■liiiJilP^i^i^i^i^iiiliMiiPii' THE W-^ SAINTS SVRE ^ AND PERPETVALL G V I D E. o %, A Trcatife concerning the Word. Which.as the Ifraelites CloudjCondufts us frora Mgjpt to Canaan . whereunto wee muft take heed, as uiito a Light that fhineth ia a darke place, till che Day dawne,and the Daj* {larrc arilc in our hearts. BY That Reverend , Learned , and Godly Minifter of Chrift lefus, R o B E R T B o L T o N, Bache- lour of DivJnitie , and late Preacher of Gods Word at Broughten in ffonhMmptm-Jhire. loKM 5. SO, 21. 'I^i,'^ Every one thatddth tvill^ hateth the light ^ neither commeth to the light, il^ SC*- lejl hti deeds ptottld be reproved, :1^,«.^ But he that doih the truth, commeth to the light , that his deeds may '^^*^ be made manife^. that they me wrought in God, i^T *'^ LONDON, #»&• Printed by E, Purjlow , for Rafha Harford^ in Quccnes- head- Alley in Pater-NoFter-Rgw, at the Signe of the Gilt Bible, 1^34. TO THE RIGHT WORSHI^FVLL, IohnCkve 5 Eiquirc , one of his Majcfties lufticc fthe Peace and j^HorumySic. for the Couatie of Northampton; €• C '9ollheth encreafe of Grace and Peace /» C H R I s T , htre ^ and eternaff Ghry hereafter^ Right W orshufvll, *Ot H Law and well approoved Cuftome hath long eftablifh- cd it,That the Hcire ftiould fuccccd in mi- Verfum jusdefmSti^^vid have inccreft, title, andjufldaimetoall the pofleflions and rights of the party dc- ccafcd : yea, they adde alfo, chat bdrediw (a i) tranfit Sjtvtft.Sam* *04lj. a?. ^Ihe Spiflle Dedicatorie^ tranft cum onere , the Inheritance cannot be| fevered from the troubles and incumbran- ces that goe along with it. Vpon which ground jfeeing it hath pleafed your worthy ' Father, Sir Thomas Cj^e , (who is now at reft with Chris t ,whicn is * exceedin^y fane more better than all other excellencies the Lord had here graced him with) with much favour and wiliingncflc to undertake the Patronage of thefe Pofthumous Wri- tings in his life time 5 my earneft defire un- to your Worfhip is^Cwho are ^atrub^res ex ajfe, andj doubt not, but alfo ^fecundum promifionem) that you would adminlfter in thefe,as a parcell of his goods and chattels, (as they call them) and iiicceed in the pro- tedionof them : That as the memorie of your natural! Father is preferved and ho- noured in themJo the honour and glory of your fpirituall may be promoted and ad- vanced by thefe. Befides which premifles , I hope that the very Name of that worthy and faith- full. Minifter of Ie s V s Ch R [ s TjMafter Robert !BaHon (j5iM«edicatorie. Church ; a man bc3db well knowne and approved of you , as being a neighbour Miniftcr, and fo greatly renowned for his Learning and Labours in his former Wri- tings , amongfl: all them that have read them 5 that they may acknowledge it to be more truly laid of him, that was fome- cimcs fpoken oi^riflotle, * That his very Pen was dipt in Vnderftanding , and all kind of Learning was the Inkc that hee wrote withall, in regard of that profound wifedome and refined knowledge and elo- quence that flowed from it : ) I fay, I am confident, that his very Name will make an cafic way for his Writings unto your Worftiip 5 who for the care and cndcvour to advance the glory of God,and to further the welfare and edification of his Church, and for the love to godly and painefull Minifters , and the godlinelle profefled, preached ,and praftifed by them,and many other gracious endowments wherewith the Lord hath enriched you,have the love and admiration and high eftimation of all thofe that fcare God , that know you, or have heard of you, (a 3) This 1 The EpMle DeJicatorie. This confidence iNtth CKiboldened me to prefcnc thefe enfuing Trcatifcs unto your Meditation, and Patronage ; befee^ ching the Lord of his mercie to fanftifie them to your owne and the Churches be- nefiCj and tobleffe jour felP- and all yours with alt fpirituall Bleffings in hea- venly things , in I E s V s : . Tour WorJlAps humbly dclnMcd^. in aU holy endeato'^rs^ i i ■ ■ ; ■ '■ Cv;c;, " 1 . TO ■reader. ,M.i \'HlZi;^iiT^'.ii^ 'tV^ ' A^T ?" Good Rbadbr, ,- . „ Cannot denicy But that the Arguments handled in theft three foUo^ing Treati- [es^are common ^ and the ordinarie fub- jeH both of man) Sermons and printed _ _ _ _ Bookes in thefe dayes : yet t»ee knotv^ that the commonelf Meates doe yeeld the molf tvhole- fome nourijhment , whereas netv-found J>ijbes doe but clogge thefiomackeyandjii^ the body with unwholefome humours, B ejides, if the found andnerv manner of hand- littg common things may commend them y (as it ever ■^aid) then / hofe^ that this fVorh mU he tvelcome unto thee. Thou knorveB tveil^ I doubt not ^ thejingu- lar dexteritie of this Reverend and able -^iniBer of 1 E s V s C H R I s T , ^) his formenvritingSj in hand- ling the Scrifturey hojv hee fhetved himfelfe (as Paul exhorteth Timothy, 2 Tim.2 . 1 5. ?o be) a Work- man that necdeth not to be afhamed, rightly di- viding the Word of Truth. Onely underfiaitd not by the right dividing of the ivord^ thefubtle and curious • (^ a) chopping -1^^^'^,V'"!A.' * XWlSj KiW»J.'