of them O what strong Consolation doth it draw from them Hâ—b 6. 17 18 How doth it suck and satisfie it self with those bâ—easts of Consolation How doth it milk out and delight it self with their soul-setling soul-ravishing sweetness Isa 66. 11. 5. This particular Promise-applying Faith it most highly prizeth a Pâ—omise O they are truly precious Promises to the faithful soul 2 Pet. 1. â— He esteems these unsearchable riches of Christ as they are called Eph. 3. 6 8. to be most precious In their Author God Rom 1. 2â— In their Ground the Lord Christ by whom we obâ—ain them who paid his most precious Bloud to purchase them 1 Pet. 1. 19. In their Fountain Gods Love Psal 36. 7. In the means of Apprehension of them namely precious Faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. In their end that we may be partakers of the Divine Nature in Grace and holiness 2 Peter 1. 4. In the excellency of the thing promised all things pertaining to life and Godliness to Glory and Vertue 2 Pet. 1. 3. In that sweet Comfort that strong Consolation they afford unto the Soul Hâ—b 6. 18. But most precious in their accomplishment and enjoying 2 Cor. 1. 20. Will the Heir-Apparent to a great Estate slight and undervalue it So the Faithful who are the Heirs of the Promises Rom. 9. 8. cannot but most highly esteem them and would not exchange or give up their right in them for all the honour and wealth in the world 6. Lastly The â—urest Mark of this particular Promise-applying Faith is Peace and settlement in the Soul Faith is a means to obtain Peace and peace a sure discovery of Faith Yet it is not every Peace upon which a man may build his assurance of Faith Thâ— Conscience may be peaceable yet bad as it is in those who have â—â—ared and sâ—upâ—â—â—â—d Conscienâ—es sencâ—less of sin But it is the tender Conscience and the peace therein when a mans Conscience doth faithfully perform its Office checking the Soul when it gives way to sin If such a Conscience be in a man and is notwithstanding for the general calm and setled and peaceable out of its own Consciousness that it applies unto it self the precious Promises of Pardon of Christ's Righteousness in which two our Justification doth consiâ—t that is the Conscience and the peace and settlement therein upon which a man may considently build his assurance that he hath true Faith But the unsetled Soul cannot have this Peace until the Lord hath spoken it unto it â—t will be sufficient if it can find the other Marks in iâ— self Until this other of Peace come whâ—ch shall certainly be in Gods time they may serve to conâ—irm it in the assurance that it hath Faith and such a Faith as prepares the way for Peace Now that Repentance and Faith are the Means to settle and recover the perplexed and wounded Spirit is evident â—â—as 1. Because they are the way which God himself 〈◊〉 â—ppointed for the turning away of his wrath and â—â—gaining of his Favour For Repentance we have that clear place Jâ—el 2. 12 13. Where the Lord having threatned fâ—aâ—ful Judgments against his People prâ—â—â—â—bâ—â— unto them this way of repentance for the averâ—ing and pâ—eventing of those Judgments For Faith It is that which â—pens our way of access to find Grace Eph 3 12. It is that that is â— means to â—ill the Soul with Peace as Sâ— Paul pâ—ayes for the Romans that they might be filled with peace â—n belâ—â—vâ—ng Rom. 1â— 13. And therefore men are 〈…〉 upâ—â— to believe to have Faith in Christ 2. Repentanâ—e and Faith are the means to obtaâ—n pardon and that being obtained and he â—â—ulthâ—reof assured presently peace and settlâ—ment fâ—llows thereupon Our Justification consists in the pardon of our sins and Christs righteousness made ours by 〈◊〉 When sin is pardonâ—d and with the white raiment of Christ's Righteousness the shame of our nakedness it hid then do we appear holy and unblameable and unreprovable in the eyes of God and he can no longer be displeased with us Now it is Faith that doth this it is Faith that applies unto the soul the Merits of Christs active and passive Obedience whereby he hath deserved at his Fathers hands that he should forgive us and look graciously upon us upon which applâ—cation a sweet peace follows in the Soul For being justified by Faith we have peace with God Rom 5. 1. Repentance that by the Tears of godly sorrow and it s other acts cleanâ—eth the soul from sin and sin being removed Gods face which sin had hidden doth again shine upon his people The soul being cleansed from sin the Provocation is taken away and so Gods wâ—ath ceaseth To this we shall refer that Isa 1. 16. Wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings cease to do evil learn to do well c. Come now saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red as Crimson they shall be as Wool 3. Peace is not to be obtained by any other means Not by outward Sacrifices God delights not in them Psal 51. 16. They cannot take away sin Heb. 10. 4. Not by humane wisdom none can be too crafty for God Job 5. 13. Not by Power the Lord is Almighty with whom a poor sinner is to deal a great Lord of great power Psal 147. 5. No Reward can remove wrath Riches avail nothing in the day of wrath Prov. 11. 4. Neither canst thou blind Gods eye by thy Gifts Exod. 23. 8. No friend can do it be they never so holy they can but deliver their own souls by their righteousness Ezâ—k 14. 14. No other good Duty Not Fasting Jer. 14. 10 12. Not Alms-giving 1 Cor. 13. 3. Not Prayer not many Prayers Isa 1. 15. Nor any thing else There is no other way to resettle the disturbed soul and to regain its peace but by turning from the folly of sin by true repentance and faith in the Lord Christ Use 1. Here then that Errour is confuted that the Lords People need no repentance It may as well be said that they need no Faith When the Soul hath lost its peace and is wounded by the apprehension of losse by the fear of wrath how shall its wounds be cured how shall wrath be removed how shall the Lords Favour be regained but by these fore-mentioned Means But it is said the Lords people cannot sin and therefore they need no repentance Sin is a transgression of the Law but the Saints are no longer under the Law but under Grace That the Saints do sin and how they are said to sin I have shewed formerly Now how they are under the Law The Law hath a twofold power A Condemning Power and A Directing Power The condemning Power the Lords People and Saints are no longer under There is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 1. But they are still under its diâ—â—cting power It hath
not able to perform I will therefore trust in the most High through whose Mercy it is that I have not been moved Psal 21. 7 11. Ejac. How safe is the Heritage of thy Children O Lord whosoever shall gather together against them shall fall for their sakes Isa 54. 15. 17. The Deliverance Paral. I. Circ My Apprehenders hand was taken off me Obs When the Lord Christ pleaseth to free Corruption can no longer enslave THat they who are ordained unto eternal life to that glorious Inheritance of the Saints in light may be partakers thereof there is pre-required a certain meeâ—ness in them Col. 1. 12. This they have not neither can have while in the state of nature 1 Cor. 15. 50. That therefore they may be â—itted for it it is necessary That they be drawn out of their natural estate That they be set in the state of Grace They are drawn out of the state of Nature by being freed from the power of Darkness Col. 1. 13. They are set in the state of Grace by being translated into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1. 13. To whom it belongs to work these great works for them he alone being able to do them Luke 11. 22. That he had wrought them for me he was now pleased clearly to manifest unto me In my Apprehender's hand being taken off me he shewed me that he had freed me from the power of darkness from the power of reigning sin and so from the power of Satan of Hell In my descent into the Building which soon after followed he shewed me that I was now become a Member of his true Church and so set in the state of Grace His first great work for me was to deliver me from the power of darkness It cannot be believed that these mine enemies in whose snares I was taken out of a willingness now to be rid of me did of themselves offer me this opportunity to escape Their Consultations certainly were not so deep nor they so secure that they minded not him whom they concerned Corruption doth more value his pains and diligence and the huâ—gry Lion doth not so easily part with his prey whereof he is seized How came I then to be set at liberty They were out-witted and out powered The Lord Christ the great Counsellour the mighty God Isa 9. 6. defeated all their Contrivances enervated their strength and in despite of them rescued and wrested me out of their hands Powerfully as to them Col. 2. 15. In a way of Justice as to his Father Col. 1. 20. Innocent He had payed his precious Blood for my soul 1 Pet. 1. 19. His Innocency redeemed me being guilty His rich Price which he payed impoverished Satan His Bonds â—ettered him freed me Thus the Serpents head was broken Gen. 3. 15. by him to whom it was deâ—ervedly granted that he should divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul unto death Isaiah 53. 12. But shall the Prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful Captive be delivered Yes it shall it was it could not be otherwise when now the Lord my Saviour my Redeemer the Mighty one of Jacob was pleased to contend with those that oppressed me and to save me The Captive of the Mighty was taken away and the prey of the Terrible was delivered Isa 49. 24 25 26. Obs When the Lord Christ pleaseth to free Corruption can no longer enslave Texts Luke 11. 21 22. When a strong man armed keepeth his Palace his goods are in peace but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcometh him he taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoyles John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me Inst Zacheus though Chief of the Publicans men esteemed by Christ no better than Heathen Mat. 18. 17. Though a rich man and such shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19. 23. Yet when Christ called him he made hast and came down and received Christ joyfully Luke 19. 2 6. Saul when breathing out Threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples and going purposely to Damascus with authority to bind and bring those to Jerusalem that he should find there of that way upon the Apparition and Voice from Heaven waâ— changed and submitted himself to Christ's Will Acts 9. 1 2. Reas 1. The Holy Spirit by whom the Soul is freed is a God of irresistible power A rushing mighty Wind filled the House c. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 2. 2 4 2. The Debt being discharged the Prisoner is to be released Col. 2. 14. Use 1. The Godhead of the Spirit proved 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2. Bless him who hath paid thy Debt Col. 2. 14 3. Take heed of running upon a new Store Psal 85. 8. Resol Thou hast given Commandment to save me wherefore my mouth shall be filled with thy Praise and Honour all the day For they are confounded and brought to shame that sought my hurt Psal 71. 3 8 24. Ejac. Into thine hand I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth and hast not shut me up into the hand of the Enemy but hast set my Feet in a large room Psal 31. 5 8. Paral. II. Circ My Apprehenders hand was taken off unexpected Obs Effectual Calling is of Gods Free Grace THat God alone is able to change the Heart is Clear Grace is a participation of the Divine Nature And who can communicate the Divine Nature unto man but only a Divine Power 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. There is nothing in the Soul out of which it may be produced as therein potentially contained Mans recreation then must necessarily be effected by that Almighty Power that at the first made him of nothing Ezek. 11. 19. But may not man deserve this Change May he not walk so exactly by Natures Rule as that God in equity cannot deny his Grace unto him No This Grace is free this Love undeserved What is in the sick Patient to deserve that the Physitian should seek him out to cure him What in an Enemy to deserve Reconciliation from him to whom he hath given just cause to hate him Yet when I was sick and languishing my Physitian sought me to recover me My highly provoked God when I was his Enemy was pleased freely to be reconciled unto me Col 1. 19 10. My Apprehender had hold of me The Jaylor was ready to take me into his Custody The Prison gaped for my Entertainment The Grates were strong to secure me No visible help to rescue me Nothing in me to deserve Compassion Deliverance Yet then was the Lord pleased not for my sake but for his own Holy Names sake to pity me to put a new Spirit in me to save me from all mine Enemies from all mine uncleannesses Isa 31 21 26 31. Well may I now to the Glory of my Almighty and Compassionate Redeemer take up those words of his Church whereof I am now
and takes off its true relish of spiritual sweetness The Manna ceased assoon as the Israelites had eaten of the old corn of the Land of Canaan Josh 5. 1â— To extirpate the Affections man must be unman'd where they have an over-ruling power he becomes a Beast Psal 49. 20. At least he is brought down to the lowest degree of servitude There is no such slavery as his who is not Master of himself Against violent Temptations the soul is armed by Fortitude by Temperance against alluring This moderates Mans Love of them His desire after them His delight in them His Grief in the absence of them This Grace of Temperance being the Guardian of all other Vertues the Spirit among others upon a Christians effectual Calling adornes the soul withal thereby so restraining the Passions and confining of them within their bounds that in the Fruition of vain Pleasures the moderate use whereof is not denied 1 Cor. 6. 12 Or in their absence he is still the same Let him enjoy them he is as if he enjoyed them not 1 Cor. 7. 29. 30 31. Let him be without them he is as if enjoying of them 2 Cor. 6. 10. Upon his Change he is now set far above them having his soul filled with new and spiritual delights Though his heart be taken off from the vain Comforts of the world yet Christ leaves him not comfortless Joh. 14. 18. The Joy of the Lord is his strength Nehem. 8. 10. His Comforts delight his soul Psal 94. 19. In whom he rejoyceth continually Phil 4. 4. His Delight is in Gods Law Psal 1. 2. Which is most sweet unto him Psal 119 103. His delight is in the Saints and in the excellent Psal 16. 3. He takes pleasure in the waies of wisdom Prov. 3. 17. He is filled with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Yea with joy unspeakable and full of Glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. The Promises those satisfying Breasts of Comfort Isa 66. 11. afford him strong Consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. He rejoyceth that his Name is written in Heaven Luke 12. 20. Thus whereas formerly when enslaved to worldly pleasures in laughter his heart was sorrowful as well it might the end of that Mirth being heaviness Prov. 14. 13. Now he enjoyes that sweet peace in his soul which guards and keeps up his spirit under the heaviest afflictions Acts 5. 41. Which he bears with patience rejoycing in hope of the Glory of God Rom 5. 2. And longing for that day when he shall enter into the joy of his Lord Mat. 25. 23. Obs Upon effectual Calling the Spirit usually first weakens Corruption by taking the heart off from all affected Vanities and Pleasures Texts Heb. 12. 1. Let us lay aside every weight 1 Pet. 3. 3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting of the hair and of wearing of Gold and of putting on of Apparel c. Inst St. Peter exhorts those who had obtained the precious Faith to add thereunto Temperance 2 Pet. 1. 6. Mary Magdalen upon her Conversion her eyes formerly allurements to lust now shed Tears with which she washed Christ's feet and wiped them with the hairs of her head with whose nicely set Curles she was wont to entangle her Lovers She bestowed her Kisses upon them and anoynted them with her precious Oyntment before used to set off her Beauty to make it the more enticing Luke 7. 38. Reas 1. They hinder the soul in its search after Gods Kingdom and the righteousness thereof Mat. â— 31 32. 2. They choak the Word and make it become unfruitful Luke 8. 14. 3. They retard the souls pace in her race toward the Mark Heb. 12. 1 4. They harden the heart Amos 6. 1 4 5 6. Use 1. Set thine Affections on things above not on things on the earth Col. 3. 2. 2. Seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof Mat. 6 33. 3. Rid thy self of whatsoever may hinder thee in thy spiritual Race Heb. 12. 1. 4. Adorn thy soul with the Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit 1 Pet. 3. 4. with sobriety and good works 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 5. Account not that thy Glory which is thy shame Phil 3. 19. 6. Draw not on Iniquity with Cords of Vanity Isa 5. 18. Resol All things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any 1 Cor. 6. 12. Ejac. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way Psal 119. 37. Paral. X. Circ After the staying and beating of my Pursuer I heard no more of him Obs The Power of Corruption being once broken It shall never again recover it over the effectually-Called so as to hinder them from Glory I cannot but begin this Parallel with a triumphant exultation in my soul and say Thy right hand O Lord glorious in power hath dashed in pieces the enemy In the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown those that rose up against me Thou in thy Mercy hast redeemed me and led me forth and wilt guid me in thy strength unto thy holy Habitation Exod. 15. 6 7 13. Where my hope is laid up with thee Col. 1. 5. Even that Crown of righteousness which my Lord Christ the righteous Judge will give unto me at that day 2 Tim 4. 8. This thou hast assured me of and none shall take it from me John 10. 28. Who is like unto thee O Lord Who is like thee glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 11. No man cometh unto Christ unless the Father draw him John 6. 44. We are led willingly drawn with reluctancy Rom. 5. 10. But God of unwilling maketh us willing working Grace in the heart by the secret Operation of the Spirit upon the Preaching of the Word which is his ordinary way of dâ—awing John 6. 45. Rom. 10. 14 15. In the Word preached Christ is offered to the soul 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. And they who receive him thus offered have put him on Gal. 3. 27. and dwell in him Eph. 3. 17. and so are effectually called Effectual Calling is a certain evidence of a Christian Election Rom. 8. 30. And these two draw after them all those other Links of the Golden Chain reaching from Gods Decree of Predestination unto the enjoyment of that Glory to which he is predestinated and mentioned by St. Peter 2 Pet. 1. 1 3 4. He is redeemed from his vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. From the Dominion of sin and all other his enemies Luke 1. 71. Having escaped the Corruption that is in the world through lust v. 4 He is regenerated and become a new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. Having all things given unto him that pertain unto life and godliness or to a godly life v. 3. He is justified having obtained the precious Faith through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ v. 1. And so assured of the pardon of his sins and of Gods Favour unto him in his
