The Saints Legacies: OR, A COLLECTION of certain PROMISES out of the word of God. Collected for private use, but published for the comfort of God's people: By ANNE PHOENIX. Believe the Promises: so shall you prosper. By believing and applying the Promises, we come to participate of the divine Nature. 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine Nature. The third Edition, corrected and amended. LONDON, Printed by M. F. for R. Roystone in Ivy-Lane. 1633. TO THE HAPPY SOCIETY of all true Believers. Gracious Believers, KNowing you to be the only heirs of those rich and precious promises, which it hath pleased our gracious Father freely to give unto his freely beloved Children: I have presumed without your knowledge, to bequeath unto you a fatherless child brought forth into the world with out the parents knowledge, hoping you will not be unwilling to let it pass under your favourable protection. For the subject matter of it, it is very beautiful, and of such use, as no child of God can pass to Heaven without it, and in that regard, it shallbe no shame unto you whom the Lord hath honoured with the grace of believing, to accept of this small treatise from one that desires your prospering in your souls & bodies. There is no blemish in this that I dedicate unto you, but such as came by the hands of the unskilful bringer forth of it, which only minded their own good in it. And weighing daily the beauty of it, and the sweet refreshing strength which flowed from it, for the overcoming of those three deadly enemies, the Devil, Sin, and the World, they desired that God would be pleased to move the minds of some of his most skilful workmen, to put to their hands to frame a more perfect work upon so perfect a subject, and to give a more comely form, to this so beautiful a subject, and till than they intended to smother in their bosoms the beauty of this, rather than to bring it forth with the blemishes of their unskilfulness. But the good that may be gained by it being unutterable, I hope grace in the hearts of God's people will cause them, like the Bee, suck out the sweet and nourishing virtue of these fragrant flowers, that grow here & there in the garden of God's word, and not with discontent to cast away this pleasant posy, gathered out of the celestial Eden of the sacred Scriptures, because an unskilful hand, and indeed unworthy, hath bound them up together, not so orderly as might please the curious eye of man, no nor their own, neither was it their aim so to do. If any gain any good by it, the gatherer of these sweet flowers together, neither deserves nor desires thankes, for they intended it to none but to themselves, and some private friends, whose importunity wrung some copies from them, & now without their consent have published it. And now since it is published and cannot be stopped, the Lord cause it to work in all his, according to that which he hath given the promises for to work in the hearts of his people, even to make them partakers of the divine nature. 2. Pet. 1.4. and as a means to make them to take every day a little posy from the rest, one of the promises gathered together, & apply it to thyself, see how thou standest in need of it, and every word in it, & then apply it to thyself by faith, & let it stir thee up to go to God in prayer for the accomplishment of them unto thee, then wait in the diligent use of all means for the gaining of them, & you shall find God not only making you heirs of promises, but you shallbe comfortable possessors of those many good things which God hath promised to believers. The more you meditate and the oftener you pray upon them, the more good will you see in them, and find flow from them. I say no more, but I doubt not, but your experiences of good by these promises will be more than I can make known unto you I desire the God of mercies, our loving father, in our Lord jesus Christ, in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen, to make you daily find experimentally, the truth of all his gracious promises. TO THE SAME Right Honourable and happy Society of all true Believers militant in England: A Friend to you, and the Author, wisheth fullness of grace, peace, and heavenly comfort, certain assurance; sealed evidence, and seasonable entrance into, and possession of the celestial, promised, incorruptible, undefiled and never fading inheritance. BEloved Believers, both you and I, are infinitely beholden to our everliving Father, who hath made his will and given all us his children great wealth, rich portions, and large Legacies. Now, in present possession, Graces, and comforts, in unshaken expectation and assured reversion, perfection and eternal glory. We are greatly beholding to jehova, for his will damnatorie, directory, hortatory, correctory, but most of all for his will consolatory, in which, he salves all our sores, physics all our sicknesses, medicines all our maladies, a Psal. 103.4. heals all our diseases, and crownes us with loving kindness and tender mercies? And surely we are all of us much beholding to the holy Author of this sweet (though little) book, who hath so piously, painfully, and profitably perused the holy will of our heavenly Father, and wisely sought and found out and put into our hands, the spiritual portion, and soule-legacies, given and bequeathed unto us by our best friend, many of which, most of us scarce knew of, few sought and sued for them, and very few comfortably enjoyed and wisely and diligently used, to the donours' glory and their own good. Careless children, come oftentimes to be beholding unto their more careful brethren and thriving friends, who save all they have, sue for all that is promised, and seek for all they hear of: so is it here, we careless, negligent, poor and ill thriven Christians, must be beholding to this careful, diligent, rich and wellthriven author, who obeys Paul's counsel b 1 Cor. 12 31. 1 Cor. 12 31. Covets earnestly the best gifts and will not suffer the heavenly Father, to purse and keep a penny that is due, to withhold grace or comfort (which he hath promised) in whole, or degree, but he shall hear of his promise, and if he do not presently fulfil according to covenant, a petition is speedily drawn, to be preferred in the court of heaven, and an advocate prepared lesus Christ the righteous. c 1 joh. 2.1 1 john. 2.1. Suit (by prayer) begun, and in an eager pursuit continued, till the thing promised be performed. This little book, & private practice of the author (who hath sued for all these Legacies, and in some good measure hath attained the same, and thereby is become spiritually rich) will sufficiently prove what I have spoken. We are much beholden to this author, for letting us see our portion and legacies in our father's will and setting us a work both by pen and practice to sue for the same. The volume is little, but the virtue contained in the same is great. The book is extraordinary, being altogether for application and practice. The scope and drift of it is, to furnish believers with abundance of good; to free them from all sins inward, outward, secret, and open; To fill them with all graces in life, power, and exercise; To bring them comfort in, and seasonable deliverance from, all their troubles; To draw down upon their souls & body's abundance of blessings of all sorts and natures: to give them full assurance of certain and seasonable entrance into glory, and to give them fast hold of heaven. There are many, I know, that will little regard it: the profane person will not like it, for it is full of holiness: the carnal protestant will not discern of it, nor relish it, for it is spiritual: the dissembling hypocrite will not well approve of it, for it will rob him of his Rimmon slay his M rs., his Delilah, his Herodias, his daling sin, it will tell him, if he applies promises, he must keep the conditions, obey precept, and put every iniquity though never so pleasurable or profitable far way from his Tabernacles. But the honest hearted and sincere believer will approve of it, prise it, use it, and profit by it. And not to over-commend my commodity, as one desirous to make it more vendible and sailable (for neither I, nor its author (God is witness) aim at any such thing, but at the spiritual good of their souls unto whom it shall come) this little book, like a well filled little Apothecary's shop, contains within it heavenly receipts of all sorts, wholesome physic of every kind for expelling and curing all sorts of diseases and sicknesses incident to Saints, and for the corroborating and strengthening of new nature, and for keeping the spiritual man in good health, lusty and strong, able for God's service, d Phil. 2.12. & for working out his own salvation with fear and trembling. What here I speak unto one believer, I intent for all. Hath sin, that deadly poison infected thee? Lo here in this little book an Antidote, a preservative which will extract and expel this poison. Hath this serpent so fiery stung thee? e Numb. 21.8. Lo here the Brazen Serpent upon the pole. Hath it beggared and undone thee? joh. 3.14, 15. Behold a way in this book, how thou mayst become rich. Doth it daily trouble thee, will it needs tyrannise and domineer over thee? This little book will learn thee to depose this Tyrant, f Rom. 6.14. and tell thee he shall not have dominion and Lordship over thee. Hath it stricken thee dead? Lo here means of reviving and inliving thee, to an happy life of grace. Doth it threaten thy ruin? Lo here physic for thy fears, g 1 Cor. 15.35. death hath lost its sting, sin is destroyed, death shall fully and finally free thee from it. Art thou hunted like a poor lamb by the hellish devouring Lion, Satan, and chased before this infernal dog, like a silly Deer, in temptations? Lo here a thicket, a shelter, a shepherd, under which thou mayest repose and rest thyself in safety. Art thou overcome with his wily stratagems? Lo here wisdom. Art thou beaten down with his power? Lo here strength. Fearest thou the fiery darts of this evil one? Lo here a little housefull of targets, shields and buklers, ( h Ephes. 6.16. promises applied by faith) which will repel and quench them. i job. 6.4. Do God's terrors set themselves in array against thee? are God's arrows in thee? doth his flaming wrath burn in thy bosom, and is likely to consume thee? Lo streams of mercy & grace from a refreshing fountain, fluent in the pipes of the promises; by thy hand of faith turn the cock, and the cool water of God's grace & mercy shall flow forth upon thy soul, and allay its burning heat, and scorching inflammations. Doth the wily world endeavour to entangle and inveigle thee by its lures and snares? Lo here liberty, freedom better things propounded, and promised, which believers do for the present in some measure enjoy, and shall have a most certain and full possession of afterwards. Wantest thou Grace, comfort, deliverance, blessing, or any good thing? Behold here thou mayest have them, to the great joy of theine heart, and content of thy Spirit. Set faith a work to draw out what thou wantest, & thou shalt have it. Suck these sweet and heavenly breasts of God by the mouth of thy faith; open these pipes and veins of the promises, which run so full of mercy, grace, truth, comfort, joy & peace, for every beelever, by faith; and thou shalt be satiate with every good thing. Lest I should make too great a porch for this little house, and too great gates for this little city, I will conclude, with an exhortation to all my beloved brethren and sisters, which are believers, to perfect their faith by application of the promises, both of these in this sweet little book, and of all others, contained in the Old and New Testament. Suffer not GOD'S promises (as I may so say) to milk themselves, do you draw them, let not good rest with God, which you may have, by believing and begging, to your great comfort and enriching, but take Gods commodities off his hand, trade with that wealthy Merchant in the fare Country, the Lord jesus in heaven, for his rich commodities of graces and comforts, and glorious hopes until you be rich and wealthy, and for this purpose cause those two good factours, Faith and Prayer, founded upon and quickened & confirmed by the precious promises, always to trade for you in heaven, until you come thither yourselves. I would desire all believers to make this their pocket book that it may solicit and woo them to prayer, make solid & firm their faith, increase their graces, comforts, and heavenly hopes, prepare them for enduring the storms of trouble & tempests of temptations, and may encourage them in holy welldoing and christian perseverance unto the end. k Heh. 6.12 Now brethren; my hearts desire is, that ye be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. That you may be inheritors of them, it shallbe my daily prayer unto the Lord my God, to bestow upon your hearts to use all good means, for the attaining of the good, in these & other promises of God unto his people. That he would teach and enable you to meditate upon them diligently day and night, to believe them firmly, to apply them severally, particularly, personally, to sue for them earnestly by prayer constant and fervent, to wait for their promised accomplishment by patience, that so you may enjoy the good of them here & hereafter, which God in mercy grant unto me, and also you. Amen. To the Reader. MAn which at the beginning was created happy, Gen. 1.26. Eph. 2.12. having now lost God and his image, Eph. 2.2.3. is of all earthly creatures become most miserable, no less than a slave of the Devil, a child of wrath, and an heir of eternal damnation. 