to be lead by the Spirit By Nature we are all Men and Women of another Spirit lead and acted by that contrary Spirit which works in the Children of Disobedience Eph. 2.2 Rom. 8.14 For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit There must be Spiritual Life before there can be any Spiritual Motion 2. That they Regenerate themselves tho' they are renewed in every part yet they are renewed but in part They have in them while they are in this Life Flesh as well as Spirit and while we have Sin in us it will be acting its Part the flesh will be lusting against the Spirit Rom. 7.21 I find then a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me Gal. 5.17 For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the stesh and these are contrary the one unto the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would 3. That as men easily may so they are very prone to mistake in this Point 1. Bad Men Saul when in his persecuting Course before his Conversion he verily thought that he was in the way of his duty and so following the Motions of Gods Spirit Act. 26.9 But we see how his Mind was changed afterwards that which before he took for Holy Zeal a Fruit of the Spirit he then saw to be no better than exceeding madness 2. Good Men when they seriously consider what depends upon this Point Rom. 8.9 Now if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his v. 13. For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye And when they think of the deceitfulness of their own hearts Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And when they further consider how prevalent the remaining fleshly interest is in their hearts and lives this makes many a gracious Soul tremble when it comes to decide the Point and sometimes to bring in a false Judgment against it self unless that blessed Spirit shine upon it 4. That mistakes here are very dangerous and mischievous That Man who thinks he hath and is lead by the Spirit and is not woe to him for he is a lost Man if he find not out his mistake before Death and Judgment undeceive him And then a mistake on the other hand will cause the poor Soul to drive on but heavily and uncomfortably in the way of its duty tho' its Estate in the main may be safe Have none of us cause to know the Heart of such in this matter Now to the Case propounded I would answer in general thus I think that Man and he alone is lead by the Spirit the habitual and prevailing bent of whose Heart the main Scope and drift of whose Life is Spiritual As for particular marks I shall content my self with a very few which I take to be safe and scriptural so 1. Such as are lead by the Spirit of God they are by him free from the ruling Power of the Flesh Rom. 8.1 2. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Gal. 5.16 This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh Walking after the Spirit and walking after the Flesh are directly opposed in Scripture such they sin still alas that is a sad truth which cannot be denied for there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Ecl. 7.20 yet he that is born of God he doth not he cannot commit Sin Joh. 1.3 9. He lives not in the ruling Love and practice of Sin He can in some Measure say what the Apostle For that which I do I allow not for that which I would that do I not but what I hate that do I Rom. 7.15 2. They are such as have solemnly taken the holy Spirit for their Guide and given up themselves to his Conduct They were baptized into his Name Mat. 28.19 And every time they do renew the Covenant they do sincerely and afresh renew their Obligations to obey and follow him Before Conversion they rejected him his Counsels and Ways and were only for following the Inclinations of their own evil Hearts and the Course of this World But now they have made a better choice They desire he would teach lead and guide them such Expressions are very frequent And they have an Ear to hear and an Heart to follow him Joh. 10.3 4. And the Sheep hear his Voice and he calleth his own Sheep by Name and he leadeth them out and when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his Voice By the Spirit it is that great Shep-heard teacheth his Sheep to know his Voice by him he calleth them both to and after him 3. They are such as have chosen the Word of God for their Rule In the Word it is that the Spirit Speaketh to the Churches Rev. 2.7 In the Word he hath chalked out the Paths of Holiness wherein he leadeth such as he hath made willing to follow him And they pray with David Lord teach me thy Statutes Psal 119.12 Let me not wander from thy Commandments Indeed the Flesh will be resisting and rebelling endeavouring to stop them in or to turn them out of the way which will cause them to take many a false Step But yet as Rom. 7.22 They delight in the Law of God after the inward Man In the bent of their renewed Mind and will they delight in it and desire to obey it perfectly and allow not themselves in the breach of any part thereof 4. Such as are lead by the Spirit their Motion is free and voluntary not by force and constraint They are lead not haled or driven Joh. 10.3 4. He calleth them by Name and leads them out and goeth before them and they follow him They are a willing People Psal 110.3 1 Cor. 4. Draw me and we will run after thee Indeed a Partical Unwillingness will be found in the best while here while we have Flesh in us it will be drawing another way But yet Holiness is this Mans choice And when he is in a holy Frame and Course he is as in his Element The habitual prevailing bent of his Heart is for a Course of Holiness and this appears in the main Scope and drift of his Life and this I think doth denominate us what we are and that therefore by it we may safely judge of our selves QUESTION II. How may we come to find out and know what are our special sins and what means are to be used for the Mortification of them The question before us Consists of two Parts 1. How may we
THE REMAINS OF Mr. Joseph Barrett Son of the Reverend Mr. JOHN BARRETT Minister of the Gospel AT NOTTINGHAM BEING The Second PART taken out of an Exact DIARY written by his own Hand LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and are to be Sold by him at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside and John Richards at Nottingham 1700. TO THE READER IF you have conversed with the Former Volumn of this eminently holy Man's Papers we reckon we need do no more to envite you to a serious delightful Perusal of this Second then to assure You that they are more of Mr. Joseph Barrett's Papers and indeed we scarce need to certify that neither themselves do testify it they have the same Rich Vein of more then ordinary Judiciousness Savouringness and Spirituality running through and sparkling in them as did in the Former the same marks of eminent Impresses and large Supplies of God's Spirit and the same signs of a Man very much in Communion with God and inflamed with Love to and Zeal for God of one much in Heaven during the little time he was here on Earth his True and somewhat peculiar Character Which makes it not strange at all that he was so soon removed to Heaven