at any time for some years then past I had had such thoughts as might minister matter to my Fancy so to work The Lord was pleased in a Dream and Vision of the night thus to seal Instruction unto my soul Job 33. 15 16. The Vision AT London I was apprehended by a shag hair'd Fellow without an hat of a deformed countenance He led me on I knew not whither until we came unto a Prison scituated where Westminster Hall stands At the entrance into the Hall The Front of the Prison was toward the Thames The Gate was wide and stood wide open The chief Prison-house was in view a cross-building within at the end of a Court-yard There was a window on the right hand of the Gate-house which had a strong Iron grate before it as had the windows on the side-buildings on the left hand toward the chief Prison house through which I could discern mens faces At the entrance of the chief Prison-house stood the Jaylor a grim man in black He seeing of us presently comes to us to the gate and turning my Apprehender a little aside to whisper with him As they were whispering my Apprehender let go his hold I perceiving his hand off thought it best to run for my safety and betook me to my heels My Apprehender pursues me But having the start of him I was gotten so far before him that I could not hear him following Having now ran almost as far as the Savoy and looking back to see at what distance I had left him I could see a good way off a Gentleman who had stopped him in his pursuit and by the hair of his head having pulled him down upon his knees was beating of him with a Battoon I still fearing that he might get loose and follow me ran on until I came at the Savoy where I ran down a pair of stairs Which stairs delivered me on to a square Brick building raised one Story from the ground left so that the work might be continued having Beams and Jyces laid ready for a Floor and second Story In this Building I waâ— perswaded I might hide my self from my Pursuer Whereupon attempting to get down between two of the Jyces there were men below within the Building who endeavoured by thrusting at me with an Halberd and long staves to hinder my Descent But the danger I fled from made me so resolute that putting by their thrusts I got down in spight of them I was no sooner below but they were all vanished From hence I was immediatly transferred into the Tower of the Temple-Church and standing where the Essigies of the Knights-Tâ—mplars lie then not to be seen all fear of being again taken by my Pursuer was now ceased I cast mine eye up to the top of the Tower where my sight was limited by a Cloudy resemblance Round about on the sides the Tower was scaffolded up from the Pavement as in a Theater Under the Scaffolds I observed certain men as if lurking there to hinder people in their ascent I awaked and musing upon the Vision in my mind and finding that it had a kind of orderly dependance one part upon another assoon as I arose I wrote it down and gave I know not what Interpretation of it The writing unminded lay among my loose Papers many years until which I believe was nine or ten years after the Lord was pleased to lay upon me the heavy burden of a wounded Spirit In mine extremity which was so high that I feared death having over-looked my loose Papers and this Vision cursorily among the rest I cast them into the fire The Occasion of recalling of the Vision AFter some dayes the Lord having been pleased to resettle me and to speak Peace to my soul as I have shewed in my salve for the Wounded Spirit reflecting my thoughts upon my time spent in that before-mentioned Family as also upon the great secular preferments which I then missed of I was not a little troubled at my supposed loss Yet when I remembred that I stood a long time silent as amazed c I had a strong perswasion in me that the Lord in Mercy had with-held those pâ—eferments from me I sued unto him by earnest Prayer that if it were so he would be pleased to discover it unto me that upon my sense of his Mercy I might bless his Name for it It was not long after my Prayer was ended before the Lord afforded me this gracious return thereof bringing freshly to my by my late illness much weakned memory the Vision which I had so long and so much slighted Which a little pondering upon I called to mind whereof I was afterwards in another dream assured by a voyce saying It was the Gatehouse That the Gate-house of that Prison to which I was brought with the inward Prison-house windows and side-buildings thereof were just like unto the Gate-house or Lodge the inward Buildings windows and side-Buildings of that House wherein I had lived with that Noble Personage whcih also being scituate in a Town upon the River on the same side had its Front towards the Thames Whereupon by him to whom alone they do belong Gen. 40. 8. I was presently enabled to give this Interpretation That the Apprehender was my Corruption That it had brought me to the mouth of Hell in bringing me to that Family and so near unto the Law the course I must have returned to and gone on in had the offered Favour been accepted That the man in black at the entrance of the Chief Prison-House was the Devil ready to seize upon me That the Gentleman beating of my Pursuer was the Holy Spirit restraining of my Corruption That the Stairs put me in mind to humble my self for my sins The Building I interpreted to be the Building of Grace begun in my Soul The men within to be my spiritual Enemies violently opposing of me The Scaffolds in the Tower of the Temple-Church a direction for a gradual improvement in Grace The men under them my spiritual enemies watching advantages to hinder mine Improvement This more general Interpretation served then to settle me in what I sued to be satisfied in with much comfort assuring me dayly more and more that I was delivered from the mouth of Hell as to those Relations and to that course But since upon more serious consideration and throughly weighing of each particular circumstance in the Vision I find that I have great cause to bless God in the super abundant riches of his Mercy in that when I sued only for satisfaction â—n that forementioned Particular he not only shewed me what he had done for me as to that But likewise That he had freed me from the slavery of my Corruption which so long and so powerfully had prevailed ever me and so had delivered me from the power of darkness and had translated me into the Kingdom of his Dear Son Col. 1. 13. Directing of me what now I was to do To humble my self
of salvation Inst Jerusalem had her day wherein she might have known the things which belonged unto her peace Luke 19. 42. Chorazin Bethsaida Capernaum had their time for repentance Mat. 11. 21 23. For Mercy Conferred Texts Exod. 12. 41. And it came to pass at the end of the Four hundred and thirty years even the self-same day it came to pass that all the Hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt Gal. 4. 4. When the Fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman c. Inst. Mordecai was advanced Hest 6. 10. When Haman had prepared the Gallows to hang him Hest 5. 14. The Snare was broken and the Church escaped when her proud Enemies were ready to swallow her up quick Psal 124. 3 7. For Mercy discovered Texts Eph. 3. 8 10. Unto me is this Grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ c. to the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God Col. 1. 26. The Mystery hid from ages and generations is now made manifest unto the Saints Inst. When Jacob was under heavy affliction for his Son Joseph whom he believed to be dead for Simeon who was in bonds for his Darling Benjamin who was taken from him Gen. 42. 36. Then was that joyful Message brought unto him that Joseph was alive and Lord of all Egypt Gen. 45. 26. When Peter was in doubt whether he might go unto Cornelius it being unlawful for a Jew to converse with a Gentile then did the Lord reveal unto him the meaning of the Vision of the great sheet c. Shewing him that he should not call any man common or unclean Acts 10. 11. 28. Reas 1. God would be glorified in his Omniscience Rev. 2. 23. 2. He would have man to set a due value on his Mercies Psal 86. 12 13. 3. He would have them chearfully entertained Psal 35. 9 10. Use 1. Let not God fail of his end Psal 139. 1 17. 2. Accuse him not of delayâ—ng Psal 13. 1 2 3 Slight not the day of Grace Psal 95. 7 8. 4 Wâ—lk wisely and redeem the time Col. 4. 5. Purchase opporâ—unities so the word signifies for goodness at any rate Resol Though Mercy be deferred yet will I never think that long which once I shall certainly enjoy so sweetned and made welcome by its seasonableness when it comes Mark 16. 7. Ejac. Hear thy Servant who takes pleasure in the stones and favours the dust of thy Zion Arise Lord and have Mercy upon her for the time to favour her yea the set time is come Psal 102. 13 14. Paral. III. Circ The Mercy was not discovered until I prayed Obs God will be sued unto GOd is our Father ready to supply our wants He is our Heavenly Father able to supply them knowing what we have need of before we ask him Mat. 6. 8. My condition was not unknown unto him he could have setled me though I had not prayed unto him But it was his pleasure to be sought into Prayer is the souls conversing with God Being the Interpreter of those holy Desires therein stirred up by the Spirit of Supplication Zech. 12. 10. That the Lord is pleased to admit dust and ashes to speak unto him is an high honour Gen. 18. 27. Yet higher to be assured of his ear that he will hear and grant whatsoever we sue unto him for Mat. 21. 22. As it is a dignity to man so is it an honour to God himself which is the chief end why he would have man to pray unto him In Prayer we serve him Luke 2. 37. In Prayer we worship him Therefore is it compared to Incense Psal 141. 2. Sending up an acceptable savour unto him and sweetning all our other Services In Prayer we glorifie him in his Majesty Power Goodness Love and other his Gracious Attributes In our eyes waiting upon him Psal 123. 2. For the kinds of Prayer they are Four Deprecation of evil That it may be averted Dan. 9 16. That being upon us it may be removed Psal 25. 22. Or That it may be mitigated Psal 85. 4 5. This kind best suits the time of Affliction Jam. 5. 13. Petition of what is good That it may be conferred Psal 119. 34. That it may be established Psal 68. 28. That it may be encreased Luke 17. 5. Here the Rule must be that our Prayer be according to Gods Will 1 John 5. 14. Otherwise we are not like to speed Jam. 4. 3. Intercession for others For all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. For the Church Psal 122. 6. For Kings and all in authority 1 Tim. 2. 2. For the Ministry Rom. 15 30. For Sinners 1 John 5. 16. For our Enemies Mat. 5. 44. For this we have our Saviours Form Our Father c Give us Forgive us c. Which whosoever hath wholly laid by it is to be feared that with it he hath laid by true Christian Charity Thanksgiving For benefits received Psal 116. 12 13. Upon craving of new ones Col. 1. 3. When they are deferred When they are denied 1 Thes 5. 18. And this that the abundant Grace may through our Thanksgiving redound to Gods Glory 2 Cor. 4. 15. Our Infirmities in Prayer are such That we know not what to pray for as we ought Rom. 8. 26. That we know not how to pray Luke 11. 1. But the Spirit helps our Infirmities Directing us what to pray for in our Lords Form prescribed to his Disciples which we are to use either in those very words Luke 11. 2. Or framing all our Petitions according thereunto Mat. 6. 9. Assisting us in the manner of our Prayers helping Our backwardness by disposing of the heart unto the duty 2 Sam 7. 27. Our want of words by opening of our lips Psal 51. 15. Our wandring thoughts by scattering of them and keeping the heart attent unto Prayer Psal 68. 1. Our coldness By heating of the heart Psal 39. 3. By the Spirits making Intercession for us in others with groanings which cannot be uttered as some understand that Rom. 8. 16. By Christ's tears shed over his Church Luk. 19. 41. By his strong Cries offered up unto his Father in the daies of his flesh Heb. 5. 7. By his now interceding for us Rom. 8. 34. As for posture I speak of secret Prayer that is best so for the voice or silence which most may quicken devotion 1 Kings 18. 42. For Place holy hands are to be lifted up every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. Especially when thou art withdrawn from Company Devout Soliloquies have More of the Spirit Less of Temptation A Secret Observer An Open Rewarder Mat. 6. 6. For time Let it be the Key of the day the Bar of the night Let it ascend morning and evening as the Incense Psal 141. 2. Pray without ceasing whensoever occasion shall be offered 1 Thes 5. 17. The sense of our wants
Psal 42. 1 4. The remembrance of Gods Benefits Psal 103. 2 3. are two excellent means to quicken the soul unto Prayer which will ascend to Heaven with the more speed being carried up upon the wings of Fasting 1 Cor. 7. 5. Alms-giving Acts 10. 4. Provided that it be Reverend Fervent Constant Confident If thine be so qualified thou maist be assured that the Lord will not turn it away Psal 66. 20. Obs God will be sued unto And that With Reverence Fervency Constancy Confidence God will be sued unto Texts Psal 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble Mat. 7. 7. Ask and it shall be given you Inst Hezekiah in his sickness prayed unto the Lord Isa 38. 2. Cornelius's Prayers came up for a Memorial before God Acts 10. 4. With Reverence Texts Psal 95. 6. Let us worship and bow down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Psal 99. 5. Worship at his Footstool Inst Paul bowed his knees unto God in behalf of the Ephesians The foul and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped and cast their Crowns before him that sate on the Throne Rev. 4. 10. With Fervency Tâ—xâ—s Psal 81. 10. Open thy mouth wide Psal 119. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee Inst. Moses cried unto God Exod. 14. 15. The King of Nineveh commanded his People to cry mightily unto God Jonah 3. 8. With Constancy Texts 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray continually Job 27. 10. Will the Hypocrite alwaies call upon God Inst David called daily upon the Lord Psal 88. 9. Christ spake a Parable to this end that men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint Luke 18. â— With Confidence Texts Jam. 1. 6. Ask in Faith nothing wavering Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with Confidence Inst David assured himself that God would hear him Psal 4. 3. The Sons of God have the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. Amen that Seal of our Prayers signifies as an earnest desire so a certain perswasion that God will hear us Col. 4. 18. Reas 1. By Reverend confident Prayer God is glorified in his Attributes Col. 1. 9. The word there signifies a devout lifting up of the mind unto God and our glorifying of him in his Majesty Power c. 2. Fervent Prayer puts the soul into a fit capacity for Mercy Psal 81. 10. 3. Constant Prayer manifests encreaseth strengthens Faith Psal 5. 3. Luke 18. 1. Use 1. Let God have his due Glory Psal 123. 2. 2. Let not thy Prayer want its due qualifications Jam. 4 3. 3. Cleanse thy soul from sin A wicked heart obtains nothing from God Psal 66. 18. 4. He that is only earnest for temporal things howls not praies Hos 7. 14. 5. Inconstancy in Prayer discovers a bad heart Job 27. 10. 6. The distrustful Prayer is sure to be denied Jam 17. Resol In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee for thou wilt answer me Psal 86. 7. Ejac. Lord let thy Spirit help mine Infirmities heaâ— thou its groanings in me and for me Rom 8 26 â—7 Paral. IV. Circ The Mercy was discovered upon my Prayer Obs Rightly qualified Prayer hath a prevailing Power I Do not dare not arrogate any thing to my self as if my Prayer as mine had any the least power to encline God to hear me God is unchangeable man unworthy to be heard to be eyed to be minded The best Prayers have so much of self in them that in stead of an open ear unto them we might justly expect the dung of the Sacrifice of our polluted lips and hearts to be cast in our faces But we have to deal with a Gracious God who is not only ready to hear the weak desires of the reverent fervent constant faithful Suppliant but so far to submit his own Almightiness unto their so qualified Prayers that he cannot but hear them What is said of the wrath of man Jam. 1. 20. may be said of all the rest of the Passions when transgressing the workings of Reason they work not the righteousness of God and so render the soul unfit for Prayer Yet Abraham Jacob Moses Joshuah Elijah Hezekias though men subject to like passions as we are Jam. 5. 17. their Prayers were most powerful and effectual Their Power in Prayer was from God their passionate weakness of themselves which being by them taught to wait upon Reason and their sense of it keeping of them humble was a means to preserve that power Abraham was afraid of the Egyptians Gen. 12. 12. Of the men of Gerar Gen. 20. 11. that they would have slain him for his Wives sake Yet he had so prevailed with God upon his Intercession for Sodom that had there been but ten righteous persons in it it had not been destroyed Gen. 18. 32. Jacob though encouraged by a Vision of Angels greatly feared his Brother Esau coming against him Gen. 32. 7 11. Yet wrestling with God by Prayer had such power over him that he would not let him go before he had blessed him Gen. 32. 26. 28 29. Moses feared when he knew that his killing of the Egyptian was discovered and fled Exod. 2. 14 15. Yet by Prayer held Gods hands that he could not destroy the people when so highly provoked by their making and worshipping of the Golden Calf Exod. 32. 10. Joshua envied Eldad and Medad who prophesied in the Camp Numb 10. 29. Yet at his Prayer the Sun and Moon were stayed in their course Josh 10. 13. Elijah upon Jezebels threatnings Message fled for his Life 1 Kings 19. 2 3. Yet upon his earnest Prayer it rained not on the earth for three years and a half Jam. 5. 17. And Fire came down from Heaven and destroyed the Captains with their Fifties 2 Kings 1. 10 12. Hezekias was much grieved at that Message of death brought unto him by the Prophet yet upon his Prayer the Sun went backward ten degrees Isa 38. 1 2 3 8. With what confidence may now the humble Supplianâ— whose Prayer hath its due qualifications say I know that whatsoever I ask according to his Will I have my Petitions which I desired of him 1 John 5. 14 15. When by these examples he sees and is confirmed in the experience and assurance of the effectualness of it which is such that it hath power not only Over the Elements Jam. 5. 17. 2 Kings 1. 10. Over the Fabrick of Heaven Josh 10. 12. Over earthly Forces Exod. 17. 11. Over Death Isa 38. 5. Over Devils Mat. 17. 21. Over Angels 2 Kings 6. 17. But Over God himself Exod. 32. 10. O the prevailing power of a rightly qualified Prayer It takes Heaven by violence it overcomes the Invincible and binds the Almighty Obs Rightly qualified Prayer hath a prevailing power Texts Jam. 5. 16. The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much Exod. 32. 10. Let mâ— alone that my wrath may wax hot c. And Moses besought the Lord. Inst Jacob when the man
