committed 3 How wee haue sinned of Ignorance Psa. 73.22 4 How of Knowledge wee haue transgressed 2. Sam. 24. Luk. 12.48 Especially and more particularly we must confesse 1 The sinnes we haue beene subiect vnto Psa. 51.14 2 Those which for the present we grone vnder 3 Those which wee feare most Psalm 19.13 4 The sinnes of our Fathers Nehem 9. 5 The sinnes of the Land and state where wee liue Dan. 9. 6 Those which accompany wel-doing Math. 8. 7 Yea such as in particular we know not wee are notwithstanding to yeeld vp to bee searched by the Lord and by his mercie either to be brought to our remembrance or to be graciously passed ouer Psa. 19.12 Fourthly wee must proceede to iudgement against sinne And that 1 Remembring and producing the law that conuinceth our sin Esr. 9.11.12 2 Pleading guilty therto Esr. 9.10 3 By abhorring of our selues Iob. 42 4 Stripping our selues of all comforts 5 Imposing volunatry afflictions vpon our selues Ioel. 2. 6 Acknowledging our selues worthy to be cut off Eze. 20. 7 Yeelding to temporal chasticements 2. Sam. 16. 8 Iustifying Gods iustice in his former chasticements vpon our fathers for sin Esr. 9.7 9 Feeling our sinne a burthen which we are not able to beare Act. 12.37 Psa. 38.4 Hereupon Fiftly By faith we flye unto Christ. 1 Hungring after the least drop of mercy 2 Preferring it before all earthly comforts 3 Begging it boldly and constantly 4 Waiting patiently till the Lord answere 5 Meditating on Gods former mercies Esr. 9.8 6 In Christ we gaine strength to forsake sin And that 1 In heart wee throughly purpose neuer to commit the like againe Esr. 10.3 2 To this end we are Fearfull of the occasions and wisely decline from them 3 We bend our strength especially against our beloued sin 4 We complaine of our Inability and labour to be strengthned by the Word Conference c. 5 Hereupon we finde our loue encreased to all Gods Commaâ—â—â—â—â—â—dements and so more conscionably intend the performance of â—â—â—hem 6 Especially wee endeauour to bee found in CHRIST and to feele the power of his death and resurrection in the subduing of sinne and so exercise our meditations more often and seriously thereon 7 And so wee endeuour that the life of Christ may appeare in our mortall bodies and that not wee but Christ may liue wholly in vs Galat. 2.19 c. 8 To this end labour wee the practise of some one speciall vertue to which we find our selues most auerse and which we see that we haue especiall need of 9 And so by Gods mercy we attaine such conquest ouer our most grieuous tentations and former euils as hatred of the word and the Saints c. as that wee neuer fall into them againe 10 And though wee finde aptnesse to fall into some former sinnes yet wee earnestly striue against them and grone vnder the burthen of our corruptions 11 And so do hunger and sigh for our dissolution Rom. 7. 12 Submitting our selues to the power of the word to haue corruption discouered and purged out 13 Auoiding all occasions that entice to sin Now that wee may the bettter performe this duty of Repentance consider wee in the third place these preparatiues and helpes thereto 1 That Repentance is the gift of God and therefore if we want it let vs aske it of him in faith Iam. 1.6 2 That by nature wee cannot repent and therefore wee had more need to renounce our selues and flye vnto God 3 That the time of repentance is this life and therfore while we may let vs set vpon it 4 The longer we deferre it the harder and more doubtfull it will proue 5 That the fittest time is immediatly after sinne committed Psal. 95.8 6 To this end meditate we on the shortnesse of life Psalm 91.12 And withall 7 Weigh wee the greatnesse of our sinne how infinite in number how dangerous and deadly to our own soules how offensiue to Gods children c. 8 And submit wee our selues willingly to such rebukes and chasticements as are laid vpon vs to the humbling of the flesh Iam. 4.9.10 Iob. 33.17.18 Leuit. 26.41 9 Yea intreat we the Lord to correct vs Psa. 61. and that the righteous may smite vs Psalm 141.5 Psa. 6.1 Hitherto serueth further 1 The due contemplation of the Maiesty of God whom we haue so highly offended Psalm 51.4 Gen. 39.9 2 The vilenesse and abiectnesse of Man that durst commit such wickednesse against God 3 How fearefull by reason of sinne our condition is vnder Sathan 4 The dangers we haue incurred hereby euen all the plagues that are written in Gods Booke Deut. 29.27 5 The riches of Gods mercy in prouiding so excellent a remedy against sin as the pretious blood of his onely and deerely beloued sonne when nothing else in the world was available thereunto 1. Pet. 1.12 6 The effectualnesse of this Sacrifice daily preuenting sinne and furthering yea sanctifying our repentance and leading to perfection 1. Ioh. 1.7 Eph. 5.22.23 7 The excellency of our estate in Iesus Christ with the manifold benefites and priuiledges thereof and so meditate we on his Death Resurrection Ascention c. 8 Consider wee the end of our Creation Redemption Iustification c. All which doe call for repentance 9 And on the other side impartially discerne wee our Vnthankfulnesse against the blood of the Couenant in not walking worthy of the same Ephes. 