The Middle Things, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
SECT. I. Of the Nature of Experiences.
EXperience (ſay ſome) is a knowledge and diſcovery of ſomething by ſence not evident in it ſelf, but manifeſted by ſome event or effect. This deſcription contains both Natural and Spiritual Experience; but my purpoſe is to ſpeak onelyonly of the latter, and in that reſpect I look ſtrictly at Experiences, as Real proofs of Scripture truths. When I mark how true every part of Gods Word is, how all the Doctrines, Threatnings and Promiſes contained therein, are daily verified in others, and in my own ſelf, and ſo improve, or make uſe of them to my own Spiritual advantage, this I call Experience.
SECT. 2. Of the gathering of Experiences.
THat our Experiences may further us in the way to Heaven, we muſt learn 1. To gather them: 2. To improve them. 1. For the gathering of them, the onelyonly way is —
1. To mark things which fall out; To obſerve the beginnings and events of matters, to eye them every way, on every ſide, that they may ſtand us in ſtead for the future: This obſervation and pondering of events, with the cauſes that went before, is the ripener of wit;Iſa. 42.23. Pſal. 107.43. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken for the time to come? Whoſo is wiſe, and will obſerve thoſe things, even they ſhall underſtand the loving kindeneſs of the Lord.
2. To treaſure up, and lay in theſe obſervations, to have ready in remembrance ſuch works of God as we have known and obſerved. The Philoſopher ſaith, that Experience is multiplex memoria, A multiplied memory, becauſe of the memory of the ſame thing often done, ariſeth Experience: I remember the days of old, ſaith David; Pſal. 143.5.I remember how thou didſt rebuke Abimelech, and overthrew Nimrod, and Pharoah, and Ahitophel: and thus would we treaſure up Experiments, the former part of our life would come in to help the latter, and the longer we live, the richer in Faith we ſhould be; even as in Victories, every former overthrow of an Enemy, helps to obtain a ſucceeding Victory. This is the uſe of a ſanctified memory, it will loſe nothing that may help in time of need, or in the evil day; it records all the breathings, movings, ſtirrings, workings of a ſoul towards Chriſt, or of Chriſt towards a ſoul.
3. To caſt theſe things thus marked and laid in under ſeveral Spiritual heads, of Promiſes, Threats, Deceits of the heart, Subtilties of Satan, Allurements of the world, &c. I might inlarge the Heads into any thing that is good or evil: 1. Into any thing that is good, whether it be God, or the things given us by God; his Spirit, his Councels, his Ordinances, his Work of Sanctification, and all the fruits of the Spirit. 2. Into any thing that is evil, whether it be Sin, or the fruits of Sin, as Corruption, inability to good, vanity of all the Creatures, the Judgements of God. Thus we muſt ſort our Experiences, as the Apothecary ſorteth his Drugs.
SECT. 3. Of the improving of Experiences.
2. FOr the improving of Experiences,—
1. We muſt conſider what Scripture-truth is verified thereby in
Others.
Our ſelves.
1. In others, as if we conſider how God bleſſeth and cheareth the religious; wherein that Text is verified,Iſa 3.10. Bleſſed are the righteous, for it ſhall be well with them, for they ſhall eat the fruit of their doings: Or if we obſerve how God puniſheth the carnal and hypocritical, wherein that Text is verified, Wo unto the wicked, it ſhall be ill with them, Iſa. 3.11.for the reward of their hands ſhall be given them.
2. In our ſelves, as if by a Spiritual Experience we taſte God to be good; 1 Pet. 2.3.wherein that Text is verified, If ſo be ye have taſted that the Lord is gracious: If we finde the things given us of God to be good; as that his Spirit is good, according to that Text, Thy Spirit is good: Pſal. 143.10.That his Ordinances are good, according to that Text,Pſa. 73.28. It is good for me to draw near to God; — and, This is my comfort in affliction, Pſa. 119.50.for thy word hath quickned me: That Sanctification, and the fruit of the Spirit, are good; according to that Text,Lam 3.26. It is good that a man ſhould both hope, and quietly wait for the ſalvation of the Lord: — It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, Pſa. 92.1.and to ſing praiſes unto thy name, O moſt High: Gal 4.18. Heb. 13.9.— It is good to be zealouſly affected always in a good thing:— It is a good thing that the heart be eſtabliſhed with grace; or if by Experience we diſcern the evil of ſin it ſelf out of meaſure ſinful,Rom. 7.13. according to that Text, Sin by the Commandment is become exceeding ſinful: If we finde out the corruption of our own Nature,Pſa. 51.5. according to that Text, Behold, I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my mother conceive me: If we diſcover the abomination of our own righteouſneſs, according to that Text,Iſa. 64.6. We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteouſneſs are as filthy rags: If we feel our own inabilities to do any good, according to that Text,Rom. 7.18. To will is preſent with me; but how to perform that which is good, I finde not: — Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves, 2 Cor 3.5.to think any thing as of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God: If we have tryal of the vanity of all creatures, as of Riches, Honor, Wiſdom, according to that Text, Vanity of vanities, Eccleſ. 1.2.all is vanity: O how will theſe bleſſed Experiences, backed by Scripture truths, kindle our affections! I deny not, Faith works more ſtedfaſtneſs, and firmneſs of adherence, but Experience uſually breeds the greater ſtrength of affections: I love the Lord, Pſal. 116.1.(ſaith David) and why ſo? becauſe (of this Experience) he hath heard my voyce, and my ſupplications.
2. We muſt endeavor to produce that fruit, that frame of heart, which the Lord requires, directs, and looks for in ſuch and ſuch caſes. Thus the Sanctification of Experiences is evidenced by the Dispoſitions anſwering Gods minde, which are left upon the heart, and brought forth into the life afterwards; namely, when Divine diſcoveries are the more ſtrongly believed; the heart by threats more kindely awed; adherence to the Promiſes more ſtrongly confirmed; the deceitful heart more narrowly watched; Satans ſuggeſtions more watchfully reſiſted; the bewitchings of the world kept at a greater diſtance from the ſoul; in a word, when by this experimental application of Gods works to his word, God is more advanced, and Self more abaſed, the honor of the Lord is more ſtudied, and the edification of his people endeavored, holy love encreaſed, ſervice quickned, faith ſtrengthned, Chriſt improved; then is this buſineſs Chriſtianly managed indeed. But of theſe more largely in the next Section.
SECT 4. Of the Sanctification of Experiences in their ſeveral Uſes.
THe Sanctification of Experiences is evidenced (as we ſaid) by ſuch Dispoſitions as theſe: —
1. When Divine diſcoveries are more ſtrongly believed; this is one fruit of Experience, it wonderfully ſtrengthens our faith: When the Iſraelites ſaw the Egyptians drowned, then they believed the Lord, and his ſervant Moſes. Exod. 14 31.When we finde all things in the event to be as we believed, this confirms our Faith, as David knew that God favored him, by his deliverances.Pſal 41.11.
2. When the heart by threats is more kindely awed: This another fruit of Experience, Pſal. 52.6.The righteous alſo ſhall ſee and fear; firſt ſee, and then fear: When the Primitive Chriſtians ſaw Ananias fall down, and give up the ghoſt, Acts 5.5.then great fear came on them that heard thoſe things; this holy fear many a time poſſeſſeth the Saints:Pſal. 119.120. My fleſh trembled for fear of thee (ſaith David) and I am afraid of thy judgements.— When I heard, my belly trembled (ſaith Habakkuk) my lip quivered at the voyce; Hab. 3.16.rottenneſs entred into my bones, and I trembled in my ſelf, that I might reſt in the day of trouble: As the childe quaketh when he ſeeth his Father correct a ſervant, ſo the faithful tremble when they obſerve the ſeverity of Gods wrath againſt impenitent ſinners.
