Directions for a Comfortable Walking with God, Religious treatise (2 of 9)

Directions for a Comfortable Walking with God · Religious treatise (2 of 9)

p. 46A worthy Diuine summes vp all I would say in this point, thus: Sometimes, saith he, the feare of Gods Iudgements, as of the racke of an accusing conscience, of the torments of hell▪ fire, &c. holdeth men in a slauish obedience.

I feare me, there are too many abroad in the world, especially great Ones, who by forbearance of other grosse sinnes, to which their sensuall affections are not so endeared, outward performance of some holy duties, formall presence at religious exercises, countenancing, and patronage of godly Ministers and good men, hope to make amends, as it were, and to purchase protection and dispensation, for the vengeance p. 47due vntounto the sinfull pleasures of some bosome and beloued lust wherein they secretly lie. And therefore their outside conformitie in other things, is caused by feare of being horribly and remarkably plagued for that close darlingdelight.

4 Others there are, who by reason of awefulnesse, vntountoDauids salse backsliding friend, Psal. 55. 13, 14. Iehu, Ioash, &c. were temporary men, of this inconstant temper. An awefull reuerenc▪ to that holy Priest, 2. Chro. 24. 2. was the ground of Ioash his goodnesse, not a good conscience. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for ae while, and yet his heart was not vpright. For when Iehoiada was dead, hee fell to Idolatry, ver. 17, 18.Ps 55:13Ps 55:142 Chr 24:2 correspondence with, dependance vponupon, gainfull expectation from some gracious great One, Christian friend, reuerend Pastour, Patrone, Land-lord, or Gouernour, religious rich kinred, &c, or other such by-respects, conforme to the outward formes of Religion, and liue …seruedly vnderunder the Canopie of a counterfeite profession. The false and hollow hearts of men, harbour many times, many priuate ends in their outward seruices of God, and howsoeuer they openly pretend Religion, yet they secretly intend, and plot the satisfaction of their humour, and seruing of their owne turnes, by an artificiall, enforced, temporarie taking part with the better part. Such seruile Professours as these, ordinarily in the meane time stand at a stay in an externall conformitie to Christian courses; for no spirituall▪life warmes their affections, no roote of grace growes in their hearts: Formalitie in this kinde, is euer voide of all vitall vigour, vegetation, and actiuitie; constant onelyonly in an heartlesse plodding course and coldnesse; and many times, at length, when the motiue of their religious representations and shewes is remooued, and the end compassed, for which they counterfeited, they put off their vizours, and appeare againe plaine carnall men, and downe-right good-fellowes, as they were before. The Play being done, they are Rogues againe▪

5. Some there may be, who out of a greedy pursuite of a generall applause from all sorts of men▪ and ambitious hunting after a promi…uous reputation, and equall acceptance, both with Professours of Religion, and men of this world, put on a show of religious deportment, at least, in the company of such as are ready and forward to commend their cō formitie and forwardnesse that way, and by relation abroad, to enrole their names amongst the number of those who are p. 48noted to be on the best side. In a word, such fellowes as these, out of a base and vnblessed ambition to be well spoken of by all, though a woe waites vponupon such, Luke 6. 26. furnish themselues, both with a forme of profession to content Christians, and flourishes of good-fellowship to please the prophane.

6. Others there are, who may gloriously pretend, and protest with great brauery and confidence, their assent and assistance to the best and holiest courses; put on a temporary counterfeite profession, and fashionable conformity to the communion of Saints; that thereby they may passe more fairely and plausibly, out of one calling into another: from a baser, lower, more neglected, and toilesome Trade, into some other of more liberty, acceptation and ease: or else breake out of all Callings; and so, by the vnhallowed mystery of a sacred coozening, if I may so call it, liue vponupon their profession; and by amusing the tender consciences of weake Christians, with the controuling and countermanding tyrannies, as it were, of an affected furious zeale, sucke out of them no small aduantage, and prey too plentifully vponupon the people of God. Such as these, are ready to pretend, and intimate, that such base, earthly, and worldly imployment, and spending of their time, is disgracefull, and derogatory to the prouidence of God, and their Christian liberty: that with vnworthy detainments, and auocations, it interrupts them in the pursuite of their generall Calling; disables and hinders them in the discharge of holy duties. But let them know, that Christianity, if sound and true, doth not nullifie, but sanctifie our particular Callings. Thou oughtest to continue with conscionablenesse and constancy in that personall Calling, wherein thy calling to grace did finde the…, if it be warrantable and lawfull. See 1. Cor. 7. 20. **foreign, Hoc est, non fastidiat conditionem humilem, non affectet altiorem, non temerè ab vnâ ad aliam tranfiliat. Par.No comfortable change of a Calling, but in case of 1. priuate necessity, or 2. common Good: and that truly so, not hypocritically pretended, or for by-respects.

If any man then, vponupon giuing his name to Religion, shall grow into neglect, distaste, or dereliction of his honest particular p. 49Calling; wee may euer strongly suspect him of hollownesse and hypocrisie. It is the confident conclusion of a very learned and holy Diuine:

Though a man bee indued with excellent gifts, and bee able Perkins of Callings, pag. 734.to speake well, conceiue Prayer, and with some reuerence to heare the Word, and receiue the Sacraments, yet if hee practise not the duties of godlinesse within his owne Calling, all is but hypocrisie.

1. What sonne or daughter of Adam can challenge and plead exemption from that common charge laid vponupon them by the Lord of Heauen: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate Gen. 3. 1….Gen 3:1bread, till thou returne vntounto the ground; Either by trauaile of body, or toyle of minde, or both?

2. Diligence in a ciuill Calling, is necessary for a comfortable prouision of earthly necessaries.

3. Hee is a cursed Drone, a child of idlenesse and sloth, the very Tennis-ball of temptation, most vnworthy the blessings and benefits of humane societie; who doeth not one way or other cooperate, as it were, and contribute to the common Good, with his best endeauours in some honest particular Calling.

4. A seasonable imployment in a ciuill Calling, is a Soueraigne preseruatiue, and curbe for preuention of infinite swarmes of idle, melancholike, and exorbitant thoughts; and for restraint from many wicked and vnwarrantable medlings and miscarriages.

5. An honest Calling, is a Schoole of Christianitie. In which a man performing duties for the Lords sake, may daily profit in the practise and increase of many heauenly graces; Faith, Obedience, Patience, Meekenesse, Constancie, Truth, Fidelitie, Inuocation, Thanksgiuing, experience of Gods prouidence, &c.

A true Conuert therefore is so farre from casting off his personall Calling; that after his calling to Christianitie, he is woont to discharge the duties thereof with farre more care and conscience, though with a better minde, more moderate affections, and for a blesseder end.

p. 507. Some there may bee, who seeing the iniquity of these last, and worst times, lying in weight for the surprize and suppression of forwardnesse and zeale; and that they may gaine, or grow into credit with the world by some speciall seruice against the forwarder sort, serue themselues,Such Machiuellian counterfeit, are called foreign, False B…ethren, 2. Cor. 11. 26. foreign, Gal. 2 4. Irreptitij. qui seclàm i…sinuarunt. Qui per f…audem, & pietatis si…ula ionem, in album fidelium irrepserant, Bez.2 Cor 11:26Gal 2:4 in the meane time (plausiblenesse of profession taking away the sense of their intrusion) into the company and communion of the most noted religious people; that at length they may doe them the more mischiefe, and driue to the head the bitternesse of their lurking malice, with a more desperate and deadly sting. These are men of great imposture and cunning in their carriage. They informe themselues thorowly, and exactly, in the wayes and zealous behauiour of Profession; and so with great satisfaction and contentment, apply and accommodate themselues for a time to their desires and deuotions. But if once they pry into a point of seeming aduantage, which by their wresting & outfacing, may create matter of molestation, and spy their supposed season, to winne by betraying; they turne Turkes and traitors to those which are true of heart, to serue their owne turnes.

8. Many there are, who out of a fond and groundlesseSo deluled were the foolish Virgins, Mat. 25. these, Mat. 7. Luk 13. 26. and many thousands at … day, who hauing a forme of godlinesse, deni… the power thereof. They doe not onelyonly not allow'it. a…d … it, but deny and … it, as more then needs, and pressed vpo… them onelyonly by such as are too precise.Matt 25Matt 7Luke 13:26 conceit, that onelyonly an outward conformitie to the Word, Sacraments, and other religious exercises, will serue their turne for saluation, giuegive their names to profession, and so walke on plodding in the comfortlesse vnzealous formes of a frozen outside Christianity, many times euen vntounto their dying day. These men marre, and vnsanctifie themselues, by making moderation in Religion a Saint: and vndoe their soules, by adoring discretion as an Idoll. Moderation and discretion truly so called, and rightly defined by the rules of God, are blessed and beautifying ornaments to the best and most zealous Christians; but being tempered with their coldnesse, and edged with their eagernesse against forwardnesse, and ferue…cy in spirit, which the Apostle enioynes, aaforeign …er … spitit… s…thing … Ti…, verbum factum à sono literae ζ. Eustath. Vult vt nos, qui sub lege Spiritus viuimus▪ nihil remissum, … …epidum …, in nobis: sed cum feruore Spiritus, & calore fidei cunct a peragamus, Origen.Rom. 12. 11. become the very desperate cut-throates to the power of godlinesse, p. 51and pestilent consumption of the spirits, heart, and life of true zeale. These fellowes are most insolent, and confident in their Pharisaicall brags, spirituall security, and hopes for Heauen. They admire, and applaude with much selfe-estimation of ther singular skill, and rare felicitie, in pitching iust vponupon the golden meane, as they conceiue, betweene prophanenesse and precisenesse; infamous notoriousnesse, and persecuted strictnesse. But that Prouerbe, in the meane time falls pat vponupon their pates: There is a generation that are pure in Prou. 30. 10.Prov 30:10their owne eyes: and yet is not washed from their filthinesse: And at length most certainely, the iust execution of that terrible commination, Reuel. 3. 16. will crush their hearts with euerlasting horrour, confusion and woe.

But I should be endlesse in the discouery of this hidden and hellish gulph of hypocrisie, wherein thousands are swallowed vp, euen in this glorious Mid-day of the Gospell. For a man may assoone find out the way of an Eagle in the Ayre, the way of a Serpent vponupon a Rocke, the way of a Ship in the midst of the Sea, and the way of a man with a maid, as to tracke the cunning and crooked footsteps of this foule fiend in the false hearts of Satans followers. Only take notice, that thou canst neuer possibly delight in God, or euer comfortably come neere him, if thou giuegive any entertainment vntounto it, in what forme soeuer it represent it selfe, or whatsoeuer vizor it offers vntounto thee, though neuer so fairely varnished, and guilded ouer with the Deuils angelicall glory.

III. Build, and erect all thy resolutions and conclusions for Heauen and Gods seruice, vponupon that strong and purest pillar, that maine, and most precious bbTaught by the Lord Iesus himselfe, Luk 14. 26, &c. as a fundamentall Rule of Christianitie. Aduersus parentes, aduersus liberos, aduersus naturalem cognationem, contra vniuersum Orbem terrarum, contra ipsam etiam animam pugnam indicit, at que aciem esse instruendam ostendit, Chrys. in cap. 10. Mat. Hom. 36. Paul calls is, The very spirit of our seruice of God: without which all our other Religion, be i… neuer so glorious and goodly, is no more liuely, nay, is as very a carcasse, as th… body of a man, destitute of that soule, which maketh it reasonable, and differing from all other bodies. It was …gured by the Holacaust of the Law, which signified the sacrifice of the flesh, the crucifying of the old Adam, Rom. 12. 1. See also Coloss. 3. 5. Mat. 5. 29, 30.Luke 14:26Rom 12:1Col 3:5Matt 5:29Matt 5:30Principle of Christianitie, Selfe-deniall. No walking with God, no sweete communion, and sound peace at his Mercy-Seate, except for his sake, and keeping a good conscience, thou be content to denie p. 52thy selfe, thy worldly wisdome, naturall wit, carnall reason, acceptation with the world, excellencie of learning, fauour of great Ones, credit and applause with the most; thy passions, profit, pleasures, preferment, neerest friends, ease, libertie, life, eueryevery thing, any thing. And feare no losse; for all things else are nothing, to the least comfortable glimpse of Gods pleased face.

