goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a Land not inhabited This did signifie Gods laying all our sins upon Christ Isa 53.6 And Christ making satisfaction for them all bearing them all away by his death 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree The discharge that Christ by his death hath obtained for us is a full discharge VVhatever sin may be charged upon us by the Law by Conscience by Satan who is our accuser by the justice of God all is discharged and quitted and answered by the death of Christ Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. It is God that justifieth It is Christ that dyed Out of respect to the Death of Christ God will forgive us all our trespasses how many or how great soever they have been Col. 2.13 Having forgiven you all trespasses Ps 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Ps 85.2 Thou hast forgiven all the iniquities of thy people thou hast covered all our sin And that we may be the more fully assured that the pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained for us is a full and general pardon of all offences the Lord hath obliged himself by many promises for Christs sake to pardon all and every one of our sins Jer. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their Iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their Iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 36.25 From all your filthiness and all your Idols I will cleanse you 2. Our Lord Jesus hath obtained of God that this general pardon shall be for ever that all our sins should be forgiven for ever and never be remembred against us to Eternity Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more And this is implyed in such promises as these Mich. 7.19 Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea that is as Drusius observ's aeternâ oblivione delebit memoriam peccatorum nostrorum He will blot out the remembrance of our sins for ever Those things that are cast into the depths of the Sea are wholly and for ever taken out of our sight Psal 103.12 As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed our transgressious from us That is so far as they shall never be laid to our charge any more For the East and VVest are at that great distance that they shall never come together Ezek. 33.16 None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him 3. The Lord Jesus hath obtained a general and perpetual pardon of all offences upon terms of free grace without any respect to merit or worthiness in us that are partakers of it Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace It is from grace free-graces the riches of grace that we have pardon of our Sins through the blood of Christ It is not for our sakes but for his own sake and his Sons sake that the Lord pardons our sins Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember tâ—y sin Eph. 4.32 God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 4. This free this everlasting this general pardon of all offences our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for all that are his that is for all that do and all that shall believe in him in all places and all ages of the world Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Now this free this everlasting this full and general pardon which our Lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for all that are his by shedding his blood for them is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of life and all fears and terrours of death Rom. 5.1 3. Being therefore justified by Faith We glory in Tribulations Justified persons whose sins are remitted through the blood of Christ may glory not only when they are got out of their troubles but when they are in the midst of all their tribulations Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities It is not said the Inhabitant shall be without sickness The greatest of Gods favourites are liable to sickness as well as other men Daniel was a man greatly beloved yet he was sick and faint many days Dan. 8.27 I Daniel fainted and was sick certain dayes And it is said of Lazarus John 11.3 Lord he whom thou lovest is sick Justified persons are oft times sick as well as other men but the pardon of sin doth so sweeten their affliction that they shall not say I am sick that is they shall not say by way of complaint and discontent Sin unpardoned makes afflictions like gall and wormwood that is exceeding bitter Lam. 3.5 15 42. He bath compassed me with gall He hath filled me with bitterness he hath made me drunken with worm wood We have transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned But pardon of sin doth so sweeten the bitterest afflictions that it takes away all causes of complaint under the rod of God The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick and why is it because there is no sickness No but because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquitie VVhen a man is taken sick and his sickness for ought he knoweth may be his death sickness when he is so sick that he can't go or stand or set up but is confined to his Bed if his sins be forgiven him he may be of good cheer Math. 9.2 Son be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Here is a sick man his sickness was very uncomfortable he was sick of the Palsie he was brought very low he kept his Bed there was no way for his recovery but a miracle yet before Christ gave him any intimation of his purpose to heal him he bid him be of good cheer and why because his sins were forgiven him This pardon of all our sins which is obtained for us by our Lord Jesus Christ may comfort us against all the fears and terrours of Death on several accounts 1. VVhen our sins are pardoned the sting of Death is taken away For the sting of Death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And when Sin is forgiven Death hath lost its sting and when the sting of Death is taken away we need not be afraid of Death
it can do us no harm 2. VVhen our sins are pardoned we may be assured our Souls shall be saved for God glorifieth all whom he justifieth Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life 3. Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings hath obtained for all that are his freedom from eternal condemnation and this is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death There is not any one person that belongeth to Christ that hath an interest in Christ that shall come into condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus That our Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed all that are his from eternal condemnation is evident several wayes 1. Because Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed The Death of Christ is our security from Eternal Death He laid down his life on purpose to ransome us from Eternal condemnation Math. 20.28 The Son of man came to give his life a ransome for many out of respect to and for the sake of this ransome God will deliver all that are Christs from going down into the bottomless pit Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom 2. The ground and cause of our Condemnation is taken away by the Death of Christ which is sin For God condemneth no man but for sin and therefore Christ having by his Death taken away our sins hath taken away condemnation from us 3. God out of respect to the death and sufferings of Christ hath promised that none that believe in Christ shall come into condemnation Joh. 3.16 18. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but should have everlasting life He that believeth on him is not condemned Job 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life 4. The Keys of Hell are in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath power to cast into Hell and to keep out of Hell whom he pleaseth Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death And if the Keys of Hell be in the hands of Christ then all they that are Christs are upon sure grounds that they shall not come into condemnation for he will not in any wife cast any of his Members into eternal torments Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And seeing all they that are Christs are redeemed from eternal condemnation this may comfort them under all the troubles of this world and against the fears and terrors of Death It may scatter and dispel all our sorrows and fill our hearts with joy and gladness when we understand and believe that we are ransomed and delivered from eternal torments Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This hath relation to the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonian Captivity which was a type of our deliverance from eternal misery when God brought them out of their captivity they were filled with joy and singing Psal 126.1 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Now if there were such joy and singing by the ransomed of the Lord that were delivered from Babylon what joy and gladness may arise to the ransomed of the Lord from their deliverance from Hell torments Hell is a worse place than Babylon the captivity of Babylon was but for 70 years but Hell torments are for Eternity David speaks of his deliverance from Hell as an unexpressible Mercy and that he would praise God with all his heart and glorifie him for evermore for such a great mercy Psal 86.12 13. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore for great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And this his deliverance from the lowest Hell was a comfort to him when the proud rose up against him and the assemblies of violent men sought after his Soul ver 14.17 When we know and believe that we are freed from condemnation by the death of Christ this may cause us to triumph over death when we are killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.34 36 37. Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us When we are freed from condemnation we may triumph over Death though we walk in danger of Death all the day long more than Conquerours triumph over their conquered enemies IV. They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to eternal life and that sure hope which they have of eternal life is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life It is not said he shall have Life but he hath Life that is he may be as sure of it as if he had it already He hath an undoubted right an unquestionable Title to eternal life He hath it in the purpose and decree of God he hath it in the promise of God And that by life here is meant eternal life is evident from the following words they that have Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith have a sure ground and foundation for their hope of eternal glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory That all that are Christs have an undoubted right to and sure grounds to hope for eternal Life may be demonstrated several wayes 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ dyed on purpose that he might purchase and procure eternal life for all that should believe on him Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses listed up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life By the lifting up of the Son of man is meant his suffering death upon the Cross Joh. 12.32 33. And this death he suffered that he might purchase eternal life for all that should believe on him 1 Thes 5.9 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ interceedeth with his Father on the behalf of all those that are given to him that they may be with him where he is that is in the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 17 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And what Christ asked of his Father shall assuredly be granted Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always 3. God for Christs sake hath promised eternal life to all that are Christs that is to all persons that do or shall believe on Christ to the end of the World Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son this whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us eternal life And the promise of God is a sure ground to hope for eternal life Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath power over all flesh given to him by the Father that he may give eternal life to all that are given to him by the Father Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore they that are Christs may be assured that they shall have eternal life seeing Christ hath power to give eternal life to whom he will and this power over all flesh was given him purposely that he might give eternal life to all that were given him by the Father 5. God hath given us this record concerning his Son that eternal life is in his Son and that eternal life is his free gift and that he will give it to all that have his Son and if we do not believe this record that God hath given of his Son we should make God a Liar 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath Life Eternal Life is in Christ and therefore if we believe the record that God hath given of his Son namely that God hath given us eternal life and that this life is in his Son we must then conclude it as a certain truth that he that hath the Son hath Life Now seeing such as have an interest in Christ have sure grounds to hope for eternal life it followeth hence that they have good grounds of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and also against the fears and terrors of Death For hope of eternal life will help us to rejoyce greatly in the midst of all our troubles Rom. 5.2 3 VVe rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we glory in tribulations When we have good hope of the glory of God that is of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven which is a most glorious Kingdom we may rejoyce and glory in the midst of our greatest tribulations 1 Pet. 1.3 4 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heariness through manifold temptations Here is joy great joy in the midst of manifold temptations that did cause heaviness and whence did this joy proceed from a lively hope of an heavenly inheritance VVherein ye greatly rejoyce That is in which hope or in hope of which inheritance So Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and more enduring substance The spoyling of our goods for which we have laboured many years is wont to cause sorrow and lamentation Jer. 9.19 A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion how are we spoyled yet the hope of a reward in Heaven will help us to take the spoiling of our goods joyfully The hope of eternal life will take away the fears and terrors of Death when a man hath good hope of his Salvation it will be no trouble no terror to such a man to dye but he may dye in peace Luk. 2.