Christ constrains me to live to him I go through the World taking notice of nothing else Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me who loved me a wretched Sinner who loved me an undone Sinner who loved me a condemned Sinner who loved me a dead Sinner O the love of Christ constrains me that if I live let me live in him let me live to him O how can I live without him O stay me with Flaggons comfort me with Apples for I am sick of love Cant. 2.5 The love of Christ constrains a Believer it is not the Law it is not because else I shall be damned without him no no if I do Duties enjoy Sabbaths it is all nothing to me without Christ Fifthly A Believer fears nothing more than the withdrawings of Christ of all the tidings and news that can be brought to him nothing does he fear so much as Christs withdrawing from him he fears lest the Sun should withdraw that he should see a dark Day though Christ will never be gone totally yet he fears the hiding of his Face Sixthly A Believer hath a new principle a principle of Grace the Kingdom of Heaven within him that he cannot live without Christ the new Creature the new principle is Christ possessing the Heart and when Christ possesses the Heart it puts all things at Arms length so Christ may be enjoyed Gal. 1.16 I conferred not with flesh and blood when God revealed his Son then I was off of my old principle I did not confer with flesh and blood with fleshly principles I was not only off from my own righteousness my own works my own Prayers and Duties but I come to live upon Christ I come to have a new life within a new glory revealed to my Soul I come to live upon Christ to drive a new Trade for Heaven When once the Lord revealed Christ to me I conferred not with flesh and blood Now conferring with flesh and blood is the ruin of many Souls First take conferring with flesh and blood for the World and all the enjoyments of it how many turn their back on Christ and ruin their Souls for the love of the World 2dly Take flesh and blood for all the performances and duties that Persons can do when Persons take this for their Righteousness how do they split their Souls on it When Paul was a Pharisee he thought his own duties would save him but when Christ was revealed to him then saith he I count all but dung and dross that I may win Christ one that was righteous a praying Paul one that had enough to carry him to Heaven as he thought alass saith he all this was but flesh and blood when I came to know Christ 3dly Take Believers with what they have to oppose them take Believers under their doubting then they will consider what they have of their own to help them to Heaven but saith Paul I conferred not with flesh and blood The 7th Reason the Believer by Faith hath found Christ the Pearl of price he hath found enough to live upon The Merchant goes seeking goodly Pearls but when he hath found the Pearl of great price he sells all to buy that Pearl Mat. 13.46 Who when he had found one Pearl of great Price he went and sold all that he had and bought it He was seeking goodly Pearls There are many good things that Persons seek but not the good I confess they are goodly Pearls Praying is a good duty Hearing is a good duty the Lord's Supper and Baptism are good duties and they are the Believers priviledge and are not to be omitted But Christ is the Precious Pearl the Pearl of great price There is not one of these Pearls will open the Kingdom of Heaven or give you access to the Throne of Grace or Crown you with everlasting Glory The foolish Virgins had these goodly Pearls but not the Pearl of great Price they went along with the Wise Virgins they were called Virgins they were without spot but when the Bridegroom came they wanted the Pearl of price when Christ came they cried Give us of your Oyl if they had had but one dram of Grace they had entred in with the Bridegroom but we see they were shut out Many go through the Field of the Gospel and take up many goodly Pearls Praying Hearing and Fasting are goodly Pearls but when the Soul comes to find Christ to know him he sells all for that Pearl of price Sell them how does he part with his duties no no does he neglect Praying Hearing and other duties and ordinances no but he sells them as if a Man should bind up all his goodly Pearls together and give them all for one Pearl of great price So a Man sells all his duties and performances as that which doth nothing in point of Justification but all for to glorify that Jesus Christ that precious Pearl of price He sells his sins and his righteousness too many think if they part with their sins they have found the Pearl of price it is a good thing to turn from sin but truly there must be another turn you must turn from your own righteousness too as to resting on it and trusting to it Many are troubled for these goodly Pearls and say O if I could but pray as some can I should have a great deal of comfort if I could mourn as I see some do I should be encouraged to come to God in hope he would pardon me these are goodly Pearls but here is a Pearl must brighten all these the Blood of Christ must wash away the filth of these Tears and the guilt of your Duties and make you clean or you are undone for ever for these Pearls though they go through the World they will not go in Emmanuel's Land not one drop of your own righteousness in Heaven Phil. 3.8.9 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith And be found in him all that is done by a Believer on earth is to bring forth fruit to God as a meet Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven as one made holy and blameless and sanctified to bring forth fruit to this glorious Christ But is this Fruit once to be mentioned in the Kingdom of Glory as the cause of our being glorified it is not there Lord I have Prayed or I have been at the House of God or I have Fasted no if that had been might not the Foolish Virgins
upon him for all So much for the Doctrinal Part and Reasons of the Proposition why a Believer desires to live upon Christ and to Christ in all The Application follows The first Inference from the Point is this If it is so that the desires of a Believer run out in all after Christ to enjoy him more than all If Christ is a Believers Life then a Believer must needs live a very fruitful Life A Believer's Life is no barren nor unfruitful Life he cannot be a barren Tree there are no unfruitful Branches in Christ that fruitful Vine He that chooses Christ with his whole desire to make Christ his all he must needs be a fruitful Liver increasing in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ Indeed a Believer may have some dark Days that look gloomy he may have some Summer Droughts may make him look withered notwithstanding he is sound at Root he hath rooting in Christ for me to to live is Christ saith the Apostle while I live I will have my Life bound up in him and expect all from him A Soul that does thus cannot have an unfruitful Life there may be some Summer Droughts But is Christ your Life and do you expect him to be your All and wrap up your selves in Christ it is impossible for you to be barren for I tell you you that look up expecting to have your Life of Grace and Comfort from Christ he will not let your Expectation fail I do not speak what you are sometimes in your sense and feeling but what you are by Faith in Christ As that good Mr. Peacock he had a Summers Drought Saith he I feel an Hell in my Conscience crying out of the woful burden of his Sins saying how woful and miserable is my state that thus must converse with Hell-Hounds the Standers by asked him to pray I cannot said he suffer us to pray for you he replyed Take not Gods Name in vain for a Reprobate as I am Yet after these grievous Pangs this blessed Saint found much comfort as did appear by his Expressions I have been far led and deeply troubled with Temptation and Sting of Conscience I thank God they are ceased in good measure I desire I may not be branded for a Cast-away or Reprobate He declared that he renounced his inconsiderate Speech in his Trouble and Temptation humbly and heartily asking Mercy of God for them and after receiving a little more Light that through Mercy did arise in his Heart he brake forth in such Speeches as these I do feel God be praised such comfort that if I had an hundred Worlds I could not make satisfaction for such an Issue the Sea is not fuller of Water nor the Sun of Light than God is of Mercy his Mercies are ten thousand times more What cause have I to magnifie the great Goodness of God that hath humbled nay rather exalted such a wretched Miscreant one of so base a condition to a state so glorious and stately the Lord hath honoured me with his Goodness I am sure he hath prepared a glorious Kingdom for me the Joy I feel in my Heart is incredible Mr. Glover in his trouble and casting down thus complains What he felt inwardly in his Spirit no Speech was able to express he lay langushing in trouble for the space of five years he took no comfort in Meat nor Drink nor any pleasure in his Life being under the sense of some Back-sliding was perplexed as if he had been in the deepest pit of Hell he did not eat his Food from any Appetite but for this end to defer his Damnation thinking with himself that he must needs be thrown into Hell so soon as his Breath was out of his Body yet after this Summer Drought this Servant of the Lord had sweet showers of Mercy from Christ his Life after his many years Buffetings and strong Temptations he received great Comfort and afterward lived altogether an Heavenly Life No Art of Man no Arm of Flesh no Earthly Comfort no Earthly Power can possibly heal or help in this condition neither Men nor Angels Friends nor Phisick Gold nor Silver Pleasures nor Profits Preferments or Favours Mr. B's Cases of Conscience infinite skill must take this in hand or else never any Cure and Recovery can be had A poor Believer may be brought so low through Temptation and Desertions that they that behold them may think they are cast off by God but the Believers Life is hid in Christ and doth yet hope for a time of Refreshing as one that stands by the Trees and Plants perceiving them to look withered tells the Gardiner that he had as good cut them down as let them incumber the Ground for he believes they are dead but saith the Gardiner you are mistaken the Root is alive in the ground I hope for a good shower from Heaven to revive them a Believer by Faith beholds his Life in Christ expecting for the dropping of his Spirit to revive his drooping Spirit Saith the Saint you think because I am under temptation and burdened with Sin my hope is gone no in Christ my Root is green and I wait to have his Grace and Comforts poured out and I shall be raised up again Saith David I look to the everlasting Hills from whence my help comes Psal 123.1 2. Vnto thee lift I up mine Eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Behold as the Eyes of the Servants look unto the hand of their Masters and as the Eyes of a Maiden unto the hand of her Mistress so our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God how long until that he have mercy upon us Psal 121.1 I look saith David to the Hills that is to Sion Hill where God meets his People through Faith in God by Christ David did not look to the Tabernacle barely but to God in Christ figuratively Psal 18.24 Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth and do you behold that God that made the Heavens that made all things Do you see the Clouds Do you see the glorious Sun To that God will I look till he break the Clouds and send down Streams that glad the City of God I lift up my Eyes to God in Christ I lift up my Eyes to the everlasting Hills to the Eternal Love of God in Christ and Everlasting Righteousness of God in Christ till he look down on me and look into my Soul therefore though you see me look like a barren Tree in Summer Drought it does but make me long the more for a shower for watering that is it I look up for O Saint What do you expect to see O saith he though Satan tempt me and Conscience may trouble me and my Soul be cast down that I am a sinner a condemned sinner but I will look up till God reveals Christ's Righteousness to be my Righteousness Rom. 1.17 For therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written
Abraham's Seed and what then they shall spring up as among the Grass as Willows by the Water-courses by the Water-side they shall grow I shall see my people grow And what then One shall say who shall say why the poor doubting Soul that hath long cried out O that I could but know Christ were mine O that I could but make mention of him as my Lord and my Redeemer My Soul even faints with expectation for his loving-kindness to be revealed What shall these flourish and grow and thrive Yes they shall One shall say I am the Lord 's and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord. When the Spirit of the Lord is poured out then the Soul comes to have the Revelation of the Love of God to it Before he was drooping hanging down his Head fearing himself a withered Soul But now saith the Soul When I read the Love of God I can subscribe my self the Lords and I can call my self by the name of the God of Jacob. I will set Heart and Hand to it as that good holy Man of God Mr. Peacock said Let it be preach'd at my Funeral that I am no Cast-away How comes this about A poor Soul longing for Christ waiting for him desiring nothing more than to live on Christ and with Christ yet under much doubt and fear Why the Believer wanted these Heavenly Showers to be poured out the Testimony of the Spirit But when the Spirit is poured out saith the Soul I can call my self by the name of Jacob and subscribe with my hand I am the Lords Say to a Believer What dost thou desire Soul Nothing more than to live to Christ nothing more than to enjoy Christ nothing below him will content me Where will you wait there Where the Lord comes And how long Till the Spirit of the Lord is poured out and then I shall call my self by the name of the Lord and not be ashamed This hath relation to the righteous and gracious Act of God in delivering a righteous and oppressed Nation from cruel Tyrants and Oppressors This Work shall be so great and illustrious as if God had rain'd down showers of Righteousness out of Heaven But this is not all the meaning the Mystery of the Sinners glorious Redemption through Christ is here included and also God's gracious Acts of Righteousness Isa 45.8 Drop down ye Heavens from above let the Skies pour down righteousness let the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring up together I the Lord have created it Here is the Lord's Command and the Church's Prayer drop down ye Heavens Let the Skies pour down righteousness the Lord commands it the Church and Prophet prays for it When a poor Believer is praying sighing looking up to Heaven O that I might have a glimpse this day of the Love of God! O that I did but know that I were redeemed by thy Blood Saith the Lord Drop down ye Heavens For until the Spirit of the Lord come there will be cold hearing and praying until the Lord reveal himself to the poor sinner A poor doubting Soul in his own imaginations is undone God's delivering his people from Temporal Miseries was but a Drop in comparison of his giving Christ for poor sinners to satisfie Divine Justice then he poured down Righteousness Saith the Lord You shall not want a Righteousness I will send down a Righteousness to that Soul Drop down ye Heavens and let the Skies pour down righteousness As the Sky when it is clear gives Light so does the Lord by his Spirit reveal to the Soul his interest in Jesus Christ and his love to his Soul That is a poor Life indeed or Profession that you live on your self and your own performances and not on Christ You see when Christ comes down he comes with the Power of his Spirit on the Hearts of sinners in their Conversion and on Saints in their Desertion and then you shall go away rejoycing O with what chearful Hearts have we had many gone from an Ordinance They have been complaining in the Morning and have been rejoycing in the Afternoon And how comes this Did it lie in the power of a Man Could an earthen Vessel give this No the Heavens dropt down and then what praising and blessing God is there in the Soul when the Spirit of God in the Word is poured out on a poor Believer that was in Fears and Doubts While the Hypocrite never questions nor fears his Condition The Believer fears nothing more than decaying tho he is established that he shall never fall from Christ yet he would not be barren As it is the desire of a Believer to be glorified with Christ so to glorifie Christ while on Earth Here a Believer hath many Fears and Doubts First he fears that God is not reconciled to him but the Spirit of the Lord comes to water the poor drooping Soul Christ manifests to the Soul that God is reconciled I am at peace with thee saith the Lord Isa 27.2 3 4 5. In that day sing unto her a Vineyard of red Wine Truly it is red Wine must make the sinners peace it is the red Blood of Christ a bleeding Redeemer must give Peace unto the doubting Believer Sing ye unto her a Vineyard of red Wine Redemption thro' the Blood of Christ is the sweetest Song that ever sinners can hear it is not a Vineyard to work in but a Vineyard to sing in a Vineyard of red Wine without this red Wine our red sins would undo our poor guilty Souls But Lord How shall I know that this red Wine this Blood of Christ is made mine How shall I know that I am reconciled by the Blood of Christ Saith God I will water it I will pour out my spirit to reveal it and manifest it And what then Lord Shall I know Fury is not in me who would set the Briers and Thorns against me in Battle I would go through them I would burn them together You shall know that I am a reconciled God unto you I am at peace with thee How shall I be at peace with thee Saith God in the fifth Verse Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall be at peace with me In that day sing ye unto her a Vineyard of red Wine Saith the Lord I will sing her a song every Sermon you hear of the Love of Christ is a Song to every doubting Believer When poor Souls come to have the Spirit of the Lord poured out upon them to reveal that God is reconciled unto them then the Soul goes on in the ways of God chearfully before the Believer was doubting and fearing and questioning But what dost desire O Soul I desire nothing more I crave nothing more than to enjoy Christ Then saith God I will sing you a Song under the Gospel the Lord does not come to