3. When the deceitful heart is more narrowly watched: Hath it cozened us once and again? Experience hereof will breed in us a godly jealouſie and ſuſpition over our hearts; we are now conſcious of our own weakneſs, and of the ſnare that is in every creature, to take and entangle us; and this will make waking Believers circumſpect and careful, how they entertain evil motions, how they keep up holy thoughts, how they perform holy duties, how their affections move towards that which is above, leſt they ſhould miſcarry upon the ſands.
4. When Satans ſuggeſtions are more watchfully reſiſted, this is the voyce of Experience in ſuch a caſe, Doth Satan furiouſly aſſail us? be not diſmayed; Are his temptations moſt fierce? be we moſt diligent in the means of grace, the practice of holineſs, the labors of an honest calling; Pray earneſtly, exerciſe faith, ſtick faster to the word of promiſe, ſtop our ears againſt ſcruples and doubtings; Draw nigh to God, for Satan will then ceaſe to vex thee with his temptations any more: Reſiſt the Devil, and he will fly from you: Lam. 4.7.it is true, the Believer is too weak of himſelf to withſtand the leaſt aſſault, but if we relie on the Lord, we may through his power be made victorious in the greateſt aſſaults whatſoever; and here is the comfort of Experience, That a Soul having once returned with victory, through the power of his might, He will abide in the ſecret place of the moſt high for ever.
5. When the bewitchings of the world are kept at a great diſtance from the Soul: This was Solomons caſe and cure, after all his travels and great delights, he no ſooner returns as to himſelf, Eccle. 1.2.but he fills the world with this news; What news? Vanity, And what more? Vanity of vanities; And what more? All is vanity: Experience of its vanity, weans him from the love of this earth, it takes him off the creature, and lifts him unto the Lord his Creator; ſo ſhould we (if ever we were charmed with ſuch Syren ſongs) be more careful, leſt we be drawn away with the pleaſing delights of things tranſitory, and keep them at a greater diſtance from us.
6. When the Lord Jeſus is more ſtudied and advanced: The man that feels Chriſts gracious power and vertue, will be ſure to exalt Chriſt, and ſet him up on high; when Iſrael ſaw the mighty work of David in overthrowing Goliah, then David was much ſet by: The Believers experience of Chriſts mighty and gracious working, makes Chriſt very precious to him, then he cryes, as the Soldiers of David, 2 Sam. 18.3.Thou art worth ten thouſands of us: Hence it is that Gods people value him above all their profits, friends, eaſe, credit and lives. Matthew left the Receipt of Cuſtom, James and John their Ships, and Nets, and Father, and followed him, yea,Rev. 12.11. many for his ſake loved not their lives unto death; no wonder they had many ſweet experiences of Chriſt: Chriſt to their apprehenſion was the faireſt of ten thouſand, none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt.
7. When the peoples edification is endeavored: Have we taſted of the goodneſs of God? let us then provoke others to believe, and to ſerve the Lord together with us; this is one end of Experience, and that uſe we ſhould make of it towards others. When Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, he worſhipped, and turned into the hoſt of Iſrael, and ſaid, Ariſe, Iudges 7.15.for the Lord hath delivered the hoſt of Midian into your hands.
8. When a mans own ſelf is more abaſed: Do we live the life of grace and true holineſs? this will teach us to deny our ſelves wholly: If any man (ſaith Chriſt) will come after me, Luke 9.23.let him deny himſelf; q. d. If any man will come after me in the knowledge of my Will, in the belief of my Promiſes, in the love of my Truth, in the obedience of my Precepts, let him deny himſelf, let him lay aſide his own wiſdom, his own will, his own imagination, his own affections, his own ends, as baſe and unworthy marks to be aymed at: Let him deny himſelf; whatſoever is of himſelf, or belonging to himſelf, as a corrupt and carnal man; let him go out of himſelf, that he may come to me; let him empty himſelf of himſelf, that he may be capable of me, that I may rule and reign in him, and that he may wholly ſubject himſelf to me and my ſervice: This the Apoſtle ſtiles, A living, not unto our ſelves, but unto him that dyed for us; he alone underſtands,2 Cor. 5.15. and hath experience of the end of Chriſts death, that makes Chriſts glory the end of his life, and lives not to himſelf, but to Chriſt.
9. When holy love is more encreaſed: I love the Lord, Pſal. 116.1.becauſe he hath heard my voyce and my ſupplication: We cannot taſte of the Lord, but we muſt have an hearty love to the Lord: Will you hear the voyce of Experience? this 'tis, O taſte, Pſal. 34.8. Can. 2.5.and ſee how good the Lord is; and then, O ſtay me with flaggons, and comfort me with Apples, for I am ſick of love; ſuch a one truly affects Chriſt, and all that follow Chriſt; ſuch a one loves the perſon of Chriſt, without his priviledges; a naked Chriſt, as well as a Chriſt cloathed with all his robes, in all his glory and reſplendent beauty; Chriſt in a Priſon, as well as Chriſt in a Throne: Thus John (after all his Experiences of Chriſts love to him) could love Chriſt on the croſs, when other forſook him, as well as in the Temple, when he was working miracles.
10. When hope is quickened, ſuch times may come, that death and darkneſs may ſurround us, and we may grovel in the duſt: But here is our comfort, That tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope: Have we any Experience of Gods gracious dealings with us in former times?Rom. 5.4. have we ſometimes been refreſhed by his hand? hath he ſometimes helped us? was he found of us when we ſought him? nay, often unſought for? hath he come to our ſouls, and renewed our ſtock, and filled our becalmed ſpirits with freſh gales of grace? how ſhould we then but hope? As it was in this reſpect, it is, and ever ſhall be; if new temptations ariſe, and new luſts break in and ſpoil,2 Tim. 4.17, 18 it is the voyce of Experience, I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon, and the Lord ſhall deliver me from every evil work, and will preſerve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever—and, We had the ſentence of death in our ſelves, 2 Cor. 1 9, 10.that we ſhould not truſt in our ſelves, but in God which raiſeth the dead, who delivered us from ſo great a death, and doth deliver us, in whom we truſt he will yet deliver us.
11. When joys of the Spirit are raiſed and ſtirred up: Who is he that hath not been delivered out of ſome miſerable exigents? and if we have,Pſa. 71.20, 21. we may well ſay with David, Thou haſt ſhewed me great troubles and adverſities, but thou wilt return and receive me, and wilt come again, and take me up from the depth of the earth, and comfort me: Former comforts are as a bill obligatory under Gods hand, to aſſure us that he will not forſake us:Iohn 13.1. Pſal 63.7. Whom God loves, he loves unto the end—Becauſe thou haſt been my help, therefore in the ſhadow of thy wings will I rejoyce.
12. When Faith is more and more ſtrengthened, Experiences ſhould be turned into Confidences: Thus David improved his Experiences, 1 Sam 17.36, 37.The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon, and out of the paw of the Bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philiſtine: In like maner ſhould we take notice of Gods dealings, and after we have once tryed him and his truth, let us truſt him for the future; Tryed Truth, and tryed Faith unto it, ſweetly agree, and anſwer one another. Hence it is that Experience of Gods love, ſhould refreſh our Faith upon any freſh onſet;Iudg 5.31. So let all thine enemies periſh (ſaid Deborah, the heart of that bleſſed woman was enlarged, as it were Prophetically) when one falls, they ſhall all fall; there is the like reaſon, So let all thine enemies periſh, O Lord. Experience in our ſelves or others, will inlarge our faith to look for greater matters ſtill from our gracious powerful God: Hath the Lord given us a victory over the Philiſtins? then Awake, awake Deborah, awake, and be inlarged, O my faith! Every new Experience is a new knowledge of God, and ſhould fit us for new encounters: I deny not but we ought to truſt God upon other grounds, though we had never tryed him; but when he helps our faith by former Experiences, this ſhould ſtrengthen our confidence, and ſhore up our Spirits, and put us on to go more chearfully to God, as to a tryed friend. It was the ſpeech of one eminent in holineſs, upon occaſion of the accompliſhment of a great requeſt made to God by him, I have tryed God often, now I will truſt him indeed. If we were read in the ſtory of our own lives, we might have a Divinity of our own, drawn out of the obſervation of Gods particular dealings towards us: we might ſay, This and this truth I dare venture upon, I have found it true, I dare build all my happineſs upon it; as Paul, 2 Tim. 1.12.I know whom I have truſted, and I am perſwaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him againſt that day; q. d. I have tryed him, he never yet failed me, I am not now to ſeek how faithful he is to all thoſe that are his.
