28. He hath counted what it may cost him to be saved, and

hath resolved not to stick at suffering, but to bear the cross

and be conformed to his crucified Lord, and hath already in

heart forsaken all for him

29. He is not a Christian only for company or carnal ends, or

upon trust of other men's opinions, and therefore would be

true to Christ, if his rulers, his teachers, his company, and

all that he knoweth should forsake him

30. He can digest the hardest truths of Scripture, and the

hardest passages of God's providence..

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429

432

434

435

31. He can exercise all his graces in harmony, without neg-

lecting one to use another, or setting one against another

32. He is more in getting and using grace, than in inquiring

whether he have it, (though he do that also in its place).. ibid.

33. He studieth duty more than events, and is, more careful

what he should be towards God, than how he shall here be

used by him

34. He is more regardful of his duty to others, than of theirs

to him, and had much rather suffer wrong than do it ....

35. He keepeth up a constant government of his thoughts,

restraining them from evil, and using them upon God, and

for him..

36. He keepeth a constant government over his passions, so

far as that they pervert not his judgment, his heart, his

tongue or actions

37. He governeth his tongue, employing it for God, and res-

training it from evil

....

38. Heart-work and heaven-work are the principal matters of

his religious discourse, and not barren controversies or im-

pertinencies

......

39. He liveth upon the common great substantials of religion,

and yet will not deny the smallest truth, or commit the

smallest sin, for any price that man can offer him

40. He is a high esteemer, and careful redeemer of time, and

abhorreth idleness and diversions which would rob him of it

41. His heart is set upon doing all the good in the world that

he is able: it is his daily business and delight....

42. He truly loveth his neighbour as himself...

43. He hath a special love to all godly Christians as such, and

such as will not stick at cost in its due expressions; nor be

turned into bitterness by tolerable differences.

44. He forgiveth injuries, and loveth his enemies, and doth

them all the good he can: from the sense of the love of

Christ to him

436

437

439

ibid.

441

442

443

447

448

449

450

452

45. He doth as he would be done by; and is as precise in the

justice of his dealings with men, as in acts of piety to God..

46. He is faithful and laborious in his outward trade or call-

ing, not out of covetousness, but obedience to God ......

47. He is very conscionable in the duties of his several rela-

tions, in his family or other society, as a superior, inferior,

or equal....

453

455

456

48. He is the best subject, whether his rulers be good or bad,

though infidel and ungodly rulers may mistake, and use him

as the worst

49. His trust in God doth overcome the fear of man, and set-

tle him in a constant fortitude for God

50. Judgment and zeal conjunct are his constitution; his

judgment kindleth zeal, and his zeal is still judicious....

51. He can bear the infirmities of the weak; and their cen-

sures and abuses of himself; and requiteth them not with

uncharitable censure or reproach..

....

52. He is a high esteemer of the unity of Christians, and ab-

horreth the principles, spirit, and practices of division

53. He seeketh the church's unity and concord not upon par-

tial, unrighteous, or impossible, but upon the possible,

righteous terms here mentioned

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457

462

464

466

468

475

54. He is of a mellow, peaceable spirit; not masterly, domi-

neering, hurtful, unquiet, or contentious

480

484

488

489

55. He most highly regardeth the interest of God, and men's

salvation in the world; and regardeth no secular interest of

his own, or any man's, but in subserviency thereto...

56. He is usually hated for his holiness by the wicked, and cen-

sured for his charity and peaceableness by the factious and

the weak; and is moved by neither from the way of truth..

57. Though he abhor ungodly, soul-destroying ministers, yet

he reverenceth the office as necessary to the church and

world; and highly valueth the holy, faithful labourers....

58. He hath great experience of the providence, truth, and.

justice of God, to fortify him against temptations to unbelief 491

59. Though he greatly desireth lively affections and gifts, yet

he much more valueth the three essential parts of holiness,

1. A high estimation in the understanding of God, Christ,

holiness, and heaven, above all that be set in any competi-

tion. . A resolved choice and adhesion of the will, to

these above and against all competitors. 3. The seeking

them first, in the endeavours of the life. And by these he

judgeth of the sincerity of his heart

60. He is all his life seriously preparing for his death, as if it

were at hand; and is ready to receive the sentence with

joy; but especially he longeth for the blessed day of Christ's

appearing, as the answer of all his desires and hopes

Six Uses of these characters

492

493

498

GOD'S GOODNESS VINDICATED,

For the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempt-

ed to deny it, and think him to be cruel, because of the pre-

sent and future misery of mankind, with respect to the doc-

trine of reprobation and damnation

507

DIRECTIONS

AND

PERSUASIONS

ΤΟ Α

SOUND CONVERSION.

FOR

PREVENTION OF THAT DECEIT AND DAMNATION OF SOULS, AND OF THOSE SCANDALS, HERESIES, AND DESPERATE APOSTACIES, THAT ARE THE CONSEQUENTS

OF A COUNTERFEIT OR SUPERFICIAL

PREFACE.

It is a weight so unconceivable that dependeth on the soundness of conversion and sanctification, that our care and diligence cannot be too great to make it sure. As the professed atheist, heathens, and infidels without, so the selfdeceiving hypocrites within the church, do wilfully cast away themselves for ever, by neglecting such a business of everlasting consequence, when they have time, and warnings, and assistance to dispatch it. Multitudes live like brutes or atheists, forgetting that they are born in sin and misery, and settled in it by wilful custom, and must be converted or condemned. These know not (many of them) what need they have of a conversion, nor what conversion or sanctification is. And some that have been Preachers of the Gospel, have been so lamentably ignorant in so great a matter, that they have persuaded the poor deluded people that it is only the gross and heinous sinners that need conversion; branding them with the name of Puritans, that will not take a dead profession joined with civility, for true sanctification; and promise salvation to those, that Christ hath with many asseverations professed shall not enter into the kingdom of God. Others that confess that a thorough sanctification is a necessary thing, do delude their souls with something that is like it. Hence is the misery and dishonour of the church. Holiness itself is disgraced by the sins of them that are unholy, because they pretend to that which they have not. Hence it is, that we have thousands that call themselves Christians, that live a worldly, fleshly life, and some of them hating the way of godliness and yet think they are converted, because they are sorry when they have sinned, and wish when it is past that they had not done it, and cry God mercy for it, and confess that they are sinners; and this they take for true repentance: when sin was never mortified in their souls, nor their hearts ever brought