but unto all them that love his appearing A third Character is effectual calling If we make our calling sure thence we may be assured of our election 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and Election sure These may suffice for the Trial of the Grounds of assurance But we must know 1. That many Precious Servants of God may for a time want the sence of Gods favour and be at a loss for assurance Ps 10. 1. Psal 88. 5. David complains of Gods hiding his face from him And so did Heman complain that he was free among the Dead like the Slain in the Grave whom thou remembrest no more And he likewise expostulates the case with God why hidest thou thy face from me Gods Children are always in a safe condition yet they are not always apprehensive of their safety Sometimes they are under Desertions and Withdrawings of Gods Countenance A Child of Light may walk in Darkness Comfort Isa 50. 10. may be near him and yet he may not discern it as Mary could not see Christ for Tears in her Eyes 2. Assurance admits Degrees sometimes it 's more sometimes less The best are not always at a stand Upon strict Inquisition in their Hearts they find cause of Humiliation and walking heavily The remembrance of an old Sin may cause a great damp and sadness upon the Heart 3. Assurance may be a long time before it be obtained There will be long searching the Heart fighting against Sin Fervent and Assiduous Prayer a great deal of combating against the Flesh A Holy Martyr could not get assurance till he came to the Stake at last he told his Friend O Glover Act. Mon. Q. M. dayâ— Austin he is come he is come he is come 4. Notwithstanding there may be assurance yet sometimes Doubts and Troubles may arise in the Spirit upon Apprehensions of Gods clouding his Countenance and upon Apprehension of the difficulty to get rid of some secret Sin Quest But what 's our Duty Answ 1. Allow thy self in no Sin be Direct 1. it ancient customary beloved or secret away with it The hankering after any beloved Sin the delay of executing Justice upon it may break thy peace and hinder thy assurance Wherefore give no quarter to Benhadad nor to Agag Make a League with no Gibeonite Foster no Dalilah no Herodias Throw Jonah over Ship-board that 's the way to make the Sea calm Stone Achan that 's the way to make the Valley of Achor a door of Hope Brain Goliah a Champion Sin and than other Hos 2 14. Sins will sooner be vanquished as the Philistines were when Goliah was destroyed 2. Make it thy serious business to clear Direct 2. Make it thy business to clear up thy evidences up thy Evidences for Heaven Examine whether thou hast Christ formed in thee whether the new Creatute is manifested in thy understanding to know God in thy will to obey God in thy affections to love him in thy Heart and Life whether they are inlarged to run the ways of Gods Commandments search and examine whether Sin be mortified and the Body of Sin Crucified Whether thou art Justified by the Bloud of Christ and Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ whether thou art Redeemed from thy vain Conversation upon such a serious Inquisition into thy Heart assurance may be obtain'd 3. If thy Evidences be dim and thou canst not read them yet let not thy Direct 3. Let not thy hold go hold go What thou wantest in Evidence make up in Adherence to and recumbance and reliance on God Thus did David under Disertions Ps 42. 11. Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet Praise him who is the health of my Countenance and my God And thus did Job behave himself amidst all his Afflictions Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet I will trust in him And such as are in a dark condition who apprehend not the light of Gods Countenance they are exhorted to trust and stay upon God Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeys the voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and have no light Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God 4. Be fervent and frequent in Prayer Direct 4. Be frequent and fervent in Prayer Gen. Rebekkah when there were struglings in her Womb went to enquire of God If it be so why am I thus So amidst the Troubles Fears and Tumults of thy Spirit exercise Prayer If Gods Countenance be clouded pray with David Restore unto me Ps 51. 22. the Joy of thy Salvation Thou wantest assurance and art troubled upon the suspensions and hidings of Gods Countenance thy duty is to be an earnest Solicitor unto the Throne of Grace and pray that the Lord would lift up the light of his Countenance on thee Ps 4. 6. Great things are promised Ezek. 36. viz. Sprinkling of clean Water v. 26. A new Heart the Spirit 27. Security 28. Plenty and Fruitfulness yet God expects and requires the Prayers of his Children Ch. 36. 37. Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them If than we would obtain assurance of Gods Love we must pray much and joyn Fasting and Watching with Prayer Gods loving kindness is better than Life Ps 63. 3. therefore we must pray for it and labour to get assurance of Gods love unto our Souls How welcome was Samuel to Hannah being the Child of her Prayers And oh how highly valued will assurance be to him who hath obtain'd it in answer to his Prayers Wait than and pray continue instant in Prayer And to Prayer joyn Hearing Reading Meditating and receiving of the Lords Supper And when once thou hast got it be sure thou be thankful and watchful Take heed of the least Sin The least crum of Leaven must be cast out A Servant being incouraged by more wages hath more strong Obligations on him to serve his Master with more diligence and Fidelity Assurance and Manifestations of Gods love to a Christian are Ingagements to excite him to a more humble holy and close walking with God The more mercy he recieves the more he is ingaged to a faithful performance of his Duty Whatever Manifestation of love is given unto thee know that thou ought to be more thankful and fruitful in every good work The Apostle Writing of the Blessed Vision 1 Joh. 1. 2. For we shall see him as he is infers our great Duty to be reduced unto Practice v. 3. And every Man that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he Matt. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14. is pure The pure in Heart are Partakers of the Blessed Vision And without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. Let 's than follow after Holiness If ever we hope to
