the great benefit of our deliverance from the Spaniards in 88. and from the Gun-powder-treason on the 5. of November by meanes wherof wee enjoy those blessings wee daily partake of 2. As our hearts must rejoyce in Gods benefits so we must be perswaded that the same flow from Gods fatherly love in Christ else can wee not give spirituall thankes but either none at all or only carnall 3. Being perswaded that Gods benefits towards us proceede from his love the same should so kindle our love that we should heate thereby all that come neere us as fire doth the want whereof shewes our great unthankfulnesse 4. Whereas the most professors bee in nothing more hindered from growth in grace yea and most from true happiness then by the abusing of those earthly blessings they enjoy health wealth beauty strength wit learning credit friends which through their sinne further their miserie and shall witnesse against them this must be accounted an high favour to a true beleever to have grace so to use those that they all may become his friends to further his happinesse whereby hee shall become more assured of Gods everlasting favour and have so many witnesses of the same 5. This right use stands either tovvard God 1. That they bee received thankfully so as every vvay they bind us more to him more to love him rest upō him seeke to him serve him 2. That they be all used to his glory Man Our selves Temperatly so as they no vvay hinder our proceeding but make us fitter Providently Soule Body Neighbours Justly Psal 15 Mercifully Prov 6. Whereas there is no one thing which more hinders our spirituall life then our care for earthly it s the speciall favour of our Lord Jesus to free us from this care and to shew us a way how we may bee abundantly provided for of all things necessarie for this present life that so wee may more seeke spirituall this he doth by teaching us thus to pra◠Give us this day our daily bread whereby he puts as it were a privy key into our hāds to open all Gods treasures that by prayer of faith we may fetch from God 7. Many times the Lord above all meanes doth bestow a blessing upon his children even more then they could looke for that they should not stay too much upon the meanes but acknowledge every good gift to come from him and therefore stay themselves on him and to the same end also many times he crosseth them in the meanes that either they cannot use them or using them they prevaile not even to humble them that he may be God above all 8. When God bestoweth any good gift upon us its good to feele some crosse to seale and season it in us 9. We often want outward blessings because we so little esteeme inward graces 10. It s a common thing with the Lord to blesse before he punish Birth-day The celebration of a mans birth-day may bee used of some and at some times without pompe superstition or carnall pleasure Buying and Selling. 1. In buying and selling wee must bee carefull that every one may have benefit and in selling rather to bee under the market then otherwise 2. In buying and selling this may bee a good rule to guide us to doe as wee would be done unto for example when wee sell consider wee whether knowing the marketable price and goodnesse of the thing wee would gladly give so much as wee demand if wee would not wee deale not justly so in buying but herein take wee heede that our hearts deceive us not whereto we be very prone 3. It s a sore disease cōmon dangerous among the best professors that they for love of gaine doe many wayes injure their neighbour and allow themselves many practises contrary to love as buying a thing deare to sell for more then its worth when they sell it and so casting their losse on their neighbour 4. In buying and selling this is a sure rule to be sure our neighbour gaines by us Calling 1. IF earthly men in earthly things do swallow up great troubles and with cheerefulnesse undertake and accordingly undergoe many hard travells for the satisfying of their desires in pleasure or profit how much more ought wee which be Christians especially Ministers to cheere up our hearts with the hope of our gaine that with glad hearts we might studie pray preach and performe the like exercises 2. They who have double allowance of food and wages should doe double service therefore the rich should more pain fully labour in their vocations 3. No troubles unlesse they bee in case of meere ungodlinesse may make us forsake our callings which are never free from trouble 4. Whensoever we be out of our calling Satan hath fit occasion of tempting us Christ 1. Two things are necessarily required to espouse us to Christ the one to use the pure meanes the other to use these meanes with pure hearts 2. The onely way to come to and receive Christ is upon good knowledge of his excellencie to desire him and by the free offer and faithfull promise of himselfe to us poore sinners to give credit to his word taking him for our Lord and Saviour to give our selves wholly body and soule to him to be his faithfull Spouse and servants for ever 3. By this among many other notes may one know whether he indeed hath received Christ If he finde such affection to Christ in heaven as is in a betrothed virgin to one whom shee dearly loveth being beyond sea thinking the time long till shee enjoy his sweet fellowship This is too too rare Christian