Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	heart_n	love_v	see_v	14,118	5	3.5935	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91363	A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences. Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1657 (1657)	Wing P4237; Thomason E1575_1; ESTC R209217	254,040	517

differ in their defining it what it is yet in the essence or body of it they agree but before I can orderly come to speak of the several definitions that Christians give of it I must acquaint the Reader of the several sorts of love viz. there is a love natural c. and a love sinful c. and there is a love spiritual 1. There is love of pitty as in a Father to a sick and vitious son or one friend to another in misery or if you please there is 2. A natural love planted in the heart of man to love himself his children wealth and acquaintance Now the spiritual love that we shall speak of by and by doth set banks to the stream of natural love that it run not over either to over-love or over-grieve 3. There is a love of complacency So the Father is well pleased with an obedient son the husband with a vertuous wife the School-master with a towardly Scholar 4. There is a love of friendship when a man doth both honour and respect such and such good people and is so beloved of them again 5. There is a love of dependance when we love one upon whom all dependeth namely God whom also we love with a love of complacency and friendship being a full object free from all mixture of evil and altogether supernatural this supernatural love is that I intend to speak to and first of the nature of this love in which I shall take notice of the various judgements of many precious Christians in the definition of it although in the main they all agree 1. One saith it is an holy disposition of the heart arising from faith whereby we cleave to the Lord with a purpose of heart to serve him and to please him in all things 2. Another saith love is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God in perswading the party of Gods love to it and so the soul comes to love God because he did first love him 1 John 4. 19. 3. Others say it is a supernatural grace flowing from Faith instilled by God himself whereby through the mercy of God we see the great excellency of him and thereby are drawn to love and yield obedience to him 4. Others say it is an holy affection or act of the will or disposition of the heart whereby it cleaves or makes forward to some good that is agreeable to it self 5. Others say it is a spark of heavenly fire that puts all the affections into an holy flame Cant. 1. 7. Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth Isa 26. 9. With my soul have I desired thee yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early He that planted the affections of love in our hearts may well call for his own and expect to gather the grapes of his own Vineyard Several sorts or kinds of Love BEsides what hath been spoken in the foregoing head there are several sorts and kinds of love as First there is a fleshly and carnal love which is altogether sinful Secondly there is a naturall ove as in a Parent to a child and one relation to another Thirdly there is a civil love such as one neighbour and friend hath to another Fourthly there is a religious love and that is twofold the one is subordinate to the other viz. First there is our love to God Secondly to his people as they bear his image First to God himself who is the very essence of love he is nothing else but love God is love neither should there be any thing beloved by us but as it either conveys love to us from him or else deaws up our affections to him there is also a love to our enemies required of us which we ought to be found in the practise of in obedience to the command of God and in love and pitty to their poor souls Mat. 5. 44. But that love that I shall treat of is that love spoken to in Scripture which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5. 5. Of the springs of Love how it is begotten and encreased in us THE Lord tells us by Paul Rom. 5. 5. That the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost he shews us that he loveth us that were of no worth and whilest we were in our sins that he dyed for us and then he doth shed the sense and feeling thereof abroad in our hearts whereby we come to taste and see how good and gracious the Lord is Psalm 34. 8. 1. Spring of love is this the Lord doth unveil himself a little to the soul whereby it sees his excellency viz. wisdom power riches beauty glory faithfulness and amiableness 2. Spring of love is this the soul having seen something of his excellency and so loves him not only because of that although he be most worthy of love but also because he hath cast his love upon us and so in the second place the soul comes to love Christ because he first loved us 1 John 4. 10 19. as fire begets fire so doth love beget love 3. Spring of love is this after the soul hath seen the worth of Christ and the love of Christ it comes in the next place to see that the love of all relations doth meet in the love of Christ and this doth raise up a Christian to love Christ with a supream love Love is as a Load-stone drawing the affections to love Christ as to one that is aimable and lovely famous and glorious spotless and matchless in his name in his nature in his offices in his graces in his gifts in his discoveries in his appearances in his Ordinances he is full of gravity majesty and mercy and glory he is the chiefest among ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. So the soul loves Christ for that incomparable goodness and natural sweetness that there is in him But others that see it not reject those gracious invitations reject the Kings Supper and think it strange that thou runnest not with him to the same excess of riot 4. Spring of love is this the Lord presents before the soul First his love in giving Christ Secondly the love of Christ in giving himself and this many times takes with a soul and makes it break forth in these or the like expressions O the love of God to sinners to give his son and not a servant his own son and not another his only son and not a second his only begotten son and not an adopted son that he should send and give him when he was not sought by us but freely given by him to us not friends but enemies c. In the next place consider the love of Christ in giving himself O how wonderful was his love to us it was not a love to the fallen Angels but to fallen man Oh what hath he undergone for us O that he that was equal with God should come in the form of a servant That he that the

heaven of heavens could not contain should be cradled in a Manger and from his cradle to his Cross his whole life was a life of sorrows Oh that the Judge of all flesh should be condemned the Lord of Life put to death that he that was crowned with honour and glory should be crowned with thorns That that face that was white and ruddy should be spit upon by the beastly Jews and that tongue that spake as never man spake should be accused of blasphemy That those hands that swayed the Scepter and feet that were as fine brass should be nailed to the Cross He was tempted by the Devil reviled by the High Priests branded for a Babler Wine-bibber and Sabbath-breaker and Blasphemer all this he suffered for us out of love to us shall we not love him his true love to us will be satisfied with nothing but love again This is another Spring of love Of the Tryals of Love how it may be known WE read 2 Cor. 2. 8. And to prove the sincerity of your love if the Lord will this shall be my work in few words to lay down those spiritual experimental signs of this sincere unfeigned fervent love 1. The first character of this grace of love is this true love will be satisfied with nothing but love again what doth all avail as long as we may not see the Kings face 2. Those whom we love we often think upon our thoughts fasten on them Psalm 139. 17 18. How precious are the thoughts of thee unto me O God how great is the sum of them when I awake I am still with thee So that sleeping or waking his mind runs upon him try thy love of God by this if thou think not often of God thou lovest him not but if thou canst not satisfie thy self with profits pleasures friends and other worldly objects but thou must turn other businesses aside that thou mayest daily think of God then thou lovest him 3. Those whom we love we will not willingly offend no bars are so strong as love Sooner will the servant offend his master the son his father the wife her husband the subject his Protector then him whom he spiritually loves Friendship binds faster then any authority Jonathan will offend his natural Father rather then his spiritual brother David Joseph will offend his mistress rather then his God c. 4. Those whom we love we acquaint with our grievances and lay open our miseries to their bosoms their counsel we ask and from them we look for help 2 Chron. 20. 12. Jehoshaphat being opposed by his enemies to whom comes he to complain to none but to God whom he loved to whom comes Hezekiah 2 Kings 19. 14 15. to complain against Rabshakeh and Sennacherib to none but to God to whom went David to complain of the bitter words of Cush the Benjamite to none but unto God whom he loves Psalm 7. 1. O Lord my God in thee do I put my trust save me from all them that persecute me c. 5. Those we love we take any small token kindly from them a pin from a friend is more esteemed then a pound from an enemy 6. Those whom we love we are willing to suffer or endure any thing for Iacob Gen. 29. 20. endured a tedious service for Rachel and it seemed but a few daies to him because he loved her so Pauls love to Christ made him not care for the passionate speeches nor affectionate tears of his friends he loved Christ more then either of them Acts 21. 13. compared with Iohn 21. 15. 7. Those whom we love we can bear any thing that comes from them we can endure their reproofs and their corrections the child can be contented to be struck by the Father that would not not take a blow of another Psalm 39. 9. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it 8. That love that we bear to the people of God is a sure token of our love to God the image of God is graven in them and they that love God love those images of him that himself hath stamped and the more like they are to God the more they love them But not to love them is delivered as a note of the children of the Devil 1 John 3. 10. He that loveth not his brother is not of God 1 Iohn 4. 7. He that loveth not his Brother abideth in death See 1 Iohn 4. 20. 9. Those that we love we shall be often speaking of and praising them Psalm 47. 6. As he abounded in love to God so he abounded in praising him Sing praises to God sing praises sing praises to our King and see ver 7. What shall I say more doth thy heart stir after Christ art thou sick of love grieved if he be absent glad if present art thou very diligent to obtain the thing beloved love cannot abide delaies but would presently enjoy the thing loved love desires no wages but love again true love will constrain you to please him and put such necessity upon you to obey him that you cannot chuse but do it in some good measure 2 Cor. 5. 14. 10. And lastly with the love of God is alwaies joyned the hatred of sin Revelat. 2. 6. Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate The love of God and the love of sin cannot dwell intensively at the same time in the same heart for the love of the one will prove the hatred of the other Mat. 6. 24. Jam. 4. 4. So love to God casts out servile fear 1 Iohn 4. 18 19. there is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not ●●de perfect in love love casteth out a sinful servile slavish fear whereby we slavishly fear either God or the creature Rom. 8. 15. Mat. 10. 28. this is the fear that true love casts out 1. Is this love of God shed abroad in thine heart by the Holy Ghost hast thou an experimental taste of Gods love Rom. 5. 5. 2. Hath this love of God effectually regenerated and renewed thee by the Spirit Titus 3. 4 5 6. 3. Hath this love of God adopted thee that thou art numbered amongst the sons of God 1 Iohn 3. 1 2. 4. Hath this love of Christ satisfied thee and made thee holy Col. 3. 12. 5. Hath this love of Christ brought thee to live the life of Faith Gal. 2. 20. 6. Doth this love of God and Christ sweetly constrain and even compell thee to be chea●●ully serviceable to him in thy place and calling 2 Cor. 5. 13 14 15 16. Of the Properties of this true Love 1. WHere there is love to God and faith in Christ it makes the soul long for and earnestly desire the appearing of Christ 2 Tim. 4. 8. There is a Crown of righteousness laid up for all them that love his appearing as when we love any we love their presence It is true sometimes good men are afraid to die

but it is because they would be better fitted for their Bridegrooms coming besides the best have flesh as well as Spirit c. 2. Another property of love is this Love delighteth to speak well of the party beloved David abounded in love to God and therefore could never satisfie himself in speaking of and praising him Psalm 105. 3. Love is bountiful and seeks not its own as doth abundantly appear in this blessed portion of Scripture 1 Cor. 13. 4 5. 4. Another property of love is this it will put the whole man to work for the party beloved Memory Will Affections Tongue and Hand and all will fall to work when others stand frozen and benummed surely the heart that loves Christ is still drawing nearer and nearer to him aspiring towards heaven and thriving in the work of grace 5. And lastly love commandeth the affections of anger and fear it moderates the one and regulates the other What shall I say more of the properties of this love he that hath this love of God shed abroad in his heart doth look upon Christ as the chiefest among ten thousand and so speaks good of his name Psal 34. 8. O taste and see that the Lord is good c. In a word a soul comes to love him for himself because he is the object of love And so this man grieves when he is either dishonoured or slighted Of the motives or inducements to perswade us to get into and grow up in this Love THE motives to perswade us to make out after this love may be drawn from either the benefits that we shall get by it or from the hurt or danger in neglecting it To begin then with the last first 2 Cor. 16. 22. If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be cursed with a double curse c. 1 Iohn 4. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and if we know him not 2 Thes 1. 8. he will come in flaming fire taking vongeance on them that know him not Iohn 5. 42. These people have not the love of God in them Ioh. 8. 42. Iesus said to them if God were your father ye would love me c. 1 Iohn 3. 10. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brorher in a word there is nothing that we say or do that will be accepted of the Lord without this love 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Though I speak with the tongue of men and Angels and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and give my body to be burned and have not this love I am nothing c. In the next place let us consider the excellency of it and the benefits we shall get thereby First it is most like to God 1 John 4. 16. God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God Again it is called by David a joyful blessed and pleasant thing Again it is recorded in Scripture as one of our evidences for heaven 1 John 3. 14. By this we know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren and our love to our brethren is a sign of our love to God 1 John 4. 20. Lastly love will stand when all other graces will fail 1 Cor. 13. 8. Love never faileth ver 13. now abideth Faith Hope Charity these three but the greatest of these is Charity Of our love to the children of God the nature of it the tryals of it the means of attaining it and impediments that hinder it 1. OF the nature of it Christ is nothing else but love and there should not any thing be beloved by us but as it either conveys love from him or else draws up our affections unto him and our loving of his body the Church will effect both these The nature then of this love may be comprehended under these ensuing heads When we love them as such in whom we see the Image of Christ for their spiritual brother-hood 1 Pet. 2. 17. The godly for godliness sake for God in them Christians for Christianity for Christ in them the Saints for their Saint-ship for their Sanctity of person and conversation The spiritual children begotten for their Heavenly Fathers sake when grace is the principal load-stone of our affection when for this we love them more then for beauty sweetness of disposition birth breeding learning wi● gifts wealth honour c. And so love all such as we apprehend to be the children of God for he that truly loves one child of God as a child of God loves every child of God whether noble or ignoble rich or poor bond or free male or female for the same God the same Christ the same grace is as truly amiable in one as in another See Col. 1. 4. Hence we also come to love them most that are most gracious for where grace allures the affection the more grace there is in any person there is the stronger motive and allurement to love more Jesus loved all his Disciples John 13. 1. But John he loved eminently above all the rest John 21. 20. And so as grace grows in the same person true love towards him will grow proportionably Of the Tryals of our love to the brethren THere is a two-fold tryal or evidence of our love to the Lords people the one more internal the other ext●rnal ●●●st of the first of the inward evidences We ●●ad ● J●hn 3. 14. By this we know we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethr●n Now ●●r unfeigned love to them will appear by these ensuing things 1. If I would know whether I love the Brethren Let me exam●●● what my thoughts are of them love thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13. 4 5. Now I can certainly tell what I do think of another although I cannot tell what he doth think of me So though I cannot certainly and infallibly tell whether another loves me yet I can certainly tell whether I love him or no his love to me is in his heart which I know not my love to him is in my heart which I know and no creature else 2. If I would indeed know if I love the brethren let me examine how I do stand affected to them in sympathizing with them when they be in misery Heb. 13. 3. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body 3. When we are at distance from them what desires have we after them Phil. 1. 8. God is my record how greatly I long after y●● all in the bowels of Jesus Christ Now why doth Paul call God to record to prove the truth of his love to these Saints but because this love in his heart was known to none but to God and himself 4. What delight do we

