when they are all come together When the Body Mystical is entire and full then it hath its fullest Beauty Comfort and Glory For every member addeth something and there is in some sort a defect while any one is wanting For the Joy and Glory of every member of the Body is the Joy and Glory of the whole and every one serves to compleat the Communion and Comfort of the whole And when the Lord hath all his Children about him none are miâ—sing Christ all his Members with him the Mansions of Heaven filled up with all the Vessels of Glory set in order in their places as it shall be after the day of Judgment and so â—o all Eternity with what ineffable delight will the Lord open to them all the Treasures and Riches of his Glory and what wonderful ravishing matter of Praising and Glorfying God and what compleat comfort therein which must needs raise up the Joy and Glory of the Saints unto the greatest height and highest possible perfection Vse Of this plenary compleat Glory that the Saints are to have at the last day and not till then 1. Be not stumbled or troubled and offended at the clouds of darkness the mean outside and seeming ingloriousness and obscurity that is upon the people of God and upon the work of God in the World at the present For the time of the manifestation of the Sons of God and of the discovery of their Glory and of the finishing of Gods work referring to them is not yet come Marvel not to see the Saints go up and down under mean and outward misery to see them poor and low sick and crazy and dying and Bodies turned to dust as well to see them sweating under many afflâ—ctions and sorrows lying among the pots black with the soot of many troubles Why now their Glory must be hid from the World and it must not yet appear what men of quality they are they must pass Incognito and go in some disguise through the World though the Sons of God and Princes of Heaven they must not appear in that state at present But this present hiding will set off their appearance and manifestation with greater Lustre another day to see them on Thrones whom you have sometimes seen in vile raiment whom you would hardly deigne to look upon will be the greater wonder and Glory tâ— him who lifts the poor out of the dust and the needy from off the dunghill It may be they are despised now but you shall one day see them in so much honour as you will wish you had honoured them as the pious do Psal 15.4 how poor soever does he fear the Lord honour him highly if you will not Christ will honour him one day before men and Angels But he 'l be ashamed of you if you be ashamed of him or of his Members and people now Jam. 2.5 6. And stumble not at Gods work because 't is now wrapt in Clouds why it is not yet come to its Issue it is but a doing Children and fools they say must not look on things half done we are so foolish we cannot see into the beauty of Gods work while it is but half done not made up and finished When the Mystery of God shall be finished Rev. 10.7 and all Providences come to their Issues the whole story wrought up then when God shall bring forth his embroidered curious work compleat and finished then it will and shall appear Beautiful and Glorious before all the World the black pieces the darker lines and coulers illustrating the other when set together which look'd upon alone shew unhandsome When all the confusions that are in the World shall Issue in goodly order and every thread every stitch appear to have been drawn by Art which now seem to go in and out this way and that way and we can make nothing of them as if a Child should look upon a Curious Needle-woman at work on some piece he would see little in it how will God be admired as Psal 139.14 15.16 so it is with all that work that is formed in the womb of Providence in the time of this World which in that great Revelation-day the day of Judgment that Birth-day of the manifested Glory of the Sons of God and of the work of God shall appear to have been most curiously wrought as with Needle-work though now it is obscure and secret to us Oh the praises God will have then Vse 2. Hence see that our Eyes and Hearts should be upon that day that last and great day the day of Redemption and Glory of Resurrection and Judgment that is to come That is the great day Jud. 6. this the time of this World is but a little day in comparison this is mans day 1 Cor. 4.3 But that is the day of God the day of the Lord 2 Pet. 3.12 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Thess 5.2 Paul's eye and heart was upon that day 2 Tim. 1.12 18. and 4.8 We are all for this day this present time and present things alas they are not to be mentioned to that day Rom. 8.18 Oh make sure of being well on 't at the last day owned and confessed and saved at that day and you are well enough There is a time to come lay a good foundation for that 1 Tim. 6.19 so carry it in this day as you may be owned in that Now own Christ and own his people and be not ashamed of the Chain of their Sufferings if you would find mercy at the day Remember these Scriptures 2 Tim. 1.16 18. Mat. 25.34 to 40. Mat. 10.32.33 Luk 9.26 Mark 8.38 Is there any word or any truth of Christ any rule of his any part of his mind which you are ashamed on because the times do not favour it because men frown upon it Oh tremble at that lest the Lord Jesus be ashamed to own thee at that day Oh labour to have such thoughts of things and such affections toward them as you will have at that day How will you think of sin then Of duty then Of Cleaving to Christ and to his people then Of Zeal for the Glory of God then Of diligence in seeking God in Prayer and Meditation then Will you not then wish you had made more wrestling and weeping instead of sleeping and wording Prayer That you had hearkned diligently to Christ c. Oh now do as you would wish to have done then SERMON V. 2. IT follows now a little to Consider and set forth the Glory of the Saints in Heaven this Eternal Glory that is reserved for the faithful in the World to come in a Comparative way by the Comparisons and Considerations as may evidence to us the greatness and goodness the transcendant excellency of this Glory This way the Apostle lead us to in Rom. 8.18 by comparing with other things which now seem great to us as great afflictions and so other great things in this World which yet are nothing to it we may see the exceeding
promise presently make over to you both Grace here and Glory hereafter Everlasting Life and Blessedness Isa 55.3 Heb. 5.9 Oh hearken to this word of the Lord this voice of the High-calling of God in Christ Jesus you that have hitherto been stooping down to the dust minding nothing but Earth and Vanity yea running down hill in the way of sin toward the lowest Hell Incline your Ear and hearken to a motion and offer of Eternal Glory in Heaven open your eyes and see the Lord Jesus standing withall Grace and Glory in his hands and inviting to him to let out of your hands i. e. out of your hearts the trifles of the World and take Eternal Glory in and with a Saviour Behold Heaven is opened to you the door stands open before you if once at last you will be perswaded to enter in And you that have believed already sit not by as if this Exhortation did not concern you but oh believe again imbrace Christ again come to him afresh with fresh and new sweetness with more clearness and establishment in believing so you should do at every time he calls you and sets his Glory before you Joh. 2.11 and so at this time this day Renew your Conjugal Imbraces of Christ Jesus and so your lively hope of this Glory Christ delights to be often asking for our hearts and setting himself before us as the attractive object of them and we should delight to be often giving our hearts to him and clasping about him as the only Glorious Lovely hope and rest and portion of our Souls Now for the pursuing of this Exhortation or pressing the Call of the Gospel by this Argument of Eternal Glory to be had and which we are Called to by Christ Jesus Let us a little improve the point and Text before us 1. By way of motive or quickning and perswasive considerations to draw our hearts to Christ Jesus 2. By way of direction and help to guide us in our believing on him 3. By way of Answer to some Objections that tend to beat us from Believing For the first though it is God only can draw and perswade yet he does it by his word and therefore we must apply our selves to speak and hear to listen to such quickning drawing Considerations as the word of the Gospel does suggest and in that way the spirit breaths 1. If the Lord Call thee to Eternal Glory or to come and receive Everlasting Blessedness through Christ then what does he Call thee from or out of Why from a state of Eternal wo and misery which is that that we are naturally in and that belongs to us as sinners and as in our selves considered 1 Pet. 2.9 