mistaken who think that the Calling to Christianity is only to the Profession thereof here and the Glory thereof hereafter without Holiness when the Scripture saith in express Terms that without Holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. 3. A Calling to Glory and Virtue 2 Pet. 1. 3. Glorious Relation and virtuous Conversation or Virtue as the Way and Glory as the End This is that Calling the Apostle mentions Rom. 8. 28. Who are the Called according to his purpose And therefore it greatly behoves such to walk worthy of God who hath called them to his Kingdome and Glory 1 Thes 2. 12. 4. It 's called a Heavenly Calling Heb. 3. 1. Wherefore Holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling it 's effected from Heaven and possesseth the Soul with a Heavenly Mind and interesteth in Heavenly Glory it being such a High Holy Heavenly Virtuous and Glorious Calling It greatly concerns such to Honour their Christian Calling that as he that hath called them is Holy so be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation and Godliness 1 Pet. 1. 15. The sum of the Matter wherein this Effectual Calling consists it is an Effectual turning of the whole Man from Sin and Satan to God in the way of the Gospel both in Heart and Conversation or an Effectual yielding up our selves in Obedience to the Heavenly Call sincerely turning to and following of the Lord as Paul Gal. 1. 15 16. Acts 26. 19. And with purpose of Heart to cleave to and follow the Lord in waâ— of constant universal and sincere Obedience This is the special Effectual Calling According to his purpose to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ and gives Right to the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9. 15. CHAP. XI Of Faith 1. What it is 2. How it is wrought 3. It 's Grounds and it's Object 4. It 's Excellency FAith is an excellent Divine Virtue that Chap. 11. Of Faith which the Scripture layeth much stress upon and that without which there is no Salvation He that Believeth not shall be Damned I shall therefore speak something distinctly concerning this Great and Divine Virtue of Faith It 's satisfying and saving Faith only that I shall endeavour to be speaking of 1. I shall discover what Faith is Faith in 1. What Faith is it self take it on all Accounts is a giving Credence to the Truth of God it is to Believe God Faith is a giving Credit to or Believing a Report be it in Humane or Divine Things To give Credit to Humane Relations on Humane Testimony is a Humane Faith to give Credit to the Divine Report of God in the Gospel is a Divine Faith So that the Divine Faith of the Gospel to which Life is promised is a Hearty giving Credit to and Believing of the Truth or God and Christ in the Gospel with a hearty consenting to be Saved and Ruled by the Lord Jesus 1. That the Divine Faith is a giving Credence to and believing of the Truth of God in the Gospel this according to the Ministration hath been accounted the True Faith in all Generations to Believe and Obey God This was the Faith of Abraham the Father of the Faithful Gen. 15. 6. Rom. 4. 3. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for Righteousness and it was accompanied with Obedience Faith and Obedience always goes together else it 's none of the Faith of God's Elect Heb. 11 8. By Faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a Place which he should after Receive for an Inheritance Obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went Jam. 2. 22. See you how Faith wrought with his Works and by VVorks was his Faith made perfect And this was the Faith required and accepted throughout that Ministration 2 Chron. 20. 20. Believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established Believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper And their Failing herein was their great Sin and Reproof and the Cause of their other Sins and Judgments Deut. 1 32. Ye did not Believe the Lord your God the Effects thereof are Described both as to their Sins and Judgment vers 34. 35. Unbelief in this Matter hath been the Condemning Sin both in Law and Gospel Isa 53. 1. A Pophesy of the Gospel compared with John 12. 38. Rom. 10. 16. Who hath Believed our Report or our Doctrine and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed Mark 16. 15 16. Preach or Publish the Gospel to every Creature He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be Saved he that Believeth not shall be Damned that is He that Believeth and Obeyeth the Gospel shall be Saved This is the Gospel-Faith heartily to Believe and Obey the Gospel is the Faith to which Salvation and Life is promised John 20 31. 2. How this Faith is wrought it 's Effected 2. Hâ—w it s wrought in the hearts of Men by the Word and Spirit of Christ it must be a Word-Faith or else it is but a Fancy and therefore it must be wrought by the Word that is the Word must be the Instrumental means thereof because without it Persons know not what to Believe it 's the Instruction of the Gospel that directs to the Matter of Faith that is what is to be believed without which Persons remain Ignorant of the Historical part of Faith the Truth of this is obvious and clear both from Scripture and Reason Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him in whom they have not Believed and how shall they Believe on him of whom they have not heard Where the Apostle even from Principles of Reason concludes that as Faith is absolutely necessary to calling on the Lord so is Hearing the Doctrine of the Gospel absolutely Necessary to Believing that is to instruct in the Matter what to Believe which without the Doctrine of the Gospel cannot be without a Miracle which hath not been nor is it God's way of Working and by the Gospel do the Lord Efficatiously work the Saving Faith of the Gospel Col. 2. 12. Heb. 12. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 5. It 's by the Word that Faith comes John 17. 20. The Word being the Divine Revelation of the Will of God accompanied with the Divine Power of God accomplisheth the Work 1 Thes 1. 5. 3 What are the Grounds and Objects of 3. The Grounds and Objects of Faith Faith The Ground of Faith is the Truth and faithfulness of God in his Word and his All-sufficiency to perform it 1. His Truth and Faithfulness the Ground or Reason why you believe a Man is because you judge him to be Honest and True that he will not knowingly tell you a Lye it 's true in matter of Law for Ending of Controversies among Men both by the Law of God and Men the Oath of Two in Common determineth the Case from Supposition that they will not Swear false Though according to the Proverb the Word of one honest Man is a Surer ground of Credence
the Children to be another Faith see Vers 23. 24. Now it was not Written for his Sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom â—â— shall be imputed if we believe on him who raised up Christ our Lord from the Dead Object This with other Scriptures mentions Object 1 Believing in God as well as Believing of God 1 Pet. 1. 21. John 14. 1. so that it seems it is not enough to Believe God but we must Believe in God and in Christ Answ It 's all one in substance to believe in God and in Christ is to believe his Faithfulness and All-sufficiency that he is as good and as true and able as the Scripture reports him to be to perform his Word you Believe in him that he will not fail c. But to return the Faith of Justification is to Believe the Truth of the Gospel Record concerning the Justification and Life therein promised to those that do Believe by Jesus Christ Crâ—cified Rom. 5. 9. Much more being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him Eph. 1 7. Col. 1. 14. To Believe this truly being accompanied with the Concomitants of saving Faith i. e. Love and sincerity of Obedience is the justifying saving Faith of the Gospel to which the Promise of Life is made Mark 16. 16. He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be saved that is he that Believeth and Obeyeth the Lord shall be saved That of Baptisme being the first Initiating Ordinance iâ—to the viâ—ible Constituted Church of Christ includes the whole of Obedience Object But What must we Believe Answ The Gospel that which was to be preached Preach the Gospel c. The Gospel is the Glad â—idings of Pardon Peace and Life by Jesus Christ Mark 1. 15. Repent yea and Believe the Gospel was Christ's own Doctrine for further Confirmation of this Truth see John 8. 24. and 20. 31. Rom. 10. 9 10. 1 John 5. 10 11. All which Scriptures if well weighed with many others bear testimony to this Truth that Faith is to believe God to believe the Truth of the Doctrine of the Gospel Object This is accounted and called a Object 2 Historical Faith which though necessary to True and Sâ—ving Faith yet it 's common to Wicked Men and Devils and therefore cannot be the justifying saving-Faith of the Gospel Answ Notwithstanding it may be the Answ Faith of Wicked Men and Hypocrites and of Devils too Yet it is the justifying Faith of the Gospel for the Difference lyeth not in the Matter believed but in the Manner of believing Wicked Men and Hypocrites may believe it meerly as a History assent to it but they do not believe as Justified Persons doe We must distinguish in this Case not in the Matter believed but in the Manner of believing Quest Wherein lyeth the Difference Quest Answ The one from either common Illumination Answ Education Custom or Tradition believes the same things with a head-Assent to the Truth of the Gospel But the other believes it with the Heart Rom. 10. 10. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness Acts 8. 37. If thou believest with all thine Heart thou maiest Psal 37. 31. The Law of God is in his Heart none of his Steps shall slide It 's the Promise of the New Covenant that God will write his Law in the Hearts of his People that is implant a Holy sincere Disposition of Faith and Love and the Fear of his Name the Heart is wrought after God but Hypocrites have it at most and best but in the Head in the Understanding from common Illumination c. There is a great deal of Head-Faith in the World of Customary-Faith that will come to nothing But where it is in Truth in the Heart it effects a Heart-Change with a Change in the whole Conversation Heart-believing Heart-Love to God and his things Heart-hatred of sin and Heart-obedience to the Will of Christ and thus He that is in Christ is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. And he that Believeth hath the Witness in himself 1 Joâ— 5. 10. and do or might know that he hath this Heart-Faith in him So that the Truth remains that that which Men call a History call Faith i. e. believing the History the Truth of the Doctrine of the Gospel truly as hath been demonstrated is the justifying Faith of the Gospel And as for Devils if Christ had Dyed â—or them and God had in the Gospel promised Life to them on the Terms he hath to Mâ—n Liâ—e might be preached to Devils on the same terms as to Men But God having in Justice left them without the reach oâ— this Gospel-Grace whatever they believe about it let not Man quarrel about the easie way of Man's obtaining i. e. Believe Repent and Obey the Gospel and be justified and saved Quest But how shall I come to believe mine own Interest in Justification and Life which hath been accounted with some the Faith of Justification Answ True it hath so with many and I believe that want of Spiritual skill hath done wrong to many tender Souls and hath caused them to go with Sorrow to their Graves and that either 1. In teaching that the Faith of Justification and Life must be the Faith of Application or assurance of Interest which is not the Truth of the Gospel but this of Interest must grow from that of Justification Or 2. In not laying the right Foundation of Assurance so Souls have been kept much in the Dark in this matter For the Faith of Interest must be Founded on the Promise of Life if right as well as the Faith of Justification for it is to believe God as I said before all Faith if right must be Founded on the Word of God So that the right Gospel-way for Believers to Read their own Interest and to Read their Names in the Book of Life is to make a Resultancy or Conclusion from the Premises thus God hath promised Justification and Life to them that do Believe and Obey the Gospel I do so Believe therefore I shall be saved and this is the gospel-Gospel-Ground or Reason of our Hope of Interest in Gospel-Grace and Life and thus our Interest will be grounded on the Promise of God in the Gospel If I have the Faith of the Gospel and abide therein I am Justified and shall be Saved There are three Things that it behoves Three Things considerable Christians to be Instructed in in this Matter for their Support and Peace in this Mortal and Imperfect Estate 1. To understand and know that to believe the Truth of the Glad-tidings of Salvation by Jesus Christ crucified according to the Gospel is the Terms and Condition of our Justification and Salvation and that who doth so Believe shall be Saved 2. That who so doth believe hath the Promise of Life from the Law and Covenant of God in the Gospel and from hence must claim his Interest in Grace and Life and if he claim