the Sentence is pronounced 1. The unspeakable pains they shall endure 2. Their companions what they shall be 3. The duration of this miserable estate Of the happy and blessed estate of the Godly after judgement 1. Their bodies shall be made glorious 2. Their Soul shall be far more perfect then it was in the state of innocency 3. Of the place where we sha●● be after the last judgment 4. In whose presence we shall be 5. Whether the Saints shall know one another 6. Whether they shall speak one to another 7. The varieties of joyes that there shall be in heaven 8. The duration of this blessed estate And lastly what the consideration of all this should teach us Reader do me that favour as to correct these greater faults that appear at first view for I have not opportunity to peruse it all And cover lesser faults with the mantle of love and let not the truth suffer through my weakness c. Errata Page 5. l. 1. r. 1 Iohn 5. 7. p. 22. l. 12. r. Ier. 32. 40. p. 23. l. 29. r. Iohn 6. 27. p. 25. l. 6. r. 2 Cor 5. 19. p. 29. l. 6. r. Heb. 13. 20 p. 29. l. 16. r. Inherent p. 36. l. 21. r. undertook p. 48. l. 11. leave out in p. 50. l. 5. r. use p. 55. l. 4 r. Iohn 1. 16. p. 61. l. 31. r. Eph. 28. p. 62. add the word that In l. 22. p. 72. l. 17. add the word he p. 73. l. 26. add the word the p. 73. l. 12. r. him p 84. l. 6 r. 1 Kings 8. 56. p. 91. l. 7. r. Col. 3. 10. p. 101. l. 17. add the word the p. 108. l. 4. r. Facility p. 122. l. 3. r. Tltu● 3. 8. p. 143 l. 15. r misery p. 175. l. 12 r. 2 Cor. 8. 8. p. 188. l. 28. leave out the word the p. 229. l. 14 r. call p. 24. l. 9. r. ●ph 3 14. p. 258. l. 16. r. deductions p. 260. l. 30. r. Col. 2. 12. p. 2●8 l 16. r. Rom. 4. 21. p. 295. r. 1 Chror 28. 8. p. 300. l. 24. leave out the word set p. 306. l. 1. r. Isaiah 58. 13. p. 330. l. 22. r. other p. 343. l. 19. place and after time p. 350. l. 17. r. Psal 45. 13. p. 356. l. 6. r. lohn 5. 45. p. 376. l. 29. add the word If p. 381. l. 27. r. of God p. 385. l. 5. put the before sincere p. 391. l. 8. r. and A LITTLE CABINET Stored with all sorts of Heavenly Varieties Of God the Father GOD is a Spirit having his being in himself and giving being to all things Ioh. 4. 24. Exod. 3. 14. In a word he is 1. Without composition 2. Infinite Psa 147. 5. 145. 3. Exod. 3. 14. 3. He is eternall Pro. 8. 20 22 23. Rom. 16. 26. 4. Incomprehensible Exod. 33. 22 23. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Isa 66. 1. 5. Unchangable Jam. 1. 17. Mal. 3. 6. He comprehends all things and is comprehended of nothing He is without beginning and end for by him and in him all things begin and end Act. 17. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being he is present in all places at all times beholding and seeing all things Prov. 15. 3. Psal 139. 4. Job 9. 11. 2 Chron. 16. 9. Jer. 23. 23 24. Two things in God 1. There is something incommunicable as infiniteness immensity eternity 1 Kin. 8. 27. 1 Tim. 1. 17. 2. There is something in God communicable as love and mercy Exod. 34. 6. Wisdom and Power Job 36. 9. Perfection glory and blessedness this God is to be known in the first Adam and in the second Adam in his ordinances and in his Saints Now we must know God otherwise we cannot 1. Desire him Joh. 4. 10. 2. If we know him not how can we obey him 3. If we know him not how can we have communion and fellowship with him 1 Joh. 1. 5 6 7. All nature is not able to teach us what God is in himself neither can man in nature comprehend him Job 36. 26. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Yet may he be known by his properties and actions God is a spirituall substance having his being of himself infinite great and good Ioh. 4. 24. 8. 58. Exod. 3. 14. 34. 6 7. Psal 145. 3 8 9. Of the Son THE Father Son and Spirit are but one essence or substance although distinguished into Father Son and Holy-Ghost 1 Ioh. 5. 7. In Christ two things are to be considered 1. His Person 2. His Offices 1. In his Person consider the two natures Divine and humane 1 Tim. 2. 5. Mat. 1. 13. He was to be God because the greatness of the evill could not be taken away but by himself the wrath of God being infinite it could not be taken away by any finite thing Again it must be finite for it could not stand with Gods justice to punish Christ for our sins if he had not our nature neither could it have been satisfaction for us if it had not been in our nature and stead so that Jesus Christ is very God and very man of the very substance of the Virgin Mary begotten by the Holy-Ghost The unity of the two natures in Christ is not the confounding of them for the Godhead remaineth infinite invisible incomprehensible the Body finite and visible Acts 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 26 28 29. As God is in Christ so he is infinite eternall Almighty wisdom goodness mercy truth Justice equall with the Father in being majesty and glory in whom the Father delights from all eternity his own and his only begotten Son promised before to Adam preached to Abraham and the Patriarchs typified in the Legall Sacrifices and prophesied of by Moses and all the Prophets pointed at by Iohn manifested in the flesh Justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. Let us get a distinct knowledge of this Christ without us and a sensible feeling of his vertues in us Of the Holy Ghost THE Father sent forth the Son and the Son sent forth the Holy-Ghost yet Father Son and Holy-Ghost was never separated one from the other As there is one God Father of all and one Lord Jesus Christ redeemer of the world so there is one sanctifying Spirit of grace and as it is the office of the Father to elect and the office of the Son to redeem so it is the office of the Holy-ghost to sanctifie those and only those whom the Father hath elected and the Son redeemed and as the Father doth love freely and the Son manifest that love so the spirit doth evidence that love to and in the souls of the Saints the Father loves a Christian as redeemed by Christ Christ looks upon him and loves him as given by the Father for him to redeem the Holy-Ghost seeing the love of the Father in choosing him and the love of the Son in redeeming

of peace ariseth from a souls resting satisfied in Christs righteousness adding nothing to it Psal 71. 15 16 19 24. and Psal 119. 142. I will make mention of thy righteousness even of thine only for thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness See Jer. 33. 16. the perfection of Christs righteousness is held forth unto us and alwayes lieth before us that we may be thankfull for it and peaceable with it and rejoyce in the bestower of it the Lord Jesus having spoken peace to the soul and acquainted the soul that he hath paid all his debts for it and that his sins which were so many shall be remembred no more then the soul begins to be filled with joy and peace in beleiving beholding and enjoying Christs righieousness which begets in the soul a perfect peace a precious peace a full and compleat peace and an everlasting peace 4. The next vein through which peace is conveyed to the soul is by our acquainting our selves with him Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby so good shall come unto thee now by thy acquainting thy self with him these things will fall in First thou wilt see that thou wast cast out to the loathing of thy soul and no eye pittying thee much less to relieve thee that then even then when man was ready to perish should be the time of love with God whereby he cast his skirt of compassion over him and said unto him again live Oh ye Heavens stand amazed and oh thou earth flesh and blood rejoyce and triumph for when there was no eye to pitty thee the arm of the Lord hath brought salvation by raising up a mighty one out of the house of his servant David even Christ the Lord the wondefull Counsellor the mighty God mighty to save the everlasting Father the Prince of peace who became man under the Law and obligation to obedience and not only so but also became our Surety for us to do suffer and fulfill that for us which we were no waies able to do for our selves The Covenant of works rested in and trusted unto can never work settled comfort and peace and quietness of heart let a man walk as exactly as ever flesh and blood can attain unto let him as confidently build on this foundation as he possibly may yet the heart will be still in suspition in doubt in fear uncertain what to trust unto but the Doctrine of grace rested in and trusted unto doth settle a soul in peace this is a sure Anchor for the soul to rest upon let waves swell and winds blow he retains a firm peace stand here and we are safe for ever Rom. 5. 1 2. 3. Thirdly This Doctrine is the Root and Spring of all Gospel obedience whatsoever men call obedience if it ariseth not from hence it is but forced and legal we must get up Gospel principles if we would keep up Gospel practises Wheresoever this Doctrine of grace is received and retained in the love and power of it it works these five things in the soul viz. Faith Love Fear Willingness and Chearfulness and from these five things as from five Springs doth all Gospel obedience arise 1. True obedience doth flow from Faith hence it is called the obedience of Faith Rom. 16.26 in the latter part of this Chapter we read of a mysterie revealed and what that mysterie was it was the Doctrine of Gods grace and the end why it was revealed was for the Obedience of Faith see Rom. 1. 5. 2. As Faith in Christ doth put the soul upon heavenly and spiritual actings so also love constrains them in whom it is to keep the Lords commandments John 14. 21 23. compared with Psalm 26. 3 4. If ye love me keep my commandments For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes saith David and I have walked in thy truth 3. As true obedience doth spring from Faith and Love so it is attended with an holy fear Psalm 119. 161. My heart saith David doth stand in awe of thy word Heb. 11. 7. Noah being warned of God touching things not seen was moved with fear and so prepared an Ark. 4. As Gospel obedience doth spring from Faith Love and Fear so it ariseth from a willing mind Psalm 27. 8. when thou saidst seek ye my face my heart answered Lord thy face will I seek as David had said O Lord it is thy great command seek ye my face my heart saith unto thee it is the desire of my soul thy command is become my request thy face Lord will I seek 5. As Gospel-obedience springs from Faith Love and fear and a willing mind so it is performed chearfully and delightfully Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy will O God thy Law is in my heart as well as in thy Book What shall I say more a soul receiving believing retaining and standing in the true grace of God shall be every way furnished and supplyed with strength to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any lust to resist any temptation to bear any affliction c. Sure if the bowels of mercy do not melt win and draw us Justice will be a swift witness against us And as the Branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine John 15. 4. no more can ye except ye abide in me Gods free love manifested to us and by his Spirit shed abroad in us is the cause of our love to him 1 John 4. 10 19. And our love to him is the cause of our obeying him 1 John 5. 3. John 14. 15 21 23. we read in Jer. 31. 19. After that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh That is as if he had said after that thou hast wrought a gracious change upon my soul by thine afflicting hand out of thy love to me Heb. 12. 6. Or after I came to my self again Luke 15. 17 and considered seriously with my self how it was with me I was touched with repentance with sorrow and with shame for my former miscariages 4. Fourthly this Doctrine received and the heart therein established will be a stop and bar to keep out all floods of errour The floods of all errour flow in at the pipe of ignorance and especially ignorance of this very thing viz. The Doctrine of grace the errour of the Papists of building and resting upon works springs from their ignorance of this blessed Docrtine the errour of the Quaker springs purely from hence the errour of the Arminian springs in at the same pipe partly by works and partly by grace they not seeking salvation by grace but as it were by the works of the Law they stumbled and fell Rom. 9. 32. And all the unstability formality legality that there is at this day appearing amongst the Presbyterian Independant and Baptist or any other people professing godliness doth arise from their ignorance or their little knowledge in this great mysterie nay farther did you

grace but a sanctifying grace Acts 15. 9. 26. 8. the blood of Christ i● a pure blood as well as a precious blood It is a cleansing blood as well as an expiating blood So faith is a grace not only to acquit but also to purge and renew the person where it dwells It is not only an enlightening grace but it is also a conforming grace therefore we read that it doth ingraft us into the similitude of his death and in the fellowship of his sufferings and Resurrection Phil. 3. 10. Now then enquire is there vertue gone from Christ to make thy dark mind seeing thy stubborn judgement yielding thy proud heart humbling thy filthy heart cleansing thy hard heart relenting and mourning thy carnal affections to be heavenly thy sinful soul to be holy Read and well consider that in 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. 2. Where there is true Faith it will cause the party to make a curious narrow impartial diligent search into his own heart and soul to see what humility what self-denyal what sin abhorrency what love to Christ what delight to the Ordinances what zeal for Gods glory what contempt of the world what desires after the society of the Saints what sympathizing with them in their afflictions and if upon this search thou findest any impressions of grace any spiritual work any savouring savory distinguishing operations upon thy heart then the Spirit hath been there and begun to work the grace of Faith in thy heart 3. True Faith doth make the heart humble and lowly Have we pardon of sin why saith Faith the cause of this is Gods love Have we righteousness why saith Faith the cause of this is Christs merits Have we any gift why saith Faith the cause of this is Christs love So that the soul sits down and often saith O Lord O Lord in my self I am nothing nay of my self worse then nothing But what I am I am by grace all that I have is thine my bread my health my life my body my soul all is thine If any love if any mercy if any Christ if any grace if any comfort if any strength if any stedfastness if any performances if any good work if any good word if any good affection if any good thought why all is thine I have nothing but what I have received thou only art the cause I am less then the least of thy mercies and what is thy servant that thou shouldst look on such an one as I am thou madest me and thou boughtest me and thou calledst me and thou justifiest me and thou savest me 4. True Faith doth desire and endeavour after an increase Help my unbelief said the weak believing Father O Lord encrease our Faith said the Disciples there are yet many degrees wanting to faith either thou canst not be perswaded or not fully perswaded or not constantly perswaded but if the Faith be true and living it will bend after a rising 5. True Faith in Christ and a mournful heart for sin alwaies go together Zach. 10 12. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn c. there are two things that Faith will fetch up in the soul the one is love to Christ another is sorrow for sin 6. True Faith is fruitful James 2. 18. See Titus 3. 18. Although works do not cause Faith or Justification yet they do clearly manifest to others whether we have Faith yea or no. To close up this point let me acquaint the Reader that there are spiritual and inward characters of Faith which serve as evidences to him that hath it many of those I have hinted at under this fore-going head Secondly there are outward or more external signs of Faith and they consist in walking so in the sight of men that they may in charity judge of our Faith by our works then there are characters of a strong Faith and also signs of a weak Faith First of a strong Faith Rom. 4. 20. he staggered not at the promise through unbelief Mat. 8. 6 7 8. I have not found so great Faith in Israel Mat. 5. 22. O woman great is thy faith c. So there are characters of a weak Faith One is he will be hasty to be answered and be ready to suspect Gods favour and Christs love if he be not presently answered Another is he will be faint if delayed And so much for the characte●s or signs of Faith The benefits of living by Faith a Believers comfort hope joy and confidence should be in God the same at all times THE Lord hath various dispensations of providence as well relating to the outward as to the inward man Sometimes his way is in the whirlwind and sometimes he is in the small still voice and sometimes his foot-steps are in the deep waters and so his way is not known Nah. 1. 3. 1 Kings 19. 12. Psalm 77. 19. His dispensations are many times contrary the one to the other to day perhaps thou enjoyest peace strength riches and honor with health prosperity and many friends and tomorrow all these may be blasted to day God unbosoms himself unto thee and shines forth upon thee but in a moment he withdraws himself As blessed Job David and divers others experienced Now the reason why we should believe hope and rejoyce in God at all times are as followeth 1. Because a Believers happiness depends not upon his own doing but upon Christ who is of God made unto him righteousness sanctification c. who hath saved us and called us not according to our works but according to his purpose and grace c. 1 Cor. 1. 3. 2 Tim 1. 9 2. Because the state of a Believer in Christ as considered in him is a state of perfection he is clean from all sin by the blood of Christ they be removed from us thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back as far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed our transgressions from us seventy weeks are determined upon the people to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation and to bring in everlasting righteousness Col. 1. 28. John 17. 23. Heb. 10. 14. 1 John 1. 7. Isaiah 35. 8. 38. 17. Psalm 103. 12. Dan. 9. 24. Ezek. 16. 14. Hereupon the soul begins to rejoyce in God for he hath cloathed me with the garment of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness Our sins are laid upon Christ and his righteousness is ours hereupon saith God thou art all fair my love there is no spot in thee 3. Reason Why a Believers comfort hope joy and confidence should be the same at all times because that God who hath loved an everlasting love loves thee in his Son thou art not beloved for thy own sake or for any thing in thee but upon the account of the Lord Jesus in whom God is well pleased Believers are never the more just before God for their own integrity nor the

