A LITTLE CABINET RICHLY Stored with all sorts of Heavenly Varieties and Soul-reviving Influences Wherein there is a remedy for every Mala-dy viz. Milk for babes and meat for strong men and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of Salvation Being an Abridgement of the Sum and Substance of the true CHRISTIAN Religion Wherein The Cause of our Salvation the Way the Guide the Rule the Evidence the Seals c. and the connection of these points together and Dependancy of them one upon another This I have endeavoured to do orderly exactly methodically with much plainness and clearness By ROBERT PURNELL John 14. 6. I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me John 17. 3. This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent London Printed by R. W. for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles at the West end of Pauls 1657. Purnel's Cabinet The EPISTLE Dedicatory To all the Churches congregated according to the order of the Gospel with all that in every place call upon the name of the Lord Iesus viz. to the strangers scattered throughout England Scotland Wales and Ireland that are in love sweetly united or that yet have their Spirits too much imbittered OF all people in the world those are the only happy people whose God is the Lord Psal 144. 15. Whether they are high or low learned or in the worlds account illiterate that are tempted or deserted afflicted or oppressed they are pretious in the account of God though vile and contemptible in the eyes of men c. my brethren for your sakes this piece is come to publike view which is neither deficient in necessaries nor abundant in superfluities the consideration of the shortness of our time and the largness of volumes and the weakness of our memory engaged me in this work Our tender father who knows what is best for us hath gathered up all practical Divinity into ten precepts and our Saviour hath reduced those ten into two and all that we can pray for or against into six heads or petitions my dear friends labour to keep close to God in this loose age spend not your pretious time in complaining on others but endeavour in the use of all means to reform your selves beware of scandals take them not where they are make them not where they are not lay the foundation of mortification deep reserve no lust from the stroke of Jesus Christ take heed of pleasing your selves in a bare formall profession labour to be rooted in Christ and abide in his doctrine let your speech be alway with Grace and a word or two of Christ in every company beware of sleighting or neglecting of any of the ordinances of God or giving those to sinners that belong to Saints consider the truth is the same in all ages only it shines more and more clear from age to age untill that which is perfect is come and that which is imperfect be done away the truth held forth is the same though with more of God and less of man such addition is no innovation but an illustration not new light but new sight a man may not be said to make a new world when he makes a new discovery of the old world despise not the providences of God in the world they are signs of Gods mind if not of his love read your own hearts in the defects of others put your confidence in nothing beneath God himself Can the stone rest without its center the Camelion without air the Salamander without fire or the Fish without water surely they cannot Our center is God all things beneath him are mutable and fleeting and failing viz our best friends may fail us our eyes fail our tongues fail our strength fail our flesh and our heart may fail nay our spirits may fail Ps 143. 7. But the Lord if we trust in him will neither fail nor forsake us Heb 135. In a word he is a Sanctuary to the oppressed he is life indeath health in sickness joy in grief liberty in bondage comfort in despair riches in poverty honour in disgrace heaven in hell I will hold you no longer in the Porch but invite you into the house such as I have I will set before you desiring you to taste of every dish before you spend your judgement of the Feast for what is wanting in the first course may be made up in the second account nothing so pretious as Gods favour nothing so fearfull as his displeasure nothing so hatefull as sin nothing so desirable as grace beware of partial obedience mercenary love pretended zeal legal sorrow and feigned humility for except your rig hteousness exceed that of the Pharises your Sacrifice that of Cain your Confession that of Pharaoh your Fasting that of Ahabs your Weeping that of Sauls your Reformation that of Iebu's your Restitution that of Iudas's your Faith that of Simon-Magus's your Fear and Trembling that of Felix's 〈◊〉 ye may die in your sins Read well this book and mark diligently what variety of heavenly treasure there is comprized in this Cabinet and forget it not for you shall buy much for little cost and read much to thy great gain If I may prevail with thee to to read it once thy Love to it will constrain thee to read it again and again thou shalt find it for order Methodicall for matter Spiritual for brevity Compendious and for use Precious I leave you to him that never forsakes his and remain Your Servant for Christs Sake ROB. PURNELL The Epistle to the Impartial Reader Ingenious Reader IT was in my thoughts if I did ever present any thing to publike view again to have written only of the Kingdom and coming of our Lord Iesus Christ in the glory of his Father attened with the Arch-Angels and all the host of heaven so much spoken of in the Scripture and confirmed by the testimonies of the Prophets Apostles and Angels but since there is a Doctrine sprung up and carried on with a high hand that in part or whole denies the Scriptures of truth to be the word of God and so neglect and slight the Ordinances of God therein contained and so endeavour to undermine the Doctrine of Christ I thought good to make a speedy and safe retreat back again to guard and defend the first principles of Religion that so I might retain that which I had spent many years to obtain and not change a rocky foundation for a sandy foundation and the pure perfect safe and sure ruleof the written word for a supposed or pretended light within who not contenting themselves with those plain and precious rules and that clear light that shines in the word they are only led by their own phantasies daily creating to themselves diversity of new opinions and so break the bonds of love and fall off from the communion of Saints as though it were no Article
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
extend it must he given seasonably whilst the poor have need and thou hast it to give thou hast something to day it may be none tomorrow With what affection must we give 1. WIth tender pitty and compassion as we would have others do to us if we were in their case Psalm 112. 4. compared with Mat. 7. 12. 2. With humility and secresie not seeking praise from men but approving our hearts to God Mat. 6. 1. 3. With cheerfulness because God loveth loveth a cheerful giver Rom. 12. 8. 2 Cor. 9. 7. 4. With simplicity not respecting our selves but the glory of God and the good of our fellow-members 2 Cor. 8. 4 5. How many waies may one be said to give 1. BY giving freely and cheerfully as we have proved before 2. By lending to such as are not able to lend to us again Luke 6. 34. Psalm 37. 26. provided we take nothing for the loan Exod. 22. 25. 3. By selling and abating something of the price in pitty and love to them 4. By forbearing whatsoevor is our right in case of their great necessity Nehem. 5. 8. 5. By considering the poor in begging something of others for them Psalm 41. 1. Blessed is the man that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble What fruits may we expect of this duty 1. BY this we make God our debtor Prov. 19. 17. He that hath pitty upon the poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given he will pay again See Mat. 10. 42. and 25. 35. 2 Tim. 1. 18. 2. By this we seal the truth of our Religion Jam. 1. 27. This is pure Religion and undefiled before God 3. By this we sanctifie our store and bring a blessing on our labours yea and upon our posterity after us Luke 11. 41. Deut. 15. 