Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life, in and after a time of great mortality, by a wasting plague (anno 1665) answered in XIII directions / by Tho. Doolitel.

SECT. II.

II.* 1.1 I Come to the Helps to be prescribed for the better performance of your Purposes and Resolutions of a holy, heavenly, Gospel-conversation,

made in time of your danger by reason of the Plague. If you would live up to your Resolution of an holy life, then

1. * 1.2Evermore take heed of your Beloved sin; take heed of that which is to you Peccatum in delitiis; your darling Lust, which by way of special propriety you may call your own. Keep a very strict hand over it, for if any sin undoe you, it is likely to be this, and if there be any sin that will weaken your endeavours to live according to your purpose, it will be this: Be∣ware of all, but especially of this; maintain your holy warfare against the whole hoast of sin, but especially fight against this as the General and Commander of all the rest: Whether it be pride, or worldliness, or the pleasing of your sensitive Appetite, or the Lusts of the Flesh, &c. That you may know what is your Darling sin, take these signs.

* 1.3First, That sin you have been more accusto∣med to, and hath usually broken out to the wounding of your soul, and disturbing of your peace above any other sin, is your beloved sin.

Secondly, That sin that all other sins doe wait upon and vail to, and bring in their aid and assistance to maintain, is your beloved sin.

Thirdly, That sin of which you are most im∣patient of reproof; you can hear of other sins, and be reproved for other sins, but if you are

plainly dealt with about this, you cannot so easily bear it, but you will finde your corrupt heart to bestir it self to finde out excuses to ex∣tenuate it, and plead for it; that is likely your beloved sin.

Fourthly, That sin is likely your Darling, when disappointments of the fulfilling, and plea∣sing of it, is more grievous to your soul than the frustrations of any other sin.

Fifthly, That sin is your Darling, which you have often found your heart wishing it were no sin, when you wish that it had not been forbid∣den by God; which you finde your heart most unwilling to resolve against.

Sixthly, That sin is your Darling, which you are willing to be at any cost and charges to maintain or satisfie.

Seventhly, That is your Darling sin, which you are most delighted in the committing of, and had rather part with all the rest than with this; it is a sign your heart is indeed marryed to that sin, when you will leave all to cleave to this.

Eighthly, That sin is your Darling sin, which doth most disturb you at the Throne of Grace, and fill your minde most usually with distracting thoughts. The Devil will divert your heart from God in holy Duties, and there is no sin he can better make use of for this purpose, than what your heart is most apt naturally to close with∣all.

Ninthly, That sin is your Darling sin, which doth most interrupt you in your chosen Soli∣tudes,

and Retirements for your souls con∣cernment. It is not every man, but some spe∣cial friend that will joyn himself unto you, when he knows you are retired for some special business.

Tenthly, That is your Darling sin which Conscience doth most reproach you for in time of danger and fears of death.

Eleventhly, That sin is your Darling sin, which usually lies down in your thoughts at night, which your minde most thinks upon in the night when you wake, and first endeavours to salute you in the morning.

Whatever sin this be, you must resolve to deal severely with it, if ever you would keep your holy Resolutions: While you cocker this sin, and be too kind towards it, you will not walk so close with God in time of health, as you purposed to do in time of sickness.

And next to this beloved sin, be carefull to mortifie that sin that is next unto it in your love. There is some other sin, besides the Darling (which is chief) that the corrupt heart hath some peculiar favour for; and if you ask what sin that is? I answer, it is that sin which your heart is most apt to change your beloved sin for, when you press your heart to forsake your Darling sin: And that which was the se∣cond chief sin in your Soul, would be first, if the former be taken down and suppressed.

