A Rebuke to Backsliders

Chapter 1

V. How we should stir up ourselves

To the Reader. Reader, THE Case of the Churches of Christ among us is so deplorable, our spiritual distempers so many and so dangerous, and our decays and languishing's under them so visible, that he hath a blind eye tha

Chapter 2

1. That I know what narrow mouthed bottles many of those were I

had to deal withal, which would receive but drop by drop, now a little and then a little, and so had need the oftener pouring in, though of the same liquor. I know what hard and knotty pieces some of them were, into whom

Chapter 3

2. I am persuaded that some of my Readers may have the same need

that my hearers had, and am therefore willing to let it go as it is. Some imperfections there are, which (I freely confess) I would have helped if I could, but I cannot do as I would, nor perhaps now as once I could. Wha

Chapter 4

1. Of their Sin; there all misery begins, and there all our Complaints

should begin. We are all, not an unclean thing, but (as) an unclean thing, Sicut quid inpurum, as the worst of things, as anything that's most filthy and unclean. There is the Uncleanness of a Toad, a Venomous deadly unc

Chapter 5

2. Of their Afflictions: We all fade like a Leaf, and our Iniquities like

the Wind, have driven us away, driven us into Banishment, driven us into Captivity, carried us away from our Country, and from the City of our God; yea, and from the favor and presence of our God, into a strange Land, in

Chapter 6

1. Partial or gradual, a declining or consuming in some degree; a

growing into a worse case than sometimes we were; a growing weak and cold, and remiss in our Religion; an abating or losing our former care, strength, life, affection, and vigor of soul; and this may be incident to real

Chapter 7

1. There may be a shaking of their Faith: The principles and

foundations of Christianity may be shaken; there may be a failing of the firmness of their belief of the truth of the Gospel, and some declining's towards Infidelity and Atheism. Of Hymenaeus and Philetus 'tis said, 2 Ti

Chapter 8

2. There may be a decay or wearing out the sense of the importance

of those truths of the Gospel, that they do believe. Though the Gospel -- 13 of 231 -- may still be received as an undoubted and unquestionable truth, though the evidence of its truth may be so clear as that they canno

Chapter 9

3. There may be a decay, as of their Faith (as before) so of all other

their inward Graces and vital operations. Hence 'tis that the Apostle prays so earnestly for them, 1 Pet. 5.10. The God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal Glory, by Jesus Christ, establish, strengthen, settl

Chapter 10

2. There may be outward decays, decays in point of practice. There

may be a neglect of the duties of Prayer, Hearing, Meditation, Examining, and taking an account of ourselves, Isa. 43.22. Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob! thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. I can seldom hear of

Chapter 11

1. Do we live as People that do verily believe we must shortly be in

another world, where we must eternally reap the fruit of our doings here? Do we live as Men that have that Eternity in our eye, and the lively sense upon our hearts of that Death and Judgment, that glorious Reward and et

Chapter 12

2. How is it with our particular Graces, and inward vital Operations?

Do we retain our first Faith? Do we hold out in our first Love? Where are those warm and lively affections that discovered themselves in the infancy of our new Birth? Time was when some of us were all in a flame of Love,

Chapter 13

3. And how is it in your duties and in your lives? Is the old spirit of

Prayer kept up with you? Hath the Lord such constant Visits, such affectionate Visits from you as he was wont to have? Are your Sighs, are your Tears, are your Souls poured out in Praying, and in striving and wrestling w

Chapter 14

2. Consumption in Religion, where it proves Epidemical, is the fore-

runner of Confusion. What ever influence the wickedly profane may have upon the removal of the Gospel, that which most certainly provokes the Lord to cast off, is the decay and Apostasy of Professors, Rev. 2.5. Remember

Chapter 15

1. There is a stirring up ourselves to Religion. There are some

that are utter strangers to Religion, that have nothing of God or Religion in them. Some men have not the knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame, 1 Cor. 15.34. It is a shameful thing that there should be any in the

Chapter 16

1. There must be a bethinking themselves how 'tis with them. This is

the first step they are to make towards Religion, to bethink themselves how 'tis with them, 1 King. 8.47. If they shall bethink themselves; that's the first work, and then, v. 48. If they shall return unto thee with all

Chapter 17

1. Sinners must bethink themselves what they are, and what a woeful

state they are in. What have I of the fear or knowledge of God in me? Am I a Christian? Have I anything of saving Religion in me? Am not I a blind, senseless, careless soul, that have not so much as made any profession o

Chapter 18

2. They must bethink themselves what they mean to do. What, shall I

continue in this case till I die? or shall I make out after an escape? Sinners, 'tis a fearful state you are in, you are miserable souls if you have no Religion in you. But pray now bethink yourselves, what do you mean t

Chapter 19

1. In crying out upon [themselves] to seek out for help. When the

Sinner, being brought to a sense of his misery and danger, cries out to himself as those Lepers, 2 King. 7.8. cries one to another, Why sit we here till we die? Or as the Mariners to Jonah, Chap. 1.6. Arise Sleeper, call

Chapter 20

2. In crying out to the Lord, to give help in this time of need Crying

out to the Lord for help, is both an Argument that the heart is awakened, that Conscience is stirring, and fears are stirring, and desires are stirring, and it is the stirring of the heart. There may be a cold saying, Go

Chapter 21

3. In crying to the Men of God, the Servants and Ministers of Christ.

When Ministers have been crying to Sinners, Men and Brethren, save yourselves: If our Word stirred them, we should have them crying to us, What must we do to be saved? How may we escape, and be delivered from the wrath t

Chapter 22

3. In taking the Alarm from the Watch-men. God hath sent forth

his Ministers to Alarm this sinful world, Joel 2.1. Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion, sound an Alarm in my holy Mountain, Isa. 48.1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet, tell my People their Transgressions,

Chapter 23

4. In forcing themselves back from their sins, and onwards to

Christ. Though in a proper sense, there can be no coaction of the will, yet such violence may be used towards ourselves, as in our common speech, we call forcing of ourselves. So Saul, 1 Sam. 13.12. I forced myself, and

Chapter 24

2. There is a stirring up ourselves in Religion, or to the vigorous

exercise of Religion: This concerns the Saints or Professors of Christianity. Sinners have no Religion in them, and their work is to stir up themselves [to] Religion, to get that which they have not: Christians have gott

Chapter 25

1. The Saints must begin the stirring up themselves in Religion,

where Sinners must begin their stirring up themselves to Religion in bethinking themselves, Hag. 1.5. Now therefore consider your ways, or set your heart upon your ways; see how 'tis with you, take diligent notice how it

Chapter 26

2. If it be but low with your souls, much more if you have had a long

time to increase, since you first believed; and more than that, if heretofore it hath been better with you then 'tis now, then bethink yourselves further, Is not this an evil case you are in? Is this a case to be rested

Chapter 27

2. In crying out upon yourselves, to be reaching forward to what you

have not attained, and to recover what you have lost, as the Psalmist, Psal. 57.8. Awake up my glory; so say you, awake up my Grace, awake up my Love, awake my Fear, awake up my Conscience: And as the Apostle to the Roma

Chapter 28

3. In crying unto the Lord for his help. If Ministers cannot stir you, if

Conscience cannot stir you, if ye cannot awaken yourselves, nor recover yourselves, yet the Lord God can do it, the helper of Israel can help you. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is nigh, Isa.