we need and in such a manner as we ought so that all those Titles given to the Spirit in the Scripture and those Works ascribed to him relating to his Office and Work in the God-head no whit derogates from his Union in the same Divine Nature or eternal Existency in and with the Father and the Son That there is any personality in God or three Persons in the Divine Essence is a Language I do not yet understand is made use of in the Scriptures therefore I avoid the terms though I am not willing to question or doubt but that those who use it who are godly and understand what they say do it thereby to express the Truth of the Scripture-distinction in the Trinity i. e. that there is Father Son and Spirit in unity of Nature and is but one God the word Person being not at all as I know given either to the Father or holy Spirit but to the Son as God and Man in one Person The truth of the Trinity proved from the Old Testament And this Truth i. e. a plurality in one infinite and eternal God is clearly to be proved from the Old Testament even from the Creation and that probably in more clear and God-like Terms of Distinction than Persons which probably the Learned have avoided for some at least supposed good Reasons on which account I shall at present say no more onely present to those that understand Gen. 1. 1. with vers 26. The sum of all is this That God is One Eternal Infinite Substantial Being distinguished into Father Son and holy Spirit and in all there are Divine and Distinct Relative Properties and Operations yet in all no one wills no one acts without the other Gen. 1. 1 2 26. Heb. 1. 2. Job 33. 4. Thus have I given a brief Discovery of The Conclusion my little little Apprehension in this great and wonderful Mystery of all Mysteries whom rightly to know is Life Eternal a Mystery not too curiously to be pried into but in the plain Demonstration of his own Word and I am sure it will remain a Mystery still This I believe is necessary for every Christian to believe in this matter That there is One onely True God and that this True God is One in Essence and Nature and that the Father Son or Word and holy Spirit is this True God That Jesus Christ in his both Natures Divine and Humane is the Son of God The second Man is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 47. And that the holy Spirit is the Out-goings and Effecting Operations of God and so is God of the same Nature the Enlightener Convincer Converter Sanctifier Strengthener and Comforter of the Saints in and 〈◊〉 â—eaâ—s appointed for that end i. â— tâ— Word of Truth and Doctrine of the Gospel Fourthly Where this glorious God is 1. He is in all places by his Spirit Psal 4 Where God is 139. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit and whither shall I flee from thy presence See Vers 8 9 10. Prov. 15. 3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good 2 Chron. 16. 4. The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth to shew himself strong in behalf of them whose Heart is perfect towards him And as he is by his Spirit every where So 2. His Paternal Presence is in Heaven God the Father is in Heaven his Glorious Majesty for we must believe God to be a Substantial Being not â—n Airy Fancy a Nothing and such a Substantial Being as the Scripture declares him to be yea and infinitely beyond all Verbal Declaration or Heart-Conception that He is such an One whom no man hath seen nor can see and live such a One in his own Glory that if he should discover himself to the World would destroy it at once for no man hath seen him or can see him 'T is true Jesus Christ his Son is the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image â—f his Substance Heb. 1. 3. But the Glory of the Father is a hidden Glory and by the Son the Father hath been and shall be revealed in His Times 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. And Heaven is his Throne and the Earth his Footstool That the glorious Habitation of God is in Heaven is clear from Scripture-Revelalation that whiles the Son was on Earth the Father was in Heaven John 20. 17. Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my Brethren and say to them I ascend to my Father to and your Father to my God and to your God And Christ teacheth to pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6. 9. And the Heaven where the Glorious Majesty is seems to be above all Created Heavens in the Increated Heaven his Eternal Habitation For as God is Eternal so He must have an Eternal Habitation Which is the Heaven into which Christ our Lord is Ascended to the Right Hand of Power and Glory Ephes 4. 10. He that descended is the same that ascended up far above all Heavens c. The most Glorious Heaven and Eternal Habitation of GOD far above all Created Heavens is called The High and Holy Place where He dwells Isaiah 57. 15. Psal 8. 1. Thou hast set thy Glory above the Heavens i. e. the Created Heavens Psalm 113. 4 5 6 The Lord is High above all Nations and his Glory above the Heavens Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on High who humbleth Himself to behold things in Heaven and Earth i. e. To behold things in his Created Heaven and Earth Who is said to humble himself to behold things in Heaven and Earth that is Because the Created Heavens and Earth are all in the Fallen State by reason of the Sin and Fall of Man Therefore God doth greatly humble himself in looking after the Heavens and Earth in the Fallen State CHAP. II. Of the Holy Scriptures That it is the Divine Word and Will of God proved by many Divine Arguments I shall now proceed to present some grounds to prove the holy Scriptures to be the Word Will of God the holy and vine Truth of God it being a matter of concernment for Christians to be established in next our believing that there is a God and indeed we cannot savingly believe that God is unless we believe the Truth of his Word that it is the Divine Revelation of his Will relating both to matters of Faith and Practice in order to our spiritual and eternal well-being And I trust I shall propound several weighty and undeniable grounds for Confirmation of Faith in the Truth and Divinity thereof And the fâ—rst â—ort of Grounds I shall present 1. It s own witness which proves it Diuine are such as ariseth from it self that we may see its own Witness full of all sufficiency to prove its own Divinity 1. It s Divine Purity proves it to be of 1. It
and his own Eternal Grace in Christ Jesus as the Foundation and applying Cause so all these doth concur in Unity see Eph. 2 7. 8. Yet not of Works as any deserving Cause lest any should boast vers 9. Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Yet Works are absolutely necessary to Salvation as the Concomitant of true Faith and Condition of our Salvation and Way that we must walk into Glory For without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. see Mat. 7. 24 25 26 27. Rom. 2. 7 8 9 10. Rev. 22. 14. There are four things which stand in Unity and it greatly concerns Christians to be instructed therein 1. That all our Spiritual and Eternal Note four Things Good is Founded in and is the Effect of the Eternal Love of God there is all the Grace and Glory of the New Covenant bottomed 1 Tim. 1. 9. Jer. 31. 3. 2. That Jesus Christ is the Way and Meritorious Cause of the accomplishing of this Salvation God never intended to save any One by his Grace alone without Relation unto Jesus Christ crucified Acts 4. 12. Though probably many saved-Ones have dyed without Faith in Christ Crucified before he came in the Flesh and had Suffered yet in the great Day all the saved Ones shall know that their Salvation was effected by him 3. That Faith is the terms on which we must have this Salvation and so is on that account absolutely necessary for he that Believeth not must be Damned 4. That Works as included in Faith and may not be separated from it are absolutely necessary likewise without which the Faith is naught dead feigned that will stand the Owners thereof in no steed in the day of Need. Quest Whether the Scripture do not hold Quest forth the Justification of the Elect before Believing Some are of the mind that the Elect were justified from Eternity others that they were justified when Christ dyed that when God was Actually satisfied the Elect must be Actually justified Answ Actual Justification cannot be Answ before and without Faith because it is contrary to the Doctrine and Law of the New Covenant which is the ground of our Faith and Hope in the matter for that saith expresly that He that Believeth not shall be Damned and Act. 13. 39. By him all that Believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses It is a Doctrine the New Covenant is unacquainted with and therefore contrary to the wholesome Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness It 's true we Read Rom. 8. 29 30. of a Calling and Justification to be from Eternity but we must understand that as in God's purpose to be done not as Actually done for a purpose in God to justifie is not Justification and the Scripture will clear it self in this matter Whom he foreknew them he Predestinated to be Conformed to the Image of his Son Note Predestination was to something in time namely to Conformity to Christ which is not before Believing Whom he Predestinated them he Called and Calling is in time And whom he Called them he Justified and whom he Justified them he Glorified or as the Margin Reads it them he is wont to Call wont to Justifie wont to Glorifie and take it in this Sence and It 's clear But however they were no more Justified than Called than Glorified from Eternity which must all relate to Purpose and to be Effected in time they are called Sheep John 10. 16. Children Gal. 4. 3. Yet still in Purpose Rom. 4. 17. will clear us in this matter and many other things of like concern that God calleth things that are not as though they were They are not in Actual being yet are in his Purpose to be in time we may as well say God made the World before he did it and that the World was Drowned before it was and that Christ was come in the Flesh and had Suffered and was Raised and Ascended and come again to Judgment c. before it was or is because it was God's Purpose that all these and Multitudes more of things should be done which is indeed contrary to all Reason and would overturn all Truth to say it is done and as for Actual Justification when Christ Dyed and Rose again it 's true there was Actual Satisfaction to Divine Justice both given and taken in order to Justification but Satisfaction is one thing and Justification is another It 's true if Christ had done for us what he did as our Surety being bound with us to pay our Debt if we could not and in so doing had fully answered the Law to which we were liable then Actual Justification must have followed Actual Satisfaction without all terms of Believing and Obeying for if the Surety pay the Debt and Cancel the Bond in strictest Law the Principle is quit without any terms and likewise no need of pardoning Grace if the Satisfaction was such that Christ as our Surety paid our Debt in strictest Law-sence but it 's evident that what Christ did for and in behalf of Sinners was by voluntary Contracts between the Father and the Son John 6. 38 39. 2 Tim. 1. 9. and voluntarily undertaken by the Lord and the Satisfaction that Christ gave and Justice took was not the Payment of our Debt in kind as our Surety obliged to it if we could not do it neither was he the Person that the Law might expect Satisfaction from for the Law saith The Soul that sinneth that shall Die and We all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God So that the Satisfaction that Christ gave was voluntarily given and graciously Received and Accepted as Acts of Grace to us both in the Son in Suffering and the Father in Accepting and therefore it must come to us as it is indeed Acts of Grace and on the terms agreed on between the Father and the Son which are published in the Gospel and it was no ways intended to acquit the Sinners presently without any more adoe no it holds true That he that Believeth and is Baptized shall be Saved but he that Believeth not shall be Damned Therefore it concerns you to take heed how you understand Actual Justification to be when there was Actual Satisfaction lest you put an end to the Terms and Conditions of Justification by the Law-Covenant of Grace and to the Pardoning Grace of God the Father and so miss of Justification and Life on the Terms propounded This will make way for two Questions further 1. Quest What is the Reason that God Quest should lay so much â—tress on Faith as that there should be no Justification nor Salvation without it 1. Answ Because thereby we justifie Answ God as I shewed before in the Excellency of Faith and so Honour him in his Truth and All-sufficiency Unbelief is the Dishonourable sin therefore the Damning sin He that believeth not hath made him a Lyer 1 John 5.
