â—est The principle of Grace and these merâ—ies themselves are of a durable nature Grace â—s an immortal seed a never-dying root â—rincipium continuativum Joh. 7.38 He that â—elieveth in me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water though Grace is loseable in its own nature yet not in event because God upholds it the house built on the rock shall stand immovable Prov. 10.25 1 Jâ—h 2.17 the righteous is an everlasting foundation he that doth the will of God abides for ever yea he hath eternal life abiding in him But may not they depart from God no not totally and finally for God hath put his fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 they may sin and provoke God to withdraw the sense of his love they may lose their standing comforts and some degrees of Grace but never be stripped naked wholly of these sure mercies of David God hath secret hold of them and they have more hold of him than others have they are restless and dissatisfied till they enjoy God and these mercies be clear to them this Golden Chain stretcheth it self from everlasting it begins in free Election and ends in final salvation whom he predestinates them he calls justifies glorifies Rom. 8.29 30. it is horrid sacriledge to pluck one link from this golden Chain God is the finisher as well as the Author of faith it is not within the compass of any finite being to rob a gracious soul of the love of God or stop the channel of his Free-Grace to the Covenanted soul Paul can make a bold and brave challengeâ— Rom. 8.35 38 39. Who shall separate us from the love of God and he makes a sufficient enumeration of all things that were likely to conquer the believing soul and yet concludes that in all these things we are more than conquerours through Christ there are in the word sweet promises that may answer all Arminian Cavils and unbelieving fears concerning perseverance which many choice champions have produced and managed with dexterity and success See Mr. Prins Treat of Perseverance Dr. Prid. Lect. 7. De persevsanct Dr. Ames Coron Artic. 5. De perseverantiâ CHAP. IV. 3. THE third Head to be opened is more particularly to shew what is the way of making sure these Covenant-mercies how God doth it Now there are several steps of making a thing sure amongst men and God hath used the same means and some degrees more to make these mercies sure to the Children of men 1. Men are wont to pass their word When they promise any thing upon the word of an honest man they expect credit and among men this is current and the God of Heaven is worthy to be believed upon his bare word if I may so speak for he is a God that cannot lye nor deny himself yea let God be true and every man a lyar even a Balaam is convinced of it and must profess it Numb 23.19 God is not a man that he should ly hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good the unchangeable God hath ingaged his Word in the New Covenant the Patriarchs of old gave credit to all that God spake by dreams visions and revelations as Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 2. Hence Neâ— 9 38. We make a sure Covenant and write it Men use to give greater evidence by subscribing their hand and putting their mind and promise into Writing hence the expression and practice of giving Letters of credence and we use to say men are mortal give it me under your hand that will abide for litera scripta manet well our gracious God hath condescended to subscribe his promises under his own hand the hand of his blessed Spirit the word of God is upon record therefore whatsoever was written it is for our learning I may add satisfaction that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 he hath given assurance to us of these things in the word of truth for this cause was the Gospel written that we may know the certainty of these things Luk. 1.4 and that we might believe Joh. 20.31 who dare now dispute or doubt of the truth and sureness of Gospel-promises since Heaven and Earth may pass away but one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5.18 3. Men use to call in Witnesses for further confirmation some important businesses require several witnesses Deut. 19.15 it s a standing rule at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the matter be established well the God of Heaven hath confirmed his Gospel to us by three and three witnesses there 's three in Heaven the glorious persons of the Blessed Trinity the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one one in essence though three persons 1 Job 5.7 these bear Record of Christs God-head and there are three that bear witness in earth ver 8. these testifie of Christs manhood the Spirit i. e. say some his breathing out his soul and spirit in his giving up the Ghost and water and blood that came out of his side when it was pierced with a spear that shew he was real man and that he did really dye Hanc sequor sententiam hoc loco nec puto aliam posse adduci veriorem Aretius in loc See Mar'orate in loc Aretius interprets these three latter of the spirit in the Ministry of the Word the Water of Baptism and the Blood of the Lords Supper representing Christs meritorious Blood-shed and still this interpretation further confirms the Gospel-Covenant and consequently the mercies of it 4. Men use to give assurance to others by setting to their seal hence the practice amongst us of setting a seal to bills bonds leases purchases letters patents and this seal hath usually persons cognizance or Coat of Armes or some impression upon it and leaves the impression upon the Wax the God of Heaven adds his seal there is the broad seal of the new Covenant Baptism and the Lords Supper given and appointed purposely for the confirmation of our faith and asâ—uring of our hearts of the truth of the proâ—mises as Circumcision is called a seal of the Righteousness of faith Rom. 4.11 for by â—ese seals both the Grace of God is confirmed to us and holy impressions wrought in thâ— hearts of the elect there are also privy seals the seal of this blessed spirit in our hearts Ephes Eph. 4.30.2 Cor. 1 22. 1.13 sealed with that holy spirâ— of promise hereby Gods Children are distiâ—guished from wicked men and confirmed iâ— the truth of the Gospel yea it beareth witness with their spirit that they are the Chiâ—dren of God Rom. 8.16 this is an elegant simâ—litude for all civil Charters and Testamenâ— become authentick by the addition of a seaâ— and the seal in â—ormer times was the note iâ— Letters by which
my face doth your heart readily eccho thy face Lord will I seek do your souls tremble under sence of threatnings and judgements do the apprehensions of Gods loving-kindness melt and attract your heart doth this strongly lead and draw you to repentance ask your own souls such questions as these whereby you may know whether you have this condition and disposition of the Gospel-Covenant 8. The last disposition that is promised in the New Covenant as a singular mercy is holy practice spiritual obedience so Ezek. Si ergo talis fucrit vita nostra ita omnibus membris quaâ—rata composita ut universi motus nostri secundum Dei Leges agantur vere testamentum Dei erit super carnem nostram Orig. Hom. 3. in cap. 17. gen 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them this is an holy watchful chearful faithful fruitful obedience to Divine precepts and commands so then let me pose you thus do you run the ways of Gods commandments with enlarged hearts do you follow God fully and walk with God uprightly do you delight to do Gods will and in all things mind your rule doth the mind of God move you more than the customes and traditions of men though you cannot say you do exactly keep yet cannot you say you have respect to all Gods commandments are you like the Centurion's servants ready to go or come at Gods biding doth the Authority of a divine command more awe your conscience to obedience than the examples of most or best of men do you with Zechariah and Elizabeth walk in all the ways of Gods commandments blameless do you take heed to your ways that you offend not with tongue or hand or foot do you worship God in the beauty of holiness do you make it your business to ingage your hearts in your approaches to God do you lift up your hearts in Gods ways that God and you may meet do you worship God in the spirit rejoyce in Christ Jesus not having any confidence in the flesh in a word do you gladly follow Christs example study conformity to him and communion with him is faith working by love and doth that love ingage you to keep Gods commands and render them not grievous but pleasant do you account Christs yoke easie his burden light and his service perfect freedom and are you constant and permanent in holy walking all your days and though you may stumble and fall or turn aside or stand still or turn back yet you dare not quit and forsake Gods ways or chuse the ways of sin to go aside with the workers of iniquity but you lament your miscarriages are restless till you get into Gods ways again plead hard for pardon are more jealous over your hearts make more haste God-wards and so through grace keep faithful to death that you may receive a Crown of life Thus I have gleaned up the conditions or dispositions of Gods Children which are promised by God purchased by Christ and effectually wrought by the blessed spirit in the hearts of the elect and these are the mercies of the Covenant by which you may try whether you be interested in the Covenant for if you find these new-Covenant-mercies in you you may conclude you have an interest in new Covenant-priviledges Another way of tryal which I shall but briefly hint at is to discover the properties and effects of new Covenant-mercies upon the souls of such as partake of them i. e. those benefits and priviledges of the Covenant as Reconciliation Adoption Remission of sin imputation of Christs Righteousness and the rest before-mentioned leave gracious effects upon the hearts of such as partake thereof Take a taste 1. They are transforming conforming mercies they change heart and life as before yea and they make the soul argue from mercy to duty that soul that partakes of these mercies dare not sin that Grace may abound nor argue from mercy to sinful liberty much less make Christian liberty a cloak of lasciviousness oh no that 's the devils Logick a Child of God thinks and thus reasons did Christ dye for me and shall not I dye unto sin and live unto him that dyed for me shall my dear Saviour shed his blood for me and shall I think any thing too dear for him shall he forgive much to me and shall not I give all I have to him shall not I love him much pray much obey much O my soul how canst thou chuse but live in new obedience doth not the love of Christ constrain thee hath he reconciled thee to God and God to thee and wilt not thou be reconciled to thy offending brother hath he forgiven thee ten thousand Talents gratis and wilt not thou forgive such as offend thee a few farthings for Christs sake hath God given thee himself and dost thou withhold any part of thy poor silly sorry self from him nay here I am let him work in me and do with me as seems good in his eyes 2. They are chearing comforting and refreshing mercies these mercies of the Covenant will answer all objections clear all scores and put the soul out of doubt concerning its state Let the Devil and an unbelieving heart conspire together to torment the Conscience yet one word of the blessed Covenant will baffle all their arguings and stop their mouths and still the soul let God speak out and say I am thy God in Covenant who then can cause trouble this was all Davids Salvation Desire and Consolation One drop of this holy Oyle of the Covenant will sweeten a whole Fountain and Sea of the bitter Waters of the sharpest afflictions a taste of the Covenant will turn Water into Wine this is the Tree cast into the bitter Waters of Marah Isa 33.24 that makes them sweet sense of pardon takes away the sense of the pain if a particular promise can so comfort a soul as it may be called a cordial Oh what comfort will the Covenant afford which is a cluster and constellation of Evangelical promises the good things of the new Covenant keep head above Water and heart above terrour in all conditions these steel the soul with courage in difficulties comfort in Adversity and an Antidote in prosperity 3. These mercies of the Covenant are raising reviving elevating mercies they lift the heart above the World and advance it to Divine Coelestial objects and Conceptions Rev. 12.1 Col. 3.1 Phil. 3.8 9. a Christian thus cloathed with the Sun hath the Moon under his feet and all Sublunary enjoyments at his heels Christ and things above lye next his heart other things are dross and dung in comparison thereof a Covenanted Christians Treasure is in Heaven and his heart is there he preferrs a grain of Grace to all the comforts of the World common mercies will not content his heart or quiet his Conscience he opens his Heaven-born soul to Heavenly influences he
express particular perswasions of some mercy as those blessed Patriarchs Gen. 48 21. chap 50.24 Behold I dye but God shall be with you and bring you again to the Land of your Fathers Yea cannot you that are Children bear your Testimony for God that he hath been and done according to your Parents faith and hope Solomon could say after Davids death thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my Father great mercy or bounty but that 's not all and thou hast kept saith he for him this great kindness that thou hast given him a Son to sit upon his Throne 1 King 3.6 and I question not but many of you can say as much for God that God hath had respect to you in Temporals because you were the seed of such as were dear to him Oh follow their steps and you shall fare as they fared 2. Yet further you that are the Children of Godly Parents Isa 44.3.59.21 Exod. 20.6 See 2 Sam. 23 1-5 Act. 3.25 you lye directly under the influences of these sure mercies the promise is made to believers and to their seed Gen. 17.7 Act. 2.38 39. such promises bear up the hearts of Gods poor expiring servants concerning their surviving Children Well then let Children claim their interest plead this grant none of you will lose your inheritance for want of looking after it if your Landlord promise you a Lease of your Tenement after your Father's decease if you sue to him for it and pay the accustomed fine will you be so mad as to be turned out of your Farm and the Heritage left by your Fathers than own your just and loving Landlord according to the Laws of the Land no man is so fond in Temporals and why should you be so foolish in Spirituals Ah Christians look after your Patrimony despise not your Birth-right is it nothing to you to be born of believing Parents remember your Parents Prayers and Tears their Hopes and fears Oh consider how it comforted their hearts upon their death-bed that they left you under a good Covenant and bequeathed to you a goodly heritage and why should your Parents be deceived in their hopes and meet you strangers at the great day to God and Christ to be set with filthy Goats upon the left hand for ever why will you embezzle or sin away this fair estate why will you not sue out this blessed Charter for your own souls in the Court of Heaven God is as willing to make it over to you as ever he was to bestow it on your Parents he is loath to cut off his kindness from their seed he looks after you