THE SIGNS OF THE WICKED man.. Together with Directions that show how the several Gifts and Graces of God's Spirit may be attained. NEEDFUL For such as want those Graces, and for such as desire to increase in them. By N. BIFIELD, Preacher of God's Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. LONDON, Printed by GEORGE PURSLOW for RALPH ROUNTHWAITE, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the Flower de-luce and Crown in Paul's Churchyard. 1619. TO THE MUCH Honoured Lady: the Lady BRIDGET TRACY, NICHOLAS BIFIELD wisheth all prosperity in the things of the Kingdom of CHRIST. MADAM, BEING destitute of a better gift to bestow upon your Ladyship, to testify my thankfulness or observance, I present this little Treatise unto you. It may have more use than it shows for: for if things shine more clearly when their contraries are set by them; then may this description of the estate of a wicked man by Signs, serve much to establish the godly in the point of Assurance, when he seethe himself freed from those fearful & forlorn marks. And if men use to make much of all those directions by which any gain or treasure may be certainly compassed: then ought the Directions not to be despised, that show how the Spirit of God, and the graces thereof may be attained: For by these directions, both those that want the true graces of Christ, may here learn how to get them, and such as have them but in weak measure, may by the same Rules learn how to increase them. I have been induced to think of your Ladyship in this Dedication, partly in acknowledgement of the great respect due to the Family out of which you came, as it hath been a principal means of causing the light of the Gospel for many years to shine in those places where the people had sitten in darkness, and in the shadow of death: And partly drawn by the many praises I have observed in your Ladyship, since the time of your sojourning in the noble Family you now live in: Your great respect of my Ministry, and your constant pains to employ yourself about Religious duties, deserve from me more acknowledgement than so mean a gift as this can discharge. Madam, you are happy above many, that GOD hath inclined your heart to bear the yoke of Christ in your youth, and discern the glory of the spiritual Kingdom of jesus Christ. Your meekness assures me liberty to beseech you to go on in the good way of God, and to cleave fast with all hearty affection unto the Truth, as you have learned jesus Christ, It shall be a great increase of your glory, to increase in the knowledge and grace of Christ, and (in sound denial of yourself, and contempt of the world) to fashion yourself to all the courses by which you may be pleasing in the eyes of God, whiles multitudes in the Gentry of the Land of both Sexes, by following foolish vanities, forsake their own mercy. Now the God of peace sanctify you throughout, and so prosper his own work in you, that your whole spirit, and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord jesus Christ, March. 9 1618. Your Ladyships to be commanded in Christ jesus, N. BIFIELD. The Contents. THE Preface, showing the necessity of the trial of man's estate, and the causes why wicked men will not try themselves; and also why divers godly persons are negligent herein, page 1. to 18. CHAP. I. THirty signs of an open wicked man. p. 18. to 33 CHAP. II. Thirteen signs of an Hypocrite. p. 33. to 40 CHAP. III. Sixteen Signs of such Professors as are likely to fall away. p. 40. to 47 CHAP. FOUR SEVEN Arguments of hope, that show a wicked man that he may be saved, if he will be directed. p. 47. to 52 CHAP. V HOw he may get faith. p. 53. to 59 CHAP. VI HOw he may get to be poor in spirit. p. 59 to 68 How he may attain godly sorrow. p. 68 to 77 CHAP. VII. HOw the Spirit of Adoption may be had. pa. 78. to 81 How he may get a love to the Word. p. 81. to 86 How he may get the gift of prayer. p. 86. to 94 How he may attain to the fear of God. P. 94. to 95 How he may be made to love his enemies. p. 96. to 99 CHAP. VIII. HOw saving knowledge may be gotten and increased. p. 99 to 102 How the love of God may be wrought in us. p. 102. to 106 How the love of the godly may be attained, and how it may be preserved. pag. 106. to 111 CHAP. IX. HOw uprightness and sound sincerity of conversation may be attained. p. 111. to the end. The Preface to the Christian and careful READER. HOw necessary it is for all sorts of men in the visible Church to try their estates whether they be true Christians or no, may appear by the express charge given in the Scriptures concerning it. The Apostle Paul chargeth men to examine themselves whether they be in the faith, and whether Christ jesus be in them, unless they be reprobates, 2. Cor. 13. 5. And the Apostle Peter would have all Christians, diligent to make their Calling and Election sure, 2. Pet. 1. 10. And the like commandment lay upon men in the Church of the jews in the old Testament, as may appear by that exhortation, Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord: and the Prophet David in this case, chargeth men to commune with their own hearts, Psal. 4. 4. How can men draw near unto God in the full assurance of faith, if they will not be at the pains to examine themselves? Heb. 10. 22. Or how shall we ever know that we are of God, or attain unto any confidence of faith, as we ought to do? 1. joh. 5. 19 Ephes. 3. 12. How fearfully this point of sound trial is neglected, and how miserably most men are deceived for want of it, may appear by this observation, which may usually be made of men in the most places, viz. that many that are carnal men, say they are godly; and many that are godly men, say they are but carnal: Besides that a multitude of men, both good and bad, live in security; the one not caring to get out of so woeful an estate; and the other not regarding the riches of Assurance. The causes of this miserable security, may be observed and noted both in wicked & in godly men. In wicked men these things may be easily discerned. 1. A loathness to examine Why wicked men neglect the trial of their estates. 1. Because they are afraid all is not well. themselves and try their estates exactly, for fear lest they should find that they are not in a good estate: Their hearts secretly condemn them, and they think, if they should take particular notice of their own condition, it would be found, that they have indeed no true grace in them; and therefore they rather choose to live in that doubtful estate, then to be put out of doubt, and made to know, that they have yet no right to the kingdom of heaven; never considering that the knowledge of our misery may be one degree to get out of it. 2. In such as see all is 2. They are slothful. not well with them: the cause is slothfulness, mingled with horrible presumption; they had rather wear out their days in danger, then be at the pains to use the means for their own repentance and reformation: They will wretchlesly put it to the venture. 3. Others will adventure 3. They rest upon the common hope upon their common hope of mercy: They have certain general confused apprehensions of mercy in God, upon which they wilfully engage their hopes, without care of reformation, or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God, and so miserably perish: their hopes proving, but as the house of the spider; and, the imaginary mercy failing them, they die either as stocks, without sense; or as judas, in horrible despair. 4. Others rest themselves Or 4. upon their outward profession of Religion. upon their outward profession of Religion, and some general things wrought in them, and the good opinion others have of them, and so being somewhat near the kingdom of God, they are content to rest there, as the Israelits did near Canaan, though they never possessed it. We see many think, there needs no more to be sure they are in a good condition, then to hear Sermons, and abstain from gross outward profaneness, and to be well reputed of among the godly, etc. pleasing themselves with the show of godliness, though as yet they deny the power of it, as having attained no other righteousness, than the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. 