that wrestled with him desired him to let him go said I will not let thee go except thou bless me and he blessed him there Gen 32. 24 26 29. Elias prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths and he prayed again and the Heavens gave rain Jam. â— 17. â—eas 1. God hath tied himself by promise to hear such Prayers Mat. 7. 7. 2. Such Prayers are put up in the Name of Christ John 16. 23. 3. Christ maketh Intercession for us Rom. 8. 34. and his Father alwaies heareth him John 11 42. 4. Christ presents our Prayers unto his Father with the Incense of his merits Rev. 8. 3. 5. The Spirit maketh Intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. Use 1. Prayers to Saints are vain they are ignorant of us Isa 63. 16. 2. Go confidently to God in the alone Name of Christ and thou art sure to speed John 16. 23. 3. Though thine infirmities in Prayer be many yet be not discouraged the holy Spirit helps them and intercedes for thee Rom. 8. 26. Resol Whatsoever my wants are I will ask in the name of Christ and then I am certain I shall receive and my joy shall be full John 16 24. Ejâ—c I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because he hath enclined hiâ— ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as lonâ— as I live Psal 116. 1 2. Paral. V. Circ The Mercy was discovered to me but new â— humbled by a wounded Spirit Obs God recompenseth the great afflictions of hâ— Children with greater mercies SOme years before this great affliction was laid upâ—â— me I had often called my waies to remembrance and humbled my self for my sins but there were soâ—â— yet behind undiscovered which indeed some of the at least I thought not to be such Notwithstanding it was the Lords pleasure whatsoever to that time I had thought of them to make me throughly sensible that they were sins and of so high a nature as called for a low Humiliation To this end he took the same course with me as he did with David in a third person setting them before me and after a most sharp sentence by me pronounced against them secretly saying unto me within my self Thou art the man 2 Sam. 12. 7. Then began Conscience Gods Attorney-General to accuse and condemn Then did the Word applied unto my past actions like a two edged sword cut on both sides making two deep wounds in my soul In The apprehension of the loss of my God Isa 59. 2. In The Fear of the dreadful effects of his vengeance Gal. 3. 10. O the horrours of the wounded spirit my then present condition Who can bear their weight Prov. 18. 14. Who is able to express the anguish Yet the Lord was pleased to support me though his wrath lay heavy upon me and he afflicted me with all his waves almost to distraction while I suffered his terrours Psal 88. 7. 15. After some dayes being a little come to my self I bath'd my wounds with the tears of true repentance and Faith poured in the balm of Christs Merits And when the Lord saw that I did bear his Rod as became his humble child that I was brought so lon that I was now in a sit capacity for mercy then did the great Physitian of my Soul the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2 Not despising my contrite heart Psal 51. 17. But healing my broken spirit and with his own hand gently binding up my wounds Psal 147. 3. Speaking peace unto my soul and raising me again by a clear sense of his Love and Presence O the sweetness of his Mercy Psal 34. 8. Then did he soon after afford unto me these great and gracious vouchsafings O the riches of his Mercy Eph. 2. 4. Obs God recompenseth the great Afflictions of his Children with greater Mercies And that In this Life In the Life to come In this Life Texts Isa 61. 7. For your shame you shall have double For confusion they shall rejoyce in their portion Mar. 10. 28. There is no man that hath left House or Brethren c. for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time Inst. Job for what he had lost had twice as much at his latter end Job 42. 12. Joseph from the Dungeon was raised to highest honour in Pharaoh's Court Gâ—n 41. 40 43. After this Life Texts Isa 54. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on thee 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Inst Christ assures his Disciples that they who had forsaken all and followed him when he should sit in the Throne of his Glory they should sit upon twelve Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. They who came out of great tribulation here in Heaven are arrayed in white Robes and are before the Throne of God c. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 7. 13 14. c. Reas 1. The Lord is rich in Mercy Eph. 2. 4. 2. He would have his Children to bear his Rod with Patience Heb. 11. 9 10 11. Use 1. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. 2. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations Jam. 1. 2. The Recompense will sufficiently countervail the Trial. 3. Hearken to Christ He is sent to proclaim Liberty to the Captives the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. Resol I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath put off my Sackcloath and girded me with gladness Psal 30. 11. He hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness Isa 61. 10. Ejac. O thou that bindest up the broken-hearted Appoint unto the Mourners in Zion give unto them beauty for ashes the Oyl of Joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61. 3. Paral. VI. Circ The discovery as touching those missed secular preferments was onely craved but much more granted Obs The Lord often grants more then his Servants sue unto him for THE Lord is good and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. Had he onely heard me in what I craved the condescension had been greater then unworthy dust and ashes might expect My desire was to be setled as touching those missed expectations whether God in mercy had withheld me from their enjoyment The assurance of this had been a gracious return of my Prayer But O! I am rapt with the contemplation of the magnificence of his Bounty and Goodness That to this assurance he should
super-add that clear manifestation of my being freed from the slavery of my Corruption with all those other soul ravishing comforts certainly following upon that freedom That He who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven Psal 113 6. Should stoop so low as to guid me with his Counsel and to shew unto me the path of life Psal 16. 11. What can I do What can I suffer enough for such a God What shall I render unto him for all his unspeakable benefits toward me who hath dealt so bountifully with me I will offer the Sacrifice of thanksgiving I will call upon his Name I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people Let all his Saints with me praise him Psal 116. 12 17 18 19. Let them praise him according to his excellent Greatness Psal 150. 2. And let them know that as in all other his great Favours so in his magnificent Goodness in answering of their suits He is highly to be praised For Obs The Lord often grants more then his Servants sue unto him for Texts Psal 21. 3 4. Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness He asked life of thee and thou gavest him length of dayes for ever and ever Rom. 10. 12. The Lord is rich unto all that call upon him Just. Solomon craved onely an understanding heart God gave him that with Riches and Honour which he did not ask 1 King 3. 12 13. The Servant that owed his Lord ten thousand Talents craved but his Lord's patience and forbearance and he forgave him the whole debt Math. 18 24 26 27. In my distress under my heavy burden I sued but for crums of mercy The Lord granted me a continual Feast in my Soul Prov. 15. 15. I sued for peace in any the least measure The Lord extended it to me like a River Is 66. 12. Reas God would be glorified in the riches of his bounty Psal 50. 15. Use 1. Do thou magnifie him according to the greatness of his magnificent goodness Psal 145. 3 6 7. 2. Sue unto him with confidence according to his Will He that gives more will not deny that which thou cravest of him 1 Jo. 5. 14. 3. Walk uprightly and no good thing shall be withheld from thee Psal 84. 11. Resol I will first sack the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and then all these things shall be added unto me Math. 6. 33. Ejac. Unto him That is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen! Eph. 3. 20 21. The Introduction BEfore I come to those Observations raised from the material circumstances of the Vision I think it not unseasonable here to premise these three following Parallels by way of Introduction This place where I am now Minister being the stage or Theatre where most of these great things were acted and the good of this little Flock I hope by all of them intended by the great Shepherd who hath intrusted me with it Paral. I. Circ I was sent back to the University Obs Our Lord Christ approves of humane learning in his Ministers THat all these other intended endeavoured preferments for me though more facile and feisible yet miscarried That this for my return to the Colledge with no little difficulty as the Times then were to be obtained yet succeeded it is not to be let pass without special observation Though I had not in that interval of my discontinuance lost all I had gathered when formerly a Gremial yet it was my Lord Christ's pleasure intending me now for his Ministry that I should take a larger draught from that Fountain and renew mine acquaintance with the Arts which absence and desuetude had in part worn out Had I then improved my hours as I might and ought I needed not now to have blushed at this mine acknowledgment that I have onely attained to that first step to learning to know mine own weakness and ignorance I am far from idolizing of humane learning but that it is not by any to be trampled upon that Doctor 's in these late Times being in a manner striken dumb when about to strangle it in the Nursery and to cry it down in his Pulpit even in the University gives a loud item to it's proudest Opposers whose either Ignorance might hope in the general Mist to pass undiscovered or Malicious subtilty would be glad of such an advantage that so their naked Adversaries might lie open to their mercy Our late fears indeed were great the Cloud began to look black and the stinking Fog to spread apace But blessed be God the Sun is risen seasonably whose bright beams we trust will soondispel them and restore our Hemisphere to it's former clearness Each Art and Profession hath it's proper instruments without which it cannot work We are God's Husbandmen we are his Builders 1 Cor. 3. 9 10. The Husbandman cannot carry on his tillage without his Plough and other necessary instruments of Husbandry The Flail Fan Skreen c. are required for preparing of the Seed for purging of the Floor Math. 3. 12. And Christ will not have the spiritual Structure reared upon him the alone Foundation 1 Cor. 3 11. with Gold and Silver in the Ore with precious Stones uncut unpolished much less with wood hay stubble 1 Cor. 3. 12. with untempered morter Ezck. 13. 10 11. Obs Our Lord Christ approves of humane learning in his Ministers Texts Prov. 12. 10. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable or delightful words 1 Cor. 12. 8 10. To one is given the Word of Wisdome to another the Word of Knowledge to another divers kind of Tongues to another the interpretation of Tongues Inst St. Paul bred up at the Feet of Gamalicl Acts 22. 3. accused by Festus to be mad with too much learning Acts 26. 24. yet was chosen to be an Apostle Aâ—ts 9. 15. Timothy is exhorted to give himself to reading to meditation to give himself wholly to these things 1 Tim. 4. 13 15. Reas It is a necessary hand-maid to Divinity and seâ—ves 1. For the unfolding of many places of Scripture which cannot otherwise be fully understood as Job 37. 38 39. Chap. Psal 104. with many other 2. To inable the mind to judge and discern between truth and falshood certainty and uncertainty of the truth of consequences deduced from Principles set down in the Word 1 Thes 5. 21. 3. For the instruction of those who have not heard of Christ who yet will readily hear the voice of Nature Acts 17 24. 4. To confound the Atheistical opposers of the Christian Religion and to beat them with their own weapons Acts 17. 18. 5. To prepare the Understanding and to clear it's passages for the more ready entertainment of the highest Knowledge 6. To quicken the Souls appetite after it's spiritual food Use 1. Miraculous assistance since the Apostles times is very rare God is pleased
Inst Ananias laid his hands on Paul and gave him Instructions Acts 9. 6 17. He was separated unto the Gospel of God Rom. 1. 1. Timo by is warned to be wary in laying of his hands upon any before due trial of his sufficiency 1 Tim. 5. 22. For a setled Ministry Texts 1 Thes 5. 12. We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account Inst Epaphras was a Faithful Minister of Christ for the Colossians Col. 1. 7. The Seven Churches of Asia had each its several star Angel or Minister Rev. 1. 20. Reas 1. Christ is the God not of Confusion but of Order and will have all things done in order in his Church 1 Cor. 14. 33 40. 2. He would have people to love their Ministers Propriety is a strong Motive to love Col. 1 7. 3. He would have his Ministers to be faithful in their several Charges Acts 20. 28. Use 1. Take heed to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made thee Overseer Acts 20. 28. 2. Remember the account thou must give Heb. 13. 17. Wo be unto thee if thou preach not the Gospel whereof a dispensation is committed unto thee 1 Cor. 9. 16 17. 3. Serve God with thy Spirit in the Gospel of his Son Rom. 1. 9. Jer. 48. 10. 4. Obey them that have the rule over you for they watch for your souls Heb. 13. 17. 5. Beware of false Prophets which come unto you unsent by Christ they are ravening Wolves Mat. 7. 15. 6. Turn away From House-creepers They will lead thee captive 2 Tim. 3. 6. From such as separate themselves They are sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. From wandring Stars They go in the way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam for reward Jude 11 13. From Gatherers of Congregations They gather not with Christ but are Scatterers Mat. 12. 30. Resol Being set over this his Houshold according to the dispensation of the great Lord thereof my care shall be as becomes a faithful and wise Steward to give unto them their portion of wholsom Food in due season Luke 12. 42. Ejac. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Luke 12. 43. Paral. III. Circ The Change in my Soul was first wrought upon hearing of a Sermon preached by a lawful Minister Obs The Word preached by a lawful Minister is Christ's ordinary way for changing of the heart WHen I first entered into the Ministry God knows I was a most unfit man for so high and Holy an employment and so continued until I came unto this Place The Sermons which I then preached before my Change it is possible might be a means to open the Gate of Heaven to others while I my self stood without Being setled here my Lord Christ was pleased as he dealt by his chosen Vessel St. Paul Acts 9 6 15. by a rough breaking to put my heart into a new frame and in part to fit me for the great Work to which he had called me I had now attained to the top of the Hill of man's age and was descending The sixth hour of my day was past yet then was I sent into the Vineyard Math. 20. 5 No time while the day of life continues can bar man from mercy 10. 9. 4. Being in the City I would needs on the Lord's day go to the new Church in Covent-garden whose inside I had never seen I went I confess more out of novelty then devotion My end was not to seek God Yet there I happily found him and was found by him Rom. 10. 20. The Minister was unknown to me His Text was about the unclean Spirit 's returning to his House c. and taking to him seven other Spirits more wicked than himself c. Math. 12. 43 44 45. Although for some time I did not much mind him yet at length upon his well-handling of his Matter I was perswaded with an attentive ear to listen unto him and before the conclusion of his Sermon somewhat was delivered by him which the Spirit was pleased to carry home to my heart and to make use of it as an Hammer to break that Rock in pieces Ier. 23. 29. I was there rouzed out of my security and began to think what a dangerous condition my Soul was in and could not forbear saying to the servant of the Inn who at night lighted me up to my Chamber We that teach others to be good should be good our selves which he departing answered with a curse My terrours increased upon me to the disturbance of my Reason and so I continued for some weeks after my return home Being somewhat come to my self upon the perswasion of a Neighbour-Minister my living being not many miles from the University I went to the Colledge of which I was yet a Fellow hoping there better to recollect my self and to shake off my melancholy amongst my old pleasant Companions And the truth is my thoughts by conversing with them were soon taken off from where they should have been fixed The Lord called to mourning and there followed indeed A Sermon of repentance A just restitution A weak dislike of my bad wayes A discovery of some tenderness in my Soul which one of my Companions a Minister slighting I forbear to say in what words afterwards came to a sudden and sad end But I found carnal men to be a means sooner to extinguish the smoaking flax then to inflame it which danger the Lord was pleased to prevent by withdrawing me from thence and bringing me back hither where my amendment following but slowly he saw it fit for the perfecting of the Work he had begun to wound me in my Soul and since his former rod when the sorrows of many temporal deaths compassed me had done but little good sharply to chastize me with his Scorpions The fear and horrours of Hell taking hold upon me Psal 116 3. The weight for the time was very heavy but I was Powerfully supported Graciously delivered Most richly recompenced They and onely they whom God by his eternal Decree hath freely predestinated unto Glory shall certainly enjoy it and be brought unto it by those means which to that end he hath fore-appointed Rom. 8. 30. The principal of these means are effectual Calling and Justification as there to which all others do refer To effectual Calling are required an offering of Christ a receiving of Him Christ is off râ—d in the Word Col. 2. 28. He is received by Faith 10. 1 12. The receiving of Christ is passive or active He is received passively in Baptism where he is put on Gal. 3. 27. We are ingraffed into him Iohn 15. 5. And becoming Members of his Body 1 Cor. 12. 12 13.
18. and making them two fold more the Children of Hell than themselves Mat. 23. 15. Thus Corruption with the temptations of Honour Wealth Pleasure wins natural men to the service of sin All these will I give thee Mat. 49. But it sings them to the Rock and smiles them to Ruine For What wages doth it pay them at the last Destruction Death Hell The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. Obs Natural men are by their Corruption led on insensibly unto Hell They are led Texts Eph. 2. 3. Among whom also we had our conversation c. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh Rom. 6. 17. Ye were the servants of sin Inst. The Colossians walked in Fornication Uncleanness and other vile sins when they lived in them Col 3. 7. The Romans had yielded their Members servants to Uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity Rom. 6. 19. They are led on insensibly Texts Prov. 4. 19. The way of the wicked is as darkness they know not at what they stumble Eph. 5. 8. Ye were somtimes darkness Inst The simple young man goeth after the harlot as an Oxe goeth to the slaughter or as a Fool to the correction of the Stocks Prov. 7. 22. St. Paul before his Conversion thought verily that he ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus Acts 26. 9. Unto Hell Texts Rom. 8. 6. To be carnally minded is death Jam. 1. 15. When lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Inst The Malefactor on the Cross but a little before his death reviled Christ Mark 15. 32. St. Paul and the Romans when in the Flesh the motions of sin did work in their Members to bring forth fruit unto death Rom. 7. 5. Reas 1. The God of this world hath blinded their minds 2 Cor. 4. 4. 2. It wars against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. Use 1. Think on its wages Rom. 6. 23. 2. Resist it betimes Psal 137. 9. 3. Bless God that though sin doth somtimes captivate thee yet it doth no longer lead thee Rom. 7. 22 23. Resol I will strive to be spiritually minded for that is life and peace Rom. 8. 6. Ejac. What fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now ashamed and whose end is death Rom. 6. 21. Paral. III. Circ The Apprehender Jaylor Prison Obs God hath his Ministers of Justice and his Prison for Punishment EArthly Princes have their rewards for their faithful and loyal Subjects 1 Sam. 22. 7. And as for the disloyal they have Inferiour Ministers of Justice so they have their Sergeants at Arms or armed Troops to fetch in Grand Delinquents and Prisons where to punish them Thus God the great Monarch of the world whose Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103. 19. as he hath His Paradise to reward So His Prison to punish The good and faithful Servants had the Joy of their Lord to enter into Mat. 25. 21 23. For the wicked sloathful and unprofitable Servant there was a place of utter darkness Mat. 25. 30. Gods Children are an afflicted people Zeph. 3. 12. a weeping lamenting sorrowful people John 16. 20. Often under chastisement Psal 73. 14. For wicked men though in comparison of them They have no Changes Psal 55. 19. The â—od of God is not on them Job 21. 9. They are not plagued as they Psal 73. 5. Yet how often even in this life doth God execute his just pleasure upon them by his inferiour Officers The unbribed Beadle of their Conscience gives them many a secret jerk and stinging lash Rom. 2. 15. He makes man his Rod Isa 10. 5. Or He sends his great Armies of Caterpillers Canker-worms c. to take free quarter upon their fâ—uits of the earth Jocl 2. 25. He gives them up to Satan 1 Cor. 5. 5. To their own vile Affections Rom. 1. 26. But if he spare them as to these and seem to keep silence Psal 50. 21. Yet Death at length will find them â—ut often cutting off the number of their Moneths in the midst Job 21. 21. And when Christ shall appear in his Glory His Angels shall bring them forth to the day of wrath to which they are reserved Job 21. 30. At which day Christ will be a swift witness against them Mal. 3. 5. In a moment bringing to their memories all their wickedness here committed by them for which being accused and condemned By their own Conscience Rom. 2. 15. And so the Judge cleared from all Injustice Psal 51. 4. Immediatly after the Sentence is pronounced His good Angels shall cast them Into a Furnace of fire Mat. 13 42. Into his Prison of Hell there everlastingly to be punished With the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25 46 Probably not by them For there shall be no Order Job 10. 22. And all Authority shall cease 1 Cor. 15. 24. Obs God hath his Ministers of Justice and his Prison for Punishment He hath his Ministers of Justice Here Hereafter Here Temporal Spiritual Temporal Texts Joel 2. 15. The Locust Canker-worm c. my great Army which I sent among you Psal 103. 21. Bless the Lord all ye his Hosts ye Ministers of his that do his Pleasure Inst The Assyrian was the Rod of Gods Anger Isa 10. 5. Wicked men are his Sword his Hand Psal 17. 13 14. Spiritual Texts Psal 103. 20. His Angels that excel in strength which do his Commandments 2 Thes 2. 11 12. God shall send them strong delusions Inst God hardned Pâ—araoh's heart Exod. 7. 3. He sent â—vil Angels among the Egyptians Psal 78. 49. Hereafter Texts Mat. 5. 25. Lest the Judge deliver thee to the Officer Mark 9. 44. Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Inst. They who have transgressed against God their worm shall not die Isa 66. 24. Dives was tormented in Hell-flames Luke 16. 24. He hath his Prison Texts Isa 30. 33. Tophet is ordained of old he hath made it deep and large Psal 9 17. The wicked shall be cast into Hell Inst Dives was in Hell Luke 16. 23. The fearful unbelieving abominable murderers whore-mongers sorcâ—reâ—s Idolaters Liars shall have their portion in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Reas 1. For the glory of his Power and Justice upon the Vessels of wrath Rom. 9. 17. 22. 2. To make known the riches of his Glory upon the Vessels of Mercy Rom. 9. 23. Use 1. God will render to every man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 6. 2. Glorifie God in his Power and Justice Rev. 2. 23. 3. Gloriâ—ie him in the riches of his Mercy Remember what thou hast deserved Eph. 2. 7 8. 4. Tremble in the commission of sin Isa 33. 14. Resol Though the love of my Lord Christ doth chiefly constrain me 2 Cor. 5. 14. Yet I will serve God with reverence and godly fear because he is a consuming fire Heb. 12. 28 29. Ejac. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the
