fruit oâ— the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. 6. Forget not the exemplary instances of Believers who though great offendors yet have received and apply'd Christ by Faith and have been graciously accepted and entertained by him and all this for the encouragement of thee and of all that afterwards should believe As The Jaylor Act. 16. 30 c. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. to 17. Act. 26. 9. 10 11. The penitent Woman Luk. 7. 37. to the end The Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 42 43. The 3000 Hearers of Peter Act. 2. 36 37. c. 7. Ask seek knock importunately at the Throne of Grace for this soul-saving Grace The Spirit is promised to them that ask Luk. 11. 13. Fly unto Christ the Author and finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. And cry Lord increase my Faith Luk. 17. 5. Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief Mar. 9. 24. XVI Direction QUestion and examine the self often impartially touching the truth of thy Faith in Christ for thy Recovery and Salvation 2 Cor. 13. 5. For There is a counterfeit and fained Faith Luk. 8. 13. Act. 8. 13. Iam. 2. 14 17 20 26. And there is a Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 5. 'T is the Faith unfained that accepts and applies Christ Ioh. 1. 12 13. Act. 8. 37. and will afford thee solid comfort Now Faith in Christ unfained may be discovered by these and the like Characters which if thou canst really find in thy self doubtless thou art a true Believer True saving Faith in Jesus Christ is 1. A Christ-applying Faith If Faith be sincere and salviâ—ical it never rests till it bring the soul to Christ till it possess the soul of Christ. It is the soul's eye that beholds Christ lifted up Ioâ— 3. 15. It 's the soul's feet whereby it comes to Christ Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 6. 35 37. It 's the soul's hand whereby it receives Christ and arms wherewith it embraceth Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Heâ— 11. 13. It 's the soul's mouth wherewith it eats Christs flesh that bread of life and drinks Christs blood that water of life Ioh. 6. 47 53 54 55. By all which acts of Faith the soul comes to have Christ to possess and enjoy him and life in him 1 Joh. 5. 12. True Faith in Christ contents not it self only to know Christ or only to assent to the truth of Gods Record touching Christ that life is in him but it further proceeds to receive and apply Christ to the soul to appropriate him and enjoy him actually to the particular Believer 2. A Christ-retaining Faith True saving Faith in Christ not only entertains Christ but also retains him in the best room of the soul the heart That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 17. The Believer's heart is Christ's home And Faith gives Christ the acceptable entertainment 1. As it cleanseth the heart of every thing that might be offensive to him Act. 15. 9. 2. As it ascribes all salvation and sufficiency for it only unto Christ counting all self-excellencies loss and dung Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. So then if Christ be dwelling in thine heart Faith is there also 3. A Christ esteeming Faith Faith most highly esteems Christ accounts him most precious Unto them which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. So precious That he sells all that he hath for him Mat. 13. 44 45 46. That he denies all that he hath yea all that he is for him Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. Luk. 9. 23. and 19. 43. That he disesteems and as it were hates all dearest Relations in comparison of Christ Mat. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26 c. Yea so precious That it sets more store by Christ at his lowest then by all worldly treasures at their highest Heb. 11. 26 27. If Christ be truly precious to thy soul Faith is planted in thine heart 4. An heart purifying Grace According to that Purifying their hearts by Faith Act. 15. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 3. Faith makes the inside clean hypocrisie only the outside Mat. 23. 25 26. Faith purifies the heart 1. Formaliter formally as it is an holy inherent principle of Grace and Purity resisting sin and temptation Gal. 5. 17. 1 Ioh. 3. 3. Eph. 6 16. To this effect it 's stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most holy faith Jude verse 20. 2. Instrumentaliter Instrumentally it purisieth the heart by applying thereunto Christs imputed purity Phil. 3. 9. Christ's blood which purgeth the conscience from the guilt and power of dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. with Rom. 3. 25. By applying Christ's imputed purity and righteousness 5. A soul-purifying and heart-comforting Grace It affords peace with God which produceth two excellent effects 1. Ioy in hope of the glory of God 2. Glorying even in tribulation Rom. 5. 1 2 3. joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Now the peace of God passeth all understanding and keeps as in a Garrison the heart and mind in Christ Jesus viz. safe and secure Phil. 4. 7. 6. Most dutiful and obediential towards God and this against all interposing difficulties against Reason against Natural Affection c. As in Noah Heb 11. 7. In Abraham when he obey'd God to forsake his kindred and follow God he knew not whither Heb. 11. 8. And when he in a sort offered up Isaac for a Burnt-offering Heb. 11. 17. 7. Most abundant and fruitful in all good works Jam. 2. 14. to the end And this God expects Tit. 3. 8. Faith is a most working Grace it is the root of all good works of piety righteousness and sobriety 1 Tim. 1. 5. Hence that phrase The work of Faith 1 Thes. 1. 3. A workless Faith is as Iames intimates to us a worthless Faith Iam. 2. 17 26. 8. A Grace that acts and works by love Gal. 5. 6. How by love More generally Not by love as fire works by heat the formal property of fire as if love were the form of Faith as Papists say contrary to that in 1 Tim 1. 5. But by love as an external instrument external or outward as to the proper nature of Faith joyned or annexed unto Faith for the exerting of its acts as the soul works by the brain eye ear hand c. More particularly Faith works by love 1. As it tends to principle and store the heart with the love of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 7 8. Faith is as the Captain-Grace that leads on all the rest 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 2 As it actuates and incites love with a more ardent flame towards God Christ and all goodness Faith spreads open before the soul Gods love and Christs loveliness how transcendent how infinite So that the soul cannot choose but love them again Ioh. 3. 16 17. Rom. 5. 5 6 7 c. Ioh. 15. 13. 1 Ioh. 3. 16 19. 3. As it exerciseth it self in all duties and acts of obedience to God Christ c. not in a way of servile