13. When ſcruples and doubts are removed, O (cryes the ſoul) I have many Experiences, but no Comfort as yet. Thus David, after the remembrance of his ſongs in the night, left his ſoul ſtill in doubt; and he goes on to ſay,Pſa. 77.7. Will the Lord caſt off for ever? and will he be favorable no more? In this caſe it is the duty of Chriſtians, to call to minde their former Experiences of Faith and Joy again and again: for though they comfort not at one time, yet they may at another. Have we found a Promiſe (which is a breaſt of Conſolation) milkleſs? yet again ſuck, Comfort may come in the end: If after we have impanell'd a Jury and Grand Inqueſt to ſearch, and our firſt Verdict condemns us, or they bring in an Ignor…mus; yet do, as wiſe Judges often do, ſend them about it again, they may finde it the next time: Jonah Ionah 2.4.look'd once, it ſeems, and found no comfort, for he ſaid, I will look again towards thine holy Temple: So ſome have look'd over their hearts by ſigns at one time, and have to their thinking found nothing but Hypocriſie, Unbelief, Hardneſs, Self-ſeeking, &c. but not long after, examining their hearts again by the ſame ſigns, they have eſpyed the Image of God drawn fairly upon the Tables of their hearts, and ſo found a world of comfort.
O but (cryes the ſoul) I have toſſed and tumbled over my heart, I have ſearched into the Regiſters and Records of Gods dealings, and me thinks, I can call nothing into remembrance betwixt God and me: What, nothing? look again: Did God never ſpeak peace to our hearts? Did Chriſt never ſhed his love abroad into our ſouls? Have we at no time found in our heart pure ſtreins of love to Chriſt? Pure drops of godly ſorrow for offending Chriſt? Have we never an old tryed Evidence, which hath been acknowledged and confirmed again and again in open Court? What, not one? Surely, if we can now call to minde but one, if in truth, it may ſupport us: If one Promiſe do belong to us, all do; for every one conveys whole Chriſt, in whom all the Promiſes are made, and who is the matter of them: As in the Sacrament, the Bread conveys whole Chriſt, and the Wine conveys whole Chriſt: ſo in the Word, every Promiſe conveys whole Chriſt; if we can but ſay as the Church of Epheſus, This thing I have, Rev. 2.6.that I hate ſin: we may plead this to God, yea though it be in a leſſer degree, if in truth and ſincerity (for God brings not a pair of Scales to weigh, but a Touchſtone to try our graces) if it be true gold, though never ſo little of it, it will paſs current with him:Iſa. 42.3. He will not quench the ſmoking flax, though it be but a ſmoke, not a flame; though it be but as a wick in the ſocket, (as it is in the Original) likelier to dye and go out, then to continue, which we uſe to throw away, yet he will not quench it, but accept it. O let us comfort our ſelves with theſe words!
O but (cryes the ſoul again) I have ſearched all crevaſes for light, but alas, I cannot ſee the leaſt beam of it: What help now remains? If it be thus, poor ſoul, Be not faithleſs, but believing. Chriſt helps ſome to live above glorious Manifeſtations; ſometimes in abſence of theſe Manifeſtations, juſt ones may live, and rejoyce in the inviſible Eſſence of God: Chriſtians may live waiting on God, when his face is wholly hid from them; or Chriſtians may live depending on God, when all other ſubordinate ſtays or helps are loſt: In ſuch a ſoul there may be this reſolution, Let God do what he will with me, Ile hang on him ſtill, Though he kill me, yet will I truſt in him, and there is comfort in this.
If ſo (ſaith the ſoul) then what need of Experiences, ſo long as I have the Promiſes, and may live by Faith? O but for all this, be not careleſs of Experiences: for 1. It is the goodneſs of God, that beſides the promiſes of good things to come, he is pleaſed to give us ſome preſent evidence and taſte of what we believe: This heightens his mercy, that beſides Faith, he ſhould train up his Children by daily renewed Experiences of his fatherly care. 2. Though it be one thing to live by Faith, another thing to live by ſight, yet the more we ſee, and feel, and taſte of God, the more we ſhall be lead to relye on him, for that which as yet we neither ſee nor feel: This is the very meaning of God, that by that which we feel, we might be ſtrengthned in that we look for.
SECT. 5. The conſideration of Experiences in a practical courſe; or ſome practical Rules to be obſerved.
IT were good for Chriſtians intending the practical part, to obſerve theſe or the like Rules:
Some Cautionary.
Some Directory.
1. The Cautionary Rules may be theſe:—
1. In gathering Experiences, Beware of miſpriſion of Gods Providences. There are many miſtakes now adays, and therefore it is our beſt and onelyonly courſe, for our ſecurity, to interpret all Gods works out of his Word: We muſt make the Scriptures [as we ſaid before] a conſtruing book to the book of Gods Providences: Judge neither better of proſperity, nor worſe of adverſity, then Gods word warrants us. This was the Pſalmiſts cure, his Experience put a Probatum eſt to this preſcription, When I thought to know this, Pſa. 37.16, 17it was too painful for me, until I went into the Sanctuary of God, then underſtood I their end: God may proſper a wicked man, and he may conſtrue this as an argument, and note it as an Experience of Gods gracious dealing with him, and dear love unto him:Iſa 8.20. O take heed! To the Law and to the Teſtimony, if they speak not according to this word▪ it is becauſe there is no light in them.
2. In improving Experiences, beware how we argue from one Experience to another: Judgements threatned, are not always inflicted after one and the ſame maner; God meets with the wicked ſometimes in this life, and ſometimes he reſerves their plagues for another. In like maner the gracious Providences of God are not always diſpenſed after one and the ſame maner; indeed David could ſay,1 Sam. 17.36, 37. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon, and out of the paw of the Bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philiſtine; and Paul could ſay, I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon, and the Lord ſhall deliver me from every evil work: 2 Tim. 4.17, 18.and ſo we may ſay, that God many times hath delivered us, and doth deliver us, and therefore that he will deliver us ſtill: But this maner of arguing, as it is demonſtrative, ſo it hath ſome limitations, which we muſt carefully take notice of; as
1. That beſides a meer Providence, we take notice of ſome Promiſe of God on which we build: Thus Paul delivered from death at one time, argued that God would deliver him at another time; but in his arguing he eyes the Promiſe, he hangs on God,2 Cor. 1.9,10 which (ſaith he) raiſeth the dead.
2. That we conſider the maner of the Promiſe, becauſe
1. Some Promiſes are disjunctive; as when God in his mercy conveys any thing to us either in particular, or in the equivalent, by way of Commutation and Compenſation with Spiritual things.Rom 5.4. Thus a Chriſtians Experience works Hope, but not always of the ſelf-ſame outward iſſue, and maner of deliverance out of his trouble, which he hath before time found; No, we muſt hope according to the Word, or according to the quality of the Promiſe: Pauls hope (after Experience of many deliverances) was not expreſly or peremptorily, that the prick in his fleſh ſhould be removed, but that Gods grace ſhould be ſufficient, and ſo he had the fruit of his former Experience, becauſe he obtained an equivalent ſupply, but not otherwiſe.
