of the Acts from ver 19. to the end The Manner of a Godly Mans Return after some Back-sliding from the ways of GOD. FIrst Experience tells me the heart is deceitful the Old man being not wholly crucified strives to insnare our poor souls and many times gets advantage and brings us to a lost Condition I am sure in these days many a poor soul hath even run himself off from holy duties and from the society of the Saints and so hath lain and not seen his evil nay grew dead as it were and hardened in it Many such are returned already and all the rest that are God's will follow But before I go any further I shall shew some of the Reasons or Causes that have made this disorder which otherwise t is like might not have been The first cause was the terrible out-cries of some Ministers against all that separated from their National Worship calling them Hereticks Blasphemers and such like calling upon the Parliament and Magistrate to punish and destroy them with these ensuing punishments 1. With threatnings and scourgings 2. With imprisonments 3. With banishments 4. With death This was common in their Pulpits for which I am confident God will reckon with them because this was the first offence and the cause of much bitterness And truly most of the reason that moved them was fear that now they should not keep the people in blindness and that their Lord-like power would not stand over the Consciences of men And the Reason why I thus conclude is this because they only are the men that uphold Formality how loth are they to part with their old Reliques nay we see that many of the Grand fathers among them still wear their old weed the rags of Prelacy will hardly come down Nay that which is far worse their patching up a body for Christ of their carnal hearers and calling them his Church and giving them the Ordinances of Christ which are left only for the Saints the proof of which is so plain that none can deny and now it should do well if you would look and see if your Members are such as Christ saith his be John 15. And see then what fruit they bear are not most of them meer sots in any thing of God hast thou found a change in them doth not thy conscience tell thee that not one of them is truly godly what then hast thou to do to give the childrens bread unto them And now one thing more I have observed from thee thou art overjoyed to see any one that is not in thy Form fall into sin thou never art troubled that God is dishonoured by it neither dost thou take notice of the daily wickedness committed by those of thy own form but this thou sayest This was one of the fellows under new light and so endeavourest to cast dirt on all And by such like courses have thy ways provoked many to slight thee and that justly And envy and evil hath been by thee procured even to the hurt of the Saints VVo be to him by whom offences come 2. Another Reason why many have backslidden is because of many rotten hearts among themselves which always waited to finde holes open that under some pretence they might run forth to sin and by this means many were befooled with them 3. Another was the rigidness of them under forms so that there was no Communion with them unless a man agreed in every part of their judgement which many could not do and therefore were fain to withdraw from them and so to abide alone which hath caused much evil But to return to the matter in hand T is truth many have back-slidden the Question will be from what they did back slâ—de Answ It was from the ways of God and in particular these From the Communion of Saints From holy Duties As Prayer and Thanksgigiving and such like These have been neglected and reading and meditating on the Word of God or that there hath been a yielding to some sin or that there hath not been that watchfulness over the heart and lips as there ought These are the things both omitted and committed Now a godly man lies not here but he returns and the manner how he doth return here followeth First God brings him to see the evil of it as in Jeremy 31. 19. And then the heart is ashamed and repents for what hath past and it works in him a Revenge against sin and a searching of the heart there shall no sin now lie in quiet He longs now for the wayes of God and he sees what t is to want Communion with the Saints and now he longs for it again and loves them dearly where he sees fruitfulness in grace Again his heart is much for holy duties he will keep close to God by prayer his soul longs for Communion and fellowship with his God as David saith His soul panteth for God and longeth to enjoy more of him he sees his own nothingness and weakness and he flies wholly to the Lord Christ he dares not trust himself any more His delight is in the Law of his God as David saith And this is the manner how a backslider returns to God and his ways I shall only add a word or two more and that shall be of Advice 1. To those that are not yet returned but are still in a back-sliding condition Come off now and lie not in this sad luke-warm condition and minde what Christ saith in Rev. 3. v. 15 16 17. Think it no small matter to be lukewarm in the wayes of God and godliness lest thou be spued out of his mouth 2. To those that have seen the evil of it Let this also advise thee that thou keep close now to thy God and the ways of Godliness thou seest that t is not in vain to serve thy God set about it then with a perfect heart and keep a narrow watch that thou be no more ensnared Let it appear of a truth that the power of God and godliness is in thee A SHORT TREATISE Wherein is contained 1. The worth of a good Conscience 2. The Happiness of a holy Conversation 3. The Blessed and Comfortable Estate of those that have a true fellowship with God Christ and the Saints 4. What t is to bear the Cross of Christ 5. The Reward in holding out to the end 6. An Invitation of all sorts of sinners to the offer of Grace 7. The wofull Condition of all that accept not of it A wise man will hear and will increase learning Pro. 1. 