in your soul-destroying practices and saith as once to Israel that did so wofully degenerate Jer. 22.5 q. d. I remember the kindness that in former times there was betwixt thy ancestors and me Oh their zeal in running after me the holy services they did perform to me thy Father or Grand-father and some former Generations maintained entercourse with me and I with them there was love of espousals betwixt us and I am sure I was not wanting to them I lookt carefully to them all that sought to devour them were my enemies they did offend me and I brought evil upon them I pleaded their cause while they lived and I took them seasonably to Heaven and if thou that art their off-spring wouldest have put me to 't I would have done as much for thee if thou hadst but laid hold of that Covenant those very Covenant-mercies should have been thine but thou art gone back thou wilt have none of me but walk after new upstart vanities thou wilt not vouchsafe so much as to enquire after the God of thy Fathers that was so faithful to them and did so much for them but let me ask thee A like Expostulation see in Miâ— 6.3 4. since thou wilt needs leave me what iniquity have either thy Fathers or thou found in me produce thy reasons testifie against me did I ever do thee any wrong have I not always done thee good Oh soul whithersoever thou goest from me thou missest of such a God as thy Fathers served God seems in that Scripture to speak after this manner Oh hearken to the eternal God if you will not heed the dying words of your mortal Parents that dyed in the Lord though one would think those should move and melt your hearts into tears of Gospel sorrow why should your dear deceased Parents rise up in judgement against you at the day of judgement when it shall be enquired whether they did their duty they must needs answer according to truth that they did instruct correct counsel admonish their wandring Prodigal Children they brought them to Ordinances prayed for them wept and travelled again for them and yet could not prevail and now must come in to bear witness against them and must rejoyce in Gods just vengeance upon them Oh what a sad case will these rebellious Children be in 't is no pleading priviledges by means of believing Parents at that day the higher you were advanced therein the lower will you be cast down to Hell Matth. 11.23 oh how terrible will it be to see godly Parents in Heaven and themselves cast into utter darkness yea to see strangers or the Converted Children of Heathenish Parents come from East and West and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven but the Children of these Kingdoms posterity of Covenanted Parents cast out into utter darkness See Mat. 8.11 12. Let me therefore perswade all graceless Children to look about them do you above all others take heed of miscarrying greater expectations are from you than others the surviving friends of your Religious Ancestors look after you and enquire what you do oh rejoyce their hearts by walking in the steps of your predecessours I shall bespeak you yea charge you in the words of Reverend Mr. Bolton upon his death-bed that none of you will dare to meet us at the great Tribunal in an unregenerate state let every Child of Godly Parents plead for Covenant-mercies as once Solomon did 2 Chron. 1.8 9. thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my Father now O Lord God let thy promise unto David my Father be established thus do you plead with God and say Lord my Parents embraced the Covenant it was thy free-grace to choose them and set thy heart upon them and is that Grace weary canst thou not own me with Covenant-mercy nay dost thou not call that mercy to Abraham by the surer name of truth unto Jacob am not I a Child of the promise Lord cut not off the entail of Covenant-mercies from me or mine for ever But I must hasten let all souls seek after a share in Covenant-mercies you that are afar off and you that are near Children of the good and of the bad draw near hither take hold of this Covenant here 's mercy for you all these mercies are attainable let the wicked forsake his way and the
sin exceedingly against God and our own souls in neglecting those means of assurance 2. You cannot evidence your truth of grace or title to Covenant-mercies unless you use Gods appointed means to obtain assurance it 's an ill sign of a graceless heart to nourish doubtings and distrusts and then to come in with such pleas as these true faith is accompanied with doubtings he that doubts not doth not believe a doubting faith is a good faith let me have doubts and fears I dare not be too confident lest I presume But I must tell thee soul a doubting faith is but a weak faith and a Christian ought to be strong in faith Rom. 4.20 and make a progress to a full degree and proficiency in grace and endeavour to arrive to a plerophory and full assurance for this is the nature of grace to be pressing after perfection Rom. 1.17 and go from faith to faith even from a faith of adherence to a faith of evidence and assurance yea let such know this that slight means of assurance you live in a constant neglect of a known duty in disobedience to a flat command Heb. 6.11 and we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end q. d. if your faith and hope be of the right stamp as it may seem to be it will be working off all doubtings anxious thoughts and distrusting fears and move to a further degree of confidence and assurance else you may suspect the truth of it 3. You cannot assure your selves of creature enjoyments a day to an end nor yet of immunity from crosses and if you have not assurance of these sure mercies what have you to bear up your hearts in an evil day we little know what shaking times may come that may pluck from you whatever you account dear and if you have not something above oh the sad confusions that will seize upon you but assurance of an interest in the God of Heaven and the good things of the Covenant will be a guard to free your hearts from those numerous Armies of tormenting fears that will beset you this will be a cordial to drive away sick and swooning qualmes from your troubled spirits assurance of Gods love will fortifie your hearts against the fierce assaults of men and devils Psal 27.1 the Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear Exod. 12.23 Ezek. 9.6 destroying Angels shall not come near any persons that are sprinkled with Christs blood and have the mourners mark a day of danger horrour confusion may overtake us in the Nation in which we may be stript naked of all our enjoyments surely then assurance of our interest in the best riches in the World will stand us in stead and when all things else fail these will abide with us But 4. Consider the great advantages of assurance I can but name them 1. It will assure us that we shall want nothing that 's good for us if he have given us Christ then will he give us all good things Rom. 8.32 2. It gives a sweet relish to every comfort of life delight in Gods great goodness Neh. 9.25.3 It will sweeten the bitterest cup of affliction Mat. 9.2 4. It gives boldness to the Throne of Grace Heb. 10.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. with a liberty to say what we list if according to his will and he will hear us 5. Assurance helps the soul to despise the World he that knows he is cloathed with the Sun can trample the Moon under his feet 1 Pet. 4.14 16. see Heb. 10.34.6 It strengthens against the censures and reproaches of men no matter what men say when God acquits Rom. 8.33 34. our Conscience tells us we are not the men we are represented to be 7. It sweetens the reading of the Word and receiving of the Sacraments these promises seals blood of the Covenant are mine precepts threatnings all things his 1 Cor. 3.21 22.8 It enlargeth the soul in praise and thanksgiving hence those Hallelujahs in Heaven the more assurance the more thankfulness Psal 103.1 2 3. 9. It commendeth Religion to others makes Gods ways lovely Oh taste and see come and I will shew you what he what he hath done for my soul ingageth many Psal 142.7.10 It helpeth on repentance makes Godly sorrow more kindly Evangelical a love-look from Christ melts Peters heart this Sun dissolves frozen souls Ezek. 16.63.11 It engageth a soul against sin appearances of God are cords of love which are strongest to an ingenuous spirit Rom. 6.1 2.12 Assurance animates our performances and obedience is any thing too much to do for God yea my God deserves all I am have his command 's are not grievous 1 Joh. 3.5.13 It deadens the heart to needless disputes and Controversies it settles the heart in the truth and fortifies it against the subtilties of seducing spirits for Gods Law is in their hearts Heb. 13.9.14 It representeth the glory of Heaven is some blessed embleme of a souls bathing it self in these Rivers of pleasure that are at Gods right hand divine embraces a corner of Heaven a Pisgah-sight of Canaan 15. It sweeteneth the King of terrours and plucks out the sting of death so that a gracious soul assured of Gods love can triumph with Paul over this conquered enemy 1 Cor. 15.55 and indeed none but an assured Christian can look death in the face without horrour and amazement ruffling gallants may be prodigal of their lives who are far from any capacity of obtaining assurance but those are liker Bruits than men that are guided by sence not by reason and consider not that their souls are immortal and that they are entring into Eternity at death but these have drowned themselves in sensuality and consider not what they do but 't is only the Christian that's upon good grounds assured of his good estate that can in cold blood adventure upon death yea be willing to dye yea desire to be dissolved and be with Christ I have but hinted at these things because 't is an ordinary subject wherein many have done worthily to promote endeavours to obtain assurance Sirs what say you to these things is not assurance of interest in Covenant-mercies worth labouring for can you let these things lye without clearing your title doth not the new creature breathe after it doth not a rational soul desire it do not all wicked men catch after a certainty and frame to themselves some kind of certainty do not worldlings take care to secure their Lands Goods Estates shall they require Bonds Seals Oaths Sureties and yet account all this too little and shall we account any thing too much to secure these sweet mercies whithout which we are undone for ever Oh let nothing hinder your endeavours this way let no objections make you delay or be discouraged let not Satan deter you or the Worlds conceits make you slight it as unattainable nor a slothful unbelieving heart
these things a may be or may not be in a conjectural uncertainty is all they arrive unto however they do not follow home the light and perswasions they have alas did souls seriously think of this that as sure as they are men or women as certainly as they eat and drink work and sleep so certainly there is a God a Christ grace pardon guilt Heaven Hell which they must very shortly feel this could not but have a strange influence upon their hearts and lives their affections and conversations oh what persons should Saints be if they lived under the through impressions and convictions of the certainty of divine revelations It were a blessed effect if all the Treatises that have of late been writ might convince this prophane and Atheistical world of the certainty of Christianity many have travelled much in this with good success several ancient writers as Clemens Polycarpus Vid. Scultit med patrum Justinus Martyr Tatianus Iraeneus Athenagoras Tertullian have proved by demonstrative arguments the truth of Christian Religion against Jews Heathens c. and Grotius Morney of late and at this day Baxter Stillingfleet c. have put their sickle into this Harvest from whom the Church hath reaped precious fruit I pretend neither to the Learning or Authority of those famous Worthies but insist only upon the Sure Mercies of the Covenant as a poor Superstructure upon those Solid Foundations it was the design of Luke the Evangelist in Writing his Gospel to the noble and excellent Theophilus that he might be assured of the certainty of those things wherein he had been instructed Luk. 1.4 such a design have I in this small piece Oh that some might stand out and say as the Disciples now we are sure that thou knowest all things by this we believe that thou comest forth from God Joh. 16.30 oh sirs stick not in an uncertain conjecture arrive at a full assurance of understanding to the acknowledging of the mysterie of God Col. 2.2 pray for the spirit of Revelation that you may both know the certainty of Gospel-mysteries and mercies and your own interest therein that you may both be strong in faith and full of comfort advance higher daily in embracing unseen things rest not in a sceptical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Philosophical dubitation but strive to arrive at an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or firm demonstration rest your souls upon Divine Testimonies as to the object of faith and commit your souls to him in believing and well-doing for evidence of your state Remember that choice word Hos 6.3 then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the morning and he shall come unto us as the rain as the latter and former rain unto the earth that this and all other soul-helps may accomplish this great end of your edification consolation and salvation shall be the earnest Prayer of Your Soul-friend and Servant in Christ June 3. 1670. The Contents of the Book CHAP. I. THe Context and exposition of the words 1 Several Doctrines raised one insisted on 6 CHAP. II. What are the mercies of the Covenant 9 1. The parties covenanting 11 2. The consideration paid 12 3. The conditions required which are four 14 4. The graunt that 's God himself 15 1. What God is to the soul in four things 19 2. What God graunts to it 20 CHAP. III. In what respects these mercies are sure 26 1. Infallibility 28 2. Immutability 30 CHAP. IV. What ways God takes to make them sure 33 1. Passing his word ib. 2. Putting it into writing 34 3. Calling in witnesses ib. 4. Setting to his seal 35 5. A solemn oath 36 6. Giving a pledge 37 7. Doing a great part of the work 38 8. Confirmation by miracles 40 9. Singular ways of reporting them 41 10. Marriage knot made from Hos 2.19.43 CHAP. V. How these mercies are made sure in and by Christ viz. by 47 1. His hypostatical union ib. 2. His spiritual Vnction 49 3. The Covenant of redemption 50 4. The execution of his offices 53 As Prophet Priest King 54 In his state of Humiliation 55 Exaltation 56 Resurrection ib. Ascention 57 Session ib. Intercession 59 CHAP. VI. 1Vse of Confutation 63 1. Atheists ib. 2. Papists as to 1. Merit 67 2. Assurance 70 2. Arminians as to 1. Vniversal Redemption 72 2. Final Apostasie 75 4. Socinians concerning Christs satisfaction 76 CHAP. VII 2. Vse of instruction 1. In the difference betwixt the two Covenants 79 In this see 1. Gods grace and mercy ib. 2. His infinite wisdom 82 2. The difference betwixt Covenant and Common mercys 85 1. In the Fountain 86 2. In the dimensions ib. 3. In the operations 88 4. In the duration Of both 90 3. In the difference betwixt gifts graces 93 1. In their Original 94 2. In their Nature 95 3. In their Retinue ib. 4. In their Ends and Effects 96 4. See the Truth of Christian Religion 98 CHAP. VIII 3Vse Of Examination 104 1. Whether we have accepted God as our God 106 2. Whether we have given up our selves to him 109 1. Really 110 2. Readily 112 3. Resolvedly 114 4. Vnreservedly 116 i. e. Totally Finally 3. Whether we have new-covenant dispositions which are such as these viz. 1. Saving illumination 120 2. Law writ in our hearts 122 3. One heart one way 123 4. The fear of God 125 5. Sanctification 126 6. A new Heart Spirit 128 7. A soft Heart 129 8. Spiritual Obedience 131 4. Try by the nature of these sure mercies which are 1. Transforming Mercies 133 2. Comforting Mercies 134 3. Raising Mercies 135 4. Inlarging Mercies 136 CHAP. IX 4. Vse of Conviction 1. Of Sinners 1. They are under a sure sentence of wrath 138 2. Not sure to be a moment out of Hell 142 3. Their mistake will aggravate their state 144 4. The nature of these mercies Tormenting 145 2 Conviction is of Saints 1. They indent with God 149 2. They compound about these mercies 150 3. They live not upon them 152 4. They live not up to them 155 Walking 1. Vnholily 156 2. Vnsteadily 157 3. Vncomfortably 159 4. Vnfruitfully 162 Bringing forth small and sour fruits ib. CHAP. X. 5Vse of Exhortation Look after interest in these sure mercies pressed by Motives 166 1. Nothing else can be made sure 167 2. Else common mercies are accursed 168 3. Else choicest duties are not accepted 169 4. Else you can have no solid ground of peace 171 5. These render every state safe 173 6. These mercies influence our spirits 174 7. These bring the soul to Heaven 175 Children of godly Parents exhorted to embrace Covenant-mercies by two Arguments 177 CHAP. XI 6Vse is of Direction referring to four heads 1. What is a soul to do to get interest in these mercies 1. Make a strict enquiry into your state 185 2. Work on your hearts the mysterie of merciless state 186 3. Be thankful for not content with