2. Some Promiſes are conditional in reſpect of us; as when God promiſeth protection from contagious ſickneſs, and from trouble, and war: If my people which are called by my Name, 2 Chron. 7.14.ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, and ſeek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their ſin, and will heal their land. In theſe or the like Promiſes, God may give us the Experience of his Word at one time, but deny it at another, becauſe we fail in the condition of the Promiſe on our parts. Obſerve, Chriſtians! would we conclude a deliverance as formerly, be ſure then to look to the frame and diſpoſition of our Spirits: If we are in the way of the Promiſe, then we may conclude it for certain; if we meet God in the courſe of his Providence, or in the improvement of the means he hath appointed, then we may ſet it down, That God will do whatſoever he hath promiſed to give, in his own way, or otherwiſe not.
3. Some Promiſes are indefinite; as that in Jam. 5.14, 15.Iames 5.14, 15. Is any ſick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him: — and the prayer of faith ſhall ſave the ſick, and the Lord ſhall raiſe him up: In this caſe God may ſometimes, yet doth not always perform promiſe according to the letter, though a man may be truly qualified with the conditions ſpecified in that Promiſe, toties quoties, again and again. It onelyonly intends thus much, That God may, and ſometimes will ſave the ſick, and raiſe him up at the Churches prayers, but he will not ever do ſo. Now as God doth not always perform, ſo neither are we abſolutely, or infallibly, or univerſally to conclude, The Promiſe is not univerſal, but indefinite, and accordingly our concluſions ſhould not be univerſal, but indefinite: we ſhould indeed, becauſe of the Promiſe, adventure our ſelves upon God in ſuch a condition, not knowing but in his outward diſpenſations he may make it good to us, yet with ſubmiſſion to his pleaſure, if otherwiſe he diſpoſe of us: And as this is all we muſt do, ſo this is all we can ſay, or conclude in ſuch a caſe as this is.
2. The Directory Rules may be theſe:—
1. Let us communicate our own Experiences to the good of others. David in his deliverances invites others to have recourſe unto him: Bring my ſoul out of priſon, that I may praiſe thy name; Pſal. 142.7.then ſhall the righteous compaſs me about, when thou ſhalt deal bountifully with me. Conceal not within our boſoms thoſe things, the communicating whereof may tend to publike profit: Surely it were a courſe much tending to the quickning of the faith of all, if we would impart to one another our mutual Experiences.
2. Let us trade others Experiences to our own particular profit. Thus David in deſertion hath recourſe to Gods gracious dealings with his forefathers: Our fathers truſted in thee, they truſted, and thou didst deliver them; they cryed unto thee, and were delivered, they truſted in thee, Pſal. 22.4, 5.and were not confounded. What favor God ſheweth to any one, he will vouchſafe to every one that ſeeketh him diligently, if it may be for his good: Thus we finde in Scripture, that ſometimes a perſonal Experience was improved to an univerſal advantage, James 5.11. Pſal. 73.1. Heb. 13.5, 6.
3. Let us caſt our Experiences under ſeveral heads, and make the Word and Works face one another, and anſwer one to another: Or to make the work compleat, it were not amiſs to diſtribute the frame into three Columns; and in the firſt to ſet down Experiences, in the ſecond the Texts, in the third Diſpoſitions anſwering Gods minde, in ſuch and ſuch a caſe, to be left on the heart afterwards.
4. Let us pray with fervency (when ever we ſet a time apart to view over our Experiences) that thoſe Diſpoſitions, anſwering Gods minde in every particular Experience, may be written in our hearts, and brought forth in our life afterwards. This will be the chief uſe and choyce comfort of the ſoul in this Duty. And this method a poor creature and ſervant of Chriſt hath followed in his own particular practice: whereof I ſhall give you a taſte in the following Section.
SECT. 6. The Experiences of a weak Chriſtian, caſt into the method propounded.
§. 1. Judgements on the Wicked.
Experiences.
1643.
FEb. 9. Preſton was taken by the Parliaments Forces; ſeveral Papiſts ſlain in it, ſome naturally of a good diſpoſition, & therefore many mourned for their untimely death, but rejoyced in the accompliſhment of the promiſe.
Octo. 29. This day a Soldier was ſlain in Preſton in the open Fair; and not long after another Soldier was ſlain in the very act of drunkenneſs: It is reported that he was drunk the night before, and that he threatened that very morning, before night either to kill or to be killed.
1648.
June 6. H.M. (as it is ſaid) drunk together 18 Cans of Ale, and preſently upon it fel ſick, & after dyed; others in like maner ſurfeted: But above all, moſt terrible was the death of R.H.
Octob. 23. A ſtrange and fearful relation of the ruine of a family, and of a ſtately houſe, of one who was exceedingly addicted to the ſin of uncleanneſs; and now (excepting two of his brothers baſe born) there is not a man left of his name in all England; for which cauſe he conveyed his Eſtate to a ſtranger.
Texts.
Rev. 16.6, 7. They have ſhed the blood of Saints, and thou haſt given them blood to drink. —Even ſo Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgements.
Rev. 19.2. He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, &c.
Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. Now the works of the fleſh are manifeſt, which are theſe, — Hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, ſtrife, ſeditions, hereſies, envyings, murthers, drunkenneſs, revellings, and ſuch like.
Iſa. 5.11, 14. We unto them that riſe up early in the morning, that they may follow ſtrong drink, that continue until night, till the wine inflame them: — Therefore Hell hath inlarged her ſelf, and opened her mouth without meaſure, &c.
Prov. 5.8, 9, 10, 11. Remove thy way from the ſtrange woman, leſt thou give thine honor to others; — leſt ſtrangers be filled with thy wealth—and thou mourn at the laſt, when thy fleſh and thy body are conſumed.
Diſpoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Rev. 18.4 Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev. 18.20. Rejoyce over her thou heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets, for God hath avenged you on her.
Gal. 5.16. Walk in the Spirit, & ye ſhall not fulfil the luſts of the fleſh.
Gal. 5.24. They that are Chriſts, have crucified the fleſh, with the affections and luſts.
1 Cor. 6.20. Ye are bought with a price, therefore glorifie God in your body, & in your Spirit, which are Gods.
Prov. 23.20. Be not amongſt wine-bibbers.
Luke 21.34. Take heed to your ſelves, leſt at any time your hearts be overcharged with ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, and ſo that day come upon you unawares.
Rom. 13.13. Let us walk honeſtly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſs.
Epheſ. 5.18. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is exceſs, but be filled with the Spirit.
Coloſſ. 3.5, 6. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanneſs, inordinate affection: — For which things ſake the wrath of God cometh on the children of diſobedience.
1 Theſſ. 4.3. This is the will of God, even your Sanctification, that ye ſhould abſtain from fornication.
§. 2. Gods love to the Saints.
Experiences.
1642.
SEpt. 29. This night ſome Chriſtians obſerved a night of Humiliation and Prayer for beſieged Mancheſter; and Octob. 1. the Siege was raiſed: Gods love was exceedingly manifeſted herein to the Saints, both within and without that prayed for Town. O let the mercy never be forgotten!
Decemb. 23. Thus they prayed for Blackburn, and Decemb. 24. the ſiege was raiſed thence.
1647.
Feb. 11. This evening one was deſired to pray for Mr. L. ſick childe; and it was obſerved in the heat of Prayer, at the commending of its ſoul to God, the ſoul at that very expreſſion left the body: Bleſſed be God for this Providence, and for the aſſiſtance of his ſpirit at ſo needful a time
1648.
August 7. A Letter from Mr. Tho:Shepherd, of the Indians receiving the Goſpel in New England: He calls them, The precious firſt fruits of America to Jeſus Chriſt; it much affected the hearts of many.
