not good Eph. 4.19 3. If we find in our selves the grace of God as well as the remainders of Corruption we may conclude that notwithstanding our infirmities we are born again As for instance if we find that God hath given us hearts to love himself and to love one another this love is a grace of God and a manifest token that we are born again 1 Joh. 4.7 Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God 5. Crucifying the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof is a good evidence of a saving interest Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts For the understanding of this Scripture we must enquire what is meant by Flesh what by the affections of the flesh what by the lusts and what by Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts By the flesh is not meant the body but the corruption of our natures the works of the flesh spoken of ver 19.20 21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance c. They that are Christs Crucifie these works of the flesh By the affections are meant sinfull affections when we set our affections on things unlawfull and when we set our affections inordinately on things that are lawfull all inordinate affections are to be mortified Col. 3.5 Mortifie your Members which are on the earth inordinate affections As for natural affections when kept in due bounds they are not to be Crucified for it is no virtue but a great degree of degeneracy to be without natural affection Such as are without natural affection are not reckoned among the Saints but among the chief of Sinners Rom. 1.31 Without understanding Covenant breakers without natural affection By lusts understand the inclinations of the heart unto evil things 1 Cor. 10.6 Now these are our Examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted Now to Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts is to mortifie our corrupt natures with the works that proceed from it and not only to mortifie the works of the flesh but all inordinate affections and all lustings after evil things it is opposed to living after the flesh which will bring eternal death and is inconsistent with the grace of God and an interest in Christ Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live To Crucifie the flesh with the lusts and affectious is to dye to sin to put all our sins to Death a Metaphor taken from the Jews putting Christ to Death let us therefore consider what the Jews did to Christ when they Crucified him and see whether we have done the like to our sins and thereby we shall know whether we have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts 1. When the Jews Crucified Christ they found him out and had a token given to them whereby they should know him Joh 18.2 Judas which betrayed him knew the place Mat. 26.48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he hold him fast So they that have Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections have gotten the knowledge of their sins they know the plague of their hearts They can say as the Jews Isa 58.12 As for our iniquities we know them This is one step towards Reformation to discover what is amiss in our hearts and ways Psal 119.59 I thought on my ways and I turned my feet unto thy Testimony But if a man go no farther than the getting the knowledge of our sins and do not forsake them this will make us the greater Sinners by sinning against light 2. When the Jews had found out Christ they went with him to Caiaphas the high Priest and took counsel against Christ to put him to death Matth. 26.56 27.1 So they that have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts when they have found out their sins they ask counsel of God how they may put them to death how and by what means they may be delivered from their sins Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 3. When the Jews had taken counsel to put Christ to death they carry him to Pontius Pilate and there they accuse him and cry out to have him crucified Mark 15.3 The chief Priest accused him of many things ver 13. They cryed out crucifie him So they that have crucified the flesh and the lusts and affections accuse themselves before God for their sinful hearts and their vile affections and corrupt lusts Isa 64.6 We all are as an unclean thing Job 40.4 Behold I am vile And they cry out to God to Crucifie their lusts and to deliver them from all their Transgressions Psal 39.8 Deliver me from all my Transgressions 4. They judged and condemned Christ before Pilate and said that by their Law he ought to dye and would not let Pilate rest till he had condemned him and delivered him up to be crucified Joh. 19.7 We have a Law and by our Law he ought to dye Mark 14.64 They all condemned him to be guilty of death Luk. 23.24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required So they that have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts judge and condemn themselves in the presence of God as worthy to dye eternally And they judge and condemn their sins they are satisfied in their judgements that according to the Law of God they ought to put their sin to death and they will give God no rest till he hath sent his Spirit into their hearts to Crucifie the flesh with the lusts and affections 5. The Jews after Christ was Condemned hung him up on the Cross and made him fast with Nails to the Cross and would not suffer him to be taken down till he had given up the Ghost So they that have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts do lay hold on Christ Crucified for the Crucifying their flesh with all its corrupt lusts And it is the sixed purpose of their hearts by the help of Christ to suppress all sinfull lusts and inordinate affections and to refrain from all sinfull speeches and practices Thus David was carefull to suppress and keep down Pride in his heart Psal 131.1 Lord my heart is not haughty And to suppress the frowardness and discontent of his heart Psal 101.4 A froward heart shall depart from me If frowardness got into his heart under the disorders and crosses that were in his family he would not suffer it to abide with him it should quickly depart from him he was carefull also to suppress inordinate affections to the World Psal 119.36 Encline my heart to thy Testimonies and not unto Covetousness And all
of grace ver 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you because ye are not under the Law but under Grace Now the dominion of sin may be taken away though sin be not wholly dead in the soul As it was with those beasts spoken of Dan. 7.12 Their dominion was taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time So the dominion of sin may be taken away in that soul where the life of it is prolonged for a little season But here some may say How may we know whether sin reigns in us or whether the dominion of sin be taken away I Answer When we yield willing obedience to the motions and dictates of sin then sin reigns in us Rom. 6.12 Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies that you should obey it in the lusts thereof and ver 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness When it is a mans usual course to yield ready obedience to the motions and sollicitations of sin it is a plain case sin reigns in such a man and he is the servant of sin As it is an argument that a man is in Authority when his commands are obeyed Matth. 8.9 I am a man under authority having souldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my servant do this and he doth it So it is an argument that sin is in authority when the motions of sin are are obeyed when we go and come and do as we are moved and enclined by the lusts of our own hearts But where the motions and lusts of the flesh are resisted striven against suppressed there sin is not in dominion though it may still abide and dwell in us 6. If our doubtings of our interest in Christ arise from hence that we fear we have not Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof let us set our selves more vigorously about this work to Mortifie and Crucifie the lusts and affections of the flesh and to that end let us make use of these helps 1. Let us walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh There will be lustings of the Flesh against the Spirit as long as we live in this world but if we walk in the Spirit we shall be thereby kept from the fulfilling of the lust of the flesh 2. Put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it that will be a means to mortifie the corruption of your natures Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof 3. Meditate on the passion and sufferings of Christ and rest upon Christ for the grace that he hath purchased by his death to mortifie the flesh with the lusts and affections Gal. 6.14 Rom. 6.6 Tit. 2.14 4. Apply the promises which are effectual means to purge out our corrupt natures and to make us partakers of the divine nature and to help us to escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust Promises of renewing our natures and purging out the corruption of our hearts you may see Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God shall Circumcise thine heart 6. Loving Christ above all things is a certain evidence of a saving interest in Christ If we can say of Christ with the Spouse he is my Beloved or as the Dutch render it my best Beloved then we may say he is mine and I am his It was the Spouses sincere love to Christ that caused her to say with confidence that Christ was hers and she was his My Beloved is mine and I am his As we may know that we are passed from Death to Life by our love to the Members of Christ 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the brethren So we may also know our translation into a state of life by our love to Jesus Christ and may say we know we are passed from Death to Life because we love the Lord Jesus Christ That a sincere love to Christ which is a loving Christ above all things is a sure evidence of a saving interest in Christ will appear hence because eternal life and all manner of blessings are promised to those that love Christ in sincerity Jam. 2.5 Hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Eph. 