habendum or the thing that we must have and hold Now all these are either expresly or implicitly held forth in one Scripture which is Heb. 8.10.1 Heb. 8.10 There is the parties Covenanting I and the house of Israel this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel 2. Here is the consideration evidently implyed in these words after those days i.e. after those dayes of Types Shadows and Prophecies in the fulness of time the Messiah shall come who is the substance and will satisfie divine justice and make an Attonement 3. Here is the condition of the Covenant plainly expressed in these words I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts i. e. I will give that which I require I will put within them a principle of Grace that they may love me believe in me repent for sin and obey the Gospel that 's the third 4. Here 's the grant or good to be enjoyed which is the end and result of all the former viz. I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people i.e. whatsoever I am or have or can do who am omnipotent shall be imployed for their good or whatsoever they would choose a God for or desire to be in a God that will I be to them with whom I contract this Covenant and I will own them as my peculiar people Now the mercies of the Covenant consist in these four particulars especially in the last I shall a little open these that we may the better find out the mercies wrapt in the Covenant of Grace 1. The parties that enter this Covenant are God and man Oh the infinite distance and vast disproportion quantus quantillo Heaven makes a match with earth the great Creator with a mortal creature the glorious King with a silly beggar is not this a rich mercy shall the Cedar in Lebanon contract a League not only with the contemptible shrub but with the pricking offensive thistle shall the Sun of Righteousness convey beams of love to such worthless worms yea to such stinking dung-hills shall the beauty of holiness be confederate with sorry man who is but a lump of vanity or mass of impurity Yet thus it is and this is transcendent mercy there 's mercy in a Covenant God might have dealt with man in a way of absolute soveraignty and done with man even as he pleased without giving us account of his matters but he treats with man in a rational way above the capacity of other creatures God takes man up to parly and treat with him as though he were his equal Psal 8.4 what is man that thou art thus mindful of him or the Son of man that thou visitest him this mutual stipulation is infinite condescention on Gods part and advancement on mans man only man of all the Creatures is the subject of this Covenant Angels had no need of it Devils had no hope by it bruit Creatures were not capable of it only man and fallen man hath interest in it and benefit by it Oh the mercy there is in a Covenant of reconciliation even after man had turned bankrupt spent a fair estate broken Covenant and brought himself into a desperate case that yet God should forget what was past enter into a new and better Covenant betrust him with a new stock and yet lay help not upon foolish mans weak shoulders but upon one that 's mighty to save Oh rich O transcendent Love this leads us to the second thing in this Covenant 2. The consideration paid that 's Jesus Christ Joh. 4.10 and he is eminently the gift of God such a gift as never came out of the hands of God and was never received by the hands of mortal man a rich and inriching gift a gift proceeding from love so God loved the world that he gave his Son Joh. 3.16 Christ is several wayes a gift 1. Nobis to us 1 Cor. 1.30 who of God is made unto us wisdom 2. Pro nobis for us Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me 3. Prae nobis before us as an example copy and pattern as he suffered for us so he left us an example 1 Pet. 2.21.4 In nobis in us so Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 thus Christ is given to believers by sanctification and inhabitation of his spirit Now 't is the second way principally whereby Christ is the consideration or price paid in this new Covenant viz. as he is given for us a valuable consideration to pacifie wrath and satisfie justice thus is Jesus Christ the Lutron or price of our Redemption we are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 such a price as never was paid men pay money to purchase great possessions but we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with blood yea with the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.18 19. without shedding of blood there could be no remission yet the blood of Bulls or Goats could never take away sin Heb. 9.22 12. nay the blood of all the men upon earth could never wash away the guilt of the least sin no no it must be the blood of the immaculate Lamb the blood of God so called from the union of the two natures and communication of idioms or properties and this is the price paid the Father found out a ransome 1 Tim. 2.6 and our dear Saviour gave himself a ransome certainly this is a transcendent mercy of the New Covenant I dispute not those nice Controversies whether God could not have pardoned and saved man without the consideration of Christs undertakings or how God in justice can charge guilt and torment upon an innocent person this I am sure is Gods way of saving souls and we must not dispute but believe that Jesus Christ is the Mediatour of the Covenant and the price of our Redemption as God-man and this is the Marrow of the rich mercy and deep mysterie contained in the Gospel 3. In a Covenant is contained the couditions thereof what God requires of us without which we can have no benefit by the Covenant these also are to be reckoned as mercies of the Covenant on Gods part as well as duties on our part for they are secured and effected in us as well as commanded and required by God Luther makes this to be the main difference betwixt the two Covenants the Covenant of works requires obedience but gives no strength but the Covenant of Grace ingageth the Grace of God for the Elects performance of the conditions hence it is that what the Law commandeth Quod lex imperat gratia impetrat Evangelium dat quod lex exigit Aug. de spir littera the Gospel promiseth what God requireth Christ procureth what justice demandeth our dear saviour purchaseth and worketh by his spirit in the heart faith is the great Gospel-condition whereby Christ with all his benefits become ours but faith is the
gift of God and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Joh. 6.44 Alas it is as impossible to believe in Christ as to keep the Moral Law from principles of corrupted nature our state had been sad and forlorn still if God had not undertaken to work the faith which he requireth Duce Dâ—o venitur ad deum 't is only the arm of omnipotency that can draw the soul to Christ Jesus is the only Author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 Eph. 1.19 there is an exceeding greatness of his power to all them that believe put forth to create an act of saving faith all they that have felt it can testifie that this is a rich mercy and this is one of the mercies of the Covenant More particularly there are four choice dispositions promised in the Covenant of Grace which are Covenant-mercies 1. Saving illumination Jer. 31.34 they shall all know me saith the Lord by nature we are blind and blockish creatures but the new Covenant brings light and sight to the ignorant erring sinner and Oh what a mercy is it to know God and Christ and sin and misery and duty and felicity to know Scripture-truths and Gospel-mysteries our own hearts and the sweetness of Grace heaven and the way thither certainly such saving knowledge is worth a world truly such light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eye of the soul to behold the Sun of Righteousness and the beauty of Heaven what blind Bartimeus would not own it as a rich mercy to have his eyes opened and is it not a blessed thing to be translated out of Aegyptian darkness into this marvelous light Oh happy are the eyes that are annointed with the new-covenant eye-salve and behold Coelestial objects through this Divine optick of faith and become faithful guides to the feet of an holy life 2. Sound humiliation this is another Covenant-mercy Ezek. 11.19 I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh a broken heart is instead of many Sacrifices an hard heart is the greatest judgement and a soft heart the greatest mercy repentance is Gods gift bound up in the Covenant of Grace our sweet and blessed Redeemer is exalted as well to be a Prince that he may give Repentance as to be a Saviour to give unto us remission of sins Oh what a mercy is the spirit of Repentance they that have this Godly sorrow shall never need to sorrow for it such a Repentance needs not to be repented of blessed are they that mourn for sin for they shall rejoyce happy such as sow in tears for they shall â—eap in joy certainly a Converted sinner looks upon a repenting heart as a rich mercy one penitent tear is an orient pearl of more worth than the whole Creation a bleeding soul is a blessed sight in the eyes of God and man it layes the Christian under the promise of the Covenant and qualifies it for remission and the sweetest consolation 3. Another Covenant-mercy with respect to the condition is heart-sanctification Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean this is the mercy that David is so importunate for create in me a clean heart no less than creation will effect it a putting off the old man and putting on the new in a sound Regeneration is a miraculous mercy Oh what would a poor soul give for dominion over some special corruptions and power to resist temptations why here it is this mercy of mortification which is also a Christians duty is infolded in this blessed Gospel-Covenant so that sin shall not have Dominion over them that are under this Covenant of Grace a Christian can do more to mortifie sin and Crucifie the flesh than another man every word of God hath a cleansing vertue now you are clean saith Christ through the word that I have spoken to you but the promises of the Covenant have a direct and immediate tendency to cleansing 2 Cor. 7.1 having these promises i. e. the fore-mentioned Covenant let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit it is only the Gospel Covenant that can make Evangelically holy and holiness is the image of God the beauty of a soul the duty of a Christian and the mercy of the Covenant 4. A spiritual conversation this is also included in the Covenant Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Commandments and do them Oh what a blessed thing is it to have a heart to love and fear and serve the Lord Oh what a mercy to be inabled to perform holy duties to walk with God in all wayes of well-pleasing Jer. 31.33 to have the Law of God written in the heart and transcribed in the life yea to keep Gods commands with ease alacrity and complacency not to have them grievous but pleasant to the soul and thus it is when the Christian acts from an innate principle of Grace and Holiness well this is the promised and purchased condition of the New Covenant God undertakes to put a new habit into the soul his fear which is the beginning of Wisdom and principle of obedience God gives the spirit of prayer the spirit of power love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.9 he promiseth to give them one heart and one way that they may fear him for ever Jer. 32.39 Oh what rich mercies of the New Covenant are these 4. Yet the great mercies of the Covenant are behind under the next head for a Covenant contract conveyance contains the Habendum or grant reflecting advantage to the party Covenanting and that in these words I will be thy God this is repeated fifteen or sixteen times in the Scriptures this this is the mercy of the New Covenant the mercy of mercies the flower cream and quintescence of all mercies God gives himself to the soul by Covenant and what greater or better gift can he bestow if he should give us all the world and deny himself we are miserable beggars if he give himself and nothing of the world we are truly rich if we have God we have all things if we want God we want all things Deus mâ—us est omnia Ben scripsisti Thoma qâ—id pet Resp nil nisi â—ipsum Domine my God is my All saith one 't is recorded of Thomas Aquinas the great School-man that a voice from Heaven spake thus to him thou hast well written Thomas what desirest thou and that he answer thus nothing O Lord but thy self this certainly is the Language of a gracious soul Lord put me not off with any thing below or besides thy self what mortal Creature durst have presumed to beg of God such a boon if God had not graciously promised himself in the New Covenant what can the creature desire more what can it now want when it hath an infinite God all
