Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel he was found of them § Such as want Evidence of their interest in Christ ought to trust in him for Salvation What grounds have such to trust in Christ 3. Though you want evidence of your interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death yet if you be such as live in the fear of God such as desire to be saved by Christ in his own way and upon his own Terms you may yea you ought to trust in Christ for eternal Salvation Isa 50.10 VVho is among you that fears the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servants that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God A man that truly feareth God may be in great darkness about his Spiritual State he may have no light that is no Evidence of his interest in God and the promises and so be in a very uncomfortable condition yet such ought to trust in Christ If any say what grounds hath a man that followeth after Righteousness and desireth to live in the fear of God and yet wanteth evidence of his Interest in Christ and the promises of God to trust in Christ for his Salvation § Grounds of trusting in Christ for Salvation for such as are in a dark condition as to their Interest in Christ A. 1. God sends his Son into the World to take our nature upon him and to die for our Sins for this very end and purpose to seek and to save Sinners who were in a lost and undone condition 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost 1 John 4.14 VVe have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the VVorld John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved These general expressions to save the World to save Sinners to save that which was lost opens a door of hope to such as can't see their interest in Christ but see themselves lost Sinners and hearing that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world to save lost sinners i◠shews them that there is hope for their Souls that they may obtain Salvation By Jesus Christ 2. The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the world and who came into the world purposely to save sinners is an all-sufficient Saviour able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them He is able to save to the uttermost that is to save perfectly to save eternally to give all things requisite to Salvation he is able to justifie sanctifie and bring unto glory all that come unto him For his blood is available to take away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world And his Spirit is able to sanctifie the worst and most polluted Sinners The Corinthians were the chief of Sinners Extortioners Drunkards Adulterors Abusers of themselves with mankind with other abominations yet they were sanctified by the Spirit of Christ of great sinners made eminent Saints 1 Cor. 62.10 11. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ inviteth and calleth all distressed Persons in all places that see themselves in a perishing undone condition to look to him and to come to him for Salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of Earth That is let all Persons from one end of the Earth to the other that find a want of Salvation look unto me and I will save them Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 4. The Lord commandeth us to trust in his Son for the giving us eternall life 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment And he is displeased with those that do not relie on him for their Salvation Ps 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth and anger came up against Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation 5. We have God promises yea many promises that he will give eternal life and blessedness to all whosoever they be that believe and trust in his Son Ps 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting life § The plea of such as can't trust in Christ for Salvation for want of Sanctification Obj. 1. None shall be saved by Christ but such as are sanctified and in a state of Grace but I want evidences of my being sanctified and being in a state of Grace how then can I trust in Christ to save me A. 1. It is true that Christ sanctifieth all whom he saveth for without Holiness no man whatsoever shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. If a man live and dye in his sins without repentance and yet trust in Christ for Salvation he doth but delude himself for our Lord Jesus telleth us expresly that all that do not repent shall surely perish Luk. 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 2. Though you want evidences of your Sanctification yet do you not find ardent desires of Sanctification do you not find hungrings and thirstings after Righteousness Such as hunger and thirst after Righteousness are in a blessed condition as well as they that have attained Righteousness Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Spiritual desires are an argument of the Grace of God bestowed upon us The gracious estate of the Servants of God is sometimes set out by their desires Isa 26.8 The desire of our Souls is to thee and to the remembrance of thy name Neh. 1.11 Thy Servants who desire to fear thy name Then our desires argue a gracious state when our desires of God and the things of God exceed our desires of other things Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. If you find in your self a want of Sanctification know this that you are to trust in
