nothing sad shall be seen nothing evil shall be feared because the cheifest good shall be possessed MEDITATION LVIII Lord I am thine save me save me or I shall surely perish bring me safe to the Haven preserve me to thy heavenly Kingdom that neither Faith nor Conscience nor my soul may suffer shipwrack Thou hast made an Everlasting Covenant with me and at thy Table this Covenant has been sealed Oh never turn away from me to do me good and let thy power and love and the fear of thy name secure me from Apostacy I am not sufficient to be my own keeper but who shall be able to pluck me out of the hand of Christ and of the Father who is greater then all Thou art of power to establish me and canst easily keep me from falling and present me faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding great joy Oh let not my faith fail nor my love cool nor my watchfulness abate let Satans wiles and devices be unsuccessful help me to slight the worlds frowns and to be deaf and dead to the flatteries and smiles of it Let me obtain mercy to be faithful in thy Covenant let my spirit be cured of its natural fickleness and treachery let resolutions to be the Lords and to serve the Lord be peremptory being made and kept with a strength beyond my own And let me at last be able to say O God my Heart is fixed my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Herbert pag. 140. KIng of Glory King of Peace I will love thee And that love may never cease I will move thee Thou hast granted my request Thou hast heard me Thou didst note my working breast Thou hast spar'd me Wherefore with my utmost art I will sing thee And the cream of all my heart I will bring thee Though my sins against me cry'd Thou didst clear me And alone when they reply'd Thou didst hear me Seven whole days not one in seven I will praise thee In my Heart though not in Heaven I can raise thee Thou grew'st soft and moist with Tears Thou relentedst And when Justice call'd for fears Thou dissentedst Small it is in this poor sort To enroll thee Even Eternity is too short To extoll thee FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth. 4. and Peters Sermon to Cornelius and circumspect walking By Dr. Tho Taylor A Practical Exposition on the 3d. Chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly mans choice on Psalm 4. v. 6 7 8. by Anthony Burgess Dr. Donns 40 Sermons being his 3 Volumes Pareus Exposition on the Revelations General Martyrlogia with the Lives of 32 English Divines by Sam. Clark A Narrative of the Horrid Popish Plot. A Narrative of Knox and Lane The Witch of Endor Popes Ware-house All four Published by Dr. Titus Oates Robert Jenneson Esq His narrative Dugdales Narrative Mr. Tho. Dangerfields of the Sham Presbyterian Plot. Smiths Account of the 14 Popish Malefactors in Newgate Animadversions on the 5 Jesuits Speeches The Excommunicated Price a Tragedy as it was acted by his Holinesses Servants By Captain William Bedlow Protestant Conformist plea for moderation A Conference between a Bensalian Bishop and an English Doctor concerning Church Government A Caution to all English Protestants A Lenetive for the Clergie Broughtons Works published by Dr. Light-foot Books 4to The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration By George Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Stephen Scandret An Exposition of the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with usefull observations thereupon by William Greenhil The Gospel Covenant opened by Pet. Bulkley Gods holy Mind touching matters Moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Eston B. D. The fiery Jesuit or an Historical Collection of the rise encrease doctrines and deeds of the Jesuits exposed to view for the sake of London Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical together with a Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan Regimen sanitatis-salemi or the Regiment of Health containing Directions and instructions for the guide and government of mans life A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Seperation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. S. The Practical Divinity of the Papist discovered to be destructive to true Religion and mens Souls by J. Clark son A Case of Conscience viz. whether it be lawful for any person to act contrary to the opinion of his own Conscience formed from arguments that to him appear very probable though not necessary or demonstrative by Dr. Collings The Creatures goodness as they came out of Gods hand and the good-mans mercy to the bruit-Creatures in two Sermons by Tho. Hodges B. D. Certain Considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity among Protestants Mediocria or the most plain and natural apprehensions which the Scripture offers concerning the great Doctrines of the Christian Religiion of Election Redemption the Covenant the Law and Gospel and Perfection Sermons at the Funeral of Mr. James Janeway by Nath. Vincent The Vanity of man in his best estate in a discourse on Psal 39. 5. at the Funeral of the Lady Susanna Keate by Richard Kidder M. A. Mr. Cautons by Mr. Henry Hurst and Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Sorrels by Mr. Benj. Smith Mr. Wadsworth by Mr. R. Bragg Mr. Newcomens by Mr. Fairson Mr. Thomas Vincents by Mr. Slater Mr. Corbets by Mr. Richard Baxter Mr. Bakers by Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Marshalls by Mr. Tomlins Mr. Johnsons by Mr. Loid Mrs. Fishers by Mr. Scot. Dr. Whittakers by Dr. Annesly Mr. Wells by Mr. Thomas Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Richard Baxter Hodges Vanity of man as mortal Mrs. Lyes by Mr. Lamb. Vertuous Daughter by Brion Sir Thomas Viners by Dr. Spurslow Mr. Perns by Ainsworth Work and Reward of a Christian by R. Raworth Mr. Wests Funeral Sermon by Mr. Cole Mr. Webbs by Mr. David Burges Baeuters which is the true Church Hodges Creatures goodness Naked Truth Doolitles Protestants Answer Mr. Kidders Charity directed Scholars address Dr. Crossmans Sermon Humphrys peaceable disquisitions Hodges considerations to promote peace An Endeavour for Peace A conference between a Papist and a Jew and a Protestant and a Jew An Essay for the Education of Gentlewomen A warning for Servants or the Case of Margaret Clark An Answer to Dr. Stilling fleets Sermon by the peaceable design A Discourse of Pluralities A
and Gold that ever was created is but dross in comparison of these riches To go to Ordinances and from them as the Door turns upon the Hinges and to remain just as we were will turn to no account nay to an ill account We are not to rest therefore in opere operato the work done but examine what light what heat what strength what grace what peace we gain by attending upon God or else we may live and dye like lukewarm and mistaken Laodicea who said she was rich and increased with Goods and had need of nothing and knew not that she was wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Rev. 3. 17. 7. 'T is not amiss if there be some Self-proving every day that keeping of the heart with all diligence Prov. 4. 23. implies a daily watching and calling it to an account and that pondering the path of our feet required vers 26. implies both wariness before and a tracing our Steps afterwards to see whether they have been right or wrong step towards God or from him Pythagoras an Heathen advises every night to ask our selves such Questions as these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where have I sinn'd What have I done What duty have I let alone Thus bad and good deeds every night Will be thy chiding or delight In the seventh place I come to the Arguments persuading all to this examination and proving of themselves 1. Satan is very subtle he does endeavour to conceal and hide both Sin and Grace Sin in the wicked that they may not perceive the evil nature and tendency of it till it has actually and utterly ruin'd them and Grace in them that do believe that their hearts may be tormented with doubts and fears and straitned in thanksgiving unto God Satan is a lying Spirit and upholds his Kingdom by deceit and falshood His work is to fill Gods Children with false fears and his own with false hopes and he has many wiles and stratagems to do both 'T is good therefore to be aware of him and to be the stricter in searching of our selves that he may not impose upon us nor make us call evil good and good evil Let us take great heed for Satan is the Accuser of the Brethren Rev. 12. 10. and will accuse them to themselves as well as accuse them before God he will transform a true Saint and make him look in his own apprehension like a meer reprobate And as he is the Accuser of the Brethren so he is the Excuser of the wicked and makes them say they shall have peace till the anger of the Lord and his jealousie smokes against them and eternal Vengeance overtakes them 2. The heart is deceitful above all things Jer. 17. 9. as it is unknown to others so it hides it self from the view of the man himself Need there is then of Self-examination The heart of man will represent Sin as profitable as pleasant as creditable and in fashion and that there is no such danger in the commission of it but that 't is time enough hereafter and easie enough to repent and obtain a pardon The heart will extenuate sin after 't is done and take notice of the mercy of the Lord but shut its eyes against his justice and holiness 't will call any thing almost by the name of saving-grace and from very weak and insufficient premisses conclude the State is safe Such cheats therefore must be more narrowly eyed and we must bring them to the Heart-searcher that they may be discovered 3. There is no Grace but has its counterfeit When abundance of Brass and bad Money is abroad there is the greater care to try before we take There is a world of counterfeit Grace at this day Many take themselves to be something when they are nothing and so deceive themselves every one therefore should prove his own work that he may have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another Gal. 6. 3. 4. that is that he may have not only the good word of others but the joyful approbation of his own Conscience that his work is good and wrought in God There is a precious faith that ends in the salvation of the Soul and there is a counterfeit faith that dures only for a while and in time of temptation fails There is a saving knowledge which is life eternal and there is a notional knowledge which only puffs up him that has it and makes sorrow and stripes at last to be the more There is a sincere love to Christ that has a vehement flame which many Waters cannot quench which no Floods can drown and there is a love which is only a painted Fire a love in word and shew and not in heart and deed and truth There is a Zeal which God is mightily pleased with as that Zeal in Phineas and there is a Zeal not according to knowledge There is a true Humility which makes us like to Christ and gives the Soul rest and there is a shew of Wisdom and Humility to be found even in the Synagogues of Satan and Antichrist All grace therefore whether in pretence or true must be tried by the Word which if rightly applied is infallible in its decision 4. Many do actually go out of the World mistaken in themselves surely then we should be serious in Self-trial The foolish Virgins because their Lamps were burning and neatly trimm'd that is they profess'd and talkt high and made a glistering shew came with full expectation of admission into the Kingdom Therefore with confidence they knock and with confidence they speak Lord Lord open unto us Mat. 25. 11. But the answer is I know you not The Door contrary to their expectation is shut for ever against them and they are sentenc'd to burn too in Hell though their Lamps on Earth did burn and blaze in a glorious profession of Religion Some are brought in pleading with the Lord Jesus when He says He knew them not We have eat and drank in thy presence and thou hast taught in our Streets Luk. 13. 26. As if they should say Lord 't is very strange thou shouldst not know us None more flocked after thee than we did none were more forward to hear thy Word we were Guests at thy Table many a time and yet dost thou not know us Hear their pleas see their confidence of being let in and yet behold them thrust out unto Eternity 5. Hypocrites may go very far and yet remain but Hypocrites and miscarry Therefore we should examine and see that we go farther An Hypocrite may have a name that he is alive he may bend his Knee and lift up his Eye and speak as it were with the tongue of an Angel he may pray and prophesie so as to gain mans approbation but yet that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God Luk. 16. 15. How far did the Apostle Paul go before his Conversion