10. Psalm 112. 2. 37. 26. 4. God forgetteth not but will surely reward the least even accept of cold water given in Faith and for his sake Mat. 10. 42. Of reading the Scriptures another standing Ordinance of the Gospel 1. COnsider that the Scriptures are the word of God 2. That no History is comparable to the Scripture 3. Who they are that ought to read the Scriptures 4. Why must we read the Scriptures 5. How we ought to read the Scriptures 1. Let us consider that the Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments are the word of God as will appear by these ensuing particulars 1. By the consent and testimony of godly men in all ages from them that first knew the pen-men until our time See Psal 119. 125. 2. The simplicity integrity and sincerity of these Writers doing nothing by partiality 1 Tim. 5. 21. 3. The sweet concord and harmony between these writings and all things contained in them notwithstanding the diversity of persons by whom places where times when and matters whereof they have written See Luke 24. 44. 4. The prophesies thereof prove them to be the word of God fore-telling things to come so long before-hand with their circumstances thus was the Messiah promised to Adam four hundred years before he was born Gen. 3. 15. and to Abraham one thousand nine hundred and seventeen years before the accomplishment Gen. 12. 3. 5. The admirable power and force that is in them to convert and alter mens minds and to incline their hearts from vice to vertue Psal 19. 7 8. Psal 119. 111. Heb. 4. 12 Act. 13. 12. What shall I say more the Scriptures of truth are perfectly holy in themselves and by themselves whereas all other writings are imperfect Christ is the eternal word John 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. Iohn 1. 14. 1 John 5. 7. The Scriptures are the written word Mar. 7. 13. Jer. 30. 1 2 4. Ier 34. 1. Exod. 20. 1. and 34. 27. Job 42. 7. John 10. 35. Luke 8. 21. and 11. 28. Jer. 37. 2. Jer. 36. 1 4 6 8 11 16 18. That no History is comparable to the History of the Scriptures THe books of the Old and New Testament are so sufficient for the knowledge of Christian Religion that they do most plentifully contain all Doctrine necessary to salvation they being perfectly profitable to instruct to salvation in themselves whence it followeth that we need no traditions or inventions of men no Cannon of Councils no sententes of Fathers no orders of Parliaments or decrees of Popes for to supply and supposed deâ—â—cts of the written word or for to give us perfect directions in the worship of God and the way of life then is already expressed in the Scriptures Mat 23. 8. John 5. 39. Mat. 15. 9. Lastly the holy Scriptures are the rule of life and ground of Faith the rule the line the square and light whereby to examine and try all Doctrines by Joh. 12. 4â— Gal. 1. 9. all traditions revelations decrees of councils opinions of Doctors c. are to be proved out of the Divine Scriptures no word like this word for antiquity rarity brevity harmony Who they are that ought to read the Scriptures THe Scriptures of truth are carefully and profitably to be read and heard of all sorts and degrees of men and women both privately and openly so as they may receive profit by them Deut. 31. 11 12. Moses commanded the book of the Law to be read to all the children of Israel men women and children that they might thereby learn to fear the Lord their God Josh 8. 34. There was not a word of all which Moses commanded that Joshua read not before all the congregation John 5. 39. Christ commandeth all men to search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life and they testifie of me Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophesie Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning Act. 17. 11. The hearers are commended for searching the Scriptures Why must we read the Scriptures DAvid testifieth that the Law of the Lord Psalm 19. 8. is perfect converting the soul the Testimonies of the Lord are true giving wisdom to the simple Psal 119 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths Prov. 1 4. It giveth subtilty to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discretion Paul saith If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4. 3. The Scriptures are our fathers letters to us and his last will to shew us what inheritance he hath left us women and children have read the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 15. Saint Paul affirmeth that Timothy was nourished up in the Scriptures from his Infancy c. Again by reading the Scriptures we gain knowledge therefore we should read them Prov. 2. 16. When wisdom entreth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul discretion shall preserve thee and understanding shall keep thee Hos 6. 6. I desire knowledge of God more then burnt offerings Hos 4. 1. The Lord hath
believe and that believing we might have life through his name 1. The Scriptures of truth are the ground of Faith as they do give a man sufficient ground and warrant to believe whatsoever is contained in them this was the ground of Abrahams faith and of Davids faith remember the word upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. 2. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith as it is a sure word as we are not to believe any thing that is not contained in Scripture so we need not doubt of any thing that is promised in them they are the faithful sayings of God 3. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith as it is a touchstone to try all doctrines by Isa 8. 20. John 5. 39. 4. They may be said to be the ground of Faith as they hold forth all things necessary to salvation and all things necessary to be believed Again they may be said to be the ground of Faith because in them the Lord doth command us to believe 1 Joh. 3. 23. Joh. 6. 29. Again in the Scriptures there are many solemn invitations to poor sensible sinners to come and take milk and wine and the water of life freely And many precious promises to those that do come with many examples left upon record how well those have sped that did come all these are grounds and encouragements to believe The Springs of Faith how God doth beget it in an unbeliever THere is no natural power in man to produce a cause within its self this great grace of Faith is no fruit of the wisdom of the flesh nor is it the birth of a corrupt will The immediate and sole cause of Faith is the Spirit of God He it is who is greater then the heart who can perswade and draw the heart and change and renew the Spirit There be means appointed by God which he doth ordnarily bless for the production of faith as he hath ordained means for the revelation of Christ so he hath sanctified means to lead the soul unto him to implant Faith 1. God lets the soul see that it is the command of God that he should believe and that faith is the gift of God without which we can do nothing acceptably it is through grace that men believe yet men are to use the means now the great and ordinary means by which God works faith in the hearts of men it is the preaching of the word See Act. 13. 48. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to life believed Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation 2. The preaching of the word doth discover to the soul its extream misery and great need of Christ and makes him say men and brethren what shall I do to be saved 3. It is that which casteth down all the reasonings arguments and disputes of the mind against the conditions of Christ and renders all the terms of Christ upon which he will be taken as most equal fair and resonable 4. It is that which clears the way for the soul against all its fears and unbelieving doubts it layes before the sinner the freeness of Gods mercy the fulness of Christs Redemption the willingness on Christs part to accept of him 5. It is that sets the soul in a patient expectation to lie at the Pool for ever to attend the assemblies of the Saints and to enquire in his Temple till the soul can take a close with Christ by true believing 6 Means to get faith take one promise and charge that upon the heart and if the heart be stubborn and will not yeild then take another if that will not do then take another and lay that home upon the heart and never leave this work till you have gotten some smal measure of Faith 7. Make as much conscience of those commands that require you to believe as you do of those commands that do require you to hear read and meditate and pray Lastly consider for thy encouragement that blessed text Psalm 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in those that hope in his Mercy See Psalm 33. 