Christ was made a curse for us v. 13. so John 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already But Rom. 8. There 's no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Observe also that God accepteth of sincerity where obedience to the precept is not perfect John 17. 6. They have kept thy word yet their obedience was evidently Imperfect Therefore let not this break up thy work that thou hast nothing suitable to the purity of Gods Law neither conclude thy self graceless because thou doest not that which thou wouldest in obedience to God Rom. 7. 19. 5. Beware of insufficient marks or evidences either of a gracious or graceless State for thou mayest deceive thy self either of the ways It 's not a sufficient work of Grace thou takest delight some times in approaching to God as Isai 58. 2. Nor great appearances if there be no root Matth. 13. 5. forthwith they spring up the appearance may be such as beholders may take notice there is a great change the seed springeth up then appears a fresh green field that appeared not before yet no sound Root none of the uncorruptible seed which springeth up to Life Eternal Thou mayest be again and again ashamed of thy sin and confess it as Saul yet no Godly sorrowing on the account of sin it self you may also have the out side clean and whited beyond others and yet be but whited sepulchres nothing within but Death what is whiter than a dunghill covered over with snow but when the snow is gone the dunghill appears as it was On the other hand it is not easie for a Christian when he Examineth his Souls State to take the highest degrees of grace which hath been attained by the Saints and makes them the only Evidences of true graces as Pauls wish Rom. 9. 3. For I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh There is no ground to think that is recorded as a Mark whereby every Christian must Try if he be in a State of Grace a man may be a sincere Christian and not know how to manage such a wish The Apostle Paul understood how to abide in Christ notwithstanding of this his extraordinary Zeal for his Countrey-men but the measure of grace is given according to the gift of Christ Eph. 4. The safest way is to take Scriptural Marks such as are set down as evidences of sanctifying Grace for it is Dangerous to overlook these such as that John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And 2 Cor. 5. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new and such as that John 14. 23. If a man love me he will keep my words Such as these are the Marks we should Try our selves by for the Spirit of God hath given them as Discoveries of Grace and our Interest in Christ and therefore it is our sin to neglect them being a great Mercy that the Lord in a manner Condescendeth to answer our Questions How shall I know if Heaven shall be my Habitation It 's answered we must first be born again we must be regenerated by the Spirit of God How shall I know if I be in Christ It 's answered I must be a new Creature How shall I know if I have the love of God It 's answered Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me again how shall I know if I Love him It 's answered I must keep his Words and 1 John 5. And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 6. When thou art under this Tryal seek to have thy Witnesses assisting and speaking freely Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God albeit Grace hath been freely given thee yet thou wilt need the help of the Spirit of God to make known the things that are freely given thee as 1 Cor. 2. 12. If the Giver of Grace shine not on Grace it will not appear the Spirit is the Comforter even on this account to give the Comfort of his own Grace to to make it evident for thou canst not Judge without evidence 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the Deep things of God Thy second Witness is thy own Spirit or Conscience for the Spirit beareth witness with our Spirits Let your Conscience speak freely all it hath to say as to the very Intentions and Designs of thy heart for what end and by what Motives thou performest Duties if thy Conscience can Charge thee with hypocrisie let all its Depositions have a fair hearing if it accuse thee of any retained Idol of heart or any lust thou makest Provision for if faithful Witnesses be not heard how shalt thou Judge of thy State or if thy Conscience warrantably Excuse and Comfort thee as to thine Integrity that thou canst humbly appeal to the Searcher of hearts and thy very Soul content he Search thee then thou art not to pass from thine Integrity Job 27. 5. I will not remove my integrity from me 7. Search not only into your sins nor only into your Grace but search out both some who are under Bondage by fear when they Examine themselves look only into their faults and often are apt to say what need for any further Search here are so many sins often prevailing I see them I feel their Power the world also may see many of them in my Practice though they cannot see all whereupon they are forthwith discouraged they open their eyes upon such Words as these Psal 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me and their faint heart not considering what follows as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away nor the Interest they have in such Comfort that the Lord will purge away their Iniquities nor that the Grace of God hath made it their ordinary care to keep themselves from their iniquities Psal 18. 23. and cannot deny but sin is their greatest burden Psal 38. 4. And that there is a constant warfare against it Rom. 7. Some on the other hand sinfully covering their sin consider only their best side Luke 18. 11. Lord I thank thee that I am not as other men I am more holy than many others Isa 65. 5. But these are found most unsavoury before the Lord as a smoake in his nose they please themselves as preferable to all others they will soon say come see my zeal 2 Kings 10 16. but dare not say as Psal 139. 24. see if there be any wicked way in me If thou cover thy sins thou shalt not prosper Prov. 28. 13. Therefore be ingenuous with God and thy own Soul search out the worst as well as the best and the best as well as the worst the worst that thou mayest be yet more humbled and the best that thou mayest praise 8 Remember also to search into