5. You therefore that are wise and endued with knowledge shew it in a holy conversation Jam. 3. 13. THe first thing we are to speak of is a good Conscience and the great Worth of it Because most men and women keep much ado about it and yet deceive themselves we shall proceed 1. To shew what a good Conscience is 2. To prove the worth of it 1. What is a good Conscience A good conscience
themselves to Christ and follow him in that way he commands I shall draw one Observation more which lieth in the way that is Obs 4. That there is an unseparable mutual union betwixt Christ and every Saint From these words My Beloved is mine and I am his there is the union as if the Spouse had said I am united to Christ and he to me as the Vine is to the branches Joh 15. 5. so is Christ to me and I to him and as the head is to the members so is Christ to the Saints and the Saints to Christ and as the head is governour of the body so is Christ over the Saints and the Saints act by his light and motion This union is mutual as it is with the consent of will and truth of love so it is unseparable the love of Christ never changes it holds out for ever As the Prophet Jeremy c. 31 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindness have I drawn thee Christ will never depart from his Saints he will never leave them untill he hath saved them to the utmost point of salvation Heb. 7. 25. There is no peace no quiet neither in Christ nor in the souls of the Saints longer then they enjoy each other And that made the Apostle Paul say Our life is hid with Christ in God Our life is in Christ there is no life for a Saint out of Christ Again God hath given all the Saints to Christ All that the Father giveth me saith Christ shall come to me and all those that come to Christ shall never be plucked out of his hands Joh. 10. 28. So likewise in Hos 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever The Spouse of Christ is joyned to him for ever there is no separation See one Scripture more 1 Thess 4. 17. At the time of death when all ungodly men shall for ever be separated from Christ then is the time for the Saints to enjoy their Beloved fully and for ever You see now that this is a truth that there is both a mutual union and unseparable between Christ and the Spouse which is his Church or the Saints Well now from these Heads or Observations there will proceed Uses The first will be a use of Examination to all in general whether we have this assurance of Christ yea or no. The second will be a use of Exhortation to all the Saints that they love and prize Christ dearly as it is their duty The third to all that as yet are without Christ that they be perswaded to give up themselves to him The fourth is a use of Comfort to the Saints in general The first Use is of Examination to search our hearts and souls thorowly whether we have Christ or no And in the doing of this beware that you do not look on those Evangelical Marks and Signes in the Word of God as notions but bring thy heart to the Word and see what thy Portion is there and what thy fruits appear to be and what Condition soever thou finde thy self in deal plainly with thy self if thou finde thy self yet in a state of Nature then think it thy duty to confess it and do not deny it because it is a sad Condition but own it and take those courses to come out of it that thou findest hereafter mentioned 2. Consider the equity of this Duty and the great need all men and women have to be sure of Christ You must have Christ or else you are but Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. Again God chooseth and setteth apart the Godly for himself as you have it in Psal 4 3. and therefore I tell thee of nothing but what thou standest in great need of and which thou art required to do if thou intendest to be a sharer in the Lord Christ Therefore now let us put the Work upon examination and search after our assurance and if we are willing to see our selves in our own condition then take notice of these marks which follow First Take notice what men and women are by Nature 2. Consider what the work of Conversion is and what blessed effects there is that followeth this work First Consider what estate all are in by nature All by nature are the children of wrath Ephes 2. 3. In this estate thou art in darkness and hadst nothing to do with Christ thou hadst no fellowship with him neither wast thou any way taken with the Commands of God as to see any loveliness in them every soul in the world in this estate is alienated from God and as Adam hid himself from God for fear of his sin so do all poor creatures run from God for fear of punishment and as they are by nature they never desire to have to do with God the guilt of sin lies hard on every unregenerate soul and that makes him a stranger both to God and his wayes and therefore now let us search into our souls and try if our condition be not such a one as this is 2. Let us consider what the work of Conversion is and we shall finde it to be A changing of this nature and a quickening of the soul as you may see in Eph 2. 