the world can actually have any saving share or interest at all in the Redemption or Recovery which Christ hath fully obtained for his people untill he actually accept Christ as his only all-sufficient Saviour and particularly apply to his own Soul that Redemption and Recovery from sin and misery which Christ hath procured and obtained 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Ioh. 1. 11 12. and 3. 16. 18 36. and 8. 24. And this must needs be so For 1. Christs obtaining of Recovery and Redemption for lapsed Sinners renders them only Salvable and that possibly they may be saved which door of Hope is not opened at all to the lapsed Angels but Sinners particularly accepting of Christ and applying of his merit unto themselves personally renders them actually saved and that they are indeed in the state of Salvation already Compare diligently these and like Scriptures Ioh. 3. 16 17. Tit. 2 14. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Gal. 4. 4. 5. Rom. 8. 3. which point out a possibility of Salvation by Christ and his Death with Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 9. And such like as denote their actual Salvation by Christ who have accepted him and applied him to themselves particularly 2. Non-accepting and non-applying of Christ is so great a sin that it is threatned with damnation Ioh. 16. 8 9. with Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Therefore though Christ be never so able and all-sufficient to restore and save Sinners yet none can have benefit by his Salvation without Application of him and his merits 3. The Promise of effectual and eternal Salvation by Christ is still directed to the actual acceptance and application of Christ. As Spiritual Rest of Soul is promised but to them that come to Christ Mat. 11. 28 29. Eternal life is promised but to such as believe in him Ioh. 3. 16. but to such as eat this bread of life viz. his flesh given for the life of the world Ioh. 6. 51. 57. 58. Remission of sins is promised but to them that believe in him Act 10. 43. Now how shall man he saved according to Gods promises that perform not the Condition of the Promises 4. Who ever was Restored and saved by Christ till he accepted and applied Christ not the Apostles Ioh. 16. 30. Mat. 16. 16. Not the Sinful woman Luk. 7. 50. not the convert thief Luk. 23. 43. not the Jaylor Act. 16. 31. to 35. Who ever was healed by a Plaister spread and prepared only but never applied to the wound and Sore Who ever was comforted with the richest cordial though never so accurately prepared if it were never eaten or drunk And who ever was actually saved by Christ if not particularly accepted and applied They that accept not that apply not Christ to themselves are without Christ And they that are without Christ are without Hope so remaining and go without Salvation Eph. 2. 12. 5. All Communion with Christ in his saving benefits â—lows from Union to Christ in accepting of him Ioh. 1. 12 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Rom. 8 10. Col. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 16. As the Ciour hath Communion with the Stock in its life growth fruitfulness by being united unto the stock by Ingrafting or as the Wife hath Communion with the husband in his Name state c. by being united to him in marriage or as the members of the Natural body have Communion with the head and heart in their life sense motion c. by being united thereunto by joints and hands 6. Till the Sinner accepts and applies Christ he is not throughly Convinced of the Sinfulness and wretchedness of his Natural state and of the great need he hath of Christ to deliver him out of it For Conviction is the first step to application of Christ Ioh. 16. 8 9. And where there 's not the first step of Conviction There 's no present state of Salvation 7. Till the Sinner accepts Christ and applies him he neglects and despiseth him And he that despiseth Christ how can he obtain Salvation yea how can he escape damnation See Mat. 22. 1. to 3. Luk. 14. 16. to 25. Heb. 2. 3. Direct XIIII OBserve diligently O Natural man that the Proper and Peculiar way whereby Iesus Christ is to be accepted and applied to a man 's own Soul for Recovery out of his sinful and wretched state of Nature is by true saving Faith in Iesus Christ alone Act. 10. 43. Ioh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. Act. 13. 38 39. and 16. 30 31. Eph. 2. 8. Rom. 3. 