Aug. 22. many Miracles of mercies to England, to the County Palatine of Lancaſter, and eſpecially to Preſton, by that glorious Victory over the Scots: The Army came to Preſton in the very nick of time, by which means it both eſcaped Plundring and firing, the Enemy having threatned it both ways. Surely, God now anſwered Prayers, of which the LORD gave ſome ſigns the very day before, at a publike Faſt obſerved in Mancheſter.
Texts.
2 Chron. 7.14. If my people which are called by my name, ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, and ſeek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their ſin, and will heal their land.
2 Chron. 6.28, 29, 30. If their enemies beſiege them in the cities of their land, — then what prayer ſhall be made by any man, — hear thou from heaven.
Iſa. 65.24. And it ſhall come to paſs, that before they call, I will anſwer, and whilest they are yet ſpeaking, I will hear.
Acts 7.59, 60. Lord Jeſus receive my ſpirit: — and when he had ſaid this, he fell aſleep.
Iſa. 60.5, 8. The abundance of the ſea ſhall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles ſhal come unto thee: — Who are theſe that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
Judg. 20. 28,42,43,45. Shall I yet again go out to battel againſt the children of Benjamin my brother, or ſhall I ceaſe? And the Lord ſaid, Go up, for to morrow I will deliver them into thy hand: — So they turned their backs before the men of Iſrael— but the battel overtook them, — and chaſed them, and trod them down with eaſe over againſt Gibeah— and they gleaned of them in the high ways, and purſued after them to Gidom, and ſlew 2000.*See the occaſion of this battel, v. 13, 14, 15.
Dispoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Pſal. 28.6. Bleſſed be the Lord, becauſe he hath heard the voyce of my ſupplications.
Pſal. 116. 1, 2. I love the Lord, becauſe he hath heard the voyce of my ſupplications, becauſe he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Pſal. 6.8. Away from me, ye workers of iniquity, God hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Pſ. 66. 16, 17, 18, 19. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my ſoul: I cryed unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; but verily God hath heard me, he hath attended to the voyce of my Prayer.
Iſa. 54.1. Sing O barren, thou that didſt not bear; break forth into ſinging, & cry aloud, thou that didſt not travel with childe: for more are the children of the deſolate, then the children of the marryed wife, ſaith the Lord.
Pſa. 2.11. Rejoyce with trembling.
Pſal. 44.8. In God we boaſt all the day long, and praiſe thy name for ever. Selah.
Exo. 15.11. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, amongſt the gods? who is like unto thee, glorious in holines, fearful in praiſes, doing wonders?
Iudg. 5.15. For the diviſions of Reuben, there were great thoughts of heart.
§. 3. Several Chaſtiſements or Afflictions on my ſelf and others.
Experiences.
1641.
JAn. 24. This day one heard of his Mothers death, whoſe daily prayers and tears, now miſſing, he could not but mourn for her loſs.
March 5. This day the LORD viſited one with a Feaver, but not long after reſtored him to his former health.
1645.
Jan. 21. This day fire took hold on the clothes of a yong childe, and burned his face very ill.
1646.
Aug. 23. one fell into a ſore ſickneſs; many gave him for gone, but the Lord recovered him.
1647.
Decem. 27. This day one underſtood of the ſlanders, and conſultations and threat… of ſome eminent perſons againſt him; at which time he fell upon reading, and the Lord ſeemed to ſpeak to him out of Pſal. 31.
1648.
Jan. 24. I had a grieved and troubled heart, by reaſon of ſome oppoſition of wicked people; at night I read a feeling paſſage of Mr. Rogers on Judges 13. thus, — I have often thought it Gods mercy, to keep the knowledge of ſuch diſcouragements from them that are to enter into the Miniſtery, leſt they ſhould be deterred wholly from it, till by experience they be armed againſt it.
July 1. or thereabouts, one gave me a Relation of her ſad deſertion, thus— That one night as ſhe ſate by the fire, ſhe thought ſhe ſaw the ground open, and a gulf of fire appearing; whereupon ſhe cryed, I am damned, I am damned: If at any time ſhe ſaw any fire, ſhe ſuppoſed that ſhe muſt go into it, and that the Devils would fetch her into it. Once wringing her hand…, ſhe cried ou…, O what was I born into the world for? one ſtanding by, anſwered, To glorifie God; to whom ſhe replyed, You ſay true, for God ſhall be glorified in my damnation: If any offered to pray, or to reade, ſhe uſually cryed out, It was too late to pray for her; and they ſhould not reade that pure Word of God by her, for it belonged not to her. At laſt God appeared, and ſhe felt marvellous comforts.
Texts.
Pſal. 35.14. I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his Mother.
Luke 4. 38, 39. Simons wives mother was taken with a great feaver, and they beſought Chriſt for her; and he rebuked the feaver, and it left her.
Zech. 3.2. Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire?
Phil. 2.27. For indeed he was ſick nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him.
Pſa. 31.13. I have heard the ſlander of many, fear was on every ſide, while they took counſel together againſt me.
Joh. 15.20. Remember the word that I have ſaid unto you, the ſervant is not greater then the lord; if they have perſecuted me, they wil alſo perſecute you.
1 Cor. 4.13. We are made as the filth of the world, and are as the off-ſcouring of all things unto this day.
Job 13.24, 26. wherefore hideſt thou thy face, and holdeſt me for thy enemy? thou writeſt bitter things againſt me.
Pſa. 88.14, 15. Lord, why caſteſt thou off my ſoul? why hideſt thou thy face from me? I am afflicted & ready to dye;—while I ſuffer thy terrors, I am diſtracted, &c. v. 16, 17, 18.
Diſpoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
2 King. 2.12. And he cryed, My father, my father, the charet of Iſrael and the horſemen thereof.
1 Theſſ. 4.13. Concerning them which are aſleep, ſorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Pſal. 103. 2, 3. Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes.
Iſa. 43. 1, 2. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine; when thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee, when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt.
Pſal. 30.3, 4. O Lord, thou haſt brought up my ſoul from the grave, thou haſt kept me alive— Sing unto the Lord, O ye Saints of his.
Joh. 11.4. This ſickneſs is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Pſa. 31. 14, 15, 16. But I truſted in thee, O Lord; I ſaid, Thou art my God, my times are in thy hand, deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that perſecute me: Make thy face to ſhine upon thy ſervant, &c.
Matth. 5.12. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven: for ſo perſecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matth. 5.44. Pray for them which deſpitefully uſe you, & perſecute you.
Rom. 8.35. Who ſhall ſeperate us from the love of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecution? &c.
Rom. 12.14. Bleſs them which perſecute you: bleſs, and curſe not.
Pſal. 77.5, 6, 7, 10. I have conſidered the days of old, the years of ancient times: I call to remembrance my ſong in the night, I commune with mine own heart, and my Spirit makes diligent ſearch: Will the Lord caſt off for ever? and will he be favorable no more?— And I ſaid, This is my infirmity.
Iſaiah 50.10. Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voyce of his ſervant, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light? let him truſt in the Name of the LORD, and ſtay upon his God.
§. 4. Performances of gracious Promiſes to my ſelf and others.
Experiences.
1642.
JAn. 6. This day a private Faſt being obſerved, the Lord gave ſome, that exerciſed, the very ſpirit & power of Prayer, to the raviſhment of hearers; ſurely it was the Spirit ſpake in them.
Feb. 5. The Lord wonderfully this day (as once before) delivered one from the danger of fire, which had begun in his houſe, but was diſcovered by the ſmoke.
1643.
Ian. 2. This day was ſnares laid for a poor Chriſtian; the Sheriff of the county ſent for him, but the Lord delivered him.
1644.
July 2. This day was a publike Faſt obſerved in Mancheſter, and the very ſame day the Lord returned anſwers, by overthrowing Pr. Ruperts forces at York.
