to take the shield of faith a sheeld is for defence so this faith both defends and resists the Devill Quest But how doth faith overcome Ans It ever hath an eye to the foundation Christ it knows the foundation standeth sure and so it turns over the devill the false conclusion that the devill and the heart is ready to make together to Christ and now the soule sayth it is true Satan or it is true heart I am base I have a vile cursed nature I cannot pray nor performe any duty as I should sin is in my best action I confesse I am in my selfe as bad as man or devill can make not a worse heart in the world more subject to evill farther then God restrains it more unable to doe good farther then God inables and what of all this Satan I know there is enough to condemne me for ever were I to answer in mine own person for my selfe but Christ hath been condemned for me Satan he hath borne all my sins and so my condemnation and he hath made himselfe over to me so that now thou must first have something against Christ before thou canst shake my hold and thus by faith flying to Christ the soule overcomes the enemy but if the soule cannot thus have recourse to the Lord Jesus he is gone when the tempter comes he is not able to resist Then sayth the beleeving soule it is true Satan I have a proud self seeking heart ready ever to take that honour to it selfe that is due to God but it is as true that I may thank thee for it who hast thus metamorphozed my nature and made it like thine own and not onely so but commest in and ever stirrost up the heart to pride and selfe-seeking knowing well by experience that it is a sin that much provokes God but this is my mercie God lets me see into this depth of wickednesse and it is my burthen but Christ hath freed me from the power of it and from the iniquity of it hee is ever subduing it in me and one day I shall for ever be freed both from it and thee thus by faith the soule overcomes the devill this is the first particular wherein the Christian comes to liue by faith in the exercising of it according to the manyfold occasions it meets withall 2 To live by faith is a living upon Christ in the want of all things and that both externall and internall 1 Externall in the want of outward things when the creature is tripped naked and bare brought even to a morsell of bread then to live in beleeving the Lord will care for you when that you are brought to Christs condition that you have neither house nor home nor any thing in the world besides a Christ besides a God to live upon then when thou canst get a promise as that Heb. 13.5 He hath sayd I will not fail thee nor for sake thee and stick close to the Lord Jesus in such a promise this is a living by faith when the creature fails Hab. 3.17 18. Although the figtree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no therd in the stalls Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation This is to live by faith when all creatures fail then to live upon God then to rejoyce in the Lord believing that God is able and will help the Lord will sustain The want of this faith was Israels sin Psal 78.18 19. they spake against God and sayd Can God prepare a table in the wildernesse how is the deceitfull heart of man ready to distrust God in such a condition as those Jews can God prepare a table when all is gone but faith in such a condition believes and lives by blieving and the Lord will care for moe sayth the soule and the Lord hath sayd it The lions shall luck and suffer hunger but they that wait upon the Lord shall want nothing that is good This is a hard thing it is easily sayd but not so easily done you thinke it is easie perhaps to live by faith while you have a house a calling that brings you in money perhaps every day or every week or money by you or land c. you can live comfortably upon Christ and your calling upon Christ and your house or land but let all be taken from thee see then how then canst live this may be your condition and then you will be put to the tryall 2 Spiritually when the soule hath nothing of its own to rest upon when duties and performances and all is gone then to believe and live by believing this is to live by faith indeed upon this ground the soule believes Rom. 4.4.5 He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted to him for righteousnesse he that worketh not he that cannot performe one acceptable duty in way of righteousnesse but sees all is nothing yet believes in Christ and so lives by believing this is the constant stay of a believer he eversees his own emptinesse the untighteousnesse of his best actions I say to believe in and to live upon Christ in all such conditions it is to live by faith above duties and performances but how doe many a professing man and woman comfort themselves in the performing of duties in their inlargement in duty and the like but when they fail in this then they call all in question again this faith was not right for they thinke they believe because they can pray and meditate c. when indeed the soul that rightly believes doth believe because he cannot pray nor act or doe any thing that is acceptable and therefore he cannot live by faith but when that power he has to performe duty fails his faith and all fails this is not to live by faith yet this hath been the life of most professours in this Nation 3 A living by faith it is to live by beleeving of what the soule shall one day enjoy and this mightily bears up the spirits of the Saints And this we may take notice of under a threefold consideration 1 That which the gracious soule longs most after is the full enjoyment of God nothing lesse can satisfie the believing soule the soule that hath tasted how gracious the Lord is O sayth the Soule when shall I come to the full enjoyment of my God and so the seule groanes as the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.2 earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with the house from heaven and the reason is ver 7. for while we are here we walke that is live by faith and not by sense while we are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord that is absent comparatively with relation to what it shall be for the soule has but a glimpse of glory but a
against the spirit and these two are contrary each to other And thus the Lord Jesus continues opposing of sin of the Iust and corruption that is in the hearts of the Saints Quest How doth Christ oppose sin and Satan for sin is Satans work 1 John 5.8 For this cause was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the work of the Devill The work of the Devill is sin hee that committeth sin is of the Devill Ans Christ destroys sin which is the Devils work two ways 1 First Christ he destroys the guilt of it and that he did in bearing both the sin guilt and condemnation of it upon his own body 1 Pet. 2.24 Rom. 8.3 and now he comes and in the Gospel makes it known unto his people Rom. 5.11 2 Hee destroyes the power of it by his spirit by the operation of his power working reigning and ruling in the hearts of his people Rom. 6.4 Now Christ subdues this iniquity by his Kingly Office reigning in the Saints Ye are not under the law but under grace under Christ in whom was manifested the fulnesse of grace This doth Christ two ways first he comes to the soule of a poore sinner discovering his excellency the riches of his grace and so shedding abroad his love in the heart gets the soule willing to receive him out of love unto him desires to have Christ set up and his Kingdome within it selfe for Christ hath never a Kingdome in the heart of man till hee thus comes and breaks in upon the soul discovering love yet now sayth the soul let Christ be King and none but him although it is true it is by his power he breaks in upon and subdues the stout spirit of man who would not willingly submit of himselfe yet Christ makes him willing by the shedding abroad of his love in the heart Rom. 5.5 So that now the Lord Jesus with the free consent of the gracious soul sets up his kingdome in the heart so that when Christ sayth My Sou give me my heart Lord take my heart sayth the soule dwell there rule there ser up thy kingdome there so that you see Christ doth not rule as Tyrant in the souls of his people but with the free and full consent of the mind of the person in whom hee reigns for this is both the wisdome and power of Christ that hee makes his people a willing people Psal 110.3 Then secondly Christ having purged the heart of man in some measure overcomes those strong lusts and affections and makes it a meet mansion house a Temple for his holy spirit to dwell in he then sets up laws and statutes in the hearts of his children in his kingdome and there he rules opposing all other laws for there are and will be the stirring of corruption and that very strongly too Now Christ first sets up the law of faith in the hearts of his people and that in opposition of infidelity for naturally the Saints are subject to infidelity through the motions of corruptions and temptations of Satan The beleeving soule when it sees what a base nature it still carries about within it selfe being sensible of the stirring of lusts and corruptions Satan helping seriously then it is troubled O this evill nature of mine sayth the soul who shall deliver me from this body of sin Now the law of Christ is to beleeve and in this condition to live by believing and so Christ enables to put faith in exercise and to beleeve above hope almost as Abraham and so hee still quiets the soule by enabling it to believe constantly in the name of the Sonne God and that when it cannot worke for hee is the Prince of our faith the authour and finisher of it and so here is in the heart of the Christian a strong conflict between the law of faith and the law of infidelity the spirit of faith and the spirit of infidelity infidelity it comes in with a mighty commanding authority upon the soule of that Christian set on by the Devils malice and perhaps sometimes seemes almost in the eyes of reason to get the victory over faith but then Christ who maintaines his laws puts them in execution arises and rayseth up the heart above those doubtings and caries on the soul in a way of beleeving still and so quashes infidelity and treads it under fect and leaves it dead executed for present by the law of faith 2 Christ sets up the law of love in his Kingdome I mean in the heart of the Saints and that in opposition to hatred For the truth is that every soul in whom Christ reigns not doth indeed hate Christ now Christ sets up this law of love in the hearts of the Saints love to himself to his holinesse to his Gospell Ordinances Saints every thing that have the name of Christ stampt upon them it loves it for his sake and this law of love opposeth hatred for there may come sometimes hard thoughts into the souls of the Saints under afflictions and fiery tryals ready perhaps to say with David Hath the Lord forgotten to be mercifull hath he shut up his tender mercy in disple asure Now the law of love comes in and helps the soule to see that there is in Christ nothing but love to it notwithstanding the souls present apprehensions and sees all things shall worke for good to them that love the Lord and so can say with the Prophet Lord out of very love hast thou afflicted me and so the soule is knit to Christ in all conditions cannot but have high thoughts of him even then when it suffers either for him or from him For him That is for want of the enjoyment of the manifestations of his pleasing countenance and the fresh incomes of his love the kissings of his mouth Cant. 1.2 or for the bearing up of his name in a visible profession of the Gospel of Christ From him Fatherly chastisements out of love to make us partakers of his holinesse Heb. 12.10 In all these sufferings when perhaps somtimes the carnall part is ready almost to quarrell against Christ this law of love quells and subdues all brings this heart-rising in subjection and knits the soule to the Lord Jesus 2 As it causeth the soule to love the Lord Jesus so it causeth it to love all that is Christs and highly to esteem of it it opposes any other Law that may seeme to arise as sometimes perhaps through the workings of Satan with the corruptions of the Saints there may be some beginnings of slighting the Saints of entertaining hard thoughts of them but then Christ stirs up and revives this Law of love in them kills that hatred those hard thoughts that it was apt to conceive against them and so knits the soule to them by a more firme united love then ever and thus this law of love overcomes this law of hatred in a word it causeth the Saints to doe all that they doe out of love the love of
Christ constr ains them 2 Cor. 5.14 3 Christ sets up in his Kingdome the Law of meeknesse and humility and that in opposition to the Law of pride and vaineglory Learn of me sayth Christ for I am meeke and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 and this Christ sets up in the hearts of his people for he makes them partakers of his own graces Joh. 1.16 it is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.23 and of the Law of Christ set up in the soules of the Saints against which there is no law can prevail It is true there will be a rising somtimes in the spirits of the Saints pride will thrust it selfe in and be ready to life up the creature in the apprehension of some selfe excellencie although there is no cause yet this is a truth I believe it those that have any experience of the Kingdome of Christ or of the working of corruption know it right well pride will be pirking in ready to lift up the creature above measure either somtimes Externally to make a difference betwixt himselfe and others as nobility of birth parents or kinted honour in the world Externall carnall excellencies O how will it worke somtimes upon the heart of a poore creature as if he were sombody above others O is not thy soule sensible of this somtimes dear Christian I cannot but think it is But then comes in Christ with his law of meeknesse of humility and puls down this pride of heart and lays it low and brings the soule again to lay all in the dust what is honour sayth the believing soule what is nobility of birth this is my honour that I am a sonne a daughter of Iesus Christ and so the soule comes down ready to doe any service of love to the meanest Saint and now the Saints come to serve one another in love and now they come again to see that they are all one in Christ Iesus Somtimes Internally or with relation to Internall gifts received although we have nothing but what we receive yet this is the basenesse of mans nature it wil grow proude be ready to be lifted up even with those graces received is it not so with thy heart art thou not naturally proude doth it not presse in upon thee somtimes I know it doth and I dare say it troubles thee that art a Christian But now Christ comes with his law and casts all down to the ground lays low those mountains those strong lusts that exalt themselves thus against the Kingdome of Christ for this pride is absolutely against the Kingdome of Christ he will not have such things in his Kingdom it will thrust it selfe in but the Law of Christ discovers it and vanquisheth it and keeps the soule in an humble lowly meeke condition O consider of it where pride domineers and rules Christ hath no Kingdome in that soule there Christ dwels there he reigns where he hath made the soule humble faith in Christ doth not make men proud and high no no it is the greatest enemy to it in the world a proud heart did never can never believe before brought low in the sense of its own nothingnesse and emptynesse 4 Christ sets up in the hearts of his Saints in his Kingdom the law of patience and contentednesse in opposition to anger impatiencie and discontentednesse Rash anger impatiencic peevishnesse of spirit how will they arise and be striving somtimes in the hearts of Christians for a small matter how will the heart be out of order and distemper what words will be ready to flow forth the heart being in this temper but now in the heart of a