is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal 43. 5. Thou makest us a Reproach to our Neighbors a Scorn and a Derision to them that are round about us Thou makest us a By-word among the Heathen a shaking of the Head among the People All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back neither have our Steps declined from thy Ways Psal 44. 13 17. I am Poor and Sorrowful let thy Salvation O God set me upon High For the Lord heareth the Poor and despiseth not his Prisoners Psal 69. 29 33. He shall judge thy People with Righteousness and thy Poor with Judgment He shall judge the Poor of the People he shall save the Children of the Needy and shall break in pieces the Oppressor He shall deliver the Needy when he crieth the Poor also and him that hath no Helper He shall spare the Poor and Needy and shall save the Souls of the Needy He shall redeem their Soul from Deceit and Violence and precious shall their Blood be in his Sight Psal 72. 2 12. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on High He raiseth up the Poor out of the Dust and lifteth the Needy out of the Dunghil That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Psal 113. 5 7. I know that the Lord will maintain the Cause of the Afflicted and the Right of the Poor Psal 140. 12. Better is a Little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Prov. 15. 16. Better is a Little with Righteousness than great Revenues without Right Prov. 16. 8. Better is a dry Morsel and Quietness therewith than a Housefull of Sacrifices with Strife Prov. 17. 1. Better is the Poor that walketh in his Integrity than he that is perverse in his Lips and is a Fool Prov. 19. 1. Thou hast been a Strength to the Poor a Strength to the Needy in his Distress a Refuge from the Storm a Shadow from the Heat when the Blast of the terrible Ones is as a Storm against the Wall Isa 25. 4. Yea in the Way of thy Judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desir'd thee in the Night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early For when thy Judgments are in the Earth the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness Lord in Trouble have they visited thee they poured out a Prayer when thy chastening was upon them Isa 26. 8. It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not consumed because his Compassions fail not They are New every Morning great is thy Faithfulness The Lord is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him It is good that a Man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. It is good for a Man that he bear the Yoke in his Youth He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath born it upon him He putteth his Mouth in the Dust if so be there may be Hope For the Lord will not cast off for ever But tho' he cause Grief yet will he have Compassion according to the Multitude of his Mercies For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. Wherefore doth a living Man complain a Man for the Punishment of his Sins Let us search and try our Ways and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3. 22. Thus do's the Spirit of God speak in the Case of the Poor and Distressed evidently discovering that however by this World they are esteem'd unhappy yet that God has a particular Regard to them undertakes their Protection and makes so many Promises to them that it cannot be question'd but as to the next World they have much the Advantage above those who enjoy themselves in plenty But then they must observe the Conditions which God proposes to them of accepting the Inconveniencies of their State as from the Hand of God of being content with what they have of casting their Care upon God of waiting upon the Lord with Patience of retaining a firm Confidence in his Promises of living in the Fear of God and banishing with their best Endeavors all Inclinations to Impatience Murmuring and Distrust If in this Spirit they live I think they have more solid Grounds for true Comfort than the Enjoyment of all worldly Possessions can afford and may have a great Assurance of God's Promises to be accomplish'd in them in the Blessings of a happy Eternity CHAP. XXXV Of those who have the Care of the Flock Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons of this Character A. It speaks very particularly to them and is very full both in the Instructions and Charge it gives them Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost his Savour wherewith shall it be Salted It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under Foot of Men. Ye are the Light of the World A City that is set on a Hill cannot be hid Neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a Bushel but on a Candlestick and it giveth Light to all that are in the House Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 13. They are to be Exemplar If a Man have an hundred Sheep and one of them be gone astray doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the Mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray Mat. 18. 12. They are to be solicitous in seeking the lost Sheep There was also a Strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest And he said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors But ye shall not be so But he that is greatest among you let him be as the Younger and he that is Chief as he that doth serve For whether is greater he that sitteth at Meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at Meat But I am among you as he that serveth Luk. 22. 24. They are to be Humble in Preferment Verily verily I say unto you He that entreth not by the Door into the Sheepfold but climbeth up some other Way the same is a Thief and a Robber But he that entreth in by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep To him the Porter openeth and the Sheep hear his Voice And he calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out And when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his