18. The Impediments Lets and Hinderances of Faith AS the Eunuch said to Philip here is water what hinders me that I may not be baptized so may I say to my self and others here in the Gospel is Christ set out to the life here are arguments fair enough to draw on our souls to Christ what hinders that we do not believe and receive Christ The first impediment to the getting of Faith is gross ignorance whatsoever is contrary to knowledge the same is contrary to Faith the soul must have light for all its motions for the eye to see and the understanding to perceive and for the heart to embrace those ignorances that is a hindrance to faith fals in these three parts 1. They are ignorant of their own sinful condition 2. They are ignorant of Gods just disposition towards them 3. They are ignorant of Christ and all his excellencies what he is God or man or both they know not him in both his natures neither in his Offices Actions Passion Benefits Vertues they understand not how God hath manifested love in Christ to what end he was made man what is in him more then in any other Alas they think not of these things Now how is it possible for the soul to believe or to be perswaded to believe in Christ or to labour for this precious faith which is a stranger to it self to God to Christ 2. A second impediment of Faith is a vain confidence of natural righteousness this was it which kept off many of the Pharisees the text saith that they trusted to their own righteousness they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own rigteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3 6. 3. A third impediment of faith is the honour of the world how can you believe saith Christ which receive honour one from another John 5. 44. again Mat. 19. 22. He went away sorrowful without faith for he had great earthly possessions John 7. 48. Have any of the Pharisees believed on him Motives to believe or divers Arguments from Jesus Christ himself to perswade us to believe 1. OUR Lord Christ doth lay his command upon us John 14. 1. ye believe in God believe also in me John 6. 29. this is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent 1 John 3. 23. this is his Commandment that we believe on the name of the Son of God even Jesus Christ 2. The second motive is or may be thus consider that Christ plainly saith that he that will not believe shall be damned John 3. 18 36. Excellency prevails much with an ingenious nature and necessity with the worst
heart Isaiah 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips saith that humble soul so humble Job cries out of the iniquity of his youth Job 13. 26 c. so humble David sighs it out Psalm 51. 3. My sin is ever before me so those many converts Titus 3. 3. For we our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another but after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared 2. Though they are to be called to mind it must not be with stupidity of heart but with a broken and bleeding and a contrite heart in the day of our prosperity we are not to forget our former poverty but to consider that we are not worthy of that calling of that Gospel and of that grace tendred to us in the word 3. It must not be done with despondency of mind neither the truth lyeth between two extreams we must not call them so to mind as to discourage us and make us unwilling to come to Christ c. 1. The first Reason why that people in a converted state should often call to mind the sin and misery they were in before conversion because by so doing we shall be provoked to magnifie and admire the riches of Gods grace none in the world do more admire Gods grace and mercy then those that are most sensible of their own sin and misery See 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2. Reason because this will kindle a great deal of pitty and compassion in our souls towards those that remain yet unconverted Titus 3. 2 3. I Paul and thou Titus were sinful as well as they and did serve divers lusts as well as they let us pitty them and help them out of this state of sin and death Reason 3. Because this will make us more watchful and careful Eph. 5. 8. You were sometimes darkness saith he but now are you light in the Lord walk therefore as children of the light 2 Sam. 7. 18. Who am 10 Lord God said King David and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And Saint Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. remembers himself and leaves it written for others to read that he had been a blasphemer a persecutor and injurious a low meditation for an high Apostle yet profitable to himself and others Whether the Dominion of sin may not be taken away where yet the life of sin remains SIN may live where it doth not reign and dwell where it is not welcom it is true the Scripture doth say they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts but here the Scripture doth not speak of a total subduing of sin as if every lust and corruption should be quite subdued but only this far to give a deadly blow to sin that sin shall not reign nor bear sway in thy soul as it hath done formerly the dominion of sin is taken away but the life and being of it is continued for a little time As Hagar would dwell with Sarah till she beat her out of doors so will sin dwell with grace till death beat it out of doors there shall be some remainders of sin still in the best of Gods servants but sin shall not reign in their mortal bodies sin may live in a Saint and yet the Saint not live in sin Let us now examine in what cases and with what limitations strength of corruption may consist with strength of grace the resolving of this question is of very much use 1. Though sin be strong yet grace may be strong too in thy soul though thy sin be great if thy sorrow be great too it evidenceth thy grace is so also 1 Chro. 23. 12. 2. If you find a strong opposition against your corruptions though you cannot fully subdue sin yet do you strongly oppose it then there is strength of grace in the soul though there be strong corruptions in the body 3. There is strength of grace where there is strong cries to God against thy sins this argues grace and the strength of grace Deut. 22. 25 26 27. 4. There is strength of grace in that man or woman that is resolved in the strength of Christ to conquer his strong sins or die conquering of them our Lord Christ when two things were set before him either to sin or die he chose death rather then sin and by degrees he works his Spouse to the same mind 5. That strength of grace may be consistent with strength of corruptions I might instance in many precious Saints I will mention one for all the rest and that is in Peter who had not only truth and reality but eminency and strength of grace For though temptations and corruptions did sometimes prevail yet he had strong affections towards Christ he did out-strip many of the Disciples 1. He was the man that of all the Disciples wept most bitterly for his sins Mat. 26. 75. 2. Peter was the first that ran to the Sepulchre to see what was become of Jesus John 20. 5. 3. He was the man who hearing that Christ was risen leapt into the Sea for joy John 21. 7. 4. He was the first man that made the first Sermon and first preached the Gospel after the Ascension of Christ Acts 1. 15. 5. He had that love to Christ as strong as death for he suffered death afterwards for Christ but now although in the cases before mentioned strength of grace may be consistent with strength of corruption yet there are other cases wherein they are altogether inconsistent though there may be strong grace and strong corruption in the soul yet the reign of any one corruption in the soul yet the reign of any one corruption is utterly inconsistent with grace and the strength of it See Rom. 6. 12. 7. 23. And when I say there is a consistency between grace and corruption I would be understood of spiritual and inward corruption viz. of hardness of heart Spiritual pride deadness in duties c. For into gross external open acts of sin strong Christians do seldom fall How far a true Christian may be tainted with errour in Judgement and yet at last be restored Sometimes even Gods own children are even overcome with erroneous opinions One whom the Lord had received into favour might erroneously hold himself bound in conscience to the Legal difference of daies and meats under the Gospel Rom. 14. 1. to the 7. The Apostles themselves erroneously deemed Christ should be a worldly King Mark 10. 37. to 41. And this errour was not cured in them though they were eye witnesses of his passion and resurrection Acts 1. 6. And the Church of Galatia erred grosly in the point of Justification mingling Moses with Christ the works of the Law with Faith in Justification Gal. 3. 4 5 c. by which it doth appear that regenerate persons may for a time be insnared in some errours that are gross and dangerous and