the Author was known anâ— a seal is the mark whereby genuine things aâ— discerned from counterfeit all these are thâ— uses of the spirits sealing to confirm oâ—â— hearts in the truth of God in his promiseâ— against all the temptations of Satan thâ— blessed sealing is more prevalent for our coâ—firmation than all philosophical reasons oâ— demonstrations 5. Another way to beget assurance amoâ—â— men is a solemn Oath and we know an Oaâ— for confirmation is to them an end of all strisâ— Heb. 6.16 and thus God willing more abuâ—dantly to shew unto the heirs of promise thâ— immutability of his Council confirmed it bâ— an Oath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Invâ—tat praemio salutem jurans etiam vivo dicens câ—pit credi sibi O beatos nos queâ— causa deus jurat O misâ—rrimos sinec juranti domino credimus Tertâ— de poen or interposed himself by an Oathâ— it is very observable to consider the form 〈◊〉 the Oath God swears by himself who 〈◊〉 the living and true God he could swear by â—o greater and it is observed that two things make a thing more credible 1. the qualiâ—y of the person speaking 2. The manner of the speech Now the form of the Oath â—n Gen. 22.16 is exceeding emphatical to Abraham partly because of the asseveration surely Gen. 22.16 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est particula caâ—salis coaditionalis partly because of the duplication in blessing I will bless thee if I speak â—t it shall be done moreover the form of the expression in Genesis is strange for it is thus Quid tibi prodest si Deus se juramâ—nto oâ—stâ—ingâ—t si tu haec quasi communâ—m audiâ—ns fabulam transeas Jurare diâ—itâ—r deus ut tu audiens paveas intreâ—iscas metu consternatus inquiras quid illud tantum est pro â—o deus jurare dicitur Orâ—g Homil. 9. super Gen. 22. if I bless thee thou shalt be blessed or because I bless thee or if I do not bless thee which is the form of an Oath Heb. â—4 3 as if he should say then let me not be true just yea let me not be God God pawns his faithfulness upon it and may he not then be believed but for what end is this it is to confirm his promises and assure the hearts of all the heirs of promise that he intends to do and will accomplish what he hath spoken that they might have strong consolation and that he might take away all doubts and haesitation and all this he doth for the heirs of promise he would not have done thus for others but he doth this and much more to satisfie his doubting Children 6. Yet further men use to give a pawn a pledge to assure others of their real purpose to make good the bargain and this is part of the payment this also doth our gracious God 2 Cor. 1.22 Cap 5.5 Ephes 1.14 his spirit is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession an earnest is used in purchasing Land in hiring of Servants and in contracting Marriage and when ever the Lord puts his Holy Spirit into the heart it s as a pledge of all the mercies of the Covenant and of our eternal inheritance and though some men may be unfaithful so far as rather to lose their earnest than make good their bargain yet we may be assured God will not do so for it is as impossible that any saving grace of the Spirit should be cast into hell as it is for any sin to enter into Heaven God will not lose his pledge but fetch the soul to Heaven when he hath fetcht the heart to himself Grace is the Prologue and Praeludium to Glory the first Resurrection leads the van to the second a gracious change prepares for a glorious change Rom. 8.11 if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you the spirit confirms the promises and we need not fear any danger of retractation not but that the promises are firm enough but he would establish our hearts in the faith thereof and acquiescence therein lest any question it 7. Another way whereby men testifie their cordial resolution to make good promises is by doing a great part of the work which gives real evidence they will do the rest he that promiseth to give another a thousand pounds Should a King promise to erect some Colledge and give liberal maintenance to Students in it we are certain by an humane faith that he will do such a thing thâ—ugh it be not begun but if the foundations be in laying we see its execution in part and are assured it will be finished Baâ—us on Eâ—h c. 1. v. 17. p. 144. and hath already given him nine hundred may he not rationally trust him for the rest or suppose there were but one pound or a penny behind there is great reason to conside in him for what is wanting why truly the Lord hath performed the greatest part of the promises of the Covenant the great promise of the Covenant was that the seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head that the Son of God should be incarnate be in mans stead in life and death to satisfie justice fulfil the Law and by his death bring in everlasting rightcousness and he hath already done it now saith the Apostle Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son See Rom. 4.8 9 10. Qui misit unigenâ—tum immisit spiritum pâ—omisit vultum quid tandem tibi negaturus ost Bern. but delivered him up for us all how shall be not with him also freely give us all things God is before-hand with us yea if we be indeed heirs of promise he hath made good good another grand branch of the New Covenant in giving the conditions of the Covenant faith repentance and new obedience so that the main business is already done the writings are made sealed signed and delivered there wants nothing but actual possession nay there is a Seisin and delivery of part of the inheritance and dare we not trust God for the remainder certainly we have good reason so to do the contrary is unreasonable 8. God hath gone another step which is to work many Miracles for the confirmation of these sure mercies this is a degree further than man can reach to make any thing sure hence saith our sweet Saviour Joh. 5.36 I have greater witness than that of John for the works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the father hath sent me this Text shews the true and proper end and efficacy of Christs miracles Igâ—tur non sâ—â—â— muta sâ—d voâ—ahssira ideo non simpliciter intuenda sed intelligâ—nter audienda Marl. in loc they are not dumb shews but have a voice and cry aloud for
be the portion of mine inheritance I can say truly the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places Psal 16.5 6. I have a goodly heritage I can bid defiance to all the world to make me miserable when all the World looks black about me and all my comforts forsake me when seeming friends scorn me and real enemies pursue me with cruel hatred I can then incourage my self in the Lord my God Yea rejoyce in the Lord yea when the whole Creation cracks about my ears and the Earth trembles the Heavens are rolled together as a scroll I know that my Redeemer lives and I shall live with him in bliss and blessedness for ever these or the like are the musings of the Covenanted soul and though it cannot say the Lord is his yet he can say through grace that it is the desire of his soul to have the Lord for his God he looks upon that as the happiest estate that a Creature is capable of and if God should say this House or Land or Goods or this Kingdom or this world is thine except he say withall I am thine the soul goes away disconsolate and looks on all those as nothing worth Christians try your selves hath it been thus with you or hath it not what settled prevailing account hath the God of Heaven in your hearts do you look upon all the bravery and delights of the World but as straw and dirt under your feet in comparison of your God do your hearts pant after the living God do your souls desire him in the night can you boast of your God and challenge all the world and say there 's none like unto our God can you depend upon him and cast all your care on him do you in all things give him the preheminence are your hearts endeared to and inamoured with this glorious gracious God 2. But I proceed whether have you given up your selves to him 1 Cor. 6.19 for if you be the Lords you are not your own you have wholly resigned up your selves to him you have given him the Keys of your hearts and delivered him possession of your souls as the only rightful owner thereof just as the Wife gives up her all to her husband 1 Cor. 7.4 so that she hath not power of her own body but her Husband so doth the soul surrender it self unto its spiritual Husband so that now it hath nothing to dispose of without its husbands leave house land money estates relations name time gifts of mind members of body faculties of soul life it self and all things he is hath doth are at Gods dispose and he lays them all at his Husbands feet and dare not dispose of one penny in his purse or minute of his time or cast of his eye or thought of his heart by his good will without his Husbands leave hence you shall hear a Covenanted soul inquiring after sin and duty and making Conscience of complyance with the Lords will and pleasure the Scripture calls this a giving our selves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 yea there are several outward symbols to evidence it Isa 44.5 one shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord and sirname himself by the name of Israel Profession Subscription Denomination nay though it be to endure the scorn of a reproachful nick-name any thing would he do so he might be ranked amongst real Saints and be indeed the Lords And there are four properties of the souls self-delivery to God A Covenanting soul gives up it self to God these four ways viz. 1. Really 2. Readily 3. Resolvedly 4. Unreservedly 1. Really Truly Sincerely without the ordinary counterfeiting and complementing that is in the World 't is as easie as it is common for men to Court others with that empty Ceremony Your servant Sir when they never think as they speak this by the way is to be ranked at least among idle words of which I fear many have a sad account to give let professours learn better manners and language than to conform herein to the world well but a Saints giving up himself to the Lord is not complemental but real here holy David you shall find him in good earnest Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thine hand-maid thou hast loosed my bonds Here 's 1. An Asseveration truly 2. An affirmation I am thine 3. A duplication I am and I am thy servant 4. A confirmation by two Arguments 1. He was his servant by his birth being born in his house for if a Woman was servant in an house all the Children she bore there were servants to the master of that house hence saith David the son of thy hand-maid 2. David was God's by Redemption thou hast loosed my bonds for such as delivered any from captivity had them to be their servants for ever thus every gracious soul really professeth himself to be the Lords See Exod. 21.4 5 6. he is God's bought and bored Servant he doth as the servant of old plainly say I love my master I will not go out and so is brought to the door-post and hath his ear bored through with an Aule he receives an ear-mark being board by the blessed spirit of God and so made willing and obedient to the Lord's calls this ingageth him to be much in desiring to know the Lord's will with a resolution to do it he stops not his ear hides not his eyes from his Master's commands but prays as David Psal 119.125 I am thy servant give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies a good soul would not be ignorant of any part of its work because he is a real servant and makes Conscience of upright obedience Ah sirs what say your hearts to this are you in good earnest do you indeed speak as you think and will you do accordingly it's no jesting trifling matter Israel gave God good words so that God saith they have well spoken when they promised to be the Lords and to obey him but God adds O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me c. Deut. 5.28 29. Alas persons may say fair in a flush of affection but enquire you into the frame of your spirits and actions whether you be real 2. This self-delivery to God is ready free willing and chearful not with grumbling and by compulsion when persons do it because they cannot help it when they see they must dye and can serve the Devil no longer or under the rod only they will be for a fit and start religious but it is full fore against their wills for they would rather choose to be slaves to lust but they are taken off by violence or constraint or else they lye under such terrours and convictions that for present they are over-awed and dare not but profess to be the Lords it is strangers that yield feigned
I am only thine and wholly thine take me as thine and make me less mine own and that will be my happiness and I shall be fitter for thy service I dare not part stakes betwixt thy self and any other for I see I cannot serve two contrary Masters I will not give my faculties or members any more as instruments of unrighteousness chain my soul to thee unite my heart to fear 〈◊〉 name This or such like is the language 〈◊〉 a Covenanting-soul and there can be no Covenant without this intireness and compleat resignation hence are those multitudes of expressions that call for a seeking God with the whole heart Deut. 4 29. c. 65. and a loving God with all the heart soul c. and serving God with all the heart yea this is the summ of all that God requires of us Deut. 10.12 O try then hath the spirit of God beat down every strong hold and vain imagination and brought over your hearts wholly to the Lord what say you is every nook and creek of your hearts delivered up to this great and mighty Conquerour is there no Creature-comfort or sensual pleasure that hath stollen away your hearts from your dearly beloved deal faithfully with your souls on this behalf there is no dallying with the searcher of your hearts 2 Have you given up your hearts and selves irrevocably irreversibly finally there 's no playing fast and loose with the great God you must not give and take again that 's fools play but you must be for ever the Lords all your days devote your selves to keep his commandments unto the end not like some servants that will keep to their Masters as long as they like or while they please them but this is a boaring through the ear to be the Lord's servants for ever it 's a marriage that lasts for term of life I will call upon him saith David as long as I live Psal 116.2 it is the hollow-hearted Hypocrite that ends his Religion before he have ended his days that puts his hand to the Plow and looks back that falls off when tribulation comes but a Covenanting spirit is a constant spirit whose house are we saith the Apostle if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firmly unto the end Heb. 3.6 it is the end that crowns the action Solomon saith the end of a thing is better than the beginning Christ saith if ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed Col. 1.23.1 Tim. 4.16 Jam. 1.25 Joh. 8.31 and many Scriptures make this a condition without which no salvation and though the end is not yet come yet is it the desire and design of your souls to pray and read and serve God all your days you do not you dare not set bounds limits to your obedience but say as David Psal 71.14 I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more q. d. I am so far from casting away my hope and faith that I will continue yea and increase in the exercises of Religion do you resolve with David to keep Gods Law continually yea for ever and ever Psal 119.44 and praying still for supporting Grace v. 117. using all the rest of God's appointed means for your perseverance to the end Thus I have dispatcht this part of the tryal which is general to try whether we be entred into Covenant with God by these reciprocal acts of giving and receiving whether you have taken God for your God and given up your selves to him as Covenanted souls are wont to do give me leave for a close of this head to summ up the most that I have said in the Divine Poem of that incomparable sweet Singer of our Israel Mr. George Herbert in the Clasping of hands pag. 151. Lord thou art