shall have there Austin wished he might have seen three things before he died Rome in its Glory Paul in the Pulpit and Christ in the Flesh but the Saints shall see better sights there They shall see not Rome but Heaven in its Glory Paul not in Pulpit but on the Throne Christ not with a crucified but glorified Body They shall behold the King in his beauty Isa 33.17 And what a glorious sight will this be And which is more then all the ever blessed Vision of God in himself and God in us and our selves in God Fourthly To meditate on those things wherein the happiness and blessedness of the Saints consist viz. In a removal of all evils and a confluence of all good things 1st In the removal of all evils which may be reduced to these three heads viz. 〈◊〉 Evil of Sin The Evil of Temptation The Evil of Affliction 1. The Evil of Sin The Saints shall not only be freed from the power of sin but from the very being of sin Grace here weakens Sin but Glory there will wholly abolish it Rev. 21. last No unclean thing shall enter there 2. From the Evil of Temptation Here we are continually subject unto temptations from within and from without from the Devil the World and the Flesh but there shall be freed from all though in Paradise yet none in Heaven no Serpent can creep in there nor any wicked one to vex our righteous Soul or any corruption left to incline us to evil 3. From the Evil of Affliction Here we are continually subject to one affliction or other in Body or Soul Name or Estate our selves or ours but there freed from all Rev. 21.4 God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes This happiness consists 2dly In a confluence of all good things The Saints there will be blessed in their Bodies in their Souls in their Company in the security and perpetuity of all 1. In their Bodies their bodies made immortal most beautiful vigorous active and glorious bodies as you saw before 1 Cor. 15.42 Phil. 3. last 2. For the Soul the Understanding Will Memory Affections all perfected in their acts and operations 1 Cor. 13. 3ly For their Company They shall have communion with all the glorious Angels and glorified Saints and the sacred Trinity in Unity God blessed for ever 4. For the security and perpetuity of this blessed condition it runs parallel with God to all eternity Mat. 25. last Fifthly To meditate on the duties you are to perform for the getting and making sure Heavens happiness to you as amongst others these 1. To see you be conformed to Christ in holiness because without holiness no happiness Mat. 5.8 John 3.3 Heb. 12.14 Rom. 8.29 2. To strengthen your Faith in this happy condition by the consideration of this That Christ your Head is gone into Heaven and taken the possession of it in your Name and Nature Heb. 6.20 and hath promised to come take you to himself that where he is you may be with him and that for ever John 14.3 4. 3. To admire and adore the infinite love of God to you in Christ in preparing for you and appointing you to so happy and blessed a state after this miserable life here saying still with David Lord what is Man and I amongst the Sons of Men that thou shouldest have such thoughts of love and eternal love to me Psal 103.1 Praise thou the Lord O my Soul c. 4. To contemn the World and all the glory of it in comparison of that glory above as David did Psal 4.6 and the Apostle Phil. 3.7 8. 5. To quicken and encourage your selves and all others especially your near and dear Relations to lay out themselves all they are and can for the making sure Heavens happiness to them 1 Cor. 15. last 2 Pet. 1.10 11. 6. To be still loving looking and longing for the appearance of Christ in Glory that when he appears we may appear with him as the promise runs to such Colos 3.4 2 Tim. 4.8 Titus 2.13 14. Rev. 22. last Great will be the benefit of meditation on these things it will put life and vigour into all your actions 1 Cor. 15. last and all your passions Rom. 8.18 One hour in Heaven will make an abundant recompence for all your sufferings here CHAP. VI. The third Head of Meditation in and about Man are such things in SOUL and BODY and about the Tongue Tallents Time Eternity of Man as may most conduce to the enabling of Man to answer God and Christ and the Spirit in all they have done for Man First The SOUL TO meditate in and about it of these Particulars The Nature of it The Worth of it The greatness of the Loss of it The greatness of the Salvation of it The Conscience God hath put into it to mind you of all First The Nature of it what it is sc A spiritual Substance Invisible Immortal Created of God United to the Body and endowed with admirable faculties of Vegitation Sense and Reason Secondly To meditate on the transcendent worth or excellency of it This appears 1st By the excellent Majesty of which it is an Image nothing so much resembles God as the Soul 1. In Spirituality 2. In Immortality 3. In the infinity of Comprehension or Duration 2dly By the excellent price was paid for the Redemption of a Soul not Silver and Gold but the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.18 Had all the Creatures in the World laid down their lives they could never have done it being finite Creatures they could never have satisfied an infinite Justice 3dly By the excellent end and the use of it it being made to contemplate all those glorious Excellencies that are in God and in God for us 4thly The transcendent excellency of it above the Body and above all the World 1. Above the Body 1. The Body but an earthly Substance the Soul a heavenly Substance 2. The Body is a material and visible Substance the Soul a spiritual invisible Substance 3. The Body cannot live without the Soul but the Soul can and doth without the Body 4. The Soul not made for the Body but the Body for the Soul as the Box for a Jewel and the House for the Inhabitant 2. Above all the World One Soul 's of more worth then all the World then ten thousand Worlds as appears in this That all the World and ten thousand Worlds cannot content and satisfie the Soul no more then a Barley Corn can fill the World the Soul is of so large and vast a capacity as it 's able to conceive of and desire millions of Worlds Thirdly Consider the greatness of the Loss of a Soul There 's no loss to be compared to the loss of a Soul because he that loseth it loseth all not only himself but God and Christ and Grace and Glory both this World and that to come and this loss an irrecoverable loss Mat. 16.26 What will it profit
2. Because they are Holy Spirits and cannot indure to see any unholy or unclean behaviour 4thly To imitate the Blessed Angels especially in these four things 1. their Humility 2. Piety 3. Charity 4. Alacrity 1. Their Humility Though they be glorious Spirits yet they are content to stoop to the meanest Servants of God at God's Command they came down from Heaven to bring glad tydings of Salvation to poor Shepherds are willing to wait on those that are despised of men Mat. 18.10 how much more should we stoop to one another and serve one another in love see the command Rom. 12.3.16 2. To imitate them in their Piety They are God-like Holy as he is Holy therefore called 〈◊〉 Holy Angels Mark 8.38 And we are commandâ—◠〈◊〉 be Holy as God is Holy 1 Tim. 1.15 They seek nor their own Glory but the Lords Isa 〈…〉 so we are commanded 1 Cor. 〈…〉 They stand ready prest to know and do the Will of God Psal 103.21 And we are commanded Tuâ—â— 3. â— Be ready to every good work They do it also zealously Dan. 9.21 He make 〈◊〉 Angels a flame of Fire and this we are commâ—nded Rev. 3.19 Be zealous and amend And they do it constantly Matth. 18.10 And we are commanded 1 Cor. 15. last Be stedfast uâ—â—oveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord c. Gal. 6.10 Be not weary of well doing And all this is no other then what we are taught to pray for in the Lords Prayer in these words Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven That is universally sincerely chearfully constantly 3. In their Charity They not only love one another but they love us and in love to us they are content to stoop to any Service wherein they may express their love to us how much more should we love one the other and as the Apostle exhorts serve one another in love and the rather because it is the express command of Christ and he hath given himself an Example of it and made it the chief character of a Disciple of his John 13.35 4. To imitate them in their Joy They rejoyce continually in the Glory of God the Exaltation of Christ the Conversation of Sinners the Salvation of Souls the Glorification of the Saints together with themselves how much more should we rejoyce in these things seeing the benefit redounds not so much to them as to us 6th Duty Not to fear the malice and rage of the Evil Angels for however the Evil Angels endeavour to do all the mischief they can to the Godly and God permits them to do it to wicked men Psal 78.49 50. and sometimes to afflict the Godly Job 1.6 yet here 's our comfort All the Godly have the Good Angels to protect them that they cannot hurt them as they would however Evil Angels may have a permission from God to do them evil yet the Good Angels have alwayes a Commission from God to do them good Psal 103. to the end And the power of Good Angels is more and greater then of the Evil they having lost much of it by their fall and therefore not so much to fear them A King that hath his Guard about him fears no danger how much less should we who have though not of men yet a Guard of Angels 2 Kings 6.16 7th Duty Not slavishly to fear Death but to wellcome it whensoever it comes seeing it is the last Office the Angels do for the Saints here to attend on their Death-beds and take the care of their Souls and carry them after Death to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Luke 16.22 Heb. 12.22 Lastly Remember still to return God the Glory of this Glorious Priviledge the enjoyment of the Ministry of Angels and all the good and comfort you have reapt by it The Shepherds Luk. 2.20 having heard of the glad tydings brought by the Ministry of Angels they returned glorifying and praysing God but not the Angels the Angels ought to have their due reverence and respect for their Ministry but we are to give the honour and glory of it only to God Thus Daniel 6.22 and Peter Acts 12.11 they did not ascribe the deliverance to the Angels but unto God that sent his Angels And great cause have we to glorifie God in and for their Ministry 1. In respect of the great honour God conferreth on us in vouchsafing such honourable Guardians to us 2. In respect of the great good that comes to us by them not only in protecting us from those evil spirits which rule in the Air but the quickning and leadings to the following and guidance of his ever blessed Spirit of Grace 3. Because they are only instruments in God's Hand it 's God alone is the Author of all the good we receive by them Make these uses of the Ministry of Angels and you will be sure to reap much benefit and comfort by it and to have them still to attend upon you and minister to you in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life to preserve you from evil and to incourage you in that which is good to comfort you in and deliver you out of trouble 2. In Death to stand about your Beds and keep off the evil Spirits and chear up your own Spirits arm you against the terrors of Death and as soon as your Soul shall be separate from the Body to carry it to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect And 3. after Death at the last and great Day to open your Graves and bring out your Bodies and take them up into the Air to the Accessors with Jesus Christ in judgment on the wicked World and after that to conduct you into Heaven there to be for ever with the Lord and with them still glorifying God the Father for God the Son by God the Spirit to all Eternity Amen Secondly For the Evil Angels and Devils Sect. 2. In and about them to take notice of and meditate on these things 1. That there are such 2. What they are 3. How they became such 4. What their punishment 5. What their Office or Work is 6. What their Properties or Qualities are Lastly What our duties are in respect of them 1. That there are such evil Spirits or Devils is abundantly manifest by the testimony of the Scripture and their frequent Temptations Apparitions Possessions and Dispossessions the Scripture often mentions in the Old New Testament In the Old we read that the Devil was a lying spirit in the mouth of the false Prophets 1 Kings 22. and that Satan stir'd up David to number the People 1 Chron. 21.1 and how he afflicted Job cap. 1. and that he stood at the right hand of Joshua to resist him Zach. 3.1 In the New Testament we read how he tempted Christ Mat. 4. and how Christ cast him out of many possest by him as for those Atheists and Epicures that question it they have some of them been forced to acknowledge it here to their horror
