Paraphrastical meditations upon Isaiah 55 & Psalm 51 likewise short meditations, first of God and the birth of Jesus, against som [sic] sects and errors and against sundrie sins : also meditations upon the sixtieth Psalm and the fourth verse / by John Barford.

Paraphrastical MEDITATIONS UPON Isaiah 55. & Psalm 51.

Likewise , Short Meditations ; first of God and the Birth of Jesus : against som Sects and Errors : and against sundrie Sins .

ALSO , Meditations upon the sixtieth Psalm and the fourth Vers .

By John Barford .

COR VNVM VIA VNA printer's or publisher's device

Printed by W. D. and are to bee sold by Tho . Euster at the sign of the Gun in Ivie-Lane . 1649.

On my honored , though unknown , Friend , the Autor of this pious BOOk . HEnte , all profaner , and unhallowed Laies , Wee admit no Ivie Rival with thy Baies ; W●● se shad'ie Boughs like Trophies here o're-spread Thy sacred Temples , and empail thine Head . How charming are thy Raptures , and how sweet ! Where Truth and blest Integritie do meet , And join in Consort ! while wee all admire The Musick warbled from thy self the Quire ! Thou dost not here insinuat , to pleas Thy self , or Reader , with Hyperbole's , Or purchas fond Opinion from the Time ; Thy Muse is modest , but withal sublime : Convincing Hearts of marble ; to tread under And dissipate that Man of Sin in sunder . Schisms may hence grow tongue-tie'd , and those wilde Prevaricators , may bee reconcil'd : If they can have but patience to agree , To read these Lines , and practise what they see . Arminians here , whose looser Zeal hath hurl'd Such spreading Heresies through the poison'd world ; With all those Sectaries , who hold forth new And strange Traditions , ( such as Truth ne're knew ) May on perusal of thy Book , submit Themselvs , and guid their better thoughts by it . By it ; whose Heavenlie and Mysterious Page , Might prove the Pole-star to this wand'ring Age , Where Darkness sit's at Stern , and Discord steer's Three Kingdoms sailing in a Sea of Tears . Then wake dull Souls ! awake You , that have been Buoi'd up with Error , and o're-born with Sin ; And to redeem your shipwrack't-senses , look And cast sure Anchor on this Sacred Book , Which , like the Card and Compass , shall safe guid Your Judgments , floating in a troubled Tide . P. F.

A Praier . O Lord my God! to thee , I humbly praie , To guid and keep thy people in thy waie ; That none do swerv , by erring from thy Truth ; No , not in old age , middle , nor in youth . Think of the sad distractions in this Land , Which Errors caus , not guided by thy hand : Stirring up envie , 'twixt thy children dear , Which are not guided by thy love nor fear ; Which undertake these things that hateful bee , And with thy sacred Word much disagree . Oh powerful God! with right invention guid My heart and judgment , that they no whit slide ; That just and righteous things I may declare , By such expressions , justly as they are : To make sin lothsom and thy Name to fear , And sweet embracements 'mongst thy children dear : No more contentions tending unto blood , But brethren lab'ring to do brethren good . Now hear good God even for our Saviour's sake , This is my suit which I do humbly make .

To the READER . HEE that but see's a cottage of one baie , Can never think it should contein a King : His great Magnificence , and 's Princelie raie , And Troon-like tendance , answering everie thing : Must pass by that , into som castle fair , Where all things correspondent , suting are . Even so where anie high-asspiring wit , Adorn'd with Arts , and Magnanimitie , This worthless Work , his fancie cannot fit These Corydonick-Lines so simple bee . I him , even him desire , for to let rest These sillie Lines , and look where hee like's best . But unto those , though learn'd , yet humble are : Though great & tall , but down may pleas to look , And like themselvs , will but som patience bear ; Spend one half hour , and view this little book ; May chance confess , somtime they have spent wors For time ill spent , in time may bring a curs . And as th' Olympian wrastlers a crown to get , 'Gainst their Antagonist , most careful were : Stir'd up with valor , with chois diet set , Their active bodies tend'ring their credit dear . Even so must everie soul gainst hateful sin , Wrastle and strive , if heaven they hope to win . Strive against those that strive against our peace : Strive , strive , and strive , and strive , and never ceas . If anie ask , what calling I have to 't : To write Divine things , how durst thou dare to do 't . My answer is , Sure I have writ no more , But what the Lord's Divines mee taught before From Thes . 2.2 . 15. 2 Tim . 3.15 . God's most holie Word ; that sacred Writ , Inflam'd my heart to write , and stand to it . And that within my fiftie years hath raign'd , Still Kings and Princes , that the same maintain'd . That servant that interr'd his Talent fast ; Even unto hell , himself was quickly cast . The Scholar that his lesson will not saie , His Master sure will whip , or turn away . These were th'inducements which have led me on , Factions and Errors I approve of none . Let not a Letter , wanting , or too much , Displeas the Reader , where hee finde's one such . A little work , a little time doth ask : Read if you pleas . 't is but an easie Task .

Paraphrastical Meditations upon the 55. Chapter of the Prophesie of the Prophet ISAIAH .

Vers the first . REnown'd Isaiah , the Prophet of the Lord , Exort's all men to hearken to his word : And to that heavenlie water to repair , All they that thirstie bee , right welcom are . Though ne're so poor , & destitute thou bee . Twice com away , hee crie's aloud to thee . Denying not , if anie thirst thou hast , That thou this milk should suck , or wine should taste . Let not thy labor then bee thought in vain , If thou this heavenlie banquet so can'st gain . But unto those , that hunger not at all : No right can claim unto this heavenlie call . O thirstless soul ! consider well and see This heavenlie water , tend'red unto thee . It 's from the Fountain , that no Vessel can Infect or change , though from the vilest man .

Vers the second . THen to the rich hee turn's , admiring why Their monie they should spend ; and so let lie The Bread of Life ; that from the Lord is sent : With great neglect , is all but time misspent . No satisfaction can it bring to thee , But horror , wo , and endless miserie . If thou bee'st lame , or blinde , or weak though rich , No excuse may bee taken of one such . Why that this Bread of Life should bee neglected , And earthlie fading trifles so affected . Nay , if thou naked go , thou mai'st not staie , I am not equipag'd yet , for that waie . Art thou diligent , and wilt hear his voice ? Then eat the good , and let thy soul rejoice . That it in fatness may have true delight : O let it bee thy care both daie and night ! Look and behold thy God in everie thing , May staie thy failings , and more mercie bring . But here I needs must staie , and so turn back Vnto the place which give's so sweet a smack . And to thy soul doth heavenlie counsel give : To eat the good , that in ioie thou mai'st live . Five parts from hence , I here considered have , First what 's the good , the soul should seek & crave Where must wee have 't , whence may gather that , The heavenlie food , our souls for to make fat . Who is hee that the soul doth pine ? Detein's and keep's us from this Food divine ? And fourthly here God's Word doth plainly show Who poison bring's unto the soul also . Which Exod . 20.11 . 2 Cor . 1.21 . 1 John 2 , 20 , 27. daie to rest hath God appointed , Thy soul to feed with grace to bee annointed .

The first Part . GOd's Word 's the good of wch thy soul must fee● When truly it is taught , or wee it read . God's 2 Tim . 3.15 , 16. Exod . 20.11 . Word doth feed the soul , & rightly cherish : As sure as strength'ning meat doth bodie nourish . The soul without God's Word , no food cave have ; Therefore God's word thy soul it must needs crave God's word it is the soul's sweet heavenlie food ; His And so a murtherer . Law is blessed , holie , iust and good .

The second Part . THey feed the soul wch God hath fed with grace . Where heavenlie wisdom , virtues do imbrace . Beeing ioin'd with iudgment sound , and learning , true : God's hidden secrets for to search & view . They feed the soul , each soul may sweetly see : Good life , firm faith , and iudgment all agree .

The third Part . HEE pine's the soul , that in the Church hath got Which in divine things is but an Ideot . Though that som neck-vers hee can perfect read , Dumb ignorance the soul can never feed . Hee pine's the Ezek 34.2 , 3 , 4. soul , which can but will no more , That from his livings heaped hath such store . That fast asleep is fallen in his chair , That wak'neth doth but few times in the year . Then all in haste unto the Church do go , Som sleep then missing hee doth threaten so . Though that hee slep't , they sought their soul to feed For hee will paie them for that factious deed : And excommunicate them into hell : For with such Puritans hee hate's to dwell . If that a sheep want food , and do not crie : A lazie shepherd may chance let him die . Or if his pasture him no food doth yeeld ; Hee I lose his fleece to get a better field . Mistake mee not , Acts 20.28 . I mean not here to touch God's Over-seers ; all those I honor much , That stand for Truth , and Holiness maintain : All Popish Reliques utterly disdain . What doth hee pine , that usurie maintein's : Where swearing drunk'ness , pride , & envie reign's . I fear their scholar-ship's do but little good ; From sin's foul fountain flow's but little food . God's Word is good , and everie tittle true : But when it com's to The man not sent . simple men to view , And to unfold those secret Mysteries ; Which gift God give's to none , but onely his , That hee hath sent , for to declare his will ; His Laws to teach , and eke his minde fulfil . How can that man , God's secret well e're know , Who dare's to run , whom God did n'ere bid go . Hence rise's Wars , Heresies , and Distractions , When seeming Saints , prove wicked in their actions . The Ethiopian Lord must need's a Philip have To teach the good , sith hee the Lord doth crave . I need not shew how God's fierce wrath doth rise 'Gainst mightie King's ; that willing to advise With Prophetsfall , against God's children dear , Search but the Scripture , thou shalt finde it there . What King unjustly ever went to Wars : Or with his neighbors seem'd to have som jars : But that a Priest or Prophet , did him tell , You may go on Sir ; you do right and well . Or els forbear to show God's heavenlie will ; That 't is not lawful brethren's blood to spill . When that our Northren Earl by Pluto's plot : In Chevie-Chase , hee thither had but got : Pretending for to kill som sillie deer , How manie harmless hearts were slaughtered there . And then great Henrie , must revenged bee , Even against those that had the iniurie . Yet all this time you can in no place finde Where anie Levite ought to change his minde . Look but to Agen-Court , and blush for shame , To think who were the The Bishops . plotters of the same . And to conclude ; who dare God's Laws withstand , If that the Clergie in it have no hand .

The fourth Part . NOr need to write , for all men can it tell , How murth'ring Friars in their blood do swell Even against Kings , who are the Lord's annointed , Which raign in Peace as God himself appointed . Alas poor Friars , why do I wrong you so : It is the Pope that warn's you for to go . Hee like Belzebub send's som under-Devil . For to dispose of Kings . Pretend's som evil That hee hath don against the Lord of Might . Know hee is Pope , hee cannot but iudg right . Massacres and Murthers is his practice still : Christ's dear redeemed hee doth seek to kill . This is our honor , wee may truly saie : They do us curl and wee for them do praie . This Church of Rev. 7.4 . Rome , though in a golden cup , Such deadlie poison make's her children sup : In stead of fatness , they their souls do kill With fall Traditions , do so stuff and fill . Which they prefer before the Scriptures true : As it appear's to everie Christian view . Compelling them unto the Saints to praie : And take our Saviour's Office quite away . More , that our works should meritorious bee : Iudg of those Errors , and thou mai'st them see . And manie falshoods more they do maintain ; Which they from Fathers hold Traditions vain . Call to the Saints above with Praiers hot : When they are in Limbo , but they had forgot . Iust like to boulers in the heat of plaie , As if the bouls did know what they did saie . So wicked leaders make the people err : Vntill destruction on them may infer . They teach small good , though all the good pretend No fatness to the soul , at all , they send .

The fifth Part . I Need not shew the daie , if thou wilt look The eight and fiftieth Chapter of God's Book . Which place will teach thee , how thou art to live That daie , thou must thy soul true Manna give . I need not shew how God his children tide , That blessed daie , their soul for to provide . Nor need I shew how God his iudgment sent Vpon those people , which that daie misspent : And on that man , that did but sticks then gather , Denyings God's , fulfill'd his own will rather . O for presumptuous sins lament them hey ! Hee did his God withstand , and hee must die . Speak , speak dull soul , what , canst thou nothing saie ? God doth give no time of another daie ? To eat the good , that thou thy self may feed : Yes , yes , I finde it written in that Deed : Six daies for Labor , and all things to do ; My soul I then must feed , for God saith so . To see my lamps prepar'd , and trimm'd withall : And to bee readie when my Lord doth call . Who can abide a beast that 's crawling lean . Ill look 't , foul kep't , half pined and unclean . Or saie som Monarch thee invite to com Unto the marriage of his eldest son : And thou thy self art fat , beaut'ful and fair , And all thy garments sweet and comlie are . But thy poor soul is like a worthless worm : Faint , weak and sick , that ev'n scarcely turn . Who would not loath the same , and fearful bee At this foul inner man if they did see . If to thy brother , envie thou dost show ; It were most shameful anie should it know , Before thou truly reconciled bee : O fie ! what brothers ? and will disagree . But to thy soul th' art chiefest enemie : Who will condole thy endless miserie ? Then labor for thy soul , and make it fat : No satisfaction will bee like to that . And chiefly that thy God doth so advise , If that to Glorie thou do'st hope to rise .

Vers the third . STill com , hee call's , if you incline your ear : Hear , and your souls shall live , my children dear . If thou dost then neglect , what can'st thou saie , If God should take his mercie quite awaie . Hear , hear the promise , which the Lord doth make , An everlasting Covenant , for man's sake : Which hee in mercie unto David made : Com haste awaie , let no time bee delai'd . The heedful hearer , comming still shall finde Distilling graces , to inrich his minde .

Vers the fourth . BEhold ! I give him for a witness to All nations , that his blessed name do know . Both Master and Commander for to bee ; And eke a Prince to all eternitie . O love surpassing all that e're was heard ! That God should show his people undeserv'd : That hee his onely Son from heaven should send ; And eke his blood , at length for them to spend . Was ever Covenant yet performed so : That everie man did read , or hear , or know . Which teache's us to love , to laud , to prais , And magnifie his Name , even all our daies . Saie that thou had'st som potent enemie ; Which much too strong , and valiant was for thee : And thou thy self , fals-hearted , faint and weak , And that with him a combat thou must make : How would'st thou quake and tremble for to see This mightie monster , much too hard for thee . But if a loving friend of thine step out , And for thy sake this furious combat fought : What canst thou saie ? which waie wouldst thou requite Thy faithful friend , thou beeing no man to fight . Nay , which is more , thy friend for thee bee slain : Would not thou then lament , and crie amain . This loving combat , Christ for thee did fight , 'Gainst Death , Grave Hell , which was by due thy right . O love ! such love surpassing love ne'r found : Then let thy soul with thankfulness abound . If to Christ's head , thou vow'st thy dearest love ; Nay , thou 'lt him dagger , that will thee disprove . But for his hand , thou can'st it not abide : Som reasons to thy self thou dost reside . Where hand thou had'st , thou lov'st no head at all : Thy love 's most base , and hypocritical . Which love , if truly , thou would'st to him show , By sin's true hatred , thou dost let him know , And love unfeined to his Members all ; Com life , com death , what ever do befall . Where hee command's , no countermand must bee No trenching 'gainst his Princelie Regaltie . Kings at his feet , their Ruling-Scepters laie : And unto him , they humbly sue and praie ; That hee their Crowns would settle firm & sure : Not onely here , but ever to endure .

Vers the fifth . BEhold ! behold ! again the Lord doth saie ; A Nation thou shalt call to the true waie . Those people which thou did'st not yet receiv ; To their Messias they did no whit cleav . And likewise those which knew thee not at all , Shall com in haste , and down before thee fall . Becaus the Lord God , Israels holie One ; To Glorie like thee , never will set none . Blest are those people which the Lord doth call ; If they him fear , and serv , and love withall . That beeing so , what then must they needs bee , Which hide themselvs , or alwaies from him flee . How manie strive to compass land and sea ; If that som treasures they may bring away : Not thinking of the dangers they pass by ; So that their prolects they can com but nigh : What combats fall , what shipwrack they do suffer , Tost with the raging seas , compel'd to hover . Som on the rocks are cast , som on the sands : Som with the Cannon's force lose head and hands . But when Christ call's , most get them rather further Slight's his intreatie , and their own soul's murther . What do I ( murther ) saie , 't is not so well : Though alwaies dying , there 's no death in Hell . O Prince of Prince's Land King of kings own Son , Who will not to this Princelie Prince then run : Seeing rewards so great above all measure ; No waie compared may the whole world's treasure . For as the Lord hath glorifi'd his Son : Thou shalt bee glorifi'd if thou wilt com .

Vers the sixth . O Seek to the Lord , while hee may bee found For hee in mercie alwaies doth abound . Hee doth perswade thee , if thou him dost fear ; To seek to call , to crie , while hee is near : Unto this heavenlie search make haste and go : It is the Lord that thee adviseth so . Such quiet to the soul it needs must bring ; Where heavenlie graces daily grow and spring . Where gold and treasure may bee gotten near ; Who will to th' Indies then , go fetch them there . O fearful , fearful , that time needs must bee , When God will not bee heard , nor found by thee . To lose the favor of a gracious King , Were weakness madness , and a shameful thing . Yet death would surely give an end to all ; Both losses , crosses , that on earth doth fall . But hee that doth his loving God despise , Death will conveigh him to all miseries . If that som trivial thing thou dost but lack ; How quickly thou wilt up , and roundly pack To fair or mercat , where it may bee had : No whit regarding waie , or weather bad . But let thy soul want food , or what it will : Thou ' lt saie the waies are long , or weather ill . Or if a lump of earth thou hast but bought ; And dost mistrust thy Evidences , nought : Awaie thou ' lt hors to Counsel , and to Term , And never rest till thou hast made them firm . But let thy evidence to heaven bee crost , Bee cras'd , cancel'd , or bee meerly lost : Thou ' lt slight the matter , or but little fear To meer thy maker , though that hee bee near . Admit , ten thousand miles thou wert to go To meet thy God , if hee appoint thee so : And that thy Patent home thou shouldst then bring That thou with him shouldst live a crowned King : Wouldst thou this journie think was spent in vain , If that this kingdom so thou shouldst obtain . Then lose no time , sith hee intreat's thee so : Whil'st hee is neer , before hee farther go . O wretched man ! rebel against thy Lord ? Slight thy Redeemer ? make thy self abhor'd ? The toad doth creep , the serpent swiftly slide From th' face of man , shee carefully doth hide . But God doth seek man to preserv , not kill : The more God call's man get's him further still . Still to the Serpent , which will him destroie With torturing torments , and with great annoie . The hateful'st creature that on earth doth crawl , Surpasseth man , where Christ's not all in all . Then hear my theme which I to all men give , That they in time will hasten , while they live : To seek and finde the everlasting Lord ; As hee directeth in his holie Word . Lest that thou finde him , that hee will not bee A sin revenging God , for aie , to thee .

Vers the seventh . O Wicked man ! thy waies forsake and flee ; Since to heaven's waies they nothing do agree . And everie thought which leadeth unto sin Forsake , leav off , and do anew begin , With Bee sure you use the means to get faith and repentance . Faith and true Repentance , com before Thy loving Lord , and do thy sins deplore . Then hee stand's readie , and will pardon all ; Both thy back-sliding , and thy fearful fall .

Vers the eighth . FOr my thoughts are not yours , nor your waies mine : From mee they alwaies differ & decline . As wicked thoughts make wicked actions grow ; So heavenlie thoughts make heavenlie virtues flow

Vers the ninth . FOr as the heavens are higher then the earth : God's thoughts from man's , so much still differeth God's thoughts by man cannot bee comprehended . Man's thoughts as man , may never be commended . Man's thoughts by God shall alwaies be directed , When to his Laws hee truly stand's affected .

The tenth and eleventh Verses . AS rain & snow which from the heavens do fall , Descend's not down , and riseth up withall : But water 's th' earth , and make's it spring and grow , And giveth bread to him that doth it sow . So shall the word wch from my mouth doth com ; It shall accomplish what I will have don . And not return in vain , and to no end , And prosper in the thing where I it send . Then where 's free-will ? to which so falsly stood The late Pelagians , and succeeding brood . As if their wisdom far excelled more , Our Church and Martyrs , which are gone before . They fear'd no fagot , fire , nor bloodie sword : Their faith was fast'ned firm upon God's Word . Those sweet Elizean flames they did imbrace As heaven's transporters to their heavenlie place . Those Saints and Martyrs no Pelgians were ; As Fox ( not Faux ) recorded , doth declare . Faux was that wicked instrument of hell . Pluto's chief counsellor , and foul actor fell Of that most hellish Treason , th' Powder-plot : Whil'st earth remain's can never bee forgot . To have blown up King , Prince , and chief Estate : All but their friends and sides-men in that Fate . What 's that Religion which such Facts maintain Of Blood and Prov. 24.10 . Treason , and do still remain . O fear and tremble , poor seduced ones ! I do your case lament with sighs and moans . Nay , if Pope Ioan her self shee might be here , Shee would not finde a place this point to clear . Why God did Esau hate , and Iacob love : No reason but God's will can anie prove . And mark the words which Iesus Christ doth saie Two in the Mill shall bee at th' later daie : The one , hee saith , to him hee will receiv : The other sure hee will forsake and leav . I will have Exod . 33.19 . Ezek . 37.23 , 28. mercie where I will it show : And where I will not , there I 'le answer no . Paul riding was the verie waie to hell : Hee rode and rode , yet thought hee did ride well . It 's Grace Acts 2.39.42 . Job 33.26 . in man , that on man God bestow's ; Begotten by his Word , God's truth it show's ; Christ saith , All those thou gavest unto mee ; Shall everlasting John 17.24 . glorie ever see . It 's God that worketh both to will and do ; Even of his own good pleasure , hee saith so . You hath God quickned , and in mercie fed : Which in your sins and Eph. 2.5 . Pro . 16.4 . trespasses were dead . Then what are those that like to God will bee : Which beeing dead ; from death make them free . Can th' Ethiopian change his sulfer'd skin To purest white , which black Jer . 13.23 . hath alwaies been . O● Psal . 141.1 . Leopard fierce , his sable spots remove When hee doth pleas , where hee these things can prove . No more can man , whose custom is to ill , From sin to Job . 26.19 . Psal . 139.23 , 24. goodness alter when hee will . Regenerate himself sure no man can , That live's on earth , and is no more but man , Who so is plung'd and wash'd by his new birth ; Must still bee washing , if hee live on earth . Now unto him that doth Free-will maintein : And yet give's waie and let 's corruption reign : And longer will go on in slavish sin . And yet in time will mend , and then begin ; To him I saie , I do no caus finde why That God should ever hear him call or crie : That anie mercie hee to him should show , That dare presume to slight his Maker so . But unto him whose holiness is clear , That can , and doth , and will God alwaies fear . Astronomers which in their books must place Him for a Saint , to his great prais and grace ; And unto him som Holie-daie direct ; Becaus hee Holie-daies doth much affect ; And rank's such daies even with the Lord's own daie , And take's the fourth Command'ment quite away ; Or els it should som Ceremonie bee , To keep that daie , the soul's felicitie . These Popish tenents do distract the Soul , Disturb the Church , end eke our Peace controll . But now if all Free-willians holie are . I crave their mercie and do here so bear ; But one thing fain of them I would demand , Which doth concern the matter here in hand ; When in their Function settled that they were : What oath they took ? to what then did they swear ? Wa'st not our Churches Doctrine to maintein ? Even the same Our Saviour's Doctrine , Mat . 5.18 , 19. Articles that still remain . Mee think's I see our champions at a maze , Staring and looking , each one on other gaze . Like well-bred women , curt'sing for the waie , wch should give place , when they had rather staie . That Doctrine of God's Law , the fourth Command That God in Tables writ with his own hand . As they still taught , the same for to defend , And bring these Romish Errors to an end : For when the Lord upon Mount Sinah came In wonders , thunders , and a fierie flame ; With trumpets loud ; that hill did quake & tremble When that her Maker thither did assemble Moses to meet ; and him his Laws to give , That by his Law they all should learn to live . And to all ages , it should ever bee A Moral Psalm 119.156 . pattern to eternitie . Christ did redeem us , and unto him draw , From the revenging Justice of the Law . Som swearing Priest will sure hereafter call The third Commandement , Levitical . Say that a thousand men , against but one , Would part this Law , or els would have it none , What safetie wer 't the greater part to take , Since't bring's no peace , nor conscience quiet make ; The right-hand waie the safest is of all ; Never to yeeld it Ceremonial . With much admiring , I Ezek . 22.26 , 16. do stand and wonder , Who dare presume God's blessed Laws to sunder : And eke in Print , to testifie the same ; To the dishonor of his holie Name . O earth ! hast thou forgot thy mouth to open , To swallow those that have God's Laws so broken . Bee thou not wors then is the hors or mule ; Their master's they obeie , and let them rule . The com and go , and eke such burthens bear For which th' are fit , and eke created were . But man those common graces doth abuse , Which God by nature gave him for to use . Hee doth not do his best his God to prais , But turn's his will and strength quite other waies ; Think 't is enough , that when hee is to die , Hee then upon his God will trust and crie . For look how water gusheth down a hill , The noisom'st hollow ceaseth not to fill ; Even so is man , which to himself is left , Swim's head-long down , from goodness is bereft . Do what thou mai'st , what will to thee is given : Go thou not back , lest backward thou bee driven . All deeds of darkness do forsake and shun : For they to darkness will thee make to run : Unto that dark and direful place wilt bring , Like bird in th' pit fall which no more can sing . Thou ' lt howl and crie , where thou the light shall see : Becaus that darkness here was light to thee . Build not of that which mortal man hath founded , But hold to that from which all truth is grounded . Who so is warie of sins leprosie : Then learn a true and perfect remedie . Wait in that place wherein thy Saviour heals By his sweet word , his own sweet self reveals . Staie wait , and praie , if thou wait manie a year , Hee 'l com at last thou need'st it not to fear . Truth call's for patience , and command's to staie , Till Christ bee pleas'd to walk the healing waie . Then ceas not ceas not , but still to him crie : When death doth com , none can one hour buie . O wer 't not Rom. 8.18 . better for a man to bee Tormented here , with all earth's miserie . Still firm by faith , my Christ my soul doth tell : Beleev and fear not , thou with mee shalt dwell . Then long life , kingdoms health , and pleasure still , And should bee left unto my own free-will . But unto him that doth refuse to wait , Beware thou provest not a reprobate . The glorious Sun the blinde man cannot light ; Nor dead men heat though in her highest height .

