enter into the Marriage with him I will allow some unusual exceptions against general rules and put in Asa for one and leave secrets with God but ordinarily the Lord doth not let his deare Servants dye in a sottish secure estate When Sampsons locks are cut and his strength lost he shall lie in the Mill untill they be grown againe before he dies and Solomon may run ryot but he shall proclaim his folly to all ages in the world for it in Eccles. before he dies Epâ—es 5. 26 27. Christ presents his Church without wrinckle you are to be presented by Christ to the Father and to be set before Christ without wrinckle without witherings and decayes if he loves you he will wash you that it may be so SECT II. Quest. BVT must they be so farre awakened as to wait for the Lord and desire to be with him having got Vessels full and Lamps burning Answ. Yes in some measure at least for there are awakenings to the life of glory in another world and awakenings to the life of duties in this world by the one the soul is raised out of this world to the Lord in Glory by the other the soul is raised up to duties in this world if the Lord awakens not his Saints to the first either they are not awakened truly or not throughly and effectually for till then the soul is not ready Lukâ— 12. 40. with 35. As it is with a man who is sent for to enjoy favour and fellowship of the King he is not ready for it untill he stands waiting at the door and that it is his business the patternes of mercy and Vessels of glory are ever set out in the New Testament by this Heb. 9. ult Tit. 2. 12 13. Look as it was with Simeon Luke 2. 25. He had a promise he should see Christ before he died hence he waited for the consolation of Israel so the soul having a promise of seeing Christ when he is dead it makes him wait for this time and when he wants a promise sealed though he waites not nextly yet he waites remotely that the Lord would cause him to believe it that so he might wait for it that is his end this is the meaâ—es he knows it is best to be with the Lord where is no sin but holiness he hath found him sweet in his looks in his words in his works in his hopes his first fruits but to be with him is best This is not such an high pitch which Saints come not to it is indeed such which Hypocrites come not to the Hypocrites end is to escape misery hence they desire comfort by duties that they shall be freed from it but not to enjoy Christ the Lord never tied in their souls such a knot of faith and love which works this For 1. Security of Saints 't is not the privation of life that is death but a suspension of the acts of a heavenly life there is in them love to Christ delight in him happiness in living to him pleasing of him but it is suspended by cares or contents of the world and love of ease hence a Christian is never throughly awakened till he comes to that life againe his heart is with Christ in heaven and because he cannot be there hence he stayes a while and looks and waits for it anothers security is the privation of life of empty duties arising from some vanishing affections as in the foolish Virgins which were to quiet conscience only Hence their awakening are only to that life againâ—e at the best if ever God do awaken them unless the Lord indeed convert them 2. Every thing will mightily tend to that to which its nature bends and inclines it as a stone if thrown upward will mightily tend downward Some say there is an Element of fire above because this here endeavours to ascend as being out of its place he that is of the earth he will be tending to it though awakened tâ—ough lifted up Saints will be tending upward because their nature is heavenly loving looking waiting longing 2 Cor. 5. 3 4. with 1. as Angels here be willing to stay to do the work but yet they long to be before the face of God againe because their natures are heavenly and there their proper place is Now for the Lord Jesus sake examine your selves here I hope some are awakened the Word hath done it cry of afflictions inward temptations have made you look about you and you are wearied out with your own wayes but are you not since grown secure time was the feet of the Messengers of peace were glorious but now their Message is meane Sabbaths longed for now you are weary of them heartless in them sleep with the spoon in your mouths private duties were seasons of breaking the heart refreshing and comforting from the Lord but now you neglect them sleight them and the Lord in them and are not much troubled at it because you have some excuse or other for it thy mouth was full of good questions now thou thinkest thy self more fit to teach than learn thy society was sweet as the Rose in Spring now the sweet odour of it is lost time was thou werâ— exceeding tender of the least sinne and not a day past but thy cheeks were wet in secret before the Lord now thou art grown blinde and bold and you can defile your self in all your wayes and your faith in Christ keeps you from repentance for sin time was the truth was glorious and you could make use of your Notes many a day after when you did not finde good in publick but now pen and Ink is left at home you cast your bread into corners and feed not your hearts therewith Time was you could take a rebuke kindly when you were little in your own eyes but now if you think a reproof is meant of you your hearts can swell nay now your judgement decayes What warrant for private prayers twice a day what warrant for weekly Sermons when we have six dayes to labour and one to rest in you were formerly more exact but now wiser and thus you lie and as if you were come to the end of your race already and reach not after things before you you have enough grace hence you think you shall be saved and so sit stâ—ll and now play the good Husband Oh the Covenants you have had if ever you came hither what you would do oh the esteem of the Lord afar off but now you are broken by your Voyage and your Vessel is crackt and oyle is run out and Lamp is out will you dye so if you say yes I profess you are not ready it is a question if ever you had grace if it be so and therefore bless God the Lord gives you warning this day but I feare many will not stir till Christ comes I say as she to Sampson Vp for the Philistins are upon thee so I say Security is upon thee and wrath is now gone out
but here not but then he will come himself and fetch thee Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Take thy soul to the Bride-chamber there to be with him for ever and ever and he will keep the dust of thy blessed body and not lose one dust of it and at the last day raise it and then when others shall cry out Yonder is him whom I have grieved then shalt thou lift up thy head Yonder comes my husband to comfort me to crown me that I may dwell with him It shall be the blessed day to thee And when judgement is done thou shalt go with thy beloved from the air up to Hewen with a shout and live in his love and dearest embracings of thee and this he will do for thee so poor and vile in thine own eyes Now will you have him and that now or no SECT V. 1. IF the Lord be so desirous of me why doth he not overcome me If the Lord doth it 't is by these cords of love and if not the brand of a reprobate is upon thee 2. But I do love him already Is it with such a love as makes you unable to resist him to wrong him as the Apostle said We cannot speak against the Truth but for it for if not 't is naught There is a natural love to Christ as to one that doth thee good and for thine own ends and spirituall for himself whereby the Lord only is exalted Hâ—st thou this 3. But I do not have Christ. If any man do not love him with a positive love let him be Anathema 4. I cannot love him 1. What canst thou love else 2. Thou canst not love him so well as thou shouldst therefore close with him and love will follow 3. Get the Lord to overcome thy heart Ier. 3. 19. How shall I do it 1. Set him before thee Who will commit lewdnesse while her husband lookâ— on Psal. 16. 8. 2. See what content thou givest Christ by love Smallest duties coming from love are accepted What makes thee wrong him to please thy self Let a thing crosse thee yet it conâ—ents Christ Jesus 3. Get him and wait by Faith on him to overcome thy heart and the work is done then Now will you do this or no If not say then you have had a fair offer and tell the Devils so when thou goest down to Hell as it may be thou maiest ere long Men talk of terrible Sermons but these sink deepest Tell me dost thou love the lord only Wil 't keep lusts or Christ alone If so then look to it In this Countrey a woman killed her child and she said when she did it her child smiled upon her Wilt thou kick Christs love now when he smiles upon thee Afterward shee repented but it was too late Women when they have a mind to some other murder their husbands but if known burnt they must be But wilt have him and love him alone Oh if perswaded to this then happy for ever Let this day be the beginning of eternal Glory to thy soul and the God of peace be with thee CHAP. VII Sheweth that a man hath no power in himself to do any spiritual work but that he must receive all from Christ. 4. HEnce we see a necessity if ever we look to have communion with Christ to do all spiritual work all we do Theologice from the mighty power of Christ from the life and Spirit of Christ. To bring forth no Spirituall Act but from Christ and for Christ I shall put both in one and the latter into the first for none act truly from him but it is for him for you know if a woman bring forth children to any other but her own husband that woman hath lost her chastity So when men shall bring forth the fruits of obedience to any other from any other but from Christ they lose their virginity their chastity without which no communion with Christ. For I have ever made two parts or degrees of Christian chastity as 't is in outward chastity 1. The soul sets its chief affections on Christ alone that look as 't is with a woman though she cannot do much nor deserve his love yet her heart is with him her self is his Cant. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds 2. The soul bâ—ings forth fruits of love only unto Christ i. e. from Christ and for Christ as in marriage the woman brings forth fruit of her womb to her Husband and this is set down plainly Rom. 7. 4. The first we have handled Now a little of this And that I may presse this which is of much use to you give me leave to expresse my self in these Conclusions SECT I. THat all men living nakedly considered in themselves have lâ—st all power to do any thing that is good Rom. 3. 12. None that doth good 1. His light is quite extinct and his eyes quite out hence said to sit in darknesse and the shadow of death Mat. 4 16. now a shadow is a privation of some light this of all light hence called darknesse it self take the blindest Indian he is a witnesse of this truth and a right picture of a soul fallen from God hence because he cannot see he cannot do 1 Cor. 2. 14. 2. All that life he had to act well is lost too Eph. 2. 1. he is dead in trespasses and sins he cannot breath not speak nor think nor do one thing that is good I say nakedly considered in himself And hence look upon a man quite forsaken of God in Hell there you may see as in a lively looking-glass what every man living is when the Lord leaves him he can blaspheme him he cannot love him he can contemn God he cannot esteem him he can wish there were no God to punish him he cannot submit unto God though he leaves the most heavy load upon him and you see not your selves untill you see your selves here and see your selves thus SECT II. THat unto some men especially nay unto all men almost though vile yet more or lesse the Lord gives a power to act and live and move and to do many spiritual duties or good duties from themselves For as there is a bredth in the wayes of Grace that every Christian hath not the like measure of Grace so there is a bredth or latitude in the wayes of sin every sinner breaks not forth into the like measure of sin but some are far better than others as the three grounds that were bad yet one better than another Now how comes this about why the Lord gives that power to act as all the knowledg of a God by the light of Nature falsly so called this is the work of God Rom. 1. 19. Hence all terrors and comforts and duties of Conscience are all from God so the Historical Faith of the Gospel which many have and so to confesse and professe no salvation but by Christ together with a readinesse to dye in
foolish and weak in the world sometimes hence not for any service they can do but for his own sake he will give them an Inheritance and love them as sons because he will these abide ever in the Lords love Hagar and Isâ—mael cast out Sarah and Isaac stay in the Family How shall I know that 1. If the Lord loves thee for his Name-sake it will draw thee to that fellowship with it self that what-ever thou wantest thou wilt seek for it hence by presenting that Name of God that for his own sake he would supply I know the Lord loves for Christs sake but why should Christ help for his Name-sake For thus many hypocrites think when they see Gods anger against them for their sin they seek to remove that 〈◊〉 and when that is done think God is at peace and now all is well They see the Lord is delighted with the obedience of his people hence fall to that work and now thinâ— the Lord is pleased with them But if ever the Lord loves any man he will first stop his mouth whether Jew or Gentile Rom. 3. 19. and make him on his Knees know there is no reason for it nay all reason against it Now hath noâ— the Lord brought thee to this and hence having nothing to quench Gods anger but Christ hast held up him before God and having nothing to move Christ hast held up his Name before him and here hast rested thy wearied heart looking to him if any Grace be begun in thee that he would perfect it iâ— none that he would begin it if unfit and unworthy to prepare thee for it only for his own good pleasure this is one evidence of it As 't is in some Seals you can hardly perceive in the Seal what is engraven there but set it on Wâ—x you may see it evidently so here hardly can you see the Lords love look on thy heart if it loves him his choice see if thou chusest him his love for his own sake if thou cleavest with dearest affection to this love for its own sake there thou art safe Prov. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower c. and this not only at first conversion but ever after all duties all enlargements Ezak 16. ult And this doth evidence love 1. Because if thou had'st the righteousnesse of Angels thou would'st think it a good evidence but this of Christ is a thousand times dearer 2. This is a setting of God against himself i. e. to answer himself and hence Saints in all their straights and sorrows hither had recourse I speak not now of Temporal Blessings but of Everlasting love and all the Fruits of it that here it hangs Now I say you are built in a Rock higher than all powers of Darkness now a Key is put into thy hand to unlock all Gods Treasure now thou art in the very lap of love wrapt uâ— in it when here thy heart rests and if not Beloved the Lord would never let thee lean thus in his bosom and therefore if this be thus see it and wonder his Name hath moved him to love me 2. You shall find this if the Lord for his Name-sake loves thee there is noâ— any carriage or passage of Providence of him to thee but he gets himself a Name first or lasâ— by it for if this be Gods end every passage of Providence is but a means to this end hence he will attain this end by every act of his Providence towards thee hence you shall find that those very sins that dishonour his Name he will even by them and if by them by all things else get himself a Name he will be so far from casâ—ing thee out of his love that he will do thee good by them Those very sins that God damns others for he will make to humble thee empty thee Pharisees persecuted Christ and lost all for it Paul was so and it humbled him all his life Not worthy to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God and it made him lay up all his wealth in mercy I was received to mercy 1 Tim. 1. Mary sins much and God forgives much and she loves much others sinned much and God hardened much Iudas betraies Christ and repents and hangs himself and flies from him Peter denies him and weeps and hence he is the first that Preâ—cheth him And this is certain in the best Hypocrite sins left in him either never make him better but blind and harden him and he hath his distinctions of infirmity c. that he sleights them day by day till all his dayes are run out or if any good 't is no more than Iudas or Cain some legal terrors or other light flashes of comfort but to be more humble indeed c. this he findeth not Now is it not so with thee Doth not thy weaknesse strengthen thee with Paul Doth not thy blindnesse make thee cry for light and those cries have been heâ—rd out of darknesse God hath brought light Thou hast felt venome and risings of heart against Christ and do they not make thee loath thy self more that thou thinkest never any so beholding to Grace do not thy falls into sin make thee more weary of it watchful against it long to be rid of it and so sin abounds but Grace abounds Why should this be so for his Names-sake because he will love thee hence 't is so great and unmatchable that he will make thy poyson thy Food thy Death thy Life thy Damnation Salvation thy very greatest Enemies thy greater Friends And hence Mr. Fox said he thanked God for his sins more than for his good works I have marvailed at Gods dealings with his people they depart and stay long and care not for returning again in that time a mighty power teacheth humbleth brings back when they never thought of it Oh the reason is God will have his Name now if thus your assurance will be strong and constant but if you build thus I have done this c. I have that your assurance will not stand therefore look and see if it be not thus with you Take heed you do not build your assurance from a mingled Covenant of Works and Grace for this is the frame of divers when they lye under the first Covenant only of doing they will not take this as any evidence as they have no reason so to do Rom. 9. 31. Nor when a man lies under the Second Covenant of Believing barely and if it be a dead Faith they have no evidence or reason so to do Hence they mingle the Covenants and think thus If I can believe in Christ and perform universal obedience to all the commands of God I shall be safe hence set upon the observance of both and finding they can never do them especially the latter hence are ever troubled and never have any setled peace Hence those Galatians Paul writes to perverting and mingling the Covenants were troubled Gal.
