him more when no tears shall ever prevail again Therefore if thou hast been found out this day confess and give glory to God and let thine eyes be tears that Christ would overcome and draw thy soul with love and espouse thee to himself for ever CHAP. VI. Containing Motives and Arguments to perswade us unto the Love of Christ and to be Espoused to him IS there no communion to be had with the Lord Jesus unlesse Virgins unlesse espoused to him Oh therefore here is a match for you chuse him get your affections if entangled to come off if ensnared to any other thing and set your hearts bestow your love upon him For 't is not a dead Faith but such a faith as is animated by love that doth espouse you to him Gal. 5. 6. Faith which works by love And therefore as the love of other things not worth looking after hath got the soveraignty and royalty of thy heart so this is a conjugal love when it bears rule in the heart let Christ have this love And as you have loved creatures for themselves now love the Lord Jesus for himself And as they have easily enticed you to set your hearts upon them now be perswaded to set your dearest affections on him It s said of Iohn Baptist he was the Bride-groom's Friend to speak for him Iohn 3. 29. And truly 't is the main work of the Ministry to wooe for Christ and so to present chast Virgins to Christ. This shall be my work now which may be seasonable in this decaying time Therefore I shall chiefly bend my speech to three sorts 1. To them that never yet loved the Lord Jesus unlesse it be from the teeth outward 2. Those that have been striving for this yet cannot to their own feeling come to this 3. Those that have so but their affections are dried up and love is parched away iniquity abounds c. And my Motives shall be these four 1. Consider the Glory of the person whom I shall be a spokes-man for this day 2. Consider he makes love to thee 3. Consider that all he seeks for is love 4. Consider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt love him SECT I. 1. COnsider the Glory of the person for whom I plead for love What can you love besides him Where can you find any like unto him I know the Glory of the Lord is not revealed because the grasse withers not the flower fades not the creature appears not in his withering vanity Isa. 40. But if the Lord would but open your eyes to see him this would win your hearts alone to him Now I shall single out only these five things to give you a glimpse of his Glory Lift up thy heart and say Lord hide not now thy face from me 1. He is the Prince of the Kings of the earth Rev. 1. 5. The glory of the world is a Kingdom the glorious Diamond of that Kingdom is a Prince in his Glory now for a poor Beggar to have an offer of love from the greatest Prince in the world would it not tempt her Would she not forsake her lovers and set her heart on him Why look what a distance there is between the poorest Peasant and the highest Prince so base and a thousand times more are all the Princes of the world to Christ whose Dominion is from sea to sea from Sun to Sun who sets up and puls down Kings like Counters who rules their Courts their Kingdoms their hearts and they do not do they cannot do but what he will Other Kings are Princes are Rulers of men Christ Prince of Kings Now who would not be glad of his love who having tasted death is set down on the right hand of God on high cloathed with endlesse Glory who hath Kings in his chaines whose breath is not in his nostrils whose favour is not for a day but he lives and reignes for ever Now doth Christ reign Is he a Lord and in Glory upon his Throne Methinks I see Jesus at the right hand of God your foolish affections have undone you if you love him not 2. He is appointed by the Father to be Judge of quick and dead at the last day Iohn 5. 22 23. as well as to rule all now So that if you do maintain enmity against him he may let you alone you may live in health and die in peace in the eye of man and in thine own eyes too Yet there is a day coming he will break out of Heaven with a shout and appear in the clouds in the amazing Glory of his Father with all his mighty Angels and all the dead shall hear his voice and you shall appear before him with this body when the Heavens shall burn round about him and the earth shall tremble under him and all guilty eyes mourning and wayling because of him Then you shall know what 't is to despise him and wish oh that I had loved him Rev. 1. 7. You that say you love him yet by an imâ—enitent heart pierce him you shall wayl even so Amen Men do not see an end of these things not the Glory of the Lord another day Hence creatures are loved and the Lord of Glory is loathed A great Prince may not be so highly esteemed untill he appears in his state Prisoners would give any mony much more love for the Judges Favour 3. He only is the procuter and author of all the good that ever thou didst suck out here though thou hast neither known him not been thankful to him For look as it was with Angels so it should have been with man the wrath of God should have been poured out upon him and on all the world and creatures should have been tormentors of him but that the Lord Jesus begged and bought the world And hence 1 Tim. 4. 10. called Saviour of all but chiefly of the Elect. Micah 4. 4. In his daies men shall sit under Vines and Fig-trees So that if ever any creature did thee good it was Jesus that put that sweetnesse in it out of his fulnesse and set it awork sent it to thee gave it thee to do thee good Thou shouldst never have had winâ— of sleep never restrained from one sin but lived in blaspheming God never hà ve heard of a Gospel but for Christ And will you not love him Oh ungrateful world unnatural generation of men Why dost love any creature 'T is for the paint of it and good in it If there be so much in it what is there in Christ that gave it that dropt it into it Never love him if there be any thing good that is not by him Psal. 116. 1. The Lord hath heard my prayer I will call on him as long as I live Much more when the Lord hath delivered and thou didst never seek to him 4. He is the everlasting wonderment of Saints in Heaven the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon which made her come to see him
stint the Lord Either do more give more or mourn you cannot Oh one life one heart is too little for him It hath put me to sad fears of many mens estates to see this frame a world of sin without measure every day where is the Christian that loves the Lord the more every day how can any then say much is forgiven when they do not love much 7. He loves thee now in Glory there hath prepared a place for thee Iohn 14. 1 2 3. where he longâ— for thee Iohn 17. 24. You know Pharaoh's Butler when exalted to his place forgot poor Ioseph One would think now the Lord Jesus is in Glory and hath God and Angels and his Kingdom to content him he should never look after such a worm such a poor helplesse creature as thee But as the High Priest carried the Names on his breast and precious stones so the Lord Jesus hath thy Name writ upon his very heart Oh now love him when he exalts thee to Glory to give thee the Kingdom of Heaven on earth with peace and quietnesse When Germany lies in blood and Eastern Churches slain by the Dragon devoured by the Turk when Englands lights and lamps are going out no people have such peace such glory in so small a time Beloved now where is love The Churches of Christ never lost their love so much as when they had their peace and have been 1600 years a learning by Aâ—flictions and Persecutions hâ—w to enjoy their peace and to have their love smell as sweet then as when beâ—â—en most and yet have not but like the Globe without the Crosse in the Emblem rolling and running farther and faâ—ther from God In Cruce quies Oh unreasonable to love him least whom he tenders most Doth not Prayer grow cold for the Name of Christ for the Churches of Christ then love grows cold Doth not plenty of means make thy soul sleight means when you went many miles to hear and had scarce bread at home Oh you thought if once you had such liberties but when they are made yours now what fruit Dost not fall in affections to Saints Oh love dies Christ deals not so with thee and who knows but in Rocks and Mountains of the Wildernesse thou maist lament these evils which peace breed now 8. He loves thee so as when any evil toucheth thee he hath a feeling of it and is grieved at it Iud. 10. 16. Isai. 63. 9. nay he then comforts thee most both in them and by them Iohn 14. 27. Not as the world gives peace so give I it to you Oh then grieve thou for those evils that betide him the wrongs that others offer him but especially the unkindnesse thy own Soul shews him Mark 5. 3. He mourned for the hardnesse of their heart Eph. 4. 29 30. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth and grieve not the Holy Ghost Heb. 3. 10. Forty years long was I grieved because they erred I confesse you will wrong him but will you must you be impenitent too Did his enemies grieve him on earth and shall his Friends grieve him in Heaven and no sorrows no secret tears he hath shed his Blood for thy sin it shall never condemn and wilt not thou shed tears Is there no good Nature But what is there no spirit of mourning It may be many a day and week hast thou grieved him and not a sigh to any purpose to ease thee of thy sin but what hath eased thee in thy sin Oh now comfort his heart again after thou hast most grieved him comfort his Spirit that is dying sighing in thee as he comforts thee by thy troubles comfort him by making a right use of all thy sins to be more humble more vile to love him the more and love thy self the lesse as the Prodigal Son Luke 15. 18 20 24. 9. He loves thee so that though he departs he will not doth not stay long from thee though you may think it long Isai. 54. 7. Hence it 's wonder to see when heart gone love lost life lost yet suddenly thou art brought down on thy knees Oh 't is the Lord that doth it Thou wast in sorrow of heart he did not stay long but came and comforted thee thou wast in thy sins it was not long but he delivered thee thou wast in want of knowledg of him it hath not been long but that he hath revealed the Lord to thee thou hast been in afflictions and troubles it hath not been long but he hath heard thee So give him the like love I know you will fall from him in love in delight in care but do not stay long from him Sometime the baits of the world will draw thee from him when thou hast thy ease and peace Oh think it was better with me once than now when fears drive thee from him yet return 1 Sam. 12. 21 22. Oh here is that which hardens hearts breaks your peace and grieves the Lord so as he is forced to send many sad afflictions because you lie in your falls Oh be not long noâ— far from him He returns to thee when thou art most unkind to him return when he is ever kind He returns to thee though he hath no need of thee thou hast of him He will not leave thee Oh leave not him 10. He hath from before all worlds loved thee when no reason for it Ier. 31. 1 2 3. Thou hast neglected to love him long all thy youth nay it may be all thy life Oh you beloved of the Lord begin to do it now when there is all reason for it when Heaven calls for it Earth calls for it Ordinances plead for it Spirit saith come and calls for it too It may be thy life is not long What not yet But how shall I come to do this thus to love the Lord The Lord only can plant can water this Grace yet because the Lord doth it by meanes I will give you some now 1. Labour to find out the true sweetnesse and to taste the bitternesse of the deceitful sweetnesse of all Creatures for this is a rule in reason a mans affections like streams must run some way and 't is a rule in Theology stop the affections from running to the Creature and in a sincere heart it will run unto Christ Hos. 2. 6 7. if it be from all creatures Now then the affection is turned from the Creature when it finds the bitternesse of the deceiving sweetnesse of it and Secondly finds out the real sweetnesse of it for make it as a rule when a mans heart cannot love Christ unlesse it be when it is benummed 't is because he hath somewhat else to joy his heart now let the Creature yeild you no more joy and Christ hath your love indeed you may and must joy in the real sweetnesse of it and this will encrease and not diminish your love Quest. What is the real sweetnesse of the Creature Answ. Christs love Oh see
from any way of the Lords and continue there he shall have storms and hence 1 Iohn 2. 3 4 5. Hereby we know him c. 4. He closeth with the whole will of the Lord as his happiness and utmost end as a man made himself his last end before and desired God and Christ only to keep his sores from aking for so I look upon all men made up of wants if the body ake with cold stomack with hunger head for want of sleep Conscience for sin all happiness lies in the easing hereof and here lies their bliss So now the soul make the life of the Lord its happiness to live unto him Gal. 2. 20. He makes it his meat and drink to do the Lords will for Iehu sought the Lord but his last end was himself as Iohn 16. 2. A man may kill and think he doth God good service but that is not his last end a carnal heart may cross his own wiâ—â— but not his own utmost end as Iudas A man may seek the Lord with delight and follow the Ordinances and fast and pray but himself is his end still Zac. 7. 5 6. Isai. 58. 4 5. As a man that goes to a City he will do your businesse but he would not go unless he had his own ends to bring about there But those that are truly sanctified make the Lord their last end and happiness It 's not only good to do the Lords will for thus men may seek the Lord as thinking it good so to do but as their blessednesse else 't is not their last end and so not sought as their last end and so 't is with the soul As a River running to the Sea many Springs run into it but it carries them down all with it so there are many occasions hindrances businesseâ— yet it carries them all down with it even the more violently the more 't is hindred Psal. 119. 126 127. Therefore love I them above gold And this expresseth it self in three things 1. In admiring at the glory of the Lord and his will and ways and accounting them happy men and blessed that thus can do and live For sometime the soul is decayed and â—allen from this or sick and weak now it accounts them happy that have health and strength to walk abroad Psal. 1. 1 2. 2. In being never at rest in his minde until now that he comes to this for therein a mans â—â—king any thing his last end appears as he made his goods his last end Luke 12. 19. Now therefore my soul be at rest for there is no seeking the Lord but self-seeking hinders Now though it be thus yet Do I make my self my last end then my minde would be at rest but if sanctified it s not at rest till now And hence Paul when he had run this race now you see him leaning upon his pillow 2 Tim. 4. 6 7. And hence Saints are loth to die and be blessed in heaven because they 〈◊〉 done so little work as yet little do the Saints for the Lord many times yet their hearts are upright for what mourn they for so much as this when they have lookt upon it oh that the Lord hath been a looser by them 3. It carries the soul thorow all difficulties with power and delight Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the righteous and joy â—â—om 7. 22. I do delight in the law of God in the 〈◊〉 man Other Nations walk in the Name of their Gods we in ours Micah 4. 5. As when wealth or honour is a mans utmost end with what violence are men carried to it and hence a man thinks he hath never such good days as then when he can do much for the Lord and hence when any duty is to be done when fearful to do it or loth to perform it when the heart is dead yet beholding it with a spiritual eye that this gives Ieâ—â—vah honour oh this carries the soul headlong even into miseries Not my will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be done This easeth the heart even in the belly of Hell and in times of the deepest desertion To this Sanctification all the Saints do come every one in their measure and if ever the soul tasted the Lords love or ever was humbled with the bitterness of sin the first voice and main care is Lord What 〈◊〉 thâ—u have me to do Nay though no assurance and it cannot joy in the Lords love yet it will in the Lords will and hence when it hath fall assurance yet finding such a vile heart if God should give it heaven with such a heart it would be death And hence when he thinks of going to Hell yet there saith he let meâ—blesse thee This Sanctification all unsound hearts do want much Reformation much affection many duties but their end is not changed though their lives be and hearts seem to be 1. Because they cannot love the Lord because the Lord doth never shed his love into their hearts 2. This was the life of Christ Iohn 8. 29. of which life they that are dead in sin never have one act though they may think they have 3. This is the end of our Election which therefore an unsound heart may as soon attain to as to elect or to be elected of God Eph. 1. 4. holy in love This may be easily known 1. Cannot a man know when he is happy 2. Cannot Peter tell Christ that he loves him 3. Cannot a man tell whether he be an Hypocrite or no For he that cannot prove his utmost end is changed must confess himself an Hypocrite yet his heart was never changed what ever assurance or peace he hath had a thing is never good till it serves its end it was made for Oh therefore look that you content not your selves with Reformation but come to this else 1. You lose all your obedience the Lord regards it not the Lord will take all from you as Vessels that are made to hold Wine and they cannot lay them by the Lord hath no pleasure in you Mal. 1. 8 9 10. 2. If you do the Lord will accept your meanest and poorest services Consider 1. Christ cast by his Robes being privie to his own worth to become obedient Phil. 2. 6 8. 2. His infinite Wisdom is in every command though thy carnal reason like it not 3. His infinite love for thy good though thou thinkest 't is for thy hurt 4. His glory though thou gettest no good at all by it SECT VI. VI. Fulness of the Spirit of Glory in the room of the world WHom the Lord doth justifiâ— those he doth glorifie Rom. 8. 30. i. e. with the Glory of another world which though it be hid for a time from others and somtimes from themselves yet they do partake of it now and it shall be revealed upon them another day 1 Pet. 5. 1. Now though Hypocrites may tast of the Word nay of the powers of the world to 〈◊〉 yet they fâ—ll short of this measure
but she before imagined but that which now she saw with her own eyes and that wrapt her out of her self Here we hear of the Lord Jesus of his beauty and glory and this draws Saints to him and when come they see that which they never saw before especially when in Heaven then fall down in everlasting admiration at this mystery for the blessedness of Saints is to see Christ in his glory Iohn 17. 24. Now this lies in an infinite good this cannot be seen in a finite time hence Saints shall be piercing their eyes deeper and deeper into this mystery and shall ever see more and more but never see all and this is their joy and glory in Heaven Is it so what think you is Christ worthy of your love or no look upon all the glory of the field of this world you may see an end of all perfection but never here 5. He is the delights and bosome love of God himself Prov. 8. 30. Hence Iohn when he came to set Christ out Iohn 3. 35. The Father loveth the Son Now is it so surely though you see not taste not this good yet there 't is now tell me if this person do not challenge love would you not be glad to have him you will say can he look upon such a VVretch embrace such a Leper as I no surely he will never do it SECT II. 2. COnsider he makes love to thee not one soul that hears me this day but the Lord Jesus is a Suitor unto that now you would be espoused to him He came unto his own and they received him not Whatever the secret purpose of Christ is I regard not In this Evangelical dispensation of Grace he makes love to all Iohn 1. 12. 'T is clear Mat. 22. 2 3. If there be a Gospel in the world there is this love of Christ yearning towards all especially all that have this Gospel of peace sent to them Luke 2. 10. 'T is tidings of great joy to all people as Law is tidings of great sorrow to all people Luke 2. 14. Angels from Heaven preacht this good will towards men For if the challenge of love from men should be founded on his actual love to some having died for some then the offer would be particular But 't is grounded 1. On his own worth and Glory and hence he challengeth love 2. On this for ought I know he hath loved me So that thou art not so vile but the Lord Jesus his heart is toward thee and his eye is upon thee for love But 't is not all love but only some that overcomes 1. Now 't is real love 2. Fervent love 3. Constant. 4. Pure love he makes to thee 1. 'T is real love when the Gospel and Ministers seek for love the Lord is real in his desires there is no collusion or dissembling 2 Cor. 5. 20. in Christs stead He that receiveth you receiveth me thou thinkest the Lord cares not for thee not doth not desire thee though he doth others but 1. Either the Lord would have thee loath him or love him what think you 2. If the Lord did not really make love to thee he would not be really angry for rejecting of this love but the Lord is really angry for rejecting it and wroth with nothing so much as that Psal. 2. 12. here he swears in his wrath Psal. 95. 11. when he opens his bosom for thee to rest in and thou wilt not 3. Look but upon the dealings of God with thee 1. Hast not oft thought some in Hell better than thee why the ruine of millions of men is to win love from thee Ier. 3. 8 9 10. 2. Hath not the Lord sent many a mercy to thee not one but was to win thee Psal. 81. 10 11 12. 3. Hath not the Lord with-held many from thee as here in this wildernesse Ier. 3. 3 4. 4. Hath not the Lord sent many sorrows terrors fears cares wearisome businesses that thou hast wished an end of life this is love Hos. 2. 6. 5. Hath not the Lord moved thy heart many a time-toward him by perswasions arguments which have a power to move the heart this is love Hos. 11. 4. Cords of a man 6. Hath not the Lord oft melted thy heart for mercies as David when he might have killed Saul truly you may feel his love which is much towards you that which keeps off thy heart from love is the Lord intends it not to me he is not plain with me But he sends to thee his plain Gospel which thou art to attend unto and he takes fittest seasons to speak to thee now in the time of thy heath and doth he not oft visit thy heart when thou art alone 2. 'T is servent vehement earnest love sometimes a Suitor is real but he is not earnest now thus the Lord is 1. The Lord longs for this Deut. 5. 29. 2. Pleads for this Ier. 2. 5. What iniquity c. 3. Thinks long for this time Ier. 13. 27. Ierusalem will not be made clean when shall it once be 4. Mourns when he hath not this Ezek. 6. 9. Broken with their whorish heart 5. Content to give away any thing for it all the love of Christ is founded on this 6. If thou comest not presently he is content to wait that he may be gracious 3. 'T is constant and continual there is not a moment thou dost not so oft breath as thou maist see and taste love Isai. 27. 3. Isai. 65. 2. 1. After all thy whorish departing from God that if man should do so no man would own yet he saith Return to me thou seest never a creature but thou hast loved more than Christ yet return 2. When God threatens most terribly and sets his fury on record yet then there he minds nothing but love Ier. 36. 2 3. 3. When none else will own and pitty thee thou art so vile yet Ezek. 16. 2 3. the Lord saith live then is a time of love 4. Nay when thou hast cast away thy self as a forlorn creature yet Hos. 14. 3. In thee the Fatherless find mercy 5. When he hath thee in his arms ready to give thee up yet then How shall I give thee up O Ephraim Hos. 11. 8. I tell thee if one sparkle of his eternal blasting displeasure should fall upon thee it would be so intollerable that it would sink thee his love is as strong as death no water can quench it oh 't is not so with man or great men once repulsed is enough why should the Lord do so here many think time is past 't is not so 't is the temptation of them that have time not of them that want it take heed this make thee not despise him 4. 'T is a pure love others make love for their own ends but the Lord hath no need of thee or of thy love he could raise up of stones children of praise he could have gone to others he could have and can fetch his
before you but my heart in secret hath gone after the world c. I have neglected the Lord secretly I have seldom thought of or prepared for Death and I had thought to have been better but the Lord hath met with me I know violence of Disease may do it sometime but I sâ—eak how ' â—is many times whereas otherwise an open entrance should be made 2 Pet. 1. 8. 9 10 11. And as it hath been with some so take warning lest it be so with you you may be saved alive yet to suffer wrack on the shoar is uncomfortable and know it if your conscience be awake it cannot but be so Therefore do not concluâ—e they were damned without Christ but they were not made ready for Christ and it may be your time draws â—igh and what have you to say now a world for half an hour will a dying distressed man say Is of a Four-fold exhortation to all those especially that the Lord hath espoused to himself CHAP. VIII A Four-fold Exhortation to Believers SECT I. TO quicken up all those doubting drooping yet sincere hearts that much question the love of Christ to them Now to use all diligence to make their Calling and Election and the love of Christ sure to them not but that it 's sure on Christs part but make it sure on your part too else how can you be in a readinesse to meet the Lord Jesus while the strong man keeps the Palace the Goods be in peace but when Christ hath once driven Satan out of his Throne â—â—en nothing sometimes but war but doubts and fears Satan told God to his face Iob served him for nought much more will he accuse the Soul it seâ—f and some Divines think the very first ingredient of Satans poyson and the first assault on Christ himseâ—f Mat. 4. was by seeking to make him doubt of his Sonship If thou be the Son of God c. And his wiles are here very great that hence very few living christians have any setled comfortable evidence of Gods eternal love to them in his Son and hence many sad events follow How can any blesse the Lord for that love which he knows not of many times 't is with a mans doubts drooping from his mind as 't is with his continual dropping on his Lungs there is a daily consuming of what once was that many a christian doubts away his life his heart his strength and when all is wasted glad now to return to that where he should at first have begun And hence in one word he is made every day unready for Christ. Oh therefore quiet not your selves in that estate as I fear too many do at least for a time it 's one of the most dangerous estates that can be to be troubled with weak fears and yet rest in uncertain hopes but bring it to a conclusion Is the Lord Jesus mine or no and if he be yours and his love yours see it that you may trample on the neck of death and triumph over hell and the grave and long to be with the Lord and love the appearing of the Lord and go away with joy unspeakable and full of glory out of this world as to your Wedding and if there be any hope of getting it who would be without it Some of you it may be have a long time been carelesse in seeking for it hence want it some of you have been traders with the Lord long and yet doubt some of you have not clear evidence but content your selves without being thankful to the Lord for what he hath done for you hence still doubt Others have gray hairs on your head or at least are near your Graves the battel is near your armour is not on you are not yet ready and so still doubt I remember what Christ said of Maries Box she prepared that for his burial it may be that these Truths may be prepared for your approaching departure and therefore light your Lamps at this fire and light of the Lords love to you and see that indeed he loves thee But why do you perswade to this till the Spirit comes and speaks it How can I see it 1. 'T is true the Spirit only can do it but yet the same Spirit that seals the Elect the same Spirit commands the Elect not to sit Idle and dream of the Spirit but to use all diligence to make it sure and you shall never have it unlesse you lay hold on a Fancy for it on those terms 2. Though there is an immediate witnesse of the Spirit of the love of Christ yet it doth most usually and firstly witnesse by means And hence I shall give you means looking only to the Spirit of Christ to set them on Evangelical Precepts have a power For Gospel-ministration of the Spirit consists not only of stories and promises but commands and the Elect feel them Hence carnal men under the Law yet pretending Gospel will professe the Law is preached when they are pressed to any Evangelical duty because they feel not the power of the Gospel being not yet under it And the means I shall mention are only general to establish the hearts of some Make a sad enquiry first of this Whether the Lord hath loved thee for his own everlasting Names-sake or no for if the Lord hath loved Thee for this cause then thy great Objection will be answered and that deep valley will be filled How can the Lord love me that am thus vile before God and fallen from God why if the Lord for his own sake hath loved thee then as no good in thee moved him to love thee so no sin which he did know was and would be in thee can quench that love and if he hath manifested his love to be grounded on this though but once that same Name when thou changest is not changed but is still as dear to him and ever before him to move him to love thee still Rom. 11. 2. The Apostle answers a Cavil Will God cast away his people no saith he none that he foreknew and who are these vers 5. A remnant according to Grace as with us i. e. God hath for his Grace-sake chosen and called without respect of any thing else Hence that is to be understood 1 Sam. 12. 21 22. For there are two sorts of people in the Church 1. Servants 2. Sons Iohn 8. 35. Hence there is a double love the Lord manifests to men 1. Some he loves as servants that as we hire some men to do our work and give them meat and wages and then turn them out of doors or let them go so God hath work to be done for his Son and Saints and for many reasons hires wicked men to it either by giving them reward in this life or hopes of reward hereafter and when the work is done and use made of their Gifts Graces Spirits then turns them out of doors But 2. Some he loves as Sons even the most
foolish and weak in the world sometimes hence not for any service they can do but for his own sake he will give them an Inheritance and love them as sons because he will these abide ever in the Lords love Hagar and Isâ—mael cast out Sarah and Isaac stay in the Family How shall I know that 1. If the Lord loves thee for his Name-sake it will draw thee to that fellowship with it self that what-ever thou wantest thou wilt seek for it hence by presenting that Name of God that for his own sake he would supply I know the Lord loves for Christs sake but why should Christ help for his Name-sake For thus many hypocrites think when they see Gods anger against them for their sin they seek to remove that 〈◊〉 and when that is done think God is at peace and now all is well They see the Lord is delighted with the obedience of his people hence fall to that work and now thinâ— the Lord is pleased with them But if ever the Lord loves any man he will first stop his mouth whether Jew or Gentile Rom. 3. 19. and make him on his Knees know there is no reason for it nay all reason against it Now hath noâ— the Lord brought thee to this and hence having nothing to quench Gods anger but Christ hast held up him before God and having nothing to move Christ hast held up his Name before him and here hast rested thy wearied heart looking to him if any Grace be begun in thee that he would perfect it iâ— none that he would begin it if unfit and unworthy to prepare thee for it only for his own good pleasure this is one evidence of it As 't is in some Seals you can hardly perceive in the Seal what is engraven there but set it on Wâ—x you may see it evidently so here hardly can you see the Lords love look on thy heart if it loves him his choice see if thou chusest him his love for his own sake if thou cleavest with dearest affection to this love for its own sake there thou art safe Prov. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower c. and this not only at first conversion but ever after all duties all enlargements Ezak 16. ult And this doth evidence love 1. Because if thou had'st the righteousnesse of Angels thou would'st think it a good evidence but this of Christ is a thousand times dearer 2. This is a setting of God against himself i. e. to answer himself and hence Saints in all their straights and sorrows hither had recourse I speak not now of Temporal Blessings but of Everlasting love and all the Fruits of it that here it hangs Now I say you are built in a Rock higher than all powers of Darkness now a Key is put into thy hand to unlock all Gods Treasure now thou art in the very lap of love wrapt uâ— in it when here thy heart rests and if not Beloved the Lord would never let thee lean thus in his bosom and therefore if this be thus see it and wonder his Name hath moved him to love me 2. You shall find this if the Lord for his Name-sake loves thee there is noâ— any carriage or passage of Providence of him to thee but he gets himself a Name first or lasâ— by it for if this be Gods end every passage of Providence is but a means to this end hence he will attain this end by every act of his Providence towards thee hence you shall find that those very sins that dishonour his Name he will even by them and if by them by all things else get himself a Name he will be so far from casâ—ing thee out of his love that he will do thee good by them Those very sins that God damns others for he will make to humble thee empty thee Pharisees persecuted Christ and lost all for it Paul was so and it humbled him all his life Not worthy to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God and it made him lay up all his wealth in mercy I was received to mercy 1 Tim. 1. Mary sins much and God forgives much and she loves much others sinned much and God hardened much Iudas betraies Christ and repents and hangs himself and flies from him Peter denies him and weeps and hence he is the first that Preâ—cheth him And this is certain in the best Hypocrite sins left in him either never make him better but blind and harden him and he hath his distinctions of infirmity c. that he sleights them day by day till all his dayes are run out or if any good 't is no more than Iudas or Cain some legal terrors or other light flashes of comfort but to be more humble indeed c. this he findeth not Now is it not so with thee Doth not thy weaknesse strengthen thee with Paul Doth not thy blindnesse make thee cry for light and those cries have been heâ—rd out of darknesse God hath brought light Thou hast felt venome and risings of heart against Christ and do they not make thee loath thy self more that thou thinkest never any so beholding to Grace do not thy falls into sin make thee more weary of it watchful against it long to be rid of it and so sin abounds but Grace abounds Why should this be so for his Names-sake because he will love thee hence 't is so great and unmatchable that he will make thy poyson thy Food thy Death thy Life thy Damnation Salvation thy very greatest Enemies thy greater Friends And hence Mr. Fox said he thanked God for his sins more than for his good works I have marvailed at Gods dealings with his people they depart and stay long and care not for returning again in that time a mighty power teacheth humbleth brings back when they never thought of it Oh the reason is God will have his Name now if thus your assurance will be strong and constant but if you build thus I have done this c. I have that your assurance will not stand therefore look and see if it be not thus with you Take heed you do not build your assurance from a mingled Covenant of Works and Grace for this is the frame of divers when they lye under the first Covenant only of doing they will not take this as any evidence as they have no reason so to do Rom. 9. 31. Nor when a man lies under the Second Covenant of Believing barely and if it be a dead Faith they have no evidence or reason so to do Hence they mingle the Covenants and think thus If I can believe in Christ and perform universal obedience to all the commands of God I shall be safe hence set upon the observance of both and finding they can never do them especially the latter hence are ever troubled and never have any setled peace Hence those Galatians Paul writes to perverting and mingling the Covenants were troubled Gal.
