to think of the back parts of Christ and wait for a time to come behind him in a throng that they may not be seen to touch the hem of his garment You know when a pump is drie men use to fetch a Bucket of water and pour it into the dry pump and then they fall to pumping and by vertue of the water poured in there comes more water up and by continual pumping they fetch out abundance So our hearts many times are dry there is no sap no moisture no life the vertues of Christ must first be poured in before you can get any thing out Wherefore stand we labouring and tugging in vain O stay no longer go to Christ it is he that must break thy rocky heart in a word we must consider Christ as freely given us by the Father before we can believe the life of grace This Doctrine speaks out with open mouth the exceeding freeness and riches of Gods grace as will appear if we consider 1. That God is first in seeking after us to draw us into Covenant with himself we seek not him but he seeks us we chuse not him but he chuseth us we wait not on him he waits to be gracious to us we beseech not him he doth beseech us to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. John 15. 16. and 1 Joh. 4. 19. So that he is found of them that seek not after him because he first reveals and offers himself in mercy to us Isa 65. 1. 2. Consider the time wherein the Lord doth seek to us and take us by the hand to bring us into Covenant with him and then we shall find that when we are most averse and backward and have least thought of seeking after him then it is that he seeks us thus the Lord called Saul when he was persecuting raging and breathing out slaughter against the Lord and against his Saints then the Lord takes him by the hand and enters into Covenant with him Acts 9. and so it was with those mockers Acts 2. 13 37. Here were no dispositions and preparations on their part but free and unexpected grace from God 3. Compare those that are taken into Covenant with those that are left out for all are not taken in Ephes 2. 12. And this also will make it manifest it is Free grace by which any are taken in Rom. 3. 22 23. We have all sinned and there is no difference no reason therefore in us why one is taken into Covenant and not another but only free grace in God God owes nothing to any man he may truly say to all I do thee no wrong Mat. 20. 13. Thou hast as much as I owe thee So then it must needs be free grace to those that are taken in apply John 14. 21. Mat. 11. 5 25. Nay sometimes God chuseth the worst and takes in the most unworthy and leaves those that are better then they viz. Paul a chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Publicans and Harlots Mat. 21. Mary Magdalen possest with seven Devils these were taken in and the righteous generation as they were reputed which justified themselves and were justified by others were left and passed by The reasons why the Lord would have his Covenant to stand upon this foundation of free grace are these 1. To be a ground of hope to such as see themselves unworthy of acceptance with God if the grace of the Covenant were not free such unworthy ones could have no hope 2. It is the glory of grace to be freely communicated Isa 55. 1. Come and buy without mony it darkens the glory of grace to have it bestowed upon worthy ones Be it known unto you saith the Lord not for your sakes I bestow this but for my own names sake 3. That vain man may not boast 4. That our mercies and blessings may be sure to us Rom. 4. 16. Our salvation is by grace to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed implying thereby that if it depended never so little upon works we could not be so sure of it Oh the rich mercy the great love exceeding riches of his grace great goodness tender love great mercy multitude of loving kindnesses Oh then not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy name be the praise it is enough for us that we have life let grace alone have all the praise and glory and let every one that readeth these lines endeavour to imitate this free grace of God which is shewed to us First Loving the Lord not for his gifts and rewards but with a free love as he hath loved us and serving him with a free spirit and a willing mind Secondly Let us be free in doing good unto all men even to such as have deserved nothing though they be aliens and strangers and such as we never hope to receive any good from yet freely to do them good even where we look for nothing again as God hath done to us Luke 14. 12 14. 10. As this Covenant and grace is free so it is sure and certain to be performed it cannot it will not fail those that rest upon it The Covenant and promise of grace are built upon the unchangable purpose of God which is a foundation remaining sure and cannot be shaken 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Tit. 1. 2. The Lord is said to have promised eternal life before the world began So then it is free and it is sure and the freeness of it doth prove the sureness of it it is free that it might be sure so here it is sure because it is free nothing can hinder free grace from giving eternal life to whom it will So that the accomplishment will every way answer their expectation and hope thus said David 2. Sam. 23. 5. God hath made with me a Covenant perfect in all points and sure and in Isa 55. 3. The promises of the Covenant are called the sure mercies of David the promises of free grace are not yea and nay various and uncertain but they are Yea and Amen sure to be fulfilled there shall not fail so much as one word of all that good which God hath promised to do for his people See Joshua 21. 45. and 23 14. and 1 King 18. 56. The stability of grace is compared to the firmness and unmoveableness of the mighty mountains Isa 54. 19 And to the unvariable course of the day and night Jer. 33. 20. So that it is as eaâ—e yea more easie for the mountains to remove out of their places and the course of day and night to cease as for the Covenant of grace to fail God hath given us many pledges to assure us of the certainty of it 1. His word is gone out of his mouth he cannot alter it Psal 89. 2. He hath written it to make it more sure and what he hath written is written never to be bloted out
deeds of the flesh art thou willing to be searched by any Christian in any thing dost thou approve thy heart to God in all thy duties and services dost thou do what thou dost for God at least in desire and endeavour to obey him freely universally and constantly then thou hast a title for these are flowers of Paradise that grow not in natures garden when thou comest to dye God doth but take a flower out of the wilderness and plant it in Paradise or takes a rose out of the field and puts it in his bosom surely death to a Christian is but an unloading him of all his burdens and freeing him from all his troubles Rev. 21. 4. Rev. 14. 13. 3. If we would dye comfortably let us improve the present opportunity for we have a great deal of work to do and but a little time to do it in this work deferred will be still greater the time to do it in will be shorter the strength to do it by will be less our understanding will be more dark our hearts more hard our wils more crooked our affections more disordered our conscience more benummed the work we have to do is as followeth viz. We have a God to honour a Christ to rest on a race to run a crown to win a hell to escape a heaven to obtain we have weak graces to strengthen and strong corruptions to weaken we have many temptations to withstand and afflictions to bare we have many mercies to improve and many services to perform If Hester had not improved the present opportunity she and her fathers house had been destroyed If Abigal had not improved the present opportunity many a mans life had been cut off 1 Sam. 25. 34. There was an opportunity that the children of Israel had to enter in the Land of Canaan upon the return of the spies but they not improving of it were fain to stay longer in the wilderness Jerusalem had an opportunity to be gathered together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings but for want of improving it it was destroyed Let us now redeem the time lest our candlestick be removed Rev. 2. 5. Lest as Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews to you is the word of this salvation sent but seeing ye put it from you lo we turn to the Gentiles Act. 13. 46 c. Yet the dayes of plenty are amongst us let us with Joseph lay up in store lest we dye in the famine yet the weather is calm and the season fair let us with Noah build up an Ark lest with the rest we perish in the flood Gen 7. 21. Yet the Angel tarryeth at the gates of Sodom let us with Lot depart thence lest we be destroyed Gen. 19. 24. Yet the bridegroom tarryeth and waiteth let us hast to enter in with him lest with the foolish Virgins we be repelled Mat. 25. 12. Yet wisdom cryeth in our streets Oh then now let us harken to her Yet the Lord setteth open his storehouse of mercy let us now turn to him for a blessing lest coming too late with Esau we find none Heb. 12. 17. Yet the Lord knocketh at the door of our hearts let us now open to him lest he say to us as he did to Jerusalem Luke 19. 42. Now it is hid from thee yet the Lord waiteth for our return from Babylon oh then let us now return whilst we have time lest hereafter he say to us as the Angel sware there shall be no more time Rev. 10. 6. Yet the Lord is saying to us as in Prov. 1. 