Epistle to the Church in Chippin Norton, Letter

Epistle to the Church in Chippin Norton · Letter

AN EPISTLE To the Church of Chriſt in CHIPPIN-NORTON As Alſo certaine Scripture Rules which Ieſus Chriſt hath given to His Churches to walke by, which are approved of and conſented unto, by all the Members of the ſaid CHVRCH.

Publiſhed for their uſe and benefit, and for the ſatisfaction of ſuch perſons as deſire to know the Principles, and practiſes of the Church aforeſaid.

By STEPHEN FORD Paſtor.

As ye have therefore received Chriſt the Lord, ſo walke ye in him. Col. 2.6.

And as many as walke according unto this rule peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God. Gal. 6.16.

OXFORD, Printed by A. LICHFIELD, Printer to the Univerſity, for T. ROBINSON 1657.

p. 1An Epiſtle to the Church of Chriſt in Chippin-Norton.

MY Dearely beloved friends, my Brethren and Sisters in Chriſt Jeſus; when the bleſſed God inclined my heart to the worke of the Ministry, my earneſt requeſt to God was, that he would be pleaſed to eaſt my lot in a place where I might be (if he ſaw good) eminently uſefull in the Church and ſervice of Chriſt: and in order thereunto, that he would be pleaſed to take off my heart from ayming at great things, in the world: that I might never be carryed away with them, ſo as to neglect the worke of the Lord, in any meaſure; and that God would give me an enlarged heart and ſufficient abilitys to performe ſo great a worke, diligently and faithfully all my days: but it pleaſed God to hold me in ſuſpence many months after I began to preach; ſometimes gathering that God would have me fit down in one place, ſometimes in another: but I could not be fully ſatisfyed where the Lord would have me to abide.

Whereupon I determined to ſtay longer in the Ʋniverſity of Oxford, and to wayt for a ſatisfactory anſwer from God. The ſame week that I thus reſolved, I was deſired to preach the next Lords day, at Chippin-Norton, which accordingly I did; and it pleaſed God to begin to put a ſeale to my Miniſtry there as he had done in other places before: and being importuned with much earneſtneſſe to preach to you once more I was willing ſo to do: Afterward you earneſtly with the reſt of the Inhabitants, deſired me to accept of the place and be your Miniſter. At that time I had three places offered me; one of them was worth neer twenty times as much as this poor Vicari…ge that now I have; (as many can teſtify) but I found my heart more inclined towards you then towards any of the ſaid places and through Grace I refuſed all of them for your ſakes; and after I had ſpent many days in asking counſell of God, I was perſwaded, and in ſome p. 4meaſure ſatisfyed that the Lord would have me abide with you, at leaſt for a time.

And accordingly I found the Lord ſweetly and ſtrongly bearing in my former reſolutions and promiſes to God when I was depending upon him for directing and ſtrengthning Grace upon my heart, and the Lord was pleaſed to ſatisfy your deſires by his engaging of my heart to continue with you, and I aſſure you that I am willing to ſpend, and to be ſpent for you, and as I never thought any paines too great nor any difficulty too hard that I have not endeavoured to take and break thorow, for the weale and happineſſe of your ſoules: ſo I truſt I ſhall never knowingly neglect any oportunity, wher in I may any way further your wellbeing here and your eternall Salvation hereafter.

Now my beloved, the returnes that I doe expect and deſire of you for all the ſufferings that I have and am ſtill like to undergoe for your ſake…, for all my temporall loſſes, for my care and paines, labour and travel for your everlaſting happineſſe are, that you will be pleaſed to read, conſider, and practice theſe following dutys.

I intreat you all for Jeſus Chriſt his ſake, for the love you beare to his name, his honour, for the love you have to your own ſoules: if you love peace of Conſcience, and deſire communion with the ever bleſſed God: if you would have the ſweet ſmiles of your heavenly Father breaking forth upon you: for the love you profeſſe to have to the glorious Goſpell and Appointments of Chriſt: for the reſpect you have to the Lords people, who love you and pray for you, who prayed for you before you could pray for your ſelves, who have ſeen your converſion, rejoyced with you, for the Grace of God in you as Barnabas for the Saints at Antioch (11. Act.) for the love you beare to me: if you deſire to lay up to your ſelves a good foundation againſt the time to come, to have continuall aſſurance of the Love of God towards you, if you would not be ſtumbling blocks to ſinners: if you value the pretious blood of your Redeemer, if you deſire to be prepared for death, and to be partakers of that Crown of Glory which is laid up in Heaven for the heires of Heaven, ſuch as by patient continuance in well doing ſeek for it. Rom. 2.7.

(I do beſeech you in the firſt place,

1. Try and examine your ſelves whether God hath throughly and ſavingly convinced you of your miſerable and loſt eſtate and condition by nature, Joh. 16.8. which may be known by theſe particulars:

1. Hath God by his Word and Spirit broken and melted your hearts; hath it been and is it ſo ſtill a ſoule emptying and heart breathing conviction? hath the Lord ſhewn you your own nothingneſſe and inſufficiency; that you have nothing in you that is able in whole, or in part to deliver you out of your ſad eſtate: that you are poore p. 5and miſerable, and blind, and naked. Rev. 3.17. without Chriſts Righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 55.1, 2.

2. Have your convictions been ſelfe loathing, and ſelfe abhorring convictions Ezek. 36.31. Job. 42.5, 6.

3. Have you been convinced of the evill of ſinne in generall and of your ſinnes in particular, both of emiſſion and commiſſion, how the great, the gracious, and mercifull God hath been diſhonoured by you, he who waited to be gracious unto you ſo many yeares who invited and intreated you to come in and be reconciled to him by Jeſus Chriſt? 2 Jer. 19. Rom. 7.13. hath it been the burden of your ſoules that you ſhould thus requite the Lord, to chooſe rather to ſerve ſinne and Sathan then to ſerve him? Jerem. 3 25. 1 Tim. 1.13.

4. Are you brought to loath, to hate, and abhorre all your ſinnes: your right hand, and right eye ſinnes: your former beloved ſinnes, that were eſpouſed to you? doe you loath the very garment ſpotted with the fleſh? Pſal. 119.104, 113. Rom. 7.15.

5. Have you caſt off & taken your leave of all your former evill ways; your fleſh pleaſing and profitable ſinnes as you accounted them: can you ſay that your hearts are brought to this, that you had rather ſuffer much, then ſinne a little: that you had rather die then hugge, entertaine, or commit any known ſinne? Ezek. 36.25. Judg. 10.16. Hoſ. 14.8. 1 Joh. 3.9.

6. Have you been convinced of the Juſtice of God, how juſtly God might have damned you for the leaſt ſinne that ever you were guilty of? that the great God hath caſt many thouſands into Hell for farre leſſe ſins then you have committed: that it was ten thouſand to one that you had not been loſt, that God hath been infinitely patient and forbearing towards you? Rom. 2.4. Gen ….17.

7. Have you been convinced of your unworthineſſe, that you deſerve for ever to be rejected of God, and never to be received into favour with him Jerem 32.10. Phil. 3.7, 8, 9.

8. Have you underſtood & ſeriouſly conſidered what it will coſt you to be Chriſtians indeed? many (as I have often told you) when they are a little ſtartled and awaked by the terrors of the Almighty; make ſome fooliſh, deſperate reſolutions and attempts to change their courſe of life; and go on ſo to doe for a while; but when they meet with ſtormes and tempeſts they change their minds and go back with the dogge to their vomit 2 Pet. 2.22. Math. 13.21, Luk. 14.28, to 34. have you con…dered that it will coſt you the loſſe of Father and Mother, wife and Children, yea it may be your own lives alſo: that you muſt take up Chriſts yoake and follow him Luk. 14.26.27. and are you reſolved notwithſtanding to be Chriſtians? can you ſay that none of theſe things move you? you care not what you p. 6ſuffer or undergoe, ſo that you may winne Christ and be found in him, Phil. 3.7, 8, 9.

9. Hath God followed theſe convictions? have they been revived againe when they have been dying or ſleeping? have they ſpurr'd you on to Chriſt and to a more dilligent and earneſt enquiry after God and your ſelves Phil. 1.6. Phil. 2.13. Joh. 16.9.