Christian Christ puts in execution his law of patience and quietnesse of spirit O sayth Christ to the soule thou must be patient and meeke thou must learn of me didst thou ever read that I was moved to anger and impatiencie to fret and fume no not against mine enemies and then sayth the soule ô what a fool am I thus to fret and then to be angry how unlike to Christ am I and then down coms that proud peevish spirit into the dust and so foolish was I and ignorant I was even a beast before thee and then the soule is turned again into a sweet disposition of love a compound of patience not easily provoked not easily again stirred to wrath Somtimes in the soule of a Christian is apt to arise perhaps some impatiencie and discontentednesse under afflictions and persecutions hardly can it bear with patience some heart rising this way may arise but then in comes Christ purting in execution the Law of patience and contentednesse and puls downe all those impatient discontented thoughts and then let patience have her perfect worke and the soule is quieted and contented and willingly submits unto the minde of Jesus and then it can say with the Apostle Paul Phil. 4.11 I have learn'd in what estate soever I am therewith to bee content and now the soule is quieted and waits patiently upon the Lord and now the soule sayth ô how unlike am I to Christ 3 he suffered meekly as a lamb dumb before the shearer and opened not his mouth for me a sinner he suffered for me the just for the unjust that hee might bring me to God and shall not I be contented to suffer reproach and shame for him and then come what will come patience possesseth the soule 5 Christ sets up the Law of heavenly mindednesse in the heart of a Christian and indeed it is no wonder for his Kingdom is there heaven is there The Kingdome of heaven is within you Luke 17.21 and therefore needs must Christ set up this Law in his Kingdome and that in opposition to earthly mindednesse sinfulnesse or any thing that is opposite to holynesse and heavenlynesse and you know how the spirits of men nay of Christians are apt to be below the Lord Jesus somtimes on earthly object somtimes vaine proud unprofitable things run in the mind but Christ he comes and scatters those low things and raiseth the heart to himselfe and keeps the heart in such a temper that nothing can satisfie it but himself and when it loseth its heavenly temper its heavenly glory it is presently troubled and it cannot possibly take comfort in any thing beneath the Lord Jesus and here is a continuall combat and conflict between the flesh and the spirit the corrupt nature and the divine nature and certainly here corruption and Satan manytimes brings sadnesse upon the spirits of the Saints in darkning in overshadowing their heavenly enjoyment I meane in way of sense although they can never shake the faith of the soule in whom Christ dwels Mat. 16. The gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Consider now doe you finde Christs Kingdom Christs laws these set up in your hearts do you find Christ opposing lust and corruption within you or do you not If Christ be there you will finde it in some measure I confesse it that Christ according
the sins of his people also upon his shoulders 1 Pet. 2.24 He hath born our sins on his own body on the crosse Hee which knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him believe it beloved those sins and corruptions that so much trouble the soules of Saints he hath borne them all himselfe hee himselfe bare our iniquities upon his own body 4 The High-priest bare the names of the children of Israel on a brest-plate of judgment for a memoriall before the Lord continually Exod. 28.29 He beares their names and judgments before the Lord c. So doth Christ our High-priest beare the names of his people yea their nature and judgments upon his heart before the Lord continually he presents them before his Father continually Now Christ may be said to beare the names of the Saints upon his heart First In his continuall presenting them to himself and Father without spot righteous in his own righteousnesse Ephes 5.25 26 27. Secondly In respect of their neernesse unto him Beloved that that comes to a mans heart comes neere him the Saints of God are as neere unto him as his own heart hee that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye he that persecutes them persecutes Christ Acts 9.4 O therefore let men take heed how they persecute Christians It were better a milstone were hanged about their necks and they cast inco the Sea then offend or persecute the Saints But the Saints whom the Lord hath or shall call are upon his heart in respect of his love unto them Beloved the elect were upon the heart of Christ from all eternity Ephes 1.4 That was the reason why he comes into the world to take your nature your sins become sin and a curse for sinners It was his love The elect of God was so upon the heart of Christ from eternity and hee will give his heart bloud before hee will lose one of them O what do your hearts say to this deer brethren and sisters is not heere comfort for your souls ô thou art perhaps affraid whether Christ loves thee this is the complaint many times of the gracious soule but know this you to whom God hath given faith in his Son thou art upon the heart of the Son in respect of means in respect of love hee loves thee more then thou canst love him for God is love John 4.26 He bears thee upon his heart poore soule and what canst thou desire more see Cant. 8.6 see what Christ sayth of his Church Chap. 4.9 6.5 Thirdly The Saints are upon the heart of Christ in respect of his remembring of them The righteous shall be had in continuall remembrance Psal 112.6 O here is comfort for the poor afflicted souls of the Saints it may be you are under affliction either externall or internal and art ready to complain as once David did as if the Lord had forgotten to be mercisull Ps 13.1 2. what ever thy condition be God hath not forgotten thee no no thou art upon his heart thou art neer and deer unto him thou art very precious unto him he hath set thee as a seale upon his heart and hee cannot forget thee Object But you will say perhaps will not God forget me when I forget him I I have a wicked deceitfull heart that gives me the slip when I come to pray and the name of the Lord is not so precious upon my heart as I wish it were many times Ans But God will not forget thee Esay 49.15 16. Can a woman forget her sucking childe from having compassion on the Sonne of her womb yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee Behold I have ingraven thee upon the palmes of my hands thy walls are continually before me c. O blessed word the Lord will not forget thou art not onely upon his heart but upon his hands also ever in his sight his eye is ever over thee for good Fourthly The Saints are upon the heart of Christ and there he will keep them Those which thou hast given me have I kept and none of them is lost c. Joh. 17.12 Ah blessed word able to bear up the spirits of the Saints to whom God hath given faith ô you poor doubting Christians who are somtimes affraid that your hearts will deceive you and perhaps are ready somtimes to complain with David I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul So thou art ready to say ô this wicked heart of mine ô this proud this stubborn heart of mine I am afraid least all is nothing and that I shall one day fall by it O beloved you to whom God hath given faith are upon the heart of Christ and if thou canst but once see thy selfe there it is enough thou needest not fear thy falling Dost think man woman that Christ hath set thee there for nothing no no he will keep thee there it is true were the power of standing or falling left to thy selfe then thou mightest well doubt but thou art kept by the power of God through faith 2 Pet. 1.5 thou art preserved at and in the heart of Christ his love is so to thee that hee will not lose thee none shall pluck thee out of his hands he loving thee once will love thee to the end however