Oâ— are there not many of us that are in a golden dream that suppose we are eating but when we awake our soul is empty whose faith is a metaphysick notion that hath no foundation but mans apprehension and this shall never bear us through the gates of death nor convey us in into eternity of joy 2. May not this presse you to follow after assurance that it is the compendious way to sweeten all your crosses As is clear from Hab. 3. 17 18. where the convictions of this made Habbakuk to rejoyce in the God of his salvation Though the fig tree did not bear fruit and the labour of the olive did fail and there were no sweetnesse to be found in the vine and from Heb. 10. 34. where they took joyâ—ully the spoiling of their goods knowing within themselves that they had a better and an enduring substance This is indeed that tree which if wee cast into the waters of Marah they will presently become sweet for it is not below the child of hope to be much anxious about these things that he meets with here when he sincerely knoweth that Commandement shall come forth Lift up your head for the day of your eternal redemption draweth near even the day when all the rivers of his sorrow shall sweetly run into the ocean of everlasting delighâ—s 3. A Christian that is much in assurance he is much in communion and fellowship with God as is clear from the Song 1. 13 14. and Song 2. 3. where when once she cometh to that to be perswaded that Christ was her beloved then she sat down under his shaddow and his fruit was pleasant â—nto her taste for the assured Christian doth taste of these crums that â—all from that higher Table and no doubt these that have tasted of that old wine will not straight way desire the new because the old is better And then 4. It is the way to keep you from Apostacy and making defection from God Faith is that grace that will make you continue with Christ in all his tentations as is clear from 2 Pet. 1. 10. where this is set down as a fruit of making our calling and election sure that if we no these things we shall never fail Faith makes a Christian to live a dependent life for would you know the motto of a Christian It is this self diffidence and Christ dependence as is clear from that word in the Song 8. 5. that while we are walking through this wildernesse we are leaning upon our welbeloved 5. This assurance will help a Christian to overcome many tentations There are four sorts of tentations that assâ—ult the Christian there are temptations of desire temptations of love temptations of hope and temptations of anxiety all which a Christian through this noble grace of Assurance may sweetly overcome he that hath once made Christ his own what can he desire but him As Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord What can he love more then Christ or love beside Christ all his love being drowned as it were in that Oâ—ean of his excellencies and a sweet complacency found in the enjoyment of him And as to hope will not assurance make a Christian 〈◊〉 forth Now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee And when the heart is anxious doth not assurance make a Christian content to bear the indignation of the Lord and patiently submit unto the crosse since there is a sweet connexion betwixt his crosse and his Crown Rom. 8. 35 36. If he suffer with him he shall also reign with him And lastly There is this argument to presse you to assurance that it sweemeth the thoughts of death it maketh death unto a Christian not the king of terrours but the king of desires and it is upon these grounds that assurance maketh death refreshfull unto a Christian. 1. He knoweth that it is the funerall of all his miseries and the birth-day of all his blessed and eternal enjoyments 2. That it is the Coronation day of a Christian and-the day when he shall have that Marriage betwixt Christ and him sweetly solemnized And that when he is to step that last step hee knoweth that death will make him change his place but not his company And O that we could once win unto this to seal that conclusion without presumption My beloved is mine and I am his We might without presumption sing one of the songs of Sion even while we are in this strange land and taking Christ in our arms might sweetly cry forth Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen thy salvation Comfort your selves in this that all your clouds shall once passe away and that that truth shall once come to passe which was confirmed by the oath of an Angel with his hand lifted up towards Heaven That time shall be no more Time shall once sweetly die out in eternity and ye may be looking after new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse O long to be with him for Christ longeth to have you with him SERMON VI. 1 Joh. 3. 23. This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ c. THere are three most precious and cardinal graces which a Christian oughâ— mainly to pursue There is that exalting grace of Faith that comforting gracâ— of Hope and that aspiring grace of Love and if once a Christian did take up that heavenly difference that is between those sister-graces hee might be provoked to move after them most swiftly as the chariots of Aminadab And there is this difference between those graces Faith is a sober and silent grace Hope is a patient and submissive grace Love is an ambitions and impatient grace Faith cryeth out O my soul be silent unto God Hope cryeth out I will wait patiently for the Lord untill the vision shall speak but Love it cryeth out How long art thou a coming and it is waiting to hear the sound of his feet coming over the mountains of separation That is the Motto of Hope Quod defertur non aufertur that which is delayed saith Hope is not altogether taken away and made void and that may be the divine embleme of the grace of Love It is sight infolding desire in its armes and it is desire cloathed with wings â—reading upon delay and impediments There is this second difference between these graces the grace of Faith it embraceth the truth of the promises the grace of Hope it embraceth the goodnesse of the thing that is promised but that exalting grace of Love it embraceth the Promiser Faith cryeth out Hath hee spoken it Hee will also do it Hope â—ryeth out Good is the Word of the Lord be â—â— unto thy servant according to thy promise And Love it cryeth out in a higher note As is the apple tree amongst the trees of the â—ood so is my well-beloved amongst the sons â—hirdly There is that difference between â—hese graces Faith it
in that prison who can comfort thee But many dreadfull alaces shalt thou then both cry and hear if thou imbrace not this Great Salvation IV. Fourthly Let this provoke you noâ— to slight the Great Salvation that ye will get it for a very look O ye within this house to day ye will get this Great Salvation for one look Isa. 45. 22. Look unto me and bâ— saved all the ends of the earth For a very look ye will get this Great salvation and do yâ—â— ever think to get Heaven at a lower rate V. The fifth Consideration to provoke you not to slight this Great Salvation and more is this There is not one of you whâ— is a slighter of it but your slighting it shall increase your immortall bonds Man or Woman be who thou wilt when thou art slighting this Great Salvation thou art but plaâ—ing a cord wherewith to bind thy soul eternally in these unquenchable flames Isa. 2â— 22. Be ye not mockers lest your bonds be maâ— strong I say therefore unto you old meâ— mock not lest your bonds be made strong oâ— women near unto your graves mock not lâ—â— your bonds be made strong Young men be 〈◊〉 not mockers lest your bonds be made strongâ— Young women who are in the flower of yoâ—â— time mock not lest your bonds be made strong But now alas will there for all this â—eâ— person here to day who will be a mockers this Great Salvation VI. The sixth Consideration to provoke you not to slight this Great Salvation aâ—â— more is this Ye know not but that yoâ—â— dayes may be near a close I say ye knoâ— not but the day of the preaching of this Great Salvation may be near unto a close Whâ— knowest thou O man or woman but tâ—â— shall be the last Sermon that ever thou shalt â—ear concerning this Great Salvation And yet for all this shall we be sent away without one consent to imbrace or receive it O will ye be perswaded to look to Christ and so to take him VII The seventh consideration to provoke you not to slight the Great Salvation is this that there is a five fold Salvation comprehended under this Great Salvation I. The first is this come and partake of this Great Salvation and thou shalt have Salvation from thy idols and hereby I do proclaim liberty this day unto captives I am sent forth this day with the keyes of your prison house to open your prison doors unto you if ye will imbrace this Great Salvation I say unto you O ye prisoners come forth and shew your selves for the keyes of your prison house are with us to open your prison doors unto you therefore O come forth and