derided by them about you Psal. 44. 13. Tears may be given you to drink in great measure Psal. 80. 5. Vile accounted c. Lam. 3. 45. Even as a scum 1 Cor. 4. 13. Wild beasts and boars out of the wood may waste you c. Psal. 80. 13. Seeing this is so will you take the course prescribed that if possible none of these things may come upon you or if they should that your eternal estate may be secured First What can you object against it 1. Is it not the course that God hath prescribed That it is has been proved before therefore you can't object 't is not required you cannot say Who hath required this for you have heard that God does 2. Is there any unreasonableness or unrighteousness in the prescribing of it Can you object against it as being unreasonable and unrighteous nay is it not most reasonable and righteous that having sinned and provoked God you should consider confess humble c. 3. Is it not that course that others with success have used as Nineveh and 2 Chron. 12. 7 12. Can you object and say others have taken this course to no purpose Ahabs external humiliation was not without some success The judgment was deferred upon it 1 King 21. 29. 4. Have not others perished for want of taking this course See 2 Chron. 36. 12. of Zedâ—kiâ— to 18. Dan. 5. 22 to 29. of Belâ—hazar Can you now object and say others have neglected this course and done well enough Thus you see you cannot object against this course Secondly Can you think of a better a safer course Can you or you or you c. speak if you can by your silence I take it for granted that you cannot Thirdly If you cannot are you resolved upon this To consider confess c. Fourthly If you be not resolved on this course as yet must I dismiss you unresolved and desperate as they Jer. 44. will you say as they ver 16. 18. 12. FINIS GODS Gracious Presence THE SAINTS Great Priviledge 2 Thes. 3. 16. Now the Lord of Peace himself give you Peace alwayes by all means The Lord be with you all YOU have Peace Blessed be God long may it last it is not like to be long-lived unless God work wonderfully Application therefore should be made to him that he who is the God of Peace would be pleased to give it alwayes and by all means The close of the Verse is that which I intend to say something unto as the Lord shall enable me The Lord be with you All. This is Pauls Valediction to the Thessalonians and shall be mine to you In this Valediction you have 1. Pauls wish and desire the Lord be with you 2. The extent of it The Lord be with you All. He leaves out none of them he wisheth well to them all and that which he wisheth is the Presence of the Lord with them All their welfare standing therein The Lord God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost we must not leave out any of the Three for we cannot be without the Presence of any one of them nor can you have the Presence of the one without the Presence of the other for these three are one and where One is All are Of the Fathers and of the Sons and of the Holy Ghosts coming to be with his People You read Joh. 14. Jesus said if a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him O for faith to believe this that the Father and the Son will come and make their abode with such Whosoever goes from you you may be sure the Father and Son will come if you love him and keep his words See verse 23. And for the coming of the Holy Ghost See Joh. 15. 16. I will pray the Father saith Christ Here 's a praying friend and praying friends we use to say are our best friends and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth verse 17. That he may abide with you for ever mark that when he comes he will not be like a wayfaring man that comes for a night and then is gon but he will abide for ever when I came down from Heaven I came with a purpose to return again when I had done my work here but this Comforter my Spirit shall abide with you for ever Well then the Lord be with you the Father Son and Holy Spirit be with you the eternal Jehovah who hath his being of himself and gives being to all things else even the being of performance to his promises This Lord be with you Be with your whole man This Lord be with your Bodies This Lord be with your Souls This Lord be with every part of your Bodies and with every Power of your Souls The Apostle in his former epistle praying for these Thessalonians 1 Thes. 5. 23. Prayes thus The very God of Peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. So then the Apostle would have the Lord â—o be with their whole man not with a part of it not with their Souls and Spirits only or Bodies only but with their Spirit Soul and Body and the same Apostle praying for Timothy prayes The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy Spirit 2 Tim. 4. 