. h6)fV, quid [it. h(um. FuS.MifcJttera. To the Re ader. chopping and mincing of the fVord hy Dichotomies, Divi'. [ions^And Sub'divifions^^too ordinarie in thefe dayes) hut (as the meaning of the fvurd is^ and the Syriacke verfion conjirmes it) to handle and preach the word aright, i. as M, Beta expounds it well . For the Doarine ic fclfc to omit nothing that makes for the clearing of it; to adde nothing of his owne,to diminifli nothing, to mangle nothjng,to wreft nothings laftlyjto con- fider diligently what the capacitie of the hearers is able to bearc, and whatfocver may tend to edifi- cation y or, as learned Fuller expQunds it, to fet open or make plainc as it were the right way of the Word of Truth • So this mrthy Author hath done . he hath traced out and opened the right way of truth and ho- linefie out of the holy Scriptures^ His Writings 1 mayjuftly commend for three or four e notable excellencies (to name no more.) Firft , For their clear e difcovering offinne^ and their exaBfiarching and fif ting of a Chriflians heart,toplucke off the wizard of all forts ofHyfocrites, and to bring tg light, and lay open to the eyes of the World, By the Touch- jione of Truth,their counterfeit andunfound Graces, and I to find out the endieffe trindings and labyrinths ofjjpiritu- all guile infelf-deceiving hearts. This he doth excellently by the cleare light of Gods word,Mch hath an admirable vertue this tray, Heb. 4.12. beinga difcerner of the thoughts &: intents of the heatt.and putting a cleare difference betrveene the freciom and the vile. Secondly/or the Stile,as beingfuU of divine eloquence^ hit Lips and Pen dropping abundance of the feveeteB of that word, trhich if fweeter than the Honey or the dropping Honey-combcs, PfaL i^ . lo. Thirdly^ To the Reader. Thirdly^ The Author being amsn fttveliverfed in an- cient Writers of the Primitive times , thou mayejipnde in hisBofikes (nofmall tafte vchereofyou have in this ) a much better ufe made ef their Labottrs^ than is made by many Diijines ; feeinghehath proved abundantly outef them thejlriB pints of fanBipoation, His Quotations indeed in thefe lafl^feeme notfs numerom as in his frece- dent f^srkes : the reafen is^ becaufe in thefe/or the mo ^ fArt^the Authors are onelyquned^ their mrds net f re- duced^ as not having fome ofthem^ and the reji not of the fame Edition • fb thaf his Referenda lUt^lc helped us t9 his intended Matter, Fourthly^ I may not omit that (which in other }Vriters is commonly accounted blame^rvorthy, but inhimafingu- lar excellencies and commendable) his long digrejjions from his fnaine matter in hand* proceedings I conceive^ out af the abundance of his hearty and long experience in Gods fvayes : as thofe that by long travelling in a way^are well acquainted with it^canfinde out all the by-wayes and blinde paths about it ; which our Author hath excellent^ ly done ► SOj that b-^ his digreffions out of the erdinarie Road, he is more likely to jet a wandering Soule into the right way againe, Now^for the preventing or removing ofallprejudi- cate Opinions which ma^ arife concerning thefe enfuing Trcatifes^(as though^Strumfet-like^anyBaflardly Brood unlawfully begotten^fhould be fathered and fajlened upn fotrulySeraphicaU and Bivine a Pen-man) this I can more than promife (verbo M iniftri ) That there is no- thing in them^ f&r matter or manner^ either fhuriow^ or furreptitiouf ; nothing but what is qenuine^ and the Au- thors owne • the immediate ifae of his working Brain e^ I a^d To the Reader. And flowing from his orvne Je kftie Pen, fvhich way he a ; feafonahle advertifement unto thee for the future ^ from rrhom and which rvay thou art to exfe^^ufon the further ferufailof his fcattered ManufcriftSywhat elfe jhall (pe deemed tecrthy to befolilbed^ andfipuhlijhed. If there be any thing in that Mehu here prefented to thy view that likes not thee^ becaufe not like the Author , failing for depth oflearning^or varietie of eloquence . hlame not him deceafedy (who being dead^yet f^eaketh) but impute it to the fubftitutedfurviving Midwife^that had not lei^ fure fuff<^icnpy U If dug come to iheSirthy to attend its bringing forth, I meane/ny jelfe ^ who for the multitude of diftr anions and pr effing occafionsyfince thefe Writings mre intrufled to me^ asalfofor the imperfeBneffe and defeB of the CeppieSy could notfjpendfo much time and paines in the exaB perufing^lijhingyand perfeBing of it as Ijbould and would have done : vhich mufi be the Afo^ logie to plead for pardon. But yet I hdve not beene^an- ting to cull out fuchfjpare houres as I could y to bring this tvorke to light yand to prepare it for the Prepy as alfofor thy vietv and benefit • MchyJhopey thou wiltjindey by the due and diligent reading and praBifing of * it, ffijich f commend unto thyfelfcyand tf^yfelfcywith the f^orkeyWtto the Lords Sif^ffg, Thine iaChriftlcfus, C. C. tmm THE SAINTS SVRE AND PERPETVALL GVIDE. Tbj Word it a Lampe unto myfia , and a Light unto my ^aths. V all other parts of the holy Bible, this Booke of the Pfalmes^ (penned for the moft part by David , the fwcet Singer of Ifrael^ and a man after Gods ownc heart) is ftuftand fiird with greateft plentie and varietie of preci- ous LefTons and inftru(3:ions unto cternall life. The choice and flower of all things profitable and comfortable for the right courfe of a Chri- (b) ftian Tbe Concents and the be- nefit of the Pfdoics in ge- j neraU* j Of the 119. an particular. TheDW»fi«n 1 of ic. The Saints fure ftian life, is therein bricfely contained, and very ifiovitigly and feelingly expreft. In them we may be acquainted with the Majeftie and Myfteries of God, with the Sufferings of Chrift, withun- faincd Repentance, unwearied Patience, fpiritu- alj Wifedome , and wonderfull Courage of the godly man, and true Chrillian. In them we may behold the terrors of Wrath, and the anguiflies of an affli(i;ted Confciencejthc comforts of Grace, aind great I^eliveraDces, the wpnderfullworkcs