second death hath no Power Rev. 20. 6. Paral. IV. Circ The Gates wide and open the Grates before the Windows Obs The number of the damned will be great their punishment endless ALthough Christ's Flock be said to be a little one Luke 12. 32. Though but a remnant according to the Election of Grace Rom. 11. 5. Yet of those who shall be saved the number will be great An hundred forty and four thousand were sealed and a numberless multitude stood before the Throne Rev. 7. 4 9. However in comparison of them who shall be damned they are but few As a Cottage in a Vinâ—yard as a Lodge in a Garden of Cucumbers as a besieged City a very small remnant Isa 1. 8 9 As the gleaning grapes after the Vintage as two or three Beâ—ries left in the top of the uppermost Bough when the Olives are gathered Isa 17. 6. Where but few are to enter a narrow passage sufficeth where multitudes are to go the way had need to be broad and the Gate wide Such is that which leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat Mat. 7. 13 14. From the Creation to Christ's time how few Worshippers of God were there And among them how few true His own people were a sinful Nation laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers The whole body was corrupted there was no soundness in it Isa 1. 4. 6. In Christ's time how had they made his House a den of Thieves Mat. 21. 13. How few were they that received him and believed in him John 1. 11. Since the spreading of the Gospel how straight is that place where it is proâ—essed in comparison of the rest of the world Among Professors how few sincere ones How many that bear the Name of Christians that yet as if aâ—raid that Hell-gates should be shut against them do hasten thâ—ther with speed and earnestness How swift are they to evil Prov. 1. 16. How do they do evil with both hands earnestly Micah 7 3. How do they work all uncleanness with greediness Eph. 4. 19. How do they drink Iniquity like Water Job 15. 10. Drawing of it on with Coards Isa 5. 18. Wearying themselves therein Jer. 9 5. So laying wait for their own Blood and lurking for their own lives Prov. 1. 18. And with hard and impenitent hearts treasuring up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God At which day from him who will render to every man according to his deeds they shall certainly receive that wrath which they have treasured up Rom. 2 5 6 8. and be enforced to undergo it unto all eternity For as Heaven-gates have their Barrs which the Lord doth so strengthen that no enemy can enter there to interrupt the happiness of his Saints Psal 147 13. So he hath fixed such a gulfe about the gates of his Prison of Hell into which all who die out of Christ shall be cast that they can never come from thence Luke 16. 26. Had the damned the least hope of making an escape or that their torments should have an end this their hope would be no little mitigation of their pain But into this Lions Den all the steps are inwards none returning Tophet is deep the gates and grates strong the Gulfe great and impassâ—ble And The Worm will gnaw as long as there is guilt and envy to sharpen its teeth And The fire cannot but burn as long as the breath of the Lords just wrath continues like a floud of Brimstone to kindle it Isa 30. 33. Obs The number of the damned will be great their punishment endless The number will be great Texts Isa 5. 14. Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and their glory and their multitude shall descend into it Mat. 7. 13. Wide is the Gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat Inst Of the whole Nation of the Jews God had reserved to himself but seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal 1 Kings 19. 18. Only just Lot and his Family were delivered out of Sodom when that City with Gomorrah were turned into ashes and condemned with an overthrow being made an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly 2 Pet. â— 6 7. Their punishment will be endless Texts Mat. 25. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment Rev. 14. 11. The smoak of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Inst The rich man prayed only for mitigation of his torment not for release from it whereof he knew there was no hope Luke 16. 24. The Beast and false Prophets shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 20. 10. Reas For their great number 1. Gods Decree of Predestination Many are called but few chosen Mat. 20. 16. 2. All are liable unto wrath in Adam Eph. 2. 3. But few freed from it 1 Thes 1. 10. Reas Why their punishment endless 1. Gods Decree There is a great Gulfe fixed Luk 16. 26. 2. Punishment is to be proportioned to the guilt oâ— sin Deut. 25. 2. Which is infinite being committed against an infinite Majesty 3. A will to sin continues Psal 74. 23. Therefore the punishment continues Use 1. Go not in the way of evil men Prov. 4. 14. They way of the ungodly shall perish Psal 1. 6. 2. Do thy best to save them with fear and to pul them out of the fire Jude 23. 3. Strive to enter in at the straight Gate Luke 13. 24. and to find the narrow way which leadeth unto life Mat. 7. 14. 4. Agree with thine Adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him Mat. 5. 25. Make thy peace with God while thou art here 5. Watch and pray that thou maist be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of man Luke 21. 36. Resol Though the way to the Kingdom of God be by manifold tribulations made thorny and rough Acts 14. 20. yet shall my foot hold his steps His way will I keep and not decline there-from Job 23. 11. Ejac. O my dear Lord Jesu thou hast freed me from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Thou hast shewed me the path of Life Psal 16. 11. Inable me to walk therein unto the end Paral. V. Circ The Jaylor in black apparel Obs Satan is the Prince of Darkness THE inward quality of the mind is often in the Scripture set forth by the outward habit of the Boâ—y As Eph. 4. 22. 24. Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Somtimes by the colour As Rom. 13. 12 Cast off the works of darkness put on the armour of Light Rev. 3. 18. The white raiment of Christs righteousness imputed Psal 30. 11. Thou hast put off my Sackcloath Thus in this dark resemblance the Lord was pleased
not but do lye Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy Feet Inst Mary Magdalen so notoriously drowned in voluptuousness that she is branded with the name of sinner Luke 7. 37. as if all others had been Saints to her Yet she had seven Devils cast out of her Mark 16. 9. Her sins which were many were forgiven her Luke 7. 47. The Thief on the Cross a wicked Malefactor though he had but newly mocked Christ Mat. 27. 44. and reviled him Mark 15. 32. Yet but a little before his death had his heart changed and was received to Mercy Luke 23. 40 43. Reas 1. To shew his Almighty Power Eph. 4. 8. 2. To shew forth his Long suffering towards sinners 1 Tim. 1. 16. 3. For the greater Glory of his superabundant Grace Rom. 5. 20. 4. To lay the greater obligation unto Love and Thankfulness upon that soul so recovered Luke 7. â—2 Use 1. Let not the most wicked cast away all hope The day of Mercy lasts till death Luke 23. 43. John 9. 4. 2. Sin not that Grace may abound Rom. 6. 1. 3. Defer not thy Repentance Hear Gods Call to day Psal 95. 7. Presumptuous delaies are dangerous Mat. 24. 48 50. 4. Strive to proportion thy thankfulness to the greatness of the Mercy vouchsafed unto thee Luke 7. 47. Resol I will praise the Lord my God with all my heart I will glorifie his Name for evermore for great is his Mercy toward me who hath delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell Psal 86. 12 13. Ljac Much hath been forgiven me O that I could love thee answerably to thy great Mercy Lord thou knowest I love thee John 21. 15. Paral. V. Circ I ran from my Apprehender Obs Man effectually called hath a Will and Power to flee from sin AS it was not in me to free myself from my Apprehender so neither was it in me as of myself to flee from him That alone Divine Power which secretly and unexpectedly had freed me did both stir up my Will and enable me to make an escape Such is Christs goodness to sinful man that he is so faâ— from taking pleasure in his death that his desire is that he should turn from his wicked ness and live Ezek. 33. 11. He prayes and beseecheth him by his Ambassadors to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 20. He stands at the door of the heart and knocks that He may be entertained Rev. 3. 20. He waits there with much patience until his head Is filled with dew and his Locks with the drops of the night Cant. 5. 2. In a word What can be done more than he doth to bring him to himself Isa 5. 4. And yet how few are there that open at his knock that answer to his Call What 's the Reason They are while in their natural estate so foundly asleep in sin Eph. 5. 14. So dead in it Eph. 2. 1. that they cannot hear they cannot open 2 Cor. 3. 5. There is no way then but for himself to open the heart to receive him to open the ear of the heart to hearken unto him This he doth but not unto all The Reprobate is outwardly called but it is only to leave him without excuse John 15. 22. His Elect Children they with the outward Call of the Word receive the inward and effectual Calling of the Spirit Acts 16. 14. Whereby Faith is infused for the enlightning of the before-darkned Understanding Eph. 1. 17 18. Grace is conferred for the changing and healing of the before-depraved Will Eph. 4. 24. The Will thus changed God's Image in which man was created and which by his own negligence he had lost is again restored in the sanctification of all the powers and inclinations of the Soul and in their conformity to the Will of God Eph. â— 24. To which Will he now yields all ready obedience Acts 9 6. Flying from sin and doing what is acceptable unto him Col. 1. 10. For the performance whereof he hath received upon his Change not only a will but a power having a new spiritual being infused into him 2 Cor. 5. 17. He lives a new life and hath in him a new Principle upon which follow new operations A new Principle not inbâ—ed Concupiscence but infused Grace New Operations or Fruits not those works of the Flesh Gal. 5. 19. But the Fruits of the Spirit v. 22. In which he now lives v. 25 and walking after it doth no longer fulfil the lusts of the Flesh v. 16. But dayly mortifies them more and more Col. 3. 5. Being thereunto assisted by a continual Supply of Grace from above John 15. 4 5. Which special assistance though Adam needed it not in his state of integrity being wholly void of Corruption yet the effectually-called by reason of the continual importunities and assaults of the Flesh can do nothing without it John 15. 5. Let it be withdrawn how weak is man David Peter and other of the Saints have â—ound the sad experience hereof My self unworthy to be numbred amongst them even while studying of this Parallel was taught to know the necessity of it Our endeavours in goodness are none unless stirred up and vain when stirred up unless he please to assist from above who worketh all our works in us and for us Isa 26. 12. Who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Obs Man effectually called hath a Will and Power to flee from sin He hath a Will Texâ—s Luke 15. 17 18. And when he came unto himself he said c. I will arise and go to my Father and say to him c. Make me as one of thine hired Servants John 6. 44. No man can come to me except the Father draw him Inst Peters Auditors being upon his Sermon pricked at their hearts said unto him and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do Acts 2. 37. The Jaylor upon his Conversion came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and said Sirs What must I do to be saved Acts 16. 29 30. He hath a Power to flee from sin Texts 1 Cor. 15. 10. Not I but the Grace of God which was with me 2 Cor. 6. 1. We as Workers together with him beseech you that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain Inst Timothy is commanded to â—lee youthful lusts 2 Tim. 2. 22. The Colossiâ—ns are exhorted to mortifie their earthly Members Col 3 5. Reas He is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. He hath a new spiritual being infused into his soul and with it new Powers and Faculties by which he is enabled to will and act according to that new life that is in him Gal. 5. 25. Use 1. Man is not able to change his own Will John 1. 13. 2. Be diligent in exercising of that Power wherewith thou art indued 2 Pet. 3. 18. 3. Pray for assisting Grace that thou mayest be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner
which he encreaseth by degrees 2 Cor. 10. 15. There is a passing on from strength to strength Psal 84. 7. Gods righteousness is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1. 7. And this improvement ought to be observed and may with ease be known First we are Babes 1 Pet. 2. 2. And so grow up observeably when grown towards perfection of Manhood in Christ Ephes 4. 13 14 16. Obs The effectually-called may discover and ought to observe how sin is weakned in them and how far they are improved in Grace Texts 2 Cor. 4. 16. Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor 6. 1. We beseech you that you receive not the Grace of God in vain Inst St. Paul counted himself not to be perfect not to have apprehended Phil. 3. 12 13. The Church of Thyatira is commended in that her last works were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. Reas 1. That they may be thankful to him by whom they are bettered Rom. 6. 17. 2 Thes 1. 3. 2. That they may be quickned to a further improvement Eph. 5. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 6. Use 1. There is no perfection here Sin may dayly be more weakned Grace more improved Phil. 3. 12. 2. Reach forth to those things that are before Phil. 3. 13. 3. Bless God for thine Improvement It is he that worketh in thee to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. 4. Fall not from thy first love Rev. 2 4. Resol I will go from strength to strength until I appear before my God in Zion Psal 84. 7. Ejac. Remember not O Lord the sinful barrenness of my Youth O grant that being now planted in thine House I may still bring forth fruit in mine age and that I may be fat and flourishing Psal 92. 13. 14. Paral. VIII Circ Looking back I saw a Gentleman who having stopped my Pursuer was beating of him Obs The Holy Spirit restrains Corruption in the effectually-Called ALthough I had made an escape and he who had brought me forth into a large place was pleased to make my way perfect to enlarge my steps under me that in my flight my Feet did not slip Psal 18. 32 36. And though I had gotten some way before my Apprehender yet he followed hard after me saying unto himself I will pursue I will evertake saying of my soul there is no help for him in God Psal 3. 2. God hath forsaken him I will persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71. 11. But behold as formerly enlargement so help unexpectedly did arise unto me from him who had commanded deliverances for me Psal 44. 4. He who at first had taken his hand off me did now withhold him and would not suffer him again to lay it upon me Such is the weakness of a Christian though effectually called that in the course of his life Corruption doth often captivate him Rom. 7. 23. and endeavours what in him lies to reduce and subject him again to the Dominion of Satan But in these his Assaults and prevailings yet here is our Comfort here our Help We have an High Priest who in all points was tempted like as we are though without sin and so is touched with a feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4. 15. Who in that himself hath suffered being tempted is able to succour those that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. And according to this his Power he doth succour them in time of need He takes off the edges and Points of whatsoever weapons are formed against them Isa 54. 17. He hath given his Angels charge over them to keep them in all their waies Psal 91. 11. He ever liveth to make Intercession for them and is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. He strengthens them with all might according to his Glorious power Col. 1. 11. He backs and encourageth them by his Spirit John 15. 26 He communicates his Victory unto them John 16. 33. He will shortly bruise Satan and their Corruption under their feet Rom. 16. 20. And through him that loves them they shall in the end be more than Conquerers Rom. 8. 37. Thus he that abideth under the shadow of the Almighty none evil shall befal him The Lord shall cover him with his Feathers he shall trust under his wings his Truth shall be his shield and buckler Psal 91. 1. 4. 10. Obs The Holy Spirit restrains Corruption in the effectually-Called Texts Psal 118. 13. Thou hast thrust fore at me that I might fall but the Lord helped me 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempâ—ed above that yeare able to bear but will with the temptation also make a way â—â— escape Inst. The Lord troubled the Egyptians and took off their Chariot-wheels that they drave them heavily Exod. 14. 24 25. Elisha said unto his Servant fear not for they that be with us are more then they that be with them c. And behold the Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of fire round about Elisha 2 Kings 6. 16 17. Reas 1. He knows we have to deal with a powerful enemy Eph. 6. 12. 2. He knows and pities our weakness Heb. 4 15. Use 1. The effectually called are weak unable of themselves to master their Corruption Rom. 7. 18. 2. Pity thy weak Brother when fallen and restore him in the spirit of meekness Gal. 6. 1. 3. Fear not thine enemy God is on thy side Rom. 8. 31. 4. Pray for assistance Exod. 17. 11. 5. Trust in God he will make perfect his strength in thy weakness 2 Cor. 12. 9. Resol I will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills whence cometh my help my help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Psal 121. 1 2. Ejac. Stand up for my help O Lord stop the way against them that persecute me Say unto my soul I am thy salvation Psal 35. 2 3. Paral. IX Circ The Gentleman beating of my Pursuer had pulled him down upon his knees by his long Hair Obs Upon effectual Calling the Spirit usually first weakens Corruption by taking the heart off from all Affected Vanities and Pleasures THE Hair too short is superstitious or servile too long the shameful shameless dotage of the Times as much unmanly 1 Cor. 11. 14. This of my Pursuer as before I look upon as a cautionary Item against that and all other Vanities and Pleasures whatsover With this about the hair amongst many in my younger years I was much transported at the time of my last happy unsettlement with others more prevailing But the great work being done my heart was wholly taken off from them and set upon those better things from which they had been too long too powerful avocations No man can serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. How can Gods Service but be neglected by him who serves his own pleasure 2 Tim. 3. 4. The tast of it dulls the souls Appetite
