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Shewing how the Spirit of Adoption may bee attai∣ned, and also how the se∣uerall gifts of the Spirit may be framed in vs.
THus of humiliation: It followeth that I shew how hee may attaine to the other sacred gifts, which are markes of a godly man: as in the first sort of gifts, how hee may attaine to the loue of the Word, the gift of Prayer, the feare of God, the loue of his enemies, and the desire of the comming of
Christ: But before I enter vpon these, it is necessarie to shew him how hee may attain the Spirit of Adop∣tion, which is necessarie for these and all other gra∣ces.
[Quest.] And concerning the Spirit of Adoption, if a∣ny aske how it may be ob∣tained: Or rather, how it may bee stirred vp in vs, that we may feele his wor∣king in vs?
[Ans.] I answer, that hee is had and stirred vp by inuoca∣tion: God is pleased to declare himselfe willing, and ready to bestow his holy Spirit vpon men, if
they aske him of him by hearty prayer: Hee that hath giuen vs his Sonne, will not deny vs the Spirit of his Sonne to be giuen in∣to our hearts, Gal. 4. 7. And this our Sauiour Christ assures vnto vs in the Para∣ble, Luke 11.
9. And I say vnto you, Aske, and it shall be giuen you: Seeke, and yee shall finde: Knock, and it shall be opened vnto you.
10. For euery one that asketh, receiueth, and he that seeketh, findeth, and to him, that knocketh, it shall be opened.
11. If a sonne shall
aske bread of any of you, that is a father, will hee giue him a stone? Or if hee aske a fish, will hee for a fish, giue him a Ser∣pent?
12. Or if hee aske an Egge, will hee giue him a Scorpion?
13. If yee then, which are euill, can giue good gifts vnto your children, how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the Holy Ghost to them, that desire him?
2. We must waite vp∣on the preaching of the Gospell, where the Holy Ghost vsually falls vpon
the hearts of men.
3. When wee feele the motions of the Spirit knocking at our hearts▪ or any way surprising vs, wee must with all readinesse open the doores of our hearts, that the King of Glory by his Spirit may enter into vs.
[Quest.] The next question is then, what we should do to get and preserue in vs the constant loue to the VVord?
[Ans.] 1. The answer is: first, that we should seeke to set∣tle our selues vnder the powerful preaching of the Word; euen such a Mi∣nistery
as doth set out the glory of the Truth, and of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ.
2. Wee must make a conscience of it to pray vnto God to quicken vs, and inflame our hearts to the loue of his Lawes, as Dauid often did, Psal. 119.
3. Take heed of exces∣siue cares, and the ouer∣teaching of thy desires in the imployments of the world, or the immoderate vse of worldly delights; for those choake the seed of the Word, and alienate the affections from it; and so doth any grosse, or belo∣ued
sinne, Heb. 3. Math. 13.
4. Take heed also of personall discord with such as feare God, especially with thy Teachers; for this doth by secret degrees make the heart carelesse and negligent, and in some things wilfull; and if it bee not looked to in time, will bring men from the li∣king of the Word, as they haue beene drawne from the liking of such as loue the Word.
5. Take heed of vn¦godly company: For in such company is quen∣ched the sparkles of liking▪ when they are kindled; yea,
and the flames of affecti∣on are much dulled, in whom they are best exci∣ted, Psal. 119. 115.
6. Such, as finde some beginnings of desire after the Word, and liking to it, must take heed, that they estrange not them∣selues from the exercises thereof: For if they heare, or reade but now & then; either the heart will neuer be throughly heated, or if it bee, it will easily waxe cold againe: and yet here∣in some are to be warned to take heed of disordered excesse; for that will breed dulnesse, as well as neg∣lect:
As when they will reade daily for diuers houres; or when they pro∣uide vnto themselues a heape of Teachers, as some that liue in great Ci∣ties, thinke it Religion to heare all sorts of men, and all the Sermons can bee come vnto: As if the pow∣er of godlinesse lay onely in the vse of the meanes of godlinesse.
7. Wee must practise what we heare, and labour to shew forth the fruit of the doctrine. Hee that would be in loue with hus∣bandry, must sow his seed in his ground, and then
the gaine of the Haruest will still allure him to like the Trade: If we be fruit∣lesse hearers of the Word, we cannot loue it; or if we doe, it will bee but for a flash, or small time.
Thus of the loue to the Word.
Hee that would learne to pray, must follow these directions:
1. Hee must go to God in the name of Christ, and beseech him to giue him words, and by his Spirit to teach him to pray: It is God onely can make a man speak a pure language; for hee onely can instruct
the heart of man, and in∣due it with this heauenly gift, Rom. 8. 26. Ephes. 3. 9.
2. It will much helpe him to ioyne himselfe to such as call vpon the name of the Lord with a pure heart, especially in the daies of their humiliation, 2. Tim. 2. 22.