the place his Heart was so much in and he drove such a great Trade with and that he was so soon removed from Earth a place so grievous to him by reason of its-aboundings Iniquity and withheld and which vexed his Righteous Soul from day to day in seeing and hearing its ungodly Deeds nothing revived him more than the Success of his Projects for Christ and Souls And in imitation of his Blessed Master whom we never find weeping for any of his own though peculiarly heavy Affliction and sore Sufferings but only for either the Sins or Calamities of others nothing grieved him more than to see the hardness of Men's Hearts their opposition to the Blessed Jesus and the sad prospect this gave of Judgment upon Them and the Nation If an ill Spirit broke out with any Prevalence and the Interest of Religion seemed to give ground if any Adventure of Prayer many of which he made and put others upon making and blessed be God with good Success but if at any time any such Adventure did not make the return he hoped for how near did it go to his Heart out of his Apprehension of God's Displeasure and fear of this precious Duty of Prayer come into Discredit This grived him much more than the failure of any the greatest Adventurers in the Business of his secular Calling Apprehesions of God's being provoked and displeased and fears of the Consequences of it sat heavy made deep Impressions upon the Spirit of this Josiah whose Heart through Grace was peculialy soft and tender the Zeal of God's house did eat him up Several things of his and upon many Accounts we have reason to conclude valuable ones are locked up from being publickly useful by being written in Characters But blessed be God that so ordered it that so much of the good Treasure of this Scribe instructed to the Kingdom of Heaven this well furnished Housholder is left unlocked and stands open for publick Vse The things this Second Volumn consists of we shall not stay you in giving you our Judgments particularly of them but leave you to make a Judgment of them your Selves when you have perused them Only it may not be amiss to give some brief Account of the nature and method of those Conferences that one of these Tracts hath relation to The Reader therefore is desired to take Notice That in the Congregation of which this Holy Man was a Member there is a meeting of several Christians once a Week from Five to Seven of the Clock at Night for mutual Edification which is spent only in Prayer repeating of Sermons and singing of Psams on those Nights when the Ministers are not present But usually once in a Month the Ministers are there and then some practical Question or Case of Conscience is propounded and discoursed of and every Man present hath liberty to propound his own Thoughts and speak his own Experience Prayer begin and together with a Psalm or Spiritual Hymn closes the Exercise The Minister opens the Question and in the Close sums up the substance of what hath been discoursed of These meetings this good Man was a great Lover and Promoter of yet such was his great Modesty that be seldom spoke himself but wrote his Thought and put them into a Friends hands with a charge of privacy as to the Author who read them towards the close of the Exercise Having thus acquainted you with what we think necessary in relation to these Papers we recommend them to your serious powerful Perusal you and them to the Blessing of the God of all Grace and our Selves to your Prayers who desire help through your Prayers and the supply of the Spirit he obtain help to be The furtherers of your Faith and helpers of your Joy in the Lord John Whitlock Jo. Whitlock Junior August 22. 1699. ADVERTISEMENT THE first Account of Mr. Joseph Barrett's Life printed contains Eight Chapters which is in several Hands single therefor these his Remains begins Chapter the Ninth BOOKS Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns the lower End of Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel Books written by the Reverend Mr. J. Howe OF Thoughtfulness for the Morrow With an Appendix concerning the immoderate Desire of foreknowing things to come Of Charity in reference to other Men's Sins A Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Richard Adams M. A. Sometime Fellow of Brazen-Nose Colledge in Oxford The Redeemer's Tears wept over lost Souls In a Treatise on Luke 19.41 42. With an Appendix wherein somewhat is occasionally discoursed concerning the Sin against the Holy Ghost and how God is said to will the Salvation of them that perish A Sermon directing what we are to do after a strict Enquiry whether or no we truly love God A Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Esther Sampson the late Wife of Hen. Sampson Doctor of Physick who died Nov. 24. 1689. The Carnality of Religious Contention In two Sermons preach'd at the Merchants Lecture in Broadstreet A Sermon for Reformation of Manners A Sermon preach'd on the Day of Thanksgiving Decemb. 2. 1697. To which is perfix'd Dr. Bates's Congratulatory Speech to the KING A Sermon on the much lamented Death of the Reverend William Bates D. D. The Redeemers Dominion over the Invisible World being a Discourse on the Funeral of Mr. Houghton A Sermon at Mr. Mathew Meads Funeral CHAP. IX QUESTION I. How may a man know that he is led or acted by the Spirit of God BEfore I answer directly I beg leave to lay down a few things which I think may tend a little to clear the question and to prevent Mistakes about it As 1. That there must be a principial of Spiritual Life infused into the Soul in the Work of Regeneration before a Man can be said
am one that would fain be your Companion in the path of Holiness here and joint Possessor with you of Happiness hereafter I. B. LETTER XVI To C. H. Dear Cozen I Received your's and the doubt which troubles you I find to be the same that I have been exercised with my self so I shall give you a few of my Thoughts although I am under discouragements and have much ado to perswade my Pen to write when I think I have more need to seek advice then to give in this Case so sar as I understand it the matter stands thus with us we fear we are not sick enough for Christ to heal we are not humbled enough our hearts not broken enough for Christ to bind them up now it s true those are deceitful flatterers that would teach us to slight Humiliation for Sin this is a dangerous deceit they will prove but unsound believers that were never soundly humbled but we must consider all Christ's Patients are not sick to the like degree The wounds of such are not all of a like depth some the Spirit deals more gently and tenderly with draws them with the cords of love when others he snatcheth as brands out of the Fire if the Lord hath done his Work shall we peevishly quarrel with him because he hath not done it just as we desire O let the Lord take his own method so he will but save our Souls from Sin and Wrath But it s well if there be not Pride in the bottom when we are so thoughtful about these preparatory Humiliations we would fain bring something to Christ that might make us more acceptable O deceitful Hearts wicked Hearts As one saith why do we not