The twelfth and thirteenth Verses . FOrth shall you go in joie , and lead in peace , In whom my word doth prosper and increas : This sentence sweet is spoken unto them Which make's God's word their soul's delighting jern . To them the mountains high shall seem to sing ; Trees clap their hands , each thing doth joie them bring Instead of choaking thorns fit trees shal grow And myrtle plac'd when raking briars blow . And this shall bee even to the Lord a Name : And everlasting sign of his great fame . Of his surpassing mercie and his love , The which none shall have power to remove . Those that before seem'd fuel fit for hell , Are now God's buildings 1 Cor . 6.19 . where himself will dwell . His John 3.9 . seed within them is so firmly sown , That none from God can separate his own . Like daded childe new learning for to go : So weak is man , so Psal . 119.117 . Mat . 16.23 . tottering to and fro . For look when God doth take away his hand , Hee falleth down Psal . 94.17 and hath no power to stand . But when hee crie's and call's , the Lord doth com , Even as a loving father to his son . Hee readie is to help , to rais , to feed , And cloath the naked in due time of need : And make the lion fell a friend to bee ; And fierie fornace comfort give to thee ; Which to his enemies shall burn and tear , And rend in pieces when they , com but neer . Will God such mercie to his Psalm 125.1 . children show ? And yet will God to hell them cast and throw : No , no , God's word and promises are sure ; Th' are truth , and truth , and truly will endure . God will not cast one childe of his to hell ; But often paie them when they do rebel : And mark the words of true converted Paul : Let him that standeth , take heed lest hee fall ; Fall from Election , that can never bee ; But from som Grace that joies might bring to thee : Out-side Professors misled , they wholly may From God's eternal favor fall away : Korah with all them that the earth did swallow , They did profess God's Laws to keep and follow : And manie thousands more , which all did perish ; With Quails & Manna God did feed & cherish . Iudas profest , Christ did him devil call : Son of perdition no wonder of his fall . Hee love's his with an everlasting love : How'st everlasting if it may remove . Hee never will thee fail nor yet forsake : O wilt not thou thy heavenlie God's word take ? Heaven must first pass , and earth no more must bee Before God's word shall alter one degree . Thus here you see God's heavenlie invitation ; From heavenlie water floweth true salvation . Our Saviour Christ , hee doth likewise proclaim Soul's endless blessing and eternal fame . Where hung'ring thirst is after righteousnes , They shall bee filled with true happiness . A Maker ever near , I ow honor new : Blest and renown'd for our Redeemer's due .

FINIS .

Paraphrastical Meditations upon the 51. Psalm of the Prophesie of the Prophet DAVID . THe King of kings , this King did make to bee From small repute , a conqueror great you see A stripling small that seemed but a boie , Did beard the Lion , and a Bear destroie . Hee slew a Giant , and more fame did get Then all the armie , that in field was set . Yet was a shepherd in the wilderness ; A place for men of Sam . 6.18 . war for to possess . Which David was reported for to bee , By Saul's attendants , in his miserie . His learning , musick , cunning , and his skill , Shew'd that his breeding was not on a hill . His valor seemed to surpass the rest , To keep the flock from the devouring beast . God did appoint him to annointed bee : Thus was hee fitted for great dignitie : Then brought unto his Kinglie state and chair ; Liv'd gratiously , and serv'd the Lord with fear . But mark when God doth leav man to himself ; What 's worldly wisdom , dignitie , and pelf : Hee walked but upon his pallace high ; A naked woman bred his miserie This sin-prov'd great , then hee this Psalm did make To God , for mercie , for his mercie's sake . Hee liv'd too long , and in his sin did dwell , Till God by Nathan him his sin did tell .

Vers the first . HAve mercie upon mee , O Lord , hee crie's , Teaching all sinners lessons that are wise ; To crie and call , and seek for mercie all : Never to rest , but still for mercie call , At mercie's seat , where mercie doth abound ; Where humble sinners mercie still have found . It is thy mercie that must do mee good , Thy heavenlie Saints for mercie all have stood . The Lord invite's mee to it , then will I Still crie and call for mercie , till I die . To blot out my transgressions , which are more , In number , numberless , and the burden sore . O take them off , even for thy honor's sake Honor and mercie mee a suitor make . Thy love , which is thy self , can never leav thee , For honor , love , and mercie , then do hear mee . It is a work of mercie mee to free Of this sore burthen , and great miserie . O let mee finde the sweetness of thy love , My soul's request , mine iniquities remove . It hath been ask't , why David first did praie To God , to wash , and cleans his sins away , Before hee first confest them unto him , In order as they laie in everie sin . The doleful sight , and heavie burthen aie , Did wound , and ulcerate , and made him crie .

Vers the second . WAsh mee throughly from mine iniquitie ; And cleans me from my sins what e're they bee ; By washing thou do'st show thy love to mee , So cleansing , maketh mee , thy power to see . From outward spots , and inward putrefaction , O cleans both soul and bodie , life and action ; Not onely from the sight of sillie man , But from that eie , that hidden nothing can . My tears , God know's are few and weak , and lean , But if thou wash mee then I shall bee clean . A blest and happie state shall I bee in ; Wash't from iniquitie , and cleans'd from sin . Till I bee reconciled to my God , I take no rest , but fear his heavie rod .

Vers the third . I Know mine iniquitie , and my sin , They are before mee , when they do begin : My miserie's not , that I my sins do know , But that they are mine , the breeder of my wo : A blessed thing , when that each soul doth see Each several sin , that mournful hee may bee : They as tormentors , ceasing upon mee , And add more sorrow to my miserie . Too manie seek their sins to cloak and hide ; Which will prove heavie , when they must bee tri'd ; Whether wee do confess our sins or no ; There is no hideing , God each sin doth know .

Vers the fourth . A Gainst thee onely have I sinned , Lord , As God , and Father , Soveraign , and thy Word . Adam might well have said , That onely hee Sin'd against God ; that did no other see . But how shall it bee said , that David did ; Was then Vrias matter from him hid ? What unfitter speech could then bee used ? Which God , and self , and friend , had so abused . God gave the Law , and all our sins doth see , Which made this sin to him so fearful bee . Thy words are true , yet Mercie thee doth staie ; Wee sinful are , yet thou forbear'st to slaie . Thy Judgments pure , for Mercie still I crie ; Sin's first beginner , Lord , that was not I.

Vers the fifth . BEhold ! I was born in iniquitie , And in sin my mother conceived mee . Seeing my birth conception did not mend , Let heavenlie graces my new birth attend . For as the bodie groweth , so doth sin , If God's preventing Graces step not in .

Vers the sixth . THou lovest truth in th' inward true affection , Therefore thou gav'st mee wisdom & direction Thou art the God of truth , and so doest love , To the true heart a loving God to prove . Thou teachest wisdom in the secret heart ; There 's none but thee can teach it in that part . Though grace thou gav'st mee not sin to prevent ; Thou taught'st mee wisdom that I should repent . It 's hard to feel repentance still in soul , Thou art the giver , Lord , my sins controll . External wisdom 's given now and then , To art and nature , and the help of men .

Vers the seventh . PUrge mee with hysop , and I shall bee clean , If thou still wash mee , I shall still remain Then whiter then the snow , I shall appear ; I shall bee purified , and made most clear . That promised Messias which did free His faithful people , from hell's miserie . That blood , that hyssop , that was to bee shed , Was as effectual , as now hee is dead . This blest Messias such sweet comfort bring's , That hee will com with healing in his wings . So God's own people ever had the waie To endless Glorie , even unto this daie .

Vers the eighth . MAke mee to hear of joie and gladness , Lord ; Of that sweet tidings written in thy word : Of a Redeemer , from that endless wo , Which , I beseech thee , I may never go . To bee rewarded as I have deserved ; But by that hyssop I may bee preserved . Hee will make whole again my broken bones , Which shivered lie , with grievous sighs & moans . Then shall my heart rejoice , and tongue shall prais My blest and dear Redeemer , all my daies .

Vers the ninth . OH hide thy face from all my sins I praie ! Great gratious God , and put them all away . O look on him , that did the burthen bear ! Let them no more continue as they were . Let mee bee cleans'd from all iniquitie , That I thy mercie still may taste and see .

Vers the tenth . CReate in mee a clean heart , and renew A right spirit , that 's holie , just , and true . When thou hast seated truth within my heart , Rebellion will bee routed in each part . Thy breathing Graces will mee strengthen so , That I shall finde out everie deadlie so , That would alure , or draw mee from thy will , To things so hateful , wicked , vile , and ill . Then cleans my heart , Good God I do thee praie , Still to bee guided in thy blessed waie .

Vers the eleventh . FRom thy sweet presence , cast mee not away , But let thy holie Spirit in mee staie : As long as I am in thy presence Lord , Thy glorious presence , comforts mee afford ; What am I better then a sillie worm ? If thou thy lovely presence from mee turn . Wors then the vilest creature thou did'st make , If thou thy graceful Spirit from mee take . As God is said to bee in everie place All are not filled with his heavenlie grace . Both grace and presence , Lord , let mee injoie ; So shall I bee preserved from annoie .

Vers the twelfth . SAlvation's joie , O Lord , restore to mee ; For unto it nothing compar'd may bee : It 's better lose both goods , and health , and life , Then sweet salvation , ender of all strife . God took it not away , I did it lose , Which make's mee tremble , yet my spirit rows , And look up to the helper of my wo , The gratious healer , though wee from him go . With thy free spirit , Lord , establish mee , O then from slavish fear shall I bee free ! Hope set's out first , and get's the start of fear ; Faith build's up all in my Redeemer dear .

Vers the thirteenth . THen shall I teach thy waies to wicked men : And sinners bee converted to thee then . Then shall I teach effectual , and bold , Els fals , or idle , dull , or dead , or cold . To fast , and kneel , and praie with heartie groans , T is Christian's dutie , God will hear their moans . Search everie corner , everie spot to cleans ; Then God will hear , and pardon all thy sins .

Vers the fourteenth . NO earthly man God's kingdom hope's to see , But that these words may savorie seem to bee ; Can living Saint , or Monarch , bee so good ? But still may crie , Deliver mee from blood . Blood that 's desired secret in the minde , 't is just with God , som judgment for it finde . hee was a man after the Lord's own heart ; O but Vrias matter was his smart ! Who is so clear but to the Lord may call ? For to bee cleans'd from sin , both great and small . Let bloodie acts , or in the heart intended , Lamented bee , and wicked thoughts amended . Hee that doth think himself to bee most free , May bee in danger of hell's miserie . Blest is that man with David , true can saie , God is my portion , comfort , and my staie . God of salvation , what greater blessing then Can bee bestowed on the sons of men ?

Vers the fifteenth . O Lord ! if thou my lips do open ? then My mouth shall prais thee 'mongst the sons of men , Endevouring still , and striving for to bee , As Angels singing , with sweet melodie . To generations I will shew thy prais , For this thy bountie , even in all my daies . Whole troops of praises , must I shew again , That thou disdainest not to make mee clean . Then open thou my lips , my mouth , and all My secret parts , on thee to trust and call . I prais thy patience , for thou mad'st mee new , And for accepting my repentance due .

Verses the sixteenth and seventeenth . SAcrifice was shadows of things to bee ; The substances are come , each soul may see . Bullocks , that burnt-offering , chief meant the heart Accept therefore , O God , that broken part . 't is no repentance , if this bee not in , A true heart-breaking , sorrowing soul for sin .

Verses the eighteenth and nineteenth . BEE favorable to Zion and do build Jerusalem's walls , desend it with thy shield . It is a work of thy Almightie power , Preserv it Lord , each daie and everie hour ; Against the host of all her enemies , That both against thy self and people rise . For thy whole Church , O Lord , I here do praie ; For wee are sinners and offend thee aie . Therefore , O Lord , thy judgments from us staie , That wee may give thee prais both night and daie . Then thou our praiers wilt accept and hear , When wee do strive to live in thy true fear .

FINIS .

John Barford's Praier to God to prevent the Scottish Wars . 1639. ALL Powder smother , Bullet's fall down dead ; Pikes lose their points , & Swords be turn'd to lead No skin bee race't , nor drop of blood bee lost ; Strife turn'd to Peace , and Envie quite bee crost ; Sweet Peace disturbers com to open shame , Truth Standerd-bearer gain celestial fame .

SHORT MEDITATIONS ; FIRST Of God and the Birth of Jesus : Against som Sects and Errors . Lastly , against four and twentie SINS .

By John Barford .

Printed in the Year , 1649.

To the READER . THe deeper sadder Poems are to thee ; They will less profit , and less pleasure bee ; But light and vain , though wittie , yet they 'l caus , Time much mis-spent ; and idle fancie draw's Large Lines and Learned Wits do alwaies fit ; But short though mean , the wise will bear with it . If in som rapture anie hence do gain , I joiful am , and think not of my pain .

Short Meditations , &c.

First of God . WHen of the heavens I think , and meditate , Of our great God , that all things did create , Without beginning , ending he hath none , This is too deep , too much to think upon : But of God's Word , Love , Mercie , and free Grace , By faith in Christ , soul savingly imbrace .

Secondly , Of Christ his Birth . WHen Christ was born , and to his own was sent , A Proclamation from heaven's Parliament Wonder of wonders , of our Saviour's birth , All to redeem poor abjects of the earth : Armies of Angels like a heavenlie host , Reveal'd to us , even by the holie Ghost : That is the Ecce ! Luke 2.11 . daie , to you's a Saviour born ; A daie of mercie even to babes forlorn ; This joiful tidings , first to shepherds mean ; Should take off pride , that wee no men disdain . Gods Promise old , was here perform'd to man ; Teach all our dutie , do the best wee can . What God command's wee should remember still , Both night and Luke 2.11 . daie , and to observ his will ; The Psal . 111.4 , 9. Lord hath made his wondrous works to bee Had in remembrance , to eternitie . Christ did refuse for to bee King on earth ; But King of souls , and causser of new birth . A Riddle of the Soul . WEE have a jem which cost full dear , Which by the best is kept with fear ; But fools this Jewel lose and keep ; This is a Riddle , read and weep . If all the treasures that the world contain's , Which earth doth yield , or in the sea remain's ; Was heaped so that thou the same might see , This sight might well a wonder bee to thee : To view these things below which God did make That man might serv him for his mercie sake ; This sight was nothing , and ten thousand more , Ten thousand times ten thousand o're and o're . When death shall summon thee away to hie , Farewel all earthlie pomp thou mai'st then crie . If all the wisdom that each one possest , That is now present , or may bee exprest ; And eke all valor , strength , with beautie plac'd , Beset with jewels , and with greatness grac'd , Were given to thee that thou might them injoie ; And all the mention'd riches to imploie ; And that Meth●salah's daies thou wer 't to live ; And likewise to thy heir thou might'st them give : If to Christ's purchase thou no right hast in , A poisonous serpent better thou had'st been . What 's then these treasures , if thou consider well ? Unto that price , which thee redeem'd from hell . Slight neither price nor jem , but honor give To that Price-Giver , whil'st thou art to live : Hee may bee begg'd that doth a feather chuse , And will the ransom of a King refuse . Who yet will live in sin hale's down eternal wo ; Are they not fools to lose the jewel so : I count that lost , which better had not been ; Which lost all joie and all through slavish sin . Therefore bec careful for to bring to bliss That precious jewel , bought by thy Jesus ; Esteem all flesh , delighting pleasure , toies , Which may deprive thee of thy heavenlie joies . Till then , assure thy self , thou art but dead ; Though all the world thou had'st , and by it fed . Who is 't the Moon direct's , and Sun doth guid ? Who doth command the windes , he sea , and tide : Which warm's & light's & comfort's creatures all ; That they their bounds should keep when hee did call ; The earth was over-whelm'd with waters fell , And all through sinful man , God's word doth tell . Who will consume the earth with fearful fire ; Hee , Hee it is , Jehovah in his ire . And bring all men to judgement in one daie ; Sin , sin 's the caus repent , make no delaie : Sin rot's the bodie , and consume's the soul ; Consume's and kill not : O for sin condole ! What moveth God the pestilence to send , By sword and famine , man to make an end ; The mother then her tender childe to kill , Her hungrie bodie for to feed and fill : Her childe to kill that shee thereof might feed ; O 't is God's vengeance ! sin 's the onely deed . Sin make's a wall , and fearful separation , 'Twixt heaven's true joies and endless condemnation . Sin of that burthen is , it prest to hell Thousands of Angels that in heaven did dwell . My sin my Saviour's face did make to sweat Drops both of blood and water , at one time ; My sins a monster-like , so fell , so great , That none but God's own Son could purge that crime : God's Son God's onely Son and none but Hee , Must com from heaven and bleed , yea , die for mee : My sin did make him to have stripes and scorns ; And on his head to wear a crown of thorns : My sin did make him bear his heavie cross , Which , if hee had not , had been my soul's loss . My sin did make my hands the nails to drive Into his hands and feet , and hee alive : Nay more , my sins did help to guide the spear ; Which forth did let his sacred blood most dear . Six several times Christ for his own did bleed , Then suffered death , and they from hel were free'd : Lo here none live's that 's free from hateful sin ; At sin's command , keep watch wee walk not in : Christ in heaven onely mediateth for mee , O but for him the Lord would sure abhor mee ! For sin let all men mourn and rend their hearts ; That they in Christ his Passion had their parts . Yet joie , that they redeemed are by him From Satan's rage , and the reward of sin . When truly that thy soul doth sin detest , Oh then will death appear a welcom guest ! His gastly looks will make thee joie and sing , Becaus his message is from the great King ; Away to com from sorrow and from pain , In heaven with him eternally to reign . But where death is a messenger of wo , Then peals of thunder will torment thee so : Thy miseries then they do but new begin , Becaus thou took'st such great delight in sin ; No comfort can'st thou finde in death at all , For thou did'st run from God , when hee did call Thee to repent , and see where thou arifalling , Into that deadly gulf , where 's no re-calling . O go ! go cast thee at thy Saviour's feet , See thou bewail thy case , as it is meet ; Bee gon away , and staie not till to morrow ; Delaies breed's danger and increase's sorrow . Sin wounded Magdalen , let thy pattern bee Joies true increas , and endless miserie : Bee sure thou take up arms against that sin , Which in thy heart , thy Dalilah hath been . And never ceas untill thou conquered have That reigning sin , to which thou wert a slave : Defend no sin , though ne're so sweet to thee , What sin 's defended , it will heavie bee . Though sable sin her dismal curtain cast About thy soul , from light to close it fast ; Yet wait on God , the Prophets Esay crie's , From whom true joie and comfort may arise ; Esteem thy jewel , set it not at nought , Think on the ransom that by Christ was wrought . Then all Christ's members , that the title take From our sweet Saviour , this true use may make ; Most strictly strive for to bee like to him In life , and heart , and eie , and everie limb .

3. Of Man . BUt looking to God's handie-work below , What hee command's that hee would have us do : Here findeing man , rebellions dearest friend , Soul's daily wounder , darless of his end . Not striving so the heavenlie Crown to gain , Nor much regarding hell's tormenting pain . Feed hors , feed dog , with far more greater care ; As if the soul should vanish in the air . Wisdom adviseth those for to condole , That love the bodie and do slight the soul ; For Rev. 3.16 . luke-warm Christians think their case oft best But God hold's loathsom and doth them detest . Who vow's the most thy loving friend to bee , Love 's least thy soul , is no right friend to thee .

4. Of Mourning . O Now be wail with thy destructive Wars began . Lines ! Wee see God's judgments in these later times : His sword is drawn , for wee have sinned all ; Wee must lament , all mourn , and on him call . Let brinish tears prevent unchristian War , To move our God to end our fearful jar . O see a grief ! when souls should true bee fed ; How manie people there are captive led : So manie Sects within this kingdom dwell , As teach , and tract , and point the waie to hell . wch now doth swarm , each where , in several sort , As tongue and pen scarce able to report .

5. Against Poperie , that bloodie Church , or old Sect . 1 SIx hundred year after our Saviour dear Boniface . ; Then never Pope was heard by anie ear Boniface . : 2. But when hee mounted was to bee a Prince , Antagonist to Christians ever since . 3. A purblinde Vicar from the verie birth , Would rule in heaven , and over-rule on earth . 4. Kill and destroie both King and Subjects all , That him their holie Father do not call . 5. That King that bow's not down to kiss his toe , Shall bee no son , but aie displeasure know . 6. They hold't no sin to swear and then to break All vows and covenants , with us that they make . 7. For monie anie sin shall pardon'd bee ; Past , or to com , no matter what degree . 8. Whosoever sitteth in the Pope's own chair , Must needs speak truth , & teach as he taught there . 9. Whereby the holie Ghost was written Lord ; One chang'd to Ladie , honor'd by record . Detest their Doctrine they do but beguile , The chair's grown rotten , 't may last , but a while .

6. Against Anabaptists . 1 THe Anabaptist learning doth despise , 2. In th' Preacher's place a Pet . 3.16 . Cobler hee doth rise . 3. When women and unlearned men will teach , They cannot chuse but oft gross Errors teach . Silence is better in the publick view , Then for to speak the things that bee not true . 4. They allow no King , no Lord , nor no degree , But all men equal , and things common bee . 5. Refusing Infants all their Baptism Gen. 17.7 . due , As if scarce one man was baptized Acts 2.39 . true . 6. Obeie the King give honor where 't is due , And ow nothing , all this they will not do . Where 's all things common , there can bee no poor , No thief to steal , to take away thy store . Som this doth hold that where the bodie lie's , So doth the soul and both together rise .

