the world to save sinners Eph. 5.2 This is the high Priest of the New Testament who hath given himself for our sins an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savour Mat. 26.28 1 Pet. 2.24 Isai 53.5 Christ it was who shed his own blood for the remission of sins who bore our sins in his own body on the tree who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities the Lord laid on him and caused to rush upon him as an Army the iniquities of us all 2 Cor. 5.21 God made him sin for us who knew no sin that is he imputed our sins to him he laid the punishment of our sins upon him he made him a sacrifice for our sins Nor did Christ resist this counsel and decree of his heavenly father Psal 40.9 but obeyed his will with the readiest mind that might be Gal. 1.4.2.20 and gave himself for our sins he loved us and gave himself for us There is a Baptism I will be baptized withal saith he Luk. 12.50 and how am I straitned until it be accomplished This was the Baptism of his Cross and the distress wherewith that our most bountiful Saviour was wholly overwhelmed from no other motive than from his immense and unspeakable Love towards us this was it that so straitned and put him forward How great soever his outward pain was in his passion yet his inward love towards us was still greater and more ardent by which he was prepared to suffer more for our sins if that price of our redemption which he paid had not seemed sufficient But there is no reason we should doubt of the sufficiency of the price there is the fullest redemption with him Bern. Ser. 22. in Cant. col 554. for not a drop but a stream of blood flowed plentifully from five parts of his body he cryed out that all things were finished on the cross and by the cross and therefore he fully and perfectly * Heb. 1.3 by himself purged our sins †10.14 by one offering of himself he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified * Rev. 1.5 he hath washed us from our sins in his own blood Believe therefore so clear so manifest so express words of the holy Spirit and firmly resolve that by Christ's death and passion there was made a sufficient satisfaction for thy sins The remembrance of actual sins Tempted May be Christ only took upon him original sin so that I my self must either make satisfaction for my actual sins or burn Therefore though I firmly believe that Christ hath washed away original guilt yet I am troubled and oppressed with those actual sins which through the whole course of my life I have committed in number very many in weight most heavy in desert damnable Adam is opposed to Christ Rom. 5.18 therefore the benefit by Christ will not extend further than the guilt which is derived upon us from Adam Anothers fault may be made up by anothers satisfaction but a mans own fault requires his own satisfaction Comforter No 1 Joh. 1.7 but the blood of Christ cleanseth thee from all manner of sins not only from that contracted from Adam but also those which have been added thereto by thy self Rom. 3.25 God hath set forth Christ to be a propitiation through faith in his blood we may come thereto by true faith and obtaining remission of our sins be reconciled to God as often as the weight of our sins oppresseth us Heb. 4.16 We may come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need And what redemption or what reconciliation would this be if Christ had only satisfied for one sort of sin we being still bound and engaged to make satisfaction for all the rest which are greater and more numerous Christ's redemption is not so maim imperfect and by halves Heb. 10.12 14. but offering one sacrifice for sins by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and he hath obtained such remission of sins that no more offering for sin is necessary v. 18. 1 Joh. 2.1 If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 2. He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world Therefore if when we have faln into sin through the infirmity of the flesh we heartily repent we have a refuge in Christ's intercession the foundation whereof consists in his merit and satisfaction for therefore is Christ's Intercession effectual for us because he hath made a full and perfect satisfaction for our sins thence and therefore the stroke of divine justice and severe judgement due to our sins falls not on us because Christ hides our sins with the cloak of mercy obtained and merited by the price of redemption paid by him Aug. 4. de Trin. c. 13. Let this therefore be held for certain that Christ by his death having offered one true sacrifice for us hath purged abolished and put out whatever sins there were whereby Principalities and Powers did justly hold us to suffer punishment Therefore in him and by him we obtain the remission not only of original sin De merit remis pecca t◠c. 13. but of all the other we have added thereto For * Tit. 2.14 he which I pray remember gave himself for us that he might redeem as from all iniquity He is an infinite person who hath satisfied and how shall not his suffering be also of infinite merit What so deadly that could not be healed by the death of the Son of God who is life it self What so bloody and defiled that could not be cleansed with the precious blood of God A doubt concerning the application of the benefits of Christ Tempted But how can I be partaker of that most precious treasure Christ indeed died for all but the fruit of Christ's death redoundeth not to