ready to draw that conclusion I am cast out of his sight and shall no more behold him in the land of the living when a promise hath been born in upon his spirit hath supported him and made him to change his song and to invert his conclusion This is clear from Psal. 94.18 when I said my foot slippeth there is the conclusion of misbelief and dispair yet thy mercy O Lord did hold me up there is the gate at which faith doth bring in consolation not from bygone experiences onely but certainly from that which he found in some precious promises that was born in upon his spirit Many excellent cords of love hath Christ let down unto a soul when they have been going down into the depths and the weeds have been wrapt about their heads It is clear likewise from Psal. 119.81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation as if David had said I am in hazard to give over my hope and to break my confidence And would ye know what was it that supported me under such an estate I hoped in thy word Hath not this oftentimes been the song of a Christian in their darkest night In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts do delight my soul Faith will see a morning approaching in the time of the greatest trouble and no doubt that promise that upholdeth a Christian in their doubting and most misbelieving condition the lively impressions of that promise will remain a long time with him and when first it is born in upon their spirits they will see no small love shining forth in carving out such a promise to suit with such a providence as they are it may be meeting with for the time The fourth advantage in believing the promise iâ— that thereby we have an excellent help to patience and divine submission under our saddest outward afflictions this is clear from Psal. 27.13 I had fainted unlesse I had believed to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living and from Psal. 119.49 50. where David telling his exercise in the 49. I hope saith he in thy word Immediately he subjoyneth This is my comfort in mine affliction as if he had said if I had not had the promises to be my comforters I had sit alone and kept silence and should have remained without comfort in the day of my adversity and vers 92. Vnlesse thy law had been my delight I should have perished in my afflictions and we conceive in short the influence which faith upon the promises hath upon the patient bearing of the crosse may be shown unto you in these two particulars First Faith it is an excellent Prophet that alwayes prophesieth unto us good things Would ye enquire at Faith at your midnight of affliction what is its opinion of God and of your own estate Faith would sweetly resolve you thus Wait on God for I shall yet praise him for the health of his countenance Faith knoweth not what it is to have a wrong construction of God and therefore it is the noble interpreter of a Christians crosse If sense reason and misbelief interpret your crosse they will make you cry out unto God Why art thou become unto as an enemie or as a liar and waters that sail but if faith that noble Interpreter do interpret your crosses it will make you cry out I know the thoughts of his heart that they are thoughts of peace and not of evil to give me an expected end Faith letteth a Christian see a blessed ouâ—gate and issue of all the sad dispensations that he meeteth with Faith that is its divinity I sow in tears but I shall reap in joy weeping may be at evening saith Faith but joy shall come in the morning Secondly It affordeth unto a Christian such soul refreshing consolation in the midst of their afflictions that in a manner they forget their sorrows as waters that passe away this David doth divinely assert in Psal. 119.50 This is my comfort in mine affliction The faith of the promises are indeed that tree which if they be cast into our waters of Marah they will make them immediately become sweet The fifth advantage is that the faith of the promises doth help a Christian to a greater distance with the world and to live as a pilgrime as is clear from Heb. 11.13 where these two are sweetly linked together their imbracing of the promises by Faith and confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims here on earth And we shall show the influence that faith hath upon this in these three 1. It maketh a Christian see the end of all perfection here and that there is nothing within this Glob of the World that is not vanity and vexation of spirit Faith is that prospect through which a Christian hath most clear discoveries of the vanity of all things and this doth exceedingly help him to live as a pilgrime 2. It letteth a Christian see the endlesse perfections of heaven and bringeth it within sight of that immense and everlasting hope and this maketh him to live as a pilgrime and to declare plainly that he seeketh a Countrey And 3. It doth exeedingly help him forward in that blessed work of weaning of affections from all things that are here Would you know where a Believers heart is It is in Heaven would you know where his thoughts are They are in Heaven Would ye know where his conversation is It is in Heaven Would ye know where his hope is It is in Heaven his treasure is in heaven and therefore his heart and his conversation is there And Christ in him is the hope of glory and indeed more faith of the promises would constrain us all to subscribe that Confession of Faith that is in Heb 11.13 The sixth advantage that attendeth the believing of the promises is That it is the mother of much spiritual joy and divine consolation and maketh a Christian to