The Grand Question Resolved, Treatise – Prayer 1
THE Grand Queſtion RESOLVED, What we muſt do to be SAVED. INSTRUCTIONS FOR A Holy Life:
BY The Late Reverend Divine, Mr. RICHARD BAXTER.
Recommended to the Bookſeller a few days before his Death, to be immediately Printed for the good of Souls.
Acts 16. 30.
Sirs, What muſt I do to be Saved.
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheap-ſide, 1692.
The Great Caſe Reſolved, How to be certainly SAVED. Inſtructions for a Holy Life.
I. The Neceſſity, Reaſon and Means of Holineſs.
II. The Parts and Practice of a Holy Life.
For Perſonal Direction, and for Family Inſtruction. With two ſhort Catechiſms, and Prayers.
Reader,
IGnorant Perſons cannot remember long and many words, nor underſtand a brief ſtile and few words. This maketh it impoſſible to write a Catechiſm, that ſhall not be unſuitable either to the Underſtanding or the Memory of ſuch. I muſt therefore deſire the Teacher to make up this unavoidable Defect, by opening the … (eſpecially of the Catechiſms) to the Children and Servants, when they have learned and ſay the words: Read the Inſtructions often to them, and preſs all as you go on their Affections. For the bare words without a preſent Guide, may …e be all loſt.
I. The Neceſſity, Reaſon, and Means of Holineſs.
1. To keep up the Reſolutions of the Converted. And,
2. To inſtruct thoſe in Families that need them.
THough theaMar. 8. 36. Mat. 6. 33. Job. 21. 14. and 22. 17. Pſal. 1. 2, 3. Pſal. 14. and 12. ſaving of Souls be a matter of unexpreſſible Importance, yet (the Lord have mercy upon them;) What abundance are there that think it not worthy of their ſerious Enquiry, nor the reading of a good Book, one hour in a Week? For the ſake of theſe careleſs ſlothful Sinners, I have here ſpoken much in a little room, that they may not refuſe to read and conſider ſo ſhort a Leſſon, unleſs they think their Souls worth nothing. Sinner, as thou wilt ſhortly anſwer it before God, deny not to God, to thy ſelf, and me, the ſober pondering, and faithful practiſing theſe few Directions.
I. Begin at home and know thy ſelf: Conſider what it is to be a bPſal. 8. 4, 5, 6. Gen. 1. 26, 27, Gen. 9. 6. Col. 3. 10.MAN. Thou art made a nobler Creature than the Brutes. They ſerve thee, and are governed by thee; and Death ends all their Pains and Pleaſures. But thou haſt Reaſon to rule thy ſelf and them; to know thy God, and …oreſee thy End, and know thy way, and do thy Duty. Thy Reaſon and Free-will, and Executive Power, are part of the Image of God upon thy Nature; ſo is thy Dominion over the Brutes, as (under him) thou art their Owner, their Ruler, and their End. But thy Holy Wiſdom, and Goodneſs, and Ability, is the chief part of his Image, on which thy Happineſs depends. Thou haſt a Soul that cannot be ſatisfied in Knowing, till thycJoh. 17. 3. 1 Joh. 4. 6, 7. Jer. 9. 24. Knowledge reach to God himſelf: Nor can it be diſpoſed by any other: Nor can it (or the Societies of the World) be well governed according to its Nature, without regard to his Soveraign Authority, and without the hopes anddLuk. 12. 4, 5. fears of Joy and Miſery hereafter: Nor can it beePſal. 16. 5, to 11. happy in any thing, but ſeeing, and loving, and delighting in this God, as he is revealed in the other World. And is this Nature given thee in vain? If the Nature of all things be fitted to itsfIſa. 45. 18. Vſe and End, then it muſt be ſo with thine.
II. By knowing thy ſelf then, thou muſt needs know▪ that there is agPſal. 14. 1. Gen. 1. 1. Rev. 1. 8. Rom. 1. 19. 20. Pſal. 46. 10. Pſal. 9. 10. Pſal. 100. and 23. Pſal. 19. 1, 2, 3. Pſal. 47. 7. Ezek. 18. 4. Gen. 18. 25. Mal. 1. 6. GOD; and that he is thy Maker, and infinite in all Perfections; and that he is thy Owner, thy Ruler, and thy Felicity or End. He is mad that ſeeth not, that ſuch Creatures have a Cauſe or Maker; and that all the Power, and Wiſdom, and Goodneſs of the World, is cauſed by a Power, and Wiſdom, and Goodneſs, which is greater than that of all the World. And who can be our Owner, but He that made us? And who can be our higheſt Governour, but our Owner? whoſe infinite Power, Wiſdom, and Goodneſs, maketh him only fit thereto. And if he be our Governour, he muſt needs have Laws, with Rewards for the Good, and Puniſhments for the Bad; and muſt Judge and Execute accordingly. And if he be our Chiefeſt Benefactor, and all that we have is from him, and all our Hope and Happineſs is in him, nothing can be more clear than that the very Nature of Man doth prove, that in Hope of future Happineſs, he ſhould abſolutely reſign himſelf to the Will and Diſpoſal of this God, and that he ſhouldhMatth. 22. 37. Jer. 5. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 8, 9. Titus 2. 14. 2 Cor. 8. 5. & 6. 16, 17, 18, 1 P…t. 2. 9. Pſal. 10. Pſal. 37. 4. Pſal. 40. 8. Col. 3. 1. 2. Mar. 6. 20. 21. 2 Cor. 4. 17, 18. abſolutely obey him, and that he ſhould love and ſerve him with all his Power. It being impoſſible to Love, Obey, and Pleaſe that God too much, who is thus our Cauſe, our End, our All.
III. By knowing thus thy ſelf and God, it is eaſie to know what Primitive Holineſs and Godlineſs is. Even this hearty, entire and abſolute reſignation of the Soul to God, as the infinite Power, Wiſdom, and Goodneſs; as our Creator, our Owner, Governour, and Felicity or End; fully ſubmiting to his Diſpoſals; obeying his Laws, in hope of his promiſed Rewards, and fear of his threatned Puniſhments: and loving and delighting in himſelf, and all his Appearances in the World; and deſiring and ſeeking the endleſs ſight and enjoyment of him in heavenly Glory, and expreſſing theſe Affections in daily Prayer, Thankſgiving and Praiſe. This is the Vſe of all thy Faculties; the End and Buſineſs of thy Life; the Health and Happineſs of thy Soul: This is that Holineſs or Godlineſs which God doth ſo much call for.
IV. And by this it is eaſie to know, what akPſal. 14. & 1. Heb. 12. 14. Rom. 8. 12, 13. Joh. 3. 34. 5. 6. 1 Joh. 2. 15, 16. Rom. 13. 14, 15. Rom. 6. 16. Luk. 18. 23 & 14. 26, 33. ſtate of Sin and Ungodlineſs is. Even the want of all this Holineſs, and the ſetting of carnal Self inſtead of GOD. When Men are proudly Great, and Wiſe, and Good in their own Eyes; and would diſpoſe of themſelves, and all their Concernments, and would rule themſelves, and pleaſe themſelves, according to the fleſhly appetite and Fancy; and therefore love moſt the Pleaſures, and Profits, and Honours of the World, as the Proviſion to ſatisfie the deſires of the Fleſh; and God ſhall be no …urther Loved, Obeyed or Pleaſed, than the Love of Fleſhly Pleaſure will give leave; nor ſhall have any thing but what the Fleſh can ſpare. This is a Wicked, a Carnal, an ungodly State; though it break forth in various ways of Sinning.
V. By this, Experience it ſelf may tell you, that moſt MenlRom. 3. Pſal. 14. Epheſ. 2. 2, 3. Rom. 5. 12. 17. 19. Joh. 3. 6. (yea all, till Grace renew them) are in this ungodly miſerable State: (Though only the Scripture tells us how this came to paſs) Though all are not Fornicators, nor Drunkards, no… Extortioners, nor Perſecu…ors, nor live not in the ſame way of Sinning; yet Selfiſhneſs, and Pride, and Senſuality, and the love of Worldly Things, Ignorance and Ungodlineſs are plainly become the common Corruption of the Nature of Man; ſo that their Hearts are turned to the World from God, and filled with impiety, filthineſs, and injuſtice; and their Reaſon is but a Servant to their Senſes; and their mRom. 8. 5, 6, 7.Mind, and Love and Life, is Carnal; and this carnal Mind is Enmity to the Holineſs of God, and cannot be ſubject to his Law. This Corruption is hereditary, and is become, as it were, a Nature to us, being the mortal Malady of all our Natures. And it is eaſie to know that ſuch an unholy wicked Nature muſt needs be loathſome to God, andnPſal. 4. 3. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 17. unfit for the happy enjoyment of his Love, either here, or in the Life to come: For what Communion hath Light with Darkneſs?
