BE sensible of thy Original Corruption daily, how it inclines thee to evil, and indisposeth thee to goods groan under it, & bewail it as Paul did, Rom 7 24.

Also take special notice of your actual sins, or daily infirmities, in Thought, Word Deed. Endeavour to make your peace with God for them before you go to bed.

By

• Repenting, and confessing them to God, working your heart to grief for them, by some melting considerations, as of Gods goodness to you, the unreasonableness, & unprofitableness of sin, the prejudice and damage thereof to the Soul. John 1.19.
• Believing, or casting your self wholly on Christs righteousness, for remission thereof & reconciliation wi [...]h God, Rom. 3 22 24, 25. Cleaving to Gods promises of pardon, and peace, Isai. 43.25. Rom. 5.1. waiting till the Lord shall speak to you▪ Psal. 85.8.

II. Get your Union with Christ, and interest Christ cleared and confirmed to you daily [Page 4] more & more, that you are a Branch in his vine, a Member in his body, 2 Cor. 13 5.

This may be done three wayes,

1. By daily renewal of your Faith, in Christ especially of that act of Faith, whereby the Soul knits or ties it self unto Christ, casts or roules it self on Christ for Salvation. Cause your heart in a solemn manner every day to act this part, or put forth this primitive act of Faith in the view of the whole Soul. The daily exercise hereof will increase and strengthen the Divine habit of Faith in the Soul, and make the soul sensible of the very act of it. By frequent believing you shall feel at your very heart, that you do believe so shall you have a witness in your self that you are in Christ, 1 Joh. 5.10.

2. By examining your heart upon what grounds you take Christ to be yours.

1. A sight and sense of your sins▪ of the guilt and power, and punishment of them, and of your misery by them, Mat. 9.13.

2. Your want of Christ seen, and felt at your very heart, to justifie, sanctifie, redeem, save you, else you are utterly lost, and undone everlasting­ly, Luk. 19 10.

3. Gods free, and general offer of Christ to any that will take him by Faith, John 3.16.

Manifold promises to this purpose. The ground of all Gods offers, and donations of Christ, being [Page 5] free Grace, rich Mercy, undeserved Love, Eph. 2.4.5.7. Tit. 3.4, 5, 6.

4. Christs sweet and gracious invitation of such to come unto him as are weary of sin, Mat 11.28. To buy as have no money, Isai. 55.1. no worth or desert in themselves.

5. As sinful vile wretches as you are, have been sought of Christ, and found in Christ, as 1 Cor. 6.9.10, 11. 1 Tim. 1.13. Phil. 3.7.8, 9 why may not you? the more clearly you discern upon what grounds you take Christ, the more clear is your title to Christ.

3. By surveying, and observing in what man­ner you take Christ daily.

1. You do wholly renounce all opinion, and conceit of your own righteousness and desert, Mark 8.34. Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. So that you come to Christ empty of your self, very vile, yea, no­thing in your own eyes, unworthy to receive him.

2. You lay hold on Christ alone with an emp­ty hand of Faith, joyning nothing at all with Christ in the matter of Salvation.

3. You find the Father drawing your heart after Christ. Ioh. 6 44. in hungring panting de­sires that will never be satisfied without him; so that the stream both of your judgement, Phil. 3.7, 8. and affections, 1 Cor. 2.2. Gal. 6.14. run to­wards him.

4. You take Christ as a Lord to rule you, [Page 6] as well as a Jesus to save you. Col. 1.6.

As one that is all [...] you your All, your Wisdome your Righteousness, your Sanctifica­tion and Redemption. 1 Cor. 1.30. your spiritu­al food, Ioh 6. Rayment, Rom. 13 14. Strength, Phil. 4.13. Life, Gal 2. [...]0. & 3.3.

5 Y [...]u seek, and wait for Christ, out of the sense of your spiritual penury in every Ordi­nance, publ [...]ck and private, Word, Sacraments, Prayer, Meditation, Conference, no [...] as they are your own works of Sanctification but as they are Gods Ordinances appointed of pur­pose for the m [...]nifestation and communication of Christ to the soul.

