thou hast and take up thy crosse daily and follow me else thou canst not be my Disciple Luke 14.26 27. Ph. This is a hard saying who can hear it and he went away sorrowful and followed him no more Joh. 6.60.66 Mat. 19.22 The third Conference between Christ and a doubting Christian Christ COme unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 Christian Oh Lord I am a poor heavy laden sinner that would come unto thee but cannot come Ch. It is true O soul no man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Joh. 6.44 Christian How then Lord shall I come unto thee Ch. I and my Father are one and we give power to the faint and to them that have no might we add strength Joh. 10.30 Esay 40 29. Christian Lord I am altogether without strength therefore draw me unto thee and I will come Ch. I will draw thee unto me with the cords oâ— a man with bands of love and with loving kindness Hos 11.4 Jer. 31.3 Joh. 12.32 Christian But Lord noâ— I look upon my selfe I see I am unworthy to come unto thee yea unworthy of the least of thy mercies Ch. So said my servant a John the Baptist and b Jacob and c others yet do not judge thy selse as the d Jewes did unworthy of eternal life a Mat. 3.11.6 b Gen. 32.10 c Luk. 7.7 Mat. 8.8 d Acts 13.46 Christian Iâ— such men as John Baptist and Jacob did judge themselves unworthy how many thousand times more unworthy am I a wretched and wicked sinner Ch. It is true neither they nor thou could be worthy of your selves but yet I am willing to account you worthy As the prodigals Father did his Son Luk. 15.21 22. Luk. 20.35 and 21.36 Rev. 3.4 Christi But Lord if therâ— were any thing that were good in me it might a little incourage me to come unto thee but I find nothing but evil in me Ch. Dost thou not knowâ— that without me thou canst e do nothing and that a man can f receive nothing except it be giveâ— him from heaven Why theâ— dost thou stay away from me who must g work all thy workes in thee And c Joh. 15.5 f Joh. 3.27 g Esa 26.12 2 12. 2. Because thou seest nothing but evil in thee thou shouldst thee rather come unto me who am the h Fountain wherein thy unclean soul must be washed and unless I i wash thee thou canst not be clean nor have any k part in me h Zac 13.1 i Eze. 36.25 and 1.9 k Joh. 13.8 Christian True Lord thou art the Fountain and welspring of life and it is thy blood and nothing else that can wash a way my sins but how can I come near to thee who am so wicked that for â—ught I know have counted thy blood an l unholy thing l Heb. 10.29 Ch. Thou poor dear and doubting soul what if thou hadst had a hand in crucifying me as the Jewes had yet cannot I forgive thee as I did many of them But thou hast not counted my blood an unholy thing for thou still desirest to have thy sins washed away by it Act. 2.36.41 Christian What the Jewes did they did ignorantly but I have sinned against knowledge which makes my sins worse then theirs Ch. If thou hast sinned against knowledge ye thou hast not sinned so but that thou maist be forgiven For my dear Disciple Peter sinned against knowledg when he denied with an oath that he knew me not Mat. 26.72 Christian Oh but yet my sins are worse then his for his sin was but one sin and that a suddain and short sin but I have sinned many sins and continued long in them Ch. So did my beloved servant David who was a man according to my own heart commit several sins together as Murther Whoredome c. and continued a while too in his sins Christian Oh but Lord those servants of thine though they sinned against thee yet they expressed a great deal of sence of their sins and sorrow for them but I can neither be sensible of nor sorrowful for mine Ch. Oh sweet soul thou mistakest and forgettest thy selfe for thou dost often confess thy sins before me with sence shame and sorrow And I hear the daily bemoaning and complaining and saying I have n sinned against the Lord woe is me for I am undone n Job 7 20. Psal 51.4 Lam. 5.16 Christian Oh good Lord it is not without a cause that I cry woe is me I am undone for I think there is no soul in such a dangerous and desperate condition as mine is in Ch. Why doest thou think and say so Christian Because I have sinned that unpardonable sin against thy spirit Ch. Oh thou poor and precious soul thou dost but think so and fear so But tell me how canst thou sin that sin against my Spirit and yet pray for more of my Spirit and so much prize my Spirit as thou dost Christian Oh Lord I have often grieved and quenched thy Spirit and is not this to commit that unpardonable sin Ch. My own dear and loving children may and do sometimes grieve my spirit by sining and quench the gracious motions of it and yet do not sin that unpardonable sin Eph. 4.30 1 Thes 5.19 Esay 63.10 Christian Oh but I can â—â—â—nk no less but that I have â—â—â—â—â—red that sin for I have had hard cruel and desperate thoughts in my heart against the Holy Spirit Ch. Though my child thoâ— hast had such thoughts in thy 〈◊〉 yet thou hast noâ—â—â—oken evil of my Spirit as the Jewes did which is the sin of blasphemy and that unpardonable sin Mat. 12.24 28 31. Mark 3.22 to 30. Christian Lord I am not sure but that I have spoken evil words of thy spirit for I know I have many times uttered vile bitter and cursed words Ch. Notwithstanding thou didest through the violence of thy temptations and in the bitterness of thy Soul speak such words as my servants Job David Jeremy Jonah and Peter did yet thou hast not done despightfully nor sinned maliciously and wilfully against my Spirit of grace as Reprobates doe Heb. 10.29 Job 3. to 13. and 10.18 and 23.15 16. Psa 31.22 and 116.11 Jer. 20.14 c. Jonah 4.3 4 9. Mat. 26 27 74. Christian Oh I have been and still am very wilful and have often sinned wilfully and thou sayest in thy word that if any sin wilfully after they receive the knowledge of the truth their remaineth no more sacrifice for sins Heb. 10.6 Ch. Thou dear soul have not I heard thee often in prayer complaining of and bewailing thy sins and beging earnestly for power against them therefore it is rather against thy will then wilfully that thou dost sin Christian Oh but I find sins in power in my soul which if I were a Saint they would not be so Ch. My servant Paul found sin so strong in him that he confessed he was carnal