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity But as for those that love any things or persons more than they love Jesus Christ though the dearest friends they have in all the world they shall not be owned of Christ for his Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me See also Luk. 14.26 But how shall we know whether we love Christ above all Things and Persons in the World A. 1. By our valuing esteeming and preferring Christ above all things in the World What we love most that we esteem and value most 1 Thes 5.11 Esteem them very highly in love Now we may know that we have the highest esteem for Christ of all things and persons in the World 1. When we will part with any thing rather than part with Christ when we are willing to suffer the loss of any thing yea of all things so that we may win Christ Mat. 13.45 46. The wise Merchant shewed that he esteemed the Pearl that he had found to be of great price when he sold all that he had to purchase it Phil. 3.8 The Apostle Paul shewed his preferring Christ above all by his suffering the loss of all things for Christ and this turned to him for a Testimony that Christ was his yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things 2. When all other things are counted but as dross and dung in comparison of Christ Phil. 3.8 For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ When other things are undervalued and
also come upon them to lay down their lives for Christ 2. The knowledge and belief of Gods infinite everlasting and unchangable love to us in Christ Jesus and of Christs love in laying down his Life for us will carry us chearfully through our greatest persecutions and make us to triumph over all manner of persecutions even at such a time as we are killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter As we may see it excellently set out Rom. 8.35 36 37 38 39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall Tribulation or Distress or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword As it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Let us take notice in this Scripture of these things 1. The love of Christ and the love of God in Christ towards his people is so fixed so firm so unchangeable that no manner of troubles or persecutions no creature in Heaven or Earth is or shall be able to separate them from the love of Christ and the love of God which is in Christ Jesus that is which is grounded upon the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ 2. The apprehension and perswasion of Gods love to our Souls in Christ Jesus and the immutability of this love will help us to overcome and triumph over all manner of troubles and persecutions Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor any other creature shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus In all these things that is all the forementioned tribulations and persecutions though we be flain by the Sword or are starved to Death by Famine we are conquerors yea more than conquerors and how not by our own strength but through him that loved us and how doth he give us the victory By giving us a firm perswasion of the unchangeable love of God in Christ For I am perswaded 3. Observe the time and season when the servants of Christ are made to triumph as conquerors over all their troubles and that is when it is noon day in respect of their persecutions when 't is the hottest time of persecution when they are not only deprived of their goods thrust into prisons but killed killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter And let us see what is implyed in these expressions 1. It is to be all the day long in hazard and danger of death When it is with us as it was with Hezekiah in his sickness Isa 38.13 So 't is with us in respect of our persecutors we reckon in the night they may come upon us before the morning and the morning may come before the night and rend and tear us in pieces or when 't is with us as it was with David Psal 119.109 My Soul is continually in my hand then we may be said to be killed all the day long 2. When we are put to a lingring death that it may be the more painfull that we are as it were all the day long in a dying condition this some persecutors endeavoured ut sentiant se mori then we may be said to be killed all the day long 3. When persecutors make no more of killing us than they do of killing sheep when the Saints are killed in abundance that it is a time of much blood-shed yea when they joy in the death of Gods Servants Isa 22.13 They are counted as Sheep for the slaughter Now the knowledge and belief of the love of Christ will help us to go through all persecutions chearfully several ways 1. As it leads to the filling our Souls with the graces and comforts of the Spirit of God Eph. 3.19 And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God The more we are filled with the graces and comforts of the Holy Ghost the stronger we shall be to suffer for Christ for the joy of the Lord is our strength 2. As it draws out our love to Christ 1 Joh. 3.16 17. We have known and believed the love that God hath to us Herein is our love made perfect And the more we love Christ the stronger we shall be to suffer for Christ Cant. 8.6 7. Love is strong as death Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it 3. Get and keep a lively hope of eternal life and glory for this will be a wonderfull support to you in your greatest persecutions This caused our Lord Jesus to endure the pain and the shame of the Cross with much chearfulness Heb. 12.2 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the Right hand of the Throne of God The having the joys of Heaven in his thoughts caused him to endure the pain and make light of the shame of the cross This caused the Apostles to glory and triumph in the midst of their troubles Rom. 5.2 3. And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God And not only so but we glory in Tribulations also The respect which Moses had to the recompence of reward in the other World carryed him with chearfulness through his great sufferings Heb. 11.24 25 26. The hope of Salvation is by the Apostles called an helmet 1 Thes 5.8 Putting on the breast-plate of Faith and Love and for an helmet the hope of Salvation The helmet preserves the head in safety as long as we keep on this helmet as long as we keep our hope of Salvation we are in a safe condition 4. If you would go chearfully through all your persecutions get and exercise the graces of Faith and Patience for they are of singular use in an evil day Rev. 13.7 10. And it was given to him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints When the beast maketh war with the Saints and overcomes them that is God permits him to kill and slay as Conquerors those that they have overcome then is a time when there is great need great use of Faith and Patience I shall speak distinctly to both these graces 1. Get and exercise Faith Faith is the most usefull most necessary piece of the Spiritual Armour in an evil day and therefore we are called upon above all to take the shield of Faith because thereby we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one Eph. 6.16 Above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Fiery darts are