yet in your hand nor your Souls ready to meet the Lord For look as 't is with a mighty Prince that shall set his heart on some poor servant and he requires no portion but to love him the more and she cannot bring her heart to love him more than other mean Fellows is she fit or ready to be Matcht unto him So here hence Mat. 10. 37. He that loves Father or Mother c. then you are ready when your love is fit for such an Husband and therefore though you feel some love under the ashes when you stir up your hearts to the Lord Jesus yet if it be not a fit love beseeming his Excellency and the Glory of his Person when you can draw out buckets of love and pour it upon other things but scarce fetch out a drop for Christ and yet you hope that will serve the turn I tell you no you are yet unfit and unready for him Look as it was with their offering the Testimonies of love and thankfulnesse Mal. 1. 14. so it 's here And therefore my Exhortation shall be as 't is said in that Psalm Give unto the Lord the kingdoms of the earth Give unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name So give to the Lord the love that is due unto him that love that is fit for him What is that love the Lord would have which is fit for him 1. Beloved I hope if you think not your Blood too dear for Christ you will not think any love too much for Christ Yet because I would not have you aim at an uncertain mark and shoot at a venture I shall single out that love which I hope your own Consciences cannot but say is fit And 1. I had thought to have sought for this from you viz. Give the Lord Jesus but that love no more love than thou hast given to thy lusts the Lord will be contented with it Rom. 6. 19. As ye have yeilded c. so now but that it may be you may think this love too base for him yet give him but this and the Lord would be contented with it and accept of it and those that shall not it shall be their Torment in Hell to think of this word Oh that I had given the Lord Jesus that love I gave to my base lusts I had had him and been in Heaven with him But I wholly presse a Second 2. Do but love him as he loveth thee i. e. you cannot answer the greatnesse of his love but do it for your measure If you cannot pay him in pounds yet pay him in pence and this is fit for him For 1. He is worthy of love there is beauty in him why thou shouldest desire him there is none in thee 2. Thy love shall have a recompence 2 Tim. 4. 8. he never can have recompence from thee 3. He loves thee first with his own love now that is unreasonable not to reflect his beams and return him his own again in similitude if not in parity Wherein appears the love of the Lord to me that so I may see how to manifest the like love to him He hath loved thee more than himself more than his own honour for he made himself of no reputation Phil. 2. 7. more than his own comforts he left the bosom of a Father and bore the wrath of a Father for thee more than his own life he saw thy neck upon the block and Gods Axe up to give the Bloody Fatal stroke and he came in thy room and loved thy life more than his own lost his own before one hair of thy head should perish though he knew thee a Traytor to God and an enemy to himself Rom. 5. 10. Rev. 1. 5 6. if this be not thus woe to thee living woe to thee dying What art thou but a sad spectacle hung up in thy chains in this world for Angels in Heaven to see and tremble at and for Devils Sins and eternal Sorrows like Fouls of Heaven to Prey upon Now is it not fit that thou shouldst love him more than thy self his honour more than thine his consolations more than thine own his Person more than thine own nay more than thy life Rev. 12. 11. I have known them whom the Lord hath revealed this love to that have thought it too little to do and hence have wish'd they had been born in those Times that they might have laid down their lives for him VVhere is now this love Doth not self-love swallow up all Lord what self-seeking self-serving self-minding self-honouring self-pleasing and the Lord himself and his love forgot as if there were no Christ or in him no love 2. He hath loved thee when he might have passed by thee and loved others that might have wone the Lord towards them I speak after the manner of men rather than thee men of greater place greater gifts and parts greater pomp in the world but Rom. 9. Iacob shall be loved Esau hated he hath passed by Kings with their Crowns and now set his heart on thee a Babe when wise ones know him not foolish when prudent ones see him not weak when strong and mighty receive him not Yea as the Apostle speaketh 1 Cor. 1. 28. Base things and things which are not God hath made thee nothing in thine own eies Behold his love and now do the like for him It may be somtime thy carnal eye sees more Glory in the creature than in Christ more in the honour of man than in the honour of a Christ c. And hence might'st set thy heart on them rather than on Christ because strongly tempted so to do and it may after some scourges be saved at last yet passe by them and set thy heart only on him We judge of a Friend by the times of triall and of a Christian by a time of temptation Now a Balaam a Witch may not dare in time of temptation to fall into it Oh get one strain higheâ— and go one step farther than a Witch though I might let my heart loose after the world I will not love it the love of the Lord deserves it the love of the Lord constrains me to give my love to him and not to the world though I might hide it and have pardon for it 3. He loves thee although thou wrongest him Isa. 43. 22. to 26. when he is so wronged that he is ready to give thee up yet Hos. 11. 8 9. He is God and not man nay which is more wonderful where sin there Grace abounds Hence David makes this an Argument Psal. 25. 11. Forgive because 't is great And hence Moses Deut. 33. 9. Because 't is astiffnecked people Oh therefore love him though he smites thee though he forsakes thee wherein he may seem but indeed doth no wrong to thee but love thee for chastisement is part of the portion of sons not of Bastards Heb. 12. 6 8. But do as that woman when she came to the
when all is dispatched then to go up to Heaven and when gone there to be for ever rejoycing triumphing in the presence of God Almighty and now what it will be to be far off from Christ weeping never to be pitied more Oh he that was so full of pity no heart then to pity no hand to help I can but only paint this fire Oh that the Lord would help you here that so you might look out for him Saylors sleep in calms and so it may be have many here in this place of rest Others of you take heed I le tell you your bar It may be most estates are brought low and sunk when you see that now you either look back or look for Lots accomodations and such an estate as is lost it may be you will spy some hope of it and then follow the game and never look out till you die The Lord keep you from it You then will not look up for Christs coming at the last day or in his Ordinances here If thou dost so had it not been better thou hadst been buried in the Sea or left in sorrow on the Shore Oh take heed therefore look for the coming and company of Christ and let this be enough and because you cannot look for him in the the clouds now Oh look and wait for him in his Ordinances and consider if espoused ones look for his coming then and for perfect knowledge of him and communion with him then think Lord what a heart have I that look not for him here But Lord who will believe our report Thus they went out by hope and expectation of his coming Now the Second thing follows they went forth with longing desires after his coming CHAP. XI That Believers do long and desire for the appearance and Second Coming of Christ. SECT I. THat all those that are espoused to Christ and beloved of Christ they ought not only to look but to long for the coming of and their everlasting communion with the Lord Christ Iesus For the consummation of their marriage with him that though he be gone our hearts may be with him before our souls be or before our souls and bodies be that though we may die and lie down in the dust our desires may live and lie in Heaven and cry come Lord. Now do not think this point true and so far good if we could reach it but this is a high pitch for you must long for it God forbid a Christian espoused to Christ should plead that work too much which Hypocrites the five foolish Virgins in their kind attained to See Presidents for this in all ages Abraham and those in his time who was Father of the Faithful Heb. 11. 15 16. A better Countrey where they might have fellowship with the Lord and hence God is not ashamed c. As if the Lord were ashamed of all them to be his people that professe themselves so but desire not this In Christ's time Simeon Luke 2. 29. with 25. Where he waited for the consolation of Israel c. to enjoy more of him In the Apostles time 't is also that which they all felt 2 Cor. 5. 2. In this we groan earnestly c. But you will say It may be this was because of miseries and want of Ordinances c. Therefore see in the last age of the Church when the new Ierusalem was built and when peace and when Christ's face was seen in his House yet then the Spirit and the Bride say come Rev. 22. 17. They are the last breathings of Iohn and the Spirit in him Lord Iesus come quickly But Cent. 8. 14. The Church there intreats her Beloved to fly away to the Mountains of Spices that she might enjoy him out of this world SECT II. 1 BEcause they are bound to love Christ and his appearing to love his looks when he shall appear to the world 2 Tim. 4. 8. The Crown of Glory comes as it were by succession not only to me but to all them that love his appearing Now can there be any love of him and his appearing and not so much as any desire after him and after it Certainly there is no love or if there be any it lies languishing For answerable to our love to any thing is our desire what we love only we desire only what we love not at all or but little we desire not at all or but little so here Now therefore to question May a Christian desire it is to question whether a Christian ought to love the Lord Jesus or no. We are bound not to love earth hence bound to love Christ and his fellowship in Heaven Let him be Anathema that doth not so 2. Because the Lord Jesus longs for them Iohn 17. 24. Throughout which Chapter he prays as if in Heaven already Hence I am no more in this world and where I am let them be also He was on earth but looks on himself as in Heaven That as it was with the High Priest he carries the Names of the twelve Tribes on his heart bese◠with precious Stones very dear to him 〈◊〉 the Holy of Holies so Christ. Not that he sees any beauty in them of their own why he should desire them but because he freely loves them and dearly loves them as being given him of the Father and as having cost him dear and hence if he loves them he longs for them Now if he longs for them ought not they much more to long for him Psal. 27. 8. Thou saidst seek my face thy face Lord will I seek 1. He longs for thee now in Glory when one would think his thoughts and heart should be swallowed up with it and shall not we long for him here in the valley of Myrtle trees in misery on the dunghill 2. He longs for thee when thou hast nothing to make him desire thee he hath all that thy heart can desire being the very bosom-delight of God himself Rev. 22. penult He did but say he would come and Iohn desires Oh come But doth he long for thee Now not to long for him If this love be not worth longing for truly 't is worth nothing 3. Because this is our last and ultimate end that we are made for chosen for bought for called for sealed for that at last we might be with the Lord and be made perfect in one 2 Cor. 5. 5. He that hath made us for this is God c. For the whole Trinity enjoying infinite sweet fellowship with himself hence desire it might be communicated in Christ 't is so and now the last end is attained Now if this be our last end ought we not to desire it Then we ought not to desire to be blessed nor to desire the Lord may be glorified Nay you know that whatever we make our last end it will swallow up all our desires after any other thing This is the Center and rest and journies end of our tired weary spirits And
2 3. Who is able to bear his coming because he comes to purifie c. Yet still the Spirit barely considered in â—â— self puts no difference unlesse it be in respect of the work it self Oh therefore look to it do not say I have now the Spirit and Christ. But what doth Christ work there Iohn 15. 1 2. There are but two sorts of Branches there fruitless and fruitful the difference is in the very fruits of them c. Oh then terrour to them that content themselves with common works and so think their estates good You have been terrified confessed and repented Iudas did so You have reformed many things and take delight to draw â—igh to God in Ordinances those Hypocrites did so in Isa. 58. You have seen nothing in your selves the Devils do so You have had great ravishments and seen the Glory of Heaven of Saints Balâ—â—â— did so You have beheld and seen the Lord Jesus as if present on earth Many saw him heard him and were lifted up to Heaven by him and shall see him at last in Glory indeed Oh but my desires are good â— Many shall seek and not enter Oh therefore consider of your estate and tremble and set before thee all the mercy the Lord embraceth his people with and say Oh that mercy for me and follow him till he hath done it SECT IV. HEnce it may appear that the trâ—e Believer may know the blessednesse of his estate by the â—eculiarnesse of a work within him For if indeed there should be no difference between those Graces that be in Hypocrites and in Saints if no difference between Love and Faith and desire in one and that which is in another then none could know the blessednesse of their estates by any work but seeing that the Lord hath made a vast and a known difference so that God knows it and themselves know it as hath been proved and all the world might know it but that they want eyes to see mens hearts and they shall know it at the last day to their eternal anguish when the hidden things of darknesse and the secrets of all hearts shall be opened then it must needs follow from the knowledge of such a work a man may conclude his blessed and safe estate By work I mean no Popish good work nor consider a work without a peculiar word of promise made the eunto If we should ask a woman married to another Husband how she knows such a one is her husband she would manifest it by those peculiar acts or works or manifestations of a husband to her She hath known he hath forsaken great offers and come to her Her heart that was most opposite was at last overcome to forsake all then they entred into a peculiar bond of covenant so that they cannot part and though they do depart yet they stay not long So here If you should have asked the Israelites how they did know they should be saved from the destroying Angel Why the Lord hath promised to save us You that do what That sprinkle the door-posts with the Blood So the destroying Angel of Gods presence shall destroy millions of people and that in the night-time when they least suspect it Notwithstanding all deliverances miracles plagues and repentances Shall you be preserved Yes the Lord hath promised it and reveal'd it To whom To them that have their door-posts sprinkled with Christ's Blood apprehended by the work of Faith Rom 3. 24 25. Heb. 10. 22. If one should have asked the Lord Jesus himself whom he loveth he would Iohn to answer his sheep for for them he layes down his life be they feeble or strong If one should ask further who are his sheep he would describe them by several properties as he hath done Iohn 10. Such as know me as hear me only as follow me So if you ask a believer that question How do you know you are loved Is it good to answer with Christ I am his sleep for whom he hath laid down his life when I was lost an went astray But how do you know that Is he now to answâ—â— like Christ by these properties wrought in me or no If you say No because all these an hypocrite may have then the Lord Jesus hath done very weakly in describing his own sheep by such properties to be his which discover them no more than so It s true an hypocrite hath somthing like all these but not these indeed If you say yes then a man may know his blessed estate by these The promise is Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me But how do you know you love the Lord There is the question If Satan and blind carnal reason ask this question you will be filled with accusations and never satisfie them for he that accused Iob to Gods face will much more to their own faces accuse Saints of hypocrisie If uncharitable men that never had the love of Christ abiding in their hearts you will never satisfie them but if the Lord ask the question in his Word hold there and the work is so clear that though there hath been much decay yet after recovery the soul dares eye the Sun and say Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iohn 21. 17. Hence by this work you may come to know your safe estate 1. A man may know his blessed estate in respect of time past by a work i. e. with a word or promise made to it and the Spirit revealing of it viz. the everlasting thoughts and election of God toward him Rom. 8. 28. Them that love God who are called according to his purpose notwithstanding all their miseries and sins yet love him and so called according to his purpose for so the Apostle raiseth up his thoughts I know the world is full of want of love and think it easie so to do and like the Devil are very kind to the Lord as they think while the Lord pleâ—seth them who yet when the time of patience is out shall be eternal blasphemers of him But there is such love whereby Saints may raise up their hearts thus to see Gods love 1 Thes. 1. 4 5. Knowing your Election of God How so Immediatly Some Divines think Angels see it not so and that its peculiar to God so to do But mediatly for our word came in power and in much assurance to make you enlarged for God to turn you from Idols unto God and to wait for Christ in Heaven seeing him here but as in a Glasse And by the same Spirit Paul saw it by the same Spirit they might much more see it and so the Elect may see it And â—f experience may be added to the Truth How many of Gods people dayly knowing their work of vocation and glory ascend from these lower stairs of the Lords Ladder to the highest of Election and there are swallowed up with eternal wonderment filling their hearts with that joy and peace that the weak Tabernacle
affliction makes him seek the Lord early Hence because thou art troubled at the feeling of a slothful heart that will make you seek for more help 2. You will seek him with your whole heart so that 't is the Lord only that the heart is bound for Psal. 119. 2. Phil. 3. 12. The feeling of the Lords power and eternal life and that not only while means last but when in want of and banisht from means As David forgets his Crown and Kingdom and saith Psal. 27. 4. One thing I have desired Hence Hezekiah had a promise of life and going to Gods House when recovered It was not life he minded so much as this What is the sign that I shall go to the House of the Lord Hence Saints though they neglect sometimes yet as a Ship driven back by neglecting winds or as a Tradesman he is altogether for his gain yet proves an ill husband sometimes but when he hath felt his losses he falls to his losses he falls to his trade again So here like Merchants seeking pearls c. Matth. 13. 45. Let this comfort you though you finde nothing yet Saints are a generation of Seekers finding time is not come yet certainly you shall come to your end at last You have no lappings for the sores of your sloth but opening them before the Lord the Lord will heal and help in time But I feel no good hence I am afraid I seek not aright Gal. 6. 9. You shall reap in due time and Hebr. 11. 13. All things were cross to the promise yet Abraham holds on still But I finde my spirit faint and grow listless and weary When heart and strength fail yet God doth not God will desert that you may know where your strength and heart and help lies But 't is so great I know no difference between mine and others neglect That is sad yet as 't is in all sins falls into them do but undermine them the more Peter denies Christ as well as sleeps yet he is the first that preacheâ—h him When a mans meat is so far from doing good as that it doth him hurt he is dying so that sin is dying that sloâ—h is dying when food given to it doth kill it David is ready to give up all yet saith It s good for me to draw neer to God and there the heart will repose it self again SECT VI. OH be not slothâ—ul then neglect no means but use all means get oyl in your vessels that you may get your desired end Mariners that are bound for a voyage when set out will not be at rest till they are landed where they would be It was one of the Churches sorrowful complaints Isai. 64. 7. None that stirs up himself c. But I finde many hindrances without me many sins within me I have sometime neither strength nay which is worse nor yet heart to seek the Lord though my wants are many though my days decline how shall I doe 1. Finde out that which clogs thy heart from seeking effectually and causeth that neglect and that makes the Lord neglect thee in thy ineffectual seeking else thou mayest seek and never finde and that is some lust something that easeth the heart which is not God When the soul hath not bread it will with the Prodigal then resolve for home men could not live as they do so many days without God unless they did feed on somewhat else beside the Lord. Hence its usual for men in means to use means for a good and out of means to resist that good Isa. 58. 1 2. Zac. 7. 6. Men that would have their load drawn must first take their wild Horses out of it So do with these lusts If therefore not for your own yet for the Lords sake who else will not be accounted worth the seeking finde out whatever contents you necessity hath no Holidays oh you must have him 2. Use means but trust not to them nor to any strength received to carry you along in this work you will else neglect and fall from the Lord and the Lord from you It s said of Asa 2 Chro. 16. 12 13. Asa was diseased in his feet in his old age yet he sought not to the Lord but Physicians So 't is with many a diseased Christian they seek not to the Lord to cure their feet but means or themselves hence he decays and dies You have the stream of all temptations against you 't is not your own Oars but the Lords winde that must carry you against it look therefore to an almighty power in means to help you plead Gods Covenant to put his fear into your hearts that you may not depart from him as he will not forsake you 1 Cor. 15. 10. Paul received not grace in vain but lebours abundantly yet not I but grace There is little fear of drowning so long as we keep head above water â—o long as we cleave to the Lord Jesus 3. Love the presence of the Lord and his company If there be any love between you you will then finde time and nothing shall keep you from him Ier. 2. 1 2 3. I remember the love of thine espousals when thou followedst me in a wilderness thorow pits and deserts Remember he hath been in heaven praying for thee when thou hast been provoking of him he hath been blessing thee when thou hast been abusing him it may be he hath let out his heart blood to make room for thee in his heart it may be he intends through all eternity to express his dearest love to thee and is he not worth your love Love him and you will be with him love will be stronger then death it will break all these bonds 4. Set before you the greatness of the good you are to use all meâ—ns to gain why do men hunt after flesh-pots The world is esteemed great 't is near us and so for honour Now Christ and eternity are afar off and hence they seem little and hence to seek them is not made a business of greatest weight and importance 2 Cor. 4. 16 18. We faint not while we look to things that are eternal Acts 24. 15 16. There is not the vilest Repâ—obate but when he shall see the glory that shall be revealed shall stamp and rear his hair and say Oh if I had known this I hope I should never have dreamed out my time so as I have done We look on the Picture of Goodness in the volume of the Creatures which satisfie not Oh never cease looking upward till you see what you seek for in the greatness of it Suppose a man should sleep all his life-time and be in a dream and in it have all the delights and glory of the world presented before him at last the ground opens its mouth and swallows him up and then he is awakened Lord how will he cry Truly Christ and grace and fellowship with God are not thought of sought for
they forsake him and live on the spoyl This is no inward Principle And hence when mens Expences for Christ exceed their Receipts from Christ they cease spending and fall in the high way to begging at the door of the World 5. Those whose Principle is nothing else but the strength of natural Conscience which will set men a doing when they have neither praise from men nor gain from Christ for their labour For the Lord deals with some men â—as the Romans did with some of their Prisoners they would chain a Prisoner and his keeper together and let them go up and down so God chains many a poor Prisoner of hell and his conscience together and lets them go together And hence many a man keeps pace with his conscience and cannot give it the slip for all the world heaped up with gold as Balaam said Now there are two things in a natural conscience Rom. 2. 15. 1. To accuse Hence a man dares not omit prayer dares not commit a sin he hath a mind to conscience would then roar Hence many keep constantly set duties in private and tremble at small sins not because they take any delight in the one or are weary of the other but because they are ever under the eye of this Judge 2. To Excuse and to give much sweetness when a man follows the dictates thereof hence a man though carnal will die for his Religion and that with some chearfulness because conscience chears within and sings him asleep in trouble And hence a man will cry out of all the glorious hypocriâ—ies of men because to walk according to Conscience is sweeter to him And hence a man comforts himself t is my Conscience Mark 12. 33. To love God is better than burnt Offerings Hence a man will profit exceedingly in what he holds Gal. 1. 14. because zealous for it for Conscience and yet this is but a Principle of Nature not an inward Principle of life whose property is to seek the subversion of corrupt Nature as natural Conscience seeks the garnishings of it and the actions thereof 6. Those whose Principle is the fear of death and hell raised not so much by the power of Conscience as by the power of the Word And hence come complaints about a mans Estate that a man can have no rest by all duties that he hath done or doth Hence following of the means running to the best Ministry mourning and lamenting and confessing sin Mat. 3. 7. Oh generation of vipers c. And hence prizing of favour and Comfort Psal. 78. 34 35. Hence many do take this for their Conversion and say I heard such a Minister at such a time and then I cryed out I was damned and thought I saw the Devil yea and to Hell you may for all this if no other Principle Indeed there is this fear in the elect but drives them to the Ark as Noah But those when their fear is over they fall to fight against the Lord. 7. Those whose Principle is nothing else but the immediate actings of the Spirit of God upon them For sometime the Spirit of God comes upon men as Light shines on the mud wall yet dwels not there as in the Sun And hence many speak pray prophecy admirably as Balaam Numb 24. 3 4. Many men like Carriers bring others goods that are not possessors of them Now these are 1. External enlargements and hence a man doâ—h many things which he hath no inward power to perform the Spirit is there assisting hence he cannot do so at another time but 't is the Spirit only assisting And hence a man may have abundance of knowledge and he not affected with it he may live and pray with applause of men others wish they were like him yet live without love speak without feeling and do without life hence men leave themselves here 2. Internal pangs the Spirit of God begets some inward grief especially when outward evils press then inward flashes and desires but they are soon done There is no Spring no Principle within What the difference is between Saints uneveness and this unconstancy you shall hear hereafter yet these are wrestlings of Spirit not yet conquering and hence it possesseth not the Soul 8. When men Principle is nothing else but common gifts which are inward and abiding long in the Soul That a man now thinks he hath Grace and sure signes of the Lords love and here is fastned when there be two things wherein it appears here is no inward Principle 1. These gifts ever puff up and make a man something in his own eyes as the Corinthian knowledge did And many a private man thinks himself fit to be a Minister many a Minister better than all the Parish besides when Paul was the least of all the Saints And hence commonly they degenerate to pride form 2. These keep men strangers to Christ the life of Faith they have these affections yet ignorant of Christ take these as signes of his love live without him And this is indeed the inner Principle which all the wicked in the world want there is in true Grace an infinite circle a man by thirsting receives receiving thirsts for more But hence the Spirit is not poured out abundantly on Churches because men shut it out by shutting in and contenting themselves with their common graces and gifts Mat. 7. 29. Examine if it be thus If so 1. You cannot come to the Lord John 5. 44. how can ye beleeve 2. Nor to receive any thing from the Lord if you do Jam. 4. 3. When you ask to spend it on your lusts when that carries you 3. This puls down the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus when other things rule us and not himself alone 4. Satan will have this against you as against Iob You serve not the Lord for nought To what purpose are your new Moons Church-reformations if it be thus Now because it hath been replyed to what was formerly said that Christ was the vessel not our Souls I shall therefore confirm the latter to be the truth by these reasons 1. Mystical places of Scripture are to be interpreted by plain Now though Christ may be the Antitype of these Vessels of the Temple yet he is not plainly said to be a Vessel but Souls are called so Rom. 9. 23. 2 Cor. 4. 7. Acts 9. 15. Paul is a chosen Vessel 1 Thes. 4. 4. we are to possess our Vessels in holiness 2 Tim. 2. 20. Vessels of honour 2. The Spirit is not in Christ as in a Vessel but as in a fountain hence Ioh. 3. 34. Christs hath received the Spirit without measure 3. The foolish Virgins had Vessels because it s sayd they took their Lamps but no Oyle with them Their folly was not in not providing Vessels Hence the foolish Virgins did not afterward beg their Vessels but their Oyle 4. The wisdome of the Wise did appear in that they did provide Oyle for their Vessels If therefore the Vessel
His redemption is in him there could not be freedom one hour from unknown evils but by him Hence seeing him such an one he seeks him As why do men seek men especially if great Why do men desire to stand before Princes and please them so that they will not gladly offer them the least distaste Because they see them before them beholding of them apt to be angry if displeased and their greatness awes them So here Why is not the Lord Jesus pleased He is not seen in his Glory nor made really present and hence Rev. 5. 12 13. When they saw him on his Throne they cast down their Crowns and gave him Glory 2. The soul also feels his love and so abundantly loves him again For how come men to seek themselves in every thing and they cannot but do it 'T is because they love themselves and that abundantly necessarily as fire burns though they burn so hot in this love that at last they consume themselves So how do any can any seek the Lord We know the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13. 5. Love seeks not her own When the Sun hath put out this fire of our self-love when the sense of the Lords love hath kindled that love to the Lord again as that it abundantly loves Christ now it will seek the things of Christ and not its own things And as there is abundance of self love that men are eaten up with it so there must be much love which must be abundantly shed in the heart so as to eat up that arising from the sense of the Lords love and that abundantly For many a man comes to have some good will and affection and love to the Lord but yet never comes to seek the Lord as his last end and live to him Why Because he hath not tasted abundantly of the Lords Mercy Grace and Love Psal. 86. 12 13. And hence the incomparable Spirit of Paul I seek not yours but you Wherein In being willing to spend But save your self Paul nay and to be spent With much ado Nay most gladly Though you love me not because I love you So here though Christ should not love it yet he is worthy he hath done enough and now the soul will not only do but rejoyce nay in sufferings because his love is not dropt but shed in our hearts And hence 't is a never-failing rule little love or assurance of it little seeking the Lord much assurance much seeking of him 3. Hereupon the soul closeth with the whole will of Christ and pleaseth it because it pleaseth him It s with every man as it was with Samson he would needs have a wife or the Philistims Why so Iudg. 14. 3. Because she pleaseth me So why will men seek themselves save themselves love themselves and please their own wills Because it pleaseth them Look therefore as the soul when he loved himself did seek to please only his own will in every thing and 't is good because it pleaseth me so the soul whose heart is now indeared to Christ though he cannot perfectly do it that 's in Heaven yet he seeks to give the whole will of Christ content because it pleaseth Christ. And this is that that God hath sworn his people shall have Luke 1. 74 75. And that Christ hath delivered us from all our enemies For the great reason why men cleave not to the Lord and please his whole Will is because they have many things to care for and â—eep and please which we account friends which are the Lords enemies Satan and world to serve him without fear i. e. in love and in holinesse and righteousnesse i. e. his whole Will all â—ur daies And hence Eph. 5. 8 9. They were darknesse but now are light by Faith now there is sanctity Walk as children of the light Wherein consists that Proving what is acceptable to God Hence Eph. 6. 6. They should please Christ doing the Will of God from the heart And this is so necessary that Gal. 1. 10â— The Apostle saith If I please men i. e. their wills I am not Christs And this is walking worthy of the Lord pleasing him in all things and this is fruit the end of the tree and leaves also and differencing a tree from all other that be beautiful but barren Col. 1. 10. But why do you make this to consist in pleasing the whole will of Christ and not of God the Creator 1. Because our sanctification now cannot please God as a Creator though it may pleâ—se him that is the Creator in Christ because only perfect Holâ—ness can please him 2. Because Christ hath pleased the Father by the Holiness of himself now this being done and therefore God having put all things into his hands having done that for us we are to give content to him And herein our sanctification is differing from the Image Adam had who in closing with the will of God looked upon him as a Creator ours respects a Redeemer who hath boughâ— us to himself and hence we are to respect him in our acts now But why doth the soul close with the whole will of Christ i. e. so far as 't is made known First Because the holiness of Christ hâ—re chiefly discovers it self and against this a carnal heart will discover it self For Copernâ—ites may boast in and give entertainment to the person of Christ but when they come to repent which was one part of his will that they did not that they would not Wo therefore to thee Caâ—ernâ—â—m as many will close with Christ for pardon of sin and lay their sacks on him but you must burthen your self with them or the Lord will never ease you of them Oh no and hence they have light sorrow for sin many will embrace the comforts of Christ and love of Christ and this joys them yet the will of Christ that is wearisome to them Rom. 8. 8. They will pick and chuse Secondly Because this discovers a deep ditch of deceit in the heart many take up some duties and why do they do them Because they please the Lord and the Lord commands and for his sake when indeed 't is to please themselves for in other things they care not whether they please the Lord or no. Thirdly Because this closing with his whole will only gives the Lord content As 't is not the strings or striking upon one string that makes the Musick but striking on them all according to rule So here And hence when they sacriâ—â—eed and observed new Moons Isai. 1. 14. Who hath required these things at your hands Hence when the people began to put the Lord off with mean perâ—ormances any common stuffe the Lord takes state upon him and saith he is a King Mal. 1. 14. 9 10. I have no pleasure in you Fourthly Because this only will give peace and therefore let any man begin to pick and chuse and his heart die to the Lords will if Ionah like he will flie
of them ex gr Let a man have a full table and fair estate and outward blessings promising much and the Ordinances of God and a heart to follow God there now see him lively in the service of God but let him be brought to extremities and want of all this and fears of poverty estate wasteth poverty appears many rates come in and the wife crys out now he falls down to the earth in discontent or worldliness and his life and affection to Ordinances or the fervants of God is now gone as it is with a bird when she hath two wings she can flye but when she hath only one then she falls and the fowler takes her because it was a limb precious to her so here Thus it was with Davids servants at Ziglag 1 Sam. 30. 4. all wept till they could weep no more but here it was otherwise with David he could flye to God without those wings so when God gives a man a condition not so great as he would and the heart lusts after so much and God crosseth he cannot be content with a little or with a mean estate because his lust is his limb he cannot suffer it to be cut off or be paâ—â—d if a man hath a wooden leg he can cut it answerable to his shoo but if but a limb he must have his shooe cut answerable to his leg because it is his limb no cutting of that leâ—s oh it is dear So it is with a man that hath a lust after any thing it is dear and hence he is said to live in them and to be in the flesh but the desires after these things in a gracious heart they are blains they can be without them Oh never such a happiness if the Lord would dead them to me Gal. 5. 24. they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof 3. The lusts and desires in a false heart are reigning lusts and make the lusts after grace and holiness serve them but è contra in a holy heart Ex. gr A man prays for the love of God and the Spirit of grace and 't is affectionate but yet 't is ever for some lust Iam. 4. 3. a man desires grace to perfect his gifts and gifts to deck him and purchase him honor before men a man desires grace to quiet his conscience in assurance of Gods love and pardon of sin that he may live the more peaceably with his sin Isa. 58. 3 4. Now in a gracious heart the desires of these things serve the desires after grace for he desires the things of this world to be the more holy Prov. 30. 7 8. Feed me with food convenient that I may not tempt thee he desires and hath them for Israels sake 2 Sam. 5. 12. Like a Tradesman he buys and sells but it is for gain Phil. 1. 20. Oh consider of these things and if your hearts have had only such false desires as these know it that as verily as these Virgins were shut out so shall you another day CHAP. XIII The desires and endeavors of Hypocrites after Grace are not lasting SECT I. THat foolish Virgins in their first endeavors after the Spirit of Grace usually cease from seeking farther before they have got that measure and fulness of it which will continue to the last Or That there is ever a cessation in the first endeavors of carnal professors from seeking after that measure of grace which will indeed last and continue until their meeting with and appearing before the Lord Iesus Christ. For these Virgins here did seek after the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Christ and hence did get that measure which lighted their lamps for a good season and they contented themselves with this and gave over seeking untill it is too late and therefore now they say Give us of your oyl our Lamps are oâ—t These foolish Virgins when they had got somewhat they are carried with abundance of affection and profession they think themselves as good as the best and what need they seek for more and then grow secure and fall asleep until all is spent The Scripture is pregnant every where for this But let us look and see the causes of this First Sometime it is because they know not what that measure is which doth accompany salvation but they set up an imagination of their own heads which is a false image of Saving-grace and when they have that now they think all is well and they go no further Iudg. 2. 11 12. People that know not the Lord nor the poâ—er of his grace will set up other gods and serve them and there rest until it is with them as it was with those when the anger of the Lord waxâ—th hot and spoilers come now they cry unto the Lord What is the reason why many a man falls short of the righteousness which is of God viz. of Faith Because he sets up in his head a righteousness of his own and if I get that then I hope the Lord will accept me and forgive me and hence Rom. 9. 31 32. why did they miss of it Because they sought it by a righteousness which is of their own so why do many miss of Faith because they think it is an assurance or when a man rests upon Christ not considering the need of an Almighty power and hence the Apostle prays for this Ephes. 1. 19. So for Repentance why do men fall short of it they think it is when Gods anger is exprest the soul then comes to seek the Lord and findes some comfort Psal. 78. Matth. 3. and so runs away with it So for Holiness they think it is to be like others and then well they think these are the men that shall live and are happy and look as it is like it was at Babel when head and tongues were confounded one calls for a Brick the other brings him a Trowel Hammer or Tile because he did but imagine what he spake and so understood not his language So 't is here men read and hear God speak and Ministers call for Faith and knowledge of God but earthly minds cannot understand heavenly language and hence they imagine that is Faith and Repentance which indeed is not and so miss of that which indeed else would continue and this is the misery of many thousands that in seeing see not The experience of the work of grace makes men savingly to know what Grace is Iohn 5. 37 38. Now men graceless never felt it in the life and power of it and therefore cannot tell it Secondly From the nature of Common-grace the nature of which is as the Apostle speaks of lifeless knowledge 1 Cor. 8. 1 to puff up it never leaves the soul more sensible of his vileness as Saving-grace doth Ezek 16 ult and so makes a man never rest in seeking after the Lord but makes the soul feel himself full and hence the stomack is gone from seeking after more as Rev. 3.
time to come agree with him now he sits on a throne of Mercy in Heaven if thou wouldst not be put to shame then Oh be ashamed for all sins now if not judged then then condemn and judge thy self now the Lord looks for no more Oh welcome him as King into thy heart as his Kingdom CHAP. XVII Of Christs coming as a Bridegroom to his own SECT I. THat the Lord Iesus Christ shall come as a Bridegroom to his 〈◊〉 people at his Second coming that as it is said of the Sun â—â— ariseth as a Bridegroom out of his chamber and rejoyceth c. so will the Lord arise upon the world at this day Psal. 19. 5. This Point will be cleared and proved by opening the several degrees wherein he will manifest himself to be a Bridegroom then to his people not but that Christ is a Bridegroom to his people now but then he shall be so also in a more eminent manner and then the perfect accomplishment of all First then theâ—re shall be a personal meeting between his Spouse and himself as it is in mariage before the mariage iâ— consummated there are the friends of the Bridegroom and Spokesmen and he sends letters and tokens but then he comes himself so here Christ sends his Spokesmen 2 Cor. 11. 2. and his word and spiritual refreshings but when this time comes he appears himself in person and both meet in person 1 Thâ—ss 4. 16 17. here we meet the Lord spiritually in his Ordinances but then visibly in the clouds while we live in this world it is a time of parting 2 Cor. 5. 8. and when we come to dye in respect of the whole man it is so also but then the whole man shall meet him these eyes shall see him and those arms shall imbrace him you are left as Orphans here in this world alone it will not alway be thus for there is a time of meeting Secondly Then all deformities shall be taken away from his people and he shall adorn his Bride in perfect beauty for this is one part of Christs conâ—ugal love to his Spouse and People Ephes. 5. 25. different from other Husbands who finde but do not make them beautiful for if the Lord should meet his people and they him with their deformities they would do it unwillingly and with shame as in this life why are Saints unwilling yet to be with the Lord viz. because there be so many deformities and spots abiding on the Spouse sometimes the soul would not have Christ and such a heart too though he offers himself to it Lord depart I am a sinâ—ul man Luk. 5. 8. Oh but then all deformities shall be removed Phil. 3. ult Who shall change our vile bodies not destroy them and make them like his glorious body which shines brighter than the Sun Matth. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine like the Sun is there any beauty like that of Christs then shall they be like unto him 1 Ioh. 3. 2. it is a dishonor for a mighty Prince on the day of mariage to let his Queen go in rags they shall be Christs then And look as it was with Ioseph all his shame baseness imprisomeâ—ts did but â—ake way for his glory and hence he was delivered out of prison by the Kings command now his apparel and countenance and name and estate and all is changed so here all your sheme imprisonment in the grave-chains of sins that enter into your soul doth but make way for this certain glory As it was with Iehosuah Satan stood at his right hand to accuse him he only stands before the Lord at last the Lord saith Take off these filthy garments is not this a brand So Satan and Conscience accuse often here but then it shall be so that all thy filthy garments shall be taken away Thirdly Then there shall be an open manifestation and glorious declaration of the dearest love of the Lord toward them before the great day of mariage comes there is love expressed concluded between the parties and it may be some few know of it as Friends and some of the Family but the open declaration is at the day of mariage so Christ loves his people now c. and will not only love them then but openly declare his love before all the world Come ye blessed he shall declare then his own love Matth. 10. 32. Luke 12 8. He that hath made it his glory to confess Christ in a holy life Christ will confess him before God and before Angels and so before all the world Men in great place will not know their poor friends especially in open places but the Lord Jesus will and he will divulge the Fathers love to them also Act 3. 19. You blessed of the Father Ioh. 17. 22 23 24. I have given them that glory united them and made them flesh of my flesh that the world may know thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me Here the Lord doth love his people dearly but it is not so known the Sun shines on good and bad the world hates and persecutes them as Hypocrites civil men think them like themselves worldlings think them as little loved as any their estates thrive not Hypocrites bear a base esteem of them and if they love them 't is because they love them Saints themselves many times suspect them or if not yet they judge as well of others as them nay it may be they are so disfigured sometimes by those sores that break out of them that they know not themselves but now the Lord will openly declare his love to them and to all the world besides These are the men which I have born on my brest and caried on my shoulders for whom I have built and planted Churches and destroyed enemies and trod the wine-press alone and prefered above mine own life and blood and glory whose hairs have been numbred by me whose walls have been continually before me No greater misery to a holy heart than this Psal. 42. 10. Where is now thy God So when conscience saith and men say it here Oh what a mercy is it that then it shall be heard I am now come to comfort thee Fourthly Then they shall be brought into actual possession and fruition of all the glory promised unto them of all their inheritance and portion Before mariage there be promises made of such an estate but when the day is come then they come to actual and full possession of it and become equal possessors of the estate so much in this life the Lord doth promise to possess his people of there be promises of peace redemption victory and triumph over all enemies fellowship with God and all the Saints and Angels together an incorruptible inheritance and now they shall enter into possession of all these nay all that Christ hath signified by that word Kingdom Matth. 25. Come and take the kingdom prepared for you 1 Cor. 15. 54. Then shall be broughâ— to pass
tarries for you and unto Christ that waits upon you as Felix to Paul when his heart trembled to hear of judgement to come I will speak with you at a more convâ—â—â—ent season The Lord hath not left Churches without examples of the terrour of Christs patience in this kind who upon their beds of distresse have lamented before men Oh my time is out Call time again call timâ—again and who have besought it of God with tears as he did the blessing and cryed out What Lord wilt not give me one houre one day more and so like men sinking have caâ—ch'd hold on any thing to save them whiles others have stood upon the shoar lamenting of them the Lord be merciful to them this may be your case that neither your tears nor blood can purchase a moments time Look to it that your vessel be not found empty at the coming of the Lord it is a dying time in this Countrey and the Lord hath taken away some and those that were ready are gone into the Marriage Consider of it that faith that grace which you think you have now may prove but chaffe and stubble when it comes to be tryed in the fire of the Lords coming the best man will fiâ—de all lâ—ttle enough then be sure you misse not of it now Do not think I will pray and seek then and I hope to finde though thou art secure now think of this point When did Christ come and shut the door but when the Virgins went out to buy but woe woe to thy dead heart some here present shall seek Christ and not finde him but shall dye in their sins till arrows are in your hearts you will not cry SECT III. THat after long profession of godlinesse it is a piece of foolishnesse to have any thing then to do but to dye and so to give welcome to the Lord Jesus These Virgins when they were to dye were then to buy when they were to receive Christ were then to seek for oyle in their Vessels that so they might be ready to receive Christ but of this hereafter Oh their sad condition that have all to seek yet Be not ever seeking never findâ—ng but so seeking as that when you dye you may say Comâ— Lord I am ready SECT IV. ly THis Coming of Christ is set foâ—th from the different entertainment of the Virgins and Christs different carriage toward them 1. For his entertainment to the wise Virgins that is set down to be an entring or admittance into marriage fellowship communion and joy with the Lord Jesus which â—s amplified First From the Antecedent not cause of it and that is their readinesse Secondly The Consequent of this their Communion the Dooâ— was shut That the last end and full blessednesse of all the Elect espoused here to Christ it consists in immediate communion with Jesus Christ alone What becomes of these Wise Virgins they enter into near commâ—â—â—ion and fellowship with the Bridegroom Jesus Christ. What becomes of the souls of all the Elect when they are separated from the body and from this World the spirit returns to God that gave it so the soul returns to Chrisâ— that bought it When this World shall be burnt up what will become of the souls and bodies of the Elect when there shall be no more Sun to shine nor Kingdom to rule nor Creatures to comfort they shall ascend from the clouds up into the marriage-chamber of the Son of God and be for ever with the Lord and the Lord alone and this is their blessednesse c. Blessednesse yea the last and only blessednesse even of heaven it self Iohn 17. 23. There are variety of creatures here and in every one there is drop't some sweet but the Lords end is to make his people perfect in one how is that God in Christ communicating all his goodnesse to his Son and so living in him then Christ communicates all his own and Fathers love and goodnesse unto them and so lives in them and now they are in him and so made perfect in one as those that are thirsty for a time are refreshed with some drops or waters running in their Channels at last they come to the well-head where they partake of all together 1 Thes. 5. 10. This is the end of Christs death that we might live together with him not live only from him but live with him and together with him in beginnings here hereafter fully SECT V. BEcause God the Father hath laid up all his glory most abundantly in Christ. Col. 2. 3. Treasures of wisdome it shines in the face of Christ. 2 Cor. 4. 5 6. and all our glory also Luk. 2. 32. Glory of his people Israel Psal. 29. 19. In his Temple he uttereth all his glory in the world there it sparkles in every creature and the heavens declare it but there is but some and that common to all tongues and languages but in this Temple the Lord Jesus especially there all the Fathers glory is uttered and himself doth utter it Treasures are such things where there are 1. Precious things 2. Abundance of them 3. Hidden not open to all 4. They are sure and safe there for their owners to take and enrich themselves withall so it is in Christ there is first precious things all Gods preciousnesse and all our precious things our life our peace our joy our strength c. and secondly abundance of them thirdly hid from the world and unknown in part to the Saints fourthly but sure there for their owners and Christ is the treasure of all these treasures which are infinite as God himself is now if all our glory and the glory of God be in Christ then as privation of and separation from this glory is the last and only misery so conjunction to and communion with and fruition of this glory must be the last and great happinesse of the Elect. I would convince any carnal heart by this Argument Didst ever finde any comfort from any creature that comfort is not from it but from the Lord by it for creatures are but as cold water all their warmth is from the fire now there is but a little of the sweetnesse of God because creatures can hold but little it is so narrow a vessel but in the Lord Jesus all the goodnesse of God is gathered together there which is scattered in several creatures here nay not finâ—te but infinite goodnesse and glory therefore this is our blessednesse In regard of God the Fathers exceâ—ding great love and the purpose of God to manifest it to the sons of men this is the nature of love when one is in a blessed condition himself he will labour to bring those it loves to that condition now the blessednesse of God lies in fellowship with his son Prov. 8. 30. Now God the Father loves them dearly and would have all the world to know that he doth so and hence brings them at last into the same fellowship with
thou canst for ought I know there was never drop of blood shed for thee never thought of peace in Christs Breasts to thee a vile wretch that never lamented the loss of his love nor contempt of it to this day Obj. But I care not so long as I have been well without it so I hope I shall do still I will not believe I am out of his love Answ. Yea this is the misery of men as it was of these Virgins but time shall come when you shall see him sit upon his Throne brighter than a Thousand Suns in the glory of his Father a fire burning round about him and the Kings of the earth trembling at his presence and his Saints in his bosome like unto him then you shall wish you had his love and lament Rev. 1. and waile because of him Oh secure world will you sit still in your sinnes and lie in your unbelief till the fire burnes about you and there be no escape Oh that the Lord would pity you many of you that have yet lived with dry eyes and merry hearts and yet have no love from Jesus Christ. Learn hence not to despise or refuse the love of Christ when it is offered to you and propounded to you in the Gospel we can be content to want the love of some men because we can live well enough without them and their love their love lost hurts not us but if the loss of their love may be the loss of our goods and lives then if it may be had men will seek for and long for it thoght it should not be offered but if offered it is gladly accepted So if you could live without the love of Christ you might content your selves but the loss of it is more bitter than ten thousand deaths and therefore refuse it not when it is offered but as they Acts 2. 39 41. when they saw how they had imbrued their hands in the blood of Christ and yet saw grace offered it is said They gladly received the Word of the Lord. The Law is a word of condemnation but that is not the last word the Lord hath spoken then I should spend time in vaine now the Gospel even the whole Gospel is a word of love and Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. wherein the Lord doth beseech men to be reconciled i. e. to accept of Gods love offered therein The Lord knows full well that mens hearts are so full of enmity that they will never seek for Reconciliation first though they have good cause because they have offered the wrong and therefore he stands not upon termes but offers love first without which he knows they are for ever undone Oh therefore receive it accept of it when it is offered to you and lose thy life rather than lose his love For the further opening of this Point I shall shew three things 1. That Christ doth offer his love in the Gospel and how 2. Upon what termes 3. Motives to accept it and answer Objections against accepting of it First That the Lord doth offer and how he doth offer his love in the Gospel and this I shall cleare because nothing can draw the soul to accept of love but this For the better understanding of which you must conceive that the love of Christ in the Gospel is diversly manifested unto men either to men after they be in Christ and are brought home by it and this is a love of delight in them Psalm 45. 10 11. Or it is a love of good will to men not brought home as it is in Husbands before their affections be set upon any they make love as it is 2 Thess. 2. 10. They received not the love of the truth because the truth made love to them Luke 2. 14. Good will towards men and this love I say is offered this love the Lord makes unto you stand amazed at it that after all your sinnes wrongs done him nothing but love is offered even his dearest love for though there is patience power to help wisdome to guide though there is terrour in him yet Take my love saith he Iohn 3. 17. And hence Heb. 2. 3. it is called Great salvation or love 't is offered else how could men be said to reject it or neglect it which he warnes them of A man may as well question whether there be a Gospel as whether love be offered there for as the Law is nothing but the manifestation of sin the hand-writing of death and wrath against all men writ with the Finger of God the Gospel is the manifestation of grace the hand-writing of grace and peace to all men written with the blood of God and hence the Gospel is that which brings life and immortality to light 2 Tim. 1. 10. Not that there is life absolutely for all but there 't is for all that shall by faith accept of it More particularly First It is offered Universally to all wherever it comes and therefore personally to every man the words are plaine Mark 16. 15. Preach the Gospel to every creature and not only to them that do belong to Christ and shall believe for though it be offered with the power of it effectually to these yet offered it is also unto those that never shall have God nor portion in the Son of God and hence Luke 14. The Lord of the Feast invited those that never came in and Christ himself 1 Iohn 11. He came to his own and they received him not he would have gathered them under his wings and they would not not only to them that be humbled though none will care for Gospel but such but to them that be unhumbled Revel 3. 18 20. doth this Gospel come There be many object Yes the Lord offers love to them that are his but not to me yes to thee there is not a man here that can exempt himself And I would make no doubt to go to every man particularly and say The Lord intreats thee to be Reconciled nay if there be one man worse than another though his hands have been imbrued in the blood of the Prophets and his soul stained with the crying guilt of the most hydeous sinnes that ever the earth bore or Sun saw yet the Lord makes love to him the price is paid for him if he will accept of it and that the Lord would have him so to do neither doth this Universal offer inferre an Universal Redemption for the Gospel in the offer of it doth not speak absolutely that Christ hath dyed for all and therefore for thee as the Arminians maintain but it speaks conditionally 'T is for thee if ever the Lord gives thee a heart to receive that grace there therefore consider of it there is not one here present but the Lord would have you receive his love and consider this one reason Thou shalt be condemned for refusing it Hence 't is Gods command and Christs desire you should receive it Ioâ—n 3. 19. If not thy duty to
Because here are the Lawes of Heaven Heb. 12. 25. Take heed speaking of the Ministry of the Gospel in the Churches that ye refuse not to hear him who speaketh from Heaven which Lawes are not only here promulgated as they be among the enemies of this Kingdom but accepted and received also without which Lawes what Kingdom could there be Christ's Kingdom in this world is neither tyrannical nor arbitrary to govern without Law no no but if he be our King he is our Law-giver also Isa. 33. 22. Nay the same Lawes by which we shall be ruled in Heaven we have here and we are now under That as our Divines say against the Papists though before Moses his time there was not scriptio verbi yet there was verbum scriptum which the Patriarchs had before the Floud and afterward until Moses his time So I say here though in Heaven the external Letter and scription both of Law and Gospel shall be abolished because they need theâ— not when the day-star is risen 2 Pet. 1. 19. Yet the living Rules of both for substance shall remain the end of the Ministry is to bring us to the unity of Faith in a perfect estate Eph. 4. 13. Therefore Faith shall not cease when Ministers shall and that perfect man shall come Our Faith indeed shall not then by such glasses see Christ nor adhere unto Christ by such means of Promises and Ordinances as we do now but without them we shall both see and for ever adhere to him who is our King at that day and though indeed the Law is now abolished as a Covenant of life yet it shall ever remain as a Rule of life perfect subjection to it is the happinesse of Saints in Heaven 1 Ioh. 1. as a heart contrary to it is the greatest misery of the Saints on earth Rom. 7. 24. 3. Because here are the Subjects of Heaven Eph. 2. 19. Fellow-Citizens of the Saints not only on earth but as Paul speaketh Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation or as it may be rendred our free Burgesse-ship is in Heaven God himself hath canonized all the true Members of visible Churches with the name of Saints throughout the whoâ—e new Testament here are the great heirs of Heaven nay possessours of Heaven by Faith as others are by feeling as near and dear to God in some respect as those that be in Heaven already because the same motive which makes him love them makes him love these though poor abjects and our-casts of the world there is but a paper-wall of their bodies between them and Heaven only here is the difference they there are Subjects in their own countrey these here are the same Countreymen only strangers for a time here upon earth Some define a Kingdom to be dominatus regis in populum subjectum If Christ the King was present and his Laws published but there were no people to be subject to him there could be no Kingdom but when the King Laws and Subjects of Heaven are here met together in the visible Church here is now the Kingdom of Heaven 4. Because here is the very Glory of Heaven begun that look as the same Sun which fils the Stars with Glory the very same beams touch the earth also so the same Glory which shines in Heaven shines into the poor Church here 1 Pet. 5. 10. God hath called his people into his eternal Glory And 〈◊〉 30. whom Christ hath justified them he hath glorified i. e. he hath begun it here 〈◊〉 in a special manner is the presence of the Angels in Heaven Eph. 3. 10. Here the pure in heart see God and that after another manner than many times they can in their solitary condition Psal. 63. 1 2 3. And what is this but Heaven SECT IV. 1. SEE therefore hence their happiness and honour whom God hath called out of the world and planted in his Church What hath the Lord done but opened the way to the Tree of life and let you into Paradise again Nay which is more What hath he done but taken you up into the very Kingdom of Heaven it self where you have the Lord of glory to be your King the Laws of Heaven made known his heart opened where you have the heirs of Heaven your companions and the Angels of Heaven your guard desiring to look into those things which your eyes see and your hearts feel 1 Pet. 1. 12. Where you have the love of a Father appearing the Son of God inhabiting and the Spirit of Heaven comforting Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him That when the Lord seeth it unmeet to take you out of this world up unto Heaven that Heaven should come down into this world unto you who were once enemies to this Kingdom shut up under the Kingdom of death and darknesse strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel without God and Christ in the world without promise without hope I do not cry the Temple of the Lord nor Idolize Order and Churches but I tell you what your priviledge is and thereby what Gods goodnesse is I know the world neither seeth not feeleth any such Heaven on earth but soon grow despisers secretly of all Ordinances who if they were in Heaven it self with their carnal hearts they would not abide there with much contentment yet verily Heaven hath been and is found here by Gods hidden one even such things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard and if it be not thus with thee blame thy self and mourn the more who in the midst of light art in utter darknesse and in the place where Heaven is begun to some it should be made a little Hell to thee 2. Take heed of defiling secretly the Church of God For what do you do thereby but pollute the Kingdom of Heaven it self And the better any thing is the greater is the defilement cast upon it It is said 1. Pet. 1. 4. that the Kingdom of Heaven above is an inheritance undeâ—iled never yet the subject place where any sin was committed and this is one part of the Glory of it Take you heed of coming into Church-fellowship with defiled hearts and so defiling Gods holy things for do you know where you are I know it is not in that Heaven where you cannot sin but yet 't is in such a Heaven where you should not sin much lesse defile the Church of God It was one of Gods heavy inditements against the Church of the Iews that when the Lord had brought them out of a land of pits into a plentiful countrey yet they defiled his Land neither Priests nor people said Where is the Lord Ier. 2. 7 8. It will be much more heavy another day with you that walking in the fellowship of Gods people shall be found guilty of defiling the Kingdom of Heaven it self which you should be careful to keep as an underfiled inheritance which 〈◊〉 whether spiritual or sensual as they stain the very glory of
chuse him for outward blessings not spiritual favour and life Iohn 6. 26 27. 2. The soul hence gives it self like one espoused to her Husband to the Lord Jesus Cant. 2. 16. I am my beloveds servants give work for their wages and masters give wages for their work but Husbands and Wives give themselves one unto another Suitors also give Tokens to draw on love not themselves so servants in the Church they do for God in hope of wages and the Lord blesseth them it may be outwardly but he that is espoused to Christ gives himself Lord I can do nothing for thee give nothing to thee but I give my self to thee that thou wouldst work in me and by me Rom. 6. 13. So the Lord is a suitor to many a man that never gives himself to him he gives them some comforts some winning drawing melting meâ—cies but not himself they give him some entertainment and good words a thousand wishes as Capernaum did but not themselves but this must be if ever you look for communion with him hence David saith I am thine save me hence some made shipwrack of Faith they were not the Lords hence the Lord saith he knows who are his 2 Tim. 2. 18 19. his send their tokens again for look as 't is an evidence of much love when a man gives the dearest thing he hath viz. his whole self to the Lord Jesus so 't is also an evidence of little love when he will not give especially anothers own thou art none of thine own thou hast but little love if thou give not thy self to him without which never look for life and communion with the Lord. 3. The soul hence takes full contentment in the Lord Jesus as a Spouse hath enough would not change for all the world as Peter when he had a glimpse of Christs glory Lord let us be here or as Simeon that had been waiting for the consolation of Israel when once he had Christ in his arms Now let thy servant depart in peace I have enough now let me dye and not live to sin more and 't is certain as there 〈◊〉 in creatures that contents the heart without Christ in an unregenerate man so contrary-wise in a regenerate Iohn 3. 29. if hearing the Bridegroom is joy what is hâ—ving him indeed they take content in other things but as coming from the Husband and this you must do if ever you look for communion with him cannot you be content with the Lord alone in Heaven you shall never come there then lest you quarrel for want of something Men make nothing of this to hathe their hearts in the sun and joy in what they have and hope to have but the Lord may be gone and you grieve not why because oâ—heâ— things ease your hearts There can be no communion hereafter if you despite iâ— now SECT VII THis serves to discover the great error most common and dangerous of the whole châ—istian woâ—ld who think that they may love and embrace the world and the Lord Jesus too and â—e saved at last by him too i. e. they may not be Virgins but go a whoring from Christ and yet partake of Christ and mercy from him that look as it was in those sad dayes Isai. 4. 1. so in these dayes many lay hold on Jesus Christ they will eat their own bâ—end live on their own 〈◊〉 and wear their own apparel their own rags only let us be called by thy name Believers to take away our reproach for that is an open shame not to believe in Christ For this is the prosessed thought of some every one is a sinne and I am one and a great one too and who can say his heart is clean none can free himself from sin in this life and I cannot do it if I would and hence look on Christ to save them though sin sleeâ—â— in them you cannot have both I would but enquire hath not every man something that contents him what is it is it the love the fellowship of Jesus yet it may be at a Sacrament and it may be not for thou maist say the Lord never yet revealed his love and self unto me never yet assured me yet somewhat joyes thy heart What think you can you have the Lord and content your selves thus with other things why I trust to him I hope so it cannot be so If the Lord Jesus was a Patron of Brothel-houses a Protector of Stews you might think so some say they cannot pray to him nor prize him why something else contents then besides him but know it cannot be so I know a Saint may be taken aside as David with envy at others prosperity but when he considers of it O what a Beast he returns again The Raven and the Dove we sent forth the one came again and again the other not therefore as Ioshua 24. brought the people to these thoughts you cannot serve the Lord and other gods as Iunius notes so bring thy self to that stâ—ait O that the Lord would set on this one thing this day when I sadly weigh it it consouâ—ds me and makes me say Lord who then can be saved I know with God all things are possible but this is rare SECT VIII HEnce we may learn who they are that never shall have everlasting communion with the Lord Jesus viz. those that never were esposed to him and you may know this if never yet divorced from all others besides him Psal. 73. 25 26. I shall stay â—whâ—e here because there is never an unsound heart in the world but as they say of â—itches they have some Familiar that sucks them so they have some Lust that is beloved of them some beloved there is they have given a promise to never to forsake and also because most men do seem and think they are Virgins espoused to Christ and look for communion with him and yet not divorced from all other besides him I shall shew hence 1. When the soul is in league with the creature 2. When married to the Law I should account it happy if any be found out CHAP. V. Sheweth the Markes and Signes whereby the Soul may know whether he be in league or love with any lust or creature or married to the Law SECT I. 1 THose that never were in bitternesse and sorrow of heart for the losse of God For these two things are as clear as the Sun 1. That the losse of God is the greatest losse for 't is the utmost and last plague upon the damned in Hell My Comforts my Friends Means Heaven is gone but if God were mine I could be comforted No God is gone Hence no sorrow for any losse so much as for this Saul 1 Sam. 28. 15. God is departed from me Hence sore distressed Nay the Lord Jesus when the Father departed for a time and he knew he would return and visit him cried out My God why hast thou for saken me 2. That all men living have lost God Isa.
