The whole Treatise resumed in a few Questions and Answers Quest WHat is the great business a man hath to do in the World Answ To make sure a Saving Interest in Christ Jesus and to walk suitably thereunto Quest 2. Have not all the members of the visible Church a Saving Interest in Christ Answ No verily yea but a very few of them have it Quest 3. How shall I know if I have a Saving Interest in him Answ Ordinarily the Lord prepareth his own way in the Soul by a work of Humiliation and discovereth a mans sin and misery to him and exerciseth him so therewith that he longs for the Physitian Christ Jesus Quest 4. How shall I know if I have got a competent discovery of my sin and misery Answ A competent sight of it maketh a man take Salvation to heart above any thing in this World It maketh him disclaim all relief in himself even in his best things It maketh Christ who is the Redeemer very precious to the soul It maketh a man stand in awe to sin afterwards Maketh him content to be saved upon any terms God pleaseth Quest 5. What other way may I discâ—rn a Saving Interest in him Answ By the going out of my heart seriously and affectionately towards him as he is held out in the Gospel And this is faith or believing Quest 6. How shall I know if my heart goeth out after him aright and that my faith is true Saving Faith Answ Whère the heart goeth out aright after him in true and saving Faith the soul pleaseth Christ alone above all things and pleaseth him in all his three Offices to rule and instruct as well as to save And is content to cleave unto him whatsoever inconvenience may follow Quest 7. What other mark of a Saving Interest in Christ can you give to me Answ He that is in Christ savingly is a new Creature he is graciously changed and renewed in some measure in the whole man and in all his wayes pointing towards all the known commands of God Quest 8. What if I find sin now and then prevailing over me Answ Although every sin deserveth everlasting vengeance Yet if you be afflicted for your failings confess them with shame of face unto God resolving to strive against them honestly henceforth and flee unto Christ for pardon you obtain mercy and your interest stands sure Quest 9. What shall the man do who cannot lay claim to Christ Jesus nor any of these marks spoken of Answ Let him not take rest until he make sure unto himself a Saving Interest in Christ Quest 10. What way can a man make sure an interest in Christ who never had a saving interest in him hitherto Answ He must take his sins to heart and his great hazzard thereby and he must take to heart Gods offer of pardon and peace through Christ Jesus and hearâ—ily close with Gods offer by betaking himself unto Christ the blessed refuge Quest 11. What if my sins be singularly heinous and great beyond ordinary Answ Whatsoever thy sins be if thou wilt close with Christ Jesus by faith thou shalt never enter into condemnation Quest 12. Is faith in Christ only required of me Answ Faith is the only condition upon which God doth offer peace and pardon unto men But be assured Faith if it be true and saving will not be alone in the Soul but will be attended with true repentance and a thankful study of conformity to Gods Image Quest 13. How shall I be sure that my heart doth accept of Gods Offer and doth close with Christ Jesus Answ Go make a Covenant expresly and by word speak the thing unto God Quest 14. What way shall I do that Answ Set apart some bit of time and having considered your own lost estate and the relief offered by Christ Jesus work up your heart to please and close with that offer and say unto God expresly that you do accept of that offer and of him to be your God in Christ and do give up your self to him to be saved in his way without reservation or exception in any case and that you henceforth will wait for salvation in the way he hath appointed Quest 15. What if I break unto Gâ—d afterwards Answ You must resolve on his strength not to break and watch over your own way and put your heart in his hands to keep it And if you break you must confess it unto God and judge your self for it and flee to the Advocate for pardon and resolve to do no more so and this you must do as often as you fail Quest 16. How shall I come to full assurance of my interest in Christ so as it may be above controversie Answ Learn to lay your weight upon the blood of Christ and study purity and holiness in all manner of conversation and pray for the witness of Gods Spirit to joyn with the blood and the water and his Testimony added unto these will establish you in the faith of and Interest in Christ Quest 17. What is the consequence of such closing with God in Christ by heart and mouth Answ Union and communion with God All good here and his blessed fellowship in Heaven for ever afterwards Quest 18. What if I slight all these things and not lay them to heart to put them in practice Answ The Lord cometh with his Angels in flaming fire to render vengeance to them who obey not this Gospel And thy judgment shall be greater than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah and so much the greater that thou hast read this Treatise for it shall be a witness against thee in that day FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for and sold by Dorman Newman at the Sign of the Kings Arms in the Poultry CHoice and Practical Expositions on the Ten Commandments preached by James Durham late Minister in Glasgow A Golden Key to open hidden Treasure or several great points which refer to the Saints present blessedness and their future happiness With the resolution of several Important questions the Active and Passive obedience of Christ Vindicated and Improved two serious and singular pleas which all sincere Christians may safely make to all those ten Scriptures which speak of the General and particular Judgment that must certainly pass on all c. The 1st and 2d part by Tho. Brooks late preacher of the Gospel at St. Margaret new Fish-street A Collection of Sermons preached at the Morning Lecture in Southwark and else-where By Nicholas Blakie The Morning seeker shewing the benefit of being good betimes with directions to make sure work about early Religion by John Ryther The Interest of Reason in Religion with the Import and use of Scripture Metaphors and the matter of union between Christ and believers with reflections on several late writings especially Mr. Sherlocks discourse concerning the knowledge of Christ modestly enquired into and stated by James Ferguson The Works of Mr. James Janeway containing these six following Treatises Heaven upon Earth or the best friend in the worst of times Death unstung A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Tho. Mosely an Apothecary with a Narrative of his life and death also the manner of Gods dealing with him before and after his conversion A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Tho. Savage Invisible realities demonstrated in the Holy life and Triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway His Legacy to his friends containing 27 famous Instances of Gods providences in and about Sea dangers and deliverances with a Sermon on that subject Life in Gods favour a seasonable discourse in Death-threatning times being the substance of Sundry Sermons on Psalm 30. 5. In his favour is life By O. Haywood Minister of the Gospel A call to prayer in two Sermons on that subject lately preached to a Country Auditory with an account of the Principles and Practices of the Quakers in matter of prayer subjoyned wherein is shewed that the Quaker's religion is much wanting in prayer and they themselves grosly guilty in not calling upon God and of Fathering much impiety on the Spirit of God alleadging him in defence of their prayer-less cause Quakerism Subverted being a further discovery and confutation of the Gross Errours of the Quakers Published and maintained by Will. Penn and others of that sect A warning to Souls to beware of Quakers and Quakerism by occasion of a late dispute at Early in Cheshire all three written by John Cheyney Minister of the Gospel Gospel remission or a Treatise shewing that true blessedness consists in Pardon of sin wherein is discovered the many gospel-Mysteries therein contained the glorious effects proceeding from it great mistakes made about it the true Signs and Symptoms of it Way and means to obtain it by Jeremiah Burrough A Protestants resolution shewing his reasons why he will not be a Papist digested into so plain a method of Question and answer that an ordinaay Capacity may be able to defend the Protestant Religion against the most Cunning Jesuite or popish Priest Mr. Wadsworth's Legacy being his serious exhortation to an holy Life Or a plea for the absolute necessity of Inherent righteousness in those that hope to be saved The triumphs of Gods revenge against the crying and Execrable sin of murther expressed in 30. several Tragical Histories to which is added Gods revenge against the abominable sin of Adultery A Token for children being an exact account of the Conversion Holy and exemplary lives and joyful deaths of several young Children in 2 parts by James Janeway minister of the Gospel FINIS Express transacting with God
THE CHRISTIANS Great Interest Or a short TREATISE Divided into two Parts The First whereof containeth The Tryal of a Saving Interest in Christ The Second pointeth forth plainly The Way How to Attain it Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of Express Covenanting with God By W. GVTHRIE Minister of the Gospel in SCOTLAND 2. Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure c. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates The Seventh Impression Wherein the Errata's of the former Impressions are amended and several words which sounded hard in the English rendred more clear and intelligible LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in Poultry 1681. THE Stationer TO THE READER The Epistle Commendatory from a Christian Friend giving an account of his thoughts upon perusal of This Book Christian Friend I Have sent you by the Bearer this Book which by Providence came to my hand and a Blessed Providence indeed it was to me for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought the savour of it to my heart Upon peruâ—al of it I find such a blessed and happy conjunction betwixt the Gifts and the Graces of the Spirit such a holy and humble Condescention to my plain capacity such a serious handling of serious truths that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan Joh. 4. 29. Come see one that hath told me all that ever I did or rather all that God hath done in me and for me He that hath waded much in the waters of soul-trouble may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its Terrours and Troubles And he who is got out of these and is sunning his soul in the light of Gods Countenance may here behold the light side of the Cloud I mean the Spirit of Adoption in all its beautiful colours The former part of this Book sets forth the soul in a storm when the Law comes thundering to the Conscience the latter leads it into a Calm of sweet peace and serenity When the Spirit of God comes to a troubled soul as the Son of God once came to the troubled Sea with A peace be still Mat. 4. 29. But if it should not be thus the Believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give and to know he is wise to give when he will what he will and how he will I find now that peace is sown for the Righteous Psal 97. 11. but all do not reap the crop till they come into Emmanuel's land Isa 8. 8. there our joy as well as our light shall be clear and our love perfect And if there be any more concerned in this Piece than others though it deals forth its bread to all it 's young Men and young Converts the latter may here behold as in a Map or Mirrour the several Providences and various workings of the blessed Spirit that have all concurred in the bringing them home to God and may take notice of all the inducements and remora's they met with in the way That as Moses was to write a History of the Children of Israel passing through the Wilderness Numb 33. 2. so doth this Book with a holy kind of Elegancy describe the Spirits leading the soul out of its bewildered estate into the Spiritual Canaan never leaving it till it comes to the Mountain of Spices Cant. 8. 14. out of Satans gun-shot where his habitation shall be a Munition of Rocks Isa 33. 16. neither is there one path omitted so far as I could ever read or gather from my own or others experience So that it may not be unfitly termed A Spiritual day-Book of all the passages between the Spirit of God and the soul in its regeneration work Which is no loss profitable than delightful for the believer to be reading over the Records of Gods love manifested in the Gospel What care and cost he took with him to recover him out of the Gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity For tryal bringâ—â—ruth to light and those things which through many Cloudâ— intercepting may have lost their remembrance in the soul are here clearly discovered that they have been although for the present the beliâ—◠〈…〉 How is the Gold become dim How is the fine gold hanged And the looking over paâ— experienâ—â— brings a renewed favour and spiritual relliâ—â— of those things upon the heart to them who have thus tasted that the Lord is good at least supports the Soul under the want of sensible feeling whilst it calls to remembrance the days of old the years of Gods right hand But I have done and yet methinks I can never write enough of the excellency and utility of this piece The Lord make it so profitable to others as it hath been to me To his blessing I leave both you and it and remain Your true Christian Friend G. B. TO THE READER Christian Reader WHile the generality of Men especially in these days by their eager pursuit after low and base interests have proclaimed as upon the house tops how much they have forgotten to make choice of that better part which if chosen should never be taken from them I have made an Essay such as it is in the following Treatise to take thee off from this unprofitable though painful pursuit by proposing the chiefest of interests even the Christians Great Interest to be seriously pondered and constantly pursued by thee Thou mayest think it strange to see any in Print from my Pen as indeed it is a surprize to my self But necessity hath made me for this once to offer so much violence to my own inclination in regard that some without my knowledge have lately published some imperfect Notes of a few of my Sermons most confusedly together prefixing withal this vain Title as dispealsing to my self as the publishing of the thing A Clear Attractive Warming-Beam c. Vpon this occasion I was prevailed with to publish this late Piece wherein I have purposely used a most homely and plain stile lest other wayes though when I have stretched my self to the utmost I am below the Judicious and more Vnderstanding I should be above the reach of the Rude and Ignorant whose advantage I have mainly if not only consulted I have likewise studied brevity in every thing so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicâ—ity knowing that the persons to whom I address my self herein have neither much mony to spend upon Books nor much time to spare upon Reading If thou be a Rigid Critick I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at yet assure thy self that I had no design to offend thee neither will thy simple approbation satisfie me It 's thy