desire to live here to be uselful in their places they serve their Generation so a Believer desires to live for this end to serve the Lord Jesus and to glorifie his Holy Name First To take the dependance upon Life James corrects the manners of them that said I will go into the City and buy and sell they should have said if the Lord will we shall live and do this or that So a Believer living depending on Christ saith he in my self I am a poor dead Sinner I am dead to my self and in my self but I depend on Christ for Life I depend on Christ for Wisdom for Righteousness for Sanctification for renewed Strength I live upon him for all For I am dead I am dead to the Law I have no Action to meet the Law with nor the Law hath no Action against me I am dead to Sin as to the Life of it and to its condemning Power and to its Malignity and Guilt and I am dead to the World I depend on Christ saith the Apostle that Christ might be all in all Alass what can I do all my Suits are ended in Law it is Life we depend on for the enjoyment of our Friends Oh it is Christ for all saith the Apostle ye are dead what then your life is hid with Christ in God Colos 3.3 Ye are dead ye are crucified with Christ dead to your own Righteousness An Unbeliever what ever good he doth exalts himself and his own Righteousness but what good a Believer doth is to have Christ and his Righteousness exalted he saith no more I but Christ but one ignorant of Christ sets the crown of all he doth upon his own Head I fast I pray I give Tithes saith the Pharisee but when a Soul knows Christ No more I saith he you are dead but your life is hid with Christ in God what then when Christ our Life shall appear we shall also appear with him in Glory The Believer is wrapt up in Christ living wrapt up in Christ dying if it were possible a Believer could be separated from Christ he would be lost and undone for ever what a poor sinful naked Creature is he No saith the Apostle you are dead and where is my Life safe enough in Christ my Life is hid with God in Christ When shall my Life appear Why when Christ who is our Life shall appear we shall also appear with him in Glory The Saint lives upon Christ when he dies he dies in Christ when raised up is raised up by Christ clothed with Christ's Righteousness when Christ who is our Life shall appear c. A Saint cannot be separated from Christ but shall appear with and in Christ all the Formalists Legalists and Moralists in the World shall appear at the Great Day but it is without Christ you know a Man cannot speak act nor do any thing when his Life is gone So saith the Apostle As you are dead to the Law dead to Sin and dead to the World so you are dead to your own Righteousness when Christ who is our Life shall appear we shall appear with him in Glory you shall not go one step further than Christ goes you are Members of his Body My Friends there is a great difference between a Man hearing and praying and knowing Christ only by reading and a Saint living upon Christ in every Duty in every Affliction living upon him in Life living upon him in Death saith our Blessed Lord John 6.9 Your Fathers eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead they depended on the Manna for life but he that eats this Bread shall live for ever as if he had said you that depend on any thing below me shall die When persons live on any thing below Christ they have dead Souls living and damned Souls dying If any depend on me as the living and immortal Food of their Souls they shall live for ever your Fathers eat Manna and are dead Ordinances perish with us Duties perish with us and all below Christ will perish the Believers All is to have Christ in them Jesus Christ the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven I am the living Bread that came down from Heaven if any eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and this Bread the Spirit of the Lord in the Word reveals to the Soul and the believing Soul lives by it for ever it is the Spirit of Christ that reveals and applies to the believing Soul the Righteousness Grace and Bloud of Christ to justifie and cleanse them from all Unrighteousness and makes known to them that their Name is written in the Book of Life the knowledge of which doth draw forth a Believer's Heart to depend upon Christ for daily Strength to exercise Grace in every condition Saith the Apostle Phil. 4.12 I can do all things Paul you are a brave man indeed what can you do I can do all things I know how to want and how to abound you hear me speak what I can do pray don't mistake me I depend on Christ for it I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me The Believer lives through Christ You may see a natural Man praying a natural Man hearing or performing a duty but this Man depends on his own strength and on duty and you may see a Believer in Duty and it may be the natural Man hath greater parts and finer expressions than the Believer but the Believer lives on Christ for all and the other on himself Saith the Believer I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me he would have Christ in all he would have Christ foremost in all so that a Believer is girt with the Strength of Christ Persons may preach others may hear pray discourse we may have fine Matter curious Divinity wrapt up but if Jesus Christ is not preached to poor Souls and depended upon it is all nothing what can this poor Creature do when he comes to die and look Death in the Face that strong Champion that King of Terrors he cannot see him but in great horror and fear A formal Christian that strives to speak fine words have fine expressions learn something by rote they can dispute of Religion therefore think they are brave Christians but comes a Temptation or a Tryal on them they know not how to go through the Battle But take a real Christian that is meaner in expressions that lives on Christ and is girt about with the strength of Christ how does he go through the Battel 1 Sam. 17. What Armor was there put on to go out against that mighty Champion That which girt him with Strength was the glorious Name of the Lord the Men of Israel though Men of War were afraid but comes David without Armour and he would encounter him Vers 45. Then said David to the Philistine Thou comest to me with a Sword and with a Spear and with a Shield but I come to thee in the Name of the Lord of Hosts
glorious Crown Glorious Robes a glorious Throne I expect everlasting Joy and I expect Rivers of Pleasure Is not this an Inducement to a Believer to make Christ his Life When we expect great things how does it cause us to be intent about them Where a Soul expects high things and great things from Christ they will live upon Christ and to Christ make Christ their All In all Mercies and Comforts and Enjoyments what is the reason many are poor carnal dead Professors and have low Thoughts of those things that are Preached in the Gospel but because they never relished Christ And it is as much as ever they can do to creep along in the ways of God and may be something of Conscience causes them to perform Duty But where the Soul hath glorious and high Expectations it is otherwise great things he hath done for them and great things he is doing he is advocating and interceding with the Father answering all Accusations and pleading for poor Sinners I go to prepare a place for you saith Christ and will come again and fetch you that where I am you may be also I am going to prepare for you Mansions of Glory Robes of Glory Crowns of Glory immortal Glory Is not this Lord to be lived upon and to be desired more than all things that can be desired Therefore had you ever experienced what it is to enjoy Christ and live on Christ you could not but have high and glorious Thoughts of this blessed Jesus you could not but have your Hearts raised up with high expectation what he will do for you But poor trifling formal Professor whatever thou professest I fear thou knowest not Jesus Christ Ask your Heart Have I glorious hopes of Christ's appearing Have I glorious hopes of reigning with him in Heaven Doth he reign in my Heart now Do I prize him and make him my All desire him in all and glorisie him above all I believe should you put this Question to your Souls you would many of you know that you are great Strangers to Christ But a Believer that can experience the Love of Christ is lifted up in admiration of the Wonders of his Grace crying out Oh what Wonders of Grace What glorious Love What a precious Redeemer is this Did he die for me Did he cry out my God my God and was I on his Heart when he drank of the Brook by the way and lift up his Head and was it for me He went out of the World by a cursed shameful Death up to his Fathers Glory and said that he would come again to fetch me he will make Death to be a sweet Embassador for me the Angels will come and convey my Soul to Glory O what will be your Thoughts when you shall see your Lord coming in the Clouds when you shall hear him say Come you blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the Foundation of the World and sit down with Palms in your Hands and with Crowns on your Heads surely believing that he is your Lord and that his Glory is your Glory and that he will come again and fetch you then you shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes from 13. to 18. But I would not have you to be ignorant Brethren concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so we shall ever be with the Lord. So much for the eleventh Reason This is a glorious Life the Believer hath experienced and that because he hath great expectation of what Christ will do for him as well as what he hath done for him therefore desires to make this blessed Christ his Life The Twelfth Reason is because a Believer can see no object so glorious as the Lord Jesus Christ is And saith the Soul all I can see I count it all empty in comparison of Christ for to see the Father in the Son choosing me in election before the World was to see this glorious Love out of the Bosom of the Father to be given for me to be my Ransom and Salvation O how glorious an Object is he to behold O how glorious is the Sun in the Firmament that lightens the whole World But then O how glorious is he that came out of the Bosom of the Father the Brightness of his Glory O my Soul let me behold him and live upon him I can see no way but he is glorious O love for Delight The Thirteenth Reason A Believer desires to live on Christ because the Lord Jesus Christ hath paid all and done all for him he hath bought all for him and saith the Believer all I have is from Christ have I Peace Hope Joy It is all bought by Christ I might have had a desparing Soul or a cursed Hope I might have been under the Curse and Wrath of God I might have been among the damned Souls that are roaring in Hell But have I Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost Christ hath bought and brought me to the hope of an incorruptible Kingdom of Glory and as he hath bought all and paid for all I live upon him for all As the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope All the Joy I have and hope I have of Heaven is bought by Christ all the Enjoyment of God I have all the Glory my Soul is crowned with all the Joy my Heart is filled with is bought by Christ therefore saith the Apostle Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten to us a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead It is Jesus Christ hath ransomed me from Death from Hell from Guilt of Sin he hath bought an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled therefore I desire to live upon him The Fourteenth Reason The Believer desires to live upon Jesus Christ because he works all his Works in him There is not a good Motion in him but Christ is the Worker of it not a good Thought or good Action but all is from Christ Isa 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordain Peace for us for thou hast wrought all our Works in us The Lord hath wrought for me Redemption Salvation Sanctification Consolation and Hope of Glory therefore I will live
Father that in him should all fulness dwell as he is the vital Fountain from whence their Life is derived so is he manifesting his Grace to them and so is said to come down as Rain on them in Psal 72. This Psalm was penned when David was on his Death Bed and he orders Solomon to be Crowned he speaks of Solomon Give the King thy Judgment O Lord and thy Righteousness unto the Kings Son And then he speaks Prophetically of Christ and of his Kingdom He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgment the mountains shall bring peace to the people and the little hills by righteousness He shall judge the poor of the people he shall save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressor They shall fear thee as long as the Sun and Moon endure throughout all generations Now that cannot be spoke of Solomon that must be of Christ Then Verse 6. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass and as showers that water the earth in his days shall righteousness flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth Speaking of the Prosperity and Glory of Christ's Kingdom under the Gospel He shall come down as rain While there is Rain from Heaven there will be Fruits on the Earth while Christ is Rain to a Believer he shall never die though there may be some Limitations and some restraints in his exercise of Grace yet he shall not die First Christ came down in his Incarnation when he came to take our Nature upon him he descended from the Bosom of his Father Mr. Robinson's Christ all in all descended from the Crown to the Cradle from the Glory of his Father to the Manger from Angels and Glorified Saints to converse with poor Man Secondly he came to live here an humble and debased Life he came here to bare our Infirmities and to take our Sicknesses Thirdly He came down very low when the blessed Lord of Glory came to the Cross when he that was the Fountain of all Life must die the cursed Death of the Cross Fourthly He comes down in descending into the Hearts of his People by his Holy Spirit in the Revelation of his Divine Grace he comes down when he reveals from Heaven his blessed Grace and Consolation to his People The River of Life that is above drops down many sweet drops into the Soul When a Believer is gasping and thinking I will hear this Sermon and die will God ever speak peace or comfort As the Woman she would bake her Cake eat it and die but when that was gone she had a supply The Believer is ready under Doubts and Fears to say Hath God forgot to be gracious but he hath a supply from that River that comes from the Throne of God Rev. 21.1 And he shewed me a pure River of water of Life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. He shewed me a pure River there is in Christ no Impurity he is the Lamb of God without spot what he gives to his People are pure Mercies choice Mercies pure Blessings when we drink of other Streams they are mixed with Mud all your Comforts below Mr. Durham on the Revelations yea all Ordinances and Duties are mixed with Corruption but Christ is the pure River it is a River no small Brook but a River running and always running flowing and always flowing giving and always giving It is not only a River flowing but Waters of Life to the Soul that lives on Christ Those that drink of this Water of Life shall never die He that desires to drink of these Waters of Life that thirsts for them cannot but live they are as clear as Crystal That is an Emblem of the Saints Life a Life of Grace and Life of Glory Here we have these Waters in Ordinances through Pipes here we see them through a Glass but there you will see them Face to Face there the Saints shall solace themselves as Celestial Fishes in that pure River In Ordinances we have some sweet drops and streams Psal 46. the Church being under trouble speaks of her help in God Though the Earth be removed that is though there is a change of times and revolution of things though the Mountains be carried into the Sea we will not fear So though we have many Temptations many Troubles though we have many Discouragements we will not fear though the Waters thereof roar and be troubled though the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof There is a River the Streams whereof make glad the City of God This shews forth in the letter the Tabernacle where the Presence of God was and his Glory appeared Though we have swelling Waves great Temptations great Troubles yet we have a Stream that makes glad the City of God for God is in the midst of her He was in the midst of Jerusalem that was called the City of the great King Psal 48.1 2. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the Mountain of his Holiness Beautiful for situation the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Sion on the sides of the North the City of the great King So that the City of Jerusalem where the King of Glory had his Dwelling-place where he met his People between the Cherubims and the Mercy-seat God did dwell in the Tabernacle in Jerusalem but Christ is the glorious Temple wherein the Godhead dwells being in the midst of his Church by a Divine Union is their Life in the midst of their Troubles Here are sweet Streams that flow from him There is a River and this River is in the midst of her Christ is in the midst of his Church watering of his Church giving new Streams to it daily that makes Glad the Heart of his People How does Rain rejoyce the Heart of the Husbandman in a dry time when it comes unexpected So a Believer receives the Streams of Comfort unexpected under the Ordinances An Experimental Believer longs to be under the Enjoyments of all Ordinances and would be hindred from none though the Heart may be back ward to Duty A poor Believer will cry to the Lord in secret Lord let not this wicked Heart hinder me it may be I may have a Stream from Christ that may refresh my thirsty Soul and make it glad for Christ is in the midst of his People and my Soul desires to enjoy him my Soul desires to live upon him There is a River makes glad the City of God the Church of God And why may not my Soul receive Comfort Thus Jesus Christ comes as Rain from Heaven to make Glad the City of God Though there are swelling Waves of Temptation and Trouble there are Streams that make glad this City The Wrath of God is made known from Heaven to Unbelievers and his Love is made known from Heaven to Believers though indeed the Believer may not always have