complain more of our want of Faith These preparatory Works are of no worth but as they are means to promote a saving closure with Christ our business is to enquire whether our Humiliation for Sin hath attain'd its end and that Humiliation is sufficient as to its End which prevails so far as that we cannot rest satisfied without Christ when the Soul is so sick that it cannot but cry out give me Christ or I die either we see our need of him or not if not why then do we complain of our selves as lost without him Either we are willing to be saved by him in his own way or not if we are it is a great dishonour and wrong to him to doubt of his Willingness He is more willing to save us then we are to be saved by him when you object your want of Tears that you cannot mourn for Sin I can tell you a sadder Story which makes me write with wet Eyes I say I have more reason to complain of hypocritical Tears then you have for the want of them Humiliation and Repentance lieth chiefly in your Will I remember a saying of Mr. Baxter's there is more Humiliation saith he in a base esteem of ones self then in a thousand Tears more of it in a will and desire to Weep then in the greatest abundance of Tears that come either from the force of Terrour or from the moistness of the Brain could I sind more of this inward Soul humiliation I could take abundantly more comfort in that then in abundance of Tears while my Heart is thus Senseless and feels little when you speak of Reformation consider the terms of the Covenant Sincerity is accepted instead of sinless Perfection and our dear Redeemer sees not only what his Servants are but what they should be and what they shall be O happy time when we shall all see him as he is and be like him I take little notice of what you say of that Expression in my last I am still ready to say as much subscribing my self a Scholar in the lowest Form in the School of the Lord Jesus I. B. LETTER XVII To C. H. Dear Cozen THE reading of your last wherein you did acquaint me with the good Success of my poor worthless Paper did much refresh my Spirit indeed I cannot but look upon your Estate as you describe it to be safe and happy O how glad should I be many times of clear Evidences of so much What Comfort may be safely drawn from such Premises As to what you say that you fear its only a good Mood that you are in it must be granted that natural unregenerate Persons have their good Moods sometimes but I think they never come in them to a sincere willingness and resolution to close with a Gospel Christ on Gospel Terms they may have some faint Wishes and Desires but the Mood is off them before any change is wrought upon their Hearts and Wills and when it leaves them they are more hardened and secure then before and while they are in such a Frame they are out of their Element like Fishes in the Air but I am confidently perswaded that you find it otherwise with your self when you find your Heart in a holy good Frame you are where you would be and when you find it otherwise it is your grief and burthen O how glad you would be was there no such sad and sinful interruptions in your Communion with God and a dear Redeemer Such a happiness as this is well worth dying for and why should you be discouraged at that which is the common Case of all God's Children upon Earth Go to the holiest Saint you know and I warrant you he will freely acknowledge that he hath his up's and down's if it be not so then wo to such as I who alass can seldom find my Heart in any good Frame while we have Flesh as well as Spirit we must expect that-the Flesh will be acting its part and it s well that we have a spiritual Principle to oppose it and happy they who have Faith and Patience to continue this Conflict such shall certainly come off conquerors at last but I would not be too tedious upon any occasion no Friend you have shall be more ready to communicate Experiences or shall more rejoyce in being any way instrumental of the Good of your Soul then my self who though very weak yet am truly willing the Lord be your Guide and Portion I am affectionately your's I. B. LETTER XVIII To C. H. Dear Cozen IN compliance with your request I will tell you what it was that moved me to give you those my Sentiments of your Condition it was this that your Humiliation had this Fruit that nothing could content you without Christ and that as far as you know your own Heart you are willing to be saved by him in his own Way and in his Strength to mortify Corruption which I am sure is more then Flesh and Blood could teach you I desire you may be truly serious sensible and humble but I would not have you turn an unmerciful false Accuser of your self Assurance is a great Mercy where vouchsafed and improved but it is of far greatter moment to us that we have Grace and use and exercise it then
these to direct us to suit our Reproof to the Nature of the Offence according as it is either more open or secret or as it is greater or smaller either in its self or in its circumstances or in its probable consequents 3. As to the Time The Preacher saith To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven Ecl. 3.1 And so a time to keep silence and a time to speak v. 7. And a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment Chap. 8.5 Very much lieth in the right timeing of a Reproof such a Word spoken in Season how good is it I know indeed in some Cases the Matter may not admit of delay and likewise that delays sometimes may endanger a neglect But yet methinks where it may we should take the fittest time which in General I think is 1. When we find our own Spirits in a temper in some measure fit to give the Reproof if I find boistrous unruly Passions up that is no fit time for me to Reprove another in 2. When the Person to be reproved is fittest to receive it and like to get most good by it we may learn this from Abigall's prudent Carriage of the matter 1 Sam. 25.36 37. she would not Reprove Nabal till the Wine was gone out of him so to reprove a Man in the heat of his Passion it is like to do no good but farther to enrage him 2. Humility and Meekness 2 Tim. 2.24 25. I know this and some other Scriptures produced were spoken directly to Ministers yet in a Proportion they shew every one of us our Duty too and what Sin is there that we Reprove in others that in some respect degree or other we have not been guilty of our selves However we need not look for into our Hearts to find the seed and root of it and of all other Sins whatever yea more no thanks to the best of us that we are not as bad as the vilest Wretch that breaths and sure here is enough if duly considered to humble and meeken our Spirits when we have to do with others in the way of Reproof And as this is fitting upon our own Account so likewise needful upon the Account of the Party reproved because ordinarily he will but too hardly be perswaded but that we are Proud and take too much upon us or that we bear him ill Will and are for picking a quarrel with him one may believe that Man hath more Grace than ordinary that can take a Reproof well which is given him in a ruff proud and lofty Manner 3. Love Pity and Compassion