who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Col. 1. 23. To suffer for the Truth ought to be the Joy and Comfort of him that has undertaken to be the Minister of Truth How much then do they forget their Vocation who upon meeting with Discouragements lose all Comfort and repent of their Labor Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. The only design of an Apostolic Teacher is to form Jesus in every one of his Flock and to make all perfect in him Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4. 17. They who consider not well the Duties of their Charge will soon neglect them Fulfil the Duties of the Ministry of Jesus Christ What Pastor do's not tremble at this Word Your selves Brethren know our Entrance in unto you that it was not in vain But even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as ye know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much Contention For our Exhortation was not of Deceit nor of Vncleanness nor in Guile But as we were allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness Nor of Men sought we Glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But we were Gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own Souls because ye were dear unto us For ye remember Brethren our Labor and Travel For laboring Night and Day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess 2. 1. Every Word a Lesson to Preachers What a Mercy to the World if they would study and follow this Spirit Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2 Tim. 1. 8. Great Courage is necessary for standing by the Truth and the Ministers of it Hold fast the form of sound Words 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. Great Fidelity requir'd of the Pastors of God's Church The Holy Ghost promis'd to them for this end Thou therefore endure Hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this Life 2 Tim. 2. 3. I suffer trouble as an evil Doer even unto Bonds but the Word of God is not bound Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake v. 9. To suffer with Courage all Difficulties is the Obligation of a Pastor And if he suffer as a Criminal as this is most humbling so it brings him nearer to the Resemblance of Jesus Christ They are of the World therefore speak they of the World and the World heareth them 1 Jo. 4. 5. Unhappy Teachers whose Character this is CHAP. XXXVI Of the Flock Q. WHat Directions do's the Gospel give to the Flock in Regard of those whom God has put over them A. It speaks very particularly to them but that I may end this last Chapter with such Instructions as the Gospel gives I will first set down some Injunctions of God in the Old Law which as it was a Figure of the New so it may lead us to such Duties as God expects from the Flock in this better Constitution which is the Church of Christ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian Woman whom he had married And they said hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it Wherefore then were not ye afraid to speak against my Servant Moses And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed Num. 12. 1 8. God shews his displeasure against those who murmur at such as he has set over them And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron And the Lord said unto Moses How long will this People provoke me Surely they shall not see the Land which I sware unto their Fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it Num. 14. 2 11 23. Great are the Judgments of God upon those who murmur against such as are over them Now Korah and Dathan and Abiram took men and they rose up before Moses with certain of the Children of Israel two hundred and fifty Princes of the assembly famous in the Congregation Men of renown And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord And when Moses heard it he fell upon his Face And he spake unto the Congregation saying Depart I pray you from tbe Tents of these wicked Men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their Sins And the Earth opened her Mouth and swallowed them up and their Houses and all the Men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty Men that offered Incense Num. 16. 1 26 32 35. The Congregation being holy Exempts them not from their Obedience enjoin'd The Authority of Princes of the Congregation Men Famous and of Renown is not enough for questioning the Authority of Moses and Aaron whom God had commanded all to hear and obey Their offering Incense to God is not accepted while divided from Moses and Aaron they are under the guilt of Disobedience Thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites and unto the Judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the Sentence of Judgment And thou shalt do according to the Sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall chuse shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that
PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF THE GOSPEL OFFER'D For the Help of all who desire to live Disciples of Jesus Christ Printed in the Year 1700. THE PREFACE I Offer not the following Collection as any thing new it has a much better commendation from the Prinpal Contents which being a part of the Sacred Text stands in need of no other Title from which to raise its value It is the word of God that is enough And as far as it contains this I can boldly recommend it I press I importune all who have a true Faith in Christ to the Reading and Study of it because it is that which the Spirit of God speaks to Man and Man can have no hopes of Life Eternal but by hearing and following this Word of Life But are not all provided with this in a more Authentic Form in their Bibles which they have by them It is true but while all are thus provided and generally well-read in this Sacred volume yet when I look upon the Method of the Christian World and consider the common Practice of Believers I see such a Vniversal Departing from what the Word of God teaches that I cannot but fear they either are not serious in what they profess or do not take it for their Rule or observe not what it enjoyns or at least do not remember what belongs to them This fear which I could wish it were not so reasonable as it seems to me has prevailed on me to lay this short Collection before them wherein I not only put them in mind of the Gospel being their Rule and of the necessity of observing it but likewise by reducing the Texts under particular Heads have provided against all the Objections of Giddy Vnthinking Tempers of Sloth and Ill Memory in the opportunity of seeing at one glance the Principal Directions which the Gospel gives them according to their several Duties and different Circumstances of Life And tho' something of this has been already done by another hand yet observing still such a general corruption among Christians that they as boldly live on in the practice of what the Gospel condemns as if they knew of no such Rule I cannot but think there 's Reason enough for this Repetition in again laying their Rule before them and putting them in mind of the necessity of their making it a Practical Rule to them It is