22. to 27. I. That by true saving Faith alone peculiarly Iesus Christ is accepted and applied for Recovery out of Sin and misery is evident several wayes For 1. The Nature of true saving Faith in Christ principally consists in the Accepting and applying Christ for Salvation as he is offered in the Gospel Thus I have elsewhere described it Iustifying Faith is a saving Grace wrought in the hearts of the Elect at their Regeneration by Gods Spirit and word whereby they not only know Assent to and apply to themselves the Promises Gospel and Doctrine of Iesus Christ for gods glory in their justification and Salvation but also whereby they afterwards walk as becomes justified persons There see the Confirmation and Explanation of this Description of Faith So that the Nature of saving faith in Christ stands much in Applying Christ in the Gospel and promises who is the Kernel and Soul of them 2. The Receiving and Applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation is one of the chief Acts of Faith which thus I illustrate The Acts of true Faith in Christ are 1 Direct 2. Reflexive 1 Direct and these of 2 Sorts 1. Primary As 1. Knowing Isai. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. 2. Assenting to the truth of Gods record 1 Ioh. 5. 9. Ioh. 3. 33. 3. Applying of the Promises and of Christ Ioh. 1. 12. As Paul did Gal. 2. 20. as Thomas did Ioh. 20. 8. 2. Secondary As 1. Retaining Christ Received in the heart Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 6 7. 2. Purifying the heart Act. 15. 9. 3. Refreshing the Soul with peace and joy Rom. 5. 1 2. and 15. 13. 4. Breaking forth into good works 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 11. 5. Working by Love Gal. 5. 6. 6. Enlivening the Soul Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. 2. Conquering all our Spiritual Enemies 1 Ioh. 3. 2 3. and 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Iam. 4. 7. Eph. 6. 16. 2 Reflexive When Faith refle ing upon its own acts sees it self believing 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 12. By this it appears that the applying act of Faith is a very principal act among all the rest â— or All the Acts before the Applying ast tend to make way for it as Preparatory to it And all the Acts after it result from the Applying Act especially as genuine fruits and effects of it Thus the Applying act of Faith is among the rest as the Sun among the Planets most illustrious 3. Faith is so peculiarly eminent among all
in Iesus Christ and favour with God when you die and As ever you hope to be set at Christs Right hand among his Sheep and to be Sentenced by Christ with them to his Everlasting Kingdom at that great and glorious day of his Appearing That you use all possible Care diligence and endeavours by the Grace and assistance of the Holy Spirit of God against all these fore-mentioned impediments unto Salvation and all such like that they may be removed out of your way to happiness and not be any hindrances at all to your Eternal Glory and Salvation And that this may be the more effectually enterprized and performed by you Let these Ensuing Instructions sink deep into your hearts and be most studiously seriously and sincerely pursued and practiced in your Lives viz. 1. Be deeply and thoroughly Convinced of the extream Sinfulness and wretchedness of your Natural State and Condition in the first Adam How you were shapen in iniquity and conceived in Sin Yea dead in Sins and trespasses and by Nature Children of Wrath even as others And How from this Original and Vniversal Corruption of your Natures your whole course of life is answerably corrupted also Every imagination of the thoughts of your hearts and consequently every word of your mouths and every Action throughout your lives being Evil onely evil continually evil so long as you continue in your Natural state and condition So then while you remain in the flesh you cannot please God nor can have anâ— actual Hope of Salvation upon any solid ground 2. Hence you may evidently See and must needs conclude That there is so great a necessity of a Supernatural Remedy against this your Natural State of Sin and Misery and against all the Sinfulness of your Natural Conversation by the Application of Jesus Christ unto your Souls and the Effectual operation of his Spirit to that End upon your hearts That without such applying of Christ by Faith unto you and the operation of his Spirit in and upon you by Effectual Calling Conversion Regeneration Renovation and Sanctification you can never Enter into the kingdom of God and be Eternally Saved 3. Therefore See that ye come unto Jesus Christ by Faith without delay and Receive him as your onely All-sufficient Saviour that is able to save you to the uttermost Accepting him upon his own terms of denying your selves taking up your Cross daily and following him So Iesus Christ will be unto you Wisdom to guide you in the way to Heaven Righteousness to wash away all your Sins by his bloud and justifie you freely by his spotless Righteousness imputed unto you Sanctification to furnish you sufficiently with all