Booke of life For whom hee hath predestinate them hee hath called Rom. 8.30 and whom hee hath called them hee hath justified and whom he hath justified them he hath glorified Now therefore till wee feele these markes of election wrought in us we can be at no certainty in this point neither are wee to take any notice of it or meddle in it but we must strive according to that power and faculty wee have to live honestly and civilly waiting when God will have mercy on us and give us the true touch As for them that are carelesse and dissolute letting all at six and seven there is small hope that they are elected or ever shall be called Antil I thinke the preaching and publishing of this doctrine of predestination hath done much hurt and it had been good it had never been knowne to the people but utterly concealed For some it driveth to despaire and others it maketh more secure and carelesse Theol. You are in a great errour for this doctrine is part of Gods revealed Truth which hee would have knowne to his people And in good sooth it is of very great and comfortable use to the Children of God against all the assaults of the Divell and temptations of desperation whatsoever For when a man hath once in truth felt by the effects that God hath chosen him to life then though the Divell lye sore at him and the conscience of sinne and his owne frailties doe vehemently assault him yet he knoweth certainly that the eternall purpose and counsell of God is immutable and that because his salvation is not grounded upon himselfe or his owne strength but upon the unchangeable decree of GOD which is a foundation immoveable and alwayes standing sure and firme therefore doe the Divell and sin what they can yet he shall be upheld in righteousnesse and truth and even as it were borne up in the armes of God even to the end For whom God loveth to the end he loveth them Moreover when once the Lords people perceive by their sanctification and new birth both that the Lord hath rejected and reprobated so many thousand thousands and made choice of them to be heires of his most glorious Kingdome being in themselves of the same mould and making that others are and that he hath done all this of his free grace and undeserved mercy towards them oh how doth it ravish their hearts with the love of him Againe how frankly and cheerfully doe they serve him how willingly and faithfully doe they obey him Yea how are they wholly rapt and inflamed with the desire of him For it is the perswasion and feeling of Gods love towards us that draweth up our love to him againe as St. John saith 1. John 4. We love him because he hath love us first Moreover it is said of Mary Magdalen Luke 7. that she loved much because much was forgiven For after shee felt her many great sins freely pardoned her affections were kindled with the love and obedience of Christ So likewise the Church in the Canticles Cant. â— 5 after shee had beene in the banquetting house of all spirituall grace and felt the banner of Christs love displayed upon her forthwith shee was rape therewith and cryed out as it were in a swoun that shee was sicke of love So againe Cant. 5.5 when Christ put in his hand by the hole of the doore that is touched the very inward parts of her heart by his spirit then her heart yearned and her bowels were affectioned towards him This is it which St. Paul prayeth for upon his knees Eph. 18 19 that it may be granted to the Ephesians that they may bee able to comprehend with all the Saints what is the breadth and length height and depth of Gods love towards us and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge and to be filled with all fulnesse of God Thus then you see the great and comfortable use of this doctrine of election both in that it ministreth strength comfort against all temptations as also because it constraineth us to love God and of very love to feare him and obey him Phil. Well Sir I think now you have spent time enough in answering the objections and cavils of Antilegon In all which I doe observe one thing that there is no end of cavilling and objecting against the truth and that a man may object more in an houre then a learned man can well answer in a day Theol. You say truth And the reason hereof is because men have sin in them out of measure and the Spirit of God but in measure Therefore they can by the one object and conceive more against the truth then by the other they shall be able to answer and say for it Phil. It appeareth indeed that errours be infinite and objections innumerable and that there is no end of mens cavilling against Gods sacred truth It is good for us therefore to be thorowly settled in the truth that we be not entangled or snared with any cavils or sophistications whatsoever And I doe verily thinke notwithstanding all his objections and exceptions that he doth in his conscience desire with Balaam to dye the death of the righteous and to be as one of them whom he seemeth to despise Theol. I am so perswaded too For this is the triumph that vertue hath over vice that where she is most hated there she is often desired and wished for And this is the great punishment that God bringeth upon the wicked Virtutem ut videant intabescantque relicta as saith the Poet That they shall see vertue and pine away having no power to follow it Phil. But now let us returne to the point wee were in hand with before wee fell into these objections and cavils which was concerning the small number of them which shall be saved and as you have shewed us many reasons thereof so proceed to speak yet more unto that point Theol. As I have shewed you of sundry lets both within us and without us which doe keep us backe from God and hold us fast in our sinnes so now unto all that hath been said before I will adde nine great hinderances unto eternall life which may not unfitly be termed nine bars out of Heaven and nine gates into Hell Phil. Which be they Theol. They be these Infidelity Nine gates into Hell Presumption of Gods mercy Examples of the multitude Long custome of sin Long escaping of punishment Hope of long life Conceitednesse Ill company Evill examples of Ministers Phil. These indeed be strong bars out of heaven and wide gates into hell I pray you therefore prove them of the Scriptures and lay them forth somewhat more largely Theol. The first which is Infidelity is proved out of the fourth chapter to the Hebrewes verse 2. where it is written Unto us was the Gospel preached as unto them but the word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixed
this cause Job saith that Man is borne to travell as the sparkes flie upward And God hath laid this upon Adam and all his posterity Gen. 3. In the sweat of thy browes thou shalt eat thy bread Some do set downe foure causes why every man should labour diligently in his calling First to beare the yoke laid upon all mankind by the Lord. Secondly to get the necessaries of this life Thirdly to live to the profit of humane society Lastly to avoid evill thoughts and actions St. Paul findeth great fault with some in the Church of Thessalonica because they walked inordinately that is idlely and out of a lawfull calling and therefore concluded That such as would not labour should not eat So then wee do plainly see that God alloweth idlenesse in none For when we are idle as hath been shewed before wee lie open to the Divell and his temptations and he gets within us and prevaileth against us While David tarried idlely at home in the beginning of the yeare when Kings used to go forth to the battell hee was soone overtaken with those two soule sinnes of adultery and manslaughter So long as Samson warred with the Philistines hee could never be taken or overcome but after hee gave himselfe to idlenesse and pleasure he not onely committed fornication with the Strumpet Dalilah but also was taken of his enemies and his eyes miserably pulled out These examples doe shew what a dangerous sinne wickesse is Therefore the holy Ghost sends us to schools to the little Creature the Ant to learne of her both to avoid idlenesse and also to use wisedome and providence in our actions Prov. 6.6 Go to the Pismire O sluggard behold her waies and be wise For shee having no guide task-master nor ruler prepareth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest And in good sooth it is wonderfull to observe what infinite paines and unwearied labour this silly creature taketh in Summer that she may be well provided for against Winter Let us therefore learne wisedome from her example and let us set before our eyes the looking-glasse of all Creatures Let us consider how the birds flye the fishes swimme the wormes creep the heavens turne the elements move the sea ebbeth and floweth uncessantly yea the earth it selfe which is the most heavie and unweildy creature of all other yet never ceaseth his working bringeth forth his burden in Summer and labouring inwardly all the Winter in concocting and digesting his nourishment for the next spring Thus wee see how all creatures are diligently and painfully exercised in their kinds And therefore it is a great shame for us to live idlely carelesly and dissolutely Let us therefore learne once at last to flie sloath and every one to live faithfully diligently and industriously in our severall callings So shall we both keep Satan at the staves end and also much sinne out of our soules which otherwise idlenesse will force in upon us Phil. I must needs confesse that idlenesse is a grosse vice in whomsoever it is found But specially in my judgement it is most odious in Magistrates and Ministers Theol. That is so in truth For they ought to be the guides governours shepherds and watch-men over the people of God And therefore for them to neglect their duties and charges is a most horrible thing sith it concerneth the hurt of many Therefore well said the Heathen Poet Hom. l. â— A Magistrate or Minister may not be lazie or slothfull to whom the nursing of the people is given in charge and of whom many things are to be cared for What a lamentable thing therefore is it when Magistrates are profane irreligious popish vicious and negligent in the duties of their calling And how much more lamentable is it when Ministers neglect their studies slacke preaching and prayer and give up themselves some to covetousnesse some to pride some to husbandry some to other worldly affaires and some to spend their time idlely in Tavernes Ale-houses gaming rioting and lewd company Would to God therefore that both these kinds of publike persons would cast off idlenesse and sloath and with diligence faithfulnesse care and conscience performe the duties of their places For it is an excellent thing for any to be a good man in his place As a good Magistrate that ruleth well that governeth wisely which favoureth good men and good causes and defendeth them which also setteth himselfe against bad men and bad causes and punisheth them sharply and severely which moreover maintaineth vertue even of a very love hee beareth unto it in his heart and punisheth vice of a very zeale and hatred against it and not for his credit onely or to please some or because he must needs doe it and can doe no lesse or for any such sinister respect but even of a love to God a care of his glory a conscience of duty and a fervent zeale against sin So likewise it is a notable thing for a Minister to be a good man in his place to be studious in the Law of God diligent and painfull in preaching and that out of a love of God a zeale of his glory deep pity and compassion toward the soules of the people seeking by all meanes possible to win them unto God carrying himselfe in all his actions amongst them wisely religiously unblameably and inoffensively So againe it is a worthy thing to be a good rich man which doth much good with his riches which keepeth a good house relieveth the poore ministreth to the necessities of the Saints and giveth cheerfully and with discretion where need is So also it is a commendable thing to be a good neighbour a good Townsman by whom a man may live quietly peaceably joyfully and comfortably And lastly to be a good poore man that is humble lowly dutifull painfull ready to help and ready to please Oh I say this is a most excellent and glorious thing when every man keepeth his standing his range and his ranke when all men with care and conscience performe the duties of their places when the husband doth the duty of an husband and the wife of a wife when the father doth the duty of a father and the childe of a childe when the master doth the duty of a master and the servant of a servant when every man setteth God before his eyes in doing those things which especially belong unto him For herein consisteth the honour of God the glory of the Prince the crowne of the Church the fortresse of the Common-wealth the safety of Cities the strength of Kingdoms and the very preservation of all things Asun You have said well in some things but yet I do not see but that rich men and women may live idlely sith they have enough wherewithall to maintaine it For may not a man do with his owne what he list Theol. No verily For you may not take your owne knife and cut your owne throat with it neither may you take
needs smite us downe and take vengeance of us every day and every houre in the day because wee provoke him every day and every houre in the day But the God of Heaven is not as a man that hee should be subject to passions and affections hee is of a most constant and immutable nature For though we provoke him every day with new sins yet is he so farre off from takeing revenge that the next day hee rewardeth us with new mercies and breaketh through all our unkindnesse to shew kindnesse unto us and through all our naughtinesse to doe us good All our infirmities cannot make him breaks off with us or cease to love us Hee is content to take us with all faults and to love us dearly though wee have great faults Hee regardeth not our infirmities though wee be oftentimes wayward and elvish yet for all that hee loveth us neverthelesse Even as a loving Mother though her young suckling cry all the night and be exceeding trease and wayward so as shee cannot rest on houre in the night yea though shee endure much lothsomenesse and trouble with it yet in the morning when shee riseth shee loveth it never the lesse but dandleth it playeth with it smileth and laugheth upon it so the God of all mercies whose love towards us farre passeth the love of mothers though we grieve him with our infirmities continually yet loveth us neverthelesse and is content to put up all to forget