even to speak of those things which are done of them in Secret Eph. 5. 3 c. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry For which things sake the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience But now you also put off all these Anger Wrath Malice Blasphemy Filthy Communication out of your Mouth Col. 3. 5 c. For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God For God hath not called us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness 1 Thes 4. 3 c. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Laciviousness and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. 16 19. Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which War against the Soul Having your Conversation honest among the Gentiles 1 Pet. 2. 11. Let us live honestly as in the Day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13. Dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. If any Man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World And the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doeth the Will of God abideth for ever 1 Joh. 2. 15 c. Every Man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lust and enticed Then when Lust hath conceived it bringeth forth Sin and Sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death Jam. 1. 14. Now I have written unto you not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. As you have yielded your Members Servants to Vncleanness and to Iniquity unto Iniquity even so now yield your Members Servants to Righteousness unto Holiness What Fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed For the end of those things is Death Rom. 6. 19 21. Thus speaks the Rule And is not here expresly declar'd how criminal all kind of Impurity is in the sight of God whether it be in the Heart only or Desire or by Inordinate Affections or in the Eyes or in the Tongue or in Actions All kind of Sensuality and Uncleanness both of Mind and Body are here forbid and mark'd with the Infamous Character of being the Sins of the Gentiles or Heathens who knew not God who for their unworthiness were given up to a Reprobate Sense It is evident then that all such Offences are an Absolute transgression of the Christian's Rule and that to live in the Practice of them is to live as a Heathen What then must be done The Christian must remember that the Promise of seeing God is made to the Pure and Clean of heart that without this he can have no part in this Promise That therefore he must dailyl labor to bring his Heart to this happy disposition He must resist evil avoid Ill company keep a watch upon his Eyes upon his Tongue and upon his Heart he must put a restraint upon himself as to all kind of dangerous liberties and avoid all that can defile if he truly desires that his Heart should be Clean. And is this the Gospel How few then are Chosen Examin thy self by what the Apostle has said The Lust of the flesh the Lust of the eyes the Pride of life are not of the Father 1 Jo. 2. 15. Do'st thou belong to him CHAP. XVIII Of Self-denial Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as in this Point A. The Gospel declares it to be absolutely necessary for all Christians Jesus said to his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me For whosoever will save his life shall lose it And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it Mat. 16. 24. Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself Mar. 8. 34. If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luk. 9. 23. If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple For which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple Luk. 14. 26 33. If thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell Mat. 5. 30. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Jo. 12. 25. Reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin Rom. 6. 11. I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. 23. Brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die But if ye thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God
need of repeating it Let all then who engage in this State remember the Charge here given and distinguish themselves from Heathens by endeavoring to be punctual in it The State is what God has ordain'd for the Propagation of Mankind and filling up the Number of the Elect. Thus it becomes sanctified to the Faithful and ought to be undertaken not in the Spirit of Brutes or of the World but in the Fear of God and the Spirit of true Holiness so as to hope for the Blessing of a manifold Grace such as may be necessary for satisfying all the Obligations belonging to their State For a help in this I wish they would often read what the Word of God here speaks to them that so being frequently reminded of their Duty they may be solicitous in complying with it In undertaking this State they have undertaken these Obligations and if they are not careful in satisfying them they are faithless and unjust and what then will it avail them to be just in other Duties if they are unjust in these which are annext to their State Custom may seem to lessen the Guilt but this is a Snare for such as are willing to be deceiv'd for certainly it cannot be a Lessening but an Aggravation of Sin to live always in it CHAP. XXIII Of Widows Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to this State A. It speaks very particularly of it There was one Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser she was of a great age and had lived with an Husband seven Years from her Virginity And she was a Widow of about fourscore and four Years which departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2. 