things for you having by his Grace brought you so farre in the way to Heaven and given you such great and singular priviledges and many more then I have named in the next place I intreat you to consider what manner of persons ought you to be in all manner of holy Conversation Godlinesse Oh study now to walke worthy of the Lord in all well pleasing being fruitfull in every good worke Oh consider what the Lord hath deserved at your hands what he hath redeemed chosen and called you for why he hath called you into the followship of his Son Jesus Christ and with each other and bestowed such great mercy upon you and labour to answer Gods ends Eph. 4.1 Col 1 10 1. Thess 2.12 1. Give up your selves wholly to God devote your soules and bodys and all your injoyment strength wisdome all the guifts that you have received of God unto him doe it freely and heartily say Oh Lord all that I am or have is all thine here Lord I freely give it to thee againe 1 Sam. 1.11.28 1 Pet. 4 19. 2. Love your Heavenly Father and Saviour as much as you can oh you heires of Hâ—aven the more you love him the fuller your hearts will be of Love to him the more cheerefully you will serve him and obey him the more you will fear to offend him or to grieve him Love will keep you from running out after the Creature oh t is a heart preserving grace NOw for the increasing and actuating your love to the ever blessed God Psal 18.1 2. 1. Consider and realize much the great Love the anspeakable love of the Lord Jesus to you it hath and it will for ever even astonish and confound men and Angels 1 Joh. 3.1 Rom. 5.8 9 10. 2. Consider and realize the freenesse of it he loved thee because it pleased him no other reason can be given for it but because he would he saw nothing in you worthy of his Love he might have hated you and loved others Rom. 9.11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Deut. 7.6 7 8 9. 3. Consider how this Love hath been expressed God hath not expressed it by giving you corruptible things by giving you earthly inheritances not in giving you a reprobates portion no nor yet in making you perfectly holy without spot but in parting with his own deare Son in giving the dearly beloved of his Soule unto a cursed death for you to redeem you from the curse of the Law from sinne and Sathan to make you righteousnesse with the righteousnesse of God 2 Cor. 5. ult Rom. 5.8 1 Joh. 4.10 4. Believe and pray much for hearts full of Love go to him and say Oh Lord thou that hast all fullnesse of love I pray thee supply me Oh Lord I am empty Oh fill me Oh Lord thou hast commanded me to love thee Oh I desire to obey thee Oh thou hast promised to give it Deut. 30.6 Rom. 5.5 5. Consider that God is infinite in Glory and in Holinesse All the excellency beauty and holinesse that is upon all the Creatures is but a reflection of his Holinesse and Glory Oh how should poor wormer love him Exod. 15.11 6. Consider he hath loved you with an unchangeable love your sins Could never hinder its nor shall never be able to breake it he will continue to Love you though you oftentimes abate in your love to him Is 55.3 Jer. 31 3. 2. Take heed of Hypocrily in all your undertakings and walkings your words and deportments towards God and men be sure to serve the great God in sincerity and in truth and whatever you professe promise or do to or for men do it without guile Coll. 3.23 1 Pet. 2.1 Jam. 3.17 1. Consider if you do any thing though never so Good an action never so worthy of praise from mâ—n hypocritically the blessed God will loose his glory 't is not a Pelievers doing of a good worke that glorifies God unlesse his whole heart be sincerely ingaged unto God in the performance And therefore the Apostle injoyns servants and all others to do what they doe heartily as to the Lord Col. 3.23 1 Chron. 28.9 2 Chron. 25.1 2. 2. Be sure that you will loose the Comfort God hath appointed his servants their imployments and in their faithfull and dilligent performing their duty to him he hath promised to give them Comfort Joy and Peace but now when men leave out the speciall qualification to which God hath promised acceptance and his presence and other benefits they shall loose the blessing promised 1 Cor. 28 9. 3. You will lose your reward hereafter you shall never heare at the day of Judgement one word for your comfort of any duty that you have performed but what hath been done in syncerity and Truth 25. Math 21. 4. Con if you doe not serve the Lord Christ in syncerity and in Truth you will grieve the heart of one of your greatest friends the Holy Ghost 4 Eph. 30. 4. Con. You will cause the blessed God to depart from you God cannot he will not hold communion with such as are hypocriticall in their duties you may not be hypocrities yet you may have much hypocrisie mixed with your duties and so much if you be not watchfull and very carefull as may cause the Lord to withdraw from you 3. I Beseech you endeavour to avoid all occasions of evill what ever may endanger and ensnare your hearts and cause them to forget the Lord and to depart from him as 1. The company of sinners a man can hardly touch pitch and not be defiled therewith he must be a strong Christian indeed that can associate himselfe much with sinners and not be insnared and seduced by them Psal 6.8 Psal 26.4 2. Be sure that you give not way to temptations but resist them yeeld not to the tempter a moment if you doe you will be foyld David and Sampson and Jehosaphat you know were overcome by temptations because they dallied with them and did not resist them 3. Take heed that you be not too bold in using your Christian Liberty it is easy to run too farre that way th people of God are not so often prejudiced by unlawfull things as by lawfull your hearts will be soon taken with these poor vain delights that perish wich the useing Gal 5.13 1 Cor. 6.12 4. Then you must be very carefull to turne away your eyes from beholding such objects as may probably provok and stirre up your Lusts those things that your hearts are soonest affected withall that are most apt to draw your minds and affections after them as the fashions and 〈◊〉 of this present age you will quickly loose your minds oh I like such cloathes and such fashions Psal 119.37 Joh. 31.1 5. Avoid occasions of evill in this walke not so much by example as by precept look not too much upon the practises of Rich Wise and Learned men it is not safe to follow examples especially of such men except they be
