Moral observations and instructions.

THOUGH few there be that care to be virtuous, yet fewer there are that would not be counted so.

Nothing but what is God's dishonor should be our shame.

We must not walk by example, but by rule.

They that drive a way time, spur a free horse.

As often as a man lays out for God, he lays up for himself.

We have nothing that we can pro­perly call our own, but what we have reason to be ashamed of.

[Page 2]We are never well informed of the truth, till we are conformed to the truth.

A conceit of knowledge i [...] the great­est enemy to knowledge, and the great­est argument of ignorance.

We remember many things we should forget (as injuries, disappoint­ments, &c.) but forget what we should remember ( viz. God and our souls.)

They that presume most in prosper­ity are soonest subject to despair in adversity.

Man may commend thee, but God may condemn thee.

When God punishes another, he threatens thee, when he wounds anoth­er, he warns thee.

It is as great a mercy to be preserv­ed in health, as to be delivered from sickness.

If you mind nothing but the body, you lose body and soul too. If you mind nothing but earth, you lose earth and Heaven too.

As they▪ who for every slight infir­mity take physic to repair their health, [Page 3] do rather impair it; so they, who for every trifle are eager to vindicate their character, do rather weaken it.

Honesty is the best policy, and inno­cence the best wisdom.

Improve the wit you have bought at a dear rate, and the wisdom you have gained by sad experience.

Learn of Christ, who was sensible of injuries, yet patient under them.

Be lively but not light; solid but not sad.

Keep the body under, but the spirit up.

Keep such company as God keeps.

What can you get by bad company▪ If you are truly good they will either taunt you or despise you.

Take heed of being infected with the breath of a profane heart.

Let the body wait upon the soul, and bo [...]h wait upon God.

Speak not well of yourself, nor ill of others.

Speak of people's virtues, conceal their infirmaties: If you can say no good, say no ill of them.

To render good for evil is God-like▪ to render good for good is man-like▪ [Page 4] to render evil for evil is beast-like; to render evil for good is devil-like.

Carry yourself submissively towards your superiors; and frienly towards your equals; condescendingly towards your inferiors; generously towards your enemies; and lovingly towards all.

Of religion in general.

IT signifies nothing to say we will not change our religion, if our religion change not us.

If a man lives and dies a mere pro­fessor, it had been better for him if he had liv'd and dy'd a mere heathen.

The duty of religion flows from a principle of religion.

It is not talking, but walking with God, that gives a man the denom [...] ­tion of a christian.

Darkness may as well put on the name of light, as a wicked man the name of a christian.

It is our main business in this world to secure an interest in the next.

A desire of happiness is natural, a de­sire of holiness is supernatural.

[Page 5]If God hath done that good for us which he hath denied to the world, we ought to do that service for him which is denied him by the world.

If we are willing, God will help us; if sincere, God will accept us.

A serious remembrance of God is the fountain of obedience to God.

If you forget God when you are young, God may forget you when you are old.

When a christian considers the good­ness of God's ways, he wonders that all the world doth not walk in them. But when he considers the blindness, [...] depravity, and prejudice of the [...] nature, he wonders that any [...] enter upon them.

[...] your calling sure, and your [...].

[...] walking, with a neglect of [...], makes a disconsolate soul. Four things a christian should especial­ly labor after, viz. to be humble and thankful, watchful and chearful.

If we would not fall into things un­lawful, we must sometimes deny our­selves [Page 6] in those that are lawful.

Salvation then draws near to man when it is his main care.

The ordinances of God are the means of salvation; but the God of ordinan­ces is the author of salvation.

Religion must be our business, then it will be our delight.

It will cost something to be religious, it will cost more not to be so.

A christian's life is nothing else but a short trial of his graces.

Luke warmness is the best natural, but the worst spiritual temper a man can be in.

There are few but what are som [...] ­times in a seri [...]us fit; but how [...] in a serious frame, who [...] sense of God upon their [...]

It is a volu [...]ary cann [...]t [...] the soul from God.

The [...] which leads to life [...] gate, therefore we should fear; [...] an open gate, therefore we should hope.

Do the Lord's work in the Lord's time; pr [...]y whilst God hears; hear [...] God [...]; believe whil [...]t God pro [...]ises, ob [...]y whilst God commands.

[Page 7]That man hath no sense of mercy that wants a sense of duty.

Two duties must run through a christian's life, like the warp through the woof, blessing and trusting.

Religion is much talk'd of, but little understood, till the conscience be awa­ken'd; then a man knows the worth of a soul and the want of a Saviour.

Then doth religion flourish in the soul, when it knows how to naturalize spiritual things, and to spiritualize na­tural things.

We may judge of our eternal state by our spiritual state; and of our spir­itual state by the delightful and custo­mary actions of our lives.

If we expect to live with Christ in Heaven, we must live to him on earth.

We may expect God's protection so long as we keep within bounds.

Our opportunities are (like our souls) very precious; but if they are lost they are irrecoverably lost.

That preaching that is plain▪ pure, powerful, and practical, men are apt to dislike.

Religion begins with a knowledge o [...] [Page 8] a man's self, and is perfected with the knowledge of God.

This is a threefold mystery; a gos­pel published in the midst of an ungod­ly world; a little church preserved in the midst of devils; and a little grace kept alive in the midst of corruptions.

The service of God is the soul's work; and the favour of God is its reward.

A man may be imperfect in his o­bedience and yet impartial.

God never fails them that wait for him, nor forsakes them that work for him.

It is a sign of advanc'd grace when opinion is swallowed up of religion.

Of GOD.

That there is a God, may be proved by considering the manner of propaga­tion of mankind by generation. Thus,

(1.) There must have been one first man. (2.) This first man must have had some maker. (3.) This maker of him must himself be unmade. There­fore, (4.) There must have been eter­nally [Page 9] some unmade being; and that is God.

We may truly conceive of God, though we cannot fully conceive of him.

We may have right apprehensions of him, though not an exact comprehen­sion of him.

Then our conceptions of God's attri­butes are carnal, when our high thoughts of one gives us low thoughts of another.

His goodness makes his majesty ami­able, and his majesty makes his good­ness wonderful. His love is not abated by his greatness, nor his greatness by his love. His holiness hinders him not from dwelling with the poor in spirit.

Nothing is great enough for him to admire, who is infinite majesty; no­thing is mean enough for him to des­pise, who is infinite mercy.

God deals with his servants, not as a passionate master, but as a compas­sionate father.

What pleaseth God should please us, because it pleaseth God.

A sight of God begins a saint on earth, and perfects him in heaven.

[Page 10]God takes notice of every particular man as if there were none else; and yet takes notice of all as if they were but one man.

God repented that he made man, but never repented that he redeemed man.

We cannot live naturally without God, how then can we live happily without him?

We may know what God intends for us, by what he hath wrought in us.

They that have God for their God have angels for their guard.

Many have lost for God, but none ever lost by God. If they have lost in temporals, they have been eternal gain­ers, Matth. xix 29.

This is a sure rule; God never takes any thing from his people, but he gives them something better in the stead of it.

God is a great God, and therefore we should wait upon him; he is a good God, and therefore it is not in vain to wait upon him.

A man may be a worshipper of the true God, and yet not a true wor­shipper of God.

[Page 11]The lowest reverence is due to the highest majesty.

Fear God for his power, trust him for his wisdom, love him for his good­ness, praise him for his greatness, be­lieve him for his faithfulness, and ador [...] him for his holiness,

All creatures are as nothing compa­red with God, and absolutely nothing without God.

Of the fear of GOD.

They that fear God least have the greatest reason to fear him.

A fear of departing from God is a good means to keep us from departing from him.

The more we fear God the less we shall fear men.

They that will not fear God in pros­perity, will be afraid of him in adversi­ty.

Of the presence of GOD.

If God's earthly presence is so good, what is his heavenly presence?

[Page 12]If God's being with us is so sweet, what is it to be with God?

There is joy in God's gracious pres­ence, but in his glorious presence there is fullness of joy.

There are pleasures in approaching to God here, but at his right hand there are pleasures for ever more.

The nearer we are to Christ, the nearer is God to us.

The presence of God's glory is in heaven; the presence of his power on earth, the presence of his justice in hell, and the presence of his grace with his people.—If he deny us his pow­erful presence we fall into nothing; if he deny us his gracious presence we fall into sin; if he deny us his merci­ful presence we fall into hell.

Of the love of GOD.

If the love of God set us on work, the God of love will pay us our wages.

God loveth his people to the end, therefore they shall endure to the end.

He loveth them in his Son, and as his Son and as long as he loveth the Son.

[Page 13]We hated God without a cause, and he loved us without a cause.

Love begits love. 'Tis a flame that communicates itself. They that have much forgiven them, much done for them, much laid out for them, and muh laid up for them, will love much.

Our love to God is the reflection of his love to us; 1 Iohn iv.19. We love him because he first loved us.

Of CHRIST.