1646.
Sept. 13. The Lord reſtored one to his health, out of a dangerous diſeaſe, and he praiſed God for it in the publike Aſſemblies.
1647.
Decemb. 11. This day one obſerved GODS goodneſs, in ſupplying fully all his Temporal wants: This he conſtrued as an earneſt both of Spiritual and Eternal favors and mercies in Chriſt.
1649. May 5. Some Miniſters were convented before the Committee of plundred Miniſters, and examined by them concerning a Book put forth by the Miniſters of Chriſt in the Province of Lancaſter; but the Lord ſtood by thoſe Miniſters, and gave them in that hour what to ſpeak for Chriſt and his Cauſe.
Texts.
Zech. 12.10. And I will pour upon the houſe of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, the spirit of grace, and of ſupplications.
Rom. 8.26. Likewiſe the Spirit alſo helpeth our infirmities,— it maketh interceſſion for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Iſa. 43.2. When thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.
Pſa. 64.5, 7. They commune of laying ſnares privily:— But God ſhall ſhoot at them with an arrow, ſuddenly ſhall they be wounded.
Pſal. 55.18. He hath delivered my ſoul.
Iſa. 65.24. And it ſhall come to paſs, that before they call, I will anſwer; and whiles they are yet ſpeaking, I will hear.
Deut. 7.15. And the Lord will take away all ſickneſs.
Exod. 23.25. And I will take ſickneſs away from the midſt of thee.
Mat. 6.33. Seek ye firſt the kingdom of God, and his righteouſneſs, and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you.
Pro. 13.4. The ſoul of the diligent ſhall have plenty.
Matth. 10. 18, 19, 20. And ye ſhall be brought before Governors and Kings for my ſake.— But take no thought how, or what ye ſhall speak, for it ſhall be given you in that ſame hour what ye ſhall ſpeak: for it is not ye that ſpeak, but the Spirit of your Father which ſpeaketh in you.
Dispoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Jer. 29.12, 13. Then ſh…ll ye call upon me, and ye ſhall go, and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you; and ye ſhall ſeek me, and finde me, when ye ſhall ſearch for me with all your heart.
Jer. 31.9. They ſhall come with weeping, and with ſupplications will I lead them.
Dan. 3.15. Our God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.
Iſa. 24.15. Wherefore glorifie ye the Lord in the fires.
Pſal. 64.9, 10. And all men ſhall fear, and ſhall declare the work of God: for they ſhall wiſely conſider of his doing; the righteous ſhall be glad in the Lord, and ſhall truſt in him, and all the upright ſhall glory.
Pſa. 66.13, 14. I wil pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath ſpoken.
Pſa. 66.20. Bleſſed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Pſa. 30.3▪ 12. Thou haſt kept me alive, that I ſhould not go down to the pit;— to the end that my glory may ſing praiſe to thee, and not be ſilent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever.
Pſal. 62.10. If riches encreaſe, ſet not your heart upon them.
Prov. 30.8. Remove far from me vanity and lyes, give me neither poverty nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me.
Matth. 10.16. Be ye wiſe as ſerpents, and harmleſs as doves.
Matth. 10.26. Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered that ſhall not be revealed, and hid that ſhall not be known.
Matth. 10.28. But rather fear him, who is able to deſtroy both ſoul and body in hell.
§. 5. The temptations of Sin prevailing, of Satan cheating, of the World enſnaring.
Experiences.
1646.
MAy 25. The Lord opened a poor creatures eye, to ſee in ſome meaſure the depths of Satan, and deceitfulneſs of his own heart: he acted in things doubtful, againſt the reluctancy of his own conſcience before; no queſtion this is ſin, becauſe it is not of faith.
1647.
Jan. 23. This evening one fell into exorbitancy of paſſion; it was ſo ſtrong in him, that it caſt him into Palpitation of heart.
March 27. Ones heart was over-powered, and exceedingly troubled with the cares of this life; and this occaſioned ſome diſcontentments in his family. O baſe world! how doſt thou vex them that intermeddle with thee?
October 5. One was overcome with a ſtrong temptation of Satan, for which his conſcience immediately ſmit him very ſore.
1648.
April 4. & 17. A poor creature in the night was fearfully troubled in his dreams with Devils, and Torments, and Satans power over his ſoul: He apprehended ſtrongly that Satan was with him, and very buſie to inſnare him; which at his firſt awaking ſtruck him with trembling and horror.
Texts.
Rom. 7. That which I do, I allow not.
Rom. 14.23. He that doubteth, is damned if he eat, becauſe he eateth not of faith, for whatſoever is not of faith, is ſin.
Iob 18.4. He teareth himſelf in his anger.
Prov. 15.1. A ſoft anſwer turneth away wrath, but grievous words ſtir up anger.
Pro. 19 11. The diſcretion of man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to paſs over a tranſgreſſion.
Eccleſ. 1.2, 14. Vanity of vanities, ſaith the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.—Behold, all is vanity, and vexation of ſpirit.
Rom. 7.23. I ſee another law in my members, warring againſt the law of my minde, and bringing me into captivity to the law of ſin which is in my members.
2 Cor. 2.11. We are not ignorant of his devices.—
Epheſ. 6.11. Of the wiles of the devil. — Rev. 2.24. Of the depths of Satan.
1 Theſſ. 3.5. By ſome means the tempter hath tempted you.
1 Pet. 5.8. Your adverſary the Devil, as a roaring lyon, walketh about ſeeking whom he may devour.
Diſpoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Rom. 14.22. Haſt thou faith? have it to thy ſelf before God: Happy is he that condemneth not himſelf in that thing which he alloweth.
Gal. 2.14. Walk uprightly, according to the truth of the Goſpel.
Pſal. 37.8. Ceaſe from anger, and forſake wrath; fret not thy ſelf in any wiſe to do evil.
Eph. 4.31. Let all bitterneſs, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil ſpeaking, be put away from you, with all malice.
Col. 3.12, 13. Put on therefore bowels of mercies, kindeneſs, humbleneſs of minde, meekneſs, long-ſuffering, forbearing one another.
Luke 21.34. Take heed to your ſelves, leſt at any time your hearts be overcharged with ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, and cares of this life, and ſo that day come upon you unawares.
1 Joh. 5.4. Whoſoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Matth. 26.41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the Spirit indeed is willing, but the fleſh is weak.
Eph. 6.11, 16. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the devil.— Above all, take the ſhield of faith, wherewith ye ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Jam. 4.7. Reſiſt the devil, and he will flee from you.— 1 Pet 5.9. Whom reſiſt ſtedf…ſt in the faith.
2 Pet. 2.9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.
§. 6. Victories of the World, Luſts, Temptations, Corruptions, Satan.
Experiences.
1646.
MAy 25. the Lord diſcovered to a poor creature his ſins, not onelyonly in things abſolutely ſinful, but in things doubtful; and by the power of his might, began bleſſedly to ſubdue in him thoſe his iniquities.
1647.
Jan. 24. One troubled in conſcience for his raſh anger, reconciled himſelf to his adverſary, and immediately God ſpake peace to his conſcience.
March 27. A poor ſoul being mightily inſnared with the world, and finding by experience its vanity and vexation, he reſolved againſt it, divided his eſtate betwixt his wife and children, deſiring thenceforth piouſly to make his ſoul to rejoyce in Gods bleſſings and his own labors, and to give himſelf to the LORD wholly for the remainder of his days: This deſire he makes at the feet of Chriſt.
1648.
March 6. This night in his ſleep a troubled ſoul was by Satan tempted to ſin, but the Lord ſtood by him, put prayers into him though aſleep, whereby he overcame the temptation; then awaking, he deeply apprehended Satans approach and buſie temptations: it ſtruck him into fears, but praiſing God for his aſſiſtance, he received boldneſs, and then ſlept again.