Chapter 29

4. In putting a force upon yourselves to do your duty. It is not lying

down in the Ditch, and only crying, God help me; you must do your best to help yourselves, or God will not help you. All the means under Heaven will never do, unless we can bring you to set your hearts on work for yourse

Chapter 30

1. In General. 'It is not to amend a little, to get into something a

better case than you are, but to come on to purpose, to come on fully after the Lord. May be, some of you may think, if this word should have (some) effect upon you, and make you a little better, that it had done its wor

Chapter 31

2. Those that are fallen, should strive to get up to that pitch, to which

once they had attained. This is the first thing we should have in our eye, to recover what we have lost, to recover our first love, to do our first works which the Church of Ephesus was exhorted to, Rev. 2.5. That which

Chapter 32

3. Both those that are fallen, and everyone, should strive to get up to

the highest pitch of Religion, that is attainable. You should level at perfection of Holiness, and no mark short of Perfection should limit -- 39 of 231 -- or bound your aims, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having these promises, let us

Chapter 33

1. To a hunger and thirst of soul after more of Religion; to a stirring

Appetite. Sick men, when their Stomachs come to them, 'tis a good sign of recovery. Hunger and Thirst are eager Appetites, that put us to pain, and are impatient till satisfied; the keenness, or eagerness of the Appetite

Chapter 34

2. To a savor and relish of Religion. Some are so sick and weak that

they cannot eat nor drink what's good for them, have quite lost their appetites; others can eat and drink, but cannot relish what they take, have lost their taste When both their Appetite is restored and their taste; whe

Chapter 35

1. Get up to solid and substantial Religion. What the substance of

Religion is, I shall shortly hint to you from two Scriptures, Phil. 3.3. We are the Circumcision which Worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: Tit. 2.12. Teaching us,

Chapter 36

1. In worshipping God in the Spirit; or as Joh. 4.24. in Spirit and in

Truth. This Notes, 1. The inward worshipping God, our loving, fearing, praising the Lord, &c. 2. Our being real and spiritual in the outward worship of God, our hearing with understanding, our praying with our Spirits, &

Chapter 37

3. In shunning of Iniquity, Denying all ungodliness and worldly

Lusts. This Notes, 1. The abstaining from the practice of sin, that we do no Iniquity, Psal. 119.3. 2. The mortifying the Lusts of sin, the killing of sin within, the Crucifying the flesh, with the affections and Lusts,

Chapter 38

4. In the practice of Holiness and Righteousness. Our living Soberly,

and Righteously, and Godly in this present world. These are the substance of Religion; he that worships God in Spirit and in Truth, that thus rejoices in Christ Jesus, that denying all Ungodliness and -- 46 of 231 -- w

Chapter 39

2. Get to be solid in Religion, to more firmness, to be more [deeply]

rooted in the Faith, and more firmly resolved for the obedience of the Gospel; this the Apostle expresses by groundedness and settleness, Col. 1.23. If ye continue in the Faith, grounded and settled; and Chap. 2.7. roote

Chapter 40

1. To fickleness. Some Professors are light and unstable souls, they

are off and on, sometimes resolved, and then unresolved; sometimes their faces, sometimes their backs are upon Christ. In this sense, every sincere resolution is a firm resolution. The weakest Christian is unalterably re

Chapter 41

2. To feebleness, or weakness of resolution. Some Christians are

more strongly resolved, others are unalterably, but not so strongly. Though they do not go back, yet are they under doubts and fears that they shall, and it may be sometimes (in the day of temptation) put it to the quest

Chapter 42

1. What this trust in Christ is. It is expressed in Scripture by

committing ourselves to him, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have -- 49 of 231 -- believed, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him, or trusted him with. This committing ourselves to Christ, notes,

Chapter 43

1. Our laying up ourselves, and all our hopes and concerns with him,

so as to venture ourselves in his custody, to venture ourselves upon his faithfulness; to cast all our burdens upon him, Psal. 55.22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee. To cast all our care upon him

Chapter 44

2. Committing to Christ, notes our leaning upon Christ, and

dependence on Him in a quiet and confident expectation of his helping us, and holding us on our way, according to his promise. The grounds whereof are our being satisfied concerning His promise, His sufficiency and fidel

Chapter 45

2. It will answer to all our doubts and fears, and to all the

doubting questions that the anxious soul will be pulling in for resolution and satisfaction, which whilst they remain unresolved, he is never like to go comfortably or prosperously on his way. -- 52 of 231 -- There are

Chapter 46

3. I have an Inheritance that lies beyond the River, on the other

side Death; who shall give me possession of mine Inheritance? Trust answers to all, to all the doubts that arise in these three cases. The first case is most immediately proper to our business in hand, but I shall crave

Chapter 47

1. Who shall lead me my way through the Wilderness? Here are

many ways, many false ways, many cross ways, and but one that is the right way: How shall I hit my may to Heaven, the right way that leads thither-wards? Who will show me, and lead me in this way? Here Trust answers, Chr

Chapter 48

2. Question, Who shall supply and sustain me in the Wilderness?

This World is a dry and barren Land; I must have Bread to strengthen me, I must have water to refresh me, whence shall I be supplied? Why I trust in Christ for supplies, He will give me Manna, will rain down Bread from H

Chapter 49

2. Case. I have a Jordan to pass over, I must die, who will bring me

over Jordan, who will stand by me in that hour? He is an established Christian who is able to die; who can say with the Apostle, To me to live is Christ, to die is gain, none of these things move me. I am ready to be off

Chapter 50

3. Case. I have an Inheritance which I hope for in the Land of

Promise: And here the question will be, Who shall give me entrance, who shall give me possession of mine Inheritance? There is a great Gulf fixed betwixt me and Glory; there is a Judgment that I must pass through in my e

Chapter 51

1. It is Christ that must do the first work for us, must bring us in at

the straight Gate, and give us entrance into Religion. Who brought Israel out of Egypt? Cut out a passage for them through the Red Sea, and set them into the way of the Promised Land? 'Twas the same Moses that conducted

Chapter 52

1. For the helping us forward in all his Holy ways. 'It is from Him we

must expect to prosper in our way, 'tis He that must lead us on towards, and raise and work us up to that holy Conformity of heart and life to him, wherein our souls prosperity stands. Here I shall shortly show you,

Chapter 53

1. Our progress in Religion is to be measured by the degree of our

conformity to Christ. There's a double conformity to Christ, To his Image. To his Will. Our being renewed according to his Image, in our inner Man, and our being governed by his Word, both in our inward and outward Man.

