Six Warnings for Conversation.

I. NOt to refuse that Christ you professe, nor any word of the Lord; Remember what the Apostle saith of them, Heb. 12.22. to 26. Yee are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels. To the gene­rall Assembly, and Church of the first borne, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh, for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall [Page] [...] [Page 1] [...] [Page 2] not we escape if wee turne away from him that speaketh from heaven.

II. Not to oppose and seek to throw down the Au­thority of the Pastors, Teachers or Elders that are set over you, by free election, nor flye above Ordinances, nor wil­fully refuse to be taught; for the Apostle saith, Heb. 13.7.8. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

III. Not to refuse to heare reproof for sinne, nor upon pretence of a profession of God, heap up wickednesse in your conversation; of such the Lord complains, Amos 2.11, 12, 13. I raised up of your sonnes for Prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites: Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel! But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drinke, and commanded the Prophets, saying, Prophesie not, behold I am pres­sed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.

IV. Not to seem to be holy with the Saints, and com­ply with wicked-men in their ungodlinesse, when you are in their company. As it is said of Jehoash, whilst he was with Jehoiada, 2 King. 12.2. Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his dayes, wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him. But after­wards when Jehoiada was dead, and he fell into other company; It is said 2 Chron. 24.17. to 23. Now after the death of Jehoiada, came the Princes of Judah and made obeysance to the King; then the King hearkned unto them. And they left the house [Page 3] of the Lord God of their fathers, and served Groves and Idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespasse. Yet he sent Pro­phets to them, to bring them againe unto the Lord, and they testified against them; but they would not give eare. And the Spirit of God came upon Zecheriah the sonne of Jehoiada the Priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them; Thus saith God, Why transgresse yee the Com­mandements of the Lord, that yee cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also for­saken you. And they conspired against him, & stoned him with stones, at the Commandement of the King in the Court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the King remembred not the kindnesse which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son; and when he dyed, he said, The Lord look up­on it, and require it.

V. Not to pin your faith and Religion upon the sense of Magistrates and Rulers, and rely more upon their choice then the Scriptures, as the Pharisees who when some of their Officers said of Christ, Joh. 7.46. Never man spake like this man. It is said, verse 47. Then an­swered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

VI. Not to forsake Christ and his wayes to avoid crosses and sufferings contrary to what the Apostle Paul teacheth Philip. 1.28, 29. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition; but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the be­halfe of Christ, not onely to beleeve on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Six Warnings against Back-slidings.

I. NOt to trouble those that fear God, by defiling ma­ny holy people, out of a bitternesse of spirit, by rai­sing false, and scandalous aspersions against them; of such the Apostle gives us warning to take heed of, Heb. 12.15. Looking diligently lest any man faile of the grace of God, lest any root of bitternesse, springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

II. Not for profit, favour, or any worldly thing, or si­nist errespect, to forsake your interest in the Saints fel­lowship; Therefore the Apostle bids us also to look dili­gently, Heb. 12.16, 17. Lest there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right, &c.

III. Not privately to seduce foolish women, of evill reviling spirits, to oppose Church-officers, and Church-order, and to back, and encourage them in evill practises which the Apostle warns of, saying, 2 Tim. 3.5. verse, to 10. Having a forme of godlinesse, but denying the power thereof, from such turne away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses; so do these also re­sist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also was.

Yet when such Seducers are reproved for this evill they commonly wax worse and worse. ver. 13. But evill men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

4 Not to revile your Teachers, and abuse them when they admonish you for your sinnes, 2 Tim. 4.14. to 19. Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evill, the Lord reward him according to his workes. Of whom bee thou aware also, for hee hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsooke me: I pray God, that it may not be laid to their charge. Not­withstanding, the Lord stood with me and streng­thened me, that by me the preaching might be ful­ly known, and that all the Gentiles might heare: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver mee from every evill worke, and will preserve mee unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Com­pared with 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack. Of whom is Hime­neus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

5 Not willfully to forsake your assemblings with your fellow-members, where you have given up your names to walke in fellowship, concerning which the Apostle gives a notable warning, Heb. 10. from 25. to 30. Not for­saking the assembling of your selves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another and so much the more as yee see the day approach­ing. For if wee sin wilfully after that wee have re­ceived [Page] the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful look­ing for of judgement, and fiery indignation, which shal devoure the adversaries. He that despised Moses law dyed without mercy under two or three wit­nesses. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shal he be thought worthy, who hath troden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an un­holy thing, and hath done dispite unto the spirit of grace.

6 Not to take part with wicked people in their perni­cious wayes, against God and his people, and if you have failed herein, not to persist, but to repent, Rev. 2.20, 21, 22. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel, which calleth her selfe a prophetesse, to teach and to se­duce my servants, to commit fornication and to eate things sacrificed unto Idolls. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I wil cast her into a bed, & them that com­mit adultery with her, into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

2 Thess. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from un­reasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish you, and keepe you from evill. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and wil do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that yee withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which yee received of us.