I am Jehovah that made all things and Rom. 11. last Of him and through him and for him are all things and Acts 17.28 3. That it is he also that doth and will give a beeing to all his words Exod. 3.15 This is his memorial to all Ages i. e. of his truth and faithfulness in all Ages Exod. 6 3. Where he saith to Moses that he appeared to Abraham Isaac and Jacob by the Name of All-mighty but by the Name of Jehovah I was not known to them i. e. in making good his promise of delivering them out of Aegypt and bringing them into Canaan Now that which you are here seriously to meditate on is this the wonderful and condescending grace of God to us his poor worthless Creatures he being Jehovah having his beeing in and of and from himself might for ever have delighted himself in himself but being goodness it self would communicate it in giving a beeing to thiâ— glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth and all that have any beeing in it the serious meditation of this must needs affect our hearts with love to him and delight in him that he who had no need of us should give a beeing to us that he who is so high and holy above us should humble himself to have respect unto us and have such precious thoughts and purposes concerning our temporal and Eternal well-being this should make us break out in admiration and say with Job and David Oh Lord what is man that thou shouldst take notice of him make such account of him set thy heart upon him and so magnifie him as not only to make a World for him but have such precious thoughts of love to him respecting both his temporal and Eternal welfare to take him into communion with thy self here in grace and promise him immediate communion with thy self in glory Sect 2. On the Attributes of God and here take notice of these things 1. What they are 2. The kinds of them 3. The benefit of a serious meditation on them 4. The Reasons why we should have such a serious meditation on them 5. The evidences of our interest in them 1. What the Attributes of God are sc Certain Essential properties of God whereby he is pleased to make himself known unto us who otherwise cannot come to know him Exod. 3. ult otherwise called back-parts not that God hath any back-part or fore-part but because we can only have an imperfect knowledge of him as we have of a man when we see him only by his Back we may guess at him that it is such an One but we cannot say expresly it is He unless we saw his Face 2. For the Kinds of Attributes they are either Incommunicable or Communicable 1. Incommunicable are such as are proper to himself and not to be found in the Creature as these 1 His Eternity Psal 90.2 2 His Omnipresence Jer. 23.33 3 His Omnisciency 2 King 8.39 4 His Omnipotency Gen. 17.1 5 His Immutability James 1.17 2. His Communicable Attributes are such as are found in the Creature as 1. His wisdom 1 Tim. 1.17 2 His holiness Isa 6.3 3 His faithfulness Psal 91.1 4 His loving kindness Psal 26.7 5 His goodness Psal 31.19 6 His Justice Zeph. 3.5 7 His Mercy Exod. 34.6 Q. Are these in Men as they are in God Ans No there is a double difference 1. In men they are only qualities in God they are his very Essence It 's an Axiom in Divinity Quicquid est in Deo est Deus Whatsoever is in God is God In the Creature they are only in the Concrete but in God in the Abstract God is not only loving but God is love 1 Epist. John 4.16 2 In the Creature they are imperfect but in some degrees but in God they are perfect in their full degrees He is so just and so merciful as he cannot be more 3. Take notice of the great Benefit that will come by a serious Meditation on those Attributes To help you in it 1. A serious Meditation on God's Eternity will be effectual to keep us from minding affecting and pursuing too much these terrestrial things which perish in the using and quicken us to get an interest in an Eternal God that will abide with us for ever who is able to make us Eternally miserable or Eternally happy to reward us with Eternal Life or to punish uâ— with Eternal Death Math. 25. last 2. The serious meditation of God's Omnipresence will be effectual to keep us from sinning because of secresie remembring though there be none else present God is present though there be no eye or ear of the Creatures yet there is the All-seeing Eye and the All-hearing Ear of God This influence you may finde it had upon Joseph Gen. 39.9 and Job 31.1 4. and David Psal 139.1 and will upon us if there be any fear of God before our eyes The Eye and Ear of a Magistrate and Minister and a Holy-man hath usually authority upon the worst of men to restrain from sining how much more should the all-discerning Presencâ— of God 3. The serious meditation of God's Omnisciency or knowledge of all things even thâ— most secret thoughts and ends and aims of meâ— in all they think and speak and do will be an effectual means to keep men from playing the Hypocrites with God and Men being he is Omniscient and knoweth the most secret intentions 〈◊〉 Men searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reinâ— to render to every one according to their Workâ— Jer. 17.9 So that however we may deceive meâ— and our own Souls yet we cannot God as Gal. 6. â— Which made the Church to take heed of it Psal 44.19 and Peter to approve his heart to Châ—â—â—â— in the profession he made of love to him Job 21.17 4. A serious meditation on his Omnipotency will be an effectual means to keep us from immoderate fearing and doubting fainting and sinking in times of straights and distresses seeing it is all one to him to help and relieve in the absence as well as the presence of means by weak as well as strong means yea without means and contrary unto means and will do it whil'st he hath any work for us to do This was it that supported and comforted David 1 Sam. 30.6 and Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20.12 and the three Children Dan. 3.16 And so will it us if we will act saith in it remembring there is help with God when vain is the help of the Creature Nothing impossible to God Luke 1. 5. A serious meditation on God's Immutability that will be an effectual means to keep us from despondency and questioning of his love when he seems to hide his Face considering that he is Jehovah that changeth not Mal. 3.6 The same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 unchangeable in his love and grace and mercy to his And therefore though we are to be humbled under every sin even the least yet not to question God's love because of any even the greatest
willing as he is able Psal 84.11 1 Tim. 4.8 More particularly First That he will give them his Spirit to work all in them and for them Ezek. 36.26 Luke the 11. Secondly That he will give them the sanctifying knowledge of himself and his will Ezek. 36.26 Thirdly That he will pardon all their sins and look upon them as righteous in his Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 21. Fourthly That he will sanctifie their natures to the mortifying of their corruptions and the quickning of their graces Rom. 6.4 5. 8. the 13. Jer. 31.33 Ephes 2.1 Fifthly That he will take away their heart of Stone and give a heart of Flesh the double Spirit and give a single Spirit the froward Spirit and give a teachable Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and chap. 36. Sixthly He will not only give grace but growth in grace Malach. 4.2 Lastly That he will never leave the work of his grace until he hath perfected grace in glory Jer. 32.39 40. Phil. 1.6 Seventhly To meditate of the Signs of being actually in Covenant as First a lively faith working by love to God and all that is God's John 3.16 Gal. 5.5 Secondly A Reciprocation of promises as God promised to be our God so we to be his People Deut. 26.16 17. as he promised to give Christ and grace and glory so we promise faith and love and new obedience Thirdly The Counterpane or Copy of the Covenant they that enter into Covenant one with the other you know each Party hath a Counterpane or Copy of it so is it between God and the Soul as the Covenant is reciprocal so the Copy of the Covenant is drawn on the heart Jeremy 31.34 Fourthly They have the Spirit of God to reveal and make known this Covenant to them Jeremy 31.34 and to enable them to do what is required in the Covenant Ezek. 36.26 27. Fifthly Such as are in Covenant they have the fruits and effects of of it as First Softness of heart Ezek. 11.19 Secondly Sincerity of obedience Ezek. 11.19 20. Thirdly Growth in grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Fourthly Perseverance in grace Jer. 32.39 Fifthly A conscionable care to renew their Covenant with God upon every breach of it Jer. 50.5 Eighthly To meditate on the means of getting an interest in the Covenant if you do not yet find your selves actually in Covenant as First To humble your selves under the abuse of his grace in the first Covenant Secondly To give him the glory of his grace in vouchsafing to enter into another and a better Covenant not only to give grace but perseverance in grace Thirdly To be willing to Covenant with God as he with you Deut. 26.16 17. This Day the Lord thy God hath c. Fourthly To close with the great design of God in saving of poor lost sinners in making such a Covenant with them in Christ and in order to it to renounce the former Covenant of works all your own righteousness and desire with the Apostle to be found only in Christ having his righteousness that is by faith the righteousness of God Phil. 3.9 Because by the works of the Law no Flesh living can be justified Rom. 3. The Jews going about to establish their own righteousness made void to them the righteousness of Christ Rom. 10.3 Yea and you are to renounce all other Covenants with Sin Satan and the World for God will never enter into Covenant with those that are in Covenant with his Enemies Isai 28.15 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end