Chapter 54

2. This holy conformity to Christ is that which Christians have, or

should have in their eye and desire. Christ is a Christians Prize, and a Christians pattern. He is the Prize which a Christian runs for; what -- 63 of 231 -- would you have as the fruit of all your labors and suffering

Chapter 55

3. Christians falling so much short of that holy conformity to Christ,

they desire, do fall under many doubts and fears how they shall attain. O how short do I fall of such a holy frame, of such a holy and undefiled course! When I look upon what I would be, and what I am, what a distance is

Chapter 56

4. Their trust in Christ is their help against all their discouragements

and fears. Dost thou say, there's no hope, I shall not obtain? To perfect conformity to Christ thou canst not; but is there no hope of thy becoming a more eminent Christian than now thou art? Rebuke that unbelieving thou

Chapter 57

1. You must give up yourselves, and all that you have, to be disposed

of by him at his pleasure. Say of yourselves, I am his own; say of all that you have, all is Christ's. As Christ hath said of himself, and all -- 67 of 231 -- that he hath, 1 Cor. 3.22. All is yours; so say you of your

Chapter 58

2. You must keep you fast by Christ, and sit loose from all things else.

Give yourselves to Christ, and cleave unto Christ; do not say I am thine, and then go a gadding and wandering after Strangers: Stick fast to Christ, be able to say, Ps. 119.31. I have stuck to thy Testimonies. I have stu

Chapter 59

3. Reckon upon nothing certain or sure to you under the Sun. Do not

think, because you have kept all about you hitherto, that you shall never lose it; count upon it, there may a necessity be laid upon you that all must be parted with. Do not give yourselves to Christ, and all that you ha

Chapter 60

4. Make sure of something: of something that the greatest sufferings

cannot prejudice you in, or take away from you. This is the goodness of God to his, that whereas there is but one thing needful; this one thing is certain, Luk. 10.41. One thing is needful, Mary hath chosen the good part

Chapter 61

2. Trust him to perform what he hath undertaken to do for you, What

hath he undertaken to do for his suffering People? 1. To support them in their sufferings, Psal. 55.22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain or uphold thee; the burden of thy sorrows, the burden of thy suf

Chapter 62

3. Adherence to Christ, or cleaving to the Lord. The two main Roots,

whereby a Christian is grounded in Christ, are the two fore- mentioned, Resolution and Trust; and the immediate fruits of this rooting, is cleaving or sticking fast unto him; and the closer we cleave unto him, the more w

Chapter 63

2. A resolved cleaving to Christ. He doth still when 'tis lowest with

him, with purpose of heart cleave unto Him. He thinks here also, that he hath no mind, nor list to follow Christ or Holiness any longer, judging it will be all in vain. I, but ask such a poor Christian, Will you return t

Chapter 64

1. Be firm; stick close to Christ. Let it be with you as with the Apostle,

Rom. 8.38, 39. Let nothing separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Be sure of this, that he will be with you whilst you are with him, Jam. 4.8. Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to y

Chapter 65

2. His comfort in this his hard lot. Though all Men forsook him, yet

Christ stuck by him; the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. Christians, this may be your case, and let this be your comfort, though none in the World should own you, yet stick by Christ, and he will stick by you in

Chapter 66

2. Again, you must die; Sickness may Arrest you, and cast you upon

the Bed of Languishing, and Death may stand at your Beds-feet, and stare you in the face, and the Grave will open its mouth for you, to swallow you up: Stick fast to Christ, and look to find him standing by your Beds-sid

Chapter 67

3. Yet again, after Death thou must be brought to Judgment, where

thou wilt meet with a Righteous Judge, a Malicious Accuser, who will have many things to lay to thy charge. All the ugly and frightful sins that ever thou hast done in thy life, thou mayest look to hear of from that Mali

Chapter 68

2. Stick close to Christ, or else you will never be likely to stick fast. By

how much the closer our adherence to Christ is, by so much the firmer is our standing, and the less danger of falling off. The root of a Tree, if it be loosened from the Earth, is more easily plucked up; it may be, some

Chapter 69

4. A confirmed habit of Religion. A holy disposition and constitution

of soul; this is the very heart of the new Creature; the Divine Nature, whereof Christians are said to be made partakers, 2 Pet. 1.4. 'It is a holy Spring or Fountain within us, which will flow forth in Religious actions

Chapter 70

4. To fruitfulness in Religion. There is a readiness to good works,

mentioned Tit. 3.1. standing in the preparation, or propension, or bent of the soul upon holy action, (whereof before) and there is a fruitfulness in good works, or the souls putting it forth in holy action. All Religion

Chapter 71

5. To evenness and equality both of temper and course:

Evenness of temper is an argument of health and strength; they are the weakly bodies that are apt to change with every change of Air or Weather, and they are but weakly Souls whom every change of their circumstances puts

Chapter 72

2. What need there is of stirring up ourselves to and in Religion. And

here I shall not speak to the particular cases of the unconverted, of the weak, and backsliding Christians, distinctly and apart, but shall speak promiscuously to them as they fall in my way. Do you ask then what need th

Chapter 73

1. Those that fall short of Religion, of true and sound Religion, or

that carefully maintain not that Relirion they have, will be lost at last. Without religion we cannot be saved, without regeneration, which is the beginning of religion; or without sanctification, which is our progress i

Chapter 74

1. Sinners that live and die in their sins, there's no question

concerning them, whither they go, they must all go to the Devil. -- 89 of 231 -- Those that have no religion, that have not taken up so much as the profession of serious Christianity, and so live and die; there's as mu

Chapter 75

2. Yea and those that are come so far on to Christ as to take on them

the Profession of Christianity, if they die Hypocrites, will be also certainly lost. Those that are come off from the drunkards, and adulterers, and scoffers, and total slighters of Christ, and have visibly joined themse

Chapter 76

3. Yea and those that have sincere religion, if they look not diligently

to it, will lose all the religion they have. Whatever security there be for the Saints perseverance in religion to the end, there's no security at all, but they will certainly fall off and perish, if they neglect the mea