be much in the exercise of praise this is clear from Psal. 71.14 But I will hope continuâ—ally and then immediately is subjoyned And will yet praise him more and more As likewise from Rom. 15.13 and from 1 Pet 1.8 If a man would have his way to heaven made pleasant and while they are sitting by the rivers of Babel would bee admitted to sing one of the songs of Zion then ought they â—o believe the promises and to choose them as their heritage for ever and then hee may sing in hope and praise in expectation though he have but little in hand for the present indeed when he looketh to his possession there will not be so much matter of rejoycing but when hee looketh upon his hopes and his expectations hee may be constrained to cry â—orth Awake up O my glory I my self will awake early The seventh advantage is That the faith of the promises is a notable mean to attain unto spiritual life This is clear from Isa. 38.16 By these things saith Hezekiah do men live speaking of the promises and in
GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES OR Some Sermons concerning the Promises and the right application thereof Whereunto are added some other concerning the usefulness of Faith in advancing Sanctification As also three more concerning the Faith of Assurance By Mr. ANDREW GRAY late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow All being revised since his death by some friends The last Impression carefully corrected and amended 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God Edinburgh Printed by George Swintoun and Iames Glen Anno Dom. 1669. To the Reader Christian Reader ALthough upon some considerations these following Sermons have been keeped back till now and have waited the vacancy of the Presse from other things yet was it at first intended the connexion of the purposes so requiring that they should have come forth as soon as some other of this precious Author which we did formerly publish And therefore in the Preface which we then prefixed we did relate to both and gave the Reader such advertisements as we conceived necessary concerning the one as well as the other So that we have nothing to do at present but to put this little Piece into thy hands commending it to thy serious thoughts and the Lords blessing upon them Neither shall we use many words to this purpose Only we find some help is offered unto thee in three most weighty and concerning points of Christian Religion 1. How by the lively exercise of faith thou may apply the great and precious Promises 2. How by faith thou may advance the work of Sanctification And 3. How thy faith may grow up unto Assurance Of all which we may truly say that nothing can more seasonably take up the thoughts nor bring more advantage to the souls of the Lords people in these times O how necessary is it in such troublesome days to learn how through Faith and Patience we may inherit the Promises and now when our strong corruption hath in a manner necessitate the wise Physician to mix unto us so bitter a cup and give so strong a potion in what a fainting and swouning condition must we be if by the two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we reoeive not also the strong consolation Again when profanity and ungodlinesse hath so abounded in these Nations that from the top of the head to the sole of the foot there is no soundnesse but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores And when the corruptions of the Time like the sons of Zerviah are grown too strong even for the Davids who are amongst us What should we study with more earnestnesse then to purifie our hearts by faith and by having these promises to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of the Lord 3. When the Lord hath removed us so far from peace that the souls of many have even forget prosperity and the multiplied changes and revolutions in our days hath so clearly demonstrate the instability of all sublunary glory and so convincingly taught us that this 〈◊〉 not our â—est Vndoubtedly it is time to look for a city that hath foundations and to give all diligence to make our calling and election sure The subject then is useful As to the manner of handling it It is true much accuracy and neatnesse is not to be expected in any work of this nature being only the hasty gleanings of a Church Writer And as to livelinesse and power though it he as easie to draw a picture with the heat and motion of a living man as to Write or Print these lively motions of the spirit which do often accompany the Lords Messengers in Preaching and in an eminent measure were also let out upon this blessed Author yet we suppose thou will find the matter most seriously and feelingly spoken unto as from a heart which believed and therefore spake Yea both conceptions and expressions savouring much of an exercised Spirit not only much taken up in communion with God within it self but even thirsting also and panting for the salvation of others nay in some measure travelling in birth till Christ might be formed in them Oh that more of this holy zeal and fervency might accompany this great measure of light and knowledge in the mysteries of the Gospel that the Lord hath graciously bestowed both on Pastors and People in this generation that once again we might see as in the dayes of John Baptist the Kingdome of Heaven suffering violence and the violent take it by force And that the blessed Spirit by the same gracious operations may so warm and inlarge thy soul in the use of this and all other means for thy eternal Salvation is and shall be the sincere desires of Thy servants for Christs sake Robert Traill Iohn Stirling Great and precious Promises SERMON I. 