no pleasure in him Again Luke 9. 62. And Jesus said unto him no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God Surely those that fall off from a true Church of Christ and persevere therein to the end shall hear Christ say to them as in Luke 19. 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me How dreadful is this sin of falling off First it is sharply threatned of God Proverbs 14. 14. Heb. 10. 38 39. Secondly this sin is severely plagued Matthew 12. 43 44 45. compared with 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. Again See 1 John 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us These were once in the Church but never truly of the Church for then they would have persevered their apostacy therefore doth evidence their hypocrisie false rotten professors will and in all ages hath thus apostatized The wind blows not away the wheat but the chaff c. And so much of the first Ordinance of assembling our selves together Of the Ordinance of preaching who they are that ought to preach the manner how the time when the place where the persons to whom how this gift of preaching may be obtained and whether the Minister may receive mony for preaching how to remember and a rule to try all doctrines by 1. Of the Ordinance of preaching THat preaching and prophesying is a standing Ordinance of God will at large appear if we consider these and the like Scriptures 2 Tim. 4. 2. Preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine Mat. 28. 19 20. compared with Mark 16. 15. And he said unto them go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved The business of preaching is to make new creatures and to turn Lions into Lambs the Preacher is but an instrument in the hand of God to make an unbeliever to believe he is Gods workmanship Ephes 2. 10. An ax makes no Artificial thing but by influence from the Artificer neither doth a pen write but by his help that handles it So Preachers and preaching is but instrumental in the hand of the Spirit to make you Christs 2 Cor. 3. 2. They may be only called Ministers by whom the people believe God was mighty by Peter and Paul Gal. 2. 8. Ministers are but the Rams horns but God throws down the wals of Jericho Mens hearts are as the everlasting doors but God opens them as he did Lydia's or else all the preaching will be in vain Who they are that ought to preach the Gospel THose to whom the Lord hath given the Word Psalm 68. 11. The Lord gave the Word and great was the company of those that published it But principally those are to preach open and apply the Scriptures that are set apart by the Church or Churches to that work of the Pastor and Teacher who by the Word of life are to feed the Flock over which they are the over-seers Acts 20. 28. Titus 1. 5. But in the exercise of prophesie such as are not in office in the Church may exercise their gifts to speak unto edification exhortation and comfort after the publick ministry by the Teachers and under their direction and moderation whose duty it is if any thing be obscure to open it if doubtful to clear it if unfound to refute it if imperfect â—o supply what is wanting See 1 Cor. 14. 3 29 30 31. If any say farther how is that exercise proved in the Scripture I answer 1. By the example in the Jewish Church where men though in no office either in Temple or Synagogue had liberty publickly to exercise their gifts as doth clearly appear by the Scriptures Luke 2. 42 46 47. Luke 4. 16 17 18. Acts 8. 4. 11. 19 20 21. chap. 13. 14 15 16. chap. 18. 24 25 26. 2. It will yet farther appear by this commandment of Christ and his Apoâ—â—les Luke 9. 10. Luke 10. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 14. 1 5 30 31. 3. It will further appear by the prohibiting of women to teach in the Church hereby liberty being given unto men their husbands or others 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. 4. This will yet more fully appear by those most excellent ends which by these means are to be obtained as 1. The glory of God in the manifestation of his manifold graces See 1 Pet 4. 10 11. 2. That the gifts of the Spirit in men be not quenched 1 Thes 5. 19 20. Quench not the spirit despise not prophesying that is stop not the motions of the spirit in your selves nor restrain the gifts thereof in others 3. For the fitting and tryal of men for the Ministry 4. For the preserving pure the Doctrine of the Gospel which is more indangered if some one or two alone may only be heard and speak Act. 2. 42. 5. For the debating and satisfying of doubts if any do arise Act. 13. 15. 6. For the edifying of the Church and conversion of others always provided 1. That he speak not as one that hath any authority over them but as a fellow member 2. That he have the gift of prophesie to speak as an Oracle of God to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. 3. That he speak not in opposition to nor in any way undervaluing of those that are set apart by the Church as Officers over them for they are called to the greatest and weightiest employment in the world Yea such an employment that would certainly break the backs not only of the best and strongest men but even of the very Angels should not God put under his everlasting arms No labour to that of the mind no travel to that of the soul those that are faithful in the Lords vineyard no doubt find it so and so with Paul often say who is sufficient for these things I have read of Luther that he would often say that if he were again to chuse his calling he would dig or do any thing rather then take upon him the office of a Minister Of the manner how the Preacher is to preach 2 Cor. FOR we are not as many which corrupt 2. 17. the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 1 Cor. 2. 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power Their work is to make dark things plain not plain things dark and obscure It is most observable concerning God the Father who is the great Master-piece of speech when he spake from heaven he makes use of three