counsels â—ince ye will not follow his Is your method better than Gods Your way is either for never Communicating or never to Communicat aright for if you will not examine ye shal not Communicat aright Dare you say that any of Gods Commands are unprofitable whose Commands are for our good always and in keeping of them is great reward Psal 19. 11. Will ye joyn with these impudent wretches who say what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance Mal. 3. 14. But when ye say it 's tedious then ye speak your heart and discover the root of your objection even as the Sluggard he will be undone and slain if he go out to his work Prov. 22. 13. The slothful man saith there is a lion without I shall be slain in the streets yet no other seeth this lion in the way but the sluggard 2. Object I am a Believer and all Believers will be saved and have a right to the Lords Table what needeth more searching Answ If ye know it the less labour in examining will serve and if it be as you say you are the most inexcusable for this neglect and do foolishly requite the Lord for his bountiful dealing and gracious obliging you to all chearful obedience If your faith be so clear already what harm to bring it to the light specially in a season when the Lord requireth the trying of it 2. Do ye know before you try that your Faith is not Dead Do ye consider the direful consequents of a mistake in this Is not the tryal of your faith more precious than that of gold 1 Pet. 1. 7. Are ye become wiser than the Apostle James who insisteth so much in the discovery of precious justifying Faith that it may be discriminate from a delusive dead Faith which leaveth its owner dead in his sins Jam. 2. 17 18 19. 3. Object I acknowledge it a Duty to examine my self but it 's such a Duty as I am not able to manage I find my self incapable of any advantage by it for when ever I Essay it I can come to no conclusion as to the state of my Soul Answ If you give up with all holy duties that are difficult then take heed that ye do not next give up with the way to Heaven for it is a narrow way as Christ hath told us and if you take a Liberty to step aside always when you find it narrow how do you think to get through it if you must needs have an easy way it is very easy to find it in the Broad way leading to Destruction you will have plenty of fellow travellours there who all love it because it is easy Are not all Holy Duties difficult to perform because of the Perverseness of our natures shal we therefore abandon them all Do ye judge it best to give over Prayer Meditation Watchfulness Mortification Plucking out the right Eye c. And all because it is not easie to perform them aright why then should ye neglect to Examine your selves which is an hand maid and furtherance to seriousness in all Duties but still you say it is a Duty ye cannot perform Answ For your help who are willing but are Discouraged by your weakness to perform it to advantage first Pray that God would determine your heart to so clear a Duty that you may be in Suspense no longer whether to perform it or not and Pray for asistance to it's profitable management 2. Allow for so great a work convenient time and place that thou mayest not be Diverted nor the Work Hurried over superficially for want of time to attend it which many are Guilty of who are too Prodigal of time otherways A Heathen could teach us that we should not Complain so much of having little time as that we lose much you know how much time is often wasted on verie Trifles and worse Let securing of your Eternal State have at least some share otherways your last farewell to time may be very bitter when Death shal say not a Moment longer is my Commission though possibly thy Conscience tell thee some time must be taken to Examine the Scriptures require it Ministers press it and it is the Custom of all who have any seeming seriousness and Conscience it 's mouth must be stopt lest it be Clamourous but then the time allowed is so scant that nothing is duely Pondered and so it turns to a Name of nothing 3. As thou art to allow Competent time so also due seriousness is necessary that it may be suitable to the work in hand Examine your selves know you not your own selves 2 Cor. 13. 5. Remember you have a deceitful heart to search the deceitfulness of sin is such as to hide it self in a searching time but you are now to find out Gods Enemies and your own you are now to Try Titles whose you are Christ's or the Devils what Title you have to Christ's Feast of love do you love or hate Him hath he cloathed you with a Garment of Salvation that you may sit down with Confidence at his Table or not if these things be still triffled over know that the time is at hand when thou wilt be more serious than thou desirest serious I say in Hopless Terrours The God of Mercy have pity upon a kind of Infidel Christians in this Age who do not and will not Believe what is comming though Christ hath often given Warning yea five times together in one place Mark 9. 