in Iesus Christ and favour with God when you die and As ever you hope to be set at Christs Right hand among his Sheep and to be Sentenced by Christ with them to his Everlasting Kingdom at that great and glorious day of his Appearing That you use all possible Care diligence and endeavours by the Grace and assistance of the Holy Spirit of God against all these fore-mentioned impediments unto Salvation and all such like that they may be removed out of your way to happiness and not be any hindrances at all to your Eternal Glory and Salvation And that this may be the more effectually enterprized and performed by you Let these Ensuing Instructions sink deep into your hearts and be most studiously seriously and sincerely pursued and practiced in your Lives viz. 1. Be deeply and thoroughly Convinced of the extream Sinfulness and wretchedness of your Natural State and Condition in the first Adam How you were shapen in iniquity and conceived in Sin Yea dead in Sins and trespasses and by Nature Children of Wrath even as others And How from this Original and Vniversal Corruption of your Natures your whole course of life is answerably corrupted also Every imagination of the thoughts of your hearts and consequently every word of your mouths and every Action throughout your lives being Evil onely evil continually evil so long as you continue in your Natural state and condition So then while you remain in the flesh you cannot please God nor can have anâ— actual Hope of Salvation upon any solid ground 2. Hence you may evidently See and must needs conclude That there is so great a necessity of a Supernatural Remedy against this your Natural State of Sin and Misery and against all the Sinfulness of your Natural Conversation by the Application of Jesus Christ unto your Souls and the Effectual operation of his Spirit to that End upon your hearts That without such applying of Christ by Faith unto you and the operation of his Spirit in and upon you by Effectual Calling Conversion Regeneration Renovation and Sanctification you can never Enter into the kingdom of God and be Eternally Saved 3. Therefore See that ye come unto Jesus Christ by Faith without delay and Receive him as your onely All-sufficient Saviour that is able to save you to the uttermost Accepting him upon his own terms of denying your selves taking up your Cross daily and following him So Iesus Christ will be unto you Wisdom to guide you in the way to Heaven Righteousness to wash away all your Sins by his bloud and justifie you freely by his spotless Righteousness imputed unto you Sanctification to furnish you sufficiently with all treasures of Grace out of his fullness of Grace and Redemption to deliver you from all your bondage under Sin Satan the curse of the Law the Wrath to come and all your Spiritual Enemies O thrice happy Everlastingly happy shall you be if once Iesus Christ become yours and you his Then you shall be espoused to the best Husband in the world The God and Father of Iesus Christ will be your God and Father The Spirit of Christ will be your Comâ—orter the Kingdom of Heaven shall be your Everlasting Joynture yea All things The World and Life and Death and things present and things to come All shall be yours Then All things shall work-together for good unto you Sickness as well as health Adversity as well as prosperity Death it self as well as life Then nothing in the world shall ever be able to separate you from the Love of Christ or from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Then no Condemnation shall ever befall you in this or in the world to come O happy Souls that ever you were born if you be born again and Christ be formed in you Christ is the Desire of all Nations Let him be the Desire of your Souls Christ is the chief among ten thousand Lâ—t him be the Chief of your choice Christs mouth is Sweetnesses yea all of him is Desires O let your hearts be even ravished with him at all times Say with that faithful Minister and Martyr of Iesus Christ Mr. John Lambert as he was now dying in the flames None but Christ none but Christ In a word I say to every one of you as sometimes Bernard said unto one sweetly Let IESVS be alwaies in thine heart Let Him be unto thee thy meat and drink thy sweetness and Consolation thy Hony and thy Desire thy Reading and thy Meditation thy Prayer and thy Contemplation thy Life and Death and thy Resurrection For Christ is All in All 4. Now Forasmuch as true saving Faith in Iesus Christ is not of our selves but the free gift of God and ordinarily God is pleased to work it in the hearts of his Elect Instrumentally by the Hearing of his Word faithfully preached Efficaciously by the Co-operation of his holy Spirit by which Means also it is nourished and increased Therefore be ye all of you Diligent and Constant Hearers of the Word of Christ faithfully preached Applying things spoken particularly to your selves treasuring them up in good and honest hearts and bringing forth the suitable fruit thereof by an Vpright practice in your lives and take singular heed that you never gâ—ieve quench or resist the operations stirrings or motions of the Spirit of God in the use of his Word and Ordinances or at any other times For Iesus Christ by his Word and Spirit especially stands at the door of your hearts and knocks and if any will open unto him he will come in unto him and Sup with him and he with Christ 5. For the increasing also of your Inward Peace Spiritual Ioy and Comfort Give all diâ—igence to make your Calling and Election sure Examining your selves frequently and seriously whether Jesus Christ be in you yea or no But how shalâ— this be done By comparing your Hearts Lives and Experiences with the written Word of God through the assistance and guidance of Gods Holy Spirit For to this End the Word of God was written to us and the Spirit of God is given to us that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God and that we may know that we have eternal life And for your more ready help in this weighty business you may make use of many Characters marks or Notes of Tryal which I have at large laid down in sundry of my Printed Books which you have by you Take heed you be not strangers to your own hearts and Spiritual States 6. As you have received Jesus Christ the Lord so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the Faith Be not Christians only in Name and outward Shew but inwardly sincerely and in good earnest So live and walk as Christ