but here not but then he will come himself and fetch thee Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Take thy soul to the Bride-chamber there to be with him for ever and ever and he will keep the dust of thy blessed body and not lose one dust of it and at the last day raise it and then when others shall cry out Yonder is him whom I have grieved then shalt thou lift up thy head Yonder comes my husband to comfort me to crown me that I may dwell with him It shall be the blessed day to thee And when judgement is done thou shalt go with thy beloved from the air up to Hewen with a shout and live in his love and dearest embracings of thee and this he will do for thee so poor and vile in thine own eyes Now will you have him and that now or no SECT V. 1. IF the Lord be so desirous of me why doth he not overcome me If the Lord doth it 't is by these cords of love and if not the brand of a reprobate is upon thee 2. But I do love him already Is it with such a love as makes you unable to resist him to wrong him as the Apostle said We cannot speak against the Truth but for it for if not 't is naught There is a natural love to Christ as to one that doth thee good and for thine own ends and spirituall for himself whereby the Lord only is exalted Hâ—st thou this 3. But I do not have Christ. If any man do not love him with a positive love let him be Anathema 4. I cannot love him 1. What canst thou love else 2. Thou canst not love him so well as thou shouldst therefore close with him and love will follow 3. Get the Lord to overcome thy heart Ier. 3. 19. How shall I do it 1. Set him before thee Who will commit lewdnesse while her husband lookâ— on Psal. 16. 8. 2. See what content thou givest Christ by love Smallest duties coming from love are accepted What makes thee wrong him to please thy self Let a thing crosse thee yet it conâ—ents Christ Jesus 3. Get him and wait by Faith on him to overcome thy heart and the work is done then Now will you do this or no If not say then you have had a fair offer and tell the Devils so when thou goest down to Hell as it may be thou maiest ere long Men talk of terrible Sermons but these sink deepest Tell me dost thou love the lord only Wil 't keep lusts or Christ alone If so then look to it In this Countrey a woman killed her child and she said when she did it her child smiled upon her Wilt thou kick Christs love now when he smiles upon thee Afterward shee repented but it was too late Women when they have a mind to some other murder their husbands but if known burnt they must be But wilt have him and love him alone Oh if perswaded to this then happy for ever Let this day be the beginning of eternal Glory to thy soul and the God of peace be with thee CHAP. VII Sheweth that a man hath no power in himself to do any spiritual work but that he must receive all from Christ. 4. HEnce we see a necessity if ever we look to have communion with Christ to do all spiritual work all we do Theologice from the mighty power of Christ from the life and Spirit of Christ. To bring forth no Spirituall Act but from Christ and for Christ I shall put both in one and the latter into the first for none act truly from him but it is for him for you know if a woman bring forth children to any other but her own husband that woman hath lost her chastity So when men shall bring forth the fruits of obedience to any other from any other but from Christ they lose their virginity their chastity without which no communion with Christ. For I have ever made two parts or degrees of Christian chastity as 't is in outward chastity 1. The soul sets its chief affections on Christ alone that look as 't is with a woman though she cannot do much nor deserve his love yet her heart is with him her self is his Cant. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds 2. The soul bâ—ings forth fruits of love only unto Christ i. e. from Christ and for Christ as in marriage the woman brings forth fruit of her womb to her Husband and this is set down plainly Rom. 7. 4. The first we have handled Now a little of this And that I may presse this which is of much use to you give me leave to expresse my self in these Conclusions SECT I. THat all men living nakedly considered in themselves have lâ—st all power to do any thing that is good Rom. 3. 12. None that doth good 1. His light is quite extinct and his eyes quite out hence said to sit in darknesse and the shadow of death Mat. 4 16. now a shadow is a privation of some light this of all light hence called darknesse it self take the blindest Indian he is a witnesse of this truth and a right picture of a soul fallen from God hence because he cannot see he cannot do 1 Cor. 2. 14. 2. All that life he had to act well is lost too Eph. 2. 1. he is dead in trespasses and sins he cannot breath not speak nor think nor do one thing that is good I say nakedly considered in himself And hence look upon a man quite forsaken of God in Hell there you may see as in a lively looking-glass what every man living is when the Lord leaves him he can blaspheme him he cannot love him he can contemn God he cannot esteem him he can wish there were no God to punish him he cannot submit unto God though he leaves the most heavy load upon him and you see not your selves untill you see your selves here and see your selves thus SECT II. THat unto some men especially nay unto all men almost though vile yet more or lesse the Lord gives a power to act and live and move and to do many spiritual duties or good duties from themselves For as there is a bredth in the wayes of Grace that every Christian hath not the like measure of Grace so there is a bredth or latitude in the wayes of sin every sinner breaks not forth into the like measure of sin but some are far better than others as the three grounds that were bad yet one better than another Now how comes this about why the Lord gives that power to act as all the knowledg of a God by the light of Nature falsly so called this is the work of God Rom. 1. 19. Hence all terrors and comforts and duties of Conscience are all from God so the Historical Faith of the Gospel which many have and so to confesse and professe no salvation but by Christ together with a readinesse to dye in
love Christians will come to Christ and when they receive and feel the good they come for they will think of Christs love and that he love them no first come unto the Lord Jesus being once come know he will not cast thee away Iohn 6. 37. then think of this love stay here first feed here and you may act and then the Lord will conveigh strength and power and inable you hereunto For though when a man trusts to his love as Peter without Faith a man will fall because he trusts to an arm of flesh yet when Faith imploies love the work is very great As a Father hath a child who must keep at home with him but he hath never a Steward to lay out that estate for him that he means to give him but when an able Steward now he gives his Son richly So here Quest. How shall I comprehend it Answ. First the Apostle prayes for it Secondly see what 't is by his description and meditate on it 1. The bredth i. e. the same love wherewith the Lord comprehends all Saints as Abraham c. thou art as dear to the Lord as he or any in Heaven nay it may be did cost more not a crosse not a mercy but it 's common for substance unto all Saints 2. The length from eternity to eternity nothing can part nothing shall part all other things are but Summer Swallows that build with us for a time 3. The depth that the Lord should look upon thee when in thy Pest-house when no eye pittied thee when as low as the Grave nay as low as Hell nay lower for they in Hell would come out thou wouldst not Never think to see what infinite love is till thou seest infinite wrath 4. The height to be as happy as Angels and more to nay to be all one with Christ and in Christ and loved with the same love Christ is Iohn 17. 23 26. 5. When thou seest it thus yet it 's the love of Christ that passeth knowledg As children cannot tell how Parents love them Will you do thus 'T is with many Christians as 't is with many Trees the Tree is good and the soil is good and rain dews sun Husband-man good yet it begins to dye then now nothing is wanting but only to be set a little deeper that it may take more root of the soyl And so here there is nothing wanting in many a Christian but to be set a little deeper and to take more rooting in the Lords love Faith roots it self in Gods love and now prospers by love The eye is but little yet can comprehend a mighty world quickly mans mind is but little yet can comprehend though not the infinitenesse yet an infinite love If there be this light of glory see by it all your poor sad hearts that conceive nothing but terror and holinesse in God if you see it not know it here is your work now for the first work is to get Faith then to get love then to act from Faith by love Now the Lord hath wrought the first and thou art busie a doing the third work not remembring the second 2. Content not thy self with feeling a want of supply but labour to feel a need of supply from the Lord Jesus for many a Christian feels a want of Grace from Christ brokennesse c. sees he hath nothing and is sometime by fits troubled for the want of it but he can be well content though he have no supply having somewhat else to ease and content him he feels no need of supply so as he cannot be without it that his Spirit fails unlesse the Lord Jesus in mercy give it and therefore must have it there is a necessity of it Hence he never finds supply and wonders at it why 't is so and here 't is here is his wound and so brings up an ill report of the Lord saying he is loath to give and of the Ordinances of the Lord 't is in vain to seek and truly so it is to seek so for let thy condition be never so miserable if thou feelest a need of supply the Lord will make bare his arm and work wonders bring Heaven out of Hell joy out of sorrow and light out of the thickest darknesse and floods out of dry ground Isai. 41. 17 18. when the ground is dry and perched away no moisture left now the Lord pours out water on this soul Isai. 44. 3. Heb. 4. ult Many come to the Lord for Grace and find it not methinks I hear the Lord speaking thus to his people I love you dearly and I am content to give you any thing you need but you do not need my Grace my Spirit my presence i. e. you feel not a need of it for if you had it now you would not prize it much nor keep it long my precious Grace must not be spilt Many know their wants and distempers and know there is no help in themselves and see all fulnesse in Christ and hence come to him but find none because they can be content though the Lord deny no nor never shall unlesse you feel the woe of your wants that your Spirit fails if the Lord send not in supply Isai. 57. 16. I will not contend lest the Spirit fail Hence there God promiseth to dwell to send and create peace and comfort for what is the reason that Christians at first beginnings â—eek peace and mercy and have abundantly then why truly I was long time before I had any thing but when my spirit began to fail and I gave all for gone and could hold out no more now the Lord helped and pittied me but where are those comforts and that presence of the Lord now Truly now you think the worst is past and would be glad of the life of Christ and Grace from Christ but if not you have a little your state is safe and so can lie without putting your self to a necessity of it Is it not thus is not this your very wound if it be for the Lords sake then get it healed and do as people in Christs time those that were well and had not desperate Diseases commonly came not to him but when the Disease was desperate you know the Fame of Christ being spread abroad then they brought their sick and laid them before his merciful eyes then they looked for the laying on of his hand or a word of his mouth and all were healed so do you you have heard of the Fame of Christ and seen others humbled others parâ—oned lay thy â—ick Soul but look that it be sick before his eyes and so look for one word of his mouth as the Woman of Canaan he may deny for a time yet she must have it and the Lord will say Be it unto thee according to thy Faith not according to thy deserts thou wilt have it I must give it thou dyest without it behold I live to revive thee and therefore to give it You come
to Prayer and Word and want many things but find them not Oh come therefore Lord I must have I cannot go without supply Not but that a Christian must wait and be content humbly but not careâ—esly Therefore think within thy self 1. What is there that I need but this the presence of God the life of God c. Is it not enough in Heaven where 's no wealth nor comforts else and is it not suffâ—cient now 2. May I have it oâ— this condition I must have it I am resolved not to go without it Rev. 22. 17. if you will come take it Are the termes so sweet 3. Do wicked men thirst more and more after their lusts and is Christ and his Grace and his Presence no better that I have enough of them quickly God forbid there should be such a heart 4. Doth the least sin so exceedingly go to the heart of my God and shall I suffer it not only to act here and tempt here but remain alive here 5. Is not the Lord after all love shewn me worthy of infinite not a little honour from me and doth he deserve all and must I not shall I not give it him before I dye it must it shall be so Now when here you feel a need know it that you are at the very door of relief I conceive this is the great door at which Christ enters into the soul. The root of Faith i. e. the author object and foundation of Faith is out of a mans self the door of Faith which opens to all treasures is in a mans self This door is not any good in us for then we should have somewhat to boast of nor sin in us for that shuts out God from us nor knowledg of want for that the Devils have but sense of want which when the Saints have now the door is opened for the Lord Jesus in all his fulnesse to come in Now if you know these things blessed are you if you do them SECT VIII TO all the Churches of the Lord Jesus here planted in these Western parts of the World to maintain your Church-chastity and Virginity you have a name of it abroad pure chaste Virgin-churches not polluted with the mixtures of mens inventions not defiled with the company of evill men pure Ordinances pure People pure Churches which is the cause of the scoffs and enmity of some but of the desire and joy of others O if there how happy I and how blessed they Take heed you do not defile your selves again Open whoredoom is too gross too shameful to yeild to mans inventious to open the door for all comers into the Church but take heed of secret whoredoms and departings from Christ for think of this speech when you see me dead that of all Churches in the World the Lord Jesus carries a most jealous eye over these for whom he hath done such great things and I know it he takes exceeding ill your secret wantonnesse and whoredoms of heart the Lord hath kept you hitherto look you maintain it for you may be soon defloured again few Churches retain their purity long aged gray-haired purity is seldom seen I will tell you of the several Temptations some at least that may prevail to the defilement of you First Spiritual defilement is forsaking of the Husband a total secret forsaking of Christ for here is the temptation to it viz. Gods withdrawing himself in his Ordinances from his Ordinances For three sorts of Temptations make men fall back 1. By Persecution and there many fall though some hold out as in the stony land 2. By Peace and here many fall like the thorny ground like Saylors that in a storm at Sea every man is ready and will be pulling his rope but when a calm then go to their Cabbins and there fall asleep and here many fall in this place and others stand it out 3. By the Lords withdrawing from them as those Mal. 3. 14. and here the great ones fall Many come to enjoy Ordinances and persecution vext them not world it 's base it troubles them not and they think to find much but do not but the Lord withdraws and they can get no good hereupon their false hearts discover themselves they draw back from God and lie still whereas Saints cry the more after him and look the more into themselves and find out the cause of it and then the Lord helps them Isai. 63. 17. Oh take heed of this 1. Shall I forsake the Lord that hath done these great things for my Soul 2. Shall I now do it after I am so near Heaven 3. Shall I forsake him when he departs from me but for a time it may be when as he followed me when I departed long from him 4. Is it not Hell to dye without him and shall it not be Death to live without him 5. Doth he depart without a cause he hath no cause to follow me I have all reason to follow him the Lord grant you may do so Secondly Secret defilement is by neglect of private communion with him this is whorish in a Wife Here is stronger Temptation to neglect private Prayer and Meditation partly by want of room partly by multitudes of businesses and work and cares hereabout that being weary in the day sleepy at night busie in the morning Prayer Meditation daily examination are sent away as Paul from Faelix we will speak with these at some more convenient season and hence straitnesse of heart toward Christ and no means do good Oh Beloved have you such a Husband as Christ in Heaven that loves thy looks thy company thy sighs thy speeches and will you neglect him thus what no love 2. Is he not broken with this whorish heart 3. Is that speech worth any thing with you We shall ever be with the Lord doth it comfort you to think of being ever with him and now neglect him where are your hearts Thirdly Secret defilement is by bringing other lovers into the same bed the same heart with him and here the Temptation to this is strong for most men have lost and sunk in their Estates and it 's hard to live lower than we did and this is a grief and here 't is possible to recover estate again and here grief for losse hath a vent by greedinesse and pursuit after more In other places men had a very coâ—fortable estate hence rejoyced in what they had and did not greedily desire more but now want makes men hungry and greedy and now when a man hath thought and lookt about him and seen what he may gain by his labours of many acres by his Goats and Cartel in so many year now he casts himself into the world and also will not forsake Christ utterly but bring both into the same heart Christ shall have some love some desire but the world as much and so the heart is divided and hence some set high prizes on their corn commodities cattel others look for large wages
people prepared for the Lord to meet with Christ on earth now he is gone our work is to prepare a people to meet the Lord in Heaven Hence this is put in as the difference between Vessels of wrath and Vessels of Glory the one are fitted for destruction the others are fitted prepared or made ready for Glory and the glory of a christian is chiefly to enjoy fellowship immediatly with Jesus Christ. There is many a soul dear unto Christ and espoused to him and hath his heart affected to think of the good time that is coming when we shall ever be with the Lord but ask are you ready â—yet for to go to him though it be through fires waters thorns sorrows death it self who can say yes but say mens hearts shut the Lord out a little longer let not the door stand open yet yet this must be And therefore for explications sake let me 1. shew you when the Soul is in a readinesse for the Lord Jesus 2. The reasons why there must be a continual readinesse SECT III. VVHen is the Soul in a readinesse to enjoy Christ As there are four things which make a christian unready so this readinesse consists in Four things contrary 1. That which makes a christian unready for him are those strong fears and jealousies and damping doubts of the love of Christ to him The soul happly hath made choice of him is content with him melts into wonderment and love to think that he should love him what me and Christ hath writ him on his heart and on the palms of his hands but Israel saith my God hath forsaken me my God hath forgotten me Isai. 49. 14. Is it possible is it credible one that hath been so ville one that still hath such a heart for him to set his heart on me surely no hence the Soul is afraid to dye and desires too much to live still and the more he thinks of that time and blessednesse of following the Lamb where-ever he goes the more he sees and fears this may possibly never be my portion there may be some falseness in my heart towards him that I never yet saw some secret knot that was never yet unlosed and hence not yet ready Hence many a christian saith if I had a little more assurance let him come when he will Thus some think it was with Hezekiah who though he had walked before God with a perfect heart yet bitterly complained that he was cut off Isai. 38. per totum So therefore then the soul is prepared ready for him when he hath some comfortable assurance of the love of Christ towards him that it can say if I live he loves me though he kils me by Death yet I know that he loves me nay then he loves me moâ—t when he puts an end to my sins and to my sorrows too And therefore now saith as one ready to ceive a Prince now let him come to me or send for me when he will why so Who can separate me from the love of Christ Rom. 8. 35. That look as 't is with a Souldier that is to go to war where many bullets and arrows are like to fall about him and hit him while he hath no armour on call him to the Captain and he will say he is not ready yet but when he hath his armour on of proof and such armour that he knows let him receive never so many wounds yet he shall escape with his life and triumph with his Captain afterward Now give him but his watch-word he is ready though never so weak yet I am sure I shall escape with my life nay not so much as hurt So a christian wanting his assurance wants his armour he is weak and powers of darknesse will assault him and he is slain by them now he is unready but if assured though weak and feeble he is now at Christs watch-word I know I shall live I may fall but I shall rise again this puts courage and spirit into a christian Dan. 3. 17 18. Heb. 11. 35. Others were tormented and so ready not accepting deliverance why so to obtain a better Resurrection which they are sâ—id to see by the eye of Faith and this was by poor weak Women therefore labour for this else not prepared The Lord would have his people look death and dangers in the face and triumph in sorrows and not faint-hearted which cannot be done without this that the world may see that there is more than men in them 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. and 5. 1. who would be without this yet may we not complain as Christ of his Disciples Oh foolish and slow of heart to believe all that is written so many promises yet not assured so many experiences yet not established and therefore not yet prepared and ready for the coming of the Lord. A man that hath a fair estate and house befallen him so long as he is in Suit for it dares not dwell in it but makes a shift where he is but then he is ready when quiet possession is given him So get the Lord to passe sentence for assurance of your everlasting habitation then are you reâ—dy to dwell therein 2. Then a man is unprepared for the Lord Jesus his coming while he wants affeâ—tions suitable to the Majesty and according to the worth and love of the Lord Jesus Suppose a Woman knows her Husbands love yet if she have lost her love to him or if she love him 't is only as she loves another man not according to the woâ—th of her Husbands person or the greatnesse of his love Is she fit now to apâ—ear before him when no heart to receive him so although you question not Christs love to you thank God you doubt little of it yet where is your heart your love to him have you not lost your love your first love or second love if you have love is it not divided to other things as Wife Child Friends hopes of provision for them and too much care hereupon for that or if you do love him 't is with a carnal love he hath no more than a lust hath had and it may be not so much 't is with a cold love now you are unfit for him hence the Lord Luke 21. 34. Take heed your hearts be not overcharged 1 Pet. 4. 7. Now therefore then the soul is prepared to meet Christ when if the soul hath lost its affections it recovers them out of the hands of all creatures that stole them away from Christ and hence David prayes Oh spare that I may recover my strength and when it breaks out with such love unto Christ as is fitting for him 2 Tim. 4. 8. There is the righteoâ—s Judge ready to give the Crown when Christs appeâ—ring is loved i. e. they are so taken with him as that they love the looks of him it would rejoyce my heart to see which shall make others tremble to behold him Oh it must be a dear
love a spring of running love without measure for this is the difference between affectionâ— of Saints and Hypocrites to Christ the one ariseâ—h like a morning dew which is soon lickt up by the Sun Hos. 6. 4. the heat of affectionâ— after other things licks it up but the love of Saints to Christ is like a spring which riseth to everlasting life a spring is but little but yet the fâ—rther it goes the wider 't is till at last swallowed up in the Sun and there is no measure of water so Saints have but a little love but the longer they live the more enlarged for Christ and there is no measure but all is too little they never can never do love enough so that look as 't is said in another case Psalm 102. 13 14. ' T is time for thee to build up Ierusalem i. e. to return to thy people in thy Ordinances for they love the stones so then it 's time for Chriâ—t to come and then the set and fit time is come for a â—eople to meet with Christ out of Ordinances when the set time is come when they love Ordinances and love Christ much more When a man is gone beyond Seâ— and all his Friends and estate are at home they long for him and he is left among enemies why comes he not to them why send not they for him why they know he is sickly and cannot live on the dyer of the country hence he is unfit to come but when that is once come to passe that he can live only on it then he is ready when-ever they send so when men can live with and be content alone with Christ and his love now they are fi With what face can a man appear before Christ when he requires nothing but love and he hath not that 3. Then a man is unready for Christ whiles he neglects the work of Christ for suppose a man hath some inward love to Christ yet neglects hath no heart to do the work of Christ he is as yet no more fit to meet Christ than a Steward who hath had much betrusted him to improve for his Lords use and he hath let all seasons go wherein he might have traded for him and gained somewhat to him How can he appear before him when no fair accounts to be seen so the Lord hath betrusted thee with many Talents timeâ— strength means c. you are not Lords but Stewards of all these Now do you not let many fair seasonâ— and winds blow by you have if espoused to Christ every man some work Now how can you stand before Christ if that be neglected Oh thus 't is with many christians hence those sad alaâ—â—ms of conscience and shakings of Gods Spirit after many loose dâ—yes dipt in some good duties What dost thou that others do not that never shall see Gods face in Heaven Now therefore then the soul is ready for the Lord when 't is daily at it finishing Gods work hence Iohn 17. 5. I have finished my work now glorifie me Christ hath given us our lives work dayes-work every hours work for Christ hath ever eâ—ployment now though a soul may livelong and cannot finish its lives work yet if it finish its dayes work or hours work it may have comfort then if the Lord should come That look as 't is with a Marriner when he hath his Fraight now let the wind come to drive him out of the Haven he is ready to depart so here 2 Pet. 1. 8 9 10 11. If ye do these things and abound an open entrance shall be ministred unto you i. e. when a christian is ever acting for Christ and adding one Grace to another in his course then he is so ready that an open entrance is made for him Therefore look after this 'T is with most Professors commonly as 't is with a Woman that loves her Husband and begins to dresse her self but so much businesse to do that she doth it but by starts hence call her never so laâ—e she will say she is not yet ready she hath so much to do she cannot so 't is here Or as 't is in a house where all things are in a lumber and many things wrapt up and put into holes so long as all things be in a lumber there is no readinesse So many a soul hath a heart fit to receive Christ but all things are in a lumber in a confusion out of place and order and hence not yet ready to entertain Christ but when this work is done then ready Oh betimes do this work set things to rights in your souls 4. Then a man is unready when having done his work he grows puft up with it for let all the three former be wrought in the soul if now the soul be puft up thinks highly of it self attributes any thing to it self as he said in another case they are too many for the Lord so he is too big for the Lord. And truly this we shall find it 's pretty easie to be mean in our own eyes after we have been indeed carelesse and vile before the Lord but when the Lord hath mightily assisted enlarged assured enabled comforted quickened now to be as nothing this is difficult Hence Knox on his death-bed had this Temptation of Meriting When Hezekiah was sick he was cast down but when well and God gave him great Treasures his heart was lifted up now he was unfit Now therefore when a christian is ready to give all to free Grace and to adore that now he is ready for the Lord Psalm 108. 1. My heart is prepared I will sing 〈◊〉 give praise Gods last end is to bring the soul to the praise of the riches of his Grace not only to enjoy God as Adam Now the great reason why Christ comes not to his people presently after they are espoused to him 't is to make them ready to attain that end Hence he leaves sins temptations sorrows desertions on purpose that they may at conclusion look back and see if ever saved pardoned it 's Grace Now therefore when the soul is brought to do this when he hath this rent in his hand now the Lord is ready to receive him and it too and he is prepared for the Lord he that hath not his Rent ready himself is not as yet at all ready to meet with and see his Landlord So that you think you boast not Oh the Lord sees you do or have not hearts so enlarged towards Grace as you should it 's certain you are yet unready then but when empty and poor and cast down and makest an infinite matter of a small sin and settest a high price on a little love much more on infinite now you are prepared Hence David falls a praising when near to death and the Lord near to come to him SECT IV. 1. THe law of Respect and Love requires this of us when Peter would expresse his love unto Christ Luke 22. 33. he professeth
he was not only ready to go to prison but to dye with him Christ hath poor respect and love if men will not so much as be alway ready to receive him it certainly argues a carelesse heart that sleights Chrâ—st that is not ever prepared to receive Christ. 2. Because the time of Christs coming is then when we least look for him vers 13. Hence a christian ought to be ever ready to receive him Many of eminent parts when the Church had most need of them then are cut down Many at their first conversion before they or others almost could tell what to make of them the Lord hath cropt them in the bud Men find their hearts unfit and unready they think hereupon that hereafter they shall get their hearts into better order and tune when these businesses are over but yet will live at liberty a little while why then it 's most likely is the Lords time of coming even now when they think least of it Luke 12. 40. 3. Because the Lord hath set apart every one that is espoused to the Lord Jesus only for the fruition of Christ and use of Christ 1 Cor. 3. ult You are Christs and Christ is Gods A Woman that is not chosen nor set apart for the fellowship of a Prince she may go how she will and do what she will any base drudgery work but she that is chosen to be next unto him and only to behold and love him she is not to plead she hath so much businesse to do and so many Friends to speak with that she cannot make her self ready she is set apart for a better person and for more noble employment So here men of the world not loved of God nor chosen and set apart for him may do what they will but when the Lord hath chosen and set you apart of purpose for this end Ephes. 1. 4. Chosen to be holy before him in love i. e. to stand ever in his presence before him with a spirit of dearest love unto him Hence the Lord hath taken the care of all things else 1 Pet. 5. 7. that we might mind and do this thing It in danger he will deliver if in want he will proviâ—e if weak he will strengthen only noâ— be ready for the Lord Psalm 45. 10. Forget thy Country and thy Fathers house so shall the Lord desire thy beauty You are not now free to love and follow whom you please the Lord hath bound you to himself by love and you have bound your self by promise to the Lord again Therefore now a christian after once espoused to Christ is better than all the world being the Bride of the Lamb and he hath a better and greater good for to enjoy therefore he should scorn and abhor to march himself to or to do any thing for any other creature and therefore methinks should sit as one upon a watch-tower looking out and telling the clock now day is near waiting only for Christ Oh let it be so If in Heaven you shall have only Christ Oh prepare for him much more now As a Woman that is Maâ—cht to a rich man all the servants attend on her and follow her she is wholly and only for her Husband so it should be here 4. Because he hath prepared and made all things else ready for the soul it 's hard if he hath prepared a place in Heaven and Grace in Heaven not to prepare an heart and make it ready for him Iohn 14. 1 2 3. his Kingdom was ready long ago and his Father ready to accept and entertain thee and his heart loves and desires all are ready after thee hence be ready to meet with him I am my Beloveds SECT V. HEnce see the great unkindnesse of many a soul immediatly after his espousing to Jesus Christ who having once given himself to Christ and received comfort thereby presently grows more carelesse than before he was matcht unto the Lord Jesus who should now stand in a holy watchfulnesse and readinesse to receive Christ as 't is Psalm 85. 8. Let them not turn again to folly because they are very apt so to do Many say when in some distresse and after long waiting if the Lord would pitty once then happy I I would give away any thing all I hâ—ve unto himâ—â—well the Lord pitties the soul when in its low estate and then it blesseth God but like the Israelites soon forgets his works his love and after great peace from God comes greatest carelesnesse can this stand with Grace and Christ very hardly but yet it may for there are Two things that make for it 1. Because at first conversion there is much seeâ—ing of Christ for healing the horrour and smart of sin as well as for the curing of the wound and scar of sin hence when espoused and horrour being past that wheel being broken a man draws more heavily now and neglects seeking now the Knife is out of his heart he cries not so earnestly 2. Because when espoused and much affected commonly a man trusts to his affections when he hath a fulnesse of them hence the Lord lets Satan prevail Luke 22. 31 33. Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat and I saith Peâ—er am ready to dye with thee but you see he feâ—l and then when the Lord looked upon him he went out and wept bitterly How shamefully hast thou fallen should any love him more than you if ever he pitty well for his Name-sake he hath done it But how oft hast thou broken Covenant how forgetful of the Lords kindnesse The Lord looks upon thee this day why hast thou so soon forgot me and forsaken me have I not took thee from the Dung-hill nay from Hell and whereas I had so many thousands to set my love on I chose thee and whereas thou couldest not love me when I offered my self thou couldest not return me love again I gave it therefore to thee yea and have given my self to thee for ever Hast thou thus forgotten me when as I take little wrongs from thee more heavily than great ones from others Oh that this might make you go out and mourn bitterly so if ever you have tasted that love as Peter did Christs looks will humble you Hence see the reason why some Godly People dye so uncomfortably and with such distresse of spirit why they have not lived in an expectation of Christ and hence they cry out of themselves not knowing whither they go insomuch as some have not been comforted by all former experiences and by all present consolations of Ministers Oh no 't is now too late to speak they thank them for their love but God hath otherwise thought of them yet if any hope be given them 't is ever pickt out from some word and they cry Oh I thirst for a little mercy and then dye and what is the reason of it what need I speak Themselves will tell you and have done it Oh I have lived thus and thus