43 c. That the Worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched and that for not being serious and painful in the Duties of Religion 4. When thou dost examine thy self six upon a sufficient Rule not thy own imaginations but the word of God the Law and Testimony Isai 8. 20. Bring forth the hidden works of darkness to this light for they must shortly be made manifest But if thou shalt say then I may end my Examining work when they begin for I have nothing to stand before that light my best works are but darkness where that Lamp shineth I cannot answer for one of a Thousand of my ways Answ Thou hast no other safe Rule for if thou advancest either thy own Opinion of thy self or the Opinion of others as a Rule thou art nothing the wiser for these may deceive thee and do deceive many some thinking they are rich when they are poor Rev. 3. 17. And some have by the Opinion of others a Name that they live but Christ sayeth they are dead Rev. 3. 1. Whether canst thou go but to the word of his lips who looketh upon things that are equal from whom thy sentence must come Psal 17. 2. 4. But Secondly when thou considerest Scripture Precept consider also Scripture Condescension or Gods gracious Condescension there revealed as when the Scripture saith cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. Yet the same Scripture of Truth saith
rendered Believers being in a justified state they obtain in this life some real purity of heart notwithstanding of their Imperfections and it becometh a snare or woe to souls that study no purity because of no intire perfection in this life and these have the true beginnings of holy purity who follow that example and direction 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God for 1. Christ died to purifie a people unto himself zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. And he will see the travel of his soul 2. Christ dwelleth in the heart by Faith and where he dwelleth there the throne of iniquity cannot stand Psal 94. 20. 3. All who receive forgiveness of sins are sanctified by faith in Christ Acts 26 18. 4. Sin shall not have dominion over any who are brought truly under grace Rom. 6. 14. Search diligently for this purifying of the heart as thou wouldest not be deceived of thy faith hope for according to 1 Joh 3. 3. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure think not of accepting thy self where the words of God are every man examine your selves Particularly in these 4 things First If thou findest an active Principle in thy Soul standing in opposition to sin if sin be hated so as thou can say of it it 's the evil I hate Rom. 7. 15. See that this hatred be not pretended and Sin in the mean time cherished for it 's not only a sure step toward but also a great length in the purity of holiness to be a hater of Sin 2. And to secure the truth of this hatred try if there be an ordinary warfare against Sin For if it be hated there will be opposition made to it as Rom. 7. 23. Thy sins will feel thy grace to have some power and therefore Christ compareth the mortifying of sin to the cutting off the right hand c. And where there is nothing of this it 's vain to pretend hatred 3. Try if thou lovest the Law which requireth this purity for to love that very Law which reâ—â—râ—ineth from Sin yea the sins that easily beset us is a blessed but I fear a rare attainment to be content to be hedged up from the way of our own hearts and to love the hedge of Gods making not to wish in heart that the Laws of God were otherwise that we might have a greater liberly for sin Psal 119. 97. O how love I thy law There is the greater necessity of searching into this because it 's given us as the character of a godly man to delight in the law of the Lord Psal 1. 2. 4. Try what success attendeth your endeavours against sin if by dependance on the spirit of Christ which mortifieth the deeds of the body it may be said of you as 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth Mark these words ye have purified whereby we may see that Believers have some success against their sin their work is to cleanse themselves and their labour is not in vain in the Lord and it 's necessary that every Christian have some instances and proofs of this in readiness that he hath purified his Soul and kept himself from his iniquity and shut not your eyes upon that awful evidence of an interest in Christ Gal 5. 24. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Know then that it not only should be but is a sound Believers work to be purifying his Soul though he get not sin abolished in this life 3 Communicants should also examine their love to Christ before they go to the Lords Table and if any shal say that this is a superfluous burdening of people with unnecessary questions their saith being clear what needeth examining of love also But I find Christ is of anâ—ther mind who examineth his followers both as to their Faith love John 16. 31. Do ye now believe And John 21. 16. lovest thou me Therefore we are concerned to be in a readiness to answer both and if our love cannot abide the trial no more can our faith for faith worketh by love Gal. 5. 6. Consider first that Christ manifesteth himself to such as love him John 14. 