ad vincendum hostes ut expugnet eos-Vatabl 4. Attribute of Truth A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoaking Flax shall he not quench till he send forth Judgment unto Victory By what hath been said of the Mercy of God we should be perswaded to rely and depend on God's All-Sufficiency A Fourth Instance I shall produce is the Attribute of God's Truth and this is ingaged for the Assistance of his Servants and for the Destruction of his and their Adversaries Although nothing is impossible to God and he can do all things yet it no whit detracts 1 Tit. 2. 2. Tim. 2. 13. from Gods Omnipotency to say He cannot Lie he cannot deny himself God never was and never will be one tittle worse than his Word not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his Word shall fail God Gloryeth in Exod. 34. 6. Psal 146. 6. Psal 111. 5. Heb. 10. 23. this that he is Abundant in Goodness and Truth that he keepeth Truth for ever that he will be ever mindful of his Covenant And that he is faithful that hath Promised Balaam though a mercenary Prophet gives herein a faithful Testimony Numb 23. 19. God is not a Man that he should Lye neither the Son of Man that he should Repent hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he â—poken and shall he not make it Good After Nebuchadnezzer was restored to his understanding and former dignity he of his own accord made this Confession | Dan. 4. 37. That all the Works of God are Truth Here then consists our great Duty to rely and stay upon the Truth of God Hath not God said in his holy Isa 3. 10. 11. Word Say ye to the Righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall Eat the Fruit of their Doings Woe to the Wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his Hands shall be given him Is it not likewise a part of the same Truth of God Recorded by the Wise Man Though saith he a Sinner do Evil an Eccles 8. 12. 13. Hundred times and his Days be prolonged yet surely I know it shall be well with them that fear God which fear before him But it shall not be well with the Wicked neither shall he prolong his Days which are as a Shadow because he feareth not before God Add hereunto that which is mentioned by the last but not the least of the Prophets Malachi For behold the Mal. 4. 1 2 3. Day cometh that shall Burn as an Oven and all the Proud yea and all that do Wickedly shall be Stubble and the Day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of Hosts It shall leave them neither Root nor Branch But unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with Healing in his Wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as * Significat proprie multiplicari augeri L. de Dieu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verterunt 70. Calves of the Stall And ye shall Tread down the Wicked for they shall be Ashes under the Soles of your Feet in the Day that I shall do this saith the Lord of Hosts The God of Truth even God who is Truth it self hath said it wherefore we must not be curiously inquisitive after the precise time when noâ— Dispute how these things shall be Accomplished Without question all these things shall be punctually fulfulled in their Season Wherefore let us Believe Rely and Acquiesce upon the word of a faithful Covenant keeping God He will bring his own work to pass in his own Way and Time to his own Glory A Fifth and the last Attribute I shall 5. Attribute of Unchange ableness Instance in is the Unchangeableness of God It 's Evident that Men change Times and Customes change There 's a Vicissitude and Revolution of all Sublunary Quis noâ— diversa preseâ—tibus contrariaque expectatis aut speret aut timeat Vell. Paterz things Most true is that of Solomon One Generation passeth away Eccles 1. 4. Omnis subita Mutatio rerum non sine quodam quasi fluctu contingit animorum Boeth l. de consol Phil. l. and another Generation cometh Archimedes that great Mathematician gloried that he would move the whole Earth if he might have a place assigned him where he might fix his Engine His saying was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Give me where I may stand Where some Men now a days will go and how far whose Principle is Self-interest when and where they will fix and stand neither can we nor they themselves Determine They ring Changes and comply with all times and humors Yet notwithstanding all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damasc Psal 102. 27. Mal. 3. 6. Heb. 13. 8. Heb. 9. 4. James 1. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the changes of Creatures have no influence upon the Creator as to change him with their Changes Damascene observes that Whatsoever is Created is subject to Changes But the uncreated Eternal God is Unchangeable He is the same and his Years shall have no end He changeth not Christ is unchangeable and the Holy Ghost is unchangeable Therefore amongst the changeable fluctuating conditions of the present World We should found our Comfort upon this Principle That we serve an unchangeable God with whom there is no | Metaphora est a Sole qui est variis nubium obumbrationibus obnoxius Nihil hujus in Deo est Pareus variableness nor shadow of turning Heavenly Bodies have Parallaxes but there is no such thing â—â— God Friends such in whom we have put great Job 6. 15. confidence prove perfidious and are like that deceitful Brook mentioned by Job Riches they fail and are on the Prov. 23. 5. Wing as swift as an Eagle And no Man of Understanding will reckon upon his great Riches because he seeth so many Eagles flying in the Air. There 's a Story which I have Read in Aelian Aelian var. hist That there was a Fool in Athens who laughed and expressed great Joy when any Ship came into the Harbor because he was possest with a Fancy that every Ship that Arrived there was his own Is it not as great folly and madness for a Man to account himself the Richer because he seeth the Landing of many Ships richly Laden with variety of Merchandize when as he hath no Share nor Interest in any one of them Riches are things which are not and to set ones Heart upon nothing even that which oft times proves worse than nothing by reason of many frustrations and vexations must needs be an exceeding great madness and folly Riches are not in our power to get them It 's Gods Blessing that maketh Rich neither is it in our power when they are got to keep them | Quid sunt res humanae Cinis pulvis fumus umbra folia cadentâ—a flos Somnium fabula ventus aer penna mobilis â—â—da deâ—urrens fi quid istis inferius
Comfort wherewith we our selves are Comforted of God For as the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ It would be a large Work though it may be worth the while to reckon up the comfortable Experiences of the Children of God I shall only Instance in some choice Servants of God who Experimentally reaped much benefit by Afflictions David joyns the Rod and Staff together for his Comfort Psal 23. 1. and Psal 119. 67. he confesseth Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy Word Luther profest that Afflictions taught him to understand the Scriptures How many have been brought home by Afflictions who in their Prosperity went astray Isiodor saith Adversa corporis remedia sunt animae Aegritudo carnem vulnerat mentem curat i. e. Corporal Adversities are Spiritual Remedies Sickness woundeth the Flesh but healeth the Mind Beza one of the most pious learned and orthodox Criticks that I know of speaks of a great Sickness wherewith he was Visited Morbus iste inquit verae fuit sanitatis principium i. e. That Sickness was the beginning of true Spiritual Health It is not Dr. Arrowsmith chains of Principles vid. melch Adam in vit Exterorum as a reverend Divine observes more usual for Children to shoot up in length than with Christians to wax taller in Grace in or after Sickness Rolloc said upon his Death Bed I am not ashamed to profess that I never reached to so high a pitch of the Knowledge of God as I have attained in this Sickness Olevian said upon his Death Bed In this Disease I have learned to know aright what Sin is and what the Majesty of God is I shall mention Id in vit German but one Example more and that is of Learned Rivet who said upon his