treasures of Grace out of his fullness of Grace and Redemption to deliver you from all your bondage under Sin Satan the curse of the Law the Wrath to come and all your Spiritual Enemies O thrice happy Everlastingly happy shall you be if once Iesus Christ become yours and you his Then you shall be espoused to the best Husband in the world The God and Father of Iesus Christ will be your God and Father The Spirit of Christ will be your Comâ—orter the Kingdom of Heaven shall be your Everlasting Joynture yea All things The World and Life and Death and things present and things to come All shall be yours Then All things shall work-together for good unto you Sickness as well as health Adversity as well as prosperity Death it self as well as life Then nothing in the world shall ever be able to separate you from the Love of Christ or from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Then no Condemnation shall ever befall you in this or in the world to come O happy Souls that ever you were born if you be born again and Christ be formed in you Christ is the Desire of all Nations Let him be the Desire of your Souls Christ is the chief among ten thousand Lâ—t him be the Chief of your choice Christs mouth is Sweetnesses yea all of him is Desires O let your hearts be even ravished with him at all times Say with that faithful Minister and Martyr of Iesus Christ Mr. John Lambert as he was now dying in the flames None but Christ none but Christ In a word I say to every one of you as sometimes Bernard said unto one sweetly Let IESVS be alwaies in thine heart Let Him be unto thee thy meat and drink thy sweetness and Consolation thy Hony and thy Desire thy Reading and thy Meditation thy Prayer and thy Contemplation thy Life and Death and thy Resurrection For Christ is All in All 4. Now Forasmuch as true saving Faith in Iesus Christ is not of our selves but the free gift of God and ordinarily God is pleased to work it in the hearts of his Elect Instrumentally by the Hearing of his Word faithfully preached Efficaciously by the Co-operation of his holy Spirit by which Means also it is nourished and increased Therefore be ye all of you Diligent and Constant Hearers of the Word of Christ faithfully preached Applying things spoken particularly to your selves treasuring them up in good and honest hearts and bringing forth the suitable fruit thereof by an Vpright practice in your lives and take singular heed that you never gâ—ieve quench or resist the operations stirrings or motions of the Spirit of God in the use of his Word and Ordinances or at any other times For Iesus Christ by his Word and Spirit especially stands at the door of your hearts and knocks and if any will open unto him he will come in unto him and Sup with him and he with Christ 5. For the increasing also of your Inward Peace Spiritual Ioy and Comfort Give all diâ—igence to make your Calling and Election sure Examining your selves frequently and seriously whether Jesus Christ be in you yea or no But how shalâ— this be done By comparing your Hearts Lives and Experiences with the written Word of God through the assistance and guidance of Gods Holy Spirit For to this End the Word of God was written to us and the Spirit of God is given to us that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God and that we may know that we have eternal life And for your more ready help in this weighty business you may make use of many Characters marks or Notes of Tryal which I have at large laid down in sundry of my Printed Books which you have by you Take heed you be not strangers to your own hearts and Spiritual States 6. As you have received Jesus Christ the Lord so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the Faith Be not Christians only in Name and outward Shew but inwardly sincerely and in good earnest So live and walk as Christ
sinner For humiliation usually precedes and procures reformation As in Manasses 2 Chron. 33. 12. to 17. In the Prodigal Luk. 15. 17. to 22. In the penitent woman Luk. 7. 37 38 c. In Saul Act. 9. 6 c. In Peter's Hearers Act. 2. 37 c. And in most Bruising prepares for healing wounding for binding up Luk 4. 18. Burdening makes way for easing Mat. 11. 28. Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. â— 10. 2. Yea an un-convinced sinner â—or humiliation as it makes way for reformation so it presupposeth a previous conviction So then conviction works humiliation humiliation inclines to reformation O do not thou still continue an un-cured sinner yea an un-convinced sinner by remaining an un-humbled sinner 3. Thine humiliation before the LORD for thy sinful and wretched condition will prove A grateful sacrifice to God A gainful exercise to thee 1. A grateful sacrifice to God The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal. 51. 