stake gave away her cloaths some to one some to another Now farewell friends and world welcome Love welcome Christ. So if the Lord comes to take away all from thee the child of thy body the husband of thy youth the wife of thy bosom the comforts of thy life provisions from thy family bread from thy mouth bid farewel to them give them into the Lords hands and now say welcome Christ. It s usual for Christians at first conversion and espousing the Lord loves them dearly and tenders them shews nothing but love to them and then their love is fresh afterward come hard Frosts and Winter-storms and cold blasts of displeasure Christ departs from the Soul withdraws himself hides his face and sends sad afflictions now the Soul apprehending anger and nothing else it grows discouraged and so dies when if it could stay and wait it should see all from love and doing it the greatest good Oh remember this he doth afflict me he doth depart from me he doth fear me with Hell yet I 'le love him never a whit the lesse Though the Lord buries all the Blessings he gives me yet my love shall live and if it do fall it shall arise 4. He loved thee when in thy low estate Psal. 136. 23. even when as no eye pittied thee Ezek. 16. nay when thou wert vilest at the height of thy sin under deepest depths of misery and straightest captivity after Friends had almost ceased to counsel Word and Spirit could do no good after Conscience had warned thee Oh love him when he is in his lowest estate when his enemies persecute him and his seeming Friends forsake him Before you came to this Land you thought Christ and persecution Christ and the meanest condition nay Christ and death would be sweet the Lord it may be doth or will try your love and here you find Christ and losses in Estate Christ and crosses in your Family Christ and many fears and toils and cares Do you love him now as well as ever you did for all this Oh never was my heart worse I doubt not but a discerning Christian may see how all the world is against Christ nay many Traytors in his own Family who love the bagg more than Christ. Many foolish Virgins who love their sleep and sloth more than Christ nay the hearts and Spirits of his own Friends declining that there is not that life of Christ that presence and savour and power of Christ in Hearts in Prayers in Lives and no complaints of this Now is the fittest time of love when no eye sees when no heart loves him or cares for him Psalm 119. 126 127. Therefore I love thy commands when he is shut out of every heart when none to receive him if any love it will appear now 5. He doth love thee constantly every moment Iohn 13. 1. 2. He hath thee every moment in his own bosom every moment thou art sinning and he is pardoning Sin and Satan and Hell and wrath are every moment waiting to hurt thee and he is every moment watching over thee redeeming of thee Every moment sin and justice cry against thee and yet he is continually making intercession for thee Isai. 27. 2 3. Every moment he is blessing when thou art sinning Oh the unknown love of the Lord Jesus Oh these fits of love are not fit for him Love him every moment delight in him every moment When a man hath a fire every moment warming him but still is cold it 's a sad sign that Death is near You can love him sometimes in a Sermon but soon after cold again or in a Sacrament and presently heart-dead again or after answer to Prayers and some special deliverances and then the heart is un-affected again and so a little pang of love must content Christ if he ceaseth one moment to love thee and to manifest it to thee then cease to love him if he ceaseth not to love thee dearly never to leave thee Oh then ever love him But we have such distractions and cares Men in love will follow their work and Women will do the Huswifry of the house and yet love is at notime to seek to their Husbands and shall the Lord have lesse 6. He loves thee with an unmeasurable love Rom. 5. 20. Where sin there Grace hath abounded hence Eph. 2. 3 4. Love and great love vers 7. Exceeding riches of his Grace For there is in Christ. 1. A created love One man loves another exceedingly as Ionathan did David Now he hath the perfection of all humane or Angelical love towards his people put in him 2. Increated love infinite love of a God and hence 't is immeasurable He thinks nothing he doth too much nothing he gives too dear hence when world is slain Satan cast out when he is out sin must out when some sins removed the rest must when they are out then death must when Death then Hell And when there is no life no Grace he works it it decaies he restores it it cannot act he quickens it it cannot doth not grow he waters it He hath given thee the earth and the dayes of peace and patience those are too little he calls thee and when thou canst not come draws thee and gives thee pardon that is too little he gives earth to thee that is too little world is theirs he gives Heaven to thee that 's too little for they are made Co-heirs he gives promise to thee that is too little he gives himself and Spirit and can he do more Yes we cannot drink in all that goodnesse and love hence he gives eternity to thee and he shall more and more enlighten thee not only let thy Soul live to blesse him but thy poor body and every dust of it to be raised up to Glory with him What the Lord promised to Abraham In blessing I will blesse that portion is thine Oh now love him without measure Oh how I love thy law how did David love it I cannot tell but if he loved the word of Christ then much more the person of Christ the presence of Christ everlasting fellowship with Christ. Oh take heed of giving Christ and measuring out unto Christ his portion his allowance that when the Lord comes to you for more love as he doth daily you give him that answer which many do in their practice you have let him have as much as you can so that you cannot spare any more from your selves from a base world from Wife and Child and Creature from a slothful course you hope the Lord will accept of that little he hath I confesse a little water in a Spring is better than much that comes by Land-floods but be sure it be a Spring else not accepted Beloved time was you lived without Christ did nothing for him now you do and what thou dost this year did'st last year and no more what love Christ had yesterday the same he hath to day and no more Will you thus
this if Christ should not love thee would not thy life be death thy Salvation from many dangers be Damnation thy Friends miserable comforters thy joyes sorrows what good would any thing do thee if thou hadst these thoughts all these I have but wrath with them What comfort can a man take in his Feast if news were then brought that after 't is done you must go to the stake to be burnt You that joy in your pastimes one frown of Christ would blast all Oh see this Psalm 63. Thy loving-kindnesse is better than life in thy favour is life Now joy for this and this will knit your heart nearer to him For Jesus sake ponder this Point Now 2. Taste the bitternesse of the sweetnesse remaining now 't is distilled and Satan shews a Three-fold sweetness before in and after the enjoying of it Now 1. Before remember how they have drawn away and held thy heart from God done thee more hurt than all afflictions many a sweet smile hadst thou had from God but for them 2. In the enjoying of it 't is sweet but when 't is sweet to thee 't is then most bitter to the heart of God when thy joy is kindled the Lords sorrow is stirred up and provoked 3. After 1. It will draw thy heart from God and 2. It will be bitter in thy belly at last Whatever sweetnesse draws thee from the love of Christ Oh it will be bitter Rom. 6. 21. Chew upon this and see if any thing here be worthy of your joy and if not then return to your first Husband II. Taste the allsufficiency of the love of Christ a Woman that is not content with her Husbands love she will not love him as 't is fit So when other things make love to us and the Lords love is not enough Cant. 1. 4. More than wine hence the upright love thee Do but sit down and think what this is If once he loves thee what-ever he can he will do for thee he will order all thy life not one thing shall hurt thee every thing in providence shall work for thy glory sins sorrows c. so as thou shalt say his denyals are better than his gifts his blows better than smiles his withdrawings better than his presence these evils better than joyes and when once he loves me he will never leave me that come life come death I am safe Oh taste this III. See the Lord Jesus now as he is and â—n truth this were enough to make any prophane heart love him much more a Saint espoused to him but the Lord hath hid himself from their eyes shall he be so is he so from yours 1 Pet. 1. 8. When seeing not with bodily eyes but with Faith ye love him 1 Iohn 3. 1 2 3. We shall see him as he is VVhy suppose the day of doom was come Christ in the clouds and all creatures before him all Angels ministring to him in all the Glory of his Father Oh then the love of Christ Oh one smile one word of Christ would be precious Lord that men should be in a Dream See Christ a little higher set in his Throne a place more glorious though lesse seen in all the Glory of his Father all mighty Angels ministring to him all the world put into his hand doing what he will and all he will why will you not love him now Is the Gospel a Fable say so if it be then love him not if you can VVhen Simeon and the VVise men saw him though but in his abasement they honoured him much more now if see him in glory It 's a question whether the beams of the Sun are fire Some demonstrate it thus Take a Glasse and gather together the beams it burns Therefore so if you would see so as to be affected gather together the beams of his glory and love Thus you see the means to get fit love and if it be lost Oh now get it again lest the Lord strain for it else you are not fit and if it be not any love that sufficeth much lesse no love as in many of you but consider 1 Cor. 16. 22. He that loves not Christ let him be accursed Oh that this might be won from you O little love goes out to Christ who sees it not Ordinances of Christ men are weary of them the truths of Christ despise them the Servants of Christ they quarrel with them Now recover your Love the Lord help you so to do SECT III. TO do the work of Christ to be daily at it and finishing of it for look as it was with the Head 't is so with all the Members that are to remain a while in this life they have some work to do for the Lord some common some special work and when that is done now they are ready to return home again Hence Iohn 17. 4 5. I have finished the work and now he stands at the door and knocks and is ready for entrance Now glorifie me with thy self and you shall find a faithful heart will neither be willing nor ready to go till this is done What is this work I am to do I have answered this else-where at large yet these two things I would say 1. That a mans chief work lies not in facile duties for though Grace and Christs â—pirit makes duties easie his yoke easie yet there is a contrary Spirit that will make them hard and difficult at first 2. Least I should leave you unsatisfied altogether we shall find a christian life is carried with a double motion 1. In seeking of God in his Ordinances 2. Or in walking with God out of his Ordinances these are joyned together Gen. 6. 8 9. Noah found Grace hence sought it though not in the eyes of the world and hence Noah walked with God Hence we see Christ was sometime in the Mount alone Sometime abroad going up and down doing good Moses in the Mount and in the Camp too Now look as before a man is justified his chief work then is to seek God in his Ordinances for a principle so a soul now espoused to Christ is to walk with Christ now walking implies constant following of another or a continual work so Christ hath work for you every moment Hence in every company time place temptation enquire thus Am I not like to lose my time my heart Christs honour What work hath Christ for me to do hold here for here lies your work Look as an ambitious man asks how serves this for my honour and Satan how he may dishonour Christ so do you ask how you may honour him Rom. 6. 19. As you have given your selves instruments of iniquity c. And now because we live in times and places wherein men have so much work of their own to do that Christ is neglected wherein very few walk with God Hence men taking mens examples for patterns and copies of their course content themselves to do as others do And this being
in Gods Crown and the beloved Attribute which God intends to advance all the policy of Hell is against this this is the reason why Satans enmity is so bitter against Faith as in Peter and observe however there be many Temptations his end is to crush Faith the reason is as 't is with an enemy if the Besieged hath water brought to the City by Pipes he cuts off them and stops them so Faith fetching all from Grace and returning all to Grace hence Faith is opposed most and hence the unregenerate part will take Satans part and doth strangely rob the Lord of the glory of this though I confesse the Lord will have it for all that they seek to scatter it Isai. 43. 21 22. It 's strange to see how few plot for the praise of Grace hence how many are straitned nay do cross Christ in this As 1. If the Lord give them not what Grace they would then they sleight what little he bestows and if he gives them much then they solace themselves in it and grow puft up and proud It 's the temper of Gods own people to set up such a measure of Gods Grace and Spirit which they would have and therein they do well Paul Phil. 3. 11. lookt to the Resurrection of the dead but if the Lord denies them that as he will make his people live from hand to mouth they sleight what they have either as if all were but hypocrisie or because it is but little not so much as they would have and herein they do ill for here the Lord loseth the glory of some Grace for it's Grace that you have the least desires after it nay that you do but know what it is and see the want of it and yet ever complaining and never rejoycing for every degree of Grace in Saints is vertually saving though formally common But suppose the Lord fills the bottle full and gives as much peace affections enlargements of heart as it hath almost required for there are Spring-tides and over-flowing times of Gods Spirit now they are ready to swell and be puft up above measure as Paul 2 Cor. 12. 7. Lest I should be exalted above measure for there is self-self-love in Saints Hence they desire an excellency in themselves hence when they find none of their own they are apt to deck and set out themselves with what the Lord hath done and so to joy in this and now to think themselves better than others of Gods Saints whereas they should be more vile and advance Grace the more Eph. 3. 8. To me the least of Saints And hence the Lord after greatest deliverances and mercies sends great sorrows as to them in the Wildernesse Hence the Lord takes away affections and they dye that Grace might be the more advanced 2. If the sins of their hearts are common and cannot be removed and so seem little then they passe them by and never take notice of them God will pardon them and hence the Lord hath sad times of reckoning with a rod in his hand with his own people Ezek. 6. 9. That those loose times are heavy times this is for my neglect c. but hereby Grace loseth Glory for how can they see how deeply they are indebted to the Lord if they see not their Debt on the other side if their sins be very violent and their distempers so strong that they think none like me now their hearts sink and dye away and grow discouraged and all the use they make is this I think it will never be better with me and can there be life for me so dead deliverance redemption for me in such bondage love for one that cannot but loath my self and if others did know me they would do so too Can the Lord love me now Yes Beloved that he can and will Isai. 63. 16. Though Abraham know us not yet c. But here is your sin when you should make this use of all to feel the more need of Grace to pitty and say the more precious shall Grace be to me for ever your hearts now sink The Lord brings his people into very low condition to humble them and to shew them more of his Grace Psalm 78. 19. Can God prepare a Table they spake therein against God so 't is here for herein the Lords Grace is seen to love them when Lepers 3. Grace that hath been shewen for times past they forget it 2 Pet. 1. 9. And what is this but destroying Gods Grace for why is Grace so precious at first conversion that Heaven and Earth are too little to hold praises enough for it And afterward the Lord hath little love Oh you forget what once you were and what the Lord hath done hence 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. I was so and so c. but now have received abundant Grace You have had many meetings with God many answers from God many consolations and times of refreshing and reviving and these forgotten and buried the life of them after a year or two expired And what is this but eclipsing Gods Grace On the other side as for Grace for time to come they fear it especially when worms and no men in their own eyes Hence saith God Fear not worm Iacob Isai. 41. 14. There is a certain Divining Spirit as one once told me that untill that was pulled out no honour can the Lord get Before you come to Word or Prayer thou wilt fear thou shalt never get any good and when the Lord gives any thou wilt fear thou shalt never hold out and what Promise soever is made thou wilt fear thou shalt never find it And what doth this but eclipse Grace we should go with boldness to the Throne of Grace nay hence let the Lord send never so much Mercy for the Present a Fear will cut off all that all this will rise up in Judgement against me 4. When they are most fit to honour Gods Grace by Faith now they will not believe not then above any other time for then a man is most fit to honour Grace when he feels most need of it and when hath he most need but when he feels most emptinesse why now above any other time a man will not come in but will have somewhat in himself first and then he will when his heart is so and so sweetly setled c. Hence Luke 14. Poor and blind and lame and halt compelled to come in one would think there needed not that but now when fittest now they will not for let any man observe what would endear his heart so much to Grace as this to think if it be the Lords mind to save a poor dead damned creature then happy I This is wonderful this hath quickened dead love and dead Faith and a dead heart And on the other side if the Lord delay if it comes not at their own time then they distrust it Grace alas I feel my self never a whit better For there be two things in Faith First A coming
better than life to thee Oh I cannot see it or but very little of it 'T is true look upon your selves you can see but little many fears many tears many heart-sorrows many temptations many desertions many vexing sins many denyals to your Prayers but Oh look up to that Ointment which is poured upon this blessed head that love that is shed abundantly upon the Son from before all worlds and look what love what Grace the Father shews to him that love is thine that love in him is shewn to thee 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. Here stand amazed all ye people of the Lord you have heard the Lord loves you and sometime believe it but being under water cannot conceive of it nor see how he loves you how dearly how abundantly Oh look now upon the love of God the Father in the Son as he loves him so he loves thee a worm a Devill notwithstanding all thy want all thy sins all thy miseries Iohn 17. 23 26. 2. Life Oh Death is terrible and a dead heart is woful 't is the great plague that lies upon men without Christ that are strangers to the life of God Eph. 4. 18. Is thy heart ever so joyed as when it 's most enlarged for God and hath most delight and liberty in the wayes of God alas thy life is but a lingering sickness a poor life to that which thou hast in Christ. Oh look up there Col. 3. 3. You think when your hearts are affected and warmed and quickened in Prayer by word or by Divine thoughts c. Oh if it might be ever so how happy Oh but it dyes presently and thou kowest not how Look up to the Lord Jesus he is alive when thou art dead and his life is thine and 't is ever thine in him even eâ—ernal life 1 Iohn 5. 10 11 12. This is the record that he hath given us eternal life alas I find none Oh 't is in his Son in whom thou livest a better life than Men than Kings than Angels And I doubt not but the Lord suffers Temptations to rob you of your life that you might find it when 't is lost here and rejoyce that when you have none yet here it is blessed be God he will keep our lives as the life of Iacob was knit up and bound up in the life of the child nay that life is ours 3. Conquest and Victory over all Enemies it may be you say often the Lord hath commanded me to seek for help and he will help he hath promised so to do but I find my Distempers still raging Satan still buffeting and winnowing and vexing and foâ—ling and as I feel many so I fear more sorrows before I dye and then Death and delusion that at last I may be deceived Nay the agonies of Hell many times assault me and then I am put to a loss that is it possible I should escape why Beloved the Lord Jesus conquered Death and Sin and Hell and the Grave and Satan with all the strength of darkness and delusion and hath spoiled them Col. 2. 14 15. And now he is in Heaven in his Kingdom triumphing over them that they cannot hurt him I but what is that to me Why this very Victory is thine hence we are said to be dead with him Rom. 6 8. and risen with him Col. 3. 1. Nay to sit in Heavenly places as it were triumphing in him in glory with him Eph. 2. 6. Nay Heb. 10. 14. He hath by one offering perfected his people for ever that are sanctified 'T is true you may rejoyce in that you shall conquer but Oh remember this 't is done already in thy Head and in thy Husband 4. Immutability and certainty of standing in a happy estate for this is that which sads the heart I shall fall at last How is it possible but I should be so no Beloved look â—pon the Lord Jesus in him thou art if he can fall if he can dye if he can be cast from the Fathers face then thou maist believe that I live you shall live also Iohn 14. 19. Adam indeed was chosen to be head of Mankind and as when he stood perfect we stood so though mutably he falling we fall so we are chosen in Christ and as he stands unchangeably so we stand and as he was tempted every way yet did not could not fall no more canst thou so that Oh that the Lord would give you hearts to learn this lesson when there is nothâ—ng but want in thee Do not shift so much for a little from the Lord but see Gods end and rach it Oh rejoyce glory in and bless the Lord. This was Paul's life and the life of the Churches first planted Oh bless the Lord for all spiritual blessings in Christ this will be joy in sorrow life in death this is golden Faith this will answer all fears when Satan saith thou hast not this or that nor canst not do this nor that and to Hell therefore thou must go Reply again 't is true I have little I am dead but Christ lives for ever I am under miseries Christ is triumphing in Heaven for ever I may fall in my self I never can fall in him that which he hath is mine 'T is true they may do this that know the Lord Iesus is theirs but alass I know not that If you do not you must wait then untill the Lord make himself known unto you but tell me will you do this if you did thus know it It may be some of you have not done so unless by force sometimes and you will find it one of the toughest works of Faith that is What is a poor man better for anothers wealth and a sick man for anothers health and a naked man when others are cloathed Yet Beloved by vertue of the power of Faith and our union to the Lord Jesus a man is the better A Woman that is matcht to a Prince may have never a penny in her purse and yet she rejoyceth in that her Husband hath it It 's the secret nature of Faith to make a man all one with Christ in Christ in that manner that I cannot find such an union in the world and hence his health his cloaths his Grace his life may be matter of as much joy as if a man had all this in himself And because many a soul hath Christ but feeling such emptiness in himself as that he cannot think so and it may be would do so if he saw whether he might do so or no I shall therefore express my thoughts to them thus in these particulars 1. That all that fulness that is in the Lord Jesus 't is not for himself but for them that want it Iohn 17. 19. he might have been blessed in his Fathers bosom without thee why should he therefore live and do and suffer and rise and glorifie his blessed Nature but for them that wanted this He is filled with wisdom life strength because men are blind
his Brethâ—en but it will not ever hold and the Lord â—ppearing thus to them that have been stung by the Law and that killing letter now â—he Lord appears in ineffâ—ble Beauty and Glory To others there is nothing in it they may see this yet not believe 3. In seeing the Lord in the Glory of his Grace or fitnesse for him and this is the main for look as 't is in Marriage there is a respect to Beauty and feature and that draws Now a Woman sometimes appears to one so that though Portion be great c. yet he cannot like another can because God hath a hand in it and what fits the fancy that 's beauty there is a sutablenesse every way So Christ is presented with a rich portion to many and yet they cannot like cannot see a Beauty because they cannot see a fitnesse and sutablenesse to them and for them another man can because he sees a fitnesse and sutablenesse in the Lord Jesus for him in resâ—ect of his misery and sin and his gracious disposiâ—ion Iohn 1. 14. But we saw his glory full of Grace and truth Psalm 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men full of Grace are thy lips which is so beautiful in the Lords eyes that the Father hence exalts the Son for all the Grace he shews to his Elect. Now what makes Christ appear fit Answ. The knowledg of a mans self and sense of vilenesse hence Luke 7. 29 30. The Pharisees despised the counsel of God against themselves when Publicans justified God c. And 't is a Rule that the saving-knowledg of Christ is dependant upon the sensible knowledg of a mans self Let a Christian in Christ lye in his sins and comfort himself in Remission of them without repentance he may talk of Christ but no beauty will appear in Christ So 't is at first first the Soul feels sin and that God is holy and will hate him then the Lord shews Christ come to call such Yea but I have no good and cannot help my self Christ appears fit to seek out such Oh but I cannot see nor believe nor be affected Christ appears one fit to do all full of wisdom to perform the Second Covenant Oh but I want all things Christ appears all-sufficient Oh but I shall fall Christ appears constant in his love Oh but he is far to seek Christ appears present Oh but I shall sin Christ appears merciful to bear with and heal infirmities Oh but I shall believe too soon he is fit to prepare and dispose Oh but all the world will be against me Christ therefore appears fit to rule all for me Oh but Death and Grave may hurt me Christ appears fit who hath conquered all and this is ever in the Saints Now least you should think you have this when you have not and know it not see the evidences hereof 1. If ever the Lord hath thus revealed himself to thee he hath brought this light out of darkness and made thee sensible of it 2 Cor. 4. 5 6. Oh you that have been a little troubled and then hear of Christ and then depend on him and wait for comfort from him and now you are well you never yet saw him Nay if truly enlightened you will go mourning to your Graves for your ignorance of him Prov. 30. 2. and seldom is your darkness seen and felt but there is some beam let in 2. It damps the glory of all the world that a man laies down all at Christ feet as the Wise-men Mat. 2. As glow-worm-stars go out when the light of the Sun ariseth so all the comforts and all the miseries of the world are nothing now Acts 7. I see Jesus 3. It makes a man very vile in his own eyes Isai. 6. 5. Nay his excellency vile as Isaiah his tongue and wonders that the Lord should look upon him a Worm who is so glorious What am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me c. He see Christ fit and then sees his Glory and then saith What me Lord me to stand before thee Lord depart I am a sinful man 4. It necessitates the heart to believe not with assurance but with a clinging to him Hypocrites have knowledg of Christ but it never heats the heart this as fire necessarily heats and that which is put to it is heated so here for the sight of the last end doth necessitate when 't is seen Isai. 55. 4 5. They shall run to thee because God hath glorified thee Rom. 1. 16 17. 't is the power of God for there is righteousness revealed that though the Lord bids depart yet he cannot be gone nay when he concludes yet as Ionah 2. 4. so he can see to a Temple through the belly of a Whale Many say may I believe or I cannot prize him I tell you when the Lord appears as he is you cannot resist that light but you must cling to him 5. Where this is a man rests not here but sees more and more of him Iohn 1. 49 50. A man sees now his Glory but after he shall see his love and after that he shall know his mind 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eph. 1. 9. The mystery of his will And then his constant presence and all his walkings with him and towards him so as to be familiar with him that in time of old Age he shall be an Acquaintance of Christs 2 Cor. 3. 18. From glory to glory whereas an hypocrites light goes out or grows not Heâ—ce many ancient standers take all their comfort from the first work and droop when in old age I know the Saints light is obscured and the Lord â—ides his face but then they are troubled and it shall break out with healing in his wings Nay all their life time they may think they know him not because they have not those measures Oh therefore see a necessity of it 1. You that are vile and ignorant of Christ no Faith yet no Christ yet And what then Thy sins are upon thee now and wo to thee for the wrath to come Oh poor creature thou dost not see nor canst not see if thou didst thou wouldst not crucifie the Lord of Glory 2. You that be Professouts of the Church Oh deceive not your selves if the Lord hath enlightened you Oh blesse him If Christ were here he would blesse you Mat. 13. 16. Nay when he was here he did it he doth it in Heaven I thank thee Father c. Mat. 11. 25. Luke 10. 21. But if not all is unsound that ever you had Oh therefore look you be not deceived here and therefore wait upon the Lord to manifest himself Who knows but the Lord may help Nay when you are feeling of the infinite need of it and of your own woful blindnesse 't is begun SECT VI. SEE the happinesse of Saints all you standers by and of all Believers You think what are they What have they that I have not What get they by
