I. AChristian is one that believes things his reason cannot comprehend, he hopes for things which neither be nor any man alive ever saw: he labours for that which he knoweth he can never obtain, yet in the issue, his beliefe appeares not to be false, his hope makes him not ashamed, his labour is not in vain.
II. He believes three to be one, and one to be three, a Father not to be elder then his Son, a Son to be equall with his Father, and one proceeding from both to be equall with both; he believes three ersons in one nature, and two Natures in one Person.
III. He beleeves a Virgin to be a Mother of a Sonne, and that very Sonne of hers to be her maker. He beleeves him to have been shut up in a narrow room, whom Heaven and Earth could never contain. He beleeves kim to have been born in time, who was and is from Everlasting. He beleeves him to have been a weak Child carried in Arms, who is the Almighty, and him once to have dyed, who onely hath life, and immortality in himself.
IV. He beleeves the God of all Grace to have been angry with one that have never offended him, and that God that hates sinne to be reconciled to himself, though sinning continually, and never making or being able to make him satisfaction. He beleeves the just God to have punished a most just person, and to have justified himself though a most ungodly sinner, He beleeves him freely pardoned, and yet a sufficient satisfaction was made for him.
V. He beleeves himself to be precious in Gods sight, and yet loathes himself in his own. He dares not justifie himself even in those things wherein he can find no fault with himself, and yet beleeves God accepts him in those services wherein he is able to find many faults.
VI. He praises God for his justice, and feares him for his mercy. He is so ashamed as that he dares not open his mouth before God and yet he comes with boldnesse to God, and askes him any thing he needs. He is so humble as to acknowledge himselfe to deserve nothing; but evill, and yet beleeves that God meanes him all good. He is one that fears alwayes, yet is as bold as a Lyon. He is often sorrowfull, yet alwaies rejoycing, many times complaining, yet alwaies giving of thanks, He is the most lowly minded, yet the greatest inspirer, most contented, yet ever craving.
VII. He beares a lofty, spirit in a mean condition, when he is ablest he thinks meanest of himself. He is rich in youth, and poore in the midst of riches. He beleeves all the world to be his, yet he dares take nothing without speciall leave from God, He Covenants with God for nothing, yet lookes for a great reward, He looseth his life and gaines by it, and whilst he looseth it, he saveth it.
VIII. He lives not to himselfe, yet of all others, he is most wise for himselfe, He denieth himselfe often, yet no man loveth himselfe so well as he. He is most reproached, yet most honoured. He hath most afflictions, and most comforts.
IX. The more Injury his Enemies do him, the more advantage he gaines by them. The more he forsakes worldly things, the more he enjoies them.
X. He is the most temperate of all men, yet fares most deliciously, he lends, and gives most freely, yet he is the greatest usurer, he is meek towards all men, yet inexorable by men, He is the best Child, Husband, Brother, Friend, yet hates Father, and Mother, Brother, and Sister. He loves all men as himselfe, yet hates some men with a perfect hatred.
XI. He desires to have more grace then any man hath in the world, yet is truly sorrowfull when he seeth any man have lesse then himselfe, he knoweth no man after the flesh yet gives all men their due respects, he knoweth if he please man he cannot be the servant of Christ, yet for Christ his sake he pleaseth all men in all things. He is a Peace maker, yet is continually fighting, and an irreconcilable Enemy.
XII. He beleeves him to be worse then an Infidell that provides not for his family, yet himself lives, and dles without Care. He accounts all his inferiours, yet stand; stifly upon authority. He is severe to his Children, because he loveth them, and by being favourable unto his Enemy, he revengeth himself upon him.
XIII. He beleeves the Angells to be more excellent Creatures then himselfe, and yet counts them his servants. He beleeves that he receives many good turns by their meanes, and yet he neither praies for their assistance, nor offers them thanks, which he doth not disdain to do to the meanest Christian.
XIV. He beleeves himselfe to be a King how mean soever he be. How great soever he be, he thinkes himself not to good to be a servant to the poorest Saint.
XV. He is often in prison yet allwaies at liberty. A Freeman though a servant. He loves not honour amongst men, yet highly priseth a good name.