5. In multitudes of Or 5. they have evil opinions about Assurance. men there are seated evil opinions about assurance: They think either it is impossible to be had, or it is needless, or it is presumption to seek it. 6. All wicked men are hindered by their beloved 6. They are letted by their beloved sins sins, which they are not willing to part with, but of purpose forbear the care of heaven, that they may the more securely live in sin. Thus of wicked men: It is true also, that many godly Christians have been, and are extremely Why some that are godly, neglect, the trial of their estates. faulty in neglecting the trial of their estates, and their Assurance: and the causes of this negligence in them are divers: As 1. Some are so much 1. Evil opinions. misled by the surmises of their own hearts, that they think that Assurance would breed security, and that it is a better way to keep their own hearts humble, to be somewhat doubtful: not knowing, that unbelief is the chief cause of slothfulness and security; and that the assurance of faith is the chief means to purge the heart, and quiet the soul, and works effectually in all the duties of love. 2. In the most, Ignorance 2. Ignorance. of their own gifts and Gods promises, is the cause: for if Christians did see distinctly, how far the Lord had brought them by his grace, and withal did behold the evidences of their faith, and hope in God's promises, they could not fail of comfort, & establishment of heart. 3. Smothering of doubts 3. Smothering of doubts and temptations. and temptations, is a great let in many: divers Christians are secretly, and daily assaulted with certain strange doubts; which if they did propound, and get sound answer unto, their hearts would heal within them, and the work of faith prosper. 4. Some Christians are They are wicked overmuch. kept without Assurance, through the overmuch viewing of their own daily infirmities in all parts of God's service: They are wicked overmuch; whereas if they would study those Scriptures, that show how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people, notwithstanding their daily wants, their hearts would be much eased, and their minds clearly resolved to trust upon the everlasting mercies of their God. 5. In some, the cause is 5. Melancholy. found in the disease of their bodies: Melancholy, when it is grown to a disease, is a most stiff and pertinacious adversary to Comfort and Assurance: It doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies, and is a humour so unteachable, that comfort for the most part is as water spilled upon the ground: And the more difficult it is to remove this let, because usually the parties possessed by this humour, are so far from seeking help, that they will not be persuaded that they are troubled with any such disease. 6. Some Christians are 6. Passions hindered by their own Passions; they are so froward and unquiet in their dispositions, that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of settled Assurance by their own habitual discontents: Frowardness is a mischievous distemper, that weakens both body and mind; and assurance and strength of faith, seldom dwells in an unquiet mind. 7. Others want assurance, 7 Neglect of the means. because they neglect the means of Assurance: they do not try all things, and keep that which is good; or they call not upon God daily, fervently, and constantly, to give them the spirit of revelation, to show them the hope of their Calling, and their glorious Inheritance, Ephe. 1. 18, 19 8. A barren life is an 8. A barren life. uncomfortable life: and contrariwise, to abound in 1 Cor. 15. 58. good works, hath steadfastness, and a secret rest of heart, as an unseparable companion of it. 9 The love of earthly 9 Too much love of earthly things. things is another great impediment: many Professors have their thoughts and cares so eaten up with worldliness, that they cannot seriously seek God's Kingdom, nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainment of Assurance: This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world. 10. In some, there lodgeth 10. Secret sin. some secret sin, which they know, and do not judge themselves for, and doth daily prevail in them; and this either keeps out faith, or keeps it down in the cradle, that it can get no strength. When I say secret sins, I mean secret from others, not from themselves. For sins of mere ignorance God doth not scourge in his servants so, as to withhold his graces from them. CHAP. I. Containing the signs of open wicked men. THE trial of the estates of all sorts of Christians, may be performed by examining themselves by two sorts of signs; some are such as describe the wicked man, and some such as describe the godly man; and of the trial of the godly man, I have entreated before. Wicked men in the Church are not all of a sort: for some are manifestly profane and careless of the Kingdom of God; and some are in outward show, such as profess the seeking of God's Kingdom, but yet in deed and in heart are without God and without Christ, and such are all Hypoctites. Wicked men of the first sort, are discerned by such marks as these: and so he is a wicked man, 1. That can spend whole 1. He is a wicked man, 1. That lives without God. days or weeks without seeking after God, or Christ, that accounts it no part of his care to look after God, or any secret acquaintance or communion wirh God in jesus Christ, that lives, as the Apostle saith, without God, and without Christ, and therefore without hope in the world: that seldom or never thinks seriously of God, Ephes. 2. 12. 2. That continually 2. That avoids the society of the godly. shuns and strives to avoid the company and society of such as fear God, and in his heart loves not such as be religious, and make conscience of their ways: This man is certainly in darkness, that hates God's children, as the Apostle john often shows in his first Epistle; especially when he hates them, because they follow goodness. 3. That savours only the 3. That savours only earthly things. things of the flesh, that finds a taste and relish only in earthly things, that placeth all his contentment in the things of this life: Rom. 8. 1. joh. 2. 15. 4. That is uncapable and unteachable in the things of God, and godliness, 4. That is, discerns not the things of God. having the Gospel and the glory of Religion hid from his heart, so as he sees nothing in the Kingdom of jesus Christ to be admired, and desired of him, and when he enjoys the means, cannot discern the things of God, 1. Cor. 2. 5 That willingly haunts 5. That sorts with wicked men. with wicked and profane persons, and delights in them, and chooseth them for the companions of his life, Psal. 50. 2. Cor. 6. 6. That of malice persecuteth 6. That of malice persecuteth the Truth. and reproacheth & despighteth the known Truth, speaking evil of the good way of God, which he himself hath known, and acknowledged before, Heb. 10. 7. That hath in him 7. That allows himself in Atheistical thoughts. thoughts of Atheism reigning, conceiving vile things of God, without sorrow or trouble of heart for them, or rather desiring he could prove them to be true, wishing there were no God at all, Psalm 14. 1. 8. That calls not upon 8. That calls not upon God the name of the Lord, who is such a one, as wholly neglects this service of God in himself and his Family, unless it be for fashion's sake, without care or understanding, Psalm 14. 4. 9 That was never chastened 9 That is not chastened of God. of the Lord: For they are bastards and not sons, Heb. 12. 