From this Principle sprung all those noble resolutions, and replies of Gods worthiest Saints and Souldiers: That of Hester for the preseruation of the people of God: Well, saith she, I wil goe in vntounto the King, which is not according to the law, Hest. 4. 16.and if I perish, I perish. That of Micaiah, sollicited strongly by the messenger to temporize, in managing his Ministery with sutablenesse, and conformity to the Kings pleasure, and plausiblenesse of the false prophets: As the Lord liueth, what the 1. King. 22. 14.1 Kgs 22:14Lord saith vntounto mee, that will I speake. That of Nehemiah; Should such a man as I flee? As if he should hauehave said; TellNeh 6. 11.Neh 6:11 not mee of fleeing, my resolution was pitcht long agoe, if need require, to lay downe my life, and lose my blood in the Lords battels. That of Paul, when his friends were weeping, and wailing about him: What meane you to weepe, said hee,Act. 21. 13.Acts 21:13 and to breake mine heart? For I am ready, not to be bound onelyonly, but also to die at Hierusalem, for the name of the Lord Iesus. That of Ierome: If my father stood weeping on his knees before mee, and my mother hanging on my necke behind me, and all my brethren, sisters, children, kinsfolke, howling on eueryevery side, to retaine me in sinfull life with them; I would fling my mother to the ground, despise all my kinred, run ouer my father, and tread him vnderunder my feet, thereby to run to Christ when hee calleth me. That of Luther, dealt with, earnestly, and eagerly, not to venture himselfe amongst a number of perfidious, and bloodthirstie Papists: As touching me (saith he) since I am sent for, I Fox in the Story of Marti… Luther, pag. 849.am resolued, and certainely determined to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ; yea, although I knew there were so many Deuils to resist me, as there are tiles to couer the houses in Wormes. That of a most renowned Italian Marquesse, Galeacius Carracciolus, tempted by a Iesuite with a great sum p. 53of money, to returne from Gods Blessing at Geneua, to the warme Sunne in Italy: Let their money perish with them, who See the Story of his life, pag. …7.esteeme all the Gold in the world, worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ, and his holy Spirit. That of George Carpenter, Martyr: My wife and my children are so dearely beloued vntounto Fox, pag. 884.me, that they cannot bee bought from mee, for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bauaria: but for the louelove of my Lord God, I will willingly forsake them. That of Kilian, a Dutch Schoole-master, to such as asked him, if he loued not his wife and children; Yes, said he, If the world were Gold, and were mine to dispose of, I would giuegive it to liue with them, though it were but in prison; yet my soule and Christ are dearer to me then all.

IV. Exercise thy selfe continually, and bee excellent in that onelyonly Heauen vponupon Earth, and sweetest Sanctuarie toHab. 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 3, 11. Heb. 10. 38. Gal. 2. 20.Hab 2:4Rom 1:17Gal 3:11Heb 10:38Gal 2:20 an hunted soule, the Life of faith. Which to liue in some good measure, is the duty and property of eueryevery liuing member of Christ Iesus. LoueLove therefore, and labour to liue by the power of faith, the life of saluation, sanctification, preseruation. 1. Of saluation, thus: Let thy truely-humbled soule, grieued and groaning vnderunder the burden of sinne, throw it self into the meritorious, and merciful armes of Iesus Christ, wounded, broken, and bleeding vponupon the Crosse; and there let it hold, and hide it selfe for euer in full assurance of eternall life, by vertue of that promise, Ioh. 3. 36. Hee that beleeueth on the Son, hath euerlasting life. For hauing thus laid hold vponupon him, He by his Spirit doth communicate first himselfe vntounto thee; then both the merit of his death for remission of thy sinnes; and of his actiue obedience for thy right to saluation and happinesse; and withall, the power of his Spirit, to quicken thee to the life of grace in this World, and to raise vp thy body to the life of glory at the last day. 2. Of sanctification: If thou keepe thy faith, the fountaine, roote and heart, as it were, from which all thine other graces spring, in life and vigour, thou shalt pray more comfortably, bee more couragiously patient, heare the Word more fruitfully, receiue the Sacraments more ioyfully, passe the p. 54Sabbaths more delightfully, conferre more cheerefully, meditate more heauenly, walke in all the wayes of new obedience with more strength, and conquest ouer corruptions. For ordinarily, eueryevery Christian shall finde the exercise of other graces to bee comfortable, or cold, according to the liuelinesse, or languishing of his faith. 3. Of preseruation, both temporall and spirituall.

In crosses, afflictions, and all Gods outward angry visitations, by the power of such promises, as those, Psal. 89. 33. and 50. 15. Heb. 12. 7, 8, 11. 1. Thes. 3. 3. Act. 14. 22. Luke 9. 23. Isai. 63. 9.

In the course and carriage of thy particular Calling: the duties and workes whereof, if thou discharge with conscience, diligence, and prayer, thou mayest goe on with comfort, contentment, and freedome from that torturing and racking thoughtfulnesse; from those restlesse and cursed carkings of carnal worldlings, wherein they basely languish, and lose their soules; and leaue the successe, issue, and euent of all thy labours and vndertakings vntounto the Lord, whatsoeuer it may bee, resting sweetly, and euer relying vponupon that gracious promise, Heb. 13. 5. I will neuer faile thee, nor forsake thee.

In ordering and guiding the affaires of thy family, depend by faith vponupon Gods blessing, the strength and sinew of all sound comfort, and true contentation that way. See Psal. 127.

In the losse of outward things for thy louelove, and seruice vntounto God; by beleeuing that Man of God, 2. Chron. 25. 9. The Lord is able to giuegive thee much more then this.

Nay, in the losse of all earthly things in eueryevery kind: see Habac. 3. 17, 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossome, neither shall fruit be in the Vines: the labour of the Oliue shall faile, and the fields shall yeeld no meate, the flocke shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalles: yet I will reioyce in the Lord: I will ioy in the God of my saluation. Consider also for this purpose, Iobs patient blessing of God vponupon the surprize and concurrence of an vniuersall misery, Iob 1. 21.

p. 55In pangs of the New-birth, spirituall infancy, weakenesses of faith, prayer, godly sorrow, and other graces; by those cordiall refreshing promises, Reu. 21. 6. Math. 5. 6. Isa. 42. 3. and 40. 11. and 57. 15.

In oppositions against the raising or restauration of spirituall buildings by the Ministery of the Word: or in temptations against a mans personall progresse, and holding out against Gods waies vntounto the end; by renouncing our owne strength, disclaiming the arme of flesh, and crying in eueryevery encounter: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Zech. 4. 6, 7.Zech 4:6Zech 4:7the Lord of Hoasts, What art thou, O great mountaine, &c?

In languishings and tremblings after relapse into some old, or fall into some new sinne; by such precious places as these: 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Luk. 17. 4. 1. Sam. 12. 20. 1. Iohn 1. 9. From this last place a reuerend Diuine collects this comfort: If we see our vnworthinesse, and with broken hearts acknowledge it, God is faithfull and iust to forgiue it, bee it neuer so great. But this is a iewell fit onelyonly for the eare of a sincere Christian, when out of the fearefulnesse of his distrustfull spirit, he puts off all comfort, though truely humbled, after ensnarement in some more speciall affrighting sinne. Let no swine trample vponupon it.

In all kindes of temptations, by the power of that promise, 1. Cor. 10. 13. Nay, euen amidst varietie of them by obeying that precept, Iam. 1. 2. My brethren, count it all ioy when you fall into diuers temptations.

In spirituall desertion, by refreshing, and resting thy sinking soule, in the meane time vntill the Lord returne, vponupon that surest Rocke, Isa. 30. 18. Blessed are all they that waite for him. Most blessed, deare, and sweetest Sanctuary! If the Christian die in that waiting state, he shall be certainely saued: For the holy Ghost pronounceth him blessed.

In the deepe, and almost despairing apprehensions of thine extreme vilenesse, and, as it were, nothingnesse in grace, by apprehending that most mercifull promise from Gods owne mouth, Isa. 43. 25.

In thy perplexed and troubled thoughts about returne p. 56after backsliding; by those comfortable encouragements, Ier. 3. 1, 12, 13, 14, 22. Hos. 14. 1, 2, 4.

In doubts of losing the louelove of God, and life of Grace; by consideration of those passages in Gods Booke, where it appeares, that the louelove of God vntounto his child, in respect of tendernesse, and constancy, is infinitely dearer then that of a most louing mother to her little one, Isai. 49. 15. stronger then the stony Mountaines, and Rocks of flint, Isa. 54. 10. as constant as the courses of the Sunne, and of the Moone, and of the Starres, and of the day, and of the night, Ier. 31. 36. and 33. 20. nay, as sure, as God himselfe, Psal. 89. 33, 34, 35.

In the Haile▪ stormes of slanderous arrowes, and empoysoned darts of disgrace, by cleauing to most glorious promises, 1. Pet. 4. 14. Mat. 5. 11.

In the valley of the shadow of death; by an assurance of Gods mercifull omnipotent presence, Psal. 23. 4.

In the extremitie & depth of such desperate distresses, and perplexities; wherein in thy present feeling, thou canst see, and find no possibilitie of helpe from Heauen or Earth, God or Man; but art both helpelesse and hopelesse, as the Church complaines, Lam. 3. 18. by such like places as those, Isai. 33. 9, 10. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Gen. 22. 14. Exod. 14. 13. Psal. 78. 65.

In eueryevery thing, or any thing that shall, or can possibly befall thee; prosperitie, or pouertie; crosse, or comfort; calmnesse of conscience, or tempests of terror; life or death, &c. by extracting abundance of vnconquerable patience, and peace of soule, from those three heauenly golden conduits of sweetest comfort, Rom. 8. ver. 18, 28, 32.

Thus in any trouble of soule, body, good name, outward state, present, or to come; thou mayest by the soueraigne power of faith working vponupon the Word, not onelyonly draw out the sting, and expell the poison of it; but also create a great deale of comfort to thy truly-humbled soule, and maintaine it in despite of all mortall or infernall opposition, in a constant spirituall gladnesse. For all those promises, whereupon thy heauy heart in such cases may repose, and refresh it selfe, hauehave their being from the blessed name Iehoua: see, Exo. 6. 3. p. 57and therefore are as sure, as God himselfe: they are sealed with the bloody sufferings of his onelyonly Sonne, and therefore as true, as truth it selfe: and, if thou be in Christ, are all as certainely thine, as the heart in thy body, or blood that runnes in thy veines. Nay, and a little more for thy comfort, the glory of Gods truth is mightily aduanced, and himselfe extraordinarily pleased, by thy more resolute, stedfast, and triumphant cleauing vntounto them. What a blessed, sweete, and heauenly life then is the life of faith?

V. Apprehend in thy minde, and settle in thine heart, a true estimate, and right conceit of the substance and power, marrow, and materials of Christianitie. Which doth not consist, as too many suppose,

In outward shewes, profession, talking: in holding strict points, defending precise opinions, contesting against the corruptions of the times: in the worke wrought, externall formes of religious exercises, set-taskes of hearing, reading, conference, and the like: in some solemne outward extraordinarie abstinences and forbearances, censuring others, &c. But, **Humilitas in conuersatione, stabilitas in fide, verecundia in verbis, in factis iustitia, in operibus misericordia, in moribus disciplina, iniuriam facere non nosse, & factam tolerare posse, cum fratribus pacem tenere, Deum toto corde diligere, amare in illo quod Pater est, timere quod Deus est, Christo nihil omninò praeponere, quia nec nob…s ille quicquam praeposuit, charitati eius inseparabilite… adhaerere—Quando de eius nomine, & honore certamen est, exhibere in sermone constantiam, quâ confitemur: in quaestione fiduciam, quâ congredimur: in morte patiemiam, quâ coronamur. Hoc est cohaeredem Christi velle esse, hoc est praeceptum De…facere, hoc est voluntatem Patris adimple…e, Cyprian. de orat. Domin.in righteousnesse, peace, ioy in the holy Ghost: in meekenesse, tender-heartednesse, louelove: in patience, humilitie, contentednesse: in mortification of sinne, moderation of passion, holy guidance of the tongue: in workes of mercy, iustice, and truth: in fidelitie, painfulnesse in our Callings, conscionable conuersing with men: in reuerence vntounto superiours, louelove of our enemies, an open-hearted reall fruitfull affectionatenesse, and bounty to Gods people: in heauenlymindednesse, selfe-deniall, the life of faith: in dis-esteeme of earthly things, contempt of the world, resolute hatred of sinne: in approouing our hearts in Gods presence, a sweete communion with him, comfortable longing for the comming of the Lord Iesus, &c.