need we hope for and what need we act Faith for what we possess We are to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ so as to act Faith in him for new supplies of Grace We are to set our selves under those golden Pipes that do convey the golden Oyl you are to be looking to the everlasting Hills from whence your help comes as the Psalmist saith Psal 123.22 Behold as the eyes of Servants look unto the hand of their Masters and as the eyes of a Maiden unto the hand of her Mistress so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he have mercy upon us Psal 121.1 I will list up my eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help The Hills where the Temple was built Sion and Moriah there will I look from whence cometh my help Now we must look unto God in Christ for supplies of Grace and Peace and Comfort we are to expect our Comfort from those Mountains that drop down new Wine and the Hills that drop down Milk the Skies that pour down Righteousness and the Heavens that rain down Grace Were your Comforts always flourishing and green were you always filled with Joy would there be such a dependence on Christ where you are daily supplied and renewed When persons are waiting for Rain they set their Vessels forth day and night and when they are full they take them in again but persons that turn the Cock to let it run into their Cisterns it fills them presently they wait no longer Alass many run to their own Cisterns their own Duties walk by the sparks of their own kindling to what they can perform which the Lord complains of Jer. 2.1 My people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountain of living water and hewed to themselves Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water Alas their Cisterns will not hold there is brackish Water in all their Springs broken Cisterns that hold no Water their Vessels will quickly be empty again but the Soul that waits on Christ will be like the Husbandman that waits for Rain is glad when he seeth the Clouds are gathering the Husbandman is glad he looks on his withered Grass and Corn but saith he the Clouds begin to gather and I wait for Rain and that will revive them again So saith a poor Soul I do expect yea I do wait for the Lord to come with new Light and new Love and new Peace and new Comfort and new assurance of his Love and that I may read my Pardon in his Blood and my Comfort in his Love Saith the Lord I will be a dew to Israel Hos 14.5 In the mystical and spiritual sense it signifies Christ who doth by his Holy Word and Heavenly Grace drop down and distil upon the Souls of Believers by his Princely Favours and loving Countenance which is as a Cloud of the latter Rain That which Dew is to Fields Gardens Vineyards Flowers Fruits of the Earth after an hot and scorching day that the Favour Word Grace loving Countenance and Holy Spirit will be to the drooping and afflicted Conscience of his People Dr. Reynolds A Believer hath his dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ who is appearing before God for him pleading the Sinners Cause presenting his own Wounds before the Father till he pours down his Grace into the Soul and drops down showers of Grace into the Heart But a Soul that feeds himself with his own Gifts and Parts he does his Duty and is gone therefore he does not wait for nor depend on Christ But saith a Believer I would be in a Believing Frame though I do not find Christ coming I will look up Psal 5.1 2 3. Give ear to my words O Lord consider my meditation Hearken unto the voice of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up There are many go to their own Cisterns in the Morning performing Duty exercising what Gifts and Parts they have or what they remember they do Duty but it may be think not on Christ one Moment more all the day These are poor empty Cisterns that can hold no Water But saith the Psalmist I will pray and look up tho I am come off from my Knees I have not done looking up expecting or believing for I wait for the Lord's Answer I look for a Return of Prayer I look for supplies of Grace for supports of Faith for comforts to my Soul Many pray but do you look up do you believe do you make Christ your Life depending on him for the showers of his Grace to come into your Souls That may comfort you and quicken you and may be matter of praise not only that you may quiet Conscience but that you may enjoy God When the Earth is dry if a drop does but fall our Hearts begin to be glad we hope to have showers from Heaven So when a Soul finds but a drop of Comfort a drop of Love a little taste Saith the Soul Christ is coming now he is revealing himself I will depend upon him as long as I live as Job saith Though thou kill me yet will I trust in thee so saith the Soul I will depend on thee And as Luther said Though Christ come against me with a drawn Sword yet will I run into his Arms. Secondly The second Reason is That as you should depend on Christ so you should be waiting in the way of Duty waiting in Ordinances What Confusions have come into the Minds of Persons throwing off Ordinances pretending they had the Light within them and were come to perfection and had no need of Teaching pretending they knew more than could be taught them But speak with a Believer he will tell you another thing he will tell you he wants Comfort he wants Grace he wants teaching and that he wants new reviving Isa 26.8 Yea in the way of thy Judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early yea in the way of thy Judgments have we waited for thee Though thy Hand hath been as it were against us though thou hast afflicted us though thou hast seemed to frown upon us yet we have waited for thee though it be dark with us whether it be the Night of Affliction or the Night of Desertion as well as in the Night of Trouble and Adversity though our Souls are in an afflicted state or a discomforted state we will wait till thou return we will wait for that God that hides himself from the House of Jacob Not like some that are seeking purer Churches through the deceivings of Satan and their own Hearts Many there are that think they have Knowledge enough and Peace enough but these are the
out Lord must I be shut up under thy eternal Wrath for ever There he sees the Judge condemning him the Law condemning him Conscience condemning him he can look no way but he is amazed above him a sin-revenging God below him everlasting Flames O what a dreadful Outcry will a condemned Soul make You may know by these foolish Virgins Lord Lord open to us what a dreadful Outcry will there be for a condemned sinner to appear before a sin-revenging God You are all condemned in Adam and if you have not a Christ you will be condemned to all Eternity when the last Moment comes what an Outcry will there be Lord Lord must I to Hell for ever Must I be damned for ever Yea Soul for thou hast no part nor portion in Christ Secondly As Seamen or Mariners when they suffer Shipwrack and are sinking make a dreadful Cry so a Soul that 's out of the Body that hath not Christ all your Duties and Profession and Comforts all your Righteousness and your Souls sinking together O what a dreadful Cry will there be my hope is perished my Righteousness is perished my Duties abhorred Wo is me I am undone for ever Thirdly What a dreadful Outcry is there when a City is besieged and plundered and all the Men Women and Children put to Fire and Sword So when Christless Persons must appear before God's Tribunal the Sword of Divine Justice meets the Soul The Angel that stood at the Gate of Paradice had a flaming Sword in his Hand the Justice of God that flaming Sword will meet you at Heaven Gate Soul no entrance here you must for ever lie in the Prison of Hell till your Debts are paid you have no Surety you have no Christ you have no Grace then you must for ever depart into everlasting Burnings now too late when Justice hath took hold of them Legions of Devils halling them down to the bottomless Pit They cry Lord Lord open to us when their Lamps are gone out Now Lord we see our Sparks dying before they reach Heaven O pardon this our Hypocrisie And O give of thy Oyl Thou art the Olive-tree pour out thy Oyl into our Vessels Had they with the wise Virgins Oyl in their Lamps saving Grace in their Hearts they had been ready and entred with Christ No but they would not come to Christ and see now the Gate was shut upon them now they cry Lord open to us they would not come to him for a Wedding Garment but they would be beholden to him to let them enter into the Feast without one Mr. Murcot tho Heaven would have held them but a little while if they had entred in that condition Next This Life is a suitable Life because it is a glorious Life Alas you live a miserable Life till you know Christ A Professor without Christ is a poor empty Person You read of a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness What was the Earth A dark Chaos before the glorious Sun that glorious Light came What is a poor Soul in this poor House of Clay till you come to know Jesus Christ till you come to live Christ We have a dark Chaos but when you come to live Christ this is a new Heaven in the Soul and a new Earth every part of the Soul every Member of the Body is put into a new Frame O saith the Soul let me not act but for Christ let me not walk but with Christ let me not be employed but for Christ let me not live but to Christ it may be you will give us the hearing of a Sermon on the Lords Day but what Mould are you cast in all the Week Alas what Folly and Madness is it for to be seeking looking waiting and watching for what is not for what will not do you good Our Eye is fixed our Thoughts are fixed our Hands are employed but is it for Christ Can you say you desire nothing in comparison of Christ Or are your Thoughts swallowed up in the World Where you have had one for Christ it may be you have had many thousands for the World To be a Professor and not live on Christ it is as if a dead Man should be dress'd with the Cloaths of a living Man and should have Meat dish'd out and set before him to eat who yet remains Dead and the Meat untasted Persons may make external Profession and have Ordinances administred to them but if you do not know Christ and live Christ what Profit will you have in all What is the Chaff to the Wheat Most of the Sermons you hear you may have the Notions of Religion but if Christ is not made manifest to your Souls you have but the Shell without the Kernel the Chaff without the Wheat He that knows Christ he that lives Christ is above that Soul let him live never so noble a Life that knows not Christ Therefore the Prophet saith That a wise Child is better than an old and foolish King Eccles 4.13 A wise Christian though he is never so little in Grace and Knowledge that knows Christ is better than the greatest Person in knowledg that doth not know Christ Better is the poorest lowest Christian than the greatest Noble in the Land that doth not know Christ Now I shall shew in some particulars the Glory of this Life To live Christ first If you come to live Christ it is a glorious Life for there is the beginning of Glory Whatever you do you never come to have Glory begun till you come to live on Christ by Faith Phil. 1.6 He that hath begun the good Work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ he that justifies he glorifies We are called to eternal Glory by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 If we have not Christ ours eternal Life will never be ours Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory All the Pearls of a Christians Crown of Glory are the purchase of Christ's Blood As soon as a Soul begins to know Christ he begins an Heaven on Earth Let Earth and Hell do what they will Glory is begun the World and Devil and Temptations may toss you but they are come too late to destroy you there is immortal Life and Glory begun The immortal Seed is sowed in the Soul Grace in the Soul is Glory in the Believer Christ dwelling in the Soul is the beginning of Glory you never come to know the Life of Glory till you know Christ and when you come to live on Christ you are in the way to Glory and shall as sure come there as the Saints and Angels now in Glory This is the comfort and stay of a Believer when he comes to know Christ he is certainly linked to eternal Glory Secondly To live Christ is a glorious Life for you are changed from Glory to Glory into the same Image for there is a glorious Union between Christ and a Believer there is the natural Faculties there is the same
does trouble you with Temptations and Corruptions you that are Believers he shall not rob you of your comfort because you live on Christ Fourthly Death shall not rob you of your comfort If Christ is yours Death in and through Christ is conquered If a Lion or Bear did lie dead in the street every little Boy would be ready to stand on them and make nothing of them but if they were alive they would be afraid of them and not dare to come near them So Death being conquered by Christ the Sting being taken away the weakest Believer in Christ may insult over Death Death comes peaceably to tell you God would have you come home to your Mansions of Glory But a carnal Man out of Christ Death undoes him he may cry out I am undone lost and damned for ever I shall never breath on Earth more I shall never hear a Sermon I shall never have an Offer of Christ more I am going to everlasting Destruction But to a Believer the Sting is taken out Sin was the Instrument that brought Death into the World and the Death of Christ is the Death of sin A Believer when he dies may say I shall change my Life for a better it doth not rob him of his Joy Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. When Christ who is your Life shall appear you shall also appear with him I am going to live a better Life I am going to live with him that I live to Death is conquered to a Believer it cannot rob you First It cannot rob you of your Joy for you are going to a better Life A Believer may say I am going where I shall never grieve God more where I shall never cry more Why hidest thou thy Face I am going to that Christ I live to my very Heart longs for him whose Presence I shall e're long enjoy You are but going out of the lower Room into the upper you are but going from the Church Militant below to the Church Triumphant above you are going up to him that came down to you That Life is safest that Death cannot rob us of O what a lamentable Outcry will there be with many at their Death There would be more Outcries with Sinners than there are when Death comes but that the Devil stupifies them that they do not cry out till they are in Hell But if Men were set on the brink of Hell and could see the misery they are going to Christ not being theirs O what a dreadful Outcry would there be But now a Soul in Christ may challenge Death O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory O Death what hast thou against me Christ hath took away thy Sting O you that have Christ your Life how sweet should every Sermon be How sweet should every Sabbath be How sweet should every Word be Methinks your Souls should be bound up in Love Grace Glory and the Comforts and Blessings of the Covenant of Grace and when Death approaches you should think of Christs sweet Words to you Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. O what a joyful Day will the day of Death be to a Believer Secondly Death cannot take away the comfort of a Believers Company We are sorry to leave our Relations and Friends and Company that we delight in here but never was your Heart so taken up with Delight in the Saints in the best Frame that ever you were in to the thousandth part to what you will be in Glory But the Wicked will be rob'd of the comfort of their Company they will then curse the Day that ever they saw each others Face but the Saints will meet all the glorious Saints Patriarchs and Prophets God is yours Christ is yours and you will come to a glorious Assembly the Company that you delighted in on Earth you will come to after Death Heb. 12.22 23. But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the General Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect What a glorious company are these O how many glorious Suns will you see in one day The very first moment you enter into Glory what a glorious sight will you see O how will you admire that blessed Face that was spit on for you O how will you admire those blessed Wounds in his Arms Legs Side and Heart that was made for your healing Satan cannot rob you of your company you loved the People of God on Earth and you are going to them So the Apostle comforts the Thessalonians that at the Death of their Relations they should not complain 1 Thes 4.13 14. But I would not have you to be ignorant Brethren concerning them which are asleep that they sorrow not even as others that have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Do not you fear Death shall not rob you of your company Christ will bring them with him For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. Death cannot rob you of your glorious Company the glorious Saints that are gone to Heaven before and they that remain behind You shall never lose one Friend by Death Thirdly Death cannot rob the Believer of his Life for his Life is hid with Christ when Death comes they do but sleep that Immortal Soul that God breathed into the Body that is now living that goes immediately into Immortal Glory Death does but enlarge it and set it in that place where it will never be confined to a sinful Body The Saints will never cry out with David Ps 102.2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble But the time will then come that all his Fetters will be knockt off and he will then indeed come to know that Life that he hath long wished for So that Death cannot rob them of their Life they do but fetch a Nap in the Grave till Christ comes and calls for them If we would live for ever let us live Christ now if we would not have Death kill us let us kill sin now Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is Death but the gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So that there is eternal Life laid up in Christ Dying it is but a going out of your dark Chambers here below to that Glory above where you will have no need of a Candle or the Sun for God and the Lamb are the Light of that place there the Saints shall never cry out O my Heart or O my Head but shall be taken up in the Arms of the Lord of Glory When Christ appears who is our Life What then we shall appear with
