as you shall have no occasion afterwards to overturn In these two consists the whole of Gospel Conversion therefore you had the more need see that both be of the right stamp When you set about the work of Repentance and closing with Christ by Faith do it with all your might that you may have no cause to repent of your Repentance or to say Ah! it is a great question whether ever to this day I have truly repented or believed if my Repentance had been real I had not relapsed into such and such Sins I have been but a meer Hypocrite and I must begin anew again as if I had never known or profess'd any thing of God at all Let your Repentance be such that you may say these five things of it 1. There 's no known Sin that ever I have been guilty of but it hath cost me some Tears and my Heart has been even like to break with Sorrow for it Oh! wo is me for what I have brought from the Womb into the World with me and wo is me for what I have added to it since O! what cause of Self-abhorrency is there that I am born with inbred Principles of Enmity and Rebellion against the most High The Seeds and Spawn of all Sins are in my Soul and accordingly what Sin is it but either I have actually committed or would have committed if left to my self and not under some restraint 2. There 's no Sin but I have forsaken at least in Affection and Endeavour the Lord knows there 's no Sin which I love but I do hate every false way it s my Soul's desire to be rid of every thing that offends and my strivings in the stnength of Christ are in some measure suitable to my desires 3. It s Love to the Lord Jesus makes me thus to mourn for Sin and to study Reformation of what is amiss Oh! there 's an infiniteness of Evil in Sin it strikes against the very being of Divine Majesty it robs him of the Glory of all his Attributes it s the transgression of the righteous Law of a great and good God that has loved me so as to send his Son to dye for me Oh! its Sin that crucified the Lord of Glory Zech. 12.10 therefore I cannot any longer continue in it for a thousand Worlds Ah and alass that I have acted so disingenuously against a God of so great Mercies Love Long-suffering and Patience I would not do as I have done if it were to do again for ever so much if there were no Hell to punish Sin nor Heaven to reward Holiness I would forsake the one and follow after the other 4. This Sorrow for and forsaking of Sin is not for a flash when the hand of God is upon me in Sickness or otherwise but it is a continual lasting soaking sorrow Psal 51.2 Mine iniquity is always before me God is the same still and therefore there is reason for me to be a repenting still for Sins committed twenty years ago as if they had been committed but last Hour 5. There 's no Sin but I can freely confess and acknowledge either openly if it has been a publick Sin 1 Tim. 1.13 or secretly to God if it has been only a secret Sin Psal 32.5 1 John 1.9 or to particular Persons if I have injur'd them I am willing to make restitution and reparation for the wrong done Luke 19.8 I am not ashamed to take shame to my self when God's Glory and the Edification of others calls for any such thing at my Hands James 5.16 Josh 7.19 And so for your Faith see that you may say these five things of it 1. It s a Faith of God's working Col. 2.12 it s that that never grew in Nature's Garden it s a thing I was not born with Time was when I had it not but was an Unbeliever it s the gift of God Ephes 2.8 Phil. 1.29 2. This Faith of mine gives a cordial assent unto and compliance with the whole will of God so so far as it is revealed to me in the Word I close with Divine Precepts to be found in the Practice thereof Psalm 119.66 with threatnings to tremble thereat Isa 66.5 as well as Promises to taste the sweetness and comfort thereof 2 Peter 1.4 Heb. 11.13 3. This Faith of mine closes with Christ in all his Offices I am a poor Ignoramus in the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven I do therefore enter my self a Scholar in Christ's School to be taught and instructed by him who is anointed with an unmeasurable measure of the Spirit to open the Eyes of the Blind and unstop the Ears of the Deaf Isa 61.1 Ps 45.7 this is to close with him in his prophetical Office Sin has caus'd such an estrangement between God and Me that if all the Angels in Heaven and Creatures on Earth would offer up themselves as a Sacrifice for my Sin they could never satisfie Divine Justice nor work Reconciliation for me but there 's virtue enough in the Lamb's Blood for effecting the same this is to close with him in his priestly Office Hitherto my Heart has been greatly at Enmity against Holiness but am now through Grace made willing to submit to the Scepter of Christ's Government and to acknowledge him for my King Lord and Law-giver Isa 26.13 Other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee we will make mention of thy Name this is to close with him in his Kingly Office 4. this Faith of mine is operative and working Gal. 5.6 fruitful James 2.14 I am not a Solifidian but would have Faith and Works go together a Heart-purifying and Soul-sanctifying Acts 15.9 as well as a justifying Faith a Soul-humbling Faith Habak 2.4 Conquering and Victorious 1 John 5.5 a Faith that in some measure fits me for doing and suffering what Christ and his cause calls for See the whole Eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews 5. This Faith of mine is that which highly calls and sublimates my Spirit far beyond what Nature improved to the utmost could ever do that through it I cannot only rejoyce in the hope of Glory but also glory in Tribulation as knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in my Heart by the Holy Ghost which is given me Rom. 5. begin 1. Pet. 1.8 whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing that ye may abound in Hope through the power of the Holy Ghost 6. When once you are clear in this Soul-concerning Business of the soundess of your Conversion and solidity of the Foundation which you have laid let it be your great care ever after to demean your self in all things as it becometh one that 's dignified with so high and holy