yea he will if you do cast your selves and all your concernments upon him 2 Cor. 9.8 2 Tim. 1.12 Jud. 24. Phil. 4.19 7. God hath pronounced such as doe not relie on him but upon any other thing acâ—ursed oh 't is very dangerous Jerem. 17.5 8. Many promises are made to this duty God hath engaged himself by promise to you that shall rest alone on him to pardon you to helpe you to protect you to give you peace Mark. 16.16 Isa 41.10 Rom. 5.1 9. It is of all other duties the greatest and such a duty that if it be well performed will as a meanes enable you to performe all other duties that you owe to God or men you will hereby be inabled to pray to fight against flesh and blood yea against the Devill himselfe You will engage the great God to stand by you to supply you with all grace at all times Eph. 6.11 12 13 14 15 16 17. Math. 21.22 Notes of living by faith 1. YOu live by faith and rest on Christ when you can acquiesce satisfie and quiet your hearts in him when all creatures and creature supports and comforts faile you then you can trust in him and say I have interest in an able and faithfull God in a full and all sufficient Christ and here I can rest my soule and I am fully satisfyed I have enough in having him here lys my happinesse he hath made a Covenant that is sure and certaine and this is all my salvation 2 Sam. 23.5 but if you despond in your spirits complaine murmur and are as persons undone when the Lord takes away Creature supports then certainly you rested upon these things A man may think that he doth believe and relie on God with a strong faith so long as he is hedged about with Creature comforts but very difficult to know whether he can live by faith indeed at such a time 1 Jam. 30.6 Prov. 18 10. 2. If it be more and more familiar and easy to you you can quickly and readily go to your resting place and not account it a strange thing Psal 56.3 Isa 26.4 3. If you are not discouraged in the work God sets you about because of the difficulties you meet withall in it but you are carried on with much resolvednesse and boldnesse of spirit to doe your duty yea though your way be hedged up with thornes yet you will not decline any one duty it is a signe that you rest on Christ. Gen 22.10 first verses 20. Act. 24. 4. If you can keep your ground and stand stedfast and keep close to God in times of temptations and raising up of that unbeliefe that is in your hearts if you can say that none of these things move you 6. Eph. 11. to 18.7 Math. 26. 5. If when the Lord withdraws and hides his face from you when your graces are dead your Sanctification clouded your light is gone out as to your present sence I say if then you can rest on the name of the Lord 50. Isa 10.43 Psal 5. and stay upon the God of Jacob then to conclude well though it be a sad and cloudy day now yet I shall see the Sun-shine of grace againe 6. If when you see your emptinesse wants and insufficiency you can then go freely unto him who hath all fullnesse of all grace for supply and there wait untill it please him to satisfy your desires and you aâ—e kept from going back to broken Cisternes then you live by Faith 30. Isa 18. 2 Chron. 20.12 7. If you can quietly and cheerfully commit your selves to God all your cares troubles and injoyments and mind nothing but your duty and priviledges how you may receive from God and how you may live to him and please him well in all things how you may walk worthy of the Lord and bring forth fruit to his praise and take no care but a dutifull care what you shall eat and what you shall drink but throw your selves on God for these things then you Live by Faith 4. Phil. 6. 1 Pet. 57. 2 Tym. 1.12 NOw then for your comfort and incouragement know that if you can find that you are thus brought home to Christ that there is a reall hearty â—ntract made between Christ and your soule and that now it is your care to rest and rely on him then know for your comfort 1. That you have an interest in and a right unto all the promises that are made in Christ unto Believers the Father Sonne and Holy spirit are all by Covenant engaged to you to doe you good his wisdome his strength his goodnesse and farthfullnesse nay his Justice 1 Joh. 1.9 oh you that are the Lordâ— blessed ones rejoyce and be exceeding glad you may 't is your priviledge 2 Cor. 1.20 Joh. 18 21 23. 1 Joh 1 9. 2. You have freedom and liberty to treat with God about the great concernments of your soules or bodys yea you may draw neer unto him with boldnesse and confidence and make your requests known unto him Oh precious priviledge Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. Rom. 8.15 Heb. 4.15 16. 3. You have an interest in Christs love he can and will receive you and your Sacrifices that you shall offer up to God in his name he will plead your case in Heaven be sure he will never neglect you if you doe not neglect him he expressed his hearty love to his poor friends when he was leaving of the world promising them that if they should aske any thing in his name he would do it he that loves you can doe what he will for you Joh. 14.13 14 15. Joh. 15.7 John 16.23 24 26. Joh. 17. 4. God the Father himselfe loveth you Jesus Christs Father and your Father loves you notwithstanding your former sinnes and present infirmitys he loves you with an everlasting love before you loved him he had his heart fixed on you looking upon you in Christ when you were sinners though he loved you not with the love of delight and complacency as now he doth having stampt his own Image upon you Joh. 16.26 27. Joh. 14.23 5. Be sure that your Heavenly Father will never leave you nor forsake you provided that you endeavour to please him and continue faithfull unto him he will not doe as men to love for a month or a yeare and provide for their friends for a few days but as his love will be eternall so will his care be also he will provide for your soules and bodys Rom. 8.32 he delights in the Prosperity of his Servants Heb. 13.5 2 Chr. 15.2 6. You have an interest in and a peculiar right unto all the good things that Christ hath he hath purchased all things that pertaine to life and Godlinesse you being Christs all these benefits are yours name what you will that may make for your well being here and your eternall Salvation and happinesse hereafter Oh blessed portion 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. Eph. 1 14. Rom. 8.32 NOw Beloved the Lord having done all these
transcendently gracious men follow men so farre as their practises agree with the precepts of God Phil. 3.17 1 Cor. 11.1 4. IF you desire to live as Christians and to walke worthy of the Lord then be ware of Idlenesse be alwaies imployed in some honest businesse for Idlenesse is a very great sinne and it will bring you into many inconveniencies Prov 31.27 Ezek 16.49 1 Tim. 5 13. 1 Tim 5.10 1. You will thereby tempt Satan to tempt you the Divell will be often visiting of an idle person and tempting him to many sinnes as he did David 2. Sam. 11. 2. Idlenesse will indispose your soules and bodies for spirituall duties it will bind up your hands and hearts if you give up your selves to idlenesse you will not be able to pray or heare or meditate or examine your hearts you will be putting off duties from time to time resolve to day to be better and to morrow when to morrow comes then you will be as unfit as before and then you will put off God and quiet your consciences with new resolutions and so never bring any thing to passe that you desire to doe and God requires of you 3. You will thereby incurre deadnesse dulnesse and regardlesnesse upon your hearts which will prove a heavy affliction to you you will be uncapable of injoying God in his Ordinances or to worship God spiritually 4. Idlenesse will bring continuall guilts upon you to trouble and disturb your consciences you will never be at quiet but alwaies perplexed and tormented 5. Idlenesse will expose you to many sinnes God will permit many stumbling blocks to lye in your way God oftentimes punisheth one sinne with another you will meet with many occasions to draw you to the commitment of other sinnes as David found by sad experience 