and amazing kindness and love of God The Father himself looks here and is delighted in the Obedience and Sufferings of his Son through whom without any prejudice to his Justice and Holiness his Grace and Mercy have a full vent and a free course to be glorified among the Sons of men The Beleivers under the Old Testament looked unto Jesus though he was more darkly represented to them Moses and the Prophets spake of him and Abraham himself rejoyced to see his day And under the New Testament he is more fully revealed Here therefore I will fix my eye and living and dying Behold this Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the World MEDITATION XII I am in my self a lost Creature My sins my sins have ruin'd me the sins which I have lov'd and pleaded for and taken so much pleasure in have done me the greatest harm Wo wo is me that I have sinned I have broken the best Law and rebelled against the best Lord. I have sided with the Enemies of my Salvation to destroy my self 'T is an endless task to number the Stars in the Firmament or the Sand upon the Sea shore or the days of Eternity and I may as well do all this as number my iniquities Innumerable Evils have compassed me about my iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more then the hairs of my Head therefore my heart faileth me And if the wages of the least sin be Death and Hell what large wages and what a low place in Hell have I deserved Gods anger is just his power is terrible his patience is wonderful his mercy is utterly undeserved I should be all despair were it not for the Grace of God and the Blood of God but these are sufficient grounds of hope and Everlasting Consolation MEDITATION XIII I plainly perceive that all mankind have suffered shipwrack The first man Adam had the steering of the Vessel and he run it upon the Rocks and lost himself and his whole progeny All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God The calamity is general the whole World is become guilty before God there is none that understandeth or seeketh after God there is none that doeth good no not one 'T is truly lamentable that the humane nature should be so infected so corrupted as that every mind should be carnal and enmity against God that every Heart should be like an adamant stone that every neck should be like an iron sinew All are born the Children of wrath and with strong inclinations to be the Children of Disobedience So that when the Son of God came into the World to dye and save it He found the World lying in wickedness secure in sin and hastning towards Everlasting misery MEDITATION XIV Whence is this to Man that a Saviour should be provided for him Were there no Creatures fell besides Yes an innumerable Host of Angels kept not their first estate but left their own Habitation The Angels that sinned were excellent and glorious in their first Creation but they grew proud and Enemies to Truth and voluntarily departed and were justly banished from the Lord that made them And when these Angels sinned no mercy that we read of was extended to them The Scripture expressely says that God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell That was a dreadful fall indeed from the highest Heaven to the lowest Hell those mighty Spirits are fettered in Chains of darkness and are reserved unto the judgement of the great day they never that we find had a Redeemer provided nor a pardon offered nor after they had made themselves miserable were they ever brought within the reach and possibility of Mercy The Son of God took not on him the nature of Angels or he took not hold of the Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham MEDITATION XV. Lord What was man that thou wert thus mindful of him Or the Son of man that the Son of God should come and visit him Admirable condescension That thou whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain shouldst rejoyce in the habitable parts of the Earth and that thy delights should be with the Sons of men Can man be profitable unto God Is it any gain to the Almighty that any make their ways perfect Lord Man has the benefit of Salvation 't is but reason that thou shouldst have intirely all the Glory Man is therefore subservient to thine honour because his meanness makes thy condescension and his guilt and vileness does render thy Grace the more wonderful When 〈◊〉 Creature so undeserving nay that deserves so ill is so highly advanced as to be saved the power and grace which does advance and save him is matter of the greater admiration MEDITATION XVI Who is this Lord Jesus that undertakes the work of mans Redemption He is the express Image of his Fathers Person the Brightness of his Glory He is to be Worshipped with the same Worship and has the same Eternal Power and Godhead with the Father and the Spirit He it is who created all things in Heaven and Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers all things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist The Elect Angels adore him the Reprobate ones he has spoyled and triumphed over he has all power in Heaven and Earth and Commands the Keys of Hell and Death He is Wonderful in Counsel the Mighty God the Prince of Peace How safe is it then to trust in this Lord Jesus 't is the highest reason to believe in him that is so mighty that is Almighty for the must needs be able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him Whosoever Believeth in him shall not be confounded MEDITATION XVII O my Soul let thy Faith be fixed and settled on the Godhead of thy Lord and Saviour were he not God 't were both sin and folly to rely upon him Faith in him would be altogether vain but since he is the true God and Eternal Life They shall not perish but have Everlasting Life that do indeed beleive in him Christ thy Righteousness is the Lord Jehovah in him therefore thou mayst confidently expect to be justified and thou mayst Glory and rejoyce for ever The Blood of Christ is called Gods own Blood because 't is the Blood of him that is truly God and over all God blessed forever as well as truly man And surely the sufferings of him that was God can make satisfaction for the sins that thou hast been guilty of against God Thou art amazed to see thy iniquities increased and thy Trespasse grown up to the Heavens Thou art astonished and desolate and horribly afraid to see how high thy sin strikes even at God himself But withal take notice how Christ who is God does stoop and humble himself He that thought it no Robbery to be equal
so after death they will call themselves by that name and curse their folly everlastingly 7. We must examine what we elect and make choice of as our chief Good and take up with us the best Portion The men of the World are contented with a Portion here in this Life here they receive all their Consolation they live as they think very well without God in the World and do not care to know to serve or to enjoy him But if we are Saints we follow other Counsels we chuse the Lord for our Portion and resolve to obey him Psal 119. 57. Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said that I would keep thy Word we are persuaded of his al-sufficient goodness which is abundantly communicative of it self and desire him above all And the Lord himself being our Portion we are pleased we are satisfied we rejoyce and conclude the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places and that we have a very goodly heritage Psal 16. 5 6. 8. We must examine whether our naturally beloved sin be now loathed They that are sincere are made so wise as to find out their dilectum delictum darling iniquity or if more than one have been their darlings they take special notice of them and though they are alienated from the whole kind of Sin yet with more than ordinary vehemency they desire the mortification of the lust or lusts which were formerly most beloved because these have so loaded them with guilt have most of all defiled them and provoked the Lord most bitterly against them David proves his uprightness this way Psal 18. 23. I was also upright before thee and I kept my self from mine iniquity But as for those who resolve to spare their darling corruptions they are unsound these lusts will cost them the life of their Souls And are not those prodigies of folly who love sin so well as to be contented to be damned for the sake of it If Herod will keep his Herodias still against the admonition of John the Baptist it plainly argues that he is void of Grace though he hears gladly and in part practises the Word he hears 9. We must examine what pre-eminence Heaven has above Earth in our affections A wicked man when he comes to dye will prefer Heaven before Hell but a Saint prefers Heaven before Earth and when his heart treacherously hankers after earthly things he checks and chides it he goes unto God and complains of this and prays to be made more heavenly minded He is convinced of the vanity and fading nature of earthly things and chuses the better and enduring substance 'T is a sign we are enlightned and renewed by the same Spirit the Apostle was when we speak his Language 2 Cor. 4. 18. We look not at the things that are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things that are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal 10. We must examine what is our great End and Design The wicked man is swayed by carnal sinful and worldly self Worldly honour pleasure and advantage are the highest indeed the only things he seeks If our Ends are not right we cannot possibly be upright our selves Now our End ought to be the glorifying of God and the enjoyment of Him Whatever ye do says the Apostle do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. This should still be in the Christians eye and aim And truly the designing of Gods glory is the way to the enjoyment of him wherein our own glory and happiness does consist Those that honour God he will honour whatever thwarts this highest greatest End is to be avoided with the greatest care for we cannot dishonour or despise the Lord but ipso facto we degrade and prejudice our selves 11. We must examine whether we are not grieved at all discovered defects and miscarriages and desirous to have every thing amiss rectified and amended Though upon search we find much out of order nay nothing in such order every way as it should be if this be our serious trouble and we long indeed to be turned long to be savingly changed long to be throughly healed 't is a sign of some hopeful beginnings if they do but hold Ephraim bemoaned himself that he was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak he found a great reluctancy in corrupted nature and loathness to submit to the Yoak of God he is troubled at it and falls a praying for converting grace Turn thou me and I shall be turned his prayer is heard he is turned he is instructed he repented he is adopted and assured at last of mercy Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant Child For since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him and I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord Jer. 31. 18 19 21. In the third place I am to inform you concerning what we are to prove our selves And at present I shall only insist on those two things which the Apostle mentions in the Context We are to prove whether we are in the Faith and whether Christ be in us yea or no 1. We are to prove whether we are in the Faith Sometimes Faith is said to be in us because it is a grace infused by the Spirit of God into our hearts With the heart man believeth unto Righteousness Rom. 10. 10. Sometimes we are said to be in Faith in opposition to others that are unregenerate who are affirmed to be in the flesh and to be in their sins And there is good reason for this phrase that the Saints are in Faith because Faith does cloth them with a justifying Righteousness and is a Shield to cover them and to quench all the fiery Darts of the evil one Now whether we are in the Faith may be thus proved 1. If we are in the Faith Truths being firmly believed will be particularly applyed our assent will be firm unto the truth of the Gospel as being of Divine Authority And as we shall believe that God himself does speak in his Word so we shall believe that he speaks to us in particular This particular application of the Word we read of Job 5. ult Lo this we have searched it so it is see it and know it for thy good A Medicine if not applied will not heal and the Word if not applied by Faith will not profit Heb. 4. 2. But the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it When Divine Commands are particularly applied we shall look upon our selves as obliged to obey them and submit to the Authority of our great Law-giver who has power to save and to destroy When comminations and threatnings are applied unto our Sins in particular we shall be afraid to allow of those Sins which bring us under the lash of threatnings so very dreadful And as for the promises of God being particularly applied how certainly will
but increase upon them 3. In proving our selves we must take heed of making an ill use of the falls of Saints which are recorded in Scripture Davids uncleanness Lots drunkenness are no arguments to prove that any may allow themselves in filthiness and intemperance and yet go to Heaven Nay the Scripture expresly says the contrary Eph. 5. 5. For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ of God and all words that would persuade otherwise are but deceitful and vain v. 6. The falls of Saints are mentioned not to encourage unto sin but to prevent despair and to encourage to repentance and returning unto God when there has been a departing from him And truely they are in a state quite different from the Saints who are only like them in their falls but not like them in their rising again Righteousness and Repentance 4. We must beware of thinking it sufficient to have escaped the more gross pollutions of the World When we compare our selves with the vilest of men and find our selves unlike them this is not enough to prove our selves or our state truely good It was not enough to justifie the Pharisee before God that others were extortioners unjust and adulterers but he was free from such gross and scandalous crimes as these Luk. 18. 11. There are degrees of Sin as well as Grace 'T is but a small commendation Pessimis esse meliorem to be better than the very worst of all we may be bad enough to ruine us for all that The Pharisees were righteous and blameless in the eyes of men but Christ saw how proud and how unsanctified their hearts were therefore he says Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 20. 5. The providences of God must not be our Rule of Trial We must not judge of our spiritual condition by present external dispensations You find a wicked man in purple and fine linnen faring sumptuously every day and a godly man a beggar laid at his gate full of Sores desirous to be fed with the Crumbs that fell from the rich mans Table Luk. 16. The righteous are plagued all the day long and chastened every morning when the wicked prosper in the World and increase in riches and have more than heart could wish Psal 73. 12 14. If thriving in this World be all thou hast to shew as an evidence of the love of God thou hast indeed nothing at all to shew as an argument he loves thee with a special love for Solomon says No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them but all things fall alike to all and there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked Eccles 9. 1 2. 6. We must take heed of a wrong notion of the Grace of God in Christ which may encourage licentiousness and presumption We must not look upon him as all Justice Jealousie Fury neither must we imagine him all Grace and Mercy We must not look upon our Lord Jesus as the Minister of sin Gal. 2. 17. for he was manifested to destroy the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. 't is unreasonable therefore to continue in sin that grace may abound Rom. 6. 1. We must be fully persuaded that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12. 14. for if the necessity of holiness be not apprehended we shall entertain a presumptuous confidence in the grace of God and indulge our lusts at the same time 7. We must take heed of putting our selves upon the Tryal farther than the Scripture ever does As whether we can be contented to be damned that God may be glorified Whether we would be so strict and circumspect as the word requires if there were no future reward or punishment 'T is not good to make suppositions which God in his word never makes As whether if we might live here in this world for ever we could be very well contented Whether if God were to be enjoyed but for a time we should prefer that enjoyment before an everlasting fruition of the creature Such suppositions as they have no Scripture warrant so they but perplex them that make them We must take things as they are and not suppose them to be what they are not And if things visible which are but temporal are despised in comparison of invisible things which are eternal it argues the heart is wise to make a right choice Having laid down these cautionary Rules I come now to speak of the Right Touchstone by which this Tryal of our selves is to be made and that is the Written word of God Saints cannot ascend into heaven at present and immediately search the Book of life to know whether their names are there registred Neither must they expect that an Angel should come to them as to Daniel of old to inform them that they are greatly beloved Neither shall the wicked and the hypocritical ones have an hand appearing as once to Belshazzer signifying how bad their state is and how sad their is like to be But to the written word all must repair that they may know what to conclude concerning themselves Now the word of God gives us a description and characters both of a state of nature and of a state of Grace The Prisoner at the bar which is tryed for his life with what trembling does he expect the verdict of the Jury When we are trying our selves in reference to Eternity Oh with what fear and trembling should we attend what sentence the word of God will pass upon us 1. I begin with a description of a State of Nature Now the Scripture pronounces those in a state of nature 1. Who have a vail of grosse and black ignorance upon their hearts As 't is life eternal to know so it must needs be granted to be no less than eternal death to be grosly ignorant of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent How can we obey that great Command of the Law to love the Lord with all our hearts or that great Command of the Gospel to believe in Jesus Christ if concerning both God and Christ there be a very gross ignorance Ignorance is commonly rejoyced in as an excuse for sin but it proves destructive where 't is thus liked Hos 4. 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that are lost And Isa 27. 11. It is a people that have no understanding therefore he that made them will not save them and he that formed them will shew them no favor 2. They are in a state of Nature who believe not the report of the Gospel The word speaks terribly against such as esteem the Gospel no more than if it were a cunningly devised Fable who stand no more in awe of
