seeing the Lord giues the blessing but rather giue the glorie vnto God and for his sake honouring the instrument Comforting our selues that hell shall not preuaile seeing God is the stronger Math 16. Luke 11. 22. 23. And no lesse then Heauen is the reward seeing God is Recompencer Thus is God the Authour of our conuersion But by what meanes doth he occomplish the same Doth he vse miracles to amaze or tortures to compell Doth hee vse Euthasiasmes to inspire or Dreames to reueale a worke vnto vs Surely no The holie Ghost saith God perswade Iapheth That is God incline the heart allure the minde of the Gentiles by convincing their conscieÌ„ces with the power of the truth framing their will and affections to embrace the same subduing their whole man to the obedieÌ„ce thereof As if the spirit of God had plainely taught vs That The Conuersion of a sinner is a perswasion of the minde to beleeue and inclining of the will affections to embrace the Lord IESVS And this shall appeare vnto vs by these circumstances 1. First by the Subiect of Conuersion Man 2. By the Matter and meanes of Conuersion Namely the word of GOD applyed and made essectuall by the operation of the spirit of God 3. By the Manner and order of a true Conuersion 4. And lastly by the Substance and Markes of true Conuersion Concerning the Subiect of conuersion Man and woman these consist of two parts 1. Of a corruptible bodie 2. Of a reasonable and immortall soule Of which Two the Bodie serues onely as an instrument to conuey the meanes of conuersion to the soule and to execute outwardly the effects of true conuersion and therefore is not properly the subiect of conuersion As being a spirituall work effected by a spirituall meanes and therefore fastning and working on a spirituall substance And this is the soule of Man which being Spirituall and eternall is therefore capable of this worke of the spirite and meanes of happie eternitie Notwithstanding because the bodie shall bee partaker with the soule of the fruite of Conuersion Namely conformitie and subiection to the spirite and eternall glorie Therefore as it cannot be separated from the soule in the worke of conuersion So it must be ordered by such meanes as it is subiect vnto thereby to further our conuersion And so to be as an instrument in the worke of Sanctification So also a partaker of the benefite thereof Hence is it that howsoeuer the minde cannot neyther ought to be forced by man as being beyond his reach and power yet the bodie being therefore subiected to the power of Man that by man it may further the conuersion of the soule is thereby also subiect to some compulsion from man Who in Gods stead is both to tender the meanes of Conuersion by the care vnto the Heart by the bodie vnto the minde which is the dutie of the Minister as also if neede require when the refractorie minde will detaine the body from the vse of the meanes is further euen to force the bodie by bringing it euen against the mindes will to heare the Word That so by the power therof eyther the rebellious minde may be reclaimed or at leastwise made inexcusable especially that in performing this dutie he may be free from the blood of his people or rather become a true nursing Father vnto them And this is properly the office of the Magistrate who though hee haue power euer life in the case of refractorie obstinate blaspheming of the Truth and desperate continuance in Atheisme and Heresie and therefore ought not to suffer cyther Idolater or Blasphemer either Atheist or damnable seducer of the people to a false worship any longer to breathe to the infection of others yet in the case of conuersion and bringing men to God hee is no â—â—rther to force â—â—e bodie then that still it may be seruiceable to the soule Leâ—iâ—g conuerted and also further the minde to be subdued by these spirituall weayons By which the Reason beeing captiuated and conscience perswaded and convinced and so the â—ill enclined and allured to embrace the Truth when once the hâ—â—rt shall endite a good matter and 〈…〉 with the loue of God then shall the tongue become the pen of a ready writer the outward man shall put cheerfully in execution what the â—â—ward man desireth and purposeth That so glorifying our GOD â—n bodie and soule which hee hath thus renued in this reasonable Sacrifice of the