36. I say to the Vnmarried and Widows 〈…〉 for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 8 17. The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own Profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth but if her Husband be dead she is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment and I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 34 39. Honor Widows that are Widows indeed But if any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God Now she that is a Widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in Supplications and Prayers night and day But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth And these things give in charge that they may be blameless But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Let not a Widow be taken into the number under Threescore Years old having been the Wife of one Man well reported of for good Works if she have brought up Children if she have lodged Strangers if she have washed the Saints Feet if she have relieved the Afflicted if she have diligently followed every good Work But the younger Widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry having Damnation because they have cast off their first Faith And withal they learn to be idle wandering about from House to House and not only idle but Tattlers also and Busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none Occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully for some are already turned aside after Satan If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed 1 Tim. 5. 3. Thus speaks the Rule to Persons of this State plainly shewing what are the Advantages to be made of it and what the Exercises by which they may recommend themselves to the Favor of Heaven Such then as desire the Comforts of his Protection who reckons Widows a particular part of his Care may here see how they may be of this number since they have him for their Informer who offers his Help Thus then they may be Happy and even Gainers by their Loss in the tender Offers of a Heavenly Father But if they look not for this Privilege but still have their Hearts full of the World and still follow its Ways they have the Name of Widows but are not Widows indeed they seek Earthly Comforts and such they may have CHAP. XXIV Of Parents Q. WHAT Direction do's the Gospel give to Parents A. He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Matth. 10. 37. Their Love then ought to be prudent and moderate Then came to him the Mother of Zebedee's Children with her Sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him And he said unto her What wilt thou She saith unto him Grant that thâ—se my two Sons may sit the one on thy Right Hand and the other on the Left in thy Kingdom But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of Mat. 20. 20. Ambition is to be avoided in the disposing of Children and in seeking Preferment for them Due Care is to be us'd in teaching them to do the Will of God and embrace his Appointments When the Days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him the Infant Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Luke 1. 22. A good Practice of Parents to offer their Children daily to God for obtaining his Grace and Protection upon them And they sought him among their Kinsfolk and Acquaintance And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him Luke 2. 44. It is the Parents Care to seek their Children and to omit no Industry in regaining them when they are lost How often is it necessary to follow them amongst their Relations and Acquaintance and to observe their ways He arose and came to his Father But when he was yet a great way off his Father saw him and had Compassion and ran and fell on his Neck and kissed him And the Son said unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy
Profession and have no part in this general Corruption A. I have already told you He must follow the Gospel which is the Rule Christ has given him he must study what the Spirit of the Gospel is and with all solicitude endeavour to live according to this Spirit Whatever is there commanded he must observe Whatever is there forbid he must avoid Whatever is there approv'd he must approve Whatever is there declar'd the Character of things whether as Good or Evil as Honourable or Dishonourable as Edifying or Scandalous as Profitable or Dangerous accordingly he must esteem them and hence taking the true Measures of all things by these Measures he must govern his Life Q. But if Inclination or the World put in their Plea and give very different notions of things from what is delivered in the Gospel A. As often as they do so they are not to be Regarded â—nd much less Followed The Christian is to be True to his Profession and all such Suggestions are to be look'd upon as Trials of his Fidelity and as Temptations which he is bound to resist And this he must do with resolution Q. But if Custom and Example be pleaded A. If they be What Authority can there be in these against the manifest Will of God These cannot make void what God has said or evacuate his Law Let the Gospel then be consulted and as this determines so it must stand good whatever it be that appears against it If we could suppose it to be an Angel from Heaven yet in this case he is not to be regarded how much less therefore the Custom or Example of Weak and Sinful Men Q. If Company undertakes to Perswade A. Whatever Power there be in this yet no Christian can think it reasonable to hearken to Man rather than God In a Case where God has spoke there can be no Appeal to Man All such Perswasions therefore as far as they are disagreeable to the Gospel are to be look'd upon as Snares such as the Christian is bound with all Diligence to avoid Q. Then you will allow of nothing to prevail in this Case A. No of nothing There is no Authority here in Number the Reputation of Learning Exemplarity or Piety can authorize nothing which the Gospel condemns or reproves All must stand as it is there delivered and to set up for other Notions is to attempt against God Q. And now for the Practice of this Doctrine how must this be A. For Practice a Christian must seriously examin all the General Concerns of Human Life and having discover'd how far the Gospel encourages or allows in each and how far it disapproves he must take this for his Standard and endeavour to come as near it as he can without taking notice of whatever is pleaded by the World or Inclination to the contrary A Life thus regulated will certainly be a Christian Life such as I heartily recommend and will certainly at our Dying hour be the greatest of all Comforts But now to offer some help in it I must make an Essay of bringing all things to the Ballance and seeing how they weigh by the Weights of the Sanctuary so to discover how far the Christian walks by this Rule and in what Particulars departs from it CHAP. V. Of Cloaths Q. WHAT direction do's the Gospel the Christian's Rule give concerning Cloathing A. Several Particulars are there mention'd which give sufficient light in this Point for all such as truly desire to walk by its Spirit Q. What are these A. First in the Commendation of S. John Baptist who being set above all that are born of Women has this particularly remark'd of him That he had his raiment of camels hair and a leathern Girdle about his loins Mat. 3. 