and forgive all for hee is a most constant lover Where he once sets and settles his love hee loveth most constantly nothing can alter him nothing can remove him Even as a Father when his little childe catcheth a fall breaketh his shinnes and hurteth his face is so farre from beeing offended or displeased with him therefore that hee doth pity him and bemoane him seeking remedies for his hurt so our mercifull Father is so farre off from being angry and displeased with us for some slips and falls that hee doth the more pitie us and lament our case Even as a loving and wise husband although his wife have many infirmities yet being assured shee loves him dearly and that her heart is with him hee is well content to winke at all her faults to hide them to beare with them yea and to make nothing of them loving her no whit the lesse for them so our deare husband and Spouse Christ Iesus because hee knoweth wee love him and that hee hath our hearts is content to beare with all our infirmities and to make light of them For this cause it is that hee saith to his Spouse in the Canticles though shee was black and full of infirmities Behold thou art all faire Câ—nt 4 1 7. my Love Behold thou art faire thou art all faire my Love there is no spot in thee Mark that hee calleth his Church faire all faire and without spot not because shee was so in her selfe but because shee was made so in him and assuredly the eternall God beholding her in his Sonne doth so esteeme and account of her For as hee that beholdeth any thing through a red glasse doth take it to be red as is the colour of the glasse so God the Father beholding us in his Sonne doth take us to be of the same nature and quality that hee is that is perfectly righteous For this cause it is that hee loveth us and setteth his heart upon us and will not be removeed from us For his love to his children is alwaies one and the same although we have alwaies the like sight and feeling of it as the Moone is alwaies the same in substance and quantity though sometimes it seemeth unto us to be wasted into a very small scantling Let us know then to our great comfort that the love of God towards us in his deare Sonne is constant and alwaies alike and that he will not discountenance us or shake us off for some infirmities no nor yet for many infirmities for the mercifull God doth accept of his children because their generall care is good and the universall tenour of their life tendeth unto righteousnesse howsoever they may greatly faile in many particular actions Two or three fits of an ague doe not prove a diseased body nor two or three good daies a found body then so some few infirmities do not argue a wicked man nor two or three good actions a good man but we must have an eye to the certain 〈◊〉 settled course of a mans life Even aâ—â— men are truely said to walke in a way when they go in it although sometimes they trip and stumble so Gods children do walk in the way of righteousnesse although sometimes they stumble and step out of it or sometimes be violently haled out of it by theeves For Satan and the violence of our lusts do often hale us out of the way but wee must get into it againe as soon as wee are escaped Now then to conclude and draw to an end Sith God is so infinitely mercifull and constant in his mercy sith such great and precious promises are made to us in Christ sith the Lord doth not regard our infirmities when our hearts are with him therefore O Asunetus be of good cheere let nothing trouble you feare not the assaults of the Divel regard not his temptations for assuredly your sinnes are forgiven Christ is yours heaven is yours and all the promises of life and salvation belong unto you So as you need not doubt you cannot miscarry your name is written in the Book of life Asun I am greatly comforted and cheered up with your words Your preaching of the Gospel and laying open of Gods abundant mercy in Christ and of the promises doe exceedingly revive me and even as it were put new life into me they are as Sacke and Sugar unto my soule and sweeter then the honey and the honey-combe they are as Physicke to my sicke soule and as ointment to my spirituall wounds I do now begin to see what misery is in man and what mercy is in God And I know by wofull experience that where misery is not felt there mercy is not regarded but now it hath pleased God to give mee some feeling of mine owne wretchednesse and misery and yet with good comfort in his mercy For I thanke God for it I begin now to grow to some perswasion that the promises do belong unto me my sins are forgiven and that I am one of them that shall be saved Theol. I doe greatly rejoice that God hath according to his rich mercy wrought this good worke in you I do from the bottome of my heart give him the praise and glory of it Happie are you that ever you were borne in whom the Lord hath wrought so gracious a work It is his high favour and speciall mercy towards you for it is the onely priviledge and prerogative royall of Gods owne children truely to repent and deâ—â—eve I beseech God therefore to encrease your faith and to
that they may draw it out to punish the wicked and to defend the godly and that they may with all good care and conscience discharge the duties of their places Increase the number of faithfull and zealous Ministers in this Church Send thy Gospel to those places where it is not and blesse it where it is Remember them in thy mercy O Lord that are under any crosse or affliction whatsoever be comfortable unto them heale up their wounds bind up their sores put all their teares into 〈◊〉 bottle and make their bed in all their sorrowes and put such a good end to all their troubles that they may redound to thy glory and the furtherance of their owne salvation In the meane time give them patience and constancie to beare whatsoever it shall please thy mercifull hand to lay upon them Last of all in a word wee pray theâ— blesse the Magistracie Ministry and Commonalty Blesse all the people doe good to all that are true and upright in their hearts And so deare Father we do commit and command our selves our soules and bodies into thy hands for this day and the rest of our life praying thee to take care and charge of us Keep us from all evill watch over us for our good let thine Angels encamp about us let thy holy hand be over us and keep us in all our waies that we may live to thy praise and glory here on earth keeping faith and a good conscience in all our actions that after this life wee may be crowned of thee for ever in thy Kingdome Grant these things good Father to us here present and to all thine absent praying thee in speciall favour to remember an our friends and kinsfolkes in the flesh all our good neighbours and well-willers and all those for whom wee are bound to pray by nature by deserts or any duty whatsoever for Jesus Christs sake our onely Mediatour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be given all praise and glory both now and for evermore Amen An Evening Prayer to be used in private Families O Eternall God and our most loving and deare Father wee thy unworthy children do here fall down at the foot of thy great Majesty acknowledging from our hearts that we are altogether unworthy to come neere thee or to look towards thee because thou art a God