Bondage of Sathan shew that yee are faithfull and not Traytors to Iesus Christ be ye without reproach and single hearted The Children I say of God vnreproueable in the middest of this crooked and peruerse Nation Phil. 2.15 amongst whom ye shine as Lights in the World which beare before you the Word of Life shew your selues to feele the wholsome Grace of God which teacheth you to renounce all Infidelity and worldly lustes to liue soberly Titus 2.12 iustly and godly thinke in your selues that the friendship of this World is Enmitie to God and that ye cannot be friends to the World but that ye must needs be Enemies to God Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse Iames 4.4 Eph. 5.11 but rather reprooue them so as your holy conuersation may serue for a proofe and checke to such as walke disorderly Remember what God said to Man Isaiah 33.6 The feare of the Lord is true wisedome and to depart from euill is Vnderstanding Let the fauour of God bee our Treasure walke as it were before him as he commaunded Abraham Thinke that ye are not your owne to liue for your selues according to your owne wisedome and pleasure but that ye appertaine vnto God that ye might liue vnto him and according to his Wisedome and Will reuealed in his Word vnto vs. That Man hath much profited who knowing that hee is not his owne hath taken away from himselfe and his owne reason all Lordship Dominion Rule and Power to resigne it to God and to suffer himselfe quietly and directly to be guided according to his pleasure There is no vice more common more pernitious or more hard to cure then the loue of our selues and therefore there is no lesson more necessarie then that which Iesus Christ taught his Apostles that to be of the number of his Disciples wee must renounce your selues renouncing then our selues hate yee that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good inclined by Charitie to loue one another procure things that are good not onely before God Col. 3.12 but also before men If it be possible so much as in you lyeth haue peace with all men be we as the elect of God holy and beloued clad with the bowels of compassion of kindnesse of humility of meekenesse of long suffering forbearing one another and forgiuing one another euen as Christ hath forgiuen you loue one another as God hath loued you For heerein is the difference betweene the children of God and the children of the Deuill and wherein ye may be knowne to be the Disciples of Christ yee are all members of one body let there be no diuision or parts taking among you 1. Cor. 12.19 but feele the afflictions of them that weepe to weepe with them and reioyce with those that reioyce to praise God with them 3. If ye be the Citizens of the Ciâ—ie of Ierusalem and will haue a sure dwelling in it Psal 15. walke in integrity labour to deale iustly speake the truth from your hearts keepe you from slandering couetousnes â—nd all other corruption acknowâ—edge in all men the Image of God whereunto you owe honor â—nd helpe especially those that are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 Ye are debtors to your neighbours of all that ye haue or are able to doe to bee disposers of it with condition that ye render to God an accompt Fourthly honour the graces of God in your Brethren and couer their infirmities by Charitie Iames 1.19.20 c. Bee quicke to heare but slow to speake and slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous in the sight of God Doe not desire hope or imagine any other meanes to prosper by then by the blessing of God and doe not looke that hee should aduance by the aide of his blessing that which he hath accursed by his mouth so goe forwards in the amendment of your liues that this day may passe yesterday Zeale to the puritie of the Doctrine with the holinesse oâ— your liues that the ignorant seeing your blamelesse conuersation and esteeming you by your good workes may glorifie God 1. Pet. 2.12 and imbrace the Gospell with you when it shall please God to call them haue minde of that great Curse pronounced by the high Iudge against such as offended any of the verie least Furthermore reioyce in the Lord indeuour to be perfect be comforted be of one consent 2. Cor. 13.11 liue in peace and the God of Loue and Peace shall be with you But as it is God that worketh in vs both to will and in worke to accomplish according to his good pleasure so aboue all things imploy your selues to pray feruently and continually Chrysostom Prayer saith Saint Chrysostome is the Soule of our Soules for it also is the soule which quickeneth all the actions of the Children of God It was the lifting vp of Moses hands to heauen which strengthened Iosua and his army Exod. 17.11 and gaue him victorie ouer the Amalekites and indeed without the grace of God that which we obtaine by prayer all that we doe is but vanitie Faith is the key that openeth the Cofers of the treasures of our God Prayer is