VI. Hence then it is eaſie to ſee, what Grace is needful to a Man's Salvation. So odious a Creature, ſuch an unthankful Rebel, that is turned away from God, and ſet againſt him, and defiled with all this filth of Sin, muſt needs be bothoPſal. 32. 1, 2. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Tit. 2. 14. Tit. 3. 5, 6, 7. Heb. 14. 14. Mat. 5. 8. Renewed and Reconciled, Sanctified and Pardoned, if ever he will be ſaved. To love God, and be beloved by him, and to be delighted herein, in the ſight of his Glory, is the Heaven and Happineſs of Souls; and all this is contrary to an unholy State. Till Men have new and holy Hearts, they can neither ſee God, nor love him, nor delight in him, nor take him for their chief Content; for the Fleſh and World have their delight and Love. And till Sin bepRom. 5. 1, 2, 3. pardoned, and God reconciled to the Soul, what Joy or Peace can it expect from him, whoſe Nature and Juſtice engageth him to loath and puniſh it?
VII. And Experience will tell you, howqPſal. 97. 7, 8, 15. 1 Cor. 2. 11, 21. Heb. 14. 12. 2 Pet. 1. 3. inſufficient you are, for either of theſe two Works your ſelves; to renew your Souls, or to reconcile them unto God. Will a Nature that is Carnal reſiſt and overcome the Fleſh, and abhor the Sin which it moſt dearly loveth? Will a Worldly Mind overcome the World? When Cuſtom hath rooted your natural Corruptions, are they eaſily rooted up? O how great and hard a Work is it, to cauſe a blind unbelieving Sinner to ſet his Heart on another World, and lay up all his Hopes in Heaven, and to caſt off all the things he ſeeth, for that God and Glory which he never ſaw! And for a hardned, worldly, fleſhly heart to become Wiſe, and Tender, and Holy, and Heavenly, and abhor the Sin which it moſt fondly loveth! And what can we do to ſatisfie Juſtice, and reconcile ſuch a rebel Soul to God?
VIII. Nature and Experience having thus acquainted you with your Sin and Miſery, and what you want, will further tell you that GodrAct. 14. 27. & 17. 24, 27, 28. Rom. 1. 19. 20. Rom. 2. 4. Job 33. 14. to 25. Mat. 12. 42, 43. doth not yet deal with you according to your deſerts. He giveth you Life, and Time, and Mercies, when your Sins had forfeited all theſe: He obligeth you to repent and turn unto him. And therefore Experience telling you, that there is ſome Hope, and that God hath found out ſome way of ſhewing Mercy to the Children of Wrath, Reaſon will command you to enquire of all that are fit to teach you, what way of Remedy God hath made known. And, as you may ſoon diſcover, that the Religion of Heathens and Mahometans, is ſo far from ſhewing the true Remedy, that they are part of the Diſeaſe it ſelf: So you may learn, that a(ſ)Iſa. 9. 6, 7. & 53. Joh. 3. 16. 19. & 1. 1, 3, 4. & 3. 2. …ohn 1. 18. wonderful Perſon, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hath undertaken the Office of being the Redeemer and Saviour of the World; and that he, who is the Eternal Word and Wiſdom of the Father, hath wonderfully appeared in the Nature of Man, which he took from the Virgin Mary, being conceived by the Holy Ghost; and that we might have a Teacher ſent from † Heaven infallably and eaſily to acquaint the World with the Will of God, and the unſeen things of Life Eternal: How God tActs 2. 22. Heb. 2. 3, 4.bare Witneſs of his Truth, by abundant, open, and uncontrouled Miracles: uMat. 4. …How he conquered Satan, and the World, andw…Pet. 2. 22, 23, 24, 25. Mat. 26. 27, 28. Act. 1. Heb. 4. Eph. …. …. …2. 3. Rom. 5. 1, 3, 9. Heb. 8, 9, 13. & 8. 6, 7. Heb. 7. 25. 1 John 5. 10, 12. John 5. 22. & 3. 18, 19. Mat. 25. gave us an Example of perfect Righteouſneſs, and underwent the Scorn and Cruelty of Sinners, and ſuffered the Death of the Croſs, as a Sacrifice for our Sins to reconcile us unto God: How he roſe again the third day, and conquered Death, and lived forty days longer on Earth, inſtructing his Apoſtles, and giving them Commiſſion to preach the Goſpel to all the World; and then aſcended bodily into Heaven, while they gazed after him: How he is now in Heaven both God and Man in one Perſon, the Teacher, and King, and High-Prieſt of his Church. Of Him muſt we learn the way of Life; by Him muſt we be ruled as the Phyſician of Souls. All Power is given Him in Heaven and in Earth. By his Sacrifice, and Merits, and Interceſſion muſt we be pardoned and accepted with the Father; and only by him muſt we come to God. He hath procured and eſtabliſhed a Covenant of Grace, which Baptiſm is the Seal of: Even [That God will in him be our God and reconciled Father, and Chriſt will be our Saviour, and the Holy Ghoſt will be our Sanctifier, if we will unfeignedly conſent; that is, if penitently and believingly we give up our ſelves to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, in thoſe Reſolutions.] This Covenant in the Tenor of it, is a Deed of Gift, of Chriſt, and Pardon, and Salvation to all the World: …f by the true Faith and Repentance they will turn to God. And this ſhall be the Law according to which he will judge all that hear it at the laſt; for he is made the judge of All, and will raiſe all the dead, and will juſtify his Saints, and judge them unto endleſs Joy and Glory, and condemn the Unbelievers, impenitent andxLuke 16. ungodly, unto endleſs Miſery. The Soul alone is judged at Death, and Body and Soul at the Reſurrection. This Goſpel the Apoſtles preached to the World; and that it might be effectual to Mens Salvation, theyActs 2. John 17. 23. Holy Ghoſt was firſt given to inſpire the Preachers of it, and enable them to ſpeak in various Languages, and infallibly to agree in One, and to work many great and open Miracles to prove their Word to thoſe they preached to: And by this means theyzMat. 28. 19, … Acts 14. 23. Act. 20. Act. 26. 17, 18. planted the Church; which ordinary Miniſters muſt increaſe, and teach, and overſee, to the end of the World, till all the Elect be gathered in. And the ſameaRom. 8. 9. Holy Spirit hath undertaken it, as his Work, to accompany this Goſpel, and by it to convert Mens Souls, illuminating and ſanctifying them; and by a ſecretbTit. 3. 5, 6. Joh. 13. 5, 6. Regeneration to renew their Natures, and bring them to that Knowledge, and Obedience, and Love of God, which is the Primitive Holineſs, for which we were created, and from which we fell. And thus by a Saviour and a Sanctifier muſt all be reconciled and renewed, that will be glorified with God in Heaven. All this you may learn from the Sacred Scriptures, which werec2 Tim. 3. 16. written by the Inſpiration of the Holy Spirit, and ſealed by multitudes of opendHeb. 2. 3, 4. Miracles, and contain the very Image and Superſcription of God, and have been received and preſerved by the Church, as the certain Oracles of God, and bleſſed by him through all Generations, to the ſanctifying of many Souls.