Christ made himself like to us, that he might make us like to himself.

Christ must needs have died, how else could sin be expiated, the law sat­tisfied, the devil conquered, and man be saved?

They that deny themselves for Christ, shall enjoy themselves in Christ.

Men had rather hear of Christ cru­cified for them, than be crucified for Christ.

If Christ denied innocent nature out of love to us, shall not we deny corrupt nature out of love to him?

Christ by his death appeared to be [Page 14] the Son of man, by his resurrection he appeared to be the Son of God.

Christ was the great promise of the old testament, the Spirit is the great promise of the new.

Christ's strength is the christian's strength.

If we would stand, Christ must be our foundation; if we would be safe, Christ must be our sanctuary.

In regard of natural life, we live in God; in regard of spiritual life, Christ lives in us.

He that thinks he hath no need of Christ hath too high thoughts of him­self; he that thinks Christ cannot help him hath too low thoughts of Christ.

Presumption abuses Christ, despair refuses him.

Christ satisfied God to the uttermost, and therefore can save sinners to the uttermost.

The blood of Christ, which satisfied the justice of God, may satisfy the con­science of an awakened sinner.

If sin was better known, Christ would be better thought of.

[Page 15]If sin doth not taste bitter, Christ cannot taste sweet.

When sin is hell Christ is heaven.

There is no passage from sin to hol­iness 'till we are passed from sin to Christ.

Christ may have an interest in us, though we may not be able to see our interest in him.

Christ hath intreated God to be re­conciled [...]o us, and now he intreats us to be reconciled to God.

God will give us nothing for our sakes; but he will deny us, nothing for Christ's sake.

None are so low as Christ was, none so lowly, none so loving.

We may know what Christ hath done for us, by what he hath done in us▪

C [...]atur [...]s die that our bodies may live. Christ [...] our souls may live.

Our judge, instead of condemning us, sl [...]pt from the bench [...] for us.

Christ is to be a believer's judge, and i [...] he was to chuse his judge he could not chuse a bett [...]r fri [...]nd.

As God glorifies Christ in heaven, so [Page 16] the Spirit glorifies him on earth, in the hearts of believers.

A believer's Comfort in living is to live to Christ; and in dying it is that he shall go to Christ.

The blood of Christ upon the heart is the greatest blessing, upon the head is the greatest curse.

It matters not who are our accusers if Christ be our advocate.

Christ's blood is the soul's ransome; his Spirit its comforter; his word its food; his supper its feast; the Lord's day its market day.

A christian may triumph in the death of Christ! O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? O hell! where is thy terror? O world! where is thy mallice? O sin! where is thy strength? O my soul! where are thine accusers?

There is no honor like a relation to Christ; no riches like the graces of Christ; no learning like the knowledge of Christ; and no persons like the ser­vants of Christ.

Christ executes the office of a proph­et in our affectual calling; of a priest [Page 17] in our justification, and of a king in our sanctification.

—Let us then hear him as our prophet; rely on him as our priest; and obey him as our king—Think not the worse of him for his manger or his cross, As he ceaseth not to be man in his highest estate, so he was God in his lowest. His words were oracles, and his works miracles. His life was a pattern; his death a sacrifice, his re­surrection glorious; his ascension tri­umphant; his intercession prevalent; and his coming again magnificent. All the angels in heaven adore him; all the devils in hell fear him; and all the sons and daughters of Adam must stand before him.

Own Christ's person, love his name, embrace his doctrine, obey his com­mands, and submit to his cross. His person is lovely, his name is sweet, his doctrines are comfortable, his com­mands are rational, and his cross hon­orable —The very angels admire him, and shall not we?—

A depraved understanding will not [Page 18] yield that the creature is so bad, and that Christ is so good!—

O! did we but know ourselves▪ and our Saviour! We are poor, but he is rich; we are dead, but he is life; we are sin, but he is righteousness; we are guiltiness, but he is grace; we are misery, but he is mercy; we are lost, but he is salvation:—If we are wi [...]ling, he never was otherwise—He ever lives, ever loves, ever pities, ever pleads. He loves to the end, and saves to the [...]ermost, all that come unto him.

[...] invitation is sinners to come to Christ.

Have you sins, or have you none?— If you have, whither should you go, but in the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world? Have you souls, or have you none?—If you have, [...] should you go but to the Saviour of souls? Is there a life to come, or is there not? If there is whi­ther should you go but him, who only hath the words of eternal life? Is there a wrath to come, or is there not▪— [Page 19] If there is, whither should you go but to him, who only can deliver from the wrath to come?—And will he not receive you?—If he yielded him­self into the hands of them that sought his life, will he hide himself from the hearts of them that seek his mercy? If he was willing to be taken by the hand of violence, is he not much more wil­ling to be taken by the hands of [...] He that died for thy sins, will be [...] thee off for thine infirmities?—O come, come, come!—I charge you [...] —I beseech you come— [...] and he will give you life. Come [...] he will give you rest. Come [...] will receive you. Knock, and [...] open to you Look to him, and [...] save you.—Did ever any come to him for a cure, and go away without it?— Thou wouldest find something in thyself, but thou findest nothing—but what thou hast reason to be ashamed of; but let not that hinder, but further thy coming.—Come as thou art; come poor, come needy, come naked come empty, come wretched, only come, only believe; his heart is free, his arms [Page 20] are open, 'tis his joy and his crown to receive thee.—If thou art willing, he never was otherwise.

Of the love of CHRIST.

Nothing grieves Christ more than to [...] is love slighted; nothing pleaseth [...] than to have it accepted.

[...] of Christ is stronger than [...] than life, and better [...].

[...] sense of Christ's love adds [...] to ours.

[...] of Christ hath a height [...], a depth without a [...] without an end, and a [...] without a limit, Eph. iii 18.19.

Christ's sorrows, griefs and suffer­ings, can be paralleled with nothing but his love.

Of saints, or true believers.

God hath no sons that are unlike himself.

Believers are children of the same [Page 21] Father, members of the same Son, and habitations of the same Spirit, fel­low-citizens, fellow-servants, fellow-soldiers, fellow-travellers, and fellow-heirs.

None are so easily acquainted [...] close knit together, and so much [...] to one another, as real [...]

One true christian differs from [...] without breach of charity, [...] love one another, though in [...] garbs.

It is not so considerable [...], what his judgment is, [...] temper is.

Heart-work is better than [...] and, it is a better temper to be [...] charity, than in disputes.

Better be a melancholy saint, [...] mad sinner.

If good men are sad, it is not because they are good, but because they are not better.

Whom God chuses, the world refuses.

God's gold is the world's dross. They, of whom the world is not wor­thy, [Page 22] are counted not worthy to live in the world.

If believers are condemned by the world, let them remember that they [...] not be condemned with the world. [...] may live in a believer, but a [...] cannot live in sin. It may lose [...], though not leave its [...].

[...] man is so far acquainted with [...] of his own heart; that, [...] condemning others, he is apt [...] them better than himself.

[...] of God had rather ten [...] suffer for Christ, than that [...] suffer by him.

[...] [...]perfection of a believer's [...], makes him continually [...] on Christ for his justification.

When a child of God thinks he can go alone, he is nearest falling.

A true christian may be weary in ser­ving God, but he is never weary of ser­ving him.

He is neither afraid of dying nor liv­ing▪ he desires to go to heaven to see Christ, yet, is willing to stay upon earth to serve Christ.

[Page 23]If the children of God did but know what was best for them, they would perceive that God did that which is best for them.

A christian shall be here as long as he hath any work to do for Christ, or as long as Christ hath any work to ac­complish in him: Christ will fit him for himself, and then take him to him­self.

A true christian lives like a saint, and begs like a sinner.

All God's children have received God's spirit, wereby they are made humble, believing and holy; humble in regard of their sins, believing in re­gard of Christ, and holy in regard of their conscience and care to keep all God's commandments.

A good deal of the trouble of God's people ariseth from a mistake and mis­apprehension of God: they judge of God by their sense, and not by his pro­mise; by their own frame, and not by his constant [...]a [...]ure.

As saints have groanings unutterable, so they have joys unutterable.

[Page 24]A christian is what he is between God and his own soul.

All saints have had [...]eîr doubtings. Da­vid, cast me not off in mine old age, Psal. lxxi.9. Asaph, will the Lord c [...]st off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Psal. lxxvii.7. Peter, Lord [...]s it [...]? Matt. [...]xxvi.22. And Paul, l [...]st I should be a castaway, 1 Cor. xi.27.

But believers, remember, there may be true grace, where there is no com­fort; there may be saving faith with­out assurance. A soul may be in a par­doned state, though in a troubled state. Your sins can never be triumphant, your graces never decay, your souls can never be lost, your God and you never be separated. The devil shall as soon p [...]ck Christ out of heaven, as out of a be­liever's heart. He sits as fast upon his throne here as there. The devil could not enter into the herd of swine with­out Christ's leave; and will he let him worry his lambs?