New-byrth we may in due season be crowned both bodies and Soules with that glorie in the newe Ierusalem which is aboue And therfore as this condemneth all Antichristian Tyrannie whereby all hope of sound Conuersion is vtterly cut off whilest by extremitie of torture the bodily life is depriued so also the negligence of the Christian Magistrate is iustly reproued in leauing the papist to his libertie or winking at him shewing extreame crueltie to his soule while hee pretends clemencie to his bodie And if the refractorie must bee compelled from a false worship to the meanes of a true Oh then faire be it froÌ„ the heart of the godly Magistrate to tolerate a false religion Is not this the way to prouoke the wrath of God that so hee may diuide vs in Iacob and so destroy vs in Israel And seeing the iust man must be a lawe to himselfe If then the bodie must be the meanes to conuey grace to the soule If it may further our entertainment of true conuersion Oh then let vs learne to subdue this enemie and beat downe this corruption 1. Let vs humble it by fasting 2. And not aduise with it in spirituall worship 3. Feare we the complement thereof 4. and rest wee at no hand in any ceremoniall deuotion of the same 5. Take we no care for the Flesh to satisfie the lusts thereof Rom. 18. And auoyde we all affectation in gesture c. with an intent to be obserued of men so shall we offer holie violence to the bodie in preuenting it ministerie to satisfie the lusts of the minde and thereby make it seruiceable to the soule as furthering the same in the worke of holines And thus is the outward man subiect to a kinde of violence not onely from others but euen from our selues Perswaded it cannot bee and therefore it must be forced Now for the soule of man The case hereof is otherwise Spirituall it is and therefore not subiect to outward violence And reasonable therefore only lyable to such a violence which rather ouercoms by perswasion theÌ„ forceth by persecution as rectifying the reasonable part not destroying the nature thereof as delighting the vnderstanding with the light that ouershadoweth it So convincing the conscience that it giues peace vnto it So reclayming the will and captiuating the Affections that it restores them to a most gracious libertie to performe a reasonable seruice vnto God This shall further appeare most euidently vnto vs
vs wings as to auoyd vnnecessary and desperate extremities so to flie speedily in the execution of the will of God That by this willing minde we might not onely be comforted in respect of our outward failing seeing the Lord hath promised Not to quench the smoaking Flaxe nor breake the bruised Reede but encouraged also and enabled to constancie and perseuerance that so continuing to the ende the Crowne may not be taken from vs. Thus by the marks of conuersion is the manner thereof confirmed vnto vs Thus by this manner thereof are we assured of the continuance of the same And is our Conuersion then a worke of grace and free compassion from the Lorde Is it accomplished by the word of peace and sweet promises of the Gospell applyed to the fainting soule by the Spirite of grace and Compassion Is it conueyed vnto vs by vessels of Infirmitie which might better haue compassion on vs and allure vs to mercie as being subiect to it and therefore hauing experience of our miserie Is it effected by melting the heart with the apprehension of the loue of God Is is perfited by enlarging the heart to the obedience of our God Well then may fire and fagot confound both bodie and soule well may Antichrist enlarge an earthly monarchy with sword and outward violence but the milde voyce of the Gospell must conuert the soule The meanes to fill Heauen must be the alluring of the spirit Oh why dispaire we to conuert though now miracles are ceased seeing by the power of the Word the secrets of the heart are made so manifest that God wil be acknowledged to be in vs that so we may conuert vnto God If they will not belieue Moses and the prophets neither will they belieue though one come from the dead and yet to coÌ„uert a sinner is more wonderfull theÌ„ to raise froÌ„ the death How vainely do they bragge of a Church that exclude the word of God how can we hope for the continuaÌ„ce of a Church where the sound therof doth not coÌ„tinne what hope is there