in Christ that binds the strong man hand and foot it is only Faith in Christ that makes a man triumph over sin Satan hell and the world And that stops the issue of blood that makes a man strong in resisting and happy in conquering so that sin alwayes dies most where faith lives most so that we must get up Gospel principles if we would keep up Gospel practices Quere We read in the Bible of many over head and ears in sin and yet at last became great Saints I pray how came those to mortifie their sin Answ We read of their misery and also of their recovery in many Scriptures I will instance in one that speaks the sum of all the rest as to the way how to mortifie sin Tit. 3. 4 5. For we our selves sometimes were foolish disobedient deceived and serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another there is the mysterie but after that the kindness and love of God appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us there is the remedy in a word the consideration of the love and grace of God the Father and the love of God the Son the promises of God and the presence of Christ the example of the Saints and the recompence of reward held forth to us in the Gospel makes a sound Christian to hold on and to hold out resolving to conquer or to dye conquering As a Christian grows up in the assurance of Gods love so he will better heal his strong lusts an heart softned and reconciled to God willingly closeth with the commandment so that the best way to mortifie sin and to amend our lives is to lay hold on the love of God by faith in Christ and so first to get assurance of forgiveness which softens the heart and enlightens the eyes to see that it is only the blood of Christ that purgeth from dead works A man by his own strength cannot prevail against a lust that is to be done only by the blood of Christ into which we are baptized Rom. 6. 3. He that hath the strongest faith hath ever the holiest heart and life sanctification ariseth from justification the Scripture saith Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure in this evidence of self-purifying note these three things First the act performed purifieth Secondly the object about which this act is to be exercised themselves that is their whole man soul and body from all filthiness of flesh and spirit Thirdly the rule or Pattern of this act he purifieth himself as God is pure this is not a word of equality but of resemblance Fourthly the ground or motive inciting to this purifying viz. hope of glory every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure 1 John 3. 2 3. Hope in Christ excites to purity because it conducts us straight to Christ the perfect pattern of all purity Surely it is the appearance of Gods grace to us which works a hope of glory in us and this hope of glory doth purifie these several ensuing waies 1. It puts us upon and helps us in a frequent washing our selves in the fountain opened for sin and uncleaness viz. in the purifying blood of Christ by Faith and hope as instruments applying Christ crucified Zach. 13. 1. Heb 9. 14. Psal 51. 7. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood c. Rom. 3. 25. 2. This works us up to true endeavours in the use of all means to purifie both soul and body person and conversation from all corruption universally both in kind and degree let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. Now hypocrites wash the outside of the platter or cup but inwardly they are full of extortion and excess Mat. 23. 25 26. 3. This grace of God and hope of glory puts the soul upon maintaining a constant spiritual combate by faith and hope and other graces of the Spirit against the flesh Rom. 8. 13. And so by the Spirit mortifies the deeds of the flesh daily crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Galat. 5. 17 24 25. and this grace of hope as an inward principle works out pollution and corruption as being repugnant thereunto 4. This hope of glory leads the soul to a diligent improvement of the word of God for self-purifying the word hath in it a purifying Faculty John 15. 3. Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you the word purifies these waies 1. As a lamp discovering the spot Rom. 7. 7. 2. As a star conducting to Christ the fountain of purifying 1 John 2. 1 2. Zach. 13. 1. 3. As a rule according to which we are heedfully to order our conversation Psal 119. 9. 4. As a motive to self-purifying 2 Cor. 7. 1. 5. As an antidote against sin Psal 119. 11. thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Sin in the best Saint and most times in the best actions of Saints 1. THE fairest day hath his clouds and the finest linneng hath its spots the richest jewels their flaws and the sweetest fruit their worms so hath the most precious Christians their failings Davids heart was more often out of tune then his harp 2. Consider what complaints and cryings out there were amongst the most precious Saints being sensible of their sins Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me said Paul Jer 3. 25. We lie down in our shame for we have sinned against the Lord our God both we and our fathers from our youth Gen. 6. 5. God saw that the wickedness of mans heart was great and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually And for the Saints themselves here in all duties there is imperfection something polluted and something defective our most spiritual duties are not wound up to command they are all tainted with disproportion to rule and not only so but our choicest services are be Leoparded with many spots We whilst in this body can stay no more from sinning then the heart from panting and the pulse from beating The Angels are impure in his sight how much more the best of our actions in many things we offend all either offend and fail in the matter or in the ground or in the form or in the end Now our not acting from a pure principle by a pure rule to a pure end or our comming short in any of these may mar the whole action no action is said to be done according to rule in a Gospel administration unless it be attended with these five things 1. All righteous acts must and ought to be done spiritually and heartily with heart and spirit Prov. 23. 26. John 4. 24. 1 Cor. 6. 20. 2. Sincerely as in the sight of God Gen. 17. 1. Psalm 18. 22.

take in their company we are often in the company of those that we take no delight in Now do we indeed delight in the society of the Saints then we love them Psalm 16. 3 c. In a word such things as we love we keep with care possess with joy and loose with grief so much of the inward tryals of our love to the Saints Next of the external tryals of this love by which we may know that others do love us and by which they may know that we love them But these evidences are not so infallible as the other we read John 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another and how doth our love unto another appear but in these or the like things viz. 1. He that doth love his brother will be apt to reprove him when he doth ill and praise him when he doth well a friend can bear a sharp reproof from a friend c. 2. Another evidence of love is this we acquaint those whom we love with our miseries lay open our griefs and account it some ease to discharge some of our sorrows into their bosoms their advice we ask and from them we look for assistance 2 Cor. 8. 3. 3. Where love is in the heart it will appear in the tongue 1 Cor. 13. Love is kind but there is a great deal of verbal and complementary love with men forbidden in the Scriptures of truth saying love not in word and tongue but in deed and in truth 4. Another Character of love is this when thou hast some injuries offered thee thou wilt not soon be angry 1 Cor. 13. 4. love suffereth long 5. Where there is love unto another there will be endeavours to do good unto another not only to the body but also to the soul they will be apt to say as the woman of Samaria did to her neighbours when she had found Christ her self she cals them to him John 4. 29. Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ Or as David Psal 66. 16. I will tell you what God hath done for my soul Of the means of attaining a true love to the brethren 1. COnsider the Lord loves them and ●ath received them then say to thy self shall I hate and reject those that he loves and receives how unlike shall be to God 2. Consider that the Lord commands thee to love them and it is thy duty so to do and wilt thou rebel against God in not doing thy duty but the quite contrary 3. Consider they be members of the same body children of the same Father heirs of the same promises as thou art Consider I say thy relation to them 1 Cor. 12. 27. For relation is the ground of affection 4. Labour daily to have a higher esteem of all the Saints and a lower esteem of thy self so by degrees shalt thou come to love them indeed Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through strife and vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves 5. Eye the work of God in them the Image of Christ in them and the gifts and graces of his Spirit adorning them and then thou wilt quickly love them and that with a pure heart fervently 1 Pet. 1. 22. Of the impediments and hinderances of love 1. THe first impediment that doth hinder love which we should do well to beware of is this beware of persecuting them either with tongue hand or pen Acts 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth them toucheth the Apple of mine eye saith the Lord. 2. Beware of pride Prov. 13. 10. Only by pride cometh contention 3. Beware of offending them Mat. 18. 6. 4. Beware of giving credit to evil reports for many times it is a lye also take heed of evil surmisings and groundless jealousies and all other things that makes head against love E●hes 4. 31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice Of the grace of hope the nature of it and the properties of it and encouragements to it and Characters of it IF any ask why I write of hope after love I answer because I find it so set down in the Scriptures written for our learning 1 Thes 5. 8. But let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breast-plate of Faith and love and for an helmet the hope of salvation Now first the nature of this hope may be thus That hope of the Gospel is a grace of God whereby we expect good to come patiently waiting till it come Rom. 8. 25. But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Look what the brest is to the child and the oyl to the lamp such is hope to the soul it lives upon the promises and every degree of hope brings a degree of joy into the soul Heb. 6. 18. It is built upon the truth and faithfulness of God 2 Tim. 2. 13. Or the hope of a Christian is built upon the love of Christ the blood of Christ the righteousness of Christ the satisfaction of Christ and the intercession of Christ and the free grace of God 1 Peter 1. 13. And upon the infinite power of God Rom. 4. 21. In a word true hope doth consist in Gods love in adoption and the truth of his promises and the power of performance 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him c. Or hope is that vertue whereby we expect all good things from God and so patiently attend in the use of his appointed means for all things that we need Psal 22. 4 5. and 37. 7. and that not only when we have the means but also when we want all apparent means as the Israelites did in the Desart c. Or true hope is a well grounded and patient expectation of the accomplishment of all those spirituall and eternal good things which God hath promised through Jesus Christ to all that believe and expect them Of the Properties of this hope 1. FIrst this hope as an inward principle works out pollution and corruption as being repugnant thereunto 1 John 3. 3. And every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure 2. Hope is alwaies more or less exercised about heavenly things viz. Sometimes it is exercised about the righteousness of Christ sometimes it is exercised about the love of God the Father in giving Christ sometimes hope is exercised about the word and promises Psal 119. 49 81 114. and Psa 130. 5. In thy word do I hope Hope in the promises will keep the head from aking and the heart from sinking in a word the promises are the ladder by which hope gets up to heaven and so hope in the

our selves to be justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ 1 Joh. 5. 3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments so again Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my commandments See the 21. and 23. ver 7. In our obedience to him he doth manifest these things to us that we have right to the tree of life Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City that is in the obedience he shall have the manifestation of that 2 Pet. 1. 11. For so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so he is manifested to be the Author of salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Behold obedience to God is the way of conveyance to us so it is a lively evidence to others that we are the Lords Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples because our faith which is the evidence of things not seen to us is proved to others to be true by its works Jam. 2. 18. Behold here is the Lords going downward from the causes to the effects now we must go upward from the effects to the causes 1. God shews us what is our duty and puts us upon doing it and for the doing of it those that behold it and hear of us judge us to be true Christians 2. In the doing of it God manifests himself more and more to our souls in the keeping of his appointments there is great reward for so an entrance is administred to us abundantly 2 Pet. 1. 11. 3. The cause of our obedience is our love to God If ye love me keep my commandments 4. The cause of our love was our seeing that God did love us first 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 5. The cause of our faith in Christ is the preaching of the Gospel Rom. 10. 17. 6. The cause of the preaching the Gospel to us was Christs dying for us 7. The cause of Christs dying for us was Gods great love of pitty to us-wards even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 4. So then Gods love was the cause of sending his son o deye for our sins Christs dying and rising again is the cause of the Gospe●s being preached The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our believing Our believing is the cause of our justification from sin the knowing of our selves free from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of him and in onr obedience is the manifestation more and more conveyed to us So by our obedience others have some evidence of our faith in Christ Mans life is or should be guided by these vertues 1. FAith whereby we believe in and lay hold on God for something promised 2. Hope and that is either for pardoning mercy or for glory 3. Charity whereby we love God as the only good and his people and our enemies in obedience to his command 4. Prudence 1. In our hearts to guide our thoughts 2. In our mouths to order our speeches 3. It should be in our words to grace or adorn our actions 4. In the intelligence to understand things present 5. Prudence to guess at things to come 6. Prudence to recal matters past 5. Temperance which moderates our desires and brings the Appetite under a rule of reason that it may not exceed the rule of moderation 6. Perseverance which continueth in doing and suffering valiantly 7. Justice which giveth every man his due without self-love fear or ranckor it binds us to give due to God to our parents and kindred verity and equity in all that we do in order to our duty herein 1. Sense perceiveth 2. Imagination representeth 3. Understanding formeth 4. Wit deviseth 5. Reason judgeth 6. Memory preserveth 7. Intelligence apprehendeth 8. Contemplation in the prosecution perfecteth Several Divine Sentences First of Christ HE that was the Son of of God became the son of man that we who were the sons of men might become the sons of God He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the right●ousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. The more vile Christ made himself for us the more dear he ought to be unto us therefore let us beware of Christ-dishonouring and soul-undoing opinions All good things are in Christ eminently perfectly and eternally Faith in the blood of Christ the witness of the Spirit of Christ a sense of feeling and the love of Christ and the hope of reigning with Christ are the only things to be desired Christ is as well the fountain of common gifts as of saving grace A true Christian cannot find fulness in the creature nor sweetness in sin nor life in any Ordinance without Christ he will weep over other mens weaknesses and rejoyce at their graces We must lean more upon Christ and less upon our own strength lest with Peter we rest upon some old strength and fall before a new temptation Christ can heal a soul speedily perfectly freely and eternally Oh that Christ should shed his blood for those sins that we never shed one tear for A true Christian doth labour for unity in the Church as well as purity he loves to see Christs coat without rent as well as without spot Phil. 3. 15. Christ did admit his spouse into the garden sweetly though she kept him out of her house sluggishly What a poor soul doth for Christ sincerely that our precious Saviour takes sweetly though it be done ill he doth accept it well Nay though we carry our selves in our choicest performances very weakly yet he doth carry himself towards us very sweetly and doth accept of that which we do kindly although done in much infirmity let us enter into his service and we shall soon experience his sweetness Christ doth weigh the heart of the giver more then the value of the gift and delights to see his people give cheerfully though they cannot give bountifully Let us give over measuring his mercy by the narrow scantling of our dark understandings though difficulties may arise and Christians hearts may fail yet the work of Christ shall go on c. Of affliction for sin in Sentences GOD is as severe in punishing as he is gracious in pardoning his house of correction is his School of instruction God had one Son without corruption but no Son without correction he had one Son without Sin but no Son without Sorrow A Soul may be dearly beloved although soarly afflicted sin and punishment are linked together if thou wilt be sinful thou must be miserable Oh what is the state of a man

of their Creed and so fall to judging railing and condemning men for not doing as they do contending for Cummin and Annis putting off a hat and wearing ribans c. and not only so but also hate malign and most bitterly and uncharitably censure all those that differ from them Reader I shall here in this Book present thee with all that I have learned or at least with the sum and substance of all that I have gained this four and twenty years by reading the Scriptures hearing of Sermons conferring with Christians and perusing their writings together with several things that God hath immediately darted in upon my heart but I have not received as I know of nor here presented any of the mediate or immediate teachings save that and only that which is agreeable to the word of God as far as I understand his mind therein neither have I made it my work to contend for or cry up any particular interest but rather it doth much grieve my heart to see what a state most menare in here each tugging for his interest and so whilst they are contending for the garment the power of Religion is much abated I would intreat thee Reader to weigh things in the ballance of Righteousness love and impartiality and then I am confident that there will be none that hath the work of grace upon their souls unless they be under some violent fit of temptation but in the main will sweetly own and spiritually bless God for the revelation of the precious things contained in this little Book here being something of every thing needful to be known and practiced for the obtaining of which I have imitated the Bee that goes forth of the hive and gathers hony from several sorts of flowers and hearbs and sometimes from weeds And for the compiling of these things together as they have a connexion and dependance one upon another I have borrowed a little time from my particular calling and from my sleep and recreation If I have done this work well it is that which I desired but if slenderly and meanly it is because I could do it no better I must confess I rather lisp then speak plain in the things of God wherefore cover all my imperfections with a mantle of love for it hath been compiled in the midst of many personal tryals if thou find any imperfections yet let not the truth of God suffer through my weakness to the Law and to the testimonies wherein I come short of writing according to that rule it is for want of light I hope I shall be content to decrease so the glory of God in the gift of Christ and Covenant of grace may increase let my name perish so his may flourish let me cut off like a Weaver and dye so his name and glory may live I shall no longer detain thee from the thing it self which treats of that which is of great concernment to all in the reading of which if thou shalt receive any light or reap any spiritual benefit give all the praise to the Lord and pray for him who is a lover of all that fear the Lord under what form soever they be or by what name or title soever they are known ROB. PURNEL A Table of the principal heads in general and the connection of these points together and dependence of them one upon another OF God the Father Of God the Son Of God the Holy-Ghost Of Gods decrees Of Election Of the Creation Of Angels Of Man Of the Sou l. Of Mans fall Of Providence Of Mans recovery Of Vocation Of the Covenant of Grace Of Justification by Grace alone Of Sanctification or a holy Conversation Several strong reasons why the Saints should walk holily Of Justification and Sanctification wherein they differ and wherein they agree Of Faith Of Repentance Of Sin the nature of it Of Knowledge First Of God Secondly Of our selves Of Experience Of Enjoyment Of the grace of love 1. First to God 2 To his People Of the Grace of hope Of Perseverance Of the several gifts and Graces of the Spirit Of the several Ordinances o● the Gospel 1. Of the ass●mbling of our selves together 2. O preaching and prophecying 3. Of Prayer and supplication 4. Of singing and praising God together 5. Of the Ordinance o● Baptism 6. Of the Ordinance o● the Lords Su●per 7. Of the Collection or the poor 8. Of reading the Scriptures 9. Of Admonition private and publike 10. Of Suspension 11. Of Excommunication Of Assurance of Salvation Of the difference between the Law and the Gospel and of the several sorts of Laws Of the ten Commandments and what each of them doth prohibit and enjoin Of the Lords prayer and the several petitions therein contained Of the World Flesh and the Devil the three great enemies of man Of afflictions and why the Lord doth afflict his own people When a man may be said to suffer for well-doing and when for ill-doing The Lord is many times better then promise never worse Mercies and deliverances are many times nearest to us when we think they are farthest of The Lord doth hand forth mercies by the rule of contraries He doth not despise the day of small things The order of causes how the Lord comes down-ward from the causes to the Effects and how we must go upward from the effects to the causes Mans life is or should be guided by seven vertues Several Divine Sentences Divers knotty questions answered and seeming contradictions reconciled and many scruples of conscience removed Of the shortness of mans life and of the misery that doth attend every age thereof Of the misery attending both body and Soul at the hour of Death Of a Bill of inditement at that time brought against us Of the sad condition and misery of all out of Christ after death Of our preparation for death that we may be ready when it comes Death to a Christian is but a house a bed a sleep The great and terrible day of the Lord is near proved 1. By the testimony of the Prophets 2. By the testimony of the Apostles 3. By the testimony of Angels 4. By the immutability of Gods decree 5. By the infallibility of his promises 6. By the impartiality of his justice There are four things that Christ hath already done and five things he is now doing and six things more that he will do when he comes Of the resurrection of the dead at Christs second coming Of the first and second resurrection Whether there be any such things as the personal reign of Christ and if so what it is Of the last judgement 1. The signs that go before it 2. What is meant by it 3. O● the place where it shall be 4. Of the person who it is that shall judge the world 5. Of the time how long the judgement shall last 6. Out of what all people shall be judged 7. The day of judgement will be a great day The sad condition of all Christless after