Colos 1.13 Joh. 5 24. The word of Christ therefore calls thee from Death to Life Oh consider what damnation is about thee yea upon thee considered in thy self and in thy Natural Estate whereby thou lyest under all sin and under all Wrath Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Rom. 6.23 That work thou hast done and that wages Death Eternal Death belongs and is due to thee thou art sinking under the burden of the Curse lying under it as without Christ Gal. 3.10 and it is all upon thee Joh. 3.36 ready every moment to drop into Hell lyable to everlasting seperation from God to hear that doom Mat. 25.41 Seperation from God thou hast the beginning on 't already in the result of the guilt and power of sin in that dead dark and Godless heart of thine and thy estrangement from God thereby and this strongly tends to perfect separation from God and that is Hell as è contra c. Why this should make this word of Salvation this offer of Eternal Life and Call to come to Christ for it wonderful sweet and acceptable Bread in Famine Deliverance in Emminent dangers Life to him that is going down to the pit how precious is it Job 33.22 24. It is to one that is going down to the pit that the Lord speaks this Calling word should not that go to thy heart As thou art going down to Hell the Lord calls thee up to Heaven When that doom is pronounced in Mat. 25.41 and those multitudes going away to Hell suppose thy self among them and that one should then come with a message from God to call thâ—e back again and to invite thee to go up with Christ in Heavenly Glory what a ravishing thing would that be Why then there will be no place for recovery or hope But now such a like thing is really done to thee thou art going down to the Pit among the Uncircumcised posting on in the way to the lowest Hell under the Curse c. And yet behold now the Lord Calls to thee to turn about and accept of a Saviour and of Eternal Life and Salvation in him Thou poor perishing Sinner if thou hast any mind to Salvation it 's offered thee freely in Christ Act. 16.31 Is not this worthy of all acceptation 2. Remember what Glory it is that you are called up unto or that is to be had by Christ Jesus Here reflect upon all the promises all that hath been spoken of the Excellency of Heavenly Glory which is indeed above what Tongue can speak or Heart conceive Blessedness perfect and Everlasting Blessedness freedom from all evil from the worst of Evils sin all sin that deadly and bitter evil that kills thee all the day long the vision and fruition of God that Ocean of goodness compared with which the whole World is but a drop Should the Lord offer you heaps of Gold and Silver and bid you take them freely what flocking would there be and what hearkning would there be to such a proposition should he tell you of Crowns and Kingdoms and make Proposals about them Should a match be offered to thee that should bring with it Riches and Honours and Treasures in abundance how would thy heart spring and leap within thee at the thoughts of it and you would not need much perswading We offer you this I mean the good and Comfort that is in these things and more ten thousand times more as Mic. 2.11 If poor Ministers had Gold and Silver to tell you of they should be hearkned to Why but we have that that is better as much better as the Heaven is higher than the Earth and this we lay before you in the name of our God The Earth and the Glory of it is too low a business to send his Son Jesus to purchase for you and to bless you with or the Gospel to tell you of But Heaven Heaven if you have any mind to that Eternal Glory that is to be had by Christ Jesus and that the High-Calling of God in Christ calls you to Come will you leave the Earth and go up to Heaven will you throw the World at your feet as dung and dust and go up thither into the bosom of God to have the Love of the Father the Grace of the Son the
indisposedness to good you shall never complain of or be troubled with a body of death more Rom. 7.24 Perfect blessedness will take away that wretchedness 2. In the act of it from the greatest to the least no act of sin shall ever be done in Heaven which is a place of perfect holiness when once there you shall never have vain thought more never swerve from the rule of holiness either in thought word or deed not a sinful omission or defect of loving delighting in praising glorifying God of acting your faculties and affections upon God shall then be found with you Oh what an Heaven of happiness is there in this alone one particular to be freed from sin Sin is the heaviest burden of the Saints here and that that makes their lives bitter to them that they cannot live without sinning against God Let all the world smile on them this makes them go up and down with heavy hearts If the Lord should say to any gracious heart here Ask what I shall give thee thou wouldst say Lord that I might be rid of sin thou wouldst rather have this than Crowns and Kingdoms Why this desire shall be fully granted then These corruptions that have dogged thee up and down the world and oft prevail'd shall never trouble thee more The sins thou hast been groaning under all thy life long since any spark of spiritual life was put into thee once on Canaan shore thou shalt see those Egyptians no more for ever No pride no passion no sloathfulness no carnal mindedness no fleshliness no coldness deadness of heart and affections no uneven walking no grieving of the Spirit of God or of the spirits of Fellow-Brethren no unholy action or conversation shall ever be heard of more There in that Canaan above the Lord will give you rest from all your Enemies and from those especially Hebr. 4.9 10. Those Canaanites that have been so long thorns in your sides you shall see an end of them that then will be perfectly fulfilled Zech. 14.21 and triumph over all behold that fully done Micah 7.19 and then sing as Exod. 15.1 4. All the works of the Devil all the train of that Hellish band hath he utterly destroyed v. 5 6. 2. From sorrow or misery all manner of afflictive evils sin and misery go together as the body and the shaddow when the former is abolished the latter also shall altogether cease As viz. 1. Satans temptations tending either to sin or discomfort to defile or disquiet us Once in Heaven you shall never have temptation more That evil one shall never cast in a bad thought or tempting inticement or a troublesome fear and discouragement or vexing disquietment He shall never fling a fiery dart at thee more none of his messengers shall ever buffet thee any more Here he cannot destroy a Saint but there he shall not so much as disquiet For Satan's walk and rend'vouz is on the earth Job 1.7 But he never came in Heaven since he was a Devil nor ever shall come there the highest room where he comes in is the Aire Epes 2.2 this Elemental world but never mounts so high as the third Heaven He is cast down into Hell and shall never come in Heaven 2 Pet. 2.4 Jude 6. While the Saints tread on the earth where that Serpent Crawles he may bite nible at their heel But when once they are with their head in Heaven in their state of Exaltation there they are quite out of his reach though both Christ and Christians in their Humiliation-time here on earth were lyable to be tempted and troubled by the Devil Then the Saints shall fully triumph over this Hellish Pharaoh the Devil him and all his host or train when he shall be cast into the Sea and deep of that full torment that is prepared for the Devil and his Angels into which he shall be actually cast after the last Judgment Now is his Tempting but then shall be his Tormenting time Mat. 8.29 His tempting time and his ranging about for that purpose 1 Pet. 5.8 will be then at an end Satan is said to be shut up and bound during the prosperous and flourishing times of the Church in this world Revel 20.23 But much more fully and absolutely shall he be bound from molesting the Saints of their triumphant state in Heaven then shall he and all his Complices be in torment Revel 20.10 While the Saints reign in Peace for ever Oh the sad Annoyance that even Gods dear children have from that Belzebub here Zech. 3.1 but they shall be fully forced from that hereafter 2. Injuries and molestations from evil and wicked men there will be none of them in Heaven neither as Job 3.17 18. true of the Grave but much more of the state of the Saints happiness of the life to come No wicked man no Injurious Adversary no Papistical or Atheistical hater of God and his people shall ever come within Heaven doors none but Saints shall be there alone together much less be able to trouble or molest there Then shall the promise be fully acomplished 2 Sam. 7.10 Whatsoever Corner of the earth you retire or remove into and plant in you see the children of wickedness can follow you thither and afflict you The Saints shall never be planted