to make up that sin 5. If thou wouldest be above the reach of that sin and secure against it for ever then go work upon thy heart to plead salvation by Christ Jesus and to close with God in him acquiescing in him as the sufficient ransome and rest as we have been pressing before and yield to him to be saved in his way Do this in good earnest and thou shalt be for ever put out of the reach of that ugly thing wherewith Satan doth affright so many poor seekers of God Object Although I be not excluded from the benefit of the New Covenant yet it is not in my power to believe on Christ For Faith is the gift of God and above the strength of flesh and blood Answ It is true that saving Faith by which alone a man can heartily close with God in Christ is above our power and is the gift of God as we said before in the premises Yet remember 1. The Lord hath left it as a Duty upon all who hear this Gospel cordially by faith to close with his offer of salvation through Christ as is clear in the Scripture And you must know that although it be not in our power to perform that duty of our selves yet the Lord may justly condemn for not performing of it and we are inexcusable because at first he made men perfectly able to do whatsoever he should command 2. The Lord commanding this thing which is above our power willeth us to be sensible of our inability to do the thing and would have us putting on him to work it in us He hath promised to give the new heart and he hath not excluded any from the benefit of that promise 3. The Lord useth by these Commands and Invitations and mens meditation on the same and their supplication about the thing to convey power unto the soul to perform the duty Therefore for answer to the objection I do beseech thee in the Lords Name to lay to heart these his Commandments and Promises and meditate on them and upon that blessed business of the New Covenant and pray unto God as you can over them for he will be enquired to do these things Ezek. 36. 37. and lay thy cold heart to that device of God exprest in the Scriptures and unto Christ Jesus who is given for a Covenant to the People and look to him for life and quickening Go and essay to plead that salvation in the way God doth offer it and to close with and rest on Christ for it as if all were in thy power yet looking to him for the thing as knowing that it must come from him And if thou do so he who meets these who remember him in his wayes Isa 65. 5. will not be wanting on his part and thou shalt not have ground to say that thou moved towards the thing until thou could do no more for want of strength and so left it at Gods door It shall not fail on his part if thou have a mind for the business Yea I may say if by all thou hast ever heard of that matter thy heat loveth it and desireth to be in hands with it thou hast it already performed within thee so that difficulty is past before thou wast aware of it Object Many who have closed with Christ Jesus as is said are still complaining of their leanness and fruitlesness which maketh my heart lay the less weight on that duty of believing Answ If you be convinced that it is a duty to believe on Christ as is said yo may not shift it under any pretence As for these complaints of some who have looked after him not admitting every one to be judge of his own fruit I say 1. Many by their jealousies of Gods love and by their mis-belief after they have so closed with God do obstruct many precious communications which otherwise would be let out to them Mat. 13. 58. 2. It cannot be that any whose heart is gone out after Christ have found him a wilderness 2. 31. surely they find somewhat in their spirit swaying them towards God in these two great things viz. how to be found in him in that day Phil. 3. 8 9. and how to be forth-coming to his praise in the Land of the Living Psal 119. 17. and 56. 13. they find these two things aloft in the soul and that is much Moreover they shall after search if they judge aright find ever since an emptiness in the Creatures which abundance of the Creature cannot fill up all is vanity Only God can fill the empty room in their heart and when he but breatheth a little there is no room for additional comfort from creatures This saith that God hath captivated the man and hath fixed that saving principle in the understanding and heart who is God but the Lord Worship him all ye Gods Psal 97. 7. Yea further these whose heart hath closed with God in Christ as is said will not deny that there have been seasonable preventings and quickenings now and then when the soul was like to fail Psal 21. 3. 94. 18 19. therefore let none say that there is no fruit following and let none shift their duty upon the unjust and groundless complaints of others Object Although I judge it my duty to close with Gods device in the Covenant I am in the dark how to manage that duty for sometimes God doth offer to be our God without any mention of Christ and sometimes saith that he will betruth us unto him And in other places of Scripture we are called to come to Christ and he is the Bridegroom Again God sometimes speaketh of himself as a Father to men sometimes as a Husband Christ is sometimes called the Husband and sometimes a Brother which relations seem inconsistent and do much put me in the dark how to apprehend God when my heart would agree with him and close with him Answ It may be very well said that men do come to God or close with him and yet they come to Christ and close with him They may be said to come under a marriage relation unto God and unto Christ also who is Husband Father Brother c. to them and there is no such mystery here as some do conceive For the better understanding of it consider these few things 1. Although God made man perfect at the beginning and put him in some capacity of transacting with him immediately Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 2. 16 17. Yet man by his fall did put himself at a perfect distance from God and in an utter incapacity to bargain or deal any more with him immediately 2. The Lord did after Adams fall make manifest the new covenant in which he did signifie that he was content to transact with man again in and through a Mediatour and so did appoint men to come to him through Christ Heb. 7. 25. and to look for acceptation only in him Ephes 1. 6. ordaining men to hear Christ He being the only party
it expedient especially if there remain any doubt about the thing that by viva voce and express word they determine that controversie and say of the Lord and to him that he is their refuge and portion Psalm 91. 2. Psalm 142. We find the Saints doing so and we may imitate them especially 1. In the time of great back-sliding people were wont to renew the Covenant with God and we should do so also Our heart should go after Christ in the promises of reconciliation with God for he is our peace upon all occasions and our Advocate and we are bound to apprehend him so when we transgress 1 Joh. 2. 1. and to express so much by word as Saints did in their formal renewing of the Covenant 2. When people are in hazzard then it were good that they should send out their heart after him and express their adhering unto him for securing their own heart We find Joshua doing so when he was to settle in the land of Canaan in the midst of snares Joshua 24. so David doth in his straits Psal 57. 1. 3. When men apprehend God to be at a distance from them and their Soul be under withering and decay then it is safest heartily to close with Christ and embrace him by faith for securing of the Soul and it were good to put it out of question by the expressing of the thing This is the ready way to draw sap from Christ the root for recovering of the Soul and for establishing the heart before him The Spouse in the Song of Soloman doth so thus asserting her interest in him when in such a condition Professing and avouching him to be hér beloved Cant. 5. 4. At the celebration of the Lords Supper men should thus cordially close with God in Christ and speak and express so much For that is a feast of Love And then and there we come under a solemn profession of closing with God in Christ personally and openly and do receive the seal of it it is therefore beseeming at that time to bring up both heart and tongue to second and answer our profession apprehending God to be our God and resigning over our selves to be his and at his disposing We shall not confine the Lords people to times and season of this duty The Lord may bind it upon them at his pleasure Only there is hazzard that by too frequent express covenanting with God men turn too formal in it Therefore it is not so fit that people should cordially at full length renew that explicite transacting with God but rather to declare unto God that they adhere unto the Covenant made with him and that they do maintain and will never revoke nor recal the same and withal they may hint the sum of it in laying claim unto God in Christ as their own God and this they may do often even in all their addresses to God and probably this is the thing designed by the Saints in their so ordinary practice in the Scripture whilst they assert their interest in God as their God and portion And it is fit that men in all their walk hold their heart at the business by heart-cleaving to God in Christ The life we live in the flesh should be by faith in the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. As to the second thing viz. what is preparatorily required of him who is expresly to transact with God Here besides what we spake before as previous to a mans closing with Christ Jesus we only add 1. That he that would explicitly bargain with God must know that to do so is warranted and allowed by God as we shewed before If this be wanting a man cannot do it in faith and so it will be sin unto him Rom. 14. 23. 2. The man must labour to bring up his heart to the thing that it do not belye the tongue It will be a great mocking of God so to draw near him with the lips whilst the heart is far off from him Isa 29. 13. The third thing to be considered in this express verbal covenanting with God is the way how it is to be performed and managed And beside what was said before in heart-closing with Christ I add here 1. The man should do it confidently not only believing that he is about his duty when he doth it But also that God in Christ Jesus will accept his poor imperfect way of doing this duty he do accept a man according to what he hath if there be a willing mind 2 Cor. 8. 12. a mite is accepted since it is all the poor womans substance Mat. 12. 44. yea if it can be attained the man should believe that the issue and consequence of this transacting shall prove comfortable and all shall be well and that God who engageth for all in the Covenant since he hath determined the man to this happy choice will in some measure make him forth-coming and will perfect what concerns him Faithful is he who hath promised who will also do it 1. Thess 5. 24. If this confidence be wanting the matter will be done with much fear and jealousie if not worse and will still prove a disquieting business to the man 2. It should be done holily It is called the Holy Covenant Luke 1. 72. The holy things of David Acts 13. 34. Here it were fitting that what is done in this express transacting with God should not be done passingly and on the by but in some special addresses unto God the thing should be spoken unto the Lord Psal 142 5. It is beseeming in so great a business that a piece of time were set apart for confessing and supplication before God yea also the person so transacting with God should labour to have high apprehensions of Gods greatness and soveraignty 2. Sam. 7. 22. although he thus humble himself to behold things in Heaven and Earth and these high and holy thoughts of him will and should be attended with debasing and humbling thoughts of self although admitted to this high dignity 2 Sam. 7. 18. It is no small thing to be allyed unto and with the great God of Heaven and his Son Christ as David speaketh when King Saul did offer his Daughter unto him 1 Sam. 18. 22. Yea further there should be special guarding and watching that the heart keep spiritual transacting with God there is great reason for this holy way of performing the duty For men are ready to forget themselves and to shape the Lord according to their own fancy and to turn carnal in the business since it is a marriage transaction held out in all the ordinary expressions of love as in the Song of Soloman Isa 62. 5. Zeph. 3. 17. The fourth thing we shall speak a word unto is what should follow upon this express verbal Covenanting with God I say beside that union and communion with God in Christ following upon believing if a man explicitly by word transact with God 1. He should thenceforth be singularly careful to abide close by
say Thou knowest there was a day and an hour when in such a place I did accept of peace through Christ and did deliver up my heart to thee to write on it thy whole Law without exception heaven and earth are witnesses of it Remember thy word unto thy Servant on which thou causedst me to hope Object I dare not adventure to speak such words unto God because I find not my heart coming up full length in Affection and Seriousness So I should but lye unto God in transacting so with him Answ It is to be regreted that mens heart doth not with much bended sail of Desire and Affection embrace and welcome that blessed offer and portion Yet for answer to the objection remember 1. That those to whom the Lord giveth the new heart forming Christ in them the whole heart is not renewed There is Flesh and Spirit lusting against each other the one contrary unto the other so as a man can neither do the good or evil he would do with full bended sail Gal. 5. 17. It is well if there be a good part of the heart going out after Christ desiring to close with him on his own terms 2. That there is often a rational love in the heart unto Christ Jesus expressing it self by a respect to his Commandments 1. John 5. 3. when there is not a sensible prevailing love which maketh the soul sick Cant. 2. 5. Men must not alwayes expect to find this I say then although some what in your heart draw back yet if you can say you are convinced of your broken state without him you want a righteousness to cover your guilt and you want strength to stand out against sin or to do what is pleasing before God You also see fulness in him in both these respects You dare say somewhat within your heart would be fain at him upon his own terms and would have both Righteousness for Justification and strength in order to Sanctification and what is within you contradicting this is your burden in some measure and your bondage If it be so your heart is brought up to a tolerable length Go on to the business and determine the matter by covenanting with God and say with your mouth that you have both Righteousness and Strength in God as he hath sworn you shall do Isa 45. 24. It is approved Divinity to say unto God I believe when much mis-belief is in me and the heart divided in the case Mark 9. 24. Withal shew unto God how matters are in your heart that so you may be without guile before him concealing nothing from him and put your heart that is in his hand to write his Law on it according to the Covenant For that is the thing he seeketh of men that they deliver up their heart to him that he may stamp it with his whole Will without exception And if you can heartily consent unto that judging Christs blood a sufficient ransome and satisfaction for Mans Trangression You may go and expresly strike Covenant with God for your Heart and Affection is ready engaged Object I dare not so Covenant with God lest I break to him Yea I perswade my self if such a tentation did offer so and so circumstantiate I should fall before it and succumb Therefore to transact so with God whilse I foresee such a thing were but to aggvedge my condemnation Answ 1. You have already entred Covenant with God as you are a member of his visible Church And what is now prest upon you is but that you more heartily sincerely particularly and more expresly covenant and transact with him You are already obliged heartily to close with God in Christ And if you do it in heart I hope the hazzard is no greater by saying that you do so or have done so 2. What will you do if you shift hearty transacting with God in Christ and do not accept his peace as it is offered You have not a second of it in the World Either you must do this or perish for ever And if you do it with your heart you may also say it with your tongue 3. If people may scare at Covenanting with God because they will afterwards Transgress then not one man should Covenant with God for surely every one will transgress afterwards if they live any length of time after the transaction And we know no way like this to secure men from falling For if you Covenant honestly with him engageth beside the new heart to put his fear and Law therein To give his Spirit to cause you to walk in his way And when you Covenant with God you deliver up your self unto him to be sanctified and made conform to his will It is rather a giving up of your self to be led in his way in all things and kept from every evil way than any formal engagement on your part to keep his way and to hold off from evil So that you need not scare at the Covenant the Language whereof is Wilt thou not be made clean Jer. 13. 27. And all that shun to strike Covenant with God do thereby declare that they desire not to be made clean 4. As it is hard for any to say confidently they will transgress if such a tentation did offer so and so circumstantiate because men may think that either God will keep a tentation out of their way or not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear or give to them a way of escape Psal 46. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 13. So the question is not What I may do afterwards but what I now resolve to do If my heart charge me presently with any deceit or resolution to transgress I must lay aside that deceit before I transact with God But if my heart charge me with no such purpose yea I dare say I resolve against every transgression And although I think I shall fall before such and such a tentation yet that thought floweth not from any allowed and approved resolution to do so But from knowledge of my own corruption and of what I have done to provoke God to desert me But the Lord knows I resolve not to Transgress nor do I approve any secret inclination of my heart to such a sin but would reckon it my singular mercy to be kept from sin in such a case And I judge my self a wretched man because of such a boby of death within me which doth threaten to make me transgress In that case I say my heart doth not condemn me therefore I may and ought to have confidence before God 1 Joh. 3. 21. If this be the case I say to thee although thou shouldest afterwards fail many wayes and so perhaps draw upon thy self sad temporal strokes thereby And lose for a season many expressions of his Love yet there is an Advocate with the Father to plead thy pardon 1 John 2. 1. Who hath satisfied for our breaches Isa 53. 5 6. and for his sake God resolveth to hold fast
hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ is their ignorance of some special principles of Religion as 1. That it was free love in Gods bosome and nothing in man that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of Redemption Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he sent c. Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of Gods Covenant-favour to his people which hath no reason cause or motive in us and so they cannot come to the knowledg of their interest 2. They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover it self to a mans heart so as he hath ground to lay claim to it viz. That ordinarily it doth first discover his broken state in himself because of sin and corruption defiling the whole man and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness all these things are loss and dung Phil. 3. 6 7 Secondly It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things The man finds a treasure for which with joy he selleth all c. Mat. 13. 44 46. Thirdly it determineth the heart and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances Psal 65. 4. and causeth the heart to wait upon him and him alone 62. 5. My soul wait thou only upon God Thus having dropped in the seed of God in the heart and formed Christ there Gal. 4. 19. The heart is changed and made new in the aforesaid work Ezek. 36. 26. and Gods Law is so stamped upon the heart in that change Jer. 31. 33. that the whole yoak of Christ is commended to the man without exception Rom. 7. 12. 16. The Law is acknowledged good holy just and spiritual upon all which from that new principle of life there flow out acts of a new life Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by love Rom. 6. 18 22. and the man becometh a servant of righteousness and unto God which doth especially appear in the spirituality of worship Joh. 4. 24. Rom. 7. 6. men then serve God in spirit and truth and in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter and tenderness in all manner of conversation The man then exerciseth himself how to keep a conscience void of offence c. Acts 24. 16. Now this way doth the love God discover it self unto man and acteth on him so as he hath ground of laying some good claim to it so as he may justly think that the love which sent a Saviour had respect to such a man as hath found these things made out unto him Surely Ignorance of this doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ for if a man know not how God worketh with a person so as he may justly lay claim to his love which was from eternity he will wander in the dark and not come to the knowledge of an interest in him 3. Many are also ignorant of this That God alone is the hope of his people he is called the hope of Israel Jer. 14. 8. Although inherent quallifications are evidences of it yet the staying of the heart upon him as a full blessing and satisfying portion is faith 1 Pet. 1. 21. the faith and hope must be in God and the only proper condition which giveth right to the saving blessings of the Covenant Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not but believeth faith is imputed for righteousness Indeed if any person take liberty here and turn grace into wantonness there is without doubt in so far a delusion since there is mercy with him upon condition that it conciliate fear to him Psal 130. 14. Yea hardly can any man who hath found the foresaid expressions of Gods love made out upon him make a cloak of the Covenant for sinful liberty without some measure of a spiritual conflict In this respect he that is born of God doth not sin and he who doth so sin hath not seen God 1 Joh. 3. 6 9. I say God is the hope of his people and not their own holiness If they intend honestly and long seriously to be like unto him many failings should not weaken their hope and confidence for it is in him who changeth not Mal. 3. 6. And if any man sinneth he hath an Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Now when men place their hope in any other thing beside the Lord it is no wonder they be kept in a staggering condition according to the changes of the thing which they make the ground of their hope since they give not to God the Glory due to his Name and which he will not give unto another compare Psal 9. 10. They who know thy Name will put their trust in thee with Isa 42. 9. My glory will I not give to another I am the Lord that is my Name 4. Many are ignorant of the different wayes and degrees of Gods working with his people and it doth much darken their knowledge and reflex acts of their interest in him This ignorance doth run mainly on three heads 1. They are ignorant of the different degrees and ways of that Law-work which ordinarily dealeth with men and of the different way how the Lord bringeth home people at first to Christ They consider not that the Jaylor is not kept an hour in bondage Acts 16. Paul is kept in suspence three days Acts 9. Zacheus not one moment Luke 19. 2. They are ignorant of or at least do not consider how different the degrees of Sanctification are in the Saints and the honourable appearings thereof before men in some and the sad blemishing thereof in others Some are very blameless and more free of gross outbreakings adorning their profession much as Job Job 1. and Zachariah Luke 1. Those are said to be perfect walking in all the Commandements of God Others were subject to very gross and sad evils as Solomon Asa c. 3. They are ignorant of the different communications of Gods face and expression of his presence Some do walk much in the Light of Gods countenance and are much in sensible fellowship with Him as David was others are all their days kept in bondage through â—ear of death Heb. 2. 25. Surely the ignorance of the different ways of God's working and dealing with his people doth very much darken the knowledge of their Interest in him whilst they usually stint the Lord to one way of working which he doth not keep as we have shewed in the former examples The second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ is There is one thing or other wherein their heart in some respect doth condemn them as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God It is not to be expected that these can come to clearness about their interest whose heart doth condemn them for keeping up some known transgression against the Lord which they will not let go neither are using the means which
for clearing and confirmation 1. He had some desire to see Christ and such a desire as made him wave that which some would have judged prudence and discretion whilest he climbeth up upon a tree that he might see him 2. Christ spake to his heart and that word took such hold upon him that presently with joy he did accept of Christ's offer and closed with Christ as Lord whilest few of any note were following him 3. Upon this his heart did open to the poor although it seems he was a covetous man before 4. He had a due impression of his former wayes evidencing his respect to Moses his Law and this he did signifie before all the company then present not caring to shame himself in such things as probably were not known to the World 5. Upon all these things Christ confirmeth and ratifieth the bargain by his word recommending to him that oneness of interest which behoved to be between him and the Saints and the thoughts of his own lost condition if Christ had not come and sought him and found him All which are clear Luke 19. 3 10. We grant the Lord calleth some so and if any can lay claim to the special things we have now hinted they have a good confirmation of Gods dealing with them from that Scripture Neither are they to vex themselves because of the want of a distinct preparatory Law-work if their heart have yielded unto Christ For a Law work is not desirable except for this end Therefore Christ doth offer himself directly in the Scripture and people are invited to come to him and although many will not come to him who is the surety until the spirit of bondage distress them for their debt yet if any upon the knowledge of their lost estate would flee and yield to Christ none might warrantably press a Law-work upon them As for others whom Christ perswaded by a word to follow him whatsoever he did or howsoever he spake to them at his first meeting with them we must rationally suppose that then he discovered so much of their own necessity and his own fulness and excellency to them as made them quit all and run after him And if he do so to any we crave no more since there is room enough there for the Physitian So that from all this as some may be confirmed and strengthened with whom God hath so dealt So there is no ground nor occasion for deluded souls to flatter themselves in their condition who remain ignorant and senseless of their own miseries and Christs all-sufficiency and hold fast deceit Thirdly There are some brought in to Christ in a way yet more declarative of his free grace and this is when he effectually calleth men at the hour of death We find somewhat recorded of this way in that pregnant example of the Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 39 41. Although this seems not very pertinent for the purpose in hand yet we shall speak a little of it that on the one hand men may be sparing to judge and pass Sentence upon either themselves or others before the last breath And we shall so circumstantiate it that on the other hand none may dare to delay so great a business to the last hour of their life We find these things remarkable in that business between Christ and the Thief 1. The man falleth at odds with his former Companion 2. He dareth not speak a wrong word of God whose hand is on him but justifieth him in all that is befallen him 3. He now seeth Jesus Christ persecuted by the World without a cause and most injuriously 4. He discovereth Christ to be a Lord and a King whilst enemies seem to have him under 5. He believeth a being of glory after death so really that he preferreth a portion of it to the present safety of his bodily life which he knew Christ was able to grant to him at that time and he might have chosen that with the other Thief 6. Although he was much abased in himself and humbled that he pleaded but that Christ would remember him yet he was nobly daring to throw himself upon the Covenant on life and death and he had so much faith of Christs all-sufficiency that he judged a simple remembrance from Christ would satisfyingly do his business 7. He acquiesced sweetly in the word which Christ spake to him for the ground of his comfort All which are very clear in the case of that poor dying man and do prove a very real work of God upon his heart As this example may encourage some to wait for good from God who cannot as yet lay clear claim to any gracious work of his Spirit So we beseech all as they love their souls not to delay their soul-businesses hoping for such a cast of Christs hand in the end as too many do This being a rare miracle of mercy with the glory whereof Christ did honourably triumph over the ignominy of his cross a parallel of which we shall hardly find in all the Scripture beside yea as there be but few at all saved Mat. 20. 16. and most few saved this way So the Lord hath peremptorily threatned to laugh at the calamity and not to hear the cry of such as mocked formerly at his reproof and would not hear when he called to them Prov. 1. 24 26. which Scripture although it doth not shut mercies door upon any who at the hour of death do sincerely judge themselves and flee unto Christ as this penitent Thief did Yet it is certain it implyeth that very few who fit the offer until then are honoured with repentance as he was and so their cry as not being sincere and of the right stamp shall not be heard The fourth and most ordinary way by which many are brought in to Christ is by a clear and discernable work of the law and humiliation which we ordinarily call the spirit of bondage as was hinted before We do not mean that every one whose conscience is awakened with sin and fear of wrath doth really close with Christ the contrary doth appear in Gain Saul Judas c. But that wherein there is a conviction of sin awakening of conscience and work of humiliation which as we shall circumstantiate it doth rarely miscarry or fail of a gracious issue but ordinarily doth resolve into the spirit of adoption and a gracious work of Gods Spirit and because the Lord dealeth with many sinners this way and we find that many are much puzled about the giving judgment of this Law-work This work is either more violent and sudden or it is more sober and longer protracted through a great length of time and so as the steps of it are very discernable It is more violent in some as in the Jaylor Paul and some other converts in the book of the Acts of the Apostles on whom Christ did break in at an instant and fell on them as with Fire and Sword and led them captive terribly And because
some great legal shakings are deceitful and turn to nothing if not worse we shall point at some things remarkable in these converts spoken of before which did prove the work of the Law on them to have had a gracious issue and result 1. Some word of truth or dispensation putteth the person to a dreadful stand with a great stir in the Soul Some are pricked in heart Acts 2. 27. Some fell on trembling Acts 16. 29. and this is such a stir that the person is brought to his wits end What wilt thou have me to do saith Paul Acts 9. What shall I do saith the Jaylor Acts 16. 30. 2. The person is content to have Salvation and Gods friendship on any terms as the questions do import What shall I do as if he had said What would I not do What would I not forego What would I not undergo 3. The person accepteth the condition offered by Christ and his Servants as is clear in the fore-cited Scriptures 4. The person presently becometh of one interest with the Saints joyning himself with that persecuted society putting respect on those whom he had formerly persecuted joyning and continuing with them in the profession of Christ on all hazards Those with whom the Lord hath so dealt have much to say for a gracious work of Gods spirit in them and it is like many of them can date their work from such a particular time and word or dispensation and can give some account of what past between God and them and of a sensible change following in them from that time forward as Paul giveth a good account of the work and way of God with him afterwards Acts 22. Again The Lord sometimes carrieth on this work more calmly foftly and gently protracting it so as the steps of mens exercise under it are very discernable It would draw a great length to enlarge every step of it we shall touch the most observable things in it 1. The Lord Iayeth siege to men who it may be have often refused to yield to him offering himself in the Ordinances and by some word Preached Read or born in on the mind or by some providence leading in unto the Word he doth also assault the house kept peaceably by the strong man the Devil and thus Christ who is the stronger man cometh upon him Luke 11. 22. and by the Spirit of truth doth fasten the Word on the man in which Gods curse is denounced against such and such sinners whereof the man knoweth himself guilty The spirit convinceth the man and bindeth it upon him that he is the same person against whom the Word of God doth speak because he is guilty of such sins and from such sins the man is led on to see more until ordinarily he comes to see the sins of his youth sins of omission c. yea he is led on until he sees himself guilty almost of the breach of the whole Law he seeth innumerable evils compassing him as David speaketh in a fit of exercise Isa 40. 