Faith to obtain pardon Isa 1. 16 17. 18. Use 1. Think on Gods goodness to thee Psal 145. 7. 8. 2. Do that which is so pâ—easing to thy good God Psal 51. 19. 3. There is Mercy for the truly penitent Prov. 28. 13. 4. Repent not thy repentance 2 Cor. 7. 10. 5. Beware of Impenitence it hardens the heart and treasures up wrath Rom. 2. 5. Resol I will go to my Father and say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son Luke 15. 18 19. Ejac. God be merciful to me a sinner Luke 18. 13. Paral. II. Circ I ran down a pair of stairs at the Savoy Entrance Obs The Lord gives unto his Children oblique Memento's of their sins O My most Gracious Lord how infinite hath thy Mercy been towards me Me so sinful a wretch so deserving of the full Vials of thy wrath to have been poured forth upon me in the extremity of thy Fury How much did my Lord Christ suffer for me How long did thy Patience wait for me What Pains hast thou taken to new-make me How have thy blessed Ministring Angels been troubled about me And yet since my reforming How often have I and yet do I grieve thy good Spirit wherewith thou hast sealed â—e unto the day of redemption Eph. 4. 30. Thy Memorial O Lord endureth for ever Psal 135. 13. The Memorial of the riches of thy goodness towards me As for my high Provocations against thee their memorial is perished with them For though I have made thee to serve with my sins and wearied thee with mine Iniquities yet thou hast blotted them out and wilt not remember them Isa 43. 25. However it is thy pleasure that the remembrance of them should continue with me The Descent and Place have a very significative though secret reference to this Observation which I do verily believe was of prime intention in the Visâ—on My Conscience cannot accuse me of any hainous sin there committed yet by them the Lord was pleased to put me in mind of those my former wayes whereof I am now ashamed Many such Monitors I had in my first distemper by which as by this I am dayly warned to look back upon my former life with blushing yet thankful reflexions Is it good unto God that he should oppress that he should despise the work of his hands Job 10. 3. God taketh not pleasure in afflicting of his humbled Children with unwelcome exprobrations yet he would have them to remember their sins To which end he is pleased by the by to mind them of them Thus he dealt with his people under the Law though their many Ceremonies seemed to promise an expiation of their sins yet they were rather tacit Memento's of them on Gods part and confessions of them on theirs and so are said to be against them Col. 2. 14. Thus with David Peter and others Thus now with my â—lf Upon a mans first Conversion if as he had with me he hath a Rock to break Jer. 23. 29. he usually in the Glass of the Law presents a wicked mans sins unto his eye and sets them in order before him in their true affrighting horrour and deformity to send him unto Christ Afterwards not so directly but oft times by certain gentle overtures and circumstantial Items The least hint is sufficient to the tender Conscience which he who is wise for his Soul will observe and ponder and therein understand the loving kindness of the Lord Psal 107. 43. Obs The Lord gives unto his Children oblique Memento's of their sins He gives them Memento's Texts Rom. 6. 19. As you have yielded your Members to Uncleanness and to Iniquity unto Iniquity So c. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you Inst The Ephesâ—ans are to remember what their condition was while Gentiles in the flesh Eph. 2. 11 12. The Colossians are put in mind that they had walked in heinous sins Col. 3. 7. He gives them oblique Memento's Texts Psal 51. 3. My sin is ever before me 1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a Father Inst Absalom after his murdering of his Brother Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 29. His presence was a constant remembrancer to David of his Murder of Uriah When he beheld Bathsheba he could not but call to mind what he had done to her Husband and to her self 2 Sam. 11 4 17. Christ by his thrice saying unto Peter Lovest thou me John 21. 15 16 17. put him in mind of his thrice denying of him Mat. 26. 70 72 74. Reas Why he gives them Memento's 1. That they may be ashamed of their sins Deuter. 9. 6 7. 2. That they may be thankful unto him who hath forgiven them 1 Tim. 1. 23 3. That they may not insult over others in their falls Tit. 3. 2 3. Reas Why oblique Memento's Because he is most unwilling to grieve them Lam. 3. 33. Use 1. Blush at the remembrance of thy Follies Rom. 6. 21. 2. Bless God that thou art freed from thy former â—lavery Rom. 9. 17. 3. Speak evil of no man but shew all Meekness to all men remember what thou thy self hast been T it 3. 2 3. 4. Take notâ—ce of and glorifie God in the sweetness of his Mercy to thee Psal 34. 8. Resol It is of thy great Mercy O Lord that thou hast given me warning I will think on my ways and turn my feet into thy Testimonies Psal 119. 59. Ejac. Though thou causest grief yet wilt thou have Compassion according to the multitude of thy Mercies For thou dost not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of men Lam. 3. 32 33. Paral. III. Circ The Stairs delivered me on to a square Brick-Building left imperfect having Beams and Jyces laid ready for a Floor and Second Story Obs The Church of Christ is aptly resembled by a square Brick-Building c. GRace begun in the Soul may well for many of the reasons following be meant by this Resemblance as I understood it in my first general Interpretation of the Vision However upon more mature thoughts I now look upon it as chiefly pointing out the Church whereunto by humiliation and Faith the effectually called are initiated The Church in Scripture is set forth by several similitudes As by 1 An Army in Battelarray Caâ—â— 6. 4. In respect Of its General Obedience Order Terribleness Preparedness to encounter the Enemy c. 2. A Kings Daughter Psal 45. 13. In respect Of Her high Extract from Heaven Her Beauty Inward being glorious in the sincerity of her Graces Outward in her Rich Attire As to Order External Performances c. 3. A City Psal 122. 3. In respect Of Unity Laws Priviledges c. 4. A Flock of sheep Acts 20. 28. In respect Of Meekness Innocency The Necessity of a Shepherd to watch it Feed it 5. A Vine Psal 80. 8. In respect Of Fruitfulness Pruning Weakness c. 6. A Body Eph. 5. 30. In respect Of Life
particular perswasion in the soul of the Believer that his sins are pardoned and that God accepts of him as righteous in his Son Who By his Passive Obedience having undergone what we had deserved hath reconciled us unto his Father Col. 1. 21 22. And By his Active Obedience having fulfilled the Law for us this his Righteousness being imputed unto us we by and for it are reputed righteous and so are justified in the sight of God Isaiah 53. 11. Which Faith though it be the alone Instrument of Justification Rom. 3. 28. yet it works by Love in whomsoever it is Gal. 5. 6. From which it cannot be separated Because the Soul by Faith apprehending God as the Author of its Salvation by Christ cannot but with Love answer so great a Mercy Luke 7. 47. Because by Faith the heart is purified Acts 15. 9. Which without Love it cannot be Because the faithful have a just Title unto Heaven John 3. 36. Which without Love they cannot have This Faith at first is but weak Mat. 6. 30. Yet where there is A Desire of Union with Christ Phil. 3. 9. A Longing after the Word as its spiritual Food 1 Pet. 2. 2. A Cleansing of the soul from sin Acts 15 9. True Love towards God 1 John 4. 19 and towards his Children 1 John 5. 1. It is unquestionably true Faith which Gathering strength by degrees Rom 1. 17. grows up dayly towards a fulness of Perswasion Rom. 4. 21. Being furthered in the way thereunto By the Spirit assisting 1 John 2. 27. By stedfastness in the Faith Eph. 4. 14. By the Word 1 Pet. 2. 2. By the Sacrament John 6. 56. With John 15. 5. By Prayer Luke 17. 5. Obs Upon Effectual Calling Faith is necessarily required as the only Instrumental Means to unite the Soul unto Christ Texts John 15 4 5. Abide in me and I in you c. For without me ye can do nothing 1 John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath Life Inst Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to perform Rom. 4. 20 21. Paul counted all things but â—â—ung that he might win Christ and be found in him not having his own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by Faith Phil. 3. 8 9. Reas 1. Without Faith we cannot partake of that Redemption which Christ hath wrought for us Eph. 1. 7. 2. Without Faith we are not justified Rom. 5. 1. Not adopted John 1. 12. We cannot be saved 1 Pet. 1. 9. 3. They who by Faith abide in Christ and he in them bring forth much Fruit John 15. 5. 4. They who abide not in Christ are fruitless branches fit only for the fire John 15. 6. Use 1. By Faith man is justified without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3. 28. 2. Get assurance that thou art united unto Christ 1 John 3. 24. 3. There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 1. 4. They who by Faith are united unto Christ are sure to have their Prayers granted John 15 7. 5. Pray that thy Faith may be encreased Luke 17. 5. 6. All Unbeleevers and temporary Beleevers are excluded from partaking in the Benefits of Christ John 3. 36. Rom. 11. 22. Resol Thou who hast begun the good work wilt perform it until the day of thine appearing Phil. 1. 6. I will therefore with a conâ—ident assurance look unto and wait upon thee O my Lord Christ for the perfecting of my Faith who art the Author and finisher of it Heb. 12 2. Ejâ—c Lord I beleeve help thou mine Unbeleef Mark 9. 24. Paral. VI. Circ Attempting to get down into the Building upon my Perswasion of being there secured from my Pursuer I was strongly opposed by men within it who thrust at me with an Halberd c. Obs The Souls Enemies upon Effectual Calling are most violent against its Faith I Was now upon the building and for my security was resolved to get down into it but met with strong opposition from those within it My resolution proceeded from my fear My Perswasion of safety there to be had was my Faith and this was it that mine enemies so violently opposed Faith is the souls chief defence under Christ Eph. 6. 16. It is the Soul's Life Heb. 10 38. If Satan can overthrow this the Soul sinks with it This he thrust sore at in Peter but he was assisted by Christ's Prayer for him Luke 22. 32. In Christ who beat him off with It is written Mat. 4. 3 4. So teaching us how to defend our selves Our Adversary chuseth out the most piercing and deadly of his â—iery darts which with all his force he casts against the faith of the effectually called upon his change Charging him Thon art an hainous sinner and therefore caâ—st not have faith This fiery dart is quenched with It is written Though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as Wool Isa 1. 18. But thou art an inveterate sinner This is quenched with It is written Lazarus was raised though he had lyen in the grave four dayes until he stank Luke 11. 39 44. But thou art Gods enemy whom he hates This is quenched with It is written And you that were alienated and enemies yet now hath he reconciled Col. 1. 21. But all thy sins are not pardoned such and such are still upon the Score This is quenched with It is written He will cast all our sins into the depths of the Sea Mich 7. 19. But thou hast no share in the obedience of Christ This is quenched with It is written Christ it made unto us of his Father Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1 30. But thou art still blind in spiritual things This is quenched with It is written The path of the Just is as the shining Light that shineth more unto the perfect day Proverbs 4. 18. And these his endeavours to over throw our Faith though not with the like violence as upon effectual Calling yet are continued against it through our whole Lives Somtimes he chargeth it with Barrenness This fiery dart is quenched with It is written Walk in Christ stablished in the faith Col. 2. 7. Fruitfulness will follow where faith is stedfast Somtimes he would perswade us that we have no Faith because we are under the effects of Gods displeasure This is quenched with It is written That the Son of his Love yet cried out My God! why hast thou forsaken me Mat 27. 46. Gods favour and the effects of his wrath may consist together Rev. 3. 19. Somtimes in that our Faith doth not encrease This is quenched with It is written The Seed springs and grows up the Husbandman knows not how Mark 4. 27. Somtimes he chargeth with hainous sins of
late commission as inconsistent with Faith This is quenched with It is written I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luke 22. 32. Thus by his Example hath our great Captain instructed us how to use the Sword of the Spirit at the point whereof if we keep our enemy though his Assaults be never so violent against our Faith yet he shall not be able to overthrow it Obs The Souls Enemies upon effectual calling are most violent against its Faith Texts 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the Faith Rev. 12 12. Wo to the Inhabiters of the earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth he hath but a short time Inst The evil Spirit being charged by Christ to come out of the young man and to enter no more into him cried and rent him sore and came out of him Mat. 9. 25 26. The Dragon stood before the Woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child assoon as it was born Rev. 12. 4. Reas 1. His Hatred of God whose Glory upon mans effectuall calling and Adoption being much enlarged Eph. 16. He endeavours what in him lyes to hinder it 2. His Pride he would have all to be his Subjects even Christ himself Mat. 4. 9. 3. His Malice against Mankind which he seeks to devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. 4. His Envy at the Joy of the Blessed Angels who rejoyce at the conversion and repentance of a sinner Luke 15. 7. Use 1. Be not entangled in the affairs of this life otherwise thou wilt be unfit for the spiritual Warfare 2 Tim. 2. 4. 2. Be sober and watchful 1 Pet. 5. 8. 3. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might Eph. 6. 10. 4. Put on the whole Armour of God that thou maist be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil Eph. 6. 11. 5. Be stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5. 9. 6. Call to God for Help Eph. 6. 18. Resol I will take unto me the Shield of Faith wherewith I shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Eph. 6. 16. Ejac. O my most dear Lord Christ Thou knowest what it is to be tempted Mat. 4. 3. c. Thou art able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. O teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight Psal 144. 1. Communicate thy Victory unto me and then through thee who hast loved me I shall be more than Conqueror Rom. 8. 37. Paral. VII Circ Getting down into the Building in despight of mine Opposers they presently dis-appeared Obs The Souls Enemies resisted with Courage will flee away IN War it is no mean Point of wisdom in a General before he engage to consider the strength of the Enemy whether with his Troops he be able to encounter him if not that a Treaty and Terms of Peace may in time be propounded Luke 14 31 32. Had I had this respite and freedom yet these mine enemies were such as with whom a covenant of Peace was not to be expected but upon Nahash's dishonourable conditions to have put out the right eye of my Faith which they with such violence opposed 1 Sam. 4. 2. But I was in a great straight and had no time to parly I fled from a Lion and a Bear met me Amos 5. 19. I fled from the Egyptians the proud Waves were ready to overwhelm me Exod. 14. 2 10. My Pursuer was behind me these mine Opposers before me who having the advantage of Number Arms place did thrust â—orely at me How was it then that I prevailed against them to put them to flight The Lord fought for me He who at the Prison Gate had rescued me had stopped my Pursuer when following of me was pleased still to carry on the work and in the greatness of his excellency to overthrow those who rose up against me Exod. 15. 7. The Holy Spirit is the Power of God Luke 24. 49. and it is a Glorious Power Col. 1. 11. Glorious carrying alwayes with it an assurance of victory where it assisteth Rom. 8. 37. It were not Glorious if overpowered by any Glorious in perfecting his own strength in mans weakness 2 Cor. 12. 9. It doth not immediatly of it self confound our Adversaries but enables weak sinful man to master Principalities Powers spiritual Wickednesses and to get the Victory over their most violent Assaults With this his Glorious Power the Lord doth strengthen all his Servants and it is derived unto them By Christ's Donation John 16. 7. By his Intercession John 14. 16. Do thou make God thy Refuge and the most High thine Habitation and in thy greatest Straits thou shalt not want this Helper who will so protect that none evil shall befall thee and so encourage that undaunted thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder and shalt trample the young Lion and Dragon under feet The Lord will be with thee in trouble and deliver thee and shew thee his Salvation Psal 91. 9 10 13 15 16. Obs The Souls Enemies resisted with courage will flee away Texts Luke 4. 13. And when the Devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season Jam. 4. 7. Resist the Devil and he will slee from you Inst Christ though strongly assaulted by Satan yet ovâ—râ—ame him and drave him away Maâ— 4. 11. St. Paul was enabled by the sufficiency of Gods Grace though not to remove yet to master the Messenger of Satan that was sent to buffet him 2 Cor. 12. 7 9. Reas 1. They are overpowered by the assistance of the Spirit Eph. 3. 6. 2. They withdraw that they may return upon the greater advantage Mat. 12. 45. Use 1. Give God the Glory of thy Victory over whatsoever temptation Psal 115. 1. 2. Have Faith in Chrisâ—'s Victory John 16. 33. 3. Oppose them with courage 1 Cor. 13. 16. 4. Stand continually upon thy Guard they will return Mat. 12 44. 5. If they prevail over thee it is thine own fault Jam. 1. 14. Overcome thy self and thou hast overcome them Resol Thou hast given me the shield of thy Salvation thou hast girded me with strength by thee I have run through a Troop and leaped over a Wall Thou art my God my strength in whom I will trust Psal 18. 2. 29 32. 35. Ejac. Lâ—t God arise and mine enemies shall be scattered and they that hate me shall â—lee before me and as smoak shall be driven away at his Presence Psal 68. 1 2. Paral. VIII Circ The Duties in General to be performed after Effectual Calling Obs As for all other Mercies so especially for Soul-deliverances God expects that man should be thankful THE best are unworthy of the least of all Gods Mercies Gen. 32. 10. Yet for his Children the Lord hath Tender Mercies Psal 25. 6. Great Mercies 2 Sam. 24. 14. Very great Mercies 1 Chron.