6. Idlenesse will imbolden your Lusts to break out it will give vent to Lusts Idle persons have one Lust or other continually breaking out in words or actions 5. IF you will walk worthy of the Lord be carefull not to give way unto the indispositions of your hearts take heed of an indifferent frame of heart when you find an indifferency and loathness upon your hearts to pray or meditate or to examine your hearts or practises or to any other duty when you begin to have a very low esteeme of any duty oh friends suffer it not to be in you with quietnesse but 1. Goe to God immediatly in Christ's name and acquaint him with your condition say oh Lord it is so and so with me I have low and undervaluing thoughts of thy Commandements and my duty to thee Oh Lord I intreat thee for Jesus Christ his sake deliver my poor soule that I may serve thee with gladnesse Psal 55 22 Psal 119.32 Psal 4.1 2. Consider how deare it cost you heretofore when you were through your carelesnesse and neglectfulnesse under such a frame of heart what expence of labour paines and care you were at in praying weeping waiting hearing and the like before you were delivered 3. If it be objected to you that you cannot Pray or use any meanes to remove it from you at such a time consider that you ought to doe what you can though you cannot doe what you would as you would If you can but creep to God and only acquaint him with your present burthens it is not your unfitnesse if you doe what you can in Christ's name that can altogether hinder your prayers from being accepted Rom. 8.26 27. Psal 103.13 14. 4. Be sure that it will be worse with you before it will be better if you yeeld to them The quieter you are and the lesse you doe to remove such frames of heart the more these indispositions will grow and increase in you if you cannot use means now to remove them you will be lesse able hereafter 5. Consider that so long as you are under such a frame of heart you cannot be fit for any spirituall duty you cannot do any good work well 6. Use such quickenings considerations and Arguments as may probably be a speciall meanes to help you out to free you from these indispositions 1. As first that the blessed God can remove them with a word if he please and that he is willing and able Rom. 4 20 21. 2. That Jesus Christ came into the world to give life and to give it more abundantly he came to give quickening grace to believers through the whole course of their lives as at the first to deliver them out of a state of death and to bring them into a state of life Ioh. 10.10 Jer. 13.3 3. That God hath promised to quicken dead soules to remove all your cloggs and fetters that hinder you from a comfortable walking with him Psal 119.25 Rom 8 11. 4. That the Lord hath delivered you when you sought unto him nay when you were wholly dead in sinnes yea before ever you desired him to doe it for you and surely he will not now refuse to heare and help you when you call upon him Psal 119.50 93. 2 Eph. 5. 5. That it is the Office and work of the Holy Ghost to quicken Believers hearts that he is imployed by the Father and the Sonne in such heart quickning work Ioh. 6.63 6. That it is the will of your heavenly Father that you should serve him with lively chearfull hearts that he cannot endure to have his children lye under a dead indifferent frame of heart 2 Cor. 9.7 7. Consider that God is still your Father and Jesus Christ is still interceding in heaven for you even then when you are so bound up in your hearts as that you cannot bring up your affections to follow your judgements you have still an interest in your Fathers love and in the covenant of Grace and in Christs prayers Rom. 8.34 Ioh. 14.14 Heb. 1.25 6. IF you desire to walk with God then labour much to be watchfull Christians keep a strict eye upon your hearts no Christian like unto a watchfull Christian none so holy so humble so strong so wise and faithfull watchfullnesse is a preserving duty and therefore the Holy Ghost is often pressing it upon the Lords people Math. 24.42 Math. 26.41 Mark 13.33 to the end 1 Cor. 16.13 Coll. 4.2 1 Thes 5 6. 1 Pet. 4 7. 1. Labour to spie out the very first turning away of your hearts from God and then you may prevent your hearts from going any farther when you are upon your watch you will find quickly which way your hearts are enclining and where they intend and for what if you do so constantly and faithfully you will be able to keep your ground and still be Lords over your own hearts under God 2. Watch that you may see and quickly find out what secret flatteries and flesh pleasing insinuations the Divell at any time shall suggest unto you Satan will draw you off from God if possible not by violent temptations but by some sweet suggestions pretending that you may do such and
AN EPISTLE To the Church of Christ in CHIPPIN-NORTON As Also certaine Scripture Rules which Iesus Christ hath given to His Churches to walke by which are approved of and consented unto by all the Members of the said CHVRCH Published for their use and benefit and for the satisfaction of such persons as desire to know the Principles and practises of the Church aforesaid By STEPHEN FORD Pastor As ye have therefore received Christ the Lord so walke ye in him Col. 2.6 And as many as walke according unto this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Gal. 6.16 OXFORD Printed by A. LICHFIELD Printer to the University for T. ROBINSON 1657. An Epistle to the Church of Christ in Chippin-Norton MY Dearely beloved friends my Brethren and Sisters in Christ Jesus when the blessed God inclined my heart to the worke of the Ministry my earnest request to God was that he would be pleased to east my lot in a place where I might be if he saw good eminently usefull in the Church and service of Christ and in order thereunto that he would be pleased to take off my heart from ayming at great things in the world that I might never be carryed away with them so as to neglect the worke of the Lord in any measure and that God would give me an enlarged heart and sufficient abilitys to performe so great a worke diligently and faithfully all my days but it pleased God to hold me in suspence many months after I began to preach sometimes gathering that God would have me fit down in one place sometimes in another but I could not be fully satisfyed where the Lord would have me to abide Whereupon I determined to stay longer in the Vniversity of Oxford and to wayt for a satisfactory answer from God The same week that I thus resolved I was desired to preach the next Lords day at Chippin-Norton which accordingly I did and it pleased God to begin to put a seale to my Ministry there as he had done in other places before and being importuned with much earnestnesse to preach to you once more I was willing so to do Afterward you earnestly with the rest of the Inhabitants desired me to accept of the place and be your Minister At that time I had three places offered me one of them was worth neer twenty times as much as this poor Vicariâ—ge that now I have as many can testify but I found my heart more inclined towards you then towards any of the said places and through Grace I refused all of them for your sakes and after I had spent many days in asking counsell of God I was perswaded and in some measure