It were a very profitable labour for our selves and others to have the whole Anatomie of a Christian laid forth distinctly in all the vertues pertaining to him in all the corruptions cleaving to him with all the promises of God and priviledges both in this life and the life to come for encouragement as in like manner all the threats and miseries of the wicked here and hereafter to enforce abstinence from sin every of them gathered cleerly out of the Scripture with the quotations Christianitie 1. It may be justly complained that if the whole course of our best professors except very rare men ministers and people here and there one were rightly examined that they are so far off from that course which is by precept and example laid out to us in the Scriptures that the most have neede to begin all againe and to lay a better foundation in the assurance of their salvation for want whereof wofull effects follow generally such a contentednesse in their estate because of some conscience of duty remaining in them that there is no sighing after a better life and therefore no great endeavouring for it which breeds an uncōfortable reckoning in the end and
of prayer 2. That we may please God there must bee first an endeavour to pray according to his will 2. when we doe best yet to dislike our workes as unworthy the Lord. 3. a beleefe that God wil pardon our wants and accept us in Christs worthinesse not one of many thus please God most few in prayer 3. The true meanes to please God is true religion a true heart in religiō which joyne us to God for if either our heart bee uncleane which is abominable before God or religion be corrupted which is loathsome in his sight we cannot please the Lord how glorious soever wee bee in the sight of the world 4. Who so would please God must both in deede and manner of doing endeavour to obey him 5. The chiefest thing that God is pleased with is to be truly religious to love the truth with singlenesse of heart and a prepared minde to be obedient to it without the which though a man could live an Angels life in outward shew yet by how much the more it is praised of the world by so much it is the more abominable in the sight of God Poore 1. For releeving beggars at the doore or by the high way side I iudge this a good course seeing the law hath well provided who should bee releeved and who not for many great damages to the land by releeving such and therefore hath set a penaltie on such releevers therfore to releeve such as bee allowed by law in a godly discretion according to their necessitie unlesse we can on some good ground avouch them to be counterfeits and then as wee may to see them punished as for the other not licenced not to releeve them except wee bee assured of their present necessitie which is also by law excepted 2. In our lawfull labours whatsoever wee get its good to give the tenth to the poore Poperie 1. Many thinke it religion enough to leave poperie and stand on faith without fruits so hard is it for flesh and blood to admit a continuall strugling a going on forward 2. The mysterie of iniquity began even streight upon the Apostles times by this meanes that holy men and the fathers of the Church were not so wary in deliverie of the truth but gave advantage to Satan some one way some another whereby out of all their errours joyned together was at length raised up the Kingdome of Antichrist Praise and dispraise It s our corruption as well to praise some too much especially such of whom we have received some good things as to dispraise some too much especially of whom wee have beene some way hurt Prayer 1. As it is dangerous when wee like well our prayers to bee therefore perswaded God liketh them seeing they have their spots which not seen defile our prayers so contrarily when wee dislike them 2. How few prayers are there made in faith not one of many for besides all cold and carelesse prayers even then when wee see and feele our wants and earnestly desire grace yet hardly can wee be perswaded that God so loveth us and liketh our prayers that he is well pleased and will accept thereof It s true when we please our selves and feele not our wants wee easily rest and say God is with us which for the most part is either security or pride and presumption but when we feele our unworthinesse and have our conscience accusing us of many wants then wee feare the Lord regardeth us not but abhorreth our service which likewise for the most part is meere unbeleefe although I say not but in either of those there may lye covered some sparke of faith not seene but in our best prayers to see our wants to abhorre them and in our greatest defects to see Gods Spirit to comfort us therein and so in both truly to bee perswaded that God will for the merit of Christ pardon our wants and accept the worke of his Spirit this is true faith seldome seen in our prayers 3. Prayer is as the pulse shewing the state of the heart If the spirituall life bee weake such will our prayers bee and contrarily whosoever is very godly hath great life in prayer 4. As a sicke body feels no relish in good meate and drink so the sick soule in prayer whereby who so findeth sweet tast comfort and strength is in good case 5. Wee often pray more for custome and company then drawne by our wants yet its good to keepe a constant course that as in meate one morsell may get downe another so by praying wee may get more stomach to pray 6. The unregenerate may come to God in prayer with knowledge that he is a mercifull God to his enemies specially to all that seeke to him and so may desire and sue with feare for some favour but the faithfull are to come as to their father with joy and comfort of favour 7. The Lord our God tendering our good hath among many meanes commended unto us prayer to be an helpe at hand in all our necessities Phil. 4. 