when enlightned by the word and Spirit of God are able to discern and to give a judgment of our estate towards God and of the most inward workings both of Sin and Grace Pro. 20.27 The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly By the inward parts of the Belly we may undestand all the secrets of the heart the inclinations dispositions and motions of the heart both to good and evil These are all searched out and discovered by the Spirit of a man which is as the Candle of the Lord but to effect this searching of our inward parts this Candle of the Lord must be lighted by the Word and the Spirit of the Lord for till that be done it gives such a dim and uncertain light that we can discern but little of our own state Therefore besides Communing with our own hearts and making use of our own Spirits we must make use of the Word of God that we may discern the state of our own Souls towards God Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple ver 105. Thy word is a Lamp to my feet and a light to my path There are plain and clear Characters laid down in the Scriptures of such as are Christs the knowledge of these which I shall mention in the next Section are requisite for us to examine our selves by And besides making use of our own Spirits and having recourse to the light of Gods word it is needful that we should implore the illumination and assistance of the Holy Spirit because it is his enlightning our minds that gives us light Psal 36.9 In thy light shall we see light Job 32.8 But there is a Spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding The eyes of our underderstandings are shut till the Spirit of God doth open them Eph. 1.17 18. And as we need the Spirit to enlighten our understandings so also to witness to and with our Spirits or being the Children of God Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Evidences of a saving interest in Christ. Seeing the knowledge of our interest in Christ tendeth so much to our Consolation both against all the troubles of this Life and the terrors of Death and seeing this knowledge is obtained by examining our selves by those Characters that the Scriptures give of those that are Christs I shall lay down several Characters out of the Scriptures of such as have a saving interest in Christ those that I shall mention and explain are these 1. Effectual calling 2. Recieving Christ as he is offered in the Gospel 3. They that are Christs have the Spirit of Christ given to them 4. They that are Christs are new Creatures 5. They that are Christs have Crucified the Flesh with the lusts and affections 6. They that are Christs do love Christ and prefer Christ above all things and persons in the World 7. They that are Christs live to Christ and dye to him 1. They that are effectually called are Christs and Christ with all his benefits are theirs 1 Cor. 1.26 compared with 1 Cor. 3.23 Ye see your calling Brethren ye are Christs Whom doth the Apostle mean when he saith ye are Christs he meaneth such as are effectually called And speaking of those that were called he tells them that God had united them to Christ and made them partakers of the benefits of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.26 30. Ye see your calling Brethren Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Eternal Life and all other saving benefits of Christ are promised to them that are effectually called Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which were called might recieve the promise of the eternal inheritance But Eternal Life and the saving benefits of Christ are given only to such as have an interest in Christ 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life Now we may know that we are effectually called these ways 1. When the Lord calls a sinner effectually he calls him out of darkness into light whereas the mind and understanding was before full of ignorance and blindness the Lord enlightens the mind with saving knowledge when he calls a sinner effectually it is 1 Pet. 2.9 That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light Now in this work of illumination we may consider these 3 or 4 things 1. God calls a man to see his sinful miserable undone estate by nature Jer. 2.19 Know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of Hosts And his inability to help or recover himself out of his sinful and miserable estate Joh 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing 2. God calls a man to see and to know that remission of sins and Salvation is to be had in Christ and no where else but in and from Christ Jesus Act. 13.38 Through this man is preached unto you remission of sins Luke 19.10 The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost There is Salvation for lost man to be had in Christ and in none but him Act. 4.12 Neither is their Salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved As the Lord gives us to understand that we have destroyed and undone our selves so also he causeth us to know that there is help for such as are in a perishing condition and also where this help is to be found namely in himself through Christ Hos 13.9 O If del thou hast destroved thy self but in me is thy help Thus is a material branch of saving illumination the giving as the knowledge of God and Christ 1 Cor. 4.6 Joh. 17.3 3 The Lord enlightens his People to see and to know which way they should obtain Salvation from Christ out of their sinful and miserable condition namely by Faith and Repentance For after a man is enlightned to see his lost estate then he is at a loss to know what he should do to be saved and the Lord shews him that Salvation is obtained by Christ through Faith and Repentance Act. 16.30 31. Sirs what must I do to be saved And they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves from all your Transgressions and so iniquity shall not be your rutine 4. Where there is saving illumination the instruction the Lord gives is like that spoken of by the Prophet
that are born of God The work of renovation is not finished in one day but is carryed on day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 The inward man is renewed day by day The mind is not fully enlightned nor the heart sully sanctified at once but this work is carryed on by degrees and it is a mistake to think we have no renewing grace because the work of renovation is not compleated but is carried on day by day 3. Old things are past away and all things are become new initially in those that are new creatures God hath begun to renew the whole Soul and to mortifie all the lusts and members of the old man Grace though it be but in part diffuseth it self into every part of a man it is like leaven that leaveneth the whole lump the Mind Will Affections Soul and Body all are Sanctified though but imperfectly And as all things are begun to be made new so they shall as certainly be perfected as if they were already done Such things as shall certainly be brought to pass are oft in Scripture spoke off as already done Isa 9.6 Vnto us a child is born unto us a Son is given This was spoken many hundred years before the Birth of Christ because it was certain that he should be born it is spoken as already done Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath Everlasting Life Eternal Life is enjoyed in Heaven yet because it is sure to such as believe in Christ it is not said he shall have but he hath Everlasting Life 4. There is a relative and a real change in such as are new creatures By a relative change I understand a change of their state and relation to God As for instance when a man of an enemy becomes a friend of God When a man of a child of wrath becomes a child of God Whereas a man was under the curse he comes under the blessing whereas a man was in a state of Condemnation he is translated into a state of Salvation In respect of this Relative change all old things are passed away and all things are become new in him that is a new creature For he that is in Christ is no more under the curse and wrath of God and in a state of Condemnation but is passed from Death to Life A real change is the change that is made of the Heart and Life of him that is a new Creature This change is carryed on gradually 5. There are different degrees of grace in those that are new creatures some are Babes in Christ some little Children some young Men some Fathers Such as are but babes in Christ are new Creatures as well as those that are Fathers but have more weaknesses and imperfections than young Men or Fathers Such as are but babes in Christ have such great imperfections and are so weak in grace that they are more like to Carnal than Spiritual persons 1 Cor. 3.1 And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto Spiritual but as unto Carnal even as unto babes in Christ Yet even in such as are but babes in Christ there may be discerned some workings and stirrings of the grace of God as for instance 1. There are desires after the word of God in order to growth thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere Milk of the word that ye may grow thereby As the babe can't live without the breast so neither can the new creature live without the Milk of the Word It is not any Preaching will satisfie a new Creature but it must be the Milk of the Word the sincere Milk of the Word such as will further growth It must be intelligible sound profitable preaching that will quiet such a Soul 2. They that are but babes in Christ shew forth this grace they cry after Christ and can't be satisfied without Christ as the babe cryeth after the Mother and can't be satisfied without her They can say as David Psal 143.6 My Soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land Psal 84.2 My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the Living God Obj. 2. It is said 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin Now I can't live without the Commission of sin and therefore I fear I am not born of God I fear I am not a new Creature A. 1. The meaning of this Scripture is not that they that are born of God are wholly free from all sin for then no man upon the face of the earth should be born of God Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all 1 Joh. 