causes of this great work of creation was first his love to man and the shewing forth his own glory and the fulfilling of his decree to the end that God may be known and honored of his creatures c. his eternall power and God-head is seen in raising all things out of nothing By his word alone Isa 40. 12. Rom. 1. 20. Ier. 10. 12. 51. 15. And his infinite wisdom is made known by them Psal 104. 24. Of Angels ANgels are spiritual creatures compleat and immortall yet finite Heb. 1. 13 14. Col. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 11. 26. 53. Psal 68. 17. Mat. 22. 30. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 1. 7. Psal 104. 4. There be two sorts of Angels first good secondly bad The good Angels they praise God worship the Son they are heavenly messengers from the Father to defend the faithfull they have wrestled eaten been received as strangers had their feet washed they shall gather the elect from the four corners of the earth they shall come with Christ to judgement they be excellent creatures 1. For their nature Isaiah 6. 2. Daniel 9. 21. 2 Thes 1. 7. 2. For their gifts 2 Sam. 14. 17. Mat. 6. 10. Luk. 15. 10. 1 Cor. 13. 1. 3. For their offices Dan. 7. 10. Rev. 5. 11. 4. They be excellent for their estate Mat. 18. 10. 5. They be wise and of great understanding 2 Sam. 14. 20. They were the first creatures that ever God made there be also severall orders of Angels viz. Archangels Cherubims and Seraphins yet lay all these things together it will appear that righteousness of Angels is but the righteousness of creatures but the righteousness that the Saints are cloathed with is the very righteousness of Christ and in this respect the meanest Saint is more excellent then the most glorious Angel in heaven they are by God sent forth for the good of his people hence they are called ministring spirits and they minister to the Saints many wayes In their life by defending them from their enemies the Angels of the Lord pitch their tents about them that fear him Psal 34. 7. An Angel it was that slew the army of the Assyrians That delivered Peter out of prison as also preserved Lot Psal 91. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes Gen. 32. 5. An Angel encouraged Iacob when he feared his brother Esau an Angel it was Luke 1. 30. who bid Mary not to fear and who stood by Paul and bid him be of good cheer Act. 27. 24. By an Angel was the incarnation of Christ foretold to the Virgin and by a multitude of Angels was it proclaimed afterwards an Angel leads Philip to expound the Scripture to the Eunuch sets Peter at liberty to preach the Gospel bids Cornelius send for Peter to be instructed by him and prayes Paul to come over to Macedonia to help them none are so nobly attended as Saints they have a life-guard of Angels to encompass them about Angels are as carefull of the faithfull as a nurse of her sucking child they bear them up in their arms that they dash not their feet against a stone Of Man ALL men by nature are equally made of one earth and blood and every poor Christian is as dear unto God as a mighty Prince Man was wonderfully created and more wonderfully redeemed The Lord hath assigned his heart to wisdom the belly to avoidance the breast to health the liver to anger the gall to bitterness the spleen to laughter the kidneys to craftyness the loyns to strength the ribs to comeliness the Lord having finished the excellent frame of heaven and earth he cals a counsel to build that excellent tabernacle Man into whom he breathed the spirit of life this man did far exceed all other creatures that amongst them all not found any one fit or meet to be a companion for him or to have society with him and so the Lord made him a help meet for him this man was the master-piece of all Gods works to whom the Lord did give an unlimited prerogative over the beasts of the field the fouls of the air and the fish of the sea but man by his disobedience became inferiour to the most despised creatures and we all his posterity are more miserable and fuller of vanity then any of the unreasonable creatures viz. other creatures by the benefit of nature can stand upon their legs and seek after their food when young but man the Lord of them all must be swadled in clouts being no way able to help himself the young chickens as soon as ever they are hatched can run after their dam to seek for food and have that wisdom to hide themselves under her wings at the fluttering of the Kite the lambs calves and young costs stand suddenly upon their legs to seek their dams teats But man would perish if his mother by her naturall affection did not bring the nipple of her breasts to his mouth and rock him upon her knees Of the Soul THE soul of man is a spirituall substance immortall and invisible endued with memory understanding and will or the soul is a substance immortall invisible united to the body and endued with many admirable faculties as life sense and reason to this end principally that God might be truly honored and duely worshipped Or the soul is a spirituall invisible and immortall substance endued with power to understand and will this soul is at one instant both created and united to the body and by the power and faculties of the soul man is capable of happiness or of the the cheif good or greatest misery or thus the soul of the Saints is a spirituall and immortall substance created after the Image of God and renewed after the immortall Image of God in Christ the soul is a real and very being as the body is only of an higher kind the body is of the earth the soul is immediately from God Of Mans Fall THE devill himself being fallen cometh to the garden in the form of a Serpent Adam and Eve being in Paradise and looking upon themselves as indeed they were the most excellent piece of all the creation bearing the Image of God their Creator the Lord having left them a law he leaves them to the fredom of their own will the devil boards the woman thus hath God said ye shall not eat of such a tree it is a likely thing that the Lord cares what ye eat what do you think he stands upon an apple this is the first assault which the woman weakly resisteth and answered doubtfully we must not eat lest we die then the devil perceiving the woman to stagger and the ground of her faith to shake he plants all his pieces and purposes for a second storm and stands up and saith to the woman ye shall not die at all can there be any hurt in an apple Oh silly woman God he affirmeth and faith ye shall die the woman saith I must

multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God only is the salvation of Israel Now that I my self and others that read these lines may be grounded rooted and established upon the true and only foundation is the desire and endeavour of my heart and soul In the ensuing Treatise and for the accomplishment of this great work which is of highest concernment let us first endeavour to unravell unmask and unbowel the Covenant of Grace and for our more orderly proceeding therein let us enquire into these particulars 1. What is the sum and substance of this new Covenant 2. With whom this Covenant was first made 3. When this Covenant was made 4. Whether there be any conditions of this Covenant and if so what they are 5. Whether it be one and the same Covenant of grace that was in force before the Law and under the Law and under the Gospel 6. Whether this Covenant may not be broken as was the Covenant of works 7. What means one should use to get into this Covenant 8. When may a man or woman be said to be in this Covenant 9. Wherein the Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of works do differ Question 1. What is the sum and substance of this Covenant of Grace or New Covenant Answ The Covenant of Grace is called a testament or will indeed the will of the Father revealed to the Son and by the Son revealed to the world to manifest the Fathers love unto the sons and daughters of men and testified to the world that what he declared was the mind of God and so sealed it with his blood Heb. 10. 29. So that his blood that he shed is called the blood of the Covenant yea of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13. 20. Or The Covenant of grace is full of sure mercies and sweet promises that God will give a new heart a heart to know him and that he will write his Law within us put his fear into us cause us to walk in his statutes forgive our iniquities cleanse us from our filthiness be our God and make us his people Ezek. 36. and Jer. 31. This Covenant doth fall into these six parts viz. 1. It is a free Covenant 2. It is a full and compleat Covenant 3. It is a well ordered Covenant 4. It is a sure and firm Covenant 5. It is a peaceable Covenant 6. It is an everlasting Covenant 1. First it is a free Covenant 1. Because the foundation of it is free 2. Because it is freely given to those that do partake of it Isa 42. 6 Isa 49. 8. 3. Because there is no active condition required on our part Jer. 31. 33 34. 4. It is free in respect of his entring into Covenant with us Isa 65. 1. 5. It is free in respect of his performances of it Mich. 7. 20. 2. It is a full and compleat Covenant richly and plentifully stored with all sutable promises both for this life and that which is to come for soul and body being and well being there is some remedy in it for every malady 3. It is a well ordered Covenant 1. In respect of the Persons with whom it is made and that is first with Christ then with his seed 2. In respect of the promises and parts of the Covenant First God becomes our God then we become his people Jer. 32. 38. 3. In respect of manifestations he first reveals it and then seals it by his Spirit Ezek. 16. 8 9. 2 Tim. 1. 10. 4. In respect of the ends of it which is God the Father and the Sons glory in the riches and freeness of his Grace which should caution us not to darken the Glory of free Grace 4. It is a sure and firm Covenant founded upon that Rock Jesus Christ Isa 26. 4. Rom. 4. 16. Our salvation is by Grace to the end that the promises might be sure to all the seed Isa 55. 3. I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Now it is sure and firm 1. Because it is made by an Immutable God 2. He hath confirmed this Covenant with an oath Heb. 6. 17 18. 3. He hath sealed it with the blood of his Son Heb. 13. 20. 5. Fifthly It is a peaceable Covenant in this Covenant he doth freely give peace to the soul and so keeps the soul in peace the heart being stayed on him Isa 26. 3. In this Covenant there is a three-fold peace conveyed to the soul Eph. 2. 14. he is our peace who hath made both one 1. He is our peace with the Father 2. He gives peace of Conscience he stills and quiets that 3. He is the Author and cause of our peace with men 6. Sixthly It is an everlasting Covenant Jer. 3. 40. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me The motives that did move God to make this Covenant was his everlasting love the Righteousness upon which it is grounded is everlasting Righteousness In this Covenant is presented to us everlasting pardon everlasting kindness everlasting mercy everlasting joy and consolation and everlasting life and salvation all these are fully proved by these and the like Scriptures Psal 105. 8. Isa 40. 18. Heb. 8. 12. Isa 54. 8. 35. 10. 2 Thes 2. 16. What shall I say more to the nature of this Covenant it is sometimes called a New Covenant sometimes it is called a better Covenant as appears by Heb. 12. 24. compared with Heb. 8. 6. Sometimes it is called a Covenant of grace now by a New Covenant a better Covenant a Covenant of grace All serious Christians do understand the engagements which God hath laid upon himself to bestow on them for whom Christ died all good temporall spirituall and eternall blessings so that by this God doth make himself debtor to his people in Covenant with him and is bound in justice to perform his word and promise Now this Covenant is sometimes called a New Covenant because it succeeds in the place of the other Covenant of works and it is called a Covenant of grace because all the effects thereof do flow down to us meerly of free Grace and favour of God and the merits of Christ Zach. 9. 11. In the Covenant of Grace we may find the mouth of the Law stopped and all the accusations of Satan answered and the justice of God ●ully satisfied God will have all blessings and happiness to flow to us through and by the Covenant of Grace 1. That the worst of sinners may have strong ground of hope 2. For the praise of his own glory 3. That vain man may not boast 4. That our mercies and blessings may be sure to us our salvation is by grace saith Paul Rom. 4. 16. that the promises might be sure to us for if it in any sense depended upon works we could not be sure thereof Reader

should you make such a matter of sin by this Satan doth cause many a soul to turn the grace of God into wantonness but for a remedy herein consider that God is as just as he is merciful as the Scripture doth speak him out to be a very merciful God so they speak him forth to be a very just God witness his casting the Angels out of heaven his turning Father Adam out of Paradise his drowning the old world his raining fire out of heaven upon Sodom It is true his general mercy is over all his works but his special mercy is confined to those that he hath divinely qualified Exod. 34. 6 7. Psal 32. 10. Psal 103. 11. 8. This Doctrine is the most hardest thing in the world to be learned it being wholly in every part of it supernatural and all things in us do fight against it To do well and have well is natural but to believe and have well is supernatural man remaining in his natural state is altogether unable to receive and comprehend those glorious and gracious mysteries of being righteous by anothers righteousness and of being saved by anothers suffering all men both Jews and Gentiles are set upon seeking life and happiness by their own doings and performances for although man did fearfully fall by transgression yet he retained certain foot-steps marks and impressions of that moral and eternal Law of righteousness which was at first engraven in his heart by the finger of God Almighty So that although as to everlasting felicity man is dark and dead being under the power of the God of this world whose Kingdom is a Kingdom of darkness who rules in men by ignorance yet there remains in every man so much light as doth lead him to the knowledge of a God but when the Lord doth reveal this mysterie of his grace by his Spirit to and in man then he doth over and above that common work of the Spirit by which he enlighteneth every man I say Christ doth give unto those given him of the Father the mind and understanding to know him and to receive him and to lay hold on him for life and salvation Now in this sense the natural man perceiveth not the things of God 1 Cor. 2. 14. neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 1. 21. The world by wisdom knoweth not God c. Now this Doctrine of grace is the hardest thing in the world to be learned because we are naturally apt to hunger and thirst after a righteousness of our own but it must be renounced I confess this self denyal is very hard Oh how hard is it for the soul to be taken off its own bottom of works and qualifications and to strip them of all that is their own ye take away their lives they must and will have something some humbleness and brokenness of heart some tears some good works or abilities or good heart as many say and this doth argue as yet thou art not pluckt off thine own stock and therefore art not planted into Christ thou art ignorant of the righteousness of God and so goest about to establish thine own righteousness consider consider our works make us not the better before God neither the more beloved of the Lord but declare us to be what we are made by God and so are profitable to men but not to God But what saith the Scripture now to him that worketh is not the reward reckoned of grace but of debt but to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness Rom. 4. 2 3 4 5. We are saved not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. Again we read Rom. 5. 10. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Isa 43. 25. I will blot out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins a new heart also will I give thee Ezek. 36. 26 27 31. Again Isa 57. 18. I have seen his waies and will heal him Isa 44. 22. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions return to me for I have redeemed thee Ezek. 16. 6 8. When thou wast polluted in thy own blood I said unto thee live when thou wast in thy blood thy time was the time of love and I covered thy nakedness Now consider the Lord doth this that he might have all the glory of our Election Vocation Justification Sanctification and Salvation See Eph. 1. 6. Jer. 9. 24. Rom. 3. 9. Luke 1. 74. 1 Cor. 4. 7. Iames 1. 17. And as this Doctrine is the hardest thing in the whole world to be learned so it is the hardest work where it is not learned to obey God in any of his commands to instance in one for all God doth command men every where to repent but is not repentance a mighty work a difficult work a work that is above our power Surely there is no power below that power that raised Christ from the dead and that made the world that can break the heart of a sinner or turn his heart It is as easie to turn the stream that runs swiftly forward and make it run as swiftly backward as it is to repent indeed and to melt thine own heart it is as easie to turn a flint into flesh as to turn thine own heart to the Lord it is as easie to raise the dead and make a world as to repent it is a flower that grows not in natures Garden Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evill But this work that is so difficult and so hard above our reach is easily wrought in the soul when God gives it to see his grace and love in giving Christ Act. 5. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Gal. 1. 8. If I or any other or an Angel of heaven preach any other Gospel then this that we have preached unto you then salvation and participation of Christ by grace and free gift for that is the Doctrine he had established before and through the whole Epistle to the Galathians What shall I say more there is nothing in men though never so vile that can debar a person or a people from a part in this Christ some will not have Christ except they can pay for him others dare not meddle with Christ because they are so vile and sinful and therefore they seek to get an inherent righteousness they run to their qualifications to their prayers to their tears to their humiliations and sorrows and reformations and will not come at Christ untill they have spent all upon these Physitians and are sensible with the woman in the Gospel that they are nothing the better but the worse then they begin

