Soul I choise thy Statutes as my Heritage in the Land of my pilgrimage and Thy Salvation as my Inheritance for ever Give me victory over the World by Faith and grant me Peace Patience and Perseverance to the End Amen Sixthly Devotion for Old Age on Saturday O Ancient of Dayes who remains still in that prime of purest Light and Glory look upon me whom Thou hast preserved in all the periods of life in great mercy Visit me in this my groaning stage with Thy Salvation Let all the errors of my Youth and by gone Age be done away that I may have no burden from my former life now support me when old age hath overtaken me Blessed be God that I have escaped sad Accidents and the hurtful effects of any miss-government of my Life Grant I may now be taken up with Heavenly Exercise and contemplations that I may Receive Dimission with Christ not only in my Arms but in my Heart Renew my inner-man day by day that tho my Limbs be weak my Faith Hope and Charity may be strong And grant me a house with Thee 2 Cor. 5. 1. When my Earthly House shall fall I entered into the World with a groan and nature of necessity must groan being Burthened But Lord exhileraâ—e my Spirit that I may leave the World with great Joy that the day of my Redemption draweth near and may be Refreshed in the Suburbs of Heaven with the Joyful Musick of the Saints that so I may sing in Death and triumph over the Grave through JESUS CHRIST the Prince of life my LORD and life my strength and Redeemer Amen Devotion in order to the Eternal Sabbath On Sunday or the Christians LORDS Day O Lord of Sabbaoth I Bless thee that has brought me out of the toils of the World to rest with thy self Lord take me up to some mouâ—t to â—ee thy Glory where I may erect a Tabernacle not for Earth but Heaven Quicken me with the Life of CHRIST to seek those things above and if I look back to the World it is not for love to it but to see it's vanity I admire the works of Creation and providence and the portract of the little World to show the praise of GOD But I cannot get words nor thoughts to expatiat tiat on the work of our Redemption by Thy Son Nor capacity to Comprehend the height deepth breadth and length of thy love in him But I desire so love him with all my heart and above all the World I behold him now Rising from a Sea of Blood with the Glory of all his conquest LORD put me in the Spirit on this day to Relish the sweet influences of the Holy Ghost that I may be fitted foâ— the Eternal Sabbath where all duties and longing shall be turned into rewards and enjoyments and thy Name be Celebrated with Everlasting wonder Hymns Hallelujahs World without end Amen AND in Regard that Evangelical work of Praise and Singing of Psalms is a special Part of Devotion cease not in thy Pilgrimage and Solitudes to Sing And if you restrict your selves to David's Psalms For your Birth and Child-hood Sing Psalm 51. From the Beginning and the 71. Psalm from Verse 5. For your Youth Psalm 25. And Psalm 109 from Verse 9. For your â—iper Years and your Family the 101 Psalm and Psalm 144 at the End For your Old Age Psalm 71 9 and 18 Verses and if the Church thought fit ye may also make use in your Devotion other Scripture Psalms The Song of Israel on the Banks of the Red-Sea â—he Song of Simeon Zacharias and the Blessed Virgin and the Songs in the 1 5. and 7. Chapters of the Revelation And particularly the Doxologie which hath been of constant use in the Christian Church and is no other but an ascribing of sempeternal Praise to the Ever Blessed Trinity Which tho the Leprous Church of Rome use yet is it Clean to the Pure and it is very sad that it should be controverted in the Militant Church since it will be sung for ever in the Triumphant And since the Mysterious but Salutary Doctrine of the Trinity was contradicted by the Arians in Old and some of that same Gang under another Name of Late there is still occasion for the using of it And to distinguish the Modest and Regular Christian from such as in vade it by Opposition for to commend their Beloved Sect it is not amiss to rise up in token of a more immediat Address and closing with the custom of the Church wherein we should not be contentious And if â—ou please in your Private Devotion to Sing after this manner 1. MY heart is fix'd my â—eart is fix'd now will I sing and praise I 'le praise the Lord with songs unmix'd and still Thy Glorie raise 2. Now Haâ—elujah's shall extoll the Lord God of my praise And still in praises Thee enroll and laud and never cease 3. My little Harp is tun'd to laud my Lord my God my Love With Heavenlie Queer Thy Name applaud Thy Glories all approve 4. All Songs below â—ad not the Clief to raise Thee thus in ault They were sincere but not the chief as those which GOD exalt Second Hymne 1. I Wear the Crown Christ still renown I reign and He 's Supream I am extol'd to praise my King and glorie in His Name 2. I am as well as heart can wish mâ— Soul is all in bless With Joy and Peace Rests and Relish the sweets I now express 3. I see my God my Christ my joy all mysteries are gone Nothing now but Love I know and melodie Divine 4. The Tree of Life maâ—tains my life never to die again O Death in time thou art so rife but here thy strength is vain 5. I live I love I much delight I â—raise and never cease I see and feeâ— with Soul and Sp'riâ— I m all in Light and Bless 6 What can I â—ake For I have all my God is here with me And I with him perpetual my Christ and God to see 7. Here without doubt I 'le glorie give to Father Son and Spirit I 'le praise my God and not deprive frâ—m his just Right and Merit 8. From the first Minute to Ages all I will â—ssert â—â—y Golre In melodies sempiternal to Triâ—e Vne evermore Third Hymne 1. O Sp'rit of Light tune now my sp'rit with Heaven fill my heart And give me seâ—se of that great Light that I may act my part 2. With all the Host and Heav'nlie Queer that never ceass to cry Thrice holie Lord and Thee admire in Peace and Rest and Joy 3 My Soul my Heart my Sp'rit my Powers all joyn to Praise Thy Name My GOD my Life my Hope my Help I 'le praise Thy Mercies Fame 4 Thy Help in need hath made me Glad Thy Grace was still my claim And fresh Supplie hath me releiv'd I magnifie Thy Name 5. I 'le Praise I 'le â—ing I 'le Hope and Joy in Thy great Grace so Good I
be diligent since we know not the hour § 7 It cannâ—t then be impertinent seriously to warn the World to look to the Periods of their Life Which is the great Scope and Design of the following Treatise to lead the Christian through the Labyrinth of Life that he may well consider how short his time is with the Psalmist Psal 86. 47. And follow the Threed of the Word of GOD to direct him in all the Stages and Periods of his Life which is here set before thee in the following Periods Period first Of our Beginning and bygone Life and the Stages thereof Period second Of our present Time and the State of Our Growing Age and the several Stages thereof Period third Of the future Age or what is to come in the Declensions of Nature and the Stages thereof With a Vale to the WORLD Period first Of our beginning and bygone life and the Stages thereof MAn's Age is but a Span and but an Instant 'twixt our birth and our death Man comes to the World and knows not how and goes to a World of Eternity and knows not when He lives he groans he acts awhile and dyes And it takes a great part of the short Span of his time ' ere he well know where he is how he is and what he hath to do He lives long the life of a Brute as it were without reason It 's fit then when he begins to reflect to act as a rational Creature that he consider what he is and review the bygone time Yesterday can not be brought back But time may be Redeemed His life is but a dream yet he may gather some good out of it When he awakes if he consider The Prayer ANd Thou O LORD who only Remains unchangeable in all the stages and Changes of time and the inexpressible permanence of Eternal ages World without end Fix the heart of unconstant Man upon thee alone Our Soul is the Daughter of an high House Give us Grace with the Psalmist to say unto thee LORD thou art my LORD Psal 16. 2. Keep us O GOD in thy Name and make us pure and clean to be fit for Thee Keep our Immortal Soul in life and still upon wing to Flee to its Center and repose for where shall it Flee to be happie but to Thee thou only has the words of Eternal Life O JESV the Powerful attractive of Hearts who makes all Generous Souls sigh after thee draw us to thee for this is our Rest and only repose which sweetneth all the acerbities of time and Bitterness of this World here will we dwell for ever and If we Change upon the Wheel of time we roll indeed but in Thee we can not be moved nor Removed Amen Come I now to consider the stages and several Tuâ—ns of the first Period of our Life STAGE First The Contents OF the Formation and Production of the Infant of the propagation of the Soul and of sin of Infant Baptism and the right that the Children of Church Members have unto it The duty to be extended to Infants as Care Provision Prayer for them to study their Nature and Humour and acting accordingly Grave example and a serious timeous dedication of them to GOD which for more distinct clear uptaking thereof shall be considered by a Particular account of the purpose and dâ—ctrine of the first Stage in the first period of our life § 1. Let Naturalists and Ancient or modern Masters of Medicine discourse of the Formation of the Child in the womb Job and the Royal Psalmist draweth this unseen Embryo best with a Divine Pencil Job 10. 8. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about thou hast fashioned me as the Clay Has thou not powred me out as Milk and croudled me as Chees Thou hast Clothed me with Skin and Flesh and fenced me with Bones and Sinews And Psal 139. from 13. Thou hast possessed my Reins thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and Curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when yet there was none of them Man 's a wonder before the World see him lying in the dark Cells of the womb and if he consider from what he Flows and his little Chamber in the womb and how nourished there It may humble him he flows from Blood and lives on Blood and dwells amongst Blood and Ordurs Thy very nature may humble thee For as it proves the Wisdom and power of the GOD of Nature who can extract a quintessence out of Dullest matters so doth it bid thee look unto thy Original All the Earth being of one Blood Acts 17. 26. And there being no differance 'twixt the Prince and the Peasent and that GOD who teacheth Art to extract Rarities who by nature brings Silk from a Worm a Pearl from a Shell and precious Minerals from Dust and Rubbish doth make this Raritie Man Ex Humo Eccle. 12 7. For Dust thou art and to Dust thou shalt return thou comes from the womb and goes to thy long home the Grave If thou boast of thy Pedigree Go to the House of Rottenness and look to the worms that makes thy Flesh to shrink and learn to confess with Abraham that thou art Dust and Ashes Gen 17. 28. And with Job abhor thy self in Dust and Ashes Job 42. 6. And if thou shall consider that thou art not only Dust but fallen in the Dust and comes forth with a Contaminate Blood dying in thy sin and no Eye pitying thee Ezek 16. 1. it may further abase thee and not suffer thee to be proud when thou lyest in the Dunghill all besmeared with filth and uncleanness Consider then thy rise and thy fall and learn to be humble else thou art proud of nothing or worse than nothing § 2. Next As to the Propogation of the Soul and how the dust body comes to be animated not only with vital spirits but with a rational Soul I shall leave the curiousity of this also to Philosophers For altho some will have the Soul ex traduce because if not so Man doth not beget a perfect Man and commonly Children Patriscent follow the ill of the Parents and they are Father-like there is not only vitium Gentis familiae of the Nation and Family but also personae of the Person Yet its safest to joyn with the universal Church that the soul is infused according to that of St. Aug Creando infunditur infundendo Creature By creation it is infused and by the infusion of the Soul it is created And this common Vote is not infringed by the sentiments of some Private Men For although Man begetteth not a Soul yet he begets a spirituâ— Organ and Embryo disposed for the Soul aâ— so doth he begett Man Virtually And the Scripture favours this Infusion as Solomon sayeth Dust shall return to Dust and the spirit to
