the Word of God to a love and liking of the heavenly knowledge therein contained and to a sound and sincere practice of it in our lives and conversations may be this The Word of God is as it were an Epistle or Letter as one of the Fathers calls it written from God Almightie unto us miserable men published by his owne Sonne sealed by his Spirit witnessed by his Angels conveyed unto us by his Church the Pillar and ground of Truth confirmed with the bloud of millions of Martyrs which hath alreadie brought thousands of soules to Heaven and fills every heart that understands it and is wholly guided by it with Light and Life with Grace and Salvation Now let us imagine a man to have a Letter sent unto him but by an Earthly King or some great Prince in the World wherein hee should have a Pardon granted him for some capitall Crime and high Offence whereby hee were lyable to a terrible kind of death or wherein hee should be fore-warned of some great and imminent danger hanging over his head and readie every houre to fall upon him or wherein hee should have assured and confirmed unto him under the Kings Seale some rich Donation or great Lordship Now I say if a man should receive but a Letter from some high and mightie Potentate upon Earth wherein any of these favours should be conveyed unto him how reverently would he receive it how thankfully would he accept of it how often would he reade it how warily would he keepe it how highly would he esteeme of it Why in this royall and sacred Letter sent from the King and great Commander both of Heaven and Earth all these favours and a thousand more joyes and comforts are conveyed unto every beleever and practiser thereof In that we are fore-warned lest by our ignorance impietie and impenitencie wee fall into the Pit of Hell and everlasting horror In that we have promised and performed unto us the pardon and remission of all our sinnes whereby wee justly stand guiltie of the second death and the endlesse torments of the damned By the vertue of it we are not onely comforted with grace in this World but shall undoubtedly be crowned with peace glory and immortalitie in the World to come Such a Letter as this hath the mightie and terrible God most glorious in all Power and Majestie who is even a consuming and devouring fire sent unto us miserable men by nature wretched and forlorne creatures Dust and Ashes why then with what reverence chearefulnesse and zeale ought wee to receive reade heare marke learne understand and obey it A second Motive may be the precious golden and divine matter which is contained in the Booke of God and that true and ever-during happinesse to which it onely can bring us There is nothing proposed and handled in the Word of God but things of greatest weight and highest excellency As the infinite majesty power and mercy of God the unspeakable love and strange sufferings of the Sonne of God for our sakes the mighty and miraculous working of the holy Spirit upon the soules of men There is nothing in this Treasury but Orient Pearles and rich Iewels as promises of grace spirituall comfort confusion of sinne the triumph of godlines refreshing of wearied soules the beautie of Angels the holinesse of Saints the state of Heaven salvation of sinners everlasting life What Swine are they that neglecting these precious Pearles root only in the Earth wallow in worldly pleasures feede upon vanities transitorie trash and vanishing riches which in their greatest need will take them to their wings like an Eagle and flie into the Heavens Besides the Word of God is only able to prepare us for true happinesse in this world and to possesse us of it in the world to come It only begets in us a true intire and universall holinesse without which none shall ever see the face of God or the glory of Heaven for it is impossible hereafter to live the life of glory blessednes in Heaven if we live not here the life of grace and sincerity in all our waies It is called the immortall Seed because it regenerates and renewes us both in our Spirits Soules and Bodies in our Spirits that is in judgement memory conscience in our Soules that is in our will and affections in our Bodies that is in every member If the Prince of this world hath not blinded the eyes of our minds and that we be not reprobats as concerning salvation it only is able to inlighten our understandings to rectifie our wills to sanctifie our hearts to mortifie our affections to set Davids Doore before our lips that are offend not with our tongues to set Iobs Doore before our eyes that they behold not vanity to manacle our hands feet with the cords and bands of Gods Law that they do not walke or worke wickedly nay and it is able to furnish and supply us with sufficiencie of spirituall strength to continue in all these good things and in a godly course vnto the end And if we be once thus qualified we are rightly fitted and prepared for the glory that is to be revealed As before this holy Word did translate us from the darknesse of sinne into the light of grace it can now much more easily with joy and triumph bring us from the light of grace to the light of immortalitie and everlasting pleasures at Gods right hand A third Motive may be this Wee must be judged by the Word of God at the last Day If any man saith Christ Ioh. 12. 47 48. heare my words and beleeve not I judge him not for I came not to judge the World but to save the World He that refuseth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken it shall judge him in the last Day Whensoever wee shall come to judgement and appeare before Gods Tribunall and wee little know how neere it is two Bookes shall be layd open unto us the one of Gods Law another of our owne Conscience The former will tell us what wee should have done for the Lord hath revealed it to the World to be the rule of our faith and of all our actions The other will tell us what wee have done for Conscience is a Register Light and Power in our Vnderstanding which treasures up all our particular actions against the Day of Triall discovers unto us the equitie or iniquitie of them and determines of them either with us or against us Now we must not take any exception against the first that is the Law of God For the Law of God saith David Psal 19. 7. is perfect converting the soule The testimonie of the Lord is sure and giveth wisedome unto the simple Wee cannot against the second that is the Booke of our Conscience for it was ever in our custodie and keeping no man could corrupt it there
Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Not to be hurt of the second Death To eate of the Manna which is hid and to have the white Stone of Victorie given him To have power given him to rule over Nations and to be lightened with heavenly brightnesse like the Morning Starre To be clothed with white array that is with heavenly Glory and to have his Name continued in the Booke of Life To have a Pillar made in the Temple of God that is a firme and unmoveable place of eternall Glory To sup with Christ and to sit with him upon his Throne for evermore Thus shall hee bee honoured and crowned with the excellencie fulnesse and varietie of all glory joy and happinesse who enters with sinceritie and couragiously ends his Race of Holinesse and conquers in his spirituall Fight But all fearefull men as it is Rev. 21. 8. who slinke backe for feare of Men or love of the World or to serve the Times all faint-hearted men in the Lords Battailes and that fall away from good beginnings they shall be punished with unbeleevers with the abominable with Murtherers and Whore-mongers with Idolaters and Lyars in the Lake which burnes with fire and Brimstone which is the second Death 7 But if by the grace and mercie of God we quit our selves like men and hold on comfortably and constantly in a setled course of godlinesse yet for all this Sathan hath not done though he can doe us no deadly hurt yet he will still doe his worst for his craft and spight is endlesse If he see there is no hope of bringing us backe againe into his bondage or making us any more vassals and slaves to sinne yet he will labour to lay stumbling-blockes in our way to bring us upon our knees now and then to turne us out of the right path sometimes even to over-turne us with some greater and more dangerous fall hee will lay his traines to intrap and intangle us if it be possible in some old sweet sinne Which that hee may bring about hee will use the benefit and advantage of custome because before our calling wee have much practised it of the frailtie of our owne corruptions because they have most delighted in it of our old companie because wee have formerly oftenest committed it with them He will leave no opportunitie advantage or circumstance omitted and unassayed to hale us back into one or other speciall sinne of our unregeneration If this will not stop hee will follow all occasions enticements and temptations the tide of our owne affections the streame of the times if by any meanes hee can cast us into some grosse and scandalous sinne These are Sathans plots and practises against those who hold on in a constant course of holinesse if they will not bee brought to tumble themselves againe in the myre of sinne and sinfull pleasures yet he will doe what hee can now and then to spot and staine their Christian lives with some grieuous fall or other that so to his utmost hee may bring upon them Gods disfavour and angry countenance disgrace and disconceit amongst their brethren discomforts and feares of heart within themselves But if a man first by keeping fresh in his minde the uncertainties and vanities of this vaine World secondly by carefull and continuall watching over his deceitfull heart thirdly by exercising and practising with diligence and delight all holy meanes of preserving grace and starving sinne as reading hearing conference meditation of the Word of God Prayer publike and private with himselfe and with his family fourthly by declining prophane unprofitable and unchristian companie and acquaintance and frequenting with joy and fruit the fellowship of the Saints fifthly by an humble entertainment nourishment and practice of the good motions of the Spirit sixtly by a dayly examination of the state of his Conscience and reparation of the decayes of Grace seventhly by his godly jealousie over little sinnes and present renewing repentance after every slip I say if by such meanes as these which are notable preservatives against the poyson of sinne a man fence himselfe from grosse and scandalous falls or else if by the politike malice of Sathan and weakenesse of his owne flesh he be overtaken with some fouler sinne and yet notwithstanding besides pangs of griefe and anguish of spirit for grieving his gracious God hee looke better to his feet and run faster in the Race of sanctification after his fall if his falling into sinne teach him these good lessons which in such cases are ordinarily learned of all true Christians for all things even sinne it selfe makes to the best in Gods Children 1 Hee learnes by his fall to distaste his pride and selfe-conceit to let fall his Peacockes traine and despaire of his owne strength 2 To depend only upon God the Word of his Grace and the power and perpetuall influence of his Spirit for his standing upright in the wayes of Righteousnesse and preservation from most fearefull and dangerous downe-falls 3 To cling closer about him to claspe faster hold with the hand of faith upon the glorious Passion and meritorious justice of Christ with much heartinesse and zeale of seeke and sue unto him for his speciall aide and assistance against Satans temptations his owne corruptions and outward occasions of sinne 4 To blush and be ashamed of himselfe for that he having had his soule washed with the precious blood of Christ and having received so great favour mercy and pardon at the hands of God yet hath wretchedly and unthankfully defiled it againe and so wofully and wickedly abused his extraordinary love and kindnesse 5 With more resolute vow protestation and practice to renounce and abandon Satan with more perfect hatred and detestation to loath and abhorre all manner of sinne the Garment spotted of the flesh and all appearance of evill 6 To become watchfull and wise by taking speciall notice of all the motives temptations meanes occasions baites allurements to that sinne into which hee fell for the avoiding and declining of it afterwards 7 To thinke charitably of other men that fall and are suddenly overtaken in any offence not to be too eager hot and censorious against them but out of his owne experience to give them comfort instructions and directions and to labour to restore them with the spirit of meekenesse Now I say if a man be either fore-armed and fenced as I said from falls or else after his fall weepe bitterly repent sincerely watch afterward more carefully walke more zealously and out of his spirituall wisedome make that use and benefit of his fall as I have told you then hee may have comfort that Sathan gets no great advantage this way 8 Like a fierce cruell Dragon sith he cannot devoure the Womans Child so soone as ever it is brought forth that is he cannot repossesse and reigne againe in a true Christian and regenerate man