6. and because we by nature be altogether unapt to it it being so heavenly and wee so earthly he hath by all arguments commended it to us as 1. from his owne precept Psal 50. 15. Mat. 7. 7. 2. from its nature a most heavenly worke of the Spirit Ephes 6. 3. that its a chiefe meanes of Gods glory Psal 50. last 4. that its the most gainefull trade Iames 5. 5. that it hath great promises ibid. 6. that its most practised of the most godly and may be had when all other meanes be taken away 8. There be two common evills either wee know not how to pray or we want conscience to use our knowledge 9. Prayer is a speaking to God in Spirit according to his will or a crying of the heart to God which sets out the matter and manner not cold but fervent 10. The voice is but an helpe sometimes not of the nature of prayer yea its more then a minding what we say or heare for the heart must be occupied else no prayer 11. These three affections must bee specially occupied in prayer joy in Gods mercies sorrow for our sinnes and punishment thereof desire of mercie 12. Pure prayers are sweet melodie 13. As one man excells another in musick so in skilfull prayer 14. There is a double gift in prayer one of speech effectuall for edification of others which so farre forth is to be laboured for but this may be in a reprobate The other in Spirit whereby specially our selves be inflamed and so doe heate others with whom wee pray which is rare and proper to the elect this God likes 15. As they who would bee skilfull in any thing must bee much exercised therein so in prayer 16. It s a matter of singular comfort to a true heart that God seeth our meaning Rom.
a minister doth most appeare Too hasty tryall of a mans gifts hurtfull What mirth is requisite What course to take in mistrust and presumption Hovv to be quickned to mortification Good motions are to be dravvne into practise Weaknesse in body and minde vvhence it commeth Favour and a good name tvvo effects of godlinesse Our brethrens good name not to bee empaired Note Wee must be carefull to maintaine our good names Whence a good name ariseth Hurtfull to be vvell reported of undeservedly The first step to a good name Simil. Why the godly must carefully avoid evill Note Even the corruptions of the heart doe bring us out of Gods favour The second step to a good name In doing good what is to bee lookt unto What vvee are to doe when vvee are ill reported of for well doing Who doâ— little profit by the magistrate Why men are sorrowfull being put to openshame What they are to doe vvho vvould profit by open discredit Tvvo rules vvhereby to try godly sorrow A minister to traine up some tovvard Scholar in his house Private offences must not hinder private prayâ—â—s What Parents are to doe about their childrens infirmities The immoderate love of parents to their children punished Contracts not to be vvithout the parents consent Patience an ease in trouble When patience possesseth the soule Why so fevv rejoycâ— in Gods love How to maintaine our peace and so rejoyce Gods love the originall of our salvation yet the grace of Christ doth first assure us thereof Little care or labour to please God Three things required in those that vvould please God What things joyne us to God Obedience required in those that would please God What thing God is most pleased vvith Hovv farre and vvhat sort of beggars are to be releeved The tenth to be given to the poore Not enough to leave poperie and stand on faith vvithout fâ—uits The ground of Popery Wee are neither to praise nor dispraise too much Tvvo extremities to bee avoided about prayer Fevv prayers made in faith At vvhat timâ— vvee thinke God is pleâ—sed vvith us at vvhat time not Prayer the Christians pulse The sick soule relishes not prayer Though vve too often faile yet is there a constant course to be kept in prayer Difference betvveene the godlies and ungodlies comming to God by prayer Prayer commended unto us by many arguments Two common evils about prayer What praier is The voice not of the nature of prayer Three affections to be occupied in prayer Prayer melodious In prayer one may excell another A double gift in Prayer of speech of Spirit Frequency bringeth skill in prayer Matter of comfort and terror in prayer To pray in faith is hardly got and kept Prayer upon occasion to hee varyed Repetitions in Prayer not alvvayes unlavvfull How to avoide tediousnesse in Prayer Why the Lord often crosseth our fervent blesseth our cold and vveake prayers In prosperity pride to be avoided Why many have fallen by vvomen Ten priviledges of the Saints Most think not of knovv oâ— glory in their priviledges Seaven other priviledges Divers ptiviledges out of the eight to the Romanes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Foure sorts of professors 1. 2. 3. 