The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 9 – Table of contents 3
CHAP. IX.
Hitherto of the directions that concerne the attainment of the sacred gifts of the minde. Now it followeth to shew what thou must doe, that in all thy wayes thou mightest walke vprightly, and attaine vntounto sound sincerity of heart and life.
HEE that would walke vprightly, How sound sincerity of conuersation may be formed in thee.or take a sound course to continue in his vprightnesse, must earnestly looke to these rules:
1. If thou hauehave beene guiltie of any grosse sinne, know it is vnpossible thy heart should bee vpright, till thou hauehave with speciall repentance humbled thy selfe before God for that sinne; and that also by conscionable practise thou keep thy selfe from the great transgression, Psalme 19. 13.
2. Thou must in a speciall manner watch and striue against hypocrisie, and that intwo things chiefly: First, that in thy setting out into religion, thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace. Secondly, that in Gods seruice thou by all meanes auoide distractions, and so resist and checke thy pronenesse of heart thereunto, iudging thy selfe seuercly, when thou so offendest, till thou bee able in some happie degree to serue God with thy spirit as well as with thy body. The habit of dissembling with God is extremely dangerous.
3. In thy conuersation take heed of that feare full carelesnesse of the most …, shewed in the knowne and wilfull practice of sinne, vponupon pretence that it is but a small offence, or secret. Take heed of the sinnes of deceit, how gain of all so euer they might be to thee: thou maiest together with vprightnesse lose the kingdome of heauen, for daring so wilfully to breake one of those little commandements, Math. 5. 19. Take heed in generall of a stiffe and wilfull heart: they are seldome vpright, that are heady and peremptory, and hard to bee perswaded, Iam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29. Heb. 2. 4.
4. As much as may bee accustome thy heart to the obseruing of Gods presence; walke, as before him, Gen. 17. 2.
5. Yeeld thy selfe ouer to bee wholly guided by Gods Word; Without knowledge the minde cannot be good, Prou. 19. 2. and hee that walketh according to this rule, shall hauehave peace in his heart and conscience, Gal. 6. 16. Let Gods Law be the light for thy seete, and the lanthorne for thy paths. Psal. 119. Labour therefore to get a particular warrant for the lawfulnesse of thy practice in the occasions of thy calling, either generall or particular: where thou doubtest enquire, so shalt thou walke in a sure way, and delight thy selfe in much peace.
6. Take heede of idlenesse, and prouide to walke faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life.
7. Bee sure thou hold a constant course of confession of thy sinnes to God, and do it without hiding, or extenuating; iudging thy selfe for eueryevery knowne sinne, and especially praying against, and resisting the sinne thou art most prone vntounto.
8. Bee not well pleased with they selfe, till thou canst approue thy care to be good at home, as well as abroad; looke to this rule, and take heede of frowardnesse, and peruerse behauiour in thy family. Thou wilt hardly get any comfortable euidence, that thou art sound at heart, if the vsuall family sinnes reigne in thee.
9. Thou mightst wonderfully aduance, and establish vprightnesse of heart in thee, if thou wouldest carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his Word, that whensoeuer thou didst …le …hy conscience wounded, or smitten for any particular offence by the word of God, that then without delay thou wouldst in secret … to God and humble thy self… by confession, and from that time forward remember to striue against that sinne: And so like wise when God with some speciall glory of …is tru… doth affect thee in the hearing of some needfull duty to be done, not to dare to delay, but … to the obedience of that good Word of God.
FINIS.
THE PROMISES: OR, A TREATISE SHEWING how a godly Christian may support his heart with comfort.
Against all the distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in his life.
Containing all the most comfortable places through the whole Bible, orderly digested.
By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX.
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 and right worthy, Sir William Throgmorton, Knight and Baronet, and Sir Francis Darcie Knight: N. Bifield wisheth the increase of all Grace and happinesse that, accompanieth the louelove of the Lord Iesus in sincerity.
IF the many crosses and temptations, with which the life of all men, euen the most godly is distressed, b… seriously weighed, and withall the great disconsolation that too often surpriseth the hearts of most Christians, bee compassionately thought on: and if withall the singular glory of a godly mind framed vntounto vnmoueable rest, and stedfast contentment, be throughly conceiued of; it cannot but bee manifest, that if a way may bee shewed how a Christian may fill his heart with comfort in any condition hee can fall into, in respect of affliction, that such a course is profitable, and all ought to take notice of it, and with all care & paines employ themselues about it. This by Gods assistance vponupon apparent grounds of Scripture I hauehave endeuoured to shew in this Treatise, and doubt not but by experience humble and godly Christians will finde much refreshing and establishment of heart, if they apply themselues distinctly and diligently to draw of the water of life, out of those wels of saluation, opened for them eueryevery where in this role of Gods promises.