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The hope of eternal life will so far take off the fear and terrors of death that it will make us desire and long for our dissolution that we may be with Christ in Heaven Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better 2 Cor. 5.1 2. VVe know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven V. They that are Christs shall have the Lords presence with them under the troubles which they meet with while they live and also when they come to die Our sins made a separation between God and our Souls Isa 59.2 But the sufferings of Christ have made up this breach 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God One of the names given to Christ was Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Math. 1.23 Whereas by the fall of Adam God was against us and was separated from us through Christ he is reconciled to us and is become with us a God that will afford us his presence That such as are Christs shall have the presence of God and Christ with them under all their troubles yea at all times both while they live and when they dye See Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And what he hath said he will surely perform it If he will never leave nor forsake us then at no time of life nor at the hour of death Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the world Here is a note of attention set before this promise that the Members of Christ may take notice of it for their comfort and encouragement Lo I am with you I that have all power in Heaven and in Earth given to me I am with you how long always to the end of the world not only with his Apostles and Disciples that lived in those days but with all his Ministers and Members to the end of the world and at all times And more especially in times
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel he was found of them § Such as want Evidence of their interest in Christ ought to trust in him for Salvation What grounds have such to trust in Christ 3. Though you want evidence of your interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death yet if you be such as live in the fear of God such as desire to be saved by Christ in his own way and upon his own Terms you may yea you ought to trust in Christ for eternal Salvation Isa 50.10 VVho is among you that fears the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servants that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God A man that truly feareth God may be in great darkness about his Spiritual State he may have no light that is no Evidence of his interest in God and the promises and so be in a very uncomfortable condition yet such ought to trust in Christ If any say what grounds hath a man that followeth after Righteousness and desireth to live in the fear of God and yet wanteth evidence of his Interest in Christ and the promises of God to trust in Christ for his Salvation § Grounds of trusting in Christ for Salvation for such as are in a dark condition as to their Interest in Christ A. 1. God sends his Son into the World to take our nature upon him and to die for our Sins for this very end and purpose to seek and to save Sinners who were in a lost and undone condition 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost 1 John 4.14 VVe have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the VVorld John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved These general expressions to save the World to save Sinners to save that which was lost opens a door of hope to such as can't see their interest in Christ but see themselves lost Sinners and hearing that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world to save lost sinners i◠shews them that there is hope for their Souls that they may obtain Salvation By Jesus Christ 2. The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the world and who came into the world purposely to save sinners is an all-sufficient Saviour able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them He is able to save to the uttermost that is to save perfectly to save eternally to give all things requisite to Salvation he is able to justifie sanctifie and bring unto glory all that come unto him For his blood is available to take away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world And his Spirit is able to sanctifie the worst and most polluted Sinners The Corinthians were the chief of Sinners Extortioners Drunkards Adulterors Abusers of themselves with mankind with other abominations yet they were sanctified by the Spirit of Christ of great sinners made eminent Saints 1 Cor. 62.10 11. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ inviteth and calleth all distressed Persons in all places that see themselves in a perishing undone condition to look to him and to come to him for Salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of Earth That is let all Persons from one end of the Earth to the other that find a want of Salvation look unto me and I will save them Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 4. The Lord commandeth us to trust in his Son for the giving us eternall life 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment And he is displeased with those that do not relie on him for their Salvation Ps 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth and anger came up against Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation 5. We have God promises yea many promises that he will give eternal life and blessedness to all whosoever they be that believe and trust in his Son Ps 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting life § The plea of such as can't trust in Christ for Salvation for want of Sanctification Obj. 1. None shall be saved by Christ but such as are sanctified and in a state of Grace but I want evidences of my being sanctified and being in a state of Grace how then can I trust in Christ to save me A. 1. It is true that Christ sanctifieth all whom he saveth for without Holiness no man whatsoever shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. If a man live and dye in his sins without repentance and yet trust in Christ for Salvation he doth but delude himself for our Lord Jesus telleth us expresly that all that do not repent shall surely perish Luk. 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 2. Though you want evidences of your Sanctification yet do you not find ardent desires of Sanctification do you not find hungrings and thirstings after Righteousness Such as hunger and thirst after Righteousness are in a blessed condition as well as they that have attained Righteousness Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Spiritual desires are an argument of the Grace of God bestowed upon us The gracious estate of the Servants of God is sometimes set out by their desires Isa 26.8 The desire of our Souls is to thee and to the remembrance of thy name Neh. 1.11 Thy Servants who desire to fear thy name Then our desires argue a gracious state when our desires of God and the things of God exceed our desires of other things Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. If you find in your self a want of Sanctification know this that you are to trust in
CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Wherein is shewed That Interest in Christ is a ground of Comfort under all the Troubles of Life and Terrors of death How they that have an Interest in Christ may retain the same Begun in A Funeral Sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Asty and since much enlarged By Owen Stockton late Minister of the Gospel at Colchester in Essex TOGETHER With the Life of the said Mrs. Ellen Asty Rom. 8. v. 38. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Rom. 8. v. 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. London Printed by J. R. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside 1681. To the Worthily Honoured John Clark of Bury in Suffolk Esquire SIR IT is your seriousness in Religion together with your intimate Acquaintance with and respect for Reverend Mr. Owen Stockton that occasioneth the prefixing your name to the ensuing Treatise of which he was the Author He was one mighty in the Scriptures whose Life was much desired and his Death much lamented As you delighted to hear him Preach when he was alive So I doubt not but he being dead you are willing to hear him yet speaking especially in a word of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrours of Death I hope the Lord hath delivered your self from the Sting of Death but yet you may need some help against the fear of it Take a survey of your Mercy that you are not under the unhappiness of Christless Souls who through the fear of Death are all their life time subject to Bondage It is said that the Indians being alarum'd with the Approaches of Death by its Arrestment so as all hope of recovery is past then to behold and hear their throbbing sobs and deep-fetched sighs their grief-wrung hands and tear-bedewed cheeks their doleful cries would draw tears from Adamantine Eyes that be but Spectators of their mournful Obsequies Indeed it is unexpressibly sad to be under a Conviction as many are of the immortality of a never dying Soul and yet to be Strangers to the promise of Eternal Life Such must needs be Mourners without hope All the Cordials in the World in this case will not afford the least drop of refreshment to such disconsolate Souls nor will a Righteousness of our own be a sure bottom for Comfort against that last Enemy Death But behold here is a way deciphered whereby we may not only be helped to leave Riches Friends Wife Children Houses Lands and depart in peace but also with exceeding joy Interest in Christ will be a means to turn Death the King of Terrors into the King of Comforts it will make it of a bitter Enemy a familiar Friend an Out-let to Affliction and a Portal to Glory How that Interest conduceth to the fitting a Soul with Consolation is discovered here by this eminent Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton in a Funeral Sermon upon the Death of Mrs. Ellen Asty the Relict of that Reverend Mr. Asty late of Stratford in Suffolk which afterwards he much enlarged and so left it under his own hand It was intended that the said Mr. Stockton should have printed it together with her Life but Death arresting him before he had Accomplished that work Providence hath cast it upon my hands to draw her Portraiture out of the papers which were in his hands to that end which I have done accordingly and here present it to your self and to publick view I must say further that this is a Branch or part of a Treatise of his on the same Text entituled the best Interest which probably will follow speedily This and that together compleat the Subject yet either of them might have appeared to the Reader as a perfect and distinct Treatise had I not hinted thus much I shall only add that my ardent desire is that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may bless you with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ so prayeth September 1. 1681. Honoured Sir Your Servant in the Gospel Sam. Petto Errata PAge 3. l. 25. dele for p. 23. l. 26. r. there are p. 29. l. 12. r. grace p. 37. l. 29. dele should p. 42. l. 16. for ready r. really p. 44. l. 3. for upon r. yea p. 59. l. 10. for sight r. fight p. 60. l. 28. r. carried on p. 70. l. 13. r. trusting p. 88. l. 13 for here r. how p. 96. l. 17. for preserving r. preferring In Mrs. Astys Life Page 8. l. 26. dele never p. 9. l. 15. r. uprightness p. 10. l. 16. r. never seemed CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lilies THis Book containeth a Discourse concerning Jesus Christ and his Church Sometimes Christ is brought in speaking of his Church and sometimes to his Church And at other times the Church is brought in speaking of Christ and sometimes to Christ In this Text the Spouse of Christ is brought in speaking concerning Christ and expressing her grounds of Consolation that she had both under the troubles of Life and the danger of Death The troubles of the Church are set out Chap. 1.6 She was black because the Sun had looked upon her which signifieth the scorching persecutions that the Lord suffereth to come upon the Church to try the Faith and Patience of his Servants And she met with much anger and hard usage from her Mothers Children that is those that professed the same Faith with her self my Mothers Children were angry with me and made me the Keepers of their Vineyards and would not suffer her to keep her own Vineyard Her troubles are further set out Chap. 2. v. 2. As a Lilie among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters that is compassed about on every side with sharp and sore troubles that did prick and grieve like Thorns or that her lot and habitation was in the midst of evil Men who were like Thornes in her side Her inward troubles are touched on which did proceed from her abundant love to Christ v. 5. I am sick of love Sickness makes a man restless such was her condition a restless condition Her troubles are also set out v. 15. There were Foxes abroad that made spoil of the Vines And these Foxes were of two sorts 1. False Teachers that did by false Doctrine corrupt and spoil the Vines Ezek. 13.4 Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes that is the false Prophets for the true Prophets support and cherish the Vines they are the false Prophets that spoil the Vines 2 Subtle and cruel Persecutors that seek after the lives of the Saints are these Foxes Luk. 13.31 32. Sect. 1. The Division of the Words with the Doctrines In the words
removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee And as God will not of himself take away his loving kindness so neither can any creature in Hell or on Earth separate us from the love of God Rom. 8.38 39. I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Now our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ is a ground of joy and strong consolation against the terrours of Death and troubles of Life Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now recieved an atonement When we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ hath made an atonement for us this may fill our hearts with joy when death looks us in the face when other men tremble at the thoughts of God they that are reconciled to him may joy in God both while they live and when they dye In the next verse the Apostle speaks of death entring into the world by sin and passing upon all men for that all have sinned ver 12. And in the 3d. and 4th verses he speaks of the tribulations we are liable to in this life We glory in Tribulations Yet in all our tribulations and when we see death approaching and passing upon us we may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received an atonement The knowledge of Gods love to our Souls may cause us to glory and rejoyce in the Lord in times of greatest mortality when Death is coming in at our Windows and entred into our houses and cuts off both young and old and there such a multitude of dead corpses that there are none to bury them Jer. 9.21 22.24 Death is come up into our Windows and is entered into our Palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus saith the Lord even the Carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest man and none shall gather them But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me We see here that a man may attain to glory in dismal and dark days in times of greatest mortality when death is cutting down multitudes in all places our houses the streets the fields and we may see in what a man may glory at such a time and that is in the knowledge of Gods love Let him glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness It was a great comfort to Jacob when he understood that Esau was reconciled to him while he apprehended his brother to be offended and that he came to meet in displeasure he was greatly afraid and distressed Gen. 32.7 But when he saw his Brother was pleased with him that made him exceeding joyful even as if he had a sight of the face of God Gen 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me If reconciliation with an offended brother be such a ground of comfort what is reconciliation with an offended God Solomon speaks highly of the favour of a King that is like life to a dying man and like the Rain to the thirsty ground very grateful and refreshing Prov. 16.15 In the light of the Kings Countenance is Life and his favour is as a Cloud of the latter Rain If there be such joy in the favour of an Earthly King what joy is there in the favour of the King of Kings Reconciliation with God affords strong Consolation against the Fears and Terrors of Death several ways 1. Because such as are reconciled to God by the death of Christ shall assuredly be saved by Christ Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 2. Because when God is reconciled to us and his wrath turned away from us we may trust in him for Salvation and all other good things without being afraid of what death or men or devils or any creatures can do unto us Isa 12.1 2. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid When God is reconciled to us we need not fear what man can do to us Psal 118.7 The Lord is on my side I will not fear What can man do unto me Man can kill the body and man can torture the body but death can't hurt a man reconciled to God VVhen God is reconciled we may triumph over all our enemies not only over man but over death and the grave and the devils and Hell it self Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us II. Jesus Christ by his death hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins and this is a ground of strong consolation under the troubles of the world and all the fears and terrors of death The great end of Christs death was to expiate our sins and to obtain for us forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Now concerning this pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us let us observe these four things 1. It is a full and general pardon of all and every one of our sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin All sorts of sins sins of Omission and Commission sins of Ignorance and sins against light original and actual sins are cleansed away by the Blood of Christ and every particular sin great and small is cleansed by the Blood of Christ Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity He did not design our Redemption from some one sin or from many but to redeem us from all iniquity by his giving himself to death for us This was typified by the scape goat over him Aaron laid his hands and confessed all the sins and all the aggravations that were in the sins of the Children of Israel and the goat bore away all their iniquities into the land of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
his grace and love towards her She lived much in Communion with God there was an unspeakable intercourse between God and her Soul every day She would do nothing till she had spread it before the Lord and knew his mind and in things not only small but weighty She had such intimations from the Lord of his will and his secret was so with her as she before hand knew the mind of God because God had told hereby his Spirit for she gave not over till he had signified by his â—pirit upon her Spirit what was his pleasure what he would do or what he would have done and God did marvelously herein condescend to her not once but frequently or from time to time she was far from Euthusiasme but had such intimacy with the Lord that she went daily to him for some word some manifestation of himself to bear up her Spirit that day and he gave in either a word of promise or let out something of his attributes to her discovered of his Wisdom Power Faithfulness Allsufficiency Unchangableness and the like wherewith her inward man was fed and strengthned and when her Family concerns were more she arose the earlier and though attended with the greatest weakness yet always began the day with God and would not omit the seasons for private Communion with the Lord neither indeed could she live without them they being the life of her Spirit She lived in an eminent exercise of many graces of the Spirit She was well instructed in the mystery of the life of Faith lived in a daily dependance upon God for all in her greatest fulness she lived not upon the creature but upon God and recieved all from him in the way of Faith and Prayer in every strait she had recourse to the Al-sufficiency of God and would often say the creature runs into emptiness and the streams they dried up but the Fountain was ever full and flowing and in all losses and changes blessed her self in God her portion who was a faithful Covenant keeping God for ever she went to the Wisdom of God to be directed and waited there for Counsel every day her faith advanced into assurance of the love of God which she enjoyed most part of her days and thence issued spiritual and unmixed comforts as she walked circumspectly being careful not to provoke the Lord so he witnessed his love to her and filled her Soul with strong Consolation that she had a Heaven out of it's place even hereupon Earth she was in the Banquetting house of Jesus Christ in his Wine Cellar where his Banner over her was Love In a Letter of her own she said I have not only heard that God is good but I have had many experiences of his Love and Faithfulness to me in all my streights and Widdow-hood condition I may say the Life of Faith is the sweetest Life in the World as it is a Life that bringeth much glory to God so much comfort to our selves How full of Love she was to Jesus Christ is already manifested in her carefulness to keep his Commandments and also in her love to the Members of Christ both that and also her Humility and self-denyal appeared in that in her highest actings and best frame she disowned her self and leaned only upon Jesus Christ trusted only in him gloried in nothing but in Christ in the Cross of Christ in the Righteousness of Christ in the Love of Christ not in what she did for Christ though she did much and delighted in so doing but she gloried in the Grace of Christ that did much for her he and his Righteousness were all her life and comfort she had an eye upon the Incense the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ in all her approaches to God being ashamed of the mixture of sin those weaknesses and imperfections that were in her best performances notwithstanding all her strictness and exactness she lay as low before the Lord in the sense of her own vileness emptiness nothingness as if there were nothing in her She was much in exalting of Jesus Christ his merits and grace admiring what he had done for sinners touching their reconciliation to God the remission of sin their standing and priviledges in grace here and the glory that is to be revealed relying on the freeness and fulness of his grace alone as if she had done or were able to do nothing she did set the Crown on his head in all always saw that in her self which kept her low and humble before the Lord and nothing in her own eyes She excelled in and was a pattern of Patience under all her troubles her afflictions were many and long often at the very mouth of the Grave in the latter part of her time seldom enjoyed a well day yet never murmured thought her afflictions small bore them with a chearful Spirit was always submissive to the will of God always thought and spoke well of God and justified him in all her Tryals She was wonderfully melted into the will of God and lived always out of her own will resigned up to God to be disposed of as he pleased and was greatly satisfied in what he chose for her she hath said the will of God is sweet to her in every condition and under much bodily weakness if the Lord would have her live to be sick she was content yet latter ward was mostly tryed in the Fire of affliction when her Husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Non-conformity in stead of repining she said she was glad they had such a house and accommodations to leave for Christ and with all freeness and readiness resigned up all to him She was sorely tryed in the loss of her dearest Relations and choicest comforts in this World but she was prepared to be any thing that God would have her be and that with all alacrity and cheerfulness of Spirit She had a lively hope of future mercy of the life to come shee said she scarce knew how to live out of Heaven from Jesus Christ always groaning in the body to be delivered from the body of sin and death and to be with Jesus As she set out at first so she continued in the vigorous and constant exercise of all grace not loosing the life nor abating or impairing the strength thereof in old age under the decays of nature but in the 73 of her age she slept or dyed in Jesus and her Soul was gathered to the Spirits of just men made perfect FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho. Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth.