Apostles but the Gospel is to be preached chiefly and mainly but the Law accidentally and occasionally as will more fully appear in the following discourse Which is first to be preached the Law or the Gospel THis is the Commission and message of Christ Mark 16. 15. Go and preach the Gospel And it was the practice both of Christ and his Apostles to preach the Gospel in the first place First we find it to be the practice of Christ as for example our Saviour Mat. 5. 3. to the 12. he pronounced nine blessings of the Gospel in his Sermon on the mount before he spake one word of the Law So Mat. 4. 23. We read that Jesus went about aâ—l Galilee teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom c. So likewise it was the practice of the Apostles viz. we read of Paul 1 Cor. 2 2. That he determined to know or make known nothing amongst the Corinthians save Jesus Christ and him crucified Hence Ministers are called the Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3. 6. And in another place they are called the Ministers of Christ and of righteousness because they did preach the Gospel in the first place So again Paul when he came to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15. 3. He delivered unto them first of all that which he also received how that Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures which was plain and pure Gospel So again Paul and Sylus upon the first question propounded unto them by the keeper of the prison Acts 16. 31. They exhort and teach him to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and good reason because believing was to be taught before doing Heb. 11. 6. Tit. 3. 8. without faith it is impossible to please God and those that had believed in Christ should be carefull to maintain good works So again Peter in Act. 2. before he spake of the Jews crucifying of Christ he did preach the free and blessed Gospel to them Object 1. But I have heard some of our brethren of the Presbyterian Congregations object against this truth and say how can men come to see the want and need of Christ if the Law be not first preached Answ It is supposed that all men do look upon themselves as sinners and acknowledge themselves to be sinners although they have not such a particular and sensible conviction theâ—eof and so the work of the Minister is not so much to shew men the need of Christ first but rather the love of God in giving Christ John 3. 16. and to shew and set forth the riches of Christs grace to sinners in general Romans 5. 8. Object 2. But is it not the first work of the Spirit to convince men of sin John 16. 8. Answ By sin in that place is meant the sin of unbelief Of sin saith he because they believe not on me ver 9. and this sin is not convicted by the Law For that which doth not command Faith cannot discover the sin of unbelief or else consider the Gospel was preached to these people before and they would not believe nor embrace that Gospel but continue under the Law and so the Law is to be preached to them Object 3. If the Law be not to be preached first when and to whom is the Law to be preached Answ 1. The Law is to be preached after the Gospel unto such as do not imbrace the Gospel and yet justifie themselves as the Jews did and that think by their misunderstanding the Law that they keep the Law thus Christ did preach the Law Mat. 5. from 21. to the end 2. The Law is to be preached to those that would make it void and null and of no effect 3. The Law is to be preached and taught unto men after they do believe so far as it doth teach Believers their duty towards God and Christ and their neighbour but the duties and commands of the Law are not â—o be urged to Christians upon any other ground thâ—n upon that ground which Christ himself did urge them John 14. 15. If ye love me keep my commandment Titus 3. 8. These things I will that thou affirm constantly that they that have believed in Christ be careful to maintain good works Much more might be said to prove this point How the Gift of preaching may be obtained SUrely it is the Lords work to furnish and enable a soul to this great work 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. not that we are sufficient of our selves but our sufficiency is of God who hath made us able ministers of the New Testament So again Eph. 1. 1. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God Gal. 1. 11 12. But I certifie you Brethren that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Now the Lord doth hand forth this gift to his servants many times in use of means First prayer Secondly reading the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work Thirdly meditation 1 Tim. 4. 15. Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all The fourth and last means to be used to attain this gift is studying 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed but be sure that thou dost study more Scripture mysteries then humane Histories 1. In each text consider the coherence occasion circumstance and order of the words 2. Consider the denomination of the text as whether it be a Precept Exhortation Threatning Promise Petition Deprecation Similitude Parable c. and that to be insisted upon only which is most agreeable to the principal immediate scope of the holy Ghost in that text then you are to consider of the method that so you may teach clearly convict strongly and perswade powerfully and that you may so do consider the chief parts of a Sermon are these three 1. Explication 2. Confirmation 3. Application Each of these may be further branched and subdivided Then come to the dividing of the Text and there be not too curious for it must not be divided needless or obscure From the division of the words come to the Doctrines which must be deduced from it clearing their inferences shewing their latitude according to their several branches and degrees then come to the confirmation by positive proofs from Scripture the text being divided and the doctrines raised then you come to the reasons which should be such as may tend to convince the judgement the particular heads from whence the reasons are deduceable are these 1. The Necessity 2. The Equity Which are capable of many subordinate branches Then come to application which is either 1. Doctrinal for our
God and Angels the solemn dignity of these sacred Mysteries the weighty business of saving souls and who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. 2. Against too much fear consider it doth become the business you are about for you should speak the word with boldness Acts 4. 29. God hath promised his assistance that his strength shall appear in your weakness Again consider tim erousness in the speaker will much hinder the efficacy and power of the word on the hearers so that the most proper manner of Elocution is with Modesty and Gravity I have dwelt longer upon this point then I intended I proceed to the next Whether the Minister may receive money or wages for preaching yea or no. AS the ministry of the Gospel is an ordinance of God So hath the same God ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. Again we read Gal. 6. 6. that it is the duty of the people so to do Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Luke 10. 7. for the labourer is worthy of his hire 2 Cor. 11. 8. I robbed other Churches taking wages of them to do you service 1 Cor. 9. 9. For it is written in the Law of Moses thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the Corn doth God take care for oxen ver 10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written ver 11. if we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things I shall answer some objections and present a few cautions and so close up this point Object But we read of the Apostles or at least some of them that they did preach the Gospel of Christ freely as appears 1 Thes 2. 9. 2. Cor. 11. 7. Answ Let the reader consider these two things in answer to this objection 1. That the Apostle doth reckon it an abusing of his power 2 Cor. 11. 7. 2. He put his labouring with his own hands among his afflictions 1 Cor. 4. 12. 3. He did not want a power to command them to maintain him 2 Thes 3. 8 9 For there was a commission from the Lord as well to live of the Gospel as to preach the Gospel which no man can deny unless he deny the Scripture to be his Rule or else remain ignorant in that rule But withall take these cautions a Gospel maintenance by the Lord appointed is for none but a Gospel Ministry plants of his own planting the other plants are to be pluckt up then also this maintenance must be collected in a Gospel way not by Tythes and commencing suits at Law and taking away their goods by violence c. There are some of our national ministers that have need to be better taught before they be better fed if any make hire or wages the end of their work they are hirelings not Gospel ministers Of Attentive Hearing VVE have heard what is the duty of the preachers now let us see what is the duty of the hearers the same God that Commands his Ministers to speak as an oracle of God unto edifitation exhortation and comfort commands us that are hearers to hearken to his voice in them and to attend upon the same without distraction whiles the Minister is speaking let us be searching the Scriptures to see if those things be so yea or no. 1. We are to endeavour to understand what we hear 2. To believe what we understand 3. To treasure up and keep in memory that we do believe 4. To practise what we keep in memory 5. To communicate to others what God hath taught us It is not enough that the word be rightly preached and dispensed unless it be rightly heard and received some there be that are all ear all for hearing no thing for practising others there be that are all tongue all for speaking others are all eye all for searching and enquiring others are all hand all for receiving nothing for communicating and no marvil then that we hear so many Sermons to so little purpose let us seriously consider these three Scriptrues Prov. 1. 