it and think he hath a good bargain Life is the most precious the most excellent thing in Nature Hester's Speech to the King in her Petition imports that all other Losses might have been born but the loss of Life Mr. Caril on Job She thought Liberty not worth the asking for compared with Life A Christian values Christ above all things Phil. 3.7 What was gain to me I count loss that I may have Christ I count all but dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ For Christ is precious his Love is precious his Offices precious his Person precious his Promises are precious I would give all so I might have Christ to be mine Where Christ is your Life you will prize him above all O let me have Christ know Christ that is the Sum of my Life The Spouse told the Daughters He was the chief among ten thousand Did you ever see Christ precious Is his Blood precious Do you long for his Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.7 To them that believe he is precious Fifthly If Christ is your Life you will study Christ more and more Many we say are their own Physicians they will study Physick that they may be their own Doctors and know how to apply Medicines to themselves Those Souls that know Christ to be their Life they will study to know Christ more that they may have a Remedy for every Disease of their Souls ready at hand and not be strangers to that Grace and Mercy that helps in time of need I shall now come to wind up with a Word of Exhortation Is it so that the Life of a Believer is such a glorious Life O then you Christless Souls cry day and night till Christ is become your Life it is a Life above all Lives if once you come to live Christ you will say with David One day in thy Court is better than a thousand and I had rather be a door-keeper in the House of God than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness I would rather enjoy one moments time with Christ than all the Pleasures of the World It is a Life above all Lives The Happiness of this World is mixt with Sorrow You have your dead Flies in your sweet Oyntment The best of your outward Mercies are mingled with Trials and Troubles and Fears and when you have Gain you are afraid of losing it When you have great Mercies you have great Care comes in with it But to live Christ it is a pure Life It is said of Wisdom All her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are paths of Peace Now the Soul that lives on Christ what a sweet Life what a pure Life what a glorious Life does he live But saith the Sinner What shall I do Ah Sinner Christ hath done all that thou mayest have all given freely for in thy doing thou mayest be undone But what may you do to make Christ your Life Nothing that we do can move God to give Christ If we think we deserve any thing at God's hand for our doings it is the way to be undone But though we cannot work for Life we are taught to beg for Mercy God will be enquired of for those things he freely gives First Go to God and beg of him to convince thee of the necessity of Christ Go and tell the Lord what an undone and miserable Wretch thou art thou art poor and canst not see it Cry Lord I am poor but I am blind and miserable O Lord convince me what need I have of Christ Jesus Beg of God to open thy eyes to see the worth and want of Christ Secondly Beg the Lord to awaken thy Soul to see how suitable Christ is to thy Soul If the Lord would speak from Heaven this day and say to an awakened Sinner What wilt thou have Sinner Riches and Honours Wilt thou have long Life The Sinner awakened would answer No Lord that is not suitable give me thy self or I am undone Oh how suitable is Christ to an undone Soul Thirdly Beg God to perswade thy Heart how ready and willing Christ is to entertain thee when all is done you still sink under your Burden if you do not believe the willingness and reaidness of Christ to receive you Ah poor Sinner thou canst not long more for Life and Salvation than Christ longs to save thee All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6.37 Fourthly What can you do Sinner Nothing to work in any way to purchase the Favour of God but this you may do Wait upon the means of Grace wait at Wisdoms Gate You do not know Sinner how soon it may be your Call how soon Christ may come and you may hear the Voice of the Son of God Though a carnal natural Man can do nothing in matter of his Salvation he may wait on God in the way of his Divine Appointments Though Zaccheus was a carnaâ—â—ublican he could get up into the â—â—camore-Tree to see Christ A poâ—â—â—â—â—â—al Heart may come wait and hea◠〈◊〉 be at Wisdoms Gate Come get into the Sycamore Tree and it may please the Lord to speak a Word to thee this day or next day Salvation may come to thy House to thy Soul May not we liken many persons that come to hear the Gospel to Zaccheus's getting up the Tree to get a sight of Christ they come to see and be seen and think not what they shall meet with they never see their need of Christ but Christ comes and calls the Soul awakens it Sinner where art thou Where art thou going undon sinner I will become thy Salvation Luke 19.3 Zaccheus had only a mind to see Christ as other persons had And he sought to see Jesus who he was but could not for he was low of Stature and he ran before and climbed up into a Sycamore Tree to see Christ And when Jesus came to the place he looked up and saw him Christ must look upon us first he saw a poor ignorant People running to see his Person but not to believe in him for Salvation Christ said unto him Zaccheus make haste and come down for to day I must abide at thy House Come to the Ordinances of God attend there Then poor Sinner thou art in the way though thou hast no Interest in Christ nor never heardst this Salvation sounding in thy Soul so as to give thee comfort though thou art looking and beholding there seeing and hearing out of custom Jesus said unto him Make haste and come down for to day I must abide at thy House Make haste if Christ would give thy poor dark Soul a call this day what haste would you make to close with Christ there would be no deliberation Zaccheus delays not but comes down presently and the Lord may speak in a Word of Grace sinner This day I will take up my Abode in thy Heart for ever O how good it
of Love Eightly Let me beseech you in the Name of the Lord that you would set up Godliness in your Families we can never expect Holy Assemblies while Godliness is neglected in Families Children and Servants not being instructed at home is a great cause of their being unprofitable under the Word preach'd Godly Instruction is too much neglected both to Children and Servants by Professors in our Age I am afraid there are some that scarce a savoury Word drops from their Lips all the Week to their Family How can it be thought that unsavoury Spirits ever got good to their own Souls They that keep all to themselves it is to be feared have got little for themselves the good Man brings forth good Treasure new and old Let me intreat you dear Christians whatsoever station you are in whether Parents or Masters whether Children or Servants that you do not neglect private Prayer twice in the day at least if you have opportunity to pray oftner do not slip such fair seasons The Mother would think the Sucking Child not well if it should forsake the Breast a whole day so mayest thou think thy Soul is not right that can pass a day without craving any Spiritual Repast in Prayer Mr. Gurnal ' s Compleat Christians Armour If you neglect private prayer do not expect to thrive in Godliness God gives his Alms at Wisdoms Gate And let me beseech you that are Parents or Governors keep up publick Prayer in your Families look to it that you are not numbred among the cursed Families that call not upon the Name of the Lord. The private House is the Christians Chapel of ease to Worship God in daily with his Family The Church begun in a Fanily and is upheld still by the Piety of private Families If the Nursery be not preserved the Orchard must needs in time decay We cannot expect that Family to thrive in Godliness where publique Prayer is neglected What praying persons might some Children or Servants have been had they been called to that Duty by Parents or Masters when they were under their Government Methinks if persons love their own Souls it should cause them to love and pity the Souls about them It would be great Cruelty in Parents to spend all they get upon themselves and let their Children starve Employ some of that Talent that you have got for the furtherance of their Salvation Should not you be willing that they should find the way to Heaven as well as your selves they have as precious Souls as you and if you have tasted sweetness in drawing nigh to God will you deal so unkindly to hinder your Family of partaking of the Blessing with you If you complain of your weakness in parts or Bashfulness makes you backward to this Duty I answer It is not your weakness in parts will be any hindrance of your Prayer's Acceptance with God nor will it prevent a Blessing from your Family God looks at the uprightness of your Hearts not at the excellency of your Expressions but if you would study your own and Families Souls wants you would as well know how to go about this Duty as you know in their necessities in the World how to go about your worldly business to maintain them and supply their outward wants And as for Bashfulness if your Children were perishing for Bread you would put on Courage to beg with them rather than let them perish how much more should you put on Courage to go with your prishing Childrens and Servants Souls to the Throne of Grace to beg Grace for them as ever you would have your Family thrive under the Publick Ministry as ever you would have them in their Duty toward God and your selves as you would have obedient Children and faithful Servants as ever you would have your Children and Servants separated from a vain wicked World as ever you would bless God that you were their Masters or Parents in a dying hour keep up constant and publick Prayer with them in your Family Ninthly Let me intreat you to love the Truth for Truths sake think not the worse of it because most undervalue it let not their low esteem of the Truths of Christ damp your Affections to it enquire not who is on your side before you take it up as the Pharisees did Have any of the Rulers believed on him Some if they have not the most and highest on their side think Truth not worth their owning It is the misery of many they never made their Faith nor Religion their own what is accounted best among men is always best to them it is what Men teach that are accounted best by the most of people they most adhere to more than they will to the Truths of Christ though the best Men teach them They that are most for Sinners Good are not counted good with Sinners they that preach Christ freely to the worst of Sinners are accounted the worst of Men Though Truth is come to a bad Market and sold at a low rate and few Buyers I beseech you have never the lower Esteem of it buy it as your choicest Crown if you hold fast the Crown of Truth when Christ comes he will give you a Crown of Glory Many I am perswaded that are convinced of the Truth do not own it because it goes in a mean dress Many will hold with every thing the Church that they are of holds though they know nothing aright they hold Such are for Performance or Omission they will do as others do but nothing from a right Principle Beg of the Lord that you may see the Beauty and Glory that is in the Truths of Christ that you may highly prize Truth when you suffer the greatest Reproaches and Evils for owning the same Love Truth for its own sake honour it for Christ's sake commend it for others sake follow it for your own sake Lastly Let me earnestly intreat you to pray for me that I may both in Life and Doctrin be a burning and shining Light that I may find the power and relish of things upon my Heart that I give out to you and others that I may be an Instrument in the Hand of Christ to bring many Souls to him and build up those that are brought in in their most holy Faith and that utterance may be given me with a Blessing from Heaven upon my unworthy Labours that they may not be in vain but that I may daily see the Travel of my Soul it is God alone can open Hearts and unlock the Treasury of Grace in the Gospel and make known the Mystery of the Gospel It is not the hand that sows the Seed but God's Blessing that gives the Increase And if you would have me bear you upon my Heart before the Lord at the Throne of Grace pray give me a meeting oftner there if you expect me to water you pray that I may be watered People little consider what good they keep back from their own Souls in not
have entred into Heaven as well as the Wise But it is to have this name on us the Lord our Righteousness it is what Christ hath done you being found in him what he hath performed what he is that Believers shall be as being Members joyned to their Head Well have you found this Pearl of great price though there be not such great inlargements such great gifts And do your Souls wrap up your selves in this righteousness of Christ And do you lay hold on him to be Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption to you Hath God brought you off from your own bottom Do you no longer stand on your own Legs Do you trust to nothing that you can do What if you could pray as an Angel the Heavens are unclean in his sight and the Angels he charges with folly Though Praying Praising Hearing Reading are duties yet when the Souls find not Christ in them they are Broken Cisterns but when thy Soul hath Christ there is Faith and Love and Delight in the Soul rejoycing in God admiring the wonders of his Love Alas to think that outward Duties make up a Christians happiness then how often would a Believers comforts fail him for how often are we at a loss here and nonplust here but here is the joy of the Soul I have found the Pearl of price As for my own duties and performances these good Pearls though I have them and rejoyce in them in Christ yet I will not Plead to be Justified by them I will not so much as say when I have been performing the best duty Lord remember me for my Prayers sake But I desire to be found in Christ for the Lord Jesus hath bought all purchased all And so now the Lord is my righteousness my care is to be found in him Now I have a rich Pearl though I have poor duties and Prayers indeed they are good and useful and glorious in their places but I have found one Pearl worth all one Christ worth all and this Pearl I live on for all and live on in all Now saith the Believer I have enough I have got a Christ and I will live upon him I will live to him and I will rejoyce in him now I desire to enjoy nothing here below if I don't enjoy him for first Christ is a rare Pearl Whom with thee can compare who in the Heavens or among the Sons of the Mighty can compare with Christ Among all the Angels in Heaven who can be compared to Christ Take all their Praises and Triumphs and all the Services of those glorious Spirits are they to be compared to Christ Then how low and mean are our best Services I am sure if the Service of the Angels cannot compare with Christ much less can ours Will you come at last and measure with God Will you measure God's Justice and your poor Duties There is not the most Righteous Man living on Earth but it will be said Thou art weighed in the ballance and art found wanting but to the Man that knows Christ Christ is weighed for him and Christ is full and perfect Weight Justice hath good Satisfaction therefore well did Paul to cast off all Saith he I desire to be found in him he is a rare Pearl well may a Believer cast off all and desire to be found in Christ Psal 89.6 Who in the Heavens can be compared unto the Lord Who among the Sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord O what striving is here for Kingdoms and Crowns but put all the Kingdoms in the World and if there were ten thousand Worlds more one Christ is more worth than ten thousand times ten thousand Worlds But Soul if thou art but poor in the World hast but little here yet if thou hast a Christ thou art rich enough then well may a Believer say O let it to me to live be Christ let me enjoy no good Means or Mercies but in Christ because he is a rare Pearl To see a Soul in Christ what a rare Portion a rare Mercy is bestowed on that Soul We may see a Multitude hearing praying seeking goodly Pearls but it is rare to see a Soul that hath found this Pearl of great price selling all for Christ casting away all as Dung and Dross for Christ selling all that is not as if a Man that knew Christ were to run out of house and home but so to live upon Christ as to trample on the World so to use his Blessing in the World as that he may have his Heart ready to leave them when ever he is called to it and to sell his Righteousness that is not to trust to it Do not mistake me to think the Knowledg of Christ makes you less in Duty it makes you more in Love more in Delight and more in Praises and Prayer For saith the Soul though I have prayed or heard or been at the blessed Supper which of all these may be compared with Christ Therefore I will sell all for this goodly Pearl that I may have this Pearl of Price When you come to dye and leave this World if you have this Pearl of great Price you go boldly to the Throne of the Father O whatever other goodly Pearls you have you are lost for ever if you have not this Pearl of Price A Believer performs Duties as they are commanded of God and as the way wherein God meets his People but to his acceptance he hath his Eye upon Christ alone for the best of Duties are but Dung and Dross to compare with this precious Pearl When Satan comes with his Temptations and tells the Believer what a poor unworthy Creature he is the Believer that hath his Eye upon Christ for acceptance he may boldly answer Satan though I am poor and unworthy he through whom I am accepted is precious and dearly beloved of God the Father who is well pleas 〈◊〉 with him and in him Secondly Christ is a rich Pearl therefore you may well live upon him you may well say for me to live is Christ if you know Christ aright your Hearts Words and Lives cry out for me to live is Christ Persons for want of knowing Christ remain poor and blind and miserable and naked Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell All Fulness of the Godhead all Fulness of Grace Peace Glory dwells in Christ when you have Christ you have enough to live on for you have a rich Pearl The Rich Man is covetous for more Riches the Believer is covetous for more of Christ he would enjoy nothing but he would enjoy Christ in it Christ above it O Soul here is enough to enrich you It is for want of knowing Christ that poor Sinners stand off from Christ For first Mr. Sedgwick 's Fountain opened though Sinners are very poor they are very proud Secondly Though they are very poor they are very ignorant First though Sinners are very poor they are very
in Ordinances O let me have Christ or else they will be poor empty Wells without Water Clouds without Rain to my Soul Secondly He will tell you it was not only vain and foolish but altogether unprofitable Saith the Apostle What I counted gain I found loss What will it profit a man to gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Mat. 16.26 Saith the Apostle What I counted gain I found loss Alas What Profit shall I have of my Education and Learning I thought once I was as happy as another and a little Duty would make me happy for ever but I see without Christ I am undone for ever I thought if I gave God something of his due if I did some Duties and was something beyond the vain World I should be happy but I see nothing will do or can profit me without Christ for without I live in Christ I cannot enjoy Christ I cannot enjoy Grace in Christ Righteousness in Christ Faith in Christ Thirdly I see all my Duties are poor worthless things out of Christ I thought to have prayed my way to Heaven but I see all my Duties are Dross and Dung let me not meet one of them without Christ I had lost my Prayers and my Soul had not I been shipt in Christ had I not had Christ to be my all and in all I see all would have been unprofitable if I had not had Christ Prayers Sabbaths Hearing What is all my Hearing if I have not Christ So also the Supper of the Lord and other Duties what would they be to me without Christ they would be as whited Sepulchers which within are full of dead Mens Bones and all Vncleanness Mat. 23.27 O how miserable was I before I knew Christ and lived to Christ Nay saith a Believer I cannot tell you how wretched I was but I can tell you three things First I had been unprofitable I had never brought forth fruit to God Secondly Uncomfortable in Life and Death and unto all Eternity Thirdly I had been wretched and miserable O then Come to me I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul Psal 66.16 Tenthly A Believer desires neither Means nor Mercies nor Comforts but what he may enjoy Christ in because a Believer hath experienced how sweet the Life of a Believer is O taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34.8 9. O taste and see how precious Christ is how rich in Mercy how wonderful in Love O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him I will tell you what Christ hath done for me I cryed unto the Lord and he heard me I have experienced it O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him that liveth upon him So in 1 Pet. 2.2 3 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious O saith the Soul I desire I may live upon Christ upon the Promises of Christ upon the Love of Christ What if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious Then let Christ be one at my Table one in my Prayers one in every Ordinance one where ever I am What have I tasted That the Lord is gracious that is the best Sawce to my Meat the best Comfort to my Soul O I have tasted What have you tasted That the Lord is gracious I experience I know what he is he is the chief of ten thousand I cannot live without him I cannot enjoy any Mercy or any Comfort without him Saith the Soul What is this Friend This is not Christ and what is this Ordinance This is not Christ What can I take Comfort in if I have not Christ The Saints can experience how precious Christ is to them that believe he is precious Mary came to the Sepulchre there was the place where her Lord lay there were the Grave-Cloths the Sepulcher but her Lord was gone where have you laid my Lord There Mary stands weeping I cannot live withou Christ So a Soul comes to an Ordinance Here is the Tomb Here is the Grave Cloths but where have they laid my Lord What comfort is this or that What is a Sabbath What is a Sermon What is a Sacrament What are Means and Mercies without Christ Where have you laid my Lord Why do you know him Yes saith the Soul he is the Chief of ten thousand I heard him speak to me my Sister my Spouse and I have felt the sounding of my Bowels toward him he hath moved my Heart and I cannot be satisfied without him I am sick unto Death if I do not enjoy Christ Thus the Soul experiences what Christ is he is the Chief of ten thousand Why he hath done more than ten thousand Worlds could have done What is he I have tasted that he is gracious I have experienced the Bowels of his Mercies the Wonders of his Grace therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 116. I belived therefore have I spoken Vers 5. Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserveth the simple I was brought low and he helped me Saith the poor Soul I was as low as the Gates of Hell I was as one without hope till Christ raised me up Christ was my helper God laid help on one that was mighty what then Now will I live upon this God Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee For thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling Thou hast delivered my Soul from Eternal Death mine Eyes from Tears of Sorrow which I had while they said Where is my God My Feet from falling into Sin I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living I will live upon the Lord to the Lord in the Land of the Living I believed therefore have I spoken what I set forth of the Wonders of the Lord that have I experienced And saith the Apostle 1 John 1.3 These things write we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ and we would have you live as we do live on Christ as we do O saith the Believer that all persons did but know Christ and live upon Christ We write unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us for truly our ends and aims are that you may live as noble lives as we do and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ It is God in Christ that we live upon and have Communion with O the Soul that experiences what it is to live on Christ desires in all things to enjoy Christ The Spouse would not step a foot without him Come my Beloved let us go forth into