10. Did ſinne lye ſo heavy upon your Conſciences and the ſence of Divine wrath, as to make you reſtleſſely and unweariedly to make out after Jeſus Chriſt for reſt and peace? Math. 11.28.29. and when you went about to quiet your Conſciences with your prayers, or the good opinion of the Saints: or your reformation or reſting upon any other broken reeds or ſparkes of your own kindling. Did the bleſſed God fetch you off, and continually purſue your Conſciences untill he had brought your wills to chooſe and accept of Jeſus Chriſt upon his own termes; and that freely without looking back with reluctancy of Spirit &c. finding a kind of loathneſſe and unwillingneſſe to foregoe your Idols; but you could cherefully and heartily caſt them all away? can you remember that the Lord hath brought you ſo farre, and is ſtill carrying on the worke in your hearts: can you find that your hearts were and ſtill are drawn to go to the free grace and mercy of God in and by Ieſus Chriſt, by his blood and righteouſneſſe, and in the ſight and ſenſe of your own loſt, miſerable, and woefull eſtate and condition being ſinners, and in the ſenſe of your own vileneſſe, ſinfullneſſe, unworthineſſe; & inſufficiency ſay ſincerly & heartily; Oh Lord: here is a poor, wretched, ſinfull Creature come to thee for to be juſtifyed and pardoned: Oh Lord I doe abhorre my ſelfe and all my own Righteouſneſſe: I am a poor begger, miſerable, blind, naked: Oh Lord I am a condemned perſon caſt and loſt and I am like to periſh for ever by thy righteous Law: but Oh I heare that there is another Court of Iuſtice and mercy erected for poor ſinners to appeale unto, and I am invited, nay commanded to make my appeale there: Lord I come unto thy free grace and mercy: nay Lord I come to thy Juſtice in Ghriſts name 1 Joh. 1.9. I believe that he came into the world to ſave ſinners 1 Tim. 1.15. and that he hath ſatisfyed thy Juſtice; that he obeyed thy Law, that thou art well pleaſed with him; Lord thou haſt made thy Sonne to be ſinne for ſome perſons, that they may be made Righteous by him: he bore the ſins of many, yea for all that come unto thee by him, with ſpeciall Faith. Oh Lord I deſire to be made Righteous by his blood & righteouſneſſe, to have Redemption through his blood: Oh Lord if it may pleaſe thee to Juſtify me for his ſake; Oh thou that juſtifies the ungodly, own me and be well pleaſed with me; & uſe me in thy worke. I ſhall account it my greateſt happineſſe. Oh Lord whatever hath ſeparated between me and thee heretofore I doe utterly p. 7and heartily renounce, abhorre, and forſake; all my beloved ſinnes, all my beloved Righteouſneſſe; that I may have Communion with thee, that I may no more diſhonour thee; Oh Lord I have been a willing ſervant to ſinne and the Divell, but unwilling to ſerve thee; but oh Lord now I am willing to caſt of Sathan's ſervice, and to engage in thy ſervice. I preſerre thy ways and thy Commandements tenthouſand times before my old ways. Oh Lord I have delighted in ſinne but now in Holineſſe; to pleaſe my luſts, but now to pleaſe my God. Oh Lord I am willing to have an intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt upon any termes, ſend me where thou wilt, do with me as it ſhall ſeem good unto thee; only deny me not an intereſt in thy Son, in thy ſpeciall Love Oh for Chriſt, for Chriſt am I come; give me Chriſt elſe I dye; I will hang upon thy invitation, thy command, thy promiſe, Joh. 7.37. 1 John 3.23. Joh. 6.37. Oh Lord thou haſt invited ſinners to come in, and be reconciled unto thee; O Lord thou haſt intreated and beſeeched ſinners; 2 Cor. 5.20. to accept of the termes of reconciliation. Oh Lord I doe come, I am a ſinner; I am one of them that is invited; 'tis true I am a great ſinner, oh yet I am but a ſinner. Oh I am willing now to be ſaved in the ſame way that Paul was. Oh Lord why not I? why not I? ſeeeing that ſinners are invited, yea whoever will let him come. O Lord thou haſt commanded ſinners ſuch as ſee themſelves loſt, to look upon thy mercy and Grace in Chriſt and be Saved Iſ. 45.22. Oh Lord I come in Obedience to thy command, I am reſolved to hang here: Yea Lord thou haſt promiſed never to caſt off ſuch as come unto thee; Oh Lord I'll hang upon thy faithfullneſſe and promiſe: Oh let me find favour I am reſolved to take no denyall; I will not be put off without thee Lord Jeſus; I am reſolved to be like the importunate Widdow Luk. 18.1, 2, 3, 4. I will keep crying and praying; Oh Lord 'tis for my life; Oh Lord thou haſt been a long time waiting to be gracious unto me, now I will wait for thee to anſwer my petition, thou haſt been many yeares wooing of me to gaine my Love, and conſent to marry thy Sonne: Oh Lord now I'll woe thee; Oh now I conſent freely. Now with all my heart I am ready to contract with him; here is my ſoule and body and all is ready for him; Oh if I might but hear one comfortable word from thee about it: Oh that I might ſee but one ſmile; but one good look, to encomage me to continue my ſuit, Oh Lord the end of my coming to thee is, that I may be made holy, as well as happy; to be ſaved from ſinne, as well as from wrath: Oh Lord if thou ſhouldeſt reject me, I ſhall diſhonour thee to all eternity, the thoughts whereof is burthen ſome to mee: if thou ſhalt pleaſe to accept me, and adopt me into that family, and ingraft me into Chriſt, I ſhall live to thy honour and glory: Oh Lord when bloody perſecuting Paul ſought for favour, for acceptance, when Mary Magdalene and other great ſinners, came p. 8to thee for pardon thou didſt accept them. O Lord thou art as full of Mercy and goodneſſe as ever, oh for Chriſts ſake, for Love and Mercy ſake. Oh for the Honour and prayſe of thy great name pardon, love, receive me into thine arms of Love. Hath the Lord dealt thus with you, have you been thus brought to Chriſt; could you never be quiet, and ſatisfyed untill you had peace ſpoken to you by Chriſt, in anſwer to your conſtant and importunate ſuits and petitions; oh then be of good comfort Chriſt is thine; the ſpirit of God is in thee; thou haſt an intereſt in the ſpeciall Love of God, and in the Govenant of Grace; thou mayſt go on tryumphing over ſinne, death. and hell who ſhall lay any thing to your charge, Rom. 8. Chriſt is at the right hand of the Father for you.

Oh but beloved your worke is not yet at an end; you may not think that it is enough that you are in Chriſt, and Chriſt in you, that now you may fit ſtill and be idle; no you juſt now beginne to worke, you never ſerved Chriſt till he brought you home unto himſelfe; Oh then now up and be doing and the Lord will be with you.

My beloved the reaſon why I have given theſe few trialls, and deſired you to try your estates by them, is, that you may go on in the practice of your duty to God and man, the more freely, quietly and Comfortably: for I am very ſenſible what advantage the Devill hath upon poor Believers in their Chriſtian walking, when they are always upon every temptation, ready to doubt whether they are in Chriſt, when they ſhould go about their maſters buſineſſe; the Divell would faine perſwade them that they are not his ſervants, and that they have no relation to him, his end is to render their lives uncomfortable and unfruitfull, but now when poor ſoules are ſure that they have thus been brought to Chriſt, as before, and reaſoning thus: well I can ſay that I have been thus drawn to Chriſt. I have choſen him upon his own termes, and he hath ſaid he will caſt off none that ſo come to him; well I will caſt my ſoule upon his word, il'e truſt him with my ſelfe; and all my concernements, ile care for nothing but how I may live and honour God, how I may bring forth fruite to him; I am commanded to caſt all my care on him 1 Pet. 5.7. Phil. 4. and to commit my ſelfe unto him in well doing; well I will goe about my Fathers worke and doe what he hath commanded me.

I beſeech you minde this in the whole courſe of your lives; when you are tempted to neglect your worke and fall back to diſtruſtfull feares, and doubts about your eſtates; oh then ſtand up ſtoutly and be not overtaken with the tempters wiles; and you will find it very advantageous to your ſoules.

2. If upon due triall and ſearch you can find that you have been convineed, emptyed, and humbled, and at laſt brought to Chriſt as you have p. 9heard; Oh then be ſure there to reſt and rely, let the free Grace and Mercy of God in and by Chriſt, and the blood and Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt manifeſted, and held forth in the Promiſes; be the foundation you reſt upon: reſt there for continuall pardon for acceptance for all ſupplys of Grace all muſt come from thence: here God will finde you and you ſhall find God: this is your greateſt duty yea and your greateſt priviledge: a priviledge farre greater then Adams: Now to move you and preſſe you to this great duty.

1. Conſider that it is an eaſier matter then moſt of the Lords people think it is, to reſt and live upon ſome broken Ciſtern Jer. 2.13. after that they are in Chriſt, and are Juſtifyed: As firſt upon Prayer; when they have prayed with more affection then ordinarily they doe: or ſecondly upon brokenneſſe and enlargement of heart, or thirdly on former experiences: they are of ſingular uſe, but not to be refted upon: not to be ſet up in the roome of Christ: fourthly on grace in them; on knowledge, faith, or love, or patience, fiftly or on obedience, your care to pleaſe God, your reſpect unto his Commands; beloved you are to bleſſe God that he hath wrought theſe things in you, and labour to be eminent in them, but if you reſt and relie upon thoſe or the like & expect acceptance becauſe of theſe things & to have your wants ſupplyed becauſe it is ſo with you; or that God is therefore engaged to you to do you good, herein you greatly erre now that you may ſee that it is an eaſy thing thus to doe; take notice 2. Chron. 14.11. compared 2 Chr. 16.1. to the end Gen. 20.2 Math. 26.

2. Be ſure that your old ſelfiſh principle will draw you in ſervility to reſt upon ſomething of your own, though not altogether as you did before Chriſt and you were one, yet in part it will be ſo.

3. You will exceedingly wrong your own ſoules if you doe not rest on God and relie wholly on him in Chriſt, as you have heard.