in a place that is absolutely their own till they come to Heaven Oh get a Patent for that take up a Lot and build and plant there in Heaven and then you shall have a place of your own what you send thither aforehand your Hope your Treasure c. is safe and when your persons are there once none shall ever molest you more no fear of invasion no enemies to annoy of one nature or other no Pirates by Sea nor Parties by Land no Sword nor weapon of destruction there no going into Captivity no Garments rolled in blood no sound of the Trumpet or Alarm of War It may be when you came into this Wilderness you thought that this would be a place of your own and that none would ever trouble themselves to come into this Corner to trouble you But alas New-England is but Earth and not Heaven No place on Earth is exempted from molestation by the Devil and his Instruments but Heaven is that and that alone and that fully there the Children of wickedness and the Sons of violence shall not afflict you any more as before time then will those prayers be fully and compleatly answered which the poor children of God have oft need to power out before him Psal 140.1 2 3 4 7 8 and 17.4 the Saints may then triumph over all wicked Adversaries as Psal 9.6 7. Also the troubles that arise from the mixtures of the Wicked among the Godly as here there is a mixture of bad with good and much trouble thence ariseth will there be ended there is no Mesech nor Tent of Keder to be complained of as Psal 120.5 6. nor as Psal 57.4 nor yet false Brethren unfaithful unsound Heteredox or
They shall everlastingly be drinking down and Bathing themselves in those Rivers of Love that have been running down from Everlasting and from the well-spring of Election have issued forth in the whole Dispensation of Christ From the Father they were given to Christ Joh. 17.6 To him they shall then be presented Heb. 2.13 Jude 24. and by Christ brought into the nearest Union and Communion with him that possible can be Joh. 17.21 22 26. The Scripture speaks much of the Fathers Love 2 Cor. 13.13 1 Joh. 16.27 Rom. 8.39 And that often antecedent to the sending of Christ and all benefits by him as the original and fountain thereof Joh. 3.16 1 Joh. 4.8 9 10. Ephes 3.3 6. Tit. 3.4 6. This will then be seen and enjoyed in the fullest manner and measure according to the capacity of glorified Saints God the Father will be letting forth and pouring out his love into the souls of the Saints shedding it abroad in greater measures than now Rom. 5.5 and they drinking down the sweetness thereof for evermore beholding and tasting what manner of love that is which here they can see and conceive but a little of 1 Joh. 3.1 2. and as Ephes 3.18 19. They also making returns of love unto him and sweetest ebullitions thereof loving God then actually with all the heart soul strength and mind as is commanded This loving communion with God the Father or communion with him in love shall the Saints enjoy in Heaven in the fullest manner for evermore 2. The Son of God who is incarnate the Lord Jesus Christ who is Man as well as God his face shall be seen and his company enjoyed by the Saints in Heaven in a peculiar and most immediate manner you shall see the man Christ with bodily eyes as Job 19.27 you shall ascend to him then and be with him enjoy his immediate company and communion see him face to face Job 19.25 26 27. Philip. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.8 1 Thes 4.17 1 Joh. 3.2 You shall hear him speak to you and discourse of the great things of God each word of whose lips will be more sweet than ten thousands of Gold and Silver you shall behold him pouring forth himself and his love yea the love of God to you and the discoveries and communications of his grace and goodness through the lips and expressions of a man you shall then have full communion with the man Christ Jesus that everlasting Mediator between God and Man Why the company of a good man a loving friend a gracious Saint here that breaths much of Christ how sweet is it What then is the company of Christ himself who is full of grace and truth and that with the fulness of an head to derive like Grace and so now like Glory to all his members For as he is the meritorious and dispensing cause so also the exemplary cause as of all Grace here so of Glory hereafter as Joh. 1.16 so you shall have Glory for Glory Glory in your measure like unto his Glory the Glory that he shines with in Heaven you must share in it and have you shall have the same Glory for kind and nature though for measure and degree not equal but he will still have the preheminence Joh. 17.22 Rom. 8.29 1 Joh. 3.2 you shall live in the same Heaven with him Joh. 14.3 partake of the same love of the Father Joh. 17.23 drink of the same pleasures live the same life of holiness and happiness reign with him in the same Kingdom Rom. 8.17 Rev. 3.21 Be thrown into the same Ocean of Joy though Vessels of different quantity will take in different measures and so difference in degrees between the Saints themselves much more between the Saints and Christ Yea probably the Saints in Heaven may have Communion with Christ in the Acts of Grace as here in this life they have Communion with him in the habits of Grace i. e. that the same Actings the same Contemplations Tasts Apprehensions Ebullitions of heart the same springing of Love Joy Delight and sweet Affection that the man Christ hath shall run through Heaven and be in their measure communicated to all the Saints there For Glory properly stands in and results from the lively Acting of Grace and therefore Communion in Glory may import Communion in the Acts of Grace c. But however to be sure they shall be like him 1 Joh. 3.2 And bear his Glorious Heavenly Image there 1 Cor. 15.48 49. Like him in Soul Pure Heavenly Holy inlarged in Love to God and to his Glory as he is and like him in body too Phil. 3.21 And enjoy his Blessed Converse and Company What the particular Imployment and manner of Converse of the man Christ with and among the Saints in Heaven will be we cannot now tell you you shall know it when you come there to be sure it will be most Holy excellent and Glorious and full of mutual joy and delight I may suggest this meditation Look what Christ did in Converse with his Disciples after his Resurrection when he was then entred into a Glorified estate he then opened to them the Scriptures so as their hearts burnt within them Luk. 24.27 32 44 45. And spake of things of the Kingdom of God Act. 13. Then indeed but in order to the carrying on of the Kingdom of Grace and in such a measure as suited that end But why may we not think that he will then in Heaven in such a manner and measure as suites the Kingdom of Glory expound the Scriptures lay open the depths of the Book of God and the Mysteries of Divinity those fully and clearly that were here known but in a little part and other points that were not known at all the wonders of Law and Gospel of the Word and Works of God the depths and knowledge of Wisdom But especially the depths of Love and Grace the things that tend to the praise of the Glory of Gods Grace the great end of all his dealings with his people Ephes 1.6 those will he open and lay forth in a glorious manner And oh the burnings and flames and sparkling Impressions of Seraphical Affections that all the Saints about him will then be filled with Never such a Preacher and never such Hearers for Attention and Affection no Sleeping no Dulness no Weariness as there will be In a word Ordinances then shall cease but the quintessence and extract of all Ordinances shall be then enjoyed that power and Glory of God that beauty of the Lord be seen in the Sanctuary of Heaven that here were but glimpses through Glasses Mat. 26.29 Glorious and sweet Communion do the Saints here enjoy with Christ at a Sacrament in that Ordinance of the Lords Supper But in Heaven in the Kingdom of his Father he will as I may say celebrate that Sacrament i. e. give them the quintessence comfort and Communion of it in another manner in new fresh and immediate Communications of his Grace and sweetness There