3. There are three dis∣tinct things, which a man may with singular profite propound vnto himselfe in his prayers: Confession of sinnes: Petition for grace: and thankesgiuing for mercies receiued. Now the weakest Christian may be, through Gods blessing,
comfortably furnished for his own particular, if hee take such a course as this; To go aside, and with all secresie, and attention of heart before the Lord, aske himselfe these three Questions:
1. What sinnes haue I committed, which either now do trouble me; or, if I were to die, would make me afraide? Let him set them downe in a paper, or in his memory distinctly, till hee can bethinke him∣selfe of no more. It is no great matter for the order, how he sets them down, so hee bee sure hee haue the
chiefe sinnes, in which hee daily offends, or hath of∣fended.
2. What would I haue the Lord do for mee, if I might haue what I wish? Let him set the particulars downe till he can remem∣ber no more: As for ex∣ample, I would haue him forgiue me my sinnes, and I would haue him giue me knowledge; and I would haue him giue me strength against such and such sins; & I would haue him giue me faith and assurance; and I would haue him giue me heauen, when I die: and so go on with all the things
he feeles a desire in his heart to seek of God, till he can remember no more: and if at any other time hee remember some speci∣all thing, which he would further haue, which hee hath not in his Cata∣logue, let him set it down, as from time to time hee sees cause.
3. What speciall fa∣uours hath God shewed to me, which I see I ought to take speciall notice of. Let him set them downe distinctly, whether they be deliuerances, or such and such spirituall or outward mercies, preseruing the
memorie principally of the chiefest of them.
Now when hee hath thus furnished these three heads with things, that in particular concerne him∣selfe, they being all mat∣ters of weight, hee must now carry these things, or the chiefe of them in his minde, and frame his heart to speake to God in the best words hee can get, to signifie his detestation of those sinnes, his humble requests for those graces, and his vnfaigned thanke∣fulnesse for those blessings: Howsoeuer hee may bee rude, or vnperfect in his
language about these at the first, yet exercise will bring him to a ripenesse, and by this course he shall be sure to speak of things, that concerne himselfe neerely; and that God, which hath taught parents to regard the vnperfect language of their little children, when they begin to speake vnto them, will himselfe much more de∣light to heare the desires of his seruants, that are grie∣ued, that they cannot speake in a better sort vn∣to him: The profite and comfort of this course will appeare by experience to
bee exceeding great; Be∣sides, it is an easie way, when there is in any a true desire to bee at the paines to learne this language of speaking to God by pray∣er, and Gods Spirit will helpe and teach the poore Christian, and draw his Petitions for him, and prompt him both with words and affections; and the Christian must know this, that when hee hath confessed his sinnes, and shewed what hee would haue God doe for him, with the best words hee could in the truth of his heart, hee hath made a
most effectuall prayer to God.
Thus of Prayer.
The awfull feare of God, and the reuerent dreading of God, may be begotten and increased in vs, if wee throughly remember and deeply ponder vpon,
1. The surpassing glo∣ry and transcendent excel∣lencie and perfection of his Nature, his absolute Purity, and exact Iustice, and Holinesse.
2. The wonderfull works of God, especially those standing miracles shewed in the hanging of this mighty earth, and those
huge heapes of water in the clouds, and the boun∣ding of these mighty feas, and such like.
3. His fearefull threat∣nings of all sorts of woes against the transgressions of men.
4. The terrour of the last Day, and the dreadful∣nesse of death and Iudge∣ment.
5. The fearefull and sudden iudgements which haue falne vpon wicked men; either recorded in Scripture, or reported in Histories, or obserued in experience.
6. Especially, if wee
thinke much and seriously of the great goodnesse of God to vs, how hee hath striuen with vs to ouer∣come vs with his mercies.
Thus of the feare of God.
Wee should striue to stir vp in vs affection, and loue to our very enemies, by such considerations as these:
1. Because Christ, to whom wee are infinitely bound, hath expresly char∣ged vs to look to this, that wee do loue our enemies; and therefore for his sake we should deny our selues, and our owne corrupt de∣sires,
and affections, and striue to shew the truth of our loue euen towards them, that hate and per∣secute vs.
2. There is none so wic∣ked, but they haue some∣thing good in them, and worthy to be respected.
3. Our enemies doe vs good, though they intend it not, we ought to like the very rod that mends vs, and regard the water that washeth vs white, & make much of the stone that tryes vs, and the glasse that shewes vs our spots, and not mis-like the tents that search our wounds.
4. If euer God turne their hearts, they will be effectuall instruments of our praise and Gods glory in the day of their visita∣tion, they will then wil∣lingly beare the shame of their owne sinfull opposi∣tions.
I forbeare to set downe the directions for the at∣tainement of the loue of the appearing of Christ, because I haue at large handled that point in the Treatise of the Cure of the feare of Death.
How the Spirit of Adoption may bee had.
1. He must pray for it
2. Waite vpō Prea∣ching.
3. Cherish the moti∣ons of the Spirit.
How wee may get a loue to the Word.
1. Settie vnder a powerfull Ministery.
2. Pray God to quicken thee.
3. Take heed of worldly cares.
4. And of personall discord with such as feare God.
5. And of vngodly company.
6. And of neglect of the in∣crease hereof:
Or excesse
7. Practise what thou hearest.
To attain the gift of prayer.
1. Pray God to teach thee
2. Ioyne with such as can pray.
3. How he may fur∣nish him∣selfe in e∣uery part of prayer.
3. Ques∣tions.
How the feare of God may be begot∣ten in vs.