5. It is a working over of the soul into obedience to the Commands of God And usually the great God is pleased to do it by these six particular degrees which follow First By Illumination 2. By Inspiration stirring up the soul to do the will of God 3. By Operation working up the soul to the love of Christ 4. By Direction teaching us to do the will of the Lord. 5. By assisting us to do that which is directed to us 6. By a full evidence of his Spirit that we are the Sons of God First The Lord illuminates the soul the poor soul being in darkness and knowing no way to come out the Lord enlightens him and brings him to see his miserable estate John 1. 5. the Lord shews the soul the filthiness of sin and his lost and undone condition that he is in by nature and his great need of Christ makes him to long for his Assurance of the love of Christ more then ever he did for any thing in the world and now being enlightened all things to him are as bad as may be sin is exceeding sinfull to him and he sees himself loaden with it and therefore he is like those in the Acts who were so enlightened Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Acts 2. 37. 2. The Lord works by Inspiration carrying on the soul to Actions of life making him fit for such service as is now to be done makes him still in motion and ready not only to see but obey As Paul saith in Rom. 6. 17. Ye obeyed from the heart the doctrine delivered This is worth something to have the heart lifted up to God in Obedience and to have the soul at an utter enmity with sin striving against it in a continual motion never
find a godly man endevouring to search out the great mysterie of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and therein lifting up the praise of God and trying his heart by the Word of truth keeping a Diurnal of his daily practise and so can say as Hezekiah Remember O Lord how I walked before thee I see 2 King 20. This work is fit for a godly man and by this thou mayest know him So much of the first mark He is a new man 2. A godly man wouldst thou know him thou shalt know him in the second place by his Will his will is now subject to the will of God See an example of this in Saul Act. 9. Although he was going with a full consent to persecute the Saints of God and that with zeal yet so soon as God doth but speak to him see the change in him Lord what wilt thou have me to do And let the will of God be what it will he will be willing to submit to it and therefore it is that the godly man sets such a high esteem upon the Word of God in the Scriptures because the revealed will of his God is discovered there there he finds it the will of his God that he should hear the voice of his Son This is my dear Son saith God hear him To which the godly man answers Must I hear the voice of Christ nothing in the world is more sweet to me He looks not on it as a burden but as a high priviledge and would be content to enjoy it continually Further the godly man eyes the will of God in all things and endeavours to bring his will under it As to instance in some things first in that which Paul saith 1 Thess 4. 3. The will of God is our Sanctification the godly man sees it to be the will of God and therefore he endeavours according to his strength to possess his vessel in honour and sanctification I mean acts of godlines by humbleness patience prayer thanksgiving c. By which thou mayest see clearly that he is such a one as I have told thee of And so likewise in all things in every dispensation of God the godly man is willing to yield to God either to take up or to cast down in all things he is content as Paul saith of himself content in every condition And yet further he is very inquisitive after the knowledge of Gods will a gratious heart is not content to follow God in some things and neglect others no he is inquiring still further and strives to go on to higher attainments he presseth forward as the Apostle Paul saith to the mark And here thou mayest discern him also from the formal man who keeps much ado about his knowledge as if he knew all things and would force all to live as he and that none should step beyond him but a godly man in the state of grace he is so far from this kinde of temper that he sees nothing in himself and as Paul saith 1 Cor. 8. 2. neither knows as he ought to know Therefore his desire is that all men who are godly should press forward he knows there are yet higher attainments to be enjoyed and therefore is industrious to finde out truth and when he hath found it out he confers not with flesh and blood but goeth on to do as he is commanded 3. Wouldst thou know a man in the state of grace a godly man thou shalt know him by his love to God and his wayes such a soul loveth the Lord Christ dearly O how delightful are all these to him he cries out as the Spouse the Saints of Christ Cant. 1. 2. and 7. O thou whom my soul loveth the heart and soul of a godly man is engaged to love God and Christ and the wayes of God that he thinks he never loves them enough and cries out as David Psal 31. 