that Worldling should ever be converted and so never use means to discover sin and Christ to them 6 That God might shew the certainty of Election that those that he hath chosen shall be called according to Gods gracious purpose which purpose shall stand By this we see that all the Father giveth to Christ shall come to him and be effectually called though they are long before they are converted 7 Hereby God will shew us the infinite merit of his Sons blood that it will cleanse from all sin that though an elect person hath so abounded in sin yet the blood of Christ is able to save him to the utmost 8 And thus God sheweth the power of his Spirit that he is able to convert men not only when they are less sinners but when they are mightily hardened in sin and have long accustomed themselves to do evil Question But doth God love an elect Person and hath he care of them before they be converted Answ Yes God loved them from eternity God loved Jacob Rom. 9. before he had done good or evil God doth not then begin to love a soul when he is converted though then the effects of his love do more appear 2 God gave his blessed Son for his elect while they were enemies then they were reconciled to God by the death of his Son he died for the ungodly Rom. 5.9,10 and this was infinite love 3 If God did not love the Elect before they were converted they would never be converted It s his infinite love to them that he unites draws them to Christ without which drawing they could never come to Christ 4 God Hath such a love and care towards an elect person that he never suffers them to fall into the sin against the holy Ghost though they fall into other great sins 5 God hath such a care towards them that they never die unconverted Rom. 8,30 Whom he did predestinate them he hath also called God either converts them in their young time or else lengthens out their days upon the earth and brings them to Christ though it be at the eleventh hour As God called some of all sorts of sinners excepting those that commit the sin against the holy Ghost so he calleth at several ages some in their child-hood some in their middle age and some in their old age but God calleth most in their young time whilst their hearts are yet tender How hath the Lord been pleased to work Grace in them that have been mightily prejudiced against the powerfull preaching of the word as it s recorded in the life of that gracious man Mr. Robert Bolton that before his conversion he hearing Mr. Perkins preach he said He was an empty dry fellow but after he was converted he had high thoughts of his powerfull Ministry Another was that afterwards one of the most eminent in grace and gifts that our times have known when the Bel went for Mr. Perkins secretly was glad in his heart that he was dead that he might not be so startled by his heart-searching ministry which thought did exceedingly humble him afterwards and God pleased powerfully to work upon him and make him a burning and shining light Thus where sin abounds Gods grace sometimes cals a soul and so abounds much more then sin abounded If we knew all passages concerning those whom the Lord converteth what prophaness in some what strange ignarance in others what wicked resistance of the Spirit it would make us cry out O the wickedness of the creature and O the unsearchable riches of Gods free grace some have gone to an Ordinance to sleep and the Lord hath made such a noise by his Spirit in their hearts that they have been past sleeping their souls have been so effectually awakened some have gone to ensnare the Preacher and the Lord hath changed their hearts and opened their eyes some have gone boldly to outface the Lord in his Ordinances and the Lord hath made their stout hearts tremble at his word some have gone only out of novelty to hear a man because he was a stranger or was a noted Preacher and the Lord hath converted them some have gone with their hearts as full of prejudice against the Preacher as could be and yet the Lord hath bowed their heares before they came away and made them say Surely God is in this man and in his Ministry of a truth Some shall certainly be converted and must enter into Gods rest Heb. 4.6 1 because God hath ordained some to eternal life Acts 13.48 and the Election must obtain it 2 The Lord Jesus hath died for them and hath made their peace by the blood of his cross And God the Father hath given him power over all the
to think how many checks of conscience and motions of the Spirit you put by what terrour will it be to you to think what holy Saints you opposed and jeared what precious means of Grace you slighted and what pains you took for the world and how careless you were for your poor souls O think it no smal matter to die in thy natural estate and be damned if once thou come to hell there will be no ease nor end of thy misery for ever If God should but say to the damned in hell that after a hundred thousand years they should come out of their torments it would be some lightning to their hearts but there will be no end the worm dies not and the fire goes not out Christ goes over with those words three times almost together Mark 9.44,46,48 because he would have men in their natural condition take special notice of it that if they die out of him they will be miserable for ever miserable indeed to be alwayes dying alwaies burning alwaies weeping alwaies suffering the torments of Hell O therefore consider the state that thou art in before it be too late there is corruption and sin enough in one mans heart to undo all the men in the world if it were divided to them O then how easily will it undo one soul Know then if we be not justified freely by Gods Grace in Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of the Lord we must unavoidably perish for ever Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3.7,8 The time of Gods patience the time of Grace is but a short time therefore called a day To day if you will hear his voice It s but a day in comparison of Eternity nay in