Six Severall TREATISES 1 The Promises made and fulfilled in Christ 2 Absolute Promises made to sinners as sinners 3 The Life of Faith and in particular In Justification Sanctification and Expectation 4 The Saints Anchor rightly cast 5 Christs New Command 6 Of Offences By the late worthy and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ John Tillinghast Published by his own Notes LONDON Printed by R. I. for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1657. To the Reader IT is a matter of Lamentation to those who are left behinde that so many Sons of Sion are transplanted to eternity whose Counsels Praiers Experiences might have been very useful if the Lord had seen it good to continue them on earth towards the directing helping and comforting may weak doubting and despondent souls in their journey towards Heaven And amongst others in our day the death of that gracious and sweet-spirited man Mr. Tillinghast deserveth much to bee lamented But there it matter of rejoycing in the midst of our mourning for the Saints in that death bringeth them to the possession of those Promises which before they were but heirs under age unto As Christ said to his Disciples John 14.28 If yee loved mee yee would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is greater than I. So if wee rightly loved the Saints wee would rejoice when they go unto the Father for then they receive the End of their Faith and then they injoy the chiefest object of their hope even eternal life And it is our great mercy who still remain that although the Author of the ensuing Treatises was plucked away like a blossome in the prime yet hee hath left us so many useful Instructions about the Promises the life of Faith and hope c. that it may bee said of him by these hee being dead yet speaketh Wee forfeited all our mercies in the first Adam by sin and could never have attained unto grounded hopes of grace or glory if the Lord had not vouchsafed to enter into Covenant with us in and for the sake of Christ the second Adam But now there are given unto all that are in Christ 2 Pet. 1.4 exceeding great and precious promises that by these they might bee partakers of the Divine nature Promises are divine Engagements wherein as with reverence wee may speak it the Lord doth pawn his own faithfulnesse for a security to our saith and hope Oh what matter of admiration is here that the God of glory should condescend so far as to come under Engagements to poor sinful and unworthy creatures and still there is more matter of astonishment if it bee considered what glorious things are put under Promise to the Saints even God himself Heb. 8.10 This is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their minde and write them in their hearts and I will bee to them a God c. Christian what wouldest thou have more is not God thy all in all is there not enough in God to answer all thy desires to satisfy all thy longings to supply all thy wants behold thou hast him in the Promise hee hath made over himself to thee in the way of a Covenant hee hath engaged himself to bee thy God If the Lord had promised only earthly injoyments health wealth though it had been in great abundance and mountains of gold and heaps of Pearls c. yet it had been nothing in comparison of this to say I will bee thy God Thou art rich indeed who art in Christ all the Promises are thine and so God thine and therefore all thine Thou mayest in all straits exigencies and necessities go to God in the way of the Promise for the improvement of any of his Attributes that thou standest really in need of the use of for they are all engaged for thy advantage When Satan useth his policy against thee then thou mayest say Lord thou hast promised to bee my God and so thy Wisdome is engaged for mee O! let mee finde that improved for the defeating my subtil enemy in his enterprizes When thou art assaulted with strong temptations which thou art no way able to withstand or haste some great difficulty in the way to hinder thee in comming up to any duty or to obstruct thee in the exercise of any grace as faith patience humility c. Then thou mayest say Lord thou hast promised to bee my God and so thy Power is mine O now let it bee improved for my help and assistance against these difficulties which are too strong for mee to overcome and so for all other Attributes of God thou mayest in all times of need claim an interest in and by the Promise plead a laying of them out for thy good I am perswaded that many of the fears doubts disquiets c. of many Christians about their eternal conditions and their great distances from assurance take their rise hence because they do not clearly understand or are not throughly perswaded that the way of Gods making over himself unto souls is the way of a Promise that a Covenant is that whereby the Lord giveth us hold of himself in this life and whereby hee giveth us assurance of all the blessings which are to bee injoyed in another and a better life Were they heartily and explicitly convinced that the injoyments of God which they are to look for here must bee by Faith and so through the glasse of a Promise then they might finde that they have had many such injoyments of God which they have overlooked The great temptation of this age is to look more to a life of sense and feeling than to a life of Faith to look more to a Christ within than in the way of a Promise to a Christ without Many will own none as injoyments of God but inward feeling of supports quickenings enlargements consolations c. It is no longer than they injoy these that they think they injoy God whereas they ought to let out their hearts in the way of a Promise to God through Christ for such mercies when they are under the deepest sense of the want of them and there are as real injoyments of God in such out-goings of the heart to God as in those sensible incommings of joy and comfort c. For the life of Faith consisteth in such an out-going of the whole heart in the way of a Promise Christ-ward hence Faith is called a comming to Christ John 6.35 Hee that commeth to mee shall never hunger this is expressed by beleeving in the latter end of the verse hee that beleeveth on mee shall never thirst So that Faith is the motion of the whole heart Christ-ward Faith doth not consist so properly in beleeving that Christ is thine or that thy sin is pardoned as in the letting out thy heart to Christ in the way of the New Covenant for his righteousness and the remission of thy sin
c. And if this were duly considered souls would never in their lowest saddest and most deserted conditions bee shy of beleeving for who can question at any time whether they may thus let out their hearts to Christ or no and yet the doing this is beleeving yea the properest act of Faith consiseth therein and if at any time a soul bee inabled by grace to this then it hath a sweet injoyment of God and Christ in the Promise though sensible quickenings c. bee wanting for no act of Faith can bee without an injoyment of God If thou bee'st inabled with thy whole heart to take hold of Gods Wisdome and Power c. in a Promise thou dest as really injoy God so long as thy soul sticketh close to him there whilest the sensible improvements of those divine Artributes ars denyed thee as thou dost afterward when these are granted And the same may bee said for any promised Mercy if the heart bee throughly drawn out Christ-ward in the way of the Promise for it in its proper season as when that mercy is sutable to the present condition c. there is as real an injoyment of God in such a waiting for it as in the after fruition of it for there is the life of Faith before it is afforded and Faith cannot be without a fruition of God The Proper time of Abrahams acting Faith for Isaac was before Isaac was given Rom. 4.19 And being nor weak in Faith he considered not his own body now dead vers 20. Hee staggered not at the Promise of God through unbeleef but was strong in Faith So that injoyments of God by Faith may be as well before as when a promised mercy is afforded I do not speak against looking for sensible feelings of Christs presence within in enlargements and quickenings c. but against judging these the only injoyments of God and against looking more for these than for out-goings of heart to Christ by Faith whereas the best way to attain more of these is to act Faith on the Christ of God who is without us in the way of a Promise for them The Lord would take care of Christians comforts if they were more careful to own his faithfulnesse in his Promise And if you would bee successful in any of your dealings with the Promises then bee sure that your souls do clasp hold of Christ therewith for all the Promises in him are yea and in him Amen And seeing the faithfulnesse of God is ingaged for the accomplishment of all Promises Oh what sweet incouragement doth this afford to exercise hope on him for all those mercies which are promised and which wee are yet without Christians are exceedingly backward to the exercise of this grace of Hope which might bee of admirable use to them and most averse to exercise it about eternal life which is the highest and chiefest object of it Some hope not only for temporal but also for spiritual mercies necessary in some conditions they are exercised in as under deadness of heart they hope for quickenings under streightnings they hope for inlargements under witherings they hope for flourishings of grace but where is the soul that is hoping for the glory of God Rom. 5.2 A hoping for Heaven and the life to come it is the casting hope within the vail that rendreth it of use as a Soul-anchor that secureth against the storms of affliction and temptation which are met withall in this World A great reason of the sinking of many under these is because they cast away their anchor the hope of eternal life when the tempest riseth highest and when they have most need of it It is very sad to observe that carnal men are so high in their Hopes for heaven who have no grounds for hoping and on the other hand that Christians are so low in their hopes who have such firm grounds for them There is 1 A hope of desire 2 A hope of Assurance or Confidence Christians you may sometimes bee under such doubts and questionings about your conditions as you may not be able to conclude with a hope of confidence and Assurance that you shall injoy God to all eternity But a Hope of Desire after the injoyment of God as the chiefest good as reckoning nothing such a matter of Hope as a full fruition of him and Jesus Christ to all eternity this Hope of Desire under the saddest desertion you may keep up and sinne if you do not Cant 3. v. 1 2. Cant. 5.6 The Spouse sought her beloved when hee had withdrawn himself As under the hidings of Christs face the saints may have a Hope of Desire to see his face again on earth so as well may they then long to see him face to face in heaven The Saints should say when will the bridge-groom of our souls come when shall wee have full fellowship with him when shall wee have full imbraces in his armes when shall wee injoy the Promised everlasting rest when shall we have a full freedome from all sinne and suffering thus Paul had a Hope of Desire to bee dissolved that hee might be with Christ Phil. 1.23 and Rom. 8.23 wee groan within our selves that implyeth a weariness of the present Condition but the inducement was the hope of Glory waiting for the adoption the redemption of our body but where is the soul that is under a wearinesse of its present Condition not barely to be freed from burdens and afflictions but out of a want of heavenly glory and a full communion with Jesus Christ O Christians you can never want a ground thus to hope and therefore put on your Helmet the Hope of Salvation cast forth the Anchor and that within the Vail that your Lord may finde you looking for the blessed Hope of his coming We shall add no more but this that the Lord graciously granted us the priviledge to be ear witnesses that diverse of the Sermons in these Treatises for the substance of them giving allowance to such defects of the Emanuensis which cannot but bee expected ordinarily were Preached by that Servant of Christ Mr. Tillinghast and others are as they were found in his own hand-writing Some Sermons are wanting but could not be gained yet these being so useful we were unwilling the World should be without them so desiring that the blessing of Christ may accompany these labors We remain 10 Month 24th day 1656. Thy Servants for Jesus sake Samuel Petto John Manning The Contents The Promises made and fulfilled in Christ from 2 Cor. 1.20 The Text opened from page 1. to page 3. Doct. That all the Promises of God made to sinners in Jesus Christ shall most certainly bee fulfilled and accomplished ibid. That all the Promises of God run in Christ or are made to us in Christ ibid. The Promises distinguished into absolute and conditional 1 Absolute Promises p. 4 2 Conditional Promises ibid. Pro. 1 That all the Promises of God whether those that are absolute or such as are