XVI. He beleeves that God hath bidden every man that doth him good, to do, so he yet of any man is the most thankfull to them that do ought for him, He would lay down his life to save the soule of his Enemy, yet will not adventure upon one sinne to save the life of him who saved his.
XVII. He swears to his own hinderance, and changeth not, yet knoweth that his Oath cannot tie him to sinne.
XVIII. He beleeves Christ to have no need of any thing hee doth, yet maketh account he doth relieve Christ in all his acts of Charity. He knoweth he can do nothing of himself, yet labours to work out his own salvation, he confesseth hee can do nothing, yet as truly prosesseth he can do all things, he knoweth that flesh, and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God, yet beeleeveth he shall go to Heaven both body, ond soule.
XIX. He trembles ar Gods word, yet counts it sweeter to him then hony, and the hony-Gombe and dearer then thousands of Gold, and silver.
XX. He beleeves that God will never dame him, and yet fears God for being able to cast him into Hell. He knoweth he shall not be saved by nor for his good workes, yet he doth all the good workes he can.
XXI. He knoweth Gods providence is one all things, yet is so diligent in his calling, and businesse, as if he were to cut out the threed of his fortunes. He beleeves before hand that God hath purposed what he shall be, and nothing can make him to alter his purpose, yet praies and endeavours, as if he would force God to save him for ever.
XXII. Hee praies and labours for that which he is confident God meanes to give, and the more assured he is, the more earnest he praies, for that he knows he shall never obtain, and yet gives not over. He praies, and labours for that which he knowes he shall be no lesse happie, without he praies with all his heart not to be lead into temptation, yet rejoiceth when he is fallen into it, he beleevs his praiers are heard even when they are denied, & gives thanks for that which he praies against.
XXIII. He hath within him both flesh, and spirit, yet he is not a double minded man, he is often ledd Captive by the law of sinne, yet it never gets domminion over him, he cannot sinne, yet can do nothing without sinne. Hee can do nothing against his will, yet maintains he doth what he would not. He wavers and doubteth, yet obtains.
XXIV. He is some times so troubled, that he thinks nothing to be true in Religion; yet if he did think so, he could not at all be troubled, He thinks sometimes that God hath no mercy for him, yet resolves to dye in the pursuit of it. He believes like Abraham against hope, and though he cannot answer Gods Logick, yet with the woman of Canaan, hee hopes to prevail with the Rhetorick of importunity.
XXV. He wrastles and yet prevailes, and though yeelding himself unworthy of the least blessing he enjoyes, yet Jacob like, he will not let him go without a new blessing. He some times thinks himselfe to have no grace at all, and yet how poor and afflicted soever he be besides, he would not change conditions with the most prosperous man under Heaven, that is a manifest Worldling.
XXVI. He thinkes sometimes that the Ordinance of God doe him no good, yet he would rather part with his life, then be deprived of them.
XXVII. He was born dead, yet so that it had been Murther in any to have taken his life away. After he began to live, he was ever dying.
XXVIII. And though hee hath an eternall life begun in him, yet hee makes account he hath a death to passe through.
XXIX. He counts self murther a hainour sinne, yet is ever busied in crucifying the flesh and in putting to death his earthly Members, not doubting, but there will come a time of glory where he shall be esteemed precious in the sight of the great God of Heaven and Earth, appearing with boldnesse at his Throne, and asking any thing he needs, being endued with humility, by acknowledging his great crimes and offences, and that he deserveth nothing but severe punishment.
XXX. He believes his soul and body shall be as full of glory, as them that have more, and no more full, then theirs that have lesse.
XXXI. He lives invisible to those that see him, and those that know him best do but guesse at him; yet those many times judge more truly of hm then he doth of himself.
XXXII. The world will sometimes account him a Saint, when GOD accounted him a hypocrite, and afterwards when the World branded him for an Hypocrite, then God owned him for a Saint.
XXXIII. His death makes not an end of him. His soule which was put into his body, is not to be perfected without his body; yet his soul is more happy, when it is separated from his body, then when it was joyned unto it. And his body though torn in pieces, burnt in ashes, ground to powder, turned to rottennesse, shall be no loser.
XXXIV. His Advocate, his Surety shall be his Judge; his mortall part shall become immortall, and what was sowne in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption and glory, and a finite Creature, shall possesse an infinite happinesse.