delivered from the wrath to come 1 Thessal 1. 9 10. Reas 1. They are justified and so at peace with God Rom. 5. 1. 2. They are true lovers of God and there â—s no fear in Love 1 John 4. 18. 3. They are partakers of the first Resurrection and so assured that the second death shall have no power over them Rev. 20. 6. Use 1. Sin being forgiven the punishment is removed Jer. 31. 34. Pardon is a not imputing the fault unto punishment 2. Get assurance that thou art justified Two principal grounds of this Assurance are Peace in the Soul Rom. 5. 1. An holy Life Rom. 6. 22. 3. Be sure that thou truly lovest God 1 John 2. 5. 4. Beware of security Fear Gods Temporal wrath Heb. 12. 28 29. Resol Being freed from all fear arising from the Spirit of Bondage and having received the spirit of Adoption which beareth witness with my spirit that I am thy Son I will confidently yet with humble reverencâ— come unto thy Throne of Grace and cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15 16. Ejac. My Love is yet but weak Lord so perfect it that all fear being cast ouâ— I may here without fear serve thee in holiness and righteousness and may have boldness in the Day of Judgment 1 John 4. 17 18. Paral. XI Circ I cast mine eye to the Top of the Tower Obs The effectually-Called are to set their Affections upon Heavenly things THE Lord washeth away the silth of the Daughter of Zion by the Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning At and from the Prison until set in the Tower the Spirit of Judgment wrought At the Prison gate I was made sensible what I had deserved and was liable unto The sense of my danger begat fear in me Fear putting me on to seek out for a means to escape brought me to Humiliation Humiliation with Fear and Faith brought me to Christ the Foundation of the Building Being now in him the Spirit of Burning began to work in the Tower For having Removed the Love of the world that my heart might be free to the love of Heavenly things And Banished my Fear that with Confidence and Chearfulness I might affect them By its heat it sweetly warmed and enflamed my heart with a sense and love of and desire after them By its light having first by the reward encouraged and quickned me to all diligence in the way to attain them It directed me to and in that way It discovered unto me those secret way layers whom I was to keep a watchful eye over Faith the soul's eye beholding these things though but darkly saith there are precious things laid up above Heb. 11. 1. Hope the souls Ankor as yet but weakly fastned upon the Promises of these things saith they are laid up for me Heb. 6. 18 19. Love the yet feeble feet of the Soul longing for them saith I run that I may obtain them Phil. 3. 14. The Souls eye is cleared by abounding in Grace 2 Pet. 1. 9. Her Ankor becomes more sure and stedfast by being fixed upon the immutability of Gods Counsel and his Oath Heb. 6. 17. Her feeble knee are strengthened and she is quickned in her pace by assurance that in those precious things she shall have Fulness of satisfaction and Perpetuity of enjoyment Which two things although the ancient Philosophers in their diligent search after the chief good could never find them in any worldly thing Yet they are to be had in God and in the enjoyment of him In his Presence is fulness of joy at his right hand pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. God then is to be the principal Object of our Love which For the manner of it must be A love of good will we must love him for himself Mat. 22. 37. A love of Union longing for the enjoyment of him Psal 42. 1. A love of delight taking pleasure In his Service Psal 122. 1. In his Children Psal 16. 3. For the measure of it it must be with all the heart soul mind strength Luke 10. 27. The utmost power of the whole soul must be employed in it We must do what we are able with a Will to do more if we were able His Greatness Psal 113 6. Our Meanness Rom. 9. 11. His preventing us with his love 1 John 4. 10. The greatness of it John 3. 13. It s Freeness Eph 2. 4 5. Our Unworthiness Rom. 5. 10. should quicken us thereunto And we may then assure our selves that we do love him when We are obedient unto his Will John 14. 23. And when We beat his rod with Patience 1 Cor. 13. 4. Obs The effectually Called are to set their Affections upon heavenly things Texts Phil. 3. 20. Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Col. 3. 1 2. If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth Iâ—st Aâ—raham looked for a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11. 10. David longing after God saith Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73. 25. Reas 1. They alone are satisfying and lasting Psalm 16. 11. 2. Thou art risen with Christ and so endued with a power to affect them Col. 3. 1. 3. Christ thine Head is above sitting at the right hand of God Col. 3. 2. Where should the Members be but with their Head Use 1. First seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof Mat. 6. 33. 2. Put thy power in execution wherewith by vertue of Christ's Resurrection thou art endued Rom. 6. 4. 3. Imitate Christ he being risen ascended into Heaven Rom. 6. 5. 4. Long to be with him thine Head Psal 1. 23. Resol My Treasure is in Heaven there shall my heart be Mat. 6. 21. There my Conversation Phil. 3. 20. Ejac. As the Hart panteth after the Water-Brook so panteth my soul after thee O God Psalm 42 1. Paral. XII Circ I cast mine eye up to the Top of the Tower where my sight was limited by a Cloudy Resemblance Obs God hath an invisible Paradise to reward his Servants which in his Service they may have a respect unto GOD is immense and cannot be consined to place 1 Kings 8. 27. However his chief residence is in Heaven above the Clouds above the stars Job 22. 12. Where he holdeth back the face of his Throne by spreading his Cloud upon it Job 26. 9. The semi-Atheist though denying the workings of his Providence over man yet acknowledgeth this Job 22. 13 14. And thither the Disciples knew and by the Angels were assured Acts 1. 11. that Christ was ascended though by reason of the intercepting cloud they could follow him no further with the eye Acts 1. 9 10 11. The heart of the effectually-Called being taken off from the world and freed from the fear of Hell is now
this Office by the Lord of the Family Luke 12. 42. A sharp Appetite 1 Pet. 2. 2. A Stomack purg'd from the clogging humours of sin 1 Pet. 2. 1. Improvement in all Grace is compared by St. Paul to the Fruitfulness of a Tree Col. 1. 10. To this universal Fruitfulness is required Seed in the soul disposing to such Fruitfulness Gal. 5. 22. Plentiful juyce or nourishment Psal 1. 3. Purging or pruning John 15. 2. Improvement by degrees is by our Saviour compared to the growth of Grain Mark 4. 26 27. To this is required A good soyl Luke 8. 15. Dews Rain and Influence from above 1 Cor. 3 7. Perseverance in Grace is compared by St Paul to a Race Phil. 3. 13 14. To this is required as there A Consideration of the richness of of the Price Fixing the eye upon the Mark of Perfection to which we must run Eph. 4. 13. An only serious and hearty minding of this A forgetting of our good deeds which are behind A reaching forth and pressing forward to the utmost of our power A careful shunning of the by-waies Of soft effeminatâ—ness or yielding upon a slight temptation 1 Cor. 6. 9. Of perverse stubbornness wilfully persisting in Error 2 Tim. 3. 8. Thus as St. Peter adviseth 2 Pet. 1. 5 c. the effectually-Called are with diligence to add to their Faith in which is included Hope as its life-blood Charity and so they have the three Theological Graces To these they are to add the four Cardinal or Mother-Vertues to which all other do refer namely Vertue or Fortitude a Branch whereof is Patience Knowledge or Prudence Temperance And Justice rendring To God his due in Godliness To our Neighbour his in Brotherly kindness Having these they have the whole Gold-Chain of Graces that precious Chain of the Spouses neck wherewith she ravished the heart of Christ her Beloved Cant. 4. 9. Which being in them and abounding will assure them of their effectual Calling and Election and doing of them they shall never fall but an entrance shall be ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Obs The Effectually-Called are to grow in all Grace by degrees and to persevere therein They are to grow in Grace Texts 2 Cor. 10. 15. Having Hope when your Faith is en creased Rom. 5. 13. The God of Hope fill you with all joy that ye may abound in hope Inst He that had received the five Talents traded with them and made them other five Talents Mat. 25. 16. The Church in Thyatira is commended because her last works were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. They are to grow in all Grace Texâ—s 2 Pet. 3. 18. Grow in Grace Col. 1. 10. Being fruitful in every good work Inst The Ephesians are to grow up in Christ in all things Eph. 4. 15. Paul prayes that the Thessalonians may be sanctified wholly 1 Thes 5. 23. They are to grow by degrees Texts Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day 2 Cor. 4. 16. Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Inst He that delights in the Law of the Lord c. He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season Psal 1. 3. The good hearer that with an honest and good heart hears the Word keeps it and brings forth fruit with patience Luke 8. 15. They are to persevere therein Texts Ezek. 18. 24. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth Iniquity in his sin that he hath sinned he shall dye Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodness of God towards thee if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Inst Paul finished his course and kept the Faith 2 Tim. 4. 7. The Angel of the Church of Smyrna with the Members thereof have a Crown of life promised upon their faithfulness to the death Rev. 2. 10 Reas For growing in Grace 1. There is food enough in thy Fathers House that thou maist grow Luke 15. 17. 2. Thou must aim at Perfection Phil. 3. 12. 3. Not to go forward is to go backward Rev. 2. 4. Reas For growing in all Grace 1. Gods Command 2 Pet. 3. 18. 2. The Seed of the Spirit disposeth to such fruitfulness Gal. 5. 22. Reas For growing by degrees 1. God will have man to wait upon him Phil. 1. 6. 2. Preproperous hast discovers want of Faith Isa 28. 16. Christians too hasty are rootless and will fall away in the day of temptation Luke 8. 13. Reas For persevering therein 1. Without Perseverance we cannot partake of Christs Benefits Col. 1. 23. 2. We are as much as in us lies to strive to proportion our Work to the reward which will continue for ever 1 Pet. 1. 4. 3. Without Perseverance we cannot be saved Mat. 24. 13. 4. They who want this mark shall be â—lain without pity Ezek 9. 5 6. Use 1. Get an assurance that thou hast the Spirit that maketh fruitful and is known by its Fruits Gal. 5. 22. 2. Let thine obedience be Universal Psal 119. 6. 3. Bear afflictions patiently by them thou art pruned that thou maist bring forth more Fruitâ— John 15. 2. 4. Think on the rich Price Phil. 3. 14. 5. Pray unto God to perfect thee and trust him upon his Promise Phil. 1. 6. 6. Fall not from thy first love Rev. 2. 4. 7. The wicked sloathful and unprofitable Servant shall be cast into utter darkness Mat. 25. 30. Resol I will strive to be fruitful in every good work and to encrease in the knowledge of God so shall I walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing Col. 1. 10. and continue stedfast in the Faith 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. Ejac. Thou O Lord who hast called me art faithful and wilt do it O sanctifie me wholly and let ' my whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of my Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23 24. Paral. XIV Circ I observed men under the Scaffolds as lurking there to hinder those that would ascend Obs Our spiritual Enemies are to be watched with diligence lest they hinder us in our Improvement in Grace BY the Assistance of that Mighty Power backing me in my Descent into the Building one would think mine enemies had been sufficiently baffled and discouraged Yet here they are ready again if not with violence to oppose yet subtilly to supplant Though the serpents head be broken yet if possible he will bruise the heel Gen. 3. 15. When he first set upon our Great Captain he shewed himself a bold Asâ—ailant who would not be beaten off with one or two Repulses Mat. 4. 8. He hath not his Name of Beelzebub for nothing This great flesh-fly for so the Word signifies flap him away as often as you will yet will light on again Before at the Building he assaulted
Love to God Active Love brings forth Obedience John 14. 23. Passive Love brings forth Patience 1 Cor. 13. 4. This arms a Christian against that evil that is upon him as Fortitude arms him against evil invading of him It s Object is Afflictions to which it hath a double respect To their weight To their continuance And we have great need of it Heb. 10. 36. as for other reasons so especially in reference to all other Graces Which being the Materials of the spiritual Building in the soul 1 Cor. 3. 9. to which that I referred that at the Savoy though chiefly pointing ouâ—â—he Church I erred not in the Interpretation Faith in Christ is their Foundation Patience their Roof Faith gives them firmness Mat. 7. 14 15. Patience gives them continuance Rom. 2. 7. Faith strengthens them against the storms of afflictions that they fall not Patience shelters them from the storms that they decay not And it will the better be able thus to secure them when it hath its perfect work Jam. 1. 4. Which it then hath When we suffer for righteousness sake Mat. 5. 10. When we glory in afflictions not in the Object of our Patience which both by weight and continuance causeth grief Heb. 12. 11 Yet In its Act Heb. 10. 34. In its Fruit Heb. 12. 11. In its end 2 Cor. 4. 17. When which is the Ridge of the Roof so perfectly and entirely compleating the Building that nothing is wanting Jam. 1. 4. we endure and faint not under them Jam. 5 11. And now when it pleaseth our Father to lay afflictions upon us why should we not thus bear them Knowing That we suffer not alone 1 Pet. 5. 9. That our afflictions are discoveries of our Fathers Love Rev. 3. 19. That it is an high honour to suffer for Christ Acts 5. 41. That they will be a means to better us Heb 12. 11. That they shall not long continue upon us 1 Pet. 5 10. That our Father will support us under them 1 Cor. 10. 13. That their end shall be Glory Matth. 5. 10. As the water ebbs so it flows Gods Children may somtimes have their Intervals of Comfort some respite from the Rod. Psal 30. 5. But the Tide will turn again When it doth and the Rod is upon thee bear it as thou art directed with an humble and silent submission unto thy Fathers hand Psal 39. 9. And so according to Samsons Riddle thou shalt fetch meat out of the eater and out of the strong sweetness Judges 14. 14. Obs Each true Member of the Church in his way to Heaven must expect Afflictions and prepare himself with patience to undergo them He must expect â—fflâ—ctions Texts Acts 14. â—2 We must thâ—ough much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom or God 2 Tim. 3 12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution Inst. David was plagued all the day long and chastened every morning Psal 73 14. Christ â—els the Sons of Zebâ—dee that they shall drink of his Cup and be bapâ—ized with his Baptism Mat. 20. 23. He must prepare himself with Patience Texts â—am 58 Bâ— patiâ—nt stablâ—sh your hearts for the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh Iuk 21 19 In your Patience postless yâ— your souls Inst The Angel of the Chuâ—ch of Ephâ—sus with thâ— Members thereof are commended in that they had born and had patience and for Christ's Name sake had laboured and had not faintâ—d Râ—v â— 3. Paul took pleaâ—ure in Infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ s sake 2 Cor 2 â—0 Reas Why God afflicts his Children 1. For Chastisement to manifest his Justice Psal 89. 30. 2. For Trial and for the exercise of their Graces 1 Pet. 1. 7. 3. That they may be conformable unto Christ in his Sufferings Phil. 3. 10. 4. That God may bâ— glorified 1 Pet. 4. 14. 5. That their râ—ward may be â—nlarged 2 Cor. 4 17. 6. That it may appear that they serve God not for temporal things Job 2. 3. Reas Why they must prepare themselves with patience 1. Otherwise they cannot continue in well-doing Rom. 2. 7. 2. Otherwise Satan will get possession of the Soul Luke 21. 9. 3. Patienâ—e will overcome their enemies Jud. 8. 3. 4. It will make their enemies their Servants to wreath a Crown of Glory for them Mat 5. 10. Use 1. Look not for a life of Pleasure John 16. 33. The way to Heaven is strowed with thorns Hos 2. 6. 2. They are Bastards not Sons who are without Chastisement Heb. 12. 8. 3. Keep possession of thy soul Luke 21. 19. 4. Despise not Gods Rod neither faint under it Heb. 12. 5. 5. Let Patience have its perfect work Jam. 1. 4. Resol I will glory in Tribulations knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto me Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Ejac. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1. 12. Rev. 5. 13. Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unâ—o him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever AMEN To all those that fear God SAint Paul blushed not to acknowledge to the world that he had been a Blasphemer a Persecuter injurious 1 Tim. 1. 13. That he had been foolish disobedient Deceived serving divers Lusts and Pleasures living in Malice Envy Hatred T it 3. 3. That he had been a Child of Wrath That his Conversation among others the Children of disobedience had been in the Lusts of the Flesh fulfilling the desires thereof Eph. 2. 3. And indeed why should he The yet guilty soul may have its Face filled with shame But that which is renewed by the Holy Spirit though as to it self it will upon their remembrance have secret Blushings Yet need not as to others be cast down for any former sins from which the Lord Christ hath washed it in his Blood It is now cleansed and Innocency and Purity are alwaies accompanied with an holy Confidence With such I now tell you my Brethren who I am assured will glorifie God in me for the Glory of the riches of whose Grace I now publish this that the wayes of the former part of my life were so far from being according to Gods wayes that more truly then that blessed Saint who out of the lowliness of his Spirit and sincerity of his Repentance and to magnifie Gods exceeding Grace towards him was willing to aggravate his sins I may say I am the chief of sinners For I could add to his summe charged upon himself thousands of Talents many many heinouâ— sins committed with an high hand of long continuance which may justly give me the priority In Sin I have the precedence O Lord thou knowest the groanings of my spirit O that
a carnal carking crafty solicitous wisdom Or as St. James sets it down Jam. 3. 15. It is an earthly sensual devilish wisdom But ours must be of another temper and otherwise qualified it must be pure peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of Mercy full of good fruits without partiality without hypocrisie Such is the true wisdom that descendeth from above Such let us labour to attain Motives Our Lord Christ exhorts us earnestly to get it Prov. 4. 5. It is worth our having being of inestimable value Prov 3. 15. It is a main Part of Gods Image Col. 3. 10. Without it we walk in darkness Prov. 4. 19. It never comes empty handed but brings with it long life wealth honour Prov 3. 16. It preserves a man and keeps him from evil Prov. 2. 11 12. It is rewarded with a Glorious Inheritance Prov. 3. Ult. If these have any power with us we will with all diligence seek after it Means The Means to attain it are To disclaim our own wisdom We must become Fools that we may be wise 1 Cor. 3. 18. To submet our selves to the Instruction of Christ our great Counseller Isa 9. 6. In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Col. 2. 3. To submit our selves to the guidance of his Spirit which he hath promised shall teach us all things John 14. 26. To ask it by fervent Prayer of God who gives it liberally Jam. 1. 5. Being furnished with this we shall be the better able to decline the folly of sin which otherwise even the best of Gods people are subject unto which is The second Branch of the Point viz. Branch 2. That Gods own people may be and are too often overtaken with and fall into the folly of sin Where 1. Of their Relation and Character 2. Of their Weakness Partic. 1. Their Relation is set down in those words his People But are not all men the Lords People by right of Creation of Conservation Have they not their Being from him And doth not he support them in that their Being They are and have Yea the Jews were the Lords People by Choyce out of all Nations Deut. 4. 2. By many extraordinary Priviledges Rom. 9. 4 5. Which were denied to all other Pople Psal 147. 20. Yet beyond all this there is a certain number of people whom the Lord owns in a more special manner in whom he hath a special and peculiar Propriety They shall be mine Mal 3. 17. Thine they are John 17. 9. These they are so the Lords People as they are exclusively his excludiâ—g all others whom in this Relation the Lord takes noticâ— of All are his people as they are his Creatures The Jews were his People as they were his Subjects But these are his People in the greatest nearness that can be as Friends as Sons as Members as Partakers of his Divine Nature Pet. 1. 4. Now this his special propriety and owning of them the Lord is pleased by certain Titles and Favours of extraordinary love toward them to manifest in his Word They are called His hidden ones Psal 83. 3. His known ones 2 Tim. 2. 19. His peculiar people Tit. 2. 14. His peculiar Treasure Psal 35. 4. His Jâ—wels Mal. 3. 17. A people near unto him Psal 1â—8 14. His beloved ones Col. 3. 12. His accepted chosen predestinated adopted ones Eph. 1. 4 5. For whom he reserves a Kingdom Luke 12. 32. But how shall it be known who these are The Psalmist gives us here in the Text an infallible Character of them they are the Saints his people and his Saints The word Saint signifies holy There is an holiness by Faith and an holiness by Obedience By Faith Saints and faithful Brethren Col. 1. 2. By Obedience Psal 50. 5. Gather my Saints together that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice by the Sacrifice of themselves and their Wills to me in their obedience which is better then all Sacrifices 1 Sam. 22. 10. That give up themselves souls and bodies as a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God in their reasonable Service of him Rom. 12. 1. These two must go together and indeed they cannot well be parted the one being as the eye of the Soul the other as the hand In vain doth the eye direct where there is not an hand to work and as vain is it for the hand to set it self to work without an eye to direct Obedience without Faith is blind and Faith without Obedience is dead but joyn them together and that man that is thus holy truly faithful and truly obedient he is the true Saint and the Lord owns such and only such for his people Use 1. For a man then to be baptized and to make an outward Profession of the Faith of Christ this is not enough to make him a true Saint It is true St. Paul by his own example in Col. 1. 2. hath taught us to judge of all that are baptized and do make an outward Profession of the Faith to judge and hope of them according to the Rule of Charity and unless their notorious wicked lives do manifest the contrary to esteem them to be Saints Notwithstanding without all question many thou ands are baptized and are Christians by Profession who are far from being Saints and ever shall be Neither is it enough to make a true Saint for a man by vow to dedicate and give up himself to the Service of God as all do in their Baptism For are there not many sacrilegious wretches who though they have so done yet rob God of what by vow they have given unto him treacherously deserting of him and giving themselves up to the service of the Devil the World and their own corrupt Flesh Neither doth a man presently become a Saint assoon as he is admitted a Member of a Gathered Church As to their sincerity they may still be Hypocrites and as to holiness of life the practises of some of them after their immembring have been so abominable as I have been certainly informed by those whom I dare believe that that Proverb may well be taken up against them There are but few Saints in the Church when the Devil carries the Holy Water Much less is it enough to make a true Saint to be Canonized at Rome and have a day assigned in the Calendar Doubtless there are many in their Register whom the Lord will never number amongst his Saints No it is only true Faith and true Obedience that makes a true Saint Use 2. Are the Saints the Lords people Here let us take notice of that high dignity and those extraordinary priviledges to which the Saints are advanced and admitted They are the Lords people he owns them as his peculiar treasure and by such his owning they are interessed in all the Blessings all the Promises contained in the Word temporal spiritual eternal Their Priviledges are so many they cannot be numbred so precious they cannot be sufficiently valued Take a few by