that general Rule 1 Cor. 16.14 Let all your things be done with charity or love reacheth this Case indeed we must hate the Sin we reprove in another and we may and ought to express our hatred of it But we may not hate his Person nay we must see we love him yea though he be a wicked Man yet we must love him as a Man and so capable of Grace and much more if he be one already made partaker of it and we must endeavour by loving Expressions to wind in our Reproof as advantagiously as may be and so also we must do it with much Pity and Compassion to his weakness and infirmity considering our selves that we also are in the Body and have in us the like body of Sin and so are not yet out of the Tempters reach or out of Danger by his Temptations 4. Zeal and Courage as God's Glory is struck at and in some sense wounded and blemished by every Sin committed by our selves or others though to speak strictly and properly God is impassible quite out of the reach of Sin and Sinners our wickedness may hurt a Man as we are but not God Job 35.8 but no thanks to Sin or Sinners for that he should not be might they but have their Will therefore lukewarmness and indifferency of Spirit here is a cursed thing a holy heat become us well here for which we have the highest Pattern in the World even him who in other things was the most meek and lowly in Heart so when we are called to reprove those that are above us though I think it is not so ordinarily our Duty to reprove Superiors as others they should rather be dealt with by others or by us in another way yet where it is plainly our Duty we should not fear the Faces of any so the Prophets of old when they had God's Commission and Charge they spared not crowned Heads any more then others and New Testament instances might also be easily produced here 5. Intergrity and Faithfulness and that both to God and Man but I fear I enlarge too much and alass which is worse but too impertinently 6. Self-denial and Contempt of the World this is a necessary Qualification because if we will be Faithful to God and Souls it may so fall out that we may be called to reprove such as to outward things we may have most dependance on whose Favour of all others we are most loath to loose which may be hazarded by a faithful Reproof this the Flesh knows how to improve but here carnal Sinful-self must be denied the World contemned when it stands in the way of our Duty and if we would but be Faithful to God we should find him so to us Forthwith an upright Man he will shew himself upright 2. The Cautions are these 1. That we reprove not that as Sin which indeed is not so we must take heed of that for it would be Sin in us and so justly deserve a Reproof from them this was in some degree that good Man's Fault 1 Sam. 1.14 15. And so Peter's Fault Math. 16.22 For which our Lord gave him as severe a Rebuke as most we meet with v. 23. 2. That we reprove not other 's for that Sin which we have not good ground to charge them with and are not able some way to convince them of though I think in this Case it may be a Duty to give some friendly Intimations of what we either suspect or hear in a way as inoffensive as may be and I dare say this is far more Christian like then hasty rash-judging upon weak grounds and its ten to one on such as are false by which how much some have suffered the Lord knows which it is a dangerous thing I think to give a downright Reproof upon meer surmise or upon bare heresay especially in this censorious detracting Age when false Reports are so common in Men's mouth 's yea too often in the mouth 's of those that are Wise and Good though alass this is no part either of their wisdom or goodness 3. We should beware we do not throw away our Reproofs upon such as are unworthy of them such as would but abuse them and us for them I think this Caution is warranted by and may be grounded upon such Scriptures as these Math. 7.6 Give not that which is holy unto dogs
Sympathize with them as Brethren we must do it for Jesus sake if we would have him hereafter say inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren for so the King in all his Glory out of his great Love and Condescention doth and will own them too how poor low and afflicted soever they may be at present ye have done it unto me thus we must pity them 2. We must do what we can to help them And 1. We must endeavour to do it our selves 2. We must endeavour to engage others to do that which we cannot 1. We must endeavour to do it our selves And so 1. We must endeavour to inform our selves about the Nature of their Affliction as it is either outward or inward together with the Grounds and Causes of it observing as near as we can where the Burthen pincheth sorest and where their great weakness lieth that so we may apply our selves to them most suitably and so as may be with greatest probabillity of Success 2. As we are able and have opportunity we should be ready to advise counsel and direct them how they ought to Bear how they may improve their Afflictions and also how they may get holily and comfortably out of them in God's way and time which is ever best 3. We must endeavour to support chear and comfort them by pointing them to Scripture promises those strong Pillars and full Breasts of Consolation especially to such of them as come nearest to their Case first endeavouring to clear their Right and Interest in them if that be a Matter in Question as alass it is with the most and then directing and assisting them in drawing those Breasts which are ever full though continually emptying themselves and we must also do this by imparting Experiences to them in a free but humble Manner experiences of our own and also those of others that we have met with thus endeavouring to comfort them with the Comforts wherewith we and others have in the like Case been comforted of the Lord. 4. If their Case be outwardly necessitous we must actually Relieve them as we have Abillity and Opportunity not only draw out our Bowels to their Pity but also our Purses to their Relief not only give them good Words but also such things as they need thus we must endeavour to help them our selves 2. We must endeavour to engage others to do that which we cannot 1. Men. 2. God 1. Men our fellow Creatures and Brethren especially such as either upon temporal or spiritual Accounts have larger Abillities and fairer Opportunities to do it then ourselves I can do little more then name things and that in hast but I doubt not these with other things will be more fully and pertinently insisted on by others then alass I had I more time should be able to do 2. We must especially endeavour by fervent and believing Prayer to engage the great God their Father and our Father to their help He that is the Comforter of those that are cast down in a special manner the Orphan's God such as are destitute afflicted and helpless he that can most easily speedily and effectually reach both Persons and Cases which are quite out of our reach or the reach of any one besides bimself QUESTION VI. How may a Christian come to bear the greatest worldly Losses graciously BY a Christian here we mean one that is so