some pretend a falling away from grace after the soule comes truly to believe in the Lord Jesus but it is but a vain fancie and an imaginary conceit for it is a part of the Covenant of grace on gods part to keep thee from falling Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart away from me Fifthly The High-Priest was to beare the iniquity of the holy things in a plate of pure gold on their fore-heads before the Lord always that they might be accepted before the Lord Exod. 28.37 38. So Christ bears the iniquity of the holy things of the Saints the best Saints I mean the most holy is not able to performe any duty to God but there is a great deal of sin in it iniquity cleaves to it now beloved as Christ hath borne all the rest of the sins of the Saints so he bears all the sin all the iniquity of the holy things of the Saints O comfort for the Saints thou caust not hear noe pray without sin why Christ bears all the iniquity of thy holy things he presents thy person and prayers to God without spot Ephes 5.27 There is never a prayer put up unto God in the name of Christ in faith but Christ presents it John 16 23. Whatsoever ye shall aske the Father in my name it shall be given you see Rev 8.3 The Angel Christ Jesus stands at the Altar and having a golded censer with much insence that he might offer it or add it to the prayers of the Saints ô beloved here is a blessed word for the soules of the Saints whether particular Saints or Churches Christ adds to your
have very briefly hinted upon some particulars much more might be said in this particular but I desire not to be tedious in this place I might branch forth in many other particular Gospel commands which would be too tedious only thus where the love of Christ is indeed shed abroad by the holy spirit there love cōstrains the soul to yeeld itself up wholly to the Lord Jesus all his comands whatsoever things are of good report whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are warranted and required in Gospel the soule that truly loves the Lord Iesus is ready in the peace and strength of Jesus to walk up unto it it will not consult with flesh and bloud it will not stand upon carnall arguments but as the Lord Jesus hath glorified mercy grace and love in doing unto the soule so it will now look what it is may conduce to the exaltation of his name then the soule that truly loves the Lord Jesus is satisfied let the name of Iesus have the glory and the soul that truly loves him hath its end and and rests satisfied Use It concernes every one to looke if Christ hath been their Prophet hath Christ given thee a heart willing to submit unto him in all things ready in his power to yeeld universall obedience to all his commands ô it neerly concerns you to try your selves and if so then whether your obedience flows from love It is possible there may be externall obedience from base and by-ends and then all is nothing Love is the fulfilling of the Law whatsoever is done in love that is from the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart is well done but all done without love is nothing preaching praying professing communicating it is all nothing without love it is one thing to preach and pray and professe it is another thing to doe it out of love to Christ then it is a fruit of faith Faith worketh by love and all works done without this are not acceptable 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not love it is nothing it is but as a sounding brasse or tinkling eymball a man may have excellent words fine composed sentences admirable expressions all flowing from a notionall knowledge that may much affect the eares and hearts of the people and yet all be but a sound of words attained by art as a sounding brasse or a tinkling cymball which seems to make a sweet sound to the eare when there is nothing in it indeed but a composure of humane art and so being brought out of that frame there is nothing indeed worth looking after or harkning unto even so are those persons who seemingly do glorious actions and yet indeed have not the love of God in them But to proceed the third thing that Christ usually teacheth his people as to beleeve which faith you have heard produceth its effects so in the third place he teacheth them to live by faith that is to act and exercise this faith upon all occasions in all times according as they have need to make use of it and indeed this is a great Gospel mystery which the Saints are too much ignorant of It is one thing to have faith and another to live by faith it is one thing to have legs and another thing to make use of them to goe with them Quest What is it to live by faith Ans 1 It is to exercise faith that is to make use of it as need requires or 2 It is a living upon Christ in the want of all things Or 3 It is a living by believing of what the soul shall one day enjoy 1 It is to exercise faith as occasion calls for it that is to exercise it upon the object for faith hath ever an object and if it be right and true the object is Christ now it is true there is occasion for the Christian to exercise faith in every condition either Internally or Externally for the Christian hath many enemies to encounter with all the flesh and the Devill and the World all these comes in a mayn upon the soul Now faith overcomes 1 The flesh that will be ever lusting against the spirit Satan comming in working by it self will be in every action self wisdom self priding and self boasting this is contrary to the mind of the spirit and now the spirit is troubled and freed so that many times there is a hot conflict in the soule of the Saint but how comes the Christian to overcome it by cying and applying Christ it can say as Paul I haue a body of sin a proud cursed self seeking nature but thanks to God through Jesus Christ c. and there is no condemnation to them in Christ It is true I have a base nature a wicked cursed deceitfull proud self-seeking heart yet the Lord hath let forth a glimpse of his glory to my soul hee hath let mee see and hath sealed this by his spirit unto me that I am in Christ and there is no condemnation for me and so by faith seeking to Christ the soul overcomes this enemy flesh and then secondly it ever lives in believing that this fleshly corrupt part shall be every day more and more subdued and so is ever cying a crucified Christ for the killing and crucifying of this body of sin 2 The Devill hee will come in with his darts daying hard and heavy things to the charge of the soul although the Apostle faith Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth although God himself pronounce a man cleet and just yet the Devill will come in and endevour to make work in the godly justified soule O sayth the Devill thou art a vile cursed creature thou hast a base earthly carnall heart thou art able to performe no duty but it is full of sin and as good never a whit as never the better Thy services hadst thou no other sin to be accountable for are enough to condemne thee and besides all the rest of thy sins of thy basenesse in performing duty this is that is worst of all thou hast a wicked proud heart of thine owne thou art ready when ever God hath assisted thee to take the honour to thy selfe and to pride thy selfe in those weak duties thou performest What sayst thou to this Christian hast any experience of this try all in thy soule I dare say thou hast if Christ dwell there but what course will you take to over come in this combat see Ephes 6.16 There are the enemies the Saints are to encounter with they are no small no mean enemies see Verse 12. and the armour the Christians armour it s all armour of proof but above all take the sheeld of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fire darts of the wicked the Devill will come and come againe hee will have one dart and another dart now the way to overcome is