mine and I am thine If mine I am and thine much more Then I or ought or can be mine Yet to be thine doth me restore So that again I now am mine And with advantage mine the more Since this being mine brings with it thine And thou with me dost thee restore If I without thee would be mine I neither should be mine nor thine Lord I am thine and thou art mine So mine thou art that something more I may presume thee mine then thine For thou didst suffer to restore Not thee but me and to be mine And with advantage mine the more Since thou in death wast none of thine Yet thee as mine didst me restore O be mine still still make me thine Or rather make no Thine and Mine More particularly I intreat you to enquire into the conditions of the new Covenant or the graces and dispositions promised therein and lay your hand on your heart and enquire whether they be really in you such as these 1. I told you saving illumination is one great Covenant-condition Jer. 31.33 hath the Lord discovered to you the great and good things of his Gospel opened to you his blessed treasury and annointed your eyes to behold all things in their lively colours have you got a clear discovery of the nature of sin duty misery mercy the creatures vanity Christ's beauty and excellency have you with an Eagle-eye pierced into deep Gospel-mysteries this is not a brain-knowledge consisting in notion but an experimental spiritual acquaintance with the things of God weighting the soul with the sense thereof and leading it into the life and soul of Scripture-truths so that a Christian now sees Divine things after another manner than ever before and is led into all truth by the blessed Spirit God promiseth that all the Churches Children shall be taught of God Isa 54.13 which Scripture our Saviour doth cite and interpret Joh. 6.45 of believing or coming to God every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Ah Christians have you learned this choice Gospel-lesson of going out of your selves and closing with a naked Christ upon pure Gospel-terms this is the great lesson of the Gospel have you learned it you are dunces and deserve to be kickt out of Christ's school unless you have learned this great and sweet lesson Besides God teacheth many other lessons as to hate sin love God and holiness and to love God's Children Hence saith blessed Paul 1 Thes 4.9 as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another this divine nature prompteth souls to this they cannot do otherwise except they put off their very nature for a Christian may find his heart secretly and sensibly carryed out to all things and persons that have the stamp and image of God as the very name and the common nature of a Brother is potent and prevalent to attract the affections Cathedram habet in Coelis qui corda docet Quando deus est maâ—ister qâ—à m cito do itur quod doâ—itur Aug. the truth is he hath his Chair in Heaven that thus teacheth hearts and if God
be the teacher he makes apt and able nimble and notable Scholars Oh Christians see and try your learning enquire who is your master 2. Another disposition like this or indeed a fruit of the former is God's writing his Law in our hearts Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 10.16 he promiseth to put his Law into their inward parts and write it in their hearts so that as Talley answers to Talley Indenture to Indenture Face to Face so the heart shall eccho and answer to the Word of God and feel something within his own bosome that joynes issue with the word without so that a gracious soul can now say with Paul Rom. 7.12 16. I consent to the Law that it is good whatever I be the commandment is holy just and good a carnal heart riseth up in Rebellion against the word and secretly loaths a spiritual command and could wish it even razed out of the Bible that it might sin more freely but a gracious soul loves that word best that restrains corruption most and binds it closest in new obedience hence saith David thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loves it Psal 119.140 Praestâ—a â—i cor tuum molle tractabile custodi figuram quae te figuravit Artifex habens in semetipso humorem ne induratus amittas vestigia digitorum ejus Iraen advers Haer. lib. 4. prop. fin the stricter the Word is the better I love it I would have the Law of God restrain the exorbitancies of my heart and life it doth me good to be kept in for I have a wild and wayward heart Oh how glad am I of a word that searcheth curbeth and cutteth off my extravagant branches I willingly fall under it and bless God for it as one of the greatest mercies of my life can you say thus when there is a controversie betwixt a pinching word and a repining lust whether do you vote for which do you give your voice for and plead on the behalf of can you not take God's part and the words part against a naughty deceitful heart or do you pick quarrels with the statutes of Heaven when you should obey it Ah sirs try your selves in this and if you find that you have a counterpane of Gods Word within you a transcript of this blessed Copy in your hearts then are you within the Covenant 3. God promiseth to give his people in Covenant with him one heart and one way Jer. 32.39 this imports both an oneness of heart within it self and also an oneness of heart with other Saints before Conversion the heart was divided and distracted betwixt various objects God must have part Satan part sin part and the world another part of the heart but now the soul gives it self wholly to God as I have opened hence David prays unite my heart to fear thy name Psal 86.11 or make my heart one a real Saint is fully intirely universally given up to God but of this before likewise the Covenant of Grace makes Christians unanimous hence it is that as soon as souls have given up themselves to God they essay to joyn themselves to their fraternity Act. 9.26 and unite with the Society of sincere believers hence the primitive Saints were together with one accord Act. 2.46 cap. 4.32 yea they were of one heart and of one soul as the Curtains of the Tabernacle were coupled with loops so were Christians with love hence you hear so often mention made of fellowship in the Gospel Phil. 1.5 Eph. 2.21 and Gods Children are compared to a building fitly framed together by the cement of the Spirit yea to members of the body with relation to the head Col. 2.19 from whom i.e. Christ the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted Ephes 4.16 Well then sirs are you united and become one with the rest of the Saints though you cannot attain to a oneness in judgement in every lesser truth about Discipline c. yet are you one with them in heart and affection Yea of one judgement and way with them in main material points of doctrine and practice having one Lord Eph. 4.3 4 5. one faith one Baptism endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace cannot you say to others come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant Jer. 50.4 5. that shall not be forgotten are not your hearts glad when you see any come in and Worship the Lord how stand your â—earts affected towards such as fear God â—re you of one heart with them can you â—heerfully walk in one way with them as â—our sweetest companions is your chief â—ontent in these truly excellent ones then â—ou are in Covenant 4. The fear of God is a gracious disposition promised to new-covenant Converts Jer. 32.40 I will saith God Job 28 28. put my fear â—n their hearts that they shall not depart from â—e this fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and 't is often put for all Religion it is a holy reverential awefulness wrought in a believers heart whereby through a serious sense of Gods glorious Majesty and tender mercy the soul is afraid â—o offend God and careful to please him as â— Child is his Father by a conscientious obedience to all Gods commands I cannot stand to open this fully but bring you to the â—est Christians doth the fear of God posâ—ess and seize upon your spirits doth it make you men of truth hating covetousness Exod. 28.21 Heb. 12.28 doth it ingage your souls to serve him with reverence and godly fear doth it make you afraid of his threatnings Prov. 3 7. Psaâ— 5.7 fearful to offend him careful to please him do you worship him in his fear Prov. 14.26 Prov. 23.17 Mat. 10 28. Phil. 2.12 Isa 66.2 Isa 50.11 doth it make you run to him as your hope and confidence are your souls in the fear of the Lord all the day long doth the fear of God cast out the slavish fear of men doth it make you work out your salvation with fear and trembling doth it make you tremble at his word and willing to obey the voice of his servants doth it keep you humble self-denying from being proud high-minded Rom. 11.20 Rev. 14.7 Act 10.35 Prov. 14.16 do you fear God and give glory to him in seeing his works in a word do you fear God and work righteousness fear God and hate wickedness is it thus with your souls lay your hand upon your heart and seriously answer these questions I know you 'l all say you have the fear of God but whether hath it these Prophecies and one word more whence springs this fear of God doth it flow not only from the apprehension of God's Majesty and strict justice but from the sence of his free-grace and goodness so God saith in Hos 3.5 they shall fear the Lord and his goodness so saith David Psal 130.4 there is mercy with thee that thou
maist be feared Oh this is kindly when the sense of Gods love awes the soul to obedience and works upon it tenderness of Conscience that it can say I dare not grieve so good a God or offend so loving a Father who never did me hurt who is always doing me good shall I render evil for good God forbid this is Child-like and ingenuous and doth demonstrate a Covenant-relation 5. Sanctification is another Covenant-promise Ezek. 36.25 then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idolâ— will I cleanse you this is a sweet disposition what can you say to it not that the soul in this life can be free from the remainders of corruption for what is man that â—e should be clean but the power Job 15.14 strength and Dominion of sin is crushed in a Covenanted soul so that it may be truly said of the Regenerate that he hath a clean heart Psal 24.4 Joh. 13.10 and clean hands and Christ saith his Disciples were clean all except Judas Well then â—hath the good Word of God made you holy Joh. 15.3 and cleansed your hearts do you desire to make clean the inside of the Cup as well as out-side I mean do you cleanse your selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit resolving to perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Job 17.9 are you growing stronger and stronger he that â—hath clean hands doth renew his strength are you washed from your idols i. e. the sin to which you are most addicted Psal 18.23 and keep your selves from your own iniquity can you say you hate every false way can you cut off a right-hand sin pluck out a right-eye sin though never so dear and useful pleasant and profitable do you resist and conquer in some measure your master-lusts so that you can say through grace Rom. 6.14 sin hath not Dominion over you though you feel to your cost it hath possession in you can you say you are prepared for duties and ordinances 2 Chron. 30.19 Act. 15.9 Psal 119.9 though you be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary doth faith in God's promises purifie your hearts do you cleanse your ways by observing Scripture-precepts Psal 51.10 do you pray hard for a clean heart as well as clear state Oh sirs try your selves in these things unless you be sanctified you are not justified many are undone through self-deceit in this case Solomon saith there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes yet is not cleansed from their filthiness Prov. 30.12 take heed of this and labour to evidence your justification by your sanctification 6. Another gracious effect of the New Covenant is A new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36.26 this is an holy disposition an habit of grace the image of God the Divine nature strangely changing altering metamorphosing the soul casting it into a new mold and turning the stream and current of the souls motions and affections into another channel to a complyance with God's will and a tendency towards Heaven and the things of Heaven this is a wonderful act and fruit of God's free-grace and sanctifying spirit and oh what a change doth it produce in the heart and life not only a mental change to have the mind adorned with some general truths in a notional way so that whereas before a man was an ignorant Sot now he is grown a knowing person and learned discourser or disputant nor yet is it only a moral change whereby a man formerly a notorious offender is grown an exact Civilian nor yet a formal change by which a careless neglecter is become a constant performer of religious duties which is good so far yet no more than an hypocrite may do Simon Magus believes Herod doth many things Ahab fasts Judas can Pray and Preach But the new creature goes beyond them all for 't is a Cordial Spiritual Evangelical change of the whole man to what is good so that now the soul hath new motions actions conversation a new rule a new principle a new end new affections new loves and delights a new light and life new heat and strength new companions and acquiescence new griefs fears burdens back hopes hatred desires and expectations old things are past away and behold all things are become new so that it may well be called a new Creation 2 Cor. 5.17 Christians try your selves in this what work of God hath passed upon your souls have you a new heart are you made holy as God is holy doth this new heart hate and expel sin doth it close with real Saints as Saints doth it breathe after Grace in the souls of relations neighbours doth it make you sensible of the smilings and hidings of God's face doth it raise your hearts to heavenly objects and delights doth Grace in some measure gâ—â—w thrive increase and come on in your souls do you Worship God in a spiritual manner and long for Communion with him here and in Heaven 7. A soft heart is promised in the new Covenant Ezek. 36.26 I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh i. e. a soft broken and tender heart a flexible plyant and melting disposition not so much the eyes pouring floods of tears for that may proceed from a natural constitution but a soul grieved for sin as offence against God which lyes in the sinners account and estimation looking upon it as the greatest evil and worse than the worst affliction and if it were to do again he would rather be torn to pieces than willingly commit such a sin he would give all the World if in his power that it were undone again and therefore is it that the Scripture rather expresseth it by mourning than by weeping for weeping is rather a passionate act of the outward senses and irascible faculties though 't is desirable to give vent to inward sorrow by outward tears but mourning is an heart-contrition and hearty compunction for sin as dishonouring God grieving his Spirit Crucifying his Son and violating his holy and righteous Law well then have you soft and tender hearts i. e. can you lay to heart your sins as the greatest evils that ever befell you can you justifie God if he should condemn you can you condemn your selves as worthy to be damned in Hell for ever do you loath your selves for all your abominations can you wish you had been upon the rack when you committed such sins are you weary and heavy laden with the intolerable burden of the guilt of sin and what would you give or leave to have it taken off is your heart sensible of the absolute need you have of Jesus Christ are you soft and plyable to Gods holy will attentive to Divine motions retentive of Divine impressions doth the least hint of God's mind find in you an observant spirit when God saith seek