Stall Vnto you that fear my Name First You have the Persons that enjoy this great Priviledge those that fear the Lord to wit Believers distinguished from all others Secondly The Author of this Glory the Lord Jesus Christ Thirdly The Mercy they shall receive from him He shall arise with healing under his Wings upon such as fear his Name This general Mercy hath three glorious Manifestations First He rises with healing under his Wings Christ makes healthful Souls the Believer hath an healthful Soul Secondly Here is Liberty to the Soul they shall go forth one that knows not Christ is in Bondage but they shall go forth Thirdly Here is their growth they shall grow up as Calves of the Stall them that fear the Lord the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing under his Wings Though the Believer sometimes may have his doubting Fits his Dispondency many times yet the Sun of Righteousness will not let him perish for want of Healing he will rise with healing under his Wings First The Lord Jesus Christ heals the Souls of Believers with his Spirit when he pours out his Spirit into their Souls comfort ye comfort ye my People I will send the Comforter to you To a poor doubting drooping desponding Believer the Lord Jesus Christ rises with healing under his Wings he sends him a Divine Cordial from Heaven he sends a drop from his own Heart the Spirit of God comes and heals the Soul When the Disciples were under Trouble the Holy Ghost is promised I will send you the Comforter Though it is a dark Day though you think you shall never bear your Burden yet I will send the Holy Ghost that shall be a Comforter that shall lead you in all Truth that shall be better than my Presence So when the poor Spouse her very Bowels were turned within her very Heart was broken I opened to my Beloved and he was gone my Soul fainted my Heart melted What then Did he leave any thing behind him Yes He left Myrrh upon the handle of the Lock he did not only leave a Lock and Key he did not leave an Heart without Faith nor an Heart without some Peace nor an Heart without Joy nor an Heart without Comfort A Soul that is under the Law when he hath done a Duty is dead and hard still but the Lord Jesus Christ leaves Myrrh upon the handle of the Lock though he was gone and left her wounded he left her Balsam to heal her Whenever the Lord Jesus Christ leaves his People he leaves Myrrh behind him Cant. 5.4 My Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door and my bowels were moved for him First Christ heals with his Spirit Secondly Christ heals with his Merits When a Believer is under Trouble and Fear then this precious Blood of Christ comes fresh to them and is applied to them they overcame by the blood of the Lamb. When a poor oul goes mourning wishing longing O that I knew that Christ were mine Then Christ comes with his glorious Merit with his precious Blood he comes and heals the Soul comes and applies that Blood in whom we have redemption through his blood the remission of sin Ephes 1.7 Thirdly The Lord Jesus Christ heals the Soul with his Righteousness When a Soul finds it self in a naked condition as it were it cannot draw nigh to God it cannot look up to God it cannot speak chearfully of God nor thank God for the riches of Redemption fearing Christ is none of theirs then the Lord Jesus Christ reveals his Grace and Redemption and then the Soul saith The Lord my righteousness the Lord Jesus Christ heals all the Faculties of the Soul First He heals the Understanding Though the Believer hath true knowledge of Christ yet he may be in the dark when he stands behind the Wall the Believer cannot see him The Lord Jesus Christ is pleased by his holy Spirit to enlighten the Understanding to see how glorious and beautiful this Sun of Righteousness is The Sun is the Glory of the World so Christ is the Glory of the Soul As the Sun is Speculum Mundi so Christ is Speculum Animae all the Spiritual Light that the Soul enjoys comes in and through Christ Psal 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of light in thy light we shall see light so that I say this glorious Sun of Righteousness heals the Understanding he opens the blind Eyes and leads the blind in a way they know not The glorious Gospel is the Chariot that the Sun of Righteousness rides in that brings immortal Life to light through the Gospel But what would be the Gospel without the Sun of Righteousness 2 Tim. 1.10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished Death and hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel What would a Gospel be without a Christ It would be as a Box without a Pearl it would be as a Glass without Quick-silver Nay a poor Soul would have no Eyes to see this Glass were it not that Christ shines into the Soul Before Christ comes every Soul is shut up as in a dark Dungeon and can see nothing But when this glorious Sun doth shine with his glorious Beams on the Soul how does the Soul see his Beauty and excellency Then it may be said that the Light of the Lord is risen upon them Isa 60.1 Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is revealed When a poor doubting Believer hath the revelation of this Sun of Righteousness when he shines on the Soul with the Divine Beams of his Grace with the Divine Beams of his Love with the Divine Beams of Comfort with Divine Beams of Peace this Sun of Righteousness is united unto a Believer We cant have a dark World while we have the Sun our Horizon cannot be dark while we have the glorious Sun in it so Christ is in the Believer the hope of Glory and they live in Christ and Christ lives in them But does he always shine alike in them No The Sun doth not always shine alike though it is the same one day as another yet sometimes the Clouds keep it from us but yet they are enlightned with it Take notice of this you can never be thriving Souls while you are ignorant Souls But a Believer though he complains of Ignorance hath such Knowledge that he can say I desire none but Christ none in comparison of Christ The Soul can say I desire nothing but Christ and if you ask me what I I would have I would tell you Christ Above all If you ask me How came you to know this glorious Lord He shined on my Understanding in the glorious Glass of the Gospel changing my Soul into the same Image 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory When a Soul comes to see
in the Glass of the Gospel this glorious Lord how glorious Christ is then the Soul cries out O let me live in Christ Let me glorifie Christ Surely now you are thriving Souls in the knowledge of Jesus Christ I mean saving knowledge sanctified knowledge such as the Sun of Righteousness reveals when he rises with healing under his Wings There are some places that have not the Sun for many Months and O how dark and uncomfortable are they then How dark are Souls till Christ comes into them Whatever knowledg you have though you could discourse whole Bodies of Divinity yet you are dark and ignorant till Christ comes to enlighten and teach you The weakest Believer is brought to this Frame to thirst after Jesus Christ and to desire him with his whole Soul most do not believe the Report Ministers give of him Isa 53.1 Who hath believed our report and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed for he shall grow up as a tender plant and as a root out of the dry ground he hath no form nor comliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him many see something in good Duties they would be doing something for their Salvation and think to patch up a Righteousness thereby but for to know Jesus Christ so as to live on him they see no desirableness in him How much did the Pharisees do Yet Jesus Christ was rejected by them We shall see his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten Son of God full of Grace and Truth O what a Christ full of Grace and full of Truth and full of Love and full of Clory did these Jews reject The Sun of Righteousness though he was come he had not risen with his Glory upon them Ah glorious Lord that any should be so blind as not to see some Beauty in this glorious Christ And yet so blind is the most of the World and many Professors that though they have the glorious Light of his Word yet how dark are their Souls We may say as the Prophet When they see him there is no beauty that they see in him that they should desire him Tell a carnal Heart of Christ and Grace and Heaven they go away and have no desire to him but when Christ comes in his Word and shines into the Soul and rises with healing under his Wings O then saith the Soul let me have a Christ let me live to Christ Before they saw no Beauty in him that they should desire him no Beauty and yet altogether beautiful What is the most glorious Object when a Man is blind What is the glorious Sun to a Man that cannot see So what is this glorious Christ this lovely Christ this precious Christ to a poor blind Sinner But for the Believer that hath Christ his Life he cries out for more Knowledge more Grace more Communication with Christ Christ doth daily shine more and more in a Believers Understanding removing Ignorance and Darkness The poorest Believer in Knowledge cannot but give God praise for healing his Understanding though I know we are rather crying out for what we want than giving thanks for what we have receiv'd The Lord Jesus heals the gross Ignorance of your Understanding and heals it more and more Though God is pleased to give to every one according to their place and station yet every one shall have a saving Knowledg There is Milk for Babes and Meat for strong Men. Secondly You shall prosper and thrive because the Sun of Righteousness when he arises on your Souls heals your Affections Before the Heart was as dead and as cold as a stone no love for Christ whatever you loved no love for this Lord of Glory But now when this Sun of Righteousness is risen with healing under his Wings he heals the Affections of the Soul that now the Soul is let out in affection to Jesus Christ now the Soul cries out How lovely is thy dwelling-place as David did and why is it so lovely David Because there I enjoy God So saith a Believer How lovely are the Ordinances of Christ Why Christian what makes them so lovely Oh saith the Christian I meet with a lovely Christ there Saith the Spouse Tell thou me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy Flock to rest at noon Why would you be there I would be where the Flock is because Christ is there Cant. 1.7 When the Soul feels the warm Divine Beams of the Sun of Righteousness then the Soul comes to see a Loveliness in Christ Before you can love Christ you must see that Christ loved you first he first darts his Divine Love into your Souls When Elijah cast his Mantle over Elisha saith Elisha Let me I pray thee kiss my Father and Mother and then I will follow thee Why what have I done to thee What hast thou done Enough to draw me after thee It was not any vertue in the Mantle but a Divine Power from Heaven that did draw his Heart after the Prophet Away he runs after him and when he was taken from him he cries out My Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof When the Divine Beams of the Love of Christ are cast into the Soul then the Soul cries out For me to live is Christ O that I may live to the Lord O that I may die in the Lord O that I may have upholdings that I may have strength in every Trial Then I care not what I go through that I may enjoy the Lord. Sometimes a Believer comes with an Heart very cold dead and narrow and doth not Jesus Christ send him away as a burning Lamp When he rises with healing under his Wings what Divine Love does he draw forth in your Souls after him The Spouse was so cold she could not so much as open to Christ but when Christ had left his Myrrh upon the handle of the Lock she runs after him crying out She was sick of Love So sometimes a Believer is in a very dead frame a very cold frame a very narrow frame but the Lord Christ comes in the Ordinance with his Divine Beams and the Soul is warmed and transformed into the very Image of the God of Love As for Example the Disciples were walking in a freezing condition Christ was among them but a little while and their Hearts were burning hot within them Was it Christ's bodily Presence only No no that many Thousands enjoyed but he came to them with the healing Beams of his Divine Love to their Souls he darted Divine Beams of his Grace into their Hearts O then they talk after another manner With what fervency and delight did they discourse of the Kingdom of Heaven to what they did before Sometimes when Believers meet together how dead and cold and narrow are they But when Christ arises with new healing Beams of Divine Grace in their Hearts how thriving is their Discourse How
profitable How warmly do they discourse of the Kingdom of God How longing after it Luke 24.32 And they said one to another Did not our Hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures He might have talked of the Scriptures long enough and opened the meaning of them and no warmth come to their Heart till he shined into their Souls You that are united to this Sun of Righteousness you that live on him by Faith you are under these thriving Beams though you have not always the same manifestation But when these glorious Beams dart into your Souls how lively are you in your walking and in your talking Though you may have some frosty Nights some cold Fits yet while you are united to this Sun of Righteousness you shall have some warm Beams that shall make you thrive and grow All means of Grace are like the Prophet's Staff which will not bring the dead Child to Life until the Prophet comes When the Prophet came and lay on the Child the Child was warm and it breathed and stirred and rose up and walked Poor doubting Soul is there Breath in thee Dost thou breath after Christ Dost thou desire no means mercies nor blessings but what thou mayest enjoy Christ in them I say Christ hath already breathed on you and his Divine Beams of Grace will cause you to rise up and walk I mean to grow stronger and stronger so that the Sun of Righteousness heals the Affections of many A poor Soul cries I cannot love Christ it is impossible I should ever love him But if you desire to love Christ with your whole Heart you love him already The Soul that hath a spark of Faith that works by Love shall be sure to increase in Love When Christ comes down when he puts in his Finger by the hole of the Door saith the Soul Draw me I will run after thee his Love is better than Wine Christ sometimes gives you drops of Wine sometimes Flagons of Wine sometimes but a Sip and sometimes full Draughts Draw me and I will run after thee as if she had said Draw me and I will commend thee to others As Melancthon said when he was converted He thought that he could have converted all that he conversed with but he found the old Serpent was too hard for young Melancthon When the Soul comes to know this glorious Christ by Faith and to live upon him the Soul thinks he could so commend him that he could make all about him to love Christ Draw me I will run after thee Why what is the matter Thy Love is better than Wine vers 3. Because of the savour of thy good Oyntments thy Name is as Oyntments poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee vers 4. Draw me we will run after thee When the Lord Jesus Christ witnesses to the Believer by the Spirit that he is united to him when he sends forth Divine Beams from this Glorious Light and Life and Warmth the Soul hath his Love drawn out abundantly When Peter was freezing by the Fire in the High Priest's Hall one look from Christ melts his Heart Ah my Friends you may have the Fire of Ordinances kindled yet have an Heart as cold as a stone but when Christ looks on you then does he melt your Souls into the very Image of Love then he draws the Heart after him in Divine Acts of Love that what the Soul hath often thought of now it comes more and more to the Soul that Love is stronger than Death When the Divine Beams of Divine Love are darted into the Soul and the Soul comes to consider First What unconceivable Love the Love of Christ is O saith the Soul Christ hath loved me with an unconceivable unspeakable Love So Paul saith who loved me and gave himself for me Not I live but Christ lives in me the Soul is acquainted this is an unspeakable Love John 1.3 Behold what manner of Love is this that we should be called the Children of God! O what unspeakable Love is this saith the Soul that I should be called a Child of God! How comes it about O the Wonders of this Love O that I should be called a Child of God What me to be made like Christ For God to be my Father in Christ What manner of Love is this How unspeakable how wonderful is this love Secondly When Christ comes to shine on the Soul it comes to see what distinguishing Love this is Why me O Lord Who gave himself for me Saith the Apostle There is an application of this Love Why me Lord Why not many thousands chosen and I left out Why I chosen and many thousands left O that Christ should love me redeem me die for me O my Soul love thou the Lord live to this Lord let him be all in all who loved me before the World was That I am not among the Damned in Hell is a wonderful mercy But that I should be one of the Lords redeemed ones that I should be chosen out of the Kindred and Tongues and Nations of the Earth O what Love is this The Expressions and Impressions of Divine Love A Believer would live with it all his days and die with it and go to Glory with it Why me Lord Why hast thou pardoned me sanctified me O that God should give Christ for me That Christ should go through his Sorrows for me Through his bloody Sweat for me That I should have a part in Christ's precious Merits What though Christ loved sinners if I am not the sinner that Christ loves But when the Beams of Divine Love are darted into the Soul it cries O that Christ hath loved me more than his own Life more than his own Glory and love me above others in the World O what distinguishing Love is this Then the Soul must needs have an endeared Love to Christ O that for me to live may be Christ O that I may enjoy him in all my enjoyments Thirdly The Soul sees the Love of Christ is undeserved Love O wretch that I am that ever Christ should love me It is an heightning our Love when the Divine Beams of his Love shines on our Souls to reveal how unworthy we are of Christ's Love This is that the Apostle speaks of and nothing more heightens our Love than that Christ loved us when we were unworthy of his Love 1 Tim. 1.12 13. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry who was before a Blasphemer and a Persecutor and injurious but I obtained mercy It is a glorious Beam of Divinity shines on the Soul when the Soul comes to see its own Unworthiness Why me Lord so wretched and miserable a sinner What Christ come from his Glorious Throne from Heaven to Earth to heal my Heart To come here to die for me a wretched Soul O when the Sun of Righteousness rises on the