10. That can spend his 10. That never examines himself in known sin. days without examining himself, whether jesus Christ be in him or not: That minds it not to be sure, that he is in the faith, 2. Cor. 13. 5. joh. 17. 3. 11. That flattereth himself 11. That applauds himself in known sin. in his own eyes, when he is threatened for sin, and blesseth himself in his heart, when his iniquity is found worthy to be hated, Psal. 36. 1, 2. Deut. 29. 19 12. That secretly loathes, 12. That loathes the Word of God constantly. and contemns, and in his heart constantly frets at the Word, when it is conscionably and powerfully preached, that finds in the good word of God a deadly savour, 2. Cor. 2. 15. 13. That lives in hypocrisy, 13. That allows himself in Hypocrisy and knows he dissembles constantly in the service of God, and doth not desire to leave it, nor take any course to resist it, or humble his soul in secret for it. 14. That desires not the 14. That refuseth knowledge. knowledge of God's ways, and seriously accounts good courses to be unprofitable courses, job 21. 14, 15, 16. 15. That having the 15. That in great distresses humbles not himself. hand of God upon him, & lives in sorrow and misery, & yet never seeks to God, nor humbles his soul before God, nor acknowledgeth God's hand, or if he do, doth not labour to make his peace with God, 2. Cor. 7. 10. jer. 5. 2, 3. 16. That cannot be touched 16. That cares not for the afflictions of the godly. with compassion, or care for the afflictions of the Church and people of God, Amos 6. 5. and is merciless, Mat. 25. jam. 2. 1. joh. 3. 17. That hath no desire 17. That will not understand to do good. to be taught to do good, but either cares not for Heaven and godliness, or thinks himself wise enough to find the way without ask, Psalm 36. 1, 3. 18. That is not affected 18. That is insensible of spiritual judgements. with fear or sorrow under spiritual judgements, such as the famine of the Word, absence of God, hardness of heart, or the like. 19 That is a customary 19 That is an ordinary swearer. swearer, and reputes not of it: God threatens he will not justify such offenders, but pursue them as his enemies, Com. 3. 20. That makes not conscience 20. That is careless of God's Sabbaths. to keep God's Sabbath: for God hath given the Sabbath as a sign between him and the people in the point of their Sanctification: so, he that cares not to profane the Sabbath, by that sign is known to be none of God's people, Exod. 31. 21. That not only commits 21. That is a worker of iniquity. sins against his knowledge, but serves sin, and is a worker of iniquity, loves it, defends it, and resolves to continue in it, & placeth his felicity in it. 22. That believes not in 22. That believes not in Christ. the Son of God, as they do not, that either deny his coming in the flesh, or his person, or his offices, or else rest not upon him for life and happiness, Mark 16. john 3. 17. 1. john 4. 23. That in any one 23. That hates to be reform. particular sin, knowing it to be a sin, hates to be reform, Psal. 50. 24. That hath not the 24. That hath not the Spirit of Christ. Spirit of Christ. For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his, Rom. 8. 25. That cannot forgive 25. That cannot forgive his enemies. his enemies, nor pray for them that hate him, and wrong him, Mat. 6. For if men forgive not unto men their trespasses, neither will God forgive them their sins, as is likewise showed by the parable, Mat. 18. 32. 26. That loves not God, 26. That loves not God. and shows it, 1. By an habitual forgetfulness of God, of which before. 2. By his unwillingness to do Gods work, his commandments being always grievous unto him, and it seeming evil to him to serve the Lord, 1. joh. 5. 3. 3. By insensibleness of the dishonour of God. 4. By loving his pleasures, or profits, more than God. 27. That fear not God. 27. That fears not God, and shows it, 1. By not caring for God's displeasure, so he might escape God's punishment. 2. By coming into God's presence constantly, without any awful regard of God's Majesty. 3. By sinning in secret withal security, being only careful to avoid the eyes of men. 4. By contempt of the threatenings of God in his Word. 28. That is dead in trespasses 28. That is dead in sin. and sins, Ephes. 2. 1, 2. that can be guilty of many and monstrous crimes, and that as if he were a dead man, continueth under the burden of them without sorrow, or fear, or remorse, or care of amendment, Ephes. 2. 1. 29. The Apostle Paul 29. That is guilty of any of his sins in the Apostles Catalogue. puts a number of offenders in divers gross sins into a Catalogue, and pronounceth of them all, that without repentance they cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, 1. Cor. 6. 9 fornicators, Idolaters, Adulterers, the Effeminate, Sodomites, thieves, Covetous persons, Drunkards, Revilers, and Extortioners: and so in the Gal. 30. All those that cannot repent, 30. That cannot repent. that is such as cannot pray, nor confess their sins to God, nor bewail them, nor any way set themselves sound to reform them. CHAP. II. Containing the signs of Hypocrites. THus of the marks of notorious and wicked men: The signs by which hypocrites may be known, follow, and these are of two sorts. First, such as describe 2. sorts of these signs them so, that themselves may thereby know themselves. Secondly, such as give occasion to men to fear their soundness, and show, that they are likely to fall away, though for the present they make show and profession of Religion, and do escape much of that filthiness, which is in the outward lives of others. For the first, these are the signs of an hypocrite. 1. To profess God's 13 Signs of hypocrites. Covenant with his mouth; and deny it in his works, Psal. 50. 16. 2. To do his works of purpose to be seen of men, when he might conceal the knowledge of them, & doth this of purpose chief, because he would have the praise and applause of men, not seeking the approbation, or praise of God, Mat. 6. Rom. 2. 26. 3. To make clean the outside of the platter, and let the inside be foul: To be like a painted sepulchre: To avoid apparent outward faults, and yet to harbour a world of wickedness in his heart, without any true repentance for it, Math. 23. 4. To censure small matters in others, and be guilty of great crimes himself: To see a moat in another man's eye, and not care to cast out the beam in his own eyes, Math. 7. 5. To pretend care of piety towards God, and yet be unmerciful to men; or neglect works of mercy to the poor, that he is able to do; and yet unconscionably omits it, jam. 1. 26. 6. To require many things of others in their practice; and yet make no conscience of observing them in his own practice: To bind heavy burdens upon other men's shoulders, and not to touch them with his own finger, Math. 23. 7. To arrogate to himself the titles of godliness, and yet envy and hate goodness in others, and to endeavour to hinder them, or oppose them, that would enter into the Kingdom of heaven, Math. 23. 8. To praise the dead, or the absent servants of God, and yet despise and persecute such of God's faithful servants, as are set over them, and to disobey them, Math. 23. 9 To speak fair to men's faces, and behind their backs to revile and slander them. 10. To draw near to God with his lips, when his heart is far from him: In the daily service of God to allow himself in the habit of distractions, making no conscience to worship God in his spirit, Esay 28. 11. Never in secret to make conscience of prayer to God; and not to cry to God, except it be in sickness, or great adversity; dis-regarding prayer in health, and prosperity, job. 17. 9, 10. 12. With profaneness to neglect God's commandments, and to be only diligent to urge & observe men's precepts, or the traditions of men, Math. 15. 