is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal 43. 5. Thou makest us a Reproach to our Neighbors a Scorn and a Derision to them that are round about us Thou makest us a By-word among the Heathen a shaking of the Head among the People All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back neither have our Steps declined from thy Ways Psal 44. 13 17. I am Poor and Sorrowful let thy Salvation O God set me upon High For the Lord heareth the Poor and despiseth not his Prisoners Psal 69. 29 33. He shall judge thy People with Righteousness and thy Poor with Judgment He shall judge the Poor of the People he shall save the Children of the Needy and shall break in pieces the Oppressor He shall deliver the Needy when he crieth the Poor also and him that hath no Helper He shall spare the Poor and Needy and shall save the Souls of the Needy He shall redeem their Soul from Deceit and Violence and precious shall their Blood be in his Sight Psal 72. 2 12. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on High He raiseth up the Poor out of the Dust and lifteth the Needy out of the Dunghil That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Psal 113. 5 7. I know that the Lord will maintain the Cause of the Afflicted and the Right of the Poor Psal 140. 12. Better is a Little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Prov. 15. 16. Better is a Little with Righteousness than great Revenues without Right Prov. 16. 8. Better is a dry Morsel and Quietness therewith than a Housefull of Sacrifices with Strife Prov. 17. 1. Better is the Poor that walketh in his Integrity than he that is perverse in his Lips and is a Fool Prov. 19. 1. Thou hast been a Strength to the Poor a Strength to the Needy in his Distress a Refuge from the Storm a Shadow from the Heat when the Blast of the terrible Ones is as a Storm against the Wall Isa 25. 4. Yea in the Way of thy Judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desir'd thee in the Night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early For when thy Judgments are in the Earth the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness Lord in Trouble have they visited thee they poured out a Prayer when thy chastening was upon them Isa 26. 8. It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not consumed because his Compassions fail not They are New every Morning great is thy Faithfulness The Lord is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him It is good that a Man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. It is good for a Man that he bear the Yoke in his Youth He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath born it upon him He putteth his Mouth in the Dust if so be there may be Hope For the Lord will not cast off for ever But tho' he cause Grief yet will he have Compassion according to the Multitude of his Mercies For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. Wherefore doth a living Man complain a Man for the Punishment of his Sins Let us search and try our Ways and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3. 22. Thus do's the Spirit of God speak in the Case of the Poor and Distressed evidently discovering that however by this World they are esteem'd unhappy yet that God has a particular Regard to them undertakes their Protection and makes so many Promises to them that it cannot be question'd but as to the next World they have much the Advantage above those who enjoy themselves in plenty But then they must observe the Conditions which God proposes to them of accepting the Inconveniencies of their State as from the Hand of God of being content with what they have of casting their Care upon God of waiting upon the Lord with Patience of retaining a firm Confidence in his Promises of living in the Fear of God and banishing with their best Endeavors all Inclinations to Impatience Murmuring and Distrust If in this Spirit they live I think they have more solid Grounds for true Comfort than the Enjoyment of all worldly Possessions can afford and may have a great Assurance of God's Promises to be accomplish'd in them in the Blessings of a happy Eternity CHAP. XXXV Of those who have the Care of the Flock Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons of this Character A. It speaks very particularly to them and is very full both in the Instructions and Charge it gives them Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost his Savour wherewith shall it be Salted It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under Foot of Men. Ye are the Light of the World A City that is set on a Hill cannot be hid Neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a Bushel but on a Candlestick and it giveth Light to all that are in the House Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 13. They are to be Exemplar If a Man have an hundred Sheep and one of them be gone astray doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the Mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray Mat. 18. 12. They are to be solicitous in seeking the lost Sheep There was also a Strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest And he said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors But ye shall not be so But he that is greatest among you let him be as the Younger and he that is Chief as he that doth serve For whether is greater he that sitteth at Meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at Meat But I am among you as he that serveth Luk. 22. 24. They are to be Humble in Preferment Verily verily I say unto you He that entreth not by the Door into the Sheepfold but climbeth up some other Way the same is a Thief and a Robber But he that entreth in by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep To him the Porter openeth and the Sheep hear his Voice And he calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out And when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his