This Treatise I present to your Worships, & vnderunder the countenance of your names, desire to cōmend it vntounto the Church of God: & this I am induced to do for diuers reasons▪ your forwardnesse in the profession of sincere religion for many yeeres, the publike seruice you hauehave done in the Countrey in the administration of Iustice, for the incouragement of the good and reformation of abuses▪ your great care from time to time to plant painful & profitable teachers in the places of your abode, together with the excellent gifts with which God hath furnished your minds, deserue to be freely & publikely acknowledged in the Church of God; & in mine owne particular I hauehave beene so many wayes obliged, that with much gladnesse I embrace this occasion, to let the world know my desire to be thankfull for the many helps & furtherances my ministery hath receiued from the countenance and endeuours of both your Worships, as occasion …h at any time bin offered. Desiring your acceptance hereof, and praying God to preserue you in his fear without offence, till the day of Christ, and to enlarge in you the desire and power of weldoing in all things, I end and rest, Isleworth, Octo. 161….
Your Worships in the seruice of Iesu… Christ to be co…anded, N. Bifield.
The chief Contents of this Booke.
CHAP. I.
THE drist of the whole booke is, to shew abundant comfort against any distresse. p. 282.
Two things taken for granted. viz. both the godly man shall bee distressed and also that comfort may be had in any distresse. p. 284.
The worth of those promises. p. 283. 284.
To whom the promises belong. p. 284.
The vse they will serue for being learned. p. 255. 286.
The infallibility of those promises proued by 13. arguments. p. 288. to 293.
The promises sealed foure waies. p. 291.
Six rules to be obserued if we will profit by the promises. p. 293. 294.
CHAP. II.
Three sorts of promises. p. 295.
Sorts of afflictions in which wee need comfort. p. 296. 297. 298.
CHAP. III.
12. Priuiledges of the godly. p. 300. to 308.
CHAP. IIII.
What is meant by outward afflictions. p. 309.
10. Arguments of consolation to support vsus against outward afflictions. p. 3…0. to 319.
CHAP. V.
Men need comfort against reproaches. p. 319.
12. Arguments of consolation against reproaches. p. 320. to 328.
CHAP. VI.
Many principall obiections of the godly about reproaches answered. p. 328. to 335.
CHAP. VII.
Directions in the case of reproaches. p. 335. to 336.
CHAP. VIII.
How the godly may c…fort themselues in case of aduersaries. p. 336. to 343.
CHAP. IX.
3. Things taken for granted, about temptations. p. 343. 344.
Satan tempts vsus fiue wayes. p. 344. 345.
3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion. p. 346. 347.
9. Occasions of temptation. p. 347. to 35….
CHAP. X.
How many wayes a godly man may comfort himselfe against temptations. p. 342. to 356.
Sixe things in Christ comfort vsus against temptations. p. 353. 354.
How farre forth wee may pray against temptations. p. 366.
How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptations. p. 356. 357.
CHAP. XI.
Two sorts of promises about infirmities. p. 35….
What is meant by …. p. 359.
9. Arguments of consolation against our daily infirmities. p. 360. to 370.
The goodnesse of Gods nature shewed in four… things. p. 361, 362.
Many things comfortable in Christ. p. 363. 364.
9. Priuiledges about infirmities, ass…ed vsus in the Word. p. 365. to 368.
CHAP. XII.
Diuers obiections about our infirmities answered. p. 370. to 375.
About ignorance diuers comfortable meditations: p. 373. 374.
The explication of two excellent places of Scripture, with the sundry answers of many obiections met withall in all these places, from p. 377. to 385.
CHAP. XIII.
Many consolations to support vsus against the feare of falling away, taken fro… the considerations,
1. Of God. p. 387. to 361.
2. Of Chri…. p. 391. 392.
4. Of our owne estate in Grace. p. 392.
CHAP. XIIII.
Three sorts of …ost comfortable pr…ises about prayer. p. 393 to the end of the Booke.