Believe firmly, hope joyfully, love fer [...]ently, pray earnestly, walk hum­bly, work diligently, and wait quietly; [Page 25] and all this will be graciously consid­ered.

Hold up, hold on, hold out, hold fast that which ye have received; still watch, still pray, still believe, fight and run, that you may obtain; 'tis but a little while, and he that comes will come and will not tarry; 'tis but a lit­tle while, and your warfare is accom­plished, and your iniquities shall be e­verlastingly separated from you; your sin and sorrows, tears and fears, fled and gone, gone for ever; and you meet with an unspeakable reward.

Of sinners.

Are not they miserable, who, if they had their wish, could not be happy?

They▪ that will not hear Christ say come to me, in a day of grace, shall hear him say depart from me, in a day of judgment.

If we are graceless here we shall be speechless hereafter.

Sinners are first driven, then drawn to God.

The conversion of a sinner is a great­er [Page 26] wonder than the creation of the world.

If a sinner's thoughts be not changed by grace, they will be changed here­after by experience.

They that are least serious, have the greatest reason to be so, their condition is awful, and therefore their disposition ought to be so.

Hatred is due to sin, compassion to the sinner.

Sinners, if you will not hear God call to day, you will harden your hearts to day: and, if you harden them to day, God may harden them to morrow. If you will not set about repentance to day, God may justly deny you his assist­ance to morrow.

If you will not do that which God hath enabled you to do, how can you look that he should do that for you which, of yourselves, you cannot do?

Don't think to begin to live, when thou art ready to die.

If you would not go to hell, you must know that you have deserved it.

Let not your hearts flatter you, nor the world comfort you, when God threatens you.

[Page 27]God tells you, if you repent, you shall find mercy; and will you not be­lieve him▪ because thou hast been a sin­ner, wilt thou make God a liar?

Sinners, you must be changed; if your hearts be not changed for the bet­ter, your condition will be changed for the worse.

The worst of the ways of God, are better than the best of the ways of sin.

Of sin.

He that pleads for sin, is an advocate for his accuser.

God allows us any thing but sin.

If sin be in the fashion, we must be out of it.

Then a man shews himself to be a christian, when he chuses rather to suf­fer than sin.

Sin di [...]s graves for bodies, and kin­dles hell for souls.

That is a sufficient cause for trouble, that is the cause of all the trouble in the world.

Should not we gróan for that which makes the whole creation groan?

[Page 28]If the heart be under the power of sin, the conscience is under the guilt of sin. If thou art not purified, thou art not pardoned.

A man can never leave sin thorough­ly, till he loaths it heartily.

We must be sick of sin, before we can be dead to sin.

There is no sin a man can be tempt­ed to, but he will find greater comfort in resisting than in indulging.

How can we say that we love Christ, if we love sin, which was an enemy to his life and soul when he was on earth; and is an enemy to his glory now he is in heaven?

Our sins cried as loud to heaven, as the Iews did to earth, that Christ might be crucified.

Go to Golgotha, and see what sin did there.

Christ did not die for sin that we might live to sin.

Christ died that our sins might die, and our souls live.

Sin received its sentence in the death of Christ; but it doth not receive its ex­ecution till the death of a christian.

[Page 29]All our sins shall not separate be­tween God and our souls, if unbelief doth not separate between Christ and our souls.

There is no sin but what may be traced up to unbelief.

He that glories in his sin, glories [...] his shame.

We should be ashamed of sin, but not ashamed to take shame for sin.

Get this principle into your hearts; there is nothing got by sin, nor lost by holiness.

by suffering we may avoid sinning, but by sinning we cannot avoid suffer­ing.

One that truly fears God, is afraid of sin; he sees more evil in it than in all the evil in the world.

If we be not humble for sin, we derogate from the majesty of God; if we despair under it, we derogate from his mercy.

One that is sincere hates sin in him­self▪ and laments it in others.

Our hatred of sin must be irrecon­cileable; [Page 30] and our endeavours against it perpetual.

The sins of the wicked, anger Christ, the sins of his people grieve him.

Want of sorrow for sin, more argues Want of love to Christ, than the sin it­self.

Sin is a believer's burden and wound, but Christ is his cure and comfort.

Sin is the sickness of the soul, and Christ the only physician, that can cure it of the leprosy of profaneness, the fever of concupiscence, the dropsy of covet­ousness, the tympany of pride, the lethargy of luke-warmness, the phrenzy of passion, and the palsy of unbelief.

Hatred is heart-murder; lust is heart adultery; and covetousness heart-steal­ing.

How tender is our flesh? How hard our hearts? i. e. How much more sen­sible are we of suffering than sin?

We should fear to think that before God, which we are afraid to do be­fore man; for God knows our hearts better than any man knows our faces.

Vain thoughts are sin's advocates, and Christ's adversaries.

[Page 31]God is so holy that he would not suffer such an evil as sin; but that he is so wise, that he can bring good out of it.

Of REPENTANCE.

Repentance begins in the humilia­tion of the heart, and ends in the refor­mation of life.

Though we want p [...]wer to repent; yet we do not want means to repent, nor power to use these means.

He that repents of sin, as sin, doth implicitly repent of all sin.

Let not sinful pleasures prevent god­ly sorrows.

An humble confession of sin brings shame to ourselves, but glory to God.

You cannot repent too soon. There is no day, like to-day. Yesterday is gone, to morrow is God's, not your own. And, think how sad it will be to have your evidences to seek, when your cause is to be tried; to have your oil to buy, when you should have it to burn!

[Page 32]Let the hopes of mercy encourage to the exercise of repentance.

Turn to God, and he will turn to you; and then you are happy, though all the world turn against you.

If we think amiss of Christ, we shall never believe: If we think well of sin, we shall never repent.

If we put off our repentance to a­nother day, we have a day more to re­pent of, and a day less to repent in.

If we study to honor God, we can­not do it better than by confessing our sins, and laying ourselves low at the feet of Christ.

Godly sorrow is the sorrow of love; the melting of the heart; love is the pain and pleasure of a mourning heart.

The Evangelical penitent loves and grieves. ‘Alas ( saith he) that I who am as high as heaven in privilege, should be as deep as hell in iniquity! instead of repenting, I have run fur­ther on score! instead of honoring God, I have dishonored him! in­stead of pleasing him, I have pro­voked him! instead of following him I have forsaken him!—O what [Page 33] bowels have I grieved! how can I sin against my Jesus! shall I deny and crucify my Saviour! he was crucified for me, and shall he be cru­cified by me? shall I wound his heart and pierce his side again, and give him cause to say, these are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

Of FAITH.

Reliance is the essence of faith, Christ is the object, the word is the food, and obedience the proof: so that true faith is a depending upon Christ for salvation in a way of obedience, as he is offered in the word.

The true tears of repentance flow from the eye of faith.

Though faith be necessary to our justification, good works are necessary to our salvation.

We must derive our works from saith, and demonstrate our faith by our works.

God is often pleased to imbitter [...] [Page 34] life of sense, that he may indear the life of faith.

A steadfast faith begets a constant peace.

The more faith, the more humility.

Keep good principles, and they will keep you.

Men would first see, and then be­lieve; but they must first believe, and then see.

As believers live upon Christ by faith, so they live to him by obedience.

Justifying faith is always attended with universal obedience.

There is a difference between con­tending for the faith, and babbling for a fancy.

Assurance sets the notion of faith too high, assent too low.

There is as much difference between faith and assurance, as there is between the root and the fruit.

There may be joy without faith, and there may be faith without joy.

Human faith is founded upon prob­ability, divine faith upon certainty.

If the exercise of faith be the care of [Page 35] your souls, the end of your faith will be the salvation of your souls.

Of HUMILITY.

To be low is the safest and comliest posture for sinful creatures.

It is the creature's honor to abase himself before the most high God.

God had rather see his children hum­ble for sin, than proud of grace.

If men did but know themselves more, they would be more humble.

They that are humble, are content and thankful.

An humble spirit is a charitable and quiet spirit.

Judge thyself with a judgment of sincerity, and thou wilt judge others with a judgment of charity.

To humble ourselves, is the only way to rise.

Believers must be humble for sin par­doned, and because it is pardoned.

When Paul was a Pharisee he thought he was blameless; when he was a Christian, the chief of sinners [...] [Page 36] before, any thing but Christ, now, none but Christ.

If Christ humbled himself to honor our nature, we should humble ourselves to honor his name.

Neither all the devils in hell, nor all the temptations of the world, can hurt that man that keeps himself humble and depending on Christ.

It is no humiliation to aggravate sin above Christ's saving power.

Despair is a corruption of humilia­tion, 'tis a counterfeit humility, a sul­len pride, the covert of a▪ hardened spi­rit.

That is true humiliation, which (like a harbinger) makes way for Christ; and throws the soul at his feet.

Our Saviour was a preacher and pattern of humility: he did so admire it, that he set them in the highest form, that had the lowest hearts.