4. Hovv to rejoyce in our profession Difference betvveene true and false professors Difference betvveene promises and threatnings What sort of sinnes the Lord doth especially punish Comfort against particular offences Gods judgemeÌ„ts on the vvicked Hovv enemies may become friends Hovv needfull reconciliation vvith God is By vvhat meanes a man may pri 〈…〉 demption The tryall of the heart in regeneration Hard to discerne betvveene the regenerate and unregenerate Gods ends herein We must not be dismaid at the falls of others Tvvo markes vvhereby the regenerate may discerne thâ—â— they are regenerate namely from the causes of their new birth and proper effects thereof The causes of regeneration 1. 2. 3. The effects of regeneration 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Not any one of the preceding effects must be vvanting Their estate is not good vvhose very life shevves the contrary Simil. Simil. Upon eveâ—y occasion vvee must have some good matter in store to be remeÌ„bred Hovv to remember the vvord best Hovv to redeeme the renevving of our inner man Hovv a godly physitian brought his diseased patients to a sight of their sins What use to make of ill reports Gods mercie that ill reports are sometimes raised against us Why God letteth false reports be raised against us Reproofe doth not alvvayes profit for the present Hovv to reprove sin at table What to be observed in reproving A note of an unquiet spirit The abuse and use of riches WheÌ„ a Pastor is not to debarre therefrom Difference betvveene ours and the Jevves SacrameÌ„ts In comparing our selves vvith Gods Saints how to be affected Divers sorts of people deceived about their salvation vvith the remedies to be used herein Satans proceedings to dravv men and vvomen to destruction 1. 2. 3. Who are insnared by him and yeelde unto them and vvho not Satans policie driving some to be too strict others too lavish in the use of Gods creatures Hovv farre vve are to pray unto God to restraine Satan Satans policie in hiding Gods blessings setting before us our vvants What vvee are most unvvilling to Satans policie in hindering from the performance of one duty by setting men on another The remedie His endeavour to corrupt men in doing their duty The remedie Faith and obedience joyntly to be urged A fault in most that they like and embrace Satans assaults Satans familiarity vvith us Thecourse to be taken in every temptatioÌ„ A comparison betvveene Satans tempting of Christ and Adam Satans temptations follovv our affections Distinctions betvveene Satans and the fleshes temptations Whom Satâ—n cannot one vvay vanquish he seeketh to overcome another Many hereby ensnared Thâ— remedie The Scriptâ—res the veine of hevvenly treasure Not enough barely to read the Sâ—riptures A vvorthy travaile for Students in divinity Time to be redeemed to read the Scriptures To abstain from sin for by-respects dangerous Why the number of seaven is often used in Scripture A necessary course to be taken about the providing a minister to instruct the infected The tryall of a mans selfe by his love or hatred of sin What must bee done of him that vvould profit in true repentance Sin not repented punished Conscience of sin vvhat it breedeth in the godly Miserable to be given to sinne Hovv sin may be left The ache of sin vvill be carryed to our graves Hovv to comfort our selves for particular sins The seede of every sinne is naturally in every man Hovv to avoide sin Hovv to finde out our special sinne The kinds of sinne Who sin not of finall obstinacie Hovv to stop the mouthes of slanderers Many are more grieved at sin because of the danger of it than othervvise Why many aâ—e more grieved at sin at first than aftervvards Hovv dangerous to make light of finne Why most Christians are unvvilling to lead the strict life of godlinesse Griefe for sinne is to be laboured for Meanes to attaine the same 1. 2. The hurt that prosperity vvorkes in many professors Occasions of carnall rejoycing must be shunned that vvee may truly grieve at sinne Necessary considerations provoking to godly sorrow Note A double sorrovv for sinne Tvvo rules to try godly sorrovv 1. 2. Dangerous to grieve more at vvorldly things theÌ„ at sinne Hovv truly to lament the sins of others Hovv long vve are to grieve Kindes of heavenly sorrovv Whence it is that vvee are not grieved at sinne in others True sorrovv for sinne hovv tryed The vvant of affection to any good to be grieved at Tvvo notes of godly sorrovv 1. 2. It s Satans policie to make us grieve continually Note More care is to bee had of the soule then of the body The soule first finneth A preposterous course in most professors Upon the sight of any plague earthly or spirituall vvhat is to be done A disquiet spirit vvhat What vve are to strive chiefely to doe A necessary course to profit in learning and bee more and more fitted for the ministerie Hovv to be fitted for great tryals Who may justly suspect that their state is bad Nate Every Christian is at table to move and further good matters Most are scantie in teares Hovv vve may abound therein What may comfort and humble us in temptation Hovv to prevent temptations Golden temptations A vicissitude of comforts and temptations Temptations sometimes take avvay feeling What course the Saints are to take in time of temptation Whence temptations come Wee must not