Covenant with them Psal 89.30 31 32 33 34. If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their Transgressions with the Rod and their Iniquities with Stripes Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Mouth Sect. 3. There is comfort in Christ for such as are but weak in grace Such as are but weak in Faith and weak in other Graces do usually walk very uncomfortably and are under much perplexity of Spirit upon the account of their weakness We are exhorted to support the weak 1 Thes 5.14 which implyeth that weak Christians are liable to faint and sink now there is comfort in Christ for weak and feeble Christians I will instance in some grounds of Consolation for weak Christians 1. There is a sufficiency of Grace and Strength in Christ for the weak as well as the strong What was said to the Apostle when he was under the buffetings of Satan 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness The same may be said to the weakest Christian that conflicts with many fears and strong temptations Christ's grace is sufficient for thee and his strength is made perfect in weakness that is the weaker we are the more eminently his strength is put forth and manifested on our behalf The Lord is wont in an eminent manner to put forth his power in supporting and upholding weak Christians Isa 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is very tender and carefull of weak and feeble Christians He gathereth his Lambs with his Arm and carryeth them in his Bosom Isa 40.11 He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young By Lambs we may understand young and weak Christians There is no Shepherd so tender and carefull of his little Lambs as the Shepherd of Israel is of his Lambs His gathering his Lambs with his Arm signifieth his preserving them by his Divine power his carrying them in his Bosom signifieth his tender love to them and his tender care over them They lye near his heart he carryeth them in his Bosom he gently leadeth those that are with young that is such as are in a burdened condition afflicted and distressed Consciences When Creatures are with young they are burdened and heavy It may also signifie such as are in the way to Conversion Another Scripture setting out Christs tenderness to weak Christians we have Isa 42.3 A bruised Reed shall he not break and the smoking flax or as it is in the Margent the dimly burning flax he shall not quench That this is spoken of our Lord Jesus Christ is evident from Mat. 12.20 The Reed is very weak a little blast of wind makes the Reed to shake and tremble Mat. 11.7 A Reed shaken with the Wind. The Reed when bruised is weaker than the Reed that is whole The Reed signifieth the weak trembling Christian the bruised Reed a weak Christian bruised with afflictions and temptations such an one Christ will not break that is he will support and uphold them The smoking or dimly burning flax he will not quench That is he will cherish weak and recover lapsed Christians The wick of the lamp that burns but dimly that hath much smoke obscuring the light that hath that which is offensive for smoke is offensive to the eyes mixed with that little light that little good which is in them such Christ will not quench but will cherish and carry on his own in them Isa 29.18 The eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness Though there be much obscurity and darkness mixed with our knowledge when the Lord first opens our eyes yet by degrees that dimness shall wear off and we shall have a more clear knowledge of the mysteries of our Salvation Isa 32.3 The eyes of them that see shall not be dim 3. Weak Christians that build their Faith and Hope upon Christ build upon a sure and strong Foundation For Christ is a sure Foundation to the weak as well as the strong Isa 28.16 Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone a sure foundation Jesus Christ is such a sure and strong foundation that all the Devils in Hell shall not be able to prevail against the weakest Christian that is built on this foundation Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it 4. VVeak Christians have a strong and Almighty God to stand by them who hath promised for Christs sake to help strengthen and uphold them Isa 41.10 13.14 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right-hand of my Righteousness Fear not I will help thee fear not thou worm Jacob I will help thee saith the Lord VVhat is weaker than a worm yet to Jacob that was but as a worm in his own and others apprehension trampled upon and despised by the men of the world the Lord calls out three times fear not fear not fear not and why because though Jacob was but as a worm The God of Jacob who is an Almighty God saith to Jacob I will help thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee The Almighty God is able to uphold the weakest Christian under all oppositions and discouragements Rom. 14.1 4. Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make them stand 5. Where there are the weakest measures of Grace they are taken notice of by God and shall have a great and glorious reward from the Lord. When there was but some good thing towards the God of Israel in Jeroboam's Son the Lord took notice of it and brought him to his grave in peace 1 King 14.13 All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam They that have but weak gifts and mean talents yet if they be faithfull in that little which is committed to their trust they shall have a great and glorious Reward Mat. 25.23 Well done good and faithfull servant thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Sect 4. There is comfort in Christ for such Christians as mourn under their decay in grace and under their unprofitableness under the means of
when he is sending his judgments upon wicked men 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Some of the Lords People walk in darkness and do not know that they are the Lords but there is no darkness with the Lord he knoweth them that are his Nah. 1.7 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him The Lord hath such perfect knowledge of all that are his that wheresoever they are dispersed or scattered into any parts of the world he can call them every one by name Joh. 10.3 14. He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out I am the good Shepherd and know my Sheep The Stars are so many that no man can number them yet the Lord calleth every one of them by their name Psal 147.4 He telleth the number of the Stars he calleth them all by their names And he that calleth the Stars by their names he knoweth and can call every one by his name Now this is a great comfort to us that God knoweth us by name Moses speaketh of it as a great favour that God knew him by name Exod. 33.12 Thou hast said I know thee by name and thou hast found grace in my sight 2. The Lord knoweth how to guide and direct his judgments that they shall fall upon and take hold of those only that are marked out and designed for destruction What is said of the Thunder and Lightning Job 37.3 He directeth it under the whole Heaven and his Lightnings unto the end of the earth The Thunder and Lightning touch no person do no damage to any man but at the direction of God The same is true of other judgments also VVhen a certain man drew a bow at a venture it was God guided the Arrow to the King of Israel and that directed it to go between the joynts of the Harness 1 King 22.34 When the Lord sent several plagues on the land of Egypt he so ordered and guided his judgments that they fell only on the Egyptians and did not touch the Israelites yea he did not only distinguish between the persons of the Israelites and the Egyptians but also between their Cattel Exod. 9.4 The Lord shall sever between the cattel of Israel and the cattel of Egypt there shall nothing dye of all that is the children of Israels 3. The Lord knoweth our conditions what dangers we are in what troubles and sorrows we meet with what straits and distresses are upon us Exod. 7. And the Lord said I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their Task-masters for I know their sorrows Psal 38.9 Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid rom thee When we are in great straits and have friends that are able to help us we are ready to say Oh that such a friend did but know how it is with me The Child is ready to say Oh that my Father knew how it was with me and the Wife is ready to say in distress Oh that my Husband knew how it was with me Our God who is our Friend our Father our Husband always knoweth how it is with us and may not this comfort us in our sorrows 4. The Lord knoweth all our adversaries their wrath and fury their plottings and contrivances against us Psal 69.19 Mine adversaries are all before thee When the Assyrian came with great rage against Jerusalem their doings and contrivances were not hid from the Lord Isa 37.28 I know thy abode and thy going out and thy coming in and thy rage against me 5. The Lord knoweth how to deliver us out of all our troubles when we our selves can't see or think which way we shall be delivered 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations 4. This God that governs the world and takes care of his people is acquainted with all their