glory which shall be revealed Rom. 8. 18. But the carnall Gospeller he thinkes it is good sleeping in a whole skin he lookes for a Gospel of ease for a soft and silken service of God for a Church as one speakes all of Velvet And therefore rather than he will suffer any losse or worsing any diminution or disparagement in his outward estate in his reputation wealth and worldly happinesse he will make shipwracke of a good Conscience he will yeeld to the corruptions of the Times and with the greater part rest and repose himselfe peaceably and pleasantly upon his Bed of ease and carnall securitie never considering that the Crosse is the Christians triumph that Christ himselfe was crowned with Thornes and that wee must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Act. 14. 22. A fourth marke may be gathered out of the fourth Verse The prayers and praysings of God in the mouth of Gods Child are frequent free and fervent but with the carnall Gospeller they are very rare cold and formall The Reason is Gods Child is very sensible of his corruptions and wants hee still longs and gaspes for more grace with a spirituall taste he sweetly relisheth Gods great mercie and goodnesse unto him he hath the love of God and the spirit of prayer shed into his heart by the Spirit of Adoption and therefore his heart is as full as the Moone of godly motions and meditations which like a continuall Spring sends out groanes and sighes unutterable many zealous and faithfull prayers and thanksgivings unto his gracious God with a free and feeling affection But the carnall Gospeller because his understanding was never enlightened his heart never truly humbled his affections never sanctified because he hath no sence of his wretched estate nor present feeling of grace nor sound hope and assurance of happinesse in Heaven why therefore he hath no great mind or heart or list to prayer hee hath no great delight or exercise in this holy businesse and if he doe pray which is but seldome and coldly it is but lip-labour and lost labour because it is without faith and feeling for fashion custome or company because he was so taught in his youth or that he superstitiously thinkes the very worke wrought and a number of prayers solemnely said over will sanctifie him A fifth marke may be gathered out of the sixt and seventh Verses The Child of God doth not onely passe through with patience for the profession of Gods truth and sinceritie lesse and inferiour miseries as losse of goods losse of friends and reputation with the World slanders disgraces and wrongs but hee also holds his soule as it were continually in his hand as David here sayes of himselfe readie if need be and the times so require even to shed his bloud vnder the Sword of Persecution or to lay downe his life in the flames rather than to dishonour so mercifull a God to betray his holy Truth or by his backsliding and falling away to hazard that Crowne of Glory which by the eye of faith he hath alreadie in sight But the carnall Gospeller in time of peace and plentie while he lives quietly and at ease without crosse or trouble in faire and Sun-shine dayes may perhaps be a stout and peremptorie Professor but hee ever shrinkes in the wetting he pulls in the head in the fierie triall ever when trouble or persecution commeth because of the word by and by he is offended The sixt marke is gathered out of the two last Verses The Child of God holds his Word farre more deare than any precious Treasure than the richest Inheritance than great Spoyles than thousands of Gold and Silver It is the joy of his heart and therefore it inclines and inflames his affections with love and zeale to doe Gods will and fulfill all his Commandements And no marvell though the true Christian find most sound and unconceivable delight in the Word of God the Doctrine of Heaven For by it he is borne anew and made heire of Heaven by the Light of it he sees his Name written in the Booke of Life never to be raced out by man or Devill all the sweet and gracious promises of salvation and comfort revealed in it are sure his owne So that thence he knowes and is perswaded undoubtedly that after a few and evill dayes spent in this miserable life he shall remaine and reigne eternally in the glory of God of Christ Iesus the blessed Spirit and the holy Angels But it is otherwise with the carnall Gospeller for whatsoever shew or protestation he makes to the contrary yet indeed in his heart affections and practice hee preferres his pleasures riches and profit before hearing of Gods Word sanctifying his Sabbaths and obedience to his Commandements And no marvell for because hee yet never lived the life of faith but is a meere stranger to the mysterie of godlinesse hee hath no true interest nor sound assurance in the joyes of another World and therefore feeds onely and fills himselfe with transitorie and earthly contentments Now I beseech you beloved in Christ Iesus let every one with singlenesse of heart and sinceritie examine his owne Soule and the spirituall state of his Conscience by these signes and marks which I have now delivered to you out of the example and precedencie of the Christian affections and holy disposition of David a sanctified man and a principall patterne of pietie and zeale for all faithfull ones Know you not saith the Apostle that Iesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates So undoubtedly if Iesus Christ be in you if you be of Davids stampe and temper that is alreadie possessed of the state of grace and marked out by the Spirit of sanctification for the glory that shall be revealed you doe find in some good measure these markes and signes of an holy man in your selves 1 That you are enlightened and guided by the Word of God in all your wayes 2 That you have not onely good motions and purposes for a zealous and constant service of God but doe faithfully with sinceritie and integritie of heart performe the same 3 That you suffer joyfully and patiently afflictions and disgrace in the World for the testimonie of Gods Truth and profession of sinceritie 4 That you freely and faithfully with much feeling and fervencie of spirit offer dayly prayers and prayses unto the Lord. 5 That you had rather part with the dearest and most precious things in this life nay life it selfe than leave the service of God and the testimonie of a good Conscience 6 That you have more comfort and delight in hearing reading meditating conferring of and applying unto your owne soules the holy Word of God than in the treasures and glory of the whole Earth Such markes as these you must finde in your selves if you ever meane or hope to finde true contentment in this life or
above all I but where there is so much preaching there is much disquietnesse and discontentment for men are abridged of their former ancient pastimes and pleasures and urged unto more strictnesse of life When as all was well before in much quietnesse and peace the preaching of the Word breeds new stirres and contrary affections in men No marvell though there be much struggling and striving great noyse and stirre before the strong man in the Gospel can be dis-armed and dispossessed of his Holds that is before Sathan having long reigned in the hearts and sat in the Consciences of ignorant and prophane men will be cast out by the Preaching and Power of the Word This conquest costs full deare it will not be had without the losse of our dearest delights without shedding the very hearts-bloud of our beloved and bosome-sinne which flesh and bloud will not yeeld unto without blowes and bloudshed You may assure your selfe where the Light of Gods Truth begins once to peepe out and the power of grace to worke for the driving away darknesse and subduing prophanenesse you shall be sure ever there to have three fierce and implacable enemies and opposites to start up Sathan wicked men and a mans owne corruptions While men lye in sinne ignorance and under the shadow of death Sathan lets them alone meddles not much with them never troubles or disquiets them but procures them all temporall happinesse and carnall contentments that can be for he knowes full well if they so continue they are sure his owne and children of endlesse perdition But if once by the power of the Word they be enlarged out of the slaverie of sinne and death and lay hold upon salvation and the glorious libertie of the Saints why then he begins to bestirre himselfe like a madded enraged Lion and labors with all his malice and policie to hinder and dash such proceedings And in this Conspiracie hee joynes unto himselfe wicked and reprobate men to rayle revile and rage against sinceritie I and besides a mans owne corruption and sinfull flesh doth fret and fume when it feeles it selfe curbed and snaffled by the Law of the Spirit The Gospel indeed is a Gospel of Peace But of what Peace Of Peace with God with good men and a mans owne Conscience of the Peace that passeth all understanding But it ever proclaimes open warre against wickednesse prophanenesse and corruptions it will have no peace with impietie carnall securitie and rebellion unto the Lawes of God Hence it is that our Saviour tells us in the Gospel that he came not to send Peace into the Earth but rather Fire Debate and the Sword that is Wheresoever his Word is published powerfully and conscionably with fruit and effect upon the soules of his elect there by accident as they say it stirres up much rage and bitter opposition against Gods children For as there is no true inward peace unto the wicked so in this World there is no outward peace unto the righteous but commonly they are still exercised with one crosse and temptation or other either the Devill or wicked men are still plotting or practising mischiefe and miserie against them But you must conceive that the disquietnesses and troubles that arise at the preaching of the Word are not caused by it but by mens corruptions Would any man thinke that Saint Paul or his Preaching were in fault because there was much adoe and an hurly-burly almost wheresoever he came and not rather the wicked Infidels which could not endure to have their sinnes reproved Neither the Sower nor the Seed Math. 13. are to be blamed that it doth not prosper and fructifie it is the ground that is onely in fault which is either stonie or thornie or barren or else it is the envious man that soweth Tares The Sower doth onely his dutie and the Seed is pure and precious it is mens corruptions and prophane hearts that causeth all the stirre Amongst foure kinds of Grounds there is but one at the most as appeares in the Parable of the Sower Math. 13. in which the immortall Seed of the Word takes root prospers and fructifies Onely the good and honest heart profits by Preaching to all others it is the savour of death unto death And whom it doth not humble it hardneth whom it makes not so meeke as a Lambe and like a little Child in humilitie it makes as fierce and furious as a Lion against the power of grace wrought in others and against the profession and practice of sinceritie No marvell then though where the Word of Truth begins to beare sway there be many times much adoe and resistance by carnall and prophane men I but will some say this Word is brought unto us by weake and fraile men sometimes by those who are of notorious and infamous life and conversation and therefore wee have lesse heart to beleeve and obey them If wee had the Word published by an Angel or an Apostle or some more excellent and powerfull meanes and Embassadours wee should more easily and willingly heare beleeve and obey them It is Gods great mercie unto us that it pleaseth him so farre to condiscend to our infirmitie as to open unto us the rich Treasures of his heavenly Word by men of the same condition and frailtie and subject to the same passions with our selves Hee might by terrible and astonishing Voices out of Lightnings Thunders and Earthquakes able to breake the hardest Rocks and stony Mountaines as he did in the giving of the Law force us to obedience Or he might send his Angels armed with power and puissance to execute present vengeance upon all those which doe not presently submit themselves to the Scepter of his Christ and Soveraigntie of his Word But in great mercie and compassion unto us hee chuseth rather to teach us by a still and soft Voice by a more faire familiar and fit instruction for us even by such as our selves of our owne nature frailtie and condition Here in he shewes his great love unto us in that he vouchsafeth to put his fearefull and glorious Word into the mouth of a mortall and sinfull man What an honour and advancement is it unto mans nature unto mankind that the high and mightie God of Heaven and Earth should single them out for so glorious a service sanctifie their Tongues to deliver his good pleasure and newes of salvation unto the sonnes of men That hee should acquaint and put them in trust with such high mysteries and heavenly matters of so soveraigne and saving use both to themselves and others But it may be besides common frailtie and infirmitie the Minister and Messenger of the Word is of lewd and prophane life and condition If he be more is the pitty the scandall of the Ministerie is the greater and his owne damnation more smarting and terrible See Psal 50. 16 17 c.