faint in temptation To strive against temptations hovv profitable not to resist them how dangerous Hovv vve may knovv vvhether or not vvee shall yeeld to temptation Thanksgiving in vvords not accompanied vvith obedience discovers â—ypocrisie Thoughts not to bee spent on the vvorld Why it s found hard to keepe our thoughts on heavenly matters The Remedie Whence it is that many in their holy exercises are troubled vvith by-thoughts At vvhat time a Christian may judge his state good Hovv vve may cleerly see our state vvhether good or bad Hovv to try vvhether or not vve have received Christ A point of godly vvisdome We are to looke as vvell to outvvard as invvard corruptions Note Why vve ought to love the truth Want of love of the truth vvhereof it may make us affraid Hovv to vvalk vvith God all day long The time to be redeemed Vertue is but one the contraries there unto many Note Who they are that truly releeve others Hovv farre visions are to be credited Our life a vvarfare What vvatchfulnesse is The contrary effects of security and vvathfulnesse The kinds of vvatchfulnesse There is care to bee had therof The generall vertue of the vvord to be noted Why vvee profit not in the vvord The effect of carelesse hearing The vvord and spirit must goe together Why most profit not by hearing the vvord The benefit of fruitfull hearing Note The vvord is food for the soule A chiefe default in hearing Whether vve are to goe to Churchon the vveek daies or not Worldly mindednes a common sinne among professors Gods children not so vvise for their soules as are vvorldlings for their bodies Instruction of young children Prayer to be kept from the sins of the time There must be both zeale and love in rebuking Zeale to Gods glory wherein manifested
and hard that nothing will please him which hath infirmitie whereas indeed as hee knoweth what wee doe or can doe so hath hee revealed himselfe to bee as readie to bee pleased with the meanest endevours and to forgive and beare with wants as ever parents were Againe if we had not infirmities what need we Christ one main benefit of his being to cover our infirmities so then wee ought to beleeve that God in Christ will forgive and accept us 4. To have a sweet feeling of Gods fatherly love and so to know and be assured our names are written in heaven that wee cannot perish being as Christ teacheth the matter of greatest joy as whereon all other comforts depend and without which there can bee no sound joy no marvaile though so few attain thereunto it being reserved for such of Gods children as be deepest in favour with him the rest but seldome and the hypocrite never soundly but in fancie enjoying the same Though this bee the free gift of God given to whom and so long as pleaseth him yet bee there many lets which keepe men from it and meanes to attaine and keepe it Besides the common contemners even in those that faine would have this assurance and oft mourne for it there be many lets 1. A great part bee ignorant how or whereon to build this assurance the most building their faith on their life which cannot be sound and oft faileth and can never be constant whereas the true building is to build life on faith and faith onely upon Gods mercy and truth revealed in his word not to the righteous and godly but sinners and ungodly thus Seeing the Sonne of God who hath given himselfe to worke mans redemption hath freely offered himselfe to save me a wretched sinner voide of all grace and subject to damnation promising fully to save me if I will come to him and wholly cast my selfe upon him receive him for my Saviour Lord and Husband and giving my selfe wholly body and soule to be his to serve him for ever therefore knowing and beleeving that hee both can and will indeed fully performe his promise and defiring to enjoy the same doe faithfully give and betroth my selfe to him and thereon doe build my assurance that I in him shall obtaine Gods favour and all the fruits thereof for my present cōfort and eternall happiness 2. Another great and common let of this spirituall joy and comfort in the Lord even in those that oft complaine of the want thereof is this that they will not goe to the price of it that is valuing it above all wee can aske or thinke therefore to sell all for it forgoe any thing for it and seeing what will keepe us from it to put it away though as deare as our right eye our gaine credit ease and pleasure and knowing any meanes that will helpe us to it to spare no cost no time no labour but constantly to use all meanes till wee get it and so to keepe it Now seeing this is tedious to our corrupt nature many through meere forgetfulnesse minding other things too much let all this care and travell alone seldome or sleightly minding this matter Others of meere slothfulnesse neglect to take the paines for it whereas without much paines it will not bee gotten and kept and none can bee too much Others too much in love with the world seeing the attaining and keeping of this assurance of God favour will not stand with the use of any unlawfull gaine credit in the world or vaine delight or with the abuse of lawfull therefore the covetous ambitious and voluptuous loath to forgoe any part of their wealth pomp and state of their braverie feastings pastimes and the like can never get or hold this pretious treasure of