blesses them they shall be blessed and promises they shall be filled Mat. 5. 6. Righteousness imputed is and that with very good reason prized by Believers and Righteousness inherent is earnestly desired they long to be made more holy more holy in heart more holy in all manner of conversation to have cleaner hands hearts purer they groan earnestly to be sanctified throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and to be established unblameable in holiness to the end Doest thou vehemently desire to be bettered by every mercy To be refined more and more every time thou art cast into the furnace of affliction And to become more holy by every Ordinance thou engagest in This Sacra Fames holy hunger is in thee and thou art blessed 6. Those are in a State of Grace who prize the Word of God at an high rate All that are born again desire as new born Babes the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. Hark to our Lord. Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God With good reason do gracious Souls value the Word of God for it is the incorruptible seed whereof they are born again 't is the Food whereby they are nourished 't is the Physick whereby they are healed 't is the Cordial whereby they are revived 't is the Weapon wherewith they defend themselves against their spiritual Enemies Finally 't is the main Deed they have to shew for the heavenly inheritance If this Word of God be understood believed and received by thee in the love of it if thou desirest to be cast into the mould of the Word and in all things to conform to it if Davids language be thine Psal 119. 33 34 35. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it to the end Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight This will argue that thou hast a good and honest heart indeed 7. Those are in a state of grace who have the Spirit of Prayer The Apostle Paul assoon as ever translated into this state has this Character Behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. 't is more than probable he had spoken the words of prayer many a time before while he was a zealous Son of the Jewish Church but now he prayed in Gods account now he prayed in the holy Ghost They that are hypocrites may excell in the gift of Prayer God may be much in their mouths and their expressions may be fluent and seemingly affectionate when yet he is far from their reins But the Spirit of grace and supplication is peculiar to the Saints Now such as have the Spirit of prayer their desires are drawn forth with greatest strength and fervour after Spiritual and eternal blessings They intreat the favour of God and fellowship with him with their whole heart they beg for the increase of Faith Fear and Love and every other grace and that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God and that being delivered from every evil work they may be preserved to his heavenly Kingdom Thus the Spirit makes intercession for them according to the will of God Rom. 8. 26 27. 8. They are in a state of Grace who love the brethren 1 Joh. 3. 14. Hereby we know we are passed from death to life because we love the brethren Now right love to the brethren is love with a pure heart and a good conscience 't is a fervent love 't is love to all the Saints though but poor in the world though of a different persuasion The image of God is loved wherever 't is found and the more of it is found 't is lookt upon as more lovely 'T is one thing to love the Saints because they are good natured because they are beautiful because they are bountiful because they are wise and discreet and 't is another thing to love them because they are holy And truly if the more holy they are the more we love them and the more plainly they deal with us by reprehension and advice in order unto our progress in sanctification and holiness the more and better we like them this is a clear and solid evidence of our being Saints our selves Moreover true Saints are of a publick Spirit they are concerned for the whole Church Militant and cry aloud that she may be preserved in purity unity and love and may more than conquer all enemies and come at last to be Triumphant 9. They are in a state of Grace who endure to the end and are not weary of well-doing He that endures to the end shall be saved says Christ and If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Joh. 8. 31. The sincerely Righteous ones not withstanding all difficulties oppositions trials tribulations hold on their way and they that have clean hands do wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. They fight the good fight of Faith to the last breath and by patient continuance in wel-doing they seek for glory honour and immortality and at last lay hold on eternal life Rom. 2. 7. Thus you have the Touchstone of the Word to prove your selves by And what this Word binds on earth is bound in heaven what this Word looses on earth is loosed in heaven If you continue in a state which this Word pronounces bad you will certainly be condemned but if your state be such as this Word declares good you will as certainly be acquitted rewarded and crown'd at the great approaching Day In the sixth place I am to inform you of the special seasons when this duty of self-proving is to be performed and the seasons are these 1. We ought to prove our selves before we engage in the ordinance of the Lords Supper There must be a Spiritual life or else there cannot be a fitness to be a guest at the Lords Table A dead Corps set at a Feast would be a frightful Spectacle to all there neither could a dead body eat any of the dainties prepared He that is dead in trespasses and sins is not a worthy Communicant for he wants the grace of Faith which is as the eye to discern the hand to receive and the mouth to eat the Lord Jesus who is the bread of life The Lords Supper is not an Ordinance designed to work the first grace for if 't were then none ought to be excluded the greatest Sinners are to be admitted to converting Ordinances and there would be no such thing as Excommunication in the Church of Christ But the design of it is to increase and strengthen and make more and more evident that grace which is already wrought Therefore we must prove what we are before we engage 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. But let a man examine himself and
reason they should despair of mercy Ans 1. Despair is one of the greatest sins that can be committed dishonouring the grace of God making light of the blood of Christ and very opposite to the Spitit of Grace It is good says the Prophet that a man should hope Lam. 3. 26. Surely then 't is bad that a man should despair This sin thwarts the very design of the Gospel And Satan being hopeless himself would fain hinder sensible Sinners from hoping though he cherishes vain hopes in such as are presumptuous 2. There is a despair that is a Duty that is a despair of help from self and a despair of help from God if there be a resolution to continue in Sin Thou mayest as well hope to get no harm by the fall in throwing thy self off from the top of Londons Monument Thou may'st as well cast thy self into the Fire and hope not to be burnt as go on still in thy Sins and hope to escape everlasting Flames 3. But yet the door of hope is really open to the greatest Sinners that are willing to return to God and become Saints Blasphemous persecuting Saul was let in at this door And 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. you read of a sad Crew that if Hell were to be raked worse could hardly be found Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers effeminate abusers of themselves with Mankind Thieves Covetous Drunkards Revilers Extortioners and yet these were washt and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Such instances of the rich and free grace of God should hinder the worst from despairing when they come to themselves and are minded to come home to the Lord. 4. That conviction of sin and misery which sensible Souls have is the common road to Christ and grace and comfort He gives rest to the weary and heavy laden he gives liberty to the captives and binds up the broken hearted Mat. 11. 28. Luk. 4. 18. When Sinners are brought to the brink of Hell in their own apprehension this is an hopeful sign they shall be delivered from that place of woe and sorrow and that they shall not feel what they fear Case 5. The fifth Case is this What course must Sinners take after they have prov'd themselves and found how bad they are to be brought into a better and safe Estate Ans 1. They must not oppose conviction but be willing nay earnestly desirous that it may be thorow that their humiliation may be the deeper they must not only be sensible that their actions have been bad but that their hearts are a great deal worse that their very nature is corrupted and their state most miserable Slight convictions soon wear off and a little sense of Sin is followed only with such goodness that is as the morning cloud and as the early dew it goeth away Hos 6. 4. The deeper the humiliation commonly the stricter the holiness afterwards Piscator ictus sapit the burnt Child dreads the Fire And he that hath tasted the Wormwood and the Gall that is in Sin will be the more alienated from it and afraid of contracting new guilt and defilement Let not the pangs of contrition go off too soon for fear there be an abortive instead of the new birth the more you are burthen'd with Sin the more sincere Conversion will be and Christ is the readier to give you rest 2. They must consent to cast away every transgression and cease to be the companions of Transgressors Let not any Sin be kept and rolled as a swee morsel under the Tongue for 't will prove as bitter and deadly as the very gall of Asps at last That promise Iniquity shall not be your ruine is annexed to a command Cast away from you all your transgressions Ezek. 18. 30 31. The wicked man is required to forsake his way which intimates the reformation of his life and also to forsake his thoughts which shews his very heart must be renewed else there cannot be a returning unto God indeed nor mercy and pardon obtained Esa 55. 7. It is reported concerning Agrippina the Mother of Nero Caesar that it was foretold her That her Son should be Emperor of Rome but afterwards kill his own Mother She said Occidat modo imperet Let him kill me so he may but Reign Oh let not any Sinner say so concerning any gainful delightful darling Sin Let it damn me so it may but Reign Let me die by it so I may but live in it And as sinful courses must be abandoned so also sinful company Save your selves from an untoward generation Act. 2. 40. was the advice of Peter to those awakned Souls that askt him what they should do If you would turn to God and go to Heaven you must leave that company that are resolved to go on in Sin and unto Hell 3. They must attend upon prophecy and beg that the Spirit would accompany it The Word of God is the incorruptible seed of which Sinners are born again 1 Pet. 1. 23. and the Word is made effectual by the Spirit 'T is a very encouraging asseveration of Christ Joh. 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live A meer man might have cried long enough and to no purpose at Lazarus his grave But when our Lord says Lazarus come forth there went out a power along with his word that raised him Let Sinners attend upon the Word of Christ Christ himself may speak to them as well as man and then the Spirit of Life will enter into them and the dead in sin shall live 4. They must look unto Jesus for righteousness and strength Esa 45. 24. The righteousness of Christ is necessary unto Sinners reconciliation therefore God does not impute their own sins to them upon their believing in Christ because he does impute the righteousness of his Son That 's a notable place Rom. 4. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works Here is an imputed righteousness and lest any should think it a putative or imaginary righteousness 't is called a righteousness of the Lords own imputing Further 't is a righteousness that does not consist in any works or obedience of ours Finally this Doctrine of the imputed righteousness of Christ is asserted by David under the Old Testament as by Paul under the New In Sinners Approach unto God this righteousness is to be relied on for pardon and justification And as his Righteousness is necessary unto Reconciliation so is his strength and the power of his Spirit unto Conversion None will be made free from the power of Sin and Satan none will be delivered from the power of darkness till the Son of God does make them free indeed and translate them into his own Kingdom 5. They must cry unto God to be throughly turned So did Ephraim Jer. 31.