troubles is an Almighty God able to succour save and defend them from their greatest danger and distresses and this Almighty power of God is a ground of great comfort in times of greatest dangers and distresses Psal 2.1 The king shall joy in thy strength O Lord. David had many enemies and some of them very potent Princes were his persecutors and what was his comfort under all his dangers and troubles The power of God It rejoyced his heart when he considered what a strong God he had to be his helper The Lord himself proposeth his creating power as a ground of Comfort to his people against the fury and power of their adversaries Isa 51.11 12. I even I am he that comforeth thee who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye and of the Son of man which shall be made as grass And forgettest the Lord thy maker that hath stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth This power of God is a ground of comfort in times of greatest danger in several respects 1. The power of God is an Almighty power There is nothing so hard but the power of God is able to do it Jer. 32.17 He can do every thing that he pleaseth Job 42.2 I know that thou canst do every thing and that no thought can be with-holden from thee There are no dangers so great but God can deliver us out of them Daniel was in great danger when he was in a Den of Lyons yet God delivered him out of the Lions Den. David was in greater danger than Daniel when he was in the Lyons paw yet God delivered him out of the Lyons paw 1 Sam. 17.37 Paul was in greater danger than David who was in the Lyons mouth yet God delivered him out of the mouth of the Lyon 2 Tim. 4.17 I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion Jonah was in greater danger than Paul when he was in the fishes belly yet God delivered Jonah out of the fishes belly Jonah 3.1.10 God can deliver us out of the hands of the strongest and most enraged enemies Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest Monarch in the world all People Nations and Languages trembled before him Dan. 5.19 And he was greatly enraged against the 3 Children because they would not worship the golden image which he had set up and he threatned the same hour that they refused to worship his image they should be cast into a burning fiery furnace yet hear what they said to him Dan. 3.16 17. O Nebuchadnezzar we are not carefull to answer thee in this matter If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King 2. This Almighty power of God is engaged for our defence to take the care of us and defend us all the days of our lives Job 23.25 Tea the Almighty shall be our defence Now this is
He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 3. Both a will to embrace Christ and power have been sought with good success Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee the King brought me into his chambers Draw me that is make me willing and able to come to thee and this request was answered the King brought me into his Chambers that is according to my desire drew me unto himself Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies When we feel any averseness in our hearts to any of the ways of God we must go unto God to encline our hearts to walk in his ways Sect. 7. Mens not seeing their need of Christ is an hinderance of their closing with Christ Several causes hereof 1. Resting in a blameless Conversation 2. Resting in Church Priviledges 3. Resting in our own Righteousness 4. Resting satisfied with the World Another sort of hinderances that keep many from closing with Christ besides sticking at the terms of the Gospel is when men do not see their need they have of Christ but rest satisfied with other things instead of Christ and that is occasioned several ways I will instance in three or four As 1. Resting in a civil blameless Conversation free from gross sins 2. Resting in Church priviledges 3. Resting in our own Righteousness 4. Resting satisfied with the World Seeing many men do rest in their being of a civil and blameless Conversation and being free from gross sins and thereupon do not see any need of Christ to save them but hope to go to Heaven when they dye because they live in a blameless manner I shall shew that this is not sufficient to Salvation without an interest in Christ 1. It is the duty of all that expect to go to Heaven when they dye to endeavour to live in an holy blameless manner Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as lights in the World 2 Pet. 3.14 Seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2. Though it be the duty of all that expect to go to Heaven when they dye to live in a blameless manner and to keep themselves from the pollutions of the World yet a civil and blameless Conversation a Conversation free from gross sins is not sufficient to carry a man to Heaven without an interest in Christ For a man may live civilly and be free from gross sins and yet be in a dangerous and damnable condition on several accounts As 1. He may be an ignorant man and have no knowledge of God and Christ he may have no understanding in the mysteries of Salvation And such as live and dye without Understanding God will have no mercy upon them and will shew them no favour Isa 27.11 It is a People of no Vnderstanding therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour And they shall perish for ever on whom God will have no mercy and to whom he will shew no favour 2. A man may live civilly and be of a blameless Conversation and yet be an Unbeliever be one that hath no Faith in Christ And all such as do not believe in Christ shall be damned and have their portion in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Rev. 21.8 The Vnbelieving shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone 3. A man may be free from gross sins and live civilly and yet dye Eternally for want of a new heart and be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven for not being born again Ezek. 18.31 Make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O house of Israel Joh. 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 4. A man may lead a civil life and be free from gross sins and yet have no love to Jesus Christ And such as have no love to Christ are in a cursed condition 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha That is let him be accursed and let him remain accursed till the Lord cometh to take vengeance on him 5. A man may be free from gross sins and yet be guilty of Spiritual sins and be in a damnable condition for his Spiritual sins As for instance A Man may never touch a Woman and yet be an Adulterer in the sight of God by the lustings of his heart Math. 5.28 Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery already with her in his heart A man may never strike his Neighbour and yet be a Murderer in the sight of God by hating him in his heart 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him A man may never bow his body to an Idol and yet be an Idolater in the sight of God by over-loving and trusting in his Riches Col. Nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of â—â—â—ist He may have a civil life and yet 〈◊〉 Atheist in his heart Psal 14.1 The 〈◊〉 hath said in his heart there is no God Many persons rest in their Church priviledges as that they are born of Religious Parents are Members of Churches have been Baptized are frequenters of Gods Ordinances have received the Lords Supper and therefore they hope it shall go well with them Thus the Jews bore up themselves that they were Abraham's Seed were Circumcised had the Temple of God among them Joh. 8.33 VVe be Abraham's Seed Jer. 7.4 Trust ye not in lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord But none of these things will avail me to Salvation unless they have an interest in Christ As I shall make appear these ways 1. To be born of Religious Parents of Parents in Covenant with God is a great Blessing but if they do not seek and serve that God whom their Fathers served but forsake him and go in the way of their own hearts though their Fathers were as Holy men as ever lived upon the face of the Earth God will cast their impenitent degenerate disobedient Children into Eternal Torment David was a man after Gods own heart yet he tells his Son Solomon that if he forsook the Lord the Lord would cast him off for ever 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind If thou seek him he will be found of thee if thou forsake him he will cast thee of for ever The Jews bore up themselves with this that they had Abraham to their Father but