of infinite glory and wee are most vile abominable sinners such as were conceived and borne in sin and corruption and such as have inherited our Fathers corruptions and also have actually transgressed all thy holy Statutes and Lawes both in thoughts words and deeds before wee knew thee and since secretly and openly with our selves and with others our particular sins are moe then can be numbred for who knoweth how often hee offendeth but this wee must needs confesse against our selves that our hearts are full of pride covetousnesse and the love of this world full of wrath anger and impatience full of lying dissembling and deceiving full of vanity hardnesse and profanenesse full of infidelity distrust and self-selfe-love full of lust uncleannesse and all abominable desires yea our hearts are the very sinkes of sinne and dunghils of all filthinesse And besides all this we doe omit the good things we should doe for there are in us great wants of faith of love of zeale of patience of contentment and of every good grace so as thou hast just cause to proceed to sentence of judgment against us as most damnable transgressours of all thy holy commandements yea such as are sunk in our rebellions and have many times and often committed high treason against thy Majestie and therefore thou maist justly cast us all downe into Hell fire there to be tormented with Sathan and his Angels for ever And wee have nothing to except against thy Majesty for so doing sith therin thou shouldest deale with us but according to equity and our just deserts Wherefore deare Father wee doe appeale from thy justice to thy mercy most humbly intreating thee to have mercy upon us and freely to forgive us all our sinnes past whatsoever both new and old secret and open knowne and unknowne and that for Jesus Christs sake our onely Mediatour And wee pray thee touch our hearts with true griefe and unfeigned repentance for them that they may be a matter of continuall sorrow and heart-smart unto us so as nothing may grieve us more then this that wee have offended thee beâ—ng our speciall friend and Father Give us therefore deare Father every day more and more sight and feeling of our sinnes with true humiliation under the same Give us also that true and lively faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy Son Christ and all his merits applying the same to our owne soules so as we may stand fully perswaded that whatsoever hee hath done upon the Crosse hee hath done for us particularly as well as for others Give us faith good Father constantly to beleeve all the sweet promises of the Gospel touching remission of sin and eternall life made in thy Sonne Christ O Lord increase our faith that wee may altogether rest upon thy promises which are all Yea and Amen Yea that wee may settle our selves and all that wee have wholly upon them both our soules bodies goods names wives children and our whole estate knowing that all things depend upon thy promises power and providence and that thy Word doth support and beare up the whole order of nature Moreover we entreat thee O Lord to strengthen us from above to walke in every good way and to bring forth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thee in all things and to be fruitfull in good workes that wee may shew forth unto all men by our good conversation whose children we are and that we may adorne and beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits and practice of godlinesse and true religion To this end we pray thee sanctifie our hearts by thy Spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason understanding will and affections so as they may be fitted for thy worship and service taking a delight and pleasure therein Stirre us up to use prayer watchfulnesse reading meditation in thy Law and all other good meanes whereby wee may profit in grace and goodnesse from day to day Blesse us in the use of the meanes that we may daily dye to sinne and live to righteousnesse draw us yet neerer unto thee helpe us against our manifold wants Amend our great imperfections renew us inwardly more and more repaire the ruines of our hearts aide us against the remnants of sin Enlarge our hearts to run the way of thy Commandements direct all our steps in thy Word let none iniquity have dominion over us Assist us against our speciall infirmities and master-sins that we may get the victory over them all to thy
glory and the great peace and comfort of our owne consciences Strengthen us good Father by thy grace and holy Spirit against the common corruptions of the world as pride whoredome covetousnesse contempt of thy Gospel swearing lying dissembling and deceiving O deare Father let us not be overcome of these filthy vices nor any other sinfull pleasures fond delights wherewith thousands are carried head-long to destruction Arme our soules against all the temptations of this world the flesh and the Divell that wee may overcome them all through thy help and keep on the right way to life that wee may live in thy feare and dye in thy favour that our last dayes may be our best dayes and that wee may end in great peace of conscience Furthermore deare Father we intreat thee not onely for our selves but for all our good brethren thy deare children scattered over the face of the whole earth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse all them to cheere them up and glad them with the joy of thy countenance both now and alwayes Guide them all in thy feare and keep them from evill that they may praise thy Name In these dangerous dayes and declining times wee pray thee O Lord raise up nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers unto thy Church Raise up also faithfull Pastours that thy cause may be carried forward Truth may prevaile Religion may prosper thy Name onely may be set up in the earth thy Sons Kingdome advanced and thy will accomplished Set thy selfe against all adversary power especially that of Rome Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme curse and crosse all their counsels frustrate their devices scatter their forces overthrow their armies When they are most wise let them be most foolish when they are most strong let them be most weake Let them know that there is no wisdome nor counsell power nor policie against thee the Lord of hosts Let them know that Israel hath a God and that thou which art called Jehovah art the onely Ruler over all the world Arise therefore O most mighty God and maintain thine owne cause against all thine enemies smite thorow all their loines and bow downe their backes yea let them all be confounded and turned backward that beare ill will unto Sion Let the patient abiding of the righteous be joy and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope But of all favour wee intreat thee O Lord to shew speciall mercie to thy Church in this Land wherein wee live Continue thy Gospel amongst us yet with greater successe purge thy House daily more and more take away all things that offend Let this Nation still be a place where thy Name may be called upon and an harbour for thy Saints Shew mercy to our posterity deare Father and have care of them that thy Gospel may be left unto them as a most holy inheritance Defend us against forraigne invasion keep out Idolatry and Popery from amongst us