13. To punish, or reprove sin in some, because he hates them; or to forbear reproofs or punishments of others, because he fears or favours them. CHAP. III. Containing the signs of such as are likely to be unsound, and will not hold out. THus of the first sort of signs of Hypocrites: Now follow such probable signs of hypocrites, as men may take notice of, and do usually foreshow their falling away at length, though for the present they make great shows. Amongst them 16. Signs of an unsound Professor. than that make profession of Religion above the common sort of people; these are likely to be unsound, and not hold out▪ 1. That join not themselves to God's people, but forbear constantly, or forsake apparently their fellowship, Heb. 10. 24. 2. That are not careful and desirous to reform their households, & to set up God's worship in their Families; that are good abroad, but practise not godliness at home. 3. That customarily live in any sin known to be so to themselves, without sorrow, or amendment, whether it be in their particular Calling, or general Conversation. 4. That constantly and with delight choose out ungodly men to be their chief companions and friends. 5. That are wilful in the use of the vanities of the world, and will not be reclaimed from their excesses, or offences that way. 6. That are stiffnecked, and will not abide reproof and admonition, but show themselves conceited, and self-willed. 7. That are full of rash zeal, and show it by passions, and violent furies about lesser matters, and yet have some notable faults in themselves, which they make no conscience of. 8. That are swift to speak, and full of words, and forward to express their masterlike conceits, when they neither have calling, nor fitness, or power of the holy Ghost. The language of an humble Christian, that hath true grace, differs wonderfully from the empty and impertinent language of the hypocrite, who is seldom assisted with efficacy of matter. 9 That lives inordinately, being idle, and attends not the labours of a lawful Calling, that is found ordinarily in his neighbour's house, and is apparently negligent and slothful in the duties of his Calling. 10. That is more vexed for want of respect from others, then for his own disabilities in his conversation. 11. That seems glad of the company of some that fear God, but cannot abide others, either for the meanness of their place, or because the world contemns them, though without cause, & though there be no just exception against their sincerity. They that have Religion in respect of persons, love not any for Religion's sake. 12. That live customarily in the sin of swearing, or lying. 13. That is careless of the sanctification of God's Sabbath. 14. That hath had no manner of affliction of spirit for particular sins. 15. That is pertinacious in the defence of gainful and delightful sins. 16. That confirms himself in the customary neglect of some of God's Ordinances altogether, either public, or private. CHAP. FOUR Showing unto the wicked the hope to be saved, if the fault be not in himself. HItherto of the signs of wicked men, who must be persuaded to abide the trial without despair; for the signs do not show them, that they cannot be saved; but only, that for the present they are not in the estate of salvation actually, which though it may, and aught to be grievous unto them, to consider in what fearful misery and sin they live in: yet they have reason to know and believe, that they may be saved as well as others: yea, the acknowledgement of their misery is one step to salvation. Now that wicked men may not die, but take a course to be saved, two things are by them to be attended: first, the arguments of hope, that prove Arguments of hope. they may be saved, and that there is a remedy for their misery. Secondly, the rules, that show them what they must do, which being done, they may be certain of their salvation. For the first, that they be saved, these things may hopefully assure: 1. That God hath sworn, 1. God's oath. that he desires not that the wicked should die, but rather that he should turn from his evil ways, and live, Ezech. 18. 21. 2. That God hath with 2. God's patience. singular patience borne with him all this while, and hath not laid him beneath for all his sins, who long since deserved Hell; and the Lord hath taught it too, that he is patiented, that men might repent and be saved, Rom. 2. 4. 2. Pet. 3. 9 3. That God offers his 3. The offer of grace to all. grace to all, and hath made no exception against any particular man, and therefore why shouldest thou except thyself from salvation, when God's grace is tendered to thee as well as others? God sends his Gospel to every creature, even to all Nations, Mark. 16. 13. 4. That God hath sent 4. Sufficient satisfaction made by Christ. his own Son to be a sufficient sacrifice and propitiation for the sins of all men: He is the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, joh. 1. Rom. 3. 25. 1. joh. 2. 1. and in him is God well pleased, and would have all men know, that he is content to take satisfaction from Christ, Math. 3. 17. 5. That God hath placed 5. The means continued them in the visible Church, and doth yet continue the means that is able to save their souls, Act. 20. 32. jam. 1. 21. 6. That God hath declared himself concerning sin, that there is one only sin that in it 6. One only sin simply unpardonable. self is simply unpardonable; All the rest may be forgiven. 7. That God hath saved 7. As great sinners saved. as great sinners as they, such as were Manasses, Mary Magdalene, David, Paul: Many amongst the Corinthians were fornicators, drunkards, raylors, and the like, yet were justified, sanctified, and saved, 1. Cor. 9 10, 11. And these have obtained mercy, that in them jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should afterwards believe to everlasting life, 1. Tim. 1. 13, 16. CHAP. V. Showing how faith may be gotten. THE rules of direction follow. This then is the question: What should a man do, that he may be sure of his salvation, the man, I say, that for the present doth not find the grace of Christ in his heart? I answer: That his principal care must be to use all means to get the graces of the godly Christian form in his heart: And herein the Lord hath showed unto men singular mercy, that as he hath showed ways in his Word, how his servants may discern the graces, that are as so many signs & pledges of God's love, and their own salvation; so hath he in the same Word laid down clear directions, that show how every grace may be attained and form, and nourished in the hearts of men. Quest. And first I will begin with faith, & the Question is: What should a man do, that he might attain faith? Ans. He that would believe, must observe these rules. 1. He must in the first 1. He must consider of God's promises. place betake himself to God's promises: For without the promise of grace it is unpossible, faith should ever be form aright in a man, he must labour to see what the Lord saith distinctly unto sinners: I will instance in that one promise, joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have life everlasting: Now his care must be, seriously to mark, and clearly to understand God's meaning, which in this promise is to assure salvation to any in the world, that will believe in Christ. 2. He must then consider 2. He must take notice of God's commandment to believe. God's commandment concerning faith, that God doth require him to believe, and is so far from being displeased with him for believing in Christ, that for this cause he will damn him in Hell, if he believe not, joh. 3. 17. 1. joh. 3. 23. He doth as exactly require us to rely upon this course of salvation by jesus Christ, as he doth require any thing of us in the Moral Law: and as we ought not to swear, or commit adultery, or steal; so ought we not to dare to live without belief in jesus Christ. 3. He must pray hearty 3. He must pray for faith. to God to give him a heart to believe, and to form faith in him; for faith is the gift of God, Eph. 2. 