24 28. Because I have called and ye refused ye shall ball upon me and I will not answer you Mich. 3. 4. As you have behaved your selves to me so will I to you you shall cry unto me but I will not hear you Zach. 7. 13. Therefore it is come to pass that as he cryed and they would not hear so they cried and I would not hear them saith the Lord of Hosts What shall I say more by attentive hearing our Judgements come to be informed and the corruptions of our hearts discovered James 1. 23 24. Nay that precious grace of Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10. 17. Acts 13. 48. Eâ—h 1. 13. 1. Then let us take heed how we do hear Luke 8. 18. 2. Take heed what we do hear Mark 4. 24. 3. Let us take heed whom we do hear Jer. 27. 9. Compared with John 10. 27. How to remember what is preached 1. BE well acquainted with the principles of religion and of the Scriptures by frequent Reading of them 2. Be much in conferring with experienced Christians about the ordinances of God and duties of Christians 3. Be well acquainted with the method of preaching and for that there is three Rules 1. Hear several men 2. Hear frequently 3. Read now and then some Sermon books 4. Eat sparingly and drink moderately and so fâ—ame thy mind to these ensuing things 1. Consider the text with its parts 2. The doctrines with its proofs 3. The reasons and grounds for demonstration and confirmation 4. The uses and applicacion these things being considered there are six thing to be practised 1. In hearing Sit or stand all the time without moving as little as you can 2. Keep your eye from staring about look intently either upon the Minister or some other thing 3. Keep your ear all the time very attentive to what is delivered as if thou wert to hear for thy life for so thou art 4. Call home thy wandring mind and keep it close to what you hear 5. Repeat the first principal heads to your self twice or thrice and the rest successively 6. Sermon being ended repeat to your self at large and beware of charging your memory with worldly businesses and daily exercise your memory to retain some things for custom is a second nature and use makes masterdome A Rule to try all Doctrines by THE Scripture is the standard by which we are to try all Doctrines by it is the touchstone or test therefore we should maintain no opinion stifly till we have tried it throughly 1. Whatsoever doctrine doth advance the will of God as well as the grace of God which doth teach us what we should do for him as well as what he hath done for us that Doctrine is true 2. That doctrine that doth advance
all the Attributes of God the justice of God as well as the mercy of God the holiness of God as well as the grace of God which doth teach us piety towards God and Charity towards men according to Scripture rule that doctrine is true 3. That doctrine that doth teach us to bottom upon Christ alone for Salvation and not upon our own works or qualifications that must needs be true 4. That doctrine that tendeth to the informing of the judgement and reforming the heart and conform the life to the whole will of God that doctrine is true and good 5. That doctrine that doth lead out by the footsteps of the Flock to teach us to have respect to all the ordinancesto seek for and to keep all the commands of God that doctrine is true 1 Chron. 28. 8. Of Prayer and Supplication another standing ordinance of the Gospel 1. OF the nature of it what it is 2. Whom we must pray to 3. For whom we are to pray 4. What extraordinary prayer is 5. The necessity of Prayer 6. The posture to be used in Prayer 7. The place where we are to pray 8. The time in which we are to pray 9. Motives to encourage us to pray 10. Means to be used to obtain the Gift of Prayer 11. Hinderances of Prayer 12. Several sorts of prayer never answered 13. How many wayes doth the Lord answer Prayers 1. Of the nature of it what Prayer is Prayer is a speaking to God face to face wherein we speak to him in Faith Humility Sincerity and Fervencie of Spirit it is Jacobs Ladder by which a soul climbs up to Heaven and it is Noahs dove that goeth forth and returns not till it brings an answer of peace Or prayer is a calling upon God alone in the name of Christ by the help of the Holy Ghost or it is the earnest request of an humble and sanctified Heart together with thanksgiving in behalf of our selves and others with assurance to be heard in what we pray for according to the will of God Phil. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 26. Psal 50. 15. Eph. 6. 18. 1 John 5. 14. James 1. 6. Or Prayer is a Familiar speech with God in the name of Christ 1 John 5. 14. Opening the desires of our hearts unto him and a pouring out of the heart before him for the things we need Psal 50. 15. Jer. 33. 3. Lam. 2. 19. Or prayer is a spiritual gift and grace of the holy Ghost teaching us both what to pray for and how to pray enabling us to pour out our souls unto the Lord with sighs that cannot be uttered Psal 62. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Psalm 145. 18. the Lord is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth Heart and tongue must go together word and work lip and life prayer and practice must eccho one to the other it is not the greatness of the voice nor the multitude of words nor the sweetness of the tone nor the studied notions nor the Eloquent expressions but truth in the inward parts that is prevalent with God now the properties of effectual prayer are these 1. That we pray understandingly 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with Understanding 2. That we pray earnestly and importunately James 5. 16. compared with Luke 11. 8. 3. That we pray constantly Luke 18. 1. Men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint See Luke 21. 36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes 4. We should pray in Faith without wavering James 16. 5. In truth without faining Psal 145. 18. Psal 17. 1. 6. We should pray in humility without swelling Luke 18. 13. 7. We should pray in zeal without cooling Jam. 5. 16. 8. We should pray with resolution to use all good means for the obtaining the things we pray for c. The Heart may pray without the tongue with fruit and feeling 1 Sam. 1. 10. But the tongue without the heart is nothing but vain babling Whom we are to pray unto SUrely we are to pray to God alone and to none other for he alone as the great Searcher of all hearts heareth the voice and knoweth the meaning of the Spirit of Prayer Psalm 25. 2. Rom. 8. 27. Jehosaphat oppressed by his enemies to whom goes he to complain to none but unto God 2 Chron. 20. 12. To whom went David to complain of the bitter words of Cush the Benjamite to none but unto God Psalm 7. 1. O Lord my God in thee do I put my trust save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me He alone is able to grant whatsoever we demand Eph. 3. 20. Wherefore seeing he alone hears all prayers heals all Sinners knows all Suiters Jer. 31. 18. 2 Chron. 7. 14. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Psal 44. 21. He alone hath love enough to pity all and power enough to relieve all our wants and necessities to him alone we are to pray and to none other Mat. 11. 28. Thus we must pray only to God in the only name and for the only sake of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ the alone Mediator between God and man 1 Tim. 2. 5. For whom we are to pray FIrst for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. even our enemies Mat. 5. 44. because they bare the common Image of God Jam. 3. 