comparison of Eternity a mans daies upon earth are but as a moment or the twinkling of an Eye and the time of Grace is but a short time but a day in comparison of the greatness of the work that is to be done the making of our calling and Election sure It s but a day in respect of the uncertainty of our enjoying the means of Grace and it s but a day in respect of the uncertainty of our lives for in a moment we go down to the grave and all our thoughts perish To day therefore hear his voice come in to Christ do not say to morrow is soon enough do not put off the offers of Grace for now is the accepted time this is the day of Salvation CHAP. II. How natural men deceive themselves and think that their Estate is good IT S a great mercy for a man that is not in a state of Grace to know that he is yet without Christ but men flatter themselves that they are Christians and Saints when there is no cause in the world for it Men deceive themselves in their spiritual estate sometimes by not examining their condition many men never take thought whether they have Christ or no and if men do examin their spiritual Estate usually it is by false signs as outward performance of Duties or outward abstinence from many gross sins It s a sad thing when we have nothing to evidence a good estate but outward thing no work upon our hearts but only we have performed many Duties and sat under Ordinances so did they Isa 58. the beginning And many deceive themselves in their spiritual Estate by shunning a heart-searching Ministry they call for a Minister that may prophecy to them smooth things there is many mens Ministry that never touches upon the heart hath little tendency that way And men have a way to excuse sin and so think they are in a good estate though they live in all manner of sin as Adam laid the fault upon Eve and Eve shifted it off to the Devil Men that never pray in their Families never read the word in their Families lay the fault upon business Another way whereby we often deceive our selves in our spiritual estates is by looking upon the failings that the Saints have and so flatter our selves that our condition is the same with theirs thus men will say David did so and so and Peter did deny Christ Yea But David and Peter believed in Christ and mourned heartily for their sins A Saint hates all sin do you do so Again By Nature we are ignorant of the true nature of every Grace and therefore are easily deceived in our estate we do not know the true nature of saving faith we think it lies only in knowing that Christ dyed for sin we are ignorant of the nature of Repentance how the Love of God in Christ doth break the heart and we think if we give to the poor then we have Charity whereas in the Scriptures account a man may give all his goods to the poor and yet want true Charity 1 Cor. 13. And then men are loth to examin themselves to purpose whether they be in the faith or no for fear they should despair if they come to see their estate is not good though alas very few despair and its one thing for a man to be convinced of his estate being bad and another thing to despair for though he be not converted yet he may be converted afterwards Likewise the quietness and stilness of many mens consciences makes them think that they are in a good estate when as that may be a great Judgement upon them it s one thing to have true Peace of Conscience and another thing to have a seared Conscience There are certain plain signs that a man is not in a state of Grace which are evident in many and in such great Characters that he that runneth may read them as if men jear at the Spirit of God and jearat men for having the Spirit of God that they will say This is a man of the Spirit Dost thou think that thou art a Saint All Saints have the Spirit of Christ in them and they are led by the spirit of God Rom. 8.14 and they prize the Spirit highly And if men be wholly ignorant of the way of Justification by the blood of Christ and declare plainly that they seek life by their own obedience and Righteousness it is evident that they are not in a good estate for all Believers desire to be found in Christ having on them the Righteousness which is of God by Faith and how many by this may be convinced that they are not in a good estate Or if men live in all manner of sin allow themselves in drunkenness swearing and the like These transgressions of the wicked say within my heart saith David That the fear of God is not before their eyes Psal 36.1 Let men say what they will if that they commit iniquity with greediness it is evident that they know not Christ in a saving manner For he that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the Truth is not in him 1 Joh. 2.4 Indeed Hypocrites may
her that is with child then mayest thou know the works of God who worketh all and what a Mystery is this the way of the Spirit if we understand it of the Angels or if we understand it of the Spirits of men children how the Spirit comes into the child in the womb and whetherin the Spirit be formed of some matter and of what and how the Spirit and Life should be in the child so long and it not to be stifled in the womb These are mysterious things and so saith he is it to know the works of God Again the workings of God in Conversion are compared to the secret Influences of Leaven Matth. 