23. Turn ye at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit upon you lest he say to us as in ver 24. Because I called and you refused you shall call and I will not hear you yet the Lord is saying to us as to Nineveh Jonah 3. 4 5. yet forty dayes and you shall be destroyed let us repent as they did lest we be destroyed indeed 4. The next thing to be practiced of all that would live sweetly and dye comfortably is first store up a stock of faith Secondly store up a stock of promises Thirdly store up a stock of prayers and thou shalt attain the art of dying well 1. Store up a stock of faith and that will shew us that Christs death is a death concerning death 1 Cor. 15. 56 57 c. Christ in his death put death to death Again faith will assure the dying party that the Lord will be with him in the hour of death Psalm 23. 4. Though I walk in the valley of death I will fear none ill c. Again faith will make a Christian willing to dye Luke 2. 28 29. Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 2. Store up a stock of promises against that day I will be with thee in the fire and in the water saith the Lord in one promise and in another promise he saith I will never leave thee nor forsake thee the labour of the Olive may fail our nearest and dearest friends may fail our eyes may fail our tongue may fail our strength may fail our flesh and heart may fail our spirits may fail yet saith the Lord I will be with thee I will not fail thee see these precious Scriptures Josh 1. 5. Josh 21. 45. and 23. 14. 1 King 8. 56. 3. Store up a stock of prayers amongst all thy requests to God in all thy addresses to him intreat him not to forsake thee at that time 5. The fifth thing to be practiced is to endeavour to live every day as thy last day Psalm 90. The Prophet speaks of death ver 10. see what follows ver 12. So teach me to number my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisdom a natural man considers of death notionally their senses tell them that all must dye but as for preparation for it that they put off till the last year and when that is come to the last moneth and when that is come to the last week of that moneth and when that is come to the last day of that week and when that is come to the last hour of that day and when that is come to the last minute of that hour and so knock when the gate is shut Mat. 25. 12. the gate of grace is shut and the gate of mercy and the gate of indulgence and the gate of repentance and the gate of hope and the gate of comfort c. But let a Christian live every day as his last day and make sure his interest in God whilst God is reconcilable and whilst his bowels of mercy are not totally restrained and whilst the treasury door of mercy and grace is open and whilst there is a blank in the leaf for the sinners name to be put in before the glass is out and the Sun set and the golden scepter taken in 6. Gather up all thy evidences and spiritual experiences and keep them in thy heart and memory
over our heads or already fallen upon us Acts 16. 30 31 32. and 14. 23. 2. Chron 20. Ioel 1. 2 12. 16. There are three things to be considered about this extraordinary prayer 1. There is something to be considered before we enter upon it 2. There is something to be considered in this prayer 3. There is something to be considered after this prayer 1. Something to be considered before this extraordinary prayer 1. What our wants are either for soul or body our selves or others 2. What promises we have from God that he will give us such things 3. That we agree together to pray for these things with one tongue and one heart Mat. 18. 19. 4. Let us also for the keeping up our Faith consider what wonderful things prayer hath done it hath healed the sick and raised the dead unloosed chains and unlocked prisons and set the Saints free Act. 12. 5 7 11. 2. There are some things to be considered in prayer and they are four 1. That we call upon God in truth of heart Psal 145. 18. Psal 17. 1. 2. Beware of drilling out too much time in praying long prayers oftentimes deaden others affections it is good to pray brief and often as Christ did Matthew 26. 39 42 44. compared with Mat. 6. 7. 3. When we pray to one in the Trinity let us mind all three Father Son and Holy Ghost and sever them not 4. Let us be very importunate and earnest and servent and that we may do so consider the excellency of the things we ask and the necessity of them Rom. 15. 30. Psal 143. 6. Consider how did Daniel pray in the Lions den the three children in the fiery furnace Jonah in the Whales belly and Jeremiah in the dungeon and our Saviour Christ when he prayed and sweat drops of blood let us endeavour to pray so that he may turn our darkness into light our deadness into life our bondage into liberty and our weakness into strength 3. And lastly there be four things to be considered after prayer 1. Press after what we have prayed for in the use of all the means for the accomplishing or obtaining of those things Prov. 1. 2 4 5. 2. Hearken and listen what the Lord doth say as a man that doth knock at a great mans door he listneth to hear if any body be coming if not he knocks again and again c. 3. Expect and wait patiently for a full answer Psal 40. 1. I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry 4. Learn wisely to distinguish between delayes and denials and not take a delay for a denial Mat. 15. 21. to 29. Christ did delay the woman praying to him but not deny her and at last did give her more then she had asked Surely as prayer is the cry of our hearts to open all our necessities unto God Lam. 2. 19. So it is also the key of the Lords treasury and to obtain the mercies from him that we need so we pray in the name of the Son by the help of the Spirit according to his will with understanding reverence humility and fervency faith love and perseverance Of the necessity of praying SOme men are very apt to say it is of no use to pray unto God seeing he both knoweth what we need either for his glory or our good and hath determined what to bestow upon us but let me tell them that say so that as God hath fore-appointed all necessaries to be given us so hath he also appointed the means whereby they should be brought to pass whereof prayer is a chief means as appears Ezekiel 36. 37. compared with Mat. 7. 7. Prayer is a means to recover our peace and to nourish our communion with our God Dan. 9. Phil. 4. 6 7. John 17. Surely such as have least care and make least conscience of calling upon God have least acquaintance and acceptance with him Psal 14. 4. Prayer is a Key to open the storehouses of all Gods treasury unto us as by knocking we enter into the place we desire to go unto so by prayer we obtain those things we need prayer is as a hook to reach those things that are above our reach and to put by those things that stand in our way in a word it is so necessary as without it the use and the enjoyment of the things we have is unlawful 1 Tim. 4. 5. For as if we take any thing that is our neighbours without asking him leave we are accounted thieves So to take any thing of Gods whose all things are without asking them at his hand is felony Ier. 10. 25. He will pour out his fury upon the families that call not on his Name that is upon those that do not acknowledge the Soveraignty of God by seeking unto him in prayer See Psal 79 6. The Posture or Gesture to be used in prayer VVE should use such holy behaviours and comely gestures of body as are beseeming the Majesty of God with whom we are to deal and in whose presence we are and as becometh so holy an exercise which we have in hand namely such gestures as may best express and increase our reverence humility and fervency as the bowing of the knees Ephes 3. 41. Lifting up of our hands and eyes to heaven Lam. 3. 41. Iohn 17. 1 c. Which yet are not alwayes or absolutely necessary Luke 18. 13. The Publican stood afar off and prayed the main thing is to have the heart lifted up to God Psalm 25. 1. and 143. 8. and the knees of our hearts bowed before the Lord Phil. 2. 10. In a word it is said that Christ looked up to heaven and prayed Paul kneeled down the gesture should be such as doth express the reverence of the heart and that gesture to be used in prayer which doth most quicken and help the duty Some gestures bring dulness and indiposition others makes the body more fit for prayer use that which doth most quicken Of the place where we are to pray Quest WHere must we pray Answ Generally in all places 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will that men pray every where lifting up holy hanâ—s without wrath and doubting for Christ is every where present before us Mat. 18. 10 The publike place sometimes is most convenient sometimes the private Mat. 6. 6. And sometimes there is the sudden lifting up of the heart unto God as occasion is without gesture in any place or company Nehem. 2. 4. So then prayer may be either publike or private and in both places either ordinary or extraordinary Acts 6. 4. 1 Tim. 2. 12. Acts 10. 4. Ionah 3. 6. Of the time in which we are to pray THe time in which a Christian is to pray is laid before us 1 Thes 5. 17. pray continually So Luke 21. 36. Watch therefore and pray alwayes Luk. 18. 1. This parable spake he unto them that men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint either suing for mercies or waiting