all with all your Heart Soul Mind and might and that especially for his own sake love such as are begotten of God and true Christians indeed chiefly for Gods sake for Christs sake And see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently Especially endeavouring to help and further one another in the way to heaven 15. Finally Set your affection on things above not on things on the Earth For all the things on Earth are meer vanity and vexation of Spirit being vanity they are empty shadows and bubles that cannot continue that cannot satisfie but utterly disappoint you By their disappointment they become vexation of Spirit heaps of thorns and briars unto you But your true lasting and Soul-satisfying Treasures are above there 's your Crown your Kingdom your Glory your Eternal life your Eternal inheritance your Masters joy and pleasures at his right hand for Evermore there 's your sweetest and most glorious Saviour Jesus Christ at Gods right hand and there 's your God in Christ in whose immediate vision and compleat fruition the supream happiness of Heaven will consist for ever Have therefore your Conversation in Heaven though for a while your conversation be on Earth and look for your Saviour Jesus Christ from Heaven to change your vile bodies and make them like to his own glorious body Then there shall be no more Sin Sorrow Pain Curse or Death Then Christ will wipe all your Tears away Then your everlasting Jubilee will bâ—gin but shall never end O how should we love his appearing when all those things shall come to pass Make haste O beloved and be as the Hind or the Roe upon the Mountains of Spices Even so come Lord Jesus These things my beloved Children I have earnestly desired to recommend unto you in order to your Eternal Salvation hoping that some of you have a true Spiritual sense and relish of them already Now the God of all Grace imprint them indelibly upon the Tables of all your Hearts that you may still remember them and conform your selves unto them not onely while I am with you in this land of the living but also after I shall be taken from you by Natures dissolution and sleep in Jesus And let him bless you with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly-places in Christ for evermore Amen THE Natural MAN DIRECTED TO CHRIST A Premonition to the Natural Man reading the ensuing Directions WHoever thou art that unto this present hour remainest still in thy Natural State in the Old Adam unconverted unto God in CHRIST the last Adam or justly suspectest thy condition to be such and perusest these DIRECTIONS following Read and understand Vnderstand and Consider in thine Heart Consider and Believe the Scripture Truths therein propounded Believe and put in Practise the Scripture Rules therein recommended unto thee lest otherwise what thou readest and art convinc'd in Conscience to be thy Duty hereafter sting thine Heart Rise up in judgment against thee and condemn thee both when thy Death Approacheth and at the Great day when the Lord IESVS shall be revealed from Heaven with the Angels of his power in flaming Fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord IESVS CHRIST 2 Thes. 1. 7 8. with Mat. 11. 20. to 25. and 12. 41 42. Directions tending to conduct the Natural Man to CHRIST I. Direction A Waken and rouz up thy Soul and Conscience O Sinful wretched natural Man seriously to consider and deeply to lay to heart How Sinful and miserable the State and Condition of all Mankind since the fall and of thine own Soul in particular is by Nature in the first Adam compare together Rom. 3. 9. to 21. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Rom. 8. 5 6 7 8. Tit. 3. 3. and 1. 15 16. Eph. 2. 1 2 3. 1. The Sinfulness of Natural man's State what Words can enough express what thoughts of Man can sufficiently conceive who can understand his Errors Psal. 19. 12. The heart is â—â—eeitful above all things and desperately wâ—â—ked who can know it I the LORD search the heart I try the Reins Jer. 17. 9 10. God alone who cannot sin eâ—actly knows man's Sinfulness From his word take a brief discovery of it The Sinfulness of the Natural man's condition Consists chiefly in these particulars viz. 1. In the guilt of Adam's first Sin Of Eating the forbidden fruit contrary to Gods express Command Gen. 2. 16 17. with Gen. 3. 6 7. Rom. 3. 9. 19. In which Eating Adam's 1 Unbelief of Gods word 2 Contempt of Gods command 3 Impious Consent of his most free-will 4 Proud aspiring to be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3. 5. 5 Apostacy from God 6 Disobedience of the whole man and 7 Ruine of himself and all his posterity are comprehended This sin of Adam being the Common Parent and Root of all mankind as St. Augustine well notes then virtually and seminally in his loyns is imputed to and charged upon all his ordinary posterity even upon all mankind ordinarily propagated form him Rom 5. 12. 15 16 17 18 19. Act 17 26. â— Cor. 15. 21. 22. 45. 49. As Levi who received Tithes is said to â—ay Tithes in Abraham to Melchizedeck for that yet he was in the loyns of his Father Abraham when Melchizedeck met him Heb. 7. 9 10. So then in Adams eating the forbidden fruit all mankind did eat the forbidden fruit In Adam's Sinning all his posterity Sinned In Adam's disobeying all mankind disobeyed In Adam's falling all his postâ—rity sell In Adams dying all his Posterity dyed And thou amongst the rest And Therefore in this Sense thou wast a Sinner algrievous Sinner before thou wast born even from the foundation of the world O thou Natural man Think of this Lay this to Heart deeply was it a small matter for Adam and for thee and all Mankind in Adam thus to Sin Consider well the many and great Aggrevations of this first Sin of Man As 1. The Person who sinned 2. Condition and State wherein 3. Place where 4. Time when 5. Law against which 6. Object against whom 7. And finally The manifold and great Evils both of Sin and punishment ensuing thereupon all which I have elsewhere at large illustrated and then see if ever Sin was perpetrated in this world all things duly considered so Sinful Haynous Horrid inexcusable and damnable as this first Sin 2. In being wholly overwhelmed with Original Sin so as is thought it 's called by Augustin contracted from lapsed Adam by Natural Propagation Gen. 5. 3. Psal. 51. 5. Ioh. 3. 6. Iob. 14. 4. and 15. 14. This Original Sin Consists especially â— In the privation or loss 1 of Man's Primitive Integrity or Original Righteousness concreated with him Gen. 1. 26 27. and 3. 6 7 8. Eccles. 7. 29. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3. 23. 2 and of that sweet communion which