4. How unworthy will it be of your profeſſion to Ieſus Chriſt, for when you were burdened with your ſinnes you ſought for eaſe and reliefe to other helpes and Savioures, but they could give you none, and being perſwaded to goe to Chriſt alone, and to caſt all your burdens on him Math. 11.28, 29. when you promiſed him that if he would receive you, and take of the guilt of ſin from you: you would for ever reſt on him; & wholy caſt your ſelves upon him now you have obtained your hearts deſire of him; be ſure it is expected that you ſhould make good your promiſe, & live out your profeſſion, which you made to him in time of trouble: Chriſt will take it very ill at your hands if now you ſhould neglect him; and truſt to thoſe things that could not helpe you in time of need Judg. 10.12, 13, 14.

5. You will cauſe the Lord Ieſus to leave you to your ſelves; yea in time of need when you ſhall go to him for helpe: he will bid you go unto p. 10your Gods: Judg. 10.14. he will withdraw from you and ſuſpend his ſtrengthening Grace, his teaching and comforting preſence, if you doe reſt upon and truſt in any other.

6. Conſider that Chriſt alone can ſupply all your wants: yea he will if you do caſt your ſelves, and all your concernments upon him 2 Cor. 9.8 2 Tim. 1.12. Jud. 24. Phil. 4.19.

7. God hath pronounced ſuch as doe not relie on him, but upon any other thing ac…urſed, oh 'tis very dangerous Jerem. 17.5.

8. Many promiſes are made to this duty: God hath engaged himſelf by promiſe to you that ſhall reſt alone on him, to pardon you, to helpe you, to protect you: to give you peace Mark. 16.16. Iſa. 41.10. Rom. 5.1.

9. It is of all other duties the greateſt, and ſuch a duty that if it be well performed will as a meanes enable you to performe all other duties that you owe to God or men: you will hereby be inabled to pray, to fight againſt fleſh and blood, yea againſt the Devill himſelfe. You will engage the great God to ſtand by you, to ſupply you with all grace at all times Eph. 6.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Math. 21.22.

Notes of living by faith.

1. YOu live by faith and reſt on Chriſt; when you can acquieſce, ſatisfie, and quiet your hearts in him when all creatures and creature ſupports and comforts faile you: then you can truſt in him and ſay I have intereſt in an able and faithfull God, in a full and all ſufficient Chriſt, and here I can reſt my ſoule, and I am fully ſatisfyed, I have enough in having him, here lys my happineſſe, he hath made a Covenant that is ſure, and certaine, and this is all my ſalvation 2 Sam. 23.5. but if you deſpond in your ſpirits, complaine, murmur, and are as perſons undone when the Lord takes away Creature ſupports: then certainly you reſted upon theſe things. A man may think that he doth believe and relie on God with a ſtrong faith ſo long as he is hedged about with Creature comforts, but very difficult to know whether he can live by faith indeed at ſuch a time. 1 Jam. 30.6. Prov. 18 10.

2. If it be more and more familiar and eaſy to you, you can quickly and readily go to your reſting place: and not account it a ſtrange thing. Pſal. 56.3. Iſa. 26.4.

3. If you are not diſcouraged in the work God ſets you about becauſe of the difficulties you meet withall in it; but you are carried on with much reſolvedneſſe, and boldneſſe of ſpirit to doe your duty: yea though your way be hedged up with thornes, yet you will not decline any one duty: it is a ſigne that you reſt on Christ. Gen: 22.10 firſt verſes. 20. Act. 24.

4. If you can keep your ground, and ſtand ſtedfaſt, and keep cloſe to p. 11God in times of temptations, and raiſing up of that unbeliefe that is in your hearts; if you can ſay that none of theſe things move you: 6. Eph. 11. to 18.7. Math. 26.

5. If when the Lord withdraws and hides his face from you, when your graces are dead, your Sanctification clouded; your light is gone out as to your preſent ſence, I ſay if then you can reſt on the name of the Lord: 50. Iſa. 10.43. Pſal. 5. and ſtay upon the God of Jacob: then to conclude, well, though it be a ſad and cloudy day now, yet I ſhall ſee the Sun-ſhine of grace againe.

6. If when you ſee your emptineſse, wants, and inſufficiency, you can then go freely unto him who hath all fullneſſe of all grace for ſupply, and there wait untill it pleaſe him to ſatisfy your deſires: and you a…e kept from going back to broken Ciſternes; then you live by Faith, 30. Iſa. 18. 2 Chron. 20.12.

7. If you can quietly and cheerfully commit your ſelves to God, all your cares, troubles, and injoyments; and mind nothing but your duty and priviledges, how you may receive from God, and how you may live to him, and pleaſe him well in all things, how you may walk worthy of the Lord, and bring forth fruit to his praiſe: and take no care but a dutifull care, what you ſhall eat, and what you ſhall drink; but throw your ſelves on God for theſe things, then you Live by Faith. 4. Phil. 6. 1 Pet. 57. 2 Tym. 1.12.

NOw then for your comfort and incouragement know, that if you can find that you are thus brought home to Chriſt, that there is a reall, hearty …ntract made between Christ and your ſoule, and that now it is your care to reſt and rely on him: then know for your comfort,

1. That you have an intereſt in, and a right unto all the promiſes that are made in Chriſt unto Believers: the Father, Sonne, and Holy ſpirit, are all by Covenant engaged to you to doe you good: his wiſdome, his ſtrength, his goodneſſe, and farthfullneſſe, nay his Juſtice, 1 Joh. 1.9 oh you that are the Lord… bleſſed ones, rejoyce and be exceeding glad; you may; 'tis your priviledge, 2 Cor. 1.20. Joh. 18 21, 23. 1 Joh 1 9.

2. You have freedom, and liberty to treat with God about the great concernments of your ſoules or bodys, yea you may draw neer unto him with boldneſſe, and confidence and make your requeſts known unto him: Oh precious priviledge: Heb. 10.19, 20, 21, 22. Rom. 8.15. Heb. 4.15, 16.

3. You have an intereſt in Chriſts love: he can and will receive you, and your Sacrifices that you ſhall offer up to God in his name; he will plead your caſe in Heaven, be ſure he will never neglect you, if you doe not neglect him: he expreſſed his hearty love to his poor friends when he was leaving of the world promiſing them that if they ſhould aske any thing in his name he would do it, he that loves you can doe what he will for you Joh. 14.13, 14, 15. Joh. 15.7. John 16.23, 24, 26. Joh. 17.

4. God the Father himſelfe loveth you: Jeſus Chriſts Father, and your Father loves you; notwithſtanding your former ſinnes, and preſent infirmitys; he loves you with an everlaſting love, before you loved him, he had his heart fixed on you, looking upon you in Chriſt when you were ſinners: though he loved you not with the love of delight and complacency, as now he doth, having ſtampt his own Image upon you Joh. 16.26, 27. Joh. 14.23.

5. Be ſure that your Heavenly Father will never leave you nor forſake you; provided that you endeavour to pleaſe him and continue faithfull unto him he will not doe as men, to love for a month or a yeare, and provide for their friends for a few days; but as his love will be eternall, ſo will his care be alſo; he will provide for your ſoules and bodys Rom. 8.32. he delights in the Proſperity of his Servants Heb. 13.5. 2 Chr. 15.2.

6. You have an intereſt in, and a peculiar right unto all the good things that Chriſt hath: he hath purchaſed all things that pertaine to life and Godlineſſe; you being Chriſts all theſe benefits are yours; name what you will that may make for your well being here, and your eternall Salvation and happineſſe hereafter: Oh bleſſed portion. 1 Cor. 3.21, 22, 23. Eph. 1 14. Rom. 8.32.

NOw Beloved the Lord having done all theſe things for you, having by his Grace brought you ſo farre in the way to Heaven and given you ſuch great and ſingular priviledges, and many more then I have named; in the next place I intreat you to conſider what manner of perſons ought you to be in all manner of holy Converſation & Godlineſſe: Oh ſtudy now to walke worthy of the Lord, in all well pleaſing, being fruitfull in every good worke: Oh conſider what the Lord hath deſerved at your hands; what he hath redeemed, choſen, and called you for; why he hath called you into the followſhip of his Son Jeſus Chriſt, and with each other, and beſtowed ſuch great mercy upon you and labour to anſwer Gods ends. Eph. 4.1 Col 1 10 1. Theſſ. 2.12.

1. Give up your ſelves wholly to God, devote your ſoules and bodys and all your injoyment, strength, wiſdome, all the guifts that you have received of God unto him, doe it freely and heartily, ſay Oh Lord all that I am, or have is all thine; here Lord I freely give it to thee againe 1 Sam. 1.11.28. 1 Pet. 4 19.

2. Love your Heavenly Father and Saviour, as much as you can, oh you heires of H…aven, the more you love him the fuller your hearts will be of p. 13Love to him, the more cheerefully you will ſerve him and obey him, the more you will fear to offend him or to grieve him: Love will keep you from running out after the Creature: oh tis a heart preſerving grace.

NOw for the increaſing and actuating your love to the ever bleſſed God Pſal. 18.1, 2.

1. Conſider and realize much the great Love, the anſpeakable love of the Lord Jeſus to you, it hath and it will for ever even aſtoniſh and confound men and Angels, 1 Joh. 3.1. Rom. 5.8, 9, 10.

