Crumbs of Bread for the Dove in the Clefts of the Rock, Section 4 – Section 6
SECT. IV. Of the Chriſtians daily walk.
EVery day hath its duty in Common and ordinary, Heb. 3.and ſome daies in extraordinary actings of grace, and performance of duty; to the Glorifying of God, and to the working out of our ſalvation: for this take and practiſe theſe directions following: the word be your rule, the ſpirit be your guide, and Chriſt Jeſus be your ſtrength.
1. Pſal. 5.3.In the Morning, when you awake, lift up your heart to God; be thankfull for the mercies of the night, deſire the guidance, grace, mercy, and providence for the day; ſend up ſome Holy Ejaculations: Conſider what may be moſt likely the duty and temptation of the day, ſet your ſpirituall watch, ingage your hearts with God, and warme it with the thoughts of his love, and the hopes of his kingdome.
2. Pſal. 1.2.Seaſon your hearts with ſome portion of his word, read firſt what may next come to your hands, proceed then in your ordinary courſe for your morning reading of the Scriptures: work what you have read, upon your heart, Pſ. 5.3.by ſerious meditation, and then addreſs your ſelfe to God, as you have place and opportunity in ſolemne prayer: from thence in fit ſeaſon (ere the occaſions of the world fall in) diſcharge the duties in your family,
3. Rom. 12.11. Eph. 6.7.Apply your ſelfe with diligence to the duty of your Calling, in the fear of God, with a good Conſcience, depending on his preſence, favour, and bleſſing.
4. Keep upon your hearts, Gen. 17.1.the ſence of the eye of God, that ſees all, the ear of God that heares all, and the hand of God that records all, eſpecially the word of God that is to rule all, and his providence to bleſſe all: do nothing that may diſpleaſe him, do every thing according to his will, and to his glory.
5. In temporall employments and ſecular occaſions act ſpirituall graces, mind eternity, your ſpirituall concernments, Phil. 3.20.ſend frequent, holy ejaculations towards Heaven, and ſo maintaine Communion with God throughout the day, and in the midſt of your employments.
6. Watch againſt the temptations of the day, the occaſions to ſin, and the firſt motions and ſtirrings of corruptions, and thoſe either rooted in thy diſpoſition, 1 Pet. 5.8. 1 Pet. 2.11.or occaſioned in thy calling: 1 Pet. 5.8. & 2.11.Take heed of ſinning.
7. Take not only care of ſinning, but be found (as occaſion is offered) in all welldoing. Iſ. 1.16. Tit. 2.12. Mica. 6.8.Adorne the Goſpell, and approve thy ſelf a Chriſtian by acts of Righteouſneſs, Justice, and Equity in all thy dealings, and withall of mercy and charity, as it lies before thee.
8. Take care of thy words; let none be profane, Math. 12.36.37. 1 Pet. 3.10.ſinfull, frothy, uncharitable, but true, and ſeaſoned with grace, adminiſtring grace to the hearers: uſe not too many words in buying and ſelling; hear few ſtories that little concern you, and tell leſs. Think before you ſpeak; remember there is an account to be made of words, by theſe alſo thou ſhalt be juſtified, Math. 12.37.and by them thou mayeſt be condemned.
9. 1 Cor. 10.31. Tit. 2.12.In all refreſhments of food, or recreation, be ſober, ſerious, and ſpirituall.
10. Upon rovings and wandrings call in thine heart, Eccleſ. Prov.and let not thy thoughts be too far diſperſed, or too long diſingaged from communion with God, ſoul-concernments, and matters of Eternity.
11. Eph. 4.26.Take heed of paſſions, raſh anger, ſudden ſurpriſals or provocations, that may be offered. Do no wrong: take notice of little, forgive much, forbear retaliation in words or actions: in great affronts be not too much diſturbed, and commit events and returns to God.
12. Eph. 6.1. Eph. 5.22.Fill up Relations with relative duties, whether as ſuperior, or inferior, or equall: be obedient to the commands of Superiours according to the will of God; be reſpectfull, kind, and friendly to equals; be moderate, tender, and gentle to inferiors. Do evill to none, but good to all.
13. Beware of your company: Eph. 5.7.11. Pſ. 15.have no more to do with wicked perſons, then of neceſſity you muſt: let their preſence be your burthen, and their profaneneſſe your abhorrency: let them know that you do not like them. Let the good be welcome, entertaine them as Chriſtians; receive from them or give to them what may be ſpirituall.
Let your time be pretious, Eph. 5.16.and little or none be waſted; fill up all with neceſſary duties that belong unto it, or find out ſomething good and commendable to improve it. On moments of time depends eternity: let not ſpirituall and temporall duties interfer, but let each have their proper ſeaſons; run not from thy particular calling to exerciſes of the generall, when unſeaſonable; neglect not the generall for the particular, when thou haſt thy freedome.