Apostle makes this the matter of admiration of Gods grace Eph. 2. 3 4. God who is rich in mercy when dead in sins hath quickned us Not only quickned our head for hence is cause of eternal praise but us and hence he hath set us up in heavenly places in him This is the state of all men they cannot do one spiritual act now that the Lord should help when all creatures left us is wonderful but that it should be with such a life even the life of Christ Jesus himself for the same Spirit that raised him from the dead dwells in us and the same Spirit that is now in glory with him is in us 1 Pet. 5. 1. This is mercy indeed that he should not only die for us and live in heaven for us but that he should love so dearly as to come and live in us that when our sins had slain him he should not onely come and dwell in our houses nor onely lay his head in our bosome but live in our hearts where he finds such poor welcome and ill entertainment at our hands I tell you this is wonderful to make his habitation in us that before we go to live with him he should live in us Let them that never knew what this meant refuse to be thankful but if you find it so forget not this love Iohn 14. 17. I le send the Spirit whom the World cannot receive because it knows him not The Lord sends the Spirit in common graces and the World doth receive that also in prophetical and miraculous gifts and it doth receive that but this Spirit which God pours on the thirsty this Spirit with which God fills the empty they cannot receive this Oh that you should have it when as they know it not 1. Hence therefore take heed of not owning the Spirit in this his presence Do you thus requite the Lord oh unthankful world not so much as to own the presence of such a friend neither in your selves nor yet in others How like the world is it to think that there is no such thing 2. Take heed therefore of not esteeming highly of it If ever God broke thy heart thou wilt esteem this life this principle as the greatest piece of love and say Lord I shall account this as the greatest part of love in the world Psal. 119. 68. Thou art good oh teach me thy Statutes Now to undervalue this and to account it common and hence as no sign of love 't is a part of unthankfulness 3. Take heed of imprisoning the Spirit of grace common truth Rom. 1. 18. It was fearful to imprison and silence that much more this It was the complaint of the Church in those days None stirs up himself Isai. 64. 7. What strength the Lord gives let me use what I want the Lord hath enough to help me withal put it to exercise or else affliction will 4. Take heed of enfeebling this Principle weakning of it The Church of Sardis things were ready to die in it you should strengthen this inner man not weaken it either by not feeding it with Christ or wounding it with known sins against Christ. Therefore let all the Churches know this and take heed that you do not refuse to own this where else will you make the difference between men that either Churches may discern them or you may discern and so have peace your selves Hence see the reason of that inward hypocrisie that is in many mens hearts so that the best profession of many a man is but a Scheme an Image a very craft a very artificial form all the duties are fair without but sapless liveless within Here is the reason they have no inward principle of life or if they do go to Christ they have no such principle within them to carry them to him so as to receive life from him and hence confess sin without sorrow or shame petition without thirsting live without love do without life because there is no spring but a dry heart within and hence they must do duty but they must make dead work of it and hence all is but an appearance and at best but a would be This is in a great measure in Saints when the Spirit within is quenched but it is in full age and strength in hypocritical hearts Ier. 4. 14. when the profession of Iudah was great and the Prophets had scarce any thing to say against them for outside Oh Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickedness there thy wo lies it enters to the very heart so Christ How can he that is evil bring forth good fruit And this is that which may make men mourn if I forsake all profession I shame my self before men if not I must blaspheme the Lords Name and play the Hypocrite before the Lord Matth. 12. 33 34 35. SECT III. TO take heed of denying the grace of God or this inward principle in whole or in part for this inward principle being the life of Christ in us to deny this is to deny Christ and to take away his life and such the Lord will deny before his Angels another day When they shall say Have we not eat and drank in thy presence he shall answer I never knew you I shall therefore here direct my speech to four sorts First To those that deny created graces in the Saints peculiar unto them only it s said there are none such in the Country if there are not it may be there have been and it may be will be and therfore I le speak For I beleeve 't is a delusion digged and hatcht out of the steam of the lowest sink in Hell And therefore that all may take heed of the evill of it I will first shew the evill of it then the causes that do beget it I. The evils of this delusion are these 1. It settles and fastens a man under the power of all his sin and yet with a quiet Conscience and yet to keep his Christ too It transcends my capacity from whatever I have read or have heard or have felt or can imagine how the power of sin can be taken away but where the Spirit infuseth the contrary grace an empty house swept and garnished with common gifts is but a fitting house for Satan to return into Say therefore a man may have no such graces and yet have Christ and them in Christ you stake this man down under his sin and make this member of Satan a member of Christ Jesus And upon this ground all Churches in the Land may be forced in Conscience to take in all prophane members if they plead Christ and their allness in him 2. This blurs all the glory of a Christian or at least the greatest part of it For what is the glory of a Saint 'T is to be like Jesus Christ the Lord of glory to bear his Image before God and men As to see a man with a Swines face would be the shame of a man to see a
when he is gone oh the straitness vileness of a corrupt heart you say it may be If this be not a right Principle what is Answ. To undermine all false works oh therefore feel this plague If ever God works this grace feel you must the want of it and if you do mourn then you are under it And oh mourn 1. By considering the evil of it you can mourn after a dead father and shall you not over a dead heart 2. To think there should be so much Spirit in Christ and not a drop for me Is he so angry with me See therefore I pray you that you are led by ill principles or false principles I pray but self-self-love sets me a work I profess but praise of men acts me I observe duties in secret but natural Conscience only carries me No surer sign of ruine then for the Lord to hide these things from you nor of love then when he shews this and gives you not only sense of some one act but a spirit of heaviness under this This empties the Vessel and so makes us Vessels of honour do not therefore set thy self so much to do as to see where thy evil principle is in all thou doest Repair now to the fountain of life for a principle of life from him and fetch it from him What is thâ—â— and how shall I fetch it from him 1. T is not a mans own striving a man may imitate nature but cannot make nature All the world cannot make one poor flie And as 't is artis celare artem so when he hath done he may deceive himself and others but nothing else Born not of the will of mâ—n A man is in great distress of Conscience for sin past â—ear of death for time to come and now he comes just as far as a Devil then prays Lord save me and now comes as far as nature can carry him and therefore is eaâ—ed and now he hath Satans black seal upon him and self-flattery hath carried him on The fountain of life is not here 2. 'T is not the Law it convinceth one and he complains it condemns another and he cries out it irritates another and he falls to do what he can but the Law cannot give life Gal. 3. 21. 3. 'T is not bare Ordinances which are of themselves but husks and shels and empty pipes witness the cries of many a man Sabbath after Sabbath no life and that for a long time Nay he grows worse 4. 'T is not God simply considered He is indeed the fountain of life but sin hath sealed that fountain hence many a one goes to him and departs from him with frowns 5. Where is life then In Christ I know he is Lord and Prince of Life Yet consider as God-man no life is in him for you as to be communicated to you Where then 'T is in the blood and death of the Lord of life You are ready to undervalue this life Oh consider what it musâ— cost the Son of God and where it must lie Hebr. 9. 14. If Buls and Goats blood washed the flesh much more this blood c. Many a man feels a blind dead heart and all duties dead And hence useth many periwasions to himself yet they continue so still because he never looks to this blood There is this excellency in Christs blood not only to cleanse from guilt and power of sin but from dead works and none else can Now therefore repair hither for it know what your lives will and must cost Now how shall this be done Answ. 1. Prize this blood and satisfie thy Soul with it choose it and rest in it in the Lord himself as sufficient Ioh. 6. 53. Except you eat and drink c. many account it a common thing you receive it not then but trample it under their feet many esteem of it but they feed not themselves with it nor quiet their hearts with life there first and hence it falls out thus 2. Keep this Rule content not thy self with that measure which thou hast from Christ but be thankful for it and falling short call ever for more but satiate thy self with that which is in Christ. If thou canst not do this and it is beyond thy strength then consider Christ hath words of life Iohn 6. Oh beg for that and for those words Hear what the Lord will say Psal. 51. 8. You cannot see nor come to Christ Then hear and your souls shall live Who knows what the Lord may do 'T is not possible for man to do it but the Lord Jesus may and can Oh then you that have this Principle Let all your actions issue and spring from hence As Paul exhorted Timothy Stir up that gift that is in thee Up Deborah up Awake Harp and Lute saith David Do not say I can do nothing and so the Lord must do all Do not say I have a dead heart and can do nothing but stir it up It was the Lords complaint Isa. 64. 7. None took hold of the Lord nor stirred up himself to that end It may be some of you have some strength Oh put it forth I know all strength is from Christ but there is a peâ—manent strength in you You are not dead to act you wrong the Lord and his Grace if you think so As 't is a heavy sin to shut up and imprison natural truth Rom. 1. 18. So much more the power of Grace Others have lost it oh recover it And hence Paul praies for this earnestly Eph. 3. 15. The Lord strengthen you with might in the inner man And therefore put this forth to act and be sure you act only from this Spirit of Grace How shall I do this 1. Set the Lord Jesus in all his Glory before you There is that excellency of the knowledge of Christs Person that it makes us be and live like him and according to the propinquity of our souls and eyes to Christ so we are like him As â—tis with the Sun when it is gone from the earth there are not so much as leaves on the Trees yet when it returns the Trees bring forth fruit Or as 't is in Heaven 1 Iohn 3. 2. so in this life when we see him in a Glasse 1 Cor. 3. 18. That look as 't is with an ambitious man when he is in the presence of men he will manifest all his excellency nothing shall be done to gain discredit So if the Lord and his life be your excellency when you see Christ you will approve your selves to him See him therefore beholding and accepting and that Grace you would put forth see it in him 't is strange to see what a stream of spirit comes somtimes this way 2. Keep the remembrance of the exceeding greatnesse of his love fresh in your minds in that he hath quickned you Eph. 2. 4 5. and that this life was by his death All the Flowers of the field cast their savour but for a time and
stands bent for such an end yet â—uns at one side but is turned by the skill of him that guides it into the way again and so let it run the mâ—n is with it So 't is here And because somthing is like this in Hypocâ—ites I shall endeavour to cut the thread I. Their whole hearts never do nor can depart from the Lord all thâ—ir sins and departings are against their new nature which the Lord hath given them It s against the grain which as it agravates their sin so it shews the difference between their sins and the sins of other men they may be drawn aside but it s against their wills or if so yet against the bent of their hearts which is set toward the Lord and Sion-ward they may be carried captive against their wills as Paul complained he was and made his moan to heaven of it or if with their wills yet it is against the active bent of their wills which inclines them another way 1 Iohn 3. 9. They cannot sin because the seed remains in them so that they cannot sin with their whole hearts nor depart from Christ with their whole hearts As it is with a Woman though her Husband hath her whole heart yet there is much weâ—kness and sin mixt with this love So that whatever unkindness she shewâ— it is not with her whole heart but against it and hence she is noâ— cast off So much more here Or as it is with the unregenerate man possessed by Satan though he may forsake many sinful courses take up many duties despise the World yet it is not with his whole heart And hence he is pulled back like a Bird by the leg Satan having an end of his heart and he that is unholy and unâ—leâ— will be so still So â— contra As 't is with a stone cast it up its against the 〈◊〉 of it because the nature of it is to rest in the Center and hence it comes down again It is not by internal bent but by external vis or force So sin and Saâ—â—n being cast out though they work in the soul yet they are external Agents it is not I but sin and hence it is against the bent The whole soul therefore never departs from the Lord Jesus but the Spirit keeps it there As 't is in the body of a 〈◊〉 he grows sick and inclines toward a dissolution or consumption and operations are hindred and little delight in any thing yet the soul and body are not yet parted wholly hereupon for even then they are kept close So though the heart may depart and incline towards consumption and death and little can the soul do but lie still and grieve yet the union between the Spirit and the â—oul once made is never broken For as the whole soul departed and made dis-union so the whole soul returning makes the union And hence if ever after the whole soul should depart the union should be broken and hence look on a Christian when he is himself he cannot stir nor depart partly by a spirit of fear Ier. 32. 40. Like a man in a Ship he cannot cast himself into Sea it makes him tremble to think what if I should fall in and hence keeps close in the Ship what-ever â—â—orms come what-ever calms come for he sees death before him Oh the loss of Christ and his fellowship hereafter nay here is dreadful to him Partly by a Spirit of love it constrains us that when the heart sometime caâ—es not for Christ yet the Spirit of love springs up Shall I now leave him that pitied me That brought me a Pardon when my neck was on the block c. II. When he doth depart by reason of some evil in his heart yet 't is not ever but he must return â—ooner or later to him again it was best with him then For look as 't is with Satan How doth he carry the heart from God You shall see it in Iudas John 13. He stands at the door and knocks by a sinful thought liked of vers 2. Then he enters the house by causing the will to resolve of it He doth not carry men like those Herds of â—wine against their wills but prevails with the Will to resolve thus vers 27. Hereupon Satan having a Commission carries him out and he must needs go whom the Devil drives so 't is here the Spirit in recalling the soul will have him come back 1. Pâ—â—s in secret sweet living thoughts again and makes the soul consider and remember from whom 't is fallen or who the Lord is 2. Then causeth the will to resolve of a return and then he must go whom the Spirit draws Psal. 63. 6. David remembers the Lord on his bed though now driven from all Ordinances Hence vers 7. Under thy shadow I will rejoyce Hence vers 8. My soul followeth hard after thee or cleaves to thee But David was weak and feeble how came he to do this Thy hand vers 8. upholdeth me Look as it was with Sampson when his locks were cut he was like other men and was made to grinde but they grew again and then he was like himself again So when the affections and hearts to Christ are cut they are like other men for a time but they are continually coming and growing again and then they are like themselves again And I say they must return for when the Spirit carries a man indeed there is a necessity put upon him Acts 4. 20. We cannot but speâ—k the things we have heard and 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against but for the truth For here we shall see the broad difference between a convicted Hypocrite that knows all is amiss with him and the Saints He â—ees his falls from the Lord and is afraid in his Conscience of Misery if he doth not return and desires and endeavours for to do it but what if it be hard and it seem impossible to be better Now he falls down and thinks this is an infirmity which God will pardon and so Satan conquers him I say again not temptation but Satan conquers him For then a man is conquered when faith is conquered 1 Iohn 5. 4. then Faith is conquered when returning to Christ with the whole heart is conquered the whole heart returns not until a mans will resolves by being 〈◊〉 with a necessity of a return and staying there Now therefore the Spirit of God puts the soul upon a necessity of returning to the Lord that when the heart â—aith It cannot be that ever your heart should be better or the Lord help it must be saith the soul again and it is so I am not able to bear this evil for mercy must help and Spirit must draw and hence the soul must come Psal. 42. 7 8. The soul thinks mercy can and is willing but will it Why the Lord commands it when one waye calls in for another mercy must step in and hence my prayer is to thee Now this necessity of
His redemption is in him there could not be freedom one hour from unknown evils but by him Hence seeing him such an one he seeks him As why do men seek men especially if great Why do men desire to stand before Princes and please them so that they will not gladly offer them the least distaste Because they see them before them beholding of them apt to be angry if displeased and their greatness awes them So here Why is not the Lord Jesus pleased He is not seen in his Glory nor made really present and hence Rev. 5. 12 13. When they saw him on his Throne they cast down their Crowns and gave him Glory 2. The soul also feels his love and so abundantly loves him again For how come men to seek themselves in every thing and they cannot but do it 'T is because they love themselves and that abundantly necessarily as fire burns though they burn so hot in this love that at last they consume themselves So how do any can any seek the Lord We know the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13. 5. Love seeks not her own When the Sun hath put out this fire of our self-love when the sense of the Lords love hath kindled that love to the Lord again as that it abundantly loves Christ now it will seek the things of Christ and not its own things And as there is abundance of self love that men are eaten up with it so there must be much love which must be abundantly shed in the heart so as to eat up that arising from the sense of the Lords love and that abundantly For many a man comes to have some good will and affection and love to the Lord but yet never comes to seek the Lord as his last end and live to him Why Because he hath not tasted abundantly of the Lords Mercy Grace and Love Psal. 86. 12 13. And hence the incomparable Spirit of Paul I seek not yours but you Wherein In being willing to spend But save your self Paul nay and to be spent With much ado Nay most gladly Though you love me not because I love you So here though Christ should not love it yet he is worthy he hath done enough and now the soul will not only do but rejoyce nay in sufferings because his love is not dropt but shed in our hearts And hence 't is a never-failing rule little love or assurance of it little seeking the Lord much assurance much seeking of him 3. Hereupon the soul closeth with the whole will of Christ and pleaseth it because it pleaseth him It s with every man as it was with Samson he would needs have a wife or the Philistims Why so Iudg. 14. 3. Because she pleaseth me So why will men seek themselves save themselves love themselves and please their own wills Because it pleaseth them Look therefore as the soul when he loved himself did seek to please only his own will in every thing and 't is good because it pleaseth me so the soul whose heart is now indeared to Christ though he cannot perfectly do it that 's in Heaven yet he seeks to give the whole will of Christ content because it pleaseth Christ. And this is that that God hath sworn his people shall have Luke 1. 74 75. And that Christ hath delivered us from all our enemies For the great reason why men cleave not to the Lord and please his whole Will is because they have many things to care for and â—eep and please which we account friends which are the Lords enemies Satan and world to serve him without fear i. e. in love and in holinesse and righteousnesse i. e. his whole Will all â—ur daies And hence Eph. 5. 8 9. They were darknesse but now are light by Faith now there is sanctity Walk as children of the light Wherein consists that Proving what is acceptable to God Hence Eph. 6. 6. They should please Christ doing the Will of God from the heart And this is so necessary that Gal. 1. 10â— The Apostle saith If I please men i. e. their wills I am not Christs And this is walking worthy of the Lord pleasing him in all things and this is fruit the end of the tree and leaves also and differencing a tree from all other that be beautiful but barren Col. 1. 10. But why do you make this to consist in pleasing the whole will of Christ and not of God the Creator 1. Because our sanctification now cannot please God as a Creator though it may pleâ—se him that is the Creator in Christ because only perfect Holâ—ness can please him 2. Because Christ hath pleased the Father by the Holiness of himself now this being done and therefore God having put all things into his hands having done that for us we are to give content to him And herein our sanctification is differing from the Image Adam had who in closing with the will of God looked upon him as a Creator ours respects a Redeemer who hath boughâ— us to himself and hence we are to respect him in our acts now But why doth the soul close with the whole will of Christ i. e. so far as 't is made known First Because the holiness of Christ hâ—re chiefly discovers it self and against this a carnal heart will discover it self For Copernâ—ites may boast in and give entertainment to the person of Christ but when they come to repent which was one part of his will that they did not that they would not Wo therefore to thee Caâ—ernâ—â—m as many will close with Christ for pardon of sin and lay their sacks on him but you must burthen your self with them or the Lord will never ease you of them Oh no and hence they have light sorrow for sin many will embrace the comforts of Christ and love of Christ and this joys them yet the will of Christ that is wearisome to them Rom. 8. 8. They will pick and chuse Secondly Because this discovers a deep ditch of deceit in the heart many take up some duties and why do they do them Because they please the Lord and the Lord commands and for his sake when indeed 't is to please themselves for in other things they care not whether they please the Lord or no. Thirdly Because this closing with his whole will only gives the Lord content As 't is not the strings or striking upon one string that makes the Musick but striking on them all according to rule So here And hence when they sacriâ—â—eed and observed new Moons Isai. 1. 14. Who hath required these things at your hands Hence when the people began to put the Lord off with mean perâ—ormances any common stuffe the Lord takes state upon him and saith he is a King Mal. 1. 14. 9 10. I have no pleasure in you Fourthly Because this only will give peace and therefore let any man begin to pick and chuse and his heart die to the Lords will if Ionah like he will flie