2. Conſider and realize the freeneſſe of it: he loved thee becauſe it pleaſed him, no other reaſon can be given for it but becauſe he would: he ſaw nothing in you worthy of his Love: he might have hated you, and loved others Rom. 9.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Deut. 7.6, 7, 8, 9.

3. Conſider how this Love hath been expreſſed: God hath not expreſſed it by giving you corruptible things, by giving you earthly inheritances: not in giving you a reprobates portion: no nor yet in making you perfectly holy without ſpot: but in parting with his own deare Son: in giving the dearly beloved of his Soule unto a curſed death for you to redeem you from the curſe of the Law, from ſinne, and Sathan; to make you righteouſneſſe with the righteouſneſſe of God. 2 Cor. 5. ult. Rom. 5.8. 1 Joh. 4.10.

4. Believe and pray much for hearts full of Love, go to him and ſay; Oh Lord thou that haſt all fullneſſe of love, I pray thee ſupply me, Oh Lord I am empty, Oh fill me: Oh Lord thou haſt commanded me to love thee; Oh I deſire to obey thee: Oh thou haſt promiſed to give it. Deut. 30.6. Rom. 5.5.

5. Conſider that God is infinite in Glory and in Holineſse. All the excellency beauty and holineſſe that is upon all the Creatures is but a reflection of his Holineſſe, and Glory, Oh how ſhould poor wormer love him. Exod. 15.11.

6. Conſider he hath loved you with an unchangeable love, your ſins Could never hinder its nor ſhall never be able to breake it: he will continue to Love you though you oftentimes abate in your love to him Iſ. 55.3. Jer. 31 3.

2. Take heed of Hypocrily in all your undertakings and walkings, your words and deportments towards God and men: be ſure to ſerve the great God in ſincerity, and in truth, and whatever you profeſſe, promiſe, or do to; or for men; do it without guile. Coll. 3.23 1 Pet. 2.1. Jam. 3.17.

1. Conſider if you do any thing though never ſo Good an action never ſo worthy of praiſe from m…n hypocritically, the bleſſed God will looſe his glory, 'tis not a Pelievers doing of a good worke that glorifies God unleſſe his whole heart be ſincerely ingaged unto God in the performance. And p. 14therefore the Apoſtle injoyns ſervants and all others to do what they doe heartily as to the Lord Col. 3.23. 1 Chron. 28.9. 2 Chron. 25.1, 2.

2. Be ſure that you will looſe the Comfort. God hath appointed his ſervants their imployments, and in their faithfull and dilligent performing their duty to him, he hath promiſed to give them Comfort, Joy, and Peace, but now when men leave out the ſpeciall qualification to which God hath promiſed acceptance and his preſence and other benefits, they ſhall looſe the bleſſing promiſed. 1 Cor. 28 9.

3. You will loſe your reward hereafter: you ſhall never heare at the day of Judgement one word for your comfort of any duty that you have performed, but what hath been done in ſyncerity and Truth, 25. Math 21.

4. Con: if you doe not ſerve the Lord Chriſt in ſyncerity, and in Truth, you will grieve the heart of one of your greateſt friends, the Holy Ghoſt, 4 Eph. 30.

4. Con. You will cauſe the bleſſed God to depart from you, God cannot, he will not hold communion with ſuch as are hypocriticall in their duties: you may not be hypocrities, yet you may have much hypocriſie mixed with your duties, and ſo much if you be not watchfull, and very carefull, as may cauſe the Lord to withdraw from you.

3. I Beſeech you endeavour to avoid all occaſions of evill, what ever may endanger and enſnare your hearts; and cauſe them to forget the Lord, and to depart from him: as

1. The company of ſinners; a man can hardly touch pitch, and not be defiled therewith: he muſt be a ſtrong Chriſtian indeed, that can aſſociate himſelfe much with ſinners, and not be inſnared and ſeduced by them: Pſal. 6.8. Pſal. 26.4.

2. Be ſure that you give not way to temptations, but reſiſt them: yeeld not to the tempter a moment: if you doe you will be foyld: David and Sampſon, and Jehoſaphat you know were overcome by temptations, becauſe they dallied with them, and did not reſiſt them.

3. Take heed that you be not too bold in uſing your Chriſtian Liberty: it is eaſy to run too farre that way; th people of God are not ſo often prejudiced by unlawfull things, as by lawfull: your hearts will be ſoon taken with theſe poor vain delights, that periſh wich the uſeing. Gal 5.13. 1 Cor. 6.12.

4. Then you muſt be very carefull to turne away your eyes from beholding ſuch objects as may probably provok and ſtirre up your Luſts, thoſe things that your hearts are ſooneſt affected withall: that are moſt apt to draw your minds and affections after them: as the faſhions and … of this preſent age; you will quickly looſe your minds; oh I like p. 15ſuch cloathes and ſuch faſhions. Pſal. 119.37. Joh. 31.1.

5. Avoid occaſions of evill in this; walke not ſo much by example as by precept: look not too much upon the practiſes of Rich, Wiſe, and Learned men, it is not ſafe to follow examples, eſpecially of ſuch men, except they be tranſcendently gracious men: follow men ſo farre as their practiſes agree with the precepts of God. Phil. 3.17. 1 Cor. 11.1.

4. IF you deſire to live as Chriſtians, and to walke worthy of the Lord, then be ware of Idleneſſe, be alwaies imployed in ſome honeſt buſineſſe; for Idleneſſe is a very great ſinne, and it will bring you into many inconveniencies Prov 31.27 Ezek 16.49. 1 Tim. 5 13. 1 Tim 5.10.

1. You will thereby tempt Satan to tempt you, the Divell will be often viſiting of an idle perſon, and tempting him to many ſinnes, as he did David. 2. Sam. 11.

2. Idleneſſe will indiſpoſe your ſoules and bodies for ſpirituall duties, it will bind up your hands and hearts: if you give up your ſelves to idleneſse, you will not be able to pray, or heare, or meditate, or examine your hearts: you will be putting off duties from time to time; reſolve to day to be better and to morrow: when to morrow comes, then you will be as unfit as before, and then you will put off God, and quiet your conſciences with new reſolutions, and ſo never bring any thing to paſſe that you deſire to doe, and God requires of you.

3. You will thereby incurre deadneſſe, dulneſſe, and regardleſneſse upon your hearts, which will prove a heavy affliction to you: you will be uncapable of injoying God in his Ordinances, or to worſhip God ſpiritually.

4. Idleneſſe will bring continuall guilts upon you; to trouble and diſturb your conſciences, you will never be at quiet, but alwaies perplexed and tormented.

5. Idleneſſe will expoſe you to many ſinnes, God will permit many ſtumbling blocks to lye in your way; God oftentimes puniſheth one ſinne with another: you will meet with many occaſions to draw you to the commitment of other ſinnes, as David found by ſad experience.

6. Idleneſse will imbolden your Lusts to break out, it will give vent to Luſts, Idle perſons have one Luſt or other continually breaking out in words or actions.

5. IF you will walk worthy of the Lord, be carefull not to give way unto the indiſpoſitions of your hearts, take heed of an indifferent frame of heart; when you find an indifferency and loathneſs upon your hearts to pray, or meditate, or to examine your hearts or practiſes, or to any other duty. p. 16when you begin to have a very low eſteeme of any duty; oh friends ſuffer it not to be in you with quietneſſe: but

1. Goe to God immediatly in Chriſt's name; and acquaint him with your condition; ſay oh Lord it is ſo and ſo with me, I have low and undervaluing thoughts of thy Commandements, and my duty to thee: Oh Lord I intreat thee for Jeſus Chriſt his ſake, deliver my poor ſoule, that I may ſerve thee with gladneſſe. Pſal. 55 22 Pſal 119.32. Pſal. 4.1,

2. Conſider how deare it coſt you heretofore, when you were through your careleſneſſe, and neglectfulneſſe under ſuch a frame of heart: what expence of labour, paines, and care you were at in praying, weeping, waiting, hearing, and the like, before you were delivered.

3. If it be objected to you, that you cannot Pray or uſe any meanes to remove it from you at ſuch a time; conſider that you ought to doe what you can, though you cannot doe what you would, as you would: If you can but creep to God, and only acquaint him with your preſent burthens: it is not your unfitneſſe, if you doe what you can in Chriſt's name, that can altogether hinder your prayers from being accepted, Rom. 8.26, 27. Pſal. 103.13, 14.

4. Be ſure that it will be worſe with you before it will be better, if you yeeld to them. The quieter you are, and the leſſe you doe to remove ſuch frames of heart, the more theſe indiſpoſitions will grow, and increaſe in you: if you cannot uſe means now to remove them, you will be leſſe able hereafter.

5. Conſider that ſo long as you are under ſuch a frame of heart, you cannot be fit for any ſpirituall duty, you cannot do any good work well.

6. Uſe ſuch quickenings conſiderations, and Arguments, as may probably be a ſpeciall meanes to help you out, to free you from theſe indiſpoſitions.

1. As firſt, that the bleſſed God can remove them with a word if he pleaſe; and that he is willing and able. Rom. 4 20, 21.