except them from having benefit by them when he willed his Son to take mans nature upon him rather than theirs Now adding this to the former that the promise cost Christ so dear and can be put to no other use than to bee fulfilled to his people this may give us good assurance both of the great engagement that lyeth upon Christ to do it and also that it shall bee done For if a man hath bought a thing deare and there is but one use it can bee put to hee will not fail of that Engage 3. The promises are now in Christs hand Christ takes it ill from men if they have a talent in their hands and do not improve it as in the Parable of the Sloathful servant Now Christ having so great a talent in his hand as the rich treasure of the promises which talent as it may bee improved much for the glory of God and the good of his people so can it not bee improved any way but by fulfilling them and in case Christ see them not fulfilled the talent lyes by in his hand useless which cannot but engage Christ to see to it that the promises bee fulfilled this the Apostle seemeth to hint at in the Text when hee saith All are in him i.e. they are in Christs hand in his keeping and therefore saith hee They are Yea and Amen i.e. true certain immutable shall most certainly bee fulfilled Christ will not suffer such a Talent to bee in his hand and not improve it Engage 4. The promises are not onely in the hand of Christ but Christ hath received them of his Father for this end that hee should give them forth to sinners God gave them into Christs hand upon this condition that hee should not keep them himself not let them lye by useless but give then forth to poor sinners as Act. 2.33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Engage 5. Christ by promise is engaged to see them fulfilled A mans promise lays an engagement and an obligation upon him Christ hath promised to see them accomplished Hee gives us his promise upon his Fathers promise that the promises shall be fulfilled Luke 24.49 And behold I send the promise of my Father upon you God the Father had promised to send the Spirit here Christ adds his promise to it as to say Hath my Father promised the Spirit why I do promise it shall be made good for I will send him Now poor soul dost thou doubt whether the Promises shall be fulfilled why consider a little what engagement lies upon Christ to see to the fulfilling of them 2 I may demonstrate the truth from those great ties and engagements that lye upon God the Father to see to it that the Promises bee fulfilled As there are great engagements lye upon Christ so upon the Father also Engage 1. The declaration God hath made of his own name engageth him to it Exod. 34.6 God hath declared this to be a part of his Name that the is abundant in goodness and truth and how can this bee should hee not fulfill his promise Engage 2. Gods faithfulness engageth him to it Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised This was the ground of Sarahs beleeving God promised and though much might bee said in reason against the thing yet judging him faithful she beleeveth Heb. 11.11 Through faith Sarah her self received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a Childe when she was past age because she judged him faithful who had promised Hence Balaam reasons God is not as man therefore cannot lye or be unfaithful Engage 3. Gods promise it is a part of his Covenant what is the Covenant of Grace but a bundle of precious Promises now God wil not break his Covenant in any part of it See for this Isa 54.10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee God speaks high language Engage 4. God hath added his Oath to his Promise Heb. 6.17 wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath As an Oath confirmeth another in the certainty of the thing he swears to and therefore saith the Apostle An Oath is for confirmation vers 16. so doth it lay upon another an engagement to do what the hath sworn to and indeed the great engagement that an Oath lays upon the party swearing is that whereby the other is confirmed Now God hath for the strengthening of our faith added his Oath to his Promises God as with reverence I may say should break his Oath and forswear himself if he should not see to it that the Promises be fulfilled Engage 5. God hath pawned and morgaged Heaven and Earth upon it the Covenant of the day and night that hee will not break his promise Jerem. 31. vers 34 35 36 37. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward paris vers 35. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a light to the day and the courses of the Moon and of the Starres for a light to the night which breaketh the Sea when the waves thereof roar his name is the Lord of Hosts vers 36. If these Ordinances depart out of my sight saith the Lord then shall the seed of Israel cease from being a Nation before me for ever vers 37. Thus saith the Lord if the Heavens can bee measured or the foundations of the Earth be searched out beneath then will I cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord. God before had made many precious Promises to Israel now lest any should doubt of the fulfilling of them God here lays Heaven and Earth to pawn upon it so Chap. 33. ver 25 26. the same with the former Engage 6. God expects wee should fulfill our promises to him and therefore by the rule of equity he himself will do the same Deut. 23.23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform as thou hast vowed it willingly unto the Lord thy God for thou hast spoken it with thy mouth Engage 7. God takes breach of promise exceeding ill in man and therefore himself will not do it Nehem. 5.13 To all that hath been said let mee adde a word or two more 1 The Saints venture upon the Promises and so should be deceived in their hopes if they were not fulfilled 2 They are the Saints inheritance Saints are heirs of promise Heb. 4.1 6.17 God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of promise Saints should
justification 2 The constant holding our Justification in our sight maketh the soul take all the dealings of God in good part put a good construction upon all Gods dealings whereas another who is dark in justification he can take no dealing in good part at the hand of God A soul that beholdeth his justification can as long as that is clear behold the love of God in Christ towards it it can put a good construction upon all Let God give a mercy he will say that it is out of love let God take away a mercy he will say that is out of love Let God smile he seeth his love let God frown through his frown he beleeveth his love Let God put him into a prosperous condition he seeth love let him put him into an afflicted adverse condition he can beleeve God is his God But take a poor soul that is dark in that let him give a mercy he saith O I am affraid it is in Judgement let him take away a mercy this is in judgement I have abused it Let God smile he is affraid to own it lest hee be deceived let God put him into prosperity he thinks that will ruine him into affliction he thinketh that is to destroy him 3 The constant beholding our Justification doth carry out a soul with a sweet Son-like frame of Spirit in all its actings towards God Take a soul that is dark in its justification there will not bee childe-like actings but slavish actings a spirit of bondage servile actings But take a soul that hath his justification in his eye and there will bee sweet Son-like actings when hee goeth to duty hee goeth with the spirit of a Son I see Hell is gone Heaven is given and doth not perform duty to avoid the one or procure the other but doth all as to a Father because God hath taken Hell away and given Heaven and is my Father therefore I go about the work of God When it mourneth for sin it doth not mourn for fear it should bee Damned but because it hath sinned against a Father I do not say it is so with a Saint at all times but when a soul beholdeth its justification so it is 4 This constant beholding our justification doth dis-inamour and wean the heart from worldly things our hearts are never so weaned from the Creature as when wee see through justification our interest in the Creator When the poor soul cometh to see the great God of Heaven and Earth is my Father and I have a glorious inheritance provided above in Heaven for me then it saith Why should I dote upon Creatures As a Princes Son is estranged from the company of other Children why I am the Princes Son they are companions below me this maketh him leave other Boys and not play with them so a Princes Son wil not go and hoard up Counters why I am a Princes Son so a poor soul when it beholdeth its justification is estranged from the world upon this consideration I am a Son of God a Childe of God have an interest in Heaven a glorious inheritance there and this weaneth the heart from the world The beholding our actual justification begets such actuall considerations as these 5 It armeth us against all Satans temptations it puts the soul into such a condition as it can grapple with Satan when he cometh to assault it with his fiery darts let the Devil shoot never so many fiery darts yet so he hath his justification in his eye it will keep off all and therefore it is called a Shield They used a Shield to repel Arrows from the party Faith is our shield to repel the darts of Satan and beat them back again so this is another advantage 3 That soul that liveth by faith in justification is delivered from the great evil other souls run into of adding to or detracting from his justification it is a great evil incident to the Saints they look upon themselves as more or less justified accordingly as they are more or less holy and their works more or less spiritual I do not say but that we should endeavour after holiness and spirituality to the utmost but not to make our justification less or more as these things are lesse or more 1 Because it puts our justification as a stock into our own hands that by our care and diligence wee might augment or by carelesness and negligence might diminish it whereas our justification is a stock the Saints have but it is in the hands of their Suerty which though they are and ought to use all Christian care and diligence yet by all their care and diligence there is not one dram added to their justification Though they are to take heed of all carelesness and remisness and avoyd them yet though they should fail there is not one whit not one dram taken away from their justification by all Justification is as the Childes Portion in the Executors hands the Childe hath some spending-money but his Portion is in the hands of the Executor So is our justification that is a stock in the hands of our Executor the Saints have something in themselves and they spend much of that but they would spend their justification too if the stock were in their own hand but it is in the hands of their Suerty Executor and they cannot spend that he will not let them have that so that that cannot be spent Now when we look upon our justification as that which may be added to or detracted from we do not look upon it as in the hands of our Suerty but in our own hands and that is a great evil 2 It is a great evil because it maketh our Justification like our Sanctification in part for that which is perfect can have nothing added to it or taken from it if any thing could be added to it then it was not perfect before perfection doth neither admit of addition or diminution Now our Justification is perfect by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 them the Father hath set apart he hath perfected for ever Now if I should be more justified at one time than at another then Justification were not perfect 3 It maketh justifying grace to depend upon Creature actings for if I am more justified when I do more and less when I do less then my actings have influence into my justification and so justification depends upon Creature actings and so if of works then it is no more of grace 4 It is a great evil because it doth much dishonour Christ it speaketh the righteousness of Christ insufficient for our justification if the righteousness of Christ be sufficient to justification then all I can do cannot help it forward If it need any thing of ours then it is not sufficient of it self I speak this to shew the great evil of adding to or detracting from justification which how usual it is to look upon our selves more justified at one time