The 7th . Sect . BRownist that Sect , sinceriously declare , Our holiest Ministers , mere traitors are To Jesus Christ ; for them they will not meet At his own table , all with joie to greet . Is 't not a shame to seek , to prove , to finde , Father a traitor , mother a whore by kinde .

The 8th . Sect . OUr high Arminians swel'd with envie so Towards all that sought the holiest waie to go , They silenc'd , deprived , imprison'd , with that spite , As blessed men , as taught God's word aright : The Oath where added was , &c. Wrought their own bane & did themselves betraie : They preach't down Preaching and taught all to praie , Hold all that will , they sure bee * saved may ; Those that subscribed not unto their will , They strove to banish , or their blood to spill . So likewise manie that do them defie Maintein free-will and manie truth's denie ; All those for whom Christ did refuse to praie , May then bee sayed at the later daie .

The 9th . against mixt Errors . 1 SOm will not bee where sinners do partake ; O then themselvs themselvs they must forsake ; Hee that can live without fowl spots of sin , Must live in heaven , on earth no such is in : From th' Idol's Temple wee may safely flee , Untill that Idols thence quite banish't bee . 2. Som will not praie to God for to forgive , No sin committed , while they are to live ; David's example , and Christ's own command , Is wav'd and slighted now within our Land . 3. That Gospel-Prayer , Jesus Christ did frame . Som slight and question , and neglect the same : That blessed Rule so sweetly closed in ; That th' lamb may wade & th'elephant may swim . 4. Som use not for to Luke 22.41 . Psal . 25.6 . kneel to God at all ; In God's own hous , when on him they do call . Who sit's before a King ? yet hope's to have All things hee want's , yet sitting still doth crave : Look's for great favor , to advanced bee , When hee deserved hath the gallow-tree ; Where pox in knees , or gout in toes they feel , They need's must sit when others stand or kneel . No warrant in God's word can anie finde , That lazie gesture should content the minde ; Ejaculations no man will denie ; Walk , sit , and praie , and praie as wee doe lie . Fall down and Mat . 26.39 . Luke 22.41 . Ezra . kneel when wee to God do praie , Was David's , Solomon's , and our Saviour's waie . 5. Som slight God's hous , and silily report , A barn's as good for Christians to resort . 6. King David's gratious pattern , canonised , By som late up-starts simplie is despised ; And King of kings o're rule sweet Psalms to sing , By som much questioned for a lawful thing ; It is our dutie , and a special waie Well to consider , what wee sing or saie . 7. Som dare to saie they live yet do not sin , They needs must lie , there is no truth in him . 8. Som have been heard which praising God have said , They have had rest this month , they have not praid 9. The sinful man whose wife is of that breed , May change her mate to get a holie seed . Behold what 's written in God's Law and Book ! Before Christ came there on they need not look . 10. Som cursed Arians that dare to denie , That Christ for them did either bleed or die . So mi●●ed follies from God's Word and Law , Blinde's manie a soul and them from truth doth draw . Those Errors wch to Faith destructive are ; Loath and avoid with diligence and care . A charitable Opinion . I Am perswaded there is none alive , That strive's for truth , with truth , in truth to thrive . Though error lead them from the heavenlie waie , They shall finde truth before their ending daie .

The 10th . Sect . THe Antinomians brought this Error in . That the regenerate need not mourn for sin . Denie Repentance , then refuse all grace ; Faith by Repentance show's Christ's bleeding face . Mourn for our sins , confess , and true repent , Are three sweet signs that Christ for us was sent .

11. Against Antinomians that mourning for sins bring 's joie . WHen that I think of my fore-father's sins ; Then in my ears this direful dittie ring's . Their sins are thine , and thou for them must smart ; This dreadful sentence pierceth then my heart . For when I think that in the verie waie That they have sin'd , I do offend each daie ; In actions real , or in som desire ; Justly deserving hell's tormenting fire : For this my heart doth griev , and grieving more ; My eies are drie , with tears they run not o're . Tears shed for sin will greater comfort bring , Then much rejoicing , though it caus to sing .

12. The true caus of rejoicing . THen looking to my Saviour's merit , Sweet pretious faith refuscitates my spirit ; And tell's my soul this comfort it may see ; Though sins were n'ere so great Christ di'd for me .

13. Comfort in mourning for small sins against the Antinomians . IF it were possible that a man should live But one whole daie , and no offence to give Against the Lord , but in one sillie thought ! Though saving grace within him so hath wrought , That hee beleev's what God hath for him don In that great ransom , by his onely Son , If for that thought hee shed a thousand tears ; His soul it comfort's , and his heart it chear's . And when I think what Christ expect's from me ; That I must mourn if blessed I would bee ; Where sins are loathsom , joie must needs prove sweet , For godlie sorrow heavenly comforts meet .

14. Earthly comfort not to bee preferred before heavenlie . CAn the injoying of a prettie childe ; Or virtuous wife , most loving , or most milde ; Or hopeful holding of a Lordship long ; Or safely keeping gold , or treasures strong ; Take off thy thoughts from heaven's ne'r ending joies , From fading trifles , or conceited toies ; Make thee desire to live , or loth to To a godlie man that was loth to die . die ; When thou seem'st passing unto heaven so high . The bride desireth more her wedding daie , Then twentie other weddings see shee may ; Bee sure you build on earth no setled joie ; For these are transient things , and bring annoie . For once a glimps of heaven , though in a dream ; I may not saie a vision , fearing blame ; I knew one ravish't at our Saviour's sight ; That th' earth a long time gave him no delight . What 's then the true injoying of the same ? Where 's joies immortal , and eternal fame ? Admit great Alexander thou did'st see ; That conquer'd all the earth , did call on thee ; As thou wer 't standing at his Highness gate , In a poor , mean , and despicable state ; And unto thee such likeing hee would take ; That shortly , sure , a King hee would thee make ; But charging thee with patience for to staie , Untill by message hee thee call away ; Hee 'l send his chariot thee full safe to bring , Where thou undoubtedly shall live a King : What longing thoughts would still possess thy heart ? Till thou within thy kingdom seated wert . One com's with thund'ring Death seem's to com . knocks , then up thou hies , To think that now to honor thou must rise ; But if his message bee that thou must staie ; Mee think's 't should rather griev thee for delaie .

The 15th . Meditation . FOr National sins , I must desire to see My head into a river , turn'd to bee ; Not like a pud-lake dri'd up with the Sun ; But that my Lam . 6.20 . eies like fountains still should run . Who hath a lewd son , or lascivious wife ? That sore lament's not for them all his life ; To think a branch , or his own flesh should frie In hell's eternal burning miserie .

16. The holiest Kings have caus to mourn . WHat King , though holie , ever raign'd on earth ? That molestations had not mixt with mirth ; Seek , search , inquire , within God's holie Writ , What true contentment anie found in it : Som with foul incest , som arch rebels were , Of whom their Kinglie parents took great care ; From pestilence , sword , diseas in each degree , What childe of God could ever yet bee free ?

17. Christ loved and despised . SOm took Christ Jesus as hee did appear , A loving , blessed , gratious , Saviour dear . The wise-men ceas't not till that they had seen Their blessed Saviour , which should them redeem . Yet som despising , took him for to bee A Carpenter , and squarer of a tree . Then in their darkness they might deem him so ; Now Light is com , and manie further go . Hee preached when he was but twelv years old , Even with the Doctors , in the temple , Bold ; They sure contemn him that do know the truth , And yet do slight him so in age and youth ; That love to sin till they can sin no more ; And so appoint their God when they 'l give o're ; But when death com's , O then that they might live , Then they would to their Maker honor give , Use means , and do thy best while time doth last ; That thou from Christ's sweet presence bee not cast

18. That Christ give 's Free-Grace . AS sun & moon by God's command give's light , Sweeten's both earth , & comfort's everie sight : Even so Christ give's free Grace of his free will , With joie , light , fulness , hee his own doth fill . Free Grace it is a mercie peramount ; Who will may gain it none may so account . Draw us sweet Lord , and wee shall sweetly run can , After thy self Lord , wee shall freely com . Who slight's God's Grace , and yet great learning Were fitter term'd a devil then a man . Things in this life God give's to friend and fo ; But on his own , heaven's Graces doth bestow .

19. To prize Grace before health or riches . HEalth is a mercie , of that high esteem ; So likewise riches , everie man doth deem . Who so hath both , yet want's sweet saving grace , Hath restless comforts of heaven's resting place ; Where health , & wealth , and grace abound in one ; O this is mercie's admiration ! Want's health and wealth , yet grace may thee conveigh To joies eternal , never ending daie . When parents perfect their young childe behold ; This is a mercie that excelleth gold , And graces sweet inwrap't with wisdom true ; This godlie The remedie . parents joiful are to view ; Still train them up for wisdom and for grace , Then riches rolling on , may com apace . O prize that mercie ! to have free access , To crave God's blessings either more or less .

20. A Meditation of Mourning . LO here 's a grief make's manie a soul to mourn ! Joints shakes and totter , hearts distracted torn , To see one sort so tender for to bee , Unto our Church to yield conformitie . Eyes have beheld their pure untainted life , And ears have heard their doctrine freefrom strife ; Then here 's the grief that they are silent prest , Which wee call trifles , that they silent rest . Som yet wee have as holie as they bee ; Yet som do brand themselvs with infamie . Som will few Sermons make , but they must lash ; And join those heavenlie men with hellish trash . Som are so greedie wealth for to hook in , As they regardless are their flock to win . Som , if the hour-glass would but run with Ale , They would not then the pulpit so much fail . They seem to labor sinners to convert ; And often caus them Have them to the Ale-hous . sin before they part . Like to those people that , with act and will , Beget a childe , and then the babe do kill ; Too manie heard , in their discourses sad , To swear , and rail , and curs , as they were mad ; Yet like Free-holders , they did still injoie , Their lips and livings free without annoie .

21. A mourning that anie should hee suffered to write against the fourth Commanderaent . WHence spring those thoughts from gangrene Doctors high , That dare against God's sacred Laws replie ? Even of that Law that God a charge did give ; Remember thou it keep , and holie live ; Is 't not from those foul spirits that do dwell In that infernal lake and Psal . 74 3. pit of hell ? If that a King ; by Act of Parliament , Doth make a Law by all the Hous consent ; According to the Medes and Persians , Which altered might not bee by anie hands : May then a Pesant pill'd this Law denie ? And yet no treason 'gainst his Majestie ? And mark the wo and miserie that doth fall , Alas it doth no good , no good at all ; But make's poor soul's more loosly for to live , That unto Holiness themselvs shoud give . Was this Command'ment onely for the Jews ? That manie brain-sick men do it refuse . Under each Law the Church a praier set , That everie one should use and not forget , To intreat the Lord our hearts for to incline , His Laws to keep , most sacred and divine ; Which manie hold it 's in our power to do , Is 't not presumption anie should saie so ? Som forth would raze , & fain would have a fable , Even everie Law that God wrote in each Table . Christ did not com for to destroie the Law ; But to fulfill , and keep us all in aw . These wretches may run on as they desire ; But 't would bee head-long to consuming fire .

22. Against Pride and Oppression . LO here 's that sin , for which once Angels were Cast into hell , for ever to bee there ; Me think's this doleful change should fright as wel Proud Angels here , as those that bee in hell . If Kingly favors , honors do bestow , Shall then those honors o're their brethren crow ? Pride may not seated bee in anie heart , That plead's Religion for the better part . Adam in Eden was out-cast and thrown , That Pride recorded ever should bee shown ; Pride com's so near unto each Christian man , That they can scarce walk free do what they can . Our Saviour spake these words unto the eleven ; Blest are the poor in Spirit , for their's is heaven . From thence is drawn , wch hee might likewise tell , The proud are curst , their place must needs be hell . This Land is grown into that height of Pride ; In stead of ho●ses they on men do ride . What pride consume's , wisdom bearing swaie , Might keep the poor from wand'ring by the waie . Pride and oppression , where 't is let have power , Is not of God ; delaie they do no hour . Where God give's wealth in him they trust & call , Pride and Oppression would take life and all . Great is their miserie that are verie poor , But to bee trampled on , thert's doubled o're ; True humbled hearts shall sure advanced bee , The proud must suffer wo and miserie .

23. Against hardness of heart . OF all the plagues that ever Egypt had , I do conceiv of none to bee so bad , As a hard Heart ; it shutteth out all grace ; But open's wide to wickedness a pace . A stonie heart can neither sigh nor moan , Rightly for other's sin , nor for his own .

24. Against Envie . SEe'st not old Envie , Satan's antient son ? By hateful Plots about the kingdoms run ; Which waie to vex God's chosen children dear , So hee his projects fit , hee doth not fear : Like th' poisonous Serpent which on earth is curst , Suck's th' Elephant's blood until his self bee burst . Let all men know , where Envie it excel's , There 's no Religion where that Envie dwell's : Nor mai'st thou anie Christian blood to spill ; But what 's commanded in God's holie will . Beware revenging anie private end , Of thy own part , or for thy dearest friend .

25. Against Murther . MUrther , that dark , concealed , hateful sin , Crie 's up to heaven , God's judgments soon to bring On those delinquents , that his Law withstand's , Contemn their Maker with their bloodie hands , Like to those traitors that 'gainst King and State , Plot's deadlie ruine , by inventing hate : Herein the Church of Rome stand's stained so ; The purer blood shee seeketh to let go . Then let this ever ring within your ears , Blood never pardoned but with mournful tears . Who ever heard of one that God did fear , Consent to treason either far or near ; Haste to repentance , they that may have time , Of that most hainous , bloodie , sinful crime .

26. Against Slandering . TO Slander anie one of his good name , Is impious , hateful , and a horrid shame . What ' art , what ' art think of thy former state ? If hee thy brother bee , thy sin is great . Hate thou the sin that thou in him would'st finde ; Instruct him first , conceal thy slandering minde . What in thy power is not to restore , Bee sure forbear , except thou canst give more : Who is so perfect as hee ought to bee ? Then from a slandering tongue strive to bee free . Is 't not a sin , abusive names to give Against those people , which with God must live ? Who stand's for truth to bee a perfect man , Shall sure bee term'd for an arch Round-Heads . Puritan . And manie known against all Sects to rise , By spite most falsly , by that name despise ; Arminious Priests , that title rightly fit's , And the meritorious holie Jesuits .

27. Against Swearing . THe black-mouth'd Swearers wors then Bedlams bee ; Blaspheme their Maker , and yet will not see God's bountie , nor the danger they are in , If they lament not that hell's howling sin . And thousands careless take God's Name in vain In their discours ; but som that hope for gain , Swear and forswear , so they their purs may fill ; Let danger to the soul prove what it will . They love not God , nor yet do heaven regard ; Slight his embassage , and that great reward . Can those men think Christ blessedly to see , That call on God that damned they may bee . Even like som Scotch-men without all controll , In their discours , crie Devil of my soul . Art thou a Christian , dar'st thou use to swear ? Thou art yet wors then cursed heathens are . If all must into Psalm 9.17 . hell that God forget , Then all take warning that 's to swearing set .

28. Against Passion . PAssion still strive's 't untie the marriage knot , To part those friends that perfect love hath got ; Nay , Passion parteth oft such friends asunder , As make's true wisdom hold up hands & wonder . Passion , wrath , anger , once beyond the rule , Make man appear far wors then hors or mule . When wee want patience & God's wrath do see , Is to heap vengeance top of miserie . Patience will make God's anger sooner ceas , Then mightie Armies , though they still increas : Then let sweet patience have her perfect work , That seldom passion in us never lurk .

29. Against Melancholie . MOping Melancholie damp's the senses dear , From soul's rejoicing in a godlie fear ; Striving to keep all light from the poor soul , That may give comfort , and that sin controll . O that 's the thing the tempter seek's to do ! To bring God's dear elected children to . Fast , hear , and praie , it give's that three-fold blow , To scourge the devil , and to make him go . O fail not this ! and let him not deprive , Thy self of senses , whil'st thou art alive .

30. Against Despair . DEspair from Melancholie doth arise , A sin as great as Satan can devise : Thy soul to ruine and discomfort bring , Depriving thee of joie in everie thing . And manie sadly by foul dismal death , Are self deprivers of their vital breath . Would'st bee delivered from a present sore To live in endless torments evermore ? O then awake I see from despair thou hie ; It was for sinners made our Saviour die .

31. Against Gluttonie . THe Glutton foul within his paunch doth put Such store of creatures in his endless gut ; That would refresh , reliev , and comfort give , To manie a feeble heart , that scarce can live ; Hee never dream's his secret sin will mount , To bee recorded in his great account . Ambitious pride first made man eat to sin , Remember Dives when thou do'st begin .

32. Against Drunkenness . SO tottering Bacchus , that with sickly soul , Powr's in strong liquor without all controll Of God , or King , or Laws , or friends , or health ; His humor hee must have , bid's farewel wealth . And to bee plain , so fram'd and fitted still ; Then apt to all things that the devil will . Som seem so civil one may safely saie , Will leav their wits , where they may nothing paie . The fearful Deluge God no sooner stai'd . But man by drunk'ness , sen●●ess over-laid . Compulsive cups , by healths , are color'd so ; Breed's causless quarrels , and make's God thy fo . Examples from the Heathen wee may finde , They were not forc't to drink but pleas their mind .

33. Against immoderate taking of Tobacco . LO here this weed not seventie years fullknown ! But since that time , in hight , exceeding grown : 'T were idle for to write of Merchant's gain , But what 's consum'd therewith , and spent in vain . Som seem to griev , and to their friend's declare , They are bewitch't , they can it not forbear . If Merchants would not fetch this ticeing weed : The devil would turn Merchant then with speed . Immoderate use , the vertue doth destroie Of all good creatures and doth bring annoie .

34. Of Slothfulness . WHo so to Slothfulnes doth give but waie , In soul and substance , danger 's his decaie . All heaven 's sweet graces hee doth bid bee gon , And hell's ragg'd garments , hasting , putteth on . When neither minde nor bodie is imploi'd , In God's own waie , both apt to bee destroid . Hopeless of blessings with the Lord above , When wee the talent strive not to improve : The Sun may crie against us for his light ; For Idleness , and turning daie to night . The Slothful man is good not for Himself , Nor Court nor Countrie , nor for Common-wealth Blest bee those parents that do strive to fit Each childe in 's calling , rightly suiting it .

35. Against Lust . LUst stifle's Grace , and striketh at the Soul ; Kick's everie virtue that would it control . Lust hath a master , that doth far surpass The cunningst Machiavils that ever was . The world allure's , the flesh doth still rebel Against the precious soul to cast to hell . Som lust for honor with ambition high ; Their honor's honor they with wings let flie . How manie are there that like Iudas slight , Even for small things , the blessed Lord of Light . O where 's that father friend , or Christian brother , That lust 's not after one foul sin or other .

36. Against Vsurie . COm now to Usurie that old moon-ei'd thing , Which by som Clergie-men is still kept in ; They 'l not have 't Usurie for one to receiv So much increas , as just the Law give's leav ; Nor will they take our Saviour's meaning so , As hee in Luke to his did plainly show : Do good , and lend , look for nothing again , And your reward shall bee full great in heaven . If that God's Children you desire to bee ? From anie thought of gain you must bee free ; For if one groat thou tie'st one for to paie ; Or clog'st thy thoughts with hope of gain that waie : O Saint where art thou that from this art free ! That lend's thy money upon usurie . That Antichristian thought might thee confound , If that God's mercie did not more abound . When other pine then hee full fed doth crie , Hee call's out still , Bring in my Usurie , Though hand and purs , & bags & chests have store His heart 's still emptie , and hee seek's for more : And when hee die's , that sin may go on still , Beeing uncorrected in his later will ; Tush , they are fools , crie som , that is no sin ; There is no State can stand where 't is not in . Som answer thus , Look what their coin will buie , They safe may take , 't can bee no usurie . Then usurie take , that dare to hazard so , God's endless hate , and Soul's eternal wo .

37. Against Covetousness . COvetousness , thou bitter bain to bliss , And foe invective to true happiness ; Thou lai'st thy level at the dearest heart , Still grace to hinder , or to caus a smart . Thy plaie's good husbandrie to shade thy sin ; But in the broad waie thou still walkest in . Is there no gamester that will here confess ? Himself 't have sinned , either more or less . What God hath given thee dar'st thou hazard so ? To put to venture whether 't bee thine or no . Recreate thy self , but let thy conscience tell , Truth's touch-stone teach thee , that thou do'st do well . Beware thou fix not that to thy heart-root , Which God hath placed down before thy foot .

38. Against Vnthankfulness . INgratitude to God , and then to man , Stain's thy creation cloak it how thou can ; This foul inhumane sin make's thee much wors , Then that foul Serpent which the Lord did curs . Thanks Christ exspect's , witness the Lepers then , That gave him thanks , there was but one of ten . Then thankless souls look up unto your Maker , And prais his Name hee is the world's Creator . Give God the glorie for his mercie shown To former Ages , and now for our own ; It is a heavenlie thing to prais our God ; Who fail's therein deserveth well the rod . God give's the wicked all they do possess ; But thankful children God will truly bless . Undervaluing mercies from a Saviour dear : A sin most hateful , that each Soul should fear .

39. Against Cursing . CUrsing , that crying , foul , soul-wounding sin , Doth neither gain , nor credit get or win : Who hath an honored friend that give's him gold To wear , and bear , and do with what hee would ; And choisly feed him , or defend him so From inward danger , and from forraign foe . If that a hawk , hors , dog , do him offend , Should brute-like rise against so true a friend ; And beat , and dash him on his noble face : Even so is everie cursing Gallant's lace . Art thou a poor man , and dar'st but give waie To curs & ban , when thou should'st watch & praie : Then rich , and poor , and old , and young beware , Of cursed cursing have a watchful care .

40. Against Lying . THe Liar is so hateful in God's sight , As unto heaven they have no part nor right ▪ You are the Devil's brood our Saviour crie's , So loathsom is a Liar in his eies . That gain that cursed lying doth get in , Will soon bee wasted , or confusion bring . Oh speak the truth , and for the truth still stand ! It will defend thee from the tempter's hand .

41. Against Adulterie . ADulterie is a sin pollute's the soul , Defile's the bodie , and God's Laws controll . Most brutish , beastly , and of God accurst , And amongst men of all sins seem's the worst . What man by God's assistance doth devise ? Posteritie to bless that it should rise . All friends deceived are parents mistaken . Fals seed is sown and the foundation shaken . The base-man's bastard often may bee known ; Which the fall woman's husband think's his own . If thou desire a blessing on thy breed , Know God doth truly love a holie seed . Chuse not a mate that for thee is unfit . That 's one good means , that thou bee blest in it .

42. Against Hypocrisie . HYpocrisie is a sin of that high strain , Which lieth lurking in the minde and brain . Most holie , zealous , all for outward action , Inward deceitful , rotten putrefaction ; Just like a serpent , looking for to winde , And twist her self into the holiest minde : Make us think much , of that wee best should love ; Of hearing , praying , to our God above . Who entertain's it none but God doth know , 'Gainst which hee hath pronounced manie a woe , Oh let us all get weapons for to kill This searching Serpent , lest hee have his will .

43. Against Theft . THe Thief and Traitor stand's against the Law , And on his head hee doth God's judgment draw ; Think 's not that Satan tiseth him to spend His time in Theft , and sooner com to end : Fearing hee should his wickedness once see , And so from him converted hee should bee . For look when hee hath stoln the greatest pelf , Hee 's then the greatest thief unto himself . To plunder , pillage steal from th' owner right , Is to resist the powerful God of might . There is yet manie theevs as great as they , That filch from other men their goods away . Those that by cheating , seek to gain thereby , And those who take that filthie briberie , To make bad causses good , or good seem bad ; So gain bee got , they care not how 't is had . For these foul crying sins , each Christian heart Should truly mourn , to shew his Christian part .