violent take it by force 5. They that are effectually called will go through any sufferings to obtain the Kingdom of God We are told in Gods word that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 But this doth not dismay those that are called to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ They make light of the sufferings of this life in comparison of the glory and the felicity of the future life Rom. 8. â—8 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Act. 20.23 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me But none of these things move me c. As it was with the Israelites when God called them out of Egypt they were willing to go through the Red Sea and to go into a howling wilderness where were Scorpions and fiery Serpents to get into the land of promise So it is with those that are called out of their natural state they are willing to go through any troubles and difficulties though it be a resisting unto blood to get into the Kingdom of Heaven Heb. 11.35 Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection To get the possession and make sure of this Kingdom a man Effectually called will readily and joyfully suffer the loss of all things that he hath in this world Math. 13.44 2. Recieving Christ as he is offered to us in the Gospel is an undoubted evidence of a saving interest in Christ Upon our recieving Christ he becomes ours and we become his Joh. 1.12 To as many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God All that recieve Christ how many soever they be have an interest in God as their Father and in Christ as their Saviour Christ is the gift of God Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son Joh 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God that is if thou knewest me who am the gift of God as the following words shew and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink Now what is it makes a gift ours but an offer from him that hath power to bestow it and acceptance by him to whom it is offered God hath power to bestow Christ on whom he pleaseth and he maketh an offer of Christ unto every one that finds his want of Christ and is willing to recieve Christ Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely Upon our accepting Christ on that offer which God makes of him in the Gospel Christ becomes ours and we become his Recieving Christ is believing on Christ Joh. 1.12 To as many as recieved him to them that believe on his name And as for such as believe in Christ Christ is theirs for he dwelleth in their hearts Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith But here it may be enquired how shall we know whither we have recieved Jesus Christ in a true and saving manner A. 1. Such as recieve Jesus Christ aright recieve him in all his offices they recieve him as their Prophet as their Priest and as their King Col. 2.6 As ye have therefore recieved Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Here is mention of the 3 fold office of Christ His Prophetical Office is signified by Christ which signifieth anointed he was anointed with the Spirit to Preach the Gospel Luke 4.18 Jesus signifieth his Priestly Office for Jesus signifieth a Saviour and he was called Jesus because he was to save his People from their sins Mat. 1.23 And how doth he save his People from their sins but by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us Lord signifieth his Kingly Office These Colossians recieved Christ in all these Offices as their Prophet as their Priest and as their Lord they recieve Christ Jesus the Lord. And so do all that recieve Christ aright Now then we recieve Christ as our Prophet when we make the word of Christ the rule of our Faith our Worship and of our Conversations 1. The word of Christ is the rule of our Faith what we find in the word of Christ that we are to believe though it seem hard to our understandings Joh. 7.38 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said Our Faith must be regulated by the Scriptures And Abraham believed according to what God had spoken to him Rom. 4.18 Who believed in hope against hope according to that which was spoken And so the Apostle Paul and the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 15.3 4 11. Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures So we preach and so ye believe We are to believe all things according as they are held forth in the Scriptures 2. The word of Christ is to be the rule of our worship whatever censures or calumnies the world cast upon us of Heresie or Schisme or the like yet we must keep close to the written word of God Act. 24.14 After this way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets The Passeover was part of the worship of God and the Jews are blamed for neglecting and not eating the Passeover in that sort and manner as was directed in the written word of God 2 Chron. 30.5 They established a decree that they should come to keep the Passeover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as was written And ver 18. A multitude of People had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the Passeover otherwise than it was written And that they sinned in eating the Passover in other manner than was prescribed in the written word of God is evident from the following words wherein Hezekiah prayeth for the pardon of their sin The good Lord pardon every one Our Lord Jesus would not go against the written word in matters of Worship for the gaining of the whole world When the Devil carried him up into an high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdoms of the World and proffered to give them all to Christ if he would fall down and worship him he rejected the motion with disdain because it was against the written word to worship any other but the true God Mat. 4.8 9 10. The Worshipping of Idols being forbidden in the word of God the Three Children chose rather to be cast into the burning fiery furnace than to worship the golden Image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up and commanded all persons to worship under the greatest penalty even present Death and that a dreadful death to be burnt in a fiery furnace Dan. 3.15 18. If ye worship not ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a fiery Furnace And what did they answer
when thus menaced by the King Be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor Worship the Golden Image which thou hast set up Neither the hope of the greatest gain nor fear of the greatest punishment should make us go against the word of Christ in things pertaining to the worship of God 3. The word of Christ is to be the rule of our Conversations We must not make our gain our rule our credit or the example of others but the word of Christ Ps 119.105 Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path In doubtless cases we must make Gods Testimonies our Counsellors And after we have consulted with the word what we find agreable to the mind of Christ that we must do though it be cross to our own interests and what is contrary to the word that we must avoid though it would be very beneficial to us Thus David Psal 119.24 Thy Testimonies also are my delight and my Counsellors Thus the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 13.7 VVe can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth It was an excellent speech of Balaam and worthy our imitation although he did not do what he said Numb 22.18 If Balak would give me his house full of Silver and Gold I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more We may know that we recieve Christ as our Priest these ways 1. If we look for remission of our sins and Eternal Life not by any works of Righteousness which we have done but from the mercy of God and the merits of Christ who offered up himself to God a Sacrifice for our sins Rom. 5.9 Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Tit. 3.5 Not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Act. 15.11 But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they See also Gal. 2.16 2. When we ground our Faith and Hope for audience and acceptance of our Prayers upon the intercession of Christ Heb. 10.21 22. And having an high Priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith Dan. 9.17 O our God! hear the Prayer of thy Servant and his Supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary which is desolate for the Lords sake We may know that we recieve Christ as our Lord these ways 1. If we are willing to be ruled and governed by Christ Many men are unwilling to recieve Christ for their Lord to rule them that would have him for their Saviour to save them from wrath to come They say in their hearts as they did Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man to Reign over us Then we are willing to be Ruled and Governed by Christ when we yield ready obedience to his word and the motions of his Spirit For Christ Rules us by his Word and Spirit What Pharaoh said to Joseph Gen. 42.14 According to thy word shall all my People be ruled So may I say here They that recieve Christ as Lord they are all Ruled according to his word Now we may know that we are willing to be Ruled by the word of Christ 1. When in doubtfull cases we consult the word of Christ and desire to know the mind of Christ VVhen we say with the Apostle Lord what wilt thou have me to do Act. 9.6 VVhen we say with David Ps 143.8 Make me to know the way wherein I should go Psal 86.11 Teach me thy way and I will walk in thy Truth And that we may find out the mind of Christ we make his Testimonies our Counsellors as was hinted before 2. Such as are willing to be ruled by Christ as soon as they understand this or the other thing to be the mind of Christ they yield obedience to it Psal 18.44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me Psal 119.60 I made hast I delayed not to keep thy Commandments 3. Such as embrace Christ for their Lord their hearts stand in awe of the