10. but He that Receiveth his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is True John 3. 33. Which God takes well and will justifie those that justifie him 2. It was the Designe both of the Father and the Son that this wonderful Designe of Grace to sinners both in the Father and the Son should come to us in the Way of Faith and Obedience that it might be valued and thankfully received and that God and Christ might be thereby glorified Eph. 1. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Else we must suppose the Designe to be to purchase a Liberty for Men to sin and serve the Devil and dishonour God which would be Irrational and Irreligious to imagin 3. Because God and Christ in this Work did not only Designe to save Sinners from Wrath but to make them conformable to the Image of his Son and the Entrance of this Conformity is at the Entrance of this Grace even the first Work of Saving Faith and in this Conformity must Believers grow up more and more 1 Cor. 15. 48 49. 2 Cor. 3. 18. and 4. 10 11. Till they come to a Perfect Man in Christ their Head Eph. 4. 13. Quest 2. How can it be just in God to Quest lay the Sin and Punishment of Sinners upon a just Person that had not Sinned 1 Pet. 3. 18. The Just for the Unjust to bring us to God Answ 1. God will clear his own Justice Answ himself Rom. 3. 26. That he might be Just and the Justifier of him that Believeth in Jesus Vers 5. 6. Is God Vnrighteous c. God forbid then how shall God judge the World Gen. 18 25. Shall not the Judge of all the World do Right 2. Though it was not the same Persons that sinned yet in the same nature is the Redemption accomplished Heb. 2. 14. For as much as the Children were Partakers of Flesh and Bloud he also himself took part of the same so that though not the same Souls that sinned yet in the same Nature is the Satisfaction made and accepted Rom. 8 3. 3. Christ did the Work voluntarily and freely for Sinners and not by Computation otherwise there might not have appeared so much of Justice in it but he freely undertaking the Work having Power to dispose of himself in the Matter Joh. 10. 17 18. And God the Father accepting it was a wonderful Act both of Justice and of Mercy Justice in the Father in punishing the sins of Sinners upon his own Son and Mercy to us sinners that we might have a Door of Hope for Deliverance Quest Whether this Justification Quest imputed on Believing be a perfect and compleat Justification Answ It is so from the Guilt and Answ Eternal Punishment of sin yet notwithstanding God will visit the Inâ—quities and sins of his People as a Father for their good Psal 89 30 31 32 33. Heb. 12. 6 10. and doth judge them too but it is that they may not be Condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 30 31 32. For when sin is Pardoned the Offender is free and stands to God as if he had not sinned as to the Eternal Condemnation which was the great Designe of God and Christ in this Transaction Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Col. 2. 13. 1 John 4. 17. Quest Is this Righteousness and Quest Justification by Faith the Everlasting Righteousness of Saints spoken of Dan. 9. 24. Answ As it is a perfect Righteousness Answ so it is in some sence Everlasting for we must stand Justified from the guilt of sin committed in this World for the sake of Christ to Eternity the Bloud of Christ is called the Bloud of the Covenant that is the Bloud of the New and Everlasting Covenant which is the Covenant of the Glorious State and so it is an Usher to the Everlasting Righteousness that is to be perfected in the Persons of the Saints Justification here for the sake of Christ is our Righteousness unto Acceptation Personal and Perfect Holiness in our compleat Conformity to Christ our Head will be our Eternal Personal Righteousness in Glory our Righteousness by Faith here will bring us to the Righteousness of Holiness and Glory hereafter Gal. 5. 5. Phil. 3. 20 21. Col. 3. 4. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. See Mr. VVilson in this Life there is a justifying Righteousness which is not had but by Faith such as Abraham had it is perfect but not Inherent in us it steeketh in Christ's Manhood as the Subject and is ours by Imputation Rom. 4. 4 5 6. There is a Righteousness of Sanctification or sanctifying Righteousness in this VVorld c. This is Inherent but not Perfect growing daily by degrees unto Perfection Jam. 2. 21 22. More briefly thus there is a Righteousness in Heaven both Perfect and Inherent a Righteousness on Earth that is Perfect but not Inherent which is Justification or Inherent but not Perfect which is Sanctification Thus far Wilson in his Scripture-Dictionary on the Word Righteous In a Word that which I believe in this Matter is that the Imputed Righteousness of Christ here by Faith must abide for ever as the Foundation of our Eternal Happiness that if ever that should fail we must Perish So that the Church in Glory shall for ever admire Jesus Christ crucified and know the Weight and Worth of the Bloud of the Covenants and the Personal perfect Holiness of the Saints shall be their Everlasting Personal Righteousness in Glory Quest Whether the Imputation of Quest Justification to a Believer on the First Act of True Faith be Perpetual And whether One ought to Believe the Pardon of all Sin past present and to come as is the Apprehension of some Answ 1. Though it 's true that the Answ Justification of the New Covenant is certain and perpetual to true Believers yet they stand in it by their Constancy in the Faith and Obedience of the Gospel the Believer hath no ground to conclude it certain to him any longer than he continueth in the Faith for he stands by Faith Rom. 11. 20. Thou standest by Faith be not high-minded but fear 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith c. Heb. 3. 6 12. Yet we ought to believe that God will maintain our Faith and keep us from Falling Phil. 1. 6. 2 Tim. 1. 12. Jude vers 14. Else we could have no solid Comfort 2. And although I know no ground to believe the Pardon of sins before they are committed and that 1. Because I know no Scripture Rule for such a Faith it is an Unscriptural Fancy and Imagination 2. The Scripture doth direct us to the Pardon of sin after it is committed and the way in which we must expect to have it though not the cause that is in a way of Confessing as hath been before-minded 1 John 1. 9. Forsaking Prov. 28. 13. Prayer Mat. 6. 12. Forgiving of others Mat. 18. 35.