12. A man sometimes will see ugly sights of sin in this case and is sharp-sighted to reckon a filthiness to every sin almost Thus the spirit convinceth of sin Jo. 16. 8. 2. The Lord shaketh a special strong hold in the garrison a refuge of lies to which the man betaketh himself when his sins are thus discovered to him The poor man pretendeth to faith in Christ whereby he thinks his burden is taken off him as the Pharisees said John 8. 41. We have on Father even God They pretend to a special relation of God as a common Lord. The Spirit of God beats the man from this by the truth of the Scriptures proving that he hath no true faith and so no interest in Christ nor any true saving grace shewing clear differences between true grace and the counterfeit fancies which the man hath in him and between him and the truly Godly as Christ laboureth to do those Joh. 8. 42 44. If God were your father ye would love me Ye are of the Devil for ye do the lusts of such a father So fear surpriseth the Hypocrite in heart Isa 33. 14. especially when the Lord discovereth to him conditions in many of these promises wherein he trusted most not easily attainable he now seeth grace and faith another thing than once he judged them to be We may in some respect apply that word here The Spirit convinceth him of sin because he hath not believed on the Son he is particularly convinced of unbelief John 16. 9. he seeth now a huge distance between himself and the godly whom he thought before out-stripped him in only some unnecessary proud hateful preciseness he now seeth himself deluded and in the broad way with the perishing multitude and so in the sight of his misery coucheth down under his own burthen which before this time he thought Christ did bear for him he now beginneth to be afraid of the Promises because of that and such other words What hasâ— thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth c. Psal 50 16 3. The man becometh careful about his salvation and beginneth to take it to heart as the one thing necessary he is brought to this with the Jaylor Act. 16. What shall I do to be saved His salvation becometh the leading thing with him It was least in his thoughts before but now it prevaileth and other things are much mis-regarded by him since his soul is ready to perish What shall it profit him to gain the whole world if he lose his soul Mat. 16. 26. Some here are much puzled with thoughts of an irrecoverable decree to their prejudice and with the fears of uncertain death which may attach them before they get matters put to a point and some are vexed with apprehensions that they are guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost which is unpardonable and so are driven a dangerous length Satan still casting up to them many sad examples of people who have dolefully put an end to their own exercise but they are in the hand of one who knoweth how to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. 4. When a man is thus in hazzard of miscarrying the Lord useth a work of preventing mercy towards him quietly and under-hand supporting him and this is by bearing upon his mind the possibility of his Salvation leading the man to the remembrance of pregnant proofs of Gods free and rich grace pardoning gross transgressors such as Manasseth who was a bloody idolatrous man and had correspondence with the Devil and yet obtained mercy 2 Chron. 33. 12 13. and other Scriptures bearing offers of grace and favour indifferently to all who will yield to Christ whatsoever they have been formerly So as the man is brought again to this What shall I do to be saved which doth suppose that he apprehendeth a possibility of being saved else he would not propound the question He applyeth that or the like word to himself It may
be ye shall be hid Zeph. 2. 3. he findeth nothing excluding him from mercy now if he have a heart for the thing Although here it may be the man doth doth not perceive that it is the Lord who upholdeth yet afterward he can tell that when his foot was slipping Gods mercy held him up as Psal 94. 17. 18. the Psalmist speaketh in another case And he will afterwards say When he was as a Beast and as fool in many respects God held him by the hand Psal 73. 22 23. 5. After this discovery of a possibility to be saved there is a work of desire quickned in the Soul which is clear in that same expression What shall I do to be saved But sometimes this desire is not regular whilst it goeth out thus what shall I do that I may work the works of God Joh. 6. 28. In which case the man formerly perplexed with fear and care about his Salvation would be at some work of his own to extricate himself And here he suddenly resolveth to do all that is commanded and to forego every evil way yet much slighting Christ Jesus and so beginneth to take some courage to himself again establishing his own righteousness but not submitting to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3. whereupon the Lord maketh a new assault on him intending the discovery of his absolutely broken state in himself that so room might be made for the Surety as Joshua did to the people when he found them so bold in their undertakings Josh 24. 18. 19. You cannot serve the Lord saith he fer he is a Holy God c. In this new assault the Lord 1. Bends up against the man the spirituality of the Law the Commandment cometh with a new change in the spiritual meaning of it Rom. 7. 9. The Law came saith Paul viz. in the spiritual meaning of it Paul had never seen such a sight of the Law before 2. God most holily doth loose the restraining bonds which he had laid upon the mans corruptions and suffereth it not only to boyl and swell within but to threaten to break out in all the outward members Thus sin groweth bold and kicketh at the law becoming exceeding sinful Rom. 7. 8 9 13. 3. The Lord doth discover to man more now than ever before the uncleanness of his righteousness and what spots are in his best things These things kill the mast and he dieth in his own conceit Rom. 7. 9. and dispaireth of releif in himself if it come not from some other way 6. After many ups and downs here ordinarily the man resolveth some retirement he desireth to be alone he cannot keep company as before like those who in a besieging City when they see they cannot hold out and would be glad of any good condition from the besieging enemy they go to a council that they may resolve somewhat So the man here retireth that he may speak with himself This is like that communing with our own heart Psal 4. 4. Thus God leadeth to the wilderness that he may speak to the heart Hos 2. 14. When the person is retired the thoughts of the heart which were scattered in former steps of exercise do more observable throng in here We shall reduce them into this method 1. The man thinks of his unhappy folly in bearing arms against God and here there be large thoughts of former wayes with a blushing countenance and self-loathing Ezek. 36. 31. like that of Psal 51. 3. his sin is before him 2. Then he remembreth how fair opportunities of yeilding to God he hath basely lost his spirit is like to faint when he remembreth that as is said in another case Psal 42. 4 5. 3 He now thinks of many Christians whom he mocked and despised in his heart perswading himself now that they are happy as having chosen the better part he thinks of the condition of those who wait on Christ as the Queen of Sheba did of Solomons servants Happy are thy servants saith she who stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom 1 Kings 10. 8. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house c. Psal 8. 4. 4. He wisheth to be one of the meanest who have any near relation to God as the 〈◊〉 Son doth speak he would be as one of the Fathers hired servants Luke 15. 17. 19. 5. Then he calleth to mind the good report that is gone abroad of God according to that testimony Jonah 4. 2. The Prophet knew that God was a gracious God and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness c. The free and large promises and offers of grace come in here and the glorious practices which have past upon sinners of all sorts according to the same of God in Scripture 5. He thinks with himself why hath God spared me so long and why have I got such a sight of my sin why hath he kept me from breaking prison at my own hand in choosing some unhappy way of escape Why hath he made this strange change on me It may be it is in his heart to do me good O that it may be so Although all these thoughts be not in the preparatory work of every one yet they are with many and very promising where they are 7. Upon all these Thoughts and Meditations the man more seriously than ever before resolveth to pray and to make some essay with God upon Life and Death he concludeth it can be no worse with him for if he sit still he perisheth as the Lepers speak 2 Kings 7. 3 4. He considereth with the pinched Prodigal Son that there is bread enough in the Fathers House and to spare while he perisheth for want so he goeth to God for he knoweth not what else to make of his condition as the Prodigal Son doth Luk. 15. 17 18. and it may be here he resolveth that to speak but readily things do vary when he is arraigned before God as the Prodigal Son forgot some of his premediated prayers Luk. 15. 18 19 21. And now when he cometh before God more observably than ever before 1. He beginneth with the Publican a far off Luk. 18. 13. with many through confessions and self-condemnings whereof he is very Prodigal as Luk. 15. 21. I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy c. 2. Now begin his thoughts about the hearing of his prayer which he was not wont to question much he now knows what those expressions of the Saints about the hearing of their prayers do import 3. It is observable in this address that there are many broken Sentences like that of Psal 6. 3. But thou O Lord how long supplyed with sighs and groans Rom. 8. 26. and greedy looking upward thereby speaking more than can be exprest by words 4. There be ordinarily some interruptions and as it were diversions the man speaking sometimes to the enemy sometimes to his own heart sometimes to the multitude in the world as David did in other
the Lord discovereth to some great sight of their sin and misery and they are thereby put under great legal terrours But as all are not brought in by that sensible preparatory Law-work as we shewed before So even those who are dealt with after that way are very differently and variously exercised in regard of degrees of terrour and of continuance of that work The Jaylor hath a violent work of very short continuance Paul hath a work continuing three days Some persons are in bondage through fear of death all their days Heb. 2. so that we must not limit the Lord to one way of working here The main thing we are to look unto in these legal wakenings and convictions of sin and misery is If the Lord reach these ends in us for which usually these stirrings and convictions are sent into the soul and if these ends be reached it is well we are not to vex our selves about any preparatory work further Now these ends which God driveth ordinarily with sinners by these legal terrours and wakenings of conscience are four First The Lord discovers sights of mens sin and misery to them to chase them out of themselves and to put them out of conceit of their own righteousness Men naturally have great thoughts of themselves and do incline much to the covenant of works The Lord therefore doth discover to them so much of their sin and corruption even in their best things that they are made to loath themselves and to despair of relief in themselves and so they are forced to flee out of themselves and from the Covenant of works to seek refuge elsewhere Heb 6. 18. They become dead to themselves and the Law as to the point of justification Rom. 7. 4. Then have they no more considence in the flesh Phil. 3 3. This is supposed in the offers of Christ coming to seek and save that which was lost Luk. 19. 10. and to be Physician to those who are sick Mat. 9. 12. The second great end is to commend Christ Jesus to mens hearts above all things that so they might fall in love with him and betake themselves to that treasure and jewel which only enricheth Mat. 12. 44. and by so doing may serve the Lords design in the contrivement of the Gospel which was the manifestation of his frec grace through Christ Jesus in the salvation of men The sight of a mans own misery and damnable estate by nature is a ready way to make him prize Christ highly who alone can set such a wretch at liberty Yea it not only leadeth a man to an high esteem of Christ but also of all things that relate to that way of Salvation as Grace New-Covenant Faith c. and maketh him carefully to gather and treasure up his Michtams or golden Scriptures for the confirmation of his interest in these things The third great end is To deter and scar people from sin and to make them fall out with it aud consent to put their neck under all his yoke God kindleth some sparkles of Hell in mens bosoms by the discovery of their sin as a ready mean to make them henceforth stand in awe knowing how bitter a thing it is to depart from the Lord Jer. 2. 19. So we find rest offered to the weary upon condition they will take on Christs yoke Mat. 11. 29. And God offereth to own men as their God and Father upon condition they will allow no peaceable abode to Belial 2. Cor. 6. 14 17. 18. The fourth great end is to work up men to a patient and thankful submission to all the Masters pleasure This is a singular piece of work Ezek. 16. 63. Then shalt thou not open thy mouth any more The sight of a mans own vileness and deservings maketh him silent and to lay his hand on his mouth whatsoever God doth unto him Psal 39. 9. I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou didst it Ezra 9. 13. God hath punished us less than oâ—r iniquities Micah 7 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned The man careth not what God doth to him or how he deal with him if he save him from the deserved wrath to come Also any mercy is a large mercy to him who hath seen such a sight of himself Gen. 32. 10. he is less than the least of mercies any crumb falling from his Masters Table is welcome Mat. 15. 27. he thinks it rich mercy that he is not consumed Lam. 3. 22. This is the thing that marvelously maketh his poor afflicted people so silent under and satisfied with their lot Nay they think he deserveth Hell who openeth his mouth at any thing God doth to him since he hath pardoned his transgressions So then for satisfying the Objection I say if the Lord hath driven thee out of thy self and commended Christ to thy heart above all things and made thee resolve on his strength to wage War with every known transgression and thou art in some measure as a weaned Child acquiescing in what he doth unto thee desiring to lay thy hand on thy mouth thankfully Then thy convictions of sin and misery and whatsoever thou do'st plead as a preparatory work is sufficient and thou art to debate no more about it only be advised to study new discoveries of the sense of thy lost condition every day because of thy old and new sins and also to see fresh help in Christ who is a Priest for ever to make intercession and to have the work of sanctification and patience with thankfulness renewed and quickned often for somewhat of that work which abaseth thee exalteth Christ and conformeth to his will must conveigh thee throughout all thy life-time in this World We come now to speak of some more clear and sure marks by which men may take up their gratious state and interest in Christ The first thing whereby men know it is their closing with Christ in the Gospel wherein he is held forth This is believing or Faith which is the condition of the Covenant Rom. 4. 16. It is faith c. Act 16 31. Believe and thou shalt be Saved Now althoughâ— in propriety of speech it is hard to prove an interest 〈◊〉 faith it being our very interest in him yet the heart closing with Christ Jesus is so discernable in it self that it may well be placed amongst the marks of a gracious state And if a man can make out this that he believeth on and in Christ Jesus he thereby doth prove a very true interest in him Many are prejudiced at this as a mark upon one of these three grounds ordinarily 1. Some conceive faith to be a difficult mysterious thing hardly attainable To these I say do not mistake Faith is not so difficult as many do apprehend it to be I grant true faith in the meanest degree is the gift of God and above the power of flesh and blood for God must draw men to Christ Phil. 1. 29. Joh. 6.
