The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 11 – Chapter 1
CHAP. XI.
Shewing the sinnes against mans estate.
THe sins against the estates of men follow, and these are either internall, or externall.
Internall, and so he offends,
That is discontented with his estate, Heb. 13. 5.
That is worldly, and distresseth himselfe with bootlesse cares about his estate, Prou. 15. 27. Mat. 6. 25, 34. Luke 21. 34.
That delights not in his calling, Prou. 12. 17.
That is couetous, and in louelove with the things of this world, Eph. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 10. 1 Ioh. 2. 15
The externall signes follow, and so men offend both by omission and commission.
By omission he offends,
That employes not the good things he hath, Iames 5. 2, 3.
That relieues not the poore, and so with-holdeth the good from the owner thereof, Prou. 3. 28.
The aggrauations are,
To forsake the poore, Iob 20. 19.
To hide his eyes from the poore, Prou. 28. 27.
That brings not foorth his corne to sell, Prou. 11. 26.
That detaines wages, Deut. 24. 14, 15. Leuit. 19. 13. Iames 5. 4.
That payes not what hee hath borrowed, Psalme 37. 21.
That is idle, and neglects his calling, Eccl. 4. 5. And of this sin he is guilty also,
That with-draweth not his foot from his neighbours house, Prou. 25. 17. 1. Tim. 5. 13.
That is giuen to much sleepe, Prou. 6. 9, 10.
That is slacke in businesse, Prou. 10. 4. and 15. 19.
That neglects the opportunities of his calling, Prou. 10. 5.
The aggrauations are,
To be pertinacious in the defence of it, Prou. 26. 16.
To be a busie-bodie in other folkes matters, 2. Thess. 3. 11.
That is slothfull in the busines of others, Prou. 26.
That prouides not for his Family, 1. Tim. 5. 8.
Thus of sinnes of omission.
By commission he offends,
That steales, robbes, or pi…fers, which is the sinne mentioned in the eighth Commandement.
That steales by consequent; as he doth,
That is an Vsurer, Exod. 22. 25. Leu. 25. 36. Deut. 23. 19.
That is guiltie of oppression, Iob 31. 38, 39. Amos 4. 1. Prou. 4. 17. Esay 5. 8. and …0. 12. especially hee that loues oppression, Hosea 12. 7. Micha 2. 9.
That vseth fraud in buying and selling, in mete-yard, waight and measure, Deut. 25. 13, 14, 15. and he is guilty of this sinne also,
That selleth reffuse, Micha 6.
That maketh aduantage of the pouertie of others, Leuit. 25. 39. &c. Prou. 22. 22.
That takes the Mill-stone to pledge, &c. Deut. 24. 6, 12.
That being a buyer, saith, It is naught, contrarie to his owne iudgement: and so likewise on the other side, that being a seller, doth commend it for good, when he knowes it is not so, Prouerb. 20. 14.
That vseth any other fraud, though it bee not in buying or selling, 1 Thes. 4. 6.
And this sinne of stealing, is to be extended further also, as,
1. To lesser stealths, as robbing of vineyards, or orchards, or cor… in the field, Deut. 23. 24, 25.
2. To rash suretiship, Prou. 6. 1, 2. and 22. 26.
3. To extremities vsed in recouering our owne rights, Iob 24. 3, 4, 9, 10.
4. To not restoring of euillgotten goods, Ezech. 33. 15.
5. To remoouing of Landmarkes, Deut. 19. 14.
6. To liuing in vnlawfull callings, such as begging is, 2 Thes. 3. 11.
7. To vnthriftinesse, in following vaine persons, or spending prodigally on pleasures, or diet, Prou. 12. 11. and 21. 17. and 22. 26. and 23. 26.
8. To the concealing of theft, Prou. 29. 24.
9. To the Lordly vsage of the borrower, Prou. 22. 7.
The aggrauations of the sinne of stealing, are,
To take from the poore, Deut. 24. 14. Iob 20. 19.
To reproue it in others, and yet commit it himselfe, Rom. 2. 21.
To doe it vnderunder pretence of Religion, 2 Cor. 11. 20.
To oppresse strangers, or widdowes, or the fatherlesse, Exodus 22. 21, 22.
To blesse the couetous, Ps. 10. 3
To commit it in the place of Iudgement, by peruerting of Iustice, or by extortion, Ezek. 22. 12. or by briberie, Amos 5. 12. Exodus 23. 8. or by refusing to doe Iustice, Prou. 21. 7.
To steale thy masters goods, Titus 2. 10.