Chapter 77

1. From the great distance we are at some of us from sound and

prosperous religion. There is as great a distance betwixt unconverted Sinners and Saints, as betwixt Heaven and Earth, betwixt Life and Death, 1 Joh. 3.14. We know that we are passed from death to life; that is, from bei

Chapter 78

1. Compare yourselves with some of those that are of your own time

and standing, yea with some that came in to Christ many years since some of you. O how far are you left behind some of your company! Yea how much have some younger Christians gotten the start of you! What fruitful Christ

Chapter 79

2. Compare yourselves with yourselves, what you are now, with what

you were in your former time: Are you as good as ever you were? as holy as ever you were? or is there not a fall and a great fall from what you once had attained to? Is not the Sun gone many degrees back with you? Is not

Chapter 80

3. Compare yourselves with that Copy which I have set before you, to

be pressing towards; with that higher pitch of Religion which I have pointed out unto you in the 5 particulars formerly mentioned. Compare yourselves with these, and then how great will the distance appear to be betwixt

Chapter 81

2. From the difficulty of recovering them that are fallen. It is with the

consumption of the heart as with the consumption of the body; there are 3 degrees of a consumption. In the first degree it's hard to be discerned and easily cured. If this Disease be but taken in the beginning, a little

Chapter 82

2. The 2d. degree is easy to be discerned, but hard to be cured. The

farther it grows upon us the more plain our case is, but the more difficult is our recovery. Friends, there is a Consumption of the Vitals of Religion upon too many among us, and some are very far gone: There need not be

Chapter 83

3. A third degree is, not to be hid and past cure, plain to be

discovered, never to be cured: and then the Consumption of souls is ordinarily past cure, when men are past feeling. It is one thing to be -- 95 of 231 -- without feeling in those that never had any sense of God upon t

Chapter 84

1. Because (as it hath been said) in the beginning it's so hard to be

discerned. Who will look after a cure that thinks he ails nothing? This Consumption invades and creeps on by such insensible degrees, that it is not perceived or minded till it grows up to such an height as will scarce a

Chapter 85

2. From the indisposition and unwillingness of the Heart to seek

after a cure. Such untowardness and in indisposition there is to this work, that I am afraid that by all that I can say, I shall not be able to -- 96 of 231 -- prevail with some of you, to make trial what may be done.

Chapter 86

1. There is a stirring Devil that opposes your recovery. The Devil is a

destroyer, that's his name, Rev. 9.11. Abaddon, Apollyon, that is a Destroyer; 'tis he that hath brought you into this case, that hath destroyed that little Grace you had, and is thereby attempting to destroy your Souls.

Chapter 87

2. There are stirring lusts within you that oppose your recovery. Your

lusts are your disease, and your disease resists your remedy. There is a body of Sin within you, there's the same evil nature in you that are Christians that there is in Sinners; though the power of sin be broken, yet th

Chapter 88

3. From the difficulty of holding on, and getting on the way, for those

that stand. It's hard to keep our way, and much more to make speed on in it; and so hard, that unless we bestir ourselves to purpose, we shall never come roundly on. The way of Religion is an uphill-way, Prov, 15.24. The

Chapter 89

1. When the fear of God is within us. When the Spirit of the Lord, the

Image and Holiness of the Lord, is within us, which come all to one: That Promise, Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear into their hearts, is the same as those, Jer. 31. and Ezek. 36. I will put my spirit within you. A new hea

Chapter 90

2. When the Face of God is upon us; when we live in his fear, and live

also in the light of his Countenance; when he shines and smiles upon our hearts; when he loves his Saints, and shows them his Loves; when he reveals his good will and good liking of them, and lets them know that they are

Chapter 91

2. Our happiness is, that the Lord is among us, that we have the

visible tokens of his presence, that the Ark of his presence is among us, that we have his Statutes, and his Ordinances, and his Worship among us; that the Doors of his House are open, and the Glory of the Lord filleth h

Chapter 92

8. Who are those that flee as a Cloud, and as the Doves of the

Windows? v. 14, 15. They shall call thee the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel; and I will make thee an everlasting Excellency, a Joy of many Generations. v. 21. Thy People shall be all righteous, the

Chapter 93

1. When he hides his Face from them, and withdraws the light of his

Countenance. Thus he withdrew from that precious Servant of his, David, Ps. 30.7. Thou didst hide thy Face, and I was troubled; whom we find praying, Ps. 4.6. Lord, lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me; and Ps. 5

Chapter 94

2. When he suspends the Influence of his Grace, withholds his Spirit

from them: This was the case of David, when he prayed, Ps. 51.20. Renew a right Spirit within me. When those dews and showers of his Grace, which are necessary to the holding our Souls in a flourishing state, are restrai

Chapter 95

3. When he loosens the Reins of Government, and leaves them to

themselves and their own foolish hearts, takes off his bridle from them, and lets them run their own course, suffers their lusts to rule them, and lets them alone to walk in their own counsels. Thus he withdrew from Isra

Chapter 96

1. The Lord is the Protector of his People, the Keeper of Israel, Ps.

121.5, 7. The Lord is thy Keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand, the Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; the Lord shall preserve thy Soul. He is not only the Keeper of their Substance, of their Flocks, an

Chapter 97

2. Then God departs from them when he casts them out of his

protection; when he says concerning any person, as he said concerning his Vineyard, Is. 5.5, 6. I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof and it shall be trodden down; a

Chapter 98

5. When he turns away his heart from them and rejects them. The

Lord hath rejected thee, said Samuel to Saul; and afterwards, The Lord is departed from me, said Saul to Samuel. God deals with particular persons that will not be reclaimed as with backsliding Israel, concerning whom he

Chapter 99

1. When he shuts up his House, and writes upon the Doors thereof;

The Glory is departed. When he causes their visions to fail, his Ordinances to cease from among them; when preaching, and praying, and all his spiritual worship fails; when, though the Candlesticks continue, yet there ar

Chapter 100

2. When he pulls down his House: When not only the Candles are

carried away, but the Candlesticks are broken in pieces: When he unchurches his People, and scatters his Congregations: When the Societies of the Saints are broken in pieces, and those that went to the House of God in co

Chapter 101

3. When, though his House and his Tabernacle stands, and his

Ordinances are continued, though there be Preaching and Praying still, yet the Spirit of the Lord is departed. When he doth not continue to bless his House, and bless his Ordinances to his People; when that word is fulfi