2. * 1.4Take heed of dallying with temptations, or playing with the baits of sin, and be careful to

abstain from the very appearance of evil; rather deny your self of what is lawful, then play upon the borders of that which is unlawful, If you al∣ways go as far as you may, you will sometimes go further then you should: If you venture to the ut∣most, you will be in danger of transgressing and going beyond your bounds. You will finde the Devil and your own heart sometimes to reason thus, so far thou mayest go, and yet keep thy re∣solution; so far thou mightest venture, and maintain thy holy purpose; thou maist go with such a one into the Tavern, and yet keep thy purpose to be sober, thou mayst take another Glass of Wine, and then another, and then ano∣ther, and yet not break thy resolution. Thus the Devil will play upon thee, and ply thee, step after step; till he makes a prey of the peace of thy conscience, and hath brought thee to a violation of thy purpose, Principiis obsta, resist the first risings of the sin thou hast resolved against; thou hast resolved to keep a constant course of secret prayer every morning, but when thou ri∣sest, there is this business offers it self to be done first, and then another, till thou dost omit it and neglect it, or there is this business which stayes for thee, and that will make thee first be slight and hasty, and over-short in the per∣formance of it, till at last it brings thee to neg∣lect it. Beware then of the appearances of sin.

3. * 1.5Often press upon your heart, that sin is as odious unto God, and displeasing unto him at one

time as another, in time of health, as well as in times of sickness and great mortality, when the plague is over, as when it was slaughtering thou∣sands in a week. Though God doth sometimes manifest more of his displeasure against sin, yet he always equally (because he always infinite∣ly) hateth sin. If the thoughts of Gods displea∣sure, and the sight thereof in the effects of it, did move thee to resolve and purpose against sin, the believing thoughts of this when the Plague is over, will have some special influence upon thee, to make thee endeavour to do accord∣ing to the purpose of thy heart in dying times.

4. * 1.6Consider, Holiness is as pleasing unto God at one time as another, and if God was pleased with thy purpose, it will be more pleasing if thou proceed unto performance: The moving reason of your purpose in the time of your distress, was that you judged it pleasing unto God; and would you please God at one time by purposing, and displease him at another by non-performance? Would you please God at one time by resolving to reform, and displease him at another by non∣reformation? Sin and holiness is the same in the eyes of God at all times, but it seems it is not so in thine; if sometime thou dost purpose to forsake sin, and at another dost willingly com∣mit it; if sometime thou approvest holiness, and p••••••osest to follow after it, but at another time thou art remiss in thy pursuit.

5. * 1.7Work this upon thy heart, that sin is as de∣structive to thy soul, and pre••udicial to thy peace and comfort, at one time as another: Though sometime the circumstance of time might ag∣gravate a mans sin, and make it more hain∣ous (as a man to be drunk upon the Lords day) yet sin committed at any time is damnable, and sin loved at any time is damnable; though some∣time we feel the effects of sin, in sickness on our bodies, and terrors and fears upon our con∣sciences, and then have greater and more af∣fecting apprehensions of the evil of it; yet you can at no time (when you have your perfect health) lay sin in your bosom, but it may sting you unto death. In your sickness you thought that sin would undo you, that your evil actions would certainly damne you, therefore you did resolve against it; think so still, and let those thoughts abide upon your heart, and they will carry you in the strength of Christ, to live as you did purpose.

6. * 1.8Work this upon your heart, that holiness in act, and a godly life in act, will be more sweet unto your soul, than it was onely in your purpose: And that a holy life should be esteemed by you at one time, as well as another, because it will be as sweet and profitable to you at one time as ano∣ther; if you thought it would be for your good, to purpose holiness, and to resolve to live to God, and this did something quiet your heart, if you had dyed, that God had given you a real and unfeigned resolution, and fixed purpose of heart

to lead (as you could with utmost diligence) a Gospel conversation, how much more will it be a comfort to your heart to see your purposes end in performances, and your resolutions come un∣to a real, thorough, continued Reformation. Get the same thoughts of holiness in time of safety, as you had in time of danger; and this will help you to live holily as well as to purpose so to do.