that it may seem unto himself an unreasonable thing once to question whether his heart be right or the action good even in those actions wherein he came short both of the matter ground form and end Quest Cannot a natural man do an action that is good Answ A man by nature may do an action that is good for the substance thereof as appears Dan. 4. 27. But he cannot do that which is truly and spiritually good Mat. 7. 18. A corru●t tree cannot bring forth good fruit Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye do good that are accustomed to do evil See also Rom. 3. 10. Prov. 15. 8. and 21. 27. Quest Why cannot he do that which is spiritually good 1. Because his person is not accepted Gen. 4. 4. compared with 1 Pet. 2. 5. 2. Because his person is not sanctified so the actions he doth proceed not from a good root viz. Faith and the spirit of sanctification 1 Tim. 1. 5. Jam. 4. 3. 3. Because he doth it not to a good end 1 Cor. 10. 31. Col. 3. 17. Phil 1. 16. Object You have been speaking to us of the principal from which the rule by which and the end to which we should act and of our remissness and defection herein but pray if you can tell us by what power we shall do all these things I find my self altogether unable to do these things and I read in Scripture that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man to direct his steps Jer. 10. 23. And Paul tels us from the Lord that we are not sufficient as of our selves to think so much as one good thought and that it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do Answ Strength to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any lusts to resist any temptation to bear any affliction c. Is derived only from Christ viz. 1. Consider that either he hath already enabled thee to do the thing commanded for he hath given a talent or talents 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10. Rom. 12. 6. compared with Mat. 25. from ver 15. to 28. 2. Consider that many times the Lord conveyes a power together with the command to enable thee to do the thing commanded So when he bid Lazarus to come forth he conveys a power together with the command and he came forth so again in Luk. 5. 24. he commanded the man that was sick of the palsie to take up his bed and walk and conveys a power together with the command whereby ver 25. he did immediately arise took up his bed went to his house and glorified God so again in Ezek. 2. 1 2. And he said unto me Son of man stand upon thy feet and I will speak unto thee and the Spirit entred into me when he spake and set me upon my feet and I heard him that spake unto me c. 3. When the Command lyeth before thee if thou findest no power in thy self already given to thee neither any power conveyed to thee together with the Command then bring the precept to the promise and search what there is in the promise answering to that which the precept requires and so to sue out by prayer the blessing of the promise that we may be enabled to do the duty of the precept Precept it is mans duty to believe Mark 1. 15. Promise the Covenant holds forth believing as a free gift Ephes 2. 8. Prayer sues it out Lord help my unbelief Precept It is mans duty to wash and be clean Isa 1. 16. Promise It is Gods promise to sanctifie and cleanse us Ezek. 36. 25. Prayer It is the business of prayer to sue out this promise wash me and I shall be clean Psa 51. 7. It is mans duty to repent and turn to God Act. 17. 30. The promise holds forth repentance as the gift of God Act. 5. 31 2 Tim. 2. 25. Prayer sues it out turn thou me and I shall be turned Jer. 31. 18. It is required of man as a duty to make him a new heart Ezek. 18. 31. It is Gods promise to give a new heart Ezek. 36. 26. Prayer riseth up sutable to the promise Psal 51. 10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me It is mans duty to love God Mat. 22. 37. Promise It is Gods Covenant to circumcise the heart to love him Deut. 30. 6. Prayer works out in the strength thereof that God would direct the heart to love him 2 Thes 3. 5. It is mans duty to fear God Deut. 10. 12. It is Gods promise to put his fear into our hearts Jer. 32. 40. Prayer seeks for it Psal 86 11. Vnite my heart to fear thy name It is mans duty to draw neer to God Jam. 4. 8. It is Christs promise to draw men unto him John 12. 32. Prayer falls in sutable hereunto Can. 1. 4. draw me we will run after thee It is mans duty to walk in Gods Statutes Psal 119. 4. It is Gods promise to enable him so to do Ezek. 36. 27. Prayer works up accordingly Psal 119. 5. O that my waies were directed to keep thy Statutes It is mans duty to be strong in the Lord Ephes 6. 10. It is Gods promise to make him strong Psa 29. 11. Prayer fetcheth strength from him Psal 86. 16. Give thy strength to thy servant It is mans duty not to depart from God Heb. 3. 12. It is Gods promise to his people that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. Prayer answers hereto O let me not wander from thy commandments Psal 119. 10. I might instance in all or almost every thing required of us that there is a promise left us and to many precepts there is two or three promises the one to enable us the other to reward us and all to encourage us to do our duty Behold all ye whose faces are Sion-ward here is a new and living way paved with promises A way of strength to the upright wherein they may walk from strength to strength till they appear before God in Sion Let no discouraging thoughts concerning the difficulty of the work which is set before you possess your hearts so as to hinder your application to it and cheerfull progress in it A yoak we are commanded to take upon us but such as is made most easie to bear because that God which layeth it upon us hath promised to strengthen supply and support us he who is righteous in commanding is gracious in promising let us be strong in believing and fervent in praying and our work will be our meat our duty our delight and God will let us see that he hath either the Castle of providence or the Ark of a promise or the al-sufficiency of his own grace for a retirement of his people in the greatest storms and tempests Paul and Silas said to the Jaylor Act. 16. 30 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus

nature When the Leapers saw that they must either venture their lives or dye they would out into the Camp when the Prodigal saw he must famish abroad or repair home he would then back to his fathers house when the woman with the issue of blood had spent all and grew worse and knew not whither to go or what to do then she comes to Christ now if thou hast not so much ingenuity as to come to and believe in Christ in obedience to his command yet let thy necessity prevail with thee or else the Leaper and Prodigal shall rise up in judgement against thee were we in Adams created innocency then we need not to look after a Saviour but we are fallen but we are broken but we are sold under sin but we are transgressours from the womb but we are by nature the children of disobedience and wrath 3. He doth invite us to come and to believe by the Prophets Isa 55. 1 2 3. He beseecheth us by the Apostles to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 20. He cals upon us by his Church and spirit to take of the water of life Revelat. 22. 17. and after all this he waits upon us to be gracious to us Isaiah 30. 18. 4. Our unbelief grieves the very heart of Christ he grieved at their unbelief he complains at our backwardness to believe O fools and slow of heart to believe Nay and he sheds tears because we believe not on him when he came neer the City he wept over it c. 5. Motive Consider there is none who have right to thy soul but God and Christ our souls are Gods workmanship and Christs purchase why then should we not give to God and Christ that which is their own 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. ye are not your own ye are bought with a price God put forth his own power to make thy soul and Christ shed his heart blood to redeem thy soul and wilt thou through unbelief withhold it from him 6. Christ outbids all Merchants for thy soul he outbids the world sin and Satan is there any one of them that presents Redemption unto thee is there any one of them that can procure remission and pardoning mercy for thee is there any one of them that can satisfie the wrath of God for thee which can make thy peace which can present thee righteous before the judgement seat which can settle eternal life upon thee all this can Christ do none of this can they do Behold here is laid before thee life and death life if thou dost believe death if not now chuse you whether what shall I say more by believing we honor God Iohn 3. 33. by believing we come to be established Isa 7. 9. by believing we are kept in perfect peace Isa 26. 3 4. Rom. 5. 1. Our naked cleaving to God in his free promise will carry down all our distempers at once and fill our souls with peace in believing O how can we look so many sweet promises in the face and harbour so many misgivings in our hearts Rom. 9. ult whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed Of the evil of unbelief and the springs of it and the misery that doth attend it VNbelief doth rob the soul of all joy comfort and content Nay further unbelief doth throw reproach upon God Christ and the promises and gives Satan the greatest advantage against us he that lives without Faith lives without comfort joy peace and content by unbelief we add sin unto sin in the highest nature 1 John 5. 10. Unbelief straightens the heart stops the mouth and hinders thankfulness thou shalt be dumb because thou believest not Luke 1. 20. Unbelief is the door that lets in condemnation John 3. 18 30. He that believeth not is condemned Rev. 2. 8. The fearful and unbelieving shall be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone 1. It is the greatest sin in the world because it is a sin against the greatest love in the world John 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. It is a sin for which there can be no remedy for asmuch as it is a sin against the only remedy the Sentence of the Law may be repealed by the Gospel but the sins against Gospel remedy there is no appeal it is a sin that makes void and vain all the Covenant of grace turning all the sweetness thereof into bitterness and all the truth of it to a lie 1 John 5. 10. Unbelief binds all our sins upon the soul and so murders the soul it grieves the heart of Christ leaves all our sins upon record leaves us to answer for our selves it is a sin against the greatest love against the only remedy makes void the Doctrine of grace and breeds an indisposition towards all holy duties it is a dishonouring to God a denying of Christ a murderer of the soul a belying of God a denying of Christ and a crowning of Satan it doth without doubt proclaim the Devil a Conqueror and lift him up above Christ himself Judas did sin more by unbelief and despairing then by betraying of Christ In a word doubts fears and discouragements proceed neither from God Christ nor the Spirit of truth but they do proceed First from the Devil he either tempts us to sin and that will cause us to doubt or else he doth tempt us to doubt and that will cause us to sin Secondly they proceed from our own hearts Heb. 3. 12. Thirdly from the lying vanities that we hearken unto Jonah 2. 8. Fourthly from ignorance heedlesness and forgetfulness Fifthly from unskilfulness of the word of righteousness Heb. 5. 12. 7. Sixthly from want of watchfulness Seventhly from building our hopes and comfort upon that which is mutable and uncertain viz. our own personal Sanctification and not upon Christ and our free Justification Eighthly from our own false reasonings making Sense Reason and Feeling the Judge of our spiritual condition Ninthly from our ignorance of the love of Christ and the Covenant of Grace The Characters Marks or Signs of true Faith c. THere are many characters or discoveries of this Faith of the Gospel called the Faith of Gods Elect which worketh by love First the habit of this Faith is infused into the soul by God in regeneration Eph. 2. 8. John 1. 12 13. Secondly this habit so infused is brought to act by the Fathers drawing the soul to Christ Iohn 6. 44. Thirdly faith being thus infused and acted doth chearfully accept of Christ upon his own terms viz. self-denyall bearing the Cross and following Christ Luke 9. 23. Iohn 1. 12. Faith having thus accepted and received Christ begins to taste such sweetness and pleasantness in him that Christ is most pleasant to the soul 1 Pet 2. 3 7. So the soul by degrees comes to be filled with joy and peace in believing Again Faith having thus taken and tasted Christ contends after a fuller perfection even after assurance Col. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 22. 1. True Faith is not only a justifying

to God but the knowledge that is in the brain is notional and neither subdues sin nor Satan 2. Spiritual experimental knowledge is a free gift of God 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give in the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ This Divine light doth reach the heart as well as the head 3. True knowledge is a transforming knowledge 2 Cor. 3. 18. Like as the child receiveth from the parents member for member limb for limb or as the paper from the press receiveth letter for letter or as the face in a glass answereth to the face so the beams of Divine knowledge shining into the soul stamps the lively Image of Christ upon the soul and makes him put on the Lord Jesus and resemble him God will own no knowledge at last but that which leaves the stamp of Christ the print of Christ and the Image of Christ upon the heart 4. True saving knowledge doth spring from a spiritual sense and taste of holy and heavenly things this is that experimental knowledge that will turn to account at last the other litteral knowledge will only encrease our guilt and torment as it did the Scribes and Pharisees 5. True knowledge circumciseth the heart and dissolveth the dominion of sin Ephes 4. 22. The root of lust is error when Christ takes away the foundation the lust dyes and the Devils work is dissolved First the lust of the eye Christ informs the soul that there is no such excellency in riches but that they are dross and dung and therefore why should the eye or heart be set upon them So this lust is dissolved there is an end of it 6. True knowledge doth indear Christ and the things of Christ to the soul Cant. 2. 5. I am sick of love I cannot live in my self I can live only in Christ who is my life Galatians 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory in any thing but Christ 7. True knowledge is soul-humbling soul-abasing knowledge John said I am not worthy to loose his shoo Peter said depart from me I am a sinful man Abraham said he was but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. Jacob said he was less then the least of all his mercies Gen. 32. 10. David said he was a worm and no man Psalm 22. 2. Job abhorred himself in dust and ashes Job 42. 1 2 c. 8. True knowledge is alwaies attended with holy endeavours and heavenly desires after a further knowledge of God Prov. 18. 15. This knowledge of God goes before trusting in God Psalm 9. 10. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee There may be knowledge without grace but not grace without knowledge How one Believer differs from another in knowledge AS saving knowledge is a free gift of God so he gives to some more and to others less according to the measure of the gift of Christ and though it be freely given yet the Lord doth hand it to us and work it in us in the use of means age and time and communion and study and use of means and experience do raise the apprehension and knowledge to far more degrees and strength then at the first whereas before they saw dimly at length they rise by degrees to a more perfect light of the same truths and to a more full aad enlarged apprehension of other truths which he was ignorant of before even in this doth one believer differ from another Faith is the eye of the soul and knowledge the ground of Faith for believing is not rooted in ignorance but in light now every believer hath not so full and distinct a knowledge as another there are several promises and in them several parts and degrees Now all Christians have not been so long acquainted with the word as to know all the good which doth concern them Of what a large and vast measure of knowledge a man may attain unto and yet be without this saving knowledge HE may speak with the tongue of men and Angels and yet be as sounding brass or a tinckling Symbal as in 1 Cor. 13. 1. Again he may attain to the natural knowledge of all natural things and speak eloquently and distinctly and in many things truly he may be well skilled in Logick Rethorick Phylosophy and have the letter of the Scripture at his fingers ends and yet be an ignorant man in the knowledge of God and in the account of Christ viz. 1. A man may have a common knowledge of Christ and yet be without a spiritual knowledge of Christ he may gather together a great deal of notional knowledge of Christ and have much natural knowledge by the works of God by hearing reading conferring or the like and yet be ignorant of the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity 2. He may attain to vast and great measures of notional and yet be without an experimental knowledge of Christ how abundantly is this proved in our dayes in all places c. 3. An unregenerate man may attain to a contemplative or speculative knowledge of Christ and yet want and be altogether without a spiritual expemental knowledge he may know Christ as a man knows his neighbour but now a believer knows Christ as a wife knows her husband a natural mans knowledge is like the Moon it hath light but no heat but a spiritual mans knowledge is like the Sun that hath heat as well as light 4. A natural man may have much knowledge but he is a stranger to an appropriating knowledge of Christ he doth not know Christ to be his Christ now in this sense a man may be a great knowing man and yet not know Jesus Christ 5. He is without a practical knowledge of Jesus Christ he may know much but do but little Tit. 1. 16. in their words they profess to know him but in their works they deny him though they know God yet they glorifie not him as God Now put all these together and they speak out with open mouth that a man may attain to a great measure of knowledge and yet be in the account of God in the account of Christ in the account of Christians an ignorant man he is without spiritual and experimental knowledge without an affective and apprehensive knowledge and without an appropriating and practical knowledge I shall close up this head with a few cautions and considerations 1. Take this for a truth that in a Scripture account to complain of ignorance is a good degree of knowledge Prov. 30. 2. And I have not the knowledge of a man c. 2. Take this also for a truth that in Gods account he knows most that doth most Psal 111. 10. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments God doth not measure our knowledge by our questions and disputes but by our practices as in Jer. 22. 16. He judgeth the cause of the poor and needy was

