Words Whereby We May Be Saved, Chapter 5

Words Whereby We May Be Saved · Chapter 5

p. 35CHAP. V.

III. I Am to tell you Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation. And here I ſhall

1. Direct what things you muſt do, that you may be ſaved.

2. Shew what Means you muſt make uſe of to help you in thoſe things.

I. What Things you muſt do that you may be ſaved. Take this in theſe Ten Directions.

1. You muſt ſee your ſelves loſt.

2. You muſt mourn for ſin.

3. You muſt turn from ſin.

4. You muſt believe in Jeſus Chriſt.

5. You muſt get a new Nature.

6. You muſt lead a New Life.

7. You muſt reſolve upon ſufferings for Chriſt, if called.

8. You muſt ſtudy and apply the Promiſes of the Covenant of Grace.

9. You muſt give up your ſelves in Covenant unto God.

10. You muſt be ſtedfaſt and perſevere in the Wayes of God unto your lives end.

Direction 1. You muſt ſee your ſelves loſt, if you would be ſaved; Luk. 19. 10. our Saviour telleth us, that he came to ſeek and ſave that which was loſt. You muſt be loſt if you would be found: We read Luk. 15. of the loſt Sheep, the loſt Groat, and the p. 36loſt Son, all which were found again, and that with joy. When ſinners perceive themſelves to be loſt and undone, and know not what to do, then they are neer to be found and ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt: O then as ever you expect Salvation by Chriſt, you muſt ſee and be ſenſible of your loſt eſtate, whileſt you are in a ſtate of Nature: And for this end you muſt get a Conviction,

1. Of your ſin.

2. Of the Puniſhment you have deſerved for your ſin.

3. Of your Inſufficiency to ſatisfie Gods Juſtice.

4. Of your inability to make reſiſtance, and defend your ſelves.

5. Of the Impoſſibility of your fleeing and eſcaping Gods wrath.

6. That as yet you have no Intereſt in Chriſt, who alone is able to deliver you from the wrath to come.

1. That you may be ſenſible of your loſt eſtate, you muſt get a Conviction of your ſin, your eyes muſt be opened to ſee your ſelves guilty of ſin before God, and your mouths muſt be ſtopped, ſo as to have nothing to ſay if the Lord ſhould condemn you. You muſt not only underſtand the nature of ſin in the general, that it is a tranſgreſſion of the holy, and righteous, and good Law of the holy and glorious God of Heaven and Earth; but alſo you muſt be particularly and thorowly convinced, that you have tranſgreſſed this Law of God; you muſt be convinced of your particular ſins: As to the kinds of your ſins, you muſt 1. See your ſelves guilty of Original ſin, of Adams firſt tranſgreſſion by a juſt imputation, you being in his loyns, and parties in the firſt Covenant: and then you muſt ſee what inherent ſin there is in p. 37your nature, that you were conceived and born in ſin, that you are a viperous brood, a Serpentine generation, a ſeed of evil doers; that the Toad is not fuller of poyſon, than your natures are full of ſin; that your natures are contrary unto the nature of God, and have an enmity in them againſt the Law of God, Rom. 6. 7. You muſt be convinced, how your natures are depraved, being wholly deſtitute of Original Righteouſneſs, empty of all good, and inclinable wholly unto evil; that they are a polluted fountain, from whence can proceed nothing but what is unclean; that they are a bitter root, from whence doth ſpring forth ſuch curſed fruits of ſin in your lives; and you ſhould look upon your ſin of nature to be the worſt, becauſe the Original of all actuall tranſgreſſions. 2. You muſt be convinced of your actual ſins, how you have broken Gods Law in thought, word and deed, you muſt ſee your ſins of Omiſſion, and your ſins of Commiſſion, againſt the firſt and ſecond Table of the Law, and take notice of the number of them, ſo far as you can remember, together with their aggravations; if they have been committed through ignorance when you have had means of knowledge, if againſt light of Nature and the Word, if againſt the reluctance of natural Conſcience, if againſt many Warnings and Reproofs, if they have been committed with ſecurity, hardneſs of heart, delight, greedineſs, pride, preſumption, obſtinacy, and the like; and that you might be convinced of the guilt of ſin, you muſt look into the Law, in which as in a glaſs you may ſee your natural face, and all the ſpots thereof; the Law will diſcover the ſin of your natures, as it requireth perfect conformity thereunto in habit, diſpoſition, p. 38and inclination, and forbiddeth all evil byaſſes of the will and heart to ſin, as well as external tranſgreſſions; Moreover the Law will diſcover to you your actual ſins; but then you muſt look beyond the head Precepts of the Law, which are but ten, for you muſt take notice of the ſeveral branches belonging to every head, which are many; as for inſtance, If you would finde out whether you are guilty of Adultery, you muſt not only look upon the Precept as forbidding only the groſs outward act; Thou ſhalt not commit Adultery, but as reaching to the inward deſires and inclinations, and ſo our Saviour, Math. 5. 28. interprets this Precept, that whoſoever looketh upon a woman to luſt after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart; and ſo in the Precept, Thou ſhalt not kill, it is murder not only to take away the life of another by violence, but alſo to be angry with our brother without a cauſe; and ſo in the other Precepts. And as you muſt look into the Law for Conviction of ſin, ſo you muſt alſo look into your own Conſciences, and read what is there regiſtred, and compare your hearts and lives with the Law; and you ſhould call to minde the places you have lived in, the buſineſſes you have been employed about, and the circumſtances of your lives may bring to remembrance many ſins committed long ago, with their aggravations. You muſt get thus a conviction of the guilt of your ſins, eſpecially if you have fallen into any groſſer ſin in your life, as adultery, drunkenneſs, theft, if you have been guilty of ſwearing, Sabbathbreaking, profaneneſs, or the like; you muſt ſee the heinouſneſs of them, and withall you muſt ſee that every ſin which you have committed is heinous, as p. 39it is a diſhonour to the higheſt Majeſty, who is infinitely more exalted above the greateſt Earthly Kings and Potentates, than they are exalted above the meaneſt Worm, or Flie; and for ſuch as you to diſhonour and affront him by ſin, is very heinous. This is the firſt thing, a Conviction of your ſins, which you muſt endeavour after.