indeed such a one is not so secured by the Promise or so hedged in by the Providence of God but that outward Losses as well as other Afflictions may sometimes break in upon him here yea such as are very Great any but such as would quite undo him as a Christian From these indeed he is as secure and safe as Eternal Truth can make him and shall be so while that endures but yet he may loose his Staff though he cannot loose his God I think it may not be amiss here to hint farther in a word or two what we mean by his bearing these Losses graciously And in general I think it is to bear them by the special help of God's holy Spirit according to the Rule of his Word aiming therin chiefly and ultimately at his Glory 1. By the special help of God's holy Spirit For mere Nature when most highly refin'd and elevated will not pass with God for Grace though sometimes with Men it may and all Grace flows from the Spirit the immediate inspirer actor and perfecter of it in the Soul 2. According to the Rule of his Word God's willing this or that shews sufficiently that it is Good or Gracious yea it makes it to be so and in his Word it is that he hath most fully and plainly told us what his Mind and Will is and in reference to the Case before us the Seripture abounds with that which may direct us in the streight Line of our Duty warning us we turn not aside to the right Hand or to the left But I may not add more here 3. Aiming herein chiefly and ultimately at his Glory For though we may also look at our own Benefit and Advantage yet not solely seperately or supreamly but as in Conjunction with and Subordination to the Glory of that God of through and to whom are all things But to do this I should rather have said something like it merely to get a Name by seeming to be that which in Truth we are not this is very mean and low base hypocrisy and that big with several other grievous Sins I thought these hints not altogether impertinent to the Case though alass it s like the account I have laid down is very lame and imperfect Now in Answer to the Question I shall lay down my thoughts under these three general Heads 1. We must endeavour to rid and then keep our Hearts as clear as we can of those things which would hinder us 2. We must seriously ply our Hearts with suitable moving Considerations 3. We must diligently apply them to other seasonable Christian duties 1. We must endeavour to rid and then keep our Hearts as clear as we can of those things which would hinder us as they breed and nourish a contrary frame in us To name some of the chief of them 1. Pride an over high opinion of our selves a fond conceit of some Worth or Defect in our selves this is that which makes us so hard to be pleased when our condition is at best and that which breeds and feeds in patience and discontent when by Losses or other Afflictions our condition seems to be changing or changed for the worse so we must endeavour to get and keep Pride low 2. Unbelief when we cannot trust God take his word lean upon a promise any farther then we have sensible props to support us it is a very sad and dreadful Truth that tho' we will trust any Man even such a one as we know to be an unrighteous dishonest Man so far as we can see him yet we have
heed of doing any thing at any time to cool chill and damp one anothers Graces and holy Affections or of imitating and provoking one anothers Corruptions and we must take heed of doing any thing that may justly grieve and sadden or lay a stumbling-block before one another and then on the other hand it concerns us to take heed that we do not through ignorance infirmity mistakes but above all that we do not through prejudice take offence where it is not justly given 2. We must see we be positively helpful one to another as in the natural Body the several Members are mutually helpful and serviceable one to another so it should be amongst us we must see we be so according to our abilities opportunities and others necessities look what Talents any of us have of estate parts gifts graces experiences or whatever else is improvable for others good we should endeavour to make it as a Common-stock so far as with prudence without pride self-ostentation or stretching the line of our places we lawfully may And 1. We must endeavour to be mutually helpful one to another with respect to the outward Man the outward Conditions and Concerns one of another we must be ready to advise counsel direct assist one another with respect to these Oh base selfishness amongst us is an unnatural thing for lo we be Brethren and Members one of another and then we must also relieve such of them as are in Poverty and Want according to our Abilities and Opportunities yea we must give more freely more largely to such then to others 2. We must especially endeavour to be mutually helpful to one anothers Souls I will humbly adventure to lay down a few things here I will do little more then name them And 1. Such as have a stock of knowledge and spiritual understanding the word of Christ dwelling richly in them should be ready to disperse it among those that want should be ready to instruct such as are more ignorant and raw Col. 3.16 2. It is our duty to be often jogging exciting provoking one another to our Duty when we are any of us growing dull sleepy careless and lukewarm Heb. 10.24 3. When any of us are steping aside or are overtaken with a fault it is our duty to admonish reprove restore such a one in the Spirit of Love and Meekness Lev. 19.17 Gall. 6.1 such a poor distorted Member must be skilfully and tenderly set in joint again 4. When any of our Brethren are sad dejected disconsolate of a wounded and sorrowful Spirit we should endeavour to comfort and strengthen such feeble minded ones in all their Troubles with the Comforts wherewith we have been comforted of the Lord 2 Cor. 1.4 2 Thess 4.18 Chap. 5.14 5. It is our duty to be mutually helpful one to another in the way of Prayer Jam. 5.16 And let the case be what it will Prayer will reach it because it is the way to engage him that can and here none of us can reasonably frame an excuse who have found the way to Heaven for our selves Give me leave to say two Words more 1. All this and more as to Particulars as I doubt not you will hear is our Duty but yet the Lord will take in good Part will graciously accept and reward a sincere desire and endeavour to trade and improve our two Talents where we have no more it is my own case and its likely it may as well be some of yours we may be ready under discouragement to complain alass we can do very little we want Abilities want Opportunities we can do almost nothing well if there be but in us a willing Mind witnessed by sincere Endeavours I think we may take this home with us for our Comfort and Encourgement I do not mean to be idle sloathful and careless but chearfully to fall to work as the Lord shall enable us to wit that we shall be accepted of the Lord according to that which we have and not according to that which we have not we unworthily bely our Lord and Master if we say or think he is austeer the poor Widows mite was not rejected 2. As for such as have much riper Parts