4. And this very thing is taken notice of by Christ himself who in his Praises of him to the multitude observes that he was not cloath'd in soft raiment Mat. 11. 8. 2dly In the Particular of the Disorders found in the Rich Glutton who was tormented in Hell Amongst which this is distinctly observ'd That he was cloath'd in Purple and Fine linen Luk. 16. 19. 3dly In S. Paul's Epistle Where he gives in this Advice We brought nothing with us into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out Having food and raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6. 7 8. I will therefore that women adorn themselves in Modest Apparel with shamefac'dness and sobriety Not with broider'd hair or gold or pearls or costly Array but which becometh women professing Godliness with good works 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 4thly In the charge given by S. Peter to Wives Whose adorning says he let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel but let it the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. Here you see in a few words what the Gospel approves and what it disapproves in this Point so that whatever constructions are put upon the Words yet still it is evident what method they are to follow who resolve that not the World but the Gospel shall be their Rule Q. This must be confess'd even by the World and Vanity it self tho' they cannot follow it But is there any thing more upon this Subject A. The same may be still farther press'd from other Heads as First Vanity Pride Ambition and Envy are contrary to the Gospel therefore such Christians as desire to live by the Gospel must not permit these to have any part in buying their Cloaths or putting them on but instead of Following must not Follow what these suggest and such as do otherwise have not the Gospel for their Rule Secondly All that falls under the Heads of Excess Immoderateness Prodigality or Wasting what should be the Provision of Family is reproved by the Gospel Therefore all such expensive Cloathing as falls under any of these Heads is departing from the Spirit of the Gospel Thirdly The Gospel prescribes seeking First the Kingdom of God Redeeming the time Giving alms not Seeking to please the World Therefore all that must be condemn'd as disagreeable to the Gospel where the solicitude is greater for complying with a vain World or a vain Humor than for seeking Heaven where the Time and Money which are Blessings given for better uses are wasted in setting forth a rotten and sinful Carcass Lastly Justice is absolutely required by the Gospel therefore all that Care Solicitude and Expence must be contrary to the Gospel which is in the service of Injustice And is not all that so which is applied to the Gratifying Flattering and Exalting the Body which for its Unworthiness and manifold Sins against God deserves nothing but Contempt and Punishment Here now having Consider'd all that belongs to Cloathing by the Gospel you see what is approv'd and what is disapprov'd Cloathing for necessity is approv'd
Rom. 8. 12. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress or persecution Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors thro' him that loved us Rom. 8. 35. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him Rom. 6. 5 8. I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12. 1. Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the air But I keep unto my body and bring it under subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away 1 Cor. 9. 25. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body 2 Cor. 4. 10. He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 15 17. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me And the life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the spirit They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 16 24. Henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6. 17. I do count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. 8. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 22. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 12. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection in the which ye also walked some time when ye lived in them But now you also put off all these and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Col. 3. 5. Flee also youthful lusts But follow righteousness Faith Charity Peace 2 Tim. 2. 22. Thus speaks the Rule whence it is plain above all dispute that those who follow their Inclinations do not follow this Rule We have all an inheritance of Corruption which bends us to sin this is entail'd on us from Adam and is call'd the Old Man this the Gospel commands us to put off all such then as strictly examin their Inclinations Affections and Desires and resolutely stand against those which they perceive to be sinful or can suspect as leading to sin are the Persons who live by the Rule which they profess and if they study to improve those better Impressions which are the effects of Grace it cannot be question'd but they will be cloath'd with the New Man and while in the Flesh even live by the Spirit But this cannot be their Character who being subject to great variety of Worldly and Sensual Inclinations who finding no Relish in their Souls but of what is in favor of their Pride Vanity Idleness and of Self-love in all its Shapes are so far from using due means for suppressing them that their whole Life is an Obedience to their demands for certainly these have no regard to what the Gospel prescribes their Life is a Contradiction to its Rules they indulge their Corruption which God commands them to resist and therefore being found under the Subjecti of the old Man can never expect while under this Slavery to come to the Liberty of the Children of God Either do what the Gospel requires or else look for no other Portion but with Unbelievers CHAP. XIX Of Suffering Affliction or Persecution Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to these Points A. It speaks very largely of them and shews with what Spirit a Christian ought to submit Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your Reward in Heaven For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Mat. 5. 