2. That you may be ſenſible of your loſt eſtate, you muſt get a conviction of the puniſhment which God hath threatned, and you have deſerved for your ſins; will the Lord put up the affronts which are offered to him by his Creatures? will he bear the diſhonours of his great and glorious Name by ſin, without puniſhing the ſinners? No ſurely, his holineſs will not permit it, his Juſtice hath been offended, and muſt have ſatisfaction, and therefore he threatneth to puniſh the offenders moſt ſeverely; God threatneth temporal calamities and death, as the wages of ſin; and becauſe through patience he forbeareth to puniſh many tranſgreſſions ſo remarkably in this life; and the moſt dreadfull temporal Judgements which he inflicteth upon any, are no wayes proportionable to the deſert of their ſins, and the demands of his infinite Juſtice; therefore he threatneth eternal puniſhment in Hell; look into ſome places of Scripture, where the Lord doth denounce ſevere threatnings againſt ſinners, Gal. 3. 10. Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them. Rom. 1. 18. The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of men. Eph. 5. 6. Becauſe of theſe things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of diſobedience. 2 Theſſ. 1. 8, 9. Chriſt will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance p. 40on them which know not God, and obey not the Goſpel, who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the prefence of the Lord, and the glory of his power, Rom. 2. 6, 8, 9. God will render unto every man according to his deeds, to them who are contentious and do not obey the truth, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguiſh on every ſoul of man that doth evil. That you may ſee and be ſenſible of your loſt eſtate, you muſt be convinced not only in the general of the juſtice and equity that ſuch Judgements ſhould be inflicted on ſinners, becauſe God himſelf hath denounced them in his Word, who cannot be unjuſt toward his Creatures; and becauſe ſin hath deſerved them, being the breach of his Law, which is holy and juſt and good; and an offence of an infinite Majeſty, whoſe Juſtice is infinite, and muſt be ſatisfied with a proportionable puniſhment unto the offence: but alſo you muſt be convinced that you are ſuch ſinners; that you have committed ſuch and ſuch ſins, that you have broken the Law in ſuch a point, and ſuch a point, and in every point; that you are guilty of fornication, or drunkenneſs, or theft, or covetouſneſs, or lying, or profaneneſs; and it may be of all theſe, and more than theſe: The firſt is the conviction of the Law, the ſecond the conviction of the Fact, then follows the third conviction which is of the State, that therefore you are under the Curſe, that you are condemned, that the wrath of God hangeth over your head, and that you muſt be tormented for ſin moſt horribly and eternally in Hell: It is the conviction of the dreadfull puniſhment of Hell which God hath threatned, and unto which you are expoſed for ſin, that will awaken you to a ſenſe of your loſt ſtate, when the p. 41conviction is imprinted deep upon you by the Spirit; when you believe that Hell is no Fiction, but a reality, as certainly prepared for the wicked, as God is above preparing places in Heaven for his people; and you have a peep-hole (as it were) into Hell, and imagine ſomething of the torments which the damned there do, and ſhall endure for ſuch ſins as you have committed; how they roll and tumble in flames of brimſtone, how they are laſhed by an accuſing Conſcience, tormented with and by the Devil, and even conſumed by the wrath of a ſin-revenging God; how they cry, roar and howl, how they weep and wail, and gnaſh their teeth, and that this muſt be their condition for ever; and when withall you think that you are walking upon the brink of this pit, and haſtening towards the place of theſe flames, that Hell doth belong to you, that you are in the number of the curſed crew, ſome of whom have already taken up their lodging in Hell, and that you are like to come thither ſhortly, that you are lyable every moment to drop into the burning Lake, then you will perceive that you are loſt and undone.

3. That you may be ſenſible of your loſt eſtate, you muſt be convinced of your inſufficiency to ſatisfie Gods Juſtice for your ſins; if you could do this, you might do well enough; but this you cannot do, Gods Juſtice is infinite, and requireth infinite ſatiſfaction, which you being finite are inſufficient to give; what can you offer to God? thouſands of Rams, rivers of Oyl, Mines of Silver, Mountains of Gold, Rocks of Pearl, yea the whole Creation, if it ſhould offer it ſelf to be annihilated, could not make compenſation to Gods Juſtice for one ſin, nothing leſs than infinite muſt be the ſatisfaction; and p. 42therefore this ſhould make you further ſenſible of your loſt eſtate in your ſelves.

4. You muſt get a conviction of your inability to reſiſt and defend your ſelves againſt God, who hath threatned ſo ſeverely to puniſh you for ſin; as Gods Juſtice is infinite, and therefore you cannot ſatisfie it; ſo his Power is infinite, and you cannot reſiſt it; who can ſtand in his ſight when once he is angry? who can defend himſelf againſt an Omnipotent arm? If God whet his glittering Sword, and his hand take hold on vengeance, what Powers of Earth are ſtrong enough to make reſiſtance? Read how God expreſſeth himſelf concerning ſuch as ſet themſelves againſt him, Iſa. 27. 4. Who would ſet the bryars and thorns againſt me in battel? I would go thorow them, I would burn them together. Look upon your ſelves as briars and thorns, yea as dryed ſtubble before a conſuming fire, which hath no power to reſiſt the flame; and therefore that you are loſt and undone in your ſelves becauſe of your ſins.

5. You muſt get a conviction of the impoſſibility of your fleeing from and eſcaping Gods wrath, which hath you in purſuit; whither can you go from his preſence? or whither can you flee from his anger and indignation? See Amos 9. 2, 3. Though they dig into Hell, thence ſhall mine hand take them; though they climb up into Heaven, thence will I bring them down; and though they hide themſelves in the top of Carmel, I will ſearch and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my ſight in the bottom of the Sea, thence will I command the Serpent, and he ſhall bite them. You cannot flee into any place but God will follow you; you cannot hide your ſelves in any place but God will finde you; there is as little hopes p. 43of eſcaping Gods Wrath, as of reſiſting his Power. See Pſal. 21. 8, 9. Thine hand ſhall finde out all thine enemies, not only ſome, but all ſinners, thy right hand ſhall finde out them that hate thee: Thou ſhalt make them as a fiery. Oven in the time of thine angers the Lord ſhall ſwallow them up in his wrath, and the fire ſhall devour them. By this time ſinners, methinks you ſhould perceive your ſelves to be loſt and un-done; all refuge now fails you, there is no eſcaping for you.

6. But laſtly, that you may fully know that you are in a loſt eſtate, you muſt get conviction, that as yet you have no intereſt in Chriſt, who alone can deliver you from the wrath of God, which is to come upon the ungodly. Indeed Chriſt can and doth deliver his people from wrath, and the puniſhment their ſins have deſerved; but when you know that you are out of Chriſt, then you may know you are in a loſt eſtate; if you ſuppoſe that you have an intereſt in him without good grounds, you are like to be loſt irrecoverably, and not know it till it be too late; therefore you muſt know that as yet you have no intereſt in him, that all your pretenſions to him have been preſumptuous conceits; that ſo you may be loſt in your own apprehenſions. Can you think you have an intereſt in Chriſt, that never truly mourned for ſin, that never hungred after Chriſt, that have no true Faith to apply him? have you intereſt in Chriſt that have no true Love to Chriſt, and never yielded ſubjection to Chriſt? Have you intereſt in Chriſt that have no Influence from Chriſt? have you Union to Chriſt that have no Communion with him? No, no, all you that are Unbelievers, and have perſiſted hitherto in a ſinfull courſe, p. 44are ſtrangers unto Chriſt, and therefore be convinced that you are in a loſt eſtate: And O how ſhould fear and trembling poſſeſs you through the apprehenſions of the dreadfull wrath of God? how ſhould you go up and down like condemned malefactors, that are condemned to Hell, and know not how ſoon they may be dragged to execution? O what reaſon have you to lye down in terrour, and riſe up in terrour, and feed upon terrour all the day long! Such thoughts as theſe are ſuitable to the condition of ſuch as you. It may be the next ſtep I take, I may ſtep into Hell: Alas! Alas! I am in a ſtate of damnation, and did not know it; I have been dancing about the brinks of Hell, and did not perceive it; I have been affronting God all my daies by my ſins; now I ſee that God is highly offended with me for thoſe ſins I made light of: I am the covetous perſon whom the Lord abhorreth, Pſal. 10. 3. I am the deceiver whom he curſeth, Mal. 1. 14. I am the Adulterer whom he will judge, Heb 11. 4. I have greatly ſinned, and now I ſee God is greatly angry, and his anger burns like fire; he frowns, and his frowns are moſt dreadfull, and I fear he will caſt me to Hell, and make me feel the power of his anger in my everlaſting ruine; I fear I muſt dwell with devouring fire, and take up mine eternal abode with the Devil and my fellow-damned ſinners: O I fear I am damned! I am damned! O happy is the Dog and the Horſe, yea the Worm and the Toad, who ere long ſhall be anihilated; but I am curſed, and I fear that I ſhall eternally be tormented: O I am loſt, I have loſt my God, and I fear I am loſt, and ſhall be loſt for ever! O I am undone! undone! vile and miſerable ſinner! O wo be to me that ever I was born! that ever I ſinned, and provoked God to ſuch diſpleaſure! But is there no ſpark of hope p. 45yet? is there no eſcaping, no reconciliation attainable? O what ſhall I do to be ſaved! I cannot ſave my ſelf, and no creature can help me; but is there no other way? Thus you muſt ſee and be ſenſible that you are loſt in your ſelves if you would be ſaved.