4.1 yea in as much as lieth in vs. 10 Making the same of none effect vnto vs. Heb. 10. 11 Adde we hereunto How we haue grieued the spirit of God Ephes 4.30 1 And dulled if not quenched the graces of God in vs 1. Thess. 5.19 13 Consider what dishonour we haue done vnto our God all this while that we haue liued in sinne 14 And wonder at the patience of the Almighty that hath spared so long such notorious rebels Lament 3.23 Rom. 2.4 15 Consider wee the small number of those that shall bee saued And 16 That many shall striue to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13.23 17 Treasure we vp the Word in our hearts which daily prouokes to repentance Matth. 3. 18 And meditate wee on Gods Iudgements inflicted on the world for sinne Psal. 119. 19 Consider we how hardly euen the righteous shall bee saued 1. Pet. 4.13.14 20 Sort wee with the Godly that so wee may learne their waies 21 Enter wee into the house of Mourning and this will bring sin to remembrance 22 And thinke wee often of our ends and of the day of iudgement so shall sinne haue little rest with vs. And that wee bee not deceiued in the iudgement of Repentance obserue wee wisely these Markes and true Tokens thereof 1 Care not to sinne againe 2. Cor. 7.11 Luk. 9. 2 Clearing and approuing of our selues to the Church of God 3 In the euidence of the pardon of our sinne being able to make our defence against sin and Satan 2. Cor. 7. And so 4
THE CHRISTIANS Daily Sacrifice CONTAINING A daily direction for a setled course of Sanctification The third edition corrected and enlarged with a thousand spirituall rules tending to Perfection Diuided into threâ— Bookes by TH. COOPER LONDON Imprinted by N. O. for WALTER BVRRE and are to bee sold in Paules Church yard at the signe of the Crane 1615. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND TRVELY NOBLE LAdies my very bountifull Patronesses the Lady LVCIE Countesse of Bedford the Lady HARINGTON Barones of Exon grace and peace from God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ bee multipleed RIght worthie Ladies As there is nothing that better becommeth the righteous then to bee thankefull vnto the Lord for his great mercies bestowed vpon vs. So I am perswaded in nothing more hath our gratious God aduanced his wonderfull goodnesse vnto our sinfull nation Then in that great deliuerance of our Prince and people from that hellish plot of the Gunpowder Treason For as the Redemption of mankind by the pretious blood of Iesus Christ hath therefore the priuiledge to be of all other benefits the most excellent farre exceeding our Creation or any other blessing of God because thereby mankind was restored to a more excellent estate then it lost in Adam so how soeuer the Lord in mercie vouchsafed vnto this Nation as it were a new creation by the Ministerie of good Queene Elizabeth of happy memory who restoring vnto vs the glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ we were thereby euen pluckt out of the fiery fornace of Antichrist and new borne again to the hope of eternall glory yet because we haue not receiued the loue of the truth and did not gloryfie our blessed God in our obedience therunto therfore did we iustly forfaâ—â—â—te our right in that great blessing and so deserued vtterly to bee depriued thereof And was not this our general fere in those dayes when the Light of our eys grew dimme and the sunne of our happines was set in these parts that together therewith the light of the Gospel also should haue bene taken from vs surely if the Lord had not them beene on our side when the arme of the flesh failed vs. If hee had not reserued an â—â—â—â—â—â—ly seed to stand in the gappe wee must needs haue bene as Sodome and Gomorrha But blessed be the name of our God for euer that in his eternall mercie had reserued a Ioseph for vs euen a royall Branch of that holy seede to renue and maintaine our glorious light And haue wee walked worthie of so great saluation surely if there were nothing else to condemn our vnthankefulnesse for so great a blessing Euen that accursed Powder Plot in steed of all other arguments is sufficient hereunto For as the vnthankefulnesse of the Papists was here noâ—â—â—oâ—â—â—iously discouered that hereby intended the subuersion of the state which had so gratiously vouchsafed lâ—â—â—fe and peace vnto theÌ„ So did this also conuince the vnprofitablenesse of the Protestant who for the abuse of his Talent was hereby summoned to his account and in his owne desert must needes haue beene ouertaken with this iudgment And therefore was it not the free mercie of the Lord that wee were not vtterly consumed Were wee not plucked euen as a brand out of the fire were wee not wonderfully redeemed euen by the mightie power of God from that horrible pit Did not the Lord