every way larger Abilities and fairer Opportunities then we they must improve them but it must be their Care to see they keep within the compass of their Places and Callings and that they no way encroach upon the Ministerial Office which the Lord hath paled in by it self this was very dangerous and the way to spoil all a Person may be very useful in a civil Society in a Kingdom or Commonwealth while he keeps in his proper Post but if he will needs be steping up into the Throne he spoils all but I do think none of us may need this Caution And then as Moses said to his Servant Joshua Numb 11.29 Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them so this I dare say for our Men of God that it would be no Eye-sore to them but on the contrary the joy and rejoycing of their Hearts to see any in their Flock striving if by any means they might come to be as wise and knowing in the great Mysteries of Religion and every way as Gracious as themselves and then endeavouring to make what they have according to the Rules of Christian Prudence and Sobriety as a Common-stock to the glory of God the benefit of their brethrens Souls and the furtherance of their own Salvation in the day of the Lord Jesus QUESTION IX How must we Carry towards them that are without BY them that are without I here understand such who though they are within the Pale of the visible Church yet are out of Christ and in their Hearts and Lives strangers to the life and power of that Christianity which they some way outwardly profess and then I look upon the inward frame and temper of our Spirits as comprehended in this Case as well as our outward Carriage and Behaviour So 1. We must see that we do heartily tenderly pity and compassionate this their sad Case a sadder then which I think I may say is scarce to be found on this side Hell though indeed the Case of some of them is much more sad then that of others their Persons and Case call for pity at our hands they are our fellow Creatures of Adam's race and not of the tribe of Apostate Angels Again They are Men and Women upon Earth and not among damned Spirits in Hell their Case is very deplorable and such as once was our own and though it be not so now yet also upon that account it may the rather be expected from us because we now pretend at least to know better then others do what God's Favour and his Wrath what Heaven and Hell what Salvation and Damnation mean it is a thing both greatly sad and strange if we do not pity them did we see any of them hanging by
seem light I will endeavour to pray for you as hard as I can do you endeavour to pray down more of the Spirit of Prayer into my Heart and then my poor Prayers may stand you in more stead I desire a plainer Account of your Circumstances as soon as you can who am your Loving Brother I. B. LETTER XIII To S. E. May 6. 1685. Dear S. I Receiv'd your's and cannot but sympathize with you in your Troubles I have been under those inward Troubles lately that have taken off my Thoughts from other things otherwise I have been and am under Circumstances much like your own I have more and more experience of the vanity and deceitfulness of the Creature O how vain a thing is Man But I must tell you Sister as I tell my own Heart I am afraid we expect too much from the Creature we meet with disappointments in and from the Creature who bid us look for better Not our Bibles The Lord will sooner or later make us know the Creature as the Creature if we belong to him that we place not too much of our Happiness in it and we have cause to bless God for the crossest Providences that are blessed by him to that End O let us learn to live more upon God! And let us learn not to be too much concerned at such things they are without us and unless we open them the door they cannot get into our Hearts to sink them God is a true and faithful Friend remember that indeed we live far below our selves as I trust we are Heirs according to the hope of eternal Life if we suffer such little things to distract and deject us I had written sooner but that I hoped before this to have seen you I shall be contriving for an opportunity as soon as I can who am your Loving Brother I. B. LETTER XIV To C. H. Dear Cozen METHINKS our ill husbanding the means of Grace hath brought us to this that we must either beg or starve the Lord hath formerly afforded us rich means to live upon How have we been feasted in his publick Ordinances Many a poor hungry Soul would have got a good meal out of our livings but now alass we have almost run out of all now we have but hungry Sabbath's God knows what will become of our poor Souls now Well but here is a way whereby you and I may get a good living still by the right improvement of this Duty we may be thriving Christians still shew me a praying Soul I dare say that is a happy Soul that Soul hath many a sweet morsel from Heaven that others taste not of that Soul is growing rich but then we must acquaint our selves with the divine Art and Mystery that there is in this Duty alass our Souls cannot live upon the Wind words in Prayer are but wind but in the lively exercise of Grace and in Communion with God there is nourishment for our poor Souls for your help him accept of this small Sheet which about two Years since I receiv'd from one that is as well skilled in this spiritual Mystery as any Christian that I know and when you are with God in this Duty then remember me a poor wretch that after so many years Practice of it to my Sorrow still find many roving wandring Thoughts much deadness of Spirit and inactivity of Grace I am confident you are many times in my praying Thoughts when you think not of it may I not beg the like from you for a requital Your's I. B. LETTER XV. To C. W. Dear Friend YOUR Soul is very precious in my sight my hearty desire and prayer for you is that you may be saved and O that I could do any thing to promote it it pleases me much to think in how hopeful a way you are for Heaven and O how I should rejoyce to see you crowned there but alass we are yet but in the Fight with our Enemies yet faint not hold on and the day is our own conquer and we are crowned yet be we jealous of our selves I am ready to tremble when I think of our danger by our Enemy the World it is a very Cheat and how ready we are to be imposed upon by it For my own part I never thought there had been so much Carnality in my Heart as I lately discovered and O I am afraid there is much more abominable wickedness that I have not yet discovered O methinks I would have something besides God for my Portion I am loath to cast all my worldly hopes over board O my Folly Well my love to you inclines me to impart some of my Thoughts to you in this Matter God and the World are presented to our Choice and this is our choosing time now that you and I may make a wise Choice 1st Let us seriously consider the excellency of God O happy Souls indeed whose Portion the Lord is O wonderful wonderful That the ever blessed God should be wiling to become the Creatures portion a portion for such Wretches as we are Let all the Angels and Saints of God admire and adore him for this his matchlefs Condescention and