brought forth by the power of the Word in the Wombe of the Church he therefore casteth out of his mouth after him flouds of outward crosses and vexations If he cannot wound him in his soule yet he will vexe him in his body goods and good name if he cannot hinder him of Heaven he will give him little rest or quiet upon Earth if hee cannot bring him into disgrace and disfavour with God he will be sure to rayse him hatred enough malice and discountenance amongst men He will doe his worst to fill and loade him with all outward discomforts and discouragements as povertie sicknesse slanders scoffings raylings reproaches contempts and a thousand other persecutions But in such cases as these let every child of God comfort refresh and hold himselfe in heart cheare and courage by such considerations as these First it is a Decree of Heaven resolved upon and ratified by the Lord our God confirmed by the experience of all the Patriarkes and Prophets of the Apostles and professors of Christ of all the Saints and servants nay and of the Sonne of God himselfe that through many tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of Heaven So often therefore as wee shall see any miseries or afflictions comming towards us for our profession of sinceritie and righteousnesse sake let us acknowledge them to be as so many most certaine and infallible markes that we are in the right way to Heaven through which if we but walke a little further with patience we shall descry a Crowne of Glory which is our owne for ever of which all the afflictions and pressures of a thousand Worlds are not neere worthy Secondly though by this meanes by these outward crosses and afflictions Sathan dischargeth upon us the very gall of his bitternesse the poyson of his malice and arrowes of his spight yet by the mercifull and medicinall hand of God they are returned upon his owne head they strike through the heart of sinne and become as precious restoratives to repaire in us the decayes of spirituall life for in Gods children crosses and afflictions have these worthy effects and workings 1 They start us out of our securitie carelesnesse and coldnesse which by little and little may grow upon the best They breed in us a conceit and sense of our owne wants and the necessitie of Gods providence and protection They adde Oyle unto the flame of our first love put life into our religious exercises and power and spirit into our prayers 2 They curbe and controule the pride insolencie and impatiencie of our nature They coole and kill the heat headlongnesse and intemperancie of our affections They weaken indeed the whole old Adam in us with all his lusts concupiscence and venome but give strength to the new man with all his godly and gracious motions holy and heavenly actions 3 They make us with indignation to spit in the very face of this vaine deceitfull and flattering World the temporall love of which is the eternall losse both of bodies soules in the other World They happily weane us from the love of it and make us willing to part with her paps to bid all her enticements adiew and to trample under feet the fading pleasures vanities thereof they make us to teare our groveling hearts and rent our dull affections from the Earth to which they cleave and are glued so fast and to lift up both our heads and hearts to Heaven and to the glory which is to be revealed longingly to desire the comming of Christ the Life that lasteth and to be clothed with our House which is from above 4 Lastly they are as sharpe and precious eye-salves to cleare and enlarge the spirituall sight of our soules too much dimmed and darkened with earthly dust and with gazing too long on the painted glory of the World that so wee may see further into the great mysterie of godlinesse deeper into the masse and dunghill of our owne corruptions and frailties wider upon the vanities of the World and higher into the happinesse of Heaven and that great Beautie Glory and Majestie above They serve unto us as sowre Sawces and bitter Wormewood to bring us out of love with our sweet sinnes and to breed a distaste in our mouth against transitorie delights They are as sharpe pruning-knives to lop and cut away the excesses vanities and unnecessarie cares that grow upon us and so to trimme us that wee may bring forth more profitable plentifull and fairer fruits in godlinesse and Christianitie Thus Sathan is disappointed in his plots and policie his malice makes a medicine for our soules hee purposeth and hopes by crosses and afflictions to turne us backe or make us wearie in our course of holinesse but by the mercy of God they become as spurres to pricke us forward in our Christian Race and as hedges to keepe us in from wandering out of the way Now in a third place That Gods child may not too much be cast downe or put out of heart for crosses and persecutions raysed against him for a profession and the practice of sinceritie let him consider that howsoever Sathan and wicked men be the instruments and executioners which maliciously procure and immediately inflict miseries and vexations upon the children of God though they be the meanes to lay tortures and torments upon their bodies crosses and losses upon their goods and outward estates spots and impression and crueltie upon the face of their harmelesse innocencie slanders and disgraces imputations and staining aspersions upon their reputations and good names sometimes terrors temptations and amazements upon their minds Yet in all these our gracious God hath the chiefest stroke a principall hand and the greatest sway he directs limits and moderates the rage and furie of all our enemies whether they be Devils or men as it pleaseth him and ever certainely to the singular good of his children if they be patient and faithfull Miserie saith Iob chap. 5. 6. commeth not forth of the Dust neither doth afflictions spring out of the Earth Neither indeed principally and originally from Man the Lord of the Earth nor from the Prince that rules in the Aire nor from the Host of Heaven God himselfe is the chiefe commander guider and directer of all vexations and ill of punishment that befalls any man and inflicts it for our sinnes and corruptions upon the reprobates as appeares in Pharoah for their further hardening and confusion upon his elect for their conversion and correction Let us then in all our sufferings and afflictions stirred up against us for sticking to sinceritie and keeping a good Conscience lift up our eyes to the mightie Lord of Heaven and Earth who by the strong Arme of his Omnipotencie holds fast in a Chaine Sathan that raging Lion and great Goliah that hee cannot stirre one Linke further than hee will give him leave hee cannot goe a haires breadth beyond his Commission Nay and that
meane and comprise all the active inferior powers of the Soule Will Affections Sence as they are polluted and empoysoned in the puddle of originall corruption and afterward being fleshed in sensuall pleasures and enfierced by Sathans suggestions become the furious executioners of all the sinfull decrees and unsanctified determinations of the mis-guided understanding and wisedome of the flesh 8 In hearing the Word be sure First To give earnest heed Heb. 2. 1. Secondly To consider seriously 2 Tim. 2. 7. Thirdly That wee be not in this respect like leaking Vessels and have Sieve-like memories Heb. 2. 1. Fourthly To keepe the Word with much adoe with great contention and colluctation Luke 8. 15. 9 Suffer the Spirit of Bondage to have its worke upon thee Conclude horror upon thy heart by the working of the Law from such places as these Deut. 29. 19 20. 2 Thess 1. 8 9. Rev. 21. 8. 10 When thy Conscience is once throughly wounded by the preparative worke of the Spirit of Bondage and all thy sinnes even those in which thou hast taken greatest delight become heavie and a grievous burthen upon thy heart then let that heavie heart of thine receive spirituall warmth refreshing and life First By perusing the Lord Iesus in all the passages of his Love Sufferings and Satisfactions from his comming from the Bosome of his Father untill his returning unto his right hand againe especially hanging upon him bleeding and dying and crying under the burthen of our sinnes My God my God c. and so conquering and concluding It is finished Secondly By a feeling survey and sure setling upon all the Promises of Life sealed with his righteous bloud Thirdly By cleaving to Gods sweetest Name which is to forgive iniquitie transgression and sinne Exod. 34. 6 7. Fourthly By resting with all thankefull and joyfull acknowledgement and rejecting resolutely all scrupulous and fearefull injections upon that blessed Mysterie of Gods free grace which reacheth from everlasting to everlasting 11 Then ever after walke watchfully and fruitfully in the path which is called holy Now for continuall growing and profiting by the Ministerie in that new and blessed course and for thriving by the food of the Word which thou enjoyest take these directions looke unto these things First Looke to the dressing of it that thy spirituall Cooke be cunning and conscionable Otherwise it may sometimes turne into ranke poyson unto thy Soule fill thee with winde and puffe thee up with a causelesse good conceit of thy selfe impaire thy spirituall health keepe thee stinted as it were and at a stay c. Nay an ill spirituall Cooke by his jugling Trickes may make thee beleeve all thy life long that thou growest in Grace and shalt goe to Heaven and thou art starke dead in sinnes and trespasses and shalt be damned Secondly The emptying and disburthening of the Stomacke of thy Soule of all Humours Passions Prejudice Crosses Troubles Temptations c. or any thing that will hinder the puritie and power of the Word from taking possession of thy Soule even the Honey-combe the sweetest thing in the World is loathsome as the Wise-man sayth to a full stomacke Thou must bring an Heart and Head like two emptie Buckets to draw with greedinesse and joy the Water of Life out of the Wells of Salvation Thirdly To procure and rayse an Appetite before thou come from consideration first of its Necessitie Where the Word of God is not preached the people perish as you had it in the former Treatise Secondly Excellencie It is farre more precious than purest Gold dearer than thousands of Gold and Silver Thirdly Sweetnesse It passes the Honey and Honey-combe David in his absence from the meanes holds the Swallow and Sparrow happle Birds Fourthly Profit It builds up the inner man c. Fourthly The Reception of it That it ever be entertained with farre more attention and reverence than if wee were hearing the mightiest Monarch in the World speaking immediately unto us by personall compellation about the weightiest affaire and neereliest concerning us That it be ever heard as the Word of the mightie and ever-living God Fifthly Retention The most wholesome and soveraigne meat if presently voided nourisheth not at all many fall into a Consumption of Grace by reason of weakenesse this way They are hot and fierce to get unto a good Sermon and they doe well to be carefull thereabout but their forwardnesse and fervencie cooles and expires when the Sermon is done They after have little more to doe with it save onely to say it was a good Sermon As many have an unsatiable appetite in devouring meat who cannot keepe it for any space of time The retentive power of the Soule then must be strengthened and exercised or else the attentive and attractive addes but more deadnesse to a spirituall Atrophie Sixtly Concoction By repetition either in way of conference with our neighbours and Christian friends or in way of examination without Wives Children Servants Schollers or other inferiours But principally by that first excellent Exercise of Meditation which is the very life of profitable Hearing and the want of it the death of all good Lessons It inflames the heart with a kindly heat to practise as in brooding the Hen inspires heat and begets life secondly and by the heat of Prayer that both warmes the heart fits the food and brings a blessing upon both Seventhly Digestion By application of the points unto our owne particular by sorting the particulars of the Sermon unto our owne necessities for the conquering of this Lust ruling of that Passion leaving this Sinne performing that Dutie c. Eightly Practice Walking in the strength of it afterward which makes it our owne and keepes the Soule in health and growth and comfortable temper And thus wee may constantly grow by the Ministerie of the Word which is the principall publike Banquet which the Lord hath provided for feeding his Childrens Soules The Sacraments are a second Service Even by the first that is Baptisme wee may grow not onely when wee feele it in our owne bodies but also when wee see it administred unto others And therefore the custome which hath prevailed in most places of neglecting and contemning this part of the Food of our Soules is to be severely censured and sharpely reproved By the second that is the Lords Supper wee may thrive excellently if wee follow those Directions in my Preparative to it To which I referre you in the succeeding Treatise FINIS A BRIEFE TABLE OF THE CHIEFE HEADS Contained in this Treatise of the SAINTS GVIDE A. AFfection to be joyned with hearing pag. 179 Afflictions no strange thing p. 118. They are but short 120 Afflictions raised by the Devill against Christians 109 Antidotes against afflictions 110 c. Application required in hearing the Word and why 180 181 Apostates their danger 103 Atheisme 50 Attention in hearing required 174.