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust MAy we not truly say that if ever the Christians who live in those dayes shall be advanced to stand within the holy place and shall inherit everlasting life all these are now before his Throne may lay aside their harps and give us leave to sing Will it not be a mysterie suppose ye unto heavenly Enoch that spent so much of his time in communion and fellowship with God when he shall behold such Christians within that everlasting rest that have spent so little of their time in corresponding with God Will it not be a mystery unto believeing Abraham when he shall behold such misbelievers such disputers of the promises of God advanced to reign with Christ Will it not be a mystery unto wrestling Iacob when he shall behold these Christians once crowned with immortal glory that did so little know what it was as Princes to wrestle with God till they did prevail Will it not be a wonder to patient Iob when he shall behold such impatient Christians as we have been entering into that blessed place of repose Will it not be a mystery unto holy David when he shall behold such unmortified Christians entering within that City into which no unclean thing doth enter Will it not be a mystery unto tender Iosiah to behold such Christians as we are that have our hearts dying as a stone within us entering into Heaven Will it not be a mysterie unto upright Nathaniel to behold such hypocriticall Christians as the most part of us are entering within the holy place and to see those that have been cloathed with hypocrisie and guile now cloathed with the robes of immortal Glory And will it not be a mysterie unto self denied Paul when he shall behold so proud and selfish Christians enter into Heaven Give me leave to say this go where we will we shall be matchlesse and
3. Faith letteth a Christian see the disadvantages of sin and what woful effects doth follow upon it and this doth exceedingly hold forth the sinfulnesse of sin The second thing that we shall speak to concerning Faiths influence in the attaining Sanctification shall be to enquire a little unto these things that hinder even Believers from attaining this blessed effect of their Faith for some Christians there are that in some respects are taken up in the exercise of Faith making use of Christ for Sanctification and yet their making use of Christ by Faith doth not weaken the strength of their idols at least to their apprehensions neither yet raise them up to a conformity with God so that they are constrained somtimes to cry out I shall once fall by the hand of one of mine iniquities and when they fight and doth not overcome they are at last constrained to say There is no hope The first ground of such a dispensation is That a Christian is not constant in his actingâ— of Faith he will be strong in faith to day and when the morrow cometh he will faint in that exercise and this doth exceedingly interrupt the noble victory of Faith For when faith hath gotten its advantages they lose them through security and negligence that is a command that should be continually obeyed Trust in the Lord at all times and no doubt if a Christian were more taken up in the constant actings of Faith he should sometimes sing that song I trusted in God and I was helped Secondly The most part of Christians they are not strong and vigorous in actings of their Faith their Faith is exceedingly weak and so they cannot bring forth these noble fruits and effects of Faith If we were trusting in God with all our hearts then that promse Psal. 37.5 should be accomplished to us Trust in the Lord and hee shall bring it to passe Thridly There is a strong heart conjunction and soul union between us and our idols wee are joyned to our idols and therefore we cannot be easily divorced yea when we are in the heat of the war against them there is a procuratour within that cryeth O spare this little one or this profitable or pleasant one and this is ordinarily our practice to spare the choisest of our lusts so that our Agags may cry forth The bitternesse of death is past But I confesse if that union were once dissolved wee should then bee heard with greatest earnestnesse to cry forth O blessed bee the Lord that teacheth my hands to fight Fourthly Sometimes a Christian layeth too much weight upon the actings of Faith and doth not imploy Faith but as an instrument to which Christ must bestow strength to conquer Sometimes we think that faith hath the vertue of overcoming in its own hand but remember Faith is but an empty thing without Christ as ye may see Acts 15.9 where the purifying their hearts by faith is ascribed to the holy Ghost so that the activity of faith is from him and not in it self Fifthly A Christian doth not hate sin with a perfect hatred even in the time of his warfare with his lusts and with these strong idols that are within him but there is a secret heart inclination to that very idol which he doth oppose So that oftenimes there is that twofold contradiction in a Christian Sometimes his light will cry mortifie such an idol and yet his heart will cry O spare such an idol yea more sometimes his hearâ— will cry mortifie such an idol and yet hiâ— heart will cry O spare such an idol That is to say there will be one part of our affection crying one thing and another part oâ— it will cry another thing O! but there is a remarkable command for the perfect hatred of sin Rom. 12.9 Abhor that which is evil The word is in the Original haâ—e evil as ye would do hell that is