A27107:335
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
A27107:335
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thou seest therefore, O Man, how wretched and cursed thy state is, by corruption of ••ture, without Christ; insomuch, that whereas the Scriptures do liken wicked men unto Lions, Bears, Bulls, Horses, Dogs, and such like savage Creatures in their lives; it is certain, that the condition of an unregenerate man, is in his Death more vile than a Dog, or the filthiest Creature in the World. For the Beast (being made but for Man's use) when he dieth, endeth all his miseries with his death. But Man (endued with a reasonable; and immortal soul, made after God's image, to serve God) when he ⟨p. 103⟩ends the miseries of this life, must account for all his misdeeds, and begin to endure these miseries that never shall know end. No creature but man is liable to yield at his death an account for his life. The brute creatures, not having reason, shall not be required to make any account for their deeds; and good Angels, tho' they have reason, yet shall they yield no account because they have no sin. And as for evil Angels, they are without all hope already condemned, so that they need not make any further accounts; Man only in his death must be God's accountant for his life.
THou seest therefore, O Man, how wretched and cursed thy state is, by corruption of ••ture, without Christ; insomuch, that whereas the Scriptures do liken wicked men unto Lions, Bears, Bulls, Horses, Dogs, and such like savage Creatures in their lives; it is certain, that the condition of an unregenerate man, is in his Death more vile than a Dog, or the filthiest Creature in the World. For the Beast (being made but for Man's use) when he dieth, endeth all his miseries with his death. But Man (endued with a reasonable; and immortal soul, made after God's image, to serve God) when he ⟨p. 103⟩ends the miseries of this life, must account for all his misdeeds, and begin to endure these miseries that never shall know end. No creature but man is liable to yield at his death an account for his life. The brute creatures, not having reason, shall not be required to make any account for their deeds; and good Angels, tho' they have reason, yet shall they yield no account because they have no sin. And as for evil Angels, they are without all hope already condemned, so that they need not make any further accounts; Man only in his death must be God's accountant for his life.
On the other side, thou seest (O Man) how happy and blessed thy estate is being truly reconciled unto God in Christ, in that (through the restoration of God's Image, and thy restitution into thy sovereignty over other creatures) thou art in this life little inferior to the Angels; and shall be in the life to come equal to the Angels. Yea, (in respect of thy Nature, exalted by a personal Union to the Son of God, and by him to the glory of the Trinity) superior to the Angels; a Fellow-Brother with Angels, in spiritual Grace, and everlasting Glory.
On the other side, thou seest (O Man) how happy and blessed thy estate is being truly reconciled unto God in Christ, in that (through the restauration of God's Image, and thy restitution into thy soveraignty over other creatures) thou art in this life little inferiour to the Angels; and shall be in the life to come equal to the Angels. Yea, (in respect of thy Nature, exalted by a personal Vnion to the Son of God, and by him to the glory of the Trinity) superior to the Angels; a Fellow-Brother with Angels, in spiritual Grace, and everlasting Glory.
Thou hast seen how glorious and perfect God is, and how that all thy chief bliss and happiness consisteth in having an eternal Communion with his Majesty.
Now therefore (O impenitent sinner) in the bowels of Christ Jesus I entreat thee; nay, I conjure thee as thou tenderest thy ⟨p. 104⟩own salvation, seriously to Consider with me, how false, how vain, how vile are those things which still retain and chain thee in this wretched and cursed estate wherein thou livest; and do hinder thee from the favour of God, and the hope of eternal life and happiness.
Now therefore (O impenitent sinner) in the bowels of Christ Jesus I intreat thee; nay, I conjure thee as thou tenderest thy ⟨p. 104⟩own salvation, seriously to Consider with me, how false, how vain, how vile are those things which still retain and chain thee in this wretched and cursed estate wherein thou livest; and do hinder thee from the favour of God, and the hope of eternal life and happiness.
Those hindrances are chiefly seven.
THose hindrances are chiefly seven.
1. An ignorant mistaking of the true meaning of certain places of the holy Scriptures, and some other chief grounds of Christian Religion.
The Scriptures mistaken are these.
1. Ezek. 33. 13, 16. At what time soever a sinner repenteth him of his sin, I will blot out all, &c. Hence the carnal Christian gathereth, that he may repent when he will. It is true, whensoever a sinner doth repent, God will forgive, but the Text saith not, that a sinner may repent whensoever he will, but when God will give him Grace. Many (saith the Scripture) when they would have repented, were rejected, and could not repent, 1tho' they sought it carefully with tears. What comfort yields this Text to thee, who hast not repented, nor knowest whether thou shalt have grace to repent hereafter?