me for ever Jer. 35. 18. Thus speaks the Rule the Will of God is manifest in it and the doing his Will being the only Secure Way wherein a Christian is to walk Children have no other Means of coming to their Heavenly Father but by doing his Will here on Earth and with a particular Care observing whatever charge he has given them in Relation to their Parents The Precept is repeated so often that there can be no dispute of it And yet to see with how little Respect some Parents are treated how much others are slighted and neglected and that many have no greater affliction in the World than what is given them by the Children of their own Bowels and this at an Age when Parents stand most in need of Comfort and Children being at years of Discretion cannot be Ignorant of their Duty To see this I say one would think God had never spoke in the Case or not manifested his Will What then must be said but that Christians have a Rule but have little concern in following it and that upon this account they cannot rationally expect the Blessings God has promis'd to the Observers of it This is the First Commandment as the Apostle says with Promise and it cannot be question'd but as the Observance of it is so particularly enforced with a Promise of God's Favor so the Contempt of it must be the Forfeiture of all such Expectation must provoke God's Displeasure and be follow'd with Judgment CHAP. XXVI Of Youth Q. HAving now spoken of the Duties of Children to their Parents Pray tell me are there not some Instructions particularly directed to Persons while yet in their Youth for such seem very much to want them A. Yes there are such Behold one came and said unto him Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal Life And he said unto him why callest thou me Good There is none Good but one that is God But if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments He saith unto him which Jesus said Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not Steal Thou shalt not bear false Witness Honor thy Father and thy Mother and thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self The young Man saith unto him all these things have I kept from my Youth up What lack I yet Jesus said unto him if thou wilt be perfect go and Sell what thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me But when the Young Man heard that Saying he went away Sorrowful for he had great Possessions Mat. 19. 16. The Commandments are to be kept by all Persons in their Youth and even then they are to consider which is the Way to eternal Life and whether they walk in it and what is yet wanting to them It is said of this Young Man that Jesus beholding him loved him Mar. 10. 21. And thus only can Youth expect the Love of Jesus If this be true then what is the unhappy State of those great Numbers who have their Thoughts Desires Affections so confin'd to Self-love and the Love of the World that they scarce think of another Life Grant them O God a better Spirit And the Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit filled with Wisdom and the Grace of God was upon him And when he was twelve years Old they went up to Jerusalem after three Days they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both bearing them and asking them questions Luk. 2. 40 42 46. And Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in favor with God and Man v. 52. Youth ought to seek the best Company by whose Conversation they may be advanced in Virtue and all true Wisdom How wretchedly then do they go out of the Way who avoiding these seek and love none but those from whom they can learn nothing but Folly or Vice Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. Likewise ye Younger submit your selves unto the Elder 1 Pet. 5. 5. I here add something out of the Old Testament Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honor the Face of the old Man and fear thy God I am the Lord Levit. 19. 32. My Son forget not my Law but let thine Heart keep my Commandments Prov. 3. 1. Let not Mercy and Truth forsake thee 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not on own thine own Vnderstanding 5. Be not wise in thine own Eyes fear the Lord and depart from Evil 7. Get Wisdom get Vnderstanding Forget it not neither decline from the Woods of my Mouth Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee VVisdom is the principal thing therefore get VVisdom And with all thy getting get Vnderstanding Pro. 4. 5. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy Life Enter not into the Path of the VVicked and go not into the VVay of evil Men. Avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away v. 13. He is in the VVay of Life that keepeth Instruction But he that refuseth Reproof erreth Prov. 10. 