Direction 2. You muſt mourn for ſin, if you would be ſaved; except ye repent, ſaith our Saviour, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh, Luk. 13. 3. Thoſe that laugh and rejoyce now in a way of ſin, ſhall mourn and weep for it for ever to no purpoſe, Luk 6. 25. But bleſſed are they that mourn for ſin now, for they ſhall be comforted and ſaved, Matth. 5. 4. The ſeed time of repentance accompanied with the ſhowers of tears, will return with the harveſt of ſalvation, and ſheaves of joy and comfort, Pſal. 126. 5, 6. They that ſow in tears ſhall reap in joy; he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſs come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him, Therefore ſee what the Apoſtle exhorteth unto, which is neceſſary to your ſalvation, Jam. 4. 9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heavineſs. Humble your ſelves in the ſight of the Lord, and he ſhall lift you up. Sinners, you have delighted your ſelves in ſin, you muſt now be afflicted for it; ſin hath been ſweet in your mouth, it muſt now be bitter to your heart: God calls you to ſalvation by his Son, but withall he calls you to weeping, and mourning, and deep humiliation in order hereunto; not that your tears can waſh off the guilt of your ſins, nothing can do this but the blood of Chriſt; not that God delights in your griefs and ſorrows as ſuch, but p. 46becauſe mourning is needful for you to prepare you for Chriſt, and Salvation by him; whilſt ſin is ſweet unto your taſte, you will roll it under your tongue, and hug it in your boſom; you will ſpare it, and nothing will perſwade you to part with it; but when you taſte the bitterneſs of ſin in compunction and ſorrow for it, then you will ſpit it out; when you perceive the gall and the worm wood, then your mouth will be put out of relliſh, then you will deſire no longer to ſuck at the breaſt of ſin; whilſt you are inſenſible of ſin, you will be inſenſible of your need of a Saviour: None but ſick perſons do prize and ſend for the Phyſitian, and none but ſuch as are ſick of ſin, and groan and mourn under the burden of this ſickneſs, do prize a Chriſt who is the ſoul-Phyſician, Matth. 9. 12. Were you made ſenſible of ſin indeed, you would eagerly enquire after Chriſt, and greedily hearken unto the glad tydings of ſalvation which he hath purchaſed; what ſhall I do to get an intereſt in Chriſt? where is he to be found? how is he to be received? what are his terms? what are his commands? do any thing, part with any thing, you would not then think much to lay down your ſelves, and all that you have at his feet, ſo you might have him; none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt would you then deſire; and if you might have all the world without him, you would not be contented. Sinners, would you be ſaved by Chriſt, get your hearts affected with godly ſorrow for ſin, and that you may mourn deeply and kindly, you muſt get not only a conviction of the guilt of ſin, and the puniſhment which is due for it, which you cannot eſcape; but you muſt look further into the nature of ſin, and get a ſight and ſenſe of the evil of ſin; you muſt look p. 47not only to the conſequential evil of ſin, but alſo to the intrinſecal evil of ſin; not only to the Hell which is like to follow upon it, but alſo to that Hell which there is in it; look to the evil of ſin not only as it is like to burn you, but as it hath blackt and ſmutted you; as it hath depraved and deformed your ſouls, which are of heavenly original, as it hath degraded and debaſed you, polluted and defiled you. But chiefly look upon the evil of ſin as it reflecteth diſhonour upon God, upon God that is ſo holy and glorious, and that is ſo good and gracious, as it diſpleaſeth that God that made you, that hath exerciſed ſo much patience towards you, when he could ſo eaſily have cut you off in the act of ſin, and appointed you your place and portion amongſt the damned in Hell long ago; and that hath moreover been ſo bountiful to you, though ſinners and his enemies, that he hath maintained you at his coſt and charges all your daies; but eſpecially ſee the evil of ſin, as it offendeth that God who is ready to be reconciled, and hath made ſuch proviſion for reconciliation, which you could never have thought of, namely, through the death and mediation of his Son, whom he hath given for you, and proffers to give to you; and in him doth treat with you, and by us Miniſters doth ſend intreaties to you, that you would accept of this reconciliation, lay down your weapons, and be reconciled unto him, 2 Cor. 5. 20. Break, break ye rocky hearts at this, what is God willing indeed to put up ſuch high affronts? and to forgive ſuch great ſins? and doth he ſtoop to entreat and beſeech ſuch mean creatures, and wretched ſinners as you to be reconciled? O be filled with aſtoniſhment and admiration, and go caſt your p. 48ſelves down at his feet with ſelf-loathing and abhorrency at the hideous nature, and monſtrous ingratitude, and baſeneſs of your ſins! let your hearts melt within you like Wax, or Snow, when the Sun ſhineth upon it with heat and brightneſs; let your eyes drop down tears, as the morning doth drop dew upon the flowers: What! have I affronted ſuch greatneſs? dared ſuch power? trampled upon ſuch patience? and abuſed ſuch goodneſs too? and after all doth God beſeech me to be reconciled? was it ſuch a God whom I offended? vile wreth! O that I had never committed ſuch ſins! O that I had never been drunk, or unclean, or profane! O that I had never ſworn, nor lyed, nor ſtoln, nor offended God in any of my actions! It repents me, it grieves me at the very heart that I have ſinned, and that I can grieve no more for it.

Direction 3. You muſt turn from ſin, if you would be ſaved; ſee Pſal. 7. 11, 12, 13. God is angry with the wicked every day; if he turn not, he will whet his ſword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready; he hath prepared for him the inſtruments of death. And God threatneth, Pſal. 88. 21. that he will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy ſcalp of ſuch as go on ſtill in their treſpaſſes: Therefore men muſt turn from all their tranſgreſſions, otherwiſe iniquity will be their ruine, Ezek. 18. 30. They muſt caſt away their ſins as a menſtruous cloth, ſaying unto them, get ye hence, if they would be received into favour, Iſa. 30. 22. They muſt not only confeſs their ſins, but alſo forſake them, if they would find mercy, Prov. 28. 13. The wicked muſt forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and turn to p. 49the Lord, and then he ſhall have pardoning mercy abundantly, Iſa. 55. 7. When men ceaſe to do evil, and learn to do well, then, though their ſins have been as ſcarlet, they ſhall be white as ſnow; though they be red like crimſon, they ſhall be like wooll, Iſa. 1. 16, 17, 18. Sinners, turn from your evil waies, you have done iniquity, do ſo no more; you have gone on hitherto in a way of ſin, proceed no further, it is the way to Hell, turn out of it: Let him that hath ſtoln, ſteal no more; and him that hath been filthy, be filthy no more; and him that hath been unjuſt, be unjuſt no more: Drunkards, forbear your drinking; ſwearers, refrain ſwearing; lyars, teach your tongues to ſpeak truth: Break off your courſe of ſin; turn from all groſs ſins as to the practice, and turn from all ſins as to the affection.