opinion I will love him if not let him bee as holy as hee will I will hate him and revile and speak evil of him No no Love all as Saints Let mee tell you Hee that loves another for parts loves him for something of the creature for parts are such hee that loves another for his opinion loves him for himself for hee loves himself and his opinion in the man But he that loves another because hee is a Saint and hath the Image of God upon him hee loves him purely for Gods sake Now to set this truth upon our hearts consider 1 If ever thou wouldest have God to own thy love love Saints as Saints God will own no other love though it go currant on earth it will not in Heaven Christ at the last day owns onely that love shewn to Saints at Saints to the least of Saints Matth. 25. Think you not that there were many at Christs left hand at this day who had loved great Saints c. and yet Christ owns not their love 2 If ever thou wouldest have the comfort of thy love love Saints as Saints The Devil will finde some flaw in thy love let it run in what channel it will if not in this he will say when thou wouldest take comfort from thy love that thou didst not love such a one because a Saint but because he was of thy opinion or rich or of great gifts and parts 3 If ever thou wouldest love as God loves love Saints as Saints God loves his people out of no other respect but as they are Saints as he sees his image upon them As a Father loves his childe out of no other respect so much as this as he is his childe not so much because of his shape or part little or great a Boy or Girle c. So saith a Father This is my childe and therefore I love him saith God This is my childe he hath my image upon him and therefore I love him If thou wouldest love as God loves look at nothing in the world so much in those whom thou lovest as whether they bee Saints or no. I had rather love a man and hold communion with him who differs in a hundred things from mee if I see in him the Image of God and the Spirit of a Saint than he that jumps with mee in every tittle if this bee wanting I had rather love a man that can speak but ten words and hath in him the power of what hee speakes and is humble withall than hee that can utter ten thousand curious notions and is proud and self-conceited therewith wanting the power of them all because so doing I should love as God loves and hold communion as God holds communion 4 If ever thou wouldest love here as thou shalt love in Heaven hereafter love Saints as Saints There are many souls who if ever God bring them to Heaven will love their brethren in another guise way than now they do then they shall not flye one on the back of another and one bee ready to kick another out of Heaven saying You are such a one and the other him and you are such a one No then they shall bee ashamed of such childish tricks as a grown man is ashamed to thinke of what trickes hee plaid when hee was a childe how hee scratched one brother and because hee was but a little crossed in his will laid another cross the pate No then Saints shall love Saints as Saints Then shall one say I love thee because I see the Image of my Father in thee and the Glory of my Father upon thee And then shall the other say and I love thee for this and nothing else Now from what hath been said of loving Saints as Saints that you and I may practice it let us endeavour to have our hearts brought up to love these four sorts of Saints and so we shall love Saints as Saints 1 Love little Saints See Christs care of little ones Matth. 28.18 how will hee take it at the hands of those who shall receive them Vers 5. How ill hee takes it from them who offend them Verse 6. How carefull he is that they may not be despised Vers 10. And how carefull his Father is of their salvation Vers 14. Yea Matth. 25. When Christ passeth sentence hee absolves or condemns men according as they behaved themselves towards the least of his Saints either in doing or not doing for them Vers 40.45 Christ doth not say In as much as you have done or not done thus and thus for Sir such a one and Master such a one my servant But in as much as you have done or not done thus or thus to one of the least of these Saints that goe in their Scarlet Coat in their Silkes and Velvet many will love but yet they love not Saints as Saints Wouldest thou love Saints as Saints labour to love Grace in the Grey Coat Leather Coat as much as in any other 2 Love Saints in their lowest condition If thou hast loved a Saint when the world and friends favoured him see thou lovest him as much when all these frown upon him 3 Love contrary minded Saints It is nothing to love a man that will speak as I speak and do as I do 4 Love offending Saints I am to forgive him and I can never heartily forgive him if I doe not love him Matth. 18.21 12. Peter thought seven times a great matter Christ bids him forgive his brother seventy times seven to teach us that many offences should not break the band of love amongst Saints I shall conclude all concerning this with that of the Apostle Col. 3.10 11. where he tells us that in the New creature there is neither Greek not Jew i.e. Men are not to be considered as of this Nation or that Circumcision or Uncircumeision of this opinion or that these were so great contrary opinions in those dayes or as enjoying outward priviledges or wanting them as Circumcision was accounted a great priviledge to those that had it Barbarian Scythian as they are rude illiterate or clownish persons as the Barbarians Scythians were a rude people Bond or Free that is a Master or servant in Authority or out But Christ is all and in all i.e. Christ is all we are to look at and it is Christ in all wee are to look at all are to be looked at as they are in Christ as Saints 2 Love though thou are not loved Thus Paul loved 2 Cor. 12.15 There was abundant love in Pauls heart to them though little in theirs to him Yea the lesse in theirs the more in his It is the practice of most they will love onely so far and so long as they see themselves beloved and therefore upon any suspicion of theirs that their Brothers love declines towards them theirs immediately cools towards him and that is an evill which both speaker and hearers have too much their shares in whereas the contrary is our duty who ever
wherein he cannot lay claim to one promise 1 It is the greatest comfort and support to a gracious heart when he is under afflictions temptations c. that hee hath a stock and store-house of promises to go unto if hee fall into sin hee hath a promise of forgiveness to run unto if hee bee under temptation hee hath a promise of support if hee bee weak hee hath a promise of strength if dead hee hath a promise of life if ignorant hee hath a promise of teaching if perplexed with fears of falling away hee hath a promise of perseverance to run unto in every condition hee hath one promise or other to comfort him relieve him stay support stablish him But now on the contrary the condition of that soul that stands out against Christ is of all most sad most deplorable most to bee lamented most dreadful why because in whatsoever condition he is in hee hath no promise that hee can have recourse unto it he sin hee hath no promise of pardon so long as he stands off from Christ If hee bee in prosperity he hath no promise that God will keep him in that condition If hee bee in adversity he hath no promise that God will relieve comfort support him in that condition If he be tempted he hath no promise that God will deliver him out of or preserve him in that condition If he pray he hath no promise that God will hear him If he stand in need of any mercy spiritual or temporal he hath no promise that God will give it How wofull is the condition of such persons no tongue can express it nor heart conceive it 2 That soul which hath a right to the promise and the promise going along with him hath the presence of God and the protection of God going along with for Gods presence and protection go where his promise goes When Israel went out of Egypt towards Canaan they had the promise going with them and as the promise of God went so they were guarded the Angel of God went with them one while was before them another while behinde them to guard them wheresoever danger was approaching So a poor soul which hath a right to the promise in every condition hath Angels guarding of him and God with him whereas that soul which hath no right to the promise which is the condition of all that stand off from Christ they are lest as God saith of Ephraim when hee was gone from God Like a Lamb in a large place A Lamb in a large place is in danger every hour to bee rent in peeces with Dogs and Wolves c. So the soul without the promise is every moment in danger of perishing 3 That soul which hath the promise hath God his friend for God is a friend where his promise goes Abraham had the promise and God was Abrahams friend But now that soul which hath not the promise God is an enemy to that soul 4 That soul which hath the promise all things work together for his good health sickness riches poverty want abundance all work for his good there is a combination together of all things to serve that man and to work him good That soul which hath not the promise all things work together for his evil if rich riches hurt him if poor poverty hurts him if well and in prosperity that undoes him if sick and in adversity that undoes him too there is a combination of all things to work his ruine 5 That soul which hath the promise all the creatures are his friends for God makes a league with the creature in the behalf of all those that are in league and covenant with himself as Hos 2.18 And in that day will I make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and I will break the bow and the sword and the battel out of the earth and will make them to lye down safely But that soul which hath not the promise all the creatures are his enemies all are banded against him When hee goes abroad amongst the creatures hee goes amongst so many mortal enemies yea let but God give the word of command and say to the army of his creatures fall on fall on upon that sinner and presently if he eat his meat will choak him if hee breathe the aire will poyson him if hee walk in the streets the houses will fall upon him if hee goes abroad in the fields the beasts will tear him and devour him where-ever hee goes where-ever hee is whatsoever hee does hee is in continual danger 6 That soul which hath the promise the Law hath nothing to do with him it cannot curse him or condemn him for hee is not under the Law any longer but hee is under Grace Rom. 6.14 But that soul which hath not the promise the Law hath to do with him the Law curseth him hee is under a continual curse When hee eats and drinks and sleeps the Law curseth him when hee is walking abroad talking with his neighbours about his ordinary imployments the Law curseth him when hee prayes and cries out of his sins c. yet still the Law curseth him for there is nothing can remove the curse of the Law but the promise and that hee hath no right or title unto 7 Finally that soul which hath the Promise all in God is on his side and laid out for him the Justice of God is on his side and Mercy on his side the Truth of God makes for him the Power of God the Wisdome of God are laid out for him but that soul which hath not the Promise all in God is against him all the Divine Attributes are his Enemies and act against him The Justice of God that is against him that cries Damn the sinner the Mercy of God is against him and saith Mercy Justice do what thou wilt with that Sinner I will not speak a word for him for he hath nothing to do with me The Truth of God that is against him that speaks not a word of peace or comfort to him The Wisdome of God and the Power of God these act against him too How miserable then is the estate of that man or woman that stands out against Jesus Christ he hath nothing to do with the Promise and wanting the Promise how woeful his condition is you have a little heard Vse 3. Then how blessed is their condition who are married to the Lord Jesus why all the Promises are theirs Having Christ for thy Husband thou hast this as a Joynture with him all the Promises of God in him made over unto thee So that is there any good thing in Heaven or Earth that God hath by Covenant and Promise given his people all this is thine All good things in this life given by promise they are thine glory hereafter given by promise it is thine Is Justification given by Promise it is thine is Sanctification it