of coÌ„uersion where doctrine is not deliuered by which the mind is perswaded what feare of further peruersion where lawes are not executed to coÌ„pell men to perswasion where deceiuers are permitted to poyson with corrupt perswasion Who so is wise let him consider this Let him see the plague and hide himselfe Let him trie his conuersion by the perswasion of his Iudgement that he is rooted in knowledge not wauering in opinion Let him examine his effectuall calling by the readinesse of his minde and cheerfulnes in obedience euen to all the will of God not a part thereof that constantly and continually not being weary of well-doing being more ready to doe well then for the present he is able and so enabled to well doing that at length he may attaine his desire as of perfect obedience which he shall attaine so of perfect happinesse the recompence of his labours full contentment of his vtmost desires And therfore let him pray for the continuance of the gospell to quickeÌ„ his desires Let him earnestly desire the confusion of Antichrist that sonne of darknes enemy to this glorious light Let him be wise to discerne betweene the chaffe the wheate to trie the Spirits and hold what is good Let him especially make much of the Annoynting and hearken to the voyce behinde him not grieuing the Spirit nor quenching the motions thereof that still there may be light in the Land of Goshen in the dayes of Famine hee may haue enough Exod 8. Iob 5. Comforting himselfe that seeing his conuersion is from Gods alluring of free loue and perswading by a power vnresistable not desired by him therefore being conuerted he shall surely hold when Heauen and earth shall passe though thousands fall daylie at his right hand and ten thousands at his left hand yet shall not this plague of Apostasie seaze on him who is kept by the mightie power of God vnto that great day that hee may be presented blamelesse vnto the Lorde Iesus And therefore not being discouraged for theyr going out from vs that were neuer truely of vs but rather enlarged with continuall praise vnto his God that leaues not him also to himselfe to fall away with this present euill worlde but still humbles his flesh to keepe life in his soule and counts him worthie to suffer with his Christ that so the life of Christ might daily appeare for his approching to glory Thus doth God perswade Iapheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Thus is a Christian conuerted by perswasion And thus doth God giue him a Dowrie with his marriage Iapheth being perswaded is also enlaged The kingdome of heauen being bestowed interesses also the Faithfull in the possessions of the earth The true belieuer alone is the right owner of all Gods blessings He that first seekes the kingdom of heaueÌ„ shall haue these things also cast vpon him Matth 16. 33. So profitable is godlines aswell for this life as that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. 9. So Christ being ours who is Lord of all in heauen earth Math 28. all with him is ours both in heauen and earth 1. Cor. 3. Rom 8. So haue wee onely grace to vse those well and therefore are only fit for them So are those onely fit for vs as being sanctified by vs vnto vs. Oh how vaine then is theyr boasting and labour that toyle for these things without grace how fearfull is their account that possesse them without Christ What comfort haue we in the least seeing it is vnto vs as all what hope of that which shal be sufficieÌ„t for vs What wisedome ought wee to vse to make first sure of the best what conscience in approuing our right by our holy vsing of these things What Faith in a better right by renouncing Confidence in these by our williingnes vpon iust occasion to part with them either to the good of our brother though we cast our bread vppon the waters or to the glorie of God though wee euen cast our liues after them Shall not hee which thus leaueth House or lands haue recompence an hundred-folde shall not hee finde his life that thus is willing to loose it Oh how can we better shewe our free power ouer these things theÌ„ by keeping them short that they may haue no power ouer vs neither ouer our hearts by Couetousnes which is Idolatrie nor ouer our bodies by pinching and niggardlines nor ouer our Coâ—sâ—â—â—nce by making difference where God hath made all good nor ouer our libertie by abiectnes and scrupulositie Oh that we would learne to renew and increase our soueraigntie ouer the Creature by our daily subiection vnto God in acknowledgment of our unworthines of the least in crauing his blessing euen vpon the greatest As by the sense of our vnworthines renuing our right in Christ