satisfyed that the Lord would have me abide with you at least for a time And accordingly I found the Lord sweetly and strongly bearing in my former resolutions and promises to God when I was depending upon him for directing and strengthning Grace upon my heart and the Lord was pleased to satisfy your desires by his engaging of my heart to continue with you and I assure you that I am willing to spend and to be spent for you and as I never thought any paines too great nor any difficulty too hard that I have not endeavoured to take and break thorow for the weale and happinesse of your soules so I trust I shall never knowingly neglect any oportunity wher in I may any way further your wellbeing here and your eternall Salvation hereafter Now my beloved the returnes that I doe expect and desire of you for all the sufferings that I have and am still like to undergoe for your sakeâ— for all my temporall losses for my care and paines labour and travel for your everlasting happinesse are that you will be pleased to read consider and practice these following dutys I intreat you all for Jesus Christ his sake for the love you beare to his name his honour for the love you have to your own soules if you love peace of Conscience and desire communion with the ever blessed God if you would have the sweet smiles of your heavenly Father breaking forth upon you for the love you professe to have to the glorious Gospell and Appointments of Christ for the respect you have to the Lords people who love you and pray for you who prayed for you before you could pray for your selves who have seen your conversion rejoyced with you for the Grace of God in you as Barnabas for the Saints at Antioch 11. Act. for the love you beare to me if you desire to lay up to your selves a good foundation against the time to come to have continuall assurance of the Love of God towards you if you would not be stumbling blocks to sinners if you value the pretious blood of your Redeemer if you desire to be prepared for death and to be partakers of that Crown of Glory which is laid up in Heaven for the heires of Heaven such as by patient continuance in well doing seek for it Rom. 2.7 I do beseech you in the first place 1. Try and examine your selves whether God hath throughly and savingly convinced you of your miserable and lost estate and condition by nature Joh. 16.8 which may be known by these particulars 1. Hath God by his Word and Spirit broken and melted your hearts hath it been and is it so still a soule emptying and heart breathing conviction hath the Lord shewn you your own nothingnesse and insufficiency that you have nothing in you that is able in whole or in part to deliver you out of your sad estate that you are poore and miserable and blind and naked Rev. 3.17 without Christs Righteousnesse Isa 55.1 2. 2. Have your convictions been selfe loathing and selfe abhorring convictions Ezek. 36.31 Job 42.5 6. 3. Have you been convinced of the evill of sinne in generall and of your sinnes in particular both of emission and commission how the great the gracious and mercifull God hath been dishonoured by you he who waited to be gracious unto you so many yeares who invited and intreated you to come in and be reconciled to him by Jesus Christ 2 Jer. 19. Rom. 7.13 hath it been the burden of your soules that you should thus requite the Lord to choose rather to serve sinne and Sathan then to serve him Jerem. 3 25. 1 Tim. 1.13 4. Are you brought to loath to hate and abhorre all your sinnes your right hand and right eye sinnes your former beloved sinnes that were espoused to you doe you loath the very garment spotted with the flesh Psal 119.104 113. Rom. 7.15 5. Have you cast off taken your leave of all your former evill ways your flesh pleasing and profitable sinnes as you accounted them can you say that your hearts are brought to this that you had rather suffer much then sinne a little that you had rather die then hugge entertaine or commit any known sinne Ezek. 36.25 Judg. 10.16 Hos 14.8 1 Joh. 3.9 6.
thee about it Oh that I might see but one smile but one good look to encomage me to continue my suit Oh Lord the end of my coming to thee is that I may be made holy as well as happy to be saved from sinne as well as from wrath Oh Lord if thou shouldest reject me I shall dishonour thee to all eternity the thoughts whereof is burthen some to mee if thou shalt please to accept me and adopt me into that family and ingraft me into Christ I shall live to thy honour and glory Oh Lord when bloody persecuting Paul sought for favour for acceptance when Mary Magdalene and other great sinners came to thee for pardon thou didst accept them O Lord thou art as full of Mercy and goodnesse as ever oh for Christs sake for Love and Mercy sake Oh for the Honour and prayse of thy great name pardon love receive me into thine arms of Love Hath the Lord dealt thus with you have you been thus brought to Christ could you never be quiet and satisfyed untill you had peace spoken to you by Christ in answer to your constant and importunate suits and petitions oh then be of good comfort Christ is thine the spirit of God is in thee thou hast an interest in the speciall Love of God and in the Govenant of Grace thou mayst go on tryumphing over sinne death and hell who shall lay any thing to your charge Rom. 8. Christ is at the right hand of the Father for you Oh but beloved your worke is not yet at an end you may not think that it is enough that you are in Christ and Christ in you that now you may fit still and be idle no you just now beginne to worke you never served Christ till he brought you home unto himselfe Oh then now up and be doing and the Lord will be with you My beloved the reason why I have given these few trialls and desired you to try your estates by them is that you may go on in the practice of your duty to God and man the more freely quietly and Comfortably for I am very sensible what advantage the Devill hath upon poor Believers in their Christian walking when they are always upon every temptation ready to doubt whether they are in Christ when they should go about their masters businesse the Divell would faine perswade them that they are not his servants and that they have no relation to him his end is to render their lives uncomfortable and unfruitfull but now when poor soules are sure that they have thus been brought to Christ as before and reasoning thus well I can say that I have been thus drawn to Christ I have chosen him upon his own termes and he hath said he will cast off none that so come to him well I will cast my soule upon his word I l'e trust him with my selfe and all my concernements I le care for nothing but how I may live and honour God how I may bring forth fruite to him I am commanded to cast all my care on him 1 Pet. 5.7 Phil. 4. and to commit my selfe unto him in well doing well I will goe about my Fathers worke and doe what he hath commanded me I beseech you minde this in the whole course of your lives when you are tempted to neglect your worke and fall back to distrustfull feares and doubts about your estates oh then stand up stoutly and be not overtaken with the tempters wiles and you will find it very advantageous to your soules 2. If upon due triall and search you can find that you have been convineed emptyed