Turne from us those plagues which our sins cry for For the sins of this Land are exceeding great horrible and outrageous and give thee just cause to make us spectacles of thy vengeance to all Nations that by how much the more thou hast lifted us up in great mercy and long peace by so much the more thou shouldest presse us downe in great wrath and long warre Therefore deare Father woe most humbly intreat thee for thy great Names sake and for thy infinite mercies sake that thou wouldest be reconciled to this Land and discharge it of all the horrible sins thereof Drown them O Lord in thy infinite mercy through Christ as it were in a bottomlesse gulfe that they may never rise up in judgement against us For although our sins be exceeding many and fearfull yet thy mercie is farre greater For thou art infinite in mercy but wee cannot be infinite in sinning Give us not over into the hands of the Idolaters lest they should blaspheme thy Name and say Where is their God in whom they trusted But rather deare Father take us into thine owne hands and correct us according to thy wisdome for with thee is mercie and deep compassion Moreover wee most heartily beseech thy good Majestie to blesse our most gracious Soveraigne King Charles Queene Mary Prince Charles and the rest of the Royall Progenie We beseech thee also to blesse his Majesties most honourable privie Counsellors counsell them from above let them take advice of thee in all things that they may both consult and resolve of such courses as may be most for thy glory the good of the Church and peace of this our Common-wealth Blesse the Nobility and all the Magistrates of the Land giving them all grace to execute judgement and justice and to maintaine truth and equitie Blesse all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel increase the number of them increase thy gifts in them and so blesse all their labours in their severall places and congregations that they all may be instruments of thy hand to enlarge thy Sons Kingdome and to win many unto thee Comfort the comfortlesse with all needfull comforts Forget none of thine that are in trouble but as their afflictions are so let the joyes and comforts of thy Spirit be unto them and so sanctifie unto all thine their afflictions and troubles that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Give us thankfull hearts for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall for thou art very mercifull unto us in the things of this life and infinitely more mercifull in the things of a better life Let us deeply ponder and weigh all thy particular favours toward us that by the due consideration thereof our hearts may be gained yet neerer unto thee and that therefore we may both love and obey thee because thou art so kind and loving unto us that even thy love towards us may draw our love towards thee and that because mercy is with thee thou maist be feared Grant these things good Father and all other needfull graces for our soules or bodies or any of thine throughout the whole world for Jesus Christs sake in whose Name wee further call upon thee as he hath taught us in his Gospel saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Prayer to be used at any time by one alone privately O Lord my God and heavenly Father I thy most unworthy childe do here in thy sight freely confesse that I am a most sinfull creature and damnable transgressour of all thy holy Lawes and Commandements that as I was born and bred in sin and stained in the womb so have I continually brought forth the corrupt and ugly fruits of that infection and contagion wherein I was first conceived both in thoughts words and workes If I should goe about to reckon up my particular offences I knew not where to begin or where to make an end For they are more then the haires of my head yea far more then I can possibly feele or know For who knoweth the height and depth
of his corruption Who knoweth how oft he offendeth Thou only O Lord knowest my sins who knowest my heart nothing is hid from thee thou knowest what I have been and what I am yea my conscience doth accuse mee of many and grievous evils and I doe daily feele by wofull experience how fraile I am how prone to evill and how untoward unto all goodnesse My mind is full of vanity my heart full of profanenesse mine affections full of deadnesse dulnesse drowsinesse in matters of thy worship and service Yea my whole soule is full of spirituall blindnesse hardnesse unprofitablenesse coldnesse and security And in very deed I am altogether a lump of sin and a masse of all misery and therefore I have forfeited thy favour incurred thy high displeasure and have given thee just cause to frowne upon me to give me over and leave me to mine own corrupt will and affections But O my deare Father I have learned from thy mouth that thou art a God full of mercy slow to wrath of great compassion and kindnesse towards all such as groane under the burthen of their sins Therefore extend thy great mercy towards me poor sinner and give me a generall pardon for all mine offences whatsoever seale it in the bloud of thy Son and seale it to my conscience by thy Spirit assuring me more and more of thy love and favour towards me and that thou art a reconciled Father unto me Grant that I may all time to come love thee much because much is given and of very love feare thee and obey thee O Lord increase my faith that I may stedfastly beleeve all the promises of the Gospel made in thy Son Christ and rest upon them altogether Enable me to bring forth the sound fruits of faith and repentance in all my particular actions Fill my soule full of joy and peace in beleeving Fill me full of inward comfort and spirituall strength against all temptations give me yet a greater feeling of thy love and manifold mercies towards me work in my soule a love of thy Majesty a zeale of thy glory and hatred of evill and a desire of all good things Give mee victory over those sinnes which thou knowest are strongest in me Act me once at last make a conquest of the world and the flesh Mortifie in mee whatsoever is carnall sanctifie mee throughout by thy Spirit knit my heart to thee for ever that I may feare thy Name renue in mee the Image of thy Son Christ daily more and more Give mee a delight in the reading and meditation of thy Word Let me rejoyce in the publike Ministery thereof Let me love and reverence all the faithfull Ministers of thy Gospel Sanctifie their doctrines to my conscience seale them in my soule write them in my heart give me a soft and melting heart that I may tremble at thy words and be alwayes much affected with godly Sermons Let not my sins hold back thy mercies from me nor mine unworthinesse stop the passage of thy grace Open mine eyes to see the great wonders of thy Law Reveale thy secrets unto me be open-hearted toward mee thy unworthy servant Hide nothing from me that may make for thy glory and the good of my soule Blesse all meanes unto me which thou usest for my good Blesse all holy instructions unto my soule Blesse me at all times both in hearing and reading thy Word Give me the right use of all thy merciâ— and corrections that I may be the better for them Let me abound in love to thy children Let my heart be very neerly knit unto them that where thou lovest most there I may