Fifthly To go unto God by servent and constant Prayer and entreat him to remember his Covenant and glorifie his grace in it upon you by giving his Spirit for the enabling you to close with his great Design in the Covenant That he would put his Law in your heart and write it in your inward parts and give you that new Spirit which may cause you to walk in his Statutes and keep his Commandments and do them Ezek. 36. Ninthly To meditate on the many and weighty motives there are to quicken every one to get an interest in this Covenant of Grace as First The sad and miserable condition of all such as are without Covenant They are without God in the World and without hope viz. of a better life After this Eph. 2.12 They must look to be judged by a Covenant of works and if Men be not able to yield obedience to any one command of God as they ought and yet bound to yield obedience unto all the whole Law or no life do they must all or die eternally for the breach of the least Commandment Deut. 27. last The consideration of this should make every wicked man tremble to continue a moment in his natural unregenerate state and speedily to come unto Christ Yet further consider the miserable condition of men in this so long as they are without Covenant they cannot expect any blessing or mercy from God either corporal or spiritual outward or inward for all blessings and mercies they are conveyed to a People in and by virtue of the Covenant Zach. 9.11 Whatsoever men have and enjoy being out of Covenant they have it in wrath and not in mercy as a curse and not a blessing Mol. 2.2 Secondly Meditate on the happy and blessed estate of such as are actually in Covenant they have an interest in God and Christ his Spirit and all that is theirs 1 Cor. 3. two last Hos 2.18 to the end And as all that is good in God and Christ is yours so all that evil that is yours in Christ's Your sins 2 Cor. 5 last and your sufferings Isaiah 63. He is afflicted in all your afflictions Secondly You may go boldly to the Throne of Grace for the supply of all your wants Heb. 4. last and with assurance to be accepted and answer'd in whatsoever you shall ask according to his will 1 Ioh 5.14 Thirdly It 's that will bring you comfort in the saddest condition you are or can be in When they spake of stoning David He encouraged himself in the Lord his God 2 Sam. 23.5 Again To meditate on the excellent properties of this Covenant How that it is the most free sweet full and unchangeable Covenant First For the Freeness of it there was nothing in Us to move him to it but his own grace therefore call'd a Covenant of grace nothing requir'd on our part but only faith Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16 31. Secondly For the Sweetness of it you may see it in these three things First He requires no more of us than he promiseth to work in us by his Spirit Ezek. 36.27 Secondly He promiseth to overlook all our unwilling trespasses faultings and failings where they are bewail'd by us and to accept the will for the deed the endeavour for the work 2 Cor. 8.12 our imperfect obedience for perfect Heb. 11.17 Thirdly He will look upon accept of the perfect Obedience the full satisfaction of Jesus Christ for us as if we had yielded
David lifted up his hands to God and worshipped Psal 63.4 Jesus lifted up his eyes to Heaven and prayed John 17.1 The reason is because the Bodies of the Saints shall be glorified with God hereafter therfore they are to glorifie him with their Bodies here Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable to God Secondly Internal worship is a worshipping God with the Spirit as well as the Body it being that God especially calls for John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 And this is sometimes called a fearing of God Deut. 6.13 a loving of God Jam. 2.5 a delighting in God Psal 37.3 and a trusting in God Psal 16.1 Secondly For the Place where he is to be worshipped it is not only in this and that place as ignorant superstitious persons fancy but He is every where to be worshipped and that in the observance of all those religious duties which He requires in publick private and secret Isaiah 2.2 Psal 122.1 Gen. 18.19 Job 1.5 Jer. 10. last Mat. 6.6 Then Thirdly For the Time that he is to be worshipped by us as in all places so at all times as on the Week days by beginning continuing and ending the day with him so especially on his own day the Sabbath-day because although every day be his yet this in a special manner His Psal 18.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made this is the Day which he hath sanctified and set apart wholly for the worship of Himself Isaiah 58. last And as this is the day he made for his own glory so for Man's good the good of his Body and of his Soul The good of his Body that he might not tire out himself in the service of the World but especially the good of his soul that he might by a Sabbath on Earth be minded of and fitted for an everlasting Sabbath in Heaven by communion with God in Ordinances here he might be made to long after that place where he hath promised to be all in all without Ordinances Rev. 21.22 23. To this end he hath appointed it to be the Schooling-day and Market-day and Feasting-day and Sealing-day to the Soul therefore in a special manner to be careful of giving God his worship upon this day in the observance and performance of all those duties of piety and mercy that he requires from you in publick private and secret and here to mark that you spend not only a part but the whole day in the worship and service of God and that upon these accounts First Because He rested the whole day created nothing the Seventh-day but finished all before on the Six days Secondly Because he sanctified and set apart the whole day for Himself and therefore not to rob him of any part seeing he hath dealt so bountifully with us as to give us Six days for the service of our selves and reserved but One for the service of Himself Thirdly Because the duties of God's Worship on that Day are so many and weighty as a whole Day is little enough to perform them as they ought The Fourth Circumstance that is especially to be thought on is the right manner How we are to worship God because God looks not so much to the matter as the right manner of worshipping Him and abhorrs and rejects the work without the right manner as you may see fully Isai 1.11 to the 21. Jer. 7.8 9. Mal. 1. last Q Well what is this right manner of worshipping God Ans It is to worship Him by a right Rule from a right Principle and to a right End 1. By a right Rule sc the Rule of God's Word Isai 8.20 Psal 119.9 According to his own Institutions and not Mens Inventions In vain do you worship me c. 2. From a right Principle sc in the Name of Christ Colos 3.17 and the strength of Christ Joh. 15.5 From Faith Heb. 11.6 and Love 1 Peter 2.1 3. To a right end sc the Glory of God and the Salvation of your Souls 1 Cor. 10.13 Phil. 1.19 Q. But what are those Rules in the Word according to which we are to worship God Ans first More general as these Preparation and affection before attention and reverence in and meditation and practise after Eccles 5.1 Psal 66.18 Acts 16.14 Hebr. 12.2 last Luke 2.19 John 13.17 Secondly More special Rules for the worshipping of God are such as respect the sanctifying of the Sabbath Prayer to God Hearing of the Word Reading of the Scriptures Receiving of the Lord's Supper singing of Psalms religious Fasting and Feasting and holy Conference For the acceptable comfortable and profitable use of these you are to meditate on some things before in and after every one I shall but name a few to help your Memories and quicken your Devotion First For the right sanctifying of the Sabbath to take notice of and meditate on these things before in and after the Sabbath First Before the Sabbath to remember the Sabbath before it comes Secondly To prepare for it by ordering your Worldly affairs so as they may not hinder you and to sequester your thoughts from all other things that you may intend the duties of the Sabbath Exod. 20.8 Secondly When the Sabbath is come to consecrate it as a holy Rest to the Lord your God not thinking your own thoughts or speaking your own words or doing your own pleasure but the Lord's Isaiah 58.13 To begin continue and end the Sabbath with God And that you may do so to observe these things First To rise early on the Sabbath after the Example of Christ and when you awake to bless God for another day of grace in rising up to think on your Resurrection at the last Day to glory in putting on of your apparel to think on the command of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. end After you have Apparel'd your selves to remember the duties requir'd of you before in and after the publick Assemblies First Before to sequester your thoughts from all things of the World and the Flesh to mind only and wholly God his Day and Worship Secondly To pray by your selves and with the Family for God's presence with assistance in and blessing on his Ordinances to you and yours and all his especially on the Ministry of the Word that it may be made effectual to all the ends he hath appointed it as the conviction conversion humiliation consolation edification and salvation of all those that belong to the Election of grace Thirdly As you are going to the publick Assemblies to remember where you are going that you are going into the Presence not only of men but God that-God who will be sanctified by all that draw nigh to him or will be sanctified upon them Levit. 10. To consider also what you are going about a business of the greatest consequence in the World To converse with God and to enjoy communion with God and hear that Word which will make you better or