Chapter 102

2. It's woe with a people when the Lord departs from them: Woe

unto them, saith the Lord, when I depart from them, Hos. 9.12. 1. 'It is woeful to them that have something of Religion in them; when their Pastors, and Pastures, and Waters fail, what's like to become of them? even they

Chapter 103

2. Especially 'tis woeful to those that have no Religion in them, that

are blind, and hard, and dead Souls, that remain still without Christ and without God in the World. Sinners, if ye be not brought in to be Believers whilst the Word of Faith is preached to you, if ye be not converted whi

Chapter 104

3. Our taking hold of God is our continuing the Lord among us, and

our preventing his departure. This was their Sin in the Text, they did not take hold of God, that is, they took no course to continue the Lord amongst them: God was going from them, and they let him go and looked not aft

Chapter 105

1. Our letting go our Idols or false God's. God never departs, till there

be another God taken in with him and set up by him; and God will never continue unless these Idols be cast away, Ezek. 14.5. They are estranged from me by their Idols; they are grown strangers to me, and I must be a stra

Chapter 106

1. That Covetousness is Iniquity, or Wickedness: Covetous Ones are

Wicked Ones, however they may look like Holy Ones; whatever of God or Religion appears, yet their Covetousness, where it is predominant, marks them out for Wicked ones. Art thou a Professor of Religion? dost thou Hear? d

Chapter 107

3. Covetous men, how dear soever their Covetousness costs them, yet

they will go on their way: He went on frowardly, that is, perversely or obstinately in his way. He would not be turned back, he would not give off from following his worldly heart, how angry soever God was with him for i

Chapter 108

2. Our laying hold on the Covenant of God. We have no other hold on

God but his Covenant with us; we had need keep the Covenant of -- 128 of 231 -- God inviolable, for there's all the hold we have either for this life, or the life to come. And this is the hold that we find this people

Chapter 109

2. Renew your Covenant and return to your Fidelity. To repent and

not return, is but a mock repentance; to confess and not amend, is -- 130 of 231 -- but a mock confession. Remember that word, Jer. 15.19. If thou wilt return, I will bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me. Y

Chapter 110

3. Then trust upon the Covenant of God; return to be faithful to him,

and he will not leave you nor cast you off for your former unfaithfulness; trust upon it. This is your way to take hold of the Covenant of God, and your taking hold of the Covenant, will be your taking hold of God. Frien

Chapter 111

1. In our mutual Acquaintance, God with us and we with him. God is

acquainted with his People, and he requires them to come into his Acquaintance, Job 22.21. Acquaint thyself with God. Acquaintance stands in our Knowledge of God: We cannot be said to be acquainted with them we know not;

Chapter 112

2. In mutual Acceptance. This is a special part of our Communion

with God, our Complacency in God, and his Complacency in us. Acquaintants take mutual pleasure in one another, their company is grateful and acceptable: God is accepted of his Saints, they have an hearty good liking to h

Chapter 113

2. They are accepted with God; he accepts their Persons: Ephes. 1.6.

He hath made us accepted in the Beloved; he accepts their approaches to him. Ezek. 20.40, 41. In mine Holy Mountain of the height of Israel there will I accept them; I will accept you with your sweet Savor. Offer your Of

Chapter 114

3. In mutual Correspondence: In frequent and friendly intercourse's

God will be sending down to his Saints Tokens of his Love, & his Saints will be sending up Presents to the Lord, Tokens of their Love to him. There is a Jacob's Ladder betwixt Heaven and Earth; this Ladder is Christ, by

Chapter 115

4. Often reckoning; by this our Communion with God, and our

Friendship with him, is maintained. Often reckoning keeps long Friends; whilst we keep our Account clear and fair, so long there's the less danger of a breach: The best of Saints run upon score daily; we go upon score fo

Chapter 116

1. Our score of Mercies should be answered in our Praises and more

abundant Duties; and a reckoning must be kept both of what we have received and what we have returned; of what the Lord hath done for our Souls, and what our Souls have done ever the more for his Name: Thus we should rec

Chapter 117

2. Our score of sins should be reckoned up in order to the getting

them crossed by faith in the Blood of Christ, and repentance from dead works: Thus therefore thou shouldst go on; O my Soul, thou seest what God hath done for thee, but what is it that thou hast done against the God of t

Chapter 118

1. Let everyone especially look to his own personal reckoning. We

must reckon for our people also, how great things God hath done for our Nation and his Churches amongst us; and how great have been the sins of our People: What have our Princes and our Priests, what have our Magistrates

Chapter 119

2. Do not under reckon. Do not carelessly or deceitfully skip over any

of your faults: make a plain and perfect account; deal faithfully betwixt God and your Souls: be not like the unjust Steward, Luke 16. -- 138 of 231 -- when there's fifty or a hundred owing for, do not take your bill a

Chapter 120

3. Level your accounts. 1. For your mercies that you have received:

the way to level them is to see to it, that ye walk worthy of all the mercies of God, and that you receive none of the grace of God in vain. Let it not suffice you that you live better lives then sinners, that have recei

Chapter 121

2. For your sins, the way to level the reckoning for them is by getting

the scores to be crossed, and having them all blotted and struck out of your account. Get them crossed, 1. By repentance, Acts 3.19. Repent ye —that your sins may be blotted out. Whatever sins you find upon your account,

Chapter 122

2. By faith in the blood of Christ. 'It is not your own tears that will

wash away your sins, 'tis only the blood of Christ, 1 John 1.7. your iniquities must not only be purged, but be pardoned too; whatever repentance may do towards it, 'tis the blood of Christ, and faith in his blood, that

Chapter 123

1. What's meant by stirring Religion. 1. Negatively, not headiness in

Religion, an hot and mistaken Zeal about the lower and more uncertain things of Religion; not such a Spirit of Fire which was in those Disciples, Luke 9.54. who would needs call for Fire from Heaven to destroy and consum

Chapter 124

2. Positively. A humble, active, lively, zealous prosecuting or

pursuing that which is Religion indeed or the substance of sincere Christianity. Some vain ones there are, who upon the hearing this headiness and fierceness, this hot and mistaken zeal blamed and decried, will turn the

Chapter 125

1. It will work out and drive away whatever offends or would provoke

God to depart: God will never depart without cause; it must be a great matter that must part such dear Friends as God and the Souls of his Saints: God will never depart from his People till there be some sin entertained,

Chapter 126

2. Stirring Religion will work out sin, especially every allowed sin.

The life of a Christian is a warfare, there is a continual conflict betwixt the flesh and spirit, Gal. 5.17. The Flesh lusteth—lusteth, that is, fighteth; sin fighteth against grace, and grace fighteth against sin. Sin f