embrace this Great Salvation Will there be any shall I think here that will refuse to come forth O go forth and slee from the land of your captivity and from the house of your bondage II. Thou shalt have Salvation from thy darknesse and from thy ignorance I say unto you who understand no more of God then the stones in the wall I command you to come forth and partake yet of this Great Salvation and unto you shall light arise even the Day Spring from on high shall visit you III. If ye will come and partake of this Great Salvation ye shall have deliverance from all your fears Dost thou fear that thou shalt be poor Come and partake of this Great Salvation and thou shalt be delivered from it Art thou afraid of hell Come and partake of this Great Salvation and thou shalt be delivered from that fear Art thou afraid at the wrath of God Then come â— say and partake of this Great Salvation and thou shalt have redemption from that and alâ— thy fears With him is plenteous redemption and hee can make thee quiet from the fear oâ— evil IV. If thou wilt come and partake of this Salvation thou shalt have deliverance from all thy anxieties and from all thy cares yâ—â— are now carefull and anxious about many things Come and partake of this Great Salvation and it will make you carefull but only for the one thing necessary V. If yee will come and embrace the Great Salvation offered unto you this day yee shall be helped before yee go hence to sing that song O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Now O will ye come and imbrace this Great Salvation And yee shall bâ— more then conquerours thorow Christ who loveâ—â— you Are there therefore any here to day that would have victory over the devil and over their own hearts Then come and embrace this Great Salvation and then your victory iâ— certain But now to presse home this Great Salvation upon you a little further there are ninâ— sorts of persons who are invited to come and partake of this Great Salvation offered this day And I charge you answer to your names when ye are called and delay not to come I. First I invite and call here to day all who are willing to come and embrace this Great Salvation Now are there any of â—ou here to day who are called willing â—hen I invite you to come and imbrace this Great Salvation Rev. 22. 17. Whosoever will â—et him come But oh are there none here 〈◊〉 day who are named willing I intreat â—on if there be any do not deny your name â—â—t come when you are called and embrace this Great Salvation II. Secondly These persons who thirst â—â—r it are invited to come and partake of â—â—â—s Great Salvation Rev. 22. 17. Let him â—â—t is a thirst come Now if there be any â—ere who are named thirsty let them come and partake of this Salvation and they shall â—e satisfied III. Thirdly Are there any money-lesse â—â—lk here to day Let them come and partake of this Great Salvation Are there no money-lesse folk here to day I mean not that money or coin in your purses but want â—â—e money That is want ye righteousnesse â—hen I pray you come and partake of this Great Salvation I say are ye so poor that â—e have nothing but the fear of hell Then I â—ay you come If there be any here who have nothing to commend them to Christ but necessity I say unto all such O come come â—â—me and partake of this Great Salvation IV. Fourthly These persons are invited â—o come and I wish there were many such who are weary But Oh! are there none here to day who are called weary Are yâ—â— not weary in pursuit of yours If there be any such here to day I say unto you O weary folk come come come and partake of this Great Salvation and of this excellent Gospel Redemption that was purchased at so dear 〈◊〉 rate V. Fifthly These who are heavy loadened are invited to come and I think all of you may answer to this name are ye heavy loadenâ—â— O then come But are there none here who are heavy loaden with sin with misery and estrangement from God If there be any
out that word in Isa. 65. 1. Behold me behold me O may wee not summond Angels and these twenty four Elders about the Throne to help us to wonder that ever such a command as this came forth that wee should believe on the Name of the Son of God after that wee had broken that first and primitive command That we should not eat of the forbidden tree Was not this indeed to make mercy rejoyce over judgement And O may wee not wonder at the precious oath of the everlasting Covenant whereby he hath sworn That hee delighteth not in the death of sinners What suppose yee were poor Adams thoughts when at first the Doctrine of Free-grace and of a crucified Christ Jesus a Saviour was preached unto him in Paradise What a divine surprisal was this that heaven should have preached peace to earth after that earth had proclaimed war against heaven Was not this a low step of condescendency to behold an offended God preaching peace and good will to a guilty sinner What could self-destroying Adam think of these morning and first discoveries of this everlasting Covenant Christ as it were in the morning of time giving vent to that infinite love which was resting in his bosome and precious heart before the foundation of the world was laid Wee know not whether the infinitenesse of his love the eternity of his love or the freedom of it maketh up the greatest wonder But sure these three joyned together make up a matchlesse and everlasting wonder Would any of you ask the Question What is Christ worth Wee could give no answer so suitable as this it is above all the Arithmetick of all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth to calculate his worth all men here must be put to a divine non plus This was Iobs divinity Iob 28. 13. Man knoweth not the price of wisedome And must not Jesus Christ who is the precious object of Faith and wisedome of the Father bee a supereminent and excellent One who hath that Name of King of kings and Lord of lords not onely ingraven on his vesture which pointeth out the conspicuousnesse of his Majesty but even also upon his thigh to point out that in all his goings and motions hee proveth himself to bee higher then the Kings of the earth And howbeit the naked proposing of the object doth not convert yet if once our souls were admitted to behold such a sight as Christ in his Beauty and Majesty and to bee satisfied with the divine rayes of his transcendent glory then certainly wee should finde a blessed necessity laid upon us of closing with him for Christ hath a sword proceeding out of his precious moâ—â—h by which hee doth subject and subjugate his own to himself as well as hee hath a sword girded upon his thigh by which hee judgeth and maketh war with his enemies Wee confesse it is not only hard but simply impossible to commit a Hyperbole in commending of him His worth being alwayes so far above our expressions and our expressions alwayes so far beneath his worth therefore wee may be put to propose that desire unto him Exalt thy self O Lord above the Heavens But now to our purpose being at this time to begin our discourse upon that radicall and precious grace of Faith wee intend to speak of it under this twofold notion and consideration First We shall speak of it as it is justifying or as it doth lay hold upon the righteousnesse of a crucified Saviour makeing application of the precious promises in the Covenant of free grace which wee call justifying Faith And in the second place we shall speak a little-unto Faith as it doth lay hold upon Christs strength for advancing the work of mortification and doth discover the personal excellencies of Iesus Christ by which wee advance in the work of holinesse and divine consormity with God which wee call sanctifying Faith However it is not to bee supposed that these are different habits of Faith but different acts flowing from the same saving habit laying hold and exercising themselves upon Christ in different respects and for diverse ends Now to speak upon the first we have made choice of these words The Apostle Iohn in the former verse hath been pointing out the precious advantages of the grace of obedience and of keeping of his commands that such a one hath as it were an arbitrary power with God and doth receive many precious returns of prayer As likewise that one who is exercised in the grace of repentance is Gods delight which is included in this that he doth these things that are well pleasing in his sight And now in these words hee doth as it were answer an objection that might bee proposed about the impossibility of attaining these precious advantages seeing his commands were so large and that hardly could they bee remembered This hee doth sweetly answer by setting down in this one verse a short compend or breviary both of Law and Gospel viz. That wee should love one another which is the compend of the Law and The we should believe on the Name of His Son which is the compend of the Gospel And by this he sheweth the Christian that there are not many things required of him for attaining these