use of God's al-sufficiency you can blame none but your selves if you be defective or discouraged a Woman truly Godly for the main having buried a Child and sitting alone in sadness did yet chear up her heart with this expression God lives and having parted with another still she redoubled Comforts dye but God lives at last her dear Husband dyes and she sate oppressed and almost overwhelmed with sorrow a little Child she had yet surviving having observed what before she spoke to comfort her self comes to her and saith is God dead Mother is God dead this reacht her heart and by Gods blessing recovered her former confidence in her God who is a living God thus do you chide your selves ask your fainting spirits under pressing outward sorrows is not God alive and why then doth not thy soul revive why doth thy heart dye within thee when comforts dye cannot a living God support thy dying hopes thus Christians argue down your discouraged and disquieted spirits as David did Psal 42.5 But so much for that 4. As Christians do not live upon so they do not live up to these Sure Mercies of David and that in their Walking so 1. Unholily 2. Unsteadily 3. Uncomfortably 4. Unfruitfully 1. Many of Gods Children walk unsuitably i. e. unholily unspiritually untenderly not with that conscientiousness exactness and closeness they ought to do if Gods Children lived up to their mercies and priviledges oh how holy should they be seeing that these things shall be dissolved and seeing we look for such things nay seeing we see and feel such things mystically already even a new Heaven and new Earth after a sort in this new Covenant-dispensation what manner of persons ought we to be and oh how diligent should we be that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3 11-13 14. But Oh Christians how short are we yea how inconsistent are our lives with our liberties how incongruous are our duties to our mercies yea how opposite are our spirits to our comforts What sirs Heavenly mercies and carnal hearts flat duties earthly conversations Oh shame your selves before the Lord blush tremble to think of your unsuitableness to Covenant-mercies How far are you below these enjoyments doth not your unanswerable walking give just ground of suspicion whether you have interest in these yea or no what sirs are you Saints and yet muck-worms are you partakers of an Heavenly calling and yet walk so like the men of the World is it fit to see Eagles in a dirty dunghill or Heaven-born souls in acts of filthiness either be better or quit your claim you dishonour God and discredit religion more than others Alas friends God will not be beholden to you for the meer title of being Religious unless you be really such mercies inferr duty and licentiousness is inconsistent with the nature and ends of Covenant-mercies Qui bâ—onus est justus mundus immaculatus neque malum aliquid neque injustum neque abominandâ—â— in suo sponst thalamo sustinebit Iraen adv Heb. lib. 4 You grieve Gods Spirit cross his designes wrong your own souls sadden the hearts of the righteous and open the mouths of wicked men you little know what hurt you do by one act of sinning Consider that as the priviledges of the Covenant bespeak holiness so the conditions of the Covenant include holiness and how then came heirs of promise to be so unlike their Heavenly Father what do the Children of light tampering with works of darkness 2. Gods Children walk very unsteadily i. e. they are off and on inconstant have good moods and motions but they wear off and decay they quickly lose their lively impressions and are constant in inconstancy they are zealous and forward for God one while at other times they are backward and froward Ah sirs is this a living up to these Sure mercies of David these constant unchangeable invariable mercies this Covenant is ordered in all things and sure and so are the mercies of it how comes it to pass then that Covenanters are so often discomposed disordered and unsettled sometimes they are for God and sometimes not they are halting betwixt two opinions like drunken men they are leaning sometimes to the right hand at other times to the left like Reuben Gen. 49.4 Hos 7.8 chap. 6.4 they are unstable as water and so shall not excel like Ephraim a Cake half-baked hot and hard on one side cold and doughy on the other or like the same Ephraims goodness like a Morning-cloud or early Dew that tarryes not long but is quickly scattered by the strong storms of persecutions or dryed up by the warm beams of prosperity James 1.6 Jud◠〈…〉 13. Eph. 4.14 these unstable Christians are like Jame's waves of the Sea like Jude's wandring Starrs or flying clouds carryed about of Winds or like Paul's Children tossed to and fro they are like Locusts that move to and again like Grass-hoppers that are still up and down in variable motions the hearts of such are as a Cart-wheel saith one and their thoughts as a rolling Axel-tree I know the best of Gods Children are incident to liftings up and castings down in point of quicknings and inlargements and this may be the effect of Gods affording or suspending the influences of his grace but I speak this of a Christians remissness and his inconstancy through neglect and carelesness and want of stirring up in his soul the Graces of Gods spirit and so losing the liveliness his soul feels sometimes and afterwards is warmed melted but returns into folly this is the Christians round and how unsuitable is this for a sincere soul these stars are to be fixed in the firmament of the Church and are not to be wandring Starrs or Meteors these Trees of the Lords planting should be strongly rooted and not like Reeds tossed with every wind they should be Pillars in the House of God Non vacillantes sed tetragonoi and not Feathers or Weather-cocks upon House-tops these living stones should not â—e round and rolling but square and fixed still settled upon the Center 1 Cor. 1.6 if the Testimony of Christ be confirmed in us we should hold fast our confidence firm unto the end and pray hard for a more constant spirit as David did Psal 51.10 that we may be like Jachin and Boaz stability and strength for if we be stable we shall be strong and so answerable to these Sure Mercies of David 3. It is a sad thing to see the Heirs of this Covenant walk uncomfortably what are you partakers and possessours of Mercies and yet sad have you interest in sweet and sure Mercies and yet are you dejected what will lift you up if mercy will not and what can interrupt your peace when mercy waits on you to chear you up thou losest Estate Health Good-Name Relations Liberty yea thy life is in continual hazzard but as long as these Mercies of the Covenant are sure
by his counsel and afterwards receive me to glory Oh happy soul that hath the God of Jacob for his God and these Covenant-mercies his portion who can hurt such a soul But oh the woful state of one that hath not the name of God as a Tower or Chamber to run unto when evils are approaching how dreadful was Sauls state when the Philistines were upon him and God had forsaken him just such will be the condition of a soul destitute of Covenant-mercies in the day of publick or personal calamity alas all they bore up their carnal hearts with is gone and God is gone and now they must either burst with grief or through despair make away themselves as Judas and Achitophel See Psal 52.7 Oh forlorn state of such as took not God for their God sirs think seriously of these things 6. These Covenant-mercies will have mighty influence upon your spirits in Gods service and in your conversation an interest in the mercies of the Covenant will make you fear God and tremble to offend so good a God there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared Psal 130.4 nay fear to offend God is one great mercy of the Covenant these will melt your hearts into tears of Evangelical repentance for offending God as you may gather from Zech. 12.10 nay brokenness of heart is one of the mercies of the Covenant sence of these mercies will make your souls love God clearly Luk. 7.47 nay love to God is one of the mercies of the Covenant and so for the rest of the Graces there 's not an useful disposition requisite to qualifie us for Gods service but 't is contained in the Covenant hereby we shall know Gods will be willing to obey it delight our selves in Gods service as David Psal 5.7 I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple we shall then sing in the ways of the Lord and in the height of Zion and flow together for the goodness of the Lord Jerem. 31.12 i. e. the goodness of the Lord will engage the Saints to come with chearfulness into Gods presence and thank God for an opportunity of waiting on so good a God holy hearts delight in holy works grace fits the soul for God Covenant-mercies render a soul capable of and suitable to Covenant-duties and the more you partake of these mercies the more delight will you take in duty the more like you are to God the more delight will you take in God and God will delight more in you and so there will be sweet fellowship betwixt God and your souls on the contrary carnal spirits cannot endure spiritual exercises they come to duties as a Bear to the stake and when they are therein they are upon a Rack Lord be merciful to such a soul 7. These Covenant-mercies will not leave the soul till they have brought it to Heaven Gods mercies are in the Heavens that 's their proper Element and they never cease moving and mounting the soul upwards till they have raised him up into the highest Heavens where they shall drink of the River of his pleasures Psal 36.5 8. now Covenanted souls do but taste that the Lord is gracious but then they shall eat and drink abundantly and shall be satisfied with marrow and fatness yea bathe their souls in that fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 these mercies will make you rich towards God and rich with God to all Eternity if you dye with Covenant-mercies in your hearts you depart like Old Simeon with Christ in your arms and dye in peace and rest with God these sure mercies lead the van to eternal glory which comes in the rear of a temporal life and spiritual graces yea eternal life is begun here as Scripture testifies how is that why no otherwise than by the possession of these spiritual mercies and Communion with God thereby this is eternal life to know the only true God and Jesus Christ Joh. 17.3 You lay hold on eternal life here by laying hold on these best blessings and Covenant-mercies 1 Tim. 6.12 19. he that hath the Son hath life and by believing on the name of the Son of God he may know that he hath eternal life for he hath the record in himself See 1 John 5 10-13 what is this witness it is contained in some of these sure mercies of David Oh therefore for a share and interest therein on the other hand he that hath nothing to do with these sure mercies hath nothing to do with eternal glory such as are strangers from the Covenants of promise Eph. 2.12 have no hope of a better life as the Tree falls so shall it lye and such as are found without mercies in their hearts at death shall be found destitute of mercy at the great day There is one sort of persons I would more particularly press to look after their share in these sure mercies of David and those are the Children of Godly Parents and hence Solomon prays Remember the mercies of David thy Servant 2 Chron. 6.42 so you that are the posterity of godly predecessours cry out for and apply the mercies of your Fathers and there are two cogent arguments in the quality of these mercies the Text mentioneth for here they are said to be sure consider 1. Your Parents found them sure to them 2. The Promise will make them sure to you 1. Consider your Religious Ancestours found these Covenant-mercies sure to their own souls our Fathers trusted in thee cryed to thee they were delivered were not ashamed Psal 22.4 5. Heathens did pertinaciously adhere to the Religion of their Predecessors and shall Children of Godly Parents forsake their Fathers God and such a God as never failed them Moses in his Song saith he is my God and I will prepare him an habitation my Fathers God and I will exalt him Exod. 15.2 enquire and search you that are the seed of his servants had your fathers ever cause to complain of God was he not as good as his word to them did he not punctually keep touch with them and make good all his promises to them did not your Godly Parents breath their last with good speeches of God did they not affectionately commend his service to you upon their death-bed reflect upon their dying words did they not proclaim to all the World that God was a faithful Covenant-keeping God to them and did they not assure you he would be as good to you if you embrace him and keep his ways yea cannot you bear witness for them that their last words were speaking well of God as Jacob and Joseph both did upon their death-bed did not they in the faith and sense thereof commend you into the hands of their gracious God as Jacob Gen. 48.15 16. the God which fed me all my life long unto this day the Angel which Redeemed me from all evil bless the lads did they not