not this to know me saith the Lord 3. Take this also that it is not the wanting of some measures or degrees of knowledge that doth make a man ignorant in the sight of God but the wanting of true knowledge of the Father Son Spirit and Scriptures Object I am surely ignorant of God saith many weak Christians I do not know him he will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on me Answ 1. Suppose thou art ignorant of God yet if thou art not consentingly ignorant if thou art not a self-conceited man or woman that thinkest thou knowest much when thou knowest little thou art well enough if thou art not like those in Hos 8. 2. Israel shall say unto me my God we know thee and yet there is no fear nor knowledge of God in the Land 2. If thou dost not sit down contentedly in thy ignorance but dost labour and endeavour after more knowledge then thy condition is good enough but if thou sayest unto God in thy heart as in Job 21. 14. Depart from me for I desire not the knowledge of thy wayes then thy condition is extream bad 3. If thou art not obstinately ignorant like those spoken of in Psalm 82. 5. They know not neither will they understand but they walk on in darkness When men be ignorant and will be ignorant this is an evidence they have no saving work of God upon them 2 Pet. 3. 5. saith the Apostle these things they are willingly ignorant of Now if thy ignorance be accompanied with these three circumstances that you are conceitedly and contentedly and obstinately ignorant the Lord be merciful to thee thou art in a state of death and damnation but on the other hand although thou hast abundance of ignorance in thee yet if thou dost bewail it and labour and desire after more knowledge if you follow on to know the Lord and are not obstinately ignorant thy condition is good Of Obedience TRue obedience or keeping of Gods commandments flows Originally from the true knowledge of God to which we have been speaking so that here obedience fals in its centre and place there is a three-fold obedience viz. 1. There is an obedience both true and perfect this was performed by Christ on earth and by Saints and Angels in Heaven Phil. 2. 8. Mat. 6. 10. 2. There is another kind of obedience that is neither true nor perfect done by all natural men they fail in the ground from which the rule by which and the end to which Rom. 8. 8. 3. There is a true and sincere but an imperfect obedience which is performed by Saints on earth in all their obedience there is some imperfection something polluted and something defective yea the most spiritual obedience is not wound up to command they are all tainted with disproportion to rule and not only so but our choicest services are be Leoparded with many spots yet the bent and main disposition of their hearts are upright and unfeigned notwithstanding there be some gradual infirmities and imperfections in all their actions concerning obedience what it is the ground and springs of it I have before in this book at large laid down under the head of justification and also more larger under the head of sanctification and therefore I shall speak no further to it here but to proceed the next point that comes in order Of Experience IT is the duty and it should be the practice of all sober Christians to treasure up experiences of Gods goodness Psalm 77. 5. Thou hast been my helper Psalm 63. 7. I was brought low and he helped me 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me Psalm 89. 49. Lord where are thy former loving kindnesses and so in another Psalm return to thy rest O my soul the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee 2 Cor. 1. 10. Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver us in whom we trust he will yet deliver us Psalm 116. 2. Because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live It is good to hear better to understand better to enjoy and best of all to have experience of what we hear understood and enjoyed Laban could say to Jacob I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake Gen. 30. 27. So a man that hath had experience can tell us that sin is the greatest evil in the world and that Christ is the only thing necessary the favour of God is better then life that the wounded spirit is such a burthen that none can bare that a broken heart is an acceptable sacrifice to God for he hath found it so that the promises are precious promises for he hath found it so That the smiles of God will make up the want of any outward mercy for he hath found it so Psalm 63. 3. Because thy loving kindness is better then life my lips shall praise thee Of Enjoyment IT is one thing to have a portion and another thing to enjoy it to possess a thing and to enjoy a thing is the portion of a true Christian 1 Timothy 6. 17. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy and hence it is that many a poor man lives more comfortably then the rich the rich man hath much and doth possess the poor man hath little and that little he doth enjoy The rich man saith Solomon roasteth not that which he caught in hunting he hath hunted to and fro and gotten a great deal together and now hath the sight of it but not the taste of it this is one of the sore evils that Solomon saw Eccles 5. 13. There is saith he a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Eccles 6. 2. there is an evil that I have seen a man to whom God hath given riches and honour so that he wanteth nothing of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof this is vanity and a sore evil Prov. 12. 27. but the substance of a diligent man is precious he doth eat and drink and is satisfied and doth praise the name of the Lord. If it be but a dinner of herbs it is better to him then a stalled Oxe to the other What shall I say more to this head the enjoyment of Christ without honour will satisfie the soul the enjoyment of Christ without riches will satisfie the soul the enjoyment of Christ without relations the enjoyment of Christ without pleasure and smiles of the creature will satisfie the soul Nay though honour is not and health is not and friends are not It is enough that Christ is mine and I am his Of love the nature of it several sorts and kinds of it How it s wrought in the heart tryals of it and properties of it means of attaining it and impediments of it and inducements to it OF the nature of this love Although Christians do somewhat

promises will support a distressed soul and reduce a wandring soul hope in the promises will confirm staggering souls and some undone souls The promises are the Anchor of hope as hope is the Anchor of the soul See Rom. 8. 24. Gal. 5. 5. Tit. 1. 2. 3. Hope hath much in reversion though little in possession hope can see a glimpse of heaven through the thickest cloud hope can see light through darkness life through death smiles through frowns and glory through misery hope holds life and soul the together it holds the soul and the promises togeit holds the soul and heaven together 4. Hope never takes off but puts the soul upon doing and obeying 1 Pet. 1. 3. it gives life and strength to all our duties 1 Cor. 9. 10. 5. Hope will enter into that within the vail Heb. 6. 19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast which entreth into that within the vail 6. Another property of hope is this it will help a soul to wait patiently upon God for any thing it doth stand in need of Rom. 8. 25. For if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Of the encouragements to encourage us to hope in God 1. FIrst this is the way for a Christian to enjoy himfelf and to have God take pleasure in him also Psal 147. 11. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy Psal 33. 18. Behold the eye of the Lordis upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy to deliver their souls from death c. 2. A believers comfort hope joy and confidence should be the same at all times and that for these five unanswerable reasons 1. Because God is unchangeable John 13. 1. 2. Because God ever looks upon his as they are in Christ Gal. 5. 17. Psal 103. 14. 3. Because the hope and comfort of a believer depends not upon his own doings but upon Christs holiness and righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30 2 Tim. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 8. 4. Because Christ and all true believers in a sense are one 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. Ephes 5. 30. Heb. 2. 11. 5. Because we are not beloved for our own sakes but for Christs sake Mat. 3. 17. compared with Isa 43. 25. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. 6 I might speak of many more encouragements viz. As God doth command us to hope in him and commends us for so doing and blames and threatens us for not hoping in his mercy But if I should speak of every thing distinctly I perceive my book would swell to a greater volumn then I intended Of the distinguishing Characters between a well grounded and a presumptuous hope 1. FIrst the hopes of a regenerate man it is gotten by and grounded upon the word of God and therefore it is called the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 23. Rom. 15. 4. But now the hopes of wicked men as they are gotten they know not how so neither do they know upon what they are grounded c. 2. True hope is bottomed upon the mercies of God and the merits of Christ and hence it is that Christ is called our hope 1 Tim. 1. 1. Because he is the foundation upon which believers do build all their hopes But now the false and presumptuous hopes of the wicked are built upon their own duties what they have done for themselves Mich. 3. 11. 3. True hope doth as well act for heaven as hope for heaven Psal 37. 3. Trust in the Lord and do good here is trusting and doing put together true hope doth act for heaven as well as hope for heaven But a presumptuous hope that hopes for heaven as its end but never acts holiness as its way to heaven in a word false hope doth hope much and act little Wicked men will hope for salvation but not work out their salvation c. 4. He that hath true hope doth make conscience to keep his heart pure and free both from the love of sin and the dominion of sin 1 John 3. 3. He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure that is he doth endeavour so to do at least But now a false hope will hope for heaven though he walk on after the imaginations of his own heart as in Isaiah 51. 10. Thou hast walked in the greatness of thy wicked waies yet sayest thou not there is no hope though they had great sins yet they had great hopes for heaven but this hope is only a presumptuous hope 5. True hope flows from a long and well grounded experience in the waies of God and from an experience of the grace and beauty and love of God to him and from experience of the goodness and mercy and promises of God and also from an experience from his own heart which in some measure is enabled by Christ to withstand temptations subdue corruptions Such experiences as these are inlets to a well grounded hope But now the hopes of wicked men and women are only the results of ignorance deluding and presumptuous hopes without any former experience of the ways of God surely such hopes are vain and empty hopes that will end in miserv Prov. 11. 7. The hope of the wicked shall be cut off and when he dies his expectation shall perish See Job 8. 14. Whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spiders Web. See Job 11. 20. Their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost therefore let us take heed that we do not fancie to our selves false hopes of heaven on the one hand and have as much care on the other hand that you do not cast off grounded hopes and say there is no hope and have as much care that you do not harbour in your hearts common and ordinary conceits of this grace of hope for there is the same certainty the same excellency and the same efficacy in this grace of hope as there is in Faith and love First there is the same certainty in it Heb. 6. 11. It is called the full assurance of hope Secondly there is the same excellency in it Tit. 2. 13. It is called a blessed hope and there is also the same efficacy in it for as faith is said to purifie the heart Act. 15. 9. So likewise doth hope 1 John 3. 3. Every man that hath this hope in him doth purifie himself as he is pure Again there is the same difficulty in getting hope as there is in getting Faith for as it is gotten by the word preached so is hope too Col. 1. 23. And if Faith be wrought in us by the power of God as Heb. 12. 2. So is hope likewise wrought in us by the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. That ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost let our faith and hope then ●e in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. and let us not be moved away from the hope of

the Gospel Col. 1. 23. The great Pillar of Marble that must bear up our hope is the promises of God in Christ he that builds his hopes for heaven only upon his own performances and good duties his hope is in vain for this is not the pillar and ground of our hope for when we have done all that we can we must lie down at the feet of Christ and conclude that our best righteousness is but silthy rags and when we have done all that we can we are but unprofitable servants Isa 64. 6. Luke 17. 10. Of Perseverance what it is It is the end that crowns the action it is not enough to begin well unless we end well Mannasseh and Paul began ill ended well Judas and Demas began well but ended ill Double damnation doth attend those that begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh Persevering Saints must work hard in the wilderness before they sit down in Paradice they must make a constant progressin holiness before they enter into happiness 1. That perseverance that is true is a perseverance in holy and spiritual principles it is an abiding in love John 15. 9 10. Col. 1. 23. If ye continue in the Faith grounded and settled and be not removed away from the hope of the Gospel See 1 Tim. 2. 15. Heb. 13. 1. 1 Cor. 13. 13. A persevering Christian doth hold on and hold out to the end Mat. 10. 22. Mat. 24. 12 13. Rev. 2. 10. Be thou faithful unto the Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life 2. It is a perseverance in believing in repenting in mourning in hoping in loving in fear in humility and in patience and self-denyal it is perseverance in grace that doth crown every grace and every gracious soul with the crown of glory at the last Rev. 2. 10. 3. In a word that which the Holy-Ghost calls perseverance hath this ingredient in it it is an abiding in the Word and Doctrine of Christ Iohn 15. 7. 1 Iohn 2. 24. Iohn 8. 31. If ye continue in my Word then are you my Disciples indeed A true Christian doth constantly maintain war and usually obtain victo●y he is resolved to conquer or die conquering We read Acts 8. 43. that Paul and Barnabas perswaded the Christians to continue in the grace of God for if we continue not we shall be cut off Rom. 11. 22. Of the gifts of the Spirit and what those best gifts are that Christ gives to his best beloved ones HAving written before of the graces of the Spirit it now follows in order to write something of the gifts of the Spirit for there are many gifts and vertues of the Spirit for every man hath his proper gift of God one after this manner another after that Jam. 1. 17. Rom. 12. 6. having then gifts differing c. 1 Cor. 12. 8. there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit To one is given a word of wisdom to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the gift of healing to another the working of miracles to another prophecying to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kind of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues hence it comes to pass that every man is eminent in his gift above others viz. Abraham exceeded Moses in faith Moses exceeded Abraham in meekness and Job exceeded both in patience and Joshua exceeded all three in valour So the Church of the Romans exceeded the Church of the Thessalonians in wisdom and knowledge and the Church of the Thessalonians exceeded the Church of the Romans in Faith and Patience So again Paul he had the gift of utterance and freedom of speech he was accoun●ed the chief Speaker he was a most eloquent man Now Barnabas did exceed Paul in another gift viz. in comforting those who were in trouble Acts 11. 23 24. and Peter did excell both Paul and Barnabas in another gift viz. in feeding the Lambs Iohn 21. 15 16. Again it is said of Iames and Iohn that they were sons of thunder as having a more powerful gift from God to terrifie and awaken sinners So then every good and perfect gift is from above as we find Iames 1. 17. And as every man hath received the gift so he is to administer the same 1 Pet. 4. 10. For to that end every man hath his proper gift of God one after this manner another after that as we read 1 Cor. 7. 7. And no man is to neglect the gift that is in him 1 Tim. 4. 14. But it is the duty of all to stir up the gift that is in them 2 Tim. 1. 6. Every man hath a gift given him according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. and so having gifts differing according to the measure that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith Rom. 12. 6 c. Again we read in 1 Cor. 12. 1 4 8 9 28. concerning spiritual gifts I would not have you ignorant for there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit for to one is given by the same Spirit the Word of wisdom to another the Word of knowledge to another faith to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to another prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another divers kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues and all this worketh that one and the self-same spirit Dividing to every man sever●●ly as he will Eph. 4. 11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Elders and Deacons ver 12. for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ More particularly let us enquire into this what those best gifts are that Christ gives unto his best beloved ones THere are common gifts that all in common have one as well as another but under this head I shall speak only of those most choice special gifts that he bestows upon his sons and daughters 1. He giveth light to his beloved ones yea he giveth spiritual light which is a mercy of mercies Eph. 5. 14. He gives that light whereby his people not only awake and rise from the dead but he enables them to see sin to be the greatest evil he gives that light that melts the soul that humbles the heart that warms and quickens the soul and quiets the soul and glads the soul A man is not born with heavenly light in his heart as he is born with a tongue in his mouth for till Christ comes and sets up a light in the soul the soul liveth in darkness and lies in darkness yea is darkness in the very abstract Eph. 5. 8. Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord.

