By acting Faith on this blessed Jesus the Fountain of living Waters their Souls shall be so satisfied as that they shall never hunger more never thirst more that is inordinately after the things of this World When your Souls want strength to bear your Burdens want comfort in your Distresses act Faith on this Jesus this Bread of Life thiâ Water of Life and you shall be refreshed you shall have Joy and Peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Thirdly Jesus Christ is called the Sun of Righteousness and the bright Morning-Star Mal. 4. 3. Rev. 22. 16. He is the Fountain of Righteousness and Life as the Sun is of Light he hath healing in his Wings He was wounded for our Transgressions that by his Stripâ we might be healed Isa 53. 4 5. anâ 61. 1 2. He was appointed to heal thâ broken-hearted Luke 4. He will heal oâ back-slidings Hos 14. 4. He is the greaâ Physician he can heal all our Spirituaâ and Corporal Diseases His Blood iâ an healing Blood his Spirit an heaâing Spirit his Word an healing Word his Promises healing Promises Hâ hath all healing Vertue in him Hâ is the true brazen Serpent could wâ but act Faith on this Jesus we shoulâ be healed of all our Diseases He iâ the bright Morning-Star We are in Darkness Clouds and Darkness upon our Spirits many dark Providence befal us we see not our way manâ times know not what to do Now let us act Faith on Jesus he will brinâ Light out of Darkness We are under black Fears and Sorrows and aâ dark Night sometimes with us buâ if we can look up to this bright Morning-Star he will enlighten our Darkness he will shine in upon our Hearts and scatter all those Clouds and givâ us a joyful Morning Fourthly Jesus Christ is called the Captain of the Lord's Hosts and the Captain of our Salvation Josh 5. 14 15. Heb. 2. 10. He hath the command of all the Creatures for he is Head over all Things Eph. 1. 22. over Men and Devils All Power in Heaven and Earth is his Matth. 28. 18. O if we could act Faith on this Almighty Jesus our Hearts would not be troubled for any thing What can hurt us What should we fear Our Blessed Jesus our Saviour our Husband commands all Things he rules and over-rules all Things No Creature no Man no Devil can act any thing against us without our Lord's leave Believe in this Captain and let not your Hearts be troubled He will tread Satan under your Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. He will make all his and our Enemies his Foot-stool Let us look by Faith unto our Captain and keep our Eye on him and follow him wheresoever he goeth Let us make him our Leader and by Faith in him we shall be more than Conquerors He hath overcome the Devil and the World for us and he will overcome all our Corruptions Fears and Sorrows in us and wiâ shortly set his Crown upon our Heads Christ is the Captain of our Salvation and in bringing of many Sons to Glory he was made perfect through Suffering Heb. 2. 14. John 16. last Act Faith iâ him who hath perfected our Salvation for us that Work is done and iâ was through Suffering to teach us tâ be willing to suffer also to walk iâ his Steps for in the way of Suffering he entred into his Glory and the very same way will he bring all his Sons and Daughters unto Glory So that while we are suffering for him or from him if we be his Children which we may know if we have his Spirit we are in the right and ready way tâ Glory And then have we any cause to let our Hearts be troubled with sinful Fears Cares and Sorrows Havâ we any cause to be cast down and discouraged while we are following ouâ Captain are making conformable tâ him travelling the same way to Heaven that he went thither the same waâ to Glory the way of Reproach Shame Grief Sorrow Fear Poverty Persecution Tribulation Desertion thâ same Steps that our Lord went to Glory O that we could but still keep our Eye on Jesus and often consider what way he went to Heaven and being our Captain we should shew our selves his good Souldiers and be content to go the same way Fifthly Jesus Christ is called the Consolation of Israel Luke 2. 25. A sweet Name indeed He is the only Person that brings true Comfort being the Fountain and Spring of all Consolation that One of a Thousand who gave himself a Ransom for us He it is that comforteth his People in all their Tribulations 2 Cor. 1. 3 4. He it is that speaketh and giveth his Peace to his People and when he giveth Peace none can cause Trouble And it is his Promise that when he hath brought his People into the Wilderness of Fears and Troubles that they know not which way to turn that then he will speak comfortably to them will speak to their Hearts as the Word in the Original signifies Hos 2. 14. I might largely shew here that Jesus Christ is the Consolation of his People many ways as by his coming from his Father into the World to become our Surety to undertake for us to take our Sins upon him and to make his Soul an Offering for our Sins and by his Blood to purchase our Remission Ephes 1. 7. O how comfortable is a Surety to one that is Arrested Indicted and Arraigned How comfortable is a Redeemer to a poor miserable Captive How comfortable iâ a Pardon to a condemned Malefactor All this is Jesus to his People and infinitely more He is Gold to make uâ rich white Raiment to cover our nakedness Eye-salve to make us see Rev. 3. 17 18. He is Light John 5. 12. the Light of Life the Fountain of Life of Spiritual and Eternal Life no Life but by him And he hath assured us That whosoever cometh to him and believeth in him shall have everlasting Life and shall not come in Condemnation Johâ 3. 