Books Page

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by memoirandremains in Puritan, Thomas Wolfall

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Burroughs, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah Burroughs, Pemble, Puritan, Puritan books, Solomons Recantation and Repentance, The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification, The Seamans Direction in the Time of Storm, Thomas Wolfall, William Pemble

There are three entire books upon the books page.

https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/books/

First is The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification by Thomas Wolfall. The book appears to be a basis for John Owen’s later and more famous book by the same title. The book has remained unpublished since 1641.

Second is William Pemble’s Commentary on Ecclesiastes, SOLOMON’S RECANTATION AND REPENTANCE: or, The Book of Ecclesiastes Briefly and Fully Explained. The book has remained unpublished since the 17th century.

Third is a booklet by Jeremiah Burroughs called The Seaman’s Direction in Time of Storm.

I have formatted and modernized the books in varying degrees (as noted) together with notes. The books are free to use. However, they may not be sold under any circumstances.

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.64

21 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Puritan, Thomas Wolfall

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Biblical Counseling, Contrition, Discipleship, Ezekiel 33:31, Is. 5:7 & 15, Matt. 12:33, Ps. 66:18, Puritan, Self-Examination, Thomas Wolfall

Third: Necessity That all Our Actions Come From a Broken Heart

It is necessary in respect of all our actions that they may be right [[1]]that they should come from such a heart as hates sin. For if I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer (Ps. 66:18). Now [a] man is said to regard wickedness when the parting with it is grievous to him; as it was when Abraham was bidden by Sarah to cast our Ishmael, the matter was very grievous unto him, because he did regard and love him: so it is when we respect and love our sins, we will be loath to part with them and then know that what action soever you do, you cannot please God. The reason is, because God he judges of a man’s action according to his heart, which if that be unfound, then will all the action be no better. There is the complaint made by the prophet: “And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain” (Ezekiel 33:31).

While men deal thus with God and behave themselves no better in his service, they may not unfitly be compared to the water-man [a man operating a small boat on a river] that while he rows one way, he looks another: Wash your hands therefore, ye sinner, and cleanse your heart, ye double minded men (James 4:8). Wash your hands by reformation (and your hearts by true contrition); otherwise you are but dipyschos, double-minded (Matt. 12:33).

Therefore, make the tree good and the fruit be good; therefore now if your heart be good, so will your actions be: for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:33); the hand works, the ears harkens and the whole man moves. Therefore there must be great need of contrition to the end (Is. 5:7 & 15).

^{^[1]} The text, at this point repeats the phrase, “It is necessary”, Ed.

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.63

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Mortification, Puritan, Thomas Wolfall

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1 Cor. 9, 2 Cor. 7:11, 2 Kings 5:13, Biblical Counseling, Contrition, Discipleship, Mortification, Ps. 51:17, Ps. 84:6-7, Puritan, Thomas Wolfall

A Holy Revenge

Lastly, that there should be a holy revenge. I suppose that vow of the Nazarites: that he should abstain from wines and from the husks of grapes, was chiefly ordained as holy revenge upon the occasion of the abuse of the good creature of God. Now whatsoever God command us, that is necessary; but you see th God has commanded us to labor for a contrite and bleeding heart. Therefore it is necessary as the servant of Naaman the Syrian said unto him, If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it, how much more then, when he saith to thee, wash and be clean (2 Kings 5:13).

A Willingness to Sorrow

So say I, if God should command you some great thing, for the mortification of your sin and the salvation of your souls [you would do it]. Suppose it were to go barefoot to Jerusalem or to bestow all your good on the poor, or give the first born of your body for the sin of your soul; would you not do it, how much rather then, when he says only this, that a broken heart and a contrite heart shall stand instead of all these (Ps. 51:17).

Second: Necessity of the Means

There is necessitas medii [necessity of means] . It is a special means that this body of sin may be subdued (2 Cor. 7:11). For it was with water, when it overflows the ground, it drives out moles and worms and other such creatures as do insert and annoy the ground and eat up the roots of plants fit to become food for man: so it is with true contrition, it does so overflow the heart with godly sorrow, as that it drives out these troublesome inhabitants that do annoy our spirits and would spoil those good beginnings of grace in us. Therefore put we ourselves on the means and stand not like the hand that is set up to guide us the way, and yet moves not itself. But if we know these things blessed are we if we doe the.

If you say that to do thus is troublesome to flesh and blood; I answer, it may be so, but as we say that, sometimes the things that are not the most toothsome [delicious, desirable] are very wholesome and good. So howsoever they may be some trouble, yet so long as this trouble does free us from a greater trouble, all is well. It is better to mourn here where we have comfort, than to mourn and burn in hell, where we can neither have ease nor remedy. Again, our comfort will recompense our trouble; for every hour of grief shall be recompensed with thousands of years of joy and consolation.

