A Guide to Heaven from the Word, Part 1
A Guide to Heaven FROM THE WORD: OR, GOOD COUNSEL How to cloſe ſavingly with CHRIST.
WITH Some ſhort, but ſerious Queſtions to ask our hearts every Morning and Evening, whether we walk cloſely with Him.
And eſpecially, Rules for the ſtrict and due obſervation of the Lords Day.
Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures.
London, Printed by E. C. for H. Brome at the Gún in Ivy lane, 1664.
To the READER.
Courteous Reader,
HAd the Author of theſe Rules and Enquiries intended them for the Preſs, thou mighteſt have found them ſet off with greater advantage to pleaſe a curious Pallat; but being drawn out only for a plain people, they come cloſe to the Conſcience, in a familiar vulgar ſtile. Read them with care and conſideration, and you will find every line almoſt heartſearching. Keep this Book alway at your Bedshead, and let not a day paſs over your head, without taking it into your hand, and pondering the things in your heart. The firſt Rules are of ſingular uſe to bring you unto Chriſt: The Queſtions to keep you cloſe in your walk with him everyday: And the laſt Rules are to help you eſpecially on Gods Day. Never more need of Counſel about our ſouls: The Lord help us to improve all to Gods glory, and our own good and comfort.
Farewel.
A Guide to Heaven FROM THE WORD: OR, Good Counſel how to cloſe ſavingly with Chriſt, &c.
Twelve Rules to prepare you for cloſing with Chriſt.
1. WOrk your hearts into a thorow and unſeigned belief of the Articles of your Faith: Believe certainly and firmly, without the leaſt doubt, that there is a great and glorious God, that Jeſus Chriſt is his only Son, and the alone Saviour: That the Bible is the true Word of God: That undoubtedly there is ſuch a place as Heaven and Hell, Heb. 11. 6.
2. Really believe, that you carry within your breſts, precious and immortal ſouls: which muſt be adjudged by this God to one of thoſe two places, there to be for ever and ever, Mat. 16.26, &c.
3. Aſſure your ſelves. that the laſt Sentence will be paſt according to your well or ill behaving your ſelves in this life. Every man ſhall be rewarded according to his works, 2 Cor. 5.10. Iſa. 3.10, 11. Eccleſ. 8.11, 12, 13.
4. Account upon it, that it's very difficult to come to that Heaven, and that the way to deſtruction is broad and eaſie. Remember ſtill, you have deceitful hearts within you, a wicked Devil nigh you, and ſnares and hinderances about and before you, Mat. 7.13, 14. Luke 13.24.
Say, my time is ſhort my work is great, and my ſtrength is ſmall.
5. Certainly believe it, that Heaven is ſo glorious, that it's worth all your care and pains, be it never ſo much: and that Hell is ſo dreadful, that you may reaſonably fly from it with all diligence, earneſtneſs and ſpeed; that it's better you never had been born, if you ſhould die in your ſins, and periſh everlaſtingly: what a direful ſcreetch will your ſoul give, if it goes out of your body into unquenchable burnings? Heb. 11.14, 16, 26.1 …e…. 1.4.2 Cor. 4.17, 18.2 Cor. 5.11.
6. Reckon, that all the troubles of this world, can't make a man going to that Heaven in ways of Righteouſneſs, miſerable and wretched: How ſweet will it be to paſs, though out of a poor tottering Cottage, into a glorious Palace? Out of a Sea of troubles and dangers, into an Haven of Peace, Reſt, and Plenty? Nor can all the Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures here, make a man going to that Hell, happy: What a terrible Hell will Hell be to great ones, that have ſpent all their days in pleaſure! It's much to change a Palace for the dark ſilent Grave; Jewels and Deckings, for worms and rottenneſs. But what is it to have ſweet ſingings turned into bitter howlings? Deckt and glittering rooms, pleaſant walks, rich attire, delicious fare into dark Dungeons, unquenchable lakes of fire and brimſtone? Mal. 3.15. to 18. Luke 12.16. to 21.