Frequent perusal hereof will clear to you your manner of taking Christ, which will evidence to you your right in Christ.

III Labour to [...]raw and derive from Christ (by the pu [...]ing attr [...]ctive force of faith,) ability sufficient for the day.

• 1 To perform all the duties.
• 2 To exercise all the graces.
• 3 To resi [...]t and overcome all the temptation and corruptions.
• 4 To u [...]dergo all the trials, and afflictions thereof.

Make your provision of grace and strength from Christ, every morning, fetch so much as you shall have occasion to use all the day long, [Page 7] yea and upon all occasions, that fall out in the [...]ay▪ go to Christ still for the wisdome that must direct you▪ for the holiness that must character you, for the shoulder which must bear them▪ if they be crosses; for that strength that must re­sist them if they be temptations; to perform them if they be duties.

To this end, act your faith daily in the pro­mises of grace and strength, as Ioh. 1.16. Ezek. 36.26, 27. Isai. 44.3. Zech. 10.12. Which are both security given you by God, that you shall receive grace, and conduit-pipes, or instruments of conveying the same from Christ unto you.

This is the means to do all in the strength of Christ, and to take forth a great deal of Christ into your souls, that not you, but Christ may live in you, Gal. 2.20.

IV. Perform daily duties both in Family and Closet, (especially these three▪ of Prayer, Me­ditation, Reading) with serious intention, heat of affection, diligence and delight. Ier. 48. [...]. Mal. 1.41. 1 Chron. 21.24. To this end:

1. Watch to these duties▪ i. e. keep the heart in a good frame for them, Eph. 6.18. Undefiled with sin, untainted by the World.

2. Take the fittest time for performance of them all; when you are least dull and sluggish. Begin the day day constantly with the thoughts of God.

[Page 8]3. Be very real, serious and substantial with God in them; endeavour to feel all duties at your heart, inlivening, inlarging, inflaming your af­fections. These be duties of most importance, and consequence, commodity, and comfort to the Soul, because they properly aim at, & reach to soul-good, and celestial happiness, to train up a Soul for heaven.

V. Fortifie your selves every morning, a­gainst your special lusts to which you are by nature most prone, or shall be most tempted, be it pride, passion, coveteousness, &c.

1. By Arguments and holy reasonings within your selves, drawn from the sad effects thereof, as disprofit discomfort, disgrace, or the like▪ to discover the unreasonableness of your sin, and make your Soul ash [...]med of it. For example, shall I be proud? then I am sure to fall, for pride goes before a fall, and God will count me for his enemy, for God resisteth the proud. Shall I be angry? If I let passion in, I cannot keep Satan out. Eph. 4, 26 27. I shall grieve the holy Spirit of God, Ep [...]. 4.30, 31. Shall I be covetous? I cannot but be very sinful, sith the love of money is the root of all evil. 1 [...]. 6.10.

2. By pondring in your mind Precepts in Gods Book, against yo [...]r sin▪ judgements threatned, or inflicted for it, on proud Hero [...], voluptuous Di­ [...]s, churlish Nabal.

[Page 9]3. By applying promises of mortification close to your [...], as a plaster to the sore, for subdu [...]ng your iniquity: Micah 7.16, Rom. 6.14

4. By drawing vertue from Christs death into the soul▪ which hath in it a killing force of sin, Rom 6.4, 5 6. Phil. 3.10.

5. Get your hearts strongly fixed on God, by trusting on him, Psal. 112.7. and submitting to him, 2 Sam. 15.26 1 Sam ▪ 3.18. against all the fears, cares, doubts, trials, afflictions of eve­ry day; for sufficient to the day is the evil there­of, Mat. 6.34. To this end.

1. Be prudent to foresee your personal trials and troubles, whatsoever they are like to be, Prov. 22.3.

2. Go hide and lay up your self in God, ran unto his Name, for God is a Rock of habitation to which a poor Soul may continually resort, God will give commandments to save him, Psal. 71.3. 1 Pet. 4.19.