Yet mistake me not; thou must make a shew, professe and talke, if thou wouldest hauehave Christ Iesus to owne thee at that last and dreadfull Day, Mark. 8. 38.

p. 58It is therefore an idle and brainelesse cauill of some lewd ignorant Lozels, to say; We can by no meanes endure these shewes; Cannot a man bee religious to himselfe, except he hang out his flag, and let all the world know it? For where the power of Religion is, there will bee the shew also. Painted fire shines not, ascends not, heates not: but true fire is euer inseparably attended with these properties. We cannot put a Candle in a Lanthorne, but the light will shew it selfe thorow the hornes: if true grace bee planted in the heart, it will shine forth in our words, gestures, actions, all carriages, and our whole conuersation. He that will take shewes from the substance of Religion, let him take brightnesse from the Sunne, glistering from Gold, breathing from a liue-body. Shew and profession of Christ before men, is commanded, as well as the substance and soundnesse of heart, Rom. 10. 9, 10.

Thou must bee a patrone, and in some good measure, a practiser of precise points, if euer thou wilt hauehave true peace and assurance of walking in the narrow path, that leades vntounto life: as, of walking precisely, Ephes. 5. 15. Being feruent in spirit, Rom. 12. 11. Striuing to enter in at the strait gate, Luke 13. 24. Selfe-deniall, 14. 26. Surpassing the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises, Mat. 5. 20. Laying violent hands and hold vponupon the Kingdome of Heauen, Mat. 11. 12. In a word: of the way which is called holy, and yet so spoken against eueryevery where, Act. 28. 22. For I meane only that precisenesse, which is commended vntounto vsus, and commanded by the blessed Spirit in Gods pure and holy Word. I know, all passages of sanctification are too precise; and paradoxes, intolerable and burdensome to flesh and blood, and in the interpretation of worldly wisedome, which notwithstanding are easie and sweet to mortified men.

Thou must stand at the staues end, against the sinnes of the times, and like the Eagle, prune vp thy selfe against a storme, or else thou art a temporizer.

Outward exercises of Religion, are as it were the bodie, without which, the soule of Christianitie hath no existence.

p. 59Thou must be content to abridge, and confine thy Christian liberty at any time, according to opportunities, and exigents, for the enlargement of Gods glory, the building vp of thy brother, and snaffling thine owne rebellious nature.

Thou mayest, and must iudge by the fruits. It is Christs Rule, Matth. 7 16. If therefore thou seest the abominable and vnsauory fruits of lying, swearing, drunkennesse, Sabbathbreaking, vsury, scoffing at Religion, &c. hanging out in the fight of the Sunne; thou mayest iustly censure the tree to be rotten, and for the present, fewell for the fire of Hell. Thou mayest iudge no man rashly, nor of his finall estate: (If we see a malefactour cast, and condemned for some grieuous crime, yet reprieued vntounto the next Assize; no man can say, he shall be certainely hanged, because a pardon may be procured, and come from the King in the meane time: it is so in the present case.) But thou mayest call a spade, a spade; a drunkard, a drunkard; an vsurer, an vsurer. Otherwise, if thou dawbe and dissemble, how shalt thou euer be able to escape liablenesse to that abomination, Prou. 17. 15. He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust: euen they both are abomination to the Lord? And to the sting of that woe, Isai. 5. 20. Woe vntounto them that call euill, good; and good euill; that put darkenesse for light; and light for darkenesse; that put bitter for sweete, and sweete for bitter. Yet know, that speaking the euill thou certainely knowest by another, must be seasonable, charitable and discreete: not out of humour, spleene, imperiousnesse, at thy pleasure; but for Gods honour, the good of the party, thine owne discharge, vponupon a warrantable calling, &c. according to those Rules I shall hereafter deliuer for guiding the tongue.

My meaning then in this point is; that those greater matters be dearliest prized, and principally plied proportionably to their worth and waight: and yet these lesser things notMath. …3. 23.Matt 3:23 neglected. It is too true, that those who are more fierce, and forward about the ceremonials, and circumstantials, then truly hot and zealous in the essentials, and substantials of Christianity, prooue too often vaine-gloriously, and proudly p. 60mounted vponupon that foule hellish fiend, Hypocrisie, and posting apace towards some fearefull Apostacy, or Anabaptisticall phrensie.

VI. Let thy spirit, mindfull of its owne heauenly birth, immortall nature, and euerlasting home, euer generously fortifie it selfe with victorious resolution against worldlinesse, the canker and cut-throate of all heauenly-mindednes, and hearty conuersation aboue. Of all the foule fiends, that haunt the hearts of carnall men, there is none that holds a stronger opposition, and counter-motion to walking with God, then couetousnesse. Ambition, sensualitie, and other wayes of death, cut off their slaues with an accursed disacquaintance, and estrangement farre enough from all comfortable accesse vntounto the Throne of Grace: but affections nailed and glued to the Earth, hauehave this pestilent precedency, that they hold the remotest point of declination, from the warmth and influence of any sweete communion with the Sunne of righteousnesse, and Gods glorious face. All earthly-minded men ordinarily, howsoeuer they may be outwardly restrained and reserued, are secret deriders of the power of godlinesse, holy strictnesse of the Saints, and mysteries of Grace. And the Pharises also, saith Luke, chap. 16. 14. who were couetous, heard all these things: and they derided him: euen mockt, and made themselues merry with the searching, and heartpiercing Sermons of the Sonne of God. Their hearts, and hopes are wholly anchored vponupon the Earth, and lockt vp in their chests: and therefore they dreame of no other heauen, then their golden hoards, heapes of wealth, and present temporall happinesse. Whereas notwithstanding, one refreshing glimpse shining, and shed into our hearts from Gods pleased face, and well-grounded assurance of being His, is infinitely more worth then all the Gold that euer the Sunne made, or shall make while it stands in Heauen.

VII. Let thy holy affections bee euer thorowly warmed, and rauisht aaSi amator Dei esse vis, …yncerissimis medullis, ca… que …ijs ipsum d…lige ipsum a…a, illi fl…gra, illi inhia, qu… … nihil inuenis, quo melius, quo l…tius, quo diuturnius, Aug. in Psal. 85. Coelum & terra, & omnia quae in eis sunt, non cessant mihi dicere, …t amem Dominum meum! Tom. 9 pag. 1003.Ps 85extraordinarily with the louelove of God. p. 61To which, there are infinite inflaming motiues and Obligations.

1 Hee being absolutely considered, is immeasurably louely. The most attractiue obiects of insatiable louelove, and al amiable excellencies, are eminently and transcendently triumphant in him eternally; Beauty, Glory, Worth, Wisedome, Greatnesse, Goodnesse, Holinesse, Puritie, any thing, eueryevery thing that is any wayes admirable and loueworthy.

2. Or consider Him in relation to thy selfe; and shouldest thou eueryevery moment thorow an interminable time, lay down ten thousand liues for His sake, thou couldest neuer come neere the requitall of the least inch of His infinite louelove towards thee, which reacheth from euerlasting, to euerlasting. 1. He bore thee in the bosome of this His free louelove from all eternitie, and that so dearely, that from the same eternity, He decreed that His owne deare Sonne should die for thee. 2. Hee brought thee out of the abhorred state of being nothing, into the ranke of his reasonable and noblest creatures. 3. Hee bought thee againe, when thou hadst wilfully lost thy selfe, with the hearts-blood of His onelyonly Sonne. 4. He preserues thee eueryevery day from a thousand dangers, a thousand deaths, which might seize vponupon thee, both from within, and from without. 5▪ He will shortly crowne thee with euerlasting life, fulnesse of ioy, and pleasures at his right hand for euermore.

3. Thirdly, confider the vnquenchable impatiencie of Christs inflamed louelove vntounto thee, now washed with His Blood, and beautified with His grace, Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast rauished my heart, saith He to the Church, and by consequent to eueryevery true Christian, my sister, my spouse, thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chaine of thy necke. Now louelove is of that alluring nature, that many times it will draw louelove from a man, when there is no louely part in the partie louing. What a deale of louelove then doth the Soueraigne Lord of all goodnesse, the well-spring of all beauty, excellencie, and sweetnesse exact at our hands? especially p. 62sith wee are his meere creatures, in respect both of our naturall being, outward state, gracious state, and state of glory? See how His spirituall amiablenesse is shadowed by outward beauties, Cant. 5. 10.

VIII. Prize the fruition of Gods pleased face, a neerer communion and acquaintance with His blessed Maiestie, the louelove and light of His countenance; and thereupon a free and frequent accesse, with an humble boldnes, vntounto the throne of Grace, at a far higher and more vnualuable rate, than heauen and earth; as a very reall fruitfull fore-taste of eternall ioyes. For to say no more at this time; If thou hold an holy familiaritie with thy God, and He looke pleasedly vponupon thee, thou shalt graspe Iesus Christ more sweetly and feelingly in the armes of thy Faith; partake more plentifully of the ioyfull freedome, presence, and communication of His comforting Spirit; be garded more strongly and narrowly by His glorious Angels; sucke more sweetnesse and heauenly Manna out of the Ministerie, and other His blessed Ordinances; walke in safetie amongst the creatures, like an vnconquerable Lyon: Thou shalt bee in a league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee: when thou goest, thy gate shall not be straite; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall: when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shall be sweet; thou shalt dwell safely, and none shall make thee afraid: Thou shalt neuer more be afraid of any euill tidings, or of destruction when it commeth: when thou passest thorow the waters, thy God shall bee with thee; and thorow riuers, they shall not ouerflow thee: when thou walkest thorow the fire, thou shalt not bee burnt; neither shall the flame kindle vponupon thee, &c. And if at any time thou bee seized vponupon with any crosse or calamitie from any of the creatures; any trouble or temptation, from man or Deuill; any lowring or crueltie from the iniquitie of the times, or persecuters of the Truth; yet the refreshing beames of Gods pleased face shining vponupon thy heart, through the darknesse of such discomforts, will sweetly mitigate, reuiue, and infinitely make amends for all. The poyson and curse of them shall neuer come neere thy soule. The Lord in p. 63the meane time, like an Eagle flutttering about her nest, willDeut. 32. 11.Deut 32:11 most tenderly defend and protect thee, Esa. 31. 5. and at length most certainly come like a yong Lyon roaring on his prey for thy rescue and glorious enlargement, Isa. 31. 4.

IX. Labour by a constant watch to keepe thy heart in a spirituall temper still, and still sweetly content, and fruitfully conuersant in the Mystery of Christ, and Secrets of His Kingdome,foreign Eph. 3. 4.Eph 3:4 which thou shalt more easily doe; If thou first reioyce in God, his Word & Graces, as thy chiefest ioy, and greatest aduantage. 2. By all earthly things, be drawne to the louelove of heauenly. For though God hath appointed but one Sabbath in seuen dayes for his more solemne publike worship, yet to a Christian, eueryevery day is sanctified to be a rest from all the deeds of the flesh, wherein he is to walke with his God, and shew forth the religious keeping of his heart and good conscience, in eueryevery action of his whole life; so making eueryevery passage of his particular Calling, a part of Christian obedience, and dutie vntounto God. 3. Let the noblenesse of thine inlarged Spirit, as infinitely disdaine to be any wayes, vponupon any termes, in bondage to the corruptions of the times; so finde a farre sweeter rellish, and take incomparably more contentment in the seruices of thy Lord, and his holy Ordinances, then in all his outward benefits, and fauours of this life. For as the best of these abused, will most certainly at the Barre of God, turne scourges and Scorpions to the worldling; conscience; and in the meane time, there is noQuid v…sper vc hat … ▪ man so assured of his honour, of his riches, health, or life; but that hee may be depriued of either, or all, the very next houre, or day to come; so the other will prooue vntounto the Christian, hauing beene conscionably and constantly exercised in them, as a rich stocke, to bring in comfort, patience, and inward peace, in his most neede and greatest extremity. 4. Assoone as thou discouerest any spirituall weakenesse or decay, any extraordinarie assault, temptation, deadnesse, &c. complaine betime, cry mightily vntounto God, giuegive him no rest; neither giuegive ouer seeking, vntill hee returne vntounto thy soule, with power, and life againe. If ordinarie meanes will not p. 64preuaile, presse vponupon him with extraordinary: if then he doe not reuiue thee with woonted quickning vigour, waite with a patient wakefull longing of all the powers of thy soule; and then all this while thy soule is still in its true spirituall temper, and a most blessed state. See Isa. 30. 18. 5. Decline watchfully all occasions of falling from thy first louelove, feruencie, and heauenly-mindednesse: as spirituall pride, knowne hypocrisie, desire to be rich, discontinuance of thine intimatenesse with the godly, neglect of thy particular Calling, or dayly watch ouer thy heart; vngodly company, forme in religious duties, coldnesse and customarinesse in the vse of the meanes, &c. 6. Suffer not thine affections to bee chained downe, and set too much vponupon those things which the common sort and greatest part of men seeke after insatiably, and slauishly sinke vnderunder; praise, profit, credit, acceptation with the world, fauour of great Ones; mirth, pleasures, ease, feare, sorrow, earthly contentment, preferment, wealth, long life, or any worldly thing: but debase, and dis-esteeme all other delights in respect of doing Gods will; which should euer bee vntounto thee meate and drinke, thy chiefest and choisest recreation, and onelyonly Paradise vponupon earth.