2. That Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to give life, and to give it more abundantly; he came to give quickening grace to believers through the whole courſe of their lives, as at the firſt to deliver them out of a ſtate of death, and to bring them into a ſtate of life. Ioh. 10.10. Jer. 13.3.

3. That God hath promiſed to quicken dead ſoules; to remove all your cloggs and fetters, that hinder you from a comfortable walking with him. Pſal. 119.25. Rom 8 11.

4. That the Lord hath delivered you when you ſought unto him; nay when you were wholly dead in ſinnes, yea before ever you deſired him to doe it for you: and ſurely he will not now refuſe to heare and help you when you call upon him, Pſal. 119.50; 93. 2 Eph. 5.

p. 175. That it is the Office and work of the Holy Ghoſt, to quicken Believers hearts: that he is imployed by the Father, and the Sonne, in ſuch heart quickning work: Ioh. 6.63.

6. That it is the will of your heavenly Father that you ſhould ſerve him with lively chearfull hearts, that he cannot endure to have his children lye under a dead indifferent frame of heart. 2 Cor. 9.7.

7. Conſider that God is ſtill your Father, and Jeſus Chriſt is ſtill interceding in heaven for you, even then, when you are ſo bound up in your hearts, as that you cannot bring up your affections to follow your judgements: you have ſtill an intereſt in your Fathers love, and in the covenant of Grace, and in Chriſts prayers, Rom. 8.34. Ioh. 14.14. Heb. 1.25.

6. IF you deſire to walk with God: then labour much to be watchfull Chriſtians, keep a ſtrict eye upon your hearts; no Chriſtian like unto a watchfull Chriſtian: none ſo holy, ſo humble, ſo ſtrong, ſo wiſe, and faithfull: watchfullneſse is a preſerving duty, and therefore the Holy Ghoſt is often preſſing it upon the Lords people: Math. 24.42. Math. 26.41. Mark. 13.33. to the end. 1 Cor. 16.13. Coll. 4.2. 1 Theſ. 5 6. 1 Pet. 4 7.

1. Labour to ſpie out the very firſt turning away of your hearts from God, and then you may prevent your hearts from going any farther; when you are upon your watch, you will find quickly which way your hearts are enclining, and where they intend, and for what: if you do ſo conſtantly and faithfully, you will be able to keep your ground, and ſtill be Lords over your own hearts under God.

2. Watch that you may ſee and quickly find out what ſecret flatteries, and fleſh pleaſing inſinuations the Divell at any time ſhall ſuggeſt unto you; Satan will draw you off from God if poſſible, not by violent temptations, but by ſome ſweet ſuggeſtions; pretending that you may do ſuch and ſuch things: for they are lawfull, and others have done ſuch things, that have been holy wiſe men: others have ſpent much time in ſeaſting, and merry meetings: in jeſtings, and merry diſcourſes: in ſleeping and idleneſſe: and why not you alſo: why theſe things are not altogether unlawfull, and many other ſuch wayes he hath to ſeduce you.

3. Be ſure to keep a ſtrict watch when you are in vaine, evill company: for then you will be in great danger of being betrayed; your hearts will ſoon be drawn to cloſe with them; at leaſt to a conniving at them, or to ſpeak ſomething that may manifeſt too much of your conſenting to them: and make them the more bold in their practiſes, and betray your own hearts, Pſal. 39.1, 2.

4. Obſerve your hearts when providence calls you to change, either your p. 18places or buſineſſes, or both: for then you will be in great danger of looſing your hearts, and your God too: many gracious hearts have found it true by ſad experience; that have kept cloſe to God for the moſt part, after they have been converted, ſo long as they have lived in the ſame places, and followed the ſame imployments; but in and after ſome conſiderable changes, they have miſerably fallen, and departed from God. 2 Sam. 11.

5. When you meet with any great diſappointments, and croſſe providences; or God at any time gives you your hearts deſires; then be ſure to have a ſtrict eye over your hearts: for if you are not exceeding carefull at ſuch times, you will backſlide from God: for then your thoughts will be taken up, about making ſome carnall advantag by the one: or in looking too much on the ſecond cauſes in the other: at ſuch times either your hearts will be too high or too low: Job. 1. 1 Sam. 1.

6. Watch when God calls you to the ſolemne performance of any ſpirituall duty, either privately or publiquely; leaſt when you come to the performance, you come without hearts, or without hearts that will rather hinder you, then help you, 1 Pet. 4.7.

7. Be ſure to watch your hearts, when you are in holy duties; eſpecially when you pray, or ſpeak before others, or when you joyne with others in prayer, your hearts will be like the fooles eyes in every corner of the earth at ſuch a time; or pride, and ſelfe exalting will ariſe in your hearts: 1 Cor. 3.

8. When you have performed any ſpirituall duties, and you have met with God in it: you have been filled with joy, and enlargements of heart: your hearts are warme, and chearfull, you can read your names written in the Book of life: oh then eſpecially watch; then you have more need then at any other times.

1. Becauſe your hearts will reſt upon your enjoyments; and ſet them up in the room of Chriſt; I doe aſſure you that I have found my heart readier to reſt upon theſe broken reeds, and to neglect Chriſt, then at any other time; now you ſhould endeavour to ſee it. Jer. 2.13.

2. Becauſe your hearts will attribute that which only is due to God, to the Creature; and ſay my own hands have done this; or by the excellent gifts, and graces of ſuch a man, who prayed and Preached admirably, and ſo forget that the holy ſpirit did all for you, and in you; Iſa. 26.12. Phil. 2.13.

3. Becauſe the heart is very apt to grow ſecure and careleſſe then, more then at another time: then Satan and your own hearts will tell you, that now all is well, and therefore eat, drink, and be merry, untill you have p. 19ſo provoked the ſpirit, as that he will take his leave of your hearts ſecretly, you ſhall not know when nor how he departs. 1 Kings 9.2. compared 11 chap. 1.4.

4. Becauſe if you ſhould depart from God after ſuch ſweet expreſſions of his love, you will more diſhonour and grieve him then before, and God will take it as a very proud affront to his Majeſty, that when he hath ſweetly and gratiouſly anſwered your deſires, you ſhould ſo much ſlight and undervalue him, as not to endeavour to keep what he hath given you: 1 King. 11 9. Pſal. 85.8.

5. Becauſe when you were waiting and depending on God, for ſuch or the like favours, as you have received, you promiſed and vowed that you would improve them when the Lord ſhould grant them, now you cannot poſſibly make good your promiſes and vowes, except you be very watchfull, Pſal. 76.11. Eccl. 5.4, 5.

6. Becauſe then you have power: your faculties and graces are prepared; you have divine ſtrength put into your hand, to walk with God, and to doe ſome ſingular thing for God, for the farther advantage of your ſoules, more then at another time. Pſal. 36.9. Pſal. 30.5. Therefore be much in this bleſſed duty, eſpecially at ſuch times: and know that 'tis not your duty only at ſuch times (though eſpecially then) but at all times, in all places, in all buſineſſes, in all companies; in all your converſings with men: and in all your converſings with God.

1. NOw to quicken you to this great duty, conſider theſe few things: firſt; if you ſhall carefully, faithfully, and conſtantly practiſe this duty, you will be able to ſee, and clearly to diſcerne all paſſages between God, and your ſoules: you will ſee his comings in, and goings out; you will know the method of the ſpirits workings; you will be ready to imbrace and receive all his benefits: you will quickly ſee a clear difference between your own ſpirits, and the ſpirit of God; your own wiſdome, and ſtrength, and his; you will ſee the worth of divine aſſiſtances: 2 Pet. 4.9. the 4, 5, 6. Chapters of the Cant.

2. You will be well provided to wage warre with the Divell, your Luſts, and the World; you will be able to ſee your enemies a farre off; you will not be ſurpriſed, but be able to fight with them at a distance, and then you will have a very great advantage, when you ſhall be able to fight with your enemies at the ſwords poynt; I can ſay that when I have fought with ſin, and Sathan at a distance; that I never was conquered, but was ſtill a conqueror, through the Lord Jeſus that ſtrengthened mee. 1 Pet. 5.8. Eph. 6.

p. 203. Conſider that God hath pronounced ſuch bleſſed, God bleſſes you even in the very performance of it: beſides what ſoule advantages you will have thereby as you have heard, Revel. 16 15. Math. 24.42, 46.

4. Conſider that it is your duty to watch; therefore do it in obedience to Gods command, make Conſcience of performing this duty as well, and as much as of any other Mark. 13.33, 34, 35, 36, 37.

5. You will make your paſſage to Heaven the more comfortable; you will make the way eaſy and plaine, you will not be ſo often at a loſſe as others are that neglect it; you will be able to runne, when others can hardly creep; you will rejoyce when others mourne Pſal. 51.

6. God will enable you hereby to be ready to every good worke; you will be able to go from one duty to another, from one buſineſſe to another, from one place to another; to performe the dutys of your particular callings, and goe from them to prayer or hearing, or meditation, or diſcourſing with the Saints; oh my brethren what a priviledge will you have? none can be greater then to have the heart diſpoſed unto every good word; and worke for God Tit. 3.1. Luk. 12.40.