all from whence therefore shall I be certain that the benefits of Christ belong to me also Whence can it be manifest that I am indeed and certainly partaker actually of all those things that Christ by his passion and death hath merited for us Comforter God offereth to thee the word of the Gospel and in it all the benefits of his son Esay 65.2 He stretcheth forth his hand all the day long he calleth all inviteth all therefore he also calls invites and wooeth thee What therefore God offereth thee with the hand of his mercy that receive with the hand of a firm affiance Bern. Serm. 31. in Cant. col 597. Bern. Serm. 3. in Annunc col 113. As far as thou puttest forth thy foot into the good things of the Lord so far thou shalt possess them God putteth not the oil of his mercy save in the vessel of trust Thou shalt possess so much of the good things
of the Spirit Luk. 11.13 2 Tim. 1.6 for the Lord will give the Spirit to them that ask him Stir up the gift of the holy Spirit that is in thee namely by praying seeking knocking meditating on the word and resisting naughty desires There is no perfection here but a continued way to perfection Besides this inward sealing and witnessing of the holy Spirit God hath given thee the sacraments which are the seals of his promises the conveyers of the benefits of Christ and the means to beget feed and strengthen thy faith that thou maist be assured that the benefits of Christ belong to thee in particular By Baptism thou art received into the covenant of Gods grace in the holy supper thou art fed with the body and blood of Christ in private Absolution thou art pronounced free from the chains of sins Cypr. serm de mort pag. 209. Being confirmed with these seals certainly and undoubtedly believe the word of the Gospel Why dost thou doubt and waver this is not to eat thy Saviour at all this is to offend Christ the Master of believers with the sin of unbelief this is for one that is placed in the Church not to have faith in the house of faith Attend moreover unto the infallibleness of the audience promised thee God hath promised even with his oath added that he will hear our prayers and give unto us whatever we ask according to his will Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you saith Christ Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you Mat. 18.19 If two of you agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done unto them of my Father which is in heaven 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in God if we ask any thing according to his will we shall obtain it He that hath promised us hearing hath bid us ask remission of sins what place therefore can there be left to doubt of remission of sins How would Christ have bid us to add the word Amen unto our prayer if he would have us doubt of audience Attend therefore lastly unto the property of true faith as by which we have access into that grace wherein we stand and boast of the hope of glory promised by God Heb. 4.16 by which with confidence we come to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace by which through the power of God we are kept unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 by which we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Joh. 3.14 by which we are most firmly perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come vers 39. nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Considering all these things let thy weakness encourage it self Aug. in Psal 148. let it not despair let it not chafe it self let it not avert it self Christ hath promised thee that thou shalt be there where he is What hath God promised thee O mortal man that thou shalt live for ever Believest thou not believe believe that is more which he hath done already than that which he hath promised what hath he done he hath died for thee what hath he promised that thou shalt live with him It is more incredible that he who was eternal should dye than that a mortal should live eternally Now that thou art sure of that which is more incredible why dost thou doubt of the other God hath promised thee heaven he hath given thee his Son who is a greater gift than heaven and earth Doubting of perseverance Tempted I no wise doubt but that an access unto God lieth open unto me by Christ the Mediator I trust I am in the grace of God in the mean time I am made to doubt of perseverance I know that perseverance alone is crowned I hear that only they that persevere to the end shall be saved Mat. 10.22.24.46 Aug. Serm. 8. ad fratr in Eremo It is vertue not to have begun but to have perfected nor is the beginning but the end required in Christians Hieron in Epist ad Furiam Judas begun well but ended ill Paul begun ill but ended well Without perseverance neither he that fighteth obtaineth the victory Theol. myst Harph. c. 34 nor he that conquereth the palm I hear our Master of combats crying Rev. 3.11 Hold fast what thou hast lest another receive thy crown I hear and fear I fear and doubt I doubt and throw away trust of heart Comforter Consider three things wherein all thy hope consists the dearness of adoption Bern. serm 3. de sep frag miser col 183. the truth of the promise the power of performance Let thy foolish cogitation murmur now as much as it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merits dost thou hope to obtain it and do thou confidently answer I know whom I have believed and I am sure he hath adopted me in