23. O love the Lord ye his Saints and then for his love to Christ he is sick of it longs to be with Christ Cant. 25. Tell such a soul of what thou canst t is in vain his love cannot be drawn from his God and dear Redeemer and therefore that is the reason why a godly man holds on in his love to God and his wayes because it is fixed firmly and on good and sure grounds and here now thou mayest discover why those that have made fair shews in Religion have fallen away because they had not this love firmly fixed they reserved to themselves other lovers which at last stole away the heart after them And again the hearts of such were never new modell'd they never saw as yet what it was truly to enjoy the love of God and therefore how should such love him so as to hold out all weathers God will by one way or other discover all such Wandring-stars but chiefly his way is to do it by themselves he gives them up to that lust which they were most in love with so that all the world may see that they never loved God nor his ways in truth We see many in these dayes so laid open and made manifest I hope it will not be long that such rotten-hearted men shall have any shelter under the profession of godliness God hath begun to lay them open some of every form Some in turning with the sow and dog to build that which they cryed so often to destroy and to accomplish their ends joyn themselves with that Crew which God hath as appears designed to ruine and this they do as 't is pretended out of zeal But wilt thou know what the practise of a godly man is then see Gal. 5. 22 c. to the end of the Chap. thou shalt in spight of thy teeth by this word be condemned for in no part is this to be found in thee in stead of these thou art no better then a rigid Railer who art not content with Gods will but wouldst have thine own accomplished as appears by thy late actings which 't is a shame to name And instead of admiring at the goodness of God in delivering his people from that trouble which they were in before these wars and in bringing down the proud looks of the greatest Enemies they had even Mighty and Noble ones are fallen and that he hath raised a poor despised small Number and given them the Rule of this Commonwealth and hath by them in some measure sorely wounded the hairy scalp of the wicked I say in stead of thy admiring and blessing God for this thou art discontent and hast not a heart for but against this great work I tell thee and thou shalt find it true that if thou return not from this thou wilt even perish with the enemies of God and his people I can only lay it before thee Be not wise in thine own conceit To be short Thou seest many others discovered Some for defrauding the State and such like have been Cashieâ—'d with their sin on their head Others more wicked for denying
Eph. 4. 25. And grow up unto him who is thy head as in Eph. 4. 15. Thus much for the first Question The second thing is A holy Conversation what it is and the happiness that comes by it 1. What is a holy conversation A holy conversation is this When a man walks in the ways of God and godliness then he is said to have a holy Conversation as in 2 Pet. 3. 11. The Saints of God they are called to it as we see in 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. Our God is holy saith the Apostle and therefore ye ought to be so in all manner of Conversation that is as if he had said O ye Saints your God is a holy God and cannot endure sin especially in you therefore be ye holy that is be ye obedient unto your God do what he hath commanded you be ye godly call upon your Father walk in his ways let thy conversation be in heaven as the Apostle saith in Eph. 3. 20. A holy conversation is a heavenly conversation I shall not stand here any longer in regard I have laid down nine particulars whereby a godly man may be known I shall proceed to the benefits that come by a holy life and conversation you shall finde them to be many As 1. Thy Communion with God and the Lord Christ if thou live a holy life God will delight in thee to do thee good and will shew thee his salvation Psa 50. 23. and will have Communion with thee God is Light and therefore he will not have communion with darkness as Paul saith in 2 Cor. 6. 15 16 17 18. 2. The Saints will love and own thee if thou live a holy life then thou wilt have the benefit of their Communion otherwise if thou live ungodly they will not own thee Consider the benefit of this what it is to be owned among the Saints and servants of the Lord. 3. Thou will finde comfort in the course of thy life when the judgments of God fall on the wicked for disobeying his Commands and that they know not whether to flie from his hand and that the Lord say to such unprofitable servants get you from me into utter darkness for ever as in Matth. 25. 30. Of what benefit will this holy life be to thee that when thy Lord Christ cometh he shall finde thee doing his will as in Matth. 24. 46. 4. At the time of death thou wilt finde a benefit indeed when thou canst say as Christ said I have finished thy work which thou gavest me to do Joh. 17. 4. And I have glorified thee on earth What thinkest thou will it be of no value then that thou hast lived holy Thou mayest see of what worth the Apostle Paul makes it in 2 Tim. 4. 6 7 8. My departure is at hand but here is my comfort I have fought a good fight I have finished my course and kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness and for all them that love the appearing of Jesus Christ 5. And lastly After death thou shalt finde that God intends to judge the world by thy conversation in 1 Cor. 6 2 3. Nay even the Angels shall be Judged by it thou hadst need be holy indeed what a shame will it be to thee that thou hast lived fruitless and carnal when God shall open every mans book and shall judge the world and angels by thy life of what comfort will it be that thou haft been holy If it be so then let all that are Saints endeavor to outstrip one another in a holy life and conversation and that they all watch and have their Lamps ready with oyl to meet the Bridegroom Matth. 