16 36. He is afflicted in all our Afflictions Isa 63. 9. And is not this â comfortable Consideration All his Promises are as so many Breasts of Consolation all his Ordinances means oâ Consolation his Word a Word oâ Consolation yea his Rod of Affliction as well as his Staff is blessed for the Comfort of his People Psal 23. He hath also promised to send his Spirit the Comforter to his People to abide with them for ever John 16. 7. Yea Christ himself makes this his own special Work also to comfort them that mourn Isa 61. 2. and hath blessed those that mourn Matth. 5. 4. that is with godly Sorrow for saith he they shall be comforted How greatly then doth it concern us to believe in this Jesus the Consolation of Israel to look by Faith to this Fountain of Comfort look to his Office look to his Word and Promises beg him earnestly to send the Spirit the Comforter into your Hearts Look to Jesus alone for all
Gospel which you profess you do believe Act the Faith you have on the Doctrines of the Gospel the Promises of Rest for your Souls Pardon for your Sins Life and Righteousness Grace and Glory made to those that believe in Christ and to none else Believe and think what Heaven is that state of infinite Blessedness in the seeing and enjoying the Blessed God to all Eternity Believe what Eternal Life is Eternal Glory and believe also what Hell is Separation from God Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire Lakes of Fire and Brimstone everlasting Death the Wrath of God Damnation And seeing you profess that you believe all this then believe also and consider it well that neither is Heaven's infinite Happiness to be attained nor Hell's unspeakable Misery to be avoided but only by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ John 3. 16 17 36. John 8. 24. Direct V. Fifthly Would yoâ have Faith then seek it diligently pray O pray for it as for your Lives cry mightily to God for it pour out your Hearts to God in Prayer for it pray continually for Faith pray without ceasing be importunaâââith God for it go all Day and ââght panting and breathing after iâ O that God would give me Faith Go to Jesus also for it cry to him for he is the Author as well as the Object of it Heb. 12. 1 2. It is the Gift of God O pray for it Direct VI. Lastly Consider seriously and often how wonderful willing God is that you should believe in Christ as you have heard and how much he is displeased with those that will not believe in him and how dreadfully he hath threatned them as Rev. 21. 8. Also consider how exceeding willing Jesus Christ himself is that poor Sinners should come to him and believe iâ him how sweetly he calls them how freely he offers himself and All he is to them be they never so bad never so vile and wicked He every one that thirsteth Isa 55. 1. they that have no worthiness in them nothing but Sin and Misery John 6. 37. and 7. 37. Rev. 3. 18. and 21. 11. O set your Hearts to the consideration of the incomparable unparallel'd Love of Jesus in dying that cursed Death of the Cross for Sinners Consider and meditate hold your Hearts to it until your Hearts be affected with his Love his Love that passeth the Love of Women Love passing Understanding and consider how well he deserves and how much he challengeth your Love Consider once again what a most lovely Person Jesus is who is altogether lovely the Brightness of his Father's Glory in whom dwells all Fulness Heb. 1. 3. and in whom is all Power in Heaven and Earth Matth. 28. 18. and labour to affect your Hearts with his most admirable Excellencies and then come unto him weary and heavy laden with your Sins willing to part with them all give up your whole selves to him give him your whole Hearts and take him for your Head and Husband for your only Lord and Saviour enter actually into Covenant with him to become his and his alone and his for ever Thus work out your Salvation and youâ Consolation by believing in Jesus in Blessed All-sufficient Jesus trusting to him betrusting all with him and God will work in you both to will and to do Phil. 2. 12 13. Use these Means in the strength of God and doubt not but in the use of them you shall obtain this precious Faith which having and acting you shall find it to be your Hearts Ease in all your Heart-Trouble Laus Soli Deo FINIS Some Books printed for and sold by Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul 's Church-Yard THe Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New with Annotations and Parallel Scriptures To which is annexed the Harmony of the Gospels As also the Reduction of the Jewish Weights Coins and Measures to our English Standard And a Table to the Promises in Scripture by Mr. Samuel Clark His Holy History in brief Or an Abridgment of the Historical Parts of the Old and New Testament Dr. Thomas Goodwin's Works In two Volumes in Folio viz. on the Ephesians Revelations The Knowledg of God the Father Election c. His Treatise of the Punishment of Sin in Hell In 8o. Dr. Bates's Works viz. The Harmony of the Divine Attributes in the Contrivance and Accomplishment of our Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ Or Discourses wherein is shewed how the Wisdom Mercy Justice Holiness Power and Truth of God are glorified in that Great and Blessed Work His three Sermons at the Funeral of Dr. Jacomb Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ashurst