44. Against Treacherie . TReasons abhorred by God's children true , That endless comfort hope's to taste and view ; But Treacherie like a cunning lurking fiend , Steal's in som hearts , even for a selfish end . 't is Christian's valor never to denie Those sacred truth's , wee must bee saved by ; But to forswear , denie , and eke oppose The things they hold , what may bee thought of those ? Beware lest private ends make thee betraie Thy neighbor , though his minde hold not thy waie

46. Follie's Looking-glass . THere is no Psalm 14.1 . God , the fool saith in his heart ; Three sorts there bee chief actors of that part . 1. The first are Sleepers , 2. next the Careless man , 3. The last presumptuous sinners , small good can To their poor souls , finde anie true relief , Till for their sins , their heart bee rent with grief . 1. The Sleepie sot when hee should praie or hear , Minde 's not his soul , nor yet the Lord doth fear . 2. The Careless man , the thing he best should love hee love's the worst , and so a fool doth prove . 3. Presumptuous men , think God is at their beck , Presume of mercie , minde not conscience check . Awake , bee careful , and presume no more ; Let 's all seek mercie , where is mercie store . Beg graces , and eie-salv , for th' inner man , To purge out follie , Oh do all wee can ! ( Blame not the writer for this title true ) It is the Scripture give's the fool to you .

46. Against slavish Fear . 't is not a bullet from a cannon fell , Though 't kill thy bodie , cast's thy soul to hell ; Which Christ redeemed , hee laid his bodie down , Thee to injoie and everlasting crown . Then fear , not death , by bullet , nor by sword , They will transport thy soul up to the Lord . Who love 's the world , hee draw's before his sight A foggie vail , heaven's beautie all to slight : Bid tising world , Flesh , Satan all bee gon ; It is God's truth I truly rest upon .

47. Against unjust quarrels . WHen that thy Maker thee command's to fight , Then march on man-like for thy quarel right , Who That look not to God's Caus . fight 's for monie , honor , or for gain ? Is meerly sinful , cursed , vile , and vain . A single By gallauts . duel is advanced high . That reputation do not trampled lie , Who go's to fight when God doth bid him staie , 't is good bee well advised in his waie ; So long lodg'd malice may procure thy woe , Lose Christ's sweet favour , and bid cursed go .

48. A common saying . There 's manie boast that they have so much Faith As Christ for them hee surely died hath : And look when they shall turn unto their rest , They shall as sure bee saved as the best .

49. A heavenlie Iewel . THen there 's a jewel if thou canst it get , Will make thee happie and from bondage set . Get the true love , where thou true love should'st show , And then thy happie state thou sure shalt know . What can'st thou do'gainst God , or yet 'gainst man ? Lo there 's the jewel ! get it if thou can . True love will purchase heaven thou then shalt wear A crown of Glorie , endless ever there . What would bee heaven if God could absent bee ? No heaven without the glorious Trinitie . Who then was burning in the pit of hell , God's lovely presence might the pain expel ; This grace of Love the Jewel doth excel . The last Exhortation to hate sin . AS sin's displeasing in our Saviour's eies ; Let 's strive with strictness , loathing to despise And heaven desire , becaus wee still may see God in his Glorie , and from sin bee free . Hate sin , Oh hate it ! had it not been for sin ? Hell , Devils , Death , or Torments , none had been : Mark and remember , if that sin bee don ; Whose shape wee bear , and image wee have on . Great massie sins , and such as wee count small ; Most true it is Christ shed his blood for all : No one dear drop of his was spent in vain ; Then sins , though small may caus eternal pain . Who know's God's will and yet presume's to sin ; A fearful judgment may befall on him . Let 's all bee warn'd , look where foul sins do reign ; Tread's yet the path-way to eternal pain . Watch and beware , death doth not alwaies com , By sounding trumpet , or with beating drum : Like thief by night , not partial in his waie , With mortal sting hee doth the bodie slaie . Som mount to honor , som descend to wo ; Thus sin brings death , but how no man doth know : God by his Prophet's , or his onely Son , Speak's not of powder , bullets , nor of gun . A death so cruel , that one fatal blow , May King and Prince , with People overthrow . A cripple coward , or a snottie boie , Might Hector kill , or Samson quite destroie . God love's the truth , his enemies it do hate ; Would banish love , and breed us all debate ; Make us abuse peace-blessings which God sent , And stir up strife 'twixt King and Parliament . Strength to a Nation , is true fear of God ; True fear once wanting , there exspect the rod . But here I hold my pen out of my ink . Becaus I may not write more what I think : End with my praier both for King and all , To stand for truth , I to the Lord do call . Duties to bee observ'd in Praier . 1 BEE sure thou prai'st for things that lawful bee , 2. With Faith , 3. with Zeal , and eke 4. with Constancie : 5. Wait then with Patience , for the Lord's own time , It will prove happie , if thou so incline . Praier not sincere , woundeth thy own soul ; Prevaileth nothing , nor no sin condole . Cold careless praiers , like a simple boie , That shoot's a cock-height , may himself destroy . Not like the piercing bullet from a gun , May hit the mark , before the burst do com : So pretious praiers from a gracious heart , Mount's up to heaven , and may take off our smart .

John Barford , his Petition to God for King , Parliament , and all his People . O God! thou God of truth , I praie thee hear My soul's request , for all that do thee fear . There 's but one truth , to wch command and bring All thine own people , to our Soveraign King : Let no Tolerations , Lord , long granted bee ; That hateful Errors caus not enmitie ; Which scorn God's Hous and Ministers do slight , As if they did not teach God's Word aright ; When right convinc't , and then they will not rest ; Take speedie order they may bee supprest . No more blinde bullets , fire , nor bloodie sword ; Dissentions end , but let just law accord . Brute bankrupt ruffians , and blasphemers are All chief rejoicers , when true Christians jar ; That they may plunder , pillage , drink , and whore , And mourn when mischief they can do no more . Soul's murthering Jesuits , wch God's truth betraie , Abandon bolish , and expel awaie . That purblinde eies may better cleared bee , And so unmask't , that the true light may see . Then all great Rulers that the Sword do bear , Correct in time , such people do not spare . They may prove like wilde children in their youth , To thank their parents , teaching them the truth . See those have right , to whom right doth belong ; Christ's blessed Rule , let bee observed strong . Now hear good God , and settle Truth and Peace , Amen I crie , Amen and never cease . John Barford . FINIS .

BRIEF MEDITATIONS Upon the Sixtieth Psalm of David and the fourth Vers .

By John Barford .

Printed in the Year , 1649.

To the READER . To meddle with much I dare not . If worthie I were , I need not . For to speak truth , I fear not . What envie saith , I heed not . ACcept my will , 't is good , I do desire ; For good I write , for good I do aspire ; For if but one unto Gods banner turn From Satan's filthie rags that painted bee : And stand for truth , for which all men should mourn ; That they neglected have that great dutie : Then shall my joies bee endless for that one , But more , if thousands quickly that bee gon : Who from an Abcidarian art can finde , Or eloquence , his curious brain to pleas : Must here surceas , or countercamp his minde , If hee bee pleas'd to read this poor Treatis ; Where hee may finde , who jeer's and scorn's at truth , Who from Gods colors run in age and youth . Who are the leaders to the light so clear ; Who likewise envie God's own children dear . Who , Spider-like , most deadly poison gnaw's From that same leaf which Bee sweet honie draw's . If with the Lark , I soar too near the Sun ; To deal in * things which are too high for mee ; Then look , O look ! how humbly down I com , And pardon crave upon my bended knee . Truth set my heart on work , truth gave directions ; Truth made mee write for truth , with true affections . The Lord to Bahes his truth doth oft reveal , That from high minded Doctors may conceal . God's aid I crav'd for to set forth his prais , 'Gainst old new burnish't * Errors in these daies ; Armin . Rome's canker'd Errors , which her cup hath fill'd , That never King nor Martyr ever held . If one here now with scornful eie this slight's , But arm'd , resolv'd . For over-rul'd delights Will safely end , and comfort bring at last , When jears and scorn's their due reward shall taste . The names I bear thou hast alreadie read , That would have all men by one truth bee sead : Add none by pride so enviously to wrangle , Like bells untun'd that boies do caus to jangle . I to the Reader now a suiter am , That first hee will consider my good will ; With patience spend two hours if bee can , To see what hee may finde , I hope no ill . If ten times two thou spend'st , thou art my debter , For thee I took this pains , and wish it better .

Meditations upon the 60. Psalm and the fourth Vers .

HAving requested divers to teach of the fourth Vers in this Psalm of David , and could not prevail , I thought good not to let fall the Meditations that it pleased God I should gather out of the same .

In the first , second , and third Verses , the Prophet there complaineth , that the Lord had scattered them , and cast them forth : that hee had made the land to tremble , and shewed the people heavie things .

But in this fourth Vers , hee rejoiceth saying : But now thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee , that it may bee displaied becaus of the truth . Selah .

As the Lord gave a Rain-bow for an everlasting sign that the world should never b●e drowned again ; even so hee hath given a banner whil'st the world endure's for all his to fight under . The Prophet Isaiah speaketh of this banner or ensign . Isa . 5.26 . and 13.2 . and 10.12 . and 99.22 . and 62.10 .

In the 74. Psalm , the Prophet saith , Thine adversaries roar in the middest of thy congregation , and set up their banners for signs .

Out of which two places is set forth the spiritual combat betwixt God's children and the children of this world , even till the world's end .

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee , that it may bee displaied becaus of the truth .

First , wee are to consider who hath given this banner , namely , God .

Secondly , what this banner is : the flag of the Gospel Christ displaied Isa . 11.10 .

Thirdly , to whom it is given , namely to those that fear him .

Fourthly , to what end ; That it may bee displaied .

Fifthly , for what caus ; Becaus of the truth .

That the truth may bee stood for , Iude 3.

For the first , that God hath given a banner , is here plainly proved ; it is without contradiction . Secondly , what the banner is ; The flag of the Gospel : but here to David and his victorie .

Yet may it bee taken thus ; That God will have a sign in all his children who stand for the truth of the Gospel .

For seeing the banner is given to those that fear him ; then it must follow , that both strong , weak , aged and lame , women and children , are for this spiritual combat .

A banner is a sign of such a Captain's companie : So likewise in a great citie , a man is sooner found where a sign is at his door . So in an armie , you can scarce finde a souldier but by his colors , neither may hee bee from them ; but not found with the enemies colors , for then , Death : neither may God's souldier bee from his colors .

For once from God's colors , presently with the adversarie , no not under the greatest Monarch's standard that fight 's against truth , to gain honor or riches : wee must boldly stand for truth .

In our spiritual warfare for truth and salvation , everie man is not to fight his own waie , when great differences arise . God's great Vicegerent is to call a Councel of War , and make chois of faithful , wise , and valiant Commanders , to train and make fit the souldiers to so weightie a service : expecting godlie zeal , courage , faithfulness , and vigilancie , as patterns to the souldiers : but first being chosen by the King of heaven , and then to bee countenanced by the Kings of the earth .

So have wee a blessed King , God's Vicegerent : For by Mee Kings reign . And under him Doctors , and Ministers , Collonels and Captains to teach us . The battel is like to go well , when the Commanders are all skilful , faithful , valiant , and all of one minde . But desperately dangerous , where they are close traitors , cowards , and agree not in judgment : or so idle , as to set unskilful officers to train in their places ; at least-wise so careless .

The enemies to sinceritie are so great , God's souldiers are so few ; that wee may even crie with Elisha's servant , and saie , Alas master , what shall wee do ? when hee saw the enemies manie , and they so few to fight against them . But wee must praie with Elisha , 2 King . 6.15 , 16 , 17. that wee may have our eies opened to see the power of God , by his heavenlie hoste readie to fight for us : as Ionathan and his armor-bearer ; Ioshuah with his five Kings ; and divers other places : so God fight's for his children that put their trust in Him , that they need not fear the number of their enemies , nor greatness of their persons ; for if their quarrel bee God's , what should wee fear ? Remember Herod's great host , and God's little flock ; but wee must bee sure to keep to God's rule , let us buckle on our armor , and match stoutly under our colors , for there was never more need .

Let us look to som of our Commanders , for the fight must need's bee dangerous , where anie Captains bee traitors , and the enemies best friends . They must bee all of one minde . In a temporal war there may bee peace concluded for a time ; but in our spiritual war never anie peace . The enemies best friends , and so traitors , are all enemies to sinceritie , all close hypocrites , all opposers of the truth , and of God's children .

Object . But som will saie , Shall a private souldier meddle with Collonels or Captains , let him bee cashiered ? I answer , hee may ; nay , it is his dutie , if hee can finde either traitor , or coward in the band . I speak not this of anie in particular , but such as know these things to bee in themselvs : our Captains ought to train and teach us , wee must , give them their due , and they must tarrie with us and not leav us with unworthie and unskilful oshcers , as too manie do ; get the living , and let the flock starv , or bee taken with the wolf . All that live in anie gross sin ; as pride , drunkenness , covetousness , envie , swearing , Sabbath-breaking , idleness , or the like : these are not fit Captains to teach . There was never heard by anie ears , a perfect souldier , that was onely trained under anie of them ; for hee that teacheth mee that I may not serv under the enemie , and assoon as hee hath taught mee will go sery him himself , is not worthie to have God's colors carried in his companie . For seeing wee are commanded to bee all of one minde , what shall becom of som of our Commanders that differ so much in opinion from our worthie antient ones , the blessed Martyrs : wee have manie worthie ones still hold together , and som differ but a little in a poor Ceremonie , a thing of nothing pertinent , in respect of a third sort that are accounted of us , that differ from the long taught Doctrine of our Church of England in manie Poin●s of Religion far beyond the differences of the Ceremonies , in matters of great consequence : they have been but of a late time , though too long ; their father and founder was not antient : They are certain men crept in , Jude 4. They com so near the Pope in opinion that it were well they were all there , so from us , if God were so pleased .

As our late King Iames of blessed memorie , hath declared himself against them , by his Book written to the States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries , against Doctor Vorstius , in the year , 1612. It is ( said His Majestie ) one of the principal parts of that dutie which appertain's unto a Christian King , to protect the true Church within his own Dominions , and to extirpate Heresies , is a Maxim without all controversie ; In which respect , those honorable Titles of Custos & vindex utriusque Tabulae : Keeper and avenger of both the Tables of the Law . And Nutritius Ecclesiae , Nursing father of the Church do rightly belong unto everie Emperor , King , and Christian Monarch . Pag . 1.

( Which title never Arminian had yet . ) And further , in the same Book , writing to his Majesties Embassador at that time , to make unto them in his Majesties name , of a Seditious , Heretical Preacher , and not suffer anie of them to creep into their State . Our principal meaning was ( said His Majestie ) of Arminius , who , though himself were latelyd ead , yet hee had left too manie of bis Disciples behinde him . And more His Majestie said at the same time one Bertius a schollar of the late Arminius , was so shameless as to maintein in his Letter to the Archbishop , That the Doctrine conteined in his Book , was agreeable with the Doctrine of the Church of England . Let the Church of Christ then judg ( said His Majestie ) whether it was high time for us to bestir our selvs or no , when as this gangrene had not only taken hold amongst our nearest neighbors ; so as not onely the next hous was on fire , but also began to creep into the bowels of our own Kingdom .

For before that time wee had no difference in Fundamental Points of our Religion , though som in Ceremonies . For whil'st we were striving about those gnats , the devil brought in these camels even readie to choak us . Thus differences amongst our selvs hath bred such distractions amongst manie , that they crie out , They know not what to do . Nay , even amongst good Christians , and a desperate confusion amongst manie that are weak , so that som that have been accounted strong , have shut themselvs up , and lived with bread and water refusing all societie untill they died ; which otherwise might have lived with great plentie . All this and more hath diversities of opinions wrought , which the devil and our main adversaries rejoice at .

Wherefore I exhort you to bee ruled by our blessed Apostle , 1 Cor . 1.10 . who spake by the holie Ghost , I beseech you brethren , by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ , that you all speak one thing : And that there bee no dissention amongst you , but bee knit together in one minde and in one judgment . Phil . 3.16 .

Acts 4.32 . The multitude of them that beleeved , were of one minde and one heart . So shall our war bee joiful and prosperous , and make our enemies to tremble , to see us hold together in the bands of amitie .

Therefore , seeing that the Almightie God that powerful Lord hath given us a banner , let our Commanders hold together , and teach one truth .

And souldiers stand close to their colors . Thus much of the first part .

God gave this banner here thou plain mai'st see :

A souldier faithful prove thy self to bee .

Thirdly .

IT followeth to whom this banner is given , namely , to those that fear God .

Then it must needs follow , that none are yet God's souldiers but those that fear him , yea , and love him too ; they must go alwaies together like man and wife , that may not bee parted .

But first of Fear .

Here it is plain , that strong men and lame , weak and sicklie , women and children , that fear God , are to fight under his colors .

Wee all made our Covenant with God in Baptism manfully to fight under the banner , against fin , the world , and the devil . Prov. 19.23 . The fear of the Lord leadeth to life . It is an honor and excellent thing to fear the Lord . Truly God's children fear him when the sun shine's , when they have most prosperitie and greatest peace . Not as worldlings do , in thunder , in wars , or famin , or the like , or fearful pestilence : but even when they receiv the greatest blessings ; and as wee are to fear God truly , so must wee bee valiant to serv him against his enemies .

And if thou would'st bee truly valiant , First , learn to put on Christ Iesus , Rom. 13.14 . Secondly , Get strength in the Lord , in the power of his might , Ephes . 6.11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Put on the whole armor of God , that yee may bee able to stand against the wiles of the devil . For wee wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities , against powers , the rulers of darkness ; against spiritual wickedness in high places .

The devil fight's chiefly at the head , the holie Ghost doubles the charge again , that wee take the whole armor of God , that wee may bee able to stand in the evil daie .

And then beeing armed , keep true watch ; for manie times weak souldiers by watchfulness , have resisted the enemie when stronger , by carelesness , have received the foil . The Scriptures are full of those examples ; as Iosh●ah and David , &c.

When wee are thus armed , then the world , the flesh , and the devil , are at work to unarm us .

The flesh , by heat of lust to cast it off ; the world , by her over-spreading sin of covetousness to hook it off ; The Princes of this world , by pride and envie to pull it off . God cannot abide pride , no not in Kings : what ? not in princely offices : Hee hate's it more then in the Clergie , they bring God no honor by it ; so is it likewise in Envie , if it bee gotten in the Church , they are the devil's musicians to plaie him a dance . The fear of God rest's not where envie is , especially against sinceritie , they are but whited walls , meer hypocrites : and where that sin of hypocrisie reign's , they will give consent to kill , or dismember , or displace anie of God's servants that offend them . They go as far as they dare for publick shame , mere rebels to God and all goodness ; for they that strive to bee upright in his waie , they are an abomination to the wicked , Prov. 29.10 . But the godlie praie for their souls .

The wicked bend their bow , and make readie the arrow upon the string , that they may secretly shoot at them which are upright in heart , Psal . 11.2 .

This shew's that secret plotters of mischief against God's children would not have it seen they have no true fear of God .

Isa . 66.2 . Ier . 23.2 . The time will com ( saith our Saviour ) that they will excommunicate you : ( What , give God's children to the devil ? ) Nay , the time shall com ( saith our Saviour , John 16.2 . ) that whosoever As those that vow to kill all Round heads as they call them . kill's you , shall think they do God good service . I would to God that Prophesie may have no reference to our There is no Church without som blemish . Church , nor our Church had never been branded with that blemish . Excommunication must needs bee lawful , when the execution thereof is according to the pattern of the sacred Scriptures ; For ( saith God ) see you do all things according to the pattern .

As I have heard saie ( saith the Apostle ) that there is fornication amongst you ; yea , and such as hath not been heard of , that one should have his father's wife , 1 Tim . 1.20 ,

More , If anie love not the Lord Jesus Christ , let him bee excommunicate ? 1 Cor . 16.22 . Here would bee enough to fill officers purses ; but that foul and execrable manner of Excommunicating for monie , came from the whore of Rome , there is no warrant out of God's Word for it : for it is chiefly against the poor with us , but the Pope will excommunicate Kings . It is either against thy brother that is , or may bee : Where is the command of Christ obeied , that thou shalt forgive him seven times ? Wilt thou give thy consent to give him to the devil for a little monie , as Judas did our Saviour ? If hee bee poor , how dost thou feed or cloath him ? If hee bee not yet called , how canst thou call him ? If thou cast him out ; it is the greatest blemish in our Church . Oh sir ! there is a color for that , it is for the contempt : Then mark God's Word , Jam 2.13 . There shall bee judgment merciless , to him that sheweth no mercie . Comfort you my people , saith God , Isa . 40.10 .

If the fear of the Lord bee but the begining of wisdom , hee that hath not this fear , cannot continue in the battle , but quickly discover whose colors hee stand's for . Wee may not bee like Bats , to turn to the greater side ; nor Jack of both sides , nor John indifferent , nor yet good , onely in good companie : but fear God truly in the inward closet , in thy heart , not to give entertainment there to lust ; as to desire the p●esence of such a damsel , or the companie of such a drunkard , to bee merrie a while , as they call it ; nor to desire thy enemie there , to bee revenged of him ; nor when thou findest thy bags emptie , to wish them full of such a man's monie , though hee bee never so rich , or so wicked ; or thy self poor , though godlie . Nor yet desire honor for thy own ends ; for God knoweth which waie thy heart stand's affected , and what thou would'st do if thou had'st opportunitie .

Blessed is the man that feareth alwaie . If thou would'st beget true fear in heart , learn of the wise man , Prov. 2.3 , 4 , 5. Incline thy ear to wisdom , and applie thy heart to understanding . Crie after knowledg , seek her as silver , and search for her as hid treasure . Then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord . Whose word thou maiest take , and finde the knowledg of God , to fear him truly alwaie . True fear great joie doth bring , it makes thee bold ; All slavish fear to slight , thy faith to hold .

Thus much of Fear .

WHen the fear of God , and love to God go hand in hand , that make's the true , valiant , loving , and faithful souldier of Christ . Love is the fulfilling of the Law . For what can man do against the Lord , if hee both fear and truly love him ? or what against his neighbor ? God's children in this have had their greatest failing .

Our Saviour Jesus Christ , in Luke 6.33 , 34 , 35. sheweth who are blessed , pronouncing wo to the rich , and those that are full , that are without love and mercie : teaching rich men how to behave themselvs , whom to love , and how to suffer , and to whom to lend .

For ( saith hee ) if you lend to them of whom you hope to receiv , what thank shall you have ? Hee turn's to his Disciples , his children , saying , Wherefore love yee your enemies , and do good and lend , hoping for nothing again , and your reward shall bee great , and yee shall bee the children of the highest . An exhortation to the greatest task , for the greatest reward . What ? Love your enemies , and do good , and lend , and hope for nothing again . Hee might well speak this to his , for none but his can do it . Wee must do good and lend to those that are enemies to us ; Let God's enemies alone , hee is all s●fficient . This teacheth us peace and charitie , then are wee prepared for love .

If wee must lend and look for nothing again , mee think's this should stop the mouths of Usurers though it give them no content to their minde ; but look to the great condition , as much as if hee should saie , If you regard not heaven , take use . This cannot bee but a mad adventure .

Object . But som will saie there can stand no State without it ; and som others hold opinion , that so much may bee taken as their monie will purchas to them . I answer , it is but their opinion , and no true ground for it , neither is it a safe waie ; for if they must hope for nothing again , their thoughts must bee verie pure that lend . For som expound the place , that in som cases the principal is not to bee looked for by extremitie , if thy poor brother bee grown into povertie . For they that will bee rich fall into manie temptations .

They that will have riches without God's warrant ; as by Covetousness , I surie , and Gameing , can show little love to their brethren or neighbors , and as yet march not under the banner . For hee that determin's to go to God's colors let him bee well advised not shrink , nor go from them ; but haste thither betimes in thy youth and strength to get in sooner into favor and preferment . Learn the waie to the standard ; if thou beest out , ask of those that can ●ell thee , and never leav till thou commest there ; but bee sure thou askest not him that will set thee out of thy waie .