7. Be much and often in the great duty of private prayer; take heed of neglecting that ſpirituall and ſoule enriching duty, it hath been and ſtill it is, the Common experience of the Lords people, that the neglect of this dutie hath been unſpeakably prejudiciall to their ſoules; and beloved the Devill will Labour more to keep Believers from this dutie, then (I thinke) from any other; for nothing can prejudice the Devills Kingdome, like unto this duty, well performed: now that your hearts may be the more engaged to this duty, I ſhall intreat you to realize theſe few conſiderations and Scriptures. Math. 6 6.9. Math. 26.41. Mark. 13.33. Luk. 18.1. Luk. 21.36. 1 Theſſ. 5.17.

1. IT is Gods way, his Ordinance, & appointment to Communicate and …onvey his choiſeſt ſoul ſaving mercys to his People; ſo that if ever you expect much of God, be much in private prayer Math. 7.6, 7, 8, Pſal. 2.8.

2. Conſ. God hath promiſed his Spirit to helpe ſuch as ſhall be faithfull in waiting on God in this duty: ſo that when you intend to pray; but meet with great oppoſitions with much deadneſſe, and coldneſſe of h…art, many great temptations; be not in the leaſt diſcouraged; but go to the Lord and tell him that you intend to pray as he hath commanded you; but you cannot unleſſe he will helpe you; tell God that he hath promiſed his Spirit to helpe you, and that now you Stand in need of him, and intreat him to give him to you, and take no denyall Rom. 8.26, 27. Gal. 4 6. Joh. 14.26.

p. 213. Conſider that the great God hath condeſcended to promiſe to heare the very groans and ſighs of your hearts, when by reaſon of the prevalency of your corruptions and temptations you cannot ſpeake out your wants, and deſires to God. Rom. 8, 26, 27. Pſal. 79.11.

4 Your Heavenly Father invites you to converſe with him: he intreats you not to be ſtrangers to him: God would have his people to be familiar with him; call on me ſaith God, I will heare thee; you may goe to God in Chriſts name, as friends invited to feaſt with him; and to aske what you will of him; Pſal. 50 15 Math. 11.28. Joh. 15.7.

5. Conſider that your Heavenly Father Complaines much of his peoples ſtrangeneſſe to him; and tells them they had forgotten him days without number. Jer. 2.32. Iſa. 43 22.

6. Conſider that God is your friend, and Father, he is full of bowells of love compaſſion and goodneſſe; he will be exceeding ready to receive you and here your prayers and grant your deſires; ſo that when you goe to God to petition him for any mercy, remember you goe to the greateſt and moſt real heartedſt friend, that you have. Exod. 34.6, 7. Jer. 3.19. Pſal. 86.5.

7. Conſider that you have a great faithfull; loving, and potent friend in Heaven, to tranſact all your buſineſſes in Heaven, between God and your ſoules; one who can experimentally ſympathize with you; your advocate and Interceſſor is man as well as God; you may open your very hearts to him, with as much freedome and holy boldneſſe, as you may to any friend you have in the world; remember what he promiſed you before he went into Heaven, and put him in minde of them, and be ſure that he will be as good as his word, 1 Joh: 2.1, 2 John 14.13, 14, 15. John 16 23, 24, 26. John 15.14.

8. Conſider prayer is an appointment of God, whereby God will hold Communion with his people in his Ordinance, God communicates his minde unto his friends, and the bleſſings of the new Covenant; and Believers having received of God; they give back againe to him; by acknowledging his free mercy and grace: in bleſſing and praiſing of his Name; and in reſting and relying upon him for further expreſſions of his Love: and by commending his goodneſſe, and inhauncing it. Jam. 4.8. 1, and 2. Chapters of the Acts

9. Conſider God hath promiſed to heare and to Anſwer the deſires, and requeſts of his people, that are according unto his will; and God is ever mindfull of his Covenant. Jer. 29.12, 13, 14. Pſal. 34.15.

10. Conſider that if you ſhall be negligent in this duty, you will quickly incurre guilt on your conſciences, and bring heardneſſe upon your hearts; p. 22you will grieve the holy Spirit, and cauſe him to withdraw from you, you will bring upon your ſelves many feares and doubtings, which will greatly perplex and trouble your ſoules: you will looſe the exerciſe and uſe of all your Graces; yea you will have all your ſpirituall comforts taken from you Pſal. 30.5.

2. Be ſure to performe this duty according to the will of God: Oh my beloved tis not enough to pray much, but take heed how you pray; tis not any kind of praying that is a Sacrifice well pleaſing to God Mat. 6.9. after this manner therefore pray ye ſaith Chriſt.

1. Before you begin to pray, ſet a part a little time to prepare, by conſidering 1. What your wants are, what you ſtand moſt in need of; 2. Whether it be your duty at that time; it is an eaſy matter to be miſtaken, and to pray when we ſhould doe ſome other thing; I aſſure you friends 'tis a great thing, yea a choiſe mercy indeed, for a Believer to do all duties in their ſeaſon. 3. Whether God hath promiſed to give ſuch things as you intend to aske, whether there be any generall or paticular promiſe to be a foundation for your faith: 4. Conſider with whom you have to doe in prayer a God who is Juſtice, Goodneſſe, Wiſedome, Strength, Mercy, Love, Omniſcient, Omnipreſent. and a Spirit: and then 5. Conſider what frame of heart is, or may be moſt ſuitable to theſe glorious Attributes of God; 6. Conſider your own unworthineſſe; how infinitely unworthy you are of ſuch a priviledge. 7. To conſider your own inſufficiency that you can do nothing without the aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit, and that he hath promiſed the Spirit to them that in ſincerity aske him. 8. To conſider what encouragements you have from God to pray, and other conſiderations you ſhould uſe to prepare your hearts.

3. When you go to God, believe for much, and expect much of God, take heed of doubtings and of low and narrow expectations: open your mouths wide, that is your faith, that God may fill your hearts. Jam. 1.5. Pſal. 8.10.

4. Be ſure that you get your hearts affected with your wants, and with the greatneſſe & preciouſneſſe of thoſe mercys that can ſupply them, that ſo your hearts may hunger and thirſt earneſtly after them Math. 5.6.

5. Go to God the Father in Chriſts name, go in Chriſts worthineſſe, by his blood, and Righteouſneſſe, loke on him as on one that ſits at Gods right hand to make interceſſion for you, ſay unto God, Lord though I am p. 23unworthy yet thy Son is worthy, he hath purchaſed theſe mercys that I begge of thee, John 14.13, 14.

6. Pray earneſtly, heartily, and Spiritually to God; take heed of carnall, dead, heartleſſe Sacrifice, of formall praying; for that will exceedingly prejudice your ſoules; never leave off untill your hearts have been carryed up to God, Ioh. 4.24. Coll. 3.23.

1. COnſider your Conſciences will not let you alone to reſt contented, except you doe the matter of a duty; but then they will be for a time quiet in the thing done, but know that no Sacrifice, no Prayer can find acceptance with God but a hearty fervent prayer Jam. 5.16. Rom. 12.11.

2. God requires the heart in all your dutys, and therefore it is but reaſon that you ſhould give that to him. Prov. 23 26.

3. Conſider, unleſſe you pray heartily, and earneſtly, you cannot doe it in Faith; now whatſoever is not of Faith is ſinne. Heb. 11.6. Rom. 24. ult.

4. Conſider if you doe not pray ſo, you mock God, you pretend to doe that which you do not, and you know that that is a great ſinne. Gal. 6.7. Jer. 3.10,

5. Conſider if you do not pray ſo, you rob God of his own, that which is due to him; you keep from him; will a man rob God, ſaith the Prophet, will he be ſo wicked as to detaine that which he gives unto him: Mal. 3.8. Mal. 1.8, 9.

6. Conſider that you will looſe all your labour and paines: God will never anſwer carnall, cold, heartleſſe prayers here, nor reward you for them hereafter; he will ſay who hath required theſe things at your hands Iſa. 1.11, 12, 13, 14. Math. 7.

7. Continue in prayer; be not diſcouraged and put off with feares that you ſhall never obtaine that which you pray for, becauſe you are not anſwered preſently: but go againe, and wreſtle with God as Jacob did and reſolve to take no denyall Gen. 32.24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

8. Then when you have prayed wait for and expect an anſwer, looke after your prayers; obſerve what anſwer the Lord gives to your prayers. Pſal. 85.8. Sam. 11.

9. Commit your ſelves and your concernment, your prayers and all into the hand of Jeſus Chriſt; as well after you have prayed, as when you are praying; and labour to quiet your hearts as the prophet did in the goodneſſe p. 24of God, let him doe what he ſees good, referre your ſelves unto him to his wiſedome, care, and love. 1 Pet. 5.7.

8. I Beſeech you brethren, take heed of the world; engage not your ſelves in more worldly buſineſſes then you can well mannage and keep your hearts free for God; and to have time enough for Spirituall dutys; for prayer, hearing, Conference, Meditation, and examination 1 Joh 2.15. Rom. 8.6. Phil. 3.18, 19. 1 Tim. 6.9, 10, 11, 12.