way of Instance by which you may judge of the choyceness Priviledges of Saints and preciousness of the rest The Lord is their King Rev. 15. 3. He keeps their feet from falling 1 Sam. 2. 9. He preserves their Souls Psal 97. 10. He preserves them for ever Psal 37. 28. Their death is precious in his sight Psal 116. 15. He will spare them Mal. 3. 17. The Lord Christ prayes for them John 17. 9. The Holy Spirit prayes for them Rom. 8. 27. God admits them into the number of his Children 1 John 3. 1. And being so they have Him their Father The Church their Mother The Lord Christ their Brother Kings and Queens their Nurses The Holy Spirit their Tutor The Angels their Guardians All the Creatures their servants The Bread of life their Food Christ's Righteousness their Cloathing Heaven their Palace A Kingdom of Glory their Inheritance Such many many such Priviledges have the Lords People Such Honour have all his Saints Use 3. Doth the Lord own those only for his people who are true Saints true believers truly obedient Let us labour to gain an assurance to our selves that we are such and then we may confidently build upon it that we are Gods people That you may know whether you have true Faith take these three Marks of true Marks of Faith Faith in stead of many 1. True Faith is accompanied with a sweet peace in the soul arising from the assurance that our sins are pardoned and Christ's Righteousness made ours Being justified by Faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. 2. True Faith purifies the heart Acts 15. 9. He that hath true Faith will still be cleansing himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7. 1. 3. True Faith where it is begets love towards God appâ—â—hending him as the Chief Good Hence the faithful have this Character in Scripture that they are lovers of God Rom 8. 28. It stirs up likewise love unto all Gods Children as bearing his Image 1 John 5. 1. That you may know whether your Obedience Marks of Obed. be true or not take these Marks of true Obedience True Obedience prefers Gods Will before our own or any Commands of men Acts 4. 19. 2. True Obedience is universal unto all and every part of Gods Will Psal 119. 6. 3. True Obedience is alwayes accompanied with fear of offending God Heb. 12. 28. 4. It is sincere and hearty Rom. 6. 17. 5. It is zealous in good duties Tit. 2. 14. Now examine thy self by these Marks Hast thou true peace in thy soul Dost thou strive to cleanse thy soul from sin Dost thou love God and his Children Thou hast true Faith Dost thou prefer Gods Will before thine own or before mans Hast thou a respect to all his Will Art thou afraid to offend him Art thou sincere and zealous in the Service of him Thine Obedience is true And thy Faith and thine Obedience being true thou art a true Saint thou art of the number of Gods people and interessed in all those Priviledges which belong unto them Use 4. Doth the Lord own the Saints for his people Let wicked men take heed how they despise them how they oppress vex and persecute them The Lord whose they are is very tender over them They who touch them touch the Apple of his eye Zech. 2. 8. They that persecute them persecute Christ himself Acts 9. 4. They who vex and persecute them vex and persecute those who shall be their Judges 1 Cor. 6. 2. Who shall one day wash their feet in their blood Psal 58. 10. and shall break them in pieces as a Potters Vessel Rev. 2. 27. Not by way of avenging of themselves that belongs not to them but in approving of the just Sentence of Christ against them and rejoycing in the justness of that Vengeance which according to that Sentence they shall see exâ—cuted upon them at that day when the great Judge of the world will be so far from owning such as dye in their Infidelity and disobedience that he will deny them before his Father and the holy Angels Mat. 10. 33. Use last This may serve much for the Comfort of all Gods truly Faithful obedient servants and keep their spirits under the worlds Contempt and Despight What though the World hate and reject them and count them as the Off scowring of all things Yet the Lord owns them they are his people and so interessed in those sweet Promises and high Priviledges wherein they that hate them shall not be sharers Here likewise the Lords People to their exceeding Comfort may as St. Peter adviseth 2 Pet. 1. 10. make their Calling and Election sure For thus they may argue upon Infallible Grounds If I am a Saint whereof by my true Faith and Obedience I am assured then am I effectually called For I am what I was called to be Rom. 1. 7. If I am a Saint then I am sure I am elected For I am what I was elected unto Eph. 1. 4. If I am elected then I am predestinated to Glory and shall most certainly enjoy it For he that elected me predestinated me Eph. 1. 4. And whom he predestinated them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8. 30. In his eternal Decree which in his good time he will most certainly accomplish From hence I say may the Lords people draw exceeding Comfort However these sweet Comforts of theirs cannot but be much allayed by their sense of their weakness and frailty For though they are Saints though the Lord ownes them for his People yet are they subject unto sin and are prevailed over by it and fall into the Folly of it Which is the next Particular in this Second Branch of the Point Partic. 2. That the Lords own people his Saints may and do fall into the Folly of sin This is clear from the Text they could not turn again to it unless formerly fallen into it Which is the present sad condition they are now in guilty of the folly of some hainous sins for which they under-lye the sharp sense of Gods high displeasure I do not say that they live or walk in sin as do the Children of disobedience but they may and do fall into it and that often seven times a day Prov. 24 16. In many things Jam. 3. 2. And many many wayes By Omission Commission Ignorance Forgetfulness Infirmity by sinning against knowledge Motions Checks Vows Promises Blessings Patience Chastisements Mercies Judgments by Rashness Inconsiderateness Inconstancy Negligence Beside their other-mens-sins whereof they become guilty by Commanding Exhorting Provoking Conâ—enting Commending Concealing Conniving Parâ—aking Defending not Reproving and other wayes That this is a most certain and sad truth is evident by those many â—xâ—mples of the Lords own people and Saints recorded in the Scripâ—ure who have been thus overtaken and thus fallen and some of them
go near unto the Saints when labouring under the burâ—en of sin they seek for him whom their soul loveth and he is gone and not to be found This this stâ—ikes deep and makes a wide gash and wound in the Soul Yet this is not all the misery the Lords pâ—ople find and feel when fallen inâ—o the folly of heinous sins For beside this of losse they undergo 2. The fear of wrath another smarting wound upon the soul Wrath or Vengeance or Punishmâ—nt follow sin as the shadow doth the body A wicked world called for a deluge of water Gen. 6. 5. The loud crying and grievous sins of Sodom and Gomorrah fetched fire and brimstone from Heaven upon them Gen 18 20. 19. 24. Job by a question sets it beyond all doubt oâ— dispute that destruction is to the wicked and a strange punishment to the workers of Iniquity Job 31. 3. Evil saith the Psalmist shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him Psal 140. 11. It follows a wicked man upon the sent like a Bloud hound and shall never leave till it overtake him And the Saints know that the Lord is just that though he delights not in the destruction or punishment of his Creature yet he delights in his Justice according to which punishment is executed upon sinners They know that God who is the God of Order suffers nothing to be out of order and therefore that he will bring their sins which in themselves are nothing but Aâ—axy and disorder that he will bring them into order by punishment By sin they have run out and broken out of the order of his Mercy and now they cannot but fear that he will force them into the order of his Justice For there is no respect of persons with him but every soul that doth evil must expect tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 9. Thus in the former wound of losse God hides his face from them and now in this they are as ready to flee from and hide themselves from him For though the eternal and secret bond of his Love of good will depending upon their Election cannot be broken Yet that of Friendship which depends upon Faith and Holiness as to sense and exercise is for the time dissolved So that while thâ—y continue in their sins God deals with them as with enemies and they cannot apprehend him under any other Notion then as an incensed provoked God Nor can they look for any thing from him but the dreadful effects of enmity and wrath Thus they are not only troubled with the hiding of his face from them but they likewise suffer his terrors with a troubled mind being in a manner distracted under them and cut off by them while his fierce wrath goeth over them Psal 88. 14 15 16. Ob. But if the Lord deal thus with his people Saints how doth he spare them as he promiseth Mal. 3. 17. Are these the effects of his Fatherly pity towards them Answ I answer The Lord deals thus with them for their good his punishments are unto them medicinal â—e wounds them for the health of their souls he hides himself from them That they may know what it is to want him That they mourn for his absence That being lost they may seek him with the more diligence and having found him May prize his presence May cleave more closely unto him May take heed how they lose him again He makes them sensible of his wrath That they may the more detest and more warily shun the folly of sin for the time to come which drew his wrath upon them That they may set the higher esteem upon their Peace when he hath spoken it unto their souls Use 1. Here then we may have a guesse at the infinite sufferings of the Lord Christ which in his soul he underwent for sinful man For doth the Lord deal thus sharply with his people and Saints to lay load upon them to wound them to hide himself from them to affright them with terrors and that but for some few sins it may be but for one or two What then did the King of Saints himself in our Nature undergo when he had the weight of the sins of an whole woâ—ld lying heavy upon him when he was wounded for thâ— transgressions of an whole world of sinners When in his Agony in the Garden he sweat many great drops of blood When on the Crosse his Father had so hid his Face from him upon the Divinities momentany withdrawing the sense of its support from the Manhood that he cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me When he had such a true sense of his Fathers wrath due to man for sin that he might well take up those words of his Prophet Lam. 1. 12. O all you that passe by behold and see if ever sorrow were like unto my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce wrath Did he undergo thus much for us Let not us then think any thing too bitter or sharp which we may undergo for him or for our own sins Alas our woundings are but gentle stroakings to what our Lord Christ suffered who is pleased in wounding of his people to conform them in some measure to his own sufferings that afterwards they may reign with him in Glory Rom 8. 17. Use 2. When therefore you see any of the Lords people in this distressed condition labouring and languishing under the burden of their sins passe not your censures upon them rashly as if they were distempered and beside themselves but know That they are under Gods sore pressing hand that he hath wounded them for the health of their Souls that he hath cast them into the hot Furnace of his fiery indignation that being purged and purified from the drosse they may come forth like refined Gold fit to make Vessels of honour for himself Use 3. Here let us be taught to walk warily to work out our salvation with fear and trembling to serve our God with fear and trembling to serve our God with reverence and godly fear knowing that he is a consuming fire and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God Use 4. Doth the Lord deal thus severely with his people and Saints when fallen into the folly of heinous sins to raise such tempests in their souls Yet let them not when brought low under his heavy hand despair of Mercy The Lord is pleased somtimes to bring his own people even to the brink of despair as I could instance in a Gentlewoman I suppose the Grand-mother to a Family of good note and worth in Essex I had the Relation from a true servant of God who at that time or not long after lived in the Family And therefore I do confidently believe it and so set it down for a known truth This Gentlewoman labouring under the burden of her sins had so far cast away all hope of Mercy that having a pure Venice-Glass in her hand in
God himself So St. Paul aggravates his sins calling himself the chief of sinners That he that had been so bred and knew so much that he should be such a cruel Persecuter and Blasphemer O I have sinned against knowledge Mercies Patience Chastisements Vows Promises Means Motions Checks after this manner doth the soul aggravate its sinful Follies in its Confession 5. In true Confession there will be shame A Saint will blush in secret to think that his soul which Christ hath married to himself in righteousness should be so polluted and defiled What fruit had you then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed Rom. 6. 21. Sin is alwaies attended with shame either with a reproachful shame from others or a penitent shame in secret or a confounding shame in the end Some indeed are so hardned that as Jeremy speaks Jer. 3. 3. They have Whores Forheads and refuse to be ashamed But the truly penitent soul in its Confession acknowledgeth with Daniel Dan. 9. 7. That righteousness belongeth unto God but unto us Confusion of Face because we have sinned against him 6. Lastly In true Confession there will be an acknowledgment of our unworthiness Jacobs Language is I am not worthy of the least of all thy Mercies Gen. 32. 10. The Prodigals I am not worthy to be called thy Son Luke 15. 21. St. Pauls I am not meet to be called an Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 9. The soul casts it self low at the Foot-stool of God with humble thoughts of it self The confessing Penitent calling himself dust and ashes with Abraham a worm with David a dog with the Syro-Phenician thinking that he never keeps distance enough or is low enough in his Acknowledgments Act 2. The second Act of true Repentance is sorrow for sin This with the next of hatred of sin is included in the word rending which the Prophet Joel useth alluding therein to the practise of the Jews who did use to rend their Garments upon the sight or hearing of any sad or loathsom thing as Jacob did for the loss of his Son Joseph Gen. 37. 34. and the High Priest at the supposed Blasphemy of Christ when he said he was the Son of God Mat. 27. 65. Wouldst thou then have thy wounded soul recovered and thy lost Peace restored rend thine heart in unfaigned sorrow for thy sinful Follies Sorrow in it self is a grief of the mind arising froâ— a mans suffering by that which he abhors as hurtful to him In relation to sin it is twofold Vâ—cious Sorrow And Godly Sorrow The first hath only respect to that punishment which sin hath deserved Such was that in Cain in Judas and is in many wicked men who have somtimes a kind of sorrow and remorse but it is not so much for the sin it self or indeed not at all for â—hat but in respect of that punishment whereunto by sin they have made themselves liable Such doubtless is in the Damned in Hell who are grieved for the punishment which they feel but not for the sâ—n â—hat dâ—served it The second namely Godly â—orrow is such as is in the Lords people upon their Repentance after their Falls Which may have a subordinate respect unto the punishment unto the wrath of God who is a consuming fire as St. Pauls exhortation thereupon makes it clear Heb. 12. ult And so likewise his perswading of men upon his knowledge of the Terrors of the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 11. But the principal Object which godly sorrow hath a prime and special respect unto is the offence against God as it is a violation of and transgression against his most holy Will O the Saint of the Lord grieves and mourns in his soul that by his Follies he hath offended his good God his loving Father so gentle so merciful so gracious so patient so slow to anger so ready to pardon This goes near him this doth exceedingly afflict him Though it may be the temper of his Body is such that not a Tear fals from his eye yet he would willingly if he could that his heart should weep tears of Bloud for those his sinful Follies whereby he hath provoked such a God such a tender and loving Father This Sorrow is known to be true and unfaigned by those six effects of Godly Sorrow which the Apostle sets down 2 Cor. 7. 11. Which are Marks 1. Carefulness 2. Indignation 3. Fear 4. Zeal 5. Desire 6. Revenge The Apostle there adds a Seventh Effect of the godly Sorrow in the Corinthians which he cals defending or clearing of themselves in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies defence which I conceive was an act pâ—oper only unto them in reference to the incâ—stuous persons sin which they by way of defence cleared themselves of as not being guilty of approving thereof much less of glorying therein as they are charged and so cannot be taken in as a constant Mark of true godly sorrow in whomsoever 1. Then True sorrow for sin makes a man careful to shun all sin for the time to come especially that or those late Follies wherewith he was overtaken He will with all wariness shun the occasions which may draw him again into it He that hath once fallen into a dangerous Pit and is escaped out of it will take heed how he comes near the Brink of it again The sorrowful Soul will not only be shy of known sins which he knows to be such but he will abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes 5. â—2 If he hath but the least suspition of it he carefully declines and avoyds it 2. The Second Effect is Indignation which in it self is a grief at the prosperity of those whom we think unworthy of it In reference to sin it is a mixture of grief and anger against a mans own Corruption that it should so prevail over him and enslave him that he should be compassed about with such a body of death from which he knows not which way to be delivered Such a mixture of Passion was doubtless in St. Paul stirring against his cross Flesh or Corruption that warred against the Law of his mind and was still at his Elbow and present with hâ—m to hinder him in doing good and to put him on to do that which he hated his indignation was â—o stirred against it that he cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death What a wretched condition am I in Is there no way for me to be freed from it Rom. 7. 24. 3. True sorrow for sin is fearful of falling again The Saint of God upon his Follies which he now bewayles is made sensiâ—le of his own weakness he hath fallen and may again and therefore he walks in continual fear He knows his carnal part is as treacherous as ever and the Devil as malicious against him as ever and his Assaults as violent and he knows not how soon the Lord may leave him to himself and then in what case he shall