love most also Let me watch and pray that I enter not into temptation give mee patience and contentment in all things Let me love thee more and more and the worldlesse and lesse So draw my mind upward that I may despise all transitory things Let mee be so rapt and ravished with the sight and feeling of Heavenly things that I may make a base reckoning of all earthly things Let me use this world as though I used it not Let me use it but for necessity as meat and drinke Let me not be carried away with the vaine pleasures and fond delights thereof Good Father worke the good worke in me and never leave mee nor forsake mee till thou hast brought mee to true happinesse Oh deare Father make mee faithfull in my calling that I may serve thee in it and be alwayes carefull to doe what good I may in any thing Blesse me in my outward estate Blesse my soule body goods and name Blesse all that belong unto mee Blesse my goings out and comings in Let thy countenance be lifted up upon mee now and alwayes cheere me up with the joyes and comforts of thy Spirit make me thankfull for all thy mercies For I must needs confesse that thou art very kind to mee in all things For in thee I live move and have my being of thee I have my welfare and good being thou art a daily friend and speciall good benefactour unto mee I live at thy cost and charges I hold all of thee in chiefe and I find that thou art never weary of doing me good thy goodnesse towards me is unchangeable Oh I can never be thankfull enough unto thee for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall But in such measure as I am able I praise thy Name for all beseeching thee to accept of my thanksgiving in thy Son Christ and to give me a profitable use of all thy favours that thereby my heart may be fully drawne unto thee give me O Father to be of such a good nature and disposition that I may be won by gentlenesâ— and faire meanes as much as if thou gavest me many lashes Pardon all mine unthankfulnesse unkindnesse and great abusing of thy mercies and give me grace to use them more to thy glory in all time to come Strengthen me deare Father thus to continue praising and glorifying thy Name here upon earth that after this life I may be crowned of thee for ever in thy Kingdome Grant these petitions most mercifull God not onely to mee but to all thy deare children throughout the whole world for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I doe further call upon thee saying as he hath taught mee O our Father which art in Heaven c. FINIS
many will say As long as they be neither whore nor thiefe nor spotted with such like grosse sinnes they trust in God they shall be saved Theol. They erre not knowing the Scriptures For many thousands are in great danger of losing their souls for ever which are free from such notorious and horrible vices nay many which in the world are counted good honest men good true dealers good neighbours and good towns-men Asun I pray you Sir give mee leave a little I have heard all your speech hitherto and I like reasonable well of it but now I can forbear no longer my conscience urgeth mee to speak For mee thinks you goe too far you goo beyond your learning in this that you condemn good neighbours and good towns-men You say many such men are in danger of losing their souls but I will never beleeve it while I live For if such men be not saved I cannot tell who shall Theol. But you must learn to know out of the Scriptures that all outward honesty and righteousnesse without the true knowledge and inward feeling of God availeth not to eternall life As our Saviour Christ saith Matth. 12. Except your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven It is also written that when Paul preached at 〈◊〉 Acts 17.18 many honest men and women did beleeve that iâ— such no were outwardly honest or honest to the word only for they could not be truly and inwardly honest before they did beleeve Therefore you see that this outward honesty câ—vility without the inward regeneration of the spirit avaâ—seth not to eternall life and then consequently all your honest worldly men are in great danger of losing their souls for ever Asun What sound reason can you yeeld why such honest men should be condemned Theol. Because many such are utterly void of all true knowledge of God and his word Nay which is more many of them despise the word of God and hate all the zealous professors of it They esteem Preachers but as pratlers and Sermons as good tales they esteem a Preacher no more then a shoemaker they regard the Scriptures no more then their old shooes What hope is there then I pray you that such men should be saved Doth not the holy Ghost say Hoâ— 2.5 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Asun You go too far you judge too hardly of them Theol. Not a whit For all experience sheweth that they mind dream dote of nothing else day and night but this world this world lands leases grounds and livings kine sheep and how to wax rich All their thoughts words and works are of these such like things And their actions do most manifestly declare that they are of the earth and speak of the earth and there is nothing in them but earth earth As for Sermons they care not how few they hear And for the scriptures they regard them not they read them not they esteem them not worth the while there is nothing more irksome unto them they had rather pill strawes or doe any thing then hear read or conferre of the Scriptures And as the Prophet saith 〈◊〉 8.1 â— The word of the Lord is as a reproach unto them they have no delight in it Phil. I marvell much that such men should live so honestly to the worldward Theol. No marvell at all for many bad men whose hearts are worm-eaten within yet for some outward and carnall respects doe abstaine from the grosse act of sin as some for credit some for shame some for fear of law some for fear of punishment but none for love of God for zeal of conscience or of obedience For it is a sure thing that the wicked may have that spirit which doth represse but not that which doth renew Phil. It seemeth then by your speeches that some which are not regenerate do in some things excell the children of God Theol. Most certain it is that some of them in outward gifts and the outward carriage of themselves doe goe beyond some of the elect Phil. Shew me I pray you in what gifts Theol. In learning discretion justice temperance prudence patience liberality assability kindnesse courtesie good nature c. Phil. Me thinks it should not be possible Theol. Yes truly for some of Gods dear children in whom no doubt the inward work is truely and soundly wrought yet are so troubled and incumbred with a crabbed crooked nature and so clogged with some master sin as some with anger some with pride some with covetousnesse some with lusts some one way and some another all which breaking out in them do so blemish them and their profession that they cannot so shine forth unto men as otherwise no doubt they would and this is their wound their griefe and their heart-smart and that which costeth them many a tear and many a prayer and yet can they not get the fu l victory over them but still they are less in them as a prick in the flesh to humble them Ph. Yet love should cover a multitude of such infirmities in Gods children