Texts.
Rom. 14.14. I know and am perſwaded by the Lord Jeſus, that there is nothing unclean of it ſelf; but to him that eſteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Mat. 5.23, 24. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar, and there remembreſt that thy brother hath ought againſt thee,— go thy way, firſt be reconciled to thy brother.
Eccleſ. 2.24.-3.22.-5.19. There is nothing better then that a man ſhould rejoyce in his own works, for that is his portion. Every man alſo to whom God hath given riches, and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoyce in his labor; this is the gift of God.
1 Tim. 6.9, 10, 11. They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a ſnare: — for the love of money is the root of all evil: — But thou O man of God, flee theſe things, and follow after righteouſneſs, godlineſs, faith, love, patience, meckneſs.
2 Cor. 12.7, 8, 9. There was given to me a thorn in the fleſh;—for this thing I beſought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me; and he ſaid unto me, My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs.
Diſpoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Rom. 14.…9. Let us follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie another.
Acts 24.16. And herein do I exerciſe my ſelf, to have always a conſcience void of offence, toward God, and toward men.
Matth. 11.29. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye ſhall finde reſt unto your ſouls.
Tit. 1.7. For a Biſhop muſt be blameleſs, as the ſteward of God, not ſelf-willed, not ſoon angry.
Phil. 4.11. I have learned in whatſoever ſtate I am, therewith to be content.
1 Tim. 6.8. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.
1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor truſt in uncertain riches, but in the living God, that they be rich in good works, ready to diſtribute,—laying up in ſtore for themſelves a good foundation againſt the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1 Cor. 15.57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
2 Cor. 12.9. Moſt gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chriſt may reſt upon me.
James 4.5, 6. The Spirit that dwelleth in us, luſteth to envy, but he giveth more grace.
§. 7. Obſervations of Gods providences.
Experiences.
1642.
FEb. 5. This day one obſerved a ſpecial providence in preventing a ſin, to which he had given conſent, with ſome reluctancy of ſpirit. O gracious Providence!
May 25. A Miniſter being generally oppoſed & diſcountenanced by the people, who had formerly expreſſed ſingular love to him, which aroſe from his caſting off ſome unlawful ceremonies of the Church; it pleaſed the Lord that he obſerved this day a ſpecial providence, wch put a courage into him, by reading (as it fel in courſe in his family-duties) Pſal. 57.
June 24. One this day underſtood by a Knight, that ſome ſnares were laid for him, and by a ſpecial Providence at the ſame time he opened the Bible, and caſt his eye on Pſa. 37. v. 32, 33, 34. to his great incouragement and comfort.
1647. Aug. 9. this day ſome Chriſtians obſerving a private Faſt in reference to the Diſtractions betwixt the City and Army, in midſt of the duty, there came into them an Emiſſary from the Army, with Papers and Declarations; of this Providence (though ſad) they made uſe in their Prayers.
Aug. 13. This day hearing the proceedings at London, a Miniſter brake out into thoſe words written in Iſ. 59.14, 15, 16.
1648.
March 1. This day one muſing on Gods Providences, he occaſionally took up a Book, and read in it, That the recording of Providences is not the leaſt portion of Gods Praiſe, of our Duty, of Poſterities Patrimony.
Texts.
2 Theſſ. 3.3. The Lord is faithful, who ſhall ſtabliſh you, and keep you from evil.
Pſal. 94.18. When I ſaid, My foot ſlippeth: thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
1 Sam. 2.9. He will keep the feet of his ſaints.
Pſal. 69.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. For thy ſake I have born reproach, ſhame hath covered my face, I am become a ſtranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mothers children: for the zeal of thy houſe hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are faln upon me: When I wept, and chaſtened my ſoul with faſting, that was to my reproach:— But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time.
Pſal. 37.32, 33. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and ſeeketh to ſlay him; the Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Pſal. 38.12. They that ſeek after my life, lay ſnares for me: and they that ſeek, my hurt ſpeak miſchievous things.
Dan. 9.16, 20, 22, 26. I beſeech thee let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Ieruſalem:—And whileſt I was ſpeaking and praying, and confeſſing my ſin,—the man informed me, & talked with me, and ſaid, Unto the end of the War deſolations are determined.
Iſa. 59.14, 16. Judgement is turned away backwards, and juſtice ſtandeth afar off, for truth is faln in the ſtreets.
Job 5.27. Lo, this we have ſearched, ſo it is; hear thou it, and know it for thy good.
Diſpoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Joh. 17.15. I pray not that thou ſhouldſt take me out of the world, but that thou ſhouldſt keep me from the evil.
Iſa. 30.21. This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.
2 Sam. 16.11, 12. Let him alone, and let him curſe, for the Lord hath bidden him; it may be the Lord wil look on my affliction, and that the Lord will requite good for his curſing this day.
Iſa. 51.7. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteouſneſs, the people in whoſe heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings.
Mat. 5.12. Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you.
Pſal. 37.34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he ſhall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou ſhalt ſee it.
Pſal. 38.13, 15. But I as a deaf man heard not, and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth: for in thee Lord do I hope, thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
Iſa. 26.16, 17, 18. Lord, in trouble have they viſited thee, they pour out a prayer when thy chaſtening was upon them, like as a woman with childe that draweth neer the time of her delivery: — We have been with childe, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind, we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth.
Lam. 1.20. Behold, O Lord, for I am in diſtreſs, my bowels are troubled, mine heart is turned within me, for I have grievouſly rebelled.
Pſal. 34.8, 9. O taſte and ſee that the Lord is good: bleſſed is the man that truſteth in him; fear the Lord, ye his ſaints.
§. 8. The breathings of the Spirit in others, and my own Soul.
Experiences.
1641.
MAy 20. This day the Lord caſt one into a Spiritual, heavenly raviſhing love-trance; he taſted the goodneſs of God, the very ſweetneſs of Chriſt, and was filled with the joys of the Spirit above meaſure. O it was a good day, and bleſſed foretaſte of heaven.
1644.
April 21. This day one received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, but found not in it the comfortable preſence of Chriſt as at other times; it troubled his ſoul, and then falling to examination and prayer, the Lord was pleaſed at laſt to give him a ſweet viſit, and ſpiritual refreſhing.
1645.
March 17. After ſome extreme torment, one voided a Stone; and ſuddenly the Spirit of Chriſt injected this motion into his heart, That the beſt cure for the ſtone in his heart, was to look on Chriſt, whoſe heart he pierced; and to conſider that Chriſt looks on him in every action, and therefore that he ſhould ſtill carry as in his preſence, that his heart ſhould be ſtil on Gods eye
1646.
May 22. The Lord by his ſpirit wrought in one a depth of humiliation for ſin, and yet he was troubled that he was not more troubled for it.
1647.
Feb. one was ſtruck into very ſad, ſerious, and withal ſweet ſtirrings of Gods Spirit within him, at the conſideration of Eternity.
1648.
May 7. This day one felt many ſweet impreſſions of Gods Spirit in his heart, ſometimes melting, and ſometimes cheering his ſoul, in the publike Ordinances of his Word and Sacrament.
Texts.
Cant. 2.3. I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte.
2 Cor. 7.4. I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Acts 13.52. And they were filled with joy, and with the holy Ghoſt.
Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, 4. I ſought him whom my ſoul loveth, I ſought him, but I found him not: I will riſe now, & go about the city in the ſtreets, and in the broad ways I wil ſeek him whom my ſoul loveth; I ſought him, but I found him not: —it was but a little that I paſſed from them, but I found him whom my ſoul loveth.
Zech. 12.10. And they ſhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one that mourneth for his onelyonly ſon, and ſhall be in bitterneſs for him, as one that is in bitterneſs for his firſtborn.