IX. When you underſtand all this, it is time for you toe2 Cor. 13. 5. Pſal. 4. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 10. look home, and underſtand now what State your Souls are in. That you were made capable of Holineſs and Happineſs, you know: that you and all Men are fallen from God, and Holineſs, and Happineſs, unto Self, and Sin, and Miſery, you know: that you are ſo far redeemed by Chriſt, you know, as to have a pardoning and ſaving Covenant tendered you, and Chriſt and Mercy offered to your choice. But whether you are truly penitent Believers, and renewed by the Holy Ghoſt, and ſo united unto Chriſt, this is the Queſtion yet unreſolved; this is the Work that is yet to do, without which there is no Salvation; and if thou die before it is done, wo to thee that ever thou waſt a Man. Except a Man befJohn 3. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Rom. 8. 7, 9. Phil. 3. 18, 20. Regenerate by the Spirit, and Converted, and made a New Creature, and of Car…al be made Spiritual, and of Earthly be made Heavenly, and of Selfiſh and Sinful be made Holy and Obedient to God, he can never be ſaved, no more than the Devil himſelf can be ſaved. And if this be ſo, (as nothing is more ſure) I require thee now, who readeſt theſe words, as thou regardeſt thy Salvation, as thou wouldeſt eſcape Hell Fire, and ſtand with Comfort before Chriſt and his Angels, at the laſt, that thou ſoberly conſider whether Reaſon command thee not to try thy State; whether thou art thusgActs 16. 14. renewed by the Spirit of Chriſt or not? And tohActs 2. 37. & 16. 30. & 11. 23. 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2. Rev. 2. 7. call for help to thoſe that can adviſe thee, and follow on the ſearch till thou know thy Caſe. And if thy Soul be a ſtranger to this ſanctifying Work, whether Reaſon command thee not, without any delay, to make out to Chriſt, and beg his Spirit, and caſt away thy Sins, and give up thy ſelf entirely to thy God, thy Saviour and Sanctifier, and enter into his Covenant, with a full Reſolution never to forſake him; to deny thy ſelf, and the deſires of the Fleſh, and this deceitful tranſitory World, and lay out all thy hopes on Heaven, and ſpeedily, whatever it coſt thee, to make ſure of the Felicity which hath no end? And dareſt thou refuſe this when God and Conſcience do command it? And further I adviſe you,
X. Underſtand how it is that Satan hindreth Souls from being ſanctified: That you may know how much to reſiſt his Wiles. Some he deceiveth byiActs 24. 14. & 28. 22. & 24. 5, 6. malicious Suggeſtions, that Holineſs is nothing but Fancy or Hypocriſie! (And if God and Death, and Heaven, and Hell, were Fancies, this might be believed.) Some he debaucheth by the power of fleſhly Appetite and Luſt, ſo that their Sins will not let their Reaſon ſpeak: Some he keepeth in utter Ignorance, by the evil Education of ignorant Parents, and the negligence ofkMal. 2. 7, 9. Hoſ. 4. 9. ungodly Soul-murdering Teachers: ſome he deceiveth by worldly Hopes, and keepeth their Minds ſo taken up with worldly Things, that the Matters of Eternity can have but ſome looſe and uneffectual Thoughts, or as bad as none: Some are entangled inlProv. 13. 20. ill Company, who make a ſcorn of a holy Life, and ſeed them with continual Diverſions and vain Delights: And ſome are ſo mEpheſ. 4. 18, 19.hardened in their Sin, that they are even paſt feeling, and neither fear God's Wrath, nor care for their Salvation, but hear theſe things as Men aſleep, and nothing will awake them: Some are diſcouraged with a conceit that Godlineſs is a Life ſonMal. 1. 13. grievous, ſad, and melancholy, that rather than endure it, they will venture their Souls, come on it what will; (as if it were a grievous Life to love God, and hope for endleſs Joys, and a pleaſant Life to love the World and Sin, and live within a ſtep of Hell!) Some that are convinced, dooMat. 25. 3. 8. 12. & 24. 43, 44. put off their Coverſion with Delays, and think it's time enough hereafter; and are purpoſing and promiſing till it be too late, and Life, and Time, and Hope be ended. And ſome that ſee there is is a neceſſity of Holineſs▪ arepJohn 8. 39, 42, 44. Rom. 3. 1, 2. Gal. 4. 29. Mat. 13. 19, 20, 21, 22. & 15. 2, 3, 6. Gal. 1. 1. cheated by ſome dead Opinion, or Names, or Shews and Images of Holineſs; either becauſe they hold a ſtrict Opinion, or becauſe they joyn with a Religious Party, or becauſe they are of that which they think is the true Church, or becauſe they are baptized with Water, and obſerve the outward parts of Worſhip; and perhaps becauſe they offer God a great deal of Lip-Service, and Lifeleſs Ceremony, which never ſavoured of a Holy Soul. Thus Deadneſs, Senſuality, Worldlineſs and Hypocriſie, do hinder Millions from Sanctification and Salvation.
XI. If ever thou wouldeſt be ſaved, oppreſs not Reaſon by Senſuality or Diverſions: But ſometimesqPſal. 4. 4. Hag. 1. 5. Deut. 32. 7, 29. retire for ſober Conſideration, diſtracted and ſleepy Reaſon is unuſeful: God and Conſcience have a great deal to ſay to thee: which in a crowd of Company and Buſineſs thou art not fit to hear. It is arIſa. 1. 3. doleſul caſe that a Man who hath a God, a Chriſt, a Soul, a Heaven, a Hell to think of, will allow them none but running Thoughts, and not once in a Week beſtow one Hour in Man-like ſerioussJob 34. 27. Jer. 23. 20. Pſal. 119. 59. Conſideration of them! ſure thou haſt no greater things to mind. Reſolve then ſometimes to ſpend half an hour in the deepeſt thoughts of thy everlaſting State.
XII. Lookt2 Cor. 4. 8. Deut. 32. 29. 1 John 2. 17. 1 Cor. 7. 31. Luke 12. 19, 20. John 14. 1, 2. 1 Theſ. 5. 13. upon this World, and all its Pleaſures, as a Man of Reaſon, who foreſeeth the end, and not as a Beaſt, that liveth but by Senſe or preſent Objects, Do I need to to tell thee, Man, that thou muſt die? Cannot Carcaſes and Duſt inſtruct thee to ſee the end of Earthly Glory, and all the Pleaſures of the Fleſh? Is it a Controverſie, whether thy Fleſh muſt ſhortly periſh? and wilt thou yet provide for it before thy Soul? What a ſad farewel muſt thou ſhortly take, of all that Worldlings ſell their Souls for! And O how quickly will this be! Alaſs, Man, the Day is even at hand; a few days more, and thou art gone! and dareſt thou live unready, and part with Heaven for ſuch a World as this?
XIII. And then think ſoberly of theuLuke 12. 4. Eccl. 12. 7. 2 Pet. 3. 11. 2 Cor. 4. 18. Phil. 3. 18, 20. Life to come, What it is for a Soul to appear before the living God, and be judged to endleſs Joy or Miſery! If the Devil tempt thee to doubt of ſuch a Life, remember that Nature, and Scripture, and the Worlds Conſent, and his own Temptations are Witneſſes againſt him. O Man, canſt thou paſs one day in Company, or alone in Buſineſs or in Idleneſs, without ſome ſober Thoughts of Everlaſtingneſs? Nothing more ſheweth that the Hearts of Men are aſleep or dead, than that the Thoughts of endleſs Joy or Pain, ſo near at hand, conſtrain them not to be Holy, and overcome not all the Temptations of the Fleſh, as Toys and inconſiderable Things.
XIV. Mark well what Mind moſt Men are of when they come toxNumb. 23. 10. Mat. 25. 8 & 7. 21, 22. Prov. …. 28, 29. die! Unleſs it be ſome deſperate forſaken Wretch do they not all ſpeak well of a Holy Life? and wiſh that their Lives had been ſpent in the moſt fervent Love of God, and ſtricteſt Obedience to his Laws? Do they then ſpeak well of Luſt and Pleaſures and magnifie the Wealth and Honours of the World? Had they not rather die as the moſt mortified Saints, then as careleſs, fleſhly, worldly Sinners? And doſt thou ſee and know this, and yet wilt thou not be inſtructed, and be wiſe in time?
XV. Think well what manner of Men theſe were, whoſeyMatth. 23. 29, 30, 31, 33. Heb. 11. 38. John 8. 39. Names are now honoured for their Holineſs! What manner of Life did St. Peter, and St. Paul, St. Cyprian, St. Auguſtine, and all other Saints and Martyrs live; Was it a Life of fleſhly Sports and Pleaſures? Did they deride or perſecute a Holy Life? Were they not more ſtrictly Holy than any that thou knoweſt? And is he not ſelf-condemned, that honoureth the Names of Saints, and will not imitate them?
XVI. Think what the difference is between a Chriſtian and anzMatth. 10. 15. Rom. 2. Acts 10. 34, 35. Heathen. You are loath to be Heathens or Infidels: But do you think a Chriſtian excelleth them but in Opinion? He that is not Holier than they, …s worſe, and ſhall ſuffer more than they.