over our heads or already fallen upon us Acts 16. 30 31 32. and 14. 23. 2. Chron 20. Ioel 1. 2 12. 16. There are three things to be considered about this extraordinary prayer 1. There is something to be considered before we enter upon it 2. There is something to be considered in this prayer 3. There is something to be considered after this prayer 1. Something to be considered before this extraordinary prayer 1. What our wants are either for soul or body our selves or others 2. What promises we have from God that he will give us such things 3. That we agree together to pray for these things with one tongue and one heart Mat. 18. 19. 4. Let us also for the keeping up our Faith consider what wonderful things prayer hath done it hath healed the sick and raised the dead unloosed chains and unlocked prisons and set the Saints free Act. 12. 5 7 11. 2. There are some things to be considered in prayer and they are four 1. That we call upon God in truth of heart Psal 145. 18. Psal 17. 1. 2. Beware of drilling out too much time in praying long prayers oftentimes deaden others affections it is good to pray brief and often as Christ did Matthew 26. 39 42 44. compared with Mat. 6. 7. 3. When we pray to one in the Trinity let us mind all three Father Son and Holy Ghost and sever them not 4. Let us be very importunate and earnest and servent and that we may do so consider the excellency of the things we ask and the necessity of them Rom. 15. 30. Psal 143. 6. Consider how did Daniel pray in the Lions den the three children in the fiery furnace Jonah in the Whales belly and Jeremiah in the dungeon and our Saviour Christ when he prayed and sweat drops of blood let us endeavour to pray so that he may turn our darkness into light our deadness into life our bondage into liberty and our weakness into strength 3. And lastly there be four things to be considered after prayer 1. Press after what we have prayed for in the use of all the means for the accomplishing or obtaining of those things Prov. 1. 2 4 5. 2. Hearken and listen what the Lord doth say as a man that doth knock at a great mans door he listneth to hear if any body be coming if not he knocks again and again c. 3. Expect and wait patiently for a full answer Psal 40. 1. I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry 4. Learn wisely to distinguish between delayes and denials and not take a delay for a denial Mat. 15. 21. to 29. Christ did delay the woman praying to him but not deny her and at last did give her more then she had asked Surely as prayer is the cry of our hearts to open all our necessities unto God Lam. 2. 19. So it is also the key of the Lords treasury and to obtain the mercies from him that we need so we pray in the name of the Son by the help of the Spirit according to his will with understanding reverence humility and fervency faith love and perseverance Of the necessity of praying SOme men are very apt to say it is of no use to pray unto God seeing he both knoweth what we need either for his glory or our good and hath determined what to bestow upon us but let me tell them that say so that as God hath fore-appointed all necessaries to be given us so hath he also appointed the means whereby they should be brought to pass whereof prayer is a chief means as appears Ezekiel 36. 37. compared with Mat. 7. 7. Prayer is a means to recover our peace and to nourish our communion with our God Dan. 9. Phil. 4. 6 7. John 17. Surely such as have least care and make least conscience of calling upon God have least acquaintance and acceptance with him Psal 14. 4. Prayer is a Key to open the storehouses of all Gods treasury unto us as by knocking we enter into the place we desire to go unto so by prayer we obtain those things we need prayer is as a hook to reach those things that are above our reach and to put by those things that stand in our way in a word it is so necessary as without it the use and the enjoyment of the things we have is unlawful 1 Tim. 4. 5. For as if we take any thing that is our neighbours without asking him leave we are accounted thieves So to take any thing of Gods whose all things are without asking them at his hand is felony Ier. 10. 25. He will pour out his fury upon the families that call not on his Name that is upon those that do not acknowledge the Soveraignty of God by seeking unto him in prayer See Psal 79 6. The Posture or Gesture to be used in prayer VVE should use such holy behaviours and comely gestures of body as are beseeming the Majesty of God with whom we are to deal and in whose presence we are and as becometh so holy an exercise which we have in hand namely such gestures as may best express and increase our reverence humility and fervency as the bowing of the knees Ephes 3. 41. Lifting up of our hands and eyes to heaven Lam. 3. 41. Iohn 17. 1 c. Which yet are not alwayes or absolutely necessary Luke 18. 13. The Publican stood afar off and prayed the main thing is to have the heart lifted up to God Psalm 25. 1. and 143. 8. and the knees of our hearts bowed before the Lord Phil. 2. 10. In a word it is said that Christ looked up to heaven and prayed Paul kneeled down the gesture should be such as doth express the reverence of the heart and that gesture to be used in prayer which doth most quicken and help the duty Some gestures bring dulness and indiposition others makes the body more fit for prayer use that which doth most quicken Of the place where we are to pray Quest WHere must we pray Answ Generally in all places 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will that men pray every where lifting up holy han●s without wrath and doubting for Christ is every where present before us Mat. 18. 10 The publike place sometimes is most convenient sometimes the private Mat. 6. 6. And sometimes there is the sudden lifting up of the heart unto God as occasion is without gesture in any place or company Nehem. 2. 4. So then prayer may be either publike or private and in both places either ordinary or extraordinary Acts 6. 4. 1 Tim. 2. 12. Acts 10. 4. Ionah 3. 6. Of the time in which we are to pray THe time in which a Christian is to pray is laid before us 1 Thes 5. 17. pray continually So Luke 21. 36. Watch therefore and pray alwayes Luk. 18. 1. This parable spake he unto them that men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint either suing for mercies or waiting

Faith and have duly examined and prepared themselves Isa 66. 23. 1 Cor. 11. 27 28. whereby all not of age and sound judgements are debarred of this ordinance and may not be admitted by the Church to the Supper of the Lord but such only as have these things in them which God requireth at their hands the other is to be kept back by the Discipline of the Church and those also of the Church that are under admonition or suspension till the Church receive full satisfaction The ends and uses of the Lords Supper HAving spoken to the matter and form of the Lords Supper it now fals in order to speak of the ends and uses thereof 1. To receive Christ more firmly and to be knit faster unto him 2. To renew our Covenant with God 3. To shew forth his death 1 Cor. 11. 26. or to call to mind and renew the mercy and vertue of Christs death 1 Cor. 11. 24. 4. To encrease our Faith begotten by the word preached and to confirm unto us our nourishment therein by the means of Christs death 5. To encrease our love to Christ and his body the Church 6. To quicken our hearts to all holy duties 7. To encrease our joy in the Holy Ghost our peace of conscience our hope of eternal life and all other graces of God in us 8. To stir us up with greater boldness to profess Christ and his Ordinances then heretofore we have done 9. To make a difference between our selves and the enemies of Christ who casting the converting Ordinances behind their backs they are debarred of the confirming Ordinances of Baptism and the Lords Supper Of our duty after receiving VVE should endeavour to obtain and retain a greater measure of Faith in Christ love to God and all his servants power to subdue sin and practice obedience with all other sanctifying and saving graces 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. and 11. 21. Col. 2. 6 7. 2 Pet. 3. 18. For a true receiver shall feel in himself an increase of Faith and sanctification and a greater measure of dying unto sin a further strengthning of the new man and so a greater care to live in newness of life and to walk the more comfortably and steddily in the wayes of God for strength to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any lust to resist any temptation to bare any affliction is derived only from Christ and many times conveyed to the soul in this pipe of conveyance to wit the Lords Supper Of Collection for the poor another standing Ordinance of the Gospel WE read 1 Cor. 16. 2. Vpon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by in store as God hath prospered him 2 Cor. 8. 7. Therefore as you abound in every thing in Faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us see that ye abound in this duty also 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. Charge them that are rich that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate Rom. 12. 13. Distributing to the necessity of the Saints given to Hospitality 1 John 3. 17. But who so hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him Heb. 13. 19. Therefore to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased Prov. 19. 17. He that hath pitty upon the poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again but more particularly consider 1. What it is to give alms 2. Who they are that should give to the poor 3. How much must they give 4. To whom are we to give 5. What order is to be observed in giving 6. With what affection must we give 7. How many wayes are we to give 8. What fruits may we expect of this duty 1. Of the first what it is to give alms Answ It is a duty of Christian love whereby such as have this worlds goods do freely impart to such as are in want in obedience to the command of God 1 Joh. 3. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 8. Mat. 25. 35 42. 2 Cor. 9. 7. Who they are that should give alms WHosoever hath this worlds good 1 John 3. 17. that is such a portion out of which something may be spared though it be but two mites not only rich men are to give 1 Tim. 6. 17. but all such as labour with their hands Ephes 4. 28. out of their earnings servants out of their wages children out of their parents allowance wives out of any portion they have of their own or by allowance of their husbands lastly those that live upon liberal alms must spare something to those that have little or no supply 2 Cor. 8. 2 14. Nay in some cases those may give that are accountable to others as appeareth in the wise and commendable example of Abigal 1 Sam. 25. 3. And in some other cases of necessity for extream necessity dispenseth with the ordinary course of duto both to God and man See Mat. 12. 7. But of goods evil gotten or wrongfully detained not alms but restitution must be made Luk. 19. 8. How much must we give VVE must sow liberally that we may reap liberally 2 Cor. 9. 6. Gal. 6. 7. Prov. 11. 25. Notwithstanding in the quantity respect must be had 1. To the ability of the giver 2. To the condition of the receiver 1. To the ability of the giver Luke 3. 11. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Who is not so bound to give as to impoverish himself 2 Cor. 8. 13. And at last to make himself of a giver a receiver yea it is unlawful so to give unto some one good use as to disable our selves for the service of the Common-wealth or for the relief of our families or kindred in special 1 Tim. 5. 8. 2. Respect must be had to the condition of the receiver that his necessity may be supplyed 2 Cor. 9. 12. Jam. 2. 15 16 not so as to make him of a receiver a giver for this is to give a patrimony not an alms To whom must we give TO such only as are in want yea to all such but especially to them who are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. We are to give to Orphans aged sick blind lame and the trembling hand Levit. 25. 35. But such as turn begging into an occupation they are to be compelled to work if able which if they will not they are not to eat 2 Thes 3. 10 11 12. What orders is to be observed in giving VVE must begin with such as are nearest to us in point of relation 1 Tim. 5. 8. for our own families Deut. 15. 7. Thou shalt not harden thine heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother and so according as the Laws of Nature Nations and Religion shall direct us and so proceed to such as are afar off according as our ability can

7. Of the Springs of Assurance 8. Of the impediments of assurance 9. Of the evil of doubting or want of Assurance 10. Many think they have Assurance and have it not 11. Many reasons wherefore the Lord doth not give Assurance speedily 12. Very hard to recover assurance if once lost Of the nature of Assurance what it is ASSurance is a certain sweet motion of the soul steadily resting upon the mercy of God through the merits of Christ with an unshaken expectation of all that is promised this assurance in Scripture hath several denominations which I shall speak to under the next head Or assurance is a victorious conclusion against the strength of doubting whereby the mind of a believer is certained and perswaded and upon good grounds setled concerning his personal interest in Christ and all his benefits Assurance conquers our doubtings answers our arguments clears our evidences unto the soul against the many suspitions which did arise that Christ doth indeed own it that he is the Saviour thereof c. This assurance is called sometimes full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. Sometimes called full assurance of hope Heb. 6. 11 12 19. Sometimes full assurance of Faith Heb. 10. 22 So that faith and hope do contribute their influence to the making up of full assurance sometimes this is called boldness Heb. 4. 16. Importing an undanted yet humble and dutifull looking God in the face sometimes full assurance when faith acts strongly without staggering through unbelief Whether Assurance be attainable in this life 1 John 5. 13. THese things have I written unto you that ye way know that ye have eternal life Heb. 6. 18. God hath given us his Oath his word his seal that our consolation may be strong and that our salvation may be sure 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Solomons Song 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his I am his by purchase and I am his by conquest I am his by donation and I am his by election and I am his by Covenant and I am his by marriage Isa 63. 16. doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father and our redeemer Rom. 8. 38. Paul saith that nothing could separate him from the love os Christ 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure therefore we see it is attainable and our duty to make it sure c. Of the several sorts of Assurance THere are degrees of assurance some more weak some more strong there is an assurance and a full assurance God in his word doth exhort Christians to strive after assurance yea full assurance yea the riches of full assurance and no doubt that not only Paul but many a good Christian can say sometime or other I am verily perswaded that Christ loved me and gave himself for me Assurance hath many denominations in the Scriptures according to its degrees sometimes it is called a perswasion Rom. 8. 38. Sometimes boldness Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness which doth import an undanted yet humble and dutiful looking God in the face Sometimes it is called full assurance Rom. 4. 2. That is when faith doth act strongly without staggering through unbelief This is called sometimes full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. Sometimes full assurance of hope Heb. 6. 11 18 19. And sometimes full assurance of Faith Heb. 10. 22. For Knowledge Faith and Hope do all contribute their influence to the making up of full assurance many Christians have some degree of assurance who think they have not and many have no assurance at all who yet pretend thereto most of all Of the trials of assurance AS Surance may be brought to the test and tried by 1. The qualification of the Subject assured 2. Or by the grounds or cases of assurance 3. Or by the fruits and effects of it we are not to let the reall interest of Christ to hang hovering and in dispute but to determine them by particular and personal evidence 1. True assurance doth support and comfort the heart in deepest tribulation as we may see in Job and Paul 2. True assurance doth make a man of a Godlike disposition easie to be intreated ready to forgive abundant in goodness it makes a man study the good of others wherein he may strengthen the feeble and comfort the dejected and inrich the impoverished and recover the seduced and inlarge the streightned and build up the wasted 3. True assurance puts the soul a work upon self-purifying 1 John 3. 2 3. 4. True assurance doth make the soul incomparably to prize communion with God and Jesus Christ Can 2. 6 7 16 17. Compared with Cant. 3. 1. to the 6. 5. True assurance doth engage those that have it to serve and honour God Josh 1. 15. God assured Joshua that he would neverleave him nor forsake him Joshua upon this resolves that he and his house would serve the Lord c. To make out after and endeavour for assurance is our duty WE are bound to draw near unto God in the full assurance of Faith Heb. 10. 22. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure but so foolish are we that whilst with much care and labour we go about to make those things certain which are most uncertain we make those things uncertain which might be made certain 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine you selves whether ye be in the faith prove your selves c. Consider farther that although the enjoyment of assurance makes most for our consolation yet the living upon Christ purely in the want of assurance makes most for his exaltation he is happy with Thomas that believeth upon seeing and handling but thrice happy are those that believe when they do nor see John 20. 29. Faith can make a soul submit in a cross but it is assurance which makes the soul to rejoyce and triumph Of the benefits of assurance and many arguments to persw●de us to make out after it 1. THE want of it doth hinder thankfulness 2. Assurance will settle a soul upon Christ 3. Assurance will sweeten all other blessings to us 4. Assurance will put us upon all kind of duty 5. Assurance will ease a man of the world and mount the soul above it 1. The want of it doth hinder thankfulness We cannot give God hearty thanks whilst we are doubtfull of our particular interest in Christ this man cannot thank the Lord from his own Soul for giving his Son Jesus Christ seeing he doth doubt of his interest in him he cannot thank God for pardon of sin seeing he doth doubt whether they be pardoned or no see Psal 103. 1 2 3. 2. Assurance will settle a soul upon Christ and cause him to lie down and sleep in

safety there be two effects of this blessed assurance one is joy the other is peace it glads the heart and it pacifies the heart 3. Assurance will sweeten all other blessings to us we shall see them handed forth to us in love here is saith the soul plenty of food and ●ayment and friends and God is my God too my sins are pardoned too but the want of this may check all our mercies 4. Assurance will put us upon all kind of duty viz. What shall I render to the Lord for all his mercies I will either do or suffer or any thing for him that hath done so much for me 5. Assurance will mount the soul above the world and make the soul to live out of its self in the Spirit upon Christ unto God above the world under Ordinances looking to election behind and perfection before O the blessed favour of God the evidences of our Union with Christ this is like the light of the Sun which puts out the light of ten thousand candles those that have so much as to make up assurance for heaven will never complain of too little on the earth these things considered doth lay before us two things 1. The benefits of assurance Secondly it doth bespeak the reader if he have it not to labour for it Of the springs of assurance or means by which it is attained THE work we have to do is two-fold First get title to Gods love Secondly get assurance that thou hast a title the first is done by action the second is done by examination He that would get assurance must not cut off any of the pipes of conveyance neither make use of them sluggishly A sluggish spirit is alwayes a lazy spirit he that will find rich minerals must dig deep he that will be rich must be diligent and sweat for it he that will taste the kernel must crack the shell he that will have the marrow must break the bone he that will wear the garland must run the race He that will ride in triumph must get the victory a lazy Christian shall alwaies want four things comfort and content confidence and assurance Heb. 6. 11. and we desire that every one would shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Faith O how can we look so many sweet promises in the face and harbour so many misgivings in our hearts First take one promise and charge that upon the heart and if the heart be stubborn and will not yield then take another if that will not do then take another and lay that home upon the heart and never leave or cease this work till thou hast made thy calling and election sure and make as much conscience of these commands that requires thee to get assurance as you do of those commands that requires thee to pray read and hear assurance is heavenly wages that God gives not no loyterers though no man doth merit assurance by obedience yet God usually crowns obedience with assurance Joh. 14. 21 22 23. 1. Diligently improve those notable assuring Ordinances the Word Lords Supper and Praye r to help on all the former directions 1. The word was therefore written 1 John 5. 13. That believers might know they have eternal life let it therefore dwell in you richly Col. 3. 16. 2. The Lords Supper seals up remission of sins therefore be at the Lords table frequently but be sure to partake of it worthily 3. Prayer that not only spreads open a mans heart but pierceth the heavens creeps into the bosom of God and sometimes furnisheth the doubting spirit with assurance in the very exercise of it 2. Spring of assurance cherisheth and improveth all your graces but especially assuring graces knowledge Faith and hope by knowledge we discern our selves by Faith we appropriate to our selves and by hope we patiently wait for full enjoyment 3. Quench not grieve not the Spirit of God for that spirit is sent to assure us most convincingly clearly and satisfactorily 4. Go on from faith to faith add one grace to another so shall an entrance be administred to thee abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ See and well consider this portion of Scripture 2 Pet. 1. from ver 5. to ver 12. Of the impediments of assurance 1. THE first impediment of assurance that I shall name is this our measuring of the merey and bowels of God by the narrow scantling of our dark understanding 2. Another is our making sense reason and feeling the sole judge of our spiritual condition 3. Another impediment of assurance is our retaining so many despairing thoughts not considering that despair is one of the worst sins viz. It is a dishenour to God and a reproach to Christ a resisting of the Spirit of Grace and a murderer of the soul a belying of God a denying of Christ and a crowning of Satan and a proclaiming the Devil conqueror J●das did sin more by despairing then by betraying of Christ 4. Another impediment of assurance is our not reading and believing these and the like precious promises Num. 14. 19 20. Exod. 34. 6 7. Mich. 7. 18 19. Isa 30. 18 19. Psalm 38. 34. to the 40. Psal 103. to the 13. Jer. 3. 1. to 12. Luk. 15. 20. to 24. 1 Tim. 1. 13 14 15 16 17. 5. Another impediment of assurance is our living in the neglect of some of Gods Ordinances when we wait on God in some of his wayes but not in all viz. Some will wait upon God in hearing the word of life and yet neglecting the breaking the bread of life sometimes God will give assurance in one Ordinance and deny it in another that we may seek his face in all 1 Cor. 28. 8. 6. Our dallying with sin he that doth lye down in sin must live in fear there is no assurance for us unless we offer up our Isaac and part with our Benjamin pull out our right eye and cut off our right hand c. The evil of doubting or want of assurance WE cannot in any one thing more gratifie Satan and wrong our own souls then to live in a state of doubting we wrong our selves in point of comfort and content and in point of peace and in point of boldness a man that lives without assurance leaves his soul open to many blows and knocks frowns and wounds from God from the world from carnal friends and from Satan besides if we live and dye in unbelief John 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already by the Law and the Gospel and by your own conscience all these have passed the sentence of condemnation upon that state already the sin of unbelief is a great sin and it is our sin to give way to it We nourish a snake in our bosom that will sting us to death to doubt and to despair of mercy is to make the God of truth a lyar 1 John 5. 10. Doubting makes the countenance sad and the hands to hang down and