Chapter 127

2. Stirring Religion will work up, and improve, and increase those

good things, which the Lord will delight in, and will not forsake. As it will work out iniquity, so it will work up grace and holiness. There is not the poorest and weakest of Saints, but by diligence and industry will b

Chapter 128

1. As they are signs of a storm coming. When workmen in the fields

lie loitering or asleep under the cocks, if they espy a storm rising, then they are all up, and every man falls to his work, that they may dispatch before the storm falls, and they be beaten out of the field. Is there no

Chapter 129

1. May we not see a storm in the angry face of God, who is so

provoked by us? Do you think you may provoke God at the rate that so many of us have done, as by our manifold iniquities, so by our so little answering the Calls of the Gospel, to repentance and recovering ourselves out

Chapter 130

2. And what answer is there of the calls of the Gospel upon

Professors? The Gospel that hath called you in to Christ, hath also called you on after him. The Gospel that hath called you to the Profession of Christianity, hath called you also to come on to the power of Christianity

Chapter 131

2. May we not see a Storm coming in the dark Providences of God?

Are not the winds risen, the clouds gathering; yea and hath it not begun to drop? The Proverb is, 'It is a sign 'twill rain, when it begins already. The counsels and designs that have been laid by the adversaries, and th

Chapter 132

1. Night is dark. Night is the dark part of our time, both are joined

together as signifying the same thing, 1 Thes. 5.5. Children of Night and of Darkness. 'It is the dark that makes it night, as 'tis the light, the Sun light, that makes it day. When the Sun is set, the Sun of Righteousne

Chapter 133

2. Night is cold. The light of the Sun hath heat going with it; as the

Sun withdraweth, it grows cold. It was given by Christ, as a sign of night approaching on Jerusalem, Mat. 24.12. The love of many shall grow cold. As the Sun grows low the cold increases; and if when it is but almost nig

Chapter 134

3. Night is a time of silence. The silent night 'tis often called: Those

that now speak to you, and call upon you to keep you waking, the night that's coming upon us may silence them, and not suffer them to speak anymore to you. Rev. 8.1. 'tis said, that at the opening the 7th Seal, there was

Chapter 135

4. Night is a time of sleep: 1 Thes. 5.7. They that sleep, sleep in the

night. That's like to be the unhappiness of people, that whatever be the miseries of a spiritual night, they are like to fall asleep under all, to be without sense of their invaluable loss; it will leave men stupid and s

Chapter 136

5. Night is no time for work, John 9.4. night cometh when no man

can work. Work there is, that lies upon every one of you, and such work wherein your life is concerned. I will not say only with the Apostle, 2 Thes. 3.10. He that will not work shall not eat, but he that will not work s

Chapter 137

2. Whatever work there be done upon you, your life lieth upon it,

upon your careful and vigorous carrying it on; if you do not hold out to the end, keep working to the end, ye cannot be saved. And is not this a stirring word to (you) also that are sleeping and loitering professors? Awa

Chapter 138

2. Put upon stirring thoughts. Our thoughts are apt to be busy, and

too busy where they should not; like little Children which will be busy from morning till night about doing nothing. Keep your thoughts employed, and well employed; there are wandering thoughts which are too busy, roving

Chapter 139

1. Searching thoughts; looking upon, and looking into the things of

God. Ps. 77.6. My spirit made diligent search. Searching looks deep into things. There are 3 great deeps that we should be searching into; the deep of the Heart, and what we can find there either of good or evil; the dee

Chapter 140

2. Working thoughts; looking into these things, and staying, and

dwelling, and working upon them. Think upon your evil hearts, and never leave thinking and thinking, till you be affected with what you find in them; think till your hearts ache for the evil you see in them; think upon y

Chapter 141

1. Stir up godly sorrow. The Apostle wrote such a Letter to the

Corinthians, as made their hearts ache. 2 Cor. 7.8. I made you sorry with a Letter: and this sorrow, what a stir it made in their hearts? v. -- 162 of 231 -- 10. it stirred up care, and fear, and indignation, and vehem

Chapter 142

11. Have you forsaken the fountain of living waters, and hewed out to

yourselves cisterns that will hold no water. v. 13. Is the Lord become as a wilderness to you, and as a Land of darkness, and is this world -- 163 of 231 -- become your Paradise? have you lost the kindness of your yout

Chapter 143

2. Stir up fear. But what cause have we of fear? search, and you may

find cause enough. Is there no matters of fear in your present cases? You that are in your sins, you ignorant, impenitent, ungodly ones, is there no fear of you? are your souls safe? are they not in danger? is there no f

Chapter 144

2. You that hope you have grace, and yet continue low in grace, is

there no fear concerning you? no fear of idlers and loiterers? you that have but little and satisfy yourselves with that little, is there no fear that that something may be nothing? He that thinketh himself to be somethi

Chapter 145

3. You that are already fallen to decay, that have lost your first love,

is there no fear of your losing all? Is there no fear, but you shall recover all again? or is there no fear of you, whether ever you do recover or no? is there no fear of backsliders, no fear of revolters, and apostates?

Chapter 146

3. Stir up desire. Desire is the thirst of the Soul, and thirst is a

stirring appetite as I have already showed, and therefore shall need to speak the less here. Desire will stir up to labor, therefore 'tis that Solomon says, Prov. 21.25. The desire of the slothful killeth him. 'It is dea

Chapter 147

1. Suppress and keep under your carnal desires: Desire Earth less

than you do, and you will desire Heaven more than you do. A River that is divided into several Channels, runs more weakly in either; when our streams are united and run all in one Chanel, they are much the stronger. Unit

Chapter 148

2. Be sensible of your necessity: Necessity kindles desire. Ps. 63.1. My

soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh, longeth for thee. Whence is this thirst and longing? O 'tis from his necessity. I am in a dry Land, where no water is. I have need of thee, Lord, need of (thy) water Brooks, for out of

Chapter 149

3. Be practically convinced of the excellency of a prosperous state in

the grace of God. All the world, how eagerly are they wishing after prosperity? men have such high thoughts of worldly prosperity, that everyone would be glad to prosper; as Mal. 3.15. they count the proud happy, so gene

Chapter 150

4. Stir up hope. Maybe you will say, I do desire it were better with

me; I see it would be happy for me, if I could obtain, but the Lord help me, I have little hope of it: I have desired so long, and waited so long, and yet it comes not; but my poor and barren soul after all still abides

Chapter 151

1. Consider the promise of God. The hope of the Saints is called Acts

26.6. the hope of the promise of God. The promise, which is the foundation of our hope, is our encouragement against all despondencies. Amongst the many promises that we have for our encouragement I shall mention one, Ma