from any way of the Lords and continue there he shall have storms and hence 1 Iohn 2. 3 4 5. Hereby we know him c. 4. He closeth with the whole will of the Lord as his happiness and utmost end as a man made himself his last end before and desired God and Christ only to keep his sores from aking for so I look upon all men made up of wants if the body ake with cold stomack with hunger head for want of sleep Conscience for sin all happiness lies in the easing hereof and here lies their bliss So now the soul make the life of the Lord its happiness to live unto him Gal. 2. 20. He makes it his meat and drink to do the Lords will for Iehu sought the Lord but his last end was himself as Iohn 16. 2. A man may kill and think he doth God good service but that is not his last end a carnal heart may cross his own wiâ—â— but not his own utmost end as Iudas A man may seek the Lord with delight and follow the Ordinances and fast and pray but himself is his end still Zac. 7. 5 6. Isai. 58. 4 5. As a man that goes to a City he will do your businesse but he would not go unless he had his own ends to bring about there But those that are truly sanctified make the Lord their last end and happiness It 's not only good to do the Lords will for thus men may seek the Lord as thinking it good so to do but as their blessednesse else 't is not their last end and so not sought as their last end and so 't is with the soul As a River running to the Sea many Springs run into it but it carries them down all with it so there are many occasions hindrances businesseâ— yet it carries them all down with it even the more violently the more 't is hindred Psal. 119. 126 127. Therefore love I them above gold And this expresseth it self in three things 1. In admiring at the glory of the Lord and his will and ways and accounting them happy men and blessed that thus can do and live For sometime the soul is decayed and â—allen from this or sick and weak now it accounts them happy that have health and strength to walk abroad Psal. 1. 1 2. 2. In being never at rest in his minde until now that he comes to this for therein a mans â—â—king any thing his last end appears as he made his goods his last end Luke 12. 19. Now therefore my soul be at rest for there is no seeking the Lord but self-seeking hinders Now though it be thus yet Do I make my self my last end then my minde would be at rest but if sanctified it s not at rest till now And hence Paul when he had run this race now you see him leaning upon his pillow 2 Tim. 4. 6 7. And hence Saints are loth to die and be blessed in heaven because they 〈◊〉 done so little work as yet little do the Saints for the Lord many times yet their hearts are upright for what mourn they for so much as this when they have lookt upon it oh that the Lord hath been a looser by them 3. It carries the soul thorow all difficulties with power and delight Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the righteous and joy â—â—om 7. 22. I do delight in the law of God in the 〈◊〉 man Other Nations walk in the Name of their Gods we in ours Micah 4. 5. As when wealth or honour is a mans utmost end with what violence are men carried to it and hence a man thinks he hath never such good days as then when he can do much for the Lord and hence when any duty is to be done when fearful to do it or loth to perform it when the heart is dead yet beholding it with a spiritual eye that this gives Ieâ—â—vah honour oh this carries the soul headlong even into miseries Not my will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be done This easeth the heart even in the belly of Hell and in times of the deepest desertion To this Sanctification all the Saints do come every one in their measure and if ever the soul tasted the Lords love or ever was humbled with the bitterness of sin the first voice and main care is Lord What 〈◊〉 thâ—u have me to do Nay though no assurance and it cannot joy in the Lords love yet it will in the Lords will and hence when it hath fall assurance yet finding such a vile heart if God should give it heaven with such a heart it would be death And hence when he thinks of going to Hell yet there saith he let meâ—blesse thee This Sanctification all unsound hearts do want much Reformation much affection many duties but their end is not changed though their lives be and hearts seem to be 1. Because they cannot love the Lord because the Lord doth never shed his love into their hearts 2. This was the life of Christ Iohn 8. 29. of which life they that are dead in sin never have one act though they may think they have 3. This is the end of our Election which therefore an unsound heart may as soon attain to as to elect or to be elected of God Eph. 1. 4. holy in love This may be easily known 1. Cannot a man know when he is happy 2. Cannot Peter tell Christ that he loves him 3. Cannot a man tell whether he be an Hypocrite or no For he that cannot prove his utmost end is changed must confess himself an Hypocrite yet his heart was never changed what ever assurance or peace he hath had a thing is never good till it serves its end it was made for Oh therefore look that you content not your selves with Reformation but come to this else 1. You lose all your obedience the Lord regards it not the Lord will take all from you as Vessels that are made to hold Wine and they cannot lay them by the Lord hath no pleasure in you Mal. 1. 8 9 10. 2. If you do the Lord will accept your meanest and poorest services Consider 1. Christ cast by his Robes being privie to his own worth to become obedient Phil. 2. 6 8. 2. His infinite Wisdom is in every command though thy carnal reason like it not 3. His infinite love for thy good though thou thinkest 't is for thy hurt 4. His glory though thou gettest no good at all by it SECT VI. VI. Fulness of the Spirit of Glory in the room of the world WHom the Lord doth justifiâ— those he doth glorifie Rom. 8. 30. i. e. with the Glory of another world which though it be hid for a time from others and somtimes from themselves yet they do partake of it now and it shall be revealed upon them another day 1 Pet. 5. 1. Now though Hypocrites may tast of the Word nay of the powers of the world to 〈◊〉 yet they fâ—ll short of this measure
the creature 2 Because so long the soul cannot see nor come by the eye and feer of Faith to the Lord Jesus Iohn 5. 44. and think Christ better than all as Birds in a string may fly high but when they come to the end of the line fall down there and so though the soul flies to Christ yet when indeed it comes to the end of parting withall it falls down and falls off from Christ. Whole men have no heart nor desire after Physitians when all limbs are whole and strong no desire after Plaisters so while any thing easeth and contenteth the heart there is no desire after Christ Hos. 4. 11. Whoredom and wine have taken away the heart 3 Because so long the heart if it do come cannot stay with Christ to do any thing for Christ Mat. 6. 24. You cannot serve God and riches i. e. two Masters who have constant employment and Christ hath set us such employment Hence men on sick-beds are tame as may be promise any thing because their joy in the creature is gone Hence on the other side many men after many springings of heart are choaked by thorns of the world 4. From the abundant love that the Lord Jesus shews to them that ever have or look for communion with him Those to whom we shew much love from those we expect much again As a man if taken or cast out to be servant one looks not for love from him but when a man hath given himself and made over all his estate to another now all love is too little So 't is with the Lord Jesus Iohn 6. Will you also depart SECT V. 2 THE soul must be divorced from the Law i. e. from comforting it self with the righteousnesse thereof For explication of which we must consider these things 1. That the Lord doth not ever give a man content in his sins and lusts but wounds Conscience for the same 2. That so long as the Lord wounds a mans Conscience for sin no creature can give a man comfort or content A wounded spirit who can bear Iudas casts away his silver pieces and Belshazzar quakes who was but even now quaâ—â—ing in his cups As a man that hath an aking tooth or broken bones What can comfort him now 3. Hereupon the Law fals upon a man or a man meets with the Law for as all a mans sorrow is upon him because the Law is broken all a mans care is how he may keep it again What shall I do As a man cast in prison for debt there all is opened an the Law like an earnest suitor 1. Presleth hard for love and obedience 2. Promiseth a rich portion eternal life if he can keep it If not you must be damned therefore now forsake your sins c. 4. Hence the soul not knowing a better Husband consents and resolves to cleave to it Rom. 10. 3. Deut. 5. Whatever the Lord will have us do we will do it and here it stayes and is comforted here it rests as in Asa his time all rejoyced for the Oath 2 Chro. 15. Isai. 58. 1 2. and if it find not perfect comfort because of imperfect work it then closeth with Christ for to make up and piece up all Gal. 5. 1. And now I say 't is comforted in what it hath and doth and here it rests now from hence it must be divorced What need I prove it when the Apostle hath so fully Galat. per totum and consider the young man Mat. 19. Divorced I say the soul must be from this 1. Because he that doth thus sets up another Christ and makes himself his own Saviour can the Lord Jesus take such a soul into communion with him Suppose a Prince be pulled by his people from his Throne and they set up another pious vertuous Prince to Rule will this serve the turn to say he is an honest Prince so though duties be never so good yet not to advance Christ is to pull down Christ. 2. Because such persons do commonly most oppose the Lord Jesus in a way of believing though not in a way of doing the Lord hath more ado if any of these be brought home to bring them in they have somewhat to say for themselves they have stronger forts c. The Scribes and Pharisees rejected the counsel of God against themselves and hence no people lest to such deep desertions as these if the Lord intend mercy to them for they have more need than others 3. Because hereby a man doth but make a conspiracy against Gods greatest plot that ever he had a foot viz. to advance his free Grace Gal. 5. 4. you are fallen from Grace for nothing makes a man more fit to boast than works and resting in them sin makes a man ashamed and therefore if they come to Heaven they have laid a foundation to thank themselves for somewhat hence no communion with Jesus Christ in this frame no the Lord will tear down this foundation and make the soul cry guilty and make this Husband the Law to be judge to examine and condemn and now come and ask what have you to plead for your life and peace it hath no plea to shew but mércy c. it hath its duties evidencing against it SECT VI. 2 THe soul now comes to be Espoused to the Lord Jesus Quest. How The soul beholding the glory of the Lord Jesus makes choice of him as in all Marriage bonds there is a choice made and if love be great there is little standing on terms let me have him though I begg with him so the soul sees such a sutableness in the Lord Jesus as that it stands not on terms let me have him though in prison with him though in the Garden in Agonies with him though in the Cross in desertions with him he is enough as Peter when he saw Christ on the Sea desired he might come to him there Heb. 11. 26. Chusing the reproach of Christ c. And look as Christ chuseth the soul 1. The whole soul. 2. Everlastingly 3. Above all others so it makes choice of Christ whole Christ Phil. 3. 9. 2. Everlastingly The Lord is my portion for ever Psalm 73. 26. And before ever you can look for communion with him you must make this choice of him and glad too you may have him on any terms nay put it to any soul the Lord hath done good to and ask it will you have him 't is such a mercy I cannot conceive how one so vile as I should have it have him the Lord of glory the Prince of life and peace O yes Hence Peter said Master what shall we have that have forsaken all and followed thee you shall sit with me on Thrones and look as Christ now chuseth the soul above others as well as in Heaven Iohn 15. 16. so it now chuseth Christ Whom have I in Heaven or earth many when they think of death or are dying then chuse him but not now or
s the great plot of Arminians to make Christ a means only to make every man a first Adam setting men to work for their living again for they grant all Grace is lost all comes from Christ Christ gives all and to Christ we must look for all and then when we have it use it well thus you shall have life else look for death So 't is a misery many a soul is in Men will trade in small wares rather than live on anothers Almes Do you think the Lord takes it well to make him a Merchant for your ends Oh no never look to have communion with him in this way 3. Those that close with but rejoyce more in a little Grace they receive from Christ than in all the fulnesse in Christ more in a little they do than in all the Lord Jesus hath done Phil. 3. 3. That is a womans husband in whom she rejoyceth most Do you rejoyce more in what you have and do than in what the Lord Jesus hath and hath done more in what you receive from him for a hypocrite may receive from Christ Iohn 15. 2. than in what there is in him It argues a whorish heart I know a man may rejoyce in what Christ works in him but 1. not more in this than in Christ himself 2. A child of God may while he knows not whether Christ is his do so but you think the Lord is yours well when you feel affections and life then you are glad when that is lost then sad why is there no life when thou art dead no glory when thou art base no wisdom no communion with God when thou hast none Yes why dost thou not rejoyce in this which is here most fully which Saints presenting please the Lord more by than by giving the glory of Angels infinite millions of years Oh thy heart is not in love with Christ but somewhat else for here is the joy of all Saints In thy seed shall all Nations account themselves blessed all Nations one and another Isai. 45. 24 25. shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Consider therefore this thou art sometime joyed why O I find my heart thus and thus and is this all yes for when this is gone all joy dies and should I not do thus yes else you never felt comfort of it but not only rejoyce here but when the beam is gone the Lord is not gone Rom. 7. ult when the bottles are spent the spring is full 4. He that performs any duty ultimately to ease his conscience he is married yet unto the Law for there are two sorts of duties to the Law 1. Some are directed to give Christ content to ease his heart by seeing Gods love in Christ then love being shed the heart sheds it on Christ again and thus saith the Apostle I through the Law am dead to it that I might live to God Gal. 2. 19. 2. Some are to give the soul ease it sees sin and fears it must dye and the Devil appears and when it lies down it fears it shall never awaken again and when it hears thinks no mercy but only threats belong to it and hence having no peace of conscience to think God will love it it loves duties doth duties and now takes these for good tokens and signs of love and if it feels a need of Christ 't is only to ease it Now a man is married to the Law when he crouds for ease into the bosome of it Deut. 5. 27. they were in great fear Whatever God will have us do we will do it is it not thus with many How shall we know this Answ. Dost find this while fears and terrors of conscience are on thee so long thou dost seek and pray and heâ—r and call on God and when they are worn away by time or blown over with feeling some good things and hopes from them then thy heart is careless again 't is certain you are yet married to the Law as many a man exceeding forward while prest under sense of sin for a year or two Lord how many hundreds drop away by little and little afterwards Deut. 5. 29. Oh that there were such a heart alway Mat. 3. 7. to 13. they saw a wrath to come hence feared and hence came to Iohns Baptism to repent and confesse him 5. No man that is married to the Law but his fig-leaves ever cover some nakedness all the duties ever broodsome lust there is some one sin or other the man lives in which either the Lord discovers and he will not parwith as the young man or else is so spiritual he cannot see all his life-time read through the strictest of all and see this Mat. 23. Painted Sepulchres Paul that was blamelesse yet Eph. 2. 3. Tit. 3. 3. served divers lusts and pleasures and the reason is the Law is not the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8 9. which breaks off from every sin there is no saw that can give â—ife Gal. 3. 21. And hence many men have strong resolutions and break all again hence men sin and sorrow and pray again and then go with more ease in their sin examine thy self is there any living lust with thy righteousnesse 't is sure 't is a righteousnesse thou art married to and never wert yet match'd to Christ hence note thy self it may be thou hast rested in duties and since more light came saw it and seeing this thinking that here is all thy errour thou hast laboured to see the emptinesse of thy own Righteousnesse and the fulnesse of Christ and now thou art come to both and now well So then thou hast not found out any lust thou livest in all that time nor the 〈◊〉 of thy old nature no why then I pronounce thou art yet maâ—â—ied to the Law take and trust never so much to Christs righteousnesse 〈…〉 the power of a proud heart an unclean heart still never speak of Christ. 6. They that are fearful to be troubled at their estate to have it prove ill which a Saint may do yet brings it out to the light at last Iohn 3. 20. When a Woman is married to a condemned man guilt being upon him he loves not to be seen abroad in the sight of others thou hearest a Sermon and art loath it should be found out loath to be troubled he that hath righteousnesse in Christ will not only bring it to tryal before men but God himself Now is it thus with any of you what shall I say shall I say that Christ is or may be thine in this estate â—â—uly if I durst I should bless thy self thou maist but remember that the Lord will take thee to do for it and what is it to lose communion with Christ I cannot express it The Disciples were sad when he went away from them in his abasement but for the Lord to leave thee when in his glory to stand a far off and see him go never to see
now away to the Lord if ever help now 't is when most helplesse 2. If you can do any thing savingly good the soul is bound now by the power of Faith to stir up it self to act though not to trust to it alone for somtimes the soul hath the regenerate part uppermost and the prevailing Spirit of God Psal. 21. 3. which comes to him and gives it power to act before the soul come to it Now a man is bound to act because 't is from Christ now Hence Timothy was to stir up the gift 2 Tim. 1. 6. Hence complained of them Isa. 64. 8. None stir up himself to take hold on the Lord. A man must stir up himself to believe as well as other Graces hence the Kingdom of Heaven is taken with violence and though corruption is stronger than Grace yet Grace assisted with the Spirit is stronger than it which is never quite out of the soul but 't is in the soul 1 Iohn 4. 4. Stronger is he that is in you And 't is said professedly He purgeth himself and keepeth himself the evil one toucheth him not 1 John 5. 18. But mark trust not barely t◠this but when you do this withall remember Lord I cannot hold out in this unlesse thou dost help me But know Isa. 26. The Lord is the rock of my strength And if you by the Spirit mortifie c. Rom. 8. 13. Therefore ever hold up sailes but look for a wind And if a man be not to do this then when any sinful temptation comes if a man do not find the Spirit and strength ready at hand to help if he be not to stir up himself against it he is to suffer himself to be carried down by it Hence a man may neglect all duties a long time if he do not find the Spirit assisting if so be a man must not stir himself up and so will some say a man may May What shall I say to such sluggish soul but sleep on But know it the Lord will awaken thee when you shall say Oh that I had improved the Talent I had And if you do find Christ in such a condition know it they be but the last visits of Christ before he departs You can do more than you do and the Lord will have you do it But I cannot do it for good ends without Christ. Yet do the thing as far as you can else if you owe another a debt and will not pay because not for a good end that excuse will not serve So you owe the Lord your lives your spirits your abilities lay them out for the Lord though evil be in them be humbled for that Is this good requital to say you find your hearts dead in prayer and God must do all and there leave it 3. You are to expect and look for power from the Lord Jesus in the use of means all known means For Faith fetcheth all from Christ hence we must go thither where Christ is to be found and he dwells in his House in his Ordinances Therefore there you must depend upon him As 't is with a Merchant he wades not over the Sea for Pearls but gets into his ship and there he sits still so here Mat. 13. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Merchant man Hence you that know you can do nothing being under a spirit of conviction and hence do nothing under a spirit of sloth and neglect of means by vertue of a spirit of presumption and say Christ must do all I say you take not the right course for the Lord to help you in The Lord will never be a slave to thy sloth but thou shalt be like a shrub never to see good when it comes and shalt die in horrour with this Oh I might have done more Hence you are worse than the other that think if a man fasts prayes watches against his distempers mourns for want of Christ and Grace and followes God hard here he is a Legal Christian Why these are but his own works and this is not living on Christ. I confesse bare using them or trusting to them is not but he that lives not on Christ in use of means these and all other means to find Christ or enjoy more of Christ shall never have him Neither do I know what turning Gods Grace into wantonnesse is if this be not and under a conceit of liberty to be a servant of corruption I know not whether it be thus with any but if I did I would pity them 4. If the soul cannot every moment live on Christ i. e. for every particular act have a distinct act of Faith for this cannot be yet every fit season that it can it ought to look up to the Lord for life and fresh strength Pray as 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every fit season And as he brings forth fruit so he goes for fruit in season Psal. 1. 3. And when the soul doth this the Spirit of the Lord helps when the act is ceased Now the fit seasons are 1. At beginning of any action as prayer hearing reading All the time a man is in his journey or in his work he is carried on by the act of Faith at first setting out The reach of Faith is long and continues all prayers all the duty throughout the act of faith is short Now the Lord looks to his people according to the first 2. When our act beigns to die as Moses lifted up his hands and when they were heavy Aaron and Hur supported them again 3. When a man feels himself strong now apt to be self-confident now Lord for an humble heart And thus you are to live on Christ which if done would make a Christians life glorious and give infinite content to the heart of Christ. But here is the misery either hearts are full and need not or slothful and care not for living so That truly I do not wonder to hear and see so many withering trees as though blasted by wrath because you fetch not all out of this stock and Christ is such a stranger because you are so seldom with him to act and bring forth fruit to him SECT VI. 2 COnsider of the means to act from Christ Jesus and indeed herein lies the skill and life of a Christian and this is the complaint of many a Soul Christ is full and he is not for himself but for those that want and I come to him when I want it and yet I find no help and hence many are brought to think either it 's in vain to come to Christ or else I have no Faith in Christ I will therefore premise these three things 1. That a false double treacherous disloyal heart to Christ cannot expect to receive any thing it comes for unto Christ. As 't is with a Woman that though others do not yet her Husband knows she is fallen in league with some other man he will be strange to her and will not do any thing for