go away with a sad heart Oh I cannot see him and canst not find out the cause why so heavy and vile and so loathest thy self Oh now think of this day 1 Cor. 15. 28. Then God shall be all in all then thou shalt have thy fill of love and fill of God 4. In case of sorrow for the uproar of the world against God and Christ and the wrongs done to Christ and his people to see Christ crucified and crying spare my life and saying If you seek me let these little ones depart yet they are abused and every one against Christ as this day the world is coming to the last fit of madnesse against the Lord of Glory Oh now remember and look for this day 1 Cor. 15. 25. He must reign Lord what a comfort will it be to see Christ King then Men come to see him King here but Oh what will it be when he shall come himself To see all secrets open and the Lord glorified in himself and people of all creatures Look for this to see the great and last plot of God brought to perfection Oh think that is our day that is our victory 5. When you come to die and to think of leaving thy carcase to rot in the dust a long time Oh think and look upon this day They that hear shall live Why do I die John 5. 28 29. They shall then come out of their graves c. Thus look for this Motives 1. All creatures look for this in a manner Rom. 8. 22 23. Nay Christ and Saints in Heaven look for this day Heb. 10. 13. From thence expecting till his enemies c. Nay Devils look for it but tremble Only a secure world rockt asleep to their eternal wo look not for it 2. This will help you to ride all storms bear all knocks chearfully Our Hope is our Helmet Our Hope is our Anchor Heb. 6. 19. Eph. 6. 17. You will meet with them here it may be before you die 3. The Lord hath called you out of this world he might have left you in it and given you your hope your portion here and then wo to thee but he hath called thee to this hope that if Princes of the world knew they would lay down nay cast away their Crowns at thy feet for it and say Oh that I were in that mans case Eph. 1. 18. Hope of his calling 4. Hope and expectation of all other things shall fail if God loves thee he will make you know what 't is to forsake your portion If not they shall fail you when you die this shall not it makes not ashamed 5. Me-thinks this is the Glory of a Christian that he turns his back upon the world and lives and waits for the coming of the Lord. 6. Oh this will give Christs heart full content when he shall come Luke 12. 37. He will make thee sit down to eat and serve thee The Lord Jesus himself shall only then poure out to thee and give thee whatever thou callest for honour thee as it were above himself When thou art at rest in Heaven he will be at work for thee 7. If not he may come in an hour thou lookest not for him Christ may say to thee from henceforth sleep on What Means are there to make me look for him 1. Get some promise that thou maist beleeve the Lord is thine else thou wilt never look for him or if you do you will be deceived for hope is of things not seen Nay commonly when the Lord brings any man to his hopes having given him a promise and Faith to beleive it the Lord in the mid-way seems to cross his promise When the Lord promiseth life glory peace honour joy fulness Heaven they shall then and never so much before feel darkness death shame trouble sorrow Hell For the Lord tries them by this and tribulation breeds experience and experience hope Hence you must first get a promise of Christ and Glory before you can hope for it or expect Glory and then you may Heb. 6. 18. For the promise will support hope when heart and strength and all shall fail Nay it will expect contraries out of contraries Gen. 22. 5. I 'le come again to you Compared with Heb. 11. 18 19. So that soul that hath a promise may say when he considers Gods power and what Glory he gives to God by beleeving it God hath said he will comfort me he will cleanse me he will give me Glory I will have all these out of my sorrow my sin my Hell Take heed therefore of two extreams First Of hoping without a promise for that is but Faith scared out of its wits when it comes to be examined I hope so and I have had joy and perswasion of it Secondly Of not expecting when God gives a promise Can you live one day without it It may be you have no feeling yet But Isa. 25. 8 9 10. Dost wait for the Lord i. e. From a sense of emptinesse for all fulnesse thou shalt find it in part here and fully then and say Lo this is our God we have waited for him When a mans anchor is strong and in good ground he will look for safety when at anchor in the Harbour Oh thou afflicted tossed with tempests the Lord hath brought thee at last to Christ after many drivings to and fro and it clasps about him according to a promise if God changeth then thy comfort may not be If revelations come I know they may deceive but a promise cannot 2. Fear the terrour of the Lord at this day fear parting from him I speak not of doubting but the holy fear of Saints for that is the nature of fear it makes a man eye the thing feared As Iacob when Esau was meeting of him Noah he fears and looks to safety in and by an Arke Heb. 11. 7. Lots children took not his counsel they feared not but he seemed as one that mocked to them Paul 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. knew the terrour of the Lord hence looked for him sought to approve himself unto him Men that fear not parting with Christ will never look nor care for him And let it be a strong fear else it will never carry you above your cares and surfettings of the world How shall I fear thus 1. Unlesse the Lord put it into your heart none can for the security of the world is not sleepy but deadly Men are bound up as strong as with chains of death that till they feel the misery they cannot fear it strongly Oh look up to the Lord to unchain those chains of death 2. Know the happinesse of them that shall ever be with Christ what is the sweetnesse of Christs love and worth of it Imagine the last day come and all the dead raised Christ with flaming fire all the wicked on the left hand and then sent away with depart ye cursed all the Saints on the right hand and then Oh come and
Evangelical hypocrite in denying his own righteousnesse to establish his sin 't is advancing Christ to advance his Lust. The Epistles of Iames and Iohn are antidotes against this kind of poyson and I look on them as lamps hung up to discover these men not but that these men are indeed under a covenant of Works for there be but two sorts of men and two ends of all men hence but Two Covenants hence those that are not indeed under Grace are under the Law and under the Curse but because the most subtil hypocrites apâ—ear or seem to be under Grace and their external operations are chiefly Evangelical hence I call them Evangelical Hypocrites SECT II. IN regard of the power of the Word and Gospel of life and spirit in such Churches For the Gospel where it comes as it advanceth the glorious and everlasting righteousnesse of Christ so it knocks under-foot all mans as a means subservâ—ent to that end and it coming with power and light it would be too grosse for Hypocrites to maintain life by Works hence Christs is that which they look unto for Christ when he preached not only many believed because of his Miracles but when they heard his Word Iohn 8. 30. Mat. 13. In the Parable of the Sower the Word came with much power that they received it with joy and did believe but fell by their Lusts. And look as 't is with the Sun there comes light and heat with it so there comes 1. Truth to the mind and conquers the judgements of Hypocrites that there is no life good righteousnesse but in Christ nor salvation but by Christ. 2. There comes some gooâ—nesse of the Gospel to the heart that men hearing and seeing Salvation wrapt up there Oh that is sweet and good and hence their affections and hearts are in some measure conquered by the power of the overdazeling truth and hence Hypocrites being thus conquered partly being of this opinion partly tasting some good of it desire it out of self-self-love expect it out of self-delusion and professe themselves Virgins out of these Principles In regard of power of Evangelical examples in the five wise Virgins for look as 't is with living men when the Sun shines upon their heads they cast their shadows that follow them so when the Lord Jesus shines upon the souls of his own people almost every honest sincere-hearted man will cast his shadow that will be like him hence Hypocrites in those Churches which are commonly rather led by example than by rule will be very like them and imitate them if they should not what communion could they have with them or what love could they receive from them for there is a mighty power in eminent examples to overbear Hypocrites that if they will turn themselves into any form they must into theirs as in Ioash for there are two things in the carriage of the Saints 1. There is a condemning power in it hence men fear to live unlike them 2. There is a winning vertue in it an attractive vertue hence men endeavour to be and live like them to be of the same mind the same heart with them and hence others take them and they take themselves to be sincere and hence they are Evangelical Gospel Hypocrites that lye hid in these Churches Hence Zach. 8. 23. Many shall take hold of a Iews skirt I doubt not but some false ones we have heard God is with you And as Christ when lifted up and risen so Saints draw Hypocrites to them Because the Gospel brings the greatest and sweetest consolations with it Hence a man under the terrour of the Law and sence of curse for his sin will make his last refuge hither and hide himself under the wing of the Gospel not so much out of love to Christ or Gospel but because they serve his turn and give him ease Like men scorched with heaâ— and almost ready to die the shadow of a Tree is now very comfortable and therefore there they sit so these Or as men with scalded arms they put them into wateâ— which gives them ease no cure but because it gives them ease there they keep them so here Men have been scalded with wrath Oh now Gospel is very sweet and so are eâ—sed 〈◊〉 it never cured by it Therefore here you shall find them disclaim all Works and cry up Grace only where the purest Churches are there are usually great awakenings there God is very near men and made most manifest to mens consciences and there are most soul-plagues contempt of the Spirit of Grace and hence most dreadful torments of conscience and fearful lookings for of Judgement Now hence it comes to passe when Christ is offered and general notice given to mens minds that yet there is hope and mercy for great sinners this fills them with joy and peace as Iohns hearers Iohn 5. 35. and hence they beleeve as the stony ground that had some plowing and hence received the Word with joy and believed Psalm 66. 3. It 's a Prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ Antichrist he tormented the consciences of men Rev. 9. Men have no peace within or without Luther is raised up and preacheâ—h the Doctrine of Free Grace which a world of men looking to their ease others in truth receive it for some time before his death he cries to God that he may not live to see the ruines that were coming on Germany for their contempt The Law is the Ministry of Death the Gospel propounds great priviledges with much more sweetnesse to sinners and hence hither men fly 4. Because the Gospel yields the fairest Colours for a mans sloath and strongest props for that Hence you shall see them wâ—lking in this garden For the last sin God conquers in a man is his sloath When the swine have no sâ—ill to eat yet you shall find them in the mire of sloath this slaies the foolish Hence the best Hypocrite will plead the Gospel its troublesom to the flesh to bear a daily sense of the sins and wants of the soul. Hence you shall have Capernaum receive Christ and wonder at his Doctrine and yet Christ upbraids them they repented not Mat. 11. 20. It s troublesom nay impossible for a man to break his chaines and get his soul loosed from his lusts and free for the Lord. The Gospel shews all fulness in Christ that he must do all a sloathful false heart thereâ—â—â—e closeth with Christ as the end but neglects him in the means Why Christ must do all say they and hence if Christ do drop upon their hearts well and good if not 't is Christs fault he is a hard Master that gathers where he did not sow and hence wrap it up A mans false heart is weary of the yoke of Christ and hence would fain be eased of it Now the Gospel promiseth libeâ—ty from the bondage and curse of the Law and a sloathful heart can find out reasons to free himself from the Rule of
of flesh and blood cannot be at the weight of that Glory long That by works see the promise and by the promise of love behold eâ—ernal thoughts of love And hence promises are said to be given to Saintâ— before the world began Because promises to them that thirst mourn believe c. are not bare words but eternal counsels in which you see Gods purpose 2. In respect of time present by it we know our present union to the Lord Jesus 1 John 2. 4. He that saith I know him and keeps not his Commandments is a Liar Yes that is true negatively but may a man ought a man to see or know his union positively by this Ans v. 5. Many said they did know and love the Lord but he that keeps his words Oh they are sweet It s Heaven to cleave to him in every command its death to depart from any command Hereby know we that we are in him If it were possible to ask of Angels how they know they are not devils they would answer the Lords will is ours So here How do you know you have not the nature of Devils and so in state of Devils bound there till the judgment of the great day Because God hath châ—nged our vile natures and made our wills like unto his glorious will c. So for forgiveness Luke 7. 47. Much is forgiven her c. 3. In respect of the state of Glory for time to come We may know our blessed estâ—te by a work 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seen what the Lord hath prepared for them that love him Psal. 31. 19. Oh how great is thy goodnesse laid up for them that fear thee 3 Cor. 5. 3. If cloathed with Christ whole Christ v. 5 6. He hath fitted us for this and given the earnest of the Spirit which Rom. 8. 23. are first-fruits of Glory therefore we are confident Obj. But if you look to your selves you will have peace to day and sorrow to morrow Nay we are alwaies consident and yet Paul did not now go on in a Covenant of works Now whether a man first comes to know his estate by a work word and spirit so that there are three things to evidence our happy estate or whether by two things only viz. a geâ—eral word and spirit I intend not to dispute because it makes nothing against the truth in hand Only this I say it s very dangerous to limit the Holy One of Israel especially in his freedom of working to breath light and life and divine consolation when and by what means and promise and in what measure he will Christ when he was here on earth would say somtimes thy sins are forgiven Mat. 9. 2. Somtimes be it unto as thou believest Mat. 9. 28 29. Nay be it unto thee as thou wilt Mat. 15. 28. If in these inferiour things much more in greater Christ is now gone and we have no immediate speech with him but in his Word and he is free to speak to his people according as he pleaseth and when they need And therefore let me entreat Brethren to be wary in their speeches in dashing all promises in pieces What Christian heart can see Gods Truth mangled without being angry and mourning for the hardnesse of mens hearts The Lord hath spoken peace to some mens hearts thus he that is lost shall be found He that believes in me shall never hunger and he that comes to me shall never thirst and seeing this they conclude the Lords Spirit helping them for somtime they cannot do it peace For the Major is the Word the Minor Experience and the Conclusion the Lords Spirits work quickning your spirits to it Now say some how do you know this Thus you may be mistaken for many have been deceived thus Grant that And shall a child not take bread when 't is given him though dogs snatch at it What should one do then Bring their work to the light to the triall of the Word which you know doth but two things Shews that God is And 2. What man is and so discovers and describes all hypocrise of men and all grace of men now if it will not bear the trial of the Word convince them they have gone on in a covenant of works indeed But if it will hold there take heed then of false witnesse against the Truth of God so that do not condemn the work of Christ in any man where 't is of the right stamp and hath Christs Image upon it and so pluck men from their claim to Christs love revealed in his promise But learn to difference it once and then I am perswaded the sad differences that begin to appear would soon be ended among all them that love the Truth in Christ Iesus 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us that have precious Faith exceeding great and precious promises The Lord gives little to his people Oh but he gives them rich promises Bonds and Bills and writings to shew for rich Grace and riches of Glory and riches of peace Oh but these promises Hypocrites may have they may be lost and hunger and thirst and believe What as those do that have their interest in these promises Why are they called precious Promises Precious promises are not common things Precious promises are not the portion of a base world Precious things God never gives to dogs and believe me you may come to know the price of them in the times of your horrour on death-bed that account them common now Oh but many rest on promises without Christ That 's all one the faithful by them come to partake of the Divine Nature of Christ of his Spirit of Divine Consolations Peace Grace and this is not building on a work or resting on a bare promise when it carries you to Christ and the everlasting embracings of him It s no matter what promise gives peace so long as it lands us in Christ. And therefore a man may know his blessed estate by a work only let me put in three Cautions 1. Take heed you do not in your judgment or in your practise go about to move the Lord to love you by your work though it be of his making For all works are fruits no causes of the Lords love for this is Popery indeed and 't is Hypocrise Isa. 58. 3 4. Why have we fasted and prayed and delighted to draw near unto God c. but look upon the work and promise and be the more vile in thine own eyes that the Lord should promise or do any thing for thee So that when you feel any saving work go not to God with expectation of any good in the name of that work but in the name of that free Grace and Faithfulnesse of God which hath moved him to make such precious promises to such as those are that have it Hast not said Solomon shall reign 1 Kings 1. 13. So here 2. Take heed you do not sit down contented with the work and quiet your selves with
Apostle makes this the matter of admiration of Gods grace Eph. 2. 3 4. God who is rich in mercy when dead in sins hath quickned us Not only quickned our head for hence is cause of eternal praise but us and hence he hath set us up in heavenly places in him This is the state of all men they cannot do one spiritual act now that the Lord should help when all creatures left us is wonderful but that it should be with such a life even the life of Christ Jesus himself for the same Spirit that raised him from the dead dwells in us and the same Spirit that is now in glory with him is in us 1 Pet. 5. 1. This is mercy indeed that he should not only die for us and live in heaven for us but that he should love so dearly as to come and live in us that when our sins had slain him he should not onely come and dwell in our houses nor onely lay his head in our bosome but live in our hearts where he finds such poor welcome and ill entertainment at our hands I tell you this is wonderful to make his habitation in us that before we go to live with him he should live in us Let them that never knew what this meant refuse to be thankful but if you find it so forget not this love Iohn 14. 17. I le send the Spirit whom the World cannot receive because it knows him not The Lord sends the Spirit in common graces and the World doth receive that also in prophetical and miraculous gifts and it doth receive that but this Spirit which God pours on the thirsty this Spirit with which God fills the empty they cannot receive this Oh that you should have it when as they know it not 1. Hence therefore take heed of not owning the Spirit in this his presence Do you thus requite the Lord oh unthankful world not so much as to own the presence of such a friend neither in your selves nor yet in others How like the world is it to think that there is no such thing 2. Take heed therefore of not esteeming highly of it If ever God broke thy heart thou wilt esteem this life this principle as the greatest piece of love and say Lord I shall account this as the greatest part of love in the world Psal. 119. 68. Thou art good oh teach me thy Statutes Now to undervalue this and to account it common and hence as no sign of love 't is a part of unthankfulness 3. Take heed of imprisoning the Spirit of grace common truth Rom. 1. 18. It was fearful to imprison and silence that much more this It was the complaint of the Church in those days None stirs up himself Isai. 64. 7. What strength the Lord gives let me use what I want the Lord hath enough to help me withal put it to exercise or else affliction will 4. Take heed of enfeebling this Principle weakning of it The Church of Sardis things were ready to die in it you should strengthen this inner man not weaken it either by not feeding it with Christ or wounding it with known sins against Christ. Therefore let all the Churches know this and take heed that you do not refuse to own this where else will you make the difference between men that either Churches may discern them or you may discern and so have peace your selves Hence see the reason of that inward hypocrisie that is in many mens hearts so that the best profession of many a man is but a Scheme an Image a very craft a very artificial form all the duties are fair without but sapless liveless within Here is the reason they have no inward principle of life or if they do go to Christ they have no such principle within them to carry them to him so as to receive life from him and hence confess sin without sorrow or shame petition without thirsting live without love do without life because there is no spring but a dry heart within and hence they must do duty but they must make dead work of it and hence all is but an appearance and at best but a would be This is in a great measure in Saints when the Spirit within is quenched but it is in full age and strength in hypocritical hearts Ier. 4. 14. when the profession of Iudah was great and the Prophets had scarce any thing to say against them for outside Oh Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickedness there thy wo lies it enters to the very heart so Christ How can he that is evil bring forth good fruit And this is that which may make men mourn if I forsake all profession I shame my self before men if not I must blaspheme the Lords Name and play the Hypocrite before the Lord Matth. 12. 33 34 35. SECT III. TO take heed of denying the grace of God or this inward principle in whole or in part for this inward principle being the life of Christ in us to deny this is to deny Christ and to take away his life and such the Lord will deny before his Angels another day When they shall say Have we not eat and drank in thy presence he shall answer I never knew you I shall therefore here direct my speech to four sorts First To those that deny created graces in the Saints peculiar unto them only it s said there are none such in the Country if there are not it may be there have been and it may be will be and therfore I le speak For I beleeve 't is a delusion digged and hatcht out of the steam of the lowest sink in Hell And therefore that all may take heed of the evill of it I will first shew the evill of it then the causes that do beget it I. The evils of this delusion are these 1. It settles and fastens a man under the power of all his sin and yet with a quiet Conscience and yet to keep his Christ too It transcends my capacity from whatever I have read or have heard or have felt or can imagine how the power of sin can be taken away but where the Spirit infuseth the contrary grace an empty house swept and garnished with common gifts is but a fitting house for Satan to return into Say therefore a man may have no such graces and yet have Christ and them in Christ you stake this man down under his sin and make this member of Satan a member of Christ Jesus And upon this ground all Churches in the Land may be forced in Conscience to take in all prophane members if they plead Christ and their allness in him 2. This blurs all the glory of a Christian or at least the greatest part of it For what is the glory of a Saint 'T is to be like Jesus Christ the Lord of glory to bear his Image before God and men As to see a man with a Swines face would be the shame of a man to see a
those lusts are seated It hath been a Question What a mans raigning master sin is and many discoveries have been made of particular sins as that which riseth and awakeneth first in the morning with us that which rides and labours a man upon the Sabbath day when the Lord or sin must ride in triumph yet that is the misery of a carnal heart that when he gives his beasts rest yet such is sins tyranny he being sins beast that he shall then have no rest Now if their meaning be that some particular sin may be a raigning sin or a mans personal reigning sin then 't is true Iudas loves his bag best and Achitophel and Hâ—mâ—n his honour most and 〈◊〉 his whore most But if they mean a mans natural reigning 〈◊〉 the reigning sin then 't is not any particular sin so much as this For no sin is able to reign over any man but by commission and power from this As the Weeds can never grow â—all but by vertue of their soil where they grow Mat. 15. 19. All the boughs flourish by vertue of the root whence they grow And hence we shall see let Satan sow his seeds of pride or lust or passion in a man whose nature is changed its impossible they should come to any perfection there bâ—â—â—â—ey will die away within a time because the heart of the soil is gone and power of sin removed and hence also it comes to pass that a mans master sin may be changed Those sins that are his master-sins in his youth are not in his old age those that are at one time in one place are not in another Now there could never be such change of Governours and Vice-roys unless there were some great King that sets up one and pulls down another satis pro imperio This is therefore the raigning sin which hath taken possession of every part which hath its hand in every act which pulls down one sin and sets up another under it which gives strength to every sin that hath any which fights it out till the last This is I say the reigning sin hence think not that then the reigning sin is down when your personal sins are destroyed though it be with a most sudden and fearful destruction III. That when the Spirit of God humbles the soul indeed he strikes the head and wounds the â—eart of this sin he doth not only cut off some limbs of it not only binde it but slay it of its life and power That as 't is with some men they may have many pains gripes diseases yet live and recover again but the pangs are not so strong as to separate soul and body for then the man is gone So a carnal heart he may be troubled and have many gripes of Conscience and apply the promise Come to me you that be weary and so he may finde rest and as he recovers his peace his sin recovers its strength but when the pangs are so strong as to separate body and soul sin of nature which hath lived there now the man dies now the soul falls down indeed Now this effectual humiliation carries the soul unto Christ and hence Acts 26. 18. turned from the power of Satan to God Col. 1. 13. He hath delivered us from the power of darkness And hence Gal. 5. 24. They that be in Christ have crâ—eified the flesh as well as the affections and lâ—sts For if the Lord should only humble a man for the sins of a wicked life and some wants in the heart the Lord should only bruise Satans heel but never strike his head the Lord should slay the Aâ—alâ—kites but spare the Agag 't is true the Lord usually at first conversion sets one sin upon the soul that brings to minde many other and the Lord humbles for them and here the soul is apt to rest as many do but when the Lord comes indeed to work he cuts thus deep as now I speak 1 Cor. â—5 'T is said The Lord must reign till all his â—nemies are put under his 〈◊〉 Look therefore as this sin is the greatest enemy Christ hath so if he reigns in heaven he will be sure above all other sins to strike the head of this and disthrone this and wâ— shall find that there may be deep terrors upon the false hearted Virgins but they only assault the soul So on Saints but Christ then strikes at the sin and saves the soul Isai. 57. 16 17. And this I add there may be a great power of Christ put forth to humble the soul but mens hearts resist this and even Pharaoh was humbled but it s never saving unless it strike the very power and throne of sin and so this sin and now the soul is humbled indeed IV. That no unregenerate man ever had such a measure of humiliation as ascended to and ended in this though he may have all that Humiliation which is precedent unto this As 1. The Lord may arm first some few and then many of the sins of their lives upon them so as they may feel the most intollerable burthen of them not only to stand convinced they are most grievous sinners but to shed many tears nay to be sore troubled and distressed oh the heavy wrath that lies upon my soul Thus Saul 1 Sam. 28. 15. And hence many make heavy complaints oh the Lord hears me not Send for Moses saith Pharaoh My sin is grâ—â—â—er than I can â—ear saith Cain Nay not only so but they may feel more terrors â—han many of the Saints as the damned now for the Lord lays this burthen upon his peoples backs in measure but the Lord empties out the whole sack upon them and the ground of this is but the sting of sin or the gnawings of particular sins in the Conscience not the burthen of the sin of nature as yet 2. You will say these fell from God never looked to Christ not left their sin but I have done so I have seen the mercy of God in the Gospel the Lord Jesus hath been revealed there and I have seen sin I must part with my sin if ever I have him and so I have And this you may have you may see an excellency in Christ and be so affected with hope of his mercy and melt at the thoughts of his Love as to cast off all outward evils that thou hast or the world lives in 2 Peâ— 2. 20. So that thou maist escape these by coming to him to remove them and by seeing that else thou shalt have none of him and hence hated thou maist be of the world The reason is Christ hath only washed thy skin but never changed thy nature as yet so that you may thank God my Conscience is clear 3. You may have not only outward acts but for a time inward lusts quenched that a man hath no mind nor heart to any sinful way nor to the dearest sins he hath lived in whilst horrour lies upon him As in Iudas when God did heaâ— his
Conscience his lust after his Bag was gone he had more mind to an halter And hence fâ—ings away his pieces of silver and innocent blood lies heavy Oh â—he mercy of a Christ that I have sleighted He thought he might have had his money and Christ escaped with his life and his sin pardoned afterward And hence it s said Mat. 27. 3. When he saw he was condemned he repented and as a man not worthy to live in his own thoughts he goes and hangs himself 'T is with the soul as with water all the cold may be gone but the native Principle of cold remains still You may remove the burning of lusts not the blackness of nature from a carnal heart and the ground holds nature is not changed This I say an unregenerate man may have but yet never find this change of nature where the power of sin lies change of Conscience from security to terrour change of life from prophaneness and civility and fashions of the world to escape pollutions thereof change of lusts nay quenching them for a time but the nature is never changed in the best Hypocrite that ever was As 2 Pet. 2. 19 20. Thâ—â— were washed but never from their 〈◊〉 nature And here they ever fail Prov. 30. 12. There is a genâ—ration clean in their own eyes yet not washed from their filthinesse 2 Tim. 2. 18 19 21. Alexander fell and Hymeneus they talked of the glorious estate of Saints and that here was all the resurrection that is to be expected and iâ— seems it was such a fall of such persons that many stumbled and said How shall we know who are the Lords Doubtless we may fall No the foundation remains sure and the Lord knows who are his They were none of his all that time and let all that professe Christ depart from iniquity for he that purgeth himself shall be a Vessel of honour And therefore read through all the Scripture constantly never any Hypocriâ—es but they had this brand Mat. 7. 23. You workers of iniquiâ—y Herod and Iudas had their haunts c. And Rom. 1 2. The Apostle shews that all were under sin He may in eveâ—y thing else be humbled for all the humiliation besides this strengthens sin in its Kingdom and binds a man fasteâ— under the dominion of it And hence such men are more hard to he convinced thâ—n men that were never cast down at all But this he never finds for if he should then 1. A graceless heart might partake of the greatest Benefit of the Covenant of 〈◊〉 and love of God For Rom. 11. 26. This is my Covenant to take away their sâ—n For to subdue sâ—n is greater love than to conquer Devils death and Hell Isa. â—1 6. 'T is turning Lions into Lambs 2. Tâ—en an unregenerate man may partake of the last end of all the sufferings and sorrows of Christ which is to save his people from their sin And hence John 1. 29 Bâ—hold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world 1 John 3. 5 8. Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil This therefore he ever falls short of He â—haâ— hath found this easie and accounts this work common never had it yet Quest. How may a Christian know when the Lord hath changed his nature and taken doâ—â—â—he power of his Sin Answ. It might suffice to evidence this against all gain-sayers that thus 't is and so to know it by the Spirits witness which shews us the things freely given of God who to save the Lord a trying another day tries us now and makes known these hidden works Especially seeing some Divines think that as the first Adam conveyed this sin of Nature I not knowing so the second Adam doth also remove this by an immediate stroâ—k I conceive 't is so also but not only by it And therefore take two Evidences now 1. Where-ever this is done that soul doth not only see this sin for so an unregenerate Paul did Rom. 7. 9. Where sin revived c. And the Word is a divider of joynts and Marrow Nor do they only feel this as an evil and so be much troubled with it but when the Lord makes the dejected soul feel it as its greatest evil so long as it remains in its being as it will worse than death than hell than all afflictions and miseries 'T is not a particular sin but this that he feels thus You will say this is a high pitch I say consider if any man was ever humbled under sin but he that felt sin as it is For if I feel it not as 't is I am deceived Now 't is the greatest evil To depart from a living God is worse than for soul and body and all creatures to depart from me To make God miserable is worse than for all creatures ever to be made so and sin in its tendencie doth so being a cross to his Will Isa. 1. 24. Hence he that feels it indeed feels it so the beginning of which is a sorrow and mourning after God that it might be so Isa. 63. 17. Why hast hardned our hearts from thy fear But thus 't is indeed Rom. 7. 24. And when 't is thus it will hold thus till death while the cause remains nay the more life and love the more tender it grows setting aside some careless fits And hence its greatest joy is to think of the time it shall be for ever holy And hence accounts no such mercy as to be set at liberty to live to God indeed A graceless heart sees and fears it and cries out of himself for it but stay a while and he loseth his tenderness either because he cannot part with it or because of Christ he looks now to him or because he hath now some sprinkling of the Spirit nature is eased thereby and he is quieted and hence never any carnal heart but some root of bitterness did grow up at last in this Soyl. Hence Ordinances profit not because feeling is lost But the soul thus feeling it beholding the Holiness of God and Love of Christ and its constant withdrawings resistings oh it cuts deep 2. Then the nature is changed when the Conscience being still and quiet and the soul assured of the Lords love yet nothing gives the heart quiet till 't is contiguous to God in Christ to enjoy him in his Holiness and in the love and delight of his whole will For this is a certain Rule If the nature be not changed if Conscience be but once quieâ—ed with the sence of Gods love and affected with it and hath not God indeed nor his work to quiet it it will fall to lusting after Creatures and live upon them and feed the heart there For as 't is impossible for a man to live or to be without provision so the world being provision for the flesh meat drink sleep and these lawful things there iâ— doth and will lie quiet without God But now where the nature is changed and there