of Providence over this World , and tlie promiled loycs of that World which is to come. In a word, all good nreceffarilyto be either knownc or done, or had, is plentifully, as out of a rich Trea- furicjreveard and ofer'd unto us in thcfe heavenly Songs of David. » H Ci i V x) Amongft which, this ii^. Pfalme (apart of which I have now read untoyow) is, as it Were, a precious Icwell,X)r,deare Cry ftall • wherein wee may fee theright temper and ftate of true godli- nefTc, and fincer itie, the markes and properties of all true worfliippers of God,the zeale and affe6^i- ons of all faithfull ChriftianSjthe very lively Ana- M>mie and laying open of a good and gracious Soule. This whole Pialme doth confift of 1 1 . Parts or rPortions of Staves, or Craves, even juft fo nMwy as there be Lettas in tlie Hebrew Alphabetyand every Portion containeth in ittight Verfes j and every Verfe of every Portion, or Staffe , begins , with the fame Hebrew Letter. The wliich fpeci- all and extraordinarie penning aad difpofing of the and perfetuall Quide, 5 the P^lme,doth declare and fee out unto us chefe thref things ; 1 ' The diligent intention of mind, and care- full meditation of the Author5in the framing and compofingofit. 2 The precioiifncflc and worth of the matter contain'd in it j in that it pleafed the Spirit of God to deliver it in choice and fpeciall order, 5 A defire and purpofe, that it might more eafily be Icarn'd by heart, and committed to me- moric , and often and came ft iy meditated and thought upon,being fei dovirne unto us in fo faire and eaje order of the Hebrew Letters. This PartjOr Portion, which wee have now in hand, is the foureteenth ^ and doth containe in it many worthy and gracious Leflbns for our in- flrudion *i>d devotion in heavenly thmgs,propo- fed unto us out of the pradice and Chriftian car- riage of this holy Prophet,and Man ofGod^David^ a perfeft patterne of all true zealc and pietie. In the thirteenth Portion , immediately going before^-D^wVhad delivered fpecially two things. Firft, How by his love, reading, ftudy, and me- ditation in Gods Word, he had attained moft ex- cellent knowledge,wifedome,and underftanding; fo that thereby he was become farre mere wife than hu enemies '^ that is, than Ssul and all his pditike Courtiers and Counfellors of State. Hee had tnsre mderfiandiftg than his Teachers^, than the great Dodiors,and Rabbins 3 for all their dcepc Lear- ning being not fan(aificd unto them. He under- ftood more than the grave and ancient men,for all (b2) the Three Leflens CO be learned thence. Two things obfcrvable in thcij.Patc. I How David became viitet than his cne- isics. 1>oCl. True wi^dotnc to be had only from and in the Word. The Reafon. Bccaufc oihct wifdomc pro- vides only for the body, but this for the foule. The Saints fare the worldly vvifcdome and great e5(pcricnce they had gathered in many yeercs, and through len"^" ^ That Davidh^d thus wholly yeelded and rcfig- : ncdup himfelfe to be guided and governed by I the glorious Light of Gods holy Word,appeares intheVerfes following, I Firft, in F'eyf, \o6. by a folcmne Oath and fa- i cred rcfolution tokeepeGods righteous judge- ments, and an unfained and conftant purpofe to perfonne the fame 5 / havejwome^ and willprfQrme itjtbat I fvi^ keepi th righteeui judgements, Secondly,in yerf.ioy. by his patiencieand fuf- fcrance of wrongs , difgraces , and affftic^tions, . which the wicked and prophane World heaped ppon him , for his profefS^n of holineffe and fin- ceririe. and perpetuall (juide. ceritie. For, except he had loved and fcillowed the Light of divine Truth, vvhenfocver the fire of per fecu t ion and tr ib u lation^bccau le of the V\ ord, had beene kindled agamft him , hee had fhrunke backe and fallen away , / am affliSed very much, quicken me, O Lord, according to thy fVord, Thirdly 5 in Verf. io8. by the offerings of his mouth, and calves of his lips ; that is, the fpiri- tuall facrifices of prayers, thank fgiving, and gra- cious Vowcs for Gods fervice, which with a free and fervent rpirit,and earneft defire of acceptati- onj he continually offered unto the Lord ; O Lord I befeech thee,accept the free-tvitl o^erings of my mouth, and teach me thy judgements. Fourthly, in f^erf.io^ji lo. by his ftedfaftneffe and (licking to the Law and Word of God, though hee was befct and ftrongly incompaffed with lnares,with dangers, and with death it felfe: HUfouieivas continually in hi^hand-^ that is, hee was ready and refolved every houre rather to part with his lifcjthan with a good Confcience , to fhed his bloud, rather than to forfake the Truth and Com- mandements of God : My fiule u continually in my hand^yet doe 1 not forget thy Law : The tricked have laid afnareferme^yet I erred not f rem thy Precepts. In the two lad Verfcs,uponthe former reafbns hee concludes the Point • That his heart and in- ward affe(5tions do dcarely embrace Gods blcfTed Word, as a moft rich and lading Inheritance, as his fweeteft and grcateft joy ; and,thaj hee bends all the powers of his foulcjand beft endcvours", to . be led with,and to follow the Light thereof even I (b 4 ) "nto t 3 4 8 1 Tm.€.if» Slit iMiVes ito4iftingui{h agodlymaa and aa hypo- crite. 