a reveal'd Truth That there is no Salvation but thro' Christ and it is another Truth upon the same Foundation That there can be no Hope thro' Christ but by keeping his Words and observing his Law His Words and his Law are the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Gospel then must be the Rule to all those who hope in Christ and such as follow it not observe not the condition he has propos'd for having a part in his Promises Is this true Then what an unhappy World what a wretched Age are we in where the Gospel is so far from being the Rule even to those that believe it that it is as generally transgressed or neglected as if there was no dependance on it Where what it strictly commands is no more regarded and what it condemns no more avoided than if its Doctrine was fabulous its Heaven was a Fiction and its Hell no more than a Dream Is not this true in all the ways of Pride Intemperance Prodigality Covetousness Love of the World and our selves Is not this true in all kinds of Frauds Over-reaching Injustice Animosities Detraction Dissention Malice c. Is not this too generally true in all that belongs to Eating Drinking Cloathing and Conversing Have not all in these Particulars departed from their Rule Are not these Evils as industriously promoted and encouraged among Christians as by any unbelieving Nation whatever What People in the World are more Vain Proud Fraudulent Malicious and greater Lovers of themselves than they Where do's it appear that Humility Charity Meekness Self-denial Moderation and Forsaking the World are the Christian Law and the conditions for obtaining everlasting Hapiness Who can say in these and infinite other Points that Christian Practice has any regard to the Gospel And yet at the same time our common Profession is That the Gospel is our Rule it teaches the way of Life and we can have no hopes of Life but by doing what it teaches And have not Christians then great reason with their most serious application to study this Rule and see what it recommends as necessary and what it disapproves that so they may no longer be false to their Profession in departing from the Gospel which they acknowledge to be the Guide to Bliss that they may walk in all the ways of the Lord keep his Ordinances and observe his Statutes that they may have no confidence or peace but in such Practices only as are approved by the Word and therefore most agreeable to the Will of God This is certainly as a general so the greatest interest of all and ought therefore to be their principal business For clearness and expedition I offer this summary of Gospel Rules which being ranked under several Heads may be easily consulted by all Capacities and will possitively declare to them what is the Will of God and in all circumstances of Life discover how far the Gospel approves or disapproves This can be the only sure way of standing against ill Customs and not being carried away by the authority and number of offenders nor letting the World take place where God only ought to be heard If there appears any thing difficult in the following Rules I am not to answer for that I propose the Gospel as I find it and having put all Christians in mind that this is the Rule which they profess I here with all Charity conjure them not to despise it but to take their Directions from thence of all that is Lawful Just Holy and Well-pleasing to God for if the Gospel be Life to those that follow it it must be their Condemnation who observe it not PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF THE GOSPEL CHAP. I. Of the Christian's Rule Q. WHAT is a Christian A. A Christian is one that believes in Christ and professes to live according to the Doctrin of the Gospel Q. What then is the general Duty of a Christian A. To do what he professes that is to consider in every thing that the Gospel is his Rule to examin diligently what it teaches and make it the general Endeavor of his whole Life to do in all things as this directs Q. Is this a strict Obligation upon all or may it be omitted without a Fault A. It is such an Obligation that it cannot be omitted wilfully without Sin and to live in the general Neglect of it is to be out of the way of Salvation Q. Why so A. Because the Gospel is the new Law which Christ has left for all to keep that believe in him and to neglect this is to neglect Christ to despise it is to despise him Q. And is
him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is thro' the Faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by Faith that I may know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his death Phil. 3. 7. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 35 38. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain Phil. 1. 21. I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. Seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on things above not on things on the earth For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 1 2 3. These are some amongst infinite other Directions which the Gospel gives for regulating of the Inward Man Were they prescribed to the Apostles only or to some Particular Persons or States there might be a just excuse for such as observe them not but being writ to the Faithful of all States and Conditions they are to be observ'd by all that believe in Christ And in this may Christians make the truest Judgment of the state of their Souls For if this be prescrib'd to all all are bound to labor in bringing their Souls to this happy disposition and they who are not solicitous in this whatever their Faith be have not the Spirit of a true Disciple CHAP. IX Of loving our Neighbor Q. WHAT directions do's the Gospel give as to the Love of our Neighbor A. Such as are very particular and strict in the Charge Hear some of them Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 37 39 40. A new Commandment I give unto you That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Jo. 13. 34 35. These things I command you that ye love one another Jo. 15. 17. This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Jo. 15. 12 14. Let love be without dissimulation Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honor preferring one another Rom. 12. 9 10. By love serve one another for all the law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consum'd one of another Gal. 5. 13 14 15. Owe no man any thing but to love one another For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law For this thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not kill Thou shall not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Thou shalt not covet and if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self Love worketh no ill to his Neighbor therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 8 9 10. As touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another And indeed ye do it towards all the brethren which are in Macedonia But we beseech you brethren that ye increase more and more and that ye study to be quiet 1 Thes 4. 9 10 11. Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves For Charity shall cover the multitude of sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness 1 Jo. 2. 10. Whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother 1 Jo. 3. 10. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him 1 Jo. 3. 14 15. If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar This Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also 1 Jo. 4. 12 20 21. Tho' I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all Mysteries and all Knowledge and tho' I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing And tho' I bestow all my goods to feed the Poor and tho' I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profitteth me nothing Charity suffereth long and is kind Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 2 3 4 c. Thus the Christian's Rule directs as to this Point Whoever expects Salvation thro' Christ must hear his Word and make it his daily business to observe it Christ himself has said it Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Jo. 15. 14. CHAP. X. Of loving our Enemies Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to the love of our Enemies A. It speaks positively in this Point I say unto you Love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you That ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh the Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Vnjust For if ye love them which love you what reward have ye Do not even the Publicans the same And if ye salute your Brethren only what do you more than others Do not even the Publicaus so Be ye therefore Perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Mat. 5. 44 c. I say unto you which hear love your Enemies do good to them which hate you Bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully use you And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also As you would that men should do to you do ye also to them likewise For if ye love them which love you what thank have ye For Sinners also love those that love them And
wrote Letters by them after this manner The Apostles and Elders and Brethren send greeting unto the Brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with Words subverting your Souls saying Ye must be Circumcised and keep the Law to whom we gave no such Commandment It seemed good unto us being assembled with one accord to send chosen Men unto you For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things Act. 15. 22. The Apostles and Elders assembled having determin'd the Question propos'd to them send their Resolution to the Faithful and recommend it upon the Authority of the Holy Ghost and of themselves When they were dismissed they came to Antioch And when they had gathered the multitude together they delivered the Epistle which when they had read they rejoiced for the consolation Act. 15. 30. The Resolutions of the Apostles assembled are receiv'd by the Faithful and this with joy and comfort And as they went through the Cities they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem And so were the Churches established in the Faith and encreased in number daily Act. 16. 4. The Decrees of the Apostles and Elders of the Church were deliver'd to the Faithful so were the Churches establish'd 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 Act. 20. 28. The Pastors of the Church by the Ordinance of the H. Ghost are the Overseers of the Flock and are to Feed it and by their watchfulness is it to be secur'd from the Errors of perverse Men. Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all Seasons serving the Lord with all Humility of Mind and with many Tears and Temptations which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house Act. 20. 18. They that teach the Flock are to persevere in their Duty with Patience and Humility amidst the Difficulties of their Charge They are not to dissemble the Truth but give Instructions in Families as well as in Public Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the Blood of all Men For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the Counsel of God v. 26. The guilt of their Blood is upon Pastors who perish because they have not been put in mind of their Duty And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified I have coveted no Man's Silver or Gold or Apparel Yea you your selves know that these hands have ministred unto my necessities and to them that were with me Act. 20. 32. They who Teach ought to Pray for the Flock and be as little a Burthen to them as they possible can I am Debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise Rom. 1. 14. They who Teach do well in offering their Labor to all Partiality ought not to be mixt with their Charity I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth v. 16. They ought not to be asham'd of the Truth Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect 1 Cor. 1. 17. Simplicity more becoming the Gospel than humane Eloquence And I Brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of Speech or of Wisdom declaring unto you the Testimony of God For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified And my Speech and my Preaching was not with enticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2. 1. We are Laborers together with God 1 Cor. 3. 9. Let a Man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 1. The Dignity of Preachers is very great their Fidelity ought to be so too But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you of Man's judgment 1 Cor. 4. 3. They are not to be Solicitous what Men say of them Who goeth to warfare any time at his own charges Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof or who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock Say I these things as a Man or saith not the Law the same also For it is written in the Law of Moses Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. Doth God take care for Oxen or saith he it altogether for our sakes For our sakes no doubt this is written That he that ploweth should plow in Hope and that he that thresheth in Hope should be Partaker of his Hope If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things If others be Partakers of this Power over you are not we rather Nevertheless we have not used this Power but suffer all things lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple And they which wait at the Altar are Partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel But I have used none of these things 1 Cor. 9. 7. It is allow'd Preachers to live by their Function but not to make a Trade of it S. Paul however made no use of this Allowance and this is more Perfect Though I be free from all Men yet have I made my self Servant unto all that I might gain the more To the Weak become I as Weak that I might gain the Weak I am made all things to all Men that I might by all means save some 1 Cor. 9. 19 22. A Condescendence of Charity proper for those that teach Now Brethren if I come unto you speaking with Tongues what shall I profit you 1 Cor. 14. 6. Preaching or Teaching in an unknown Tongue can do no good to the Hearers The Word of God
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.