17. VVhoso loveth Instruction loveth Knowledge but he that hateth Reproof is brutish Prov. 12. 1. A Man shall be commended acording to his VVisdom but he that is of a perverse Heart shall be despised Prov. 12. 8. The way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes but he that hearkeneth unto Counsel is wise v. 15. Lying Lips are Abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight v. 22. A wise Son heareth his Father's Instruction But a Scorner heareth not Rebuke Prov. 13. 1. He that keepeth his Mouth keepeth his Life But he that openeth wide his Lips shall have Destruction v. 3. Poverty and Shame shall be to him that refuseth Instruction But he that regardeth Reproof shall be honored v. 18. He that walketh with wise Men shall be Wise But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed v. 20. He that walketh in his Vprightness feareth the Lord but he that is perverse in his Ways despiseth him Prov. 14. 2. Go from the Presence of a foolish Man when thou perceivest not in him the Lips of Knowledge v. 7. Fools Mock at Sin v. 9. There is a Way which seemeth right unto a Man but the end thereof are the Ways of Death v. 12. He that is slow to Wrath is of great Vnderstanding but he that is hasty of Spirit exalteth Folly v. 29. The Way of the Wicked is an Abomination unto the Lord but he loveth him that followeth after Righteousness Prov. 15. 9. A Scorner loveth not one that reproveth him neither will he go unto the Wise v. 12. The Lord will destroy the House of the Proud v. 25. The Thoughts of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord v. 26. He that refuseth Instruction hateth his own Soul but he that heareth Reproof getteth Vnderstanding 32.
there not Salvation for such as do thus A. They are certainly out of the way of Salvation Q. How so A. Because Christ is the only Mediator of the new Testament thro' whom alone we can hope for Mercy and how then can they be in the way of Salvation who live in the Neglect and Contempt of him 2dly Christ is the Light of the World and by his Gospel he communicates his Light to Men they then who neglect and despise this Light walk in Darkness and this Darkness cannot lead to Life everlasting 3dly Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and in his Gospel is manifested this Way this Truth and this Life they then who neglect and despise the Doctrin of the Gospel cannot be in the way they follow a Lie instead of Truth and must meet with Death instead of Life 4thly It is by the Spirit of Christ every one must live that belongs to Christ and expects everlasting Happiness and without this Spirit all Hopes are vain If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. Now if this Spirit of Christ be necessary how can they be suppos'd to have it who walk not by the Gospel in which this Spirit is taught but by despising or neglecting it give Demonstration of the Spirit of Christ being not in them Q. What does this prove A. It proves that no Salvation can be expected but thro' Christ that none can have a part in Christ but such only as observe his Law that his Law being deliver'd in the Gospel there can be no Salvation but for those who sincerely make it their Endeavor to live as Christ has prescrib'd in the Gospel Q. Then the Gospel must be observ'd but what is it to observe or follow the Gospel A. It is to make the Gospel our Rule for discerning the Will of God and knowing what is pleasing or displeasing to him It is to take Direction from that What we are to desire and what to fear what we are to value and what to despise It is to consult that in all we propose or do It is to take from thence the Determination of Right and Wrong of what we are carefully to perform or with Solicitude to avoid Q. Then they who do not thus do not follow the Gospel A. No they do not They may have a Faith in what the Gospel teaches but if they do not the Works of the Gospel their Faith is dead Jam. 2. 26. It is such Faith as is in Hell and even the Devils have Ib. v. 19. These may know the Will of God but they do it not these may honor God with their Lips but their Heart is far from him And what will this avail or how is this following the Gospel when the Gospel teaches That the Servant who knows his Lord's Will and does it not shall be beaten with many Stripes Luke 12. 47. And not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father who is in Heaven Mat. 7. 21 Q. Then there is to be no Confidence of Salvation upon a Faith in Christ only or in being a Member of his Church A. Faith is necessary to Salvation for without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. But a Faith in what God teaches without doing the Will of God can never bring any to the Possession of God Bliss is promis'd to such only as Hear the Word of God and keep it Luke 11. 28. It is not enough therefore to be call'd by Faith for many are call'd but few chosen Matth. 20. 16. It is not enough to be planted in Christ's Vineyard For every Tree that brings not forth good Fruit is cut down and cast into the Fire Mat. 7. 19. Q. Then you think many of those who have a Faith in Christ and believe all that he teaches are lost eternally A. As many of these as do not the Will of God in following the Gospel but depart from it and live in a general Disobedience to his Law Such as these must expect no Favor in Consideration of their Faith but rather a deeper Damnation for their Ingratitude and Abuse of God's Blessings for knowing thro' Mercy the Will of God and not doing it Q. What now is this Chapter in short A. That the only Means of Salvation is to Believe and Do as Christ teaches in his holy Gospel All his Disciples are to hear him Ipsum audite Hear ye him as the Voice from Heaven publish'd it on the Mount Mat. 17. 