word of Christ they are afraid of Transgressing his commands Prov. 13.13 He that feareth the Commandment shall be rewarded Yea there is greater awe upon the word of Christ than the word of Princes If Princes command one thing and Christ another and Princes will persecute us because we are not obedient to them yet Christs Subjects stand in such awe of his word that they will not swerve from his word for avoiding troubles and persecutions from the greatest men on earth Psal 119.161 Princes have Persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy word 2. As we may know we have received Christ for our Lord by our willingness to be governed by his word so also by our submiting our selves to all the disposals of Providence-relating to us or any of ours For it belongs to Christ as King to govern the world All power in Heaven and Earth is committed to him the Government is upon his should 〈◊〉 the Father hath committed all judgement into the hands of the Son Now such as receive Christ for their Lord submit themselves to 〈◊〉 the disposals of Providence without frâ—… or murmuring at their losses and crosses and that because it is the Lord that doth all that befalls them 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 2 Sam. 15.26 But if he thus say I have no delight in him Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 2. We may know that 〈◊〉 recieve 〈◊〉 aright when we receive 〈…〉 heartily By receiving 〈…〉 mean when we understand on what terms Christ is willing to bestow himself upon us what he requires from those that will become his disciples and when we judge those terms to be equal to be good to be submitted to with chearfulness By receiving Christ heartily I mean a cordial and through complyance with those terms on which Christ will accept us for his disciples We must receive Christ judiciously that is understand the terms on which Christ will become ours and accept us for his and judge those terms worthy of all acceptation What these terms are on which he is willing to receive us for his disciples I will shew out of two or three Scriptures Mark 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me Luk. 14.33 So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my disciple And ver 26. If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my disciple Hating is not to be understood absolutely but comparatively For it is not lawful to hate father or mother or brother He that hateth his brother is a murderer but hating is less
perpetual and irrecoverable destruction 2. The Psalmist speaks of the roaring of the waters and their being troubled and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof and this may signifie great tumults and uproars among the people such as may make the stoutest hearted persons to tremble Psal 74.4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy Congregation The Scripture setteth forth multitudes of people by waters As Rev. 17.15 And the roaring of these waters make the mountains shake that is make the stoutest and most couragious men to fear and tremble Psal 18.4 The floods of ungodly men made me afraid When ungodly men that have no fear of God before their eyes were in an uproar were gathered together and bore down all before them like a flood it made even David himself to be afraid 3. By the removing the earth and roaring of the waters are meant all places being full of trouble wars at Sea and Land the whole world full of stirs and commotions yet we will not fear 4. What the Psalmist expressed Metaphorically ver 2.3 he expresseth more plainly ver 6. The Heathen raged the Kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted That is there should be such dreadfull judgments called for by God such ragings of the Heathen such commotions of the Kingdoms as should make mens hearts to melt with grief and fear For the heart is melted with grief Psal 119.28 My Soul melteth for heaviness Luk. 21.26 Mens hearts failing them for fear 5. He speaketh of dreadfull desolations to be made in the earth by the Lord such as might make men stand still and behold them ver 8. Come behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth Yet under all these desolations when the Heathen rage and the Kingdoms are moved when there are such troubles as make mens hearts to melt within them when the earth is removed and the mountains are carried into the Sea when the waters roar and are troubled when the mountains shake with the swelling thereof There is a River the streams whereof make glad the City of God There is comfort in Christ under the greatest ruins and desolations that come upon Kingdoms and Nations yea upon the whole world And here we may take notice of some of these streams of this River some of these benefits we have by Christ which are matters of joy in our greatest calamities which are hinted in this Psalm 1. The Lords people shall through Christ and for Christs sake have the Lords presence with them in all the commotions and desolations that come upon the world and this makes glad the City of God and settles the faith and hope of the people of God ver 5. God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved ver 7. The Lord of hosts is with us This is three times mentioned that the Lord is with his people as being a prime antidote to expell their fears and comfort their hearts Is 41.10 Fear not I am with thee yea under dismal calamities when the Lord is pouring out his fury and is pleading against us with fire and sword and is leading his people through the depths of trouble and fiery tryals this is a singular comfort to have God with us Isa 42.24 25. compared with 43.1 2. 2. Another of those streams which make glad the City of God under calamitous times is that they have a refuge to flee to and that this refuge is God himself and that this God who is their refuge is the God of Jacob. This is also three times hinted in this Psalm ver 1 7 11. God is our refuge The God of Jacob is our refuge The God of Jacob is our refuge It is comfortable to have a refuge to flee to in a storm a refuge to flee to where we may be safe But most comfortable to have God himself the great God the eternal God the Al-mighty Al-sufficient God the faithfull God the infinitely near and gracious and loving God for our refuge And it is an addition to our comfort that this God who is our refuge hath stiled himself the God of Jacob. For that implyeth 1. That he that was Jacobs refuge when he was in great distress and afraid of his brother Esau who hated Jacob and had taken up a resolution to kill him Gen. 27.41 And to come against Jacob with four hundred men which made Jacob afraid that he intended to kill him and his wives and children Gen. 32.6 7 11. yet God was Jacobs refuge in this great strait and so over-ruled Esau's heart that he did Jacob no harm 2. That God is and will be a refuge to poor weak and shiftless creatures such as are but worms in their own and others account despicable persons he will help and take care of them in the time of trouble Isa 41.13 14. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee Fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel 3. That is and will be a refuge to such as are in a deserted condition and are ready to say they are forsaken of God for some of the seed of Jacob are ready to say their way is hid from the Lord yet the Lord is their God and their refuge Isa 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel My way is hid from the Lord and my judgement is passed over from my God Compar'd with Isa 41.8 10. But thou Israel art my servant and Jacob whom I have chosen Fear thou not for I am with thee Be thou not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness 3. Another stream issuing from this river which maketh glad the City of God mentioned in this Psalm is that God will be his people's strength in troublous times and a present help both in trouble and out of trouble v. 1 5. God is our strength a very present help in trouble God shall help her and that right early Now this is a great comfort to have God for our strength and help in all our troubles Psal 21.1 The king shall cry in thy strength O Lord Psal 28.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth and with my song will I praise him I will instance in some grounds of consolation under natural troubles as invasion of Forreign Enemies Massacres Pestilence or other desolating judgements 1. It is a great ground of comfort to all the members of Christ under national calamities that there is nothing done in the world or to any Kingdom or any City or any particular person but by the Providence of God I shall Prove this that all things that are done in the world come to pass by the providence of God and then shew