XVII. Think what the difference is between aaRom. 2. 28, 29. Matth. 25. 28. Luke 19. 22. Acts 24. 15. Gal. 4. 29. Godly Chriſtian and an Ungodly. Do not all the Oppoſers of Holineſs among us, yet ſpeak for the ſame God, and Chriſt, and Scripture; and profeſs the ſame Creed and Religion with thoſe whom they oppoſe? And is not this Chriſt the Author of our Holineſs, and this Scripture the Commander of it? Search and ſee, whether the difference be not this, that the Godly are ſerious in their Profeſſion, and the Ungodly are Hypocrites, who hate and oppoſe the practiſe of the very things which themſelves profeſs; whoſe Religion ſerveth but to condemn them, while their Lives are contrary to their Tongues.
XVIII. Underſtand what the Devil's Policy is, by raiſing ſo manybEph. 4. 14. Act 20. 30. 1 Cor. 11. 19. 2 Tim. 4. 3 & 2. 14. 16. 1 Tim. 1. 5, 6. Tit. 3. 9. Epheſ. 4. 3. &c. 1 Cor. 12. Matth. 12. 25. Rom. 2. 12, 27, 28, 29. Sects and Factions and Controverſies about Religion in the World: Even to make ſome think that they are religious, becauſe they can prare for their Opinions, or becauſe they think their Party is the beſt, becauſe their Faction is the Greateſt, or the Leaſt; the Uppermoſt, or the ſuffering Side. And to turn holy edifying Conference into vain Jangling; and to make Men A…heiſts, ſuſpecting all Religion, and true to none; becauſe of Mens diverſity of Minds. But remember that Chriſtian Religion is but One; and a thing eaſily known by its ancient Rule; and the univerſal Church, containing all Chriſtians, is but One. And if carnal Intereſt or Opinions ſo diſtract Men, that one Party ſaith, We are all the Church; and another ſaith, It is we, (as if the Kitchin were all the Houſe, o… one Town or Village, all the Kingdom;) Wilt thou b… mad with ſeeing this Diſtraction? Hearken, Sinner, all theſe Sects in the Day of Judgment ſhall concur … Witneſſes againſt thee, if thou be Unholy; becauſe however elſe they differed,cGal. 1. 7, 8. Matth. 28. 20. all of them that are Chriſtians, profeſſed the Neceſſity of Holineſs, and ſubſcribed to that Scripture which requireth it. Though thou canſt not eaſily reſolve every Controverſie, thou mayſt eaſily know-the true Religion; it is that which Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught, which all Chriſtians have profeſſed, which Scripture requireth; which is firſt dJames 3. 17.pure, and then peaceable; moſt Spiritual, Heavenly, Charitable and Juſt.
XIX. Away from thateEph. 5. 11. Prov. 23. 20. 2 Cor. 6. 17, 18. Pſal. 15. 4. Deut. 13. 3. Company which is ſenſual, and an Enemy to Reaſon, Sobriety, and Holineſs; and conſequently to God, themſelves and thee. Can they be wiſe for thee, that are fooliſh for themſelves? or Friends to thee, that are undoing themſelves? or have any pity on thy Soul, when they make a Jeſt of their own Damnation? Will they help thee to Heaven, who are running ſo furiouſly to Hell? chuſe better Familiars, if thou wouldeſt be better.
XX. Judge not of a holy Life by hearſay, for it cannot ſo be known.fJohn 5. 40. Luke 14. 29, 30. John 6. 35, 37, 45. Try it a while, and then judge as thou findeſt it. Speak not againſt the things thou knoweſt not. Hadſt thou but lived in the Love of God, and the lively belief of endleſs Glory, and the Delights of Holineſs, and the Fears of Hell, but for one Month or Day; and with ſuch a Heart, HadſtgIſa. 55. 6, 7. caſt away thy ſin, and called upon God, and ordered thy Family in … holy manner, eſpecially on the Lord's Day; I dare boldly ſay, Experience would conſtrain thee tohMatth. 11. 19. juſtifie a holy Life. But yet I muſt tell thee, it is not …rue Holineſs, if thou do but try it withiLuke 14. 33. Exceptions and Reſerves: If therefore God hath convinced thee that this is his Will and Way, I adjure thee, as in his dreadful Preſence, that thoukRev. 22. 17. John 1. 12. Rev. 2. & 3. 1 John 5. 12, 13. Pſal. 34. 7. Pſal. 73. 26. Matth. 25. Luke 20. 39. Heb. 2. 3. … Theſ. 2. 12. delay no longer, but reſolve, and abſolutely give up thy ſelf to God as thy Heavenly Father, thy Saviour, and thy Sanctifier, and …ake an everlaſting Covenant with him, and then he and …his Mercies will be thine; his Grace will help thee, …nd his Mercy pardon thee; his Miniſters will inſtruct …hee, and his People pray for thee, and aſſiſt thee; his Angels will guard thee, and his Spirit comfort thee: and when Fleſh muſt fail, and thou muſt leave this World, thy Saviour will then receive thy Soul, and bring …t into the participation of his Glory; and he will raiſe …hy Body, and juſtifie thee before the World, and make …hee equal to the Angels; and thou ſhalt live in the …ight and Love of God, and in the Everlaſting Pleaſures …f his Glory: This is the end of Faith and Holineſs. But … thou harden thy Heart, and refuſeſt Mercy,l… 19. 27. Prov. 29. 1. & 1. 25. everlaſting Wo will be thy portion, and then there will be no remedy.
And now, Reader, I beg of thee, and I beg of God on my bended knees, that theſe few words may ſink into thy Heart, and that thou wouldeſt read them over and over again, and bethink thee as a Man that muſt ſhortly die. Whether any deſerve thy Love and Obedience more than God? and thy thankful Remembrance more then Chriſt, and thy Care and Diligence more than thy ſalvation? Is there any Felicity more deſirable than Heaven? or any Miſery more terrible than Hell? or any thing ſo regardable as that which is everlaſting? Will a few days fleſhly Pleaſures pay for the loſs of heaven and thy immortal Soul? or will thy Sin and thy Proſperity be ſweet at Death, and in the Day of Judgment? As thou art a Man, and as ever thou believeſt that there is a God, and a World to come, and as thou careſt for thy Soul, whether it be ſaved or damned, I beſeech thee, I charge thee, think of theſe things! think of them once a day at leaſt! think of them with thy moſt ſober ſerious Thoughts! Heaven is not a May-game, and Hell is not a Flea-biting! Make not a jeſt of Salvation or Damnation! I know thou liveſt in a Diſtracted world, where thou mayeſt hear ſome laughing at ſuch things as theſe, and ſcorning at a Holy Life, and faſtning odious Reproaches on the Godly, and merrily drinking, and playing, and prating away their Time, and then ſaying, that they will truſt God with their Souls, and hope to be ſaved without ſo much ado! But if all theſe Men do not change their minds, and be not ſhortly down in the Mouth, and would not be glad to eat their Words, and wiſhed that they had lived a holy Life, though it had coſt them Scorn and Suffering in the World, let me bear the ſhame of a Deceiver for ever: But if God and thy Conſcience bear witneſs againſt thy Sin, and tell thee that a holy Life is beſt, regard not the Gain-ſayings of a Bediam World, which is drunk with the Deluſions of the Fleſh: But give up thy Soul and Life to God by Jeſus Chriſt in a faithful Covenant! Delay no longer, Man, but reſolve; Reſolve immediately, reſolve unchangeably; And God will he thine, and thou ſhalt be his for ever. Amen. Lord have Mercy on this Sinner, and to let it be reſolved by thee in him.