X. Let thy soule full **Anima quae amat, ascendit frequenter, & currit familiariter per plate as coelestis Hierusalem, visi…ando Patriarchas & Prophetas, saluando Apostolos, admirando exerci…us Martyrum, & Confessorum, &c. Aug. Tom. 9. pag. 1003.often so are aloft vponupon the wings of faith, vntounto the glory of the Empyrean Heauen, where God dwelleth, and bathe it selfe before-hand with many a sweet meditation in that euerlasting blisse aboue. Oh thinke with thy selfe, (though it farre passe the reach of any mortall thought) what an infinite inexplicable sweetnesse it will be, to looke for euer vponupon the glorious Bodie of Iesus Christ, shining with incomprehensible beautie; and to consider, that euen eueryevery veine of that blessed Bodie bled to bring thee to heauen: and that it being with such excesse of glory hypostatically vnited vntounto the second person in the Trinity, hath honoured and aduanced thy nature, in that respect, far aboue the brightest Cherub! To say nothing of the beauty and brightnesse of that euer-blessed Place, that vnapprochable Light, which besets Gods dreadfull Throne, the p. 65walking arme in arme with the Angels of God, that euerlasting ioyfull communion, and conuersing with the dearest Christian friends, and all the crowned Saints, and innumerable felicities moe, which infinitely surpasse in excellencie and sweetenesse, the comprehension of the largest heart, and expression of any Angels tongue: contemplate principally the Fountaine of all thy blisse; how the mighty IEHOVAH, God blessed for euer, will powre out of Himselfe, by the influence of Beatificall Vision, as they call it, perpetuall riuers of vnutterable ioyes, and pleasures vponupon thy glorified Body and Soule, thorow all eternity; euen as the Sunne powres out his beames and shining eueryevery day af…esh vponupon the world, without emptinesse or end: and with such variety, (for hee is infinite) that they shall bee vntounto thee, as fresh, as new, as sweete, as rauishing, millions of yeeres after thou hast dwelt in those Mansions of rest, as they were, the very first moment thou enteredst that blisfull Place. Such fixed considerations as these, of things aboue, will serue as notable helpes to draw and keepe thy heart Heauen-ward, and may mightily moue thee to delight in God, and to hold it the sweetest life vponupon earth, to walke with him in the wayes of Puritie and Peace. Methinkes, if a man doe but once a day seriously and solemnly thus cast vp the eye of his Faith, vponupon that neuer-fading Crowne of Life, which after an inch of time, shall eternally rest vponupon his head, the goodly splendour thereof, and beames of that incomparable ioy, should be able to dispell those mists of fading vanities, and hurtfull fumes of honours, riches, and earthly pleasures, which this great dung-hill of the World, heated by the fire of inordinate lust, doth euaporate, and interpose betweene the sight of the soule and celestiall Blisse: So that hee might with more affectionate freedome, and contempt of earth, hauehave his conuersation aboue; and turne the current of all his delights, louelove, and longings, with more resolution and constancie towards his heauenly home.

These Preparatiues thus premised, I proceed to some p. 66generall directions for a more comfortable walking in the way that is called Holy.

1. First, and before all other things, hauehave a speciall eyeMa…. 6 33. and attendance to a sincere, constant, and fruitfull performance of holy duties, Gods seruices. And to say nothing punctually and particularly at this time, of priuate **Nec solùm vobis sufficiat quòd in Ecclesia diuinas lectiones auditis, sed etiam …n domibus vestris, aut ipsi legite, aut alios legentes requi…ite … ▪ August. de …, … 5….reading the Scriptures, publike hearing the Word, personall Prayer, and with thy yoke-fellow, if thou liue in that estate, singing of Psalmes, Meditation, Conference, dayes of humiliation, &c. of which thou must proportionably make conscience in their due place, obseruing also in them the ensuing Cautions: for a knowne grosse, customary neglect of any holy dutie, religious exercise, diuine Ordinance, in its season, may bring a dampe vponupon the rest, and a consumption vponupon the whole bodie of Christianitie; I say, to leaue these and the like, in their courses and turnes to bee performed also with all good conscience and following Cautions, I onelyonly at this time purposely aduise, for the better sanctifying thy selfe and all about thee, to a more comfortable and successefull managing of all affaires, businesses, and vnderunder-takings, either spirituall or ciuill; that thou beeing Master of a Family, for I single out such an one for instance, bee euer sure to glorifie God amidst thy people, by aaAnte omnes actus seculi, debemus actus habere pietatis, qui nos quiescentes, et dormientes in lectulis custodiuit. Quis enim nisi Deus dormientem custodit hominem? qui ita resolutus in somnum, et oblitus sui vigoris humani, à se alienus efficitur, vt nesciat quid ipse sit, vbinam demoretur, adesse sibi certè ipse non possit. Necessarius igitur Deus adest dormientibus, quia dormientes sibi adesse non possunt, et à noctu… nis insidijs genus hominum ipse custodiat; quia id temporis ad custodiendum alter nemo peruigilat. Debeo ergo illi gratiam, qui vt ego securus dormiam, ille peruigilat. Ipse enim nos Deusituros cubitum quodam gremio quietis suscipit; et Thesauro pacis recondito seruat; et caliginum quadam tuitione in lucem defendit, &c. Ambr. Lib. S…rm. Serm. 43.Morning and bbSed & cùm v…spera diem claudit, ipsi debemus per psalterium laudem dicere, & gloriam eius modulatâ suauitat… concinere.—Hoe autem vt faciamus, fratres, non solùm doce…ur ratione; sed etiam admonemur exemplis. Nonne enim videmus minutissimas aues, cùm illucescentem diem aurora producit, in quibusdam nidorum cubiculis variâ dulcedine personare, & id studiosè agere priusquam procedant, vt Creatorem suum, quia loquelâ non possunt, suauitate demulceant? Et quemadmodum vnaquaeque earum, quoniam confessione nequit▪ modulis prodat obsequium; ita vt videatur sibi deuotiùs gratias agere, quae dulciùs personauit; hoe etiam pacto diei cursu similiter facere? Quid ergo sibi vult ista certis temporibus disposita cantilena, et iugis intentio; nisi gratiarum quaedam sit immoderata confessio? Pastori enim suo aui… i…noxia, quia sermone non potest, suauitate blanditur. Habent enim et aues Pastorem suum; sicut ait Dominus, Respicite volatilia coeli, quoniam non nent, neque me…unt; et Pater vester qui est in coelis pascit illa. At quibus tandem cibis pascuntur aues? vilissi nis scilicet & terrenis. Aues ergo propter viles esca… gratias agunt; …u pretiosissimis epulis pasce…is, & ingratus es? Quis igitur non erubescat sensum hominis habens, sine Psalmorum celebritate diem claudere; cùm ipsae aues ad gratificandum Psalterij suauitate persultent; & eius gloriam, non versuum dulcedine personare, cuius laudem volucres modulatâ cantilenâ pronunciant▪ Imitare ergò, frater, minutissim as aue… mane, & vespere Creatori g…atias referendo. Et si es deuotior, imitare Lusciniam, cui quum ad dicendas laudes dies sola non sufficit; nocturna spacia peruigili cantilenâ decurrit, &c. Idem ibid. Aue… cùm eunt cubitum, quasi peracto laetae munere aethera cantu mulcere consuêrunt, vt decursi vel adoriendi noct…rni iuxta ac di…rni temporis laudes suo referant Creatori. Magnum incentiuum excitandae nobis deuotionis: Quis enim sensum hominis gerens, non erubescat sine Psalmorum celebritate diem claudere, cùm etiam minutissimae aues solenni deuotione, & dulci carmine ortus dierum ac noctium prosequantur? Idem Hexam. lib. 5. ca. 12. Ad omne opus quodcunque inchoaueris facere, primùm inuoca Deum, & gratias ei age, & cùm consummaueris illud, similiter fac, August. Tom. 4▪ p…r. 2. pag. 540.Euening sacrifice of Prayers and praises to his heauenly Highnesse.

p. 67In the discharge of which maine dutie of Christianitie vtterly neglected by the most, and empoysoned to many, by their resting only in the worke wrought, take heed of growing into forme, customarinesse, ccNon ergo de labijs tantummodò tua procedat oratio: Animo totus intende, intra in recessum pectoris tui, totus ingredere. Non te perfunctorium videat ille, cui te placere desideras. Videat quia ex corde oras, vt te ex corde orantem dignetur audire, Ambr. de Sacra. lib. 6. cap. 3.perfunctorinesse, which will most certainely draw the very life-blood and breathing out of those holy businesses; being euer the canker and cutthroate of all true godlinesse, and gracious acceptation with God. Labour therefore by a reuerent recollecting all the powers of thy soule, and fresh renewing and strengthening thy watch at eueryevery seuerall time, to preserue heart and spirit in those daily deuotions, and family-duties. Which thou shalt the better doe, if thou looke to, 1. A right disposition before: 2. A spirituall behauiour in the doing: 3. An holy carriage afterward.

1. For the first: 1. Come not before God with any sinne lying vponupon thy conscience vnrepented of, or delighted in, see Psal. 66. 18. 2. Neither with passion, wrath, or heartburning against ddCum omni tempore, quantū fleri potest, Christianus vir iracundiam debeat temperate; maximè verò quando ad orationem accedit; ne perturbet animum suum indignatio; ne irae quidam furor impediat orationem. Magis placido accede pectore. Quid enim irasceris? Seruus peccauit. Tu accedis ad orationem; vt tua tibi delicta donentur, & alij indignaris? Ambr. de Sacr. l. 6. c. 4. Duobus modis oratio impeditur, ne impetrare quis que possit, quod postulat: nempe si adhuc homo mala committit; aut si peccanti in se ex toto corde non dimittit, Bern. De modo benè viuen. Ser. 49.any. 3. Stirre vp and quicken the actiuenesse, and particular apprehensions of thy eeO homo, faciem tuam non audebas ad coelum attollere; oculos tuos in terrā dirigebas; & subitò accepisti gratiam Christi; omnia tibi peccata dimissa sunt.—Ideò praesume, non de operatione tuâ, sed de Christi gratiâ. Gratiâ enim saluati estis, Apostolus ait. Non ergo hic arrogantia est, sed fides, Ambr. de Sacr. lib 5. cap. 4. In expos. Orat. Domin.Faith, about the things desired and deprecated. In a word, in the Apostles words, for that is my meaning; **1. Tim. 2. 8.1 Tim 2:8Lift vp holy hands without p. 68wrath and doubting. Bring, 1. Resolution against all sinne, in respect of God: 2. Peace and appeased passions, in respect of men: 3. Assurance to be heard, in respect of thy selfe. Or thus: Before thou fall vponupon thy knees, shake off three empoysoning and heauy hindrances, which will clog and clip the wings of thy prayers, that they will neuer be able to ascend vp vntounto Heauen: sinne, anger, distrust: And possesse thy heart of three excellent helpes, and inflaming furtherances: 1. A right apprehension of Gods dreadfulnesse, puritie, power, &c. 2. A true sence of thy owne vilenesse, abominablenesse, nothingnesse, &c. 3. A heartie suruay of the infinitenesse, and vnexpressablenesse of Gods bountie, blessings, and many compassionate forbearances towards thee.