actual right to all the saving benefits of Christ Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ They that are thus Interested in Christ are said to be in Christ and by vertue of their Union with him they have a right to all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption To be thus interested in Christ is not common to all men but it is a special priviledge belonging to a peculiar people Tit. 2.14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and parifie unto himself a peculiar people As concerning this saving interest in Christ we find some men are Christ owned by him for his own 1 Cor. 3.23 ye are Christs Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them unto the end Some men are none of Christs Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his but are without any part or portion in Christ Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ some men have a part with Christ some have no part at all in him or with him Joh. 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me To open the nature of this saving Interest in Christ more fully I shall resolve these two questions 1. How Christ becometh ours 2. How we become his How doth Christ become ours A. 1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our sins and Christs giving himself to die for our sins God the Father gave Christ to be the propitiation for our sins Joh. 16.8 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And as God gave Christ so Christ gave himself to be a Sacrifice and ransom for us There was his own consent to this Gift the giving himself to die for our sins Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself for a ransom for all 2. Christ becomes ours by effectual calling for when God calls us effectually he calls us to fellowship with Christ that is to be partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called to the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. When Christ dyed he gave himself for us when we are effectually called he giveth himself to us By the death of Christ there was an impetration or purchase of all things that were necessary to our Salvation In our effectual calling there is an application of Christ and all the benefits purchased by Christ to our own Souls As soon as we are effectually called Christ becomes ours and all his benefits become ours we have an actual right to an interest and propriety in Christ and in all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your calling brethren All are yours and ye are Christs 1 Cor. 3.22.23 They that are effectually called Christ is theirs and all the benefits of Christ are theirs I add this word effectual because many are outwardly called by the Gospel who are not inwardly and effectually called to Fellowship with Christ now this effectual calling whereby we are made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits consists of these three Branches 1. Illumination when God calls us effectually he brings us out of our ignorance and darkness and gives us the knowledge of himself and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light The knowledge of Christ and God in Christ is a great furtherance of our being partakers of Christ and his saving benefits for through the knowledge of Christ are communicated to us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. The loosening and taking off the heart from all things that hinder the Soul from coming to and following after Jesus Christ A man is called off from all that hinders his closeing with Christ whether they be worldly lusts or fleshly lusts or relying upon our own Righteousness or any other impediments A man is made to leave all to enjoy Christ when Christ called Levi he left all for to go after Christ Luk. 5.27 28. He said unto him follow me and he left all rose up and followed him When Christ called James and John they left their Father their Servants their Ship and there Nets and all to follow Christ Mark 1.20 He called them and they left their Father Zebedee in the Ship with the hired Servants and went after him When the Lord had called the Apostle Paul he was willing to suffer the loss of all things that came in competition with Christ so that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 3. VVhen God calls a man effectually he calls him to believe in Christ he calls him to come to Christ and to accept of Christ as offered in the Gospel and to rely upon him alone for his Salvation Joh. 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me The Father calls us to come to his Son and every one that heareth this call effectually cometh to Jesus Christ Now they that are thus called to the knowledge and faith of Christ are made partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits for by Faith Christ dwells in our hearts Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And they that are thus called shall have remission of sins and eternal life Rom. 8.30 Whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 3. Christ becometh ours by our recieving him The Spirit of God maketh a free offer of Christ to every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 The Spirit saith come And let him that is a thirst come And whoever will let him take the Water of Life freely VVhen we recieve Jesus Christ thus offered to us he becometh ours and we become his Joh. 1.12 To as many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name VVhen we recieve Christ he becomes our Saviour and God becomes our Father and we become his Sons Now this recieving Christ implyeth these 3 things 1. Our recieving that Testimony which is given of Christ in the Gospel concerning the person offices death and sufferings of Christ and the benefits that we