her Iohn 2. ult He knew what was in man as 't is in grafts Iames 1. 7 8. Let not a double-minded man think to receive any thing at the hands of the Lord for that is the nature of man under the power of any lust it makes all serve it even Christ himself which he will never do I am weary of your new Moons saith the Lord and you fast and pray and have no answer for you fast for Debate and therefore I take a man considered as broken off from the power of his lusts not one that feels himself under the power of it for such an one may be delivered from it such a soul as can say much ado have I had to feel my sin and to be willing to part with it but now I am here is the Soul I speak of 2. That the Lord in the dispensation of Grace to his people is wholly free to give it when he will for a man that works for his wages must in justice have his wages when his work is done but he that begs for his living must be content to stay We live by Faith and free gift not by works and deserts and hence must wait and stay Mic. 7. 7. Hence let not any man think sensibly to receive what he goes for to the Lord Jesus presently as many feel a want of Grace and think the Lord hath promised to help and now how would it make for his honour to give but find it not and hence grow sad or discouraged and think it is in vain to seek no no Christs hour is not yet come when you think it is Iohn 2. My hour is not yet come and hence many get nothing because they lie out of the way of the Covenant viz. to think oh the Lord owes me nothing and I deserve the contrary 3. That no man is to look to receive all that which he comes to the Lord for but only so much as is fit for him a man feels much straitnesse and he would have many enlargements he finds much deadness and he would have deep and over-flowing affections and he comes to the Lord for it and the Lord gives some Doth he â—ot do you not find it can you say you seek the Lord and attend on the Lord in vain with these Hypocrites Mat. 3. 14. True but yet methinks more would be better How do you know that I think so that it would be more for his honour you think so then it seems you have one eye more than Christ and that he is very carelesse and foolish in raising his own honour Oh abhor those thoughts he gives you such a coat as is fit for you such a sail as fits your boat such shoes as fit your feet Psal. 21. 5. Honour and Majesty hast thou fitted for him therefore do not look to receive any more than is fit for you and know it that is best for you The Physitian prescribes that which is fit not that which is most desired of the Patients if they will not accept of this he will not look after them 1 Cor. 12. 7 8. 4. Think not to get any thing from the Lord Jesus with ease I mean to the fleshly part it hath been an old complaint I go to Christ and fish all night and can catch nothing and why here is the cause they cannot get it easily and therefore they cannot get it at all yea there ' t is Heb. 11. 6. This is one of the two main handles of Faith he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him not negligently and hence at their first conversion how doth Christs Fruits overflow and his Iordan rise above the banks and what a deal doth a christian gain yet not afterward so in time of great trouble oh 't is because you seek him diligently Therefore in prescribing means do not say this is hard and so depart as those did upon the very same ground Iohn 6. 60. SECT VII The Meanes are these 1. LAbour for a comprehending knowledge what is the love of Christ to thee there is a double knowledg of Christs love 1. That he loves me and this very apprehension fetcheth in warmth and life into the heart In thy favour is life 2. What that love is and that in all the dimensions of it and beloved this is that which fills a man Eph. 3. 18 19. that as 't is with Women when the fulnesse of the Husbands love is seen it knits the heart invincibly to him and makes her do any thing for him so here And as we say of Trees if the Tree begins to wither and dye the only way is not to cast water on the branches or to pray for water and dews from Heaven on them but water the root Love is the next root of all Grace love Christ and you will never be weary of doing for Christ love him and he will love you Prov. 8. 17. Now what kindles love so much as this comprehending knowledg of the Lord Jesus and his love this will make a man a burning Beacon of love make a man melt into love which is as strong as death much water cannot quench it 2 Cor. 5. 14. Love of Christ constrains Gal. 5. 6. Faith works by love Faith is our feet whereby we come to Christ Love is our hand whereby we work for Christ now let any Chirurgeons servant come to a Chirurgeon with a broken arm and tell him he can do no work for him therefore desire him to give him strength to do it come saith he let me heal your arm first no by no means let me first do your work that so you may heal and I may feel my arm to be whole It can never be So 't is many a Christians course Lord let me do thy work and hence he cries Lord give me strength and then falls to do it and cannot without pain because his love is broken Many say I will go to Christ and act for Christ and then I will think the Lord loves me but never find it first see and comprehend the love of the Lord And truly this is the reason why no heart no strength to act for God unlesse it be in a weâ—risom manner and why oh love is out and why is that out why 't is not comprehended by the eye of Faith it 's despised by some other things are sweet to them or it 's forgotten by others men remember not what once they were and what the Lord hath done 't is seen a little and hence a little life and strength but 't is comprehended by few O sinful times O unkind world never was my heart so dead saith one never so straitned and shut up saith another never so feeble in all duties saith another why you see and taste and sip of this love but you feed not heartily abundantly on it Never didst thou think so little of this love for though Christ will conveigh rich Grace to his people yet it shall be by
love a spring of running love without measure for this is the difference between affectionâ— of Saints and Hypocrites to Christ the one ariseâ—h like a morning dew which is soon lickt up by the Sun Hos. 6. 4. the heat of affectionâ— after other things licks it up but the love of Saints to Christ is like a spring which riseth to everlasting life a spring is but little but yet the fâ—rther it goes the wider 't is till at last swallowed up in the Sun and there is no measure of water so Saints have but a little love but the longer they live the more enlarged for Christ and there is no measure but all is too little they never can never do love enough so that look as 't is said in another case Psalm 102. 13 14. ' T is time for thee to build up Ierusalem i. e. to return to thy people in thy Ordinances for they love the stones so then it 's time for Chriâ—t to come and then the set and fit time is come for a â—eople to meet with Christ out of Ordinances when the set time is come when they love Ordinances and love Christ much more When a man is gone beyond Seâ— and all his Friends and estate are at home they long for him and he is left among enemies why comes he not to them why send not they for him why they know he is sickly and cannot live on the dyer of the country hence he is unfit to come but when that is once come to passe that he can live only on it then he is ready when-ever they send so when men can live with and be content alone with Christ and his love now they are fi With what face can a man appear before Christ when he requires nothing but love and he hath not that 3. Then a man is unready for Christ whiles he neglects the work of Christ for suppose a man hath some inward love to Christ yet neglects hath no heart to do the work of Christ he is as yet no more fit to meet Christ than a Steward who hath had much betrusted him to improve for his Lords use and he hath let all seasons go wherein he might have traded for him and gained somewhat to him How can he appear before him when no fair accounts to be seen so the Lord hath betrusted thee with many Talents timeâ— strength means c. you are not Lords but Stewards of all these Now do you not let many fair seasonâ— and winds blow by you have if espoused to Christ every man some work Now how can you stand before Christ if that be neglected Oh thus 't is with many christians hence those sad alaâ—â—ms of conscience and shakings of Gods Spirit after many loose dâ—yes dipt in some good duties What dost thou that others do not that never shall see Gods face in Heaven Now therefore then the soul is ready for the Lord when 't is daily at it finishing Gods work hence Iohn 17. 5. I have finished my work now glorifie me Christ hath given us our lives work dayes-work every hours work for Christ hath ever eâ—ployment now though a soul may livelong and cannot finish its lives work yet if it finish its dayes work or hours work it may have comfort then if the Lord should come That look as 't is with a Marriner when he hath his Fraight now let the wind come to drive him out of the Haven he is ready to depart so here 2 Pet. 1. 8 9 10 11. If ye do these things and abound an open entrance shall be ministred unto you i. e. when a christian is ever acting for Christ and adding one Grace to another in his course then he is so ready that an open entrance is made for him Therefore look after this 'T is with most Professors commonly as 't is with a Woman that loves her Husband and begins to dresse her self but so much businesse to do that she doth it but by starts hence call her never so laâ—e she will say she is not yet ready she hath so much to do she cannot so 't is here Or as 't is in a house where all things are in a lumber and many things wrapt up and put into holes so long as all things be in a lumber there is no readinesse So many a soul hath a heart fit to receive Christ but all things are in a lumber in a confusion out of place and order and hence not yet ready to entertain Christ but when this work is done then ready Oh betimes do this work set things to rights in your souls 4. Then a man is unready when having done his work he grows puft up with it for let all the three former be wrought in the soul if now the soul be puft up thinks highly of it self attributes any thing to it self as he said in another case they are too many for the Lord so he is too big for the Lord. And truly this we shall find it 's pretty easie to be mean in our own eyes after we have been indeed carelesse and vile before the Lord but when the Lord hath mightily assisted enlarged assured enabled comforted quickened now to be as nothing this is difficult Hence Knox on his death-bed had this Temptation of Meriting When Hezekiah was sick he was cast down but when well and God gave him great Treasures his heart was lifted up now he was unfit Now therefore when a christian is ready to give all to free Grace and to adore that now he is ready for the Lord Psalm 108. 1. My heart is prepared I will sing 〈◊〉 give praise Gods last end is to bring the soul to the praise of the riches of his Grace not only to enjoy God as Adam Now the great reason why Christ comes not to his people presently after they are espoused to him 't is to make them ready to attain that end Hence he leaves sins temptations sorrows desertions on purpose that they may at conclusion look back and see if ever saved pardoned it 's Grace Now therefore when the soul is brought to do this when he hath this rent in his hand now the Lord is ready to receive him and it too and he is prepared for the Lord he that hath not his Rent ready himself is not as yet at all ready to meet with and see his Landlord So that you think you boast not Oh the Lord sees you do or have not hearts so enlarged towards Grace as you should it 's certain you are yet unready then but when empty and poor and cast down and makest an infinite matter of a small sin and settest a high price on a little love much more on infinite now you are prepared Hence David falls a praising when near to death and the Lord near to come to him SECT IV. 1. THe law of Respect and Love requires this of us when Peter would expresse his love unto Christ Luke 22. 33. he professeth
this if Christ should not love thee would not thy life be death thy Salvation from many dangers be Damnation thy Friends miserable comforters thy joyes sorrows what good would any thing do thee if thou hadst these thoughts all these I have but wrath with them What comfort can a man take in his Feast if news were then brought that after 't is done you must go to the stake to be burnt You that joy in your pastimes one frown of Christ would blast all Oh see this Psalm 63. Thy loving-kindnesse is better than life in thy favour is life Now joy for this and this will knit your heart nearer to him For Jesus sake ponder this Point Now 2. Taste the bitternesse of the sweetnesse remaining now 't is distilled and Satan shews a Three-fold sweetness before in and after the enjoying of it Now 1. Before remember how they have drawn away and held thy heart from God done thee more hurt than all afflictions many a sweet smile hadst thou had from God but for them 2. In the enjoying of it 't is sweet but when 't is sweet to thee 't is then most bitter to the heart of God when thy joy is kindled the Lords sorrow is stirred up and provoked 3. After 1. It will draw thy heart from God and 2. It will be bitter in thy belly at last Whatever sweetnesse draws thee from the love of Christ Oh it will be bitter Rom. 6. 21. Chew upon this and see if any thing here be worthy of your joy and if not then return to your first Husband II. Taste the allsufficiency of the love of Christ a Woman that is not content with her Husbands love she will not love him as 't is fit So when other things make love to us and the Lords love is not enough Cant. 1. 4. More than wine hence the upright love thee Do but sit down and think what this is If once he loves thee what-ever he can he will do for thee he will order all thy life not one thing shall hurt thee every thing in providence shall work for thy glory sins sorrows c. so as thou shalt say his denyals are better than his gifts his blows better than smiles his withdrawings better than his presence these evils better than joyes and when once he loves me he will never leave me that come life come death I am safe Oh taste this III. See the Lord Jesus now as he is and â—n truth this were enough to make any prophane heart love him much more a Saint espoused to him but the Lord hath hid himself from their eyes shall he be so is he so from yours 1 Pet. 1. 8. When seeing not with bodily eyes but with Faith ye love him 1 Iohn 3. 1 2 3. We shall see him as he is VVhy suppose the day of doom was come Christ in the clouds and all creatures before him all Angels ministring to him in all the Glory of his Father Oh then the love of Christ Oh one smile one word of Christ would be precious Lord that men should be in a Dream See Christ a little higher set in his Throne a place more glorious though lesse seen in all the Glory of his Father all mighty Angels ministring to him all the world put into his hand doing what he will and all he will why will you not love him now Is the Gospel a Fable say so if it be then love him not if you can VVhen Simeon and the VVise men saw him though but in his abasement they honoured him much more now if see him in glory It 's a question whether the beams of the Sun are fire Some demonstrate it thus Take a Glasse and gather together the beams it burns Therefore so if you would see so as to be affected gather together the beams of his glory and love Thus you see the means to get fit love and if it be lost Oh now get it again lest the Lord strain for it else you are not fit and if it be not any love that sufficeth much lesse no love as in many of you but consider 1 Cor. 16. 22. He that loves not Christ let him be accursed Oh that this might be won from you O little love goes out to Christ who sees it not Ordinances of Christ men are weary of them the truths of Christ despise them the Servants of Christ they quarrel with them Now recover your Love the Lord help you so to do SECT III. TO do the work of Christ to be daily at it and finishing of it for look as it was with the Head 't is so with all the Members that are to remain a while in this life they have some work to do for the Lord some common some special work and when that is done now they are ready to return home again Hence Iohn 17. 4 5. I have finished the work and now he stands at the door and knocks and is ready for entrance Now glorifie me with thy self and you shall find a faithful heart will neither be willing nor ready to go till this is done What is this work I am to do I have answered this else-where at large yet these two things I would say 1. That a mans chief work lies not in facile duties for though Grace and Christs â—pirit makes duties easie his yoke easie yet there is a contrary Spirit that will make them hard and difficult at first 2. Least I should leave you unsatisfied altogether we shall find a christian life is carried with a double motion 1. In seeking of God in his Ordinances 2. Or in walking with God out of his Ordinances these are joyned together Gen. 6. 8 9. Noah found Grace hence sought it though not in the eyes of the world and hence Noah walked with God Hence we see Christ was sometime in the Mount alone Sometime abroad going up and down doing good Moses in the Mount and in the Camp too Now look as before a man is justified his chief work then is to seek God in his Ordinances for a principle so a soul now espoused to Christ is to walk with Christ now walking implies constant following of another or a continual work so Christ hath work for you every moment Hence in every company time place temptation enquire thus Am I not like to lose my time my heart Christs honour What work hath Christ for me to do hold here for here lies your work Look as an ambitious man asks how serves this for my honour and Satan how he may dishonour Christ so do you ask how you may honour him Rom. 6. 19. As you have given your selves instruments of iniquity c. And now because we live in times and places wherein men have so much work of their own to do that Christ is neglected wherein very few walk with God Hence men taking mens examples for patterns and copies of their course content themselves to do as others do And this being
a close act mainly consisting in what is unseen and because men are apt to put off Christ with desires and serve Satan indeed and because apt to resolve all Religion into some two or three duties or Graces and because mens hearts are catching at comforts and promises but commands tedious and burdensome I shall presse this upon these Motives only here let me premise when I presse you to this 't is not to a Covenant of Works as though you could act your selves but we look to Christs Blood and Spirit to set on things I speak to them under Grace who have the Spirit without and Faith within to act and carry them here But 1. Whose work will you do you cannot cease to do Christs work but you must do your own work I speak not for idlenesse i. e. you must serve your lust now consider what good did thy self ever do thee nay Satan never such an enemy as thy own self and will you fall down to such an Image Shall thy lusts have content more and rather than Christ 2. Consider the Lord will take care and charge of thee to do thy work to bring about thy ends for thee do but thou do his Martha was cumbred about many things hence forsook the better part so men neglect forget Christs work because of so many distractions of their own What will become of my hundred Talents what will become of my Wife Child Now do you take care of the Lords work take that for your charge and the Lord will take charge of you The best readiest and only way to have your own ends is to seek the Lords and forget your own As in Solomon his great work and care was to rule a State well and the Lord gave all the rest Set thy face to the Sun and these shadows will follow you The Servant takes charge of his Masters work and he need not trouble himself for meat and drink and è contra First there shall not any evill hurt thee whereas else thy good things shall Isai. 27. 3. Secondly All Creatures in Heaven and Earth shall serve that man that serves his God Hos. 2. 21 23. whereas else they groan under thee Thirdly Angels shall come out of Heaven to guard thee Fourthly Nay the Lord Jesus himself shall stand at the top of the ladder that when every thing else shall leave thee he shall then bring the best wine at the last he will be a portion to thee Psalm 16. Phil. 3. 8. 3. Consider that the more difficult any duty is the more sweetnesse shall you receive if you break through it Men plead difficulty I plead gain Hence he that overcomes shall eat of the hidden Manna Hence never any so comforted honoured as Christ because never any went through so hot a work for the Father as Christ Phil. 2. You plead the difficulty of a christian life and taste not the sweetnesse of that life if you can do no more than what is easie and pleaseth self the Lord will never let you taste the sweetnesse of pleasing him Have you not sometimes found your hearts dead to Prayer yet you fell to it and then would not but have took the season for a world 4. Consider let the duty be to Nature impossible yet the Lord is at hand to help even when no strength Isai. 40. 29. Nay Heb. 11. 34. Out of weaknesse were made strong If you had no Christ no Spirit no Promises to assure you of help you might then cease acting and say 't is impossible I should ever overcome such evils attain to that measure but when Promises to assure and Christ and Spirit at hand now to plead impossibility is to reproach the Lord to think he will set his people to make Brick and give them no straw nay to war against God and to make the Lord war against you Numb 14. You know how they cried out of impossibilities and now the Lords anger rose when they were ready to enter Canaan So when men are ready to enter upon possession of Christ and Promises then impossibilities appear Consider therefore what the Lord hath done for David Gideon Samson who went out in the name and Spirit of the Lord and were helped If you were under the Law you might plead this but under Grace 't is horrible to make this excuse 5. Consider if the Lord do not help as he will be free yet he will accept thy will I know he will not accept the wishes of servants yet he will accept the will of Sons neither will he accept the will of Sons in a work they might have strength from him to do and go not to him for it but in that case he will as 2 Cor. 12. 9. i. e. 't is enough I accept thee and this is very sweet that for his own sake he should be pleased as well with the will as with the work for this is that which troubles I would have help the Lord gives none why the Lord accepts of it as if thou didst it as in Davids building a Temple For a Christians work is done two wayes First Sometimes by feeling when we feel help Secondly Some times by Faith by going to another for it and this the Lord accepts most mercifully for this is his Victory over all sin even his Faith When we see a duty hard and do not go to the Lord for help then we are overcome properly For out of the abundance of the heart the person acts for Christ. 6. Consider the Lord will honour thee though the work doth not Iohn 12. 26. Him will my Father honour both in this life Rom. 2. 29. and in that to come Now as 't is in acting parts 't is no matter what Fellow-acters think God is the great Spectator God will esteem of thee and Conscience shall witnesse as much when no eye sees or when men see and judge amisse yet the Lord approves and at the great Day before Men and Angels and all the world 1 Cor. 4. 5. Then shall every man have praise of God and hence Mat. 25. Christs judgement is made according to the works of his people because then they shall not be compared with themselves and their sins but with the wicked and hence to set out their glory he reckons up all they have done All men in all their acts seek to avoid shame and attain honour now if you did know a way for all men in the world to honour you would you not attend it what is their Dreams to Gods honour Hence not one act but is now chronicled Mal. 3. 16. and afterward rewarded 1 Cor. 15. 58. Oh then give content to the Lord. 7. Consider the peace you shall have by this means both while you live and when you dye what 's the cause of so many doleful clamours of Conscience but a loose carelesse heart the Lord is neglected that when one pleads Faith it will be replyed the true Faith is the Faith of the Son of