1. Conſider that though it may be profitable for the body, yet 'twill be very hurtfull, and prejudiciall to your ſoules, now you know the ſoule is much more precious then the body, Luk. 12.32, to the 33 Luk. 22.34.

2. Conſider though you may feare and intend no hurt in ſo doing to your ſoules, yet your hearts may ſoon be overcharged with the cares of this life; for although in the firſt beginning your hearts may be kept with God, yet by little and little you will find it will grow worldly Math. ….24, to the end.

3. Conſider that you have no promiſe to be aſſiſted and kept by God in ſo doing; becauſe God hath not called you to ſo many worldly buſineſſes; God never calls any of his people in love and mercy to more imployments then they may well do (if they will be carefull) and yet keep their hearts free for and cloſe to God Coll. 3.1, 2. Phil. 3.20.

4. Conſider if you doe ſo, you will cauſe both Saints and ſinners to have hard thoughts of you: you will looſe your room in ſpirituall hearts; and ſinners will conclude that you are covetuous earthly creatures; 2 Tim. 4.10. Phil. 3.19.

5. Conſider if you engage in more worldly buſineſſes then you ought, you will expoſe your ſelves to more temptations then you will be able to beare 1 Tim. 6.9, 10, 11.

6. Conſider 'tis better to have Communion with God then to have much of the creature; to have a praying, …enlarged heart then your purſes full of mony, and your barnes full of corne; it is farre better to be enriched with heavenly things, then with earthly Pſal. 4.6, 7 Phil. 3.7, 8, 9.

7. Conſider that Saints muſt be ſingular men, they muſt be as lights to guide others, wicked men muſt ſee that Saints are men of other Spirits, of choice Heavenly minds. Math. 5.46, 47. Iſa. 63.8. John 17.16.

9. ENdeavour to walke very humbly having low thoughts of your ſelves; and ſhewing much meekneſſe, and humility before all men in your words, deportments, and in all things: Coll. 3.12. Phil. 2.6, 7, 8. Prov. 39.23. Jam. 4.6. Iſa. 57 15. Iſa. 66.2. 1 Pet. 5.5, 6.

p. 251. Conſider that you were filthy vile wretched Creatures the worſt of all excepting Divels. before the Lord Jeſus Chriſt did cleanſe and waſh you, before his Righteouſneſſe covered you: Ezek. 16.14 firſt verſes. Iſa. 51.1. Rom. 3.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, to the 20.

2. Conſider that you have deſerved nothing but hell and wrath, or whatever may make you miſerable.

3. Conſider that to be humble is to be like unto Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe, he that was and ever ſhall be Coequall with the Father, made himſelfe of no reputation; how low did he ſtoop to exalt you. Phill. 2.5, 6, 7, 8. 1 Tim. 3.16. John 13.13, 14, 15.

4. Conſider that the more humble you are the more grace you ſhall have; God delights to fill the Humble with Wiſedome, and knowledge; he will open ſecrets unto ſuch: Pſal. 25. 1 Pet. 5.5, 6.

5. Conſider that Humility is a great and glorious ornament to Religion; none can more honour the Goſpell then an humble Chriſtian, he is a ſhining bleſſed Chriſtian; oh how doth humility commend religion unto others, even unto Saints and ſinners. Math. 3.5.

6. Conſider that the more humble you are, the more communion you ſhall have with God; you will have more aſſiſting Grace then others to keep you from backſliding; God will quickly take his leave of a proud perſon: but he loves tod well with him that is of a poor and of a contrite heart. Iſ. 57.15. Iſa. 66.2. Pſal. 138.6.

7. Conſider that you live upon free grace, God may take that from you that of his free Grace he hath given to you, if you forget him, and lift up your ſelves with his mercys Math. 25.28 1 Pet. 5.5.

8. Conſider the great diſtance that there is between God and you, how infinitely great and glorious he is; he is glorious in holineſſe; fearfull in prayſes; and you are poor nothing Creatures; poor wormes: God may (if he pleaſe cruſh you in peeces, and give you no account why he doth ſo: Pſal 5, 6.

9. Conſider that you cannot do any thing without him, you can neither heare nor pray, nor diſcourſe without his w…ſedome and ſtrength, and therefore how little cauſe have you to be proud of your ſelves 2 Cor. 3.5, 6. Rom. 26, 27.

10. Conſider that God requires and Commands you to walke humbly, what doth the Lord your God requires of you; the Prophet anſwers to walke humbly with your God, Mich. 6.8. Col. 3.12.

p. 2610. LAbour to have, and to keep always a tender Conſcience that the …ppearance of ſinne may make some impreſſion on it; Conſcience is an active ſtirring faculty; it will not be quiet if you give it liberty; if you do not offer violence to it: take heed my friends, you may ſoon get a ſeared ſleepy Conſcience; in a great meaſure; and know for certain, that if you ſtop the mouth of Conſcience, you will alſo hinder the ſpirits workings, who worketh in and by Conſcience; and if the Holy Ghoſt and your Conſciences ſhould once ceaſe their operations, you may be ſuffered to run into ſin, and ſo from ſin to ſin; for you have as it were, bound up the hands of your keepers: 2 Chron, 34.27. Act. 24.16 1 Tim. 1.5. Heb. 10.22.

11. Take heed of taking the glorious and fearfull name of God in vain; of uſing it commonly, and frequently, without feare and trembling; you will not uſe the name of ſome great men without ſome reverence and reſpect; conſider what God hath ſpoken of Himſelfe to his Creatures, to beget in them a holy feare and reverence; how ill the Lord hath taken it, that men ſpeak ſo ſlightly, and careleſſely of him, the Lord will not hold ſuch a perſon guiltleſſe that taketh his name in vaine, that is, that ſpeaketh of God in a common ordinary manner; Oh my friends, if you love the Great and Holy God, ſhew your Love to him in being tender of his honour; never make mention of the name of God but with a ſelf abhorring, but with a deliberate purpoſe to exalt and honour him; Oh my beloved, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt his ſake, if ever you hope to ſee the face of the Holy God; I beſeech you when you ſpeak of God, or to him, do it with feare, reverence, and trembling. Exod 20.7. Deut 5.11. Deut. 28.58.

13. Treaſure up the word into your hearts, when and after you have heard it Preached unto you, one great reaſon why you do not grow faſter in knowledge, in mortification, and holineſse, is becauſe you are (I am afraid) like unto the hearers that James ſpeaks of, Jam. 1.23, 24. if ever you exſpect good by the word, you muſt take pains with your hearts before you heare, and when you are hearing; and after that you have heard, to conſider what you have heard, to labour to have it turned into Grace, in every faculty of your ſoules, to heare for afterward: to ſearch and ſee what advantage you may make of every Sermon you heare. 1 Cor. 15.2. Math. 13.18. to 24. Pſal. 119.11.

13. Labour to walk joyfully and chearfully; a holy ſerious mirth, a ſpirituall rejoycing, is very commendable in a Saint; let your rejoycing be in God, not in your ſelves; let it appear that Religion is a reall thing; that p. 27you taſt, and feele more ſweetneſſe and joy in the wayes of God that you walk in, then others to doe in their own wayes.

1. Conſider that God hath promiſed it: he hath promiſed to make his ſervants joyfull: to comfort and cheare their hearts. Oh you bleſſed of the Lord, make out to God the Father and Jeſus Chriſt for much of it; Iſa. 35.1, 2, 10. Iſa. 56.7. Iſa. 65.13, 14.

2. Conſider that the Lord commands you to rejoyce: therefore labour to be joyfull and chearfull in obedience unto the command of God, Phil. 4, 4. Pſal. 97.12.

3. Conſider that Jeſus Chriſt hath prayed for it: when Jeſus Chriſt was about to take his leave of his friends, you know he made a long prayer to his Father, for his Servants and Friends, that he was to leave behind him in a perſecuting world, and among other Petitions you have this, Ioh. 17.13. I come to thee Father, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themſelves.

1. Be ſure to call to mind, and to realize what once you were, and what you are now: you were once Children of wrath, and of the Divell, but now you are the ſonnes and daughters of God, once the ſervants of ſinne, but now the ſervants of Chriſt. Eph. 2.1, 2, 4, 5. Tit. 3.3, 4, 5.

2. Call to mind what great things Jeſus Chriſt hath done for you, and what it hath coſt him, to make heirs of eternall glory, Tit. 2.14. Rom. 5.8, 9.

3. Be often minding of your heavenly Fathers Love, and free grace to you; how he continues ſtill to love you, how his heart, and Chriſts heart ſtands affected towards you, that he loves you really and heartily: Ioh. 3.16. 1 Ioh. 3.1.

4. Remember your future eſtate, what you ſhall be, though now you have many heavy burthens on you, yet the time is coming that you ſhall be freed from all, and ſhall be partakers of the fulneſſe of Chriſts ioy: you ſhall ſee him as he is; realize it to your own ſoules, that ſo your hearts may be affected greatly therewith: 1 Ioh. 3.2. Coll. 3.4. 2 Cor. 4.17. Revel. 2.10.

