of Gods grace and love in bestowing freely what the Sinner findes he needeth and what God requireth from him scil Faith in Christ Jesus Eph. 2.8 By grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your Selves it is the gift of God The Sinner wants Faith which is a supernatural of the Blessed Spirit Gal. 5.22 for without Faith there is no apprehending of Christ now God is pleased in his abundant mercy to confer this and all other graces upon the Sinner to the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1.6 3. To declare to man his own deplorable state and condition and that he may see what he has made himself by Sin he can do nothing in his lapsed fallen estate which conduceth to his eternal well being without me saith Christ ye can do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing Jo. 15.5 He doth not say ye can do no great thing without me but nihil nothing 4. That poor Creatures who are lost and undone by reason of Sin and who are imbecilitated and weakened through iniquity so that they cannot come themselves to Christ being convinced of the duty incumbent and the necessity of having this grace might more earnestly seek unto God for it and having obtained it highly esteem this Jewel for no Faith no Christ and no Christ no Salvation Jo. 3.36 5. This is to exalt the Lord Jesus in the estimation of miserable Sinners for being perswaded of the absolute necessity of this duty without which they cannot come unto the Father it will make Christ more desirable Jo. 14.6 I am the way the truth and the Life no man cometh unto the Father but by me i. e. By believing in Christ Jesus that is the only way to be reconciled to God and to obtain mercy from him For without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 or be any way grateful to him for God is so far from manifesting his Love to sinners whilst they remain strangers to Christ as that he rather hates them for God taketh complacency and delight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chiefly in his Son Christ Jesus who is the eternal delight of the Father and may I speak with reference Prov. 8.30 and as I humbly presume congruent to the Analogy of Faith that God the Father takes delight or complacency in none neither Angels nor men except considered as elected in Christ because the finiteness of the Creature renders it not an adequate object for the delight of an infinite God or that he should fix his Love upon a Finite being when he is infinite and eternal for God loves not the Creature for it self for any intrinsick worth or excellency in it but for himself and so far as he hath ordained it for his glory there can be no additional felicity unto God the Creating of the Creature adds nothing to him neither doth the perishing of it detract any thing from him for he hath the same fulness and perfect object for his delight now as from all eternity scil his Son Jesus in whom he is well pleased For he is God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 So that if we desire to be beloved of the Father or to have any manifestation of it to us we must go unto Christ in a way of Duty that he may confer and bestow those graces by which we may come unto him in a way of Mercy scil Repentance and Faith for as Christ has purchased Salvation so has he also the means by which we may obtain it and apply it to our own Souls as the Apostle saith Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me By that Faith which Christ had purchased and his Spirit had wrought the Apostle did live I come now to the uses and application that may be made of this Doctrine 1. Information 2. Examination 3. Exhortation 1. It informs us of a great and indispensable duty for as I have before declared this receiving of looking coming unto and believing in Christ is a duty relating to all who expect salvation and are desirous to be eased of their Burthens which otherwise would press them down into everlasting misery it is by coming to Christ and believing in him that the Soul comes to be exonerated and eased from all its heavy loads of Sin and guilt it is a duty and a work that must be done Jo. 6.29 This is the work of God that ye believe in him whom he hath sent scil His Son Jesus Christ 2ly Learn hence the erronious falsity of those opinions that direct the Sinner some other way to seek for ease and help when it is only to be found in the Lord Jesus as Christ saith If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your Sins Jo. 8.24 There is no other remedy for the wounded Soul but coming to the Blood of Christ no other Saviour for the lost Sinner but the Lord Jesus no other refuge for the persued Malefactor to sanctuary in but the name of the Lord Jesus Rom. 10.13 and there is none other that can bare away his burthens of guilt Levit. 16.22 into the Land of separation but the Scape-goat scil the Lord Jesus therefore they do but deceive and delude poor Sinners who direct them to any other for ease or comfort 3ly Learn hence that believing which is the right coming unto Christ is not meritorious because it is a Duty We are under a command of believing in Christ 1 Jo. 3 23. now that which is injoyned as a duty to do cannot be meritorious when done for the name of Duty doth casheir and cut off the very Sinnews and Strength of Merit Luk. 17.9.10 When we have done all we must say not complementingly we are unprofitable Servants for here is the Reason we have done but that which was our duty to do It is a duty to come and believe in Christ but our believing doth not merit or deserve that he should accept of us Believing in Christ is the work of the Spirit of God it is not by a mans own Power that he imbraceth him 2ly Use of Examination to know whether you are come unto Christ and indeed this is the Life of all for as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 13.5 Examin your selves whither you be in the Faith prove your selves know you not your own selves that Jesus Christ is in you except you he Reprobates Here I shall propose this question how shall I know whether I am come to Christ Jesus or no I am satisfied that it is my Duty to come and that if I do not come I am undone and lost to all eternity I answer first If thou art come unto Christ the Father hath drawn thee Jo. 6.44 No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Now the Father draws by his election and so gives
the things of the World for if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him Here the divine Apostle gives a reason which withal proves that these two are not consistent for as Christ said Luk 16.13 You cannot serve God and Mammon one will have the preheminence and where this true evangellick Love is there the Love to the World is but flat and cold 2ly And possitively what are the true adequate and constant objects of this Evangellick Love in general all spiritual divine holy objects to which our Love is commanded or required by the Holy Word of God there is nothing which the believer apprehends to be truely divine but the Soul Loves entirely fervently and constantly for these objects are sutable to the State of a Believer he can perceive a greater excellence in them then in any other therefore the Soul is carried forth to love them above all others but more particularly and yet succinctly 1. God is the object of this Evangellic Love he is the chief and supream good therefore supreamly to be beloved even with all the heart with all the Soul and with all the strength Mat. 22.37 The Soul that is come to Christ by believing in him loves God not only as a Creator but as a reconciled Father in and through Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 Now it looks upon it self as oblieg'd and bound to love God who hath manifested such Love Joh. 3.16 as to give his only begotten Son that whoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life if God out of his infinite love had not been willing to give his Son to die for Sinners Christ would not have been willing to come and give himself for and to those who are his The Father out of his Love elected some to be Heirs of God and Co-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Now the consideration of these things doth inflame the heart with Love to God as the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 4.19 We love him because he first loved us The fruits and effects of the Love of God shed abroad in the Soul makes it now to love God with an impartial and superlative Love Modus diligendi Deum est sine modo Bern. it Loves God as one saith the measure of loving him should be without measure 2ly Christ Jesus is the object of this Love O how the Believer