17. See 2 Chron. 33. 12 13. and 15. 6 7. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. Bruised and broken hearts are fit cures for Christ Luk 4. 18. Isa. 61. 1 2. Yea when sinners lament and grieve for their sins Heaven is filled with joy Luk. 15. 7 10. Fletus peccatorum triumphus Angelorum Sinners tears are the very triumph of Angels 2. A gainful exercise to thee Humiliation for thy sinful state 1. Will help thee to a deeper sense of thy sinfulness and wretchedness As blots run abroad and appear far larger in wet paper 2. Will somewhat comfort thee in that thou beginnest to mourn for that wherein thou didst formerly rejoyce and to hate what thou didst formerly love c. 3. Will notably prepare thee to true repentance and recovery 2 Cor. 7. 10. II. But when thou humblest thy self before God for thy sinful and wretched Natural state humble thy self rightly viz. 1. Humble thy self secretly seriously and sincerely without hypocrisie Not as once Ahab of old did 1 King 21. 27 29. Nor as usually the hypocritical Pharisees were wont to do and after them the Papists in their fastings Mat. 6. 16. Only formally But as penitent Manasseh did 2. Chron. 33. 11 12. As the praying Publican did Luk 18. As the repenting Prodigal did Luk. 15. As the relenting Woman did Luk. 7. Cordially and really 2. Humble thy self unto deepest self-loathing and self abhorrency Consider the infinite holiness of God Isa. 6. 3. Hab. 1. 13. The wonderful purity and perfection of his Word Psal. 119. 140 96. And thine own extream sinfulness utterly repugnant unto both Rom. 5. 12. Psal. 51. 5. Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 3. 9. to 19. Eph. 2. 1 2 3. And then loath thy self and even abhor thy self as in dust and ashes Ezek. 36. 31. Iob 42. 6. accounting thy self with humbled Paul chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. 3. Humble thy self so for thy sins as to labour and be heavy laden with them and quite weary of them Mat. 11. 28. Be so pricked and wounded in heart for them as to cry out to Gods messengers Men and brethren what shall I do Act. 2. 36 37. Sirs what must I do to be saved Act. 16. 30. True humiliation for sin will make thee earnestly long and desire to be rid of sin 4. Humble thy self reformingly So as to repent and turn from thine iniquities unto God As did Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 12 c. As did Saul Act. 9. 6 11 20. That 's right humiliation that works reformation That 's true godly-sorrow indeed that works repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 5. Humble thyself Continually till thy God exalt thee and lift thee up with Comfort and restore thee from thy Sinful and wretched state of Nature into an holy and happy state of Grace The Sinful woman never ceased hmbling herself at Christs feet and washing his feet with tears till Christ comforted her and told her that her Sins which were many were forgiven her Luk. 7. 47 48. The Prodigal ceased not confessing his sin and humbling himself for it to his Father as no more worthy to be called his Son till the father called for the best robe to be put upon him and expressed many other most affectionate acts of a most tender paternal love unto him Luk. 15. 21. to 25. VIII Direction HOwever thou art by Nature O Natural man in a most Sinful and wretched state and hast remained therein from thy very Birth unto this day for which thou hast cause to be abased to the very dust yet know thou for thy Comfort thy Case is not Desperate there is Hope in Israel concerning this God hath in this valley of Achor in this valley of trouble opened a door of Hope for thee and of his meeâ— love and mercy hath Revealed in his Covenant of Faith in Christ a way how thou mayst be recovered out of this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature into an Holy and Happy state of Grace and how all Gods Elect though lapsed in the first Adam may be restored in a second Adam Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Gal. 3. 21 22. Rom. 3. 20 21 22. 26 27. I shall Illustrate this further to thy singular encouragement and comfort O Natural man in certain distinct Positions viz. 1. The LORD God of the meer good pleasure of his will according to his eternal Purpose which he purposed in himself elected a certain number out of mankind unto himself to the Adoption of children that they should be holy and without blame before him in love to the praise of the Glory of his Grace Ephes. 1. 4 5 6. 