14. TAke heed, that you give not place to diſtruſtfull unbelieving thoughts, and reaſoning in a carnall manner, at any croſſe diſpenſations: you will then quickly fall into the commitment of other ſinnes: you will murmure and repine againſt God: you will hinder your prayers acceptance, you will quickly weaken the hands of grace, if you give way to the raiſings up of unbeliefe, and entertaine it in your hearts, you will quickly ruine your ſelves.

p. 281. Therefore to prevent it, conſider that it is your duty to believe and not to entertain any diſtruſtfull thoughts of God; and God takes ſpeciall notice of you, whether you be obedient unto him accordingly 1 Joh. 3.23. Iſa. 26.4. Iſa. 50.10.

2. Conſider that diſtruſtfulneſſe will grieve the Holy Ghost, he hath wrought faith in your hearts, and commands you to uſe it in order to the deſtroying of unbeliefe; and therefore now expects that you ſhould believe, and reject all ſuch wicked thoughts, Eph. 4.30.

3. Conſider how exceeding hurtfull it will be to your ſouls, if it be not kept in ſubjection; it will hinder your ſpirituall comforts, and make you goe ſorrowfull to your graves, and diſinable you for all your work and ſervice for God, Rom. 15.13.

4. Conſider what grounds you have to believe, what helps and encouragements you have; Gods commands, his promiſes, his Oath, his faithfulneſſe, power, goodneſſe, mercy, and love, engaged for you, you have the Lord Jeſus interceding for you in heaven with his merits: Rom. 1.17. Heb. 6.17 18. 1 Theſ. 5.24. Rom. 8.34.

15. Labour to be of lively, active, publique ſpirits, let not the Divels diſciples be more lively and active for their Lord, then you are for Chriſt your Lord: do not give Jeſus Chriſt cauſe to complain of you, that his adverſary the Divell hath better ſervants then he: do not make Chriſt aſhamed of you: tis a ſhame to Chriſt to have dead, lifeleſſe members: when your hearts begin to flagg, and to loſe their activity, then go to him for life, who is the fountain of Life, Ioh. 10.10. Pſal. 36 9. Iſa 55.1.

16. Labour to have alwaies upon your hearts the allſeeing eye of God, Conſider that God ſees all your thoughts, intentions, and all your contrivements, he pondereth all your wayes: yea there is not a thought in your hearts, but he knoweth it altogether: Chriſtians know that God doth very narrowly p…y into all your aymes, and ends, more then into others; he loves the feet of his Saints: Oh my friends this will keep you from the entertaining of many idle thoughts, and vaine words: from miſſpending of precious time: from ſinfull ſelfiſh aims and ends in what you doe: it will be a meanes to make you walk warily, and circumſpectly before God, Saints, and ſinners; and prevent backſliding from God: Pſal: 139.4. Prov. 5.21. Jer: 17.10.

17. Labour to be much affected with Gods favours to you, but eſpecially with the God of the Favours, and mercies; and endeavour to be very thankfull for them: for ſoule mercies, and bodily mercies; Labour to ſee the true and full worth of the mercies, that you enjoy; conſider that p. 29you are leſſe then the leaſt of them; conſider that all your injoyments, all your mercies for your ſoules and bodies, are given to you upon a ſpeciall account, they are new Covenant mercies; and the Lord Jeſus hath purchaſed them for you: ſo long as you have a low eſteem of mercies, you cannot be affectionately thankfull for them: Oh redeeming mercy electing mercy; calling, converting mercy, confirming, and co…forting mercies: Oh how great is perſevering mercy; teaching, and ſoule ſtrengthening mercies, oh your great Goſpel mercies; your Ordinary mercy; your mercies of peace, health, and Liberty, which all of the Lords precious Saints in the world cannot enjoy, Math. 13.16, 17.

18. Keep to the good way of God wherein you have walked, and wherein you have found God ſweetly revealing of himſelfe unto you; and take heed that you turne not aſide to the right hand or to the left: Oh labour to be ſtayd, stable, ſtrong Chriſtians: take heed that you be not ſoon ſhaken in mind; for tis a good thing that your hearts be eſtabliſhed with grace, let no man deceive you with vaine words, and draw you back again from your faith and practice, to the old corrupt formall way of worſhiping God againe: Oh let not the flatteries, or frownes, or reproaches of men, though from your neareſt relations, in the leaſt meaſure, cauſe you to faint in your ſpirits, or cauſe you in the leaſt, to decline from the ways of God; if any man draw bo…k (ſaith God) my ſoule ſhall have no pleaſure in him: think not that you doe not walk inthe ways of God becauſe wicked men reproach you for ſo doing: no my brethren, but rather uſe it as an argument that you are in the way, becauſe you are reproached by ſuch men; Conſider that ſo long as you walked as the world did, and there was no difference between you and them, they did not trouble you: Gods owning of you and viſiting you ſo often; with ſuch ſweet expreſſions of love, ſhould confirme you in your principles and walking; againſt all the Arguments of men, Eph. 4.14. Heb. 13.9. 2 Pet. 1.12. Gal 6.9. Heb. 12.3, 4, 5. Ioh. 15.18, 19.

19. Let all that you doe, all your purpoſes and intentions, all your thoughts, and words, or as many as poſſble, be directed to exalt the name of God: When you heare the word preached heare for God: that you may be made more like unto him: that your hearts may be brought nearer unto him: that you may know more of his will, that you may doe more, and ſo when you pray, or converſe with the people of God, or with ſinners, pray for to exalt and honour him; converſe for God, labour in all your callings, and worldly buſineſſes for God: you will looſe all your Labour, coſt, and paines, that you lay out, and ſpend in any good p. 30work, if you doe not intend for God; and give it to him: 1 Cor. 10.31. Col. 3.23. Prov. 3.6.

20. I beſeech you in the laſt place, give diligent heed to theſe Rules, that you have promiſed to walk by: Labour to underſtand, to remember, and to practiſe every one of them; ſo farre as they are practicall: oh beloved, your priviledges are many and great, as you have oftentimes acknowledged to God: and therefore be ſure that your duties are many and great: God having done more for you then for others, oh therefore be more wiſe, more holy, more circumſpect, more loving, more fruitfull, more diligent, and more faithfull then others: oh labour to be more humble, more ſincere, and more abounding in the work of the Lord. Oh my beloved friends in the Lord Jeſus, how inſinitely are you ingaged to God, you owe your ſelves and all your enjoyments unto him; he hath kept back nothing from you that might doe you good: he hath freely given his own Son, his holy ſpirit; oh rejoce in God and love, and feare, and honour him, think nothing too much that you can doe to honour him, he was contriving and lying out his thoughts from all eternity about your ſalvation; contriving how to make you everlaſtingly honourable and happy: Conſider my deare friends, you have but a few days to worke and ſuffer here, you are drawing towards your reſt, oh how bleſſed will you be if you ſhall continue ſtedfaſt, and unmovable in your walking with God unto the end; Oh my Friends keep cloſe to God, & he will keep with you he will not depart from you, if you will not depart from him: 2 Cron. 15.2. your God and Father will delight to do you good: you may have the liberty to aske what you will and it ſhall be done; if good for you, oh fight ſtrongly againſt your ſpirituall enemies: you muſt fight before you can overcome, before you can be crowned as conquerers even as Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe hath done for us, and before us: ſurely if we will be partakers with Chriſt in his Crown and Glory, we muſt firſt ſuffer and worke with him Conſider all the goodworkes that you ſhall performe in ſincerity, for the glory of God, ſhall all be remembred at the laſt day, to the infinite and endleſſe Joy and comfort of your ſoules; all your ſufferings for Righteouſneſſe ſake ſhall be abundantly rewarded: feare not litle ſlock, it is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you a Kingdome, your Lord and Saviour will ſhortly come and ſee you: he will fetch you home unto himſelfe: when your enemies ſhall have that dreadfull ſentence, depart from me ye curſed, he will ſay to you come ye bleſſed of my Father inherit the Kingdome of Glory; now you that have followed me ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones Judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael. Then your enemies will be p. 31confounded and aſhamed, then they ſhall bow and bend to you. Oh you that now ſuffer from your relations, you ſhall then be perfectly delivered, and ſeparated from them: it will not then grieve your hearts to ſee them rebellious your naturall affections ſhall then ceaſe; you will be then wholly ſwallowed up in glorifying the bleſſed God, then all your teares ſhall be wiped away; your ſorrow ſhall flee away; you ſhall be ſwallowed up of life: Oh how welcome will you be to Saints & Angells: Oh then you will a dmire free Grace: you will crie Grace, Grace, thon you ſhall have your hearts filled with love to God; then all your prayers, ſighs, gro…ns, and teares ſhall be anſwered, then you ſhall rejoce without ceaſing; then you ſhall be crowned with Glory and Honour and you ſhall never be reproached any more. Oh you beloved of Gods ſoule; you ſhall never complaine of a dead heart, any more. Never crie out of a hard heart, of a ſtreightned narrow heart any more: then your hearts ſhall be enlarged: and you ſhall forever ſing for joy of heart; oh therefore be willing to follow Chriſt a litle while & he that ſhall come to put you into the full poſſeſſion of your promiſed happineſſe will come; and will not tarrie: unſpeakably bleſſed ſhall you be if your bleſſed Saviour ſhould come and find you ſo doing, which is the prayer of

Your ſervant in the Goſpell of Chriſt S. F.