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 2. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin like as other men who are void of the grace of God There is a great deal of difference between the sins of Regenerate and Unregenerate men As 1. Regenerate men do not allow themselves in sin Rom. 7.15 That which I do I allow not Their will is averse to sin although by the power of indwelling corruption they are drawn to sin ver 19. The evil which I would not that I do But the will of an Unregenerate man is enclined and resolved to adhere to sin Joh. 8.44 The lusts of your Father ye will do Jer. 2.25 We have loved strangers and after them we will go 2. The sins of the Regenerate are sins of infirmity Psal 77.10 I said this is mine infirmity They fall through weakness and are overtaken with a temptation Gal. 6.1 If any man be overtaken with a fault Psal 18.21 I have not wickedly departed from my God But wicked men go on presumptuously in their sins and sin with an high hand Jer. 8.6 Every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battel 3. Though Regenerate persons may fall into sin yet they do not love any sin but do hate and abhorr sin Psal 119.104 I hate every false way Rom. 7.15 What I hate that I do But Unregenerate men love and delight in sin Isa 66.3 Their Soul delighteth in their abominations Jer. 2.25 We have loved strangers That is strange Gods 4. Though a Regenerate man may fall into sin he doth not lye in his sins but riseth up again and reneweth his Repentance Prov. 24.16 A just man falleth seven times and riseth up again But Unregenerate men lye and continue in their sins 1 Joh. 5.19 The whole world lyeth in wickedness They are like the Sow that walloweth in the mire 5. The Regenerate make it their dayly care and endeavour to depart from sin Psal 16.17 The high way of the upright is to depart from evil That is it is his dayly and constant practice Act. 24.16 But Unregenerate men give over themselves to do evil and set themselves in a way that is not good Psal 36.4 He setteth himself in a way that is
Lords because he had sought his Precepts Psal 119.94 I am thine save me for I have sought thy Precepts Now when may we be said to have sought Gods Precepts A. 1. When we are desirous to know the Commandments of God in order to doing them and therefore when any doubtfull cases occurr we will do nothing rashly till we have considered whither it be agreeable to the Commandments of God and when we can't find out what the Lord hath commanded in this or the other thing we go to God to discover his will to us Psal 119.12 19. Teach me thy Statutes hide not thy Commandements from me When we thus seek to God to teach and reveal his will to us we may be said to seek his Precepts 2. We seek Gods Precepts when we seek to him for grace to keep his Precepts and say with David Psal 119.5 Oh that my ways were directed that I could keep thy Precepts Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will 3. It is an argument that we love Christ and so consequently that we have an interest in him when we set his Commandements before us as our rule and walk after them though we be not able to walk up to them 2 Ep. Joh. 6. And this is love that we walk after his Commandements 4. Though you can't obey Christ perfectly yet are you not willing and desirous to obey Christ better even to obey him in all things It is an argument that a man hath a good Conscience and is in a good estate when he is willing in all things to live Honestly Heb. 13.18 We trust we have a good Conscience in all things willing to live honestly 5. If our obedience be sincere though it be imperfect obedience it is a sign that we have a saving interest in Christ and are his peculiar people Exod. 19.5 Now therefore if ye will obey my voice in deed then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people Grace that is the love of God and all those blessings which he is wont to give out of his love and free grace to the Children of men shall be unto all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity although they do not love him in perfection Eph. 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Grace be with all them that is shall be with them and continue with them for ever See more in the last Chapter of this Treatise CHAP. II. Of the Grounds of Consolation under natural troubles and desolations IF Interest in Christ be a ground of Consolation under all the troubles of this Life then let us seek comfort in Christ and from Christ under national troubles when ruin and desolation is coming upon the Nations either by Forreign Invasion or by Tumults Insurrections or Massacres at home when dreadful judgments as the Sword Pestilence or Famine are upon us in the worst times imaginable there is comfort to be had in Christ as you may see from such Scriptures as these Mich. 5.5 And this man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into the Land The man spoken of here is the man Christ Jesus who being the Son of God became man for our sakes That the Prophet is here treating of Christ who was to be born at Bethlehem is evident from ver 2. And because what is said of this man that he shall be the peace is applyed to Christ Eph. 2.14 For he is our peace Now it is said of our Lord Jesus that he shall be the peace when a Forreign Enemy should invade the Land namely when the Assyrian should come into the land And what manner of People were these Assyrians The Assyrians were Idolaters 2 Chron. 28.23 And Idolaters are bitter enemies to the Worshippers of the true God They were great enemies to Israel and came with open mouth to devour the Israelites Isa 9.12 The Assyrians were the rod of Gods anger and the staff of his indignation who was sent by God to tread down a sinful people like mire in the streets Isa 10.5 6. Yet Christ was the peace of his people in such a dismal and bloody day when the Assyrian was sent into the land to tread down all ranks and degrees of men like mire in the streets Another Scripture that shews us there is comfort to be had in Christ in times of greatest confusion when all places and persons are in an uproar and all things are turned upside down and there is no peace to be had either at sea or land We have Psal 46.4 There is a River the Streams whereof make glad the City of God For opening this Scripture let us consider This River may signifie the Lord Jesus Christ For it is said of him Isa 32.2 He shall be as Rivers of water in a dry place Is is frequent with the Scriptures to set out Christ by a Fountain and Rivers of Waters As Isa 33.21 The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers Zach. 13.1 In that day there shall be a Fountain opened Jer. 2.14 They have forsaken me the Fountain of Living VVaters All the gladness of the City of God comes from this River namely from Christ the consolation of Israel The streams that issue from this River are the benefits that we have from Christ as pardon of sin reconciliation with God hope of eternal life and the like and all those good things which God for Christs sake giveth to us and doth for us The fruits and benefits which we have by the death and intercession of Christ are a great refreshing to the people of God in their greatest troubles When the Spouse of Christ was under the scorching heat of persecution She found great delight and sweetness in meditating on those benefits she had by Christ Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet unto my tast The benefits we have by Christ comprehends all those great things which the Lord hath been wont to do for his People in all ages which puts great gladness into their hearts Psal 126.3 The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad The City of God which is made glad by the streams of this River are the people of God in all ages and all places of the world Now let us see what dismal times are pointed at what great calamities are mentioned in this Psalm under all which the City of God is made glad by the streams that issue from this River 1. He supposeth such times wherein the earth should be removed and carried into the midst of the Sea ver 2. which signifieth the utter and irrecoverable destruction of mighty Kingdoms for its usual with the Scripture to set out States and Kingdoms by Mountains and the destruction and desolation of Kingdoms by removing the earth and removing the mountains Isa 24.1 3 19 20. Jer. 51.25 The removing these mountains into the midst of the Sea may signifie their