9. So that we are to pray for all sorts and degrees of men especially publike persons as rulers and such as are in Authority 1 Tim. 2. 2. and for Ministers that watch over our souls Ephes 6. 19. Col. 4. 3. So also we are to pray for our selves us and ours for all things that we want either for soul or body that doth concern our being or well being And if we be not answered at the present or in the same kind that we desire 2 Cor. 12. 9. yet sooner or latter we are sure to receive even above that we are able either to ask or think if we continue with constancy patience and importunity to seek unto him according to his will Luke 11. 5. and 18. 1. 1 John 5. 14. And that we ought to pray for others will yet further appear by this viz. Abraham prayed for Abimelech Gen. 20. 17. Jacob for his sons Gen. 49. Paul for the people and they for him 1 Thes 1. 2. this kind of prayer is called intercession What extraordinary prayer is EXtraordinary prayer is that which is made upon some special occasion or extraordinary accident falling out felt or feared upon a whole Nation City Family or Person by reason whereof our prayers are both longer and ferventer then at other times Psalm 119. 62. Acts 12. 5. Joel 2. 15. Ionah 3. 6. See Ezra 9. Dan. 9. and Nehem. 9. In these times of Fasting or extraordinary praying or both we are most earnestly and fervently to call upon God either for the obtaining of some singular benefit or special favour that we stand in great need of or for the avoiding of some special punishment or notable judgement hanging
a controversie with the inhabitants of the Land because there is no knowledge of God in the Land 1 Cor. 15. Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Hos 4. 6. My people are destroyed for want of knowledge Prov. 1. 22. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge Ephes â— 17. Therefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is 2 Tim 3. 15 16. And that from a child thâ—u hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation ver 16. For all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness ver 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works How must we read the Scriptures 1. FIrst endeavour to see the excellency of the Scriptures set a high price upon them and then thou wilt take more delight in them Jer. 6. 10. The word of the Lord is to them a reproach they have no deâ—â—â—ht in them whereas David that did delight in the Lord he did meditate in them day and nihgt Psal 1. 2. 2. Let us endeavour to get the Scriptures written in our hearts as well as in our minds and to that end we should pray constantly and wait diligently for the Spirit of revelation to open the seals of that book 3. Observe these eight rules and read the Scriptures 1. Read them diligently and carefully 2. Read them frequently 3. Read them believingly with an expectation to gain something by reading 4. Compare Scripture with Scripture when you read them compare spiritual things with spiritual 5. Pray meditate and study to find out the spiritual meaning of those Scriptures that be dark and hard 6. Take heed of allowing thy self in any secret sin against or contrary to the Scriptures he that doth so may read long enough and understand nothing 7. Be much in the practice of what thou hast already learned he that is faithfull in a little shall have much more 8. Pray frequently and fervently to the Lord. 1. To help thee to understand what thou readest Mat. 24. 15. and Mat. 13. 5. 2. Believe what thou understandest 3. To apply what thou dost believe 4. To affect and hide in thy heart what thou dost apply 5. To keep and retain in memory what thou dost affect 6. To communicate as opportunity is offered what you keep surely he that thinks himself too good to read and to be ruled by the word will at last be found too bad to be owned by God c. Of Admonition private and publike PRivate admonition is betwixt brother and brother Levit. 19. 17. Mat. 18. 15 16. The other publike by the messengers of the Churches or Officers when the private will not prevail Mat. 18. 17. 1 Tim. 5. 20. The degrees of private admonition are two the former is most private done by one the other is private also but more publike then the first and it is done by two or three at the most whereof he that first admonisheth must be one Matthew 18. 15 16. Now publike admonition is that which is done by the whole Church or the Minister assisted by the Congregation 1 Tim. 5. 20. For if the second warning serve not our Saviour would have the offendor presented to the Church as to the highest court Mat. 18. 17. Who therefore hearing their admonition is to be received notwithstanding his former obstinacy I shall say no more to this in this place because I shall speak more fully to it when I come to speak of the Ordinance of excommunication Of Suspention SUspention is a certain separation of him that will not amend by admonition from some things that are holy in the Church as the use of the Lords Supper or from officiating in any office in the Church till he repent and when he doth he is not by and by to be admitted to all priviledges of the Church but to remain suspended for a time till the fruits of repentance may better appear for if some in the Law Num. 9. 6. for a certain pollution in a lawful duty for burying the dead were suspended from the Passover much more in the Gospel for such obstinacy it is agreeable to the Gospel to execute the sensure of suspention after two admonitions upon a known offence Of Excommunication THE Church of Christ is in Scripture resembled to a natural body wherein are many members united to each other and all to one head by one spirit growing up in unity now as in the natural body there may be many infirmities so also it is in this mystical body sometimes it may be Subject to distempers by the drinking in of untruths sometimes windy humorus of pride high-mindedness c. and so distemper it sometimes a Palsie humor of deadness and benummedness seise upon it sometimes feaverish fits of violent headiness may inflame it but God whose temples it is hath provided for it against such distempers whereof this of excommunication is is one Now if any ask what it is then I answer Answ It is the casting of a stubborn sinner out of the Church and a delivering him unto Satan who being thus disfranchized of all the liberties and deprived of all the benefits and common society of the Church is separated as it were from that protection it once had This ordinance is to be administred to such as are desperately wicked that have nothing profited by the former censures but still continuedin their former wickedness of obstinate and malicious resisting all means graciously used to reclaim them Now the end of this casting out is twofold either respecting the good of the person excommunicated or the rest of the Church 1 Cor. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 1 20. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus This must be done in wisdom tenderness courage and faithfulness to this end to gain our offending member a gain and to obey God in this command also praying to God for his blessing upon his own ordinance and that he would keep us from those sins that we deal with others for Of assurance of Salvation 1. THE nature of it 2. Whether it be attainable in this life 3. Of the several sorts and degrees of assurance 4. Of the trials of assurance how it may be known 5. To labour and endeavour for it is our duty 6. Of the benefits of it and arguments to perswade us to endeavour to gain it which are five 1. The want of it doth hinder thankfulness 2. Assurance will settle a soul upon Christ 3. Assurance doth sweeten all other blessings to us 4. Assurance doth put us upon our duty be it what it will 5. Assurance doth ease us of the world and mounts the Soul above it
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
