a free passage in its progresse and that it may take that good effect in mens hearts as is by mee desired to the glory of God for whose sake my soules comfort and the good of my country and Christian brethren I undertooke this worke take it in good worth if it be not as it should be impute it to the want of learning and not to the want of a loving heart to doe my country good For the places of Scripture cited in the margent are right take them on my word but howsoever it be trouble not thy selfe gentle Reader For if it be good that is said and agreeable to Scripture make use of it and be not solicitous to know from whose workes it is drawne The manner is plaine and simple and craveth pardon for what is amisse Thus committing the worke it selfe to thy courteous acceptance and judiciall reading and both it and thee to the Lord desiring him to honour thee with his grace that you may so know him as that you may be knowne of him what remaines but that I pray unto God that both you and I and all them that shall reade this Booke may profit by it by the assistance of his holy Spirit to the furthering of their salvation to the glory of his Name through Christ Iesus our Lord in Christian love I take my leave IOHN WELLES October 22. 1638. The Authors admonition to the Reader I Doe right well understand Christian Reader that many learned men have hertofore written set forth many excellent works touching religion whereupon it may seeme perhaps a matter both vaine and superfluous for mee to travell any further therein for as much as it is beyond all hope that any of my doings can be comparable or neere so good as that which is already done by others but like as I thinke their travell and labour in holy exercises well bestowed which have written therein before mee so shall not I mislike them neither which shall enterprise to doe any thing in the like case after mee the very endeavour it selfe being good is alwaies to be born withall and not to be misliked such is my judgement of the writings of others therefore I stand in this hope that others also may judge the like of mine because they may all turne the diligent Reader unto some profit if it be reverently used and may much profit all faithfull Christians towards the understanding of holy Scriptures and the exercise of godly life it may so fall out that those points which be to seeke and wanting in this worke of mine may be found in others Againe it is possible that some things which be not once touched by any one of my Authors may be found expresly noted down by me that matter by them handled in their workes is somewhat intricate and not in the weake capacity of simple people to comprehend for whose Christian good these paines of mine were principally undertaken which is by me in a briefe and compendious manner expressed and set downe that the weakest capacity may rightly understand the true sence and meaning thereof to the glory of God and to the consolation of their owne soule Againe many people that cannot spare much money to buy many bookes of great volumes of sundry Writers may spare a little to buy this little tractate wherein is comprised the substance of their works tending to my purpose sufficient to salvation wherein thou mayst behold the back-parts of God thy maker and creator and see the glory of Christ thy Saviour and mediatour Psal 34.8 and taste of the sweetnesse and consolation of God the holy Ghost thy Comforter and sanctifier with the duties of Christianity and Humanity civill and morall government with many singular and excellent things of speciall note worthy remembrance The manner is plaine but the matter is holy excellent and heavenly and if it be heedfully read rightly understood and carefully followed and effectually applyed it will conduct thee in thy progresse with alacrity through this vale of teares this worlds miseries in the Scriptures narrow path to heaven the desired Port the celestiall Canaan for this is but our sea but eternity is our haven but have a care that thou doest not croud with the godlesse multitude in the broad way to hell Wisd 5. take heed walke charily for the way is dangerous craggy and irksome full of windings and turnings out and many allurements in the way to hinder thy passage about the midst of thy progresse in the later end of this first part thou shalt finde the meditation of the discription of Hell which if by faith unfained and hearty repentance thou shalt escape the danger prescribed Esay 40.4 all difficulties are then removed Luke 3.5 6. the vallies shall be exalted and every mountaine and hill laid low whatsoever is crooked shall be made straight Baruch 5.7.9 and the rough shall be made plaine goe on with a godly and Christian courage and thou shalt attaine to the end of thy progresse but take heed to the first step of thy youth for the first step thou settest out of the way in thy youth thou steppest into the suburbes of Hell and if thou goest on in thy sins to the next step of thy middle age thou art at the very brinke but if thou perseverest and goe on to the next step of thy old age without the mercy of God and true repentance thou art plunged in the very depth of hell the pit of perdition Matth. 22.13 the bottomelesse gulfe the fiery lake there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth therefore in thy youth have a carefull and heedfull care to thy life and conversation that thou doe not step out of the right way for if thou beest once out it is a hard matter to finde the way in againe without the grace of God assist thee and his providence conduct thee For the soule of man is dearely beloved of God her father yet for her sundry good graces she is often and many waies tempted of the divell by three divers meanes In youth with lechery in manhood or middle age with pride in old age with covetousnesse three pernicious sinnes at three severall ages in this mortall life if she resist and overcome the same she is thereby adopted to the full fruition of eternall happinesse through Christ our Lord which God of his mercy conduct so many as appertaine to his kingdome in the right way to their lives end and in the end bring them to the end of their progresse thy everlasting kingdome the celestiall Canaan the haven of happinesse now the Lord prosper this worke direct our hearts aright and blesse the labours of his servants to the glory of his name through Iesus Christ our Saviour Amen Thine in the Lord JOHN WELLS Psal 40.12 11. I have not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart but have declared thy righteousnesse to the great congregation Deut. 32.1.3 Heare O yee heavens
thine owne eyes Be truely the same thou seemest to be be therefore the same in the sight of God who beholds thy heart that thou seemest to be in the eyes of men that see thy face content not thy selfe with an outward good name when thy conscience shall tell thee it is undeserved A deserved good name for any thing but for godlinesse lasts little and is lesse worth in all the holy Scriptures wee never reade of an Hypocrites repentance and no wonder for whereas after sin conversion is left as a meanes to cure all other sinners what meanes remaines to recover him who hath converted conversion it selfe into sinne woe therefore unto the soule that seemes religions and is not the same marke the fearefull end of notorious evill men to abhorre their wicked actions Numb 23.10 marke the life of the godly and imitate their life and actions and their blessed end obey thy betters Psal 37.35 36 37. Esay 58.5 6. observe the wise accompany the honest and love the religious And seeing the corrupt nature of man is inclined to hypocrisie beware that thou use not the exercise of religion Mat. 23.27 28. as matter of course and custome without care and conscience and make no more shew of holinesse outwardly to the world then thou hast in the sight of God inwardly in thine heart keepe thy speech cleane from all obscenity and let thy talke be gracious Ephes 4 2â— Prov. 31.26 Psal 139.20 21 22. that hee that heares thee may grow better by thee and be ever more earnest when thou speakest of religion then when thou talkest of worldly matters if thou perceivest that thou hast erred persevere not in thine errour rejoyce to finde the truth and magnifie it study therefore three things especially to understand well to say well and to doe well endeavour to rule those that are under thy charge and authority rather by loâ—e than by feare for to rule by love is easie and safe but tyranny is ever accompanied with care and terrour oppression will force the oppressed to take any advantage to shake off the yoake that they are not able to beare neither will Gods justice suffer the sway that is grounded upon tyranny long to continue rule therefore over Christians being a Christian in love and mercy like Christ thy Master make not an occupation of any recreation the longest use of pleasure is but short but the paines of pleasure abused are eternall use therefore lawfull recreation so farre forth Prov. 21.17 Phil. 4.8 9. as it makes thee fitter in body and minde to doe more cheerefully the service of God and the duties of thy calling be therefore carefull henceforth to make use of thy short time that remaines as a man would of an old lease that were neere expired doe not waste and consume thy time in idlenesse sports playes and toyish vanities for man was not created for sports playes and recreations but zealously to serve God in religion and conscionably to serve and helpe his neighbour in the use of his vocation and by both to ascertaine himselfe of eternall salvation esteeme therefore the losse of time Ephes 5.16 Luk. 16.2 Matth. 25.21 one of the greatest losses redeeme it carefully and spend it wisely that when that time shall come thou mayest be no longer here on earth thy master may welcome thee with an â—uge bone serve and give thee a better in heaven in thy prayer That is well done and welcome good and faithfull servant Matth. 6.6 pray fervently and devoutly for God detests the service of the outward man without the inward heart as hypocrisie so hee counts the inward service without externall reverence to be mere prophanenesse therefore hee requireth both in his worship in prayer therefore bow thy knees in witnesse of thy humiliation lift up thy eyes and thy hands in testimony of thy confidence hang downe thy head and smite thy breast in token of thy contrition but specially call upon God with a sincere heart serve him holily serve him wholly serve him onely for God and the Prince of this world are two contrary Masters and therefore no man can possibly serve both the more thou art separated from the world Prov. 15.8 the more acceptable thou art unto God aske faithfully of God whatsoever thou desirest to have and whatsoever thou hast give thankes unto God for it hee that is not thankefull for that which hee hath already is unworthy to receive more and Gods grace ceases to descend when our thankes cease to ascend whatsoever happeneth unto thee make use of it for good when thou art in prosperity thinke that thou hast just cause to blesse and praise God when thou art in advesirty thinke that thou art put in minde of thy repentance and conversion Prov. 14.25 when the glory of God or good of thy neighbour doth require speake the truth 1 Kings 22. and feare not the face nor frowne of man for sometimes the frowne of a Prince may be the favour of God neither shall flattery still hold in credit nor truth alway continue in disgrace Shew the strength of thy wisedome in instructing shew the strength of thy power in helping and the strength of thy riches in doing good to the poore and needy let not adversity cast thee downe neither let prosperity puffe thee up let Christ be the marke in the imitation of thy life Acts 3.21 follow him in the way that thou mayest overtake him in his country in all things have a speciall care of profound humility 1 Pet. â— 8 and be ardent in charity cleave unto God and lift up thy heart to him by charity let humility keepe downe thy heart that thou beest not proud judge God to be a father for his clemency and a Lord for his discipline a father for his power and gentlenesse and Lord for his severity and justice therefore love him as a father piously Psal 37.5 feare him as a Lord necessarily love him because he willeth mercy feare him because he willeth justice commit thy way unto the Lord and put thy trust in him Phil. 2.13 acknowledge thy sins and proclaime his mercy and thou shalt have ease in thy misery O God thou that hast given us grace to will the good give us also grace to perfect the good which thou hast willed Of Gods Glory VVHatsoever wee doe Colos 3.17 let us doe all things to the glory of God for God created all things by his power but to his owne glory for that was the holy end for which he created them for as waters are derived from the Sea returneth thither againe so all things that are being derived from the mighty power of God returne their duty service and the honour of all their actions to God discharging every one their duty and service in the maine Ocean of Gods glory the which though it receive not augmentation of honour by the supply of any his creatures being