may dwell in the Tents of Shem This is the summe of the Blessing to dwell in the Tents of Shem. 1. That is to be ioyned vnto the Iewes both in the true worship of God as also in the priuiledges thereof 2. What is the true worship of God This is described vnto vs 1. by the subiect Shem who was the Father of the Iewes fignifying thereby vnto vs that the religion of the Iewes for substance is the true worship How shall this appeare Surely by these circumstances First Shem was the eldest Sonne not onely by Nature but by Grace Hee first in his Fathers house called on the Name of God The Iewes of him were also the first-borne First in the temporall Election first in the set worship of God and so also in the spirituall election And therefore seeing the truth is most Ancient the olde way is the true way Therefore the religion of the Iewes is the true worship of God Secondly That which was commanded of God and performed both for the substance and manner is the true Religion Such was the religion of the Iew wholly commaunded of God both for matter and manner enformed from Gods owne mouth Exod 20. Directed by his owne finger euen to the square and building of the Tabernacle And therefore the Religion of the Iewe was the true Religion And so all will worship is a false religion that which God onely commaunds is the truth onely Pet 2. 1. 19. Colloss 2. 23. Thirdly That which procures saluation to the performer is the truth Such is the religion of the Iewe As not onely pointing at Christ to come But applyâ—â—g Christ as come alâ—eady though not in the Flesh yet in power and efficacie as being a Lamb slaine from the beginning of the world Fourthly True godlines is not onely available for the life to come but euen for this life also Such was the religion of the Iewe so long as they walked after this rule so long the Lord blessed them and aduanced theyr temporall estate maruellously as hee promised Deutron 2â— Leuit 6. and accordingly abased them as they failed therein Fifthly And is not that the truth to which all must yeeld by which all must be directed Must not they returne vnto vs and not we vnto them Ierem 15. 12. Shall not all nations take hold of the skirt of a Iewe and say we will goe with you because the Lord is with you Zach 8. Must not Iapheth dwell in the Tents of Shem not Shem in the Tents of Iapheth Sixthly And shall not the Truth abide for euer Shall not the remnant of Israel be saued Shall not the Iewes though for a time cast off yet bee brought in againe And so the promise of God certaine Gods couenant with the Iewe euerlasting And so the originall truth the euerlasting truth The Iewes religion as most ancient so most permanent and perpetuall Seuenthly Was not the Iewe an abomination to the Aegiptian Is not that the truth which is hated of the world Behold then the true notes of the true Church and worship of God and 1. Trye we our selues by these whether we be in the faith or no Knowe wee not that Iesus Christ dwelleth in vs except we be reprobates 2. Cor 13. 5. 2. Discerne we wisely our estate by these that it is not so well with vs as happily wee may flatter our selues Ioh 8. Hee is not a Iewe which is a Iewe outward onely Rom 2. It is not the circumcision of the Flesh but the circumcision of the heart which God accepteth Rent wee therefore our hearts and not our garments and turne to the Lord our God whose mercies are euerlasting who loueth Truth in the inward parts And though he correct vs with the roddes of men yet will not take his sure mercies from vs Iapheah shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. And is the Church of God the Tents of Shem Howsoeuer afterward glorious in Shems posteritie both for number and outward magnificence yet now meane and contemptible as abyding in Tents Now little and almost invisible as confined to one Familie and not containing all thereof consisting onely of eight persons whereof the one was a Cast-away Beholde wee heere then the condition of the Church of God and therein consider wee further these necessarie Adiuncts thereof First It is a little Flocke Luk. 22. 