2 Though the only wise and righteous God who can bring good out of cvil Else he could not suffer it to be permitted Adam the common Root of Mankind and in him as in his loins all mankind and among them all his elect to fall into Sin and misery for the greater manifestation of the surpassing glory of his Freedom Mercy and Justice towards mankind yet hath he not cast away his people whom he foreknew nor left his Elect to perish in that lapsed state but hath most graciously and wisely contrived a way how all his Elect shall be recovered out of this state of Sin and misery into a state of Holiness and Happiness for evermore Compare Mat. 10. 29. 30. Act. 2. 23. and 4. 27. with Gen. 3. 1. c. Rom. 5 12 13 14. Rom. 11. 2. Ephes. 1. 4. to 12. Col. 1. 19 20. 3. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us was pleased to contrive lapsed man's Recovery out of the exceeding riches of his meer Grace and mercy Eph. 1. 3. to 12. and 2. 4 to 10. Nothing at all foreseen in lapsed man could move or encline God at all to Contrive his Restitution Eph. 2. 8 9. Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. 4.
fruit oâ— the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. 6. Forget not the exemplary instances of Believers who though great offendors yet have received and apply'd Christ by Faith and have been graciously accepted and entertained by him and all this for the encouragement of thee and of all that afterwards should believe As The Jaylor Act. 16. 30 c. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. to 17. Act. 26. 9. 10 11. The penitent Woman Luk. 7. 37. to the end The Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 42 43. The 3000 Hearers of Peter Act. 2. 36 37. c. 7. Ask seek knock importunately at the Throne of Grace for this soul-saving Grace The Spirit is promised to them that ask Luk. 11. 13. Fly unto Christ the Author and finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. And cry Lord increase my Faith Luk. 17. 5. Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief Mar. 9. 24. XVI Direction QUestion and examine the self often impartially touching the truth of thy Faith in Christ for thy Recovery and Salvation 2 Cor. 13. 5. For There is a counterfeit and fained Faith Luk. 8. 13. Act. 8. 13. Iam. 2. 14 17 20 26. And there is a Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 5. 'T is the Faith unfained that accepts and applies Christ Ioh. 1. 12 13. Act. 8. 37. and will afford thee solid comfort Now Faith in Christ unfained may be discovered by these and the like Characters which if thou canst really find in thy self doubtless thou art a true Believer True saving Faith in Jesus Christ is 1. A Christ-applying Faith If Faith be sincere and salviâ—ical it never rests till it bring the soul to Christ till it possess the soul of Christ. It is the soul's eye that beholds Christ lifted up Ioâ— 3. 15. It 's the soul's feet whereby it comes to Christ Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 6. 35 37. It 's the soul's hand whereby it receives Christ and arms wherewith it embraceth Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Heâ— 11. 13. It 's the soul's mouth wherewith it eats Christs flesh that bread of life and drinks Christs blood that water of life Ioh. 6. 47 53 54 55. By all which acts of Faith the soul comes to have Christ to possess and enjoy him and life in him 1 Joh. 5. 12. True Faith in Christ contents not it self only to know Christ or only to assent to the truth of Gods Record touching Christ that life is in him but it further proceeds to receive and apply Christ to the soul to appropriate him and enjoy him actually to the particular Believer 2. A Christ-retaining Faith True saving Faith in Christ not only entertains Christ but also retains him in the best room of the soul the heart That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 17. The Believer's heart is Christ's home And Faith gives Christ the acceptable entertainment 1. As it cleanseth the heart of every thing that might be offensive to him Act. 15. 9. 2. As it ascribes all salvation and sufficiency for it only unto Christ counting all self-excellencies loss and dung Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. So then if Christ be dwelling in thine heart Faith is there also 3. A Christ esteeming Faith Faith most highly esteems Christ accounts him most precious Unto them which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. So precious That he sells all that he hath for him Mat. 13. 44 45 46. That he denies all that he hath yea all that he is for him Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. Luk. 9. 23. and 19. 43. That he disesteems and as it were hates all dearest Relations in comparison of Christ Mat. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26 c. Yea so precious That it sets more store by Christ at his lowest then by all worldly treasures at their highest Heb. 11. 26 27. If Christ be truly precious to thy soul Faith is planted in thine heart 4. An heart purifying Grace According to that Purifying their hearts by Faith Act. 15. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 3. Faith makes the inside clean hypocrisie only the outside Mat. 23. 25 26. Faith purifies the heart 1. Formaliter formally as it is an holy inherent principle of Grace and Purity resisting sin and temptation Gal. 5. 17. 1 Ioh. 3. 3. Eph. 6 16. To this effect it 's stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most holy faith Jude verse 20. 2. Instrumentaliter Instrumentally it purisieth the heart by applying thereunto Christs imputed purity Phil. 3. 9. Christ's blood which purgeth the conscience from the guilt and power of dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. with Rom. 3. 25. By applying Christ's imputed purity and righteousness 5. A soul-purifying and heart-comforting Grace It affords peace with God which produceth two excellent effects 1. Ioy in hope of the glory of God 2. Glorying even in tribulation Rom. 5. 1 2 3. joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Now the peace of God passeth all understanding and keeps as in a Garrison the heart and mind in Christ Jesus viz. safe and secure Phil. 4. 7. 6. Most dutiful and obediential towards God and this against all interposing difficulties against Reason against Natural Affection c. As in Noah Heb 11. 7. In Abraham when he obey'd God to forsake his kindred and follow God he knew not whither Heb. 11. 8. And when he in a sort offered up Isaac for a Burnt-offering Heb. 11. 17. 7. Most abundant and fruitful in all good works Jam. 2. 14. to the end And this God expects Tit. 3. 8. Faith is a most working Grace it is the root of all good works of piety righteousness and sobriety 1 Tim. 1. 5. Hence that phrase The work of Faith 1 Thes. 1. 3. A workless Faith is as Iames intimates to us a worthless Faith Iam. 2. 17 26. 8. A Grace that acts and works by love Gal. 5. 6. How by love More generally Not by love as fire works by heat the formal property of fire as if love were the form of Faith as Papists say contrary to that in 1 Tim 1. 5. But by love as an external instrument external or outward as to the proper nature of Faith joyned or annexed unto Faith for the exerting of its acts as the soul works by the brain eye ear hand c. More particularly Faith works by love 1. As it tends to principle and store the heart with the love of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 7 8. Faith is as the Captain-Grace that leads on all the rest 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 2 As it actuates and incites love with a more ardent flame towards God Christ and all goodness Faith spreads open before the soul Gods love and Christs loveliness how transcendent how infinite So that the soul cannot choose but love them again Ioh. 3. 16 17. Rom. 5. 5 6 7 c. Ioh. 15. 13. 1 Ioh. 3. 16 19. 3. As it exerciseth it self in all duties and acts of obedience to God Christ c. not in a way of servile
the Houshold of Faith Restrain not Prayer but pray continually with groans that cannot be uttered by the assistance of the Spirit Have no fellowship at all with Sin and Satan nor any needless fellowship with any workers of iniquity Eph. 5. 11. Psal. 1. 1. and 26. 4 5. Psal. 119. 115. Walk not disconsolately and dejectedly but in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost Acts 9. 31. Be abundantly contented in all conditions allotted thee by God Fully expect good by the worst of afflictions that may befall thee and be ever carefull to keep thy Hopes and Evidences for Heaven firm and clear that when thou comest to die thou maist lift up thine head and triumph that thy Redemption and celestial Coronation with Christ draweth nigh XXI Direction WRastle also most vlgorously O thou that wast Natural but art spiritualized wast dead but art alive again against all thy sins spiritual enemies and their temptations Heb. 12. 4. Col. 3. 5. to 12. Eph. 6. 11. to 19. for all time to come that they may none of them in the least measure eclipse any of these thy spiritual Priviledges or embitter any other thy sweet enjoyments Holy David by his lapses brought many deep wounds and scarrs upon his Conscience Psal. 51. 3 8. some of which he probably carried to his Grave Loving and confident Peter by his triple denial of his Lord and Master Christ purchased to himself a torrent of bitter tears Mat. 26. 75. The Ephesian Angel by leaving his first love and first works was so offensive thereby to Christ that he threatned the removal of his Candlestick Revel 2. 4 5. The Church her self by her carnal sluggishness and security lost her sweet Communion with Christ for a season and was involved in deep spiritual distress Cant. 5. 