excellent advantages but if he exercise himself in the obedience of these two comprehensive commandments he shall find favour both with God and man And as concerning this precious grace of Faith Wee have 1. the advantages of it implied in the words and clear also from the scope as no doubt all the commands have infinit advantages infolded in their bosome which redounds to a Believer by his practising of them And 2. the excellency of it holden forth in the words in that it is called His command as if hee had no other command but this And the Greek particle is here prefixed which hath a great deal of emphasis and force in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But 3. There is this also the absolute necessity of this grace holden forth here in this word His Commandment as if he would have said by proposing of this command I do set life and death before you and that ye would not conceive that it is an arbitrary and indifferent thing for you to believe or not But be perswaded of this that as an infinite advantage may constrain you to the obedience of it so absolute necessity must perswade you to act that which is of your everlasting concernment And lastly Yee have the precious Object upon which Faith which is justifying doth exercise it self and that is upon the Name of the Son of God And no doubt Faith is that excellent grace which doth elevate the soul unto a sweet and inseparable union with Christ and is that golden and precious knot that doth eternally knit the hearts of these precious friends together Faith is that grace that draweth the first draughts of Christs precious Image on our hearts and by love doth accomplish
of sin which is death and be constrained to cry out Wo is me for I am undone And with the other eye to ascend and look to that help that is laid upon One that iâ— mighty and to make use of the righteousnesse of a crucified Saviour that so what we want in our selves we may get it abundantly made up in him III. There is this likewise that obstructeth our closing with Christ our too much addictednesse to the pleasures and carnal delights of a passing world which is cleaâ— from Luk. 14. 18 19 20 21 22. Matth. 22 5 6. where these that were invited to comâ— to the feast of this Gospel they do makâ— their apologie and with one consent do refuse it some pretending an impossibility tâ— come and some pretending an unavoidable inconveniency in coming And O! What a rediculous thing is that poor complement that these deluded sinners used to Christ I pray you have us excused And is it not the world the great plea and argoment that they make use of When they will not come and make use of Christ IV. There is this lastly which doth obstruct ones coming to Christ their unwillingness to be denyed to their own righteousness Which is clear from Rom. 10. 23. And wee conceive if once these two were believed which are the great Tropicks out of which all these arguments may be brought to perswade you to imbrace Christ to wit the infinite excellency of His person on whom we are to believe and the infinite losse that these do sustain who shall be eternally rejected of him We might be persuaded to entertain a divine abstractednesse and holy retirement from all things that are here below and to pitch our desires alone upon him who is the everlasting wonder of Angels and the glory of the higher House O did we once suppose the unspeakable happinesse of these whose Faith is now advanced unto everlasting felicity and fruition and hath entered into that eternal possession of the promises might we not he constrained to cry out It is good for us once to be there Christ weepeth to us in the Law but we do not lament and he pypeth to us in the Gospel but we do not dance He is willing to draw us with the cords of men and with the bonds of love and yet we will not have him to reign over us May not Angels laugh at our folly that wee should so undervalue this Prince of love and should contemn him who is holden in so high esteem and reverence in these two great Assemblies that are above of Angels and of the spirits of just men made perfect Christ hath now given us the first and second Summonds the day is approaching when the sad and wofull summonds shall be sent against us of departing from him into these everlasting flames out of which there is no redemption and this shall be the capestone of our misery that we had once life in offer but did refuse it And though there were four gates standing open toward the north by which we might have entered into that everlasting rest yet we choosed rather to walk in the paths that lead down to death and take hold of the chambers of hell O but there are many that think the Gospel cunningly devised fables and foolishnesse they being unwilling to believe that which sense cannot comprehend nor reason reach and this is the reason why the Gospel is not imbraced but is rejected as a humane invention and as a morning dream c. SERMON II. 1 Joh. 3. 23. This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ c. THere are three great and cardinall mysteries in the unfolding of which all a Christians time ought to be spent First There is that precious and everlasting mystery of Christs love and condiscendency which those intellectual spirits the Angels are not able fully to comprehend Secondly There is that woefull mystery of the desperate deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of the heart which no man was ever yet able fully to fathom and comprehend And thirdly there is that precious mystery of that eternal felicity and blessednesse that is purchased unto the Saints that once they shall reign with Christ not a thousand years only but throughout all the ages of everlasting and endless eternity so that there is this difference betwixt the Garden of everlasting delights that Christ hath purchased to the Saints and that first Paradise and Eden wherein man was placed There was a secret gate in the first thorow which a man that had once entered in might go out again But in this second and precious Eden there is no accesse for going out And all that is to be known of these three mysteries is much comprehended in this to know that they cannot fully be known Paul was a blessed proficient in the study of the first mystery and had almost attained to the highest Classe of knowledge and yet he is constrained to professe himself to bee ignorant of this Hence is that word Eph. 3. 19. That ye may know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge And is it not a mysterious command to desire people to know that which cannot be known The meaning whereof we conceive to be this in part that Paul pressed this upon them that they should study to know that this mystery of Christs love could not be known Ieremiah was a blessed proficient in the knowledge and study of the second mystery he had some morning and twilight discoveries of that and yet though in some measure he had fat homed that deep yet he is constrained to cry out chap. 17. vers 9. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And indeed that which Solomon saith of Kings Prov. 25. 3. may well be said of all men in this respect The heavens for heighth and the earth for depth and the heart of man is unsearchable The Apostle Paul also was a blessed proficient in the study of the third mystery having some morning and twilight discoveries of that promised rest and was once caught up to the third heavens and yet when he is beginning to speak of it 1 Cor. 2. 9. he declareth all men to be ignorant of the knowledge of this profound mystery of mans blessednesse and cryeth out Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him And if there bee any thing further to bee known of these mysteries the grace of Faith is found worthy among all the graces of the Spirit To open the seven seals of these great deeps of God Is not the grace of Faith that whereby a Christian doth take up the invisible excellency and vertue of a dying Christ Is not Faith that precious grace by which a Christian must take up the sports and blemishes that are within himself And is not the grace of Faith that precious grace that