22. It matters not who are absent so Christ be present his presence is more then the presence of the nearest and dearest relations The Lord be with you all not only with a part of you I know not which of you to leave out of my Prayers For you all have need of Gods presence whether you be Saints or Sinners If Sinners you have need of the Lord to be with you to convince you and convert you And as for those that are Saints I know none that have so much grace that they need no more the Lord therefore be with them to establish confirm and encrease grace in them the Lord be with you at all times If God be absent at any time we know not what to do Some of you have had experience that when God hath withdrawn never so little your case hath been bad enough The Lord be with you in all places We can be secure and safe in no place without his presence The Lord be with you in all conditions in all estates for if you be in the most prosperous estate you cannot tell how to be without God Jehosaphat thought so 2. Chron. 20. 12. In the fulness of a mans sufficiency he may be in straights Job 20. 22. You cannot be any where in any estate a minute without him You believe it to be a Truth that in him you live move and have your being Act. 17. 28. not naturally only but spiritually too The Lord therefore be with you at all times in all conditions
A DISSWASIVE FROM Conformity to the World AS ALSO GOD'S Severity AGAINST Impenitent SINNERS WITH A Farewel SERMON Lately Preached to a Congregation in London By HENRY STUBS Minister of the Gospel Psalm 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him retrove me it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my head for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamity London Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock senior and junior at the Sign of the Three Bibles in Popes-head Alley 1675. TO THE Professors OF THIS AGE DO you not know that you ought to be followers of God and Christ and the Saints Ephes. 5. 1. Matth. 16. 24. Heb. 6. 12. and not the multitude Exod. 23. 2. not the world Rom. 12. 2. And dare you yet to set up them to be your patterns and to follow their examples who are not at all esteemed in the Church I speak it to your shame Is there not a Holy Christ to be your Pattern and a Holy Word to be your Rule but Professors of Religion must needs be as the irreligious of the world taking example from them who will take no example from Christ Now therefore there is utterly a fault amongst you because you conform so much to this world contrary to that express prohibition Rom. 12. 2. Be not conformed to this world and because you have so much fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness contrary to that word Eph. 5. 11. Why are ye not rather Reprovers of the world and condemners of it as Noah was Heb. 11. 7. By your walking as Christ walked 1 John 2. 6. and according to Rule Gal. 6. 16. Why do you not rather suffer your selves to be derided and despised Know you not that the world you conform to lies in wickedness 1 John 5. 19. And that the unrighteous world shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. you know it And you know also that Eyes are upon you observers you have many God Angels and Men you had need look well to your wayes you have a Rule to talk and walk by 'T is not for you to say we will be as the Heathen Ezek. 20. 32. we will be as others contrary to Eph. 4. 17. Which forbids you to walk as others in the vanity of your minds Remember the words of Christ to his Disciples Luke 22. 26. ye shall not be so You must walk as Christ walked He has left you an example 1 Pet. 2. 21. If you shall walk as others you will by so doing give great occasion to the enemies of God to Blaspheme 2 Sam. 12. 14. And be stumbling blocks to the world and if offences come by you unto the world woe unto you Matth. 18. 7. Remember David and what God told him The child that is born to thee shall surely dye verily the name of God is blasphemed among the prophane through you Rom. 2. 24. You should adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things mark In all things Tit. 2. 10. and be very tender of the name of God and his doctrine that it be not blasphemed through you 1 Tim. 6. 〈◊〉 If it be be sure God will be as good as his word Amos 3. 2. You only have I known therefore I will punish you Christ has somewhat against you already because you have left your first love Remember therefore from whence you are fallen and repent and do your first works or else I will come unto you quickly and will remove your candlestick out of its place except you repent Rev. 2. 