2. to 9. Be thou warned by their examples which are written for thine admonition lest through thy spiritual oscitancy and sluggishness thou bring upon thy self like spiritual calamities and so far wound thy Conscience as to go bleeding to thy Grave XXII Direction EXpress upon all good occasions all possible tenderness of heart and bowels of compassion towards those that yet remain in the first Adam in their sinful state of Nature unregeâ—erate especially towards thy kindred according to the flesh using all good endeavours to convince convert and gain them to Christ that they as well as thy self may be eternally saved Luke 22. 32. Rom. 10. 1. and 9. 1 2 3. Acts 9. 20 with 1 Cor. 9. 19. to 23. For 1. Even thou thy self wast sometimes foolish disobedient serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating others Tit. 3. 3. An enemy to God by wicked works Col. 1. 21. Yea dead in sins and trespasses c. and a child of wrath as well as they or any of them Eph. 2. 1 2 3. But God who is rich in mercy hath saved thee by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Hast thou then experimentally felt the Wormwood and the Gall of thy Natural state of sin and misery And dost thou not commiserate such poor souls as are still in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Acts 8. 23. Hast thou had the sweet experience of the riches of Gods free-Grace and Love in restoring thee from death to life from thy Natural state of sin and misery into a supernatural state of sanctity and felicity And do not thy bowels yearn within thee after other lost souls especially those of thy kindred that they also may be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26. 18. 2. Are not their souls as well as thine own very precious O Consider 1. Their immortal Constitution which no Creature can kill or destroy Matth. 10. 28. 2. The invaluable price paid for their Restitution even the most precious blood and death of Jesus Christ the only Son of God 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 3. The incomparable and transcendent value which the wisdome of God himself puts upon the soul as being of far more worth then the whole world Matth. 16. 26. And then think with thy self Shall not I endeavour to hinder the eternal loss and to promote the eternal salvation of such precious souls 3. What advantage will redound in sundry respects if God bless thine endeavours to the convincing and converting of their souls to Christ For Hereby 1. Thou shalt save a soul from death Jam. 5. 19 20. And what a great what a glorious work is it to have an hand in saving a soul from deathâ— 2. Thou shalt hide a multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Even an heap a sink a dunghil of hundreds and thousands of sins thou shalt hide from the revenging eye of God by Christs righteousness 2 Cor. 5. 20 21. 3. Thou shalt occasion great joy in Heaven among the blessed Angels of God who exceedingly rejoyce at the Conversion of sinners Luke 15. 7 10 22 23. 4. Finally Thou shalt hereby not a little further thine own eternal felicity Deut. 12. 3. Thou therefore commiserate thy Brethren in their sinful and wretched state of Nature as thy God hath in thy like condition had compassion on thee Canst thou lend an hand to pluck a Beast out of the mire or a Sheep out of a pit and wilt thou not lend an hand to help poor lost souls out of the mire of sin snares of Satan and pit of eternal destruction O warn them convince them counsel them exhort them rebuke them lament them pray for them weep over them do any good for them that thou maist by any means gain and save their souls XXIII Direction YIeld with all enlarged thankfulness all possible Praise Love and Obedience unto God and unto the Lamb who hath loved thee of the riches of his free-Grace before the world began who in fulness of time hath ransomed thee by the invaluable price of his death and in due time hath washed thâ—e from thy sins in his own blood aâ—d in the Laver of Regeneration by the renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6. 1 Iohn 4. 19. Gal. 4. 4 5. 1 Tim. 1. 15. and 2. 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20 Rev. 1. 5. Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. For 1. Thou oughtest to be thankful for all Gods blessings of all sorts the least of them being beyond yea contrary to thy deserts Eph. 5. 20. Col. 3. 17. 1 Thes. 5. 18. with Gen. 32. 10. but especially for those choicest spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1. 3. Psal. 103 1 2 3. 2. The reality and sincerity of thy thankfulness will inwardly best approve it self in thy cordial affection and unâ—eigned love towards thy gracious God and Jesus Christ for all his love and all the fruits of his love in Christ. Kindness begets thankfulness and love breeds love as fire begets fire 1 Iob. 4. 19. Thus when