Death Bed In the space of Ten Days Dauber 9. in orat funeb since I kept my Bed I have learned more and made greater progress in Divinity than in the whole course of my Life before What further inlargement may be required I leave to the Saints particular Experiences and shall add no more concerning this particular Head CHAP. VI. For Demonstration of the Doctrine by Reasons and first from necessity of Precept HAving dispatch't the First Head of Head 2. for Demonstr by Reason my Discourse wherein I have proved the Doctrine That God is All-Sufficient by Four convincing and weighty Arguments I come now in the Second place to demonstrate this Truth infer'd from the Doctrine viz. That this Consideration that God is All-Sufficient should ingage us silently and quietly to submit unto God and stay and depend upon his All-Sufficiency amidst our greatest Losses and Afflictions The Truth of the Doctrine I shall endeavour to demonstrate by a Fourfold Reason drawn from the necessity excellency and utility of the Duty in quietly submitting to God's Hand and lastly from the mischievous Consequences of repining murmuring and strugling against God The First Reason drawn from the Reason 1 from necessity of precept Necessity of this Duty and that 's to be considered as Necessitas praecepti vel medii 1. For the Necessity of Precept We are frequently commanded in the Word of God to Exercise these great Duties of Waiting Believing and Submitting unto the Will of God David's Faith was an Excellent Cordial to keep him from Fainting Psal 27. 13. I had Fainted unless I had believed to see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living And What 's the Duty which he prescribes see Vers 14. Wait on the Lord be of good Courage and he shall strengthen thine Heart Wait I say on thâ— Lord. He was much troubled about tâ—â— Prosperity of Wicked Mâ—n He prescribes the same Duty of waiting on the Lord. Psal 37. 34. Wait on the Lord and keep his Way and he shall Exalt thee to Inherit the Land When the Wicked are cut off thou shalt see it When he was troubled with treacherous hypocritical false-hearted Men he prescribed a Remedy Psal 55. 22. Cast thy Burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee And his Resolution is fixed Vers 23. But I will Trust in thee David chargeth this Duty of Waiting upon his own Soul Psal 62. 5. My Soul wait thou only upon God for my Expectation is from him And this Duty of Trusting he frequently presseth upon himself and others Psal 37. 3. 5. And he layeth down strong Encouragements to trust in God for there is Security in the Practice of this Duty Psal 18. 30. He is a Buckler to all Psal 18. 30. those that trust in him Psal 37. 5. Commit thy Way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Prov. 29. 25. The Fear of Man bringeth a Snare Isa 7. 9. but who so putteth his Trust in the Lord shall be safe And there 's Stability in Trusting in God Psal 125. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever There 's happiness Prov. 16. 20. Who so Trusteth in the Lord Happy is he A Blessing is their Portion that Trust in God Psal 34. 8. Blessed is the Man that Trusteth in him And what can be desired more Read further Isa 26. 9. Isa 40. 31. And I need name no more Scriptures for Comfirmation of so clear a Truth But if Men will be so Mad as to venture elsewhere they shall smart for it If Men will forsake a Fountian and betake themselves to Cisterns If Men will forsake God and try Creatures and put their Confidence in them they shall pay dear for their Madness and Folly and they shall never find what they expect from the Creatures They put Trust in them but they shall find them Deceitful as Jacob found Laban Gen. 31. David's familiar Friends dealt Perfidiously with him Psal 41. 9. wherefore he Communicates his Experience not to Trust the great Ones of the Earth Psal 146. 3. And injoyns us to put our Trust in God Psal 118. 8 9. It is better to Trust in the Lord than to put Confidence in Man It is better to Trust in the Lord than to put Confidence in Princes Quest But some will complain of their own Weakness and their Enemies Strength and Combinations For Answ We must have recourse to that strengthening Promise Isa 41. 14 15 16. Fear not thou Worm Jacob and ye Men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel Behold I will make thee a new sharp Threshing-Instrument having Teeth thou shalt Thresh the Mountains and beat them Small and shall make the Hills as Chaff Thou shalt Fan them and the Wind shall carry them away and the Whirle-Wind shall Scatter them and thou shalt rejoyce in the Lord and shalt Glory in the Holy One of Israel And against all Associations and Combinations of Adversaries we have abundantly enough to Arm and Incourage us against them
redditas benedictione sc Domini quae abunde ditat Merc. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before Christ makes a large Promise consisting of many particulars which according to the Rule of an Induction concludes Universally Mat. 19. 29. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Names Sake shall receive an Hundred Fold and shall Inherit Everlasting Life The meaning is not that a Man should receive an Hundred Fathers or Mothers c. but that he should receive Christ who is infinitely | Ipse unus Christus erit tibi omnia quia in ipso uno bono bona sâ—nt omâ—â—a August Exoâ— 12. 36. more worth then all Sometimes God makes up the Losses of his Suffering Servants in kind God gave the Israelites Favour in the Eyes of the Egyptians so that at parting from them They Spoiled them And God took away the Substance of Laban and gave it unto Jacob in Recompence of his rigorous Servitude however if God doth not make up worldly Losses with the Riches of the World yet he makes them up to his Children with Spiritual Riches which are as much better as Heaven is better than Earth David lost his Wives his House even all that he had of the World at the sacking of Ziglag but he had that which was infinitely better than all that he had Lost for he had Consolations from Heaven and Supportation from God 1 Sam. 30. 6. But David incouraged himself in the Lord his God It 's a saying commonly observ'd Virtus repulsae nescia Sordidae I have Read that when Alexander was in a great Strait and was put upon an hard Service he said En periculum par animo Alexandri here 's a Danger fit for the Mind of an Alexander to Encounter withal So David in his great Straits at Ziglag discovered heroical Magnanimity he sunk not under those heavy Pressures but made use of the Right and only Support and Strength in Trouble as the Text Specifies But i. e. notwithstanding the Burning of Ziglag the carrying away his Wives and many People Captive and the Mutiny of the discontented Souldiers who threatned to Stone him David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Manasseh gain'd more good by a Prison than by a Palace and was a greater gainer for his Soul by an Iron Chain than by a Chain of Gold when the Prodigal fed on Husks he understood himself better than when he fed delicately at his Fathers Table Zeno could say after he Jam didici Philosophari Zeno. had suffered Shipwrack Now I have learned to be a Philosopher And should not a Christian say Experimentally By Sufferings Losses and Crosses I have Learned to value all things under the Sun at a lower rate than ever and Christ and his Graces and Heaven at an higher rate It was a frequent saying of Aquinas that great School-Doctor Mallem bonam conscientiam quam plenum marsupium Aquinas I had rather have a good Conscience than a full Purse But instar omnium the Apostles Determination takes place Phil. 3. 