The Publican Lord be merciful to me a sinner The Pharisee Lord I am not as other men The doubting Christian Lord help my vnbeleefe Divine Love OR The willingness of Jesus Christ To Save SINNERS Discovered in three Divine Dialogues Between 1. Christ and a Publican 2. Christ and a Pharisee 3. Christ and a Doubting Christian With several other brief Tracts By V. P. London Printed for N. Crouch at the George over against the Stocks-Market 1677. TO THE READER THIS Treatise though small in bulk yet may be of more use then the many great Volumes of controversy wherewith the Press and the World have so many years been tired The method is very plain and familiar by way of Dialgue though it is sometimes much abused yet may be managed to the profit and benefit of the Reader as I hope this is which is intended for the use of honest plain hearted Christians to shew them almost all in the words of Jesus Christ himself his exceeding willingness to save and help poor humble repenting and returning Sinners as also his rejecting and casting off of proud self conceited and self-righteous Pharisees and Hypocrites who having never been sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of Sin do therefore never understand the absolute necessity of a Saviour if any poor Soul receive the least spiritual advantage by it I have my end in this publication V.P. Divine Love Discovered in Three Dialogues 1. Between Christ and a Publican 2. Between Christ and a Pharisee 3. Between Christ and a doubting Christian The first between Christ and a Publican IN the great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cryed saying if any man thirst let him come to me Joh. 7.31 Then drew near all the Publicans and Sinners for to hear him Luke 15.1 And he said unto one of them Jesus Poore Publican what makes thee draw near to me Publican Because they say Lord that thou art a friend of Publicans Sinners Mat. 11.19 J. So I am and thou art Welcome my beloved friend sit down therefore with me and my Disciples Mat. 9.10 P. Good Master though I am unworthy to come into thy presence yet through thy leave I 'le sit here at thy feet to hear thy gracious words Mark 7.25 Luke 10.39 John 12.3 J. How knowest thou that my words are gracious P. Lord I have heard thee say that Publicans Harlots shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven before the Pharisees which think themselves far better than us Mat. 21.31 Luke 18.11 12. J. And what say the Pharisees to that P. They murmur among themselves and say This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them Luke 15.2 J. Didst thou ever hear ine Preach besides that time P. Yes once besides and it was the best and comfortablest Sermon that ever I heard J. Dost thou remember any of it P. Yes though I have a bad memory yet I remember thou didst say if a man had a hundred sheep and did loose one of them he would leave the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and go after that which was lost until he find it and when he had found it he sayeth it on his shoulders rejoycing and when he comes home he calleth together his friends and neighbours saying unto them rejoyce with me for I have found my sheep that was lost J. Is that all thou dost remember P. No I remember somewhat more that thou didst speak of a woman that had ten pieces of Silver and when she had lost one piece shee sought for it till she had found it and then called her neighbours together to rejoyce with her Also thou speakest of a man that had two Sons the one that lived still at home and was obedient to his Father the other that went away from his Father and spent his Fathers means among harlots till he came to Poverty and yet when he returned to his Father his Father did receive him willingly and made him great welcome and entertainment J. Well done my friend thou hast well remembred but dost thou know why I speak these comparisons P. No Sir I do not well know that J. It was to comfort and encourage the Publicans and great sinners that did here me and to silence the Jews that did murmur because they came to hear me and because I received them P. It is true Lord there were many of us there then but we did not know what thou didst mean by the lost sheep the lost piece and the wicked Son J. I did mean thy Country-men and Companions the Publicans Harlots and Sinuers that are in a lost condition because of your Sins and Wickedness in the Eyes of others as the Pharisees quite lost and adjudged to perish for ever P. But who was it Lord that did seek for the Lost sheep and the Lost piece of Silver J. It was I who am the Saviour of Sinners and the Shepherd of the sheep that am come to seek and to save that which is lost Luk. 19.10 Mat. 18.11 P. Lord I am one of those that are lost what shall I do to be saved Act. 16.31 J. I am the way and the door if any man enter in he shall be saved and whosoever believeth on me shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 14.6 10.9 3.15.16 P. Lord canst thou save such a Sinner as I am J. Yes I have power to save and Power to destroy but I came not to destroy * Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Souls of men mens lives but to Save them Jam. 4.12 Luk. 9.56 P. And art thou willing Lord that I should be saved J. Yes I am willing that all should be saved and come to the knowledg of the truth 1 Tim. 2.5 P. But Lord I am a wicked and a sinful man Luke 5.8 J. I know dear Soul thou art so But I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 P. But Lord I am not an ordinary but an extraordinary Sinner J. Notwithstanding poor man hearken for thy comfort there was a certain Creditor that had two Debtors the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty and when they had nothing to pay he freely forgave them both Luk. 7.41 42. P. But Lord I am a greater Sinner then either of them both for I have nothing but Sinned all my Life time J. What though I am come to deliver those that were all their life time subject to (a) Or the bondage of Sin Bondage Heb. 2.15 P. Lord be merciful to me being a Sinner for I think there is not a greater sinner upon earth then I am Luke 18.13 J. I am merciful and I will be merciful and will pardon thy Sins Jer. 3.12 Heb. 8.12 P. Lord I am such a Sinner I deserve no pardon for I have wearied thee with my Sins J. Though thou dost not deserve pardon and though thou hast wearied me with thy Sins yet I will pardon thy iniquities for my own names sake Esa 43.25 P. Lord