His Sure Trial of Uprightness c. Practical Discourses on Sickness and Recovery By T. Rogers M. A. A Discourse of Closet-Prayer By M. Slater Mr. Pearse's Preparation for Death His Best Match Or The Souls Espousal to Christ Last Legacy Or Beam of Divine Glory c. 12º An Explanation of the Assembly shorter Catechism Price 6 d. Mr. Case's Treatise of Afflictions The Epitome of the Bible in English Verse useful for Children Price 6 d bound A Present for Children Being a brief but faithful Account of many Remarkable and Excellent Things uttered by three young Children to the wonder of all that heard them To which is added A Seasonable Exhortation to Parents for the Education of their Children Published by William Bidbanck M. A. Price 6 d. bound The Barren Fig-Tree Or The Doom and Downfal of the Fruitless Professor By John Bunyan
Application of this First It follows hence that Heart-trouble under the afflicting Hand of God argues the weakness if not the want of Faith All those sorts of Heart-trouble and the parts of it which I have mentioned as Heart-Sorrow worldly Sorrow immoderate Mourning sinful Fear vexatious Care despondency of Spirit being offended disturbance of Mind Distraction Dejection Discouragement and the like all these slow from the want of Faith or at least from the weakness of Faith in God We do not believe in God we see the Causes of our Troubles they are mostly in our selves even our Vnbelief Whatever we profess we do not believe in God If we could but believe in God our Hearts would not be troubled O our want of Faith let us heartily lament it and cry to God for Pardon through the Blood of Christ If our Hearts be troubled where is our Faith in God What doth God and all that is in God signifâ to us What are we the better for a that infinite All sufficiency and Goodneâ that is in God if we do not act Faith uâon it Our Heart-troubles would be âred could we act Faith on God as â ought to do Immoderate Sorrow then is very uâ becoming Believers in God If we wiâ prove our selves Believers in God let â discharge our selves from Heart-troublâ and let us draw out Consolation for oâ Hearts by Faith from all those comfortâble Considerations of God and from â those abundant Excellencies that are â God O let us labour for Faith and aâ it let us live in the exercise of it at then surely we shall find comfort Secondly Let us all labour to get an Iâterest in God by Faith in Jesus Chriâ that so we may be able to look upoâ God as our God and then we may claiâ an Interest in All that God is and in â that God hath and so shall we have â cause of Heart-trouble in any Conditioâ For if God be ours All his Attributes aâ ours his gracious Covenant is ours hâ Word and Promises are ours All is ours Therefore should we labour in this aboâ all things spending all our Thoughts Affections and Spirits upon this O let us lay hold on God and his Covenant let us chuse him for our Portion and resign up our whole selves unfeignedly to him terminating and centring all our Desires Hope Love Delight in him alone placing all our Happiness in him and then commit all to him Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73. 23. The Second Question Secondly What is it to believe in Christ For saith he in the Text Believe also in me It is God in Christ that we must believe in not in God without Christ not in God out of Christ but believe in God in Christ Now what this believing in Christ is I shall endeavour to show looking up to the Father of Lights and to the Author and Finisher of our Faith for Light and Assistance In general It is to believe all that which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures concerning Christ to believe the Record that God hath given of him in his Word as 1 John 5. 10 11 12 13. Tâ believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Sâ of God Joh. 1. 18. That he came oâ from the Father was made Flesh toâ upon him our Nature was born of Virgin lived on Earth in the form of Servant a poor despicable Life preacâed the Gospel working Miracles That he suffered upon the Cross with â the Sins of his People upon his Soul at Body that he bore the Curse of the Laâ the Wrath of God which was due to Maâ for Sin That he died a most painfâ shameful and cruel Death dying as Sacrifice to satisfy God's Justice to atâ and pacify his Wrath to make our Peaâ and to reconcile us to God That he roâ again from the Dead ascended into Heâven to prepare a Place there for â People That he sitteth at the right Haâ of God everlasting to make continuâ Intercession for us And that he shall coâ to judg the World at the last Day Aâ while he is absent from us in Person heâ on Earth he promised to send his Spirâ the Comforter into the World to coâvince and convert all those which hâ Father hath given him to call them bâ his Word to quicken strengthen staâlish comfort and confirm them until he come again to take them to himself that where he is there they may be also John 16. 1 2. This is the Record that God hath given of his Son That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3. 