4 5. Would I could say of you as it follows vers 6. with a little alteration But this you have that you hate conformity to the world which Christ also hateth Brethren be ye followers of Christ and mark them which walk so as that ye have Christ for an ensample For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ Whose end is destruction whose God is their back and belly whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things Phil. 3. 17 18 19. But let your conversation be in Heaven as was Pauls and the Saints at Phillippi Phil. 3. 20. Seek you the things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth for you profess your selves to be dead and your life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is your life shall appear then shall you appear with him in Glory Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Col. 3. 2 3 4 5. I beseech you by the mercies of God the meekness of Christ and by your appearing before his judgment seat hear counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise at length Prov. 19. 20. If you will not hear counsel and receive instruction read Jer. 6. 8. and consider and tremble That you may is the prayer of one who wisheth above all things that your souls may prosper and be adorned as your bodies do and are NON-CONFORMITY TO THIS WORLD Rom. 12. 2. And be not conformed to this world IN this and the foregoing verse we have an exhortation to holiness branched out into three particulars 1. That we present our bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God 2. And not be conformed to this world 3. But to be transformed by the renewing of our mind I beseech you though I might be bold in Christ to enjoyn you yet for love sake I rather beseech you pray and intreat you Therefore seeing you have received so much mercy from God through Christ. Brethren being all the Children of God through faith in Christ. Gal. 3. 26. By the mercies of God bestowed on you Gods mercy is one but the effects and fruits of it are many Election Redemption Justification That you present your Bodies not your Souls onely but your Bodies also God will have the Body conformed to his will and not to the world as well as the Soul for the Body is for the Lord for the service of the Lord and the Lord for the Body 1 Cor. 6. 13. Our Bodies being his and bought with a price 1 Cor. 16. 19 20. Our Bodies being the members of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 15. and therefore also must we glorifie God with our Bodies 1 Cor. 6. 20. The Apostle praying for the Thessalonians prayes that their Bodies as well as their Souls might be sanctified 1 Thes. 5. 23. I note this the rather because many think they may do what they will with and make what use they will of their Bodies but they are greatly deceived for the Body is not for Fornication 1 Cor. 6. 15. no not for Ostentation to make a shew with it Read Rom. 6. 13 19. That you present them 1. That you offer and consecrate them to God as a Sacrifice of thankfulness as Heb. 13.
fury shall rest upon you And God will watch to bring it upon you Jer. 44. 27. Behold I will watch over them for evil and not for good as one that purposly watcheth and lieth in wait to do mischief Psal. 56 6. God has been wo 〈…〉 when provoked to watch over people to pluck up and break down Jer. 31. 28. And Daniel chap. 9. 13 14 confesses that because God had p 〈…〉 shed them and they had not made their prayer before the Lord their God that they might â—urn from their iniquities and understand the truth therefore the Lord 〈◊〉 watched upon the evil and brought it upon them And he gives the reason For the Lord our God is righteous in all his works for we obeyed not his voice Use 2. If all this be so then consider we our selves Are we purged from our filthiness Is England Is London Are we Is our sâ—um gone out Our rust gotten off Our filth done away Our dross separated from us Our chaffe scattered and burnt 2. Let me ask you a few Questions 1. Have you been conâ—inced of your natural and contracted filthiness Siâ—s were you clean born shaped in holiness Read Ioh 14. 4. Psal. 51. 5. and see whether you were or no. Have you lived wiâ—hout defiling your selves See Psal. 14. 3. Mark 7. 23. What were your Hearts and Hands If you cannot tell See Jer. 4. 14. Jam. 〈◊〉 8. Mark 7. 21 22 23. What were your Heads Ears Eyes and Tongues If you be ignorant s 〈…〉 John 13. 9. Act. 7. 51. Jer. 6. 10. 2 Peâ— 2. 14. Matth. 5. 28. James 3. 6. Ephes 4. 29. I fear many are not yet convinced of their filthiness and if so sure not yet purged from it Some will not believe that to be filthiness which Ged sayes is so All that is in the world is either the lust of the eye c. 1 John 2. 