Mat. 5. 22. 2. Hatred 1 Joh. 3. 15. 3. Inward desire of revenge Rom. 12. 19. 4. Reviling and back-biting Psal 15. 3. 5. Immoderate worldly sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 10. Things enjoyned or commanded 1. Friendship Prov 27. 9. 2. Mercy and good works Gal 6. 10. 3. Meekness Ephes 4. 32. 4. Overcoming evil with good Rom. 12. 21. The seventh Commandment is this Thou shalt not commit adultery Exod. 20. 14. This commandment presents us with the preservation of chastity temperance and marriage In this commandment there are eight things forbidden and seven things enjoyned The things forbidden are these and such like 1. Wanton gestures or behaviour Prov. 6. 13. and 7. 10. 2. Wanton looks Job 31. 1. 3. Wanton speeches Ephes 4. 29. and 5. 3 4. 1 Cor. 15. 33. 4. Uncleaness 1 Cor. 6. 9. 5. Fornication 1 Cor. 6. 9. 6. Adultery Heb. 13. 4. 7. Intemperance 1 Pet. 4. 3. 8. Bad company 1 Cor. 5. 9. Things enjoyned in this commandment 1. Marriage 1 Cor. 7. 2 9. 2. Care to keep a good conscience Eccles 7. 28. 3. Labour in our vocation 4. Watchfulness over our own hearts Mal. 2. 16. 5. A Covenant with our eyes Job 31. 1. 6. Prayer Psal 119. 37. 7. Holy meditation c. The eighth Commandment is this Thou shalt not steal Exod. 20. 15. This commandment enjoyns us to have a care and endeavour the preservation of our own and our neigbours good and therein of the maintaining of justice in our dealing one with another In this eighth commandment there are seven things prohibited and five things enjoyned The things forbidden follow 1. Theft Lev. 19. 13. 2. Oppression Prov 14. 31. 3. Deceit 1 Thes 4. 6. 4. Sacriledge Prov. 20. 25. 5. Usury Deut. 23. 20. 6. Bribery Prov. 29. 4. 7. Prodigality Luk. 15. 13. Things enjoyned in this commandment 1. Just dealing Lev. 25. 14. 2. Diligence in our calling Ephes 4. 28. 3. Liberality Prov. 11. 25. 4. Hospitality 1 Pet. 4. 9. 5. Restitution Exod. 22. 5. Lev. 6. 4 5. The ninth Commandment is as followeth Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Exod. 20 16. This commandment enjoyns us with the preservation of our own and our neighbours good name and the maintaining of truth in our testimony This ninth commandment doth prohibit seven things and enjoyn five things Things prohibited in this commandment 1. Slandering Prov. 15. 24. 2. Credulity Psal 15. 3. 3. Hearing tale-bearers Prov. 25. 23. 4. Censuring Mat. 7. 1. 5. Sinister suspitions 1 Cor. 13. 5. 6. Flattery Prov. 27. 14. 7. Silence in defending 2 Tim. 4. 16. Things enjoyned in this commandment 1. A care of our own names Phil. 4. 8. 2. A care of the names of others Mat. 1. 19. 3. A care of our speeches that they be to Gods glory Ephes 5. 4. 4. That they be profitable to the good of others Col. 4. 6. 5. And lastly that our speeches be both true and charitable for these two must inseparably go together for charity rejoyceth in truth 1 Cor. 13. 6. And the truth must be spoken in love Ephes 4. 15. For truth without love savoureth of malice and charity without truth is false vain and foolish because God is true and the Author of truth and the Devil a lyar and the father of lyes and as truth makes us like unto God so lyes make us like unt the Devil The tenth Commandment is as follow eâ—h Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife Exod. 20. 17. This tenth and last commandment doth prohibit 1. Covetousness Heb. 13. 5. 2. Self-love 2 Tim. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 10. 24. 3. Evil thoughts Prov. 24. 9. 4. Envy Prov. 23. 4. This commandment doth enjoyn 1. A pure heart 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2. Watchfulness over our thoughts Prov. 4. 23. 3. Contentedness Phil. 4. 11. 4. Coveting after spiritual things 1 Cor. 12. 31. Now in the strictest sense it is impossible that any man should keep these commandments in thought word and deed from such a principle and to such an end as it ought to be kept but this may serve First to humble us in the sight and sense of our sins which have made us subject to the wrath of God and the curse of the Law that so we may be driven out of our selves and with hast flie unto the mercies of God in the satisfaction of Jesus Christ Of the Lords prayer and the several petitions therein contained THere are in the Lords prayer six petitions the three first do concern Gods glory and the three latter do concern our necessity divided as it were into two tables whereof three do concern God as doth the first table of the Law and three do concern our selves and our neighbours as doth the Second table so that by the very order of the petitions we may learn this that we ought to think upon Gods glory before any thing that belongs to us John 12. 27 28. The six petitions are as followeth 1. Hallowed be thy name Mat. 6. 9. Luke 11. 12. 2. Thy kingdom come Mat. 6. 0. Luke 11. 2. 3. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Mat. 6. 10. Luke 11. 2. 4. Give us this day our daily bread Mat. 6. 11. Luke 11. 3. 5. Forgive us our debts as we forgive them that are debtors to us Mat. 6. 12. Luke 11. 4. 6. And leads us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Mat. 6. 13. Luke 11. 4. 1. Of the first Hallowed be thy name 1. By the name of God we are to understand God himself 1 Kings 5. 5. Isa 26. 8. His titles as Jehovah Eloim the Lord of Host and such like and then his attributes and properties as wisdom power love goodness justice mercy truth Exod. 33. 18 19. 34. 5 6. We are said to hallow his name when we acknowledge it and honour it Psal 96. 7 8. Thereby as it were setting the crown of holiness and honour upon the head of God 2. In the next petition Thy kingdom come In this petition we pray that God may reign in our hearts that the kingdom of sin and Satan being more and more abolished Act. 26. 18. Col. 1. 3 Christ may now reign in our hearts by grace Col. 3. 15 16. and we with him for ever in glory 2 Tim. 2. 5. 12. 3. In the next petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Hereby we exclude all wills opposed to the will of God as our own will and all wills of evil men or wicked Angels may be dissappointed and so we desire grace that we may obey his will and not the lust of the flesh and the will of man 4. In the next petition we pray Give us this day our daily bread In this petition we beg that God would provide for us competent maintenance or such a proportion of outward means as he shall see meet for us Prov. 30. 8. and that he would give us grace to
our selves to be justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ 1 Joh. 5. 3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments so again Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my commandments See the 21. and 23. ver 7. In our obedience to him he doth manifest these things to us that we have right to the tree of life Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City that is in the obedience he shall have the manifestation of that 2 Pet. 1. 11. For so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so he is manifested to be the Author of salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Behold obedience to God is the way of conveyance to us so it is a lively evidence to others that we are the Lords Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples because our faith which is the evidence of things not seen to us is proved to others to be true by its works Jam. 2. 18. Behold here is the Lords going downward from the causes to the effects now we must go upward from the effects to the causes 1. God shews us what is our duty and puts us upon doing it and for the doing of it those that behold it and hear of us judge us to be true Christians 2. In the doing of it God manifests himself more and more to our souls in the keeping of his appointments there is great reward for so an entrance is administred to us abundantly 2 Pet. 1. 11. 3. The cause of our obedience is our love to God If ye love me keep my commandments 4. The cause of our love was our seeing that God did love us first 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 5. The cause of our faith in Christ is the preaching of the Gospel Rom. 10. 17. 6. The cause of the preaching the Gospel to us was Christs dying for us 7. The cause of Christs dying for us was Gods great love of pitty to us-wards even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 4. So then Gods love was the cause of sending his son o deye for our sins Christs dying and rising again is the cause of the Gospeâ—s being preached The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our believing Our believing is the cause of our justification from sin the knowing of our selves free from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of him and in onr obedience is the manifestation more and more conveyed to us So by our obedience others have some evidence of our faith in Christ Mans life is or should be guided by these vertues 1. FAith whereby we believe in and lay hold on God for something promised 2. Hope and that is either for pardoning mercy or for glory 3. Charity whereby we love God as the only good and his people and our enemies in obedience to his command 4. Prudence 1. In our hearts to guide our thoughts 2. In our mouths to order our speeches 3. It should be in our words to grace or adorn our actions 4. In the intelligence to understand things present 5. Prudence to guess at things to come 6. Prudence to recal matters past 5. Temperance which moderates our desires and brings the Appetite under a rule of reason that it may not exceed the rule of moderation 6. Perseverance which continueth in doing and suffering valiantly 7. Justice which giveth every man his due without self-love fear or ranckor it binds us to give due to God to our parents and kindred verity and equity in all that we do in order to our duty herein 1. Sense perceiveth 2. Imagination