soul should redeem some special time for secret and private duties 85. It is the will of Christ that Christians should rejoyce more in what Christ hath done for them then in what they have done or can do for him 86. Christ kept the Law legally Christians kept it evangellically He kept it perfectly they kept it with full purpose and endeavour 87. Ask thy soul O Christian whether he be willing to receive Christ upon his own Terms and for his own sake and to accept of pardon and life through him freely without looking at all upon thy own righteousness Art thou contented that Christ should be honoured in and by thee and that thou shouldst be despised and dishonoured for his sake 88. God doth never out-speak or out-promise his Power Truth and Faithfulness 89. He is a strong Christian that seeks Gods Glory more then his own salvation but he is no Christian that seeks neither 90. It is a great ease to and an unburtherning of the to confess sin sensibly humbly brokenly and with hatred to it 91. Christ and sin are most magnified in the eyes of believers in their affliction but in a very different manner and to a different end For Christ appears as the greatest good and sin as the greatest evil and then Christ will be most desired and sin most despised 92. It is the duty of a Christian to suspect and search himself when he doth not know evil by himself 93. Account the least spiritual thing better then the greatest and best of outward and temporal things 94. Keeking from sin is Soul-preservative Physick but repentance for sin is Soul-Restorative Physick 95. Strive greatly to have and excercise a good conscience toward God and men to commit thy Soul Life and condition to the Lord and then expect the worst of men and the steb of Christ 96. Thou must die once whether thou suffer or no and thou canst but die once if thou suffer 97. The sins of Christians are new sufferings to Christ and the sufferings of Christians are wounds of Christ Eph. 1.30 Ezek. 6.9 98. Labour to act those Graces chiefly that are most contrary to your Master-sins 99. A Christian may know the weight of sin by the sufferings of Christ for if that strong Bar of Steel did bend under the weight of our sins what shall poor weak man do who is but a reed or rush 100. Sathan accuses God to men and men to God but Christ excuses and answers all his accusations against his people 101. He that will not take example from others shall make an example himself 102. O Lord as a sign that I shall be able to die for thee let me find my corruptions dying in me by power from thee 103. He that loves not Christ more then his life is like to lose Christ and his life but he that loves Christ more than his life will be sure to save and keep both Mark 10.49 Luke 14.26 104. Christians should account restraints from sin great mercys to them but Recoveries out of sin with spiritual advantage greater 105. Sin hath no Mother but a mans heart nor Father but Satan 106. Satan draws the Soul into it either by Power or Policy by Force or by Fraud 107. A Christian should desire to have his heart tyed to the Lord and to be strong in faith upon Christ in Love to Christ and in Resolution for him 108. The reason why men do not more magnifie Gods grace is because they do not behold their own vileness and the reason why men do not see their own vileness more is because they do not apprehend Gods goodness more clearly and fully 109. When a Christian comes to be as weary of his sins as of his afflictions God will certainly put an end to them 110. There will be a reviving of old sins if there be not effectual repentance for them and a care by faith through all duties and ordinances to get new strength against them and a constant watch kept over them 111. A Christian comes not to know the weakness of his grace till the spirit ceases to work in and by it nor the power of his corruption till Satan works therein by his Temptations 112. It should trouble a Christian much to have such Graces as he receives from God beget so little good in him 113. The Lord would soon turn from his wrath if men were turned from their wickedness 114. He commands most and best that commands in love humility and self-denyal 115. The world is a great nothing deluding the bad and disturbing and distracting the good 116. The Holy Law of God teaches a man to see his own deformity and requires from a man Conformity to it self 117. Sathan works more upon men by slight then by might avoid therefore his cunning and thou wilt avoid his cruelty 118. He hath not learned to rule well that hath not learned to obey well 119. An even through-paced self-fearing heart-melting Christian is always best 120. Rusling opinion-souring and Church-renting persons and professors have commonly more self then grace if any at all 121. The less a man strives for himself the more will Christ strive for him 122. Thoughts of our own death will much tend to deaden sin 123. Prayer is a good preparative to suffering when Christ had prayed he went out to meet Judas Joh. 18.4 124. Be never at peace with sin Satan or Christs implacable Enemies 125. In two cases 't is hard to act Faith 1. When there is nothing sensible or visible to second and support it 2. When there is very much of these outward things to fill and take the senses withal 126. As Christ was saved from death though he died Heb. 5.7 So are true Christians when they overcome death by their resurrection through Christ 127. Learn by lighter crosses to look and prepare for heavier 128. As our good works and â—â—rformances should have an operation upon our souls and hearts to strengthen faith so should our weaknesses and sins to work Repentance 129. No power can keep him in Bond whom truth and innocency acquits 130. If thou hast faln into sin through violent temptations seek speedily for Repentance for it recovery out of it and Reformation under it If God hath kept thee from falling still fear watch pray and live by faith in Christ 131. Prepare your self for death and pull out its sting 1. By bewailing sins past 2. Turning to God in time to come 3. Purposing a new life none can dy ill that hath had a care of living well perswade your self if you live well you shall die well and if you die well doubt not but you shall have Eternal Happiness 132. Wish not for a long life so much as for a good life he hath lived long who hath lived well a short life in grace endeth in an everlasting life of Glory 133. Distrust not Gods providence in any matter although you see the means wanting neither when you have them let them be reâ—â—ed