Theol. It should do so indeed but there is great want of love even in the best and the worst sort espying these infirmities in the godly runne upon them with open mouth and take upon them to condemne them utterly and to judge their hearts saying They be hypocrites dissemblers and there is none worse then they Phil. But do you not think that there be some counterfeits even amongst the greatest professors Theol. Yes no doubt there be alwayes have been some very hypocrites in the Church but we most take heed of judging condemning all for some For it were very much to condemne Christ and his eleven disciples because of one Judas or the whole Primitive Church for one Ananias and Sapphira Phil. But I hope you are of this mind that some regenerate men even in outward gifts and their outward carriage are comparable with many others Theol. Questionlesse very many For they being guided by Gods spirit and upheld by his grace doe walk very uprightly and unblamably towards men Phil. Yet there resteth one scruple for it seemeth very strange unto me that men of so discreet carriage as you speak of and of so many good parts should not be saved It is great pity such men should be damned Theol. It seemeth so unto us indeed but God is only wise And you must note that as there be some infirmities in Gods children which hee correcteth with temporall chastisements and yet rewardeth their faith love and inward service and obedience with eternal life so there be some good things in the wicked and them that are without Christ which God rewardeth with temporall blessings and yet punisheth them eternally for their unbeliefe and hardnesse of heart Phil. Now you have reasonably well satisfied mee touching the doctrine of regeneration and the manifold errours
out in velvets and silkes and most brave and glittering outsides but inwardly are full of filthinesse and sin they have fine delicate bodies but most ugly black and filthy soules if a man could see into their soules as hee doth into their bodies hee would stop his nose at the stink of them For they smell ranke of sin in the nostrils of God his Angels and all good men Phil. Then I p rceive by your speech that the case of all ignorant and profane men is fearfull in the sight of God and that all good men are to pity them and to pray for them Theol. If two blind and deafe men should walk in a â—â—â—ten path that leads to a great deep pond wherein they are like to be drowned if they goe forwards and two men farre off should whoope unto them and will them not to goe forward lest they be drowned yet they neither seeing any man nor hearing any man goe forward and are drowned were not this a lamentable spectacle to behold Even so is it with all the ignorant blinde and deafe soules of the world for they cast no perils but walke on boldly to destruction And though the Preachers of the Gospel whoop never so loud unto them or give them never so many warnings and caveats to take heed yet they being inwardly blinde see nothing spiritually deaf hear nothing and therefore goe on forward in their sins and ignorance till they suddenly fall into hell pit Put case also two great Armies should pitch a field and fight a main battell upon a plaine and that some man should stand upon the top of a mountaine hard by and behold all and should see with his owne eyes how thousands and ten thousands went to wrack and fell downe on every side as thicke as haile the whole plaine swimming in bloud and should also heare the groaning of souldiers wounded and the dolefull sighs and groanings of many Captaines Colonels giving up the ghost were not this a most wofull spectacle Even so when wee doe cleerely see Satan wound and murder thousand thousand soules is it not a farre more tragicall and lamentable sight and ought it not even to kill our hearts to behold it but alas men have no eyes to see into these things And yet certaine it is that Sathan doth continually and in most fearfull manner massacre innumerable soules Thus have I shewed you the wofull estate of profane and ignorant men Phil. If it be so you that be Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel and have taken upon you the cure and charge of soules have need to looke about you and doe what in you lieth to save soules and as good shepherds in great pitie and compassion to labour to pull them out of the pawes of this roaring Lion which goes about continually seeking whom hee may devoure Theol. It standeth us upon indeed very seriously and carefully to looke to it as we will answer it at the dreadfull day of Iudgement For it is no small matter that we have taken in hand which is to care for the flocke which Christ hath bought with his bloud Would to God therefore that wee would leave striving about other matters and strive together all about this who can pull most out of the Kingdome of Sathan sinne and ignorance who can win most soules and who can performe best service to the Church This were a good strife indeed and would to God that wee might once at last with joyned forces goe about it and with one heart and hand joyne together to build up Gods house If through our owne follies the worke hath been hindered or any breach made let us in wisdome and love labour to make it up againe if there have been any declining and coldnesse let us now at last revive let us stirre up our selves that we may stirre up others let us be zealous and fervent in spirit that we may through Gods grace put life into others and rouze up this dead declining and cold age wherein we live So shall God be glorified his Church edified his Saints comforted his people saved his throne erected and the kingdome of the Divell overthrowne Phil. What thinke you were the best course to effect this which you speake of Theol. This is a thing that must be exceedingly laboured in of us which are the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel And here is required diligence and as wee say double diligence for the people are every where very ignorant Some are stones altogether uncapable of instructions others are froward and wilfull some will receive the doctrine but not the practice some againe are altogether set upon peevishnesse and cavilling So that a man were better take upon him the charge of keeping Wolves and Beares then the charge of soules For it is the hardest thing in the world to reforme mens disorders and to bring them into order to pull mens soules out of the Kingdome of Satan and to bring them to God It is as wee say an endlesse piece of worke and infinite toile a labour of all labours I quake to thinke of it For men are so obstinate and irrefragable that they will be brought into no order they will come under no yoke They will not be ruled by God nor bridled by his Word They will follow their owne swinge They will runne after their owne lusts and pleasures They will rage and storme if you goe about to curb them and restraine them of their wills likings and liberties They will have their wills likings and liberties They will have their wills and follow their old fashions say what you will and doe what you can Is it not thinke you a busie piece of worke to smooth and square such Timber-logs so full of knots and knobs Is it not a tedious and irksome thing to thinke upon And would it not kill a mans heart to goe about it For how hard a thing is it to bring such into frame as are so far out of frame Phil. Well Sir you can but doe your endeavour and commit the successe to God You can but plant and water let God give the increase You are Ministers of the Letter but not of the Spirit You baptize with water but not with the holy Ghost If you therefore preach diligently exhort admonish and reprove publikely and privately studying by all good example of life and seeking with all good zeale care and conscience to doe the uttermost that in you lyeth to reduce them from their evill wayes I take it you are discharged though they remaine stubborne and incorrigible For you know what the Lord saith by his Prophet Ezech. 3â— 9 If you do admonish them and give them warning then you shall be discharged and their bloud shall be required at their owne hands Theol. You have spoken the truth And therefore sith some must needs take upon them this so great a charge it will be our best course to labour much with them in Catechizing and private