God-like Bounty Now think what God is and can we not be content with him for a Portion What not with God Why what is there that our Souls can reasonably desire that is not eminently in him O there is enough in God to make us compleatly and eternally Happy and what would we have more 2dly Think we seriously of the Vanity of the Creature O what trifles are these that Men make such a hurry about Such as are projecting most throngly for the World alass what have they when they have got it but a little Vanity for which they many time loose an eternal Crown O woful Choice When such come to die they will put another estimate upon the World I dare appeal to your own Experience when you have any serious thoughts of Death and Judgment and the Life to come then O how little you regard the World I find it thus with me now let us learn this project to set one Enemy against another to set Death against the World as one saith frequentiy lie down in our own Graves and thence take a prospect of the World let us take our Coffin into the Field with us when we go to fight the World And farther to make us serious let us consider it is for everlasting that we choose here choose God in Christ for our portion and he is our own for ever choose Sin and the World and we loose him and Hell must be our portion and our loss herein will be everlastingly imparable the Lord help us to act like reasonable Creatures but I must take leave if I have any interest in you I would entitle a dear Redeemer to it Will you choose him I hope you have but will you renew and confirm your choice and never rest till you can my beloved is mine and I am his I
Man and it is very Afflictive to all that love you as for my own part it clouds and dasheth all my outward Comfort when ever I think of you and the Lord knows that is not seldom and my poor F. is declining fast and your cheariness I am well satisfied would be better to him then any Physick Well dear M. I am daily pleading with G. for you as I have now been pleading with you I shall now wait for my Answer from you both may it be a comfortable one May it I then promise to bless G. for it more then I ever did for any outward Mercy he ever gave me in all my Life I am concerned for my poor S. that she hath learnt to bear her Trials no better alass we must learn to stoop and hold our Tongues the Lord will have us at that before he brings us to Heaven I intend to let her hear from me shortly but my Affection engaged me to deal with you first O that it may not be in vain I would fain take fast hold on you both and engage him to drive the nail home carry it like a Christian an that hath already a Christ in possession and an Heaven in hope the God of all grace and comfort revive and chear you dear M. what I have written comes from the tender Affection of your loving obedient S. I. B. LETTER XXVII To my M. Dear M. I Was much concerned to see you so low when you was here in Town I earnestly beg the Lord would make your burthen lighter and in the mean time encrease your Strength to bear it and it would much rejoyce my Heart could I do any thing to help you either of these Ways your Exercises are many and great and you are one of a sorrowful Spirit whereby all your other burthens fasten themselves the more and deeper upon you I can say something to your Case from my own Experience being many times much troubled with the same Distemper I will therefore tell you how I find it with my self and what course I have found most helpful to me I have my exercises many ways both inward and outward and such as are no small ones and when a melancholy Fit takes me I am many times ready quite to sink under them and can do little else but aggravate my Troubles and make every little thing great and inwardly lash and torment my self not only with what I at present feel but also with future fears being ready to conclude it will never be better but worse and worse with me a thousand sad perplexing Thoughts crowd into my Mind and I please my self in this tormenting of my self though when the fit is over I cannot but condemn my self for it yet while under it I really think I cannot do otherwise nay that I do well in it and then sometimes I can neither read nor hear any thing but I must meditate Terrour from it and make nothing of bearing false witness against my self every thing must go against me be it right or wrong at other times the best Friends I have can scarce say or do any thing to please me but I can find something to disquiet both my self and them sometimes I have gone alone to think it out but I find there is no end of that but now I will tell you of two things wherein I have found the most Relief the one is secret Prayer when I find one of these Fits is creeping on me when I find my self pinched or burthened one way or other I then take the first opportunity I can possibly get to go alone and there to give my Heart free vent endeavouring to turn my Trouble into a right Channel confessing and bewailing my Sins and while I am thus endeavouring to lay this load on my other burthens are removed before I am aware and moreover it s ten to one the Lord removes that burthen too before I have done believe me I have sometimes gone to that Duty with as heavy an Heart as I think any poor Creature ever had and have come away with it as light as though I had been in a corner of Heaven I do not say this as though I thought you a stranger to this sweet remedy but to put you in mind to take it seasonably do not defer it to your wonted times of Prayer but take the very first opportunity that you can sometimes when I have thus deferred my Heart hath been so strangely bound up that I could scarce pray at all be sure to observe this to take the remedy in time before the Distemper hath got too much hold I believe this which follows is a very needful piece of Advice to you because I know you have used much to neglect your self and I am afraid you do so still whereby you injure your self both Soul and Body more then you are aware in this case use those Creature comforts and supports the Lord affords you not only as a thing Lawful but as your Duty You assuredly Sin if you do not I dare say it is the Lord's mind that you should not deny your self any thing that might make you more chearful in his Service and he hath so provided in his Providence that you need not want any thing that tends to the support or comfort of your Life and then how dare you deny your self Dear M. I write not these things at random for I know much of your Case by my own and having tried these things I recommend them to you now let my Councel be acceptable to you and that the Lord would make it effectual my earnest Prayers shall follow these poor Lines and if I might understand they are of Advantage to you it would very much rejoyce my Heart even mine who am Your's I. B. LEETTER XXVIII To C. W. upon the Death of his Child Sept. 13. 1693. My dear F. I Now understand our gracious G. hath been pleased to remove your Babe to take away that part of the delight of your Eye with a stroke I would endeavour to bear a part with you and I think my self obliged by that bond you know of though as I may say yet unscaled to attempt to administer some relief to you under your present Presures as the Lord shall enable me for some reasons I do it this way and the Lord give my Pen good speed Methinks I hear you thus bespeaking me have pity upon me have pity upon me O my Friend for the hand of God hath touched me Well I would direct your Thoughts to that Scripture 2 Sam. 12.19 20 21 22 23. and the Lord help you to take out the Copy that is there set before you an intire humble and chearful Submission and self Resignation to the good Pleasure of God is certainly our Duty even when we are under his sadest Dispensations this he stands upon and there is the greatest Reason in the world he should and now my Friend to further you herein I would have you let