have perfect hatred to sin O to hate iniquity as much as hell a and joyn that word Eph. 5.11 Reprove the unfruitfull works of darknesse or as the word may be rendered Make out by unanswerable arguments to your tentations that you cannot imbrace the unfruitfull works of darknesse convince your tentations that ye cannot do it As we suppose it was a noble arguing of Ioseph when he was tempted How shall I do this he put the tentation as it were to it O tentation give me ouâ— ground why I should commit such an iniquitie And certainly if we were thus reasoning with our tentations they should flee before us But the truth is we imbace the desire of our tentation upon implicite faith It is a sad regrate and yet I may utter it O if men would but deal with God as they do by Satan we never dispute the promise of Satan and never examine these allurements he setteh forth and yet we constantly dispute with God upon every thing Sixthly A Christian promoveth not in the growth of Sanctification though in some measure exercising faith because he hath not such a heart to holinesse If we did discover more that excellent beauty that is in being cloathed with that glorious robe of the righteousnesse of Christ and in having the sweet draughts of the Image of Christ engraven upon our hearts we would have more victory over our lusts There is a command for a perfect love to that which is good and holinesse in that same place Rom. 12.9 and cleave saith he to that which is good or as the word may be rendered Be married and glewed to that which is good let there be an unspeakable and undissolvable knot of union between you and that which is good And certainly if once we believed that report which is given of holinesse we would endeavour more to be cloathed with it but that is the great ground why we advance not in holinesse we know not the advantage nor diguity to be made like God O will ye think on it What a thing is it for you who are the dust of his feet to be made conform to him Seventhly A Christian is not much in the exercise of other duties that should go along with faith suspect that faith for presumption that can act and be maintained without Prayer certainly prayer it keepeth in the life of Faith Prayer it is that grace that must act mutually with faith in accomplishing that blessed work of Sanctification and if we prayed more and believed more then we should have more to speak concerning the victory over our lusts When was it O Christian and expectant of heaven that yee was constrained to put up an Ebenâ—zer and cry forth Hitherto hath the Lord helped mee When was it O Christian and expectant of heaven that ye was put to cry forth God hath arisen and mine enemies are scattered before my face I will tell you what is your practice ye make such a covenant with your idols as Nahash did with the men of Iabesh Gilead 1 Sam. 11.2 3. your lusts desire to
word that is borrowed from the Gold-smiths fineing and trying Gold And so his putting of the Corinthians to so acurate a search of themselves saith this clearly to us there are many mistakes concerning this thing many do passe a decreet in their own favours before Christ hath passed his approbation of them Fourthly Take notice of this from the word that there is much and exceeding much advantage by trying and searching whether we bee in the faith or no this is imported in his doubling the exhortation Fifthly That one most excellent and spiritual way of attaining assurance whether we be in the faith or no is self examination and putting our self to the trial as if he had said would ye have a distinct perswasion that yee are in Christ then bee much in the exercise of self-examination For the rest of the words of the verse wee intend not to handle As to the first That there is such a thing attainable I shall only propose these reasons unto you to make it evident 1. It is known in Scripture that the Saints of old have in ordinary way attained to distinct perswasion of their interest in Christ Song 2. vers 16. My beloved is mine and I am his and Rom. 8.38 I am perswaded saith the Apostle that neither death nor life c. shall bee able to separate mee from the love of God in Christ. And 2 Cor. 5. ver 1. For we know if this our earthly tabernacle were dissolved wee have a house with God not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2. It is the great scope of many Scriptures to shew how Christians may attain to assurance 1 Ioh. 1.13 These things I write unto you that yee may know that yee have eternal life The great end and design of Iohn writing in these Epistles is to make a soul acquaint with Christ and to make them to accept of him and to give them a distinct assurance that Christ hath accepted them 3. There are many commands in Scripture for Christians to be serious in searching after assurance 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore brethren give all diligence to make your calling and election sure It is the blessed end of Gods oath in the everlasting Covenant that a Christian might get assurance What was the ground and great end that God confirmed his Covenant with an oath was it not Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things wherein it was impossible for God to lie ye might have strong consolation 5. If assurance of our interest in Châ—â—st were not attainable then these precious graces of joy and love could not be well exercised if a Christian were evermore in the dark concerning his interest in Christ hee could not give obedience to that exhortation Rejoyce evermore again I say rejoyce 6. The Scripture hath set down these means by which a Christian may win to assurance as is clear 1 Ioh. 3.18 19. 