placeth a Christian upon the top of mount Pisga and there letteth him see a sight of the promised Land And doth open a door in Heaven thorow which a Christian is admitted to see Christ sitting upon His Throne And Faith hath not only a kind of Omnipotency as is clear That all things are possible to them that believe but it hath a kind of Omnisciency and all knowledge that it can take up and comprehend the greatest mysteries of heaven according to that word Prov. 28. 5. He that seeketh the Lord shall understand all things As if hee said there is nothing dark to a believing Christian as there is nothing impossible to â— believing Christian. As likewise Faith â—s that grace that must take aside the vail that is spread over the face of a crucified Christ. And Faith is that precious spy that goeth forth and taketh up these wonderfull excellencies that are in him The grace of love as it were is born blind and it hath nothing wherewith to solace it self but that which is presented unto it by this noble and excellent grace of Faith Now before wee shall speak any thing to these things that wee did propose to speak of it at the last occasion wee shall yet speak a little unto some things which are necessary to be known for the distinct up taking of the nature of justifying Faith which is the great commandement of this everlasting Gospel and that which wee would first speak to shall be this What is the reason and ground that the Gospel conveyance of righteousnesse and life and of the excellent things of this everlasting Covenant should be through the exercise of the grace of Faith For it is not said in the Scripture that repentance justifieth that love justifieth or that mortification justifieth but it is Faith only that justifieth and it is Faith by which a Christian inheriteth the promises so that is clear that Faith is that Conduit-pype through which are conveyed to us the great blessings of this everlasting Covenant I. And the first ground of it is this it is through Faith that all our blessings may be known to be by love and by free and unsearchable grace as is clear Rom. 4. 16. While the Apostle is giving a reason why the inheritance is conveyed to a Christian through Faith It is of faith saith he that it might be of grace for if the inheritance were conveyed to a Christian through a Covenant of Works then these spotlesse draughts of infinite love and of unsearchable grace should not be written on our inheritance as is clear Rom. 4. 25. And it is that great designe of Christ to make his grace conspicuous in conveying salvation to us through Faith II. There is this second ground likewise of it that all the promises and blessings of this everlasting Covenant might be sure and stedfast to us therefore they are conveyed to us through the exercise of the grace of Faith as is clear Rom. 4. 16. They are of Faith saith he that they might be sure or as the word is that they might be settled when the promises of life and of eternal salvation were conveyed to us through mans obedience were they not then most uncertain and unstable But is not heaven your everlasting crown now stedfast unto you seeing you have that golden pillar of Christs everlasting righteousnesse to be the foundation of your Faith and the strength of your confidence in the day of need III. There is this third ground why the promises and excellent things of this Gospel are conveyed to a Christian through the exercise of Faith that all boasting and gloriation might be excluded according to that word Rom. 3. 27. By what law is boasting excluded Not by the law of works but by the law of Faith And certainly seeing Christians have all the great things of heaven conveyed to them through the exercise of Faith think yee not that this shall be your first song when yee shall be within the gates of that new Jerusalem Not unto us not unto us but unto thee doth belong the glory of our salvation O what a precious dignity were it but for one half hour to be admitted to hear these spotlesse songs that are sung by these thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy Angels that are round about His Throne Doth not David that sweet singer of Israel now sing more sweetly noâ— he did while he was here below Doth not deserted Heman now chaunt forth the praises and everlasting song of him that sitteth upon the Throne And doth not afflicted Iob now sing sweetly after his captivity is reduced and he entered within that land where the voice of joy and gladnesse is continually heard Would ye have a description of Heaven I could give it no tearm so suitable as this Heaven is a rest without a rest for though there remain a rest for the righteous yet Rev. 4. 8. These four beasts that stand before the Throne they rest not night nor day crying holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty yet there is much divine quietnesse in that holy unquietnesse that is above IV. There is this last ground why the blessings of the Gospel and life and righteousnesse are conveyed to us thorow the exercise of Faith that the way to attain to these things might be pleasant and easie we are certainly perswaded that the way of winning to Heaven by a Covenant of Works was much more unpleasant and difficult But is it not an easie way of entring into the holy of Holies to win unto it through the exercise of Faith Are not all wisdoms wayes pleasantnesse and are not all her paths peace Was not that just self-denial in one that said he would not take up a Crown though it were lying at his foot But oh that cursed self-denial doth possesse the breasts of many so that though that Crown of immortal Glory and eternal blessednesse be lying at your feet yet ye will not imbrace it nor take it up Is not the hatred of many to Christ covered with deceit and therefore Your iniquity shall be declared before the Congregation Now that what we have spoken upon this might be more clear and that the nature of â—ustifying Faith be not mistaken We would have you taking notice of these things 1. That the grace of Faith doth not justifie Christian as it is a work or because of any inherent excellency and dignity that is in this grace above any other graces of the Spirit â—ut Faith doth alone justifie a Christian instrumentally and objectively that is it is â—hat by which a Christian is just by laying hold â—n the precious object of it the righteousness of Christ. And to clear this we would only have you knowing this That Faith doth juifie as it closeth with Christ but not because 〈◊〉 closes with Christ which some vainly are â—old to assert because there is not any digâ—ity or worth in the act of Faith in closing with Christ
were most discerning And there is this that we would say that among all these that shall be eternally excommunicate from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Hypocrites in Sion shall have the bitterest cup of Divine indignation presented unto them Hence it is that Christ when he would tell the worst company that one shall have in hell it is alwayes this ye shall go to that place where hypocrites and sinners are and so it would be of your concernment that by the candle of the Lord ye would search the inward parts of the belly before ye go down to the grave with a lie in your right hand a deceiving heart having turned you aside We confesse it is sad to consider these anxious disappointments that many in those dayes shall once meet with IV. But there is this last difference betwixt justifying Faith and temporary Faith That there are three precious effects of justifying Faith which a temporary believer cannot win to 1. To be denyed to all his enjoyments and attainments and walk humbly under them for we may say that it is impossible for an hypocrite to be denyed to his enjoyments he maketh such a deity of them and worships them or rather he worshippeth himself in them There are three great graces that a hypocrite doth pursue after though he rather seeketh them as gifts than as graces Knowledge Prayer and Humility And though it be but little that he can attain of any of the three or rather nothing in a saving way yet least of all can he attain to the last yea we may judge that there is alwayes within his bosome a standing conviction that he could never win unto that gracious grace of humility O could ye never win to this to count your own righteousnesse as filthy rags and to rejoice alone in the righteousnesse of a crucified Saviour I would press this upon you by the way O Christians of this generation forget your perfections and remember your imperfections have a holy oblivion of your attainments but have a Divine remembrance of your short comings look more to what is before unperfected nor to what is behind and thus shall you evidence true justifying Faith 2. It is an effect of justifying Faith to be under some constant and Divine impression of the preciousnesse of Jesus Christ according to that word 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you who believe Christ is precious It is not said that Christ was precious or shall be precious but it is said He is precious which doth import as we use to speak a continued act Did ye never know what it was to dwell twenty four hours under the impression of the matchlesse excellency and precious worth of a crucified Saviour I will pose you with this Are there not some here and elsewhere that passe under the notion of Saints that never knew what it was to dwell half an hour under these high and elevaring thoughts of the preciousnesse of Jesus Christ So that wee professe we cannot tell whether we shall call him precious or undervalued but wee may conjoyn these two names together that he is precious and yet undervalued Christ. 