8. He should pray over the promises, and beseech God to incline his heart to rest upon them, as the best treasures in the world: cry unto the Lord, Lord help my unbelief. 4. He must absolutely lay aside all thought of his own righteousness by the 4. He must renounce his own righteousness. works of the Law, and look only to jesus Christ, and the righteousness in him, else he will fail of the righteousness of God, Rom. 10. 3. 5. He must wait upon 5. He must wait upon the Word preached. the powerful Preaching of the Gospel, as the only outward ordinary means to beget faith, offering his soul daily unto God, and attending to the Word of God, ready to obey the motions of the Spirit, knocking at the door of his heart in the ministery of the Word, knowing that from this Ordinance of God, he is to expect the gift of faith: He should betake himself to it, with resolution to wait with daily expectation, till the Lord be pleased to send the Holy Ghost into his heart: And this is a general rule for this, and all other graces of the Spirit: as men love their own fowls, so they must provide to live where the Word of God is preached constantly, & in the power of it: for from thence they shall receive unspeakable help and furtherance in all the ways of God, Rom. 10. 14. CHAP. VI Showing how true humiliation may be attained. THUS of faith: In the next place he must labour for true and sound humiliation for his sins: and to this end he must distinctly strive to get form in him two things: 1. Poverty of spirit, 2. godly sorrow, for to these two belong all the branches of true humiliation. For the attaining of spiritual 1. Gather a Catalogue of thy sins, either▪ by memory, poverty, these rules are of great use: First, make a Catalogue of thy sins, which thou mayst do either by memory or by book: By memory thus: Go aside, set thy soul before the Lord, as if thou we rest presently to be judged of him; call to mind particularly, whatsoever thou canst remember by thyself; consider thy wants, thy Omissions, and Commissions of evil, in youth or riper age: in heart, or life, in things that concern God, or men, or thy own soul, and disposition, thoughts, affections, words, or deeds. Thou mayst then see an Army of rebellious evils thou hast been guilty of. By book Or by book. thus? Procure thee the labour of some reverend Divine, that hath briefly gathered the sins of every Commandment, and from thence gather out so many sins, as thou knowest by thyself that thou hast been guilty of: Lay those sins daily before thy conscience, and consider how many ways thou hast made thyself guilty. Secondly, consider then 2. consider Gods▪ justice. the justice of God, how he hateth all sin, which thou mayst be assured of, if thou remember how he plagued our first Parents, the old World, Sodom, & Gomorrha: how fearfully he neglected the Gentiles, cast off the jews, yea how he spared not his own Son jesus Christ, when he became a surety for other men's sins. Thirdly, think of the 3. Think of his threatenings. terrible woes, and threatenings, and curses which are denounced every where in Scripture against such offences as thou art guilty of. Fourthly, force upon 4. Remember thy latter end. thyself the remembrance of thy latter end, and thy appearance before the tribunal seat of Christ, to receive according to all that thou hast done in thy flesh. Fifthly, observe with 5. Observe God's judgements upon the wicked. what judgements the Lord every day fights against wicked men, in all parts of the world, sometimes by common Plagues, sometimes by special and particular calamities. Sixtly, above all things, 6. Especially Gods goodness to thee. mark with all thy heart God's goodness to thee in particular; in during all this at thy hands, his blessings of all sorts daily bestowed upon thee, chiefly his mercy offered to thee in jesus Christ, that can be content to forgive thee all thy debts, so thou be sorry, and weary of offending. Nothing can more break thy heart, then to observe how God dealeth with thee, even with thee in particular, that hast deserved so much evil at his hands. Seventhly, try thyself 7. Try thyself by the signs. by a particular examination of thy own estate, by every particular of the signs of God's children, and then thou mayst see, what a poor creature thou art, what show soever thou makest in the world, and what natural gifts or praises soever thou hast; for than thou shalt find, how exceeding empty thy heart is of solid gifts, and the best graces, and that many a poor creature, that maketh little show in the world, hath a heart better graced by far than thine. Eighthly, thou must beg 8. Beg an humble heart of God. hearty an humble heart of God, and a greater discerning of thine own vileness. The Lord will be sought unto, & he is ready to be found, if thou seek him constantly and diligently: It is not a small work to break the pride and stoniness of thy heart. It needs power from above. Ninthly, provide to live, 9 Live under a searching ministry. if it may be, under a forcible ministry: where thou mayst hear such doctrine daily, as will search thy heart, & ransack thy life; where thou mayst feel the Word of God go down into thy heart and reins. Tenthly, mark what 10. Watch against the things thou art naturally proud of. things they are, which by nature thou art proud of, and labour seriously both by arguments & restraint, to alienate thy affections from them: In particular, take heed of the snare that is in gay clothes, delicious fare, worldly titles, and the like. eleventhly, shun and avoid 11. Avoid the flatterer. with detestation the flatterer, and seek unto thee a righteous companion, that may smite thee for thy failings, and reprove thee, and not hate thee in his heart. Twelfthly, labour to 12. Think still of some of thy worst fruits. keep in thy memory and thoughts, 6. or 8. or more, or fewer of thy faults, that thou wouldst be more ashamed off, and thou hast more offended in, & compel thyself daily to remember them: this will wonderfully do thee good▪ and tame thy pride, and make thee more meek & more tractable, and merciful, all the day after thou hast duly thought of them. Thus of the way how to get thy spirit to be truly poor and humble. Quest. The next question is, what a man should do to get a soft heart, and true godly sorrow, that he might be able to mourn for his sins, before God. Ans. 1. He must first consider 1. Consider God's promise about a soft heart. of God's promises, who hath bound himself by covenant to take away the stony heart, & give a heart of flesh unto them that seek unto him for it, Ez. 36. 26, 32. 2. He must daily in the best words he can, keep a 2. Daily confess thy sins to God, constant course in the confession of his sins before God, begging of God with all importunity this mercy, And beg sorrow. that he would melt, and soften his heart, & resolve, that he would never stand before the Lord, but he would remember this petition, always judging himself, giving glory to God: It may be the Lord will hear at the first, or second time of prayer, but if he do not, thou must resolve to watch and pray still, without limiting God to the time of effecting thy desire, as knowing that it ought not to seem grievous unto thee, that the LORD doth not presently work what thou prayest for, considering how long the Lord hath called upon thee, and thou didst not answer, and withal the Lord is well pleased with these preparations in thy heart, and accepts thy endeavour to mourn because thou canst not mourn. 3. He must observe 3. Be thankful for every mercy in prayer. how the Lord deals with him in prayer, and be sure with all thankfulness to acknowledge any mercy God shows him in prayer, as if he make him willing to pray, or give him words in prayer, or let him feel any joy in the time of prayer, or that he find his heart in any degree to melt, he should be wonderful thankful, if he can get but one tear in prayer, or that he find his heart in any degree to melt: and this observation of God's goodness letting him know, that he regards his particular requests, will melt his heart indeed further, and perhaps set him all on a flame in desires to praise God, and to abase himself even to the dust before the Lord, Hosh. 3. 