Barres of the Earth as in a Bed of hopelesse Darkenesse untill the Iudgement of the great Day And that Day will be unto you a Day of wrath a Day of trouble and heavinesse a Day of destruction and desolation a Day of Clouds and blacknesse as it is Zeph. 1. 15. And at the last you are to be cast body and soule from the presence of God and joyes of Heaven into utter Darkenesse there to be tormented amongst wicked Devils for ever and ever This is certainely the state of all ignorant men and those that will not be enlightened with saving knowledge out of his Word There is nothing to be expected of them but Darkenesse Sorrow Despaire and Horror A third Vse of this Doctrine may serve for admonition to all those who by the Light of Gods Word have alreadie found and are entred into the way to Heaven that they would suffer themselves with humilitie obedience and constancie to be led along in a course of sanctification by the holy guidance and direction thereof that they would shine dayly more and more in all Christian vertues exercises and duties For it is the propertie of all those which are become new creatures who are washed from their sinnes sanctified and new-borne by the immortall Seed of the Word and the Spirit of Grace to long after and earnestly desire the sincere Milke of the Word that they may grow thereby in knowledge comfort and new obedience A new-borne Babe will be pleased and satisfied with nothing but the Pap not Gold Pearles or any thing else will content it even so a new-renewed Soule doth ever hunger and thirst after the sacred and sincere Milke of Gods holy Word as Saint Peter calls it that it may dayly gather strength in grace otherwise as the Child so it would languish pine away and die He that growes not and goes not forward in grace had never true grace He that faithfully labours not to feed his soule with spirituall food never passed the new birth The way of the righteous saith Salomon shineth as the Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day Prov. 4. 18. For if the Day-starre of saving knowledge once appeare unto a man and the Sunne of Righteousnesse arise in his heart they never set untill they bring him unto that glorious Light above that no man can attaine unto He proceeds and profits in the great mysterie of godlinesse in faith repentance and sinceritie he growes from vertue to vertue from knowledge to knowledge from grace to grace untill hee become a perfect man in Christ Iesus It may be as the fairest Sunne may sometimes be over-cast and darkened with Clouds and Mists so the holinesse of a godly man may be over-clouded and disgraced sometimes by falls into a sinne upon infirmitie ignorance heedlesnesse or the like But if he be so overtaken after his passing through sorrow and griefe of heart for the same and his rising againe by repentance hee shines farre more brightly and pleasantly both to God and man in sinceritie and all holy graces he afterwards runnes a more swift and setled course in the race of sanctification So that ordinarily all Gods children shine as Lights in the World in the midst of a naughtie and crooked generation being once inlightened with saving knowledge and they still waxe brighter and brighter untill at last they come to shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament and the Starres in Heaven for ever and ever Looke to it then I beseech you whosoever hath alreadie given his Name unto Christ tasted of the good Word of God and received into his soule some glimpses of heavenly Light let him be sure to follow hard towards the Marke for the Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Let him set his best desires affections and endeavours to grow and proceed in all holy knowledge in the Light of Gods Word and chearefull obedience unto the same For it is a speciall note and marke of a man that is truly religious to goe forward and encrease in grace and understanding Hee must be like the Sunne which rising in the East enlargeth his glorious light and heat untill he reach the height of Heaven But as one well notes the true Christian must not be like Hezekiahs Sunne which went backward If a man back-slide waxe worse and fall away from good beginnings he addes weight unto the wrath of God and doubles his damnation Hee must not be like Ioshuahs Sunne that stood still It is so farre to Heaven and the way so narrow so rough and full of dangers and difficulties that he which stands at a stay will light short The Bridegroome will be entred in and the Gate shut before he come Hee that hath so much grace that hee desires no more did never truly desire any And he that endeavours not to be better will by little and little grow worse and at length become starke naught He therefore must be like Davids Sunne that great and glorious Gyant of the Heavens that like a Bridegroome comes out of his Chamber and as a Champion rejoyceth to runne his Race One grace in Gods child begets another and one holy action performed with sinceritie of heart doth inflame his affections with love and zeale with courage and resolution to undertake moe and to goe through-stitch with all the affaires of God and good causes For he alone knowes the invaluable worth and inestimable price of heavenly Iewels and therefore he is ravished with their beautie and growes unsatiable in his desires and longings after them He is still toyling and labouring in the Trade of Christianitie for more gaine of grace encrease of comfort and further assurance and securitie of the joyes of Heaven Sith hee hath alreadie tasted and fed upon celestiall and spirituall food he findes in that such unutterable sweetnesse and pleasant rellish that hee for ever after hungers and thirsts after it If then you would be assured that you are in the way to happinesse be sure to be led on by the Light of the Word in all heavenly knowledge spirituall wisedome and holy obedience A fourth and last Vse of my Doctrine is for instruction to all whether they be naturall or spirituall ignorant or instructed in the Word of God That they make it their chiefe and principall Christian care zealously and conscionably and constantly to heare attend and understand the holy Word of God and to be guided and conducted by the Light thereof in all the passages of their life and wayes of their conversation 1 And in this point I will first lay downe unto you certaine Motives that may induce and stirre you thereunto 2 Cautions or Caveats to fore-arme and fore-warne you of Lets and Temptations that may with-draw you there-from 3 Lastly some needfull instructions for your right carriage therein One Motive to stirre us up to a reverend regard and attention in hearing
comfort and confirme him in a godly course To prevent his falls and relapses because by it hee is furnished with Christian armour against temptations he is resolved in all doubts and cases of Conscience he is admonished of all crooked wayes occasions and down-falls to iniquity To reclaime him from back-slidings to rayse and recover him out of falls and to restore him to his first love by discovering unto him the foulenesse and danger of sinne the power of his owne infirmities the bitter root of Originall sinne the pestilent and impoysoned fruits thereof and by dayly urging the blessings of true repentance and the practice of a good Conscience Most absolutely to guide and conduct him in the way of righteousnesse and whole course of Christianitie to furnish him with zeale and uprightnesse in all holy duties and services of God with faithfulnesse and conscience in the discharge and executions of his calling with holy meditations when he is alone with harmlesse behavior and Light of good example in company and amongst others with wisdome and care ever intirely to sanctifie the Sabbath and to teach and pray with his family Marke now I beseech you sith the Ministery of the Word is ever graced with so glorious presence and such incomparable blessings as I have now reckoned up unto you he that turnes his back upon a Sermon for the injoying of profit pleasures pastime companie feasting or any other worldly and by-respect he wilfully forsakes the salvation of his owne soule he casts behind him all these happy blessings and comforts tendered unto him by the Ministery of the Word he throws himselfe desperately out of the presence of God Almighty Christ Iesus the Holy Spirit his blessed Angels the congregation of Saints into the power and clutches of Satan into the company of wicked and prophane men upon the just indignation and revenge of all the creatures upon the wrath and curse of God and the shipwracke of a good conscience Take heed then I beseech you how you bee drawne by any worldly affaires from the hearing of the Word especially on the Sabbath day lest thereby you make it plaine that you preferre your owne particular before the glory of God earthly gaine before a Crowne of immortality a little vanishing pleasure before the endlesse joyes of heaven and that yee yet lie and delight in one sweet sinne or other which keepes all saving grace out of your soules A sixth let and hinderance from hearing the Word of God are certaine prophane and unwarrantable perswasions and conceits which are entertained and harboured in the hearts of ignorant and wilfull people Some of them thinke with themselves that there is no such great need of following Sermons and frequenting holy assemblies especially if at the same time they be not ungodly bufied and exercised at home and therefore they aske What can we not save our soules and come to heaven unlesse we trudge and trot so often to Church Have we not the Bible and other good bookes at home to reade upon Can we not pray and praise God at home They might as well aske Can wee not have a harvest unlesse we have a seed time and raine yea both the former and the latter raine Or can we not live except we have meat Certainly no. No more can any man be truly sanctified and saved nor live either the life of grace here or expect the life of glory hereafter unlesse he follow the ordinary meanes appointed and sanctified by God for his salvation Except he submit himselfe to that policy and order which God with great wisdome hath established in his Church Would a man be taken for a good subject who should peevishly oppose himselfe against a law agreed upon and commanded by the King and State for the great good of the Common-wealth God himselfe hath appointed a publike Ministery in the Church Pastors and teachers for the gathering of the Saints and all that belong to life and is it fit that any private exercise should crosse Gods publike ordinances No It is both inconvenient and wicked and Gods blessing is never to be looked for upon any action and exercise though never so good in it selfe if his will be not obeyed I but some will say It is good indeed sometimes now and then to heare a Sermon but what needs so much preaching and Sermon upon Sermon Would they have us Saints and Angels upon earth Wretched is that man which is weary of the Word of life And hee hath no true taste of holy things which loaths this spirituall Manna though never so often reigned from heaven There is no saving and true knowledge of God in that man who desires not to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ Would we not thinke him mad and distracted that should thus reason against his owne life I hope I have eaten meat enough heretofore and furnished my selfe with sufficient strength so that I now need no more and therefore I will neither eat nor drink more while I live Even just so doth he reason and plead against the life of his soule who complaines of too much preaching and too many Sermons David that blessed King and holy Prophet who was advanced both in knowledge and holinesse above the ordinary reach and perfection of men and lived as an Angell upon earth yet he acknowledgeth himselfe greatly to stand in need of stirring up by meanes ordained of God for that end As we may gather out of Psal 84. and in many other places In that Psalme he makes a most grievous and mournfull complaint that he is debarred and banished from all accesse unto the publike worship and service of God holding himselfe in this respect more miserable than some of the bruit creatures which had liberty to build their nests and lay their young neare the Altars of the Lord which benefit he could not now enjoy Now if this man of God so longed and laboured after the meanes of grace and comfort what ought those to doe who are of little or no faith who are but Novices and petties in the Schoole of Christ who are but babes in Christianity or utterly without grace I but our fore-fathers will others say were never troubled with so many Sermons and yet we hope they are well and in Heaven Our fore-fathers wanted the meanes and that full glorious Noone-tide of the Gospell of Iesus Christ which we by the grace and mercy of God enjoy And therefore whosoever of them perished without them shall certainly be beaten with fewer stripes than those that shut their eyes against the faire and blessed Sun-shine of Gods holy truth which is shed round about us and if it be hid it is hid onely to those that perish in whom the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of their minde Besides if it so pleased the Lord in his just