7. Seriouſly think, I may yet get to this Heaven, and avoid the fearful plagues and terrours of Hell. If I ſhall come to glory, what a God ſhall I enjoy for ever and ever? into what bleſſed arms and boſome ſhall I caſt my ſoul? and if I ſhould go to Hell at laſt, can I bear up under the weight of Gods vengeance? Well, yet there is hope; Gods heart, the door of Grace, and the Gate of Heaven, yet ſtand open. How would the damned in Hell give thouſands of worlds (if they had them) for my may be! Heaven, Grace, and Chriſt are offered, and dare I refuſe all? Can I venture the loſs of ſoul and body for ever and ever? Heb. 10.30, 31.
8. If I miſs of glory, 'twill be mine own fault, my damnation will lie at my own door: God can clear himſelf of my blood; his profers of grace are free and frequent, earneſt and real; and ſhall I murder mine own ſoul? Ezek. 18.32. Joh. 5.40. It may be written over my Grave, Here is one that deſtroyed himſelf, that would go to Hell thorow mercies, judgments and warnings.
9. Debate the caſe with your ſoul ſolemnly, What is there in ſin, that I ſo much dote on? What are my greateſt deſigns and projects in the World? Can I dig the pearl of happineſs out of this dunghil World? Can I get the Houſes, Lands, Honours, Friends that I aim at? and if I ſhould, what are they? Certainly conclude, the greateſt wiſdom is to be wiſe to ſalvation, and my beſt work is to work it out with fear and trembling, leſt I loſe it, Prov. 3.13, 14. &c.
10. Then ſearch and try your hearts, whether you are in the Faith, and your hearts ſound in Gods Statutes. Ask ſeriouſly, Have I the love that is ſincere, the Faith that is ſound, ſoulſaving; and ſin-killing, and life-reforming? Am I ſure my face and heart are really ſet Sion-ward, and Heavenward? 2 Cor. 13.5.
To this end Query:
1. Did I ever ſee ſin odious, black and helliſh? Defiling and damning? Have I ſeen it in the glaſs of the Law, bloody and killing? but in Chriſts blood, exceeding, and above me aſure ſinful? Rom. 7.13.
2. Do I ſee in Jeſus Chriſt a beauty and excellency, a fulneſs and all-ſufficiency? Is he the chiefeſt of ten thouſands, altogether lovely in mine eye? Can I ſay, Oh! thouſand of gold (if I had it) for an intereſt in Chriſts blood, that cleanſing, healing; Pea e-ſpeaking blood! None but Chriſt. All is but dung, that I may win him, Phil. 3.7, 8.
11. Take it for granted, that there is no name under heaven, whereby you can be ſaved, but Jeſus Chriſts. All grace and mercy for this life, and that to come, muſt come to you thorow the channel of Chriſts blood, Acts 16.30, 31. Acts 4.10, 11 12. Say, By ſin I have ſhut Heaven gate, and hardned Gods heart againſt me: I have laid my ſelf open to all the wrath of God, all the curſes inn the Bible, and all the torments of Hell: and if I could bring all the cries of my ſelf, and all my friends, the ſtrength of the Angels, the riches of all the world, it would be as nothing to make up this woful breach: Chriſt alone can do it.
12. Believe it, that Chriſt came to ſeek and to ſave ſuch as we that were loſt. That he is not only able, but willing and ready to give forth his rich grace. What made him leave his Fathers boſome, put off the Majeſtick Robes of his glory, but love to poor ſouls? What made him drink the dreadful cup of his Fathers wrath, make ſuch loud calls, ſuch rich proffers; wait, and ſend; be rejected, and wait; cry earneſtly, and wait long, but love to ſinners? Joh. 6.35, 37. 'Twas love to ſouls made him give up his body to be broken, that precious box of oyntment, which fills both heaven and earth with its ſweet ſavour, and pleaſant perfumes.
Having throughly weighed and believed theſe foregoing propoſitions: then come to Chriſt theſe 13 ways.