1; yerf. lou Agodlyniaui:t guided by the Word in aU hiswayes. A natural! m»n not at aU. 1^ he Saints fur e Oi In pars'. unto the end , untill it bring him teimmortalitic and Light^thAtnomAn can at tame unto : ■ Thy teHi- monies have / taken m an heritage for ever ^f or thj are the rejojci?ig of my heart : I have inclined my heart ta fer forme thy Statutes alrray, even to the end. Thus you fee in gencraJl the meaning of this Portion. Before now Idefcend unto particulars , and come to gather Notes (everally from the Verfes in order, let vs take notice,! befcech you, (for our inftruvftion and examination of ourovrnefoulcs) of fixe notable markes , and fignes , by which a true Chriftian may be difcerned from a Tempo- rizer- a fincere ferver of God, from a carnall Gofpeller* The firft I gather out of the firft Verfe : Every fonneand fcrvant of God doth with humilitie, chearcfulneiTe, and. obedience, yeeld and ftibmif himfelfe tobe wholly and onely dire^cd and gui- ded by the Light of Gods Word,in all his wayes, both generally,of Chriftianitie,and particularly, of his fpeciall callings as I>avid here did. But the naturall man , that is not yet entred into, or acquainted with the ftate of Grace,is led and gui- ded in his courfes onely by the Light of Rcafon, and worldly Wifedomc 5 by good Meanings, without ground and warrant out of the Word • by a blind and ignorant Devotion; b^y the Mul- titude, Examples, Cuflome of the Times, and fuch like blind Guides: But if he take any advice a^d dire(i^ion out of the Word of God , it is but in part, by halfes^and for a timei . A fecond and perpetual I ^uide. A fecond arifeth out of the feeond Vcrfe; Every Child of God doth not oncly promifc, vow, and purpofe to forfake and abandon all his knowne finnes^to watch carefully and confcrona- bly over all his wayes, to delight in and to fort himfelfe with godly and gracious companie, to have a xt^^tdi to all his CommandementSjand to kccpehis righteous ludgements; but hee doth alfo truly arS throughly performe it : hec goes through-ftitch with his fpirituall affaires, and with conftancie and courage walkes in a fetlcd courfc of Chriftianitie. But the unregeHcrate nian, not yet foundly feafoned with the power of Grace j howfoeverhe hath fometimes good mo- tions and purpofes arife in his heartjto forfake his former evill waycSjand to fall to godlincfl*} how- foever in thfc time of Sicknefle , of fome great ludgemcntj^orwhen his Confcience is terrified I by the Miniilerie of the Word,whcn he icrioufly tainkes upon the day of his death , and; of that great and la ft ludgcmentjOr the like ; hee makes Vowes with himfelfe, perhaps^ that hee will be a new man,and change his courfes : But when he is once out of danger againe, when he comes to the point, and pradice, he is not fo good as his wordj he doth not pay and performe his former Vowes and purpofes y hee is prefently choaked againe with worldly Cares,and drowned in earthly Plea- fuTCS ; And fo-all hhgoodn^Jfe is as amorning Ckud^ and as the morning Dvaiv it goeth avi^y. The third maifke lyeth in the thirdVerfe: Eveiy Child. of God dodi with contented patience,- with 1 He pcrfDcmcs all his Vowes. An unrcgcnc- race man doth noipayshcr:^ f UifS.ik^ Verf,ioj, 10 He patiently IbfFcrs perfc- cution for the Word. *Tw.3.ii. The carnal] Go''peller fpare* him' fclfc. 4 rtrf. 108. He is frequent in praying aod ,prayfing. The other not. l^he Saints fure vvithftroogdependance upon Gods providence, with rejoycing in his fLiftbringSjbcare and endure many miferies and prelTures layd upon him, for his profcflion and pra6:ice of finceritie. He well knowes out of the Word of God , and fceics by his owne experience, That all Mch mil live godl^ in ChriB isjuf^ jhaU fujfer perfecution , 2 r/w. 3 .12. And therefore he makes up his account with the World, and is at a point witk all that is under the Sunne . hce is per fwaded, that aH the affliBioAs tf this life are not mere tvcrthy the glory nhich fhallbe re- vealedyKom,%,iZ, ^--1 But the carnall Cofpeller he thinkcs it is good fleeping in awhole skin 5 he lookes fora Gofpel of eafc, for a foft and fiikcn fcrvice of God j for a Church (as one fpeakes) aS offelvet. And thcre- fore,rather thaahewill fuflfcrany lo(Ie,orvvor{ing, any diminutionordifparagement in his outward ej[tate,in his reputation, wealth, and worldly hap- pinefTe, he will make jhifrvracke efagood CgnfciencC'^ he will yeeld to the^orruptionsof the Times,and with the greater part, reft and repofe hinifelfc peaceably and pleafantly upon his Bed of eafc, and carnall fecuritie : never confiderin?;, that the CrofTeis the Chriftians triumph^ that Chrift himfelfewas crowned with Thornes ^ and, that wee muH through man"^ afliBions efrter into the King- dome ofHeaven^ AB, 14. 2 2 . A fourth marke may be gathered out of the fourth Verfe : The prayers and prayfings of God, m the mouth of Gods Child, are frequent, free, and fervent ^ bat with the carnall Gofpeller, they are and per^etuall (juide. are very rare, coldly and formall. The Rcafon is^ Cods Child is veryfenfibleof his corruptions, ^d wants, hee ftill longs and gafpes for more grace , with a fpirituali taftc he (vveetly relilTieth Gods great mercic and goodnefTe unto hinti ^ he hath the love of God and the fpirit of prayer fhed into his heart by the Spirit of Adoption ^ and therefore his heart is as full as the IVtoone, of godly motions and mcditationsjwhich likea con- tinuair Spring fends out groane? and fighes un- utterable, many zealous and faithful! prayers and thankfgivings unto his gracious God with a free and feeling aifecaion. But the carnall Gofpeller, becaufchis underftanding was never enlightened, his heart never truly humbledjhis affedions never fan(^ified; becaufehc hath no fence of hi? wfet-' ched