â— in that integrity he enjoyed with God Gen. 3. 6 7 8 10. Whereupon man becomes Dead in Sin Ephes. 2. 1. 5. with Gen. 2. 16 17. 2. In the Depravation Pollution and Corruption of his whole nature His whole Soul and all the faculties thereof His whole Body and all the Parts thereof being universally defiled to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their Mind and Conscience is defiled Tit. 1. 15. See Gen. 6. 5. Ier. 17. 9. Rom. 3. 10. to 19. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Hence From both these ensue two woful effects 1. An Indisposition and utter inability yea an Opposition and Enmity unto all Good Rom. 5. 6. and 7. 18. and 8. 8. Col. 1. 21. Rom. 8. 7. and 5. 10. 2. An Universal pronity Propensity or Proclivity unto all Evil. Gen. 6. 5. and 8. 21. Rom. 3. 10 11 12. 1 Pet. 4. 2 3 4. Original Sin being the Root Seed and Common Spawn of all Actual Sin in the World Iam. 1. 14 15. Ephes. 2. 1 2 3. The Holy Scriptures set forth this Original Sin by sundry remarkable Names or Phrases It is stiled 2. Iniquity wherein we were shapen and sin wherein our Mothers conceived us Psal. 51. 5. in regard of the Natural Propagation of it 1 Sin That they are all under Sin Rom. 3. 9. 1 Ioh. 1. 8. Rom. 7. 14. Because it is Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin of Sins the mother and nurse of all Sins virtually and seminally comprehending in it all sorts of Sins 3 Sin dwelling in us Rom. 7. 20. from the constant Inherence Residence and Abode which it hath in all yea even in the Regenerate themselves to whom it is pardoned and in whom it is in some measure mortified during this present life Rom. 7. 17 18. 4 The Sin that doth so easily beset us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sin easily surrounding us Heb. 12. 1. because it encompasseth Soul Body all our Faculties Affections Senses Parts and whole Man 5 The Law of Sin Rom. 8. 2. and 7. 25. The Law of Sin in our members Rom. 7. 23. because of the power and strength of Sin which is resident in us A Law is powerful and forcible 6. The Body of Sin Rom. 6. 6. because as a Natural Body is compacted of many Parts and hath divers proper Members set in it whereby it acts So sin Original hath many limbs called Our members which are upon Earth as Fornication c. Col. 3. 5. 7 Our Old man Rom. 6. 6. Sin is so called in Opposition to the New man the Regenerate Part and in distinction from our humane Natures because our Corruption of Nature is from the first man the Old Adam as our Regeneration is from the Spirit of Christ the last Adam 8 The Old Leven to be purged out 1 Cor 5. 7. called Leven because as Leven levens and sowers the whole lump of Dow So Sin original levens the whole man sowers and infects the whole man Old from old Adam 9. The flesh Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 8. 18. Gal. 5. 17. because As Flesh is opposite to Spirit So Original Sin is opposite to Grace And because as flesh is man's basest and vilest part Phil. 3. 21. So Original Sin is the vilest evil in man Pause here O Natural Man Not only Adam's first Actual Sin is thine being justly imputed to thee But this Original Sin thence contracted is thine also being naturally inherent in thee It is the Disease the Poyson the Plague the Leprosy of thy whole Nature Thou art as full of it as any Sink is full of filth as any Serpent is full of venome as any Toad is full of poyson Thou art by Nature wholly defiled with it universally captivated under the Dominion of it and Spiritually Dead in it And in this respect thy Condition is incomparably worse than the Condition of any fowl fish bruit-beast or creeping thing whatsoever For they have no Original Sin in them and thou art all full of it And is this thy natural Condition a State to be rested in by theeâ— wherein thou art far worse than any Dog Toad Serpent mean or vilest creature under the Sun Remember that of Augustine Every one is damned as Generated None is delivered but as Regenerated 3. In the Hâ—ge Heaps â—nd Swarms of all thine actual Sins the poysonous fruit of Sin Original into which thou hast broken forth inconsiderately from thy Birth until this very day The sinfulness of thy natural Condition is mightily augmented and aggrevated O Natural Man Think often in thy Retired hours of the â—Variety 2 Multiplicity and 3 Extremity or Aggravations of thine Actual Sins 1 The Variety and several sorts of thine Actual Sins How manifold are they As actual Sins in respect of the Subject are distributed into Peccata Cordis Oris Operis Sins of Heart Word and Work â— In the Heart what corrupt imagination Gen. 6. 5. what abominable vain Atheistical blasphemous prophane and polluted Thoughts Prov. 15. 26. What deadness stupidity defilement Sâ—aredness c. in the Conscience Tit. 1. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 2. What Enmity Perversness crookedness disobedience rebellion c. in the will Ier. 44. 16 17. c. Luke 19. 14. What impenitency hardness deceitfulness hypocrisy Earthiness Disorder Confusion c. in the Heart and Affections Rom. 2. 5. 2. In thy words and tongue What Vain-speaking Swearing Cursing Lying Blaspheming Back-biting Slandering False-witness-bearing c. Exod. 20. 7. Mat. 12. 36. the Tongue is a world of iniquity Iam. 3. 6. and every idle word must be accounted for at the day of Judgement Mat. 12. 36 37. 3 In thy actions and works though never so Religious in appearance How dost thou miscarry in their Ground Matter Form Manner Circumstances and End 1 Tim. 1. 5. Tit. 1. 15 16. Isai. 1. 10. c. and 66. 3. Hag. 2. 14. Prov. 15. 8. So that in none of them thou canst please God Rom. 8. 8. Yea and even in thy secular Actions thou 〈◊〉 wholly Sinful Prov. 21. 4. and 15. 9. And to this Distribution of Actuals into Sins of Heart Word and Works We may refer that of Sins into Inward and Outward Sins in respect of the Law or Rule violated by Sin are 1 Sins of Impiety or Ungodliness contrary to the first Table of the Decalogue 2 Sins of Iniquity Unrighteousness or worldly Lusts against the 2 Table c. Rom. 1. 18. Tit. 2. 12. Of Impiety there are many sorts of Sins properly repugnant to the 4 first Commandements Of Unrighteousness are many Sorts also contrariant to the 6 last Commandements And this Distribution of Sins according to the ten Commandements is most accurate Sins in Respect of the Parts thereof are 1 Sins of Omission when duties prescribed are neglected and this is a Taking from Gods Law Iam. 4. 17. Mat. 25. 42. c. Rev. 2. 21. 1 Sam. 15. 2 3. 8 9. c. 2 Sins of Commission when things prohibited are Practised