loves Christ the Soul is so fired with Love to the Lord Jesus that it knows not how to express it words are too mean actions too low and the Soul thinks all too little to express and manifest its Love unto the Lord Jesus When the Believer considers Christ in the transcendent excellency of his person that he is God blessed for ever that he is the Eternal Son of God beloved of him adored of Angels then he says with the Spouse Cant. 5.10 My beloved is the chiefest among ten thousand and as it is in the 16. vers He is altogether lovely Further when he considers the extremity infiniteness and ignominy of the Passion and Suffering Christ underwent for him and that he should express his Love at so dear a rate to one altogether indeserving it doth so inflame the Soul that it vehemently longs to get above the clouds into the bosom of Jesus and that it may drink of the celestial Fountain and Springs of life Rev. 7.17 Moreover when it considers what Christ hath purchased and what he is doing now for his Elect and Redeemed ones that he hath procured Pardon Reconciliation with God Grace and Glory Life and eternal Bliss for those who were sometimes dead in Trespasses and Sins 2 Tim. 4.8 1 Pet. 5.4 Eph. 2.5 and that he continues interceeding by the vertue of his Blood and Merits that all his may have these blessings confered upon them and at last be crowned with a Diadem of Righteousness and Glory O the consideration of these things doth so incendiate the Soul with the flames of Divine Love that many waters cannot quench it neither can floods drown it Cant. 8.7 nay Afflictions Persecutions or Death cannot seperate this Soul from the Love of Christ When the Believer looks upon Christ in his Offices and in that near Relation between them this doth still elevate and heighten his Love so that the Soul is full and as it were immerged and swallowed up with Love to Christ who is the Head and the all of Believers Col. 3.11 3ly This Divine Evangelick Love hath for its object the holy Spirit he who is the alone Author is now become the Object the Spirit is he who infuseth and operateth this grace in the Soul Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit is Love now seeing this is a Fruit of the Spirit it has reflex actings so that it leads the Soul to love affectionately and intirely the holy Spirit knowing that except he cooperates nothing can profit the Soul and that if he work not Joh. 16.15 there will be no exception of grace it is he which leads and guides into the way of all truth which is the alone way of Salvation he teacheth the Soul to know God and Christ and to know it self he fills the heart with Divine blessings which make the Believer greatly to admire and love him Try your Love by these objects see whether Carnal or Divine objects have the Supremacy in your affections for these are infallible ways to try your Love by and to discern a true Evangelic Love from all others whatsoever 4ly Holy Angels are greatly beloved of Believers because they are to be their Companions to Eternity and bear part in that Celestial quire where they shall sing eternal Hallelujahs to their God and Father in the Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 and further because they are a Life-guard to them here and Ministring Spirits sent forth for the good of all those who are Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 5ly All Saints as such are the objects of this Divine Love without any distinction or difference Because they perceive their Fathers Image shine forth in such therefore that which is so amiable in them doth attract and draw their affection to it The Apostle John in several places puts this down as a Character by which we may prove our Love if it be right nay the only way to know whether we Love God or no 1 Joh. 4.20 If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar for he who loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen David saith Psal 16.2 3. O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord my goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the excellent ones in whom is all my delight Here this holy man declares that the Saints were excellent in his eye and all the delight of his Soul but why were they so but because they were Saints they were holy ones born from above and
2.5 2dly They are ignorant of him in his offices as King Psal 2.6 as Prophet Mat. 21.11 as Priest Heb. 3.7 3ly They understand not that he is the only and alone way to the Father Jo. 14.6 I am the way the truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by me Acts 4.12 for there is Salvation in none other He is the only way to all happiness Peace Comfort and Eternal Life Jo. 3.36 But the benighted Soul being altogether in the Dark as to these things wholly defers coming unto Christ 8. They whose minds are Blinded know not God who is the fountain of all Good if they had but a Spiritual understanding concerning God they would not desire to be long away from Christ and where there is not this divine knowledg the Heart cannot be good For it is Life eternal to know the only true God Jo. 17.3.1 They are ignorant of the infinite holyness and purity of God He is of purer Eyes then to behold evil and he cannot look on Iniquity Hab. 1.13 God cannot look on Sin with any approbation for the least Sin is contrary to his Holyness Those glorious Seraphins we read of Isa 6.3 do adore God in his holyness which when the Prophet Isaiah heard and saw he presently crys out ver 5. I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips when he perceived the holyness of God he was made more sensible of his own pollution and what need he had for the Seraphin to bring a coal from the Alter to touch him ver 6. that so his Iniquity might be taken away and his Sin purged So I say did but Men and Women apprehend the holyness of God and that no Sinner or Sinful thing can abide in his presence because he is a consuming Fire to all such Heb. 12.14.29 They would cry out we are undone because we are polluted and defiled O that Christ the Angel of the covenant would come and Sprinkle us with his Blood that we might be cleansed from all our Iniquity purified from all our Sin that we may be holy as our God is holy for who can dwell with devouring Fire or who can dwell in ever lasting burnings Isa 33.14 2ly Of his righteousness Psal 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in his Works There is no unrighteousness with him he will give to every one that which is Right as David confesseth Psal 51.4 That thou mightest be just when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest Sinners are very subject to think God is like themselves Psal 50.21 They think because they are unrighteous therefore he is so to they do not believe that he will render to every man according to his Deeds and that God is so righteous that he will Punish the Least Sin with eternal damnation if the Soul be out of Christ but if God was not thus impartial he could not be righteous for as the Apostle says Rom. 3.6 Is God unrighteous who taketh Vengeance God forbid for then how should God judge the world Now it is the want of the right knowledg of this scil That God is a righteous God and that he will exact the uttermost Farthing either from the Sinner or from Christ the surety which impedes and let them from coming unto Christ 3. The faithfulness of God 2 Tim. 2.13 He abideth faithful God is a faithful God he will fulfil all his promises of mercy to them who receive and believe in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him are Amen That is they are all certain and true in and through Christ God will fulfil every one of them and also he is Faithful to make good his Threatnings denounced against Sinners who continue strangers to Christ and enemys to the Gospel which invites Sinners to come unto him They will be ready to lay hold upon that Scripture Exod. 34.6.7 The Lord the Lord God gracious and merciful but read not those Words who will by no means clear the guilty which relate to his Justice and Righteousness 4. They do not know that hatred God bares to Sinners whilst they are disobedient to Christ Psal 11.5 They understanding not who are the only persons God loves conclude they are of that number who have an interest in his Love not considering he loves none but those who believe in and except of his Son the Lord Jesus all others are objects of his hatred For he who is Love it self 1 Jo. 4.16 Abhors those who slight his only Son the Son of his love even the Lord of glory 3ly The third Lett or Hindrance from within is the perversness of the will at first when God created man he gave unto him a perfect will and he always willed that which was pleasing unto God but upon his Sinning he quite depraved although de did not loose that faculty now in this depraved state and condition the Will is perverse averse to that which is truely good and willeth evil continually therefore saith Christ Jo. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye may have Life Christ Jesus who is Life Jo. 11.25 makes offers and tenders of Life unto Sinners and promiseth If they come he will in no wise cast them out Jo. 6.37 Yet they obstinately refuse and are ready to cry out we will not have this Man to reign over us Luk. 19.27 Mansit quidem arbitrium hominis liberum à coactione sed tantum ad Malum Wolleb The will of Man doth still remain free from all coaction or compulsion but it is free only to evil not to good Therefore Christ so graciously invites and it is their duty yet they wilfully refuse to come unâ—t him 4ly The vitiosity and irregularity of the affections is another internal impediment Those affections which have good for their object as Love Joy Desire these are fixed upon wrong objects and so they are impeded from coming unto Christ Love which should be fixed upon God Sufficiens perfectum bonum who is the Summum bonum the Supream good the sufficient and perfect good is placed upon the Creature which is but an inferior insufficient and perishing good The Scripture saith Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and withal thy Strength Deut. 6.5 But God generally hath the least part for if God was chiefly beloved of the Soul Christ would be so too for he that loveth the Father truely loveth the Son sincerely so for joy and delight we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord always Phil. 4.4 We should take complacency and delight in him above all but for the most part their joy and delight is in carnal perishing objects in the Creature more than in the Creator for if the Soul took delight in the Father it must needs take complacency in the Son who is the eternal delight of the Father Pro. 8.30 so the desires of the Soul when they should be after God
them unto Christ vers 37.39 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World so 1 Pet. 1.2 God hath elected and made choice of thee if thou art come to Christ Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Gods Love was fixed from all Eternity and he manifests it in time unto the Soul in drawing it unto Christ Jo. 6.37 All that the Father hath given him shall come unto him God hath chosen them and given them to his Son therefore he draws them to him Sinners are not able to move hand nor foot Zyon-ward unless God draws them they cannot come unto Christ 2ly If thou art come unto Christ the holy Spirit hath been at work upon thy Soul 1. To illuminate and inlighten thy understanding 2. Convince thy Conscience 3. Incline thy will 4. Sanctify thy affections 5. Work grace in the inward Man 1. The Spirit doth inlighten the understanding By nature Man is darkness Eph. 5.8 Therefore he must be turned from darkness to light Act. 26.18 And this is done by the Spirit of God he opens the Sinners Eyes that he may know himself Know thy self descended from Heaven it is said concerning the Prodigal Luk. 15.17 When he came to himself then he thought of returning home to his Father not before so it must be with every Sinner he must come to himself to know what he is before he will come to Christ if thou art come to the Lord Jesus thou hast been made to see thy miserable and deplorable condition by nature that thou art a Child of wrath Eph. 2.3 subject and obnoctious to the wrath of God deservest nothing but wrath and it were justice in God to execute wrath upon thee even for thy natural pollution and defilement much more for that contracted filth and impurity in thy conversation that thou art lost and shalt perish for ever without a Redeemer a Jesus to save thee that thou art an enemy to God Rom. 5.10 and needest reconciliation with him through the Blood of Christ that thou art unregenerate and without regeneration no seeing the Kingdom of God Jo. 3.3 miserable all over nothing but Wounds and Bruises and Putrifying Sores miserable because in thy flesh Rom. 7.18 dwelleth no good thing Sin Raigning Satan Captivating at his will the World allureing and perswading and thou art without strength or ability to resist and overcome these and many more I might number up are the evils which in Puris naturalibus in thy Natural condition make it deplorable therefore the holy Spirit brings thee first to know thy self before thou comest unto Christ 2ly To know and understand the Scriptures is another effect of the Spirit upon the understanding of those who are come to and have closed with the Lord Jesus As it is said Luk. 24.45 He opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Therein all things concerning Christ are revealed Jo. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal Life i. e. the knowledge of eternal Life and they are they which testify of me Now the Spirit doth open the Eye of the understanding that it may in the glass of the Scriptures see those things clearly which are necessary to Salvation to wit repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Act. 20.21 it declares the mind and will of God fully and directs poor Sinners who are stung in the Wilderness to look up to the BrazenSerpent scil the Lord Jesus Jo. 3.14 it declares that there is Salvation in none other I do not here say Act. 4.12 that the Spirit teaches all to read the Scriptures who are adult and grown into a capacity of exercising their Reason for there are many who I am perswaded have closed with Christ Luther Tertullian and others were converted from Papism and Gentilism by being brought to understand the Scriptures that could not read the Scriptures but this I assert that the understanding is inlightened by the Spirit to discern the things of God and Christ when preached or read to them out of the holy Scriptures for without a right understanding of the Scriptures there can be no apprehending the right way of Salvation All the Phylosophers of old with all their profound Learning Arts Sciences did not know Christ so consequently they were ignorant of the way of Salvation because Christ is the only way 3ly Thou art brought to understand and know thy duty in a great measure thy duty towards God thy duty towards thy Neighbour and thy duty towards thy self 1. Towards God that thou oughtest to Love him for himself to Love him as thy Creator and as a bountiful Benefactor to thee to Love him primarily superlatively and above all as the Text saith Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Mind and with all thy Strength Deut. 6.5 To love him fervently and permanently if thou art not come to Christ besure there is none of this sincere love in thee for as God loves not the Sinner but as chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 so the Sinner can never love God as he ought but in and through Christ and as God sees no lovelyness in the Sinner considered out of Christ so the Sinner perceives no amiableneness in God but in the Face of Jesus Christ for God is a consuming fire to Sinners if they be seperate from Christ so that I say Heb. 12. ult thou art taught to love God as an infinite good 2. To fear him not with a Bondage Slavish fear Rom. 8.15 but with a Filial and Holy fear such a fear as becometh Gods Children a reverential fear a fearing to displease him such a fear Christ Jesus had in his humiliation state Heb. 5.7.8 and such a fear have all his members who are come unto him and are implanted in him 3. Taught to serve him before thou wast the Servant of Sin and Satan but now the Servant of the living God Rom. 6. now thou desirest and indeavourest to obey him constantly as to the time fervently faithfully as to the manner and universally as to the Practice of them in all holy dutys as it was said of Zachary and Elizabeth They walked in all the Commandments of God Luk. 1.6 So it is thy care and Study to obey him in all things he requires from thee 4. Thou art taught to glorify God as being the chief end of thy Creation For he hath made all things for himself Psal 16.4 Thou indeavourest to glorify thy Soul and Body which are his according to that command 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorify God in your Bodys and in your Spirits which are Gods Thus Christ Jesus did as he saith Jo. 17.4 I have glorified thee on Earth so he saith of his Disciples Jo 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bare much Fruit so