3 By true justifying Faith a Christian winneth to mortification of his invisible and predominant lusts which is impossible for a temporary Believer to win to And is there not a great difference betwixt an Idol when it is cast out and an Idol when it goeth out I will tell you the great mortification of hypocrites the devil was living in them as one that was a black one and now hee cometh again and transformeth himself into an Angel of light He was living in them before by his spirit of prosanity and now hee liveth in them by the spirit of hypocrisie and counterfeiting of these things that were never clear attainments while it is the noble dignity of Faith Act. 15. 9. To purifie the heart But are there not many here who never knew what it was to mortifie one lust for Christ Can such a delusion overtake you Oâ—athiests That ye shall reign with Christ if ye die not with him There is an opinion vented in these dayes that there may be repentance in heaven and I think it would seem that the Christians of this age have much of that opinion we are so little in repentance while we are here below but know that Faith and Sanctification are two inseparable companions And let me tell you if ye would know the compend of the precious exercise of Faith It is this Faith hath three great things that it perpetually contemplates and views 1. Faith looketh to the promise and there it doth rejoyce and rest upon it 2. Faith looketh to the duties that are commanded and there it cryeth out Here am I I will obey and hearken unto the voice of the word And 3. Faith looketh to the crown and there it doth exult and sweetly rejoyce in divine expectation And O what a sight is that to behold that everlasting Prince standing at the end of our race having a crown in his right hand with this Motto ingraven on it Hee that persevereth to the end shall be saved And what a Faith suppose yee shall it be thought when wee shall get on that immortal Crown of blessednesse What think ye is the exercise of these that are above O heaven heaven if we did know it would we not be in a holy extasie of desire till we were there And blessed be he eternally that hath purchased that precious felicity to us Now we shall at this time shut up our discourse by speaking a little to these things in which a Christian doth ordinarily meet with assurance of his interest in God and is put to the divine actings of the grace of Faith for there are some sealing times to a Christian. I. The first time of the sealing is after the mortification of some predominante lust and idol then they are admitted to read their names in these precious and ancient records of heaven and to see in these Books their unworthy names written by the hand of that everlasting Prince This is clear Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give a white stone and in the stone a new name written that no man knows saving he that receiveth it And from that 2 Tim. 4. 8. Believe mee more mortification would make more believing but would ye know the original of misbelief It is the want of exercise of spiritual mortification of our lusts I know not where the most part of us intendeth to lodge at night but this is certain that wee live with much contentment with our lusts and these predominant idols that doth so much possesse us II. It is readily a sealing time to a Christian when hee is admitted to the divine enjoyment of these satisfying delights that are to be found in Christ When was it that the Spouse cryed out so often My beloved is mine and I am his Was it not when she was brought to the banqueting
he please It is this be much in the grace of Faith this is clear from Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith By the exercise of all other graces Christ is but a sojourner That turneth aside to tarry but for a night but by the exercise of this grace he cometh to take up house with us I will tell you what faith is It is a ladder that reacheth betwixt heaven and earth by the steps of which a Christian doth daily go up to heaven and converse with the higher House Faith is that grace as the Apostle speaketh by which wee have accesse to the Throne of his grace Faith ushers in the Believer to the Throne and without it hee cannot have accesse there nor joy when he is there V. Here is this advantage that attendeth the exercise of Faith A believing Christian is a praying Christian according to that word in Mark 9. 24. where these two are conjoyned together Lord I believe and then hee falleth to his prayer presently after that confession Help thou my unbelief And it is clear from Psal. 63. 1. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee And sometimes Faith is a most impatient grace but we may alwayes say of it that it is a most diligent grace Oh is it not the neglect of this precious exercise of faith and of the duty of secret Prayer that makes our leannesse testisie to our Face and maketh our souls as a barren wildernesse I am perswaded of this that since Christ had any followers and since ever this everlasting Goâ—pel was preached in Paradise the exercise of secret prayer was never so much neglected Wee have turned over all our prayers into complements with God We know not what â—t is to rise at mid-night and call upon God and to inquire after our Maker under the silent watches of the night O but it is a sweet diâ—ersion from sleep to retire our selves in the â—ilent seasons of the night from all thoughts â—bout worldly matters and to converse with â—hat invisible Majesty VI. There is this sixth consideration to â—oint out the advantage of Faith That Faith â—s that grace that doth facilitate a Christians obedience and maketh it most pleasant and â—asie This is clear from Heb. 11. 8. By faith Abraham when commanded to go to a strange land obeyed and went out not knowing whether â—e went The word may be rendered He did â—hearfully obey And ver 17. By faith he ofâ—ered up his only Son Would ye know the reaâ—on why his commands are your burden and why his precepts are your crosses It is beâ—ause of this Yee do not believe And so it is most certain that it is impossible for a Chriâ—tian to attain to a pleasant way of obedience â—ithout the exercise of Faith Faith holdeth â—p the Crown to a Christian and this crown â—aketh him to obey Faith gathereth strength â—rom Christ and that strength maketh obeâ—ience very easie Faith â—aketh up the excellency of Christ and this maketh a Christian to look upon his duty more as his dignity then his duty And we are perswaded of this that our chariot wheel should move more swiftly like the chariots of Aminadab if we were more in the exercise of the grace of Faith Would ye know an answer to that question What is the first most requisit for a Christian while here below Faith And what secondly is most requisit Faith And what thirdly is most requisit for a Christian even Faith Faith above all things and above all things Faith VII There is another advantage of it that by Faith our service and prayers are accepted of God Would ye know what is the prayer of a Christian that is not in Faith Iâ— is a smoak in his nostrils and a fire that burneth all the day The unbelievers sacrifice is an abomination to the Lord. This is clear from Heb. 11. 4. By faith Abel offered up unto God a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain and we conceive that there are many unanswered prayers which we do put up because we want that noble exercise of Faith VIII And lastly we shall likewise addâ— this that Faith is the graâ—e by which a Christian hath that perfect and immediate sight as it were of great things that are promised to him Faith bringeth a Christian withiâ— sight of Heaven and Faith bringeth a Christian within sight of God according to thaâ— word Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the evidence â— things not seen and that noble paâ—adox thâ—â— is said of Faith Heb. 11. 27 By faith Mosâ—â— saw him that is invisible Is it not an impossible thing to see that which cannot be seen But the meaning of it is this That Faiths discoveries of God are as certain and sure as the discoveries of our bodily eyes are Faith is an intelligent grace yea it is a most sure and infallible grace What will Faith not do And what can yee do who want Faith Now to enforce the advantages and excellencies of Faith a little more wee shall propose to you the disadvantages of that wofull sin of unbelief I. There is this disadvantage of the sin of unbelief that all the actions that proceed from an unbeliever they are impure and defiled according to that in Tit. 1. 15. But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Their prayer is unclean yea as Solomon speaketh their plowing is sin yea their going about the most excellent duties for matter is an abomination to God according to that word Rom. 14. 23. What ever is not of faith is sin So the want of Faith is the great polluter of all our actions and of all our performances II. There is this second disadvantage of misbelief that it is impossible for one in the exercise of unbelief to moâ—tifie a lust or idol and wee may allude unto these words in Matth. 17. 20. When his disciples came to him and asked this question Why could wee not cast out this devil That was given as an answer because of your unbelief Unbelief is that which taketh up arms for our idols and doth most strongly defend them for there is nothing that will kill corruption so much as the exercise of faith and when that is laid aside we have laid by our weapons and have in a manner concluded â— treaty of peace with our idols that we shall not offend them if they offend not us III. There is this disadvantage that waiteth upon the sin of unbelief that such an one cannot win nor attain to the grace of establishment but is alwayes as the waves of the sea tossed to and fro untill once hee win to the exercise of Faith as is clear from Isa. 7. 9 Except ye believe ye shall not be established IV. There is this disadvantage that waiteth on it it is the mother of hardnesse and stupidity of heart according to that word in Mark 16. 14. Where he