3. Especially commit that very thing to God, put it in his hands, whatever you desire to keep, or fear to lose, 2 Tim. 1.12. Be it Life, Liberty, Name, Friends, Maintenance, &c. what you would have resolved if it be a doubt, Psa. 37.5 or supplied, if it be a want, removed if it be a cross Psal. 50 15. and together with the thing, cast all Your care, fear, sorrow & trouble of mind about [Page 10] wholly on the Lord, Mat. 6.31. 1 Pet. 5.7. Psal. 55.22.

4. Renew your Faith in those promises every day which most concern your present states as in promises of supplies if you be in want Psal. 34 8. & 27.9. & 84.11. Mat. 6.30. of pro­tection, if you be in danger▪ Psal. [...]4.7. of di­rection if in doubt, of deliverance if in trouble, of a good [...]nd and sanctified use of all, Deut. 8.16. Iam. 5.11. Rom 8. [...]8. Heb. 12.1 [...].

5. Labour to see Gods hand, Psal. 34.9. be­lieve his love, Heb. 12.6. Rev. 3.10 and with all meekness and patience to resign up your self wholly to his will in every affliction, Mat. 26 39.

VII. Get and keep a savoury relish continu­ally of your Christian priviledges, wherewith you are invested, as you are new creatures in Christ: to wit.

1. Of your dignity, that you are Gods Sons, Christs Brethren▪ Heavens Heirs, partakers of a high and heavenly Calling.

2. Of your Liberty, that you are the Lords Freemen, delivered out of the hands of all enemies

3. Of your Victory, that you are through Christ more than Conquerors over all the World of Creatures, 1 Ioh. 5 4. of evils, of temptations, of persecutions, Rom. 8.35, 39.

4. Of your safety, that you have Almighty God for your place of refuge, Psal. 18.2. a hedg [Page 11] of providence. Iob 1.10. a Guard of Angels, Psal. 91.11. an inclosure of mercy, Psal. 2.10. and Gods promise as a writ of protection for your defence, Heb▪ 13.5, 6.

5. Of your Riches, as durable substance in heaven, Heb. 10.34 an incorrupt [...]ble inher [...]tance 1 Pet. 1.4. a Kingdome of Glory, a Crown of Life, for you are Heirs of God, and Co heirs with Christ.

6. Of your joy and pleasure, precious for kind and plentiful for measure, Psal. 16.11. peace unconceivable, Phil 4.7. joy unspeakable, 1 Pet. 1.8. the Masters joy.

Get your hearts affected with all these as being yours: chew and suck them by serious meditation work & warm them on your hearts by close ap­plication rubbing them into your affections: Op­pose these your spiritual priviledges to all your temporal pressures, setting the one against the o­ther as your heavenly friends to your earthly foes, your high dignity in Christ to your meaner in outward condition, your wealth above to your want below; your future joyes and rest, to your present troubles and sorrows: This will make you not only patient under the afflictions of this life, Rom. 12.12. but joyful in them, Rom. 5.3. and triumphant over them. 1 Cor. [...]5 55. Thus did the Apostles, Rom. 8.18. 2 Cor. 4.17, 18, & 6 8, 9, 10 These will provoke to duty, 1 Pet. 2.9, 11▪ 12 & preserve from fainting, 2 Cor. 4.16, 17 & from trouble of heart, Ioh. 14.1, 2.

[Page 12]VIII. Sanctifie God in your heart daily, 1 Pe [...] [...].15. make him your fear. Isai 8.14. your love and delight, Psal. 37.4. To this end.

1. Have often high and honourable thoughts of God, serious meditation of his glorious At­tributes, as his Wisdome, Power, Truth, Mercy Justice, &c. and work them upon your hearts, that they may eccho to them with pure and melting affections. This will increase and nourish up the Divine nature fast in you.

2. Labour to be affected with all the works of God, as to behold and admire the Wisdome of God in the creatures, Psal. 136.5 to see and tast Gods goodness in every mercy, Psal. 34.8. to take notice of and tremble at the anger & dis­pleasure of God in all judgements, Psa. 119.120 Hab 3.16 that you may answer the dispensations of Gods providence, with suitable dispositions of your hearts carrying a counterpane in affection to all Gods actions.