10. Ye have heard that it hath been said an Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth but I say unto you that ye resist not Evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right Cheek turn him the other also Mat. 5. 38. He that taketh not his Cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me He that findeth his Life shall lose it and he that loseth his Life for my sake shall find it Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Are not two Sparrows Sold for a Farthing And one of them shall not fall on the Ground without your Father But the very Hairs of your Head are all number'd Fear ye not therefore ye are of more Value than many Sparrows Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven Think not that I am come to send Peace on Earth I came not to send Peace but a Sword Mat. 10. 38 28. Behold I send you forth as Sheep
the Husband hath not Power of his own Body but the Wife Defraud you not one the other except it be with consent for a Time that ye may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment 1 Cor. 7. 3. 4thly That they may and ought to live holily There was in the Days of Herod the King of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the Course of Abia And his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her Name was Elizabeth And they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless and they had no Child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years Luk. 1. 5. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as tho' they had none and they that weep as tho' they wept not and they that rejoice as tho' they rejoiced not and they that buy as tho' they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it For the fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29. We beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more For ye know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God 1 Thess 4. 1. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 4. 5thly That there are great Duties of mutual Love and Support belonging to them and that Order is to be observ'd which God has appointed between them I would have you know that the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God A Man indeed ought not to cover his Head praying for as much as he is the Image and Glory of God But the Woman is the Glory of the Man For the Man is not of the Woman but the Woman of the Man Neither was the Man created for the Woman but the Woman for the Man For this Cause ought the Woman to have Power on her Head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the Man without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. For as the Woman is of the Man even so is the Man also by the Woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 3 7. Submitting your selves one to another in the Fear of God Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. For the Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church And he is the Saviour of the Body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be to their own Husbands in every thing Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church and also gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it So ought Men to love their Wives as their own Bodies He that loveth his Wife loveth himself For no Man ever yet hated his own Flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones For this Cause shall a Man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joined unto his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh This is a great Mystery But I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless Let every one of you in particular so love his Wife even as himself and the Wife see that she reverence her Husband Eph. 5. 21 28. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18. Ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the Conversation of the Wives while they behold your chaste Conversation coupled with Fear Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the Sight of God of great Price For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in Subjection unto their own Husbands even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not affraid with any Amazement 1 Pet. 3. 1. Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge giving Honor unto the Wife as unto the weaker Vessel and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that your Prayers be not hinder'd 1 Pet. 3. 7. Teach the young Women to be sober to love their Husbands to love their Children to be Discreet Chaste keepers at Home good obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2. 4. Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. That the aged Men be Sober Grave Temperate Sound in Faith in Charity in Patience Tit. 2. 2. The aged Women likewise that they be in Behavior as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine Teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3. I will that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands without Wrath and Doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. In like manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety Not broider'd Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array but which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works Let the Women learn in silence with all Subjection But I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eve And Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety 1 Tim. 2. 9. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches For it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under Obedience as also saith the Law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at Home For it is a Shame for Women to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34. Thus speaks the Rule and so particularly that there can be no