where is the House that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest Psal 145.3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his Greatness is unsearchable 1 Tim. 6.16 O let Holy David's practice be yours that so his expierience may be yours also Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved 5. Survey him in the bright shining beauty of his Holiness Revel 4.8 Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come This will make you with Isaiah say Chap 6. v. 5. Wo is me for I am undone because I am of unclean Lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean Lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts And with Job Chap. 42. v. 5.6 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes This will take you off from stinting your selves to any Scanty measures of Holiness making you persue after it to be Holy in all manner of conversation as he that has called you is Holy Levit. 19.2 1 Pet. 1.15 I might go over the rest of the Attribute Mercy Grace Love Longsuffering Infinite Power All sufficiency and Faithfulness But from what is already hinted the Way is in some measure made plain how you may mannage such Meditations Thirdly what hitherto has been mentioned is little more than what is attainable by an improved Heathen I must therefore call aloud upon you to soar yet higher in your contemplations of God in Christ And here you may see that which is and will be to all Eternity matter of admiration to Men and Angels 1 Pet. 1.12 Here you may see God Reconciling an apostate and perishing World to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 Here you may see a most noble unparallelled contrivance of infinite Wisdom and free Grace hatched in the womb of Eternity how the Sons and Daughters of Adam that by Sin had debased themselves as low as Hell might be advanced to a state of Royal dignity as high as Heaven Here you may see the Creators condesinsion in stooping so low as to cloth himself with Mans Nature that Man might be made partaker of the Divine Here you may see Mercy and Justice reconciled Righteousness and Truth kissing each other So great is his Justice that Sin shall not pass unpunished no not in his own dear Son though a Sinner only by imputation and having no personal pollution And so great his is Mercy to most miserable sinners that they have what of God is communicable and what they are capable to receive Grace and Glory upon free cost Justice is satisfied to the full as if there had never been any offence and the ransomed of the Lord are restored to a better estate than Adam's was before the Fall Behold here the reason why the World has stood near this 6000 years it s by Christ all things consist Col. 1.17 Come and behold an unspeakable union of hearts and affections between God and sinners Angels and sinners sinners and sinners and of the whole Creation Behold what encouragement the greatest of sinners have to come unto God with hopes of access and acceptance and O what invincible obligations do all of us ly under highly to honour adore fear reverence worship love serve pray unto praise and confide in this God! O my Soul and all that 's within me magnifie the unsearchable riches of the glorious grace of this God and let the whole Creation concur with me in celebrating his praise-worthy name Luke 1.68 69. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and Redeemed his People and hath raised up a horn of Salvation for us that we should be saved from our Enemies and from the hand of them that hate us that we might serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our life Revel 5.11 12. I beheld and heard the voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten Thousand and Thousands of Thousands saying with a loud voice worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Srength and Honour and Glory and Blessing And every Creature which is in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sits on the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Fourthly Rest not satisfied with a rational head-knowledge of the most sublime Gospel Mysteries without some practical and experimental knowledge of the effectual heart-renewing and Soul-Sanctifying operations of the Spirit of God upon your Hearts study a translation from Death to Life from Satan to God from the power of darkness into the Glorious Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Put off the whole old Man with all his deceivable Lusts and put on the Lord Jesus Study Regeneration know what it is to be be born from above by the Word and Spirit John 3. Begin That you may say with those Tit. 3.3 4. We our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers Lusts and pleasures living in Malice and Envy hateful and hating one another but after that the kindness and love of God appeared not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly that being justified by his Grace we should be heirs according to the hope of eternal life And Ephes 2. Begin Even when we were Dead in sins hath he quickened us together with Christ and hath raised us up together and hath made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus we are the Workmanship of God Created in Christ Jesus unto good works which were before ordained that we should walk therein O take heed of being mistaken in the business of Gospel-conversion it concerns no less than the eternal Salvation or Damnation of your immortal Soul it s something else than a bare literal knowledge civility morality partial reformation having some flashes of good desires and resolutions and something else than a bare outward profession saying Lord Lord Know once what it is to have Heaven-born principles in your heart what it is to have the old stony hard carnal unclean covetous proud impenitent and unbelieving heart with all old things done away and all things made new 2 Cor. 5.17 New understanding new will new conscience new affections Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure and it will much conduce to your comfortble walking throughout the course of your conversation Fifthly In order hereunto I commend to you that of Heb. 6.1 Lay such a foundation of Repentance from dead works and Faith towards God