and secret judgement to suffer some of our fore-fathers to live and die under the tyranny and darknesse of Antichrist how much are we bound to blesse God that we are borne and brought up in the light of the Gospell and what heavie plagues and great damnation doe wee bring upon our selves if wee neglect or despise so great salvation I but yet further will some say wee have lived some of us fortie some thirtie some twenty yeares without so much preaching and yet have holden good credit and reputation in the world and prospered in our wayes would you now have us so forward in running to Sermons Strange it is to see how wise the simplest are in matters of the world about their temporall state but how simple and blinde the wisest worldlings are in the affaires of Heaven and about their greatest spirituall and eternall good Let us suppose a man to have lived long in a poore Cottage and now at length to have some great and rich Lordship befallen him doe you thinke hee would reason thus Why I have lived some thirtie or fortie yeerâ—â— now alreadie in this low estate with good conteâ—â—â—ent and credit amongst my neighbours and therefore here I will rest the rest of my dayes I am too old now to change my former estate Would such a foole as this be found in a whole Countrey And yet many Countries are full of such fooles in respect of spirituall advancement and the salvation of their soules Me thinkes those that have long lived in ignorance and blindnesse should rather conclude thus Have I thus long and so fearefully lived without God in the World without knowledge of his Truth faith in Christ and Conscience of my wayes Oh then it is more than high time now at length to awake out of sleepe and to open mine eyes and to imbrace this glorious Sun-shine of the Gospel which the Lord of his great mercy hath brought unto me that so I may be enlightened to eternall life As for prospering in the World that is no marke of a good soule nay it is commonly the Let of the wicked not to be plagued like other men but to bring their enterprises to passe Psalme 73. Nay yet further There is no greater Curse can befall any man than to prosper in the World and be out of the way to Heaven I but will others say to the attaining of eternall life what needs so much adoe so much preaching catechising expounding conferring meditating teaching and praying with our families which are so much and so often urged upon us When all comes to all this is the summe and end of all To feare God and keepe his Commâ—â—dements That we love God above all and our neighâ—â—â— as our selves And we hope we can doe this without all this adoe To feare God and keepe his Commandements which is the whole dutie of man as the Preacher speakes in his last chapter and to love God above all and our neighbors as our selves upon which hangeth the whole Law and the Prophets as Christ tells us Math. 22. are indeed soone spoken but not so easily truly learned and most hardly sincerely practised Is it enough thinke you to make a man a good Carpenter or Mason to say That that is soone learned and I know as much as the best workman can teach or tell me To build an House is nothing but to lay the foundation to reare the walls and cover it with a Roose Is it enough to make a good Husbandman to say I know as much as the best Husbandman can teach me for Husbandry is nothing else but to sowe and reape Is it enough to make a good Preacher to say It is no such great matter to make a Sermon I know as much in that point as the best Scholler amongst them can tell me To preach is nothing else but to expound the Text gather Doctrines and make use and application to the hearts consciences of the hearers But it would be long before these idle and emptie vaunts would build Houses fill Barnes or save Soules There is farre more required to these businesses than so There is to be undergone much toile and labour much care trouble expence and exercise before any of these workes can be rightly accomplished It is even so in the great worke of salvation and the attainment of Heaven The state of grace and trade of Christianitie is not so easily purchased practised There goes more to saving of a soule than bold ignorant brags than to say If that be all I hope I can quickly and easily learne to love God above all my neighbor as my selfe For before these there goes many things as knowledge of Gods will and Word a thorow view of our owne misery corruptions in the glasse of the Law strange agonies and sore pangs in the new-birth and sorrow for sinne refreshings and coolings by the mercies of God and merits of Christ faith repentance sanctification a blessed holy change in the whole man both body soule and spirit And then follows new obedience which consists in the uprightnesse and sinceritie of our owne hearts a conscionable and charitable carriage towards our neighbors and a zealous constancy in all religious duties and right service of God which must be universall in respect of the object that is we must walk in all his Commandements totall in respect of the subject that is we must serve him in all the powers of our soule and parts of our body in our thoughts words and actions In all which things and holy courses if a man be not particularly instructed experienced practised his love of God and his neighbour is but in word and tongue not in deed and truth A man if he be disposed may quickly perceive and discerne the truth or hollownesse of his heart in this point God hath straitly commanded an entire sanctification and keeping holy of the Sabbath Let a man then consider if he suffer himselfe to be drawne away from holy Exercise on that day by pleasures profit pastime companie ease idlenesse or other worldly occasions why then he preferres meere vanities and the desires of his owne heart before the glory and honour of God and so doth not love God above all The true love of a mans selfe doth chiefly principally consist in furnishing himselfe with saving knowledge sinceritie of heart godlinesse of life a good Conscience and spirituall comfort against hee come to Iudgement Now if hee love his neighbour as himselfe he is not still talking with him of worldly matters but especially labours with him for his conversion entertainment of grace and encrease in godlinesse If these be not his cares both for himselfe and his neighbour he truly loves neither Thus may a man examine himselfe through all the Commandements in particular and see whether it be so easie to love his neighbour as himselfe and God
shew notwithstanding to have brought in all So it is in many by the malice of Sathan and bewitching enticements of naturall corruption in the forsaking of their sinnes In a true Conversion indeed when a man is about to buy the Pearle of great price unvaluable worth in the Gospel the Doctrine of Salvation the Way to Life and Graces of Gods Spirit he makes an universall sale of all his sinnes he selleth as the Text saith all that he hath not some piece of his sinfull Possession but even the very whole Lordship the entire Inheritance But it is otherwise with those whom Sathan inveagleth and ensnareth in this point Hee is well enough pleased that they shall seeme to be as forward in the reformation and amendment of their lives as any other and indeed that they shall be reformed in good part and carry some love and affection toward the Word and Ministers so that he may keepe hold and possession but in one corner of the heart For he knowes that that is enough to keepe the whole man body and soule his owne If he can stay but one sinne unsold he knowes the man continues still by the course of divine Law a bondslave of Hell By one little hole a ship will sinke into the bottome of the Sea The stab of a Pen-knife to the heart will as well speed a man as all the Daggers that killed Caesar in the Senat-house The soule will be strangled with one Cord of vanitie as well as with all the Cart-ropes of iniquitie only the more sins the more plagues and fiercer flame in Hell but he that lives and dies impenitent in one it will be his destruction One dramme of poyson will dispatch a man and one reigning sinne will bring him to endlesse woe and miserie Let us take heed therefore when we goe about reformation of our selves lest we be surprised overtaken by this malicious craft of Sathan Let us resolve upon a through-reformation which is only and ever undertaken with a purpose not to hold on in the willing practice of any one knowne iniquitie or sinfull course Which when we shall carefully earnestly go about Sathan will be sure to set upon us as Pharoah did upon Moses and Aaron When the Lord had commanded them to goe three dayes journey in the Desart to doe service and sacrifice unto him that by all meanes hee might hinder them in this holy businesse 1. He would have them to stay in the land and to doe sacrifice there Nay saith Moses it is not meet to doe so for then wee should offer unto the Lord our God that which is abomination unto the Egyptians 2. Sith this would not then serve but that they would needs out of the Land I will let you goe saith Pharaoh that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the Wildernesse but goe not farre away But Moses would yet none of this he would not abate a foot of the journey the Lord had appointed 3. Why then saith Pharaoh if you will needs goe so farre I am content your men shall goe but as it is fittest your children shall stay at home Nay saith Moses we will goe with our young and with our old with our sonnes and with our daughters with our Sheepe and with our Cattell will we goe 4. Well saith Pharaoh I will yeeld so farre unto you your children shall goe with you to serve the Lord onely your sheepe and your Cattell shall abide at home Nay saith Moses our Cattell also shall goe with us There shall not an hoofe be left Now when all this would not doe when Moses would not accept of any capitulations conditions restrictions or limitations in holy businesses and the service of God for he was at a point resolute he would not leave so much as an hoofe behinde Now I say when all the enticements and policies of Pharaoh would not prevaile to keepe Moses from serving and sacrificing unto God and that precisely and strictly according to his owne appointment and commandement but that to this end at length he wrung himselfe and all the Israelites out of the bloudy teeth of this persecuting Wolfe why then Pharaoh armes himselfe with rage and fury with six hundred chosen chariots and all the chariots of Aegypt with fifty thousand horsmen and two hundred thousand footmen as a Iewish Historian writes purposing with bloudy thirst to devoure at once and swallow up quicke even all the Israell of God But you know the conclusion was the Lord of Heaven gave a most glorious deliverance to his owne people wherein his bottomlesse goodnesse and infinite mercy shall shine cleare and bright for ever in all generations of the Church upon earth and through all eternity in Heaven But upon their enemies he brought such a strange and terrible confusion in the Red Sea which may strike astonishment and trembling into the heart and loynes of all prophane persecutors of godlinesse to the worlds end and amaze the very maliciousest fâ—end in hell while that Kingdome of darknesse stands Even iust thus doth Satan deale with all those who desire to bee conducted by the light of the Word out of the Aegypt and slavery of ignorance sinne prophanenesse and who are resolved frankly and freely to give themselves soules and bodies to Gods service and to enter a setled course of holinesse and sanctification hee useth all meanes and policies to keepe and detaine them in his Kingdome of darknesse If he cannot hold them in his chiefe palace and Court as it were where sinne especially raignes and revels it yet he will so farre hamper them that at least they still hover upon the confines and borders of the Regions of death If they will needs bee medling with reformation of their â—infull lives and that he cannot helpe it but something must be done he is content to yeeld unto them upon some termes or conditions that they cast him not quite out of their consciences but suffer him to sway and raigne in their hearts by some one gainfull or delightfull sinne or other 1. If they will needs feare God he stands not much upon it but that they may doe it outwardly and in profession so that they will continue in Aegypt within the Kingdome of darknesse and lie still in their sinnes and under the shadow of death 2. If this will not content them if they will not rest here but will needs out of the Kingdome of darknesse and dominion of death why he is not much against it but that they may goe the halfe way that is he will suffer them to forgoe and forbeare the outward practice and perpetration of many sinnes so that inwardly their heart and affections harbour nourish embrace them still and feed upon with a sensuall and delightfull remembrance the sinfull pleasures of iniquities formerly committed 3. If they desire and endevour to become new men both inwardly and outwardly to be sanctified
in actions and affections to serve God both in soule and body he will yet yeeld so farre that they may be rid of some sinnes both in heart and practice as perhaps of sinnes of custome but then he will be a suitor and solicitor unto them to retaine other sinnes as perhaps sinnes of nature For example It may be they may both forbeare the outward practice and also inwardly loath swearing drunkennesse and other such like sinnes of custome but they will nuzzle in the bosome of their affections pride lust anger and such other sinnes the naturall birth as it were of originall corruption 4. But if they also conquer these why then he tempts them mainly to continue at the least in worldlinesse For this in many mens hearts hath greater power and beares more sway than nature or naturall affection He will secretly suggest unto them that upon an eager and excessive pursuit of gaine and riches depends their life and livelyhood their credit and reputation their contentment and happinesse in the world so that perhaps at last of all after all this they rest and settle themselves upon sinnes of advantage as usury oppression unlawfull and excessive gaining earthly-mindednesse serving the Times and such like 5. But if by the grace of God any be so blessed from God above as resolutely to passe thorow all these traines and temptations and like strong Samsons breake through all these Cords and Cart-ropes of iniquitie and vanitie so that they will not yeeld an ynch to that cruell Pharaoh of Hell nor leave so much as an Hoofe behinde them in his Kingdome of Darknesse why then this spirituall Pharaoh presently armes himselfe with all the crafts and policies of Hell with Legions of Fiends and Princes of the Darkenesse of this World with all his malice against the salvation of the soules of men with the fire and furious rage of prophane wretches with the sharpe swords and impoysoned arrowes of lying and slanderous tongues and with all other advantages which either the lowest Hell or the wide wicked World can afford And thus appointed hee pursues and persecutes with bloodie and implacable furie all those who have escaped out of this captivitie farre more eagerly and enviously than ever Pharaoh did the Israelites That either hee may bring them backe againe into his bondage or else take them quite away and destroy them that they may not attaine the full Light of the Saints nor doe long service unto the Lord. And certainely if all the power of Hell the strongest temptations the scourge of tongues the Worlds malice the spightfull spirit of prophanenesse the frownings of friends the scornefull insolencies of enemies the cursed and enticing cryes of our old companions if wicked men or damned Devils be able to prevaile he will be sure to stay them before they enter into the state of grace and true blessednesse But yet if a man put on Pauls armour in Eph. 6. Davids royall courage Psal 3. 