rejoycing in the Lord. Among those may be reckoned such who not so much choaked with these yet seeing that to hold this confidence will cost them sore trouble and many afflictions of meere fearefulnes and over-tendernesse being loath to suffer any thing are discouraged from seeking it and so content to live without it Others through meere distrust that they shall never attaine or hold it faint and give over In some there hath been some foule and reproachfull sinne which lyeth as a thorne in the flesh that til it be pulled out there is no ease which they loath to see and more loath should bee seene and they should beare the shame of doe so hide and smother that in the end it flameth out to their greater confusion In all the Lord hath his stroke who for these or other most just causes often hideth his loving countenance from his owne children and though he love them will not let them see it lest they should abuse it and to make them set more by it to seeke it earnestly above all when they want it and to keepe it charily when they have it The remedies of all the former diseases be the earnest labour for the contrary vertues more to value this pearle more to minde it to spare no paines in prayer meditation and other good exercises love and desire nothing in comparison hereof to hearten our selves against al discouragements and to be content to suffer any thing for it and to rest on Gods mercy and truth that as he hath given an heart to seeke so wee shall in the end obtaine and therefore to be patient and constant to the end to pull up any stub in our conscience by wise meanes cleering our selves before God and the world as need requires and lastly to consider the many tokens wee have of Gods love though hee seeme to frowne upon us and to hide his face 5. He that most denyeth himselfe and of love yeelds himselfe wholly to God may have most assurance of his effectuall vocation and election 6. Hee that feeleth his heart fully perswaded of his Salvation must examine whether it breede answerable love zeale and care to please God with griefe for offending his Majestie else may it be but presumption Atheisme Atheisme is more to bee feared then Papisme seeing many renounce Popery who yet care not for Christianity Baptisme 1. A Godly man may have his childe baptized of a minister though unreverently handling that holy mysterie that being alone the ministers sinne and which cannot hinder the blessing of Gods ordinance the Apostles being very ignorant baptised 2. The Fathers presence is requisite at the baptizing of the childe to promise for it or if he cannot come to certifie the congregation that hee would have his childe baptized and make that promise by others which present hee ought 3. Baptisme is a seale of the Crosse of Christ 4. The childe of an harlot may bee baptized though not for her sake yet for the forefathers within the same generation Benefits or Blessings 1. In all our mirths and rejoycing wee are to remember
the instrumentall cause of justification workes as the effects of the man justified 8. It s a matter much to be bewailed as cause of great danger to many a soul that Satan our sworn enemie in every part of our life so annoying us yet most seldome or never see or avoid his assaults but rather like and embrace them 9. Satan being a Spirit hath a very familiar though secret communion with our spirits 10. It s safest in all temptations to keepe the meane neither to be quiet without griefe for then Satan will account we bee his without any paines neither to be too unquiet as without comfort for then Satan will be the prouder and bolder to take more paine to overcome us 11. As Satan tempting Adam overcame him and all in him so tempting Christ as he could not overcome him so neither shall he us in him 12. Satans temptations follow our affections if wee lightly account of him hee bleares our eyes with Gods mâ—rcies if we be pricked with conscience of sinne then he ladeth us with the judgements of God making us as ready to aggravate our sinnes as by the former to extenuate them 13 Subtilty and violence are the chiefest distinctions betweene the temptations of the devill and of the flesh 14. When Satan cannot drive into security he laboureth to discourage that they may have no heart to good exercises and so make small use of them for as they who eate with ill stomacks have least strength by their meate so nothing more hinders our profiting by good exercises than want of comfort in them This policie of Satan many not observing doe of purpose discomfort themselves thinking the same best and so take corrasives for cordials The remedie hereof is this that such as be hindered by discouragement should in their meanest discharge of duties feede on these comforts 1. the nature of God so proclaimed and proved more tender pittifull and ready to beare with pardon and accept our least endeavours in truth than parents the frailties of their children 2. that in our weakest duties there is some conscience and fruit The Scriptures 1. Men that dig in mines for any treasure even for the hope of gaine labour sore before they finde any veine and many times misse but when they finde the silver veine with what cheerefulnesse doe they labour it makes them forget their paine though sore and otherwise tedious now wee who studie the Scriptures are even in