actual right to all the saving benefits of Christ Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ They that are thus Interested in Christ are said to be in Christ and by vertue of their Union with him they have a right to all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption To be thus interested in Christ is not common to all men but it is a special priviledge belonging to a peculiar people Tit. 2.14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and parifie unto himself a peculiar people As concerning this saving interest in Christ we find some men are Christ owned by him for his own 1 Cor. 3.23 ye are Christs Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them unto the end Some men are none of Christs Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his but are without any part or portion in Christ Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ some men have a part with Christ some have no part at all in him or with him Joh. 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me To open the nature of this saving Interest in Christ more fully I shall resolve these two questions 1. How Christ becometh ours 2. How we become his How doth Christ become ours A. 1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our sins and Christs giving himself to die for our sins God the Father gave Christ to be the propitiation for our sins Joh. 16.8 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And as God gave Christ so Christ gave himself to be a Sacrifice and ransom for us There was his own consent to this Gift the giving himself to die for our sins Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself for a ransom for all 2. Christ becomes ours by effectual calling for when God calls us effectually he calls us to fellowship with Christ that is to be partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called to the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. When Christ dyed he gave himself for us when we are effectually called he giveth himself to us By the death of Christ there was an impetration or purchase of all things that were necessary to our Salvation In our effectual calling there is an application of Christ and all the benefits purchased by Christ to our own Souls As soon as we are effectually called Christ becomes ours and all his benefits become ours we have an actual right to an interest and propriety in Christ and in all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your calling brethren All are yours and ye are Christs 1 Cor. 3.22.23 They that are effectually called Christ is theirs and all the benefits of Christ are theirs I add this word effectual because many are outwardly called by the Gospel who are not inwardly and effectually called to Fellowship with Christ now this effectual calling whereby we are made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits consists of these three Branches 1. Illumination when God calls us effectually he brings us out of our ignorance and darkness and gives us the knowledge of himself and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light The knowledge of Christ and God in Christ is a great furtherance of our being partakers of Christ and his saving benefits for through the knowledge of Christ are communicated to us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. The loosening and taking off the heart from all things that hinder the Soul from coming to and following after Jesus Christ A man is called off from all that hinders his closeing with Christ whether they be worldly lusts or fleshly lusts or relying upon our own Righteousness or any other impediments A man is made to leave all to enjoy Christ when Christ called Levi he left all for to go after Christ Luk. 5.27 28. He said unto him follow me and he left all rose up and followed him When Christ called James and John they left their Father their Servants their Ship and there Nets and all to follow Christ Mark 1.20 He called them and they left their Father Zebedee in the Ship with the hired Servants and went after him When the Lord had called the Apostle Paul he was willing to suffer the loss of all things that came in competition with Christ so that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 3. VVhen God calls a man effectually he calls him to believe in Christ he calls him to come to Christ and to accept of Christ as offered in the Gospel and to rely upon him alone for his Salvation Joh. 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me The Father calls us to come to his Son and every one that heareth this call effectually cometh to Jesus Christ Now they that are thus called to the knowledge and faith of Christ are made partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits for by Faith Christ dwells in our hearts Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And they that are thus called shall have remission of sins and eternal life Rom. 8.30 Whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 3. Christ becometh ours by our recieving him The Spirit of God maketh a free offer of Christ to every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 The Spirit saith come And let him that is a thirst come And whoever will let him take the Water of Life freely VVhen we recieve Jesus Christ thus offered to us he becometh 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 even to them that believe on his name VVhen we recieve Christ he becomes our Saviour and God becomes our Father and we become his Sons Now this recieving Christ implyeth these 3 things 1. Our recieving that Testimony which is given of Christ in the Gospel concerning the person offices death and sufferings of Christ and the benefits that we
have thereby As namely that Jesus of Nazareth was God manifest in the Flesh the Son of God as well as the Son of man that he is that Saviour that was foretold and promised should come into the World to save lost man that he dyed for our sins and rose again for our justification and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God tomake intercession for us that God hath made him both Lord and Christ and exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour c. Now then we recieve his Testimony when we believe the truth of those things which are revealed in the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ Joh. 3.33 He that hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that he is true Thus we receive Christ when we believe the Doctrine of the Gospel and continue therein And this is necessary to our enjoying an Interest in Christ 2 Joh. 9. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 2. We recieve Jesus Christ by the consent of our Wills When our Wills consent to take this Jesus for our Lord and Saviour as he is offered to us in the Gospel and we are willing to be ruled by him and to be saved by him in his own way Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely The great work is to porswade and bring over the will to Christ to make a man willing to have Christ for his Lord and Saviour and to be willing to to be saved by him in Life and Death in his own way The averseness of the will to accept of Christ for our Lord and Saviour we may see from such Scriptures as these Ps 81.11 Israel would none of me Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man reign over us Joh. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life It is the work of God yea the power of God that is required to make a man willing to have Christ for his Lord and Saviour Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Ps 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power When our wills consent to take Christ as he offers himself to us he becomes ours As the consenting to the enticeing of Sinners makes us one with them and makes us partakers of their evil deeds Ps 51.18 2 John ver 11. And therefore Solomon adviseth Pro. 1.10 My Son if sinners entice thee consent thou not So by our consenting to receive Christ when he offers himself to us and wooeth and intreateth us to accept him we become one with and are made partakers of his benefits As 't is in Marriage it is not wooing and waiting but consenting that makes up the Match So it is in the mystical Marriage it is not inviting and calling and waiting but consenting makes up the Match 3. We receive Christ for our Saviour when we rely upon him and trust in him for Salvation and all things requisite unto Salvation When we look upon him as the only Saviour and as an all-sufficient Saviour and do trust in him for our eternal Salvation Eph. 1.13 In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation Ps 86.2 O thou my God save thy Servant that trusteth in thee The Lord was displeased with the Israelites when they did not trust in his Salvation Psal 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth because they believed not in God nor trusted in his Salvation In these three things consisteth this duty of receiving Christ 1. In the assent of the mind to the truth of those things that are revealed concerning Christ in the Gospel 2. In the consent of the will to take this Jesus for our Lord and Saviour 3. In the relyance or trust of the heart on Christ for Salvation 4. Christ becometh ours by our entring into Covenant with God When upon the call of the Gospel we come to Christ and believe in Christ then we enter into Covenant with God then God makes an everlasting Covenant with us Isa 55.3 Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your souls shall live and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David And when the Lord takes us into his Covenant then Jesus Christ becometh ours and all his saving benefits become ours For one main branch of the covenant is to give us Christ and all his saving benefits Isa 42.6 I will give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison The great promise of the new covenant is I will be your God Ezek. 36.28 And when the Lord promiseth to be our God in that promise God the Father engageth himself to be our Father and God the Son engageth to be our Saviour and our Redeemer and God the Holy Ghost engageth to be our comforter How do we become Christs I. By the donation of the Father God the Father chose out of the children of men whom he saw good and gave them to Jesus Christ to be his peculiar people to be redeemed and saved by him Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me 1 Pet. 2.9 Ye are a chosen generation a peculiar people All that God chose to eternal life he gave to Christ to redeem them So that all that are Christs are the Fathers and all that are the Fathers by election are the Sons by redemption Joh. 17.10 All mine are thine and thine are mine II. VVe are Christs by Redemption He bought us with a price he purchased us with his own blood he bought us Body and Soul for himself with a great price 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Ye are not your own ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirits which are Gods The price that Christ gave for this purchase was his own blood Act. 20.28 To feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood III. We become Christs by the Spirits causing and enabling us to give our selves to Christ We become Christs by a voluntary resignation of our own selves unto him 2 Cor. 8.5 First gave their own selves unto the Lord. Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. that is shall surely and firmly engage himself to be the Lords Servant Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy Servant I am thy Servant IIII. VVe become Christs by vertue of the covenant He enters into covenant with us that he will graciously accept us to be his Ezek. 16.8 I entered into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine It is part of Gods Covenant that he will accept of us for his people Heb. 8.10 Ye shall be to me a people And as the Lord makes a covenant with us to accept us for his so