the City in perils in the wilderness enticed by Satan allured by the world deceived and cheated by our own heart Oh how wilt thou do to lanch out into the Ocean dost thou know what will become of thee in another world is thy peace made with God is thy person justified art thou in a state of grace art thou born again art thou converted and become as a little child hast thou repented doth thy righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees if so it is well if not thou shalt never enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 3. 5. Matthew 18. 3. Luke 13. 5. Mat. 5. 20. 4. Let us consider that death hath something to say to every one of us he is no respecter of persons sometimes he snatcheth away the babe newly born sometimes the child sometimes the young man sometimes the middle age and alwayes the old aged he respects no mans person be he rich or poor high or low strong or weak beloved or hated godly or ungodly wherefore call thy self to account every evening examine what evil hast thou hated this day what vice hast thou stood against this day in what part thou art bettered now then thou wast in the morning Seneca reports of a heathen man that would every night ask himself these questions I have heard of a heathen after his conversion that was tempted to some sin he thrust his finger into the fire saying sin soul if thou canst burn and so overcame the temptation 5. Let us consider that death to a godly man is but a change of place not of company we shall have the company of the same Father Son and Spirit and Saints and all the spirits of just men made perfect a believer in this world is not in his own place therefore oh Christians weigh anchor hoise sail and be gone death to a Christian will put an end to all unprofitable things here we change joy for sorrow health for sickness strength for weakness honour for dishonour plenty for poverty beauty for deformity friends for foes silver for brass gold for copper c. now death puts an end to all these Rev. 21. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow neither shall there be any more pain Rev. 14. 13. therefore blessed are the dead that die in the Lord death also doth put a change to our employment our employment in this world doth lye much in praying groaning sighing mourning wrestling and fighting against the world flesh and Devil Ephes 6. 10. But in the world to come our employment will lye in praising and magnifying the Lord Again our enjoyment shall be changed as well as our employment we shall change our unconstant enjoyment for a more constant 1 Thes 4. 17 18. We shall change our dark and obscure enjoyment for a more bright enjoyment 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face here we receive grace for grace there we shall receive glory for glory 6. Consider unto what familiar things death is compared and presented to one that is in Christ sometimes it is termed a house Job said I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house of all living Job 30. 23. Sometimes it is represented as going to bed Isa 57. 2. Sometimes death is stiled a sleep Dan. 12. 2. What shall I say more death to a wicked man is the king of terrors but Christ came to deliver his flock from the fear of death and the grave is embalmed by Jesus Christ he lay there three dayes c. 2. As in our preparation for death there are the foregoing things to be considered so in the next place there are some things to be practiced and the work we have is two-fold 1. Get a title to Gods love 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title which is or may be done by improving these five things 3. Improve the present opportunity and put not off to the last minute as most do 4. Store up a stock of faith store up a stock of promises and store up a stock of prayers against that day 5. Endeavour so to live every day as if it were thy last day 6. Gather up all thy evidences and spiritual experiences and keep them in mind and heart 7. Make thy will in time of health and leave all things clear upon thy book both in shop and conscience 1. In all thy gettings be sure to get a title to Gods love and then get assurance that thou hast a title the first is done by action the second is done by examination The action or actions are these 1. GIve diligence to make thy calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. and that a man may so do shorten worldly business and be moderate in the use of worldly pleasures so foolish are we that whilst with much care and labour we go about to make those things certain which are most uncertain we make those things uncertain which might be made most certain he that hath two Irons in the fire at once spoyls one whilst he attends the other See what care most have to make good their titles to settle their inheritances upon their heirs shall we not be as careful to settle our interest to eternal glory if we be quiet now yet the Devil will find a time to try thy evidences for heaven and call our title into question sickness and death are times of weakness to us wherin he like a subtile enemy displayes all his art O consider the misery of doubting persons at their death think upon the anguish that their souls endure they apprehend God angry with them the Devil accusing them earth leaving them heaven refusing them hell claiming them soul and body parting friends weeping and themselves hopeless going they know not whither O then O then let us make our calling and election sure before hand as worldly men get riches in health to cherish them in sickness and as the Bees get hony in summer to feed on in the winter even so should we in time of health get good grounds of assurance that so we might live enjoy and dye in peace and rise in perfection and raign in happiness 2. Get assurance that thou hast a title viz. make a curious narrow impartial diligent search into thy own soul and see what humility what self-denial what sin-abhorrency what love to Christ what delight in his Ordinances what zeal to Gods glory what contempt of the world what desires after the society of the Saints what sympathizing with them in their afflictions and if thou findest any impressions of grace any spiritual work any saving savoury distinguishing operations upon thy heart c. canst thou mourn in secret for open and secret sins dost thou de●ire to have sin purged as well as pardoned dost thou leave sin from a right principle to a right end and so through the Spirit mortifie the

therefore ready for the son of man cometh in an hour when ye think not Luke 12. 40. Mark 13. 35 36. therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober then shall ye break forth and say when ye see him coming as in Isa 25. 9. This is our God we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Heb. 10. 35. Let us not forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhort one another and so much the rather as we see the day approaching It is the duty of all to watch and pray for his coming Luke 21. 36. WAtch ye therefore and pray alwayes that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man 1 Pet. 1. 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your minds be sober and hope to the end for the grace that shall be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ Luk. 12 37 38 Blessed are those servants when the Lord cometh shall find so doing 2 Thes 3. 5. Now the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ Rev. 22. 20. He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Let us all say Amen even so come Lord Jesus Of some of the benefits a Christian shall have at his coming THE day is at hand O perplexed soul when thou shalt have smiles without frowns light without darkness day without night wine without water sweet without bitter and joy without sorrow thou now sowest in tears thou shalt then reap in joy yea everlasting joy shall be upon thy head and sorrow and sighing shall fly away the blessings to be enjoyed at this great day are truly great we should love the appearance of Christ and look for and haste to the coming of the day of God O why is his Chariot so long in coming Oh that the day should be so great and our desires so small Shall the Marriner desire his Port the Apprentice his freedom the imprisoned his liberty the sick his health the Spouse the day of her marriage a malefactor his pardon a labourer his rest an heir his inheritance and shall not a Christian long for that day which removes every sorrow supplies every want and makes us like him viz. 1. From being a weak body we shall be made strong 1 Cor. 15. 44. 2. From being a mortal body it shall be made spiritual 1 Cor. 15. 53. 3. It shall be free from all pain and suffering and sorrow and sighing Rev. 21. 4. 4. Our lumpish body shall be like the Angels even like Christs body Mat. 22. 30. 5. This blessed change will put an end to all unprofitable changes here we change joy for sorrow health for sickness credit for disgrace but here it will end Rev. 21. 4. 6. Christ will put a change to our employment our work at present is praying groaning sighing mourning wrestling and fighting Ephesians 6. 10. But then our work will be rejoycing and praysing 7. Christ will change our enjoyment as well as our employment viz. he will change our more inconstant enjoyment for a more constant and he will change our more dark and obscure enjoyment for a more clear enjoyment and so turn our sighing into singing and our trembling into rejoycing and our prison into a Paradise and so quiet our conscience and scatter our fears 8. He will make his people the head and not the tail as doth at large appear by these Scriptures Isa 62. 8 9. Joel 2. 23 24. Mich. 4. 4. Amos 9. 13 14. Zach. 8. 12. Isa 41. 18 19. Jer. 31. 12. Isa 30. 23. Isa 55. 13. 66. 6 7. 65. 21 22. 61. 4. 60. 10. when he shall appear we shall receive a crown of glory 1 Pet. 5. 4. and if that be too little we shall receive a crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4. 8. when he shall appear we shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. when he shall appear we shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. The consideration of his coming should cause us to live upon him PAul a servant of Jesus Christ commands us by vertue of a commission received from God to follow him as he followed Christ viz. He did often speak of his departure and of his preparation thereunto and so whilst he was here he lived out of himself upon Christ in the Spirit unto God above the world yet under Ordinances looking unto election behind and perfection before so that when death comes to summon him to appear before the Lord by laying down his body in the grave he was ready and therefore brake forth and said 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing Of the sad condition of all out of Christ at his coming 1. IN what a sad condition will all be that are not born again Joh. 3. 3 5. 2. In what a sad condition will all be that want faith Joh. 3. 36. 3. In what a sad condition will those be that want humility God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble 4. In what a sad condition will those be in that want holiness Heb. 12. 14. 5. In what a sad condition be all those that want meekness with the froward he will shew himself froward c. 6. In what a sad condition will all those be that do not know the Lord 2 Thes 1. 8. 7. In what a sad condition will all those be that want the wedding garment Matthew 22. 11 12 13. 8. In what a sad condition will all those be that have no oyl in their lamps Mat. 25. 3. 9. In what a sad condition will all those be that have the form and not the power 2 Tim. 3. 5. 10. In what a sad condition will those be that have built upon the sand Mat. 7. 26 27. 11. In what a sad condition will all be that are professors and not possessors Joh. 5. 38. 12. In what a sad condition be all those that would not have Christ to reign over them Luke 19. 27. In a word Christ will save no ignorant person no rebellious person no hypocrite no scoffer no persecutor no man that hath built upon the sand no man that hath leves without fruit no man that doth seek salvation by any other way then by Christ 1 Cor 6. 9 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God be not deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God c. All the secret sins that

love thereof they willingly parted with much of their earthly goods and possessions to lay up treasure in heaven Abraham and Sarah left their own country and possessions to look for a City whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. 10 15 16. David preferreth one day in this place before a thousand elsewhere Psal 84. 10. Elias earnestly besought the Lord to receive his soul into his Kingdom and went willingly though in a fiery Chariot King 19. 4. Saint Paul having once seen heaven continually desi●eth to be dissolved that he might be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Saint Peter having espyed but a glimpse of eternal glory in the mount wished that he might dwel there all the dayes of his life Mat. 17. 4. saying Master it is good for us to be here c. Christ a little before his death prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent glory Joh. 17. 5. And the Apostle witnesseth Heb. 11. 2. that for the joy which was set before them they endured the cross and despised the shame 1 Pet. 5. 4. and when the chief Shepheard shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away c. this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration decay or consumption waste or diminution mans eternal condition admits of no comparison revocation or conclusion c. What use we may make of all these precious things 1. EXcellent arguments may be drawn to pres-Christians to a holy life 2 Pet. 3. 11. see ing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness and ver 14. Wherefore seeing ye look for such things give diligence that ye may be found in him in peace It is our duty to live in a continual expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus with our loins girt and our lamps burning for blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing 2. Consider that here is a fountain opened for Christian comfort and ground for patience in all troubles that there shall be an end a Christians hope shall not be cut off if in this life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. But here lyes the comfort and patience of true Christians theywait for another world and they know it is a just thing with God to give them rest after their labours 2 Thes 1. 9. and a crown after their combate 2 Tim. 4. 8. and after their long Pilgrimage an everlasting habitation 2 Cor. 5. 1. Be patient saith the Apostle and settle your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh James 5. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 9. When they that have sown in tear shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. 3. Consider that assurance of that blessed state may be attained in this life we know faith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. That if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed we have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens these things saith John I have written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. I am sure saith Job 19. 25 26 27. that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my self shall see and mine eyes shall behold when I awake saith David I shall be satisfied with thy Image Psal 17. 15. 4. The consideration of this should provoke us to be such as may be made meet for this inheritance of the Saints in light and to endeavour to attain and retain the earnest of the Spirit whence we may be alwaies able to say we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. and to fill the soul with strong consolation against the sufferings of life and the fear of death and to work an answerable conversation that whether absent or present we may so walk as we may be accepted of him 5. The consideration of this should put us upon a patient waiting for and a longing expectation of our change which draweth on a pace and not to put that off as most do to the last year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and then to the last week of that moneth and then to the last day of that week and then to the last hour of that day and then to the last minute of that hour and so time shall be no more and we shall not find repentance although we seek it with tears 6. Consider that the cause of our salvation and so of our glorious condition is Gods meer love and favour without any merit of ours Luke 12. 32. It is our Fathers good pleasure to give us a Kingdom Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Ephes 2. 8. By grace we are saved through faith and not of our selves it is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. everlasting life is the gift of God and though eternal life be called a reward yet it is not of merit but of mercy let this be grounded in our hearts that the Kingdom of heaven is not a stipend of servants but an inheritance of Sons which they only obtain that lay hold on his mercy Romans 5. 8. compared with 1 Tim. 6. 12. and 19. 2. Now as hath been said as the love of God is the cause of our salvation fo Jesus Christ is the way Joh. 10. 9. Joh 14. 6. 3 The holy Spirit is the guide in that way as in Joh. 16. 13. 4. The Scriptures of truth is the rule Gal. 6. 16. Isa 8. 20. 5. The evidence of this salvation is faith Heb. 11. 1. It is true the instrumental cause offering and proclaiming salvation is the Gospel but the instrumental receiving and applying it is faith and the cause sealing it inwardly to our souls is the Spirit of God the external and instrumental seals thereof are the two confirming Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper 6. The anchor of this salvation is hope Heb. 6. 19. 7. The effects of this salvation is love to God because he loved us first and a holy conversation if ye love me saith Christ keep my commandments and they that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works which are found and required in the way to the Kingdom but they are not the cause of reigning Of the end of the world THE consequents of the last judgement is life eternal in heaven or hell and the end of the world having finished the former let me point to the latter and I have finished what I intended we read Mat. 24. 3. that Peter James John and Andrew Mark 13. 3. came to Christ and desired him to satisfie them in these three questions 1. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple 2. Concerning