23. And if Christ do not manifest himself to us at his Table we shal never be able to discern him aright A manifested Christ is the blessing and beauty of that work even when he manifesteth himself as crucified bleeding to death he is then most lovely and beautiful to the Believer he then sheweth himself dying in pure love and what manifestation of him should be more engaging and overcoming but no eyes can thus profitably behold him except he manifest and shew himself which the lovers of Christ may expect and therefore our love to him should be examined 2. This holy Communion is a banquet of love and therein it might well be said he giveth his loves giving himself and the pledges of his love Cant. 7. 12. And is appointed only for the lovers of Christ they are his friends and beloved who are allowed to eat and drink aboundantly Cant. 5. 1. The lovers of Christ are the only prepared persons for Communion with him for he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God 1 Joh. 4. 16. And no man is capable of Communion with him who wants it love being necessary to true fellowship Ther 's need then to search for it lest Christ have it to say as Joh. 5. 42. I know you that ye have not the love of God in you 3. This grace should be carefully searched for Because we are ready to flatter and deceive our selves with an hypocritical love Ezek. 33. 31. with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness They make a show of what they have not men are not willing to charge themselves with the want of love to God it appears so hainous and therefore must have it's shadow but their heart is reserved for others and far from God Isa 29. 13. They have removed their heart far from me Yet the poor men were honouring God with their lips 4. Blessed Jesus Christ not only declareth that love is the great Command Matth. 22. 37. But also searcheth most narrowly and pressingly for this grace in his people as appears by questioning Peter 3 times if he loved him until the godly man was grieved fearing his love was suspected This wounded him that he was asked the third time Joh. 21. 17. Christs questions should teach us to question our selves and to be in readiness for such an answer as was then given Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee He could give an account of his love and appeal to the searcher of hearts for it's sincerity and so should we 5. It distresseth serious souls to be in doubt of their love being of the same mind with the
Apostle 1 Cor. 13. 12. If I have not charity or love I am nothing And ver 3. Though I give my body to be burned and have not love it profiteth nothing Some of the people of God know well that they take pains in religious Duties but have no comfort in them fearing their diligence floweth not from a principle of Love it would be great joy to them if they were assured that ever they performed any duty by a constraint of the love of Christ and is worth the labour of many years when our searching cometh at length to this issue Lord thou knowest I love thee and no wonder it be most sweet to the soul to know the truth of its love for thereby it may warrantably read and conclude it self beloved of God 1 John 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me and Joh. 16. 27 the father himself loveth you because ye have loved me This being discovered the Believer may go to God as his exceeding joy Psal 43. 4. What riches or honour like this to be actually interested in the love of God wâ—th what pleasure and confidence may such a man go to the Lords Table knowing that the master of the Feast loveth him And for your help to discover whether ye love the Lord Jesus in sincerity or not take notice of these few things First Christ himself condescendeth to give us help how to resolve this question in proposing to us a sure evidence of love John 14. 23. If a man love me he will keep my words And though this mark appear difficult because of our many failings in keeping of his words yet it will be dangerous to overlook it and may prove a contempt of the mercy that is in such a discovery and a neglect of so gracious a bond to obedience that as we would testifie our love to Christ we must keep his words 2. Hereby Christ also sheweth that a study of obedience and pleasing him will natively flow from love if we love we cannot but endeavour to please the Party beloved his commands will not be grieveous 1 John 5. 3. This is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commands are not grievous Love maketh his yoak easie and pleasing him their delight 1 John 3. 22. We keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight Try if your way be formed for his eâ—e and greatest care to please him whoever else be displeased 3. And when this is become your habitual affectionate eare to please him though there be fuilings yet Christ can discern the sincerity of your love and say you have loved me Joh. 16. 27. He can discern a willing spirit when the flesh is weak though Christ had his Disciples often to reprove yet knowing he had their hearts and that their ordinary care was to obey him He as their good advocat declareth to his Father that they had kept his Word Joh. 17. 6. And they have kept thy word Secondly If ye be lovers of Christ ye will desire his fellowship I sought him whom my soul loveth Cant 3. 1. Their prayers are not only to quiet their conscience that they have not neglected their Duty but they long to be near to him and must seek until they find it was himself they sought and nothing else can supply his room Thirdly True love to Christ is earnest for his love and cannot be quieted without it there is a wonderful boldness in this Grace they aspire to no less than to know that Christs desire is toward them Cant. 7. 