Their backslidings were many Jer. 3.22 I will heal your backslidings 2 They were backsliders in divers and sundry wayes Jer. 3.1 Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers 3 Their backslidings in world and deed were as foul and great as could bee Jor. 3.5 Thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest 4 They had been backsliders for a long time vers 25. Wee have sinned against the Lord our God wee and our fathers from our youth even unto this day and have not obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God 5 Backslidings open and publick vers 6. Hast thou not seen that which backsliding Israel hath done she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree and there hath played the harlot They had before them examples of others going in such paths with Gods anger against them yet took no warning vers 7 8. And I saw when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not but went and played the harlot also 7 Against resolutions and promises Jer. 2.20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke and burst thy bands and thou saidest I will not transgresse when upon every high hill and under every greene tree thou wandrest playing the harlot 8 Against corrections Jer. 2.30 In vaine have I smitten your children they received no correction 9 Against Intreaties Chap. 3.7 And I said after she had done all these things turn thou unto me but she returned not 10 Wilfully Chap. 2. v. 31.25 But thou saidest there is no hope no for I have loved strangers and after them will I go 11 They justified themselves in their doings Chap. 2.35 Yet thou sayest because I am innocent surely this anger shall turn from me behold I will plead with thee because thou sayest I have not finned Yet these backsliders are wooed again and again to return Jer. 3.1 Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord v. 4. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me My Father thou art the guide of my youth And vers 7. I said after shee had done all these things turn thou unto mee vers 12. Go and proclaime these words towards the North and say Return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord vers 14. Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you vers 22. Return yee backsliding children and I will heal your backslidings Behold wee come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Object 12. But I fear I am but an hypocrite Answ Come that thou mayest bee sincere Christ calls at the door of Laodicea yet a formal hypocritical Church yea God spreadeth forth his hands to such Jsa 65.2 compared with 5. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walketh in a way that was not good after their own thoughts vers 5. Which say stand by thy self come not near to mee for I am holier than thou these are a smoak in my nose a fire that burneth all the day What now poot soul hast thou to object but that thou mayest come to Christ and cast thy self into his arms and bosome O Come Come Come behold everlasting arms open to receive thee Come prophane person formalist here 's heaven and salvation to bee had freely if you have hearts to take it all for a nothing-creature O Come Drunkard wilt thou lye and rowl like a Swine in thy drunkenness and not come to Christ and have a heaven Swearer wilt thou rend Gods name and reject a heaven Unclean person wilt thou prize thy lusts above a Christ a heaven O no no Fie for shame Come likewise poor doubting soul cast thy self into Christs arms hee will not cast thee out Take Hesters resolution If I perish I perish I will perish in doing my duty and going in to the King If I dye I dye however I will dye doing my duty and hanging upon Jesus Christ say to thine own soul as once the Lepers who sate in the gate of Samaria said one to another a King 7.4 If wee say wee will enter into the City then the famine is in the City and wee shall dye there and if we sit still here we dye also now therefore come and let us fall into the hoast of the Syrians if they save us alive wee shall live and if they kill us wee shall but dye So say If I stand where I am I dye if I return to old courses I dye likewise what then I will venture on Christ if hee save mee alive I live if hee kill mee I can but dye Amen Proposit 2 That all the promises of God made to sinners in Jesus Christ shall certainly and assuredly bee fufilled and accomplished It s cleared 1 King 8. v. 56. Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel according to all that he promised there hath not failed one word of all his good promise which hee promised by the hand of Moses his servant God made a promise to Moses of giving rest c. to the people of Israel this promise God was punctual to a word in the fulfilling of it And this was a promise of the Law made to Moses the Law-giver on the behalf of that people Now if God were so punctual in fulfilling the promises of the Law which were made to Moses and given into his hand for that people that he would not fail in a tittle how much more punctual think you will hee bee in fulfill those promises which are made to Christ and given into his hand of the Saints such as all the promises of Law and Gospel now are to the people of God Now for the fuller clearing of this truth both that it is and must bee so I shall lay before you some Demonstrative grounds which may serve to strengthen and confirm our faith in this great point That all the promises made in Christ shall most certainly be fulfilled and accomplished Demonstrat 1. From the Text They are in Christ 2 From the great obligations lying upon God the Father and Jesus Christ to see to it that the promises be fulfilled Engagement 1. Promises cost Christ dear before he had them though they are a gift to us yet Christ paid for them The first Adam had the promises for nothing but he by his fall squandring away the promises none of his seed could ever have been partakers of any of them had not Christ the second Adam stepped in and by paying a price to his Father Justice redeemed the promises again Now the price was no less than his owne life and the promises having cost Christ so dear this obligeth him to look to it that they be fulfilled Engagem 2. Christ cannot put the promises to other use For for himself hee hath no need of them the evil Angels and good too God did in a manner
sin now is twice thrice as heavie as before It is an offence deserving death to begin a rebellion but after a gracious Pardon proclaimed to persist in it doubles trebles the offence So here I shall shew you some aggravations of such Sinners sins I you sin against more light than others do Many poor souls there are which dwell in Turkie and India yea and in many places where they never yet heard of the Gospel in England too which are Drunkards c. And alas poor souls they are to be pittied they know no better and therefore do no better they never had the Gospel which it may be if they had they would prize it and bless God for it but poor souls they remaine in gross ignorance and therefore do thus but now you have heard the Gospel it you shall therefore go home and betake you againe to your Cups and Cans and Queans and Oathes c. you will sin against more light this you have heard wil rise up in Judgement against you and condemn you Job 3.19 And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light It will leave you inexcusable Joh. 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation 4 You sin against more contradiction of your own Conscience the more light the more contradiction of Conscience the more will Conscience tell you of your sins and fly in your faces for them They poor souls have not so much inward contradiction because their Consciences are not so much enlightened You which have heard this cannot go home and follow your sins but your Consciences wil fly in your faces when you do it and put you upon a wrack O will Conscience say thou vile Creature didst thou not hear the other day that the Lord made premises of grace to the worst of Sinners and was willing to give life and salvation to the worst of Sinners and wretch that thou art art thou swilling in thy sins and lusts again and dost trample Heaven under foot what dost thou think will become of thee 3 You sin against more Love and Mercy to sin against love and mercy is the highest aggravation one of them that can be of sinning Now you have abundance of love spread before you which they poor souls that dwell in Turkie and India and Ireland and Northumberland and Cumberland know nothing of nor it may bee never heard of 4 You sin more wilfully you which hear all this grace and yet go on in your old prophane courses there is more of will in your sins than in others If a man should have a Servant and he bids him do a thing and charges him to do it or he would turn him out of his Service and he should say he would not do it bid him do it himself here now is will but if this man should come to this Servant and say I pray do this let me prevail with you and intreat you to do it and I will promise you that I will make you my Son and Heir and you shall be no longer looked upon or accounted a Servant but shall for ever be as an only Son to me if hee should still say No I am resolved say what you please I will not do it but I will go on doing of that I am at present about here now were more will So let me say should God come to a poor Sinner and say Do this beleeve on my Son and I will promise you that I will make you my Son and Heir if that Sinner will not do it here is much of will in this Vse 4. Of comfort to poor souls Is it so that the promises of Grace are made to Sinners as sinners then see what abundance of comfort this one consideration yeelds this rightly understood is such a bottome of comfort as no principle like it for it will at once answer all the Objections of Satan and Carnal fears of thine own heart Obj. 1. O saith the Devil and thine own heart thou art not so holy as others canst not pray with that life c. that others can Ans But may the poor soul say True Satan yet I am but a Sinner and the Promises are made to sinners were the Promises only to Saints then woe would be to me did I want these things but they are to sinners and yet I am but a sinner and though I cannot go to the Promise as a Saint yet I will go as Sinner and thus I may go for they are made to sinners Obj. 2. But thou art not humbled and broken Ans But still I am but a sinner and promises are made to sinners I confess I am not so broken and humbled a sinner as I would be but yet I am but a sinner and so the proper object of the grace of the promise still I will therefore go to the Promise that I may bee a broken sinner an humbled sinner Obj. 3 But thou hast been a sinner a great while ten twenty thirty forty fifty years Ans Aye but Satan still I am but a Sinner and the promises are made to sinners I do acknowledge I am an old sinner and have been a sinner a great while and I heartily wish that I had not been so long I will now go to the Promise that I may be a sinner no longer Obj 4. O but thou hast sinned against light Ans Yet but a sinner and the promises are made to sinners though I have sinned in the Light whereas others have in the Dark and so my sins are farre greater and worse yet I am but a sinner and the Promises are to such Object 5. O but thou hast sinned against mercy also Ans True Satan yet I am but a sinner and the promises are made to sinners I have abused Gods mercies and it grieves my heart I have been such a wretch but yet I am but a sinner Object 6. But thou art one who hast not so much as a breathing or desire after that which is good alive in thee Ans Yet but a sinner Object 7. But thou art one who art weary of that which is good Ans Yet but a sinner Object 8. But thou hast had more desires and breathings formerly than now thou hast Ans Yet but a sinner Object 9 But though thou art in this miserable condition thou art not troubled for it Ans But yet I am but a sinner Object 10. But thou hast been a backslider and fallen into the same sin not once or twice but thirty forty times Ans This Satan I acknowledge too but what then Backsliders are but sinners and the promise is made to sinners Though my backslidings are such as I cannot come to God as a Son yet I will come as a Sinner who may in time bee his Son though I cannot at present