Chapter 152

1. The matter of the promise, or what God will give, that is, good

things. In Luke 11.13. 'tis expressed, give the holy spirit; there's all that you need in one word. In giving the holy Spirit, is included the giving all good things. What is it you want, to help up your weak and languis

Chapter 153

2. The means of obtaining this promise. Ask, seek, knock; this notes

prayer, importunity in prayer, and the use of all means, that must go along with prayer. Ask, seek, knock; pray and pray instantly, and follow on after the Lord, and ye shall have, ye shall obtain; this gracious, this al

Chapter 154

3. The assurance of prevailing. This is, 1. From the Promise, ye shall

have, ye shall find, it shall be opened; Heaven shall be opened, the heart and the hand of the all-sufficient God, the bowels of Christ, the Covenant, all the Treasures of the Gospel shall be opened to you. Thou that art

Chapter 155

2. From experience. Everyone that asketh receiveth, &c. There's no

man in the world, that hath taken this course, that ever failed; find out any one man if thou canst, that can say, God hath been worse to me than his word; and surely thou mayest boldly say, He that never failed any one

Chapter 156

3. From the relation of God to his Saints: He is their Father; whence

he reasons thus: If the Fathers of their flesh will not deny the Children of their own bowels, (which of you if his Son ask bread, &c. ) if the Fathers of our flesh will not deny the Children of their bowels, any good th

Chapter 157

2. Consider the earnest that you have already received, what pledges

God hath given you, for the performance of his Promise. What, is nothing of this Promise performed to thee? O I hope there is; something I have gotten from it, but it is so very little, that this discourages me. Why, thi

Chapter 158

4. Get a stirring Conscience. God hath made conscience overseer and

ruler in the heart; he hath advanced conscience in the heart to the same dominion, that Potiphar advanced Joseph in his house, Gen. 39 4. he made him overseer of his house, and put all that he had into his hand. Or as Ph

Chapter 159

1. Let Conscience open its ears and hear what the Lord speaks. Let

the voice of the Lord have an impression upon conscience; when the Word comes into the thoughts only, it's quickly gone, and does nothing; or when it hath some sudden work upon the affections, that wears off; but when it

Chapter 160

1. Let its ears be open, and let it be quick of hearing. Be not of those

fat and gross souls, which are dull of hearing. How many deaf ears do we preach to, that hear nothing, whose hearts will hear no more than the stone of the wall, or the beam of the timber? and of those that will hear som

Chapter 161

2. Let the eyes of Conscience be open, and let it be quick sighted; so

that it may espy and observe the smallest matter of duty and sin: and let it be tender eyed, and not able to bear the least of evils; some men's eyes can see none but the grossest of evils; can see drunkenness to be evil

Chapter 162

3. Let the mouth of conscience speak quick and home. I will not say

concerning Conscience, as the Apostle concerning the Tongue, Be swift to hear, slow to speak; but let it be swift to hear, and swift to speak. Let it speak quick, and speak home. Let it speak home, and speak aloud; let n

Chapter 163

1. If it be not a wretched thing, to be most remiss and negligent in

those things, which are your highest concernment; to be so busy and intent about those small matters, about Meat, and Drink, and Money, which all perish with the using, and to be so remiss, and heedless, and heartless, a

Chapter 164

2. If the matters of this world, be not all but small matters, in

comparison of the matters of Religion, the matters of God and the other World; what says conscience to this? Do not you think in your consciences 'tis so, that the most prosperous state in this world, is a Toy in compari

Chapter 165

3. If yet this be not many of your cases; Is it not the plain truth, that

you are more remiss, and heedless, and cold in the matters of Religion, than in the matters of this World? do not some of your consciences tell you, O'twere well for me, if I were but as hearty, and -- 182 of 231 -- li

Chapter 166

4. If it be not better for you to rouse up, and recover yourselves, out

of your remissness and coldness in the matters of God, and to abate your zeal for the World; would it not be well for you if this word might have this effect, to make such a change? do not you think in your consciences '

Chapter 167

6. If Conscience judges thus in all these particulars, and will but

speak one word more, then it would be well; if conscience would hereupon, give the word of command, awaken sleepers, arise sluggards, put away your sloth from you, hearken to the word of the Lord, take his warning, stir

Chapter 168

5. Be much conversant with stirring society and acquaintance, and be

stirring among them. And here I shall endeavor the reviving of that too obsolete practice, of holy and quickening discourse, the neglect whereof is both a cause, a sign, and an effect, of the decay of Religion among us:

Chapter 169

1. Get your hearts well filled with the Grace of God. Mat. 12.34. Out

of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. 1. Men ordinarily fetch their words out of their hearts; as 'tis said of a fiery Tongue, Jam. 3.6. It's set on fire of Hell, that is, of that Hell of malice, that is in

Chapter 170

2. Let your [thoughts] be working more about holy things: Thinking

makes way for speaking; what our thoughts run most upon, that ordinarily our Tongues will run upon. We cannot know each other's thoughts, but we may give a near guess at them, by the words that are spoken: Men whose thou

Chapter 171

3. Get a zeal for the honor of Christ, and for doing him the best

service you can. Consider often, wherefore hath the Lord made me, this living soul? Ps. 100.3. It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves. But wherefore hath he made us? v. 4, 5. that we should enter into his gates

Chapter 172

4. Get more pity and compassion to souls. Jude 22. the Apostle

exhorting Christians, to be active for the good of souls, requires, On some have compassion, putting a difference; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. The meaning is, put a difference in your dealings, b

Chapter 173

5. Go always well provided. Get you well furnished with matter for

holy discourse, the great hindrance is the want of a heart, but in some, though they have a heart to speak, yet they are to seek for matter, they know not where to begin, Mat. 15.52. Every Scribe which is instructed to t

Chapter 174

1. From the Scriptures. When you read a Chapter, any special things

you read, that may be of most and most frequent use, lay them up in your memories; think with yourselves, here's a word, that I may shortly have occasion to make use of, in my Family, or amongst others, and so remember i

Chapter 175

2. From the Sermons you hear. I have told you formerly, and now tell

you again, that it would be a special means for the improvement of Ordinances, and a special help to holy discourse, if what you hear preached on the Lord's Day, you would make the matter of your discourse the week follo

Chapter 176

3. From your own experiences, of the dealings of God with your own

souls, Ps. 66.16. Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul. Self-observing Christians have many experiences by them, which may be much useful for others. You may be telling on

Chapter 177

4. From the consideration of the company, that at such or such a

time you may be like to be cast amongst. Some days, it may be, you may see your necessary business leading you amongst sinners: you must work with them, in the same field, or the same shop; or you must travel with them t

Chapter 178

6. Take a right method, by which you may with the most ease attain

to this holy use of your tongues. You will say, 'tis hard service, and so it is; but are you willing to try to come to it? Why what method will you prescribe to us that we may attain?