and charge great So here Consider if once you get this it will never die it shall increase exceedingly It s a treasure you cannot part withal that you shall never grow poor with but Luke 8. 18. From him that hath not shall be taken away that which he seemed to have Oh many a one saith I fear I shall fall at last and I finde my heart so soon cooled Oh get this nothing shall quench it again If you say I cannot keep it I say it shall keep you Prov. 2. 10 11. Not when you have Christ and Spirit and grace in your head nor in your Conscience to give you peace but in your heart and when nothing is sweet but that nothing lies between your heart and that it shall now preserve and keep thee it shall follow thee fill thee seal thee live with thee go to heaven with thee c. Mark this you feeble ones Oh consider what a â—ad thing it will be to thy heart to miss of and lose the Lord at last The servants in Isaac's Family did not mourn so much as Esan when the blessing was gone Why They never had hope of it never were neeâ— it He was so long in the field that the blessing was gone before he came and he sold it away for a trifle So them that never came so neer the Lord and his blessing never will have such sorrow especially to think I sold it away for a trifle O thought Esaâ— that I had come a little sooner c. When Saul went to Gilgal to sacrifice 1 Sam. 13. 10. He staid seven days and then sacrificed before the Lord but then his doom was passed by God And it s said presently Samvel came Oh if he had staid a little longer So you will one day think I sought and waited but forsook the Lord. Oh had I waited one day more I had been well This is the reason why the Hypocrites portion is heaviest in Hell You will say It will be heavy hereafter but not now Yes now to if you do consider the Lord Jesus is so full and thou not to have one drop of that which is saving even when you come for it It was a heavy token of the Lords anger 1 Sam. 14. 17. when the Lord answered not all that day when yet he did not speak bitter things against them because he did use to do it It notes the anger of the Lord Jesus as a man that hath abundance of bread and yet gives not any this argues he is very angry if he continue so and if so how canst thou sleep under it Consider else the Lord will try you God hath his trying times and they were never sent but to discover who were dross who were gold and the main end of all Gods Tryals is to discover this Truth that I now am pressing upon you Some have a thorow work and now the Tryal discovers the Truth as in Abraham Hebr. 11. 17. Some have superficial work and they fall in Tryal as Saul and it doth discover it was but an overly work For this is the Question God makes Is it through or no I saith a carnal heart Yes saith a gracious heart Hence its strange to see what men will do when a tryal comes A man maintains a lust he will not shew it nor defend it he shall turn to be of some opinion or other and the corruption of his minde shall shew the corruption of his heart A man loaths the people of God but he saith he loves them now this shall be a sign Time shall come that some of them shall be matter of offence to him and shall not honour him it shall try him A man loaths Ordinances he saith he doth not but comes to the worlds end to enjoy them He shall have plenty of them and some sad losses with them and then you shall see he surfets of them never quickned by them to shew the work was but overly A mans heart is above God he saith he is content to be at the Lords dispose let him do any thing with him this comforts him He shall have a cross wiâ—e or something that doth not please him and now hiâ— heart quarrels and thus he shall be tryed to shew it was but overly work Men despise the liberties the Lord gives them they say they priâ—e them A general Governour shall come with pretences of Religion and Protection and you shall see this chaffe will take old Birds now Oh therefore try your selves here and be sure you fall not short here Whâ—â— Mâ—ans are there to be used 1. Look that you make your Vessels clear It hath been said of old and I beleeve t is a truth still â—that the Lord will never send his Spirit to dwell in an unclean heart Doves build not their habitations on dunghils Gods Spirit must come as an efficient to take it away but not as an Inhabitant to dwell in an unclean heart 2 Tim. 2. 19 20 21. He that pargeth himself he doth not say God must do all but he under God searcheth and purgeth he shall be a vessel of honour if from these things especially from those sins which Apostates are conquered with of which he there speaks For there be many sins a man may be purged from and not be a Vessel of honour But what are the sins the Apostates perish by mark them finde them out one by pride another by sloth another by world c. He shall be a Vessel of honour Men see and confess but make not work of it indeed the old heart is not better you consume and languish still 1 Cor. 9. 26 27. I beat not the air i. e. I lay deadly blows on my enemy and I beaâ— down my body least c. Overly search of sin hath made overly decay of sin and hence overly grace and affection As a man hath not light nor love nor esteem enough because he never felt his wound to the bottome Oh account it an inestimable mercy when 't is thus oh therefore remember the rule of the Prophet Ier. 4. 3 4. Sow not among thorns c. Many mens profession springs up but withers never comes to perfection this ground is not plowed or if so not thorowly plowed but thorns left to choak it Well saith the Lord look to your selves lest my wrath breake out like fire why is the Lord so dreadful here Oh because men are careless here I look to Christ and my desires are good and I pray in secret and I am much changed c. 2. Look that your Vessel be ever kept empty when a man hath no grace and sees how others can pray and mourn and how far short he falls of them its easie now to be empty as Saul when he was no King but when the Lord hath given some light and affection and some comfort and some Reformation now a man grows full here Saints do for God and caâ—â—al hearts do something
polluted with no sin till they fell down by Security the foolish were wanting to get oyl in their vessels before but this they fell last into What into open prophaness or othe foul corruptions No but they all slumbered and slept and we read of no sin after till the Bridegroom came many sins indeed there be which like branches bud from the root but this is the main And therefore look upon the next Parable you shall see this again confirmed to shew the certainty of this point the servant that hid his talent vers 26. is called an evil servant why what evil did he he did not lavish it as the Prodigal upon others not lose it but he did not use it sluggishness was his sin hence saith Christ thou evill and slothful servant And hence the thorny ground flourished and grew and suffered all persecutions could not consume them what was their sin Mark 4. 12. compared with Luk. 21. 34. it was the cares of the world they began to dream strange fancies came before sleeping and the pillow of their security was some worldly content And this is the reason why Christ and the Apostles are also exceeding pressing to watchfulness because this is the sin that Saints are ready to fall into after they have seen Christs love and care and because this is the sin the wicked will fall into and their last sin it will be just preceding their last plague and hence the Apostle exhorts Oh sleep not you c. 1 Thess. 5. 1 2 5 6. Let me open this thus SECT II. VVE must know that the Lord in subduing a sinner to the obedience of himself it is with him as with an enemy in a City there are many strong holds of sin to which he retires and resists 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. and when one is down he flieth for shelter into another and maintains that as long as he can so it is with men Or as it is with divers fruits they have their several seasons of growing and then of withering so it is here according to the several seasons of a mans life so are his lusts growing and decaying there are the first and the last ripe fruits First Take a man that is born and bred up to some years man is a sociable creature and it is a misery to live and be alone hence the first evil he usually chuseth is evil and loose company his lusts are grown up to some years and now he desireth a match for them and first he chuseth a companion and Satan hath a mighty hand in this because as the Lord when he first sends to do his work he sends two by two to animate and strengthen one another in the work so Satan doth first joyn hand in hand together that men might corrupt one another and harden one another in wickedness this I say is the first usually hence Ephes. 2. 2. and Prov. 2. 12. Wisdom first keeps from the evil man and this sin is for a time the dearest sin for here he meets with some pastimes mirth and so much love from them that he loves this last more than all the friends he hath though they disswade him more than all the Sabbaths of God and hence he prophanes them more than Christ himself and hence when he hath many times purposes of turning to God his company with-holds him Secondly Continuing long in this sin at last he comes to fall into the sin of lust and from men he looks to women and this is as deat to him as his right eye it may be God keeps him from the act of Whoredom but wanton looks lascivious thoughts speculative uncleanness self-pollution which he commits when the candles are out and none but God sees and yet God spares him and this follows him to the Church to the streets whiles he is awake nay when asleep and thinks it is no sin for a time or if he doth Oh the horror that he hath sometimes for it Scholars of Westminster have been derected from twelve or fourteen years of age to live in this sin This is the second Hence Prov. 2. 16. first wisdom keepes from the evill man next from evil women Thirdly It may be a man marrieth and then this sin is out of season now therefore another comes in its place and that is immoderate love of and dropsie desires after the world and the wealth of it for now charge is like to encrease and it is a shame to walk in rags and hence now a man begins to look upon the estates of others and to admire at them and then he looks upon what he hath and what labor care and providence in a saving way may bring him unto and hence burieth himself alive in the earth and feeds upon clods of earth and uncertain hopes And this is the next sin which grows up though I know some men will not come to this but I speak of them that go on in the fairest way hence Heb. 13. 4 5. Whoremongers God will judge then let your conversation be without covetousness that follows Fourthly It may be at last God terrifies this mans Conscience and he begins to see What profiteth it me to win the whole world and to lose my own soul hence falls now to take up another profession to hang out another flag and to lead a new life and now pride in spiritual excellencies is his sin when glory in worldly wealth dyes pride in spiritual glory lives There were divers of the Heathen contemned the world yet pust up with pride in their morality hence Chuse no novice Bishop lest he be puffed up and fall into the condemnation of the Devil Now Le ts of mind come in when he performs duties publickly openly and now he hungers after the honor of men and sets himself to sale for it Oh saith Saul honor me When he had confessed his coveting of the cattel but pride stuck in him still And when he doth duties privately he rests in them and accounts highly of himself for them though they neither bring him to Christ but estrange him from Christ. Hence Christ chargeth when you do alms do not onely do it not to be seen of men but let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth take no delight in this This was Simons sin Act. 8. he seeing the gifts of the Apostles would give any money for them these gifts are sweeter now than money hence such fall to some soul opinions and crotchets they can interpret Revelations and ascend to the Ministry and be the forwardest in a Town but when to do publick service respect is gone their love is gone Fifthly When this is dying in the Saints and fallen down in Hypocrites now sloth is the last thing that takes hold upon them and this is sweet What is the honor of men what is this base world now sloth and sleep is sweet Now a man first ceaseth acting and this gives rest and now being here Secondly it 's death
men mourning more under it than ever yet to see no good at all in themselves this if their eyes be open they are not to say I delight in the Law in the inner man and hence a regenerate Christian is vile in his own eyes after all duties and enlargements he sees how all is defiled with a filthy heart and hence Prov. 30. 4. I am brutish and he speaks of his natural estate and in that part for else it is cross to 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2. They see nothing in themselves to commend them to God in point of Justification here all Paul's past and present righteousness is accounted dung Quest. 3. If an Hypocrite sees and feels nothing and those that are poor in spirit do so what is the difference Ans. The differences are many 1. He that is truly poor sees so much vileness as that he loaths himself Ezek. 6. But the Hypocrite if he hath any excellency remains full of it proud with it if it be gone he seeks himself again and loaths not himself 2. True poverty of spirit drives a man out of himself and all carnal contents tents as well as graces to mercy to live there and cleave there as in the Prodigal he did not only see a want but feel a need of bread I die without it Psa. 40. 9 10. But another that sees no good either is not driven out of his contents but when he sees nothing as Câ—in builds Cities or if he see 's some good in himself then he is not driven out of himself SECT V. HEnce see which is the surest and safest way of evidencing our good estate for here men now are perplexed either 't is by seeing no grace and so expecting the witness of the Spirit or by seeing some saving work of grace and so looking to the witness of the Word and waiting for the confirmation of the Spirit for seals do but confirm the Promise and Covenant if it be by seeing no grace then either by seeing no grace without having the being of it and now wait for a revelation and then 't is a delusion for he is under the condemnation of the Word and therefore far from consolation of the Spirit or by seeing no grace without seeing the being of it If so then a man must seek for a witness of the Spirit without understanding the meaning of the Spirit or of the witness of it and so a man must shut his eyes against part of the truth that he may see another part a man must see that he is beloved but not thou believer or thou called art loved or justified Oh then take heed of this way of evidence or else by now seeing grace and waiting for a witness now this is safest for when ever the witness comes it is certainly right now not a delusion Hereby we shall see the full meaning of the witness and compass of the Lords love And therefore take heed of denying all grace and seeing nothing and then wait for a Revelation and if it comes now 'tis right no such matter you may see nothing and to hell and no consolation to them that see nothing think not that this is poverty it may be a seal to a blank to such a one as the Lord never intended mercy unto that which God promiseth pray for Zach. 13. ult first to say It is my people and then the Lord is my God find that the Lord makes you his people and then say so Let all know this is never questioned whether the Spirit be the cause of witness and clearing our estate but whether by seeing nothing or shewing something here 's the mystery of it Oh that God would make you hear that are called away from the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ These foolish Virgins were wiser than many now a days in this particular they cried for oyl in their lamps or they knew they could not be accepted of the Bridegroom Oh search and try your selves throughly for you may come in time to see all your paint fall off all your guilt discovered c. CHAP. XII Of the desire of Grace that may be in Hypocrites SECT I. Give us of your Oyl c. THat foolish Virgins may and seriously do desire not only Salvation but Grace it self For these Virgins did not only desire the Lord to open to them but give us of your oyl and this they do not desire in shew but seriously for they felt a want of it our lamps are out out oyl is spent our misery is great Oh now help us with your grace This may appear in these particulars First They may feel a loss and a want of it and having some hope in this life to gain it hence may seek it thus not only the Virgins but Simon Magus Acts 8. 24. when he was convinced he was in the gall of bitterness he doth not only content himself with his own but doth commend himself to the desires of the Church and Apostles Oh pray for me that none of these things may come upon me but that I may be brought into another estate whereby I may escape all this Amos 8. 11 12. I will bring a famine not of bread but of hearing the Word i. e. you shall feel a woful want of that and of the consolation life and spirit of that and you shall go from sea to sea to find it and shall not Oh that I had taken my time will the careless ones say Secondly They may have a high opinion of it and see a marvellous excellency in it and hence may be drawn to desire it Ioh. 6. 33 34. My father gives you bread from heaven which Moses gave not and such bread as gives life unto the world then said they Lord ever give us of this bread and yet they were carnal and desires carnal arising from the sight of the excellency of it that Scribe Matth. 12. 33 34. To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart is better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices Oh that 's admiâ—able the Ordinances are good and Creatures are good but this is better As a man when he admires the world he ever desires the world though he never hath it so here as in Balaam Not only Word and Spirit may commend it and so they may desire it but the excellency of it in the lives of the Saints will commend it so as carnal hearts may desire the company and love of such men above all in the world Rev. 3. 8. Gen. 26. 28. We saw God was with thâ—e â—nd that thou wâ—rt blessed of the Lord and hence there are some desires after it 2 Pet. 2. 19. Men escape pollutions by Christ. Thirdly They have a taste of the sweetness of it and hence may desire it Heb 6. Iohn was a burning light and they rejoyced in him and all Iudea and Ierusalem flocked to hâ—s Ministery and came into the wilderness after him the savor of the grace of Christ may wonderfully
the saying written O death where is thy sting c. Isa. 25. 7 8. So that reckon what Christ hath you shall have it then Much mercy the Lord shews to his people now but Psal. 31. 19. how great is that which is laid up then it shall be brought forth now you shall have an end of all your desires prayers faith to feel that which you have believed c. as it was with Ioshua 23. ult Not one thing whereof God hath failed Here the poor hardly get bread here many prayers get nothing c. but there 2 Thess. 1. 9 10. God doth then what he can for them and gives what he can give to them then all treasures are broken open Fifthly Then there shall ever be cohabitation and living with him never to be any more parted from him or he from them for while any is a Suitor to one in a far Country he comes and goes away again but when mariage comes then he carries her to his own house and now live they must together so the Lord in this life is somtime with his people somtime absent from his people but then they must cohabite together and shall 1 Thess. 4. ult And then we shall ever be with the Lord. If the Lord should do all the former and not this it would be a bitter cut When the Disciples had Christs presence for a time it was sweet but when parting came that was bitter but here is no more parting with the Lord to be in a Kings dominon where peace rules when other places are slaughter-houses and Golgotha's t is good but to be with the King and ever with him and to follow him where ever he goes and to be familiar with him this is wonderful Husbands depart either because not pleased at home or because of business abroad all such motion arguing imperfection but now there shall be nothing in the Saints to displease and Christ's business shall then be done he shall have no more to do but only to give up the Kingdom to God the Father that is the last work of Christ in this world To see the Lord in his beauty of grace and love will be wonderful but for dust and worms to be with him for ever the poor things of the world to be with him when thousands are cast by we say that 's the beauty of a thing which no picture can express now to see that beauty in Christ is marvellous but to be in the bosom of one so amiable how great is this Sixthly Then shall the Lord rejoyce over his people and they in him Mariage day is the great day of joy they long for it before and when it comes the longer it hath been deferred the more feats of parting the more are they affected with joy then so here the soul hath desired the Lord in grace first and then in glory Rev. 22. Christ hath been desiring after them in glory Iohn 17. 24. now their desires being fulfilled all his scattered lost Elect gathered now he rejoyceth with exceeding joy and the longer lost and meeting deferred the greater joy now hence Zeph. 3. 11. he shall rejoyce over thee with joy c. Look as the Lord when they were but converted to him poor and miserable and sinful and some of them but very babes Luk. 10. 21. yet he rejoyced in Spirit and falls admiâ—ing of the Father so here much more when they shall become glorious and perfect and altogether at this day If the Lord Isa. 40. 1 2. would have his Prophets speak to the heart of Ierusalem when it had but Seventy years captivity much more will the Lord himself then do it at that day and look as it was with them Rev. 19. 1. to 6. Alleâ—ujaâ— for the destruction of Antichrist and that Christ reigneth Oh let us rejoyce so shall all Saints meet him with joy being delivered out of the hands of all their enemies they shall cry Allelujah with joy to see them destroyed and the Lord reigning and then shall they up to heaven in a shout of joy with Allelujah c. SECT II. HEnce see how ill the sin of worldliness or any sinful lâ—st suits with a gracious godly man Shall the Lord come as a Bridegroom to you and will you run a whoring from him in this day A man can bear it when others that he never set his heart upon depart from him but these to do it it is a sin against his kindness against his person most immediately and against his name and honor As a vertuous woman is a crown to her husband so here Covetousness is a vile sin in any but especially in these and hence Ier. 3. 4 5. Wilt thou not from this time cry my Father When Baruch sought great things Wilt thou seek great things when God came to destroy all so will you keep great things here when the Lord is destroying alâ— when your Husband will be all in all when a woman knows that a great Prince loves her she scorns all other Suitors c. So should you be content though poor though sinful c. Col. 3. 4. 5. as long as Christ loves thee Hence see what a great sin it is not to receive evidence of mercy and comfort from any promise of Christ wherein he reveals his love to his Spouse if Christ shall come as a Bridegroom to you by what promise soever therefore he shall manifest his love to you receive it some would not have Christians to receive evidence of Christ's love by any conditional promise but remember this that if Christ doth not speak them if they be not the Bridegrooms voyce or if not true then do not receive them or any evidence from them nay if he doth not by his own Spirit clear them and apply them but if they be the voyce of the Bridegroom if you be friends or shew your selves friends rejoyce at it Ioh. 3. 29. As for that immediate revelation of his love expect it at his meeting when you shall see him face to face in the mean while if he by his letter reveals his love Oh make much of it because it is your Bridegrooms if the day of Judgement be come and Resurrection past and Christ seen immediately then look not for your evidence from such Scriptures but if otherwise then own his love here if he speaks It is true it would be a sweet thing if that day would come yet as Christ said to Thoâ— as so say I to you Blessed are they which have not seen and yet believed and therefore when ever the Lord doth this first or last hear his voyce and believe his word Do not say you see nothing in your selves suppose a woman should make a match by love and consent though hardly she did â—ath him but he was so mighty as to prevail for her goodwill and now she is comforted and another should come and say to her How do you know this Why thus he sought me thus I
of it there is no beauty in thee why he should do this to thee there is in him beauty and excellency Oh shall not this love win thee Shall it be said another day Wherefore is all this evil come upon such a one had he not means had he not offers But this shall come against thee You would not Oh you would not SECT IV. ONly take these four Cautions concerning your consent Take heed that your consent arise not only from fear of misery for this is a forced consent and is ever naught and it appears so when the misery is past many do thus in fears of death or times of calamity Oh then the Lord Hos. 8. 1 2 3. Psal. 78. 34 35. Secondly Take heed it be not a conceit of your own making in days of peace for that which you make from your selves you will break also but that it arise from the sence of thine own insufficiency to give consent and the Lords Almighty power and infinite grace to work it and then no powers of any creature can untie that knot Many hearing of this Will you have Christ Oh yes withal my heart and force a consent by their own labor this is naught and hence Ezek. 16. 60 61. The Lord will receive that harlot but not by heâ— covenant i. e. which she undertook in her own name no the Lord must work it Ier. 3. 19. How shall I do this for thee c. Hos. 2. 19. I will â—etroth her For no creature can incline the heart to another but the Lord there is a natural antipathy between Christ and the Soul and hence we see it in many a Christian ask him Why cannot you love the Lord nor cleave to him Oh because I know not why I cannot I have no heart the truth is you have hearts that do loath him unless the Lord overcome you you can never submit indeed unto the Lord. Thirdly Look that your consent be not made according to your own terms and conditions for look as it is with a woman if she shall say she is content to love such a man but if she keeps an open Inn to entertain all strangers and love all commers or if there is one she is in league with there can be no mariage so therefore the conditions are so Receive the Lord and give your consent to love him only Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me otherwise the match will never be made Isa. 50. 1. if you keep your wretched unruly stuâ—boâ— wâ—lls stâ—ll never hadst thou or shalt thou have the Lord Let thy sin be never so little so close as it may be sloth it is death to pray it may be 't is pride or whatever else it be you must have your hearts first divorced from them or thou canst not have Christ. Fourthly Take heed then that sence of want of dowry beauty portion in or from your selves doth not hinder you from consent for the Lord requires no such thing of you hence Mâ—tth 22. 4. All things are ready in Christ to receive from him Ephes. 5. 25. 'T is not for you to make ready to bring to him only come and the Lord doth bring his people to sence of vileness that they may do thus know that it is his Grace that makes the Lord close there SECT VIII NOW will you refuse and not let the Lord have your hearts this day First is there any thing in the Lord that should keep thee from consenting what good is there else but in him what want of perfection there his love is better than life if there be any thing in the world that can be better to thee or do greater things for thee make thy match but who can pay thy debts who can fetch thee out of prison who can put beauty on thee who ever did thee good but the Lord therefore there is none like him he will cloth thee possess thee c. Secondly is there any thing in thy self that keeps thee from consenting hast thou no need of him or consenting to him you may it is true have other creatures to adorn you as they Ezek. 16. 37 38. But the Lord will gather your lovers together and give you blood and fury in his jealousie I mean when the Lord shall come at this day to embrace comfort glorifie others thou shalt not have a smile from him Oh men now despise the Lord and his Grace and Patience tell them of a match with the Son of God they regard it not no more than a tale that is told well the Lord will bring you into horrors wherein you shall prize and be glad of this before you die even one glimpse of his love Post tenebras lucem spero After my sickness December 12. 1639. CHAP. XVIII Shews that Christ will not tarry when once his time is come and the folly of such whose work is then to do and that the blessedness of Saints consists in immediate communion with Christ. SECT I. THe coming of Christ we have heard is set forth first from the time of it viz. just then when the foolish went to buy Could not the Lord so patient and long suffering tarry a little while longer for them especially seeing they went not about any sinful work but were using the means to get that grace now which their vessels were empty of before No but the Lord deals with all men especially that live under the means as he did with these foolish Virgins That as God is long-suffering towards men whiles through ignorance of their spiritual wants and security of heart they have no hearts to use the means for supply So if once his time of forbearance be slept out he will not tarry one moment longer even when men are most diligent in the use of means for spiritual supplies when Christ hath a heart to help many people have none either to see their wants or seek for help when men have hearts thus to do then Christ hath none because his time of tarrying is out when men are worst and most secure Christs door is open to them many times when men are best and indeed awakened Christs heart and door is shut against them as it was here for what are the best endeavors of foolish Virgins what excellency is there in them that the Lord of glory should stay their leisure after long neglect of himself and loss of precious time SECT II. BE sure you sleep not out the day time of Grace especially you 1. That know you want oyl in your vessels and Grace in your hearts and mercy to your souls and think I would not die yet for a world 2. You that being asleep with these foolish Virgins dream you are rich and want nothing and would be half offended with them that should tell you to your face or bat think in their hearts that you have no grace when indeed you are poor and empty and naked Take heed you give not that answer to time that