of the Lord shall be beautifull and glorious Isa 4.2 compared with Isa 3.8 There were very great commotions in Judea before the coming of Christ God shook the Heavens and the Earth and shook all Nations and the Scepter departed from Judah and then Christ the desire of all Nations came Hag. 2.6 7. There were great overturnings both in Church and State before the coming of our Lord Jesus Ezek. 21.27 When God executed his judgments upon the Zidonians it was for his own glory Ezek. 28.22 When such judgments begin to come upon the earth as make mens hearts to fail for fear then the people of God are exhorted to lift up their heads because their Redemption draweth near Luk. 21.25 26 28. Obj. 1. These are comfortable considerations may some say but we see notwithstanding the providence and promises of God and the care that God takes of his people that all things come alike to all men the righteous perish as well as the wicked in times of common calamities A. 1. There are oft times very signal providences in delivering Righteous men in times of common calamity as Noah Gen. 7.1 and Lot Gen. 19.16 And those that sighed and cryed for the sins of Judah and Jerusalem Ezek. 9.4 6. 2. Sometimes Gods People pertake of the sins of the times and places where they live and then they pertake in temporal punishments though they be pardoned as to their eternal state Rev. 18.4 Psal 99.8 3. When the Lord doth not save his people with a temporal Salvation under publick calamities but lets them fall by the Sword and Pestilence and other judgments as well as other men he saves them with an eternal Salvation Isa 45.17 Heb. 5.9 4. When the people of God meet with the same sufferings that other men meet with and all things seem to come alike to them and others yet there is a vast difference between the sufferings of the people of God and other men For 1. All the afflictions of the righteous come in love Rev. 3.19 But the troubles of the wicked come in wrath Psal 2.5 2. Righteous men have God with them in their troubles Psal 91.15 But the Lord is far from the wicked Prov. 15.29 3. The troubles of Righteous men do them good Psal 119.71 But wicked wax worse and worse under their afflictions Isa 1.5 2 Chron. 28.22 2 Tim. 3.13 4. Righteous men have Gods blessing going along with their troubles Psal 2.9 12. Psal 94.12 But wicked men have Gods curse with their troubles Isa 34.5 Obj. 2. If I knew that I were one whom God would take care off and protect in a time of common calamity that would be a great stay and comfort to my mind but I do not know whither God will take care of me and preserve me And therfore what hath been said of the care of God of his people in an evil day is but of little use unto me A. 1. Dost thou love God If thou hast set thy love upon God thou mayst rest satisfied God will take care of thee and preserve thee in an evil day Psal 145 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him Psal 91.14 15. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him 2. Hast thou committed thy self to God desiring him to take the care of thee and dost thou trust in him and rely upon him to take the care of thee then thou mayest be satisfied in thy mind that he will watch over thee in an evil day Psal 10.14 The poor commiteth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the Fatherless Psal 91.2 3. I will say of the Lord he is my Refuge and my Fortress my God in him will I trust surely he shall deliver thee Psal 5.11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoyce let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them 3. Dost thou lead a godly life If so know for thy comfort that God doth and will take a special care of thee in an evil day Psalm 41.3 But know that God hath set apart him that is godly for himself Psal 32.6 4. Is thy heart upright with God and dost thou walk in thine integrity then the Lord taketh a peculiar care of thee Psal 7.10 My defence is of God which saveth the upright in heart Prov. 2.7 He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 5. Dost thou mourn for the sins of the times and places in which thou livest Then thou art marked out for preservation in a time of common calamity Ezek. 9.4 6. Obj. 3. But I am such a poor simple shiftless creature that I am afraid God will not take care of me A. 1. Though thou art never so poor and shiftless and simple yet if thou committest thy self to God he will take the care of thee Psal 116.6 The Lord preserveth the simple Psal 10.14 The poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the Fatherless 2. Though thou art never such a poor shistless simple creature thou art of more value than the birds of the air yet none of them no not the meanest of them not To much as a little Sparrow is forgotten or neglected of God Luk. 12.6 7. Are not five Sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God Fear not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows Obj. 4. But I am a sinfull creature and therefore I am afraid God will not take care of me in an evil day A. 1. If thou beest an impenitent Sinner then thou art in a wofull condition Isa 3.11 Psal 11.6 Psal 75.8 When he fleeth from one judgment another will overtake him Job 20.24 2. If thou hast repented of thy sins and humbled thy Soul for them and fled to the blood of Christ for the pardon of them thou hast good ground to hope that the Lord will take the care of thee in an evil day 2 Chron. 12.7 They have humbled themselves therefore I will not destroy them Job 22.23 25. If thou return to the Almighty The Almighty shall be thy defence And ver 29. When men are cast down then thou shalt say there is a lifting up and he shall save the humble person Such as have humbled their Souls for their sins and fled to Christ for the pardon of their sins may say with David Psal 49.5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about §. Grounds of Consolation in the hottest times of persecution The Spouse enquireth Cant. 1.7 where he maketh his flock to rest at noon Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon By noon understand aestus persecutionis as Mercer and others the heat of Persecution The Noon is the hottest time of the day By making the flock to rest at noon we may understand how thou comfortest how thou supportest thy people how and by what means thou givest rest to the
of God Rom. 8.35 But sin makes us hateful to and hated of God Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of Iniquity No affliction can hinder our Salvation Lazarus was exceeding poor he begged his bread and was full of noysom sores yet his Soul was carryed by the Angel into Abraham's bosom but sin will hinder the Salvation of our Souls Now we flee from the Sword and Pestilence and other Judgments and shall we not much more flee from sin which is a greater evil than all these 2. Sin is a greater evil than Hell it self for God made Hell but sin is the work of the Devil And therefore sin which is the work of the Devil must needs be worse than Hell which is the work of God Hell sets forth the glory of Gods Justice but sin wholly dishonours God and therefore sin is worse than Hell Now we are very desirous to be delivered from Hell and why shall we not be willing to leave our sins which are worse than Hell 3. There is nothing in the world doth us so much hurt and mischief as sin doth Sin separates us from God the chiefest good Isa 59.2 What poyson is to the body that sin is to the Soul the Souls poyson Rom. 3.13 The poyson of asps is under their lips Sin wars against our Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 And will be the Death of our Souls if we do not forsake it Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death We flee from Death and those things that bring Death VVhen there was a deadly herb in the pottage the Sons of the Prophets would not eat thereof but cryed out O thou man of God there is death in the pot and they would not eat thereof 2. King 4.40 I may say the like to impenitent sinners O thou sinner there is Death in thy sins O thou Drunkard there is Death in thy Cup O thou Unclean Person there is Death in the Harlots house and to the unrighteous man there is Death in thy false weights and false measures and deceitful-balances And shall not this make us willing to leave our sins that there is Death in our sins 4. If no consideration will encline your hearts to a willingness to forsake your sins look up to Christ that he would put forth his grace and divine power upon your Souls to make you willing to forsake your sins and willing to serve and obey him Ps 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power 5. See what it is which makes you so unwilling to leave your sins and get those cords cut in sunder whereby your wills and affections are hold intangled in your sins VVhen men are unwilling to leave their sins it is usually from one of these two causes either from the delight and pleasures they have in their sins or from the gain and profit they have by them Most men are very unwilling to part with their sinful gain Act 16.19 20 22. Act. 19.24 25 27. And with their sinful pleasures in so much that they love their pleasures more than they love God 2 Tim. 3.5 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God I shall endeavour the removal of both these §. Arg. To perswade us to be willing to part with our