eftate^nor prcfent feeling of gracc5nor found hope and aflurance of happincfle in Heaven- why, therefore be hath no great mindjOrheartjOrfift to prayer; hee hath no great delight, or exercife, in this holybufinefie : and if he doe pray (which is but feldome,and coldly) it is but lip-labourjand loft labour, becaufeitiswithout faith, and fee- ling; for fa(Tiion,cuftome, or company, becaufe he was fo taught in his yoitth ; or that he fuper- ftitioufly thinkes, the very worke wrought, and a number of prayers folcmnely faid over, will fan- ^f^ifiehim. ' 3 ibv A fifthmarke may be gathered out of the ffxr and feventh Verfes : The Child of God doth not onely pafle through with patience, for the pro- infe- feffiOnof ^ods truth and finceritiCjIefTe and "lOiir The Reafon, Fcrf, 109,110.. He will lofe hivlife for God. IZ A teraporanc ,iso£fondcd. Mat,tiAt, A Child of Ged counts the Word his reatcft Trca. ure. The ReafoB, The Saints fure riourmiferies.; as lofTe of goods, lofTe of friends and reputation with the World, (landers, dif gra- ces, and wrongs : butheealfo W^/i^Af/o»/5 (as it were) continuaUy in hishsnd^ as David\\Q.XQ fayes oFhirafclfe-,-^readie (if need be, and the times fo recju ire) even to fhcd bis bloud vndcr the Svvord of Perfecution, or to lay dowrne his life in the flames, rather than to diilionour fo merciful! a God, to betray his holy Truth ^ or, by his back- fliding and falling ^way, to hazard that Crowne of Glory,whichby thecycof faith hehathalrea- diein fight. But the carnall GofpcIIcr, in time of peace and plentic,whilc he lives quietly,and at eafe, without croflfe or trouble, infaireand Sun- fliine dayesj may perhaps be a ftout and peremp- torieProfeflbr, but hee ever (lirinkcs in the wet- ting J he pulls in the head in the fieric trial I : ever, when trouble or ferfecmion commeth , bccaufe of the fVord, by and by he u offended. The fixt marke is gathered out of the two laft Verfes : The Child of God holds his Word farre more deare than any precious Trcafure, than the richeft Inheritance , than * great Spoyles , than *th9ufands of Gold and Silver : It is the joy of his heart; and therefore it inclines and inflames his affedions with love and zcale to doe Gods will, and fulfill all his Commandcments. And no mar- vcll though the true Chrifliian find moft found and unconceivable delight in the Word of God, the Doi^rine of Heaven : For by ic, he is borne a- new, and made hcire of Heaven ; by the Light of it,he fees his Name written in the Booke of Life, never •VM and perpetuall Quide. never to be raced out by man, or Dev ill ; all rhe fvv'eec and gracious promifes of falvanon and comfort revealed in ii^ arc lure bis owne : So that thence he knovves5and is perftvaded undoubtedly, that after a ^cw and evill dayes fpcnt in this mifc- rabl'e life, he iliall remalne aod rcigne eternally in the glory of GodjOf Ghrift IcfuSjthe bleiled Spi- rit.and thcholy Angels. JBut it is othcrvvife vi^ith the carnall Gofpeller ; for what focver 1 new or proteftation hc; makes tothe contrary, yet indeed in his heart,affedicms^and pradice^hee preferres his pleafures, r;cbes,and profit, before hearing of Gods Word, fandifying his Sabbaths, and obe- dience to his Commandements. And no mar- veil; for bccanfe hcc yet never lived the. life of faith , butisarheere ftranger to the myfterie of godlinefle,hce hathno trueintereft nor found af furance in the joyes ofanother World- and there- fore feeds oncly and fills himfelfewith tranfitqrie and earthly contcBtfnents. ij ?rioioOiq fiorn utr. Novj^ I bcfeech you ( beloved' in Chriftlcfus)' let everyone with finglenefie of heart and fincc- ritie examine his owne Soule, and the fpirituall ilate of his Gonfcience^by thefefignesand marks which I have now delivered to you, out of the ex- ample and prceedencie of the Ghriftian afre(5li-^ ons and holy difpofition of David, a fandVified man, and a principal! patternc of pierie and zealc for all faithfull ones. Kmrvyou not (faith the A po- ftlc) that Jefm ChriJi ifin you , except )ou he repro^ hates ^ So undoubtedly, if lefus Ghrift be in you, if you be of Davids ftampe and temper, that is. n A Chrjftian man hath fuch affuraHce in the good things of the world to com?, that he can ca fily moderate hisalfedions as touching earthly and tranfitoric things. It \s otherwifc wiihanHyj^o- crice< And why ; iCoMj-l, '4- T^he Saints fure is, alrea«lie pofleffcd of the (late of grace, and marked ouc by the Spirit of fandification/or the glory that fhall be revealed; you doe find in fomc good meafure thcfe markes and Hgnes of an holy man in your fclves, 1 That you are enlightened and guided by the Word of God in all your way es. 2 That you have not onely good motions and purpofes for a zealous and conftant fervice of God ; but doe faithfiiny,with (tnceritieand inte- gritie of heart pcrforme the fame. 3 That you futfer joyfully and patiently zi- fliiSions and difgrace in the World, for the te- ftimonie of Gods Truth, and profcflfion of fin- ceritie. 4 That you freely and faithfully , with much feeling and fervencie of fpirit, offer day ly prayers and prayfes unto the Lord. 5 That you had rather part with the deareft and mod precious things in this life $ nay, life it felfe, than leave the fervice of God, and the tefti- monie of a good Confcience. 