have no will my heart is endeared to my sin Therefore resign up thy self to him to give thee a will put it into his hand as bad as it is this is Spouse-like and to take away that will to sin so thou shalt have him I am my Beloveds he is mine For the Father looks to the Law and saith Sinner if thou believe thou shalt be saved now lie under the Spirit and you are where you should be resist here you resist the Holy Ghost Oh but sin is dear Consider 1. What good did it ever do thee 2. Hath Christ shed his Blood or no if not Oh the wrath of God is to come if he hath Oh wilt thou offer this wrong to his Blood that a Lust shall be dearer than it thy bloody Knives dearer than the life and death and mercy of a Son Oh therefore if any Soul hath any lust dear I beseech you by all the bitter sorrows of Christ not to reject so great salvation But must I receivâ— Christ with my own strength No you cannot nor ought not but if the Lord puts strength in thee put itâ— forth Many followed Christ for loaves but none that ever came to him for himself that ever he put away Psalm 81. 11 12 13. I shewed much love but they would none of me Oh that they had hearkened At this instant God may give thee a heart But I fear I shall never get my sins removed that I feel which I think cannot stand with Grace Gods Promise and Reason is cross to thy fears if a Son all things also though many years hence Rom. 8. 32. If not by receiving is iâ— by rejecting that thou shalt attain thy end 'T is true thou hast fallen off by thy sin from Christ because thy falls have made thee fall off by unbelief from him and made thee say either I do not believe or the Lord intends no good to me you have had no strength because not satisfied with meat But I may presume Is it presumption to honour Christ and to have him honoured in thee No Dost think if the Lord shall after all thy sins and in the midst of all thy miseries give thee Christ shall he not be honoured by this yes who can ever have such cause to love him as I Shall not thy receiving of him by Faith honour him yes Rom. 4. 20. Canst dishonour him so much as by rejecting him when he hath laid down his life shewed his love offers himself now to reject him 't is to offer greatest contempt to him and his love that can be hence can you honour him so much as by this Do never so much without him he is unsatisfied do this he is well-pleased Nay after all thy sins yet he saith Return to me Nay nothing else is such a means to honour him by doing for him If so grant thou art vile unworthy poor yet for the honour of the Lord Jesus do it who is but little honoured in the world and stand out no longer thus receive him and then know it you are Sons and rejoyce in it and do it now while the Spirit is upon thee and remember now not to change Ier. 2. 11. As Women Oh I would not change see how happy is thy choice But Lord who hath believed our Report How may the Soul come to close with the person of the Lord Iesus 1. Before any man can close i. e. see and say he doth close with the Lord as his own he must feel a want of the Lord and his presence not only of his comforting but of his holy presence for some people there be that never felt a want of Christ at all they are great and grievous sinners but they trust to Christ and though he kill them yet they will trust to him others are in misery and they feel a want of redemption and hence close with Christ for that Psalm 78. 35. Oâ—hers are in horror and know not what to do and they feel a want of the comforts of Christ and hence close with Christ for that and if they find it they depart from Christ by looseness of life if not by despair of heart as Saul 1 Sam. 28. God answers me not by Urim c. Others feel a want of some righteousness from Christ the having of which supports and sustains them without Christ till with the Prodigal when all is spent then they think of Bread at home and the want of which makes them to have lesse esteem of and desire after Christ but they are full of Objections against the thoughts of closing with him but hence they close with Christ for that Others there are that feel a want of the Lord himself and hence close with him for himself so that let a man have all blessings in the world the purity of Ordinances never so many illapses and droppings of divine light and life and comfort in these Ordinances that he wonders the Lord should be so good to him yet he shall find if right his soul secretly unquiet and unsatisfied till he hath the Lord himself As the savour of meat makes a man that wants it cry the more after it long the more for it so the savour and sweet of all creatures all Ordinances all Duties do not stay but stir up the soul to seek Christ when he is himself Ier. 50. 4. They shall seek the Lord weeping Hence first they felt a want of him The full soul loaths the honey-comb Let the Lord be never so sweet let him do them never so much good the more good he doth them the lesse they regard him Ier. 2. 6. They said not where is the Lord Therefore that soul that truly closeth with the Lord must first feel a want of the Lord and say these Ordinances are not bread these creatures are not bread all these parts gifts duties are not bread bran not bread All this savour this sweetnesse 't is not bread Hence I perish for want of bread I have creatures Ordinances Affections comforts Duties but Oh no Christ. Like the Prodigall Luke 15. 17. Oh therefore do not only see but feel the want of the Lord Jesus you that never had him yet nay you that have him you cannot have more of him but by feeling more the want of him Oh it was a marvellous expression of Moses when the Lord began to grow weary of their company Exod. 33. 15. If thou goest not with us carry us not up hence i. e. Let us rather die than live without thee Mary when Christ was crucified the carcase of the Lord was gone she sate there weeping Oh much more for the Lord himself It s observed by some for the saddest spectacle to see a desert Town Oh what is it to see a desert heart where no Christ inhabits Or a city and no Inhabitants And hence its Romes curse to be made an habitation of devils so here What is Hell but this to see not
for him long not after him and hence let all leak out again How shall the Lord trust you with wine with full fruition of himself in Heaven 5. Oh Beloved have you ever found him in his Ordinances If not Oh the heavy wrath of the Lord Jesus upon thee If you have if ever he hath comforted thee when sad and sorrowful if ever quickned thee when death and darknesse did lie upon thee if ever he did deliver thee when distressed Oh then take heed of despising him in his Ordinances now but long for him again That I may see thee as I have seen thee Psal. 63 2. Let them that never found him deal so with him Peter when he saw Christs Glory on the Mount Lord saith he ' t is good for us to be here Hath the Lord ever transfigured himself before thee so as he hath appeared in another manner to thee in his Ordinances than ever thou sawest before Then say seeing Lord I cannot come to Heaven to thee 't is good being in the Mount in thy Ordinances with thee its good being here 1 Pet. 2. 2 3 4. I know Brethren you have many employments in the world and are called away to them and cannot ever be with the Lord yet let your longings be there nay though cast out of Gods sight yet look to the Temple this will give you peace 6. This if I may have leave to speak plainly is the great sin one of them of New-England Men come over hither for Ordinances and when they have them neglect them or if it be too horrible to live in a grosse neglect of them yet who maintains his Fellowship with Christ or longing after the Fellowship of Christ in them And therefore I shall stay a while on this point Men that are sick of consumptions have somtimes a mighty stomach after meat and when 't is brought them they are weary of the very smell of it and then say truly I had thought I could have eaten so much so men loath Ordinances nay the Cooks that dresse and the Dish that brings and the Ministry of Christ Jesus that provides the meat because consuming and pining away in their iniquities I know many use Ordinances but are they not indifferent whether they find him therein or no Now 1. When men had enough by them to live comfortably upon then God and his Ordinances were desired by them but here mens removing begetting want want of the creature joyned with fear and distrust of Gods Providence to provide for them and theirs either sink their hearts that Ordinances are not sweet no more than Moses message to a people in anguish or meat to a wounded man or else makes them hungry after the creature and hence lavishing out their desires that they have none after the Lord himself 2. When men are persecuted by enemies driven into corners or to Townes six miles off to find a Sacrament or hear a Sermon then the Gospel of peace and them that brought the glad tidings of peace their feet were beautiful and then men thought if one Sabbath here so sweet where Ordinances are much corrupted if some of them be so comfortable in the midst of enemies Oh how sweet to enjoy them all among Saints among Friends And so I know they be to some and I hope to more than I know but New-Englands peace and plenty of means breeds strange security and hence prayer is neglected here There are no enemies to hunt you to Heaven nor no chains to make you cry hence the Gospel and Christ in it is sleighted Why Here are no soure herbs to make the Lamb sweet And if I get no good this Sabbath this Sermon this Sacrament this Prayer I hope I shall some other time when my heart is better and my businesse is over Not considering that the daies of trouble may be near or Gods final farewel may be quickly taken 3. It was a sad speech of a Brother lately which hath oft affected me that a man may pray out hear out all the Grace of his heart Meaning this when God begins to work upon a mans heart at first then prayer and Word is sweet stay a while they hear out their hearing and pray out their praying so as in praying they pray not and in hearing they hear not Would to God there were noâ— a generation of those men among us that having been so oft Sermon-trod and Prayer-beaten that now their hearts are hardned and being used to Ordinances and being so long ridden under them I wish they were not tired and jaded under them before they come half way home that they had rather lie die in the high way than get up and with mighty groans and invincible wrastlings of heart seek after and so find the Lord in them 4. There is no place in all the world where there is such expectation to find the Lord as here and hence men blesse the Lord for our rising Sun when 't is setting every where else Here therefore they come and find it not hence not considering the great and last temptation of this place whereby God tries his friends before he will trust them with more of himself viz. deep and frequent desertions they give in and therefore care not for nor desire after those plaisters which they feel heal them not nor that food which they find nourisâ—eth them not 'T is strange to see what a Faith some men have that can close with Christ as their end and comfort themselves there 't is not means say they but Christ not duties but Christ and by this Faith can comfort and quiet themselves in the neglect and contempt of Christ in means as infallible a brand of Gods eternal reprobation of such a soul as any I know So that this is New-Englands sin Is not Prayer neglected wanting place and heart if not in family is it not in secret so that you have none nor poor servants have none If any Prayer in secret yet doth it not die Didst ever find thy Spirit so straitned Where are the mighty groans What is become of meditation Dost not let Sabbaths Sermons passe over which shall be preacht over again at the last day and find no Christ no Spirit in them and thus lie famishing and â—et not cry for bread If it be not so I am glad God Angels Saints and al the world shall call you blessed If it be so I dare be bold to prophesie ruine to this place and people and that you or your posâ—erity shall either in woods or in the Land or hands of your enemies in this place lament with tears the contempt of means and you even Disciple of Christ shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of man and shall not see them Jer. 8. 13 14. Let us go into strong holds c. I know there are many that do meet the Lord but are you not apt to fall asleep again Oh therefore let me entreat you if the Lord hath
an extacy of joy that a man would think he was sealed with the Spirit of Christ and yet his end being naught Christ only to comfort him misseth of Christ in conclusion for when a man beleeves indeed he receives Christ for the end the Father sent him viz. to be King and Soveraign of the whole man as well as Saviour Psalm 24. 7. Open your gates that the King of Glory c. Rom. 8. 38. I am perswaded nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Iesus our Lord our Lord as well as Jesus Indeed Iohn 6. 15. some did receive Christ to be King but it was that he might be their cook he provided loaves for them so here Psalm 66. 2 3. Because of thy power thine enemies shall flatteringly submit â—tis but flattery not Faith look to it therefore VI. Those that beleeve but fail in regard of the use of the Gospel and of the Lord Jesus and these we read of Iude 3. viz. of some men that did turn Grace into â—â—ntâ—nnesse for therein appears the exceeding evill of a mans heart that not only the Law but also the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus works in him all manner of unrighteousnesse and 't is too common for men at the first work of conversion oh then to cry for Grace and Christ and afterward grow licentious live and lye in the breach of the Law and take their warrant for their course from the Gospel I shall not name all the wayes that men do so but I will only speak that which conscience and compassion moves me to not to begin but if possible to still division and what I shall speak shall be by way of prevention 1. Take heed of making Graces in a christian the weaknesses of a christian for this is to make darknesse light and Grace wantonnesse indeed Is it not Take heed then of thinking or saying counterfeit or false Sanctification consists in feeling something in a mans self as love to delight in the Lord and his wayes True Sanctification in seeing nothing no love no delight why the Apostle Paul â—new that in him i. e. in his flesh dwelt no good thing but he calls it flesh there and groans under it yet he felt a Law within closing with the Law without and blessed the Lord for it and that was himself Do you think the Holy Ghost coâ—es on a man as on Balaam by immediate acting and then leaves him and then he hath nothing Yes Beloved know you not Christ is in you 2 Cor. 13. 5. as well as out of you in you comforting dwelling sanctifying preparing the heart for himself Indeed to be puft â—p with Grace or rest in it is a sin yet that Grace is not that sin 2. Take heâ—d of making weaknesses Graces or Duties as First To make poverty of spirit the sight of nothing in a mans self why he that is poor hath Heaven for his and so Christ and Promises his and hath Faith his at least some seeds Now to see nothing now is to see an untruth and to tell a flat lie to God and Men and Scripture too Indeed a man that is poor doth usually see nothing but that is his weaknesse not any Grace Secondly To say there is no difference between Graces of Hypocrites and Saints Why so Because I cannot see any Is this your weaknesse or your wisdom you can see noâ—e and will you make your weaknesse your Religion Thirdly That a man must not evidence his Justification by his Sanctification I speak of that which accompanies Salvation Why so Because then there will be comfort to day and sorrow to morrow grant it but then consider 1. That is either a mans weaknesse and ignorance that he doth not see it or 2. his wickednesse and carelesnesse that hath stained that work And will you make this a Dâ—ty a Grace Oh but many have been deceived here grant it and will you 〈◊〉 your wretâ—hed basenesse of heart the foundation of this conceit Fourthly That a man must see no saving work nor take comfort from any promise until he is sealed No why so Because many tall christians have deceived themselves so and deluded themselves there and been kept off from Christ and truly I believe it in part But what of that Shall mens weaknesse be my Religion or work No Beâ—oved for a man beleeves before he is sealed Ephes. 1. 15. And hence Christ is his and now for him to deny Christ to be his own 't is to make Christ a lyar 1 Iohn 5. 10 12 13. not that I would have christians content themselves here it 's a sign you never knew what Christ meant if so you do till he shall send a more full gale of his Spirit 3. If you do account them weaknesses yet take heed your closing with Christ do not cause you to make a light matter of sin either not to take notice of sins at all only look to Christ 't is not I but sin as being the act of the outward man one calls this to unknow a mans self or not to be deeply sensible of them and so use Christ as your shoe-clout to wipe them off Oh this is dangerous the Spirit of joy never quencheth the Spirit of Sorrow Capernaum entertained Christ and yet perished Oh she repented not What must we repent after we be in Christ Yes Ier. 30. 19. After I was turned I repented It argues a bold conscience when men as they look to no good in themselves so to no sin in themselves but wholly to Christ. 4. Take heed of those Doctrines which in shew lift up Grace but indeed pull 〈…〉 any part of it as First to think that the letter of the whole Scripture holds out no more than a Covenant of Works a most prodigious Speech though coloured with advancing a Spiritual Covenant of Grace and no Word but Christ. Secondly Under a shew of advancing Gods Grace in doing all to say the Ordinances are not means but only occasions of conversion Thirdly under a shew of giving all to Grace to abolish that plain truth as to say we are not justified by Faith which though it be true not really i. e. not simply by Faith in it self considered as a work yet to say not relatively as the Lord is apprehended by it it is false If we cast off the power of the truth yet let us not cast off the form of it keep the form of wholsome words as well as truths Fourthly Take heed of maintaining that a man until sealed is not to be perswaded to beleeve under a shew of letting the Spirit of Grace do all And Brethren doth not the Spirit of Grace accompany the word of Grace are not Evangelical commands part of that Word is there not a power going along with them what is this but to take from Gods Book and he that so doth God will blot him out of the Book of Life Rev. 22. 19. Fifthly That a Christian is to gather no assurance
sweet is the Lord and all his waies to you Afterward you have lost your hearts truly 't is because you have lost your light Two waies Hypocrisie vents it self which Gods people oppose 1. In secret withdrawing of the heart to sin Oh now get light for sin never draws away but by appearance of some good at least pro hic nunc Iam. 1. 14. Now put off the covering keep the mind from being deceived you will keep the heart from being hardned deaded and withdrawn from God 2. In performing duties but not for Christ as their utmost end now the heart is bent this way yet it failes because light is gone to see and behold the Glory and blessednesse of this Men that have honour or gain in their eye are carried violently after it Men that are bound for a voyage will go through their eye leads them Stephen speaks till the stones were about his ears I see Iesus saith he at the right hand of God 2 Cor. 15. 58. Be abundant in the Lords work knowing that your labour is not in vain Hence David Psal. 119. begs for knowledge of this and that and then he will do it Oh therefore keep it in your minds as precious Prov. 2. 10. If knowledge be pleasant c. And pray to God to keep it for you Light is in the Sun and not ceased to this day so if the Lord would put in this Light and be the perpetual Fountain thereof to you it would abide c. Thy Word I have hid in my heart c. Psal. 119. SECT IV. HEnce learn the cure of hypocrisie viz. Remove the cause which is folly and if you would be sincere Oh prize and beg for more light and love it and you shall then after you have digged for it find it Would it not be sad to be led blindfold like them till they were in the midst of Samaria so till in the midst of Hell Would it not be sad to be like Sodomites groping for the door Especially you that are come over to this Countrey for more of the Knowledge o◠Christ. Oh then Beloved take heed you bury not your minds in the earth lose◠not your thoughts in the dung And you must stand one day before God when the Book of the secrets of your hearts shall be opened when if found too light then would it not be a doleful parting to lose the Lord Jesus after such light and affections for want of a little more Light Oh look to your selves now 1. Stick close to the guidance of the Scriptures and love them Moses saith Then other Nations shall say what people so wise Deut. 4. 6. And these make the men of God 2 Tim. 3. 15. full of Gods Spirit wise unto salvation and for neglect of this the Lord gave and doth give men up to strong delusions that they believe lies viz. because they loved not the Truth Never a Truth but is unsealed by Blood and revealed to be the infinite wisdom of the Father and love to poor lost men where God opens all his heart if men will despise these 't is pity but they should be blinded Do not scoffe at those that know the Lord here they are Scripture-learned men if not never Spirit-learned Take this for your Counseller in all your doubts and fears it will teach you A man gets an opinion or falls in love with a sinful corruption both deceive him Why so Is there no word against it Oh yes but they will not hear it but make God and Scripture bow down to them they will not be led by it Oh intreat the Lord to keep thee from that 2. Be abundant in meditation dayly Psal. 119. 99. 'T is an hundred to one else if not miserably deluded And as the Spirit convinceth first of sin righteousnesse and judgment so let your thoughts be This makes a man see far and see much 3. Practise what you know and tast the sweetnesse of it there Psal. 119. 100. And then the heart will grow savingly full of Divine Light Nothing makes men foolish but this Oh tast and see Oh if men knew the sweet of this way of Truth they would ever walk in it and bring others to submit to it Shall I hide from Abram that will teach his Family Gen. 18. 17 19. 4. Cast up your eyes to Christ glorified being full of the Spirit for thee and beg of him as if he were with thee to send it down As Solomon asked this See Iohn 7. 39. Oh learn to be exceeding thankful for any saving light the Lord hath kindled in you if ever it hath been powerful to discover and remove the hidden hypocrisie of thy heart that now the Lord hath made thee plain and serious for him that its death not to live Heaven for to live unto him Oh then blesse the Lord for that means that did it for thee that mightst have perished in thy own delusions and dreams Time was when thou wast deceived now the Lord hath made thy eyes brighter than the Sun to see such things as are hid from great ones in the world Oh though it be but a little yet if real and saving light blesse him A man that hath been in midst of Sands and without a Pilot afterwards looks back and saith there I might have split Oh this is wonderful to him Oh Christ did thus 1I thank thee thou hast hid c. Mat. 11. 25. The Lord hath hid them from heads and hearts of many wise and prudent and ever they shall be hid and è contra revealed them to thee a babe a weak one a poor ignorant one Mat. 16. 17. Flesh and blood hath not revealed it so as to build here on this righteousnesse to fetch all light and life from Christ and cleave alone to him Oh remember you are called out of darknesse into marvellous light to shew forth his vertues What canst desire more than eternal life And this is it 1 Iohn 5. 20. Iohn 17. 30. CHAP. XVI That Hypocrites discover themselves in an uneffectual use of the Means of Grace Secondly The difference between the wise and foolish Virgins is set down more particularly v. 3 4. SECT I. THIS particular difference is declared by the different practise of the foolish and wise Virgins each from other 1. That the Foolish though they had so much wisdom like the wise as to take Lamps yet so much folly was bound up in their hearts as that they took no Oyl in their Vessels for their Lamps 2. That the wise did not only light their Lamps but they did also fill their Vessels with Oyl that either their Lamp might never go out or if it did it might be soon kindled again More plainly The Foolish contented themselves with the name and blaze of outward Profession kindled from some inward yet lighter and more superficiall strokes of Gods Spirit neglecting the great work within But the wise did not only carry their Lamps of