5. 1. Thess. 5. 4. That Rule of the 4. Acknowledge thy faults to others. Apostle james is sometimes of singular use in this case of breeding softness of heart, and that is acknowledging your sins one to another, when in secret we make our moans to wise & merciful Christians, and shame ourselves for our special offences, it many times hath melting of heart joined with it: so as that heart, that before seemed hardened and dry, now easily dissolves into tears, jam. 5. 5. To go into the house 5. Go into the house of mourning. of mourning may be in this case profitable: resort to such as be in sorrow for the hand of GOD upon them, especially such as mourn through the affliction of their Spirits: Converse with humble & tenderhearted Christians, Eccles. 7. 6. In all the services of 6. Take heed of distraction in God's service. God be sure to draw near to God, and keep thy mind from distraction and hypocrisy: The Sun cannot have such force to melt the wax, as the beams of God's presence have to melt the heart, jam. 4. 6, 7. 7. The Apostle Paul being 7. Study the tenth Commandment. a sturdy Pharise, had his heart beaten to powder with the fear of the tenth Commandment, that told him, he must not lust: The knowledge and consideration of the abundance of sinne-guiltinesse he had drawn upon himself, by the inward fruits of his evil nature, killed him outright, broke his pride, and mortified him, as he at large repeats, Rom. 7. 8. Remember the Passion 8. Remember the sorrows of Christ for thy sin. of thy Saviour, the poverty, banishment, ignominy, temptations; the apprehension, forsaking, arraignment, condemning, and cruel death, which he suffered for thy sins: Look upon him that was pierced for thy sake, Zach. 12. 12. 9 If of thyself thou 9 Get others to pray for thee. canst not yet attain unto sorrow for thy sins, get some godly Christian, that is endued with the gift of prayer, to join with thee in private, that so the Lord may be pleased to grant in heaven, what we of him do ask on earth. 10. Lastly, If all other means 10. Use fasting. fail, than set a day apart by fasting; for the day of a fast was called the day of afflicting, or humbling the soul, Leu. 16. both because it was the main duty to be striven after on that day, and beside, because the Lord usually did bless his own Ordinance so, as he gave an humbled heart to those, that sought it of him. CHAP. VII. Showing how the Spirit of Adoption may be attained, and also how the several gifts of the Spirit may be framed in us. THus of humiliation: It followeth that I show how he may attain to the other sacred gifts, which are marks of a godly man: as in the first sort of gifts, how he may attain to the love of the Word, the gift of Prayer, the fear of God, the love of his enemies, and the desire of the coming of Christ: But before I enter upon these, it is necessary to show him how he may attain the Spirit of Adoption, which is necessary for these and all other graces. Quest. And concerning the How the Spirit of Adoption may be had. Spirit of Adoption, if any ask how it may be obtained: Or rather, how it may be stirred up in us, that we may feel his working in us? Ans. I answer, that he is had 1. He must pray for it and stirred up by invocation: God is pleased to declare himself willing, and ready to bestow his holy Spirit upon men, if they ask him of him by hearty prayer: He that hath given us his Son, will not deny us the Spirit of his Son to be given into our hearts, Gal. 4. 7. And this our Saviour Christ assures unto us in the Parable, Luke 11. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you: Seek, and ye shall find: Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10. For every one that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth, and to him, that knocketh, it shall be opened. 11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you, that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish, give him a Serpent? 12. Or if he ask an Egg, will he give him a Scorpion? 13. If ye then, which are evil, can give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them, that desire him? 2. We must wait upon 2. Wait upon Preaching. the preaching of the Gospel, where the Holy Ghost usually falls upon the hearts of men. 3. When we feel the 3. Cherish the motions of the Spirit. motions of the Spirit knocking at our hearts▪ or any way surprising us, we must with all readiness open the doors of our hearts, that the King of Glory by his Spirit may enter into us. Quest. The next question is How we may get a love to the Word. then, what we should do to get and preserve in us the constant love to the Word? Ans. 1. The answer is: first, 1. Settie under a powerful Ministry. that we should seek to settle ourselves under the powerful preaching of the Word; even such a Ministry as doth set out the glory of the Truth, and of the Kingdom of jesus Christ. 2. We must make a 2. Pray God to quicken thee. conscience of it to pray unto God to quicken us, and inflame our hearts to the love of his Laws, as David often did, Psal. 119. 3. Take heed of excessive 3. Take heed of worldly cares. cares, and the overteaching of thy desires in the employments of the world, or the immoderate use of worldly delights; for those choke the seed of the Word, and alienate the affections from it; and so doth any gross, or beloved sin, Heb. 3. Math. 13. 4. Take heed also of 4. And of personal discord with such as fear God. personal discord with such as fear God, especially with thy Teachers; for this doth by secret degrees make the heart careless and negligent, and in some things wilful; and if it be not looked to in time, will bring men from the liking of the Word, as they have been drawn from the liking of such as love the Word. 5. Take heed of ungodly 5. And of ungodly company. company: For in such company is quenched the sparkles of liking▪ when they are kindled; yea, and the flames of affection are much dulled, in whom they are best excited, Psal. 119. 115. 6. Such, as find some 6. And of neglect of the increase hereof: beginnings of desire after the Word, and liking to it, must take heed, that they estrange not themselves from the exercises thereof: For if they hear, or read but now & then; either the heart will never be thoroughly heated, or if it be, it will easily wax cold again: and yet herein Or excess some are to be warned to take heed of disordered excess; for that will breed dullness, as well as neglect: As when they will read daily for divers hours; or when they provide unto themselves a heap of Teachers, as some that live in great Cities, think it Religion to hear all sorts of men, and all the Sermons can be come unto: As if the power of godliness lay only in the use of the means of godliness. 7. We must practise 7. Practise what thou hearest. what we hear, and labour to show forth the fruit of the doctrine. He that would be in love with husbandry, must sow his seed in his ground, and then the gain of the Harvest will still allure him to like the Trade: If we be fruitless hearers of the Word, we cannot love it; or if we do, it will be but for a flash, or small time. Thus of the love to the Word. He that would learn To attain the gift of prayer. to pray, must follow these directions: 1. He must go to God 1. Pray God to teach thee in the name of Christ, and beseech him to give him words, and by his Spirit to teach him to pray: It is God only can make a man speak a pure language; for he only can instruct the heart of man, and endue it with this heavenly gift, Rom. 8. 26. Ephes. 3. 9 2. It will much help 2. join with such as can pray. him to join himself to such as call upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart, especially in the days of their humiliation, 2. Tim. 2. 