Selections from the christian’s two chief lessons

What is it to deny self?

"It is a word of Instruction; Here we see why wicked men's hearts are so opposite to the Word of God, and are so troubled at it. It is because the God of heaven by the Word would pluck away these dunghill-gods; hence comes an uproar in the town and family, here is the reason, he would take away their gods, Judges 18:24; Jeremiah 2:11, Hath any nation changed their gods, etc. They will not change their gods, but maintain them still; and can you blame them that they maintain their gods? So now when the God of heaven comes by his Word, and plucks at God-covetousness, and God-pride, and God-lusts, Oh Laban's gods are going, he must needs pursue them. So Demetrius his God-covetousness was going, as well as Diana, therefore he stood stoutly for it. Great was his covetousness, the text says, Great was the profit that came to him by Diana, the profit was that that stuck in his stomach, and therefore he stood for Diana. And this is the reason why drunkards rail at the ministers, Oh the cup is plucking from their nose, they would have their god Bacchus still, and therefore they are up in arms to maintain it. If an English man should go to the French king, and pluck off the crown from his head, do you think there would not be an uproar? So when the King and God-self is uncrowned, Oh what an uproar is there to maintain the godhead of corruption! Hence the power of the Word is very troublesome to them; Oh they cry out they are undone. In Judges 18:24, Micah thought, God could not but bless him when he had a Levite in his house; but when the Danites carry away his priest and his gods too, he follows them, and cries out very much, and they ask him why he did so; saith he, You have taken away my gods, and ask you me what I ail? They were his gods, and he was the god-maker: so it is in the world, when the God-sin, and the God-self is packing away from them, then they play Micah, cry after their gods, and they must by force be carried away, or else they will not be suffered. It grieves the drunkard to part with his god; this is the reason why they cry out so; Oh these base courses are their gods and you take them away; that is the reason of all their stir."

Essential Christian Graces:

Godly Sorrow

First mark. Godly sorrow is known by the companions of it, or as I may call them, the effects of it, 2 Corinthians 7:11. 1. Carefulness, that is, an earnest bethinking ourselves, joined with diligence in the means whereby we may avoid the sin we mourn for. 2. Clearing of ourselves which is an endeavor to approve ourselves in the dislike of that we mourn for by the contrary deed done, Acts 16:33; Luke 19:8, Behold, the half of my goods I give to the poor. 3. Indignation, whereby a man is even angry with himself, loathes himself, is even weary of himself, Ezekiel 36. 4. Fear, which is an awful regard, whereby we are afraid both of the sin, and of all the occasions of it, with respect to God's displeasure, Proverbs 28:14, Blessed is the man that feareth always. 5. A vehement desire, whereby we are so affected, that we do not more strongly long for anything, than to be preserved from that evil, by which we have fallen, and also to do the contrary good, Psalm 119:20, My heart breaketh for the fervant desires that it hath to thy commandments. 6. Zeal, when upon the consideration how we have dishonored God by our sin, we are so much the more desirous of his glory by all well doing; this is apparent by Paul, who was so much the more zealous in the propagation of the gospel, as he had been serious in persecuting us. 7. Revenge, when a man shows his displeasure against sin, by punishing the instruments and occasions of it, Acts 19:19, they that used curious arts brought their books and burned them before all men. So we read of Cranmer, that thrust that hand first into the fire, which had subscribed the Popish articles.

So that godly sorrow may be discerned by this train of graces wherewith it is accompanied, that worldly sorrow wants, at least in the truth of them, though it may have some shadows of them.

Use. That we do not content ourselves to have sorrow for sin, but labor to find out, whether it be a godly sorrow or not. By these marks we may grow to some resolution to discover to ourselves, that we be not mistaken in some legal affrightments or worldly griefs instead of godly sorrow; which is a special part of repentance. Look what is that which sets our sorrow on work, whether it be the terrible nature of God's judgements, or the experience of his fatherly mercies. Consider of what continuance our sorrow is, whether of a fleeing nature, or more permanent, such as dwells with us, and does not only lodge with us for a night. Look whether it be indifferently, as well for sins secret as open, what you find to be your best cordials to comfort you, whether God's Word, or natural means. But of all, advisedly consider whether your sorrow be attended with the forenamed carefulness, clearing of yourself, indignation, fear, vehement desires, zeal, revenge accordingly you may be comforted in your mourning, or discouraged in respect of your estate.

 

Richard Mather

JOURNAL OF RICHARD MATHER

PRAISE the Lord oh my Soule, and all that is within mee, prayse his holy name! Praise the Lord oh my Soule, and forget not all his benefits; yea, let all that is within mee and all that is without mee praise his holy name. And let every thing that hath breath praise the name of the Lord for ever and ever. Who gave unto us his poore servants, such a safe and comfortable voyage to New England. The particular passages whereof were as followeth.

WEE came from Warrington on Thursday April 16, and came to Bistoll on the Thursday following, viz.. April 23, and had a very healthfull, safe and prosperous journey all y’ way, blessed bee the name of o’ God for the same, taking but easy journeyes because of the children and footemen, dispaching 119 or 120 miles in seven dayes.

Coming to Bristoll wee found divers of the company come before us; but some came not till after us: howbeit the last was come by the first of May. Neverthelesse we went not aboard y’ ship untill Saturday the 23d of May: so that the time of 1635 April 16 staying in Bristoll was a month and two dayes, during all wch time wee found friendship and curtesy at the hands of divers godly Christians in Bristoll. Yet our stay was grievous unto us, when wee considered how most of this time the windes were easterly and served directly for us; But o’ ship was not ready: so ill did o’ owners deale with us.

Going aboard y’ ship in King roade the 23d of May, wee found things very unready, and all on heapes, many goodes beeing not stowed, but lying on disordered heapes, here and there in the ship.