2. For the second, 1. Repell with an vndaunted spirit, and resolute contempt, Satans blasphemous ddSolet nequissimu… hostis tam fordidas nonnunquam & impias cogitationes inserere menti, vt qui tentatur, dum su…m illud putat esse quod cogitat, dete…orem se per spiritum immundum proposito suo arbitretur effectum: multóque purio…em ammam habuisse se credat, cùm adh…c res seculi amare…. Vult enim ijs, quibus …nuidet, callidissimus … horrorem proposi…i ex desperatione facere sanctitaris vt eos obsidente tristitiâ, etsi à proposito non re…ocat, certè re…ineat à profectu, August. epist. 142.iniections, if he be busie that way (and he is ordinarily most spitefull against the best businesses,) and the rather, because if they be heartily abominated and abandoned with heart-rising and loathing, they are put vponupon the Deuils score, and are onelyonly thy crosses, not thy eeIn illis cogitationibus, quae repugnanti, & inuito animo suggeruntur, quibus mens cum horrore quodam renititur ac res…it,—non est peccatum sine consensu mentis, Idem ibid. Onero…as cogitationes in animâ iusti … las accipe, quibus resistere vult, & tamen non potest, sed velit, nolit, irruit in oculos mentis muscarum Aegypti pestilentia, & perstrepunt ranae in penetralibus cordis eius. Cogitat homo plerunque terribilia de …ide, horribilia de diuinitate, & per phantas…ata corporearum imaginum trans…otatus, illa sentit, quae vel in confessione euomere peccator oneratus exhorret: & quantò districtiùs non exhibet membra sua, arma iniquitatis peccato, tantò strictiùs huiusmodi spiritu quatitur & pulsatur. Cùm enim ille insatiabilis homicida, ab exteriori sensualitate se videt exclusum, interiori collectis viribus agg…editur. Sed spiritualis homo qui omnia iudicat, illius astutias non ignorat. Rep…imit quod potest: quod autem non potest reprimere, tolerat: quia etsi latratum canis sustinet, morsum non timet. Latrat enim cùm suggerit: tunc verò mordet, cùm ad consensum pe…trahit: sed cùm non ingerit, quod suggessit, tunc non vulnerat, sed coronat; qui etsi …entientem cruciat, non obligat non consentientem, Bern. lib. de Consc. cap. de multip. variet. cogitat.sinnes. 2. Watch ouer the World with all care and timely opposition, that if it be possible, not an earthly ffQuando enim orans cogitat de vxore, de filijs, de mancipijs, de domo, de possessionibus, depecoribus, de militia, de lucro, de capsis, et alijs, quae sunt innumerabilia, quae super cor incautè orantis ascendunt: nonne tibi videtur haec synagoga malorum? Ch…ysost. …om. 13 in cap. 6. Mat. Plerun que negotiator veni…ns ad orationem; aut auarus de pecuniâ cogitat; alter de lucro; alter de honore; alter de cupiditate; et p…tat quòd eum Deus possit audire? Ambro. lib. 6. De sacram. cap. 5. Cogitatio omnis secularis et carnalis absced at, nec quicquam tunc animus, quàm id solùm cog…tet, quod precatur.—Quae autem segnitia est alienati et capi ineptis cogitationibus et prophanis, cùm Dominum deprecaris: quasi fit aliud, quod magis deb…as cogitate, quàm qd cum Deo loquaris. Quomodo te audiri à Deo postulas; cum te ipse no… audias? Vis esse Deum memorem tui, quando tu ipse memor …ui non sis? Cyprian. de … Dominic….thought may creepe into thy heart all the while. p. 693. Striue to hold thy heart in heate, as well in confession as deprecation; in deprecation as petition; in intercession as for personall blessings; as well for puritie of heart, as pardon of sinne, thorowout; though there may bee difference of heate, and crying vntounto God, according to the necessitie and neerenesse of the passage in the prayer, to our particular, or the more vniuersall good desire. Prayer is the creature of the holy Ghost, eueryevery part whereof, we should heartily wish, and earnestly wrastle, that He would proportionably animate as it were, and thorowly enlyue, euen as the soule doth the body.

For the third, with all intention and watchfulnesse, pursue and presse after the things prayed for, by a timely apprehension, fruitfull exercise, and vtmost improuement of all occasions, ordinances, helpes, and heauenly offers, which may any wayes concurre to the compassing of them. For instance: Thou prayest for knowledge: walke then, when thou hast done, with a constant indeauour, in the strength of this prayer, thorow all the meanes, reading, hearing, conferring, practising (for euen that also is a meanes to increase knowledge, Ioh. 7. 17. especially experimentall) catechizing, &c. for the storing of thy vnderstanding with all sacred illuminations and holy sences of Gods sauing Word. Let no opportunitie passe, be violent in catching all occasions, for the enriching thy braine with such heauenly stuffe, and hoarding vp in thine heart such hidden treasures. If thou cryest after knowledge, saith Salomon, and liftest vp thy voyce for vnderstanding, Chap. 2. 3. there is the prayer; If thou seekest her as siluer, and searchest for her, as for hidden treasures, vers. 4. there is the endeauour: Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, vers. 5. there is the blessing: see Psal. 27. 4. Againe, thou prayest to be preserued out of ill company: thou doest well: but when thou hast done, doest thou make conscience of that counsell of Salomon, Prou. 4. 14, 15. and by the power and impression thereof, confront and oppose the cunning inticements, & cursed importunities of thine old companions, and brethren in iniquitie? p. 70Enter not, saith Salomon, into the path of the wicked; and Prou. 4. 14, 15.Prov 4:14Prov 4:15goe not in the way of wicked men. Auoide it, passe not by it; turne from it, and passe away, &c. He that makes Prayer the end of Prayer, prayes only to pray, and rests in his prayer, thinking when that holy duty is done, that there is no more to bee done, prayes to no purpose. There must be good doings, as well as good duties. He that doth not earnestly, and in good sadnesse afterwards set himselfe against sinnes deprecated, and pursue with zeale and conscience the graces and good things petitioned, his prayer is not worth a button.

II. Decline idlenesse, the very rust and canker of the soule, the Deuils cushion, pillow, chiefe reposall; his very tide-time of temptation, as it were, wherein hee carries with much ease, and without all contradiction, the currnet of our corrupt affections, to any cursed sinne. And be diligent with conscience and faithfulnesse, in some lawfull, honest, particular Calling (a good testimony, if other sauing markes concurre of truth, and true heartednesse, in thy generall Calling of Christianitie) not so much to gather gold, and engrosse wealth, as for necessary and moderate prouision for family and posteritie: and in conscience and obedience to that common charge, laid vponupon all the sonnes and daughters of Adam to the Worlds end; In the sweate of thy face shalt thou Gen. 3. 19.Gen 3:19eate bread, till thou returne vntounto the ground. 1. But euer goe about the affaires of thy Calling with a heauenly mind, seasoned, and sanctified with habituall prayer, eiaculatory eleuations, willingnesse, if God so please, to bee dissolued, and to bee with Christ; pregnant with heauenly matter and meditation, pickt out of the passages of thy present businesse. For instance; Let the Husbandman in Seedtime, collect this sacred Soliloquie, and heauenly thought; If I now take not the season, I shall hauehave no haruest, but starue in winter. So proportionably; if I gather not Grace in this Sun-shine of the Gospell, and day of my visitation, I shall find nothing but horror vponupon my bed of death, and burne in Hell for euer hereafter, &c. 2. In all the ciuill businesses of thy personall Calling, let thy eye and aime be vponupon Gods glory, as p. 71the prime and principall end of all thy actions, 1. Cor. 10. 31. and in them seeke and serue that glorious end of Gods honour, not so much in procuring thine owne, as the good of Church, Common-wealth, Neighbours and Family, &c. 3. By earthly imployments, do not become an earth-worme. In vsing the world, grow not a worldling, and such an one as findes more sweetnesse and pleasure in worldly dealings, and the comming in of thy Profits, then in thy heauenly traffick and treasures through the practise and trade of Christianitie.

III. In thy solitarie seasons: 1. Single out some speciall profitable choyce matter to meditate on all the while; thereby both to preuent the ordinary intrusion of many vaine, foolish, noy some thoughts, impertinent wandrings, and wofull trifling out thy precious time; and also to keepe thy spirits, and the powers of thy soule aworke, lest as milstones wanting grist, grate and grind one another, they waste themselues in a fruitlesse barren melancholy. When canst thou bee alone, and not hauehave iust cause, either to busie thy mind about some lawfull affaires of thy Calling; or wrestle with some corruption, which troubles the peace of thy conscience, or breake out into the praises of God, or some other holy passages of heauenly meditation, whereof there is so great varietie and store? 2. Watch and withstand, with all godly iealosie and care, two dangerous euils: 1. Thoughts of pleasures ggNec ex … vitâ nostrâ, nec ex praesenti delectari debemus. Hoc enim monet Apostolus, Rom. 6. 21. Quem ergo fructum, &c? Reuocat à recordandis, cum delectatione praeteritis, & cum quadam concupiscentia fruendis, ne redeamus corde in Aegyptum, Aug. in Psal. 57.Rom 6:21Ps 57from thy youthfull sinnes, and vnregenerate time, which at such times are ready to make re-entry, and very eager, being aided by the Deuils cunning and hearts-corruption, to re-infect and pollute thy soule againe with sensuall filth, and renewed guiltinesse. And in this point, take heed lest the Deuill delude thee in the glory of an Angel, or by the flashes of his counterfeite light, cast into thy heart his secret wild-fire, and sparkes of lust. For in thy solitary musing, thou mayest resume into thy memory, the hhRecordati volo transactas foeditates meas, & carnales corruptiones animae meae, non quòd ea… amem, sed vt amem Te, Deu… meus, Idem confess. lib. 2. cap. 1.abominations of thy former life, especially of that sinne, which was thy miniondelight, and darling-pleasure, vponupon purpose to bewaile and detest them; and yet without a very vigilant eye, the Deuill p. 72in sinuating some secret ticklings of woonted sinfull sweetnesse; that which was intended for an exercise and increase of repentance, may cursedly end in the iteration and re-inioyment of old filthy pleasures. 2. Take heed also at such times of acting any new sinnes, vponupon sensuall suppositions, and imaginary plots: as of worldlinesse, lust, speculatiue wantonnesse, ambition, reuenge, dishonouring Gods prouidence by an vnnecessarie distrustfull forecasting of fearefull accidents vponupon thy selfe, family, goods, posteritie, the State, &c. Some sonnes of Belial there are, who make no bones, as they say, of acting all manner of vncleannesse (horrible impuritie in the inward parts!) by the meere worke of imagination. When they cannot compasse and attaine the reall accomplishment of their furious and filthy proiects in outward acts, and vponupon obiects abroad, their abominable desires rebounding as it were, with an impetuous and vnsatisfied rage vponupon their heated and enuenomed passions, act and execute any kinde of villany, vponupon the inuisible forge of a cursed iiAlius iuri se luxuriae subdit, atque ante mentis oculos schemata turpium perpetrationum fingit: & cùm effectus non tribuitur operis, hoc crebrius agitur intentione cogitationis. Alius i…ae se Domino strauit, & quid in corde, nisi …urgia etiam quae desunt peragit? Intra semeripsum contumelias profer…, & recipit; recept… autem duriùs respondet; & cùm qui obuiet nullus …ssit, magnis clamoribus …ixas in corde componit.—Alius se tyrannidi superbiae subijcit,—Honorum sublimium insulas appetit, exaltari successibus exquirit, totúmque quod esse desiderat, sibi apud semeripsum in cogitationibus depingit; iam quasi tribunali prasidet; iam sibi parere obsequia subiectorum videt; iam caeteris eminet, iam alijs mala irrogat, alijs, quae irrogauerint, recompensat. Iam apud semetipsum stipatus cune… ad publicum procedit; iam quibus obsequijs fulciatur, conspicit; qui tamen haec cogitans solus re petit; iam alia conculcat, alia subleuat, iam de conculcatis satisfacit odijs, iam de subleuatis recipit fauo… … ▪ Greg. Moral. lib. 4. cap. …8.contemplation. It is strange to consider, how many, who carry a counterfeit heauen in their outward behauiour, should harbour such execrable hells in their hearts! 3. Let not passe such a golden opportunitie for thy spirituall good, without some sweet comfortable conference with thy God in secret. Call and cry out towards Heauen for some speciall Graces, by which thou mayest bee most inabled to glorifie God most, and to keepe in thy brest a chearefull and heauenly spirit, as for precious and incomparable iewels to be purchased with the losse of ten thousand Worlds, but not to bee parted with for as many Worlds as thou hast haires vponupon thy head. Begge with greatest earnestnesse, and extraordinarie intention of spirit, mortifying grace, and spirituall strength, for the crushing and conquering of those speciall p. 73lusts, and vnruly passions that most hant thee, and hurt the peace of thy conscience. Let a sorrowfull suruay of all thy sinnes draw from thee some hearty groane, and feruent eiaculations for mercy and pardon: or a summary view of Gods blessings and fauours towards thee, fill thy heart with many ioyfull, lowly, and most thankfull thoughts, &c. Thus, or in the like manner, let some part of thy solitarie time be sure to be seasoned with holy musings, and talke with God.