and humbled and at last brought to Christ as you have heard Oh then be sure there to rest and rely let the free Grace and Mercy of God in and by Christ and the blood and Righteousnesse of Christ manifested and held forth in the Promises be the foundation you rest upon rest there for continuall pardon for acceptance for all supplys of Grace all must come from thence here God will finde you and you shall find God this is your greatest duty yea and your greatest priviledge a priviledge farre greater then Adams Now to move you and presse you to this great duty 1. Consider that it is an easier matter then most of the Lords people think it is to rest and live upon some broken Cistern Jer. 2.13 after that they are in Christ and are Justifyed As first upon Prayer when they have prayed with more affection then ordinarily they doe or secondly upon brokennesse and enlargement of heart or thirdly on former experiences they are of singular use but not to be refted upon not to be set up in the roome of Christ fourthly on grace in them on knowledge faith or love or patience fiftly or on obedience your care to please God your respect unto his Commands beloved you are to blesse God that he hath wrought these things in you and labour to be eminent in them but if you rest and relie upon those or the like expect acceptance because of these things to have your wants supplyed because it is so with you or that God is therefore engaged to you to do you good herein you greatly erre now that you may see that it is an easy thing thus to doe take notice 2. Chron. 14.11 compared 2 Chr. 16.1 to the end Gen. 20.2 Math. 26. 2. Be sure that your old selfish principle will draw you in servility to rest upon something of your own though not altogether as you did before Christ and you were one yet in part it will be so 3. You will exceedingly wrong your own soules if you doe not rest on God and relie wholly on him in Christ as you have heard 4. How unworthy will it be of your profession to Iesus Christ for when you were burdened with your sinnes you sought for ease and reliefe to other helpes and Savioures but they could give you none and being perswaded to goe to Christ alone and to cast all your burdens on him Math. 11.28 29. when you promised him that if he would receive you and take of the guilt of sin from you you would for ever rest on him wholy cast your selves upon him now you have obtained your hearts desire of him be sure it is expected that you should make good your promise live out your profession which you made to him in time of trouble Christ will take it very ill at your hands if now you should neglect him and trust to those things that could not helpe you in time of need Judg. 10.12 13 14. 5. You will cause the Lord Iesus to leave you to your selves yea in time of need when you shall go to him for helpe he will bid you go unto your Gods Judg. 10.14 he will withdraw from you and suspend his strengthening Grace his teaching and comforting presence if you doe rest upon and trust in any other 6. Consider that Christ alone can supply all your wants
such things for they are lawfull and others have done such things that have been holy wise men others have spent much time in seasting and merry meetings in jestings and merry discourses in sleeping and idlenesse and why not you also why these things are not altogether unlawfull and many other such wayes he hath to seduce you 3. Be sure to keep a strict watch when you are in vaine evill company for then you will be in great danger of being betrayed your hearts will soon be drawn to close with them at least to a conniving at them or to speak something that may manifest too much of your consenting to them and make them the more bold in their practises and betray your own hearts Psal 39.1 2. 4. Observe your hearts when providence calls you to change either your places or businesses or both for then you will be in great danger of loosing your hearts and your God too many gracious hearts have found it true by sad experience that have kept close to God for the most part after they have been converted so long as they have lived in the same places and followed the same imployments but in and after some considerable changes they have miserably fallen and departed from God 2 Sam. 11. 5. When you meet with any great disappointments and crosse providences or God at any time gives you your hearts desires then be sure to have a strict eye over your hearts for if you are not exceeding carefull at such times you will backslide from God for then your thoughts will be taken up about making some carnall advantag by the one or in looking too much on the second causes in the other at such times either your hearts will be too high or too low Job 1. 1 Sam. 1. 6. Watch when God calls you to the solemne performance of any spirituall duty either privately or publiquely least when you come to the performance you come without hearts or without hearts that will rather hinder you then help you 1 Pet. 4.7 7. Be sure to watch your hearts when you are in holy duties especially when you pray or speak before others or when you joyne with others in prayer your hearts will be like the fooles eyes in every corner of the earth at such a time or pride and selfe exalting will arise in your hearts 1 Cor. 3. 8. When you have performed any spirituall duties and you have met with God in it you have been filled with joy and enlargements of heart your hearts are warme and chearfull you can read your names written in the Book of life oh then especially watch then you have more need then at any other times 1. Because your hearts will rest upon your enjoyments and set them up in the room of Christ I doe assure you that I have found my heart readier to rest upon these broken reeds and to neglect Christ then at any other time now you should endeavour to see it Jer. 2.13 2. Because your hearts will attribute that which only is due to God to the Creature and say my own hands have done this or by the excellent gifts and graces of such a man who prayed and Preached admirably and so forget that the holy spirit did all for you and in you Isa 26.12 Phil. 2.13 3. Because the heart is very apt to grow secure and carelesse then more then at another time then Satan and your own hearts will tell you that now all is well and therefore eat drink and be merry untill you have so provoked the spirit as that he will take his leave of your hearts secretly you shall not know when nor how he departs 1 Kings 9.2 compared 11 chap. 1.4 4. Because if you should depart from God after such sweet expressions of his love you will more dishonour and grieve him then before and God will take it as a very proud affront to his Majesty that when he hath sweetly and gratiously answered your desires you should so much slight and undervalue him as not to endeavour to keep what he hath given you 1 King 11 9. Psal 85.8 5. Because when you were waiting and depending on God for such or the like favours as you have received you promised and vowed that you would improve them when the Lord should grant them now you cannot possibly make good your promises and vowes except you be very watchfull Psal 76.11 Eccl. 5.4 5. 