5. All of his Flock hear his Voice My sheep hear my Voice and follow me Jo. 10. 27. As many as do thus are in the way to Salvation having Christ their Teacher and the Shepherd of their Souls And they who do not thus cannot have their hopes in him CHAP. II. Of our own Inclinations Q. MAY we not follow our own Inclinations A. Christ is to be the Christian's Rule if then our Inclinations are according to what Christ teaches we may safely follow them but if they are contrary to what Christ teaches then to follow them is to forsake our Rule who is Christ Q. And what are our natural Inclinations A. They arise from a corrupt Nature and therefore are generally corrupt they are the Effect of Sin and therefore are generally either sinful or leading to Sin Q. Then a Christian is not to follow them A. No he is to be so far from following that it must be his daily Care to stand against them Q. Why so A. Because being corrupt and sinful if they are not resisted they draw Persons from Christ and that is to forsake their Rule Q. Is it the evident Duty of a Christian to stand against these Inclinations A. It is for so Christ himself teaches in requiring Self-denial as a necessary Condition for becoming his Disciple If any Man will come after me let him deny himself Luk. 9. 23. Q. Is not this press'd more particularly in holy Scripture A. Yes by St. Paul who stiling these Inclinations the Old Man Concupiscence the Carnal Man the Desires of the Flesh c. positively declares the necessity of resisting them and that otherwise it is not possible to please God Q. As where A. Put off the old man which is corrupt Eph. 4. 22. We are debtors not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die But if you thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 12 13. To be carnally minded is Death because the carnal Man is Enmity against God ib. v. 6 7. The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary to one another They that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5. 17 24.
rendring Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing but contrariwise Blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 10 11 8 9. Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb. 12. 14 15. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in strife and envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. 13. Let nothing be done thro' strife Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation Phil. 2. 3 14. By love serve one another for all the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt thy Neighbor as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consum'd one of another The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Meekness against such there is no Law And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh Let us not be desirous of Vain-glory provoking one another envying one another Gal. 5. 13 c. Bear ye one another's Burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ Gal. 6. 2. If ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts glory not and lie not against the Truth This Wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensual Devilish For where Envying and Strife is there is Confusion and every evil Work But the Wisdom that is from above is first Pure then Peaceable Gentle and easie to be Entreated full of Mercy and good Fruits without Partiality and without Hypocrisie And the Fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them that make Peace Jam. 3. 14 c. Be yâ— also patient stablish your Hearts Grudge not one against another Brethren lest ye be condemned Jam. 5. 8 9. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another Rom. 14. 17 c. Wherefore laying aside all Malice and all Guile and Hypocrisies and Envies and all evil Speakings as new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2. 1. If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God 1 Cor. 11. 16. Thus the Rule and this Christians say they follow and if so then who would not expect to find Christians all living in a free Correspondence of Charity and Peace exempt from the Confusions of Passion Provocation Contention and Revenge all mutually bearing with one another and forgiving one another according to the Example Christ has given them and for the securing their Eternal Peace Thus certainly it ought to be and those who live not according to this Method it is certain they transgress their Rule See then what thy Practice is and learn to follow Christ Remember that the Gospel forbids all Contentions Quarrelling Uncharitable Debates Reproaching Grudging and all the other Effects of Passion Malice Ill-will or Dislike It commands thee to study Peace and keep it with all Men as much as is possible and that for this end thou art to be Gentle Patient Compassionate forbearing all Provocations and receiving all that are given thee with Mildness without returning Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing but overcoming Evil with Good Thus thou art commanded labor daily to bring thy self to this Temper of the Gospel and then thou mayest hope for the Rewards of the Gospel CHAP. XIII Of Anger and Mildness Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to these Points A. These have been already mention'd in the foregoing Chapters But hear again how expresly they are spoke to I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his Brother without a Cause shall be in danger of the Judgment and whosoever shall say to his Brother Raca shall be in danger of the Council But whosoever shall say Thou Fool shall be in danger of Hell-fire Mat. 5. 22. Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your Wrath neither give place to the Devil Eph. 4. 26. But now you also put off all these Anger Wrath Malice Blasphemy Filthy Communication out of your Mouth Lie not to one another seeing that ye have put off the Old Man with his Deeds Col. 3. 8. Let all Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and Clamor and evil Speaking be put away from you with all Malice And be ye kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Eph. 4. 31 32. My beloved Brethren let every Man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to Wrath for the Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of God Jam. 1. 19 20. I say unto you that ye resist not Evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right Cheek turn to him the other also Matth. 5. 39. Beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto Wrath For it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay it saith the Lord. Be not overcome of Evil but overcome Evil with Good Rom. 12. 19 21. See that none render Evil for Evil unto any Man but ever follow that which is good 1 Thess 5. 15. Be at Peace among your selves warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weak be patient toward all Men Ib. 14. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Meekness against such there is no Law Gal. 5. 22. I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all Lowliness and Meekness with Long-suffering forbearing one another in Love Eph. 4. 1 2. Thou O Man of God flee these things and follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness 1 Tim. 6. 11. Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth Mat. 5. 5. Take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart and ye shall find rest unto your Souls for my Yoke is easie and my Burthen light Mat. 11. 29 30. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any Man have a Quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Col. 3. 12 13. Put them in mind to speak evil
For he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due Season we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6. 7. Brethren be not weary in well-doing 2 Thess 3. 13. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of Love which ye have shewed toward his name in that ye have minister'd to the Saints and do minister And we desire that every one of you do shew the same Diligence to the full Assurance of Hope unto the end That ye be not Slothful but Followers of them who thro' Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6. 10. Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. Know ye not that they which run in a Race run all but one receiveth the Prize So run that ye may obtain And every Man that striveth for the Mastery is temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly So fight I not as one that beateth the Air But I keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a Cast-away 1 Cor. 9. 24 c. Many are called but few are chosen Mat. 22. 14. Wherefore the rather Brethren give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 19. See that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the time because the Days are Evil Eph. 5. 15. She that liveth in Pleasure or delicately is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5. 6. The time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought the Will of the Gentiles when we walked in Laciviousness Lusts Excess of Wine Revellings Banquetings and abominable Idolatries Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same Excess of Riot speaking evil of you 1 Pet. 4. 3. They shall receive the Reward of Vnrighteousness as they that count it Pleasure to riot in the Day-time Spots they are and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you 2 Pet. 13. How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her Rev. 18. 7. Thus speaks the Rule and so Positive and Large it is in pressing all to be Watchful and to take Pains in working out their Salvation that there must be own'd a Necessity of a Christian Life being an Industrious and Laborious Life Let but these Heads be duly reflected on First The Life of Christ and the Example he has given us both in what he did and what he suffer'd 2dly The Great Perfection of those Vertues which God demands of us 3dly The Corruption of our Nature which renders us averse to all these and strongly inclines us to Evil. 4thly The Variety of Temptations which draw us out of the way 5thly The great Encouragement to Evil from Authority and Custom 6thly The industrious Subtilty of the Devil 7thly The Uncertainty of the time granted us for doing this great Work 8thly The irrecoverable Ruin attending a Miscarriage Lastly The variety of Delusions to which we are expos'd thro' the Violence