To steale consecrated things, by sacriledge or simonie, Mal. 3. 8. Acts 8. 18, 20.
To steale a man or maid, Exo. 22. 16.
CHAP. XII.
THus of the sinnes against mans goods.
The sinnes against mens good name follow: and so men offend by omission, or by commission.
By omission he offends,
That sets not forth righteousnesse, Prou. 12. 17.
That doth not cleare or deliuer the afflicted, when hee may, Gen. 40. 23.
That disgraceth others, by forbearing their company without iust cause, Iob 19. 3, 19. Psalme 58. 3.
That is vnthankfull, 2 Tim. 3. 2.
By commission men offend, internally, or externally.
Internally he offends,
That despiseth his neighbour in his thoughts, Prou. 14. 21.
That disdaines at the credit and prayse of others, as the Pharisees did.
That thirsts after all occasions of the contempt of others, Iob 34. 7.
That is suspicious, and thinketh euill, 1 Cor. 13. 5.
Externally he offends,
1. In witnesse-bearing; and so 1. In witnesse bearing.he offends,
That condemnes a man without witnesse, Deut. 19. 15.
That beares false witnesse.
That is fearefull to beare witnesse to the truth, Deut. 21. 7, 8.
That furthers the euill causes of wicked men, Exodus 23. 1.
2. In lying, Reuelation 22. 15. 2. Lying.and the blame of this sinne reacheth
To such as vse dissimulation, Gal. 2. 13.
To such as speake vntruth for feare, Gen. 38. 2.
The aggrauations of lying, The aggrauations.are,
To louelove lyes, Reuelat. 22. 15. Psalme 52. 3.
To hate those thou haste wronged with thy lyes, Prouerbs 26. vlt.
To breake promise, 2 Tim. 3. 3
To preach falshoods, 1 Cor. 15. 15.
To say to men in distresse, There is no helpe, Psalme 3. 2. Iob 13. 14.
To colour sinne with pretence of Religion, Marke 12. 40.
3 In slandering and euill reports, 3. SlanderingExodus 23. 1. which is to be extended also to
Biting iests, Ephes. 5. 4.
2 To reuealing of secret infirmities, Prou. 11. 13. and 20. 19.
3 To the carrying about of tales, Leu. 19. 16. Prou. 16. 28.
To the receiuing and furthering of slanders, Ier. 20. 10.
5. To the wresting of mens words, or telling the truth of malice, 1 Sam. 22. 9, 10. Psalme 52. 1, 2.
The aggrauations of slander, The aggrauations.are,
1. To encourage themselues in an euill matter, and to commune together about it, Psalme 64. 5.
2 To boast of his wickednesse therein, Psalme 52. 1.
3 To slander the righteous, and quiet of the Land, Psalme 31. 18 and 59. 2. and 102. 8. and 35. 20 and 83. 3. 5. and 4. 2.
4. To raise an euil report of his Parents, Gen. 9. 22.
5 To fill the eares of Princes with clamour, Hosea 7. 3.
6 To be a make-bate, or a rayler, 1 Cor. 6. 9. 2 Tim. 3. 3.
4 In censuring and iudging, Iames 2. 4.
The aggrauations are,4 Censuring
To search and pry for faults in others, that hee might censure them, Psalme 64. 9. Prou. 16. 27.
To doe it for things indifferent Rom. 14.
To censure smal faults in others, and to be guilty of great offences himselfe, Mathew 7.
5 In vain-glorie, and minding 5. Vaingloryduplicate page duplicate page too much our owne praises.
And so also he offends,
That boasteth of a false gift, Prou. 27. 1.
That iustifieth himselfe ouermuch, Iob 35. 2.
That boasts of to morrow, Prou. 17. 1.
That measures himselfe by himselfe, 2 Cor. 10. 12.
6. In flatterie, Psalme 12. 3. Prou. 27. 14. and 26. 26.6. Flaterie.
7. In iustifying the wicked, Prou. 17. 15. and 24. …4.
CHAP. XIII.
HItherto of the sinnes with consent of the will.
The sinnes before consent of the will, are,
1. To want desire of the good and well-fare either of himselfe, or other men.
2 To conceiue euill thoughts, Matth. 15. 19. or couer euill.
3. To delight in the inward contemplation of euill, whether in dreames or awake, though it bee without purpose to act them outwardly, Iude 8. Iames 1. 14.
Hitherto of the sinnes against the Law.
CHAP. XIIII.
Shewing how many wayes men offend against the Gospel.
THe sinnes against the Gospel may bee referred to foure heads: as they are sinnes,
Against Christ.