IV. Concerning company, I aduise,

I. That thou neuer cast thy selfe into wicked company, or presse amongst the profane, especially vponupon choice, voluntarily and delightfully; and abide no longer with them at any time, vponupon any occasion, then thou hast sound warrant, and a calling thereunto. It is vncomely, and incompatible with good conscience; it is not for the honour or comfort of Gods children, to keepe company, or familiarly conuerse with gracelesse aaVide quàm iusti, quàm integri esse debeamus & sancti, quibus postquam malè conuersari non licet, sed nec malè conuersantes agnoscere, August. Tom. 9. pag. 1117. Sicut qui Diabolum sequitur, sanctorum collegium affectu & opere aspernatur: ita quia Deo perfectè adhaeserit, impiorum consortium nequaquam admitrit, Gregor in Psal. 6. Melius est habere malorum odium, quàm consortium, Bern. lib. De modo benè viuendi, Serm. 60.Ps 6men.

In which point to preuent, misconceits and mistakings, consider there is a double fellowship:

1. Common, bbI hauehave a ground of this distinction, from a most learned, holy and reuerend Diuine, who speakes thus: In this place, saith he, we be admonished to beware, lest at any time we ioyne our selues to those that are foolish and vngodly. Not that it is altog…ther vnlawfull to hauehave any dealing with them: but that we may not come too neere vntounto them: For to eate and drinke with them, to dwell in the same towne by them, and such other common duties, be not vnlawfull. But to ioyne in marriage with them, to make them priuy to our counsels, or to vse them as more neere and speciall friends, this is vnlawfull, and this is here forbidden, Greenham, Medit. vponupon vers. 7. of Prou. 14. Nay, the very Philosopher intimates it in his s…nce: There is (saith he) a twofold conuersing: 1. Generall and common, whereunto the times, affaires, the voyages and encounters doe dayly leade, without our choyce or voluntary consents. 2. Speciall, in affected and desired company, wherein there is conference, communication, priuity and familiarity.Prov 14cold, and more generall. In treading, bargayning, buying, selling, saluting, eating and drinking together; and in other passages of humanity, and entercourse of ciuill society; to which charity, nature, necessity, or the exigents of our generall, or particular calling doe warrantably lead vsus.

2. Speciall, deare, intimate: In consultations and counsels about matters of speciall secrecy, greatest weight, and highest consequence. In spirituall refreshments, religious conferences, prayer, marriage, all manner of neerest engagements. In a free vnreserued communication of their soules, p. 74mutuall exchange of the thoughts of their hearts, faithfull reuelations of the spirituall state of their consciences one vntounto another, and in such like blissefull pangs and passages of Christian louelove, and ardent sanctified affection.

The former of these the Christian must of necessitie entertaine, and exercise sometimes with the men of this world; except he will goe out of the world, 1. Cor. 5. 10. But the second fellowship is the Saints peculiar The Christian is bound out by the Booke of God, the Law of heauen, vponupon his alleageance to his Lord and Soueraigne, and by the common Charter of Gods children, from conuersing with delightfull intimatenesse, and from the exchange and exercise of those speciall passages of dearest acquaintance with profane men, children of darkenesse, and enemies of God. For these and the like reasons,

1. He thereby incurres a double hazard: The one, of infection with sinne: the other, of infliction of punishment.He entangleth himselfe with access…riues to their sins, danger of infection, …ablenesse to scandall, punishment and shame.

1. He that toucheth Pitch, saith the Wise man, shall be defiled therewith; and hee that hath fellowship with a proud man, shall be like vntounto him. Can a man take fire in his bosome, and his clothes not be burnt? Can a man goe vponupon hot coales, and his feete not be burnt? Prou. 6. 27, 28. Neither can any familiarly and intimately conuerse with a profane man, but he shall be corrupted.

There is a strange attractiue, and imperious power in ill company, to empoyson and peruert euen the best dispositions:

1. By holding familiar correspondence with lewd companions, there first steales vponupon a man a secret and insensible dislike of his former sober courses: Hee begins within himselfe to censure, and renounce his former wayes of innocency, and harmelesse conuersation; as too restrayning and distastfull to the ordinary liberty of youth, and common frailty of flesh and blood; and as too much dissweetned, and straitned with vnnecessary strictnesse and abridgement.

2. Secondly, there slyly insinuates into his heart a p. 75pleasing approbation, and delightfull assent to the sensuall courses, and sinfull pleasures of his lewd companions.

3. Thirdly, there followes a resolued, and habituall change of affections and conuersation, a transformation into the manners and conditions of those with whom he doth so familiarly conuerse.

4. Fourthly, he growes ill-affected, and disconceited towards good men and godly exercises, because in their prophane, boysterous, and furious conuenticles of good-fellowship, hee heares them dayly rayled vponupon, iested at, belyed, and slandered; and not a man amongst them to take their parts, and to stand on Gods side. And therefore by little and little, hee himselfe is also transformed into a scoffing Ishmael, a breathing-Deuill, and so becomes at last, as much the child of hell, as any of that gracelesse company and damned crew. Thus, and by such steps and degrees as these, many, many times especially in the Uniuersities, and Innes of Court, of good nature, honest disposition, and perhaps religious education, are by little and little caught and fearefully corrupted, and at length brought to horrible and vtter confusion both of reputation and outward state, both of soule and body, by the infectious villanies of lewd and naughty companions.

But ordinarily Gods children are not in such danger from notorious sinners, and from men of such desperate and reprobate conuersation. For who in his right wits will runne vponupon a man which he cleerely sees hath the plague sore running vponupon him? What Christian in his right minde spiritually, hauing any feare of God in his heart, life in his soule, or tendernesse in his conscience, will delightfully thrust himselfe into the company of swearers, drunkards, scorners, filthy talkers, prophane iesters, or any fellowes of such infamous ranke? especially sith the soule is a thousand times more capable of the contagion of sin, then the body of any infectious disease?

The hurt which the Christian doth take in this regard, is most from meerely ciuill men, as such as onelyonly professe in1. Tim. 3. 5.1 Tim 3:5 p. 76forme; who being more tolerable and plausible comp anons, and yet disacquainted with the great Mystery of Godlinesse, vnseasoned with the power of inward sanctification, and vnpractised in the wayes of sincerity, doe secretly and insensibly infuse, if not a notorious infection with some scandalous sinne; yet many times a fearefull defection from zeale, forwardnesse, and feruencie in the wayes and seruices of God. Throw a blazing fire-brand into the snow, or raine, and its brightnesse and heate will bee quickly put out and quenched: let a Christian but for a while abandon his holy conference, and comfortable communion with Gods children, and plunge himselfe into the company of those who are but cold and carelesse, lazie and luke-warme Professors; and he shall in very short time find his zeale to be very much cooled, his forwardnesse abated, the tendernesse of his conscience too much qualified with worldly wisedome; much dulnesse of heart, deadnesse of spirit, drowzinesse, and heartlesnesse in his affections to holy things, and an vniuersall decay of his graces insensibly to grow vponupon him.

In this respect many Christians doe themselues much wrong, and afflict their soules with many vnnecessary spirituall miseries. For they doe sometimes vnaduisedly, by reason of kindred, for old acquaintance, aduantage, and carnall contentment, because of the worldly wisedome, immunity from grosse sinnes, and other good parts of the parties, hold a too neere, intimate, and delightfull correspondence with such as are but onelyonly ciuill men, or Pharises at the best, with whom spending most of their time, and they wanting both heart and skill to vphold any holy conferences, or to affoord any reciprocall or mutuall helpe, in the feeling passages of sanctification, are occasions to put Gods Children out of vse and vre with the language of Canaan, from the embracement of many ioyfull considerations, and exercise of those comfortable Meditations, and holy conuersation aboue, which Christian company would occasionally and seasonably put into them, and keepe fresh and working in their p. 77mindes; and by consequent, bereaue them thereby of much zeale, comfort, feelings of Gods fauour, ioyfull springings of heart, boldnesse in their wayes, cheerefulnesse in the exercises of Religion, and that comfortable fruition of other prerogatiues of Christianity; which many other of their brethren doe, and they, by the benefit of religious companions, and delightfull conuersing with the Saints, might plentifully enioy.

Apprehend this passage aright: I say, a Christian may be much worsened and weakened in his graces, by companying too much, and conuersing delightfully with the meere ciuill man, or Whited Tombes: For he may spend with such men whole weekes, nay, moneths and yeeres, and hauehave not one word of sanctified discourse, and holy talke ministred vntounto him. Scarce a word to bee had from them of the Word of God, and way to heauen; no conference of the secrets of Sanctification, of perplexities of conscience, of their euerlasting abode together in the Mansions of heauen. Motions that way would bee very irkesome and tedious vntounto them: such talke would quickly beget silence, melancholy, sadnesse, and a desire to breake off company. Now the Christian by this meanes, neither hauing his tongue exercised, nor his eares much acquainted with edifying Christian discourse, growes neglectiue of storing his memory with holy things, vnzealous, and cold in the apprehensions of heauen, dull and heartlesse to godly duties.

If thus; what infection then from notorious and lewd companions? But aboue all, in this point the fellowship of the Papist is most pernicious; for by him a man is in danger both of hauing his vnderstanding and iudgement corrupted with heresie; and his life and conuersation infected with impiety. There are two steps and passages, as it were, out of the state of prophanenesse, into the Paradise of Christianitie. 1. Illumination of the vnderstanding with sauing knowledge. 2. Sanctification of the heart with speciall grace. Now the Papist labours to peruert and impoyson p. 78both. For commonly you shall finde the Papist to be stigmatized, and branded with a double marke: Hee receiues one immediately from the Beast, a brand of Idolatry: And Satan commonly fastens vponupon him another speciall marke, some notorious and scandalous sinne in his conuersation; as swearing, lying, vncleannesse, the vanities of good-fellowship, Sabbath-breaking, or such like. For we must know, that Antichristianisme cannot produce sanctification; and therefore you shall commonly finde eueryevery Papist to lye in some raigning sinne; howsoeuer formall deuotion is the highest perfection attainable in that Antichristian state. By Popish company then a man is in danger of corruption, both in his vnderstanding, and conuersation: By the lewd, which yet make profession of Gods Trueth, of infection with notoriousnesse in conditions: By meere ciuill honest men, and formall Professors, of defection from zeale, and forwardnesse at the least.