16 and these are not of the pure and holy God but of the dirty sinful world which lies in wickedness 1. The lust of the Eye covetousness which you call by another name viz. Good Huâ—bandry is â—â—lthineâ—s 1 Peter 〈◊〉 2. 2. The lust of the Flesh rioâ—ing drunkenn 〈…〉 chambering wantonness which you call Good Fellowship Courtship Courteousness This is filthiness but you â—o not know it or will not know it for your better information see 1 Thes. 4. 7. Ephes. 5. 3 4. Roâ— 13. 13. 3. Pride of Life this also is filthiness though you call it fineness neatness â—omliness But see what God calls it Isa. 4. 4. He calls it filth ordure or excrements the word imports all all such filth or excrement as comeâ— forth from the body either upward as Isa. 28. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 22. or downward as Deut. 23. 14. Ezek 4. 12. The filth of the Daughters of Zion whose pride vanity wantonness and other excesses had no small hand in pulling down Gods judgments See Isa. 3. 16 17. had it been the Daughters of Moab Numb 25. 1. or the Daughters of the Philistines Judg. 14. 1 2. that had been so filthy it would not have provoked so much their filth would not have stunk so bad nor have been so loathsom in the sight of God But for the Daughters of Zion and the Daughters of Jerusalem and the Daughters of Israel and Judah of Professors to be so filthily proud provoked greatly Had it been only the Daughters of men Gen. 6. 2. or the Daughters of a strange god Mal. 2. 11. or the Daughters of the uncircumcised 2 San. 1. 20. it had not been so much but for the Daughters of God Deut 32. 19. to go thus and do thus and 〈◊〉 thus he could not bear it Their gates and garbs and courses and carriages that they prided themselves in and accounted their bravery Isa. 3. 18. were filth and such as made them odious loathsom and abominable in Gods eye saith one whose Judgment I think is not to be contemned â—ataker in loc And see saith he the contrary required 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. So that I believe that which you call fineness now will be found to be filthiness another day that which you call 〈…〉 nery will be found to be filâ—hery Those fine Heads Fine Faces Fine Necks Fine Back and Breast Fine Armes and Shoulders Will be found I believe to be Filthy Heads Faces Necks Backs and Breasts Armes and Shoulders Wherefore let me be speak you as Daniel did Nâ—buchadnezar Dan. 4. 27. Wherefore O fine Dames let my counsel be acceptable to you Break off your pride by humility and your shamelesness by shamefastness And get ye quickly to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13. 1. and wash your selves Say to Christ as Peter when Christ told him If he washt not his feet he should have no part in me O Lord said he not my feet onely but my hands and head also You have need to say not my feet onely but my face neck back breast armes and shoulders also Quest. 2. Has the Word the pure Word of God so called Psal. 12. 6. Psalm 119. 140. been instrumental in your purging Psal. 119. 9. Psal. 17. 4. Joh. 17. 17. Quest. 3. Has time been spent about it Have you had your washing scowring and purging days for your Souls as you-have had for the cleaning of your Cloathes Brass and Pewâ—er and for preservation of the health of your Bodies Some wash their Linnen once a month and scowr their Vessels once a quarter and purge their Bodies Spring and Fall Deal truly what time have you set a part for the washing and purging of your Heads Hearts and Hands Have you your monthly quarterly and half-yearly washing and purging dayes for your Souls Will not Linnen Brass and Pewter Vessels be made clean nor Bodies be purged without allowing time And will Hearts and Souls be purged from their filthiness without allowing time Quest. 4. Has pains been taken about it Has this purging of your selves cost you Prayers and Tears before 't was done That which is foul will not be made clean without pains-taking Naaman was at the pains of taking a long journey to be cleansed from his Leprosie 2 King 5. Quest. 5. Have you made your applicaâ—ion to Christ about your cleansing and purging as once Naaman did to the Prophet 2 King 5. 1. Naaman knew himself to be a Leper 2. Naaman hearing of a Prophet that could cure him comes to him 2 King 5. 3 9. to his door 3. Receives direction what to do for his Cure and though averse at first to use that means yet upon his servants entreaties resolves to make trial of the means 2 King 5. 13 14. 4. He does and practices accordingly goes down into the River and dips himself seven times therein 2 King 5. 14. 5. He returns being Cured to shew his thankfulness 2 King 5. 15. and to testifie his great respect to the Prophet as the instrument of his Cure as did the tenth Leper Luke 17. 15. 6.