by the Apostles to be propagated throughout the world the Holy Ghost came downe upon them there was thundring and lightning and the lowd sound of the trumpet so that all the people were afraid Vers 16. because the Law doth thunder terrible things against our disobedience and makes us subject to Gods indignation But here is the sound of a gentle wind where the Lord from heaven doth powre out his Spirit upon all flesh Acts 2.2.17 for the preaching of the Gospell doth lift up the soules that are cast downe with dispaire by reason of their sinnes there was feare and trembling of the people because the Law bringeth wrath Rom. 4.15 but here the whole multitude doe flocke together to heare the wonderfull things of God for by the Gospell we have accesse unto God their God descended in fire but it was in the fire of his wrath therefore was the mountaine moved and did smoke but here the holy Ghost descended in the fire of his love so that the house is not shaken by the wrath of God but rather replenished Exod. 19.18 Acts 2.3 with the glory of the holy Ghost What wonder is it that the holy Ghost bee sent from the Court of Heaven to sanctifie us seeing the Sonne of God was sent from Heaven to redeeme us But the holy Ghost came upon the Apostles when they were assembled together in prayer with one minde for he is the Spirit of prayer which moveth us to pray and is obtained by prayer Wherefore John 20.19 22. Zach 12.10 because hee is that bond by which our hearts are knit and united unto God as he doth unite the Father with the Sonne and the Sonne with the Father for hee is the mutuall love of the Father and the Sonne This our spirituall conjunction with God is wrought by faith in Christ but faith is the gift of the Spirit and is obtained by prayer but true prayer is made in the Spirit In the Temple of Salomon when Incense was offered unto God 1 King 8.10 11. the Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord so if thou offerest unto God the sweet odours of prayers the holy Ghost shall fill the temple of thy heart with glory Let us here admire the grace and mercy of God Psal 50.15 Rom. 8.34 35. Gal. 4 6. the Father promiseth to heare our prayers the Sonne intercedeth for us and the holy Ghost prayeth within us the Angels of Heaven carry our prayers unto God and the Court of Heaven is open to receive them God of his mercy doth give unto us the effect of prayer because he giveth unto us the Spirit of grace and prayer and doth alwaies heare our prayers if not according to our desire yet according to that which is most profitable for us The holy Ghost came when they were all met together with one accord in one place Acts 2.1 for hee is the Spirit of love and concord Note that joyneth us unto Christ by faith and unto God by love and to our neighbour by charity because he is the Authour of all goodnesse and the fountaine of all grace and mercy Now the Spirit of God effects in man such motions as himselfe is for as the soule giveth unto the body life sense and motion so the holy spirit maketh man spirituall seasons his minde with divine saltnesse Note and directs all his members to the performance of all good duties towards God and towards his neighbours and proceedeth from all eternity he came in the type of breath and affordeth unto the afflicted conscience quickening consolation because wee live according to the flesh by the reciprocall breathing out and sucking in of the aeriall spirit he came under the type of spirit and breath because he giveth us to live according to the better part The winde bloweth where it lusteth Iohn 3.8 and thou hearest the sound thereof but thou knowest not whence it commeth nor whither it goeth So is every one that is borne of the Spirit it was meete that he should come in the type of breath because hee proceedeth from both the Father and the Sonne by one incomprehensible breathing from eternity it was a powerfull breath because the grace of the holy Ghost comes with power and moveth the godly in whom he dwelleth to all that is good and so effectually moveth and strengtheneth them that they neither regard the threats of tyrants nor feare the trecheries of the Divell nor the hatred of the world Psal 19.3.4 hee conferreth upon the Apostles the gift of tongues because their sound was to goe into all lands and so the confusion of tongues which was the punishment of pride and rashnesse in the building of the tower of Babel was taken away and the dispersed nations Gen. 11 7 8 9. by the gift of the holy Ghost through the diversity of tongues were gathered together into the unity of faith Againe it was meet that he should come in the figure of tongues because holy men of God did speake as they were inspired by him For hee spake by the Prophets and Apostles and putteth the Words of God into the mouthes of the Ministers of the Church therefore the Prophets in the old time came not by the will of man 2 Pet. 1.21 but were moved by the holy Ghost for these great gifts blessed and praised be the holy Ghost together with the Father and the Sonne now and for ever Of the Love of God THis love of God is commanded by God to the Israelites by the mouth of Moses being then the select and peculiar people of God saying Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy might and Christ himselfe in the Gospel doth alledge this Precept to the Doctor of the Law which tempted him saying Master which is the greatest Commandement in the Law He answering Matth. 22.36 37 38 39. said unto him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thy selfe this doth teach all Christians that without the knowledge of this love of God they can never attaine to the saving knowledge of God and without the love of God all knowledge is unprofitable For love is the life of Nature and the joy of Reason in the Spirit of grace where Vertue draweth affection the concord of sense makes an union unseparable in the divine apprehension of the joy of election it is a ravishment of the soule in the delight of the spirit which being caryed above it selfe into inexplicable comfort feeles that heavenly sickenesse that is better then the worlds health When the godliest of men in the swounding delight of his sacred inspiration could thus utter the sweetnesse of his passion my soule is sicke of love for love is a healthfull sicknesse of the soule it is a pleasing passion in the heart a contentive
be able to beare the conditions contradictions and cumbers of the other and so the unity and concord betwixt them might soone bee broken but impatient hearted men they doe stirre great variance strife and contention and doe breake the tranquillity of quiet and peace Patience is the gift of the holy Spirit in this respect we may well call patience the preserver yea the repairer of peace it cannot worthily enough be expressed how large how notable and necessary the use of true patience is all which doth stand upon the strength of mens desires For without patience all the rest of our vertues will be altogether blemished therefore in any wise let us not stay untill wee have attained true patience the mistresse and governesse of all our affections which keepeth us within the lists of a contented mind howsoever it fareth with the outward man this patience therefore which we must seeke and imbrace in all things must be a joyfull acceptation of our miseries not as compelled but cheerefully resting under the burthen of our adversitie which then although it seeme to make us figh by reason wee see no end of the griefe yet it shall in the meane time cloath us with spirituall joy for patience stayeth the patient man from fainting in any distresse yea when neither friend counsell Hebr. 6.12 c. nor any comfort appeareth then is patience the remedy which like a mighty Gyant beareth it out with a godly courage true patience loveth the afflictions which shee suffereth and if wee doe attaine to this patience then shall wee give praise to God in the midst of our miseries and commit our selves to his providence and care in all our troubles and adversities neither can poverty keepe us backe or hinder us from commending highly the great bounty and goodnesse of Almighty God who is able to restore and bring us out of all our afflictions the mother of this precious and admirable jewell Rom. 5.4 5. is tribulations afflictions persecutions poverty and crosses patience begetteth experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed it is concluded then by the holy Apostle that tribulation maketh not ashamed Faith whereof wee have spoken before is the evidence of things not seene which so worketh in time of tribulation and affliction Psal 22.4 5. that it assureth the afflicted that his delivery is easie and at hand his comfort and reliefe is comming So that tribulation and affliction seasoned with faith worketh patience and a contented tolleration and sufferance of the misery present which patience bringeth forth experience namely it hath proofe of Gods continuall providence wherein he worketh mightily beyond all humane expectation and mortall reason of mans capacity the great joy ease comfort reliefe and release of all the faithfull afflicted members of Christ and that by so many and admirable meanes that of this experience springeth hope which worketh through the same experience by an undoubted assurance that such successe will follow patient expectation So that faith hope and patience appeareth to be the whole furniture of a true Christian which being joyned together in man hee shall finde that as faith is the ground of things hoped for and maketh them as it were present before our senses and our selves as certaine of them as if wee were already possessed of them so hope maketh us attend the time of delivery restraining our corrupt natures from practising any unlawfull and forbidden meanes for the supply of that wee looke for and having the working of faith and hope those two singular vertues in us there is no place of impatience of grudging of griefe nor of desire to seeke sinister devices for ease or reliefe but setteth downe his rest and resolution to be as cheerefull and full of joy in distresse Dan. 3.17.18 as in any prosperous events whatsoever So said the three children when they went to the fire though God would not deliver them yet would they not dishonour him so resolute and patient was Job who said though he kill me yet will I trust in him such is the fruit of true patience it is necessary that we be tryed with affliction and delay of comfort to the end that wee should be well armed with these vertues and have experience how God in his providence worketh for us yea wee shall finde that as the promises of God are irrevocable firme and sure so is our faith and hope grounded upon God and his promises also stable and sure and shall have the reward which is eternall and everlasting life To conclude patience is the gift and grace of Christ the true vertue of Christianity it is the praise of goodnesse and the preserver of the world and rests upon the providence of God to the exceeding comfort of the afflicted Of Prayer VVE be charged by the Commandement of God to offer unto our Lord God thankesgiving and praise who saith Call upon me in the day of trouble Psal 50.14 and I will deliver thee this calling upon him is a point of service required of us and doth serve to the glory of his name for hee saith thou shalt glorifie me Vers 15. wee be therfore as necessarily bound to pray and call upon the name of God as wee be bound to the study of his obedience and service this prayer and calling upon the name of God is not onely profitable unto us but also necessary unto godlinesse and exercising of our faith for without faith we cannot truely call upon the name of God Rom. 10.13 14 Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved but how shall they call upon him on whom they have not believed whereby it manifestly appeareth that study and use of prayer is an exercise of our faith in this respect wee are specially by the providence of God required to aske such things of him as our necessities doe require hee could liberally bestow on us all things unasked for Before thou prayest prepare thy soule and be not as one that tempteth God as hee doth to the Reprobate and other living beasts but his will is to be called upon of his children to the intent that they should practise the assured trust of their hearts towards him and be the more out of doubt of his goodnesse and promise when they doe obtaine that which in faith they doe desire at his mercifull hands hee which doth truely pray unto God doth accuse and esteeme himselfe unworthy and therefore doth submit himselfe onely and wholly to the will of God Psal 34.16 The holy men of God when they pray doe powre out the ferventnesse of their hearts before the Lord with most earnest meditation and wayling accuse and judge themselves they doe beseech the mercy of God they doe expresse the sorrow of their heart with crying and lamentation and also in words doe set forth Petitions and Prayers but generally prayer is the lifting up of the minde and heart unto God for prayer is the