16 36. Now to believe in Christ is to believe all this Testimony of him And also out of a deep sense of our Sin and Misery and sight of Christ's infinite Excellency All-sufficiency and Willingness to save Sinners and upon his Call to us in the Gospel to come unto him weary and heavy laden with our Sins heartily willing to accept of the Lord Jesus upon his own Terms to take him for our only Lord to give up our whole Selves Souls and Bodies to his blessed Government by his Word and Spirit in all things and unfeignedly and unreservedly to enter into Covenant with him to become his and his alone and his for ever and to relie upon him for Life for Grace and Salvation this is to believe in Christ Thus believe in Christ and let not your Hearts be troubled The acting of this Faith on blessed Jesus is a singular means to prevent and cure all Heart-Trouble all Heart-Sorrows Cares Fears Vexations Despondencies Dejections and Distractions whatsoever thâ may arise in our Hearts by reason of aâ Loss Cross Disappointment Distress â Affliction that may befal us If we ââ but thus believe in Christ and rest aâ rely upon him and trust in him â Hearts shall not be troubled Q. But what is that in Christ whiâ Faith must act upon to effect this Cuâ of Heart-Trouble when Afflictions coâ upon us A. Such-like things as I shewed beforâ as are in God for Faith to act upon whiâ are these that follow First Faith must be acted upon ââ loving gracious sweet Nature of Jesâ Christ Our Lord Jesus is of a most lâving and sweet Nature he is Love indeeâ the Son of his Father's Love and altâgether lovely His Thoughts of us wâ believe in him were Thoughts of Loâ from Everlasting All his Words aâ sweet his Mouth is most sweet O whâ sweet Language doth he give his Church My Dove my Love my fair One my Sâster my Spouse c. Cant. 5. 16. Hâ loved us and gave himself for us Lovâ us and washed us in his Blood Rev. 1. 6 He is one of our Nature our Kinsman our Husband our Father our Elder Brother c. So that if there be any Love in the Head to the Members if any in the Father to the Child if any in the Husband to the Wife
Death oâ the Cross and all as our Surety and ââ a Sacrifice to God for our Sins Chriââ our Passover was sacrificed for us 1 Cor 5. 7. to make Atonement and Satiâfâction to the Law and Justice of Goâ for us Rom. 3. 25. This was the great Work of the Transcendent Love of Jesus Chrisâ when he was upon Earth when he travelled in Soul drank of the Brook in the way Psal 110. 7. that black Torrent of Wrath and Curses that lay in the way betwixt our Souls and Heaven which stopp'd up our Passage thitherward and made it utterly impassable for us But Jesus made a Passage by his Blood that his Redeemed might pass thorow So great were his Sufferings in this World for us that they made him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me offering up strong Cries with Tears Mat. 27. 46. Heb. 5. 7. Now then let us act our Faith on the Sufferings of Christ here on Earth and believe that he suffered all those hard and heavy those bitter and grievous things for us and in our Names that he bore our Sins to satisfy God's Justice for them to purchase and procure our Pardon O that we could but believe in this Jesus that he sweated great drops of Blood for us and that he shed his very Heart-blood upon the Cross for us and by Faith apply and appropiate all this to our own Souls believing that he was wounded for our Transgressions smitten for â Sins that the chastisement of our Peâ was upon him Isa 53. that by â Blood of his Cross he hath made oâ Peace and hath purchased for us Etâânal Life Believe this and then â what little cause you have to have yâ Hearts troubled for any Loss or Crâ whatsoever The consideration iâ way of believing of what Christ hâ done for us and of what he hath sâfered for us should make us patienâ do or suffer any thing for him and frâ him Believe also in me Secondly Our Faith must be ãâã upon the Work of Christ which he â now doing for us in Heaven He is ââ idle there although he be set down â the Right Hand of the Majesty on Higâ but he is at work for his People therâ there he he maketh continual intercesââ for us Rom. 8. 34. He is there â our Advocate to plead our Cause aâ manage all our Businesses there pââsenting his Blood in the Vertue of to his Father for our Pardon presenâing our Persons and Services perfumeâ with the Incense of his own Righteouâness and by his Spirit applying thâ âââtue of all to our Souls He is able â save to the uttermost all that come unto âod by him seeing he ever liveth to make âtercession for us Heb. 7. 25. Of this â have spoken before Now if we âan act our Faith upon the Intercession âf Christ who knows all our Wants âurdens Cares and Fears and whose âffice it is to plead and intercede for âs in Heaven tho we may scarce have âny to plead or speak a word for us on âarth yet we should have no cause âo have our Hearts troubled We âave a faithful Friend to whom we âay commit our Cause Thirdly Christ is doing a Work ân us on Earth while he himself is in Heaven He is humbling us purging âs teaching us mortifying our Corâuptions crucifying our inordinate Affections sanctifying us and so preparing us for Heaven He is making âs meet for the Kingdom He is fitâing us for his Father's House by all âis Ordinances and by all his Proviâences by every Loss and Cross by âll our Afflictions as 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our âight Afflictions which are but for a moâent work for us that is by way of preparation a far more exceeding anâ eternal weight of Glory Jesus Chriââ is in the Word and in the Rod he â All in All He is still forming squâring fashioning and working by hâ Spirit Word and Rod upon his Peâple to make them more and moâ conformable to himself to square theâ as Stones for his Building to maââ them Habitations for himself Templâ for