Christ though he kill me and I will endeavour to live to serve him though he should afterwards damn me Mat. 4.5 Rev. 12.10 Job 12.13 Exod. 20.13 Act. 16.28 Job 13.15 Christian Though I dâ— sometimes resolve against Satans temptations and labour to resist them yet I find my temptations are renewed and I am not able to withstand them for they come in as a flood upon me Ch. I that say unto the proud waves hitherto shalt thou come but no further I will by my spirit put the Enemy Satan to flight when he comes in like a flood against thee Job 38.11 See Esa 59.19 Marg. Christian But Lord I find am not only troubled with fear and sad temptations but also with strong and powerful corruptions Ch. I will subdue all thy iniquities and thy sins shall not have dominion over thee Mich. 7.19 Rom. 6.14 Christian Oh but this doth much trouble me that I do not find any love in my heart to thee Ch. What though thou dost not yet I will circumcise thy heart and thou shalt love me and when thou apprehendest my love to thee thou wilt love me again Deut. 30.6 1 Job 40.19 Christian I have sinned Lord against thy mercies and abased thy love yea loveâ— my sins more then thee therefore I cannot think that eveâ— thou wilt look upon me with any love or delight Ch. So did my servant David and my people Israel do yet as I loved them so will I love theâ— freely and betroth theâ— to me in loving kindnesâ— and mercy 2 Sam 12.8 9. Hos 2.5 and 14.4 and 2.9 Christian But Lord â— have not only sin'd against thy mercies but against thy corrections and chastisements also Ch. So did my people Israel formerly do for when I smote them they went on forwardly in the way of their evil hearts but I led them and restored comforts to them Esa 57.17.18 Christian I but my condition is worse then all that for I have been long under the means of grace and yet I am altogether fruitless and like the barren Fig-tree Ch. Thou troubled soul in me is thy fruit found and I will purge thee and thou shalt bring forth fruit abundantly for they that are planted in my house shall flourish and be fat and like a green Olive Tree Joh. 15.5 Psal 92.12 13 14. Christian I Lord its true if I were a branch in thee and a true member of thy house then I could believe these promises of thine alas I am neither of both but separated from thee and thy people C. Do not say that thou art none of mine for â— have bought thee with my blood and do not speak that thou art separated from my people for I will give thee in mine house and within my walls a place and a name of Sonâ— and Daughters Esa 56.3.5 Christian Sure if I were not an out-cast and a Reprobate I should not be thus as I am in a wilderness condition Ch. Israel was counted an out-cast and she cried out yet I was then a God to her and she a people to me Jer. 30.16.17.22 Christian Oh if I were but one of thine I should then count my self the happiest in all the world Ch. Fear not my Spouse for I am thy Husband and thy Father Christian If I were one of thy Children thou wouldst not hide thy selfe from me as thou dost Ch. I have hid my selfe and my face from some of my Prophers and people of old and yet it was in love to them and so it is to thee Psal 88.14 Esa 8.17 and 64.7 Christian But thou hast hid thy self from me and thou seemest also to be angry with me Esa 54.5 Jer. 31.9 Ch. Fury is not with me towards thee and though I be angry yet my anger is but for a moment Esa 27.4 and 54.8 Christian Yet Lord thou hast been angry with me a long time for thou hast forgotten me Ch. Zion did say so the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me yet I had not forgot her for she was graven upon the palmes of my hands Esa 49.14.15 Jer. 51.5 Christian But Lord if thou had'st not forgotten me thou would'st never have left me in such a wilderness and barren condition as I am in Ch. I have allured thee into the wilderness that I might speak comfortably unto thee Hos 2.14 Christian I have been many years in trouble and terrours and wanting peace in my soule which could not possibly have been if I had truly believed in thee Ch. But now will I speak peace unto thee and I will guide thee into the way of peace Psal 85.8 Luk. 1.79 Christian Lord wilt thou speak peace unto me and guide me into the way of peace i. e. The Preachers Lips that Preach't peace Ch. I will create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace and my spirit shall be in thee and his fruit shall be peace to thy soul Esa 57 19. and 55.12 Christian But Lord thy word saith there is no peace to the wicked Ch. No not to a man that will persist in his wicked way and doth not nor will not believe in me but thou art one of those that I bore the chastizement of thy peace and one of the children of peace Esa 53.5 and 54.13 Christian But Lord how can I have peace seeing a man cannot have peace before and without he does believe Ch. Thou shalt have faith and peace and I will give peace through believing 2 Thes 3.16.6 Christian But Lord theâ—â— I must know that I am one of thine Ch. Thou shalt know that I am the Lord thy God and that thou art one of my people Ezek. 34.30 Christian Oh how shall I know that Ch. My spirit shall bear witness with thy spirit that thou art my Child Rom. 8.16 Christian But how shall I know that it is thy spirit that beareth this witness and that it is not the spirit of delusion Ch. Thou maiest know that by its power in working in thy heart which no other spirit can work alike as also by the earnest and fruits thereof 2 Cor. 5.5 and 7.22 Gal. 5.22 23. Christian Lord what else shall I believe besides being one of thine Ch. Dost thou believe that Christian Yes Lord I do believe that thou art Jesus the Son of God and the Saviour of the world Act. 8.37 Joh. 6.69 and 11.27 Ch. But dost thou believe that I am thy Saviour Christian Lord I do believe that there is no other way to be saved but only by thee Act. 4.12 Ch. But dost thou believe that thou shalt be saved by me Christian Lord I do believe help my unbelief Mar. 9.24 Ch. To thee it is given to believe Phil. 1.29 Christian now Lord I doe believe Ch. What dost thou now believe Christian I believe that thou loved'st me and did'st give thy self for me and that thou art my Lord and my God and that I am justified and shall be saved by grace Gal. 2.20 Joh. 20.28 Act. 15.11 Ch. How