Chapter 179

1. Begin this practice within yourselves; speak often to your own

hearts, Ps. 4.4. Commune with your own hearts, maintain a holy discourse with yourselves. The Cock doth first clap his wings on his own breast to awaken himself, and then he crows to awaken others: As the Apostle, Rom. 2

Chapter 180

2. Next set upon this holy practice in your Families. Inure yourselves

to be speaking of God among your own, with them you can be more free and bold. There's no such great difficulty for a Father to speak to his Children, for a Master to speak to his Household; and by speaking much to these

Chapter 181

3. Next speak unto your Brethren and fellow Christians, to those that

fear the Lord. Mal. 3.16. Those that feared the Lord, spake often (one to another.) Ps. 66.16. Come to me (ye that fear the Lord) and I will tell you. We took sweet counsel together, said the Psalmist, Ps. 55.14. That is

Chapter 182

4. Then in the next place speak to those which are without, to poor

sinners, that are yet in their sins. Ps. 51.13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Your special work possibly, may lie amongst the household of faith, but as you have oppo

Chapter 183

1. From our necessary preparations to this duty I have told you, that

'tis necessary to the better performance of this duty, to get your own hearts well furnished with grace, to live more in the affecting thoughts of God; to get a zeal for Christ, to do him all the honor you can; to get mo

Chapter 184

2. From the practice of this duty. Holy discourse will keep our graces

in action. 'It is for want of action that our talents grow rusty; by rubbing up the spirits of our brethren, we shall whet our own. Though the edge of your knife will be blunted by long cutting, 'tis not so here, the edg

Chapter 185

1. Prayer. Prayer in the text is noted to be a stirring duty; there's

none that stirreth up himself, there's none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself. Had they prayed, and prayed as they ought, this would have stirred them up, or have been their stirring up themselves, to

Chapter 186

2. Especially, prayer is for the stirring up ourselves. There is a sort of

praying, dull, and cold, and formal praying, that's good for nothing, but to lay our souls asleep. When conscience begins to stir, and run upon sinners, and fright them for their neglect of God, then they will to their p

Chapter 187

1. That in Prayer, we set ourselves under the Eye of the great and

mighty God of Heaven and Earth. It is a drawing night unto God, a lifting up our Eyes to the Everlasting hills, a presenting ourselves before the throne of God, the throne of his Grace; a setting all the Attributes of Go

Chapter 188

2. In Prayer we come to deal with God, about all the wonderful and

astonishing things of Eternity; we are to have eternal life and death in our Eye, when we pray; and what will stir us, if Eternity, if a sense that we are now treating with the Eternal God, about the eternal things, will

Chapter 189

4. Prayer is the uniting of all our powers, and the engaging them all,

in seeking the Lord. It strains every string, it bends all our forces upon the duty; it sets all our faculties, our understandings, our memories, our wills, our affections, our consciences on work; as the Psalmist; Ps. 1

Chapter 190

5. Prayer is not only the employing and exercising our Souls, with all

their faculties and graces, but the putting them forth to the height; not only the striking every string, but the straining every string to the height; the word in the original, which is translated Acts. 12.5. Prayer wit

Chapter 191

1. Be so earnest and intent in this duty, that you may feel your hearts

enlarged, in the lively acting's and exercise of Grace, and so raised and warmed by your sensible communion with God, as may put you into a spiritual and heavenly frame, that if it be possible, you may come off your knee

Chapter 192

2. Whatever better or more spiritual frame you are gotten to in duty,

be careful to maintain it, and keep it alive afterwards. See to it, that your spirits do not presently sink and cool, and grow dull and carnal again, when you have been thus quickened and spiritualized; hath there been a

Chapter 193

3. Let your prayers be pursued in your practice. Whatever Grace you

pray for, whatever Sin you pray against, follow after the one, and fight against the other, in your daily practice: Let Prayer and Practice join hand in hand, and both drive the same way. Think not you have done your who

Chapter 194

2. Fasting and Prayer. In the former particular I spake of Prayer, as

an ordinary duty, here as an extraordinary, as annexed to that extraordinary duty of Fasting and Humiliation. We may say of that evil spirit, that Spirit of slumber and of a deep sleep that's fallen upon us, as Christ sa

Chapter 195

1. There's something in the very abstinence, that conduceth to the

stirring up the spirit of Prayer. Abstinence is pinching upon the flesh, and should be so much, in such days, as may afflict the body first, and thereby the soul. The abstinence of a Fast, should be afflicting abstinence

Chapter 196

1. In the time: Mostly what we call a Day of Humiliation, comes to no

more but a few Hours of Prayer. It's said of a Fast, Lev. 17.31. It shall be a Sabbath of Rest to you, that is, 1. It was to be a whole day, as a Sabbath is. 2. It must be wholly spent in the proper exercises of it, a Sa

Chapter 197

2. There is also a failing in the Abstinence of the Day. How often have

I known it, that the Abstinence in a day of Humiliation, hath been no more than the sparing of one Meal, which hath been made up by a larger Break-fast, and perhaps a Feast, at least a full Meal at Supper? and sometimes,

Chapter 198

2. Especially, a deep consideration of the case we are in, will most

effectually do it: Qui nescit orare, discat navigare; Tempests will teach even profane Mariners to pray; if anything will do it, afflictions will fetch out our very hearts in our Prayers, and is not iniquity an afflictio

Chapter 199

1. Make God your Friend, and see that there be no standing

controversy betwixt Him and your Souls. See that you be sincere Converts to God, and have a good conscience towards God; see that ye be reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus, and be not aliens and enemies, and that mat

Chapter 200

2. Make often use of your Friend in your personal cases, live a

Praying life; those that are much in Prayer, are most like to be mighty in Prayer. He that deals much with the Lord in prayer, will have many experiences of God's gracious dealings with him in answer to his Prayers. You

Chapter 201

1. Thou whose eyes are now upon these words, Art thou one of them

whose doleful cases have been here opened and lamented? Art thou a Sleeper, a loitering or backsliding Soul? Whilst thou hast been looking on this Glass, hast thou not seen thine own face in the company? Hath not this Wo

Chapter 202

2. If thou seest thou art one of these wretched souls, art thou content

to continue thus? Is it safe, is it comfortable to thee thus to live? Wilt thou die a Backslider, or but a Babe? Wilt thou venture it to continue as thou art? Art thou at a point with Christ, that thou wilt no more of hi