how this is a ground of comfort in all Publick calamities as well as private and personal afflictions That there is nothing done in the world in any Kingdom in any City to any perticular person but by the providence of God is evident from such Scriptures as these Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Isa 45.7 I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Am. 3.6 Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Whatsoever evil comes upon a City or any person in the City whether Sword or Pestilence or Famine or Fire or any other evil it is the Lord that sends all those evils When any destroyers come against a Nation that lay it wast and make it desolate it is the Lord that raiseth up those wasters to destroy and furnisheth them with all their slaughter weapons and their instruments to carry on the designed destruction Isa 54.16 Behold I have created the Smith that bloweth the coals in the fire and that bringeth forth all instruments for his work and I have created the waster to destroy Such calamities as seem to be carried on in a confused disorderly way are governed and over-ruled by the providence of God so that there is no damage done to any mans person or estate but by the appointment of God Nahum 1.3 The Lord hath his way in the storm and in the whirlwind That is the Lord orders all things that are done by the storm and by the whirlwind and by all other judgments that come as suddenly as violently as confusedly as the storm or the whirlwind When the Sword or Pestilence come upon any place the Lord numbers all the persons that shall be slain by the Sword and that shall dye by the Pestilence Isa 65.12 Therefore will I number you to the Sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter Jer. 15.2 VVhen any man suffers by Fire Hail Snow or stormy VVinds he suffers nothing but what God hath appointed him to suffer for the Fire Snow Hail stormy Winds and all other creatures fulfill Gods word they do nothing to any man but what God hath appointed them to do Psal 148.8 Fire and Hail Snow and Vapour stor my wind fulfilling his word Mich. 6.7 Hear the rod and who hath appointed it Every rod hath its whole work appointed by God The Sea seems to be a very unruly creature especially when stormy winds causeth it to rage yet the Lord ruleth the raging of the Sea and suffers it to do nothing in its greatest rage but what he pleaseth Psal 89.9 Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the Waves thereof arise thou stillest them And he that ruleth the raging of the Sea ruleth and stilleth the tumults of the most unruly people Psal 65.7 Yea he ruleth over all persons and all actions that are done in any part of the world Psal 103.19 The Lords Throne is in the Heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all Now this is a ground of comfort to the People of God in Tumults and Insurrections and Massacres and all other National judgments that there is nothing comes to pass nothing befalls any Kingdom City or particular Person but by the providence of God Psal 97.1 2 3. The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce Clouds and Darkness are round about him Righteousnes and Judgment are the habitation of his Throne A fire goeth before him and burneth his enemies round about His Lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw it and trembled The Hills melted like Wax When we are under cloudy and dark dispensations when we meet with fiery tryals and God is burning up his enemies round about when he sendeth such judgments as make the inhabitants of the earth to tremble and the hills to melt like wax that is men of the highest degree Kings and Princes their hearts faint through fear and grief yet then we may rejoyce when we consider 't is the Lord reigneth and that all things are done by his Providence The Providence of God which ruleth and disposeth all things that are done in the world is a ground of comfort to the people of God in publick calamities on several accounts As 1. That God who ruleth and disposeth of all things by his providence is our God and our Father in Christ Psal 146.10 The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Zion unto all generations praise ye the Lord. This is matter of praise and joy to Zion not only that God reigneth but that he which doth and shall reign for ever is Zions God Thy God O Zion Reigneth unto all generations praise ye the Lord. The consideration of our Fathers hand in ordering all our afflictions may sweeten the bitterest cup which he at any time puts into our hands Joh. 18.11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it 2. Whatsoever the Lord doth is done in Righteousness when he breaks in pieces Kingdoms and Nations this is matter of comfort God will do nothing to any place or people but what is consistent with Righteousness Ps 48.10 11. Thy right hand is full of Righteousness let Mount Zion rejoyce let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgments 3. The Lord who ruleth the world by his providence is a mercifull and gracious God that will compass his own people with mercy at such a time as he is distributing sorrows in great abundance to wicked men Psal 32.10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him about Even when he lets his own people fall into the hands of cruel enemies such as hate them he is mindfull of his mercy towards them Psal 106.42 43 45. 4. This God who ruleth and governeth the world and disposeth all things that are done therein by his providence is a God in Covenant with us that he will never turn away from doing us good Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good This was spoken to the Jews when they were under very dark providences the King of Babylons Army had Besieged Jerusalem and God told them by his Prophet that he would give Jerusalem into the King of Babylons hands ver 2 3. And besides the Sword of the enemy the City was visited with the Famine and Pestilence ver 24. Yet under these sad providences God comforts his people with his Everlasting Covenant wherein he assures them that though they were surrounded with all these evils the Sword the Famine and the Pestilence yet he would not turn away from doing them good Whatever aspect some of Gods providences may have upon the world and the Sinners in Zion yet they are all mercy and truth to the people of God even when they have the greatest appearance of severity Psal 25.10 All the
paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies 5. The Lord hath wise and holy ends in the changes and desolations that he makes in the earth And the consideration of the Holiness and Wisdom of God in all his works may be a stay to our minds when he over-turns Kingdoms and Nations Psal 30.4 Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his give thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness Dan. 2.20.21 Blessed be the name of God for ever and for ever for wisdom and might are his and he changeth the times and the seasons he removeth Kings and he setteth up Kings 2. That special care which the Lord taketh of all his people at all times is a ground of great comfort in times of danger and Publick calamities The Lord taketh a special care of all his people at all times and this may quiet their minds and free them from perplexing fears and cares in times of greatest danger and distress 1 Pet 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you The persons to whom this Epistle was written were in great distress they were scattered abroad into several Countries Chap. 1.2 To the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bythinia They were in heaviness through the manifold temptations they met with in their persecuted scattered condition ver 6. They were under great and sore afflictions not onely the hand but the mighty hand of God was upon them Ch. 5.6 yet in this scattered condition when they were in heaviness through manifold temptations when they were under the mighty hand of God the Apostle comforts them with this that they had a God that took care of them and therefore they needed not to perplex and disquiet their minds with any kind of cares but may cast them all upon God Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you That we may be the more comforted in time of danger by the care that the Lord taketh of us let us consider what manner of care it is wherewith the Lord careth for us 1. It is a special care which the Lord taketh of his people There is a common care which he taketh of all his creatures He feedeth the fowls of the Air he clotheth the grass of the field he satisfieth the desire of every living thing he preserveth man and beast But the care which God taketh of the children of men is far greater than what he takes of the beasts of the birds or any other creatures in this world The care that God hath of the sons of men so far exceeds his care of other creatures that it seems as no care compared with that care which he takes for mankind 1 Cor. 9.9 10. Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn Doth God take care for oxen Or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written And as God takes care of men above all other creatures so he takes a more special care of his own people than he doth of all other men They are to him as the apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 Het hat toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye They are his jewels Mal. 3.17 They shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him They are his peculiar treasure Exod. 19.5 Ye shall be unto me a peculiar treasure above all people for all the earth is mine They are his portion Deut. 32.9 The Lords portion is his people How careful are men of their portion their peculiar treasure their jewels the apple of their eye so and much more careful is the Lord of his people They are his children Gal. 3.26 And in times of danger men are very solicitous for their children The first question that David put to both those messengers that came with tydings from the battel was concerning the safety of his child Is the young man Absalom safe 2 Sam. 18.29 32. 