6. Because then you have power your faculties and graces are prepared you have divine strength put into your hand to walk with God and to doe some singular thing for God for the farther advantage of your soules more then at another time Psal 36.9 Psal 30.5 Therefore be much in this blessed duty especially at such times and know that 't is not your duty only at such times though especially then but at all times in all places in all businesses in all companies in all your conversings with men and in all your conversings with God 1. NOw to quicken you to this great duty consider these few things first if you shall carefully faithfully and constantly practise this duty you will be able to see and clearly to discerne all passages between God and your soules you will see his comings in and goings out you will know the method of the spirits workings you will be ready to imbrace and receive all his benefits you will quickly see a clear difference between your own spirits and the spirit of God your own wisdome and strength and his you will see the worth of divine assistances 2 Pet. 4.9 the 4 5 6. Chapters of the Cant. 2. You will be well provided to wage warre with the Divell your Lusts and the World you will be able to see your enemies a farre off you will not be surprised but be able to fight with them at a distance and then you will have a very great advantage when you shall be able to fight with your enemies at the swords poynt I can say that when I have fought with sin and Sathan at a distance that I never was conquered but was still a conqueror through the Lord Jesus that strengthened mee 1 Pet. 5.8 Eph. 6. 3. Consider that God hath pronounced such blessed God blesses you even in the very performance of it besides what soule advantages you will have thereby as you have heard Revel 16 15. Math. 24.42 46. 4. Consider that it is your duty to watch therefore do it in obedience to Gods command make Conscience of performing this duty as well and as much as of any other Mark 13.33 34 35 36 37. 5. You will make your passage to Heaven the more comfortable you will make the way easy and plaine you will not be so often at a losse as others are that neglect it you will be able to runne when others can hardly creep you will rejoyce when others mourne Psal 51. 6. God will enable you hereby to be ready to every good worke you will be able to go
Christs worthinesse by his blood and Righteousnesse loke on him as on one that sits at Gods right hand to make intercession for you say unto God Lord though I am unworthy yet thy Son is worthy he hath purchased these mercys that I begge of thee John 14.13 14. 6. Pray earnestly heartily and Spiritually to God take heed of carnall dead heartlesse Sacrifice of formall praying for that will exceedingly prejudice your soules never leave off untill your hearts have been carryed up to God Ioh. 4.24 Coll. 3.23 1. COnsider your Consciences will not let you alone to rest contented except you doe the matter of a duty but then they will be for a time quiet in the thing done but know that no Sacrifice no Prayer can find acceptance with God but a hearty fervent prayer Jam. 5.16 Rom. 12.11 2. God requires the heart in all your dutys and therefore it is but reason that you should give that to him Prov. 23 26. 3. Consider unlesse you pray heartily and earnestly you cannot doe it in Faith now whatsoever is not of Faith is sinne Heb. 11.6 Rom. 24. ult 4. Consider if you doe not pray so you mock God you pretend to doe that which you do not and you know that that is a great sinne Gal. 6.7 Jer. 3.10 5. Consider if you do not pray so you rob God of his own that which is due to him you keep from him will a man rob God saith the Prophet will he be so wicked as to detaine that which he gives unto him Mal. 3.8 Mal. 1.8 9. 6. Consider that you will loose all your labour and paines God will never answer carnall cold heartlesse prayers here nor reward you for them hereafter he will say who hath required these things at your hands Isa 1.11 12 13 14. Math. 7. 7. Continue in prayer be not discouraged and put off with feares that you shall never obtaine that which you pray for because you are not answered presently but go againe and wrestle with God as Jacob did and resolve to take no denyall Gen. 32.24 25 26 27 28. 8. Then when you have prayed wait for and expect an answer looke after your prayers observe what answer the Lord gives to your prayers Psal 85.8 Sam. 11. 9. Commit your selves and your concernment your prayers and all into the hand of Jesus Christ as well after you have prayed as when you are praying and labour to quiet your hearts as the prophet did in the goodnesse of God let him doe what he sees good referre your selves unto him to his wisedome care and love 1 Pet. 5.7 8. I Beseech you brethren take heed of the world engage not your selves in more worldly businesses then you can well mannage and keep your hearts free for God and to have time enough for Spirituall dutys for prayer hearing Conference Meditation and examination 1 Joh 2.15 Rom. 8.6 Phil. 3.18 19. 1 Tim. 6.9 10 11 12. 1. Consider that though it may be profitable for the body yet 't will be very hurtfull and prejudiciall to your soules now you know the soule is much more precious then the body Luk. 12.32 to the 33 Luk. 22.34 2. Consider though you may feare and intend no hurt in so doing to your soules yet your hearts may soon be overcharged with the cares of this life for although in the first beginning your hearts may be kept with God yet by little and little you will find it will grow worldly Math. â— 24 to the end 3. Consider that you have no promise to be assisted and kept by God in so doing because God hath not called you to so many worldly businesses God never calls any of his people in love and mercy to more imployments then they may well do if they will be carefull and yet keep their hearts free for and close to God Coll. 3.1 2. Phil. 3.20 4. Consider if you doe so you will cause both Saints and sinners to have hard thoughts of you you will loose your room in spirituall hearts and sinners will conclude that you are covetuous earthly creatures 2 Tim. 4.10 Phil. 3.19 5. Consider if you engage in more worldly businesses then you ought you will expose your selves to more temptations then you will be able to beare 1 Tim. 6.9 10 11. 6. Consider 't is better to have Communion with God then to have much of the creature to have a praying â—enlarged heart then your purses full of mony and your barnes full of corne it is farre better to be enriched with heavenly things then with earthly Psal 4.6 7 Phil. 3.7 8 9. 7. Consider that Saints must be singular men they must be as lights to guide others wicked men must see that Saints are men of other Spirits of choice Heavenly minds Math. 5.46 47. Isa 63.8 John 17.16 9. ENdeavour to walke very humbly having low thoughts of your selves and shewing much meeknesse and humility before all men in your words deportments and in all things Coll. 3.12 Phil. 2.6 7 8. Prov. 39.23 Jam. 4.6 Isa 57 15. Isa 66.2 1 Pet. 5.5 6. 1. Consider that you were filthy vile wretched Creatures the worst of all excepting Divels before the Lord Jesus Christ did cleanse and wash you before his Righteousnesse covered you Ezek. 16.14 first verses Isa 51.1 Rom. 3.9 10 11 12 13 14 to the 20. 