6. Moses princely zeale and truly Christian valour that he will not leave a hoofe behinde that is that he will not leave one corruption unmortified one affection unsanctified one rebellious action unreformed one knowne sinne unrepented of and unforsaken one holy dutie unperformed one Commandement unobeyed Why then hee may looke for a more glorious spirituall deliverance than Moses had a temporall Hell and confusion shall swallow up all his enemies but into his heart in the meane time shall be shed and plentifully powred comfort joy and peace and upon his head shall a Crowne of immortalitie flourish for ever hereafter I have stayed very long upon the fifth plot and practice of Sathan whereby he labours to make the Word heard unpowerfull and uneffectuall for the salvation of our soules For I know it is much and often exercised and with great successe and by it he prevailes with very many When by diligent hearing of Gods Word faithfully urged upon them they are driven and doe addresse themselves to a reformation and amendment of their sinfull lives he mightily endeavours to hinder disquiet and interrupt them in it to make it a reformation unto them but in part and by halfes unsound and unsaving So that it may be they may forsake sinnes of Custome as Lying Swearing Drunkennesse and such like but keepe sinnes of Nature as Pride Lust Anger and the like Or it may be they may forsake both these two kindes of sinnes and yet keepe sinnes of Advantage as Oppression unlawfull Gaining grinding the faces of the Poore serving the Time and such like Or they may leave all these and yet keepe sinnes of Companie as idle and vaine Talking filthie Ieasting rayling against and slandering their Neighbours uncharitable judging and censuring their Brethren and the like It may be they may be carefull in their generall calling of Christianitie but carelesse and unfaithfull in those particular places and callings wherein God in his providence hath set them Or contrarily they may be of Christian behaviour abroad and in publike as at Sermons and in the Church but unconscionable at home and in their private families never teaching or praying with them They may seeme zealous in the Commandements of the first Table and about the service of God but in the second and towards their Neighbour unmercifull unconscionable and uncharitable Or they may deale justly and honestly with others but be utterly voide and destitute of the knowledge and feare of God They may bee outwardly reformed but inwardly full of hollow-heartednesse and hypocrisie They may leave all other sinnes onely keepe one behinde which is called a mans sweet delightfull and bosome-sinne If Sathan can prevaile with a man any of these wayes hee keepes him his owne for hee that is soundly converted justified and sanctified indeed must needs be out of love with every sinne with the whole course of iniquitie and with sincerity and chearefulnesse embrace the entire body of Christianitie and have a regard to all Gods Commandements 6 Now I come to a sixt sleight and devise of Sathan whereby hee labours to make the Word fruitlesse and unprofitable unto us If he cannot stay us in our reformation but that we will needs through and cast away all sinnes why then hee seekes by all meanes to hinder our continuance and constancie If the Seed of the Word be received with joy and spring up for a time that is be practised for a while he rayseth up some persecution tribulation or crosses whereby it is presently blasted withers and comes to nothing The uncleane spirit may for a time goe out of a man and walke throughout drie places but if it be possible he will returne with seven other spirits worse than himselfe and the end of that man is worse than the beginning A man may flye from the pollution and filthinesse of the World as it is 2. Pet. 2. 20. but by the policie of Sathan hee may be tangled againe therein He may be washed as it
is in the same place for a while and yet after wallow againe in the myre of sinne He may be endued with an inferior sanctification of the Spirit Heb. 10. 29. and yet after by the malice of Sathan tread under foot the Sonne of God Hee may have a generall participation of the Holy-Ghost Heb. 6. 4. and yet after a time fall away to the very despiting of the Spirit of Grace I speake not this as though that any once effectually called truly sanctified possessed of the state of grace and enrolled among the Saints can possibly become a cast-away it cannot bee for if once by the power of speciall grace a man be built upon the Rocke not the Gates of Hell not all the powers of Darkeness nor strongest assaaults of Satan shall ever prevaile against him Heaven and Earth shall sooner be removed than any of Gods servants For if Gods eternall Decree of Election be unchangeable if his Covenant be everlasting and inviolable if his Truth cannot change nor his Mercie faile nor his Power be weakened if the sacred Seale of the blessed Spirit shall stand if the precious blood and fervent prayers of Christ Iesus can prevaile if his Scriptures doe not lye and deceive if his sanctifying Grace cannot die and perish if Himselfe cannot cease to be then undoubtedly if a man be once his he is his for ever if he be once truely his servant upon Earth he shall for ever hereafter be a glorious Saint in Heaven My meaning therefore in this point is onely this There is a glimmering Light of the Spirit some manner of taste of the sweetnesse of Christ a kind of change which may be wrought in a man by the preaching of the Word and yet he not truely and constantly converted but may by the malice and policie of Satan be repossessed by uncleane spirits and repolluted with the filthinesse of the World Thus we may discerne this changeable change that I may so speake and the saving change of Gods servants If after we have given our Names to Christ and begun to professe and practise sinceritie we passe on and continually grow in grace and stand for Gods honour and service against all commers friends or foes losse or disgrace oppression or slanders men or devils why then undoubtedly we have the sanctifying Spirit of God and saving grace which makes his Children like Trees betwixt the Rivers of Waters fruitfull in goodnesse and as bold as Lyons in good causes But if after wee have begun well wee looke backe with Lots Wife if we fall in love againe with those sinnes which wee have forsaken if Rubbes and Crosses in the World will turne us out of the way to Heaven and our righteousnesse be but as the Morning Deaw which a little heat of Persecution will drie up why then our change was changeable and not that of Gods children The Seed of the Word which wee received with joy was never deepely rooted in good and honest hearts wee were onely temporarie Converts not new creatures temporizing Professors not true Christians and our End is like to be worse than our Beginning and our Plagues more than if we had never begun Let every man take heed then in the Name of God lest by the traines and temptations of Sathan he be turn'd backe againe from any good course lest after he be washed he wallow againe in the myre of worldlinesse and worldly vanities and after hee hath escaped the filthinesse of the World lest he be againe entangled therein Let us beware of longing after those sinnes which we begun in some measure to reforme let us not lust againe after the flesh-pots of Aegypt like the Israelites after we be in some good sort enlarged from the bondage of sinne and tyrannie of the hellish Pharoah Lots Wife being delivered out of Sodome was surprised with a sensuall remembrance of the pleasures and vanities of the place which shee had left of the ease and prosperitie which shee there enjoyed and so look'd backe upon it But shee was therefore presently turned into a Pillar of Salt Gen. 19. 26. there for ever to be a monument and fearefull spectacle of Gods terrible judgements against all back-sliders If the uncleane spirit be cast out of a man by some degrees of reformation and good beginnings of amendment of life and have after leave and libertie to returne he brings with him seven Devils worse than himselfe and makes a man farre worse than he was before Much better were it for any man never to have knowne or stept into the way of righteousnesse than afterward to turne from the holy Commandement of God and out of a course of Christianitie It is a fearefull Curse to continue in hardnesse of heart prophanenesse of life and sinfull courses But to leave them for a little and to sinke backe againe is to have Gods Curse bitter against them if they repent not and the fire of Hell made more hot for them First sicknesses are curable but relapses are very dangerous if not irrecoverable If a man as it is Heb. 6. hath once beene enlightened and then fall away it is impossible to be renewed by repentance I know that place principally to be understood of the highest degree of Apostacie and falling away but hee that falls away from any good course and good beginnings falls towards that irrecoverable fall and makes himselfe more uncapable of repentance than if he never had been enlightened or stept into the way of Truth And it is just with God to punish such with a reprobate sense and hearts that cannot repent It then deepely and neerely concernes us for once wee have felt the sweetnesse of Grace and tasted of the Powers of the World to come to drinke deeper of the Waters of Life and to follow hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus When wee feele any good motions and purposes arise in our hearts let us labour to follow them to nourish them to blow them up to make a fire of them lest they onely but make a flash and passe away as the Lightning Let us put them in practise with zeale and constancie that we be not as the unfaithfull Waters which in the Summer are dryed up or as the dead Trees which perish in Winter but that we remaine whole and sound pure and perfect as the living Waters and Olives of the Lord that ever shed forth their sweetnesse and fatnesse Let us make a Covenant even a Covenant as the Scripture speaketh of Salt durable and perpetuall with the Lord to live before him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life For to him that goes through with his holy businesse that fights the good fight of Faith finisheth his course and overcomes to him and to him alone shall all those glorious Blessings be performed which are promised in the first Chapter of the Revelation To eate of the
should have had the fierce and horrible wrath and vengeance of God poured in full measure upon his body and soule which would have fed upon them as fire doth upon Pitch and Brimstone for ever and ever Out of these considerations mee thinkes a man should rather with humilitie and thankefulnesse admire and magnifie the mercies of God that hee is not alreadie a Fire-brand in Hell than any wayes be puffed up with any worthinesse in himselfe or dote upon his owne nothingnesse When a Christian is tempted to spirituall Pride let him deepely and thorowly weigh with himselfe what fearefull inconveniences and discomforts will ensue if hee give way to such temptations For so many follow in the course of Gods just judgement upon spirituall Vanitie and Pride dullnesse and deadnesse of heart a restraint of the influence of the Spirit a diminution and lessening or a slumber and cessation of the operations of grace a cooling of zeale and falling from the first Love Or when hee sees us so presumptuously to trust to our strength and stay our selves with our owne staffe he may quite give us over in some great temptation to some grosse sinne so that we may take the foile in the Conflict And then if wee once be over-taken with the old sweet sinne of our unregeneration or be ensnared with some new notorious transgression wee must of necessitie to our great discomfort enter againe the agonies of Soule anguish of Conscience and horror of Hell wee must enter combate againe with all the powers of Darkenesse wee must have our regeneration regenerated our new-birth new-borne and the precious bloud of the Sonne of God as it were shed for us againe Wee turne thereby Gods favourable countenance from us and the hearts and affections of true Christians wee put againe a sting into our owne Consciences and weapons into the hands of Sathan to vexe wound and torment us wee barre and bereave our selves of Gods gracious protection of the guard of Angels of peace of Conscience of joy in the Holy-Ghost of boldnesse in our wayes of reconciliation in the creatures and of all the comforts of godlinesse As a man tenders the preservation of his Soule from all these spirituall miseries let him take heed of entertaining a proud and over-weening conceit of his owne graces gifts or good actions Let him consider that the more spirituall gifts and graces he hath received from the free mercie of God the more will be required at his hands Me thinkes this should coole and allay any swelling conceit or proud perswasion that may arise in the heart and not suffer a man to play with them and dote upon them or give him any leisure with an over-weening and selfe-conceited flatterie to gaze upon them or to applaud and admire them in himselfe as though they were his owne but rather with all vigilancie and solicitousnesse with all care and good Conscience to occupie and imploy them for his Masters greatest advantage There is no gift or good thing in any man either of Nature or Grace of body or minde of wealth or honour of reputation or authoritie in the World but he must give shortly a strict and exact account of the usage and imployment of it before the impartiall and uncorrupted Tribunall of Heaven And the more excellent his gifts and endowments have beene in any kind he shall in proportion be answerable and countable for the more If the Lord hath enlightened heated and inspired any one with much saving knowledge with a great measure of zeale with a high Christian courage and resolution he lookes and expects for great gaine of glory unto himselfe many spoyles and conquests over his enemies a blazing and exemplarie brightnesse in holinesse of life much beautie and lustre to the Church much good and comfort unto Christians For much is required of them to whom much is committed Let a man then not labour to make himselfe glorious by those graces which are none of his owne but how by glorifying God with them in humilitie faithfulnesse and sinceritie and by improving and making the best of