25. Read and consider this for the Lord Christ will come when we are not aware and as a thief in the night and as lightning that is soon come so will the Lord Christ Matth. 24. all the chapter Thirdly What it is to have a true fellowship with God Christ and the Saints and the blessedness and comfort it brings to those that have it First What this fellowship is with the Father and the Son as the Apostle John speaks of in his 1. Epist. ch 1. ver 2. 3. To have fellowship with God and Christ is a very high fellowship indeed Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son saith the Apostle that is God and Christ have given themselves with their treasures unto us and we are made partakers of the Divine nature of God and Christ dwels in the Saints as you may see 1 Joh. 4. 13. They dwell in them by the spirit and the Saints they dwell in God and Christ their very life is in God Here is a neer one-ness indeed this fellowship is worth much it is to live in the bosom of God it is to be very nearly acquainted with God God speaks by his Spirit to the Souls of his Saints I am your God and Father Come unto me in my Son and I will hear you The Saints they bring the Lord Christ with them and come into the presence of God and there they make their minds known unto him they lay their souls open before him and then the Lord drops in some refreshing and sends the soul away with sweet content And this is the fellowship the Saints have with God and Christ Before I go any further I shall speak a word or two by way of advice to the Saints and it is this Is it indeed such a neerness that you have with God and the Lord Christ Let this then advise you that you behave your selves with holy reverence Is the holy God so near you and the Lord Christ in you Dear friends how ought you to carry your selves then in the presence of your God and Lord God expects reverence from you as you see in Psal 89. 7. Look to your hearts that they wander not from God when you come into his presence and that you walk holily with your God where-ever you are Consider I say the great neerness that is between God and you and let the consideration of it drive away all carnal delights that thou mayest delight in thy God to have fellowship with him Secondly What is it to have fellowship with the Saints To have fellowship with them is to be partners in the same enjoyment I shall draw a comparison here of fellowship in outward things And although indeed spiritual things should be compared with spiritual things yet this will much open the word Fellowship and make it plain There are many things to be observed in fellowship amongst men that deal together as 1. They give in their names 2. They promise to hazard all alike 3. They bring in every man his share 4. They send all away to Sea 5. They patiently wait for a Return 6. When it returns they receive the profit For the first the Saints all give in their names to follow the Lord Christ and the wayes of God together 2. They promise to hazard all
Gospel-Mysterie OR The great Vnion that is betwixt CHRIST and the SAINTS From Cant. 2. 16. WITH A true Way to discern a Godly man from a Carnal or Vngodly man AND The way how the Saints return after Back-sliding Also The Worth of a good Conscience By Robert Dornford Revel 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man will open I will come in and sup with him LONDON Printed by R. W. for Francis Tyton and are to be sold at the three Daggers in Fleet street neer the Inner-Temple-Gate 1652. Christian Reader I Have made bold to present thee with a few lines in which it is like thou mayest find much weakness I shall humbly intreat thee to bear with that and to lay aside all prejudice that may arise in thy heart and do desire thee to read it over on this consideration That God makes use of weak Instruments for many good ends And this I will assure thee that I do not tell thee of that which I partake not of but of that which I have both heard and learned seen and felt and do offer it to thee not as my own fancy but thou seest it no more then the Word of God witnesseth and therefore whether I please man or no it matters not much I know many Pretenders to be Saints yet deny the Power of Godliness The Lord turn all the hearts of his People away from them In a few words my desire is that thou and I may not have a name to live yet be dead that we may not own the titles of Saints and yet live as carnal as others which many do at this day But it is no more then we may expect in regard the Lord CHRIST and the Apostles have foretold of Wandring Stars and Clouds without water carried about with wind I tell thee whosoever thou art either Spiritual or Temporal here is something for thee to do And therefore weigh that which thou readest in the ballance of Truth and the Lord make both thee and me not only hearers of his will but doers also Which is the earnest desire of Thy Christian Friend R. D. A great Neerness Betwixt CHRIST and the SAINTS THe words of Scripture on which I shall discourse is in the 2. Chap. of Canticles My Beloved is mine and I am his In this and also in the whole Treatise we have the Expostulations of Love betwixt Christ and the Saints I shall not stand upon the variety of it but shall keep to the words in which we have chiefly these four parts 1. We have the Spouses assurance of Christ My Beloved is mine 2. We have her great esteem of Christ He is her Beloved or He is greatly beloved of her 3. We have her assent to Christ I am his 4. We have the Union betwixt them I shall endeavour to open these Heads in order according as they lie And from the first thing I take notice of the Observation will be this That every Saint of God hath a full assurance of the love of Christ My Beloved is mine There is no being a Saint untill thou canst say Christ is my Christ untill Christ be thine and in thee thou art but a Reprobate 2 Cor. 13. 