Against Repentance.
Against Faith.
Against the graces of the Spirit.
1. He sinnes against Christ,
That saith, he is Christ, Math. …. Sins against Christ.24. 5.
That denyeth directly, or by consequent, that Christ is come in the flesh, 1 Iohn 4. 3. and 2. 23.
That hath base thoughts of Christ, Esay 53. 3.
That saith, hee hath no sinne, 1 Iohn 1. 7, 8, 10.
That worships God without Christ, Iohn 17. 3. 1 Iohn 2. 23.
That vseth not Christ as his own and onelyonly Aduocate, 1 Ioh. 2. 2. 1. Tim. 2. 5.
That loues not the Lord Iesus Christ with inflamed affections, 1 Cor. 16. 22. Eph. 6. 24. Philip. 3. 8.
2 Hee sinnes against repentance,2. Sinnes against repentance.
That confesseth not his sinnes without hiding, distinctly, Prou. 28. 13. Psalme 32. 5.
That mourns not for his sins, Ier. 5. 3.
That forsakes not his sinnes, Prou. 28. 13.
Yea hee sinnes against repentance,
That repents fainedly, Ieremi. 3. 10.
That repents desperately, as Cain and Iudas.
That repents too late, Iob 27. 8, 9.
That repents by halues, and in some things onelyonly, as Ahab and Herod.
That falls away from his repentance, 2 Peter 2. 19, 20.
The aggrauations are,The aggrauations.
To be wise to do euill, Ier. 4. 22
To pursue euill, Prou. 11. 19.
To reioyce in doing euill, and make a mocke of sinne, Prouerbs 2. 14. and 14. 9.
To be without shame, and to declare his sin like the Sodomites, Esay 5. 9. Ier. 3. 3.
To be incorrigible, Ier. 5. 3.
To fret, because hee is crossed in sinne, Prou. 19. 3.
To blesse himselfe against the curses of the Law, Deut. 29. 19.
To freeze in security, Zephan. 1. 12.
To refuse to returne.
3. He sinnes against Faith,3. Sinnes against Faith.
That beleeues not in Iesus Christ for his iustification and saluation, Iohn 3. 17.
Yea he offends,
That is carelesse, and neglects the assurance of Faith, Heb. 6. 12. Rom. 1. 16.
That in affliction doubts of Gods fauour and goodnesse, Esay 41. and 49. 14, 15.
The aggrauations.The aggra…ations.
Not to seeke after God at all, Zeph. 1. 6.
Not to stir vp our selues to take hold on God, when mercy is offered, Esay 64. 7.
Not to answer when God calls, Esay 50. 2.
To forsake our owne mercy, or scoffe at the signes of it, Iohn 2. …8.
4. He sinnes against the graces 4. Against the graces of the Spiri….of the Spirit,
1. That receiues the grace o… God in vaine, 2 Cor. 6. 1.
2. That turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse, Iude 4.
3. That falls away from the grace of God, either wholly, by forsaking the acknowledgement of the truth, 2 Peter 2. 20. Or in the same measure, by losing his first louelove, Reuel. 2. 4.
4. That tempts, grieues, or quencheth the Spirit, Eph. 4. 30. 1 Thess. 5. 19.
5. That despites the Spirit of grace, and of malice persecutes the knowne truth, which is the sinne against the Holy Ghost, Hebrewes 10. 26.
FINIS.
THE SPIRITVALL TOVCH-STONE OR, THE SIGNES OF A GODLY MAN.
Drawne in so plaine and profitable manner, as all sorts of Christians may try themselues thereby.
Together with directions, how the weake Christian, by the vse of these Signes, may establish his assurance.
By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX.
2. Cor. 13. 5.
Examine your selues whether ye be in the Faith: proue your selues: Know ye not your owne selues, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except yee bee Reprobates?
LONDON, Printed by Iohn Legatt, and are to bee sold by P. Stephens, and C. Meredith, at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard.
1630.
TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIES, the Ladie Ruth Scydamore, increase of peace and ioy in beleeuing.
HOw great the benefit of assurance of Gods fauour, and of our owne saluation is, those onelyonly know that are either scourged with the conflicts and terrors of their owne doubtings, or that are solaced and established with the sweet dewes of refreshing that arise from a rooted …nd well grounded Faith. If men studie assurances so much for their outward possessions in this world, how much more earnest and diligent should men be to assure Gods louelove and the inheritance of the glory to come? There is not a clearer signe of a prophane heart, then to account these cares needlesse: nor doe I know a iuster exception against any religion, then that it should teach, that when a man hath done what he can to obserue the directions of that Religion, yet he cannot be sure he shall goe to Heauen.