capable to obtaâ—n Those little things of the World that lye before you when as the greatest nay all the things of the World are as nothing compared with the Heavenly Portion that is offered you in Christ Jesus And yet this is the Bane of men this is the stumbling stone at which their Souls fall and perish viz. Preferring Earth before Heaven the present God of this World bâ—fore that to come and so taking up their rest here laying out themselves their Spirits and Affections upon present outwaâ—d worldly things with neglect of and so as to have their hearts dryed up toward Heaven and Heavenly things Oh foolish and unwise Oh unspeakable sottishness and unreasonable absurdity to prefer Earth before Heaven or to take up with the Earth when Heaven is set before you To have Affections Spirits for Earth and none for Heaven when Heaven does so infinitely excel What is it most men are running after cleaving to setting up their hearts upon laying out their Spirits and best Affections and utmost endeavours about Is it not somewhat in this World Pleasure or Profit or Honour lust of the Flesh or Eye or Pride of Life Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2.16 i. e. an high and pompous manner of living affectation of height state and costliness in all the things of this life both Apparel Housing-Furniture c. above Place Rank Ability or Sobriety either in unlawful wayes and excesses or at least contentment in the lawful good things and comforts of this Life that is the highest the chiefest good that many seek after rest in and are wholly taken up about And so taken up here as to have no heart for God or Christ or Heaven no mind no affection to those things they are slightly passed over and the other pursued as the maine this present World ingrosses all But behold the Word of God shews us a more excellent Object and Prize to run for a better designe to pursue the Glory and Happiness of another World that is infinitely more excellent more necessary worthy our pains and affections more proper for immortal Souls to be busied about Should you judge by the minds and wayes of most of the Sons of men You would think there were no higher or better thing to be minded than the good of this World But the point shews us that that is better and more excellent What is all the Glory and good of this World to that of the Glory to come It is no more nor so much as a pebble stone to a Pearl or Husks to Bread or Dirt to Gold or Rags to Robes Who would take up with the former when he may have the latter Yea when called as we are continually by the voice of the Gospel to attend and imbrace the latter Remember all the outward good of this World is but Earthly the other is Heavenly But Bodily pleasing and pampering and Painting the outward man the other is Spiritual adorning perfecting and making happy the Soul But Temporal the other is Eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 The one Corruptible the other Incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 The one stands in the enjoyment of Creatures and but the lower sort of Creatures neither the other in the enjoyment and frution of the Infinite Creatour God Blessed for evermore How far must the latter needs excell the former Ah this Doctrine should take us off from and lift us above the Earth wean us from the World which is hard to effect the hearts of men are so Carnal There is good there to draw us but the Lord is fain to add many evils troubles here to drive us out and well if both would do Oh weep over our Earthly mind and heart Paul did so and get to Heaven in your Conversation Phil. 3.18.20 Are you of the Redeemed or no Gal. 1.4 Colos 3.12 Good is the Object of the Will and Affections and where choice is of the best good if there be one thing better than another the Will of man would have that it aspires after the best Why here be the things and therefore set your affections upon them and not on these meaner worse and inferior things that are beneath Oh get that sweet evidence of Effectual Calling that you are called out of the World taken off from this World and are men of another World men for Heaven bent upward dâ—claring plainly that you seek another and better Country then this and then you may be sure that God is your God Heb. 11.14 16. and will be your guide to the death that he will guide you by his Counsel and afterward receive you unto Glory SERMON VI. HAving passed through the Explanation of this Doctrine we may briefly add somewhat by way of Reason Why the Lord will give unto his people such great Glory in the World to come only out of the Text and we may rather take notice of some Reasons here because they are pointed to in the Text. Reas 1. From the Grace the rich Grace of God and for the Glory thereof Thâ— God of all Grace will give us this Eternal Glory It is his his Glory in his hands and dispose and he out of the Riches of his Grace will bestow and communicate it though he is the God of all Grace also as he is the Author of all the fruits and works of Grace in us yet the expression leads us to the fountain viz. The Infinite Grace nnd kindness that is in God so Rom. 5.21 It is from Grace as the Efficieâ—t That Grace the exceeding Rich Infinite Grace and kindnâ—ss of God may be forever acknowledged magnified and exalted Ephâ—s 1.3 6. When it shall be shewed and God will set himself to shew what a gift Infinite free Grace goodness kindness bounty can give then this will be the Gift such a thing as would Beggar all men and Angels and all the Riches of ten thousand Worlds they could not all should they Joyn together reach such a Gift as this Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus Rom. 6.23 God only the God of all Grace could give this He only was so rich as to be able to fill and store Heaven with all the Treasures and Riches of Glory that is there prepared and when he hath done to give it freely to his chosen There are Riches of goodness in the Gifts God gives and scatters among men here in this World But those are but little matters and by the By. But in the Gift of Heaven and Heavenly things he will set himself to shew the exceeding Riches of his Grace Ephes 2.6 7. We say how can it be that such wonderful Glory should be bestowed on such worthless worms Why it could not be indeed were it not from exceeding Rich and Infinite Grace Grace i. e. that whereby God freely and plentifully gives to the undeserving Creature and in designe to magnifie that To set all Saints and Angels a wondring at the Riches of God and at the bottomless and boundless depth and breadth of his Grace and Love
inevitably lose and miss of viz. Alâ— this Heavenly and Eternal Glory that we have been speaking of For we see it is the portion only of the Faithful of the Effectually Called as Text and Doctrine tells us Therefore they that abide in Impenitency and Unbelief that turn a deaf ear to the Call of the Gospel all their dayes neglect or reject the offers and motions thereof or are but half but almost perswaded never Effectually overcome to imbrace Christ Jesus and to be his in earnest They will lose and be deprived of it lay altogether that hath been said or might be concerning the excellency and greatness of this Glory you will lose and be â—eparated from all this this must be none of the portion of any such but they must be driven away from the presence of God and fellowship of this Glory The pain of loss one part of the damneds misery follows from the point in hand To lose this Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus what a fearful loss is that indeed we cannot now tell you what you will lose It is more then Tongue can utter and Heart conceive 1 Cor. 2.9 The damned in Hell will have a quicker and fuller apprehension of it to their own Terrour than here We can reach For they shall see and know in a great measure what it is though never so as to taste of it Oh the anguish that will thence follow Luk. 14.28 Consider a little here 1. Who they are that shall lose or miss of this Glory that shall never see it as to partake of it And let two or three plain Scriptures speak to this 1. Workers of Iniquity i. e. continuing such to the end of their day of Grace they must be thrown out and the door of Heaven Everlastingly shut against them sent away from the presence of God Luk. 13.27 28. They that live impenitently in any sin that follow the Trade of any way of Evil that live and allow themselves in any in sin yea though but secretly And though they take upon them a Profession of the name of Christ Mat. 7.21 22 23. 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 21. Ephes 5.5 6. Yea they that live in the omission of known duties especially the duties of Love cordial Love to the people of God Mat. 25.41 45. and so other duties also Zeph. 1.6 and 3.2 Heb. 2.3 Psal 79.6 2. Unbelievers that never truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ by whom alone we may be saved Joh. 3 36. 