5. But the Spouse here hath a full assurance that Christ her beloved is hers the Spirit of God doth witness this unto her as it appears by that Scripture in Rom. 8. 15 16 17. where the Apostle saith that the Spirit of God doth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God This in it self were enough to prove the truth of what hath been said but take a place or two more for confirmation 1 Joh. 3. 1 2. The Saints they have a full assurance that they are the sons of God saith John And if thou art a son of God then thou canst not fail of the love of Christ See Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath the Spirit of God then Christ is his if he hath not Christ is none of his It is this assurance of the love of Christ that makes the Saints so confident it was that which made them lay down all lives and all for him I know that my Redeemer liveth saith Job c 19. v. 25 26. From the second thing I take notice of the Observation will be this Obs 2. That Christ is deerly beloved and highly prized by every believing Soul I am now upon the cleerest truth and the easiest proved that is and therefore shall not stand long on it Only by the way take notice That it is one thing to love Christ after this manner and another thing to tell of loving him Many speak high words and fine smooth speeches but they love not Christ so as to part with all for him But Christ is so deerly beloved to the Saints that are Saints indeed that all things are as nothing when it comes to competition with Christ To you that believe saith the Apostle Peter Christ is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. There is nothing so dear to a poor Saint as his dear Christ who shed his blood for him The Apostle Paul how doth he declare his dear affection to Christ Phil 3. 7 8 9. I saith he account all lost for Christ nay more then lost I account all dung that I may win Christ and be found in him You may take notice a little how the Spouse by which is meant the Saints doth express her love to Christ Cant. 1. 7. O thou whom my soul loveth and so almost all the Canticles is filled with the like expressions by which you may easily see that it is a dear love the Saints have to Christ Christ is so highly prized you see by Paul that all things are by him accounted dung nothing is so lovely in all the world as the Lord Christ Thirdly from the Spouses assent to Christ we may draw this Observation Obs 3. That all the Saints do give themselves freely to Jesus Christ Or That all the Saints are given to Christ Thev are given to him by a twofold gift First God gives them to him Joh. 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me saith Christ shall come to me and Joh 10. 29. My Father which gave them me is greater then all and therefore no man is able to pluck them out of my hands Secondly the Saints give up themselves to Christ I am his saith the Spouse to do what please him with me and now I am to follow him whithersoever he goeth as it is in Mat. 16. 24. He that hath given himself to Christ as the Spouse as all the Saints do he is to bear his Crosse although in a field of blood The Saints they give themselves to Christ to be at his dispose to obey what he commands as appears plainly in Joh 10 27. My sheep hear my voice saith Christ I know them and they follow me But I shall not stand here in regard I know that all that are Gods must witness to this That the Saints do give
the Lord that bought them as the Apostle saith Some called Ranters and others who deny the Word and Ordinances of God are laid open Others who are more subtile yet deny Duties of holiness are discovered And now there is like to be no cloak for them by reason those that are truly godly are withdrawing from them And therefore now O ye wandring Stars hear what the Word of God saith which some of you deny in the Epistle of Jude and let thy Conscience if it be not seared answer What thinkest thou will become of thee when the Lord Christ cometh in flaming fire to render vengeance on such as thou art for not obeying his Gospel 2 Thess 1. 8 9 10. Shift it not off but receive this as thy portion But to return to what was in hand before A godly man may be easily known from any of these by his love to that which they despise namely and in answer to the first they delight to see the will of God accomplished O how sweet are his mercies He eyes God and blesseth him for reckoning with his enemies and for bringing their necks to the block and for rooting out their posterity and for dealing thus closely with that hypocritical Nation of Scotland and for discovering his and our enemies that plot and contrive to hinder the great work of God on foot among us Also by his love to the Word of God and his Ordinances and his delight in holy duties by these thou mayst know a godly man Mark them now for time to come for they only are the godly men 4. A godly man may be known yet further by his desires a godly mans desires are chiefly to these following particulars 1. His great desire is that he may bring some glory to God and he is earnest about it Thou mayst take notice of such a man he is ready to embrace all opportunities wherein he may do any good and will not flinch back though he see great difficulty in it his heart tels him that God hath called him to it and therefore he desireth to imbrace it 2. In the next place he is earnest in his desires after Communion with God as David saith My soul longeth and panteth for thee Psal 84. 