For God deal's with us as a good father having children in for eign countries where hee hear's som suffer imprisonment , som banishment som nakedness , som hunger , som one affliction , som another : Their loving father send's messengers to releas and reliev them with letters and directions of their waie , by such a river , by such a wood , follow my instruction , com at the time appointed , before the Sun grow low , or bee set ; and whereas I hear you suffer extremitie and miserie , you shall bee sure of joie and happiness .

You will saie now , if anie of these sons will carelesly loiter , or presumptuously go out of their waie , and neglect the time appointed hee justly deserv's to live in miserie still . Even so hath God dealt with us ; hee hath gon further then letters , Hee hath printed books of directions , and by such faithful messengers that ceas not , calling and crying daily teaching us the waie to heaven ; saying . To daie wee must hear his voice ; before Sun set with us , whil'st it is not dark , and the strong men bow themselvs , and the doors shall bee shut , and fear shall bee in the waie , &c. Eccles . 12.3 4 5. Here hee call's the young man , though hee refuse not the old , though late . Wee oft refuse . The good childe that truly love's his father , will bee loth to offer d him in the smallest thing ; but far from compelling others .

Som go carelesly and sleepily to the colors , as if they care not whether they went or no ; their love is not hot , they deceiv themselvs . Which put's mee in minde of a Storie once I read of two Travellers , That after manie passages , they came to a great and sumptuous castle , and viewing the walls and buildings , they saw a little Devil sleeping ; and travelling on further , they found a poor man's hous , where they saw a monstrous raging Devil , somtimes tearing the thatch , somtimes the walls , and somtimes the windows : the one demanding of the other , why doth not the great devil go to the castle , and the little devil to the little hous ; who answered , that the great devil had been at the great hous , and conquered all there alreadie , and had set the little devil to keep it ; and might sleep too , but the poor man by God's unresistable grace stand's firm and keep's him at defiance .

If this bee but a Fable the Moral may bee good ; for the Lord respecteth not the persons that bee great that love him not : nor fail's the poorest that love him , and trust in him , and keep to his colors .

True love is the greatest blessing that ever God gave to man , and there was never anie perfect in love but one , which was Christ Jesus ; who lovingly gave himself for us , which were his enemies ; which tie's us all in love to give freely our lives to him again . Go to the first man that God made , who had free will , placed in Eden , which had both creatures and earth at his command , hee wanted love to fulfil the Law . Jacob likewise when he made a vow , That if the Lord would bless him in his journie , bee would build an Altar . Peter bragg'd and said , If all men forsake thee , yet my love is so , I will not : Which shew's , that wee are like dading children , not able to stand of our selvs ; for when God take's away his hand of Grace , wee fall ; then Grace is as it were rak't up in ashes , and wee fall ; but of this more at large hereafter . Oh that God's children would hold together in peace and true love ! for love grow's so cold in everie place , let mee tell thee , whosoever thou art , that hast not love to all God's children , examin but thy heart truly and thou canst not finde Christ Jesus there yet .

As manie can say , wee have so manie Sects of Religion amongst us , that there cannot bee that true love . Is it not lamentable to see our Captains at variance , that their example should teach us love . By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples , ( saith our Saviour ) if you love one another ; and by this wee know that wee are translated from death to life , if wee love the brethren .

More , If I speak with the tongues of men and Angels , and have not love , I am but as sounding brass or as a tinkling cymbal . This I dare bee bold to write , that let him bee captain or souldier , comformitant or not , where there is not love , there Jesus Christ is not yet in that heart , but hee that translate's himself into Angel of light , hee whose name was Legion : Wee must hate the sin but not the sinner . As man and wife must not bee parted , no more must fear and love , if wee belong ●o God . And man cannot bee said to love wife or children truly , though hee never bee so careful for earthlie preferments , and let them go in an erroneous waie for their souls ; love thy wive's soul , thy childe's soul , and thy friend's soul , thy brother's soul , or no true brother , so no true love . What ? love the cabinet better then the jewel : Oh worthless love ! Wee praie all together in God's hous for holiness and pureness of life , what greater hypocrisie can there bee as when wee never mean it ; dissemble so before God : if thou dealest but so with man , whose breath is in his nostrils ; judg but thy self then what thou wilt bee accounted : Nay , when wee are out of God's hous , exclaim against them , which immediatly before thou did'st make request to God to bee one of . Wee praie alwaies that God's Too manie leav out that petition . will may bee don , and yet how few there bee that intend it , who are hypocrites now ; Oh they neither fear God nor love him yet , nor anie of his children truly , nor is the banner given to them : yet are they bound to love God's children for their owne safetie , both of life and goods .

This is the condemnation , that light is com into the world , and men love darkness rather then light , becaus their deeds are evil , John 3.19 . Saie a man that hath but one daughter , that hath two suitors , the one truly honorable , virtuous , beautiful , comly , wise , in everie part exceeding and excelling the other ; abounding in riches , promising to make her a jointure of a whole kingdom , and craving nothing but love .

The other suitor , true it is , was honorable , but now is proved a traitor , and so deprived of all his glorie hee lived in ; becom a bankrupt , grown most ugly and mishapen , and one that hath no truth in him , nor estate to make her ; meaning that when hee hath won her alwaies to afflict her , and never to give her one hour of true comfort more : and shee , beeing well informed by her father of these two suitors before hand ; if shee leav the best and take the worst , deserv's utterly to bee forsaken of her loving father , and never to bee taken for his childe again : but then , when the monster can prove a contract by her , and that shee hath served him more then an apprentice-ship , oh , then shee is fain to crie out to her father , It is true , O father ! but I had no power of my self ; help mee dear father , for thou maiest yet help mee , help mee , or I am utterly undon and overthrown .

Thus stand's the case with most of us , Christ Jesus is our earnest suitor , who intreat's us by his sweet Epistles , his holie Word , his Embassadors , putting us daily in minde ; yet wee refuse his kinde imbracements , his sweet societie , and to bee inheritors of the kingdom of heaven ; to yield to the inticements of this uglie , monstrous , raging , both soul and bodie destroying suitor .

Now seeing it is so let us speedily with the prodigal turn to our father , and fall at his feet , and never leav him until wee finde mercie ; For love commeth af God , and everie one that loveth is born of God , 1 John 4.7 . The onely waie to win us to this love to God is , First , sincerely to think what wee were without Christ , the basest of all creatures : they that love not Christ let them bee a Maranatha , that is , most accursed . Secondly , remember what wee are , if truly in him the most happie . And thirdly , meditate what hee hath don for us , at what a high rate hee hath purchased our love , by losing his life for us : this cannot but beget both love and thankfulness , without which , a man is no true Christian ; want's thou this love to thy heavenlie suitor .

Look down upon the earth , what God for his sake hath don for thee ; beholding it in the Spring , how it is bedecked with flowers fruit and riches , look on the pretious stones and gold , what refulgencie there is in them , which God ordained for man : Then cast thine eies up to heaven , behold the Sun , Moon , and Stars , without which thou canst not move ; these drawing thee on still to a more divine Meditation of heaven , which God will give to them that truly love him . Oh then meditate of our Saviour's Passion ! how there was no sorrow like his sorrow , witness the drops of water and blood which hee swet for us ; the nails through his blessed hands and feet , his pretious blood gushing out of his side , his chusing us from so manie thousand ; still caring for us , when wee cannot care for our selvs . If thy love want heat , learn to increas it of the careful woman , who findeing but a small coal of fire in the ashes , gather's little straws , small sticks , blow's softly , and findeing it to kindle , laie's on by degrees until shee hath made a strong and flaming fire . So praie for grace that thy love may increas until thou beest inflamed to thy Lord , and all his children .

So concluding this point with that of Prov. 8.17 . I love them that love mee , and those that seek mee early shall finde mee .

First , wee must consider whose words these were : the great God of heaven's who fail's not his promise .

Secondly , the effects ; If wee love God hee will love us .

Thirdly , the comfort wee shall finde ; an everlasting crown in heaven : which if it were on earth , would bee mixt with miserie .

Fourthly , the fearful and dangerous condition those are in that love not God .

For if an earthlie King should make such a Proclamation , and record it under his own hand ; O what hasting ! what striving there would bee to com before his presence to make profession of their love , though hee could give no certaintie to them of his life nor theirs , how long they should injoie his love , not one hour : How manie thousand years hath God proclaimed this sweet sentence , and how few com into his presence to declare themselvs . Then make use of those sweet succeeding words , Those that seek mee early shall finde mee .

And ceas not to seek him whil'st thou hast time and opportunitie , And beg this Grace of Love , for it cannot bee bought with monie ;

Which God truly shewed to us in sending his Son to redeem us , otherwise a lost people : then mourn that wee have neglected this heavenlie search so long .

This gracious jewel let us high esteem , God's endless love , for Christ did us redeem : Who love's God's truth , and sin doth truly hate ; Of heaven's true joie shall sure participate . Compare true love unto a chain of gold , That link's God's children fast true love to hold .

The fourth Part .

THe banner is given that it may bee displaied .

In everie Temporal War , when the battle is ended the colors may bee roll'd up ; and likewise when the souldiers bee not in arms .

But in this Spiritual battle alwaies displaied , and the warriours still in arms and readiness .

First , wee are to consider the time prefixed ; They must bee displaied alwaies : even as long as the enemie opposeth , till the end of the world .

Secondly , the parties that must fight , are all God's children .

Thirdly , against whom ; against the world , the flesh , and the devil .

Fourthly at what time ; at all times but chieflie when the enemie is most stirring , which is when God command's most holiness on the Lords daie .

For the first , the banner must bee displaied night and daie , and indevour to bee best at last , whil'st wee have life ; for hee that giveth over in the middest of the battle , or dare not draw his sword must needs bee cashiered .

But if anie bee seen to put forth his match on purpose , hee must have Martial Law bee shot as a traitor ; still the banner must bee displaied , and souldiers keep close , seeing it concern's your everlasting reputation and honor , or endless horror .

Secondly , it followeth , that all God's children must fight this battle ; even all that look for salvation .

Wee must not then have Wars amongst our selvs ; no rowt , no bitter contentions , for that make's the enemie not onely bold , but likewise joiful .

Under our blessed General , wee have manie brave , stout , and valiant , both Collonels and Captains , to lead us on and direct us .

And som tender-hearted Captains which ( with grief bee it spoken ) conform not , which fight as stout as the best , and manie of their souldiers too ; and yet shamefully , and ignominiously , and falsly nicknamed and hated of manie , as if ●hey were of the contrarie armie , by the name of But now cal'd Roundheads . Puritans : They know not what they saie , or will not saie what they know ; for a Puritan had his name from Novatus , as I have heard taught : That about two hundred years after our Saviour Jesus Christ his Passion , there arose one Novatus , who beeing an ambitious man , to the intent that hee might lead a partie , broached a new opinion to this purpose .

That Christians haptized into Christ , if through infirmitie , in time of persecution , they fall awaie and denie the Faith , though afterwards they may seem to do all that concern's repentance , or conversion , or confession , they can have no pardon of sin , no repentance , no salvation .

The which Doctrine , beeing in a general Synod , by the Orthodox Divines disavowed , Novatus and his followers separated themselvs , and called themselvs through pride and insolencie , Cathari , that is , Puritans . They boasted that they were more holie then all other men , and did glorie in the merits of their works .

The Doctrine of this Cathari or Puritans , saith Austen , was ,

First , they denied repentance and pardon of sins to Christians that fell into sin through infirmitie .

Secondly , they admit not of second Marriages , detesting them as Adulterie . It is true that the professors of the Gospel have , in all ages , had bynames , and slanderous calumnies imposed upon them : as they have been called , Albingenses , Waldenses , Berengarians , Arnolists , Tossepines : and even in England in old time , Lollards , and Puritans .

You may see the difference between the old Puritans which were so indeed , and those that are nicknamed in these daies .

First , they named themselvs so , for a difference between themselvs and others orthodox : Wee are nicknamed so .

Secondly they called themselvs so through pride of their own pietie : Wee not so , but hate the name .

Thirdly they denied pardon of sin and repentance to them that fell through infirmitie ; they denied second Marriages : So do not wee .

Fourthly , they gloried in their own merits of works ; So do not wee .

Fifthly , they separated themselvs from other Orthodox Christians ; So do not wee .

Sixthly , they were condemned by Orthodox Fathers as Hereticks ; So are not wee .

Seventhly , som of them repented and returned again to the Church of God ; Wee go not out from the Church of God .

Thus you see the differences , how near they com together .

The one condemned as Hereticks ; the other differs in nothing but in a poor Ceremonie , as wee our selvs call it . This I have heard taught by brave and conformable Captains of happie memorie .

But the name of Round-heads proceeded neither from wit , grace , or godliness , and so not worth the answer ; but , as it is reported from a condemned Jesuit .

A Long-head is like an Ass ; a Logger-head is term'd a Fool ; but sure they are the wisest heads that stand for truth .

Thirdly , wee are to fight against the world , the flesh , and the devil ; but not against God's faithful souldiers , though they differ in a small thing .

For ( good Readers ) if you observ , you will finde the devil's tract in this , as easily as to see a man's nose on his face ; for first hee labor's to bring us out of love with them that conform not , by that fals name of Puritans ; and then when those are shut out , to pick som quarrel against the most faithful as to term them Puritanical preachers ; for our Saviour saith , There will bee differences amongst you , ( speaking to his own ) even till the world's end ; But not in manie points of Religion : for they are not of us that agree not with us in truth ; especially those that refuse to hear and withdraw themsels from their ordinances .

You see who wee are to make war against ; this is no easie fight , though som Papists have reported that the Protestant Religion , ( as they call it ) is the easiest Religion .

It may bee true , in a lazie licentious time-server , but not for a careful , vigilant , and true souldier of Christ . It is a hard task to mortifie the flesh with the vain allurements of the world and to endevour to resist the inticements of the devil , as not to bee over-ruled by them ; this will not bee found easie . Herein let us imitate the good warriour that keeps a Castle , wee must look to the breaches for letting in the enemie , and when wee finde a breach weak and failing , presently do all wee can to strengthen it : whosoever undertake's this task will not finde it so easie a thing , though the joie it bring's will make al seem easie .

Now fourthly follow's the time ; at all times ; but chiefly when the enemie stir's most ; on the Lord's-daie .

Wee must have our armor readie all the six daies , and watchful ; but six daies shalt thou labor , and keep to thy Christian calling , but alwaies in Christ close to the banner : but the seventh date remember to keep it holie , that thou must labor onely for thy soul . The seventh daie is alwaies the hottest skirmish ; for if wee call to minde the manie places in the sacred Scriptures , wherein wee are warned by God's fearful threatnings to sanctifie this daie and keep it holie ; to get heavenlie wisdome , to pitch all our thoughts and actions , to glorifie him , which ought to bee our chiefest care , which most are most careless in : Wee do not that which wee may do , but far from doing that which God command's , wee abuse the common graces which God give's us ; wee labor not to improve our talent but make our legs lame to go to God's hous ; our ears deaf to hear his word ; our hearts otherwise affected ; our eies blinde to see his word . Thus making our members rebels against our soul , and bring that woful sentence upon us ; as Cursed is hee that doth the work of the Lord negligently : so denying the waie to heaven , refusing God's chief blessings then our deserving is hell and damnation . For hee that is wearie of Christian duties on the Lord's daie , and likewise daily duties constantly to bee performed in everie daie of the week must needs bee unfit for heaven where there is nothing but praising God .

Wee have manie brave out-side men that daie , for an hour in a daie , or an hour in a moneth , that seem to put on the breast-plate of righteousness , and with the sword of the spirit , cut sin to pieces ; but when the hour is ended , there they leav the armor , sheath the sword , and roll the colors in the pulpit ; and but for the out-side , shall not bee known to bee either Captains or Souldiers : nay , they will for that hour so rows up and awake sluggards , that the fore-named little devil is fain to call the great Beelzebub , and tell him , if hee com not himself , his kingdom will bee thrown down , the field will bee lost : Beelzebub answer's , Thou sillie weakling canst thou perceiv nothing ? these out-side men are my best friends , and do mee most service ; let them alone one hour , they will bee for mee twentie . Mark but when a great man invite's one of them home on a Sabbath-daie to dine with him , where swearing , drinking , and beastlie talking is , what will hee saie then ? doest thou hear him speak one word against mee then ? no , hee will either join in outward action or in silence , and base cowardise , and fight manfully under my colors all the week after . What ? dost thou not know yet that a forreign politick Prince hath his best friends in his adversaries Court and Counsel : nay there are too manie Captains and Souldiers that do in a manner make their Apologie to the Devil , and saie , Though wee may not for the Nay the King of kings Law . King's Law serv you in the daie , yet you had our hearts , for now at night wee com to offer our free service . How can a souldier fight manfully when hee see's his Captain fight six daies with the Enemie , for one with his General ; is not this pettie treason ? Can the poor souldier think hee meaneth as hee taught him ? It cannot bee true , think's hee , for then hee would never do so himself ; what care and true love can hee have to my soul that hath so little to his town . Souldiers are too apt to follow their Leaders in evil , such a master , commonly such a man . Thus wee see that upon the Lord's-daie is the hottest assaults both by the Devil and his followers .

The conscionable keeping of the Sabbath ( saith Doctor Bailie in his Practice of Pietie ) is the mother of Religion and good Discipline in the Church . Take away the Sabbath , and let men serv God as they list , and what will becom of Religion ? Pag . 403.

For none a eless careful in keeping the Lord's daie then those which are most superstitious observers of men's holie-daies . Pag 428.

What God hath perpetualy sanctified let no man ever presume to make common or profane .

The corruption of our nature is found in the manifest opposition of wicked men ; and the secret unwillingness of the godlie , sincerely to keep the Sabbath , sufficiently sheweth the Commandement to bee Moral . These words are worthie to bee written in Letters of gold ; for one blessed man's opinion on God's side should swaie more then never so manie against him . Holie Elijah , though a Prophet , said , Hee was left Hee thought all had been slain but himself . alone to worship God aright : yet God said to this holie Prophet , hee had yet reserved seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal ; but what was seven thousand amongst so manie millions of miscreants ? though som great Doctors , they were never the holier in those daies for beeing Doctors . Labor to be good before thou beest great ; for I saie if there were no more onely but that book called the Practice of Pietie , which is approved of by our Church , it were , I saie , a safer waie to hold to that Doctrine therein conteined , then to give ear to som late Writers , though As to Dr. Pocklington . Doctors .

For ( saith that worthie Author ) the Church of Rome commit's gross Idolatrie , in taking upon her to ordain Sabbaths , which belong's onely to the Lord of the Sabbath :

And in dedicating those holie daies to the honor of the creatures :

And in tying to those daies God's worship : as , Praier , Fasting , and Merit :

And in exacting , on those daies of men's invention , a greater measure of Solemnitie and Sanctification , then upon the Lord's-daie which God command's . Page 429.

I speak not this to cast down the wonderful works of God that must bee kept in perpetual memorie .

It is remarkable in the sacred Scriptures , That God never commanded anie thing which was against the Law , but hee came himself to appoint it , who was the Law maker : as to have Abraham to sacrifice his son , against the sixth Commandement . And likewise the children of Israel to rob the Egyptians , a breach of the seventh Commandement ; which otherwise had not onely been an abomination , but death : but beeing commanded by the Law maker , had been death eternal to have denied .

And more , our blessed Saviour beeing God , had given commandement unto the Apostles whom hee had chosen , Acts 1.3 . to whom hee had presented himself alive after hee had suffered .

By manie infallible tokens , beeing seen of them by the space of fortie daies , Acts 1.3 . and speaking of those things which appertain to the kingdom of God , even of all things . They , beeing directed by him , altered not the Commandement but the daie from the Jewish Sabbath to the first daie : which daie is renowned by our Saviour's Resurrection , which is the Queen of daies ; In which Dr. Bailie . death is overcom , and life spring's up in glorie in Christ , which can no waie nullifie the Moralitie of it ; for it was still God's proper act .

The Commandement is of 2686 years standing . Moses commanded the Law to bee put into the Ark , that it might bee there for a witness against them ; for said hee , I know your Rebellion ; behold , I beeing yet alive ; yee are rebellious against the Lord : how much more then after my death ? Might not this great Prophet prophesie of these times , against those people that labor to make that Commandement ( which the Lord put a memento too more then the rest of the Commandements ) Ceremonial .

The Ceremonial Law was injoined to the Jews onely , but the Commandement of the Sabbath injoined as well to the Gentiles . Christ took the Curs of the Law from his redeemed , and God sanctified the Sabbath .

Paul saith , The Law is spiritual , but I am carnal . They then must needs be carnal that speak against the Moralitie of this Commandement , so then , it must needs agree with the flesh . The Church expound's it in the margent , Of thine infidelitie : when thou shalt turn away from the Doctrine contained therein , which is now verified by som .

Moreover , ( saith Dr. Bailie ) The Church by an universal consent , even since the Apostle's time , hath still held the Commandement of the Sabbath Moral , and a perpetual Law of God ; and the keeping of it upon the first daie of the week , to bee the institution of Christ and his Apostles .

Moreover , it hath been the Law of our Church , as in the old Book of Common Praier , Incline our hearts to keep this Law . And our Saviour saith , I and my Father are one . If you love mee keep my Commandements , John 14.15 , 21. twice repeating those words .

Moreover , it was the order of our Church to have Evening Praier on Saturdaie , to prepare us for the holie Sabbath , that wee might bee fresh to go about that heavenlie work for our souls ; for it will bee a great comfort to thy soul when thou art to depart this life , to think that thou hast striven against thy flesh to finde out the waie to heaven ; which wicked men and malefactors have lamentably cried out of their great abusing and wicked spending of God's holie Sabatth : so let everie one that loveth the Lord Christ keep holie the Lord's daie : for , saith the holie Ghost , Cursed is everie one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them : not to do his best endevour , and to flee to Christ for help . For the Commandements are holie , and just , and good ; and it must needs bee a safe waie and most blessed so to hold , which the opposers will one daie finde .

The seventh daie is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God ; this should make men take heed of intrenching against God that daie , if thou wilt have him to bee the Lord thy God , then endevour to keep his daie holie .

For if another keep his daie holie and thou dost not ; What is that to thee ?

If another clothe the naked and feed the hungrie , and thou dost not ; What is that to thee ?

If another love all God's children and thou lovest but som of them ; What is that to thee ?

And whereas God hath promised to bee our God , and wee shall bee his people .

If another bee one of God's children and thou finde thou art not ; What is that to thee ?

If another laie up treasures for his soul that daie , and thou increas thy miserie ; What will becom of thee ?

Oh bee intreated for thy self for the breach of the Commandements ! God threatned to kindle a fire in Jerusalem , and it should devour the palaces , Jer . 17.27 . If hee bee the Lord thy God , suffer him , or earnestly desire hee may rule over thy affections ; and not saie , Wee will not have him rule over us : let his messengers saie what they will , wee will do what wee list .

But if thou wilt not have him rule over thee , Rejoice O young man in thy youth ! and let thine heart chear thee , and walk , in the sight of thy own eies ; but know for all these things that God will bring thee to judgment , Eccles . 11.9 . To daie if you will hear my voice harden not your hearts .

They that refuse to hear God's Word when they may , harden their own hearts when they use no means to get Grace .

Not a part of the daie , but all the daie ; Com unto mee all that are wearie and heavie laden , and I will eas you : Wce must bee wearie of sinning , but never wearie of comming to Christ to attend upon the means of Grace . It is a rebellious thing not to com when our Saviour call's , for if a father The Reason call his childe , if hee run from him , and regard him not hee will certainly bee more offended . Becaus I have called and yee refused ; I have stretched out my hand and none would regard ; I will also laugh at your destruction , and mock when your fear commeth . Then yee shall call upon mee but I will not answer ; they shall seek mee early but they shall not finde mee , for they hated knowledg , &c. Prov. 1 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 29.

There is no bodie that hath a burden on his back that will ruine him , if hee bee not sensless , but hee will hasten to bee delivered of it .

So when our sins seem to sink us into the pit , and wee bee wearie of them , and com when Christ call's and faint not , hee will eas us .