II. The Parts and Practice of a Holy Life for Perſonal and Family Inſtructions.
ALL is not nota1 Cor. 1. 25. Heb. 4. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 22. 1 Cor. 3. Gal. 3. & 4. Matth. 13. 41. & 18. 7. done when men have begun a Religious Life: All Trees that bloſſom prove not fruitful; and all Fruit comes not to perfection. Many fall off, who ſeemed to have good Beginnings: And many diſhonour the Name of Chriſt, by their Scandals and Infirmities: Many do grieve their Teachers Hearts, and lamentably diſturb the Church of Chriſt, by their Ignorance, Errors, Self-conceitedneſs, Unrulineſs, Headineſs, Contentiouſneſs, Sidings and Diviſions: Inſomuch that thebPhil. 3. 18, 19. Acts 20. 30. Scandals and the Feuds of Chriſtians are the great Impediments of the Converſion of the Infidel and Heathen World, by the expoſing Chriſtianity to their contempt and ſcorn, as if it were but the Error of men, as unholy and worldly, and proud as others, that can never agree among themſelves: And many by their Paſſions and Selfiſhneſs are a Trouble to the Families and Neighbours where they live: And more by their Weakneſſes and great Diſtempers, are Snares, Vexations, and Burdens to themſelves. Whereas Chriſtianity in its true Conſtitution, is a Life of ſuch HolycMatth. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 15. & 1. 8. 2 Cor. 1. 21. Light and Love, ſuch Purity and Peace, ſuch Fruitfulneſs and Heavenlineſs, as if it were accordingly ſhewed forth in the Lives of Chriſtians, would command Admiration and Reverence from the World, and do more to their Converſion, than Swords or Words alone can do: and it would make Chriſtians uſeful and amiable to each other: And their Lives a Feaſt and pleaſure to themſelves. I hope it may prove ſome help to theſe Excellent Ends, and to the ſecuring Mens Salvation, if in a few ſound Experienced Directions I open to you the Duties of a Chriſtian Life,
I. Keep ſtill the true d2 Tim. 1. 13. & 3. 7. Heb. 5. 12. Phil. 1. 9. Rom. 15. 14.Form of Chriſtian Doctrine, Deſire and Duty, orderly printed on your Minds: That is, Underſtand it clearly and diſtinctly, and remember it, I mean the Great Points of Religion contained in Catechiſms. You may ſtill grow in the clearer underſtanding of your Catechiſms, if you live an hundred Years: Let not the Words only, but the Matter, be as familiar in your Minds, as the Rooms of your Houſe are. Such eEph. 4. 13, 14. Col. 1. 9. & 2. 2. & 3. 10. 1 Tim. 6. 4.ſolid Knowledge will eſtabliſh you againſt Seduction and Unbelief, and will be ſtill within you a ready Help for every Grace, and every Duty; as the Skill of an Artificer is for his Work: And for want of this, when you come among Infidels or Hereticks, their Reaſonings may ſeem unanſwerable to you, and ſhake, if not overthrow your Faith; And you will eaſily err in leſſer Points, and trouble the Church with your Dreams and Wranglings. This is the Calamity of many Profeſſors; that while they will be moſt cenſorious Judges in every Controverſie about Church-matters, they know not well the Doctrine of the Catechiſm.
II. Live daily by Faith on fJohn 17. 3. Epheſ. 3. 17, 18. Mat. 28. 19. Epheſ. 1. 22, 23. & 4. 6, 16. Rom. 5. 2 Cor. 12. 9. John 16. 33. 1 John 5. 4. … 4. 14, 16. Col. 3. 3, 4. Acts 7. 59.Jeſus Christ, as the Mediator between God and you. Being well-grounded in the Belief of the Goſpel, and underſtanding Chriſt's Office, make uſe of him ſtill in all your Wants. Think on the Fatherly Love of God, as coming to you through him alone: and of the Spirit, as given by him your Head, and of the Covenant of Grace as enacted and ſealed by him; and of the Miniſtry as ſent by him; and of all Times and Helps, and hopes as procured and given by him. When you think of Sin, and Infirmity, and Temptations, think alſo of his ſufficient, pardonin…, juſtifying and victorious Grace. When thou thinkeſt of the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil, think how he overcometh them. Let his Doctrine and the Pattern of his moſt perfect Life, be always before you as your Rule. In all your Doubts, and Fears, and Wants, go to him in the Spirit, and to the Father by him, and him alone. Take him as the Root of your Life and Mercies, and live as upon him and by his Life; and when you die, reſign your Souls to him, that they may be with him where he is, and ſee his Glory. To live on Chriſt and uſe him in every Want, and addreſs to God, is more than a general confuſed Believing in him.
III. So believe in the Holy Ghoſt, as to gGal. 5. 16, 25.live and work by him, as the Body doth by the Soul. You are nothMatth. 28. 19. baptized into his Name in vain; (but too few underſtand the ſenſe and reaſon of it.) The Spirit is ſent by Chriſt for Two great Works. 1. To the Apoſtles and Prophets, to iJohn 16. 13. Heb. 2. 34.inſpire them infallibly to preach the Goſpel, and confirm it by Miracles, and leave it on Record for following Ages, in the Holy Scriptures. 2. To all hisk1 Cor. 12. 12, 13. Rom. 8. 9. 13. Joh. 3. 5, 6. Members, to illuminate and ſanctifie them, to believe and obey this Sacred Doctrine (beſide his common Gift to many to underſtand and preach it.) The Spirit having firſt indicted the Goſpel, doth by it firſt regenerate, and after govern all true Believers. He is not now given …s for the revealing of new Doctrines, but to underſtand and obey thel2 Tim. 3. 15, 16. Jude 19. 20. Doctrine revealed and ſealed by him long ago. As the Sun doth by its ſweet and diſcreet Influence, both give and cheriſh the natural life of things Senſitive and Vegetative; ſo doth Chriſt by hismEzek. 36. 27. Iſa. 44. 3. Rom. 8. 1, 5. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Zech. 14. 20. Spirit our ſpiritual Life. As you do no work but by your natural Life, you ſhould do none but by your ſpiritual Life: You muſt not only Believe, and Love and pray by it, but manage all your Calling by it; for Holineſs to the lord muſt be written upon all; All things are ſanctified to you, becauſe you being ſanctified to God, devote all to him, and uſe all for him; and therefore muſt do all in the Strength and Conduct of the Spirit.
IV.n1 Cor. 10. 31. Rom. 11. 36. 2 Cor. 5. 7, 8. 1 John 3. 1… Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3. Mat. 22. 37. Epheſ. 1. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Gal. 4. 4, 5, 6. Live wholly upon God, as All in All: As the firſt Efficient, principal Dirigent, and final Cauſe of all things. Let Faith, Hope, and Love, be daily feeding on him. Let Our Father which art in Heaven, be firſt inſcribed on your Hearts, that he may ſeem moſt amiable to you, and you may boldly truſt him, and filial Love may be the ſpring of Duty. Make uſe of the Son and Spirit to lead you to the Father; and of Faith in Chriſt to kindle and keep alive the Love of God. God's Love is our Primitive Holineſs, and eſpecially called, with its Fruits, [Our Sanctification,] which Faith in Chriſt is but a means to. Let it be your principal End, in ſtudying Chriſt, to ſee the Goodneſs, Love, and Amiableneſs of God in him: A condemning God is not ſo eaſily loved, as a gracious reconciled God. You have ſo much of the Spirit, as you have Love to God: This is the proper Gift of the Spirit to all the adopted Sons of God, to cauſe them, with filial Affection and Dependance, to cry, Abba, Father. Know not, deſire not, love not any Creature, but purely as ſubordinate to God! Without him, let it be nothing to you, but as the Glaſs without the Face, or ſcattered Letters without the Senſe; or as the Corps without the Soul.oPſal. 30. 5. & 63. 3. Call nothing Proſperity or Pleaſure, but his Love; and nothing Adverſity or Miſery, but his Diſpleaſure, and the Cauſe and the Fruits of it. When any thing would ſeem lovely and deſirable which is againſt him, call itpPhil. 3. 7, 8. Dung! And hear that Man, asqMat. 16. 13. Satan, or the Serpent, that would entice you from him; and count him but Vanity, a Worm, and Duſt, that would affright you from your Duty to him. Fear him much, but love him more! Letr2 Theſſ. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 13. 14. Love be the Soul and End of every other Duty: It is the End and Reaſon of all the reſt; but it hath no End or Reaſon, but its Object. Think of no other Heaven, and End, and Happineſs of Man, but Love, the final Act, and God the final Object: Place not your Religion in any thing but the Love of God, with its Means and Fruits. Own no Grief, Deſire, or Joy, but a mourning, a ſeeking, and a rejoycing Love.