in reading the Word of God Oh of what use would this be there you may find what God commands how Saints have obeyed by what means they have cleared up their integrity and interest in Christ here you may find what are the conditions of the Covenant and upon what terms the mercies thereof may be enjoyed and what are the infallible Characters of such as have received benefit thereby here you may find Christ the main and choicest mercy of the Covenant yea for this end was the Scripture written that we might have comfort in God and by consequence also assurance of our interest in him Rom. 15.4 for this cause did both Christ speak Joh. 15.11.1 Joh. 1.4 and John write Divine truths that are upon record that his joy might be in us yea that our joy might be full an express Text you have in 1 Joh. 5.13 these things have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God that ye may know ye have eternal life the more you study the Scriptures the more clearly you may read your names in the Book of Life your hearts if sincere will eccho to the word you read because the Law of God is written in your hearts therefore read and study this blessed Book these words are Charters of your heavenly inheritance food for your hungry appetites glasses in which you may discern the face of your souls Oh Christians neglect not the Scriptures look up for a right understanding and due application of every passage therein and then comfort your selves and one another with these words 1 Thes 4. ult 2. Attend upon a quickning Ministry here the terms of the Gospel are propounded the mercies of the Covenant are displayed true believers discovered and characterized here you may meet with a Barnabas as well as with a Boanerges yea it may be the hand that wounded may heal you God usually makes the fruit of the lips to be peace Isa 57.19 and many times sends some choice Interpreter to declare unto a man his righteousness and clear up his integrity Job 33.23 and therefore is it that God directs all such as walk in darkness to obey the voice of his servants Isa 50 10. or rather gives this as their character that they do so Isa 40.1 2.2 Cor. 1.4 and God gives Ministers a charge to comfort his people and lays up comforts in their Breasts to this end that they may comfort such as are cast down Oh the reviving words you may hear in the Ministry of the Word here you may hear doubts resolved cases of Conscience propounded answered and hearts opened anatomized here the spirit of God is often conveyed which seals up the believing soul to the day of redemption Isa 59.21 Gal. 3.2 3. Mat. 28. â—0 the presence of God accompanies his institution so that what the Minister declares in the name and by the Authority of Christ Isa 44 26. Mat. 18.18 according to the word he will ratifie back and confirm it in Heaven and how many drooping heirs of promise hath God erected satisfied encouraged about their title to Covenant-mercies by this Ordinance Oh the advantage that many have got thereby therefore wait on God in this Ordinance Oh look not upon it as weak and beggarly Elements as some ignorantly and blasphemously call all Ordinances make them not a matter of Ceremony and Formality but prepare for them and use them conscientiously and you shall see the sweet effect thereof 3. Improve the seals of the Covenant both Baptism and the Lords Supper Rom 4.11 Circumcision is called the seal of the righteousness of faith because that sweet Evangelical priviledge or marrow of the Gospel-covenant is signified sealed and exhibited in that Ordinance Oh Christians understand and improve that sweet Ordinance of Baptism it would be a spring of sweetness and satisfaction to your doubting fainting spirits 1 Cor. 10.16 c. 11.24 and then for the Lords Supper herein Christs Body and Blood are particularly applyed to us to become our own yea verily and really though not corporally but spiritually exhibited to every worthy receiver and hence resulteth spiritual joy solace and satisfaction as in the Passeover in Hezekiahs days 2 Chron. 30.21 26. they kept the feast with gladness and there was joy in Jerusalem But be sure you examine your selves prepare your hearts excite your Graces understand the Covenant apply these blessed mysteries to your own souls open your hearts by Meditation that the King of glory may come in stir up your souls to draw near to God and he will draw near to you Gal. 3.1 you 'l see Christ Crucified before you you 'l enjoy a blessed feast of fat things that will nourish and comfort your pining souls here you 'l feel pleasant Apples and sweet flagons of the Wine of his special love to stay you up and support your hearts in the day of your affliction and sad desertion and if you cannot enjoy that refreshing Ordinance yet reflect upon your former enjoyments and meditate upon your Crucified Redeemer and represent his bruised body and effused blood to your selves and in due time you 'l cry out with Thomas my Lord and my God 4. Ply the Throne of Grace in Prayer say as David Psal 35.3 O Lord say unto my soul I am thy salvation Isa 56.7 God hath promised to make his people joyful in the house or duty of Prayer Saints have found by experience the sweet and satisfying fruit of a serious wrestling with God thus David Psal 31.16 make thy face to shine upon thy servant and ver 21. he breaks out in thankfulness for an answer Blessed be the Lord for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong City Yea Christ himself commands us to ask that we may receive that our joy may be full Joh. 16.24 and is not a clear evidence of our interest in the Covenant and the mercies of it worth asking therefore plead with God tell him thou preferrest Covenant-mercies above worldly enjoyments and that thou wouldst rather have these mercies made sure to thee than to have a lease of thy life for his loving-kindness is better than life Psal 63.3 tell him the joy of the Lord is thy strength and how much it will tend to thy furtherance in his service if he will lift up the light of his Countenance on thy soul tell him he hath granted comfortable assurance to many souls and thou needest it as well as they thou art an humble suitor at the Gates of mercy and art resolved not to let him go except he bless thee yet once again tell him it is no more then he hath promised in his word and Christ hath purchased by his blood and therefore it is no arrogancy for thee to crave or expect and when thou hast been pleading conclude with that poor man Mark 9 24. Mat. 9.29 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief and he will say according
to thy faith be it unto thee 5. Walk close with God as that is one of the mercies of the Covenant so 't is an evidence of our interest in the Covenant and 't is a notable means of obtaining and maintaining assurance Psal 50.23 to him â—hat ordereth his conversation aright will I â—hew the salvation of God close-walkers have many choice discoveries Psal 119.165 Oh the peace â—hat such have as keep Gods commandments Oh the sweet refreshment which results from a lively obedience the work of righteousness is peace the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance for ever Isa 32.17 Psal 25 14. Mat. 4.2 Joh. 14.15 16. v. 21. if you keep constantly in the â—ear of God he will discover to you the secrets of his Covenant he will cause the Sun of righteousness to arise upon you if you keep his Commandments you shall have a comforter and he will manifest himself to you But if you grow careless and remiss in your walking and step aside to any gross sin no wonder if you have little assurance of these Covenant-mercies for these do separate betwixt you and your God you and comfort this obscured Davids interest in God and his unsuitable Acts cost him many a tear and sad thoughts of heart which made him cry out of broken bones and bitterly groan out his sad complaints for the want of the joy of Gods salvation yea for one act of sloth and security the Church lost the sweet sense of divine love Cant. 5.26 Oh take heed of sin it is like a filthy vapour rising out of the soul that causeth a mist and a thick mist between God and us as will keep the light of his countenance from shining upon us it begets jealousies suspicioâ— and uncomfortable fears in the soul whether God be ours or no and therefore take heed of sin and walk humbly witâ— God 6. Be much in self-observation somâ— have an interest in the Covenant but know it not for want of self-discovery therefore it were a good work to consider boâ— your hearts and ways indeed the heart 〈◊〉 deceitful but you should take the candle 〈◊〉 the Word in the hand of Conscience anâ— deal impartially with your hearts seek into the obscure corners thereof and it 's possible in some nook or other you 'l find a Covenant-mercy canst thou not say as Peter iâ— sincerity Joh 21 17. Isa 38.3 thou knowest that I love thee oâ— with Hezekiah that you have walkt before God in uprighteness dost thou not find iâ— thy heart a care to please God fear to offenâ— him desire to enjoy him hatred of sin love tâ— the saints poverty of spirit despising thâ— World and low thoughts of thy best duty well now a sound search and clear discovery of the frame of your spirits will be 〈◊〉 notable way to assure to your selves youâ— interest in these Covenant-mercies and sâ— proving your selves Gal. 6.4 Prov. 14.14 your rejoycing and satisfaction shall be from your selves if thou canst but find one saving Grace in thy heart in truth thou maist gather some evidence thence and Gods Children have taken comfort in their sincere love to the Brethren when they have have scarce discerned any other grace and so have assured their hearts before God that they were of â—he truth see 1 John 3.18 19. there 's neâ—er a good work done if it be right for principle rule and end but it will help us â—o a discovery of our state that our work â—s wrought in God Joh. 3.21 therefore â—et's be willing to come to the light and try our hearts and acts so may we attain assurance of our interest 7. Reflect upon and recollect your former experiences this was Davids usual method â—o assure his heart of the truth of Grace Psal 77.6 Psal 143.5 6. Job 23.11 12. and his interest in God Psal 77.10 I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high days of old his songs in the night this course took Job and many other saints and the Apostle bids the believing Hebrews call to remembrance the former days in which after they were illuminated they endured a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10.32 and this was in order to the recovery of Gods smiles and the sence of his love you 'l say what am I better for remembring what goodness was in me in time past which I am now fallen from and have lost I answer much every way chiefly because these mercies of the Covenant are sure mercies and though they may be obscured yet never abolished where God loves once he loves to the end Joh. 13.1 Job 19.28 1 Pet. 1.23 the bud and blossom of comfort may be nipt but the root of the matter and incorruptible seed remains in the heart a man in a swoun hath life though possibly 't is not discernable to himself or others grace may be hid yet alive as the sap returns into the root in Winter want of comfortable sense and feeling is not a loss of Grace in this case search your records and see if you cannot find some manifestations of God to your souls in former times I have heard of a godly Woman who was wont to write down how God dealt with her heart and time place manner of her communion with God a time of destruction came the comforts and counsels of Ministers friends were in vain 〈◊〉 a good man gets her Book shews it under her own hand which she could noâ— deny clears the immutable love of God plyes her with it drives the nail home and thereby she recovered her assurance thus may you therefore recollect experiences 8. Strengthen every grace the greateâ— any thing is the more is is discernable little Grace is not so soon discovered aâ— much Grace a greater measure of thâ— Graces of the spirit carryes a beauty and lustre along with it and hath a self-evidencing testimony of the souls sincerity Christians do you add to your faith vertue knowledge temperance patience Godliness brotherly-kindness charity foâ— if these things be in you and abound yoâ— shall both be fruitful and they will help you to clear up your calling and election 2 Pet. 1 5-10 these resemble the soul to God and the more God-like a Chrstian grows the more clear will he be in point of state Saints of the greatest magnitude are usually more free from doubtings whiles sincere yet weak believers are much pestered with jealousies and misgivings the more you get of these sure mercies into your hearts the more sure you are of your interest in them the faster hold you have of God the surer you 'l be you have indeed hold of him every step towards Zion will add new strength stability and satisfaction to the holy Pilgrim encrease Repentance and you increase assurance of the remission of sins increase faith and that brings on assurance of faith strengthen hope and you settle your Anchor grow in love to God and his way courage and zeal
Lord hath taken to assure thee of these mercies so that unbelief is the most unreasonable sin in the World Joh. 3.19 this is the great damning sin say not with Cain thy sins are greater than can be forgiven for thou lyest in saying so is not the mercy of an infinite God beyond the demerits of a finite creature nay further thou givest God the lye who is truth it self he saith there 's life for dead condemned sinners in his Son 1 Joh. 5.10 11. thou saist no but I have been to seek and I want life but there 's none for me yes yes soul there 's life enough for thee grace abounds and you may have this life in abundance only shut not out your selves by unbelief but come to him and he will in no wise cast you off for he is ready to forgive your iniquities and give you these sure mercies 3. In case of persecutions afflictions temptation from Satan the World or any other ways you may then improve these Covenant-mercies and find abundance of sweetness solace and satisfaction therein were it not for these the soul of a child of God would sink under his pressures how often doth David profess that he had perished in his affliction Psal 119. did not Gods word of promise support him a Covenant-word will lift up the soul from the lowest depth a Covenanted God will incourage a Saint in the greatest straits there is a Divine art in a Christians improving this â—tock to his best advantage and affliction â—s a proper season to make use thereof as suppose a man be in poverty there 's enough â—n the Covenant to make him rich if in disgrace Covenant-mercies make him honourable if sick one Covenant-mercy even pardon of sin will make him sound Isa 33. Dei hominem cultoâ—em Dei subnixum spei veritate fidei stabilitate fundatum â—gat mandi buâ—us seâ—uli in testatioâ—ibus commoveri vid. Cypr. tractaâ— cont Demetr p. 273. 〈◊〉 in Prison Covenant-mercies set him at â—iberty if hungry or thirsty why Covenant-mercies are meat and drink to him if derived of relations still Covenant-mercy makes up that loss and lets the soul see â—etter relations in Heaven Oh Christians our case can never be forlorn as long as â—u have such rich mercies of the Covenant to support and supply you let all the â—en of earth set themselves against you â—ey can but storm the out-works they can â—ver surprize your main Fort or rob you 〈◊〉 your best goods these mercies of the Covenant which are made sure to you by a Covenant of salt oh hug and embrace these mercies in such a time as this when trade decays your stock is safe in a plundering time none can pluck away your treasure and estate you have something that all the Devils in Hell and Men on Earth cannot deprive you of troubles will but knock these mercies into your breasts more firmly and feelingly then deprive you of them or render you suspicious of your interest in them for these are seasons wherein God communicates most of himself to the soul Gen. 28.13 Jacob's sad and solitary journey was attended with the choicest heart-reviving discoveries Heaven was opened and God shined upon blessed Stephen's soul through a showr of Stones Act. 7.55 Oh Christians 't is worth a World to have interest in God in the day of affliction and 't is your great work in such a day to bear up your hearts with what you have in the Covenant of grace take heed of discontented murmurings under any tryals since you have a God that can and will be all in all to your souls in the want of all comforts and over-flowing of sorrows 4. You may improve these Covenant mercies in a day of spiritual dearth in thâ— famine of the Word which is the sad desâ— judgement when Means Ordinances failâ— and the soul is in great danger of pining then 't is both safe and sweet to suck growtâ— and strength from the spring-head eveâ— from God in a Covenant-way these mercies nourish the languishing soul in a famishing season Isa 41.17 18. when the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will open Rivers in high places and Fountains in the midst of the Valleys I will make the Wilderness a Pool of water and streams in the Desart and dry Land springs of Water Oh blessed are Covenanted souls they have meat to eat others know not of hidden Manna God hath ways to convey Marrow and Fatness into their souls when their ordinary provision is kept from them I Read of a man that was condemned to starve to death in Prison his Daughter getting leave to visit him once a day yet not permitted to bring food notwithstanding preserved his life a long time by the Milk which he sucked out of her Breasts Oh how doth God preserve the souls of his Children in Prisons by that good nourishment they suck from God in the breasts of the Promises he keeps them alive in famine bread shall be given them their waters shall be sure Isa 33.16 yea he makes affliction and adversity both bread and water wholesome food therefore called in Scripture Isa 30.20 the bread of adversity and water of affliction because souls are bravely nourished thereby Ordinances may for a season be removed but influences of grace are still conveyed grace is supported the soul supplyed as long as the spring remains free for a Christians access he shall be provided for though the Chanel be stopt streams cut off and outward means much obstructed therefore Christians when the word of the Lord is precious and there is little open vision make your addresses immediately to God see what he will speak to your souls own him in Covenant-relation lay your souls at his feet and tell him that you are cast in a thirsty Wilderness your graces are withering and hearts failing tell him you can scarce meet with an instrument to receive a word of council or comfort from but ask him if he cannot supply without as well as by the means tell him he sometimes stops the Conduit that he may convince us where our refreshment lyes and whither we must have recourse for fresh supplys tell him when you enjoyed the means they could not work without him and now you want them he can work without them though he hath tyed us to the means yet he hath not tyed himself to them tell him once again that the more immediate his Conveyances are the more evidential they are and the sweeter emblems of Heaven 5. In your backslidings and fears of apostacy then oh then improve these mercies of the new Covenant you fall and miscarry and lose your hold of God but God hath hold of you you dare not venture to approach to him again Jer. 3.12 13. but he calls and tells you he will