great tenderness that he is true in his promises that he is powerful in his performance This is a threefold cord that is hardly broken which being let down unto thee out of our country into this prison lay firm hold on it I pray thee that it may raise thee up that it may draw thee to the view of the glory of the great God This is a most firm anchor of thy hope these are those three pillars whereby thou maist bear against the waves and storms of doubtings namely the good-will of God adopting the certain faithfulness of the promiser and the immense power of fulfilling the promises The good God hath promised good things he hath begun to work that which is good in thee he that hath begun Phil. 2.13 will also perfect according to his good pleasure The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is faithful and true he will not suffer thee to be tempted above thy strength 1 Cor. 10.13 but with the temptation will give an issue that thou maist be able to bear it 2 Tim. 1.12 The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is able to fulfil his promises Be thou confident therefore that he can keep his pledge until the day of judgement Joh. 10.28 29. None shall take Christ's sheep out of his hands The heavenly Father that hath given them to the Son is greater than all and none can take them out of the Father's hands Christ the only high Priest of the new Testament hath prayed for all that by the word were to believe in him that they may be with him Joh. 17.20 and may behold the glory that is given him by the heavenly Father Wherefore seeing thou also believest in Christ thou hast the witness of God in thy self 1
another place which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience or a covenant towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Be baptized Acts 22.16 and wash away thy sins saith Ananias Gal. 3.27 As many of ye as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and by faith ye are all the children of God For Christ sanctifieth his Church Eph. 5.27 cleansing it with the laver of water in the word From all which thou maist strongly conclude that Baptism is a ransom for captives Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tom 1. p. 446. Cyrill Hieros in praefat Catech. a remission of debts a death of sin a being born again a bright garment of the soul an inviolable seal a chariot to heaven the Inn of the kingdom the gift of adoption * Naziaâ—z orat in S. Bapt. p. 615. It is the brightness of souls the change of life the answer of the conscience towards God an help of our weakness It is a putting away of the flesh a following of the Spirit a communion of the word It is an amendment of the creature a deluge to sin a partaking of light a dissolution of darkness It is a chariot unto God anaccompanying of Christ the prop of faith the perfection of the mind the glory of the kingdom of heaven a change of life a taking away of servitude a loosing of bands a changing of apparel Tertul. 4. adver Marc. p. 231. Aug. 2. cont Crescon c. 18. Paulin. epist 12. ad Sever. It is the spring of true life and true righteousness an abridged laver the Sacrament of life and eternal salvation The holy Ghost into this pool descends Whose waters by an heavenly spring are fed Which influenc'd by th' Deity forth sends An holy offspring from eternal seed For in the Baptism of Christ it was demonstrated by visible signs what the divine grace worketh invisibly in our Baptism Chemnit in cap. 17. Harm The water of Baptism was sanctified by the touch of our Lords body for whatsoever Christ promerited and obtained in the body of his flesh he deposited as it were in his Baptism He received Baptism with us sinners to testifie that we by Baptism are made his members As the eternal Father in the Baptism of Christ said This is my beloved son so at this day he adopts for sons all that believe and are baptized As in the Baptism of Christ heaven was opened so to this day by the sacrament of Baptism the gate of the heavenly paradise is opened to us As the holy Ghost in Christ's Baptism descended upon him in the form of a dove so in our Baptism the holy Ghost is present and therein doth effectually work our regeneration and renovation so that thus in Baptism concurr the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Son cleansing and the efficacy of the holy Spirit regenerating If therefore thou art baptized thou canst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternal life Baptism is the laver of regeneration where there is regeneration there is remission of sins there is the grace of God there is perfect righteousness there is renewing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption and there is the inheritance of eternal life Falling from the Covenant of Baptism Tempted I believe indeed that I was received into the covenant of grace by the sacrament of Baptism that I thereby obtained remission of sins and was writ in the book of life but I have faln from the grace of this covenant again by my sins by repeating my transgressions I have made void the aforegoing remission and have often deserved to be blotted out of the book of life Comforter No but the covenant of God is an everlasting covenant to which thou maist always return by true and hearty repentance For as God declares concerning the sacrament of Circumcision Gen. 17.13 that it is an everlasting covenant so let us not doubt but that in Baptism which succeeded in the