10. Then they know they are safe then they know he will not be long from them the desire of their soul being toward him Isa 26. 8. And his desire toward them his favour and love is better than life to them And therefore they cry as Psal 106. 4. Remember me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest to thy people It 's the love that thou hast to thy chosen that is my happiness whatever other mercies I get yet they will all leave me miserable if I have not that favour which is peculiar to thy chosen Lord give me that favour which will at length make me glory with thine inheritance Lord do to me as thou usest to do to those who love thy Name Psal 119. 132. Try what earnestness and wrestlings you ever had for his love or if common mercies or common Gifts of the Spirit be all which you seek after Fourthly If thou be a sincere lover of Christ thou wilt love his honour yea the very place where his honour dwelleth Psal 26. 8. Thou wilt desire his praise may be glorious Psal 66. 2. Sing forth the honour of his Name make his praise glorious As thou art able thou wilt set forth the beauty of Christ to engage others to love and praise him Cant. 5. 10. And if thou lovest him and his glory thou wilt be active in glorifying him thy self Psal 86. 12. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart I will glorifie thy Name for ever more Put such questions as these to thy own soul Is it on my heart how to glorifie him Do I cry to God in secret for help to glorifie him Is it my rejoycing when he giveth help to do it Have I fear that vain glory be more studied than his glory Am I as much grieved for dishonour to him as dishonour to my wretched self Hath the grace of God so far prevailed that no applause of men is satisfying except I have some testimony in my conscience that I really designed the glory of God That blessed Word of Christs should humble us and make us ashamed of that predominant sin of pride in the World John 8. 50. I seek not mine own glory How great is tâ—e mercy to hear that part of his Image and the victory sweet when it can be said Nor of men sought we glory 1 Thes 2. 6. The want of this love to Gods glory and indulged love to vain glory makes many a poor man lose all his labours in Religion and ther 's no remedy without uprightness of love to God Fifthly Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 John 5. 1. If thou lovest Christ thou will love his Image and where his renewed Image shineth most there thou will love most This is so much regarded that it 's improved for the certainty of mens being passed from Death to Life because they love the brethren 1 John 3. 14. Try then who are the excellent in the earth in thy account try if thou lovest godly persons though mean in the World or if thou art such as can value no man for his godliness except he be rich in the World Try if thou canst love a godly man though he have no great opinion of thee it may be thou deservest no great opinion and should not love him the worse
for that Try thy self the more exactly in this point of thy love to the people of God because God is greatly dishonoured in this age for the want of it Beware of patcht up counter feit agreements and love before Communions But as thou art to labour for Communion with Christ himself so labour to the utmost of thy power for a cordial Communion of Saints that you may Feast together here in love and hope to be together in a better place and be not saying I forgive such a Christian but I desire never to see him I desire never to speak with him this will not be found forgiving from the heart as Christ requireth Matth. 18. 35. Let your love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. Not in Word only but in Deed promoting the good name of one another See that ye love one another with a pure heart servently 1 Pet. 1. 22. These are the Words of God but Ah how little regarded and I fear shal not be much regarded while we continue falling from our first love to Christ love to him and his followers must revive together 4. We should also examine our Repentance because First Christ hath enjoyned it with a certification that except we repent we shal perish Luke 13. 3. How speechless will it render the impenitent perishing sinner when the Books are opened and this found that this obdured sinner was forwarned of this perishing but shut his ears and would not hearken 2. This repentance is that part of Religion which we are most averse either to act or try and therefore the greater need to oblige our selves to search if we have it For to hear of Faith and love and Love goeth more easily down the very naming of them is sweet to such as know little of them but cannot with patience hear of conviction mourning or departing from iniquity many also continue to ensnare their own souls with the conceit that they believe so well that they need not trouble themselves with repentance but they should remark Christs requiring of both Mark 1 15. Repent and believe 3. Others observing repentance to be peremptorly commanded Conclude that some repentance they must have but are satisfied with a shadow of it and are so superficial that any extorted flash of sorrowing any change any returning though not to the most High satisfieth them We find Hos 7. 16. That some return but not to the most High They think they have returned sufficiently And therefore need no more saying as Mal. 3. 