Direction 4. You muſt believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, if you would be ſaved: This is the direction which Paul gave to the Jaylor, when under conviction of ſin he came in to him and cryed, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? he ſaith to him, Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and thou ſhalt be ſaved, Act. 16. 30, 31. So in Peter's Sermon, Act. 10. 43. To him gave all the Prophets witneſs, that through his Name, whoſoever believeth in him ſhould receive remiſſion of ſins. There is no Saviour but by Chriſt; and there is no ſalvation by Chriſt but by faith, and therefore we are ſaid to be ſaved through faith, Epheſ. 2. 8. As faith is the inſtrument to apply the merits and righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt. Let me then exhort you to get faith, which is abſolutely neceſſary unto ſalvation: Get faith of the right kind; there is a general, common, hiſtorical, temporary, hypocritical, dead p. 50and ineffectual faith; but do you labour after a ſpecial, lively, unfeigned, effectual, juſtifying and ſaving faith; and that you may not be miſtaken in this great point on which your ſalvation doth depend, I ſhall deſcribe that faith which is of the right kind, and will certainly ſave you if you obtain it.

Faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God, whereby a poor ſinner being made ſenſible of the guilt and power of his ſins, and the utter inſufficiency of himſelf, or any creature in the world, to give him any help or ſuccour; and having in the Goſpel a diſcovery and proffer made unto him of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as an all ſufficient, moſt merciful and faithful Advocate and Saviour, doth go quite out of himſelf, and accept, lay hold, rely, and reſt upon him, and him alone, for pardon, and grace, and everlaſting happineſs. Or more briefly thus, Faith is a grace of God whereby the humbled ſinner doth accept and rely upon Chriſt alone for ſalvation, as he is held forth in the Promiſes of the Goſpel.

If you would attain this grace of Faith, take theſe Directions.

1. You muſt be fully perſwaded that the Scriptures which reveal Chriſt, are indeed the word of God; this is the foundation of all faith, therefore I ſhall briefly ſuggeſt ſome Arguments to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures: As 1. Becauſe of that majeſty, purity, holineſs, heavenlineſs which doth appear in the Scriptures beyond all other writings. 2. Becauſe of the deſign and drift of the Scriptures to debaſe man, and exalt God and his glory above all. 3. Becauſe of the admirable contexture, and contrivance, and ſweet harmony of the Scriptures in all the parts thereof, though written by ſo many ſeveral men in ſeveral ages and places, p. 51which ſheweth that they were all acted by the ſame Spirit of God. 4. Becauſe of the wonderfull work of mans Redemption there ſet forth at firſt more darkly, afterwards more clearly, which no mortal brain could have invented, much leſs could any created power have effected. 5. Becauſe of the great power which this word hath to convince, convert, and comfort. 6. Becauſe of the confirmation of the Scriptures by miracles. 7. Becauſe of the acknowledgement of the Scriptures to be Gods Word in all ages. 8. Becauſe of the many millions of Martyrs, who have ſealed the Truths of the word with their blood. 9. Becauſe of the witneſs of the Spirit in and with the word, which doth bear teſtimony to the hearts of Gods people, that the Scriptures are his Word, and were indited by his Spirit. Whence it followeth, that the Scriptures are true, becauſe God, the Author of them, is true, and cannot lye; and whatever is there revealed, is as certain as thoſe things which are moſt demonſtrable to ſenſe or reaſon: This is the firſt ſtep to your believing in Chriſt who is made known in the Scriptures, to believe that the Scriptures are Gods Word.

2. If you would attain a ſaving faith in Chriſt, you muſt be convinced and fully perſwaded of your loſt eſtate without Chriſt, and your abſolute need of him, of which before.

3. You muſt be perſwaded, that it is not in your own power to believe, that it is not of your ſelves, but is the gift of God, Epheſ. 2. 8. and therefore muſt apply your ſelves to God, that he would not only give you his Son, but alſo give you the hand of faith to lay hold on him, that he would work in you this grace of faith by his Spirit.

p. 524. You muſt conſider thoſe Arguments of Scripture which encourage faith: As for inſtance, I ſhall mention four heads of Arguments for faith, from the conſideration 1. Of God. 2. Of the Promiſes. 3. Of Chriſt. 4. Of the Saints.

1. From the conſideration of God, who hath given his Son to ſave ſinners; it is an encouragement to faith, to conſider, 1. That God is mercifull, and therefore willing to pardon and ſave, otherwiſe he would not have ſent his Son; he doth not delight in the death of ſinners, Ezek. 18. 23. but delighteth to ſhew mercy; ſee Micah 7. 18, 19. Exod. 34. 6, 7. Pſal. 103. 8, 9, &c. 2. That God is faithfull in his Promiſes of ſalvation, which he hath made through his Son in his Covenant of Grace: God needed not have made the Covenant, nor promiſed mercy to any ſinners; but having made the Covenant, he is engaged to make it good. 3. That it is for his glory to ſave ſinners through his Son, the glory of his free grace, yea and juſtice too, which hath been fully ſatisfied by Chriſts death.

2. You have encouraging Arguments for faith, from the conſideration of the Promiſes, which are, 1. Large, made to all ſorts of perſons, and all ſorts of ſinners, none are excluded. 2. Full, they extend to all ſorts of ſins, though never ſo many and great, Iſa. 55. 7. 3. Free, nothing is required on your part but accepting. 4. Sure, being the Promiſes of God in Chriſt.

3. You have encouragement to believe in Chriſt for ſalvation, from the conſideration of Chriſt, the proper object of faith: 1. The quality of his perſon who is God and man in one perſon, that he might reconcile man unto God. 2. The merit of his p. 53ſufferings, which (as hath been ſhown) was of infinite value, and ſufficient for the redemption of men. 3. His alſufficient power to ſave thoſe that come to him, Heb. 7. 25. 4. His mercy and faithfulneſs to make reconciliation, Heb. 2. 17. 5. His intereſt with the Father. 6. His continual interceſſion at the right hand of God, Heb. 7. 25.

4. You have encouragement to believe in Chriſt for ſalvation, from the conſideration of the Saints, the experience which they have had of ſalvation by Chriſt, ſome of whom have been as vile ſinners as you: You have as good grounds to come unto Chriſt, and believe in him for ſalvation, as the moſt holy men alive before converſion.

5. If you would attain this grace of faith in Jeſus Chriſt, you muſt labour to act it, looking up to God for help herein; endeavour to caſt and roll your ſelves upon Chriſt, to apply Chriſt and his merits, and to rely upon him and his righteouſneſs: It is in your endeavour that God doth work; and here you muſt endeavour again and again againſt all oppoſition which you find from the Devil and your own evil heart of unbelief, which will be ready to carry you away from Chriſt. So much for the 4th. Direction.