will give thee Rest which implys all spiritual blessings both for time and Eternity Why Christ invites 2ly Possitively 1. In Obedience to his Fathers Will as he was Mediator for although he was in the form of God yet he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2.6.7 empty himself disrepute himself and took upon him the form of a Servant therefore Christ saith so frequently I come not to do my own will in reguard of his Man-hood but the will of him that sent me Jo. 5.30 Jo. 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me In the 39.40 He declares what is the Fathers will even the Salvation of poor Sinners the Father he wills and the Son he wills the eternal well-being of poor Sinners therefore he cloathed himself with a body of Flesh to the end he might declare and fulfil his Fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 2.14 good pleasure towards poor perishing Creatures For allthough he was a Son yet he learned Obedience Heb. 5.8 Therefore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.7 behold I come to do thy will O God Heb. 10.7 2. Reason Why Christ thus condescends to invite poor Sinners to come unto him may be taken from his tender love and compassion to poor Souls Christ Jesus is full of tenderness and love as he manifested when he was grieved for their unbelief for faith is the leading grace as I shewed before which carrieth the Soul to Christ in Mat. 14.14 We read Christ was moved with compassion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his bowels did yearn towards the multitude and then it was only bodily food they needed but Oh how much more doth Christ commiserate and pitty poor distressed Souls that is a kind of a pathetick expression of Christ in Jo. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life As if Christ should have said you my Friends my Country-men Jo. 11.25 you are all morally dead but I am the resurrection and the Life And he that believeth in me though he were dead yet should he live You are lost ones but I came to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19.10 you are miserable Sinners but I a merciful Saviour Heb. 2.17 Therefore come unto me believe in me and ye shall have Life and have it more abundantly all that Christ Jesus did and suffered was from a principle of love to poor Souls Jo. 10.10 We commonly say Magnes Amoris Amor Love is the Loadstone of Love but now here was no such Argument in the Sinner for instead of Love here he found hatred instead of Friends deadly enemies therefore Christ did all from his Love and Pity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saw the Sinners Misery Ezek. 16. Therefore is moved with mercy so Christ did when he foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem Luk. 19.41.42 He beheld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst known even then at least in this thy day the things which belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Christ had been here inviting with much love and kindness but they refused and slighted his invitation we see here when Christs words and Doctrine will not prevail with hard-hearted Sinners he is so full of compassion notwithstanding that his Soul mourns in secret for their Pride Folly and Unbelief Illis compatitur a quibus patitur Ang. Jer. 13.17 when gratious intreatys will not bring the Sinner home he himself will send tears sighs and groans after him thus we see Christ invites because he is full of tenderness and love to poor Souls O Sinner then retard not but love thy self and come to Christ 3. Reason Because he knows the worth and excellency of their Souls the excellency of the Soul did consist at first in its conformity to the Creator in wisdom and true holyness but upon Sinning the Soul lost its pristine Beauty and primitive excellency only this remains scil the faculty and capability of being restored and renewed again The worth of the Soul transcends all sublimary things Mat. 16.26 What is a Man profited if he gain not a City not a Kingdom not some parts of 〈◊〉 but the whole World and loose his own Soul Now because Christ knows this therefore he invites them to come unto him that they may not lose a Jewel of so high value that there is no exchange for it see Psal 49.7.8 None can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransome for him He gives the Reason in the 8. v. For the Redemption of the Soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever Well may he say the redemption of the Soul is precious for no less then the precious blood of Christ who was God-man will redeem it 1 Pet. 1.19 and it ceaseth forever as to its deliverance by any Creature so Christ seems to intimate in my Text and in v. 29. I have reguard to the better part even to the Soul I will give you rest for your Soul and indeed that is the happiest and most glorious rest 4. Reas Because he knows it will prove in vain to go or seek to any other he alone can bear their Burden and ease them of their Labour and weary Travel Men cannot help Angels which excel in strength cannot succour in Soul-distresses Isa 45.22 à quibus vulnetatur illis medetur look unto me and be ye saved saith Christ he who was wounded by thee is the only Physitian for thee Jo. 14.16 I am the way the truth and the Life He is the direct way to Salvation Glory God has made him to be Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption If thou wantest Wisdom thou must go to Christ for he is the Teacher come from God 1 Cor. 1.30 Jo. 3.2 Col. 1.19 If Righteousness we must seek to Christ and so for all mercies For it hath pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell He has ability to save and willingness too come unto me saith Christ why For there is no other name given under Heaven whereby you can be saved Act. 4.12 All Power is given unto me saith Christ Jo. 17.2 I have power to kill and power to make a live therefore Sinner be perswaded to return come unto me and find rest I can ease thee from the yoke of Bondage and I can make thee free with the Priviledg of the Sons of God 5. Reas Because he knows the weight of Glory the Sinner will lose and the greatness of the misery he involves himself into if he refuse It is not a temporal but eternal not a light but a weight of Glory that the refusing Sinner will fall short of He knows the misery is great the Burthen intollerable the Flames inextinguishable the Fire eternal that will be the portion of those who refuse to come Jo. 3.36 He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life which implies
him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you See here what a mercy this is to have the blessed Spirit for thou canst have no true comfort here but from him it must flow thou canst not know nor understand the way to Zion but by his Divine assistance 1 Cor. 2.14.15 it is he who is spiritually inlightened that can discern the Excellency of Divine objects thou canst not pray without him Rom. 8.26 Then is it not a blessing greatly to be desired to have the blessed spirit without whom thou canst not perceive thine own misery sufficiently nor apprehend Christ a Saviour satisfactorily it is the Spirit that searches the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and reveals them to his Children as much as is for his glory and their Eternal good Now I intreat thee in the name of Christ let this consideration that God will be thy God Christ will be thy Saviour and the Spirit thy guid and Comforter excite thy Soul to come to Christ 8. If thou come unto Christ thou shalt have an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the words cannot be well expressed in English but it is as if the Apostle should have said thou shalt have Hyperboly's of Glory Glory upon Glory ineffable such as hath not entred into the Heart of Man to conceive neither can Tongue utter it but observe this it shall be a weight and an eternal weight of Glory not transient and momentary like unto worldly Glory which depends upon the estimation of poor silly Mortals as it is usually said Honos est in Honorante Honour is in him that gives Honour not in him that receives it but the greatest Glory of this World is not to be compared nay rather to be contemned in comparison of that Glory believers shall be Crowned with the greatest part of their Glory shall be in this That they shall see God and be made like unto him 1 Jo. 3.2 What canst thou be humbly ambitious of more then this That thou shalt be like unto God in holyness and Righteousness and that for ever Thou shalt have a Crown of Righteousness upon thine Head 2 Tim. 4.8 Rev. 3.21 and thou shalt sit down with Christ in his throne Here Soul it is lawful for thee to run for this prize