against them c. but when we have done so to submit to his will who will have them remaine in us this I say is the way to come up to it the looking to Christs victory over them It is granted that the sight of Corruptions yet stirring in the soul is matter of very bitter mourning but not of despairing he that comes into the Field and seeth an Army of Enemies if some bee slaine some breathing out their last some bleeding c. hath not cause to despair though to mourn so here 5 In the Gospel we have a sight of Christ as engaged by way of standing Office to look to the keeping peace between God and his Children 1 Joh. 2.2 6 We have a discovery of the Saints being seized of all the riches of heaven and earth by being seized of Christ the great Gift of God and Gospel blessing Ephes 1.3 Hee that hath given us his Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 3â— and they have Gods Bond for performance yea all things put into their best Friends hand for them He is head over all things for them Ephes 1.22 that they may look over all things and persons in heaven and earth with comfort so long as Gods security is good Christ remaines Lord of all things they shall never want what is good for them here nor misse of glory hereafter Psal 84. Hee shall give grace and glory The love of Christ in his blessed Gospel which this choyse Servant of the Lord had tasted abundantly of and the Spirit of Christ who doth take of Christs and shew it to his Saints and so glorifie Christ had made so great an impression on him that as a dear friend of the heavenly Bridegroome he was carried out exceedingly with Saul when converted Lord what wilt thou have me to doe and did much in drawing poor Sinners to Christ whereof there is good proof where hee lived and also in labouring to unite Saints and furthermore in studying and holding forth the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus not only in his Churches but over the Nations This being the designe of Christ at this day to possesse his owne right to take to himself his great Power and Reign to cause the Kingdoms of this World to become his owne Rev. 11.15.18 to set up in them his owne Administrations and Lawes instead of those Heathenish and Antichristian Laws c. that have been and are yet in a great measure in the Nations and appoint his owne Officers over them It is dangerous to hinder it in the least you know what a rebuke Peter met with from Christ when hee would speaking according to Carnal reason have hindred the present work and designe our Lord Jesus was about Get thee behind me Satan thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of men How sad a thing is it then when the Lord doth so rebuke us as at this day speaking very plainly and knocking aloud at our door by various Judgements by extraordinary Droughts and immediately upon the removal of them by general Sickness all the Land over by taking away many precious Saints from among us in this Nation of late c. his hand being yet stretched out that notwithstanding all these things when the Lord doth hearken and hear there is not a returne to him that smiteth but a revolting more and more in all sorts of persons from the highest to the lowest a going back againe by those very steps the Lord in a more than ordinary way brought us up to in this poor Nation appearing for us while wee were following him in some measure of sincerity and singleness of heart with such successes as made the very Heathen and Anti-christian World about us astonished I say a going back by those very steps we had gained towards Aegypt again c. Instead of following the Lord fully as Caleb and Joshua did behold a consulting with flesh and bloud and humane wisdome more than with the Word of God let us mourn before the Lord for these things and labour to live by faith and prepare for further sufferings And in order hereto with plaineness of heart read these things and read with an intention that they may bee read upon your conversation The Author writ and preached and walked the truth look not after Notions so much as the power of the truth which the Lord give thee and all of us grace to doe Peasen Hall 29th of the 9th Month. 1657. John Manning To the Reader Reader IT is an Argument of unspeakable favour and matchlesse condescention that the God of glory would vouchsafe to enter into the band of a Covenant with any of the Race of sorry Man and therefore the clearing up the Nature of the New Covenant made with Beleevers in Christ which is a great designe of one of these Treatises must needs be of choyse advantage to the Saints As estrangement from the Covenant is a depth of misery Ephes 2.12 so a special experimental acquaintance with it is a height of happiness When the Ark a signe of the Covenant was taken it was said of old The glory is departed from Israel but when men have this Ark of the Covenant with them there are the approachings of the greatest glory to them He that is owned within the verge of the Covenant hath an everlasting hold of God himself to such a Soul it may bee said thy God thy glory Tossed tempted Souls may finde support and succour here fainting sinking Souls reviving drooping dejected Soules refreshment yea when they have drawne and suckt the largest draughts out of these brests of Consolation yet they are still as full as ever It addeth abundance of sweetnesse to any even the lowest or least injoyments if they can bee discerned to have their conveyance in the way of the New Covenant to him that hath them yea a froward disquieted discontented heart will bee sweetly bowed into a submission unto the Will of God in the worst conditions if it can but descry the face of a reconciled God through a free promise therein And to help forward submission to the Will of God which another of these Treatises calleth for give us leave to adde a few words by way of direction 1 Keep a fixed eye upon God under the sharpest Dispensations if thou eyest the Rod more than the hand that useth it thou wilt manifest thy self a froward Childe under the gentlest fatherly Chastisements but if thy eye be ehiefly upon a Divine hand which smiteth thou wilt more quietly stoop unto it when it carrieth with it the greatest shew of enmity Good old Eli when such sad newes was sent unto him as should make the ears of all that heard of it tingle yet he keeping his eye upon God 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord hee freely submitteth Let him doe what seemeth him good 2 Keep affections unto Christ very high and to Creatures very low heart engagements
to Creature injoyments render it double hard to say Amen unto the Will of God when sufferings lye there but the greater endearance of God and Christ to a Soul the more easily will it rise to a gracious submission either in the witherings and denials of or parting with earthly things 1 Corinth 13. vers 4. Charity suffereth long vers 7. beareth all things endureth all things As when men so also when God and Christ are the Objects loved there will be a patient bearing from their hands things which if they came from such as were not dearly loved would hardly be endured It was doleful news to the Disciples to hear of Christs departure yet saith hee John 14.28 If yee loved me yee would rejoyce because I said I goe unto the Father so that love to Christ i. e. if strong will carry out to not only a free but cheerful submission unto Christ in the hardest things 3 Eye much the manifestations of Christs love and affection to you in the various expressions of it there may be a recollection of many former experiences even of the Lords working up your hearts into a submission unto his will in former straights yea you may look upon such words or promises as have a natural tendency to allay such disquiet of heart as you are under and yet these may but discover your duty and you may feele no strength coming along there-with enabling you to rise up unto it but at last by an eying the sweet discoveries of Divine love in former experiences or present afflictions in affording so many returnes of prayer you may be powerfully engaged unto a willingnesse to doe or suffer any thing that the Lord shall see it meet to exercise you with that so you may returne love for love Heb. 12.5 6. Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth This doth clearly evidâ—nce that an eying Divine love in afflictions is a choyse preservative against Soul-faintings under them Wee shall adde no more but this that one of us was an ear-witness that some of the Sermons in the ensuing Treatises were preached by that Servant of Christ Master Tillinghast And others are as they were found in his Notes only a graine of allowance must be afforded for mistakes in transcribing and printing Thus desiring that a blessing from above way attend these labours we remaine 9th Month 6th day 1657. Yours to serve you in the work of the Lord Sam. Petto Sam. Manning Sam. Habergham Errata PAge 24. line 17. make the comma at wherein instead of at going p. 25. l. 19. for at last read and therefore p. 53. l. 23 adde when it pleased God to reveal c. p. 55. l. 32. r. tread on p. 60. l. 11. for them r. him p. 61. l. 19 20. r. force for forceth cause for causeth set for sets Reader That thou mightest have a taste of the spirit of the Author and some other precious men as to their asserting and pleading for this Cause of Christ this is added Sir YOurs I received both which have been a refreshment to my spirit I much rejoyce that there is a remnant at this day even among us that sympathize with the suffering cause of Christ and are kept faithfull to their Lord in this hour of temptation although my employments are so many that time is very precious with me yet could I not upon the reading of yours but make return of a few lines for this is the day in which Saints are called to speak often one to another God is trying his people with such trials as they have never before met withall I mean in respect of the wonderful difficultie of judging things and causes at this day one thing hath been a sore temptation to mee oftentimes about the Cause of Christ now viz. the many passions and weaknesses that have appeared in those who now among us stand up for it I know not but that it may have been the temptation of other spirits I may say as to my own it hath been the greatest of all I have had many times reliefe against it from such like considerations as these 1 The Mercy approaching is a great New Covenant Mercy New Covenant Mercies call not for worthinesse in the recipient but are alwayes so ordered as to be given forth when the receiver is most unworthy 2 That it hath beene a part of Saints weakness in former Ages to judge of Causes by persons God in this day would have his people to judge of his Cause by his Light alone laying aside the consideration of persons the effect of which ordinarily is in those that steere this course a founding their faith not in the Word or Power of God but in the wisdome or holiness of man 3 That by how much the greater the Mercy expected is by so much the greater must the trial of faith fore-running it be now no trial of faith to a truly gracious conscientious soul is greater than this 4 That in case suffering Saints in this day and in this Nation more especially wherein Gods remnant is great should bear forth their testimony with that eminency of Grace which Saints formerly have done in an ordinary way that stop which must be for a while to the work for the bringing about the all-wise and determinate Counsel of God could not have been thus long for hereby Saints would have had their eyes open presently and their eyes being generally opened such is their power this day in the Nation that in an ordinary way the wheele would turne 5 The Kingdome of Christ could not as it must come without observation if eminent marks and characters of Holiness were written on the faces of all those that should plead or suffer for it 6 Many must stumble and fall be snared and broken and taken and that by smiting against the stone who being enlightned would not dare to doe it were not such things as these viz. Saints weaknesses and passions laid before them as stumbling-blocks to set their Natural Consciences at liberty 7 Davids Kingdome the Tipe of Christs did arise with manifest offence in respect of its followers 2 Sam. 22. 8 Christ when hee rides as King chuseth a Colt to ride on an untamed and unruly Creature and the Colt of an Asse a simple and uncomely Creature to the eye Saints failings have hitherto been blemishes to the cause but God is removing of them and it is observable that as late sufferers have gone with more clearness into suffering so the Lord hath made them sensible of those things in which their brethren have gone awry IN this Letter he writes some passages concerning three late Sufferers in this cause One of those Worthies lately confined his carriage with us was with so much grace and humility not knowing himself among us as to outward respects and withall carried it with such tenderness as did rather tend to the allaying our spirits and making them more serious than any way to
the incensing of them and making them rash and furious against the present powers And as for the two others I have coppied out part of a Letter received from each NOw dear Sir I begge your prayers that I may bee kept in the houre of my trial from the evil of every temptation incident to such a condition and may bee enabled to doe or to suffer whatsoever the will of the Lord is I am a poor Creature and when I look upon my self I am ready to say Surely the Lord will not make use of such an unworthy Creature as I am in any such Honourable work in the World as to bee counted worthy to suffer or doe any thing for his name But when I consider in whom persons and performances are accepted and made worthy I am silent and can only say I am in the hand of the Lord let him doe with mee as seemeth good unto him Indeed I have an unruly Natural temper that is ready to be running out to wrathful wayes pretending the accomplishment of the righteousnesse of God thereby but I desire to look on it as my burden and shame and to bewaile it both in my self and others in whom I judge I see too much of it especially some suffering Saints both in their speaking and writing which is a sore blemish making them much unlike our Lord and Master who when hee was reviled reviled not againe and when evil entreated threatned not neither doth it answer that blessed counsel Psal 37. throughout O could we be found more in Christs Lamb-like posture in which he overcomes Revel 17. we should also bee more glorious and speedy over-comers Faith and Prayer when joyned with humility meekness and patience seldome misse an eminent successe whatever it bee they contend against this is a portion my Soul wants begge it for mee and exhort to it in others SIR I shall not detain you longer but let you know that hitherto the Lord hath been with me and I find that Christs Sufferings have so large a present allowance that even besides the future wages of Glory which shall bee revealed in us wee are gainers of more than can bee spoken Love Light Freedome Power and what not that is good for us and truly Gods choyse hath been so clear both as to matter and manner of Sufferings that were it to begin again I think wee should be rather apprehensive of being over-set with the honour and comfort than to bee sunk with fear or trouble but whether the Baptisme is fully accomplished is yet to mee a question me thinks this is too casie for a Crown the drops of bloud are yet to come at least it must not bee my will but the Lords and if the remainder of wrath shall be restrained it must bee from them that lye free among the dead over whom the worldly life hath no power no more than the second Death so that if our Father sees wee may bee without danger to our selves or hazzard to his own concernments adventured a while longer in this world of trouble and temptation hee may suspend taking us to himself and yet surely the fiery Chariot must be made ready the Lord grant that our faith fail not if wee boggle at the passage wee may come short of the Kingdom living testimonies of dying Saints for their Lord and Master did make a quick dispatch of worldly Principalities Kings of Armies must flee apace when God gives the word and the company grows great that publish it The Contents of the ensuing Treatises 1 The Conformity of a Saint to the will of God On Act. 21.14 THe Text opened and explained Page 1 Doct. That it is a great and special duty lying upon Saints even in the most hard and difficult cases to have their wills bowed and submitted to the will of God p. 2 The definition of Divine submission to the will of God p. 3 opened p. 2. to 8 The Division of this submission to the will of God p. 9. opened p. 9. to 11 The Obligation lying upon the creature to submit to this will of God 12. This opened in many particulars to p. 14 The Excellency of this blessed worke set forth in several particulars p. 14. to 16 The Evil of not submitting to the will of God the greatness of it set forth in several particulars p. 16. to 18 General Rules to bring us to and further us in this submission p. 18. to 20. Cases of Conscience about submission of our wills to Gods p. 20. to 66 2 The will of God and Christ concerning Sinners On Gal. 1.4 The Text opened page 67 68 Doct. That the Salvation and Sanctification of poor sinners is the will of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ p. 68 What Will of God is here spoken of p. 69 That it is the will of God and Christ sinners should bee saved proved p. 70 Christs will manifested in two particulars ibid God the Fathers will shewed in several particulars p. 71 to 75 Reasons why it must needs bee that God the