made them white in the blood of the Lamb are admitted to stand before the Throne of God and serve him day and night Now there is that fourthly which weâ— promised to speak of concerning this grace of Faith from these words and it is the absolute necessity that is of the exercise of this grace which is holden forth in that word his Commandment which doth import these three things 1. That all the Commands that wee can obey without this Commandement of Faith it is but a polluting of our selves and a plunging of our selves in the ditch till our own cloaâ—hs abhor us 2. That God taketh greater delight in the exercise of that grace of Faith then in the exercise of any other And lastly that as to the many imperfections which wee have in our obedience there is a sweet act of oblivion past of them all if we make conscience seriously to obey this command of Faith which is indeed the sweet compend of the Gospel all these things do most clearly appear in that believing here is called His Commandement by way of excellency as if this were his only Commandement But that we may yet a little more particularly point out the absolute necessity of Faith there are these things that speaketh it forth to the full 1. That though rivers of tears should run down our eyes because we keep not his Law though we should never rise off our knees from prayer and should all our life time speak to God with the tongue of Angels and though we should constantly obey his Commands yet without Faith we should never escape that eternal sentence of excommunication from the presence of the Lord there being no action that doth proceed from us which can please the majesty of the Lord unlesse it hath its rise from this principle of Faith as is clear from Heb. 11. 6. Without Faith it is impossible to please God And though we should offer unto him ten thousand rivers of oyl and thousands of rams and should offer up in a burnt sacrifice all the beasts that are upon the mountains and the trees that are upon hills this should be the answer that God should return to us Who hath required these things at your hands I take no pleasure in these solemn sacrifices Because there is no way of attaining peace with God but through the exercise of Faith making use of the spotlesse righteousnesse of â—esus Christ. 2. Let us do ouâ— outmost by all the inventions we can to bring down our body and let us separate our selves from all the pleasures of the flesh yet all our idols shall reign without much contradiction except once we do attain unto this grace of Faith which is that victory whereby we must overcome the world and the hand that maketh use of infinite strength for subduing of corruption making the Christian sweetly to take up that song Stronger is he that is with us than he that is in the world From all this that we have said both of the sweetnesse of Faith and the necessity thereof we would propose these few considerations to two or three sorts of persons 1. There are some who live in that vain imaginary delusion of attaining heaven through a Covenant of Works and do neglect to seek salvation by Faith in the righteousnesse of Christ. And to these who build upon this sandy foundation I shall say but these two words First How long shall ye labour in the fire of very vanity do ye ever think to put on the capestone know ye not that the day is approaching when your house shall fall about your ears your confidence shall be rejected and your hope shall evanish as a dream and flee away as a vision of the night Secondly What a monstrous blindnesse and what an unspeakable act of folly must it â—eâ—â— to say that Christ was crucified in vain which yet ye do practically assert when ye go about to purchase a righteousnesse through the works of the Law 2. There are some who are secure in their own thoughts concerning their â—aith they never questioned the realty of it they never examined it O ye whose faith is as old as your selves ye say ye never knew what it was to dispute and I may say ye never knew what it was to believe Thou profane hypocrite let me tell thee a strong faith and yeâ— strong idols must needs be â— strong delusion Thou wilt not obey the Lord thou wilt not pray thou wilt not believe a threatning in all the Word thou wilt count all Religion madnesse and foolishnesse and yet thou wilt perswade thy self thou Believest in Christ. O be not deceived God is not mocked and why will ye mock your selves Shall I tell you that reprobates have a saâ— Religion one day they must believe and obey and pray and give a testimony to Godlinesse but alas too late and little to their advantage Shall not he whom all the Ministers on earth could scarce ever perswade to believe so much as a heaven oâ— hell or one threatning in all the Book oâ— God at last be forced to believe their owâ— sense when they shall see the Ancient of Days upon the Throne and shall hear the cryes of so many thousand living witnesses come ouâ— both from heaven and hell bearing testimony to the truth of threatnings and promises that not one jot of them is fallen to the ground and he who would never be perswaded to bow a knee to God in earnest all his life shall he not then pray with greatest fervency that hills and mountains might fall upon him to cover him from the face of the Lamb And hâ— that would never submit to a Command of God must he not at last obey that dreadfull Command Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting torment c. Yea he who was the greatest mocker in the world shall then confesse that they are blest who put their trust in the Lord as they are excellently brought in though in an Apocriphal Book Wisd. c. 5. 4 Crying out with great terror while they behold that unexpected sight of the glorious condition of the Godly O here is the meâ— say they whom we mocked whose life wâ— accounted madnesse and their end dishonourable Be wise therefore in time and do that willingly which ye must do by constrainâ— and do that with sweetnesse and advantage that ye must do at length with losse and sorrow Thirdly There are some who certainly have some hope of eternal life but contenteth themselves with a small measure of assurance and these I would beseech that ye would be more endeavouring to make your calling and election sure and would be endeavouring to see your names written in the ancient Records of Heaven And this we shall presse upon you by several Arguments 1. Those strong and subtil and soul destroying delusions that are amongst many who conceive they do believe as we were saying and are pure in their own eyes who yet are not purged from their iniquities
there will be some of Gallio's disposition here to day that will care for none of these things Yea there are many here who will not give a fig for this rich offer of the Great Salvation But I say cursed be that person who puts on Gallio's temper to day that will care for none of these things 2. I fear there will be many of Pilat's humor here to day who will say they find nothing against the man yet will cry forth Take him and crucifie him They find no fault with Christ and yet will be conâ—ent that he be crucified Now can ye say any thing against Christ who is the Author of this Great Salvation Produce your strong arguments are there any here who have any thing to say against Him I am here to answer in His Name I hope there â—s not one here who hath any thing to say against the Author of this Great Salvation And why then do ye not take Him See unto your selves that there be none of Pilats humor here to day that will cry out Yee find nothing in Christ why he should not be received and yet will bee content that hee bee crucified 3. There will bee many of the Jews humor here to day who cry forth Away with Christ away with Christ and give me Barrabas But oh what a hellish word is that Away with spotlesse Christ away with transcendenâ— Christ and give us the world Now are there any here who will be so gross slighters of this Great Salvation Will ye slight this Great Salvation and imbrace your idols which shalâ— once prove a crown of thorns unto you 4. There will bee some of Felix humor found here