44. Yet it were a reflection upon Christ and all he hath done to say it were a matter of insuperable difficulty as is clear Rom. 10. 6 11. it were according to that Scripture as much upon the matter as to say Christ came not from Heaven is not risen from the dead or ascended victorious to Heaven I say he hath made the way to Heaven most easie and faith which is the condition required on our part more easie than men do imagine For the better understanding of this consider that justifying faith is not to believe that I am elected or to believe that God loveth me or that Christ died for me or the like These things are indeed very difficult and almost impossible at the first hand to be obtained by those who are serious whilst natural Athiests and deluded Hypocrites find no difficulty in asserting all those things I say true justifying faith is not any of the foresaid things neither is it simply the believing of any sentence that is written or that can be thought upon I grant he that believeth on Christ Jesus believeth what God hath said about mans sinful miserable condition by nature and he believeth that to be true That there is life in the Son who was slain and is risen again from the dead c. But none of these nor the believing of many such truths do speak out justifying faith or that believing on the Son of God spoken of in Scripture for then it were simply an act of the understanding But true justifying Faith which we now seek after as a good mark of Interest in Christ is chiefly and principally an act or work of the heart and will having presupposed sundry things about truth in the understanding with the heart it is believed unto Salvation Rom. 10. 10. and although it seem vers 9 of that Chapter that a man is saved upon condition that he believe this truth God raised Christ from the dead yet we must understand another thing there and vers 10. than the believing the truth of that proposition For beside that all Devils have that Faith whereby they believe that God raised Christ from the dead So the Scripture hath clearly resolved justifying Faith into a receiving of Christ Joh. 1. 12. The receiving of Christ is there explained to be the believing on his Name it is still called a staying on the Lord Isa 26. 3. a trusting in God often mentioned in the Psalms and the word is a leaning on him it is a believing on Christ Joh 6. 29. and often so exprest in the New Testament When God maketh men believe savingly He is said to draw them unto Christ and when the Lord inviteth them to believe he calleth them to come to him Joh. 6. 37 44. The â—ingdom of Heaven is like a man â—â—nding a Jewel wherewith he falleth in love Mat. 13. 14 to 46. Now I say this action of the heart on Christ Jesus is not so difficult a thing as is conceived Shall that be judged a mysterious difficult thing which doth consist much in desire If man have but an appetite â—ey have it for they are blessed that hunger after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. If you will you are welcome Rev. 22. 17. It is a matter of such intricacy and insuperable difficulty greedily to look to that exalted Saviour Isa 45. 22. and to receive a thing that is offered held forth and declared to be mine if I will but accept and take iâ— and in a manner open my mouth and give way to it Such a thing is faith Psal 81 10. if not less Oh if I could perswade people what is justifying Faith which impropriateth Christ to me We often fright people from their just rest and quiet by making them apprehend faith to be some deep mysterious thing and by moving unnecessary doubts about it whereby it is needlesly darkened 2. Some make no use of this mark as judging it a high presumptuous crime to pretend to so excellent a thing as is the very condition of the New Covenant To those I say you need not startle so much as it as if it were high pride to pretend to it for whatsoever true Faith be men must resolve to have it or nothing at all all other marks are in vain without it a thousand things besides will not do the business Unless a man believe he abideth in the state of Condemnation Joh. 3. 18 36. 3. Others do not meddle with this noble mark of faith because they judge it a work of greatest difficulty to find out Faith where it is To those I say It is not so difficult to find it out since he that believeth hath the witness in himself 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is a thing which by some serious search may be known not only may we do much to find it out by the preparatory work going before it in many as the apprehending and believing of a mans lost estate and that he cannot do his own business and that there is satisfying fulness in Christ very desirable if he could overtake it A serious minding of this with a heart laid open for relief as also by the ordinary companions and concomitans of it viz. the liking of Christs Dominion his Kingh and prophetical Office a desire to resign my self wholly up to him to be at his disposing As also by the native consequences of it viz. the managings of the World the managings of my own conscience according to the Word a heart purifying work a working love c. I say not only may we know faith by these things but it is discernable by it self and of its own nature although I deny not but that there must be some help of Gods Spirit by which we know what is freely given unto us of God 1 Cor. 2. 12 As also that God hath allowed many evidences and marks as precious helps whereby men may clear up faith more fully to themselves 1 John 5. 13. Yet I still say that faith or believing which is some acting of the heart upon Christ in the Gospel and the transacting with him there is discernable of it self and by it self to a judicious understanding person with an ordinary influence of the spirit unless the Lord for reasons known to himself do overcloud a mans reflex light by which he should take up and perceive what is in him This justifying faith which we assert to be so discernable is in the Lords deep wisdom and gracious condescendence variously exprest in Scripture according to the different actings of it upon God and outgoings after him so as every one who hath it may find and take it up in his own mould It sometimes acted by a desire of union with him in Christ This is that looking to him Isa 45. 22. This seems to be a weak act of faith and far below other actings of it at other times perhaps in that same person Men will look to what they dare not approach to their apprehension which they dare
overcometh but perseverance is not the condition of the New Covenant but doth suppose it There are promises made to the exercises of all Graces in Scripture but only faith is the condition of the Covenant I say then these promises are made to these actings of Faith not as such but as they do suppose Justifying faith which is the condition of the Covenant All these are actings of faith but not as it is justifying Therefore 5. There is somewhat common to all gracious persons which may be supposed by all the foresaid actings of faith wherein the nature and essence of justifying faith standeth and this is the hearts satisfaction about Gods contrivance of Salvation by Christ when man pleadeth Gods invention of satisfaction to justice through Jesus Christ in whom all fulness doth dwell now by the Fathers pleasure when the soul and heart of man acquiesceth in that then it believeth unto Salvation As at first the Lord made man suitable to the Covenant of Works by creating him perfect and so putting him in a capacity to perform his Will in that Covenant So under the New Covenant when God giveth the new heart to man he sets the Idea and stamp of all his device in the New Covenant upon the man so as there is a consonancy to Gods will there Thus he beareth the image of the second 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus on him This is a great part of the new heart and is most opposed to works since now the man absolutely falleth off from works becoming 〈…〉 as to the point of justificatim 〈…〉 a Rom. 7. 4. Man perceiving 〈…〉 way of satisfying Divine 〈…〉 by the incarnation of 〈…〉 sure a way that he absolute 〈…〉 I said before and closeth with this contrivementâ— and this is believing or faith very opposite to works and all resting thereupon this cannot fail to be in all gracious persons in whom many of the actions of faith are not to be found This doth clearly suppose known distress in a man without all relief in himself this supposeth known fulness in Christ as the alone sufficient relief this imports a sort of impropriation for the heart pleasing that contrivement it so far swayeth towards it This is a thing clearly supposed in all the actings of faith spoken of before He that greedily hungereth hath this and he that leaneth hath this and he that putteth on Christ hath this c. This is to esteem Christ the wisdom and power of God to Salvation So is he said to be all that believe 1 Cor. 1. 24. They esteem that contrivance wise and sure beseeming God and that is to believe On this account Christ who is the rejected stone to many is precious to them who believe a fit stone to recover fortify and beautify the tottering building and fabrick of lâ—st man 1 Pet. 1. The Kingdom of God is like a man finding a treasure for which with joy he selleth all Mat. 13. 44. These words hold out the very way of believing viz. Salvation is discovered in the Gospel to be by Christ the heart vallueth that invention as satisfying This is to believe on the Son of God lifted up which is compared to the looking up to the brazen Serpent John 3. 14. It was mans approbation of that device which made it effectual for his healing So is it here He that believeth setteth to his seal that God is true True wherein In that record he hath born That God hath provided life for men and placed it all in Christ 1. Joh. 5. 10. 11. He that believeth not maketh God a lyer Where In his saying that Christ is a safe and sure way to Heaven This is well pleased with and acquiescing in that devise and it is consonant to all I know spoken of Justifying Faith in Scripture This is in the believing on Christ and on his Name the receiving of him and resting on him for Salvation in our Catechism The believing that Jesus is the Christ that is the Anointed one whom the father hath sealed and set apart and qualified for the work of reconciling man unto God and he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1. Joh. 5. 1. This is to believe with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead The man believeth Christ died and is raised on the account of satisfaction for mans transgression Devils may believe that Nay but the man I speak of believeth it with his heart which no natural man doth untill a new heart be given unto him that is he cordially pleadeth is satisfied with and acquiesceth in this noble invention And thus faith layeth out it self now and then in its actings out-goings and excrcise according to all the Covenant relations under which Christ is held forth in the Scripture Now I say This faith is discernable not only in these actings many times a man may know if his heart doth hunger after Christ and flee for refuge to him when pursued and if he doth commit himself unto God c. but also in its very nature as it is justifying it is discernable and may be known A man may clearly know if from known disâ—â—ess in himself upon the report and fame of Christs fulness his heart is well pleased with Gods contrivement in the new Covenant if it goeth out after Christ in that invention and pleadeth him a Lord of the life of men terminating and resting there and no where else acquiescing in that contrivement with desire and complacency This is a discernable thing Therefore I beseech men impartially to examine themselves and if they find that their heart hath closed so with that invention of salvation and is gone out after him as precious that thereupon they would conclude a sure and true interest in Christ Jesus and a good claim and title to the crown since he that helieveth shall never perish but have everlasting life John 3. 16. 36. Object Hypocrites and Reprobates have a sort of faith and are said to believe Joh. 2. 23. Acts 3. 13. and cannot choose but go out after Christ and that invention of Salvation when they hear of it and they profess they do so yet are deluded and so may I be Answ To say nothing of that thought of your heart whereby you wonder that any man should not please the contrivement of salvation by Christ and lead out towards him as a very promising thing and speaking out justifying faith to be in your bosom and to say nothing in contradiction to that which you think That a natural man whilst such and before he get a new heart can please that contrivement and believe with his heart and affectionately that which perfectly overthroweth the Covenant of works and abaseth man in the point of self-righteousness already attained or that can be won at by him which is inconsistent with many Scriptural truths I offer these differences between the faith of all Hypocrites or reprobates and that true saving justifying faith whereof we have spoken 1.