2. Cor. 4.4 This is not the estate of a few only, but of all mankind out of Christ; for we are all by nature under the curse. Gal. 3.10 The best, Eph. 2.3. before their conversion, were by nature children of wrath, even as others: for every woman's child did fall equally in Adam: Rom. 5.12. hence it comes to pass, that no man by nature is now in better esteem with God than other. Cain and Abel as children of the first Adam only were equally miserable; the like may be said of us all, Rom. 3.9. for both Jews and Gentiles are come under sin. And as the Psalmist saith, Ps. 14.3. We are all gone out of the way, we are altogether become filthy, there is none righteous, no not one. Oh that men and women had their eyes enlightened, and judgements convinced of that woeful plight in which naturally they are! Oh! were their hearts thorrowly loaden therewith, surely they would not long content themselves therein. The truth is, 1 john. 5.19. most in the world are spiritually blind, 1 Cor. 2. and cannot discern their own misery; Eph. 2.1. ● and spiritually dead too, & cannot be affected with it: The Holy Ghost saith thus of them; Eph. 4.1 ● 19 They walk in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened, and are strangers from the life of God, through the ignorance which is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts: who being past feeling have given themselves unto wan tonnesse, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Such as these, are so fare from having any right to God's promises, that for the present they are under the curse, Deut. 27. ult. Deut. 28. ●8. 63. and consequently in the dint of all the plagues and threatenings in God's book. Wherefore let not such as yet challenge any comfort from the Promises, but let them rather labour to the uttermost of their power, in using all good means to be made capable and sit subjects for mercy revealed in the Promises. Is it not pity so many sweet promises of life should be made, and yet thou die and be damned notwithstanding? Pray fervently to God that he would touch thy heart with grief for all thy sins, Act. 2.37 Luk. 15.1 2 Cor. 1. ● 20, 21. 2● & work in thee a clear apprehension of thine own unworthiness, & that he would bestow faith on thee, that by it thou mayest be able to go wholly out of thyself to God, through Jesus Christ for salvation. We having departed from him who is the God of all grace & consolation, are fallen into an estate of all baseness desolation, and misery; & cannot be recovered again into the former estate of spiritual life & happiness, unless we be brought again to him who is the foundation of life and happiness, even the living God: and brought to him we can never be, but by Faith, Heh. 11.6. which is nothing else but the going out of the soul to god through Christ, to fetch a new principal of spiritual life and grace, which once in Adam we lost, and now need. Rom. 10.8, 17. The which work of faith is not wrought but by the promises; and being wrought in our hearts gives us a most sure right and interest unto all the promises of grace. Heh. 6.12.17. Thus we through faith & patience are said to inherit the promises, therefore we are called the heirs of the promise: the promises are as well ours, who truly believe, as heaven itself is. Now by these heavenly Promises, 2. Pct. 1.3. God our Father hath engaged himself as a debtor to us his poor children for all things needful to life & godliness, until that blessed time comes when we shall be put into full possession of all things which we have now only in promise: at that time Faith shall end in fruition, and Promises in performance. As the soul is the life of the body, and faith the life of the soul, so are Gods promises the life of faith. For from whence hath faith his efficacy, but because it lays hold on the free promises? but from whence have the promises their strength? 2, Cor. 1.20. even from the constant nature of jehovah, who always gives a being to his word. Desirest thou faith? then take notice of God's promises: wouldst thou have thy faith like the light in the Lord's Sanctuary never to go out? then acquaint thyself with God's Promises, know them well, meditate on them, confer about them: let them be continually in thy mind, memory, heart and tongue. Satan laboureth in nothing more than to keep us in unbelief, especially of particular Promises, for he knows if we believe them, 1 john 5. we shall in all things have the victory, Eph 2. come before God with boldness, Rom. 15. Heh. 11. carry peace in our own bosoms to our graves, and do, and suffer any thing for God. Oh the abundance of sweet cordial comfort which all humble believers draw by faith out of every promise! Now beloved, Isay 66.11 12. these precious Promises, (our breasts of consolation) whereupon our happiness so much depends, lie hid in the holy scripture, as veins of gold in the earth. Surely, those that search those mines to bring to light these treasures, are worthy of great commendation. Wherefore I doubt not but the good pains of this blessed & faithful servant of God will find good entertainment of all the children of the promises, that hope to entertain them, who hath with great care and good evidence of spiritual understanding discovered and compiled the variety and use of all the promises in matters temporal spiritual, & eternal. So that here is a medicine for every disease, & a salve for every sore. Read them carefully and ponder them seriously, and apply them faithfully. And I beseech the good Lord, who is the author of them, that by his holy spirit he would make them powerful, & effectual in us. 2 Tim. 2.7. Consider what is said, and the Lord give us understanding in all things. RULES' TO BE OBSERVED IN READING THE PROMISES. WHatsoever Promise is made in general to all the faithful, every one must particularly apply it to themselves; as Gen. 3.15. the Messtah is promised to all, every one must apply him to themselves. 2 Whatsoever promise is made to any one of the faithful (if there be not some particular reason which ties it to his person, as was to Abraham for a son, and his seed to inherit the land of Canaan) every challd of God hath right to it: as you may see, josuah, 1.5. I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. This every one may apply to themselves, as we know the Holy Ghost applies it, Heb. 13.5. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Which teacheth us to do the like in all the rest of the promises. 3. Under temporal promises to the jews, are set forth the excellent promised graces, which God will give to his people after the coming of Christ, Ezck. 34.25, 26, 27. 4. When we read the conditions of the promises, they are not like to the duties of the Law, made to the perfect fulfillers of them; the promises are Evangelicall made to those which endeavour to keep them, and the main conditions of them are faith. 5. In all the promises for increase of grace, or means of grace, or for any carthly things, we must know we shall have them so fare performed to us, as the Lord seethe good for us. 6. In our weak endeavourings to keep the Promises, we must believe the performance to us, in, by, and through Christ; In whom all the promises of God are yea & Amen: that is, as I conceive, confirmed and made good to us in him, 2 Cor. 1.20, when we can see nothing in ourselves why they should be performed to us, even than we are to claim them for Christ's sake; if thou be in Christ: for if thou be not in him, no promise belongs to thee: but that threatenings and judgements are thy pertion, and nothing else can we claim as our due. Sorrow weeping, & howling is that which God requireth of us, and not laying hand upon the comfortable promises, till we hunger after Christ: which God grant we may do more and more, till we come to be satisfied with his image in the life to come. Psal. 17.15. THE FIRST LEGACY. These promises I have observed for spiritual things. First about Sinne. WHen wefinde nothing in ourselves, that might move the Lord to have mercy, then apply these promises, Isai. 43.25. I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy transgression for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isai. 44.22. I have blooted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. jer. 31.34. I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. Ezek. 36.25. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness. Isai. 57.18. I have seen his ways, and will heal him, I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. These promises are free, made by the Lord, not for any thing that is in man, as you may see, in Isaiah 43. from the 22 verse, to the 25. for the Lord saith, They had not called upon him, but wearied the Lord, brought him no offering, yea wearied him with their sins; and yet in the 25 verse he saith, for his own sake he would forgive their sins. These promises we shall have always need of, as at our conversion, so afterwards many times we shall in our own feeling find nothing in ourselves to persuade us of the pardon of our sins, than we must fly to these free promises. When thou seest nothing in thyself why the Lord should pardon thy sins, and therefore doubtest of the pardon of them, apply, I am he that puts away thy sins for mine own sake. When thy sins rise up as a cloud, that thou canst see nothing but them, apply, I have put away the sins as a cloud. When thou fearest the multitude of thy sins, apply, You shall be clean from all your sins. The 2. Legacy. When we fear, God will remember our fins before committed, to punish us for them, apply jer. 31.34. I will remember his sin no more. Ezek. 18.22. His transgressions which he hath committed shall not be mentioned to him, but in the righteousness which he hath done, shall he live. Ezek. 33.16. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him. The 3. Promise. WHen thine often sinning causeth thee to fear that God will not pardon thee, apply, Job. 33, 27.28.29. He looketh upon men, and if any say I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profiteth me not: he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Lo all these things worketh God, oftentimes with man. Wherefore believe not Satan that persuades the contrary, nor let thy corruptions make thee bold to presume of pardon; for though God promise pardon, yet it is to the penitent, not to the presumptuous, as verse 27. The 4. Promise. WHen thou art at the pits brink of despair, and art dried up with sorrow, then go to some faithful Preacher that is able to preach Christ unto thee, and apply these promises: Job. 33, 24, 25, 26. Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's, he shall return to the days of his youth. He shall pray unto God, and he shall be favourable unto him, and he shall see his face with joy for he will render unto man his righteousness. Isai. 57.19. I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace, to him that is fare off, & to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him. When thou comest to the uttermost extremity for sin, apply, I will have mercy on him, and deliver him, that he go not down to the pit. When thou fearest that God or his Ministers will not speak peace unto thee, apply, I have received a reconciliation. I create the fruit of the lips to be peace, to them that are fare off, and to them that are near. When thy sorrows have withered thee up, apply, He shall return as in the days of his youth, and his flesh shall be as the flesh of a child. If in this estate thou fearest, God will not hear prayers for thee, apply, He shall pray to God, and he will be favourable to him. When thou fearest thou shalt not be able to look upon the Lord with joy, apply, He shall see his face with joy. When thou seest not any thing in thyself, that should cause thee not to believe this, apply, He will render to man his righteousness; which is (I think) Christ's righteousness, for whose sake he will do it. The 5. Promise. WHen thou feelest sin an heavy burden, and Satan pursuing thee with many fears, by reason of the same, fly to Christ, and apply, Matth. 11.28, 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 1.21. He shall save his people from their sins. Rom. 16.20. And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Isai. 32.2. And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of waters in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Thus doth Christ to the soul that flies to him. If Satan pursue thee, apply, He is an hiding place. If storms of temptations and afflictions do arise, apply, He is a refuge against the tempest. If thy soul be ready to faint through weakness, apply, He is a river of water in a dry place, to revive thy spirits, and as the shadow of a great rock, under which thou mayst safely repose thyself. When thou findest thy sins very heavy, apply, I will ease you. When thou hast no rest in thy soul because of sin, apply, You shall find rest to our souls. He shall save his people from their sins, both from the punishment & the power. If thou fearest length of time in temptations, apply, The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The 6. Legacy. WHen thou turnest from sin, and doubtest of the pardon of it, apply, Isai. 1.18. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isai. 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Micah 7.18.19. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Prov. 28.13. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy. 1 john 1.9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful & just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When thou seest thy soul of a sinful colour, apply, Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as white as wool. If thou fearest God will hardly be entreated, apply, He will have mercy, for he is ready to forgive. If we fear that our sins have taken such strong hold upon us, as we shall never get from them, apply, He will cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. See God promiseth to be the cleanser, fear not the hardness of the work. The 7. Legacy. WHen thou feelest many rebellions in thine heart and life, and wouldst have them not only pardoned, but subdued, apply, Hos. 14.5. I will heal their back-sliding. Which promise (as I think) contains thus much, that God will not only pardon, but heal us, and in stead of rebellious hearts and lives, will give us obedient hearts and lives; for as healing followeth the curing of sickness: so obedience doth the curing of rebellion. Micah 7.19. He will subdue our iniquities. When thou feelest sin very strong, fly to this promise, and apply the strength of him that promiseth, against the strength of sin: it is the Lord that hath promised to subdue it; what though Sin and Satan join their force together, yet the Lord is stronger than all their force, we need not doubt. The 8. Promise. When thou feelest thine heart hard, and full of corruption, apply, Ezek. 36.26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Deut. 30.6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayst live. When thou feelest thine heart worldly carnal, apply, I will circumcise thine heart. A new heart will I give thee. When nothing will break thine heart, apply the power of Jehovah, that hath promised to cure thee, in taking away thy stony heart. The 9 Legacy. WHen thou canst not bridle nature, but it breaks forth into violent passions, to contention, apply, Isai. 11.6. The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, and the Calf and the young Lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Such shall be the power of the Gospel, that those which are by nature like Wolves and devouring beasts, shall dwell very peaceably: and if we find our nature such, we must apply, the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb. Micah 7.19. He will subdue our iniquities, and will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea: that which is cast into the Sea, as it appeareth not in sight, so we cannot get it again, though we would: so will God do by our sins, cast them out of his sight, so as we shall not return to them any more: press him with his promise, and you shall find more than you think. The 10. Promise. WHen thou feelest thyself in bondage to some sin, apply, john 8.32. You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. Rom. 6.14. Sin shall not have dominion over you. When thou feelest thy bondage that thou canst not do good, or keep thyself from evil; apply, The truth shall make you free. If thy sins often prevail against thee, apply, Sin shall not have dominion over you. Psal. 130.8. He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. The 11. Promise. WHen thou feelest some sin so strong in thee, that thou fearest it will break out to God's dishonour, and the blemishing of Religion, apply, 1 Thess. 5.23, 24. That your whole spirit, soul and body may be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. That God which hath called thee, will keep thee blameless unto the coming of Christ: therefore use the means, and rest upon the Lord's faithfulness, which never faileth them which trust in him. 2. Thess. 3.3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you and keep you from evil. 1 john 1.9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. By cleansing (as I think) is meant, not only from the guilt of sin, but the power of it, that the filthiness of it shall not appear in our lives and conversations. When sin pursues thee hard to make thee fall, do thou pursue the Lord with prayers, for performance of this promise, and doubt not of the issue. Micah 7.19. He will subdue our iniquities. And to these add the prayer of Christ, John 17.15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Now what greater evil than sin? therefore though thy prayers be but weak against it, yet he hath prayed that was always heard, therefore fight and be sure of victory. The 12. Legacy. WHen thou art stayed from sin by admonition, apply, Ezek. 3.21. If thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned. When any admonish thee, obey, and it shall be life to thy soul, therefore receive the admonition, and apply, He shall live, because he is admonished. The 13. Legacy. IF thou fearest, God will destroy thee for thy sins, apply, Ezek. 18.30. Turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Mat. 1.21. He shall save his people from their sins. When thou fearest the greatness or multitude of thy sins will be thy destruction, apply; Iniquity shall not be your ruin. When thou seest no means of safety, apply, He (that is, Christ) shall save his people from their sins. The 14. Legacy. IF thou be tempted to uncleanness, apply, Prov. 2.16. He shall deliver thee from the strange woman. 1 Thess. 5.24. Thy body shall be kept blameless until the coming of Christ. The 15. Legacy. IF thou canst not find out thy sin, for which God correcteth thee, apply, Job. 36.9. If they be tied with the cords of affliction, then will I show them their work, and their sins. A wise father will not correct his child, but he will show him wherefore, how else should he amend his fault? much more will the Lord. But we enjoy not many promises, because we sue not for them. Thus fare about Sin, the next promises are about Grace. The 16. Legacy. IN doubt of salvation, apply, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life, Joh. 3.16. John 5.24. He that heareth my word, and be leeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. John 8.51. If any man keep my saying, he shall never see death. John 11.25. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever believeth in me shall never see death. If thou doubt that thou shalt perish, and not be saved, apply, He that believes in Christ, shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation. Labour to believe these Promises, and that is all that is required of thee, for the obtaining of what is promised. The 17. Legacy. WHen thou findest thine heart as a wilderness barren of good, apply, Esa. 35.1, 2. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them: and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the Rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. This promise is made to the Church, and every member of it may apply it to themselves: therefore when thou feelest thine heart as a desert wilderness and waste ground, void of good, full of briers & thorns of sin, then know, thou shalt not only bring forth sweet smelling graces, like roses, but also all abundance of them. Pro. ●1. 28. The righteous shall flourish as a branch. Prov. 13 4 The soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Hos. 14.5, 6. I will be as the dew to Israel, he shall grow as the Lily, and cast forth his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty be as the Olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. When we want means to make us fruitful, apply, The Lord will be a dew to Israel. When we desire to flourish and grow up in grace, apply, He shall grow as the Lily, his branches shall spread. If thou wouldst shine forth in the beauty of holiness, apply, His beauty shall be as the Olive-tree & as the Lilies, whose glory is greater than salomon's in all his royalty. If thou wouldst have thy graces send forth a sweet smell, apply, His smell shall be as Lebanon. If thou fearest the continuance of this estate, apply, He shall fasten his roots, as the trees of Lebanon. It matters not how great our barrenness be, when God will be a dew to us: it will quickly make us fruitful, we shall bring forth fruits glorious to the sight, as the Lily, and as the Olive tree, and the sent of our graces shall be a sweet smelling savour, as the trees of Lebanon. Therefore though thou feelest thy heart yet barren, and thou hast used means long, and yet art not fruitful, still use the means, and believe, for therein did Abraham glorify God that he believed above hope, that Sarah should have a son, whose womb was barren, and by years past child bearing: so though thine heart remain barren in thine own feeling, after long use of means, yet still follow seeing in the means, and believe, for we have as sure promises, and as faithful a performer, as Abraham had, Jesus Christ, yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever. John 7.38. He that be leeveth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. The 18. Legacy. When thou art troubled for want of holiness, apply, Exod. 19.6. You shall be an holy nation. Deut. 28.9. And the Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself. The Lord will make thee holy, therefore Sin, nor Satan, nor wicked men cannot hinder thy holiness: for he that makes thee holy is stronger than all, and doth what he will. 1 Thess. 5.23.24. The God of peace shall sanctify you throughout, in spirit, soul, and body. Faithful is he which calleth you, which will also do it. The 19 Legacy. WHen thou canst not offer up any sacrifice to God of prayer or praise, or thyself in sacrifice, apply, Exod. 19.6. Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests. God promiseth that we shall be priests, that is, such as shall offer up sacrifice unto him, for that was the priest's office. Therefore when thou findest thyself unable to pray, or praise the Lord, or to offer up thyself to God, soul and body, strive in faith grounded on the promises, that he which commanded, hath also promised to make us aable to do it, for he hath said, We shall be Priests, Malac. 1.11. In every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering; which is spoken of the believing Gentiles, therefore thou being one of them, shalt be able to offer up pure offerings. The 20. Legacy. WHen thou feelest littlegrace, knowledge, faith, love, repentance, all very little, apply, Job. 8.7. Though thy beginning be small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase. Matth. 13.12. Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance. Therefore let not thy small beginnings discourage thee; but if thou canst prove thou hast some grace, then join faith and diligence together, & they will quickly make thee rich. The 21. Promise. WHen thou findest all thy graces very weak, & no strength to perform any spiritual duty, either prayer or fasting, or any other duty, then apply, Psalm 29.11. The Lord will give strength unto his people. Isa. 40.29.31. He giveth power to the faint, and to them which have no might he increaseth strength. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. When thou feelest thyself faint, stay thyself with this promise, He giveth strength to him that fainteth. When thou feelest no power, apply, to him that hath no strength he increaseth power. If thou hast lost thy power, then stay thyself with this, they shall renew their strength. If thou art ready to give over through weariness, then gather strength from this, They shall run and not be weary, and walk and not be faint. And if thou findest not these promises performed unto thee, either thou endeavorest not to keep the conditions, or else thou art negligent in searching out the promises, or cold in suing for them: the Lord will be sought to for the performance. Isai. 41.10. I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isa. 26.4. Trust thou in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. To know there is strength in the Lord is no comfort, unless we know it shall be for us. Therefore since it is given for a comfort, it must include this promise, Thus the Lords strength for evermore shall be employed for our good. Therefore when we want for either soul or body, we must fix our confidence in him, who will-not fail us, if we seeké unto him. The 22. Legacy. WHen thou feelest thine heart dried up for want of grace, that thou canst not send forth any water of grace in thy thoughts, words, and works, apply, Isai. 44.3. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. Isai. 58.11. The Lord shall satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones, and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of waters, whose waters fail not. jer. 17.8. He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh: but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jer. 31.12. Their soul shall be as a watered garden. Jam. 4.6. God giveth grace unto the humble. Isa. 35.6, 7. In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of waters. That is, the most barren heart shall abound with grace, according to that promise John 7. Out of their bellies shall flow rivers of the waters of Life. Isa. 41.17.18.19. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them: I will open rivers in high places; and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the Cedar, the Shittah tree, and the Myrtle, and the Oil tree: I will set in the desert the Fir tree, and the Pine, and the Box tree together. So now though thou feelest thy heart barren, know that God will be thy Gardener to thy barren heart, to make pools, & plant pleasant grapes of graces; therefore seeing he taketh upon himself the work, fear not the badness of the ground, for he will make it good as a fruitful garden. The 23. Legacy. IF thou feelest thou wantest the Spirit of God, apply, Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you. Luke 11.13. If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him. Joel 2.28.29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants, and upon the hand maids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. Joh. 6.14.16.17.18. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever: even the Spirit of truth, he dwelleth in you, and shall be in you, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. When thou canst not pray thyself, stay thyself on these prayers that Christ hath prayed, to the Father to give the Spirit, & he was heard in all he prayed for, therefore thou mayst claim it, though thy prayers be but weak. The 24. Legacy. WHen thou lookest upon the great love of God unto thee, and canst not find thine heart enlarged in loving God again, apply this promise, Deut, 30.9. I will circumcise thine heart, that thou mayst love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. The 25. Legacy. When thou canst not bring thine heart to delight in the Lord, apply, Isai. 41.16. Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, & glory in the holy One of Israel. Psalm. 89.16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Job. 22.26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty. Psalm. 33.21. For our heart shall rejoice in him: because we have trusted in his holy name. When thou seest cause of rejoicing in the Lord, and yet canst not move thine affections, apply, They shall rejoice in him. If through many troubles and temptations, thou findest thy joys often interrupted, apply, they shall rejoice continually in thy name. The 26. Legacy. WHen we seal not the fear of God in our hearts, apply, Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear in their hearts. If we would have a reverend fear of God, when we perform any holy duty, or at other times, as thou feelest thy need, so urge the Lord with this his promise, for he delights to be sued to, upon his promise, by his servants, Ezek. 36.37. I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them. The 27 Legacy. When thou canst not bring thine heart to praise the Lord, apply, Isai. 43.21. This people have I form for myself, they shall show forth my praise. Joel 2.26. Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God. Psal. 22.29. They shall praise the Lord that seek him. When thou seest what great things God hath done for thee, and findest not thyself able to set forth his praise, apply, They shall set forth my praise. When thou findest thy ingrateful heart not affected with the mercies thou enjoyest, so as they stir thee not up to praise the Lord, apply, He shall eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord. The 28. Legacy. WHen thou seest thy want of wisdom makes thee not walk like a Christian, so unblamably as thou ought apply, Jam. 1.5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and up braideth not, and it shall be given him. When thou findest thou want'st wisdom to improve thine afflictions to the best advantage, or for the ordering of thy actions, occasions and course of life, to God's glory & the good of others, and thyself, then fail not to ask wisdom, and doubt not of the obtaining of it. The 29. Legacy. WHen thou canst not understand the voice of God in his word, or works, not knowing what to learn by them, apply, Isa. 35.5. The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. That is, those that were as deaf not understanding any thing, shall be made to hear, that is, to understand. John 10.16. Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice. Which is a promise to the Gentiles, that they shall understand the voice of God. The 30. Legacy. IF thou canst not see into the divine mysteries of the Gospel, apply, Isai. 35.5. The eyes of the blind shall be opened. Isai. 42.7. He shall open the eyes of the blind. Luk. 4.18. He hath sent me to recover sight to the blind. These places are what Christ will do to his people, therefore we need not fear our disease, seeing Christ is our Physician. If every creature doth that, for which it was ordained, than he will surely do that which he was sent to do of the Father, to give sight to the blind. The 31. Legacy. WHen thou seest a good way, & hast no power to walk in it, or art to perform any duty, ordinary or extraordinary, and feelest no strength to walk in that way, apply, Ezek. 36.27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them. When thou lookest at the greatness of the duty which God commands, look also at the largeness of his promises for the keeping of them, and then thou wilt not be discouraged at it. What matters it what he commands, seeing we have his promise? If thou fearest the strictness of thy ways that thou shalt not be able to walk in them, though thou step into them sometimes, strengthen thy faith in this promise, I will give thee my Spirit to cause thee to walk in my ways. Can sin or Satan then resist? Nay surely the Spirit is stronger, and greater is he that is in us, than those that are against us. And when we see great duties which God commands, and fear we shall want strength to do them, apply, He hath said, You shall keep my judgements, and do them. Isai. 40.31. They shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not be faint. That is, Those which of themselves could not step one step, shall be able to run swiftly in the ways of God. The 32. Legacy. WHen thou wantest memory to remember the word of God, apply, John 14.26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, The 33. Legacy WHen thou seest thine ignorance, & fearest thou shalt not be able to glorify God as thou mightest, if thou hadst more knowledge, stir up thyself to desire, and apply, Jer. 31.33.34. Thus saith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and they shall all know me, saith the Lord, from the greatest to the least. Hosea 2.20. Thou shalt know the Lord, Prov. 1.23. I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Psal. 25.9.12.14. The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him: and he will show them his covenant. Prov. 2.4.9.11.12.13. If thou seckest her as silver and searchest for her as for treasures. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgement, and equity, yea every good path. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keope thee, to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things: who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness. Isai. 11.9. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the lord Prov. 8.17. Those that seek me early, shall find me. Isai. 35.8. The fool shall not err. John. 7.17. if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. Isai. 32.3, 4. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge. When thou thinkest of the great mystery of God manifest in the flesh, and of one divine essence, and three Persons, & seest thine own inability to conceive of this great God, apply, They shall all know the Lord: The heart of the fool shall understand. When we fear God will not reveal his will to us; apply, I will pour out my mind to you. He will teach the humble his ways. he will teach him the way he shall choose. If thou fearest that though God reveal his will, yet thy ignorance is such, as thou shalt not be able to understand it, apply, I will cause you to understand. Thou shalt understand judgement, righteousness, equity, and every good path. If thou fearest men will draw thee away to error, apply, Counsel shall preserve thee, and understanding shall keep thee and deliver thee from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh froward things, and from them that leave the ways of righteousness, to walk in the ways of darkness. The fools shall not err. He shall know the doctrine whether it be of God. The 34. Legacy. IF thou desirest Grace, and thy desires are not satisfied, apply, psalm. 34.7. Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psal. 145.19. He will fulfil the desires of them that fear him. Psal. 81.10. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Matth. 5, 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Prov. 10.24, The desire of the righteous shall be granted. Dost thou desire grace? fearest thou God will not grant thy desires? apply, He shall give thee thy hearts desire: He will fulfil thy desire. Fearest thou that if he give grace, it will be but a little? apply, Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Thou shalt be filled. Isai. 30.18. Blessed are all they which wait for him. He will certainly have mercy upon thee at the voice of thy cry, when he heareth he will answer. When thou beginnest to faint with waiting, apply, He will certainly have mercy upon thee. The 35. Legacy. When thou feelest thine hart dead, that it will not stir to God or goodness, apply, Ps. 22.26. Your heart shall live for ever. Prov. 3.21.22. Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so shall they be life unto thy soul. Isai. 57.15. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of contrite ones. Amos. 5.4. Seek the Lord and ye shall live. When thou fearest thou shalt never overcome the deadness of thine heart, apply, Your heart shall live. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live. When thou hast got some life, and fearest the losing of it, apply, Your hearts shall live for ever. The 36. Legacy. WHen thou fearest thou shalt fall away, and beginnest to decline, apply, 1. Cor. 1.8. Christ shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord jesus Christ. Psal. 16.8. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psalms, 145.14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall: and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. Psalm. 92.12.14. The righteous shall flourish like the Palmtree. He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age: they shall be fat and flourishing. Psal. 1.3. And he shall be like a tree: planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not whither, Psal. 31.24. He shall establish thine heart. Job. 11.15.27. Thou shalt be steadfast, thine age shall be clearer than the noon day, thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. Judg. 5.31. They that love the Lord shall be as the Sun, when it goeth forth in his might. Now we see that nothing can hinder the Sun in his might, but it chaseth away the darkness and clouds before it, and ceaseth not till it hath run his race: so shall the child of God, for the Lord hath said it; we need not doubt of it. If thou fearest thine own weakness, and the power of temptation, with the subtlety of Satan, apply, That God whose power and wisdom over-reacheth all other, hath said, He will confirm you to the end. He shall establish thine heart, thy leaf shall not fade. Art thou hard pursued by sin and Satan, apply, that God whose power and wisdom over-reacheth all, he hath said, He will establish thee. If thou be ready to fall and faint, apply, The Lord upholdeth all them that fall, and lifteth up all them that are ready to fall: thou shalt pot slide. It thou fearest that though thou be kept from sin, yet thy graces shall decay, apply, The righteous shall flourish as a Palmtree, and shall grow as a Cedar in Lebanon. They shall bring forth fruit in their age, they shall be fat and flourishing: thou shalt bring forth fruit in season: thou shalt be stable; thine age shall appear more clear than noon day. Thou shalt shine as the morning. The 37. Legacy. WHen we are fall'n and sear the Lord will leave us so, then apply, Psal. 55.22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psal. 37.24.28. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. For the Lord loveth judgement, and forsaketh not his Saints, they are preserved for ever. Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not departed from me. When thou art fallen, and fellest a great load of sin or misery upon thee, and no power to unload thyself, thy graces so weak, that they will not help thee, and therefore thou thinkest thy state desperate, apply, Though he fall, he shall not be cast off, for the Lord putteth under his hand. Therefore though sin and misery be never so heavy to press thee down, yet that powerful hand of God, when thou art at the lowest, being under thee, shall easily lift thee up, thou hast his promise he will not suffer thee to fall for ever. The 38. Legacy. When the Lord hath for saken thee in thine own feeling, and thou searest he will not return again, apply, Isai. 54, 7, 8, 9, 10. For a small moment have I forsaken thee: but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I had my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith thee Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn that the Waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth: so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall departed, and the hills shall be removed: but my kindness shall not departed from thee; neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Gen. 17.7. I will establish my covenant betwixt thee and me, and everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee. Deut. 31.8. I will be with thee, I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee, fear not, neither be dismayed. 1 King. 6.13. I will not for sake my people. 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you while you be with him. Job. 8.20. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man. Job. 36.5. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any Hosea 2.19.20. I will betrothe thee unto me for ever; yea I will betrothe thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betrothe thee unto me in faithfulness. The 39 Legacy. WHen thou feelest thy vileness, and fearest the Lord will loathe thee for it, apply, Levit. 26.11. My soul shall not abhor you. Hosea 14.4. I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from them. Deut. 7.13. I will love thee. John 14.21.23. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him, my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Jer. 3.41. I will rejoice over them to do them good. When thou seest a multitude of sins, so that thou seemest most loathsome, apply, My soul shall not loathe you. When thou seest nothing in thyself that should move him to love thee, but all to the contrary, apply, I will love them freely. If thou fearest thy many sins will cause the Lord not to delight in thee, apply, I will delight in thee. If thou fearest thy sin will cause the Lord to hide himself from thee, apply, I will show mine own self unto him. The 40. Legacy. WHen thou feelest thy spiritual poverty, apply, Math. 5.3. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Isai. 66.2. To him will I look, saith the Lord, that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words. When thou feelest thy sins many, and thy graces very little, and therefore fearest that such a miserable creature as them art, shall not inherit heaven, apply, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. If thou fearest the Lord will not look upon thee, apply To him will I look, saith the Lord, that is of a contrite spirit. The 41. Legacy. WHen thou art in a straight, and knowest not what to choose, either in some truth, or in something that is to be done, that thou knowest not what to choose, apply, Psalm, 25.22. Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose, verse 13. His soul shall dwell at ease. Prov. 3.6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. 16.3. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Isai. 30.21. And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isai. 58.11. The Lord shall guide thee continually. Isai. 61.8. I will direct their work in truth. Jer. 31.9. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a strait way wherein they shall not stumble. When thou doubtest of some truth, apply, He shall teach him the way that he shall choose, his soul shall dwell at ease. Thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying, this is the way walk in it. I will direct thy way in truth. When thou art thinking what course to take, and fearest thou shalt not know what the Lord would have thee to do, apply, Thy thoughts shall be directed, he shall direct thy ways. When thou fearest thy weakness will at sometimes carry thee astray, apply, The Lord will guide thee continually. The Lord will lead thee in a straight way, that thou shalt not stumble. The 42. Legacy. WHen thou fearest that Satan by his power and subtlety will cause thee to fall, and art troubled with his temptations, apply, Gen. 3.15. He shall bruise his head. Therefore fear not, for Christ hath overthrown all his power and subtlety, that he cannot do us any harm. Psal. 19.3.4. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler. He shall cover thee with his feathers: and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall thy shield and buckler. Rom. 16.20. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Doth Satan press thee with strong temptations, & fearest thou his power, apply, He shall bruise his head. He will cover thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers, his strength shall be thy buckler. Fearest thou his subtlety? apply, He shall deliver thee from thee snare of the fowler, and bruise his head, wherein lies all his power and plots. The 43. Legacy. When thou canst mot profit by the Word of God, or his works of mercy, or afflictions, apply, Isai. 48.17. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Mat. 21.41. The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. This is a promise, that the Gentiles shall bring forth the fruits of the Gospel, therefore every believing Gentile may apply it. The 44. Legacy. WHen thou findest thyself not like the people of God, either in heart or life, apply, Jer. 32.39. I will give them one heart, and one way. When thou seest thine heart not like the people of God, either in their affection of God, or his people, or ordinances, or in their forrowing for sin, apply, I will give them one heart. When thou seest thy life and conversation not so holy as the people of God, apply, I will give them one way. The 45. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have the blessing of the Lord to rest upon thee, apply, Psalm 5.12. The Lord will bless the righteous. Deut. 7.13. I will bless thee. Psalm. 3.8. Thy blessing is upon thy people. Psal. 24.5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psal. 115.12.13. The Lord will bless us, he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. The 46. Legacy. IF thou wouldst be a blessing in thy place, apply, Gen. 12.2. I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing. Ezek. 34.26. I will make them about my hill a blessing. The 47. Legacy. When thou separatest thyself from the wicked in their corrupt worship and manners, apply. 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18. I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord; and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you; and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Thus fare of Grace; the next Promises are about the means of Grace, either ordinary, or extraordinary. The 48. Legacy. IN every Ordinance thou mayst apply this promise, Isai. 12.3. With joy shall you draw water out of the Wells of salvation. Now in that it is said, out of the Wells of salvation, and not Well, I think we ought to apply it to every ordinance of God, so as we are to use them with a comfortable persuasion, that we shall receive abundance of grace from them. As the Lord promiseth we shall draw waters from out of them, we shall not only use them but draw from them with joy. Therefore when we pray, meditate, hear, confer, fast, in every duty, apply this promise, and you shall find him faithful which promiseth. The 49. Legacy. WHen thou prayest apply these promises for the strengthening of thy faith, and for thy hearing. Mat. 7.7. Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Matth. 6.6. Pray to the Father which seethe in secret, and thy Father which seethe in secret shall reward thee openly. Mat. 21.22. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive it. John 14.13.14. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, I will do it. John 16.24. Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 15.7. Ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Isai. 65.24. Before they call I will answer, and whiles they are yet speaking, I will hear. Job. 22.7. Thou shalt make thy prayers unto him, and he shall hear thee, and if thou seek him he will be found. The 50. Legacy. WHen thou meditatest, apply these promises, Prov. 14.22. Mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. Psalm. 103.17.18. The loving kindness of the Lord endureth for ever, to them which think upon his commandments to do them. Phil. 4.8, 9 Think on these things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, and the God of peace shall be with you. If thou desirest mercy, or the truth of God to be for thy good, or the loving kindness of the Lord to be for ever towards thee, and that God which brings peace with him, to be with thee, then meditate on good things, and with such a meditation, as may stir thee up to practise, and then all these promises shall surely be performed to thee. And because meditation is an hard duty, therefore encourage thyself to it by the benefit it brings, & it being a way of God, he will give thee his Spirit to cause thee to walk in it. The 51. Legacy. IN meditating conferring, and reading of the word of God, apply, Joshua 1.8. Let not this book of the Law depart out of thy mouth, but meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein: for than thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The 52. Legacy. IN reading of the Word, if we understand not, apply these promises, Prov. 1.23. In will pour out my Spirit unto you. I will make known my words unto you. Prov. 1.4. It gives subtlety to the simple: to the young men knowledge and discretion. Psalm. 19.8. The Commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The 53. Legacy. When thou canst not speak in conference to edification, but feelest thine heart shut up, then apply, Joh. 7.38. He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Prov. 10.31. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom. Prov. 12.14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. Isai. 32.4. The tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. Isai. 35.6. The dumb man's tongue shall sing. When thou art with the people of God, that thou mayst receive good from them, and do them good, apply, Prov. 13.20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise. So apply, Prov. 12.14. John 7.38. Ezek. 47.12. His fruit shall be meat, and his leaves medicine. If thou findest thy soul stand in need of wisdom, keep company with the people of God which are the only wise people, & then thou hast the only sure promises of the Lord, thou shalt be wise. If thou hungrest after good, resort to the righteous, and thou shalt be satisfied with good things. If thou feel thyself dead, apply, out of him shall flow rivers of water of life, for thy quickening. If thy soul be faint or sick, apply, his fruit shall be meat, & his leaves medicine. Let all this good which is gotten by their fellowship, cause thee to delight in them, and take heed of forsaking the fellowship of the Saints. When thou goest into company, apply these promises to thyself, that thou mayst be so to others, and hinder not thyself, by unbelief. The 54. Legacy. WHen thou art to go to the assemblies, to participate in the ordinances, apply, In places where I record my name, I will come to thee and bless thee. If thou wantest the Lord or his blessing, go to his house, and thou shalt find him. Psal. 36.8, 9 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of they pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light. Psal. 65.4. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of then holy Temple. Psalm. 83.11. The lord God is a Sun and shteld, the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold, Psal. 92.13, 14. Thouse that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in their old age: they shall be fat and stourishing. Psalm. 128.5. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion. Isai. 25.6, 7, 8. In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of Wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees, well refined. Therefore when his ordinances are corrupted with men's inventions, than thou mayst press him with this promise, that he will give us wine fined and purified, even his purest ordinances, and most comfortable to our hearts, as wine is. And when there is little nourishment, because their gifts are weak, urge him with this, that he hath promised to make us a feast of fat things full of marrow; for I take this promise to be meant of the Churches after Christ, verse. 7. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. Thy sins that are too strong for thee, bring them to the Lord in his ordinances, & he will destroy them, though thou seem to be covered with them, and they spread as a veil upon thee, yet believe his promises, and all things shall be possible unto thee. Isai. 56.7. I will make them joyful in mine house of prayer, their offering, and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar. God will both give to them and accept from them their sacrifices, as pleasing to him. 2 Chron 20.20. Believe his Prophets, so shall ye prosper. Prov. 1.5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. Prov. 4.10.12. Hear and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many, when thou goest thy steps shall not be straight, and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble. Mark 4.24. Unto you that hear shall more be given. Isai. 55.3, 11, 12. Incline your ears and come unto me, hear and your souls shall live; and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. My words shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Therefore ye shall go forth with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. vers. 13. in stead of the throne shall come up the fir-tree, and in stead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree; this force shall the word have in thine heart for planting of Grace, and destroying of sin. Hos. 14.7. They that dwell under his shadow shall return, they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, the scent thereof shall be as the vine in Lebanon. If thou shouldest return, apply this, he shall return. If thou be'st decayed, apply this. They shall revive as the corn. If thou wouldst flourish in grace, apply, They shall flourish as the vine. If thou wouldst be a sweet smelling savour in all places, apply, The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon. Seeing all these good things come from the powerful ordinances of the Lord, let us give him no rest, till he bestow these blessings upon us; when the Pastor of the people pronounceth the blessing, apply this promise, Numb. 6.27. I will bless thee. The 55. Legacy. wouldst thou enjoy the ordinances of God, and a blessing upon them, apply. Jer. 31.14. I will satiate the souls of the Priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with goodness. Jer. 3.15. I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Ezek. 34.26.27. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing, and I will cause the showers to come down in his season: there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her increase, and the earth shall yield her fruit. These promises are both for Pastor & People, the Pastor shall be able to teach with knowledge and understanding, his soul shall be replenished with fatness, his teaching shall be as seasonable showers of blessing, that shall make the people fruitful. The people must apply these promises, first that God would give them able Teachers, and that they may find their ministry blessed unto them, according to these promises. That they may be fed with knowledge and understanding, that they may be satisfied with goodness, & that their teaching may be seasonable showers of blessing to make them fruitful, as it is promised, that the trees shall yield their fruit. How much are Gods ordinances to be desired, by which he doth convey so many blessings unto his people? Let us give him no rest, till he furnish Jerusalem with all her ordinances and officers. The 56. Legacy. IF thou enjoyest glorious graces, or means of grace, and fearest the losing of them, apply, Isai. 4.5.6. Upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm, and from rain. Isai. 27, 3. I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Isai. 33.16 His place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks, bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure. Hast thou any glorious grace or means of grace? arm thyself with the power of God in his promises, for the Devil will use all his forces and subtlety, to deprive thee of them; hast thou a glorious minister, and pure ordinance or glorious graces begin to spring in thine heart, and seest no means to defend them, apply, Upon all thy glory he shall be a defence. His defence shall be a munition of Rocks. Seest thou an heart of sin in thyself, or the rage of the wicked, that causeth thee to sear the loss of them? apply, There shall be a covering for a shadow in the day for the heat. Doth the devil raise up storms? outwardly, persecutions? apply, The defence and covering shall be a place of refuge, and cover for the storm, and for the rain. Fearest thou the subtlety of thine enemies, that unawares when thou thinkest not on them, they will surprise thee, and steal thy blessing from thee? apply, I the Lord do keep it night and day. If thou fearest God will not continue thus to thee, apply, I will water it every moment; not one moment, but he will be adding & nourishing: bread shall be given him, and his waters shall be sure. The 57 Legacy. WHen thou art banished from God's ordinances, apply these promises for thy return, Isai. 35.10. The ransomed of the Lord shall return, & come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Jer. 3.14. I will take you two of a family, and one of a City, and will bring you to Zion. Deut. 30.4. If any of thine be driven out unto the out most parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee. Ezek. 34.11.12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Behold I, even I will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his stock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered: so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places, where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the riviers, and in all the inhabited places of the Country: I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, & will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. If thou now mournest for God's ordinances, apply, Thou shalt not only return to Zion, but return with joy, and sorrow shall flee away. If thou be'st but one amongst many which desirest it, and fearest thou shalt be left among them, apply, I will take you one of a city, and two of a Tribe: though thou be'st but one of a City that returnest to the Lord, he will bring thee to Zion from all the rest. If thou art fare removed from all means, and that the Lord hath done it for thy sin, apply, Though thou were cast into the outmost part of the Heaven, thence will the Lord gather thee, and from thence will he take thee; he will deliver from all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day, and will feed them in good pastures, and will bring them to rest. The 58. Legacy. WHilst thou art banished from God's house, apply, Ezek. 11.16 I will be unto them as a little Sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Isai. 40.11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the Lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. In thy banishment, at those hours when they soul was wont to be refreshed in the Sanctuary of God on the Sabbath, and at other times, when thou findest thyself to stand in need either of defence, or nourishment, apply, I will be a Sanctuary unto you. He shall feed his flock as a shepherd. If in this time thou feelest thyself very weak, apply, He shall gather his Lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and guide them with young: they cannot miscarry that are shut up in the bosom of God: nor fear who are guided by him. Therefore though we be never so weak in ourselves, yet here is our comfort, we are safe in our God: O happy people, saved by the Lord. The 59 Legacy. WHen wicked shepherds are over us, then apply, Ezek. 34.10. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. vers. 21, 22. Because ye have thrust with side, & with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad: Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey, and I will cause the wild beast to cease out of the land. When the sheepeards' feed themselves, and are ready to devour us, apply, The shepherds shall not feed themselves any, more. I will deliver my sheep from their mouther; they shall no more devour them. When through their greatness & our weakness, they push us so with their horns, that we are scattered, both shepherd from people, and one from another, apply, I will help my sheep, and they shall no more be spoiled; I will cause the wild beasts to cease out of the land. The 60. Legacy. WHen through evil shepherds we are come to great misery, apply, Ezek. 34.16. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. Isai. 30.20. Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers. When through evil shepherds thou art come to such an estate as thou feelest thyself to have lost God and goodness, and art driven away from all things that might help thee, apply, I will seek that which was lost, I will bring again that which was driven away. When thou art even broken with misery and grown very weak, apply, I will bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that which was weak. When they Teachers which should help thee in this estate, are forced to fly and hide themselves for fear of wicked shepherds, apply, Thy teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers. Thus fare of the ordinances of God, which are ordinary; Now for the duty of Fasting, which is extraordinary. The 61. Legacy. WHen thou settest thyself to fast, apply, Mat. 6.18. If thou fast in secret, thy father which seethe in secret will reward thee openly. Jam. 4.8.10. Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, & he shall lift you up. Thus fare of the means of Grace, the next promises are when we suffer presecution for well-doing, for all that will live godly must suffer persecution: therefore strengthen thyself with these promises. The 62. Legacy. IF thou be'st railed upon for well doing, apply, 1 Peter 4.14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of God, and of glory refleth upon you. Matth. 5.11.12. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you; and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you. The 63. Legacy. WHen they persecute thee any other ways even unto death, apply, Matth. 10. 39 He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. Matth. 5.10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. When we lose any earthly blessing for God's cause, apply, Mat. 19.24. Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. This is the greatest (& yet lawful) usury of all others, to part with one outward blessing, and to receive an hundreth for it, to lose a miserable life, and to enjoy eternal life, to suffer a short time, and to have a great reward in heaven, to be disgraced, and to have the Spirit of glory rest upon us Therefore when thou art railed upon, apply, Blessed am I, the Spirit of glory rests upon me, therefore they cannot make me vile. Art thou any way persecuted? apply, theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven; great is your reward in Heaven. Take they thy life? apply, He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Take they away any earthly blessing? thou shalt receive an hundreth fold at this present; therefore if Usurers gladly let out their money, that hope to receive but eight in the hundreth, be ashamed of thyself, that thou shouldest not give one for an hundreth, when thou hast the promise of him that never failed to perfome. The 64. Legacy. IN partaking with God's people in suffering, that thou mayst be partaker of their comforts, apply, 2 Corinth. 1.6. As you are partakers of the sufferings: so shall ye be also of the consolation. The 65. Legacy. WHen thou art called forth to defend the truth, apply, Matth. 10.19. When they deliver you up, take no thought, how, or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Luke 21.15. I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Matth. 10.32. Whosoever confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. When thou fearest thou shalt not be able to speak in defence of the truth, apply, It shall be given thee, though thou hast it not before, in that hour, what thou shalt say. If thou fearest the learning of thine adversaries, and thine own simpleness, apply, I will give thee not only a mouth, but also wisdom, where-against they shall not be able to speak. If thou want courage, embolden thyself with this, Christ will confess thee before his father. The 66. Legacy. IF thou wouldst bring forth seasonable fruit for every estate, and for every duty, apply, Psal. 1.3. Thou shalt be as a tree which bringeth forth his fruit in season. Ezek. 47.12. He shall bring forth fruit according to his months. If thou art to speak or pray, or do any duty, that thou mayst do it seasonably, and have fitting words and thoughts, apply, thou shalt bring forth fruit in season. So in every estate, prosperity or adversity, that thou mayst bring forth the fruits of it, apply, They shall bring forth fruit in season, according to their months. Thus fare about spiritual things. The next promises are about earthly things: and because Children are the most excellent, therefore I will begin with them. The 67. Legacy. IF thou hast children, apply, Psal. 112.2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the just shall be blessed. Deut. 7.13. He will bless the fruit of thy womb. Gen. 17.7. I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Isai. 44.3, 4. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine off spring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. If thou desirest grace and God's blessing for thy children, apply, I will pour my Spirit and blessing upon thy seed. If thou wouldst have them grow up in it, apply, They shall grow as among the grass, and as the willows by the water courses. If thou wouldst have them in the covenant with thyself, thy God to be theirs, apply, I will make an everlasting covenant with thee, to be God to thee, and to thy seed ofter thee. Desirest thou outward things for them? apply, His seed shall be mighty upon earth. The 68 Legacy. IF thou wantest children, apply, Deut 7.14. Thou shalt be blessed above all people, there shall neither be male nor female barren among you. Deut. 28.11. The Lord shall make thee plentiful in the fruit of thy body Psalm. 128.3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house, thy children like Olive plants, round about thy table. vers. 4.6. Lo thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. Thou shalt see thy children's children. If thou hast conceived, apply this promise for keeping of it, Exod. 23.26. There shall none cast their young, nor be barren in thy land. This, and all other promises of earthly things, are to be applied so fare as is good for us: we are not to doubt of them. The 69. Legacy. IF the Lord deny thee children, apply, Isai. 56.5. To them will I give in mine house, and within my walls, a place and a name better than of Sons and of Daughters, I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. The 70. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have the comfortable and holy use of thine habitation, apply, job. 5.24, Thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace, and thou shalt visit thine habitation, and not sin. Psal. 91.10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Prov. 14.11. The Takernacle of the upright shall flourish. Prov. 12.7. The house of the righteous shall stand. If thou wouldst prosper in thine house, apply, Peace shall be in it. No plague shall come near it. It shall flourish. If thou wouldst have it continne so; apply, It shall stand. That they may not be a snare to thee, but thou mayst use thy blessing, and not sin, apply, Thou shalt visit thy habitation, and not sin. The 71. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have thy coming in and going out blossed, apply, Deut. 28.6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. Psalm. 121.8. The Lord shall preserve thy goin, out, and thy coming in; from this time forth, and even for evermore. When thou goest out, if thou wouldst have the heavens and earth, and all creatures blessed to thee, and be made able to make the spiritual use of them, apply, Blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out, and when thou comest in. The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in. If thou wouldst have the continuance of it, apply, From this time forth for evermore. The 72. Legacy. WHen thou eatest or enjoyest any blessing, that it may satisfy thee, and thou mayest have the sanctified use of it, apply, joel 2.26. Ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God. That thy meat and outward blessings may give thee content, and satisfy thee, apply, Thou shalt eat and be satisfied. That thou mayst have the sanctified use of it, apply, Thou shalt praise the Lord. The 73. Legacy. WHen thou takest thy rest at night, apply, Prov. 3.24. When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid: yea thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Job. 11.19. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. If thou art troubled with fears of the night, apply, Thou shalt not be afraid. When thou takest thy rest, apply, None shall make thee afraid. If thou art troubled with any thing that breaks thy rest, apply, Thy rest shall be sweet. The 74. Legacy. WHen thou puttest thine hand to any work, that it may be blessed, apply, Deut. 28.12. The Lord shall bless all the work of thine hand. Deut. 30.9. The Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand. The Lord will not only bless some of thy works, but every one; therefore in every work send up short prayers for the claiming of them, and so at our going out, and coming in, or eating, or sleeping, renew these promises upon thyself, by faith applying them, and by prayer suing for them. The 75. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have thy outward blessings blessed of God, apply, Deut. 28.4, 5. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattles, the increase of thy kind, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Deut. 7.13, 14 The Lord will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy Kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. There shall be neither male or female barren a 'mong you, or among your cattles. That thy goods and thine house may be blessed, apply, Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. If thou be'st in debt, apply, Deuteron. 28.12. Thou shalt lend unto many, and shall not borrow. The 76. Legacy. IF thou desirest to enjoy the labours of thine hands, apply, Isai 65.21, 23, 23. They shall build houses and inhabit them, they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble. Ps. 128.2 Thou shalt eate the labour of thine hands. The 77. Legacy. WHen thou art diligent in thy calling, apply, Prov, 12.14.24. The recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule. When thou enjoyest that thou hast laboured for, apply, Psal. 128.2. thou shalt eate the tabor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, andre shall be well with thee. The 78. Legacy. WHen thou seest the wicked to be carried with restless desires, hungering and thirsting after those things which satisfy them not, and thou desirest content, apply, Isaiah 65 13, 14. Thus saith the Lord, behold my servants shall eate, but ye shall be hungry: behold my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty, behold my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. The 79. Legacy. IF thou fearest thou shalt lose by following the Lord, apply, Psal. 37.9, 11, 18, 19, Those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth, their inheritance shall be for ever: they shall not be ashamed in the evil time. They shall inherit the earth, and delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psal. 112.3. Wealth and riches shall be in his huse. job 22.23, 24. Thou shalt be built up, thou shalt lay up gold as dust, & the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. verse 25. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. Gen. 15.1. I am thy exceeding great reward, Fearest thou the loss of thy land, apply, Thou shalt inherit the earth, their inheritance shall be for ever. Thou shalt possess the Earth. Do others trouble thee? apply, They shall have their delight in the multitude of peace. Art thou poor or fearest the loss of thy goods? apply, Riches and taeasure shall be in his house. Art thou oppressed by the wicked? apply, The Almighty shall be thy defence. The 80. Legacy. WHen thou hast lost blessings by sin, apply these promises for their recovery, Joel. 2.24, 25, 26. The floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil, and I will restore to you the years that the Locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, the caterpillar, and the palmerworm: and ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the lord Deut. 20.5. I will multiply you above your fathers. The 81. Legacy. IF thou fearest the loss of thy good name, apply, job, 5.21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue. job. 11.15. Thou shalt lift up thy face without spot. Psal. 37.6. He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement as the noon day. Prov. 10.7. The memory of the just is blessed. Fearest thou the wicked will take away thy good name? apply, Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue. Cast they blots upon thee? apply, Thou shalt lift up thy face without spot. Seek they to darken the light of thy holy life? apply, He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement as the noon day. The 82. Legacy. IF the World despise thee, comfort thyself with these promises, Ex. 19.5. Ye shall be Gods peculiar treasure above all people. 1. Sam. 3.30. Those that honour me will I honour, saith the lord Psal. 91.14. I will set him on high, because he hathy known my name. Psalm. 112.9. His horn shall be exalted with honour. John 12.26. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Prov. 4.7, 8, 9 Get wisdom, exalt her, and she shall promote thee, She shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her; She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. When the world counts thee as the offscouring of the world, vile, nought-worth: apply, Ye shall be God's chief treasure above all people. Doth the world debase thee? apply. The Lord will exapt thee. The Father will honour him. The 83. Legacy. WHen thou art in any want for soul, or body, apply, Psal. 34.9.10. There is no want to them that fear him. The young Lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Psal. 84.11. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Mat. 6.33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Art thou troubled with distracting cares for outward things? apply, Seek the Kingdom of Heaven and his righteousness, and all other things shall be cast upon you. Fearest thou that thou shalt be overpressed with want? apply, Those that seek the Lord, shall want no good thing. No good thing will he withhold from-them that walk uprightly. The 84. Legacy. IN liberal giving, apply these promises, Prov. 11.25. The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watreth shall be watered also himself. Prov. 19.17. He that hath pity on the poor, dareth to the Lord: and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Math. 6.4. Givein secret, and thy Father himself shall reward thee openly. 2. Cor. 9.6.10.11. He which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully. He that ministereth seed to the sour, doth minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness. Isai. 58.10.11. If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted foul: then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones, and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like aspring of waters, whose waters fail not. When thou givest to the people of God, and entreatest them kindly, apply, Matth. 10.41, 42. He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shall receive a Prophet's rewards and he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosocver shall give to drirke unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. The 85. Legacy. IF sickness be amongst us, apply, Exod. 23.52. I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. Psal. 41.3. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Deut. 7.15. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt upon thee. If the plague be amongst us, apply, Psalm. 91.3.6, 7. Surely he shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence. Thou shalt not be afraid of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. Art thou sick? apply, The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of sorrow: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Art thou there where the sick are? apply, I will take away all sickness from the midst of thee. Fearest thou the pestilence? apply, I will deliver thee from the noisome pestilence. The 86. Legacy. IF thou fearest death, apply, Isai. 57.2. He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds. None fears to go to bed, when they know they shall rest, being weary. This resting is more sure and lasting for ever. Rom. 8.11. He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall quicken your mortal bodies. Therefore we must not think of it, but as a better life given by the Spirit of God. The 87. Legacy. IF thou fearest untimely death, apply, job. 5.26. thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season. Exod. 23.26. The number of thy days will I fulfil. Psalm 91.16. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation Psal. 41.2. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth. Hast thou many enemies, and fearest the loss of thy Life by them? apply, the number of thy days will I fulfil: the Lord will preserve him & keep him alive, therefore man cannot shorten it one day. Fearest thou that thou shalt either live too long, or die too soon? apply, Thou shalt go to thy grave in a full age, as a rick of corn cometh in due season into the barn. The 88 Legacy. IF thou fearest hurt by any of the creatures, apply, Gen. 9.2. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, upon all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered, Job. 5.23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beast of the field shall be at peace with thee. The 89. Legacy. WHen thine heart is troubled either for soul or body, apply, Phil. 4.7. The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minder Psal. 29 11, The Lord will bless his people with peace. Is thine heart troubled with many temptations of Satan, or with fears of sin and misery? apply, the peace of GOD shall preserve your hearts. Hast thou many troubles outwardly? ap. the Lord shalt bless his people with peace. The 90. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have thy purposes to prosper, apply, job. 22.28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Psal. 1.3. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper. Psal. 37.5. Commit thy way unto the Lord: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. When thou often purposest to do good both for thy soul and body, and yet findest thy purposes broken, apply, Thou shalt decree A thing, and the Lord shall establish it unto thee. He shall bring it to pass. When thou art in doing of any thing, apply, Whatsoever he doth shall prosper. The 91. Legacy. When thou art called to a great work, wherein thou shalt have great opposition, apply, Deut. 31.8. The Lord he it is that doth go before thee, he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed, 2 Chron. 16.9. The Lord will show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect to wards him: Psal. 91.11, 12 13. He shall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder: The young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under feet. It matters not what be the lets to oppose us, when the Lord goes before us, he will easily beat them down: nor what strength resists such, as he hath promised to show his strength for: nor how many be our dangers, when his Angels have charge over us to keep us. Therefore go on in the work, and fear not the issue, being strengthened by the promises of him, that never faileth his. The 92. Legacy. IN the time of danger, apply, 1 Sam. 2.9. The Lord will keep the feet of his Saints. Pro. 1.33. Who so harkneth unto me shall dwell safely, & shall be quiet from fear of evil. job. 11.18, 19 Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope, yea thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety, also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. Psal. 125 1, 2. They which trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about jerusalem: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth, even for ever. Psal. 121.3, 4, 5. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: be that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. Seeing the Lord is our keeper, we need not fear the danger. The 93. Legacy. WHen thou art in great trouble, apply; Isai. 43.2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they shall not over flow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. vers. 20. I will give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chose. Psal. 32.6, 7. Surely in the flood's of great waters, they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. When thou seest thyself compassed with many troubles, and beginnest to fear? apply, I will be with thee, they shall not over flow thee. In the fire of affliction, thou shalt not only not be burnt, but the flame shall not kindle upon thee, the greatest troubles shall not do thee the least harm, for God being with thee, will bring thee out, as he did Israel through the sea, and the three children out of the fire, with not so much as the savour of fire about them: so shall not so much as the savour of evil be upon his, but he will compass them about with songs of deliverance. The 94. Legacy. When thou seemest to be forgotten in affliction, apply, Psal. 9.9.18. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed: a refuge in times of trouble. For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. Isa. 49.15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee Psal. 103.9. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. Lament. 3.31, 32. The Lord will not cast off for ever. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies. The 95. Legacy. WHen thou fearest thou shalt end thy days in misery, apply, Job. 36.11. They shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. The 96. Legacy. WHen thy sorrows grow great, apply Job. 11.16. That shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. Job. 8.20, 21. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. Psa. 27.14. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart, Psal, 112.4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness. Psal. 126.5, 6. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubt less come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Prov. 10.28. The hope of therighteous shallbe gladness. Mat. 5.4. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. John 16.22. Ye now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Hath sorrow taken deep root in thy soul, that thou fearest thou shalt never find hearty joy? apply, He shall comfort thine heart. Is such a cross upon thee, that thou fearest thou shalt never forget it? apply, thou shalt forget thy misery, as waters that pass away. The 97. Legacy. WHen thou art in such an estate, as thou knowest no way out of misery, either for soul or body, or both, apply, jer. 33.3. Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. The 98. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have deliverance out of trouble, apply, Psal. 149.4. He will beautify the meek with salvation: or, He will make the meek glorious by deliverance. Ps. 34.17.19. The righteous cry, & the Lord heareth: and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them al. Job. 5.17, 18, 19 Happy is the man whom God correcteth for he maketh sore & bindeth up: he woundeth, & his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. Ps. 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. When thou art in many troubles, and fearest thou shalt never get out of all, apply, The Lord will deliver thee out of al. If the Lord hath delivered thee once or twice, and thou fearest he will not continue so still, as often as thou fallest into troubles ap. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, and the seaventh it shall not touch thee. The 99 Legacy. WHen thine enemies prevail, apply, Ps. 125.3. The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous: lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity: Psal. 18.3. I will call upon the Lord: so shall I be saved from mine enemies, 1 Sam 2.10. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces: the eyes of the wicked shall fail, their refuge shall perish, their hope shall be sorrow of mind. Job. 11 20. Deut. 28.7. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee, to be smitten before thy face. Seest thou many to rise up to trouble thee? apply, thine enemies that rise against thee, shall fall before thy face. Hope they to prevail against thed? apply, their hope shall be sorrow of mind: Have they great means to cause them to prosper? apply, their refuge shall perish. Have they long oppressed thee? apply, the rod of the wicked shall not always rest upon the lot of the righteous. Seest thou no means to get from them? say with the Prophet David, will call upon the Lord, so shall I be safe from mine enemies. The 100 Legacy. THat thou mayest be delivered, and thine enemies afflicted in thy stead, apply, Deut. 30.7. The Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecute thee. Prov. 21.18. The wicked shall be a ran some for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. The 101. Legacy. IF thou wouldst have thine enemies destroyed, apply, Job. 8.22. They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to naught. Isaiah 41.11.13.15. Behold, all they which were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded, they shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish: for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee. Thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff, by which mountains and hills, is meant the greatest enemies. 1. Sam. 2.30. They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. These promises are to be applied by us, as they are the enemies of God and his Gospel, and ours for his sake. The 102. Legacy. IF the wicked plot against thee, apply, Psal. 37.12. The wicked plot against the just; their sword shall enter into their own heart, their bow shall be broken. The Lord shall laugh at him. Isai. 54.15. The enemies shall surely gather themselves together against thee, but not by me; whosoever shall gather themselves together against thee shall fall. The 103. Legacy. IN the troubles of the Church, apply, Psalm 128.6. Thou shalt see peace upon Israel, Thou shalt see the good of jerusalem all the days of thy life. Jer. 31.12. Thou shalt come and sing in the height of Zion: when thou hast applied the promises, and used all the means, and yet findest not thyself filled with God, as thou desirest, than comfort thyself with this, Yet is little while, and when thou awakest, thou shalt be satisfied with his image. Psal. 17.15. The 104 Legacy. BEcause the time draweth near of the fall of Antichrist, we must stir up ourselves to hasten the Lord by earnest prayers, and for the strengthening of our faith, apply these promises, Rev. 17.16. And the ten horned which thou sawest upon the Beast, thest shall hate the Whore, and shall make here desolate and naked, and shall eate her flesh, and shall burn her with fire, Reu. 18.8.21. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And a mighty Angel took up a great stone, like a great Millstone, and cast it into the Sea saying, Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all, Even so down Lord Josus, and hallen this happy day. The 105. Legacy. SEEing the Lord hath promised many glorious things to the Jews, with much grace and pouce, both to the Jews so Gentiles at their conversion; when the ton tribes shall be reunited to the two, which never yet was, let us never give him rest till he set up Jerusalem the praise of the world, and for the strengthening of us in prayer, apply, these promises: Ezek. 37.21, 22. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the children of Israel, from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation, in the land upon the mountains of Israel: and one King shall be King to them all, and they shall be no more two Nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all, Jer. 3.18. In those days the house of judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the North to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers: Isaiah 60.2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16. The Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to the light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising, thy sons shall come from fare, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side, than thou shalt see and flow together, and thine heart shall fear and be enlarged, because the Sea shall be converted unto thee: the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations: Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of Kings. Isaiah 62.2, 3, 49. The Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all Kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shalt name, thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a roy all diadem in the hand of thy God. Isaiah 61.4, 5, 6. They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, they shall repair the waste Cities the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen, and your vinedressers, but ye shall be named the priests of the Lord: men shall call you the mintsters of our God, ye shall eate the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves. Isaiah 49.22, 23. Thus saith the Lord. Behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, & set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their Queens thy nursing mothers, they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet. THese promises I have observed: many more there be of most excellent use, but because they need opening for the understanding of them, I would not set them down, lest through the shallowness of my understanding I should wrong the precious promises: but I picked out the most plain, and those that I found of continual use for Soul and Body, which I have found much good by, for the promises are our Legacies bequeathed to us in the will of our Father, & we are to claim them, as we stand in need of any of them: and surely that God which would not have children wronged in that which is bequeathed to them in the will of their fathers, much less will he withhold that which his Son hath bequeathed to us in his last will, which he sealed with his blood. Therefore let us sue for them, for the saith, he will be sought to, to perform them to us. And when thou appliest any promise, seek unto the condition, and labour to keep it, and doubt not of the performance of what is promised, for he is both able and faithful that hath promised. FINIS. A TABLE FOR THE right and ready finding out of any Promise in this Book, for the comfortable supplie of present necessity: the number shows the page, where the Promise (we would have) is to be found. RVles for reading the Promises. If we find nothing in ourselves that may move God. pag. 1. If we fear God will remember our sins, to punish them pag. 5 If often suing cause thee doubt of pardon. pag. 6 If thou despair. pag. 7 If thou findest sin an heavy burden, and Satan pursuing. pag. 10 If thou turn from sin, and yet doubt of pardon. pag. 13 If thou wouldst have thy many felt rebellions subdued pag. 16 If thy heart be hard and full of corruption. pag. 18 If unbridled nature break out into passion. pag. 20 If thou be in bondage to some sin. pag. 22 If thou fearest the breaking out of strong sins. pag. 23 When thou art stayed from sin by admonition pag. 26 If thou fearest God will destroy thee for sin pag. 27 If thou be tempted to uncleanness pag. 28 If thou caused not find out thy sin, for which God corrects thee. pag. 29 If thou doubt of salvation. pag. 30 If thine heart be as a wilderness, barren of good, pag. 31 If thou wantest holiness, pag. 37 When thou canst not offer up any sacrifice pag. 38 When thou feelest but little grace pag. 40 When all thy graces are weak pag. 41 When thy heart is dry for want of grace. pag. 41 If thou wantest the spirit pag. 45 If looking on God's love, thou canst not love God again pag. 48 If thou canst not bring thine heart to delight in the Lord ibid. If thou seelest not God's fear in thine heart pag. 53 If thine heart will not praise the Lord pag. 54 If thou wantest wisdom pag. 56 If thou canst not understand God's voice pag. 57 If thou canst not see into the mysteries of the Gospel pag. 58 If thou seest a good way and hast no power to walk in it pag. 59 If thou wantest memory. pag. 62 When thou seest thine ignorance. pag. 68 If thou desirest grace & art not satisfied pag. 68 If thine heart be dead pag. 70 If thou fearest falling away pag. 72 If thou art fall'n pag. 76 When the Lord hath forsaken thee pag. 78 When thou feelest thy vileness. pag. 81 When thou feelest thy spiritual poverty pag. 83 When thou art in a strait pag. 85 If thou fearest Satan will cause thee to fall. pag. 88 If thou canst not profit by the word of God pag. 90 If thou findest thyself unlike God's people pag. 91 If thou wouldst have God's blessing rest upon thee pag. 92 If thou wouldst be a blessing in thy place. pag. 94 If thou separatest from the wicked in their corrupt worship. ib. A promise to be applied in every ordinance pag. 96 When thou prayest pag. 97 When thou meditatest. pag. 99 In meditating, conferring, reading God's word pag. 101 In reading of the word if thou understandest not pag. 102 If thou canst not confer pag. 103 When thou art to go to the assemblies, pag. 106 Wouldst thou enjoy the ordinances of God, and a blessing upon them pag. 114 If thou enjoyest grace or means of grace pag. 117 When thou art banished from God's ordinances pag. 120 Whilst thou art banished from God's house pag. 124 When wicked shepherds are over us pag. 127 When through wicked shepherds thou art come to great misery pag. 129 When thou settest thy self to fast pag. 132 If thou art railed upon for well doing pag. 133 If thou art persecuted pag. 134 In partaking with God's people in suffering pag. 137 When thou art called to defend the truth ib. If thou wouldst bring forth seasonable fruit for every estate pag. 139 If thou hast children pag. 141 If thou wantest children pag. 143 If the Lord deny thee Children pag. 145 If thou wouldst have a comfortable and holy use of thy habitation. ibid. If thou wouldst have thy going out, and coming in blessed pag. 147 When thou eatest or enjoyest any blessing that it may satisfy, and be sanctified pag. 148 When thou takest thy rest at night etc. pag. 150 When thou puttest thy hand to any work pag. 151 If thou wouldst have thine outward blessings blessed pag. 152 If thou desirest to enjoy the labours of thine hands pag. 154 If thou art diligent in thy calling pag. 155 When thou seest wicked men follow unsatisfying things with restless desires, and thou desirest content. pag. 156 If thou fearest thou shalt lose by following the Lord pag. 157 When thou hast lost blessings by sin pag. 159 If thou fearest loss of thy good name pag. 160 If the world despise thee etc. pag. 161 When thou art in want for soul or body pag. 163 In liberal giving. pag. 165 If sickness be among us pag. 168 If thou fearest death pag. 170 If thou fearest untimely death pag. 171