Phil. 3.14 To fight for this heavenly Crown Take but a serious view of what thou shalt have if thou comest to Christ and then refuse if thou canst see if the world can offer more then what Christ doth to incourage thee to come unto him if the World or Satan can promise and give more and better things then these I have mentioned from the word of God then imbrace them and let Christ go but if they cannot why dost thou make delays in coming unto him 9ly and lastly 9. Motive consider the misery thou dost involve thy self in if thou dost not come unto Christ thy Misery is great in this Life thou art a Child of wrath a Servant to Satan Eph. 2.3 a Servant to Sin thou art an Enemy to God and God is an Enemy to thee Rom. 6.20 Rom. 5.10 the Curse of the Law abides upon thee Gal. 3.10 Read and consider canst thou be content to be in this estate hast thou no pity for thine own Soul no love to God who sent his Son to dye for Sinners Jo. 3.16 no love for Christ who came to sacrifice himself that thou mightest have access to God by him but consider further thy misery will not end in this Life nor with it for the wrath of God will follow thee to the Grave and tumble thy Soul into everlasting Flames That is a terririble word Jo. 3.36 The wrath of God abideth on him that believeth not in Christ He doth not say it shall be for a little time for a year or a hundred or a thousand years but it abideth on him and so it will for ever 2 Thes 1.8 9. See what will be the doom of those who obay not Christ that is who believe not in him Now I say Sinner come unto Christ least that terrible word be said unto thee in the last day Pro. 1.24.25.26 Because I have called and ye have refused I have stretched out my hands and no man reguarded But ye have set at nought all my Councel therefore I will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh So much shall suffice for the first Doctrine That Jesus Christ graciously invites Sinners to come unto him 2. Doctrine It is the duty of all heavy laden Sinners who look for Rest and Salvation to come unto Christ for the obtaining of it If the invitation will not prevail with thee to come unto Christ yet let his command and the consideration of thy Duty Christ hath not left it mearly to their own wills but he commands them The Method that I shall proceed in is as followeth 1. I shall prove the point 2. Shew many of those obstructions which keep Sinners from coming to Christ with their unreasonableness 3. Answer some objections 4. Apply all and I shall bring in the two other Doctrines in the application 1. To prove that it is a duty Jo. 6.29 This is the work of God that ye believe in him whom he hath sent 1 Jo. 3.23 This is his Commandment that ye believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ I shall demonstrate the point by these propositions 1. It is the great duty incumbent upon all to seek the eternal well-being of their immortal Souls this is granted I think by all sober persons it is made our second principal end in the Assemblies Catechism 1. Glorify God 2. Save our own Souls Phil. 2.12 Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling God requires this from all men whether they be Princes or subjects Rulers or ruled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Arminians do pervert this Text. 1 Tim. 2.4 He willeth all men to be saved So the words may be read and they have relation to the foregoing verses where the Apostle exhorts to pray for all degrees of Men for Kings and those in authority for God willeth all Men all sorts of Men to seek after their Salvation for he is no respecter of Persons in that sence but he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness and believeth in his Son shall be saved Act. 10.35 Jo. 3.36 He that believeth the Son hath Life 2. Prop. Is that it is the duty of all to make use of means in order to the attaining of this great end scil the Salvation of their Souls God hath ordained the means as well as the end and he hath injoyned it as our Duty to make use of the means God hath given his Son to dye for us and doth command us to come and believe in him 1 Jo. 3.33 3. Prop. is that Christ Jesus is the only way for sinners to attain eternal life by
23. to 28. See there what befell them and thou must expect no better also Heb. 11. There is no peace in that way it is full of Thorns and briers thou must expect to be pricked and wounded therefore spare thy self as Peter said to Christ Mat. 16.22.23 Be it far from thee but Christ terms it the language of Satan get thee behind me Satan said he for thou savourest not the things that are of God Thus he deludes poor souls with promises of peace which is no true peace for here is not a word of the peace of God which passeth understanding such a peace that the world cannot give Jo. 14.27 Neither can the world take it away for as it is said of the Nightingale she sings with her breast against a thorne so the people of God have such peace and joy within that when the thorne of affliction is against their brests they can rejoice as Paul and Silas did in prison although they have not peace with the world yet they have peace with God Christ and their own Consciences which is the best of all therefore let not Satan keep thee by this wile from coming to Christ for he tells thee in the text he will give thee rest which implys all peace as far as it is good for thy Soul but Satan cannot give one moment of true peace or tranquility to the Soul 8. If peace will not do then he promises the world the pleasures the honours and the profits of this world as he did to Christ but in vain so he doth to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All these things I will give unto thee do but fall down and worship me Mat. 4.9 O how many Souls doth he catch by this bait notwithstanding he frequently deceives the Soul and gives a blear-eyed Leah instead of a beautiful Rachel Tuta frequens via est sub amici fallere Nomen Vnder the name of kindness and friendship he frequently deludes the sinner And these are brave alluring baits and do most usually insnare the poor silly creature being so sutable to flesh and blood and that corrupt part of man which is like tinder easily fired with the desire of these things these have kept thousands from coming and have drawn back many that were gon a fair way toward Christ this made Judas instead of believing in Christ for his Saviour betray him as a Malefactor the Love of the world drew away Demas who had followed Christ a great way the Devil knows full well how to impede and hinder sinners from coming to Christ I have read a story of one Hippomenes who fell in Love with a beautiful Woman called Atalanta who had vowed Virginity only she proposed this to her Wooers that they should run a Race with her unarmed she having a dart in her hand and if she won the Race she was to kill them with her dart she having ended many so Himpomenes was to run with her and he had gotten three Golden Apples given him by Venus which in the midst of the race when she drew nigh unto him he severally throws down and she being allured by them runs to gather them up and so he wins the race and her which I apply thus for the moral of it is good This Hipomenes is Satan who falls in love with the soul which is Atalanta who has vowed Virginity in its baptismal covenant he goes to Venus which is the world and gets three Golden Apples which are profit pleasure and honour and when the soul is as it were half way to Zion he throws down these before it and whilst it stops to gather them the Race is lost and the soul is undone for ever Satan works most effectually by these which are but perishing vanitys and thousands of souls are swallowed up in this Gulfe who believe Satan that is the Father of lyes when he promiseth only a dirty world and neglect to come to Christ when he promiseth an eternal glorious Kingdom Satan promiseth the earth and he too often prevails but Christ offers Heaven with all the immunitys glory and happiness imaginable and yet is refused Satan promiseth that which he cannot perform without divine permission but Christ promiseth that which he will certainly bestow upon the believing soul therefore let not these Cobwebs hold thee seeing he Commands thee and it is thy duty to obey 9ly He perswades the sinner that he shall live a Malancholly life if he come to Christ and then produces various instances then shews him such a one and such a one who when they followed the course of the world and had their conversation as other men they lived chearfully and merrily but since they turned out of that way and have gone in another new way they are sad and