Souls into Glory Mat. 22.32 Hath not he engaged to be their God And shall Death break that bond And are not they whose God he is as to their better part See Doctor Templar Idea p. 312 as are Abraham Isaac and Jacob at this present living to and with God Have they not good ground for their saying who say that by that time their Friends have well closed the Eyes of their Bodies Mr. Norton c. their Spirits shall be admitted to behold God's Face in Righteousness Shall they not immediately on their departure be with Christ 9. Shall not their Bodies on which Death seizeth be raised out of the Dust that in their whole Persons they may be Happy to and in Eternity Hath not our Saviour left it under his hand John 6.39 that he will lose nothing not onely no Soul but nothing no Body that is given him Are not the Bodies of Covenanters the Purchase of his Blood and Temples or Habitations of his Spirit M. Jeanes Scholast Div. p. 28 29. He is not the God of the dead of those any part of whom shall dye for ever Surely what I have written proves the Covenant to be of Grace May my Reader go to the Labours of that Dear Brother on this Subject Mr. H. Newcome on the Covenant whose Tongue and Pen God hath eminently Blessed And now must I go to some brief may it be blessed Application And the first Use shall be by way of Caution Take we heed lest from the Doctrine of God's Covenanting with Man we conclude that this his Covenant doth in all points answer those Covenants that are amongst and between Men Surely this Covenant doth far and far transcend ' em First Hath any Humane Covenant so much of freedom in it as God's hath 1. See the Ark of the Covenant opened Job 22.2 3. Do not Men in their Covenants propound something of Advantage to themselves This can have no place in God whom no Persons or Praises can in the least profit his glorious name being above ' em 2. Do not men ordinarily see something of worth and loveliness in those whom they take into Covenants of Friendship and Familiarity But what of worthiness or loveliness is there to be seen in fallen Man Ezek. 16.1 2 3 c. Is he not in his blood and gore in his filth and guilt And yet that is made a time of Love Secondly In what meer Humane Covenant is there such condescension as is expressed in this Covenant If a Prince should stoop to make a League with a Peasant Psal 82.5 6. Finiti ad infinitum nulla proportio yet he that is so far above as to Office is but an equal as to Nature But between the Creator and Creatures what proportion is there Thirdly What lower Covenant is like this high one in firmness and sureness Have not men like men transgressed and varied And on Mens part Hos 6.7 2 Chron. 13 5. Sal est duraturae amicitiae symbolum Isa 55.4 in this Covenant there are too many failures but as to the Lord it is a Covenant of Salt lasting and incorruptible Do not the sure Mercies of David belong to this Covenant Mal. 3.6 Jehovah changeth not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed Fourthly Is it not eminently to mans Honour yea and to God's that God thus Covenanted 1. Though men may Bless others Psal 144. last are not they the Blessed of the Lord whose God he is in a Covenant-way Is not this a Covenant of Life 2. Are not God's Attributes as evidently so joyntly displayed herein Infinite Wisdom hath ordered a meeting of Mercy and Truth of Righteousness and Peace Justice receives satisfaction and Grace is in its exaltation sin is condemn'd and sinners sav'd the Law fulfilled as to the Surety and the Gospel advanced as to those for whom he is so The Second Use is for Information The first Branch is One step or consideration is before us on which we should stand and afresh wonder at Divine Grace 1. Rom. 9.3 4 5. Are not the People a People of Grace to whom the Covenant belongs as to its external and Ecclesiastical Administration Were not the Jews in this respect known and honoured above all the Nations of the Earth Exod. 19.6 being to God as peculiars and a Treasure 2. When Persons are inwardly in Covenant and have a right to its choice benefits can we take a measure of God's Grace to ' em What but that could move him to Covenant with them On their laying hold on this Covenant and Union to the Mediator thereof Rom. 8.3 4. the Covenant of works cannot demand any thing of 'em which Christ and his Righteousness will not answer And whereas they stand chargeable with injuring God's Justice and Holiness See Herle's Tripes the former will be righted through the satisfying Merit of Christ and respects paid to the latter through his Sanctifying Spirit by his Purchase they shall be freed from the damning power of sin and by his Power from the reigning Dominion of it The second Branch of the second Use is They are inexcusable who stand off from Covenanting with God and will by no means be prevailed with to