most delightful and pleasing sins 1. God parted with his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased for us and delivered him up to death for us Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all And shall not we part with our beloved and pleasing sins for him and deliver them up unto Death They that take most pleasure in their sins and have the greatest love for them will or ought to be ashamed to say they love their sins and are pleased with their sins as much as God loved Christ and was pleased with Christ and therefore they should also be ashamed to spare their sins and not deliver them up to Death for the enjoyment of Christ 2. God will give thee better pleasures than ever thou foundest in thy sins if thou wilt part with thy sins he will give thee better pleasures in this life Job 36.10 11. He commandeth that they return from iniquitie If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures There are better pleasures to be found in Christ and in the ways and ordinances of Christ than are to be found in sin Prov 3.17 Her ways are wayes of pleasantness Ps 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures The comforts of the Holy Ghost are infinitely better than the pleasures of sin Now if you forsake your sins and walk in the fear of God you shall have the comforts of the Holy Ghost Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Besides the pleasures that God giveth you in this life if you will leave your pleasing sins God will give you the pleasures of Heaven where you shall live in fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Ps 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore 3. Pleasing sins are like poyson in sweet wine What wise man will be allured to drink a draught of poyson because 't is put into sweet VVine though it be sweet in the mouth it will torment and rack a man exceedingly Job 20.12 13 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth though he hide it under his tongue though he spare it and forsake it not but keep it still in his mouth Yet his meat in his bowels is turned it is the gall of asps within him The poyson of asps is the most deadly poyson Those sins in which men find most pleasure will one day torture and torment their Consciences as much as the most deadly poyson doth their Bowels Mens pleasing sins will be like the little book the Angel gave the Apostle which was in his Mouth sweet as hony but made his Belly hitter Rev. 10.9 10. Sweet sins will be bittterness in the latter end Take an instance in two sorts of sins in which men find pleasure Uncleanness and Drunkenness Prov. 5.3 4. The lips of a strange woman drop as an hony comb and her mouth is smoother than Oyl but her end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged Sword Prov. 23.31 32. Look not upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder 4. The pleasures of sin will cost a man dear without Repentance for they shall be punished with the pains and torments of Hell for ever And from the first day that a man comes into the torments of Hell all the pleasures of sin will vanish away for ever The Rich man that had
to the observation of the Commandments of God All these things have I kept from my youth up Yet this young man had one thing that lay nearer his heart than Christ and that was the love of the world Mark 10.21 One thing thou lackest go sell whatsoever thou hast And when Christ put him on the Tryal he chose rather to part with Christ than with his possession though it was some grief to him to part with Christ yet he went away from him rather than he would part with his possessions Matth. 19.22 When the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions 3. There is no person nothing in the whole world that deserves so much of our love as Christ It is most equitable and reasonable that we should love Christ above our dearest Relations above all things and persons whatsoever On several accounts I will name two or three 1. None ever shewed such love to us as Christ hath done The love of Father and Mother and the dearest Friends we have in all the world is short of the love of Christ The The greatest love that man can shew is to die for his Friend John 15.13 Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his Friends This love Christ hath shewn to us he layd down his life for us yea greater than this for he did not lay his Life for us when we were Friends but when we were Enemies Rom. 5.10 When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son All earthly similitudes as the love of an Huband to his Wife the love of Parents to their Children the love of a man to his Friend are too short to set out Christ's love to us and therefore he fetcheth a comparison from Heaven and likens his love to us as his Fathers love to him Joh. 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you As Christ's love is greater to us than the love of any man in the world so it is of longer continuance Our Parents love was not towards us till we had our beings and ceaseth when we go to our Grave for though there be grief and sorrow for a season at our Death yet in process of time dead men are forgotten both by them that loved and hated and envied them Eccl. 9.5 6. The memory of them is forgotten Also their love and their hatred and their envy is now perished But Christ's love to us is Everlasting It was towards us before we had our beings even from Everlasting and will be towards us when we shall cease to be in this world even unto Everlasting Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love Now Christ having loved us more than any man ever loved us it is but reason that we should love him above all 2. Jesus Christ is more amiable than any other persons or things in the World He is altogether lovely Cant. 5.16 This can't be said of any Creatures since the fall of man that they are altogether lovely for there is something of unloveliness in them Whatsoever there is in any Creatures that may attract our love it is eminently and transcendently in Christ As for Instance Is our love drawn by others love to us Love will beget love in all sorts of men Luk. 6.32 Sinners love those that love them Never any man shewed such love to us as Christ hath done as proved before Doth beauty draw our love it is said of Christ Thou art fairer than the Children of men Ps 45.2 There are all excellencies and perfections to be found in Christ Is our love drawn by beneficence and bounty Thus doth great things with most men Prov. 19.5 Every man is a Friend to him that giveth gifts None ever gave us such gifts as Christ hath given to us none hath been so bountiful and beneficial to us as Christ Jesus Is it propriety that ingageth our affections A man loveth his own Children above other Children and his own things above other things John 15.19 The World loves his own There is nothing so much our own in this VVorld as Christ is if we be true Christians He is our own Lord and our own Master he hath given himself for us and given himself to us He is ours by an Everlasting Covenant we are united to him he is our Head and we are Members of his body and he dwelleth in us by his Spirit And we are more his than we are our own or any other mans He made us and he redeemed us and bought us with a price and hath betrothed us to himself 3. We are under greater Obligations and Ingagements to love Christ than we are to love our Parents or any other Relations or dearest Friends in the world For none ever did or suffered such great things for us of Christ hath done He hath reconciled us to God He hath obtained for us the pardon of all our sins he hath saved us from the torments as Hell he hath purchased an Everlasting for our Inheritance in the other VVorld he hath made us Kings and Priests to our God He appeareth in the presence of God for us and is continually making intercession for us The benefits we have by Christ are innumerable It is said of David 1 Sam. 18.16 All Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them Christ the Son of David doth more than this for us he sticks closer to us than David did to Israel he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee How ought we then to love Christ for this and not only for this but all the benefits we have by him which are far greater than we have by any man in the the World 4. It is most equitable and reasonable that we should in all things give Christ the preheminence and prefer him above and before all things in the world and that on these accounts 1. It is the will and good pleasure of God the Father that his Son Jesus Christ should be preferred by us above all things in the world and therefore he hath made him head of the Church Col. 1.18 And he is the head of the Body the Church that in all things he might have the preeminence 2. Jesus Christ is better than all things and therefore to be preferred above and before them Col. 1.17 He is before all things and by him all things consist He is above all the Angels of Heaven who are his Servants and worship and adore him 1 Pet. 3.22 Who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him Heb. 1.6 Let all the Angels of God worship him He is better than all things in the VVorld All that is in the world is but dross and dung compared with Christ Phil. 3.8 And therfore we may say with David Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is