disconsolate persons now ye shall not see them rejoyce but hang down their heads as a Bullrush This I say is another of his devices to keep back poor Souls when they are coming to Christ although there is no reason why it should for if they are sorrowful and pensive it is not with the sorrow of the world which is deadly 2 Cor. 7.10 Godly sorrow worketh Repentance to Salvation never to be Repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death and as the wise man saith In the midst of laughter the heart is sad thus it is usually with the men of the world but the Godly though they have a dejected countenance yet then they have a chearful heart as their sorrows are not alike so their joys cant be compared the Apostle can say to the Godly rejoice evermore 1 Thes 5.16 And rejoice in the Lord always when he saith to the wicked Go weep and howl for the misery that shall come upon you James 5.1 Satan lies when he saith the ways of God are Melancholy for as the wise man saith Rom. 3.17 All her ways speaking of wisdom are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace and he may truly say all because all her paths are holiness I could give several instances besides scriptural ones of persons who have found it and declared it to be the most pleasant way all the godly more or less Galeaceus Carraciolus have experienced this I shall mention only that of the Noble Marquess who had experienced what comforts the world could afford and what were to be found in the ways of God could say Cursed be that Man who shall preferr all the Gold and Silver in the world before one days Communion with the Lord Jesus See here how he esteemed the comforts and delights he met with in the ways of God Therefore let not this deter thee and I will add mine own experience I never had such joys and delights as in the holy ways of God I cannot express it but come thou to Christ and thou shalt tast it nay satiate thy soul out of his superabundant fullness for he has rivers of pleasure by him and he doth often here give
and the like cogitations into poor sinners but yet consider to be reproached for Christs sake is an honour Heb. 11.26 Moses esteemed the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt observe it is said he esteemed them he put a high value upon them he was not ashamed of them but he accounted them his honour 2. It is better to be reproached and follow Christ than commended and follow Satan The meanest part of Christs service is more honourable than the greatest the Devil can confer upon you 3. It is the same that Christ and his Apostles did find in the world Joh. 15.18 19. If the world hate you saith Christ ye know it hated me before it hated you And vers 19. I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you Luke 21.16 17. All freinds shall set themselves against you and ye shall be hated of all men for my name sake 4. It is better to have men and friends reproach and hate than our conscience to reproach and the great God to hate for ever And if thou dost not come to Christ be sure thou wilt have no peace in thy conscience nor any Love or pitty from God And if thou sufferest with Christ in thy name or whatever else thou shall be glorified with him Rom. 8.17 Then notwithstanding all these Devices of Satan come unto the Lord Jesus that thou mayst have rest for thy Soul 14ly By perswading the Sinner to rest in the performance of some Moral acts as temperance and just dealing abstaining from gross enormities which others daily fall into if they do fall yet they do not wallow in the mire By this Chain he held the Jews fast and many thousands of those who are called Christians I speak not against Morality for where there is not Morality there is no true Christianity but we must not rest here that by reason of this never come fully unto the Lord Jesus It has troubled me sometimes to see those who are high in Morality very just very Temperate and circumspect in their external deportment and all their actions are so regulated even to admiration but no Christ all this while discourse to them in their life time not a word of Christ come to them in times of sickness they have a refuge to fly to they never wronged any one they have not been guilty of Adultery Fornication and the like gross sins they have done what they could and they hope God will accept the will for the deed and the like but no mentioning of Christ here is no renouncing selfe they have laid Feeble foundation and have raised their superstructure but the next storm of Gods wrath will quite evert and overturn the building and demollish this stately Fabrick For other foundation can no man lay No other firm Gospel foundation such as will bear up the soul in the day of Gods wrath than that which is layed even Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 He is the only foundation of Gods elect ones Therefore be not deceived by this wile of Satan for although I must confess Morality is a duty incumbent upon all and I wish there was more used among them who are termed Christians yet this must not be thy Christ if thou expectest to be saved for There is Salvation in none other Acts. 4.12 If thou couldst live the life of an Angel sail Free from sin one only transgession excepted thou wouldst be undone for ever unless Christ should satisfy his fathers justice for that iniquity nay without thine actual transgression thine Original sin would damn thee except it were washt away with the blood of Christ for we all sinned in Adam Rom. 5.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom all have sinned and all thou canst do can never wash away that pollution for if Doing would have done it Christ needed not to have dyed Again if Morality would do the work in order to Salvation we may conclude that many of the Heathens and also of the Jews who never believed in Christ shall be saved but as the Apostle saith Gal. 2.16 By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Paul had abundantly more to say for himself in this case Phil. 3.3.4.5.6 Than many of our proud Pharisee's now a days yet he renounces all as not being safe to rest in and build upon and 〈◊〉 to Christ alone 7.8.9.10 verses So I would advise thee whoever thou art that dost peruse this treatise never to rest upon any foundation for thy eternal well being but upon the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Rock to build upon Mat. 16.18 15ly By the applause of men this Subtile Adversary hath detained many as he did the Rulers mentioned Jo. 12.42 Nevertheless among the chief Rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisee's they did not confess him least they should be put out of the Sinagogue And the reason is given ver 43. For they loved the praise of Men more than the praise of God I must not inlarge but know this is no good reason Hinc apicem rapax fortuna cum stridore acuto sustulit hic posuisse gaudet Hor for which is better the praise of Man or the praise of God do but judge the one is of finite dust the other of an infinite Jehovah The applause of men is like the bubble on the water which soon vanisheth it is uncertain as dayly experience teacheth us and it is dangerous for the soul because it often puffs up and elevates the mind to act above its own sphear and soar too nigh the schorching sun so that Icarus-like at last they come tumbling down into the Ocean of woe and Misery for God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble Jam. 4.6 Consider but this to be a faithful disciple and Follower of Christ is greater honour than to be the highest Monarch upon earth and have no Interest in him for true honour is that which comes from God therefore seek not so much the vain applause of man Jo. 5.44 But that honour which comes from God By believing in the Lord Jesus 16ly Satan impedes many by keeping them in a mear external profession wholly neglecting the internal work of Grace as saving faith in Christ sincere Love to him to his Ordinances and to his members the work of regeneration upon the soul without which they can never be saved Jo. 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom These have the form but not the power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 They profess Christ but in works deny him they are called Nathaniel's but indeed are full of guile they have the name of Christians but never labour to become true and sincere Christians they honour God in words but their hearts are far from him like unto the Jews they cry out The Temple of the Lord The The Temple of the Lord and yet disobey the Lord of the Temple So these cry up a Christ a Jesus
