Mount Tabor. Or Private exercises of a penitent sinner Serving for a daily practice of the life of faith, reduced to speciall heads comprehending the chiefe comforts and refreshings of true Christians: also certain occasionall observations and meditations profitably applyed. Written in the time of a voluntary retrait from secular affaires. By R.W. Esquire. Published in the yeare of his age 75. Anno Dom. 1639. The contents of the booke are prefixed.

22. Vpon a worthy Divines Letter resolving me in a case of conscience.

WHen it had pleased God to prolong my life beyond the great Climactericall yeare, as it is called; I thought it high time for mee, to retyre my selfe from world∣ly employments, that I might the better prepare my selfe for the time of my change; and there∣upon imparted my minde for ghostly counsell therein, to a worthy and re∣verend Divine of my inward ac∣quaintance, who returned me such a gracious and learned answer by Letter, for directing the Christian pilgrim into the right and safe way to eternall life, amongst the divers opinions of th••se later and worst times; as I thought fit to

register it amongst the private me∣ditations of mine, that so pious a resolution in so weightie a case, (which in mine opinion might bee of good use to Gods Church) might not die with me, in a private Letter; the words whereof are here faithful∣ly set downe, as followeth.

Sir, I sent you in a Letter by my brother, &c. In meane while, to your case of conscience, if I under∣stand it aright, I thinke thus in few words. The Gospell is a doctrine of mercy, but not of liberty. The Mo∣rall law, though it cannot save, or condemne us who are in Christ; yet it still obligeth us (no lesse, if not more then others) to all acts of pi∣etie and justice. Our redeemer freed us, not from the obedience, but from the penaltie of it, the rigorous san∣ction of it, is mitigated by the new covenant of grace, (for to us, is no condemnation, and if any man sinne, we have an Advocate) But the new

Covenant is so far from dissolving of any commandement, that it adds to them, the more of faith and repen∣tance. And faith it self, though it as∣sure us of comfort in Christ, yet it is un∣der condition of our allegiance to God, not only in some feeble good purposes and desires, but in a constant, univer∣sall, actuall obedience: For faith in the very nature of it, implies obe∣dience, Romanes 1.5. and 16.26. 1 Peter 1.14. and verse 22. It pu∣rifies the heart; Acts 15.9. It wor∣keth by love, Galatians 5.6. And without doubt, the faith which is not thus obedient, purging, working, is but a fancie. Tis true, the most holy Christian may sometimes by his frailtie or negligence be surprised by a suddaine temptation, or foiled y a violent: Jn that ease his comfort is in the merits of Christ. But tis withall his duty, speedily to reco∣ver himselfe, and to walke after∣wards more warily with his God. Good will, or good wishes are not e∣nough, where there is no more, I feare

there is little grace, which where it is, enables us to overcome the world. 1 Ioh. 5.4.5. To resist the Divell. Iam. 4.7. nay, to overcome him. 1 Io. 4.4. Ephes. 6.11.13. to doe all a∣ctions of pietie in good measure. Phil. 4.13. Mar. 9.23. Ephes. 3.20. Iud. 24. verse. to mortifie the deeds of the flesh. Romans 8.5.13. briefly, in spirituall conflicts to bee more then conquerors, Rom. 8 37.

Tis true, the best of men, are but men at the best; now and then sin∣ning, but then quickly repenting, and for the most part carefully and con∣scionably walking. And if you please to view and consider well these pas∣sages in Gods book. Col. 3.9.10. Eph. 1.18, and 4.21.23.24. 2 Cor. 3.••8. Galat. 2.20. and 15.24.25. and •• 14. Philip. 2.13. Romans 8.2. wherein the truly regenerate is de∣scribed by his Caracters and proper∣ties, you will feare that many (how∣soever they seeme to themselves and others) taking little care to walke exactly. Ephes. 5.15. in a holy life,

have little store of that grace and lit∣tle hold of that Saviour, whereof they presume so much.

Shortly, as it is our great comfort that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8.) So that which followes must bee our great care, to walke not after the flesh but after the spirit. That new and living way by the blood of Christ, will guide us streight to heaven be∣tween those two dangerous rocks of despaire and presumption.

Rec. 4. Nov. 1630.

In the conclusion of this Letter I was encouraged to continue my ho∣nourable Lords service, which I did for the yeare following: and then (30. Novemb. 1631.) being sud∣dainly taken with a disease called (vertigo capitis) which I doubted might turne to an Apoplexy, I with∣drew my selfe home, and entred in∣to a course of Physick, under which

I was holden so long, as I was by GODS mercy taken off from my further worldly imployments, and with my noble Lords extraordi∣nary favour in my farewell, retired my self into Northamptonshire, since which time it hath pleased our most gracious Lord God to adde some more yeares to my life, for my better preparation for the time of my change; blessed be his most holy name for it, and let his holy spirit of grace (I humbly beseech him) teach both my selfe and all others that shall read this worthy letter, to learne and pra∣ctise that most necessary and blessed lesson, of joyning faith and obedi∣ence, true beliefe, and holy life toge∣ther, in the short race of our earthly pilgrimage; that so being true chil∣dren of grace here, we may be assured to bee heires of glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our on∣ly Lord and Saviour, Amen.