7 * 1.9Keep upon your heart a constant, daily sense of your own mortality, and of your nearness to ano∣ther world: What is the reason that men under sickness are more apt to purpose to forsake sin, and to promise to mend and to reform, than in time of health, but because they have greater apprehensions of death in its nearer approaches unto them; and things as neer do more affect, than things apprehended as further off; and was it not the thoughts of the nearness of death, and your daily danger of it, that did quicken you to resolve against sin, and for God, and to winde up your resolutions something high∣er than at other times? Why you have reason still to walk in daily expectation of your dissolu∣tion, though the plague be stayed. If the plague be removed out of your habitation, yet sin is not removed out of your heart; there is the merito∣rious cause of death still in you, and there are natural causes of death still in you, and you must as surely dye, as if the Plague were raging, and you may assoon dye; we dye a thousand ways: death might be as near to you by some other dis∣ease,

and you may fall by some other dis∣ease, as so many have done by the Pestilence; though you were not one of those that dyed eight thousand in a week; yet you may be one of those that dye eight, or five hundred in a week. Doe not say the bitterness of death is past, that now there is no danger; do not put far from thee the evil day. What if so many do not dye every week as when thou resolvedst to be better, yet thou mightest dye every week. An Apo∣plexy, or a Feaver, or Dropsie might fetcht thee to thy grave, who hast (through Mercy and Pa∣tience) escaped death by the Plague; think with thy self, when thy heart is negligent of thy former purpose, When? and why was it that I resol∣ved to give my self more to a holy, heavenly life? When the Plague did come nigh unto my dwell∣ing, and because I thought every day I might have dyed: Why it is my daily danger, if not by the Plague, yet by some other disease, that will as certainly be the cause of my dissolution, as if it were the Plague. Thou didst purpose, be∣cause thou thoughtest death was neer, then per∣form, because death is still as near, yea it is near∣er to thee now, then when thou madest this reso∣lution; for the more days thou hast lived since, the fewer now thou hast to live; it was near then, but to thee it is nearer now.

8.* 1.10 Frequently possess thy heart with serious be∣lieving thoughts of judgement to come. When men, and when thou amongst the rest shall give

an account to God of all, thoughts, purposes, promises, vows that thou hast made to God, to walk before him in an holy life: But what ac∣count canst thou give to God, when thou hast not performed what thou purposedst? If it was not good to purpose and to promise to forsake thy sin, and live to God, Why didst thou purpose? If it were? Why dost thou not perform? If thou fail now, thou wilt be self-condemned at the bar of God: thy purposes and promises will be brought forth against thee; and God will charge thee before all the world with breach of promise unto him.

9. * 1.11Work this upon thy heart, that thou walkest daily in the sight and presence of that God that ex∣actly doth observe, whether thou art the same in thy practice when thou art well, as thou wast in thy purpose when thou wast sick: God did see thy purpose, and he did hear thy promise made in thy distress and time of fears; and his eye is up∣on thee, to observe how thou livest, and what thou dost; and do men keep their promises made to men (as some do from no other principle then) because the eyes of men are upon them, to ob∣serve them, and they would not lose their repu∣tation by falsifying of their promise, and wilt not thou much more perform thy promise unto God, when thou canst never break it, but when God is looking on?

10. * 1.12Keep a lively and a tender conscience, and diligently hearken to its admonitions, that thou

keep thy purpose; cominations, while thou art purposing to come short of thy purpose, and ac∣cusations afterwards; if thy conscience is not faithful unto thee, thou wilt be false unto thy promise, and fail of thy purpose; but if it be, do not choak the voice of conscience, for it is thy monitor and remembrancer to put thee in minde of the bond ••nd obligation that lies upon thee to a holy life, by virtue of thy own resolutions and vows in time of great mortality.