great favour to be received as a Servaat who deserve to be punished and excluded as an Enemy Humbled Sinners do very much consider their ill deserts and how are they filled with admiration at the free grace of God in his Son Jesus which is the ground of their hope and encouragement By the grace of God they are what they are they have what they have they hope what they hope for Case 3. The third Case follows How may we be sure that our desires after God and grace are sincere 'T is a Maxim in practical Divinity That the desires after Grace are Grace but they must be true desires Now these may thus be known 1. Sincere desires spring from knowledge and serious consideration The Lord is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an unknown God to them that indeed desire after him he has caused his goodness which is his glory to pass before them and the desirableness of that goodness has been perceived Jer. 24. 7. I will give them an heart to know me and then it follows they shall return to me with their whole heart The eyes must be anointed with eye-salve the judgment must be inlightned and informed concerning the Lords perfections and fulness and riches of grace and mercy and willingness to communicate of these riches then desires after him will be real and well-grounded 2. Sincere desires are prevailing my meaning is that God and Grace are desired more than any thing the World than all the World besides An Author tells us that Tepidit as est parvus amor boni Lukewarmness implies some little love to that which is good but there is a greater love to that which is evil and vain And what does the little love then signifie If God be not desired above all he is not truely at all desired That was a sincere desire Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee That is All things comparatively to thee are undesirable in my esteem In the Roman State 't was said Nec ferre potest Caesarve priorem Pompeiusve parem Caesar could not endure a superior and Pompey could not brook an equal God will have neither superior nor equal in our hearts they that love him truely give him the highest room of all 3. Sincere desires bear up against opposition Though the Flesh does lust and Mammon and Satan joyn with it yet the Spirit does lust against it Gal. 5. 17. There is a longing to be deliver'd from the body of Sin to be rid of that evil which is present when good is about to be done Rom. 7. Where there are desires after Grace indeed the remainders of Sin are irkfom and we shall sigh and wish that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus may make us free from the law of Sin and Death 4. Sincere desires are great enemies to delays Davids Soul made haste to God and to do his duty Psal 119. 60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments and he desires that God would make haste to him Psal 101. 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way Oh when wilt thou come to me So Psal 70. 1. Make haste O God to deliver make haste to help me O Lord. And when God did withdraw from him he cryes out How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Ps 13. 1. Every day does seem a year and every year does seem an age to longing Souls when the Lord with-holds his quickening and comforting presence from them 5. Sincere desires are extended to every thing which God propounds in his Word as desirable Not some onely but all the benefits of Christ are longed after all his Offices are prized Sincere ones see a necessity of Christ a Priest upon the Cross they love to hear him as a Prophet in the Pulpit and are very desirous to submit to him as a Prince upon the Throne Nay they yield their hearts to be his Throne The Laws of God are dear to them they desire to keep them all to be filled with all the fulness of God to stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God Nay they aspire so high as to beg that they may do his will on Earth as 't is done in Heaven Mat. 6. 10. 6. Sincere desires are industrious Solomon speaks of a desire of the slothful which kills him because his hands refuse to labour Prov. 21. 25. He perishes for want of the good desired because he will not take pains to obtain it True desires are accompanied with a fear of missing what is desired not so as to make unbelieving conclusions but to quicken unto diligence Psal 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after Then we desire really when we seek diligently And where is diligence and pains better employed than when seeking the Lord who has told us as certainly as he is so certainly he will be a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. 7. Sincere desires are never quite satisfied here in this World What is said concerning earthly riches Crescit amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit may be applied to the true riches Crescit amor quantum divitiae love to them and covetousness after more increases as they increase He that has most grace is most desirous to have more 'T is true indeed our Lord tells us Joh. 6. 35. He that cometh unto me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst But if this be referr'd to Spiritual things the meaning is he shall not so hunger and thirst as to despair and be tormented with despair of satisfaction or else the passage may be referr'd to the things of this World that impia fames that sinful and eager hunger and thirst after them shall cease Sincere Souls never can in this World and they think they never can prize their Lord Jesus love and fear and serve their God sufficiently and therefore desire still to do all this more and better they forget the things behind and are still reaching forward and if you ask when they will be satisfied David shall answer Psal 17. ult and what he speaks of himself is applicable to others As for me I shall behold thy face in righteousness and be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Case 4. A fourth Case may be this How may we be able to discern whether in Religion we are acted meerly by slavish fear yea or no Though carnal security is that which ruines the most of men yet a slavish fear yea or no Though carnal security is that which ruines the most of men yet a slavish fear is to be found also in the ungodly Such a fear there was in those we read of Psal 78. 34. When the hand of the Lord was stretched out and slew many of them the rest feared and sought him and yet
But he is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Whom he saves he makes by his power willing and obedient 'T was said unto the Lord Messiah Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Psal 110. 3. 5. If we have accepted Christ we are born again and made new Creatures 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature And Joh. 1. 12 13. They that receive and believe in Christ are said to be born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Grace does not come by natural descent the flesh has no will or desire after it man though never so eminent is not able to work it but 't is alone from God And all true Believers are born of God they have a new heart a new nature new desires and affections new designs are carried on and they walk in newness of life The old man indeed remains in part but they are burthen'd with it and desire more fully to put on the new which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness 6. If we have accepted Christ we do and we see cause to admire the Fathers love in sending him we look upon him as the greatest gift that ever was given or could be given to the sons of men He is all in all Col. 3. 11. He fills all in all Eph. 1. ult If Christ be ours God is ours Heaven is ours all is ours Here 's a height that none can reach a depth that none can fathom a length that none can measure a bredth that none can comprehend How do Believers admire Jesus and the love of the Father that gave him They know that gift of God and wonder at the Donors kindness 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. In this i. e. in this above all was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him If ye talk of love herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our Sins 7. If we have accepted Christ we live upon him by faith we are strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus I live says the Apostle yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. And thus relying upon the sufficient grace and strength of our Lord Jesus which is made perfect in our weakness we shall resolve to follow the Lamb without standing still without turning aside without drawing back from him we shall not cowardly fly nor treacherously revolt from him but follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes Case 6. The sixth Case is this When may Conversion be judged to be sincere and true Man is departed from the Lord and he is brought to this strait either he must turn to God or he must burn in Hell and every turning will not serve our turn The Scripture speaks of a feigned Conversion such a Convert was treacherous Judah Jer. 3. 10. It concerns us to prove our selves whether we are Converts in reality which may be thus known 1. Sincere Converts have been made to consider their own ways and the evil and destructiveness of them David tells us he thought on his ways and turned Psal 119. 59. They have lookt to the end of the broad road in which they once went and seen that burning Lake at the end of it destruction and misery is in that way and so they dare not proceed He never turns from Sin indeed that sees no harm or danger in it Those Scriptures The Soul that sins shall die and The wages of Sin is death are deeply engraven upon the Converts heart 2. Sincere Converts are really grieved that they turn'd no sooner they reflect with sorrow and shame upon that time wherein they were foolish and disobedient and deceived and served diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 3. 3. and wish they had been so wise as to have served another a better Master How are they afflicted that Sin and Satan and Mammon have stolen away so many of their few days and that their lusts should devour the cream and prime of all their time They think with themselves how much Sin might have been prevented how much Grace might have been gotten how much might have been done for God if they had turned sooner and this makes them to live the remainder of their time in the flesh not to the lusts of men but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2. 3. Sincere Converts turn unto God himself they own him as a Lord and eye him as their happiness in their Conversion to him Jer. 4. 1. If thou wilt return O Israel saith the Lord return unto Me. They seek the Lord himself and his strength and his face evermore the mercies of God indeed they do and may desire but principally the Father of them they see that God has all is all and can be infinitely more than all things unto them they come to him that they may enjoy him here and for ever Lord be my God my Father my Inheritance give thy self to me and then thou wilt deal most bountifully with me That 's the Converts language 4. Sincere Converts turn with their whole heart This is called for Joel 2. 12. Turn ye even unto me with all your heart And the want of this is complain'd of Jer. 3. 10. Her treacherous Sister Judah hath not turned to me with her whole heart but feignedly saith the Lord. When the whole heart is turned no iniquity is regarded there but all is disliked no creature is suffered to have the highest room the whole heart is resigned and given unto God As the Besieged render up the Castle to the Conquerer that he may dispose of it as he pleases so the Convert renders himself all the powers and faculties of his Soul he yields and consents to have all renewed all sanctified which is a perfection of parts and a perfection of degrees is desired and aspired unto he longs to be turned more and more and to be kept from returning again to folly 5. Sincere Converts turn their feet unto Gods testimonies Psal 119. 59. I turned my feet unto thy testimonies They conform to the Word which God has spoken as their Rule This declares best of all Quid pulchrum quid turpe quid utile quid non what is fair and what is filthy what is profitable and what 's destructive By this Word they order their hearts and conversations He that despises the Word of God and the Commands of it is not sincerely converted but damnably deluded True Converts keep close to Scriptures and Ordinances and never fancy themselves above them but with David desire to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of their lives
small success 6. Assurance of the love of God will lift you up above the fear of evil tidings Psal 112. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Why should those be afraid who dwell in the secret place of the most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91. 1. The Saint has the Almighty on his side who surely is able to protect him He is under the shadow of the Almighty the Lord with his wings does cover him that violence may not be offered to him nay he abides under this Shadow so that he is safe at all times He dwells in the Most High and who then can reach him Nay he dwells in the secret place of the most High which shews how precious he is in Gods account and how far out of harms way Single David supposes an whole Host encamped against him yet says his heart shall not fear Psal 27. 3. and knowledge of his interest in God is the ground of his confidence vers 1. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid 7. Assurance of the love of God will make you very holy and heavenly The Grace of God is but presumed upon and abused when'tis made an encouragement unto licentiousness Hark to the Apostle Rom. 6. 1 2. What shall we say then shall we continue in Sin that grace may abound God forbid how shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Those who know they are under Grace do most abhor the dominion of Sin v. 14. they live most to God and are most forward to be the Servants of Righteousness The Conversation of such will be much in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. The Heir in his minority does often think of the Estate he is to enjoy Those who know they are the Children of God will often think of what they are to partake of hereafter for they are Heirs of God and joint Hiers with Christ they are begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead unto an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. No contemplation will be so delightful to us as that of Heaven when once we know that our Lord is gone to prepare a place for us and will come again and receive us to himself that where he is we may be for ever also 8. Assurance of the love of God will make you to abound in praises He has made you new creatures to this very end that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. How does the Apostle Peter break out into thanksgiving upon this account 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again The Apostle Paul speaks to the same purpose Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6 7. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ He hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without blame before him in Love He hath predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children He hath made us accepted in the beloved in whom we have Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of sins according to the Riches of his Grace How much has the Lord wrought both in and for those he has made Believers He has abounded towards them in Wisdom in Grace in Power in Love Praise is a debt Praise is expected and Praise is comely Though all his Works praise the Lord yet Saints look upon themselves as under a more special and peculiar obligation to magnifie and blesse his Name 9. Assurance of the Love of God will make Afflictions tolerable nay Death it self desirable The bitterest Cup will down more easily when you see t is reached forth to you by the hand of a Father The curse of the Cross is gone and it may be the better born and the Sting of Death is taken out and now Death and the Grave may be triumphed over What was Death to old Simeon when his Eyes had seen Gods Salvation it was but a peaceable departure out of a troublesome World Luk. 1. 29. 30. What was Death to the Apostle Paul who knew that assoon as ever he was absent from the Body he should be present with the Lord It was not dreadful but desirable Phil. 1. 23. I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better These are the Arguments and are they not strong ones to perswade you to labour after Assurance The Directions how to prove your selves so as to attain this Assurance follow 1. Set selves as in the presence of the All-Seeing and Heart searching God Who knows you who will judge you and who alone can make you to know your selves You cannot possibly deceive him for every Creature is manifest in his sight all things are naked and open to his veiw Heb. 4. 13. Your Spirits will be apt both to trifle and to juggle unlesse they are awed with a sence of the Lords Omniscience Let Conscience in the searching of you act as Gods Officer and as Gods Officer in Gods presence and then it will deal the more faithfully 2. Pray that your Spirits may give a true Testimony concerning you And that they may do so you must be well acquainted with Scripture-signs and characters of true Grace and then with great intention reflect upon your selves to see whether you have the marks of Christs sheep upon you whether you have the characters of Gods Children A wrong judgment of your selves how extreamly prejudicial would it be to you Adjure your Spirits therefore in the name of the Lord to tell you the very Truth and cry unto the Lord himself that he would not suffer you to fancy or call your selves his Children if you are really but hypocrites and strangers to him that you may not cry peace and safety when God speaks just the contrary 2. Be willing to find out every thing that 's evil in you in order to your more compleat purging David prays see if there be any evil way in me and lead me in the way Everlasting Psal 139. 24. And Psal 19. 12. He desires to be cleansed from secret sins that nothing wicked might borrow the shape of lawful and good and thereby abide in him The more corruption is found our and mortified the more fruitful you will be John 15. 2. Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit And the more fruitful you are the more evident it will be that you are really the living branches of the true Vine which is Christ Jesus 4. Pray hard That if you have any Grace the Lord would increase it and bring it