This day there came aboard the ship 2 of the searchers, and viewed a list of all o’ names, ministered the oath of allegiance to all at full age, viewed o’ certificates from the ministers in the parishes from whence wee came, approved well thereof, and gave us tickets, that is, Licenses under their handes and seales, to passe the seas, and cleared the ship, and so departed. When wee came to King, roade (which is a spacious harbor of 5 or 6 miles broad, and 4 or 5 miles distant from Bristoll) wee found neere o’ ship another ship of Bristoll, called the Diligence, bound for New-found-land, riding at ancre.

The 24th beeing the Lorde's day, the wind was strong in the morning, and y’ ship daunced, and many of o’ women and some children were not well; but sea-sicke, and mazy or light in their heades, and could scarce stand or go without falling, unlesse they tooke hold of something to uphold them. This day Mr. Maud was excercised in the forenoone, and I in the afternoone. The wind still easterly (May 23-24).

The 25th, wee that were passengers would faine have had ancre weighed, and sayle set, y’ wee might have beene gone. But y’ mariners would insiste that they could not stirre till y’ goodes were stowed and the hatches or deck above cleared, &c. So wee were forced to sit still, and fall in hand with the goodes; wch stay was a greater griefe unto us, because the diligence, y’ lay within 2 or 3 stones cast of us did this morning go out in o’ sight.

The Tuesday morning the wind beeing easterly and the decke somewhat cleared, the mariners began to addresse themselves for going. But about nine of the clocke, when they had taken up one of their ancres, and were in a manner ready to set forward, the wind turned directly agt us, unto the west, so y’ wee were forced to cast ancre againe, and sit still. This evening, the Diligence, y’ went out y’ day before, came in againe, and cast ancre about the place where shee lay before; and found us riding at ancre where shee left us; and another ship also bound for New England came unto us, which other ship was called the Angel Gabriel.

On Wednesday the wind continuing still at y’ west, wee having sent some of o’ Men a shoar to fech more bread and victuals and more water for the cattell; our Master Captayne Taylor went aboard the Angel Gabriel; Mr. Maud, Nathaniel Wales, Barnabas Fower, Thomas Armitage and my selfe accompanying him. When wee came there wee

found divers passengers, and among them some loving and godly Christians that were glad to see us there. And soone after wee were come aboard there, there came three or four more boates with (May 25-27) more passengers, and one wherein came Sir Ferdinando Gorge, who came to see the ship and the people. When hee was come hee enquired whether there were any people there y’ went to Massachusetts Bay, whereupon Mr. Maud and Barnabas Fower were sent for to come before him; who being come he asked Mr. Maud of his country, occupation or calling of life, &c., and professed his good will to the people there in y’ bay, and promised that if hee ever came there, hee would be a true friend unto them.

On Thursday, the wind being still at west, the M’ of the Angel Gabriel, and some of their passengers, came aboard o’ ship, and desired to have or company &c. This day their cattel came aboard, and o’ M’ and some of the saylors and passengers went a shoare.

Friday morning, the wind was south-east, but o’ Master and some of the mariners being away, we could not set sayle; so being constrayned to ride at ancre still, and fearing a want if o’ journey should proove long, some of o’ company were sent by boat to Bristoll, to provide some more oates for the cattel, and bread, and other provisions for o’ selves, wch they performed, and so came aboard again at evening.

Saturday at morning the wind was strong at north-west; and against o’ going out, and besides o’ Master and some of the saylors were gone ashore and not come aboard againe; so that this day also wee were constrayned to sit still. In the afternoons y’ wind waxed louder, and o’ ship daunced with (May 27-30) wind and waves; and many passengers, especially women and some children, were sea-sicke.

The 2d Sabbath on ship-board. The wind easterly, and directly for us; but o’ Master and many of the saylors beeing away, and it being also the Lords day, there could bee no going out y’ day. I was excercised in the forenoone, and Mr. Maud in y’ afternoone.

Munday the wind was westerly, and agt us. This day we sent some of o’ company ashoare to wash linnens, and some to buy more hay and provisions. Towardes night y’ wind grew stronger and o’ ship daunced and many of y’ passengers were ill through casting and sea-sicknesse.

Tuesday, the wind still westerly. This day wee sent some of o’ people ashoare to provide more water, and hay for the cattel.

Wednesday morning, the wind was easterly and good for our purpose; but o’ Master and many of y’ saylors went away, and those y’ were aboard with us told us it was no going out till the wind was settled, lest we should be forced to come in again upon change of wind, as the Diligence was. This evening there came to ancre in King-roade another ship of Bristoll of 240 tunne, called y’ Bess, or Elizabeth, bound for New-fond-land, as there had done another two or three dayes before, called the Mary, which was also bound for New-fond-land.

Thursday morning, the wind serving for us, and o’ Master and all the saylors being come aboard, wee set sayle and began o’ sea-voyage with glad hearts y’ God had loosed us from o’ long stay wherein we had been holden, and with hope and (May 31, June 1-4) trust that hee would graciously guide us to the end of o’ journey. We were y’ set sayle together y' morning five shippes; three bound for New-fondland, viz. the Diligence, a ship of 150 tunne; the Mary, a small ship of 80 tunne, and the Bess: and two bound for New-England, viz. the Angel Gabriel of 240 tunne, the James of 220 tunne. And even at or setting out, we y' were in the James had experience of God's gracious providence over us, in y' the Angel Gabriel haling home one of her ancres, had like, being carried by the force of the tide, to have fallen foule upon y’ forept of o’ ship, wch made all the mariners as well as passengers greatly afraid; yet by the guidance of God, and his care over us, she passed by without touching so much as a cable or a cord, and so we escaped y’ danger.

Increase Mather