counterfeiting and dissembling one may easily deceive and abuse another having one thing secretly hid in his heart when outwardly he saith and doth the contrary upon that is grounded the saying of the Prophet Jeremy Ierem. 17.9 The heart of man is overthwart and who shall know it but there cannot be such a perversity and dissimulation ascribed unto God but when he worketh hee declareth the quality of his nature in his working so that his workes may be most assured testimonies by which the hearts of the faithfull may bee perswaded of his goodnesse and will Esay 28. and although he seeme sometimes to worke contrary to his custome yet that is done to the intent that it shall come to that end which hee hath appointed This is to worke truly and verily according to the quality of his nature and to declare openly to the world the testimony of his good will or anger by word and deed Now there are five kinds of working One is Five kinds of working when things bee wrought according to the strength of their nature without any governance of understanding or will as in the working of fire water medicinall hearbes precious stones and such other things whose working if it bee guided by any reason or will it is not their owne but by some outward either by Gods or mans directions The second kind is of those things which followeth the drift of nature in their working but not without their owne will though the mastery of reason be lacking in them yet such is their working that sometimes it is forced against their will and so worke the bruit beasts The third kind is of men which doe also worke according to the quality of their nature and joyne theirs unto the governance of reason or will but wrong and corrupt and also subject and under a greater power either of man either of God and under this is also comprised the working of evill spirits The fourth is of good Spirits which wee call Angels they worke also according to their nature and that with understanding and will but without any depravation thereof wherein they differ from men and from evill spirits but they are also subject to a superiour power by whom their doings be directed The fift and last kind of working is also according to the nature of the worker Eccles 42.15 c. 43. with understanding and will and that pure and uncorrupt and is not subject unto the wisdome or will of any superiour but is most free wise mighty good and infinite upon whom all other things dependeth This is the working of one very God the beginning increase keeping repairing the rule and end of all things most good most free willing infinite everlasting perfect needing no other helpe No man is able sufficiently to praise God for he farre exceeds all praise necessary and profitable not to the worker but to the workes whose incomprehensible waies infinite multitude and unsearchable consideration no man may seeke to know whose infinite Goodnesse Wisedome Power Majesty and Glory all Angels and men must have in admiration and worship Though the Multitude Variety Majesty and Excellencie of the Workes of God be infinite and incomprehensible that neither the reason nor number of them can bee comprehended by any mans imagination or industry Eccle. 8.17 even as Ecclesiasticus said Yet among all the Workes of God Among Gods workes the worke of Creation is first wee ought first to understand the workes of the Creation and herein wee must leave the consideration of those workes that are of the Father towards the Sonne and of the Sonne towards the Father and of both of them toward the holy Spirit and of the holy Spirit toward both of them which are unsearchable and not necessary to know nor belonging to Creation But it is even enough if the creature doe acknowledge honour and glorifie the workes of his Creator in that that he is the Creator Encreaser Conserver Repairer Governour and Perfecter of all when we say the Father created all things the Word must not bee excluded neither the holy Spirit because that by the Word and with the Spirit all things were made and created When we say the sunne nourisheth and giveth light unto the earth wee exclude not his heate nor his brightnesse without which he doth not accomplish his worke Againe when we say all things are created of God we must not include those things that be evill in respect they be evill for they be not of God Iohn 8.44 but of satan the father of all evill this is the plaine description of our true and onely God from all false gods and idols To possesse our hearts with greater awe of his Majesty whilest we admire him for his simplenesse and infinitnesse adore him for his unmeasurablenesse unchangeablenesse and eternity seeke wisdome from his understanding and knowledge submit our selves to his blessed will and pleasure love him for his love mercy goodnesse and patience trust to his word because of his truth feare him for his power justice and anger reverence him for his holinesse and praise him for his blessednesse and to depend all our life on his faithfull promises who is the onely Authour of our life being and all the good things we have Eph. 5. Let us therefore stirre up our selves to imitate the divine Spirit in his holy Attributes and to beare in some measure the Image of his wisdome love goodnesse justice mercy truth patience zeale and anger against sinne and strive that wee may bee wise loving just mercifull true patient and zealous as our God is and that wee may in our prayers and meditations conceive aright of his divine Majesty and not according to those grosse and blasphemous imaginations which naturally arise in mens braines Psal 90.2 Rom. 1 23 c. as when they conceive God to be like an old man sitting in a chaire and the blessed Trinity to be like that tripartite idoll which Papists set up in their Church windowes When therefore thou art to pray unto God let thy heart speake unto him Psal 90.2 1 King 8.27 1 Iohn 5.7 as unto that Eternall Infinite Almighty Holy Wise Just Mercifull Spirit and most perfect and individuall Essence of three severall substances Father Sonne and holy Ghost who being present in all places ruleth Heaven and Earth understandeth all mens hearts knoweth all mens miseries and is onely able to bestow on us all graces which we want and to deliver all penitent sinners that with faithfull hearts seeke for Christs sake his helpe out of all their afflictions and troubles whatsoever If therefore thou dost believe that God is Almighty why dost thou feare devils or enemies Confidently trust in God and crave his helpe in all troubles and dangers if thou believest that God is infinite how darest thou provoke him to anger If thou believest that God is simple with what heart canst thou dissemble and play the hypocrite
prevent him SEing the Divell is so apt and ready to assault and tempt the faithfull and the elect of God consider therefore thou devout soule in what danger thou art because the divell thine adversary is alwaies lying in wait for thee hee is an enemy for boldnesse most ready for strength most powerfull for subtilty most cunning for engines well stored in sight indefatigable into all shaps changeable he intiseth us into many sinnes and having inticed us hee accuseth us before Gods judgement seate 2 Cor. 2.11 2 Cor. 11.14 hee accuseth God to men and men to God and one man to another hee exactly considereth every ones inclination and then hee layes for them the snares of temptations for the devill when he assaulteth the soule of man first sets upon that part he findes softest and best affected for his purpose for him the easier to worke upon and if hee once be withstood and overcome hee doth not presently remove nor give over but comes againe to tempt with greater force that so hee may by tediousnesse and neglect overcome those whom by violence and force of temptations he could not overcome Against whom will he not be bold to use his subtill trickes when hee was so bold to set upon the Lord of Majesty himselfe with his craft and subtilty Math 4.2 3. when hee had fasted forty daies and forty nights what Christians will he spare when hee sought to winnow Christs Apostles like wheate He deceived Adam in his nature instructed whom then can hee not deceive in his nature corrupted he deceived Judas in the schoole of our Saviour Luke 22.31 and whom will hee not deceive in the world Gen. 3.4 5. the schoole of errours in all states the divels trecheries are to bee feared In prosperity hee lifts us up with pride in adversity he drives us downe to despaire if he sees a man delighted with frugality he intangleth him in the fetters of insatiable covetousnesse if hee sees a man of an heroicall spirit hee sets him on fire with flaming anger if he sees a man somewhat merrier then ordinary hee incites him to burne with lust those whom he sees to be zealous in religion he labours to entangle in vaine superstition those whom he sees exalted to dignities hee prickes them forward with the spurres of ambition when hee allureth man to sinne hee amplifieth Gods mercy and when hee hath cast him headlong into sinne then he shewes and amplifies Gods justice first hee will lead a man to presumption and afterwards he labours to bring him to desperation sometimes he assaults outwardly by persecutions sometimes hee assaults inwardly by fiery tentations sometimes he sets upon us openly and by force sometimes hee sets upon us secretly and by fraud in eating he sets before us gluttony in generating luxury in exercising sluggishnesse in conversing envie in governing covetous extortion in correcting rage in dignity pride he possesses the heart with evill cogitations in the mouth he puts false speakings in the other members wicked actions when wee are awake he moves us to evill workes when we are asleepe he moves us to filthy dreames so then at all times in every place and in every thing we must beware of the divels trecheries wee sleepe but hee watcheth wee are secure but he goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devoure 1 Pet. 5.8 Consider therefore thou faithfull soule the trecheries of this most potent enemy and seeke the ayd of spirituall armes to defend thee from his subtilties let thy loynes be girt with the girdle of truth Eph. 6.14 and covered with the brest-plate of righteousnesse put on Christs perfect righteousnes thou shalt bee safe from the divels tentations Iohn 14.30 as Satan hath no power over Christ neither hath he power over the faithfull his members Let thy feet be shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace so the fiery darts of the divell shall not hurt thee take the shield of faith to defend thee from the assaults of this most wicked enemy Eph. 6.15 Math. 17.20 Faith is that which removes Mountaines which is to be understood the mountaines of doubts persecutions and tentations if thou hast faith neither shall any thing be unpossible unto thee Vers 20. Exod. 12.17.12.13 The Israelites whose doore posts were figured with the blood of the paschall Lambe were not smitten with the destroying Angell so likewise those whose hearts are by faith sprinkled with the blood of Christ shall not be hurt by this destroyer faith relies upon Gods promises in the mercy of the Almighty and Satan cannot overthrow them that believe faith is the light of the soule and hath a bright eye a holy eare a cleane heart and a sure foote shee is the strength of hope the trust of truth the honour of amity and the joy of love and Satan cannot prevaile against it and the tentations of this malignant spirit are easily discerned through this light Mich. 7.19 By faith our sins are throwne into the profound sea of Gods mercy and in that the firy darts of the divell shall be easily quenched we must likewise put on the helmet of salvation that is Ephes 6.17 holy Hope endure tentation and expect an issue thereof by hope and thou shalt find comfort thereby For God is an Assister of them that contend and the crowne of them that overcome Vers 19. wee must also take the sword of the spirit that is the Word of God For the consolations of the Scripture will prevaile against the contradictions of the divell Nazianz. for by the Word Christ overcame all Satans temptations Math. 4.4 c. 11. and still the faithfull shall overcome the divell and all his subtilties To conclude by prayer thou hast great aid against tentations for as often as the little ship of thy soule is ready to be overwhelmed by the waves of tentation awake Christ by thy prayers we overcome visible enemies with striking but wee overcome our invisible enemies by powring forth prayers unfained fight thou O Christ both in us and for us that so through thee we also may overcome our deadly enemy with victory that in thee and through thee we may triumph gloriously Of the Morall Law of God the ten Commandements THe Law of God The morall Law of God and the Law of nature is all one though it was not given to man with solemne promulgation before the time of Moses yet was there a generall sense thereof given to Adam in his creation For when God gave him his nature and endued him with the use of reason and discourse he gave him capacity to understand his duty the which duty is nothing else but the observation of the Law of God and therefore when Adam had transgressed the commandements of God and had eaten the forbidden fruit the reason of his naturall soule could tell him his offence and then his conscience judged him he was afraid