worse soften or harden you will bring you neerer to Heaven or Hell and will be either the savour of life or death to you 2 Cor. 2.16 Secondly As you are entring into the publick Assemblies to think and say with Jacob How dreadful is this place It is no other than the Gate of Heaven to set your selves in the presence of the great God and carry your selves there with all fear and reverence seeing there are not only Men but the Angels and the Great and Holy God to take notice both of your inward and outward behaviour And see you stay and not depart without the Blessing Thirdly After the publick Assemblies as you go home to meditate on what you have heard when you come home search the Scriptures whether things are so to repeat and confer with those in your Family about it to press the remembrance and practise of what you have heard on your selves and them after this to go apart and spend the rest of the day in Examination what you have profited and in meditation on the Word and Works of God and that Eterâ—â—â— Sabbath you are to celebrate hereafter in Heaven where you shall keep a Sabbath not only without weariness but with infinite delight and then conclude the Sabbath with prayer and praise pray for a blessing on the truths made known to you and for the pardon of all those infirmities you have discovered before in and after duty in publick private or secret and that God would accept of your weak endeavours and unfeigned desires to honour him in and for the all-meritorious Intercession's sake of Jesus Christ And then praise God for one Sabbath more liberty of communion with Him his Presence with you assistance of you and blessing of his Ordinances to you and so end the day as you began it As you gave Him the first of your thoughts when you rose so give Him the last of your thoughts when you lie down that so your dreams may savour of your Sabbath-days exercises Thirdly After the Sabbath to hold forth in your lives and conversations all you have heard and prayed for that so the blessing of the Sabbath may bring a blessing on all your labours the Week following Amen The Second Duty is Prayer to God And here First before Prayer to meditate First On the infinite distance between God and you as Creatures especially such finful Creatures Eccles 5.2 Secondly To make your addresses to the Throne of Grace only in the Name Worthiness and Mediation of Jesus Christ Col. 3.17 Thirdly To take notice of the special sins you are to confess the evils you are to â—â—precate or pray against the good things you are to Petition and the Mercies you are to return thanks for Fourthly Because we know not how to pray as we ought To beg the Spirit of Grace and Supplication to help your infirmity and keep your hearts close to Him in duty Fifthly To remember that we pray for all men especially for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 3. and for all Saints Eph. 6.18 Secondly In the time of Prayer remember to do it with humility and reverence Heb. 12. end In sincerity and truth John 4.24 With feeling and servency James 5.16 17. and in faith and love Heb. 11.6 1 Tim. 2.8 Thirdly After Prayer to look-after an Answer Live what you have prayed and labour in the use of the means for that you have prayed as you are commanded Prov. 2.3 4. The Third Duty is Hearing the Word First Before Hearing remember whom you go to hear not only Man but God who speaks in and by Man 2 Cor. 5.20 Secondly Because man can but speak to the Ear beg the Lord to give his Spirit that may speak to the heart Thirdly That the Spirit may make the Word effectual to the end God hath appointed it take heed you come not with prejudice against the Minister or the Word spoken by him James 1.21 1 Peter 2.1 Fourthly That you endeavour to bring humble honest and upright hearts to the hearing of the Word Luke 8.15 Micah 2.7 Doth not my word do good to him that walks uprightly Secondly In the time of Hearing First To set your selves in the special presence of God and remember He observes not only your outward but inward carriages with what hearts every one comes and sits before him 1 Sam. 16.17 Ezek. 33.31 Secondly To attend heedfully to the things that are spoken as Lydia did Acts 16. Thirdly To apply particularly what is spoken not to others but to your selves as John's hearers did Luke 3.10 Because what is spoken to one is intended to all Mark 13. last and unless it be applyed by faith it will not profit Heb. 4.11 Thirdly After Hearing First To discourse of what you have heard and not as the manner of too many is to talk presently of other Persons and Things Secondly To search the Scripture with the noble Beraeans whether things be so or no Acts 17.11 Thirdly To work all into your hearts and lives by Meditation Prayer and Practise because the promise of a blessing runs only to such Psal 103.17 and Luke 11.28 Otherwise without practise every Sermon will be preacht over by God and Conscience again at the last Day with such horror and terror as you will never be able to hear it John 12.48 The Fourth Duty is Reading of the Scriptures First Before it to think what a great blessing it is to enjoy this blessed Book and have liberty to look into it when 't is denied to many others not only amongst the Papists but amongst us through their own and their Parents neglect of learning them to read Secondly To remember that this is a duty that lies upon all Persons private as well as publick People as well as Ministers both to read the Scriptures First In respect of the express command of God Mal. 4.4 John 5.39 Col. 3.16 Secondly In respect of the great benefit and comfort that comes by it 2 Tim. 3. the 3 last Rom. 15 41. Psal 1.2 Revel 1.3 Thirdly In reading First To lift up an Ejaculation for understanding of it praying with David Psal 119.18 Open my eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Secondly To read with Application as David Psal 40.8 It 's written of me that I should do thy will It was no where written so of David in particular only he applied the general command to his particular Thirdly After reading with David also to hide God's Word in your heart Psal 119.11 And see that you order your conversation according to it Vers 9. The Fifth Duty is Receiving the Lord's Supper First Before it to see whether you can finde your selves in a state of grace and that you have those Sacramental graces of knowledge faith repentance obedience love and an appetite to this Ordinance all which are required to qualifie and fit Souls for communion with Jesus Christ in that Ordinance This duty of Self-examination you may see
under Heaven by which we can be saved Joh. 8.24 If you believe not that I am he you shall die in your sins and therefore it 's a gross Error A man may be saved in any Religion so he walk according to the Rules of it and as he is the only remedy so he is an All-sufficient remedy hath thorowly trode the Wine-press of God's wrath fulfilled and brought in everlasting righteousness and so able to save to the uttermost all such as come to God by him Heb. 7.26 Thirdly To meditate on the infinite love of God to Man-kind in vouchsafing such a Remedy to us and none to the fallen Angels Heb. 2.16 and John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave c. with such a Sic as has no Sicut such a So as has no Like so as cannot be conceiv'd much less expressed Fourthly On the infinite love of Christ in the voluntary undertaking this great Work for us and standing between the wrath of God and out Souls when the whole Creation trembled at it Psal 40.8 This is such a love as passeth love and passeth knowledge Men and Angels not able to comprehend what the bredth and length and depth and heighth is of this love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners Eph. 3.18 19. Fifthly To meditate on the amiableness or loveliness of Christ in himself that your hearts may be drawn out the more after him Cant. 5. last He is altogether lovely all desirable in his Names Nature Offices Graces Actions Passions and Benefits purchased by him for us First In his Names His name is as an Ointment poured out Cant. 1.3 God hath given him a name above every name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow Phil. 2.9 And this Name JESUS so full of sweetness that as Bernard hath it it is Mel in ore melos in aure Jubilus in corde Honey in the mouth Musick in the Ear and a Jubilee in the Heart so sweet that Austin after his Conversion delighted not to read any Book wherein was not the Name Jesus And for his Name Christ how full of sweetness is this so called because he was Anointed to be the Mediator King Priest and Prophet of his Church You may read more of his precious names Isai 9.6 Secondly Altogether lovely in his Natures both Divine and Humane First For His Divine Nature He is God Co-essential Co-eternal and every way coequal with his Father and therefore stiled God's-fellow Zach. 13.7 Secondly For His Humane Nature as He was Man so He was a Just and Innocent Man Mat. 27.19 A good man that always went about doing good to the Souls and Bodies of others Acts 10.38 An eminent Man above all Men fairer than all the Children of Men Isai 45.2 and that both in Soul and Body And needs must as being without all sin from which all deformities come especially in his state of Exaltation as the Apostle tells you when he met with him in the way of his Persecution Act. 26.13 At mid-day O King I saw in the way a light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun shining round about me c. Thirdly Altogether lovely in his Offices oâ— Mediatorship Priestly Prophetical and Kingly Office First His Office of Mediatorship for first he hath reconcil'd by this God and Man Law and Gospel Mercy and Justice Secondly Hereby He hath opened a way for us into the Presence oâ— God whom we could no more draw nigh to without Him than the Stubble to the consuming Fire Heb. 12. last Secondly For His Priestly Office He is altogether lovely in that First Because He is a Priest not after the Order of Aaron but the Order of Melchisedeck Psal 110.4 Aaron was a temporary Priest but Christ an Eternal Priest Secondly In that He was not only a Priest but Altar and Sacrifice all which never any before Him was Isaiah 56.67 and 60.7 Thirdly A Priest that sprinkles Persons and Services with his precious Blood so as to take away the iniquity of our holy things and render all acceptable to his Father Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 Fourthly A merciful High Priest that cannot but have a fellow-feeling of all our infirmities Heb. 11.15 and knows how to succour them under their temptations Heb. 2. end Fifthly A Priest that is holy harmless separate from sinners and so able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him seeing He ever lives to make Intercession for them Heb. 7.25 Thirdly Altogether lovely in his Prophetical Office A Prophet that excels all other Prophets First In that all other Prophets were but Types of this Prophet even Moses himself Mat. 10.27 Heb. 3. Secondly Other Prophets could speak only to the Ear but Christ to the hearts of men other Prophets could only instruct but not convert Christ doth both Revel 3.7 Christ in speaking makes his to live Joh. 5.25 Thirdly Other Prophets could reveal but a part of God's will Christ he makes known the whole will of God John 15.15 Heb. 1.1 2. Fourthly All other Prophets had their Authority and Commission from Him He his from Himself Mat. last the last Eph. 4.11 In a word such a Prophet as he is the Angel's Surety Mediator of the Covenant the Angel as he goes from God to us and us to God the Surety as he undertakes for us and the Mediator he goes between God and us Fourthly Altogether lovely in his Kingly Office for He is King of kings a King that excels all other Kings in His wisdom power righteousness mercy Secondly A Universal King over all Nations and all Creatures in the World Math. 28. All Power is given to Him in Heaven and in Earth and Eph 1 22. Thirdly He is a spiritual King a King that sets up his Throne in the Hearts and Consciences of Men which other Kings cannot however the Pope and his Pope lings will usurp it Revel 18.13 Fourthly He is an everlasting King whâ—â—e Kingdom can never be shaken Heb. 12.27 Of whose Kingdom there is no end Daniel 2.44 Fifthly Altogether lovely in his Graces and that both inherent in him and diffusive from him First Inherent in him therefore do the Virgins love him and run after him Cant. 1.2 and the Angels worship Him Heb 1. And he must needs be so because in Him is the fulness of grace and truth John 1.14 and he hath the Spirit without measure John 3 34 and is anointed with the Oil of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1.9 Secondly In his diffusive graces for from his fulness it is we all receive grace for grace Joh. 1.16 that is grace like to that in Christ and one degree and measure of grace after another 2 Cor. 3. last Fifthly He is altogether lovely in his actions for never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.40 and never man did as he did Joh. 9.39 Sixthly A together lovely in his Passions never any man suffer'd what he did or as he did nor suffer'd so willingly patiently constantly aâ—