the world can actually have any saving share or interest at all in the Redemption or Recovery which Christ hath fully obtained for his people untill he actually accept Christ as his only all-sufficient Saviour and particularly apply to his own Soul that Redemption and Recovery from sin and misery which Christ hath procured and obtained 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Ioh. 1. 11 12. and 3. 16. 18 36. and 8. 24. And this must needs be so For 1. Christs obtaining of Recovery and Redemption for lapsed Sinners renders them only Salvable and that possibly they may be saved which door of Hope is not opened at all to the lapsed Angels but Sinners particularly accepting of Christ and applying of his merit unto themselves personally renders them actually saved and that they are indeed in the state of Salvation already Compare diligently these and like Scriptures Ioh. 3. 16 17. Tit. 2 14. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Gal. 4. 4. 5. Rom. 8. 3. which point out a possibility of Salvation by Christ and his Death with Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 9. And such like as denote their actual Salvation by Christ who have accepted him and applied him to themselves particularly 2. Non-accepting and non-applying of Christ is so great a sin that it is threatned with damnation Ioh. 16. 8 9. with Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Therefore though Christ be never so able and all-sufficient to restore and save Sinners yet none can have benefit by his Salvation without Application of him and his merits 3. The Promise of effectual and eternal Salvation by Christ is still directed to the actual acceptance and application of Christ. As Spiritual Rest of Soul is promised but to them that come to Christ Mat. 11. 28 29. Eternal life is promised but to such as believe in him Ioh. 3. 16. but to such as eat this bread of life viz. his flesh given for the life of the world Ioh. 6. 51. 57. 58. Remission of sins is promised but to them that believe in him Act 10. 43. Now how shall man he saved according to Gods promises that perform not the Condition of the Promises 4. Who ever was Restored and saved by Christ till he accepted and applied Christ not the Apostles Ioh. 16. 30. Mat. 16. 16. Not the Sinful woman Luk. 7. 50. not the convert thief Luk. 23. 43. not the Jaylor Act. 16. 31. to 35. Who ever was healed by a Plaister spread and prepared only but never applied to the wound and Sore Who ever was comforted with the richest cordial though never so accurately prepared if it were never eaten or drunk And who ever was actually saved by Christ if not particularly accepted and applied They that accept not that apply not Christ to themselves are without Christ And they that are without Christ are without Hope so remaining and go without Salvation Eph. 2. 12. 5. All Communion with Christ in his saving benefits â—lows from Union to Christ in accepting of him Ioh. 1. 12 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Rom. 8 10. Col. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 16. As the Ciour hath Communion with the Stock in its life growth fruitfulness by being united unto the stock by Ingrafting or as the Wife hath Communion with the husband in his Name state c. by being united to him in marriage or as the members of the Natural body have Communion with the head and heart in their life sense motion c. by being united thereunto by joints and hands 6. Till the Sinner accepts and applies Christ he is not throughly Convinced of the Sinfulness and wretchedness of his Natural state and of the great need he hath of Christ to deliver him out of it For Conviction is the first step to application of Christ Ioh. 16. 8 9. And where there 's not the first step of Conviction There 's no present state of Salvation 7. Till the Sinner accepts Christ and applies him he neglects and despiseth him And he that despiseth Christ how can he obtain Salvation yea how can he escape damnation See Mat. 22. 1. to 3. Luk. 14. 16. to 25. Heb. 2. 3. Direct XIIII OBserve diligently O Natural man that the Proper and Peculiar way whereby Iesus Christ is to be accepted and applied to a man 's own Soul for Recovery out of his sinful and wretched state of Nature is by true saving Faith in Iesus Christ alone Act. 10. 43. Ioh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. Act. 13. 38 39. and 16. 30 31. Eph. 2. 8. Rom. 3. 22. to 27. I. That by true saving Faith alone peculiarly Iesus Christ is accepted and applied for Recovery out of Sin and misery is evident several wayes For 1. The Nature of true saving Faith in Christ principally consists in the Accepting and applying Christ for Salvation as he is offered in the Gospel Thus I have elsewhere described it Iustifying Faith is a saving Grace wrought in the hearts of the Elect at their Regeneration by Gods Spirit and word whereby they not only know Assent to and apply to themselves the Promises Gospel and Doctrine of Iesus Christ for gods glory in their justification and Salvation but also whereby they afterwards walk as becomes justified persons There see the Confirmation and Explanation of this Description of Faith So that the Nature of saving faith in Christ stands much in Applying Christ in the Gospel and promises who is the Kernel and Soul of them 2. The Receiving and Applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation is one of the chief Acts of Faith which thus I illustrate The Acts of true Faith in Christ are 1 Direct 2. Reflexive 1 Direct and these of 2 Sorts 1. Primary As 1. Knowing Isai. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. 2. Assenting to the truth of Gods record 1 Ioh. 5. 9. Ioh. 3. 33. 3. Applying of the Promises and of Christ Ioh. 1. 12. As Paul did Gal. 2. 20. as Thomas did Ioh. 20. 8. 2. Secondary As 1. Retaining Christ Received in the heart Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 6 7. 2. Purifying the heart Act. 15. 9. 3. Refreshing the Soul with peace and joy Rom. 5. 1 2. and 15. 13. 4. Breaking forth into good works 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 11. 5. Working by Love Gal. 5. 6. 6. Enlivening the Soul Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. 2. Conquering all our Spiritual Enemies 1 Ioh. 3. 2 3. and 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Iam. 4. 7. Eph. 6. 16. 2 Reflexive When Faith refle ing upon its own acts sees it self believing 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 12. By this it appears that the applying act of Faith is a very principal act among all the rest â— or All the Acts before the Applying ast tend to make way for it as Preparatory to it And all the Acts after it result from the Applying Act especially as genuine fruits and effects of it Thus the Applying act of Faith is among the rest as the Sun among the Planets most illustrious 3. Faith is so peculiarly eminent among all