2 Thes 1.8 9 10. We are called by the Gospel and by Effectual Calling as in Text brought to partake of this Glory They therefore that turn a deaf ear to the call of the Gospel all their dayes never heartily listen to it and imbrace it never give up themselves to Christ or receive him by faith they will come short of this Glory Though you have never so many natural or moral excellencies though you carry it Commendable and are useful in your places c. Yet if never took off from your own Righteousness and from Carnal rest in the World in Creature Comforts and from love to sin to take hold of and be united to a Saviour to rest upon him and him alone for Salvation and become his forever If never divorced from all things else and Espoused Married to Christ by Faith you perish without remedy and shall never see the face of God in Glory Mark 16.16 We are commanded to tell you of that and you will find it true 3. The unregenerate all unbelievers are so but there is a distinct notion in this which may be useful Joh. 3.3 5 6. They whose hearts are not turned from sin to God and changed from nature to Grace from flesh to Spirit The unconverted and unsanctified it may take in both that are and continue such they that are not born again never have a new Heart and Spirit nor made new Creatures They shall never be saved never attain to or partake of this Eternal Glory Be you civilly Honest or morally Virtuous or pharisaically Righteous and devout or externally well-reputed as Nocodemus was yet if not regenerate never born again never saved None but the new born are Heirs of Heaven 1 Pet 1.3 4. As descended from the first Adam we are only to an Inheritance in Hell We must be new-begotten and new-born to an Inheritance in Heaven In this sense flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God our old Hearts and old Natures are not fit for Heaven they must be new moulded new made before they come there 4. The unholy will miss of Heavens Glory Heb. 12.14 Heaven is an Holy habitation without Holiness no coming there You may get to Heaven without Riches without Worldly Honour or possibly without great parts and Literal attainments Surgunt indocti Caelum rapiunt c. As he Apud Leigh's Body Divinity pag. 230 without Earthly Contentments but without Holiness no man shall see the face of God in Glory Thâ—re must be a sanctified heart and a sanctified life yea and that here in measure though there will be imperfection while here if ever you be Glorified hereafter You must here begin that Holiness that shall be perfected in Heaven There are that hate Holiness scorne and scoffe at it why you will have little heart to mock when you shall see the Holy ones the Saints of God carried into Heaven and you thrust out Others have no delight at all in Holiness in Holy Duties Holy Ordinances Holy Company it is a buâ—den a weariness a trouble to them Why you are not principl'd for Heaven Heaven would not be a Paradice but a Prison to you a torment in that Condition Others are utter strangers to an Holy Conversation rather walking in the Company and wayes of loose lewd and wicked men than in the wayes of the Holy Contrary to 1 Pet. 1.14 18. nothing of Heaven or Holiness is to be seen upon them no Impression or Charecter thereof Why truly if you do not beg in Heaven in this World you must not look to find it in that to come 5. They that are Enemies to the Lords Holy and faithful people that do hate maligne or seek the hurt or overthrow of those that love Holiness or of their Holy Enjoyments 2 Thes 1.5 9. Trouble and Rest shall then shift hands The Godly that now suffer Trouble shall then â—nter into Rest but their Troublers shall have trouble yea everlasting Trouble instead of Rest They that have had no heart to do good Offices for the Lords People the Members of Christ will then hear from Christ a depart you Cursed Mat. 25.41 45. much more they that act against them The Godly by Gracious suffering of Tribulations get to Heaven Act. 14.22 But the wicked by being active in bringing Tribulations on them plunge themselves deep into Hell Oh foolish World they can never effect the destruction of the Godly but they effect their own destruction by endeavouring it Psal 9.13 17. What
Fellowship of the Spirit to all Eternity Why then Christ is for you this is that the God of all Grace Calls us to by Christ Jesus and this is most worthy of all acceptation The Land we tell you of that Coelestial Land of promise is an exceeding good Land some Clusters and Tasts of the Grapes whereof we have shewed you If you be wise go up at once and possess it and let nothing hinder or detain you as Numb 13.30 and 14.7 8. 3. Consider what a wonderful heart-breaking thing it is that the Lord should speak such a word of Salvation to you or give you such a Call to Eternal Glory Verily next to that Call that the Saints shall have at the last day to the immediate fruition of this Glory Mat. 25.34 is this Call that you now have to the possession of it in and with Christ in the Kingdom of Grace The Lord now sayes to thee come come to Christ Jesus Imbrace and possess him as offered in the Gospel and in with him Eternal Glory not seperating the estate from the person think not to have Christs Glory without having Christ himself nor the end from the way to it Heaven from the way wherein you are to walk thither But take altogether Christ and through him Grace and Glory to be obtained in a way of walking after Christ in the Kingdom of Grace and welcome it as the free gift of God Rom. 6.23 Psal 84.11 12. This the Lord Calls you to come and take possession of he bids you now enter Heaven and take your lot there in the promise and beginning of it And what a wonderful thing is this Remember 1. Whom he speaks and Calls unto a vile Sinner and wretched Malefactor that deserves to be turned into Hell and might have expected to hear a doom and Sentence of Wrath only to hear only news of Woe and Wrath and Fire and Blood to hear such a word as that in Mat. 25.41 And will the Lord unto thee say come come to a Saviour and be forever Blessed in and with him 2 Tim. 7.18 19. The Lord speaks to you of a great while to come even of Eternal Glory in the World to come the offer of it unto you all and the promise of it if you do believe 2. Who is it that Calls viz. God in Christ Jesus the God of all Grace Phil. 3.14 He sends from Heaven to Call you up to Heaven I tell you the Bowels of the Lord Jesus now in Glory are now yearning over some of you yea all of you as he is dispensing this word of Salvation to you 2 Chron. 36.15 We are but poor Instruments Messengers whom he imployes and sends It is from the design of Christ to seek and save poor Creatures to bring them to Heaven therefore he sets this great Salvation before you and Calls on you not to neglect it therefore he lifts up his voice that you might hear it as all his sheep shall and follow him that he might give you Eternal Life Joh. 10.27 28. That the King of Kings the Lord of Lords should call up a worm to the Fellowship of his own Glory Luk. 1.43 much more the Lord himself 3. Of what he speaks viz. Eternal Glory i. e. Grace and Glory the beginning of it here the Consummation of it hereafter the former in order to the latter and to the whole of both at once He offers and calls to it at once The best and greatest thing that God hath to give God himsâ—lf hath no greater gift than that Rom. 6.23 and this he thrusts into thy hands the thing that you have most need of absolute need of for there is but one thing necessary and that is to get Heaven to be saved forever the thing that is able to make you Happy a Beatifical good Everlasting Communion with God which is our Blessedness whole Happiness at once this he layes before you 4. When he thus speaks and Calls to thee when Earth is full of trouble about you and there is no rest upon it then he Calls you up to Heaven and to rest there When this lower World is stormy and unquiet then he leads you to the upper region to the Chambers of Glory where Peace dwells as Isa 26.20 when the Sea rages and is tempestuous about you now he discovers an Harbour to put into the fair Haven of Eternal Glory the Bosom of the Blessed God where your Souls may dwell at ease Psal 25.13 In every other dwelling there is some Inconvenience trouble difficulty pinching want or ail that you do not sit at ease some hard knot in every Worldly Pillow that you do not lie at ease But there your Souls shall dwell at ease lodge in goodness as the word is Goodness universal goodness shall be your lodging place Yea when sin had even thrown you down to Hell seperated you from God provoked his wrath yet now the Lord speaks of Heaven to you Yea now he thus speaks and Calls after all your neglects and mispence of time he is yet calling yet offering Christ and Life and Heaven to you this day this hour Behold now an accepted time a day of Salvation a day of Receiving Possessing and obtaining Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus The offers of Salvation might have long since ceased and ended to you-ward but behold yet they are continued and thou hast this one Call more not only yesterday you might but to day you may hear the voice of Christ Jesus Oh harden not your hearts from so doing It may be thou sayest as Isa 55.5 6. 5. In what way a portion in this Eternal Glory is to be had and obtained in what way the Lord offers it and calls thee to possess it viz. in a way of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ i. e. as I may so express it in a way of leaving and taking Leaving that that is worthy to be left and taking accepting chusing that that is worthy most worthy to be taken Leaving and letting go all evil misery and vanity sin and world as attended and enjoyed in a way of sin Luk. 14.33 And taking all good Christ and all his benefits Grace and Glory all saving good in and with a Saviour This great Estate of Grace and Glory together with so sweet desirable and Glorious a person a match as the Son of God is What a wonderful offer and motion is this and how worthy of all acceptation Hence 4. Consider that they that now in the day of Grace chuse this Eternal Glory in earnest may yea shall have it If you chuse Heaven indeed you shall go thither if willing to have everlasting Felloship with God for your portion you shall have it Why if this be true what more plain than that the offer of of this Glory is free and real what more inexcusable or wilful than the sin and perdition of those that perish What remains but that you be perswaded to chuse and imbrace Heaven and Life