come within this blessed Bond Isa 55.1 2 3. though the Lord say Ho every one Come come come 1. Many turn the deaf Ear on him Mr. Porter Prov. 1. and will not come within the hearing of Wisdom's calls that cry loud as one Phras'd it till she be hoarse 2. Many are Hearers onely 2 Thes 2.10 they open the outward Door of the Ear but keep the inner one of the Heart shut They are led unto Truth but not into it they receive it not in its light and love or if they rejoyce in some light it is but for a season May not many Preachers say Isa 53.1 Who comparatively believeth our Report Few are as the good Ground that had depth of Earth and moisture enough Few have been steep'd in sorrow or are in that stream carried to receive a whole Christ and resign themselves to him Few from a right understanding of the tenor of the Covenant with Hearts and Hands subscribe to it I will say to Recusants Isa 1.16 Come and let us reason together 1. Have you not been too too long sinfully coy forsaking your own Mercy 2. Can you possibly be happy if you be not in a Marriage-Covenant with the Lord 3. Can you stand under the wrath that is over rejecters of the Covenant Psal 2. last Is not a little a very spark of this fire scorching Can your hands be strong or your hearts endure in the day of God's sharp visitation Might not Chaff sooner endure the Wind Isa 33.14 and Stubble the Fire 4. What will you Plead why wrath should not have its free course on you 1. Was not closing in with the Covenant your Interest as well as Duty
the Wrath to come and he onely delivers those that are in him The last advice as to the unregenerate is cry they pray they get they all their Friends to cry and pray for a change of their state and frame that they may on good grounds say that Jesus Christ is a Propitiation for their sins and that the Father that sent him to be so hath accepted him as such O that the Lord who imploys one so weak as I am would Honour me in making me an Instrument of their Conversion 1. Study they to good purpose that they do as really need an Interest in this Blessed Propitiation as any in the World can do 1. Have they not many great sins to be removed off from their Souls and out of God's sight Did they not fall as far and foully as any in Adam Did they not derive as guilty Persons Rom. 5.12 7.24 so filthy Natures from him Is there not in every one of 'em a Root of bitterness Hath not this Root been fruitful in the unfruitful works of Darkness If all their sins particularly those of Omission were set in order before 'em If onely those that have been more directly against the Love of the Father and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ were presented to 'em would they not be as a vast and terrible Army And if the heightning Circumstances of 'em were shewed together with 'em would they not render 'em still more frightful 2. Be they fully persuaded that no Righteousness which they can call their own will avail or signifie any thing as to the atoning of God and rendring him Propitious and Gracious to ' em The Bed is too short they cannot stretch themselves thereon The Covering is too narrow they cannot wrap themselves therein The injur'd Justice of God being infinite John 7.20 cannot be righted by any finite payments made to it Thousands of Rams Micah 6.5 6 7. and ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl are insignificant 3. Make they a just Account that to their Salvation a renewing of their Natures is needful As they are indebted so they are diseased as they need Pardons so they need Cares if God save 'em he 'l heal ' em 4. Doubt they not of the All-sufficiency of Christ's Propitiation John 6.37 7.37 or of the freeness of his Father to make over to 'em the benefit thereof upon their coming in and yielding themselves to him Assuredly if they can once get a sight of the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 they may with comfort behold the Glory of God in it All the Divine Attributes will appear then amiable all the ways of God will be rendred easie and all the Providences of God will become profitable even chastising ones or Rods will have Honey on the end of 'em which they shall taste 5. That they may be brought nigh to the Father and the Son and share in their Loves wait they in the use of a plain clear practical Ministry that the Holy Spirit may descend on 'em and they may experience the sweetness and powerfulness of his drawings God not seldom speaks to mens Hearts by his Ministers as his Mouth and Oh that Persons longed to find the Holy Spirit 1. Eph. 1.17 A revealing Spirit shewing 'em the King in his excellent enamouring Beauty 2. An inclining Spirit bowing their wills Psal 110.3 and bringing 'em over to embrace him whom they apprehend 3. An enabling Spirit empowring 'em to come to him that is able to save 'em to the uttermost