much and more than the other unless souls will live for ever under one single sealing evidence as I fear too many do so neglect the daily exercise of Faith or expect daily renewed sealings which I suppose are not ordinary in this way whereas those Divine Virtues of the Spirit to which the promise is made shall never totally fail in truly gracious souls though through the prevalency of corruption they may be clowded yet the soul may through all the clowds of darkness see something of the Divine stamp left and remaining on the heart if sometimes to apprehension there should appear nothing but a sense of sin and bitter weeping for it with a heart longing after Christ as was sometimes the case of Peter yet this is something yea very much of the Divine impression and so it appears to be the sure way for solid peace and salvation in the end 3. What it is that ordinarily hinders 3. The hindrances of Assurance Christians from obtaining this assurance though first I fear that many Christians content themselves with an ungrounded assurance and such need to be startled out of their groundless security and 2. Others scarce trouble themselves about the matter but content themselves in the form of the Gospel leaving the matter of assurance of interest to those that will trouble themselves about it but it 's that which does concern every true Christian both for his own comfort and the comfort or conviction of others to be able to give a reason of his hope a grounded and comfortable assurance of interest in Christ and Grace being of that worth for a comfortable walking with God here though not the essence of Christianity I shall endeavour to state some of the lets and hindrances that Christians may escape them and obtain the mercy The first let or hindrance I shall mention Le ts and hindrances of obtaining Assurance ariseth from the confused notions about the way of obtaining thereof which have occasioned many miscarriages some to conclude that they have it when it 's to be feared they do mistake and if so they deceive themselves and others serious seeking souls sent with sorrow to their graves for want of right direction from the Word of Life in this matter 1. It hath been by many supposed that 1. Supposing the Faith of interest to be the Faith of Justification the Faith of assurance of interest hath been the Faith of Justification and hence persons falling shoâ—t in this conclude that they have no Faith at all but that they are in a state of unbelief I have known some to lie in sorrow complaining they had no Faith and so under fears of perishing because they could not believe their own interâ—st being unskilled in the right way of making it up to their comfort I have asked them do you believe in truth that Jesus is the Christ they answer yea then you are born of God Joh. 5. 1. Do you believe the truth of the Doctrine of the Gospel concerning the life and salvation held forth therein by Jesus Christ crucified yea then you have that Faith to which Salvation is promised Mar. 16. 15 16. 1 Joh. 5. 10 11 13. Do you believe with your heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead if you do you cannot but believe that he died foâ— our sins according to the Scripture yea then you shall be saved Rom. 10. 9. Are you in good earnest willing to be saved by Christ and to be ruled by him as your Lord and to serve him in all things Answ yea with my whole soul if I may be accepted then you have the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 3. Do you love God and Christ above all and his people for his sake yea I love God and Christ I hope above all and desire to love them more and his people because they are his and his image is stampt upon them then you are born of God 1 Joh. 3. 14 19 and 4 7 12. And do you see your self vile are you poor in your own eyes and do you see and believe that if ever you be saved it must be by the free Grace and Mercy of God in Jesus Christ Yea I do find it so to be with me then yours is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven And what Faith is it that you would have will the Faith of Abraham the Father of us all do it He believed God and it was accounted to hâ—m for Righteousness Rom. 4. 3. Will the Faith to which Justification and Life is promised do it why that you have and yet conclude that you have no Faith thus many poor souls lie groveling on the ground supposing they have no Faith when in truth they are rich in Faith and heirs of that Kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2. 10. and from such a self-examination may doubting souls come to see that they indeed have Faith even the Faith of Gods Elect and be able to give a reason of their Hope both to themselves and others But for persons to suppose that the Faith of interest is the first and only Faith of Justification and Life is according to the Proverb to set the Cart before the Horse which must needs go heavily aâ—d bring disconsolation and confusion to the soul 2. Others talk at such a rate about the 2. Supposing it to come in in some unknown way manner attaining of Assurance as if it must drop down from Heaven into the heart in some wonderful unknown way immediately from the Spirit with such over-powrings of consolation as if they were in Heaven alredy such as scarsly any serious Christians have experienced which have amazed serious souls out of their hope and confidence having no experience of such a thing and others it may be cheated with something like this with a foolish confidence of assurance of Heaven ordinarily attended with Pride and Self-conceit and neglect of an humble walk with God which is the way for Christians to walk into Glory whereas solid and sound assurance must come by believing and the Spirits sealing is in that way and the highest attainment of Joy and Peace is by believing what comes in any other way comes we know not whence and may lead us we know not whether 3. Others will have no Faith of assurance 3. Others some immediate application of some Scripture unless it be from some Scripture immediately and powerfully brought to them by the Spirit to the satisfying of their souls and silencing all doubts in the matter and this they account the sealing oâ— the Spirit To this I say 1. That it is mercy when the Lord does bring Scripture to remembrance to his people suitable to their conditions for their comfort and instruction I doubt not but that God doth instruct support and comfort his people in this way yet 2. This is not the Scripture
8. I fear few doth manifest truth of love in this matter who though they give do it slackly and grudgingly thinking every little too much and would gladly be without the occasions and opportunities of doing what they do see Isa 32. 5-8 And read it at leasure and meditate well upon it and the Lord give you right understanding therein 4. It is then true when it will cover offences 4. When it will cover offences and is ready to forgive Prov. 10. 2. Love covereth all sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. Love covereth the multitude of sins 1. There are many sins that love may and should cover without reproof As personal infirmities that attend Saints in this mortal sinful state wherein Christians cannot speak nor act but a quick eye may discern something amiss which must be covered else the life of Christians would be uncomfortable with each other and their time must be spent in reproving each other Jam. 3. 2. In many things we offend all Ps 19. 12. Who can understand his errors c. Christians may see so much of imperfection in each other that needs love to cover rather than to multiply reproofs for common failings who so knows themselves can do it and yet true love reproves sin that is such things as are sinful and dishonourable and cannot stand with the safety of the soul that comes not under the common infirmities of nature unavoidably attending gracious souls 2. Love covereth sin from others where 2. It covereth sin from others is cause of reproof and gives a private reproof according to Mat. 18. 15. If thy Brother trespass against thee tell him his fault between him and thee alone c. Love is no whisperer nor back-biter those who are so ready to publish the failings of their brethren that others shall know it before them that wait advantages to publish the failings of their brethren without observing the right rule they are in so doing rather backbiters than lovers of their brethren 3. Upon repentance it covereth all sin it 3. On repentance it covereth all sin forgiveth all sin Lu. 17. 3. If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him if he repent forgive him see ver 4. Love is no implacable person but easie to be reconciled it is like God and Christ ready to forgive Col. 3. 12 13. When persons are so much bound up in their spirits that they with so much difficulty forgive their brethren on their repentance it 's a sign they live not in the sense of the need they have of forgiveness from God themselves and may justly doubt whether they are made partakers of the forgiveness of the Gospel Mat. 6. 12. 14 15. The sense of Gospel-forgiveness works those rightly apprehending it into like pittiful merciful and forgiving frame Col. 3. 12 13. 4. True love to brethren is not easily 4. It is not easily provoked provoked but suffereth long 1 Cor. 13. 4 5. It starteth not aside for small occasions it is not drops of water that can quench true love Cant. 8. 7. Many waters cannot quench love nor floods drown it That love that is easily provoked that will not bear nor suffer any thing that is easily quenched is not love of the right stamp 5. True love to the brethren is full of 5. It 's full of hope Hope and full of Faith 1 Cor. 13. 7. It hopeth all things it believeth all things that is all things that there is ground to hope and believe it taketh hold of every thing that may minister occasion to hope the best to hope that there is truth of Grace to hope that their Faith and Repentance is true but that love that will not believe and hope any thing if it come not up fully to the mind of the party it may be a faithless love and an hoâ—eless love as to our brethren so may it be in respect of God for be sure we come infinitely more short in respect of God than any of our brethren where is any ground of hope do or can in resâ—ect to us 6. It is then true love when it is accompanieâ— 6. When accompanied with love and obedience to God with love to God and obedience to his Will for any to talk of love to the peoâ—â—e of God and yet hath no respect to the Commandments of God no conscience of living to God according to his revealed Will they deceive themselves for As he that loveth God must love his Brother also so he that loveth the people of God must love God and keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 5. 2. By this we know we love the people of God when we love God and keep his Commandments Lest any should deceâ—ve themselves the Apostle stâ—tes it both waies 1. If any love God they love his people He that loveth him that begat lâ—veth him that is begotten of him But lest any should mistake and say I love him that is begotten therefore I love him that begat he states it the other way to prevent all mistakes that so our love may be true and right indeed By this we know we love the people of God when we love God and keep his Commandments That is by this we know that our love to the people of God is right when it is accompanied with love and obedience to God For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments Our love to God is not right if we love not his people our love to his people is not right if we love not God nor keep his Commandments 7. True love to the Saints is then right 7. It must be universal to all Saints when it is universal to all Saints as well to one as to another as well to the poor as to the rich and as well to the rich as to the poor to a poor Lazarus as to a rich and royal David to an afflicted Joseph as to an admired Solomon if love be right it is no respecter of persons For he that respecteth persons will transgress for a piece of bread that is upon any occasion will wrest judgment But this love is rare to be found rich professors will love them that are rich and undervalue the poor make them their foot-stool and too often the poor undervalue the rich because they are rich have an evil eye upon the riches of their brethren because themselves are poor but the love of the Lords people is or should be one to another for the Lord's sake because they are his and so should be to the weak as to the strong to the poor as to the rich partial love is no true love Jam. 2. 1 2. It is the commendation the Apostle gives the Ephesians that their love was to all the Saints Eph. 1. 15. Col. 1. 4. It 's a choice discovery of Divine love when it hath no respect of persons but fixes on the object purely for spiritual causes for Holiness for the image and Grace of Christ the poorest Saints