himself in his son Iohn 17. 23. That the world may know thou hast loved me the Father out of his infinite love commuâ—icates himself to Christ and his fellowship is with the Father all know this is a dear love in mean while love to his Saints is unknown they and the wicked share all alike and the Saints have the least portion and worst part many times so that men cannot see by any outward thing any more love to them than unto others the time will come that they shall be made perfect in one as near the Lord as can be that the world may know this love c. When Absoâ—om had slain his brother and fled from his father it is said 2 Sam. 13. 39. that the sâ—ul of David longed or was consumed to go forth to him David might have said I will never look after him more so might the Lord have said to us or if he lâ—ved he might never have manifested it as David but the Lord must shew his love c. Because this is the end of all the prayers and endeavours and all the workings of the Saints in this World Suppose all glory be in Christ let a thing be never so good but if a man hath no desires after it hath no mind to it it would not be blessednesse to him but this is the end of all the prayers duties of the Saints if at last they may be with the Lord Phil. 3. 8 9. Joh. 4. 14. He shall never thirst their desires are taken off from other things â—ut only their hearts are to this If there be any pillow the Lord lets them sleep upon in this world they shall finde it hard at last and arise with a Kings head and heart and say Oh here is not my rest the best entertainment this world can give hath ever somewhat mixt with it that makes the people of God say Oh that I might be with the Lord SECT VI. Quest. SHâ—ll not the happinesse of the Saints partly lie in fellowship with â—he Saiâ—s Answ. 1. True but this is but a consequent to the former as separâ—tion from God is â—he substance of misery in hell but other things follow upon it viz. communion with Reprobates and Divels so here we have first communioâ— with Christ here is the substance of our blessednesse then this is accidenâ—alâ— and follows upon that viz. the communion with the Saints which is exceeding sweet 2. That good we shall have in communion with Saints is not from themselves but Christ in them as 2 Thess. 1. 10. Christ shall s be admired in all his Saints so Christ shall â—hen in his Saints and Angels it is the light of the Sun that shines in the Stars and they shall do nothing but set out the praises of Christ. Quest. But what blessednesse is there in this seeing it is in one thing only when a man is sâ—â—k or poor can grace refresh him can he live by that thus many carnal hearts think Answ. 1. The Lord shall then take away all fleshly appetites or desires for then our bodies shall be spiritual bodies in this life sometimes God takes away the stomack when he takes away food Christ forgot his wearinesse because he had other bread to eat 2. It is therefore blessednesse because it is in one there is First Trouble in seeking and fetching our comfort out of many things 2. Unsatisfiednesse because one thing can give no more than it hath now all things in this one thing are there together the sweet of all creatures all Ordinances nay variety of unknown mercies Prov. 8. 21. shall center here in Christ Jesus SECT VII OF marvellous Consolation to the Saints of God Now you have many wants many sorrows many temptations many sins many cares and fears of livelihood but the time will shortly come when you shall be with the Lord alone in communion with him and so out of the crowd and presse of troubles and temptations and sins and evils in this world that as he himself is above all these so shall you Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Their hearts were grieved for the losse of Christ I will come to you and take you to my self that where I am there you may be also sometimes outward losses and fears trouble thee sometimes absence of Christ from thee troubles thee hear what the Lord saith Lâ—t not your hearts be troubled for the Lord will take you to himself again John 16. 22. Christ tells them I will see you again and your hearts shall rejoyce what if he had said I will come down from heaven to you again I tell you the Lord will do so to you but that he is in a better place preparing iâ— for you and doing better things for you but he sees you for the present and you shall be with him at last The Apostle prays that they might know what is the inheritance of the Saints so I desire of the Lord for you that you may know what it is to have communion with Christ alone oh see your blessednesse c. SECT VIII 1. This Communion it shall be by sight not chiefly by faith as it is in this world Many go many Miles to the supposed Sepulchre of Christ and account their time though superstitiously yet happily spent oh but what will it be to see the Lord himself not as he was here in his abasement but in all his glory brighter than ten thousand Suns now we see 1 Cor. 13. as in a glasse where we see the glory of God in the face of Christ but then we shall know as we are known as a childe knows not the father but at ripe years it doth but as Philip said to Nathanael who said Can any good come out of Nazareth so can any such mercy come from heaven come and see him of whom all the Prophets have spoken of so then the Father and Spirit and Saints and Angels will say oh come in and see him of whom all the Prophets have written come and behold him that hath shed his dearest blood for thee that hath taken thought and care for thee night and day that hath been all thy life inâ—erceding for thee Revel 22. 4. There you shall see his face 2. This comâ—union it shall be spiritual and inward wiâ—h tâ—e soul and conscience suppose the soul should be with Christ and not have spiritual communion with him what were it the better as many â—ad when Christ was here in this world that eat and drank in his presence and yet are now shut out Oh no! the glory beauty goodness of Christ is not to be seen with bodily eyes nor tasted nor handled with ouâ— carkasses and hence Angels though in heaven with Christ's person yet look to the Gospel to hear see and enjoy the spiritual excellencies of the Lord hence Simeon when he had Christ in his arms yet now desires to depart because he should then come near him into his spiritual communâ—on Oh this the soul shall
death of thy friends or by secret feares of thine own heart thy time is not many hands breadth longer and it may be this shall be the Funeral Sermon of some of you you have been flying like Bees abroad in the world to gather your honey and the Lord haâ—h been smoaking of you and that in your own Hive you have thought to dwell long in Tabernacles the Lord hath let it fall to decayes and repaires it not again If you live unready it may be the Lord will try you with some sore conflict with fears of death and terrors of darkness and all your preparation is too little for your combate then The place of glory is made ready for you how shall I so unholy see God Christ is there Iohn 14. 3. waiting for thee longing after thee Thou art it may be yet in many respects unready As 1. Not yet planted in the House and Church of God not yet gathered to communion of Christ in his Saints on earth I know men may have just reasons to deferre but if they have none I would be loth to die in their room Hezekiah Isa. 38. ult Psalme 26. 8. I have loved the habitation of thy House Oh gather not my soule with the wicked I am perswaded some deare to Christ linger here and you cannot finde this not that saving good in your selves you say I had rather hear one mourn for emptiness than boast of his grace 2. There are many sinnes not yet mourned sufficiently for in daye of youth and in a secure condition in heaven is no mourning oh therefore take time now for want of this grace is not so sweet 3. It may be some main duty is neglected to the souls of them whom thou hast a charge of as not Caâ—echising thy family children not careful for their souls 4. It may be thou hast been little in prayer for the Churches though for thy family and children which is usually the last work of the Saints there 's no praying for them in Heaven as Christ at the end of his life like a Priest shed blood and prayed for them so Saints are made Priests to God and Christ 5. It may be thy house is not yet set in order nor thy Will made Reckonings between men not yet set right and even and then there is Quarrels when thou art Dead and trouble when you dye 6. It may be thou art grown secure and art lost and driven away and many wrinckles be on thy face and heart c. you cannot say with Paul 2 Tim. 4. That you have fought c. but are rather at truce with sin you run not but have slipt and fallen down and so lost all SECT XVI THerefore to help here in this readiness Get a heart more loosned and weaned from the world Solomon he did launch out his heart herein too far not in Epicurisme but Eccles. 2. 3. applying his heart to wisdome all this time so may you and be unready How I cannot but God will teach it you by affliction Psalme 39. 6 7. You are Sojourners here with God as all your Fathers there 's nothing proper nothing long to be enjoyed Own the Lord Iesus he is yours but you own him not as Simeon came to the Temple and there found him and there blest God and now saith he let me depart in peace hath the Lord stirred up unutterable sighings and groanings and mournings you think it may be if Christ was present you would not doubt of answer and they continue still and do you think Christ is hard-hearted hath the Lord come to thee in the Temple and manifested his love by his own promise sure and faithful and wilt thou not yet own him hast had and hast now the first fruition of the Spirit and wilt not yet own him and art afraid to go to him when others are in glory that trod in thy steps Oh be humbled for it I know there is nothing which makes thee feare it but a Rebellious vile heart and nature and can the Lord love such a one Yes such a one if he mournes under it Rom. 7. 24. Isaâ— 57. 18 19. The Lord will create peace he hath seen thy wayes and heâ—will heale them And when you have him thus own him daily keep your peace do nothing which may make you lose boldness in prayer and therefore reckon daily with him and Remember the promise stands when feelings are lost Object But I can do but little for him Answ. True Isa. 64. 6. Thou the Lords clay his Vessel though of little publique use yet in thy place do what thou canst for Christ Jesus Servants Masters Members Rich Poore bestirre your selves For Christ you shall lose nothing by it c. VERSE 10. The Door was shut IN these words is set down the consequent of that which immediately followed the Wise Virgins gracious entertainment with Christ the door was shut by which is signified the exclusion of the foolish from the fellowship of Christ as also the greatness of Christs love to the wise opening the door of glory unto them and when they are gathered shutting the door against every one else Hence Observe That the endeared love of Christ to his Elect doth much appear in this In opening the door of glory unto them and shutting it against others of great esteem and name in the Church of God for this is one Scope of the words Gen. 7. 16. To open the Kingdome of Heaven to all the world and save all would be great love in the eyes of the Saiâ—ts but to save them and condemne others to receive them and exâ—lude others and that of great name and esteem Virgins this sets out the Lords love exceedingly Christs distinguishing separating love is his great love Mat. 11. 25. If we consider the multitude of the one and fewness of the other not only in regard of the world but in regard of others in Churches Luke 13. 24. Many shall seek and many that are first shall be last Matthew 19. 30. If we consider that there is as much reason appearing outwardly that the Lord should choose thee one as well as the other what difference is appearing outwardly between these Virgins I 'le warrant you the wise did think the foolish as good and it may be far better than themselves Iudges 6. 15. Saith Gideon How wilt thou save Israâ—l by me I am the least in my Fathers house yet saith the Lord I will be with thee so the Saints may say and do say Why Lord wilt thou save me I am the least and poorest of all others If we consider the reason why the Lord doth this and that is because of nothing but the Will of God his good pleasure Matth. 11. 25. For why should their Vessels be filled they received and not others only the Will of God I know not you c. Of which hereafter If we consider the intolerable torment of those who go farre
much self but it turnes in time to higher ends c. and that is what though I have peace salvation these loaâ—es but yet miss of Christ himself and the life of Christ to live by him and live to him which is our last end 2 Cor. 5. 15. And here all his prayers end though crooked many wayes else these are the prayers of that Spirit of life which is ever heard and hence Iames 5. 3. Ye ask and have not because ye ask to spend it on your lusts Isa. 58. 5. though they fasted and prayed yet it was for sâ—rife and debate the Saints do it to destroy their lusts and hence though all fervent prayers are not of the Spirit yet all prayers of the Spirit are ever fervent though exprest with chatterings mournings as Doves because the last end hath a mighty force with it and hence waiting on God in all meanes for Answers follows and hence prayers of the Saints are endless Appetitus finis est infinitus hence Rom. 8. 23. life in heaven is his Scope and he is longing for it glad of that time for all prayers of Hypocrites are but issues of self-Iove 〈◊〉 all occasions do but quicken up that principle so all the prayers of the Saints rise from the spirit of love to God and faith in him Rom. 8. 27 28. The Sonlike Spirit or Spirit of Adoption not servile is in them Secondly If the soul receive any thing from the Lord thus praying 't is exceedâ—ng thankful the Spirit of Christ wherever it is glorifies Christ Iohn 16. and Psal. 116. 1. and that in time of peace hence Psalme 50. 14 15. Offer to God thanks giving and par thy vowes and then call though in time of trouble and I will heâ—re For the Lord to begin to do the soul any good and shew it its misery the worth of the Lord Jesus to give him any heart to seek to give him any hope to give him the least hint by any word of mercy oh its heart melts it should be thus and wonders but to think nay to see the Lord hath answered him oh this swallows him up makes him give all to the Lord as Hannah did when she had her Childe 1 Sam. 2. 1 2. Esau lost the blessing though he begged it with tears he had a prophane heart that did not esteem it indeed and so would â—ever have been thankful for it poor Iacob gets it though he had but a staâ—f to hold him up Thirdly If it receive not answer it mournes and loaths it self justifies God gives all to him prayers from self-loathing are not prayers which come from self-love Psal. 22. 2 3 â—4 Zach. 12. 10 Psal. 72. 12. There the Spirit dwells in the poor and contrite and their cries are heard when men pray and want and are quiet without wishing they could lament 't is not from the Spirit oh therefore try here if 't is thus as he said to Hâ—zekiah The Lord hath heard thy cries and seen thy teares and oh wonder at the Lord that he should give thee a heart to cry now Reproof to Saints Who though received and heard yet think the Lord regards them not and as David think his mercy is shut up 1. Remember former times Psal. 77. 7. Your experiences of the Lords pitying thee in thy blood and he will not cast thee off now 2. Consider the Riches of grace when you cannot find any thing past but what might cause him to loath thee yet the Lord may then love when thou art lamenting thy vileness Isa. 63. 15 16. 3. Consider the Lord doth purposely seem to dis-regard thee sometimes not to shut out prayers but to make you pray better not that you should not pray at all Iudg. 16. 10. but to make you seek and follow him though in the dark Lam. 3. 45. with 55. in a land of pits eye hath not seen what God hath laid up for you 4. Consider there is as much in the Lord to move him in thy worst estate to help thee as in the best viz. his mercy Psal. 6. 4. You say If my heart was not so vile if I had not committed such sins the Lord might this is as if you said The Lord shews not pity only for his mercy c. VERSE 12. I know you not WOrds of fence in Hebrew beare and signifie affection also The principal affections are Love and Hatred 1. Love Psal. 1. ulâ— Iohn 10. 14. 2. Hatred Hosea 7. 2. Revel 8. 12. In this place such knowledge is meant which hath the affection of love joyned with it so that 't is as if Christ should say I love you not I delight not in you my heart is not toward you whatever good words you give me and how ever your heart is toward me or you have thoughts of me And this is the great misery of foolish Virgins That it is a most heavy and dreadful misery not to be beloved not to be known of Iesus Christ for now when the Tables are turned and the Stage is pull'd down and the Foolish shut out and when Christ himself would give them a doleful Answer express in words their woe he coucheth it under these I know you not I do not say that men do feel it so but it is so and at last it will be found so This may appear if we consider these particulars If you consider the exceeding greatness and glory of his place and person He is exalted and set at the right hand of God upon the Throne of his Father and his Dominions reach from sea to sea he is King of Kings and Lord of Hoasts of Angels c. Phil. 2. 9. A Name aboâ—e every Name he hath and God hath sworne To him shall every one bow Now being thus great and not to be beloved of such a one is heavy if we want the love of poor men and base ignoble spirits it is no such matter but to lose great ones favour especially if we depend upon them in life and goods peace and honour this is bitter hence 2 Thes. 1. 9. from the glory of his power If you consider the terrour of the wrath of God for time to come If a man be abroad in the Fields from home and no stormes not colds nor heats arise to hurt him a shelter would not be so much prized nor the loss of it great but if there be such and then to want it and to lie open to the injury of all Weathers now it is a woe to want it So I say to you men that are abroad in the wide Fields of this world and gone from home if there should never be misery but you might eat your bread and drink your Wine with a merry heart and rejoyce in your Wives and there then should be no knowledge of any thing after death as those Epicutes spake Eccles. 9. the Love of Christ would not be so sweet but there will be stormes scorching heats that
time and Christ forsook them and left them very sorrowful for a time but saith he I will come to you again yea and they might be never awhit the wiser for that Nay saith he At that day you shall know I am in you and you in me As a childe cannot tell how his soul comes into it noâ— it may be when but afterwards it sees and feels that life So that he were as bad as a Beast that should deny an immortal soul and 't is an Article of our Faith so here c. 4. And truly when it is known 't is exceeding useful if a man was never apprehended by Christ that now before he be cast out of sight and reach of Christ he may if possible get the Lord to apprehend him and if he hath been apprehended he may be supported in sad combates and comforted against all feares of Apostacy from the Lord but may know he stands as fast as Mount Sion that never can be removed for times of spiritual assaults are to destroy faith Psal. 22. 8. He trusted in God let him deliver him and therefore you had need make sure of this time may come that to sence and feeling hope and heart may faile What supports now yet Christ doth not Christ will not Christ cannot Quest. How may this apprehending love on Christs part be known 〈◊〉 Answ. In these five Degrees of it it manifests it self for it is unknown in it self but in the manifestation of it there ' is seen of us 1. Degree When the love of Christ apprehends the soul effectually it overcomes the soul by sence of love and thereby draws the soul from the strong holds and bondage of sinne to Christ wherever there is exceeding deare love of the one unto the other it is winning it 's of an overcoming nature and though Christ doth threaten or terrifie his people sometimes yet the end is love the love of Christ is of a winning overcoming vertue and he overcomes by love and where he sets his heart on any he will sooner or later overcome by love if he can the hearts of his to forsake all other Lovers and cleave unto him Ier. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting lovâ— What follows hence I have drawn thee How by loving-kindness Cant. 1. 4. Draw me and I will follow thee this is the prayer of all those whom the Lord espouseth to himself and 't is as if they should say I have neither strength nor heart to come nor follow my iniquities clog me and my feares discourage me c. but yet Lord draw me Let a man believe in Christ and accept the offer of Christ when he can but he can never do it untill his heart a verse to Christ and unbelieving be drawn to the Lord Jesus and that not violently only by terrour but by stronger cords even the cords of Love which perswades mightily the soul of unwilling to become willing the Lord revealing the glorious grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ and all the benefits of him and therefore he offers this to it and requires nothing but faith to receive it this which stirs not the heart of another overcomes the hearts of the Lords own even with an holy admiration at this grace What Lord am I so vile I am and filthy and hellish after so long abusing God and Grace now to reveale offer on such termes Christ and Grace to me Oh Lord I am swallowed up with this kindness how canst thou think such thoughts of love yet I see it Rom. 1. 17. The Gospel is the power of God to salvation for therein is righteousness revealed from faith to faith And mark 't is such a drawing of love as pulls the soul from all the strong holds of sinne to Christ for that which the Prophet complaines of people in his time is true of ours Ier. 8. 5. They took fast hold of deceit and refused to return they hold it as their life and it holds them as fast as spiritual bonds of death either the pleasure of sinne holds them or the power of unbelief in refusing grace attended with sinkings and sadness of heart or objecting against grace through pride of heart when the Lord comes to apprehend it hereupon the Lord Jesus Christ uno eodem actu ictu in drawing the soul to himself draws it from the captivity of sinne thus Acts 26. 18. from darkness to light 1 Thes. 1. 9. and the soul saith as they Ier. 3. 23 24 c. The Lord Jesus doth not so draw it to himself as that at the same time it abides in sinne noâ— so from sinne as that it abides without Christ but uno c. For I observe a double errour in mens drawing to Christ. First Either they come only from misery I say Only and so are rather driven than drawn to Christ they rather come themselves on the legs of their self-love than on the feet of Faith Now when Christ doth effectually draw he doth it by love Oh this meâ—ts this draws this breaks this overcomes and now as we say in Warre It is better to Reconciâ—e an Enemy than to Conquer him by force because thâ— one overcomes his power only but the other overcomes his will so Christ could crush and he doth bruise his peoples souls with miseries they would never else be suitably affected with the bruises of his soul but this makes way for love he overcomes the will by love Secondly Or else if love doth meet affect and draw them yet it doth not overcome them oâ— draw them from the hold of sinne but as Ivy clasps about the Tree with a root of its own I have known some that have been melted affected with the patience and goodness of God towards them that have been almost perswaded and yet have turned almost Devils afterward the Reason hath been because they were never quite taken off their own bottoâ—es Now a soul whom Christ draws the Lord in drawing him to himself pulls him from his sinne so that he is weary of it the sight of Christs grace oh this draws indeed that now not only it dare not will not but cannot live in sinne Rom. 6. 2. Titus 2. 11 12. Grace appeares to all but it teacheth us saith the Apostle to deny ungodlinesse ungodliness will be suing and seeking for love but they deny it the soul thus comes not unto Christ without feeling of sâ—nne in it but that the Lord would take away all iniquity from it Ier. 3. 22. And because it feares there may be some secret evil its care therefore is that the Lord would strike the root of all and make it more bitter than death to its grave The greatest evil of all is sinne 't is greater than Death Grave Hell hence Christs greatest love is in Redeeming first from sinne And as if there had never been sinne grave nor death should never hold so when he breaks the power of sinne no power of Satan World Death shall hold
now is not Christ present with his people ruling and judging among his people Yes but Christ â—udgeth now mediately by meanes of his servants and hence he not giving and they not having perfect knowledge of the secrets of men hearâ—s noâ— having perfâ—ct hatred of the evil and hypoâ—risie of mens hearts hence they are noâ— separated now not cannot be â—hough the â—ervants of God should be very watchful so long as they cannot see nor convince men of all their Hypocrisie some â—ight and life he gives them to see beyond theâ— own natural abilities but it is not perfected and hence his work is as the instruments are imperfect but now when Christ himself comes immediately to judge and they fall into his hands he can perfectly see all their secret evils he hath his eyes like a flaming 〈◊〉 and themselves shall know and all Churches shall know nay all the world shall know that he is â— Goâ— searching the hearâ—s and reines 1 Sam. 16. 7. and he perfectly hates Hypocrisie he regards not any mans person or parts or profession or kindnesses or relations which move us many times to accept whom â—he refuseth against some â—ight but as â—tis If. 〈◊〉 8 He haâ—es robbery in 〈◊〉 offeâ—ings and loves judgement and hence the more present Christ is with his people the more able are they to discerne as Petâ—r the secrets of Anaâ—ias in the Primitive times or the Lord discernes for them and by some inexpected way or other little thought of to themselves discovers them by their own mouths or base actions by their fruits you shall know them Matthew 22. 12. when the King came he was speechless whom the Guests could not dâ—scerne So here men have many things to sayâ— for themselves who when they come before Christ will be sâ—â—uck dumb A wise Prince when he judgeth by inferiour Officers they may discern of some cases but if a King as Solomon was present secrets which they see not would be found out so â—ere Reas. 2. Because this is part of the Curse upon Hypocâ—â—tes To be caâ—â— out of the fellowship of the Elect secret sinnes do not only separaâ—e â—â— from Christ but from all out fellowship with the Saints which next to se paration from Christ is the greatest evil in the world It comforts the hearts of Hypocrites they are loved of good people and liked of good people and though prâ—vy to a world of filth which a gracious heart is ashamed of and loaths himself for and thinks himself not worthy of a look of love from any of the least yet Hypocrites quiet themselves if they can cover it from the eyes of Gods people Matth. 24. 40. but now they shall no longer rejoyce under the shadow of these Vines No the Lord will separate them to evil Dâ—ut 29. 21. which is partly begun now and perfected afterward Mat. 8. 11 12. they shall see Abraham and Isaac in Gods Kingdome and mourn when themselves are cast out Reas. 3. For the joy and comfort of the Saints for it 's a wonderful joy to the heart to enjoy fellowship of Saints aloue when in a Sacrament we see prophane people approach to it it troubles us grieves us when we come to a place where we may be perswaded of the uprightness of all it 's very sweet but now there is some feare and hence less joy but when we shall see the Saints together and say These are they who are eternally beloved of Christ deare to him and to be with them and be asone this is very sweet those that love together only rejoyce to be alone together so Saints so Christ himself 1 Thes. 4. ult Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that keep his commands and may go to the City for without are dogs and those who make lyes c. Reason 4. In regard of the Glory of Chrâ—st and Honour of Christ. First Hereby Christs infinite wisdome searching the secrets of all hearts shall be seen and that before all the World 1 Cor. 14. 25. 't is said when the secrets of mens hearts are discovered they shall fall down and say Verily God is in you Rev. 2. 23 All Churches shall know c. Why are Churches so ignorant of that Yes they believe it in the general but they shall see it in the example as well as in the rule more fully afterward We think he searcheth all hearts but are there no hypocrites to be found in such and such Churches Yes he shews some even in such and the more secreâ— and subtle any thing hath been the more openly will the Lord Reveale it because this makes the more for Him 2. Hereby Christ shews his exceeding great love to his people in parting them and others Iohn 17. 23. I in them that the world may know c. Gen. 6. 8. Noâ—h found favouâ— Wherein was that shewn Verse 7. I 'le destroy man and â—east but Noab found favour and ver 13. Make aâ— Ark c. 3. Hereby he sheweth his acceptance of the uprightness of the hearts and wayes of his servants which it may be are poor and mean in their own eyes but precious in the sight of the Lord above all the pompous furniture and pithless profession of Hypocrites Maâ— 3. 16 18. hence Mat. 25. Come take the Kingdome for you c. What is glorious in the worlds is vile in the Lords eyes Let none be then offended at the Apostacy of men eminent in profession from the wayes of God in the purest and most reformed Churches What are these people say some scorners better than others some of these make a greater shew than others and yet they fall What are these Churches better than others where there is no such examination noâ— trial aâ—d these be your Church-members and your holy people and your Covenâ—ntâ—râ— and thus men stumble Oh consider in the purest Churches there be many foolish whom Christ will separate one from another and therefore if Christ dâ—â—h give a 〈◊〉 of this before hand and those that are vile before him he makes them vile before others that all Israel may see and feare do not wonder at it Isa. 32. 5 6. The Churle shall be no more called libâ—râ—â— fâ—â— he will speak and think and work so Luke 12. 2. Nothing secreâ— but it shall be â—â—reâ—led many secret evils are hid but it shall be but in part here Christ saw his Disciples apt to be offended at the fall of Iudas Did not he know him then he was not the Son of God or if he did why did he suffer him Saith he Iohn 13. 18. He that eats bread shall lifâ— up his heel against me that the Scripture may be fulfilled and 't is the portion of the Churches and people of God to be troubled with such as these that the Scriptures may be fulfilled therefore be not offended it ever hath bâ—en so in the Primitive times as well as in Christs Family Paul foreâ—ells of Wolves devouring the Flock arising out of
glory out of thy ruine he was blessed before all worlds and by all thy sins thou dost but throw stones against the wind or snow-balls against the Sun why doth he do it O 't is thy good he pitties thee as once Ierusalem to look upon thy destruction and desolation as 't is with the Elect they have wrath before their eyes and hence perswade others so the Lord Jesus SECT III. 3. COnsider 't is nothing else but love the Lord looks for or cares for Love looks for nothing but love Prov. 8. 17. and this is the end of all Election to be holy before him in love and mark it if it be a stayed love that constrainâ— thee to him you cannot wrong him As if thou come and perswade one to murder his Child he cannot so if perswaded to despise oh bowels of heart-breaking love 2 Cor. 5. And surely 't is admirable love What if it were thy Goods thy Isaâ—â— to be sacrificed thy body to be burned it was nothing but he desires only love only thy heart which hath forged so much villany against him let him never be called upon or professed if not worthy of this After all is this all yes no Portion he cares for and when he hath this he hath all Wonder at this O Angels SECT IV. 4. COnsider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt thus love him 1. He will set thee next himself in honour Psalm 45. 9. that as the Lord Jesus is next to God sits at his right hand so here which is an honour that the Angels have not who are no where called Christs Spouse hence never had such an union hence never shall partake of that honour of Saints 2. He will enrich thee as 't is with Man and Wife all that he hath is hers so himself and all his glory his God his Father his Kingdom is thine Prov. 8. 21. they that love me inherit something others nothing no nothing indeed only shews of good and they find it so when they awake nothing their own nothing long that let thy outward man yea thy inward be never so poor thou shalt by him be heir of all 3. He will cousel thee hence David Psal. 73. made choice of God Thou wilt guìde me by thy counsel no greater curse than to be left to the guidance of a mans own counsel but here there shall not be any strait but the Lord will shew thee a way out of it either by his prudence or providence there shall not be any secret of Christ that thou desirest to know but as Christ told them You are my Friends so you are my Spouse hence all his secrets shall be opened to thee there shall not be one act of thy life but ordered by infinite prudence and wisdom and love sometimes we are befooled in our own counsels and left to them to teach us to depend on the Lord the more yet thereby shall come out such good that it shall be among us as with Iosephs Brethren 4. He will dwell with thee as a man must dwell with his Wife Iohn 14. 23. that the great Mediator that passeth by Kings and Princes and will not look on them should come and dwell with thee this is better than to have the presence of Kings the guard of Angels better than Heaven it self that he should dwel where is nothing worthy to entertain him only something to grieve him Now this is 1. A constant assistance of the Spirit that let the Soul go where he will be brought to never so low an ebb yet Christ will not out but some stirrings sighings lookings pantings after Christ when heart and strength fail yet God c. when ready to give all for lost then consider as Psal. 73. 2. If he doth depart he will not be loug but return again and those that know his affection know it so to be Isai. 54. for a little moment c. so the Lord may depart and when his presence is a little more esteemed come again with everlasting mercies as a man may know many weaknesses by his Wife yet she having not bestowed her heart on any other he will return so if thou canst say yet I am the Lords he will return 5. He will rejoyce in thee and over thee Zeph. 3. 17. as a Bridegroom doth over the Bride Not because of any beauty in thee for there is none but because given in marriage of the Father and for his own sake This day thou shalt no sooner set thy heart on Christ but he falls in love with thee and will take thee with joy thou thinkest he will be angry if thou closest with him and love him no it will be the joy of Heaven of Jesus Christ himself 6. He will exceedingly comfort thee and look as 't is with tender husbands then they comfort most when most sorrowes beâ—ide them for who could endure his wife should be alway drooping So even then when nothing doth or can comfort thee the Lord will Isa. 54. 6. For the Lord doth not alway comfort but when in need as it was with the Patriarchs Then God appeared when they were at worst and these are abundant comforts 2 Cor. 1. 3 4 5. You shall not need to scramble for it as many do whose hearts do not love Christ in truth as yet 7. He will put up all Wrongs and bear exceedingly with thee Many think even when God hath sealed love to them if any little sin be committed then they are cast off no if under the Law so indeed but when espoused to him 't is not weaknesses nor wilfulnesse can make the Lord cast thee away but he will heal the one and afflict thee for yet not cast thee off for the other Psal. 89. 33. My loving kindnesse will I never take away Yea he will forgive both Luke 7. 47. Much forgiven because she loved much Nay thy wrongs shall be an occasion to make him love thee more Rom. 5. Where sin abounds Grace abounds 8. He will never part with thee Hos. 2. 19. Once love him and he will never lose thee 1. No sin shall part thee and him for Christ when he enters into marriage covenant doth not suspend his love on our Grace or Holinesse then he might leave quickly but on his own Grace to wash away out filthinesse Eph. 5. 25 26. If a husband marries a woman only for so long as she is in health then when sicknesse comes he may depart But è contra if to take away her sicknesses then they cannot hinder Nothing but Adultery can part Now that they cannot do for nothing breaks till covenant is broken And the covenant here is everlasting and so undertaken for by the Lord that it can never be broken 2. No miseries can Rom. 8. 35 36 37. Can tribulation It makes man leave us but this is peculiar to Christ he will not leave 3. Death cannot it must part man and wife though loved never so dearly before