into exercise that it may be the more apparent Little Grace is nearest unto no Grace much Grace is nearer unto Glory When Grace lies dormant as it were and asleep in the Habit it may be doubted of but when 't is vigorously acted the Truth of it will more easily be granted Thus the Hare when she sits close is not perceived but when she is started then she is visible to all Pray therefore to resemble the Thessalonians whose Faith did grow exceedingly and whose Love abounded 2 Thes 1. 3. And that your Faith may work and your Love put you upon labour this is the way to have your spiritual estate cleared up to you 5. Find out and avoid what really nourishes and keeps up your Doubts and Fears Entertain not high Thoughts of your selves your gifts your parts your attainments for deadness and darkness and doubting will follow upon spiritual pride Check the spirit in you which lusteth unto Envy Jam. 4. 5. Abhor all lascivious thoughts and motions at the first rising of them Let not any Earthly enjoyment get too high a room in your Heart nor too large a share in your Affections Suffer not your Spirits to be ruffled and disordered by passion and peevishness In short connive at no corruption but mortifie all your members upon Earth Col. 3. 5. Not sparing the right Hand or right Eye For if you deal gently with any of your lusts and suffer them ever an anon to prevail they will render your condition doubtful and will be a strong impediment unto Assurance and Consolation 6. When you are proving your selves heed not Satan in his unreasonable injections You need not doubt but this Accuser of the Brethren will be very busie and use many wiles to hinder you from attaining peace of Conscience The Christians comfort which is the Christians Heaven upon Earth is the Hell and Torment of this envious Spirit therefore he does what he can to hinder it He starts a great many captious questions in the minds of Humbled and Awakened ones How do you know but that you are of the number of the not Elected Is not the day of Grace past and the Spirit quite gone Are you not judicially blinded and hardened Can you ever hope for an interest in and sense of the Love of God who have been such rebels heretofore and such revolters and back-slinders since a profession of Religion Sometimes this Enemy of souls will charge those that are sincere with hypocrisie in a most peremptory manner he tells them that all their duties are a meer Abomination that they have not one jot of saving Faith that they are meer strangers unto godly sorrow and repentance that they have nothing at all of the Love of God in them Calumniare audacter aliquid haerebit Satan charges boldly and thereby hopes something will stick whereby the soul will be disquieted But such injections as these are not to be regarded because they come from him that is called a Lyar and it may be known they proceed from him because he proves not what he injects by Scripture nay he overlooks all that the Scripture speaks for the souls encouragement And his design in these injections is to make duty neglected to drive souls to despair and to lay aside the profession and practice of Religion Be altogether deaf to Satan perceiving his evil design and pray that the God of peace would bruise Satan under your feet Rom. 16. 20. 7. Add not unto the Word of God Prov. 30. 6. My meaning is this believe nothing either for or against your selves but accoring to the written Word of God rightly understood and applyed Many question their state because their Hearts are so dead in Prayer because they find so much hardness and unaffectedness under Ordinances Mercies Afflictions because they fall so exceeding short of what they would fain both be and do But where does the Word tell you that where there is true Grace all deadness and hardness of Heart is removed Or that none are real Saints but who are absolutely perfect in Holiness The Apostle Paul found evil present with him when about to do that which is good Rom. 7. 21. And the beleiving Galatians had flesh as well as spirit and this flesh was very active and lusted against the spirit so that they could not do the things which they would have done Gal. 5. 17. You have spiritual life else you would not have spiritual sense to feel and be weary of remainders of corruption you would not have a will to be and do good and still to be and do better if God had not wrought will this in you 8. Be sure not to thrust away that consolation which the Word of God hands forth to you but humbly and thankfully accept it Though the Heart be naturally deceitful above all things yet so far as 't is renewed it deals truly and sincerely and Conscience being enlightned by the Word of God is to be credittd in its Testimony 1 Joh. 3. 21. Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God If therefore upon the strictest search your Hearts do witness for you that there are good things in you towards God as it was said concerning Ahijah the Son of Jeroboam 1 King 14. 13. If you find that God is preferred before the World that you are willing to receive the Son as the way to the Father and that you consent nay earnestly desire to be sanctified throughout by the Spirit You should not dispute against your comfort but gladly accept of the peace of the Gospel for you are the Sons of peace You will grieve the Spirit of God and add to your own grief if you will not heed the Scripture speaking plainly for you and for your relief and if your Souls refuse to be comforted Ps 77. 2. Take heed of rash answers of your selves that you are rank Hypocrites and that all the grace you have is but common or counterfeit unbeleif is not to decide but the Word is to judge concerning the sincerity of Grace and if the Word speak peace you are not to keep your selves under trouble 9. Hold on in self-proving and praying and resolve never to give over trying and crying tell you know you are the Lords and have the light of his Countenance Tell him that his favour is better then life and that you know not how to live much less do you know how to dye without the sence of his Love Be thankful for hopes and probabilities but rest not there till you can speak as the Spouse in the Canticles Chap. 6. 4. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine And as the Apostle Paul does Gal. 2. 20. The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me Beg that the Spirit may put all out of question and seal you to the day of Redemption The Spirits Testimony is of absolute necessity to bring us to an Assurance that we are the Children of God Now this Testimony
to Catechize himself about There must be Light in the Head that is of absolute necessity though it be not sufficient for there must be also Grace in the Heart to qualifie a man for the Lords Supper 2. The Communicant should further examine and ask himself this question Do I apprehend the danger of unworthy Receiving Is not the guilt of Blood heavy And what is it then to be guilty of the Blood of God But if I Eat and Drink unworthily I am guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord 1 Cor. 11. 27. What a fearful thing is it to Crucifie the Son of God afresh To trample him under Foot and to esteem his Blood a common and an unholy thing My Heart rises against the Jews because they Mocked Scourged Buffeted Crucified the Lord of Life and Glory but this they did in his Humiliation here upon Earth And shall I dare to put an affront upon him now he is at the right Hand of the Almighty Majesty on High If I Eat and Drink unworthily I pull the Blood of Christ upon my Head instead of having my sin pardoned and my Heart cleansed and sanctified by it and I Eat and Drink my own damnation 3. Another question the Communicant should propound to himself is this Have I a right conception of Gospel Worthiness The Worthiness spoken of in the Gospel does not imply any Merit or Desert for Christ the Son is given out of the Transcendent Love of God and with him freely all things Rom. 8. 32. The Patriarch Jacob Acknowledged he could not lay claim to the least of all Mercies as a due debt Our daily Bread is a Gift and how much more the Bread of Life Worthiness therefore is as much as being disposed and made meet to Receive what the Lord in the Supper is willing to bestow When we are sensible of our own unworthiness and guilt and vileness then we are made meet to be accepted looking unto the Beloved and to be Justified by his Meritorious Righteousness When we are sensible how weak and empty and distempered our Hearts are then we are Worthy that is to say made meet to be strengthened and filled and healed by the great Physitian of Souls in whom it hath pleased the Father all fulness should dwell 4. The Communicant should ask himself Do I look upon admission to the Table of the Lord as a mighty priviledge He was no less then a King of Israel who thought it a great favour to be a doorkeeper in the House of God and what is it then to be a welcom guest at his Table What is it to be brought into his Banquetting House where the Banner over his People is love Cant. 2. 4. Our Lord in this Ordinance deals forth Light and Grace and Comfort bountifully Here Tears have been dried up fainting Souls have been revived and Faith ready to fail hath been strengthned and languishing Hope hath been made lively The Blood of Jesus Christ being applied has proved a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 medicine for every malady and hath sent away the sin distressed Soul both clean and calm both pure and also peaceable Is it not a mighty advantage and an Heart effecting and endearing sight to see the Blood and the Love of Christ streaming forth together Here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. Oh with what confidence may humble and hungry souls go to this Jesus who is so full of Love and so full of all besides which they Hunger after he would have none to content themselves with a little but his language is Eat O Friends Drink yea Drink abundantly O Beloved Cant. 5. 1. 5. The Communicant should ask himself Do I know what it is to discern the Lords Body 1 Cor. 11. 29. My bodily Eye beholds the Sacramental Bread and Wine but have I an Eye to behold something further and better If the Israelites in the Wilderness did behold an Healer and a Saviour when Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent if the Beleivers under the Old Testament did see a Messiah in the legal sacrifices though as yet he was not manifested in the Flesh surely since the Son of God is come and has been actually offered up to bear the sins of many shall I not behold this Jesus in the Bread and Wine broken and poured out where he is so evidently set forth as Crucified What is it to discern the Lords Body Verily 't is to look beyond the outward Elements to the Body and Blood of Christ which thereby are represented and to relye upon that very Jesus who was Crucified without the Gates at Jerusalem for the Pardon and Mortification of our iniquities in particular and that our wants of Grace and Strength and Comfort may be supplyed out of his superabundant fulness Moreover the Beleiver should grow confident and be perswaded that as really as the Bread and Wine are given him so really Christ bestowes himself and his benefits upon him in this Blessed Ordinance Hark to the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 16 The cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we brake is it not the communion of the Body of Christ The Communicant should ask himself Do I see my self lost in my self and do I perceive 't is in vain to hope for Redemption any other way but by the Lord Jesus The Apostle has a notable expression when he speaks of being shut up unto Faith Gal. 3. 23. Intimating that all other doors are shut against the Sinner only the door of Faith in Jesus Christ is open We cannot reasonably hope for the Forgiveness of sin or Justification before God any other way but by him who is sufficient to be a propitiation for the sins of the whole World There were multitudes of sacrifices under the old Law which were appointed by the Lord him self and yet the sins of the Sacrificers could be done away by none of them The Apostle tells us plainly that 't is impossible the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sin Heb. 10. 4. And if the sacrifices that were of Divine institution could not do it surely those of humane invention could do it lesse though never so costly though we should give our first Born for our Transgression the Fruit of our Body for the sin of our Soul Mic. 6. 7. No active Obedience that we can yeild can justifie us before God for the Apostle peremptorily asserts that there is no Law given which can give Life unto him that obeys it Gal. 3. 21. Nay further our greatest sufferings for Righteousness sake are insufficient to be our justifying Righteousness Therefore those who come out of great Tribulation are said to have washed their Robes not in their own Blood though that was spilt for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ but in the Blood of the Lamb Rev. 7. 14. 7. The Communicant should examine and ask himself Am I perswaded