are as Rain ay and all your Afflictions too Then you may go through all Trials chearfully to Heaven you my meet God smiling on you in every Trouble and Affliction After a great Rain how doubtingly does a Man go on his Journey there are great Floods of Water I cannot go on with comfort I fear deep Gulfs in the way but when the Flouds are dried up he goes forward comfortably So does a Soul when he comes to live on Christ he goes forward with Joy We may say to a Christian you have great Afflictions and great Temptations but it is all sweet there is no fear of God's Anger Christ hath taken all that away The more I pray saith the Believer the more I am encouraged to pray the more I do act Faith the stronger I find my Faith but till you come to believe in this Christ to make him your Life you go on very feebly very doubtingly and the Soul many times cries out I faint I fear I shall not come to Glory when I have done all And many under Convictions go back again and cast off Religion What is the matter Truly I fear I shall not hold out I shall not reach Heaven at last But when you come to know Christ saith the Soul I know whatever I meet with I shall be brought home safe to Glory O then what miserable Doctrin is that of falling from Grace As if Christ would bring Believers half way to Heaven and then leave them Hath this glorious Redeemer undertaken this for the Believer and at last will he leave him No no if you have made Christ your Life you shall certainly be brought home safe to Glory Seconldy if it be so that a Believer's Life is wrapt up in Christ's Life then a Believer lives a happy Life I shall branch these forth into several particulars to shew wherein this Happiness consists First He that lives on Christ lives an happy Life because it is a suitable Life to an immortal Soul while persons live upon any thing below Christ it is nothing but a little Dust a little Earth What is Gold or Silver or Honour or Life or Liberty without Christ Such is the nature of the Soul that it is not fitted to live upon gross material and perishing things as the Body doth The Food of every Creature is agreeable to its Nature One cannot subsist upon that which another doth as we see among several sorts of Animals What is food to one is none to another In the same place there is found a Root which is fit for Swine a Stalk which is Food for Sheep a Flower which feeds the Bee and a Seed on which the Birds Live The Sheep cannot live on the Root as the Swine doth nor the Bird on the Flower as the Bee doth but every one feeds upon the Plants which are agreeable to its nature so 't is here our Bodies being of an earthly material nature can live upon things earthly and material as most agreeable to him that can relish and suk sweetness 〈…〉 these things But the Soul can find nothing therein suitable to its nature and appetite Mr. Flavel it must have spiritual Food or perish Now to live Christ is the only suitable Life to an immortal Soul A precious Soul must have something precious to live upon there is nothing can purchase the redemption of the Soul No one can redeem his Brothers Soul that is too precious Psal 49.7 8. None of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for him for the redemption of the Soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever Every thing is below this immortal Soul none can redeem his Brothers Soul no not by his Riches nor by his Prayers or Duties without Christ become his Life The redemption of the Soul is too precious to be bought by any Duties that can be done Prayers or Tears or Fasting cannot buy a Soul therefore it must be a precious Christ that must be the Life of the Soul for he is suitable to an immortal Soul as we speak concerning our natural Constitutions When Health is wanted we say the person must have that which is suitable if they give him Food we tell him he wants Physick if he have Physick we tell him he wants Air if he have this we tell him he wants Contentment and so if they do not hit of that which is suitable the Man is lost A Man may be killed with Food as well as for want of it and likewise with Physick as well as for want of it So if we do not hit of that which is suitable it is the destruction of the Body So if we do not hit of that which is suitable to the Soul it is the Death of the Soul Suppose a great many persons endeavoured to make a Cure but they miss of that which is suitable then there can be no Cure wrought The poor Papists think to save their Souls by trusting to their own Merits and their feigned Purgatory but alas they miss the mark So some carnal Protestants they will do many things and think to gain eternal Life When they are convinced of sin they will run to Duty they do well but if they make that their Saviour there they miss the suitable Good Some they go to Reformation they do well but that will not do if rested on or to trust to their own endeavours or own purposes they settle on a false bottom all miss the Mark of this glorious high Calling in Christ Jesus It were therefore too bruitish and unreasonable of a man that understood the nature of his own Soul Mr. Flavel's Treatise of the Soul p. 59. to chear it up with the stores of earthly Provisions made for it as he did Luke 12.20 I will say to my Soul Soul thou hast laid up Goods for many years eat drink and be merry Alas the Soul can no more eat drink and be merry with carnal things than the Body with spiritual and immaterial things it cannot feed upon the Bread that perisheth it can relish no more in the best and daintiest fare of an earthly growth than in the White of an Egg but bring it to a reconciled God in Christ to the Covenant of Grace and the sweet promises of the Gospel set before it the Joys Comforts and Earnests of the Spirit and if it be a sanctified renewed Soul it can make a rich Feast upon these These make a Feast of fat things full of marrow as is expressed Isa 25.6 Spiritual things are proper for a spiritual and immaterial Soul If a Physician gives a thousand Medicines and miss of the right the Man dies Every Man walks in the Name of his God but how many are ignorant of Christ who is the Life of the Soul Now notwithstanding all Duties and Performances they want a precious Christ for a precious Soul At first Man lived on his own Works but when he sinnned the Soul had an immortal stroke
that can never be healed by all his Works It must be Christ that must redeem his immortal Soul When Adam had sinned God said Thou shalt die that is in dying thou shalt die a double Death while he lived he lived a dying Life To live Christ it is a suitable Life a precious Christ for a precious Soul is suitable For First The Redemption of the Soul is precious they are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Now this Redemption becomes not the Soul till a Soul lives on Christ but this Redemption is suitable to a Soul under the wrath of God under sin and under Guilt Secondly Pardoning Grace is very precious And it is in Christ alone that the Soul can be pardoned Pardon is a precious Jewel to an immortal Soul It is only living by Christ laying hold on Christ that this pardoning Grace is conveyed to the Soul Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven him whose iniquity is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Rom. 8.32 Psal 1.2 An immortal Soul is precious in its being yet for want of a pardon is miserable to all Eternity because of its precious Excellency and Nature that wants the highest perfection to live upon him alone and not having him to be their Life their Death is more miserable than any Creature because other Creatures when they die there is an end of their Misery If a Man be condemned to die that is a Malefactor if under the sense of his miserable end looks upon himself better never to have been born better never to have lived on Earth than to make such an end A Soul out of Christ is the most miserable Creature that can be for the excellency of the immortal Soul is cast down to the greatest misery because it wants that which alone is the Soul's cure and happiness Thirdly Christ is suitable to the Soul in that there is a righteousness suitable to cover the Soul All the Gold and Silver and Jewels in the World will not be of any account to an immortal Soul when it stands naked before God But Christ's Righteousness is a precious Garment that cloaths the Soul that is naked in sin Buy of me white raiment thou art poor miserable and naked but I counsel you to buy of me Gold tried in the Fire that thou mayest be rich and white Raiment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear Here is a cloathing for the Soul or else it will remain naked for ever and have nothing to keep off the Wrath of God When a Soul is convinced and awakened and affected with the Love of Christ when the Beams of his Divine Love and Grace break into the Soul embracing Christ what a quick sight and sense hath a Soul of Divine Comforts and Blessings And on the other hand what a quick sight and sense hath a Soul of the Wrath of God that is awakened under the sense of its Guilt and Misery Many have stifled their Conviction being swallowed up in Sensuality and are apt to forget the awakenings of Conscience by reason of the hardness of their Hearts and blindness of their Minds but when God comes to awaken them thoroughly that ye shall not sleep again then the Soul hath a deep sense of the Wrath of God If we could have spoken with Judas before he hanged himself he would have told you he had Hell begun here If you could have spoke with Cain he would tell you he found the Terrors of Hell while here on Earth Were we to speak to despairing Souls yet out of Hell they will tell you their Souls are naked to Divine Vengeance apply to them what Comforts you will there is nothing will do them good without an Application of Christ to their Souls and as they are awakened here so they will feel another Day what they now fear Psal 90.11 What is suitable to the Soul but Christ Have not many gone with all their Gifts and Parts and Duties to Hell What will serve this Immortal Soul but the Robes of Christ's Righteousness That alone will save from the Wrath of God and will alone bring the Soul in the favour and love of God Therefore to know and behold Christ is the only suitable good for an Immortal Soul We say when we see a Man raised from sickness or Death by the use of means How happy it was he was directed to that means or Physician Ah! but thrice happy yea a thousand times happy yea everlastingly happy art thou if thou art directed to know Christ for his is the only Righteousness that can cloath you to stand in God's Presence and be saved from the Wrath to come Then further as there is in Christ's precious Pardon and precious Righteousness to cover the Soul So there is precious Peace suitable When a Man hath not Peace with God he is a miserable wretched Man For a Man to be followed up and down where-ever he goes with the Wrath of a sin-revenging God that he cannot come to God But whereever he goes he is afraid Divine Vengeance will seize him What a dreadful state is it Fifthly To have Christ our Life is suitable because Christ lives for ever and your Soul lives for ever and you must have something to uphold them for ever All the Saints in Heaven though they live for ever and all the Angels though they live for ever they cannot help you if you have not Christ for yours If Christ who is at God's right Hand is not your Life where will your immortal Souls sink How happy is it to be provided for an Immortal Life Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever The Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter Psal 45.6 The Soul liveth for ever and therefore a short good Mr. Murcot on the Parable of the ten Virgins tho never so full is not commensurate to it There must be certitudo aeternae fruitionis There must be a never-dying Life and that must be a Life wrapt up in Christ Your Life is hid with Christ in God e're long you will all go out of this World and must appear before God and if you have not Christ for your Life what will you do What a Folly is it to make any thing your Hope below Christ be it Riches or Honours or Duties alas these will all fail you Saith John the Baptist I live a decreasing Life He must increase but I must decrease John 3.20 but he is yesterday and to day the same for ever but all other things will wither and die Therefore how good is it to live in Christ Take a Soul naked out of the Body and shew it all the Riches and Honours and Blessings of the World Alas they can
foolish said to the wise give us of your Oyl Have you no Oyl to spare us No none All the Angels in Heaven nor Saints in Heaven cannot help a poor sinner that hath not made Christ his Life He that hath most of Christ cannot part with any of Christ he that hath most Grace cannot part with any when he comes to die O saith the graceless Soul when he comes to die give me of your Oyl have not you some to spare The ungodly Husband will wish himself in the condition of the Godly Wife the Ungodly Parent of their Godly Child the Ungodly Children in the condition of the godly Parent If the ungodly Child should cry to the Godly Parent Oh for some of your Grace Oh spare me some of your Grace The Answer will be No no we have little enough for our selves would we had more Grace pray go and buy for your selves But alas 't is too late we trifled with Christ and with Grace I could go home after I heard a Sermon and be content and thought it was well enough though I never minded it any more I was told if I had not Christ I was undone It was preach'd to me if I had not Christ's Righteousness I should be found naked but I did not mind it nor regard it but now it is too late I indeed performed some Duties because I was afraid of Hell and because Conscience would not let me alone I kept to hearing and praying but to make Christ my Life that I was ignorant of Whatever was preach'd to me of him to make him my Life whatever was preach'd to me of him to make sure of him for my own I thought I could spare him well enough I thought I could live on my own Duties Alas you may be full of Duties and yet have an Heart empty of Christ You may keep a Sabbath outwardly and yet have no enjoyment of God inwardly you may perform Duty but if you have not Christ your Life you will survive all you have you will live to spend all An Hypocrite may go very far his Profession may carry him very far and yet fall short at last God doth not pluck away the Vizard at first but letteth them proceed The foolish Virgins took their Lamps and went boldly out to meet Christ along with the Wise More then will be perswaded too that will hardly now stir a Foot for Christ they continued so until the Bridegroom tarried so long beyond their expectation that they fell asleep What a dreadful thing is it for Professors to have nothing but what they may live to spend and be undone when they come to die Your Immortal Souls will survive all your Prayers and all your Sabbaths and if Christ is not your Life you are undone for ever This was the case of those fooolish Virgins The Fool in the Gospel provides for many years to come and lives but a short time And the other they pretended to get something for their Souls and lived to spend all You may be undone for living on your Profession as well as those who are Enemies to it Many will say they have not time to look after the things of another World no time to mind Christ nor seriously to think of their latter end Alas it is not being on your Knees in a morning and remember the Lord no more all the Day then to go hurrying on in the World never minding Christ nor your precious Souls On the other hand there are foolish Professors that make their own Duties their Righteousness and so think they have no need of Christ The one laies up more for himself than he lives to spend The other is so foolish he lays up so little not having Christ that he spends all and so is miserable but let us have a care we are not those Fools You that are Professors have a care you do not die poor that you do not live upon your Duties and not get Christ for your Souls to live upon The foolish said to the wise Give us of your Oyl But the wise answered and said Not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go rather to them that sell and buy for your selves Ah! how fain would every one of you have a Christ when you come to die How fain would every one of you have Grace when you come to die You will go home it may be this day and a few days more and set quietly at your Tables without Christ but when you come to die you will cry out O that I had a Christ It is hard venturing your Immortal Souls on this Line of time thinking it will reach out longer and you do not know how soon this thred of your Life may be cut asunder and when you come to die and are without Christ you will wish O that I had closed with Christ when I was perswaded to do it You are always ready that know Christ but never ready whatever you do without Christ if you have performed ten thousand Duties and keep a thousand Fasts without Christ you are undone And when they came the door was shut the Door of the Kingdom the Door of Grace the Door of Mercy the Door of Happiness of Comfort What the Door shut What the Door of Heaven shut against me O where shall I go Those persons that will not in time come to Christ for Grace they will knock when it is too late for entrance into glory What shall I do I am shut out without the Kingdom without God without Christ in everlasting Burnings Afterwards came also the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us Thus ready will they be to call Christ Lord that never took him to be their Husband Lord Lord open to us we are come we are come we knock now O how earnestly do they knock now You that coldly desire Christ now that indifferently seek after Christ now you will at last knock and call earnestly when it is too late There are three dreadful Outcries in this World but there will be three dreadfuller Cries which a Person that dies without Christ will send forth in the other World The first dreadful Cry in this World is a Malefactor that is sensible of his Misery when he is condemned What an Outcry when it is said Thou must die O how doth he cry out for mercy The second dreadful Outcry is When a Ship suffers Shipwrack and the Mariners or Passengers are sinking into the Sea then what a dreadful Outcry is there with them that before were cursing and swearing The third dreadful Outcry is When Soldiers or Rebels besiege a City and put Men Women and Children to the Sword but a Person that lives and dies without Christ there are three dreadfuller Cries First A Soul that is awakened departing this Life takes a view of his miserable state in the other World when Conscience drags him before God's Tribunal and there is condemned by the Law of God the Soul cries