7. Wherein shall we return The Lord seeth that they are yet to turn to him as in the same ver return unto me saith the Lord but they think otherwise this should make us afraid lest God do not iudge of our Repentance as we do and therefore to examine it in time It 's easie for people to think themselves sufficiently qualified for a Communion or for Heaven it self but the woe will be that it was only themselves thought so when they find God their judge of another mind 4. There is the more need to examine our Repentance in this age wherein the broken in spirit and contrite in heart are as signs and wonders as if all the broken in heart before us had been in an error and troubled themselves in vain or as if God never regarded any such Soul-exercise and wounding of Spirit though he hath expresly declared Isa 66. 2. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Then it 's necessary as men would have God to look favourably upon them as ye would have a comfortable reviving look at this Table to try if ever you were wounded in heart for your sin See to it lest the searcher of hearts have it to say here is a man that to this day was never humbled Jer. 44. 10. Never pierced at the heart never at what shal I do to be saved never so wounded but he could easily cure himself no use for that mercy Psal 147. 3. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds You will needs go to the Communion but it 's not for any great business you have to do there you have no burden of sin to take off as finding it too heavy for your selves Psal 38. 4. 5. There is the greater need to search particularly into the sincerity of our Repentance before we approach the Lords Table because some serious Christians may deprive themselves of that benefit fearing their Repentance is not sound and that because they had never such a measure of grief as others never so deeply wounded for sin as they think they should or as they have perceived by others who refused to be comforted were long in bondage of fear and ready to be swallowed up with grief and terrour To clear this alittle Consider first That trouble or terrour of mind of it self cannot prove any gracious good in a soul A Judas hath terror of mind but no grace terrour is sometimes a Judgement from God as Lev. 26. 16 I will appoint over you terrour and Deut. 28. 20. The Lord shal send upon thee vexation And some wicked persons are consumed with terrours Psal 73. 19. Therefore it 's not safe to desire such terrour of mind as some have been under for it was their plague 2. Men may have a temporary sorrowing and grieâ— which sin hath occasioned and yet their sorrowing is not for their sin nor any sanctifying grace in their mourning A Saul may lift up his voice and weep and confess others more Righteous than himself and yet still go on in his sin 1 Sam. 24. 16 17. Some may make a great noise of their repentance as he lift up his voice and wept And yet but a worldly sorrow that David was like to have the Kingdom is his greatest grief 3. Some are surprised with a sudden fear of Wrath which they cannot shake off but are as captives so far from any true and humbling sense of sin that all their trouble is for being troubled and cannot help it They are in chains and fetters not knowing for what for it seised them without any apprehension or sense of their sin This doth sometimes make a great alteration and commotion while it continueth so that they tremble under it as Felix Acts 24 25. The poor man knew not what was come on him he is frighted but getteth no good of it and therefore desires Paul to be gone I have seen severals after the same manner frighted with a sudden fear of Judgement and for any thing appeared their Religion never went a greater length yet their trouble in the time was great and made a great noise but when the fright was over their Religion was also over It is not safe then to set up such as paterns for your Repentance though the degree of their anguish might be greater than yours 4. Though the Law be our School-master to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3.
there is just cause of fear that such persons have not known the shining of his Face as on the other hand these who diligently observe the Lords withdrawing from their souls and are forthwith pained and wounded for his absence do thereby testifie their acquaintance with the blessings of his presence especially if their grief be that they have provoked him to withdraw that his withdrawing is not only as to comfort but as to the measure of strengthning Grace formercy allowed them the very fear of the Lords deserting doth often mix water in the best of their wine that until Christ and they be at home in their Fathers Kingdom their brightest and most serene days are often overcast with clouds and therefore when they do enjoy his gracious presence fearing some alteration though not of their fixed gracious estate yet of their present blessings cry out Stir not up nor awake my love till c. Cant. 2. 7. O that he would stay and not leave my soul destitute and when the Cloud covereth them O what a damp it giveth then Darkness Jealousies Fears arise as Job 29. 1. O that I were as in moneths past when his candle shined on my head ver 2 3 4. As I was in the days of my youth when the secret of God was upon my Tabernacle when the Almighty was yet with me This godly mans desires were fulfilled for Job 4. 