place of Circumcision Col. 2.11 God enters into and establisheth an everlasting covenant with us I will betroth thee to me for ever saith he by the Prophet Hos 2.19 yea I will betroth thee in righteousness and in judgement and in loving kindness and in mercies I will betroth thee to me in faithfulness Isai 54.10 The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Rom. 3.3 God forbid we should say the faith of God is made without effect by our unbelief If we give never so little belief to his words or depart from him 1 Tim. 2.13 yet he abideth faithful always the same true and constant he cannot deny himself Therefore by the sins of thy natural infirmity thou fallest not from the free covenant of God By sins committed against thy conscience thou fallest indeed from the grace of God and the covenant of grace but thou maist return to the everlasting covenant of God by true repentance The ship of Baptism splits not though we leap out of it into the sea of sins therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called secunda post naufragium tabula Hier. in c. 3. Isa v. 9. we may return again to the same ship of Baptism that we may in it be wasted to the port of eternal salvation Tertul. lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore embrace repentance as a shipwrackt person catches hold of a plank this will lift thee up when ready to be drowned in the waves of thy sins and will carry thee into the haven of Gods mercy Peter had denied his Master but being converted he notwithstanding seeks the promise of salvation in Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 The Galatians and the Corinthians had faln foully yet when they were renewed again by repentance the Apostle offers them comfort drawn from Baptism declaring that as many of them as had been baptized Gal. 3.27 had put on Christ and clearly affirming that they were washed 1 Cor. 6.11 12 13. and by one spirit were baptized into one body namely mystical whence it clearly appears that the efficacy of the Baptismal covenant is extended to the future and is not quite enervated and abolished by mans fall but on God's part remains continually a firm and established covenant When Paul therefore says Aug. 1. de nup. concup c. 33. that Christ cleanseth the Church in the laver of water in the word it is thus to be understood that in the same laver of regeneration and word of sanctification all the sins of regenerate men are cleansed healed not only those by-past all which are remitted in Baptism but also those which are contracted afterwards by humane ignorance and frailty Not that Baptism should be
and manifested his will in his word that we might certainly know his will Wherefore God hath not only delivered legal promises which have annexed a condition of perfect obedience and are therefore made unprofitable to us but also Gospel promises which are free that we might rely on them with firm trust of heart Therefore it is of faith by grace saith the Apostle Rom. 4.16 that the promise might be sure Mens promises are uncertain and doubtful because all men are liars Psal 116.11 but the promises of God are sure and unmovable because God is truth it self As God is true in threatning so also in promising As out of Christ certain damnation abideth all unbelievers and impenitent persons so in Christ certain salvation is promised to all that turn to God and believe Cypr. serm 4. de mortal pag. 209. Dost thou doubt whether those things shall be that God hath promised who is true whose saying is eternal and firm to them that believe If a grave and laudable man should promise something thou wouldst believe him nor wouldst thou think thou shouldst be deceived by him whom thou knewest to stand to his word and be firm in his actings Now God speaketh with thee and dost thou unbelievingly fluctuate with a distrustful mind Observe moreover the firmness of Gods oath As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner Ezech. 33.11 but that he should turn and live Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.25 saith Christ hethat heareth my saying and believeth in him that sent me hath eternal life and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death Aug. in Psalm 88. God hath said this he hath promised this if that be not enough he hath sworn it Therefore happy we for whose sake God swears Tertul. l. de poenit but most wretched we if we believe not God when he swears Acknowledge therefore the admirable and never enough praised mercy of God who willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability and immovableness of his counsel Heb. 6.17 vers 18. confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things seeing it is impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us Want of due preparation Tempted All these things easily perswade me not to doubt of the firmness of Gods promises in themselves in the mean it is as yet uncertain whether they be so firm and immovable to me and whether I be in the number of them to whom God promises and offers so great things Comforter Yes because God pomiseth these things to all that truly repent and fly to Christ by faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore he hath also promised to thee seeing thou also believest in Christ Attend therefore further to the inward sealing of the holy Spirit For the Spirit witnesseth not only outward ly in the word but also inwardly in thy heart Rom. 