I warrant you think that they that conversed with Christ on Earth were happy I tell you there were thousands saw Christs Face on Earth that shall never see his Face in Glory It may be you think if you come and hear a Sermon you have conversed enough with Christ for all the Week though you never had one precious thought of Christ but to have Christ your Life you have a Glorious Life Soul is thy Heart wrapt up in Christ What would you desire if you were to have your Wishes granted Is it Christ More of Christ To live more to Christ To enjoy more of Christ If it is so you live a glorious Life there is more Glory in one Believer than in all Creatures on Earth beside When Chrysostom was put to silence said some Better the whole World were left in darkness than such a glorious Light should be put out Now if the preaching of Christ be so glorious what is the Life of Christ in the Believer Fourthly To live Christ is a glorious Life for there comes a glorious Train with Christ all the Graces of the Spirit Believers are God's Habitations Eph. 2.22 You are the Terrestrial wherein the King of Glory keeps his Abode till you be removed to abide with him in Heaven If we did but consider and our Eyes were opened to see what a Train of Hellish Lusts dwell in us before Christ is in us we should be amazed the Apostle tells you of many of them While you are fleshly and not know Christ I tell you whatever you are in Profession you are what the Apostle speaks Gal. 5.9 Now the works of the Blesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witcheraft Hatred Variance Emulation Wrath Strife Sedition Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like as if he should say I will not foul my mouth with what dwells in a carnal Heart May be you may say Many that have no Grace abhor many of these things I answer It may be the Devil may not lead Persons into all at once but the Works of the Flesh are manifest in unconverted Persons What Man is there that knows not Christ but loves something below Christ and that is Idolatry though you do not worship a strange God Do you love a strange God Is God first and last Highest and best Most prized and loved Is all well when Christ is enjoyed Do you not complain more for other things than for Christ Hatred is a very reigning sin Variance Emulations Wrath Strife many sins dwell in the Heart all sin is rooted in corrupt Nature but what is meet for Sale he brings forth like a Shop-keeper he brings forth Goods that are fit for Sale he hath all sorts but he doth not sell all sorts at once So the sinner hath all sin in him to be brought forth Satan tempts him sometimes to one sin sometimes to another When the Devil comes to buy the Sinner is furnished with all sorts of sins for him and sells what the Devil pleases to buy But when Christ comes what Train does he bring with him He brings a glorious Train Verse 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law the Law hath nothing to say against them for Christ is formed upon their Heart O what a glorious Train does Christ bring When Christ is your Life you come to Christ and walk with Christ what a glorious Train of Graces possess the Soul Now the angry Man the wrathful Person is a meek an humble Person the worldly Man is come to love Christ and God and the Kingdom of Heaven and the Saints and Holiness he is come to have the Fruit of the Spirit O what a glorious Life is it to live Christ It sets Christ on the Throne and unthrones Ungodliness and at the last Day Christ will set you on his Throne and crown you with Glory Christ and the Believer are all one he dwells in you and you live on him Alas to be a Professor and walk at random to walk in the Suburbs of Hell while we Profess to be Citizens of Heaven I profess it is a shame some Professors should profess Religion Blessed be God that many are waiting on God but till you know Christ there is a black Train in the Soul The Hearts of many swell if they know but a little of the Letter if they can but speak or discourse but when Christ comes there is a new frame of Heart not new in Faculties but in Qualities O what a glorious Life it is to live Christ I This Life is not to be parallel'd If I had the Tongue of an Angel I could not set forth the Life of a Soul that lives on lives Christ it is so far beyond the Life of the carnal Professor that makes me repeat it over and over There is so much difference between this Life and the Life of carnal Professors that they do not deserve to be once named in the day the Believer that lives on Christ is spoke of What for Christ to have Union with the Believer For the Believer to have Union with Christ It is such a Mystery that the Angels desire to look into the Mystery of it Those that live not this Life tho they make a Profession they are cold Professors ignorant Professors and indeed nothing but Professors Fifthly It is a glorious Life because it is the richest Life you can live You never live richly till you live holy and you never live holy till you come to live on Christ Of his fulness have we all received Grace for Grace There is not only in Christ a fulness of Abundance but also fulness of Redundance there is an everflowing fulness in Christ as a Fountain overflows and yet remains full Grace for Grace or Grace upon Grace abundance of Grace and the increases of Grace one by another there is all good in Christ that poor Sinners want Omne bonum in summo bono Mr. Brook's Unsearchable Riches of Christ all good is in the chiefest good You may see Corn that is scattered on a thatch'd House spring up but it soon withers it is not like Corn sown in its natural Soyl. You may see some new Professors under some Convictioons how hot and zealous they are but it soon withers there being no root But when a Soul is planted in Christ it is got in good ground it is not thorny ground or stony ground Many Persons are very unhappy they are very diligent to do something to attain Happiness yet miss of Happiness at last Many Professors are very unhappy they make a great noise of Religion yet never come to know Christ so never thrive in Religion You never thrive nor lead a rich Life till you know Christ all Treasures of Wisdom dwell in him that is the true Wisdom and the Lord humble this Generation because they exalt Christ no more
14.19 saith Christ Because of him you shall live also He lives and you shall live he is in Glory and you shall be in Glory he is on the Throne and you shall be on the Throne he is beloved of the Father and you are beloved of the Father Believing in Christ is a safe way no way safe but by believing in Christ There is a poor Christian in Troubles and Trials but he is happy his Life is bound up in his Lords Life which is the Life of Lives When Jacob was in his Journey to Padan Aram when he came to lie down at night he had but an hard Pillow Indeed many times it is hardest with the outward Man when it is best with the inward Man He had a stone for his Pillow but a cordial for his Soul A Ladder that reached from Heaven to Earth This Ladder hath six glorious Rounds that make a Believer to ascend up to the enjoyment of God his Birth his Life and Doctrin his Death and Resurrection his Ascension and Intercession Christ is that Ladder that reacheth from Heaven to Earth the Saints Salvation is begun carried on and finished in and through and by him he is the Author and Finisher of our Faith we are elected in him Ephes 1.1 Christ is Principium Caput Electionis he is the first Elect in whom and for whom all other are elected God elected Christ to be Head of the Body all the Members chosen in him he is made All to the believing Soul from first to last he is made of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 It was a Figurative Discovery of the Lord Jesus Christ whose Deity and Humanity was set forth by this Ladder This Ladder may be considered either 1. Literally and so it is represented to Jacob the Providence of God who tho he dwells in Heaven extends his Care and Government to the Earth and particularly makes use of the Angels as ministring Spirits for the good of his people and these Angels do not appear idle or standing still but always in motion either ascending to God to receive his Commands or descending to Earth for the execution of them which was a most seasonable Vision for Jacob in his sad and sorrowful condition that though he was forsaken and persecuted by Men and forced to flie away secretly for fear of his Life yet he neither was nor should be neglected or forsaken of God in his whole Journey Or Mystically and so it represents Jesus Chist by whom Heaven and Earth are united who is called the way to Heaven which this Ladder was who as the Head of Angels Mr. Pool's Annotations is perpetually sending them forth either to God or from God to minister to the Heirs of Salvation And he dreamed a Dream and behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reached up to Heaven and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending Gen. 28.11 And he lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night It is best tarrying though night when Christ is present because the Sun was set When outward Comforts go down and Christ arises it is a blessed change And he took of the stones of the place and put them for his Pillows It is a blessed Lodging where Christ is And lay down in that place to sleep Well may a Soul sleep quiet when Christ is present with him And he dreamed a Dream and behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reached to Heaven This must be Jesus Christ figuratively For First His Protection was ready though this was but a Dream God did visit his People in Dreams of old before Christ was manifest in the Flesh Jesus Christ whose Humanity was set forth who humbled himself to the Death of the Cross he came from Heaven to Earth he was truly God truly Man And behold the Angels of God ascending and descending on it Still there are always ministring Spirits about the Heirs of Salvation still they keep the Rounds of the Ladder they are ready to serve God if they are sent a thousand Miles yea Millions of Miles to minister to the Saints shewing still only that a Soul in Christ hath protection and Guardian Angels to attend upon him he hath the Chariots of God to accompany him Psal 68.17 O Believer what are you Christ's And have you so many Angels waiting on you daily Where is your thankfulness Where is your Heart-love to God Psal 34. The Angel of the Lord encamps round about those that fear him Have you Angels waiting and attending on you Angels ascending and descending for your Good you are in a safe condition Believing Souls have you not found this Ladder many times when you have been in Trouble and under Desertion have you not found your Hearts hard your Comforts dead your Souls cast down have not you found Jesus Christ the Ladder by which you have ascended up to the Father Hath he not brought you out of that Wilderness condition Whosoever thou art that fearest the Lord be of good courage take thou no care neither be faint-hearted nor make any doubt of the Angels waking watching and Protection for most certainly they are about and by thee and do carry thee upon their hands But how or in what manner Take thou no care God saith it Luther therefore it must be sure and certain Although now adays they appear not visibly nor afford such outward help yet are these Heavenly Messengers employed for the safeguard and benefit of the Saints As Embroidered Cherubims environed the Tabernacle Ainsworth so do those Heavenly Soldiers guard God's true Tabernacle the Church Cant. 3.6 Who is this that comes out of the Wilderness Who is this From whence doth she come From the Wilderness a Wilderness of Trials Temptations and Desertions she turns her Back on them and her Face on Christ And how doth she come She ascends like Pillars of smoke What Incense hath she She hath perfumed Incense Myrrh and Frankincense with all Powders of the Merchant with the sweet savour of Christ with the Righteousness of Christ It ascends being drawn up by the Spirit of God it is perfumed having Christ's Righteousness No Powder of the Merchant can be sweeter than the Prayers of a Saint to God in Christ but they would not ascend if it were not for the Spirit of God While Persons employ their Gifts and Parts out of Christ they descend though they do perform Duty in the exactest manner yet there is Evil enough in them for God to abhor it they are as smoak in the Nostrils of a pure God But when they are perfumed by Jesus Christ they are a sweet savour Therefore be not afraid of those weak Prayers smoky Prayers they are perfumed with Christs Righteousness It may be the poor Soul complains I have been at Prayer but I have prayed with such wandrings and such deadness and such coldness that I fear God will abhor me But
this in God to poor Sinners that he unbosoms himself to them that he should give Christ to be their Life When they were carnal wicked and sinful that then Jesus Christ should be revealed unto them that the Lord should bestow on dead Sinners such a precious Life who were by Nature poor dead heavy Lumps of Hell What infinite surpassing Love is this that should give such a Life to raise up Lumps of Hell to Heavenly Glory Christ cloathed himself with Human Flesh and Blood that so he might become an Infinit Mass and boundless Sea of visible speaking breathing weeping bleeding living dying Grace All the glorified Saints and Angels are but living Monuments and ever-living Tenants of this Free Grace this Grace of Christ perfumeth Heaven and Earth All the Grace which God doth or can put forth for the Salvation of Sinners is laid up and exhibited by Christ he has broad and strong Shoulders which can bear to Heaven the most heavy Lumps of Hell There is more Force and Omnipotence in Christ's Infirmity and Sufferings than in all the strength and efficacy of Men and Angels There is more Life in Christs Death more Riches in his Poverty more Victory in his hanging on the Cross than in all the World besides yea Christ's very Sighs Tears Sweat Stripes Reproaches and Faintings have a Sovereign Efficacy in them for the procuring and conferring Grace on his redeemed ones Thence we receive of Christs Fulness Grace for Grace Look as the Child receiveth from his Parent Limb for Limb Member for Member as the Sons of Adam receive all of his Fulness Sin for Sin Lust for Lust so Christs regenerated ones receive of his Fulness Grace for Grace there is not any Grace in the Heart of Christ but his Members have an Impartment and Resemblance thereof Now this infinite Plenitude of Grace in Christ which renders him so glorious proceeds originally from the Election of God the Father for all the Treasures of Grace are originally lodged in the Sovereign good pleasure or Heart of God the Father who has ordained Christ as Mediator through whom all are to be conveighed to the Elect. This ought greatly to be remarked or heeded by the Friends of Christ that albeit the Divine Essence and Sovereign Will of God be the Original Fountain of all Grace yet he has determin'd that not one drop of this Grace shall be derived unto Sinners but through Christ a Mediator This is the gret Mystery of the Gospel the great Wonder of Heaven and Earth that the blessed God who is the Fountain of all Grace Mr. Gale of the Saints Amity with God in Christ should so far condescend to Sinners as to assume Human Nature and to make it a Receptacle and Vehicle to convey all Grace unto them 4 Infer Is Christ a Believers Life and such a Life as hath been discoursed How should Believers be endeared to Jesus Christ What a thriving happy blessed glorious surpassing Life do Believers live It is natural to Persons to love their Lives more than all Enjoyments What Cost and Pains will Persons be at to preserve their natural Lives but what are all the Lives that have been since Adam to the end of the World if compared with Christ who is a Believers Life all their present and future Blessings are bound up in this Life What cause hath every every Believer to mourn that they love Christ so little that hath loved them so much His Love to them passeth Knowledge the Depths of it can never be fathomed With what purpose of Heart should every Believer cleave to Christ Christ loved with his whole Heart as it doth appear by what he hath suffered for his redeemed ones Methinks I should hear a Believer say with Peter Lord thou knowest I love thee It is much to be lamented Christ hath many professed Friends but few real Lovers as a Learned Author saith Multi osculantur Christum pauci vero amant Many kiss Christ but few love him Many do as Orpha did to her Mother Naomi Kiss and take their leave And many with Judas Kiss and betray But Oh with what an hearty and fervent Love should every Believer love Christ 5 Infer Is Christ a Believers Life Then what Life should there be in a Believers Love towards each other They that are bound up in the same bundle of Life should be bound up in a bundle of Love How can our Love be hid from them in whom we see the Love of Christ appear How can those pretend to be made partakers of the Life of Christ that are Strangers to the Love of Christ Rivers of Waters ran down David's Eyes because Men kept not God's Law Have we not cause in our days to shed a Flood of Tears that Christians break Christ's new Commandment who hath commanded his Disciples to love one another There are many that pretend to be passed from Death to Life but few there are that love the Brethren Are not many so bound up in their own Opinion as if their whole Salvation lay therein laying such weight and stress thereon as if none could be saved but them that jump in with them in their Opinion while it may be all the while they are grosly mistaken But if their Form and way of Worship be right they mistake the Mark that rest there for Salvation How do such despise Persons holier and sounder in the Principles of Religion than themselves and while they profess themselves to be Christians of the highest Rank they deny an Article of our Christian Faith that all that own themselves Christians profess to believe viz. the Communion of Saints denying Fellowship with them that have Fellowship with the Father and his Son Christ Jesus such as are bound up in 〈◊〉 things as Tith of Mint Annis and Cummin neglect the weightier matters Judgment Mercy and Faith not but that it is good to be zealous for every Truth of Christ but not to let our Zeal run out more in the Form than the Power of Godliness as the Pharisees of old did Where Love is wanting the life and power of Godliness is absent from such Persons If Love to the Brethren is a mark of Grace I believe many that account themselves very good Christians fail of that mark except none are their Brethren but those of their own Opinion then Papists and Quakers and all such Persons that hold together in a cursed Unity to uphold damnable Heresies may be said to love the Brethren as well as such for they love not for Christ's sake nor as they bare the Image of God but for Opinions sake They that love the Brethren that love such as have the Lord Jesus formed upon their Hearts will love every person that is sound in the Faith and holy in Life though he differ in Judgment in some outward Forms Persons being great in their own Eyes makes them look so loftily upon their Brethren as Luther saith of himself Tantus eram sanctus ut purissimus