the promise and oath of God which are two immutable things to assure them that God in blessing will bless them For the oath and promise is to them as well as unto Abraham and what doth this imply Surely blessing I will bless thee A. Surely I will pardon all thy sins Rom. 4.7 8. And surely I will give thee eternal life Mat. 25.34 and 5.3 And surely I will pour out my Spirit upon thee Isa 44.3 Gal. 3.14 And surely I will turn thee from thine iniquities Acts 3.26 And surely I will give thee all good things Ps 21.3 And surely I will make thee a blessed man for ever 1 Chron. 17.27 8. These two immutable things the promise and the oath of God as sure as he liveth to bless for ever all that flee to Christ for eternal life this may give them strong consolation yea this may give them such strong consolation as no troubles nothing whatever shall make void their comfort which is the next head I am to speak to 5. The blessed estate and condition of such as have an interest in Christ is made so sure and so firmly setled upon them that no troubles of this life nor Death it self can make void their blessedness They are and continue blessed under all their afflictions and temptations as well as in their greatest prosperity Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastneth O Lord and teachest out of thy Law Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth Temptation for when he is tryed he shall recieve the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him They are and continue blessed when they dye as well as while they live Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Death is so far from making void the blessedness of those that are Christs that it puts them into the actual possession of the Blessings of Heaven which is far greater blessedness then they enjoyed whilst they were in this world Now the favour which God hath shewn to those that are Christs in bestowing all this blessedness upon them and in making them most blessed for ever is a ground of exceeding great joy Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him most blessed for ever thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance This blessedness which is confirmed to them that are Christs by two immutable things the oath and the promise of God is a ground of strong consolation in all estates and conditions of such strong Consolation as cannot be made void by any troubles or by death it self as hath been already shewed from Heb. 6.13 14 17 18. Sect. 3. More grounds of consolation against the troubles of the world to such as have an interest in Christ Seeing the way to Heaven lyeth through many tribulations and experience sheweth it is an hard matter for Christians to bear up chearfully under the manifold troubles they meet with in this world I shall add some more grounds of comfort for such as have an interest in Christ against all the troubles they are liable to in this world § The World is conquered by Christ what comfort ariseth hence 1. It is a great comfort to a Christian under the troubles of the world to consider that Christ hath overcome the World Joh. 16.32 In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world By the world which Christ hath overcome we may understand all things that are in the world which hinder the peace Consolation and Salvation of the Members of Christ as the Prince of the World which is a Title given to Satan the Rulers of the world the men of the world the troubles of the world the temptations of the world the corruptions that are in the world through Lust All that is in the world which is contrary to us Christ hath overcome for us Now Christs overcoming the world is a ground of comfort against the troubles of the world on several accounts as 1. Jesus Christ having overcome the world the whole world with all things in the world is now at his disposal The Prince of the world and all the powers of the world and all the men of the world can do nothing in the world but by the permission of Christ He is Prince of the Kings of the earth and governs and over-rules all their counsels and designs Rev. 1.5 Jesus Christ the Prince of the Kings of the Earth The men of the world can do nothing against any of the Members of Christ though they be great men though Rulers but what he gives them power to do Joh. 19.11 Thou couldst have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above What Christ saith here of himself concerning Pilate is true of all his Members concerning all the Rulers of the world they can have no power at all against any of the Members of Christ except it be given them from above and this is a great quieting to the hearts of the People of God against the men and troubles of the world 2. Jesus Christ who overcame the World is the Captain of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 And he did not only overcome the world for himself but for us Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father By his Conquest he obtained our deliverance from this present evil world We may expect while we are in the world sharp Conflicts with the troubles of the world Heb. 10.32 Ye endured a great sight of Afflictions But this is our comfort we have to do with a Conquered Enemy an Enemy that may oppose us but shall not hurt us Luk. 10.19 Behold I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you Serpents are an embleme of subtle enemies Gen. 3.1 Now the Serpent was more subtle than any Beast of the Field Mat. 10.16 Be wise as Serpents And of cruel enemies that seek our destruction 1 Cor. 10.9 They were destroyed of Serpents The worst of men are compared to Scorpions Ezek. 2.6 And thou Son of man be not afraid of them neither be afraid of their words though Briars and Thorns be with thee and thou dost dwell among Scorpions Scorpions here signifies wicked men which spoke big words against the Prophet Now by the help of Christ we shall tread on those enemies that are like Serpents and Scorpions and all the power of the enemy so far as nothing shall by any means hurt us And there are three negatives in the Greek which is the more remarkable to assure us of the truth of what is spoken 3. Jesus Christ who hath overcome the World will enable us through Faith in him to overcome the world our selves 1 Joh. 5.4.5 Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the world even our Faith Who is
Christ for Sanctification as well as Salvation 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Sanctification Now if Christ be made of God unto us Sanctification then we may we ought to trust in Christ for Sanctification as well as other Blessings Vse last Learn hence that they which have gotten their interest in Christ cleared to their Souls need not to be afraid of death but may depart in peace A confirmation hereof we have in the example of this our deceased Sister Mrs. Ellen Asty who was a Mother in Israel who was so much above the fear of Death that when I was with her a few days before she dyed she used these expressions I can chearfully embrace death I should not be afraid of death if I should see him coming in at the Windows if I should see him come into my Chamber for my beloved is mine and I am his and therefore she knew he would not condemn her And having found abundance of comfort in her interest in Christ she was desirous that this Text might be Preached on at her Funeral My beloved is mine and I am his I suppose that others might be stirred up to get an interest in Christ and to get their interest made out Several things have been observed wherein she may be exemplary to others as may be seen in the account of her life which followeth THE LIFE OF Mrs. Ellen Asty THE Late Wife of Mr. Asty of Stratford in Suffolk Deceased Revel 14.13 Blessed are the Dead that dye in the Lord. Printed by J. R. 1681. THE LIFE OF Mrs. Ellen Asty THE Wife of Mr. Asty late Minister of the Gospel in Essex IT is exceedingly pleasant unto many to be beholding the Pictures of their dearest Friends when their persons are removed out of their sight and laid in the silent dust and it hath been found more than a little profitable unto surviving Friends to be reading over the lives of the most eminent Saints departed as hereby being dead they yet speak and become still as living patterns for their imitation It is said The memory of the just is Blessed Prov. 10.7 And it may be said of this pious Matron as of Demetrius 3 Joh. 1.12 She hath a good report of all men and of the truth it self As to her Birth and Education much might be spoken She was the Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bently her Father an eminent Godly Minister her Mother a very Gracious Holy Gentlewoman who lived at Plumsted in Norfolk who brought her up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. She remembred her Creator in the days of her youth and chose him to be hers betimes The Lord was pleased to begin a work of Grace so early upon her heart and ripen it so fast that whilst she was young and Nature not grown to its perfection she was a well grown Christian in gracious experiences excelling many who set out for Jesus