representeth 3. Understanding formeth 4. Wit deviseth 5. Reason judgeth 6. Memory preserveth 7. Intelligence apprehendeth 8. Contemplation in the prosecution perfecteth Several Divine Sentences First of Christ HE that was the Son of of God became the son of man that we who were the sons of men might become the sons of God He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the rightâ—ousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. The more vile Christ made himself for us the more dear he ought to be unto us therefore let us beware of Christ-dishonouring and soul-undoing opinions All good things are in Christ eminently perfectly and eternally Faith in the blood of Christ the witness of the Spirit of Christ a sense of feeling and the love of Christ and the hope of reigning with Christ are the only things to be desired Christ is as well the fountain of common gifts as of saving grace A true Christian cannot find fulness in the creature nor sweetness in sin nor life in any Ordinance without Christ he will weep over other mens weaknesses and rejoyce at their graces We must lean more upon Christ and less upon our own strength lest with Peter we rest upon some old strength and fall before a new temptation Christ can heal a soul speedily perfectly freely and eternally Oh that Christ should shed his blood for those sins that we never shed one tear for A true Christian doth labour for unity in the Church as well as purity he loves to see Christs coat without rent as well as without spot Phil. 3. 15. Christ did admit his spouse into the garden sweetly though she kept him out of her house sluggishly What a poor soul doth for Christ sincerely that our precious Saviour takes sweetly though it be done ill he doth accept it well Nay though we carry our selves in our choicest performances very weakly yet he doth carry himself towards us very sweetly and doth accept of that which we do kindly although done in much infirmity let us enter into his service and we shall soon experience his sweetness Christ doth weigh the heart of the giver more then the value of the gift and delights to see his people give cheerfully though they cannot give bountifully Let us give over measuring his mercy by the narrow scantling of our dark understandings though difficulties may arise and Christians hearts may fail yet the work of Christ shall go on c. Of affliction for sin in Sentences GOD is as severe in punishing as he is gracious in pardoning his house of correction is his School of instruction God had one Son without corruption but no Son without correction he had one Son without Sin but no Son without Sorrow A Soul may be dearly beloved although soarly afflicted sin and punishment are linked together if thou wilt be sinful thou must be miserable Oh what is the state of a man
that hath sinned it will cost him more grief sorrow heart-breaking and soul-bleeding before conscience will be satisfied comfort restored evidences cleared and pardon in the court of conscience sealed for God can look sowrly and chide bitterly and strike heavily even where and when he loves dearly a soul may be full of holy affection when it is empty of divine consolation there may be true grace where there is not one drop of comfort nor one dram of joy Of Sin in Sentences MOst men are fallen into sin as if there were no God to punish them no justice to condemn them no hell to torment them That man shall be a slave to sin that will not avoid the occasions of sin It is impossible for that man to get the conquest of sin that plaies and sports with the occasions of sin It is better to be kept from sin then to be cured of sin as it is better to be kept from a disease then to be cured of that disease the greatest sinners shall be the greatest sufferers Sin shall never be our bane if it be our burden sin doth intice us to that which is against Gods holiness as well as against our happiness There is no sin little because there is no little God to sin against There is many a one full of sinful corruption that shews it not for want of occasion but the more grace thrives in the Soul the more sin dies in the soul Sin may break our Communion but not our Union with God Every sin doth put God upon complaining Christ upon bleeding and the spirit upon grieving and so men go on from folly to folly till they be ripe for eternal misery Of doing or practising in Sentences WE should spend our and time pains about that which will make us live happily die comfortably and raign eternally It is not knowing man nor the talking man nor the reading man but the doing man that at last will be found the happiest man Therefore no danger or difficulty should hinder a Christian from his duty for if our knowledge be not turned into practise the more knowledge we have the more miserable shall we be We should be thankfull under mercies faithfull in our places humble under divine appearances and fruitfull under pretious oâ—dinances For he that thinks himself too good to be ruled by Gods word will be found too bad to be owned by God To reward good for evil is divine to reward good for good is humane to reward evil for evil is brutish but to reward evil for good is devilish we are apt to have two eyes to behold our dignity and priviledges and not so much as one eye to see our duty and services Of the Riches Honour and Glory of the world in Sentences A Man may be great and graceless with Pharaoh honourable and damnable with Saul rich and miserable with Dives A man may have enough of this world to sink him but he can never have enough to save him though good Christians have here but little in possession yet they have a glorious kingdom in reversion It is better to be gracious then great inwardly holy then out wardly happy for the best mans honour is as glass bright and brittle and evermore in danger of breaking the things of this life are not so absolutely given us but that God retains still a right to it and an interest in it and may demand it when and how he please Of the Devil and his temptation in Sentences THE Devil aims principally to make us walk sinfully that so we might live uncomfortably If Satan be alwaies roaring we should be alwaies watching for though Satan cannot rob a Christian of his crown yet he will endeavour to spoil him of his comfort It is not Satans tempting but our consenting not his inticing but our yielding that makes temptation sinful Therefore let us not yield to Satans temptations who hath the worst name and the worst nature of all created creatures our carnal security is his opportunity and he that would not be taken with Satans devises let him make present resistance against Satans first motions Of assurance of Salvation in Sentences A Ssurance is a salve for every sore and a remedy for every malady a Christians anchor at sea and his shield at land a staff to support him a sword to defend him and a pavilion to hide him Assurance makes heavy afflictions light and long afflictions short and bitter afflictions sweet God hath made an everlasting separation between sin and peace sin and joy sin and assurance if sin and our souls be one God and our souls must needs be two He that will get assurance must mind his work more then his wages for assurance is heavenlywages that God gives not to loiterers but to the ingenious labourers Though no man merits assurance by his obedience yet God usually crowns obedience with assurance That soul will never attain to any settled assurance of Salvation that builds his hopes upon a sandy foundation We cannot distrust our selves too much nor trust Christ too much It is one thing for God to love a soul and another thing for God to assure that soul of his love A man may be truly holy and yet not have assurance that he shall be eternally happy God writes many a mans name in the book of life and yet not let him have assurance of it till the hour of death assurance is a mercy too good for most mens hearts a crown too weighty for most mens heads It is the best and greatest mercy and therefore God will only give it to his nearest and dearest friends As faith is often attended with unbelief and sincerity with hypocrisie and humility with vain glory so is assurance with fears and doubts Divers knotty questions answered and seeming contradictions in the Scripture reconciled and many Scruples of conscience removed VVE read 1 John 3. 16. we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren Quest In what cases may we hazard or lay down our lives for the brethren Answ 1. A private Christian may adventure his life for publike persons Rom. 16. 3 4. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helâ—ers in Christ who have for my life laid down their own necks unto whom not only I give thanks but also all the Chruches of the Gentiles 2. A man may warrantably adventure his life if need require for a multitude that they may be preserved from destruction so Moses Exod. 32. 31 32. so Paul Rom. 9. 3. compared with Phil. 2. 17 18. 3. One publike officer may hazzard his life for another of more concernment in the Church as Epaphroditus a Pastor of the Philippians for Paul an Apostle Phil. 2. 30 c. We read in many places of Scripture that it is the duty of every man to believe and we find in other Scriptures that God is the Author of Faith and without him we cannot believe John 5. 40 44. Q. Why doth God promise eternal life to those that