the true Sanctuary but is entred into the very Heaven Heb. 9. to appeare now in the sight of God for you The Apostle saith 2 Cor. 5.21 He hath made him to be sinne for you that knew no sinne that you might be made the righteousnesse of GOD in him Gal 3.13 Christ was made a curse for you that he might redeeme you from the curse of the Law Oh therefore how happy art thou that hast such a Mediatour and high Priest Rest therefore wholly upon him and upon that perfect eternall and propitiatory Sacrifice which he hath once offered Apply Christ apply his merits apply the promises to your selfe and to your owne conscience so shall they doe you good and bring great comfort to your soule For put case you had a most excellent and soveraigne salve which would cure any wound if it were laid to yet if you should locke it up in your chest and never apply it to your wound what good could it doe you Even so the righteousnesse and merits of Christ are a spirituall salve which will cure any wound of the soule but if wee doe not apply them to our soules by faith they can doe us no good You must therefore apply Christ and all the promises of the Gospel to your selfe by faith and stand fully perswaded that whatsoever hee hath done upon the Crosse hee hath done for you particularly For what is justifying faith but a full perswasion of Gods particular love to us in Christ The generall and confused knowledge of Christ and his Gospel availes not to eternall life Labour therefore to have the true use of all these great and precious promises and sticke fast to Christ for through him onely wee have remission of sins and eternall life Acts 10.45 To him all the Prophets give witnesse saith Saint Peter that through his Name all that beleeve shall receive remission of their sins Where the Apostle tells us that if a great Iury of Prophets were pannelled to testifie of the way and meanes to eternall life they would all with one consent bring in a verdict that remission of sins and eternall life are onely in Christ Let us heare the Fore-man speake and one or two of the rest for in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand The Prophet Esay saith Esay 54.5 He was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes wee are healed This great Prophet we see plainly affirmes that Christ suffered for our sins and by his suffering we are saved The Prophet Jeremy testifies the same thing Jer. 23 5. saying Behold the day is come saith the Lord that I will raise to David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby they shall call him The Lord our righteousnesse This Prophet jumps with the other For he saith that Christ is the righteous branch and that he is our righteousnesse which is all one as if hee had said our sinnes are pardoned onely through him and through him we are made righteous Moreover hee affirmes that Juda and Israel that is the Church shall be saved by him The Prophet Zachary that I may speake it with reverence telleth the same tale word for word He avoucheth the same thing with the other two Prophets for hee saith In that day a fountaine shall be opened to the house of David Zach. 13.1 and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse The meaning of the Prophet is that in the dayes of Christs Kingdome the fountaine of Gods mercy in Christ should be opened and let-out to wash away the sinnes and uncleannesse of the Church So then we see that these three great witnesses doe all agree in this that through Christ onely we are washed from our sinnes and through him onely wee are made righteous Seeing then that eternall life is onely in the Sonne therefore he that hath the Sonne hath life Be of good courage therefore O Asunetus for no doubt you have the Sonne and therefore eternall life Feare not your sinnes for they cannot hurt you for as all the righteousnesse of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the most righteous men that ever lived on the face of the earth if it were yours could doe you no good without Christ so all the sinne in the world can doe you no hurt being in Christ Rom. 8.1 For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Plucke up a good heart therefore be no more heavie and sad for if you be found in Christ clothed with his perfect righteousnesse being made yours through faith what can the Divell say to you what can the Law doe They may well hisse at you but they cannot sting you they may grin at you but they cannot hurt you For who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifies Rom. â— 33 who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead or rather which is risen againe who also sitteth at the right hand of God and makes request for us Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord therefore againe I say Rejoice for greater is hee that is in you then hee that is in the world Our Lord Iesus is stronger then all None can pluck you out of his hands hee is a strong Mediator hee hath conquered all our spirituall enemies hee hath overcome hell death and damnation hee hath led captivity captive Col. 1.15 hee hath spoyled principalities and powers and hath made an open shew of them and triumphed over them on his crosse Hee hath most triumphantly said O death Hos 13.14 I will be thy death O grave I will be thy destruction O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 O hell where is thy victory Seeing then you have such a Mediator and high Priest as hath conquered the hellish army and subdued all infernall power what need you to doubt what need you to feare any more Moreover you are to understand and to be perswaded that Gods mercy is exceeding great towards penitent sinners and all such as mourne for their transgressions according as hee saith At what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart hee will put them all out of his remembrance The Prophet David doth most lively and fully describe unto us the mercifull nature of God in the 103. Psalme where hee saith The Lord is full of compassion and mercy slow to anger and of great kindnesse hee will not alwaies chide neither keepeth his anger for ever hee hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according to our iniquities For as high as the heaven is above the earth so great is his mercy towards those that feare him