Christ long before her that she became a pattern of piety to others yea the whole Family where she lived before she entred into a married estate and many out of it even such as occasionally came into it were much the better for her and Blessed God that they had acquaintance with her valuing her Grace and Judgment in the deep matters of the Gospel She was the wife of Mr. Asty a laborious Minister of the Gospel whom God made much use of in the Conversion of many sinners and building up others in Grace and Holiness who were already brought home to Jesus Christ When she was first married several Gentlewomen sent their Daughters to be with her that they might live under her instructions and the Lord made her very useful to them She was eminent for her deportment and carriage in all Relations some who had intimate acquaintance with her do testify that she was dutiful to her Parents an obedient and loving Wife to her Husband a tender hearted Mother to her Children one said never did any bear the Souls of her Children and Childrens Children more upon their hearts than she did never was any more concerned for their Souls nor did more Travel in Birth than she till she could see that in Christ they were born again never any more concerned for the Souls of those committed to her charge though but servants than she was Some Ministers and others who knew her Conversation testifie of her gracious carriage and behaviour in her various conditions in the course of her Life as followeth She was very knowing in the things of Jesus Christ and her knowledge was experimental growing humbling and practical a well grounded Professor and an honour and glory to her Profession She had a sound Judgment a well enlightned understanding in the mystery of godliness She had the Scriptures the Fountain of saving knowledge in very high estimation and daily to the last diligently searched into them not one day passed but she read or had read to her some portions of them which she made matter of meditation and when her weaknesses were so great and her eyes so fail'd in the latter part of her life that she could not read her self she called one to read to her weighed all her actions by the Scriptures as her Rule considered her warrant call and command from God for all she did and acted in all in obedience thereunto She would often be telling others how in their way they might serve the Lord though the work of their place was never so mean and low if they did consider the precepts and rules which God had given referring to such a Relation place employ or condition wherein they stood and acted in obedience to his will therein She outwent most Christians in her strictness on the Lords day the whole time was spent in publick and private exercises and would allow nothing that was secular and aliene to Religion to be done in her Family that was not of indispensible necessity on that day and always had a more than ordinary preparation in her house the day before that those in her family might have no temptation in that respect to violate any part of the sacred time of that day She was very exact as to her words and discourses on that day not opening her Lips to speak any thing that wasnot suitable and agreeable to the holiness of that day and it was a great burthen and affliction to her Spirit which she could not bear but mourned under to hear others give their tongues a liberty to speak any thing unsuitable and heterogeneal to the day she did highly prize all the ordinances of Jesus Christ they were sweeter to her than the hony or the hony Comb more desirable than her appointed food never so much in her element as when waiting upon the Lord either in publick or private opportunities and to the last would venture through all difficulties and bear up under great weaknesses in duties of Christian Communion and could not live without
4. and Peters Sermon to Cornelius and circumspect walking By Dr. Tho Taylor A Practical Exposition on the 3d. Chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly mans choice on Psalm 4. v. 6 7 8. by Anthony Burgess Dr. Donns 40 Sermons being his 3 Volumes Pareus Exposition on the Revelations General Martyrologia with the Lives of 32 English Divines by Sam. Clark A Narrative of the Horrid Popish Plot. A Narrative of Knox and Lane The Witch of Endor Popes Ware-house All four Published by Dr. Titus Oates Robert Jenneson Esq His Narrative Dugdales Narrative Mr. Tho. Dangerfields of the Sham Presbyterian Plot. Smiths Account of the 14 Popish Malefactors in Newgate Animadversions on the 5 Jesuits Speeches The Excommunicated Prince a Tragedy as it was acted by his Holinesses Servants By Captain William Bedlow Protestant Conformist plea for moderation A Conference between a Bensalion Bishop and an English Doctor concerning Church Government A Caution to all English Protestants A Lenetive for the Clergie Broughtons Works published by Dr. Lightfoot Books 4 to The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration By George Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Stephen Scandret An Exposition of the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with usefull observations thereupon by William Greenhil The Gospel Covenant opened by Pet. Bulkley Gods holy Mind touching matters Moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Elton B. D. The fiery Jesuit or an Historical Collection of the rise encrease doctrines and deeds of the Jesuits exposed to view for the sake of London Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical together with a Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan Regimen sanitatis salemi or the Regiment of Health containing Directions and instructions for the guide and government of mans life A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Seperation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. S. The Practical Divinity of the Papist discovered to be destructive to true Religion and mens Souls by J. Clarkson A Case of Conscience viz. whether it be lawful for any person to act contrary to the opinion of his own Conscience formed from arguments that to him appear very probable though not necessary or demonstrative by Dr. Collings The Creatures goodness as they came out of Gods hand and the good-mans mercy to the bruit-Creatures in two Sermons by Tho. Hodges B. D. Certain Considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity among Protestants Mediocria or the most plain and natural apprehensions which the Scripture offers concerning the great Doctrines of the Christian Religion of Election Redemption the Covenant the Law and Gospel and Perfection Funeral Sermons Mr. James Janeway by Nath. Vincent The Lady Susanna Keate's by Richard Kidder M. A. Mr. Cautons by Mr. Henry Hurst and Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Sorrels by Mr. Benj. Smith Mr. Wadsworth by Mr. R. Bragg Mr. Newcomens by Mr. Fairson Mr. Thomas Vincents by Mr. Slater Mr. Corbets by Mr. Richard Baxter Mr. Bakers by Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Marshalls by Mr. Tomlins Mr. Johnsons by Mr. Loid Mrs. Fishers by Mr. Scot. Dr. Whittakers by Dr. Annesly Mr. Wells by Mr. Thomas Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Richard Baxter Hodges Vanity of man as mortal Mrs. Lyes by Mr. Lamb. Vertuous Daughter by Brion Sir Thomas Viners by Dr. Spurslow Mr. Perns by Ainsworth Work and Reward of a Christian by R. Raworth Mr. Wests Funeral Sermon by Mr. Cole Mr. Webbs by Mr. David Burges Baxters which is the true Church Hodges Creatures goodness Naked Truth Doolitles Protestants Answ to a Popish Quest Mr. Kidders Charity directed Scholars address against Pluralities Dr. Crossmans Sermon Humphrys peaceable disquisitions Hodges considerations to promote peace An Endeavour for Peace among Protestants A conference between a Papist and a Jew and a Protestant and a Jew An Essay for the Education of Gentlewomen A warning for Servants or the Case of Margaret Clark An Answer to Dr. Stilling fleets Sermon by the peaceable design A Discourse of Pluralities A Discourse of Excommunication The middle way of Predetermination Popery an Enemy to Truth by Mr. Sheldreck Dr. Dumoulins conformity of Independent Government to the Antient Primitive Christians Excommunication Excommunicated in a Dialogue between a Doctor of both Laws The Case of the Protestants in England under a Popish Prince A rebuke to Informers A modest Inquiry into Dr. Stilling fleet Historical mistakes The State of Blessedness An Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Book by J. H. Liberty of Conscience in order to universal peace The Lords voice crying to England Life of Herod the Great A Manifesto or an Account of the State and differences between the King of Denmark and Norway and the Duke of Slesmick Phelps Innocencies reward Materials for Union A sheet of Union Rosses Mestogogus Poaeticus Phelps on the Revelations Gilaspys Ark of the Covenant Present State of New England Dr. Collings of Providence Froysells Sermons of Grace and Temptations Yarringtons Englands Improvement First part Idem second part Meaning of the Revelation by John Hayter The Morning-Lecture against Popery or the principal errors of the Church of Rome detected and confuted in a Morning-Lecture preached by several Ministers of the Gospel in or near London Four useful discourses 1 The art of improving a full and prosperous condition for the glory of God being an appendix to the art of Contentment in three Sermons on Philip. 4.12 2 Christian submission on 1 Sam. 3.18 Philip. 1.21 4 The Gospel of peace sent to the sons of peace in six Sermons on Luke 10.5 6. by Jeremiah Burroughs Dr. Wilds Letter of Thanks and Poems A new Copy-Book of all sorts of useful hands The new World or new reformed Church by Doctor Homes The Vertuous Daughter a Funeral Sermon by Mr. Brian The Miracle of Miracles or Christ in our Nature by Dr. Rich. Sibbs The unity and essence of the Catholick Church visible by Mr. Hudson Brightman on Revelations Canticles and Daniel Canaans Calamity The intercourse of Divine Love between Christ and the Church or the particular Beleiving soul in several Lectures on the whole second Chap. of Cant. by John Collins D. D. Large 8 vo The sure mercies of David by Nath. Heywood Heaven or Hell here in a Good or Bad Conscience by Nath. Vincent Closet-Prayer a Christians duty all three by O. Heywood A practical discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the nature and duty of Prayer by Tho. Cobbet Of quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered by Theophilus Polwheile The sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints mystical Union with Christ by Richard Stedman M. A. Sober Singularity by the same Author Heaven taken by Storm by Tho. Watson The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar Reading and Spelling made