the veine of heavenly treasure how much then should we bee encouraged 2. The Scriptures barely read without particular looking into the severall doctrines contained therein is like a comming into a treasurie wherein we see many costly things folded up and some ends appearing out but when they be all uncovered then doth their glory more affect us for the present and leave a deeper impression of their excellencie so in the Scriptures by the particular view of the excellent doctrines our memory is more confirmed besides our present use therof 3. It s a most worthy travaile for Students in divinity to referre all their studie first for the true sense of the Scripture which onely will make a man a grounded Divine to teach and confute all errour and secondly for the right use in himselfe and others for amendment of life and all godly duties 4. Wee must redeeme time even from our ordinary callings to read the holy Scriptures Selfe-love This is a dangerous deceit and bewrayes an unsound heart that when our sinne is like to bee reproachfull to us then wee can hold in for our credits sake but in our private dealings there is no such stay and indeed if it bee observed wee shall finde that this selfe-love is a greater cause of leaving much ill and doing good than the true love of God which ariseth from a sound faith The number of Seaven The number of seaven is oft used in the Scriptures for that God foreseeing mans unbeleefe provided many things to call him to the remembrance of the creation and so bring him to meditating beleeving and trusting in God Sicknesse It s most meete in the time of a contagious sicknesse that there be one Minister to teach the whole and another to visite the sicke and that by choice of the people if people admonished will not take this order a godly pastor may in wisedome to his power provide for both speaking to the infected a farre off if any danger come he is free Sinne. 1. As he that once could not abide to taste bitter or sowre things when hee was in health may justly suspect that his stomack and body is out of frame when he can well away therewith so he that could not once abide any corruption of sinne in himselfe or others and now can is to feare his soule is sick and therefore no man though never so godly otherwise but is to suspect himselfe and to be grieved when he can passe over his infirmities or see sinne in others without earnest griefe 2. Hee that will profit in true repentance must not by viewing the sinnes of others whether preachers or people be drawne from sight of his owne in his particular calling of Magistrate Minister Parents c. but must so see those that first he cast out the beame out of his owne eye 3. The Lord punisheth every sinne not repented of either in our selves or in our posterities 4. The conscience of Gods graces with the conscience of sinne breedeth an hell in the hearts of Gods children when wee are given to sinne wee are blinde even in the sight of our owne dangers and custome of sinne which preach such iniquity unto us that neither Gods judgements can terrifie us nor his mercies move us 5. Wee shall never throughly leave sinne untill we know and acknowledge sinne to bee sinne and bee truly sorrowfull for the same 6. This above many things is to be lamented in the lives of most professors that by long custome in sinne it is so confirmed that we shall carry the ach thereof to our grave as bruised men in their youth 7. Wee may comfort our selves for particular sinnes if being admonished wee bee humbled for them as David and Iehosaphat but if being admonished we still lye in sinne and so tye one sinne to another then are wee to feare Gods wrath for it is the generall falling into sinne not one particular which displeaseth God 8. There is no sinne whereof every man hath not the seed in himselfe which without the Lords mercie would in time breake out 9. A good helpe to avoide sinne is to remember what punishments we have felt for sinne and what are threatned 10. Though it be very hard to finde out our speciall and secret sinnes yet by oft examining our selves acquainting our selves with our owne estate by often prayer that God would reveale them by
con ceale our sinne yet wee with David freely confesse it 7. When many are more grieved with the losse of worldly credit the motion whereof is sinne than with the sense of their sinnes and losse of Gods glory the Lord striketh them with the want of that which is most precious to them when they make no conscience of his honour which is most precious unto him 8. If we will truely lament the sinnes of others we must first bee touched for our owne and as touching others so to lament as the sinne requireth and with love not contempt of the person and pray for him 9. When we have cause of sorrow it is good not to cast it off till wee see the fruit thereof 10. Heavenly sorrow it is to talke of good things which we want or ill which we have 11. We cannot heartily be grieved for that sin in others whereof wee have made no great conscience our selves 12. That is a true godly sorrow for sinne when no outward pleasure can steale it away nor continuance of time waste it but onely Christ 13. This ought to bee alwayes in Gods children that in the want of affection to any godly exercise when they should have it that at least they should be grieved