it and the Fruits of it 1. By the Grounds of it whence it ariseth and they are these 1. A sight and sense of their lost condition that they came into the World without Christ before Men be convinced of this they will never look out after Christ Eph. 2.12 2. It ariseth from sound Humiliation under the fight and sense of their lost condition so as to be willing upon it to break off the League between the Soul and every sin for a Graft must be cut off from the old Stock before it can be set into a new This you may find in those new Converts Acts 2.37 And the Jaylor Acts 16.29 2. You may know it by the Means of it now these are four whereof there are two on Christ's part sc His Word and his Spirit and two on our part sc Faith and Love By these as so many Bands and Ligaments the union is made between Christ and the Soul By the two former God draws the Soul home to Christ By the two latter he unites and knits it to Christ 1. The Word of Christ that is the Ordinance by which he cuts them off from the old Stock and ingrafts them into the new Acts 26.18 therefore called the ingrafted Word James 1.21 Now Souls are cut off from the old Stock by sound Humiliation under their sinful and miserable condition by nature so as to be willing to have the League broken between the Soul and every sin to part with all for Him And they come to be ingrafted to Him when they are made willing to receive Him on Gospel-terms not only as their Saviour but their Ruler 2. Another Means and the principal is the Spirit of Christ 1 Joh. 3. last which the Lord gives effectually to accompany his Word for the cutting them off from the old Stock and ingrafting them into the new and this the Spirit doth by convincing them of sin righteousness and judgment Joh. 16.8 By being in them first a Spirit of Bondage and then of Adoption Rom. 8 15. By mortifying of their Corruptions Rom. 8.13 and quickning them with Grace Vers 10 11. 1 Cor. 6.11 3. Another Means or Band of our union with and interest in Christ is a lively Faith taking us off from our own righteousness and causing us to rest and rely only on the righteousness of Jesus Christ for Justification and Salvation Joh. 3.16 Phil. 3.9 4th Means or Band is an unfained Love to Christ for his lovely Self and all his Members for his sake Joh. 14.21 1 Joh. 3.14 3. You may know it by the fruits of it which are especially these 1. A through change of heart and life 2 Cor. 5.17 2. Subjection and obedience to his Laws and Commandments Joh. 14.15.21 15.14 Then are you my friends if you do whatsoever I command you and Heb. 5.9 3. Conformity to him in heart and life doing and suffering living and dying Rom. 6.5 6. 1 Joh. 2.6 2 Tim. 2.12 4. A constant adherence to him in faith love and obedience with full purpose of heart not to depart from him Heb. 3.14 Tenthly To meditate on what we are to do for the getting and clearing up our interest in Christ and all he hath done and suffer'd for us to this end mind well a few directions as First Look to this that you be throughly convinc't of and humbled under your sinful and miserable condition out of Christ so as to find your selves in a lost and undone condition Luke 19.10 Sick in Soul with the confideration of it Mat. 9.13 Burdned with and weary of your sins Mat. 11.29 And pricked in your hearts as they Act. 2.37 for this is the first work of the Spirit of God in bringing in a Soul to Christ viz. the convincing him and humbling him under his sin and misery by reason of sin Joh. 16.8 Secondly To hunger and thirst after an interest in Christ above all other things in the World Isaiah 55.1 Revel 22.17 so as with the Apostle To account all things but loss and dung in comparison of it Phil. 3. Thirdly You are to be willing to take Him on Gospel-terms such as he therein offers himself as these First To take Him in all his Titles and Offices not only as your alone Jesus but Lord and Christ Rom. 13. end Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and so Acts 16.31 Secondly Be willing to deny our selves and tâ—â—e up his Cross to follow Him Mark 8.34 willing to part with all and every sin yea all and every thing to follow Him as Christ advised the young man Luke 19. Sell all thou hast and come and follow me c. For as a Noble Lord said well That Person may be deceived that thinks to save any thing by his Religion but his Soul meaning his Religion might cost him the loss of all Thirdly Give up your selves to Him in a Universal sincere and constant obedience and conformity to Him and all his commands expresly requir'd Heb. 5.9 Heb. 3.14 John 15.14 Fourthly You are to endeavour to lay hold on Him and close with Him and be united to him by faith and love Rom. 11.19 20. Eph. 3.17 Gal. 5.6 John 14.21 And that you may to wait constantly on the Ministry of the Word and beg the Spirit of God effectually to accompany it for the begetting and working of this faith and love whereby you may be actually and really united to him and made one with him 1 Cor. 12.13 Eleventhly To meditate on the motives and incouragements you have to get and clear up your interest in Christ You have seen enough in what hath been said before yet take two or three more First Consider the miserable condition of a man our of Christ in these particulars First So long as Men are without Christ they are without Covenant without hope and without God in the World Eph. 2.12 Secondly They lie under the guilt of all their sins Rom. 3.19 and that you cannot stand under the guilt of one sin that first sin how much less under the guilt of such innumerable sins Thirdly You remain still in Vassallage and slavery unto the basest and 〈…〉 Tyrants Sin Saâ—an and the World Eph. 〈…〉 Fourthly You sin in all you think and 〈…〉 do Pro. 15.8 Rom. 8.7 Titus 1.15 〈◊〉 Every thing you have and use is accurâ—ed to 〈◊〉 Deut. 28 16. to the end Mal. 2.2 Sixthly Theâ—◠〈◊〉 but a step between you and Hell John 8.21 1 Cor. 6.9 Mat. 25. last Secondly Consider the happy estate of a man in Christ he is freed from all that is truly evil and instated in all that is truly good First He is freed from all evil both of sin and punishment from the evil of sin both the guilt of it and the filth of it 1 John 1.7 Rom. 8.1 Rom. 6.14 Secondly He is instated in all that is good As the Wife is by her marriage in all the honours riches pleasures of her Husband so is the believing Soul in all the honours riches and
pleasures of Christ 1 Cor. 3. end As Christ is a King so are Believers made Kings to God Rev. 1.6 As he is Heir of all things Heb. 1.3 so they are Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ of the same Kingdom Rom. 8.17 they are compleat in him Col. 2.10 A third motive may be this The great willingness and readiness of Jesus Christ to receive and save poor lost sinners such as are willing to take Him and accept of Him upon Gospel-terms this appears in these Particulars First That his desire is towards his Cant. 7.10 Swears as he lives he desires not the death of a sinner Ezek. 33. so as the fault is Man's and not his if any be not saved John 5.40 you will not come unto me that you may have life See this clearly in that Book Entituled The Self condemning Sinner Secondly In that he offers Himself freely to all without exception of any that will come to him in a way of faith and love Isaiah 55 1. Rev. 22.17 Thirdly In that he invites all to come to him that find their want and need of him Mat. 11.29 and promises to cast away none that come to him John 6.37 Fourthly In that he sends his Ministers to woe and beseech them in the name of Christ to come in and be reconcil'd to God 2 Cor. 5.20 Fifthly In that he bewails their folly that will stand out against him and their own salvation Mat. 23. Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets how often would I have gathered thy children together as the Hen gathers her chickens and you would not Lastly You are to take notice how you are to walk worthy of and suitable to so dear a Redeemer and precious Saviour by imitating him in his carriage both towards God and Man in his doings and sufferings 1. His doings 1 Epist John 2.6 He that saith he abides in him ought to walk as he walked Q. But you will say Can any walk as he walked He was void of all sin we are sull of sin A. There 's a double As one that imports Equality and another Similitude as it imports equality it 's impossible for any to walk as he walked but as it imports similitude and likeness so we may and must walk after him As a Scholar that writes after his Master's Copy he begins every Line as his Master begins and ends as he ends he frames every Letter as his Master frames it joyns letters and syliables together as his Master doth though there be no equality he cannot write as well as his Master yet there is a similitude he labours to imitate and write like his Master So true Christians though they cannot live and walk so exactly as Christ did yet they labour to come as neer to him as they can to imitate and follow him though not in his divine acts which he did as God and as Mediator which is impossible yet in his moral and humane acts which he did as Man so they labour to make him their only pattern in their carriages both towards God and man First In their carriage to God now for his carriage towards God that was full of piety full of saith full of zeal full of heavenly-mindedness First Full of Piety Heb. 7.26 He was holy harmless separate from sinners 1 Pet. 2 22. He did no sin neither was there any guil found in his mouth and we required to follow him in that 1 Pet. 1.15 1 Ep. John 3.2 Secondly Full of faith ever confident of his Father's presence assistance and acceptance in whatsoever he did even in his greatest desertion on the Cross crying my God my God He held fast his faith and we requir'd to follow him in thiâ— Isaiah 50.10 Heb. 3.14 1 Pet. 1.13 Thirdly He was full of zeal for God both in publick and private First In publick the Zeal of God's House even consum'd him John 2.15 16 17. Secondly In private He went about doing good to the bodies souls of others Acts 10.38 We are to imitate him in this it being the end of our Redemption Titus 2.14 The end of his correction of us Revel 3.19 Fourthly He was full of heavenly-mindedness still extracting spiritual and heavenly discourses from worldly and Earthly occasions John 4.10 Joh. 13.2 John 6.26 27. and we are requir'd to follow him in this Col. 3.1 2. Phil. 3 20. Secondly Follow him in his cariage towards man now for that you may observe in the Scripture it was full of wisdom innocency truth justice humility meekness love mercy and pitty to others and we commanded in the Scriptures to imitate him in all these First In his wisdom and innocency Mat. 10.16 Secondly In his truth Eph 4 24. Thirdly In his justice and righteousness Rom. 13.7 Luke 1.6 In his humility and meekness Mat. 11.20 In his patience 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. In his love to all even our very Enemies Mat. 5.44 45. Eph. 5.2 and in mercies to the Bodies and Souls of men Rom. 12. the 3 last James 5. 2 last In his pitty and compassion Gal. 6.1 1 Pet. 3.8 Jude 22.23 Thus for his doings Secondly To imitate him in his sufferings 1 Pet. 2.21 Q. How did Christ suffer A. 1. He suffer'd willingly none could compel him to it John 10.18 You must follow him in this when God calls unto it as the Apostle Acts 21.13 Secondly Christ suffered patiently Isaiah 53.7 Heb. 12.2 we to follow him in this as we are commanded in the same place to look unto Jesus and 1 Pet. 2.21 tread in his steps Thirdly He suffer'd believingly that God would support him and deliver him so must we 1 Cor. 10.13 Fourthly He suffer'd fruitfully so as to learn obedience by his sufferings Heb. 5.8 so are we Micah 6.7 8. Revel 3.19 Fifthly Christ suffer'd constantly even to the death and so are we requir'd Rev. 2.10 Thus of Christ CHAP. IV. The Third Head the Spirit of God called the Holy Ghost IN and about him to meditate on these things First What he is Secondly What his Offices Thirdly What signs you have of the Spirit 's Inhabitation 4. Motives to get him 5. Means to procure him and 6. The means to preserve and increase communion with him First What the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost is viz. the Third Person in the sacred Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son And here to take notice of three things First That he is a distinct Person from the Father and the Son and the Third Person in Sacred Trinity 1 Epist John 5.7 Secondly That he is true and very God as well as the Father and the Son as is evident 1. By testimony of the Scripture Acts 5.3 4. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost thou hast not lied unto man but God 2. By Reason 1. Because He is the Author and Inditer of the Scripture Acts 28.25 2 Pet. 1.21 2. Because the Scripture ascribes those Attributes to him that are proper to God as Eternity
