Words Whereby We May Be Saved, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
II. THE Second and laſt thing for your guidance in the way of Salvation, is, To ſhew you what Means you muſt make uſe of to help you in theſe things.
There are Ten Means to be uſed in order to the attaining of Salvation:
1. Self-examination.
2. Reading the Word of God, and other good books.
3. Hearing the Word Preached.
4. Meditation.
5. Prayer.
6. Chriſtian-conference.
7. Watchfulneſs.
8. Sanctification of Faſting-dayes.
9. Sanctification of Sabbath-dayes.
10. Improvement of Sacrament-dayes.
Means 1. Self-examination. You muſt examine your ſelves, if you would ſee your ſelves loſt; you may read the miſtake of the Laodiceans, Rev. 3. 17. Thou ſayeſt, I am rich, and encreaſed in goods, and have need of nothing; and knoweſt not that thou art wretched, miſerable, and poor, and blinde, and naked. You muſt examine and prove your ſpiritual ſtate, that you may have a right judgement thereof, that you may perceive how poor, and wretched, and miſerable you are whileſt you are in a ſtate of Nature. You muſt examine your ſelves, that you may get a ſight and ſenſe of ſin: Jer. 8. 6. I hearkned and heard, but they ſpake not aright, no man repented him of his wickedneſs, ſaying, What have I done? every one turned to his courſe, as the Horſe ruſheth into the battel. You muſt examine what you have done, if you would repent of your ſins; you muſt ſearch and try your wayes, if you would turn from your evil wayes; you muſt commune with your hearts, and come to your ſelves, with the Prodigal, if you would return unto God, and turn your feet unto his Teſtimonies. Be ſerious then in this great duty of Self-examination; and that you may be ſo, I would adviſe that you would ſet apart time for it, when your thoughts are moſt free, and affections moſt ſedate and quiet; get out of the hurry of the world, and lay aſide other buſineſs for a while; and withall ſeparate your ſelves from company, and retire into ſecret, where you may be free from external diſturbances and interruptions; whatever indiſpoſitions and withdrawments of heart you finde, force your ſelves to the work; reſiſt Satan, who will endeavour to divert and diſcourage you: Set your ſelves in the preſence of God; deſire him to ſearch you; beg his help in the duty; labour to keep your minde cloſe to it; if vain thoughts ariſe, and would hurry you away, look up to Chriſt to rebuke them, and to bring them into captivity and obedience unto himſelf. And then ſit down, and ſeriouſly conſider what you have done ever ſince you came into the World, and withall think with your ſelves what you will do when your life and this world ſhall come to an end. Take a review of your ſins; they are noted down upon the book of your Conſciences, peruſe this book; and if you extracted a Catalogue of your ſins, it might be a help to you. Note down your original ſin; your actual ſins; your tranſgreſſions of Gods Law, in the firſt and the ſecond Table thereof; your diſobedience to the Goſpel; the aggravations of your ſins.
Means 2. Reading the Word of God, and other good books. The rule whereby you are to examine your ſelves is the Word; this is like a Candle, which will give light in dark corners; this is like a Glaſs, which will diſcover ſpots in the face; you muſt ſearch the Word, and try your ſelves hereby, if you would have knowledge of ſin, and your ſpiritual ſtate; and you muſt ſearch the Word, if you would have knowledge and acquaintance with God and his will. You may arrive to ſome knowledge of God by reading the Book of Nature; the whole world is full of God, and every Creature doth repreſent him; but the world is full of ſin too, and the more immediate repreſentations of the Creatures are ſenſitive things, which our ſenſe layeth hold on firſt, and is apt there to ſtick, without further piercing and ſearching to finde out God; and where we have one provocation from the Creatures to love and ſerve him (through the bewitching temptations of the world, meeting with the worldly luſts of our hearts) we have a thouſand incitements and allurements from them to ſin againſt God; but the Word is full of God, and no incitement there to ſin, full of perſwaſives to holineſs and obedience; God is to be ſeen more eaſily, and he ſetteth forth himſelf there moſt conſpicuouſly; In the Book of the Scriptures you have the moſt glorious diſcoveries of God, in his greatneſs, majeſty, power, holineſs, love, mercy, and the like; and the way made known of acquaintance and communion with him; if you would be acquainted with God in Chriſt, you muſt acquaint your ſelves with the Scriptures: Read the Scriptures daily, and ſearch them; Joh. 5. 39. read not only the hiſtory of the Word, but labour to underſtand the myſtery of Godlineſs therein revealed, 1 Tim. 3. 16. endeavour after a ſpiritual diſcerning of the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 14. when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word, labour to underſtand and believe them; when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them; when with Prohibitions and Threatnings, be cautioned againſt ſin by them; when you meet with promiſes, labour to apply them, to draw vertue from them. Read this Book as the Word of God, and hide it in your heart; lay it up there, as a choice treaſure, get your hearts caſt into the mould of it; get it written upon your hearts, and let it have an influence upon your whole converſation; and that you may the better underſtand and apply the truths of the Word, read as you have time other good books, which open the Scriptures, and treat of needfull points of Religion, eſpecially ſuch as direct in the great work of Converſion, and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole converſation; but above all Books read and ſtudy the Scriptures.
Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached. It is by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching that God ſaveth ſuch as do believe, 1 Cor. 1. 21. however the preaching of the Word is to them that periſh fooliſhneſs, yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto ſalvation; therein God doth put forth his power, and maketh bare his arm, in bringing ſalvation to loſt ſouls. Hear and thy Soul ſhall live, Iſa. 55. 3. Faith cometh by hearing, Rom. 10. 17. Lydia's heart was opened whileſt ſhe attended upon the Word preached by Paul, Act. 16. 14. Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Chriſts Miniſters, as an Ordinance of his own inſtitution for the working and increaſe of Grace: Look upon Miniſters as Chriſts Ambaſſadours; he that heareth them heareth Chriſt, and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them, turneth away his ear from Chriſt, who by his Spirit in them ſpeaketh from Heaven unto men, and how impoſſible it is for ſuch to eſcape the wrath of God, ſee Heb. 12. 25. Much more ſhall not they eſcape that turn away their ear from him that ſpeaketh from Heaven. Hear the Word with reverence, as the Word of God, as if the Lord ſhould ſpeak to you from Heaven with an audible voice; hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives, as for the ſalvation of your Souls; hear the Word with faith and love, without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts; and in hearing look not ſo much for thoſe things which may pleaſe, as for that which may edifie; I mean, do not regard ſo much mens fancies, as the wholſom Truths of the Word, which tend moſt to conviction, edification, to the killing of ſin, quickning and increaſe of Grace, and nouriſhment of the ſpiritual life.
Means 4. Meditation. The Word like Food muſt be digeſted by Meditation, that it may turn to ſpiritual nouriſhment; you muſt ponder and conſider in your mindes the Truths of the Word, that you may both underſtand them, and get your Hearts affected with them, and your Lives ordered by them. Meditation is a great help in Heavens way, ſuch as are remiſs herein cannot walk ſo ſteddily, nor chearfully; accuſtome your ſelves unto this duty, ſet apart time for it; I know that ſome complain of barrenneſs in their thoughts, when they endeavour to meditate; ſuch I would adviſe, if they have not that fruitfulneſs of thoughts themſelves to ſupply them with matter, that they would make uſe of others help; let them meditate on the Scriptures they read, on the Sermons they hear; moreover I would offer ſome general heads for Meditation, which you may make uſe of. 1. Sometimes meditate on God, his Attributes, his infinite Majeſty, power, holineſs, omnipreſence, omniſcience, eternity, unchangeableneſs, his infinite wiſdom, truth, faithfulneſs, juſtice, goodneſs, mercy and loving-kindneſs; his Councels, eſpecially his eternal decree of Election, which is of moſt ſweet conſideration to Believers; his works of Creation and Providence. 2. Sometimes meditate on Chriſt; his near relations, of Friend, Brother, Husband; his needfull Offices of Prieſt, Prophet, and King. 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit, his way and workings on the minde and heart, how he enlighteneth, enliveneth, ſtrengtheneth, comforteth, &c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace, and the rich, free, ſuitable, ſure Promiſes of pardon, grace, ſalvation therein. 5. Sometimes meditate on the Goſpel, and its priviledges, Juſtification, Adoption, Sanctification, Aſſurance of Gods love, peace of Conſcience, Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, communications of grace, &c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four laſt things, namely, Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell. 7. Sometimes meditate, and that frequently, daily, of ſuch Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular ſins, which are moſt ſtrong and prevalent, and to the ſtrengthening of your graces which you finde moſt weak and deficient.
Means 5. Prayer. Pray ſecretly; retire your ſelves from company into your Cloſets, or ſome private place, and there confeſs your ſins, and make known your requeſts to God, that ſeeth and heareth in ſecret, and hath promiſed an open reward to ſuch as ſecretly and ſincerely ſeek him. Pray frequently, be often upon your knees, give your ſelves unto Prayer; begin the day, conclude the day with Prayer, and recover ſome other time to viſit and ſpeak to God; at leaſt mingle ejaculatory Prayer with every other work; and labour that your minds may be always in a praying frame; and do not withdraw, but be glad when an opportunity offereth it ſelf to come to the throne of grace. Pray fervently, pour forth your hearts before God in the duty; wreſtle with God in Prayer like Jacob, be earneſt in your Petitions as for your lives, be inſtant and importunate, take no denyal, follow hard after God; ſtir up your ſelves to take hold on him, uſe arguments in Prayer, to plead with him. Pray believingly, mingle your prayers with Faith; make uſe of the name and mediation of Jeſus Chriſt; and make application of the Promiſes which God hath made to his People, which he hath made to Faith, and which he hath made to Prayer.