long fasting till the time of extremity comes and then he pours waters on the thirsty Hence better for those never to have known 2 Pet. 2 21. and an hypocrites last end is to satisfie himself hence he hath enough a Saints is to satisfie Christ hence he never hath enough 5. Those that do neglect the Lord under this colour of receiving Christ they can do nothing themselves and Christ must do all and hence neglect the Lord secretly and sometimes quarrel with the Ministry privately when pressed to a duty or to beleeve Alas what can a man do when all the Ministers in the world have preached their hearts out at last they must bring us to Christ what else should the Apostle mean Rom. 4 5. Not to him that worketh but beleeveth is faith accounted for righteousness I must not live I must let Christ live c. And hence say they the cause of perishing is not mens wills but Gods he elects not he gives no heart such hypocrites the Lord prophesies of Mat. 7. 21. Many that say to me Lord Lord i. that advance the Lord Jesus and live in neglect of all duties and bring the Lord of glory not from his Throne in Heaven to Hell but which is worse debase him from his glory to sin to be the cover of sin and protector of it Beloved I know no surer sign of a vessel that God intends to break in peeces then this to live in this neglect 2 Tim. 2 20. Nay 't is an evidence there is no hope no living hope 1 Iohn 3. 3. He that hath this hope purgeth himself as Christ is pure Many it seems boasted of hope in Christ so do Saints but he gives this Note He purgeth himself he will not sluggishly put all on Christ. T is true 't is the mighty working of Christ that must conquer thy lusts but must this put you to neglect striving Col. 1. 29. I strive according to the working And for mine own part though I le not dispute the point at large I beleeve there is a constant assistance of the mighty power of the Lord Jesus in the souls of all the Saints 1 Pet. 1. 5. And hence 1 Iohn 4. Greater is he that is in you then in the world The Saints as they receive the Lord Jesus to rule them that he alone may be Lord and King not only in heaven but in their heâ—rts So a false hearâ— receives Christ lastly for to ease him Sometime for to ease him of the burden of Conscience sometime to ease him of the Lords work the burthen of his will and hence some at last have complained though hardly convinced of it that they could be contented the Lord should act them but their end was that hereby they might be rid of their burden and so eased by him I have heard a Question should be askt What is the difference between the workings of Gods Spirit and the Saints And that the Answer was 1. The one is by graces the other immediatly 2. The Spirits is when a man labours least quite cross to the stream of truth Take heed how you understand these points aright the depth of the most hellish villany in the world lies unâ—er them Wo to thee that canst paint such a Christ in thy head and receive such a Christ into thy heart as must be a pander to your sloth the Lord will revenge this wrong done to his glory with greater sorrows then ever any felt To make Christ not only meat and drink to feed but cloaths to cover your sloth Why what can we doe what can we doe Why as the first Adam conveies not only guilt but power So the second conveys both righteousness and strength as Christ is now triumphing by his eternal Spirit and his life is heavenly so if you be in Christ there is a Spirit of Christ whereby a never dying life is begot that can and doth conquer though it be but a spark Christ maintaining it it shall come to victory You are forsaken of Christ if you want this or else take heed this colour make you not forsake him 6. Those that neglect the means and yet look for the end in hope of future time and so neglect the present season Thus 't is with many a one the day of life and health and day of Ordinances continues and hence the sluggard cryes Prov. 24. 33. Yet a little more slumber i. I le have but a little while longer c. Hence when Conscience checks Ministers warn the Lord wooes the Spirit cries a man puts off all with this I hope it will be better And hence it falls out with them as with those Matth. 24 The Lord comes in a time they look not for him and of this many on their deathbeds have cryed out Think of this you convicted persons that know its miserable with you before God stop your breath you have nothing to plead for your neglect but hope of time Know it Gods present seasons are golden one moment worth eternity and now is the time if you neglect his season he will not regard yours God is never found in your time but in his time Oh lay these things to heart especially you that are grown weary of means that faint in your way God is not yet weary of continuing means art thou weary of gaining by means Oh consider this you that have had many hopes desires purposes but all blasted your time and means neglected Think on this you that have had marvellous affections but your spirits are gone Nothing can make you mend your pace not all Ministry and Word but you are clog'd with means Remember that Isai. 65. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. For my people that have sought me c. SECT V. TO all those that do effectually seek the Lord in the use of means And for discovery thereof Consider 1. If ever the Lord gave you a hearâ— effectually to seek him in means you will finde mighty opposition temptations springing up one after another c. from within from without and the oppositions will make you seek him the more Hence Rom. 13. 11 12. he bids us put off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light When man desires and lies in his sloth he meets with little opposition or trouble of his own heart but here 't is otherwise therefore put on armour And I say the soul is made hereby to seek the Lord the more as the blinde man Mark 10. 48. Redeem the time because the days are evill As 't is with Mariners they will not only use fair but side and almost contrary winds to come neer the shore they are bound for let the Lord give any grace oh more of that mercy as Moses Deut. 3. 24. Let the Lord deny yet the soul cries the more let agonies come Christ prays the more let the will oppose he will yeeld himself to the Lord to cross his own will and deny himself peâ—ce makes him love and
because all my strength is in him Wheâ— if this were true a man might argue because all Grace is originally in Christ hence no Grace in me because all Glory is in Christ originally hence no Glory shall be conveyed to me No this Scripture reconciles these Because I live therefore you shall live also John 14. 19. Because Christ is strong hence he will make us strong in the inner man and not in the Spirit only because Christ is glorious hence we are predestinated to be made like unto him Because all sap lies in the root to say therefore there is no sap or power in the branch to fructifie this is false 2. The hypocritical activity of false Professors who having no spring to feed their wells no Christ nor bucket to draw from him hence are their own men and set up for themselves till theâ— turn bankrupts And now because a Pharisee is so active as to go through seâ— and land to make a Proselyte therefore Paul hath no activity of Grace of Christ in him to go from land to sea to make Christians 3. Sloth A man sets upon a duty and now because he cannot do it easily nor quickly he cannot do it at all A man would have Grace active without means and God will not help in that way and hence many Christians cannot cleave to Christ by love or desire no so long as they pore upon their wants no encouragement but turn the mind and consider well of the love and glory of Christ then with Pâ—â—l 2 Cor. 5. 14. Christs love constrains 4. Judging that to be the power of Grace at all times which is at sometimes A man hath given special occasion for the Lord to leave him as the Camp in Ioshâ—â—hs time Iosh. 7. and he thinks there is no more power at any time in any man For then a man sees all the world cannot help when if Achaâ— were removed the Spirit of the Lord would return again 5. That hereby a man may have his sins without trouble for a man hath bin troubled and cannot get power now he heats there is no such power to be expected he looks to Christ and if power come well if not saith he 't is not my fault Thirdly Those that deny the evidence of it the evil of which apprehension I conceive to be no less then taking away that which is the chief if not only difference between hypocrites and Saâ—nts in virgin Churches for so 't is made here A man saith I have Christ and so have not they I ask where is the Spirit You have the Deed where is the Seal You have the Testator where is the Executor the Spirit in you Yes I have it it hath witnessed Christ is mine Answ. It hath witnessed but what hath it wroâ—ght Where is the power of his death killing thy lusts Where is the life of the Spirit of Jesus in you Where is the Oyle in your vessel Truly I look for the Bridegroom but I regard not that neither are others to regard it in way of evidence Then I say the chief evidence is destroyed in the Churches I have known many that have had assurances yet never saw them prove right till it witnessed this was here What should be the causes of this and that men should make blusters in the Churches because of this as though it was building on woâ—ks In several men they are several 1. An apâ—ness in mens hearts to â—ouâ—runâ— the Truth and to fall from one extream to another Many men there be that fall short of Christ and the Grace of God in and from him and from their loose prophane life fall to duties and imitate Gods people and then when they have got credit with good people they judge well of them and having made their peace hereby with conscience and not with God the Judge never look after the saâ—ing knowledge of and fellowship with and life from the Lord Jesus Now because men rest on this these duties 〈◊〉 no evidence heâ—ce none are at all The Corinthians first mourned not for the incestuous person and when cast out wanted pity towards him Calvin preached against Holidaies hence intrenched upon the Lords day Some of the separation see many Churches where they have come corrupt hence make them all no Churches A man is apt to think because I have rested on my self and found those signes which now are not sound hence all others do so too And I beleeve ivers Books have occasioned it which give signes that will not hold without a 〈◊〉 explication of them 2. The apostacy of eminent Professors who have bin deceived in their evidencing thus And truly it would maâ—e one think the honesty of the World is but a fashion and no evidence of any good estate hence men say you have joy so had the â—â—ony gâ—ound you are blameless and strict so was Paul a Pharisee and Satan hereby shakes many a foul hence the Apostle comes in Heb. 6. 9. and speaks of better things and things that accompany Salvation and these should you follow Hymeneur and Philaus fell both 2 Tim. 2. 18 19 20 21. Yet purge your selves and you shall be vessels of honour for the Masters use 3. Corrunt experience it may be a man walks so loosly without fear or life or love that the Lord leaves him and he can see no clear through-woâ—â— sometimes hath pangs and then hopes sometime dead then doubts hence being vext here and finding no peace if he find it any other way than this therehe rests As 't is observed with man 〈◊〉 hide their shame but when dead their face is also covered all their glory being then gone so some glory of God ap peares here but when Christians are dead they cover this He look no more to it all the glory of it is now gone and here lies a deceit to loveChrist for freeing me from this way of evidencing 4. A heart that never felt the bitterness and bondage of 〈◊〉 as the greatest evil Take a man full of fears of wrath on now assurance is his chiefest good and he will account it so but if ever God did load the Soul with 〈◊〉 ècontra you will account of deliverance from this highly nay a promise he will do it is sweet but to be feeling those sinews of sin crack oh it s the joy of Heaven that now sils that heart The greatest evil in Gods eyes is sin the gâ—eatest good we have is redemption from it by a mighty hand now not so much as to account of this highly this is hard Thus I have left these things to be thought of I cannot avoid it it lies in my text and the rather because of that Scripture abused If any say lâ—e here is Christ or there believe it not i. e. by signes or in a wildernesse i. e. in a sorrowfull estate of in the privy chambers in frames of heart believe it not neither Take heed you do not wrest Scriptureâ— thus I'ts said Esau
a conjugal love here is now a degree of love but not of the same love for 't is not a whit conjugal it might then be sinful in some men so 't is here A man that hath filled his stomâ—ck with meat may have some desire after it but not an hungry deâ—â—re not in that degree hence not hungry at all So the sluggard desires and hath not a carnal heart desire and another desires the Lord Jesus a carnal sluggish heart desires and hath not but another hungers and is filled he hath not any degree of the same hunger 'T is therefore granted there are desires and joyes and light and growth in false hearts but there is not that fulnesse of joy that fulnesse of light that fulnesse of the Spirit which is in the Faithful and here they ever fall short Yet note 1. There is not a perfect measure noâ— the fulnesse that shall be when our souls shall be gathered to them that are made perfect 2. Nor yet that there is that fulnesse the Saints aim at for 't is the resurrection they aim at Phil. 3. 12 13 14. 3. Nor yet a glutting fulnesse that men have Manna enough and say the main work is wrought and that is enough Not such a fulness as satisfies their appetite from longing for more But which satisfies and quiets their Conscience in regard of the uprightnesse of their souls before the Lord. SECT II. BUT for the more full and clear explication of this point I shall shew you these three things 1. That Hypocrites may have some inward touches of Gods Spirit 2. That the very reason of their falsenesse is because they have no more than such touches or stroaks 3. That there is a fulnesse the Saints come to which others want To be shewed 1. Positively 2. Negatively I. That Hypocrites may have not only outward shews but some inward lighter stroaks of Gods Spirit As 1. Of the Spirit restraining and confining nay benumming of corruption as Paul was blameless nay he had no mind nor will to many sins nay did not think he had any living contempt and enmity of God in his heart Hence Rom. 7. 9. 't is said When the Command came sin revived Was it not living before Yes but it was asleep it was benummed like cold Snakes but not killed 2. Of the Spirit preventing and exciting unto many nay to any duty of the Law in general and that sometime by fears of misery and terrours of the Law Deut. 5. 23. And somtime by love and mercy morally affecting the heart Exod. 19. 4 5 6. You have heard what the Lord hath doâ—e Will you now enter into Covenant Yes yet what is said of them Psal. 78. 37. They were false in Gods Covenant 3. There may be some operative and quickning Grace of the Gospel Heb. 6. 4. They were enlightened c. 4. There may besome edifying and cooperating gifts of Law and Gospel whereby a man may not only be useful and helpful to some but to the Church of God as those that did prophecy in Christs Name And these may be so inward that they think themselves clean and sincere as Abimelech II. That the reason of their unsoundness is because they have no more than lighter stroaks of Gods Spirit As I might shew in all these Paul is blamelesse yet far enough from having sin mortified by Christ and hence professeth We did serve divers Lusts Tit. 3. 3. The Israelites cry out they will do what God will have them Yet Oh that there were such an heart Deut. 5. 29. They in Heb. 6. were enlightened and tasted yet fell He therefore adds We are perswaded v. 9. better things of you They did prophesie in Christs Name Mat. 7. Yet depart from me you workers of iniquity But see it more particularly Mark 12. 33. Saith the Scribe to him To love the Lord oh ' t is better than all burnt Offerings Some Iews did rest there but neglected the inward work but this man the inward work was prized in his judgment he had both profession and some affection And was he now entred into the Kingdome of God No. Here was his wound he fell short of it some degrees Hence it s said thou art not far from the Kingdom of God So the Israelites Why did not they enter Was not the Land good Oh yes That report the worst of the Spies brought But their hearts were not taken with the goodness of it as Calebs and Ioshuahs were And hence they were shut out Numb 13. 27. 14. 7 8 24. So it is here So an unsound heart may be enlightened as 't is there Heb. 6. 4 5. But there is a marvellous light which they never have they have not such a degree 1 Pet. 2. 9. And hence Deut. 29. 2 3 4. The Lord hath not given you eyes to see to this day Did the Lord give them no eyes to see no hearts to be affected with what they did see Why came they then out of Egypt Why did they sing when they saw Pharaoh drowned Why they had not such eyes and such hearts as Moses had not unto that day So for turning to the Lord. Do not many unsound hearts turn over a new leaf Do they not not only outwardly but inwardly too Where is the flaw then In the degree Jer. 3. 10. Iudah hath not turned with her whole heart but treacherously So there may be some growth and life in false unsound hearts that may after fall away But where is the wound Look in the Parable of the Seed Some grew not at all some did grow but not having depth of earth fell again Others fell not in persecution but there were the roots of Thorns that choakt the Seed the good grounds seed came to ripenesse and fulness of fruit though some in a greater degree than others yet none at all no ripe fruit in the rest Hence the Lord is said to weigh the heart Prov. 16. 2. Men think they are humbled and do believe but God finds them too light as Belshazzar was weighed and found too light And thus it will be seen at the last day when Christ Jesus shall appear that all the most glorious Profession of many a man is therefore rejected because found too light III. That there is a fulnesse which the Saints have and which others fall short of Which I shall shew I. Positively and affirmatively from what hath been said Prov. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent John 14. 17. Whom the world cannot receive because it knows him not There is that Spirit in Saints which no unregenerate man knows hence desires not Because he dwells in you he doth not only send some gifts or work somwhat there but he dwells there he fils the heart Hence the end of Christs death is to purchase to himself a peculiar people Tit. 2. 14. Of such a spirit such holiness that only themselves know So 't is that which all the Prophets press to to a higher pitch and
the finding of the Pearle Maâ— 13. 45. III. He so beholds him in his Glory as that he now esteems of him in all his Glory For a Balaâ—â—â— may see the Glory of the Tents of Israel and the Star of Iacob but they esteem not of him in all his Glory The damned in Hell see a Glory in Christ else they would never grieve for the loss of him but 't is only in regard of somthing in Christ delivering Saints from sorrows they feel Nay many Reprobates under a lively Ministry shall see some Glory in Christ and in Saints to think them the happy men yet not esteem of him in all his Glory but 't is otherwise here The Lord ariseth as the Sun upon the earth which makes all things that have any Glory to appear therein and it puts a Glory on every thing that was hid before So Christ puts a Glory on every thing of himself So that 1. The soul sees a Glory in the Grace of Christ Iohn 1. 14. For the Glory of Christs Person is not seen without these excellencies Luke 1. 46. My soul 〈◊〉 the Lord. 2. A Glory in the Holiness of Christ Isa. 6. 3. Especially to consider it 's in him to make me holy 2 Cor. 3. 18. 3. A Glory in his Covenant and Promises Psal. 45. 1 2. Oh that all those Promises might be made good to me This is all my desire 2 Sam. 23. 5. 4. A Glory in the Government and Commands and Will of Christ. Oh if once I could in every thing give content to his heartâ— Psal. 19. 10. Thâ—t the soul had rather lose all than cross his will in a small thing seeing a Glory in the least Truth in casting off a Ceremony c. Zach. 6. 13. 5. A Glory in all the Ordinances of Christ. Oh how amiable are thy Taâ—ernacles oh God! Oh the Fellowship of Saints Oh the peace on Sabbathâ— 6. A â—lory in all his carriage Let him bless me with outward estate though but a little This is the allowance that Christ in Glory provides for 〈◊〉 Let him threaten me good is the Word of the Lord. Let him desert me his anger is love Oh that is Glorious Let him take all from me reproach me Moses esteems Christs reproach greater riches than Egypt which is our estate here It sees a Glory in all Christs waies and quiets it self here it is the Lord as Eli said Thus Saints see and esteem of Christ in all his Glory and we shall find a false heaâ—t ever falls short here a sincere heart never but commonly is so taken up with it that if you ask suppose you should have all Grace Holiness Promises of Christ c. Would not this be mercy Yes enough I should then boast in him and bless him for ever And hence Christ is called Lâ—ke 2. 33. the Glory of Israel because they so esteem him And Isa. 28. 5. In that day the Lord shall be a Diadem of Glory Others may in horrour priâ—e Christ above the world but 't is only to ease them IV. I add he esteems him thus 1. As his present good so that if the Lord doth withdraw or deny himself now unto him noâ—hing in this world can for the present quiet him Ier. 50. 4 5. Hence those in their judgments acknowledge Christ the greatest good and when they are dying and see he will be so at last day yet now for the present a little more liberty in sin sloath lust honour gain Lots large accomodations are 〈◊〉 You never saw him Oh vile world the Lord will one day condemn 〈◊〉 out of thine own mouth thy own will was more dear to thee than his this worlds ease better than his peace c. When you 〈◊〉 on your Death-beds you esteem him then Why Because serves your turn then Hence before you did not 2. As the greatest good Deut. 33. 26. Ier. 10. 7. Hence those that see some good in Christ and desire him and offer fair for him but prize him not as the greatest good And hence with the young man though content to part with somwhaâ— not with all they will cast their rags down at Christs feet and intreat him to take away their sins but will not cast their Crowns down the deaâ—est things they have And hence the thorny-ground-Profesâ—ors ever fall away The good things of this world which they forsook in time of persecution were dearer than Christ and hence they fall away 'T is a dishonour to a King to be valued as other men are Zach. 11. 12 13. 3. As the only good Isa. 24. 23. The Sun shall be confounded c. And though other things may steal into their hearts for a time yet they recover themselves this is the one thing Psal. 27. 4. that they beg in this life And hence do fall short 1. Those that esteem Christ as men do Merchandise they would fain have it but are loath to fetch it Men may esteem Christ as they think the only good but herein their falseness appears that they neglect means to it because they have some good else to quiet them And here is condemned all lazy Profession 2. Those that would have Christ and esteem him highly and use means for him diligently but they must have Christ and world and lust and ease too Christ to quiet their Consciences and the world their hearts Christ to rest on when their duties fail them and world to rest in when the Consolations of Christ are denied unto them The Lâ—â—d is good go up and possesse it 1. But do the Saints come to this pitch 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that be lost Who are those from whom Christ is hid When is he hid When his Glory is hid I know Saints may feel a want of and mouâ—r for it but it will appear if they are the Lords at some time Nay this they will find some and much contempt remaining which they oppose yet this is here and at parting times it is seen â— But Saints cannot know this Yes as well as they can know their contempt by means of Gods Spirit he 〈…〉 carried from one contrary to another shall know it â— But Hypocritâ—â— may attain to this â— Then the â—ospel may be revealed to an hypocrite and to them that are â—ost 2. Then they may believe for to them only the Lord is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. Then a 〈◊〉 is preâ—â—ous when we value it according to the worth of it Now the Lord is the greatest and only goodâ— and then when we esteem him so this is the 〈◊〉 of Believeâ—â— only 3. Then Christ may be a 〈◊〉 Treasure For that is our treasure which we esteem most 4. Then a carnal heart may honour Christ with one of the highest degrees of honour which consists in this high esteem Luke 1. 46. My soul magnifies the Lâ—â—d 5. Observe we thaâ— never any lost Christ but because they undervalued him