He acknowledges the God of Israel to be the only true God and his cure to be wrought by him 2 King 5. 15. 7. He resolves upon the worshipping and serving of the true God renouncing all other gods 2 King 5. 17. In like manner 1. Have you known your selves to be leprous and unclean and said as Isaiah chap. 6. 5. 2. Having heard of Christ and the efficacy of his blood to cleanse you have you come to his door and waited for direction what to do that you might be cleansed Have you waited dayly at the posts of his doors Prov. 8. 34. Have you sate at Jesus's feet and heard his word Luke 10. 39. as Mary did 3. Having heard counsel and direction what to do to be Cured viz. To go into the Jordan of Christs blood and to bathe your selves therein Have you resolved upon the entreaties of Gods Ministers who are are your servants 2 Cor. 4. 5. to make trial of this Jordan and with Esther to go into King Jesus come of it what will Saying I will go in and if I perish I perish Esth. 4. 16. And have you resolved with the prodigal Luke 15. To go unto Christ the everlasting father Isa. 9. 4. Have you done accordingly Have you dipped your selves in this bloody Jordan seven times Have you-gone into King Jesus as Esther into King Ahasueruâ— And as the Prodigal to his Father Have you been at the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13. 1. Have you rested upon this blood of Christ which cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. for your cleansing and expected it according to the promise Ezâ—k 36. 25. 5. Do you find your hearts stirred up to be thankful for this Jordan of Chriâ—ts blood and the blessings we have thereby Can you do as Peter and Paul as Peter 1 Pet. 1. 3. as Paul Ephes. 1. 3. 6. Do you give Christ the glory of being the alone fountain for cleansing and acknowledge all your cleansing to be from him There being no salvation from the filthiness of sin in any other Act. 4. 12. 7. Do you resolve upon serving God in righteousness and holiness all your days As they that are delivered from their filthiness are bound to do Luke 1. 74 75. Quest. 6. Are you careful to keep your selves clean Do you shun all defilements by persons or things Is it your care to keep your self unspotted as pure Religion binds you to do Jam. 1. 27. Do you hate the garment spotted by the flesh Jude 23. And abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes. 5. 22. Quest. 7. Are you companions of those that are purged David Psal. 119. 63. was a companion of all them that feared God and of them that kept his precepts Are you so too Davids delight was in them Psal. 16. 3. Is your delight in them too Birds of a Feather will flock together Use 3. Of Exhortation If it be so as you have heard then continue no longer in your filthiness Wash ye make ye clean lay a part all filthiness and supersiuity of naughtiness James 1. 21. Cleanse your selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. Cast it away and say unto it get thee hence Isa. 30. 2. Motives 1. 'T is filthiness Will a man continue in filth in dirt and mire In the filth of the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and the pride of life 2. God would that you should be purged for First He calls upon you wash as you have heard Secondly God has prepared a fountain to wash in Zech. 13. 1. Thirdly God expostulates with you about it Jer. 13. 27. Wilt thou not be made clean Fourthly God thinks it long till you be purged Jer. 4. 14. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thâ—e And Jerem. 13. 27. When shall it once be 3. When you are purged washed God will take delight in you and have fellowship with you Isa. 1. 16 18. Means 1. Take the glass of the Law and view your selves therein that will shew you your filthiness I had not known sin but by the Law said Paul Rom. 7. 7. 2. Know the power of Gods anger Psal. 90. 11. you may see it in his terrible threats and the judgments which he executeth Psal. 9. 16. 3. Assent to the truths of Gods threatnings Say often to thy own soul it will be as God hath said Fury will rest settle upon me if I continue unpurged from my filthiness 4. Confess your natural and contracted filthiness as did David Psal. 51. 5. and then see 1. John 1. 9. 5. Pray purge me wash me cleanse me Create in me a clean heart as David did Psal. 51. 6. Above all getting get faith for 't is faith that purifies the heart Act. 15. 9. First Hear for it for it comes by hearing Rom. 10. Secondly Give God no rest till he has given it you 7. Act faith in the cleansing blood of Christ It cleanseth away all sin being sprinkled and applied 1 John 1. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Go to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13. 