that confesseth and forsaketh shall sind mercy Comfort in respect of Enemies in the midst of all their oppressions and wrongs the mercy of God is their support in the midst of all their oppression Psal 52. 1. Why boastest thou thy self in mischief thou mighty man the goodness of God endureth always and likewise the Prophet implores mercy in all his distresses Psal 56 1. 57. 1. This glorious Attribute of goodness and mercy in God will prove dreadful in the end to impenitent sinners who still persist in sin and will not accept of mercy on the terms it is to be had when they shall give an account for the abuse of mercy and be everlastingly tormented in the thoughts and remembrance of their folly and madness therein Rom. 2. 4. or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the Goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance v. 5. but after thy hardness and impenitent heart tâ—easurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God 6. He is a faithful covenant-keeping God The sixth Attribute of Gods Name is his Faithfulness He is a faithful God Deut. 7. 9. Know therefore the Lord thy God is a faithful God which keepeth Covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his Commandments to a thousand Generations i. e. for ever His Faithfulness shall never fail for he is truth it self and cannot lye Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began God cannot lye it 's contrary to his Name and Nature therefore he cannot do it for he can do nothing contrary to himself and he would have his people know it that they might build their Faith and Comfort in his Faithfulness 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord ch 10. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able c. Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised In all which Scriptures with many more that might be mentioned it 's more than evident that God delights to have his people know that he is faithful and to believe the truth thereof that is it I understand is intended Ps 138. 2. I will worship toward thine holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and thy truth for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name that is thy truth and faithfulness in performing thy Word though all his Name be magnified and is glorious yet this of his Truth and Faithfulness he puts an emphasis upon it and an excellency as if God would have more respect to his faithfulness in his Word than to all his Name not that there is any difference in respect of himself but for the comfort of his people who are most ready to fail in their Faith in his faithfulness in his Word therefore to confirm his people in this matter he lets them to know that he hath magnified his Word above all his Name i. e. whatever of his Name may be supposed to fail yet his Faithfulness in his Word shall never fail Psal 89. 33. to confirm us in his Faithfulness in his Word he hath given us his Word and his Oath two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie Heb. 6. 17. 18. if God should be unfaithful in his Word he must cease to be God it must destroy him in his Name and Being and that is it he hath laid so much stress on our Faith and Believing which lieth chiefly in our believing the Truth of God in his Word and living up unto it he that believeth not must be damned because not believing we do in our part make him a Lyar Joh. 3. 33. He that hath received i. e. believed his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believeth not God hath made him a Lyar c. no wonder if unbelief be the Portion of Unbelievers for they thereby do their part to make the faithful and true God a Lyar. This was the Faith of Abraham our Father Rom. 4. 3. Abraham believed God and it was accoâ—â—ed to him for Righteousness and indeed all the parts of Faith are included in this of believing God relating to Justification Obedience and Glory if we believe the Truth of the Doctrine of Justification and Life by Jesus we believe likewise the Lordship and the Law of Christ and cleave to him therein which is our Justification or rather the terms of the Gospel on which God doth justifie us and finding those Terms or Divine Virtues of Faith c. wrought in us we hence conclude from the Promise of Life to those in whom it is wrought our interest therein and thus our interest in Life is built on Gods Faithfulness in his Word for God would not have his people to conclude their interest in his Grace of Life from fancy and imagination but from his Promise of Life for whatever Faith we pretend unto if it be not grounded on the Word of God and his Faithfulness Vse of God's Faithfulness 1. Encouragement 2. Comfâ—rt therein it is but Fancy and not Faith This Doctrine of the Faithfulness of God affords not only great encouragement to believe God in his Word but likewise strong Consolation to all true Believers Hebr. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his Counsel coâ—firmed it by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to the hope set before us c. the strong Consolation of the Saints flows from the impossibility of God to lie i. e. from the infallibility of his Truth and Faithfulness God must lie if those who believe and obâ—y the Gospel be not saved which is impossible and from hence it is that the Saints have not only grounds of strong Consolation but likewise of everlasting Consolation and good â—ope through Grace 2 Thâ—ss 2. 16. But Secondly on the contrary Gods 2. Dread to wicked men who continue in sin Faithfulness is a dreadful Doctrine to all impenitent and hardned sinners it infallibly cuts them off from all hope of mercy and binds them over to the eternal Judgment It 's a common thing with unrepenting sinners to say they hope to be saved yet keep their sins and lusts and never repent and turn to the Lord nor in truth believe according to the Gospel for true Faith is always accompanied with Repentance and Obedience To such I must say it 's impossible for them to be saved living and dying in an unconverted estate Damnation to such is as certain as Salvation is to such as believe and obey the Truth they hope for
war against it they have no ground to draw sad conclusions against themselves though it's cause of humiliation For support in such cases consider 1. The Prophet Psal 89. 34. 19 to 37. the Lord having made great and precious promises to David and in him to Christ on the new covenant account in which was much of the Gospel Grace yet immediately his Faith fails in the whole as if God had made void his covenant and broken all his promises in that matter ver 38. 45. which hath been fulfilled on the natural seed and worldly Kingdom to visible appearance but as it related to Jesus Christ it stands firm and he is exalted upon the Throne and the Promise is sure to all thee seed 2. John the Baptist who had many high confirmations from Heaven concerning the Lord Jesus that he was the Christ he saw the sign upon him which God gave him by which he should know him Joh. 1. 33. insomuch that he could say ver 34. 56. I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God and behold the Lamb of God c. and heard the voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son c. yet after all these testimonies and assurances of his Faith in this matter he being in Prison comes to doubt whether he was the Christ or not Matt. 11. 3. Art thou him that should come or do we loâ—k for another which discovers that there was in John a doubt whether he was the Christ or no and this appeareth not only by the message or question but if we consider 2. the time when he sent when he was in Prison it was a Prison temptation 2. By the answer of Christ to John to strengthen him under this temptation Go and shew John those things that you do hear and see c. 2. By his answer to the multitude What went ye out to see a râ—ed shaken with the wind c. which clearly imports that John was shaken in his Faith and yet for all that he was a Prophet and more than a Prophet v. 9. Which clearly imports that gracious souls may come under temptations and doubts in matters of Faith of highest concernment and yet be gracious still yea further gracious persons may through a sudden fit of fear and surprisal by temptation not only doubt in the main matters of Faith but even deny the Faith they have been established in The case of Peter is full in this matter who denied and forswore his Lord but the difference lieth here the gracious person may fall by a sudden surprisal of sinful fear and weep bitterly for it when it is done and loves the Lord the more but the other deliberately resolved and wilfully departs from the Lord and will no more of him but with the dog returns to his vomit and with the sow that was washed to her wallowing again in the mire yet it deeply concerns souls to be heedful of such temptations 2. The second sort of Assurance is the 2. Of Assurance of Interest assurance of interest in the Doctrine believed and in speaking to this I shall shew 1. That there is a Gospel Assurance of interest in Grace and Glory to be obtained in this World 2. What this Assurance is and how and how far it may be attained 3. What it is that ordinarily hinders persons from obtaining thereof 1. That a well grounded Gospel Assurance 1. That it may be attained of Faith may be attained here in this life it is that which many Saints have attained and a possibility is stated for all to attain it 1. That many have attained it Job though under afflictions yet could say I know that my Redeemer liveth c. whom I shall see for my self c. Job 19. 25. 27. and the Prophet could say after a cloud of darkness and temptation Psal 73. 24. 26. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel and afterward receive me to Glory and Paul Gal. 2. 20. I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me and 2 Tit. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good Fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith from henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day c. But 2. Lest it be objected by any that these were extraordinary persons and therefore may doubt whether it be attainable by believers as such a possibility is stated for all to attain it and this will appear in the promise it 's promised not Prophets or Apostles or Ministers as such to all Believers he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and John 6. 40. and this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life see Act. 16. 31. Rom. 10. 9. If God hath made the promise of life to believers as such without distinction he hath stated a possibility to believers to obtain a Gospel assurance of their Salvation 2. It appears in that it was the Apostles work and should be the work and endeavour of every faithful Minister to help Believers in this matter that so they might attain a well grounâ—eâ— comfortable assurance of their intereâ—t in the grace of life so Paul Rom. 3. 22. The righteousness of God which is by Faith of Christ unto all and upon all that believe and Chap. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus whâ— walk not after the flesh but after the spirit 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written to them that believe c. that ye may know that ye have eternal life c. The Lord's design is not only to give his people eternal life but he would have them to know it for their comfort and for that end he hath stated clear grounds in his Word by which they may come to know it as I shall endeavour in the second place to shew what it is and â—ow it may be attained 2. What this Assurance is and how far it may be attained 1. What it is it is called in Scripture sometimes the assurance of Faith Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near in full assurance of Faith Heb. 6. 11. The full assurance of hope the full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. Confidence boldness Eph. 3. 12. Heb. 10. 35. The confidence of hope Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end The assurance of Faith Hope Confidence is sometimes higher and sometimes lower sometimes more sometimes less according to the souls exercise in the word of Life and work of Faith and the working of the Spirit in the word of Faith for there is no such assurance to be attained here as when we come to the possession of the Kingdom and Glory promised when all occasion of doubting shall be done away for the assurance here