but not such Spots as wicked men 2. Whereas it is said they had no spot or wrinkle in them it was as they were made comely by the comeliness that he had put upon them Ezek. 16. 14. And as they were covered with the robe of his own Righteousness Isa 61. 10. And so their Holiness and Righteousness was of the Lord Isa 57. 17. Hence he is in Jer. 23. 6. Called the Lord our Righteousness the nature of Grace and Sanctification in this life is but imperfect and growing unto perfection 1 Cor. 13. 9 10. Phil. 3. 12 13. Some Canaanites are still in the Land although we are entered into Canaan there is a Remnant of flesh as well as a Principle of the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. In this sense the Church is not actually purged but in purging from all defilements and at last there shall be no spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing Ephes 5. 26 27. So that compleat purity from sin and perfection is to be desired on earth yet reserved for heaven Rom. 6. 7. Ephes 5. 27. Heb. 12. 23. Rev. 21. 27. I have dwelt longer then I intended upon this question I must get it up again in being brief in the next We read Mat. 12. 31 32. The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Quest What that sin against the Holy Ghost is Answ The sin against the Holy Ghost doth comprehend and take in three things Knowledge in the mind Malice in the heart persecuting some known Truths and persevering therein for the proof of this let me instance in three Scriptures first Paul was filled with malice in his heart but although a scholar he had no knowledge in his mind as the text saith he had mercy on me because I did it ignorantly now Peter he had much knowledge in his mind but no malice in his heart and so although he sinned out of knowledge yet he sined not this sin but upon the crowing of the cock and Christs looking on him he repenteth now take the knowledge that was in Peter and joyn it with the malice that was in Paul and in both these persecute the truth and persevere therein this is that grand sin for that grand sin hath these three properties 1. Knowledge 2. Malice 3. Perseverance in a way of wickedness for finalness maliciousness and universalness must be taken joyntly together not severally one from another if by them we would describe the sin against the Holy Ghost for a man may fall knowingly and maliciously yet unless he fall finally and so make a defection from the truth not through fear or infirmity but out of hatred blasphemy and persecution if he come not up to this he hath not committed this sin for we find all the former sins to be pardonable It is reported of Julian that committed this sin that he was from his child-hood trained up in piety and attained to great knowledge and when he came to the Empire he carryed himself with much clemency but after this he came to deny Christ in France and turned a most bloody butcher and barbarous persecutor to poor Christians after this being either wounded in a battle or a blow from heaven he took a handfull of his blood and flung it up into the air and burst out into a most wicked experssion against Christ and said thou man of Galilee thou hast overcome me and so miserably dyed Quest Is not Election the cause of salvation and Reprobation the cause of damnation Answ Election and Reprobation are not in any sense the causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation Election and Reprobation they are but precedent and precurrent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the decrees and the execution thereof Quest How could Christ being but one make satisfaction for the sins of so many Answ How could father Adam being but one infect so many with original sin I hope you will grant that the second Adam was as well able to sanctifie as the first was to putrifie for though Christ was but one yet he was such a one as was greater and better then all and so able and sufficient to satisfie for all and to redeem all as well as he made all and the blood of such a one as Christ the son of God was of such an infinite value and price that it did surmount and surpass in dignity and worth all the souls in the world and his sufferings and merits were a sufficient satisfaction if intended and applyed to that end for to save so many worlds of men as there is men in the world Quest Did Christ fulfil the moral Law or ten commandments by his death Answ He did satisfie and perform for his people what the Law could require and exact from them and so became the end of the Law for righteousness or Justification to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. And so redeemed and freed them from the Curse of the Law Gal. 3. 13. By being made a Curse for them c. but it still remains in full force and vertue as a Rule of life as it is opened by Christ Mat. 5. There is some difference in the administration of it since Christs coming from the administration of it before his coming Quest Hath not Christ dyed for all men and tasted death for every man 2 Cor. 5. 15. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Answ The word All is not to be alwaies taken for every one for the word All hath many restrictions for this word All is very often taken in Scripture for all kinds as Paul exhorteth that supplication be made for all men that is some of all sorts and degrees as well Rulers as others 1 Tim. 2. 1. So it is said that Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Aegyptians that is in all kind of wisdom so we read that Christ healed all diseases that is all manner of diseases All is sometimes restrained in Scripture to Gods peculiar people Christ saith I will draw all men to me John 12. 32. That is all men that the Father gave him John 6. 4 5. See Isa 54. 13. Again we read they shall be all taught of God not all the world sure but all Gods people Again I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh Acts 2. 7. These cannot be meant of all the wicked Again we read 1 Thess 2. 15. They please not God and are contrary to all men that is all good men Again we read Mat. 10. 22. Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake that is of all wicked men by which we may see how the word All is taken variously and therefore it is to be limited and determined to persons and things according as the text will bear and no otherwise and when as it is said he tasted death for every
in the world 19. For a multitude of unknown sins that thou hadst totally forgotten committed in the child-hood youth and man-hood all thy omissions and commissions will then come into thy mind and if thou wouldest thou canst not put them out I know of two precious Christians being a long time weak and like to dye that did witness to this truth all the sins of their youth that they had forgotten came in remembrance as fresh as if but now committed 20. And lastly there comes in a long bill that thou never dreamedst of much less couldest repent of ignorance will be no plea in this court God will say thou oughtest and mightest have known al these things to be sinful out of the holy Scripture and therefore art utterly unexcusable Oh consider if ever any bill were like to this and bring it home to your own consciences for it is your own case it is true that in all courts of Justice exception against witnesses is allowed but thou canst except against none of these except it be the Devil who bears malice to thee yet malice is a good informer though a bad Judge but to cashier his testimony what canst thou say against thy partners in sin do not they know all thy waies what canst thou say against good men that with grief beheld thy sinfull courses what against good Angels that will not belie thee what canst thou say against thy own conscience what canst thou say against the most true and knowing God that cannot lie And whilst thy soul is thus within out of peace and order thy wife children and friends trouble thee as fast to have thee put thy goods in order some crying some craving some pittying some chearing well In this extremity the soul looks every way for help and she finds her self every way helpless I shall here acquaint the Reader of a passage that I read at least twenty years ago which God made of great use to me viz. The soul being in this misery desires to hear the least word of Comfort she directs this or the like speech to the Eyes Oh Eyes who in times past were so quick sighted can you spie no comfort not any way how I might escape this dreadful danger Alas the eye-strings are broken they cannot see the candle that burneth nor discern whether it be day or night The soul finding no comfort in the eyes speaks to the ears Oh Ears who were willing and wont to recreate me with hearing new pleasant discourses and musick can ye hear the tidings of the least comfort for me but the ears are either so deaf that they cannot hear at all of the sense of hearing is grown so weak that it cannot endure to hear his dearest friends to speak So the ear cannot minister any comfort Then she intimates her grief unto her Tongue Oh Tongue who was wont to bring it out with the bravest where are now thy big and daring words now in my greatest need canit thou speak nothing in my defence canst thou neither daunt these enemies with threatning words nor intreat them with fair speeches But alas the tongue cannot in his greatest extremity so much as call for a little drink or desire a friend to take away with his finger the flegm that is ready to choak him Finding here no hope of help she speaks to the feet where are ye oh feet which sometimes were so nimble in running and carrying of me from place to place can ye carry me now no where out of this dangerous place But alas the Feet are as it were dead already if they be not stirred they cannot stir