God allure us by easie meanes and faire promises to everlasting life which the Law denieth to all men no man being able to satisfie the justice of the Law If it be objected then that the grace of the Gospell doth destroy the workes of the Law because that mercy is given of grace and not of desert it is answered that the Gospell doth not destroy the workes of the Law and the substance thereof but onely doth mitigate the rigour and severity thereof As God when he preserved Daniel in the Lyons denne hee did not destroy the Lyons but onely shut their mouthes and bound their power that they might not hurt Daniel Dan. 6.16 so he did not destroy the Law but onely restraine the violence thereof from hurting his Daniels that is his faithfull servants and as when King Darius tooke Daniel from the denne and cast in his accusers the Lyons power was no longer shut up Dan. 6.24 but had the mastery and devoured them their wives and children no more shall the reprobates avoyd the condemnation of the Law notwithstanding the promise of the gospell and the new covenant of grace Because no man hath the benefit of mercy but hee that first is the child of faith therefore the great King of all the world shall take his faithfull Daniels his Elect from the power of the Lyons the Law but leaveth the reprobate in the state of their destruction Thus much in generall of the Gospell and the difference betweene that and the Law and them that lived under the bondage of the Law and us that now live in the liberty of the Gospell the purpose of the Gospell is the salvation of man And therefore the Angell that was the first preacher of the gospell told the shepheards that hee brought them tydings of great joy Luk. 2.10 indeed a greater could not be then to bring them tydings of their salvation The matter of the gospell is the life the death and the doctrine of Jesus Christ for they are the onely meanes by which wee attaine to the favour of salvation Esay 43.11 his doctrines were directions his life examples and his death was and is life eternall to all them that apprehend him by a lively faith In the circumstance of the gospell is principally considered First God who of himselfe and of his owne election without any cause in man did enter this covenant of grace being moved onely by the pleasure of his owne most holy will and by his owne gracious love to his creatures for so saith the Holy Ghost God so loved the world Iohn 3.16 that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life Whereby it is evident that the love of God was the onely cause that moved him to this effect for God can glorifie himselfe aswell in the damnation Gods love to man is the moving cause of the covenant of grace as in the salvation of men For hee needeth no addition of honour that is infinite both in greatnesse and goodnesse but as his mercy is most eminent over all his attributes so in this new covenant of the Gospell hee doth give us the greatest demonstration of his mercy that can be in giving his only begotten Son to die on the Crosse for the redemption of mankind In every word there is a passion of love infinitely beyond all comparison wherein it seemeth that God doth as it were put off his Majesty and descend himselfe in his care to pity and redresse the ruined state of sinfull man his enemie Secondly in the person of Christ who is the cause both moving and finishing the covenant of the Gospell there is matter of most worthy and admirable consideration For Christ is not onely to bee understood as the instrumentall cause whereby this covenant of grace betweene God and man was effected but also as the first moving cause and deviser thereof it being impossible to assigne him offices without his appointment hee being equall to God the Father and the holy Ghost and they having all but one divinity undivided This the unbelieving Jewes could not comprehend and therefore they derided Christ when he said Before Abraham was Iohn 8.58 I am not knowing that hee was God equall and coeternall with the Father and was begotten before all beginning It is therefore most wonderfull in the person of Christ that hee being Lord of all the world that he would leave the bosome of his Father and for a time to put off the presence of his divine Majesty and to take our nature upon him in humility Strong witnesses of the love of Christ towards us and in a base estate to undertake not onely to satisfie the Law and to make good our defects but also to beare the displeasure of his Father and to suffer the malice of wicked men to prevaile against him even to his death and that he hath endured all this for the sinnes and good of man a creature that by sinne had brought himselfe in disgrace and heavy displeasure with God and which is most of all that hee hath done all this by his owne appointment without either command or direction there being no power above him by whom he could bee commanded This incomparable love of God is able to astonish a Christian meditation and to make a man admire and say with holy David Lord what is man that thou hast such respect unto him Psal 144.3 or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him This doth strongly relieve our faith against all diffidence shewing that our salvation hangs not like a meteor in the ayre but is firmely fixed upon the love of God in Christ Iere 31.3 32.40 2 Tim. 2.19 and it furthereth our spirituall joy in that it teacheth us that the love of God is constant and his decree concerning our welfare eternall And it also eclipseth the pride of the heart shewing that Gods dignation and not mans dignity his favour not mans faith his mercy and not mans merite is the fountaine and foundation of mans felicity Thirdly is considered The Ministers â—n the office of the Gospell the officers in the holy ministration of the gospell by whose faithfull endeavour and vigilance the spirituall graces of the gospell are distributed to the children of faith for whose sakes the covenant of grace is given the first officers in this kind were the twelve Apostles of purpose chosen by Christ Jesus himselfe that they might bee the faithfull witnesses of the whole passage of his life and that after his ascention they might plant in mens hearts a knowledge of the gospell by their prayers preachings and godly exhortations to dispose the holy seed of grace in their hearts whom God should make capable to entertaine it with profit These holy labourers being assisted by the holy Ghost travelled in Gods husbandry with such alacrity as that the Gospel in their times spread it selfe into very large
have the markes of righteousnesse of Jesus Christ whereby wee shall be distinguished from the ungodly and unrepentant sinners and have the seales and assurance of everlasting salvation and eternall happinesse The fruit of true repentance The foundation and beginning of holy life is saving repentance Heb. 10.17 18. for where there is true repentance there is remission of sinnes and where there is remission of sins there is the grace of God and where there is the grace of God there is Christ and where Christ is there is his merits and where his merits are there is satisfaction for sin and where there is satisfaction for sins there is righteousnesse and where there is righteousnesse there is joy and tranquillity of conscience and where there is tranquillity of conscience there is the holy Spirit and where the holy Spirit is there is the sacred and holy Trinity and where the holy Trinity is there is eternall life therefore where there is true repentance there is eternall life where there is not true repentance there is no remission of sins nor the grace of God nor Christ nor his merit nor satisfaction for sins nor righteousnesse nor tranquillity of conscience nor the holy Spirit nor the holy Trinity nor eternall life why therefore doe we deferre our repentance and why doe we procrastinate it from day to day God bids thee repent to day thou canst not promise thy selfe to morrow and to repent truly is not in our power without the grace of God moveth us thereunto and at the day of Judgement we must not onely give an account for to morrow but for the present day Therefore repent whilest thou hast time Note for to morrow is not so certaine unto us as the utter destruction of the impenitent sinner is certaine for every day doth the flesh heape sinne upon sinne let therefore the Spirit every day wash them away by hearty repentance Christ dyed that sin might dye in us and shall wee suffer that to live and raigne in our hearts for the destroying whereof the Sonne of God himselfe dyed Matth. 3. Christ enters not into the heart by grace unlesse Iohn Baptist first prepare the way by repentance Esay 57.15 God powreth not the oyle of mercy but into the vessells of a contrite heart God doth first mortifie us by contrition that afterwards hee may quicken us by the consolation of the Spirit 1 Sam. 2.6.7 hee leades us first into hell by serious griefe that afterward hee may bring us backe by the sweet taste of his grace in like manner terrour goes before the taste of Gods love and sorrow before comfort God bindes not up our wounds unlesse first wee lay them open and bewaile them by confession unto him hee pardons not unlesse thou first acknowledge thy sins he justifies not unlesse thou first condemne thy selfe hee comforts not unlesse thou first despaire in thy selfe and thine owne merits this true repentance God grant unto us and by his holy spirit worke in us Of the two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper and first of the fruits of Baptisme BAptisme is the Sacrament of regeneration cleansing or washing admission sanctification incorporation whereby they which doe repent and professe the faith and religion of Christ are incorporated into Christ and joyned unto his Church that being washed from their sins they may walke in newnesse of life and the outward signe of the invisible grace which the Spirit of Christ doth worke in the hearts of the faithfull elect Remember therefore thou faithfull soule the grace of God conferred upon thee in the saving laver of Baptisme which is the fountaine of regeneration Tit. 3.5 6. and renewing of the holy Ghost which is shed on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour at the first creation of all things the Spirit of God moved upon the waters and gave a vitall force unto them so in the water of Baptisme the holy Ghost is also present and makes it a saving meanes of our regeneration and there was in Ierusalem about the sheepe market a poole into which at a certaine time the Angel of the Lord descended Joh. 5.2 Vers 4. and troubled the water and hee that first descended into it after the troubling of the water was made whole of what disease soever he had the water of Baptisme is that poole which healeth us of every disease of sin when the holy Spirit descends into it and troubles it with the blood of Christ Matth. 3.16 who was made a sacrifice for us at the baptisme of Christ the heavens were opened unto him so as our baptisme the gate of heaven is also opened unto us at the baptisme of Christ the holy and sacred Trinity was present so are they likewise at our baptisme for by the word of promise which is annexed unto the element of water faith receiveth the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Son cleansing Note and the efficacy of the holy Ghost regenerating Pharaoh and his host was drowned in the red Sea the Israelites passed thorow safe secure and sound So in baptisme Exo. 14 27 c. all the host of vices are drowned and the faithfull safely attaine to the inheritance of the kingdome of heaven in the Church the spirituall Temple of God the saving waters of baptisme doe spring forth into the profundity wherein our sins are throwne Mich. 7.19 whosoever come unto it shall be healed and live Baptisme is the spirituall flood in which all sin of flesh is drowned The impure crow goes forth like the Divell but the holy Ghost like the Dove brings the Olive branch that is Gen. 8.11 peace and tranquillity unto our mindes Remember therefore thou faithfull soule the greatnesse of the grace of God conferred upon thee in Baptisme and render due thankes unto him The more plentifull grace is conferred upon us in Baptisme the more diligent and carefull must wee be in the custody of the gifts conferred Wee are buried with Christ by Baptisme into his death therefore as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his Father so we also should walke in newnesse of life to the glory of our Redeemer John 5.14 by whom wee are made whole let us sinne no more lest a worse thing happen unto us wee have put on the most pretious robe of Christs righteousnesse let us not therefore defile it with the staines of sin Ephes 4.23 by baptisme we are regenerate and renewed in the spirit of our minde therefore let not the flesh dominere over the spirit by spirituall regeneration we are made the sonnes of God let us therefore live as the sons of such a Father we are made the Temple of the holy Ghost let us therefore prepare a thankfull seat for such a guest wee are received into Gods Covenant let us therefore beware we doe not serve under the Divell and so fall from the covenant of Grace for our conversation