for it is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace not with Merits which have not profited them that have been occupied therein 2 Cor. 2.11 2 3 4. I am zealous over you with a Godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ but I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so your Minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ For if he that cometh perceiveth another Jesus whom we have not prepared or if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed Contend for the truth against all that shall corrupt or oppose it Jude 1. Let no Ordinance be lost or adulterated with your good will restore all to their primitive purity and keep them in it Let the word of the Lord also go forth from you unto others that you being the Lord 's Holy Mountain may be a rich Blessing to all places round about Ezek. 34.26 Psal 110.2 Think your selves of some expedient how to propagate the Gospel according to your capacities abilities and as present Providences will permit after the pattern of the Church of Thessalonica 1 Ep. 1 Chap. v. 6 7 8. Yea become followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost so that ye were examples to all that were at Macedonia and Achaia for from you sounded out the word of the Lord. 6. God has fenced you with many Hedges and strong Fortifications to wit with his own Power Providence Spirit Word Angels and other Creatures insomuch that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you Let therefore Mount Zion be glad and the Daughters of Judah be glad walk about Zion go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generations following for this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide unto Death Ps. 48. to the end Isa 4.5 6. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the Assemblies a Cloud and Smoke by Day and shining of a Flaming Fire by Night for upon all the Glory shall be a defence and there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow in the Day-time from the Heat and for a place of Refuge and for a covert from the Storm and Rain And 41.10 11 12. Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right Hand of my Righteousness behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded They shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish Thou shalt seek them and shalt not find them even them that contended with thee they that were against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought 7. As God has made many Promises to you my indeed all Promises are Yea and Amen to you that believe 2 Cor. 1.20 So suck the Breasts of these Consolations and let the Word of Christ dwell Richly in you in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 Chuse Promises as a part of your Portion Psal 119.111 Acting Faith and Patience for the accomplishment thereof and comforting your selves therewith in all your Affictions Distresses and Tribulations Get some compendious Catalogue not only in your Heads but also in your Hearts of such promises especially which may afford you some comfortable relief against the temptations and troubles that do ordinarly attend a Church-state â—â—le instance in a few to shew you how to make improvement of the rest 1. Are you at any time under perturbation of Mind fearing the Rage and Rejection of the Men of the World for your separation not walking with them in the same way of visible Worship Let that of 2 Cor. 6.17 18. be ready at hand as a present remedy Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father to you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty It s true this Scripture is principally understood of separation from Idolatry and Idolaters but not exclusive of other separations where there is visible Righteousness and Unrighteousness Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Piety and Tolerated Profaness As you may see v. 14.15 2. Is the want of able Officers or being de prived of such as ye had your grief Make use of Ezek. 34.15 16. I will feed them in a good Pasture and upon the high Mountains of Israel shall the Fold be I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick Jer. 3.14 15. I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion and I will give you Pastores according to mine Heart which shall feed you with Knowledge and Understanding If it be for God's Glory and your good you may believe that some time or other that of Isa 30.20 21. shall be fulfilled I limit not the Holy One to Days Weeks Months or Years Though the Lord give you the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a Corner any more but thine Eyes shall see thy Teachers and thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee saying this is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the Right Hand and to the Left 3. Are you a reproach to Neighbours vile and contemptible in the Eyes of all that are round about See Isa 28.5 The Lord of Hosts shall be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty to the residue of his People And 62.3 Thou shalt also be for a Crown of Glory in the Hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the Hand of thy God 〈◊〉 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be Married Isa 51.7 Hearken un to me ye that know Righteousness the Peoplâ— in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the reproach of Men neither be afraid of their Revilings for the Moth shall eat them up as a Garment and the Worm shall eat them as Wooll but my Righteousness shall be for ever and my Salvation from Generation to Generation Isa 54.4 5. Ezek. 36.15 â— 4. Is it so that Ordinances do you but little good your Souls are still Barren and Unfruitful