cam'st thou to believe this Christian Lord it is by thy gift and work that I do believe it Eph. 2.8 Heb. 12.2 Ch. Well now thou dost believe what wilt thou do Christian Lord what wilt thou have me to do Act. 9.6 Ch. If thou love me keep my words Joh. 14.23 Christian What are those words of thine Ch. Search the Scriptures for they are able to make thee perfect and wise unto salvation and to furnish thee for every good work Joh. 5.39 2 Tim. 3.16.17 Christian But Lord how shall I understand thy word C. I will make known my words unto thee Pro. 1.23 Christian But Lord is there no danger of my departing and falling away from thee now I do believe Ch. No the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my loving kindness shall not depart from thee Esa 54.10 Jer. 32.40 Christian Lord I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Phil. 1.19.69 Ch. I have redeemed thee that thou should'st serve me without fear in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy life Luk. 1.69 Christian Come ye Children and I will declare what my Lord have done for my soul My SOVL shall make her boasts of the LORD the humble shall hear this and be glad and magnifie the LORD with me and let us Exalt his Name together Psal 34.11.2 3. FINIS The Threefold State OF A CHRISTIAN DISCOVERED viz. By Nature By Grace And in Glory With the Character of a Christian A Miscellany of Divine Contemplations Obserservations and Directions to a holy Life and Conversation By V. P. Thy Threefold State here Thou may'st see What thou hast been art And shall be Printed for N. C. 1677. The Threefold State of a Christian Discover'd 1. BY Nature I was born of the flesh Joh. 3.6 By Grace I am born of the Spirit Joh. 3.6 In Glory I shall have all Spiritual priviledges Joh. 1.12 2. By Nature I was all flesh Joh. 3.6 Gen. 6.5 8.21 By Grace I am flesh and spirit Rom. 7.20.23.25 Gal. 5.17 In Glory I shall be all spiritual 1 Cor. 15.44.50 3. By Nature I walked after the flesh 2 Cor. 10.3 Rom. 8.4 By Grace I walk in the spirit Gal 5.16 Rom. 8.4 In Glory I shall be quickned by the spirit Rom. 8.11 4. By Nature I did mind wholy the things of the flesh Rom. 8.5 By Grace I do mind chiefly the things of the spirit Rom. 8.4 In Glory I shall mind only things spiritual 5. By Nature I was dead in sin Eph. 2.1 1 Tim. 5.6 By Grace I am quickened from sin Eph. 2.5 In Glory I shall be quite freed from sin 6. By Nature I did lie in Iniquity 1 Joh. 5.19 By Grace I do live in all piety Tit. 2.12 2 Tim. 3.12 In Glory I shall enjoy perfect purity Rev. 21.4 7. By Nature I was under the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 By Grace I am made free by the Law of the Spirit of life Rom. 8.2 In Glory I shall triumph over sin and death 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. 8. By Nature I did hate God and his Law Psal 15.21 and 18.15 and 2.3 Rom. 1.30 By Grace I do love God and his Law Psal 116.1 and 11.19.22 1 Joh. 4.59 In Glory I shall for ever delight in God and do his Law 9. By Nature I despised all Instruction Prov. 1.7 By Grace I desire all Information Pro. 11.25 Psa 86.11 In Glory I shall attain clear apprehension 2 Cor. 3.6 10. By Nature I communicated with the vilest sinners Psal 1.1 Mat. 24.49 By Grace I kept company with the best Christians Cant. 1.7 Act. 9.26 1 Joh. 1.3 In Glory I shall know all Saints and live with them Luke 13.28 Mat. 27. 53 and 15.28 1 Thes 3.15 11. By Nature I persecuted Godliness Act. 26.14 15. By Grace I profess it in power 1 Tim. 6.12 In Glory I shall have the price Phil 3.14 12. By Nature I was one of the world Joh. 15.18 19. By Grace I am chosen out of the world Joh. 15.19 In Glory I shall be separated from the world Mat. 13.49 and 25.3.33 13. By Nature I was in darkness 1 Pet. 2.9 Eph. 5.8 By Grace I walk in the Light Joh. 8.12 1 Thes 5.4 In Glory I shall dwell with the Light 1 Tim. 6.16 14. By Nature I was naked and bloody Jer. 6.15 Ezek. 16.7 By Grace I am array'd with the robe of Innocency Rev 29.8 In Glory I shall be cloathed with Immortallity 2 Cor. 5.3 15. By Nature I was a stranger Eph. 2.12 By Grace I am Gods freind Isa 41.8 Joh. 15.10 In Glory I shall be his favourite for ever Pro. 3.4 and 8.25 16. By Nature I was an Enemy Rom. 5.10 By Grace I am Reconciled Col. 1.21 In Glory I shall be saved Rom. 5.10 17. By Nature I was condemned Joh. 3.18 By Grace I am justified Act. 13.39 Rom. 3.24 In Glory I shall judg 1 Cor. 6.2 Mat. 19.28 18. By Nature I departed from God Jer. 17.5 By Grace I draw near tâ— God Heb. 7.19 In Glory I shall abide with God Joh. 8.34 19. By Nature I was Sathaâ— slave 1 Tim. 2.26 By Grace I am the Lorâ— Free-man 1 Cor. 7 2â— Gal. 4.31 1 Tet. 2 2â— In Glory I shall be a Citizâ—â— of Zion Eph. 2.19 20. By Nature I was free from righteousness Rom. 6.20 By Grace I am free through righteousness Rom. 3.25 2 Pet. 1.1 In Glory I shall raign in righteousness Rom. 5.21 21. By Nature I lived in fear Heb. 2.15 Gal. 4.15 Rom. 8.15 By Grace I live by faith Gal. 2.20 2 Cor. 5.7 In Glory I attain the end of my faith 2 Pet. 1.9 22. By Nature I was without hope Eph. 2.12 By Grace I rejoyce in hope Rom. 5.2 In Glory I shall need no hope 1 Cor. 13.13 23. By Nature I was without all the promises Eph. 2.13 By Grace I am under all the promises 2 Cor. 1.20 In Glory I shall partake of all things promised 24. By Nature I was the child of the Devil and of Hell 1 John 3.10 Mat. 23.15 By Grace I am a child of God and a stranger in the world Gal. 3.26.29 In Glory I shall be an heir of God and of heaven Rom. 8.17 Heb. 11.7 25. By Nature I was in constant danger Mat 5.22 By Grace I am in continual safety Psal 4.8 Joh. 10.28.29 In Glory I shall be in an Impregnable sanctuary Isa 45.17 26. By Nature I sought to go to Heaven by my own righteousness Rom. 10.3 By Grace I seek to go to Heaven without my own righteousness Phil. 3.9 In Glory I shall be in Heaven absolutely righteous Eph. 5.27 Jud. 8.14 27. By Nature I sought my self only Phil. 2.21 2 Tim. 3.5 By Grace I seek Gods glory chiefly Phil. 1.11 1 Cor. 10.31 In Glory I shall give it to him wholly Rev. 5.12 13. 28. By Nature I was lost Luk. 19.10 1 Pet. 2.25 By Grace I am found Luk. 15.24 In Glory I shall be at home 1 Cor. 2. 29. By Nature I knew