2 Pet. 4.5 compared with vers 10. where the Apostle Peter pressing the Doctrine of making our calling and election sure hee fetteth down these excellent means by which they may win to in and doubtlesse the marks and evidences that are registrate in the Scripture of a gracious state do assure us that assurance is attainable 7. What are the ends of the Sacraments but that our assurance may bee confirmed and that our faith may be strengthned the two Sacraments are the two great Seals of heaven that are put to the Charter of the Covenant Now as to the applitation and the more full improvement of this first point I shall only offer these considerations 1. I would have it taken notice of that though grace and assurance be two lovers yet there is no such band of union between them that the one cannot consist without the other A Christian may have the real grace of God and yet walk in darknesse and have no light a Christian may be going to heaven and yet that word oftentimes in his mouth I am cut off from thy sight yea are there not even some who have had assurance and sometime a day have been admitted to draw that conclusion I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me who are now under darknesse concerning their interest and in much bitternesse of spirit doe sometimes cry out My hope and my strength is perished from the Lord. But therefore let me say this one word both to weak ones who never had assurance and deserted ones who have lost it when ye misse assurance beware of drawing such negative conclusions concerning your graces but when ye fit in darknesse and see no light Trust in the Name of the Lord and stay your selves upon your God that is when ye cannot reach the faith of assurance be much in maintaining of adherence remember Iobs divinity Though thou should kill me yet will I trust in thee and consider that sweet word He will keep them in perfect peace whose hearts are stayed on him My second consideration is That since assurance is attainable ye would study to finde out and remove these things that doth hinder you from attaining unto it And that we may help you in this we conceive that the obstructions of a Christians assurance are especially in these two 1. Our mistaking of the Lords dealing towards us And 2. Our untender and unsuitable dealing towards him Of the first sort we shall lay before you these five The first is want of favourable termes of prayer this often maketh a Christian to debate his interest and call in question his evidences Lam. 3 8. compared with verse 18. I cry and shout but he shutteth out my prayers And this is the conclusion of that dispensation verse 18. My hope and my strength is perished from the Lord and this iâ— especially occasioned when the Christian iâ— most serious and fervent in prayer and theâ— he meeteth not with a return this maketh them exceedingly debate their interest And I confesse it is a sad dispensation to meet with a silent Christ in prayer but yet that needeth not make a Believer question all and debate the reality of his interest in God since the dearest of all the children of the Kingdom have been so dealt with even a David Psal. 22. Cryed night and day without silence and is not heard but cryeth out Why art thou so far from helping and from the words of my roaring yea that passage may relate to him who was the root and off spring of David for even he was so dealt with and had not presently a sensible return when he had prayed thrice that the cup might passe from him Secondly The want of sensible enlargement and liberty in prayer that hee never got to his knees but his heart beginneth to die like a stone within him then hee cryeth forth that word 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and sure if I had the Spirit of the Lord I would have liberty in the exercise of prayer and that this is a rise of the
had not an eye thou could commit adultery in thy heart if thou had not a hand thou might commit murder in thy heart O therefore build not thy assurance upon this that thou hast made clean the outside of the platter when yet all filthinesse it within The sixth false foundation upon which I am sure too many build thir assurance is their gifts and paâ—â—s and especially upon these two the gift of prayer and the gift of knowledge but believe it it is not much to be a Christian in tongue but it is much to be a Christian in heart know ye not that this will cast out many We have prophesied in thy Name and in thy name cast out devils No doubt these had been excellent flourishers and if the tongue would have done it they had been highly advanced but yet yee see these men meet with a depart from mee 〈◊〉 know you not Ah think upon it he is not the best Christian that is the best Orator Religion that is pure and undefiled consisteth more in the affection theâ— in the tongue and more in practice then in profession I beseech you when you cast up your evidences of assurance consider how well yee have done and not how well yee have spoken The seventh false ground whereby many do misjudge themselves is their supposed peace of conscience O saith one my conscience doth not charge mee with any thing I thank God I have a quiet mind and nothing trouble me but aâ— poor wretch will thou tell me may not the strong man be within and therefore all is at peace a dumb conscience and a sâ—ared conscience is a dreadfull plague Knowest thou not that many say I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my own heart and because they say so the Lord shall not spare them