They never close with Jesus Christ in that contrivement and him alone as a sufficient covering of the eyes as is said of Abraham to Sarah Gen. 20. 16. They still hold fast somewhat of their own at least to help to procure Gods favour and salvation Their heart doth still speak as that young mans speech Luke 18 18 21. doth insinuate What want I that I may inherit life Beside that they do still retain their former lovers and will not break their Covenants with Hell and Death imagining they may have Christ with these things equally sharing in their heart contrary to that A man cannot serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. Either Christ must be judged absolute Lord and worthy to be so or nothing at all And so it is clear their heart is not shapen out for that way of salvation by Christ whom God hath alone made Lord here in whom all fulness shall dwell But where justifying faith is the soul of a man and his heart doth close with Christ and him alone having no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. Psal 62. 5. he trusteth only in God As also the man here giveth up with other lovers as they stand in competition with Christ they resolve not to be for another Hos 3. 3. They call him Lord which a man can only do by the Spirit of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 3. 2. As Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ alone so they do never close with full Christ as he is annointed to be a King to rule over a man in all things a Priest to procure pardon and to make peace for man upon all occasions a Prophet to be wisdom and a Teacher and Counsellor in all cases to man So they do not receive Christ especially in the first and third offices But where true justifying faith is a man closeth with whole Christ in all his offices judging all his will good holy just and spiritual Rom. 7. 12. and right concerning all things Psalm 119. 128. making mention of his righteousness only Psal 71 16. The man also giveth up himself to be taught of him Mat. 11. 29. So that Christ is made to the true believer with his own consent wisdom righteousness sanctification and compleat redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. And although he hath not all these things formally in exercise when his heart goeth out after Christ yet upon search and tryal it will be found with him as I have said 3. Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ and all the inconveniencies may follow him they stick at that with that man Mat. 8. 19. 20. But where true justifying saith is a man doth close with him on all hazards he resolveth to forego all rather than to forego Christ Mar. 10. 28. he reckoneth all to be loss and dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus as his Lord and to be found in him Phil. 3. 8. We might give other differences also as that true faith is operative purifying the heart Acts 15. 9. working by love Gal. 5. 44. Whilst Hypocrites do only cleanse the outside of the platter Mat. 23. 25. and do all to be seen of men Mat 6. 5. not seeking the honour that is of God only and so cannot believe John 5. 6. We might also shew that true faith is never alone in a man but attended with other saving graces But because these things will co-incide with what followeth and here we are shewing that a man may take up his gracious state by his faith and the actings thereof on Christ we pass these things The second great mark of a gracious state and true saving interest in Jesus Christ is the new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature That new creation or renovation of that man is a very sensible change although not in those who are effectually called from the womb or in their younger years because those have had this new creature from that time in them so as this charge in after period of time is not discernable yet in those who have been regenerated and brought unto Christ after they were come to greater age and so have been more palpably unde the power of darkness before they were translated into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1. 13. But in all who do warrantably pretend to Christ this new creature must be although some do not know experimentally the contraries of every part of it so as others do because they have not been equally in regard of practice under the power of darkness This new creature is called the new man Gal. 3. 10. which doth hold out the extent of it It is not simply a new tongue or a new hand but a new man There is a principle of new life and motion put in the man which is the new heart which new principle of life sendeth forth acts of life or of conformity to the image of him who created it Col. 3. 10. So as the party is renewed in some measure every way This renovation of the man who is in Christ may be reduced to these two great heads First There is a renovation of the mans person soul and body in some measure 1. His understanding is renewed so as he judgeth Christ Preached in the Gospel to be the wisdom and power of God a wise strong contrivement beseeming God 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. He knoweth the things of God really and solidly not to be yea and nay and uncertain fancies but all to be yea and amen solid certain substantial things having a desirable accomplishment in Christ and resolving much in him 1 Cor. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 18. Natural men educated under Gospel ordinances although they have some notional knowledge of God Christ Promises the motions of the holy Spirit c. so as they may Confer Preach and dispute of these things yet they look on them as common received Maxims of Christianity from which to recede were a singularity and disgrace but not as real solid substantial truths so as to adventure their Souls and Everlasting being on them The understanding is renewed also to take up somewhat of God in the creatures as bearing sparks of his glorious attributeâ— Psal 10. 1. They see the Heavens declaring his Glory and Power and somewhat of God in providence anâ— dispensations that fall out His wondrous works declaring that his Name is near Psal 75. 1. The understanding also taketh up the conditions and cases of the soul otherwise than it was wont to do As we find the Saintâ— usually speaking in Scripture O my Soul thou hast saiâ— unto the Lord c. Psal 16. 2. My Soul said thy facâ— will I seek Pral 26. 8. Why art thou cast down O my Soul Psal 42. 5. Psal 43. 5. Return unto thy rest O my soul Psal 116. 7. 2. The heart and affections are renewed The heart is made a new heart a hearâ— of flesh capable of impressions having a copy of his law stamped on it and
fear of God put into it whereby the mans duty becometh in a manner native and kindly to the man Jer. 32. 39 40. Ezek. 36. 26. It was before a heart of stone void of the fear of God The affections are renewed now The love is renewed in some good measure it goeth out after God I will love the Lord Psal 18. 1. after his Law O how I love thy Law Psal 119. 97. after those who have Gods Image in them John 13. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 14. This love to Gods people is upon a pure account as they are the children of God and do keep his Statutes 1 Pet. 1. 22. It is with a pure heart Psal 119. 63. and therefore it goeth towards all such whom the man knoweth or apprehendeth to be such Psal 119. 63. I am a Companion to alâ— them c. In all cases and conditions even where there is nothing to beautify or commend but the Image of God And this love is so fervent many times 1 Pet. 1. 22. thaâ— it putteth it self out in all relations so as a man seeketh a Godly Wife a Godly Master a Godly Servant a Godly Counsellor if he have to choose upon Psal 101. 6. and it is not quenched by many waters Cant. 8. 7. many imperfections and infirmities difference in opinion wrong received will not altogether quench love Also it is communicative of good according to its measure and as the case of the poor godly requireth Psal 16. 2. 1 John 3. 17 18. 19. The mans hatred is also renewed and is now bent against sin Psal 119. 113. I hate vain thoughts against Gods enemies as such Psal 139. 21 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee c. The joy or delight is renewed for it runneth towards God Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven c. towards his Law and Will Psal 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord. And towards the Godly and their followship Psal 16. 3. In whom is all my delight The sorrow is turned against sin which hath wronged Christ Zech. 12. 10. Looking on him whom they have pierced they mourn 2 Cor. 7. 11. The sorrow is godly there and against what incroacheth upon Gods honour they are sorrowful for the assemblies and the reproach of that is their burden Zeph. 3. 18. There is some renovation in all the affections as in every other part of the soul pointing now towards God 3. The very outward members of the man are renewed as the Scriptures speak the tongue the eye the ear the hand the foot c. so that those members which once were improved as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin are now improved as weapons of righteousness unto holiness Rom. 6. 19. Secondly A man who is in Christ is renewed in some measure in all his ways Behold all things are new 2 Cor. 5. 17. The man becomes new 1. In the way of his interest He was upon any good before though but apparent and at best but external Psal 4. 6. But now his interest and business is how to be found in Christ in that day Phil. 3. 9. or how to be forth-coming to him and walk before him in the land of the living Psal 56. 13. which he would choose among all the mercies that â—ill this earth Psal 119. 64. The interest of Christ also becomâ— eth the mans interest as appeareth in the song of Hannah 1 Sam. 2. And in the song of Mary Luke 1. â— is strange to see people newly converted and having reached unto the beginnings of knowledge concern anâ— interest themselves in the publick matters of Christâ— Kingdom so desirous to have him riding prosperouslyâ— and subduing the people under him 2. The man that iâ— in Christ is renewed in the way of his worship He waâ— wont to serve God in the oldness of the letter for the fashion answering the letter of the command in the outside of duty which one in whom the Old man hath absolute dominion can do But now he worshippeth God in thâ—â— newness of the Spirit Rom. 7. 6. In a new way wherein he is helped by the Spirit of God Rom 8. 26. beyond the reach of flesh and blood He serveth now the true and living God 1 Thess 1. 9. in Spirit and in truth John 4. 24. having spiritual apprehensions of God and engaged in his very soul in that work doing and saying truly and not feignedly when he worshippeth still desiring to approach unto him as a living God who heareth and seeth him and can accept his service Psal 42. 1 2. I grant he fails of this many times yet I may say such worship he intendeth and sometimes overtaketh and doth not much reckon worship which is not so performed unto God and the iniquity of his holy things is not the least part of his burthen and exercise Such a worship natural men are strargers unto whilst they babble out of their vain-glorious boastings Luke 18. 11 12. to an unknown God Acts 17. 23. 3. The man that is in Christ is renewed in the way of hit outward calling and imployment in the world he now resolveth to be about it because God hath commanded so Rom. 12. 11. and to eye God in it as his last end doing it to his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and studieth to keep some intercourse with God in the exercise of his outward employments as Jacob doth in his latter Will Gen. 49. 18. and Nehemiah did Nehem. 2. 4. So as the man resolveth to walk with God and set him alwayes before him Psal 16. 8. wherein I deny not he faileth often 4. He becometh new in the way of his relations he becometh a more dutiful Husband Father Brother Master Servant Neighbour c. Herein doth he exercise himself to keep a conscience void of offence towards men as well as towards God Acts 24. 16. 1 Cor. 22. Becoming all things to all men 5. He becometh now in the way of his lawfull liberties he studieth to make use of meat drink sleep recreation apparel with an eye to God labouring not to come under the power of any lawful thing 1 Cor. 6. 12 13. Nor to give offence to others in the use of these things Rom. 14. 20 21. 15. 2. nor using liberty as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5. 13. Yea he laboureth to use all these things is a stranger on earth so as his moderations may appear Phil. 4. 5. And some way he doth eye God as the last end in these things 1 Cor. 10 31. doing all to the glory of God So as we may say of that man old things are much past away all things are in some measure become â—ew 2 Cor. 5. 15. He that is so new a creature is â—ndoubtedly in Christ This renovation of a man in all manner of conversaâ—ion and this being under law to God in all things is â—â—at holiness without which none shall see God Heb. 12. â—â— Men may fancy things to themselves but unless they â—â—â—dy
only a free but also a bold speaking before God it is that boldness with confidence Ephes 3. 12. this is more rarely imparted unto men than the former yet it is ordinary It hath in it beside what we spake before some influence of the Spirit upon faith making it put out some vigorous acting in Prayer there is a sweet mournful frame of Spirit by which a man poureth out his heart in Gods bosome and with some confidence of his Favour and good will pleadeth his cause before him as a living God and this is all the sensible presence that many Saints do attain unto there is no ground of doubt about a mans estate in point of liberty before God in this last sence because there is nothing essential to the making up of a gracious state here some have it some want some have it at sometimes and not at other times so that it is much up and down yet I may say gracious men may do much by a very ordinary influence in contributing towards the attaining and retaining or keeping of such a frame of spirit Sixthly There is a thing called Influence or breathing of the Spirit This gracious influence for of such only do I now speak is either ordinary and this is the operation of the holy Spirit on the soul and the habits of grace there whereby they are still kept alive and in some exercise and acting although not very discernable This influence I conceive doth alwayes attend Believers and is that keeping and watering night and day and every moment promised Isa 27. 3. Or this influence is more singular and special and is the same to a gracious although a withered soul as the wind and breath to the dry bones putting them in good ease Ezek. 37. 9 10. And as the dew or rain to the grass or newly mowen field and parched ground Psal 72. 6. Such influence is meant Cant. 4. 16. by the blowing of the South wind making the Spices to flow out When the Spirit moveth thus there is an edge put upon the graâ—es of God in the soul and they are mad to act more viâ—orously This is the inlarging of the heart by which a 〈◊〉 doth run in the wayes of God Psal 119. 32. This influence is more discernable than the former and not so ordinarily communicated Also here sometimes the wind bloweth more upon one grace and sometimes more discernably upon another and often upon many of the graces together and according to the lesser or greater measure of this influence the soul acteth more or less vigorously towards God and since faith is a created grace in the soul this influence of the Spirit is upon it sometimes less sometimes more and accordingly is the assurance of faith small or great Seventhly There is the hearing of prayer often spoken of in Scripture and many vex themselves about it alleadging that they know nothing of it experimentally I grant there is a favourable hearing of prayer But we must remember it is two fold Either 1. It is such as a man is simply to believe by way of argument on Scriptural grounds As if I be fled unto Christ and do approach unto God in him pray according to his will not regarding iniquity in my heart exercising faith about the thing I pray for absolutely or conditionally according to the nature of the thing and promises about it I am obliged to believe that God heareth my prayer and will give what is good according to the Scriptures Joh. 14. 