GOD that gave it He gave it not as He doth many things by the use of means but peculiarly GOD noâ— man gave the spirit Ecc. 12. 7. And our Saviour in proving the Resurrection assertâ— that Abraham Isack and Jacob Yet live in a separated state from the Body and such as believe the immaterality and immortality of the Soul which is the common belief of alâ— most the whole World cannot but acknowledge this so St. Paul reasoneth with Philosophers at Athens Acts 17. How long it is ere the Embryo in the Womb receive the soul is something quisquus to determine tho some of the Ancients have been positive as the following distich doth declare Sep in lacte dies ter sunt in sanguine terni Bis seni carnem ter seni membra figurant That is Seven dayes in milk and nâ—ne in blood Twelve dayes the flesh thrice 6 the rest conclude § 3. But leaving this to Philosophy to discuss as to Religion since our spirit or soul is the daughter of an high house no lower than Heaven and the product of the Father of Spirits it is fit that we labour as much as we may in the use of the means to deliver her out of the bondage of corruption she groans with the load of flesh 2 Cor 5 3 In this Tabernacle we groan being burthened And the natural body hath an Animal spirit to lust after sin as St. James sayeth the spirit in us lusteth to Envy Jam. 4. 5. But this spirit evaporateth in pleasure and that sore must be mortified that our soul may be saved in the day of the LORD 1 cor 5. 5. But the rational tho it be hugely darkned and alienated from the life of GOD Eph 4. 18. Yet hath it reason tho much master'd by the brutall part and by that Reason and the faculty even of a natural conscience it cannot but groan under the burden of sin § 4. Now that the soul is contaminate and participant of original sin with the Body and how it is propagated and corrupted are purposes that we should rather yeild to with humble Faith then with canvassing Curiosity labour to comprehend Since the Scripture is positive in the thing That the imaginations of the heart of man are evil and only evil a puâ—â—tia Gen 6. 5. The thoughts of his heart 〈◊〉 only evil continually And without wreâ—ing that of Psal 51. 3. and 5. Verses 〈◊〉 must confess Original Sin And our Saviour Joh. 3. 6. sayeth That which is born of the flesh is flesh and inferreth the necessity of Regeneration from this Disease If we Compare this then with that of Gen. 6. 3. My spirit shall not strive with Man for that 〈◊〉 is flesh We may easily perceive that Man in his whole Compositum is Corrupt and Carnal And the Apostle St. Paul Concludes the whole World under sin And guilty before GOD Rom. 3. 9. and Rom. 7. 23. he descrives unto us a Man inter Regenerandum convinced by the Law and entering the doors of a new Life groaning under the power of sin and death wretched under that corrupt Body of sin and death till he be delivered This is also the Doctrine of the Orthodox and primeval Church and what has been said against it by the Manicheans and Pelagians is fully refuted by that great Dr. Aug concluded against by General Councils and the Current of the Catholick Church all along Yea the sensible amongst the Heathens as Pliny and Tully have acknowledged this and found out the Disease by their own Sentiments Confessing that Nitimur in vitetum c. Now to Dive into that deep Gulf how original sin comes in since no sin is of GOD whether by the breath of Eve corrupted by the Serpent or by the poisonous quality of the Tree of Knowledge whose fruit thô sweet possibly was Venemous which GOD forbad Man to eat of under the pain of Death And GOD may make poison to be in Nature for good and Holy Ends. Whether by these wayes or any other Way or by permissive providence leaving Man under the facultie of Free Will to make his own Election or whether the Soul was infused void of Original Righteousness Or by the first Contact with the Body as our Countryman Dr. Baron De prop pecc doth very pertinently clear is a businesse improper for this Treatise to enlarge upon Yet it is best for thee O Man humbly to believe and sensibly acknowledge what thou feel's that thou may Cleanse thy self from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor 7. 1. And that You may be sanctified throughout Soul Body and Spirit as the Apostle prayes for the Church of the Thess 1 Thesâ— 5. 23. And labour by all means to dig out this root of bitterness from thy Soul and Heart and make use of the salutary means thy Saviour hath prescribed for this end § 5. Now this gets an excellent open Entrance by early Baptism and bringing the Children from the Womb to the Font to be washen in this saving Flood in the Laver of Regeneration from the guilt and filth of sin Which mercy according to the Tenor of the new Covenant is allowed of GOD to Infants For as Circumcision in old which was a seal of the Covenant Rom 4 11. was conferred on Infants so Baptism upon that same ground may be thought to belong to Children of believing Parents Or at least reputed to be so or if one of the Parents believe they are federally holy as St. Paul sayeth 1 cor 7. 14. Else were your children unclean but now they are holy And St. Peter tells the Jews that the promise belongs to them and their children Acts 2 39 CHRIST himself took little Children and blessed them and said suffer Little Children to come to me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and he laid his hands on them and blessed them If his blessing belong to such Why not Baptism Which is among the first of his Blessings And we find from Scripture that GOD hath sanctified some in the Womb and from the Womb why may he not than sanctifie His own institution of Baptism to Infants and the sooner the better this Antidote be applyed against the poyson of the Serpent it doth also much inhanse this Truth that it is and hath been the practice of the Universal Church in and since the Apostles times For we read that some have been baptised and their whole house of which probably Children were a part And altho' some Sectaries have opposed this and have denyed Infant Baptism yet neither is their grounds nor practice to be laid against the General Vote of the Church well instructed by the word of GOD and it is no small defence and warâ—and for Infant Baptism that it is not now a question in the Church and it is so fully asserted and proved that it were superfluous and like lighting a Torch at Noon to add any thing upon the head since none but Phanaticks that follow the fume of
their phansie who deny CHRIST's Offices Ministers Ordinances and Institutions will be so bold as to contradict it And therefore it concerns Parents Religiously to go about the Baptism of their Children and remember the great obligation they stand under for their pious Education And of Children baptized to reflect upon it when they come to any Knowledge and to improve it well by the Instruction of their Parents and Tutors whose serious Instructions grave Example and earnest Prayer for Young Ones may help to instill and drop in such Counsels into their easie and blank minds as may leave some Relish as a Vessel may still keep something of the tast and smell of the first liquor according to that Ancient observe quo semel est imbuta c. and this stage of our life may be reckoned to the fourth year of our Age. STAGE Second The Contents Of the particular care of Parents and Governours as to Children from four years old to twelve of studying their nature and genious and the inâ—â—â—ling and droping in some clear and common principles of Religion with the consideration of Regeneration and when the Children come to be about twelve years of age of their solemn Confirmation § 1. As the Children grows so should the care of their Parents increase towards them its dangerous to suffer the evil of their Nature to take rooting for then it will turn tenacious and obstinate it 's better to take the little Foxes that hurt their tender Gardens Cant. 2. 6. and by Religious conduct use the best means to Eradicate the corruption of their Nature and to correct that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and disorder that is naturally in them by frequent and gradual dropping of good counsel into their hearts especially by fixing in them the common notion of a GOD and fearing of Him of honouring their Parents And withal to acquaint them with their Baptismal Dedication and in as much as is possible to open up unto them the mâ—sterie of their redemption through Jesus Christ and that not only they know to Repeat the Law the Creed and Lords Prayer But also to make them according to their capacitie to understand these Thus entereth Knowledge into their Hearts as a little Drop by frequent falling makes a cavity and hollowness in the stone § 2. Although the Spirit of GOD the Author of Regeneration like the wind bloweth when where and how he pleases Joh. 3. v. 8. And calleth some sooner some later yet is it not improper to set it down here for that same LORD that Blessed Babs can Sow the Seed of Grace in their Hearts And of this Regeneration I shall only remember Man of the Necessity Nature and Evidence thereof First as to the necessity Our Saviour is very positive Job 3. v. 2. and 3. Except a man be Born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD and no outward exercise of Religion can avail us without the New Creature the Old-man must be Crucified and the New-man formed and Nurished ere we can be fit for the Kingdom of GOD. And 2ly We cannot better take up the Nature of it than by considering the Author and the manner of his Operation in producing this Work It is only the Spirit of GOD that doth it so is every one that is born of the Spirit John 3. 8. Of His own Will begatt He us that we should be a kind of first Fruits of His Creatures Jam 1. 18. This New Creature then is clearly the Product of the Spirit of GOD Who doth this work mediatly by the use of means especially by the Word oâ— Truth and other holy Engines that he is pleased to make use of Yet is not this Work produced of any means but by the concurse of the principal Agent the Word illuminats and perswads but there 's more then Moral Swasion in this Work for GOD's promise in the Covenant is to put his Laws in our inward parts Jer 3. 