2. so it is with a truly godly man O how his soul longs more and more to enjoy the presence of God! how doth it refresh his poor soul to have communion with him all his Springs are in him the very life of a godly man is in his communion with God what sweet discourses are there between God and such a soul And yet 3. his desires are not only for himself but also for others as the Apostle 1 Joh. 1. 3. that others may have fellowshp in this precious enjoyment 4. Such a soul his desires are always submissive desires content with every thing God sees fit for him Phil. 4. 11. Therefore now by this try and see who is the godly man 5. A godly man who is so indeed is full of the bowels of love towards the Saints Beloved now observe who they are that his love is so to they are such as walk holily such as he is perswaded have the image of Christ in them and for this only he loves them And here by the way thou mayst know him also from those that cry up Forms and love one another because they are under the same form and so judge carnally of spiritual things and as the Apostle Paul saith walk even as men knowing one another after the flesh See 1 Cor. 3. 1 2 3. I say thou mayst know a godly man from such clearly a godly man loves the Saints because they are his fellow-members of the body of Christ he is bone of his bone as it were receiving nourishment from the same root O how dear are the truly godly to each other 1 Cor. 12. 27. Joh. 15. 5. Branches springing forth from the same root and so are dear to each other Here thou mayst discover an Hypocritical people in this Land who would fain be accounted Saints and thou shalt see they never take notice of them nor shew any love to them especially if they be poor proud hearts cannot stoop except to some in places of honour Well now see that God hath set even the poorest Saint apart for himself Psal 4. 3. Nay God hath chosen the poor rich in faith and grace as James saith c. 2. v. 5. and it is most like thou art but as a barren wilderness that canst so easily pass by and take no notice of them Again the godly man loves the Saints because they have taken up the Cross of Christ because that now they are resolved together to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth though in a field of blood famine nakedness or whatever come they will never leave Christ see an example in the 11. of the Epistle to the Hebrews at large A godly man loves the Saints because he sees the beauty of holiness upon them because they are ready still to obey the Commands of God by this thou mayst know a godly man Sixthly Wouldst thou know a godly man then observe this a godly man he is the greatest enemy to sin that can be he strives to kill it O how he sees the ugliness of it and how he cryes to God for power against it the sight of it makes him to say as Paul Rom. 7. 24. His body seems to him a body of death by reason of the remains of sin well but his work is to kill it he gets on the Armour of God and fights it out till t is destroyed even the least appearance of it is tedious to him take notice of such a man and see how his heart is set against it both in himself and others he hath a perfect hatred against it as David Do I not hate them that hate thee yea with a perfect hatred see Psal 139. 20 21 22. Well what is the reason David hates them so it is only because they sin against his God 't is because they do wickedly that he hates them and not only in others but also in himself he hates every false way Psal 119. 104. By this you see a godly man is an enemy to sin he will kill and destroy it if possible as the Apostle saith Rom 6 6. He thinks it the greatest shame in the world to sin against his God and therefore who ever thou art assure thy self except thou finde in thy self this hatred of sin thou mayst conclude thou art not godly thou mayst conclude so because that every godly man is of a nature utterly opposite to sin the Spirit of God in him sets up a standard against it he cannot endure it because it is so contrary to his loving God and here thou mayst know him from one who makes no great matter of sin takes little notice of it neither in himself or others I say thou mayst know him clearly from such for he makes it his work to kill and