of this Life If a Man be sick unto Death as he thinks bring him tidings of Life it is the best News he can hear of bring him Tidings that his Will is made his Estate is setled very well but how is it with you I am a dead Man O Sir but I have brought one with me that saith he can certainly cure you This is the best News saith he that you have brought me So is Jesus Christ come to save poor Sinners of whom I am the chief saith a poor Soul This is a Saying worthy of all Acceptation They that do not prize the Gospel and find it the sweetest thing in the World yet have not Christ for their Life There is that in Nature that persons must be doing something that they may obtain Blessedness The Israelites stript themselves for to make them a God So do formal Professers they will be at much Cost and Charge for an outward Profession and then fall down and adore their own Doing but to prize this Gospel that brings them News of a Redeemer it is very rare to find one among many But now the Soul that longs for Christ is sick for Christ rejoyces to hear these glad Tidings Saith Paul 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief It is the best News that ever I heard If the Gospel is not joyful News to you if it doth not affect you you never had Christ When a Soul comes to close with Christ he saith And is there hope for me and did Christ die for me And did Christ come to be Life for me O welcom News the best that ever I heard in my Life 2 Tim. 1.10 But now is made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel Life is brought through the Gospel What Life Immortal Life Immortal Grace Immortal Salvation to a poor undone Sinner If this Gospel is not prized but as a thing indifferent as many make their calling and business their main end but the Gospel is a thing they can best spare Such never made Christ their Life In ver 9. the Apostle saith Christ hath called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ before the World began who hath abolished Death The Death of immortal Souls under the Curse of the Law and Wrath of God Christ takes Death away And what hath he brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel Were you but sensible of the Worth of this Life how would you love the Wells of Salvation from whence is drawn the Waters of Life Love the Pot that holds the Manna that preserves this Life Love the Messenger that brings you Tidings You shall live and not die How would a condemned Malefactor love that Person that should bring him a â—ardon yea the Messenger that should bring him News of it So it is with the condemned Sinner the Sentence is pass'd He that believes not is Damned O what Joy is it to hear of Salvation by Christ when the Sinner hath a sense of his misery This immortal Life comes through the Gospel When a Sermon of Christ is preached News from Heaven is brought to Sinners and what News is it O that there is mercy and pardon for poor Sinners Saith the believing Soul shall my Soul live is Christ become my Salvation O what blessed Gospel is this What precious News is this Now Soul do you look on the Gospel glad Tidings and the Feet of them that bring it beautiful if not be sure Christ is not your Life Fourthly They never had Christ for their Life that live in themselves that centre in themselves on themselves and not above themselves As thus Take a dead Man and wrap him up in Silk and Silver with the best Perfumes you can it centres all in Putrifaction Rottenness and Death all the sweet Smells and Perfumes will not keep him from corruption But take a living Man he lives on something to preserve Life It would be improper to say a Man lives on nothing a living Man must have something to subsist with A dead sinner centres in himself what Duty he performs he takes to be his Life But a Soul in Christ lives on Christ and not on his Performances tho he performs Duty So much for the Negative now follows the Affirmative What are the Characters of them that have Christ their Life First If Christ is your Life you will love the Word of God and look upon it to be very precious that hath been the means of begetting and nourishing this Life in you As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may go thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 If you have tasted that the Lord is gracious you will love the Food that the Lord gives you The Prodigal when he returned home to his Fathers House then he thought his Food precious The Word of Christ is that which is very precious to the Soul if you do not taste that the Lord is gracious you can never fall in love with Christ There may be some Convictions under the Word but they will wear off again there may be something that may delight but Souls that Christ is their Life they come to relish the inward sweetness and power of the Word of Christ if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious First They will long for it Secondly They will make it their Meat and Drink First They will long for it If a Child be crying for the Breast if you give it a Rattle or any other thing it will not please it or still it without the Breast It is not any thing of this World nor the Glory of it will still a Believer without Christ Psal 84. See how the Psalmist praises the Courts of God how lovely it is One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of God than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness Why would you be a Door-keeper in the House of God Truly there Beggars fare well Hungry Souls would be first in and last out they would be served more than once Saith a longing Soul I would not have a Word drop before I come that I may lose nothing I would be one of the first in and last out I would not have a Word drop nor a Crum fall I would hear all that is spoken of Christ How sweet is every Word of Christ The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul More are they to be desired than 〈…〉 than much fine Gold sweeter than the 〈◊〉 the Honey-comb Ps 19. And 〈…〉 prize thy Word more than my 〈◊〉 Food Soul thou that longest for the Word of Christ certainly thou art alive in Christ Surely thou that longest for the
Food of Christ livest on Christ I believe there are many poor doubting Souls among you If you were asked when you are an hungry if you were invited to a great Feast would you not leave that to go and hear Christ preached would you not leave your Meal to hear Christ's preous Word Saith Job Chap. 23.12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary Food Then if thy Soul longs for the Word of Grace it is a sign that your Souls are made alive by Christ Whoever can say of the Word of Christ My Soul longs for it I long for the Courts of God I long for the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ I long for the Pot of Manna that I may taste of the Golden Manna I long for the day when Manna comes down from Heaven if it is so I say from God's Word though you may have many castings down your Souls are made alive by Christ and he is become your Salvation A Saint makes Religion his Meat and Drink It is one thing 〈◊〉 be waiting on God 〈…〉 and another thing to 〈…〉 Meat and Drink An 〈…〉 perform many things and be large in Duty and yet not make it his Meat and Drink John 4.31 32. His Disciples prayed him saying Master eat But he said unto them I have meat to eat that you know not of Alas his Meat was to do his Fathers Will The Word of Christ his Ordinances and Duties are Meat and Drink to the Believer I live a Life that you do not know of I have Meat and Drink that you do not know of I live in doing my Fathers Will. Saith a Believer I live on Christ and his Word and of all Mercies I enjoy nothing so sweet to me as Christ and his Word who is better to me than all outward Mercies If it be so with you you may take comfort in this that Christ is become your Life where the Word of Grace and means of Grace is become as Meat and Drink to your Souls Secondly A Soul that lives Christ and hath made Christ his Life he lives above the World He may have some Fears and Doubts But it is the Desire of a Saint to live above the things of the World If ye then be risen with Christ Saith a Reverend Author Amor meus pondus meum Every Man goes where his Love carries him seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God set your affections on things above and not on things on the Earth Col. 3.1 2. When I was in my natural state saith a Believer when the World went well with me I was mightily content but now I am risen with Christ made alive with Christ now my Heart is set on seeking things above had I but Communion with Christ could I but walk with Christ live upon Christ let the World go which way it will tho I have many Fears and Discouragements when I have Communion with Christ my Heart is above them all O my Soul what a good Day it is when thou canst enjoy Communion with Christ The Believer lives above Though many times a Soul hath his gloomy days in the World when Fears surround his Faith but he gets above it again When they look above where their Glory and Comfort is Set your affections on things above and not on things below There is an Exhortation and Dehortation Set your affections on things above there is the Exhortation And not on things below there is the Dehortation Christians are often forbid That they should not love the World and commanded positively that they should set their Hearts on things above Tho a Believer is many times complaining that his Heart is too much on this present World but saith a Believer I desire my Heart may be above O that it might never be below again O were it my Duty I would wish to be always in the House of God Therefore when your Heart is carried up above the World you have an Interest in a better Life than this is below Thirdly To perform Duty and to live on Christ above all Duties is another Character of one that makes Christ his Life They are carried up above Duty they pray and yet live on Christ by Faith they hear yet live on Christ for Righteousness Paul was a Man prizing Duty and loving Duty as much as any Saint preaching all night praying night and day preaching in season and out of Season he was much in praying and fasting yet saith he I count all my own righteousness but dung and dross without Christ It is rare Wisdom to be a Student in the Knowledge of Christ An exact walking Christian and yet to live above Duty upon Christ For one to neglect Duty and yet profess Christ that is a Delusion To profess Christ and live upon any thing below Christ is Confusion but to walk circumspectly in our Duty and yet to live above all upon Christ is a Character of a true Believer Fourthly If Christ is become your Life you will be diligent under all means of Grace under those means where Life is begotten and preserved The Impotent Folks lay at the Pool of Bethesda waiting for the moving of the Waters if ever they had healing it must be there A Soul must be diligent about Christ's Table where Crums fall to feed their 〈…〉 And Simon answering â—â—d unto him Master we have 〈…〉 the night and have taken nothing nevertheless at thy word I will let down the Net A diligent waiting at Wisdom's Gate a diligent hearkning when Christ will speak peace We will hear what the Lord will speak are the Words of gracious Soul Fifthly They that have Christ their Life Christ is very precious unto them O how precious is a Mans Life The Devil could tell God Behold skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his Life A Man would give any thing for his Life So a Believer would give any thing for a 〈◊〉 The Devil appears before God What is Job alive Tho be is 〈◊〉 of all thou hast spared his 〈…〉 Man will give all that 〈…〉 his â—â—fe Saith Paul I count 〈◊〉 but dung and dross that I may win Christ convinâ—◠〈…〉 will do any thing for a Christ part with any thing that they might but know Christ to be theirs When a Man is set on by Thieves saith he Take all so you save my Life Job 2.4 And Satan answered the Lord and said skin for skin all that a man hath will he give for his Life If Job had a thousand Treasures all that he had should go for his Life How willingly doth the Mariner unlade his Ship and cast all his rich Wares over-board that he may preserve that precious Jewel his Life A Man will give Skin upon Skin Gold upon Gold Treasure upon Treasure that he may save his own Life Let Life be at stake and a Man will give all the things he hath in the World for
is to be under the means of Grace Tho many come but to take a Nap as Bishop Latimer saith God may catch thee napping The Lord may speak to thy Soul This day I will be thy Salvation O what joyful News would it be to a poor dead carnal sinner If the Lord should this day speak to thee and say Sinner I am thy Salvation And he came down and received him joyfully he was the best Guest that ever he entertained If you had asked Zaccheus a little before when he sat at the Receipt of Custom whether he would have parted with any thing for Christ he would not have hearkned to you now all shall go for a Christ now saith he Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor I will take Vengeance on my Iniquity and if I have taken any thing from any Man by false Accusation I restore him four-fold He came down and received him joyfully Thou art welcom to me if I had a thousand Worlds I could part with them all for Christ Be sure wait at Wisdoms Gate you may hear Christs Voice saying I am become thy Salvation Fifthly When you are waiting O send up Cries as the poor blind Men did when they heard that Christ was coming You have heard Christ preacht this day can you be still and not send up one Prayer and Cry to Christ Lord come into my Soul Will you go home with your cold Prayers and cold Hearts and cold Affections and shall Christ stand aloof off and you stand afar from Christ Mat. 20.30 And behold two blind setting by the way side when they heard that Jesus passed by cryed out saying Have mercy on us O Lord thou Son of David and the multitude rebuked them So a Soul may say I have a multitude within me bids me hold my Peace I have a multitude of unbelieving Thoughts tell me it is too late for me to come to Christ now I have a multitude of Thoughts Christ will not have mercy on me I have a multitude of Temptations never to pray more I have a multitude rebuking my Soul but the more the multitude rebuke me the more I will cry to Christ the more my unbelieving Heart cries Christ will not save thee the more I will cry to Christ to save me the more my Temptations bid me I should not pray I will pray the more when the Devil tells me it is in vain to seek for Mercy I will seek the more earnestly And they cryed Have mercy on us it was mercy they wanted Saith the Soul Unbelief tells me Christ will not look on such a Sinner as I am and my Heart tells me I am so vile there is no hope for me but I will cry the more Have mercy Lord help me I will tell the Lord I have need of a Christ I must have him or I am undone The more Temptations beset me the more Unbelief besets me the more I will cry to Christ to remove it the more I am tempted the more I will pray the more I will cry the faster I will cleave to Christ Sinners send up Cries to Heaven for Christ and Grace that your Souls may live and not die How would the Devil Baffle poor ignorant Souls out of all He would baffle them out of Duties and Ordinances and Sabbaths But a Believer will not be baffled by him and though the Devil and the World and his own Heart oppose him he saith I will make my Prayer to the God of my Life let them say what they will I will cry to Christ for Life And O you that are Strangers to Christ and are convinced of your undone condition beg of them that have an Interest in Christ to cry for you O you that have Christ consider what a safe a blessed a comfortable Life you live You that are yet Strangers what will you do when you come to die if Christ is not your Life Therefore let me beg of you to set your resolution to cry to the Lord and resolve that you will not be put off without Jesus Christ that you may not die in your sins and so perish for ever for the Wages of Sin is eternal Death but the Gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ ERRATA Christian Reader Notwithstanding the Care that hath been taken to prevent Errors yet upon a farther perusal of this Tract I have found many have escaped the Press I hope what I have marked you will mind and what I have overlooked if you find them you will candidly pass thenn over minding the Sense and not charge the Author with the Printer's Faults PAge 13. line 24. for is he read would he be p. 29. l. 4. for his Jewels r. her Jewels p. 25. l. 10. for enjoys r. desires to enjoy p. 96. l. 5 6. for a Child in Christ r. Children of God for his r. their p. 249. l. 4 for to be r. is it to be p. 251. l. 14 for speak r. speak of p. 258. l. 9 for lives on r. lives Christ p. 260. l. 22. for the glorious the Mystery r. the glorious Mystery p. 262. l. 28. for a Soul r. Saints p. 263. l. 9. for Soul r. Souls p. 175. l. 17. for in thee r. in FINIS Books Sold by William Marshal at the Bible in Newgate Street Dr. Owen 's Books THE True Nature of a Gospel-Church and its Government wherein these following Particulars are distinctly handled I. The Subject-matter of the Church II. The formal Cause of a particular Church III. Of the Polity Rule or Discipline of the Church in general IV. The Overseers of the Church V. The Duty of Pastors of Churches VI. The Office of Teachers in the Church VII Of the Rule of the Church or Ruling Elders VIII The Nature of Church-Polity or Rule with the Duty of Elders IX Of Deacons X. Of Excommunication XI Of the Communion of Churches Printed in large 4o. Price bound 3 s. Another Book of the same Authors lately Printed left in Manuscript Entituled A Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace wherein Sins Reign is discovered in whom it is and in whom it is not how the Law supports it and how Grace is deliver'd from it by seating its Dominion in the Heart Price bound 1 s. Another Book of the Doctors lately published Entituled A brief and impartial Account