them for the Owners advantage hee may make a comfortable account at that great Day Thus farre I have proposed unto you some Motives to quicken and stirre you up to a conscionable and constant hearing and understanding of the holy Word of God and acquainted you with many sleights lets and temptations which Sathan usually casts in our way to hinder us therein Now in a third place I will lay downe unto you certaine rules directions and instructions for your right holy and conscionable carriage behaviour and importment in and about the hearing of Gods Word That the holy Word of God may be unto you the Word of Grace the savour of Life unto Life of power unto sanctification and salvation you must looke carefully and conscionably unto your preparation before you come unto your carriage while you are there and unto your behaviour afterward First for Preparation I am perswaded the want and neglect of a due and profitable preparation is the cause that thousands receive no benefit or blessing by the Word of Life but that the Sermons they heare are registred as in a Table of Remembrance before God as so many witnesses against them for their more fearefull confusion and greater condemnation at the Day of Accounts 1 For hence it is that to many it is the savour of death unto death because before they come they doe not addresse and prepare themselves for so glorious a Presence and royall Embassage from the King of Heaven though they heare it with their outward eares yet it hardens their hearts makes them inwardly more peevish grumbling stubborne rebellious and refractarie to the power thereof and prepares and ripens them for more heavie vengeance It is of it selfe the Word of Grace Salvation and Life a blessed preservative against Sinne and Death Damnation and Hell but by accident if men doe not reverence it tremble at it and submit themselves to the power of it it is a strong Hammer and Iron Scepter to harden their hearts more and more like an Anvile or Adamant and at length to breake them in pieces like a Potters Vessell Though in it selfe it be a saving and wholesome Medicine yet men of a rebellious and stubborne humour and temper turne it into Poyson 2 To some this holy Word by reason of unpreparednesse is but as the water spilt upon the ground and the breath of the Minister scattered in the Aire If you call them to an account after Sermon how they have profited they are as wordlesse and witlesse and indeed as gracelesse in repetition as if they had beene deafe asleepe in a trance or starke dead all the while 3 Others by their rash and prophane rushing into the House of God without all premeditation reverence or regard of that holy businesse they goe about become hearers onely of forme and custome for fashion and companie It
a great signe of grace to heare the Word gladly Psal 119. 162. I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoyles David had beene a souldier and ye know that they that have lyen at the siege of a Citie a long time and at the last take it will rejoyce exceedingly in the spoyle of it therefore he rejoyces in the Word as they that doe divide the spoyles And truly whereas common people complaine of the badnesse of their memories this would be a marvellous helpe to their memories if they would heare with delight therefore David sayth Psal 119. 16. I will delight my selfe in thy Statutes I will not forget thy Word This delight he meanes will strengthen our memories Now contrarie to this are a great number that heare without all delight and account it a great wearinesse Mal. 1. 13. and those the dullest houres that they spend in hearing Well the Lord hath threatned that the Word shall never doe us good unlesse that wee attend to it with love and delight 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions to beleeve Lyes A fearefull threatning much to be considered in these dayes For this is the reason that Popish trumperies and hellish delusions have such entertainment because God in his just judgement gives up those to such strong delusions that love not the strict Truth of the Word of God 5 You must heare the Word with application of it to your owne hearts and lives apply every truth to your selves for your owne use and comfort and terror and instruction as it is Iob 5. last Heare this and know it for thy selfe carry this truth home to thine owne heart And First there is no truth of God taught out of his Word but it concernes every one of Gods people and was intended for our use Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever is written is written for our learning Secondly there is no truth can be taught to doe us good unlesse that wee apply it as no Plaister can doe the Patient good unlesse it be applyed no meat is able to doe us any good be it dressed never so curiously unlesse it be eaten and digested This comparison is applyed by the Prophet to this purpose Isa 55. 2. Hearken diligently unto me and eate ye that which is good unlesse we eate it it will doe us no good Thirdly the faithfull have been wont to apply all to themselves as every member of the body drawes nourishment from the stomacke to make it his owne to which the Apostle alludes Eph. 4. 16. So the Disciples of our Saviour did Math. 26. 21 22. When our Saviour had said that one of them should betray him they were exceeding sorrowfull and began every one of them to say unto him Lord is it I And surely the want of this application is one great cause that the Word profits not because they beleeve it not nor apply the Word unto themselves Heb. 4. 2. The Word preached did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it Now one principall worke of faith is to apply those things that are delivered in the Word But this the most hearers doe exceedingly faile in either not applying or mis-applying of the truth shifting off all upon others and taking little or nothing to themselves As wee have a notable example of this Rom. 1. ult compared with Rom. 2. 1. In the former place the Apostle speakes of some that knowing the judgement of God That those that doe such things are worthy of death yet not onely doe such things but take pleasure in those that doe them yet in the beginning of the next Chapter you find the same men judging and condemning of others yet thinking and perswading themselves that they being guiltie of the same sinnes shall escape the judgement of God Why but because they apply not to themselves but mis-apply to others the things they heare Many such hearers there are in these dayes which are very cunning in shifting off the threatnings of God against their owne Drunkennesse and Whoredome and Swearing c. yet very apt to pinne the same Word upon others Well these are not wise for themselves and all their hearing shall doe them no good Thus much of the duties required in hearing Now follow those duties that are required after hearing And these are chiefely thus 1 Wee must be very carefull to remember and keepe that which wee have heard Prov. 4. 4. My sonne let thine heart retaine my words and Vers 21. Keepe them in the midst of thine heart As a man that hath a Iewell will be carefull to locke it up in the safest Chest hee hath lest it should be stolne away Which is the very comparison of the Wise-man Prov. 6. 20 21. So Mary Luke 2. 51. kept all the sayings in her heart and David Psal 119. 11. hid the Commandements in his heart and hee gives the reason That hee might not sinne against the Lord. And the truth is that as meat that is eaten if it remaines not in the stomacke it will never doe us good so the best spirituall food that can be except it be retained by us will not profit us Luke 8. 15. The good Ground are they which with an honest and good heart having heard the Word keepe it c. Many there are that are very carelesse of this dutie They thinke they have discharged themselves abundantly if they heare the whole Sermon attentively as though there were nothing more required at their hands Like our Saviours hearers Math. 22. 22. When they heard him they marvelled and left him and went their way but wee never heare more of them So many heare desirously and with open and greedie eares but as wee say it goes in at one eare and out at another it stayes not for any after-use but a little present admiration Others heare and the Word smites them a little on their Consciences and wounds and one would thinke some good thing would be wrought upon them but they goe away and the motion dyes They are as men that are Sea-sicke whilest the Word humbles them and makes their Consciences to wamble within them but they are as whole as a Fish when as they are once landed at the Church doore Or like unto Mettals which are soft and plyable whilest they are in the fire so these are in the hearing but shortly they loose all the efficacie of the Word and become harder than before Well let us in the feare of God hearken diligently to the words of the Holy-Ghost Heb. 2. 1. That wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard lest at any time wee should let them slip or runne out like riven Vessels Why what is the danger How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great Salvation 2 Wee must meditate and seriously thinke of that that wee have
heard that is more than remembring There is a great deale of difference betwixt the possessing of goods and the using and imploying of them for our benefit betwixt the laying up of garments in our Wardrobes and the wearing of them upon our backes to keepe us warme this latter is done by meditation Prov. 6. 22 23. My sonne binde the Commandements continually upon thy heart and tie them about thy necke It is a phrase of speech borrowed from garments that are bound about the body for meditation bindes the Word close to the heart It is said of Mary Luke 2. 19. that shee pondered the words of the Angel in her heart and David was frequent in this dutie Psal 119. 15. I will meditate in thy Precepts saith he And it was Pauls advice to Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 15. Meditate upon these things give thy selfe wholly to them that thy profiting may appeare to all First this is the way to make men profit by the Word of God and that so evidently that all may take notice of it this is one great benefit of the Word meditated upon Iosh 1. 8. Thou shalt meditate in the Booke of the Law day and night To what end That thou mayest observe to doe according to all that is written therein Secondly this course will argue unfained love unto the Word Psal 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day Thirdly this will greatly encrease our comfort in the Word and cause us to feele much more sweetnesse in it even as the chewing of our meat makes us to taste much more sweetnesse in it Psal 119. 15 16. he saith I will meditate on thy Precepts and have respect unto thy wayes I will delight my selfe in thy Statutes Meditation ever brings with it delight Fourthly this will greatly encrease our knowledge Psal 119. 99. I have more understanding than my teachers Why because thy testimonies are my meditation Now if this be required after hearing how is it possible that they should profit by the Word that never scarcely thinke of it afterwards It is noted of the Disciples that though they had seene Christs mightie power in the miracle of the Loaves yet because they considered not the miracle their hearts were hardened i. because they did not meditate upon it they were never the better for it And thus it usually speedes with those that are carelesse in the performing of this dutie 3 Wee must conferre of that wee have heard and repeat it amongst our selves and examine the Scriptures about the truth of that that is delivered I joyne them all together for so they may well be in the practice of them For conference David saith Psal 119. 172. My tongue shall speake of thy Word for all thy Commandements are righteousnesse This was ordinarily practised by the Disciples of our Saviour Christ when he had taught how hardly rich men shall be saved Mark 10. 26. They were astonished out of measure and said amongst themselves Who then can be saved So they conferred about another Sermon of our Saviour Ioh. 16. 17 18. Now repetition of Sermons is especially required of them that have families to repeat the Word unto them Deut. 11. 18 19. You shall lay up these my words in your hearts and you shall teach them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thy house yea it is said to be the chiefest thing that the Lord had respect unto in giving us his Word and the knowledge thereof that we might instruct our families in it Deut. 4. 10. Gather ye my people together and I will make them heare my words that they may learne to feare me and may teach their children And this if it were practised carefully would both make children and servants more carefull to heare and to attend unto the publike Ministery and better our memories that wee may be much better able to retaine that which we heare and it will also worke an inward feeling in us and our children of that which we have heard Therefore Deut. 6. 6 7. it is called the whetting of them upon our children repetition doth set an edge upon their dulnesse Yea further for the searching and examining of the Scriptures we are commanded 1 Thess 5. 21. to try all things and to hold fast that which is good And the example of those noble Beraeans is commended unto us Act. 17. 11 12. that searched the Scriptures dayly concerning those things that were delivered by Paul Therefore many of them beleeved Therefore it is a grievous neglect that people in these dayes are guilty of that neither conferre concerning the Word they are ashamed of it and which is a fearefull reproach unto them the Word of God is a reproach unto them Ier. 6. 10. nor yet repeat Sermons in their families they are like Martha Luke 10. 41. troubled about so many worldly occasions nor yet examine and search the Scriptures And therefore are easily carried about with every winde of Doctrine and never established and setled in the Truth 4 Wee are to put in practise whatsoever wee heare till that our hearts and lives are quite changed by it Iam. 1. 22. Be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiving your owne soules i. they cozen themselves by false reasonings and arguments or by sophisticall Syllogismes reasoning after this or the like manner He that heares the Word is a good Christian. But I heare the Word c. Or thus He that heares not shall be damned But I heare the Word Therefore I shall be saved But how doth this follow For though the neglect or contempt of the Word is sufficient to condemne a man yet the hearing of the Word is not sufficient to save a man Well obedience is the end of hearing Deut. 5. 1. Heare O Israel the Statutes which I speake in your eares this day that ye may learne them and keepe them and doe them The like ye finde Iam. 1. 25. Yea obedience to the Word must be speedie without any delayes or procrastinations as it is said of the Colossians Col. 1. 6. that the Gospel brought forth fruit in them from the very day they heard it and knew the grace of God in truth And the Prophet David resolved Psal 119. 60. I made hast and prolonged not the time to keepe thy Commandements And this is a singular frame of heart because the putting of the Word in practise immediately is a great advantage to the hearer seeing then the affections of the heart are quicke and lively which with delayes dye and decay very suddenly Now alas for the wonderfull paucitie of such obedient hearers for very few doe practise any thing they heare leave any sinne or doe any dutie and therefore they must needs prove like the House built on the Sand when the time of tryall shall come they must needs fall Math. 7. 27. Againe there are many that in hearing have good motions and purposes but they are like