He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 3. Both a will to embrace Christ and power have been sought with good success Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee the King brought me into his chambers Draw me that is make me willing and able to come to thee and this request was answered the King brought me into his Chambers that is according to my desire drew me unto himself Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies When we feel any averseness in our hearts to any of the ways of God we must go unto God to encline our hearts to walk in his ways Sect. 7. Mens not seeing their need of Christ is an hinderance of their closing with Christ Several causes hereof 1. Resting in a blameless Conversation 2. Resting in Church Priviledges 3. Resting in our own Righteousness 4. Resting satisfied with the World Another sort of hinderances that keep many from closing with Christ besides sticking at the terms of the Gospel is when men do not see their need they have of Christ but rest satisfied with other things instead of Christ and that is occasioned several ways I will instance in three or four As 1. Resting in a civil blameless Conversation free from gross sins 2. Resting in Church priviledges 3. Resting in our own Righteousness 4. Resting satisfied with the World Seeing many men do rest in their being of a civil and blameless Conversation and being free from gross sins and thereupon do not see any need of Christ to save them but hope to go to Heaven when they dye because they live in a blameless manner I shall shew that this is not sufficient to Salvation without an interest in Christ 1. It is the duty of all that expect to go to Heaven when they dye to endeavour to live in an holy blameless manner Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as lights in the World 2 Pet. 3.14 Seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2. Though it be the duty of all that expect to go to Heaven when they dye to live in a blameless manner and to keep themselves from the pollutions of the World yet a civil and blameless Conversation a Conversation free from gross sins is not sufficient to carry a man to Heaven without an interest in Christ For a man may live civilly and be free from gross sins and yet be in a dangerous and damnable condition on several accounts As 1. He may be an ignorant man and have no knowledge of God and Christ he may have no understanding in the mysteries of Salvation And such as live and dye without Understanding God will have no mercy upon them and will shew them no favour Isa 27.11 It is a People of no Vnderstanding therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour And they shall perish for ever on whom God will have no mercy and to whom he will shew no favour 2. A man may live civilly and be of a blameless Conversation and yet be an Unbeliever be one that hath no Faith in Christ And all such as do not believe in Christ shall be damned and have their portion in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Rev. 21.8 The Vnbelieving shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone 3. A man may be free from gross sins and live civilly and yet dye Eternally for want of a new heart and be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven for not being born again Ezek. 18.31 Make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O house of Israel Joh. 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 4. A man may lead a civil life and be free from gross sins and yet have no love to Jesus Christ And such as have no love to Christ are in a cursed condition 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha That is let him be accursed and let him remain accursed till the Lord cometh to take vengeance on him 5. A man may be free from gross sins and yet be guilty of Spiritual sins and be in a damnable condition for his Spiritual sins As for instance A Man may never touch a Woman and yet be an Adulterer in the sight of God by the lustings of his heart Math. 5.28 Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery already with her in his heart A man may never strike his Neighbour and yet be a Murderer in the sight of God by hating him in his heart 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him A man may never bow his body to an Idol and yet be an Idolater in the sight of God by over-loving and trusting in his Riches Col. Nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of â—â—â—ist He may have a civil life and yet 〈◊〉 Atheist in his heart Psal 14.1 The 〈◊〉 hath said in his heart there is no God Many persons rest in their Church priviledges as that they are born of Religious Parents are Members of Churches have been Baptized are frequenters of Gods Ordinances have received the Lords Supper and therefore they hope it shall go well with them Thus the Jews bore up themselves that they were Abraham's Seed were Circumcised had the Temple of God among them Joh. 8.33 VVe be Abraham's Seed Jer. 7.4 Trust ye not in lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord But none of these things will avail me to Salvation unless they have an interest in Christ As I shall make appear these ways 1. To be born of Religious Parents of Parents in Covenant with God is a great Blessing but if they do not seek and serve that God whom their Fathers served but forsake him and go in the way of their own hearts though their Fathers were as Holy men as ever lived upon the face of the Earth God will cast their impenitent degenerate disobedient Children into Eternal Torment David was a man after Gods own heart yet he tells his Son Solomon that if he forsook the Lord the Lord would cast him off for ever 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind If thou seek him he will be found of thee if thou forsake him he will cast thee of for ever The Jews bore up themselves with this that they had Abraham to their Father but
so much of them as is good for us is to receive Christ and seek after our Souls Salvation and to live an Holy Life rather than to neglect Christ and our Souls Salvation and to give our selves wholly or chiefly to mind the things of the World which may be proved several ways 1. They that serve Christ and seek chiefly after their Souls Salvation have the promise of all things necessary for this Life as well as the Life to come Math. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and that which is to come And a promise from God is better security for the things of this life than our own wisdom or industry or present possessions though great or what else the whole World can afford to us 2. When Christ becomes ours the world is ours so far as God seeth it needfull and so far as he seeth it good for us it shall be ours 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or the world all are yours and ye are Christs All things in the world shall be for the furtherance of our Spiritual and Eternal welfare the crosses as well as the comforts of the world 3. All things in the world are at the disposal of God and he gives them to whomsoever he will 1 Chron. 29.12 Both riches and honour come of thee and it is in thine hand to make great Dan. 4.17 The most high ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will And seeing the whole world is at the disposal of God is a likelier way to obtain the world to seek and serve the Lord and his Son Jesus Christ or to live in the neglect of God and to disregard his service Obj. But some may say how is this the surest and best way to obtain the world to embrace and serve Christ when as ordinarily the servants of God have less of the world than other men A. 1. They that seek and serve the Lord have as much of the world as the Lord seeth to be good for them Psal 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing And it is far better being without than having that which the Lord seeth would be hurtfull for us And Riches are of that nature that to have abundance of them proves a real hurt to some men Eccl. 5.13 I have seen Riches kept for the Owners thereof to their hurt 2. That little of the world which the servants of God have is better than the great possessions of other men Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the Riches of many wicked If any say how can this be that a little that a righteous man hath should be better than the riches of many wicked I answer 1. The servants of Christ have more comforts in their little than wicked men have in their abundance For they have their little with Gods Blessing which takes away the sorrow from what they possess Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh Rich and addeth no sorrow therewith But other men have a curse and vexation added to what they have Prov. 3.33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked 2. The Servants of Christ have their little with a good Conscience and a good Conscience is a continual Feast Prov. 15.15 a merry heart is a continual Feast Rich men make Feasts sometimes which the poor servants of Christ can't do yet they excell the Rich man for they have a continual Feast One of the greatest Feast made by Rich men that we read of was that which King Ahasuerus made which lasted an Hundred and Fourscore days Esth 1.4 But behold here a better yea a continual Feast But now other men have their estates with an accusing Conscience and that is a continual vexation 3. The servants of Christ have more contentment in their little than other men have in their greatest abundance Eccl. 5.10 He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with Silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase VVicked men are in straits in their greatest abundance Job 20.22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits But the servants of Christ have a sufficiency and a contented mind in the midst of their wants and straits Phil. 4.11 12. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need 4. The servants of Christ have their little with the love and favour of God Deut. 10.18 He loveth the stranger in giving him Food and Rayment VVhen his People are strangers and he gives them but little Food and Rayment yet they have it with his love Psal 146.8 The Lord loveth the righteous But other men are hated in their greatest abundance Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity And a little with the love of God is better than great riches and his hatred therewith Prov. 15.17 Better is a dinner of Herbs where love is than a stalled Ox and hatred therewith If the meanest fare with love from men be better than the choicest provision and hatred therewith how much more is this true of the love and hatred of God Sect. 8. Doubts and scruples about our being under the offer of Christ an hinderance to our closing with Christ These doubts answered It may be some will say if I saw and knew that God offered Christ and Salvation by Christ to me I would accept of him on any terms but I have many doubts and scruples upon my mind whether God offers Christ to me as my unworthyness the greatness of my sins my being so little affected with my sin and misery my long neglect of Christ and the like and I can't tell how to think that God should offer Christ to such an unworthy creature to such a great sinner to such an hard hearted creature as I am to one that have neglected and stood out so long as I have done For satisfying these scruples I shall lay down these following propositions about the offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ to all sorts of sinners on the terms of Faith and Repentance 1. The Lord Jesus Christ with all his saving benefits is offered to the meanest and most worthless persons in the whole world when the Gospel comes that find their want of Christ and are willing to receive him though they have no mony that is nothing of any value to commend them to God yet they may have Christ and all his benefits freely Isa 55.1 Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no mony come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without mony and without price 2. There is an offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ to all sorts of Sinners The
2.10 Ye are compleat in him 5. Our imperfections shall not hinder us of the love of God here nor of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter Psal 73.22 23 24. Sect. 8. There is comfort in Christ for such as are under the hidings of Gods face and are troubled because they can't enjoy Communion with God It is the lot of some Christians to be under the hidings of God's face and to want Communion with God and that is a great trouble to them Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Now there is comfort for such in Christ and that in these respects 1. It was one great end of Christ's death to bring us to the enjoyment of God 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God The great obstacle to our Communion with God is our sins For 't is sin that separates between God and us Isa 59.2 Behold your iniquities have sepparated between you and your God Now Christ's death hath taken away this obstacle of our Communion with God for whereas our sins had put us far from God and caused God to stand afar off from us by the blood of Christ we are made nigh to God Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself was under the hidings of Gods face and that in time of great distress when he was upon the Cross when nigh unto death he cryed out Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me But how doth this make for the comfort of a Soul under the hidings of Gods face that our Lord Jesus Christ himself was in a deserted condition A. 1. Hence we learn that the hidings of God's face is consistent with a state of adoption and the special love of God For Christ was the beloved Son of God in whom he was well pleased yet he was in a deserted condition in a time of trouble in a dying hour and therefore we should not question the Fatherly love of God because of the hidings of his face Isa 64.7 8. Thou hast hid thy face from us But now O Lord thou art our Father 2. Seeing our Lord Jesus hath been under the hidings of God's face he knoweth how to pity and succour those that are in this condition Heb. 2.18 3. We have gracious promises which are all yea and Amen in Christ Jesus that though the Lord be withdrawn from us yet if we return he for Christ's sake will return unto us 2 Chron. 30.9 The Lord your God is gracious and mercifull and will not turn away his face from you if ye return unto him Mal. 3.7 Even from the dayes of your Fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of Hosts Jam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and God will draw nigh to you 4. Though you want sensible influences from God yet if you be one that hath closed with Christ upon the terms of the Gospel God hath Communicated himself to you for your God and Father in Christ by Covenant and hath given you the priviledge to be one of his Sons Joh. 1.12 and that is a higher degree of Communion with God than the giving insensible influences to that you ought not to say you have no Communion with God because there is a suspension of influences when as the Lord hath given himself for your God by Covenant and hath taken you for his children Sect. 9. There is comfort in Christ for such as are troubled with fears of falling away What David said concerning Saul 1 Sam. 27.1 I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul the like some Christians who have accepted Christ on the terms of the Gospel and have given themselves to Christ are ready to say in their hearts I shall one day fall away from Christ and perish for ever My heart is so treacherous and indwelling corruption so strong and Satan's Temptations so prevalent and the oppositions from the world may be so great that I fear I shall not hold out to the end but shall fall away and this is a great trouble to me Now there is comfort to be had from Christ against these fears of falling away and that on these grounds 1. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort to such Believers on Christ as are troubled with fears of fallingaway For he prayeth for us that our Faith may not fail Luk. 22.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not And he that prayed for Peter that his Faith might not fail he hath prayed for all that do and shall believe in him Joh 17.20 21. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one c. And what Christ prayed for was alwayes granted Joh. 11.41 42. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me alwayes 2. The Members of Christ may be comforted against their fears of falling away from God's Everlasting Covenant For God is entered into an Everlasting Covenant with them that he will not turn away from them and that he will keep them from departing from him Jer. 32.40 And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me See Isa 54.10 3. The unchangeableness of Gods love is a good ground of comfort against fears of falling away Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own that were in the World loved them unto the end It is not said having loved his own that are in glory but that are in the world where they are liable to temptations and corruptions and troubles he loved them to the end Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus God's love being unchangeable we may rest satisfied that the same love which called us to the knowledge and Faith of Christ will keep us from departing from Christ seeing the gifts and the callings of God are without Repentance The same love that quickned us when we were dead in sins and trespasses will also preserve us unto Eternal Life 4. The attributes of God may comfort weak Christians against their fears of falling away The name of the Lord is our strong Tower whether we may run and be safe against these fears as for instance 1. The power of God that is engaged to keep and preserve