the earth they have forsaken the Lord the fountain of living water O beloved will it not be a shame when men shall professe Christianity all their dayes when they shall hear and pray and performe duties resting in those things and when they shall come to appear before the Lord Jesus shall be rejected Esay 45.16 They shall be ashamed and also confounded all of them together that are makers of Idols that rest upon any thing beneath Christ wher 's the Lords Israel ver 17. shall be saved with an everlasting salvation c. and they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion that shall never be removed Psal 125.1 4 Lastly to trust in any thing beneath the Lord Jesus is a cursed damning sin so it is to those that live and die in that condition see Mat. 7.22 23. Many will say in that day Lord Lord have wee not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out Devils and in thy name done many wonderfull works and then will he professe to them I never knew you depart from me yee that work iniquity O beloved this will be the sad sentence pronounced against all that shall come before Christ at the last day in their own righteousnesse see Luke 13.27 depart from me ye workers of iniquity there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth 3 Use A word of exhortation If it be so that Christ be the alone High-Priest and peacemaker between God and man O how should this stir up your soules to look to Jesus for salvation doe not mistake me I shall not set you upon this duty as if it were in your own power to doe it it is God that worketh both to will and to doe of his own good pleasure but as a means by which God may come in with power upon thy spirit working up thy soule above thy selfe to his Son and to incourage any poor soule to whom God shall be plesed to come in graciously in his own means Note first God calls thee to look above and beyond all to himselfe in his Son see Esay 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth and Esay 55.1 O every one that thirsteth come buy wine and milke without money and without price wherefore will you spend your money for that which is not bread O beloved God would not have poor souls for which Christ dyed to spend their time for that which is not bread he hath given Christ the living bread for that very end and purpose God hath given his Son a Sacrifice a peace-offering for sin so making reconciliation for the sins of his people he hath put in us the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ sayth the Apostle as though God did beseech you by us to be reconciled unto him that is to receive this reconciliation held forth by Christ in the Word O beloved what doe your soules say to this is reconciliation and peace with God through Jesus Christ worth the owning is it worth the receiving men and women consider of it Act. 13.26 Men and brothren children of the stock of Abraham and whosoever among you feareth the Lord to you is the word of salvation sent to whom ever among you God shall give an eye to see it and a hand to receive it to you it is sent 2 Consider Christ is ready to receive when ever you come unto him hee will not put you off John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out O beloved the Lord is ready to receive sinners the worst of firmers the greatest of sinners believe it the Lord never did nonever will cast forth a poore sinner that comes to him in truth that is who the Father draws to him See the Parable of the prodigall son Luke 15.20 his father seeing him afar off ran and met him and embraced him ô the readinesse of God to embrace poore sinners that come unto him witnesse Mary Magdalen Saul Acts 9. The betrayers and murderers of the Lord of life Acts 2. All which manifests the readinesse of God to receive sinners and believe it hee would never invite thee he would never give thee a heart willing to come to him did hee not intend willingly to embrace thee 2 Exhortation for the Saints if wee have such a High-Priest making peace and reconciliation for us ô beloved how should this incourage us to hold fast our profession to the end this is the use the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews makes of it Chap. 4.14 Having then such a great High-Priest that is passed into the Heavens the Son of God lee us hold fast our profession or confession let us hold it fast with a strong hand so the word signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hold fast your profession with a violent or strong hand Now there are three things that are all most ready to make a poor Christian many times to throw away his profession 1 The power and strength of corruption 2 Inability and indisposednesse to that which is good 3 Those hard temptations and tryalls that they are lyable unto in their Christian progresse Against these three diseases will flow in from Christ our great High-Priest reamedies answerable even to the satisfaction of the soule The first is the power and strength of corruption this is that which troubles thee is it not poore soule ô thou hast such a body of sin such a vile cursed nature thou artready to cry out as the Apostle Paul O wretched man that I am who shall deliver mee from this body of sin And as Esay Chap. 6.5 Wo is me I am undone I am a man of polluted lips c. and this makes thee almost ready to throw away thy profession To this I shall propound a threesold remedy all flowing from a crncified Christ from Christ as he is our High-Priest 1 That all the sins of believers were condemned in the flesh of Christ Rom. 8.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifieth the pronouncing of guilt and so of condemnation upon Christ Beloved Christ hath born the guilt and punishment of all thy sins to whom hee hath given faith in his bloud all those lusts and corruptions that so much trouble thee he hath born them all 1 Pet. 1.24 Hee bare our sins in his own body on the crosse c. 2 He hath destroyed the power of all thy sins as hee is a High-priest See John 3.8.9 For this cause the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devill Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sin that is as he is born of God he doth not sin willingly with his mind hee can say as the Apostle Paul Rom. 7.17 It is no more I that do it but sin that is I Paul borne of God do not sin O here is the power of sin destroyed though there is and will be the
and the priviledges of the Jews 4 the difference betweene Gospel Ministers and the Ministers of the Law 5 The difference between the Gospell and the Legall Covenant 1 The Church of the Jewes before and the Church of Christ under the Gospel some say the Church of the Jews was a type of the Church of the Gospell both Jew and Gentile and hence doe draw this conclusion That as the Church of the Jews was Nationall so the Churches of the Gentiles under the Gospell must be Nationall and that it is the duty of the civill Magistrate to compell all in the Nation to the Christian Religion now here lyes the mistake 1 It is true the Church of the Jews was typicall the body of the Jews being the naturall seed of Abraham and so all that was of Abrahams posterity were born members of the Church the Church of Christ under the Gospel are the spirituall seed the seed according to the promise Rom. 2.29 He is a Jew which is one inwardly Cap. 4.16 none are to be looked upon as the sons of Abraham by naturall generation as they are borne of the bodies of believers under the Gospel see a cleare Scripture Gal. 3.26.29 Yee are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and if yee be Christs then are yee Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise Observe it you must first bee Christs before you are Abrahams seed not Abrahams seed as soone as you are borne it is by faith that ye are manifested to be Christs and being thus manifested by faith then they are Abrahams seed according to the promise Abrahams promised seed are onely believees such as are indeed Christs It is true some may professe faith in hypocrisie of whom we having no ground to the contrary are bound to receive but none are indeed Abrahams seed but they that are Christs 2 The kingly power of Christ put in Israel after the slesh was a Type of the kingly power of Christ ruling in and over