the holy God to dwell in and thâ he himself may delight to dwell iâ them here and to make them fit ââ dwell with him for ever in Glory Now let us labour to act our Faitâ on those blessed Works of Christ in uâ and believe that he is thus working iâ us even in and by all our Afflictioâ and labour to feel and find these grâcious Works carrying on in us and ââ shall have no cause to be troubled Moreover our Faith should be actâ upon the Work that Christ is now ââing for us in Heaven besides his ââtercession for us there he is preparing Place for us in Heaven as he told ââ Disciples to comfort them In ââ Father's House are many Mansions I â to prepare a Place for you A Place â Heaven is infinitely better and more to be desired than the best Place on Earth A Place in the Father's House ân the highest Heavens in that glorious Paradise above that 's the Place of all Places there the great and glorious God dwells there blessed Jesus dwells O that New Jerusalem the City of the âiving God that 's the Place indeed that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. Some think that Jesus went locally into Hell but we are sure he went locally into Heaven and we know for what he went there for he hath told us it was to prepare a Place for us there Here below all Places are full of Darkness Snares Temptations Fears Dangers Persecutions but that is a Place of perfect Peace perfect Rest of Light Comfort Joy and Consolation Here we are Pilgrims and Strangers there is our Home our Father's House Here we have no continuing City 1 Cor. 4. 11. no abiding Place Christ's People here in this World many times have no certain dwelling-place but are driven from House and Home forced to fly from one City to another from Town to Country from one Kingdom to another constrained to wander froâ Place to Place while others abide iâ their Habitations they must seek theiâ Quarters where they can find them â while under one Friend's Roof a whilâ under another's which is no small Affliction to them that feel it tho others lay it not to heart Now what shoulâ comfort us in this our Pilgrimage anâ Wilderness-condition what should support us in this our wandring and desolate State but that it was eveâ thus with our blessed Lord himself upon Earth who had not an House to put his Head in And so it was with his Disciples and with many choice Saints as Heb. 11. 37 38. What should bear up our Spirits but this comfortable Consideration that our Lord went to Heaven on purpose to prepare a Place for us there If the Earth cast us out Heaven will receive us If Men say to us Remove be gone hence depart away here is no Place no abiding for you our dear
c. If we have a Resemblance of our Father in us a Likeness of Disposition to God and Christ the Image of God the Life of Christ manifest in us If we do side with God and his Cause in evil Times so that we are willing to part with any thing with all things for Christ's sake and at his Call If it be thus with us in the main Bent and constant Frame of our Hearts and in the Sincerity and Integrity of our Souls our Consciences in the sight of God bearing us witness that thus it is with us then may we upon good grounds conclude that God the All-sufficient God is ours and Christ Jesus who is all Fulness is ours and then our Hearts should not be troubled And to prevent and cure all our Heart-trouble we must act Faith on all these things in God and in Christ which I mentioned before and which would be too long to repeat again here therefore I earnestly desire you to look back anâ view over those several particular things considerable in God and iâ Christ and believe in God and iâ Christ applying and appropriation them to our selves and we shall seâ we have no cause of Heart-trouble If the great God be ours and thâ Lord Jesus be ours if we have ââ Husbands nor Wives nor Sons noâ Daughters nor Health nor Wealth we have enough to content and satisfâ our Souls for ever But to draw to a Conclusion that there may be an effectual cure of all our Heart-trouble whatever our distress may be let us labour to act Faith oâ Christ in considering and believing 1. What he is 2. Where he is 3. What he hath declared 4. What he hath promised and aââ within the Confines of this Text Ver. 2 3. First Let Christ's Disciples labour to believe what Christ is and who he is He himself asked his Disciples this Question Mat. 16. 16. Whom say ââ that I am Peter answered Thou aââ Christ the Son of the living God I know in whom I have believed saith the Apostle and that supported him and for this knowledg of Jesus Christ his Lord he counted all things but Dung and Dross Phil. 3. 9. To believe all things that are written of Christ is not enough but to believe in him is by Faith to receive him for our only Lord and Saviour John 1. 12. Col. 2. 6. and actually unreservedly unfeignedly and heartily to give up our whole selves unto him taking him for our absolute Lord our Head our Treasure and our All and believing He is all that to us that he is That he was made Sin for us made Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption to us That he is indeed our Husband our Head our High-Priest our Surety our Ransom our Redeemer That he hath loved us and washed us in his Blood That he was delivered up to Death for our Offences and rose again for our Justification That he hath made our Peace with God by the Blood of his Cross and purchased our Pardon and an Inheritance for us with the Saints in Light and that by believing in him we shall have everlasting Life John 3. 