we have 1. The Title given to Christ my Beloved or as the Dutch my best Beloved or as one unicè dilectus my only Beloved Whatever apprehensions other men may have of Christ though they see no beauty or comliness why they should desire him though he be to them a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence though they make light of him and reject him yet gracious Souls love Christ yea he is their best Beloved they love him above all things and persons in the World 2. VVe have the claim that is laid to Christ My Beloved is mine I have a special and peculiar interest in him he is mine as much as any thing that I have is mine my Beloved is mine I can I do I will lay claim to him as my own Psal 67.6 God even our own God shall bless us 3. The Confidence the Spouse had of her special and peculiar interest in Christ It is not I hope he is mine or by way of desire O that he were mine but it is spoken with much confidence my Beloved is mine Isaiah 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father 4. Here is Christs Interest in his Church I am his I am not I will not be mine own but I am his I am not the Worlds but he hath chosen and called me out of the world I am his 5. Christs familiar converse with his Church he feedeth among the Lilies that is he affordeth his presence to them he converseth familiarly with them as persons do that feed together 6. The persons among whom Christ feeds they that are his those that love him those that resemble the Lilies that is humble Souls such as walk innocently such as are fruitful It 's Plinys Observation Lilio nihil faecundius such as are like Christ the lilie of the Valleys meek and lowly in heart 7. The Consolation the Church hath under all the troubles of this Life and the fears of Death and that ariseth from two Heads 1. Her interest in Christ my Beloved is mine 2. The enjoyment of Christs presence he feedeth among the Lilies Feeding implyeth 1. His presence and familiar converse with her 2. His delight in her feeding signifieth delight John 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me 3. His ministring inward and spiritual Comforts Judg. 19.5 Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread And inward supports Psal 104.15 Bread which strengthneth mans heart Observ 1. Jesus Christ and Gracious Souls have a mutual interest each in other Christ is theirs and they are his 2. Such as believe in Christ may come to a sure and certain Knowledge of their Interest in Christ they may be able to say with much confidence Christ is mine and I am his 3. Every true Believer hath a great love to Jesus Christ yea he loveth Christ above all things and persons in the whole world My beloved or as some render it my best beloved 4. It is the work and office of Faith to appropriate and apply Christ to a mans own Soul My beloved is mine 5. The Lord Jesus Christ feedeth among the Lilies that is converseth with them delighteth in them Communicates Spiritual comforts and supports to them 6. It is a great comfort to the Saints in an evil day when they are as a Lilie among Thorns that Christ feedeth among the Lilies The Observation insisted on is Doct. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and the dangers and approaches of Death When it was a time of persecution and there were Thorns on every side and the Foxes spoyling the Vines the Spouse could triumph in this My Beloved is mine and I am his Luk. 1.47 The Virgin Mary went through sore afflictions as sharp as if she had a Sword run through her Luk. 2.35 yet her Spirit could rejoyce in God her Saviour Paul when shut up in Prison could and did rejoyce in Christ Jesus Phil. 1.13 compared with Phil. 3.3 We rejoyce in Christ Jesus Cant. 8.5 The Wilderness a place of great troubles and a land of the shadow of Death that is where they walked almost continually in danger of death Jer. 2.6 yet under all the troubles of the wilderness and the shadow of death there was refreshment by leaning on Christ 2 Sam. 30.6 David was in great distress that he wept till he could weep no more and was in danger of death yet he could encourage himself in the Lord his God Cant. 2.2.3 As a Lilie among Thorns yet there I sat down under his shadow with great delight Psal 23.1.4 The Lord is my Shepherd and what then though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil Sect. 2. VVhat is meant by an Interest in Christ How Christ becomes ours how we become Christs For the farther clearing hereof that an Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the Fears and Terrors of Death it will be expedient to enquire what is meant by an Interest in Christ And how Christ becomes ours and how we become his To that end we may take notice of a three fold Interest in Christ 1. A general interest which is common to all men the evil as well as the good an interest by virtue of Creation and of Christs being Lord of all The Son as well as the Father was the Creatour of Mankind and all other creatures Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was And not only by Creation hath Christ a right to all Mankind but as Mediatour he is Lord of all and is made Judge of the quick and dead and hath power over all flesh Act. 10.36 Preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh This general interest in part as his creatures or as subjects of his Mediatory Kingdom is not that interest which is a ground of Consolation For he ruleth by his power in the midst of his Enemies Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies 2. There is a Titular Interest in Christ when men profess themselves to be Christs and profess and say that Christ is theirs but they are not his neither is he theirs in truth Joh. 1.11 He came to his own and his own recieved him not The Jews are called Christs own because they professed themselves to be the people of God but many of them were not his people Joh. 8.54 55. Ye say that he is your God yet ye have not known him Many lay claim to God as their God and to Christ as their Saviour that have no real interest in God and Christ 3. There is a special saving interest in Christ as our Redeemer which is when a man is made a partaker of Christ united to Christ and hath a real and