but all the curses in his Book shall ly upon them The eighth false ground is the approbation of other Christians so that if they have the approbation of some such exercised Christians or if they have the approbation of such a Minister that is the way to silence all their disputings O cursed bee the person that putteth his trust in men who are liars O man or woman let me assure you this if yee had a testimoniall to present to Christ subscribed with all the hands of every Christian that ever yee weâ—e acquainted â—â—th this will be enough for Christ to reject you and it both I know you not and therefore depart from me There is an emphasis in that word I know you not as if he had said it is not much though all others know you If I know you not The ninth false ground is their diligent observing all the Ordinances their going to Preachings and their going to Communions and running to and fro pretending this 〈◊〉 that knowledge may be increased but know it there are many that have sitten down at a Table with Christ here that shall never sit down at the higher Table with him hereafter Are there not many that shall say unto Christ in the great Day Have we not â—aten and drunken in thy presenâ—e unto whom Christ shall say Depart from me I know you not The tenth false foundation which is the strong delusion of Atheists of which no doubt there are many here to day is the building of their eternall happinesse upon this I 〈…〉 with a crosse I never knew what it was to have a sad day but to thee I shall onely say it may be thou never had a joyful day neither in all â—hy sinful pleasures under the Sun but let me tell thee it is â—ad Divinitie to conclude therefore I am in the way to Heaven It may be it were better reasoning and though I will not say it yet it cometh nearer truth I had never a crosse therefore I am going on in the way to Hell O wilt thou but consider what if Hee be heaping coals upon thy head and fatting thee to the day of slaughter What if this word be your portion Eat drink and bee merrie while you are here for to morrow thou must â—ternally die What are all your pleasures and what are all your honours and what are all your possessions What are they all Are there not a bone cast unto a 〈◊〉 the Lord valueth them not What if they be the faâ—ting of you to the day of slaughter Now as to these who deny they have any interest in Christ when indeed they have they commonly deceive themselves and 〈◊〉 their own spirits upon some of these 〈◊〉 the like mistakes 1. Some judge of their estate by their present frame and conditions so that if they be in an evil frame they begin and 〈◊〉 the foundations and to such I would onely say That every change of condition doth not speak a change of estate 〈◊〉 childe of God may be in much darknesse and under much deadnesse and yeâ— a childe of God still Psal. â—â— It was 〈◊〉 evil 〈…〉 be as a beast before God and 〈…〉 then â—e keepeth grips and holdeth him by the right hand Iob was often in a very ill 〈◊〉 and yet holdeth fast his integrity and why then should thou upon that account cast away thine 2. Christians judge their estate by dispensations they think every change of dispensations speaketh a change of estate and if Christ do not smile alwayes we know not what it is to keep up the faith of our interest and indeed this is a great fault among Christians that when they cannot read love in the beautifull face of Christ they think it is not in his heart What though he change his dispensation doth that speak forth a change of thy estate Christ cannot change his voice to us but we think he changeth his heart Christ he cannot speak to us in the whirle-wind but we cry out Why art thou become unto me as an enemy Oh shall precious Christ be thus mistaken The third ground of mistake about our interest in Christ is that we judge of our estate by what we are in our selves and not by what wee are in Christ. When a Christian beginneth to judge and search himself he can finde nothing in himself but what is the matter of doubting and therefore thinks it high presumption to think himself a Believer But O fool can thou not look to Christ and cry out though in my self I be nothing yet in him I am all O if Christians knew to judge of themselves be what they are in Christ and not be what they are in themselves that with one eye they might look to themselves and cry out I am undone and with another look to Christ and cry out There is hope in Israel concerning me that with one eye they might look to themselves and blush and with another eye they might look unto Christ and hope that with one eye they might look to themselves and weep and with another eye they might look to Christ and rejoyce O Christian will thou judge alway of
name I think what he giveth must be one of the noblest names that ever was given all the stiles and titles under heaven cannot equal it And thirdly we see David in the 18. Psal. found much sweetnesse and advantage in this when nine times he hath that word my My strength my rock my fortresse and my deliverer my strength and my buckler the horn of my salvation and my high tower O David what needeth all these Mys David would answer us O! he is so sweet in himself but O! much sweeter to me when I put to that possessive note My. Now to speak more particularly to these advantages of assurance The fiâ—st is That a person that is assured of his interest in Christ he is much in desiring communion with Christ Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth there is his assurance where thou feedest and where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon there is desire of communion and Song 7.10 11. My beloved is mine and his desire is towards me there is her assurance and immediately followeth Come my beloved let us go forth into the fields let us lodge in the villages there her desire of communion Song 2.16 17. My beloved is mine and I am his and what followeth upon that He feedeth among the lillies untill the day break and the shadows flie away Turn my beloved and be as a roe or a wilde hart upon the mountains of Bether that is in short let me have sweet correspondency and fellowship with thee till the day of Eternity shall come I think the desires of an assured Christian they are like the grave the cry continually Give give and they never say it is enough What is the reason ye seek so little after fellowship with Christ it is even this ye are not perswaded of your interest in him believe it if once ye had attained to this blest length as to cry out Christ is mine it would be a hell upon earth for you to live at such a distance with him as ye do for the most part O but assurance maketh absence from Christ an unsupportable burden Psal. 22.1 My God my God there is assurance and immediately followeth his complaint Why hidest thou thy self from me Song 3.1 2 3. that word Him whom my soul loveth made her to weep so much under absence from Christ and Ioh. 20.13 when the Angels ask the question at Mary Women why weepest thou I think she thought it a needlesse question and she tells the cause of it They have taken away my Lord I think her heart was at her mouth when shee pronounced these two words My Lord she spake them with a great deal of emphasis and force could ye resent absence with Christ so little if ye were assured he were yours I confesse it is no wonder when persons losse that which is not their own that they weep not much for the losse of it but O! to losse that which is our own it maketh it a crosse and a burden to us Secondly It maketh the soul to have a high and matchless esteem of precious Christ Song 5.10 My beloved is white and ruddy the chief among ten thousand O saith the Spouse I never saw his like and I shall never see his like again there is much in that My interest maketh her look upon Christ with another eye nor she would have done strangers look upon him but as a tree planted on the sand 1 Pet. 2.7 To you that believe Christ is precious not to every one And Song 2.2 I sate down under his shaddow with great delight the reason is interest in the words going before As the apple tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons yea assurance will make every thing in Christ exceeding pleasant to the soul as is clear Song 5.16 My beloved is altogether lovely or hee is all desires I tell you what assurance will do it will make Christs person pleasant and precious to the soul it will make Christs Natures pleasant to the soul it will make Christs Offices pleasant to the soul it will make Christs Promises pleasant to the soul it will make Threatnings pleasant to the soul it will make the smell of Christs Garments pleasant to the soul and it will make the kisses of His Mouth pleasant to the soul O saith the assured Christian there is nothing of Christ but it is most pleasant and is all desires His Threatnings are pleasant they are the wounds of a friend and His kisses are pleasant they are better then wine His Name it is pleasant it is as precious ointment powred forth His smellings are most delightsome whose countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the cedars O to imbrace a married Christ how pleasant is it to the soul What makeeth you to have so low thoughts of Christ even this the want of assurance that Hee is your Hâ—sband Thirdly Assurance will make the Christian patiently to submit to every crosse and sad dispensation he meeteth wiâ—h this is clear Heb. 10.34 They took with joy the spoiling of their goods and what made them do so They hoped for a better inheritance and a more induring substance I tell you assurance it will answer all crosses with this Christ is mine when they are afflicted assurance will lift up its face and cry out Christ is mine and when they are reproached they will comfort themselves with this Christ is mine I can put on the Lord Iesus Fourthly Assurance will keep you from apostacy and defection from Christ 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your calling and election sure and if ye do this saith he ye shall never fall Heb. 3.11.12 It is there set down as a fruit of the evil heart of misbelief it maketh us depart from the living God but on the contrary assurance knitteth the soul to Christ by a threefold cord which is not easily broken Believe it the assured Christian can cry out with much confidence of faith My mountain standeth strong I shall never be moved the assured Christian can cry out with much chearfulnesse In God will I praise his word in God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what flesh can do unto me yea he can sweetly sing in the very mouth of danger The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid Psal. 27.1 Fifthly Assurance keepeth all the graces of the spirit green and flourishing it is as a refreshing dew upon our branches which maketh every grace sweetly to blossome in its season 1. It stirreth up the exercise of love O how vigorous are the actings of love when a Christian can cry out My beloved is mine and I am his Song 1.13 My beloved there is her assurance He is a bundle of myrrhe and shall lye all night between my breasts that is as long as time shall last I shall never have Christ out of my my heart there is love 1 Ioh.