8. who counted all things but Loss and Dung in comparison of Christ The Original words are Emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Loss and Garbidge Put Christ and his Riches in one Scale and the World with all its Pomp and Bravery in another Scale and these are less than the Dust of the Ballance in comparison of Christ and his Riches for these will infinitely preponderate Wherefore let us make sure of Eternal and never fading Riches It was a choice saying of Lewis of Bavoyer Emperour of Germany Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naufragio simul enatent i. e. Such Riches are to be got as when a Shipwrack comes they will Swim out with us And these are only the Riches of Christ CHAP. VIII Containing a Second Reason drawn from the excellency of a quiet and submissive Frame of Spirit I now Proceed to a Second Reason 2. Reason drawn from the excellency of this submissive Spirit drawn from the excellency of this submissive Frame of Spirit which yields to God and Resignes all to his Disposal Solomon tells us Prov. 12. 26. The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour and Prov. 17. 27. A Man of Understanding is of an excellent Spirit Now wherein doth the excellency of this Wise Man Shine but by the lustre of his Graces Grace is the Beauty of the Soul and no Ornament like those of Divine Graces to Adorn a Christian Now a Man of a Wise composed Spirit who depends on God for his Portion and stays upon his All-Sufficiency and makes it his Study to resign himself and to submit to God's Will in all Estates and Conditions whatsoever such a Man doth in a Conspicuous and Eminent manner exert and exercise six choice Graces viz Wisdom Faith Hope Patience Self-Denial and Holy Courage Every one of these is an expedient and help for the right Management of a Christian excellent Spirit amidst varieties of Hardships and Sufferings incumbent on us First For Wisdom As it is a sign of 1. Wisdom Prov. 22. 3. Mich. 6. 9. Prudence to Foresee Evil so it is a Character of a Man of Wisdom To hear the Rod and who hath appointed it He is a Wise Man that deliberately observes the handy Works of God and acknowledgeth his Wisdom Power and Soveraignty in ordering all Affairs It 's a doggish Quality to snarl at the Stone and not to take notice of the Hand that Threw it To make a strict enquiry into Second Causes to find out such and such an Evil Instrument and to quarrel wlth them by reviling words and revengeful deeds Oh! How unsutable is this to a Christian Spirit That eminent Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Dod was a signal example of Meekness and Compassion towards his Enemies In the beginning of the late sad and lamentable Wars a Souldier who had Plundred his House and gave him reproachful and threatning Language a few days after that Souldier being Sript in the Battle at Edge-Hill Fled for his Life and came again to Mr. Dods House in a forlorn Condition ready to be Starved for want of Cloathing which when that good Man Mr. Dod heard of hâ— sent Cloaths unto him to cover his Nakedness Here 's the Wisdom of a Christian Spirit to understand the great Duty mentioned by the Apostle Not to Rom. 12. 21. be overcome of Evil but to overcome Evil with Good When the Psalmist tells of the Afflictions of God's Children Psal 107. 39. and of their Deliverance ver 40 41 42. he Concludes ver 43. Who so is Wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the Kindness of the Lord. Quid de paenarum acerbita te qnecimur unus quisque nostrum se punit Slav. lib. 3. A Wise Man under Afflictions will inquire into the Cause and reflect upon himself as the Church did
Spirit of Christ asswage and bring down all proud swelling thoughts High Inclinations are cast down by the Spirit of God The hard Heart is molified and of insensible it becomes sensible and of seared it becomes tender and apprehensive of Sin 2. Ointment hath a penetrating Power to pass through the Pores and diffuse it self through every Pore of the ill affected part So where there is the Unction of the Spirit it openeth the Eyes subdues the Will raiseth the Affections enlargeth the Heart Hence saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 2. 20. But ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things i. e. All things needful for Salvation And this Unction is an abiding Unction ver 27. But the annointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you that is they need not that any should teach them any new Opinion Let them retain those Principles wherein they have been taught and stick close unto them 3. Ointment hath a refreshing and comforting Vertue Ointments as they make way for the emission of all noxious Humors so likewise for the free passage of all Vital Spirits which do enliven refresh and comfort the Heart Hence we Ps 104. 15. â—sal 4â— 7. Isa â—1 3. Joh. 14. 25 Joh. 14. 16 read that Oil makes the Face to shine And it 's called the Oil of Gladness and the Oil of Joy So the Spirit of God is a Spirit of Consolation call'd the Comforter A Comforter that may abide with us for ever In all our Troubles if we can get God's Spirit for our Comforter we shall chearfully rejoice in Tribulation The Question was Job 15. 1. â— propounded to Job Are the Consolations of God small with thee So it may be ask'd Are the Consolation of God's Spirit small with thee No questionless for they abound in Comfort The Illapses Influences and Communications of the Spirit of God in comforting the Afflicted binding up the Broken-hearted refreshing the Languishing raising up those that are Fallen strengthning the Weak all these set forth abundantly the singular benefit of Divine Consolations flowing from the Spirit of God A fourth Demonstration that Believers Demon. 4. Believers have a Pâ—eâ—ions Inheritance are Precious in the sight of Christ is because that Christ assures them of a Precious Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Heaven is Christs Purchase and by vertue of Christs Purchase it becomes the Saints Inheritance The Tenure where by the Saints hold is in capite in their Head Christ Now for their full assurance there 's a threefold Title whereby true Believers lay claim to Heaven viz. By Promise Donation and Possession 1. By Promise Christ hath promised 1 Title by Promise Heaven unto his Children Amongst many I shall select a few excellent Promises one is Joh. 14. 23. In my Fathers House aâ—e many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Another nother Promise is Matth. 19. 28. Verily I say unto you that ye which have follow'd me in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thronis Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel A third Promise is Matth. 19. 29. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother shall receive an hundred fold and shall Inherit Everlasting Life The meaning is not that all these things should be made up in kind that he should receive so many Fathers Mothers and Sisters in the room of them but the meaning is that he shall receive Christ and Everlasting Life which is his Purchase and is infinitely more worth than all the World A second Title which Believers have to 2. Title by Donation Heaven is a Title of Donation Eternal Life is the gift of Christ as may appear Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand Further Christs Donation is evident John 17. 22. And the Glory which thou hast given me I have given them Heaven is Christs Gift and there is no merit nor any thing in the Creature to procure God to bestow his great Gift for saith our Saviour Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdome But though we cannot merit Heaven yet we must be constant and conscientious in the performance of our Duties we must repent believe and be zealous to do good works and to such as are faithful unto Death the promise will be made good unto them Rev. 2 10. I will give thee a Crown of Life It 's true that Salvation is a free Gift and Heaven is the purchase of Christs Blood yet our Duty is to work out our own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. A third Title to Heaven is that of Possession 3. Title by Possession Joh. 3. 36. He that Believes in the Son hath Everlasting Life A Believer hath such an assurance as present Possession can give him For the Word of God is his assurance He hath a Witness 1 John 5. 10. He that believes on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself And he hath both Sealing and Earnest Eph. 1. 13 14. Ye were Sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance The Sealing of the Spirit is Assurance the Earnest is part of Payment or some first fruits of the Harvest so than to have a Title of Promise Donation and Possession must needs be a strong Title Quest But the Question hence will be moved whether any can be assured of their Salvation in this Life Answ To this I Answer That some have been assured and others may be assured 1. Some have been assured as Job c. 19. v. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth and Paul Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me And 2. Why others may be assured of their Salvation in this Life For in those Beautitudes mentioned Math. 5. If upon serious search and Examination a Believer can conclude that he is poor in Spirit pure in Heart c. Thence he may infer that he is in a state of Blessedness Likewise the Scriptures give several distinguishing Characters whence we may evidence the assurance of Salvation One is love to the Brethren 1 Joh. 4. 14. We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren Another Character is the loving of Christs appearing The Apostle speaks not only in his own name but also in the name of all Saints Henceforth there is 2 Tim. â—8 laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only
Tempestuous Waves of the Sea dashing one upon another with renewed Violence Now though Job could not remove these heavy Afflictions yet he found the Sense of them much abated and his Spirit much quieted by Praising God for all and acknowledging the Hand of God in all as appears Job 1. 21. Third However though Afflictions 3. Afflictions are Sanctified continue very great and painful and neither removeable nor sense of Mitigation appears at present yet the worst of Afflictions are through Mercy Sanctified to the Children of God Affliction in it self is not Bonum yet it 's turn'd in Bonum to the Good of all true Believers The Good Figgs were carried away Captive for their Good Jer. 24. 5. The Tribe of Judah resembled by those Good Figgs was carried away Captive into Babylon but God wrought Good for them out of their Captivity Men would be apt to pass Censures because of the Sufferings of Judah in their Captivity but the Lord Corrects their Censures in promising that all shall be for their Good Quasi diceret prepostere fieri judicium de calamitate paucorum annorum sed expectandum esse finem Calvin in Jer. 24. 5. Luther in Gen. 6. As if he should say That a Judgment of the Calamity of a few Years is made preposterously but the End must be expected as Calvin observes on the place fore-quoted Jer. 24. 5. The Lord Professeth that he humbled and proved his People and his end was to do them Good in the latter End Deut. 8. 16. We are Corrected for our Profit Heb. 12. 10. Luther used to say Schola crucis est Schola lucis non est Christanus qui non est crucianus It 's a common saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corrections are Instructions so they should be and they are happy where Correction and Instruction meet together as the Psalmist Cum vibices dorso meo imprimeres precepta tua cordi meo insculpsisti Rivet in Psalm expresseth Psal 94. 12. Blessed is the Man whom thou chastneth O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Joseph's Brethren when they were in distress in Egypt reflected upon their Sin and were perplexed for it which was committed many Years before and lookt upon their present Suffering as a just Punishment for that Sin Gen. 42. 21. And they said one to another we are verily Prius quam urgeret eos afflictio tor pebant nunc ingredi coguntur in suas conscientias Calvin in Gen. 42. 21. Guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the Anguish of his Soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this Distress come upon us They are good Observations Oculos quos culpa claudit poena aperit vexatio Qui tribulantur Sacras Scripturas melius intelligunt Secundi prosperi eas leguâ—â— sicut Oviâ—ii carmen Luther dat intellectum The Fiery Furnace did not hurt the Three Children Only Three were cast into the Furnace but there appeared a Fourth even the Angel of God for their Deliverance The nature of Fire was changed insomuch as it had no power so much as to Singe an Hair of their Heads The Mouths of the Lyons were stopt and could not hurt Daniel Daniel was Dan. 7. 22. cast alone into the Den but he was not alone there for he had the company of an Angel of God who was sent to shut the Lyons Mouths The Deluge of Water which Drowned the whole World did not drown Noah's Ark. but bare it up so Afflictions when Sanctified are so far from hurting God's Children as they help them and lift them up nigher to Heaven Afflictions are as a vantage ground to raise them higher to see a great deal further or like so many Looking-Glasses to represent to the Children of God their Stains and Deformities I shall apply a saying of St. Ambrose Quod pateris unde plangis Medicina est tibi non poena castigatio non damnatio noli repellere flagellum Domini nisi vis repelli ab haereditate Tribuâ—atio est aqua salsa quae Scabiem purgat abstergit Guil. Paris de morib 9. It 's reported that salt Marishes cure disseased Sheep I am sure Salt preserves Meat from Putrifaction Scullions scoure away Rust from Vessels The Fan separates the Wheat from the Chaff much more do Afflictions when Sanctifi'd advantage God's Children But we must know that it was not the moving Veniet tribulatio mea veniet purgatio mea August Psal 61. Joh. 5. 