Object . But on the Sabbath daie , manie that are called Puritans will not keep their Parish Church ; for that I cannot excuse , if they teach them in deed .

Manie good husbands when they have tilled and manured their land and made it readie for seed , will change their seed for the better , especially if their own bee light ; but if they have little or none , they must needs fetch more , or els their land will quickly grow weedie : so the hungrie soul must have food though it cost monie .

The Lord sent his crier Esay , saying , Ho , everie one that thirsteth com to the water ; and manie obeie the flesh and the devil and sit at home : And yee that have no monie , com yee , buie wine and milk without monie , or monie worth : what is this water but the Word of God ? how can the poor man buie it that hath no monie , but by his labor ? so there is wine for the able man and milk for the poor and weak ; who can finde milk in an emptie hous , wine in a bottomless vessel ? and calling again , Harken diligently unto mee , eat that which is good , and let your souls delight in fatness .

Wee must not neglect our service to God when hee call's , God would have us look for good food that may feed our souls ; hee would not have our bodies pamper'd and our souls pin'd ; how can hee feed that hath but drie commons and want's the water of Life , or one to unfold the mysteries of salvation , which otherwise may but bee a dead letter . This may confute those that think they cannot err they are led by the Spirit .

The great lord Treasurer must needs have a Philip ; here you see all are call'd that hunger and thirst , though never so little ; nay , they are not excluded that thirst not , though not yet called . That none may despair , look further , Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord ? let him hear the voice of his servant : they that fear God never so little are commanded to this dutie .

Psal . 107.5 , 10. Hee that walketh in darkness , and hath no light , let him trust in the name of the Lord , and staie upon his God , Isa . 50.10 .

Oh what comfort is this to the most distressed that can but wait upon God .

God commanded Ezekiel , Chap. 46.2 . that the Church door should bee shut the six working daies , but it should bee open the Sabbath all the daie , and not shut till evening : sure this signified som extraordinarie worship of God that daie above other holie-daies ; certainly the doors were not to stand open but for som great end . Acts. 28.23 .

How dreadful is this place ( said Jacob ) this is no other but the hous of God , this is the gate of heaven , Gen. 28.17 . If the This may confute the jeerers of God's hous . hous of God bee the gate of heaven to let us in there ; then the houses of iniquitie are the high waie to hell .

What would David have been call'd if hee had lived in these daies ? Who had gon with a multitude and led them into the hous of God with the voice of singing ? &c. Psalm 42.2 . But they that will follow the command of God by Isaiah , would bee termed Arch Paritans .

Isa . 58.13 , 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holie daie , and call the Sabbath the holie of the Lord , honorable , and shalt honor him , not doing thine own waies , non finding thy own pleasure , nor speaking thine own words , then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord .

From Sabbath to Sabbath shall all flesh worship before mee .

But to whom did the Prophet speak these words ? to the Jews onely ? or from whom did hee speak , was it not from the Lord ?

The Lord made not this Covenant with our Fathers onely , but with us ; even with us all here alive this daie , Deut. 5.3 . Psalm 105.8 , 9 , 10.

So it is plain , that God the Father spake all these words of the Law , Exod . 20.1 . God the Son came not to destroie the Law but to fulfil it . For said Hee , Till heaven and earth pass , one jot or title shall in no wise pass , Mat . 5.17 , 18 , 19. God the holie Ghost , laie's a curs upon everie one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them , Gal. 3.10 . To endevour to his utmost to do them : so Christ fulfil's all for us if wee do our best .

Som , wee have , hold this fourth Commandement to bee Ceremonial , but most blessed men Moral .

Som approve of recreations , som not : Godlie recreations must needs bee lawful , but recreations which the flesh desire's cannot bee : They that can leap and dance , and sing , and still prais God , must needs bee lawful , but if our righteousness bee as a menstruous cloth , what then ? See that you do all things according to the pattern , Heb . 8.5 . Dance like David , sing like David , leap over the wall like David ; but take heed of giving waie to lust like David : For the most part Recreations and Sanctifications are too contraries , wee may allow our selvs nothing , if before wee do it , wee know wee shall sin in it ; neither eat or drink to sin ; it is the best waie to hold the safe waie , for seeing our righteousness is as rags , our reading , hearing , and our Praying , wee must needs bee careful when wee Praie .

Thus wee see the differences in all ages ; keep still to the safe waie ; none are commanded to use them ; wee all praie for Holiness , without which none can see the Lord . Yet manie contemn the means , and will saie they hope to bee saved even as well as those that run after Sermons , and yet keep with Sir John their Parish Priest at home . These are like the sots that sit by the fire side , and crie for hunger , and will not rise to the table to fetch it : or like a slothful man in a room , having nothing there but weak and little food , and is invited to the next hous to strong and strengthening meat . So there bee manie that will frequent often God's Hous , as long as they dwell near , so long as it may bee neither painful nor chargeable ; but if the means bee removed further , they will not stir one foot . This I saie again , that let a man conform to all that is required , if hee but abstain from drinking and ungodlie companie , and set himself to fear God , and but endevour so to keep the Lord's-daie , as hee commandeth , hee shall bee accounted a Puritan or Roundhead ; but if hee chance to fail in his profession of a Christian , and commit anie known sin , and will go on still in wickedness , then hee go's currant for an Hypocrite .

But against whom do you sport your selvs ? &c. Isa . 57.4 , 20. The wicked are like the raging sea that cast's up dirt . but for all this , God's souldiers must not bee ashamed of their colors .

Our Saviour praied for his enemies that crucified him , for they knew not what they did ; so must his redeemed do , they must praie for the conversion of the opposers of the Truth if they belong to God , for they know not what they do ; it is the honor of the Church . I personate none , but all those that know in their hearts that they love not all God's children ; that love to profane the Sabbath ; that know they live in envie ; that resolv to daie to give meetings to morrow , till they have drunk wit out of their heads , and grace out of their hearts , and health out of their bodies ; that resolv to go on in wickedness still , and exclaim against those that labor to make conscience of their waies , and rank them amongst reprobates and hereticks , and plot how to mischief them .

But such were som of you , but you are washed , but you are healed . I am sure such an one was I , and still too unworthie ; ( for I was forward in profaneness , and sorrie when the Minister staied us so long on the Sabbath-daie about God's service , and glad when all was ended , and have so wearied my self with vain and profane sports , even on the Lord's-daie , that I had not been able in five daies to use exercise again : nay , which was wors , when my self and my associates have been advised by those that feared God , to leav off those sports , wee have set them at defiance , and refused their good counsel . )

Therefore , I had rather go to the hous of mourning , to have my sins taken off by true repentance , then to the hous of mirth , to have more laid on , seeing they are too heavie for mee alreadie , Psalm 38.4 . Nay , where as God appoint's mee six daies for worldly occasions , I had rather have but five , then presumptuously to take half an hour of the seventh . Thus seeing Christ hath promised to disburden the penitent sinners , and that hee never refused to heal anie that truly and heartily sought unto him for their bodilie cure , either lepers , or the like ; surely , no more will hee denie us , if wee seek to have our souls cleansed from that foul taint and stain of hateful sin , hee will not fail us ; if wee die to sin , and truly and earnestly endevour to live to righteousness .

But to those that saie , I shall have peace , although I walk according to the stubbornness of my own heart , thus adding drunkenness to thirst .

The Lord will not bee merciful unto him , but then the wrath of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man , and everie curs that is written in this book shall light upon him , and the Lord shall put out his name from under heaven , Deut. 29.19 , 20.

Becaus yee have said , wee have made a Covenant with death and with hell , Isa . 28.15 .

Thus wee see what a fearful thing it is to flee from God's colors , and know wee sin , and will purposely go on a little longer .

Thus much of the fourth part , that the colors must bee displaied , and when .

Displaie God's colors both with heart and hand , Which vow thou mad'st , though by an infants band .

The fifth and last part , containing five branches .

THe banner is given becaus of the truth .

Truth hath ever been the onely caus of this long contention and spiritual War , 2 Pet . 1.12 . Jude 4.

In the first place , wee must consider what Truth is .

God's Word written in the sacred Scriptures

In the second , who hath ever up-held it under God , and stood for it ? His true Vicegerents his Prophets , his Martyrs , and Ministers .

And who hath withstood it ? namely God's enemies .

And lastly , who are to follow them in their Doctrine and good example ?

All that expect salvation ; God's souldiers , his sheep .

First of the opposers ; his enemies , the deniers of his truth , the opposers of his truth , and enemies of his truth , which the Devil hath ever stirred up , hath been the caus that manie millions of thousands have lost their lives , som compulsively as souldiers , som voluntarily , as blessed Martyrs .

This antient spiritual combat first began in Eden , and never must end till the world end's . For no sooner had God given the first Commandement to Adam that hee should not eat of the forbiden fruit ; For in the daie that thou eatest thereof , thou shalt surely die : but presently said the Devil to the woman , Yee shall not surely die , until man by woful experience was banished the Garden . When God made the Commandements , written with the finger of God miraculously , which were Holie , Just and True ; then the Devil must bee stirring against truth , making the People and Priest to commit Idolatrie , to make a golden Calf , ( from which ground may com the Pope's Bulls ) but let them know that presume to serv God otherwise then his Word allow's , are of a beastly generation , though never so gilded ; for when they were about their Idolatrous works , Moses cried out they were naked .

Nothing can hide our nakedness but God's truth ; Christ's garment ; the costliest cope in Rome cannot hide the nakedness of sin , though worn by a Friar : Thus you see the Commandements have been opposed by the Flesh and the Devil .

Seeking still to prevent the end of our creation , to stand for truth Ride upon the word of truth , Psalm 45.4 . bee carried with it , bee supported by it , stand for it , die for it .

Isa . 26.2 . Open the gates that the righteous nation , which keep's the truth , may enter . For ( saith God ) surely they are my people , children that will not lie . As they that have least grace care least for it ; so those that have least truth stand most against it . The greatest enemies to truth and the sinceritie of it , are in the greatest places , and with the greatest persons ; the Devil presumed to com into the presence of God , nay , and sometimes seem's to stand for truth , as Pilate did for our Saviour Jesus Christ ; till opportunitie gave leav , then give the sentence against truth , and would fain shut truth both out of Court and Courts , yea , and out of Countrie too . Seeing it is so , how valiant should both captain and souldiers bee ?

God's Word is this truth which everie true warriour must stand for , which the enemies labor so much to denie and oppose ; which wee ( blessed bee God ) have happily injoied amongst us , truly maintained , and couragiously stood for , which God ever still continue , that no man ought to withstand ; wee must bee all of one minde for truth , 2 Cor . 13.8 .

Object . But mee think's I hear som turbulent Romanist questioning mee , how I know the scriptures to bee truth , and why I should despise their man's invented Religion so .

To him or them , I answer .

The long and safe continuance of them by the hand of God , the manie opposers , the sweet concordance of the Scriptures , the malice they shew to the Scriptures the heavenlie effects wrought by them in God's children , the terrors to the wicked , which they that question shall bee sure to finde if they repent not . and so much what Truth is .

The second Branch , Of the upholders of Truth .

AS wee have , so there hath been ever som good Kings , when not heavenly , faithful , and true Prophets , and blessed Martyrs ; Ahab against Micah . Kings against Prophets , and Prophets against Kings , and all for truth .

There is but one waie to heaven , not so manie as there are Religions : there is but one truth , there is but the Lord's warriours and the Devils : wee have had more then seventie years by past , the Lord's three Vicegerents ; truth mainteined and truly stood for , and truly fought for ; blessed bee our good God who ruleth their hearts : but now our peace is broken .

Oh! but will som saie , What have you to do with truth ? you are no Captain , you are but a common Souldier , you have no calling to it : To them I answer , Read and see ; examine , see what thou canst finde mee ; If thou gettest goods , thank God the author of it . Trie the Spirits ; it is not the name and out-side of a Captain that make's him one , neither of the Souldier . The Schollar must repeat what hath been taught him ; the Steward must give up his account ; if it bee true , hee need not care who see's it : hee that hath been a Souldier more then five apprentiships , if hee cannot lead on a loos wing , or bee able a little to train in his Leaders absence , hee hath been negligent ; but if hee know's not the quarrel , the truth of it , hee is but a fool ; ( hee must not bee like the sleepie Jurier that cried , hang six and save six . ) As wee may not hide our talent , though it bee but poor ; hee that love's the truth will stand to it , fall back , fall edg .

When the enemie by his instruments stirreth up som to denie part of the Truth ; as the Papists , Brownists , and Arminians ; yea , and manie Sects , as Anabaptists and others : one denie's the truth of Repentance , another the Sabbath , another Government , and yet all seem to stand for it ; and som by bloodie crueltie , by spite and envie . The Papist ( in a murtherous waie ) call's us Hereticks , and seek's for blood got in a Christian waie ; The Brownist call's us traitors to Christ ; and the spiteful Arminian by cunning and crueltie put's good men or Minsters to silence : These seek not truth in a loving waie ; is it not time for the Lord's children to buckle on their armor , and keep true watch ?

These times will trie our Captain 's what spirit they are of ; mee thin'ks their hearts should burn as David's did ; stand for truth , burn for truth , die for truth or for nothing : yea but if a man speak against som Achans hee shall bee accused for a malignant , and not know the accuser .

Wee do not read often of manie ; as when Daniel stood for truth , who sided with him ? but a few .

Amongst manie thousand thousands wee have but a few , yet God hath reserved those that are able to resist all opposers , and yet conform too . Those that are able to teach the truth , and follow it both in life and conversation with true love to all God's children , and envie not the persons of their enemies , but their errors , and praie heartilie for their conversion ; these are the true leaders on , they are like the sweet singers of Israel , that will tell Judah of her sins , and Israel of her transgressions : They are not like the flattering Surgeon that will make you beleev that hee can heal a sore with a plaster , that must needs bee lanched to the bottom . These may bee compared to the skilful musicians that can plaie anie lesson that is laid before them ; this excellent consort truly understand's all the lessons in God's book truly . Muster up the Pope's Captains and ask them how they plaie these Lessons following ,

The first Lesson conteining sixteen short Arguments . Touch not mine Annointed , and do my Prophets no harm .

Murther the Annointed of the Lord ; I hold him an Heretick , saith the Pope , and I will pardon thee , I sit in Peter's chair and cannot err .

Secondly , But , saith the Lord , I am hee , and there is none that can deliver out of my hand ; I will work and who shall let it , Isa . 43.13 . Saith the Pope , I will let it , and I will pardon sins for manie years . admit it should bee granted to the Pope and his Priests , that they had a commission to forgive sins , yet they could not forgive all sins , Isa . 44.3 . For saie More they are curst that trust in man . two com to his Holiness for Bulls , the one a true , broken , and contrite hearted sinner ; the other seeming so , but indeed a meer hypocrite ; one that hath borrowed the Crocodile's tears ; and both suitors for Pardons ; they appearing both alike to his Holiness , who knoweth not the heart , hee give's his Bulls to both and they depart ; the hypocrite look's into his purs , hee finde's that lighter but his sins full as heavie as before ; then looking to his Bull that is turned into a cow worth nothing , may not this man go to the Pope for his monie think you ? for the deceiver hath cozened the hypocrite : before Christ there was none could pardon sins ; Ministers are but the declarers of God's will to the true penitent sinner , for the debt is the Lord's , Luke 6.21 , 22 , 23.

Thirdly , you may read in Gal. 2. that more then fifteen years after our blessed Saviour , Peter went not the right waie to the truth ; So their Church may err .

Fourthly , was not hee a wrong man placed in Peter's chair , that would hear his holie brother Roh . Turtiensis , crie out before his face , Fic upon Peter ? &c.

Becaus Aristotle could not understand the ebbing and flowing of the Sea , as it is written of him , hee threw himself into the Sea .

Just so , becaus Lindan with the rest understood not the secret Mysteries of the sacred Scriptures ; therefore they must needs blaspheme against God , and saie , that the Scripture is a shoo fit for anie foot ; a matter of contention ; a wood of theevs ; a shop of hereticks ; Imperfect ; doubtful ; obscure ; full of perplexities ; and a nose of wax , that may bee drawn backward or forward : And manie blasphemous words more , not fit to bee written by anie Christian , as that worthie Knight Sir Hum . Linde prove's in his Book called Via tuta , Page 289. It is likewise said , Telenus in his Syntagma tell's us of a champion of the Church of Rome , who saith . The Church of God had been better provided for if the Scriptures had never been written : It is evident that they never understood the Scriptures , nor had anie comfort by them , that durst saie so ; yet they will quote that Scripture that make's for their purpose : Search the Scriptures ( saith our Saviour , ) no saith the Pope .

Fifthly , if they bee curst that curs Jacob , Gen. 23.22 . they are curst that curs God's children , Numb . 22.12 . for they are blest .

Sixthly , if they bee cursed that keep back their swords from blood when God command's , they must needs bee cursed that have bloodie swords when God forbid's ; as , Touch not mine Annointed , and do my Prophets no harm .

That can bee no true Chruch that allow's of private murthers .

Seventhly , if they bee cursed that teach for truth the Doctrine of men , Gal. 1.7 , 8. what will becom of the Pope and his crue which oppose the Scripture ? wee approve of no Fathers if their works differ from God's holie Bible .

8. If they bee accursed that fulfil not the Law , Gal 3.10 . that man that doth not his uttermost endevour to keep the Law with a faithful heart ; then cursed must they bee , that love not all God's children , seeing Love is the fulfilling of the Law , Rom , 13.10 .

Object . But mee think's I hear som questioning how I prove love to bee the fulfilling of the Law by explanation .

Answer . If thou love the Lord thy God , that is , Father , Son , and holie Ghost , with all thy heart , truly fearing him , faithfully and carefully yielding obedience to him ; if thou lovest everie member of Christ as a part of him ; nay , if thou lovest thy enemies becaus hee so command's thee , let God alone with his enemies , take heed thou beest not in league with them , especially as they are God's enemies , then thou fulfillest the Law .

Then is Christ's righteousness imputed unto thee ; then are thy faults and failings covered with thy blessed Saviour's garments .

Ninthly , If one title of the Word of God may not bee altered ; for saith the holie Ghost , Deut . 4.2 . If anie man shall take away from the words of this book , Good shall take away his part out of the book of Life , Rev. 22.19 . Prov. 30.6 . Gal. 3.17 .

Prov. 7.2 . What shall becom of those that They may the better saie , they can keep them . leav out a whole Commandement , and take upon them to divide another to make up the number ?

For the Pope hath in his Church but sixtie and six words in their Commandement , and they leav out above two hundred and fortie words as it stand's written in God's Book .

The tenth ; for their meritorious works . The Prophet saith , All our righteousness is even as a menstruous cloth , and as rags : surely this cannot bee but a noisom ragged waie to merit heaven by , and as a holie man said , Wee are to ask God for everie bit of bread wee eat ; and yet they think to get into heaven by good works , not regarding the words of the Apostle , When wee have don all wee can , wee are unprofitable servants . Mistaking holie Nehemiah , when hee endevoured to do Gods will , hee said , Remember mee , O my God , for good : hee said not , God reward mee for my deserts , for I have merited heaven .

The eleventh ; Praie for your enemies , ( saith our Saviour ) Bless , I saie , and curs not , Tit . 1.8 .

Curs them with Bell , Book , and Candle saith the Pope , for I command it that am above Scriptures .

The twelfth ; what shall I saie of their Doctrine of Devils , forbidding to Marrie ? which God allow's ; seeing Marriage is honorable to all , the bed beeing undefiled ; no saith the Pope , Ministers shall not marrie , wee do rather allow Stews to them . Still they contradict God's Word .

The thirteenth ; and that abomination of praying to Saints ; when none but God know's the thoughts of the heart ; here they must needs forbid , or make nothing worth the prayers of the heart ; so that hee that hath no tongue to speak must think ; farewel Saints , for I cannot bee saved .

Ely said , 1 Sam . 2.25 . If a man sin against the Lord , who shall plead for him ? Certainly if ever man might have shamed to have com before the Lord without a Mediator , David might ; who , notwithstanding the Lord's bringing him from the sheep to the Scepter , committed Adulterie and then Murther .

Yet hee knew Abraham was ignorant of us , and Israel knew us not , Isa . 63.16 . For ( said hee ) Whom have I in heaven but thee ? Psal . 37.29 . Certainly if these Men Saints know us not no Women Saints do ; then vain must the Praier bee , as , Woman , command thy Son . As they put too much honor to the Virgin Marie , wee have som take too much from her : read Luke 1.43 , 48. All generations must call her blessed : they were then to bee condemned that termed her like a saffron-bag .

Our Saviour must bee all in all , hee call's us all to him that are wearie of their sins , that finde them a burthen to them . The Prodigal went to his father , who was readie to imbrace him : it might have been , his brother , that grumbled at his entertainment would have failed him . If a subject had a great suit to his King , and hee knew that his King had made a Proclamation , that hee might freely com to His Majestie for hee would hear him ; vain were it then for him to seek a Nobleman : as if a man should kneel down to the servant in the master's presence , which was most absurd .

Object . But why should wee labor so in vain to those that denie the holie Scriptures , the fountain of all our knowledg , which our Religion is grounded upon ; and theirs upon man's Invention .

Answ . Becaus our love is to them ; they were once of us , but now they seek our blood and curs us : just as the Proud man cannot indure to hear the Doctrine of Humilitie ; the Envious man of Charitie ; the Licentious man of Chastitie ; the Covetous man of Liberalitie ; the Profane man of Sinceritie : no more can these monsters abide the sacred written Veritie , becaus the secret will of God is not revealed unto them .

The fourteenth , now of that presumptuous sin , in picturing the Almightie God , who saith , I am God , and there is nothing like mee , Psal . 113.5 . Isa . 46.9 . And when none on earth might behold his face and live , Exod . 23.20 . yet they will picture him like an old man graie-headed .

It were abominable to think , much more to write of the absurdities that might follow that fals interpretation .

If it were lawful ( as we hold it is not ) to picture our Creator , the greatest probabilitie is , hee was like to Adam at his first Creation , for hee was not created an old man , neither was our Saviour Jesus Christ : now becaus Daniel beholding the Lord in a Vision , calling him the Ancient of daies , and that the hair of his head was like the purest wool , therefore it must needs bee graie : As if hee were not Alpha as well as Omega .

For the God-head is not like gold graven by art and the invention of man : Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness , Acts 17.29 . Thus the holie Ghost expound's Gen. 26.20 . If thou would'st bee like to God , endevour to kill everie sin , and increas in everie good thing which hee command's thee .

Certainly their Religion hath been but lately acquainted with God , For hee is the same to daie as hee will bee to morrow : and a thousand years with him are but as one daie . With him there is no shadow of changing .

The fifteenth , for Transubstantiation I saie but this ; If hee had ever read in the sacred Scriptures that ever our blessed Saviour had appeared to either Apostles or Disciples at one time in several places , then they might have been more confident of that Point .

Lastly , the wise Preacher saith , And dust return to earth as it was , and the Spirit to God that gave it .

No saith the Pope , it go's to Purgatorie , believ , mee before the Scriptures .

But I leav them to the more learned , and praie to God in his goodness that hee would open their eies , that they may speedilie turn to the Lord's colors for truth .

But for the seduced ones , I would wish my head a fountain , and mine eies rivers , truly to mourn more for them , that they would onely seek to God in Christ , and think not of their Merits that they may finde mercie , for they know not what they do .

Oh hous of Jacob ! com yee , and let us walk in the light of the Lord , Isa . 2.5 .

Where on God's Word Religion is not grounded , Both soul and bodie needs must bee confounded .

NOw for the Arminian Captains , those subtle Sophisters that dare bear arms , though their Pelag . and Armin . Generals bee both dead : Those up-stars and non-conformitants to the Church of England , who never had King Never agreed with them . held their Points , nor Martyrs ever died for them ; their presumtuous opinions agree with the Pope , and , by manie , feared , ere long will yield to more .

Renown'd King James , and likewise Doctor Usher , Prideaux , and Pimble the Arminians crusher : And mame hundreds more do them confute , But manie have the Tongue-tie , and are mute .