God What fiery darts of the divell can be so mortiferous that they cannot be quenched in the fountaine of divine grace What so great a staine of the conscience that his blood cannot purge Here is not felt the fire of Gods fury but the heat of his love here is the Sonne of righteousnesse Malac. 4.2 the present light of our soules our first Parents were brought into Paradise that most sweet and fragrant garden Gen. 2.8 the type of eternall beatitude behold the penitent conscience is here cleansed by the blood of the Sonne of God and by the body of Christ are nourished the members of Christ the head the faithfull soule is fed with divine and heavenly dainties the sacred flesh of God which the Angels adore in the unity of person which the Arch-angels reverence Psalm 18. at which the powers doe tremble and which the vertuous admire is the spirituall food of our soules Let the heavens rejoyce Psal 96.11 let the earth be glad but much more the faithfull soule upon whom such and so great benefits are bestowed Our most bountifull God Matth. 22.4 hath prepared a great feast hearts that be hungry must be brought unto it he that tasteth not thereof feeleth not the sweetnesse of this heavenly feast to believe in Christ is this heavenly feast but no man believeth Note unlesse he confesse his sins with contrition and repent him of the same Contrition is the spirituall hunger of the soule and faith is the spirituall feeding God gave Manna Exod. 16.4 the bread of Angels to the Israelites in the wildernesse In this feast of the new testament God giveth us the heavenly Manna that is his grace and forgivenesse of sins yea his Sonne Christ Jesus The Lord of the Angels is that spirituall bread which came downe from heaven to give light and life unto the world The desire is the food of the soule and the soule comes not to this mysticall feast unlesse it desires to come thereto Matth 25.8 Verse 10. and it cannot desire the heavenly sweetnesse if it be full of this worlds comforts at the comming of the Bridegroome the Virgins that had no oyle in their lampes staying too long were shut out so they whose hearts in this world are not filled with the oyle of the holy Spirit shall not be admitted by Christ to the participation of the joy of this holy feast but shall have the gate of indulgence the gate of mercy the gate of consolation the gate of hope Rom. 5.20 the gate of grace and the gate of good workes shut against them Our Saviour Christ hath yet another kinde of calling and happy is hee that heares and obey it Christ often knocks at the gates of our heart by holy desires Note devout sighes and pious cogitations and happy is hee that openeth unto him as soone therefore as thou feelest in thy heart any holy desire of the heavenly grace assure thy selfe that Christ knockes at thy heart make haste let him in lest hee passe by and presently shut the gate of his mercy against thee as soone as thou feelest in thy heart any sparke of holy motions or godly meditations perswade thy selfe that it is kindled by the heat of divine grace and love that is of the holy Spirit cherish and nourish it 1 Thes 5.19 that it may grow to be a fire of love in thee and take heed that thou quench not the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.17 and hinder the worke of the Lord our heart is the Temple of the Lord hee that destroyeth the Temple of the Lord shall feele his severe judgement and he destroyeth it whosoever refuseth to give place to the holy Spirit inwardly calling him by the Word In the old Testament the Prophets could heare the Lord speaking inwardly in them and so all the true godly doe feele those inward motions of the holy Spirit drawing them unto goodnesse Ephes 4.3 therefore all men must endeavour to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace A preparation to the receiving of the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ THere is a hearing and a preparation before hearing there is a praying and there is a preparation before praying and there is a receiving and there is a preparation before receiving which if it be wanting the receiver receiveth uncomfortably the prayer prayeth vainly and the hearer heareth unfruitfully like those which doe eate before hunger or drinke before thirst this preparative before hearing praying and receiving for the health of our soules doth signifie the rules of physicke for preparatives are ministred alwaies before physicke Note and as the preparative which goes before maketh way to the physicke or else it would doe no good but hurt so unlesse examination goe before the Sacrament 1 Cor. 11.27 29. wee seale up the threatnings which are pronounced against us in stead of the promises which are made unto us for the Sacrament is a seale and sealeth good or evill as every other seale doth therefore all men ought carefully to examine themselves but they that are suspected of a crime doe not examine themselves but are examined of others lest they should be partiall in their owne cause but a faithfull Christian should examine himselfe of his crime Verse 31.32 Note and be his owne judge his owne accuser and his owne condemner for no man knowes the spirit of man but the spirit which is in man which will condemne him if he be guilty and tell him all that he hath done and with what minde he did it and what punishment he deserveth for the same this is the close sessions or private arraignement when Conscience sits in her chaire to examine accuse judge and condemne her selfe Eccles 18.19 because she will escape the just condemnation of God Thus have holy men kept their sessions at home and made their hearts the fore-man of the Jury and examine themselves Note as wee examine others The feare of the Lord stood at the doore of their soules to examine every thought before it went in and at the doore of their lips to examine every word before it went out so shouldest thou sit in judgement of thy selfe and call thy thoughts words and actions to give in evidence against thee whether thou be a Christian or an Infidell a sonne or a bastard a servant or a rebell a sincere believer or an hypocrite if upon examination thou find not faith nor feare nor love nor zeale in thy selfe let no man make thee believe thou art holy that thou art godly Note that thou art sanctified that thou art a Christian that thou art a believer because thou art worse then thou seemest to thy selfe to be therefore if my heart tell mee that I love God whom shall I believe before my selfe 1 Cor. 2.11 No man can search the heart of another man so Paul saith No man knoweth the spirit of any man
and the direction of the holy Ghost should keepe the holy day upon that Lords day or Sunday Apoc 1.9.10.11 agreeable to the practise of the ancient Church and worthily solemnize it on the first day of the weeke in memoriall of the worlds redemption to the honour and praise of the Lord Jesus who rose from death to life upon that day This should stirre up all Christians to a thankfull remembrance of their redemption by Christ his resurrection from the dead Hebr. 2.5 2.11 5.9 And note that with the day the blessing of the day is likewise translated to the Lords day because all the sanctification belonging to this new world is in Christ and from and by him conveyed to Christians and because there cannot come a greater motive or cause then the new creation of the world therefore the worship of God is fitler solemnized on this day then on any other The holy Sunday is the Lords market day for the weeks provision Esa 55.1 2 3. wherein he will have us to come unto him and buy of him without gold or silver the bread of Angels and water of life the wine of the Sacraments and the milk of the Word to feed our soules tried gold to inrich our faith Apoc. 3.18 Gen. 2.2 3. Exo. 20.10 11. precious eye salve to heale our spirituall blindnesse and the white rayment of Christs righteousnesse to cover our filthy nakednesse Of Christs Ascension MEditate upon thy Saviours ascension by a holy contemplation Joh. 20.29 thou faithfull soule for Christ withdrew his visible presence from the faithfull to exercise their faith by holy contemplation and blessed are they that see not Mat. 6.21 Act. 8.21 Colos 3.2 and yet believe where our treasure is there let our heart be also Christ our treasure is in heaven let our hearts therefore be set upon those things that are heavenly and meditate upon those things that be above let us put our confidence in the pledge of the holy Spirit which the Lord left unto us at his departure let us put our confidence in the body and blood of Christ which wee receive in the mysterie of the holy Sacrament and let us believe that our bodies which are filled with this incorruptible food shall at length be raised up againe and that which we now believe in faith wee shall then see with our eyes and our hope wee have now in Christ shall then be reall fruition to our soules the Lord is present unto us here but in part Colos 3.4 but in the mansion of his heavenly kingdome Act. 1.9.10.11 12. we shall behold him in his glory and know him as hee is which is our life our Saviour ascended up from the Mount of Olives the Olive is the signe of peace and joy therefore not without great cause hee ascended up from Mount Olivet because by his passion and holy sufferings he hath purchased peace and tranquillity for amazed and terrified consciences not without cause did hee ascend up from the Mount Olivet for the court of heaven exceedingly rejoyce to receive him the Mount doth not onely put us in minde but doth also call and invite us to heavenly things and seeing we cannot follow him with the feete of our body let us follow him with the feete of our holy desires The disciples stood lifting up their eyes Vers 11. and looking towards Heaven so let all the true Disciples of Christ lift up the eyes of their heart to behold and desire heavenly things Sweet Jesus what a blessed and glorious alteration followed thy passion Oh happy and sodaine change how didst thou suffer on Mount Calvary for our sinnes and how doe I now behold thee in the Mount of Olives there thou wast alone here thou art accompanied with many thousands of Angels there thou didst ascend up to the Crosse in disgrace Luke 24.52 here thou didst ascend up into Heaven in a cloud and in glory there wast thou crucified betweene thieves here thou dost rejoyce amongst the company of Angels and Saints there thou wast nayled to the Crosse as a condemned man here thou art at liberty and dost deliver those that were condemned Eph. 5.23 30 there suffering and dying here rejoycing and triumphing Christ is our head and the Saviour of the body we are his members Rejoyce therefore and bee glad thou faithfull soule for though our sinnes doe hinder us yet the communion of nature doth not repell us where the head is there shall the members be also our head is in heaven therefore the members have just and great cause to hope for entrance there not onely so but they are assured already that they have possession there Christ descended from Heaven to redeeme us and againe hee ascended up into heaven to glorifie us unto us was he borne Note for us did he suffer and for us did he ascend our charity is confirmed by Christs passion our faith by Christs resurrection and our hope by Christ ascension Let us strive to follow Christ our Bride-groome not onely with our ardent desire but also with our good workes Acts 21.27 Acts 1.10 for nothing that is defiled shall enter into this heavenly City The Angels that came from heavenly Ierusalem appeared in white robes by purity and innocency is figured that no pride can ascend with the Doctour of humility nor no malice with the Authour of goodnesse with the lover of peace there ascends no discord and with the sonne of the Virgin there ascends no uncleannesse after the parent of vertue there ascend no vices and after the just person there ascends no sinnes Therefore he that desires to see God face to face let him so live here in this world as in his sight and hee that hope for celestiall things let him contemne terrestriall things Our Saviour Christ promised unto his Apostles that after his departure he will send unto them from his father a comforter John 14.26 15.26 Luke 24.47 Vers 47. John 24.17 the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth to testifie of him and to teach them all things and to endue them with power to preach repentance and remission of sinnes in his name among all Nations saying Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Therefore let not our hearts be troubled neither let us feare but that our Saviour which redeemed us will also through his merits and mediation glorifie us in Heaven O sweet Jesus draw our hearts unto thee whether thou art gone before and that in the meane time wee may immitate thy goodnesse mercy truth and patience and follow thee in the same Amen Of the holy Ghost OUr Lord Jesus ascending up into the Heavens and entring into his glory Acts 2.4 Vers 1. Exod. 10.11 sent the holy Ghost upon the Apostles on the day of Penticost as in the old Testament when God proclaimed the Law in Mount Sinai he came downe unto Moses So when the Gospell was