from sins reigning Power here as well as from its ruining power hereafter O for a Spirit of Faith Is it not much more precious than Gold or Pearls Though it do not at all make the Propitiation for our sins it makes it ours Lest all I have said be as if it was unsaid to those who most need it I shall before I come to direct my Speech to the Regenerate set before the Unregenerate and such as continue to slight the Rich Grace of God in Christ some moving Motives One is Death is on its way towards 'em and every step they take they are a step nearer to it Their Glass is continually running and how few Sands remain in it it is not for them to know What if it should lay hold on them before they have laid hold on this Propitiation Job 18.14 Would it not be as it hath been accounted of terrible things the most terrible For 2. if they come not to Christ he will in Judgment come against them and as he is the sweetest Friend so he is the sorest Foe Rev. 6. last The wrath of the Lamb is to Grandees that are to fall under it full of Terror They that will not have him as their Saviour cannot flye from him as their Judge And to their shame and sorrow it will appear 1. This Judge is All-knowing No sin hath been committed so secretly as to scape his Cognisance He will bring to light the most hidden works of Darkness 2. He is also most Just and cannot be Bribed nor will any make offers of that sort to him 3. He is Powerful and they that fall into his Revenging hands can make no escape out of 'em Isaiah 33.13 14. His displeasure which cannot well be endured cannot at all be avoided Thirdly Will not the Torments which they shall be adjudged to have sundry of the sharpest stings in ' em 1. Will they not have the speculative knowledge of the great Love which God made offers of that so their sin may appear exceeding sinful John 3.19 and their Sufferings most righteous Knowledge shall be increased that Sorrow may be so Even where there is utter darkness there will be light that is terrifying The thoughts of Mercy that were most sweet in Life will be more bitter than many Deaths because it was rejected 2. Will they not have a sin to answer and suffer for which is not chargeable on Devils who never had Christ and Grace in him held forth to ' em Heb. 2.3 The Blood of Christ must needs lye heavy on those on whom the guilt of it lyes because the Merit of it was made light of 4. Yet the day of Grace lasteth and the Door of Hope continues open Isa 55.7 If the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord making the Son of God his Advocate he shall in no wise be cast out There is in Christ vertue to take away sins against Christ and the Fathers Bowels will yearn over a Penitent that hath been a Prodigal Luke 15.20 The Lord turn sinners that they may be turned The Fourth Rule of Duty hath a particular eye upon those that are Interested in the Son of God as a Propitiation and consequently in the Love of his Father They should be found attending to and in the Services that are proper to and for ' em The first Service is Musing
to John 3.19 Joh 21.14 O how many avoid Knowledge and affect Security The Second is Driving a trade and course of Profaneness being Creatures of carnal pleasures The Third is Minding savouring Animalia voluptatis 1 Tim. 5.6 Phil. 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and relishing Earthly things mainly if not onely Eating dust is that the Serpent is Condemn'd to far unfit is that Food for the Seed of the Woman The Fourth is Gal. 4.29 2 Thes 2.10 Having an aking Tooth and envious Heart at the better sort of People The Fifth is Setting light by God's Word and being void of the love of the Truth I proceed to instance in marks that are good but Not Conclusive Sundry have 'em who have not been Effectually Called The First is Escaping some of the more gross pollutions of the World * See Mr. Fowler Men may be without open Crimes and yet without Christ Luke 18.11 If we believe the boasting Pharisee he was no Adulterer or Oppressor The Second is Being at times found in some Duties for the matter of 'em commendable Such as 1. Hearing the best Ministers Mark 6.20 Herod sate under John Baptist's Teachings 2. Praying in publick and private Hypocrites have made many and long Prayers 3. Observing some Fast-days Isa 58 2 3. Had not the Pharisee two in a week The Third is Luke 18.11 Being entrusted with and interested in choice Church-Priviledges Such as 1. Being joyn'd in and to a good Society Were not foolish Virgins with the wise Mat. 25.1 2. Being washed with the water of Baptism Acts 8. Was not Simon Magus so 3. Being admitted to the Holy Table Mat. 7. Luke 13.26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratias gratis daras The bare Plea of eating and drinking in Christ's presence will be found insufficient The Fourth is