the hand to draw it out to inrich our selues Prayer lifteth vp our hearts from earth to heauen it renueth the memorie of the promises of God to confirme vs it assureth vs against all that we can feare it obtaineth all that we can desire it giueth rest and contentment to our soules it keepeth and strengtheneth the feare to offend God it increaseth the desire to goe vnto him whom in praying we feele to be the spring and fountaine of all good things it ingendereth in vs a stedfast dispising of the World and renouncing of the Flesh it representeth vnto vs the heauenly and euerlasting felicities that we may aspire to the inioying of them There is nothing more to be desired then to be conuersant with him without whom wee cannot be happy but he that will alwaies bee with God hee must alwaies pray or reade For when we pray we talke with God and when wee reade God talketh with vs the more we are exercised in Prayer to God the more we increase in godlinesse therefore also we may not be wearie or faint-hearted in Prayer although the Lord deferre to make vs feele the fruit of our Prayers for we haue a promise of him that cannot lye that whatsoeuer wee aske of God in the name of Iesus Christ it shall be giuen vs if he deferre for some time to make vs feele the fruit of our Prayers it is for our greater benefit Let vs continue still wayting knowing assuredly that he according to his fatherly loue and bountie desireth our good can according to his infinit power giue that which we aske of him and according to his truth will heare vs. He also according to his wisedome knoweth the fittest time as is before said
the wine in a cup. We must watch ouer our selues both alone and in company and not run into bad company least we come home by weeping crosse as Peter did Secondly we must not lye in our fals a man in his iourney if hee fall and lye still shall neuer come to his wayes end and if hee rise quickly though it hinder him a little it shall not bee much The Saints all of them recouered themselues out of their fals by renewing their Faith and Repentance A man out of his way must come backe againe the sooner he returnes the lesse is his labour Peter presently went out and wept bitterly and so was restored to Christs fauour Thirdly suppose thy fals be grieuous and often into the same sins yet let them not hinder thee still out of the way For as the Childe of GOD must neither presume nor purpose sinne so must he not despaire of rising hauing fallen into sinne seeing the promise is that If a mans sinnes for hainousnesse be as red as scarlet vpon his true repentance they shall bee made white as Snow And the parable teacheth that if a sinner offendeth seuenty times seuen times in a day and as often truly repent he shall be as oft forgiuen Fourthly after such falls we must be more warie and careful least we fall in the same manner A man yea a beast will be more carefull when it comes by the same place where it caught a fall yee cannot get it into the same hole againe Dauid no doubt would not count the Tribes againe after that fall in numbring them Thirdly hold on in this way constantly with perseuerance for the end of a worke crowneth it and the end of a way gladdeth and resteth the wearie traueller and this rest is without end Many set forth on this way but are discouraged by the hardnesse of the entrance whereas if they were a little entred the way would be pleasant and the yoake of Christ easie and sweete Others haue gone yet further but at length looke backe yea goe backe when a man would haue thought they had escaped the filthinesse of the world and these haue lost a great deale of labour and comfort Others yet farther then they as the bad earth euen so farre as a man could perceiue no difference betweene them and sound Christians and apparent difference was there none but in perseuerance and yet wanting soundnesse haue suffered shipwracke euen at the hauen and so their former righteousnesse is all forgotten a great deale of way they had gone and much worke had they rid whereof they shall neuer see crowne nor comfort Oh beware of wearinesse and relapse As towards the end of his way the traueller is most cheerefull so should we and the rather because first euery one affects a good end euen Balaam and will we not endure a little difficultie for it Fourthly seeing there are a number that deceiue themselues about their estate in which they are thinking that their waies are right when God knowes they are the pathes that leade to hell they boast of their supposed good when indeed it is nothing but a meere delusion of the Diuell to blinde the eyes of their minds to make them seeme that which they are not they boast and bragge of Iustification and yet liue without Sanctification Such people are out of the way and all this while they doe nothing else but deceiue their owne soules for he that is Iustified is also Sanctified and after Iustification there will follow