heal your backsliding will not cause his anger to fall upon you because he is marryed to you and he hates putting away the mercies of the Covenant depend not on your mutable wills but upon everlasting love your souls are carryed to Heaven in the Chariot of the Covenant which moves upon the solid Axle-tree of free-grace which as it was not procured so is it not continued by your merits or goodness 't is true if you had carryed the matter so towards men as you have done to God you might expect an heavy sentence but these are the sure mercies of an infinite God the Covenant is made in Christ and made good by Christ the Alpha and Omega the Amen the faithful and true witness is the Surety and Mediator of this blessed Covenant Oh Christians lay your stress here there 's help laid upon one that is mighty to save he can save to the uttermost pinch he is good at this soul-saving work do not fear he that begun this good work in your hearts will perfect it you may be confident of it 1 Pet. 1.5 Rom. 14 4. Jer. 32. you shall be kept by the power of God through faith to salvation though you be very weak yet he is able to make you stand you shall not depart from him omnipotency is engaged for you act faith therefore upon the numerous and gracious promises of perseverance though you have many fightings without and fears within though you feel averseness to good and a tendency to sin wants and weaknesses burdens and breaches snares and sadness yet lift up your hearts you stand upon better terms with God than Adam in innocency or the Angels in glory who were not confirmed in their integrity but are fallen by a dreadful apostacy it were sad for poor believers if their happiness did depend upon their mutable nature or strongest resolutions or if God should revoke his mercies as often as they provoke his justice but blessed be God for Jesus Christ and the rest of the sure mercies of David triumph in this O ye Children of the promise the Covenant wherein your souls are wrapped is ordered in all things and sure Heaven it self is engaged for you the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you none can pluck you out of his hands who is the rock of Ages in whom is everlasting strength you may confidently make bold and blessed Paul's victorious challenge who shall separate us from the Love of God Rom. 8.35 ad finem though your internal motions be often like Ezekiel's wheel 〈◊〉 16 〈◊〉 intricate confused and perplexed as a wheel in a wheel grace sweying one way and flesh another yet if you be joyned to the living Creatures and united to Christ in the bond of the Covenant you shall go streight on with constancy and uniformity till your souls arrive at glory these mercies are not for a day or week or month or year but they run parallel with the life of God and line of eternity for with everlasting mercies he will have compassion on thee Isa 54.7 8. 6. In case of desertions and Gods withdrawings from him the soul may and must improve these sure mercies of David now desertions are ordinarily distinguisht into Gods withdrawing 1. His quickning 2. His comforting presence from the soul in both these cases the soul may improve them 1. In case God suspend the gracious influences of his spirit and the heart be shut up under deadness hardness unbelief distractions and the poor Christian cannot feel those lively springings of the graces of the Covenant in his heart then let him have recourse to the promise wherein God hath engaged himself to give a soft heart a new spirit faith love repentance the spirit of prayer c. all habits of grace the lively exercise of grace assisting grace quickning enlarging moving melting manifestations are bound up in this Gospel-covenant hence it is that when David â—inds his heart dull and out of frame he runs to God and cryes out my soul cleaveth to the dust ver 107. quicken me according to thy word Psal 119.25 and he goes often over with that phrase which imports that David lay under the sense of some promise that God had made for the quickning of his heart when it was out of frame and accordingly he recounts the gracious influences of Gods spirit and professeth that he will never forget his precepts because by them he had quickned him ver 93. thus let dead hearts lay themselves at Christs feet and plead in this manner Lord my heart is exceeding dull and distracted I feel not those enlarging melting influences which thy Saints have met with but are they not main material mercies of the Covenant dost thou not promise a spirit of illumination conviction humiliation is not holiness of heart and life a main branch of it dost thou not promise therein to write thy Law in my heart to give me oneness of heart to put thy fear within me to subdue my corruptions to help my infirmities in prayer now Lord these are the mercies my soul wants and waits for fill my soul with these warming influences revive thy work of grace in my soul draw out my heart towards thee inlarge my affections to thee repair thine image draw out grace into lively exercise doth not that sweet word intend such a mercy when thou saist Ezek. 36.26 thou wilt not only give a new heart but put a new spirit within me to make my soul lively active and spiritual in duties and motions dear Lord am not I a Covenanted soul and are not these Covenant-mercies why then my God dost thou thus harden my heart from thy fear why dost thou leave me in all this deadness and distraction remember thy word unto thy servant in which thou hast caused me to hope and in which thou hast helped me to plead oh quicken my dull heart according to thy word thus improve these mercies in case of deadness 2. In case of sadness and disconsolateness and the hidings of Gods face from a troubled drooping spirit Oh then make much use of these Covenant-mercies both as they are mercies and as they are sure mercies they are as free and as firm as ever if you see nothing but wickedness and wretchedness in your selves remember mercy prevents you if you see nothing but justice and frowns in Gods face remember his faithfulness ingageth him he is faithful he cannot deny himself would he love thee so as to make thee his and will he not now love thee as his Child consider the Covenant is certain though there be a present suspension thy union to Christ is secured though actual Communion be intercepted yea real unnecessary Communion is continued though sensible manifestations be obscured for observe it the soul holds Communion with Christ by that which desertions cannot hinder salvation may be there though the joy of that salvation be gone Covenant-relation may continue without comfortable satisfaction why bast
thou forsaken me saith Christ and David his Type yet my God still Psal 51.8 Christians you are not to trust to present feelings David doth not say make me to feel but hear joy and gladness saith one because sense and feeling is of no worth of it self except first we hear it in a promise that 's a fancy that 's felt and not heard from God and we are to build upon a word of promise even when we want the feeling of comfort and 't is not safealtoger the to lean upon former experiences only though these are good secondary helps yet our primary and Principal foundation is God in a Promise as our God in Covenant let a dark and troubled spirit read study and practise that choice instruction Isa 50.10 trust in the name of the Lord there 's enough in Gods name to answer allâ—d ubts read it Exod. 34.5 6 mercy there answers to our misery grace to our undeserving long-suffering to our continued apostacy goodness answers our vileness truth and faithfulness answers to our Covenant-breach and falshood God keeps Covenant though we break it yea God keeps Covenant with us though we are apt to think he breaks it David thought Gods mercy was clean gone and that his Promise failed for evermore but he is convinced at last that that apprehension was his infirmity Psal 77.8 9 10. therefore let a clouded soul in its blackest desertions lift up his eyes and heart to these sure mercies and ponder thus 't is true my soul is dark and God withdraws it is a night of great affliction but was it never day with thee O my soul hath not the blessed day-star of grace risen in thy heart hath not God united thee to Jesus Christ did he never give thee the earnest of his Spirit didst thou never feel the stirrings of its graces or the stealing of its comforts reflect upon thy former state or rather study the freeness and the fulness of Gospel-grace what though I be without any sensible feelings of Gods grace or shinings of his face is not my life sometimes hid with Christ in God even from mine own eyes as well as from others may not the Sun be under a Cloud shall I say my Father doth not love me because he doth not always dandle me upon his knee and evidence his love to me in sweet embraces I am resolved to cleave unto him though he kill me and to believe in him though I cannot see him I will venture my weary soul upon his free-grace in Christ the Covenant is firm its mercies are sure there 's hope in the God of Israel it may be he will cast a propitious aspect on a weary â—oul however I am resolved to lye at his â—eet and act affiance and dependance on his â—mmutable promise whether he ever shine upon my soul or no this will bring a good issue 7. The last case wherein a Christian is to improve these sure mercies of David is in the hour and power of death when that grim Serjeant looks upon us with its ghastly face and arrests us with its cold hand then mercy will stand us in stead and sure mercies will be our sweetest Cordial these mercies pluck out the sting of death perfume the grave make way for the gracious soul to take its flight to glory so that death is now become the Christians friend and servant rest and interest conquest and Crown the Apostle doth therefore reckon up death as one part of the Saints Inventory 1 Cor. 3.21 22. all things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephâ—s or the World or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours this is the fullest longest surest title here 's a sufficient enumeration nothing can be wanting either in the mercies ensured or manner of ensuring or the duration it 's to all Eternity and it 's the best and clearest Tenure in capite in the head Christ and 't is both by Purchase and by Conquest nothing is wanting to make these mercies sure for ever for death which dissolves all other bonds of relation doth more firmly and closely joyn God and the gracious soul 't is as a Porter to let them into their Fathers house a divine Limbeck to purifie and prepare them for glory and that voice which calls to the believer saying come up hither in this life souls are but espoused to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 after death they are presented to him and the marriage is consummated 2 Cor. 5.6 8. ver 1 2. Phil. 1.21 here we are absent from our husband while present in the body but 't is more desirable to be absent from the body and present with the Lord and this is done by a dissolving of the earthly house of this Tabernacle so that hereby death becomes a gain and brings believers to their proper home and why should we be afraid of a stingless Serpent or helpful servant that doth us the greatest kindness why are believers afraid to dye why do they not rather say with that good man egredere anima egredere go forth my soul go forth and meet thy dearly beloved But we need go no further to prove either the immortality of the soul or the commodities of death than the subject we are upon even these sure mercies of David for they continue to David even when he is laid in the grave therefore our Saviour proves the Resurrection from the Covenant with Abraham Numb 18.19 Mat. 32.31 Isaac and Jacob because it is a perpetual Covenant a Covenant of Salt and thus runs the argument God is the God of the living and not of the dead therefore these Patriarchs are living and have an existence because he hath made a Covenant with them otherwise if these arise not then must the Covenant of necessity cease but the Covenant endures for ever therefore those with whom he makes the Covenant must live for ever since God calls himself their God Exod. 3.6 even after they are laid in their graves therefore let Christians rest in hope when they are laying down their heads in the grave for the Scripture saith the righteous have hope in their death the Covenant abides firm still the mercies thereof dye not when the body dyes the Heathens themselves saw this Socrates saith the Swan was Dedicated to Apollo because she sung sweetly before her death and the Romans when their great men dyed and when their bodies were burnt to ashes they caused an Eagle to fly and mount on high to signifie that the soul was immortal and shall not the Children of Promise sing chearfully when their souls are ready to mount up to eternal mansions I confess I am really ashamed when I read Cicero Cicero Tusc Quest lib. 1. De contemnâ—adâ morte Maximum argumentum est naturam ipfam de immo talite animorum tacitam judicare quod omnibus curae sâ—nt maxime quidem quae post mortem futura sâ—nt Serit arbores