the right way he that taketh care of the honour of God and Christ in the right way that is in believing loving and obeying the truth God will take care for his honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. the Lord saith He that honoureth me I will honour 3. If we seek our selves in the way that God hath appointed we cannot miscarry that is in the lose of our selves and cleaving to the Lord alone expecting all from Grace in the way of Faith and Obedience not for any meritorious good that is in us that when we have done all we can see and say that we are unprofitable Servants and cry Grace Grace to the whole work both for us and in us then we rightly seek God and Glory 4. It 's true in one sense that we may not seek our selves by any means that is our own esteem and glory here among men or to be lifted up in our own minds that is fleshly and of the first man that must be mortified as a dangerous and soul-ruining and God-dishonouring evil that Christians are too much by nature inclined to through the remainders of the old corrupt nature and must be watched and warded against self-wisdom self-will self-esteem self-boasting and self-glorying is to be abandoned but in seeking after and obeying of God and Christ To seek glory honour and eternal life is so consistent with the truth of the Gospel that it 's impossible to sever them whatever souls foolishly and vainly imagine to the contrary What God hath joyned together let no man put asunder 5. Hindrance of souls assurance is when 5. Hindrance when souls trouble themselves about Gods Decrees they trouble themselves about the Decrees and Counsel of God whether Elected or not Elected if they are not Elected then it 's in vain for them to believe c. This is not a work for Christians to trouble their minds about neither are they like to have the assurance of Gospel consolation while they make this their first work I shall for help in this matter prescribe these seven things 1. That Christ died for all and that the 7 Things considered in this matter love of God in the Gospel is truly propounded to all and that all are brought under it either in a way of life or death life if they repent believe and obey it death if they reâ—ect it 1 Tit. 2. 6. Heb. 2 9. 1 Joh. 4. 14. Joh. 3. 16 17. Mar. 16. 15 16. 2. That all are invited and required to believe and obey the Gospel with gracious promises of acceptance by him that is truth it self and cannot lie nor will he deceive those that come to him Isa 55. 7. Matt. 11. 28. Acts 17. 30. 1 Tit. 2. 4. 3. There is the same reason for all to halt and doubt in this matter as for any one and yet we find not any one mentioned in the Scripture among the many thousands of Believers that made a doubt on this ground no not of the worst of sinners those that had a hand in the Crucifying of Christ Acts 2. 23. 36 37 41. They gladly received the word of Salvation not questioning the matter of Election but glad with the good news of Salvation on the tearms propounded with many like instances of Gentiles as well as Jews Acts 13. 48. And the Apostles did not propound Election as any hindrance to the Faith of any but assures them where-ever they came that on the tearms of the Gospel they should be saved Acts 16. 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved 4. Nor did the Apostles mention Election to Believers after conversion with any design to stumble them in the matter of Faith relating to their own interest but that they might the more admire Grace and live to the God of Grace that they might not sacrifice to their own net nor take the Glory of the work of God wrought in them and for them to themselves but that they might give the glory of all to him and live to him in the injoyment thereof Rom. 11. 6 33. Eph. 1. 3 4. 5. Nor hath God done any act contrary to the free tenders and invitations of the Gospel that may tend to discourage or hinder any from believing and obeying the Gospel that they may be saved God's Electing some that he might not lose his design wholly in the restauration work is no bar to hinder any because he affords means and helps to all so that men shall one day acknowledge that God is righteous and their damnation is of themselves and of their own choice I would but ye would not see Prov. 1. 20. to the end 6. Take heed of entertaining such thoughts about the Decrees of God which are secret and hidden as are inconsistent with the Doctrine of the Gospel his revealed will for all notions about the Decrees really inconsistent with the Doctrine of Grace and promise of life on the tearms of the Gospel are dishonourable to God and dangerous to your souls therefore look you to the revealed will believe and obey that and you are safe 7. You are to know that the way by which you shall know your Election is by believing and obeying the truth and sure enough it is that if you continue in a state of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel you are not Elected For he that believeth and obeyeth it is that shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned O therefore be wise and stumble not where God hath laid no stumbling stone but fall in with the truth believe and obey the Gospel and you shall be saved you are under all the precious promises of life which are all yea and amen certain and sure in Christ Jesus who is become the Author of Eternal Salvation to all those that obey him Heb. 5. 19. The sixt and last hindrance I shall mention 6. Hindrance is the loss of Hope is the cancelling and striking out of hope out of the Believers Book or turning it into another thing than it is making new covenant hope to be nothing else but the expectation of the soul expecting and looking for that which Faith believes whereas hope and expectation are two distinct Virtues expectation is the daughter both of Faith and hope Faith believes the truth hope puts in for an interest then comes expectation of the full enjoyment thereof This of Hope is a step for the soul to stand upon till it attain assurance but when this is taken away and the soul supposeth there is no degree short of assurance and finding that something difficult especially to step into it at one step lieth groveling on the ground without hope but this we are to know that Hope is a blessed Gospel virtue when rightly grounded and that Christians may and should exercise it in this very case step up into Hope first and there stand and wait till assurance come that will come in by degrees in the souls constancy in the Faith and sincere walk
with God improving Divine Grace received and acquaintance with the right way of attaining of assurance it 's true that Hope as well as Faith admits of degrees sometimes there is the full assurance of Hope which is the next step to the full assurance of Faith we are saved by Hope as well as by Faith Rom. 8 24. And Hope is the anchor of the soul to hold us firm and stedfast to the Lord Heb. 6. 19. Therefore be sober and hope to the end and cast nâ—t away your confidence if you never get above a well grounded hope of an interest in Grace and Glory you are safe See the precious promises made to this Grace or rather to the persons in whom it is Ps 31 24. 33. 18 19 147. 11. Quest How may I know that my Hope Quest is right and not the common ungrounded Hope of the World and Hypocrites Answ 1. When it is rightly grounded Answ not meerly fancy and imagination taken up either from a common notion of Christianity and hear-say of Heaven and Happiness conclude an interest and pretend an hope to be saved without any work of Grace at all in the heart and thus deceive themselves with a vain hope can give no reason thereof but God is merciful and Christ died for sinners and they be Christians and hope to be saved although altogether strangers if not enemies to the work of Grace Others hope ariseth from a meer rational conversion from some external acts of sin to some external duties and so it may be to another though not a new life altogether without a new heart and thence hope to be saved Now the well grounded hope of the Gospel must be on the same that Faith of interest is on the same grounds must souls get first into hope that is the word and promises of the New Covenant and the work effected in the heart where there is an harmony in word and work there is a stable ground for hope as there is no stable ground for hope from the Word without the work so is there no ground for hope from the work without the Word but when the soul can say I have believed repented and obeyed the Gospel and it is its desire and endeavour to persevere therein to the end there is a Gospel ground for hope of an interest in the precious promises of the Gospel 2. From the effects of this hope to increase and strengthen it when the soul is sincerely prosecuting the design of Holiness and desireth and endeavoureth to be more like Christ daily and less like the World it 's an undoubted discovery that the hope is right 1 Joh. 3. 3. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure And a wonderful discovery I fear it is of the vanity of the hopes of multitudes of professors that think themselves gotten above the World whose great design is to be like the World great and rich like the World proud and vain in their fashions like the World dead and lifeless to the power of Religion like the World but where is the man where is the woman to be found who designs conformity to Jesus Christ and mourns in the sense of non-conformity that yet remains and reioyceth that a time will come that the vile body shall be changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure CHAP. XVI A further Discovery of the New Covenant and Life of Faith OF this much hath been spoken in what hath been before minded yet I shall speak a little more distinctly to it in this place 1. The Gospel or New Covenant are 1. Of the Gospel or New Covenant tearms equivalent and intends one and the same thing in substance the New Covenant is so called because it is the Covenant of the renewed Estate of the new Life and deliverance out of that estate of sin and death into which we fell by the first transgression this Covenant relating to new men and women in Christ Jesus and the new World the whole new estate propounded and promised therein made 1. In and with Christ Jesus the head of this new and glorious design of God in the renovation and restauration work and 2. In him with all the members of his body the Church Tit. 1. 2. Tit. 1. 9. On whom this design of God shall undoubtedly be accomplished it being the glorious and undoubted end and issue of the great undertaking of Christ our Lord in his suffering for sinners Joh. 6. 38 39. Eph 5. 25 26 27. Called a Covenant of Grace because the regeneration and restauration work in all the parts thereof is the effect of the free Grace of God in Christ Jesus and a Covenant or promise of Life because it is a deliverance from death into a state of Life never to die again it 's called the Gospel which signifieth glad or good tidings Luke 2. 10. Rom. 10. 15. It imports all the good promised in the New Covenant of Pardon Peace Life of Justification Sanctification and Glory with the way by which it is effected that is by Jesus Christ crucified raised and ascended in the performance of his Mediatory Office 1 Cor. 15 1 3 4. It intends the glad tidings of remission of sins by Jesus Christ and of Salvation Luke 24. 47. with Mark 16. 15. It being one and the same commission it promiseth remission of sins and Salvation on its own tearms i. e. on Faith Repentance and new Obedience it promâ—seth acceptation in service and gives rules relating thereunto unto which all New Covenant spirited people ought to take heed Acts 3. 22 23. It promiseth assistance in service Isa 26. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 5. Phil. 2. 13. Eph. 1. 6. With eternal Life and Glory in the World to come and preservation thereunto in the way of Faith Holiness and sincere Obedience unto the end 1 Pet. 1. 5. Heb. 5. 9. This is the New Covenant the Gospel the glad tidings of Gods free Grace and good will to men accompanied with the discovery of the dreadful state of all that do not believe and obey this Gospel There is Pardon and Peace Grace and Life a Kingdom and Glory and that Eternal given by covenant and promise to all that in truth believe and obey the Gospel Heb. 5. 9 9. 5. Contained in that Gen. 12. 3. In thee shall all thee Families of the Earth be blessed which includes all the blessings of the New Covenant relating to Grace and Glory but of this I have written distinctly and of the Mediatory Office of Christ in this New Covenant in a Book entituled The Discourse of true Gospel Blessedness or The distinction of the two Covenants Old and New to which I refer the Reader that desireth to see further in this matter And 2. As for the Life of Faith in this 2. Of the Life of Faith Gospel or New Covenant and the truth of God therein what