33. They receive by their Conversion a heavenly seed which abideth in them that will not suffer them to sin as the wicked do John 3. 9. Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of GOD. Yet as to the production of this new Creature it may be so secret for a time like the Infant in the Womb so clouded and over-powr'd by Temptation and Corruption that it doth little appear and it takes a long time ere it become perfect in degrees and visibly compleat as to parts althô the Child tho little and weak is potentially a perfect man Parents then and Governours should with St. Paul travel in birth till Christ be formed in their Children 3ly As to its Evidence the Apostle manifests it fully 2 cor 5. 17 Behold all things are become New The man is wholly renewed in Quality tho not in Substance so that he may very well say Ego non sum ego He hath a more generous spirit with Caleb a better heart with David a more shininâ— face with Moses and the lips of the Righteous feed many And tho no man caâ— make this Change yet is he exhorted to make him a new heart Ezek. 18 31. Thâ—â— is to use the means and well to consider that the spirit of GOD begets this neâ— Creature by the word of Truth Jam 1 18 That such may be a kind of first fruits of Hâ—â— Creatures and for himself to show forthâ— His praise Who hath called them from darkness to Light § 3. It is very promotive of Grace also when Children comes to this state of Life that they be Confirmed after they can give any account of their Creed and of their Prayers according to the Blessed Pattern The LORDS Prayer For we read frequently in the Acts of Confirming the Disciples after they were Proseâ—â—ted to the Christian Religion whereby the new Plantation was fixed and by a sort of personal Covenanting with GOD they were Engaged to His Service by their Voluntar Consent This is the practice of the Universal Church Which if simply done and not elevated unto a Sacrament is laudable and promotive of the Ends of Religion And tho it be quarrelled with by some in this Nation Yet if it could be got well done in every particular Parish Since the Bishop may not be alwayes Vacant it may be thought no Disorder for the Parish Minister every year as Occasion offers to do this in the presence of the Parents and famous Witnesses personally and particularly to joyn them to the LORD And if there were not alas too great incuriousness about matters of Religion a mean so helpful to the ends thereof may be put in use So to conclude this Point I shall Reinforce my earnest Exhortation to Christian Parents in behalf of their Children for this particular instance of their Care for their Souls and to remember Gospel Ministers of their duty as to this And since through the unsetledness of the Times it can
and Noble Spirit David in his Faith and Chearefulness being the sweet Psalmist in Israel And all GODS Worthies have had their own Feats and Glorious Adventures But let your Noble Persons observe these Properties 1. Humility 2. Generosity 3. Affability and Condescendance First Humility For GOD resists the proud and gives Grace to the Humble and Sa 〈…〉 temptation to Adam smell'd much 〈◊〉 Pride ye shall be as Gods But the moâ—â— Humble you are in your high place yoâ—â— are the liker GOD who tho he be the hiâ—â— and Holy One that Inhabiteth Eternity yâ—â— He dwells with the Humble Spirit and your Saviour shinned in this Vertue signally and left you an example to folloâ— His Steps which if you do GOD willâ— exalt you with Him and encrease youâ— fame As He gave him a name above every name Phil 2. 8. And the greater ye are ye have received the greater Recepts froâ— GOD and therefore ye should be humble because ye have nothing but what 〈◊〉 given you And GOD may take it from you and you from it Let the pride of Pharaoh who said who is the LORD and Nebuchadnezars Ostentation Is not this great Babel which I have built for the glory of my name Beâ—shezar in the fervour of a Feast Herod under applauses as to a GOD let these warn you For tho 〈◊〉 be Gods and all of you Children of the Most High yet ye shall die like Men Ye are eminent because of your place and Authority yet ye are mortal Men and tho we worship you with Civil Honour yeâ— your Glory may be Eclipâ—ed if ye guide it not with Humility to the Glory of GOD. 2ly Generosity Who should be generons but the Noble Man this makes you truly Noble And as a favourable Constellation to refresh the Countrey a-about you This breeds you Respect and Followers And what is more it chears and dilates your own Spirits if it be guided with frugality It makes you both Good and Great it suits your Character and gives you more Glory than your Fortune And the Sun as soon looseth its Light as you thus qualified can loss your Honour and Respect For the liberal Soul deviseth liberal things and is liberally rewarded sayeth the Prophet 3ly Affability Your Wisdom conducts your Character betwixt the Luminous Lines of Humility and Generosity and to know when to appear and when to be Private And the discretion of such as adress you should teach them to keep their distance since familiarity sometimes breeds contempt Yet your Courtesie oblidgeth you to a serene aspect a Noble Air and Mean in your way and rather win Men with Condescendance than turn Sullen like Saturn And such as are truely great they delight to diffuse themselves tho they be not profuse The great GOD allows us to come boldly to the Throne of Graâ—â— providing we come as we ought anâ— with a pleasant Countenance he behold â—eth the upright Follow GOD then and â—how your selves ready to receive otherâ—â— who perhaps adress you because proviâ— dence hath made them to have need oâ— you Secondly As to your domestick Capacity § 5. Look not upon it as presumpâ—ioâ— in one that honours your house anâ— wishes a Blessing to it humbly to mentâ—â— on the mean that can obtain the Blesâ—inâ— and that is to have your House qualified to entertain GOD And altho your qualitie requires a Retinue of many servants yet Government that rules Kingdoms should guide your families and that which is most essential for this end is Piety and Devotion and courteous Hospitality for the entertainment of Human Sosciety The dayly sacrifice must be offered for the sanctifying your house The most private family indeed may have its hinderances and youâ—s much more But as Abraham Governed A numerous family and David walked with a perfect heart in his house at home So if you Rule your house with authority It may be as easie and usual therein as to manage and settle the Oeconomie thereof And since GOD in his providence makes so many bring in your revenues It is very agreeable you should pay your Rent to GOD in having a qualified person set a part for that end and then you may upon good grounds say with Miâ—ah Judg. 17. 1. Now I know that the LORD will Bless me since I have a Levit and an Altar for Devotion in my House And tho some of that Rank has mscatried yet it should not hinder the Constant course of your good Carriage to GOD since CHRIST himself had a Traytor in his family And also it very much Suits that Generosity which provides your house for the Entertainment of humane Sosciety that frugally you be Hospital which as it conciliats Respect to you for honor est in honorante sayes the Philosopher So will it serve to banish penuriousness and Churlish Nabal-like humour out of the hearts of those who see your Noble deportment and so help to advance mutual kindness amongst Neighbours and the countrey made serene as a new Region wherein the life not only of humanity but of Christianity may appear Thirdly As to the Demeanour of the Noblemen towards the Institutions of CHRIST and His Ministers § 6. I Make only my humble adress here to such Persons of Quality who have espoused the interest of that glorious Cause of Reformed Religionâ— Wishing also that such as ly under the bondage of Rome may awake that CHRIST may give them Light and iâ— they were not Byassed by their Education and misinformed by the corrupt principles of the vain pretences of Rome and strangley tenacious of the Traditions of their Fathers as the Pharisees before them they could not but open their Eyes to the Light of pure and primitive Christianity But as to you my Lords who are under a more favourable Constellation of Scripture-Light pray consider what freedom you are under In being delivered from the Onerous loads of nuâ—â—erous Cerimonies peevish Abstinences and the necessity of Auricular Confession Beside the great Ignoranc this way would keep you in and the straitning of the Spirit of Liberty in serving GOD in Spirit and Truth And since ye have united your selves to Catholick Truth propagated by Christ and His Apostles be sure you labour even after the Periods almost of 17 Ages to show your Zâ—al and Respect to the Ordinances and Ministers of Christ As to the first Altho they be accounted by many as in old to be foolishness for The Jews sought after a sign and the Greeks after Wisdom 1 Cor 1-22 And now adayes Men despise the Ordinances And Athenian-like long after some new thing Yet there is a secret Vertue in these Institutions which only the simple and humble feel and perceive And GOD by the foolishness of Preaching may save Souls and the Gospel is the Power of GOD unto Salvation to such as believe For GOD is in His Ordinances and Day tho perhaps many know it not How strange was that Stratagem of a Rude Illiterate Man at the first
I would warn you to shun avocations from and Impediments of your duty for no converse except It be with the gravest can havâ— such influence upon your heart as to leavâ— the World and Contemplat God wherâ— by in all the tempests of this life yoâ— may by faith and devotion sweem Calâ— ly as a fish in troubled waters and whâ—â— you make GOD your study you câ—â— the better read the state and case of meâ— and I assure you by your conversing 〈◊〉 Heaven you will be fitter to come doâ—â— from the Mount with the will of GOâ— in your mouth and the Tables of the Laâ— in your hand with Moses and when 〈◊〉 are at the greatest distance from thâ— World by this habitual contemplatioâ— of GOD and things spiritual and Eâ—ternal you may be the more capable 〈◊〉 serve the â—â—terest of him that is invisiblâ— and the happiness of the Immortal Soul 2ly What ye speak to People must be 〈◊〉 the Oracles of GOD and the word oâ— Faith which you preach from the knowledge of the Scriptures make CHRIST near to your people and there shall yâ— find the mind and will of the Eternal GOD for the directing of their Faith Worship and manners And if you conclude â—ell from the Scriptures you may say â—ith St. Paul we have the mind of Christ â—nd thus be a voice with the Baptist and monitor with St. Paul to warn every man 〈◊〉 all Wisdom that you may present them perâ—ct in Christ Col. 1. 28. 3ly Because â—ou have fallen in bad times Arm your â—elves with patience and courage Endure â—ardness as the Souldiers of CHRIST 2 Tim. 