missed of happiness they should not and that it was another sort of people that were accursed and not they Joh. 7.49 Luk. 18.11 12. multitudes have dropt to Hell that lived and died in great expectations of Heaven being deceived some through Haeretical previty some through practical hypocricy of heart and life yea many that have been great professors it may be Preachers of the Truth Mat. 7.21 22 23. Luk. 13.24 25 26. Prov. 14.12 Rom. 2.17 21. Rev. 3.17 Luk. 18.11 12. Paul acts with all diligence in the way of Salvation as being quickned with fear 1 Cor. 9.27 which though he was assured of his Salvation through grace was a just fear in a condition alway viz. in case he should be negligent sensual slight and slothful in running for the prize he might then fall short and be rejected at last as a spurious hypocrite his being a Preacher would not save him The guile and deceitfulness of our hearts the narrowness of the way the manifold Temptations of Satan and the World do make it difficult not to be deceived in that great point Oh what need have we with fear and diligence to labour after a grounded sound assurance of a state of life of utmost care and pains to make our Calling and Election and so our Glorification sure And there is much need to press such matters as these to quicken to this work for the heart is very backward to it and apt to be slight and slothful in it and that is a main reason why so many live without assurance because they neglect and put of the matter and will not be perswaded to set themselves in good earnest about it to take effectual pains to make all sure It is the Lazy Christian that usually lives without assurance Quest What course may we take for the obtaining of this assurance of Eternal Life and Glory Answ For Direction here We have many occasions though not too many to be speaking somewhat of this nature Let me at present propound something 1. By way of means to obtain this 2. By way of tryal or helps to discern and discover the truth and certainty of our title to Heaven 1. For a way of means to obtain this 1. Pray much and earnestly for assurance I speak properly to those that are regenerate or have hopeful beginnings of Grace in them though the things we speak may be of use also unto others to mind them what they are to pursue after Where there wants Faith pray for it but where there is Faith or somewhat of it pray for more of it for growth and exercise and that in special unto full assurance It is Christs own direction to his Disciples Joh. 16.24 If we have not full Joy it is because we have empty slight and thin prayers they that are much in asking shall be much in receiving both Sanctifying and Comforting Grace And oh sweet consideratlon that it is the mind and will of Christ that we should seek and pray for full Joy and Peace in believing so Joh. 15.11 He speaks to us for this and he would have us speak to God for it He would not have you alwayes drooping and complaining nor live a poor scant scrambling beggarly life He would have you have full Joy and abound be rich what are you beggarly and have scâ—râ—e afâ—w rags of broken hopes to cover you Rom. 15.13 Pray for this this is according to his will you shall be welcome to ask it of him 1 Joh. 5.14 15 and that is the way prayer according to his will with faith that he hears such prayers to come to know as v. 13. The Lord would have us not only sip but take full draughts of the water of Life Joh. 7.37 and that by or in a way of asking the same Job 4.10 Prayer takes up what is left us in the promise The Lord hath left you large portions of all Grace Sanctifying and Comforting yea Eternal Glory to be enjoyed fully hereafter and in the assurance hope and Comfort of it here Go and take it up by humble fervent Prayer for it 's the Legacy Christ hath left you Turn all his promises into prayer and desire him to do as he hath said 2 Sam. 7.25 27 28 29. You are thus far sure at least that he hath spoken of such things that he hath to give and that you are bidden pray and seek for them and that he will do them for them that heartily seek them Oh with what sweet hope and incouragement may you pray for these things And prayer is not only a means for the time to come but it oft brings in present incomes of the good prayed for The Bucket of prayer dipt into the well of Salvation or of the waters of life comes up full and that many times unto feeling as well as unto Faith for unto Faith true prayer alwayes does so How often does the Lord sweetly comfort and establish the Soul while the praying for Comfort and stablishment Ps 4.6 7. How oft does David in his Psalms close with Praise when he began with Prayer We have examples in Scripture of extraordinory appearances to Gods Servants while they were praying Dan. 9.20.23 Act. 11.5 and 22.17 18. and much more frequent are more ordinary Communications of Grace and Consolation in Prayer but it must be hearty fervernt importunate Prayer empty lifeless Forms and Customary overly performances do much harden the heart and quench the spirit and do provoke the Lord to withdraw instead of coming near the Soul But 2 Chron. 15.15 Luk. 11.8 9. Hos 12.3 4. 2. Labour after the mortifying and subduing of your special and beloved sin your own iniquity For while that prevails that darkens the sincerity and Efficacy of Grace in the Soul breaks the Peace thereof grieves the Holy Spirit who thence withdraws his Comforting work But when that is subdued and there is a good measure of victory over it and a plain penitent departing from it not only by exchange of one bosome sin into another nor by its bring out of date in regard of the natural disposition of the Body c. but when really mortified made better to the heart the Soul broken from and for it watchful against it improving Christ for Redemption from it that is a plain evidence of the sincerity of Grace Psal 18.21 23. If that master sin be mortified all sin is and where there is true mortification there is true union to Christ by Effectual Calling and a state of Life Eternal Hence the cutting off of the right hand i. e. of the bosom-sin is accompanied with entrance into life that is a thing accompanies Salvation Heb. 6.9 Mark 9.43 47. Hence when the Apostle would raise them up to a Heavenly frame such as might shew them to be indeed risen with Christ He calls on them to mortifie their special Corruptions Colos 3.1 2 3 5. And now when sin is subdued and the Soul is taught to walk with God in his wayes the
his Sheep-coats and Cow-houses and Rural Tents as also Reuben Jugd 5.16 And therefore they are more ignoble Ass-like servile spirited The great things of the World are but seemingly great and therefore it is but a false and shady and spurious greatness of spirit that the great men of the World have But the true Christian how poor soever in this World converses with the things that are indeed great God Christ and Heaven and Eternal Glory Jam. 2.5 and therefore true and genuine greatness of spirit holy magnanimity and bravery is and should be found with him It is a shame foâ— him if the poorest meanest Believer have not more true greatness of spirit humble indeed and nothing in himself but high and mighty in Christ strong in the Lord and in the power of his might then the greatest Nimrods of the World They wrestle not for corruptible Crowns not for a fashion that passâ—th away and that will leave them spiritless and succourless when real distress comes But he hath that that will stand by him and endure through all worldly changes and is a sufficient support against the same even as Heaven is higher then the Earth so should the spirits of true Christians be above that of the World Hence we find among the Martyrs poor mean men women sometimes have had a spirit above their Persecutors when clothed with all Worldly greatness as Act. 6.10 Mat. 10.18 20. and in their greatest sufferings they have