Direction 5. You muſt get a new Nature, if you would be ſaved: You muſt be made partakers of the Divine Nature, if you would be made partakers of this ſalvation: You have brought unholy and impure natures into the world with you, which muſt be changed and renewed after the Image of God, in knowledge, righteouſneſs, and true holineſs, before you can be in a ſtate of ſalvation, and ſee the Kingdom p. 54of God: This new nature, which is abſolutely neceſſary unto ſalvation, is begun in the work of regeneration, and carried on in the work of ſanctification: In regeneration the work of grace is begun, the habits of grace are infuſed; a new principle of ſpiritual life is put into the ſoul; and ſin (which before lived, and had dominion over the man, imploying all his members as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs, to make proviſion for the ſatisfaction of its affections and luſts) doth receive its deaths wound, and loſeth its force and reigning power: In ſanctification, the work of grace is carried on, the habits of grace are ſtrengthned and encreaſed; the new man doth grow, and the old man doth decline and decay; there is a vivification or quickning more and more of grace, by the influence of the Word and Spirit, and a mortification or ſubduing more and more of remaining iniquity. What our Saviour tells Nicodemus, Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God: I may tell you, that unleſs ye be born again, unleſs ye be regenerated, ye cannot be ſaved, no poſſibility of entring into the Kingdom of Heaven, without you get this new nature: A man muſt be born the firſt time, before he can poſſeſs a temporal inheritance; and a man muſt be born again, before he can poſſeſs the eternal inheritance: You muſt be children, before you can be heirs, Rom. 8. 17. children not only by adoption, but alſo by regeneration: Ye muſt be Saints, before meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1. 12. You muſt have the new nature, before you can enter into the New Jeruſalem: You muſt be made like to God in holineſs, before you can be admitted to live with God in the place of everlaſting p. 55happineſs; God doth ſuffer the wicked that are unclean and unholy, to live before him in the Outhouſe of the Earth; but he will not permit any except ſuch as are ſanctified to live with him in the Palace of Heaven. O then labour after a work of Grace upon your hearts; be perſwaded of the worth of Grace, that it is a rare and precious Jewel, that the leaſt meaſure of Grace is of more worth than ten thouſand Worlds; be ſenſible of your want of it, that naturally you are without it, that it doth not grow in Natures Garden, that you have no good Nature in you before God, till your Nature is renewed; be ready to receive the ſeed of Grace, which drops down from above whileſt People are attending upon Gods Ordinances; be ready to hearken and yield to the Spirits motions, whereby this work of Grace is effected: And having the work begun, O cheriſh the Grace you have got, and as new-born Babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby; and labour to cleanſe your ſelves from all filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit, that ye may perfect holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1.

Direction 6. You muſt lead a new Life, if you would be ſaved; ſee what kind of Life the grace of God which bringeth ſalvation doth require and teach, namely, to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world, Tit. 2. 11, 12. You muſt deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, you muſt put off concerning the former converſation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitfull luſts, Eph. 4. 22. p. 56and not faſhion your ſelves according to the former luſts, in your ignorance and unregeneracy, 1 Pet. 1. 14. not running with others unto the ſame exceſs of riot, 1 Pet. 4. 4. not walking according to the courſe of a profane and ungodly world, Eph. 2. 2. but ſaving your ſelves from an untoward generation, Act. 2. 40. as he that hath called you is holy, ſo you muſt be holy in all manner of converſation, 1 Pet. 1. 15. you muſt live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world; ſoberly in regard of your ſelves; righteouſly in regard of others; and godly in regard of the Lord.

1. Soberly, in regard of your ſelves; which implyes, 1. Temperance in eating and drinking, you muſt take heed of Gluttony and Drunkenneſs: 2. Chaſtity, you muſt take heed of Adultery and Uncleanneſs, in thought, ſpeech, look, and act. 3. Moderation, you muſt be ſober in your deſires after theſe earthly things, and take heed of inordinate affection to any thing.

2 You muſt live Righteouſly in regard of others: You muſt give to every one their due, and do to others as you reaſonably can deſire that they ſhould do unto you; you muſt take heed of unrighteouſneſs either in regard of Commutative Juſtice in your buying and ſelling, borrowing and lending; and in regard of Diſtributative Juſtice in diſpenſing of rewards and puniſhments; you muſt beware of oppreſſing, afflicting, injuring any, of going beyond or defrauding any, of withholding dues, keeping back wages from thoſe that have done you ſervice, knowing that if they cannot, God will be the avenger of all ſuch.

3. You muſt live godly in regard of the Lord; p. 57you muſt eſpecially ſhew your New Life in the immediate Worſhip of the Lord, and that publickly in his Houſe, privately in your Families, ſecretly in your Cloſets; you muſt worſhip God in the Ordinances of his own appointment; and this you muſt do with reverence, having an awe and dread of God upon your ſpirits, with whom you have more immediately to do; with ſincerity, having a ſincere reſpect to Gods glory therein, and that you might be accepted by him, and meet with him; with vigilancy watching the fitteſt time in regard of the thing, and the temper of your Bodies and Souls, and the breathings of Gods Spirit; with humility, ſenſible of your ſinfulneſs, unworthineſs, weakneſs, emptineſs, needineſs; with diligence, before to prepare your hearts, and in Ordinances to engage them, and reſiſt the Devil and the contrary workings of the fleſh; with frequency, laying hold on all the opportunities as you can, without neglecting other buſineſſes, which for that time you may be more neceſſarily called unto; with ſervency, getting your hearts if you can raiſed and enlarged, labouring that they may burn within you with love to God; with delight and complacency in God, and above all with Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, through whom alone it is that you can have ſtrength to perform duties, and that you can have any acceptance in them by the Father.

Direction 7. You muſt reſolve upon ſufferings for Chriſt, if called, if you would be ſaved; you muſt bear the Croſs, if you would wear the Crown, remembring that if the Croſs be weighty it will work p. 58for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. you muſt reckon upon ſufferings for Chriſt before hand, and reſolve that you will ſtick to him and his wayes, though you ſhould loſe eſteem by it, and become the Drunkards Song, and be reproached amongſt men; though you loſe liberty by it, and be thruſt into Priſon; though you ſhould loſe Eſtate by it, and be brought to pinching want; though you ſhould loſe Friends by it, and have none to ſtand by you; though you ſhould loſe Life by it, and be cut off in the midſt of your years; otherwiſe you cannot be Chriſts Diſciples indeed, and obtain this ſalvation which he hath purchaſed. See the terms which our Saviour propounds, Luk. 14. 26, 27. If any man come unto me, and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife and Children, and Brethren and Siſters, yea and his own life, he cannot be my Diſciple. This we are to underſtand, that a man muſt chooſe to diſpleaſe Father, Mother, Wife, Children, the neareſt and deareſt Relations, and part with any thing in the world, yea with Life it ſelf, rather than to diſpleaſe and part with Jeſus Chriſt; and that we muſt reſolve to bear the Croſs, whatever it be that God hath allotted for us, otherwiſe we do not accept of Chriſt upon Goſpel-terms; you muſt reſolve to be partakers of the affliction of the Goſpel, if you would obtain the ſalvation of the Goſpel; you muſt reſolve to ſuffer with Chriſt, and for his ſake when called, if you would reign and be glorified together with him. Whatever profeſſion you make of Chriſt and his wayes in time of peace and proſperity, when the Sun of perſecution doth ariſe upon you with burning heat, you will wither and fall away, and turn p. 59fearfull Apoſtates, and then your laſt eſtate will be worſe than your firſt; and as your ſin will be greater here, ſo your puniſhment will be more dreadfull hereafter in Hell, where you will confeſs that the light ſufferings which you have declined for Chriſts ſake here, are not worthy to be compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of wrath which you muſt endure for your Apoſtacy unto all eternity.

Direct. 8. You muſt ſtudy and apply the Promiſes of the Covenant of grace, if you would be ſaved; without the Covenant of grace there had been no poſſible ſalvation for any of the fallen Children of Men; the Covenant of Works which God made with Man at the firſt, being broken by ſin, it doth condemn all that are under it; it is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace that any are brought into a ſtate of ſalvation; therefore ſtudy and apply the Promiſes of this Covenant: Now you muſt know that all the Promiſes of the Goſpel, which are ſcattered up and down the Scripture do belong unto this Covenant; but I ſhall ſpread before you thoſe few more general Promiſes which the Apoſtle doth make mention of, where he treats of the New Covenant, Heb. 8. 10, 11, 12. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael after thoſe dayes, ſaith the Lord, I will put my Lawes into their minde, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they ſhall be to me a People; and they ſhall not teach every man his Neighbour, and every man his Brother, ſaying know the Lord, for they ſhall all know me from the leaſt to the greateſt; for p. 60I will be mercifull unto their unrighteouſneſs, and their ſins and iniquities will I remember no more. Here are Four great Promiſes which the Lord hath made to his People, which I ſhall explain (though not in the order of the Text) that you may the better underſtand and apply them.