is a conscience washed in the blood of Christ that is the first step of a good conscience Heb. 9. 14. I say the first step is to be washed in the blood of Christ that is to have the guilt of sin clean done away in him As in Rev. 1. 5. He is the faithful witness that hath offered up to God a Sacrifice which hath fully satisfied him as Isa 53. 11. This Chapter is full of this Discourse Again A good conscience being so washed will endeavour to avoid all offences both to God and man as you see in Acts 24. 16. This washing and purging doth not only make clean but also keeps it clean It doth not only justifie the soul but also it sanctifies Heb. 9. 14. 2. A good conscience is a quick-sighted conscience and that two wayes In seeing what is Good Bad. 1. He sees the good and rejoyceth as Paul in 2. Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing saith the Apostle is in the testimony of a good conscience that with godly sincerity we have walked Here the conscience sees the good 2. A good Conscience sees the evil and strives against it As you see the same Apostle Rom. 7. 23 24. But I see saith Paul another law in my members O wretched man that I am here is a quick-sighted Conscience he sees the old man striving sin endeavouring to make inroads upon the poor soul very often and therefore it is happy for any soul that hath a sight of it By this you see that a good Conscience is quick sighted And yet further such a Conscience will not deceive thee he will not lie quiet when thou doest evil but will tug with thee for repentance and therefore whoever thou art that hast a dead Conscience and that liest quiet seest no evil in thy corrupt nature thou mayst have cause to fear that the guilt is not washed away but that thou art still in the state of nature Again a good Conscience fears to sin nay he trembles at it and the reason is because it is against his God because God hates it therefore he hates it See an example of this in Gen. 39. 9. How shall I do it sayes Joseph seeing the sin is against my God I dare not do it Let this teach all that love God to answer Sathan and all their tempters thus I will not yield to any thing that is against my God Again a good Conscience fears to wound it self by leaving undâ—ne those duties which God requâ—reth of him and therefore his work is to keep it self pure and unspotted as Paul saith in 2 Tim. 1. 3. and his work is to find out and do the will of God Such a Conscience is alwayes fearfull that he doth too little for God and that his heart is never right enough in what he doth These are the marks to know a good Conscience there are many more marks to know a good Conscience by but for the present these are all that I shall name this being only by the way to make the other more clear The next thing is the worth or value of a good Conscience Although I cannot tell or declare the just value yet I shall shew some of the worth or value of a good Conscience by which you shall see how good it is to have such a Conscience and to do it I shall lay down these four grounds which will make it appear why it is at such a rate 1. A good Conscience is worth much because it tels thee thou art at peace with God thy Conscience testifies to thee that thou art so as Paul saith 2 Cor. 1. 12. 2. A good Conscience speaks peace to thee and excuseth thee as Paul saith Ro. 2. 15. When Sathan and all thy accusers flie in thy face thy Conscience tels thee Christ hath paid and satisfied the just Law of God to the full and that thou art acquitted fully This is of much worth to thee and thou canst not set worth enough on it 3. The comfort of thy life is much in this that thou hast not a feared Conscience neither a dead Conscience neither a Conscience subjected to dead works but that thy Conscience is awake and feels and is sensible of evil and also of good and that it tels thee daily without flattery how the case stands with thee I say such a Conscience is much to be valued that deals plainly and flies in thy face when thou sinnest and that will never leave thee till thou see and repent of it and also when thou doest that which is good that Conscience will also tell thee thou doest thy duty and thou mayst expect God and his Spirit with thee in doing his will Search and see now whether this be not worth much 4. The worth and value of a good Conscience is very high at the time of death When death comes to take thy life what is a good Conscience worth then O then 't is worth much What would a man whose Conscience condemns him give then for this good Conscience even ten thousand worlds if he had them I tell thee that then it will bring thee into the presence of God with joy whereas on the contrary it will be as that saying of our Lord Mar. 9 46. a worm which will not die Is a good Conscience of such worth O then strive to keep a good Conscience let thy exercise be much in it as the Apostle Paul saith Act. 24. 16. both towards God and man first to God see thou do those duties he requires of thee and see thou wound not thy Conscience by thy neglect hearken what thy Conscience saith and quench not those whisperings when it tels thee thou must do this duty and forbear that evil I say whatever thou doest keep it clear between God and thy soul Again keep a good Conscience towards God and man and to do it observe these things 1. That thou avoid carnal company and carnal speaking for that will much offend thy Conscience because thou shouldst make the Saints thy companions and thy Experiences of God thy discourse 2. Be often in private speaking to thy Father for he longs to hear from thee and thy Conscience will soon tell thee that thou hast found him meeting thee God is a loving Father and he delights to have his Children often speaking to him and keeps a book of Remembrance as in Mal. 3. 16 17. God will make up such among his Jewels and as a father spareth his son that serveth him so will God spare such a soul 3. Have a care what thou doest in thy dealings among men keep a good Conscience here thou shalt find many idle words not fit to come out of thy mouth and many times thy Conscience tels thee that it is evil avoid it now and set a watch before thy heart and lips that thou mayst keep a clear Conscience And be sure that thou defraud no man but deal justly or else thou wilt hurt thy conscience seek truth as the Apostle Paul saith