Sanctification Wouldst thou then know whether thou hast throughly and effectually remembred thy fals and art conuerted and that God hath Iustified thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes and acquitting thee from the guilt and punishment of thy sinnes and that God accepts thee through Christ as righteous before him and that thou shalt neuer be condemned for thy sinne then examine thy Sanctification Doest thou leaue thine waies and walke in the waies of GOD Doest thou vse all good meanes to come to saluation and auoide all occasions which might draw thee to destruction In a word doest thou deny thy selfe and wholy resigne vp thy selfe to bee guided by Gods Spirit in all things then thou art Sanctified and so maist approoue thou art Iustified else not Rom. 8.1 Now there is no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus There is Iustification who are such as walke not after the flesh Ephe. 2.10 but after the Spirit there is Sanctification It is the end of our new Creation and second birth Psal 125.5 which God hath ordained viz. to walke in good works Lastly in a word vtterly to renounce all sinne to hate loath detest and abhorre it so as to haue nothing to doe any more with it but to vow and resolue against it and so leaue it and forsake it and daily more and more to be out of loue with it and our selues for it is a most true signe of him that hath rightly searched himselfe and is truly conuerted Pro. 28.13 and such a man shall obtaine mercy at Gods hand in this world and euerlasting mercy in the world to come Wherefore seeing we haue these promises 2. Cor. 7.1 let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and finish our sanctification in the feare of God Signifying that it is not sufficient to purge our selues in part but it must be both from internall corruptions of the soule as also the externall pollutions of the body and to labour for the feare of God without which wee are impudent and bold in committing of vncleanenesse which wee would not dare to attempt if the feare of God were firmely setled in our hearts teaching vs also not to make a shew of holines for a time but to goe on constantly and to finish our Sanctification dayly proceeding in a holy course adding more holinesse still to more that so holding out vnto the end we may receiue the end of our Faith the saluation of our soules For he that continueth vnto the end 1. Pet. 1.9 he shall be saued PSALME 126. When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Sion wee were like them that dreame The Argument of the Psalme TOuching the Captiuitie whereof the Prophet speaketh in this Psalme The Interpreters doe not agree Some vnderstand it to be meant of the Captiuitie of Babylon some of the Captiuitie vnder the Romans other some do thinke that the Prophet meaneth heere all the Captiuities and deliuerances of the Prophet according to that promise that if they should at any time be led into Captiuity for their transgressions and by repentance should returne vnto the Lord Of what manner of Captiuitie this Psalme treateth he would shew mercy vnto them and bring them home into their land againe but in mine opinion they go neere to the sence and true meaning of the Psalme which doth referre it to that great and generall Captiuitie of mankind vnder Sinne Death
vnto euery one who doth with patience waite for the appearing of our Lord Iesus and loue the same and therefore feare not be not any whit discouraged hold out vnto the end certaine it is thou shalt be blessed and in so doing thou shalt haue a Crowne of Life If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules This serues to comfort the godly in that the Lord sits vpon the flouds and that to this purpose to performe this gracious promise Whē thou passest thorough the waters Esay 42 3 I will bee with thee and through the flouds that they shall not ouerflow thee So Eliphaz telleth Iob In sixe troubles hee will deliuer thee Iob 5.19 and in the seuenth euill shall not come neere thee As if hee had sayd Though sixe and seuen troubles beset thee yet the euil of them shal not come neere thee This presence of God with his children makes them glory in their troubles as in a Crowne vpon their heads and the Apostle Paul gloried 2. Cor. 11. that he was more in affliction then all the false teachers Heb. 11.35 The Saints were in most deadly tryalls and would not bee deliuered namely vpon vnlawfull conditions because they found God as good as his word Therefore miserable men are they that withdraw their hearts from the Lord and seeke him not in his promises not in their prayers but trust to winde out themselues by other meanes some make falsehood their refuge and some embrace the world carnall meanes and leane vpon the arme of flesh these flye from their defence Ionas 2.8 wait vpon lying vanities forsake their owne mercy 'T is as if Noah for feare of the inundation should haue left the Arke