Attaining Gifts that are desirable and to others Edifying Such as 1. Being able and apt to enlarge in Prayer on sundry occasions 2. Prophecying in Christ's Name Mat. 23.14 Mat. 7.20 21 22. or Preaching very plausibly I add The Unconverted may 1. Seem Zealous for the Sabbath 2. Declare for Reformation 3. Jer. 42.4 5. Acts 8.24 Come to Ministers with Cases 4. Beg a share in their Prayers Now we come to marks Inclusive They on and in whom they are are without doubt called to be Saints And it may pass for an adequate or even sign of such a Calling if Persons do earnestly desire and endeavour to bear and express ' em Such desires and endeavours weak Christians are acquainted with and the furthest reaching Hypocrites strangers to May therefore Readers be careful in considering ' em And full of longings that they may have more and more experience of ' em 1. The first is more general to wit having a new Heart or Principle of Spiritual Life and Love Dr. Bolton This is as one said the great crack found in many Vessels that are found in God's House or Church consider'd as visible Mat. 7. latter end They build without regard to a good Foundation and bear without reference to the root of the matter Some Fruit they have but about having the Seed of God they are not concern'd They are seen moving in some Holy Duties but never felt breathings after that Divine Nature from whence such motion should flow Many are chain'd and not chang'd or have onely known a change of their sins and not of their Souls they do not long after a thorough change 1. That their Understandings may not onely discern between good and evil 2 Cor. 5.17 but also between good and good the good that may serve 'em and that which can satisfie ' em 2. That their wills may be set against sin and for and on God Where a renewing work is Effectual Calling hath certainly been about which we may have better Information from the following Particular Signs The first is Brokenness and Poverty of Spirit If we speak of persons of Years Mat. 5.3 hath not that Heart been broken that is sound Is Conversion there where Contrition hath never been They who can witness that they are not onely humbled but humble Non solùm humilitati sed humiles broken in a good degree for sin from sin and from their former self-confidence who as they know they are vastly indebted to Divine Justice they feel they have nothing wherewith to pay and are undone if Christ appear not as their Surety who have a quick sense of their want of Sanctifying Grace and that supplies can onely be had with and through him have an hopeful evidence of their being Called A Second is Cleaving to and glorying in the Lord Jesus as a None-such for a Mediator and Reconciler of God to man by his merit and man to * See Mr. Herles God by his Spirit as Wisdom for their Direction Righteousness for their Justification 1 Cor. 1.30 Sanctification as freeing from the Reign of sin and Redemption at last from all sort of Suffering Phil. 3.3 Rejoycers in Christ are of the Circumcision or Spiritually Circumcised A Third is Choosing God in Christ as the Treasure saying from their Hearts Whom have we in Heaven but thee Psal 73.25 And what is that on Earth that we desire besides thee Thou art that Sun whose presence makes a day in our Souls Thou art All in All in Heaven and best of all on Earth both in the want and enjoyment of Creature-Comforts Is God liv'd on as their Portion by any that are uncalled A Fourth is Waiting for the guidance and influences of the Holy Spirit Art not they the Sons of God that are led by this Conductor Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.25 And living in him desire a design to walk in and after him longing that he would mortifie their Flesh and revive their Spirits The Fifth is Bending Ordinances and Providences both favouring and frowning against sin still striking at the Head and Heart of it aiming at its Death Gal. 5.24 and arguing for it from Mercies and Judgments and longing that at Sermons it may receive some Deaths-wounds Is it thus with any save the Called A Sixth is 2 Pet. 1.5 6. Having growth and strength of Grace in desire being for adding to Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge c. for building up themselves on the Rock of Ages Gal. 5.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Polum ad locum and for shewing that Love Joy Meekness Long-suffering c. are one and the same Fruit of the Spirit and for being every day stronger and stronger The Seventh is Having respect to all God's Commandments Not wilfully making balks in such good and holy Ground Psal 119.5 6. Tit. 2.11 12. Bish Rainbow but studying to walk Godly Righteously and Soberly as one in my Youth gloss'd on those Adverbs acting in those good ways from a good Habit and regarding the manner and end with the matter of Duties The Eigth is