6 That you have more comfort and delight in hearing, reading, meditating, conferring of, and applying unto your ownc foules the holy Word of God , than m the treafurcs and glory of the whole Earth. Such markes as thefe you muft finde in your iclves, if you ever mcane or hope to finde true con- tentment in this life , or the comforts of Heaven inthelifetocome. Now I come to a mere fpeciall and particular con- and per^etualL^uide. 15 confideration of every Vcrfe in order; and thence to gather flich Notes and Do brines , as may beft inftru A us in the way to Heaven. Firftj-D^f/V tells us in the firft Verfc; That Gods pyord is A Lmterne to hif feet, and a Light unto his paths : Which,that you may better uaderftand, I will tell you thcmeaningof the words, and cx- plaine unto you the feverall tearraes. Firft, the ^'ord may be taken three wayes. 1 For the fubfl-antiall Word of God , the fe- cond Perfon in the Trinitie, ith, i,i. In the Begin- nifig was the fVord^ and the tverd was Ged^ 2 It may be taken for the written and founding Word ; as it onely ftrikes the earcj and informcs the ttndcrftandingj bat it is not convey edjiieirher finkes it into the heart by the powcrfull afliftance and fandified concurrence of Gods Spirit, it be- ing not prayed for to the converfion and fan(5lifi- cation of the whole man. And fo the Word is heaid and underftood of inany,that fhall never l^e faved, but returnes unfruitfull. 5 It may be taken for the working and effedu- all Word,as it is thepaferef Cgduntojalvatiin . as it is rightly underfVood, applyed unto the heart and Confcience, podeft of the thoughts and affe- dions, and pradifcd in the life and converfation. This Word thus underftood, inlived, managed, and powerfblly applycd by the Spirit of God,was a Light unto Davids fteps ^ and fo is a guide unto the paths of all true Chriftians,to the worlds end. That you may undcrftand how the Word is a Light, you mwft confiderj r That rrr/Tr Of. ex- plained* cakes three wayes. For the fub- AancialWord. The written and lounding Word. The effeauoil Word. What is meant by Light? i6 Johni, 4j 3/tf<.f. 14* P«:w,4.ig, . Chrift •rigi- Miniftcrs, mi- nifterially. ACl*t6,iZ, The Saints fttre 1 That Chrift is called Light , /oh, i . 4. The Miniftcrs are called the Light of the WorId,/W4f . 5. 14. The faithful! are Lights^ PhiLi.i^^ 16, The rvay of the righteous (faith Salomon^ Prev,^, r 8.) fhineth as the Light^ that jhineth more and more vnto theferfeH day. The Word of God is alfo called a Light ; as in this place. But firft, Chrift is Light ofhimlelfe, and originally • he is the Fountainc and evcrlafting Spring of all the Light of Grace and Glory, both in Heaven and Earth ; Hee is called, 77?^ Sunne of Right eoufne/e. The Sunne, you know, hath his Light rooted in his ovvne faire Body, and receives that from none other • and with that, hee enlightens the Moone, the StairrcSjthc Airc,the Earth, & all the World : Even fo the blcfted Sonne of God, the Sume of Right eoufne/e^hath in himfelfe5and from himlelfc, the Light of all Wifdome and Knowledge, Mer- cie and Comfort 3 and from him floweth and fpringeth whatfoever Light of Glory is revealed unto his bleflcd Saints and Angels in Heaven, or whatfoever Light of Grace is fhcd into the hearts of his fonncsand fcrvants here upon Earth. 2 The Preachers ©f the Word arc Miniftcrs and Meflcngcrs of this Light ; and therefore are but Light minifterially. They axe ax the starrer^ and fo they are called , Rev, r . 20.; They receive all their Light from the Sume of Right eoufneffe^ Christ I e s v s , and cither doe or fhould con- vey and caft their borrowed beamcs upon the earthly,cold, and darkfome hearts of the people of God, that they might turnefrem Darhenefe to and perpetuall (juide. to Light , from the fower of Sathan unto God , AB^ 26, iS. 3 The Word is Light inftramentally ^ which being powerfully fan dified unto us for our falva- tion , and being holden out unto us by a confcio- nable Miniftcric,is as a Candle or Torch,to guide us through the darkneflfc of this WorldjUatoour cternallReft. 4 Laftlyjthc faithfull are Lights SuhjeBivs-^ bccaufc they receive this Light into their Vnder- landings, (whereby they fee the Wonders of Gods Law, the Secrets of his Kingdomc, and the great Myfteric of Godlincile , and the way to Heaven i) into their Confciences , (whereby they have their ilnfull mifcrable cftate by nature difcovcred unto them , and the way to Chrifl for rcmedie and falvation 5 ) into their affe^ions, (whereby they arc enkindled with zeale for Gods truth,honour,and fervice,) into their adlions^and converfation, whereby thej jhine as Lights in the fVorld^ amid a naught ie and crooked generation^PhiL 2 . 1 5 , And after the Sunne of KighteottfaeJJ'e once a- rife in their hearts, like the Sunne in the Firma- ment 5 they fhine more and more in all holy Ver- tues , unto the ferfeB day , untill they reach the height of Heaveii,and the full glory of the Saints of God. In the third place, [By Feet] is meant his mindc and under {landing , his affeifiions , thoughts, actions, his whole hfe,all hiswaycs. All tbefe in David ^ were guided by the Light of Gods Word. (c) Laftly, J7 The Word inftrumen- tally. The falthfufl arc the fub- jeds of this Light* Phi!. u if. What is meant by FecU i8 The Saints fnre What,byP feet and paths ; that is,his mindjaffedi- j ons,thoughis,adions,his whole lifejali his wayes, and every particular ftep and pafTage thereof. I This Verfe being thus underftood, let us now com e't6 gather fome LelTons and Dodrines for ourinftrudion. Thefirfi Aiall bethis! There is no man can hit the way to Heaven, or walke in the paths of Rightcoufnefle, through tlieKingdonne