When a man has been ten thousand years in heaven and then shall look back and consider what a short time of sorrow it was that he endured, and withal [yet, nevertheless] how many millions of years are behind which can ever expire. I conceive it will not repent him [cause him to repent], nor grieve him, that he has mourned (1 Cor. 9).

In one word, this necessity is confirmed by the practice of such, as are gone to heave already; as Saint Paul that did struggle with his corruption best down his body; and Saint Peter and David and the rest. And it is prophesied of the people of God, that they should go weeping to seek the Lord and should ask the way to Sion [Zion] with their faces thitherward saying, come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Comfort yourselves therefor in the use of good means for your passage through the Valley of Baca, the Valley of Mourning, is to meet the Lord (Ps. 84:6-7).

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.62

19 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Mortification, Puritan, Repentance, Thomas Wolfall

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Biblical Counseling, Contrition, Discipleship, Flesh, Mortification, Puritan, Repentance, Sin, The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification, Thomas Wolfall

CHAPTER 14

Showing the Great Necessity of Contrition, Which is Fourfold[1]

First: The Necessity of a Broken Heart

The second thing is the necessity of a broken heart. In point of mortification, there is necessitas precepti [a necessary precept] of God’s command: he has commanded us to do this duty, he has commanded us to mourn. They should weep as a Virgin girded with sackcloth, for the husband of her youth, and so turn to the Lord (Joel 1:8): Where there is the greatest love, there should be the greatest sorrow. Now the first love is the greatest love, and therefore the first loss does require the greatest sorrow.

Sorrow Shows the Grievous Nature of our Sin

What does show unto us that nothing should be more grievous to us than our sins, seeing God has commanded it as a things necessary to this work, why should we not do it? Again, we are enjoined shame, thence it was in the Law, that when they had transgressed the commandments of the Lord, they used to put sackcloth on their loins and pour ashes on their heads, being tokens of shame and sorrow (Neh. 9:1; Jer 48:37). Again, we are commanded to be sore [extremely] displeased with our sin. David’s heart was hot within him (Ps. 39:3). And the heart of Josiah was melted at the abomination of those times and the great transgression against God’s law. This is that the Lord does require.

^{^[1]} This chapter continues the second element of “near” mortification: Repentance.

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.61

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Mortification, Puritan, Repentance, Thomas Wolfall

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Fourth Property of a Broken Heart: Revenge

The last property of a broken and bleeding heart is a holy revenge; now a revenge is a dealing in like manner with sin, as it has dealt with us. For as much as lusts are those enemies which war against our souls, we must be courageous to war against them, and then do we this great work.

By Abstaining From Things Which Lead to Sin

When we do abstain from the use of those things that are in themselves lawful, when we have unlawfully abused them. As suppose we a man that has been an immoderate drinker of wine, whereby he has not only abused the creature of God, but made himself for the time of a reasonable man like unto a reasonable beast.[1] Or suppose we another, that has been given to immoderate gaming, as hunting, hawking [using hawks to hunt], bowling and has made these which were for his recreation to be come, as it were, his vocation. In such a case as this, if it might not tend to the too much loss of his health, or danger of his life, it were good for a man to abstain altogether from them, at least for some time as a revenge of his former abuse of them.

Again, if that these or the like immoderate recreations have kept us from the service of God, either in the public assembly or in our private closets, it should be our care and endeavor ot recompense our slothfulness with double diligence.

A man that would avenge himself of his lusts, he must pursue them, as the avenger of blood did the manslayer, or malefactor, that unless he was gotten into the city of refuge, he was surely slain. So must we do, hunt them out, let them not rest in any corner of our hearts, for if sin may but find any little resting place in our souls, it will not out, and as long as isn rests in us, Christ will not rest. Therefore, you must not cease till you have driven it out of your bounds. It was a good pitty [saying]: behold there is an enemy within you, that does endeavor to slay Christ. Therefore, says he, neither father nor mother nor kinsman should prevail with out to keep in our sins, but we should shake off all and follow Christ – though it be to the loss of all things else, for this kind of cruelty is the height & top of true piety.

The righteous shall rejoice, when he sees the vengeance; and wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,, Psalm 58:10. And how great joy will that be when as a Christian shall see the revenge upon his sins, that they that were his enemies are fallen before him: It is hard unto flesh and blood to be thus cruel, especially against himself, as to turn his mirth into mourning; his hours of recreation into times of devotion: to beat down his body, by fasting; and to afflict his souls with shame and sorrow.