meeteth with one repulse after another yet her faith groweth is strengthened O woman great is thy faith A soul that liveth by faith hee beleeveth for certaine that hee shall have such a mercy when opposition cometh hee runs to the Promise the Lord hath promised here is a difficulty come in the way and this is like to be a mercy indeed the Lord will try me before I have it But now a soul that liveth by sense the more difficulty he meeteth with the weaker his faith groweth as a soul that lives by faith encounters difficulties and runs them down so a soul that lives by sense every difficulty encounters him and runs him down When Peter walked upon the water the VVinds arise and grows boysterous and his faith sinketh and hee sinketh too when there cometh some difficulty between the Promise and the Soul that the soul cannot get through it or look over it then it faileth it cannot go on Differ 4. The life of faith maketh a soul put his acceptance in the acceptance of Christ the life of sense maketh it put its acceptance much in affections if it cometh to a duty as prayer if the heart and affections be up the heart goes away cheerly and comforted but if they be down the heart goes away sadly dejected now it is not accepted A soul that lives by sense raises up his faith by his affections but a soul that lives by faith layeth his acceptance upon the Lord Jesus Christ He saith this I know Jesus Christ is accepted with the Father and this I know all the acceptance any Son or Daughter of Adam hath with God it is by Jesus Christ Now saith the soul I have no worthiness nothing at all this I do I close with this Jesus I beleeve on him I lay hold on his righteousness with this will I go into the Fathers presence from this I beleeve I am accepted If I have acceptance I beleeve I am accepted not because of these but for Christ when I have none I beleeve I am accepted because of Jesus Christ His acceptance is mine Eph. 1.6 Hee hath made us accepted in his beloved So for the acceptance of our duties Jesus Christ beleeved for mee hee had a faith for Justification though not a justification through faith So I beleeve my prayer is accepted because Christ prayeth for mee intercedeth for mee I beleeve my thankfulness is accepted because Jesus Christ hath been thankfull for mee I beleeve my obedience is accepted because Jesus Christ hath performed obedience for mee I beleeve my humiliation is accepted because the Lord Jesus Christ was humbled and broken for mee So hee putteth the acceptance of his person performance and all in the acceptance of Jesus Christ Differen 5. The life of faith keepeth up his obedience when his comfort goes down the life of sense throweth down a mans obedience together with his comforts though the soul wanteth comfort the manifestations of the love of God yet notwithstanding it doth not flag in its obedience there is still a sweet stream of love and obedience though the stream of his comforts doth not flow as once it did There is a stream of obedience though there is not that streame once there was of comfort This you may see in the holy man Job God frowns upon him fights against him as an enemy the Devil hee tempts him to cast off all his hopes in God his wife tempts him to cast off all hope Dost thou still retain thine integrity His friends might and main endeavour to prove him to be an hypocrite here was a sad condition yet the good man bears up his confidence against them all Job 13.15 Though he slay mee yet will I trust in him As if hee should say it is my duty to trust in God the Lord frowns upon mee fights against mee and indeed my comforts are gone time was I had much well it is my duty to trust in God let God do what hee please frown if hee will take away my comforts if hee will yea let him kill mee if hee please though he kill me yet will I trust in him So David Psal 119.82 83. My soul fainteth for thy salvation but I hope in thy word my eyes fail for thy word saying When wilt thou comfort mee for I am become like a bottle in the smoak yet do I not forget thy statutes David looked for comfort long so long that his soul even failed O when O when So long as a bottle in the smoak is parched and dryed I have been so long without comfort that my soul is dry and parched and yet for all this Lord that comfort do not come yet I minde my duty I keep to my duty I do not forget thy Statutes So a soul that lives by faith let former comforts bee gone former manifestations and injoyments bee gone yet the soul will minde his duty Let the Lord frown if he please nay let the Lord leave mee as a bottle in the smoak Yet saith the soul will I trust in him and not forget his Statutes yet will I minde my duty go on in duty But a soul that lives by sense if his comforts bee gone his obedience will bee gone too you shall finde it thus with them if they finde much comfort then they can pray and hear indeed that soul goeth cheerfully and merrily on O but let his comfort bee gone and then hee is like a sullen childe hee will do little or nothing for his Father the soul will stand still so it is with the soul that lives by sense Differen 6. The life of sense beleeveth onely so far as it hath reason to beleeve the life of faith beleeveth above reason If there bee some ground in reason to beleeve such a thing then it beleeveth if not it cannot When the Israelites were in the wilderness they could not beleeve because there was no ground to reasor to beleeve that they should have bread and flesh when in the Wilderness but they questioned the Power of God Can hee give bread also So that Noble man 2 King 7.1 2. because hee could see no ground or reason why there should bee such a great plenty saith hee If God would make windows in heaven could this bee A soul that liveth by sense will beleeve onely so far as hee hath reason nay he will not beleeve alwayes so far as hee hath reason to beleeve I am perswaded there would be a great deal of faith many times when there is a great deal of unbeleef if they would beleeve so far as they might have some reason for it As for example A poor soul casteth away the Promise and saith This Promise belongeth not to mee I have nothing to do with Jesus Christ and yet it can confess that Christ hath made it to poor sinners now reason saith Take it because it is made to poor sinners O but not to all O but so long as it is made to poor sinners and thou canst see no
unto thee and though I am still as vile a Sinner as any man in the world yet am I as just before thee as any Saint in heaven though I have nothing of my own to boast of before thee except it bee my shame and nakedness yet have I that of anothers wherein I boast and glory and herein will I glory though of my self I will not glory but of mine infirmities This righteousness of Jesus Christ which is neither the righteousness of works nor our inherent righteousness but another distinct from and above all these a forreign righteousness â—or a righteousness without us is that alone which the soul which lives by faith for Justification bears all upon in this business It counts not it self one whit the more righteous or justified because it hath done much for God nor one whit the less because it hath done little but it bears all its Justification upon this that it is righteous in the righteousness of Jesus Christ it lays the whole weight of this great business upon the shoulders of Christ It sees and knows that God the Father hath laid the whole stress of the business there that he hath not appointed any other righteousness neither of men or Angels to the work and therefore saith the soul though I had all the righteousness of all the Saints on earth and Angels in Heaven to bring to God for my Justification yet would all this never justfie me because the Father hath not appointed that either the righteousness of men or Angels should do it and yet though I have in a manner nothing of these as little creature active righteousness as any yet do I in some measure beleeve that I am justified because I have another and better righteousness which through Grace I have been enabled by faith to lay hold of even that righteousness of God or that righteousness of Jesus Christ which God the Father hath ordained and appointed to bee my everlasting Righteousness and Justification The more you and I live by faith the more shall we daily come up to this to lay the whole strength of our Justification upon this righteousness without us not reckoning our selves to bee one whit the more righteous when we have done a great deal of good nor one whit the lesse when we have fallen into sin though my heart hath been more carried out for God in this duty then I was in a hundred before yet now to go to God and say for all this I am not one jot the more righteous as to my Justification that is wholly by another righteousness which this comes not at all into it meddles not with but is a stander by and when I have fallen foulely into sin then to go to God and say Lord I am as vile a sinner as any in the world I have walked as like a wretch as ever creature did and yet for all this I am not one jot less righteous as to my Justification that is still by another righteousness which my good reacheth not my evil hinders not This we may see in Paul 1 Cor. 4.4 I know nothing by my self yet am I not thereby justified As to say O yee Corinthians I have preached the Gospel among you and I have whatsoever you judge or think of me the testimony of my Conscience that I have laboured to do it in all simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by manifestation of the truth making it my design to approve my self to every mans Conscience in the sight of God yet for all this though I have endeavoured and obtained mercy of the Lord in my work to bee faithful am I not thereby justified I do not put this upon the account of my Justification So Rom. 7. when the Apostle had at large discoursed as of the good so also of the great mass of iniquity that was in him whereby he was captivated and made to serve sin yet he presently triumphs Chap. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ as if he should say Though I finde an unregenerate part as lively and powerful in me as any other doth or I think can do yet am I not hereby condemned this doth not at all hinder my Justification no I thank God for Jesus Christ that is all in him the business of that lies upon his righteousness though I had ten times more sin then I have to contend with to mourn and be humbled for yet could it not prejudice my Justification that is only by the righteousness of Christ and blessed bee God Christ is mine his righteousness mine there is therefore now no condemnation 3 Faith leads the soul out unto and constantly keeps it to the word of promise where the righteousness of Christ is held forth to poore Sinners for the obta ning and holding of it Faith ever loves to have its hold-fast in its hand because it knows that the better the thing is which it holds if once it lets go its hold-fast the more eager and watchful the Devil is to snatch it from it Now this thing of the righteousness of Christ it is Faiths Jewel the promise as by it it first gets hold of this precious Jewel so is it its hold-fast by which it keeps this Jewel from being plucked away by Satan therefore doth faith lead the soul out unto Christ keep him close to the word of promise continually saith Faith as you love the comfort of your Justification through the righteousness of Christ so hold to the Promise keep to the Promise let go the Promise but a moment your adversary will snatch your Jewel out of your sight Faith it takes a poor soul by the hand and carries him out to the Promise saith â—olt behold here is a promise see what is in it why an everlasting righteousness for my Justification here an eternal Salvation hereafter take hold of it therefore O my soul take hold of it is there not a blessing in it yea is there not that in it which will make thee blessed for ever keep hold of it therefore O my soul keep hold of it Rom. 10. vers 6 7 8 9 10. The Apostle speaking of the righteousness of Christ which faith hath hold of saith thus Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thine heart that is the word of faith which we preach i.e. do not think you must go up to heaven to fetch it that there is no getting it except you climbe thither neither say Who shall descend i. e. that it is in the Grave I must go thither for it go hang or drown my self if I will have it but what saith it The Word is nigh thee What word why of Faith and the Promise i. e. the promise of faith