would you take this Letter and how often would you reade it with what willingnesse of affection Now here is an Epistle sent from Heaven to advise you that you are all Traitors and Rebels against Heaven and yet here in this Letter God offers the bloud of his Sonne and you may be reconciled and will you neglect it This is the matter of this Epistle it brings matter of deliverance from the greatest Curse that can befall the creature and the greatest advancement 6 It is the bottomelesse Treasurie of all high sweet and excellentest things The Mysterie of the Trinitie the Majestie of God the Love of God and of Christ this sufferings the Spirits workings the happinesse of the Saints and the glory of Heaven c. 7 It must be our Iudge at the last day Ioh. 12. 48. Every honest Sermon is but the Word of God unfolded and a bunch of Arrowes wrapped up and unfolded are all one 8 It onely can cure a wounded Conscience the greatest calamitie that ever the heart of man was acquainted with and that which no Arme of flesh or created Power no man or Angel can ease at all 9 In it onely are to be had Deeds and Evidences to shew for eternall Life and Acquittances for discharge from eternall Death 10 It hath saved all the soules that are in Heaven Rom. 10. 13. 11 It onely is the object of divine and infused Faith Humane testimonies and authorities beget onely humane Faith Therefore you must reverence this Word 2 Some Motives taken from the most fearefull and cursed estate of those who neglect and reject the Ministerie of the Word hating to be reformed by it Marke and take to heart thine unspeakable miserie whosoever thou art that despisest the Ministerie Take a taste of it in these passages 1 They are deprived by this meanes of the love and favour of God the onely fountaine of all comfort peace and glory which is infinitely the dearest and most unvaluable losse that can be imagined 2 Of their part and portion in the bloud of Christ one drop whereof is incomparably more worth than Heaven and Earth men and Angels or the creatures of a thousand Worlds 3 Of the fatherly protection care and providence of the blessed Trinitie the glorious guard of Angels the comfortable communion of the blessed Saints and all the sweet contentments that follow thence 4 Of the quiet joy and tranquilitie of a good Conscience a Iewell farre more worth than the whole World were it all turned into one unvaluable Pearle of unvaluable price and of all the heavenly illuminations cherishments and comforts wherewith the Holy-Ghost is wont to visit and refresh the hearts of holy men 5 Of the sweet peace and true contentment in this life and of all comfortable right and religious interest to any of the creatures For without a good Conscience there was never found joy in any mans heart or sanctified enjoyment of any thing in the World and never shall any man have a good Conscience that gives allowance to any Lust or lives delightfully in any sinne 6 Of a Crowne of Life the unspeakable joyes of Heaven that immeasurable and endlesse comfort that there shall be had with all the children of God Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyrs all our Christian acquaintance yea with the Lord himselfe and all Angels with Christ our Saviour and Lambe slaine for us the Prince of Glory yea the Glory of Heaven and Earth and brightnesse of the everlasting Light c. To these privative consequents adde a serious consideration upon those terrible flaming places Deut. 29. 19 20. Prov. 1. 23 24. Isa 6. 9 10. 1 Sam. 2. 25. Act. 13. 46. By continuing thy contempt and rejecting the Light of the Gospel thou mayest come thou knowest not how soone to sinne against the Holy-Ghost as the Pharises did Math. 12. 24 31. For sinne against the Holy-Ghost may be committed as well 1 By those who although they doe acknowledge and confesse the Truth which they doe blaspheme yet they have not yet professed it or given up their names to it as were those Scribes and Pharises and there are many such in these dayes who have not as yet given their name to the Truth which yet notwithstanding being well knowne and acknowledged they doe blaspheme 2 As those who have not only acknowledged in themselves the Truth that they blaspheme but have professed the same before others that are the favourers of Truth as Iulian Porphyrius Alexander the Copper-smith and many others of which you may see Heb. 6. 10. So many amongst us at this day 3 Some taken from the survey of those judgements which contempt of the Ministerie may bring upon the place where it is planted 1 It may remove the Candlesticke and be plagued with the utter losse of the Ministerie Consider Math. 8. 34. 10. 13. 21. 41. 2 They may have Prophets but such as are fooles they may have men of the Spirit but those that be mad Hos 9. 7. By a foole is meant not a naturall but spirituall foole Prov. 1. 8. Ier. 4. 22. Isa 5. 20. By mad is understood not a man out of his wit or distracted in minde but he that like a mad Dogge rageth and rayleth against the Truth of God and sinceritie of his Saints which is a great judgement 3 They may enjoy faithfull Teachers but to their further hardening as the Israelites did Isaiah Isa 6. 9 10. Which of all other judgements that God can inflict in this life is the most fearefull 4 By this meanes they may make sad the heart and affections of their Teachers that they cannot with that chearefulnesse as they desire performe the offices of their Ministerie Which as it discourageth the Teachers and will one day light heavie on the causers and procurers thereof so it is unprofitable for the hearers and deprives them of much good they might otherwise enjoy as appeares Heb. 13. 17. 4 Some from consideration of those confusions and desolations which it pulls with great violence even upon whole Kingdomes Looke upon such places as these 2 Chron. 36. 16 17 c. Ier. 25. 3. c. Cap. 35. 15. Rev. 6. 4. c. The glorious Light of those seven Candlestickes in Asia mentioned in the Revelations was long since for their unfruitfulnesse coldnesse and contempt of the Word turned into the darke Midnight of Heresie Apostasie and Mahometisme Rome that was anciently the glory of the Westerne Churches lyes now drowned in Superstition soaking in damnable Idolatry and plunged over head and eares in the Doctrine of Devils Many strong and noble Limbes of the reformed Churches in high Germanie have lyen for some yeeres in their teares of bloud groaning under the mercilesse tyrannie of the bloudie Antichristians and have wofully received the marke of the Beast againe Now assuredly it was the loathing the heavenly Manna which made the Lord to utter his Voice before the Armie of the enemies at Prague
upon any part of Gods Word on God himselfe his Wisedome Power his Mercie or on the infinite varietie of good things which wee receive of his free bountie upon his workes and judgements upon our sinnes and the vilenesse of our corruption that wee yet carry about us upon our mortalitie and changes in this World upon our manifold afflictions of this life and how wee may in best manner beare and goe through them and the benefit thereof upon the manifold and great priviledges which wee enjoy dayly through the inestimable kindnesse of God towards us upon the foure last things but especially of those things that wee have most speciall need of Of the thing meditated upon consider First The definition or description Secondly The distribution sorts kinds or parts Thirdly Causes especially efficient and finall Fourthly The fruits and effects which it bringeth forth Fifthly The subject wherein it is or about which it is occupied Sixtly The qualities or properties adjoyned And know that oftentimes in common practice these three the finall cause the fruit or the effect the use or propertie of a thing are often confounded Seventhly The contrarie Eightly The comparison Exemplifie in the joyes of Heaven of which see Hall In sinne of which see Practice of Christianitie pag. 293. Vpon this occasion let us peruse in this manner Fasting and the Plague 5 A fifth meanes to profit by the Word is Teaching Praying with and Catechizing your children and servants To which Dutie be stirred up and strengthened by First Scriptures Deut. 4. 9. 6. 7. 11. 19. Psal 78. 5 6. Exod. 12. 26 27. 13 14. Iosh 4. 6 7 21 22. Deut. 6. 20 21. Eph. 6. 4. Secondly By the patterne and practice of holy Parents from time to time Consider for this purpose the carriage of Abraham Gen. 18. 19. David Prov. 4. 4. Bathsheba Prov. 31. 1. Lois and Eunice 2 Tim. 1. 5. Thirdly By the authoritie of the ancient Fathers 1 Heare Austin Notwithstanding my deare friends in so great a difference of manners and such abominable corruption governe your Houses governe your Children governe your Families As it behoves us to speake to you in the Church so it pertaines to you to doe in your Houses that yee may be able to give a good account of those who are under you Againe I pray thee my Brother I pray thee shew to all under thee of meere good will from the least to the greatest in thy House the love and sweetnesse of Heaven the bitternesse and feare of Hell and be thou solicitous and watchfull because thou shalt render an account to the Lord for all those under thee that are in thy House Declare charge command perswade them that they would take heed of Pride of Slandering of Drunkennesse of Fornication of Luxurie Anger Perjurie Covetousnesse which is the root of all evill 2 Nazianzen Hast thou a Child Let not wickednesse take advantage and occasion Let it be endued with sanctitie and consecrated to thy spirit from the very Cradle I know he meanes it immediately of Baptisme but by Analogie that binds also to have a care of religious education Fourthly by Reasons First Thy Children sprung from thy Loines and came into the World to encrease the number of Gods people to learne the way to Heaven and walke in it not onely to uphold thy House inherite thy Possessions and convey thy Name to future Generations The glorifying of our God serving our Brethren in love salvation of our owne Soules are the chiefe ends why we live a little while in this World Now Parents should be most solicitous to further their Children for the attainement of the maine end and most soveraigne good Secondly Neglect of this Dutie makes Parents worse to their Children than to their Beasts For 1 They provide for their Beasts all things necessarie for them but in their owne deare Children they neglect that One necessarie thing 2 They procure for and put their Beasts to all things of which they are capable Their Children are capable of Grace and Immortalitie and they never meddle nor move them to looke that way or lay hold upon eternall Life Thirdly Let the remarkable and rufull example of Eli be for ever a keene spurre in the sides of slouthfull Parents to quicken them to this Dutie Fourthly Thou art farre more cruell than the Ostrich and the Dragon and mayest be said to have suckt the brests of Tygres and to be hewed out of the hardest Rocke if having brought thy Children forth into this World limbes for the Devill and fewell for Hell-fire thou labour not might and maine to get them new-borne the members of Christ and freed from everlasting flames Fifthly Grace onely is able to make thy Children truly obedient serviceable and everlastingly thankfull having now a double tye first birth secondly new-birth Then onely and never before doe they begin to pray for their Parents to deale faithfully in their businesses not to long for their death Sixtly A conscionable and constant performance of this Dutie in their life time will fill Parents hearts full of sweetest joy and heavenly comfort upon their Beds of Death when they see by their care and zeale for their spirituall good that holy knowledge and wisedome planted in their Childrens hearts which will bring them after them to eternall blisse or how soever consciousnesse of a conscionable discharge of their Dutie in this respect will infinitely refresh them Seventhly It is the way to make thy posteritie truly honourable and to meet thee in Heaven Those Children which are taught by thee may teach the same things unto theirs and those to others c. Eightly Thy Children neglected in this point and so dying impenitently will curse thee everlastingly in Hell for thy bloudie inexpiable crueltie towards them in this kind Ninthly Besides innumerable sinnes of thine owne the least of which merits eternitie of Hellish torments thou hast justly set upon thy Score by this unconscionable murthering negligence the sinnes and sinnefull courses of thine owne Children which will lye full heavie upon thy Conscience when it shall be ragingly enlightened by the long provoked wrath of God 6 The next meanes is Prayer Prov. 2. 3 4 5. 7 The seventh meanes is Practise See Iohn 7. 17. 8 The eight is Experience See Dike of the heart pag. 69. 3 Be none of the reprobate grounds Math. 13. of which see Dike Taylor 4 Be none of those who invited to the Marriage of the Kings Sonne Math. 22. either first wilfully contemne Vers 3. secondly or carelesly dis-esteeme Vers 5. thirdly or cruelly persecute Vers 6. 5 Reject all those Hellish temptations which doe mightily keepe off the dint and power of the most piercing Word and being entertained will cause the Word preached to be but as the breath of the Minister scattered in the Ayre and