Father is willing p. 75. to 81 Reasons why it must needs bee that Jesus Christ is willing from p. 82 to 90 Object If it bee thus Then will it follow that all sinners must necessarily bee saved This answered p. 90 91 Object That God will have all men to bee saved answered p. 92 Object But what incouragement doth this afford to the faith of poor sinners to say God and Christ are willing c. Answered ibid. Object But if it bee not the will of God and Christ that all sinners should bee saved then I may presume in laying hold on the Premise because I may bee one of those whom it is the will of God not to save Answered ibid. Object But would it not bee better for the faith and comfort of poor souls to say that God would have or that God doth will it that all should bee saved Answered ibid. Use 1. Then let poor sinners hence be incouraged notwithstanding all the suggestions of Satan and cavils of their own hearts to come to Christ for salvation p. 94 95 Use 2. Comfort to the Saints your salvation is sure you have God and Christ the will of either ingaged for you p. 96 Use 3. Duty to the Saints Then bee you willing to doe or suffer any thing for God p. 97 3 No Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Proved in Seven Sermons on Rom. 8.1 Serm. I. The Text opened p. 98 Doct. Souls interessed in Jesus Christ are persons priviledged and exempted from Condemnation p. 99 What is meant by Condemnation opened p. 100 to 103 Why souls in Christ must needs bee freed from it p. 103 to 105 What that is which frees those which are in Christ from Condemnation p. 105 106 How great and glorious a Priviledge this is shewed p. 107 to 100 Objections answered p. 110 111 Use 1. See then what a vast difference there is betwixt the condition of one that hath interest
one with him When a King makes a League with another all his Subjects make League with him the VVill is King Lord chief Commander in the Soul when that closeth with God the whole man closeth when the VVill melts into Gods VVill and is swallowed up in it all the affections melt together and are swallowed up there-with 2 It conduceth greatly to a constant living in God and to him in improper phrase we use to say that a man is where his will is if our wills be in Gods our life is there Enoch is said to walk with God but how the Apostle tells us Heb. 11.5 He pleased God i. e. in effect to say he served not his owne will and desires but Gods 3 It is the nearest conformity that can be in us to the life of Angels Angels are perfect conformists to Gods VVill and therefore we are bid to pray that the VVill of God by us might be done on Earth as it is by Angels in Heaven 4 It is the most acceptable Sacrifice we can offer up to God Abels Sacrifice found acceptance because it was of the fat the will I may call the fat for it is the best part of man when this is offered up to God we offer up the fat Elies Sons made the Sacrifices of the People to be abhorred because they took the fat to themselves our services though never so many and great will be abhorred if this fat bee taken from them 5 It is abundance of Grace in one lump the exercise of much grace together or in one act as before I have noted 6 It is the most perfect imitation of Christ the highest act as I may so say of Christs obedience was his submission of his will to his Fathers therefore the Holy Ghost makes the whole of his obedience to lye chiefly in this Heb. 10.7 8 9. compared with Psalm 40.6 7 8. 7 It is better for us to submit to Gods VVill than to have our owne wills there is no grate acted in the one much in the other I am oft-times made worse by the one seldome or never better but alwaies bettered by the other Self-love is the root that the one growes upon but love to God the root of the other 8 It is the way to have our Mercies given to us again when we give them up to God in a way of submission to his will Abraham gives his Isaac to God and God gives him his Isaac again Job takes it well at Gods hands in taking his Estate from him God gives him his Estate double again V. The EVIL of not submitting to the VVill of God is very great for 1 IT is rebellion against the great God as he is absolute Lord and Soveraign of the Creature For a King to declare his VVill by a Law and the Subject to say I le not submit to it is among men rebellion in him as a Subject yet this case falls short of ours for no King is so absolute a Soveraign as that the bodies lives Souls of his Subjects are by right at his dispose yet such is God who therefore may command all and we are bound to submit 2 It is against Saints relation to God as a Father Christ as their Husband it is not fit for the Child to say when the Father saith do such a thing I will not doe it nor doth it become the relation of a Wife to say Husband I will love you only know this I will not submit to you when as it is the great duty of her relation 3 It thwarts our Christian Profession Christian Profession declares us to be the Servants of God it is meet the Servant should be ruled by the Masters will not his owne 4 It fights against the life of Faith what is the life of Faith but a constant reliance upon God this reliance being the act of the will ceaseth to be whensoever the will starts aside 5 It is to declare our selves wiser than God whilst we submit not our wills to his for this is certaine God bids us to vaile our wills to his in nothing but what he judgeth best for us for us therefore in this or that thing not to submit is in effect to say Lord in this or that thing I know what is good for my self better than thou dost 6 It makes our condition worse whatsoever it be A man in a Quick-sand the more he struggles the deeper he sinkes so it is with the Soul that struggles against the will of God his condition whatsoever it be is made worse by it 7 It makes our whole life uncomfortable and us weary of it Jonas his stout will made him at last even weary of his life Jonah 4.3.9 8 It renders us unthankful for mercy for note there is no dealing of God with his but hath mercy in it now when in this or that dealing I cannot submit to Gods will I do neither see my mercy nor am thankful for it VI. The RVLES IN THE GENERAL which may bring us to and further us in this submission are 1 SEt this alwaies before thine eyes and let it be thy Christian Motto GODS WILL IS BEST 2 Forbear making conclusions as touching Gods dealings with thee until such time as God hath given thee his light to judge of them or thou art come to the end of them Men ordinarily make conclusions by the light of their owne reason or whilst they are in the middle of a Dispensation This confounds them and makes them to quarrel with Gods dealings so as they can take nothing well 3 Keep thy heart and affections loose from the Creature if they are intangled and engaged that way they will draw in thy will with them then must it needs depart from the Will of God that motion that lies towards the Creature is from the Creator 4 Take not hold of Christs strength by fits only to serve thine owne turn when thou art at a dead lift but let him be thy daily strength thy strength to every action thy strength in every condition then shalt thou in all conforme to the Will of God 5 Apprehend thy will when it begins to start and give thy heart charge with it as with a run a-way The Cockatrice is best crushed when in the egge the Serpent in the will when he first begins to stir 6 Think not more hardly of God because of present dealings than thou findest thou hast cause to think of him for dealings past 7 Confirme thy self as much as may be in those thoughts that thou art a fool and dost not know in the least what is good for thy self the more thou hast drunk in this opinion of thy self the more willing thou wilt bee to bee at Gods dispose 8 Study the Covenant of Grace more the light of that in the Soul will expel the dark conclusions of carnal reason which doe ever oppose Gods Will. The knowledge of this Covenant is the only foundation of all good thoughts of God and his dealing
