A pleasant walk to heaven, through the new and living way, which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us, and his sacred Word reveals unto us. Published by Claudius Gilbert, B.D. minister of the Gospel at Limrick.

The Demonstration thereof may be made out on a three fold account.

1. FRom the Importance of this choise Duty of singular weight and worth, need and use, sufficiently hinted at in the preceeding considerations.

2. From mans condition so sinfull and weak, so unstable and insufficient of it self. All by nature are wholly corrupted, carrying about them the root and spawn of all kind of evil.* 1.1 The best find still cause to complain of the sad reliques hang∣ing about them,* 1.2 disabling from good, disposing to evil. All have abundant need of continual help from those about them,* 1.3 to keep them from evil,* 1.4 and excite them to good. The Lord therefore so disposes of things and persons,* 1.5 that there should be still a due correspondency for mutual helpfulness in all re∣lations among all sorts of men.* 1.6 His Wisdom oppoints, his Goodness affords, and his Power maintains all fit means by his over-ruling al-sufficiency, that they may be blessed effectually, through his Al-sufficient Grace to his Glory, and his Peoples good.* 1.7 In him we live, move and have our Being, both natu∣rally and Spiritually. He suits all means to their proper ends, dealing with men by men, after the manner of men in a ratio∣nal communicative way. His immediate concurrence is so absolutely needfull to the producing of every effect that his Influx still doth interpose between the most proxime cause and its Product,* 1.8 in every kind and degree of causation for sus∣pension or actuation,* 1.9 regulation and determination, supporta∣tion and disposition thereof. Yet is he pleased to accomo∣date his Divine Actings to the state of his several Creatures in their respective Beings and Workings, whether necessary or contingent, whether natural, moral or Spiritual. His usual Method is to walk in his own road, to bless his appointments, and to be found of his in all his ways,* 1.10 reserving all extraordi∣naries to his own Pleasure and Dispose.* 1.11 He still uses means though he needs them not,* 1.12 and would have all his People inge∣nious and ingenuously active in all the ways of mutual helpfulness. He gives out his Grace and Blessing gradually

and proportionably, through the Conduits and Pipes of his own Institutions, sutably to their several Capacities. Christians are like narrow-mouth'd vessels, that can receive the Liquor infused but by little and little Their condition below is still indigent, that they may honour and enjoy Christ therein, in living more by faith, and less by sense: yet doth he not leave them destitute of help,* 1.13 but trains them up in an orderly way of Christian Communication,* 1.14 through the multiplicious ope∣rations of his holy Spirit,* 1.15 that they may be still furthering one another in their journey Heaven-ward,* 1.16 till they be all brought to the full measure of the stature of Christ.* 1.17 What any one receives from him,* 1.18 is for the publique use of all the rest. He cannot endure that any of his, should be found an idle ser∣vant, hiding his Talent under any pretence.* 1.19 They that have most from him, must do most for his. Their weakness and want still requires it under all the dispensations of his Provi∣dence.

Thirdly, Their many temptations challenge the same also? Sin and Satan,* 1.20 the flesh and the world, Earth and Hell, are desperately combined against Christ,* 1.21 and against his friends, Children and Servants. The Prince of this world maintains still a threacherous party in our very hearts, and fits all his snares to our various tempers and distempers. His hooks are still plausibly baited, and his Ingeniers are very numerous and active, subtle and strong, malicious and vigilant. Christs flock is but a very little one, in comparison of so many goats and swines, foxes and wolves, Lions and Bears, that still malign it.* 1.22 We are still surrounded with Spiritual wickednesses, and conjured enemies in heavenly places and heavenly things. We wrastle not only against flesh and blood, but mainly against Principalities and Powers, and need therefore to keep close to each other,* 1.23 in keeping close to the Captain of our Salva∣tion, who himself was made perfect through sufferings,* 1.24 in the compleating of our Redemption.* 1.25 We are still marching in the enemies country, meeting every where with Ambuscadoes, which should still press us to Circumspection,* 1.26 multitudes of his spies, under various disguises, are still plotting mischief in the midst of us. Many are found professing Godliness in the

form,* 1.27 whilst they deny the Power thereof. The baits of this world are very catching & wonderfully specious to allure all sorts to swallow down the hook,* 1.28 so fairly dressed with seeming pleasures, profits and preferments. Errors and Lusts are highly sublimed and refined in these later days, to take silly souls, and to deceive the very Elect as far as is possible. False Christs and false Prophets abound every where, to divert, pervert and subvert Christians from Christs waies. Lying wonders & Doc∣trines of Devils are so fairly trimmed and garnished over with lightsome colours, that very many are easily cheated with their jugling tricks. Every rank and degree of men, in every relation, hath still its peculiar way of temptation. Every Chri∣stian is therefore still peculiarly concern'd to give and receive all possible help in the right use of all the means appointed of God for mutual reciprocations. The coals and sticks put orderly together, do help one another to burn and kindle, whereas if scatteringly dispersed, they will soon go out. Stragling Soldiers are still exposed to danger, but keeping close in a firm Body, by mutual help, they prove formidable to the enemy, and usefull to friends. In all societies, civil and sacred, mutual helpfulness is of singular use to the preservation and regulation of the whole, and of every part. The best are too subject to grow lazy and cold, selfish and dull, through the prevailing of renew'd temptations: it becomes there, fore all to improve all effectual means for the mutual quick∣ning of each other to the grand duty of their Christian walk, answering their Call.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 6. 5.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 8. 21.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 14.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 51.
• * 1.5

  Eph. 2. 1. 2, 3, 12, 13.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 7.
• * 1.7

  Act. 17. 28.
• * 1.8

  Deut. 32 39.
• * 1.9

  Isa. 45. 6, 7.
• * 1.10

  Exod. 20. 24.
• * 1.11

  Isa. 64. 5.
• * 1.12

  Mat. 7. 7, 8.
• * 1.13

  Gal. 2. 20.
• * 1.14

  Hab. 2. 4,
• * 1.15

  Rom. 1. 17.
• * 1.16

  Heb. 10 38.
• * 1.17

  1 Cor. 12.
• * 1.18

  Eph. 4. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
• * 1.19

  Mat. 25 26.
• * 1.20

  Eph. 2. 2, 3.
• * 1.21

  Eph. 4. 11, 12.
• * 1.22

  Luk. 12. 32.
• * 1.23

  Heb. 12. 1, 2.
• * 1.24

  Heb. 2. 10.
• * 1.25

  Eph. 5. 15, 16.
• * 1.26

  2 Tim. 3. 5.
• * 1.27

  1 Joh. 2. 16.
• * 1.28

  Mat. 24.