32. for whom it pleaseth our heauenly Father to prouide a Kingdome though many are called yet fewe are chosen Matth 22. though without number in it scife yet in comparison of the reprobate but a little flocke euen as the gleaning of grapes after the Vintage Matth. 7. 1. Yea as signes and wonders so are they in the worlde 1. So is the good pleasure of our God who will haue mercie on whom hee will haue mercie 2. So narrow is the gate that fewe enter therein 3. So hard a saying it is to Flesh to hate it selfe to be borne againe to take vp the Crosse to become Fooles that we may be wise that no maruell if the wisedome of our Flesh be Enmitie against God that the most forsake Christ it will necessarily followe Ioh 6. Who will belieue our report which is so vnlikely so distastfull to corrupt reason And if not many Mightie many Noble c are chosen It is no wonder Because they will not with Marie choose the better part which shall not be taken away from them First Oh how vaine then is theyr conceit that dreame all shall be saued How fearfull is their course that so liue as vnlesse all bee saued it is impossible but that they must bee condemned Is it safe following the multitude seeing fewe shall be saued Will the example of great ones deliuer from Hell howsoeuer they may shelter vs from bodilie punishment Why then doe we make them our warrants to runne the broade way Why then doe wee aduance them aboue all that is called God as if theyr Lawes were absolute theyr authoritie vncontroulable Is it not better to obey God then man Must wee needes runne to Hell for companie Is it not enough to yeelde our bodies and goods which they gaue vs not Who so is wise let him consider these things First Let him feare him that can kill both body and soule 2. Let him not freat at the prosperitie of the wicked and yet giue vnto Caesar the thing which are Caesare 3. Let him be little in his owne eyes that so he may be contented with his portion though it be the Crppe of Affliction So it bee a proseruatiue from sinne a Badge of his Maister Christ a Pledge of his louing Father a spurre to perfection a procurer of an vncorruptible crowne 4. Let it not grieue him to be salsely charged with singularitie that hee is an odde-Fellow that he walkes alone that he is more nyce then needes that he is no good-Fellow No Friend to Caesar seditious pestilent This was the portion of the Saints This
seruant to Iapheth vntill the Bond-woman be cast out with all her Children that Iapheth may enioy alone the Heauenly Canaan FINIS CASES OF CONSCIENCE resolued in this Treatise 1 HOw the Prouidence of GOD subordinates meanes pagin 4. 5. 2. How we must pray with the speciall marks thereof pag 7. 3. Of true Conâ—â—eâ—sion together with the Causes Manner and seuerall Markes thereof pag 11. 12. 13. 14. 4. How to approue our right in all outward Blessings pag. 20. 5. Information to Parents how to behaue themselues in regarde of their posteritie whether they be good or euill pag 24. 25. 6. How to be preserued from falling into sinne pag. 26. 7. How to be raised from sinne pag 27. 8. Why the Saints ofttimes misse of such Comforts which heeretofore they haue enioyed pag 28. 9. Markes of true Religion pag 28. 10. How we may knowe our selues to be of the little flocke pag 32. 11. Howe to discerne the woorth and Excellencie of our Estate in grace pag 33. 12. Of the Estate of the Church in this life subiect to infirmities the vse and benefite thereof pag. 40. 13. Howe to performe the Christian War-fare that wee may conquere pag 4â— 14. The securitie of the Church and howe to procure the peace and welfare thereof pag 46. 15. How wee may know our selues to be strangers in the world p 47. 16. How wee may procure and assure our constancie in holines p. 49. 17. Causes of the falls of Gods children 50. 51. 52. 18. Proofes of the generall Calling of the Iewes pag 54. 10. How to knowe that wee are not Reprobates nor Hypocrites pagin 56. 57. 20. How to make vse of an hypocrite Luk. 22. 33 Psal 23. 8. c. Ps 51. 15. 16. Math. 28 Acts 2. 3. 4 Acts 3. 4. Acts. 13 Esay 54. 1 Rom. 11. 26. 27. Esay 5â— 20. Esay 27. 9. Ierem 31. Let Canaan be his seruaÌ„t Esay 2. The calling of the Gentiles God enlarge Iapheth 2 cor 4. 