Then she directs her speech unto her hands Oh hands who have been so often approved for Manhood in Peace and War wherewith I have so often defended my self and offended my Foes never had I more need then now Help now or I perish for ever But alas the Hands are so weak and do so tremble that they cannot reach to the mouth a spoonfull of supping to relieve languishing Nature Whilst The poor man lyeth in this misery in comes all his wealth to give her master a visit and in effect saith this to him Thus far have I gone with thee but farther I will not I have nothing to do in another world Now therefore master shift for your self I will go seek me a new Master Nay saith his Master I hope thou wilt not serve me so now I have most need of thee many a nights rest have I broken for thee Wealth The more fool thou Master who bid thee do so not God I am sure but the Prince of the air the God of this world And therefore now to him thou must go or whither thou dost go I know not nor care not but farther to go with thee I will not for I will seek me a new Master Master Nay Wealth I pray thee say not so that goeth to my very heart go answer for me or at least speak a good word for me Wealth Not I nay I am sure you shall answer for me and your self too and to tell you the truth I doubt the place is too hot for me where thou art going Look Look here comes death quivering in your lips quaking in your joynts staring in your eyes I cannot endure the sight of him oh draw the curtain shift fot thy self Master and I will shift for one Master Oh base vagrant have I thus entertained thee like a Prince for this Oh all ye people of the world be warned by me a dying man Lay up Treasure in Heaven improve thy Talent redeem thy Time and give Diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure Oh how suddenly hath death stollen upon me like the Sun which the eye perceives not to move though it be most swift of motion The God of Mercy hath utterly forsaken me and the Devil who knows no mercy waites for me my joyes in this life were gone before I could scarce enjoy them my miseries are eternal and never shall know end Oh that I had spent the hours that I consumed in carding dicing and other exercises in reading the Scriptures in hearing Sermons and meditating thereon in conferring with the Lords people in weeping for my sins in fasting watching and praying and beliveing that I might have now departed in the assured hope of everlasting salvation Oh that I were now to begin my life again how religious and purely would I lead my life But now my glass is out the Sun is set the golden Scepter is taken in once I had a reconcileable God bowels of Mercy were not totally restrained but Repentance might have enlarged them The treasury door of Mercy and Grace was not lockt up but Faith could have opened it and the hour of Grace might have procured the oyl of Gladness and there was still a blank in the leaf for the sinners name to be put in upon coversion but now every door of hope is shut and lockt up and now is my case more
for there the King is Christ the Law is Love the honour verity the peace felicity the Life eternity there is Light without drakness mirth without sadness health without sickness wealth without want credit without disgrace beauty without blemish ease without labour riches without rust blessedness without misery Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Psalm 87. 3. 4. Let us yet consider whose presence we shall enjoy and that is the prsence of Father Son and holy Ghost Angels and Saints Heb. 12. 22 23 24. The whole man shall enjoy fellowship with God fellowship with the Lamb and fellowship with the Angels A happy society and sweet communion all holiness all happiness all joys shall be enjoyed All that God bestowed upon Moses could not satisfie his mind unless he might see the face of God When Paul had once seen this blessed sight he ever after counted all the riches and Glory of the world to be but dung and all his Life after was but sighing out I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Father I will saith Christ that they which thou hast given me be even where I am that they may behold my Glory 5. The next thing to be considered is that in this blessed state we shall all know one another and have Communion one with another and sweet content flowing from that Communion we shall know the power of the Father and the wisdom of the Son the grace of the holy Ghost and the invisible nature of the blessed Trinity and in him we shall know all our friends who died in the faith and all the faithful that ever were or shall be Luke 13. 28. Christ tels the Jews that they shall see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God therefore we shall know them Adam knew Eve whom he had never seen before muchmore then shall we know those we have known here David implyeth that he shall know his child when he comforted himself that he should go to it 2 Sam. 12 23. The Apostles knew Christ after his resurrection Peter James and John knew Moses and Elias in the transfiguration how much more shall we know one another when we shall be all glorified Mat. 17. 4 Luke 9. 33. The rich man knew Abraham and Lazarus Luke 16. Surely then Abraham and Lazarus shall know one another 1 Cor. 13. 12. Sâ—int Paul saith at that day we shall know as we are known of God Love never faileth therefore knowledge the ground thereof remains in another life Our knowledge in another life shall as far exceed the knowledge of this life as the Light of the Sun doth exceed the Light of a candle They who thirst for knowledge Let them long be studients of this University for all the Light by which we know any thing in this world is nothing but the very shadow of God Dives in Hell knew Lazarus in heaven and why shall not the godly know one another there We read Mat. 13. That Peter James and John knew Moses in the transfiguration as before c. Boulton here thinks it should detract much from the happiness of every Saint in heaven if every Saint should not know one another there 6. Another priviledge is we shall not only know one another and have communion together but we shall speak one to another Our communion and conference one with another may be gathered from the like in the Angels who doubtless speak one to another though not vocally as we now do yet in their manner viz. Angelically and spiritually which is thought to be nothing else but a spiritual insinuation instillation or communication of their minds notions meanings one to another to think that the Angles and Spirits of the just made perfect do not speak in their heavenly and spiritual manner communicating their minds one to anotheras they see cause is against reason and inconsisting with the state of blessedness and to think they speak in this manner is not against Scripture or reason though the full resolution to this thing viz. with what tongues the Angels and souls departed speak seems to be reserved till we come to heaven some conceive we shall then all speak in the Hebrew tongue 7. Let us consider the variety of joyes in heaven and those admirable good things which God hath prepared and which Christ hath purchased for his servants it is not for any wit of man to conceive or any tongue to relate or any pen to set down nevertheless let us set down a taste of them as we find them revealed in Scriptures in that life there shall be no earthly or sinfull misery there shall be no sin at all no sickness no sorrows no diseases nor malady no cross nor curse no vexation nor calamity no defect nor deformity no tumults not troubles no pain nor penury all tears shall be done away all evils removed all sin abolished all wants supplyed Rev. 22. 3. Rev. 21. 4. There shall be a perpetual possession of all good things even of God himself who is goodness it self there shall be perfection of knowledge no defect in love certain security conistant amity and secure tranquility the end why all this shall be given to us is that God may manifest his exceeding love to us and that we might enjoy the full fruit of Christs death and passion and lastly that we might acknowledge the wonderful mercies of God unto us and celebrate his name for ever then shall we be in a state of exemption from sin and from the causes of sin and from the punishment of sin The morall Philosophers say that hail storm and tempest are ingendred in the middle region but above the middle region there is no wind no storm or tempest but whilst we are here below set us expect storms winds and blustering temptations but when God takes us above this middle region there is no storm nor tempest to trouble us then the Angels that rejoyced at our conversion will much rejoyce together with us at our entrance into heaven 8. Let us consider the duration and continuance of this blessed state this life is an everlasting life Mat. 25. 45. It shall continue world without end life eternal is the highest degree of blessedness in which we shall be made partakers of Christs glory enjoying the sight of God and heavenly joyes for ever and ever therefore it is termed everlasting life John 16. 22. and Christ faith that our joy shall no man take from us Oh who can bear this and not admire it Who can meditate on it and not be amazed at it as soon as any Saint in this life felt but a true taste of these everlasting joys they presently accounted all the riches and pleasures of this life to be but loss and dung in respect of that and therefore with fervent prayers fastings tears faith and good life they gave all diligence and laboured to ascertain themselves of this eternal life and for the