of Grace in this World, unto-the •Kingdome of Glory in the World to come , ex- cept he beinlightcned, informed^ and intruded j in the holy Word of God. '];;:.. The and perpetuall (juide. »9 The fecond Note wee gatheroutof this Verfe, (Lall be this ; The Word of God is a Light, not onely to 1>oU:, 2. guide us into the way to Heaven, and inftrud us inourgencrallcallingof Chriftianitic^ butalfo to leade us along in a courfe of godlineirc,and to dired us particularly inour fpeciall calling. I will Hrft follow the former Dodrinc; which in {k:\w words, and plainely, I thus propcife unco you. No man can at firfl finde the entrance, or after 1 T)oU* 1. hit the way to Heaven, except he be enlightened and led along by the holy Word of God. For Davidy as here wee fee, a man of great worth, and underftanding , otherwife excellently and extra- ordinarily qualified j could not find out,orfolIoA' any other Guide50r direction to Heaven,but onely the Light of Gods Word . The Reafons of this Dodrine, may be thefe which follow. The firft may be taken from the infufficiencie 7^^/o» i. and inabilitie of all other meanes, to bring us to ^^ "^^^"^ TT ^ I meanes can Heaven : as, I br,ng us co I All the greatcH Learning and deepeft know- ; Heaven, ledge in the World,will ftand us in little ftead in N^^t humane this bufineffe : Otherwife it had gore well wiih j^^^''"*"^' many ancient Heathens and Philofophers of old, I who fadomed as deepe, and reached as high in | the depths and myfteries of all humane Lear- 1 ningand knowledge, as the light of Reafon and ! ftrength of Nature could pollibly bring them: | And yet they were utterly ftrangers to the life of I (c 2) gracej_ xo Epb,x, II, Rom»uit, X C»ii»io% ;£}'M0.I4. ' ■ Not worldly vvifcdome. The wifedome of Gods Book, Sc mans brain, ftjnd atoddcs, I wivh an ever- ■ iafiingoppo- " finoniRom.9,7. \* 1 Cor.i.i'^. \ The Saints fure grace, aad without God in the fvorld, fvhen they prO' fefed themselves to be mfcy they became fooles , faith Paul^ Rem, i, 22. They were putfed up with a little vainc-glorious knowledge here upon Earth, and got them a Name amongft men: But^alas, what was this? When as for the want of the Light of Divine Truth , they loft their Soules in another World, and their Names never came in the Booke of Life, where is the wife ^ (faith Paul in another place ) t^here is the Scribe I where is theBij^uter of this World i As if hee fhould have faid : All the knowledge of the greateft Dodors and learnedeft Rabbins in the World, without Grace, vanifheth into -nothing , into vaine-glory , cmptinelTe, and aire • nay, eafts them with greater horror, and confufion, into the Pit of Hell. Every mm (faith leremie) is- a BeaFl by his onne kfwwied^e , Dyio Qlu^-'^D V2J ^en, 10. 14. Except, befides all other know- ledge, he be enlightened from above, and have that Divine krxowlcdge fan v5l;ified unto him, hee can come no neerer the happinefle of Heaven, than a very Beaft. 2 Worldly wifedome and policie is fofarre from making men wife unto falvacion, that it is notonely ftarke foolirhneflfewith God and good men, but it doth ftrongly fet it fel'fe and is at en- mitie againft God. Therefore, faith God ; / mlf deFJ^roy the mfedome of the tvife^ and will ca^ avay the underfianding of the prudent^ ♦ i Cor, i . i^ . ^hitophel vyas fo wife even in the affaires of Kingdomes,and bu fineffe of S tate,that the comfellwUchhe comfel/ed in and ferpetuall Cjuide. 11 in thefe dajes , rva^ like as one had asked comfell at the Oracle of God'y and ycc ail this great wifedonae in the end ended in extreme folly : for upon a little difcontcnt and difgrace in the WVorld^hefadled hu A^e^And vvent hsme unto hu Citie^ andfut his houfehold in order ^ and hanged himfelfe^ 2 Sam, 1^,23,, ^17. 2 3 . Although the end of all worldly wifedomc be not fo fhamefull in the eye of the World , yet undoubtedly it is moft miferable and wofuU in the World to conic, except their wifedome be fandified and over-ruled by the Light of Gods W^ord. Carnall wifedome can neither preferve a man from death^nor prepare him to die blcflcdly : it cannot (lay his Life from going, neither can it ftop the Curfe from comming 5 it cannot deliver him from damnation in the World to come, but rather encreafeth the gricvoufnefTc of his punifh- ment : for in this life it hath kept pofTellion a- gainft heavenly vvifcdorae, it made him uncapa- ble of all good inftru6tions,it made him impati- ent of any rebuke, and held him in ignorance and difobedience all his life. 3 No good meanings or intentions, without knowledge and warrant m the Word of God, will ever ferve our turne for falvation ; nay, indeed they arc abominable and hatefuU in Gods fight. Howfoever, thoufands deceive themfelves in this point. Fz>zah had a good meaning,in 2 Sam, 6* 6, when hee put his hand to the Arke of God, and held it ', for the Oxen did fhake it : but notwith- ftanding,the Lord was very wroth with yzzah^and God fmote him in the fame place, and there hee (C3) died. 1 5rf?w.i7«»3« Nfoe gooi oaeanings. 2 Sm,€%6* Zl 20&.13.9. Not will-wor- (hip. The Saints fare died, lames and /c/?