coarse Apparel is commended in the Baptist a Modest Dress is recommended to Women accompanied with Shamefacedness Sobriety and a Meek Spirit Outward Adorning with Gold Pearls or Costly Apparel is reprov'd Inward Adorning with Virtue is requir'd All that is suggested in Dressing by Vanity Pride Envy or for pleasing the World is forbid All that is Immoderate whether as to the Expence of Time or Money is not allow'd In this it is very easie to discern what is the Spirit of the Gospel And if it be discern'd then all those who desire in Truth to be the Followers of Christ know what they are to do They must approve only that which their Rule approves and as for all whatever Inclination or the World recommends beyond that they must shut their hearts against it and say the Gospel is our Rule and this only we must follow CHAP. VI. Of Eating and Drinking Q. WHAT direction do's the Gospel give as to Eating and Drinking A. There is enough mention'd to serve for a Christian's Rule First Gluttony and Drunkenness are positively Forbid Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness Luk. 21. 34. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness Rom. 13. 13. Wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger Luk. 6. 25. Drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 10. The Works of the Flesh are manifest Drunkenness Revellings of the which I tell you that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God Gal. 5. 19 21. Be not Drunk with wine wherein is excess but be fill'd with the Spirit Eph. 5. 18. Secondly It is particularly observ'd in the Rich Glutton that he Fared sumptuously every day Luk. 16. 19. It is a good thing that the heart be establish'd with Grace not with Meats which have not profitted them that have been occupied therein Heb. 13. 9. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace Rom. 14. 17. Many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their Belly and whose Glory is their Shame Phil. 3. 18 19. Thirdly Temperance and Sobriety are recommended Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 12. Wherefore gird up your loins be sober and hope to the end 1 Pet. 1. 13. Be sober be vigilant 1 Pet. 5. 8. Let your Moderation be known to all men Phil. 4. 5. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink Luk. 1. 15. His Meat was Locusts and wild Honey Mat. 3. 4. Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober Let us who are of the day be sober 1 Thess 5. 6 8. Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. Having Food and Raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6. 8. Fourthly Fasting is commanded Jesus Fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights Mat. 4. 2. Anna departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luk. 2. 37. This kind of Devil can come forth by nothing but by Prayer and Fasting Mar. 19. 29. The Days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those Days Luk. â— 35. They administred to the Lord and fasted And when they had fasted and pray'd and laid their Hands on them they sent them away Acts 13. 2 3. When they had ordain'd them Elders in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord Act. 14. 23. In this may be discern'd the Spirit of the Gospel in this Point that while it approves Eating and Drinking for the Support of Nature it requires that this be done Soberly and with Moderation and to the Glory of God It commends Abstinence and Fasting It reproves Faring Sumptuously It condemns the Solicitude of pleasing the Appetite and making the Belly a God It declares Surfeiting Rioting Revelling and Drunkenness to be such Crimes that their Guilt excludes from Heaven If these be the Dictates of the Christian's Rule then it is very easie to observe how far the Gospel allows as to Eating and Drinking and how far it disapproves And hence it is obvious what they are to do who follow the Gospel They are to think nothing allowable but as it is here approv'd and must not by deceitful Constructions pretend to justifie that which is here condemn'd Especially where the Sentence is so positive and the Guilt shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 13 14. Put off concerning the former Conversation the old Man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Eph. 4. 22. I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. 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 For what is a Man profitted if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Or what shall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul Mat. 16. 24 25 26. He that loveth his Life shall lose it and he that hateth his Life in this World shall keep it unto Life eternal If any Man serve me let him follow me Jo. 12. 25 26. By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Jo. 13. 35. I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitely use you and persecute you Mat. 5. 44. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world 1 Jo. 2. 15. Put on as the elect of God holy and beloved Bowels of mercies Kindnesses Humbleness of mind Meekness Long-suffering Forbearing one another and Forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts And be ye thankful Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom and whatever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Col. 3. 12 13 14 15 16 17. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ Yea doubtless and 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 and be found in
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