16 36. I say this is to believe in Christ and such as thus believe in him have no cause of Heart-trouble And thuâ we must believe in him and it is the great Commandment of God to believe in him 1 John 3. 23. and the positive Command of Christ himself in the Text Belive also in me And he that hath this Faith hath Christ 1 John 5. 10 12. and hath Life Eternal Life John 6. 47. Verily verily I say unto you saith Christ the Eternal Truth himself He that believeth on me hath Everlasting Life He hath it in Pretio in the Price of it that was punctually paid down upon the Cross therefore called the Purchased Possession He hath Eternal Life in Promissis iâ the Promises of it it is promised to every one that believed God that cannot lie hath promised it Tit. 1. 1 2. and he hath it in Primitiis in the first Fruits of it the saving Graces of the Spirit which in some measure every true Believer hath 2 Cor. 5. 5. Ephes 1. 13 14. Now he that thus believes in Christ Christ is his and all that Christ haââ done and suffered and merited is his he hath Right and Title to it for by Faith he is become the Child of God Gal. 3. 26. We are all the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ And if we be Christ's then are we the Heirs of the Promise Gal. 3. 29. Yea Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. Yea then all things are ours 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. All is ours if we be Christ's whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas All the Gifts Graces Labours Prayers of all Gospel-Ministers all Gospel-Ordinances are ordained and designed for our Good Ephes 4. 11 12 13. for the gathering of us in and for the perfecting and building of us up in Christ Jesus until we all come to Heaven The World is ours the Good and Evil of it the Bitter and the Sweet of it the Comforts and the Crosses of it the Gains and the Losses of it the Love and the Hate of it the Smiles and the Frowns the Friends and Foes in it All is designed for and shall further and promote our Spiritual and Eternal Welfare Life is ours All the Troubles Sicknesses Pains evil Tidings Persecutions Disappointments Losses of Relations Shame Reproach or whatever attends this Mortal Life shall be sanctified and blessed to us for our Good Yea Death is ours that shall be our Advantage our Gain that shall put a full end and period to all our Sin and Suffering and be a Door of Entrance for us into Glory in our Father's House Or things present our present Fears Sorrows Miseries Infirmities c. shall be so ordered and over-ruled by the Wisdom and Love of our Father that they shall all help us onward to Heaven And things to come are ours all that Glory to be revealed that Saints Everlasting Rest that is prepared for the People of God that Crown of Righteousness of Glory and of Life that Kingdom of Glory that unspeakable that inconceivable State of Happiness and Blessedness which Christ our Lord hath purchased by his Blood all this is ours also But how come we to have a Right and Title to all this Why saith the Apostle thus Ye are Christ's and Christ is God's As sure as Christ is God's so sure if you be Christ's All is yours and as I have proved if we be true Believers in Christ then we are Christ's we are his Members his Spouse his Children and then what cause have we to be troubled at any thing or in any Condition What cause hath such a Soul to be dejected whatever Crosses or Losses do befal him Is there not enough in Christ in the Promises in the Purchase of Christ Is there not enough in Heaven in all that Glory to quiet content
22 usually our Success is according to ouâ preparation as in Prayer Psal 10 17. compare 2 Chron. 12. 14. with 2 Chron. 19. 3. make Conscience theâ of preparation 2. Prayer Pour out your Hearâ to God in Prayer for a Blessing oâ the Word that you read or heaâ O lift up a Cry to God and say Lord make this Word effectual to worâ Faith in my Soul c. 3. Earnest Desire and Expectatis of meeting God in the Word and oâ his blessing on it if we expect nothing from it no wonder if we receive nothing there is a fulness of Blessing in the Gospel Rom. 15. 29. We should bring hungry and thirsty Souls after God the Living God as Psal 63. 1 2 3. and 84. 1 2. God filleth the Hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. Secondly Some things are Concomitant As 1. We must read and hear it as the Word of God and not as the Word of Man 1 Thess 2. 13. Acts 10. 33. and we must acknowledg God's Authority in it 2. Receive it with Meekness opening our Hearts to it and give it the most tender entertainment Jam. 1. 21. 3. With Love readiness of Mind and gladness of Heart 2 Thess 2. 10. Acts 2. 41. 4. With Faith giving credit to it believing it to be the Word of God Heb. 4. 2. 5. We must be careful to remember it See what great stress is laid upon our remembring 1 Cor. 15. 2. Our Salvation lies upon it Psal 119. 11. Love the Word for Love is the Act of Memory 6. Prayer must be added again for a Blessing Thirdly Some things must be done afterward also As 1. Meditation upon what you have heard and read for want of this usually all is lost I am perswaded this is one great Reason why most profit so little by the Word because they make no Conscience of Meditation they hear and read but never think more on it afterwards So Preaching Hearing Reading and all lost and Souls and Heaven and all lost For God's sake then whose Word you read and hear and for your own Souls sake if you are not willing they should perish for want of Faith make Conscience of Meditation on the Word Psal 1. 