V. Live in the belief and hopes of Heaven, and sCol. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. Mat. 6. 19, 20, 21, 33. 2 Cor. 4. 17, 18. & 7. Luk. 12. 20. Heb. 6. 20. 1 Cor. 15. 28. Epheſ. 4. 6. & 1. 23. Phil. 3. 18, 20. Pſal. 73. 25, 26. Joh. 18. 36.ſeek it as your Part and End; and daily delight your Souls in the ſore-thoughts of the endleſs Sight and Love of God. As God is ſeen on Earth but as in a Glaſs, ſo is he proportionably enjoyed. But when mourning, ſeeking Love hath done, and Sin and Enemies are overcome, and we behold the Glory of God in Heaven, the Delights of Love will then be perfect. You may deſire more on Earth than you may hope for. Look not for a Kingdom of this World, nor for Mount Zion in the Wilderneſs. Chriſt reigneth on Earth, as Moſes in the Camp, to guide us to the … and of the Promiſe: Our perfect Bleſſedneſs will be, where the Kingdom is delivered up to the Father, and God is All in All. A Doubt, or a ſtrange heartleſs thought of Heaven, is Water caſt on the ſacred Fire, to quench your Holineſs and your Joy. Can you travel one whole day to ſuch an End, and never think of the Place that you are going to? which muſt be intended in every righteous Act (either notedly, or by the ready unobſerved Act of a potent Habit.) When Earth is at the beſt, it will not be Heaven. You live no further by Faith, like Chriſtians, than you either live for Heaven in ſeeking it, or elſe upon Heaven in Hope and Joy.
VI. Labour to make Religion your Pleaſure and tPſal. 1. 2, 3. & 84. 2, 10. & 63. 3, 5. & 37. 4. & 91. 19. & 119. 47, 70. Iſa. 58. 14. Pſal. 112. 1. Rom. 14. 17. & 5. 1, 3, 5. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Mat. 5. 11, 12. Pſal. 32. 11.Delight. Look oft to God, to Heaven, to Chriſt, to the Spirit, to the Promiſes, to all your Mercies. Call over your Experiences, and think what matter of high Delight is ſtill before you, and how unſeemly it is, and how injurious to your Profeſſion, for one that ſaith he hopeth for Heaven, to live as ſadly as thoſe that have no higher hopes than Earth. How ſhould that Man be filled with Joy, who muſt live in the Joys of Heaven for ever? Eſpecially rejoyce when the Meſſengers of Death do tell you, that your endleſs Joy is near. If God, and Heaven, with all our Mercies in the way, be not reaſon enough for a joyful Life, there can be none at all. Abhor all Suggeſtions which would make Religion ſeem a tedious irkſome Life. And take heed that you repreſent it not ſo to others; for you will never make them in love with that which you make the… not perceive to be delectable and lovely. Not as the Hypocrite, by forcing and framing his Religion to his carnal Mind and Pleaſure; but bringing up the Heart to a holy ſuitableneſs to the Pleaſures of Religion.
VII Watch as for your Souls, againſt this flattering tempting uGal. 6. 14. 1. Joh. 2. 15, 16. Jam. 1. 27. & 4. 4, 5. 1 Joh. 5. 4, 5. Rom. 12. 2. Gal. 1. 4. Tit. 2. 12. Mat. 19. 24. Luk. 12. 16. 21. & 16. 25. James 1. 11. & 5. 1, 2, 4. Luke 8. 14. Heb. 11. 26.World; eſpecially when it is repreſented as more ſweet and delectable, than God, and Holineſs, and Heaven. This World with its Pleaſures, Wealth, and Honours, is it that is put in the Ballance by Satan, againſt God, and Holineſs, and Heaven: And no Man ſhall have better than he chooſeth and preferreth. The Bait taketh advantage of the brutiſh part, when Reaſon is aſleep; and if by the help of Senſe it get the Throne, the Beaſt will ride and rule the Man; and Reaſon become a ſlave to Senſuality. When you hear the Serpent, ſee his Sting, and ſee Death attending the forbidden Fruit: When you are riſing, look down and ſee how far you have to fall! His Reaſon, as well as Faith, is weak, who for ſuch Fools-gawds, as the Pomp and Vanitles of this World, can forget God and his Soul, and Death, and Judgment, Heaven and Hell, yea and deliberately command them to ſtand by. What Knowledge or Experience can do good on that Man, who will venture ſo much for ſuch a World, which all, that have tried it, call vanity at the laſt? How deplorable then is a World…ings caſe? Oh fear the World when it ſmileth, or ſeems ſweet and amiable. Love it not, if you love your God and your Salvation.
VIII. Fly from Temptations, and crucify the xRom. 8. 1, 13. Gal 5. 24. Rom. 13. 14. Gal. 5. 17. …ude 8. 23. 2 Pet. 2. 10. Epheſ. 2. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Mat. …. 13. & 26. 41. Luke 8. 13.Fleſh, and keep a conſtant Government over your Appetite and Se… …es. Many, who had no deſigned ſtated Vice, or worldly Intereſt, have ſhamefully fallen by the ſudden ſurprize of Appetite or Luſt. When cuſtom hath taught theſe to be greedy and violent, like a hungry Dog, or a luſting B…ar, it is not a ſluggiſh Wiſh or Purpoſe, that will mortify or rule them! How dangerous a caſe is that Man in, who hath ſo greedy a Beaſt continually to reſtrain? that if he do but neglect his Watch one Hour, is ready to run him headlong into Hell? Who can be ſafe that ſtandeth long on ſo terrible a precipice? The Tears and Sorrows of many Years, may perhaps not repair the loſs which one Hour or Act may bring. The …aſe of David, and many others, are dreadful Warnings. Know what it is that you are moſt in Danger of; whether Luſt and Idleneſs, or Exceſs in Meats, or Drinks or Play; and there ſet your ſtrongeſt Watch for your Preſervation. Make it your daily Buſineſs to mortify that …uſt, and ſcorn that your brutiſh Senſe or Appetite ſhould conquer Reaſon. Yet truſt not purpoſes alone; but away from the Temptation; Touch not, yea look not on the tempting Bait: keep far enough off, if you …eſire to be ſafe. What Miſeries come from ſmall beginnings? Temptation leads to Sin, and ſmall Sins to greater, and thoſe to Hell! And Sin and Hell are not to be played with! Open your Sin or Temptation to ſome Friend, that ſhame may ſave you from Danger.
IX. Keep up a conſtant skilful Government over your yJam. 1. 19. & 3. 13, 17. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Mat. 5. 5. Eph. 4. 2, 3. Col. 3. 12.Paſſions and your Tongues. To this end, keep a tender Conſcience, which will ſmart when in any of theſe you ſin. Let Holy Paſſions be well ordered, and ſelfiſh carnal Paſſions be reſtrained. Let yourzJam. 1. 26. & 3. 5, 6. Pſal. 34. 13. Pro. 18. 21. Tongues know their Duties to God and Man, and labour to be skilful and reſolute in performing them. Know all the Sins of the Tongue, that you may avoid them; for your Innocency and Peace do much depend on the prudent Government of your Tongues.
X. Govern your aDeut. 15. 9. 2 Cor. 10. 5. Gen. 6. 5. Pſal. 10. 4 & 94. 19. & 119. 113. Prov. 12. 5. & 15. 26. Pſal. 119. 59. Prov. 30. 32. Jer. 4. 14. Deut. 32. 29.Thoughts with conſtant skilful Diligence. In this, right Habits and Affections will do moſt, by inclining them unto Good. It's eaſy to think on that which we love. Be not unfurniſhed of matter for your Thoughts to work upon: And often retire your ſelves for ſerious Meditation. Be not ſo ſolitary and deep in Muſings, as to over-ſtretch your Thoughts, and confound your Minds, or take you off from neceſſary converſe with others! But be ſure that you be Conſiderate, and dwell much at Home, and converſe moſt with your Conſciences and your God! with whom you have the greateſt Buſineſs! Leave not your thoughts unimployed, or ungoverned: Scatter them not abroad upon impertinent Vanities. O that you knew what daily buſineſs you have for them! Moſt men are wicked, deceived, and undone, becauſe they are inconſiderate, and dare not, or will not, retiredly and ſoberly uſe their Reaſon; or uſe it but as a ſlave in Chains in the ſervice of their Paſſion, Luſt and Intereſt. He was never Wiſe, or Good, or Happy, who was not ſoberly and impartially Conſiderate, How to be Good, to do Good, and finally enjoy Good, muſt be the ſum of all your Thoughts. Keep them firſt holy, then charitable, clean and chaſte. And quickly check them when they look towards ſin.