that wee are the elect of God for they are the fruits of his love and the workes of his spirit and therefore irrefragable testimonies and tokens of election the Sunne by his light shines upon us and by the same light wee view and behold the Sunne againe a man may be elected though for a time he live unconverted Acts 9.1 c. Luk. 23.40 41 42 43. and in his sins as wee may see by the examples of Saint Paul and the thiefe upon the crosse for it is true that whosoever is converted is elected yet whosoever is not converted the same may be elected because the elect may be aliens for a time from God Ephes 2.1 Cor. 6.10.11 Colos 2.13 1 Pet. 4.3 and unregenerated as were the Ephesians Corinthians Colossians yea all men are such by nature so one good and constant motion or resolution of grace is sufficient to prove a mans election unto glory By this we may know that wee belong to God if wee finde the impression of the grace of God constantly in us there is yet matter of true comfort but if all these signes be wanting that a man shall not alwaies finde all these things in himselfe yet must wee not despaire but commend our selves to the grace and mercy of God and use the best meanes of our salvation therefore O devout soule Rom. 4.25 as often as thou dost meditate upon thy predestination behold and thinke on Christ hanging upon the crosse dying for the sinnes of the whole world and rising againe for our justification Begin from Christ lying in a manger Ephes 1.4 5 c. and so thy disputation of predestination shall proceed orderly God the Father elected us in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid if therefore thou art in Christ by faith doe not doubt but that election belongeth unto thee if with a firme confidence of heart thou adherest unto Christ doe not doubt but that thou art in the number of the elect but if thou goest further beyond the limits of the Word of God and wilt search into the profundity of predestination it is greatly to be feared that thou wilt fall into the profundity of desperation God by the voice and severity of the Law accuseth all without Christs satisfaction take heed therefore that thou drawest not the mystery of predestination out of the Law search not into the reasons of Gods secret Counsell lest thy cogitations doe much seduce thee God dwelleth in the light that no man can attaine unto 1 Tim. 6.6 presume not therefore to come unto it rashly but God hath revealed it unto us in the light of the Gospel in this thou mayst safely inquire into the doctrine of this secret Psal 36.9 and in this light thou shalt see true light search not into the profundity of this eternall decree made from eternity but convert thy selfe to the clearenesse of the manifestation of the Gospel which was made in time and in the glasse of Justification thou mayest behold thy election made without time out of the Law take notice of the wrath of God for sins and repent out of the Gospel take notice of the mercy of God through the merits of Christ and apply that unto thy selfe by faith take notice of the nature of faith and shew it by thy godly conversation take notice of Gods fatherly castigation in crosses and endure through patience then at length thou shalt come to the doctrine of predestination Note but in this mysterie there are alwaies three things to be observed the mercy of God loving us the merit of Christ suffering for us and the grace of the holy Ghost by the Gospel sanctifying us Gods mercy is universall because hee loved the world Psal 33.5 6. the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord yea his mercy is greater then heaven and earth for he hath promised Ezech. 33.11 as truely as I live saith the Lord I will not the death of a sinner but much rather that he may turne from his wickednesse and live yea he hath confirmed it with an oath if therefore thou wilt not believe him for his promise yet believe him for his oath The merit of Christ is also universall because hee suffered for the sins of the whole world therefore doubt not of the universality of Christs merits Christ dyed and suffering prayed for them that crucified him and shed his most precious blood for them that persecuted him the promises of the Gospell are universall because Christ saith unto all them that labour and are heavie laden Come unto me and I will refresh you Math. 11.28 God denies his grace unto none but to them that thinke themselves not worthy of it by thinking that their sinnes are greater then the mercy of God is able to pardon forgive so despairing of mercy desperately cast away themselves Consider therefore thou faithfull soule these three props of predestination and rest upon them with a firme confidence of thy heart Consider also the benefits of Gods grace wonderful mercy towards thee that are past and thou wilt not doubt of his finall perseverance towards thee for when as yet thou wast not God created thee Rom. 1.16 when by the fall of Adam thou wast condemned he redeemed thee when thou livedst in the world out of the Church hee called thee by his word when thou wast ignorant of the truth hee instructed thee when thou wentest astray out of the way hee reduced thee home when thou sinnedst he gently corrected thee when thou wast falne hee lifted thee up when thou camest unto him hee most graciously received thee 2 Pet. 3.15 his long suffering appeared in that hee expected thee and his mercy in that he pardoned thee Gods mercy prevented thy destruction hope therefore firmely that his loving kindnesse and mercy will also follow thee Consider thou faithfull soule Psal 23.6 that we were elected of God in Christ by faith faith shews it selfe by love and love hath hope of the promise therefore where there is not love neither is there faith where there is no faith neither is there apprehension of Christ and where there is no apprehension of Christ there is not election and where there is no election there is no hope of salvation Of Mortification HE that is resolved to endeavour his godly repentance and labour the reformation of his sinfull life Note must labour two things principally and of necessity The first is mortification the next is regeneration he must first destroy his sinfull estate before hee can obtaine the estate of grace for God and the gifts of God are so absolutely holy that they cannot admit any mixture or cooperation with sinne and wicked actions For as in curing of bodies infected with poysonous diseases Note the Physitian by severity and strict dyet bringeth downe the body of his patient to extreme poverty and leanenesse and then in that extremity helpeth the weaknesse of
salvation to the Elect. The necessity of mortification doth require in every one an exact diligence in that Christian office for seeing the hazzard of eternall life dependeth upon the death or not dying of sinne and that necessarily there is no man of that simple understanding but will thinke it expedient nay necessary wisedome rather to destroy his sinne then himselfe for one of the two must of necessity be mortified suffer death and die and if any man thinke to devise a meanes to save both himselfe and his sinne and in the reformation of himselfe to over-leape the duty of mortification as a duty too precise and of grievous performance and shall thinke that mortification is not of necessary substance but rather a severe circumstance which may be safely avoyded to him may bee said as Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians with admiration O foole 1 Cor. 15 36. that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die and let him be sure that if hee either faile or faint in this endeavour there is no endeavour can purchase him the favour of God and the salvation of his soule Therefore it most neerely respecteth all men not to esteeme their sinne which is their enemy and would destroy them more then God which is their friend and would save them nay more then their soules and their salvation Therefore let every man make warre upon himselfe and his owne flesh To subdue our owne sinfull affections is the greatest conquest in the world and let him bee valiant to conquer himselfe and triumph in the spoile and death of his sinfull actions and affections for there is no warre can gaine our names a greater glory then to victor our selves and he is most redoubted and most valiant that can conquer his owne affections the which all men must doe before they can have the garland of holy victory from the hand of God Againe seeing that in our mortification there is no respect of favour had to any sinne but that all sinne must die the sinnes that have gained us either our profit or our pleasure for all sinne being in hatred with God all sinne is therefore commanded to die without dispensation proviso or exception of any It therefore behooveth all men to hate as God hateth even all sinne because all sinne is in Gods hatred lest they provoke God as Saul did and with Saul to declare themselves reprobates God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15.1 c. a sinfull and God-lesse people Saul performed his Commandement but in part for though he destroyed many yet he spared some for which God cast him from his favour and rent his Kingdome from him Our sinnes are those Amalekites God hath commanded us to destroy them utterly if therefore any man presume against Gods Commandement to spare any God will certainly cast him with Saul from the hope of salvation This doth admonish all to avoyd the common custome of men that commonly hate the sinnes and infirmities of others but flatter and feed their owne with saturity the usurer hee condemneth the prodigall the prodigall condemneth him the drunkard condemneth the glutton Every contrary despiseth one another the glutton he condemneth the drunkard age and youth have each their particular sinnes yet doe they despise one another and so doe every particular his contrary so that many can abhorre those sinnes to the which they are not naturally addicted but few doe mortifie them that are neerest and dearest unto them These are they that our Saviour Christ calleth hypocrits Math. 23. that point at little sinnes in others but flatter and foster maine ones in themselves this evill custome is farre short of the duty of mortification which requireth a loathing and detestation nay a death not of some sinnes not of other mens sinnes but of our owne sinnes and of all our owne sinnes without exception of any and seeing that the holy Ghost doth move this grace in our hearts and doth give us spirituall power in the office of mortification It behoveth all men to addresse their prayers to God that he will give them the direction of his grace to guide them in so needfull a performance and that when they finde in themselves a desire to mortifie their sinnes and sinnefull affections Titus 1.12 c. then let them assure themselves that they are called by the divine and efficatious power of God to the performance of that duty that then they yeeld their endeavour with all diligence to doe as the holy Ghost directs them lest by neglecting the admonishments of Gods Spirit they bring upon themselves a greater condemnation The life and soule as it were thereof is the illumination and reformation of the minde and an efficatious bending conforming and working of the heart and will whereby it becomes obedient to the voyce of God and returnes as it were an audible and lively eccho into their eares the end thereof is first the glory of God and the commendation of his mercy to whom wee must ascribe both grace and nature and of whom wee have received our soules and bodies yea and the very soule of our soules which is his spirit The second end of this vocation is our deliverance and translation out of ignorance infidelity sensuality and rebellion The soule of our soules is the Spirit of God 2 Thes 2 14. unto spirituall grace and glory for wee are called out of darknesse into light that we might walke in light and no longer serve the Prince of darknesse wee are called out of the world unto God to the end that wee should relinquish the lusts of the flesh the pleasures of the world and to serve God in newnesse of life that walking uprightly before him in this world we may live and raigne with him for ever in the world to come The meritorious cause of this effectuall calling is Christ and his merits for Christ hath merited in our behalfe and hath promised that the holy Ghost should had sent into us John 15.26 16.7 8. even the Spirit of truth to illuminate and adorne our hearts with his graces and is wrought in us by a speciall powerfull and inward worke of the holy Spirit For like as when a skilfull Musitian hath once strung tuned and strucke his instrument it sends forth many pleasant and sweet sounds so when the Lord hath once breathed his spirit of life into the nostrils of our soâ—les and when hee hath once tuned the jurring strings of our sinnefull hearts and hath toucht them with the finger of his spirit he makes them send forth many delectable and harmonious sounds Tokens of mortification Rom. 1.6 6.17 18. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. wherein he takes delight So then it as with the Romans wee performe hearty obedience to the Word of God if with the Corinthians wee be rich in spirituall graces and have purged our hearts by true repentance from our former iniquities and if wee be mortified and renued