4. of the Waters of the pool of Bethesda that made them Healing but it was the coming of the Angel at a certain Season who troubled the Waters and afterwards who ever stept in first was Healed It was not the Mantle of Elijah that divided the Waters but the God of Elijah neither will Troubles Losses Sufferings meerly considered as in themselves do us any good unless the Lord Sanctify them to us and by them Purge Purify Refine and Cleanse us and make us partakers of his Holiness Wherefore our Duty is with a calm and sedate Spirit to submit unto God's Correcting Hand and act Faith on Promises and exercise Patience and Pray Job 36. 10. that God would open our Ears to receive Discipline and Purge out our Dross and Tin so that by Afflictions and Corrections our Sins and Corruptions may be wrought out and Graces wrought into our Hearts If Afflictions produce such good Effects we shall be exceeding great Gainers by our Losses and after a deliberate reflecting upon all our Sufferrings we shall Experimentally conclude with David every one of us in particular as Psal 119. 67. Before I was Afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy Words Comp. with vers 17. It is good for me that I have been Afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes What great benefit God's People get by their Sufferings is evidently Represented Psal 68. 13. Though ye have lain among the Pots yet shall ye be as the Wings of a Dove covered with Silver and her Feathers with yellow Gold | Etiam jacueritis inter vasa plena fuliginis i. e. oppressi fueritis magna calamitate candidi laetique reddemini ob liberationem Vatab. This as good Authors observe sets forth the happy Issue of Afflictions and the great Benefit which the People of God get by them but of this more largely in the next particular Fourthly and lastly though Afflictions 4thly Vnde sequitur non semper jucunda serenitate frui Ecclesiam sed ex tenebris erutam splendorem recuperare ac si ab omni malo intacta foret Calv. may be heavy for a time yet the exceeding great Compensation and Profit acruing in the close will make amends for all So it was with Job Jam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the Patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord. And what that was we have Recorded Job 42 10. | Scriptura monet ipsi duplo facultates amissas fuisse
Perseverance so we are commanded 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray without Ceasing The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Intermission or Continually This is Interpreted by the same Apostle Ephes 6. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in every Season and Col. 1. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alwayes He saith Austin prayeth continually who lets no Day pass without Prayer Though God Frown and be Angry we must persevere in the Duty of Prayer And it 's a good Signe to continue Fervent in the Duty even when God defers us and seems not to hear us A Hypocrite will not hold out He prayes only by Fits and Starts VVill he delight himself in the Almighty VVill he always call upon God saith Job c. 27. v. 10. A Third and Last Duty as a Special Duty 3. To get the Ornament of a meek quiet Spirit Help and Direction to depend upon God's All-Sufficiency even in Suffering Times is To labour to get the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which as the Apostle Peter saith is in 1. Pet. 3. 4. the Sight of God of great Price A composed quiet Spirit is put into an excellent capacity to submit unto God and depend on him amidst the greatest Straights and Difficulties It 's Observed that Glowormes shine brightest in the darkest Nights I am sure a meek and quiet Spirit appears most conspicuously in the Night of Afflictions Some are naturally more Meek than others and have in some measure attained unto this Moral Vertue as Socrates and other Heathens did But a Christians Meekness shews it self amidst Revilings Buffettings and variety of Evil Entreaties from ungodly Men. How doth he labour to moderate his Passions and even amidst blustring Storms and Tempests then he endeavours to becalm his Spirit so that though there be Storms without he would gladly get and keep Serenity within For Instance when God Chastiseth with his own Immediate Hand by Famine Pestilence or other Noxious Diseases now is a time to exercise Meekness and Composedness of Spirit When God permits Satan and his Instruments to Persecute the Saints then is the time to be Silent and avoid Murmuring and Reviling Language and to prepare to do and Suffer as becomes Christians and quietly to wait for God's Salvation God's Vine Thrives most by Bleeding and Persecutors serve instead of Gold-Smiths to Purify and Refine God's Children in the Furnace of Affliction The Fire purifieth Gold and Silver but consumes Stubble Wicked Men grow worse and worse by Afflictions but Godly Men grow better and better more weaned from the World more Heavenly minded and more Fruitful in every Good Word and Work It 's observable that Oyl increaseth the Flame whereas Water quencheth it Fretting and Chafing is like Oyl to the Flame Meekness is like Water to quench it A Flint is sooner broken on a Pillow than on an Anvile A soft Answer saith Solomon turneth away Wrath. Meekness and Calmness of Spirit Works much Good every way for a Meek Man enjoyeth himself and those Possessions which God bestoweth on him Psal 37. 11. But the Meek shall Inherit the Earth and shall Delight themselves in the abundance of Peace This Christ Promiseth Mat. 5. 5. They are Blessed Persons They shall be free from many outward Vexations whereunto Angry Persons expose themselves They shall as Hierome Observes Inherit Haereditabunt terram illam viventium â—â—a mites humiles possideb terram hoc est vitam aeternam Hieron in Psal 37. this Earth and the Life to come Meek Persons have Interest in those Promises whereof one is They shall Eat and be Satisfied Psal 22. 26. Another is That God will Guide them in Judgment Psal 25. A Third is That God will Beautify the Meek with Salvation Psal 149. 4. If then we would profit by Afflictions we must get a meek and quiet Spirit Affliction Preacheth Meekness of Spirit And some have learn't more Meekness by a few Weeks Imprisonment than by hearing Sermons for many Years before Affliction is one of God's Teaching Ordinances and when a chastising Rod and a teaching Word go together there 's a Mercy in such an Affliction If we would be followers of Christ we must be Lowly and Meek for he Propounds himself a Pattern for our Imitation Learn of Me for I am Meek and Lowly in Heart and ye shall find Rest unto your Souls Mat. 11. 29. If we would Reap any Profit by the Word we must Receive it with Meekness 1 Jam. 1. 21. If we would gain a lapsed Brother we Gal. 6. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aptum reddite sanate quod Corruptum est quae significatio bene congruit buic loco Grâ—t must Restore him or set him in Joynt in the Spirit of Meekness Wherefore this will be our Wisdom and Glory both to get such a composed and quiet Frame of Spirit and so to behave our selves in Sufferings with that Mildness and Christian Meekness as that the worst of our Enemies may be constrained to Confess that God is in us undoubtedly of a Truth How many have lost the Honour and Comfort of their Sufferings by mixing their own Passions and Revengeful Speeches Froward and Reviling Speeches detract from the Honour of a Cause be it never so Good Excellent is the Counsel of Cyprian If saith he Si filii Dei sumus pacifici esse debemus corde mites Sermone Simplices affectione concordes unanimitatis nexibus cohaerentes Cypr. de unitate Ecclesiae we be the Sons of God we ought to be peaceable and mild in Heart single in our Speeches agreeing in our Affections and agreeing in the Bonds of Unanimity Thus then if we put these Three forementioned Duties into continual Practice viz. To Live by Faith to set the Spirit of Prayer a Working and Possess our selves with a meek and quiet Spirit We shall Learn to Trust and Depend upon God's All-Sufficiency amidst the greatest Fears Dangers Straights Losses and Difficulties that are either Imminent or Incumbent upon us CHAP. XVI Containing a Third Use for Examination in Five Queries IT will now be Requisite that I Inlarge Vse 3 for Examination a Third Use for Examination and Tryal whether we believe God to be All-Sufficient and whether in all times we will stay and depend upon him This nearly concerns every one of us to put our selves upon a strict Tryal and Inquisition In pursuance of this Use I shall propound these ensuing Queries Whether we acknowledge God's absolute Quer. 1 Whether we acknowledg God in the Relations he hath over us Power Soveraignty and Dominion And do we acknowledge him in those Relations he hath over us Do we acknowledge him our Creator If so we may conclude that a Creator will take care of his Creatures Do we acknowledge him our King and Governour If so we shall confess that a King will Defend Protect and Rule his Subjects Do we acknowledge God our Father Then a Father will provide for his Children Do we acknowledge
and Meditated on and in all these respects the Word exceedingly conduceth both to the begetting and encreasing of Faith 1. The Word read is an Instrumental 1. The Word read means both for the begetting and augmenting of Faith John Huss whom Luther calls Sanctissimum Martyrem was Converted by reading of the Scriptures Reading of Scriptures in publick Assemblies is an Ordinance of God and anciently practised for we read Neh. 8. 8. So they read in the Book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the sence and caused them to understand the reading It 's our Duty likewise in our private Houses and in our Closets to read the Word of God Joshuah a great General is Commanded to read the Book of the Law His Military Imployment allows no dispensation from reading of the Book of God He notwithstanding his great and weighty affair was injoin'd both to speak of and Meditate in the Law of God Day and Night This Josh 1. 8. Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy Mouth but thou shall meditate therein both Day and Night that thou may observe to do according to all that is Written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and Deut. 17 18. thou shalt have good Success The Book of Books Kings themselves must read And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write a Copy of this Law out of a Book out of that which is before the Priest and Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the Days of his Life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them The Holy Scripture is the Rule of the Government and the Conversation of the greatest Potentates By keeping close to the Rule of Scriptures they both learn to govern well and live well We read Acts 15. 21. For Moses in old time hath in every City them that Preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day The meaning I suppose to be this that after reading an Exposition was given of the sence and meaning It concerns all sorts of Persons to read the Scriptures It 's the Peoples Duty though Popish Priests Sacriligiously Rob the People of the reading of the Scriptures to read the Scriptures there 's an express charge given Deut. 66. 7 8. Deut 31. 11 12. And Christ gives a strict Joh. 5. 39. command Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Everlasting Life and they are they which testify of me The Apostle Paul chargeth Timothy to give attendance 1 Tim. 4. 13. unto reading If then we would get Faith in Christ we must read and study the Word of God Every one is bound to believe with an Explicite Faith and not to take things upon trust by an implicite Faith from Popish Priests We must see with our own eyes as the Spirit of God hath opened them and not trust upon the Popes Spectacles It 's a great Sacriledge in the Pope and his Adherents to keep the Scriptures from the sight of such as they call Lay People It was in Q. Maries days Prohibited to read the Bible and some for reading of it were brought to trouble as William Hunter and others as in the Fox Acts and Mon. Q. M. Acts and Monuments stands upon Record And K. Hen. Eighth made a severe Law against the reading of the Scriptures in English Bellarmine denies the reading of Catholicâ— Ecclesia statuit ne passim omnibus concedatur Sâ—ript urarum Lectio Bellarm. L. 2. de verbo Dei Scriptures to all so doth Molanus Costerus Stapleton and others of that Bran. But are not People commanded to try the Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 1. and to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5. 21. But how can they do this unless they search the Scriptures Let us than consider it 's our Duty and make it our business to hear the Word read in Publick Congregations and to read it frequently when we are in private Let 's both hear and read with a serious reverential frame of Spirit Let 's in reading compare the Old Testament with the New how the Old Testament abounds with Prophecies and Promises concerning Christ and how the New Testament makes Performances of them 2. The Word Preach'd 2. As we must read the Word so we must with due regard hear it Preach'd The Word read is sound and solid and contains a sincere Milk but something like the Milk suckt out of a Sucking Bottle which through our weaknesses and dull Apprehensions may sometimes be dispirited But the Word Preach'd is like the Breast Milk It being deliver'd with Power and viva voce is like the Brest Milk most Nutritive Though God can work without means yet ordinarily he vouchsafes his Blessing upon the Word Preach'd in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power The Eph. 6. 17. Isai 53. 1. Rom. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Heb. 4. 12. Preaching of the Word is call'd the sword of the Spirit the Arm of the Lord the Power of God unto Salvation the Word of Reconciliation It 's an exact Critick of the thoughts It divides between the Joynts and Marrow There 's no such exact Inquisitor as the VVord Preach'd It will find out a Sinner in the Croud and tell him thou art the Man Though the Preacher knows nothing of such and such secret Crimes whereof the Sinner is guilty for no Man hath acquainted him with them yet the word of God meets with the Sinner and by the powerful Ministry of the word the most secret sins are discovered the most hidden works of darkness are brought to Light Some when such sins have been Preach't against have discovered their Murthers Committed long before The Power of the word hath so prevail'd that the most secret Sinner hath been discovered and with a troubled Spirit hath addressed himself to the Preacher by acknowledging of his Sins and begging Prayers and Counsels for his Souls edification Neither Mountains nor Castles neither Rocks nor Foretresses can be able to withstand the conquering Power of the Word of God If than we would get and increase Faith We must attend at the Posts of Wisdomes Gate and as Bartimaeus did we must lie in the way where Christ comes by We must wait at the Pool of Bethsdah where the Angel will come and stir the Waters We must neglect no Sermon for that Sermon for ought we know might be a means of our Conversion or Confirmation The Apostle tells us Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Therefore if we would get Faith we must attend with all reverence and dilligence unto the Ministery of the Word Faith is like Oyl to the Lamp as it causeth it at first to give light so by additions of supplies it keeps it Burning Therefore let 's neither absent our selves from