Give mee leav now in this poor Treatis to give account what I have learned in our long , blessed , and victorious times : blessed in our deliverances from the Spanish Armado ; blessed in our discoverie of the damnable Plot by the Papists , the Powder Treason ; and our seventie years happiness in our true Religion , by one famous Queen and two Kings .

Now seeing Wolvs are crept in , and disquieted our Flock , which hath so long lain at rest , and scattered som that can scarce bee found again ; it behoov's everie souldier to do his best to stand for Truth , that the flock may he at rest again . Wo bee unto those that destroie and scatter the sheep of my pasture , saith the Lord , Jer . 23.1 , 2.

Now if I can give one blow to these disturbers of our Church and Peace , I shall think my self happie .

To pass by three of their Tenents and com onely to two which they plaie fals and quite out , as wee have been taught ; and even as the great adversarie of ours , the Pope would have .

That of Universal Grace . That anie may bee saved that will .

And the other , That God's children may both totally and finally fall awaie . Which cannot hold with God's truth .

First , these Tenents may well bee said to agree with the Flesh , that is with the carnal minded man .

Secondly , with the Devil .

Thirdly , not with , but against the Doctrine of our Church of England .

Fourthly , from the Law and Praiers of our Church .

Fifthly , from the Peace of our Church .

Sixthly and lastly , from the Scriptures .

First , why they agree with the Flesh , that is the carnal minded man . Most are too apt to defer their repentance ; then if anie man may bee saved that will , they will make that their last act when they make their will ; for none would bee damned , their hopes of Mercie will give such libertie to Sensualitie .

Secondly , nothing can bee more pleasing to the Devil then defering repentance until the time of sickness , or som heavie affliction , then hee will hope to drive them to despair : everie Christian must praie for repentance , and lie at God's feet until hee gain it , and not think to obtein it when hee will .

Thirdly , against the Doctrine of our Church ; against both the tenth and seventeenth Article . Rom. 16.17 . Heb . 13.9 .

Fourthly , against the Petition in the Lord's Praier , Lead us not into temptation . And if the great glorious and onely Son of God , in whom all fulness dwel't would not assume unto himself the power of Free-will ; when hee fell on his face and praied , saying , O my Father , if it bee possible , let this cup pass from mee , nevertheless not as I will , but as thou wilt , Mat . 26.39 . What ? shall wee then the sinful seed of Adam have Free-will ?

Fifthly , From the Peace of our Church , for it breed's Distractions and sets men at variance , that manie poor souls know not what to pitch upon .

Lastly , against the Scriptures , for if anie man may bee saved that will , why did our Saviour teach by Parables , and answered his Apostles and Disciples ? It it given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven ; Mat . 13.11 , 15. but not unto them , lest they should bee converted . For the Church expound's it , the Gospel is hidden from them that perish ; where is Free-will then ?

Moreover ( our Saviour saith ) Two men shall bein the field , one shall bee received and the other refused . Two women grinding at the mill , the one shall bee received , and the other shall bee refused ; not they will bee , but they shall bee : certainly if Solomon had had Free-will , his wisdom would have kept him from running into so much follie so long .

Manie shall bee purified and made white , Joh 32.8 . Dan . 12.10 . And saith our Saviour , John 6.44 . None can com to mee except the Father which hath sent mee , draw him . Without mee yee can do nothing .

Their righteousness is of mee , saith the Lord , Isa . 45 , 17.

To will in mee ( saith Paul ) is no good thing , by the grace of God , I am that I am : it is his mercie to give his grace .

God's grace is the ground and foundation of all goodness : Satan can do nothing to God's children without leav .

Paul beeing blindely led persecuted the Church of God ; so are all persecuters of God's children .

But beeing called by Christ , John 1.12 . & 3.8 . when grace was given him , hee then preached the waie to eternal life : Everie man is a beast in his own knowledg , Jer . 10.14 .

It is grace given which set's the will on work to goodness : God set's on work this habitual grace .

A father may give his childe his lands , but not grace ; hee may use the means to beget grace in him : Repentance is the gift and work of God , a man cannot have will to repent without grace from God , Deut . 12.10 .

O let not my heart bee inclined unto anie evil , Psal . 141 , 4. God guideth mee with strength , and maketh my wate upright , Psal . 18.3 . God preserveth the waie of his Saints , Prov. 2.8 . Prais our God , O yee people , which holdeth our souls in life , and suffereth not our feet to slip , Psal . 56.13 .

Hee will not suffer the righteous to fall for ever , Psal . 55.22 . They may fall but not for ever .

I have commanded my sanctified ones , Isa . 13.3 . O Lord , I know that the waie of man is not in himself , Jer . 10.23 .

I will run the waie of thy Commandements , saith David , ( I but when ? ) when thou shalt enlarge my heart , Psal . 119.32 .

The Black-moor cannot change his hue , nor Leopard take away his spots ; neither are wee of our selvs sufficient to think anie good thing , all is of God : It is God that worketh both the will and the deed , 2 Cor . 3.5 .

It is grace that makes's thee hunger and thirst after righteousness , God will not trust us with our own salvation . to bee joiful of anie soul's happiness : Tell mee the holiest Arminian , canst thou perform holie duties rightly when thou wilt , without a secret unwillingness ? Canst thou bee as joiful to meet thy heavenlie Father in his Ordinances , as at Wee have nothing that wee have not received . Praier , and hearing his Word ; as when thou wert a childe , to meet with thy natural loving father , which which hath been long forth ? I should bee glad to know it by thee , but more joieful to finde it in my self . Wee must labor and use the means to get grace ; as , Praier , reading God's Word , Meditation , and Conference ; for as hee that make's himself a night-bird cannot see the Sun , if hee shut himself in a close room : but look forth when the Sun shineth : refuse not the Light , abuse not the common Graces ; for God hath given to most men their sensitive parts and to discern betwixt good and evil . For this ( som will saie ) was a verie good Sermon , but such a man made a poor and sillie piece of work . These are common gifts and graces , but when hee hath given thee and mee hearts truly sorrowful for our sins , with endevouring to bee conscionable to amend what is amiss in us , this is the gift of God : Then learn of the careful Smith , strike whil'st the iron is hot ; Quench not the Spirit , despise not Preaching , neglect not thy salvation .

Thus wee see manie have judgment to discern betwixt good and evil ; but few have grace to take the good and refuse the evil ; that is the gift of God .

Open thou my lips , and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise what ? not till then , ( O poor Free-will ! For salvation belongeth to the Lord , Psal . 3.8 . In actions , civil men have Free-will between man and man .

The ungodlie man that mainteineth Free-will ( if there bee anie such ) is unexcusable , if hee do not presently amend his life , it beeing ( as hee saith ) in his own power , why the Lord should ever bee merciful to him ; nay , hee deserv's death to brave it so with God , as that hee will chuse when hee will bee saved . For if a Subject oppose his King and saie , I will rebel but till such a time , but then I will bee a faithful subject , which answer no King will take ; so is it with all that hold Freewill , that are not holie people . Of his own good will hath hee begot us with the Word of truth .

What must wee do then ? use the means and beget grace at God's hand , that his Word of truth may beget us ; for it shall accomplish what hee will have don . They can well agree with us to hold Church-livings by Hypocrisie , which they shew plainly as to bee of our Church , and hold Tenents quite contrarie : nay , they will seem to praie with us , and yet hold Tenents against those Praiers .

Grace to see our sins , and truly and heartily to repent , and so forsake them , is a mercie of mercies , when wee see by the eie of Faith that God hath blotted out the thick cloud of our transgressions , wee must return to God , Isa . 44.22 .

Wee must endevour all wee may to grow in grace , and incline our hearts to perfect obedience to God's will for truth ; for a hedg of his handiework will keep the Devil out , when the greatest buildings and bulwarks of man's invention will let him in .

Thus I conclude , that a man must do his best , and earnestly call upon God still for better abilities . And thus much of Free-will .

And for that Point they hold , The verie Elect may finally fall away , is most pernicious and fals : fall wee saie , but not finally , not fall from our Elections , but alass , wee may fall from our righteousness .

Psalm 47.6 . The Lord lifteth up the meek , Hee lasteth the wicked to the ground . I give them eternal life ( saith our Saviour , John 10.8 . ) and they shall never perish , neither shall anie pluck them out of my hand . My Father which gave them mee is greater then all , Ver . 29.

1 Cor . 12.27 . God's children are ingrafted into Christ , and are members of his bodie ; they will have his bodie imperfect if hee lose a member .

The Lord knoweth who are his , Mat . 11.52 .

Object . But what saith the Lord in Ezek . 18.26 . If a righteous man turn from his righteousness and commit iniquitie , hee shall die saith the Lord .

Answ . It is true , from his righteousness ; that is , the fall opinion that hypocrites have of themselvs , for all our righteousness , that wee have of our selvs is as rags . But they that are born of God , sin not , for the Lord remaineth in them , 1 John 3.9 . Their sins are not imputed to them ; but hee that saith hee can live and not sin , is a liar , 1 John 1.8 .

Rom. 9.15 . The foundation of God remaineth sure ; God seeth no iniquitie in Jacob , nor transgression in Israel , beeing born a new not of mortal seed , but immortal by the Word of God , who liveth and endureth for ever , 1 Pet . 2. Isa . 45.17 . Rom. 11.5 . John 13.1 . God loveth his with an everlasting love : therefore with mercie have I drawn thee , Jer . 31.3 .

Som God call's on the sudden , as hee did Paul , who consulted not with flesh and blood .

Som longer , like a hous in building , first laie the foundation , and then the principal posts , yet no perfect hous till all be finished .

Solomon asked wisdom of the Lord , and hee gave it him ; hee asked not grace to guid his wisdom ; his hous was exceeding long of building , hee built a hous to serv God in , but begged not grace to keep God in his heart . Peter's hous was not finished of fifteen years , neither was David's of a long time .

A lim may bee rotted and ulcered , but as long as there is anie sound part , recovered again and made perfect , so it was with Solomon : but if it fall off quite , can never bee knit to again : So it must needs bee granted , that hee that finally fall's away was never a true member of Jesus Christ .

Object . but what saie you then to David and Solomon , did they not fall wholly from God ?

Answ . To this I answer as before ; wee are all like dading-children , if God take away his graceful hand , wee fall . But first of Solomon , whose sin was greatest and continued longest ; as I said , hee asked wisdom to govern his world of people , but not grace to govern his numberless sins . Yet God promised him , saying , I will bee his father , and hee shall bee my son , 2 Sam . 7.14.19 . And if hee sin , ( which God knew hee would ) I will chastise him with the rod of men , and with the plagues of the children of men ; but my mercie shall not depart from him . As if hee should saie , Is it so Solomon that thou askedst not grace when thou praiedst for wisdom , and that all the world admire's thee for the same ; I will take away my hand , that all the Free-Willians that shall bee in the world may see what the wisest men are of themselvs . Yet , my mercie will I not take from thee ; for the seed of God was in him : Our Saviour call's his father the husband-man .

As the husband-man soweth som wheat in som ground , that it lieth all Winter before it appear to have life , yet it hath life all Winter ; so was it with Solomon , whil'st hee gave his heart to know all things : but when the spring came , that the Sunshine of Grace shined in his heart , Hee cried , All is vanitie : then his wheat sprung up and flourished .

Even so God's seed in David grew up , untill hee arose from his couch , and gave but waie to eas and idleness ; then walking upon his palace , not checking his lustful eie , when hee beheld Bathsheba , brought by the Devils bait ; & then God took away his hand , and his fall was fearful . Then the Lord sent a storm , with a mightie winde and snow , which covered and overwhelmed his flourishing corn that it could not bee seen , yet there was corn ; for when God dissolved the snow with that warm sun-shine of the Prophet Nathan's counsel , in discovering to him the foulness of his offence to his good God ; then did his corn flourish and grow ripe even for the Lord's harvest ; then hee cried , Make mee to hear joie and gladness , that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice : for still the seed of God remain's in the childe of God ; there is strength and life , though hee fall hee shall bee cast off , for the Lord put's under his hand . Psal . 37.24 .

Thus you see the Arminian to bee the greater non-conformitant , shaking hands in these Points with the Pope ; and differ's in the Doctrine of our blessed Church .

Now , they amongst them that hold the Jews must keep the Sabbath , 2 Pet . 16 , 17. and that wee may keep it , as if it were in our choice : they , I say , that hold so , may hold that they may go to Hell if they will , but can have little comfort that they may go to Heaven until they change their minde , in holding close to God's most blessed Law . And thus much against Arminians .

Those that in Doctrine with us disagree , May well bee said not of our Church to bee .

NOw concerning the Brownist so called ; the old Separatist ( they onely , I mean , that hold , that the holiest Ministers , according to our Church of England , to bee meer traitors to Jesus Christ , for that their calling to their Ministerie is not lawful ; ) to him I speak , Goest thou not about to prove thy Father a traitor that begot thee , and thy Mother a strumpet that did both bear , nourish , and breed thee . Tell mee , I praie thee , what thou hast proved thy self to bee ? thus I answer thy first accusation , and prove it fals , for our Bishops did did not chiefly ordein Ministers ; it is the Lord and not man . Bishops are but the admitters of them into the Church when they finde them sufficient : if they admit of anie unworthie , if they know it , that lie's upon their own account and peril .

For , as I said , it is the Lord ; look into Jer . 1.5 . Before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee , and I ordained thee a Prophet , Luke 1.15 . Moreover our Saviour chose his Apostles , and likewise Paul , which must go to Ananias : As Marriages are made in Heaven , if with God's consent , that is , when there is a heavenlie choice , beeing joined together by God's appointment : The Marriage by the Minister , though it bee an honorable ordinance , doth but give satisfaction to the world , the Marriage was made before .

So thou followest not the example of Jesus Christ , nor yet the holie Ghost . Paul went three Sabbath daies into the Jew's Synagogue to dispute , Acts 17.1 , 2. Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the time of Praier , Acts 3. to the 15. vers . Wee are taught indeed to separate our selvs , but from whom ? from Idolaters ? if from sinners , wee must forsake all , nay , our own flesh : for seeing our righteousness is but as a menstruous cloth , where is then our puritie ? Thou thinkest thy calling old , but if from thy father Brown , thou art but as yesterdaie ; but let mee ask thee one question , as Marie did the supposed gardener , where hast thou laid thy sinful bodie ? go put it on , for I dare not question too much with a spirit lest it should bee evil , and a deceiver . But before , let mee intreat thee to look into the Word of God , Hebr . 10.25 . Jude 19. Not forsaking the assembling of our selvs together , as the manner of som is : but exhorting one another . Mark well the place , and then thou maiest prove older then thy father Brown .

Look well to the Caveat the holie Ghost give's thee there ?

And put on thy bodie again , and remember thy first love ; confess thy fault unto thy Mother and submit , and then I will answer thee ; until then farewel .

Object . If it bee so said , that the Papist seek's our blood and fight's against us ; the Arminian , like the Griffin on both sides ; the Brownist run's from us and abhor's us : what saie you of the nicknamed Puritans ? what may wee call them ?

Answ . The Lord's dear and blessed children , true Catholick Protestants ; And I heartily desire that poor differences betwixt us were once settled and determined of ; even , as wee call it , in their trifling Ceremonies : ( I hope it will bee now . ) For shall a Ceremonie divide the substance ? shall a quarrel about a feather with brethren , ( as our Bishops did ) bee an occasion of the cutting of a lim ? and the dividing of that Mystical bodie of Jesus Christ asunder for trifles , where there is no dissention amongst brethren : the father will hear it , even so will the Father of us all . Judg the caus of this controversie , but when the father shall see his children com into his presence , and som without ears , and to bee cut off by their brethren for trifles , will hee take it well ?

Oh! what a grief it is to think that the Ceremonies should make such a rent amongst us even like a knife that part 's a piece of good stuff : If you see one com into a shop , and make choice of a whole piece of cloth of gold , or cloth of tissue , hee buie's it all , and take's a knife and parts it ; the one part hee throw's by and regard's it not , becaus it pleaseth not him in the branch or wave , yet the stuff is of equal value : even so they cannot but bee accounted but for the Ceremonies ; Oh wretched trifles ! which signifie nothing to us at all . Manie offences , as they are taken seem greater or less ; are they not as much to bee condemned which slight the King's Laws and Proclamations ? for when the Head and Bodie of the Land have made Laws and proclaimed them , how manie can you finde that can stand up and saie truly , I have conscionably kept them ; but take him Devil , if hee denie the Ceremonies once . Wee should bee reconcil'd and bee all of one minde ; will anie father dislike a dutiful son for his true obedience to him , if hee will make him his heir , though hee strive's to pleas him above his brethren ? Or a true , conscionable , faithful , diligent , and careful servant , alwaies striving to pleas his Master in the smallest thing , becaus hee truly fear's and love's him : certainly , none but disobedient sons , and wicked and slothful servants . It is nothing but the work of the Devil to make us hate those which God love's best , that hee may deprive us of that happiness which hee once injoied .

Therefore , let us account them as enemies to our soul's bliss , that withstand the truth ; and hold hands with those that truly maintein it .

Who is hee that live's but hath som blemish ? som end or waie of his own ; old Elie was a good man , but for his too much indulgence to his sons , which hee paied for : have not wee too manie that have that fault , which are too tender to reprove their children , or their Patrons , or their Lords , or Princes ? it hath been said , that great men have cried out upon their death-beds of such dissembling , faithless friends , and Captains ; which onely seem friends , but in deed , are enemies to the better part : Oh blessed bee hee that tell's mee what danger my wounded soul is in , and teacheth mee the cure ; but far bee hee from mee , which lead's mee on to wound it , or will seem to cure that with balsom , that must bee lanched to the bottom . Ezek . 16.2 . Son of man , caus them to know their abominations , that they may bee ashamed of their wickedness , Ezek . 43.10 . What might John Baptist have been raised unto , if hee would have winked at Herod's adulterous Divorced from one and married to another . marriage ? ( as som of ours did not manie years since ) What of Micah , if hee would have pleased Ahab , and Jeremie ? of Amos and Paul , if they would have been corrupted ? Flesh and blood cannot abide those men that will not wink at som sin : if Jeremiah had joined with Pashur , if Amos with Amaziah had pleased Jeroboam all had been at peace ; the Devil hee could never abide to have a searching , faithful , soul-saving Prophet to com near Kings , for then his armie would bee put to flight : for Amaziah discharged Amos for Prophecying anie more at Bethel , Amos 7.12 , 13. for it is the King's Chappel , and it is the King's Court : as if those which God himself sent had nothing to do there .

There was never mischief yet plotted against God's Prophets or children , that had authoritie , but still wicked Prophets or wicked Priests were the chiefest agents in that action .

Witness our Saviour's enemies , and his Apostles enemies .

Som rebuke sinners as if they were loth to speak against sin , especially when they speak to great ones ; then they fetch it far off , as if the man they speak to was not there . The drunkard unwilling to speak against drunkenness , it must not bee said to bee in him .

The glutton readie to commend feasting .

The idle time-server alwaies against But now Roundheads . Puritans : certainly God doth not wonder more , nor abominate anie sort of men more , then hee doth wicked and ungodly Teachers .

Thou that teachest that another shall not steal , doest thou steal ?

Thou that preachest against pride , art thou proud and ambitious ?

Thou that teachest that another shall not swear ; doest thou take God's name in vain ?

Thou that readest everie daie the Commandements to others ; art thou the first that wilt break them ?

Thou that teachest others remember yee keep holie the Sabbath daie ; wilt thou profane it thy self ?

Such may well bee called Second-Table-men indeed .

If I commit wickedness in my heart , the Lord will not hear mee ; and if the Lord will not hear a wicked man's praiers , what then am I the better for his praiers ?

Thou that swearest till thy tongue bee black , Thou that drinkest till thy brain do crack , Thou that hast too much and still dost lack , Hear what our Saviour saith , and bee not slack .

Hee that knoweth my fathers will and doth it not , shall bee beaten with manie stripes .

Why dost thou preach my Laws , and takest my Covenant in thy mouth , and hatest to bee reformed ? Psal . 50.16 , 17 , 18 , 20. & Psal . 66.18 . Dan . 12.3 . Who doth the holie Ghost compare these to ? not to the pratling parrat , for shee know's not what shee saith ; to a wors creature . Isaiah saith , Chap. 56.10.11 . These greedie dogs can never have enough ; they cannot understand ; they are blinde and ignorant , &c. sleepie , and look their own waie . read the Chapter , and Isa . 29.13 . 1 Cor . 2.10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Psal . 14.4 . Prov. 29.27 . Ezek . 8.8 . Jer . 1.17 . Gal. 5.10 . Jer . 23.2 . Ephes . 3.3 . and 5.27 . 2 Cor . 11.13.15 . Jer . 14.15 . Ezek . 13.6 and 34.3 . and 36.27 . John 3.34 . and 8.32 , 34. and 16.2 , 13. Arts 9.26 . Rom. 3 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 14. Heb . 5.45 . 1 Cor . 14.12 . 2 Cor . 3.1 . Dan . 10.16 . Isa . 29.20 , 21. They can never have living enough . They can never shew malice enough . They can never bee idle enough . They can never bee ambitious enough . For which the Angels were cast out of heaven , which God cannot abide in his ; they must bee true hearted .

But that place in Isaiah is meant of those that cannot bark . Under correction I think it is not , but rather of those that can and will not , and not of them that would and cannot ; for commonly poor Readers have poor livings , and for the most part poor men : though rich Patrons , wch not onely muzzel the mouth of the ox , but take awaie that hee should live by ; besides , how saith the Prophet then , they never have enough . Or els it must needs bee , they are not sent of God ; for there are but two callings , External and Internal : for els they might answer , Why Lord , teach mee , I beseech thee , as thou didst teach thy blessed Apostles , for thou hast sent mee ; and let mee not bee compared to a dog the basest of all creatures , that turn's to his vomit : Give mee understanding how to teach thy people , as thou didst those that thou hast chosen for that purpose .

Moreover , manie reading Ministers are good Christians which God never called dogs ; which make's mee gather it is meant by those which can and will not , or will but when they list : ask anie of these Captains what lesson hee can plaie to himself , sure hee can plaie nothing but Hope , and fumble at that too : as when hee think's of this saying , Cursed is hee that doth the work of the Lord negligently .

How manie parents are there that weaken their estates , carefully to breed their children , and send them to the Universities to get Vertue , and there they get vice ? for in one year they becom masters of Art , but it is in drunkenness : but in half a year more , Doctor-standing : Then when they have so much learning as to strout into a Pulpit , and exclaim against Puritans , then they are readie for a Benefice , but too readie to shew evil presidents : thus wee know our right Teachers to this great combat , those that agree in Judgment and Doctrine , and indevour to live answerably .

Object . Wee see manie teach well , and yet live most licentiously .

Answ . It is true , the word of God is the same , from whose works soever they have it which but seem's their own ; it make's God's children mistrustful ; for who can exspect hee should finde good water to com to flow out of rotten and noisom earth ? it made them mistrust Paul , till they knew it was the Lord Jesus that had converted him : for as none know's man's heart but the ruler of the heart , so none know 's God's secret mysteries , but hee whom hee hath sent . There is no man hath power over the spirit to receiv the spirit , Eccles . 8.8 . Peter must feed God's flock , what ? all the flock , yes , all , if thou wilt bee the good shepherd ; what ? the sheep that are in the briers , and in the water , even readie to perish ; for they are thy flock , though straglers , for ought thou knowest . The safest sheep needs the least of thy help .

Object . but they will be lost at one time or other .

Answ . That is more then thou knowest .

Object . But they bleat not when they are in danger , they send not for mee when they are sick .

Answ . Then hast thou most need to go to them and reliev them , if it bee in thy power .

Object . but they have despised mee .

Answ . Even so they didthy Saviour Jesus .

Object . It seem's you are of that minde that God send's not a wicked man , did not God send Balaam ?

Answ . it was Balak sent Balaam to curs God's children , but God would not suffer him , but bid him bless them ; so the blessing was God's : which may teach everie wicked one in stead of malice to shew mercie to those that belong to God .