None so high and glorious as Christ, yet none so meek and lowly.

Of CONTENTMENT.

Humility is the mother of content­ment.

[Page 37]The deeper your self-abhorrence, the easier is self-resignation.

They that deserve nothing should be content with any thing.

Bless God for what you have, and trust him for what you want.

We must cammit our souls to God's keeping, and submit ourselves to God's disposing.

We should obey his revealed will, and then be resigned to his providential will.

If we cannot bring our condition to our mind, we must labour to bring our mind to our condition.

Neither contentment nor discontent­ment, arises from the outward condi­tion, but from the inward disposition.

If a man is not content in that state he is in, he will not be content in any state he would be in.

Of PRIDE.

To be sure a man is proud of that which he scorns another for the want of.

That which a man envies in another, [Page 38] he would be proud of, if he had it himself.

Pride is founded on error and self-ignorance.

Some are pro [...]d of what they are, others of what they are not.

There is a sullen pride in not ac­knowledging benefits.

A man may be poor in purse, yet proud in spirit.

There may be pride in rags, in a so­lemn look and lowly carriage.

God had rather his people should fare poorly, than live proudly.

How canst thou be judge of another's heart, that dost not know thine own?

As the first step heaven-ward is hu­mility, so the first step hell-ward is pride.

Pride counts the gospel foolishness, but the gospel always shews pride to be so.

Pride is a sin that will rise out of the ashes of other sins.

Folly is the beginning of pride, and shame shall be the end of it; either penitent shame, or penal shame; either [Page 39] temporal repentance, or eternal pun­ishment.

Shall the sinner be proud that is go­ing to hell? shall the saint be proud that is newly saved from it?

Thou that canst call nothing thine own but sin and shame, art thou proud? dust and ashes, proud? a worm, and proud? emptiness, and proud? per­ishing, and proud?

It is unreasonable for the creature to be proud, much more the sinner.

Of HYPOCRISY.

An hypocrite is one that neither i [...] what he seems, nor seems what he is.

An hypocrite is the picture of a saint; but his paint shall be washed off, and he shall appear in his own colours.

God is good in earnest with us, we ought therefore to be so with him.

An hypocrite is hated of the world for seeming a christian, and hated of God for not being one.

Of IDLENESS.

Idleness is the mother of many wan­ton children.

They that do nothing, are in the rea­dy way to do that which is worse than nothing.

If we hide our talent in the earth, we shall lose our treasure in heaven.

A christian should never say, he hath nothing to do.

It was not for nothing that we were called out of nothing.

Of the SOUL.

It matters not what a man loses, if he saves his soul; but, if he loses his soul, it matters not what he saves.

They that are least sensible of their soul's wants, are most miserable.

'Tis our greatest wisdom to be ten­derly watchful over the frame of our spirits; to observe what helps it, and what injures it.

If you lose your time, you lose your hopes; and if you lose your hopes, you [Page 41] lose your souls; and when your souls are lost they shall never be ransomed; when your hopes are lost, they shall ne­ver be recovered; and when your time is lost, it shall never be redeemed.

Of the heart and conscience.

The soft mercies of God will break the hard heart of man.

An hard heart is not so soon broken, as a broken heart is bound up.

It is better to have a good conscience, and be censured, than to have a bad one, and be slattered.

We must hear the warnings of con­science, or we shall feel the woundings of conscience.

A word from God, a look from Christ, a touch from the spirit, will break the heart.

Of GRACE.

The notion of free-grace may make persons dissolute, but a sense of it [...] from [...]in.

[Page 42]The goodness of God respects our emptiness, the grace of God our sinful­ness, and the mercy of God our unwor­thiness.

What sin is there, which grace can­not pardon? what heart is there, which grace cannot soften? what soul is th [...]re, which grace cannot save?

All grace flows from Christ united to the soul; as all life flows from the soul united to the body.

The more God's justice was declar­ed towards his Son, the more was his me [...]cy magnified toward the sinner.

God humbled his Son to exalt his grace.

Saul was not so free in persecuting Christ, as Christ was in pardoning P [...]l.

Bless God for Christ, Christ for the spirit▪ and the spirit for grace.

Possibly a christian's enemies may spoil him of his common mercies; but they shall never rob him of his covenant mer [...]i [...]s.

God's faithfulness performed what his mercy pro [...]sed.

Mercy [...]rew the covenant; faith­fulness [Page 43] keeps it: mercy call'd us; faith­fulness will not cast us off.

Common mercies may be sweet, but covenant mercies are sure.

Abusers of mercy are treasurers up of wrath.

If thou wert worthy, thou could'st have no mercy.

There is grace in the desire of grace, as there is sin in the desire of sin.

You that have found mercy, shew mercy.

Though God in mercy hath done great things for you, yet consider what in justice he might have done to you.

Whilst we carry a sense of grace in our conscience to comfort us, let us carry a sense of sin in our memory to humble us.

We can never bless God enough for his patience, that has kept us so long out of hell; nor for his mercy, that so earnestly invites us to heaven.

All that are chosen are vessels of mercy; all that are regenerate, are patterns of mercy; all that are saved, are monuments of mercy; and the [Page 44] work of heaven, is to sing the loud praises of mercy.

It melts the heart to think, that God is as full of mercy, as I am of sin; he is as free to forgive, as I am to offend; he hath daily mercies for daily sins.

The heart▪ of man is such a barren soil, that no good can grow therein, unless Almighty grace plant it.

Grace is an immortal seed, cast into an immortal foil, that brings forth im­mortal fruit.

Of TEMPTATIONS.

Temptations are instructions.

He is over-wise that goes out of God's way to escape a cross.

God will either keep his saints from temptations by his preventing mercy, or in temptations by his supporting mercy, or find a way for their escape by his delivering mercy.

A christian that lives here among his enemies, should never▪ stir abroad with­out his guard.

Satan tempts to sin, the Spirit coun­sels against sin.

[Page 45]If you follow satan, you will find the tempter prove a tormenter; if you follow the Spirit, you will find the counsellor prove a comforter.

Of the WORLD.

If the world be our portion here, hell will be your portion hereafter

We must neither leave the world nor love it.

The world promises comforts, and pays sorrows.

Riches and prosperity will either kill with care, or surfit with delight.

Be not proud of riches but afraid of them, lest they be as silver bars to cro [...] the way to heaven.

We put a price upon riches, but riches cannot put a price upon us.

We must answer for our riches but our riches cannot answer for us.

Riches are as indifferent things; good or bad, as they are used: be then as indifferent to them as they are to you.

I [...] there be too great an affection for [Page 46] any thing here, there will be an an­swerable affliction.

'Tis a sad thing when a man can have no comfort but in diversions, no joy but in forgetting himself.

Love the men of the world, but not the things of the world.

To have a portion in the world, is a mercy; to have the world for a por­tion, is a misery.

Whatever we make an idol of, will be a cross to us if we belong to Christ; a curse to us if we do not.

We should endeavour to pass through this world with a chearful indifferency.

Covetousness betray'd our Saviour, envy accused him, and the friendship of the world condemned him.

Man is not made for the world, but the world for man.

It is our business in this world, to secure an interest in the next.

The things of the world, the more they are known, the less they are ad­mired; but the things of God, the more they are known, the more they are admired.

There is no miss of the creature, [Page 47] where there is a full enjoyment of the Creator.

If thou art not afraid of the world▪ I fear thou art a friend of the world, and an enemy to God.

As you love your souls, beware of the world▪ it hath slain its thousands, and ten thousands. What ruined Lot's wife? the world. What ruined Iudas? the world. What ruined Simon Magus? the world. What ruined Demas? the world. And, what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Ma [...]t xvi.26.

To speek the truth freely; riches are dust, honors are shadows, pleasures are bu [...]bles, and man a lump of vanity, compounded of sin and misery.

Of the word of GOD.

The word of God must be nearer to us than our friends▪ dearer to us than our lives, sweeter to us than our liberty, and pleasanter to us than all earthly comforts.

Take the candle of God's word, and search the corners of your heart.

[Page 48]We speak to God in prayer; God speaks to us in his word.

Two things are to be trembled at; the presence of God which fills all pla­ces, and the word of God which reach­eth to all times.

All arguments against the word of God are fallacies; all conceits against the word are delusions; all derision a­against the word is folly; and all oppo­sition against the word is madness.

When God threatens, that's a time to repent; when he promises, that's a time to believe; when he commands that's a time to obey.

If a man believed the threatnings of the word of God, he would tremble, and fly to the promises for refuge.

As Christ came out of his Father's Bosom, so the promises came out of Christ's side.

The church cannot live without faith, and faith cannot live without the promises.

We have less power to stand than our first parents, but we have better promises.

[Page 49]Whatever promises, faith takes hold of, it makes the good thing there prom­ised to be our own.

God's promises are a defence against man's threatnings.