the fiery Chariot leaving these sorry Mantles and old Cloaks of our carcases behind us in ashes for a little time which God shall restore unto us again in a glorious manner To a faithful friend of his by Mr. John Bradford Martyr BE willing to carry the Cross of Christ least you carry the Cross of the world the flesh and the Devil One of these four Crosses you must carry three of them bring to hell and therefore the greatest part go that way which is the broad way only the forth bringeth to Heaven but few go that way as well because the way is straight as also because but few walk in it how beit though it be straight it is but short and the few are many if you consider the godly as the Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Confessors and Christ Jesus with all his guard and train Think not scorn to come after them who are gone before you I hourly look for Elias fiery Chariot to come and catch me up to Heaven my Cloak that is my Carcase I shall leave behind me in ashes which I doubt not my Lord will raise up and restore to me again at the last day glorified even like unto his most glorious Body That portion of the good spirit which my Father hath lent me I wish to be doubled yea trebled upon you all If we suffer in the cause of Christ our sufferings are but short and the time of ease to Gods Enemies is not long the time of our rejoycing shall be endless but the time of their torments shall be everlasting and intollerable Our breakfast is sharp but our supper will be sweet The afflictions of this life may not be compared in any part with the glory that shall be revealed To his godly Friends G. and N. By Mr. John Bradford Martyr CAst your care on the Lord for he careth for you and hath counted all the hairs on your head so that one shall not perish if you commit your selves to his ordering whereas else your heads and bodies yea and souls too shall perish if ye withdraw your selves as unwilling to take his Cup and to drink of it not that I would have you to thrust your selves headlong or rashly to pull them upon you or that I would not have you use such honest and lawful means as you may in the fear of God and with a good conscience to a void the Cross and give place to evil but that I would have you willingly to put forth your hand to take it when God offereth it in such a manner as with a good Conscience you cannot escape then take it kiss it and thank God for it It is a most sure sign that God loveth you as he saith Whom I love I chastise Rev. 3.19 And if ye are not partakers of correction surely ye are no children Heb. 12.8 But if once chastise you and ye kiss the rod verily he will cast the rod into the fire and will imbrace you and kiss you as a mother doth her child when she perceiveth it to take her correction in good part Consider not the things of this life my dearly beloved brethren which is a very prison to all Gods children but the things of Everlasting life which is our very home but to the believing of this you must open the eyes of your Faith as Moses did who set more by trouble with Gods people then by the riches of Egypt and Pharoahs Court. Your house home goods yea life and all that ever ye have God hath given you as love-tokens and to admonish you of his love and to win your love to him again now he will try your love whether you set more by him then by his tokens or no. If ye for his tokens sake that is for your house home goods yea life will go with the world least you should lose them then be assured your love as he cannot but espy it to be a Strumpets love so will he reject and cast it away with the world In another Letter to the same persons by Mr. John Bradford Martyr MY dearly beloved heavy is this anger fallen upon us all doleful is this day Now hath Antichrist gotten all his power again now is Christs Gospel trodden under foot now is Gods people a division and a prey for the wicked Now is the greatest of all plagues fallen upon us the want of Gods word and all these judgments we have yea I alone have justly deserved Oh that as I write with my hands I alone so I could wish David 2 Sam. 24 17. and with Jonas in heart say so But I do not I do not I see how grievously I have sinned and how great a misery is fallen upon us for my unthankfulness for Gods word for mine hypocrisy in professing preaching hearing and speaking of Gods word for my not praying to God for the continuance of it for my not loving it throughly as it required Oh good Father it is we that have sinned and therefore deserve the taking away of thy good word it is we that have done amiss we have dealt unjustly with thy Gospel we have procured thy wrath and therefore just art thou in punishing us just art thou in plaguing us for we are very miserable But good Lord and dear Father of Mercies whose justice is such that thou wilt not punish the poor souls of this Realm which yet have not thus sinned against thee as we have done for many yet never heard thy word for our trespasses and whose mercy is so great that thou will put our sins out of thy Remembrance for thy Christ sake if we believe and repent O Lord let us remember that all thy dearest children have carried the Cross of gracious affliction in this life in whose company thou dost place us and dost lay such a Cross upon us as thou wilt make us able to bear to thy glory and our Salvation in Christ for whose sake we pray thee to shorten the days of this our great misery fallen upon us most justly and in the mean season to give us Patience Repentance Faith and thy eternal Consolation Amen Amen Amen To Mr. J. H. and his wife Prisoners in New-Gate I have heard my good Brother and Sister how God hath brought you both into his School-house of correction he I say hath brought you where you are and though your reason and wit tell you it is by chance and fortune or otherwise yet my dear beloved know for certain that whatsoever was the means God your Father was the worker hereof and that for your good though it may be your old Adam and poor sences may tell you otherwise yet I say of a truth it is your duty to think that this Cross is of Gods sending and cometh from him and it is out of his love and Fatherly affection for your benefit and profit sake But here perhaps you will object what benefit what advantage can it be You are now kept in close prison your children