and fled to the Mountaynes which had beene to haue throwne himselfe into the midst of the waters and thus doe they that to auoyd troubles feare and flye their Profession and so Apostasie and Idolatrie and corruption drownes them We must rather with the Church flye to the Rocke Psal 69.2 Saue me O God the waters are vpon me yea I am come to the deepe waters And then being deliuered wee must goe backe vnto him Psal 124 saying Saluation is the Lords if the Lord had not beene with vs Verse 3 the waters must needes haue drowned vs when they roared vpon vs. This serues to perswade euery man to become godly seeing this priuiledge belongs onely to such there is no man but desires safety in danger and yet no man but the godly man can assure himselfe of safetie therein If then thou wouldest haue assurance of this promise thou must practise pietie in these seueralls First Become an humble person How to bee safe in dangers repent and turne to God cry out of sinne sue daily for pardon as for life and death and then let all the miseries and calamities in the world come vpon thee thou shalt be safe onely sinne is as poyson cast into the Lords Cuppe GOD giues thee no poyson to drinke but that is of thy owne tempering pull the sting out of these Scorpions and the fight onely will be dreadfull but the danger is past 2. Pet. 2.7 Secondly As thou mournest for thine owne so for other mens sinnes God deliuered iust Lot vexed with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked Thirdly Get thy heart washed with the bloud of Christ be a true Israelite a true beleeuer for God is good to Israel euen to the pure of heart Psal 73.1 and deliuer Israel O Lord. Fourthly Get innocencie and vprightnesse into thy life to bee able to say with Dauid Psal 18.24 Deliuer mee according to mine vprightnesse Fifthly Drawe dayly neerer vnto God and if God be with thee or thou with him thou needest not feare Psal 23.4 though thou walkest in the shaddow of death and doe this three wayes first get neere him by thy affection loue him in his Word and Image because hee hath loued mee Psal 91.14 I will deliuer him and exalt him that is set him out of the reach of trouble Secondly In obedience I am thine saith Dauid O saue thy seruant Thirdly Psal 91.9 In thy confident prayer for hee sayd to the Lord Thou art my refuge Verse 4. The deepe waters of the proud had gone ouer our soule HEe Incists still in his complaint against his enemies and describes them from the qualitie of their persons Enemies of Dauid described they were proud This is a stile commonly giuen to the wicked because as it is our eldest euill so is it the strongest and first that striues in our corruption to carry men to a transgression of the bounds appointed of the Lord. From the time that pride entred into Adams heart that he would be higher then God had made him hee spared not to eate of the forbidden tree and what else is the cause of all transgression but that a man in his ignorant pride will haue his will preferred to the will of God Neither is it without cause that wicked men are so commonly called proud men for pride is the mother of rebellion against God and man By pride Sathan and his confederate Apostates vsurped to bee like vnto God Pride an horrible euill and by the same sinne he drew man into the similitude of his owne condemnation so that now euery man by nature is a proud man which makes him shake off the yoke of God and without regard transgresse the limits of obedience appointed vnto him by God as Pharaoh would not let Israel goe till the Lord slew his first-borne so our nature now corrupted shall neuer render obedience to God nor loue to man till the first borne sinne that is pride be subdued by grace For grace on the contrary Grace worketh humilitie in the godly euer workes humilitie so soone as the eyes of Gods children are opened to see their sinnes they abhorre themselues the combe of their naturall pride is pulled downe and they abase themselues before God and man It was the humble speech of Abraham the father of the Faithfull Gen. 18.27 I am but dust and ashes It was the voyce of Iacob I am not worthie of the least of Gods mercies Dauid hath the like Who am I Lord c. Gedions voyce My fathers house is the least in all Israel And Iohn Baptist who receiued prayse that a greater Prophet was not among the children of women acknowledged in humilitie Ioh. 1.27 that he was not worthie to loose the latchet of Christs shooe The Centurian confessed hee was not worthy that Christ should come vnder his roofe Peters voice was Depart from me for I am a sinfull man Saint Paul I am not worthy to be called an Apostle yea he confessed plainely hee was the least of all the Apostles and the chiefe of all sinners Thus all the Children of GOD giue glorie to GOD by downe casting themselues