performed the Office of a Schoolmaster to drive them to Christ and now it is become their Coâ—nsellor Psal 119. 24. It ceaseth to be a Rod but continuâ—s to be a Rule according to which they are to walk and when they err from this Rule thâ—y sin and it may be fall into gross hâ—inouâ— scandalous sins whereof the soul being convâ—cted and bâ—come sensiblâ— of what thereby it hath desâ—rved it becomes perplexâ—d and unsetled and depâ—ived â—or the time of its â—nward peace for the regaining whereof there is none other way but by true repentance and Faith in Christ applying the Promises of Pardon in and through him made unto poor sinners in the Word Usâ— 2. Here the sin burdened soul coming to God for Peace is directed how its Humiliation and Repentance is to be qualifiâ—d For it is not enough to confess sin but there must be a godly sorâ—ow for sin an hearty detestation of sin with fixed reâ—olutions against it and for better obâ—dience Unless all these go together its repentance is imperfect and defectâ—ve and will rather provoke the Loâ—d to further wrath then pâ—evail with him for Peace Neither will Repentance alone be sufficient but Faith must go along wâ—â—h it which is so nâ—cessary that it must make way fâ—r the accâ—ptance oâ— the Sacrifice of our broken hearts for sin Without it â—ll our Confessions our â—ears our Resolvings will be in vain For without Faith it is impossible that we or any thing we do should please God Heb. 11. 6. Without it we cannot be justâ—fiâ—d and if not justified there is no peace to be had Rom 5. 1. 3. Thâ— Lord only knows how soon some of his own pâ—ople may be brought inâ—o this sad condition to lye groaniâ—g and languishâ—ng under the Burden of a wounded spiâ—it â—oâ— their sinful follâ—es Whosoever is or may be in this case let me exhort them with all speed to hasten to this only Soveraign Remedy for the recovery of their souls and regaining of their lost Peace Break rend thine heart change thy mind confess bewayl detest resolve against thy Follies and upon better Obedience Apply unto thy Soul the precious Promises of pardon by true Faith in Christ Perform these duties heartily and as near as thou canst punctually in every particular and then set open every passage of thy soul to let in that sweet and exceeding Comfort which will certainly follow in the Lords speaking peace unto thee whâ—ch is the 2 Branch of the Point Branch 2. That when the Lords people and Saints do turn from their folly of sin by true Repentance and Faith in Christ the Lord in his good time will most certainly speak peace unto them The sinner hatâ— had experience what the sad effects are of the folly of sin disturbances unsettlements perplexities wounds Now he is about to find and feel the comfortable effects of Grace and holâ—ness For having by true Repentance and Faith in Christ turned from the wayes of sinful Folly into the wayes of Holiness and true spiritual wisdom he finds in them a sweet settlement of his soul and restoring of his Peace all the wayes of wisdom are such Prov. â— 17. that is the wayes of Christ of Grace of Holiness they are all peace and full of Comfort Now the Loâ—d is making good unto the truly humbled and faithful Soul what he pâ—omiseth Isa 54. 7 8. With great Mercy he is gathering of it which for a moment he had forsaken and though in a littlâ— wrath he had hid his face from it for a moment yet now in speaking of peace unto it he is about to make it truly sensible of his everlasting kindness wherewith he hath mercy upon it giving unto it beauty for ashes the Oâ—l of Joy for Mourning and the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heavâ—ness Isa 61. 3. While the Soul was under the pain of its smarting wounds gasping for peace and settlement it bewayled its condition in the Prophet Jeremy's words Jer. 8. 22. Is there no Balm in Gilead Is there no Physician there But now it may forbear its mourning and change it into Songs of Joy For behold the great Physitian of the Soul with healing under his wings is present and vouchsafes to put to his own hand to bind up the broken heart Isa 61. 1. And for the perfecting of the Cure to heal it and bind up its wounds Psal 147. 3. He will speak peace unto it He will extend peace unto it as a River Isa 66. 12. Which River divides it self into two streams or Currents 2 Partic. In the Nature of this Peace And In the Certainty of this Peace 1. For the Nature of this Peace it is A Peace of Love Peace twofold A Peace of Joy For the Lord who for a moment had in a little wrath hâ—d his face from the sinner now returns unto his soul As a Friend As a Guest or Inhabitant As a Friend banishing all fear of Enmity and Wrath. As an Inhabitant by his sweet Presence dispelling the late sad apprehensions of losse Thus the â—ouls great Physitian skilfully applyes unto each wound its proper healing Salve perfecting the cure Of the wound of Enmity by the Union of Love Of the wound of Losse by the Comfort of his Presence 1. The Lord speaks peace unto the truly penitent and faithful soul in the Union of Love in raising an assurance therein that he is become its Friend To have the great Lord of Heaven and Earth whose Vassals the greatest Princes are to have him to stoop so low as to admit a poor sinner to that high dignity to be his Friend and so to be esteemed and used by him this must needs cause a sweet peace and settlement in the Soul The Father of the Faithful is honoured with this Title Isa 41. 8. And Christ gives the same to all the obedient Sons of his Faith Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you John 15. 14. Where you see that Obedience to Christ's Commands amongst which true Faith is one as they make a man a true Saint as I have other where shewed and so of the number of the Lords People so they bring him to that nearness of intimacy to be his Friend And what it is to have God our Friend see briefly in these Particulars Friends as near as they can will live together The Lord dwells with the humble and contrite heart Isa 57. 15. Friends communicate their Counsels to each other The Lords secrets and Covenant are with his Friends Psal 2â— 14. All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you my Friends John 15. 15. Friends communicate their goods to each other So the Lord all things to his friends He affrords them his Truth for their security his love for their Comfort his Power for their protection his Wisdom for their direction All that is in Christ is theirs his Love Graces Merits The Holy Ghost is their Comforter teacheth them
guides them into all Truth seals the Promises unto them is the Pledge of their â—nheritance The Angels are appointed to guard them to minister for them Heb. 1. 14. They are afforded a free use of the Creatures for necessity for delight 1 Tim. 4. 3. All things are theirs 1 Cor 3. 22. Friends deny no lawful thing to each other The Lord grants all the lawful Requests of his friends John 15. 16. Friends rejoyce in the prosperity of each other The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants and friends Psal 35. 27. Friends suffer with one another The Lord accounts the sufferings of his friends as his own Zechariah 2. 8. Acts 9. 4. Friends do sometimes reprove one another Psal 141. 5. The Lord by his gentle rod doth smite and admonish his friends for their good Heb. 12. 6. There is such a near Union between Friends by reason of that Love which is between them that they are as it were half of each other as if but one soul did animate them A Friend is alâ—er idem another self So there is such a near Union between God and his friends that they are partakers of his Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. He dwels in them and they in him 1 John 3. 24. Now to have God thus to be our Friend the sense of this must necessarily be a sweet-settlement to the soul and fill it with abundance of Peace He who is assured that God is his friend fears not the enmity of all the world Let him be with us it matters not who is against us If he be for us who can be against us Rom. 8 31. 2. This Peace which the Lord speaks to the truly penitent and faithful soul it is a peace oâ— Joy and Comfort They that mourn shall becom◠〈◊〉 Mat. 5. 4. They that sow in tears shall reap in Joy Psal 126 5. This Peace of Joy it consists in the Presence of God of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the soul The languishing soul was wounded with the apprehension of the losse of God which wound he now bindâ— up with the assurance of his Presence which cannot but raise exceeding Joy and Comfort in the soul To know that God is not our enemy is some settlement to the soul but more to be assured that he is our Friend Yet more that he is a friend nâ—gh unto us Psal 34. 18. But in that he is pleased to come so nâ—gh as to be our familiar Friend to dwell with us and in us to make the humble soul his Palace his Heaven his constant Habitation Isa 57. 15. This must needs revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the Contrite In this Presence of God in the soul and the assurance thereof with those other sweet Consequences depending thereupon doth consist that unutterable inconceiveable Peace which passeth all understanding Phil. 4. 7. A Glimpse whereof however the Spirit is pleased to afford us where it sets it soâ—th to us under the similitude of a conâ—inual Fâ—ast Prov. 15. 15. At a gâ—eat Feast there is provision usually made of whatsoâ—ver may pleâ—â—e the sense a richly hung and furnished Room to entertain the Eye Musick for the ear Peâ—sâ—mâ—s for the Smâ—ll all sorts of Dainties the Land Sea Ayr afford for the Fast soft Seats and sine Lâ—nnen for the touch which doth exceedingly cheer the Spirit for the present though it be but of short continuance How then must the soul be ravished with inconceiveable Joy to enjoy this in a spiritual manner and that continually within it self Where the Room is garnished with Grace and perfumed with Christ's Merits Where God and Christ and the Spirit are both the Guests and the Food where the Angels are Attendants and Cherubims and Seraphâ—ms the Choristers and Musitians What shall the Saints enjoy more in Heaven it self as to their souls but this begun happiness in a full accomplishment When for Faith they shall see face to face and for hope shall fully and satisfiedly enjoy and for imperfect Love shall perfectly and for ever love this great Feast-maker and Feast-continuer in the soul even the God of Peace and Prince of Peace and Spirit of Peace who thus upon their unfaigned Humiliation and Faith doth and will fill the souls of his People and Saints with Peace And that most certainly there is not the least question or doubt to be moved but that he will do it Which is The next Particular to be spoken to Partic. 2. That the Lord in his good time will most certainly speak peace unto the Soul He will speak peace unto his people and Saints This Certainty I ground upon a threefold Reason that the Lord will nay cannot but speak peace unto the truly penitent and faithful soul Reas 1. Because by its humiliation it s now become a spiritual vacuum or emptiness and so is fitly prepared and put into a capacity for the entertainment of Gods Favour in speaking peace unto it That which is full cannot receive another body but that which is voyd and empty may Now as it is in natural things Nature cannot endure a vacuity or emptiness but to avoyd such an Inconvenience doth ordinarily force bodies against their nature to fill it up So the Lord suffers not a spâ—ritual emptiness in the humble heart but sends a River of heavenly peace and comfort to fill it This Reason I confess is not so forcing But in respect of the other two which follow let me speak with all due reverence of his dreadful Majesty a kind of necessity lies upon God to speak peace to the truly humbled and faithful soul 2. Therefore God cannot but speak peace unto it because he hath given it such a prevayling power over himself I cannot do any thing till thou art come to Zoar. It is the Lords speech to Lot when about to destroy Sodom and the rest of the Cities Gen. 19. 22. to Moses likewise Let me alone Exod. 32 10. So to Jacob Let me go Gen. 32. 4. As if these Saints of his had so over-powered God and held his hands that he could not do what otherwise he would So the humbled and faithful soul may in reference to that power which the Lord hath given it over himself and to which he is pleased to submit his own Almightiness being conscious to it self of its unfaigned humiliation and faith in the Promises of the Gospel it may with an holy boldness say unto God I will not let thee alone I will not let thee go until thou speak peace unto my soul In respect of this power it was that David entitled the 51 Psalm wherein is set forth his Repentance and Faith Vincenti or provictoria To the Conqueror or for the Victory Because he was assured that the Lord would not despise Despise Nay could not but accept of the Sacrifice of his broken heart for his sins being offered up upon the Altar Christ 3. The Lord cannot but speak peace unto the humbled and
5. Thou hast long mourned and gasped for peace Wouldst thou be sure that it is spoken unto thee thou maist know whether it be or not by these discoveries Marks 1. There will be by degrees an improvement in thy knowledge of spiritual things The eyes of thine understanding will be more and more enlightned thou wilt be more acquainted with the secrets of God and with his Covenant Psal 25. 14. And thou wilt find a clearer manifestation of Christ in thy soul John 14. 21. 2. Thou wilt walk more chearfully uprightly more firmly and stedfastly in the wayes of God The Holy Spirit will stablish and uphold thee Psal 51. 12. It will set thee in the way of his steps v. ult of this 85th Psal Or as the old Translation hath it it shall direct thy going in the way 3. If the Lord hath spoken peace unto thee thou wilt exceedingly rejoyce in this Mercy there will follow an exulting and triumphing in the soul as here beneath in the Text Mercy and Truth are met together The Soul will say with Joy I was under the sad effects of Gods Justice but the Lord in Justice hath remembred Mercy Mercy and Truth are met together and Mercy hath gotten the upper hand Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other The Lord hath looked upon my sincerity in my humiliation he hath looked upon the Righteousness of the Lord Christ which in the Promises I have made mine by a particular application and thereupon hath embraced me with Peace and filled me with all sweet manifestations of his Love Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other 4. There will follow a forwardness in teaching of others and winning them unto God a teaching of Gods wayes unto the wicked that sinners may be converred unto him Psal 51. 13. An acquainting them with what the now setled and recovered soul hath experimentally found the danger of the Folly of sin the Lords readiness to forgive it and to speak peace upon a sinners true Repentance and Faith in Christ To acquaint them with his faithfulness and Justice how faithful he is in performing of his Promises how Just in requiring no more of a poor sinner having accepted the Lord Christs satisfaction for his sins Such I have found him and such you will find him if you will make Trial and do as I have done Thus the sinner that hath now peace spoken to his soul endeavours to perswade others and to convert others by his own experience of Gods mercy in speaking peace unto him 5. Upon peace spoken there will â—ollow in the soul a great enlargement of its love towards God Much was forgiven her for she loved much Luke 7. 4. To hear that comfortable speech in the soul Thy sins are forgiven thee it may be heinous often repeated exceedingly aggravated yet to hear These thy sins are forgiven thee the soul cannot but with all dearness of affection answer such a Mercy The Lords way to wash away the filth of the Daughters of Zion is by the Spirit of Judgment and by the spirit of Burning Isa â— 4. By the spirit of Judgment he wounds the Soul and brings it low for its filth and follies of sin And after upon its true humiliation and Faith speaking peace unto it by the spirit of burning he heats and enflames it with a true sense and exceeding love of his Goodness and Mercy towards it 6. There will follow true thankfulness where peace is once-spoken When the soul haâ—h found â—he Lord thus gracious and merciful in delivering it from its disturbances in curing of its wounds and speaking peace unto it as it will break forth into free proâ—essions of its love and say I love the Lord because he hath dealt so and so with me Psal 16. 1. So it will proceed to a quid retribuam What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me v. 12. And because it can find nothing else to render but Praise and Obedience it will give him the glory of his Mercy by â—elling those that fear him what he hath done for â—t Psal 66. 6. And in lieu of its Mercy it will give up its self with its body as a living sacrifice unto him in its reasonable serving of him Rom. 12. 1. 7. Lastly Where Peace is spoken to the soul and the Lord is again united to it in love there will be an earnest desire of a nearer union with him To this end as there will be a careful shunning of whatsoever may dissolve this Union principally under that Notion as it may cause a separation between God and the soul so there will be a diligent use of all Means which may bring him nearer to us and us to him Eâ—pecially there will be an earnest longing â—or the full enjoyment of him in Heaven there will be a desiring to be with Christ which is best of all a wishing for the day of his appearing and the hastning thereof Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev 2. 20. Thus you have heard how the Lord upon the unfaigned humiliation of his people and their Faith in Christ will in his good time most certainly speak peace unto them for the resetling and recovery of their disturbed and wounded Spirits Who now would not hear such a God who would hear any other but him Who would not be very slâ—y lest he again provoke him Which is the Doct 3. That when the Lord upon their unfaigned Humâ—atâ—on and Faith speaks peace unto his people and Saâ—nâ—s they are to hear him and him alone And Peace being spoken they are to be very wary how they turn again unto â—olly This Point hath two Branches 1. That in speaking peace unto the Soul God the Lord alone is to be heard 2. That peace being spoken his People and Saints ought to be very wary how they turn again unto folly The first Branch That in speaking peace unto the unsetled and wounded soul God the Lord alone is to be heard When the Lords people are labâ—uring and languishing under his heavy hand under those fore mentioned smarting wounds of Loss of wrath the Devil useth all his skill to bring them if possibly he may to despair of Mercy and Peace When he finds that he cannot prevail that way but that the Lord doth still uphold the Soul though under a weighty burden he sets on the World which he hath at his Command to offer them Peace and that very freely and liberally to give it unto them without any conditions proviso's or reservations and he secretly suggests unto the carnal part that peace and settlement is there to be had and perswades them to accept of it The world comes and makes a very free tender of it And at the same time the Lord he offers Peace likewise but upon condition that they must humble themselves by true repentance for their â—ollies and must by Faith apply unto themselves the Promises of Pardon and peace made unto
The Only SOVEREIGN SALVE FOR THE Wounded Spirit Approved by the Author in himself Delivered by him in several Sermons after his Recovery And now Published for the Glory of his most Gracious Restorer and for the Comfort and Settlement of any Afflicted Soul that doth or may labour under that weighty Burden By Richard Wortley Minister of Christ in his Church in Edworth in Bedfordshire This is a Faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1. 15. LONDON Printed for J. Rothwel at the Fountain in Goldsmths Row in Cheapside 1661. To the Reader Courteous Reader ST Paul who had the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7 40. having by and from that Spirit assured us 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. that all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God that it is profitable for Doctrine Reproof Correction Instruction that the man of God may be perfect throughâ—â— furnished unto all good works 〈…〉 16. That â—â— Gospel is the power of God unto Salvatioâ—◠〈…〉 â—e that believeth â—pon the Spirit 's such assurance by him I do rely with â—â—sidence And as in my soul I do believe the Scripâ—â—â—es to be the very Word of God so as I boldly may 〈◊〉 ought taking heâ—d unto that sure Word of Proâ—â—ie 2 Pet. 1. 19. I do teach the Truths which there I â—â— as Parts of that inspired powerful perfecting and â—very good work throughly-furnishing Word not â—ting to seek further or to wait for the revelation of â—â— Truths not there set down lest I be found in the â—â—mber of the blasphemous adders thereunto and so beâ—â—e liable to that fearful punishment threatned against â—â—h Rev. 22. 18. Moses and the Prophets are to be heard Lu. 16. 29 The Scriptures are to be searched John 5. 39. However sinâ— as the natural man cannot aâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ings wanting a spiritual eye to discern 〈…〉 â—evealed unto them 1 Cor. 2. 14. â—â— the â—â—generate though diligent hearers and searchers cannot clearly discern them unless revealed unto them Luke 24. 45. The Lord is pleased in such a measure as he sees fitting to give unto them the Spirit of wisdoâ— and revelation in the knowledge of him and to enlighten the eyes of their understandings Eph. 1. 17 18. and by the spirit of Truth to guid them into all needful Truths as he hath promised John 16. 13. This ordinary way of the Spâ—rit of Truth 's enlightening to the glory of the same Spirit I speak it I have experimentally found in my soul from the time that with a total resignation I have given my self up to bâ—led by it Which further to encouâ—â—◠〈…〉 a confident and chearful going on in the service of my Lord Christ in his Ministry hath lateâ—◠〈◊〉 an extraordinary and not so usual a 〈…〉 most unworthy dust and ashes of so low 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—cention of my great God! been pleased not only to assure me That I have escaped the Corruption that is in the world through Lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. A blessed and most sweet assurance but likewise Clearly to manifest unto me The dangerous estate of the Natural man while such The manner of the great work of his Conversion To instruct me in the right understanding of many Scripture-truths relating thereunto To shew unto me and to all that are effectually called the path of life and by way of guiding of my steps to Heaven-ward secrâ—tly to say unto my soul this is the way walk in iâ— Isa 30. 21. Of which great Mercies with soâ—e other vouchsafed to him not worthy to be beloved not worthy to be minded this following Narration will more fully inform thee The Narration IN my younger years being bred up in the University and having taken a Degree there I was admitted into one of the Inns of Court Where having spent about two years Means now failing for my support and continuance in that course I was received into the Family of an Honourable Personage mine Employments being in the way of a Scholar as to write Letters to read Divinity to pen Sermons to pray with the Family in the Chaplains absence c. It pleased God so to dispose the heart of the Honourable Governour toward me that great secular preferments were endeavoured for me But none of them succeeding I was at length by Mandate from his then Majesty procured by the means of that Noble Personage replanted into my old Nursery a Fellow of a Colledge there I yearly payd mine acknowledgment by attendance where I had received so much Favour the good will and endeavour of worldly preferments for me still continuing One at last was freely offered unto me of such a nature as I most desired with visible almost certainties of great wealth and temporal advancement had it been accepted but Providence had otherwise disposed of me For when upon the offer my answer of acceptance was expected I was surprized with a sudden amazement and standing silent like a Statue had not one word to speak by way of acknowledgment of mine own unworthiness or of the greatness of the intended Favour much less to express my ready acceptance thereof and due thankfulness for it and so for some time continuing was dismissed for the present and within shorttime after became a stranger to those Relations Having after this as I esteemed it unhappy rejection spent some years in the Colledge vainly and idly enough God knows it was the Lords pleasure to transplant me into his Church abroad And having by a remarkable manuduction brought me unto the Living which I now hold he was pleased at my first enâ—rance by a great though not total distemper in the right use of my Reason to break and fit me in some measure for his Service there and to prepare the way for that great Work which he had to do many years after I could here tell thee how in that distemper God did set me before my self aâ—ter a strange manner presenting to my view my hainous sins to that time and shewing me how many deaths I had deserved by them But I have acknowledged and humbled my self for them unto him who hath graciously assured me of his Pardon Upon my recovery I had some good motiâ—ns and faint stirrings in my soul toward God and Goodness which so long I had forgotten and indeed flighted My first Subject which I handled was the broken heart Psal 51. 17. The way which I should have taken but neglecting it the work was not throughly wrought Though I proceeded so far as to a just restitution as near as I could call to mind where I had wronged any and I remember the fâ—ax begâ—n to smoak in some weak dislike often stiâ—ring in my heart against those sins in which formerly I hâ—d livâ—d and wherewith it was over-run and I began by degrees to break off from them I had now continued at my Living five or six years or more when I do not remember that the day before or