in Jesus Christ which is preached to poor sinners in this this righteousness is contained here you may lay hold of it by holding of this thou must keep it thou needest not poor Sinner if thou wouldest have all thy sins pardoned be a justified soul and blessed for ever climbe up to heaven by thy own good works and righteousness for it nor run down to hell in despair thinking thou mayest as soon finde it there as any where else no no poor soul what saith it The word is nâ—gh thee Heaven is nigh Justification Salvation is nigh thee it is in Gods word of faith which thou hearest preached that free promise which brings thee tidings of an everlasting righteousness lay hold of this thou art blessed for ever keep hold of this and thou shalt see thy self a justified person and an Heir of Heaven for ever And who mee thinks hearing this would not have thoughts of a Heaven thou poor soul sittest all the week long at thy Cups and with thy Queans and art scared from having any thoughts of Heaven or obtaining of Jesus Christ and life eternal through him because thou thinkest if ever thou doest it thou must make a Ladder of good works and climbe up to Heaven and thus thou knowest not how to do but it is a Hell to thee to have thoughts of it or if not so yet thou thinkest thou must run mad for a while at least the thoughts whereof terrifie thee as much on the other side whereas poor soul thou art mistaken the righteousness of Christ by which souls are righteousness of Christ by which souls are justified and saved needs neither of these for the obtaining of it thou needest not go up to Heaven nor down to Hel to get it thou needest not stand howling and crying and moping a moneth together to get a Heaven no but come to the Promise and all is thine but I tell thee not that when this is done thou shalt swagger and swear and be drunk and roar as before thou didst no but a new nature shall be put into thee and God whom now thou art affraid of as a Judge to hang thee thou shalt come running unto and throw thy self into his arms as into the arms of a loving Father and that work as prayer hearing which thou art now in prison whilst thou art about thou shalt account this glorious liberty 4 Faith it begets and keeps up a secret perswasion in that soul which lives thereby that either the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is declared in the promise already for certain is or if not may bee mine As faith leads the soul out unto and holds it close to the promise where Christs righteousnesse is held forth so there is something which faith in its acting doth to bring the soul unto and constantly to hold it to the promise for it is not an easie thing to bring a poor soul which sees nothingness and emptiness in it self and all its own righteousnesse to close with the promise of Christs righteousnesse and to hold the soul to the same in such sort as it shall not swerve or start aside stagger or reel from that promise in this great business of its Justification Now that which faith doth for the bringing of the soul unto and holding it close to the promise is the begetting and maintaining in the soul a certain secret and inward perswasion which is twofold Either 1 Such as hath an assuring act of faith joyned with it and may bee called Faith of assurance which though it bee not that wherein the life of faith doth properly consist yet it oftentimes accompanyeth living by faith and is more constantly found in that soul which lives by faith than it is in another which doth not live by faith which is a perswasion that that righteousnesse of Christ which is revealed in the promise for the justification of sinners is certainly mine applied to mee and that through the same I am already justified and shall never come into condemnation and therefore I come and take hold of the promise and keep to it as that which is my continual evidence against sin and Satan that I am justified and shall never come into condemnation so that the soul comes to the promise and saith This promise is mine the treasure in it is mine the Jewel of Christs righteousnesse that it brings is mine and in this confidence it triumphs over death hell sin the devil and all the enemies of its Justification and Salvation This perswasion wee finde in the Apostle Paul upon which hee grounds his glorious triumph Rom. 8. vers 33. to the end Daring all his enemies and all the enemies of the Elect of God Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or peril or sword All comes from this perswasion vers 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life shall bee able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And as I said before though this perswasion that I am certainly just and righteous before God in the righteousnesse of Christ bee not that proper act whereby I live by faith yet the more I attain to of this life of faith the greater and more constant will this perswasion bee for the stronger faith grows in any soul the more full assurance doth it bring though yet that assurance is not the act whereby it lives by faith but a fruit thereof yea in those souls who have attained to a higher degree of the life of faith as Paul and others in those times had the actings of faith do more appear in the act of Assurance and less in the acts of bare Adherence so that such doe not so much say the Righteousnesse of Christ it may bee mine and therefore I cleave to the promise which brings the same as thus it is certainly mine I am certainly justified and therefore I hold to the promise and that which is the ground of this my assurance and my evidence to prove the same against all the charges of the Law Sin Satan or any of the enemies of my Salvation Or 2 Such a perswasion as hath an adhering act of faith joyned with it and may be called faith of adherence which is a perswasion of this that the righteousnesse of Christ which the promise declares for the justificotion of sinners though I cannot for the present certainly say it is mine yet it may bee mine and I may bee justified and therefore I go to the promise and hold to the promise where this is to bee had this perswasion is properly the life of Faith considered in it self the other is the life of Faith
the Resurrection of Christ it did revive and hath quickning already Saith the soul though I am dead my graces lye as though dead affections dead heart in duty dead yet I have quickning in Christ I have a stock of life in Jesus Christ Coloss 3.3 Yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God though it do not for the present appear it is hid with Christ 3 Faith in this business of vivification sheweth the soul that there is a streame of vertue and efficacy comes from the resurrection of Jesus Christ quickning of it and this is that Paul presseth after That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection Phil. 3.10 That I may have the power of his Resurrection raising and quickning of mee The Resurrection of Christ though but one act yet hath a continual stream of vertue flowing from it for the quickning of souls 4 Faith taketh hold of any word of promise in the book of God that may bee any ground of encouragement to beleeve his quickning it as that word of Christ Joh. 10.10 I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly See saith Faith Jesus Christ is come that I might have life And because I live yee shall live also Joh. 14.19 because there is life in Christ shall I live then I will go to him for life Quest 3. Why is a Christian to live by faith for Sanctification Answ 1. Because our sanctification is altogether of grace therefore the Spirit by which wee are sanctified is said to bee given of God and the blood of Jesus Christ which hath such an influence into Sanctification that is of Grace It was of Grace that Christ shed his blood of more grace that this blood of Christ should bee applied to thy soul for the washing away of thy sin So Faith which is a help in our Sanctification that is of Grace therefore Faith is said to bee the gift of God Eph. 2.8 And to you it is given to beleeve Now if Sanctification bee of Grace wee are to live by faith for it 2 Because our Sanctification as well as our Justification is primarily in the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is made Sanctification to us 1 Cor. 1.30 and so wee are to live by faith for it for whatsoever is in the Lord Christ I am to partake of it by faith 3 Because wee have promises of Sanctification What I have a promise for I am to live by faith for because the promise is the ground of faith but wee have promises of Sanctification of MORTIFICATION Sin shall not have dominion over yon Rom. 6.14 of VIVIFICATION because I live yee shall live also Joh. 14.19 therefore wee are to live by faith in it 4 Because we are to pray for Sanctification and therefore we are to beleeve for it What is my duty to pray for I am to beleeve for because Prayer must bee in faith Every Petition I put up to God in Prayer it is my duty whether I do it or no to act faith in the thing desired If I am to pray for it I am to beleeve for it But I am to pray for it Jesus Christ teacheth us to pray for it when hee himself prayed for our Sanctification Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth and Jesus Christ teaches it in that Prayer we call the Lords Prayer the three first Petitions respecting in a great part our Sanctification Hallowed be thy Name It is as much as that God would help us to honour and Sanctifie his great Name Thy Kingdome come It is as much as to pray that God would set up his Spiritual Kingdom in our hearts that we might bee ruled and guided by his Spirit having all corruption mortified and grace quickned Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven This is as much as to pray that wee poor creatures here on earth might do the will of God so freely fully and cheerfully as the Saints in Heaven So that wee are to pray for Sanctification and then wee are to beleeve for it because our Prayer must bee in faith Quest 4. What is the difference between that Sanctification which ariseth from an enlightned conscience and that Sanctification which ariseth from faith or beleeving There is a Sanctification which ariseth from the meer dictates of the Law of Nature and that Sanctification the Heathen Moralists attained to a great deal of And there is a Jewish Sanctification or Legal and that is such a Sanctification as is begotten by the terrors of the Law But there is another Sanctification and that is a Gospel-Sanctification that is such a Sanctification as is wrought in the soul from the beholding the love of God in Jesus Christ such a Sanctification as is wrought from beleeving his Justification Now there is a great difference between this Sanctification and the other which arises onely from an enlightned conscience for both arise from an enlightned conscience the one from conscience being enlightned by Natures law the other from the written Law but there is a great difference Answ 1. That which ariseth from natural conscience is something of the more gross part of Sanctification but a piece and doth not take in any thing of the finer part of Sanctification A forsaking some sins that are outward and gross his conscience cannot but flye in his face so that hee shall not rest quietly night nor day such as Drunkenness Adultery and the like It is in respect of those duties that are more apparent such as Prayer hearing the word such if a man should let alone hee should have no quiet nor peace in conscience But that Sanctification that cometh from faith that is in respect of the inward more secret evils of the soul the secret rising of pride unbeleef and passion and so for more inward duties that Sanctification teacheth a man to deny himself to submit himself to Gods will to be content with Gods disposal 2. That Sanctification which cometh from an inlightned conscience onely raiseth a man to bee more self conceited but that Sanctification that cometh from faith and beleeving throweth a man down in respect of all self-conceit it maketh a man more mean and low in his own eyes As the Scribes and Pharisees and Jews in our Saviours time they had a great deal of this outward holiness and Sanctification but see how it puffed them up how they stand upon tip-toes and crow over poor Harlots and Publicans as not fit to come in the company of such as they were But that which cometh from faith maketh the soul more humble What abundance of Sanctification Paul had hee did press after perfection did walk more like one in heaven than on earth yet hee could look upon himself as the least of Saints concerning acting for God labouring in the work of God hee preached the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illiricum laboured more abundantly than they all yet how humble Yet not I but