faith and stretch forth his hand of mercy over us for his dear Son Christ his sake take not away all thy true Preachers out of this Realm O Lord but leave us a seed least England be made as Sodom and Gomorrah when thy true Lots are removed and gone But why go I about to mingle your mirth with my mourning your just joy with my deserved sorrow if I loved you as I pretended I should surely rejoice with you most hartily and praise God from the very bottom of my heart I should praise God night and day for your excellent Election in and through his great mercy I should give him most humble thanks for your vocation by his Gospel and your true knowledg in the same I should earnestly praise him for your sweet justification whereof you are most certain by Gods grace and spirit I should earnestly pray to him for your Glorification which shall shortly ensue I should rejoice and be glad to see you dignified by the Crown of Martyrdome and to be appointed to that honour to testifie his truth and to seal it with your blood I should highly extol the Lord who hath given you a glorious victory over all your Enemies visible and invisible and hath given you grace and strength to finish your Course as you have begun Oh that the time were now come that I might put off this frail Tabernacle of the flesh in this heavenly security quietness of conscience in Jesus Christ Yours for ever in the Lord Jesus John Careless living in hope against hope Mr. John Careless to Mr. Philpot. MY dearly beloved brother God hath brought you into a straight place out of your pinching and painful seat in prison you have plentifully poured upon me your precious Oyntment the sweet Savour whereof hath greatly refreshed my faint and tired soul Ah good Jeremiah hath Pashur put thee in the Stocks why now thou hast the reward of a Prophet thy glory never began to appear until now Oh good Mr. Philpot which art a principle Pot indeed filled with most precious liquor as appeareth by thy plenteous pouring out of the same O Pot most happy ordained to honour by the high Potter thou dost contain heavenly treasure in thy earthen vessel Oh Pot thrice happy in whom Christ hath wrought a great miracle altering thy nature and turning water into Wine and that of the best out of whom the Master of the Feast hath filled my cup so full that I am even overcome in joy of the spirit through the same Be not offended dear heart at my Metaphorical speech for I am disposed to be merry and with David to dance before the Ark of the Lord and though you play on a painful pair of Organs the Stocks not very comly nor easie to the flesh yet the sweet sound that came from thence to me from you causeth me thus to speak Oh that I were with you in the body as I am present in spirit that I might sing all care away in Christ Jesus our blessed Saviour and Redeemer from all trouble for now the time of comfort is come Mr. Laurence Sanders In a Letter to the true Professors of the Gospel MY dear friends in the Lord the times are perilous and dangerous we must therefore be circumspect and not solace delight our selves in carnal security but with a joyful and contented mind we must now venture into the ship of Christs Cross and afflictions and now let us seriously weigh and consider all the perils dangers and hazards that we must expect to meet in our journey to our heavenly Countrey yet let us account it comfort enough in this dangerous Voyage that we have the company and fellowship of such an adventurer as our blessed Lord Jesus to go along with us when he was once in the ship with his Disciples with his word he did asswage the swelling of the dangerous Seas and he hath not left us alone in this ship either to sink or to swim but will be awaked if he be call'd upon by importunate prayer Holy Breathings OR A Divine Dialogue between Jesus and the Soul With other Poems Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Soul COme unto me what voice is this I here Iesus It is the sweet voice of thy Saviour dear He calleth labouring sinners to him flee He calleth laden sinners such as thee He calleth sinners bids them come away He calleth all Oh why then shouldst thou stay He calleth such as by sin are undone He calleth thee therefore unto him run Soul But how I should come to thee Blessed Lord Sin is the only thing by thee abhord And I am nothing else but sin and thou Wilt not of sin of the least sin allow Besides thou art in heaven and how shall I Reach unto thee thou art above the sky And I poor creature grovling on the earth The mold from which at first I came by birth Iesus Remember soul my blessed word that saith That coming to me is alone by Faith Soul Thou Lord that puttest faith into mans heart Bestow on me that gift to me impart Such other graces as may let me see My want of Christ that I may come to thee My sins thou know'st a heavy burden are A load that is too big for me to bear No slave that 's under Turkish Tyranny Is under such sad bondage as am I. But it is unto thee O Christ I come Believing in thee Oh make me a Room Within thy Arms take me into thy heart And since my Faith is weak strong Faith impart Iesus Poor Soul take comfort though thy Faith be small A grain of mustard seed's smallest of all Yet I of mustard seeds of Faith allow So that thy Soul unto my Scepter bow Nay of one grain a wonder let it be To thy poor soul that such love is in me That I accept of Faith even of the least That I receive so poor so vile a guest As wretched man who nothing hath to bring To make him acceptable but his sin Soul O blessed Jesus mount me on the wing Of Holy Faith let me not feel the sting Of conscience but let me answer all That I believed and went at Christ his call My Saviour call'd and I unto him went He gave me Faith and helpt me to repent I come with sorrow that I sinned have I come with Faith that thou my soul wilt save It is but weak O Lord I must confess It is a feeble hand yet ne're the less It is the hand of Faith and it is true It lays holds on thee claiming but its due And that is Rest which thou hast promised me And my poor soul is restless till with thee Rest is that good all creatures do desire Rest is that good to which all Saints aspire If th' bodies resting after labour be So sweet so pleasant as we know and see Then what is it to have the soul to rest In