thereby raise vp a mightie saluation for vs euen by his owne immediate arme that he alone may haue the glory And shal we not theÌ„ take vp the cup of saluation giue thanks vnto the name of the Lord. Surely as there remaines no more sacrifice for sin for such that do treade vnder foote the blood of the Son of God So I am perswaded that if we shall despise so great saluation and forget this wonderfull worke which our God hath done for vs we shall in vaine hope of the like deliuerance The Lord will do no more such great workes among vs because of our vnthankefull and vnbeleeuing hearts And therefore seeing the gratious Lord as he sanctified that deliuerance vnto me his vnworthie seruant by a speciall deliuerance from the malice of vnreasonable men which in the verie instant of our reioycing had layde a snare to entrappe my soule so hee hath hitherto giuen me my life for a pray from many other extremities Can I do better then I haue begun so still to imploy it in the meditation of Gods great mercies Ought I not do my vttermost to awaken this secure age and prouoke the Saints to an holy entertainement of so great saluation Can I do lesse then take occasion hereby to testifie my thankefulnesse vnto those that haue bin instruments for the maintenance of my life and studies Surely deare ChristiaÌ„ Ladies as I must acknowledge my selfe hereby bound for euer vnto your Honours so accept I beseech you this vnfained pledge thereof and bee prouoked herby to a wise redeeming of the time that so you may be prepared to a blessed eternitie Take these holy rules herein contained as a true guide to leade you safely in all occasions thereunto and make account of my best deuotions and endeuour here after to further to the same And so I commend your Ladiships to the grace of God in Iesus Christ. Resting in him To your Honours euer deuoted TH. COOPER The Preface to the Christian Reader describing the occasion and seuerall vses of this Treatise THE many excellent treatises and larger discourses concerning the power of godlinesse which it hath pleased the Lord of glory to furnish his Church withal in these later daies as they haue made good the faithfulnes of our God vno vs of our Church of England therein auouched against all schismaticall spirits that yet there is an holy seed among vs so if they shall not bee a witnesse against vs doe they necessarily require in the right vse thereof that we be transformed into the same image from glory to glory And therfore howsoeuer it may seeme both needlesse and preiudiciall after so many graue and experimentall rules concerning sanctification to adde any more in this kinde yet seeing it hath pleased God to direct mee to a further labour herein weigh with me I pray thee in equitie these reasons hereof First I doe hereby professe my thankefulnesse vnto God for those excellent labors of his Saints that now rest from their labours and their fruits follow them Secondly I would haue thee know that I am not ashamed of this foolishnesse of preaching and practicke Diuinitie which is such a mystery to the world and stumbling blocke vnto the wisedome thereof Thirdly howsoeuer I do professe that I am not able to attaine such perfection as I haue here in conceiued yet I would haue thee know further that I would rather haue a rule to condemne sinne in the flesh and so to confound the old man that thereby the new man may follow hard after the marke then not to giue testimonie to that light
cut off idle interruptions and vaine cauils 7 Not to powre out all our mindes at once but to keepe some what till afterwards Prou. 29. Here is to bee auoyded 1 Pride to heare a mans selfe speake 2 The fruit thereof namely First Obscurity Secondly Affectation 2 We must auoid tempting speeches whereby wee may siâ—â—â—â—â—â— and vndermine others 4 As also that spirit of contradiction whereby thwarting oothers and contradicting euery man Heresie and Atheisme is bred and maintained 5 We must also refraine bitternesse and captious taking vp of our brother a fault incident to briefenesse of speech 6 As also wee must beware of sottishnes and inconsequence of speech while happily we thinke to shewe our skill in breuity Hitherto appertaine 1 Restraining of our passion by interrupting our selues if by course of speech wee grow into an heate 2 Correcting our selues by silence wherein we haue mis-said 3 Contracting our matter into the briefest forme of words 4 Disposing it methodically to the best capacity of the hearer An eighth grace of speech is Wisedome 1 That we minister a word in due season Isa. 50. As comfort to whom comfort belongs and when he is fit for comfort being throughly humbled and so reproofe 2 That we submit subordination to the best ends 3 That we affect not words but labour to expresse our matter in the fewest and plainest 4 And also neglect not to ascribe what in ciuility belongs to each And 5 In charity ascribe for religion what is outwardly apparent leauing the heart to God 6 Not iudging peremptorily