have thereby As namely that Jesus of Nazareth was God manifest in the Flesh the Son of God as well as the Son of man that he is that Saviour that was foretold and promised should come into the World to save lost man that he dyed for our sins and rose again for our justification and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God tomake intercession for us that God hath made him both Lord and Christ and exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour c. Now then we recieve his Testimony when we believe the truth of those things which are revealed in the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ Joh. 3.33 He that hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that he is true Thus we receive Christ when we believe the Doctrine of the Gospel and continue therein And this is necessary to our enjoying an Interest in Christ 2 Joh. 9. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 2. We recieve Jesus Christ by the consent of our Wills When our Wills consent to take this Jesus for our Lord and Saviour as he is offered to us in the Gospel and we are willing to be ruled by him and to be saved by him in his own way Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely The great work is to porswade and bring over the will to Christ to make a man willing to have Christ for his Lord and Saviour and to be willing to to be saved by him in Life and Death in his own way The averseness of the will to accept of Christ for our Lord and Saviour we may see from such Scriptures as these Ps 81.11 Israel would none of me Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man reign over us Joh. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life It is the work of God yea the power of God that is required to make a man willing to have Christ for his Lord and Saviour Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Ps 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power When our wills consent to take Christ as he offers himself to us he becomes ours As the consenting to the enticeing of Sinners makes us one with them and makes us partakers of their evil deeds Ps 51.18 2 John ver 11. And therefore Solomon adviseth Pro. 1.10 My Son if sinners entice thee consent thou not So by our consenting to receive Christ when he offers himself to us and wooeth and intreateth us to accept him we become one with and are made partakers of his benefits As 't is in Marriage it is not wooing and waiting but consenting that makes up the Match So it is in the mystical Marriage it is not inviting and calling and waiting but consenting makes up the Match 3. We receive Christ for our Saviour when we rely upon him and trust in him for Salvation and all things requisite unto Salvation When we look upon him as the only Saviour and as an all-sufficient Saviour and do trust in him for our eternal Salvation Eph. 1.13 In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation Ps 86.2 O thou my God save thy Servant that trusteth in thee The Lord was displeased with the Israelites when they did not trust in his Salvation Psal 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth because they believed not in God nor trusted in his Salvation In these three things consisteth this duty of receiving Christ 1. In the assent of the mind to the truth of those things that are revealed concerning Christ in the Gospel 2. In the consent of the will to take this Jesus for our Lord and Saviour 3. In the relyance or trust of the heart on Christ for Salvation 4. Christ becometh ours by our entring into Covenant with God When upon the call of the Gospel we come to Christ and believe in Christ then we enter into Covenant with God then God makes an everlasting Covenant with us Isa 55.3 Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your souls shall live and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David And when the Lord takes us into his Covenant then Jesus Christ becometh ours and all his saving benefits become ours For one main branch of the covenant is to give us Christ and all his saving benefits Isa 42.6 I will give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison The great promise of the new covenant is I will be your God Ezek. 36.28 And when the Lord promiseth to be our God in that promise God the Father engageth himself to be our Father and God the Son engageth to be our Saviour and our Redeemer and God the Holy Ghost engageth to be our comforter How do we become Christs I. By the donation of the Father God the Father chose out of the children of men whom he saw good and gave them to Jesus Christ to be his peculiar people to be redeemed and saved by him Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me 1 Pet. 2.9 Ye are a chosen generation a peculiar people All that God chose to eternal life he gave to Christ to redeem them So that all that are Christs are the Fathers and all that are the Fathers by election are the Sons by redemption Joh. 17.10 All mine are thine and thine are mine II. VVe are Christs by Redemption He bought us with a price he purchased us with his own blood he bought us Body and Soul for himself with a great price 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Ye are not your own ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirits which are Gods The price that Christ gave for this purchase was his own blood Act. 20.28 To feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood III. We become Christs by the Spirits causing and enabling us to give our selves to Christ We become Christs by a voluntary resignation of our own selves unto him 2 Cor. 8.5 First gave their own selves unto the Lord. Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. that is shall surely and firmly engage himself to be the Lords Servant Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy Servant I am thy Servant IIII. VVe become Christs by vertue of the covenant He enters into covenant with us that he will graciously accept us to be his Ezek. 16.8 I entered into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine It is part of Gods Covenant that he will accept of us for his people Heb. 8.10 Ye shall be to me a people And as the Lord makes a covenant with us to accept us for his so