13 14. Whatsoever ye ask in my name I will do it 1 John 5. 14. This is our confidence that whatsoever we ask according to his will he heareth us Mark 3. 24. Believe that you receive and you shall have what you desire Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity he will not hear Then if I regard not iniquity I may believe that he doth hear me Or 2. A man doth sensibly perceive that God heareth his prayer It is made out to his heart without any syllogistical deduction Such a hearing of prayer got Hannah 1 Sam. 1. 8. Her countenance was no more sad Surely the Lord did breath upon her faith and made her believe that she was heard and she could not make it out by any argument for she had not grounds whereupon to build the premises of the argument according to Scripture in that particular God did stamp it in some way upon her heart sensibly and so made her believe it This is but rarely granted especially in cases clearly deducible in Scripture And therefore people are much to be satisfied in exercising their faith about the other and let God give of this latter what he pleaseth A mans gracious state should not be brought upon debate upon the account of such hearing of prayer Eighthly There is Assureance of Gods favour by the witnessing of our own spirits which assurance is deduced by way of argument syllogistically Thus Whosoever believeth on Christ shall never perish But I do believe on Christ Therefore I shall never perish Whoso hath respect unto all Gods Commandments shall never be ashamed But I have respect unto all his Commands Therefore I shall never be ashamed I say by reasoning thus and comparing Spiritual things with spiritual things a man may attain unto a good certainty of his Gracious State It is supposed 1 John 3. 18 19. That by loving the Brethren in deed and in truth we may assure our hearts before God and that a man may rejoyce upon the Testimony of a Good Conscience 2 Cor. 1. 12. A man may have confidence if his heart do not condemn him 1 John 3. 21. We may then attain unto some assurance although not full assurance by the witness of our own spirit I do not deny that in this witnessing of our Spirits towards Assurance there is some concurrence of the Spirit of God But I conceive there needeth but a very ordinary influence without which we can do nothing Now this assurance such as it is may be reached by intelligent Believers who keep a good conscience in their walk So I hope there needs be no debate about it as to a mans gracious state for if a man will clear himself of heart condemnings he will speedily reach this assurance Ninthly There is a Witnessing of Gods Spirit mentioned Rom. 8. 16. A bearing witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God This operation of the Spirit is best understood if we produce any syllogism by which our spirit doth witness our Sonship as for example Whosoever loveth the Brethren is past from Death to Life and consequently is in Christ But I love the Brethern Therefore I am passed from Death to Life Here there is a threefold operation of the Spirit or Three Operations rather The first is a beam of Divine Light upon the first Proposition perswading the Divine Authority of it as the Word of God the Spirit of the Lord must witness the Divinity of the Scripture and that is the
Hos 6. 7. and made it void for ever Rom. 2. 20. involved himself into all misery thereby Rom. 5. 12. 2. The Lord did most freely from everlasting purpose and intend to save men another way viz. by Christ Jesus and the Covenant of grace in which he intended reconcilement with the Elect through Christ Jesus God and Man born of a woman in due time to make this agreement effectual And this device of satisfying his own justice and saving of the elect by Christ he did at first intimate to our parents in Paradice Gen. 3. 15. where he saith that the seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head and the Lord hath in all Generations made this known to his Church 3. The Lord hath in all ages Covenanted to be the reconciled God of all these who by their subjection to his Ordinances did profess their satisfaction with this device and oblige themselves to acquiesce in the same and to seek salvation by Christ Jesus as God doth offer him in the Gospel so all the people of Israel are called the Lords People and are said to avouch him to be their God and he doth avouch them to be his People Exod. 19. 5. 8 Deut. 26. 17 18. yea the Lord doth also engage himself to be the God of the seed and children of these who do so subject to his Ordinances The Covenant is said to be made between God and all the People young and old present and not present that day Deut. 29. 10 11 15. and all are appointed to come under some seal of that Covenant as was enâ—oyned to Abrabam Gen. 7. 10. not only was it so in â—he Old Testament but it is so in the New Testament also The Lord makes offer of himself to be our God 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus and the people professing their satisfaction in that offer and in Testimony thereof subjecting themselves unto the Ordinances they are reckoned a Covenanted people and are joyned unto his Church in Thousands receiving a seal of the Covenant without aâ—y further particular previous tryal Acts. 2. 38. 41. 4. Many do deal treacherously with God in this Covenant Psal 78. 36 37. and although they do profesâ— their estimation of Christ the Saviour and heart-satisfaction with that device of saving sinners by him anâ— having the Image of God restored by him in them yeâ— their heart is not right with God and they do conteâ—â— themselves with an empty title of being in a sealed Covenant with God John 8. 39. Abraham is our Father say they For although the Lord obligeth everâ— man who professeth his satisfaction with Christ Jesus the devised ransom to be cordial and sincere herein anâ— only to these who are so doth he make out the Spirituaâ— Promises of the Covenant they only being priviledgeâ— to be the Sons of God who do really receive Christ John 1. 12. yet the Lord doth permit many to profesâ— their closing with him in Christ both in the Old and New Testament whilest their heart is not engaged and he doth admit them to be members of his Church granting unto them the use of Ordinances and many other external mercies and Priviledges denyed unto the Heathen who are not in Covenant with him 5. Although the great part of people do foolishly fancy that they have closed with God in Christ Jesus sincerély and heartily or at least they do without any ground or warrant promise a new heart to themselves before they depart this life yet there be but very few who dâ— really and cordially close with God in Christ Jesus as he is offered in the Gospel and so there be but very feâ— saved as is clear Mat. 7. 14. Strait is the gate anâ— narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few therâ— be who find it Mat. 20. 16. Many are called but feâ— are chosen If people would believe this it might heâ—â— to alarm them 6. Although none at all do cordially close with Goâ— in Christ Jesus and acquiesce in that ransom found 〈◊〉 by God except only such as are elected Rom. 11. 7. and whose hearts the Lord doth soveraignly determine to that blessed choice John 6. 44. yet the Lord hath left it as a duty upon people who hear this Gospel to close with his offer of Salvation through Christ Jesus as if it were in their power to do it And the Lord through these Commands and Exhortations wherein he obligeth men to the thing doth convey life and strength to the elect and doth therein convey the new heart unto them which pointeth kindly toward this new Contrivance of saving sinners and towards Christ in his Covenant relations or it is the Lords mind in these commands and invitations to put people on some duty with which he useth to concur for accomplishing that business between him and them so then it is a coming on our part and yet a drawing on his part John 6. 44. it is a drawing on his part and running on our part Cant. 1. 4. it is an approaching on our part and yet a chusing and causing to approach on his part Psal 65. 4. it is a believing or receiving on our part John 1. 12. and yet it is given us to believe Phil. 1. 29. Having premised these things I say if men miss in themselves the marks of a saving interest in Christ spoken of in the former part of the Treatise then for securing their state they are obliged with all diligence personally and heartily to accept of and close with Gods design or contrivance of saving sinners by Christ Jesus held out in the Gospel In handling of this we shall 1. Shew what it is to accept of and close with that noble invention 2. We shall shew that it is the necessary duty of those who would be in favour with God and secure their Souls 3. What is previously required of those who perform this duty 4. What are the qualifications and properties of this Duty if rightly managed 5. What be the native consequents of it if it be performed aright As for the first What is it to close with Gods device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus held out in the Gospel Here we must remember as we shewed before that aâ— first God willed man to abide in his favour by holding fast his first integrity in which he was Created but maâ— by his transgression lost Gods favour made void thaâ— Covenant of Works and put himself in an utter incapacity to regain the Lords friendship which he had losâ— by his sin and to rescue himself from the curse and wrath now due to him for the same or any way to procure his own salvation But the Lord freely hath manifested another way of repairing mans lost estate viz. by sending his Son Christ Jesus in the flesh to satisfie his justice for the sins of the Elect and to restore in them his Image now defaced and to bring them unto glory and he hath made open Proclamation in the Church That whosoever will
lay aside all thoughts of saving themselves by the Covenant of Works or inherent righteousness and will agree heartily to be saved by Christ Jesus they shall be restored to a better condition than formerly man was in and shall be saved So then to close with Gods device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus is to quit and forego all thoughts of help or salvation by our own Righteousness and to agree unto this way which God hath found out It is to value and highly esteem of Christ Jesus as the treasure sufficient to enrich poor man and with the heart to believe this record That there is life enough in him for men It is to plead this invention and to acquiesce in it as the only way to true happiness It is to point towards this Mediator as God holdeth him out in the Gospel with desire to lay the stress of our whole estate on him This is that which is called Faith or Believing the receiving of Christ or believing on his Name John 1. 12. This is that believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus commanded unto the Jaylor for his safety Acts 10. 31. This agreeth to all the descriptions of justifying faith in the Scripture this doth answer the type of looking to the Brazen Serpent lifted up in the Wilderness John 3. 14 15. and this is supposed in all these ordinary actings of Faith to which promises are annexed in the Scripture and will be found in all who have got the new heart from God and it will be found in none else As to the Second thing viz. That this is the necessary duty of all such who would be in favour with God and secure their Souls It appeareth thus 1. This closing with Gods contrivance or believing in Christ is commanded every where in Scripture by the Lord as the condition of the new Covenant giving title and right unto all the spiritual blessings of the same for it is upon the matter the receiving of Christ This is commanded whilst God bids men come and buy that is impropiate all by closing with that contrivement Isa 55. 1. the weary are commanded to come uuto him thus for their rest Mat. 11. 28. This is his commandment that we believe on the name of his Son 1. John 3. 23. this is enough to prove it a duty incumbent But further it is such a duty as only giveth title and right to a Sonship for only they who receive him are priviledged to be Sons John 1. 12. To as many as received him to them he gave power to be the sons of God even to such as believed on his name 2. It appeareth to be the necessary duty of all thus No less than this doth give a meeting unto God offering himself to be our God in Christ and no less than this doth answer our profession as we are in Covenant with him as Members of his visible Church The Lord offereth to be our God in Christ if we do not close with the offer in laying aside all thoughts of other ways by which we may attain to happiness we give no meeting to him he saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. If we close not with the offer we give no answer unto God Moreover we are all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Now unless we close with Christ as is said we falsifie that profession therefore since this is the thing which doth answer Gods offer in the Gospel and make good our profession as members of his Church it is a necessary duty lying upon us 3. Whatsoever a man hath else if he do not thus close with Gods Invention about Christ Jesus and do not receive him it doth not avail either as to the accepting of his person or of his performances or as to the saving of his soul Men are accepted only in Christ the beloved Eph. 1. 6. Abel and his offering are accepted by faith Heb. 11. 4. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. and He that believeth not is condemned already and shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 18. 36. for want of this no external title doth avail the Children of the Kingdom are cast out if this be wanting Mat. 8. 10 11 12. The people of Israel are like other Heathens in regard of a graceless state lying open to the wrath of God Jer. 9. 25 26. If men do not believe that he who was slain at Jerusalem who was called Christ Jesus and witnessed unto by the Prophets and declared to be the Son of God by many mighty works I say if men do not believe that he is the way and close not with him as the only way they shall dye in their sins John 8. 24. We say then it is a most necessary duty thus to close with Christ Jesus as the blessed relief appointed for sinners every one who is come to years of understanding and heareth this Gospel is obliged to take to heart his own lost condition and Gods gracious offer of peace and salvation throngh Christ Jesus and speedily to fly from the wrath to come by accepting and closing with this offer heartily acquiescing therein as a satisfying way for saving of poor Sinners And that all may be the more encouraged to set about this duty when they hear him praying them to be reconciled unto them let them remember that peace and salvation is offered to the people in universal terms to all without exception If any man will he shall be welcome Rev. 22. 17. If any thirst although after that which will never profit yet they shall be welcome here on the condition aforesaid Isa 55. 2 3. all are commanded to believe 1 John 3. 23. The promises are to all who are externally called by the Gospel God excludes none if they do not exclude themselves Acts 2. 39. so that if any have a mind for the thing they may come forward he will in no wise cast them out John 6. 37. being able to save to the utmost them who come to God through him Heb. 7. 25. And these who have long delayed to take this matter to heart had now the more need to look to it lest what belongs to their peace be hid from their Eyes but all these words will not take effect with people until God pour out his Spirit from on high Isa 32. 15. to cause men to approach unto God in Christ yet we must still press mens duty upon them and beseech and charge them by the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ and their reckoning to him in that day that they give the Lord no rest until he send out that Spirit which he will give to them who ask it Luke 11. 13. and cause them to know what belongs unto their peace and bring them up to their duty We come now to speak of the Third thing viz.