the Word read nor from the Word preach'd Both are Instruments to get and increase Faith 3. Both to reading and hearing let 's 3. The Word Meditated joyn Meditation otherwise we may loose the fruit of our Labours Meditation is the Spiritual Digestion of the Soul It Psal 4. 4. â—uk 2. 19. Jâ—r 8. 6. consists in a Communing with our own Hearts a pondering a calling our selves to an account and asking the Question What have I done It 's a ruminating digesting a making what we hear or read our own by a particular application 'T is true the work is difficult it is as it were the climbing up a great Hill but it 's exceeding profitable and comfortable For this Meditation is a Divine Contemplation whereby we have a view and Prospect of Eternity It 's the Wing of the Soul by help whereof it soars aloft as high as Heaven Wherefore that we may profit by the Word read and by the Word preach'd we must exercise our selves seriously and frequently in this Divine art of Meditation This was the frequent practice of David Ps 63. 6. Ps 119. to Meditate on God in the night watch He both Meditated on the Word of God â—â—n the Works of God He awakened with God in the Morning and lay down with him in the Evening by heavenly meditation The Character he gives of a blessed Man is that his delight is in the Law of the Psal 1. 2. Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night This was Isaac's practice to meditate in the Field at the eventide Gen. 24. 63. He went out and sequestred himself from other Company that he might enjoy Communion with God This then is the choice and excellent means for Christians to thrive in Faith Love and all the Graces of the Spirit and to be good Proficients in the School of Christ when they addict themselves unto frequent and serious Meditation A Second External Means both of getting 2. Prayer is a means of getting encreasing Faith and encreasing Faith is Prayer Faith is worth the asking for Let 's then â—e earnest and sollicitous to the Throne oâ— Grace to obtain it Let 's pray with the Disciples Lord increase our Faith For he that hath true Faith is desirous of accessions thereunto He finds many things wanting in his Faith and therefore he prays for daily Supplies and Augmentations Let 's pray as the Man in the Gospel did Lord I believe help my unbelief There 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thess 3. 10. may be the Root of the Matter even true Faith in a Christian yet he is sensible of his Unbelief He apprehends the remainders of Infidelity vexing him as a broken Bone he meets sometimes with Fears Doubtings and Perplexities distracting Thoughts but these things are his Burthen and a Perplexity upon his Spiritâ—â— Herein consists our Duty to be much iâ— Prayer that God would give us the Spiriâ—â— of Faith The Spirit is promised to thosâ— that ask for it And it 's the Spirit thaâ— works Faith in us and Prayer is an Instrumental means to get the Spirit God promiseth his Spirit Luke 11. 13. Mattâ— 7. 11. He promiseth to give good things tâ—â— them that ask him which evidently shewâ— that God by giving his Spirit gives aâ— good things Let 's then be quickned tâ— our Duty to pray in Faith and to pray for more Faith and then we shall be surâ— to speed Matth. 21. 22. And all thingâ— whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer believinâ— ye shall receive Go then to God and complain of thy unbelieving Heart mourâ— for it be earnest and importunate foâ— Faith As Rachel cryed out Give me Chiâ—dren or else I die so cry out Lord givâ— me Faith or else I am undone Loâ—â— strengthen my weak Faith quicken mâ— dull Faith thus making our applicatioâ— to God in the Name of Christ we shaâ— receive a gracious Answer 3. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper â— The Sacrament â—â— the Lord's Supper is a great means to confirm our Faith is a great means to confirm our Faith It 's to be necessarily presupposed that before we come to the Lord's Table we must have Faith otherwise we cannot discern the Lord's Body There is a great difference between the Word and the Lord's Supper For the Word both begets and encreaseth Faith but the Lord's Supper ordinarily encreaseth Faith where it was begun before The Sacrament is a Seal and God doth not set his Seal to a Blank An ignorant Person is as a Blank and he hath no right to approach unto the Lord's Supper An ignorant Person is more fit to go a gâ—azing with Nebuchadnezzar amongst the Beasts of the Field than to participate of the Sacramental Elements of Bread and Wine exhibiting Christ Sacramentally to the Faith of true Believers And profane Persons are uncircumcised in Heart No uncircumcised Person ought to participate of the Passover neither may the uncircumcised in Heart any debauch'd scandalous Liver presume to approach unto the Lord's Table There was but one Man who came without a wedding Garment and Christ found him out and doom'd him to Judgment Such then as walk in their Pollutions and with profane Hands and Hearts receive the Holy Eucharist expose themselves to dreadful Judgments both temporal and eternal 1 Cor. 11. 28. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation unto himself not discerning the Lord's Body It 's of absolute necessity that we should labour for Faith pray for Faith read the Word hear it preached and meditate on it that we may get Faith And upon survey of our Hearts and diligent Inquisition when we find our Faith weak and flagging we should adde more unto our Prayers and apply our selves to the sealing Ordinance of the Lord's Supper Sometimes we may not meet with God in the Word read our dulness may not apprehend the manifestation of God's gracious Countenance unto our Souls Therefore we must apply our selves to the Word preached It may be through our inadvertency and distractions we may not meet with God in the Word preached Let 's then fall upon our Knees in earnest Prayer It may be God may hide his Face from us Some Jonah we must cast over Ship-board and then there will be a Calm Some Achan must be ston'd and then the Valley of Achor will be a Door of Hos 2. 14. Hope And to hearing reading and praying let 's with preparation receive the Holy Sacrament Before we go thither let 's do as the Jews did in case of Leaven They first made diligent inquisition and took a Candle and searched every Corner throughout Having found Leaven they cast it out And iâ— they found none they took a voluntary curse upon themselves if willingly they left any Leaven in their Houses Let us go and do likewise Let us light up a double Candle viz. the Candle of the Word and the Candle of our own Consciences then upon discovery