the grace of God in me and so hee saith in nothing hee came behinde the chiefest Apostles yet saith I am nothing So concerning uprightness of conversation hee walked before God in all good conscience knew nothing by himself yet how humble yet hereby am I not justified and not that I can do any thing of my self yea hee saith hee was the chiefest of sinners hee seeth it is not wrought by his own proper industry but by the grace of God therefore he giveth him all the glory 3 That Sanctification which is wrought by natural conscience is grievous and irksome because it is against the will it is a forced holiness hee is constrained to it It is his will to sin but conscience will not suffer him his will is to do nothing at all in the service of God if hee might go to heaven but his conscience puts him in hell if hee doth nothing and so it is grievous to him But that Sanctification which is though faith that is pleasant to the soul That that is natural is pleasant God puts the New nature within and then it is in some measure natural to bee holy to avoid sin to do the will of God Therefore see how differenly wicked men and godly men speak of the wayes of God Job 21.14 Sec the language of wicked men they say to God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Here is the language of wicked men they cannot help it for their lives but they shall have some knowledge of the wayes of God the Law of Nature teacheth something of Gods wayes and they have his word and that tells something more O say they Depart we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes we are troubled at the knowledge of such things it torments us this is the language of wicked men Then again Jer. 23. v. 33. we read of a generation of men that heard the word of God but it was so tedious that they call it a Burden they come to the Prophet and ask What it the burden of the Lord It was grown into a Proverb the wayes of God were so tedious and irksome But now do but see how Godly men speak of the wayes of God See what David saith Psal 19.7 8 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart vers 9 10. The judgements of the Lord are righteous altogether more to be desired than gold than much fine gold sweeter than the honey and honey comb They do not cry Depart we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes they do not call them a burden So Psal 119. vers 72. The Law of thy mouth is better to mee than thousands of gold and silver vers 130. How sweet are thy words to my taste sweeter than honey See how David speaketh of the will of God the wise man telleth us Prov. 13.19 It is an abomination to fools to depart from evill It is an abomination to depart from sin it is that hee hates The fool that is the wicked man It may bee hee doth depart from some sins his conscience makes him depart from some sin fear of Hell the terrors of the Law but it is an abomination hee may depart from it but hee hates it with his very life not sin but the departing from sin that hee must part with his drunkenness the Drunkard would fain have his cups and the Adulterer his Quean but his conscience so terrifieth him that he dares not have them but departs from them but hee hateth the departing from them But see a godly man it is his delight to part from them Psal 119. vers 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold upon me but thy Commandements are my delight vers 47. I delight my self in thy Commandements which I have loved A hundred and twenty times in this Psalm the Psalmist useth such phrases as express his affection unto the wayes of God I delight in thy Law I love thy testimonies 4 That Sanctification that ariseth from natural conscâ—ence that is most when conscience is most unquâ—et Wee read that Ahab humbled himself but never but when his conscience was troubled But that Sanctification which ariseth from faith is then most when the soul is most quiet If at any time the soul is least in duties of Sanctification it is when the conscience is most unquiet 5 Lastly That Sanctification that ariseth from natural conscience makes a man an enemy to all these that are truly and spiritually sanctified Ishmael the son of the Bond-woman persecuteth the son of the Free-woman So all the stock of Ishmael they that are sanctified with an outward Sanctification will persecute those that are truly sanctified Therefore there were none such great enemies to Christ as the Scribes and Pharisees that had outward Sanctification they were they that stirred up persecution they were the great and worst enemies to true Sanctification But that poor soul that is truly spiritually sanctified is a friend to all those that are truly sanctified they love them the more the move Sanctification they can see in them the more of the Image of God they can see upon any souls the more they love them The life of Faith in expectation 1 Cor. 5.7 For wee walk by faith and not by sight THe observation that we are upon is this That the life of Faith is the proper life of Saints in this world We are speaking to this question What those things are which a Christian is to live by faith in I have told you that the phrase of living by faith is taken in Scripture in respect of Justification Sanctification Expectation and Perseverance we have spoken of the two former now of the third the life of Faith relating to a Christians Expectation a Christian is to live upon God in way of expectation to wait upon God he is to expect much in way of faith That wee are to live by faith in this respect is clear from that testimony of Habakkuk in the second Chapter and the third vers For the vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak at the fourth vers But the just shall live by his faith by his faith the time whilst the Vision is delayed he lives by his faith expecting much while much is delayed expecting the fulfilling of the Promises while it is delayed all the time that much is delayed all that time of a Christian he is to live by faith the Scripture tells us that Abraham beleeved God he had a promise and it was delayed year after year hee looks for the promise and for the performance thereof and yet delayed Abraham looked for the mercy in way of faith and the fulfilling of the promise was made to him but hee must first wait for it In the handling of these things wee shall shew you 1 What those things are that a Christian waits for
what those things are that a Christian expects by faith 2 How Faith acts the soul in this business of expectation 3 Why we must live by faith in this respect 4 What manner of waiting that is that comes in beleeving And so apply it First Those things that a Christian waits for and expects are many but a Christian doth by saith wait for something more especially that he doth expect and wait for in a special manner as 1 The fulfilling of Promises if the Lord hath made a promise to the soul or it the soul hath been made to wait upon a word of promise now he waits upon God beleevingly to see the accomplishment of this promise David had a word of promise from the Lord and waits upon the Lord for the accomplishment of it Psal 119.49 ver Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope hee had a word and grounds his hope upon it waits upon God for the fulfilling of it So we read of Simeon that just and holy man spoken of in the second of Luke vers 26. he had a word that he should not dye until he saw Jesus Christ in the Flesh and he waited for the consolation of Israel he had a word and waited for it at the 25. and 26. verses A word was given in to him and it was revealed to him by the Spirit that he should see Christ and hee waited for the accomplishment of it so a poor soul when it hath any promise given in by the Lord or is enabled to take hold on any promise and meets with a promise sutable to its condition a soul that lives by faith waits upon God for the fulfilling of this promise 2 Again another thing that a soul waits for is the return of his prayers Prayers are the great ventures of a Christian according as a soul speeds or not speeds in these so he is either rich or poor these being a Christians great ventures he is waiting for their return to see what comes home and who comes richly loaden or not this in Psalm 85.4 5. ver the Psalmist having been earnestly praying to God Turn us O God of our salvation wilt thou be angry with us for ever shew us thy mercy O Lord and grant us thy salvation the Psalmist having been praying hard he waits upon God for an answer at the eighth vers I will hear what God the Lord will speak he had been praying and looks up now for an answer I will attend now for an answer for he will speak peace to his people and to his Saints I am sure I shall have an answer of peace and I will hear I will stand waiting for an answer And so the Prophet Habbak 1.2 How long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save art thou not from everlasting O Lord my God mine holy one c. all the chapter is prayer now in the beginning of the second Chap. Habakkuk stands upon the Watch Tower to see if any answer cometh at the first vers I will stand upon my watch and will watch to see what hee will say unto me hee had been praying and now hee would stand upon his watch tower The watch towers are places in Cities where some stand to discry an enemies coming so in the Kings Jehu's coming was discryed by a Watchman in 2 King 9.17 And there stood a Watch man on the tower of Jezerel and he spied the company of Jehu as he came so Habakkuk here hee had been at prayer and hee went up to his Watch-tower to discry the coming of an answer and waits for the return of his prayer A poor soul that is another thing he waits for for the returns of prayer such a soul says I have prayed and I will wait for it as a wise Merchant sends out a Venture takes care of it and hearkens out for it and when it comes home hee looks for his gains c. So a Christian when he trafficks for Heaven he does not let it go and never mindes it but inquires after it and looks for his gaine and returns and thus he does wait for the return of his prayer that is the second thing 3 Again another thing a soul waits for is the return of Gods countenance it is not always Sun-shine here below sometimes Clouds doth interpose to hinder the Sun beams and cause darkness and obscurity so it is not always Sun-shine with a poor soul sometimes Clouds get in between the countenance of God and a poor soul and hinders the comfort of a poor soul and sometimes when it is so and it is not as it hath been formerly the soul waits then for the return of his countenance Psal 130.5 6. I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope my soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning he waits and he waits and waits more for God than they that watch for the morning Where was he why hee was in the depths as in a dungeon and could not see the light of Gods countenance in a dark condition and there waits and O when shall I see God again and so likewise at another time when the countenance of God was hidden from him and much dejected in Psal 42.5 6 7. O my soul why art thou disquieted within me trust in God who is the help of thy countenance and thy God and he puts his soul in waiting upon God for I shall yet praise him and behold him who is the help of my countenance and my God 4 Again as for the return of Gods countenance so he waits likewâ—se for the Churches deliverance that is another thing when the Church is under any trial or affliction in captivity he waits for the deliverance of the Church thus in Habakkuk The just shall live by his faith when the people were in Babilonish Captivity they lived by saith for the return of their Captivity so Gods people are called Watchmen in Isaiah Isa 62.6 I have set Watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem What do they watch for for the deliverance of Zion they wait for the prosperity of Gods people and the deliverance of the Church of God 5 Another thing is The ruine of Gods enemies as they wait for the prosperity of the Church of God so for the ruine of Gods enemies Zeph. 3.8 Therefore wait yee upon me saith the Lord that I may assemble the Nations the Kingdomes to pour upon them my indignation anger jealousie God hath a design to gather together his enemies to their ruine and destruction Wait upon mee untill I gather them together and till they bee destroyed 6 Again one more The soul waits for the Lords second coming that 's a thing the soul may wait for Heb. 10.38 The just shall live by faith Now look in the former words and hee shall live by faith in the expectation of Christs second coming