2. So the Lord turned the captivity of Job and ver 12. blessed his latter end more than his beginning But many now come to old age are almost hopless that they shal ever in this life be as in the days of their youth and decline so far that they tempt themselves to doubt if ever the Almighty was with them and his secret on their Tabernacle 8. Where true Communion with God is there its perfection is desired not only to have that measure continued which is here allowed but to be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 18. Here their Fellowship is but as seeing through a Glass there it 's often interrupted as to its comforts here a body of sin is still pressing them downward to this Earth that they get not their Affections staid and fixed on things Above here they are surrounded with snares and temptations such as have made strong Cedars to shake And therefore having already the first fruits of a better Countrey they desire to be where he is who hath taken up their hearts to himself For to be with Christ they sincerely think best of all and Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better countrey that is an heavenly It 's not some extraordinary persons only who are of this mind but all true Believers for Rev. 22 17. The spirit and the bride say Come Christ saith I come quickly and they agree even so come Lord Jesus The crown of righteousness is laid up for all who love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. So that it 's dangerous for a Christian to want desires of this nature for they are consistent with submission to his appointed time but since the Crown is laid up for such as love his appearing every Christian is concerned to try whether the meditations of that day be his terrour or delight these being a few of the great blessings found in Communion with God there remaineth yet one difficulty which perplexeth some serious souls that is how to have this blessed Communion ordinary so as they may be said to walk with God knowing that this walking with him is more than to perform some stated Duties of VVorship the grounds whence this difficulty ariseth are First They hear and read of abideing in Christ Joh. 15. 4. Setting the Lord always before our eyes Psal 16. 8. of waiting on God continually Hos 12. 6. of resorting continually unto him Psal 71 3 When they think on such Scriptures and withal the regard God hath to such as remember him in his ways Isa 64. 5. And such as thought on his Name Mal. 3 16. And his Indignation against these who forget God Psal 50. 22. These and the like passages being laid to heart they think that God should be always actually remembred some few find great disquiet if any considerable portion of time be spent without thoughts of God On the other hand they find themselves concerned in worldly affairs or Reading Studying c. Which cannot be managed without serious and suitable thoughts to the work they are about God clearly calleth them to these other things it were sin in them to ruine their families and neglect the duties of their station some of which duties may require a considerable portion of time and seriousness in that time now their strait is how to manage these external necessary Duties without sinful forgetting of God Answ 1. Whatever weakness may be found in this difficulty yet it appears to flow from a good root of love to God and fellowship with him it 's a savoury kind of trouble yet 2. It 's not safe for a Christian to arraign himself for a forgetter of God when he is serving God in the duties of his station but 3. It will be found that the bitterest ingredient of this accusation is when there is opportunity for remembring God without obstructing any other duty that these opportunities are not improved and for the help of such who find trouble of this nature as I know some for many years afflicted with it I shal propose but these 4 things leaving their usefulness to the blessing of God 1. The continued exercise of the love of God 2. Performing our external Duties as obedience to God 3. Frequent retirements to God and 4. many ejaculations For the First The lively exercise of the love of God makes the remembrance of him delectable a Christian hath a great advantage when the desire of his soul goes to it for then he is so far from grudging that God have his affectionat thoughts that he cannot be easily kept from them this being one of the strong constraints of Love to think on the object Beloved you may observe the Spouse in the Book of Canticles cannot be kept long from the thoughts of her Beloved either seeking after him or delighting in his Fellowship or commending him to others Christs love is the surest Bond on the soul to prevent sinful forgetting and if it decay your thoughts and meditations will decay with it but vigorous love will make you both embrace and seek for opportunities of converse with him and the meditations of him sweet Psal 104. 34. For the 2d Even our external duties should be performed as obedience to God Therefore 1. Take nothing in hand but what is Duty 2. And present Duty for God hath appointed a season for every Work Eccl. 3. 4. 3. Do what is Duty because it 's Duty because God requireth it For a man may do that which upon the matter is Duty and yet not to do it because God requireth it and then he cannot