Voice Jo. 10. 1. They are to consider their Vocation I am the good Shepherd The good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep But he that is an Hireling and not the Shepherd whose own the Sheep are not seeth the Wolf coming and leaveth the Sheep and fleeth And the Wolf catcheth them and scattereth the Sheep The Hireling fleeth because he is an Hireling and careth not for the Sheep I am the good Shepherd and know my Sheep and am known of mine Jo. 10. 11. They are to employ and give their Life for the good of their Flock Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordain'd you that ye should go and bring forth Fruit and that your Fruit should remain Jo. 15. 16. They are to remember the end of their being call'd Jesus saith to Simon Peter Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these He saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he saith unto him Feed my Lambs He saith to him again the second time Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Sheep Jo. 21. 15. The Love of Jesus the necessary Preparation for taking charge of their Flock As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the Work whereunto I have called them And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their Hands on them they sent them away Acts 13. 2. Good Dispositions for undertaking the Care of the Flock Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood For I know this that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock Also of your own selves shall Men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three Years I ceased not to warn every one Night and Day with Tears Acts 20. 28. Vigilance and Fidelity necessary for Pastors This is a true Saying if a Man desire the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good Work A Bishop then must be blameless the Husband of one Wife Vigilant Sober of good Behavior given to Hospitality apt to Teach not given to Wine no Striker not greedy of filthy Lucre but Patient not a Brawler not Covetous one that ruleth well his own House having his Children in Subjection with all Gravity for if a Man know not how to rule his own House how shall he take Care of the Church of God Not a Novice lest being lifted up with Pride he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil Moreover he must have a good Report of them which are without lest he fall into Reproach and the Snare of the Devil 1 Tim. 3. 1. Necessary Qualifications of Pastors If thou put the Brethren in Remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the Words of Faith and of good Doctrin whereunto thou hast attained But refuse profane and old Wives Fables and exercise thy self rather unto Godliness For Bodily Exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable unto all things having Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Let no Man despise thy Youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in VVord in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Till I come give attendance to Reading to Exhortation to Doctrin Neglect not the Gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophecy with the laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all Take heed unto thy self and unto thy Doctrin continue in them For in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 1 Tim. 4. 6 12. Excellent Instructions 1. To be nourish'd by Faith 2. To avoid Fables 3. To follow Piety 4. To give good Example 5. To Read and Teach 6. Not to neglect Grace 7. To Meditate 8. To be watchful over themselves and their Flock Lastly To persevere in Duty Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a Father and the younger Men as Brethren the elder Women as Mothers the Younger as Sisters with all Purity 1 Tim. 5. 1. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by Partiality Lay Hands suddenly on no Man neither be Partaker of other Mens Sins Keep thy self pure v. 21. How strict a charge against all kind of Partiality Them that Sin rebuke before all that others also may fear v. 20. Public Sin to be reprov'd in Public O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy Trust avoiding prophane and vain Bablings and Oppositions of Science falsly so called VVhich some professing have erred concerning the Faith 1 Tim. 6. 20. They are faithfully to keep what is deliver'd avoid unprofitable Disputes Hold fast the form of sound VVords which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 2 Tim. 1. 13. Thou therefore my Son be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus And the things that thou hast heard of me among many Witnesses the same commit thou to faithful Men who shall be able to teach others also Thou therefore endure Hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this Life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a Soldier 2 Tim. 2. 1. They are to be strong in Grace Faithful Deliverers of the Truths receiv'd Courageous in all the Difficulties of their Ministry Not engag'd in worldly Affairs Of these things put them in Remembrance charging them before the Lord that they strive not about Words to no profit but to the subverting of the Hearers Study to shew thy self approved unto God a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth But shun prophane and vain Bablings for they will encrease unto more Vngodliness Flee also youthful Lusts but follow Righteousness Faith Charity Peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure Heart But foolish and unlearned Questions avoid knowing that they do gender Strifes And the Servant of the Lord must not strive but be Gentle unto all Men apt to Teach Patient in Meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God Peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and that they may recover themselves out of the Snare of the Devil who are taken Captive by him at his Will 2 Tim. 2. 14 22. They are to banish Disputes of Words 2. Be Irreproachable in their Lives 3. Dispence