return to the Lord appears chiefly in breaking down all oppoâ—â—tions against its return which are four 1. Sometime snares of the world and other things beside The Lord easeth them the Lord sends no crosses gives them their hearts desire under which Vines they rest yet if the Lord takes not all from them he puts such a cloyedness in them that the soul cannot but return to the Lord again it cannot live on such course bread things that satisfie not it had better once Eccles. 2. 3 4 11. 2. Fears and discouragements of spirit for when deliâ—vered from snares then fears come and discouragements either by reason of outward losses or the Lords anger So that the soul fears it never had never shall have any mercy that hath thus abused it and it hath thought God himself to say so and his behaviour in not hearing and helping in so long a time to witness so Yet it will return though the Lord never save it it will not sin Ionah yet looks again to the Temple when he could not come to it yet he would look to it The soul will turn up its eyes and mourn Oh that I have so abused the Lord and mercy that Love it self should be angry and frown Psal. 77. The Psalmist refused to be comforted v. 2. Nay v. 3. Though he remembred God and all his love past yet troubled this brought greater trouble yet v. 10. I 'le remember the years of the right hand of the most High Saul did not thus 3. Thoughts of impossibility and unlikelihood to get peace or pardon or victory over sin now For somtime the Saints think the Lord loves me and yet lets these evils lie here but I can get no help now especially if after many prayers I know help against all sins they cannot get and hence are humbled but against them sins that help can be got wherein the Lord hath done it for others and which make the Lord estrange himself it must be had for this temptation to a Saint is an Hypocrites overthrow Psal. 18. 21 22 23. If earth cannot help cannot Heaven What not the Spirit Word Bloud Mercy of a render-hearted Redeemer What though not now yet I will not give him over 4. When Gods Providence seems to â—ross his Promise yet they will cleave to him or return to him For many times Saints have their estates in the Bonds of Gods Promises and hence they wait for accomplishment of them but the Lord carries it quite cross to his promise to their seeming He promiseth to make alive to comfort to sanctifie to be with me and he kills sads le ts out sin never such a heart and forsakes me Oh now Faith shakes yet they will not away Heb. 11. 15 16. The Lord calls them to forsake their Countrey Abraham is a stranger there and that among Cut-throat 〈◊〉 and dwells in Tabernacles and four hundred years after his posterity being afflicted should 〈◊〉 in yet he would not return though they might God had said here I 'le blesse thee so here The murmuring Israelites fell short of this III. Whenever the soul doth depart yet the Spirit of God is ever in it and with it Psal. 73. 2. The Psalmist almost fell Why did he not Thou art ever with me thy hand v. 23. hath upheld me So that as the Spirit keeps the soul to Christ so it keeps Christ in the soul at all times And hence Saints in the closure of all their dealings with God and he with them they have seen his love working good in all that now the Soul can say lo the Lord was here and I knâ—w it not Isa. 25. 9 10. That the soul admires somtimes and hence after all sees the Lord more clearly and fully and sweetly till at last it sees him in Glory 〈◊〉 you see the Spirit that follows Saints is with them which the world wants Oh admire at the Lord if this Spirit be given that Heaven is come down into 〈…〉 That no 〈◊〉 no sins can part but it s ever putting thee in thy way again Hence when â— They are ready to quite fall off and give themselves for gone ready to be made away by temptation or to make away themselves the Lord is with them then Psal. 94. 18. At the time of parting love appears 2. Hence when they are somtime so far gone as that they mind not their return or believe not as in the wildeâ—â—ess but are well enough without the Lord the Lord before they think or desire prevents them Psal. 23. 6. Mercy and Truth followes me 3. Hence when they think the Lord is provoked that he cannot save then he is in the midst of his people Ier. 14. 11. Why art thou as a man astonied that cannot save 4. Hence at the end of life all the waies of God have been peace and all ouâ— waies though sorrowful though evil turned for good as in Ionas his deparâ—ing and by miseries we are yet humbled somthing the Lord is doing now for Eternity Micah 7. 8. Though I sit in darknesse the Lord will be a light unto me 5. Hence when the heart and strength fail and Faith is failing and the heart feels nothing but pain yet the Lord then keeps and this is comfort Psal. 63. 26. Consider therefore your estare that 1. Do depart with your whole heart from the Lord. Hath not the Lord bowed thy heart toward himself by mercies by blows But when sorrows have been past and mercies grown common and truth common thou hast started back like a broken bow which was bent backward when stretched forward And now when God calls to any duty especially when thy will and ends are crossed that is a burden and thou art drawn to that as a Fish to the dry land It is like a Feaver-fit to thee and never mournest for this But when any matter of gain and world is presented all thoughts time strength is too little there that you smell of the field or if there be any life or joy yet the lean kine eat up the fat kine Nay mournest not under that cursed bent which carries thee from the Lord. Know it thou art forsaken of the Lord. 2. That in times past had many affections but now sorrow is gone and seeking of the Lord gone and being fâ—llen seest it not but thinkest 't is with thee as with other Christians hast only the old work past and some new pangs now and then Why is it thus Ier. 8. 4 5. Will you fall and not arise Wilt let the Lord turn from you and not return Doth the Stork know when winter is near and not you your season Oh look to it What are you fallen with a perpetual backsliding Why will you not return but go away with a perpetual backsliding Know Satan hath hold of this soul. 3. You people of God wonder you at this Grace Let your experience prove it Is it not so that a Habitation of Devils should be a House of the Spirit of
with 11. 2 Pet. 3. 11. 12. Some securelings thought all things were past No saith he there is a time a coming when all things shall be dissolved what manner of persons then should we be Hence this being lost men fear not sin men prize not mercy men wonder not if ever they escape hence men live and hang between doubt and fear never make sure because they know not what Gods wrath is Nay lastly hence nothing awakens them that though they know their misery yet they will go on the highest degree of spiritual security Oh then keep these thoughts awake what it is to be forsaken of God! what it is to grapple with him 3. When men have lost their foresight and hence provide not against an evil day when Christians keep their profession and go on sweetly in their course but to lay up for after-claps that they do not when Christians like Grashoppers sing all the summer but what have they to live upon in the winter time the An t can learn them that Prov. 6. 6. Go to the Ant thou sluggard that provideth her meat in the summer the Ant by a secret instinct though simple and little considereth there will be a winter and that summer is her gathering time so a Christian if awakened though simple will be taught to do something which may serve him not only now but hereafter also when men in times of peace and enjoyment of Ordinances never fear muchless provide for that time that all these treasures shall be taken away and carried to the King of Babel Isa. 39. when men in their life time think not of setting the house and heart in order before the evil day when men are not that now which they would wish themselves to be another day when men lay not up treasures of tears and prayers in heaven nor are provident for eternity noâ— think this will be my peace nay my glory another day though I lose now men will lay up treasures on earth and provide for themselves and theirs hence their hearts are lost here and lay in nothing spiritual for the future Prov. 10. 5. he that gathereth in harvest doth right but a sluggard will not his heart and mind is taken up to provide this and that for future and hence 't is that the Christian is full of sorrow and tears in times of peace but when the day of trouble comes he can lift up his head now redemption draws nigh when another in times of trouble hath most terrors because the one was not laying up against another day as the other did 4. When men go to prayer without receiving any answer now a man begins to slumber Prov. 13 4. men that are fast asleep speak not all but when awake a little they speak a little and then sleep and then awake and sleep again so men pray and sleep again it is a deep slumber also when men shall beg for bread and money and then fall a sleep constantly and so lie down satisfied Oh take heed of this Hence comes First Snarling at God Secondly Heartlesness to the duty Thirdly Formality in it Fourthly Prophaness of course at last 5. When men do gain something from the Lord in the use of means but now stand still they go no further they lose not what they had but they gain no more they grow not Matth. 25. 26. Thou evil and slothful servant that hid his talent and did not imploy it and here is usually the beginning of a mans fall when like one in a journey he goes not forward or backward but stands still and so falls Prov. 18. 9. 6. When men do duties that are easie but when any difficulty is in them now they fall down asleep Prov. 20. 4. and 12. 27. and hence beg the sweet and gain of Christianity it 's sown in difficult duties when the Soul denies it self most But when men not breaking through the difficulty finde not the sweet of it Lord what a tattered profession is there that men come to be the shame of Christ not his glory It 's easie to pray and outwardly to fast but yet to have a whole heart in the work is hard it is easie to cleave to the Lord when quickened but when God forsakes you now more than ever to cleave to him is difficult 7. When men fear not the danger of little sins they are not asleep yet so as not to fear great sins but in a slumber and hence however they fear not lesser sins hence come to commit them hence also to be hardned under them Many complain of hard hearts but consider is not this the reason of it you fear not sinful thoughts nor carelesness in your Christian course your slumber is now upon you thy Conscience startles at Whoredom but not at a wanton word or playing upon the Sabbath but unprepatedness for it that 's nothing sin in a manner with thee the reason is because spiritual slumber is upon thee 8. When men are deceived and deluded by appearances or colours as the Israelites when the Gibeonites came to them confident of themselves but deceived as the men of Ai by stratagems if ever your Souls be hurt it will be by appearances if ever this Country receive a blow it will be by appearances error will creep in by appearances the most vile wickedness hath been found to be hatcht under fairest colours If ever any shall come under an appearance of piety and promise of protection safety liberty onely your Government must be a little altered slumber here and you shall sleep in your enemies arms Grace and the love of Christ and the Spirit the fairest colours under the sun may be pretended but if you shall receive under this appearance that God witnesseth his love first by an absolute promise where neither grace nor life is seen take heed there for under this appearance you may as well bring in immediate Revelations and from thence come to forsake the Scriptures and then no wonder if men fall to deny all foundations in Christianity and Scripture also take heed of meer appearances of repentance in evil members be not deceived there Never was the world more full of craft be not laid asleep with appearances of truth Thus you see the point opened Stop security when it is risen to your anckles lest you be drowned in it and perish in it afterward CHAP. III. Security the last Sin of good and bad SECT I. THat carnal security is sometimes the last sin which doth surprise and overcome the hearts of good and bad wise and foolish in Virgin-Churches That as it is said That the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death so this death like sleeping is one of the last enemies that surpriseth the souls of the wise but Christ doth destroy it and of the foolish but it destroyeth them Thus it was here with the Virgins what was their sin that were ready with their Lamps burning waiting for the Bridegroom you see the wise
that all the word shall stand amazed at them and then when Judgement is done up they go to Heaven the third Heaven with a shout and so be ever with the Lord. And then 3. Consider the fierce wrath upon Reprobates who shall rise like Toads coming out of their holes in winter time standing before Christ's Tribunal crying out of the day that ever they were born and receiving their final doom imagine the silence while the Lord is pronouncing the sentence and when past a cry and then Christ to depart and shut up himself in Heaven with his Saints the Reprobate never to see him nor his face any more are these things tales fables notions if they be blot out the Scripture but if real oh then who can but awake If God intends mercy to you the thoughts of these things will awaken you you shall see them really if not they shall awaken you by feeling of them 4. Consider how many will be found too light at that day Secondly Make this day present Optick glasses will take within them the present image of things afar off a Mud-wall cannot give the form of them so by Faith look at these things that be to come as near for if we see really the Lords coming but we look upon it as a thing that is afar off it will not affect Now a thing may be present to Faith which is not to sence It may be the last and great coming of the Lord is not very nigh although we are doubtless in the last times but the beginning of this thy Petty-Sessions before that general Assize may be nigh Oh therefore make it present Quest. How shall we make it present Answ. 1. By pondering that speech of Christ spoken to that end Matth. 24. 44. In an hour you think not of he comes so that either thy time is when thou thinkest it is nigh and then you attain the thing or when far off why then is the time and that he will not come presently is more then you can say you see with wrong eyes and wrong the Lords patience 2. By comparing the present time with eternity to come for look as it is with base and little things look upon them in themselves they are not base but compared with things excellent as the Prophet sheweth Isa. 40. 17. so the time of this life grant it be never so long look upon it in self it is long but compared with eternity it is exceeding short Set a prick alone and you may perceive it but when made at the beginning of a line it is scarce perceptible this time of life upon which we sit is but a point of eternity Oh eternity will amaze you and make this time short yea nothing Moses hence forsook Pharoahs honor because of the pleasures of sin for a season and Paul calls afflictions short when he saw the eternal glory which should be revealed Oh that you could think this time to be as the delivery of a childe by many pangs into the world so you by many sorrows are passing a short passage to eternity 3. By making earthly things nothing or not as great things A mans friend is night to him but there be trees and hills between them and if these were down or he could get above them he would easily see and say Oh I see him coming he is even at the door Iames 5. 8. So Christ is nigh unto us and we to him but the things of the world mountains and hills and cattel and ground this and that stands between us and our sight that we cannot see the Lord these things are so great that the Lord is little that though near we cannot see him now when God cuts down these things at sickness or when we can get above the world now we can see them whiles we look at them as they are 2 Cor. 4. Prov. 18. 11. The rich mans wealth is a tower in his conceit all things are swayed by conceit pull down that now you make all naked before you to see the Lord nigh Thirdly Do this daily else you will grow secure by little and little Oh that I could prevail with you to set before you once a day this time how would it keep your hearts from dreaming and doating upon these things When any sorrow that day will refresh 2. When any duty done that day will recompence 3. When in want yet full at that day 4. When in misery now blessed then When a man is ready with light and lamp at all watches of the night oh blessed then you can hardly keep from security and carelesness by this how will you then do without it you will die in security SECT V. LEt this be a warning to all those who have passed the first age of their Christian life after you have waited long and tarried for the Bridegroom take heed of security and think this may occasion it viz. The Bridegrooms delay In the first heat of your youthful affections there 's not that danger then as now lest you grow decrepit passive and dull and therefore think Whatever else I do I will be sure to keep this door it shall not come in here and yet do we not see men fall here one would think it should not be so in these times when God calls so many of his servants to Heaven to him and is hacking at so many posts and pillars of this Tabernacle especially considering withal that it is no time to seek great things to your selves Thou shalt have thy life for a prey as he said to Baruch Who is it that thinks it long to death that is within a days walk of his grave Oh if you have your life you are well you may be glad of a place to die in CHAP. V. Of Christs awakning cry before his coming VERSE 6 7 8 9. And at midnight there was a cry made Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye forth to meet him Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps And the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your oyl for our lamps are gone out But the wise answered saying Not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves SECT I. IN these words is set down the preparation made sometime before the Bridegrooms coming and that is by a Cry that the Bridegroom cometh and therefore the Churches should meet him This is amplified from two things chiefly First The time when this Cry was made and that was at Midnight Secondly the effect that this Cry took upon the Virgins from vers 8. to 10. What should be meant by this Cry is disputed of by some Some think by it is meant the descending of Christ from Heaven with a shout the voyce of the Arch-Angel and Trump of God 1 Thess. 4. ult which as I do not wholly exclude because there shall be such a clamor before the Lord comes as at the giving of the Law so at
the soul in private either to his shame or glory before Christ but the body is to be judged as well as the soul to shame before men or glory before all the world Fourthly In regard of Christ's soveraignty and excellency the coming of Christ is called his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. Why doth not Christ rule now in the world Yes but it is in the midst of his enemies his enemies rule and he rules also but there must a time come that no enemies must rule but Christ alone and this is his kingdom in a most illustrious manner for the things of Christ are said to be with us when they do in a special manner appear as the coming of his Spirit and his love so his Kingdom now Christ must reign till all his enemies are put under foot for it is not fit he should lose his Kingdom hath the Lord suffered others to reign and rule and himself to be hid and his glory lost and that so long and will he never return to his Kingdom to be glorious there to reap all his glory that he hath lost by all his enemies in the world Was there ever King that would ever endure one generation of Rebels after another and never make himself sole Sovereign however Man may suffer it yet the Lord will not he must reign And wherefore doth Christ reign It is to trample 〈◊〉 under foot his and his peoples enemies Christ sets death his enemy to destroy his enemies and keep them as in a Goal but afterward Christ will call them forth and pass an irreversible doom upon them SECT VI. SEE therefore and believe the truth of this Point as well as hear it At the first coming of Christ Heb. 11. 13. they did thus saw the Promises afar off and embraced them so see it afar off There be divers people that profess this truth that do not fully believe it for if they did they would never live as they do That look as men that know the Judge rides Circuit within half a year dare not commit any open sins so if you believed this you would make conscience of secret sins which this Judge shall judge Others there be that do believe it as they do reports that every man saith but they do not see that really to be true indeed which their hearts literally believe and hence mens hearts are not a whit moved with grief or sorrow or joy or fear at the remembrance of this day For as it is with us in reports of news out of Germany many hear things but are not affected with their misery because they do not see it acted before their eyes God presents not their sorrows and hence they are not moved but when they do see them acted then they are moved much so here Look as it is with a man awake and in sleep a man awake believes the day of Judgement and never stirs but when asleep he dreams of it and is much affected with that because he sees it acted before his eyes much more when men have not dreams but real visions or sight of it it will affect And hence set painted fire before a Malefactor it affects not but shew him really it wherein he must be burnt now it amazeth him and hence 2 Pet. 2. 11 12 14. looking for and hence Peter saith what manner of persons ought we to be and whereever there is Faith thus it will be Heb. 11. 1. it makes things absent present and things unseen evident Oh that God would shew you this truth you young men Eccles. 11. 9. you would not spend time vainly but know God You aged men whose hearts are rooted in this world Oh know that God will come and burn up your delights will you never see this day and fear it before you see it and mourn because of it Oh take heed of rash judging and condemning and suspecting and censuring other men In Pauls time Rom. 14. 10. one Brother in a Church there judged another about indifferent things in a Christ-like manner as if he had no Grace c. You shall stand before Christs Iudgement Seat saith Paul and hence Paul 1 Cor. 4. 3 4 5. accounts little of mans Judgement and bids them judge nothing c. What if Christ find that to be a lye which thou judgest to be true Many of Gods Servants lie under hard thoughts and speeches in private not only from Enemies abroad but from inhabitants at home men out of the Church censuring and judging of Members men in the Church one of another especially if they take to a side The Lord will discover hard speeches and an edition of all your hard thoughts put out in print at the last day This breaks love this breaks Church-fellowship and is the cause of breacheâ— in this Country Oh take heed of an hypocritical heart if the Lord should come to judge according to the seeing of the eyes of the outward man then well were it with many but when the secrets of the hearts shall be judged it will be terrible if there should never be a calling over of things again happy were it for many but 't is otherwise 2 Cor. 5. 10. Paul sought only to please the Lord for we must all appear c. Civil men if they can carry it so as men may not say hurt of them they think 't is well Hypocrites if they can maintain a name of Religion so as they may maintain their interest in good mens hearts it is well if they get some enlargement in duties that they are commenâ—â—â— of them well if they can get so much mercy as to get the Lord to accept of Christs righteousness for them it is well but saith Paul We laborto be accepted of him I am perswaded godly men do not think of this we think the wicked shall have all their secrets laid open but the Saints come not into condemnation 't is true not of wrath but of trial so as that their righteousness shall be laid open to all to their glory at the great day 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. And therefore get that life which Christ himself may commend that as Christ said I have not found such faith in Isrâ—el So here when thou hast spoken a good word repeated a Sermon spent a Sabbath ask thy heart is this worth shewing to all the world that though at be vile yet Christ himself will commend this Oh you will finde only acting for him will commend the act Mat. 25. 40. there is that needlework and golden Arras of Holiness which is lapt up in the Saints that Christ will open before all the world another day Oh therefore repent Act. 17. 31. Paul tells them times past were spent in ignorance without God time to come was a time of Judgement and wrath of God against all sin Oh then repent Mourn for all wrongs done against Christ You will â—â—il then if you take not your season now mourn therefore for time past and for