been more then Conquerours Rom. 8.35 36 37. Sin hath debased the spirit of man and made it so vile and low that every temptation every Worldly allurement or affrightment overcomes it and tramples upon it But Grace raises the spirit of a Believer who is risen with Christ especially when it grows up to a sight of Glory and lively hope thereof when Faith and Holiness are lively and active it makes a man to be of an excellent spirit above the spirit of the World Dan. 6.3 So far as this Excellent spirit is wanting in Christians so far they are carnal and Earthly and little acquainted with Heaven Oh get thine heart filled with Heaven that will lift it above the Earth and above that Earthliness and baseness and weakness that sin and estrangement from God doth clog it with 2. Improve Heaven and your hope thereof unto Consolation or spiritual Joy and Comfort This use the Lord expects and requires you should make of that hope of Glory hereafter which he gives unto you here Luk. 10.20 Mat. 5.12 Rom. 5.2 1 Thes 4.18 Heaven when actually enjoyed is the fulness of Joy and Comfort Mat. 25.21 Psal 16.11 Luk. 16.25 And while it is but promised and hoped for it is a matter of great Joy and Comfort If any of the faithful live without this Joy they do either discouragedly and sinfully put away or carelesly neglect the portion that God gives them Oh we have too much Earthly but too little Heavenly Joy an Earthly Carnal heart is the reason of that whereby we live below the Condition that God calls to Comfort and Joy is the life of every life whether natural rational or spiritual If a man have no Joy of this life it is a death rather than life No life so full of Comfort as the life of a Christian is or may be Spiritual life hath Glory in the end of it to put Comfort into all the way Oh what happy and Comfortable lives might we live if the fault were not our own when as we have the whole Covenant of Grace and therein a whole Heaven made over to us to rejoyce in God and Christ and his spirit to be our everlasting portion and not only an Interest in him at present but full fruition of him in Heaven made sure to us What though there be tribulations bitterness in the way there is sweetness enough in the end to swallow up all the bitterness thereof and to make it a light thing as 2 Cor. 4.17 and therefore notwithstanding that we may rejoyce more particularly therefore let the fore-thoughts of Heaven be matter of Comfort and Consolation 1. Against the loss of any of the good things of this World one or more some yea or all Heb. 10.34 Though you lose this or that on Earth if you have Heaven you have that that is better and virtually you have it still A better good contemns an inferior good in it For Major continet minus He that hath White-bread enough need not care though he lose a Brown-Loaf He that hath God and Heaven to rejoyce in can lose but little though he should lose all the the Earth He hath the best good and the main still and more enduring a permanent a never-failing good a good that cannot be lost Whatever you lose here you have a portion in Heaven that you cannot lose no spoiler can spoil you of that Mat. 6.20 He cannot lose much whose portion is in Heaven for that cannot be lost and all the rest all the World is but a little an inconsiderable thing Luk. 16.10 11 12. The much the main the true riches and that that is your own your proper portion that is assigned to you by God to have and to hold forever that is whole and safe still They that have great Estates they may bear it to lose a little and not feel it much yea that that would be to another man the loss of his whole Estate he may bear it to lose a little yea should it be all Earthly Comforts that to an ungodly man is his whole Estate it is all that ever he hath he may well wring his hands and waile and take on as one undone But the Godly that hath all the Glory of Heaven all the good of the Covenant of Grace for his own it is but a flea-biting to him but a little nay indeed none of his proper Estate and Portion but Additionalls but thread and Paper cast in over and above Moses can lose and leave all the Glory Wealth and pleasure of the Court of Pharaoh and make no matter of it while he looks to this recompence of reward Heb. 11.24 25 26. 2. Against the fears and dangers of Evils that may befall us in this World and all manner of afflictions therein fears and threatning dangers of what may come is oft no small part of our tryal and affliction But Luk. 12.32 in times of greatest fears this is a quieting thought that there can come nothing that shall keep you from Heaven if you be the Lords Whatever good be taken away it cannot take away Heaven from you whatever evil comes it cannot hinder you from Heaven It cannot separate you from everlasting Communion with nay it shall further you rather thereunto And if so then you may triumph over all things and evil instruments in the World that do or can annoy you Rom. 8.35.37 38 39. If you do or most actually go through some Tribulations and sorrows such as are pinching and painful to the flesh
unless he speak a word of peace to me Psal 69.2 3 17 8. and 143.4 7. And in a time of need God will help when you are lost God will find you when you are sick to death he will heal you Isa 57.16 28 29. His bowels will earn towards you Never fear want of Consolatian if your Humiliation be not ineffectual And here let me warn you of a thing or two Take heed least some lesser sorrows and affections heal and ease you and so you be kept from great and effectual sorrows and from Comfort by Christ only Many a one sees himself in a miserable Condition hereupon he goes alone he prayes and weeps too it may be very affectionatly for mercy Upon this he grows well and whole again His good affections please him and heal him though he be indeed still as far from Christ and grounded Comfort as ever Take heed of this As also secondly Of resting in some hopes of mercy or in some tasts of mercy Many things give a man good hope that God may save him and the words of Comfort are sometimes sweet and refreshing to his heart this quiets him He hath enough now he runs away with this when as Christ himself is not yet his nor is he satisfied with him only Many perish here not but that these affctions and hopes are very good and they may be true and be sure to be exceeding thankful for any such thing that you have any desire to seek God any tears at any time before him and hope toward him it s more than thousands have and very good encouragement to seek after Christ more but not to be rested in without Christ It 's a sign a mans heart is false when a little of any thing will serve him Use those sorrows heart-breakings and hopes as blessed encouragemnts and ingagements to follow on still and get nearer to Christ and to gain in upon him but rest not till you be sure you have Christ and fully rest in him and your heart live upon him only alone wholly and alwayes Now for the way you are to take in the Case owned and expressed by your self I would add a little as the Lord shall help Do not say there is no hope and so give over striving Give not way to a sullen desperateness and deadness of heart to a dulled sunk discouraged spirit as it were in vain to stir and will never be better with you Do not say thus it hath been and thus it is and you cannot help it and there tear it No no arise and be doing and God will be with you is an old and good Rule What ever your Case be never be discouraged Be humble and afflicted under sin and misery the more the better but never be discouraged Resolve I will yet follow God for all this come on me what will See 1 Sam. 12.20 Know that God is God and not man he can help nay he will He is willing to help you if you be not unwilling to have it See Isa 55.8 Jer. 33.3 Hos 13.9 Joh. 4.10 and 6.36 He hath after mercies for them that have abused former mercies Ezek. 39.26 Jer. 3.1 22. If it were but a may be Amos 5.15 Zeph. 2.3 A who can tell Jon. 3.9 Joel 2.14 A Lord if thou wilt Mat. 8.2 It 's enough to make us follow after God to the last gaspe Secondly look up to the infinite God to help you for his names sake and for the Lord Jesus sake You know you are miserable and have unspeakable need of his help though you do not feel it and be not offended with it Upon this ground and this is ground enough go to God and tell him that the less sense you have the greater is your misery and the more need you have of his help None but God can pull you out of this pit can inlighten this darkness and break this Adamant to him therefore you come according to his own Counsel Rev. 3.18 Tell him he knows you and sees you though you do not know or see him no nor your self neither He can take hold of you though you cannot take hold of him Joh. 15.16 Bring such an heart as you have longing that it were better to him that he would mend it Bewaile this impenitent