eternall life and wee are sure and believe that thou art Christ the Sonne of the living God and Christ said unto them which believed in him John 8. if you abide in my word you be verily my Disciples and you shall know the truth thereof commeth that assurednesse of faith Note whereof mention is made before In Gods case and Religion all things are blind and doubtfull to mans naturall reason but unto faith they be certaine and cleare and thereby we know that wee be the children of God faith doth take hold of the gifts of God which we doe request of him in prayer the attainment of the which cannot be hoped for nor trusted upon without wee aske in fayth James 1.6 wherefore Saint Iames saith Let him aske in faith doubting nothing for hee that is doubting and wavering is like a wave of the Sea tost to and fâ—owith the wind and carried with violence And Christ sayth Verily I say unto you Mark 11.23 24 whatsoever you request in your prayers believe that you shall obtaine it and it shall befall unto you Againe fayth doth worke in him that is justified a peaceable quiet good and contented conscience towards God through Christ so the Apostle testifieth saying Therefore being justified by faith Rom. 5. we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ without this fayth it is impossible that wee should have a quiet conscience towards God for as is sayd before that by fayth wee doe apprehend the grace of reconcilement and justification purchased for us in the blood of Christ fayth must needs therefore worke in us the invocation adoration Rom. 10. and worship of him whom wee doe believe in How shall they call upon him sayth the Apostle in whom they have not believed and the blind man which our Saviour made to see when he had sayd Lord I doe believe John 9.38 The confessiâ—n of truth hee worshipped him immediately in whom he beleeved For by fayth wee doe confesse the truth that is once beleeved and knowne of us So the Apostle doth joyne fayth and confession together for to beleeve with the heart justifieth and to acknowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe having the selfe-same spirit of faith At the poynt of death wee doe by fayth commend our soules and spirit unto the Lord. So did the thiefe upon the Crosse Math. 27. Acts 7.59 and Saint Stephen also when he was stone this is the last worke of faith towards God for after the yeelding up of the Spirit once there is no longer place nor use of faith These bee therefore the workes of fayth towards God first the love of God a good conscience towards our neighbour hope of things to come a boldnesse to repaire by prayer to the Throne of grace invocation adoration and worship confession of the truth obedience perseverance and the yeelding up of the Spirit to goe immediately unto God the faithfull are comforted in the Lord by the benefit of fayth whereupon Christ also when hee admonished his Disciples from whence they should seeke their comfort in adversity he said John 14.1 c. Let not your hearts be troubled believe in God believe also in me for there is in none greater goodnesse in none greater mercy in none greater knowledge of those things wherewith all our hearts be tormented in none more knowledge and power to helpe and ayde then is in God himselfe 2 Cor. 1.3 so that he is justly called the father of mercies and God of all comfort For he that is faythfull doth apply himselfe to the goodnesse of God and by it wee doe perceive the efficacy and sence thereof and it bringeth comfort unto the troubled heart By fayth wee doe believe the promises of grace and doe by it embrace those things which be spoken of God in his word fayth doth also mortifie the concupiscence of the flesh and maketh a mans mind humble and lowly and worketh many other notable matters in the hearts of the beleevers This excellent and rare jewell is faith the excellence whereof is surpassing precious wherewith we must of necessity be endued to become perfect men Heb. 11. Saint Paul sayth that Faith is the ground of things hoped for and the evidence of things which are not seene This is a speciall jewell and happy is the man that hath it but in quantity comparable to a graine of Mustard seed it is the ground of things hoped for as if it were sayd whatsoever crosse or calamity vexeth us if wee hope for reliefe and ease wee must ground it upon fayth otherwise our hope is no hope It is the evidence of things not seene Note it is the patefaction or laying open as it were of the very thing though farre from our sight which is expected and longed for in hope the thing hoped for through it is as it were Eph. 1. evidently seene and layd before our eyes wee may upon this ground build so certaine a foundation of hope of the joyes to come as if we were setled in Heaven it selfe with Christ It is indeed the assurance of all our comforts in the promises of God and whensoever wee lay this evidence before the celestiall Judge by prayers for therein it appeareth to be fayth or not to be he cannot but allow it so current lawfull and effectuall as that whatsoever wee aske though wee see nothing to answere our hope yet wee may assure our selves that wee shall obtaine our desires at such time and in such sort as shall bee most fittest for our necessities in so much as wee may be bold to say wee are already partakers of that we looke for before it come Psa 34.8 9 10. because comming it will come and our fayth which is the ground and the evidence of things hoped for shall not be in vaine and therefore in what danger so ever we are we must open this evidence even our fayth unto the Almighty in humble suit and hearty prayer that as his promises are manifold for the releefe of his children and his meanes infinite so will he accept of our faith Psal 91. wherein wee stand assured that hee is God al-sufficient full of mercy and truth able and willing to grant what we aske and first we must consider that there is no dissembling with God neyther can wee bragge of this rare jewell and yet bring forth the fruits of infidelity which then appeareth when wee shew our selves impatient at the chastisements and corrections of the Lord and when we grudge to stay the Lords leasure for helpe and when leaving the meanes commanded by God wee runne to worldly and forbidden meanes these things can we not shroud nor cloake under any colour or pretence for hee that searcheth the heart findeth every dissimulation Acts 5. he found out Ananias and Saphyra in their hypocrisie and gave them the reward of death because they would seeme to have faith and dissembled Learne of the
opposite against it for when it doth but slightly assaile the mind of man it putteth into him a fansie to forsake his worke he hath begun but as long as a man doth continue fast his hope Gal. 5.1 it suffereth him not to forsake his worke so the stedfastnesse of hope maketh up the worke For like as hope to gaine riches and wealth keepeth the workman in his worke and maketh the Merchant-man to venture so the hope wee have of the felicity to come keepeth the Christian man in the course study of godlinesse for like as fayth is effectuall by love so it is made also effectuall by hope without which it is utterly voyd and dead for what shall it profit to believe of those things which are to come if we have not hope of them to come Note Fayth doth also establish patience in her bold and maketh us invincible when wee be strengthned by hope to heare constantly all adversity with patience so hope and patience by an intercourse of ayd doe one helpe the other and the one doth strengthen and support the other in continuall troubles crosses and afflictions and contention of godlinesse it maketh the minde of him which is in hope quiet in the middest of his troubles which the counsell of mans wisdome is not able to worke but doth rather disquiet the travelled conscience then appease it hope grounded upon the certainety of Gods promises keepeth us safe from confusion so witnesseth the Apostle that Hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.5 because the love of God is shed abroad into our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us but the hope of the world is so vaine and fond that it doth daily deceive shame her darlings But blessed is the man which hopeth upon thee O God Psal 84.5 Prov. 16.20 Psal 4.5 The blessednesse of them which be in hope is of God and blessed i he that putteth his trust in the Lord blessed is the man whose hope is in the Name of the Lord. This blessednesse is not to bee attributed neither to the hope neither to him that hopeth so that of nâ—cessity it must be of God Hereof the Scriptures doth often testifie of God that hee is well pleased with them which doe hope upon his mercy as the Prophet David singeth that hee is good to them which doe trust upon him Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his helpe Psal 146. and whose hope is in the Lord his God What favour grace and benefits can they lacke which doe feele of his goodnesse and doe well please him is not that true blessednesse when a man pleaseth God and findeth him favourable and loving in all things how can hee but have mercy upon them which doe hope upon him which doe please him those hee willeth well unto yea those he doth specially regard and esteeme Great plagues shall remaine for the ungodly Psal 32. but whose putteth his trust in the Lord mercy imbraceth him on every side Againe the eyes of the Lord bee upon them that doe feare him which doe hope upon his mercy Againe our fathers hoped upon thee Psal 22.4 Psal 37.5 and they were not confounded For looke what the hopefull man is not able in his necessity to bring to passe of himselfe that will the Lord their God in whom they doe put their hope bring to good effect and end They called upon thee and were holpen Psa 22.5 Psal 17.7 they put their trust in thee and were not confounded Thou art the Saviour of them which putteth their trust in thee and keepest them as the apple of thine eye and hideth them under the shadow of thy wings Prov. 28.25 and Salomon sayth He which hopeth upon the Lord shall be saved Here may wee see how blessed are they which hope upon the Lord they doe well please him and they shall feele his goodnesse in time convenient Psal 91. whom the mercy of God doth compasse and embrace and upon whom his eyes bee bent can be neither forsaken nor confounded but doth deliver them preserve and save them by the might of his power whereupon there commeth the blessednesse of them that doe hope upon God but in the meere goodnesse and truth of God whereby he is so affected towards them that he cannot forsake them which doe hope upon him and that without any desert of ours so that our heart be cleane towards him and that they hope heartily upon that which they doe hope for for no other respect but only in respect of his goodnesse mercy and truth Of Patience THe vertue of Patience is commendable and profitable yea and also necessary and is adorned with many excellent gifts The singular gift of patience Patience is a kinde of heavenly tenure and a sweet temper in the spirit whereby the soule is held in possession which restraineth nature from exceeding reason in passion shee attendeth wisdome in in all her workes and proportioneth time to the necessity of matter shee is the poyson of sorrow in the hope of comfort and the paradise of conceit in the joy of peace shee is the Imitator of the incomprehensible in his passage to perfection and a servant of his will in the map of his worke-manship she pacifieth wrath and puts off revenge and in the humility of charity She is esteemed of God amongst the best vertues shewes the nature of grace she is beloved of the highest and imbraced of the wisest honoured with the worthiest and graced with the best Therefore let us commend patience as it is of it selfe commendable and commanded by the testimonies of holy Scriptures therefore we will note somewhat of patience which may profit not only others but my selfe also For when I doe write of those things which concerne our salvation I doe as well instruct my selfe as others Patience is a kind of perseverance when wee doe willingly and constantly suffer those things that be hard painfull sorrowfull and to our losse every suffering of adversity is not straightway to be termed patience for there is no man in the world It is requisite that a patient man do sustain and suffer his adversities willingly but hee suffereth many things that hee would not doe if he could any waies withstand it yet they are not to be called patient men neither are they called impatient which do suffer adversity but doe sustaine it with an evill will and discontented minde for it is impatience when we doe unwillingly strivingly and with anger suffer that which wee doe suffer Patience is not onely the willingnesse but also the long sufferance of evills for the vertue of patience consisteth also in the constancy of suffering there be many that are willing to suffer for a while but they be soone weary and become impatient unto them cannot be attributed true patience which must be both willing and continuall like as the faith of them which doe believe for a time and