2. and 119. 97. if ever you get good by the Word meditate upon it 2. Application of it take it home to your selves Job 5. 27. Let it sink down into your Hearts saith Christ it must be an ingrafted Word you must receive it into your Hearts and not into your Heads only 2. Cor. 4. 6. your Hearts must be joined to it and mix'd with it 3. Practice Yielding up our selves to the Government of it making it the Standard and Rule of your whole Conversation We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only lest we deceive our own Souls Jam. 1. 22. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Mat. 7. 22 24. And in observing these Scripture-Rules here laid down in the careful and conscientious use of God's Word after this manner you may not doubt but the Holy Spirit of God will work with the Word of God to make it effectual to work this most precious Grace of Faith in us whereby to believe in God and in Christ to the Consolation and eternal Salvation of our Souls But if we neglect the Means God hath ordained to get Faith and for want of it die in our Sins and perish eternally our Destruction will be of our selves Direct III. Thirdly Would we have Faith Let us engage our whole Souls in the deep and serious consideration of the infinite unspeakable unconceivable Love of God the Father in this the highest and fullest demonstration of it in giving his Son his only begotten Son to be a Sin-Offering a Sacrifice a Ransom for poor Sinners and that for this very end and purpose that we poor Sinners might believe in him and by believing might not perish but might have Eternal Life I pray read and ponder upon the following Texts and let your most serious Thoughts fix on them and meditate on them Isa 53. throughout John 3. 16 17. Rom. 3. 25. Rom. 5. 8. 10. Prov. 8. 30. Col. 1. 12 13. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 21. Rom. 8. 3. 8. 32. with many other which for brevity sake I cannot transcribe If we can but believe this wonderful Love of God the Father in giving his dear Son to be a Surety a Sin-Offering to lay all our Iniquities on him that he was pleased to bruise him and put him to Grief for us and consider and meditate upon the Heighth and Depth the Breadth and Length of this immense imcomprehensible Love of God in giving his Son and that on purpose that we might believe in him and by beleiving might have Eternal Life I say it will greatly help us to believe in his Son to accept of this his unspeakable Gift and to receive him as he is offered to us in the Gospel Moreover let us also consider of and deeply meditate upon the transcendent Love of the Son of God himself who though he were the Delight of his Father and lay in the Bosom of his Father even then his Delights were with the Sons of Men then was his Heart full of Love to poor Sinners and his Love brought him down from Heaven to Earth to assume Humane Nature to take upon him all the Sins of his People to bear them on his Soul and Body in the Garden there sweating great drops of Blood and on the Cross there pouring out his Heart-Blood made a Curse endured the full measure of the Wrath of God due for Sin and became the Ransom of Souls Philip. 2. 6 7 8. Luke 22. 44. Gal. 2. 20. He loved us and gave himself for us Loved us and washed us from our Sins in his Blood Rev. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Gal. 3. 13. Tit. 2. 14. But while I am writing these things I cannot but conceive an Indignation against my self and heartily wish I were filled with Shame Sorrow and Grief of Spirit that having read and heard so often of the surpassing Love of God the Father in giving his Son and so often of the unspeakable Love of Jesus and to be no more affected with it no more sensible of it to have my Affections no more stirred and moved no more quickned and warmed Alas my dead Heart my Adamantine Heart Lord sprinkle it with that Blood Lord shed abroad that Love of thine upon my Heart abundantly by the holy Ghost Lord Jesus manifest thy Love to me that I may love thee I am ashamed and pained for want of Love to God to Jesus O that I could believe thy Love to my Soul then I should not chuse but love thee Lord I believe help my Unbelief The consideration of this Love of God and of Christ is a means to work Faith try it I pray you and you will find it so Direct IV. Fourthly Improve and act the Historical Faith you have on the Doctrines Promises and Threatnings in the
hear his Saying and do them not and those that aâ fruitless Branches c. Mat. 10. 3 Luke 14. 26. Mark 8. last Joh. 15. Faith acted on the Examples in thâ Word of Christ especially his oâ Example Learn of me saith he I â meck and lowly in Heart Matth. 11. â He was as a Lamb dumb before â Shearers 1 Pet. 1. 21. and we mââ follow his steps We have also â Cloud of Witnesses the Example of the Primitive Christians who boâ all their Troubles with Patience aâ Holy Courage and we are expresâ commanded to be Followers of theâ who through Faith and Patience inherâ the Promise Heb. 6. 12. Thus Faiâ acted on the Word of Christ wiâ help against all Heart-Trouble Fifthly Faith acted on the Work of Christ will either prevent or cure Heart-Trouble And that again if Faith be acted upon the Work he hath done for us already and upon the Work he is now doing for us in Heaven and upon the Work he is now doing in us on Earth and upon the Work he will do for us and in us and upon us at the last Day All which Works of Christ if we act our Faith on them we shall not be much troubled in our Hearts Believe also in Christ Believe me saith he for the Work 's sake John 14. 