15. Let not the world, or the things of the world be too earneſtly deſired, eagerly perſued, 1 Joh. 2.15 Phil. 4.11.affectionately imbraced: be thankfull for, and content with neceſſaries; what's more, let it be improved in the chearfull ſervice of God, in works of piety and charity. Keep thine heart at a diſtance, and looſe from all, and be contented to part with all, Heb. 10.34.when called to it; knowing that Heaven is thine inheritance, and God himſelf thy portion.
26. Obſerve the waies and methods of God's providence towards thee from day to day: conſider the graces to be exerciſed on ſuch occaſions: Live the life of dependance on God's providence, and ſubjection to his will: be thankfull for his mercies, and endure his chaſtiſements. Let extraordinary diſpenſations have extraordinary obſervations.
17. Remember to walke with God humbly, Mica 6.8. Tit. 2.12.cheerfully, obediently, and believingly. Carry your ſelves to men reſpectfully, righteouſly, friendly: demean your ſelves ſ…berly, gravely, prudently: bear all injuries patiently, receive all Kindneſſes thankfully, do all Courteſies readily.
18. Suffer no guilt contracted to lie long upon you, but be often examining your ſelves; Pſ. 19: Pſ. 32. beg.on ſence of ſin renew your repentance, and faith on the bloud of Chriſt, and returne to Duty.
19. Tit. 2.13.Doe ſomething every day towards the laſt, in mortifying corruption, ſtrengthning graces, increaſing knowledge, furthering your aſſurances, drawing nearer to Heaven in thoughts on it, deſires after it, preparations for it.
20. In the evening of the day, Pſ. 4.4.reflect on what hath paſt, caſt up accounts, be humble for defects, repent of tranſgreſſions, be thankfull for mercies, renew your acquaintance with God as you have opportunity in ſolemne duties of praier, meditation, and reading the Scriptures, or ſome good Books: performe theſe duties, as alſo your family duties, in good ſeaſon. Pſ. 3.5. Pſ. 4. ult. ſee Pſ. 1 & 42. & 16.When all is done, remember Mortality and Eternity. Act repentance and faith, and commit your ſoules, and bodies, and family to God, and to his keeping.
SECT. V. Of Communion with God.
THE Convert may no… advance to a more eſpeciali … God; and that not only as … …iviledge, See 1 John 1.3. &c. … 20. Job 22.21.
R For ſuch as have int… … God, Rom. 5.1.acceſſe to God, accepta… …ith God are beloved of him, may …, and derive from him. This … partly preſuppoſeth, and partly requireth what we have in theſe following particulars, and it may be in ſome other.
1. Heb. 10.19, 20.It preſuppoſeth reconciliation with God through the mediation of Chriſt, apprehended by faith, anſwered in repentance, purſued in obedience, and maintained in walking before him.
2. It immediately followes union with Chriſt, Eph. 2.18.relation to God, and inhabitation of the Spirit.
3. It ſuppoſes the qualification of the perſon in conformity to God, Pſ. 15.and aſſimilations to him.
4. Joh. 14.21.It is maintained, on Gods part, by teachings of the Spirit, influences of grace, Rev. 3.20. Cant. 5.1. Pſ. 25.14.teſtimonies of Love, and earneſts of his glory. On the Christians part, by what here followeth.
1. Addreſſes to God in holy duties, Pſ. 73.28. Pſ. 100.ſolemn or occaſionall, through Chriſt, and by the Spirit.
2. Apprehenſions of God, his glory, Joh. 17.3.his grace, love, and goodneſſe revealed in his word through Chriſt, and applied by the Spirit.
3. Adorations of God, high thoughts of him, with humble worſhippings, praiſes, Pſ. 100.4.and acknowledgments.
4. Affections to God in Chriſt, Pſ. 42.1. Pſ. 63.1.running out in love, deſire, delight, and joy.
5. Pſ. 36.7. Cant. 8.5.Affiance in God through Chriſt in his grace, goodneſſe, truth, faithfulneſſe, power, and providence.
6, Activity of grace in holy duties, Cant. 4.16.proper, in times ſeaſonable, in manner ſpirituall, in meaſure fruitfull.
7. Pſ. 16.8. Cant. 2.7.Actuall intentions of God and of his glory, and of being well pleaſing to him, in the frame of our hearts, in the courſe of our lives, and eſpecially in our holy duties.
8. Applications of his love, Cant. 1.2. &c. Rom. 5.5, 6 &c.upon the diſcoveries of it in his word; the ſhedding of it abroad in our hearts by his Spirit, the evidence of it in his graces, and the experience of it in his mercies.
9. Acquainting him with our neceſſities, Phil. 4.6. Cant. 2.14.deſires, caſes, and conditions from day to day: provided it be humbly, heartily, believingly, it may be freely, and with holy familiarity, as a friend with his friend, a child with his father, and the ſpouſe with her husband: and this whatever be our diſtreſſes, and dangers, troubles, and ſorrows, wrongs and injuries wants and weakneſſes, temptations and infirmities.