XI. Let bEpheſ. 5. 16. Joh. 14. 1, 2. Act. 17. 21. 1 Cor. 7. 29. 2 Cor. 6. 2. Joh. 9. 4. Luk. 19. 42, 44. Pſal. 39. 4. Mat. 25. 10, 1….Time be exceeding Precious in your Eyes, and carefully and diligently redeem it. What haſte doth it make? and how quickly will it be gone? and then how highly will it be valued; when a Minute of it can never be recalled? O what important Buſineſs have we, for every Moment of our Time, if we ſhould live a thouſand Years! Take not that Man to be well in his Wits, or to know his God, his End, his Work, or his Danger, who hath Time to ſpare. Redeem it, not only from needleſs Sports, and Plays, and Idleneſs, and Curioſity, and Complement, and exceſs of Sleep, and Chat, and Worldlineſs; but alſo from the Entanglements of leſſer Good, which would hinder you from greater. Spend time, as Men that are ready to paſs into another World, where every Minute muſt be accounted for; and it muſt go with us for ever as we lived here let not Health deceive you into the expectation of living long, and ſo into a ſenſleſs Negligence. See your Glaſs running, and keep a reckoning of the expence of Time: and ſpend it juſt as you would review it when it is gone.
XII. Let the c1 Tim. 1. 5, 6. Mat. 19, 19. Rom. 13. 10. 1 John 1. 16. Epheſ. 4. 12, 15, 16. Col. 2. 2. & 1. 4. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Jam. 3. 17. Phil. 2. 1, 2. 1 Theſ. 4. 93. John 13. 35. Mat. 5. 44, 45. 1 Cor. 13. Jam. 4. 11. Gal. 6. 10. Tit. 2. 14. Phil. 2. 20, 21. Rom. 15. 1, 3.Love of all in their ſeveral Capacities become as it were your very Nature: and doing them all the Good you can, be very much of the Buſineſs of your Lives. God muſt be loved in all his Creatures, his natural Image on all Men, and his ſpiritual Image on his Saints. Our Neighbour muſt be loved as our natural ſelves▪ That is, our natural Neighbour as our natural Self, with a Love of benevolence; and our ſpiritual Neighbour as our ſpiritual Self, with a Love of Complacence. In oppoſition to Complacence, we may hate our ſinful Neighbour, as we muſt our ſelves (much more:) But in oppoſition to Benevolence we muſt neither hate our Selves, our Neighbour, or our Enemy. O that Men knew how much of Chriſtianity doth conſiſt in Love, and doing Good! With what Eyes do they read the Goſpel, who ſee not this in every Page? Abhor all that Selfiſhneſs, Pride and Paſſion which are the Enemies of Love; and thoſe Opinions, and Factions, and Cenſurings, and Back-biting, which would deſtroy it. Take him that ſpeaketh Evil of another to you, without a juſt cauſe and call, to be Satan's Meſſenger, intreating you to hate your Brother, or to abate your Love. For to perſwade you that a Man is bad, is directly to perſwade you ſo far to hate him. Not that the good and bad muſt be confounded: but Love will call none bad without conſtraining evidence. Rebuke Back▪ biters. Hurt no Man, and ſpeak evil of no Man; unleſs it be not only juſt, but neceſſarily to ſome greater Good. Love is lovely: They that Love ſhall be Beloved. Hating and hurting makes Men hateful. Love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf; and Do as thou wouldſt be done by, are the Golden Rules of our Duty to Men; which muſt be deeply written on your Hearts. For want of this, there is nothing ſo falſe, ſo bad, ſo cruel, which you may not be drawn to think, or ſay, or do againſt your Brethren. Selfiſhneſs and want of Love, do as naturally tend to Ambition and Covetouſneſs, and thence to Cruelty againſt all that … in the Way of their Deſires, as the nature of a … to kill the Lambs. All Factions, and Contentions, and Perſecutions in the World, proceed from Selfiſhneſs, and want of Charity. Devouring Malice is the Deviliſh Nature. Be as zealous in doing gòod to all, as Satan's Servants are in hurting. Take it as the uſe of all your Talents, and uſe them as you would hear of it at laſt. Let it be your Buſineſs and not a matter on, the by: Eſpecially for publick Good, and Mens Salvation. And what you cannot do your ſelves, perſwade other to. Give them good Books: and draw them to the means, which are moſt like to profit them.
XIII. Underſtand the right Terms of Church-Communion: eſpecially the Unity of the Univerſal Church, and the Univerſal Communion, which you muſt hold with all the parts; and the difference between the Church as Viſible and Inviſible. For want of theſe, how woful are our diviſions? Read oft, 1 Cor. 12. & Eph. 4. 1. to 17. Job. 17. 21, 22, 23. Act. 4. 32. & 2. 42. 1 Cor. 1. 10, 11, 13. & 3. 3. Rom. 16. 17. Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Theſ. 5. 12, 13. Act. 20. 30. 1 Cor. 11. 19. Titus. 3. 10. James. 3. Col. 1. 4. Heb. 10. 25. Acts 8. 12, 13, 37. 1 Cor. 1. 2, 13. & 3. 3, 4. & 11. 18, 21. Study theſe well. You muſt have Union and Communion in Faith and Love, with all the Chriſtians in the World. And refuſe not local Communion when you have a juſt call, ſo far as they put you not on ſinning. Let your uſual meeting be with the pureſt Church, if you lawfully may, (and ſtill reſpect the publick Good;) But ſometimes occaſionally communicate even with defective faulty Churches, ſo be it they are true Chriſtians, and put you not on Sin: that ſo you may ſhew that you own them as Chriſtians, though you diſown their Corruptions. Think not your preſence maketh all the Faults of Miniſtry, Worſhip, or People to be yours (for then I would join with no Church in the World.) Know that as the myſtical Church conſiſteth of Heart-Covenanters, ſo doth the Church as Viſible conſiſt of Verbal-Covenanters, which make a credible profeſſion of Conſent: And that Nature and Scripture teacheth us to take every Man's word as Credible, till Perfidiouſneſs forfeit his Credit; which forfeiture muſt be proved, before any ſober Profeſſion can be taken for an inſufficient title.dMat. 13. 29, 41. Grudge not then at the Communion of any Profeſſed Chriſtian in the Church Viſible: (though we muſt do our part to caſt out the obſtinately impenitent by Diſcipline; which if we cannot do, the Fault is not ours.) The preſence of Hypocrites is no hurt, but oft a Mercy to the Sincere. How ſmall elſe would the Church ſeem in the World? Outward Privileges belong to Outward Covenanters; and Inward Mercies to the Sincere.eJohn 16. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 10. Rom. 16. 17. Jam. 3. 14. 15, 16, 17, 18. Diviſion is wounding, and tends to Death. Abhor it as you love the Churches welfare or your own: The Wiſdom from above is firſt pure, and then peaceable. Never ſeparate what God conjoineth. It is the Earthly, ſenſual, deviliſh Wiſdom, which cauſeth bitter envying, and ſtrife, and confuſion, and every evil Work. Bleſſed are the Peace-makers.
XIV. Take heed of f1 Tim. 3. 6. Col. … 18. 1 Cor. 8. 1. 1 Cor. 4. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 5. Jam. 3. 1, 17.Pride and Self-conceitedneſs in Religion: If once you over-value your own underſtandings, your crude Conceptions and groſs Miſtakes will delight you as ſome ſupernatural light: And inſtead of having compaſſion on the Weak, you will be unruly and deſpiſers of your Guides, and cenſorious contemners of all that differ from you; and perſecutors of them if you have Power; and will think all intolerable, that take you not as Oracles, and your words as Law. Forget not that the Church hath always ſuffered by cenſorious, unruly Profeſſors on the one Hand, (and O what Diviſions and Scandals have they cauſed!) as well as by the Prophane and Perſecucutors on the other. Take need of both: And when Contentions are afoot, be quiet and ſilent, and not too forward; and keep up a Zeal for Love and Peace.
XV. Be faithful and conſcionable in all your gEph. 5, & 6. Col. 3, & 4. Rom. 13. 1, 7. 1 Pet. 2. 13, 15.Relations. Honour and obey your Parents, and other Superiors: Deſpiſe not, and reſiſt not Government: If you ſuffer unjuſtly by them, be humbled for thoſe Sins, which cauſe God to turn your Protectors into Afflictors: And inſtead of murmuring and rebelling againſt them, reform your ſelves, and then commit your ſelves to God▪ Princes and Paſtors I will not ſpeak to: Subjects, and Servants, and Children, muſt obey their Superiors, as the Officers of God.