But since I know that all that are possessed of the grace of Iesus Christ, doe account assurance great riches, I therefore conceiue hope that my paines about this subiect will not be altogether vnacceptable: and the rather because in this present Treatise I hauehave endeauoured to expresse the signes of triall in a much more easie way then before; and besides hauehave added directions, that shew how a weake Christian may establish himselfe in his assurance.
I make bold to dedicate my new assay herein vntounto your Ladiship, You hauehave heard the substance hereof preached, and receiued it with much gladnesse; and in the priuate vse of these signes, you hauehave beene pleased to professe (to the glory of God) that you hauehave found much contentment and establishment of your owne assurance. Your eminencie in the sincere profession and practise of true Religion, and the shining of the graces here treated of, long acknowledged by many witnesses, hauehave made you worthy to bee publikely obserued and praysed in the Churches of Christ: and your great respect and fauour shewed to mee, hath made this way of testifying my thankefulnes, but as a small pledge and assurance of my desire to doe your Ladiship any seruice in the things of Iesus Christ. Thus beseeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart, and to prosper you in all things that concerne the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ our mighty God and Sauiour, …end and rest,
Your Ladiships to be commanded, N. BIFIELD.
CHAP. I.
Describing the godly man by such signes as discouer him to the obseruation of other men.
THe signes of the true Christian, that hath true grace in this world, and shall be saued in Heauen when he dies, may be cast into two Catalogues. Two Catalogues of signes.The one, more briefe: the other, more large. The one Catalogue of signes, describe him by such markes, as for the most part doe outwardly distinguish him amongst men. The large Catalogue … intend especially as a more infallible and effectuall way of triall, as containing such signes as for the most part are not obserued by other men, or not fully, but are knowne to himselfe, and can bee found in no reprobate.
For the first Catalogue: the true The shorter Catalogue handled in this Chapter.Christian vsually discouers himselfe by these markes.
First, he will not hauehave fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse; he will not walke in the 1 He au…ides the company of the wickedcounsell of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners: He will not sort himselfe with workers of iniquity, Psalme 1. 1. and 26. 4, 5. 2, Cor. 6.
Secondly, Hee will afflict and … Hee is s…rrowfull for his sin.humble his soule for his sinnes, mourning and weeping for them till the Lord be pleased to shew merciemercy and forgiue him. He doth account his sins to be his greatest burthen. He cannot make a mock of sinne, &c.
Thirdly, He labours to be holy … Hee is …hroughly, reformed …n his con …ersation.in all parts of his conuersation, watching ouer his owne waies at all times, and in all companies, Ps. 50. 23. Esay 56. 1. 2. Peter 3. 4
Fourthly, he makes conscience 4 He maketh conscience of lesser …ns as well as greater.of the least commandements as well as the greatest, auoyding silthy speaking, and vaine iesting, and laciuiousnesse, as well as whoredome: lesser oathes as well as the greater; reprochfull speeches as well as violent actions, &c.
Fiftly, hee loues and esteemes, 5 Hee loues preachingand labours for the powerfull preaching of the word, aboue all earthly treasures.
Sixtly, he honours and highly 6 He esteemes the go… aboue all men.accounts of the godly, & delights in the company of such as truely feare God aboue all others, Psal. 15. 4.
Seuenthly, hee is carefull of the 7 He is carefull of the sancti fication of the Sabbath.sanctification of the Sabbath; neither daring to violate that holy rest by labour, nor to neglect the holy duties belonging to Gods seruice publike or priuate. Esay 56. and 58.
Eighthly, hee loues not the 8 He is not in louelove with the world.world, neither the things thereof, but is more heartily affected in things that concerne a better life, and so doth in some degree louelove the appearing of Christ.
Ninthly, He is easie to be intreated, hee can forgiue his enemies, 9. He loues his enemiesdesires peace, and will doe good, euen to them that persecute him, if it lye in his power, Mat. 5. 44.
Tenthly, Hee goeth on in the 10. He is constant in good courses, though opposed.profession of the sinceritie of the Gospel, and doth such duties as he knoweth God requires of him in businesse of his soule, notwithstanding the oppositions of prophane persons, or the dislike of carnall friends, &c.
Eleuenthly, He setteth vp a 11. He serues God in his family.daily course of seruing God, and that with his family too, if hee hauehave any; and exerciseth himselfe in the word of God, as the chiefe ioy of his heart, and the daily refuge of his life, calling vponupon God continually, &c.