〈◊〉 3. For if ye be reproached for the â—ame and Ministry of CHRIST Happy â—re ye Make the Cavils of this World â—our Crown consider what indignities â—nd reproaches your Blessed Master met with that now when his Religion is out of request you may comport with your â—lights and strive the more to avouch his way because abandoned by so many wrap your selves up in your Calling where ye shall be secure as in a Sanctuary From the strife of Tongues and whatsoever men do to deminish and cry down your Character yet labour ye to magnifie your office with St Paul for it is both holy and Honourable and at length the Reprover in the Gate shall be thought more wise and happy than him That perisheth in the way Fourthly To the Commons of all sorts As you are to be careful of all thâ— common concerns of your Religion anâ— particular duties of your Calling Relâ—â— tions in approving your selves in yoâ— sphere both to God man so particularâ— I would Recommend to you 1 st Morâ— honesty 2ly Civility and discretion Lâ—bâ—ur then first to be morally honest anâ— think not that ye can be Religious bâ— external duties publick or private you neglect mâ—rality for GOD seeth aâ— your wayes and hath shewed unto thee 〈◊〉 man what is good Study then honesty iâ— your principles your ends your wordsâ— your bargains Buying and Selling. Aâ—â— with Conscience beware of Covetousneâ— and deceit knowing that such aâ— turn aside to crooked wayes GOD wil lead them forth with the workers of iniquity Psal 115. 5. And may put a secret Moath into your hidden things of dishonesty 2ly Learn to be discreet and Civil for both Morality and Religion teacheth this Lesson And is the best discipline in the World to guide you in your Carriage to GOD and Man The Heathens by the light of Nature did polish and Civilize themselves how much more thou in following the even Line of Righteousness Which teacheth us that Whatever things are Just and Honest and of good Report and to cast away that barbarous Rudness that hath so much through slouth and carelesness debased the life of the most Learn good Manners in the right Government of thy Tongue and passions by the patience and precepts of the Prince of Peace And tho perhaps thou can not be so accurate as those that have the best Education Yet must thou have as much Religion as can not only Sanctifie but Calm thee and fit thee for those sweet serene Regions where there is nothing of boisterous passion and licentious talk And in thy passage thither there be two Rocks that you are Carefully to guard against First The sin of rash swearing and cursing 2ly The sordidness of sensuality and drunkenness First What canst thou propose unto thy self by Rash Swearing except it be that thy corrupt nature Glorys to be wickedâ— and swagered out in profanity till thou fall into the borders of blasphemy By this thou makes thy self to be looked upon as an ingoverned and an indiscreet person a son of Belial in thy Generatioâ— And by your Cursing you discover muâ—â— of the Nature and Venom of the Seprâ—â— much contrary to that sweetness and geâ—tleness that becomes thy Religion Thâ—â— proves hereby an Execrable Executionâ—â— and involves thy self in the sad curse dâ—â—nunced by the Prophet As he loved cursiâ—â— so let it come upon him Psal 110. 17. And tho it may please thy vendictive humouâ— for the time yet thy curses like a stingless Wasp to others recoils and returnâ— with malignant venom upon thine owâ— pate 2ly As to Sordid Sensuality Altho alas there be too much cause of complaint of this in persons that should be better bred yet there are many that show this shame without shame And they are so prone to this upon Occasion that even Charity almost doth not hinder others to think with regrate that their bellâ— is theâ— God and their shame their Glory And that your filthy Vomits reâ—ling Staggerings and distracted Deliriums makes you not only like the Eliots in Laâ—edemon that were exposed to publick view as spectacles to make the younger abhorr the Vice But puts a note upon you if ye do not repent of a dismal fate that you shal not inherti the Kingdom oâ— GOD 1 â—or 6. 10. Learn then to temper your Life with Temperance knowing that fair Nature is soon satisfied And Religion teacheth thee Not to be drunk to excess but filled with the Spirit Eph 5. 18. The Prayer AND Thou O LORD the soveraign Judge of all the Earth and the Great Master of all Lords â—ennants and Tenements therein follow this humble Application to all Ranks of Men with Thy Majestick Power that tho many may be ready rather to redicule than read these lines yet O GOD of Wisdom give them to have their second thoughts that they may through Thy Grace shun the dreadful Handwriting of Mene Tekel against them and be by the power of Thy Spirit made Citizens of Zion Amen COURSE Third The Contents What fine your labour in Vertue Piety good government of your life and Family and the progress of your Religion the ordering of your house and the setting forth of your Children to â—audable and lawfull Callings and Setlement hath come to § 1. I Hope I have not need much to insist here since as to the
learn to know our frailty and not look upon our selves as Impregnable Forts O Then labour now to be solidly serious to do thy duty and encounter the defficulties of this Period of thy life And for your help I shall take up this remanent part of it in some following stages STAGE First The Contents Of a serious recollecttion of thy self after aâ— impartial tryal of thy former lifeâ— And. 2ly what now is to be done the excrcise and duty of man particularly suitable to this Period from 50 to 70 and from that to the end of his life 1. EVery man should know himself and every Good man is intent upon this study he should now be so solid as to recollect himself and to draw his life as in a little Map and that so impartially that the Blemishes as well as any vertue may appear Thou has an impartial and penetrating Eye to see thee a perfect Rule to direct thee which if thou follow thou hast a well informed conscience 〈◊〉 admonish thee and the Wisdom of GOD to make thee Cast a Right account of thy life for which thou art with a pious curiosity to enquire into these particulars following 1. If thou hast unfeignedly repented of all thy former Sins 2ly If there be yet any Residive humour of folly in thee 3ly If thou findest any thing of true grace and Divine Nature in thee 4ly If thy heart do not condemn thee As St Paul sayes 1. Cor. 3. 4. I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified 5ly How thou art resolved to encounter the Tryals of this Stage 6ly If thou has defeated all delayes and finds thy thy self now intent upon the one thing necessary 7ly What 's the product of thy particular and General calling First If thou hast unfeignedly repented of all thy former fins § 2. There is a Repentance to be repented of which comes by fits like Pharaob's when Judgements are upon the patient but when the paroxisme is over he falls into a Relapse and so as some Divines have observed The life of such a one is but the riding of a round to sin and repent and repent and sin and thus run into a Circle and ruine But true Repentance fixeth such a remorse and sence of the evil of sin in the heart as to make the Peâ—tent cry wo unto me that I have sinned 〈◊〉 beholds it to be a bitter and evil thâ—â— to offend GOD It is wrought by Goâ— Sorrow and carried on with revenâ—â—gainst sin to abhore that which he loâ— altho he were stated in the same cirâ—â— stances It humbleth the Soul and â—â—eth it cry with Jeremiah Oh that 〈◊〉 head were a well of Water and my 〈◊〉 fountains of Tears which if they be â—â—ing makes the penitent express his 〈◊〉 with Groans unutterable It reforms thâ—ner and makes him Cautiâ—us thereâ—â— and labour with the greatest sincerity act the opposite Vertues 1 Cor. 1. 7. Secondly If there remain anâ— Residâ—â— Humour of folly in thee § 3 The Serpent is not soon slain 〈◊〉 the body of sin easily mortified the 〈◊〉 of bitterness is hard to be eradicated 〈◊〉 rooting out the sin of thy nature 〈◊〉 son inclinations requires the 〈◊〉 askâ—â—ful Surgeon or to cut off thy 〈◊〉 Hand or pluck out thy right Eye if 〈◊〉 offend thee And if thou be sinceâ—â— Christ will learn thee the holy Aâ— Mortification Thou must not comâ—with flesh and blood nor relish any carnal guit For To be carnally minded is death and if thou live after the flesh thou shall die but if through the Spirit thou mortifie the deeds of the body thou shall live Rom. 8. 13 Thou must cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit 2 Cor 7. 1. And wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Jer 4. 14. Thirdly If thou partake of the Divine Nature § 4. That this is a property of the Godly is asserted by St. Peter 2 Pet 1. 4. For altho no man can partake of the infinite Essence of GOD which cannot be divided nor communicated to any Creature Yet do Believers partake of Heavenly Qualities which makes them in some measure like their Heavenly Father And frees them from the Disposition Fashion and Estate wherein unregenerate men live and perish And the free and absolute promises of GOD such as That we shall be Sons and Daughters to him and GOD will take away the Stony heart and give a Heart of Flesh have a great influence upon the Renewing of our Nature and the Sanctifying and Glorifying of our ritrit and making it GOD-Like in its measure and Capacity And to resemble him in Heaven ly Wisdom Holiness and Uprightness especially in Humility and Charity towards miserable Sinners with a Zeal for the LORDS Honour and such eminent Perfections as were transcendâ— antly and without measure in the Manâ— Christ Thus the Life of GOD is begun in the Heart of Man by Regeneration and advanced by the Operation of Grace and Vertue And the impure lump is Illuminated and made Perfect and Holy as our Heavenly FATHER is Holy and Perfect And the Love of GOD shade abroad in the Heart doth wonderfully chear and warm that new Life and makes it grow and come to Perfection So that we deserve not the name of Religion nor have we warrant to expect to see GOD and to be with Him for ever in Glory if we do not be like GOD in the Operation of His Grace and Goodness in the Landâ— of the Living Heaven certainly must be begun in us ere we be possessed Citizens thereof Phil 3. 20. Our Conversation must be above till we come to a more intimate Communion with GOD for ever Fourthly If thy Heart do not condemn thee § 5. If our Heart Condemn us GOD is greater than the heart and knoweth all things John 3. 20. By the Heart here is meant the sound and solid reflections of the Spirit upon our Life and Way by the exercise of Conscience which the Apostle calls Heart to distinguish it from humour Misperswasion and melancholy apprehensions when the Conscience is once awakened And still there is a difference betwixt Gravamen spiritus dietamen Conscientiae But it is the Heart and well informed Mind of a Christian that makes him either Conscious or Cordial according to the Frame of his Life If thou wouldst then be approved at the Barr of this Deputy of GOD you must act according to his Word and after serious search correct what is amiss till you attain unto serenity and clearness of mind Yet I would not have you to seek satisfaction so much in your self aâ— in the Goodness of GOD and the Merit of Christ acquiesâ—e in his Salvation by a humble beleiving and penitentâ— Heart and lean not to your own Understanding If thou be not satisfyed as yet consult a knowing Guide whose Office it is aâ—â— thy full information to give thee Ease 〈◊〉 clearness For The Priest's lips should preseâ—â— Knowledge Mal 2.