2. Consider that you have deserved nothing but hell and wrath or whatever may make you miserable 3. Consider that to be humble is to be like unto Jesus Christ himselfe he that was and ever shall be Coequall with the Father made himselfe of no reputation how low did he stoop to exalt you Phill. 2.5 6 7 8. 1 Tim. 3.16 John 13.13 14 15. 4. Consider that the more humble you are the more grace you shall have God delights to fill the Humble with Wisedome and knowledge he will open secrets unto such Psal 25. 1 Pet. 5.5 6. 5. Consider that Humility is a great and glorious ornament to Religion none can more honour the Gospell then an humble Christian he is a shining blessed Christian oh how doth humility commend religion unto others even unto Saints and sinners Math. 3.5 6. Consider that the more humble you are the more communion you shall have with God you will have more assisting Grace then others to keep you from backsliding God will quickly take his leave of a proud person but he loves tod well with him that is of a poor and of a contrite heart Is 57.15 Isa 66.2 Psal 138.6 7. Consider that you live upon free grace God may take that from you that of his free Grace he hath given to you if you forget him and lift up your selves with his mercys Math. 25.28 1 Pet. 5.5 8. Consider the great distance that there is between God and you how infinitely great and glorious he is he is glorious in holinesse fearfull in prayses and you are poor nothing Creatures poor wormes God may if he please crush you in peeces and give
you no account why he doth so Psal 5 6. 9. Consider that you cannot do any thing without him you can neither heare nor pray nor discourse without his wâ—sedome and strength and therefore how little cause have you to be proud of your selves 2 Cor. 3.5 6. Rom. 26 27. 10. Consider that God requires and Commands you to walke humbly what doth the Lord your God requires of you the Prophet answers to walke humbly with your God Mich. 6.8 Col. 3.12 10. LAbour to have and to keep always a tender Conscience that the â—ppearance of sinne may make some impression on it Conscience is an active stirring faculty it will not be quiet if you give it liberty if you do not offer violence to it take heed my friends you may soon get a seared sleepy Conscience in a great measure and know for certain that if you stop the mouth of Conscience you will also hinder the spirits workings who worketh in and by Conscience and if the Holy Ghost and your Consciences should once cease their operations you may be suffered to run into sin and so from sin to sin for you have as it were bound up the hands of your keepers 2 Chron 34.27 Act. 24.16 1 Tim. 1.5 Heb. 10.22 11. Take heed of taking the glorious and fearfull name of God in vain of using it commonly and frequently without feare and trembling you will not use the name of some great men without some reverence and respect consider what God hath spoken of Himselfe to his Creatures to beget in them a holy feare and reverence how ill the Lord hath taken it that men speak so slightly and carelessely of him the Lord will not hold such a person guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine that is that speaketh of God in a common ordinary manner Oh my friends if you love the Great and Holy God shew your Love to him in being tender of his honour never make mention of the name of God but with a self abhorring but with a deliberate purpose to exalt and honour him Oh my beloved for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake if ever you hope to see the face of the Holy God I beseech you when you speak of God or to him do it with feare reverence and trembling Exod 20.7 Deut 5.11 Deut. 28.58 13. Treasure up the word into your hearts when and after you have heard it Preached unto you one great reason why you do not grow faster in knowledge in mortification and holinesse is because you are I am afraid like unto the hearers that James speaks of Jam. 1.23 24. if ever you exspect good by the word you must take pains with your hearts before you heare and when you are hearing and after that you have heard to consider what you have heard to labour to have it turned into Grace in every faculty of your soules to heare for afterward to search and see what advantage you may make of every Sermon you heare 1 Cor. 15.2 Math. 13.18 to 24. Psal 119.11 13. Labour to walk joyfully and chearfully a holy serious mirth a spirituall rejoycing is very commendable in a Saint let your rejoycing be in God not in your selves let it appear that Religion is a reall thing that you tast and feele more sweetnesse and joy in the wayes of God that you walk in then others to doe in their own wayes 1. Consider that God hath promised it he hath promised to make his servants joyfull to comfort and cheare their hearts Oh you blessed of the Lord make out to God the Father and Jesus Christ for much of it Isa 35.1 2 10. Isa 56.7 Isa 65.13 14. 2. Consider that the Lord commands you to rejoyce therefore labour to be joyfull and chearfull in obedience unto the command of God Phil. 4 4. Psal 97.12 3. Consider that Jesus Christ hath prayed for it when Jesus Christ was about to take his leave of his friends you know he made a long prayer to his Father for his Servants and Friends that he was to leave behind him in a persecuting world and among other Petitions you have this Ioh. 17.13 I come to thee Father that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves 1. Be sure to call to mind and to realize what once you were and what you are now you were once Children of wrath and of the Divell but now you are the sonnes and daughters of God once the servants of sinne but now the servants of Christ Eph. 2.1 2 4 5. Tit. 3.3 4 5. 2. Call to mind what great things Jesus Christ hath done for you and what it hath cost him to make heirs of eternall glory Tit. 2.14 Rom. 5.8 9. 3. Be often minding of your heavenly Fathers Love and free grace to you how he continues still to love you how his heart and Christs heart stands affected towards you that he loves you really and heartily Ioh. 3.16 1 Ioh. 3.1 4. Remember your future estate what you shall be though now you have many heavy burthens on you yet the time is coming that you shall be freed from all and shall be partakers of the fulnesse of Christs ioy you shall see him as he is realize it to your own soules that so your hearts may be affected greatly therewith 1 Ioh. 3.2 Coll. 3.4 2 Cor. 4.17 Revel 2.10 14. TAke heed that you give not place to distrustfull unbelieving thoughts and reasoning in a carnall manner at any crosse dispensations you will then quickly fall into the commitment of other sinnes you will murmure and repine against God you will hinder your prayers acceptance you will quickly weaken the hands of grace if you give way to the raisings up of unbeliefe and entertaine it in your hearts you will quickly ruine your selves 1. Therefore to prevent it consider that it is your duty to believe and not to entertain any distrustfull thoughts of God and God takes speciall notice of you whether you be obedient unto him accordingly 1 Joh. 3.23 Isa 26.4 Isa 50.10 2. Consider that distrustfulnesse will grieve the Holy Ghost he hath wrought faith in your hearts and commands you to use it in order to the destroying of unbeliefe and therefore now expects that you should believe and reject all such wicked thoughts Eph. 4.30 3. Consider how exceeding hurtfull it will be to your souls if it be not kept in subjection it will hinder your spirituall comforts and make you goe sorrowfull to your graves and disinable you for all your work and service for God Rom. 15.13 4. Consider what grounds you have to believe what helps and encouragements you have Gods commands his promises his Oath his faithfulnesse power goodnesse mercy and love engaged for you you have the Lord Jesus interceding for you in heaven with his merits Rom. 1.17 Heb. 6.17 18. 1 Thes 5.24 Rom. 8.34 15. Labour to be of lively active publique spirits let not the Divels disciples be more lively and active for their Lord then you are for Christ your