of Christ upon earth and if so what it is p. 434. Of perseverance p. 193. Q Divers hard questions answered and seeming contradictions reconciled and many scruples of conscience removed p. 347. R OF repentance unto life p. 133. Of reading the Scriptures p. 277. How to read the Scriptures p. 281. Who they are that ought to read the Scriptures p. 279. Why we ought to read the Scriptures p. 280. Of the resurrection of the dead at Christs second coming p. 432. Of the first and second resurrection p. 431. The manner how the Godly shall be raised and how the wicked p. 433. Of reprobation p. 8. S OF sanctification or a holy conversation p. 88 to p. 101. 1 Of the nature of sin p. 135. 2. How sin creeps up and gets head in man p. 136. 3. Of the great danger of small sins p. 137. 4. Of the mischief brought upon man for one sin p. 139. What hurt sin doth a Saint p. 140. 5. The best way to mortifie sin p. 141. 6. in in the best Saints and most times in the best actions done by them p. 146. 7. Of the vast difference between the sinning of the regenerate and unregenerate p. 148. 8. How many wayes the Lord is said to forgive sin p. 150. 9. Whether sins before conversion ought to be called to mind after Conversion p. 151. 10. Whether the dominion of sin may be taken away when the life of sin remains p. 153. Of singing and praising God in Psalms Hymns and spitual Songs p. 247. Of Suspention p 283. Of the Lords Supper another standing ordinance of the Gospel p 263. 1. What it is ibid. 2. Wherein it doth differ from baâ—tism p. 264. 3. Of the preparation to the Lords Supper p. 265. 4. â—f the actions of the administrator p. 266. 5. The actions and duty of the receiver p. 268. 6. Who they are that may pertake of this Ordinance p. 269. 7. Of the ends ands uses of the Lords Supper p. 270. 8. The duty of all after receiving p. 271. Of the shoâ—tness of mans life and misery that doth attend every age thereof p. 383. 1. Of the Condition of man in his birth p. 385. 2. Of the state of child-hood p. 386. 3. Of the stâ—te of youth p. 387. 4. Of the state of manhood ibid. 5. Of the declining state of man p. 388. 6. Of the decrepit state or old age p. 389. Of the soul of man p. 〈…〉 The soul shall be far more perfect and excellent was in the state of innocency p. 454. The Saints after death shall be in the presence of Father Son and Holy-Ghost Angels and Saints p. 458. 1. In this state we shall know one another p. 459. 2. In this state we shall speak one to another ibid. 3. Of the duration of this blessed estate p. 460. When a man may be said to suffer for well doing and when for evil doing p. 329. T THE great and terrible day of â—he Lord is near proved p. 414. 1. By the testimony of the Prophets ibid. 2. By the testimony of the Apostles p. 415. 3. By the testimony of the Angels p. 416. 4. By the immutabilâ—ty of Gods dec ree ibid. 5. By the infallibility of his promises ibid. 6. By the impartiality of his justice p. 416 V OF Vocation p. 17. W OF the world flesh and devil p. 314. Of the riches of the world p. 315. He that men account the richest man in the world is many times the poorest man p. 316. FINIS Some Books printed and sold by Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles neer the West end of Pauls AN Epitome of all the Common and Statute Laws of England in Fol. The Faithful Counsellour or the Marrow of the Law in English in 4. to The Priviledges of the People vindicated in 4. to All three by William Sheppard Esquire The Retired mans Meditation or the Mysterie and Power of godliness By H. Vane Knight Vindiciae Justificationis Gratuitae Justification without Condition or the free Justification of a sinner Explained Confirmed and Vindicated By W. Eyre Minister of the Gospel at New-Sarum Mr. Baxter's Aphorisms of Justification Examined and Answered By J. Crandon in 4. to An Exposition of the whole Book of Canticles wherein the Text is Explained and useful observations raised thereupon by J. Robotham in 4. to Gospel Holiness or a saving sight of God and the glorious Priviledge of the Saints By Waltâ—r Craddock Preacher of the Gospel in 4. to A description of Jerusalem with a Map By H. Jesse in 4. to A Store-house of Provision for further Resolution in several Cases of Conscience viz. of living above Ordinances of walking in Fellowship with the unbaptized of Laying on of hands c. Also a small Catechism for babes and little ones all three by H. Jâ—sse The Right Constitution of a Common-wealth with some Errors of Government and Rules of Policy in 8. vo A Brief History containing most of those notable Occurrences and Revolutions that happened in those late contests between King and Parliament being a short mention of things from 1637 to 1648. by T. May Esquire Milk for Babes in Christ or Meditations Observations and Expeâ—iences with divers cases of Conscience resolved the glorious Priviledges of them that are Christs with the way to know whether we are of that are Christs with the way to know whether we are of that blessed number Also Election before the foundation of the World asserted and the faith of Gods elect what it is By Martin Finch Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln-shire in 8. An Anti-Diatribe or the Apologie of some Ministers and godly people asserting the Lawfulness of their administring the Lords Supper in a select company proving also the necessity of Examination in order to a more holy Church-fellowship being an answer to Mr. Humphreys's general Admission By H. Saunders Minister of Hollesworth in Devon The Bible in Welsh with several other Wâ—lsh Books Lazarus and his Sisters discourse of Paradise or a conference about the excellent things of the other world A Discoverer of some plots of Lucifer against the Children of men The Yearning of Christs Bowels towards his languishing friends By S. Moore Minisâ—er of the Gospel The Gate of Tongues unlocked and opened or a Seed-time of all Tongues and Sciences being a Short way of teaching and thoroughly learning the Latine English French c. Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus his Divine Pimander in 17 Books together with his second book called Asclepius containing 15 Chapters with a Commentary done into English By Dr. Everard Some Sermons preached on several occaâ—â—ons By P. Sterry Christian experiences from Scripture-evidences under these several heads viz. 1 â—omfort for Believers against their fears and dismayings 2. Comfort for Believers from their spiritual incomes 3. Mans fruitlesness without saving faith 4. Counsel unto Saints as sojourners and strangers 5. Mâ—ns folly in determining by present Events or State of things By R. Coler preacher of the Gospel in Wiltshire These written by T. Collier viz. The Right Constitution of a Visible Church of Christ with its order and Ordinances The Day Dauning relating to the calling of the Jews and Christs second coming The Confession of Faith of several Churches of Christ in the Weâ—t signed by several officers of the said Curches A Catechism for the instruction of youth A Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an enquiring Christian about the Authority of the Scriptures and the principles of the Quakers The personal appearing and Reign of Christs Kingdom on the Earth stated An Antidote against the Infections of the times or a faithful Watch-word from Mount-Sion to prevent the ruine of souls whereby some special considerations are presented to sinners Admonition to Saints and Invitation to backsliders Published for the good of all by the Elders and Messengers of several Churches in Wales A Warning Piece for the Slumbring Virgins or an Alarm to the friends of the Bridegroom being some awakning Meditations upon Christs own Watch-word Mat. 26. 41. By Ge. Scortreth Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln Recommended to the Reader by Joseph Caryl William Greâ—nhill Geo. Griffiths Books against the Quakers A Faithful Discovery of a treacherous Design of Mystical Antichrist displaying Christ's Banners but attempting to lay waste Scriptures Churches Christ faith hope c. and establish Paganism in England being an Examination of the Doctrines of the people called Quakers By Joseph Kellet John Pomroy Paul Glisson A Confutation of the Quakers being an Answer to nineteen Queries propounded by them and Answered by S. Eaton Minister of the Gospel in Cheshire A Testimony to the true Jesus and the faith of him wherein the way of the people called Quakers is examined and weighed being an Answer to James Nailor's Book called Love to the Lost by T. Higgenson A Looking-glass for the Quakers By T. Collier