and Contrivance of our Passions Let but these Heads I say be duly reflected on and it must be confess'd that Salvation is a Work of Difficulty such as requires a constant Watchfulness persevering Endeavors and the best of our Care and that as for those who live on as if they had nothing to do but to contrive how to drink sleep and play away their Time and leave Salvation to the Chance follow not the Directions so often press'd to them in the Gospel and therefore whatever their suppos'd Innocence may be are not in a way of of doing the Work of the Gospel What hopes then can they have from hence where they see unprofitable Servants not rewarded but condemn'd Where they see great Crimes charg'd upon them and eternal Wo's prepar'd in Punishment of their reputed Innocence It must then be remember'd that the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires of all his Followers a Watchful Life and that Idleness Sloth and a constant Dissipation of Mind are contrary to it and therefore to be avoided CHAP. XVII Of Immodesty Q. WHAT Directions does the Gospel give as to this point A. It shews it to be very displeasing to God and strictly cautions all against it Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time Thou shalt not commit Adultery But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart And if thy right Eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy Members should perish and not thy whole Body should be cast into Hell Mat. 5. 27. Let not Sin therefore Reign in your mortal Body that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof Rom. 6. 12. When they knew God they glorified him not as God wherefore God also gave them up to Vncleanness thro' the Lusts of their own Hearts to dishonor their own Bodies For this Cause God gave them up unto vile Affections Rom. 1. 21 24 26. I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable Service and be not conformed to this World Rom. 12. 1. To be carnally minded is Death because the carnal Man is Enmity against God We are Debters not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die But if ye thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 6 7 c. They that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5. 24. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the Vanity of their Mind having the Vnderstanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God who being past feeling have given themselves over unto Lasciviousness to work all Vncleanness with greediness But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him that ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth Eph. 4. 17 c. But Fornication and all Vncleanness or Covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints neither Filthiness nor foolish Talking nor Jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of Thanks For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor unclean Person nor Covetous Man who is an Idolater hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Have no Fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness but rather reprove them for it is a shame
sent Widows away empty and the Arms of the Fatherless have been broken Therefore Snares are round about thee and sudden Fear troubleth thee Job 22. 5. Some remove the Land-marks They violently take away Flocks and feed thereof They drive away the Ass of the Fatherless they take the Widows Ox for a Pledge They turn the Needy out of the Way The Poor of the Earth hide themselves together They pluck the Fatherless from the Breast and take a Pledge of the Poor They are of those that rebel against the Light they know not the Paths thereof Job 24. 2. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich when the Glory of his House is encreased For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away His Glory shall not descend after him Tho' whilst he lived he blessed his Soul And Men will praise thee when thou doest well to thy self He shall go to the Generation of his Fathers they shall never see Light Man that is in Honor and understandeth not is like the Beast that perish Psal 49. 16. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever he shall take thee away and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place and root thee out of the Land of the Living The Righteous also shall see and fear and shall laugh at him Lo this is the Man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his Riches and strengthened himself in his Wickedness Psal 52. 5. Trust not in Oppression and become not vain in Robbery If Riches increase set not your Heart upon them Psal 62. 10. Wealth gottten by Vanity shall be diminished but he that gathereth by Labor shall encrease Prov. 13. 11. He that oppresseth the Poor reproacheth his Maker But he that honoreth him hath Mercy on the Poor Prov. 14. 31. Whoso stoppeth his Ears at the Cry of the Poor he also shall cry himself but shall not be heard Prov. 31. 13. Remove not the Old Land-mark and enter not into the Fields of the Fatherless For their Redeemer is mighty he shall plead their Cause with thee Prov. 23. 10. He that by Vsury and unjust Gain encreaseth his Substance he shall gather it for him that will pity the Poor Prov. 28. 8. He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil Eye and considereth not that Poverty shall come upon him v. 22. Wo unto them that join House to House that lay Field to Field till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the Earth Isa 5. 