that he will not pass by the least Sin without full satisfaction to his justice or else in equity he will punish every Sinner with infinite punishment till then I say the Soul doth not so much regard coming to Christ that it may be made partaker of his righteousness when the Sinner is made to see Gods righteousness then he flys to the Horns of the Alter scil to lay hold of Christs righteousness tendered to Poor Sinners in the Gospel 6ly I might add further that the Spirit doth inlighten the understanding to discern the Love Pity and mercy of God in Christ and his readiness and willingness to accept of those who come unto him in and through his Son Jo. 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life God is ready to give and be reconciled Psal 86.5 But there is no coming unto him but by Christ Jo. 14.6 these considerations do incourage the Poor Soul to come to Christ because God is full of Pitty and faithfulness to forgive 1 Jo. 1.9 7ly The Spirit inlightens the mind in the knowledg of Christ 1. What he is 2 What he hath done 3. What he is doing in the behalf of Poor Sinners 1. What he is I have declared in the beginning of this Book that he is God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 the true God and eternal life 1 Jo. 5.20 that he is the eternal delight of the Father the Glory of Angels admired by Saints and the Saviour of poor lost Sinners that he is God-man in two distinct natures and one person for ever as he was Man he suffered but as he was God-Man he satisfied infinite Justice by laying down an infinite price for infinite transgressions It was the blood of him that was God as well as Man that was effused and poured forth for our sins Acts 20.28 1 Job 3.16 2dly What he hath done for lost sinners he who was in the form of God took upon him the form of a Servant Phil. 2.6 7. he put himself into a capacity to fulfil all righteousness and to undergo all misery for our iniquities that he might save us from the wrath of God wch will consume all those who believe not in Christ he hath compleated the work of Redemption for we are made compleat in him Col. 2.10 In short he hath fulfilled the whole Law in way of obedience he suffered the penalty due unto those whom he redeemed he was made a Curse for them Gal. 3.13 that they might obtain the blessing even life for evermore he died that they might live for by dying he conquered Death and brought life and immortality to light he broke through the Prison of the grave and by his own power brought Salvation and ascended on high and lead captivity captive that he might give gifts unto men Eph. 4.8 3. He is now sitting at the right hand of God till his Enemies be made his foot-stool Psal 110.1 and his Saints crowned and glorified with him in his Kingdom he prayed for them when he was here on earth Joh. 17. but now he is interceding at the right hand of God in the behalf of his redeemed ones 1 Joh. 2.1 These things and many more the spirit reveals unto them that are come to Jesus Christ Christ is the head of the Body his Church Eph. 1.22.23 And gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulness of him who filleth all in all * Sicut vita ex solo capite in omnia membra propagatur sic ex un◠Christo in omnia membra spiritus ipsius spargitur non autem ex uno membro in aliud Ursin de doc Chris pa. 249. for as life from the head alone is propagated into all the Members so from one Christ his spirit is poured out into all his Members but not from one member into another as the Head is sons omnis vitae the fountain of all life so Christ is the fountain from which his Members derive continual supplies Now seeing Christ and Believers are so nearly related as to be one spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 he the Head and they the Members there must needs be an intimacy and knowledge of each other for as Christ saith Job 10.14 I am the good Shepheard I know my Sheep and am known of mine so I say if thou art come unto Christ the Spirit hath revealed Christ Jesus to thee he hath enlightned thy understanding to know in some measure what he is what he hath done and what he is doing for thy Soul 2dly If thou art come to Christ thy conscience hath been convinced by the holy spirit it is his work to convince a person of sin Joh. 16.8 and when he is come to wit the holy Spirit he shall convince the world of sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is beyond the power of man to convince the conscience it is proper to the holy Ghost 1. Then he hath convinced thee of thy original sin which is the source and spring from which all other sins flow it is not Fons vitae the fountain of life but Fons corruptionis Mortis of corruption and death from this spring flows forth the bitter waters of Meribah which prove destructive to Mankind the whole man being vitiated and corrupted by original sin which made the Apostle say I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7.18 he calls it The Law in his Members Vers 23. The Body of Death ver 24. Thus he was convinced of his Original sin and therefore he saith We are all the children of Wrath by Nature Eph. 2.3 which Scriptures are fully and excellently declared to be meant of Original sin by that worthy Minister of Christ Mr. Anthony Burgess in his Doctrine of Original sin The Prophet David confesseth it Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me he was convinced of his pollution even in the very womb and so art thou if the Spirit hath been effectually at work in thy Soul from the heart naturally proceeds no good thing but thence come Thefts evil Thoughts Murders Adulteries Fornications false Witness Blasphemy Mat. 15.1.9 All which defile and pollute a Man 2. Thou art convinced of the evil of thy actual sins thy manifold transgressions and violations of the Law of God those sins which thy hand thy heart thy tongue thy ear and eye have been imployed in as David was convinced of his Murther and Adultery which the 51. Psal declares Paul of his Persecution injuriousness and blasphemy 1 Tim. 1.13 Peter of denying his Lord and Master Mat. 26.74 75. Thou art now convinced that Sin is exceeding sinful Rom. 17.13 and that thy great work and business in thy unconverted state was to Sin against God 3ly Thou art convinced that every Sin doth contaminate and defile thy Soul Psal 19. Cleanse thou me
his Father which was the Soul of his sufferings Mat. 26.38 My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me He dyed an ignominious Painful Cursed Death Gal. 3.13 These things did the Lord of Life and Glory undergoe that he might redeem me from that punishment and wrath due to my Sins How doth the consideration of Christs suffering humble and break the Adomantine heart and makes it Labour to express its sorrow with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered but further when it comes to apprehend the procuring cause of all this misery that Christ indured then indeed the Soul doth even disolve it self into tears and with unfained contrition crys out what my Sins mine Iniquitys my rebellion against God my disobedient walking my cursed Lusts and vile polluted Actions to be the procuring cause of all Christs sufferings O wretch that I am Vile Unworthy Degenerate Creature thus to cause Christ to be wounded with and for my Sins Lament O my Soul bath thy self in tears of blood lament I say for behold Christ was wounded he suffered bled and dyed for my Iniquitys and violations of the Law of God 5ly and lastly It hath an Eye to the Gospel Jo. 6.37 which is the glad tidings of Salvation which declares and holds forth Christ to be an able and willing Saviour it makes manifest the free grace of God in and through Christ to poor Sinners upon the consideration of the excellency of the Gospel and those things contained in it and yet to be dispised thus the Soul frames its Arguments I have not only Sinned against Justice but I have also Sinned against mercy not only against the Law but most egrediously against the Gospel Christ by his Ministers called once yea twice but I harkned not he knocked Act. 3.46 Rev. 3.20 Cant. 5.2.3 but I opened not unto him he invited but I refused him he wooed me but I scorned him I made Christ weight a long season before I would give him admittance he followed me with intreatys but I unworthy wretch ran away from him and slighted the means of grace even to the indangering the Ruine of my immortal Soul in the days of the Gospel the light is more splendid then it was under the Law therefore my Sins are more aggravated under the Law the Church was but in its infancy but under the Gospel it is grown up into Manhood and as Murder or any Sin is more heinous being