vers 37. Hee that shall come will come and will not tarry So in Chap. 9. vers 28. To them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation What a looking waiting and expectation for Christs second coming in the Spirit Rev. the last Chap. v. 17. The Spirit and the Bride saith come here is coming waiting longing the Spirit cries come and the Bride cryes come the Spirit in the hearts of the people of God cryes come waiting for Christs coming yea this is made a character of a Christian and a great work of the Gospel to wait for Christs coming 1 Thess 1.9 10. They themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you And to wait for his Son from heaven It is the character given of the Thessalonians a waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ and a great Gospel-work to wait for Christs coming Thus what it is that Christians wait and expect for Secondly How the life of faith acts or how faith is helpful to a soul in this business of a Christians Expectation and waiting First Faith or the life of faith it ever seeks out some promise upon which it may ground an Expectation of that mercy that it waits for I say the life of faith it ever looks out some Promise upon which it may ground an expectation of that mercy it waits for Faith it must have its word and therefore the soul that doth by faith expect and wait for any mercy it ever looks out for a word and promise goes ever to the word to see what ground it hath to stand upon and to wait for such a mercy the life of faith does turn over the Bible and looks out the promise findes out the promise of that mercy never rests till it have a promise and then it pitches its standard upon the promise and there it stands and looks up to heaven waiting for the accomplishment of that promise When Daniel did expect the Deliverance of the people of Israel out of the Babylonish Captivity he did ground it upon a promise The Prophet Jeremy had foretold it should continue seventy years now Daniel goes to the promise and when they were expired prayes unto God for the deliverance and upon this word of promise seeks God and beleeves it indeed and expects it from the promise Secondly As Faith doth cause a soul to seek out a promise so having found the promise does not limit God to any time or way for the fulfilling of this promise Another soul that doth not live by faith if so bee that hee doth wait upon God at all yet hee will limit God and tye up God to his own time and way Israel limited the holy One Psal 78.41 and hee that expects much in the way of faith that soul will not limit God to his time and way if I have it not to day I can wait no longer no that soul will wait upon God Gods time as David sayes Psal 31.15 My times are in thy hand So sayes a soul Times and seasons of mercy are in thy hands if I should have it now to day I should bee glad and rejoyce and bless the Lord for it if thou dost withhold it My times are in thy hands yet I desire to wait no reason that I should speak against the Lord and entertain hard thoughts of God if thou withhold the mercy yet I will wait for it Take thy own time O Lord. Then it doth not limit God to any way of performance A soul that expects mercy in way of faith it doth not limit God to any way so far as concerns Expectation it is not the way of faith to limit God to any way An ungodly man will many times tye God to wayes But a soul that doth by faith expect a mercy that soul leaves God to his own way We read of Moses once or twice tying God up to his own way When the people were in great streights Exod. 14 at the red Sea 14 15. vers The Lord shall sight for you and yet shall hold your peace And the Lord said unto Moses Wherefore cryest thou unto mee Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward Moses at the 13. verse goes and layes out a way and that was to stand still and God would destroy their enemies and that was not Gods way hee goes to God and cryes unto him that hee would come with some immediate hand and destroy them from heaven this was Moses way and now Gods way was that they should go forward and pass through the Sea at the 16 vers But lift up thy rod and stretch out thine hand over the Sea and divide it and the Children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the Sea Now Moses bid them to stand still but God bids them to go for ward and so they did did not ty up God to his own way And so at another time wee finde Moses limiting of God Numb 11. for want of flesh the Children of Israel murmured well sayes the Lord Therefore the Lord will give you flesh and yee shall eat yee shall not eat one day nor two dayes nor five dayes neither ten dayes nor twenty dayes but even a whole month 18 19 20 vers And Moses said at the 21. vers The people amongst whom I am are six hundred thousand footmen and thou hast said I will give them flesh that they may eat an whole month shall the flicks and herds be slain for them to suffice them or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them Moses thought of no way unless their flocks were killed or the fish of the sea to bee gathered together and Moses thought this the way and so prescribes God a way So a soul so far as it is waiting upon God and not in faith it will prescribe God a way but a soul that doth expect in faith for a mercy it will not bee prescribing God a way So Abraham hee leaves God to his own way God bids him offer up his Son hee doth not say Why my Son why how will thy promise bee accomplished and made good art not thou faithfull Abraham leaves God to his own way and beleeved that God could finde a way for the fulfilling of the promise and did not limit God to any way a soul that lives by faith waits upon God for the fulfilling of the promise and doth not limit the Lord to any time or way of his own Thirdly The life of faith in our Expectation as it doth cause the soul to look out to the promise and having the promise doth not tye or limit the Lord to his own time or way for the accomplishment of it so it doth perswade the soul though it know not the time when yet a time there is wherein the promise shall be fulfilled and that mercy I wait for shal be given in It doth perswade the soul that there is a
Now this sobriety what is it but patience It is patience joyned with hope Heb. 10.36 Receiving the promise is the thing hope looks at Now faith the Apostle yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of Ged yee might receive the promise Hope looks to receiving the promise all the time of a Christians life is a time wherein hee is or should bee doing the will of God the end is the time of receiving the promises Now because a Christians desire is much carried out to receiving the promise and that is a great way off as wee look upon them therefore saith the Apostle You have need of patience that so your eager desires of receiving the promise do not so over-set you that you cannot go on cheerfully doing the will of God that time God will have you So it is many times the desires of a Christian after heaven and eternal life they are so carried out O when shall I receive the promise come to rest in the bosome of the Father That a Christian finds it a difficult thing to keep his heart in order so as to go quietly on doing the will of God between this and that and to stay and be contented to do that work God would have him do between this and heaven therefore you have need of patience that so when hope is in expectation of the promise our hope may not so vehemently carry us out after receiving the promise that you may not bee discontented at the time our Father will have us be here So that is one thing in Christian hope it is a patient Expectation It is an assured Expectation such an Expectation as hath some measure of assurance going with it not a bare conjecture but such as ariseth from faith a divine faith therefore there is confidence going along with a Christian hope look how much faith apprehends the promise so much doth hope expect the fulfilling of it Therefore it is said in Heb. 11.1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for Faith by imbracing the promise it holds in his hand the substance of all those good things wee expect hereafter Now because faith hath not actuall possession of them therefore they are hoped for hope expects them but faith is the substance therefore this hope is grounded upon faith though it hath them not it doth in a manner injoy them by imbracing the promise therefore hope springing from faith must bee such a hope as our faith is faith is not a bare groundless conjecture but a certainty so must our hope Heb. 5.6 it is called the rejoycing of hope Now rejoycing doth not arise from a bare fancie and conjecture but from some measure of certainty for a man to fancie he shall in joy a Kingdome this doth not beget rejoycing so it hath assurance joyned with it as it is Heb. 6.11 We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end which argues it is not a bare probability but there is something of certainty in Christian hope yet this certainty of hope is according to the certainty of faith if the certainty of faith bee grounded upon a general promise and cannot be brought to a particular promise such is the certainty of hope but if faith bee grounded upon a particular promise such is the certainty of hope I come now to the next thing to shew how hope is resembled to an Anchor First Hope layes hold out of sight cast an Anchor it fastens at the bottome of the Sea out of our sight so doth hope it fastens within the vail there is the place where a Christians hope pitcheth beyond sight within the vail Secondly an Anchor though it fastens out of sight yet it fastens on the rock cast an Anchor if there be a rock it fastens upon the rock so a Christians hope fastens upon the Rock Jesus Christ a Christians hope is fastned upon the Lord Jesus Christ Thirdly an Anchor by fastening upon the rock fixes the ship so that though the waves swell and beat yet the ship is fixed so it is with a Christians hope fastening upon the Lord Jesus Christ it fastens the soul Let temptations and corruptions swell if a poor soul have hope in Christ as his Christ that soul is fixed immoveable that hope it hath of injoying Christ the promise of heaven one day this hope it is that fixes the soul that it is not turned this way and that not driven this way and that as another that hath no hope Let a tempest arise within or without yet if it have an Anchor of hope cast within the vail that it comes but to have some hope can say Jesus Christ is mine it is fixed immoveable Lastly An Anchor by fastening upon the rock fixing the ship the ship is preserved from shipwrack so is the soul Another poor soul that hath no Christian hope the storm arises there is but a little blustering and its split upon the rock if he ride it out one storm another will come and split him but that soul that hath cast Anchor upon Jesus Christ shall bee for ever preserved Quest You will say Wherein is the Excellency of this Anchor of hope above others Answ One wee have in the Text All other Anchors they are cast downward this is cast upward for it enters in to that within the vail it goes upward it is cast within the vaile There is the place where this Anchor of hope is cast 2 Consider the properties which are in the Text of this Anchor It is a sure and a stedfast Anchor A sure that is a safe Anchor and the Anchor of hope when it rests upon this rock it never deceives Hope makes not ashamed And then it is A stedfast Anchor It holds the soul steady unmoveable and both these in these three respects First In respect of the strength of the Anchor it is a strong Anchor another may bee broken and many times is but the Anchor of hope is such an Anchor as can never bee broken a Christians hope is maintained by his faith and his faith and hope by Christ though actings of faith and hope may cease for a while yet his hope can never bee broken there is faith and hope still at the bottome in a Christian 2 In respect of the firmness of the Anchor-ground For it is cast upon a rock therefore it is sure will never break never deceive 3 In respect of the fastness of the Anchors hold Another Anchor though never so strong and good a hold-fast may let go his hold but hope is such an Anchor as never lets go its hold who would not labour to have such an Anchor When the poor soul shall come into a tempest of temptations to have such an Anchor as will never deceive it The third thing is the thing I shall speak to at this time that is The place were this Anchor is cast and that is within the vail the Anchor-ground