The true watch Or A direction for the examination of our spirituall estate (according to the word of God, whereby wee must be iudged at the last day) to helpe to preserue vs from apostacie, or decaying in grace, and to further our daily growth in Christ.

The first helpe, viz. danger of impe∣nitency in any sinne.

1. By euery sin we dishonour God more or lesse, according to the quality thereof, and so prouoke him to disho∣nour vs againe. 1. Sam. 2. 30.

2. Euery sinne defaceth in some sort the Image of God in vs, which we should labour to repaire dayly. This i∣mage is the holinesse commanded in the whole law. Col. 3. 9. 10.

3. Each makes vs in part like Sathan, whom in that sin we resemble, giuing him aduantage thereby both to accuse

vs before the Lord, and to lay speciall claime to vs for the same, or at least to get liberty to afflict vs thereupon.

4. Each as a cloud separates betwene the Lords mercy and vs, hides from vs the comfortable light of his counte∣nance, hindreth the course of his gra∣ces, for our God is so holy, that no euill can dwell with him, and so turnes away blessings temporall and spirituall.

5. Prouokes the anger of our most lo∣uing father against vs, as the faults of children do of their parents. 1. Cor. 10 22. Exod. 4. 14. 24. Ioh. 22. 17. 18.

6. Brings distrust of Gods proui∣dence, and weakeneth our faith in all his promises by the same example of a lewd child cōtinuing obstinate against the parents in any fault, so that wee cannot say that God is our God, or that we are his dutifull people and chil∣dren, and in his fauour so long as wee continue therein. The triall of this in our most serious prayers in time of trouble is most euident.

7. Brings temporall scourges on our bodies, goods, friends or name, wherby the Lord sheweth his hatred of euery sin euen in his owne children, awaken∣eth them, that they may not be con∣demned with the world, preuents the like in themselues and others, as Dauids ensample fully declareth.

8. Greiues Gods spirit to cause it to depart so farre, as that we shall loose al sound feeling of any true comfort in Christ, be made vnable to pray, heare or performe any spirituall duty aright, & contrarily become hard hearted without all sense of sinne or Gods An∣ger for it, to cost vs many a sorrowfull heart before wee recouer it againe: to teach vs to know Gods holinesse and our owne vilenesse, and so to be made more watchfull after to keepe and stir vp the spirit, to make more account of it and giue it better intertainement.

9. Brings a wounded conscience, the greatest plague of all other, for the con∣science will keepe a remembrance,

though it sleepe vntill God awake it, and call it to an account, and then will follow.

• 1. Shame to make vs run from God as Adam.
• 2. Sadnesse as in Naball.
• 3. Terrible feare, as in Bellchazzar.
• 4. Dispaire as in Cain, Saul, Iudas, Ac∣hitophel.

5. A hell in our consciences that wee shall be as the raging sea, casting out our owne shame, the worme of consci∣ence beginning to gnaw without hope of release or any ease, vnlesse all this be preuented by speedy and vnfained repentance in this life, which we know not whether it shall be continued vnto the morning.

10. Barreth vs out of heauen & de∣priueth vs vtterly of all the ioyes there∣of. 1. Cor. 6. 9 10. 11.

11. Thrusts vs into hell to abide the torment therof with Sathan & his An∣gells for euermore. Apo. 21. 8. Gal. 3. 10 Rom. 6. 23. Deut. 27. 26. Gen. 2. 17.

Notes

• John.expand_less 44.
• 1. Ioh. 5. 18
• Iob. 1. 9. 10 11. 12.
• Esa. 59. 2.
• Ios. 24. 19. 20.
• Ier. 5. 25.
• Psa. 5. 4. 5.
• Psal. 50. 16. 17. 18.
• Esa. 1. 12. 13. to 17. 66. 3.
• Exo. 4. 24. 26.
• 1. Cor. 11. 30. 31.
• Num. 27. 12. 13. 14. &. 20. 12. 24.
• Eph. 4. 30.
• 1. Thes. 5. 19.
• Ps. 95. 8. 9. 51. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
• Cant. 5. 2. 3. 6. 7.
• Pro. 18. 14.
• Gen 4 7.
• Gen. 3. 8.
• Esa. 57. 20 21.
• Luk. 12. 20.
• Mat. 5. 19.