to day that will say O Christ gâ— away at this time and I will hear thee at a mosâ— convenient season But I say unto you whâ— will not hear mee to day nor imbrace thâ—â— Great Salvation I shall defy all the Ministeâ—â— in Scotland to assure you that ye shall get another offer if ye send me away to day Therâ— is not one that can or dare engage that thâ— Great Salvation shall bee in your offer and more Therefore I say let none of Felâ—â— temper be here to day that will say They wiâ—â— hear Christ at a more convenient season 5. There will bee some of Balaams temper to day who will desire To die the deatâ— of the righteous and to have their last 〈◊〉 like his yet they desire not to live the liâ—â— of the righteous But I say unto you ye shaâ—â— never die the death of the righteous if ye live not the life of the righteous 6. There will bee some of you here to day who I hope at least will bee of Agripa's humour that will say Thou hast almost perswaded me to be a Christian I say unto thee O wilt thou quickly out with that word almost and put in that word altogether and say O precious Christ Thou hast altogether perswaded me to be a Christian However if thou come no greater length I intreat thee come this length that so thou may cry out I am almost perswaded to imbrace Christ the Great Salvation and may be ere long ye will come further 7. There will bee some of Iudas temper here to day Who will betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver Yea some would sell Christ Heaven their idols and all for lesse then thirty pieces of silver 8. I think there will be many of Esaus proâ—ane temper here to day Who will sell their birth-right for a messe of pottage Now will ye enquire at your selves am I the person that will give my birth-right for a messe of pottage Doth my heart say I will sell my birth-right because I am hungered and ready to die what will it profit me Give mee a messe of pottage and I will quite my birth-right I know it there are not a few such here to â—ay Therefore I intreat you enquire at your selves what is your humour Oh shall the Great Salvation that yee have slighted â—o long bee slighted this day also and shall there bee none to imbrace it Oh inquire and stand inlaw lest the wrath of the most High pursue you Now I shall give you these seven considerations which may provoke you not to slight but imbrace this Great Salvation 1. The first Consideration That the not imbracing of this Great Salvation is one of the greatest acts of folly that can be Ier. 8 9. They have rejected the word of the Lord and immediatly is subjoyned And what wisedom is in them And so Solomon doth assure you they cannot be wise who neglect this Great Salvation Prov. 1. 7. Fools despise wisedom and instruction Therefore may not I say unto you be who ye will though ye were the greatest heads of wit in all this place ye are but stark fools as long as ye neglect this But would ye be wise indeed and wise unto eternal life then I intreat you come and imbrace this Great Salvation II. The second Consideration to provoke you not to slight the Great Salvation is this that the ruine and destruction of the slighters of it is most certain and infallible Ier. 11. 11. Where speaking of slighting the Covenant which is indeed this same Great Salvation there is a therefore put to the threatning Therefore thus saith the Lord I will bring evil upon them which they shall not be able to escape I defy you all who are the slighters of this Great Salvation to finde a back door when justice shall pursue you For there is nâ— door to escape if ye imbrace not this Great Salvation But the earth will disclose your iniquity and heaven will declare your sin III. Thirdly Let this Consideration provoke you not to slight this Great Salvation that Christ is exceeding serious and earnest that ye would imbrace it And I think that Isa. 28. 23. speaketh out his exceeding seriousnesse where four times hee beggeth of his hearers that they would give ear and hear his voice saying Give ear and hear my voice â—earken and hear my speech What needeth all these exhortations But that Christ is most serious that they would imbrace the Great Salvation And O that there were a person here to day as serious to the bargain as Christ is But be who yee will that slight this Great Salvation believe me the day is coming wherein ye shall cry out alas for my slighting of it Wilt thou therefore think presently with thy self O thou slighter of this Great Salvation what wilt thou say of thy slighting of it when the devil shall be leading thee in thorow these dark gates of hell O slighter of the Gospel how many alaces wilt thou cry when thou shalt be passing thorow these dark gates into thy everlasting prison Wilt thou not then cry out O me slighter of the everlasting Salvation whither am I now going Alas now for my slighting the Gospel And as thou passest thorow thou shalt meet with numbers of miserable comforters There is not one
upbraideth then because of their unbelief and then that danger followeth to wit hardnesse of heart this is clear also from Act. 19. 9. Where these two sister devils are conjoyned and locked together unbelief and hardnesse of heart because it is unbelief indeed that hindereth all the graces by which the grace of tendernesse must be maintained V. There is this disadvantage in the sin of unbelief that it is big with childe of apostacy from God and of defection from him according to that word Heb. 3. 12. Beware lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief and there the fruit of it to depart from the living God And certainly it is no wonder that unbelief travel in birth till that cursed childe of Apostacy be brought forth not onely because of this that an unbelieveâ— loseth the thoughts of the excellency of Christ but also because he increaseth in his thoughts of love towards his idols for Christ doth decrease in those who misbelieve and their idols do increase in their love and in their desires and in their estimation VI. There is this sixth disadvantage in the sin of unbelief it hindereth the communication of many signall workings and tokens of the love and favour of the most High according to that sad word that is in Mat. 13. 58. at the close He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief Unbelief as it were laid a restraint on Christ that he could not effectuaâ—e these things which he was willing to perform And to shut up our discourse at this time I would only adde these two aggravations which may somewhat enforce what we have spoken I say there are these two aggravations in the sin of unbelief even in his own who have a right and also his call to believe 1. That after Christ hath given most sensible discoveries of himself Wherein yee have seen him as it were face to face yet wee will not believe this is clear from Ioh. 6. 36. Though ye have seen me saith Christ yet yee do not believe in me There is not a manifestation of Christs presence but it is a witnesse against you because of your unbelief Would ye heat the voice of sense that is rectified It is this believe on the Son of God Secondly That notwithstanding of the signal demonstrations of the power of Christ yet though it were the mortifying of some lust and idol within them yet they will not believe but upon new temptations will doubt of his love to them Christ preacheth faith by his Word He preacheth faith by His fufferings He preacheth faith by his dispensations He preacheth faith by his promises he preacheth faith by his rods and if these five instruments will not ingage your hearts to believe what can move them Do not his two wounds in his precious hands preach out this point of Faith believe him Doth not that hole opened in his side preach this Doctrine That we should believe in him And these two wounds that he received in his precious feet do they not preach this That we should believe on a crucified Saviour And we would only say this that sometime it is the case of his own that after the convictions of this that it is their duty to believe and also after some desires to close with Christ yet they find inability to close with him Is it not certain that to will to believe is sometime present with you but how to perform ye know not And I would have a Christian making this foursold use of such a dispensation as that which is most ordinarily when convictions of our duty to believe and some desires to close with Christ is not followed with actual performances 1. To study to have your convictions more deeply rooted within you for it doth sometimes follow that resolutions and minâ—s to believe are not blest with actual believing because the conviction of our duty to believe is not deeply imprinted upon your conscience 2. Be convinced of that desperate enimity and that mystery of iniquity that is within you that yee can have some will to do without ability to perform Wee confesse it is not an ordinary disease in these days to have such a contrariety betwixt a Christians will and his practice our will