of any though his estate bee outwardly desperate 7 Neither discouering our owne good or euill but when as before we heare a calling Generall Rules to be obserued herein 1 That what is here spoken of Speech is to be vnderstood also of Writing in which all these graces are to be practised and vices to be auoyded 2 That in all kinde of speech as well Latine as English c. exemplary as wherein though the phrases of other tongues may leade vs to prophanesses yet we must auoyd them As in Grammer Would God I did c. Hitherto of speech Now because wee cannot speake well vnlesse wee know also how to hold our peace wee are therefore in the second place to consider of silence Here obserue 1 That the Rule of silence must be Gods word 2 Matter of silence concernes God our Neighbour our Selues 3 Persons before whom 4 The end wich is Gods glory ours others good Things concerning God are 1 His secrets which wee know not and therefore are to admire them in silence Deut. 29.29 2 His strange and extraordinary workes which wee may not speake boldly of but rather in silence wonder at Iob. 36.37 Leuit. 10.3 3 We are to conceale the mercy of from God obstinate sinners 4 We are to conceale his iudgements from humbled sinners 5 We are to be silent at his corrections Psal. 39. hereby shewing our submission to his will 6 Wee are to yeeld to the knowne truth and in silence to glorifie God Act. 11.18 Touching our Neighbour obserue 1 That we may conceale some truth from him not being demanded yea being questionâ—â—â—d we may conceale either the whole or part Prouided that it do not 1 Hinder Gods glory 2 Or my neighbours good Truth in the whole is to be concealed 1 When the speaking of the least word is hurtfull as for example the father and sonne lieth sicke at once the sonne dieth first the father asketh whether the sonne be dead or no if it bee said No an vntruth is told if yea the fathers life is endangered therefore silence is best 2. Sam. 12. 2 When the reuealing thereof indangers the life of the innoceÌ„t and therefore I am not to reueale my brethren in affliction nor to be compelled thereto by oath Prouided first that the authority requiring this bee vnlawfull 2 The thing I conceale bee not in it selfe euill but so mistaken 3 That in the concealing of it I preferre not a priuate before a publicke good Truth in part is to be concealed when I speake a part of the truth but not the whole 1. Sam. 16.1 23. Ier. 38.24 Exod. 5. Act. 23.6 Q. When I am demanded may I answere in part Yea so 1 I purpose not to deceiue 2 Content the minde of the answerer Secondly I am to conceale the infirmities of my Neighbour vnlesse as before we be called of God to speake Prou. 17.14 Prou. 19.11 3 All vnseemely matters 4 Such as concerne vs not 5 And such as are aboue our reach are to be buried in silence 3 Ministers must conceale the infirmities of their people vnlesse they be otherwise vnreclaimable 4 Magistrates secrets of state least the enemy know them Concerning my selfe I am 1 To conceale mine owne secrets Iud. 14. or else if need be tell those that are faithfull of silence concerning my selfe 2 That which thou wouldst haue no man know tell no man As for the persons before whom wee must keepe silence they are 1 The malicious enemies of religion Mat. 7.6 Mat. 27.14 Ps. 39.2 2 Before Magistrates in open Courts Act. 24 10. till we be bidden 3 In the presence of our elders and betters Iob. 32.8 4 Fooles and pratlers are to bee humbled and conuinced with silence Pro. 26. Thus farre concerning the guidance of the tongue The sixth and last part of this Girdle of truth containes the fitting and conforming our outward actions to the will of God which is performed 1 When they proceed from a true ground 2 And are to be performed true meanes and a holy manner 3 When they aime at a right end The ground of all good actions is faith in Iesus Christ. Rom. 14. Heb. 11.6 1 Assuring vs that our persons are accepted of God and so our Gods meere mercy in Iesus Christ. Phil. 3. 12 That we bee that we seeme to bee 13 That wee make conscience of the least as well as the greatest 14 That we prouide things honest before men as well as in the sight of God 15 Distrust the goodnes of that worke in wâ—â—â—ich thou hast not a contrary tentation 16 Especially if thou beest not rowsed with an imputation of hypocrisie 17 That we measure not the substance of wel-doing by particular actions 18 That the rule for approbations of our actions be the acceptance of our persons in Christ not any perfection that is in theÌ„ 19 That in all well-doing wee discerne a kind of foolishnesse in regard of the wisedome of the world and of the flesh 1 To be abased in our selues 2 To giue God the glory 3 To try the sincerity thereof in regard of the opposition of the world 1. Cor. 3.18 The end of our actions is 1 That whatsoeuer we do it be done to Gods glory 1. Cor. 10.31 and this is performed 1 In sanctifying and auspicating them by prayer inuocation of the name of God 1. Tim. 4. 2 In