things labouring to approue our selues vnto GOD keeping faith and a good conscience which hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And wee must euer entertaine this holy resolution that nothing should draw vs from God and godlinesse 2. Cor. 1.12 This is our reioycing saith Paul the testimonie of a good conscience that is in simplicitie and godly purenesse and not in fleshly wisdome c. This yeelds vnto vs much comfort that our hearts can witnesse with vs that wee haue done our duties in obedience to Gods will Verse 4. Do well O Lord vnto them that be good and true of heart THE Prophet saith not heere doe well Lord to the perfect and such as offend in nothing but to the good and true of heart The good and true of heart are they which are of a single sincere and vpright heart for these are they which are most accepted of God although they also through infirmitie doe some times offend Heere is matter of great comfort to the Children of God that fall of weaknesse and infirmitie into the same sinne after repentance and such is the depth of Sathans temptations that he tels them that the Children of God fall not into the same sinne againe after their repentance if they doe hee telleth them that there is no place for a second repentance but this is false for the promises of God are without limitation of times or consideration of sinnes or respect of persons he will receiue to mercy all repentant sinners whether their sinnes be committed before or after repentance whither once or often so that they renew their repentance according as they haue sinned anew This pardon Christ himselfe publisheth Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and heauy laden and I will refresh you Mat. 11.28 Yea the Lord inioyneth vs sinfull men to forgiue our Brother seauentie times seauen times if hee turne againe and say it repenteth me So that wee see this is a maruellous comfort to all such as groane vnder the burthen of sinne that haue fallen through infirmitie into one sinne often let not such be discouraged but assure themselues that albeit with Peter they fall often yet with him if they repent truly and weepe bitterly for their sinnes the Lord is mercifull to forgiue them their sinnes not that wee should liue proudly presumptuously stubbornely and obstinately against him but if wee fall through frailtie Psal 103. Psalme 103. The Lord knoweth whereof we be made hee remembreth that wee are but dust The Child of God not alwayes at one stay Hence wee learne that the Childe of GOD is not alwayes at one stay but there is an entercourse in the estate of a Christian man or woman sometimes full of comfort ioy and peace of conscience and sometimes againe heauie and sad yea full of sorrow and perplexitie euen as a man in an ague sometimes sicke and sometimes well and as it is with trees sometimes winter and sometimes summer This is the state of all Gods Children as Dauid Ioseph Hezekias Iob c. and continuall experience prooueth this that the estate of Gods Children ebbes and flowes hath their change when as they walke directly and vprightly with God then they haue peace and comfort but when that they start aside and commit some wicked sinne then they finde torments of conscience and great griefe of mind This shewes vs what is the state and condition of the Childe of GOD in this life hee is not so heere sanctified as that hee feeles no corruption of sinne to hange about him but rather such a one as feeles the burthen of his corruptions hindering him in this his course of Christianitie vnder which hee grieuously sighes and groanes labouring by all good meanes to bee disburthened Indeede it is a matter of great comfort to feele the graces of Gods Spirit as Faith Loue c. but no Childe of GOD can alwaies feele the comfort of grace but as fire that is raked vp in the ashes it is hid from his feeling for a time but at the length it will breake out againe to his great ioy and comfort Well seeing this is the state of Gods Children heere they finde great peace and comfort sometimes griefe and sorrow let vs not bee to much discouraged but rather when as by our falls and slippes wee haue weakened our comfort let vs intreat the Lord to renew our comfort againe let vs doe as a poore traueller who if he misse his way and goe out of it he will hasten into it againe and trudge and plucke vp his heeles with all speed to recouer that which hee hath lost So let vs when we haue sinned and gone out of the way make hast to returne and as a man that hath beene long sicke and growne feeble and weake will vse all meanes to gather vp his crums and to recouer his former strength againe So let vs when wee haue lost some part of our comfort and heauenly strength let vs I say vse all blessed meanes to recouer our former health and comfort againe Let vs pray much reade much heare much and meditate much let vs bewaile our former sloth and make our steps more vpright in time to come to Gods kingdome c. A purpose not to sinne the marke of a sanctified Heart Note heere that it is the speciall fruite