11. * 1.13Make a prudent choise of some wise and holy Christian for thy most intimate associate: One that knows thy ways and practise most, that is most acquainted with the manner of thy life, and hath most occasion to be most in thy company (supposing him to be faithful, prudent, pious) tell him what hath been the purpose of thy heart, when the terrors of the Lord were upon thee, not onely against sin in general, or in respect of ho∣liness in general, but what was the purpose of thy soul, and the resolution of thy heart against this sin (if it be convenient) in particular, which thou hast been most prone unto, and the parti∣cular duty thou hast resolved to be constant and diligent in, which thou hast found thy heart most backward to; and engage him as he loves thy soul, and the promoting of the work of God in thy heart, that he will carefully observe thee, and if he discern thee to be backward to thy du∣ty, that he would admonish thee, if forward to thy sin, that he would reprove thee; and in all

deal faithfully with thee; this would be an ex∣ceeding help to perform our promises and pur∣poses of holy living; and such a friend as this is to be prized above his weight in gold; and such a friend as this, is better than a brother, if you finde him, let him not go.

12. * 1.14Seriously consider and work upon your heart, till you feel your soul affected with it, that Gods pur∣poses concerning you and your good, and eternal peace is the same at one time as at another, and he performes all his promises which he maketh unto you: God doth not one time purpose for to save you, and another time purpose to condemn you; and why should you then be unconstant in your purposes towards God, one time to purpose that you will serve him more, and glorifie him more, and at another time be careless to order your life according to the intention of your heart. When you finde your hearts begin to slink, and goe from the purpose and promise that you have made, press your self with affecting thoughts of the Immutability of Gods purposes to you, and this might help you to constancy in your purpo∣ses towards God.

13. * 1.15Steel your heart with an holy courage a∣gainst all oppositions in your way of performance: Take heed of slavish fears which enfeeble your resolutions, and put a stop in the way of an holy life you have resolved upon; fear of dan∣ger and of death made you to resolve to keep close to God, and yet your fear of death, and

fear of danger for holiness sake, will hinder your living up to those Purposes and Resolu∣tions. Fear of death natural and from God, was the occasion of your resolving to practise an ho∣ly life; but fears of death violent, and from men, will be the cause of your breach of pro∣mise so to doe: Therefore resolve to live up to your Resolutions, though loss of Estate, Li∣berty, or Life, should attend you for so do∣ing.

14.* 1.16 Fill your heart with an holy Zeal for Gods glory; and if you be zealous for the glory of God, you will be couragious against all Impedi∣ments and Obstructions of an holy conversati∣on. Courage is opposed to slavish Fears, and Zeal is opposed to Lukewarmness: And Luke∣warmness is inconsistent with the practice you have resolved upon. You have purposed to pray more fervently than you were wont to do, but if your heart be as lukewarm in Religion, you cannot do it; you have purposed to lay out your self more for the good of souls, to endea∣vour to help others in their way to heaven, but if you be as lukewarm as before, you cannot do more than you did before: But if your heart be enflamed with zeal for God, more than be∣fore, you will perform all your Religious under∣takings with more life than before, you will pray with more life, and preach with more life, and speak to men about the things of God and ano∣ther

world, than you did before; and this is the performance of your Purpose.

15. * 1.17Be much in daily Reflexions whether you live up to your Resolutions, or no. Review your life every night, reflect upon your Duties, and the manner of performance of them. Survey at night before you sleep the actions of the day, whether they have been according to the Rule of Gods Word; what temptations did assault you, and how you did resist them; what cor∣ruptions did rise in your heart, and how you did subdue them; what Ordinances of God you have sate under, and how you did improve them; what Talents God hath entrusted you with, and how you have employed them; what compa∣ny you have been in, and how you did behave your self. If you do not call your self frequent∣ly to account, you will live below your Purpo∣ses, and not perceive it.

16. * 1.18Be often renewing your Purposes and Reso∣lutions for an holy life. Frequent acts do beget and strengthen habits: Actually renew your Pur∣pose to pray to God, to walk circumspectly, to discourse of the things of God, and it will at length be habitual to you so to do. If you finde upon reflection and self-examination, that your Purposes are weakened, and your heart draws back from that pitch of holiness you did intend to labour after, binde your heart thereto by the

renewal of your Purposes. If you finde you have broken your Resolutions, do not resolve to con∣tinue so to do, but repair them. If the Mari∣ner be driven back by windes and storms, yet he keeps and renews his purpose of sailing unto his intended Harbour. If a Traveller fall in his Journey, he gets up and resolves to hold on his way.