3. Wrestle with God by Praying, and be­lieving for an heart of flesh, Ezek. 36.26. which will receive impressions from the very thoughts of God in the mind. Also apply promises of par­ticular affections, as of love, Deut. 30▪ 6. fear, Ier. 3 [...].40 delight, Isai. 58.14. There is heat and life in these promises, sufficient to quicken and warm thy dead and frozen affections.

IX. Get a publick spirit, to mind the things [Page 13] of Jesus Christ, as naturally as if they were your own things, Phil. 2.20 21. to look on the things of others, and prefer Jerusalems welfare before your chiefest joy, Psal. 137.5, 6, and the Gospels liberty before your own, as Paul did▪ to mourn for the sins of the times, as the godly in Ierusalem did, Ezek. 6 4. Especially lay to heart,

1. The Churches misery, when Gods Ordi­nances go down, and Superstition goeth up, when Gods cause, and side, are put to the worse, when any thing falls out, which gives a blow to Religion, or proves an impediment to the Gos­pel, If the Ark be taken, call your comforts Ichabods, 1 Sam. 4.21.

2. The afflictions of Ioseph, Amos 6.6. The sufferings of Gods Servants, whither Ministers or People, Oh sympathize with them, Heb. 13.3. Nehem. 1, 14. labour to feel their troubles and sorrows at your very hearts, and pray earnestly for them, as the Church did for Peter, Act. 12.5:

3. The signes of the times, Mat. 16.3. which hypocrites cannot discern, though they be well versed in the face of the sky, to wit, the sad sym­ptome and presages of approaching judgements.

As the commonness of sin, for all sorts trans­gress in all kind of open sinfulness, with a high hand against light of nature, and means of grace.

2. Contempt of Gods Ordinances, misusing of his Ministers, 2 Chron. 36.16.

[Page 14]3. Departure of Gods glory from his House, Ez [...]k. 9 3.

4. [...] after former, and under present Iudgements, Lev. 26.14.15.

5: The death of many righteous men, Isai. 17.1. the carrying away of others to hiding places.

6. The vials of Gods wrath poured on the Churches beyond the Seas, Jer. 17.12, 14.

7. An Inundation of spiritual judgements, a spirit of Error, Superstition, Apostasie, &c. which do commonly end in temporal plagues, Isai. 6.10, 11. Now the Holy Ghost is a publick spirit, breathing, and acting in all the members of the body mystical. Pray for it, Luk. 11.13. believe for it, Gal. 3 14. Ezek. 36 27.

X. Get your hearts weaned daily from the world, and from those creatures and comforts in it, which are dearest and sweetest unto you, as Wife, Children, Friends, Goods, Liberty, House, Life: this Christ requires of those that follow him, Luk. 14.26, 27. Mark 10.29, 30. this will prepare you either to suffer, or to die, either of which may put you upon it to lose all.

To this end consider seriously:

First, That these things cannot satisfie your heart, when you have enjoyed them to the full, Eccl. 4.8. & 5, 10. you soon grow weary of them or glutted with them; so that you desire some new [Page] [...]elights, or more of the old, or some over again.

2. Nor can they sanctifie you▪ but expose you oft to many lusts, 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. tentations, distra­ctions to a spirit of the world, and they hinder from following Christ, Mat. 9.22.

3. Nor can they save you from Gods wrath, from death, or judgement, Prov▪ 11 4.

4. The wicked whose portion is only here, h [...]e often the greatest share of them, Psal, 17.14 Iob 21.7 to 14.

5. They serve only for this life, whilst we are on this side of the grave▪ they shall not be the least ingredients into our celestial happiness. When we do come to be happy [...]n heaven, we shall stand in no need of food, rayment, physick marriage, &c. Mat. 22.30. for we shall be like the Angels of God in heaven, we shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, Rev. 7.16. we shall live by the alsufficient Spirit of God, which never needs refreshing; we shall be clothed with long white [...], of immortality, Rev. 7.9. In a word, when we come to heaven, the place of Gods ha­bitation, we shall enjoy the face and beatifical presence of the most glorious Jehovah, blessed for ever, as an object wherein all the powers of the Souls will be satisfied with in effable delight, and everlastingness, God will be unto us All in All, 1 Cor. 15.28.