The promises of the gospel are seal­ed to us by the oath of the Father, the blood of the Son, and the witness of the Spirit.

Of the LAW.

The moral law was weak through the flesh; the cerimonial law was so in its own nature; but Christ was the end of the moral law to fulfil it; & the end of the ceremonial law to answer its in­tention, by offering himself a sacrifice.

Christ was God's righteous servant to perform all the duties of the moral law; and our devoted sacrifice to bear all the penalties of it.

By the law is the knowledge of sin, by the gospel is the knowledge of Christ.

God hath written a law and a gospel; the law to humble us, and the gospel to comfort us; the law to cast us down, [Page 50] and the gospel to raise us up; the law to convince us of our misery, and the gospel to convince us of his mercy; the law to discover sin, and the gospel to discover grace and Christ.

Of PROVIDENCE.

Providences are sometimes dark texts that want an expositor.

God's providence fulfils his promise.

Count every day, as well as you can, the providences of God towards you that day.

Without God's providence nothing falls out in the world; without his commission nothing stirs; without his blessing nothing prospers.

Of AFFLICTIONS.

'Tis a worse sign to be without chast­isement, than to be under chastisement.

Two things should comfort suffer­ing christians, viz. all that they suffer is not hell; yet it is all the hell they shall suffer.

[Page 51]Afflictions are not so much threatned, as promised, to the children of God.

To be a christian, and a suffering christian, is a double honor,

By affliction God separates the sin which he hates, from the soul which he loves.

The more a man fears sin, the less will he fear trouble.

Afflictions are of God's sending, but of sin's deserving.

Sin is the poison, affliction the phy­sick.

When God is humbling us, let us endeavour to humble ourselves.

May every one do what he will with his own, but God?

If the servants of Christ are never so low; yet his heart is with them, and his eye upon them.

God takes it unkindly when we grieve too much for any outward thing; because 'tis a sin we fetch not that comfort from him which we should.

Though the hand of God may be a­gainst you; yet, the heart of God may be towards you.

What if the providence of God cross [Page 52] you, if the promise of God bless you?

What is bearing a temporal cross, to the wearing an eternal crown?

Our enjoyments are greater than our afflictions, and our afflictions less than our sins.

Our sufferings should stir up our gra­ces, as well as our griefs.

Of PRAYER.

Fill up the void spaces of your time with meditation and prayer.

They are safest who are most in their closets; who pray not to be seen of men, but to be heard of God.

Prayer doth not consist in gifted ex­pressions, and volubility of speech; but in a brokenness of heart.

Imperfect broken groans, from a broken heart, God will accept.

An hard heart connot pray; a bro­ken heart is made up of prayer.

It is a comfort to christians apart to think their prayers meet before a throne of grace; and their persons shall meet before a throne of glory.

There wants nothing but a believing [Page 53] prayer to turn the promise into a per­formance.

God is a great God, & therefore he will be sought; he is a good God, and therefore he will be found.

When God pours out his spirit upon man▪ then will man pour out his heart before God.

He that lives without prayer, or prays without life, hath not the spirit of God.

Prayer doth not consist in the ele­gance of the phrase, but in the strength of the affection.

Where there is a willing heart, there will be a continual crying to heaven for help.

Pray that you may pray.

Waiting upon God continually will abate your unnecessary cares, and sweet­en your necessary ones.

God counts all the steps we take to the throne of grace, and all the min­utes of our waiting.

Let nothing get between heaven and prayer, but Christ.

[Page 54]Prayer, if it be done as a task, is no prayer.

Sin quenches prayer, affliction quick­ens it.

The same spirit of faith which teach­es a man to cry earnestly, teaches him to wait patiently: for as it assures him the mercy is in the Lord's hand; so it assures him, it will be given forth in the Lord's time.

The breath of prayer comes from the life of faith.

Whatever you want go to God by faith and prayer, in the name of Christ, and never think his delays are denials.

They that spend their days in faith and prayer, shall end their days in peace and comfort.

Of ETERNITY.

Look backwards, and time was when souls were not; look forward, and our souls will be when time shall not.

Who would not deny himself for a time, that he may enjoy himself for ever?

What is the world to them that are [Page 55] in the grave, where our bodies must shortly be [...] or to them that are in eter­nity▪ where our souls must shortly be?

Remember you are at the door of e­ternity, and have other work to do than to trifle away time; those hours which you spend in your closets, are the golden spots of all your time, and will have the sweetest influence upon your last hours.

Our life is a passage to eternity; it ought to be a meditation of eternity; and a preparation for eternity.

Of DEATH.

The longest life, is but a lingering death.

First infancy dies, then childhood, then youth, then man hood, then old age, and then we make an end of dying.

Though thou may'st have been near­er death (in thine own apprehensions) than thou art now▪ yet it is certain, death was never so near thee as is now.

Man does not die because he is made of earth, but because he is infected with sin.

[Page 56]Death to a christian, is putting off rags for robes.

We need not be ashamed of that now, which we are sure we shall not repent of when we come to die.

As the king of terrors leaves us, so the day of terror will find us.

Death will be very terrible to him who dies not in his thoughts daily.

There is nothing terrible in death, but what our lives have made so.

'Tis death to many to think of death; they are as unwilling to be led into a discourse of death as children in­to the dark: The thoughts of it are no more welcome to them, than Moses was to Pharaoh; to whom he said, get thee from me, and let me see thy face no more, Exod. x.28.

Death shuts in the light of this world and is the day-break of eternity.

Let us familiarize death by medita­tion, and sweeten it by preparation.

The great comfort of a believer, on his death-bed, is faith in Christ, hope in the promises, and an interest in the covenant.

This life is a middle state; we must [Page 57] soon go higher or lower, where we must spend upon the treasure we here lay up, whether of wrath or glory.

We should think of death, not as though we were thinking, but as though we were dying.

It is the greatest business of life, to think of the end of life, and to lay hold of eternal life.

Let us make a friend of death and our judge; and then we shall die out of choice, as [...] as necessity.

Of HEAVEN.

If heaven doth not enter into us by way of holiness, we shall never enter into heaven by way of happiness.

If you would lay up a treasure of glory in heaven, lay up a treasure of grace in your hearts.

If your souls are rich in grace, they will be rich in glory.

The more you do for God in this world, the more God will do for you in the world to come.

As heaven is kept for the saint [...] by [Page 58] Christ, so they are kept for heaven by the Spirit.

In heaven all God's servants will be abundantly satisfied with his dealings and dispensations with them; and shall see how all conduced, like so many winds to bring them to their haven; and how, even the roughest blasts helped to bring them homeward.

In heaven God will never hide his face more, nor the devil shew his more.

How can we expect to live with God in heaven, if we love not to live with him on earth?

If thou lovest to worship God here below▪ God will take thee up to wor­ship him above. Thou shalt change thy place, but not thine employment.

Heaven is a day without a cloud to darken it, and without a night to end it.

We would be seated in the heavenly canaan, but are loth to be scratched with the briers and thorns of the wil­derness.

In heaven there is the presence of all good, and absence of all evil.

Grace and glory differ, but as the bud [...]nd the blossom: what is grace but [Page 59] glory begun? what is glory, but grace perfected.

We may hope for a place in heaven, if our hearts are made suitable to the state of heaven.

If there will be any grief in heaven, sure it will be for this, that we have done no more for God on earth.

Of HELL.

They that will not fear the punish­ment in the threatning, shall feel the threatning in the punishment.

In heaven holiness is their everlast­ing temper, and happiness their ever­lasting portion; in hell sin is their e­ternal temper, and sorrow their eternal portion.

The reason why so many fall into hell, is because so few think of it.

They fall deepest into hell, that fall backward into hell.

None are so near heaven, as they that are convinc'd; none so near hell, as those who have quench'd conviction.

The scorner's seat stands next hell gate.

[Page 60]We must fall into the arms of Christ, or into the flames of hell.

You may think it a sad thing to re­pent on earth, but it is a sadder thing to repent in hell.

PART I.

I. CHUSE God for your portion; remember that he is the only happiness of a rational and immortal soul. The soul that was made for God can find no happiness but in God: It came from God, and can never be hap­py but in returning to him again, and resting in him. Mic. ii.10. Arise, for this is not your rest. Col. iii.1, 2, 3. If ye be then risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth: for ye are dead▪ and your life is hid with Christ in God.

God is all-sufficient▪ get him for your portion and you have all: Then you have infinite wisdom to direct you, infinite knowledge to teach you, infinite mercy to pity and save you, infinite love to care for and comfort you, and infi­nite [Page 66] power to protect and keep you. If God be yours, all his attributes are yours; all his creatures, all his works of providence, shall do you good, as you have need of them. He is an eter­nal, full, satisfactory portion. He is an ever-living, ever-loving, ever-pre­sent friend; and without him you are a cursed creature in every condition, and all things will work against you.