of true Repentance viz. 1. An hearty impartial self-abasing and self-condemning confession of sin to God Psal. 51. 17. and verse 1 3 5 14. Ezra 9. 6. Dan. 9. 5 6 7 8. Luke 15. 18 19. 2. Faith in Christ Mark 1. 15. Act. 26. 18. Heb. 6. 1. of which formerly 3. Penitential Desires and these vehement viz. Against sin that it may be pardoned subdued extirpated c. And for abundance of Grace to these ends 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. 4. Prayer Act. 9. 11. Even the Spirit of Prayer Zech. 12. 10. Psal. 51. 1. c. IV. Consequents of true Repentance aâ—e 1. More generally All good fruits and good works meet for Repentance Mat. 3. 8 9 10. and 7. 19. Luke 3. 8 9. with Gal. 5. 22 23. 2. More particularly These and such like 1. Vigilant care against sin for time to come 2 Cor. 7. 11. 2. Enlarged thankfulness for Gods mercies in Christ to the penitent and pardoned sinner 1 Tim. 1 13. to 18. Luke 7. 37 38. 3. Vehement and sincere Love To Christ for his Grace Luke 7. 47. Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. To his Ministers for their Embassey 1 Thes. 5. 12 13. Gal. 4. 14 15. To his members for his image 1 Ioh. 3. 14. and 5. 1. 4. Singular joy in Christ and in all his wayes Acts 2. 46. and 8. 39. 5. Chearful new obedience to God in Christ. Acts 2. 42 c. Isa. 1 16 17 18 19 20. 6. Compassionateness to other sinners with desires and endeavours to gain them to Christ by Faith and Repentance Psal. 51. 12 13. 1 Cor. 9. 19. to 23. Luke 22. 32. Acts 26. 29. 7. Holy zeal to the peace and prosperity of Christs Church into which the penitent is now implanted Acts 2. 41. to the end 1 Cor. 9. 19 c. Psal. 51. 18 19. XIX Direction TUrn now unto God in Christ O Natural man by repenting Come now unto Iesus Christ and apply him by believing Delay not tarry not but make all speed all present speed in thy life in thy health in thy youth this day rather then to morrow as ever thou desirest to make surâ— of life and eternal salvation by Christ Iesus Eccl. 12. 1. Heb. 3. 7 8 13 15. 2 Cor. 6. 2. To incline thee forcibly hereunto consider seriously 1. God calls for the early sacrifices and services to be performed to him As The first-fruits of the Ground The first-fruits of Dough the first-fruits of all Fruit-trees Neh. 10. 35 36 37. The Firstlings of Beasts Exod 13. 1 2. The First-born of man Exod. 13. 1 2. The First-fruits of thy dayes Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Eccl. 12. 1. The first-fruits of thy study care diligence affections c. First seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness Mat. 6. 33. And wilt thou put off God with the last with the dross and dregs of all 2. Gods Elect have come in to Christ repented and converted speedily immediately upon Gods call and dost thou still stand off after so many calls and invitations The Apostles immediately upon Christs call came to him and followed him Mat. 4. 18. to 23. The sinful Woman presently relented upon Christs preaching that sweet Sermon Mat. 11. 28 29 30. her History is thought next in order to succeed those words Luke 7. 37 c. Zacheus the Publican was presently converted upon Christs coming to him Luke 19. 6. to 11. The Thief upon the Cross who possibly never saw or heard Christ before was immediately converted and assured that that day he should be with Christ in Paradise Luke 23. 41 42 43. Cornelius and his Company were gained to Christ as Peter was uttering his Sermon Acts 10. 44 c. The Ethiopian Eunuch upon Philip's preaching instantly believed and was baptized Acts 8. 35 c. At one Sermon of Peter 3000 were brought home to Christ and added to the Church Acts 2. 36 37 c. The Hearers of the Apostles were speedily converted about 5000 Acts 4. 4. Saul upon Christs call instantly believed and repented so that of a Wolf he became a Lamb of a Persecutor a Preacher of Christ and of his Gospel Acts 9. 3 4 c. 19 20 c. At Paul's preaching Lydia's heart was presently opened to entertain Christ Acts 16. 14. The Jaylor presently believed upon the preaching of Paul and Silas Acts 16. 30 c. The Ephesians after they heard the Word of Truth speedily converted to God Eph. 1. 13 14 15. with Acts 19. 17 18 19 20. The Thessalonians upon Paul's entring in unto them with the Gospel turned from Idols to serve the living God 1 Thes. 1. 4 5 9. and 2. 1. And what shall I say more The Colossians believed and were converted speedily the Gospel bringing forth fruit in them from the very day they heard it Col. 1. 4 5 6. Now this Catalogue of early Repenters shall rise up in judgement against thee and condemn thee for thy delay 3. The present time is of all other the very fittest time in the world for thee and for every one to turn from sin by repenting and close with Christ by believing For 〈◊〉 God saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. 13. 15. and 4. 7. And dost thou with the Devil say Tomorrow 2. Now is the acceptable time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Hereafter may be the un-acceptable time the day of damnation 3. Now God may be found is near hereafter God may be afar off and may not be found Isa. 55. 6 7. 4. The present time is the time of mercy God holds out to the sinner his white Flag his golden Scepter of many precious Promises The future time may be the time of judgement and he may hold forth the red and black Flags of blood and death Prov. 1. 24. to 32. Isa. 65. 12. and 66. 4. Iâ— 7. 13. 5. The present time is only thine Time past is irrevocably gone Time to come may never come to thee The rich fool that promised himself many years had not many hours to live that night his soul was taken from him Luke 12. 20. And then if that prove thy condition what will become of thy impenitent hardned unbelieving and Christless soul 4. Delays in this case are very dangerous For 1. While Repentance is delayed iniquity is daily increased and sin multiplied Such go on still in their trespasses Psal. 168. 21. 2. While Repentance is delayed the heart will be daily more and more hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. 3. The more the heart is hardned the more impossible it will be for the sinner to repent Rom. 2. 5. 4. Late and long-delayed Repentance is seldom true alwayes difficult Unfit to day more unfit to morrow Long festering and rankling Sores are hardly cured if curable at all True Repentance indeed is never too late but late Repentance is seldom true Late