ought to be deliver'd in such a manner as to be understood by the Hearers Thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the Savour of his Knowledge by us in every Place For we are unto God a sweet Savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish To the one we are the Savour of Death unto Death and to the other the Savour of Life unto Life For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God But as of Sincerity but as of God in the Sight of God speak we in Christ 2 Cor. 2. 14 17. The Gospel ought to be preach'd by Word and by good Example To Falsifie or Change the Word of God is Sacrilegious Where there is not true Sincerity there is not the Spirit of the Gospel Seeing we have this Ministry as we have received Mercy we faint not But have renounced the hidden things of Dishonesty not walking in Craftiness nor handling the Word of God Deceitfully but by Manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every Man's Conscience in the Sight of God But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4. 1. To such Abuses are the most holy Things subject but how many Wo's to them that incurr this Guilt We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4. 5. What Prophanation What Prostitution of the Gospel in those who undertake to preach Jesus Christ and under this Cover seek themselves We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroy'd always bearing about in the Body the Dying of the Lord Jesus that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Body 2 Cor. 4. 7. The Glory of Preachers is to be in God from whom is every good Gift In all Troubles their Confidence is to be in him whom they preach They ought every Way to be so Religious that the Life of Christ may be manifested in all they suffer and in all they do God hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as tho' God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 18. We then as Workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain Giving no Offence in any thing that the Ministry be not blamed But in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses in Stripes in Imprisonments in Tumults in Labors in Watchings in Fastings by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Ghost by Love Vnfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armor of Righteousness on the right Hand and on the left by Honor and Dishonor by evil Report and good Report As Deceivers and yet True as Vnknown and yet well Known as Dying and behold we Live as Chastened and not Killed as Sorrowful yet always Rejoicing as Poor yet making many Rich as having Nothing and yet possessing all Things 2 Cor. 6. 1. How great is the Dignity of those who succeed in the Apostolic Function And what ought to be their Sanctity who are no others than Vicars of Christ Their Model is here describ'd by the Apostle and ought to be seriously consider'd in every Point Behold the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be Burdensome to you for I seek not yours but you For the Children ought not to lay up for the Parents but the Parents for the Children And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you tho' the more abundantly I love you the lâ—ss I be loved But be it so 2 Cor. 12. 14. The Character of true Zeal to seek nothing but the good of the Flock An Hypocrite may pretend this for a time but none but the true Shepherds can persevere in this Practice To do otherwise is to be a Trader and not a Pastor Do I seek to please Men For if I yet pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. Hence is the Corruption of the Gospel they who should seek nothing but Jesus endeavour to please the World and to gain Esteem Preferment weighs more with them than Truth When it pleased God who separated me from my Mother's Womb and called me by his Grace To reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1. 15. Flesh and Blood are not to be Counsellors in the Cause of the Gospel and the Delivery of its Truths He gave some Apostles And some Prophets And some Evangelists And some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ 'Till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a Perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ That we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every Wind of Doctrin by the slight of Men and cunning Craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive But speaking the Truth in Love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ Eph. 4. 11. The Ministers of the Divine Institution Their Charge is not a State of Idleness but of Work The end of this Ordinance was for establishing the Flock in the Unity of Truth And in all Holiness in this they ought to labor Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication for all the Saints and for me that Vtterance may be given unto me that I may open my Mouth boldly to make known the Mystery of the Gospel For which I am an Embassador in Bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Eph. 6. 18. They are to desire the Prayers of the Flock they are to use a holy Liberty in preaching the Truth of the Gospel without being aw'd by Shame Fear or Expectation They are to do nothing unworthy of him whose Person they represent Some indeed preach Christ even of Envy and Strife and some also of good Will The one preach Christ of Contention not sincerely supposing to add Affliction to my Bonds Phil. 1. 15. Strange Motives for preaching Christ Unhappy they whose Passions serve them for Steps whereby to ascend to the Chair of Truth which ought to have no Entrance but by the Love of Jesus If ye continue in the Faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel whereof I Paul am made a Minister