Judging the twelve tribes of Israel Then your enemies will be confounded and ashamed then they shall bow and bend to you Oh you that now suffer from your relations you shall then be perfectly delivered and separated from them it will not then grieve your hearts to see them rebellious your naturall affections shall then cease you will be then wholly swallowed up in glorifying the blessed God then all your teares shall be wiped away your sorrow shall flee away you shall be swallowed up of life Oh how welcome will you be to Saints Angells Oh then you will a dmire free Grace you will crie Grace Grace thon you shall have your hearts filled with love to God then all your prayers sighs groâ—ns and teares shall be answered then you shall rejoce without ceasing then you shall be crowned with Glory and Honour and you shall never be reproached any more Oh you beloved of Gods soule you shall never complaine of a dead heart any more Never crie out of a hard heart of a streightned narrow heart any more then your hearts shall be enlarged and you shall forever sing for joy of heart oh therefore be willing to follow Christ a litle while he that shall come to put you into the full possession of your promised happinesse will come and will not tarrie unspeakably blessed shall you be if your blessed Saviour should come and find you so doing which is the prayer of Your servant in the Gospell of Christ S. F. A short Preface touching the occasion of Printing-these following Rules WHen I saw that the blessed God had by the Preaching ing of the glorious Gospell turned the hearts of many sinners from sin unto himselfe from resting on their own Righteousnesse to an earnest enquiry after an interest in Christs Righteousnesse I was much pressed in Spirit to endeavour to bring the said Converts into Gospell order and accordingly shewed that it was their duty and Priviledge to enter into a Church state and as soon as they heard that it was their duty they wayted on God by fasting and prayer for wisedome and strength to walke in that way that God had appointed them to walke in and after they had spent many days in asking helpe of God the Lord so satisfyed their hearts as that they declared their desire to walke in that way that I had through grace made known unto them and desire to be farther instructed in their dutys in order thereunto and also of their dutys in a Church state whereupon I wrote these following Rules which I judge to be according to the revealed will of God and proposed them unto the said persons who freely gave their consent and resolved to endeavour to the utmost of their abillitys to walke by the said Rules Now the Saints in their place being many and all of them besides many of the Lords people that live in other places dâ—sired to have the said Rules by them many of them not being able to read any mans writing which could not be except their said Rules were printed where fore being also exceedingly importuned by the Church I thought good to have them printed which I hope will be offensive to none and prositable to many Certaine Scripture Rules which Iesus Christ hath given to his Churches to walke by which are approved of and consented to by all the Members of the Church of Christ walking in Gospell-fellowship in Chippin-Norton THE matter of a visible Church of Christ are Visible Saints such as in the Judgment of rationall Charity according to the revealed will of God appeare to be Saints Luke 22.14 Act. 1.15 16. Act. 2.37 to the end Act. 4.32 Act. 5.14 Act. 9.26 27. Act. 8.37 Act. 14.22 23. Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 Gal. 1.4 Eph. 1.1 Phil. 1.1 Coll. 1.2 1 Thess 1.1 4. 2 Thess 1.1 2 3. To these Scriptures may be added the Judgements of many Godly and learned divines both Presbyterian and Independent the Assembly in their confession of Faith M. Hooker of new England M. Cotton M. Norton M. Ainsworth D. Owen D. Goodwin M. Jer. Burroughs M. Nye M. Bridges M. Greenhill M. Wellman M. William Bartlet M. Stuckly M. Châ—shull M. Palmer and the Ministers that joyned with him in Answering M Humphâ—ys Book for free Admission M. Robinson and many more mighâ— be added to these 2. The formall cause of a visible Church of Christ are Saints united in Gospell ordâ—r For a certaine number of true Beliâ—vers walking at a distance from each other and scattered up and down in a Towne or Parish living as strangers to each other doe not properly and formally make a visible Church but only such as walke together accoridng to Christs appointment so then that which gives being to a true visible Church of Christ is when seaven or more Believers do freely and voluntarily give up themselves to each other promising in the strength of God to walke together in the same individuall ordinances of Christ and in the practice of the same dutys according to the Gospell Deut. 29.1 9. 2 Cor. 8.5 Gal. 2 9. Nâ—h 9 38. Neb. 10.1 29. Josh 24.21.28 3. For the Fathers kniting of the hearts of all the members together in mutuall love which is the bond of perfectnesse among Saints also that they may performe all dutys the more freely to each other for many other reasons it is needfull that all that at first imbody together all that afterwards shall be added that they be satisfied in each others fitnesse to be Church members upon such grounds as Paul others in the primitive times did conclude mens Sainiship from they did not conclude that men were Saints because they were not prophane but upon such grounds as these that they did bring forth fruits of Righteousnessâ— Phil. 1.1 compared with v. 11. that they did trade for Heavenâ— Phil 3.20 from such notes of true conversion as they had in Act. 2.37 to the end such as David speakes of in Psal 15.1 2. and Paul Rom. 8.1 who walked after the Spirit and their Love unto and delighting in the Saints Eph. 1.15 Psal 15.4 also such grounds as we read of in 2 Cor. 7.10 11. and such as waited for the coming of Jesus Christ 1 Cor 1.7 which none but Saints can really do by their understanding of spirituall things Spiritually as such doe understand whom God loves 1 Cor. 2.9 10 14. being such as had made a publik profession of their subjection to Christ 2 Cor. 9.13 and also by their Sanctification and Holinesse 1 Cor. 6 11. by the fruits of their Faith they were known to be Saints as Paul calls them upon that ground 1 Coll. 1.6 1 Thess 1.3 now upon these and the like grounds we are to Judge charitably of men and to conclude that they are Saints though possibly some of them may be Hypocrites and to receive them into fellowship as brethren and to performe all offices of love towards them as members of Christ 4.