1. Say to thine own soul. 1. I am filthy even filthiness My mind and conscience is d filed Tit. 1. 15. I am a person of u clean lips Isa. 6. 5. for how can he be clean who is born of a woman Job 25. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Job 14. 4. Behold I am shapen in iniquity and in sia did my mother conceive me Psal. 51. 5. Besides How aboninable and filthy am I who have drank iniquity like water Job 15. 16. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. 1. The body of sin Rom. 6. 6. called a body because it hath many members Col. 3. 5. A body of death because it tends to death and threaten death 2. Say to thy own soul Christs blood was shed to cleanse from this filthiness of sin And that First By Gods own appointment Act. 2. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Secondly For this very purpose Zech. 13. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 5 8. Isa. 53. 5. 3. Say to thy own soul Jesus Christ in the Ministry and preaching of the Gospel has been evidently set forth crucified before mine eyes Gal. 3. 1. God has set him forth to be a propitiation threugh 〈…〉 i th in his blood Rom. 3. 25. Not only in his eternal counsel and afterward in the execution of the same in the fullness of time but by the preaching of the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 20. He was manifested in these last times for us not only in respect of his incarnation but in respect of the Revelation of him in the preaching of the Gospel since his Incarnation So also God hath set him forth to be a Bath to wash us from our filthiness Rev. 1. 5. 4. Say to thy soul This blood of Christ is precious blood 1 Pet. 1. 19. powerful and effcacious to
effect that for which 't was shed viz. The cleansing away of sin Though the blood of Bulls and Goats could not take away sin yet this precious blood of the Lamb of God can See Heb. 10. 4 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. 5. Say to thy self This blood of Christ is the only Bath for the soul There 's no other fountain no other name no way else to be cleansed Act. 4. 12. 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. Say to thy own soul I must wash in this Bath or else be for ever unclean and unpurged and so never enter into Heaven Fâ—r there shall in no wise enter in any thing that defileth Rev. 21. 27. But Gods wrath and fury will rest and abidâ— upon me for ever Joh. 3. 36. 7. Say to thy own soul I am invited to Bathe in this blood of Christ to apply it by faith for my cleansing 'T is offered to me Isa. 55. 1. Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins And Rev. 22. 17. Whosoever will let him take of this water of life freely 8. Say to thy own soul I am commanded to accept of the offer to Bathe in this fountain to rest on Christ for cleansing To look unto him to be saved from my filthiness Isa. 45 22. So that as soul as I am it will be no presumption in me to come and wash in this Jordan Christ calls me Matth. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden with dirt and filth Say to thy own soul I am promised by him who is true and faithful Even the true God and eternal life 1 John 5. 20. That if I come to him for cleansing I shall in no wise be cast out refused John 6. 37. Why then should I not obey this command and believe and rest on Christ for my cleansing 10. Yet once more that you may act faith in the blood of Christ for cleansing say to thy own soul was not I baptized for the remission of sins Act. 2. 38. Repent and be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins 1. For assurance that your sins are forgiven you for Christs sake So Act. 22. 16. Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins according to the Duâ—ch Annotations For a sign And seal that thy sins are washed away by the blood and spirit of Christ. To improve thy Baptism in order to thy cleansing 1. Say to thy self Does not water in Baptism signifie and seal by Divine Institution Is it not an ordinance of Jesus Christ Matth. 28. 18 19 20. 2. Say to thy self Does not water in Baptism signifie and seal the cleansing blood of Christ and our justification and sanctification thereby Knowest then not O my soul that they who are baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his death Rom. 6. 3. 1. To partake of the benefits of his death 3. Say to thy self was not this water applied to me and that in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost 4. Was it not applied to me in a solemâ— way in the presence of the holy Trinity with a declaration of the institution of Baptism by Christ and with prayer to God in the name of Christ that his blood represented by the water might cleanse me 5. Say to thy self Is not my Baptism my bond obliging me to apply that blood of Christ to my soul which was represented by the water which was applied to my body 6. Say again Have I applied it and am I cleanfed from my filthiness 7. If not say to thy soul Is not my case as bad as the case of unbaptized Infidels See Jer. 9. 