But Balaam was a wicked Prophet before , and wrought great wickedness after that , so that is no true argument that God chose him .

Object . What saie you then by Judas , did not hee do all things after hee was chosen and sent by Jesus Christ , as well as the rest of the Apostles ?

Answ . Yes . They taught all alike that the Messias was com and had power through his name to cast out Devils , Acts 1.17 . but no further ; for Judas had obtained but part of his Ministerie .

Moreover , they were all ignorant of the Scriptures , nay , of the Principles of Religion ; of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ , without which no man can bee saved .

Moreover , they were commanded not to go to the Gentiles , nor to the cities of the Samaritans .

For in the choice of J●das our Saviour shewed his true humanitie , in chusing twelv , and one a divel to betraie him .

But after our blessed Saviour's Passion , hee sent his Apostles , as in the end of St. Matthew you may read , All power is given unto mee ( saith Jesus ) both in heaven and earth . Go therefore and teach all Nations , to observ all things whatsoever I have commanded you . And lo I am with you to the end . Then opened hee their They spake all tongues . understandings , that they might understand the Scriptures ; these words Christ never spake to Judas , neither to anie wicked one that succeed's Judas in betraying or persecuting anie member of Jesus : Peter , when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren ; a man that is converted himself must use all his endevour to convert others ; it is not hee , it is God's Word , till then they fight not truly under the colors , but more of the adversaries side . So the Papist fight's against us : the Brownist accuseth us of Treason , and make's us Rebels : the Arminian side's in part with our enemies : and the licentious I reckon him as nothing . Captain is not to bee trusted with a Companie : nay , if hee have one Achan , the battle speed's the wors for him .

Let mee end now with this friendly and loving Exhortation , both to Papist , Arminian , and Brownist : Have you learning joined with love and humanitie ? do you seek the truth unfeignedly from your hearts , with a desire to love everie member of Jesus Christ ? can you praie from your hearts for your enemies soul's happiness ? fear not , depend upon God , hee will shew you wherein you err .

But if you have learning , pride , and envie , and finde your hearts not pliable for repentance ; you may com in time to bee Serjeant-Major , but it must bee for the Devil's troop .

Thus you see wee have but two sorts ; I meddle with no degree above a Captain , For there is no power but of God ; neither can it stand if not truly grounded by his Word , so no power .

For those which bee his enemies hee can quickly cast down ; let him alone , the quarrel is his . I beleev none to bee true Souldiers but two ; Two sorts of true Souldiers . one sort tender-hearted , and fearful if hee should not subscribe , that hee should highly offend : The other yet tender-hearted , and dare not . Therefore let not the conformitant contend in anie bitter waie against the non-conformitant , becaus as wee saie , wee differ but in unsignificant Ceremonies . Neither yet let the non-conformitant in anie invective waie contend against the conformitant , because they both agree in Doctrine . But both stand firm against all that differ , though in part of the truth and Doctrine ; for it is a miserable thing to have brethren at variance , or that wee should differ in the chiefest good ; for that bring's the Devil a banquet of the greatest dainties and delight .

Oh! how happie were it , that our thrice blessed General , and God's great Vicegerent , would judg the Caus , and end the Controversie for God's Glorie .

The Conformitant saith ,

Our Saviour Jesus Christ saith , Feed my flock . The holie Ghost saith , Bee obedient unto Authoritie : Bee all of one minde : Wo is mee that I preach not the Gospel . To the Jew I became a Jew . Nay , to them that were without the Law , as though I were without the Law , Luke 14.23 . All things must bee don in order . Our blessed Saviour was careful to give Cesar his due .

The non-Conformitant saith ,

But our Saviour saith , Learn of mee . The holie Ghost saith , Bee holie . Bee without spot . Touch no unclean thing : bee perfect . All things must bee don according to the pattern . Whatsoever is not of faith is sin . Prove all things , hold fast , and keep that which is good . Abstein from all appearance of evil . Know yee not that your bodies are the Temples of the holie Ghost ? Oh that these Points were decided .

Thus much of those that stand for the truth , and them against it .

The third Branch .

HEre followeth the third and last Branch of the fifth part , which sheweth who are to follow their Doctrine and good example ; namely Christ's souldiers , his sheep . Lo here the Banner is given to those that fear God for truth's sake : O then ! none that stand for truth must bee fals .

The truth will make us free , then wee must all awaie to truth for shame , which is to God's colors : God's colors are for truth and salvation , the Devils for hell and destruction . God's souldiers for truth , the Devil 's against it : God hath his flock , and the Devil his flocks : there are but two A lookingglass for God's souldiers . waies , the greater part run's wrong ; for let God send his Trumpeters to call his Souldiers to his colors , how slow they com ? but if the Devil , do but becken to them , away they will run .

But what is the Devil that so manie strive to serv ? or what is hell that so manie labor to purchase ? surely people cannot bee so much mistaken both in the leader and master of their affections , and likewise of his place and habitation , becaus hee can ( think they ) change his shape into an Angel of Light ; therefore , think they , his place of habitation must needs bee glorious ; and that the Scriptures in that point cannot bee true , and men's judgments likewise fail : or els they would never labor with might and main ( and think not of God but by waie of profaneness ) hazzard both life , health , and substance , to possess that their , much mistaken , place of happiness ; for as with God in heaven there is exceedings , exceeding in beautie and glorie , exceeding in blessings and reward , and exceeding in joieous habitation unspeakable .

So likewise with the Devils in hell there is exceedings , but exceeding deformed and uglie which sin make's so ; exceeding full of horror and torment ; his habitation most noisom , horrible , and cursed , but endless and remediless : Oh consider this all yee that forget God! Do the best , and haste to the Lord's colors , lest hee tear you in pieces , when there will bee no redeemer to help you : when hee shall saie , Depart from mee yee cursed into the place prepared , for I know you not .

The wicked are an abomination to the just , to that desire's uprightness .

Object . What a stir is here , crie's a common Souldier that is a drunkard , I will go live under a drunken Captain , that is not so precise : and saith the Usurer , I will go live under that Captain that is an Usurer himself : And crie's the Gamester and Prophaner , so will wee , for wee have Captains The Captains will bee sure to paie for it enow of our own minde , and yet hope not to go to hell neither .

Answ . Yes Sir , but for all your Captains have a care of your selvs , or you will paie for it ; God will meet with you for profaning his daie , and justifying your selvs in it , let your Captains teach what they will .

This is the endless quarrel : My sheep will hear my voice , I know them , and they follow mee ( a Caveat for those that will not com to the Ordinance ) and I give them eternal life , John 10.27 , 28. A most gracious promise of a blessed reward to his Souldiers ; Christ call's none his but those that follow him , nay daily follow him : and as hee know's which are his , even so hee hath left us signs to know whether wee bee his or no : wee must bee born again if wee belong to God , wee must bee twice born ; our lives must bee quite changed , from evil , to a right endeavouring to all goodness , and earnest laboring to all perfect obedience .

The stream of our affections must bee turned another waie , from noisom and rotten ground , to sound and perfect earth . If thou beest twice The sign to know . born , thou wilt not appoint a meeting to daie to sin to morrow , but truly mourn for thy sins committed ; if thou beest a Another sign . member of Christ , then thou hast received warmth from him : for everie member receiveth nourishment from the chief part ; hast thou true sight in him , true love to him and all his members ? then art thou baptized with the holie Ghost . O let no man rest until hee have got this assurance , that God is his Father , which is seen by true obedience ; for heaven is not so easily gotten as manie think it is , with a sigh , a sob , and away . If worldly things must bee both gotten , and kept with care and industrie , which are transitorie , then much more heavenlie which are permanent .

It is a blessed thing to bee one of Christ's sheep , to bee guided by him ; for as good sheep that are sound are for the King's table ; so are those sheep that love the Word of God , for to sit at the King of heaven's table : As those sheep that are careless of their food , becom rotten , and meat for dogs ; so those sheep that love ' not sound food , the Word of God ; to labor for it , and endeavour to live there after : even meat for Devils , not to kill , but to torment for ever .

Use . Wee must imitate the sheep , not onely as they are harmless against other creatures , but profitable for God's children ; wee may not imitate them in their greediness , nor beeing fearful at the barking of everie Cur .

Now seeing that the truth will make us free , what great comfort doth it bring to those that stand for it , though it bee even to death : our souls are purified in obeying the truth ; everie man love's freedom , none desire's bondage , yet most men take the greatest pains to get it ; even to bee bond-slaves to Satan , and fire-brands to hell : What pains doth the covetous man take to get his desire , yet never satisfied ?

The thief in watching when others sleep , hasting to his end .

The whore-monger consuming his bodie .

The blood-sucker to shorten his daies .

The gormandising glutton , and swill-bellied drunkard , by their self-murthering surfets , all hasting to their end , to shorten their daies , and hast to their sorrow , without timely repentance .

It hath been as rare a thing to see a man drunk as to see a man murthered ; but now it is a common thing to see a man murther himself with drunkenness .

The Jews would rend their cloaths when they heard one swear , as it is reported ; but hee that doth so now , should keep none on his back .

One reason is why men are so abominably wicked , they do not beleev that God's eie is everie where beholding the good and the evil ; the holiest of all fail too much in that meditation ; the wicked have their heaven in this life , and the godlie their hell ; yet though the wicked have their heaven here , the painted'st gallant is but as a butter-flie ; good for little blown away with a cold blast , if hee want Religion . If one out of a loving desire do exhort one that riot's it so , and adviseth him to go to God's colors for truth , hee would presently answer , would you have mee turn Puritan ? as if it were a dishonor to a gentleman to bee religious : but if you should desire him to consider how God hath hired you to serv him behold how brave you go ! when manie go almost naked ; you fare deliciously when manie cannot get bread ; you see how God whip's them , and hire 's you to serv him , beethink your selvs : But if you should tell him if hee go not to God's colors , hee is a traitor to him , and a bond-slave to Satan , you should bee sure of a stab if you look not to your self ; hee would bee like a hors that hath a gall'd back ; bring him a plaster ; though you speak him fair and would his good , hee will kick you : or like a mad dog , bring him a medicine to cure him hee would bite you : yet if hee bee clothed in scarlet , hee is poor , naked , and miserable , as a holie man hath writ ; there are so manie that are not sensible of their miseries , they are like one sleeping in a rotten hous readie to fall on his head , if the winde should blow ; and under his bed manie venomous creatures to sting him ; if hee go forth , wilde beasts to devour him : this man's case was miserable , but if no friend to help him , much more : one lovingly com's and adventure's to awake him it may bee , until hee com to himself hee may strike with the elbow ; but when hee behold's his danger , hee sure would love that friend : So fare's it with manie that sleep in sin , awake som , and when they bee com to themselvs they will bee thankful ; but manie will hate you the more , for you are not a chip of the right block . Everie man will confess that the mad-man , the fool , and the dead-man are all sensless : But if thou beest mad after thy fleshly desires , thou art the mad-man when thou neglectest heaven ; if never so wittie for earthlie things , and sottish for thy soul , thou art the fool . If never so quick and nimble after thy business , and spiritually dead , thou art the dead man ; Oh bee intreated for thy soul !

As wee may not follow the example of the ungodlie , so we may not take encouragement from the infirmities of the Saints . For in the dearest of God's children there is this spiritual combat , corruption against grace , and grace against corruption , and somtimes grace get's the foil ; but bee sure make still at the darling sin ; let no man think himself pure , but strive to bee so ; for com but into a room that is pure and white , and seeming cleanly , not one soul spot to bee discerned ; open but the casement when the sun shine's clear , you shall see a world of motes : Even so , when the sun-shine of grace shineth in our hearts , wee shall see our own foulness then ; for when wee are left to our own base lusts , wee see onely the glorie of the heavens , and beautie of the earth , and no marvel though wee bee taken with the lusts and pleasures thereof . The sheep love's the briar-leaf , and is catcht with the briar for her labor ; so it is with us when wee give but waie to our affections ; for how can it bee otherwise ? such as wee sow such wee must reap ; if wee sow cockle , wee cannot look for wheat , nor to prize God's Word as wee ought , but hear it as a tale that is told : but when the Lord hath powred clean water upon us , and washt us from all our filthiness , and all our Idols , and given us a heart of flesh , and breathed his graces in us , then are wee fit to stand for truth ; then wee cannot look into the world to set or pitch our affections on it ; then will wee die for truth ; for hardness of heart was the greatest plague of all the plagues of Egypt : for if a man was in a hous all on fire , and his God with him , what then ? It was but the sooner to bring him to heaven ; or in the mid'st of the raging waters ; or had the noisom pestilence , or incurable sore ? yet all was not so bad as a hard heart , Ezek . 36.31 . Yet still God must bee sought for to perform it ; God's children praie for tears , true sorrow for sin ; which beeing granted , bring's more joie of heart then anie worldly pleasure . God hath given to man reason and understanding above all creatures , to bee in subjection unto him ; therefore the more hired to love him and daily to crave for the assistance of his holie Spirit . If wee can prais God , when others serv God better then wee , and desire that wee may serv God better then they , wee are happie : but when wee despise others for their holiness , wee are yet most wretched . Wee must bee joifeul for the good of others , and sorrowfull for their sins ; God commanded Ezekiel to set a mark upon the fore-heads that mourn for the abominations that bee●don .

When the Prodigal childe was com to himself , hee returned to his father ; so I heartily desire , that all that are enemies to their own souls , may turn to God's colors and stand for truth , for hee that fight's against it is not com to himself , but is mad : Oh bee intreated for thy self !

Know you not that your bodies are the temples of the holie Ghost ? Where Temples are kept for God's service , they are not onely carefully look 't to without , that they may stand , but within : so are wee , much more to look to our bodies , if wee think to entertain that blessed guest . As Christ whipt the bulers and sellers out of his Temple , so must wee whip sin as well out of our temple ; hee called it his hous which manie now despise . This may not onely teach us to behave our selvs orderly without , but much more within to bee adorned with heavenly thoughts and meditations , with graceful and Saviour speeches , and wisely to moderate our selvs with the use of God's creatures ; as , in meats and drinks , seeing we have so manie sorts to feed and refresh our selvs withal .

Wee must receiv them as wee do gold with the allowance but no further , for when the beam turn's wrong waie , then refuse them ; so long as they make us fitter for God's service and our calling , thankfully receiv them ; but when they make us anie waie apter after our fleshlie lusts , then the beam turn's wrong , then they are as baits to betraie us ; for the Devil com's everie waie hee can devise , when thou wilt abuse thy self by God's creatures : then hee work 's thee to bee out of love with those that will not run with thee into the same excess of riot , those which grace hath wrought upon ; then hee labor's thee not to seek so much after God's Word ; or els to grow out of love with the Preacher ; and lastly to contemn God's holie Laws , which is not to love God at all : still laboring to bring us to fight under his noisom colors against truth .

That man that hath but one hous to entertain his best friend in , and hath an enemie that watcheth daily to get possession of it , if hee com in unawares , hee will surely trie his strength to throw him out by head and shoulders : so wee must keep our hearts for our good God , who will have them for himself , or not at all , and wrestle with him at the beginning , and manfully fight under the banner for truth . For in man is two works ; first God's work in creating him ; then his own work by sin , to destroie the end of his creation which began first in Adam . If wee would judg our selvs , wee should not bee judged , 1 Cor . 11.13 . Judg our selvs , but not so readie to judg others , and learn not of Adam to hide our selvs from God , but call a privie sessions in our own hearts , and bring our selvs to the bar , and sift and trie our selvs by God's Word and our own consciences , and prove how the case stand's , guiltie or not ; God's Souldiers or the Devil's ; do wee stand for truth or stand against it . Answer for thy self , for though no man can number his sins , yet anie man may know his waie of sinning , which waie hee hath been given to offend the Lord in ; whether by lust or drunkenness , by pride , or envie , or the like .

Wee must endevour to do as well as wee desire to do , for if manie bee together , it may bee half of them may detest great sins , but small sins ( as wee call them ) too few regard ; for if a man ow to two thousand men one thousand pounds , the debt is as much as if it were owing to one man ; so a world of small sins not truly repented of , may prove wors then one great sin which lie's at the heart and truly mourned for . But small sins are called venial sins ; a thief doth not suffer for a pennie , but if hee take manie they may cost him dear : all sins are death to us , but those which our Saviour suffered for , which are those that are truly repented of : let no man deceiv himself .

If wee see a poor prisoner condemned before a Judg for stealing or the like , Oh! saie som , that hee had more grace ; when somtimes those that saie so are more graceless ; hee stand's there before manie spectators , if they would but judg themselvs rightly , they might well lament their own case ; for as the Commandements are ranked , so are they in greatness , though hee that will break one is liable to all .

For first where Gods command's , thus hee saith , Exod . 20. Thou shalt have no other Gods but mee ; thou deniest it not , yet if either by preferring thy riches , in love to them , before the glorie of God , or takest more delight in earthlie vanities then in thy God ; thou art yet wors then the thief .

Secondly If thou committest Idolatrie by the fals worship of God ; Thou art wors then the thief .

Thirdly , If thou take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain by swearing or fals-swearing , as Goddammees use to do ; Thou art yet wors then the thief

Fourthly , If thou keepest not the Lords-daie holie , the Lord's Sabbath , and constrainest not them that are under thee of thy hous to do the like ; Thou art yet wors then the thief .

Fifthly , If thou beest disobedient to parents ; thou art yet wors then the thief .

Sixthly , If thou beest anie waie a murtherer ; Thou art yet wors then the thief .

Seventhly , If thou committest adulterie , as the thief stand's onely accused for theft ; Thou art yet wors then the thief .

Moreover , if thou beest proud and ambitious ; Thou art yet wors then the thief : for manie Angels , for pride , were cast out of heaven ; when our Saviour took the penitent thief to heaven with him ; a fair looking-glass for proud men . And if thou consumest thy patrimonie , thou overthrowest thy posteritie , and art wors then the thief .

And if thou beest a scorner of Religion and Holiness , thou art a traitor to truth , and so to thy God , and to thy soul ; thou art the Devil's steward , and wors then anie thief .

And lastly , if the old saying bee true , as true it is , if thou beest a liar , thou art wors then the thief , for a liar cannot call God father : For you are of your father the Divel , saith our Saviour Jesus Christ , John 8.44 .

And if a thief deserv's death , even so do all that break the fore-going Commandements much more . I frame not this speech anie waie to countenance a thief for there are but few theevs that make conscience of the Commandements ; but to teach us , when wee see them condemned , to look to our selvs .

And to conclude , if a Souldier run from his Generals colors to the enemies , hee must have Martial Law ; for if a King have a Subject that live's under another King or Prince , that is an enemie to him ; if hee send for him , and hee refuse to com , then hee send's his Proclamation , and denying that , hee stand's a traitor , until hee hath procured a pardon : so it is with all that stout it so with God , and refuse to com to his colors , slighting his dailie Proclamations , spurning at his Commandements , and make their destruction their great delight , and murther their own souls . This may serv everie one to examine himself by , whose souldier hee is , and though poorly , yet truly and plainly proved who are yet traitors and the enemies best friends , For God hath given a Banner to them that fear him , that it may bee displaied becaus of the truth .

Let none bee troubled , though they often see Errors in several still confuted bee .

FINIS .

A Praier for the Evening .

O Most glorious and everlasting Lord God , which inhabitest eternitie , and dwellest in that light which no mortal eie can attain unto ; the God in whom wee live , move , and have our beeing : wee thine unworthie servants do here in lowliness and humilitie present our praiers and persons before thy divine Majestie ; confessing and acknowledging that wee were conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquitie , and , as it had been but a small matter , wee have heaped up our actual transgressions as the sands upon the sea shore , and as the stars in the firmament for number . Wee have broken thy Commandements , wee have wounded our own consciences , and weakened our assurance of salvation , and grieved thy good Spirit which sealeth us up to the daie of our redemption . And now holie Father , if thou shouldest deal with us after our deservings , thou maiest powr upon us the deluge of thy wrath and furie , to sweep us out of the land of the living into that place of torments , prepared for the devil and his angels . But thou hast revealed thy self unto the sons of men , to bee the Lord ; merciful and gracious , long-suffering , and of great goodness , one that pardonest sin , and passest by the transgressions of thy people ; this is thy name for ever , and thy memorial throughout all generations . Wee appeal therefore from thee , unto thee ; from the bar of thy Justice to the bowels of thy Mercie ; beseeching thee for Jesus Christ his sake to bee merciful unto us , in the free pardon and forgivness of all our sins that ever wee have committed against thee : And now holie Father , seeing the night is upon us , and wee are readie to take our rest , wee commit our souls into thy hands , and our bodies , and all that wee have , beseeching thee which art the keeper of Israel , and that neither sleepest nor slumberest , to take care of us ; for if thou protect us not , Sathan will rule over us , wee shall sleep a perpetual sleep , and never rise up to prais thee . Wee praie thee therefore bee good to us this night , defend us from danger , refresh us with comfortable sleep , and rais us up to glorifie thee in the due time of the daie following . And when it shall pleas thee to cast us upon the bed of sickness , and compass is about with the sorrows of the grave , wee beseech thee for thy Name's sake , and for thy Mercies sake , for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake , not to bee far from us in thee needful time of trouble , when wee shall finde heaviness in our flesh , and there will bee none to deliver us ; but bee about our beds , to pardon our sins , pacifie our consciences , strengthen our faith to mitigate our pains , and receiv our souls which shall bee commended unto thee ; receiv them , Father , who hast created them ; receiv them , O God the Son , for thou hast redeemed them ; receiv them , O God the holie Ghost , for thou hast sanctified them ; receiv them , O holie , blessed , and glorious Trinitie , that beeing translated out of this vale of miserie , wee may live and reign with thee , now everliving and immortal God . in the kingdom of glorie world without end , Amen .

The Table . PAraphrastical meditations upon Isaiah , 55. pag . 1 Paraphrastical meditations upon Psalm 51. 21 J. Barford's praier to prevent the Scottish Wars . 30 Short Meditations . 1. Of God . 33 2. Of Christ his Birth . ibid . A riddle of the Soul . 34 3. Of Man . 37 4. Of Mourning . 38 5. Against Poperie . ibid . 6. Against Anabaptists . 39 7. Against Brownists . 40 8. Against Arminians . ibid . 9 , Against mixt Errors . ibid . 10. Against Antinomians . 42 11. Against the same . ibid . 12. The true caus of rejoicing . 43 13. Comfort in mourning . 43 14. Earthlie comfort . 44 15. Meditation . 45 16. The holiest Kings have caus to mourn . ibid . 17. Christ loved and despised . ibid . 18. That Christ give's free grace . 46 19. To prize grace before health and riches . ibid . 20. A meditation of Mourning . 47 21. Mourning that anie should bee suffered to write against the fourth Commandement . 48 22. Against Pride and Oppression . 49 23. Against hardness of heart . 50 24. Against Envie . ibid . 25. Against Murther . ibid . 26. Against Slandering . 51 27. Against Swearing . 52 28. Against Passion . ibid . 29. Against Melancholie . 53 30. Against Despair . ibid . 31. Against Gluttonie . ibid . 32. Against Drunkenness . 54 33. Against immoderate taking of Tobacco . ibid . 34. Of Slothfulness . 55 35. Against Lust . ibid . 36. Against usurie . 56 37. Against Covetousness . ibid . 38. Against unthankfulness . 57 39. Against Cursing . ibid . 40. Against Lying . 58 41. Against Adulterie . ibid . 42. Against Hypocrisie . 59 43. Against Theft . ibid . 44. Against Treaeherie . 60 45. Follie's Looking-glass . ibid . 46. Against slavish Fear . 61 47. Against unjust Quarrels . ibid . 48. A Common Saying . 62 49. A heavenlie Jewel . ibid . Exhortation to hate sin . ibid . Duties to bee observed in Praier . 63 J. Barford , his Petition to God for King , Parliament , and all his People . 65 Meditations upon Psalm 60. Vers 4. 69 FINIS .

Imprimatur ,

J. Downame .