GOD is the Jâ—dâ— and knoweth all things And now its hâ—â— time that thy Wisdom appear to maâ—â— thee wise unto Salvation otherwise iâ— but worldly wit For true Wisdom is Siâ—plicity heavenly sincerity and accurate walkinâ— which as it makes thee useful in thy Geâ—â—rationâ— So makes it thy face to shine aâ—elevates thee to a clearer orb there to Râ—main as a fixed Star § 3. 2ly What resolutions thouâ— hâ—â— to encounter incident personal afflictioâ—â— Afflictions spring not out of the dust buâ— they attend dust ashes they flow from many causes And now in thy declining age thou art to encounter with the decay of a frail Body occasioned By obstructions Rehums distillations and manifold distempers which requires a great deal of fortitude and firmitie of mind to â—â—dure and improve together with all inciâ—ent tryals from without that are appointâ—d for thee which thou should sweeten by â—â—e consideration of Christ's sufferings â—rm thy self with patience and poise thy â—elf with Christian Contentment in all â—he counterbuâ—s of tryal know with the Aâ—ostle How to be abased and how to be exâ—lted through Christ strengthening thee Phil. 4. 12. § 4ly What account thou can give of thy self to GOD and man Every one must give account of himself to GOD enquire then if thou hast any register of thy diurnal and Annual accounts if thy conscience doth report to thee that thou art serious in Religion and dissintangled from any affection to sin and false way which if thou find as it will afford great peace so will it commend thee to Men especially to such as deserve the name of Men and thou shalt by such accuracy deservedly get the name of a good wise and honest man and go off the Stage of time with a Euge and an applause well done good and faithful servant enter into thy Masters joy Matt. 28. 21. § 5. 4ly If thou through CHRIST helping thee labours to perfection It is tâ—â— nature of Grace still to grow and such 〈◊〉 are planted in the LORDS house by 〈◊〉 hand off GOD bring forth fruit in thâ— old age there is no time for sloth 〈◊〉 Man be now as to his outwardframe muâ—â— abâ—agendo yet the Spirit is loosing and nearer Heaven and hath more of Heavâ—â— and so the inner Man is renewed day 〈◊〉 day and thou canst do all things throuâ—â— CHRIST strenghning thee if thy dutâ— be lame and thy graces weak thou mâ—strive to make them up and labour 〈◊〉 square thy self by Religion for that 〈◊〉 which lyeth four square let no part 〈◊〉 thee be without its policy that thou maattain unto that perfection that can 〈◊〉 reached here § 6. 5ly If thou be running thy Raâ— in the good fight of Faith Thou must noâ— stop till thou come to the end and obtain the prize and tho thy limbs be noâ— weak thy faith should be strong anâ— thy Soul vigorous to take Heaven 〈◊〉 Violence § 7. 6ly If thou be busie now in ripening thy self for Heaven As thy Soul should be purified so should it be ready and all in white with the holy Vesture of the Wedding Garment that thus adorned thou mayest meet the Bridegroom The world now may clog thee but it should be little in thy Eye for it is empty and nothing can satisfie thy Soul but GOD and thy thus continuated Grace must take fire with the sparks of Divine Love till it be consummate in Glory and thou attain to the Regions of Love Life Peace and Joy § 8. 7ly If thou dayly prepare for death and have thy Soul upon readiness Thou must now wait the Gail of Grace with a Calm and comfortable Air to conduct thee to thy fathers house death hath already entered thy windows ceased upon thy faculties and loosed thy Tabernacle and there remains but little of animal and Vital Spirit in thy â—ead and heart Thou shouldst now have thy Loyns girt up and be ready to shake of thy fetters when thy Master calls that thou mayest resolutely render up thy Soul into the hands of a Faithfull Creatour And § 9. 8ly Come I now to consider the Means Motives to advance this Beside all that has been said the great â—ean now to be used consists in Consideration Action and Devotion To conâ—ider well where ye are and whither ye tend If every thing relating to Eternity be well ordered 〈◊〉 disposed If Faith and Repentance 〈◊〉 had their perfect Work And if nâ—â— thou be disposing thy â—elf by Heaveâ— Mindedness that with thy Eyes cloâ— upon the World thy faith as a prospâ— beholds in the Heavenly Visions of soâ— and serious Contemplation the Gloriâ—â— thy Fathers House To which thou mâ— add sincere Devotion and by a constaâ— Course of lively Prayer labour to attaâ— unto the Land of Praise For which 〈◊〉 thing can be added by way of Motiâ— more useful than the consideration 〈◊〉 thy Heavenly Aid to help and assist thâ—â— in duty with the proposal of that greaâ— Recompence of Reward that is laid uâ— for thee in Heaven with all that Lovâ— the appearing of our LORD JESUS CHRIST § 10. And altho in this stage of thy Liâ—â— to which few attaiâ—n thou must make use of thy stock and live upon it as a Beâ— doth in Winter upon hony tho through the Infirmity of Old Age the outward Organs be much weakened the inward faculties not as before yet must thou bring forth fruit in old age Psal 92. 14. as much as possible Guard against that which is called Dottleness by dissentangling thy self â—rom the cares and affairs of the World and labour by wisdom and wariness to keep thy self from the weakness of a Crazy Brain and a fible mind that thou do not much affect converse except that with GOD who is the Ancient of dayes that thou lean not to thy memory but learn of St. James To be swift to hear and slow to speak and that through the direction of GOD Thou follow the Patriarchs in old and the Primitive Fathers under the new dispensation as Polycarp St. Johns disciple who Vigorously Endured his Tryal in the 86 year of his Age * Eus Hist liâ— 5. Cap. 15. and to seek in to the GOD of Wisdom that thy Judgement and intellectuals be clear which is a mercy that should be much sought after by all that thus the strength of thy mind may be fresh after the toils of thy life and that thou esteem the mercy of GOD that has lengthned thy dayes on earth against long and everlasting Eternity And that thô GOD for Holy ends may remove some who are hopefull in the very Bud and Alas Thô many hasten their own fate and shorten their dayes by misdiet Passion and follâ— Yet if thou persevere in the way of rightâ— ousnses thou shall have the advantagâ— of great experiâ—nces and have a freâ— and nearer prospect of the promised land every hour looking for Eternity anâ— with old Simeon waiting the LORD's pasâ— and not only Dye with
to keep Memento mori in the Vade-mecum of our Mind that we may be ready to render up our Soul unto the Hands of a Faithful Creatour ss 12. 2ly Thou must be willing to die Death is indeed Irksome to Nature buâ— when thou considerest it as a passage to thy Fathers house it is pleasant thou must be so willing as to submit to GOD and resign thy Life to His Will for GODS Will is still Good and gâ—ided with excellent â—udgment whether thou Nill or Will thy times are in His band Consult not therefore Flesh and Blood but Faith and chearfully drink of that Cup that all before us have tasted which is sweetened by the death of Christ and better to die willingly than to live in â—pposition to GODS Will say therefore with old Eli the Will of the LORD be done And if it be well principled thy willingness will come up the leâ—gth of a desire to die not of a pievish discontent with Joâ—â—h But with an Apostollick and Heavenly Spirit to desire to depart and be with Christ which is best of all Let not therefore the dreadour of death hinder thy desire since GOD is with thee to give thee a safe passage Death simply cannot case thee but it is dying in the LORD that makes thee Blesseâ— It is gooâ— then to have a well dected Mind and Soul For there are such attractives in the Recompence of Reward the Crown of Righteousness and of being ever with thâ— LORD As may make thee desire to be uncloathed that mortality may be swallowed up in Life 2 Cor 5. 4. I â—issintangle therefore thy self of Worldly Letts that thy Soul may as naturally tend to Heaven as the sparks flee upward ss 13. 3 lâ— Mâ—ke Death familiar to thee for many put off the Evil Day and leave the thoughts of Death to â—ick and Dying Persons but thou should be more prudent walk every day as it were thy Last Day and frequent thoughts of it will make it to be no strange nor sad thing to die Frâ—quent use makes the habit Easie and 〈◊〉 well prepared Christian will say my heâ—â— s fixed § 14 4ly If any doubts fears arise whiâ—â— may be incident to Christians when â—heâ— come seriously to look upon Eternity 〈◊〉 dark passage of death leading thereuntâ— thy death can make thee dâ—ubt of nothinâ— but what state it will put thee into but Givâ— no place to doubt since it is certain 〈◊〉 thou Relie on Christ thou art securâ— Thou must not consult the disorders 〈◊〉 thy life but the well ordered covenanâ— Are thy sins many GOD hath a multitude of mercies are they great he caâ—â— pardon them because they are great hast thou Backslidings He can heaâ— thy Backsliding Hast thou dâ—fficulties Light can clear thee art thou tempted He can Succour thee Art thou dijected He can comfort thee So whatever by thy case if thou come to Him upon the terms of the Gospel thou mayest be Satisfied in his love Iâ— death be the King of terrors CHRIST is the King of comforts Thou needs not fear in fâ—tifaucibus in the jaws of Death If 〈◊〉 be iâ— Gremio Dei in the Bâ—some of GOD let the dart of Death â—trick the shield of Faâ—th will resist its force All Mortals before you have suffered â—eath even Children and the Weaker Sex and it is a sillie thing to dread that which is conquered can do nothing to a Christian but loose him from Bondage There is nothing dreadfull in Deaâ—h but to fall into the hands of an Angry GOD and if your pasillanimous Mind makes thee flee Death it follows thee Get thy Heart and conscience in a right frame then and then thou has nothing to do but to ly dâ—wn and slâ—ep â—et thy faith and hope on work and By a heavenly Spirit lahour with Samson to destroy GODS Enemies Colect thy powers to render up thy Soul with comfort and that same GOD who has made Martyres Rejoice in their tortoures may make thâ—e sing as a Swan in death and Triumph with St. Paul O Death where is thy Sting 1 Cor. 15. 