would not have one praying Hour intermitted and yet I am loath my Pen should go the round a second time before I have somthing from you I beg you would be urgent with your worthy Ministers for a second Call to the whole Kingdom which I shall in impatiently long for not to ease my Pains but to do the Work much more universally and effectually and to encourage them to it let them know that the Iron is now hot with many of us by the experiments I have made I find a great readiness of Mind to the Duty and dare almost promise them a general universal Correspondence with the thing by those whose Prayers are likely to stand poor England in any stead at this dark and trembling Point of Time though it cannot be expected that all should fall in exactly with every Circumstance the good Lord give them an one-rest of Heart in this Affair and the whole Nation in complying with them If the Lord should encline their Hearts to do any thing this way I shall hope for some Copies I shall think the time long till I hear from you but I know not when to end it s well I have a Man of Patience to deal with I am dear Sir your very affectionate humble and much obliged Servant Jo. Barrett LETTER XXXVI To Mr. L. May 25. 1696. SIR I Cannot but eagerly take hold of the first Opportunity to let you know how well I was pleased with the short hint you gave me in the close of your last the Lord help me to do it so as may be to your eternal Advantage Since you took the little good Advice I gave you so well I am encouraged thereby to tell you more of my Heart I do not dissemble with you in telling you that yon have a great share of my Affections if you was my own Brother I think I could not love you better and I am well satisfied that as we use to say there is no love lost between us that you bear the like Affection unto me now I would endeavour to make the best improvement of the Interest I have in you and surely that cannot be better done then by doing my utmost to in-title my great Master a dear and lovely Jesus to it I do heartily rejoyce in your outward prosperity but more earnestly desire the Prosperity of your Soul and should exceedingly rejoyce might I any way be an instrument in promoting it the thing I aim at is not so much the proselyting you the bringing you over to my way and party but the engaging you in a course of serious Godliness though as I have found G. in the way that I am in I dare not forsake it my self so far as I am satisfied it is according to his Word yet I am far from thinking that Religion lies in Notions and Opinions and I doubt not but that there are many serious Christians that differ from me in their Opinions about lesser Matters but this all serious Christians in the World are agreed in that without conversion regeneration true repentance faith and real holiness both of Heart and Life there is no hopes of Salvation Now this is the Business you and I must look after to see that we have past the new birth are throughly changed from what we were by Nature and truly Grace makes a mighty great Change where it comes it is a thing above Morality common Civillity above a formal Profession above outward Attendance or Ordinances above the common Works of the Spirit in the Hearts of Men it is an inward deep powerful abiding thing The Lord give us to experience it in and upon our own Souls without which its impossible that all the Words in the World should make us rightly understand it The poor miserable deluded World thinks all this is meer Phancy but assure your self it s otherwise I know you will meet with a great many Objections arising from Satan and your own Heart as I and all others who have experience of a saving work of G. upon their Souls have done before you He will its like endeavour to make you shy of Convictions of your sin and misery by Nature which in some degree or other ever goes before a sound Conversion but as you love your Soul when ever you feel the holy Spirit of G. this way at work do not stifle but encourage them all you can when you feel your self pained this way take the first opportunity you can to retire into some private Place and there pour out your Complaint before the Lord acknowledge your sinfulness lament your misery cry to him for Mercy cast your Soul at his Feet and though you should not have ease and satisfaction at first yet be not discouraged but hold on seek him in good earnest and my Soul for your's he is found of you And its like he will endeavour to prejudice you against Religion as too strict as a moross dull melancholy Thing as that which would deprive you of all the Comfort of your Life but this is notoriously False I would not delude you and I do and must seriously profess to you this in just commendation of my dear Master and his Service that I am fully satisfied upon the little trial I have made that a religious godly Life is the most pleasant Life in all the World again Wisdoms Ways are ways of Pleasantness and all her paths are Peace I have now been acquainted with Him and his Service many Years and still the more I know of Him and his Service the better I am pleased with both and that upon solid substantial Grounds really I speak my very Heart to you in these things and nothing but what you shall certainly find your Self if you will but come and see if you will but make trial as I have done Indeed Religion doth forbid all beastly Pleasures but it doth not need them for it brings others infinitely better in their room which are peculiar to it self which strangers intermeddle not with and then as to sober manlike Pleasures it s so far from depriving of them that it gives the best right unto the sweetest Enjoyments and the surest hold of them And the best is still behind even those Rivers of Joys and Pleasures at God's right Hand for ever more where others must ly down in endless Sorrow but I am afraid you will think me too tedious do not take it ill from me I verily think you will not God is my witness that love to my Master whom I can never admire never commend never save so much or so well as he deserves I should and love to your Soul a longing desire that you two may come to be savingly acquainted together hath set my Pen on work let him give it good speed I greatly delight in you here but I would very fain take you along with me to Heaven let us not part But I dare not for a World delude and flatter you here without a sound Conversion