my prejudice against Holiness removed as if ' iwere unwise uneasie needless and a thraldom to be Holy O my Soul what doest thou long for when thou comest unto thy Lords Banquet Is it not that thy Faith may be strengthened that thy love to God may be more hot and flaming Is it not that thy fear may be greater and more filial and that thou mayest be inabled to follow thy heavenly Father more fully as a dear Child Is not sanctifying Grace preferred before Gold that perishes dost thou not long that the new Creature may be more lively in all the actings of it and that thou mayest become stronger in Spirit If it be thus it is a sign thy Spiritual Appetite is sharp and keen and as the Supper is an ordinance proper and suitable to thee so there is enough and enough to fill thee and thou shalt not be sent away empty for the promise is open thy Mouth wide and I will All it Psal 82. 10. 11. The Communicant should examine and ask himself Do I count the World but loss that I may gain Christ Has he the preeminence in my affections above all things visible above all persons breathing Where Faith is true Christ is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. And Christ is not truly prized at all unless he be prized above all The young man in the Gospel lacked one thing and that was the main Love to Christ above his possessions Those were not fit to taste of the Marriage Supper who preferred their Oxen and their Farms and their Merchandize before it Mat. 22. Our Lord expresly requires us to undervalue what is dearest in this World in comparison of him Luk. 14. 26. If any man come to me and hate not i. e. less Love his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life also and what can be named dearer he cannot be my Disciple Speak therefore thus to thy self O my Soul has thy Saviour and Lord indeed the highest room in thee Corruptible things as Silver and Gold are unsuitable to thy nature which is spiritual and were insufficient to be the price for thy Redemption The world has often proved a snare to thee but Christ is a Saviour the World is vanity and less then nothing but Christ is all in all the World has often disappointed and vexed thee but Christ can ease and satiate and replenish thee The World after thou hadst ruined thy self was ready to help forward thy destruction But Christ has the key of Hell and can keep thee out of it and the key of Heaven and can give thee an abundant entrance into that everlasting Kingdom If Christ can do more then the World can nay if Christ can do all for a Soul and the world can do just nothing at all 't is but reason that Christ should infinitely be preferr'd before it 12. The Communicant should ask himself Am I reconciled to the Commands of God Am I willing that my Heart should be Tables for the Spirit to write his Laws upon that I may delight to do the will of God Do I esteem not only some but all the Lords precepts concerning not only somethings but concerning all things to be right and do I hate every false way Ps 119. 128. O my Soul speak Art thou irritated by the Law of God as formerly are the motions to sin stronger and more vehement because the law forbids Sin Or is the Law of God dear to thee and art thou ready to say at the hearing of every Command Oh that my wayes were directed that I might keep this Statute The stronger Grace is the commands of God are farther off from being grievous You may perceive how David was affected towards them when he said Psal 19. 10. More are they to be desired then Gold yea then much fine Gold sweeter also then Honey and the droppings of the Honeycomb And where Grace is weak though there be an untoward backwardness remaining to yield obedience to the Law that backwardness is lamented and a Burthen and the heart longs to be enlarged that it may run the wayes of Gods Commandments Psal 119. 32. 13. The Communicant should examine himself Am I willing to receive whatever Christ has purchased and is willing to give in this ordinance of the Supper Is every benefit of Christ lookt upon as worthy of all acceptation All the benefits of Christ are dear surely all of them are of great value And there is not one of them that we can be well without for these benefits are excellently suited unto our necessities O my Soul should the Communicant say thou likest the Lord Jesus as he is made unto thee Righteousness as he skreens thee from the Wrath of God and interposes between thee and everlasting vengeance But dost thou see thy need of his Wisdom to direct thee in the way of Truth and to make all the wiles of the subtle Serpent of none effect And to make thee wise to Salvation and for Eternity Dost thou value Chrict as made Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Dost thou count deliverance from all Iniquity a great and desirable part of Redemption and Sanctification a great and desirable part of Salvation because hereby thou art saved from thy pollutions and defilements Certainly as there is no sin which should be loved so there is nothing in sin to be liked and there is no thing in Christ but what is highly worthy to be esteemed 14. The Communicant should examine and ask himself Am I grieved when I remember what I have done against God and the Lord Jesus Is it indeed the trouble and Affliction of my Soul that I have so naturally and forwardly and so long rebelled against the best Lord and been disobedient to the best Father Do I mourn and would I mourn a great deal more because I have dared the power of God slighted his presence contemned his favour and fellowship hated his holiness abused the riches of his Grace and Mercy O my Soul how foolish and unwise hast thou been thus to requite the Lord that made and bought thee How great an evil has it been in it self and how evil has it been for thee that thou hast forsaken the Fountain of Living waters Mourn that thou hast left such a God and mourn the more kindly because still he is willing to receive thee See O My Soul how thy sin has peirced the only Saviour Behold him in an Agony behold him sweating drops of Blood first and after shedding all upon the Cross See a sorrowful Life ending in a Death more lamentable Harken to thy Redeemer crying out My God my God Why hast thou forsaken me Behold the son of Righteousness setting in a Cloud and sin thy sin the cause of all this Break break hard Heart Let his Blood and Love together melt thee into Godly sorrow 15. The Communicant should Examine himself Am I willing to give to Christ whatever he is willing to
have Can I lay all that I have and my self too at his feet And not complement or dissemble with him when I say I and all is at his service Do I yeild my whole Heart my whole Man unto my Lord without any reserve As Christ gave himself for me and gave himself to me so am I perswaded that I cannot dispose of my self better or so well as to give up my self to Him O My Soul is any thing too much too good or good enough for Jesus Behold God in the Flesh in the Manger upon the Cross and in the Grave and if he condescendded obeyed and suffered and purchased so much for thee O Be perfect and intire in the resignation of thy self to him Thou readest of a Nonsuch Convert 2 King 23. 25. And that was Josiah Like unto him there was no King before him that turned unto the Lord with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might neither after him arose there any like him Surely 't is thy duty and Interest to write after this excellent pattern 16. The Communicant should ask himself Am I desirous to be faithful in Gods Covenant to the last Breath Do I count I obtain great mercy when I am made thus faithful Have I counted the cost of being a Disciple And is my love of the Lord and of Godliness greater then my fear of persecution Do I distrust my corrupt and timerous Nature and beg that my Lords Grace may be sufficient Look O My Soul as thy Head did unto the Joy that is set before thee and start not at the Cross which is the way to the Crown Persecution will sit thee for Heaven may speed thee thither Fear not men since the worst is the best they can do that is set thee by Death out of their reach and send thee to thy Fathers house and bosom Faint not at Troubles for these light afflictions which are but for a moment do work for persevering Saints a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 17. The Communicant should Examine himself Am I taught of God to love my Brethren 1 Thess 4. 9. Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and all kinde of Malice is leaven that is to be purged out All that come to the Table should put on as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of mind Meekness Long-Suffering Forbearing one another and Forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any as Christ forgave them so also should they do And above all these things they should put on Charity which is the Bond of Perfectness and the Peace of God should rule in their Hearts whereunto they are also called in one Body Col. 3. 12 13 14. 15. As there is a representation of the Body of Christ in this Ordinance of the Supper so there is some signification of the Love and Unity that ought to be in the Body Mystical that is to say the Church of Christ the Apostles Words are plain 1 Cor. 10. 17. For we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread You see how you are to prove your selves and what questions to propound to your own souls before you come to the Lords Table And if your Consciences can answer for you before God in the affirmative unto such questions as these You may without presumption conclude that you are the Children of God that you have a right to come to your Fathers Table and that the Bread of Life belongs to you In the Third place I am to direct you how you may prove and call your selves to an account every day that you may walk with the greater circumspection The God of Heaven is the Lord of Time he observes how our Time is husbanded whether well or ill and he can put a period to it when he pleases And if we did seriously observe what fills up our time so many days would not be spent and lost in sin and vanity It was an Heathen who said he had lost a day when a day passed without doing of good which shews he used to reflect upon the actions of every day whether they were Good or Evil. I would advise you much to observe your selves Never any more spend a day as if you were never to account for that day but remember what the Apostle Paul says Eph. 5. 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the Time And the Apostle Peter gives the like charge 1 Pet. 1. 17. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear Towards the Evening of the day it will not be amiss to retire and laying aside other business to converse with thy self and ask thy self these or such like questions 1. Did I wake with God in the Morning and in his strength resolve to walk with God all this day long Every one of us should resemble David who said How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God! When I awake I am still with thee Psal 139. 17 18. The first Fruits of our Thoughts should be offered up unto God and if the first Fruit be Holy all the rest of our Thoughts are the more likely to be free from wickedness and vanity And as the soul should be lifted up to the Lord at the very first unlocking of the senses so there should be a resolving and forecasting how to please and glorifie him Every day we live the main end of our living should be minded and that is to honour that God who is our Maker Benefactour Saviour for off him and through him and to him are all things and to him belongs the Glory for ever Rom. 11. ult 2. Ask thy self Did I willingly leave my Bed that I might go to Prayer and search the Word of God And did I long for and enjoy Communion with God in these duties Many will leave their Beds most readily when they are to go a pleasant Journey or when they hope to drive on an advantagious bargain or when they are to put on their finest Clothes But how few do shake off sleep in a morning that they may go to the Throne of Grace where the truest both pleasure and profit is to be found David lookt up to Heaven assoon as his Eyes were open Psal 5. 3. My Voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Nay he says Psal 119. 147. I prevented the dawning of the Morning and cryed I hoped in thy Word Early Prayer and Searching of the Scripture is the way to obtain a blessing at the beginning of the day the influence of which may be perceived all the day after Communion with God in the morning may knit the Heart so fast to him as that no Temptation may be able to draw it away from him afterwards It was a pretty passage of Herbert Who read a Chapter when
they rise Shall ne're be troubled with ill Eyes Indeed Prayer and looking seriously into the Word of God at first is the way to keep Eyes and Heart and Hands and Tongue and feet and all in order 3. Ask thy self Have I walked within my House with a perfect Heart Praying with them Edifying of them and giving no occasion of offence and stumbling to them There will be the practise of Godliness in the House where there is really the power of Godliness in the Heart Every Christian Family should be like Philemons a Church Philem. 2. 3. To the Church in thy House Grace and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ A Church implies a joyning together in that Worship and Service which God has commanded Christian Families being Churches there ought to be an assembling of the Family together to pour out joynt Prayers unto God I and my House we will serve the Lord says good old Joshua Josh 24. 15. I know Abraham says God that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. Family Prayer is enjoyned in the Lords Prayer Give us this day our daily Bread shews plainly that those who ordinarily and daily eat together ought ordinarily and daily to pray together The Master of a Family has a great trust committed to him even all the Souls under his roof and therefore by Praying with them and for them by reading of the Holy Scripture by Counsel and Instruction and by an Holy and excellent example he should endeavour to be beneficial to them and all the members of the Family should do the duties of their place and relation 4. Ask thy self Have I kept my Heart this day with all diligence The wise man gives that precept Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy Heart with all diligence And every one that is wise will follow it The Heart is to be kept for God and Christ there should be a most joyful consent that the Father and the Son should make their abode there That the Word of God should be hid there And the Heart should be kept from Sin and Satan and this present evil World Keep thy Heart for without diligent keeping it will be like the sluggards Field nothing but what is stinking and noysom will grow in it Examine Have the Thoughts of thy Heart been Holy Has God been frequently awfully and delightfully thought on Have thy Affections been Spiritual and most strongly inclined and carried forth after Heavenly and Spiritual things Has Pride Envy Anger and Evil Concupiscence and every other Heart Sin been hated Upon the first appearance of such Corruption hast thou presently cryed to Heaven for help and never ceased till they were gotten under The difficulty and also the excellency of the Christian Religion lies in keeping the Heart pure the Heart then is in no wise at any time to be neglected 5. Ask thy self Have I walked and prayed that I might not enter into Temptation And especially have I been vigilant against my Bosom sin 'T is easier by far to keep out of Temptation then being once entangled to recover out of Temptation 'T is easier to continue standing then after a fall to rise again and the reason is because a fall weakens us and disposes unto further falling Therefore the temper is to be resisted at first there should be no parlying with him but he should meet with an obstinate deafness an Holy inflexibility and stiffness and an utter detestation and abhorrency of all his motions When we are thus like iron pillars and like brazen Walls Hell is confounded the Devil flies He fights indeed but he does not prevail against us for the Lord is with us to deliver us to allude to that Jer. 1. 18 19. Especially we should place the strongest guard where we are weakest And take heed lest the sins of our complexions and constitutions and the sins of our Callings and the sins of the Times prevail and bring us under guilt and defilement 6. Ask thy self Have I done Justly and acted as if I loved Mercy The false Balance divers measures and the bag with deceitful weights are an Abomination to God And every good man will hate them That we ought to be exactly Just and Righteous in our dealings is deeply engraven on the Heart of man by Nature Excellent is that passage of an Heathen Poet. Persius Satyr 2. Compositum ius fasque animo sanctosque recessus Mentis et incoctum generoso pectus honesto Haec cedo ut admoveam templis farre litabo The meaning of which verses is That the meanest Sacrifices are acceptable unto God when the Sacrificer is Just and Righteous But the Word of Grace does abound in precepts of this kind The Gospel teaches that men should live Soberly and Righteously as well as Godly in this present World Tit. 2. 11 12. And 1 Thes 4. 6. That no man go beyond and desraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such If thou wrongest another thou dost thy self a farr greater injury Dishonest gain will be thy own Eternal loss without Repentance and Restitution according to thy ability And as thou shouldst be a practiser of Justice so a lover of Mercy The Lord delights in shewing mercy and so shouldst thou Thou oughtest to be merciful to thy Beast and how much more to thy Brother And if thou must Feed and Clothe the Hungry and naked Bodies of others according to thy power Certainly their precious souls should share in thy compassions and by wise reproofs faithful advice and frequent Prayer thou shouldst endeavour to prevent their perishing Everlastingly 7. Ask thy self Have I bridled my tongue If there be not a care to do this all Religion is but vain Jam. 1. 26. The Apostle uses two excellent similitudes relating to the Tongue Jam. 3. 3. 4. We put bits in the Horses Mouthes that they may obey us And Certainly we should set a Watch before the door of our Lips that we may not offend in the words we speak Behold also the Ships which though they are so great and are driven of fierce Winds yet are they turned about with a very small Helm whither soever the Governour listeth The Helm of a Ship had need have a skilful hand and the Tongue of a man had need be wisely managed How few make Conscience of Tongue sins who pretend highly to conscienciousness in other matters If by our Words we are to be Justified and Condemned Good Lord How few will be Justified how many will be Condemned at the great day Oh Watch over this little member thy Tongue which boasteth great things If thy Communication be good to the use of Edifying and which administers Grace to the Hearers as it ought to be Eph. 4. 29. Then thy Tongue will be thy Glory and 't will be as a Tree of Life to Feed others But if thy discourse be wicked and vain thy Glory is