8.16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with thy spirit that thou art the child 1 Cor. 2.12 yea and heir of God Thou hast received the Spirit which is of God that thou maist know the things that are freely given thee of God He that confirms and strengthens thee with all the truly Godly in Christ and he who hath anointed thee is God who hath sealed thee and given thee the earnest of the Spirit in thy heart Gal. 4.6 Because thou art the son of God therefore hath God sent forth the spirit of his son into thy heart crying Abba Father Believing the word of truth and the Gospel of salvation thou art sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 which is the earnest of thine inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession chap. 4.30 whereby thou art sealed unto the day of redemption As the Bridegroom who hath promised his spouse marriage giveth her some token for a pledge of their future marriage so God hath betrothed thee to him in faith he hath betrothed thee in mercy Hos 2.19 Rev. 19.7 but the marriage of the Lamb is not yet celebrated therefore he giveth thee the earnest of his Spirit to assure thee of the fulfilling of the promises and a future introducing of thee to the heavenly nuptials This is the spirit of adoption because he witnesseth thou art adopted to be a son of God this is that seal whereby the promises of God are sealed in thy heart this is the earnest by which the word of truth is confirmed to thee 1 Joh. 4.13 By this thou knowest that thou dwellest in God and God in thee because he hath given thee of his Spirit Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit Tempted But whence can I be sure that my heart is the temple and dwelling of the holy Ghost The blots of sin stick to me and I perceive that in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing how then will the holy Spirit who is holiness and purity it self dwell in me Comforter We receive only the first-fruits of the Spirit in this life Rom. 8.23 we expect the full measure and compleat tenths at length in eternal life there remains in this life a striving of the flesh and spirit Rom. 7.14 we are yet in part carnal and sold under sin yet never the less by means of regeneration and renovation begun we are the temples of the holy Ghost Moreover that the Spirit of God dwelleth in thee thou maist know by this that thou lamentest and abhorrest thy sins Wisd 1.4 because the holy Spirit dwelleth not in a body enslaved to sins because thou believest in Christ and lovest him for he is the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 Zach. 13.9 because with serious groanings thou callest upon God and the most bountiful Father for he is the spirit of grace and of prayers and cryeth in the hearts of the faithful Gal. 4.6 Abba Father because thou art led with a desire of all good for they that are the temples of the holy Spirit are led by him Rom. 8.14 namely unto good because thou oft perceivest a foretast of eternal life in thy heart and the kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14.17 but righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost Wherefore if thy soul hath felt at any time in the secret of its conscience the Spirit of the son crying Bern. in Cant. serm 8. col 509. Abba Father let it presume it is loved with a fatherly affection seeing it feels it self moved with the same Spirit wherewith the Son is In the Spirit of the son it knows it self the daughter of the Father and the Bride and sister of the son But though all these are sometimes weak and languid yet be not cast down but beg increase
lived as to be ashamed to live amongst you nor yet am I afraid to dye because we have a good God He that has furnished thee with the gifts of teaching for the benefit of his Church knows how to endow others also with the same Wherefore if with the Apostle thou be'st straitned so as thou knowst not which of these two to chuse Phil. 1.23 desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best or to abide in the flesh which is more profitable for the Church know that to die is gain to thee and to live is benefit to the Church Rom. 14.7 8. None of us liveth to himself neither doth any die to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord namely that we may gain unto him more souls in the Church or whether we die we die unto the Lord that we may obey his fatherly will calling us from our station whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord's that most gracious and powerful Lord's from whose love neither life nor death Rom. 8.3 8 39. can separate us Hitherto thou hast obeyed the will of God in faithfully bestowing thy services on the Church obey him also in readily embracing his will calling thee to the fellowship of the Church triumphant Thou art duly solicitous for the increase of the Church out of charity but yet in the mean time thou oughtest to commit the care of governing and preserving the Church unto God out of faith Nothing is more wholsome here nothing better nothing more conformable to piety than to resign ones self wholly to the divine will and by pious prayers to commit unto him a full power to dispose of our life or death Bern. in me dit devotis c. 6. col 1196. We may undoubtingly hope for one of these two things He will either give that which we ask or that which is better Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord and trust in him and he shall bring it to pass Short life