55. § 15 6ly To pray for a happy death Labour to die well and iâ— it be the LORD's will deprecate any thing extraordinary in thy Death except an extraordinary Repentance and a heavenly frame of Spirit Thou shouldest submit to the time and mannâ—r of thy Death but with all beg a comfortable demission to depart in peace and since there are thousand accidents incident to thy lifâ— and many have been taken off the Stagâ— by surprize and in the act of sin thoâ— art to pray for a happie Death and composed mind in dying and think it nâ— unsuitable to Deprecate a sudden Death takâ— Sanctuary in GOD that in the uncertanties of this World thou mayest be secure Labour to Kill this Pasisisk with the Eyâ— of Faith Dayly die to sin and cleay to Christ pay the debt of nature with pleasure Lay down thy Body to a Grave perfumed with CHRIST's Burial and commit thy soul to a faithful Creatour and Blessed Redeemer Prayer in order to Death O LORD Gâ—D of Life and Death Thoâ— only hast the empire over Death O Prince of Life who was once dead and art now alive Give me to live for Thee and in Thee and I shall not die but sleep Thy Love caâ— keep my Soul warm in the dark Valley of Death save me from the bondage of the fear of Death and the sting of it and then I may harmlesly like a Child play on the hole of the Asp Fill me with Light and Spiritual Life and deliver me from â—â—y thing that may make Death irksom that I may lay up store in my best circumstances against the power of it Save me from procuring my Death by the ill Government of my Life save me from all Misdemeanour that may procure a violent Death Deliver me from sudden Death if it be Thy Holy Will and let me not he surprized by my last Enemy Into Thy Hands I commend my spirit perfect Thy Grace in me that I may attain to the end of the Vpright and perfect Man to die in Peace Amen The Second last Thing JUDGEMEMT § 1. AFter Death the Judgement The belief of a Judgement is an Article of our â—reed and a great principle of our Religion Death and Judgement are both decreed Heathens have believed it and Nill they Will they Conscience asserts it and the worst of Men in Crosses and about their dying have had apprehensions of Judgement and such as have stiffled convictions have now within them fatal and fearful Convulsions for as GOD is so is He just and will bring all things to Judgement and tho Sentence be not prâ—sently execute here Yet there remains 〈◊〉 Judgement Concerning which letâ— it 〈◊〉 first enquired as to the Truth of it 〈◊〉 The time of its Commencement 3ly The Judge 4ly the Process And 5ly Thâ— Sentence § 2. First That there is a Judgement to come
Heart with the Salt of Grace and make me to grow in Grace Imprint O LORD upon the Table of my Heart the A B C of Christianity teach me to know Love Fear Choice and Obey Thee give me to savour something of Reason and Religion in my ruder Age that I may mind my moment not trifle my time away abouâ— things of no moment Pardon and heal the corruption of my nature and the Vices of my person give me the new Heart in my younger dayes take away all Impediments and prejudices at Vertue and Religion And so shape sharpen and Sanctifie me that I may become an Instrument of Thy Glory and be prepared for Duty in the following Periods of the Life that thou shalt grant me Amen Devotion in order to Youth to be Exercised on Tuesday NOw Blessed GOD thou hast enlarged me from the bondage of None-Age the yoak of Discipline Keep me under thy Discipline For thy yoak is easie and thy commands are not grievous I am now lifted up to the Prime of my Age LORD make me steddy by Thy Grace that I do not turn giddy and stagger When I look back I find I have been Childish in mind as well as body What dark conceptions have I had of thee And any little spark of Grace was smuthered with a Mass of corruption the Brute in me much mastered it How raw and rude were my Notions of Religion And how contracted and deadned was my Conscience I was almost in all evil and knew it not and much under the Senses and sensitive Appetite The root of all evil was in me and I was content with my pleasant Fetters and were not Thy Mercy Thou hadst fully cast me off the Stage as a miscreant unworthy to live Yet LORD thou hast brought through all this dark trance of Childhood 1 Kings 18. 26. Save me from youthful lusts and grant mewith Obadiab that I may fear thee from my youth purge me from the Dregs of Nature Let them not fix in my Bones least in fuller years I â—e made to possess the sins of my Youth Joâ—â— 20. 11. Make me vigorous to engage under the Banner of CHRIST to fight against the infernal Trinity the devil the world and the Flesh and own the Holy TRINITY Blessed for ever Give me to offer the first fruits of my Life to Thee LORD make me to relish the sweetnesâ— of Vertue above all the pleasures of the World and pardon the Errors of my Youth Psal 25 11. and so ballast and establish me with Grace that I may lanch out unto a longer Life and not make shipwrack of Faith and good Conscience but have Thy Word for my Pilote Thy Spirit for my Star Humility for my Ballast the Gail of Grace to fill the Soul of my Affections Thy Glory for my End and Eternal Life for my Harbour Through JESUS CHRIST My LORD Amen 3ly Devotion As to our Entrance to a â—alling and Relation to be exercised on Wednesday O GOD of Love the Father of all sweet Harmony and Peace and the great Proveditor of Man Thou hast made him a Sociable Creature and hast united Mankind in a Society as Members of one Body Thou hast ordained him to live by his own Industry in the use of the Means which by Thy Blessing tends to his Provision As Nature abhores Vacuity so Thou O LORD abhores Idleness and hath given a particular Vocation to Man for Vertue LORD make me religious in my general Calling as a Christian and frugall in my particular Calling grant me the composed Wisdom to make choice of a Helper like unto Me let neither Lightness â—ondness nor carnal phansie be the principle and measures of my Affection and choice let the Advice and council of those whom I ought to follow be consulted and bless me with such purity in my Design that if by Thy Allowance I enter into a conjugal State I may ascend that bed with Innocence and Whiteness without the very knowledge of the carnal Tricks of Sin and Satan And when enteredâ— to entertain a constant Conjugal Affection to the wife or Husband of my Youth and if ever I have escaped in the least wash me throughly and Cement our Relation with the Endearments of the best Bond that our Family may be a Betâ—el to Thee Make our Calling Honest and Creditable and wherein we may be usefull to Thee and if Thy Providence hath brought us to Fortunes give us to consider that Thou wilt only honour them that honour Thee make us usefull in our Generation in the Stations Thou hast put us and may we with all Descretion pursue the Ends of our General and particular Calling to Thy Glory and our Comfort Amen Fourthly Devotion for our Riper years to be exercised on Thursday O Eternal Life and Action who dwells in a perpetual Repose grant me in all my Actions to aim Thee and repose in Thee and since now I must resolve with Action having not only the charge of my self but of a Family grant me to be active to what is accountable and agreeable for the increase of my Talents and the Improvement of the opportunities of my Time and Station Save me from vexing cares and doubtful aâ—xiety but grant me rational and providential Caâ—e in the diligent Use of the Means Help me to Cast all my Care upon Thee 1 Pet 5 7. And as to distâ—ust to be careful for nothing Save me from all impertinent and destructive digresions and let me never be worse than an Infidel in not providing for my Family and grant me O LORD Thy Blessing without which my â—arly and late Endeavours will not profit us Save me from all wrong measures in the Improvement of my Stock knowing that A little that the Righteous Man hath is better thâ—n the Treasures of the wicked For thou can turn my Mite into Talents Give me to seek the Kingdâ—m of GOD and mind the one Thing necessary without which all bussiness is but trouble give me to win my Soul and do Good in my place and time that when I cease from my labours I may enter into the Repose of everlasting Rest Through JESUS CHRIST my LORD Amen 3ly Devotion For our Declining Age on Friday O Unchaâ—geable GOD the same to Day Yesterday for ever the whole Creation hath been is and will be under a Decay untill the Deliverance of the Children of GOD. Our Life is but a vapour and a shadow the World so weights us that man begins to Decline ere he well consider that he lives Help O LORD my bowing and declining age give me to â—loath my self against the Winter and fill me well against a troubled Sea LORD give me to superstruct well upon solid Foundations to build my House upon a Rock 'T is time for me now to be wise since I have seen and done so much folly I will not choice the World for my portion it is Thee O LORD and Thee only as the Cenâ—er and Repose of my
brâ—ken and Strangers shall not meddle with our Jâ—yeâ— nor the Impure eat the Childrens food This shall confute all such as decry Religion and comfort all that have the Real Life of it and make them say with St. Paul The Life we now live is by Faith in the Son of GOD. 4ly This will open a door and Entrance to the Kingdom of Oâ—r LORD JESUS CHRIST and will prove a more solid way to make us Draw near to GOD with full assurance of faith and be a more sure ground to us than all the heats and heights of Religion which are but transient and perhaps flow from humour and Complexion but this makes the spirit of Gâ—ory dwell in us Gives us a clean conscience washt with pure water Heb 10. end to draw near to GOD So that a trembling humble Ghâ—istian that with St. Paul cryes â—ut O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. end May be neerer the Joy of the Lord than the other So that whoever seek a proof of Christ sn us We shall prove it best by Works and Fruits and the New Creature is the most infallible mark of beinâ— in Christ 2 Cor 5 17. and True siâ—â—cere Obedience is the great specifick and genuine propertie of true Christianism And further to clear you in all this let us confront the privilidges and properties of the Christiâ—n if any separate them he is like a Man catching the Crown with out the Conquest but the true Christian reacheth one hand in the Crown and wiâ—h the other holds his Wâ—apon to fight for the Prize that through â—aith and pâ—tience and unwearied Wâ—ll â—â—ing he may inheriâ— the Promises What more excellent then the precious Promisâ—pâ—ut we must add Vertue to our faith 〈◊〉 thâ—se Promises the Christians Claim is indâ—ed great for all are yours sayeth 〈◊〉 But such as are Christs sayeth he have crucified the flesh with its lusts and effections But to come nearer the conâ—â—xt from 2. ver to this 12 the Apostlâ— speaks of beleivers attaining like precious faith with the Apostlesfor their is but one faith which the Apostles Beleived prâ—pagated once delivered to the Sa 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 Jâ—de sayeth and this faith Acts 15. 