easie both by Tho. Lye Aesops Fables with morals thereupon in English Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolittle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St. James Dukes-place by Zech. Crofton The life and death of Edmund Stanton D. D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian-conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger Sin the Plague of plagues or sinful sin the worst of Evils by Ralph Venning M. A. Cases of Conscience practically resolved by J. Norman The faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great Events of his Word or a second part of the fulfilling of the Scripture The immortality of the Soul explained and proved by Scripture and Reason to which is added Faiths-triumph over the fears of death by Tho. Wadsworth A Treatise of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word by George Swinnock M. A. A discourse of the original c. of the Cossacks The generation of Seekers or the right manner of the Saints addresses to the throne of Grace with an Exposition on the Lords-Prayer The administration of Cardinal Ximones An Essay to facilitate the Education of Youth by bringing down the rudiments of Grammar to the sense of seeing which ought to be improved by Syncrisis by Mr. Lewis of Totenham An Artificial Vestibulum wherein the sense of Janua Linguarum is contained compiled into plain and short sentences in English for the great ease of Masters and Expeditious progress of Scholars by M. Lewis Speculum Sherlockianum or a Looking glass in which the admirers of Mr. Sherlock may behold the man as to his Acuracy Judgment Orthodoxy A discourse of Sins of Omission wherein is discovered their Nature Causes and Cure by George Swinnock His Majesties Propriety in the British Seas vindicated Quakerism no Christianity or a through-Quaker no Christian proved by their Princrples and confirmed by Scripture by J. Faldo Differences about Water-baptism no bar to Communion by Jo. Bunian The Dutch-dispensatory shewing the virtues qualities and properties of Simples the vertue and use of Compounds whereto is added the Compleat Herbalist Judg Dodaridge's laws of Nobility and Peerage Dinglys Spiritual Feast Solitude improved by Divine Meditation by Matth. Ranew A Murderer punished and pardoned or Tho. Savage his life and death with his Funeral sermon Hurst Revival Grace Buryes Husbandmans Companion help to holy walking Hanmers view of Antiquity Nomenclaturas Wases Grammar Vincent of Conscience Gouges Principles of Christian Religion Christian Direction Word to Saints and Sinners Young mans guide Christian Housholder Perrots Englands duty The Nonconformists vindicated Wadsworths remains Shepherdy Spiritualized Calamys Art of divine Meditation Faldos Quakerism no Christianity vindication of 21 Divines Small 8vo A defence against the fear of death by Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed by William Gearing The Godly mans Ark or a City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with Mrs. Moors evidences for Heaven by Edmund Calamy The Almost-Christian discovered or the false-Professor tried and cast by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian-freedom or a discourse shewing the extent and restraints of Christian-liberty by S. Bolton D. D. The sinfulness of Sin and fulness of Christ in two Sermons by Will. Bridg. A Plea for the godly or the Righteous mans Excellency The holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper A Treatise of self-denial All three by Tho. Watson The life and death of Tho. Wilson of Maidstone in Kent The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel VVinter A Covert from the Storm or the fearful encouraged in the day of Trouble Worthy-walking press'd upon all that have heard the Call of the Gospel The Spirit of Prayer All three by Nath. Vincent The inseparable union between Christ and a Believer by Tho. Peck A discourse of Excuses setting forth the variety and vanity of them the sin and misery brought in by them by John Sheffield Invisible reality demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. J. Janeway The Saints encouragement to diligence in Christs service both by Mr. James Janeway A discourse concerning the Education of Children Convivium Caeleste a plain and familiar discourse concerning the Lords Supper both by R. Kidder The Saints perseverance asserted in its Positive-ground against Mr. Ives by Tho. Danson A Wedding-ring fit for the Finger by VVill. Secker An Explanation of the shorter-Catechism of the Assembly of Divines by Tho. Lye The life and death of Tho. Hall A Plea for the Non-Conformists tending to vindicate them from Schism by a Doctor in Divinity The flat opposition of Popery to Scripture by J. N. Chaplain to a Person of Honour The Weavers Pocket book or Weaving spiritualiz'd by J. C. D. D. Two disputations of Original sin by Richard Baxter The History of Moderation The welcome Communicant The little-peace-maker discovering foolish Pride the Make-bate Philadelphia or a Treatise of Brotherly love by Mr. Gearing Reformation or Ruine being certain Sermons on Levit. 26.23 â—3 by Tho. Hotchkis The Riches of Grace displayed to which is added the priviledge of Passive obedience and 52 proposals in order to help on Heart-humiliation by VVill. Bagshaw The parable of the great Supper opened in 17 Sermons by John Crump A present for Teeming-women by J. Oliver Non-conformity without Controversie by Benj. Baxter A Treatise of Closet-Prayer by Richard Mayo The Religious Family by Philip Lamb. A discourse of the prodigious Abstinence of Martha Taylor Index biblicus multi-jugus or a Table of the holy Scripture wherein each of its Books Chapters and particular matters are distinguished and Epitomized The day of Grace with the Conversion of a Sinner by Nathanael Vincent An easie and useful Grammer for the learning of the French Tongue by Mr. Gosthead Gentleman The Miners Monitor or advice to those that are employed about the Mines A Protestant Catechism for litte Children A Scripture Catechism by Samuel Petto A Catechism according to the Church of England Nero Tragidea Cornelianum dolium Wilsons Catechism Elenchuus motuum nuperorum in Anglia Cackaines Poems Croftons Foelix Scelus or prospering-profaneness provoking holy conference by Zach. Crofton Gramaticus Analyticus by the same Author Alexanders advice to his Son H. Excellency of Christ set forth Phelps Caveat against Drunkenness Lamentation for the loss of a good man Antidote against desperation Bury against Drunkenness Wadsworths last warning to Sinners Dr. Wilkinsons Counsels and Comforts to afflicted Consciences Cappello and Bianco a Romance Calys Glimpse of Eternity Period of humane Life Defence of Period of humane Life both written by the Author of the whole Duty of man c. An Answer to the period of humane Life Survey Quakerism Tho. Vincents Explication of the Assemblies Catechism Vincent on Prayer On Conversion and day of Grace Covert from storm Worthy Walking Parsons Letter to VVem Adams Catechism Lambs New Years Gift Perks way to mend the World Burys Antidote against the fear of Death Mr. Corbets Kingdom God among men with a Tract of Schism Self-imployment in Secret by John Corbet Solomons Proverbs Traughtons Popery the grand Apostacy Heywoods Christ displayed Bishop Reignolds Meditations Mr. Edward Wests Legacy Gerhard on Death Whole Duty of Youth Welcome Communicant Ames Marrow Diuinity Tho. Vincent against the Quakers being the sandy Foundation shaken A warning to young men or Brinkhursts Narrative Mr. Kidders help to smallest Children in their understanding of the Church-Catechism Thomas Vincents Himns Bartlet on the Sacrament Greens needful preparatory to the Lords Supper Dr. Collings of ordinary matter of Prayer Wilsons Childs Trade Scondrets Catechism Sheffiields Catechism Much in a little or an abstract of Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof for Infants Baptism Some brief Directions for the improvement of Infants Baptism Books Twelves Drexellius Repository Meads Spiritual Wisdom Nathanael Vincents little Childs Catechism The duty of Parents towards their Children A little book for little Children A method and instruction for the Art of divine Meditation All three by Tho. VVhite The considerations of Drexelius on Eternity The shadow of the Tree of Life by M. M. The Psalms of David newly translated more plain smooth and agreeable to the Text than any heretofore Mr. Henry Lukin's Life of Faith FINIS
Upon hearing this Exhortation let not your hearts be troubled the Disciples might have replyed Lord hast thou not told us that in the world we shall have tribulation that we shall be hated of all men for thy names sake and that we shall be cast out of the Synagogue and that men shall lay hands on us and put us into Prisons and we shall be brought before Kings and Rulers and that men will think they do God good service when they kill us How shall we keep our hearts from being troubled when all these troubles come upon us As a remedy against their hearts being troubled he bids them believe on God and on himself Believe on God believe also on me V. In all your distresses give your selves to Prayer for that is the way to be filled with comforts and to have your sorrows turned into joy John 16.20 24. Verily Verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoyce and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy And what counsell and direction doth he give them that their sorrow may be turned into joy It is to give themselves unto Prayer Ask and ye shall recieve that your joy may be full The like direction the Apostle gives us for keeping our minds from all kind of troublesome cares and for the obtaining that peace which passeth all understanding and that is to give our selves to Prayer Phil. 4.6 7. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God And the peace of Goà which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus VI. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in your hearts that you may have some suitable promises to have recourse unto in all your troubles for that will give you abiding peace and strong Consolation in all your troubles Col. 3.15 16. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts But some may say how shall we attain to this to have the peace of God rule in our hearts the following words shew this Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom By the peace of God we may understand not only that peace which God commands us to have one with another but that peace which God gives in our own hearts and Consciences as it is taken Phil. 4.7 Then the peace of God rules in our hearts when it keeps our hearts quiet under all troubles so as no troubles are able to disturb and break our peace Now the way to attain to this is to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all Wisdom Then the word of Christ dwells with us when it abides in our hearts we are acquainted with it and we converse daily with it as we do with those that dwell in the same house with us Then it dwels in us richly when we are well stored with the promises of the word when we have promises suitable to every condition and every trouble that we pass through Then it dwells with us in all Wisdom when we have the right understanding of the word and know how to make use of it upon all occasions as we stand in need of it It was by the word that David found comfort in all his afflictions Psal 119 49 50. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope It was also from the word of God that Jeremiah had his comforts under his greatest sorrows when he complained that his pain was perpetual and his wound incurable Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of mine heart And that it was a time of great distress with the Prophet when Gods word was the joy and rejoycing of his heart is evident from ver 18. Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable that refuseth to be healed VII Walk in the fear of God and hold fast your integrity in all your troubles and then you shall have the comforts of the Holy Ghost and the light of Consolation shall arise upon you in the darkest days Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness Though you suffer for Righteousness sake yet love Righteousnes and hate Iniquity and in so doing the Lord will anoint you with the Oyl of joy and gladness Psal 45 7. Thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows VIII When by your sins and backslidings you have lost your comforts humble your Souls for your sins and the Lord will restore your lost comforts Isa 57.18 I will restore comforts to him and to his Mourners Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted IX Keep up the belief and perswasion of Gods Love to your Souls through Christ notwithstanding all the troubles that come upon your inward or outward man for the apprehension of Gods love will fill your hearts with joy and gladness and be a ground of everlasting Joy to your Souls Act 2.28 Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance 2 Thes 2.16 God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting Consolation Joh 13.1 Jesus loves his own and that to the end even whilst in a sinful and troublesome world The knowledge of the love of God in Christ causeth abiding joy and sulness of joy Joh. 15.9 11. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full Sect. 2. How may such as have gotten the knowledge of their interest in Christ retain the knowledge and perswasion of their interest in Christ It is of great use in the Life of Faith and the promoting our Spiritual comfort not only to get the knowledge of our interest in Christ and his saving benefits but also to retain this knowledge And because this is not easily done I shall lay down some helps thereto § What are good grounds to lay claim to an interest in Christ I. Understand and be clear in your grounds on which you lay claim to an interest in Christ and Salvation by Christ and see that they be solid consonant to the Scriptures and such as will hold and abide in an hour of temptation And if you ask what are good and sure grounds for claiming an interest in Christ I answer 1. The free and general offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ made in the Gospel to every one that is willing to recieve Rev. 22.17 And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely 2. The testimony of our own Consciences that we do willingly cordially and thankfully accept of Christ as God offers him to us in the Gospel Our Consciences
know what actings there are in our Souls towards God and Christ whether we chuse the Lord for our God and Portion and whether we accept of Christ for our Saviour and Redeemer or whether we refuse and reject him Psal 16.2 O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thâ—u art my God Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion saith my Soul Now this Testimony of our Consciences that we do accept of Christ on the terms of the Gospel to be ruled and saved by him in his own way is a good ground of comfort and may embolden us to hope that God doth accept us in Christ 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience 1 Joh 3.21 Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God When I speak of the Testimony of Conscience witnessing our accepting of Christ on the terms of the Gospel understand it of a Conscience enlightned by the word and Spirit with the knowledge of Christ 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and the knowledge of the terms on which God offers Salvation by Christ for if we know not the terms on which Christ is offered to us how can our Consciences witness to us that we do close with the terms of the Gospel 3. The grant or promise of God in the Gospel to all that recieve Christ that he shall be theirs and they shall be his Joh 1.12 As many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name Here is a priviledge granted and promised to all that do or shall recieve Christ how many soever they be that they shall become the Sons of God God will become their Father in Christ and will own them for his children Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast him out In this promise is implyed that such as on the call of the Gospel close with Christ he will bestow himself and all his benefits on them for theirs and he will own them for his 4. Our finding in our selves those marks or characters which the Scriptures give of such as have a saving interest in Christ which will evidence to us that we have rightly recieved or closed with Christ As namely our having the Spirit of Christ given to us 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Our loving and preserving Christ above all things Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his But of these Scripture characters I have spoken before § Christ becomes theirs by covenant that accept of him How conduceth this to our comfort 2. If you would hold the perswasion of your interest in Christ as you must look to your grounds on which you lay claim to an interest in Christ so also it will be of great use to you to understand the nature of that covenant which Christ maketh with you when you come to him and accept of him on the terms of the Gospel The Lord Jesus takes all those that come to him upon the call and invitation of the Gospel into an everlasting covenant Isa 55.1 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Incline your ear and come unto me And I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Concerning this covenant which the Lord maketh with those that come to Christ we may observe these three or four things 1. This covenant is to give us Christ himself and all his saving benefits for ever I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David Christ the Son of David is called by the name of David Hos 3.5 Ezek. 34.24 And so the sure mercies of David are all those Mercies and Blessings which Jesus Christ hath purchased for us and made sure to us by an everlasting covenant 't is as much as to say I will enter covenant to give you my self and all my benefits That this covenant which Christ inters into with those that come to him is to give us an eternal interest in himself and all his benefits We may see Hos 2.19 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness and in Judgment and in Mercies I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulness To open this Scripture consider 1. What it is for the Lord to betroth us unto himself It is to engage himself to us to be ours and to take us for his 2. For how long a time the Lord engageth himself to us and that is for ever I will betroth thee unto me for ever 3. The manner how he will betroth us to himself in Righteousness in Judgment in Mercies in Faithfulness It is a most sure contract made out of infinite mercy and managed with Wisdom and Judgment and shall be Righteously and Faithfully observed 4. The persons that the Lord will betroth to himself are those who are willing to be divorced from their sins and to accept of Christ for their Husband ver 7.19 I will go and return to my first Husband I will betroth thee to me They whom God taketh into Covenant with himself ver 18.19 I will make a Covenant for them And I will betroth thee to me for ever And 't is also to be observed that the Lord repeats this three times I will betroth thee yea I will betroth thee I will even betroth thee unto me that we may rest satisfied that our former sins though great shall not hinder us on our Repentance from this great priviledge of being betrothed to the Lord for ever That the covenant is to give a mutual and eternal interest that is that the Lord will be ours for ever and take us for his for ever you may see Ezek. 36.28 Yeshallbe my people and I will be your God Psal 48.14 This God is our God for ever and for ever Lam. 3.31 The Lord will not cast off for ever 1 Sam. 12.22 The Lord will not forsake his People for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people 2. This Covenant which the Lord Jesus Christ maketh with us upon our coming to him wherein he engageth to be ours and to take us for his for ever is a sure and everlasting covenant 2 Sam. 23.5 More firm and stedfast than the Hills and Mountains which shall all be removed out of their places sooner than Gods covenant shall be removed from us Isa 54.10 For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills shall be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee 3. The failings and back-slidings of the Members of Christ shall not make void this everlasting covenant he will chasten them for their sins and backslidings but he will not break his covenant with them Psal 89.30 31 32 33