his spirituall Israel their compelling or enslaving those that would not submit to that government holding forth that power Christ hath left in his Churches spiritually to slay those that walk inordinately in any Church of Christ according to that Scripture Luke 19.27 As for those mine enemies that would not that I should reigne over them bring them hither and slay them before me It is true this shall perfectly be fulfilled at Christs second comming but in its measure it is or ought to be fulfilled of every true Church of Christ according to Act. 3.23 Whosoever will not he are that is submit to the Prophet shall be cut off from amongst the people that is cut off by excommunication as a dead and withered branch this is the first ground of mistake between Church and Church The second is betweene Ordinance and Ordinance they judge baptisme to be one with that of circumcision and therefore is to be administred upon infants as well as circumcision and this is the ground of much confusion at this very day Now for the cleering of this argument I shall lay down these grounds 1 That the Scripture no where sayth it that baptisme is one with Circumcision therefore it may be a delusion nay to say what the Scripture sayth not is but a meere fancie and invention of man Now there is but one Scripture that is mentioned for this purpose by those that stand most strongly in this opinion and that is Col. 2.11 12. mentioning circumcision that to wit that circumcision made with hands in ver 11. sayth ver 12. being buried with him in baptisme here say they the Apostle sayth baptisme is come in the roome of circumcision judge your selves whether there be ever such a word in the Text whether it be not a meere forged and forced interpretation but say they the Apostle is here perswading the Collosians from Circumcision and therefore mentions Baptisme as come in the room of it I answer this is also forged for the Apostle doth not in any measure tax the Collossians with this errour of holding circumcision throughout his Epistle onely in the 11. ver he sayth They are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands holding forth unto them what they have in Christ namely righteousnesse through the circumcision that is the righteousnesse of Christ for Christ being circumcised performed all the righteousnesse that circumcision required This is the first ground The Scripture no where sayth that baptisme is one with circumcision 2 The ground why baptisme is not one with circumcision is because the rule for baptisme under the new Testament is not one with the rule for circumcision under the Law the rule for circumcision was that every male childe of the naturall seed of Abraham was to be circumcised the eighth day the rule for baptisme under the Gospel is that whosoever believeth man or woman Jew or Gentile shall bee baptised Mark 16.17 with Mat. 28.19 Act 8.12 Both men and women hearing and believing were baptized so that the command for circumcision and baptisme doe in no case agree the one is for males onely the other for believers both men and women 3 Circumcision hath its authority in other things as namely 1 In the circumcision of the heart the cutting off of sin lust and corruption it is called in the fore-mentioned Scripture the circumcision made without hands Col. 2.11 see also Rom. 2.29 Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter this was the type of circumcision And 2 it typed forth Christ his fulfilling the righteousnesse of the Law to which circumcision had a relation Rom. 2.25 and so of the Christians freedome by Christ Col. 2.11 we are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Note it is by the circumcision of Christ that is by that righteousnesse Christ being circumcised and so bound over to fulfill the Law hath performed for us namely who believe 4 Baptisme hath no where those titles given unto it which circumcision hath as namely a Covenant Gen. 17.10 A seale to Abraham Rom. 4.11 baptisme is no where called a seale neither doe I read of any seale to the believer but the Spirit of God although it is true this of baptisme hath though for all that I know groundlesly been called a seale Yet it is true the spirit of God in it may convey comfort to the soules of the Saints as in other Ordinances 5 Baptisme and circumcision differ in the thing it selfe the one being the cutting off the foreskin of the flesh onely of the males the other the dipping in or under water of believers men or women In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost 6 They differ in the ends the end of circumcision was 1 To confirme to Abrahams and to his posterity that Christ should come of that seed therefore it was annexed unto that promise Gen. 17. No such
persecuted and so will Christ deal with thy soule whoever thou art that cleavest as close to thy sins as thy skin to thy flesh he will fetch thee off from it if thou belong unto him The fourth particular propounded was the matter which Christ our Prophet teacheth First he teacheth man to know himselfe for it is life eternall to know God and Jesus Christ John 17.3 and therefore you shall ever finde men in Scripture appointed by Christ for the work of the ministry to preach the Gospel that is a crucified Christ Peter Act. 2.36 37. preacheth Christ crucified brings them to know that it wa Christ indeed whom they had crucified so Philip Act. 8.12 preacheth the truth that concerne the Kingdom of God and the name of Iesus So Paul 1 Cor. 15.3 preached that Christ dyed for sin according to the Scripture this is the first thing to be preached Christ and glad tydings by him and therefore surely this is the first thing that Christ effectually teacheth where he comes Object Must men be taught the knowedge of Christ before they know their own misery by reason of sin surely no man will accept of Christ unlesse they see a need of him Ans It is the sight and knowledge of Christ that brings men truly to see and know themselves Saul Acts 9. thought himselfe a very holy and happy man till he met Christ on the way and note Christ teaches him in the first place the knowledge of himself Who art the Lord sayth Saul I am Jesus of Nacaroth sayth Christ whom thou persecutest Christ did not tell him of his sin O thou 〈◊〉 accursed persecuting creature dost aske whol am thou haddest more need know thy selfe c. No no hee discovers himselfe unto him and this I am sure was Gods usuall dealing in the Gospel those whom he taught he taught them first to know Christ and this Christ our Prophet must teach thee if ever thou be taught it is not mans wisdom that will help thee to the knowledge of Christ See 1 Cor. 1.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God all the wisdom in the world cannot teach thee to know God it may spoyle thee and undo thee but not help thee Col. 2.8 Beware lest any man spoyle you through Phylosophy that is through the wisdom of man mans wisdom may nay will if God prevent it not spoyle you for ever for there is no greater enemy in the world in it self mans corrupt nature so working with it to hinder man in the true knowledge of Christ then mans carnall wisdome and learning see Rom. 8.6 For the * wisdome of the flesh is death so the word in the Grecke is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see 1 Cor. 1.20 Where is the wise where is the Scribe c. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world O take heed of resting upon humane wisdome arts and sciences they are dangerous things if the Lord prevent it not for a malicious devill and a deceitfull heart to deceive you withall Secondly Christ teacheth these whom hee teacheth to know themselves and that as I have sayd by a reflecting back upon themselves from beholding of Christ They come now to see themselves cursed lost creatnres and believe it every one whom Christ effectually teacheth hee teacheth them to know themselves to be poore lost and undonecreatures in themselves Thus Christ brings those Acts 2.37 from beholding of Christ to behold themselves and make them cry out Men and brethren what shall we do c. and so Saul Acts 9.5 6. after hee had seen Iesus I am Jesus whom thou persecutest c. and then hee sees himselfe a poore creature and comes trembling and astonished and sayd Lord what wouldest thou have me doe So if our Christ come hee will make you see your selves sinners with a witnesse and this thou canst never do savingly unlesse Christ teach thee Saul could persecute and think hee did well till Christ meets him and shews him his sin but hee could never see himselfe a persecutor till Christ taught him Saul perfecutes but he confesseth he did it ignorantly through unbelief 1 Tim. 1.13 So there are many that out of zeal are persecutors of Christ in his Saints but they do it ignorantly they are perswaded that it is their duty and that they doe God service in it as Christ himselfe foretelleth John 16.2 but I dare say as Saul sayd of himselfe it is through ignorance out of zeale thinking they doe God good service that it is their duty so to doe Did they know that in so doing they persecute Christ who indeed takes every wrong done to his as to himselfe I dare say they would not doe it but it is the power of Christ that must come upon their spirits before they can see it O men can hardly believe it tell such a man that persecutes and imprisons the Saints as did Saul that they persecute Christ they will not believe it they will be ready to say as Hazael 2 Kings 8.13 when the Prophet Elisha tels him what great wickednesse he should commit vers 12 What am I a dog that I should do this great thing so many men who are bitter enemies to the Saints ready to do any mischiefe unto them yet cannot be perfwaded that they are the men that persecute Christ What I such a dog to persecute Christ God forbid yet can and will persecute the Saints Beloved consider of it Christ takes any wrong done to them as done to himself Acts 9.4 Why persecutest thou Me 3 Where Christ comes in power he teaches men to believe this he taught when he was upon the earth John 6.29 This is the work of God that they believe on him whom he hath sent and verse 47. Verily verily he that believeth on me hath everlasting life Chap. 3.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned and verse 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life c. And this was it hee gave in commission to his Disciples to preach Mar. 16.16 17. To preach the Gospell to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and this Paul preached Acts 16.31 Believe in the Lord Iesus and you shall be saved c. and this Christ doth not onely teach to the care but to the heart also where he comes in power this he taught his Disciples Mat. 16.16 and Iohn 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God And this hee taught all that ever came to him effectually Acts 2.41 All that gladly received the word that is the truth held forth in the word the glad tydings of life by Christ preached in the Gospel and this is the work of Christ Heb. 12.2 the gift of Christ Ephes 2.8 Quest What is that Gospel faith Christ teacheth to his people Ans It is a believing of that record God hath given concerning his Son with a depending upon him for
gives power against this cursed fruit of the flesh in some measure there is a disposition of nature even in the Saints to be exalted and that above measure not onely in their own personall excellencie but in those graces received from Christ The Apostle Paul was sensible of both in 1 Cor. 9.27 where the Apostle sayth he beats down his body c. There was a lifting up the Apostle was sensible of it he found that in him that which was enough had not God let him see it helped him in it as he apprehended notwithstanding his preaching to others to make him a cast away so also a Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations the Lord sent me a prick in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me that was to pull him down that he might not be exalted in himselfe there is in every childe of God a naturall disposition to spirituall pride he that knows any thing knows it The Lord teach you and I to search our own hearts in this particular and give us power against it see 2 Cor. 6.1 Having such promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit c. This is the filthinesse of spirit that the Saints are lyable unto truly we have little cause to glory in any thing except in Christ Jesus What hast thou sayth the Apostle that thou hast not received and if thou hast received it why dost thou yet boast 1 Cor. 4.7 therefore the Prophet sayth Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the strong man in his strength but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth the Lord. It is the exhortation of Christ to his Disciples Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce not that the Devils are made subject to you but rejoyce rather that your nanaes are written in heaven and this lesson the Apostle Paul learned and every Christian in some measure must learn Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 5 There is selfe profit which every man naturally is apt to looke after O how hard is it for a poore creature to deny himselfe How hard is it for a rich man sayth Christ to enter into the Kingdom of heaven The world is a common baite wherewith the Devill inticeth man to sin as Iudas Ananias and Saphyra Act. 5. Nay Christ lumselfe is set upon with this temptation Mat. 4. O this profit the love of money is the root of all evill But where Christ comes teaching effectually he teacheth the soule to deny it selfe to look upon the world as a very empty thing he gives power to overcome the world Whosoever is borne of God over commeth the world and this is the victory that over commeth the world even our faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 Now the soule sees that it is his duty not to looke onely on his own things but every one on the things of another Phil. 2.4 Now hee hath learned to sympathize with the body every member he looks not upon himselfe at a distance from the meanest member making himselfe equall to them of the lower sort 6 There is self pleasure also and this of two sorts 1 In delighting in pleasures of these the Apostle speaks of 2 Tim. 3.4 They shall be lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God Beloved it is much unbeseeming Christians to be lovers of pleasure see 1 Tim. 5.6 But shee that liveth in pleasure or shee that liveth delicately is dead while shee liveth Now beloved Christ takes off his people from these pleasures by presenting better pleasures to them he makes them drinke of the river of his pleasures Psalme 36.8 so that the Saints are not without pleasures spirituall and that abundantly and eternally Psal 16.11 At his right hand are pleasures for ever more But God takes off his from those earthly carnall pleasnres which is indeed dangerous and destructive Prov. 21.17 Hee that loveth pleasure shall be a poore man it is true spiritually as well as temporally carnall carthly pleasures and profits are two great enemies to the power and being of god linesse Luk. 8.14 cares and riches and pleasures is that which choaketh the Word that men bring forth no fruite to perfection A second sort of Self-pleasure is when men resolve to please themselves O sad word that men should have such a disposition to please themselves but where Christ teacheth hee teacheth men in this case to deny themselves Now this may be considered under a twofold relation eyther to God or our brethren 1 To God where Christ teacheth effectually there the soule will rather deny it selfe then God It will rather please God then it selfe Christ who is the Saints pattern did always so walk as to please God John 8.29 For I do always those things that please him to wit the Father Now Christ as hee was man in our flesh pleasing the Father alwayes in all things and so was our pattern so he teacheth his the same lesson This is a Maxime in Religion That whosoever chuseth to please himself rather then God Christ hath not taught him 1 Thes 4.1 We beseech you brethren and