2. It is a particular care The Lord doth not onely take care of his people in general but of every one of them in particular and of every thing that belongeth to them When God is destroying wicked men he taketh care for the preservation of every one of his people Psal 145.20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy In times of greatest calamity when he breaks a kingdom in pieces and scatters the inhabitants thereof into all parts of the world he will take care of every one of the members of Christ even the least and meanest and most shiftless of all his servants Amos 9.9 For lo I will command and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations like as corn is sifted in a sive yet shall not the least grain fall to the ground Say not in thy heart God hath so many to take care of he may forget me or I am such a mean creature he will not regard me For it is all one with God to take care of many as few and he takes care of the lowest as well as the highest Psal 138.6 Though the Lord be high yet he hath respect unto the lowly There are a great company of Sparrows and they are birds of but small value yet not one of the Sparrows is forgotten of God Luk. 12.6.7 Are not five Sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God Fear not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows In the 4th verse Christ saith to them Be not afraid of them that kill the body And gives two arguments to disswade them from fearing them that can only kill the body First that is the worst they can do after that they have no more that they can do And the other is they can't do this but by the permission of God for he that watcheth over every Sparrow doth much more watch over every man who is of more value than many Sparrows There are many devices to take away the lives of the Sparrows as Nets Snares Fowling-pieces c. besides the danger they are in by the greater birds who pray upon the lesser ones yet not one Sparrow is killed but by the providence of God Mat. 10.29 Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father Though we have many that lye in wait to take away our lives and the instruments of Death are prepared for us yet not one man woman or child shall fall to the ground and be cut off from the land of the living without our Heavenly Fathers appointment And as the Lord taketh a particular care of every Member of Christ so also of all the affairs and concernments of all the Members of Christ He sets the hedge of his providence not only about their persons but about all that
the most dangerous most destructive temptations and containeth both inward lusts whereby the heart is as it were set on fire and fiery tryals which are sharpest to the outward man now these are all quenched by the shield of Faith Let me shew you how you should use this shield how you should exercise your Faith when you meet with fiery tryals 1. Have Faith in Gods presence believe that God is and will be with you according to his promise when you pass through the fire and through the waters Isa 43.2 For Faith in Gods presence will carry us comfortably through our greatest tryals Act. 2.25.26 I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is at my right hand that I should not be moved therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad To confirm your Faith that you shall have Gods presence with you in your persecutions see such Scriptures as these 2 Cor. 4.9 Persecuted but not forsaken Jer. 20.11 Joh. 16.32 2 Tim. 4.17 18. 2. Have Faith in Gods assistance Believe that God according to his promise for Christs sake will help strengthen and uphold you Isa 41.10 The believing that we shall have Gods help will put great courage into our Souls Isa 50.7 For the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed 3. Have Faith in that glorious and unspeakable recompence of reward which God will give you if you continue faithfull unto the death in a suffering day Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a crown of Life 2 Tim. 2.11 12. It is a faithfull saying If we suffer we shall also reign with him The believing and looking at our eternal glory which we shall have after we have suffered for Christ will keep us from fainting under the Cross 2 Cor. 4.16 18. For which cause we faint not while we look at the things which are not seen which are Eternal 2. As you should get and exercise Faith so you should exercise patience also For patience is a very usefull and necessary grace in times of persecution Heb. 10.32 36. Ye endured a great sight of afflictions ye have need of patience Luk. 21.12 19. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake In your patience possess ye your Souls If any say it is true Patience is needfull and usefull in a suffering day But how shall we attain to patience in times of great persecution A. 1. Consider the patience of our Lord Jesus Christ in all his sufferings that will learn us patience in all our distresses Heb. 12.1 2 3. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking to Jesus Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself least ye be wearied and faint in your minds The looking to Jesus and considering the dignity of his person the greatness of his sufferings and the patience with which he endured the pain and the shame of the Cross and the contradiction of sinners against himself will help us to run our race with Patience and keep us from being wearied and fainting in our minds An instance of the patience of Christ under his sufferings which all things considered were greater than the sufferings of any of the Martyrs We have Isa 53.7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth And as the example of Christ so also the example of the Prophets and other Saints and Servants of God may cause us to be patient under our persecutions It hath been the lot of the best men that ever lived even of the Prophets to be persecuted for Righteousness sake Mat. 5.12 So persecuted they the Prophets Luk. 13.34 O Jerusalem Jerusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee Jam. 5.10 Take my brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and patience 2. Consider the desert of sin They which suffer most in this Life suffer far less than their sins deserve How great were Jobs afflictions of all sorts yet they were less than his sins Job 11.6 Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth Ezra 9.14 compared with Lam. 1.12 No sorrows like what the Jews met with yet were they punished less than their sins deserved This should silence all complaints Lam. 3.39 Our sins have deserved the Torments of Hell Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death The second as well as the first death Shall we not patiently suffer any Torments in this Life for Righteousness sake seeing our sins have deserved the Torments of Hell for ever 5. The blood of Christ and the word of God and preferring the glory of God above our lives are great helps to a chearfull bearing and overcoming all persecutions When the Dragon makes war with the Saints we may see by what means they overcome him Rev. 12.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Here are 3 means by which they overcame the accuser of the brethren 1. By the blood of the Lamb that is by the blood of Christ who is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Now the blood of Christ helps us to overcome 1. As it justifieth us and takes away all our guilt and reconciles us to God Rom. 5.9 10. Joh. 1.7 For when sin is pardoned there is comfort in the greatest sufferings Mat. 9.2 And when God is reconciled there is a Triumphing over all enemies Rom. 8.31 2. As it hath purchased for us victory over all the adversaries of our Salvation Col. 2.15 3. As it gives us solid grounds to hope with boldness to enter into Eternal Life Heb. 10.19 4. As he hath left us an example to suffer for him who suffered for us 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Pet. 4.1 2. By the word of their Testimony that is the word of God which they had owned professed gave Testimony unto in the worst of times Now the word helps us to overcome 1. As it comforts us in all our conflicts Psal 119.49 50 94 161 162. 2. As it reveals and promiseth glorious rewards to them that overcome Rev. Ch. 2. Ch. 3. Ch. 21.7 CHAP. III. An Exhortation to such as are in a Christless condition to seek after an interest in Christ Directions Motives and Helps in order to the getting an Interest in Christ Hinderances removed SEeing it is thus that an interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under