22. 3. There are three distinct 3. How he may furnish himself in every part of prayer. things, which a man may with singular profit propound unto himself in his prayers: Confession of sins: Petition for grace: and thanksgiving for mercies received. Now the weakest Christian may be, through God's blessing, comfortably furnished for his own particular, if he take such a course as this; To go aside, and with all 3. Questions. secrecy, and attention of heart before the Lord, ask himself these three Questions: 1. What sins have I committed, which either now do trouble me; or, if I were to die, would make me afraid? Let him set them down in a paper, or in his memory distinctly, till he can bethink himself of no more. It is no great matter for the order, how he sets them down, so he be sure he have the chief sins, in which he daily offends, or hath offended. 2. What would I have the Lord do for me, if I might have what I wish? Let him set the particulars down till he can remember no more: As for example, I would have him forgive me my sins, and I would have him give me knowledge; and I would have him give me strength against such and such sins; & I would have him give me faith and assurance; and I would have him give me heaven, when I die: and so go on with all the things he feels a desire in his heart to seek of God, till he can remember no more: and if at any other time he remember some special thing, which he would further have, which he hath not in his Catalogue, let him set it down, as from time to time he sees cause. 3. What special favours hath God showed to me, which I see I ought to take special notice of. Let him set them down distinctly, whether they be deliverances, or such and such spiritual or outward mercies, preserving the memory principally of the chiefest of them. Now when he hath thus furnished these three heads with things, that in particular concern himself, they being all matters of weight, he must now carry these things, or the chief of them in his mind, and frame his heart to speak to God in the best words he can get, to signify his detestation of those sins, his humble requests for those graces, and his unfeigned thankfulness for those blessings: Howsoever he may be rude, or unperfect in his language about these at the first, yet exercise will bring him to a ripeness, and by this course he shall be sure to speak of things, that concern himself nearly; and that God, which hath taught parents to regard the unperfect language of their little children, when they begin to speak unto them, will himself much more delight to hear the desires of his servants, that are grieved, that they cannot speak in a better sort unto him: The profit and comfort of this course will appear by experience to be exceeding great; Besides, it is an easy way, when there is in any a true desire to be at the pains to learn this language of speaking to God by prayer, and God's Spirit will help and teach the poor Christian, and draw his Petitions for him, and prompt him both with words and affections; and the Christian must know this, that when he hath confessed his sins, and showed what he would have God do for him, with the best words he could in the truth of his heart, he hath made a most effectual prayer to God. Thus of Prayer. The awful fear of God, How the fear of God may be begotten in us. and the reverent dreading of God, may be begotten and increased in us, if we thoroughly remember and deeply ponder upon, 1. The surpassing glory and transcendent excellency and perfection of his Nature, his absolute Purity, and exact justice, and Holiness. 2. The wonderful works of God, especially those standing miracles showed in the hanging of this mighty earth, and those huge heaps of water in the clouds, and the bounding of these mighty seas, and such like. 3. His fearful threatenings of all sorts of woes against the transgressions of men. 4. The terror of the last Day, and the dreadfulness of death and judgement. 5. The fearful and sudden judgements which have fallen upon wicked men; either recorded in Scripture, or reported in Histories, or observed in experience. 6. Especially, if we think much and seriously of the great goodness of God to us, how he hath striven with us to overcome us with his mercies. Thus of the fear of God. We should strive to stir up in us affection, and love to our very enemies, by such considerations as these: 1. Because Christ, to whom we are infinitely bound, hath expressly charged us to look to this, that we do love our enemies; and therefore for his sake we should deny ourselves, and our own corrupt desires, and affections, and strive to show the truth of our love even towards them, that hate and persecute us. 2. There is none so wicked, but they have something good in them, and worthy to be respected. 3. Our enemies do us good, though they intent it not, we ought to like the very rod that mends us, and regard the water that washeth us white, & make much of the stone that tries us, and the glass that shows us our spots, and not mis-like the tents that search our wounds. 4. If ever God turn their hearts, they will be effectual instruments of our praise and God's glory in the day of their visitation, they will then willingly bear the shame of their own sinful oppositions. I forbear to set down the directions for the attainment of the love of the appearing of Christ, because I have at large handled that point in the Treatise of the Cure of the fear of Death. CHAP. VIII. Thus of the directions that concern the first sort of gifts, concerning the attainment of the other graces: the directions now follow. ANd first, for the attainment How to get and increase saving knowledge. 1. He must be wise for himself. of saving knowledge, and the increase of it, these directions are of excellent use. 1. First, in hearing or reading the Scriptures he must be wise for himself, that is, mark distinctly what he heareth or readeth, that may specially concern himself, Prou. 9 12. 2. He must study those 2. He must study only profitable things. things exactly, which most concern him, avoiding vain questions, and fruitless contemplations, and vain janglings, and controversies: he must especially labour to know God's Nature aright, and the distinct manner of God's true Worship, how he may serve him: he must study to know his own particular offences, and Christ crucified as his Saviour, with the benefits of his meditation, & the necessary things that concern his own justification, Sanctification, and final Salvation. 3. He must redeem the 3. He must redeem the time. time, and by forecast, and order provide so, that some time may be daily allowed for holy studies to recover his former time lost. 4. He must inquire and 4. He must propound his doubts. take counsel, he must take heed of smothering his doubts, but must carefully seek satisfaction to his conscience, as occasion ariseth. There is more profit in this rule, than many 5. He must not consult with flesh and blood. Christians are aware of. 5. He must take heed of consulting with flesh and blood: He must not regard other men's opinions, or his own carnal reason; but resolve to give the glory to God's Word, so as to submit himself to what he shall find therein required to be believed, or done, or avoided. Other Rules he may find in the directions for the private reading of the Scriptures: as also in the Rules of life. Thus of Saving Knowledge. How the love of GOD may be wrought in thee. That thou mayst inflame in thy heart the love of God: 1. Thou must avoid with special care, these things. First, Forgetfulness of 1. Thou must avoid forgetfulness of God, & the love of the world. God; Thou must not dare to go whole days, or weeks, without communion with God, or remembering his holy presence. Secondly, the love of the world: We cannot love the Father, while our hearts dote upon any earthly things: Of necessity, some degree of the contempt of the world must be bred in us, before we can love God. 2. We must labour for 2. Thou must study God's praises. a distinct knowledge of the dreadful praises of God's Nature and Works, as they are described in the Scriptures, or may be observed by experience: This is a needful direction, and miserably neglected. 