XVI. Keep up the Government of God in your hCommand. 4. Joſh. 24. 15. Deut. 6. 6, 7, 8. Dan. 6.Families. Holy Families muſt be the chief preſervers of the Intereſt of Religion in the World. Let not the World turn God's Service into a cuſtomary lifeleſs Form. Read the Scripture, and edifying Books to them▪ Talk with them ſeriouſly about the State of their Souls, and everlaſting Life; Pray with them fervently; Watch over them diligently; Be angry againſt Sin, and meek in your own cauſe; Be Examples of Wiſdom, Holineſs and Patience; And ſee that the Lord's Day be ſpent in holy preparation for Eternity.
XVII. Let your iHeb. 13. 5. Command. 4. 2 Theſſ. 3. 10, 12. 1 Theſſ. 4. 7. 1 Tim. 5. 13. Prov. 31. 1 Cor. 7. 29.Callings be managed in Holineſs and Laboriouſneſs. Live not in Idleneſs; be not ſlothful in your Work, whether you be Bound or Free; in the ſweat of your Brows you muſt eat your Bread, and labour the ſix Days, that you may have to give to him that needeth; Slothfulneſs is Senſuality as well as filthier Sins. The Body (that is able) muſt have fit Employments as well as the Soul, or elſe Body and Soul will fare the worſe; but let all be but as the labour of a Traveller, and aim at God and Heaven in all.
XVIII. Deprive not your ſelves of the benefit of an able faithful kMal. 2. 7.Paſtor, to whom you may open your Caſe in ſecret; or at leaſt of a holy lEccleſ. 4. 10, 11.faithful Friend: And be not mProv. 12. 1. & 15. 5, 10, 31. Heb. 3. 13.diſpleaſed at their free Reproofs. Wo to him that is alone! How blind and partial are we in our own Cauſe… and how hard is it to know our ſelves without an able faithful Helper! You forfeit this great Mercy, when you love a Flatterer, and angrily defend your Sin.
XIX.nLuk. 12. 40. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Phil. 1. 21, 23. Jer. 9. 4, 5. Mat. 7. 4, 5. 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 4, … Prepare for Sickneſs, Sufferings, and Death. Overvalue not Proſperity, nor the Favour of Man. If ſelfiſh Men prove falſe and cruel to you, even thoſe of whom you have deſerved beſt, marvel not at it, but pray for your Enemies, Perſecutors, and Slanderers, that God would turn their Hearts and pardon them. What a Mercy is it to be driven from the World to God, when the love of the World is the greateſt danger of the Soul? Be ready to die, and you are ready for any thing. Ask your Hearts ſeriouſly, What is it that I ſhall need at a dying Hour? And let it ſpeedily be got ready, and not be to ſeek in the time of your Extremity.
XX. Underſtand the true Method of Peace of Conſcience, and judge not of the State of your Souls upon deceitful Grounds. As preſumptuous Hopes do keep Men from Converſion, and embolden them to ſin; ſo cauſleſs Fears do hinder our Love and Praiſe of God, by obſcuring his Lovelineſs: And they deſtroy our Thankfulneſs, and our Delight in God, and make us a Burden to our ſelves, and a grievous Stumbling block to others. The general Grounds of all your Comfort, are. 1. TheoExod. 34. 6. gracious Nature of God. 2. ThepHeb. 7. 25. ſufficiency of Chriſt. And. 3. the Truth andqJoh. 4. 42. Joh. 3. 16. 1 Tim. 4. 10. & 2. 4. Mat. 28. 19, 20. Rev. 22. 17. Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7. Univerſality of the Promiſe, which giveth Chriſt and Life to all▪ if they will accept him. But this Acceptance is the Proof of your particular Title, without which theſe do but aggravate your Sin. Conſent to God's Covenant is the true Condition and Proof of your Title to God as your Father, Saviour, and Sanctifier, and ſo to the ſaving Bleſſings of the Covenant: Which Conſent, if you ſurvive, muſt produce the Duties which you conſent to.
He that heartily conſenteth that God be his God, his Saviour and Sanctifier, is in a ſtate of Life. But this includeth th…) rejection of the VVorld; Much Knowledge, and Memory, and Utterance, and lively Affections, are all very deſirable: But you muſt judge your ſtate by none of theſe, for they are all uncertain. But, 1. If God, and Holineſs, and Heaven, have the higheſt eſtimation of your practical Judgment, as being eſteemed beſt for you: 2. And be preferred in the Choice and Reſolution of your Wills, and that habitually before all the Pleaſures of the VVorld: 3. And be firſt and chiefly ſought in your Endeavours; This is the infallible proof of your Sanctification.
Chriſtian, Upon long and ſerious ſtudy and experience, I dare boldly commend theſe Directions to thee, as the VVay of God, which will end in Bleſſedneſs. The Lord reſolve and ſtrengthen thee to obey them.
This is the true Conſtitution of Chriſtianity: This is true Godlineſs; and this is to be Religious indeed: And all this is no more than to be ſeriouſly ſuch, as all among us in general VVords profeſs to be. This is the Religion which muſt difference you from Hypocrites; which muſt ſettle you in Peace, and make you an Honour to your Profeſſion, and a Bleſſing to thoſe that dwell about you. Happy is the Land, the Church, the Family, which doth conſiſt of ſuch as theſe! Theſe are not they that either Perſecute or Divide the Church, or that make their Religion a ſervant to their Policy, to their ambitious deſigns, or fleſhl… Luſts; nor that make it the Bellows of Sedition or Rebellion, or of an envious hurtful Zeal, or a ſnare for the Innocent, or a Piſtol to ſhoot at the Upright in Heart: Theſe are not they that have been the ſhame of their Profeſſion, the hardning of Ungodly Men and Infidels and that have cauſed the Enemies of the Lord to blaſpheme. If any Man will make a Religion of, or for his Luſts; of Papal rLuke 14. 26, 33. 1 John 2. 15. Mat. 6. 19, 20, 21, 33. Col. 3. 1, 2. Rom. 8. 1, 13.Tyranny, or Phariſaical Formality, or of his private Opinions, or of proud cenſoriouſneſs, and contempt of others, and of Faction, and … warr…ntable Separations and Diviſions, and of ſtanding at a more obſervable diſtance from common Profeſſors of Chriſtianity, than God would have them; or yet of pulling up the Hedg of Diſcipline, and laying Chriſt's Vineyard common to the Wilderneſs; the Storm is coming, when this Religion founded on the Sand will fall, and great will be the fall thereof. When the Religion which conſiſteth in Faith and Love to God and Man, in mortifying the Fleſh, and crucifying the World, in Self-denyal, Humility and Patience, in ſincere Obedience, and faithfulneſs in all Relations, in watchful Self-Government, in doing Good, and in a Divine and Heavenly Life, tho' it will be hated by the ungodly World, ſhall never be a diſhonour to your Lord, nor deceive or diſappoint your Souls.
A Short Catechiſm.
Queſt. 1. WHat is the Chriſtian Religion?
Anſw. The Chriſtian Religion is the Baptiſmal Covenant made and kept; wherein God the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, doth give himſelf to be ou… reconciled God and Father, our Saviour and Sanctifier and we believingly give up our ſelves accordingly to him, renouncing the Fleſh, the World, and the Devil. Which Covenant is to be oft renewed, ſpecially in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Queſt. 2. Where is our Covenant-part and Duty fullier opened?
Anſw. 1. In the Creed, as the Sum of our Belief.
2. In the Lord's Prayer, as the Sum of our Deſires.
3. And in the Ten Commandments (as given us by Chriſt, with the Goſpel-Explications) as the Sum of our Practice. Which are as followeth.
The CREED.
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth: And in Jeſus Chriſt his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghoſt, born of the Virgin Mary, ſuffered under Pontius Pilate, was Crucified, dead and buried, he deſcended into Hell: The third day he aroſe again from the Dead, he aſcended into Heaven, and ſitteth on the right Hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he ſhall come to Judg▪ the Quick and the Dead. I believe in the Holy Ghoſt, the Holy Catholick Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveneſs of Sins, the Reſurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlaſting. Amen.
The LORD'S Prayer.
OUR Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our Treſpaſſes, as we forgive them that treſpaſs againſt us: And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil; for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory for ever. Amen.