13.33 The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a woman that hid a piece of Leaven in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened A mysterious thing how a little leaven spreads it self and leavens the whole Lump and so how God speaks but a word to the Heart doth but say to Matthew Follow me and the soul leaves all and follows Christ this is a mysterious thing It is Infinite Grace that God sheweth in the Conversion of a soul that he should put forth his Almighty power to convert us which he might put forth to damn us and torment us for ever that he should work Grace when he was not desired when we sought him not God first calls and not the creature and O that he should work though the creature resist and hang back we linger in our natural Estate as Lot did in Sodom and we should tarry in our natural estate till God raigned down fire and brimstone upon us as he did upon Sodom and now as the Angel while Lot lingred pulled him forcibly out so doth the Lord pull us forcibly out Col. 1.13 He snatcht us out of the power of darkness so the word signifies and O how doth God work Grace oftentimes upon the most cross and crabbed natured men that if they had not Grace there were no living with them In Conversion the Spirit convinceth the soul of sin as John 16.9 stops it in its sinful course and the soul seeth the Law meet him many times as the Angel met Balaam in the way with a drawn sword in his hand and convinces the soul of Righteousness in Christs perfect Righteousness and draws the soul abandoning all other Refuges to pitch upon Christ for Life and Acceptance with God that the soul now it seeth its wound doth not go to the Law but to the blood of Christ that the soul saith Lord thou providedst me a Garment of Righteousness in Adam one that is worn out and is all menstruous rags and now Lord thou hast provided me a new Garment of Righteousness the Righteousness of thine own Son a Garment that will never wax old Lord I accept of this Righteousness I put on this garment of mine elder Brother to come to thee in When the soul is converted Christ becomes the souls all in all for Justification Sanctification Consolation Whom have I in Heaven but thee and what do I desire in the earth but thee all but dung all but dross in comparison of Christ Communion with God becomes the greatest nourishment and refreshment to the soul Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon me for thou art my exceeding Joy this is the language of a true Saint Sin grows irksom and a tedious burthen to the soul and not so much for fear of Hell as from the Love we have to God and Christ our dear Redeemer Now the soul thinks that much that God doth for him and that nothing that he doth for God he thinks as Solomon when he dedidated the temple The Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain thee What is my poor prayers and preaching and service I with all my duties am less then the least of all the Mercics and kindness that thou hast shown to thy servant The soul now is much in the admiration of of Gods love and in desires after it and in thankfulness for it Thy loving kindness is better then Life Psal 63,3 though skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his Life Life is so dear yet thy loving kindness is better then Life If a soul that is converted were going to die for Christs sake that the Grace of God in him costs him his Life yet he cannot but bless God that ever he had Grace wrought in him The soul that is converted misseth God soon and cannot miss him long Psal 63.1,2 My soul thirsteth to see God as I have seen him in such an Ordinance in praying hearing meditating breaking of bread and I long to see him as I have seen him in such a Promise in which he hath sometimes strengthned me quickned me and revived me when I walkt in trouble And the nature of a soul that is converted is to fear sin most when he fears sin least that is to fear to commit sin most when he through the assurance of Gods pardoning mercy to him fears sin least for damning of him In Regeneration the Lord infuseth a new life the seed and habit of Grace wherein in the Soul is passive at first God by a Work of his own plucks up all other foundations and laies down Christ for a foundation in the heart Isa 28.16 Thus saith the Lord Behold I lay in Zinn for a foundation Stone a tryed Stone c. which tryed stone and sure foundation is the Lord Jesus Now its God that laies in Zion that is in the heasts of his people this Foundation behold I lay It s my work saith the Lord no man himself can lay this Foundation right O This is the saving work of Gods Spirit when as God hath laid Christ for the Foundation in a Soul that the soul builds all upon Christ he beareth the stress and weight of all as the foundation bears the weight of the building that all our comfort and peace and strength is built upon Christ and there is now an union between Christ and the soul as there is between the foundation and the rest of the building and this union the Lord makes by the Spirit and by the faith whereby the soul is glued and cemented for ever unto Christ CHAP. VIII The woful Backsliding of many Professors and the way of their Recovery MAny Professors are gone back mightily from the Lord some by error of Judgment some by loosness of Conversation and deadness and formality as if they had never been acquainted with the Lord It s hard to come to a true sense of it because a man may keep up the outward profession of Religion he may grow in Gifts may be in Church-fellowship and yet be much backsliden in his Spirit if the Lord will make use of any thing here written to make any sensible of it and recover them out of it it were a great Mercy Several signs of a backsliding Professor shall be laid down 1. Sign If the Conscience be not so tender as
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a young plant in Christ he must not be one that is newly converted then surely he must not be one that is not converted at all 3 The Duty of a Pastor requireth it also as it is set down 1 Tim. 3.5 that he is to take care of the Church of God now a natural man hateth the Saints of God and will sooner devour and make havock of the Church of God then take care to preserve and comfort and help it so they are said Heb. 13.17 to watch for the peoples souls And how can they do this that do not watch over their own souls 4 We may consider also what rules the Apostle gives to Titus about this business Tit. 1.8 He saith that they that are called to this office must be Lovers of good men and that none can be but a Saint hereby we know that we are passed from death to life if we love the Brethren and he saith also that he must be holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same word that is used Act. 13.35 concerning Christ and verse 9. he saith he must be one that will hold fast the faithfull word which there is no hopes that wicked men should do when persecution ariseth because of the word 5 Men that are not visibly Saints and called are not to be members of a Church notwithstanding any parts and accomplishments they may have much less should they be Pastors of Churches 6 A carnal Minister ascribes all to his parts and learning in his work and not to the ability that God giveth 1 Pet. 4.11 and so God hath not the glory 7. The Scripture saith that the prayers of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord and a stinch in his Nostrils 8 Though many of them may have good parts and may be seemingly sound in the matters of Religion yet we have no ground to think that they will continue sound because the Scripture saith that because they have received the truth not in the Love and power of it God will send men strong delusions 2 Thess 2. 9 Though Christ sent Judas yet he was never a Pastor of a Church of Saints and he was outwardly a Saint so in the esteem of the Apostles and Christ did it not for our imitation Christ limits us though we must not limit him and there is a particular Reason given of it that the Scriptures might be fulfilled 10 Christs words concerning hearing the Pharises that sit in Moses chair was rather a dispensation then an injunction and its one thing to hear occasionally and another thing to sit down under a mans Ministry and it was only upon some points about the Law not in all things for they taught that Christ was the Prince of Devils and a Deceiver least of all did Christ countenance their Ministry in these words to be good and lawfull for see how Christ inveigheth against those Pharisees Mat. 15. as if he he had been made up of invectives 11 The Apostle 1 Cor. 2.14 having spoken in the verse before of the spiritual man judging all things and he himself is judged of none propounds that question Who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him By him is meant the spiritual man for of him he is speaking not of instructing the Lord but saith he we have the mind of Christ and therefore can instruct them unto edification so then this Argument is taken from their insufficiency for the work that a natural mancannot reach a Saint who is above him 12 So the Apostle 2 Tim. 2.6 speaking of Ministers useth that comparison the husbandman that laboureth must first be parraker of the fruits of the earth How else can he sow So hath a Minister need to be partaker of some experience of the blood of Christ and comforts of the Spirit How else can he preach Christ feelingly and powerfully unto others 13 We see whom God hath used for conversion Those that went under the name of Puritans and Nonconformists in the Bishops times and go now under many more names in the world but it is with those that are his servants that he is present it is to them that he hath Promised to bless what they put their stands unto and to be with them to the end of the world it is not what God can do or sometimes hath done for we must not limit him but whether the Lord hath appointed the preaching of wicked men as an Ordinance of his for conversion of sinners or the building up of Saints 14 In other things that are not of that concernment that this is men will not trust those that have not experience as in Physick though a man hath read several Physick books and is able to define diseases and to talk pretty well yet you will not choose such an one to be your Physician if he want experience much less should you trust that man with your soul that hath only read some Divinity books and so is able to speak something if he have no experience of the power and sweetness of the truths of God himself CHAP. XVII The right use of the Law THE Law we are speaking of is the moral Law the ten Commandments with what comment and exposition is upon it in the Scripture This Law is of excellent use 1 It discovereth to us the holiness of God that he would have his creatures live according to rule and not in sin and Confusion 2 It serveth to discover sin to men Rom. 7.7 and to this end all are to get knowledge of the Law Rom. 7.1 and we are often to examine our hearts and lives by the Law and to know the Law in the spirituality of it that we may see spiritual and secret sins 3 The Law serves to awaken the consciences of natural men with the fear of hell and damnation and to set them more seriously to look after their eternal condition but those that are in Christ they are not to fear hell by the Law because they are freed by Christ from the damning power of it 4 The Law rightly understood will shew a soul an utter impossibility that ever he should get life by own works and righteonsness for the Law requires perfect obedience gives no strength to obey admits of no repentance neither will be satisfied to inflict temporal punishments and afflictions but throws the sinner into hell and lays him up there for ever except the soul hath interest by Faith in the perfect righteousness of Christ which fully answereth the Law 5 To Believers the Law may be a constant help to thankfulness they see the strength of sin 1 Cor. 15.56,57 that is the power that sin hath to damn is from the Law because it is the breach of Gods holy and righteous Law now to see how Christ hath delivered them from all the curses and damning power of the Law this may make them cry out Thanks be to God that hath given us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. 6