2. As the Christian incurres by the company of prophane men, euident hazard, either of infection with their sinnes, if they bee notorious; or defection from zeale, and forwardnesse, if they be something more tolerable and formall: so he is eueryevery houre which hee is in their company, without a warrantable calling, and iust dispensation out of the Word, and from a good conscience, in great danger of being inuolued within the flames of the iust confusions, and inwrapt within the compasse of those outward curses and plagues which Gods indignation inkindles and inflicts vponupon wicked men. All prophane men, being vnreconciled to God, are eueryevery moment liable to all those miseries and fearefull iudgements, which either man or deuill, any of Gods creatures, or his owne immediate hand can bring vponupon them: They are onelyonly respited and reserued by Gods mercy, and deferred onelyonly vntounto those opportunities and seasons, which seeme best and fittest to his holy Wisedome. Now, if when they light vponupon them (as they may iustly at any time) any of Gods Children bee found amongst them vnwarrantably and delightfully, it is righteous with God, that he receiue his portion p. 79amongst them at that time, and bee fearefully infolded within the fury of the greatest temporall visitation. It is righteous with God, that if his owne Child will needs bee vnwarrantablySee 2. Chr. 20. 37.2 Chr 20:37 familiar with his enemy, that he also bee partaker of any temporall plague, especially with his enemy, euen to the losse sometimes of his naturall life. Take then I beseech you the holy counsell of the blessed Apostle, Eph. 5. 7. Bee not therefore companions with them: And let his reason fright you out of their company: Let no man deceiue you (saith he) with vaine **Carnall men will be ready to reply and oppose this precisenesse with varieti… of vaine words, that foreign should be so strictly censured and condemned, that we may n…t now and then be merry with good fellowes, as they call them: And therefore saith the Apostle, Let no man deceiue you, &c.words: for, for such things commeth the wrath of God vponupon the children of disobedience. [For such things] to wit, fornication, vncleannesse, couetousnesse, filthinesse, foolish talking, iesting, and such like. Take heed therefore of conuersing with the practisers of these vncomely things.

2. Secondly, there must very shortly bee an euerlasting separation betweene the Christian and prophane men: at the farthest, they must part vponupon their death-beds, and neuer see one another againe vntounto the day of Iudgement: and then they must shake hands for world without end. For there is set betwixt them, by Gods immutable and irreuocable Decree, a vast and immeasurable gulfe, which stands as fast and vnremooueable, as God Almightie in his Throne of Maiestie; so that they can neuer possibly meete. Betweene vsus Luke 16. 26.Luke 16:26and you, saith Abraham to the rich man in hell, there is a great gulfe fixed, so that they which would passe from hence to you, cannot; neither can they passe to vsus, that would come from thence. If it be so then, that after an inch of time, there must bee betwixt them an endlesse diuorce, and an vnpassable distance through all eternity; it is best for the Christian to begin this separation and disacquaintance in time, and not to repose his speciall louelove, the sweetest and noblest of all his affections, vponupon an obiect where it must not eternally rest, nor intimately conuerse with him, whose company he shall not hauehave heereafter in heauen euerlastingly. Let him euer onelyonly affoord the dearest pangs of his kindest affection vntounto Gods Children, and conuey the swetest meltings of his p. 80heart, and the most passionate embracements of his soule into their bosomes alone: for he shall be sure to meete them in heauen, and there the lesser streames of their former Christian louelove shall grow into a mighty torrent, and falling into the great and vniuersall confluence of the vnited zeales and Seraphicall feruours of all the Saints and Angels, runne with a sweete and euerlasting current, into the bottomlesse and boundlesse Sea of all louelove and louely excellencies, God himselfe, blessed for euer.

3. Thirdly, a good man conuersing with those which be gracelesse, doth very foully distaine and obscure, if not quite lose his Christian reputation and credit with good men; for a man is still reputed to bee of their humour and conditions, with whom he doth ordinarily and intimately conuerse. All flesh, saith the Wise man, consorteth according to kinde, and a man will cleane to his like. What fellowship hath the Wolfe with the Lambe? so the sinner with the godly. Now it is a most disgracefull and discomfortable thing, to bee iustly cast out of the conceits and good opinions of iudicious and vnderstanding Christians. I would hauehave a Christian neuer much trouble himselfe, or labour with too much curiositie and intrusion, too anxiously, vexingly, and sollicitously to giuegive the world satisfaction, for the vniust censures, and disconceites of witlesse and worthlesse prophanenesse; (only he may thence take occasion to examine his heart more narrowly, to walke more warily, to liue more holily, and pray more heartily.) Let prophane men rage, and swell, and burst, in despight of gall, I would hauehave him sweetely and calmely to enioy those blessed comforts, which Gods compassionate hand hath put into his heart. But me-thinks, he should much take to heart, and be very sorry for the iust dislike and disconceit of true Christians, or for any scandall taken vponupon good ground, from vnaduisednesse and aberration in his carriage and conuersation. As the Christian then desires to be dearely esteemed of the godly, and tenders the preseruation of his good name with good men; which is rather to be chosen than great riches, Prou. 22. 1. than precious Ointment, Eccles. 7. 1. and maketh p. 81the bones fat, Prou. 15. 30. which indeed is the most inestimable Iewell he possesseth in this life, next vntounto his owne Crowne of Christianitie: I say, as he would maintaine and vphold a good opinion and conceit of him, in the hearts and consciences of Christians, let him flye the company of prophane men: for there is no reason hee should bee reputed Gods friend, who conuerses familiarly with his profest enemies.

4. No prophane man can heartily, and directly louelove, and affect a Christian for his zeale and spirituall graces; nay, naturally and ordinarily he disconceits and hates all holy impressions, wrought vponupon him by Gods sanctifying Spirit: 1. Partly by reason of that euerlasting vnreconcileable, and implacable enmitie and antipathy betweene the seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent; betweene light and darkenesse; Christ and Belial; Grace and prophanenesse: 2. Partly also, because eueryevery vnregenerate man, though furnished with the best perfections and excellencies attaine…ble in that state, thinkes, that his lukewarmenesse, and formalitie is censured and condemned by the zeale and forwardnesse of the true Christian; and that if those gracious endowments and holy strictnesse be reall, and necessarily required, they plainely proclaime the damnablenesse of his estate, which he securely reposes vponupon, as sufficient for saluation. Dauid, a man after Gods owne heart, and of a sweet and louing disposition, yet was most heauily prest and pursued with much causelesse spite, and this hatred euen for his goodnesse: They that hate me without a cause, saith he, are more then the haires of my head: They that would destroy mee, and are mine enemies falsely, are mighty; so that I restored that which I tooke not, Psal. 69. 4. And in another place saith hee; They that hate me wrong fully, are many: they also that reward euill for good, are mine aduersaries, because I follow aaOmnis mal… ideò presequitur bonum, quia non illi consentit bonus ad malum, August. in Psal. 128.Ps 128goodnesse. But yet vnderstand this further in the point. The expression and exercise of this hatred of the forwardnesse and zeale in the Christian, which naturally and ordinarily lurkes in the heart of eueryevery prophane man, may bee sometimes restrained p. 82for aduantage, and in policy; by accident, and for by▪respects. The sting and furie of it may be weakened, and lessened by the ingenuousnesse of the vnregenerate man, or by other good naturall and morall parts in the Christian. Nay, I doe not see, but that sometimes it may bee, as it were, quite dasht, and confounded by the extraordinary innocency, and heroicall height of spirituall excellencies in a good man: As Moralists say of vertue, that though it be ordinarily attended by enuy, as the body with a shadow, yet it may grow so incomparable and glorious, that enuy is glad to hide its head, and flie away like a weake mist from the Sunne shining in his strength. Assoone as vertue, say they, is growne out of ignorance▪ she entreth by and by into enuy, till mounting aloft, as the Sunne being verticall abateth all shadowes; so she in the top, and height of perfection, all enuie. Why may it not be so in zeale and pietie, that though it be ordinarily persecuted with extreme hatred; yet sometimes it may attaine that extraordinarinesse, incomparablenesse and excellency, that hatred may euen hate it selfe, for opposing such vnreprooueable sanctitie? But to my purpose: If it bee so, that a prophane man cannot possibly louelove a Christian heartily for his Christianitie and Grace, but rather maliciously and mortally hate him; what heart can a Christian hauehave to conuerse intimately and delightfully with a prophane man? Who would euer vouchsafe his company, and afford the best of his time, and dearest of his affections, to a fellow, which disdaines and despises the most precious Iewell hee beares about him, I meane, his religious zeale; and labours powerfully, though insensibly, to dimme the brightnesse, and distaine the glory of it; either by the contagion of his notoriousnesse, or at least, by his formalitie, coldnesse, and vnzealousnesse?

5. Fiftly, no Christian ought to enter league, or entertaine fellowship with the enemies of God. It is absurd, that a member of Christ should exercise familiaritie, and intimate passages of louelove with a limbe of Satan. What earthly Prince could endure with patience, to hauehave one of his neerest p. 83seruants, and of chiefest trust, to bee conuersant continually amongst profest Rebels, and open Traitors to his Crowne and dignitie; or to conuerse intimately with his deadliest enemie? Would any great Man in the State, retaine any as a speciall fauourite, who should bee inward with his greatest counter-factionist? What ingenuous child would delightfully digest that company, wherein hee should heare his father in a foule and shamefull manner disgraced and rayled vponupon? How then should Almighty God hold him his friend, who is familiar with strangers to the life of God, and enemies to his Grace? How can that man looke for the prerogatiues, and protections of a child of God, who haunts such company with delight, where he heares daily his Almightie Father foulely, and shamefully dishonoured, perhaps, with oathes and blasphemies, with obscenities and raylings; at least, with many idle and prophane speeches?

6. Sixthly, conuersing with prophane men, doth crosse and ouerthrow a common Christian dutie, which is this; In all companies, either doe good, or take good, or both. For in this case, the Christian both takes hurt, and doth hurt: he hurts, 1. himselfe, because he throwes himselfe vponupon temptation, and hazard of being infected with notoriousnesse, if his companions be very lewd, and prophane; or at least, with formalitie and coldnesse; if they be but only ciuilly honest, or formall professors. 2. He hurts also others: 1. Hee hardens his companions in their vnregenerate courses, because they thinke, he would not so familiarly conuerse with them, except hee were well conceited of their spirituall state; and so they rest with securitie and confidence in their vnregeneration. 2. Hee is a stumbling blocke to the weake Christian, who by looking vponupon his example, may bee led awry from the straight path of his profession, and by taking thereupon libertie of imitation, may hauehave his young beginnings of Grace choaked and smothered by the delightfull vanities of good fellowship, in the presse of prophane company. 3. He grieues also strong and vnderstanding Christians, to see him so far forget himselfe, and disgrace his profession, as p. 84to conuerse with the enemies of God, and by his practise to perswade the world, that the base fooleries of good fellowship, are more sweet and tastefull, then the glorious pleasures of the communion of Saints.

7. There is another reason, which though it be not very obuious to mens apprehensions, or much taken notice of; yet in my vnderstanding, it should be very powerfull, and of very great weight, to driue Christians out of the company of vnregenerate men, & to restrain them from a familiar and delightfull correspondence, and conuersing with them (except they hauehave a warrantable Calling, and the testimonie of their consciences to conuerse with them for their conuersion and spirituall good.) It is this: when an vnregenerate man obserues, that a Christian presseth into his company, desires to spend time with him, and is well enough content to exchange mutually many offices of intimate kindnesse; hee presently conceiues and concludes, that sure hee sees in him matter worthy of Christian company, and endowments sufficient to ranke him amongst the Saints; else hee could not take such contentment in his conditions and conuersation. Whereupon hee is fearefully hardned in his present courses, and settles with resolution, confidence, and security vponupon the plausible deceitfulnesse of his vnregenerate state; and thinks himselfe well, that hee may both enioy the pleasures of the present, and also a good testimony and hope of his rightnesse in the way to Heauen; because it is well knowne and acknowledged, that his companion both knowes, and walkes in the right path. And sith he hath one to take part, he takes it not much to heart, that other Christians are more vnfamiliar, and strange vntounto him; for hee imputes it onelyonly to their sowrenesse and vnsociablenesse. Assuredly, there are many Christians very faulty this way, and hauehave very much to answer for in this kind. They familiarly conuerse with vnregenerate men; and because they would not displease and bee distastefull, they say nothing vntounto them of the cursednesse of their condition towards God, and of the fearfulnesse of their case, in respect of saluation. Hereupon they grow into a p. 85conceit, that they are well conceited of their spirituall state, and so walke farre more resolutely and confidently towards Hell, by reason of the societie and silence of their Christian companions. I thinke verily, that prophane men doe not onelyonly sometimes desire the company of Christians, to win reputation from the better sort, and to guild ouer the rottennesse of their conuersation with some little tincture, and lesser splendour reflected from the glory of their Christianitie; but also to purchase some counterfeit comfort to their consciences, and false hope vntounto their hearts, that their case is the better towards God, because Gods children vouchsafe to keepe company, and conuerse more familiarly with them.