and marke of a sanctified Heart and of the Minde renewed to haue a purpose not to sinne but in all things to please God and to doe his Will to walke with God in all his Commaundements Whereas on the contrarie Psal 50.17 when a Man hath a purpose to liue in any knowne sinne it is a fearefull and a manifest signe of a naughtie and wicked Heart For when the Heart is truely sanctified then will bee brought this right Spirit not to sinne in any thing I doe not say that the Man sanctified and regenerate doth not sinne at all but hee hath no purpose to sinne no delight in sinne but beareth a constant purpose in all things to please God When hee can say with Dauid I haue refrayned my feete from euerie euill way Againe Hee that is borne of God sinneth not that is Iohn 3.9 with full purpose of heart with delight in Sinne and as they purpose not to sinne so they endeuour it they are afraid and suspect themselues shunne the Occasions of Sinne Gen. 39.9 and striue against their owne Corruptions and Sathans Temptations This Doctrine doth euidently conuince the greatest number to bee such as neuer had the true Worke of Sanctification wrought in them Their Hearts bee not sanctified and their Mindes are not renewed Why Namely because they want this marke and fruite of a sanctified heart for though they heare of their sinnes bee told of them and the fearefull iudgements of GOD denounced against them yet they will not leaue them nor forsake them but will continue in them yea though it cost them the losse of Gods
vexation of spirite there is a short abridgement of our life Iob 6.4 Man commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse it is no better if wee do no more but follow the course of nature Let vs therefore goe aboue the Sunne seeke rest ioy and contentment in our God in whom onely it is to be found As for such as turne backe vnto their owne wickednesse the Lord shall leade them forth with the euill doers but peace shall be vpon Israel There hath beene of this sort of men euer since the Apostles time which hath corrupted the Church and with a shew of holynesse deceiued the simple which because God punisheth them not but spareth them and suffereth them to prosper in this world become so proud that they will be counted amongst the holiest and of the world are so commonly taken Wee see that not onely the godly are mixed with the wicked in this world but in the Lords floore also the wheat lyeth hidden vnder the chaffe Wee must pray therefore that God would bring these Hypocrites to light and giue vnto them their iust punishment with the workers of iniquitie then shall peace ensue to the Church of God for whiles the Lord powreth forth his iust vengeance vpon the wicked which vex and persecute his true members he gathereth together the good and vpright of heart and openly declareth his fatherly good will and tender loue towards them This doctrine serues to let many men see their folly they hope to be saued and make full account when they die to goe to God but yet shall neuer come there because they are not in the wayes of God If a man should say he would goe from Yorke to London yet shall hold the direct way to Barwicke would not euery man laugh at him so is it with him that walkes in the path of perdition and yet saith he will come to Heauen Aske them what way they walke in and they must needs giue themselues the lye if they say it is Gods way And in this conceit thousands are deceiued and slip into their place before they would or be aware First Many by-wayes beaten by many some walke in the blind way of Ignorance a darke and vncomfortable Way as Men walking in the night in which is no safetie nor direction numbers care not for the Lanthorne of the Word and walking in the night know not whither they goe nor where they shall lodge Aske Papists what way they are in Oh they are in the way of Catholikes in the way wherein the Martyrs and Confessors died in the way of their Fore-fathers what way soeuer it be And I would this Ignorance were among them onely but alas it is the way of too many who professe the Light Secondly some walke in the crosse wayes of Superstition and mens Deuices as many of our people who thinke Common prayers better in Lent then all the yeere after and some can be deuout on high dayes and come to Church but other dayes Gods Seruice is not so effected And some receiue the Sacrament at Easter and they were damned if they did not but all the yeere besides the Sacrament hath no sweetnesse These are superstitious wayes whereas Gods wayes are the same and to be walked in with the same affection Thirdly some goe in the crooked wayes of Humane Reason Will Policie and Affections and cannot yeeld to the Wisdome of God their owne Lusts are their Lawes who should controll them Here is an infinite number of Rodes all of them full of wanderers from God whereas Gods way is but one and of Gods describing cleane contrary to mans corrupt