to Moses Exod. 32. 33 34. 33. 14. 17. to Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20. 6 15 16 17. to David Psal 18. 6 7 8. 118. 5. I called upon the Lord in distress he answered me and set me in a large place In a word the Lord never commanded his people to seek his face in vain Isa 45. 19. I said not to the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain and of this his people hath had experience and must say if they speak true of him as Moses Deut. 4. 7. What Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God in all that we call upon him for I may add 4. that an unpraying people are noted in Scripture to be a Graceless and Godless people The workers of iniquity Psal 14. 4. Are a people that call not upon God and Psal 10. 4. The wicked in the pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts wicked men if they pray it is but in form and for fear or custome and tradition and not in faith and love with constancy as gracious persons doth Job 27. 10. speaking of the Hypocrite will he always call upon God No he will not it is of custome or for fear or to be seen of men if he doth it at all and as wicked men are a prayerless people so it is a note of a Godly man to be a praying man No sooner was Saul converted but behold he prayeth Acts 9. 11. which was given as a token to Annanias that he was a converted man and the Prophet deprecates against an unpraying people Jer. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not upon thy name Psal 79. 6. by all which it appeareth that prayer is the special duty of the people of the Lord. The fourth particular relates to the manner 4. The right manner of Prayer of prayer how it is to be performed and in this are many requisites to be considered to the right performance thereof 1. We must pray in the Spirit if we pray 1. It must be in the spirit in a right manner not only with our own spirits but in the spirit of Christ there is a gift of prayer with large expressions which Hipocrites may attain and there is the spirit of prayer which is proper only to sincere Christians hence the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also Jud. v. 20. praying in the holy spirit and this is the promise of God to give his people the spirit of grace and of supplication Zech. 12. 10. The spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer it enables those in whom it is to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. it helpeth both as to matter and manner for we know not what to pray for as we ought Quest How shall I know that I have this Quest. spirit of prayer Ans We may know it in the mattâ—r and Answ in the manner of our prayers 1. In the matter of our prayers when we are kept to and helpt in the right matter of prayer the matter you have heard it must be good and according to the will of God when we are rightly lead in this matter it is by the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 26 27. We know not what we pray for as we ought c. but the spirit helpeth our infirmities and make intercession for us according to the will of God There is much in this to have our hearts lead in the will of God in our praying When persons run out in their own spirits and in their own wills and it may be besides the matter of prayer there is nothing of the spirit of Christ therein 2. We then pray with the Spirit when our own spirits are set at work in the duty prayer by the spirit is not lip labour only but heart work when we as we ought in all other services in prayer serve God with our Spirits with our whole Heart Rom. 1. 9. God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son c. Psal 119. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not wander from thy Commandments then have we the spirit of Christ in Prayer when our whole heart is in the work My Son give me thy heart the Spirit works the heart to God according to his word and in this note that ordinarily when the spirit worketh in our hearts to the work it works the heart beyond the words and here lyeth the difference between Praying in the Spirit and without the Spirit he that prayeth in the spirit his spirit thereby out-runs his words he is more in heart then in word the spirit worketh in us with Groanings that cannot be uttered that is heart groanings and desirings beyond the expressions but the other his tongue out runs his heart he is far better at lip labour then at heart work in Prayer 3. Then we pray by the Spirit and in a right manner when we pray in Faith beleving that is the right spirit of prayer then pray we by the spirit and in a right manner for the spirit of Christ is the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. But having the same Spirit of Faith c. Mat. 21. 22. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer believing ye shall receive so that to pray believingly is the right manner of praying Quest When may I be said to Pray Believingly Quest Answ 1. When you believe understandingly Answ and rightly that the matter or things you pray for is according to the will of God 2. When you believe that God will give you what you pray for because it is according to his will it is his will you should ask it because it is his will that you should have it and that you should thus believe in asking see 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. Quest Are there not some things that we Quest ought to pray for which we have no particular ground for faith that it shall be granted we are commanded to pray for wicked men and enemies Mat. 5. 44. Answ We ought to pray in such and like Answ cases because God requires it and may and ought to pray in Faith we ought to pray for what God hath promised believing that he will give it and to pray for what he hath commanded us believing 1. That it is our duty because commanded 2. That he will accept us therein if not grant the thing prayed for yet that he will assuredly answer us in returning our prayers into our own bosom Ps 35. 13. But as for me when they were sick my cloathing was Sackcloth I humbled my self by faâ—ting and my prayer returned into mine own bosome so that we ought to pray and believe that God will accept us and make a return of our prayers to advantage though in this and in
Father in all things the Sincere Christian would not displease God for a world he had rather displease men and himself too I mean fleshly self then displease God But Hypocrites design is to please men and to please their own humours they do what they do to be seen of men the Hypocrite if he pray it is to be seen of men if he give it is to be seen of men to have applause of men that is his end and if that be attained he hath his reward Mat. 23. 5. But all their works they do to be seen of men ch 6. 1 5. The Hypocrite if he can keep but just so much Religion as may continue his esteem among the Professors of his way and time he looks no more unless it be the vain glorious glossing talking and it may be preaching Hypocrite 6. The great care of a Sincere Christian 6. Look especially to the heart is to look to the heart to have the heart right with God he knoweth that the heart is deceitful and that God requireth the heart and will have the heart or nothing and therefore whatever he doth he doth it heartily as to the Lord and mourns when he finds the heart wanting and wandering he hates a divided Hypocritical heart he believeth with the heart loveth God with the heart prayeth with the heart obeyeth with the heart Rom. 16. 17. he accounts no service well done where the heart is wanting But the Hypocrite is a stranger to heart work and heart service he troubles not himself with that work the most he doth is to bring his body to the service and his head it may be but for the heart he take no care for that he is a stranger to such work Ezek. 33. 31. VVith their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness See Mat. 15. 8. Psal 78. 36 37. They did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed to him with their Tongues for their heart was not right with him Thus the Hypocrites in heart heap up wrath Job 36. 13. For Hypocrisie lyeth in the heart and Sincerity is in the heart it is an honest and good heart 7. The Sincere Christian dwelleth most 7. Is most at home at home looks most to the state of his own soul keepeth his own Vineyard dresseth that and watcheth his own heart and his own words and ways and warreth against his own sins and sinful nature judgeth himself for his own miscarriages cryeth out O wretched man that I am not but that sincere souls seeth and reproveth and mourneth for others sins but his first his great work is at home to keep things in order there he saith with the Prophet Psal 51. 4. Against thee only have I sinned and with the Publican Lord be merciful to me a Sinner He saith with the Prophet Psal 119. 5. O that my ways were diâ—ectected to keep thy Statutes But the Hypocrite is most abroad quick-sighted to see into others failings but blind at home cryeth peace to his own soul without ground his great work is to be finding fault abroad he cryeth not O wretched man that I am but O wretched man that thou art he is quick sighted into the sins of others that his own may be covered or at least lessened in his conscience account an Hypocrite will sooner see a Mote in his brothers eye then a Beam in his own 8. The Sincere Christian as he believeth 8. He cleaveth to the Doctrine of Christ in the Lord and loveth and obeyeth the Lord above all so he cleaveth not only in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth to the Doctrine of Christ the Word of the Gospel as his alone ground of saith and rule of obedience and dare not for a world to swerve from it either to his own or others inventions 1 Joh. 4. 6. He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 2 Joh. ver 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God but he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son But Hypocrites whatever they pretend in word of owning the Doctrine of Christ yet easily turn from it preferring their own inventions and imaginations equall with if not above the Doctrine of the Gospel Mat. 15. 7. Ye Hypocrites c. ver 9. In vain do they worship me teaching for doctrine the commandements of men Isa 29. 13. Their fear towards me is taught by the Precepts of men God takes them to be Hypocrites that pretend to own him and his word and indeed own the Precepts of men and their own inventions in his worship 9. Sincere Christians love Gods things 9. They love Gods things for his sake for his sake his word his ways and Ordinances because it is his because it hath his stamp upon it and spirit in it loves his people because they are his and have his spirit in them and his name upon them and so loves all whom the Lord loves the poor Saints as well as the rich they that are alive as well as they that are dead they they see and know as well as them they never saw c. But Hypocrites love is to some for some base and by end and not to all or to the dead Saints but not to the living Hypocrites pretend a great deal of love to the deceased Saints which they never saw but hate and persecute the living Saints who desire to be the Followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promise Hypocrites will pretend to be the greatest lovers of dead Saints none love them as themselves they will honour them every one oâ— them shall have a day dedicated to him in honour Saint Peter and Saint Paul's day c. yea and it may be adore and pray to them make them their intercessors but hate and persecute them that are alive whom they see and know and that too because they walk in the steps of the deceased Saints We may easily judge what love such have to Jesus Christ and the Apostles if they were alive they should quickly find and feal their love that are so friendly to their followers in Faith and Patience thus did the Hypocrites of old Mat. 23. 29 30 31. Woe unto you Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites because ye build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchers of the righteous and say if we had been in the days of our Fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets Wherefore ye be witnesses unto your selves that ye are the children of them that killed the Prophets They witness that they are the Children of the Persecutors not by nature but by the same spirit children in blood and persecution therefore Hypocrites in pretending to love Saints that are gone whom they never saw but hate them they see