Heb. 4.13. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Iſa. 38.14. Like a crane or a ſwallow, ſo did I chatter, I did mourn as a dove, mine eyes fail with looking upwards: O Lord undertake for me.
Pſ. 39.3, 4. while I was muſing, the fire burned; then ſpake I with my tongue, Lord make me to know mine end, and the meaſure of my days.
Cant. 5.1. I am come into my garden, my ſiſter my spouſe, I have gathered my myrrhe with my spice; I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey; I have drunken my wine with my milk: Eat O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved.
Diſpoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
1 Pet. 1.8. Whom having not ſeen, ye love; in whom though now we ſee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unſpeakable, and full of glory.
Rev. 22.17, 20. And the Spirit & the Bride ſay Come, and let him that heareth, ſay Come, and let him that is athirſt come.— He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, Surely I come quickly. Amen, even ſo come Lord Ieſus
Cant. 1.7. Tell me, O thou whom my ſoul loveth, where thou feedeſt, where thou makeſt thy flock to reſt at noon? for why ſhould I be as one that turneth aſide by the flocks of thy companions?
Cant. 3.4. I found him whom my ſoul loveth, I held him, and would not let him go.
2 Theſſ. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit.
Ezek. 11.19, 20. I will take away the ſtony heart out of their fleſh, and I will give them an heart of fleſh, that they may walk in my ſtatutes, and keep my ordinances to do them.
Zech. 12.11. In that day there ſhal be a great mourning in Jeruſalem, as the mourning of Haddadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
James 4.9, 10. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heavineſs: humble your ſelves in the ſight of the Lord, and he ſhall lift you up.
Deut. 32.29. O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they would conſider their latter end.
1 Tim. 6.12. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art alſo called.
Pſal. 89.15. Bleſſed is the people that know the joyful ſound, they ſhall walk O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
§. 9. Deceits of the heart beguiling.
Experiences.
1641.
FEb. 19. This day one fell upon a religious work, but too ſtrongly intended himſelf and his own ends therein. O deceitful heart!
1643.
Jan. 2. A poor ſoul was this day ſtrongly moved, & ready to drop into evil, which would have been ſcandal; but by a ſubtile kinde of dealing, he declined the temptation, ſo that it brake not then forth into outward act: yet in this carriage was more policy then piety, O it was devoid of that plain ſi…plicity which the Goſpel requireth.
April 17. A poor ſoul committed ſin, and concealed it; but the Lords eye was upon him, which after he was ſenſible of.
1644.
July 2. One made a ſhew of that grace and godlineſs, which he may well ſay he had not in that meaſure as he made ſhew of.
1645.
March 8. One concealed and ſmothered the grace & conſcience that was in him, in reſpect of the place and company, which might have been prejudicial unto him. O deceitful heart!
1646.
May 13. One performed indeed a good action, but he exceedingly overprized it; which he found afterwards.
May 15. This day a poor ſoul upon ſtrict examination of his heart, found that formerly he had judged many ſinful actions lawful and good, and had excuſed many actions though in themſelves ſinful: he felt not ſuch a powerful operation of his corruptions before, and ſo through Pride and Ignorance thought better of himſelf then he had cauſe.
1647.
March 27. A poor ſoul wofully breaking ſuch Vows as he had formerly made, he now ſaw the unſoundneſs and unſetledneſs of his deceiveable heart.
1648. May 29. One felt many ſtrivings and contrary workings in his ſpirit; ſometimes in prayer raviſhed, and ſometimes heavy; ſometimes full of comfort, and ſometimes exceedingly dejected; ſometimes patient, and other whiles impatient. O the ſickleneſs and uncertainty of the heart in the courſe of piety.
Octob. 24. One many times, but now eſpecially, took notice of the ſlipperineſs of his heart in the very act of performance: Sometimes (ſaid he) it ſlily ſteals away after idle and wandering imaginations: ſometimes it lets in baſe thoughts of praiſe, vain glory, &c. ſometimes it raiſeth up many good and holy motions, meditations, deſires and affections, which yet are nothing to the preſent performance, and therefore come not from the Spirit of grace, but from Satan. O cheating cozening heart!
Texts.
Rom. 7.21, 22, 23. I finde a law, that when I would do good, evil is preſent with me. I delight in the law of God after the inner man; but I ſee another law in my members, warring againſt the law of my minde.
Gal. 6.12. As many as deſire to make a fair ſhow in the fleſh, they conſtrain you—onelyonly leſt you ſhould ſuffer perſecution for the croſs of Chriſt.
Gal. 2.14. But (howſoever I yielded not) I ſaw that I walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel
Pſal. 69.5. O God, thou knoweſt my fooliſhnes, and my ſins are not hid from thee.
Jer. 17.9. The heart is deceitful above things.
2 Cor. 12.11. I am become a fool in glorying, ye have compelled me.
Mat. 26.58, 70. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high prieſts pallace, and went in, and ſate with the ſervants to ſee the end; —and ſaying (to the damſel that came unto him) I know not what thou ſayeſt.
2 Cor. 11.7. That which I ſpeak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were fooliſhly in this confidence of boaſting.
2 Cor. 12.11. I am become a fool in glorying.
Gal. 1.13, 14, 15, 16. For ye have heard of my converſation in time paſt, — being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleaſed God, who ſeperated me from my mothers womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with fleſh and blood.
Rom. 7.5. What I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I.
Rom. 7.18, 19. To will is preſent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I finde not: for the good that I would do, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Gal. 5.17. For the fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh, and theſe are contrary the one to the other.
Rom. 7.22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I ſee another law in my members, warring againſt the law of my minde.
Jerem. 17.9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and deſperately wicked, who can know it?
Rom. 7.21. I finde then a law, that when I would do good, evil is preſent with me.
Dispoſitions required in this caſe, and to be prayed for.
Rom. 7.24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.
Matth. 16.24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf.
2 Cor. 1.12. Our rejoycing ſhould be this, The teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God, we had our converſation in the world.
2 Cor. 11.3. But I fear leſt by any m…ans, as the ſerpent beguiled Eve through his ſubtilty, ſo your mindes ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt.
Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil, and canſt not look on iniquity.
Heb. 4.13. All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
2 Cor. 12.5. Of my ſelf I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2 Cor. 12.6. But now I forbear, leſt any man ſhould think of me above that which he ſeeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
Heb. 10.23. Let us hold faſt the profeſſion of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promiſed.
Pſal. 40.10. I have not hid thy righteouſneſs within my heart: I have declared thy faithfulneſs and thy ſalvation, I have not concealed thy loving kindeneſs.
1 Cor. 4.7. And what haſt thou that thou didſt not receive? now if thou didſt receive it, why doſt thou glory as if thou hadſt not received it?
Jer. 9.23. Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſdom: — 2 Cor. 10.17. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Phil. 3.12, 13, 14, 15. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which alſo I am apprehended of Chriſt Jeſus. Brethren, I count not my ſelf to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting thoſe things which are behinde, and reaching forth unto thoſe things which are before, I preſs toward the mark, for the price of the high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded, and if in any thing ye be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reveal even this to you.
1 Cor. 16.13. Watch ye, ſtand faſt in the faith, quit you like men, be ſtrong.
Pſal. 76.11. Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God.
Eccleſ 5.4 When thou voweſt a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleaſure in fools; pay that which thou haſt vowed.
Rom. 7.24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord: So then, with my minde I my ſelf ſerve the law of God, but with my fleſh the law of ſin.
Gal. 5.18. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal. 5. 24, 25. They that are Chriſts, have crucified the fleſh, with the affections and luſts: If we live in the Spirit, let us alſo walk in the Spirit.
Gen. 15.11. And when the fowls came down upon the carcaſes, Abram drove them away.
Mat. 26.41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the Spirit indeed is willing, but the fleſh is weak.
1 Pet. 4.7. But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore ſober, and watch unto prayer.