Repenters do not so much forsake sin as sin forsakes them 5. While Repentance is delay'd the sinner treasureth up unto himself the greater pile of wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2. 5. 5. Thy life is short but Believing and Repenting are a great and long work He that hath much work to do a long journey to go had need to neglect no time but to be up early and doing For What is thy life A vanishing vapour Iam. 4. 14. A wind that passeth Iob. 7. 7. A blast or puff of breath Isa. 2. 22. A flower flourishing and fading Psal. 103. 15 16. A tale told Psal. 90. 9. Grass now growing now withering Psal. 103. 15. A flood still flowing away never returning Psal. 90. 5. As yesterday when it is past Psal. 90. 4. An hand-breadth Psal. 39. 5. A watch in the night but three hours long Psal. 90. 4. A shadow Iob 14. 2. A sleep Psal. 90. 5. An image or show Psal. 39. 6. Nothing and altogether vanity Psal. 39. 5. Now Believing and Repenting are great and long works None can believe or repent but such as are regenerate by the Spirit of God Iohn 1. 12 13. By Believing we must know Christ savingly Isa. 53. 11. Iob. 17. 3. Must assent to Gods Record touching Christ fully Ioh. 3. 33. 1 Ioh. 5. 11 12. Must embrace the Promises and accept Christ in the Promises Heb. 11. 13. Iohn 1. 12. Must purifie the heart Acts 15. 9. Must conquer the world 1 Iohn 5. 4. Must quench the fiery darts of the Devil Eph. 6. 16. And must live by it upon Christ continually Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. Are these easie things Repentance turns from darkness to light from the Power of Satan to God Acts 26. 18. Tends continually to mortifie and crucifie sin Rom. 8. 13. Col. 3. 5. And to perfect holiness in Gods fear 2 Cor. 7. 1. Tit. 2. 12 13. 6. Death is most certain that it will come Heb. 9. 27. Sam. 14. 14. Psal. 49. 6 7 8 9. and 89. 98. Most uncertain when where or how it will come whether in youth man-hood or old age in the evening midnight Cock-crowing or day-break watch Mark 13. 35. Therefore seeing thou knowest not the year day nor hour of thy death thou hast need to be prepared for it every day every hour So true is that Verse Mors certa est incerta dies hora agnita nulli Extremam quare quamlibet esse puta I may thus English it Frail Man most certain is thy death Uncertain is the day None knows the hour of his last breath Then look for it alway In this respect Angustine's Advice is very good Let every one wholesomely think of his last day It is Gods mercy that man knows not when he shall die Man's last day is concealed from him that every day may be observed by him What Housholder is there that being certainly informed that such a week or such a night thieves will assault his house but at what hour is wholly uncertain will not prepare and watch every night lest his house be broken thorow and robbed Or what condemned Malefactor being assured that in a short time he shall certainly die on what day he is wholly uncertain but will make it his serious work to prepare for his death that he may die penitently And wilt noâ— thou O sinful mortal Soul who knowest thy death is certain the time when uncertain endeavour by speedy and sincere Repentance and Faith to prepare for dying well Especially considering That after death this work of Repenting and Believing hath no place no such work is to be done in the grave Eccl. 9. 10. There thine heart can send forth no sighs thine eye no tears thy tongue no confession c. in reference to thy sins There there is no knowledge assent or application of Faith to be exerted in reference to the Promises or Christ. But as the Tree falls so it lyes unalterably towards Heaven or Hell As soon as a man dies there is a great gulf fixed so that there 's no altering of his present condition from better to worse or from worse to better Luke 16. 26. 7. Finally O Natural man Repent now believe in Christ now or never 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Heb. 3. 7. to 16. Isa. 55. 7. Eccl. 9. 10. 1. Now embrace the acceptable time now close with the day of salvation or never 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. For when the acceptable time is out when the day of salvation is ended thou canst expect no acceptation from God any more no salvation for evermore Prov. 1. 24. to verse 33. 2. Now believe in Christ and repent according to the tenour of the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ continued unto thee Mark 1. 15. Luke 24. 47. or never For if the Gospel be taken from thee or thou from the Gospel how canst thou repent How canst thou believe 3. Now entertain Christs sweetest â—nvitations and offers of Grace with all affectionateness and readiness of mind or never Mat. 11. 28 29 30. Iohn 3. 15 16 17. and 6. 37 38 39 40 50 51 c. and 7. 37 38 39. For Christ will not be alwayes inviting the obstinate alwayes offering Grace to them that do reject it The Guests that were bidden to the Marriage of the Kings Son i. e. of Christ with the Elect and rejected the invitation were invited no more Mat. 22. 2 3. and 8. with Luke 14. 16. to 25. 4. Now open the door of thine heart unto Christ while he stands at the door patiently and knocks importunately by his Word by his Rod by his Spirit c. Rev. 3. 20. or never For if Christ be still sleighted and repulsed so that he being weary of standing and knocking finally depart he will wait no more he will knock no more much less come in unto thee and sup with thee c. 5. Now while thou art in the land of the living believe repent turn to God work out thy salvation c. or never For if Death surprize thee if the Grave shut her mouth upon thee all these works will cease for ever Eccl. 9. 10. 6. Now like a wise Virgin furnish thy Lamp of Christian Profession with the oyl of true Grace that when Jesus Christ the Bridegroom shall come to the solemn marriage with his Church thou maist go forth to meet the Bridegroom or never Mat. 25. 1. to 14. For if thou like a foolish Virgin hast thine oyl to provide when the Bridegroom shall come They that are ready shall enter in with him and the door will be for ever shut against thee though thou knockest and cryest Lord open with the greatest importunity Mat. 25. 10 11 12. Then if thou beest once shut out of Heaven thou art shut out for ever if once thou art cast out into Hell thou art shut up in it for ever 7 Finally Now give all possible diligence to enter in at