coming out of the Land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things from their coming out of Egypt till setled in the Land of Canaan was about 45. years David and Solomon likewise made one full Type both of the deliverer and of the deliverance it was from Davids enterance to the Kingdom in the Conquering work and Solomons building of the Temple and setling of his peaceable Reign about 45 years let this be compared for confirmation with Dan. 12. 11. 12. where is 45 dayes mentioned probably years differing in the times there mentioned the first time there mentioned is probably may be the time of Christs coming to the Redemption of Israel but the second to which the blessing is promised to them that wait for it the perfecting of the work and setling of the Kingdom in Peace And thus much shall suffice in this matter I would have none offended at what I have said could I help it and to prevent offence it may be I say that as to the Kingdom of Christ on Earth with his Saints and the coming in of the Jews to this glory as first and chief and the believers of the Gentiles as children added to them being interested in the same promises Isa 49. 18. to the end Eph. 3. 6. I do verily believe the truth thereof and therefore have I spoken But as to other things and circumstances about it I have only given probable conjectures as I apprehend from Scripture grounds not entering into Gods unrevealed secrets but his revealed will but whether I do rightly understand it in all things I dare not affirm but rather propound it as probable apprehensions that may have something of truth in them and it may be more then the Reader may imagine especially at first sight however be sober and moderate in judging the Scripture saith they shall run too and fro and knowledge shall be increased I shall conclude the whole matter with two words of Application as to the whole 1. Of Exhortation to be preparing for this great day of the Lord that he may be found of him in peace and without blame at that day 1 Thes 3. 12 13. and 5. 23. 1 John 2. 28. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Wherefore Beloved seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless be steadfast in the faith and constant in the obedience of the Gospel always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. the good works of Saints will be of great use and advantage to them at that day whether they are works of Piety or works of Charity such as do immediately relate to God his Worship and Service or such as relate to men to body or soul and such as ought to be performed in the whole course of the conversation they may be all counted works of piety for they are such as God requireth and they ought to be done all in obedience to the Lord And in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Glory of God the Father through him and the good of our neighbour and God will reward the faithful and sincere works of his people at that day Matt. 25. 34 35. 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. its that without which our Faith is dead and none of the Faith of the Gospel so that good works are honourable unto God John 15. 8. Herein is my Father honoured that he bare much fruit 2 Thes 1. 11 12. And its profitable to men Tit. 3. 8. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that ye affirm constantly that they which have believed in God be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable unto men First they are profitable to those to whom they are done good to their bodies to their souls to supply their needs to convince them of the truth of love and to ingage them to the Lord good to inlarge their hearts in thankfulness to the Lord for his goodness to them in and by his servants 2 Corin. 8. 13. Good and profitable to the owners thereof who are faithfully exercised therein 1. It s a good evidence to themselves that the good work of Faith is indeed wrought in them 1 John 3. 14. 19. 24. and 5. 2 3. Good because it shall add to their account in the day of account not as the Meritorious cause but it s the design of God to crown the works of his people at that day and sutable to their works shall their reward be no works no reward little works little reward abounding works shall have an abounding reward see the truth of this Matt. 25. 20 21 34 35 36. 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. Rev. 22. 14. I say let Christians be preparing for this blessed day by their constancy in the Faith and Obedience of the Gospel and patient and joyful suffering for the Name and Sâ—ke of Christ when called to it 2. Be much in the expectation and looking for this blessed Hope O look for and love his appearing which you can never rightly do if unprepared for it therefore be ye always ready that so ye may desire it it is to them that look for him that he will appear a second time without sin to Salvation Heb. 9. 28. therefore so live before him and to him that when ever you think of the promise of his coming you may be able to say as John Rev. 22. 20. Amen Even so come Lord Jesus and then when he is come you shall be able to say as Isaiah 25. 9. Loe this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him we will rejoyce and be glad in his Salvation Then will be say Well done goâ—d and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee ruler over much enter thou into the joy of the Lord And come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World Thus if Saints were Consious and Faithful in their sincere humble and universal walk with God hear according to the Word of his Grace they might be able to meditate terrour in beholding the Land that seems to be afar off Isa 33. 17 18. They should be able to look Afflictions Persecutions Death and Judgment in the face without fear when others shall be at their wits end and shall wish for the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and to cover them from the wrath of the Lamb When they shall go into the Holes of the Rocks and into the Caves of the Earth into the Clefts of the Rocks and into the tops of the ragged Rocks for fear of the Lord and for the Glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the Earth Then shall the Redeemed of the Lord return and come to Sion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads and sorrow and sighting shall flee away Wherefore my Beloved Brethren comfort your selves and one another with these words Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 11. line 4. for 81. 3. read 8. 33 34. p. 13. l. last f. here r. hence p. 19. l. 2. f. unbelief r. damnation p. 22. l. 24 25 f. there r. three and for three r. there p. 48. l. 4. f. vine r. Divine p. 65. l. 5. f. manifestations r. ministrations p. 77. l. 20. f. should r. should not p. 106. l. 3. f. effectually r. eternally p. 123. l. 5. f. 2 Cor. 15. 17. r. 2 Cor. 5. 17. p. 125. l. 5. loave out as implied in it p. 127. l. 30. f. Isa 55. r. Isa 65. p. 131. l. 27. f. and new state r. read seeing the state p. 136. l. 22 f. Sam. r. Jam. p. 137. l. 7. f. satisfying r. justifying p. 145. l. 28. f. nigh r. high p. 150. l. 28. f. prophaneries r. prophanes and l. 22. f. unrighteous r. righteous p. 154. l. 27. f. firmly r. Timothy p. 159. l. 30. f. of purging r. and. p. 161. l. 22. f. r. and our selves p. 164. l. 6. r. without works p. 169. l. 24. f. with r. which p. 176. l. 7. r. without works l. 8. r. with works p. 210. l. 21. f. act 5. 3. r. 32. f. 1 Pet. 12. r. 1 Pet. 1. 12. p. 211. l. 30. f. Ps 89. 34. r. 3. 4. p. 214. l. 28. r. not to Prophets but to c. p. 221. l. 1. f. shew r. assurance l. 8. f. there r. theirs p. 223. l. 32. f. could r. would p. 259. l. 32. leave out not p. 268. l. 16. r. run too far p. 300. l. 5. f. have r. hate evil p. 303. l. 16. f. yet r. else p. 332 l. 5. f. Soul r. Son p. 334. l. 16. f. shamed r. shuned p. 342. from Act. 3 22. to Act. 3 22. leave out that sentence p. 346. l. 6. f. him r. them p. 381. l. 30. f. held r. yield p. 390. l. 1. f. foundation r. new found notion l3 r. it tending f. in p. 395. l. 2 f. inclosed r. in Closet p. 403. l. 9. f. effectual r. eternal p. 445. l. 11. f. would r. could Let the Reader note that very often 1 Tit. and 2 Tit. is often mistook for 1 Tim. and 2 Tim. and often you for thou and sometimes we for ye all which I have not mentioned in the Errata's
many other cases we have no particular ground to believe an answer in the very thing prayed for yet we ought to pray in Faith not doubting the matter oâ— Gods faithfulness in hearing and answering either in granting the things prayed for or make a return to the souls advantage 4. To Pray in a right manner is to pray 4. It is to pray fervently fervently with heart fervency and earnestly not sluggishly and coldly but zealously to have the heart affected in prayer Jam. 5. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much and it s the work of the spirit to fill us with true zeal and fervency in prayer when the soul will have no nay like Jacob wrestling with God Gen. 32. 26. I will not let thee go except you bless me Hos 12. 4. He had power with the Angel and prevailed he wept and made supplication And this fervency consisteth not so much in multitudes of expressions or loudness of voice but in pouring out our souls to the Lord and in strength of faith to prevail with him Ps 42. 4. When I remember these things I pour out my soul in me 25. 1. I lift my soul to thee 143. 8. Thus in this and in every part of Gods service it behoves Christians to be fervent in spirit serving the Lord hence is prayer so frequently called in Scripture crying from its fervency Psal 17. 1. 34. 15. 17. c. 5. To pray rightly is to pray humbly 5. To pray humbly and self-abaseingly and this is the proper work of the spirit to discover our own nothingness and needs unto us this is a special requisite in prayer Psal 9. 12. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble 10. 12. Arise O Lord God lift up thine hand forget not the humble The fear of Gods greatness and goodness living in the heart will tend very much to humble the soul in its addresses to him and is very acceptable with him Ps 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise it s that Prayer that comes from a humble and broken Spirit that is well pleasing to the Lord the poor Publican that had nothing to say for himself But Lord be merciful to me a Sinner was accepted when the proud boasting Pharisce was rejected Luke 18. 13. 14. Proud Persons and Proud Prayers are an abomination to the Lord but he will not forget nor despise the prayers of the humble 6. To Pray in a right manner is to pray 6. Sincerely and not Hypocritically sincerely and not hypocritically and this can never be without sincerity and truth of heart to God-ward in the main of Religion Ps 51. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden parts thou hast made me to know Wisdom 17. 1. Give ear unto my Prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips Unfeigned Faith and unfeigned Love and unfeigned Obedience and unfeigned Prayer is the Lords delight he loveth that he desireth truth in the inward parts Psal 145. 18. The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth heart and tongue must go together yea and there had need be more in the heart then the tongue expresseth rather then less an empty hearted Christian performs empty service makes empty airy prayers and must expect empty returns but truth and integrity reacheth Heaven it being the spirits work to effect it and truth alone is there imbraced 7. To pray in a right manner is to pray 7. To pray Briefly Briefly and without Tautologies and this has beer the practice of all Saints throughout all Generations and is the express command of our Lord Mat. 6. 7 8. But when we Pray use not vain repetitions or babling or speaking idely as the Heathens doe for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking be ye not therefore like unto them for your Heavenly Father knâ—weth what things you need before you ask them In which are two things observable 1. Our Lord forbids vain Repetitions Tautoligies and idle Talking in Prayer 2. Much speaking as if multitude of words would prevail with God this is it he reproves in the Pharisees as well as in the Heathen their making of long Prayers Mat. 23. 14. and this he forbids in his Disciples in warning them not to be like the Heathen who think to be heard for their much speaking it is much speaking in Prayer that Christ reproves as well as vain speaking and that appeareth 1. From the argument used to inforce the Exhortation Your Father knoweth the things ye have need before ye ask therefore you need not have much speaking about the matter 2. The pattern of prayer presented by Christ in the verses following as an example of the substance and brevity in prayer 3. The example of Christ Himself in Prayer Matt. 26. 39. The exhortation of the Wise man Eccl. 5. 2. According to which we find the Prayers of the Saints to be both brief and full of matter throughout all Generations Exâ—d 33. 12. and 16. 2. 2 Chron. 20. 5 12. â—an 9. 3 19. â— 1 King 8. 22. is the longest we read of on a special occasion yet without vain repetitions Acts 4. 24. All which confirms the truth that it 's a right manner of praying to pray briefly and this cannot be done truly but by the Spirit Christ would not have his to think that enumerating words like the Heathens or Papists or Hipocrites that pray by number and length of time and multitude of words is prevalent with God but to pray briefly and understandingly according to the word and work of the Spirit 8. To pray in a right manner and by the 8. In the fear of God Spirit is to pray in the fear of God as the fear of God is a choice new Covenant Vertue to dwell in the heart alwaies so especially when the soul addresseth it self to God in Prayer to do it in the holy awe of the Lord Psal 5. 7. As for me saith the Prophet I will come into thine house in the multitude of thy Mercies and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy Temple It 's a choice frame of Spirit to serve the Lord with fear in all the parts of his service and especially in this of Prayer To serve him with Reverence and Godly fear They are the persons that God will accept and answer their Prayers Ps 145. 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their cry and save them 9. To pray in a right spirit and so in a 9. To pray holily right manner is to pray holily with a desire of holiness and a design for holâ—ness 1 Tit. 2. 8. I will that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting To lift up holy hearts and holy hands is well pleasing to the Lord Psal 86. 2.