the Spirit abroad we may want such opportunities of secret duties as we have used at home which may put the heart much out of frame 16. It s a great matter in Religion for Saints to walk with God in our relations if our Parents be alive we are to honor them and be subject to them so was Christ to his Parents for our example Luke 2.51 yea the Apostle would have Children requite their Parents for all their care and cost and not be stuborn and undutifull if they don't do for them as they would if God brings into the Relation of a Husband he is to love his wife and not be bitter and harsh and like a Nabal that the wife may not miss her other dear relations that she hath left to cleave unto him but find all made up in his love yea if the wife be barren the husband must not think much with her when Hannah 1 Sam. 1.6,7,8 was troubled because she bare no Children to her Husband Elkanah he comforted her and said Why art thou grieved Am not I better then ten Sons If God calls to the relation of a Wife we know what directions the Scripture gives for the Wife to be subject to her Husband yet many godly women that are close walkers and tender-conscienced otherways yet do not seriously consider enough lay that Duty upon their consciences but though their Husbands through their Love may cover it yet they must look upon it as a sin before the Lord. Let Husband and Wife beg of God to give them suitable affections one to another and mingle all their conjugal love with spiritual If God call to be a Father then the Scripture tells us that we must bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord be not an Eli to our Children he though he was a good man yet failed much in this 1 Sam. 2.22,23,24,25 he was too indulgent to them for he should not only have spoken as he did but he should have reproved them more sharply and should have put his sons out of their office in which they were so wicked bless God if he work Grace in our Children for he is not bound to them he hath no need of our posterity but can take out of the prophanest families if he please the most eminent Saints have had prophane Children care not only for outward things for them but that they may be the Lords that when we are dead and gone they may know the God of their Fathers and when we are rotten in our Graves they may stand up in our steads to own and love and walk with that blessed God that we in our pilgrimage walked with If God call us to be maisters of Families and have servants then we are as David to walk in our houses with a faithful heart instruct our servants and family in Gods ways as God knew Abraham would do and forbear threatning and give them that which is right for their service and if they be sick not to throw them off to shift for themselves but as the Centurion went to Christ for the cure of his servant so should we look out for cure for them If we be to marry we are to marry in the Lord not to marry carnal yoak-fellows for their beauty or riches some have paid dear for that for while they have married carnal yoak-fellows they have either been carried too much away with their sins or have lost so much of their Liberty in Gods ways that they have gone with sorrow to their graves Be well acquainted with the Covenant of Grace get distinct knowledge of it Many Professors are very dark in the blood of Christ insomuch that they loose their peace almost upon every sinning and so have legal repentance for sin when they should have Gospel-repentance which is the Repentance that Believers should have called Zach. 12.10 mourning over Christ crucified and mourning as for an only Son which is not only great mourning but mourning out of Love 18. Count upon opposition from the world and never think if we walk with God to escape the worlds censures the thoughts of this to frame our actings in Religion so as to keep peace with carnal people hath made some comply so far as to lose their zeal and be a shame to Religion 19. When we have any orderly opportunities put into our hands in any thing to lift up the name of God in our generations let it not slip but put our necks to the work if we are clear in the work and our call to it for it may be there will never such an opportunity of service to God be put into our hands all our days again now is our working time now we have opportunities for Reformation and converting others which we shall not have in the Grave whether we are going 20. Walk in love with the Saints break not with them upon every small difference of Judgement if you see some truth that they are dark in it may be they see much more in other things then you do watch against the Beginning of differences Do not every thing you may when you are in the presence of weak Saints 1 Cor. 10.32 consider the tempers of these Saints we converse with their natural tempers their education temptations corruptions and walk tenderly and wisely towards them carry our selves humbly towards all Saints especially when we differ in any thing from them for many times not so much the thing wherein we differ from others breaks love between and us as our high and proud carriage in that matter In all our care to walk in love with the Saints and not to give them offence look up to God to send a Spirit of love between you for somtimes when a godly man hath it in his eye to order a business so as to give no offence to his Brother yet not looking to God in it offence is taken whereas at other times when we have done that which might justly give offence to our Brethren and our heart looks up to God to prevent offences and breaches God covereth wonderfully these things and holds our Brethrens eyes and thoughts from looking upon them and so graciously prevents the folly and rashness of our spirits in making a breach with our Brethren for God can send an evil spirit of discord between men as he did in a way of Judgement between Abimeleck and the men of Sechem Iudg. 9.23,24 And God can send forth a Spirit of Love that brethren may live together in Unity give always the respect that is due to godly men according to their age and condition that God hath placed them in the world beware of vanity and unprofitable converse with godly men God oftentimes punishes that with foolish and causless breaches let all our reproofs to our brethren be with tenderness and a Spirit of meekness else they will provoke forgive our brethren freely and from the heart what may be amiss in their carriage towards us as God