I profane so holy an Ordinance Ans 1st It s your mercy if you can discern where the Lord either cometh unto or deserteth your souls for such as are utter strangers to God know not the one by the other if you had got no merciful visits how had ye known these departings 2dly You may think your selves forsaken because ye have not the comforts of Gods countenance which sometimes ye had and yet not be forsaken as to the influences of his grace Jer. 20. 9. Then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his Name Yet vers 11. But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One my persecutors shall stumble 3dly You may utterly mistake and think you are forgotten when God says the contrare Isa 49. 14. But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But vers 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child c. And vers 16. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands 4thly If ever you had the favour of the chosen of God if ever ye had testimonies of his love then whom he loveth he loveth to the end Joh. 13. 1. and will never utterly forsake but labour to have this sure that ye have enjoyed the sanctifying mercies of the chosen of God Psal 106. 4. Pray for such mercies as these lest it be as you fear 5thly If you be left as to influences of grace it is a bitter forsaking yet some have been left as to degrees of grace who were not totally forsaken nor altogether deprived of grace as Solomon 1 Kin. 11. 9. 6thly The Lord may thus forsake both as to comforts and many degrees of grace and yet return again For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee Isa 54. 7. And Micah 7. 19. He will return again he will have compâ—ssion on us 7thly It should be considered also that we are often forsaking our God in a great measure and then say he hath forsaken us it s our wretched way first to fall back from him who is our life and then what good we had begins to wither which being discerned in stead of blaming our selves for declining we first begin and challenge God for forsaking of us as if he were the author of all the hurt and not we O! how much doth he bear at our hands Our way is to cast off the thing that is good Hos 8. 3. and then we cry out Why hath he cast us off 8thly If the Lord should forsake us yet we must not forsake him hâ— hath no need of us but we have need of him we cannot want him but he may well want us it doth not become us proudly to debate with our God whether he or we shall first draw to other again but it becomes us humbly to look up and wait for God when he hideth his face Isa 8. 17. 9thly And it s to be observed that the Lord approveth most of these who pursue his mercy most closly when he appeareth displeased as having no regard to them as is evident in the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. 25. c. 10thly Be sparing in thy complaints of God and rather leave thy complaint upon thy self Job 10. 1. I will leave my complaint upon my self Remember he gave thee warning of old 2 Chr. 15. 2. If ye forsake him he will forsake you Lay to heart how thou hast procured this unto thy self Jer. 2. 17. Hast thou not procured this unto thy self in that thou hast forsaken the â—ord thy God when he led thee by the way Remember how often thou hast turned the back on him when he was doing thee good acknowledge this thy sin and that thou hast fallen by thine own iniquity and return unto the Lord thy God as Hos 14. 1. And if thou wilt take his counsel hearken yet to what he faith Mal. 3. 7. Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts Bless God that there is yet any hope of a meeting again in mercy Draw near to God and he will draw near to you Jam. 4. 8. Yea tho' thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord. Jer. 3. 1. What wouldest thou have the Lord to say more But sayest thou I need one word more yet for I have lost all spiritual strength I know it s my duty to return to him and praise him while I live for this condescension ever to invite me any more that there is any door of hope left open but I cannot return to him if I should never meet with him in favour what then wilt thou do wilt thou leave it so Art thou resolved to forsake and be forsaken Ah poor sinner who will be the loser Better for thee yet to hearken what he will say further to thee remark then what is said Prov. 1. 23. Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit unto you set to your duty endeavour to turn to him and you shall have the help of his Spirit defer not then but while he calleth entertain his kind offer and give it such an answer as Jer. 3 22. Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God this will make a comfortable meeting again so that thou shalt not need to stay from his Table As one forsaken of thy God thou shalt be as tho' thou had not been cast off Zech. 10. 6. He can soon make thy latter end better than thy beginnings Ezek. 36. 11. Object I doubt if I should believe for I think my self one of these who would not be the better fearing still I am none of Gods Elect. Ans If such Objections were not framed to my hand I should neither form nor publish them but being often proposed and particularly this fear of not being elected and some souls distressed thereby cannot pass it altogether but for answer First You may as well say I doubt whether I should be saved or not as to say ye doubt whether ye should believe or not since he that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him can you deliberatly think ye should not desire to be saved This needs no refutation I hope ye will be ashamed of it 2dly Consider you are under a command to believe and to reject it designedly is rebellion against God besides your own ruine and what success you can dream of in a course of rebellion against a merciful God I understand not 3dly No revelation from God allows you to defer believing until you know you are elected you must have this from some new unhallowed Bible but neither from Old or New Testament 4thly The way to know of your Election is first to believe and if you have grace to believe you are elected and if ye be elected ye will believe for Act. 13. 43 And as many as were ordained