thereat 14. Two notes there are of godly sorrow 1. that it be for a just cause and 2. a proportionable measure to the cause for it is a subtle policie of Satan against tender consciences to urge them to a continuall sorrow whereby he may more prevaile in his accusation against them for when they sorrow so much for little offences hee will dismay them in their greater faults or accuse them of hypocrisie in making no more account of great sins than of common infirmities wee are then to take heed how wee give our selves to sorrow continually especially seeing wee are commanded to rejoyce alwayes and never to sorrow alwayes although there be a necessary time of sorrow and moreover this ought to be considered that God will not account of men for one particular defect but according to his generall course and tenour of life Soule and Body 1. It were great wisedome and grace to bee more carefull to feede and provide for our soules which even a world cannot ransome than our bodies not feeding these till those be fed 2. There is never any corrupt action in the body whereof there hath not beene first a corrupt motion and affection in the soule so that the soule is the enemy of the body in using it to sinne and not the contrary as many falsely complaine and therefore punish their bodies and spare their soules whereas wee ought rather to nourish the body as the friend to the soule for the exercise of repentance of mortification and of sanctification Spirituall decay It s high wisdome when wee see any plague upon us earthly or spirituall as losse of our spirituall comfort and cheerefulnesse in well-doing or wound of conscience by sinne remitted then to turne to the Lord crave help of him both to shew us the cause and to teach us truely to remove it that so humbling our selves wee may obtaine mercy and be freeed from the plague Disquiet Spirit A punished minde is a disquiet Spirit Godly Strife Seeing we are naturally unwilling to any good thing it is good to strive to that thing which wee are most unwilling to doe Students This course have I by experience found profitable and resolved upon namely to bee diligent in reading the holy Scriptures and of them at the least every day foure chapters in like manner for the encrease of my knowledge to spend three houres in the forenoone in searching out the sense of the hardest places as two in the afternoone in the searching out the proprieties of the tongues and other two in perusing the tracts and commentaries of learned men one in meditation and prayer what time remaineth to spend the fame in brotherly conference Suffering They that will suffer great things in persecution and that of Papists must suffer smaller in peace and that of Protestants Selfe-suspition He that can neglect the private meanes and use them without any lively touch and he that can heare the word without any check of his conscience when the word rebuketh his corruption or he that hath his heart accusing him of sinne and can bee merry and follow the world and passe over his sinne is greatly to suspect himselfe and to deny comfort to his heart till God truly humble him The best may accuse themselves and this is comfortable if wee truly judge our selves in this case Table-talke SEeing all are anointed with the same oyle and not the Minister alone all men at a table are to move and further good matters with reverence and discretion Teares Howsoever wee please our selves with smal grace yet if wee compare our selves with that wee see should be in us and is in some wee are exceeding short as in this one thing that so few teares come from us in any cause we are too ready to excuse our selves hereby that we are not so prone to weepe as others and yet for earthly things wee can readily What was it in Paul that drew so many teares continually from him but his tender love to God and his Saints Let this be in us so shall wee weepe Temptations 1. As it is a great comfort that no temptation invade us but that which taketh holde of the nature of man so this ought to make us with profit humble our selves that there is no temptation in any man which may not take hold on us in time 2. Wee are never the further from temptation for misliking it but the neerer unlesse as in judgement wee mislike it so in affection wee humble our soules in feare and prayer before the Lord as knowing the same in time may invade us 3. Satan in good causes doth use golden temptations to allure the children of God as in prayer he affordeth meditation in meditation prayer in hearing almesgiving in reading admonition and still envyeth the good thing whereunto wee are called 4. As there is a vicissitude of the meanes and comforts of our salvation so is there of temptations which being repelled will come againe 5. As some sicknesse takes away all sense of life so some temptation may take away the feeling of spirituall life 6. In any grievous temptation wee must flee to prayer and to reading the word that part thereof which is fittest and this not prevailing to conferre with some faithfull brother and bee diligent in these meanes when if yet we prevaile not then must we follow our callings diligently and with patience waite the Lords leisure not reasoning with our temptation lest thereby we be made dull or desperate neither yet wholly contemning it as a trifle lest we fall into