turned into shame and thy Tongue is set on fire of Hell Examine thy self strictly whether thou dost abhor lying Words As one that beleives all lyers shall have their portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev. 21. 8. Examine whether thou dost make Conscience of Backbiting thy Neighbour of Receiving and spreading a reproach against him If thou art a backbiter a slanderer a railer where is thy love to thy Brother and how canst thou call thy self a Citizen of Sion Psal 15. 1 2 3. Filthy and foolish talking and Jesting is unbecoming a Christians mouth this is to be avoided as well as Oaths and Cursing And ever remember that in multitude of Words there wanteth not sin and therefore what Job speaks unto his Friends turn it into a petition unto God Job 6. 24. Teach me and I will hold my Tongue unless my duty oblige to speak to thy Glory 8. Ask thy self Have I been spiritual in my civil Employments Was my conversation at all in Heaven or did I only mind Earthly things all the day long 'T is the duty of Christians to have the things of this World as though they had none of them to Buy as though they possessed not to use this World as not abusing it because the fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. The work of the Calling is to be minded and to be idle therein is to walk very disorderly 2 Thess 3. 11 12. But yet the working out of our Salvation is to be lookt upon as the main business of our lives unto which we should make our other actions to become subservient As the Grace of God makes a difference between the Christian and another man so the Christian should not only Pray and Hear but also Buy and Sell and Trade and deal in the matters of the World after a different manner He should always be in the Fear of God always eying his Rule and act conscientiously He should be wise unto that which is Good but simple concerning Evil He should not be over eager after nor trust in uncertain Riches nor be high-minded because of them But remember his time on Earth is short and as he must quickly leave the World so he must also give an account whether he has improved the World to the Glory of God and by doing of Good with what he has he has made unto himself a friend of the Mammon of Vnrighteousness Luke 16. 9. 9. Ask thy self Have I been careful to Redeem Time I count my Jewels my Gold my Silver too precious to throw about the Streets but have I not been prodigal and lavish of time which is of greater value and which no price can purchase when once 't is past and gone Those who are in Heaven how glad are they that they improved Time and made good provision for Eternity And they who are in Hell how do they Curse their Folly in wasting such a Treasure and wish they had never had either any time or any being since the time which was given them to repent in was spent inmaking themselves for ever miserable Mark O man how thy time passes How fast how constantly thy glasse runs Examine what becomes of all thy time and unto what account it turns If the filings of Gold are saved surely every parcel of time is highly worth Redeeming Let things that must be done have time sufficient let things that may be done have time convenient and for those things which ought not to be done le them have no time at all In a word so number thy dayes as to apply thy Heart unto Wisdom Psal 90. 12. Every day think of Death which will end all thy days 10. Ask thy self Have I received Mercies thankfully and born Crosses patiently A Christians Pilgrimage is chequer-work a mixture of black and white together sometimes he may want sometimes he may abound He should know how to do both as the Apostle did Phil. 4. 12. Mercies are designed to be as cords to draw thee and Afflictions as rods to drive thee nearer unto God let both attain their end What high ingratitude is it against Heaven and what an injurious disservice to thy self to take the Mercies of God and serve thy Lusts and Satan with them Let every days kindness overcome thee and be sure to glorifie that God in whose hand thy Breath and Life is and from whose hand thou dost receive every benefit and in whom is all thy hope of future happiness And if he does afflict thee do not murmur for whom the Lord Loves he chastens whom he chastens he does design their profit and can there be truer profit then to be made in a greater measure partakers of the Lords Holiness Heb. 12. 6. 10. If thou dost but wait a while thou will see a light some lamp to follow a smoaking Furnace Gen. 15. 17. An happy issue of all thy troubles Affliction will be a means so to clear thy sight and cleanse thy Soul that thou wilt grant there is reason to kiss the rod and to acknowledge the faithfulness and care of him that used it 11. Ask thy self How much am I advanced in Heavens way farther to day then I was yesterday How many new steps have I taken towards the New Jerusalem Have I indeed gone forward in the narrow path which leads to Life or have I stood still or gone backward 'T is our duty to grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3. ult To follow on to know the Lord and to follow still harder after him Our Salvation growes nearer and nearer every day and therefore our motions should be more strong and sprightly towards our home and centre Examine every day what Grace thou hast strengthened what corruption thou hast weakned that day Hast thou lower thoughts of thy self And higher thoughts of the Grace of God Is thy Faith more firm and operative Is thy love more ardent and constraining Art thou more fit for thy Masters use and prepared unto every good work and more meet to be a partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light That day is certainly lost in which more Grace is not gained and in which never a step is taken in the way Everlasting Oh! Be such Just and Righteous ones as Solomon speaks of and let your path be as the shining Light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day 12. Ask thy self Have I waited on God all this day long Has my dependance been upon him My expectation of all good from him And my care to do what is good in his sight 'T is both our duty and our honour to wait on our God continually as a Servant waits upon his Master as a Son upon his Father Hark unto David Psal 25. Lead me in thy truth and teach me for thou art the God of my Salvation on thee do I wait all the day We ought to be sensible that all our springs are in God and that 't is
when his Disciple Peter through an ignorant and carnal Affection would have hindred him from dying for his Church how sharply does he rebuke him Get thee behind me Satan for thou art an offence to me thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of men MEDITATION XXIV Dearest Lord Wert thou thus forward to dye and art thou not forward to reap the fruit of thy Death and to receive and save the Souls that come to thee If a Woman in Travel be willing to be delivered I need not question but thou art willing to see of the Travel of thy Soul since 't is so much for thy own satisfaction so much for thy Fathers Glory Certainly thou will not reject sinners that come to thee since thou hast done and suffered so much for their Salvation If thou hadst been really unwilling to save as sometimes Satan misrepresents thee that unwillingness would have shew'd it self when thou wast in thy terrible Agony when thy Soul was amazed and full of heaviness and exceeding sorrowful unto Death when the Heaven was black over thee and thy Fathers Face hid from thee and thou didst cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me But all this thou didst willingly undergo to save lost Man and therefore thy willingness to bestow the Salvation thou hast purchased is not to be questioned For surely thou art not willing that such a Death as thine so sharp so bitter and of so great value should be in vain MEDITATION XXV I do not wonder that the Apostle Paul does magnifie the knowledge of Christ Crucified above all other knowledge compared with this all the Philosophy of the Greeks was but vain legal prerogatives and indeed all the Ceremonies of the Law were but insignificant Christ Crucified Though he be a stumbling block to the Jews and to the Greeks foolishness yet he is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God and the greatest demonstration of his love I do not wonder that the Lords Supper should be instituted on purpose that the Crucifixion of Christ should be remembred for the Death of Christ is the sinners life the Foundation of his hope and his security against Eternal Death The Gospel is styled the Preaching of the Cross and the Apostle is resolved to Glory in nothing else the Truth is we can take comfort in no other knowledge unless we have some respect and relation to Christ and him Crucified The Papists foolishly adore the sign of the Cross but true Beleivers do prize the Doctrine the Blood and the Vertue of Christ Crucified MEDITATION XXVI What sights may I see in my Lord Crucified Peace is made by the Blood of the Cross and all things Reconciled both in Heaven and Earth The Saints who lived and dyed before Christ was born were reconciled to God by the Blood of his Son which was to be shed in time as well as Believers since his being manifested in the Flesh In Christ Crucified the Anger of God is appeased his Justice fully satisfied and though the Christians debt amounts unto millions of Talents yet justice acknowledgeth that Christ his surety has paid it all Look upon God in Christ and you will see that Fury is not in him through the Lord Jesus you may see his very Bowels he does earnestly remember sinners his Bowels are troubled for them and he will surely have mercy upon them Oh certain and comfortable Truths That the Lord is the God of Love and Peace that he waits to be Gracious that he delights in shewing mercy and takes pleasure in them that hope in his mercy if that hope be accompanied with a fear and careful eschewing of what is evil in his sight MEDITATION XXVII In Christ Crucified I may see a New Covenant of Grace and Life and Peace established so that it is most sure and Everlasting Jesus is the Mediatour of this Covenant and every time I come to the Table this Covenant is sealed and confirmed to me that I may with the greater confidence expect the accomplishment of the promises which are contained in it These Promises are exceeding great and precious Temporal blessings in such a measure as the Wise God sees convenient are here made over to me for he that is a Son and Heir of God is the Heir of the World the Heir of all things Spiritual blessings which are of greater value are more absolutely promised and may with greater vehemency be desired and with greater confidence expected And as the Lord has engaged to give me Grace so to give me Glory he has said he will give me himself and be my God and Guide my Shield and my exceeding great Reward And truly the Ordinances of Heaven are not so immutable and unchangeable as the Covenant of Redemption and Reconciliation Heaven and Earth shall passe away but one joy or tittle shall in no wise pass from the Covenant till all be fulfilled MEDITATION XXVIII In Christ Crucified I may see the Curse of the Law removed the sentence of condemnation reversed the sting of Death taken out the Principallities and Powers of darkness triumphed over I may see Hell fast lockt and shut up for ever and Heaven opened a way made plain in to the Holiest of all an abundant entrance administred into the Everlasting Kingdom Who would not study the Cross of Christ Who would not Glory and rejoyce in it Who would not desire conformity to it and to feel the power and vertue of it They that are Enmies to the Cross of Christ are Enemies to their own Souls They that are offended at the Cross 't is a sign they are blind and do no understand the benefits which comes by it MEDITATION XXIX Do this in remembrance of me said my dying Lord and Redeemer Lord Can I put my memory to a better use then to remember Thee Thy Tears thy strong Cryes thy being cruelly Mockt and Scourged thy dreadful Agonies and Desertion the peircing of thy Hands and Feet and Side thy Wounds and Bruises and giving up the Ghost and making thy Soul an Offering for sin and sinners Shall all or any this be forgotten The sufferings of such an One such sufferings so great so beneficial to me should always be kept in most affectionate remembrance Thy Death and Burial should never be buried in oblivion A dying Lord should always live in a Christians memory If the poor Captives in Babylon could not forget Jerusalem shall I ever forget Jesus Or my obligation to him or the Love and service which I owe him I desire to grieve for sin which made thee sorrowful and to be prickt at the Heart for my iniquities whereby thy Heart was pierced And as I wish that sin may be more my grief so I would prefer Jesus before my chief Joy MEDITATION XXX My Lord at the Table says Take and eat this is my Body This is infinitely more and better then if a Rich man should say to me take my estate or then
dead to sin and live to Righteousness MEDITATION XXXVI Is the Cup of blessing at the Table the Communion of the Blood of Christ indeed How should my Soul and all that is within me bless the Lords Name when I take it into my hand My Lord does in effect say to me Here is the New Testament sealed and confirmed there is remission of all thy sins Here is sanctifying Grace here is an assurance of mine and my Fathers love here is a pledge and earnest of Glory and Immortality This Blood of Jesus is deservedly styled precious 't is the Blood of the Lamb without spot nay 't is the Blood of the Lord Jehovah To make light of this Blood as if it were an unholy or common thing is to deny the Lord that bought us and to bring upon our selves certain and swift destruction But whosoever by Faith applyes this Blood of Jesus shall find it sufficient to cleanse them from all unrighteousness MEDITATION XXXVII Dearest Lord How great is the vertue of that blood of thine which was shed upon the Cross without the gates of Jerusalem It can appease thy Fathers anger though provoked unto great fierceness it can remove the greatest guilt it can cure and cleanse the most leprous and defiled Soul it can heal the most wounded and enraged Conscience Oh blessed Laver where I may wash and be clean where I may bath and be eased Effectual medicine which heals every spiritual malady How wonderful was thy love which made thee shed thy blood how happy is thy Church for whom thy blood is shed Lord I love thee I rest upon thee I rejoyce in thee who hast loved thy People and washed them from their sins in thy own Blood and hast made them Kings and Priests unto God and thy Father who gavest thy self for thy Church that thou mightest sanctifie and cleanse it and present it to thy self a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish MEDITATION XXXVIII Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed This is my Answer unto the Accuser of the Brethren when he tells me of my manifold Transgressions All that he can truly lay to my charge I am ready to lay to my own nay I subscribe guilty to all that is down in the book of the Omniscient Gods remembrance but then I add Christ dyed Christ shed his Blood that sin might be pardoned and purged and I am willing to be cleansed as well as pardoned And if the Blood of Christ be enough to satisfie divine justice surely 't is sufficient to satisfie and quiet the most awakened Conscience I have indeed like a Sheep gon astray and turned to my own way but the Lord has laid on Christ all my iniquities he endured the chastisement of my peace he felt the stripes that I