25 26. 8. And if so say to thy soul How can my conscience be quiet and let me alone in such a case Wherefore lay a charge upon thy self to believe to receive and rest upon Christ for cleansing as he is offered in the Gospel Say Believe O my soul go to the fountain wilt thou dye in thy filth and under the fury of the Almighty God GODS Severity against MAN for Iniquity Isa. 65. 6. Behold it is written before me I will rot keep silence but will recompence even 〈…〉 compence into their boson BEhold observe take notice of it It is written before me It is written First What Secondly Where First What Your iniquities vers 7. Sin Jer. 17. 1. Your rejecting Christ. Secondly Where In Gods book we enter in books such matters as we would not have forgotten Thus Ezra 4. 15 19. 6. 2. Esth. 6. 1. So God also has books of remembrance not only of what 1. Is done for him Mal. 3. 16. Psal. 56. 8. 2. But against him Deut. 32. 34. Hos. 7. 2. The meaning is God keeps it in mind as well as if it were booked down Before me It lieth before my face that it may not be forgotten q. d. Their wicked doings are upon record with me and this record alwayes lies open before my face They did it Isa. 65. 3. to my face or in my sight as Deut. 31. 29. Psalm 51. 4 and it remains still before him I will not keep silence i. e. I will no longer forbear as I have hitherto done But will recompence even recompence into their bosom or will repay yea repay into their lap 1. Certainly undoubtedly therefore is the threat doubled to put it out of doubt 2. Abundantly largely as repaying into their bosom or lap signifies he will recompence and repay them not by tail measure or weight but by pouring forth into the receivers lap without any regard how much Doct. Though God delay the execution of vengeance for some time yet at length he will undoubtedly and abundantly pour out his wrath upon impenitent sinners First God delayes to execute vengeance for a time Secondly At length he will take vengeance 1. God delayes for a time to take vengeance Psal. 50. 21. Isa. 42. 14. Thus God did bear long with the old world 1 Pet. 3. 20. He will avenge at last though he bear long Luke 18. 7. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth Mat. 25. 19. Though God keep silence for a time yet he will speak at last See Habak 2. 3. Reasons Negatively Not because God is slack as we are too apt to conceive Psal. 51. â—1 No not as if God were slack backward through weakness forgetfulness or fickleness and inconstancy 2 Pet. 3. 9. They are not slack that are long ere they come but they that come not at the due and appointed time Now God never stayes beyond that time Heb. 10. 37. Habak 2. 3. So then this is not the Reason but Affirmatively 1. Because God is long-suffering 2 â—et 3. 9. willing that we should have time and means to repent and so not perish See Rom. 2. 4. 2. To leave sinners at last without excuse as Prov. 5. 11 12 13. 3. Because he has an eternity wherein to be revenged on them
procuring causes thereof these are the persons that please God so that he takes double care of them in evil times Ezek. 9. 4 6 and pronounces them blessed and promises that they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. Dir. 8. Walk uprightly order your conversation aright without guile and hypocrisie in simplicity and godly sincerity have your conversations doing all your duties to please God and not for by-respects With this God will be so well pleased that he will be to you a Sun and a Shield that he will give you Grace and Glory that he will with-hold no good thing from you Psal. 84. 11. Prov. 2. 7. He will shew you his salvation Psal. 50. 23. God will give him a prospect of heaven here and hereafter a full fruition of it and no wâ—â—der for you are his delight Prov. 11. 20. Such as are upright in their way are his delight and what will not a man do for such in whom he delights Read Esther 6. 6. Dir. 9. Make the Christian Sabbath your delight be glad and rejoyce in it This will so please the Lord that he will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth yea upon the heights of heaven where thou shalt keep an everlasting Sabbath and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your Father not only with the good things of the earthly Canaan but with the good things of the heavenly of which the earthly was a type with heavenly Manna such food as eye hath not seen ear heard or mouth of natural man ever tasted This you may build upon for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa. 58. 