This I say is difficult, but yet, if you would over come nature, you must become in this thing unnatural, that they should leave their calves and do thus; yet they did it because it was God’s work. So I may say, that though they may seem unnatural, and a kind of cruelty, yet we must set upon it because it is God’s work; happy is that man that takes these brats [derogatory term for children] of Babylon & dash their heads against the stones (Ps. 137:9) for in not pitying them, he pities his [own] soul.

^{^[1]} By becoming drunk, a once reasonable man becomes no better than an animal which has no reason, Ed.

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.60

17 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Puritan, Thomas Wolfall

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anger, Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Mortification, Puritan, Repentance, Sin, The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification, Thomas Wolfall

Third Property of a Broken Heart: Indignation

Now come we to the third property of a broken and bleeding heart: that is, where there is a hearty and holy indignation against sin (2 Cor. 7:11). The Apostle speaking of godly sorrow: Lo, says he, what indignation has it wrought: there is a twofold indignation.

Sudden Anger

The former is a sudden anger, that is, when men are soon angry and soon pleased: as it was David, what a pelting chase he was in against Nabal, what big words [boastful words] does he break into while he is going down the hill, how does he upbraid his churlish behavior; and tells what havoc he will make among them [Nabal’s household] before the next morning. Yet by & by, when Abigail meets him with a small gift, with a few soft words, she turns away his wrath and all is well again. So it is in this case, do you not see many a man that when sin galls him, O how bitter and boisterous he is against his lust. But now when as this corrupt heart of ours shall but deck herself with some fair and plausible excuse and bring some present in her hand of gain or pleasure, the matter is taken up and the contention is at an end, and the lust and he are grown good friends.

Permanent Anger

But now there is another indignation that is called permanent anger, that does continue and remains with a man. So as it is with some men, that when they are once out and angry with a man they are never pleased again. This kind is no way good but [except] against sin, and then it is exceeding good. We are charged not to let the sun go down upon our wrath; neither to give place to the devil (Eph. 4:26), but in this case we must suffer [permit] the sun to go down upon this indignation against this body of sin, or selse we give place to the devil.

When Elisha bid Joash King of Israel to smite the ground with his arrows, the text says he smote the ground thrice and stayed, which if he had done five or six times he had utterly consumed his enemies. It is so in this case, some men will be angry sometimes with their sins: it may be twice or thrice in their lives, but if they would continue their indignation and smite on, they would at last utterly confound their sin and subdue them. The way to avoid the anger of God is to be angry with ourselves, for if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged of God at the last and great day, this is our comfort that we are angry with our lust: we can never be angry too much, you cannot hate them more than they deserive: but as the Israelites were never to make peace with Amaleck, so no more must we with our sins.

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.59

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Mortification, Puritan, Repentance, Thomas Wolfall

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The Difference Between Shame and a Broken Heart: Operation

They differ in these operations and manner of working for though a wicked man may, when he has sinned and he is under guilt and punishment of some heinous offense, sometime be humbled for it and blush at the remembrance of it; yet it works no change in him, it does not alter him to any purpose. It may do, peradventure, as the angel unto Balaam for the time, turn him aside or stop him a little while, but not long; he goes on still, till he perishes by the wages of iniquity and be taken in the cords of his own sins. On the other side, he that is truly bashful for his sin, he has taken such a distaste against them, as that neither the flattering baits of the flesh nor the golden flowers of the mammon of iniquity, and persuade with him to take pleasure in sin anymore; yea this hold bashfulness is like the flaming sword that kept the gate of Paradise that fallen man could not make any entry, for when we are ashamed of our sin it wards [guards] the gates of our hearts, and keeps us in that we rush not into sin again; for when God smites the conscience and reproves it savingly for its sins; it makes Job’s reply, Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee: I will lay my hand upon my mouth, once have I spoken, but I will not answer, yea twice, but I will proceed no further (Job 40:4-5).

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.58

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Mortification, Puritan, Repentance, Thomas Wolfall

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The Difference Between Shame and a Broken Heart: Duration

The differ in their continuance, for the longer that a wicked man lives, the harder his heart grows, and the less the sin and shame he has of his sins. Hazael could not think that ever he should prove so bad and so bold a sinner as was prophesied of him, no man is the worst at first: but grows to it by degrees. Domitius Nero for the first five years of his reign; he was so fair[attractive] and so favorable, as it was called Neronius Quinquennium [five years of Nero]. But after he broke forth into such foul and bloody sin as made him both hateful to God and man. But now, on the other side, the more is his sense and sorrow for sins and the more he is ashamed of them: there ever the burden of them is the more heavy and the memory is more grievous unto him, yea, the sins of his youth: you write bitter things against me and make me to possess the sins of my youth.