love thereof they willingly parted with much of their earthly goods and possessions to lay up treasure in heaven Abraham and Sarah left their own country and possessions to look for a City whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. 10 15 16. David preferreth one day in this place before a thousand elsewhere Psal 84. 10. Elias earnestly besought the Lord to receive his soul into his Kingdom and went willingly though in a fiery Chariot King 19. 4. Saint Paul having once seen heaven continually desiâ—eth to be dissolved that he might be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Saint Peter having espyed but a glimpse of eternal glory in the mount wished that he might dwel there all the dayes of his life Mat. 17. 4. saying Master it is good for us to be here c. Christ a little before his death prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent glory Joh. 17. 5. And the Apostle witnesseth Heb. 11. 2. that for the joy which was set before them they endured the cross and despised the shame 1 Pet. 5. 4. and when the chief Shepheard shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away c. this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration decay or consumption waste or diminution mans eternal condition admits of no comparison revocation or conclusion c. What use we may make of all these precious things 1. EXcellent arguments may be drawn to pres-Christians to a holy life 2 Pet. 3. 11. see ing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness and ver 14. Wherefore seeing ye look for such things give diligence that ye may be found in him in peace It is our duty to live in a continual expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus with our loins girt and our lamps burning for blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing 2. Consider that here is a fountain opened for Christian comfort and ground for patience in all troubles that there shall be an end a Christians hope shall not be cut off if in this life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. But here lyes the comfort and patience of true Christians theywait for another world and they know it is a just thing with God to give them rest after their labours 2 Thes 1. 9. and a crown after their combate 2 Tim. 4. 8. and after their long Pilgrimage an everlasting habitation 2 Cor. 5. 1. Be patient saith the Apostle and settle your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh James 5. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 9. When they that have sown in tear shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. 3. Consider that assurance of that blessed state may be attained in this life we know faith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. That if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed we have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens these things saith John I have written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. I am sure saith Job 19. 25 26 27. that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my self shall see and mine eyes shall behold when I awake saith David I shall be satisfied with thy Image Psal 17. 15. 4. The consideration of this should provoke us to be such as may be made meet for this inheritance of the Saints in light and to endeavour to attain and retain the earnest of the Spirit whence we may be alwaies able to say we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. and to fill the soul with strong consolation against the sufferings of life and the fear of death and to work an answerable conversation that whether absent or present we may so walk as we may be accepted of him 5. The consideration of this should put us upon a patient waiting for and a longing expectation of our change which draweth on a pace and not to put that off as most do to the last year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and then to the last week of that moneth and then to the last day of that week and then to the last hour of that day and then to the last minute of that hour and so time shall be no more and we shall not find repentance although we seek it with tears 6. Consider that the cause of our salvation and so of our glorious condition is Gods meer love and favour without any merit of ours Luke 12. 32. It is our Fathers good pleasure to give us a Kingdom Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Ephes 2. 8. By grace we are saved through faith and not of our selves it is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. everlasting life is the gift of God and though eternal life be called a reward yet it is not of merit but of mercy let this be grounded in our hearts that the Kingdom of heaven is not a stipend of servants but an inheritance of Sons which they only obtain that lay hold on his mercy Romans 5. 8. compared with 1 Tim. 6. 12. and 19. 2. Now as hath been said as the love of God is the cause of our salvation fo Jesus Christ is the way Joh. 10. 9. Joh 14. 6. 3 The holy Spirit is the guide in that way as in Joh. 16. 13. 4. The Scriptures of truth is the rule Gal. 6. 16. Isa 8. 20. 5. The evidence of this salvation is faith Heb. 11. 1. It is true the instrumental cause offering and proclaiming salvation is the Gospel but the instrumental receiving and applying it is faith and the cause sealing it inwardly to our souls is the Spirit of God the external and instrumental seals thereof are the two confirming Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper 6. The anchor of this salvation is hope Heb. 6. 19. 7. The effects of this salvation is love to God because he loved us first and a holy conversation if ye love me saith Christ keep my commandments and they that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works which are found and required in the way to the Kingdom but they are not the cause of reigning Of the end of the world THE consequents of the last judgement is life eternal in heaven or hell and the end of the world having finished the former let me point to the latter and I have finished what I intended we read Mat. 24. 3. that Peter James John and Andrew Mark 13. 3. came to Christ and desired him to satisfie them in these three questions 1. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple 2. Concerning
for answers or rendring praise for mercies received Psal 5. 3. Luk. 2. 37. The motives to encourage us to pray PRayer is a jewel of grace bequeathed by Christ unto us Luke 11. 2. Again it is the hand of Faith the Key of Gods treasury the souls Solicitor the hearts armour-bearer the minds interpreter Mat. 7. 7. Ephes 6. 18. It procureth all blessings preventeth all curses 2 Chron. 7. 14. Further it sanctifieth all creatures that they may do us good 1 Tim. 4. 5. seasoneth all crosses that they can do us no hurt 2 Cor. 12. 18. Lastly it keepeth the heart in humility the life in sobriety strengthneth all graces overcometh all corruptions subdueth all temptations maketh our duties acceptable to God our lives profitable unto men and both life and death comfortable to our selves Act. 9. 11. Ephes 6. 18. Iude 20. Acts 4. 24. What shall I say more for our encouragement to pray unto God but only this consider and that seriously the Lord is never worse but many times better then his word Solomon did only ask in prayer for wisdom 1 King 3. 11 12. And the Lord gave him more wisdom then he did ask and riches and honour to boot Again we read 1 Sam. 1. Hannah prayed but for a son and the Lord gave her a son and a Prophet too for her son Samuel was a great Prophet So again for our encouragement to pray we read Gen. 17. That Abraham prayed saying Oh that Ishmael might live before thee ver 19. And God said Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and as for Ishmael I will answer thy prayer and make of him a great Nation ver 20. Again we read that Jacob prayed Gen. 28. 19. and said O Lord if thou wilt give me raiment to put on and bread to eat thou shalt be my God and the Lord gave him all that he desired and much more Gen. 32. 10. For with my staff said he came I over this Jordan but now I am so exceedingly encreased in goods that I am become two bands See Gen. 33. 4 5 6. Again we read Mat. 18. 24 26. Of one that was in debt ten thousand talents and the mony being demanded the debtor desired but dayes of paiment and the Lord forgave him the whole debt ver 27. Shall I crave leave to instance only in one more then consider that place Acts 3. 3 4 5 6 7 8. A certain man lame from his mothers womb asked an alms of Peter and Iohn and they gave him a mercy above and beyond what he asked yea a mercy to him worth more then the whole world they healed him of his lameness insomuch that he leaped and rejoyced and praised God ver 8. The means to be used to obtain the gift of prayer FIrst labour to get some true feeling of thy misery for sense of misery breeds desires of mercies Mat. 15. 22. when the soul panteth most the heart prayeth best and increase in knowledge that the head may guide the heart 1 Cor. 14. 15. For what we know is worth the having we will not lose for want of asking Pray for the Spirit of Prayer which helpeth and healeth our infirmities and teacheth us both for manner measure and matter to lay open all our necessities Rom. 8. 26. Luke 11. 13. Of the Lets and hinderances of prayer THe sensuality of the men and women living in pleasure drowning all their desires in delights and their prayers in pleasures 2 Tim. 3. 