6. Rom 8. 29. I. Doctr Gods decree ordereth second causes Ro 829. 30. Genes 22. 2. Reg 5. 1. Cor 1. 21. 22. 23. Acts 26. 11. 2. Cor. 4. 7. 8. Reasons 1. Difference of meanes and their reasons in the Elect Reprobate Math 13. 13. 560. Ioh 6. 66. Psal 82. 12. Prou 14. 14. Rom 8. 2. Thess 1. 6. 71. Vses 2. Tim 3. 13 Pro. 11. 2. Thess 3. 12 Esa 29. 8. 3. Luke 10. 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rom 8. 29. 2. Doctr Prayer the most effectuall meanes for accomplishment of Gods will for our good 2. Chron 6. 21. 22. 23. 2 Cor 12. 8 Iob. 41. Matth 19. Iacob Reasons why we must both pray though God knowe what wee haue neede of Phil 3. Iacob 4. 3 Note Psal 143. Icrem 2. Rom 3. 1. 2. 3. The first Church the truest Church a little flocke Cantic Church inuisible The Elect onely the true Church 6. Conditions of the church 1. That it is the place of refreshing safetie Hebr 11. 2. Imperfect 3. Militant 4. Stranger Hebr. 11. 5. Not tâ—ed to any place Math 21. 6. Dispersed euery where Act. 10. 34. 35 Coll 1. 6. The true meÌ„ber abides dwells in the Church 2. Cor 5. 2. 3. Doctr God onely the Author of the coÌ„uersion of a sinner Reasons 2. Cor 4. 6. 1. From the power of God 1. Rom 3. 4. 1. Cor 3. 8. Ierem 10. 23 14. 2. His free loue 1. Pet 15. 11. 12. Vse 2. Phil 1 Cor 1. 27. Matth 11. Ioh 5. 39. 2. Thess 1. 6. 7. 2. Doctrine The Conuersion of a sinner by perswasion Obser The bodie how far subiect to force in conuersion Dutie of Minister Of Magistrate Deutro 13. 2. Cor 9. 14 Psalm 18. Psal 45. 1. Cor 6. Rom 12. 1. 2 Vse The bodie how to be fitted to be seruiceable to the soule to the worke of Conuersion The soule not to be forced but perswaded 2. From the meanes of Conuersion Rom 7. Rom 5. 5. Rom 7. Rom 8. From the manner of Conuersion Esaâ— 1. 4. From the substance of conuersion Rom 1. 5. From the marks of conuersion Rom 8. Math 15. 2. Pet 1. 3 Psa 119. 46 Vse Two-fold 2. Cor 8. 12. Esay 42. 3. Reuela 3. Vse Zach 13. 2 Tim 2. 23. Ps 119. 32. 0. Sweeter then hony and the hony-combe Ps 19. Ioel 2. 14. 1. Cor 14. Vses of Instruction Pro 1â— 3. 1. Col Markes of constant obedience and meanes therto Gal 6. 2. Thes 3. Ierem 23. 1. Ioh 4. 1. Thess 4. 1. Ioh 2. Ephes 4. Esay 30. 24 25. Vses of Comfort Ioh 17. 12. 1. Pet 1. 5. 1. Thess 5. 13 1. Phil 29. God enlarge Iapheth Math 6. 22. 5. Doctr The faithfull onely haue right in the blessings of this life Reasons Vses Psal 127 1. 1. Tit 1. 13. Psal 37. 1. Tim 6. Matt 6. 33 1. Tim. 4. 5. Psal 62. 10. Math 16. 8 Eccl 11. 1. Matth 19. Ps 62. 10. 1. Tim 4. 2. 1. Cor. 8. 10. Genes 2. Iosh 4. 22. 6. Doctrine The Gentiles to be conuerted Reasons Ruth 1 Iob. 1. Rahab Iudg. 2. Rom. 11. Acts 10. 34. 35. Heb. 11 Reuel 12. 1. Col. 6. 1. Tim. 2. 2. Cant. 8. Esay Reuel 7. Vse 1. Cor. 1. Note 1. Chro 15. 2. Act 13. 48. Note A. Question Answere 7. Doctrine Saints must haue care for the posteritie of the Church Reasons Deut 6. 7. Iosh 4. Psal 132. 8. 1. Tim. 5. Vse Psal 131. Esay 69. 15. Ose 14. 3. 4. Zeph 3. Esay 59. 16. Zoph 3. 11. 12. Esay 58. 12. Psal 102. 18. Psal 2. 6. 8. Doctrine Good parents may haue a wicked Generation Rom. 11. Vse Iohn 8. Matth. 16. Cal. 5. 13. Gal. 5. 15. Eccl. 18. 2. Ierem. 17. 10. 2. Tim. 2. 19. Rom. 9. Note 9. Doctrine The faithfull shall be recouered out of their greatest fall 1. Iob. 3. Rom. 7. Rom. â— â—4 1. Cor. 11. 31. Psal 89. Vse A Christian how preserued from falling How recouered and raised vp againe Ezech. 18. Ierem. 18. Ose 6. 2. 1. Iosh 1. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 7. Psal 5. 12. 13. Psal 32. 5. Vse of comfort 2. Cor 5. 7. 2. Pet. 1. 8. 9. Reassons Why God denies vnto his childe that measure of comfort which heretofore he enioyed 10. Obseru Thereligion of the Iewe Why the true religion and thence the marks of true religion Ierem 6. 11. It was not so from the beginning saith our Sauiour Christ Ierem 31. Ezech 11. Hated of the world Vse Ioel 2. The Church a little flocke Reuel 7. Isay 5. 19. Matth 11. Reasons Matth 17. 1. Cor. 3. Rom 8. 7. Esay 53. 1. Cor 1. 27. Luke 10. Vse Psal 44. 1. Pet 1. Vse of Instr Matth 10. Psal 37. Math 22. Psal 131. 2. Tim 3. 12. 13. Heb. 12. 8. 9. 2 Cer 44. 15. 16. 17. 2. Nehem Ioh 14. Vse of comforts Math 27. Psalm 105. 16. 17. Num 23. Matth 27. 1. Cor 6. 2. 13. 1. Pet 5. 4. 5 Ioh 17. Luk 22. 32. 1. Tim 2. Rom 16. 1. Cor.