heart cry out of this secure sottifh heart as the greatest evil that could befall you beseech him to use any means to break it and change it Fill your mouth with Arguments before him tell him of his free oh hang there upon free mercy his tender his preventing his manifold rich mercy Say you are resolved never to leave him till he give you this Grace effectually and all the Grace you want everlasting mercy Cry to him out of the thick darkness and out of the low â—ungeâ—n Lam. 3.55 When you have no mind to pray when Devil and World when heart and the gates of Hell are agaist you Yâ—t then even then pray in spite of all your spiritual Adversaries Offer violence to the Kingdom of Heaven stir up your self to take hold on God lay hold on Eternal Life when nothing but darkness and death is about you when God stops his ear against you and shuts up his heart too yet then fall down before him put your mouth in the dust judge and loath your self hate your sin that brought you to this pass Look again toward him as Jon. 2.4 7. close with him at and upon the sword point though he kill me yet will I trust in him Bless his name and say as Lam. 3.22 Châ—tâ—er before him leave your self to his mercy to his absolute soveraign meer mercy renouncing all other props and comforts Sâ—â—â— Isa 50.10 Tell him as Daniel 9.9 â—â—solve to follow him though blindfold anâ— see Rom. 11.32 33. Gal. 3.22 When you are shut up under sin and unbelief then look to him who is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him You know not how to look to him nor what it is to believe nor how to go about such a thing therefore tell God that you come to him for Faith as well as other things You want every thing and you come â—or every thing the poorest Creature that lives and know that the blessed God would have you come to him in Christ for every thing Christ hath all power in his hands to help you Joh. 17.2 and see Joh. 6.37 Thirdly continue in seeking God till you find him Follow on to know the Lord and then be your Case what it will you shall know him Hos 6.2 Col. 4.2 Luk. 18.1 Many are very serious and earnest for a fit but they give over before the Lord come and will rather patch up their Comfort and Salvation of any fashion then take the pains to hold out in seeking God with all their might Multitudes perish here Oh! look to this for do not think especially in the Case you are in to get Grace and Christ in the sense before spoken of
presently No no God may make you seek and wait many a day but you shall reap in due time if you faint not Gal. 6.9 Diligently therefore and Constantly attend and improve all the Ordinances and Opportunities that God gives In special let me speak a word or two for your better help in them being more private and personal viz. First Meditation a most necessary and effectual thing which few practice Get a little time to meditate dayly laying aside other things and in other occasions too think as much of Spiritual things as you can We do not see nor feel because we do not think of things think of God and of Christ of Sin of Heaven of Hell of Judgment of Eternity how few shall be saved how necessary it is to take the present time What we come into the World for of quickning passages in Scripture of Gods dealings with you of your former life and present Condition c. But you will say my heart is so vain and stupid I cannot think of things I Answer First let this deeply humble you and the vileness of your heart that here discovers it self will be worth the while Secondly beseâ—ch God to help you Thirdly By use of time you will find it more easie Fourthly take advantage upon all the evil frames that at present you feel to apply and set on some soaking expression in Scripture As in case of hardness blindness vanity see Rom. 9.18 2 Cor. 4.4 Prov. 10.20 Yea hence see and say that God is true and his word is true for the Scripture tells me of this heart I feel and the rest of it will be verified upon me as well as this Fifthly take the advantage of special seasons for Meditation when your heart is in a feeling frame as after Prayer after Sermon if you cannot before and lay up what you get One truth felt in Mâ—ditation is worth a World and it will make way for more Sixthly do something that is equivalent and helping to it at least when you cannot so directly meditate as reading of a good Book writing of your former and present life that is a thing of endless use gathering up Gods mercies and your sins in writing sometimes c. Secondly Prayer this is the blessed means of getting a poor soul to Heaven And what an happiness is it that we may pray to God besides Family-prayer get some time for secret Prayer dayly less or more Be telling God your heart alone I know your occasions and labours the Lord break my heart for you would not afford you that liberty that I wretch have But do what you can love the duty and God will pitty you wherein you are justly and by his providence not your own negligence hindred and this is certain he that hath an heart shall never want time or place to pray Endeavour to order your matters so as you may have time for it And if you could weekly have a piece of an Afternoon as Saturdy in the Afternoon an hour or two or as God guids set a part for secret and close converse with God by Meditation and Prayer thinking writing reading examining mourning before God and do this constantly you would never repent it The business of Salvation is mainly carried on in secret between God and a mans own soul And by all means provide that you may have your Sabbaths as free as possible all the day and the Evening before and after for spiritual work Ply God in such seasons as these be and be very thankful if you get but any little ground of your corruptions and miseries Go about your lawfull occasions not as a liberty to the flesh as to think that now my task of praying is over now I may please my self and refresh my heart in the World c. but as the service of God and as unto him because he bids you be thus imployed As when he bids me pray I will pray with all my might so I will work too when he bids me work and not do it to please my self alas if I consider it what pleasure or Comfort is there in this evil World but to please him I will busie and employ my self in this World because he bids me but my place and my rest shall be only in God or no where As Seamen go to Sea but build their houses at land so I 'le go into the World but lay up my heart and comfort and my whole support in God! I will live in the World but not upon it I will live only upon God and have my Portion in him And do not think that this sorrow and sence of sin and mourning after God stands in a Monkish dooping sullenness and sadness though 't is certain that by the sadness of the Countenance the heart is made better and one should not give himself to unnecessary mirth which is very poysonfull nor purposely choak his spirituall sorrows with temporal delights But when you have seriously spent your time with God and have left your heart with him and he calls you to your occasions go about them with alacrity and chearfullness so as you may dispatch them comfortably and carry amiably and delightfully to those about you And let your sorrows and sense of your Souls miseries lie deep and undermost so as you may recall them in their season when you come to pray or be alone with God again labour to have a constant habituall feeling of your self and get as many good thoughts and affections as you can at all times so as it may be livelily actual especially in your seasons of attending upon God and in them drive on the business of your Soul as if there were no World and as if there were nothinng else to be minded but that And if you find your heart gon when the season of seeking God comes then know that you have in some measure backslidden and forsaken God and never leave till you have recovered it Recall and review often the chief sins of your life that you can remember confess and aggravate them before God in a speciall manner but have your times of confessing and bewailling all the sins that ever you can remember and think of what sins or course it was that caused God to leave you to this wofull impenitency of heart and bewail them bitterly One thing more I must add Do not think it much to have some speciall seasons of seeking God besides those I have named If you had a friend with whom you might now and then spend a little time in conferring together in opening your hearts and presenting your unutterable groanings before God it would be of excellent use Such an one would greatly strengthen bestead and further you in your way to Heaven Spend now and then as occasions will permit an hour or so with such a friend more then ordinary sometimes a piece of a day sometimes a whole day of extraordinary fast in striving and wrestling with God for everlasting mercy And