sinneth not 1 Joh. 3. 9. For the Lord hath resolved and ordained things so that his hand shall undoubtedly so be upon all believers for good that they shall never get leave to hate him and be so pluckt out of his hands 2. Because of this union there is as a strange sympathy and fellow-feeling between God and the believer The Lord is afflicted with the mans afflictions he doth tenderly carefully and seasonably resent it as if he were afflicted with it Isa 63. 9. He who toucheth the believer toucheth the apple of the Lords eye Zech. 2. 8 He is touched with the feeling of their infirmities Heb. 4. 15. And precious in his sight is their blood Psal 116. 15. In a word what is done to them is done unto him and what is done unto them is not done unto him Mat. 10. 40. 25. 40 45. On the other part the zeal of his house sitteth in the heart of the believer Psal 69. 9. The Lords reproach lighteth on the believer if it go well with his affairs that is the business of his people So there is a strange sympathy between God and believers all by vertue of the union between them because of which men should hate every thing which would compete with him in their love or affections and should disdain to be slaves to the Creatures since these are the servants of their Lord and Husband and their servants through him What a hateful thing is it for a Queen to whore with the servants of her Prince and Husband It is also a shame for a Believer to be afraid of evil tidings since the Lord with whom he is one alone ruleth all things and doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Psal 112. 6 7. and 115. 3. The other great consequent of believing is an admirable unpararell'd communion by vertue whereof 1. The parties themselves do belong each to other The Lord is the God of his people he himself Father Son and Holy Ghost is their God in all his glorious Attributes his justice as well as his mercy his wisdom power holiness c. for He becometh the God of his people as he often speaketh in the Covenant On the other part the Believers are his people in their very persons they are his as the Covenant doth speak They shall be his people their head their heart their hand c. whatsoever they are they are his 2. By vertue of this communion they have a mutual interest in one anothers whole goods and geer in as far as can be useful All the Lords Word doth belong to the Believer Threatnings as well as Promises for their good all his wayes all his works of all sorts special communications death devils even all things in so far as can be useful 1. Cor 3. 21 22 23. On the other side all which belongeth to the Believer is the Lords heritage children life wife credit all is at his disposing if any of these can be useful to him the Believer is to forego them else he falsifieth that communion and declareth himself in so far unworthy of Christ Luke 14. 26. 3. By vertue of this communion there should be much familiarity between God and the Believer The Lord may meddle with any thing which doth belong to the believer and do to him what seemeth good to him and the man is not to mistake or say unto God What dost thou but in so far as concerneth his duty yes he is still to say in every case Good is the Word and Will of the Lord Isa 38. 8. 2. Kings 4. 23 26. On the other part the believer may in an humble way be free and familiar with God in Christ he may come with boldness to the throne of Grace and not use a number of complements in his addresses unto God Heb. 4. 16. For he is no more a stranger unto God Eph. 2. 19. so as that he needs not speak unto God as one that hath acquaintance to make every hour as many professors do and it maketh a huge inconsistency in their Religion The believer also may lay open all his heart unto God 1. Sam. 1. 15. and impart all his secrets unto him and all his tentations without fear of a mistake The believer also may enquire into what God doth in so far as may concern his own duty or in so far as may ward off mistakes of the Lords way and reconcile it with his Word John 13. 15. The believer is a friend in this respect as knowing what the Master doth see Gen. 18. 23. c. Jer. 12. 1. Isa 63. 17. The believer also may be free with God to go in daily with his fallings and seek repentance pardon and peace through Christs Advocateship Acts. 5. 31. 1 John 2. 1. O how often in one day may the believer plead pardon if he intend not to mock God or to turn grace into wantonness The Lord hath commanded men to forgive seventy times seven in one day and hath hinted therein a parable how much more the Master will forgive Mat. 18. 22 28. The believer also may be free to entrust God with all his ovtward concernments for he doth care for these things Mat. 6. 30 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Yea the believer may humbly put God to it to make him forth-coming for him in all cases as beseemeth and to help him to suitable fruit in every season even grace in time of need Heb. 4. 16. Yea how great things may believers seek from him in Christ Jesus both for themselves and others 1 John 5. 14 15. John 14. 13. Isa 45. 11. It is the shame and great prejudice of his people that they do not improve that communion with God more than they do Christ may justly upbraid them that they ask nothing in his Name John 16. 24. By what is said it doth appear of how great consequence this duty of believing is by which a man closeth with Christ Jesus whom the Father hath sealed and given for a Covenant to the people It is so honourable for God answering his very design and serving his interest in the whole contrivment and manifestation of the Gospel And it is so advantagious to men that Satan and an evil heart of unbelief do mightily oppose it by moving objections against it I shall hint some most ordinary Object I am so base worthless and faithless of my self that I think it were high presumption for me to meddle with Christ Jesus or the salvation purchased at the rate of his blood Answ It is true all the Children of Adam are base and vile before him who chargeth his Angels with folly Job 4. 18. All Nations are less than nothing and vanity before him Isa 40. 17. There is such a disproportion between God and men that unless he himself had devised that Covenant and of his own free will had offered so to transact with men it had been high treason for men or Angels to have imagined that
God in all manner of conversations For if a man thenceforth do any thing unsuitable he doth falsifie his word before God which will stick much in his Conscience and prove a snare If a man henceforth forget God and take on him to dispose of himself since he is not his own and hath opened his mouth unto the Lord he makes enquiry after vows and devoureth that which is holy Prov. 20. 25. 2. He who transacteth with God should hold stedfast that determination and conclusion it is a shame for a man whose heart hath closed with God and whose mouth hath ratified and confirmed it solemnly before him to contradict himself again and to admit any thing to the contrary he ought boldly to maintain the thing against all deadly Then let me beseech you who desire to be established in the matter of your interest in God that with all conveniency you set apart a piece of time for Prayer before God and labouring to work up your heart to seriousness affection and the faith of the duty to make a Covenant and to transact with God by express words after this manner O Lord I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature and by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day And although being born within the visible Christ I was from the womb in Covenant with thee and had the same sealed unto me in bapsïsin Yet for a long time I have lived without God in the world senseless and ignorant of my Obligation by vertue of that Covenant Thou hast at length discovered unto me and bound upon my heart my miserable state in my self and hast made manifest unto my heart the satisfying relief thou hast provided by Christ Jesus offering the same freely unto me upon condition that I would accept of the same and would close with thee as my God in Christ warranting and commanding me upon my utmost peril to accept of this offer and to flee unto Christ Jesus Yea to my apprehension now thou hast Soveraignly determined my heart and shaped it for Christ Jesus leading it out after him in the offer of the Gospel causing me to approach unto the living God to close so with him and to acquiesce in his offer without any known guile And that I may come up to that establishment of Spirit in this matter which should be to my comfort and the praise of thy glorious Grace Therefore I am here this day to put this matter out of question by express words before thee according to thy will And now I unworthy as I am do declare that I believe that Christ Jesus who was slain at Jerusalem was the Son of God and the Saviour of the World I do believe that record that there is life eternal for men in him and in him only I do this day in my heart plead and acquiesce in that device of saving sinners by him and do interest my soul unto him I do accept of reconciliation with God through him and do close with thee as my God in him I chuse him in all that he is and all that may follow him and do resign up my self and what I am or have unto thee desiring to be divorced from every thing hateful unto thee and that without exception or reservation of any thing consistent with my knowledge or intended reversion Here I give the hand to thee and do take all things about me witnesses that I whatever I be or have hitherto been do accept so Gods offer of peace through Christ and do make a sure Covenant with thee this day never to be reversed hoping that thou wilt make all things forth-coming both on thy part and mine seriously begging as I desire to be saved that my corruptions may be subdued and my Neck brought unto thy sweet yoke in all things and my heart made chearfully to acquiesce in whatsoever thou dost unto me or with me in order to these ends Now glory be unto thee O Father who devised such a Salvation and gave the Son to accomplish it Glory be to Christ Jesus who at so dear a rate did purchase the out-letting of that love from the Fathers bosome and through whom alone this access is granted and in whom I am reconciled unto God and honourably united unto him and am no more an Enemy or Stranger Glory be to the Holy Ghost who did alarm me when I was destroying my self and who did not only convince me of my hazzard but did also open my eyes to behold the relief provided in Christ yea and did perswade and determine my wild heart to fall in love with Christ as the enriching treasure and this day doth teach me how to Covenant with God and how to impropriate to my self all the sure Mercies of David and blessings of Abraham and to secure to my self the favour and friendship of God for ever Now with my soul heart head and whole man as I can I do acquiesce in my choice this day henceforth resolving not to be my own but thine And that the care of whatsoever concerns me shall be on thee as my Head and Lord protesting humbly that failings on my part against which I resolve thou knowest shall not make void this Covenant for so hast thou said which I intend not to abuse but so much the more to cleave close unto thee and I must have liberty to renew ratifie and draw extracts of this transaction as often as shall be found needful Now I know thy consent to this bargain stands recorded in Scripture so as I need no new signification of it and I having accepted of thy offer upon thy own terms will henceforth wait for what is good and for thy salvation in the end As thou art faithful pardon what is amiss in my way of doing the thing and aceept me in my sweet Lord Jesus in whom I only desire pardon And in testimony hereof I set to my Seal that God is True and in declaring him a competent Saviour Let People Covenant with God in fewer or more words as the Lord shall dispose them for we intend no Platform of words for any person Only it were fitting that men should before the Lord acknowledge their lost state in themselves and the relief that is by Christ and that they do declare that they accept of the same as it is offered in the Gospel and do thankfully rest satisfied with it intrusting themselves henceforth wholly unto God to be saved in his way for which they according to his faithfulness If men would heartily and sincerely do this it might heartily through the Lords blessing help to establish them against many fears and jealousies And they might date some good thing from this day and hour which might prove comfortable unto them when they fall in the dark afterwards and even when many failings do stare them in the face perhaps at the hour of death 2 Sam. 23. 5. It is much if a man can appeal unto God and
the Covenant with men after their transgression Psal 89. 30. 37. else how could he be said to betroth us to himself for ever Hos 2. 19 20. and how could the Covenant be called Everlasting ordered in all things and sure if there were not ground of comfort in it even when our house is not so and so with God 2 Sam. 23. 25. Yea it were no better than the Covenant of Works if those who enter it with God could so depart from him again as to make it void unto themselves and to put themselves into a worse condition than they were in before they made it Jer. 32. 40. compared with Heb. 8. 6. The Lord hateth putting away Mal. 2. 16. No honest heart will stumble on this but will rather be strengthned thereby in duty Hos 14. 9. For other ties and bonds beside divorce and punishment by death do oblige the ingenuous wife unto duty So here men will fear the Lord and his Goodness Hos 3. 5. Object I have at the celebration of the Lords Supper and at some other occasions covenanted expresly and verbally with God but my barrenness in his ways and the renewed jealousies of my gracious state maketh me question if ever I transacted with God in sincerity and I think I can do it no other wayes than I have done it Answ 1. Men are not to expect fruitfulness according to their desire nor full assurance of Gods Favour immediately after they have fled unto Christ and expresly transacted with God in him These things will keep a man on work all his dayes The Saints had their failings and short-comings yea and back-slidings with many fits of dangerous mis-belief after they had very seriously and sincerely and expresly closed with God as their God in Christ 2. Many do look for faithfulness in their walk and establishment of faith from their own sincerity in transacting with God rather than from the Spirit of the Lord Jesus They fix their heart in their own honesty and resolutions and not in the Blessed Root Christ Jesus without whom we can do nothing and are vanity altogether in our best estate Men should remember that one piece of grace cannot produce any degree of grace Further nothing can work grace but the arm of Jehovah And if men would lean unto Christ and covenant with him as their duty absolutely whatsoever may be the consequence at least looking only to him for the suitable fruit it should be far better with them God pleaseth not that men should betake themselves unto Christ and covenant with him for a season until they see if such and such fruit and establishment shall follow purposing to disclaim their interest in him and the Covenant if such and such fruit doth not appear within such a length of time This is to put the wayes of God to tryal and is very displeasing unto him Men must absolutely close with Christ and covenant with him resolving to maintain these things as their duty and a ready way to reach fruit whatsoever shall follow thereupon they having a testimony within them that they seriously design conformity to his revealed will in all things And they that have closed Covenant with him for the same end as well as to be saved thereby 3. Men should be sparing to bring in question their sincerity in transacting with God unless they can prove the same or have great presumptions for it if you can prove any deceit or guile in your transacting with him you are obliged to disclaim and rectifie it and to transact with God honestly and without guile But if you know nothing of your deceit or guile in the day you did transact with him Yea you can say that you did appeal unto God in that day that you dealt honestly with him and intended not to deceive and did obtest him according to his faithfulness to search and try if there was any crookedness in your way and to discover it unto you and heal it Psal 139. 23 24. and afterwards you came to the Light that your deeds might be manifest John 3. 20 21. and you can say that Gods answers from his Word to you in so far as you could understand were answers of peace and confirmations of your sincerity Yea further you dare say that if upon life and death you were again to transact with him you can do it no other way nor intending more sincerity and seriousness than before Then I dare say unto thee in the Lords name thou oughtest not to question thy sincerity in transacting with God but to have confidence before God since thy heart doth not condemn thee 1 John 3. 21. and thou art bound to believe that God dealeth uprightly with the upright man and with the pure doth shew himself pure Psal 18. 25 26. If a man intend honestly God will not suffer him to beguile himself yea the Lord suffereth no man to deceive himself unless the man intend to deceive both God and Men. 4. Therefore impute your unfruitfulness to your unwatchfulness and your mis-belief And impute your want of full assurance unto an evil heart of unbelief helped by Satan to act against the glorious free grace of God And charge not these things upon want of sincerity in your closing with Christ And resolve henceforth to abide close by the root and you shall bring forth more Fruit And by much Fruit you lay your self open to the witness of Gods Spirit which will testifie with your Spirit that you have sincerely and honestly closed with God and that the rest of your works are wrought in God and approved of him and so the witness of the Spirit and the Water joyning with the blood whereupon you are to lay the weight of your Soul and Conscience And where alone you are to sink the curses of the Law due unto you for all your sins and failings in your best things These three do agree in one viz. That this is the way of life and peace and that you have interest therein and so you come to quietness and full assurance John 15. 4 5. and 14. 21 23. Rom. 8. 16. 1 John 5. 1. O blessed bargain of the New Covenant and thrice blessed Mediator of the same Let him ride prosperously and subdue Nations and Languages and gather in all his Jewels that honourable company of the first-born and stately troop of Kings and Priests whose glory it shall be to have washed their garments in the blood of that spotless Lamb and whose happiness shall continually flourish in following him whithersoever he goeth And in being in the immediate company of the Ancient of dayes one sight of whose face shall make them in a manner forget that ever they were on the Earth O if I could perswade men to believe that these things are not yea and nay and to make haste towards him who hasteth to judge the World and to call men to an account especially about the improvement of this Gospel Even so come Lord Jesus