Reason Will Affections and Conuersation Fourthly some goe in the detestable and damnable wayes of wilfull spurning against the truth 2. Pet. 2.2 Many shall follow their damnable wayes by whom the way of truth shall be euill spoken of Is it not damnable ynough for men to walke on in the wayes of damnation themselues vnlesse they rayle at the way of truth and life Fiftly some walke in the filthie myrie wayes of voluptuousnesse profanenesse as foule Fornicators Drunkards Gamesters Gluttons Epicures daintie and delicate persons who seeme to be made for nothing but idlenes effeminate care of their skin fruition of their owne sensuality appetite to such Salomon speaketh in the person of the yong man Walke in the sight of thine eyes and in the lusts of thine heart but know that for all this thou must come to Iudgement Lastly numbers walke in the rugged stonie thornie and clayie wayes of Earthlinesse Couetousnesse Vsurie and Oppression setting themselues fast in the gall and guile of earthly-mindednesse not hauing power ouer themselues to stirre hand or foot to Heauen-ward Where their Treasure is there haue they locked vp their hearts too or rather burying them for so they may being dead in the earth and earthly desires the Heauen that they wish for they haue what then care they for any way that leads to another First wee learne hence that in our Christian conuersation there should be a continuall progresse in godlinesse For as in walking saith Basil the steppes of the feet by a mutuall strife among themselues are changed in such sort that the foot which now is hindmost is formost next continuing alway this motion till we come to the place of our rest so should there be in the Christian such a continuall promoouing of his heart toward God that thâ— affection which this day is behind coldest in the loue of God slowest to obey him should the next day be made formost Bern. For in this life nothing standeth in one state it is most certaine that hee that goes not forward goes backward Yet I would not so be vnderstood as if the Christian had not his owne fainting and falling in the way of godlinesse yet blessed be God who keepes our Soules in life wee so faint that wee reviue we so fall that wee rise againe of our former Follies wee learne to bee wise of the experience of our weakenesse wee gather strength we walke then more warily because so oft we haue stumbled and fallen of our sinnes we make vantage he who is truly penitent walkes alway in sorrow and feare because hee hath fallen so oft in feare least hee should fall againe Secondly What to be done in our fals let vs be circumspect both to preuent and recouer our selues out of our fals in this way by reason of Sathans fierce temptations the weaknesse of grace the frailtie of the flesh Many are the fals and knocks of the best Psal 19.12 In many things we sinne all saith S. Iames and who knoweth his errors Now if we will preuent these we must beware of occasions of sinne as a traueller steps ouer stones rubs in his way Eue preuented not the occasion of her fall when shee entred talke with the Serpent Wee must make a couenant with our eies not to looke vpon a Woman nor on
297 Comfort See Crosse Affliction Temptation Trouble and Sinne. Confidence In our greatest Mutations we must put our confidence in God 162 Constancie The constancie of Gods Children 147 Consideration so necessarie that without it no state of our life can be well ordered 382 384 Contempt Comfort against contempt of Men. 84 353 Conuersation In our Christian conuersation there must be a continuall progresse 247 Conuersion A true signe of conuersion 256 Corruption See Flesh Couetousnesse Many walke in the ruggie way of Couetousnesse 247 Creator Euery Creature in their kind sends vs to the Creator 239 Creature It is a vaine thing to take pleasure in the Creature 240 Crosse How a sanctified Crosse is discerned 96 D. DAnger breedeth feare without measure 23. Past by dangers are to be cald to mind 44 Day how it should be spent 320 Death The godly need not feare it 168. It is a Victorie if we suffer for Christ 396. Life and it two Twinnes 397 Degrees See Psalmes Deliuerance Publique Thanksgiuing required after it 15. Application of this to our Times especially to the Powder-Treason 16 17 c. In what sort we should be thankfull for Deliuerance from it 20 c. Gods Deliuerances to be remembred 28. God still deliuers his 60 109 176. Depart How the wicked depart from God 233. Desire Our perfection stands rather in desire then deeds 222. God still giue vs more then we desire ibid. Determination an helpe to godly conuersation 382 384 Despaire Wee should not dispaire for our grieuous sinnes and falls 250 E. ELect No elect Child of God can finally perish or fall away 125. We must labour to be in the number of the Elect. 