by us amongst others of fallen Man-kind and therefore that God should pass by others more noble for birth and it may be more sober and civil for conversation and look upon us wallowing and weltring in our blood and filthiness and say unto us Live this should exceedingly affect our hearts and make us still to be admiring and adoring the free rich and unsearchable love grace and mercy of God to us in Christ Ezek. 16. Psal 103. Secondly That we may do this with more profit and comfort to take notice what this state of grace is and for the understanding of this to know there is a double grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first and the second grace the first whereby our Persons are accepted the second whereby they are sanctified the first is no other than the free love and favour of God whereby he accepts us in Christ and for his sake forgives all our sins and gives us his Spirit to renew and sanctifie our natures Rom. 11.6 Eph. 2.8 9. The second grace is no other than a special gift of that grace and favour of God otherwise call'd in the Scripture Regeneration John 3.6 and Renovation of the Image of God Eph. 4.24 and Sanctification of the whole Man 1 Thes 5.23 and the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Godliness and holiness 1 Tim. 6. And it may be described thus a work of the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word deriving from Christ their head unto all his Elect spiritual life grace or holiness and diffusing it throughout the whole Man whereby they are enabled to act and move God-ward Grace-ward and Heaven-ward Thirdly To take notice of and meditate on the differences of true grace from false grace for Eph. 4.14 the Apostle speaks of true holiness in opposition to false and feigned now these differences are especially in three things as first true sanctifying grace is from an inward principle infused by the Spirit of Grace Psal 40.8 Rom. 7.22 but that in the Hypocrite is only from an outward principle as shame of the World fear of punishment and the like Secondly True grace makes Men to approve all their thoughts and words and ways to God's all-seeing eye Job 31.4 Job 42.4 5. John 11.17 A Hypocrite dares not do so he approves them only to the eyes of men so long as Men think well of him he cares not what God thinks Thirdly True grace makes Men humble the more knowledge they have the more they see and bewail their ignorance as that wise Man Pro. 30.2 I am more brutish than any Man and I have not the understanding of a man viz. in comparison of what he ought to know of God the more faith he has the more he bewails his unbelief as the Father of the possessed Child Mark 9.24 The more love he hath the more he bewails his want of love and calls upon his Soul to love God more Psal 116. But now a Hypocrite he is proud of the grace he hath and thinks he has more than he hath and that both God and man should respect him the better as the Pharisee Luk. 18. I thank God I am not as this Publican c. Q. But wherein doth renewing Grace differ from restraining Grace A. Especially in two things 1. Restraining grace only keeps Men from the acts of sin but doth not mortifie sin Abimeleck's lust was restrained when God with held him from Sarah Gen. 20.6 but not mortified whereas where there is renewing Grace sin is subdued as well as restrained Rom. 8.13 Secondly Restraining grace keeps men from sinning out of a servile fear of punishment but renewing grace makes men forbear out of a fillial fear of offending Gen. 39.9 Psal 130.4 Thirdly Restraining grace keeps men from sinning no longer than they are under the means of restraint as godly Magistrates Ministers Parents Masters when they are dead or removed then they can neglect the Worship of God and be as vile as the vilest when there was no King in Israel every one did what was good in his own eyes Judg. 17.6.18 but renewing grace where it is it makes and keeps men ever the same and the worse the times are the better are they Gen. 6.9 Fourthly To take notice and meditate on the degrees of grace all have not the same measures and degrees of grace but some more and some less whence we read of some strong men in Christ others weak Prov. 15.1 Some Babes in Christ and others grown Christians 1 Cor. 3.1 Some Trees of righteousness Isai 61.3 Others bruised Reeds Mat. 12.20 and God hath wise and holy ends in this as 1. To put a difference between Heaven and Earth here we are but renewed and sanctified in part how-ever it be in every part but in Heaven the Spirits of just Men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Grace there is perfected in glory Eph. 4.13 Secondly God will have it so to teach us to live in a continual dependance on that fulness there is in Christ for us that we may still go to him and receive from him grace for grace John 1.16 that is one degree and measure after another Thirdly That he may display his glorious Attributes as his infinite wisdome All-mighty Power unchangeable grace in carrying on the work of grace until he hath crown'd grace in glory 2 Cor. 12.9 10. Q. But seeing there are different degrees of grace some have more and some less How may a Man know that he hath any truth of grace even the least degree of saving grace A. You may know it by these two things 1. A continual complaint of the want of grace and the weakness of grace in comparison of the strength of corruption as the Father of the possessed Child this is made by our Saviour the Sign of truth of grace Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit that is who are spiritually poor in their own sight and sense 2. You may know it by earnest desires and endeavours after more grace as in Nehemiah 1.11 and the Church Isai 26.8 Christ pronounceth them blessed that hunger and thirst after righteousness and promiseth they shall be filled Mat. 5.6 Q. But how shall we know our desires after grace to be true desires A. Briefly thus 1. If they be industrious in the use of the means and all means 2 Cor. 7.11 1 Pet. 2.2 Secondly If they be fervent desires like David's Psal 42.1 more after spirituals than temporals Psal 4.6 Thirdly If they be restless desires until we obtain Psal 119.20 My Soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgments at all times Thus of the evidences of grace in general Now Secondly Take notice of the evidences of some particular graces as knowledge faith repentance obedience love fear and hope but here before I speak unto them take this caution he that hath one of these graces in truth hath seminally all and every sanctifying grace how-ever he do not see it as he that hath one link of
a Chain hath the whole Chain so he that hath one saving sanctifying grace in truth hath all what is said of original sin una essentiâ sed multiplex efficientiâ is true also of sanctifying grace though but one in it self yet it is vertually all I shall give you only three evidences of each such as desire more may see them in other Books where they are fully handled 1. For the truth of sanctifyed knowledge it is thus evidenced it is experimental practical and humble First Experimental Phil. 1.9 Secondly Practical Psal 111. last Thirdly Humble Prov. 30.2 2. For the truth of sanctifying faith it is thus evidenced it is a self-emptying working converting faith 1. It is a self-emptying or self-denying faith it makes a Soul to deny his own righteousness in point of Justification and acceptation and with the Apostle desires to be found only in Christ's righteousness Phil. 3.8 9. to disclaim also his own ability for any thing that is spiritually good 2 Cor. 3.5 and to enter upon duty only in the Name and Strength of Christ Phil. 4.12 Secondly It is a working faith that which works by love to God and unto others for God's sake Gal. 5.6 It is still working-out corruption Acts 15.9 and working-in grace Acts 26.18 Thirdly It is a conquering faith that which enables a Soul to with-stand and over-come temptations from within and without 1 Ep. John 5.4 This is the victory that covercomes the World even our faith Q. What 's meant here by World A. Partly the Men of it that lye in wickedness 1 Ep. John 5 19. and partly the lusts of the World as the honours riches and pleasures of it 1 Ep. John 2.16 so victorious as it enables them to hold fast their confidence to the end Heb. 3.14 Heb. 11.19 and makes them more than Conquerors over all their spiritual Enemies Rom. 8. the end 3. For the truth of repentance that is evidenced thus It is a universal sincere and continued repentance 1. It is universal for all and every sin little as well as great secret as well as open one as well as another Psal 119.104 128. Secondly It is sincere from the heart Joel 2.13 Thirdly It is continued and renewed daily as we renew our provocations Ephes 4.26 Let not the Sun go down on your wrath Fourthly The truth of obedience evidenced thus 1. It is universal without partiality John 15.14 2dly Sincere without hypocrisie 2 Chron. 28.9 3dly Constant without Apostacy Mat. 10.22 Rev. 2.10 Fifthly The truth of your love thus evidenced 1. It is spiritual for Grace sake and the Truths sake 2 John 2. to the Elect Lady whom I love in truth and for the Truths sake 2. It 's impartial to one Saint as well as another Colos 1.4 3. It 's permanent and abiding unto death like Ruths to Naomi the ground of it is Gods unchangeable love to his Jer. 31.3 Sixthly The truth of your fear of God thus evidenced 1. If you fear to sin rather then to suffer fear the displeasure of God more than the displeasure of Man Luke 12.4 5. 