the strait Gate to attain eternal life by Christ and to make thy Calling and Election sure while thou art here on earth while thou art in this present world under the heavenly deaws of the Gospel Mat. 13. 44 45 46. Luk. 13. 24. Phil. 2. 12. 2 Pet 1. 5. to 12. before thine immortal Soul be implunged into the intollerable and everlasting torments of Hell-fire Luk. 16. 23 24 28. Mat. 25. 46. Or never For if once thou art cast out into the Lake of Fire there is no mercy no mitigation of torment no repenting no possibility of reconcilement with God c. And thence is no hopes of Redemption or Recovery Oh if the damned in Hell could by any tears or importunities obtain liberty though but for a few months weeks or dayes to be on Earth again how diligently would they strive to enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13. 24. How zealously would they attend upon the preaching of the Gospel How religiously would they sanctifie the sabbath how devoutly would they pray Once more offer Christ unto us Once more touch our hearts and Consciences Once more enlighten us let us partake of the Holy Ghost taste the good word of God and the Powers of the world to come Heb. 6. 4 5. Once more open the gate of mercy c. How deeply with sighs and tears would they lament their sins day and night How would they endeavour to believe in Christ repent and obey yea to do or suffer any thing that they might come no more into that place of torment But all such hopes are for ever dasht They had their time and season for all these things which they neglected and lost and now shall never enjoy more so long as Heaven is Heaven and Hell Hell O that all these things could be seriously thought upon before it be too late But when must it be NOW or NEVER XX. Direction UPon the sincere closing with Christ accepting and applying him to thy self as thine only Saviour and Redeemer what fullness of all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ will be heaped upon thy Soul Eph. 1. 1 3 4. c. What tongue can utter them What heart of man can comprehend them 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. Be thou careful to walk worthy of them continually Eph. 4. 1. Col. 2. 6 7. 1. What heavenly Relations are presently vouchsafed to thee Thou art a fellow-citizen with the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2. 19. and they all thy brethren and sisters in Christ 1 Pet. 2. 17. God is thy Father and thou his Child 2 Cor. 6. 18. Ioh. 20. 17. Christ is thine elder brother and not ashamed to call thee one of his brethren Rom. 8. 29. Heb. 2. 10 11. Christ thine head and thou his member 1 Cor. 6. 15. Eph. 4. 15 16. Christ thine Husband and thou his Spouse 2 Cor. 11. 3. Christ thy Redeemer and Saviour and thou his redeemed and saved Heb. 9. 12. Luke 2. 10 11. The Holy Ghost is thine Inhabitant and thou his Temple and Habitation 1 Cor. 6. 19. and 3. 16 17. Ephes. 2. 21 22. Therefore be thou holy in all manner of Christian conversation 1 Pet. 1. 14. to 18. 2. What great and precious Promises are thereupon given thee 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. Promises 1. Of the life that now is 2. Of the life to come and what Promises canst thou desire more 1 Tim. 4. 8. Now Gods Promises are not like mans Promises yea and nay off and on sometimes performed sometimes violated c. but they are all Yea and Amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1. 20. altogether immuâ—able it being impossible that therein the God of truth should lye Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. Having then these Promises cleanse thy self from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 3. What a cluster of soul-beautifying Graces are immediately together with Faith in Christ instilled and infused into thy soul Faith is the Captain and leading Grace all the rest follow 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 c. These are the Divine Nature and Image of God whereby the Believer resembles the heavenly Father 2 Pet. 1. 4. Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 11. These make the Kings Daughter all glorious within so that her clothing is of wrought gold Psal. 45. 13. These make the Church beautiful even to the ravishment of Christ Cant. 7. 1. to 10. and 4. 1. throughout Labour thou to abound and grow in these Graces continually 2 Pet. 1. 8. and 3. 18. And as he that hath called thee is holy so to be holy in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1. 14 15 16. 4. What eminent Priviledges are upon thine accepting of Christ heaped upon thee â— 1. Thou art eternally redeemed from all thy spiritual bondage under sin Satan c. under which thou wast enthralled Heb. 9. 12. Gal. 4. 4. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Gal. 3. 13 14. 2. Thou art reconciled unto God who wast formerly at enmity with him Rom. 5. 10. 3. Thou art justified freely through his Grace thy sins being pardoned fully through the blood of Christ and thou art so justified and accepted of God that thou art become the Righteousness of God in him Rom. 3. 24 25. Eph. 1. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. 4. Thou art adopted into Gods Family and art become one of the Houshold of God and so art made an heir of God a joynt-heir with Christ Gal. 4. 4 5 6. Eph. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 15 16 17. 5. Thou hast access with filial boldness by the Spirit unto the Father and maist confidently cry Abba Father Eph. 2. 18. Rom. 8. 15. 6. Thou art brought into sweet communion with God Father Son and Holy Ghost which is even the Saints â—eaven on earth 1 Ioh. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 13. 14. 7. Thou hast a Treasury and Fountain of all true Comfort bestowed upon thee the Holy Ghost the Comforter dwelling in thine heart 2 Cor. 1. 3. 4 5. Iohn 14. 16. 8. Thou hast in Christ a new and most excellent Title to all the good things of this present life 1 Tim. 4. 8. Matth. 6. 33. 1 Cor. 3. 20 21. 9. Thou art assured that all things even the worst of afflictions and persecutions shall work together for thy good for thy best Rom. 8. 28. 10. And finally Thou hast well-grounded hopes of eternal Happiness in Heaven when this life shall be no more in the immediate vision and fruition of God in Christ face to face which is far best of all 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 c. Rom. 5. 1 2. Ioh. 17. 24. Phil. 1. 23. And therefore give all diligence to walk worthy of all these blessed Priviledges Enthral not thy self again in the yoke of any spiritual bondage Provoke not God unto enmity by thy renewed sins Blot not blur not the evidence of thy sins pardon by lapses and falls against thy Conscience Behave thy self towards thy God and all his Children as one of