8. I the Lord love Judgment I hate Robbery for Burnt-offering Isa 61. 8. They abhor him that speaketh uprightly Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor and ye take from him Burthens of Wheat ye have built Houses of hewn Stones but ye shall not dwell in them For I know your manifold Transgressions and your mighty Sins they afflict the just they take a Bribe and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their Right Amos 5. 10. Wo to them that devise Iniquity and work Evil upon their Beds when the Morning is light they practice it because it is the Power of their Hand And they covet Fields and take them by Violence and Houses and take them away so they oppress a Man and his House even a Man and his Heritage Therefore thus saith the Lord Behold against this Family do I devise an Evil from which ye shall not remove your Necks Mic. 2. 1. Whoever gives ear to what the Spirit of God here speaks must be convinced First That the Love of Riches is a great Obstacle to Salvation 2dly That 't is an Abuse of Plenty to prostitute it in the Service of our own Corruption in gratifying Pride Inclination and Appetite 3dly That the desire of growing rich is a great Snare attended with many violent and deceitful Temptations 4thly That to get Riches by Fraud Oppression or any kind of Injustice highly provokes the Anger of God Lastly That to take the Advantage of Riches for doing wrong to the Poor or to any Neighbor is a Crime which obliges God to be the just Revenger of it If these Truths be evident then the Rich must see what they are to be afraid of and avoid And those who follow not this Rule let them put their Hands upon their Consciences and examin Whether they in earnest believe God and fear him §. II. Of the good use of Riches or of Alms-giving Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain Mercy Mat. 5. 7. When thou doest Alms let not thy left Hand know what thy right Hand doeth that thine Alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly Mat. 6. 3. Lay not up for your selves Treasures upon Earth where Moth and Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves break through and steal But lay up for your selves Treasures in Heaven where neither Moth nor Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also Mat. 6. 19. Then shall the King say unto them on his right Hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World For I was an hungred and ye gave me Meat I was thirsty and ye gave me Drink I was a Stranger and ye took me in Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Mat. 25. 34. Whosoever shall give you a Cup of Water to drink in my Name because ye belong to Christ verily I say unto you he shall not lose his Reward Mar. 9. 41. Sell that you have and give Alms provide your selves Bags which wax not old a Treasure in the Heavens that faileth not where no Thief approacheth neither Moth corrupteth For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also Luke 12. 33. When thou makest a Dinner or a Supper call not thy Friends nor thy Brethren neither thy Kinsmen nor thy rich Neighbors lest they also bid thee again and a Recompence be made thee But when thou makest a Feast call the Poor the Maimed the Lame the Blind and thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompence thee for thou shalt be recompenced at the Resurrection of the Just Luke 14. 12. Verily I say unto you there is no Man that hath left House or Parents or Brethren or Wife or Children for the Kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the World to come Life everlasting Luk. 18. 29. Give Alms of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you Luke 11. 41. Make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of Vnrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting Habitations He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much If therefore ye have
yet the Pastors of his Church are to teach This is the Ordinance of Christ and the Practice is confirm'd from Heaven And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord said unto him Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do Act. 9. 6. Christ calls upon Saul stops him in his evil way but for his Instruction he sends him to a Disciple If this be the Will of God who can pretend to serve God and yet make exceptions against doing his Will When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Dissension and Disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Act. 15. 2. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter v. 6. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders 22. Questions of Faith are referr'd to the Pastors of the Church S. Paul and Barnabas tho' great Apostles and particularly inspir'd pronounce not in this case but help to publish what the Pastors assembled had determin'd And as they went thro' the Cities they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordain'd of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem And so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in number daily Act. 16. 