exhort you by the Lord Iesus that as ye have received of us how yeought to walk and please God so ye would abound more and more As if the Apostle had sayd that which ye have received of us is that ye ought to walke according to the example of Christ to please God This is the doctrine that wee have taught you we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus That ye abound more and more in this grace This is an excellent choice grace to please the Lord ever to have that in thine eye to please God though thou displease thy selfe that is thy fleshly carnall selfe Col. 1.10 O this is a soule taught indeed by the spirit of God when he prefers the pleasing of the Lord before himself or carnall friends or any thing see Prov. 16.7 When a man ways please the Lord hee maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him when a man seeks to please God in walking answerable to the rule of God though hee displease his enemies God will make those enemies to be at peace with him 1 This being rightly learned is that which would carry you along through all oppositions in a way of truth perhaps somethings yea some truths may seeme hard to a poore creature to be submitted unto perhaps the poore creature resolving with flesh and bloud which will have its bouts even in the Saints Rom. 7.21 may be ready to conclude sometimes if I submit to this way to this truth I must expect reproach persecution perhaps losse of liberty estate yea life and all now it would wonderfully please carnall reason to deny such a truth to hide and conceal such a truth in unrighteousness but
tast of the excellencie it shall one day enjoy in Christ Quest Now what is it that bears up the soule in this condition how doth the soule live in the want of this full enjoyment of God Answer 1 By faith he can look upon God as having a relation to him God in Christ is my God sayth the soule and I shall one day enjoy him I shall one day see him and for ever be satisfied in the beholding of him this quiets this satisfies the believing soule it is content to wait upon God hee that believeth maketh not haste It is in this case with the believing Christian as with a loving and tender wife her desire is always to live in the enjoyment of her husband but when her husband is absent far away from her it may be shee receives now and then a comfortable letter from him wherein shee sees a glimpse of his love and reads his letter and wil have as much fellowship with him in his letter as shee can shee will look to every word every sentence and note what expressions of love shee can finde there and then shee is cheer'd and comforted I have a letter from my husband sayth the loving wife wherein he lets sorth a caste of his kindnesse and love unto me O here are sweet words of love of a tender affection But sayth the wise this is not all hee will come home unto me at the time appointed and I shall enjoy him and this is that which most of all cheeres up the heart of the wife my husband will returne at the time appointed Thus it is with the beleeving Christian nothing lesse then the enjoyment of God can give satisfaction to the soule that hath once rasted of him but beloved the Lord Jesus the souls beloved is gone as far as any hee hath only espoused betrothed the soule to himself he hath reserved the full enjoyment that the beleeving soule shall have in him till another world only hee discovers this his love le ts forth a glimpse of his glory into the souls of the Saints and then the soule having once tasted of God how good how gracious the Lord is then nothing but the full enjoyment of Christ can satisfie Now the Lord Christ hath left his word here for his beloved to have recourse unto and there he hath made known his love and his heart to his poore people and now the soule that longs after Christ hath recourse to the Scripture and there searches what Christ hath said when the soule meets Christ in the Scripture then it is cheer'd then it is comforted here is a blessed word sayth the soule Christ is my all and in all though I cannot come to the full enjoyment of him and then the believing soule will to ordinances preaching and the Supper of the Lord fellowship and communion of Saints get what it can of Christ meet with her beloved every way God hath appointed for that purpose but still this is the great support my beloved will come at the time appointed he is gone to receive for himselfe a Kingdome and he will return and I shall enjoy him in his fulnesse in his perfection and here the soule lives and waits patiently here the anchor of hope is cast and holds the soule close to the Lord Jesus living by believing what it shall one day enjoy Heb. 11.1 2 That which the gracious soule longs after is a full and perfect freedome from corruption it is that body of sin that burthens the Saints that is it makes them cry with the Apostle Paul O wretched man that I am Who shall deliver me from this body of death and the gracious soule could well be contented somtimes to embrace death that it might be freed from this body of death under which God is pleased for ends best known to himselfe to exercise his children under Now what is it bears up the Spirits of the Saints in this condition it is this the believing of this that they shall one day be rid of this base proud deceitful heart a day is comming when I shall change this vile body of sin and I shall be made like unto the glorious body of Jesus Christ Phil. 3.21 I am already justified and so made a Son a daughter of God and this I know I shall one day be made like unto him 1 John 3.2 This is that which cheers the heart of a Christian many times when it is in a low condition when put to a stand in the beholding of those base haunts of heart that it findes within it selfe when perhaps it is put to a stand in the beholding of it O sayth the soule what I after so much experience of Gods love so much faith in the name of Jesus and have such a base heart such a thought for wickednesse the Christian is somtimes put almost to a stand here but then he comes to consider God is wise and he is pleased to exercise me under this body of sin to keepe me in a continuall dependancie upon himselfe and this is my comfort I shall one day be rid of all these enemies of mine and I shall one day enjoy the Lord Jesus in his holinesse and in his glory When Christ which is my life shall appear then shall I appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 and in this case the believing soule lives in believing what it shall one day enjoy namely freedome from sin glorious liberty even the glorious liberty of the Sons of God 3 The Saints of God are subject to afflictions and reproaches while they are in this world so Christ sayth Iohn 16.3 In the world yee shall have tribulation It is true Christ hath prepared a Kingdome for them but they are not like to enjoy it in this world I mean that Kingdom of glory although it is true they enjoy much of God here in this Kingdom of grace The Kingdom of God is within you But the Saints here are liable to persecutions and afflictions now the beleeving Christian lives in beleeving it shall one day bee freed from those hard things it suffered here free'd from evill men and I shall one day have a Kingdom sayth the soule Thus Paul comforts himselfe 2 Cor. 5.1 2 Tim. 4.5 6 7. and this was it with which Peter comforts the scattered Jews 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. They were begotten to an inheritance incorruptible undefiled reserved in heaven for them and this was the ground of that exhortation to constancy to the end in time of affliction Rev. 2.10 Be faithfull to the death and you shall have a crown of life Thus Christians have I indeavoured both from the light of Scripture add the light of experience to hint out briefly unto you a taste of the Christians living by faith and this Christ teacheth all those whom he effectually teacheth Heb. 10.38 I might proceede to other particulars namely that Christ teacheth us to own him as our Priest as our King it is Christ our Prophet indeed that