Briefly, that I am end this point, if you can step over those sins, now without remorse or shame that before time would have made you ashamed. You may well suspect yourselves to be let loose to hardness of your own heart, and given over to reprobate sense; but if on the contrary you feel a stronger distaste of sin, so as is not committed without grief, nor thought upon without blushing, so as it is not committed without grief nor though upon without blushing, if you be thus ashamed of your sins God will not be ashamed of you at the last day.

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.57

15 Saturday Sep 2012

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The Difference Between Shame and a Broken Heart: The Sight of God

They differ in their objects, a man whose heart is truly sensible of that disgrace that lies upon him from God; this is that makes him ashamed. Miriam, when she was smitten with leprosy and Moses prayed unto the Lord that he would heal her, the Lord answered Moses, saying, if her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed (Nu. 22:14)? So I say, that when God pours contempt on a man unto whom he has been gracious and favorable, so as he casts out his petition, and will not hear nor answer them. He casts him into darkness and sets his sin in order before him and suffers him to lie in the deep (Is. 6:5); as Jonah among the weeds: this makes a gracious man greatly ashamed:

But now the shame that a wicked man has, it is most of all in respect of men (Job 22:13). They think they shall escape the reproach from God well enough, were it so they could but escape those disgraces and disparagements that do fall on them from men and say that heave is so high that God cannot hear: can he judge through the dark clouds? Thence it was Saul desired to be honored among the people, though otherwise he would have gloried in his shame (1 Sam. 13:30).

In one word, where the shame of men does bridle us from sin more than the fear of God, it is clear to me, that we prefer our credit above our conscience. I read of Paphnutius, a learned and pious bishop at the Council of Nice, that being allured by a harlot to incontinency; she brings him into a very dark room. He, looking sadly about him, said, I am afraid that somebody sees, never doubt, says he, none but only God sees us here; but (says she) if God does see us, how dare we do that in the sight of God that we dare not doe in the sight of men?

The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification.56

14 Friday Sep 2012

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Chapter 13:

Shows the Other Properties of Contrition, viz., Shame, Indignation, and Revenge[1]

Shame as Element of True Contrition

The next thing in contrition is to be ashamed of our sins and to loath them; for the more the heart is broken for sin, the more it is ashamed for it; as when Job saw himself in his color, then he did abhor himself in dust and ashes (Job 42:6); and the prophet shows that there should come a time when the Lord would smite the hearts of men, that they should remember their own evil way and their doings that were not good and should loath themselves in own sight for their iniquities and for all their abominations (Ezk. 36:31). And hence is that of the Apostle what profit have you in those things whereof ye are now ashamed (Rom. 6:21). It is not the having of sin that brings shame, but the sense of it; for when as we shall have it clear unto our understand how bad a companion it is, and how much harm it has done us, and how great [a] danger it has drawn us into, it makes us ashamed.

The Cause of Shame

What will make a man ashamed sooner than the apprehension and sight of his own nakedness? So soon as Adam saw his nakedness he even out of shame went and hid himself in the Garden among the bushes this was not so much because of the nakedness of his body, for so he was before but [except for] his sin; not for the want of apparel; as for the want of righteousness, that him ashamed.

Again, when a man considers that he is not only naked, but that sin has defiled him and made him a most defiled and most monstrous creature: this make him the more astonished at God’s great patience, that suffers [permits] to live and to abhor himself as one of the most wretched and miserable men under heaven.

Sin Makes One Contemptible

When we consider the contempt that sin brings on us, that is not only a burden to us, but it makes us oftentimes odious to the sight of men and always contemptible[in] the sight of God: Thence it was that the prophet setting out of the vileness of our natural condition, sets it out by such an one as no eye pities, none looked with compassion on him, when he lay polluted [defiled, covered in] his blood, he was then cast out into the open field to the loathing of his person. So it is with every man by nature, when he comes to see into what contempt and disgrace he has brought himself both with God and man, will he not be ashamed? Surely if there be any spark of grace, he will abhor himself in dust and ashes and labor to buy of Christ white raiment [clothing], that the shame of his nakedness may not appear (Rev. 3:18). If any shall say, that men may be ashamed of their sin and yet the heart not broken; to which we answer, that there is a large difference between them.

^{^[1]} This chapter continues the discussion of the second element of “near” mortification: Repentance.