9. purifiâ—th the heart and life And having that same faith of the Apostles we should live according to our measures as the Apostles then should the Pure and Primitive Church revive But alas Were St. Paul now at Rome he should find it much more Heathen than in his time and very unlike these whose faith was spoken of through the World O then if people would walk suitably to that noble Gift of Faith which is given us 2ly The full Instructions the Christians have All things sayes the Apostle that pertain to Life and Godliness Glory and Veriâ—e We want nothing to furnish us for every good Work The whole Council of GOD Acts 20. 27. All things to make us Godly and Glorious we have the Word of GOD to make us wise to Salvation and the Spirit of GOD to lead us into all Truth Improve then your priviledges For if ve know these things happy are ye if ve do them 3ly We have the great Gift of the Promises as the Apostle sayeth here But yet having these Promises let us cleanse our selves from all silthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. and take head least a promise being made thus of entering into his Rest we fall short But if Piety be joyned with the Promises then we partake of the Divine Nature and have another Spirit a new Heart Lifâ— and new Affections and thus the Saiâ—â— are in their measure Divinized and spâ—ritualsed and Created after GOD 〈◊〉 Righteousness and true Holmess And so to conclude this truth 〈◊〉 would warn you not haâ—ilv to catch aâ— the Promises but labour to lay hold on them by a lively Faith and Well-doinâ— Be not too â—aring least ye presume prove your title first And then glory in your priviledges make your selves meet for the Inheritance and then you are sure of it and let the glory of that great Claim indeer your Hearts to Duty to joâ—n your selves in a perpetual Covenant with the LORD never to be forgot Jer. 50. Sermon II. The Duty and Diligence of the Apostolick Câ—rate or Gospel Minister described With the Matter and manner of his Preaching and the Quality of Christians in the time of the prime of Christianity Vpon Verse 12. THe Apostle falls now to a closs Application of the Doctrin formerly mentioned in this Chapter wherein he relates the Duty of the Minister that he should not be negligent but busie in the exercise of his holy Office 2ly The great Subject of his Dâ—ctrine these Things 3ly The way of his Iâ—culcating the said Doctrine upon the Hearts of People And 4ly The Qualification of People in these Times I begin with the First bâ—th negatively and positively described Doct. 1 which teacheth us That a Gospel Minister should be very intent upon his great and weighty Work This St Peter declares of himself and St. Paul also frequently mentions his great business These two Pillars of the Church the Apostles of the Câ—rcumcision Uncircumcision follow the the great Luminary their Blessed Master and stand as eminent Examples to all the Officers of the Church of Christ And this Apostle describeth his Duty 1st In his care for the Good of Souls to whom he wrote 2ly That he was not negligent but Diligent in his Imployment First His great care for the Church and the good of Souls The care of Souls is worthy to â—e fined from the most intensive affections of the Hâ—art It is such 〈◊〉 Pious and Divine Affection that GOD Himself describs His eaâ—nest Compassionâ— to His People thereby As our Saviout shâ—ws us in His Sermon upon the Mount Upon which account St. Paul bids us be careful for nothing but by Prayer and Supplication make our request known to GOD And St. Peter so exhorts also casting all your caâ—es upon GOD who careth for you It was our Saviour's care for Souls that brought Him from Heaven to us and when on Earth made Him so diligent to Preach Pray and Weep for his Church This care of Souls went nearer St. Pauls Heaâ—t than all his troubles for beside all things that are without said he that which comes upon me dayly the care for all the Churches The true natural Father hath a great care for his Children and the Spiritual Parent no less for I have no greater Joy sayeth St. John than to see my Children walking in the Truth Fâ—r such is the subtility and labour of the evil one â—o seduce and corrupt our Flock And alas such is the carelesness and incuriousness of the most as to Spiritnol Matters like Gallio careing for none of these things and such are the many incumbrances anent the World and what is worst of all even a careful Contrivnance of many to prosecute their sinful ends that a faithful Minister shall find great Reason of serious
time of plowing and sowing in order to our great harvest We must work while it is called the day for the night cometh wherein no man worketh John 9. 11. What ever our hand findeth to do we must do it with our might for there is no knowledge nor work in the grave Ecl. 10. 9. The present time is the season of preaching â—o day if he will hear his Voice Ere long the Pastor's Mouth will be closed as well as your Ears GOD useth not to send a Seminary from the Dead to preach the Gospel the Living shall praise Him and act for Him for in this short Life all our Bussiness must be done in order to Eternitie the LORD doth not cause preach to the Dead for in the state of Separation our Bodily Organs are consumed and the Soul is under its everlasting Sentence it s therefore absolutely necessary that we plye our Work in time with all Alacrity and Diligence But this must be more particularly unfolded by the consideration of these following heads 1. The great care that serious men should have to make use of the Season 2ly Their great Diligence that they should manifest in their weighty Work 3ly The Frailty and Brittleness of our mortal Life our Soul is in a Tent or Tabernacle 4ly The Reinforcement of the Remembrance upon this account 1. The great Care that Serious Men should have to make use of the Season This is not the Work of Yesterday for that is past and cannot be recalled nor of to Morrow for we know not what then may be Prov. 27 1. Therefore we should not bost of it for we know not what a Day may bring forth But it is the Work of the Present 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Instant which passeth as a Thought and will not abide Delayes and as we know not if we shall preach another Day so people know not how long the Voice may be behind them saying This is the Way But this they may know that it is the Voice of GOD that calletâ— them and they know not how soon iâ— it may be silent and the Heavenly Oraclâ— give no more Response 2ly The great diligence that Serioâ—â— Men should manifest in their Weighty Work Their Work is a Harvest the Labourers should be busie and tho GOD doth not allow that with too fast driving we put our selves out of Breath yet since the Work tho very weighty is so pleasant and so necessary and the exercise of the greatest Charity of the World to do good to Souls and since we have anointing Oil and the Aid of the Spirit to enable us we should not be idle nor taken up with Triffles and vain things and especially shun all worldly and sinfull Distractions that we may be well excercised in so good and necessary a Work 3ly The frailty and Brittleness of our mortal life Our life is both short and uncertain we are Pilgrims on Earth and sojurn as all our Fathers have done our Soul is in a tent and our life is but Transient ambulatory and transitory we are Pilgrims Souldiers strangers and not at home we have no continuing abode here the Tabernacle and Tent may soon be lowsed our passing house fall about our ears Which as it should prevent our taking our Rest on Earth so should it make us busie while we are in this Tabernacle and animate us in all our travels on earth with our priviledge that we shall come to a Temple and have a House with GOD Eternal in the Heavens 4ly The Reinforcement of the Remembrance upon this account the Apostle makes much use of this Word for Ministers are GOD's mouth they should admonish and incite People to duty People should be warned for they are secure and become tuchy when they are awakened they are ready to say Peace Peace before sudden destruction Come We should therefore seek supplie to our Lamps in time and to have our Wedding Garment in hand against the Bridegroom come there be many things to give us Memento and Ministers should never forget to give this warning but labour to keep people on foot to Run their Race unto the End Sermon IV. Of the Practical Knowledge of Death and the Information and Warning that the LORD giveth some of His Favourites thereof Knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle Verse 14. ALTHO no doubt this Holy and Reverend Father had his Soul still upon readiness to render it up on his Master's Call with all Chearfulness And tho he was animated to Duty by an extraordinary Help of the Spirit Yet the Knowledge he was shortly to put off his Tabernacle did serve as a motive in him to excite him in his holy Work As his Master before him John 9. 4. 2 Wherein we may Consider 1st His Resolution Practical Knowledge of his approaching dissolution 2ly His favourable Representation of Death a putting off this Tabernacle and giving the Soul more room to commerce with GOD. 3ly His more than ordinary Information of this his Deseace As to the First we may observe that the Practical Knowledge of Death serves much to make serious Doct. 1 Men well Employed All men know they must die but few consider and improve it Which maketh Moses in the Name of the LORD so pathetically cry out O that they were wise to consider their latter End Deut. 32. 26. And Jeremiah so sadly to lament That Jerusalem was taken away because she knew not her last end The best of Men have layed this to Heart I have run sayeth St. Paul Cor 9. 26. For Death puts a Period to all Business Eccles 9. 10. Death puts us ab agendis a Judgement immediatly follows where account must be given of our Stewartship Who is then that faithful Servant that when the LORD cometh shall find so doing and busie about his work Do not say the LORD delayeth his comming let not GOD's Patience make thee procrastinate but be the more busie that thou hast a day to labour in 2ly If thy Work be imperfect and not done it will remain undone for ever and except Christ stand for thee thou will enter imperfect to ternity It is dangerous to sleep our time or triffle it but rather if thou hast loitered double thy diligence This practical knowledge of Death concerns all Men Omnes Tangit from the Court to the Countrey from the Palace to the Cottage Death hath an Universal Empire over all Ranks Sexes Ages Goodness Greatness Riches and the Greatest power and strength cannot prevent it bribe it nor oppose it It is the Messenger of the Great King It cannot be deforced disce mori learn to die is a great lesson it is a great principle in Practical Religion as nosce teipsum to know thy self is necessary Death comes upon many with a surprise and unaware it creeps on Gray hares are here and there on us ere we advert There are some inconsiderate and layes it not to heart Some are dead and drowned in interest and sing