2. If you fear him for his Mercy as well as his Justice his Goodness as well as his Greatness Psal 130.4 Hosea 3. last 3. If you fear to sin against him in secret where there is no eye to observe you but only Gods as Joseph Gen. 39.9 and Job 31.1 4. Seventhly The truth of your hope in God thus evidenced 1. If it be grounded on the Scripture Rom. 15.4 2. If it purifie the Heart and sanctifie the Life 1 John 3.3 3. If it cause you patiently to wait on God for the fulfilling his promise 1 Thes 1.3 If now you would know whether you are brought out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace try your selves by these clear evidences out of the Word of God or believe it Friends God and Conscience and Satan will try you to the purpose at the last when you will wish but all too late you had hearkened unto Counsel and tryed your selves if you cannot find yet these evidences of such a gracious state be exhorted in the next place Eighthly To meditate on the many and weighty Motives the Scripture layeth before you to quicken you to look into and labour after a work of Grace as the absolute necessity the transcendent Excellency and the great Utility of it 1. There is an absolute necessity of it 1. In respect of the Decree of God because he predestinated his to Grace before Glory to be conformable to the image of his Son Rom. 8.29 in Grace here and in Glory hereafter Ephes 1.4 2dly In respect of the revealed Will of God 1 Thes 4.7 This is the Will of God even your Sanctification 3dly A necessity of it in respect of your Salvation for without Regeneration no Salvation John 3.6 without Holiness no Happiness Heb. 3.14 2. There 's a transcendent excellency in it for Grace is no other then the Off-spring of God a beam of the Divine Majesty John 1.13 a spark of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 that which is called elsewhere the Name of God Isa 57.15 the Seed of God 1 John 3.9 the Will of God 1 Thes 4.3 the Image of God Ephes 4.24 the Life of God Ephes 4.18 the Glory of God Rom. 3.23 Exod. 15.11 because God sees more of himself in a gracious Soul and more of his own Glory in the poorest Saint then in all the glory of the World Isa 43. begin 2. Because it 's that which puts a lustre on all other things Honour Wealth Birth Beauty Gifts Parts all without Grace is but as a Jewel in a Swines snout Embroiderings on a Fools Coat whereas a little true sanctifying Grace honours the poorest in the eyes of God of Angels and Saints Isa 43. Psal 15. Psal 16. All my delight is in the Saints 3. Consider the great Utility and Benefit that comes by Grace 1. It will interest you in all the Promises 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable for all things it hath the promise of this Life and that to come 2. It will fortifie you against all the temptations of Satan to unbelief Doth the Devil tempt you to distrust Gods love to you and your right to Heaven charge you with Hypocrisie why pull out the evidences you have of a Work of Grace and let him shew if he can if ever any wicked man or Hypocrite had such evidences the Devil may sooner prove himself a Lyar then a Saint to be a Hypocrite 3. It will bring you contentment and make you a gainer in and by every condition as it did the Apostle Phil. 4.11 1 Tim. 6.6 4. It will sweeten and sanctifie every estate and condition to you Prosperity Adversity Health Sickness Life Death Rom. 8.28 5. It will support chear and comfort you in every estate both of Life and Death 2 Cor. 1.12 6. It will not only accompany you to the Grave where all other things leave you but to the Tribunal of
4. Above all That they be Patterns to others of good works as the Apostle exhorts 1 Tim. 4.12 3.1 2 3 4. Tit. 2.7 8. And that 1. because general experience shews that People are more led by the Life then the Doctrine of Ministers are led more by the Eye then the Ear 1 Sam. 2.17 2ly Because otherwise they will pull down more in one hour then they will build up all their lives 3. Because otherwise their Doctrine will be at the last a Bill of Indictment against themselves and having Preached to others will be found Cast-awayes themselves 1 Cor. 9.27 And therefore it concerns Ministers to look well to their lives especially that they be not found amongst those wicked ones Isa 56.10 11 12. And as Ministers are to be Patterns in all other Graces so especially in two Graces 1. Humility 1 Pet. 5.5 Love to their Fellow Brethren 1 Pet. 3.8 2. And love to their People as the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.11 Whence they are called Fathers 1 Cor. 4.15 and Nurses 1 Thes 2.7 8. to note that tender love and affection they ought to have to the People committed to their charge and especially their Souls 1st As Magistrate Ministers to discharge their Duties to the People under them so People to discharge their Duties to the Magistrates and Ministers set over them 1. To Magistrates If you would order your Conversation aright towards them then you are to give them that Love Fear and Reverence Obedience and Prayer for them the Scripture frequently calls for Rom. 13. from 1 to 9. 1 Pet. 2.13 to 18. Titus 3.1 1 Pet. 2.1 2. The reason you have Psal 82.6 because they are Gods non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not by Essence but Office because they are in the room of God and are to govern for God 2. For Ministers If you would order your Conversations aright to them you are to give them that Love Reverence Maintenance Protection and Prayer the Scripture also frequently calls for 1 Thes 5.12 13. Heb. 13.17 1 Cor. 16.10 2 Thes 3.1 The reasons you have 2 Cor. 5.20 Because they are Ambassadors for God and Ambassadors by the Law of Nations ought to be honoured of all and to have sutable respects to the greatness of the Person that sends them If such honour be due to Ambassadors of Men how much more to the Ambassadors of God to whom all both Kings and their Ambassadors must give an account of their carriage to Him and His Ambassadors 2dly For Private Christians The Rules that are to be observed by them for the right ordering of their Conversation one towards the other respect their Thoughts and Affections Words and Actions First Respecting their Thoughts And in order to this 1. Take heed of instilling receiving and nourishing prejudices in your minds against others for this is a very great provoking evil 2. That you may be kept from it take notice 1. What it is 2. Why you are to avoid it 1. What prejudice is viz. A prejudging or a preposterous judgment of Persons and Things before they be examined and tryed Should a Judge pass Sentence on a Person or Action before he had examined it he should err though the Sentence were just seeing he never lookt into nor knew the grounds on which a Person spake or did this and that thing More plainly Prejudice is an evil Opinion which a man takes up of another for something he hath spoken and done contrary to his Judgment and Practice not knowing or considering the ground on which he did it 2. Now such as would order their Conversation aright to others must take heed of it because it is a very great pernicious and provoking evil as too sad and general experience shews it to be to the great dishonour of God scandal of Religion and the hurt of their Brother as for instance 1. This prejudice is that which makes men take up hard thoughts of those of whom God hath good thoughts and to instil these evil thoughts into the Heads and Hearts of others that they may disengage the affections of others and draw their affections only unto themselves 2. It makes men to rob God of his Glory and give it to Men .1 To rob God of his Glory in stepping up into his Throne sitting in Judgment on their Brother and that sometimes for a particular Act and it may be for a thing indifferent to their Brother though not to them Now what sayes the Apostle Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans Servant and vers 10. Why dost thou judge thy Brother and set at nought thy Brother we shall all stand before the Judgement-Seat of Christ 2. It makes men to give glory to men in crying up some and crying down others which the Apostle expresly condemns in his Corinthians 1 Cor. 3.3 and whatsoever thoughts they have of their wisdom in it he tells them the Lord knows their thoughts to be vain and their duty is not to glory in men so as to set up one above the other when all are faithful and sound in the main seeing all are their Servants in Christ vers 20.21 22. 3. This prejudice it makes men to separate and withdraw communion from those with whom God hath communion and that in those essential Duties of God's Worship as Word Sacrament Prayer wherein all are expresly required to worship God together Yea and makes them not only to separate themselves but perswade others to do it lest they partake in other mens sins 4. It 's that which makes Professors to rest in duty and neglect the actings of Grace before in and after Duty especially that Grace of Love which Christ makes the chief Character of a Disciple and without which God abhors and rejects all other duties that men perform 1 Cor. 13. that also which causeth them to dissent in their love how that they do love others of a contrary Opinion and Practice and yet can neglect if not worse even perswade others to cast off all offices of love to them never remembring or considering the command is express Rom. 12.9 Let love be without dissimulation 1 John 3.18 Let us not love in Word and Tongue but in Deed and Truth 5. That which keeps men from abundance of good they might do to others and that they might receive from others because they think they ought to have no communion with them so as this prejudice is like choller in the Stomack that imbitters all wholsom meat and however it receives it yet casts it up again 6. That which makes men to murder others Bodies Souls Names and Estates 1. Their Bodies by causing grief to them and such grief as brings sometimes sickness and weakness on them if not death 2dly Their Souls by intterrupting their peace and exposing them to temptations which made David for to pray Psal 123.3 4. Have mercy upon us O Lord have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with