8. But aboue all, for this purpose peruse often, and ponder well, 1. The effectuall prohibitions in Gods Booke: 2. the protestations and practise of the Saints, 3. and punishments inflicted for familiaritie with the vngodly. For the last, see 2. Chron. 19. 2. and aaHinc difcim… pericul sam esse cum impijs coniunctionem; ideoque sugienda soedera, …ffinitates▪ societates cum … lis, Lauat. in hunc locum.20. 37. For the second, see Psal. 26. 4, 5. Ier. 15. 17. 2. King. 3. 14. For the first, see 1. Cor. 5. 11. Ephes. 5. 11. Prou. 14. 7. 2. Thes. 3. 6. where he solemnnely commands them in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that they withdraw themselues from eueryevery brother that walkes inordinately, &c. Hee aimes specially in that place at idle persons; by consequent then, and good proportion, at more notorious fellowes. If wee must withdraw our selues from those, who hauehave leasure to bee for all companies, at all times, vponupon all occasions, and are therefore accounted the onelyonly companions: how fast must wee runne from lyers, swearers, whoremongers, drunkards, scorners, reuellers, and fellowes of such infamous ranke? Prou. 4. 14. where iteration of the same sence in variety of phrase, argues the necessity of the dutie and earnestnesse of the Diuine Penman to perswade; Enter not, saith he, into the path of the wicked; and goe not in the way of euill men. Auoide it, passe by it, turne from it, and passe away. Deepe apprehensiuenesse of the excellencie and worth of the matter, or extraordinarie seruencie to impresse and perswade the point, doth many times in Scripture p. 86clothe the same thing with diuers formes of speech, and varietie of phrase.

2. Now in a second place: If thou desirest to conuerse with some of thine vnconuerted kindred, friends, neighbours, old acquaintance, &c. for their spirituall good, obserue these three rules: 1. Let there bee good probabilitie, proportionably, of more power of grace, knowledge, sanctification, spirituall wisedome, Christian resolution, &c. in thee to conuert them, then poison of vnregenerate stubbornnesse, sensuall malice, sinfull wit, worldly wisedome, Satanicall sophistrie in them, to peruert thee. 2. See that thy heart be sincere, and that in the singlenesse thereof, thou seeke truely their conuersion, and not thine owne secret contentment: for in this point, thine owne heart will bee ready to deceiue thee. Thou mayest offer thy selfe into such company, with pretence and purpose to sollicit them for saluation, and preuaile with them about the best things; and yet before thou be aware, bee plunged and insnared in the woonted vnwarrantable delights of good fellowship, pleasant passages of wit, idle and impertinent follies and familiarities, which thou wast accustomed to exchange and enioy with them in thy vnregenerate time. So that in stead of the discharge of a Christian duty, thou mayest both hurt thy selfe, and harden them. 3. As Physicians of the body arme and animate themselues with strong repercussiues, preseruatiues, and counterpoysons, when they visit contagious and pestilentiall patients: so in such cases, be thou sure to furnish and fortifie thy selfe before-hand with prayer, meditation, the sword of the Spirit, store of perswasiue matter, strength of reasons, and vnshaken resolution, to repell and beate backe all noysome insinuations of spirituall infection.

3. Into Christian company, which thou shouldest prize thine only Paradise and Heauen vponupon Earth; the very flowre and festiuall of all thy refreshing time in this vale of teares, euer bring 1. A cheerefull and lightsome heart. Me-thinks, though thou shouldest come amongst the Saints with a sad heart, and something ouer-cast with mists and clouds of p. 87heauinesse and discomfort; yet the presence and faces of those, whom hereafter thou shalt meet in Heauen, and there, with incomparable ioy behold for euer, clothed and shining with eminencie and eternitie of glory, should disperse and dispell them all, and infuse comfortable beames of heauenly lightsomnesse and spirituall mirth. I know them, who being cast sometimes full sore against their wils, amongst profane company, are quite out of their element all the while, strucke dead in the place, as they say, as solitary as in the silentest Desart. But let them come amongst Christians, and they are quite other men, as full of lightsomnes and life, as full of heart and Heauen, as if they had the one foot in the Porch of Paradise already-Sadnesse is not seasonable, where such precepts as these hauehave place; Be glad in the Lord. and reioyce, yee righteous, and shout for ioy, all yee that are vpright in heart. 2. A fruitfull heart, full as the Moone with gracious matter to vphold edifying conference, and sanctified talke. Being forward and free without any hurtfull bashfulnesse, or vaine-glorious aime, both to communicate to others the hidden treasures of heauenly knowledge, which thou hast happily digged out of the precious quarry, as it were, of the great mystery of Grace, & also by moouing of questions, and ministring occasion mutually to draw from them with an holy greedinesse the waters of life, for a reciprocall refreshing and quickning of the deadnesse and vnheauenlinesse of thine owne heart. And here it will bee a profitable wisedome, to take notice of, and obserue each others singularitie of gifts, and seuerall endowments, and thereafter with wise insinuations, to prouoke and presse them, to powre out themselues in those things, wherein they hauehave best experience and most excellency. Some are more dexterous and skilfull in discussing controuersed points: others in resoluing cases of conscience; some, in discouering the Deuils depths, and treading the Maze of his manifold temptations: others, in comforting afflicted spirits, and speaking to the heart of mourners in Zion, &c. I am perswaded many times, many worthy discourses lie buried in the brests p. 88of vnderstanding men, by reason of the finfull silence, I think I may say so, and barrennesse of those about them. And therefore Christians ought to be more forth-putting, actiue, and fruitfull this way. 3. An humble heart, ready and reioycing to exchange and enioy common comforts, soule-secrets, heauenly consultations, with the poorest and most neglected Christian. If thou bee haunted with the white Deuill of spirituall pride, it is likely thou wilt bee either too prodigall and profuse, and so ingrosse all the talke, which is sometimes incident to new conuerts or counterfeits; or else too reserued and curious, and so say no more then may serue to breed an applause and admiration of thy worth; which is a very filthy and fearefull fault. There is no depth of knowledge, no height of zeale, no measure of Grace; but may be further inlarged, more inflamed, blessedly encreased by conference with the poorest faithfull Christian: See Rom. 1. 12. and 15. 24. how Paul, that great learned and diuinely inspired Doctor of the Gentiles, stood affected in this point.

V. But aboue all, bee most busie with thy heart: for it is the roote that either empoysons or ensweetens all the rest; that is the fountaine, which causes all the streames of thy desires, purposes, affections, speeches, and the whole current of thy conuersation, to runne either muddy or cleere. Ply therefore amongst others, these three points of speciall and precious consequence for the present purpose, with all seriousnesse and zeale.

1. Captiuation and conformitie of the thoughts and imaginations of thy heart, to the soueraignty and rules of grace. If thy change in words, actions, and all outward carriage were Angelicall; yet if thy thoughts were the same, and vnsanctified still, thou wert still a limbe of Satan. Purity in the inward parts, is the most sound and vndeceiuing euidence of our portion and interest in the power and purity of Christs sauing Passion and sanctifying Blood-shed: See Ier. 4. 14. Isa. 55. 7. Now, that thou mayest the better conquer and keepe the thoughts of thy heart in subiection and obedience p. 89vntounto Christ, be perswaded and acknowledge 1. The pestilencie of that wicked Prouerbe, Thoughts are free. It is true, the immediate inuisible productions and proiects of the heart, lie not within the walke of humane Iustice, neither are liable to the censure of earthly Courts and Consistories. But there is an All-seeing and Omniscient Eye in Heauen, to which, the blackest Mid-night is as the brightest Noonetide, Psal. 139. 12. which sees our secretest thoughts afarre off, ver. 2. and sets them in the light of his countenance, Psal. 90. 8. Hence it is that many humble soules, sensible of their secret prouoking the glory of Gods pure Eye, are more grieued (setting aside the ill of example and scandall, ordinary attendants vponupon open and visible miscarriages) for the rebelliousnesse of their thoughts, then the exorbitancie of their actions. For the sting of these is something eased and lessened, as they thinke, by the absence of Hypocrisie, and because the world sees the worst. But concerning the other, it cuts them to the very heart, that they are not as well able to preserue their inward parts in puritie toward the All-searching Eye of that God, who stretched foorth the heauens, and laid the foundations of the earth; as their words and actions in plausiblenesse towards man, who shall die, and the sonne of man, which shall be made as grasse. Whereas then the naturall man is woont to let his heart runne riot and at randome into a world of idle imaginations, without remorse or restraint; doe thou make thy sanctification sure vntounto thy selfe, by this infallible signe, That thou sufferst the consideration of Gods All-seeing Eye, the curbe of the last Commandement, and checke of a tender conscience, to range thy thoughts into order, to confine and keepe them within a holy compasse from their vaine and impertinent vagaries. 2. That thou must be accountable and answerable for eueryevery wandring thought, as well as for idle words and wicked actions. Now consider what numberlesse swarmes of imaginations passe the Forge of thy phantasie eueryevery day; and therefore, if thou be not extraordinarily and exactly vigilant & eye-full ouer thy heart, thou mayest iustly feare, that vponupon the opening and illightning p. 90of the booke of thy conscience, at those two dreadfull dayes, of Death, and the last Iudgement, innumerable armies of exorbitant thoughts, which hauehave lyen in ambush as it were, in the secret corners of thy deceitfull heart, will charge vponupon thee with a farre heauier account then perhaps thou art aware of, or hast seriously thought vponupon heretofore. 3. That Gods glory must aswell shine in thy thoughts, in the inuisible workings, intentions, desires, and eleuatious of the heart; as in thine outward conuersation. As God exacts and expects honour and seruice from his Children, in words and workes; so there is also a Thought-seruice, a Thoughtworship, that I may so call it, which is very pleasing and precious in his eyes, as springing more immediately from the heart, wherein he principally delights; and because the secrecie of it is attended with more sincerity. Remember therfore to render with all reuerence and zeale vntounto the Father of Spirits, and Lord of thy soule, the dayly tribute of thy Thought-seruice, as well as the Tongue-seruice and Handseruice. And the rather and more plentifully: 1. Because opportunities, abilities and meanes may faile for outward performancee, but the heart is euer at leasure and libertie to thinke nobly. No times, no tyrants, no wants or restraint, can hinder it from an inuisible fruition of Gods owne Selfe, with thoughts of sweetest rapture and reuerence, of louelove, and lowliest adoration; from bathing it selfe in the meritorious Blood of the Immaculate Lambe, with thoughts of inexplicable peace, ioy, and triumph; from cleauing to the promises of life, and diuing into the Mysterie of Grace with extraordinary dearenesse, purest delight, & victorious faith; from being as a mountaine of Myrrh and Incense, sending vp a spirituall Sacrifice of praise-full thoughts, infinitely admiring and magnifying the glory and goodnesse of that mercifull Hand, which writ thy name with the golden Characters of his endlesse louelove, in the Booke of Life from all beginnings: suffered the dearest and warmest Blood in His Sonnes Heart to be spilt as water vponupon the ground, for the washing of thy body and soule from sinne; and after a span p. 91of time, will set a Crowne of Eternitie vponupon thy head, composed of all comfort, rest, and peace, ioyes, pleasures, and felicities, &c. And also because, besides Gods more speciall acceptation, and more certaine sinceritie of this inward inuisible seruice, it is ordinarily full of more spiritualnesse, intention, and life, by reason that it is neerest and most immediate to the obiect of Adoration. The best man, though he may labour to doe his best eueryevery way, yet he shall find a difference and degrees in his ability to discharge, and the executions of his Duties, Deuotions, and seruices towards God. His workes doe not euer answere with that exactnesse to his words: His words cannot expresse so to the life, the thoughts of his heart: The thoughts of his heart come infinitely short of the excellency of God. Those streames which are next to the well-head, are strongest and purest: The thoughts of a sanctified heart, laying hold vponupon, with immediate apprehension and neerest imbracements, that most amiable, holy, and glorious Obiect, God Himselfe, blessed for euer, and his sweetest Attributes, giuegive Him His due and reuerent Attributions, with more heartinesse, life, and heauenlinesse, then his words or Actions are woont; though all a mans best and vtmost, in thought, word, and deed, falls too fearefully short of that which we owe and ought to doe.