nothing else but the soules travelling unto God It is the sword of our defence Eccles 35.17 18. for the soule of him that continueth in prayer is secure and safe from all the assaults of the divell for God doth alwaies heare the prayers of the faithfull if not according to their desire yet to their salvation and profit and we may assuredly hope that either he will give us that which we aske or else that which he in his wisdome knoweth to be more profitable for us for God gave us his onely begotten Sonne that infinite and most excellent gift wee being not worthy of it nor hee being not intreated thereunto what will he then deny us if hee be intreated by earnest and faithfull prayer We cannot doubt of the Fathers hearing or the Sons interceding upon all occasions wee may with Moses by prayer enter into the Tabernacle Numb 7.89 and consult with the Lord our God and we shall speedily heare his divine answere Luke 9.29 Our Saviour Christ was transfigured when hee prayed so are there many changes wrought in the soules of the faithfull in the time of prayer for prayer is the light of the soule and oftentimes leaves him in joy whom shee found in despaire With what face canst thou behold his Majesty unlesse thou dost first worship him Eccle. 53.1 2. who sends that glorious light for thee to looke upon how canst thou at thy table fall to thy meate unlesse thou doest first worship and give praise unto him who in his bounty bestowes those good creatures upon thee with what hope darest thou commit thy selfe to the darknesse of the night and bee safe from the dangers of the day unlesse thou dost first fore-arme thy selfe by faithfull prayer what fruit canst thou expect of thy labours and successe in thy travels unlesse thou dost first worship him and commit thy selfe to his gracious care and providence by prayer Math. 7.7 without whose blessing all labour is unprofitable and vaine If therefore thou wantest temporall blessings aske in faith and it shall bee given you if thou desirest Christ seeke him by prayer and thou shalt finde him if thou desirest that the gate of divine grace and eternall salvation should be opened unto thee knocke and it shall be opened and if in the desert of this world the thirst of tentations the penury and want of temporall things afflict thee come with devotion unto the spirituall rocke 1 Cor. 10.4 which is Christ and strike it with the rod of prayer and thou shalt feele the streames of divine grace to coole the thirst of thy penury Gen. 8.21 offer the sweet smelling and acceptable sacrifice of prayer unto God and his wrath shall cease from thee converse with him every day by faithfull prayer which is the spirituall conference betweene God and the devout soule prayer pleaseth God therefore invite the Lord to the house of thy heart by earnest prayer and he will be thy guest and not forsake thee Psal 29.2 Whosoever desireth to be heard let him pray with wisdome with fervency with humility with faith with perseverance and with confidence let him pray with wisdome for such things as tend to the glory of God the good of his neighbour and the salvation of himselfe God is omnipotent therfore do not thou in thy prayers tie him to means God is most wise doe not thou in thy prayers ascribe him an order let not thy prayers breake forth rashly but let the conduct of faith guide thee which hath respect unto the Word therefore such things as God hath absolutely promised in his Word pray for absolutely and such things as he hath promised with condition as temporall things To the reprobate and ungodly person pray for with condition and such things as hee hath not promised in his Word in no wise pray for God doth often give in his wrath that which in his mercy hee doth deny therefore follow the example of Christ who resigned his will wholly unto God pray with fervency for how canst thou desire that God should heare thee when thou hearest not thy selfe but the tongue out-runneth the minde Wouldst thou have God mindfull of thee when thou art not mindfull of thy selfe God will not heare thy prayers without the affection of the heart John 4.23 Luke 6.12 John 17.1 the minde must be so inflamed with the heat of cogitation that it may farre surpasse what the tongue expresseth and this is to worship in spirit and truth for such worship the Lord requireth Christ prayed in the mount and lifted up his eyes toward heaven So must wee turne away our minde from the creatures and turne them unto God for otherwise thou dost injury unto God to pray unto him to attend unto thee when thou art not attentive unto thy selfe And seeing God dwelleth in the hearts of the faithfull and godly there needeth not alwaies words because hee is present even with the thoughts Luther oftentimes one sigh moved by the holy Ghost and offered in the spirit is more acceptable to God then long repetitions of prayers where the tongue prayeth and the heart is plainly dumbe let him pray with humility and place no confidence in his owne merits but onely in the grace and mercy of God Christ being the Temple of the divinity at his passion he cast himselfe to the ground Marke 14 35. and prayed behold how that most holy soule humbled it selfe before the divine Majesty let us pray with faith the sooner one prayeth the more profitable the oftener the better the more fervently 2 Cor. 6. the more acceptable with God let us pray with perseverance for if God delay his benefits and doth not presently give them he commends them unto us and doth not deny them the longer things are desired Matth. 21.22 The efficacy of faithfull prayer the sweeter and the more acceptable they are being obtained let us pray with confidence of heart that is aske in faith without doubting and thou shalt have what thou desirest either ease reliefe redresse or comfort the examples are many they are infinite set forth in Scripture of our godly Fathers Prophets and Apostles amongst which is declared the wonderfull effect of prayer Josh 10.12 13. that at the instant request of Joshua made unto God the Sunne stood still in the middest of the sky the space of one whole day untill the people of God had revenged themselves upon their enemies and Elias prayed unto the Lord that it might not raine upon the earth 1 King 17 1. 18.1 Jam 5.17 18. 1 King 17.22 and it rained not for the space of three yeeres and sixe moneths and againe he prayed and the sky gave raine and the earth yeelded her fruit Againe Elias by prayer unto God 1 King 18.37 38. raised up the dead child of the widow of Sarepta and at his prayer fire falleth from heaven and consumed the burnt offering the wood
afflictions that wee must abide them not onely patiently but with joy also through faith and hope Whosoever is wretched and afflicted is to be pitied and relieved for that he is distressed and afflicted the Samaritan which is spoken of in the Gospel did pity Luk 10.30 c. relieve and helpe him that was falne into the hands of thieves having no respect of his Country or religion but in consideration that hee was a man himselfe hee had compassion and tooke pitty of the miserable case and perill of the man distressed therefore it is a good and charitable deed and to be used of all men towards their Christian brethren to relieve helpe succour and comfort the needy distressed and afflicted person not onely for that hee is afflicted but for his Saviour Christ his sake who hath commanded it wee ought to doe good to all men as the Apostle saith Gal. 6.10 Especially to them which are of the houshold of faith there must mercy also be shewed unto him that is chastened for his sinnes God is well pleased withall and doth require it as wee may perceive in Esay where he charged the Moabites lovingly to entreat the Israelites whom hee had scourged for their sinnes Hide the chased saith he Esay 16.3 4. and bewray not them that are fled let them that are persecuted dwell with thee and be thou their refuge Therefore seeing that it is a worke of true goodnesse to have pitty and mercy upon the distressed and afflicted wee ought not to enquire after their religion life and occasion of their affliction at what time wee ought to succour them but for compassion sake to bestow our ayd and reliefe upon them in their distresse and miseries as men afflicted for their misery and affliction doth sufficiently declare their wants and necessities but when the afflicted is thus perplexed vexed grieved and in anguish they must patiently suffer and beare them and not despairingly runne to desperation nor to rest dissolute and carelesse what become of them but they must in Christs Name repaire unto God who although he be offended will yet shew mercy for hee doth not cast off upon every offence nor revenge every wrong as the world doth Luke 15.20 but like the Father of that unthrifty sonne receiveth againe him that strayed and lovingly imbraceth him that returneth unto him by true and serious repentance faithfull prayer and holy contemplation and uprightnesse of living with the consideration of Gods purpose in afflicting him for hee may not censure these evils or the least of them to come by chance as the world often and most rashly and unadvisedly affirmeth or that they befall him by reason of the unfortunate Planet Psal 73.5 Esay 47.13 under which he was borne as the starre-gazer fondly maintaineth for the Lord God Almighty that high and incomprehensible Jehovah Revel 1.8 that everlasting Alpha and Omega He which was and is and is to come he is the former framer creator preserver and governour of all things and who but hee made and prepared those famous starres in the Firmament Iob 38. Esay 51.13 Psal 89.13 Arcturus Orion and Pleiades who spread forth the Heavens like a curtaine who limited the North and South climates who made the Sunne and Moone but hee and therefore let all men thinke that his creatures which he hath formed framed and placed for the use and behoofe of man for the distinction of times and seasons and to give light unto the earth and his creatures thereon keepe every of them his Sphere as a walke whereas unto a continuall taske they are tyed by the omnipotent Commander who keepeth them without variation in the first course doing their continuall service and labour for the behoofe of man as other creatures doe and are not as Gods or governours of mans nature neither can they dispose of their inclinations constitutions or affections or make them happy or unhappy but are ruled governed and commanded by God as other inferiour creatures are to stand and move at his pleasure the Sunne stood still in Gibeon and the Moone in the Valley of Aialon Iosh 10.13 2 King 20.10 and that for a whole day so the Sunne at the commandement of the Lord retyred ten degrees in the Firmament as a signe for Hezechias health which proveth that these creatures are as all other even subject to the will of the superiour Governour who needeth not the helpe of such weake meanes to worke the long or short life of man the happy or unhappy estate of man the poore or rich portion of man 1 Sam. 2.6 7 8 or any matter belonging to the soule or body of man but all cometh from his sacred wisedome and divine providence all men are in his hands as the clay in the Potters and he frameth and forgeth of all formes and fashions Rom. 9.21 some to honour some to dishonour some to bee high some to bee low some to bee rich some to be poore some to be reverenced and some to bee despised afflicted and persecuted and every man must rest contented with his portion bee it good or bad sweet or sowre And therefore bee not so hardy and voyd of reason as to dreame that thy constitution inclination good or bad successe in thy proceedings the prosperous or adverse issues of thine endeavours thine estate poore or rich or thy troubles and afflictions proceedeth from the influence dominion rule or power of these creatures but that a divine and supernaturall cause worketh that in thee which the wit of man cannot conceive wherein though the world afford thee no comfort All our afflictions troubles miseries and calamities which happen unto us commeth of our sinnes yet art thou bound by an inward bond of duty to acknowledge all thine infirmities all thine afflictions and all the crosses which happen and fall upon thee to proceed even from thine owne sinnes and filthy corruptions as buffets to rouze thee from the forgetfulnesse of thy duty to his sacred Majesty for thy roving and ranging astray after vaine and foolish things superfluous desires and overmuch negligence of thy calling and in great love and favour doth thy loving father give thee these gentle corrections even of mercy to reclaime thee from the way of sinne unto a more sincere and sacred course of life Heb. 12. So that the troubles and miseries and all the adverse things that can befall us are Gods gentle chastisements to his children to reforme them but to the obstinate and unbeleeving they are messengers of his judgements Numb 14.2 Judg 6. Judg. 10. and utter renunciation who by his punishments waxe worse and worse who doe murmure and grudge at the course he taketh to amend them as did the rebellious Israelites whom he did often visit in mercy before he entred into judgement with them hee calleth us by his punishments from perils to the end wee should not be subject to the dangerous security of a pleasing estate