who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ interceedeth with his Father on the behalf of all those that are given to him that they may be with him where he is that is in the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 17 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And what Christ asked of his Father shall assuredly be granted Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always 3. God for Christs sake hath promised eternal life to all that are Christs that is to all persons that do or shall believe on Christ to the end of the World Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son this whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us eternal life And the promise of God is a sure ground to hope for eternal life Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath power over all flesh given to him by the Father that he may give eternal life to all that are given to him by the Father Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore they that are Christs may be assured that they shall have eternal life seeing Christ hath power to give eternal life to whom he will and this power over all flesh was given him purposely that he might give eternal life to all that were given him by the Father 5. God hath given us this record concerning his Son that eternal life is in his Son and that eternal life is his free gift and that he will give it to all that have his Son and if we do not believe this record that God hath given of his Son we should make God a Liar 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath Life Eternal Life is in Christ and therefore if we believe the record that God hath given of his Son namely that God hath given us eternal life and that this life is in his Son we must then conclude it as a certain truth that he that hath the Son hath Life Now seeing such as have an interest in Christ have sure grounds to hope for eternal life it followeth hence that they have good grounds of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and also against the fears and terrors of Death For hope of eternal life will help us to rejoyce greatly in the midst of all our troubles Rom. 5.2 3 VVe rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we glory in tribulations When we have good hope of the glory of God that is of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven which is a most glorious Kingdom we may rejoyce and glory in the midst of our greatest tribulations 1 Pet. 1.3 4 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heariness through manifold temptations Here is joy great joy in the midst of manifold temptations that did cause heaviness and whence did this joy proceed from a lively hope of an heavenly inheritance VVherein ye greatly rejoyce That is in which hope or in hope of which inheritance So Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and more enduring substance The spoyling of our goods for which we have laboured many years is wont to cause sorrow and lamentation Jer. 9.19 A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion how are we spoyled yet the hope of a reward in Heaven will help us to take the spoiling of our goods joyfully The hope of eternal life will take away the fears and terrors of Death when a man hath good hope of his Salvation it will be no trouble no terror to such a man to dye but he may dye in peace Luk. 2.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The hope of eternal life will so far take off the fear and terrors of death that it will make us desire and long for our dissolution that we may be with Christ in Heaven Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better 2 Cor. 5.1 2. VVe know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven V. They that are Christs shall have the Lords presence with them under the troubles which they meet with while they live and also when they come to die Our sins made a separation between God and our Souls Isa 59.2 But the sufferings of Christ have made up this breach 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God One of the names given to Christ was Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Math. 1.23 Whereas by the fall of Adam God was against us and was separated from us through Christ he is reconciled to us and is become with us a God that will afford us his presence That such as are Christs shall have the presence of God and Christ with them under all their troubles yea at all times both while they live and when they dye See Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And what he hath said he will surely perform it If he will never leave nor forsake us then at no time of life nor at the hour of death Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the world Here is a note of attention set before this promise that the Members of Christ may take notice of it for their comfort and encouragement Lo I am with you I that have all power in Heaven and in Earth given to me I am with you how long always to the end of the world not only with his Apostles and Disciples that lived in those days but with all his Ministers and Members to the end of the world and at all times And more especially in times