God Let all the Angels of God worship him and were all along at his command and service attended on him in his Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascention and shall at the last day in his comming to Judgement as you may see clearly in reading the Gospel Luke 1.13 22.43 24.5 6. Acts 1.10 11. Mat. 8.38 13.49 3. They minister to the Church and People of God in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life They Minister both to the well-fare of their Bodies and Souls in watching over them and protecting them from evil Psal 34.7 Psal 91.10 11. instructing and directing quickning incouraging and comforting them in that which is good Dan. 8.16 17. Dan. 9.12 Gen. 24.7 Gen. 32.1 Isa 6.6 7. Rev. 22.9 2. In Death They are about their Beds refresh them in their Sufferings as they did Christ in his Agonies stand ready to receive their Souls and to carry them as they did the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosom Luke 16.22 3. After Death They watch over their Bodies as Michael the Arch-Angel did over the Body of Moses Jude 9. And at the last day they shall open their Graves and bring out their Bodies and secure them from the fire that it shall not hurt them as in 〈…〉 these three Children in the Fiery Furnace Dan. 3. And whereas the Devil will then be most raging the good Angels will restrain them and stop their mouths as they did stop the mouths of the Lyons when Daniel was cast into the Den after this they will gather together all the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth Mat. 24.31 and separate them from the Reprobates Mat. 13.40 Take them up into the Clouds to be Accessors with Christ in Judgment on the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 and joyn with them 〈◊〉 praising God Rev. 4.9 10. Rev. 5.11 12. 7.9 10. Q. 2. What are our duties in respect of the good Angels A. These are many and weighty though little known and less practised by the most and therefore mind them well 1. To admire the wonderful love of God in honouring us with such glorious and blessed Guardians not only vouchsafing his own protection and the protection of his Son and Spirit but also of his blessed Angels Is not this matter of admiration what are the Angels but the most glorious Creatures in the World the glorious Courtiers of Heaven No Prince on Earth hath so glorious a Guard as every Saint even the poorest hath every day and night and therefore to be still admiring and adoring this wonderful love of God and say Lord what is Man and I among the Sons of Men that thou shouldest honour me so far as to give thy Angels a charge to minister to me and watch over me every day and night 2. To glory in this priviledge above all other priviledges in the World that we have such high and excellent Creatures to minister to us and to be our Guardians If men have a great and long Train at theit heels of great and Noble Persons in Silk and Sattin and Golden Chains how do they run after them and gaze upon them whereas alas all this bravery is but beggery to the Glory of those that wait upon the Saints they have higher and more glorious attendance those noble and glorious Courtiers of Heaven men need a fair day and a clear Sun-shine to discover their bravery or half the shew of it is lost but now nothing can darken the glory of the Saints attendance Mat. 28.2 3. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his Raiment white as Snow 3. Take heed you do not injure any the least of God's Saints the poorest meanest most contemptible of them Why Because they have the glorious Angels to wait upon them and minister unto them Mat. 18.10 See that thou despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you the Angels behold the Face of my Father Why should any think them unworthy of their company and countenance when the greatest Angels think them worthy of their attendance and service if any wrong them the Angels will certainly right them When the Sodomites rose up against Lot the Angel smote them with blindness and rescued Lot out of their hands If Balaam go about to curse God's Israel an Angel stands in the way with a drawn Sword to withstand him If proud Sennacherib threaten to destroy Hezekiah and his People an Angel goes forth and slayes in one night a hundred eighty and five thousand in his Army And therefore take heed of wronging any of them any way 4. Be quickned hence to honour and serve that God more chearfully that hath so highly honoured and incouraged you in the service of him as to appoint the Glorious Angels to attend upon you in it shall they that are so high and holy above us stoop so low as to attend upon us and Minister to us at God's command and shall not we who are so inferior to him readily do service to him who is so high above us and hath no need of our service and whose service cannot any way reach to him but only to our selves And when our honour and happiness is wrapt up in it what a shame were this and what an aggravation will this be upon all idle Servants at the last day 5th Duty To carry our selves so as we may injoy the benefit sweet and comfort of this glorious and blessed Priviledge the Ministration and Service of the Angels Q. How is that A. Mind well it consists in these Particulars 1. To take more notice of this glorious Priviledge then ever you have done If you have been ignorant and heedless of it heretofore take the shame of it and labour to get a more distinct knowledge of it and get your Faith confirmed and established in it for is it not a foul shame that such glorious Spirits should take notice of us and minister to us and we take no notice of them 2. To see that you be such Persons as God hath given his Angels a charge over Who are they 1st Such as fear the Lord Psalm 34.7 2ly Such as keep in God's Wayes the wayes of his Commandments Psalm 91.1 3ly Such as continually pray to God for their direction and protection as Abraham's Servant did Gen. 24.7 and the Israelites Numb 20.16 4ly Such as are Heirs of Salvation for they minister only unto such Heb. 1. last 3. To carry your selves reverently in their presence and take heed you do nothing that should offend and grieve them whence that 1 Cor. 10.11 12. A Woman ought to cover her Head because of the Angels that is as Mr. Perkins sayes not onely in respect of God's Ministers but the Angels and not without great reason 1. Because they are present to observe our carriage in all the Service of God
Divine Meditation and therefore it should be our endeavour to take notice of it and improve it to the Glory of God and our own and others spiritual advantage in the way homeward to Eternal Life because the most are ignorant or not so well acquainted as they should with this Divine Art of Extracting Spiritual out of Temporal things For your help and furtherance herein I shall briefly direct you in a few Particulars from the beginning of the day to the end and so conclude this Subject Pray mark them well I. WHen you awake to give God the first of your thoughts As David Psalm 139. When I awake I am presently with thee How precious are the thoughts of thee unto me To think also of our duty of awaking out of Sin unto Righteousness Ephes 5.14 and of our awaking at the last day out of the Grave by the sound of the Trumpet 1 Thess 4.16 This you may find was David's thought Psalm 17. last When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Remember sleep is but the Image of Death the Bed the Grave and the Morning of the Resurrection at the last Day II. When you have had a sweet nights rest think thus If natural rest be so sweet refreshing and reviving how much more is Spiritual Rest and will be Eternal Rest Oh what cause have you to bless him that hath given his Beloved Rest when others have been altogether restless and others it may be slept their last sleep Think and say to thy Soul Oh how justly mightest thou have been awakened out of thy sleep at midnight as the Egyptians were with a cry or else have slept the sleep of Death whereas we have layen down in peace and slept because the Lord sustained us III. When you see the light of the day shining into your eyes think and say If the light be sweet and it be a pleasant thing to behold the Sun Eccles 11.7 Oh how excellent is thy loving kindness in causing the Son of Righteousness to arise with healing in his Wings upon us Mal. 4.2 Oh what great cause have we to bless God for the Light of Life especially for the Light of the Gospel the Light of Grace here and the hope of the Light of Glory hereafter to beg also of God to lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us and help us to walk in the Light of his Countenance all the day long IV. When you are about to rise think upon the first Resurrection to Grace here and the second Resurrection to Glory at the last day because without an interest in the first Resurrection you can never expect an interest in the second and therefore to be careful as you rise out of your beds so to look to this that you arise out of sin unto newness of Life V. When you put on your cloaths think on sin which was the cause both of your nakedness and your need of Apparel to be humbled under the one and keep you from priding your selves in the other think also what infinite cause you have also to bless God for Jesus Christ that he hath fulfilled and brought in everlasting Righteousness whereby your nakedness might be covered and you might stand amiable in his sight without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5. end And therefore when you put on your Apparel remember to put on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. end and put him on wholly for Justification Sanctification Consolation Salvation and take heed of spending too much time in apparelling your selves It is reported of one Pambo that seeing a Gentlewoman dressing her self all the morning by the Glass he fell a weeping and being asked Why He answered Because this Woman had spent all the morning in dressing her Body and I scarce one hour in dressing my Soul VI. When you look into the Glass to see what is amiss about you remember to look into the Glass of the Word to see what is amiss in your hearts and lives and to order your Conversation according to it Psalm 119.9 Where withall shall a young man cleanse his wayes but by taking heed to thy Word VII When you begin to wash your hands and face think of that Fountain which God hath opened to wash in from sin and from uncleanness Zach. 13. What infinite cause have you to bless Jesus Christ that was willing to shed his precious heart-blood for you to wash in and the love of the Spirit to you in opening your eyes and revealing this Fountain to you begging of him That he would put you in and wash you and rinse your Souls and Bodies more and more from your remaining filthiness of Flesh and Spirit 2 Corin. 7.1 VIII When you are about to go apart into your Chamber or Closet to read the Word and pray unto God in secret Think thus What a mercy is it to have this liberty which is denied unto many What a mercy is it to look into that blessed Book of the Scriptures Lord open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things contained in it What a mercy also is it to have access with boldness and confidence to the Throne of God when we cannot to the throne of Men to go to him also as my Father and a Father not onely able but as willing as able to supply all my wants that sees in secret and hath promised to reward me openly Matth. 6.6 IX When you are to pray with the Family think thus What a mercy is this that I have a Family to pray with and for and that we have all health and liberty to pray together and that any have hearts to joyn with us in Prayer and are not as too many are in other Families scoffing Ishmaelites and prophane Esaues X. When you are about to imploy your selves about the duties of your particular Calling Remember that as God requires every one should live in a Calling so that every one be diligent in it because it 's the diligent hand makes rich yet not to labour so much after the meat that perishes as that which endures to eternal Life John 6.27 1. So to labour in your particular Callings as that you may be more serviceable to God and helpful to others in the duties of your general Calling 2. That you be faithful and just 1 Thess 4.6 11 12. 3. That you be useful and fruitful not seeking only your own profit but the weal and benefit of others Phil. 2.4 1 Cor. 10. about the end 4. That you be Spiritual and Heavenly careful to trade for Heaven as well as for Earth and lay up a stock of Grace that will stand by you when all other things will fail you and forsake you XI When you are trading and trafficking buying and selling and making any bargain think on the best Bargain that which will make you rich for ever that of the wise Merchant who sold all he had to purchase the Pearl Matth. 13.44 Think of buying the Gold tryed in the fire Rev. 3.18 and