1. God promiſeth that he will be to them a God, and they ſhall be to him a People; this includes all the reſt: It is a full and ſweet promiſe that God will be our God, it hath a great deal more in it, than we can conceive; we may look and look again, and though our Faith have never ſo piercing an eye, never ſo large and deep reach, yet we cannot look to the bottom, and fathom the depth of this Promiſe; we may ſuck and ſuck again at this breaſt, and though we draw never ſo hard, we can never draw forth all the ſweetneſs that is in this Promiſe. To have God to be our God, it is very great, it is very ſweet: Indeed God is the God of all his Creatures, yea of his enemies, and the vileſt ſinners; but to be our God in this place ſounds and ſignifieth more than that which is common to all; it ſpeaketh a peculiar relation, a ſpecial intereſt and propriety in God; in this promiſe God doth make over himſelf and all that he hath to us, ſo far as we are capable of receiving; he giveth himſelf to be our portion, he engageth his Power, Wiſdom, Goodneſs, Mercy, Love, and all his Attributes to be employed for our good, he promiſeth to be our God here, and to be our God for ever; it ſignifieth that he will be our Father to love and cheriſh us, to preſerve, and provide for us whileſt we live, and to take our Souls to himſelf when we dye, and to raiſe up our bodies at the laſt day, and make both p. 61perfectly glorious and happy in Heaven, when time ſhall be no more. He promiſeth alſo that we ſhall be his People; we cannot make our ſelves ſo, but he promiſeth that he will make us ſo; he will make us his Children, he will adopt us, he will regenerate us, give us the title, and give us the diſpoſition of Children; all this and much more is contained in this Promiſe, That God will be our God, and we ſhall be his People, even the whole work of our ſalvation from our effectual Calling unto our eternal Glorification.

2. A ſecond great Promiſe of the Covenant of Grace is, That God will be mercifull unto our unrighteouſneſs, and that he will remember no more our ſins and iniquities; it is a promiſe of mercy in the free pardon and forgiveneſs of all our ſins, this is an exceeding great and precious promiſe, without which there were no acceſs for us unto God, no attaining eternal happineſs, no eſcaping eternal miſery, guilt would ſhut us out of Heaven, and ſink us into Hell without a pardon. This Promiſe is of vaſt extent, it reacheth to all ſort of ſins, Unrighteouſneſs, Sins, Iniquities; no ſin is too great for God to pardon, if the ſinner doth believe.

3. A third Promiſe of the Covenant of Grace is, that God will give us the knowledge of himſelf; they ſhall not teach every man his Neighbour, and every man his Brother, ſaying, Know the Lord, for they ſhall all know me from the leaſt to the greateſt; they ſhall not teach one another the knowledge of God, that is, they cannot, or they ſhall not be able to do it; they may and ought to teach one another inſtrumentally; it is the duty of ſome to teach, and the duty of others, and they have need, to learn, p. 62but they ſhall not be able to teach effectually; they may give inſtructions to one another concerning God and his wayes; but they cannot give light; they may ſet the light before them, but they cannot ſet up the light in them; they may open Truths, but they cannot open the Underſtanding; this is the work of God only to do, and this he hath undertaken by Promiſe to do, they ſhall all know me, they ſhall be taught of God by his Spirit the knowledge of himſelf; he teacheth by men inſtrumentally, but he will teach us by his Spirit effectually.

4. A fourth Promiſe of the Covenant of Grace, is, that God will put his laws into our hearts, and write them in our minds: the Law was written before on Tables of Stone, but here he promiſeth to write them on fleſhly Tables of the heart; which is done not with Pen and Ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, 2 Cor. 3. 3. this Promiſe is very comprehenſive, it includes not only the giving of a ſpiritual diſcovery of the minde and will of God, but alſo the giving of ſpiritual diſpoſitions, affections, and ſtrength to perform it; and by conſequence the removal of indiſpoſitions, the purging out of corruptions, the mortifying of luſt, the taking away the heart of ſtone, and giving a heart of fleſh, the giving a new heart, the putting the Spirit within us, and cauſing us to walk in his Statutes, and to keep his Judgements and do them, as this Promiſe is branched forth, Ezek. 36. 25, 26, 27.

Theſe in brief are the chief Promiſes of the Covenant of Grace, labour to underſtand them, and apply them that you may be ſaved.

p. 63Direct. 9. You muſt give up your ſelves in Covenant to God, if you would be ſaved; God hath put his hand and ſeal to the Covenant which he hath made through his Son with you, and you ſhould put your hand to the Covenant and engage your ſelves unto the Lord; you were dedicated to the Lord by your Parents when you were baptized, then you underſtood not what was done; now you are arrived to years of underſtanding, you ſhould make it your own act, and dedicate your ſelves to the Lord: and the more ſolemnly you enter into Covenant with God, the more ſtrong Obligation it may be upon you to walk cloſely with God all your dayes: Some have directed to do it under hand-writing, ſubſcribing the name, and ſome have put words into your mouths, which you may do it, in if you are not ſo well able to expreſs the terms your ſelves; you have this done in Mr. Guthry and Mr. Allen's books, if thoſe Books be not at hand, I ſhall ſet before you this Platform, which you may make uſe of in entring ſolemnly into Covenant with God.

I A. B. do acknowledge my ſelf to be the Creature and Subject of the great and glorious Majeſty of Heaven and Earth, in whom I live, move, and have my being, and from whom I receive every good thing which I receive; and therefore am obliged to conform my minde, will and affections, to order my words, wayes and whole converſation according to his moſt wiſe and good, moſt righteous and reaſonable Laws: Beſides which natural Obligation, however born in ſin, and thereby diſenabled, yet being born in the Church, and p. 64Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, and by my Parents dedicated unto God when I was an Infant; I am further obliged by Covenant to be the ſervant of the Lord. But having proved a Rebel and Traytor againſt the Higheſt Majeſty, breaking his Laws, and Covenant-ties which have been upon me, ſpending years of my life in a ſtate of ſtrangeneſs and enmity to God, in the ſervice of the Devil and my own Luſts, I do now ſolemnly renew my Covenant with God, that the breach may be made up which ſin hath made between God and my Soul.