days to shew our love in our diligence in Ministring to the Saints as we have ability and as their necessity requireth Heb. 6.10 11. Another Grace that will much further our Assurance as trusting in God in all distresses and dangers and living by Faith on Gods promises Psal 31.14 I trusted in thee I said thou art my God The more we accustom our selves to trust in God the more confidently we shall be enabled to call God our God Another grace that will further our assurance is Uprightness when we walk in our Integrity that will scatter and dispel fears and bring in comfort Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness But I shall add no more upon this question Sect. 3. What they should do that can't make out their interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death Obj. It may be some will say it is true they that have an interest in Christ and know it may be of good chear under all the troubles of this Life and when they are to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death but what shall I do in an evil day and at the hour of Death that cannot to this day nor ever could make it out that I have a saving interest in Christ § Prayer a means to clear interest Encouragements to pray for this mercy A. 1. Pray to God to make clear to your Souls your interest in himself and his Son Jesus Christ Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation That which David asks is not be thou my Salvation but 't is the satisfying his Soul with the knowledge that God was his Saviour and would give him Salvation Say unto my Soul That is Lord perswade my Soul Lord give my Soul satisfaction in this great case that thou art my Saviour and wilt confer Salvation upon me And what David prayed for in this kind that may we pray for also And for our encouragement to pray for the knowledge of your interest in Christ consider these things 1. Prayer is a means of Gods own appointing not only for the obtaining of the favour of God but also for the obtaining of the comfortable apprehensions of Gods love in Christ Job 33.26 He shall pray unto God and he shall be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy Here is a double blessing promised unto the man that prayeth unto God he shall obtain the favour of God and he shall see his face with joy that is he shall obtain the knowledge of Gods love to his Soul which shall put great joy and gladness into his heart 2. The knowledge of our interest in God as our Father and in Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer is promised in the new Covenant and what the Lord hath promised we may pray in Faith and Hope that we shall attain it See promises to this purpose Isa 60.16 Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer That which is here promised is not I will be thy Saviour and thy Redeemer but the knowledge of our interest in Christ as our Saviour and our Redeemer It is not said thou shalt know that I am the Saviour of my people or the Saviour of those that trust in me Thon shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer Another promise of clearing our interest in Christ we have Joh. 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you At that day what day is here meant some understand it of the future life when we shall live with Christ in Glory spoken of in the foregoing verse because I live ye shall live also at that day ye shall know And doubtless the full accomplishment of this promise is the priviledge of the other life to have a perfect understanding of the mystical Union between the Father and the Son and between Christ and Believers But it hath also a respect to clearing our Union with Christ in this life at that day that is after I am risen from the dead and gone to the Father and at that day that you set your love upon me and keep my Commandments and I shall pray the Father and he shall send you another comforter even the Spirit of truth he shall make it known to you that I am in you and you in me It may also relate to ver 13 14. When you shall earnestly pray to the Father in my name to have your union cleared in that day you shall know that I am in you and you in me If any say I have prayed to God to clear my Union with and my Interest in Christ and still I am in the dark about this matter I answer You must continue to seek this mercy the knowledge of your interest in God and Christ and that is the way to obtain it Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord § Such as can't make out their Interest in Christ should close with Christ that they may have an Interest in him 2. If you cant nor ever could make out your Interest in Christ yea suppose it be so that you have no interest in him come in now and close with him The door of Hope still stands open to your Souls It is yet an accepted time and a day of Salvation God still continueth to offer Christ to your Souls and prays you to accept of him 2 Cor. 5.20 VVe pray you in Christs stead be you reconciled to God If at length after a long neglecting of Christ you will come in and close with him you shall be saved by him Heb. 4.7 To day after so long a time as it is said to day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts Those that had stood all the day idle even to the last hour were invited to go into the Vineyard and going upon the invitation had their reward Matth. 20.6 7 9. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them why stand ye here all the day idle Go ye also into the Vineyard and whatever is right that shall ye receive And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny This penny is by the generality of Interpreters agreed to be eternal life and this eternal life shall be given to those that come into Christ at the last hour of the day though the former part of their time hath been spent in ideleness But some may say if a man hath reflected and lived without God in the day of his prosperity is there hope if such a man turn to God in the day of trouble that God will be found of him and be gracious unto him I answer There is hope for such as have neglected God along time if they turn to him in the day of their tròuble that he will be gracious unto them 2 Chron. 15.3 4.