3. We must frequent 3. Thou must frequent his house. his House; especially when his glory doth most shine in the power of his Ordinances in his Sanctuary. 4. We should especially 4. Thou must study God's mercies. study the mercies of God, and all the good things he hath promised, or given unto us, that we may after a solid manner cause our hearts to know, how infinitely we stand bound to God. 5. We should observe 5. Thou must observe thy daily infirmities. carefully and daily, our own sinfulness and vileness, and unworthiness: For unless we cast out self. love, we shall never get in the true love of God. 6. We should pray 6. Thou must pray much. much; for a holy course in prayer doth breed in men a wonderful love of God, and admiration of that fellowship, which thereby they have with God. 7. We should resort 7. Thou must resort to experienced Christians often to such, as use to speak much of the praises of God, and mark the experience of God's wonderful providence, or the glory of his Word. 8. It will much further 8. Thou must behave thyself lovingly towards the godly. the love of God, to get and increase in us a loving respect of, and behaviour towards such, as fear God, and bear his Image. Thus of the love of God. Concerning the love of the brethren, two questions may be demanded: What we must do to get the love of the godly. The one what we must do to get a hearty love to the godly: And the other what we must do to preserve it when it is gotten. For the first, he that would hearty be affected towards all the godly with a brotherly love, must observe these Rules: 1. He must not haunt 1. Avoid the company of the wicked. with vicious persons, nor go with dissemblers, nor hold needless society with such, as hate godliness, and godly persons, Psal. 26. 4, 5. 2. He must much meditate 2. Meditate much of God's love to us. of God's love to him, and of the great things were done by jesus Christ, and of those rich mercies are offered him in Christ, and of the wonderful love, that God and Christ do bear to true Christians, and how glorious they shall be in the Kingdom of heaven. The arguments taken from God's love to us, or Christ's suffering for us, are often used in the first Epistle of john, to persuade us to the love of the brethren, as 1. joh. 4. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Psalm. 16. 2, 3. 3. He must take notice 3. Consider God's commandment. of God's peremptory commandment, who requireth this of him as one principal duty, that he love the godly; with an utter disclaiming of him, if he do not love them, For the preservation of our love 3 things must be looked to. 1. joh. 3. 10, 11, 12, 23. For the second, that he would continue & increase and abound in love. 1. He must seek, and hold, and not forsake the fellowship that he hath with the godly in the Gospel, but make them the constant companions of his life, Heb. 10. 25. 2. When he finds his affections stirred up, he must make use of all opportunities, by his deeds to show the fruits of his love upon all occasions of mercy, and well-doing, else affections will die in him. The fruits of righteousness must be sowed by practice, 1. joh. 3. 18. If affection be only in show or in words, or in the corruptions of the heart, & be not expressed and made fast by the engagements of practice, it will much decay, if not wholly be lost. 3. He must by all means take heed of discord with any of them, striving for a resolution to take things in the best part, to believe all things, and endure all things, suffering long, without envy, or rejoicing in iniquity, doing all things without reasonings or murmurings, or censuring, or complaining; avoiding vain janglings, and self-conceitedness, begging of God an ability to bear with the infirmities of others. See further directions about this point, in the Rules of life. CHAP. IX. Hitherto of the directions that concern the attainment of the sacred gifts of the mind: now it followeth to show, what thou must do that in all thy ways thou mightst walk uprightly, and attain unto sound sincerity of heart and life. HE that would walk uprightly, or take a sound course to continue How sound sincerity of conversation may be form in thee. in his uprightness, must earnestly look to these Rules: 1. If thou have been guilty of any gross sin, know it is unpossible, thy heart should be upright, till thou have with special repentance humbled thyself, before God for that sin, and that also by conscionable practice thou keep thyself from the great transgression: Psal. 19 13. 2. Thou must in a special manner ●a●ch, and strive against Hypocrisy, and that in two things chiefly: First, that in thy setting out into Religion, thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace. 2. Secondly, that in God's service thou by all means avoid distractions, and so resist and check thy proneness of heart thereunto, judging thyself severely, when thou so offendest, till thou be able in some happy degree to serve God with thy spirit as well as with thy body: The habit of dissembling with GOD is extremely dangerous. 3. In thy conversation take heed of that fearful carelessness of the most men, showed in the known and wilful practice of sin, upon pretence that it is but a small offence, or secret: Take heed of the sins of deceit, how gainful soever they might be to thee: thou mayst together with uprightness lose the Kingdom of heaven, for daring so wilfully to break one of those little commandments, Math. 5. 19 Take heed in general of a stiff and wilful heart: They are seldom upright, that are heady and peremptory, and hard to be persuaded, jam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29. Hab. 2. 4. 4. As much as may be, accustom thy heart to the observing of God's presence, walk, as before him, Gen. 17. 2. 5: Yield thyself over to be wholly guided by God's Word; Without knowledge the mind cannot be good, Prou. 19 2. and he, that walketh according to this rule, shall have peace in his heart and conscience, Gal. 6. 16. Let God's Law be the light for thy feet, and the lantern for thy paths, Psal. 119. Labour therefore to get a particular warrant for the lawfulness of thy practice in the occasions of thy Calling, either general or particular, where thou doubtest inquire, so shalt thou walk in a sure way, and delight thyself in much peace. 6. Take heed of idleness, and provide to walk faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life. 7. Be sure thou hold a constant course of confession of thy sins to God, & do it without hiding, or extenuating; judging thyself for every known sin and especially praying against, and resisting the sin thou art most prone unto. 8. Be not well pleased with thyself, till thou canst approve thy care to be good at home, as well as abroad; look to this Rule, and take heed of frowardness, and perverse behaviour in thy Family; Thou wilt hardly get any comfortable evidence, that thou art sound at heart, if the usual Family sins reign in thee. 9 Thou mightst wonderfully advance, and establish uprightness of heart in thee, if thou wouldst carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his Word, that whensoever thou didst feel thy conscience wounded, or smitten for any particular offence, by the Word of God, that then without delay thou wouldst in secret go to God, and humble thyself by confession, and from that time forward remember to strive against that sin: And so likewise when God with some special glory of his truth doth affect thee in the hearing of some needful duty to be done, not to dare to delay, but haste to the obedience of that good Word of God. FINIS.