10. Attendance to the methods of his providence, Job. Pſ. 8. Cant. 5.4.and the motions of his ſpirit; with the obſervation of his works, and the opening of our hearts unto his word, hearkning to his whiſpers, ſenſible apprehenſions of his approaches to your ſoules, not ſuffering our ſelves to be unmindfull of him, eſtranged from him.
11. Attributing all our mercies, and refreſhments, Eph. 3. ult.ſpirituall and temporall, with the hopes of eternall, to his free grace and mercy in Jeſus Chriſt: giving him the glory of all that's done before us, or upon us.
12. Acquieſcence in him as our God in Chriſt, Pſ. 116.7.our God in Covenant, our All in All: reſting our ſelves in our relation to him, Pſ. 73.25.enjoyment of him: whatever elſe we want, and whatever our condition be, Pſ. 17. ult. Pſ. 16. ult.'till we come to glory, to ſee him as he is, to be perfectly like unto him, and for ever with him. Read Mr. Strong of Communion with God, and Dr. Owen of Communion with God. Brinſly.
SECT. VI. Of Aſſurance.
THat you may not want any needfull directions for the hightning of your Comfort, peace of conſcience, and joy in the holy Ghoſt, excuſe the brevity, and take theſe notes of Aſſurance.
1. It is the ordinary, as the deſireable priviledge of holy perſons, mortifying corruptions, exerciſing graces, 1 Pet. 1.8. Pſ. 36.7. Rom. 5.5.walking daily before the Lord, and in communion with him, to have comfortable aſſurance of the love of God, intereſt in Chriſt, 1 Pet: 1.3, 4, 5, 6.pardon of ſins, ſtate in grace, title to the promiſes, and their inheritance in the Kingdome.
2. If it be otherwiſe with any, 'tis probable, Pſ. 51. Cant. 5.2.there are ſome unmortified corruptions, neglected graces, diſordered converſations, eſtrangements from God, or ſomething extraordinary in the way of God's diſpenſation, Iſ. 50.10.the prevalency of temptation, diſtemper in conſtitution, which are to be enquired after. However it be,
1. 2 Pet. 1.5.Practiſe the methods in the former Directions with care and diligence, in truth and in ſincerity.
2. Pſ. 51. Rom. 16.16. Eph. 1.17, 18.Beg the ſpirit of Adoption to enlighten our underſtandings, ſhine upon our graces, and make the application.
3. Reflect upon your ſelves, your ſtate, and your exerciſe, Rom. 16.16. 1 John 3.19, 20. Gal. 2.20.and comparing them with the word in the light of the ſpirit, your conſciences bearing witneſſe in the holy Ghoſt of ſincerity upon the tryall, accordingly paſſe the ſentence for your Aſſurance, and make the application, caſt off your doubts, give glory to grace, and make progreſſe to glory.
4. Where things are doubtfull upon enquiry, Hab. 2. Iſ. 50.10. Cant. 5.the beſt way is to put it out of doubt by practice, in the actings of the graces, and performance of the duties; waiting God's time, and keeping his way, and truſting in his mercy through Chriſt Jeſus, till he be pleaſed to anſwer your doubts, to rebuke your temptations, to give his ſpirit, and to cauſe the light of his countenance to ſhine upon you.
5. Learne moreover not to queſtion the goodneſſe of the father, the merits of the ſon, the power of the ſpirit, 1 Joh. 5.11 12.the truth of the promiſes, the probability of your intereſt (if any way likely) much leſſe the hopes of arriving ſafe to glory, being found in the ſincere diſcharge of duty, Cant. 8.7.leaving the wilderneſſe of the world and ſin in our affection and converſation, and leaning on our Beloved.
6. Expect not conſiderable meaſures of comfort, but in proportions of Duty, Pſ. 84.7.and ſome progreſſe made in practicall Chriſtianity.
7. 2 Cor. 1. beg. 1 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7, 8.There are ſpeciall ſeaſons for ſpeciall Aſſurances: as entrance upon, of diſcharge of ſome great undertakings in the life of Religion, or ſome great tryall and exerciſe (ſuppoſe) of ſuffering: and the beſt is alwaies reſerved for the needfull and proper ſeaſon.
8. Having gotten it, keep it, and that with humility, thankfulneſſe, and diligence, Jude 20, 21. Cant. 5.2.with progreſſe in the way where in you got it. Take heed of abuſing it by ſecurity, wantoneſſe, or worldlineſſe.
9. Look and long for heaven, Rev. 22.20.there all is perfected. Moſt Sermons have ſomewhat towards this in their Ʋſes of Examination and Conſolation: and ſome more eſpecially on this ſubject; ſearch out your Notes and ſtudy them. Beſides theſe there are diverſe Treatiſes: a… Baxter's Directions. Bolton's Instructions, Sibbes his Soules Conflict. Symonds deſert… Soules caſe and cure. Roberts Evidences. Ambroſe middle things. Ford of Adoption. Cripplegate Exerciſe.