their liberty as though they were bound of such Professours you may hear the worst say we are perswaded that he is no Hipocrite if there be one among them that is what he maketh shew of that is he Now when I am thus between two wayes or things and must chuse one yet know not in which the VVill of God is then observe is there any thing in this or that way that may tend should I walk in it to harden poor Sinners in their owne wayes and will my quitting of it make them have the better thoughts of the wayes of God then I am bound by this rule to shun this way and chuse some other Our Fifth GENERAL RVLE is Whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just think on these things The true sence of the Rule is That a Christian in his actions should have a special respect to such things as are in themselves honest and just The Case is as before The Solution is That I am to chuse that thing walk in that way which is nearest to the general Rule of honesty and justice The Question here will be What the rule of Justice is Ans 1. Not mans Principles for these may be corrupt and a corrupted Principle may call that just which is in it self unjust and that unjust which is in its self most just 2 Not humane Lawes for these not having a respect unto the righteous Law of God are oft-times corrupt and a corrupt Law may authorise those acts as just which in themselves are sinful and punish as unjust even righteousness it self 3 Not my supposing my self willing that another should doe by me as I doe by another This is not the rule of justice and the reason is because mans heart which is deceitful above all things and so desperately wicked as none can know it doth leave a person under manifold mistakes here and a man does oft think that he is willing to be dealt by as he deals by another when as indeed it is not so And there are these two things which cause this mistake 1 A man doth never take so deeply into his consideration that case which is anothers as hee doth and would doe his owne If the case be anothers an overly and general view of it sufficeth him but when it is his owne then will he ponder the case it self in every circumstance and if there be any thing grating in it he will view it in every aggravation one while he wil consider the person that doth it if there be any thing which may aggravate it therein another while the time if any thing may bee found therein to aggravate another while he will be calling to remembrance other injuries if there be any and by these help to aggravate the present case Now supposing the case it self to be small yet in the aggravations which a man in his owne case will diligently consider of it may grow to be great but this a man will not do in anothers case as he that doth anothers work to make quick work and put himself to as little toyl as may be will post and slubber it over so he that considers anothers case 2 A man 's not knowing what indeed and in truth he would be willing another should do by him Wee think wee know our hearts in this businesse exceeding well but when it comes to the triall wee finde that our hearts did but juggle with us And indeed there is no man can tell what hee would bee willing another should do by him till hee is put to the triall nor it may bee then neither if hee do not observe his own heart well but give a cast of his eye upon that which appears at the top onely not observing the secret boylings and workings that may lye at the bottome And that no man knows what that thing is which hee would bee willing another should do by him will bee clear to a man himself let him but consider this it may be some time past there was this or that thing that I thought I could have been willing another should have done by me and it may be since something hath fallen out either in that particular thing or it may bee in a lesse thing that I have been so and so dealt with by another How have I taken it why a hundred to one if I observe my heart not in all things so willingly as I thought I should And indeed mans heart is such that if it would but speak out and declare it self naturally it would not bee willing that another should do that thing to it which hath but the least of evill in it And it is in this sense that Christ who knew the frame and temper of the heart of every man did give forth this rule intending thus much in it that wee should not do to another that thing which hath in it the least shew of evill or injury for our hearts if they utter themselves in plain language will not bear with it that any such thing should bee done to us And this is the true interpretation of that rule which was laid down by him who knew the heart and so knew better what mans heart could bear than man himself doth And if our Comment upon the Rule bee according to Christs sense i. e. not to do the least injury to another because my heart in truth would not bear it that any by another should be done to mee then is it indeed a perfect and universal Rule of Righteousnese but if the Comment bee according to our sense I le do this or that particular evill to another but it is no more than I would bee willing another should do to mee it is then no Rule but a deceit and my heart makes use of it only to juggle with mee Quest But what then is the rule of Justice and Righteousness Answ The declared Law and Will of God left us in his word What ever things or actions how ever they may bee esteemed in the corrupt principles of men or how ever they may be judged of by the Laws of men or what ever conclusions my heart may make upon them are there declared just are so or unjust are so Now to apply this General rule unto our particular case If it bee so that my doing this thing or that thing my moving this way or that way doth but in the least intrench upon this or the other thing that any where in the word of God is allowed of and commended to us as a thing honest and just Then am I bound by this General rule to shun that way and chuse another Our 6. and last GENERAL RULE is Whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report think on these things The phrase of doing things comely relates also to this Rule The sense of the Rule is That a Christian in ordering his conversation is to have a special eye to those things that have a beautiful aspect and are well-reported
sacrifice of blood on earth or intercession in heaven were hee not willing sinners should bee saved Yea what need had there been of this had not Christ been willing hee might have spared all his labour and cost below and work above too had it not been for this For the Kingly office what use would there bee of Christs reigning in his Churches in the hearts of his people mortifying their sins quickning their graces leading ruling of them were hee not willing sinners should bee saved all that part of his Kingly office which is exercised with his Scepter of love would bee uselesse So that the Offices of Christ would bee almost wholly frustrated were not Christ willing sinners should bee saved Now do but consider what great in fluence this must needs have upon Christ to make him willing for 1 Hee is put into his Offices by his Father First made a Prophet by God Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Secondly A Priest Heb. 5.5 6. So also Christ glorified not himself to bee made an high Priest but hee that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As hee saith also in another place Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Thirdly A King Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion 2 His Father hath fitted him for these To bee a Prophet hee hath given him a tongue Isa 50.4 The Lord God hath given mee the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary To bee a Priest hee hath given him a body as Heb. 10.5 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared mee To bee a King hee hath given him a Scepter and Anointing and a Throne as Psal 45 6 7. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdome is a right Scepter thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellows Now should Christ after all this bee unwilling to save sinners this would highly displease the Father 3 Christ hath accepted of these Offices to take an Office and never intend to performe it is high deceit Now should not Christ bee willing to save sinners hee should do thus The saving of sinners is the very end of all these Offices 4 Because the sundry Relations that Christ stands in unto poor sinners makes him willing yea argues hee must needs bee so that poor sinners should bee saved When I say Christ stands in Relation to sinners I do not mean that they are to be looked upon as sinners as they stand in that Relation but Christ stands in Relation to them who are in themselves sinners There are divers Relations betwixt Christ and his people as of a brother and brother Master and servant Father and children Husband and wife King and subjects Head and members Now these Relations cannot but much engage the heart of Christ to bee willing to save sinners if wee consider 1 How that Relation it selfe is a great begetter and knitter of affections what begets such affection betwixt Father and childe Husband and wife Relation And from hence the parties related are made to wish and endeavour the good of each other 2 That Christ stands in all these Relations Hee is Master King Brother Father Husband Head all these If to bee but in one of these Relations as a Father or Husband make a man so willing and industrious of the good of the party related to then much more to bee in all Now Christ is in all and therefore cannot but bee exceeding willing 3 That these Relations can never bee broken Earthly Relations may bee and are dissolved they are knots death unties But now the Relation betwixt Christ and his poor sinful creatures can never bee broken and therefore if Christ once stood related to them and thereby became willing to have them saved hee must of necessity be so for ever because this Relation holds for ever 5 Because Christ having taken our nature upon him makes him that hee is and hee must needs bee willing to have poor sinners saved if wee consider three things 1 That Christ took our nature upon him for this as one main end that hee might bee made a merciful High Priest Heb. 2.