for the most part being no better then our practice But sometime it is which may make you cry forth O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death 3. That ye would be much in the imploying of Christ that as hee hath given you to will so also hee might make you to do Christ is about to convince his own in such a dispensation as that That faith is the gift of God Faith is so noble a grace that it cannot be spinned out from our resolutions nor from our endeavours Faith is such a divine plant as the Fathers right hand must plant in our souls 4. Let it convince you of the excellency of the grace of Faith for the difficulty of attaining to any thing may speak out the excellency of that thing there is no sin but it may be easily win at There is an easinesse and facility to overtake the paths of our idols but the graces of the Spirit are so excellent things that wee must fight before we attain them And you who are strangers to Christ Iesus and have never known what â—t is to close with him wee would request you in Christs Name to be reconciled to him What know ye O men or rather Atheists but this shall bee the last summonds that yee shall get to believe And that because yee disobey this precious summonds there shall be one presented to you that yee cannot sit I remember of one man who looking upon many thousands that were under his command weeped over them when he considered how that within a few years all these should be laid in their graves and should be in eternity O but it were much of our concernment to bee trying our selves how it is with us We are not afraid that it is a breach of charity to wish that but one of each ten that are within these doors were heirs of the grace of life and had the solide and spiritual expectation of heaven I think if Christ were to come presently to speak to us hee might not onely say to each twelve that are here One of you shall betray me but wee are afraid that hee would say to each twelve that are here Eleven of you shall betray mee and but one only shall passe free O doth it not concern you to enquire where ye shall rest at night when the long shadows of the everlasting evening shall be stretched out upon you I think there are some that are so settled upon their lies that if they were one day in hell and saw all the torments that are there and were brought from it the next day to live on earth they would not repent And more there are some that take them up
one day to see the joyes of heaven and bring them back again they would â—ot pursue after these blessed and everlasting â—njoyments O is not Christ much undervaâ—ued by us But I must tell you this One wo â— past but behold another wo is fast coming O â—he sâ—reighing of these spirits that are enterâ—d into their everlasting prison-house out of which there is no redemption What shall â—e your choise when Christ shall come in the â—louds I am perswaded there are many â—o whom at that day this Doctrine would be â—avishing viz. That there were not a death â—hat there were not a God and that there were â—ot an eternity Oh! will yee believe That â—he sword of the Iustice of God is bathed in heaâ—en and shall come down to make a sacrifice â—ot in the land of Idumea nor in the land of Bozra but hee is to make a sacrifice among his â—eople who seemed to make a Covenant with â—im by sacrifice Ah ah shall we say that â—f that argument were used to many that within fourty dayes they should bee at their â—ong and everlasting home they would yet â—pend thirty nine of these days in taking pleaâ—ure upon their lusts I am perswaded of â—his that there are many who think that the â—ay betwixt heaven and earth is but one days â—ourney they think they can believe in one day and triumph at night But O! it shall â—e a short triumphing that such believers as â—hese shall have Therefore O study to close with a crucified Saviour rest on him by faith delight your selves in him with love and let your souls be longing for the day when your â—oice shall bee heard in heaven and O how â—weet shall it be sung Arise arise arise my love my dove my fair one and come away foâ— behold your winter is past your everlasting summer is come and the time of the singing of birds is near When Christ shall come over these mountains of Bether hee shall cry Behold I come and the soul shall sweetly answer Come Blessed Lord Iesus Come O what a life shall it be that with these two arms yee should eternally incircle Christ and hold him in your arms or rather be incircled by him Wait fâ—â— him for he shall come and his reward is with him and he shall once take home the wearied travellers of hope SERMON IV. 1 Joh. 3. 23. This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ c. THere are two great and excellent gifts which God in the depth of his boundlesse love hath bestowed on his own First There is that infinit gift and royal donation his own beloved Son Jesus Christ which is called The gift of God Ioh. 4 10. And secondly There is that excellent gift of the grace of Faith which God hath bestowed upon his own which is also called The gift of God Ephes. 2. 8. Faith is the gift of God And is it not certain that these two gracious gifts ought to ingage ouâ— souls and hearts much unto him Infiniâ—e Majesty could give no gift greater nor his Sâ—â— and infinite poverty could receive no â—â—her gift so suitable as Christ It was the most noble gift that heaven could give and it is the greatest advantage for earth to receive it And wee could wish that the most part of the study and practice of men that is spent in pursuit after these low and transient vanities might bee once taken up in that precious pursuit after Christ. We could wish that all the questions and debates of the time were turned over into that soul concerning question What shall we do to be saved And that all the questions controversies and contentions of the time were turned over into that divine contention and heavenly debate Who should be most for Christ who should be most for exalting of the noble and excellent plant of â—enown and that all our judgings and searchings of other mens practices and estate might â—e turned over into that useful search â—ro â—rove and examine our selves whether we be in â—he faith or not And I would ask you this question what are your thoughts concernâ—ng precious Christ seeing he is that noble â—bject of Faith We would only have you â—aking along these things by which Christ may be much commended to your hearts First There was never any that with the â—yes of Faith did behold the maâ—ehlesse beauâ—y and transcendent worth of that crucified â—aviour that returned his enemy There is â—oul conquering vertue in the face of Christ â—nd there is a heart captivating and overâ—oming power in the beauâ—y of Jesus Christ. â—his first sight that ever persecuting Saul got of Christ it brought him unto an endlessâ— captivity of love Secondly There is thâ— that we would say of precious Christ whicâ— may engage our souls unto Him that for alâ— the wrongs Believers do to Christ yet hatâ— He never an evil word of them to His Fattheâ— but commends them which is clear froâ— that of Ioh. 17. 6. where Christ doth conâ—mend the Disciples to the Father for thâ— grace of obedience They have keeped thâ— Word and for the grace of Faith verse 8 They have believed that thou didst send me and yet were not the Disciples most defectiâ—â— in obedience both in this That they did noâ—â— take up their crosse and follow Christ and alâ—â— in that they did not adhere to Him in thâ— day that He was brought to Cajaphas hall and were they not most defective in the graâ—â— of Faith as is clear from Matth. 17. 17. aâ—â— likewise from Ioh. 14. 1. He is pressing theâ— to believe in Him and yet He doth commeâ—â— them to the Father as most perfect in thâ— things Thirdly There is this that wâ— would lastly say of Him who is the noble oâ— ject of Faith look to the eminent depthâ— Christs condescendency and then ye will provoked to love Him Was it not infiâ—â—â—â— love that made Christ to ly three dayes in tâ—â— grave that we might be through all the agâ— of Eternity with Him Was it not in fâ—â—â—â— condescendency that made His precious he wear a crown of thorns that we migâ—â— eternally wear a crown of Glory Was not infinite condescendency that made Chrâ—â—â— wear a purple robe that so we might wâ—â— that precious robe of the righteousnesse of â—he Saints And was it not matchlesse condescendency that Christ who knew no sin was made sin for us and like unto us that so we might become like unto him and be made the righteousnesse of God in Him But to come to that which we intend mainâ—y to speak upon at this time which is that â—econd thing that we proposed to speak of â—rom these words and that is concerning the excellency of this grace of Faith which we cleared was holden out in that that faith was called his commandment which is so â—alled by way of eminency and excellency There are many things in Scripture which may sweetly point out the