^ had good meanings , when they called for fire from Heaven to conlumcthe Samaritan, that would not entertaine Chrift ^ but lefus rebuked them, and told them , they knew net ofrrhatffirit they rrere^ Saul, in i Sam. 1 5 . had a good meaning, when he fpared ^ga^^und the bed of the Sheepc, andof the Oxen, to facrifice them unto the Lord ; but notwithftanding Samuel tells him, that hehaddsne wickedly in the f£ht of the Lord, I and that the Lord had rent the Kingdome oflfraelfrom him that day, Peter had a good mean ing , when in loh.i^, 8. hewouIdnotfufferChrifttowafhhis feet 5 but lefus anfwered him, and told him, ff i rrajb thee not, thou fhalt have no fart mth me. Good meanings then are wicked miflings of the true ferviccof God, except they be guided by know- ledge, warrant, and ground out of the Bookcof God. Let noman then tell of his good meaning, if he be ignorant in the Will and Word of God -, for certainely it will never Itrvethcturne, it will never hold out in the Day of Ch rift lefus. 4 No will-worfhip, or will-fervice, or volun- taric Religion, as the Apoftlc calls ic J 07.2.23, which is forged and framed out of a mans owne braincj humour, and conceit, without ground or warrant in the Booke of God 5 though it be per- formed with never fo glorious a fhew of zeale and paincs,yet it is not any way availeable for our fpi- rituall good,andctcrnall happineffe: nay indeed, it is moH odious in the eyes of God, and ever ly- abletoa very high degree of his wrath and ven-^ gcancc. Siaals and perpetuall (juide. H I KJHg.\S,iZ. Baals Prophets, i iCzV^j- 1 8.3 8. were fo hot and haftie in thejr wilUvorfhip, that they cut themfelves mth knives^ and launcers^ tilt the bhud gujhedout ufon them. The Papifts they whip themfelves , they vow Continencie, perpetual! Povertie, and Regu- lar Obedience ^ and yet is the profeflion and pra- dice of bothjbloudie and idolatrous. When the lewcs woriliipped God after the devifed fafLions of the Gentiles , though their meaning was to wor{hip nothing belt Godjyet the Text (dXih^they worfhifped nothing but Dezjls, Deut. 32.17. And i veut.i%.ii, God there proteftSjthat therefore afire was kindled in hif wrath^ that fhould burne unto the bottome ofHeliy and fet on fire the foundations of the mountaines. So hated of Almightie God is all fervice and wor- fhip devifed by the wit and will of man , without warrant in the Word of God. 5 Laftly, not the Word of God it felfe in the Letter, without the fpirituall meaning, and the finger of Gods Spirit to apply it powerfully to our foulcs and confciences , is any fufficient rule of life^or able to bring us into the L ight of Grace. This appeares in Nicodemm^ who was a great Do- dor in the Law, and the Prophets, a chiefe Mafier and Teacher in Jfrael ; yet vvas a very Infant and Idcot inthepovvcrof Grace,and myfterieofgod- lineflTe. For all his learning in the Letter of the Law, he had not yet made one ftep towards Hea- ven; for hce was not ODcIy ignorant of, but had a very abfurd and grofie conceit of the new birth •, which is the very firft entrance into the Kingdome of Grace. For when Chrift told bim, hee could (c 4) not Not the Word it lelfe in the Letter, with- out the mea'. ning. I9&.3.XO4 H Try: 4. ReafoH 1, The Word worket rege- ncrationjwiih- out whicb,no falvatioa. What regene- ration is "i 1 P£?.i.i3. The Saints fure 1 not be favcd, except hce were new borne, hee ftrangely and fooliihly rcplyes -^ Hor» can a man be bornCj which is old i Horv can he enter into his mo- thers JVomhe againe^ and be borne ^ Thus .you fee, there can no other meanes be named, or thought upon 5 not all humane Knowledge, nor worldly Wifcdomc , nor good Mcanhigs , nor Will- worlhip 5 nor the Word it felfe in the Letter, which can Icade us into the wayes of Righte- oufnefTc , orbrinp; us unto Hetven ; but onely the Light of Gods holy Word, holden out un- to us by a profitable Mioifterie, and the power of the Spirit. A fecond Reafoa ofmy Do-firinc may be this ; No man can ever fee the Kingdome of God, ex- cept he be borne againe, except he be a new crea- ture, anew man , as is plaine in Chrifts words unto Nicodemw, For our new birth, or regene- ration, is the ncceiTarie pafTage from Nature to- Grace; from prophancneffcjto finceritie : It is that whereby wee are wholly fandificd and fet apart unto God, from the finfnll corruption of our natural! birth , and the evill fruits thereof, to ferve God in out whole man , both body, foule, and fpirit. Now you muft conceive, that this new birth mufk neceflarily fpring from the immoY.uU Seed of the word of Gcd\ for fo it is cal- led, I i'r^.1.23. ^^ is the Seed of onr.new birth, falvation , and immortalitie. And you may as well looke for Corne to grow up in your fields without fowing, without calling any Seed into the furrowcs, as to looke for Grace to grow up m and per^etuall (juide. i5 in your hearts, or to rcape the fruit of holmelfe, evcrlafting life ; except this immortall Scedjthe Word of God, be firft caft into the furrovvcs and fallow ground of your hearts , and be there re- ceived with reverence and attention, nouriilicd vyith prayer and meditation, and frudlifie in your lives and conveifations. Hence it is, that Gods Word is called, 7k JVord of Saltation, AB, 13. 2 6. The fVord of Grace ^ AB, 14.3. The Ji^nrd of Life y Phil. 2. i6- '^he Power of God unto Salva- tiotty Rom, 1,16. For there is no power of Gracc^ or fpirituall life , to bee had ordinarily upon Earth , or falvation and eternal! UCq to be hoped for in Heaven ; except a man be enlightened with the knovriedge, and enlived with the power of the holy Word of God. There is no en- tring into the Kingdome of God, except a man bee new borne 5 except hce bee firft renewed in his fpirit , foule, and body :. And there is no j new.birrii, without the * immortall Seed , the Word of God. And therefore, without know- ledge and dire