13 14. If you keep the Sabbath and chuse the things that please God Isa. 56. 4. God will be so well pleased as to give you 1. A place in his House v. 5. And a door-keepers place in Gods house is worth the having Psal. 84. 10. A place in Gods house is that one thing which David was so earnest for Psal. 27. 4. 2. A Name better then of sons and daughters of Princes even prerogative royal that heavenly honour to be the sons and daughters of God 2 Cor. 6. 18. John 1. 12. And so to be called 1 John 3 1. To have both the comfort and the credit of it for if sons then heirs Rom. 8. 16 17. 3. And make them joyful in his house of Prayer ver 7. By their free access unto him and good success in all their suits 4. And accept their sacrifices ver 7. Their sacrifices of Prayer Praise Alms and Obedience shall be accepted through Christ who is the true Altar that sanctifieth all that is offered on it Heb. 13. 10 15. Rev. 3. 4. Dir. 10. Watch at Wisdoms gates daily wait at the posts of her doors Prov. 8. 34 35. And there you shall find life Isa. 55. 3. And obtain the favour of God which is better then life There the Lord will meet you and bless you Exod. 20. 24. There he will teach you Isa. 2. 3. And there he will accept you Ezek. 20. 40. There you give him your loves Cant. 7. 12. And there he will give you his Loves If he sup with you you shall sup with him Rev. 3. 20. There you may get Faith more precious then Gold Rom. 10. 17. There you may have a call to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes. 2. 14. Dir. 11. Pray continually This pleases God The prayer of the upright is his delight Prov. 15. 8. 'T is sweet unto him Cant. 2. 14. He will be nigh to them that call upon him in truth Psal. 145. 18. Daniel's praying pleased God as appears by the event Prayers come up for a me norial before God Acts 10. 4. God is so well pleased with prayer that he will never turn it away Psal. 66. 20. Dir. 12. Meditate on Gods Law day and night Shew thy love to God and it thereby as David did Psal. 119. 97. O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day Let it be yours also and God will make you like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season and whose leaf shall not wither and whatsoever you do shall prosper Psal. 1. 2 3. Dir. 13. Worship God in spirit and in truth Sure this is pleasing to him for the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh 4. 23. He is greatly delighted with such worship God loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob Psal. 87. 2. The gates of Zion the place of his worship which he had chosen to dwell in more then all the Towns and Cities else which he had given Jacob to dwell in 'T is not all worship that God is so delighted with some worship is an abomination to him God complains of those that draw nigh to him with their mouths when their hearts are far from him Isa. 29. 13. Mat. 15. 8. 'T is the heart God calls for Prov. 23. 26. and truth in the inward parts that God desires Psal. 51. 6. 'T is worship in spirit and truth that pleases God Dir. 14. Love God heartily and seek him early God loves them that love him Prov. 8. 17. and will shew it John 14. 21 23. He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him and we will come and make our abode with him Obedience to this first and great command of loving God is more then all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices Mark 12. 33. Therefore for certain it pleases God Delight thy self in the Lord and he will give thee the desires of thy heart Psal. 37. 4. And let the desire of thy soul be to his name and to the remembrance of him With thy spirit seek him early Isa. 26. 8 9. and he will be found of thee Jer. 29. 13. Dir. 15. Fear God greatly as Obadiah did 1 Kings 18. 3. On such the Sun of righteousness will shine Mal. 4. 2. The Lord will fulfil the desires of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them Psal. 145. 19. Dir. 16. Chuse to suffer rather then to sin This was Moses's choice Heb. 11. 25. rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season This pleaseth God highly Those three servants of the most high God Dan. 3. who did chuse to burn to ashes rather then to bow to an Image God was so well pleased with that he restrained the fire from burning of them Daniel chuses to be torn to pieces rather then not to pray Dan. 6. and God was so well pleased with his choice that he shuts the mouths of the Lions that they hurt him not v. 22. God also was so well ' pleased with the Martyrs choyce of sufferings rather then of sinning that he so wrought for many