brought upon ones self Tempted I fear I my self have made my life shorter by my sins how then can I hope for the presence and help of God in death Those that are guilty of their own death obtain not a better life after death Comforter But that is to be understood of those that from impatience lay violent hands on themselves and force the soul to go out of the tabernacle of the body against the will of God far be such a purpose from thy piety For none ought to bring a voluntary death on himself to avoid some temporal afflictions Aug. 1. de civ Dei c. 26. lest he fall into those that are everlasting none may do this for other mens sins lest he come to have this most grievous one of his own who was not polluted by those of others none may do this for by-past sins for which he has the more need of life that they may be healed by repentance none may do this out of a desire of a better life that is expected after death because those that are guilty of their own death obtain not a better life after death But if thy mind be troubled with those thoughts that by the immoderate use of meat and drink or from any other disorder thou hast made thy life shorter lament this with hearty groans and place all thy confidence on the merit of Christ firmly purposing to amend thy life and God will pardon thy iniquities who hath promised forgiveness of sins to those that truly repent Manasses a man of blood had himself broken the thread of his life and yet heartily repenting he obtained the glory of eternal life The thief on the cross received things worthy of what he had done Luk. 23.41 but heartily returning unto God he entred with Christ into paradise Gen. 3.15 Nay our first parents had brought death on themselves and all their posterity yet nevertheless embracing that Evangelical promise of him that should break the serpents head they were cheered again with enlivening consolation Ambrose's saying to Theodosius the Emperor Wherefore if thou hast followed them sinning follow them also repenting with tears Gods hand is not yet shortned nor hath his mercy failed by the number of years the gate of pardon is not yet shut seeing there is granted still space of repentance The love of this life Tempted I could have wished longer to have enjoy'd this life and the benefits of it I could have wished longer to have possessed the blessings of God granted me in this life Comforter See that by the inordinate love of this life thou bewray not thy self not truly to love the chief good Anselm de mensur crucis lit E. All our heart is so owning to the love of God that so much of it as is given to another is taken from God He loves God less that with him loves any thing which he loves not for his sake Thy heart is a vessel but it is full of the love of the world therefore there is no room for the true love of God to enter turn out the inordinate love of the world that the love of God may enter in Does the present life so delight thee which is all of it a dangerous and hard warfare What else is it to live long than to be afflicted long and to sin long Cypr. serm de mortal pag. 215 If in thy dwelling the walls should totter for oldness and the roof above should shake thy house now weary with its aged structure should threaten a sudden downfal wouldst thou not pass out of it with all speed If when thou art sailing a troubled and stormy tempest should foretell a future shipwrack by the waves raised with the force of the winds wouldst thou not make swiftly towards the haven Behold the world totters and slides and witnesseth its ruin not now by the age but the end of things and dost thou not give God thanks dost thou not congratulate thy self that being withdrawn by a timely exit thou escapest the ruins the shipwracks and the storms that are a coming Ambros in cap. 8. ad Rom. As the sea stirr'd up by contrary winds insults and causeth a tempest to the sailours so the generation of the unfaithful being mov'd by a conspiracy disturb the minds of the faithful and the enemy acts with so great perverseness that one cannot tell what first to shun For if the Powers cease to be against us he enrageth the spirits of private persons if these be also bridled he raiseth a combustion by those of the same family and if this be quencht by his art he causeth discord amongst the brethren themselves that the house being beat upon at its four corners it may fall on some side wherefore with one consent Christians must flee from hence For they should follow that holy man's example who knowing that war is here waged against perfidiousness desired that he might depart in peace This
infirmity I am lighter than water that runneth away apace I beseech thee therefore O my God who sittest upon the floods of water and art a King for ever to send the heavenly dew of thy grace upon me who am part of thine inheritance to refresh my wearied soul Let every herb that I behold cause me to contemplate my own estate that I shall one day be cut off like the green herb and shall wither away like the grass let the Sun that shines over my head lift up my heart to the Son of righteousness to that light which lightens the Gentiles and the Glory of the people Israel Let the Moon that rules by night make me call upon thee the father of light to illuminate me while I sit in darkness and in the shadow of death in whom is no variableness nor change as there is in the Moon finally let the beasts the birds the fishes yea the very flies and insects which seem to be the very scorn of nature let them all by the shortness of their lives remind me of the brevity of my own and since it is thy blessed will O dear Saviour let me be contented and rejoyce therein for ever III. O Lord the life of my life and the God of the spirits of all flesh make me willing to dye since it is thy ordinance and appointment for all things serve thee let me not forget thee nor behave my self frowardly in thy Covenant make me willing to die and to say with old Sin can Lord now let thy servant depart in peace and with St. Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and because my spirit is willing and my flesh weak raise it and quicken it with thy free spirit by bringing to my remembrance thy promises and comforts to me on every side and since it is thy holy pleasure I should die and not live I am satisfied therewith for thy law is within my heart therefore make no long tarrying O Lord my God IV. How long O God shall I live to sin against thee for as long as I live in this earthly Tabernacle I can do nothing but sin to will is present with me but I find no strength nor ability to perform for I find a Law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind making me captive to the law of sin and death so that the good which I would do I do not but the evil which I would not do that do I. Deliver me therefore dear Lord from this body of death that I may enter the gates of life and go to the Angels and Saints and be one of them and continue with them to all Eternity my soul thirsteth for God even for the living God make hast therefore O Christ and deliver me V. Let my Conversation in this world O Lord be such that I may neither be ashamed to live nor afraid to die I know that to the natural man death is very fearful and terrible but let me be thine by thy grace strengthen me in my greatest weakness be present with me with thy consolations even to the last moment and compass me about with songs of deliverance and then though I walk through the vally of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy left hand is under my head and thy right hand doth embrace me why should I be afraid in the evil day or why should my soul be disquieted within me for death will then be to me advantage let me therefore sigh and groan in being desirous to be delivered from this burden of the flesh and to be thereby made partaker of immortality and of those unutterable joys and pleasures which thou O my blessed God and Saviour dost enjoy for ever let my faith O Lord scatter all my fears and let my soul long for thy salvation deliver my soul out of Prison and take me to thy everlasting mercy put an end to my sins by the end of this life that I may live with thee without end VI. Set a watch O Lord before the doors of my heart and so order my thoughts that I may always set thee before me and in the midst of life let me so remember death that when my days in this world are at an end I may return unto thee my rest let not the flight and departure of this my Spirit from my body be on the Sabbath day that is in the rest and tranquillity of my sins nor in the winter or frost of my hard heart nor in the midnight of my security when I least look for it let not this dangerous thief of carelesness and security break into my soul nor hinder me from a serious and continual meditation of death and of the heavenly habitations If I forget Jerusalem in my mirth let my right-hand forget her cunning those thoughts that are imployed about my death are my best teachers teach me therefore to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness Morning evening and at mid-day let me wait for the coming of my blessed Saviour who shall turn my night into day my darkness into light my heaviness into joy my labours into rest when death shall be swallowed up into victory where the serpent shall sting no more and where the second death shall never hurt me VII Guide thou O Lord my God the ship of my soul through the sea of this world by the direction of thy holy word wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust let me sayl so safely that by the winds and waves of temptations I may never be driven either upon the Rocks of Presumption or Despair but that I may happily arrive at the haven of the promised land of thy heavenly Kingdom While I behold thee O Lord in thy justice I am afraid and am ready to despair and while I look upon thee in thine infinite mercies I am subject to presume Let thy hand therefore so support me that I may be defended by thy fatherly goodness as with a shield that I may not be cut off by the course of thy severe justice as with a sword I must confess that in justice I have incurred thy wrath and deserve condemnation but through thy manifold mercies O Lord I long and look for thy salvation I am the workmanship of thy hands destroy not therefore that which thou hast made but bless it and bring it to a perfect end thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth and therefore I promise to my self that I cannot be lost if I sincerely put my trust in thee for then thou hast promised me salvation in thy word and thou hast bound this thy promise with an Oath and sealed it with the blood of thy Son and that before the best witnesses in heaven or earth thy holy spirit bearing witness with my spirit that I am a child of God Now upon such considerations as these I fix and ground my faith and am perswaded that after