to be with him for you may desire communion with lusts and Christ. Object But death is terrible and separation from him bitter Answ. Long for him therefore to come and then take thee and see thou desire nothing but himâ— rebuke thy 〈◊〉 llingness of not being with him If Christ was on earth you would hazard your lives to get unto him much more herein Obj. But what will become of Gods name Answ. Let the Lord alone for that wâ—â—les thou livest enâ—â—avour to the utmost but it s appointed for thee a little season only to be here and be willing the Lord should honor himself also by others as well as by thee Object What will become of my wife and children Answ. Who regarded thee in thy blood when thou livest they are thine but then the Lords Desire to be with him this will support your hearts in all your changes of this 〈◊〉 SECT XX. Vse 6. YOu that never received Christ now do it Object Yes I have Answ. No you have not so received him as to let all go for him Why so because he alone will be blessedness but he is not so to thee Oh therefore let all go now you must part with Christ or all these things Which will you do If with Christ you cannot finde him in these things but if you part with these things then you shall finde them all in him Object But he will have none of me Answ. 1. He cries down thy laying out money for what is not Bread 2. He promises to give thee to drink now and hereafter CHAP. XIX Shewing that none shall enjoy Christ hereafter but those that are prepar'd here VERSE 10. They that were ready 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prepared SECT I. THose only who are ready and prepaâ—ed in this life for Christ shall enjoy eternal and immediate communion with Christ those only who are now fitted for his fellowship shall partake of his fellowship for of all these Virgins though many of them were otherwise very well qualified only those which were ready did enter in with the Bridegroom which readiness in these wise Virgins was not nor is not any Popish preparation either meritorious or congruous or wrought by the power of corrupted or adorned nature but Divine and glorious wrought by the power of Christ out of his eternal love to the Vessels of glory as an Antecedent not moving cause of this eternal fellowship it is the first degree of our Resurrectâ—on with Christ. Rom. 9. 23. Vessels of glory prepared unto glory the same word which is used here there are two ends God hath appointed all men to either to be Vessels of wrath who are those Ve se 22. Those that are fitted for desâ—ruction others of glory who are those prepâ—red unto glory 2 Cor. 5. 5. with 8. How comes Paul and all the Saints to know and groan for to be out of the body and to break the Cage and to be with the Lord one reason is they are wrought and moulded and fashioned for that condition by the hand of a merciful God even as one may know what Vessels are for special use by their metâ—al and curious engravings upon them SECT II. Reas. 1. BEcause all mens souls are naturally unfit and unprepared to enjoy communion with Christ it is said Rev. 21. ult Nothing enters into the new Ierusalem on earth which is uncleane and defileth and Heb. 12 14. Without holiness no man shall see God Now naturally all men are deâ—iled and unclean Vessels and under the power of their sins loathing Angels food the grace of Christ and weary of the fellowship of Christ and therefore they must be prepared for the Lord first this is one reason why preparation to every holy duty is needful and so needful that let men performe any holy duty wherein they draw near to Christ without a heart prepared Psal. 10. 17. their performances aâ—e rejected or not blessed and hence Rehoboam though he did maintaine the worship of God at Ierusalem yet he prepared noâ— his heart 2 Châ—on 12. 14. 〈…〉 and begs parâ—on for this That he is not so purified according to the purification of the Sanctâ—â—ry Now if to a holy duty and commâ—nion with Christ here this is needful much more to eternal fellowship with him sore eyes cannot behold the Sun without grief sick bodies loath the best food if the Lord should let a carnal heart into heaven with that heart he hath and not change his nature he would not stay there if he could escape but having his swinish nature he would be in his mire againe and the Government of Christ being a bondage to him he would break bonds and break his Prison if he knew where to fly from the presence of the Lord And hence no work so wearysome as Christs now no time so uncomfortable and tedious as abiding under Christs wings in his Ordinances now 1 Cor. 15. 50. If flesh and bâ—ood cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven much lesse corruption Reas. 2. In regard of the rich grace and wisdom of his love towards his people for who sees not but that it is a curse to be unready as these foolish Virgins who were therefore shut out Oh therefore it is grace and mercy to make ready and indeed an answer to prayers and a comfort against all feares of the Saints who are then desiâ—oâ—s to be with the Lord when they are indeed ready readiness for Christ doth not destroy grace but being a fruit of Gods grace advanceth it Rom. 9. 23. the Apostle makes it the first fruit of glory that the Saints are prepared unto glory glory of mercy is the end preparedness thereto is the meanes or way leading to that end if God appoints the end his wisdom also leads first to the meanes which lead at last to that end if out of his rich grace he appoints the end out of the same grace by this other he leads to this end and though you think it not now grace you shall say it is so another day when with these foolish Virgins you shall say Oh that I were ready I know not almost which is greatest love to prepare for glory or to bring into the possession of iâ— to make a Vessel of poysonous dross a Vessel of gold or when it is so to fill it for the Lord to look upon a man when he is in his blood and then to wash him when a man is as water spilt upon the ground and a broken Vessel of no use now for the Lord to pity and fit for use it is exceeding rich grace Reas. 3. In regard of the honour of the Lord Iesus it was one part of the honour of Christ to have Iohn go before him and Luke 1. 17. to prepare a people ready for the Lord As it is part of a Princes honour to have his Bride ready and attired to welcome and entertaine him when he shall return to her she owes this honour to him and he expects this
death of thy friends or by secret feares of thine own heart thy time is not many hands breadth longer and it may be this shall be the Funeral Sermon of some of you you have been flying like Bees abroad in the world to gather your honey and the Lord haâ—h been smoaking of you and that in your own Hive you have thought to dwell long in Tabernacles the Lord hath let it fall to decayes and repaires it not again If you live unready it may be the Lord will try you with some sore conflict with fears of death and terrors of darkness and all your preparation is too little for your combate then The place of glory is made ready for you how shall I so unholy see God Christ is there Iohn 14. 3. waiting for thee longing after thee Thou art it may be yet in many respects unready As 1. Not yet planted in the House and Church of God not yet gathered to communion of Christ in his Saints on earth I know men may have just reasons to deferre but if they have none I would be loth to die in their room Hezekiah Isa. 38. ult Psalme 26. 8. I have loved the habitation of thy House Oh gather not my soule with the wicked I am perswaded some deare to Christ linger here and you cannot finde this not that saving good in your selves you say I had rather hear one mourn for emptiness than boast of his grace 2. There are many sinnes not yet mourned sufficiently for in daye of youth and in a secure condition in heaven is no mourning oh therefore take time now for want of this grace is not so sweet 3. It may be some main duty is neglected to the souls of them whom thou hast a charge of as not Caâ—echising thy family children not careful for their souls 4. It may be thou hast been little in prayer for the Churches though for thy family and children which is usually the last work of the Saints there 's no praying for them in Heaven as Christ at the end of his life like a Priest shed blood and prayed for them so Saints are made Priests to God and Christ 5. It may be thy house is not yet set in order nor thy Will made Reckonings between men not yet set right and even and then there is Quarrels when thou art Dead and trouble when you dye 6. It may be thou art grown secure and art lost and driven away and many wrinckles be on thy face and heart c. you cannot say with Paul 2 Tim. 4. That you have fought c. but are rather at truce with sin you run not but have slipt and fallen down and so lost all SECT XVI THerefore to help here in this readiness Get a heart more loosned and weaned from the world Solomon he did launch out his heart herein too far not in Epicurisme but Eccles. 2. 3. applying his heart to wisdome all this time so may you and be unready How I cannot but God will teach it you by affliction Psalme 39. 6 7. You are Sojourners here with God as all your Fathers there 's nothing proper nothing long to be enjoyed Own the Lord Iesus he is yours but you own him not as Simeon came to the Temple and there found him and there blest God and now saith he let me depart in peace hath the Lord stirred up unutterable sighings and groanings and mournings you think it may be if Christ was present you would not doubt of answer and they continue still and do you think Christ is hard-hearted hath the Lord come to thee in the Temple and manifested his love by his own promise sure and faithful and wilt thou not yet own him hast had and hast now the first fruition of the Spirit and wilt not yet own him and art afraid to go to him when others are in glory that trod in thy steps Oh be humbled for it I know there is nothing which makes thee feare it but a Rebellious vile heart and nature and can the Lord love such a one Yes such a one if he mournes under it Rom. 7. 24. Isaâ— 57. 18 19. The Lord will create peace he hath seen thy wayes and heâ—will heale them And when you have him thus own him daily keep your peace do nothing which may make you lose boldness in prayer and therefore reckon daily with him and Remember the promise stands when feelings are lost Object But I can do but little for him Answ. True Isa. 64. 6. Thou the Lords clay his Vessel though of little publique use yet in thy place do what thou canst for Christ Jesus Servants Masters Members Rich Poore bestirre your selves For Christ you shall lose nothing by it c. VERSE 10. The Door was shut IN these words is set down the consequent of that which immediately followed the Wise Virgins gracious entertainment with Christ the door was shut by which is signified the exclusion of the foolish from the fellowship of Christ as also the greatness of Christs love to the wise opening the door of glory unto them and when they are gathered shutting the door against every one else Hence Observe That the endeared love of Christ to his Elect doth much appear in this In opening the door of glory unto them and shutting it against others of great esteem and name in the Church of God for this is one Scope of the words Gen. 7. 16. To open the Kingdome of Heaven to all the world and save all would be great love in the eyes of the Saiâ—ts but to save them and condemne others to receive them and exâ—lude others and that of great name and esteem Virgins this sets out the Lords love exceedingly Christs distinguishing separating love is his great love Mat. 11. 25. If we consider the multitude of the one and fewness of the other not only in regard of the world but in regard of others in Churches Luke 13. 24. Many shall seek and many that are first shall be last Matthew 19. 30. If we consider that there is as much reason appearing outwardly that the Lord should choose thee one as well as the other what difference is appearing outwardly between these Virgins I 'le warrant you the wise did think the foolish as good and it may be far better than themselves Iudges 6. 15. Saith Gideon How wilt thou save Israâ—l by me I am the least in my Fathers house yet saith the Lord I will be with thee so the Saints may say and do say Why Lord wilt thou save me I am the least and poorest of all others If we consider the reason why the Lord doth this and that is because of nothing but the Will of God his good pleasure Matth. 11. 25. For why should their Vessels be filled they received and not others only the Will of God I know not you c. Of which hereafter If we consider the intolerable torment of those who go farre
sometimes dead the heart from all effectual endeavours and discourage the heart from all duties makes all the Gospel the Ministry of blood and death and a hand-writing against it and when it concludes God hath shut the door against it it shuts God and Christ and all his Promises out of its heart 1. Some think they having sinned against light have had some blasphemous thoughts that they have committed the unpardonable sin c. 2. Some others think not so but yet they heare that some mens time is out before death they think theirs is also having sought so long they are even sealed up by God to hardness of heart and thus some seemingly coming to Christ are indeed kept off from him 3. Others of the Saints meeting with many sore troubles and tryals and that for some sins and one deep calling to another they think with David God hath forgot hath shut up his mercies will remember no more to be gracious and though he hath been so yet because he hath been so abused by them that therefore now he will not be merciful again and thus their hearts sink Oh Remember the Gate of Gods Grace is not shut up before death then is the time for it to be shut I confess indeed there is a time in this life the Lord doth cease to strive and doth forsake the soul and we may say of them as Christ Oh that thou hadst known but now they are hid from thine eyes But yet this is a secret which as a secure despiser of grace should tremble at so those that are awakened and set in their way to Christ should not trouble themselves about it Object But oh that I did know whether it be past or no! Answ. I shall rather give to these people some good counsel for 't is not for you to know these times and seasons though this I would say if the impardonable sin be not committed 1. This time of the doores being shut is not in time of health and peace but in time of extream trouble wherein trouble doth affect them more than the sin as Prov. 1. and as many when a sick bed is come and in Noahs Flood 1 Pet. 3 20. 2. Or if it be in time of health this is ever the companion of it viz. hatred and opposing Saints secretly or opening because Christ having quite forsaken him his heart swells against the Saints hence Saul envied David Esau hated Iacob Murmurers against God were in the Wilderness and against Moses But I come to counsel for God lets loose Satan full of malice upon a poor creature sometimes to vex and trouble First Consider the root of this distemper viz. either great pride or despising of the riches of Gods grace 1. Pride for this we shall finde such spirits because they have not peace sealed strength against sin granted unto them and that which they would have if discouraged and not quickened by this they regard not life meanes offers of grace What is all this if God hath forsaken me What is it Yes that 't is as might at large be shewed 2. Despising of grace if I had not committed such sins I could then think for mercy but such evils such miseries cannot be remedied Truly as it is a despising of a Physician to think If I was not so sick he would be tender and helpful but not now being so exceedingly diseased So it is here c. Secondly Consider Suppose the time be past yet remember thou art worthy to be forsaken of God even from thy birth not worthy of thy daily bread much less to taste of Gods Supper the Lord was loth to shut the door Hence he weâ—t on Ierusalem and Psalme 81. 12. cryed out Oh that my people had walked in my wayes â— thy sinnes provoked the Lord unto it if he hath in justice cast thee off therefore though it be past be not discouraged but lie down humbled as Iudges 10. 14 15. and as David Psal. 42. 3. My teares are my meat whiles they say so Where is youâ— God So tell the Lord Satan saith and feeling saith and feares say Where is my God Lord pity And if thy heart be sick tell the Lord of it Verse 6. I am perswaded many should quickly feele an Answer to this Question by taking this course but they miss at least of the comfort of Grace and Mercy because they will be Disposers of the Lords Grace and Time Thirdly Consider it may be that time is not past it is a secret only known to God the door of grace may only seem to be shut why doth Christ bid knock else When the Ninevites heard that they should dye within fourty dayes Ionah 3. 9. say they Who can tell but the Lord may repent you say the Decree is past and spoken and as Spira said I have that Witnessed I say againe Who can tell but if God had said so but that â—he may repent therefore be not discouraged or faint because of this Nay 't is most probable time is not past 1. Because the things of thy peace the discovery of the vileness of thine own heart the glory of Christ is not hid from thine eyes 2. God calls thee now to returne When Iudah had banisht David and they might think He will not receive us yet when David sent by his Messengers Why do you not bring the King back I am flesh of your flesh then they all were encouraged to hope for favour 2 Sam. 19. 12 14. So 4. Consider if thou dost return the time of love is so farre from being past as that it is then come indeed unto thy soul. Object But my sin is great Answ. Suppose it be â—lasphemy of Christ nay murder of the Sonne of God yet Acts 2. 38. when Peter preached Repentance to life they thâ—t gladly received that word who might be instrumental to crucifie Christ were received Oh but my heart is hard Hosea 10. 12. break up your fallow ground c. 'T is time saith he c. Object But I have refused to returne and have not been ashamed Answ. Yet Ier. 3. 3 4 5. Wilt thou not from this time cry to me c. Object But I may returne to the Lord and he refuse to returne to me Answ. No Ier. 8. 7. Shall he fall and not arise shall the Lord turn away and not return why then is he fallen perpetually the reason is given No man said What have I done how have I despised Gods grace the Stork knows her season but c. the Lord keep you from dashing your selves in pieces here and make this a Word of Christs Encouragement to thee Vse 2. Of Exhortation unto all men not to delay your making peace with God for when you are dead the gate is shut and if Angels should cry to have it opened they shall not be heard You that are young take warning this day do not think there is time enough hereafter You that are old do not think it too late
and yet are excluded Mat. 8. 11 12. Children of the Kingdome cast out there shall be weeping the higher a man is risen the greater is his fall and his bruises at the bottome so when one hath been raised up to great hopes profession affection yet now to fall to lose all to see he hath been spinning Cobwebs all his life when Israel were near to Canaan now to be shut out Now they wept Vse 1. We may see hence what little cause any have to boast only in outward priviledges or common gifts graces excellencies I confess it is great mercy for the Lord to call a man out of his prophaneness and separate him from the world bringing him to the fellowship of Saints and give him that which makes hâ—m reputed well of by others but boast not only of this as if the Lord did therefore highly favour you for the Lord Jesus may shew for all this his love to his own and his terrour to thee and may shut the door of glory at last upon thee 1 Cor. 1. 27 28 29. The Lord chooses things that are not to bring to nought and to staine other glory Rom. 11. 17. The Gentiles boasted themselves that they were graffed in oh saith the Apostle seeing this spirit apt to rise boast not be not high-minded do not grow secure but feare common graces ever make men proud as others make men humble they despise not others they magnifie God if the Lord hath made a difference see the goodness of God verse 22. but boast not therein therefore do not content thy self with a name to live and having some cankered hopes some shining excellencies for the Lord may do this to shew others his love and yet staine thy glory as one that hath great hopes of preferment many Friends to commend and speak for him if one tells him You shall certainly lose all your labour he will mourn more than another that had no hopes nor helps at all of rising he will not glory in any thing he hath but will take some sure and safer way So I say to you If there be the least Grace and Favour blesse God for that but do not boast of any thing else Vse 2. Hence the Saints may learne how to affect their heaâ—ts with the Lords love to theâ— for there is such a poysonful disposition in them that though they have it yet they cannot be affected sometimes with it Vp Deborah Awâ—ke Lâ—te and Harpe and 't is this Do not only Remember and think on the Lords love saving thee calling humbling c. but so as to call thee and leave others to quicken thee and leave others dead to open the door of glory to thee and exclude others to call thee out of the Kingdome of the world to look upon thee in a sinful Town to awaken thee and leave others so many secure to call thee out of thy sinful company some of which like brands are now smoaking in this world others burning in another to call thee out of a sinful ignorant family thou the least the worst of them and to leave the rest this is much But when thou art brought into the Kingdome of Heaven Fellowship of Saints for the Lord to love thee set his heart upon thee when he forsakes others of thy own company of great parts and abilities whom thou thinkest better of than thy self at least as well to pull down these Princes to the dunghill and to exalt thy horn to cut down these Cedars and to preserve a Shrub to tread upon the greatest glory of man and to pity a worm for so thou art in thine own eyes Oh let this fire warme thy heart though thou hast been affected with it before especially considering no reason for it but only the good pleasure of God this affected Christ himself Mat. 11 25. 'T is true you do not see this done but you shall one day behold it with your eyes only let this love kindle love thankfulness humility in thine heart againe And hence if the Lord hath put a difference between thee and others do not deny do not doubt of do not despise his grace that if thou hast lost thy first love this may recover it if all his love makes thee more humble and thankful you stand Rom. 11. 20. Isa. 65. 16. Do not feare thy estate because the Lord cuts off the natural branches that therefore thou mayst be one but be featful of the least sin and wrong to Christ that hath loved thee especially of pride and unthankfulness the root of that and Remember that the poor things are chosen to confound the Mighty That the door of grace and glory shall be shut against all wicked men living at the coming of the Lord to death or judgement there is a time that the door is open unto men in regard of Ministerial dispensations for secrets of election we are not to minde Isa. 55. 6 7. This time is in this life but when death comes then it is shut when Angels sinned the Lord immediately shut the door against them but through Christ the door is open for term of life to men Because after death there is no meanes of grace or glory left which is the Ministry of the Word and Prayer for that is the chief key of opening the door even when the doores of heart and heaven are shut Mat. 16. 19. and hence 2 Cor. 6. 2. Now is the time of prayers and preaching and so to be helped but after death there are no Ministers they are at rest from their labours and the Ministry of men is for men not for naked soules Lazarus must not give a drop of cold water then to cool the tongue much less Ministers to comfort or convert their hearts 't is true the Lord can work extraordinarily but do you think he will do it for one that hath despised grace all his life Because it 's impossible they should repent after death by any other means if meanes were afforded as by seeing their sinne and feeling their punishment Iohn 9. 4. The night cometh wherein no man can work because after death comes judgment of wrath to the wicked Heb. 9. ult all patience and pity have forsaken them and so wrath lies upon them that they can do nothing but bear it as one under a great load or burning in the fire all his thoughts and affections and spirits are taken up with that and that is all he can do Heb. 10. 27. So here Vse 1. Of Confutation of a viperous satanical secret opinion which like a ghost 〈◊〉 the mindes of some people viz. that think and conclude even in time of health in midst of saving healing meanes that their time of grace is past and door is shut to them before Christ comes against them at death or judgement which though God many times turnes for good to humble a bold heart which will burne Gods day-light out and linger in its sinnes yet it doth