there not Salvation for such as do thus A. They are certainly out of the way of Salvation Q. How so A. Because Christ is the only Mediator of the new Testament thro' whom alone we can hope for Mercy and how then can they be in the way of Salvation who live in the Neglect and Contempt of him 2dly Christ is the Light of the World and by his Gospel he communicates his Light to Men they then who neglect and despise this Light walk in Darkness and this Darkness cannot lead to Life everlasting 3dly Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and in his Gospel is manifested this Way this Truth and this Life they then who neglect and despise the Doctrin of the Gospel cannot be in the way they follow a Lie instead of Truth and must meet with Death instead of Life 4thly It is by the Spirit of Christ every one must live that belongs to Christ and expects everlasting Happiness and without this Spirit all Hopes are vain If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. Now if this Spirit of Christ be necessary how can they be suppos'd to have it who walk not by the Gospel in which this Spirit is taught but by despising or neglecting it give Demonstration of the Spirit of Christ being not in them Q. What does this prove A. It proves that no Salvation can be expected but thro' Christ that none can have a part in Christ but such only as observe his Law that his Law being deliver'd in the Gospel there can be no Salvation but for those who sincerely make it their Endeavor to live as Christ has prescrib'd in the Gospel Q. Then the Gospel must be observ'd but what is it to observe or follow the Gospel A. It is to make the Gospel our Rule for discerning the Will of God and knowing what is pleasing or displeasing to him It is to take Direction from that What we are to desire and what to fear what we are to value and what to despise It is to consult that in all we propose or do It is to take from thence the Determination of Right and Wrong of what we are carefully to perform or with Solicitude to avoid Q. Then they who do not thus do not follow the Gospel A. No they do not They may have a Faith in what the Gospel teaches but if they do not the Works of the Gospel their Faith is dead Jam. 2. 26. It is such Faith as is in Hell and even the Devils have Ib. v. 19. These may know the Will of God but they do it not these may honor God with their Lips but their Heart is far from him And what will this avail or how is this following the Gospel when the Gospel teaches That the Servant who knows his Lord's Will and does it not shall be beaten with many Stripes Luke 12. 47. And not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father who is in Heaven Mat. 7. 21 Q. Then there is to be no Confidence of Salvation upon a Faith in Christ only or in being a Member of his Church A. Faith is necessary to Salvation for without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. But a Faith in what God teaches without doing the Will of God can never bring any to the Possession of God Bliss is promis'd to such only as Hear the Word of God and keep it Luke 11. 28. It is not enough therefore to be call'd by Faith for many are call'd but few chosen Matth. 20. 16. It is not enough to be planted in Christ's Vineyard For every Tree that brings not forth good Fruit is cut down and cast into the Fire Mat. 7. 19. Q. Then you think many of those who have a Faith in Christ and believe all that he teaches are lost eternally A. As many of these as do not the Will of God in following the Gospel but depart from it and live in a general Disobedience to his Law Such as these must expect no Favor in Consideration of their Faith but rather a deeper Damnation for their Ingratitude and Abuse of God's Blessings for knowing thro' Mercy the Will of God and not doing it Q. What now is this Chapter in short A. That the only Means of Salvation is to Believe and Do as Christ teaches in his holy Gospel All his Disciples are to hear him Ipsum audite Hear ye him as the Voice from Heaven publish'd it on the Mount Mat. 17. 5. All of his Flock hear his Voice My sheep hear my Voice and follow me Jo. 10. 27. As many as do thus are in the way to Salvation having Christ their Teacher and the Shepherd of their Souls And they who do not thus cannot have their hopes in him CHAP. II. Of our own Inclinations Q. MAY we not follow our own Inclinations A. Christ is to be the Christian's Rule if then our Inclinations are according to what Christ teaches we may safely follow them but if they are contrary to what Christ teaches then to follow them is to forsake our Rule who is Christ Q. And what are our natural Inclinations A. They arise from a corrupt Nature and therefore are generally corrupt they are the Effect of Sin and therefore are generally either sinful or leading to Sin Q. Then a Christian is not to follow them A. No he is to be so far from following that it must be his daily Care to stand against them Q. Why so A. Because being corrupt and sinful if they are not resisted they draw Persons from Christ and that is to forsake their Rule Q. Is it the evident Duty of a Christian to stand against these Inclinations A. It is for so Christ himself teaches in requiring Self-denial as a necessary Condition for becoming his Disciple If any Man will come after me let him deny himself Luk. 9. 23. Q. Is not this press'd more particularly in holy Scripture A. Yes by St. Paul who stiling these Inclinations the Old Man Concupiscence the Carnal Man the Desires of the Flesh c. positively declares the necessity of resisting them and that otherwise it is not possible to please God Q. As where A. Put off the old man which is corrupt Eph. 4. 22. We are debtors not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die But if you thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 12 13. To be carnally minded is Death because the carnal Man is Enmity against God ib. v. 6 7. The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary to one another They that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5. 17 24.