4. These men are lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God and therefore pray not to him Another hinderance is that state of stupidity of worldlings that think they have no need of praying but of carking and caring toyling and moyling in the world Luke 12. 17 18. Phil. 3. 19. Who mind only earthly things Again roving imaginations inordinate affections dulness of spirit weakness of Faith coldness in feeling faintness in asking weariness in waiting too much passion in our own matters and too little compassion in other mens miseries Mar. 9. 24. Isa 38. 13 14. Several sorts of Prayer never answered 1. HE that prayeth and yet regardeth iniquity in his heart the Lord will not hear his prayer Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer 2. He that prayeth and yet hateth to be reformed drawing neer with the lips but having his heart far from him Isa 29. 13. 3. Those that pray and yet turn their â—ars from his precepts he turneth away his ears from their prayers Prov. 28. 9. 4 Those that pray and yet continue in unbelief their prayers shall not be answered Jam. 1. 7. letnot that man so much as think he shall receive any thing from the Lord. 5. Those that pray and yet continue in senseless impiety so that the cry of our sins unrepented of drowns the voice of their prayers Zech. 7. 13. 6. Those that would neither hear nor answer God when he called and cried unto them see Prov. 1. 24. 28. Mich. 3. 4. 7. When we either cause or suffer the afflicted to cry without hearing the Lord hearing us cry in our afflictions without helping Gen. 42. 22. How many wayes doth the Lord answer the Prayers of his people 1. HE doth answer many times in giving the very thing we ask So Solomon did ask wisdom and the Lord gave it So Hanna prayed for a Son and the Lord gave her a Son So also Acts 10. 30 31. Dan. 9. 19 20 21. Acts 12. 13 14. 2. The Lord doth answer the prayers of his people in giving them faith to believe and patience to wait the Lords leasure till he doth give the mercy prayed for So Heb. 5. 7. 2 Cor. 12. 8 9 10 11 12. 3. The Lord doth many times answer our prayers although he doth not give us the very thing we ask but a better in the room of it Gen. 17. 18 19. Psalm 35. 13. 4. He doth answer our prayers many times in giving as full Satisfaction to the soul in the absence of the mercy prayed for as if it had received it Hab. 2. 3. Another stanning Ordinance of the Gospel is thanksfiving or Singing of Psalms and Spiritual Songs making melody to the Lord in our Hearts PRaise or thanksgiving is a reverent acknowledgement of his mercies the heart being cheared with some taste of his goodness acknowledgeth all to come from his mercies goodness wisdom and power which makes the Soul as in Psal 32. 11. to rejoice in the Lord and to shout for joy Psal 107. 8 15 21 31. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men This is to be done with the Spirit and with understanding 1 Cor. 14. 15. As prayer and petition ariseth from the feeling of our miseries so doth praise from feeling of Gods mercy petition beggeth what we want and praise acknowledgeth what and wheuce we have it Rev. 15.
3. 1 Chron. 29. 12. 1. This puts the Soul upon speaking good of his name to others Psal 40. 9 10. 2. It puts the Soul upon resolving to bestow all for his honour and service 1 Chron. 29. 2 3. This praising of God must be with a single not with a double heart Psal 145. 18. This must be done in the best manner suting his several properties with their due Praises according to the nature of the present blessing Exodus 15. 2 3. Psalm 144. 1 2. This praise must be continually as long as we live as long as his mercy endureth and our lifelasteth Psal 146. 2. 1 Thes 5. 18. It is a good comely and pleasant thing to praise the Lord Psal 147. 1. It is his will thus to be honored 1 Thes 5. 18. It is a duty of Saints and Angels both here and hereafter Luke 2. 13 14. It fits the heart for other graces and provokes the Lord to fresh mercies That we may set about this work in good earnest dwell much upon these things following 1. Seriously consider what great things God hath done for us 1 Sam 12. 24. 2. Rest content with thy allowance and estate wherein he hath set thee Phil. 4. 11. 3. Often compare thy estate with others of Gods Saints who want many things that we enjoy and feel many Sorrows which we fear not Psal 147. 20. 4. Be faithful in all talents and fruitfull in all graces and this will be a great means to make us praise God for all his mercies Mat. 25. 13. Phil. 1. 11. That Singing of Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs is a Gospel-command which ought to be performed unto the Lord and practised in and by the Church of Christ and by every particular believer as occasion requires by singing I understand a lifting up of the voice with joy see 1 Chron. 15. 16. Isa 51. 3. 52. 8 9. and by singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs a praising of God by lifting up of the voice Psal 51. 14. Psal 8P 1. Psal 105. 2 3. By Psalms I understand the Psalms of David or such as are contained in the book of Psalms By Hymns I understand Songs of praise unto God Mat. 26. 30. Mark 14. 26. Col. 3. 16. By spiritual Songs I understand such songs the matter whereof is divine and Spiritual and heavenly Rev. 15. 3. these spiritual Songs are mentioned also in Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. and were framed at first by the immediate motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God upon some special and extraordinary occasion that singing is a Gospel-command or one principal part of Evangelical Gospel worship is proved from Pauls injunction thereof unto the Churches Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. James likewise doth urge the practise of it by way of command Jam. 5. 13. and we have the example also of our blessed Saviour and his Apostles Mat. 26. 30. Mar. 14. 26. and of the Apostles Paul and Silas Acts 16. 25. That it ought to be practised in the Church I mean the Assembly of the Saints is evident from that Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. Where the Apostle exhorts the Church of Ephesus to speak to themselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs and the Church at Coloss that they teach and admonish one another in Psalms Himns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which were altogether impossible to be done if this ordinance or command of the Lord Jesus was not to be practised in the Church and I find the Prophet David exciting and stirring up the Saints to the practise of this so heavenly an exercise Psal 30. 4. Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness and Psalm 145. 5. Let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds and withall I find several Gospel prophecies which seem to point out the mutual and joint performance of this duty as â—sa 52. 8. thy watch men shall lift up the voice with the voice together shall they sing and Psal 132. 16. I will also cloath her priests with Salvation and her Saints shall shout aloud for joy and it was prophecied of our Saviour Christ saying I will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee Heb. 2. 12. Isa 35. 10. Jer. 31. 12. therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Sion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord c. That it ought to be practised by every believer as occasion requires and as the Spirit is drawn forth thereunto is very evident from Jam. 5. 13. 1 Cor. 14. 15. That the Psalms of David ought to be sung will appear by these reasons 1. Because I find no other Psalms mentioned in the Scriptures then the Psalms of David and such as are contained in that book of Psalms 2. Because where there is mention of Psalms in the new Testament either by Christ or his Apostles I find that they refer or relate to the Psalms of David or that book of Psalms as may be collected from these among other Scriptures Luke 20. 42. Luke 24. 44. Acts 1. 20. Acts 13. 33 35. 3. Because I find contained in the Book of Psalms variety of excellent spiritual and heavenly matter which upon all occasions may draw forth the souls of the Saints in this way of a holy rejoycing before the Lord. That our Singing ought to be performed with a cheerfull heart and that they only ought to sing whose hearts the Lord hath made glad the Scriptures do evidently declare It s said in 2 Chron 29. 30. That the Levites sang praises with gladness Jer. 31. 7. Sing with gladness for Jacob Isa 65. 14. Behold my Servants shall sing for joy of heart And it is the express rule of the Apostle James Is any merry let him sing Psalms How shall we sing the Lords Song in a strange Land said the captive Jews who were required to sing when they were weeping by the rivers of Babylon and their Spirits overwhelmed with grief Psal 137. 1 2 3 4. That our singing ought to be with grace in the heart is evident from Col. 3. 16. that is I conceive either with a heart full of the sense of Gods pardoning and justifying grace or as it is regenerated renewed and Sanctified by the spirit of grace this is the root of all true Spiritual and heavenly rejoycing and this hath made the Saints to sing aloud for joy Psal 71. 23. my lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee Psal 145. 7. Isa 12. 2. 35. 2. And lastly that our singing ought to be performed with the spirit and understanding is very clear from 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with understanding also our singing as all other religious actions and services will be very unpleasing and unacceptable unto God if they be not carried on in the