II. Consider, that by nature you are dead in trespasses and sin; a child of wrath, a stranger, and enemy to God; and while such, the thoughts of God are terrible to you; you can ex­pect nothing from him but wrath and [...]verlasting burnings. God is ever angry with the wicked: His holiness hates all sin; his all-seeing eye behold it, and his justice will punish it.

While you are in a state of nature you can do nothing but sin, Gen. vi.5. Matth. vii.18. Every thing is a snare, and a wicked heart is apt to be taken. Labour to be sensible of this, and let the sinfulness of your nature be your greatest burden. Strive and labor against this principally. Get purity of [Page 67] heart, and a holy life will follow upon it; but if you strive only against out­ward acts of sin, while your heart is let alone, your labor will be in vain, your heart will tire you out; or if it doth not, yet remember, that God's eye is in the heart, and he hath provided a hell for hypocrites. Nothing more dam­nable than a wicked unrenewed heart▪

III. Consider, that Christ alone is your way to God. Justification, par­don, and acceptance with God, is by faith in him alone. Sanctification, and a new nature, is by the power of hi [...] Spirit alone. Let Christ therefore be precious to your soul. Labor for true faith in him. Take him for your Lord and Saviour; submit to his commands in all things; and rest your soul upon him alone for reconciliation and peace with God. Open your heart to the motions of his spirit; welcome that principle of a holy and divine life, and be sure to improve his motions, follow his drawings, and by no means grieve him.

IV. Be speedy in your repentance, and diligent in your endeavour [...] after [Page 68] holiness. Know the time of God's gra­cious visitation. While God is calling, Christ inviting, the gate of heaven set open, the ministers of the word exhort­ing, and the Spirit drawing, make haste and delay not.

Consider your life is but short, and altogether uncertain. To defer one day may be to our everlasting undoing. When your life is once gone it will be in vain to think of repenting. You shall then have no more sermons, no more offers of Christ and grace, Heb. ix.27. God will be patient no more. And if God should take away your life to morrow, you would perish inexcu­sably for refusing his grace to day. One offer of grace refus'd renders a sinner inexcusable, though God should never offer his mercy more. O, trifle not with your soul! be not careless of e­ternal happiness. You have heaven and hell, life and death before you, and it depends upon your own hearty choice which shall be your portion: And they are chosen by the choice of the way which leads to them. Chuse life, and chuse it speedily. And remember once [Page 69] again, that you have but one life to chuse in. Trifle not away this mo­ment, upon which depends eternity: Mispend not your short time to your e­ternal loss.

Stand not upon a short labor; diffi­culty, self-denial, or suffering, for your eternal happiness. God would have you saved; Christ hath died for you to reconcile you to God; he is ascended into heaven to open the door for your soul to enter in at, and he is interced­ing with the Father for all grace and mercy for you, if you refuse him not. He came into the world to seek and to save that which is lost, Luke xix.10. Be sensible of your sinful, lost, damna­ble condition without him. O! make ha [...]te to your Saviour, yield to all his demands, and take him as offered in the gospel, in all his offices.

V. Endeavor to be truly and thor­oughly religious, and be not discour­aged at the difficulties of it. God's grace shall be sufficient for your help; his promises shall be your sweet encour­agement; peace of conscience, and communion with God, shall be your [Page 70] ever present cordials. The trouble and pains of religion shall be but short, and your reward shall be glorious and eter­nal. Remember that of the Apostle, when religion calls you to self-denial and sufferings, Our light afflictions that are but for a moment shall work out for us a far more exceding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. iv.17. if we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him, 2 Tim. ii.12. and the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be com­pared with the glory which shall be re­vealed, Rom. viii.18. see also, Isa. xliii.2, 3, when thou passeth through the wa­ters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel thy Saviour. Never are we more joyful than when we deny our joy for Christ's sake! and if these arguments will not prevail, then consider, that all the pains and difficul­ties of religion will be found in the end far more tolerable than hell.

VI. Devote your young years to a [Page 71] good God, and your loving Saviour. The first fruits are to be offered to him. The green ears of your youth are to be carried to his sanctuary. Think it not pity that the vain delights and sinful pleasures of youth should be lost: You shall but exchange them for spiritual delights, which are far more excellent, inward and lasting. The joy of the Holy Ghost, the rejoicing of a good conscience, communion with God, the sense of his love, and the hope of heaven, are far better than the pleasures of sin, and will more than re­compence your loss of youthful and carnal delights. And consider this se­riously, that none have usually more comfort in their souls than those, who are willing to lose their sinful comforts for God and their soul's sake.

Remember that you must give an ac­count to God how you spend your youth, as well as for old age. Consid­er, as young as you are, how many years are already spent; and what ac­count you are able to give to God of them. One day spent in sin is too much; and the sins of one hour deserve [Page 72] a hell. Younger than you, are dead and gone. Let the thoughts of them mind you seriously of your account. Your call to God's bar may be next. Are you ready? Think often what expence of time may be best accounted for to God; and so spend your younger days, as you will wish you had spent them when you come to die and be judged.

Suppose God should call you away suddenly, what sentence could you ex­pect from him? Are you ready, if the bridegroom should now come? Matth. xxv.6. It will be no excuse at judg­ment, if you be found in your sins, to say, Lord, I was but young. He that is old enough to sin is old enough for hell. You cannot make sure of God's love, and an interest in Christ too soon. You cannot secure your soul too soon▪

Consider those young ones in scrip­ture who are commended for their ear­ly piety▪ Samuel was ministring to God in his childhood, 1 Sam. ii.18. Iosiah had a tender heart for God in his tender years, 2 Kings xxii.19. Children sang hosannas to Christ. Matth. xxi.15. Timothy was a saint betimes, 2 Tim. [Page 73] iii.15. And let these young ones be your pattern.

The young disciple was the beloved disciple. God takes great delight in an early convert. All your life is due to God, let him therefore have all that still remains, and beg his pardon that any of it hath been denyed.

Repentance is easiest in youth. Sin is less rooted, satan not so fortifyed, grace not so much frighted, the Spirit not so much grieved, and the conscience not so much hardened.

Be sure therefore to give God your youth. Resolve now to be seriously re­ligions. Now beg for the pardon of your sins, and the spirit of holiness; and though the generality of youth take another course, yet be not swayed by the multitude, and carried down the stream towards hell; let them go, you shall have better company. The saints of God will love you, the angels of God will guard you, and the presence of God himself shall be with you.

And if you find yourself still inclined to be as the most are, and to do as the most do, consider that you cannot have [Page 74] that pleasure in sin which others may. You have had a good education, and good instructions; your conscience hath been more awakened, and will not suffer you to enjoy the pleasures of sin, as others, who are more igno­rant, and worse educated, may. Con­science will mix gall with your honey; when you go to prayer, in the evening, upon your bed, when alone and reti­red, or in the dark, it will read sad lectures to you, and make you review your past delights with bitterness.

Labor therefore to approve yourself to God in youth; and though others may condemn you, yet God (from whose mouth only you must live or die) will acquit and justify you.

And as a conclusion of this advice, let me persuade you to consider, that forsaking sin, when you are most ca­pable of pleasure or honor by it, and turning to God when your most capable of enjoying the world, will clearly ev­idence the truth of your conversion. So that a timely conversion to God in youth, as it is most easy, so it is least questionable; for it now appears that [Page 75] God is loved for himself, and Christ is preferred above the flesh, and grace above the sweetest delights in the world

PART II.

THE great command and duty of the gospel, is, to make self no­thing, and God all in point of wisdom, strength, righteousness and glory.

And by these things examine all you do: By whose rule have I acted? By whose strength have I acted? In whose name have I acted? And for whose glory have I acted? What faith, what humility, what self-denial, what love of God and Christ, hath there been in all my actions?

Endeavour to make every day the Lord's, to spend it well, and to get nearer heaven by it.

And to this end accept kindly of this advice.

1. As soon as ever you awake in the morning, lift up your heart to God, and open it to him. As much as possi­bly you can, avoid all thoughts about [Page 76] the world until your morning devotions are over. For you will find by expe­rience that, if the world gives your soul the first salute, and be embraced with kindness in your morning affec­tions, it will greatly deaden your heart in the morning duties.

2. As soon as you are up present your desires to God, in the name of Christ, for whatever your soul feels the want of, and give God his due praises for his mercies towards you the night past. Thus David, Psal. v.3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee. And for thanks­giving, Psal. xcii.1, 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto thee, O Lord— to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning.

3. Let no day go without reading some portion of the scriptures: And it is no great matter, whether you read it before you pray in the morning, or just after; your own inclination and experience will direct you; but be sure it be done. You will find it very prof­itable to begin the day with such a con­verse [Page 77] with God. Prov. vi.22, 23. When thou wakest it shall talk with thee. See Iohn v.39. the command of Christ; and Ioshua i.8▪ the command of God, with a promise.