the enjoyment of a God still blest From thee is all the rest for which I look For it is written in thy sacred book That those that cast and roul themselves on thee Thou wilt receive O Lord receive thou me For still this Prayer I will pray though brief Lord I believe Lord help my unbelief Thou art now mine by faith I thine by love From this perswasion let me never move Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes Psal 119.5 1. O That I could stand firm at last And not be reeling too and fro O that I could my God hold fast And never never let him go 2. How often do I go astray And leave my rest my wonted bliss Like a lost sheep in the High-way Which dangerous and barren is 3. I have no pleasure in my sin And yet I Act it o're and o're I 'm still the same that I have been Though fain I would be so no more 4. I long to keep the Law of God But still I break it to my pain My stomach serves to take that food But straight I cast it up again 5. My God! O take me unto thee With fire hot zeal melt thou my heart That now I may new-moulded be And made sound in my better part 6. Lord lead me by thy grace that I May never wander from thee more Thou art my life I cannot die Thou art my all I can't be poor I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind c. Rom. 7.23 WRetch that I am my wishes are my pain Two Laws so different rend my heart in twain My heart divided bleeds in either part Offending either Law I 'm sure to smart Inslav'd to sin I 'm forc'd to bear this yoke I kiss the rod ev'n whilst I feel the stroak The ingrateful serpent in my brest I warm How I drink poyson and imbrace my harm My pleasure is my trouble and the heat Of fond desire what is' t but a cold sweat Alas I 'm taken with the baits of Sin Those corrupt joyes but feed the worm within I triumph when my heart me pris'ner takes My minde is griev'd thus at the spoil it makes O Jesus for me wounded see my wound Give me thy Bruises that I may be sound With thy blood wash my heart in blood imbru'd Give me that peace which may this War conclude Help thou my unbelief Mark 9.24 HElp Master of my faith I 'm forc't to wink At this bright truth in these great depths I sink O 't is beyond my reach I cannot tread Nor can I swim unless thou hold my head My reasons at a stand thus are thy ways Past finding out How dazling are thy rays O Sun of righteousness to humane sight Thou art so glorious I can't see for light My joys are chang'd to doubts and fears which roul Like stormy billows in my wavering soul Shine forth my Son amidst these showers of tears Let thy clear beams pierce through these cloud of fears Shew me thy hidden Mauna Angels food I long to tast and see that thou art good I 'm come to see the Lord though vile and poor O let me in I 'le die else at thy door Oh Lord restore me to thy Grace I hope thou dost but hide thy face O Jesus do but look on me Like Peter I 'le weep bitterly By thy bright face shew me my stain I 'le pour forth tears to wash it clean I hope the day will come again anon The Sun of Righteousness is set not gone Having the Loyns of your mind girded THere is a God! my soul how durst thou stray Thou 'lt meet his vengeance if thou go this way Return Return Lo this path seems too broad Here many go the way to heaven's no road My soul put on thy Garments gird them fast 'T will make thee comely thus to go straight-lac't And now I am resolv'd in spight of Hell And my false Heart I'ie still strive to do well In all my warfare I 'le hold fast my shield Then Satan do thy worst I 'le win the field A Farewel to the World 1. FAls-hearted world farewel farewel I find thee too unkind I took thee for a friend did love to play with thee all day But thou didst cheat me still I to my shame lost every game Thy stakes were pleasures and deceitful toies Mine were true coyn full weight large solid joys 2. Now thou hast got all that I had I see Thou slightest me Thou used'st to imbrace me kindly and give me thy hand With many promises of love but lo Thou art my foe Though all my serious thoughts and company Fool that I was I left to follow thee 3. But I 'le return to them again I 'le rome no more from home The mind that stays within shall ne're complain of Wind or Rain Of care or greif for storms shake only breasts that seek their rests Without doors where is nought but toile as though To be kept warm they 'd lie in beds of snow 4. Great God I leave the world and come to thee open to me I call O let me find thy throne of grace I seek thy face I 'le die to sin put off myself and then be born agen Christs blood shall be my life the word that can Call up the Dead is breath to the new Man FINIS Books Printed for Nath. Crouch THe Soundhearted Christian or a discourse of sincerity with several other Sermons by W. Greenhil late Minister of Stepney Price as The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers in several Sermons by W. Bridg late Minister at Yormouth price 1 s. 6 d. The evil Tongue tryed and found guilty or a discourse against backbiting and defaiming by S. Ford Minister of the Gospel in London price 1 s. 6 d. Eternal Glorification begun in Regeneration by S. Ford price 1s 6 A body of Divinity or the substance of Christianity both as to faith and practice by T. 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