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that hee might bee a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Christ as God was merciful before but his taking our nature makes him merciful as man as well as God and willing to save sinners 2 No sooner had Christ taken our nature but presently there was a merciful disposition wrought in him or an inclination to save sinners as Heb. 10.5.7 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared mee then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of mee to do thy will O God No sooner hath Christ a body prepared but hee hath a will and inclination to save sinners This merciful disposition or inclination of his heart to save sinners it is now natural to him as hee is man as well as God Now things which are natural to us wee cannot but bee exceeding willing and inclinable to do nature is such a drawer This wee may see if wee do but compare Heb. 10.7 Then said I Lo I come to do thy will O God with Psal 40.7 8. Then said I Lo I come I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart Where this will of God to save sinners is said to bee a Law within his heart Object But if it bee so as you say That it is the will of God and Christ that sinners should bee saved Then will it follow that all sinners must necessarily bee saved because what is the will of God that shall and must of necessity bee effected Ans I grant it were it the will of God and Christ that all sinners should be saved then indeed it would bee so but this wee have never said You cannot draw an universal proposition from an indefinite because the universal subject in one is taken universally but not so in the other Now when I say it is the will of God and Christ that sinners should bee saved I speak of sinners indefinitly not universally Yea further the Scripture speaks expresly that it is the will of God that some sinners should not bee saved as Rom. 9.18 19. Therefore hath hee mercy on whom hee will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Thou wilt say then unto me why doth hee yet finde fault for who hath resisted his will Where the Apostle vers 18. makes the hardening of sinners unto damnation to bee as well
such strong affections such a flowing of heavenly desires so much brokenness of heart love to the brethren c. But dost thou grow in the root doth thy want of these things cause thee to root thy self more in the free promise so as that now thou dost more and oftner go out to God upon the account of the general promise then it was usual with thee to do when thou hadst and foundest in thee these things then soul beleeve it thou dost grow and though thy growth is not so much to sense as it would bee didst thou grow more in the branches yet is it a better a surer growth That tree stands fastest that grows much in the root 2 Thou complainest thou dost not grow Looke soul upon thy growth in the right season of growing There is a season of growing come to a tree in the Spring or Summer and you shall see it all over green full of sap leaves and fruit but come to that tree in the Winter and you see none of all this but the tree looks as though it were dead and withered Why so the Spring and Summer is the season of growing but the Winter is not the season So c. 3 Take in a pretty distance of time when thou wouldest judge of thy growth My meaning is when thou wouldest pass a judgement upon thy growth of grace whether it bee little or much do not compare thy self to day with what thou wast yesterday or a week agoe but take in some years and then thou wilt see thy growth better In Nature growth is not suddenly discerned no more is it in Grace Take a living childe it grows every day yet is not this growth discerned in a day or a week or a month but it must have a longer time Take a tree it grows daily but come to it to day and again to morrow you see no growth yea it may bee come to it a year or two years after the growth is hardly discernable but come to it now and again seven years hence you will see growth Object But I do not onely finde a want of growth in grace but I clearly finde a declining in grace both in root and branches as I thinks I cannot beleeve nor have confidence as formerly I thought I did neither am I so humble mortified self-denying as once I thinke I was and therefore I fear I have no in-being in Christ Answ Thou findest a declining in grace why then that hast grace how else couldest thou decline in grace Light decreases therefore there is light how could it decrease else by thine owne confession therefore thou hast Grace and if Grace then in-being in Christ 2 Thou findest declinings in grace but art thou not at present in a distemper or hast thou not been in one of late no wonder to see a mans spirits and strength decreasing when there is some feavourish distemper upon him or that hath been lately upon him 3 Thou findest declinings but didst thou never in all thy life time finde declinings in grace before and yet finde also that grace did rise up out of these declinings with advantage As wee see a corn of wheat falls to the ground and dyes but riseth with advantage an ear for a corn So when thy grace hath seemed to bee dead as it were for a while yet hast thou not at last seen it sprouting up with advantage more faith more love humility mortification at the rising of grace after such a declining time than thou sawest in thy self before O yes saith the soul I must confess I have many times thought now I am quite gone my grace is dead and yet after all this I have seen a greater shooting and springing up than ever before in my soul If so then assure thy self poor soul thou hast in-being in Jesus Christ by vertue of which all thy winter-time the seed of grace is maintained alive in thy soul and when the spring-time comes sprouts up with advantage Use 1. Is this so Then this shews us the glorious priviledges of all those that have in-being in Christ they are freed from condemnation what a blessed priviledge is this freed from condemnation and freed from the wrath of God freed from condemnation and freed from the guilt of all sin from the dreadful curses of the Law from the heavy charges of Satan from the stingings of a tormenting conscience from the slavery of the Devil from all afflictions as legal punishments for sin from the fear of man from the violence of the creatures c. O blessed condition the poorest Grey coat and Lether coat that hath in-being in Christ is in a more blessed and happy condition than the silk gown the plush and scarlet coat that hath not in-being in Christ The one though hee make not such a bravado in the world yet being in Christ heaven salvation and all is his Others though they brave it out for a time and must have elbow room where they go and be come to with conge and cap in the hand yet they are under condemnation from which if God do not by bringing them home to himself release them here they will bee miserable in hell for ever hereafter Vse 2. This casts many persons and brings most men in the Countries Towns and Parishes of the world under condemnation Why they have not in-being in Christ 1 Art thou one who livest and walkest in prophane courses Art thou a Drunkard Swearer an unclean person c. assure thy self thou art one cast by this doctrine for thou hast not as yet in-being I mean actual in-being which is that frees from condemnation in Christ 1 Joh. 1.6 If wee say that wee have fellowship with him and walk in darkness wee lye If such have not fellowship with Christ then no in-being communion flowes from union if it bee a lye to say they have communion much more to say they have in-being or union 2 Art thou one who art an enemy to Christ and his people a persecutor a scoffer c. thou hast not in-being in Christ Christ speaking of such persons Joh. 16.3 saith These things will they do because they have not known the Father nor mee If such do not in a saving way know Christ and the Father then have they not in-being in Christ Scoffer thou proclaimest to all the Town and to all thy neighbours that thou art one who hast not in-being in Christ 3 Art thou a moral man and restest here then hast thou not in-being in Christ The Heathens many of them did excell in morality yet knew not Christ The Scribes and Pharisees came behinde none of our Moralists yet hear what Christ saith to them Matth. 5.20 For I say unto you that except your righteousnesse shall exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees yee shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven 4 Art thou outwardly Religious and a Professor and dost thou rest here contenting thy selfe with an outward profession and
peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance All that obedience therefore which hath not the Spirit of God for the principle the root or rise thereof though ever so glorious is not Gospel-obedience nor Gospel-walking Quest But how shall I know whether the Spirit is the principle of my obedience Answ I shall say no more hereto at present but onely this doest thou finde a contentedness of heart in thy obedience mingled with pride self-estimation c. i. e. when thou hast performed any duty dost thou finde thy self contented and satisfied in having done the same and art thou proud and arrogant accounting thy self some body because thou hast done it Or on the other side doest thou find a spiritual rejoycing of heart in that thou hast been inabled to perform thy duty and this mingled with humility and mortification my meaning is when thou hast been obedient in any one particular doest thou rejoyce in God and bless his name in that hee hath inabled thee so to do and considering it was not in thine own proper strength to obey God in any thing Art thou by and under this obedience kept humble having thy pride and self-estimation more mortified in thee than thou didst finde it before If the first then doth not thy obedience arise front the Spirit because it takes from the Spirit which no works of the Spirit doth if the latter then assuredly the Spirit of God is the principle the root of thy obedience because it gives to the Spirit of God as every worke which is by and from the holy Spirit doth 3 When our Motives to obedience are Gospel Motives Quest But what are Gospel Motives Answ Such as these 1 The will and command of our heavenly Father You know the difference betwixt a servant and a son in working a servant will not do any work for his Master unlesse there bee a compact and agreement betwixt his Master and him his Master must give him so much wages and hee will do him so much work But now when a Son is to do any work for his Father hee doth not capitulate with his Father if you will give mee so much I will do your work but if not I will not no but the Father saith to the Son Son do mee such a peece of work and presently the Son hearing the command of his Father goes about it the Fathers will is his Motive So take a legal man or woman and let God command such a one a duty and streightway hee goes to capitulate with God I hope Lord if I do this thou wilt pardon my sins I hope thou wilt give mee heaven I shall never go to hell thus the Legal soul will bee upon termes with God or will do nothing for God hee will know what hee shall have for his work or will not work at all But now take a Gospel soul hee doth not stand upon termes what shall I have Shall I bee saved or shall I bee damned These are not his questions but saith the Gospel soul God I know is my Father in Jesus Christ and I am the Son and Childe of God by adoption now it is becoming a Son to do the will of his Father I am the Son of God and such and such things I have read and heard of and know to bee my Fathers will and because they are so that I may do as becomes an obedient childe and shew my self that I am such a one I will therefore endeavour to conform my self so far as I am able to what I know of my Fathers will And therefore whereas it is grievous to another to read or hear of his duty because hee serves as a hireling and therefore cares not so hee may obtain the hire how little work hee doth this Gospel soul with joy delight can take the Book of God where his Fathers will is revealed and turn it over and search it leaf by leaf and line by line and is glad when he findes any peece of work or part or parcel of his Fathers will which he was ignorant of before because hee doth not what hee doth upon the account of hire or reward but upon this account that it is his Fathers will The will and command of his Father is both the Rule and reason of his obedience Hence Paul urgeth Holiness in the general and thankfulness in particular 1 The. 4.3 For this is the will of God even your sanctification that yee should abstaine from fornication and Chap. 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Upon this very reason or motive and no other as if he should say you are Sons and therefore I need not use many Arguments with you it is enough to tell you it is the will of your Father you should be holy you should bee thankful 2 The powerful and efficacious workings of the new nature that is within every Saint or Son of God The promise of the Gospel or New Covenant is that God will give to his Children a new heart and spirit Ezek. 36.26 i.e. put a new nature within them whereby they shall be naturally inclined and disposed to the doing of that which is his Will which in other places is called the Writing of his Law in their hearts This new Nature is put into every Saint though in the actings thereof in some more in others less and being in every Saint every Saint is naturally inclined and disposed to the doing of that which is wel-pleasing unto God As the old nature doth naturally move incline and carry on the Soul to the doing of that which is contrary to the Will of God so this new nature doth naturally incline incite and provoke the Soul to those things which are agreeable to the Will of God Hence a Gospel-soul is moved to obedience because there is a new nature within which answers to the Law or Word of God without which requires obedience of him and all disobedience is as contrary to this new nature within as to the Rule without 3 Love and filial affection The bond of love is natural betwixt a Father and a Son a Father hath a Natural affection to his Childe more than to anothers and a Childe a natural affection to his Father more than to another man and love though there be no other reason will make the party loving doe much for the party loved Now I say there is a tye of love upon a Son which is not upon a Servant or Hireling come to a Servant or Hireling and ask him why hee toyls and moyls and sweats from morning till night all the year long for his Master my Naster saith hee gives me wages and therefore I doe it but come to a Son who it may be is as hard or harder at work than the Servant and ask him Why doe you toyl and moyl your self thus why sayes the Son it is my Fathers work I am doing of and I love my Father
for our justification declaring himself to have gotten the day of the Law Sin Hell and the Devil all the enemies of our salvation and likewise alluring us hereby that wee are already in him acquited God having forgiven us all our trespasses and shall assuredly one day rise as hee is risen to live with him in glory hereafter when this our corruptible shall put on incorruption and this our mortall shall put on immortality and death shall bee swallowed up into victory Again which our hearts should bee much taken up with How that Jesus Christ being now risen hee as the common person of the Saints and as a glorious Conqueror is ascended up into heaven herein triumphing over Principalities and Powers which he by his death had spoyled making a shew of them openly and leading captivity captive where being arrived hee is sate down at the right hand of the Father upon the Throne of Majesty in the heavens having Angels Principalities and Powers made subject unto him and all his enemies under his feet himselfe being invested with Majesty and Glory Sovereignty and Power Authority and Judgement all which hee improves for the good of his Saints Again farther How that the Saints as considered in him their common person are quickned together with him and raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places being sharers and partakers with him in his life and death in his humiliation and exaltation hee personating them in both having his wisdome righteousness riches holiness made over to them so that they are compleat in him and of his fulnesse doe receive grace for grace Again yet farther how that Jesus Christ being now in the heavens is there imployed in making preparation and providing mansions for his Saints against they come thither and is continually ready to and busied in presenting the wants and petitions of his people to his Father hee also himselfe in all our exigencies and under all our infirmities making intercession for us so that wee are for ever safe and secure from all fear and danger hee ever living to make intercession for us From whence when all his Elect of Jew and Gentile shall bee called home hee shall gloriously come attended with his mighty Angels and ten thousands of his Saints when as the Spouse being arraied in fine linnen clean and white