The scripture discovers sin, and the devil's devices and malice▪ it discovers duty, and the love of God and Christ; and it discovers your strength and en­couragements: There are the promises of assisting and crowning grace. By these, the spirit acts, the devil is con­quered, and the soul is comforted. Through these, the eye of faith can see the love of Christ, the grace of God, and the glory of heaven. In these are the food, the physic, and the arms of the christian's soul. These are the word of reconciliation, grace and truth, and the power of God to salvation: Therefore every day look into these, praying for the spirit's teachings, and mixing faith with what you read.

4. Let all your ordinary or worldly business of the day be done with integ­rity of heart, and a respect to God, whose servant you ought to be in all [Page 78] things. Psal. lxxviii.72. Do all things as to the Lord, as in his eye, and according to his will; and your whole day's work will be as it were a reli­gious worship: This respect will make all holy.

5. Have a care every day that no­thing put you into a passion: Do no­thing with an over eagerness of mind; and be ever upon your guard against sudden accidents. And this can never be obtained but by committing your­self, and your affairs, into God's hand and care every day; believing that he governs all things wisely, and will ever do that which is best for you.

The power, wisdom and goodness of divine providence, must every day be believed by him that would live ev­ [...]ry day in peace and tranquillity of soul.

6 Every evening to your prayers a­gain, and to your praises for that day's mercies. The Iews were appointed their evening sacrifices▪ as well as mor­ning. Exod. xxx.7, 8. twice a day is as little as can be allowed to those who are commanded to pray continual­ly, Phil. iv.6. Thess. v.17. And [Page 79] every prayer should have its praises in it, Psal. xcii.1, 2. It is good to give thanks unto the Lord—to shew forth his faithfulness every night. A child will ask his earthly father's blessing at morning and night; and it is better manners, and to better purpose, to ask our heavenly Father's blessing as often. We are ever in want, and God is ever giving; prayers therefore, and praises, are ever suitable and becoming.

Let no day go withou [...] observation, and review of God's carriage towards you, and of yours towards him; of mer­cies and afflictions; and of your du­ties, and the frame of heart in them; of your sins or inclinations to sin; and so likewise of any special or remarka­ble providence of God related to you by others, or seen or read of by yourself. And let God have the glory of what is good. In afflictions be humble, be a­shamed and grieved for sins; and consid­er what God's special providences speak to you.

Proper reflections for poor Saints.

OUTWARD good things are no sign of God's special Love. The sun of prosperity shines upon the bram­bles of the wilderness, as well as up­on the flowers of the garden; and the snow of affliction falls upon the garden as well as upon the wilderness.

What though the streams of creature comforts run low with thee, so that thou hast the more from the spring-head? There is more comfort in one drop that distils immediately from God, than from ten thousand rivers that flow from creature delights.

God doth sometimes on purpose shew us the creatures emptiness, that we may go to his fulness. He makes us see the creatures to be broken cisterns, that we may know him to be the foun­tain: And that we may feed more [Page 81] largely upon spiritual dainties, he does deny us carnal ones.

What though God deny thee the earthly jewel, if he gives thee the hea­venly crown?—If thou hast no por­tion here thou shalt have a kingdom hereafter; and God is thy portion here, and so long thou shalt not want any good thing. Creature comforts at the best, are only delightful, not satisfy­ing; pleasant, not gainful!

What if all thy friends forsake thee, so long as God (who is better than all) stands by thee?—Whatever enjoy­ment friends afford, that God does much more. Do they love thee? He died for thee. Do they pity thee in thine afflictions? In all thy afflictions he is afflicted, Isa. lxiii.9 —What wouldest thou have a friend for? For converse? O! taste and see how good and pleasant a thing it is to have com­munion with God! Hear (if thou canst, and not be ravished) the sweet voice, I am thine, and thou art mine. O! feel the pantings of his heart, and hear the soundings of his bowels!—Wouldst [Page 82] thou have a friend to pour out thy breast into? —O! who is so fit for that as God? He will bear part of thy burden if thou art laden, or he will add new strength to sustain it.—His love, his converse, his society, is life itself▪ and such a life as is made up of nothing but sweetness and delight.

The mystery of a christian.

1. He lives in another, Gal. ii.20. He is wise in another, 1. Cor. i.30. He is righteous in another, Rom. x.4. He is strong in another, Isa. xlv.24.

2. He is very low in humility, but very high in hope. He knows he is undeserving of the least mercy, yet ex­pects the greatest, Gen. xxxii.10, 12.

3. He is in the world, but not of the world, Iohn xv.9. In the world as a Pilgrim, but not as a citizen. His hab­itation is below, but his conversation a­bove.

4. He is meek but vehement; meek in his own cause, yet vehement in the [Page 83] cause of God. (As Moses, who was dead to affronts, deaf to reproaches, and blind to injuries.) He will comply with any thing that is civil, but no­thin that is sinful. He will stoop to the necessities of the meanest, but will not yield to the sinful humours of the greatest.

5. He works out his salvation with fear and trembling, yet believes in Christ without fear and trembling, Phil. ii.12▪ 13. He does much for God, yet counts himself an unprofita­ble servant. He works as if he was to live here always, yet worships as if he was to die to-morrow.

6. When he is weak then is he strong, 2. Cor. xii.10. When he is most sen­sible of his own weakness, and most de­pendant on Christ's strength, then he stands the safest.

7. When he is most vile in his own eyes he is most glorious in the eyes of God. When Iob abhored himself then God rais'd him, Iob xlii.6. When the centurion thought himself the most unworthy, Christ said, I have not found [Page 84] so great faith, no not in Israel, M [...]tth. viii.8, 10.

8. He is content with his condition, yet longs and prays for a better, 2 Cor. v.4.

9. His losses are gains; (as Iob's Iob xlii.12.) His falls are risings; (as Peter's, John xxi.17.) His afflic­tions are promotions; (as Jacob's, all those things are against me, saith he, Gen. xlii, 36 Yet all those things were for him.) His disappointments are prefer­ments; (as Moses': though he did not go to Canaan, as he desir'd; yet he went to heaven, which was better, Deut. xxxiv.4, 5.)

10. He cannot sin, 1 John iii 9. yet he cannot but sin, 1 John i.8. He cannot sin habitually, and with full con­sent of will; yet he cannot but sin ac­tually through weakness.

11. He saith O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me? Rom. vii.24. Yet he saith, O blessed man that I am, who shall condemn me? Rom. viii.34.

12. He grieves, yet rejoices under the strokes of his heavenly Father's [Page 85] hands. He grieves that his Father's hand strikes him, yet rejoices that it is the hand of a Father Heb. xii.6.7.

13. He knows there is no absolute perfection in this life, yet is continu­ally reaching after it, Phil. iii.12, 13, 14.

14. The less his burden grows the more he feels it. The less sin he hath the more sensible he is of sin; not that sin grows, but light, holiness, and ten­derness is increased, 1 Tim. i.15.

15. He is content to live, yet willing to die. He desires to serve Christ here, yet desires more to depart, and to be with him in heaven, Phil. i.23.

Some doubts and fears of a tender conscience answered.

1. I fear Christ is not willing to save me▪

Answ. What is this but limiting, or setting bounds to infinite mercy?— What greater signs of his willingness would you have than those he hath al­ready [Page 86] given you? He hath died, and purchased salvation for you, Heb. ii.9 1 Iohn ii.2. He calls and intreats you to come and accept of it, Matth. xi.28. He saith he will not cast you out He complains that you will not come, & wilt thou yet say, he is not willing? If thou art willing, he never was otherwise. Be of good comfort, he calleth thee. Isa. lv.1. Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price—Bring only yourself, come out of need, as all do; as the pro­digal did.

2. But I am so unworthy—

Answ. If you would have nothing but what you are worthy of, you must have nothing but hell. What was A­braham or Saul, or any, worthy of, before the Lord called them? Say not, I am unworthy. Art thou willing? Rev. xxii 17. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.

3. But my sins are very great, and I am confounded at the sight of them. Alas! how can I think of a pardon?—

[Page 87] Answ. Are thy sins great? the more need thou hast of a Saviour. Greater sinners have been pardoned, Manasseh and Saul.—But dost thou think thou art more guilty than Christ is gracious? read Isa. i.18. Come and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool. 1 John i.7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Bless God for that word all.

4. But I have a proud, hard, dead heart.

Answ. Put that among your sins, and come to Christ.

My sins are many as well as great. I sin daily; I so sin that I must suffer.

Answ. Yea, if there were none to appear for thee. Luke vii.47. Her sins which were many are forgiven her. 1 John i.7. Christ is a daily ad­vocate. 1 John ii.1, 2. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. This scripture should be as daily bread for believers [Page 88] to live upon.

6. I have sinned against light and conviction.

Answ. So did David and Peter, who yet were pardoned.

7. But I am a revolter and back­slider.

Answ. Jer. iii.1.— Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet return again unto me, saith the Lord. Hos. xiv.4. I will heal their backsli­dings, I will love them freely.