their holy principles and by their lifeâ— denying obedience to the faith And alas If we descend to the dregs of time we shal find many named Christians Unchristian and Antichristian in their way For such is now the contempt of the Gospel the unsuitable walking to it the despising of Holy things as the LORDS Ministers Ordinances and day such is the neglect of all thing that looks like duty to GOD such is the heathenishness of families for want of calling on the name of GOD and such horrid immoralities among these called Christians that we may without breach of Charity now say that a great part of the Christian World hath as to their practice repeaâ—ed thâ—t Blasphemous saying that GOD hath now forsaken the Earth Ez 9. 9. It s now then very worthy of our while to consider better of the Character of a true Christian that people be not fostered in their folly in boasting of a name without the true life of Religion This has been much declamed against by Pens and Pulpits but alas People delight themselves in their delusions and for all that is said and done content themselves to be nominal not real christians I am told that there is a little peice done by a forreign Divine in Latine Arnd de vero Christianismo which gives great clearness as to this and which perhaps if I had seen might have saved my labour as to any thing that I can say on this purpose But the sad times and the corrupt manners of men stir me up to contribute my little mite to hold in the almost expiring life of practical Religion and this shall be done in considering these purposes following 1 st That the Christian walk suitably to the discovery of the Principles of his Religion 2ly That he walk suitably to the full digest of the rule GOD has given him to guide his life by 3ly That he answer the Gospel Spirit and Design 4ly That he knit his Life suitably to the whole Chain of Graces Vertues and Duties 5ly That he answer the Means and Institutions of GOD in his Word and Sacraments 6ly That he advance to Perfection in the Heavenly Exercise of a higher Pitch of Grace 7ly That he suit that great Hope set before him of the Crown of Glory And 8ly That he be well prepared for a Dimission from Time to Eternity And to clear the plain path of these to a Christian in all the Stages of his Life It would be considered First That the Seed and Habits of Grace are infused in our first Conversion 2ly That Grace proceedeth gradually 3ly That Grace groweth and goeth along with the conscionable use of the Means First That the Seed and Herbs of Grace are infused together as our first Conversion which is called by St. John the Seed of GOD remaining in us and by St. Paul the Life of GOD Gal 2. 20. Or the Divine Nature whereof Believers do partake as St. Peter sayes 2 Pet 1. 4. For a new born Child if it want Life cannot be capable of the Operations thereof No more can a new Convert exercise Grace without the principle of Life Now this new principle of Life in such as are born again consists not of one but of all Graces and the power and faculty of gracious Operations flows from tâ—at Life that animats all the faculties of the Soul So that certainly there is more than the influence of an external Swasion from the Word in regard it is but a dead Letter till it be animated with the Spirit of Life And 2ly It is no lâ—â—s clear That Grace proceeds by degrees from Childhood to Manhood thus we are exhorted to grow in Grace and Knowledge 3ly That Grace groweth and goeth along with the Conscionable use of the Means For if our Vineyard be not dressed and well manured it will grow wild and full of weeds It is to be confessed that carelesness and the power of temptation may produce bad fruit even in a Believer for a time But be that is born and begotten of GOD siâ—â—eth not finally but keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not Joh 5. 4. Having now premiâ—ed these things for clearing I proceed to handle the several Ranks of Christians in the 8 forementioned Particulars First then That the Christian walk suitably to the discovery of the Principles of his Religion Which is so clearly manifested in the Gospel Dispensation especially in these four particulars following 1 st The Knowledge of our selves and our sinful miserie by nature Which calls for Humility Reformation and a new Life 2ly As to the Revelation of GOD whose Essence indeed is incomprehensible by mortals yet is so clearly discovered by Christ who dwelleth in the bosome of the Father and hath revealled Hâ—m unto us that beside His incommunicable Attributes of Immensitle Omniscience Omnipotence and Omnipresence be is discovered to be so amiable in His Purity Holiness Goodness Mercy and Truth c. that the Rational Soul cannot but love choice and embrace Him 3ly As to the discovery of the Mediator And 4ly The clear Path Waâ— to Happiness so fully discovered by Jesus Christ which calls for Faith and Obedience and the embracing of Christ in His threefold Office Secondly That be walk suitably to the full Dâ—gest of the Rule which GOD has given him to guide his Life The Law of the LORD is Perfect so fully cleared from the false glosses of the Pharisees by Christ in His Sermon upon the Mount That now in the times of this Light no man can pretend ignorance of the Rule but either he that is negligent or prejudged at it 'T is true the best cannot reach it in its Spirituality and Extent But yet a sincere Christian may and should come the length of Having a respect to all the Commandments Psal 119. 29. and the hatred of every false way 3ly That he answer the Gospel Spirit and Design This is a great propertie of a Christian to know what Spirit he is of and that he close with the Gospel in its Holy Design not only to seek Salvation by Christ but Sanctification and to walk in the Way that leads to Salvation And this calls for Sincerity Humility Patience and self denyal c. And such a temper of spirit as suits its Design and the heavenliness of its Author 4ly That he knit his Life suitably to the whole Chain of Graces Vertues and Duties To be a Christian is a great Character and requires a perfect exactness not to live after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom 8. 1. Not to work the works of the flesh but to Crucifie it with the lusts and affections thereof and to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Gal 5. 18. Which calls for the exercise of Graces as we are called and related 5ly That be answer the Means and Institutions of GOD in His Word and Sacraments He is a too high towering Christian that neglects the Means and Ordinances Since the LORD did institute them for excellent Ends to propagate and perfect practicall Religion This calls for a meek Submission to the LORDS appointment especially in the right improvement of the Word and sacraments answering our cognizance and having with the Apostles A fellowship with the Father and the Son 6ly That he advance to perfection in the 〈◊〉 exercise of a higher Pitch of Grace Grace is of a growing nature all means and ordinances are for the advancement thereof true life cannot lurk but will send forth emanations and exercises And altho we should not coâ—nt our selves to have apprehended Phil. 3. 13. Yet should we follow fast towards the prize of the high Calling And this is very much evidenced in our self denyatâ— mottification victory over the World by saith and our affections more sublime than â—â—put sue after the things of this world Col. 3. 3. For the conversation of 〈◊〉 is in Heaven Phil. 3. 2. The true Christian then after many labours tenrations â—cliâ—ses and difficultie comes to be expeâ—â—enâ—ed and now as a proficient and an expert Soulâ—â—â— riâ—teth to a higher 〈◊〉 of Grace and Vertue And this calls for a Heavenly elevated mind and a faith that will make us steddy and faithful unto Death 7ly That be suite that Great hope set before him of the Grown of Glory This â—â—â—â—tily animaâ—s a Christian and carried him through difficulties it fixeth him in â—â—â—pests as an Anchor upon the Rock iâ— sanctifies and saves the Christian We are saved by hope Rom 8. 24. said St. Paul it helps us much in the way to Salvation and whoever hath this hope in him â—â—â—fies him self as CHRIST iâ— pure this calls for courage Resolution confidence and patience and through the Blessing of GOD expelleth that dreadful disease of 〈◊〉 dence and dispair 8ly That he be well prepared for a dimission from time to Eternity It 's happy for us that GOD find us at our work that the Lions of our Mind be girâ— up that we be waiting our 〈◊〉 call shall our accounts be cleared and our Soul and our Heart in a humble way be full of Joy and Peace with a â—lerophorv or a full assurance of faith that our eyes be closed upon the World open to Heaven That we have CHRIST in our hearts then we may say â—une dimittas now let thy servant depâ—â— in peace This calls for a fixed preparation for Death Judgement and 〈◊〉 clear Conscience a Willingness and with submission and intire Resignation A desire to be with CHRIST which is best of all I shall conclude then in lotting you know that the great Mean to state you a true Christian is Action and the exercise of your Religion I could have enlarged and added many other things but that deserves a particular Treatise And as for motive to perswade thee to be a true Christian I shall add no more but that you improve your Faith look to your Claim and by the Eyes of Faith look to the splendor of that Crown prepared for a true Christian which ye shall wear with CHRIST World without End AMEN The End