17.* 1.19 Presse your heart with the evils of coming short, and with the benefits of living up unto your Resolutions. The evils of this, I shall speak to in the third general Head that follows next in order. The Benefits of keeping the purpose of your heart are many and great: Your sins will not be so many; your sins will not be so strong, for Resolutions against sin that are firmly made and carefully kept, do exceedingly weaken sin; and if you should sometime sin, your sin will not be so great, when God doth see you keep the firm purpose of your heart against it, though sometimes you are overborn and bowed down, yea and fall against the inclination of your will, and purpose of your heart.

18.* 1.20 Pray much to God for strength and pow∣er to perform your Purpose. You resolved to pray more importunately unto God for mercy, but then you must pray to God, to enable you to pray as you have resolved. Resolution is our

duty, but strength to perform them is not in our selves, but must be fetched from God, and that must be by fervent, frequent Prayer. Pray that God would not leave thee to thy self, that he would not forsake thee. Psal. 119.8. I will keep thy statutes; there is Davids Pur∣pose: Oh forsake me not utterly; there is Da∣vids Prayer. As you must not purpose in your own strength, but in the strength of Christ; so you cannot perform in your own strength, but in the strength of Christ. If your resolution be strong against sin, and you rest in the strength of your Resolution, and think you shall not sin, because you have strong Resolutions against it, you will fail.

19. * 1.21Mortifie Carnal self-love, and be very much in the exercise of self denyal. If you can∣not deny your self of what is pleasing to the flesh, you will deny a holy life. You must often deny your own wills, and your own desires, and delights, your own judgements and reasonings, your sensitive appetite, and your profits in the world, and hate all these in comparison of bet∣ter things, and when they stand in competition with God and Christ: If you love your plea∣sures inordinately, and love your Liberty and your Life inordinately, your resolutions for strictness of holy walking with God, will not abide, nor be accomplished. The love of self, as well as of sin, is a great enemy to holy resolutions.

20.* 1.22 Often urge your heart with the Exam∣ples of the holy men of God recorded in the Scrip∣tures. They purposed and were carefull to per∣form. Jacob vowed unto God, and payd it. David vowed unto God, and payd it. Job made a Covenant with his eyes, that he would not look upon Objects that should irritate his sinful nature, and said, why then should I do it? Job 31.1. So do you say, When I thought my self to be near the grave, I purposed to honour God more than I did before, if he should spare me, why then should I not do it? I purposed to watch against my sin, why then should I be careless?

Thus I have given you the Considerations to press you to be careful of your Purposes; and Helps to the performance of them, next I come to the Aggravations of neglecting to live ac∣cording to your engagements in the time of sickness and danger.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Twenty Helps for keeping our Reso∣lutions.
• * 1.2

  Watch a∣gainst your Darling sin.
• * 1.3

  Signs of a beloved sin.
• * 1.4

  And a∣gainst Tempta∣tion.
• * 1.5

  Sin is as odious to God when you are well as when you were sick.
• * 1.6

  Holiness in ac••, plea∣sing to God, more than in purpose.
• * 1.7

  Sin is pre∣judicial, ••h••n you are well as when you were sick.
• * 1.8

  Holiness in act will be sweeter to you, than onely in purpose.
• * 1.9

  When you are well, you are stil mortal.
• * 1.10

  Believe judgment to come.
• * 1.11

  Gods eye is upon you.
• * 1.12

  Keep con∣science tender.
• * 1.13

  Choose a choise friend.
• * 1.14

  Gods pur∣pose al∣ways the same to you.
• * 1.15

  Holy cou∣rage.
• * 1.16

  Zeal.
• * 1.17

  Frequent Self-re∣flexions.
• * 1.18

  Renew your Pur∣pose.
• * 1.19

  It will bring great benefits.
• * 1.20

  Pray for strength.
• * 1.21

  Mortifie self-love and use self-de∣nial.
• * 1.22

  Examples.