8 I am afraid of departing from God again.

Answ. Jer. xxxii.40.— I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

9. I have no strength.

Answ. Isa. xlv.24. Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength.

10 I am afraid to die.

Answ. Psal. xxiii.4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Phil. i.23. I am in a [Page 89] strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.—When you die God shall be with you; and Christ shall be with you; and you shall be with God and Christ for ever.

The difference between inherent and imputed righteousness.

1. Inherent righteousness sanctifies, imputed righteousness justifies.

2. Inherent righteousness makes us shine before men, imputed righteous­ness makes us shine before God,

3. Inherent righteousness pleases God, imputed righteousness appeases him.

4. Inherent righteousness dicharge [...] from hypocrisy, imputed righteousness from guilt.

5. Inherent righteousness makes us pray, imputed righteousness makes our prayers prevail.

6. Inherent righteousness is our sin­cerity, imputed righteousness our per­fection

[Page 90]7. Inherent righteousness respects the law, imputed righteousness answers the law.

8. Inherent righteousness is the ev­idence of our salvation, imputed right­eousness the foundation of it.

9. Inherent righteousness is our joy, imputed righteousness our glory, Isa. xlv.25.

10. Inherent righteousness is to be loved, imputed righteousness to be trusted.

11. Inherent righteousness is imper­fect, imputed righteousness perfect.

12. Inherent righteousness is our qualification for heaven, imputed right­eousness our title to it.

Directions for those that are under convictions of conscience

1. Don't presume, you are not yet come to the heavenly Canaan.

2. Don't despair, you are in the way to it.

3. Beware of ill company.

4. Fear falling away, Heb. iv.1 Preserve a tender frame.

[Page 91]5. Keep up prayer. Be much in e­jaculations.

6. Don't rest in convictions, nor du­ties, nor any thing short of Christ.

7. Be much in humiliation and con­fession.

8. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.

9. Study your soul's case, and labor to get your heart affected with it, and mortified to the world.

10. Remember the great day of ac­counts, Eccl. xii, 14.

11. Prepare for, and think not strange of trials, Heb. x.32.

12. Let not religion be your diver­sion but your business.

Directions to keep from sin.

1. Run not into temptation.

2. Maintain a constant watch a­gainst, and fear of sin.

3. Beware of pride and presump­tion.

4. Avoid and abhor slothfulness.

5. Remember you stand by faith [Page 92] Your strength is in Christ, look to him for it.

Means to gain repentance.

1. Sit with care, Constancy, and conscience under the word of truth and gospel of grace.

2. Study the nature of God.

3. Sit loose to the world.

4. Consider the shortness of life, and the limitation of the day of grace.

5. Be much in the business of self-examination, Psal. iv.4. Stand in awe and sin not, commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Lam. iii.40. Let us search and try our hearts, and turn again unto the Lord.

6. Seriously expect approaching judgment.

7. Think much of death and eter­nity.

8. Wash thy heart in the blood of Jesus, and take every day a turn on mount Calvary.

9. Seriously apprehend the possibility, nay, the probability; nay, the absolute certainty of a pardon through Christ.

[Page 93]10. Sue for repentance at the hand of God: Say with Ephraim, turn thou me and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God, Jer. xxxi.18.

Means to live at peace.

1. Mind your own business, 1 Thess. iv.11.

2. Keep your tongue from evil, 1 Pet. iii.10.

3. Don't contend for every trifle, whether it be matter of right or opin­ion.

4. If others neglect their duty to you, be sure that you perform yours to them. To render railing for railing, is to return sin for sin.

5. Make your enemy see and feel your love to him Rom. xii.20.

6. Beg of God for universal charity▪

7. Be humble

8. By faith wait for the providence of God.

Means to be content.

1. Consider you have what God allo [...] [Page 94] you; what his providence allows you. Your crosses and comforts are mixed by his hands. It is the will of God that thou shouldst be thus and thus▪ Labor then to have that dearer to thee than any thing in the world.

2. Consider, that if you had fewer comforts, and more crosses, you ought to be thankful; for do you know what you have deserv'd? 'Tis of the Lord's mercy that you are not consumed.

3. Whatever comes, take it as from the hand of God. Assure yourself, that without his permission and direction it could not come.

4. Prepare to receive the will of God, and look for changes and altera­tions in the world.

5. Faith is another means to quiet, satisfy, and content the mind. That assures us, that that which is consistant with the love of God may well be borne. Outward losses and afflictions are consistant the love of God. Whom the Lord loveth he chast [...]neth, Heb. xii.6. We are all subject to alterations; our life, health, estate, friends, fami­lies, and all we have, are liable to [Page 95] changes. Let us then fix upon a God that never changes, that never fails, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Let us depend upon a God that de­pends upon none. And, what though our house be not so with God as it hath been; yet, if he hath made with us an everlasting covenant, we have great reason to be content with all his out­ward dealings with us, 2 Sam. xxiii.5.

Means to preserve mercies.

1, Be thankful for them.

2. Receive them as mercies, not as dues.

3. Prepare to part with them.

4. Expect the continuance of mer­cies from God; he is the strength of our life, the staff of our bread, the breath of our nostrils, and the length of our days.

Signs of Sincerity.

1. Prayer is a sign of sincerity; if it be secret, Matth. vi.6. Frequent, Acts x.2. Fervent, Rom. viii.26.

[Page 96]2. A willingness to be searched by God, Psal. cxxxix.23. By the right­eous, Psal. cxli.5. By ministers, Acts x, 33. By conscience, Psal. lxxvii.6. By the scriptures, Iohn iii.19, 20, 21. Sincere souls love sincere dealings.

3. A sense of sin; particularly of spiritual sins, Mark ix.24. Rom. vii.21. And of orlginal sin, Rom. vii.24. especially when it drives to Christ, ver. 25.

4. When a man is most sensible of, and watchful against his own sin, his constitutional sin, the beam in his own eye

5. Universal tenderness. When a man will not plead for any sin, Psal. cxix.128, nor quarrel with any of the co [...]andments, Psal▪ cxix.6. Acts ix 6.

6 'Tis a sign of sincerity when a man chuses affliction rather than sin, Dan. iii.17, 18.

7. When a man relies upon Christ for strength against sin▪

8. When a man loves God above all, and loves others principally for what is God-like in them.

[Page 97]9. When a man delights in the word of God.

10. When he makes conscience to watch his heart in duty.

11. When a man's thoughts run freely on heavenly things.

12. When the glory of God is pre­fered above all.

13. When a man's profession is join­ed with meekness.

14. A well governed tongue (for an outward sign) when a man dares nei­ther boast of himself, nor censure oth­ers, James iii.2. Matth. xii.36.

15. Constancy in the ways of God, Job xxvii.6▪ 10—Such a man can never be a hypocrite.

Short questions whereby to know whe­ther the heart be truly changed.

1. Hath thine heart been turned in­to sorrow for sin?

2. Hath thy sorrow turned into prayer?

3. Hath thy prayer turned into faith?

4 Hath thy faith issued in universal tenderness and obedience?

Signs of faith.

Signs of love to Christ.

They that love Christ,

1. Love to think of him.

2. They love to hear of him.

3. They love to read of him.

4. They love to speak of him, for him, and to him.

[Page 99]5. They love the presence of Christ.

6. They love the yoke of Christ.

7. They love the ministers of Christ.

8. They love the name of Christ.

9. They hate sin.

10. They are pleased when Christ is pleased.

11. They are grieved when Christ is grieved.

12. They long to be with Christ.

Christ's will is their will; Christ's dishonor is their affliction; Christ's cause is their care; Christ's ministers are their stars; Christ's saints are their companions; Christ's day is their de­light; Christ's word is their oracle▪ Christ's glory is their end.

Signs of the fear of God.

A man then fears God,

1. When he dares not sin tho' sol­licited and tempted to it.

2. When sin is common and yet he fears it.

3. When he is afraid of an evil thought.

[Page 100]4. When he dares not sin tho' he should suffer if he does not.

5. When his heart is broken, and trembles at the word of God.

6. When he f [...]ies to Christ.

7. When he is studious to please God.

Signs of true grace.

1. When self-loving is turned into self-loathing; self-excusing into self-condemning; self-admiring into self-abhorring; self-seeking into seld-deny­ing.

2. 'Tis a sign of true grace when a man seriously complains of the want of grace.

A graceless person connot truly complain that he hath no grace. There is grace in that complaint.

3. When the heart is tender, and feels the power of an ordinance.

4. When the soul hath an appetite after the word, 1 Pet. [...]i.2.

5. When a man makes a conscience of secret prayer.

6. When we are taken with their [Page 101] conversation, and manner of life, who are most spiritual, Zech. viii.23.

7. When we are willing to be ac­quainted with Christ, and reconciled to God upon any terms.

8. When a man approves of all duties.

9. When he desires more grace: There is grace in the desire of grace, as there is sin in the desire of sin, Neh. i.11. Psal. lxxxiv.5.