273 End The end of a Christian better then his beginning 30. See accomplish men Enemies We are vnable of our selues withstand them 27. The faithfull still preuaile against their enemies 47. God preserueth hiâ— from all enemies 60. Dauids enemies described 70 F. FAith Not to trust to that which the eye seeth but to that which the word offereth and promiseth is a matter of Faith 157. The nature of Faith 148 Faithfull No force can preuaile against them 58. God hath a double care of them 186. Their state but weak being left vnto themselues 228 Fauour In what fort we should remember Gods fauour to vs. 44 Fall The child of God cannot finally fal away 125. What to bee done in our fals 249. We must not lye still in them 250. and must beware of falling againe 251 Flesh There is fleshly corruption in the Christian Militant but he followes it not 107 Sathans darts may afflict the flesh but cannot surmount the Spirit 173. He that walketh after the flesh encountreth with death 379 Fruits See Heart and Tongue G. GEntiles The Gentiles being pertakers of the deliuerance from sinne and death do magnifie God for it as well as the Iewes 295. 296. 299. They and the Iewes are become one Church 300 Gifts See Trouble God There is all things in God fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust 140 Godly What the wicked are to the godly 87. They are esteemed in a miserable case by the wicked 149. Comfort for them when the wicked esteeme them not 179. What their state is in this world 353 Godlinesse True godlinesse indureth great temptations 96. It is great gaine 141. We must go on in the waies thereof vnto the end of our liues 385 386 Gospel Wee should comfort our selues with the Gospel when Sathan terrifieth with the law 292. The inestimable benefit of the Gosp 302 Goodnesse We must not trust to our owne power and goodnesse 231 H. HEart Who are the good and true of heart 207. The marke of a sanctified heart 214. We must offer the first fruits of our heart to God euery morning 313 Humilitie How humilitie is wrought in the godly 71 Hurt No hurt befals them whom Gods loue 86 I. IEwes and Gentiles are become one Church 300 Ignorance Many walke in the blind waies of Ignorance 243 Impatience See Affliction Ioy. The Ioy of the godly for their deliuerances 26. Especially their redemption by Christ Iesus 263. 264 c. The worldling hath no true Ioy 374. The ioy which God hath reserued for vs in heauen we must not expect to haue on earth 374. Ioy oftentimes faileth the most faithfull 357. The godly haue only true ioy 365 Iudgements Vpon the wicked to be remembred and taken heed of 88. 89. The remembrance of them hastens repentance 92 Iustification How to proue our Iustification 254 K. KIng The godly haue free accesse to the King of heauen 322 Knowledge Speculation a naked knowledge without experience and practise 289 L. LAughter See Gospel and Ioy. Law The office of the law of God 286 302. Sathan terrifieth with it 288. An answer fit to be giuen Sathan when he terrifieth with the Law 291 Life Our life lies open to Sathans snares 99. Three profitable helpes for a godly life 381. An exhortation to a godly life 401. Wee must prepare our selues for the life to come 377 387. Life and Death two twins 397 Lot The lot of the righteous what it signifieth 182 Loue. The vice of selfe-loue hard to be cured 404 M. MAn There is no cause why we should feare man 59. Because men cannot hurt vs vnlesse God permit it 399 Meanes See Saluation Mercy God compasseth his with his mercies 165. What mercies the godly doe chiefely esteeme 170. Gods mercies is with his Children in the house of death 160 Morning See Heart and Prayer Mortall Man is vaine and Mortall 79 Mourning The causes of mourning without vs 370. and within vs 371. Hardnesse of heart hinders it in this age 369. Reasons moouing vs to Mourning 358. The godly subiect to it in this life 360. If we mourne not now we shall not reioyce hereafter 366. The scoffers of Mourning reproued 366. 367 Mutations See Confidence N. NAme Our onely Sanctuary is in the name of the Lord in all our afflictions 115. Comfort against such as seeke to take away our good name 342 Nets See Snares O. OBiection See Question Occasion Wee must be carefull to auoid all occasions of doing euill 249 Office What the intent and office of Gods Law is 287 P. PEnitent A true penitent man walkes cleane contrary to his former course 237 People See Beleeuers Permission Without the permission of God neither the deuill 398. nor men can hurt vs. 399 Perils See Danger and Snare Persecutors We should not be dismaied though we see the Persecutors come to the end of their enterprises 390 Perseuerance Arguments to prooue Christian perseuerance 126. Confutation of the Papists in this point 128. We are constantly to perseuer in a religious course 202 252 Pope See Traditions Powder See Treason Prayer The Spirit of Grace and Praye must be ioyned together in the faithfull 306. The excellency and necessitie of Prayer 407. c. We must not bee weary or faint-hearted in Prayer though God deferre to make