Being in the Firſt place convinced of the guilt of my ſins, whereby I have affronted and offended the higheſt Majeſty, whoſe Juſtice muſt be ſatisfied; and withall convinced of my own utter inability to make the leaſt ſatisfaction either by doing or ſuffering, and that my Righteouſneſſes are as filthy rags, and therefore altogether inſufficient to procure for me the pardon of ſin, the favour of God, and the peace of Conſcience; as alſo fully perſwaded that no meer Creature is able to give unto me any help and relief in this caſe. And being informed by the Word of God what the Lord Jeſus is, hath done, and ſuffered for poor ſinners, That there is no Name under Heaven given amongſt men whereby we can be ſaved, but only the Name of Jeſus Chriſt; that he is able to ſave all them unto the uttermoſt that come unto God by him, ſeeing be ever liveth to make interceſſion for them; that he is a mercifull and faithfull High-prieſt in things pertaining to God, to make Reconciliation for the ſins of the People; that whoſoever cometh unto him, he will in no wiſe caſt out: and finding a Promiſe in the Covenant of Grace that God will be mercifull unto our unrighteouſneſs, and that our ſins and iniquities he will remember no more; which p. 65Covenant is of full force through the death of Chriſt the Teſtator thereof: and having Chriſt ſet forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood, and his Righteouſneſs declared for the remiſſion of ſins which are paſt through the forbearance of God; and this Chriſt freely tendered unto me, and being invited earneſtly, yea entreated that I would be reconciled unto God through him; and by the Spirit being perſwaded of the truth of theſe things, and hereby encouraged to apply my ſelf unto Chriſt, and the Promiſes through him unto my ſelf: I do now (grieving that I have offended God, groaning under the burden of ſin, renouncing all my own righteouſneſs, hungring after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and his righteouſneſs) upon the bended knees of my ſoul come unto him, and caſt my ſelf wholly upon him; I chooſe him for my only Advocate to plead my cauſe in the Court of Heaven, to procure for me Pardon and Reconciliation, that being juſtified by Faith, I may have peace with God through my dear Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Next, repenting from the bottom of my heart… of my ſins, grieving that I have ſuch a ſinfull Nature, ſuch a deceitfull heart, that I have ſo adulterated my affections, and gone a whoring from God to the Creatures, that I have ſo indulged my fleſh, and ſatisfied its irregular deſires, that I have given ear to the Devil, and complyed as I have done with his temptations: I now renounce all allegiance and ſervice to the World, to the Fleſh, and to the Devil, theſe enemies of the Lord, and of my peace, which warr againſt my Maſter, and againſt my own ſoul; covenanting and promiſing never to give away my heart any more from the Lord unto any perſon or thing in the World; to refuſe the World for my portion and p. 66chief happineſs; to deny my fleſh i…s ſinfull deſires and demands; to reſiſt the Devil and his Temptations; not to live and allow my ſelf in any known ſin, and to make uſe of all the known means which the Lord hath preſcribed for the crucifying of the World, for the mortifying and utter extirpation of ſin, for the reſiſting and overcoming the Devil. And being perſwaded of the power and intereſt, the ſubtilty and deceitfulneſs of theſe enemies, and withall ſenſible of my own imprudence, folly, weakneſs and inconſtancy, I humbly and earneſtly implore and beſeech the higheſt Majeſty, who is infinite in wiſdom, power, and goodneſs, that he would give me counſel and diſcretion in the uſe and management of all means and helps that I may not neglect any, nor through ſloth and imprudence ſuffer a leſſer duty to juſtle out a greater, that he would give me courage, ſtrength and conſtancy in the maintaining my ſpiritual warfare againſt theſe my ſpiritual enemies unto my lifes end. And if ever I ſhould fall through unwatchfulneſs and weakneſs, (which the Lord grant I may never do) I do promiſe in the ſtrength of the Lord to ariſe again by Faith and Repentance. And becauſe of the Body of ſin within me, and remaining corruptions, I ſhall be ſubject (during my abode here) unto daily failings and infirmities; I do promiſe to pray, watch and ſtrive againſt them, beſeeching the Lord to ſtrengthen me herein, and grant that my ſinful infirmities may be leſſe every day than other; in the mean time looking upon thoſe diſallowed miſcarriages contrary to the ſettled bent and reſolution of my heart, as inſufficient to make my Covenant void.

p. 67Furthermore, being convinced of the vanity, emptineſs, and utter inſufficiency of any or all the Creatures in the World, to make me happy, had I the moſt deſireable enjoyment of them; and having a diſcovery of the infinitely bleſſed God made unto me in his Works, chiefly in his Word, as being the chief good of man, and withall a Promiſe in the Covenant of Grace that he will be our God, yea our Father through Chriſt, and that we ſhall be his people, his Sons and Daughters: I do here with deep veneration of Soul, and chief eſtimation of minde, chooſe the thrice Bleſſed Jehovah for my Portion and chief good, beyond all perſons and things in this World; and do avouch him this day to be my God. I humbly accept of the relation of a Servant and a Son, or Daughter, which he hath called me unto. I put my ſelf under his wing, and commit my ſelf to his care and Tuition; and henceforth ſhall be bold through my deareſt Lord to call him, and look upon him to be my God and Father; and humbly ſhall expect from him Protection and Proviſion in his way and work, Correction, Audience of Prayer, and the fulfilling of all thoſe Promiſes unto me, which he hath made unto his Children.

Moreover, being perſwaded that none can come unto the Father, but by the Son; nor ſhare in any ſpiritual priviledge, but through Chriſts death and interceſſion, and being perſwaded of the infinite amiableneſs of Chriſts perſon, the greatneſs of his love and affection unto the children of men, as alſo of his infinite deſireableneſs in regard of thoſe offices, and relations which he hath vouchſafed to take upon him, and enter into for the good of his people: I do avouch the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to be my only Saviour, and p. 68chooſe him in all his Offices and Relations. I chooſe Chriſt to be my High-Prieſt, to intercede, and procure for me daily pardon, acceſs unto God, acceptance of my perſon and ſervice, audience of my prayers, and ſupply of all my wants. I chooſe Chriſt to be my Prophet, to teach me by his Word and Spirit the will of the Father. I chooſe Chriſt to be my King to rule and govern me, to command my whole man into the obedience of himſelf. I chooſe Chriſt to be my Captain, to go before me, and to tread down my ſpiritual enemies under my feet. I chooſe Chriſt to be my Friend and Brother, to counſel and adviſe me, to ſtand by me in all the difficulties and ſtraights of my life. I chooſe Chriſt to be my Husband and beloved, humbly accepting of this near and ſweet Relation which he calleth me unto. I joyn and eſpouſe my ſelf unto the Lord Jeſus; and do promiſe to be for him only, and with full purpoſe of heart to cleave unto him, to love, honour and ſerve him, never to deny nor leave him whatever reproaches and diſtreſses I may meet withall for his ſake; though Perſecution ſhould ariſe, and that even unto death, I do promiſe to own his Name, and Cauſe, and Truths, and Wayes, ſo long as I have breath in my Body: But knowing that I am utterly inſufficient to do any of theſe things in my own ſtrength, therefore upon the knees of my Soul, I earneſtly beſeech that I may have ſtrength for all theſe from himſelf alone.

Further, becauſe God my Father is inviſible to the eye of ſenſe, and incomprehenſible by the graſp of Reaſon; and becauſe my deareſt Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who alone hath declared him, in regard of his bodily preſence is now in Heaven, abſent from his people; p. 69and becauſe whatever ſpiritual light or life, grace comfort, or ſpiritual communion with the Father, and with his Son, is vouchſafed unto the people of God, it is by the Holy Spirit, who is appointed by Office hereunto, and graciouſly promiſed unto them in the Word: Therefore I avouch and chooſe the Holy Ghoſt to be my Teacher and Guide, to be my Sanctifier and Comforter, to help my infirmities in duties; to ſtrengthen me with might in my inner man againſt ſin and Satans Temptations; to cleanſe me from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit; to heal me of all my ſpiritual diſtempers; to revive me under all my faintings; to ſupply me with all Graces as to kinde and meaſure, as ſhall be needfull for me in my place and work; to teſtifie Gods love to my Soul; to give me earneſts of Glory, and to ſeal me up unto the day of Redemption: And O that I might have the preſence and abode of the Spirit of God with me, and never grieve, quench, reſiſt, and drive away the Spirit any more!