With the mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of Sin But I keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away 1 Cor. 9. 27. Q. What does all this shew A. It shews that thro' the Corruption of our Nature we have many Inclinations which are contrary to the Law of God that if we follow them they lead to Death that therefore every one who professes himself a Follower of Christ and his Gospel is absolutely oblig'd to stand against them to mortifie crucifie and bring them into Subjection for that otherwise he cannot be a Disciple of Christ Christians then whose Profession it is to make Christ their Rule must not indulge their natural Inclinations much less make them their Rule CHAP III. Of the World Q. MAY it be allow'd a Christian to follow the World A. The Ways of the World are so generally contrary to the Gospel that a Christian must forget his Profession if he follows the World if taking that for his Rule he walks in the Ways of the World Q. What do you mean here by the World A. I mean the Lovers of the World and their general Practice of seeking to please themselves and the World Q. Why does this lye under such an ill name with you A. Because in this Practice there is no regard had to the Gospel but the great business is to comply with that Corruption which Man brings with him into the World it is all in Favour of Vanity Ambition Sloth Idleness Intemperance Sensuality Concupiscence Covetousness Envy Passion Revenge c. And these being the very Evils which the Christian is strictly oblig'd by the Gospel to overcome how can the World have a better Name with him which by many arguments recommends these as the only things that are to be valued as the only Satisfactions and Comforts of Human Life Q. If this be so it must be confessed that it is not a Christian's Part to Follow the World But what if some are not willing to believe so ill of the World as this A. If they are not willing to believe it let them but open their Eyes and they cannot help seeing it The World indeed endeavors to conceal some scandalous Extravagancies but as for all these it Publickly owns them Q. But the Gospel being the Christian's Rule would it not make a more convincing Impression if this would give him the Character of the World And then too those would be left without excuse whose Passion makes them unwilling to believe it A. Nothing is more fully delivered in Scripture than this Hear what Christs says of the World Me it hateth because I testifie of it that the works thereof are evil Joh. 7. 7. The Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Jo. 14. 17. I have manifested thy Name unto the Men which thou gavest me out of the World I pray not for the World but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Joh. 17. 6 9. I have given them the Apostles thy word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the World even as I am not of the World Ib. v. 14. If the World hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the World the World would love his own But because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you Joh. 15. 18 19. Here you see Christ declares the works of the World to be evil that the World knows not the Spirit of Truth That those whom Christ has chosen are not the World that He himself is not of the World that the World hates both them and him and is not this enough to convince any one who believes in Jesus Christ that the World is not to be followed since he here shews that such as God has chosen and those who are of the World are like Two extreams contrary to one another so that they who are of the One do not belong to the Other Q. Does the Scripture speak farther upon this Subject A. Yes the Apostles preach the same Doctrin with their Master Hear what they say Be not conformed to this World but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind Rom. 12. 2. Christ who gave himself for our Sins that he might deliver us from this present Evil world according to the Will of God Gal. 1. 4. Know ye not that the friendship of the World is enmity with God Whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God Jam. 4. 4. The whole World lyeth in Wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the World the lust of the Flesh and the lust of the Eyes and the pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World 1 Jo. 2. 15 16. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World 1 Jo. 5. 4. Q. Add no more for this must be own'd Evident from Scripture that the World is contrary to God and that whoever loves the World and its ways in this gives demonstration of the Love of God being not in him But tell me now how must all this be applied that has been hitherto said in this and the foregoing Chapters CHAP. IV. Application of the Foregoing Chapters A. THE Application of what has been hitherto said is very Plain For if it be the Essential or Necessary part of a Christian to Believe in and Follow Christ then he must not Follow that which is contrary to Christ And it being evident from the Gospel it self that both our Natural Inclinations and the World are contrary to Christ hence it becomes certain that whoever designs in earnest to be a Christian as he Professes must neither follow his own Natural Inclinations nor the World and whoever follows them is so far false to his Profession Q. I see the necessity of owning this but what a strange Christian World then is ours which Professing Christ and a zeal for the Truth of his Gospel so as even to devour one another upon the account of its Speculative Doctrines do yet all so generally agree in forsaking the Practice of it as if they had no Faith in Christ or his Gospel A. There is too much ground for your surprize For certainly whoever looks upon the general Practice of Christians will have much ado to distinguish them from Heathens since they are as strongly bent upon following their own Inclinations and the World as if they had no caution against them nor any Law to forbid them Q. Instead of enlarging Complaints rather tell me what a Christian is to do that desires in earnest to satisfie the Duties of his