hee shall take her to himselfe and celebrate his glorious Marriage and having done justice upon all her enemies here below and judged quick and dead shall triumphantly carry her with himselfe into his Fathers Kingdome where shee shall for ever bee with him where hee is beholding the glory the Father hath given him and injoying with him fulnesse of glory fulnesse of joy and pleasures for evermore Again yet farther the thoughts whereof our thoughts should bee exercised about how that in the mean time that his people might bee gathered together and made meet to bee partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light hee hath and continually doth send forth his Spirit the great promise of the Father together with Messengers and Ambassadors having the everlasting Gospel in their mouths whereby those which everlasting love did in the beginning choose out of the world and predestinated to the adoption of Sons are in time through grace called and actually and personally having precious faith given unto them justified from all their iniquities united to him made children heires of God and joynt heires with Christ sanctified by the Spirit and through the applying of the blood of Jesus have their consciences purged from dead works to serve the ever living and true God daily going on from faith to faith and strength to strength till in the end they attaine the Resurrection of the dead and come to behold God in Sion Finally seeing and considering what glorious things are through grace wrought and prepared for us and which are in part and shall be in Gods time fully given to us it should bee the continual exercise of our hearts and that which wee should bee much taken up with how wee may come to attain and enjoy these things so as may make for the glory of God the good of others and our own comfort more It should bee our continual querying O how shall I come to know more of Christ more of the love of God in Christ How shall I come to beleeve in Christ more to live by faith more to injoy the fruit and comfort of my election through grace my redemption justification by Christ adoption in him union with him more How shall I come to bee more sanctified by the Spirit made more conformable to him have more of his Image imprinted upon mee feel him more in his Death and Resurrection have more fellowship with him in his sufferings O how shall I come to have corruption in mee daily more mortified my pride mortified my unbeleefe mortified my corrupt affections and passions mortified my luke-warmness earthly-mindedness deadness formality in duty mortified How shall I come to have my graces more quickned my faith love godly-sorrow humility self-denial patience thankfulness contentedness quickned O how shall I have a heart carried out more to glorifie God in the place calling I am in time opportunities I have How shall I have a frame of heart to go about the service of God more freely willingly cheerfully and to act in it more purely sincerely every day than other Such things and questions as these are I call Spiritual things and they are the things our hearts should bee exercised about Object Must a Saint onely bee exercised about Spiritual things are there not some external things which a Saint must exercise himselfe in and about Answ Yes there are outward Civil imployments which a Saint as a man is with moderation to bee exercised about And also there are outward Ordinances and institutions of Jesus Christ which a Saint as hee is a Christian out of obedience to his Masters command so far as the same is made clear to him is to bee exercised in and about in exercising himselfe in which though the things themselves are external yet hee injoyes much inward and spiritual communion with Jesus Christ therefore I do not oppose spiritual things to all things external neither would I bee so understood For though the Kingdome of God doth not consist in meat and drink yet meat and drink are usefull in their place and men in an ordinary way cannot live without it But now when I speak of a Saints exercising himself in spirituals I oppose spiritual 1 To things expresly forbidden which are simply in themselves evill and sinful being things not convenient nor becoming Saints Eph. 5.3 4. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not bee once named amongst you as becometh Saints neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient Prophane courses become no man but worst of all a Saint 2 To things light and frivolous Things indeed unworthy the thoughts of a Saint
worse than the former when men doe not only study Niceties and make Lawes for themselves but when they have so done will make Lawes for their Brethren and binde their Consciences to those Lawes which they themselves have made Now wilt thou exercise thy self in things of this nature take heed then thou make not thy Conscience the rule of thy Brothers neither make Lawes over him in such things as thou canst not assure his Conscience Christ hath made them I had rather yeeld in a hundred things of this nature to a Brothers weaknesse than by an absolute Law of his making to be bound up to one Let Saints therefore be wary of tying their Brethren hand and foot in such things wherein Christ hath left them free for Saints if tied will not doe that which if they were left to their liberty they ought to doe as I remember Luther saith to the Papists about eating their meats and observing their dayes leave us saith he to our liberty wee will cat your meats observe your dayes but bind us hereto and wee will doe neither 5 And lastly Take heed thy spirit grow not hence by degrees to an affectation of novelty or new things Many there are who first take delight to pry into dark and curious questions and when they have gone on thus a while there is nothing will please them but new things and curious things they grow out of love with old truth and spiritual heart matters these are fet by and it must bee some fine new tickling question that is fit matter only for their thoughts and meditations and as for all things else they account them but low things and those that hold them and press them men of lower light and of a lower forme as they say I am almost confident of if that most of the errours this day broached or on foot in England or elsewhere doe grow out of this root viz. A neglect of exercising the heart about spiritual things and a desire to be alwaies prying into dark things from whence by degrees there creepes into the Soul a love of novelty and new matters which no sooner is in any but the heart is as prone and apt to suck in errour as a spunge water and of all spirits in searching after truth I should desire the Lord to keep me from this a spirit delighting it self in and affecting novelty and new things The Reasons of this Point with the Application I shall leave to the next opportunity The Second SERMON ON 1 Tim. 6.11 Follow after righteousness godliness c. THe last opportunity I had in this place I told you that the Apostle gives these words as a direction to his Schollar Timothy and in him to all Beleevers how to escape the dangerous errours and evils that then were or at any time should be abroad the direction is to follow after righteousnesse godlinesse c. as if hee should say employ thy self and thy heart about these things and there is no fear of receiving hurt by the other In General I told you the things he mentions are all spiritual things whence I laid before you this observation viz. Doct. That the only and special way for a Saint to bee delivered from the errours and evils of the times he lives in is to have his heart as much as may be taken up with and his spirit exercised about high and Spiritual things I proved it then unto you and also shewed you what I did meane by Spiritual things I now proceed to the Reasons why the exercising the heart about Spiritual things is such a preservative against the errours and evils of the times we live in Reas 1. Because such a heart as is exercised about Spiritual things findes not leasure to run out after those poor low things which others trifle away their time and lose themselves about Many there are in the world of whom it may be said as Pharaoh once said of the Israelites Yee are idle yee are idle who are very Idlers and doe nothing at all in Spirituals by reason whereof their hearts have a great deale of leisure which because they would be doing and finde nothing to take too they busie themselves just as Children and Boyes doe when they are idle about this toy and the other such a querk and such a query their time and thoughts are busied about and they are continually fancying and inventing new Notions and Chymaera's and this bears the Bell and is all in request to day and this to morrow and thus they strangely lose themselves running from one fancy unto another till in the end they have out-run Reason Religion and all