Alſo, becauſe the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, endited by the Holy Ghoſt, the Epiſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, wherein he hath given notice of his love and will; becauſe they are the only ſufficient, and in themſelves a perfect Rule for Faith and a holy Life, and … fully do declare the way and means unto everlaſting happineſs: Therefore I chooſe the Word of God to be the Rule of my Faith and Life; and the Ordinances of God therein preſcribed to be the means of my acquaintance and converſe with my God ſo far as I am capable of, and he ſhall vouchſafe; and to be the means alſo of preparing of me for the full and perfect enjoyment of him beyond my preſent capacity.

p. 70And, becauſe the Ordinances are but dark glaſſes to ſee the Lord in; becauſe ignorance and unbelief do exceedingly vail God from mine eyes, fleſh and corruption do damp my love to God, and my ſpiritual Joy in him, and interrupt my communion with him; becauſe of the ſins, ſorrows, temptations, and afflictions which I cannot be wholly free from, and therefore cannot be perfectly happy here in this World; and having life and immortality brought to light by the Goſpel; a diſcovery and promiſe of eternal Life made unto me in the Word, and withall a command of my Lord, to lay up my Treaſure in Heaven: Therefore I chooſe Heaven for my Treaſure and Inheritance, for ever to live there in the company of all the holy Angels and Saints, in the bleſſed ſight, love, and enjoyment of the infinitely bleſſed God, to ſee and ſhare in the glory of my Deareſt Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whither I hope my Soul ſhall be tranſported by the Angels, ſo ſoon as it is ſeparated from my Body; and that my vile Body, when awakened and raiſed in the Morning of Chriſts coming, ſhall be faſhioned like unto Chriſts moſt beautifull and glorious Body, and both inherit the Kingdom prepared and promiſed by my Father.

Laſtly, being perſwaded of my Duty, and encouraged by Gods promiſe of aſſiſtance and acceptance; I now dedicate and deliver up my ſelf fully, freely, and for ever unto the Lord; I yield and reſign up my Soul with all its powers and faculties; my Body with all its ſenſes and members to be the inſtruments of righteouſneſs unto God: I reſign up my Minde to think upon the Lord, and thoſe things which concern his Intereſt and Glory, to receive, embrace and maintain his Truths; I reſign up my Memory, to be a p. 71ſtore-houſe and receptacle chiefly of the great things which do belong to his Kingdom, and other things of a more inferiour rank, as they may have a reference unto his Glory. I reſign up my Conſcience to receive light and purity from his Word and Spirit, and deſire that it may act faithfully as the Lords Deputy. I reſign up my Will unto the Will of God, to ſubmit to his Precepts, to embrace his Promiſes, to oppoſe what he hath forbidden, to comply with all the diſpenſations of his Providence towards me, to be willing that I ſhould be, and do, and bear, and chooſe and loſe what God would have me. I reſign up my Heart and Affections to fear and reverence the Lord, to believe and truſt in the Lord, to deſire and ſeek after the Lord, to love and delight in the Lord, and deſire to put them all under his Government, and to have them exerciſed according to his will. I reſign up my Fancy to be governed and employed by my Reaſon in the ſervice of my Maſter. I reſign up my Senſual Appetite after meat and drink, ſleep, and any pleaſures to be ſubſervient to my Rational Appetite, and no further to have ſatisfacton, than will tend to the glory of the Lord. I reſign up my Hands to work for God, my Feet to walk for God, my Ears to hear for God, my Eyes to ſee for God, my Tongue to ſpeak for God. I reſign up all my Graces, all my Gifts, all my Talents, to be uſed for the Glory of my Lord and Maſter; and my whole Man to be ruled and governed by his Laws: Promiſing, though my Fleſh do contradict and rebell, that I will endeavour to order my whole converſation according to his Word; humbly looking up to him for ſtrength ſo to doe, that I may be enabled by him to every duty. And now I look upon my ſelf no longer my own, p. 72or that any thing I have is at my own diſpoſe; but I wholly belong unto the Lord: And therefore, bleſſing, and praiſing, and giving thanks unto the Lord, for vouchſafing to enter into Covenant with me, and enclining my heart to enter into Covenant with him; Bending my neck under the feet of the moſt glorious Jehovah, I ſubſcribe my ſelf,

Witneſs my Hand and Seal. The devoted Servant of the Lord, A. B.

Direct. 10. You muſt be ſtedfaſt, and perſevere in the wayes of God unto your lives end, if you would be ſaved: And here you muſt be ſtedfaſt,

1. In the wayes of Truth.

2. In the Wayes of Gods Commandements.

1. You muſt be ſtedfaſt and perſevere in the wayes of Truth; in the belief of the Truths of the Word, without turning aſide into wayes of Errour; there are wayes of Errour which will lead you as certainly, and more ſecurely to Hell, than the wayes of open profaneneſs. The Apoſtle tells us of damnable errours, as well as open, damnable ſins, 2 Pet. 2. 1. and we read of ſome that are damned for believing a lye, that their deluſion hath been the cauſe of their damnation, 2 Theſſ. 2. 11, 12. The Devil leads as many as he can in the cords of more groſs and known ſins towards the place of endleſs miſery; but p. 73if any of them begin to perceive their thraldom and danger, if their eyes be a little opened, and Conſcience awakened, and hearts affected, and they are perſwaded to look after their ſalvation, then he endeavours to draw them into wayes of Errour, he hath his Agents and Miniſters, who are very ſubtle and crafty, and lye in wait to deceive, who with good words and fair ſpeeches inſinuate poyſonous doctrines; and pretending more glorious diſcoveries, higher and more excellent wayes, draw them out of the way of the Word and Ordinances, into paths of darkneſs, where they wander and loſe themſelves for ever; where they are toſſed up and down, and beaten to and fro with every winde of doctrine unto the ſhipwrack of their Faith and their Souls. As you hope for ſalvation, you muſt take heed of Errour; diligently inquire after Truth; ſearch for it as for ſilver, and digg for it as for hidden treaſures; digg for it in the golden Mines of the Scriptures, let the Word of God be the only Rule of your Faith; and having found the Truth, keep it, hold it faſt, labour to fix it in your mindes, let it be as a girdle about your loins; lay it up in your heart, let it be rooted there; apply your ſelves to Chriſt as a Prophet to lead you by his Word and Spirit into all Truth, and to keep you from being deceived and deluded; and keep cloſe to the Miniſtery and Ordinances of Chriſts Inſtitution, which the Lord hath appointed to continue unto the end of the World, for the edifying eſtabliſhment, and perfecting of the Saints, Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13, 14.

2. You muſt be ſtedfaſt, and perſevere in the wayes of Gods Commandements; you muſt patiently p. 74continue in well-doing, if you would obtain immortal glory, Rom. 2. 7. you muſt endure to the end, if you would be ſaved, Matth. 10. 22. you muſt be faithfull unto the death, if you would gain the Crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. It is abſolutely neceſſary unto ſalvation, that you hold out in the wayes of God; none but ſuch which come to the end of the race will obtain the prize; the Gate of Heaven lyeth at the further not the hither end of the Holy Path; therefore you muſt ſtedfaſtly perſevere in this way; if you ſhould fall down, you muſt riſe again, and go on; if you ſhould fall back or through miſtake turn aſide, you muſt return again, and make the more haſte; but if you ſhould fall off, if you ſhould fall away (as ſome have done who have ſeemed very zealous and forward Chriſtians as to the outward Profeſſion) you are loſt, you are caſt-awayes, and you will tumble and fall down into the bottomleſs Pit, from whence there is no returning. Be not then followers of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the ſaving of the Soul, Heb. 10. 39. Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promiſes, Heb. 6. 12. It is a glorious Inheritance that is before you, that is promiſed and prepared in Heaven, let this encourage you to diligence and perſeverance unto the end; I ſhall conclude with the words of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren be ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord, foraſmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Thus I have given you Directions, What things you muſt do that you may be ſaved.