To such as are ready to give over seeking after Christ I shall give these two encouragements to continue seeking after Christ 1. If you continue seeking after Christ and do seek him with our whole hearts we shall assuredly enjoy him 1 Chron. 28.9 If thou seek him he will be found of thee Believe this promise of God that if thou dost seek him he will be found of thee and go on in the strength of this promise to seek in hope that thou shalt find the Lord. Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord By knowing here is meant such a knowledge as is accompanied with the enjoyment of God as the following words imply He will come unto us Jer. 29.13 And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your hearts 2. It will not be long before you find Christ if you go on to seek him Though you do not find him for the present yet you shall find him in a little while in his own due time Cant. 3 1 4. By night on my bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth and I found him not It was but a little and I found him whom my Soul loveth Isa 54.7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee § Motives to get a saving interest in Christ Most persons that live under the Gospel make light of Christ and neglect that great Salvation which he hath purchased with his blood and prefer their worldly concernments before seeking after Christ Mat. 22.5 They made light of it and went their way one to his farm another to his Merchandize Our Lord Jesus Christ offers Salvation to lost sinners he doth as it were stretch out his hands to them and offer them his help to save their Souls but scarce any man regards the offers of grace and mercy that he makes to them Prov. 1.24 I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded This stretching forth the hand implyeth the offers of Salvation that Christ maketh in the Gospel to perishing Sinners When Peter was in a boysterous Sea and was afraid of being drowned and began to sink he cryed out to Christ Lord save me And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him Mat. 14.30 31. Christless sinners are in a more dangerous condition than Peter was they are ready to sink down into Hell sentence is passed upon them by the great God The wicked shall be turned into Hell Psal 9.17 And Christ stretcheth forth his hand and offers to save them but most men are so stupified in their sins and so busied in this present world that they regard not the offers of Salvation made to them by Jesus Christ And therefore there is need of motives to stir men up to seek after an interest in Christ and to embrace that Salvation which is offered to them by Jesus Christ 1. Motive The excellency of Christ should stir us up to get an interest in him For we covet things that are excellent and there is nothing so excellent as Jesus Christ All the excellent things in the world are but loss and dross and dung compared with Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ Silver and Gold Jewels and Precious Stones and whatever a man can desire are not worthy to be compared with Christ Prov. 8.11 For Wisdom is better than Rubies and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it And as Christ is more excellent than all things so than all persons in the world The wisest the holyest the best the greatest men that ever lived are not worthy to be compared with Christ Cant. 5.10 My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among Ten Thousand White and Red well mixed make a beautiful countenance white may signifie the holiness of his Life ruddy his bloody passion His holy life and his bloody death render him amiable to his people If Ten Thousand of the most excellent persons that ever lived were set by Christ he would be the chiefest of them all Among all the Angels of Heaven and all the Kings of the Earth there are none to be compared to our Lord Jesus Christ Psal 89.6 Who in Heaven can be compared unto the Lord who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto the Lord. There are all the excellencies of the Godhead in our Lord Jesus Christ Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And the excellencies that are in the Godhead are unspeakable and unconceivable Seeing then there is a greater excellency in Christ than in all the whole world we should labour more to get Christ than we did to get any thing in this world 2. Get Christ for yours and you shall get unsearchable Riches For there are unsearchable Riches in Christ Eph. 3.8 That I should preach among you the unsearchable Riches of Christ The Apostle had studied preached and enjoyed Christ many years and yet could not express or understand all the Riches that were treasured up in Christ but calls his Riches unsearchable Riches By these Riches of Christ which he calls unsearchable understand those benefits we have by Christ As Vatablus and others immensa Christi benefitia the incomprehensible benefits of Christ And though we can't search out all the Riches that are in Christ and that we have by Christ though we cannot fully comprehend in this life all the benefits we have by Christ I will briefly instance in some of these unspeakable benefits which we shall get if we get an interest in Christ 1. Get Christ and you shall get into the love and favour of God Prov. 8.35 Whoso findeth me findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. And the favour of God is an unspeakable blessing better than all things in this world For a man prefers his Life above all that he hath in the world Job 2.4 All that a man hath he will give for his Life But the favour of God is better than a mans Life Psal 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than Life 2. Get Christ and you shall get the pardon of all your sins Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins according to the Riches of his grace Though we be guilty of Hundreds of Thousands of Millions of sins if we get Christ for ours his Blood will cleanse us from them all 1 Joh. 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 3. Get Christ and you shall get an interest in all the promises 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen And it is by and through Christ that we are pertakers of the promises Eph. 3.6 That the Gentiles should
and nothing to be refused but Christ and all that belongs to Christ is to be received with Thanksgiving That which most men stumble at in Christ is his Cross they hear that if any man will live Godly in Christ Jesus he must suffer Persecution but if we rightly understood the advantages of sufferings for Christ we should esteem the Cross of Christ above all the treasures of the richest Kingdom in the World Heb. 11.25 26. As shall be shewen more fully afterward 4. The terms on which Jesus Christ with all his saving benefits is offered to us are reasonable beneficial advantagious terms better than thou thy self couldst have made for thy self if God had left it to thine own contrivance better than all the Angels of Heaven could have made for thee All the terms proposed by God on performance whereof we shall enjoy Christ and Salvation by Christ for ever are real and eminent benefits and have a singular worth and excellency in them as may appear if we consider all the terms required to our enjoyment of Salvation by Christ As 1. Faith That is a most precious grace more worth than the whole World 2 Pet. 1.1 2. Repentance There is such an excellency in Repentance that all the Angels of God rejoyce when any one sinner is brought to Repentance Luk. 15.10 3. Taking up the Cross This is an honour and matter of great joy to be called to suffer for Christ Act. 5.41 The trying of our Faith with crosses is much more precious than all the Gold in the World 1 Pet. 1.7 4. Serving and obeying Christ It is a greater honour to be a Servant of Christ than to be the greatest King in the World For Kings are Honoured only by men but the Servants are Honoured by God Joh. 12.26 If any man serve me him will my Father Honour 6. If you would have a saving interest in Christ as you must accept him for your Lord and Saviour so you must give your self to Christ to be his Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his We must become his if we would have him for ours If we do in truth of heart give up our selves to Christ to be his he will assuredly become ours and we shall be saved by him Isa 63.8 For he said surely they are my people children that will not lye so he became their Saviour Children that will not lye that is that do not dissemble in their hearts when they gave themselves to me that will not deal disloyally with me and there upon when they in truth of heart gave themselves to the Lord he became their Saviour As the Prophet said to the woman with whom he made a contract Hos 3.4 Thou shalt abide for me many days thou shalt not play the harlot thou shalt not be for another man so will I also be for thee The like contract is Christ willing to make with us if we will become his Servants and abide for him and not be for the world or our selves so he will be for us and will be our Saviour We must imitate the Churches of Macedonia of whom it is said They gave their own selves unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 8.5 And why should we stick at this He gave himself to death for us Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity And shall not we give our selves to him that we may have Life and Salvation by him How or which way can we bestow our selves better than to give our selves to Christ who so loved us as to wash us from our sins in his own blood What Master can we serve that is like Christ But some may say How should we give our selves to Christ so as he will receive and accept us 1. Give thy self to Christ with judgment and understanding Know and understand what it is to give thy self to Christ to be his It is to joyn thy self to Christ to love him and serve him and to be one of his servants Isa 56.6 Also the Sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and love the name of the Lord to be his servants If thou wilt give thy self to Christ to be his thou must no longer be thy own to live to thy self and to follow thine own will or do that which is right in thine own eyes or to go in the way of thine own heart 1 Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your own 2 Cor 5.15 He dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them If thou wilt give thy self to Christ thou must not be the Worlds Joh. 15.19 Ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the world And therefore being not of the world you must not set your hearts upon the World nor the things of the World 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the world nor the things of the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Neither must we be conformable to the world Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this world Neither must we be Servants to sin or Satan any longer if we would be the Servants of Christ Mat. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters 2. Count your cost before you give your self to Christ to be one of his Servants and Disciples Consider what it may cost you to be a Disciple a Servant of Christ and see whether you are willing to engage with Christ under all those hazards and troubles and difficulties that you may meet with in your way to Heaven I will tell you what cost you must count upon You must count upon losing the love and good will of the world and to be hated of all men for Christs sake Luk. 21.17 Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake You must count upon many troubles Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have Tribulation Act. 14.22 We must through much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God You must count upon all sorts of persecutions reproaches confiscation of goods imprisonment banishment c. 2 Tim. 3.12 Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution You must count upon forsaking Friends Estate Liberty and Life all that you have if you will be a Disciple of Christ Luk. 14.33 Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my Disciple Are you willing to be at all this cost to be a Disciple of Christ If so then he will embrace you for one of his It is Christs own advice that we should count our cost before we engage in his ways Luk. 14.28 29 30. For want of this many that fall in with the ways of Christ in a day of peace and prosperity fall off when trouble and persecution ariseth for the Gospels sake 3. Give your selves freely and willingly to Christ Let it be your choice after you have weighed and considered all things whether it will
be best for you to give your self to Christ or to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and to pursue this present World For if it be our own choice then it is most likely that we shall stick and cleave to Christ Psal 119.30 31. I have chosen the way of truth I have stuck unto thy Testimonies As in giving Alms to the poor we should give freely willingly chearfully not grudgingly or out of necessity because we can't avoid giving something 2 Cor. 9.7 Every man according as he proposeth in his heart so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a chearfull giver So much more in giving our selves to Christ we should not give our selves to Christ grudgingly or out of necessity but out of choice because it is best for us to be Christs willingly and chearfully for in this as well as in other cases God loveth a chearfull giver 4. Engage your selves to Christ by Covenant to be his wholly his only his his for ever It is said of Jehojada 2 King 11.17 Jehojada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords people So should we make a covenant with Christ that we will be his people and that we will be his for ever We should joyn our selves to Christ by covenant and this covenant should be an everlasting covenant Jer. 50.5 Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten We should engage our selves to Christ to be wholly his 2 Chron. 15.18 And they entered into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their heart and with all their soul And to be only his Psal 62.5 My Soul wait thou only upon God Mat. 4.10 Him only shalt thou serve This engaging our selves to Christ by covenant is very acceptable to God and beneficial to our selves It is so acceptable to God that it is a means of turning away his wrath when his anger is kindled against us 2 Chron. 29.10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel that his fierce wrath may turn away from us And it is very beneficial to our selves many ways I will instance only in two 1. It will more strongly oblige us to adhere to Christ when we have obliged our selves to be his in an everlasting covenant 2. It will be a good evidence and testimony that Christ is ours and we are his when we find that we have chosen him for our Lord and obliged our selves to him to be his by covenant Psal 119.30 94. I have chosen the way of truth I am thine Psal 16.2 O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord. Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord When they made covenants to be the Lords People sometimes they that entered into covenant subscribed their hands to their covenants Neh. 9.38 7. If we would be made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits after we have received Christ as God offers him in the Gospel and have given up our selves to Christ to be his we must continue and abide with him all the days of our lives we must continue in his word and in his ways we must continue believing in loving and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ and walking in his ways For if we abide in the Doctrine of Christ if we continue to believe in love serve and obey Christ he will own us for his and we shall assuredly be made pertakers of Christ and all his saving benefits To assure us of this let us consult such Scriptures as these Joh. 2d Epist ver 9. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son Joh. 8.30 31. As he spake these words many believed on him Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Heb. 3.14 For we are made pertakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end That is if after we have begun to believe we continue stedfast in the Faith of Christ to the end of our days we shall certainly be partakers of Christ And because it is a difficult thing to abide with Christ and continue walking in his ways when troubles and persecutions arise for the Gospels sake I will give you some encouragements to continue with Christ in an hour of temptation 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ will greatly reward our fidelity in continuing with him in his temptations and will assuredly give us eternal life Luk. 22.28 29 30. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations c. Our Lord Jesus Christ observeth who they are that reject him and who they are that continue with him in his temptations and he takes it very kindly from us when we continue with him in an hour of temptation He speaks it to his Disciples commendation Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations And see how he rewards their fidelity in adhering to him in a time of trouble He promiseth to give them no less reward than a Kingdom I appoint unto you a Kingdom And in that Kingdom they shall have joy unspeakable and full of glory and Royal dignity That ye may eat and drink at my Table It is a great honour to set with the King at his Table that we shall not only set at the Table where Angels sit but at Christs Table Not that there is eating and drinking in a proper sense in Heaven but in as much as there is delight in eating and drinking Isa 55.2 Eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in fatness especially what is set on Kings Tables by these expressions is hinted to us that such shall enter into the joy of their Lord. And besides their unspeakable joys they shall have royal dignity conferred on them and sit on Thrones See some other Scriptures to this purpose Mat. 24.13 But he that shall endure to the end the same shall be saved In the foregoing verses the Lord Jesus foretells great National calamities Wars and Pestilences and Famine ver 7. And great persecutions against his Members ver 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my names sake And then tells us that when suffering days come many will be offended and prove treacherous ver 10. But to encourage us to continue faithfull to the death he assureth us that whosoever endureth to the end of his life in times of trouble and persevereth in Faith and Holiness the same shall be saved But he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved And if we may but obtain the Salvation of our Souls whatever we loose whatever we suffer for the obtaining the crown of glory we shall be happy for ever