Means 6. Chriſtian Conference. Take heed of the company of the wicked; from ſuch turn away; if you are under tyes to be in ſuch company, converſe with them as infected perſons, with an Antidote, leſt you receive hurt by them, and with endeavours of doing them good. But chooſe the company of them that fear God; they are the excellent perſons; the wicked are the Droſs of the Earth, they are the Gold; let your delight be in their ſociety; aſſociate chiefly, if you have opportunity, with ſuch as have moſt of the power of godlineſs; and labour to improve by their company whenever you come into it; endeavour to get light, and life, and warmth and ſtrength from them; take heed of unprofitable diſcourſe; but let it be with grace for edification.
Means 7. Watchfulneſs. Watch unto duty; there are ſome golden ſeaſons for ſome duties, ſome choice opportunities of doing and receiving good, which if once ſlipt, you may never have the like again ſo long as you live; watch that you may know them, watch that you may improve them; underſtand the day of your viſitation; ſow your ſeed whileſt the weather laſteth; hoiſt up the ſail when the wind bloweth; watch the breathings of the Spirit, and comply with its motions. Watch againſt ſin, and therefore keep your hearts with all diligence; guard your ſenſes; take heed of Satan; get on the Spiritual Armour, eſpecially the ſhield of Faith, and fight the good fight of Faith, that you may lay hold on eternal life.
Means 8. Sanctification of Faſting-dayes. Set apart times to humble your Souls before God in Faſting, and Prayer; and therein rend your hearts and not your garments; labour to afflict your Souls for ſin; meet God with weeping and ſupplication; cloathe your ſelves with humility, lie in the duſt, cover your ſelves with ſhame; loath and abhorr your ſelves in his ſight for your iniquities, mourn for your own ſins, and for the great diſhonours of his Name by the ſins of others: And ſeek to the Lord both for your ſelves, and for his Church.
Means 9. Sanctification of Sabbath-dayes. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath-day; break off timely the day before from worldly employments, and be earneſt with God to prepare your heart for the day; and when the day is come, begin and hold on with God from Morning to Night, in the publick, private and ſecret duties of his immediate Worſhip, except what time works of neceſſity and mercy do call for: Labour to be in the Spirit and in the fear of God all the day long; lay aſide worldly buſineſs, take heed of vain and unprofitable diſcourſe; let not the Duties of Religion ſeem tedious, but call the Sabbath your delight; begin Heaven-work on ſuch dayes, that you may be fitted by theſe Sabbaths for the Eternal Reſt: Praiſe God on theſe dayes for the works of Creation, eſpecially for the work of Redemption; and labour to grow in grace by the dews of the Word which fall upon you moſt plentifully on ſuch dayes.
Means 10. Improvement of Sacrament-dayes. Come frequently to the Table of the Lord, if you have opportunity, to celebrate the Memorial of Chriſts Death, and come preparedly; examine your ſelves; pray for the Wedding-garment; read the hiſtory of Chriſts Paſſion; conſider ſuch arguments as may be a means to draw forth your graces into exerciſe; and when you are there, labour to mourn for ſin, which hath pierced the Lord; to hunger after his righteouſneſs; to receive him by Faith; to apply the Promiſes of the Covenant of Grace, whereof the Sacrament is a Seal; endeavour after a burning love to him whoſe love hath been ſo great as to dye for you; and let your hearts be filled with joy, and your mouths with Praiſes, and deliver up your ſelves in Covenant unto the Lord in this Ordinance; After you come from the Lords Table, reflect upon your carriage towards the Lord; if you have been ſtraitened, endeavour to find out the cauſe, mourn, and by after-pains and application of Chriſt, endeavour to get ſome benefit, and prepare better againſt the next time; if you have been enlarged, be humble, be thankfull, be watchfull, live up to Obligations; draw vertue from Chriſts death for the crucifying more and more of your fleſh, with its affections and luſts; and fetch influences of grace and ſpiritual nouriſhment, that you may encreaſe with the encreaſes of God.
Finally, be diligent in the uſe of theſe, and all other means and helps, and ſo at length you ſhall attain the ultimate end, for which they are appointed, even your Salvation and Eternal Happineſs.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Vincent, Words Whereby We May Be Saved (1668)