4. The Faithful receive the Decrees of their Pastors and thus was the Faith establish'd and they perserv'd from the dangers of Novelty and Error Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. It is the Ordinance of God that the Flock be under the care of the Pastors by these it is to be fed and preserv'd from Error This Charge is given them by the Holy Ghost Who dare alter the Method They that stood by said Revilest thou God's High Priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High Priest For it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people Act. 23. 5. Respect is due from the Flock to their Pastor they are not to revile him And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord and as many as were ordain'd to eternal Life believed Act. 13. 48. Those who are ordain'd to Salvation hear and believe the Apostles This was the way to Life Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. Have the Pastors of the Church Power from God He gave some Apostles And some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 11. If thus God has declar'd the design of his Goodness in the Ordinance of Pastors then it must be the greatest duty and interest of the Flock to adhere to the Pastors of the Church For thus has God appointed for preserving it in Unity and Truth Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10. Thus is strictly enjoin'd the Flock then they must be careful in observing the Means which God has ordain'd for Unity He therefore that despiseth despiseth not Man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. If the Flock despise the Doctrin of those whom God has appointed to teach it they despise not Man but God We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12. If these are to be esteem'd and lov'd this must be chiefly in their Instructions and Admonitions then no Contentions no setting up against them Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine for the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn and the labourer is worthy of his reward 1 Tim. 5. 17. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God Whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves For they watch for your Souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you v. 17. What Charge given by God to the Flock Remember Submit Obey Follow the Faith of those who have the Rule over you for these must gâ—ve account of your Souls But can they be any part in this account who refuse to obey He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Jo. 4. 6. Are these thus discern'd Then the Flock must here see the necessity of hearing those whom God has appointed to feed the Flock And now having gone thro' the Principal Duties of a Christian Life as likewise the Particular States in some of which every Christian must have a part and having seen in all these what is the Will of God as it is deliver'd in holy Writ what better Conclusion can I make than earnestly to recommend to all that they would frequently read seriously consider and with exactness attend to what the Spirit of God says to them It is the effect of an infinite Mercy that God has thus left his holy Will manifested to us that in this we might have a sure Guide And there is no other Way to Salvation but this alone of doing the Will of God Thus Christ has declar'd and what greater Interest then can a Christian have than in knowing the Will of God This is the best Study this the best Learning All other without this are vain and useless Ornaments but this alone without all others will make a Man Wise to Salvation If the World sets up for other Ways if it has Number and Custom to give Authority to them yet all this makes them not warrantable to the Christian he must consult his Rule and whatever he finds not allow'd there he must renounce as Antichristian for it is Christ and not the World is his Guide to Salvation How perversly blind then are all those Christians who make it their Business to study the World and esteeming this the best Education are at a great Expence in training up their Children to an early Knowledge of whatever it admires And when this is done what is the Effect but only to be skill'd in Vanity to be learned in those things which lead them out of the Way And in the mean time the only thing Necessary is neglected and they are Strangers to that Knowledge which can be their only Guide to that Life for which they were born Whereas the great Business of all that believe is to know the Will of God and by doing it to work out their Salvation If this be the Error of such as are blind Lovers of themselves and the World instead of God then such as follow the Light of Faith must follow another Business They must make it their general Study to know the Will of God they must strictly inform themselves what he commands what he forbids what he approves and disapproves and this being most expresly deliver'd in holy Writ they ought to esteem the particular Knowledge of this their only solid Accomplishment and not think they have any thing valuable in them whatever their natural or acquir'd Abilities be as long as they are Ignorant of this By this Method Christians will soon be qualified for making a true Judgment of all Things and Circumstances of human Life they will judge the World and all its Ways and not be in danger of being deluded by its Specious and most Authentic Snares This is the true Christian Wisdom and whosoever takes another Way tho' he may come to an eminent Degree of admir'd Knowledge yet he will never be Wise to Salvation FINIS