11. 1. Faith must be acted upon that great and glorious Work of Christ for us when he was upon Earth that Work which his Father gave him to do in the Days of his Flesh as our Redeemer and that in doing and in suffering for he came to do the Will of God by his Obedience as well as to suffer it by his Satââfaction and this is his state of Humiâiation He assumeâ Humane Nature entred the Virgin s Womb was bârn of her yet without Sin He lived on Earth a time doing Good and healing all manner of Diseases spent most of his time in Preaching Praying Fasting and revealing to Men the whole Will of God for their Salvation and fulfilling all Righteousness He professed he came not to do his own Will but the Will of him that sent him John 6. 38 39. And saith he This is the Father's Will which sent me thââ of all which he hath given me I shoulâ lose nothing but should raise it up aâ the last Day A comfortable Consideration indeed and a Cure for our Heart-Trouble That our Lord Jesus will raise up all our dead dear Relations and Friends now rotting in their Graves All that died in Jesus will Jesus bring with him 1 Thess 4. 16 17. And this also is the Father's Will That every one that seeth the Son that is every one that by Faith receiveth and believeth in the Son shall have Everlasting Life Now to accomplish and finish this Will of the Father was the whole Work oâ Christ upon Earth even to draw poor Souls unt him to work Faith in them by his Word and Spirit to fulfil the whole Law of God for them and in them Rom. 8. 4. And to begin and finish the whole Work of our Redemption Faith acted on this Work of Christ upon Earth for us in the several parts of it He being partaker of Flesh and Blood with us to deliver us from him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and to free us from the fear of Death by which we were always subject to Bondage Heb. 2. I say if we can ãâã Faith on these Works of Christ for us we shall have no cause of Heart-Trouble Let us consider that our Blessed Lord denied himself on Earth and was well-pleased not to have his own Will nor to do his own Will but referred himself intirely to his Father's what reason have we poor Worms to be troubled when our Wills are cross'd Let us in Heart and Life say as we pray Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Mat. 6. 10. And when the Will of God is done upon our Families and Relations let not our Hearts be troubled but let us imitate Jesus Christ in our submission to the Will of God making it our Work on Earth to be doing â the good we can and so to put hiâ on and walking as he walked aâ not be troubled Secondly Faith acted on Christ Suffering-Work on Earth will greatlâ contribute to our Support He waâ a Man of Sorrows Isa 53. 1 2. iâ that if we meet with Sorrows â Earth we do but drink of our Master own Cup and that should quiet us Christ's Suffeâââgs on Earth were â two kinds viz. ââr our Imitation aâ for Satisfaction for our Sins 1. For our Imitation His patiâââ suffering of Reproaches Scorns iâvilings Contradiction of Sinneââ Temptations Persecutions Bond Poverty Shame loss of Friends â suffering all with invincible Patienâ and Meekness without the least muâmuring repining disquiet or discoâtent without any Retaliation fââ when he was reviled he reviled not agaiâ he prayed for his Enemies c. aâ all this as our Example that we shoââ follow his steps 1 Pet. â 21 ââ â And if our Lord the Lord of Heâven and Earth suffered such thingâ what reason or cause have we to be troubled in our Hearts when we are persecuted reviled forsaken of all our Friends impoverished exposed to Shame and Sorrow seeing our Blessed Lord was so exposed and so exercised upon Earth Is it not enough for the Servant to be as his Master Shall we think to fare better than him His Sufferings were to teach us to bear ours with Christian Patience and to sanctify ours to us yea in all our Sufferings he sympathizeth with us Let us then act our Faith upon Christ's Sufferings on Earth his whole Life being a Life of Suffering he knew what Trouble meant he was acquainted with Grief he knew what it was to lose a Friend for in his greatest Trouble all his Disciples whom he calls his Friends forsook him and fled and being tempted himself he knows how to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. and 4. 15. He hath a feeling of all our Infirmities Let us labour to act Faith on Jesus and our Hearts will not be troubled 2. But his great Suffering-Worâ for us âas his Work of Satisfactioâ All our Sins being laid on him it pleaseâ the Lord to bruise him and to put him â grief and to make his Soul an Offerinâ for Sin He poured out his Soul unâ Death was numbred among Transgressor Isa 53. 6 10 12. Was made Sin for ââ He bare our Sins on his own Body on tâ Tree was made a Curse for us 2 Cor. â 20. Gal. 3. 10. suffered the Wrath â God for us to deliver us from thâ Wrath to come O blessed Jesus â when our Sins were upon him he wââ sore amazed groaned was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death He was ââ a bloody Sweat in a bitter Agony in thâ Garden He was falsly accused uâ justly condemned and then barbarouslâ crucified suffering that cursed anâ cruel shameful and painful