might be healed Hereby Satan is silenced my own desponding Spirit revived and encouraged and in the Name and Mediation of Jesus I can go unto God himself though he is so glorious in Righteousness and Holiness as a Child unto a Father MEDITATION XXXIX The Blood of Christ does speak and speaks better things then the Blood of Abel No voice more loud then that of Blood no blood does cry like that of God This blood does speak both to God and Me it speaks to God and what ever I pray for which I really need this blood cryes that I may obtain Blessings of all sorts were purchased by the shedding of it and it is continually pleading that what it purchased may be bestowed Hence is the efficacy of Prayer because what the belieuer prays for the blood of Christ speaks for How loud does it cry in Gods ears Lord pity and pardon the humbled and Believing Soul Heal and Comfort the Contrite and Broken hearted Oh give converting and Renewing Grace to all that do desire it Those that fear thy Wrath let them escape it Those that prize thy love love them freely and for ever Receive all returning sinners and take away all their iniquities Give Grace give Glory and no good thing withhold from them that seek thee in sincerity Thus the blood of Christ does intercede with God And the Lord having contrived the shedding of it on purpose that without any derogation from his Righteousness he might shew mercy to the Children of men certainly its intercession for mercy shall not be in vain MEDITATIONS XL. The blood of Christ does speak also to Me. And how good and comfortable are the words of it Soul be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help and Salvation found God was angry with thee but I have appeased his Wrath. He whom thou wast ready to find a consuming Fire is become a God in Covenant nay a Father to thee That blood which was shed upon the Cross has made thy Peace though heretofore never so much a stranger never so great an Enemy Behold Hell lockt up thou shalt never fall into that place of Wo behold the way into the Holiest of all is open Thou hast liberty to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and within a little while thou shalt have an abundant entrance into Glory Dear Lord What am I that blood and such blood as thine should be shed for me Why wast thou at such expence and cost for the Redemption and Salvation of such a Wretch such a Rebel Thou hast mercy because thou wilt have mercy thy exceeding rich and glorious Grace must be matter of a delightful transport and sweet astonishment to Eternity MEDITATION XLI My Lords love and kindness should thaw and melt my heart That God whom for so long a time I neither lov'd nor fear'd nor cared to be acquainted with but dishonoured and sinn'd against with so high an hand had he indeed purposes of Grace towards me from Eternity That Jesus whom I shut and barr'd the door of my Heart so fast against whose word I was deaf unto and whose Spirit I resisted for so long a time has He indeed born my sins and carried my sorrows Oh that my head were Waters and my eyes Fountains of Tears Oh stony Heart for shame now become like wax and be melted in the midst of my Bowels I am a prodigy of unkindness wo is me that I have sinned Wo is me that I who have sinn'd so much do grieve no more Surely all my days I will walk softly in the bitterness of my Soul I will be vile in my own eyes and wonder that the Lord should have respect to such an one as I My own sin and my Lords Love shall be my Study I will compare them together that sin may be lamented and loathed according to the desert of it and that my Repentance may be indeed Evangelical and after a godly manner MEDITATION XLII O my Soul if thy
sin deserves thy hatred does not thy Lord deserve thy love What and where hadst thou been if he had not loved thee and given himself for thee Thy Lord is every way excellent the chiefest among ten thousand altogether lovely the most admired among the visible Creatures the finest Gold the richest Jewels nay the shining Sun in the Firmament are but poor similitudes and faint shaddows to set forth his incomparable perfections The Heavens are not clean Angels themselves are black when compared with Jesus who is the image of the invisible God! This high this glorious and beautiful One became flesh and sin and a Curse for thee so that his love is incomparable as well as his loveliness O my soul set open all the flood-gates let thy love even all of it run in a strong and undivided stream towards him Love this Lord Jesus in sincerity love him with greater ardency love him with the greatest constancy Here is no danger of excess no danger of defilement or a snare in thy loving Christ as there is in loving of the Creatures Study him better and thou wilt see new beauties in him daily grow in knowledge that thou mayst grow in grace and love Let thy desires grow stronger and stronger his fulness can easily satisfie them Rejoyce in Him with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory and cry out with an affectionate and holy impatiency Come Lord Jesus come quickly Appear the second time without sin unto Salvation MEDITATION XLIII How much is mine if Christ my beloved is mine What unsearchable riches have I an interest in No match comparable to that with Christ either for the excellencies of the person or the largeness of the estate What poor offers doth the World and the God of the World make me They talk much of honour and wealth and mirth and pleasure but these afford no true contentment for that short time they are enjoy'd and they perish in the very using Death does quickly come with a convincing demonstration and proves the richest man a meer beggar the greatest Prince a contemptible clod of the Earth the fairest and most admired beauty a skinful of dirt Can Satan offer any thing that is Everlasting No good thing I am sure that is so Indeed Everlasting pains Eververlasting burnings Everlasting wrath he will bring all unto that are led Captive by him at his pleasure but these Eternal evils he does most studiously conceal and hide But this is the commendation of My Lords Benefits that they are permanent and durable The Treasures wax not old the one thing needful cannot be taken away the inheritance is incorruptible and the Kingdom he will give his followers cannot be moved MEDITATION XLIV If Christ is mine the Father is mine How sweet were those words which come out of my Lords mouth quickly after he came out of the Grave Go tell my Brethren I ascend to my Father and your Father unto my God and your God All the Attributes of God are engaged on my side His wisdom will be my guide his power and truth my guard and shield His presence will be with me wherever I am and his Grace sufficient for me in all my troubles and Temptations All my desire will be before him and my groaning will not be hid from him and he can easily furnish me with the good things I desire and deliver me from those evils which make me groan before him I shall not want while the All-sufficient God is my Shepherd my state is secure and safe for my God is unchangeable He will never turn away from me to do me good and his Grace will establish me and hinder my departing he will uphold me with the right hand of his Righteousness and guide me with his Counsel and afterwards receive me to his Glory Be not thou cast down or discouraged O my Soul be not disquieted within me Hope thou in God and continually praise Him who is the health of my countenance and my God MEDITATION XLV If Christ is mine the Spirit is mine The same soul does animate and Act the Head and the Body the same Spirit is in Christ and in all his true and living Members The Spirit of Wisdom and Illumination will enlighten me and make me able to judge all things after a right manner The Spirit of truth will lead me into all necessary truth so that I shall be ignorant or mistaken in nothing which is needful to be understood and known in order unto Salvation This Spirit will make me hold the Head and from him I shall derive not only a directing light but a vital influx which will quicken me and make me alive more and more abundantly Glorious Spirit Thou art the Lord and Giver of Life without thee the Word of Life is dead and proves a savour of Death unto Death Without thee Ordinances are without efficacy without thee my Heart is cold and comfortless I grieve that I have grieved thee Oh let me be thy Habitation and thy Temple let me see thy blessed light let me feel thy glorious power and know by more abundant experience what thy peace and joy means The lusts of the flesh which defile thy Temple let them be destroyed mortifie the deeds of the Body fill me with Grace and make me fit for Glory Let the least check of thine restrain me every motion of thine let it be obeyed Let me perpetually have an ear to Hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches MEDITATION XLVI If Christ is mine the Creatures are also mine The Sun was created to give me light and to make me admire the God that made it The Stars observe their courses for my good The Ordinances of the Heavens which alter not at mans pleasure may serve as an instruction to me that Gods Covenant when Earth and Hell have done their worst shall be kept and stand fast for ever the Earth is Fruitful the Sea does Ebb and Flow the Rain descends the Beasts and Fish and Fowl do multiply to do me a kindness The Ground was made for me to tread on the Air for me to breath in and though such mercies as these are vouchsafed to wicked men yet they are given to me in another way My Lord has bought them for me with his blood for with him they are given to me they are not a trap a snare to me as they are to others but they are truly blessed to me as well as given The higher Creatures are also mine Paul and Apollo and Cephas nay the very Angels are said to be ministring Spirits and are ready to Minister to me and to guard me Those loving humble Spirits have a charge given them concerning the Members of Christ and willingly look after them that are the Heirs of Salvation MEDITATION XLVII If Christ be mine Death is also mine as well as Life Death is terrible indeed to Nature and causes the frame thereof to be dissolved but my Lord has reconciled this last Enemy 'T is really mine
to serve me too much mine to do me any real harm Christ by dying has taken out the sting of Death so that I need not any longer be under bondage through the Fear of Death O Death Thou hast left thy sting in the side of Christ and there hast lost it O Grave My Lord has broke thy gates open and because he is risen I may joyfully conclude my own Resurrection My body must lye in darkness for a while but it shall not always be Death's Prisoner This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality and as the Corn cast into the ground does rise with advantage every single grain yeilding sometimes an hundred fold so my flesh shall come up out of the Earth with an hundred fold better qualities then now it has 'T is sown in weakness 't is raised in power 't is sown in dishonour 't is raised in glory But O my Soul Death will not be able at all to seize on thee Thou wilt be delivered out of a dungeon when thou leavest thine Earthly Tabernacle and go unto a glorious Palace assoon as ever thou art absent from the Body thou wilt be present with the Lord assoon as thou art departed thou will be with Christ and how much better that is thou wilt find to thy full and Everlasting joy MEDITATION XLVIII If my Beloved is mine and all things mine is there not reason I should be His His I am and His I will be to eternity Lord I am Thine for thou hast made me and not I my self I am thine by the right of purchase as well as Creation for thou hast bought me with a price Nay thou hast new made me on purpose for thine own use and that I should shew forth thy praises And I do willingly resign and yeild my self to thee if I am thy Servant make use of me if I am thy Treasure keep me if I am a child let me be imployed in my Fathers business if I am Betrothed to thee let thy love and jealousie secure me from other Lovers Oh let me be wholly only always Thine Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity Let my tongue be like an Angels continually sounding forth thy Name Let my hands be holy the path of my feet pondered let all my members be yeilded as instruments of Righteousness and let my soul with all its powers love and serve thee Lord sanctifie and satisfie and save me and honour me by employing me for I lift up my soul and give my very heart to thee MEDITATION XLIX Ten thousand times ten thousand praises to the God of love and peace Who would not worship thee and give thee glory O thou King of Saints Let thy Church on Earth as well as Heaven ring aloud with Hallelujah's Who is God save the Lord who is a Rock save our God! Who in Heaven above or in Earth beneath is to be compared to Thee a God glorious in holiness terrible in Majesty rich in mercy abounding in Grace wonderful in working and keeping truth for ever Who can by searching find out God! who can find out the Almighty to perfection It is high as Heaven what can we do Deeper then Hell what can we know Who is a God like unto thee abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth Delighting in mercy Forgiving iniquity Transgression and sin and reconciling the world to himself in Christ Glory be to God in the highest for such good will towards men Let the Heavens rejoyce and let the Earth be glad let the Sea roar and the fulness thereof Let the floods clap their hands and the hills be joyful together Let all the creatures joyn in magnifying that God which made them And let all Saints shout aloud for joy unto Him who has visited and redeemed them MEDITATION L. Lord How much art thou above thy Creatures reach Who besides thy self can conceive thy excellency Who can shew forth all thy praise Thou art exalted above the blessing and the thoughts of Angels above the songs of Seraphims Everlasting thanksgivings are thy due Oh let me live with thee to Eternity that I may ever be paying this debt of praises Bless the Lord ye innumerable company of Angels which excell in strength who see the Glory of your Maker and Lord Praise him O ye Thrones Dominions Principallities and Powers Exalt that mighty and gracious God who elected and confirmed you when so many other Angels sinn'd and are eternally left and miserable in their Apostacy O all ye Triumphant Saints that are with the Lamb upon the heavenly Mount Sion Strike up with your Harps and if it be possible let your strains be still higher and higher Ascribe blessing and honour and glory and power unto Him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever O thou Militant Church Begin this heavenly work of praising here on Earth Thy Redemption and deliverance is begun and will most certainly be compleated The Captain of thy Salvation will stand by thee in thy spiritual warfare and having made thee more then victorious over all thy Enemies will bestow upon thee the promised Crown of life and glory MEDITATION LI. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name What hast thou breath for but that it should be spent in his praises Wherefore hast thou a tongue at command but that it should be employed in glorifying thy Lord and hereby become thy glory Should not a slave that has been in very hard and cruel bondage be thankful to him that redeemed him Should not a Malefactor condemned to dye be thankful unto Him that pardoned him Should not the patient that has laboured under a Death threatning distemper be thankful to the Physician that has cured him And how much greater reason is there O my Soul that thou shouldst abound in thanksgivings unto thy God and Saviour Thou wast in the worst sense enslaved and he has made thee free indeed Thou wast condemned to the second Death to be separated for ever from the Lord and to be thrown into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone and he by dying himself has purchased a pardon for thee Thou wast sick of spiritual which are the worst kind of plagues and He is the Lord that heals thee Awake Awake Oh my soul Awake Awake And utter a song of praise Rejoyce in Christ Jesus Glory in the Father of mercies Who forgiveth all thy iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies MEDITATION LII Shall I not magnifie and advance my Lord who am so highly advanced my self I was once in darkness and securely went on towards the blackness of darkness forever but I am called out of darkness into marvellous light â— I was once a stranger and a forreiner but now I am a fellow Citizen with the Saints and of the houshold of God I am become a child of God who