2. Matth. 11. 26. Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Hence the lewdest man collects ⟨p. 105⟩that he may come unto Christ when he list. But he must know, that no man ever comes to Christ but he who (as Peter saith) Having known the way of righteousness, 1hath escaped the pollutions of this world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To* come unto Christ is to repent and believe; and this no man can do, unless his heavenly† Father draweth him by his grace.
3. Rom 8. 1. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. True, but they are such, who walk not after the flesh, (as thou dost) but after the Spirit, which thou didst never yet resolve to do.
4. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, &c. True, but such sinners, who like St. Paul, are converted from their wicked life; not like thee, who still continuest in thy lewdness. For that Grace of God, 1which bringeth salvation unto all men, teacheth us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
5. Prov. 24. 16. A just man falleth seven times in a day, and riseth, &c. [In a day] is not in the Text; which means not falling into sin, but falling into trouble, which his malicious enemy plots against the just, and from which God* delivers him. And though it meant falling in, and rising out of sin; what is this to thee whose falls all men may see every day, but neither God, nor Man, can at any time see thy rising again by repentance.
6. Isa. 64. 6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Hence the Carnal Christian gathers; that, seeing the best works of the best Saints are no better, then his are good enough; and therefore he needs not much grieve that his devotions are so imperfect. But Isaiah means not in this place the righteous Works of the Regenerate; as fervent Prayers in the name of God; charitable Alms from the bowels of mercy; suffering in the Gospel's defence, the spoil of Goods, and spilling of Blood, and such works, which Saint Paul calls the fruits of the Spirit: But the Prophet making an humble confession in the name of the Jewish Church, 1when she had fallen from God to Idolatry, acknowledgeth, that whilst they were by their filthy sins separated from God, as Lepers are by their infected sores and polluted clothes from Men, their chiefest Righteousness could not but be abominable in his sight. And though our best works, compared with Christ's righteousness, are no better than unclean rags; yet in God's acceptation for Christ's sake they are calleda white raiment; yea,b pure sine linen, and shining; far unlike thec Leopard's spots and dfilthy garments.
6. Isa. 64. 6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Hence the Carnal Christian gathers; that, seeing the best works of the best Saints are no better, then his are good enough; and therefore he needs not much grieve that his devotions are so imperfect. But Isaiah means not in this place the righteous Works of the Regenerate; as fervent Prayers in the name of God; charitable Alms from the bowels of mercy; suffering in the Gospel's defence, the spoil of Goods, and spilling of Blood, and such works, which Saint Paul calls the fruits of the Spirit: But the Prophet making an humble confession in the name of the Jewish Church, 1
7. James •. 2. In many things we sin all: True, but God's Children sin not in all things, as thou dost, without either bridling their lusts or mortifying their corruptions; and though the relics of sin remain in the dearest children of God, that they had need daily to cry, Our Father which art ⟨p. 107⟩in heaven, forgive us our trespasses; yet* in the New Testament, none are properly called Sinners, but the unregenerate; but the Regenerate in respect of their Zealous endeavour to serve God in unfeigned holiness are every where called Saints: Insomuch that St. John saith,2 that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; 3that is, liveth not in wilful filthiness, suffering sin to reign in him, as thou dost. Deceive not thy self with the name of a Christian; whosoever liveth in any customary gross sin, he liveth not in the state of grace. Let therefore (saith St. Paul) every one that nameth 4the name of Christ depart from iniquity. The regenerate sin but upon frailty; they repent, and God doth pardon; therefore they† sin not to death. The Reprobate sin maliciously, sinfully, and delight there in, so that by their good will, sin shall leave them before they leave it. They will not repent, and God will not pardon. Therefore their sins are mortal (saith St. John) or rather immortal,6 as saith St. Paul, Rom. 2. 5. It is no excuse therefore to say, we are all sinners. True Christians, thou seest, are all Saints.
7. James •. 2. In many things we sin all: True, but God's Children sin not in all things, as thou dost, without either bridling their lusts or mortifying their corruptions; and though the relicks of sin remain in the dearest children of God, that they had need daily to cry, Our Father which art
8. Luke 23. 43. The Thief converted at the last gasp was received to Paradise; what then? If I may have but time to say when I am dying, Lord, 1have mercy upon me, I shall likewise be saved. But what if thou shalt not? And yet many in that day shall say, Lord, Lord; and the Lord will not know them. The Thief was saved, ⟨p. 108⟩for he repented; but his fellow had no grace to repent, and was damned. Beware therefore lest trusting to too late repentance, at thy last end on Earth, thou be not driven to repent too late without end in Hell.