Whereas now a Saint which hath his heart exercised about spiritual things is like a man which is in great dealings and trading which hath many weighty affairs under his hand together and is by reason hereof so full of employment that he cannot finde time to beat his braines about this querk and the other query all the time that he hath is little enough and too little to follow so as that he may not be a looser of his greater employments hee findes that had hee two dayes whereas he hath but one time would be too little for him to busie himself how hee might enjoy more communion with God understand more of the great Mysteries of Godlinesse get his heart more mortified his graces more quickned c. though hee should allow other things no time at all Because to a heart that is exercised about spiritual things other things are dry and empty such a heart neither findes relish in them nor satisfaction from them a spiritual heart delights in things and relisheth them as they are spiritual that which much relisheth a carnal heart is very dis-relishing to the Spiritual man As take a Carnal eare that loves to hear things where there is a great deale of curiosity and of the varnish of Humane wit and Wisdome but now take a Spiritual eare that delights to hear such things as have in them evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and power and findes a dis-relishing of other things So take a Carnal eye that delights to behold such things as please the Natural sense and delight the Fancy but now a Spiritual soul that delights to behold such things as may elevate the Soul and raise the affections more towards Heaven so take a Carnal heart that is well pleased when it is exercised about toyes this vaine needless question and the other but now a Spiritual heart that can take no comfortable relish in things of this nature but they are dry and empty unto it and therefore it shuns and avoyds them and so escapes the danger that comes by them 3 Because such a heart as is exercised in and taken up with Spiritual things lives as I may say in another world whither these vapours which make the braines of many men giddy and their conversation unstedfast doe not ascend he lives in the heavenly world and is
a Citizen of Jerusalem above where he is free and not annoyed with such things as others are who live below the ayre that hee breathes in is pure and not infected with such vapours the food that he feeds upon turnes to Spiritual nourishment and doth not beget crudities and ill humours in the Soul and by reason of this wonderful change of place ayre and food there is likewise such a change wrought in his temper and constitution as that his nature will not away with or brook the principles and practices of men who live here below and speak and act as children of this world 4 Because a heart exercised about Spiritual things hath ends and designes which he findes he can never accomplish in such wayes His ends and designes are that hee may glorifie God edifie his Brother by what hee sayes and does and have the peace and comfort of it in his owne Conscience that through his knowledge his Corruptions may bee mortified his Graces quickned c. now he findes that he can never accomplish his ends and designes by studying quaint and curious Notions but rather is set further off his owne corruptions by but looking towards them gathers strength and overtops Grace upon the sudden instead of bringing honour to God God is dishonoured his Brother instead of receiving edification is in danger of being seduced and carried together with him out of the way of truth and all his solid Soul-humbling inward peace degenerates into a kind of phantastick and self-conceited joy so that of necessity he must let fall his designe and take up a worse if ever hee goe in this way the fore-fight and consideration whereof makes him shie and averse thereunto Vse 1. Hence wee may learne what is the grand cause of all those errours and evils which swarme and abound in this our age why Christians hearts are not exercised in spiritual things Should one come and ask me a reason of the too strange and lamentable mistakes and fearful miscarriages so palpable and common amongst many professing themselves to bee Saints in these our dayes how it comes to pass or what is the reason that those who formerly were one should now bee so many who loved with the most entire affections that could be should now hate one another who were so lively and active should now bee so dead and sleepy who thought they could never doe enough should now cast off all I can assure you I know none more probable than this Christians hearts are not so exercised about high and Spiritual things as once they were Christians that once were taken up with spiritual things as Prayer Reading Hearing meditating of the Word watching and observing their owne hearts and these too in a Spiritual manner have now either laid these aside or are grown more cold and formal in their exercising in them I have observed it amongst Christians in our dayes that one day such an opinion being abroad you shall have one tampering with that and there he drops a little of his spirituality by and by with another and there hee drops a little more then another there too he drops a little more till in the end his spirituality I meane that spiritual frame of heart which before he had is quite lost which being gone he is like another man as peevish foolish light-spirited as any And if I mistake not it is one of the Devils greatest designes in the bringing in of opinions by degrees to eate out that power and life of godlinesse in the hearts of Saints which by force and violence of temptation hee could never work out herein dealing like a politick Warriour who finding a place too strong to attempt by open force by secret and subtil undermining gets into it It fares in this case with Christians as with a man that toucheth Pitch let him touch it ever so lightly yet somewhat of it will stick to him so whilst Christians are tampering with opinions though ever so lightly yet a tincture remains something thereof cleaves to their spirits and steales from them something of their spirituality as for example it is some mens opinion that a man need never pray except in private ejaculations now though perhaps your hearts cannot fully own it yet is there not some tincture of it some dust cleaving to your spirits And as for this one so also there are opinions abroad against all Ordinances your hearts cannot close with such things and yet perhaps by hearing these things and talking with persons this way some tincture hereof cleaves to you so as that you grow more slighty in hearing reading meditation and every other Ordinance than formerly you were Something of your former spirituality hereby is lost and extinguished This as I have said as far as I am able to judge is the grand cause of all the errors and evils that are amongst Christians the Devil by degrees steals away their hearts from exercising in spiritual things and having so done then they grow like other men this toy which once they would have thought unworthy of their time or thoughts takes up both and this practice which once their hearts would have abhorred and trembled at they now imbrace making no bones of it and the root of all is a neglecting of spiritual things Vse 2. As this shews us the cause of the fall and Apostacy of many persons so also this tells us That there are many who yet are not tumbled that stand upon slippery ground and will tumble in time if they do not come off it Art thou a man or woman which time hath been hast had thy heart warm to spiritual things and spiritual works and doth thy heart now grow cold to things of this nature and art thou warm to every curious notion and new opinion thou art the person I speak to and Soul let mee tell thee thou art upon slippery ground if thou comest not off thou wilt tumble You know how it is with a horse that goes rough-cast upon the Ice a little time he goes well but within a while the Ice wears off his rough-cast and hee grows smooth and then down hee tumbles So thou art one who hast had some favour and art rough-cast and thou walkest abroad into opinions and brave conceits which please thy fancy and a while thou standest because there hath been some favour some spirituality upon thy heart which hath rough-cast thee but in time walking in this way thy rough-cast is by degrees worn off and thou growest smooth and then down thou tumblest Take heed come off this slippery ground before thy rough-cast be worn away for if thou dost not assuredly so soon as that shall bee thou wilt fall and if God of his great mercy do not set thee on thy legs thou wilt never get up so as to stand and walk again Use 3. Wouldest thou bee delivered from the dangerous errrors and evils of the times and places thou dost live in then in the third place Imbrace this