committed by a Man than by a Child so it is with me I cannot say but I have Sinned against the checks of Conscience against light and knowledg against many warnings and admonitions given me both by Christs Ministers and other Godly Friends therefore I cannot but lament and mourn being now convinced of all that evil I have perpetrated and wickedly commited against the Gospel of the Lord Jesus 2ly True Evangellic repentance which is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of God may be known by the nature and propertys of it now the propertys are 1. To confess Sin Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my Sin unto thee and mine Iniquitys have I not bid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the Iniquity of my Sin Pro. 28.13 Who so confesseth and forsaketh his Sin shall find Mercy 1 Jo. 1.9 If we confess our Sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sin It is the property of repentance I say to confess Sin and that 1. Freely and ingeniously not like a legal Repentant from horror of Conscience or fear of Punishment but from a sence of the evil of Sin as David did Psal 32.5 I said I will confess my transgressions and in Psal 51.3 I acknowledg my transgression and my Sin is ever before me 2ly As Freely so also particularly as Nathan said to David Thou art the Man 2 Sam. 12.7 so the sinner confesseth and acknowledgeth his sin he cries out Thou art the sin the Achan which has troubled the peace of my Israel scil Conscience Thus we find it hath been with the servants of God David Psal 51.14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness O God thou God of my Salvation Dan. 9.5 6. We have sinned and have committed iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled even by departing from thy Precepts and from thy Judgments neither have we hearkned to thy Servants the Prophets which spake in thy name to our Kings our Princes and to our Fathers and to all the people of the Land Ezra chap. 9. and Neh. 9. throughout declares how they confessed their sins in particular 1 Tim. 1.13 saith Paul I was before a Pâ—rsecuter a Blasphemer and Injurious but I obtained Mercy Many will confess they have sinned in general but never particularize them before the Lord. 3dly It is mixed with contrition and sincere mourning for sin for as the Psalmist saith the Sacrifices of God are a broken heart A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51.17 There is a godly sorrow the Apostle mentioneth 2 Cor. 7.10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation never to be repented of and indeed without this godly sorrow and sincere mourning for sin confession is insignificant for Confession without Contrition is like a Body without a Soul dead cold and unactive it doth nothing that will prove advantageous to the Soul for as a dead Corps is offensive to man so is a meer confession unto God and much more for where there is only confession without due sense of sin it savours of Hypocrisie but when there is a deep and sensible contrition it savours of sincerity 4. It is accompanied with shame and confusion of face Ezra 9.6 O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face unto thee my God for our Iniquities are increased over our heads and our Trespasses grown up unto the heavens The sense of the exceeding evil that is in sin and of the greatness of the Majesty that hath been offended makes the poor soul ashamed to look up but like the poor Publican stands a far off and would not lift up his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his Breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Luke 18.13 O when the Soul is truly sensible of the vileness and evil of sin it is ashamed and confounded and dare not look up to God 5thly It is mixt with self-abhorrence and self-condemning Job 42.6 Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 40.4 Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee Dan. 9.8 O Lord to us belongs confusion of face Lord saith the poor humble penitent I am a guilty Malefactor I deserve nothing but Death Hell and eternal Damnation it is true thou hast declared that Christ hath merited Mercy Life and Salvation but I my self deserve nothing but misery I am unworthy of the least manifestation of thy Love and Kindness I am not worthy to be called thy Son
is nothing but perpetual Commotions and distractions but when this Legion is ejected and cast out and the Soul hath bathed it self in the tears of Repentance and is made pure by the Blood of the Lord Jesus O then what inward sedateness and tranquility is there Sin whilst a Man remains in an impenitent State and condition like a Mad-man rageth in the Soul but when Christ brings the Soul to himself by the weeping-cross of Repentance he then saith to it as he did to the Sea Peace be still or as he did to his Disciples Jo. 14.1 Let not your Hearts be troubled and Vers 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you let not your Hearts be troubled The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 and Eph. 6.15 Because it proclaimeth Peace and speaks peace from God and Christ unto poor wounded and distressed Consciences the Blood of Christ is the only sanctifying Medicine which the Gospel holds forth to cure wounded consciences Thus I have finished the first particular I come now to the second particular grace by which a person may know that he is come to Christ and it is this the Spirit hath wrought the grace of Faith in the Soul for it is by Faith the Soul apprehends and lays hold upon the Lord Jesus Although there are four kinds of Faith yet there is but one true Evangelick and saving Faith and my business must be to acquaint you how you may discern this from the others which will never end in salvation and I shall do it with as much brevity as may be for the discussing so great a question as this is how may I know that I have saving Faith I answer it may be known these four ways 1. By the Author or Efficient 2. By the Objects 3. By the Nature of it and 4. By the effects 1. By the Author and he is the Spirit of God for no Man can work Faith in his own Heart or can believe by his own Power it is a supernatural and Divine work Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is the work of the Spirit of God Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit are Love Peace Joy Goodness Faith If the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hath not been at work upon thy Soul never conceit thy self to have any Grace we find this work once attributed to Christ Heb. 12.2 Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith but this must be understood Agit filius per spiritum sanctum Ursin * that Christ doth it by his holy Spirit and the Spirit works powerfully and with the irresistable efficacy he makes the Soul believe those things now which all Men or Angels could never have done if they had Preached Millions of years it now believes unseen things an unseen Jesus and an invissible glory 1 Pet. 1.8 If you have no more Faith then what your own reason or judgment helps you to or the teachings of men hath principled you with do not conclude it to be saving but Sinful the Spirit is the Efficiently and works instrumentally by the word of God by which he brings the Soul to believe in and close with Jesus Christ 2ly It is known by the objects of it 1. The Word of God that is an object of true Faith the Soul is brought to believe the verity and certainty of it therefore it believes not because Man saith so and so you must believe but because the word of the Living God saith it as the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy to which ye do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place Materia quae objecti rationem habet communiter quidem Dei verbum est propriae vero gratuitae promissiones in Christo fundatae Wol. de fide salvis until the day dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts Shee believes the reports of men no farther than they concur with the clear and evident truth of the word of God for as the Prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 2ly Faith eyes the promises therein contained which relate unto and are founded in Christ as one saith the material cause of saving faith which may be termed an object is commonly the Word of God but properly the gracious promises founded in Christ It is said 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God are in him i. e. in Christ Saith God by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 43.25 I will blot out thy transgressions for my one name sake and will not remember thy Sins 2 Cor. 5.19 The Apostle tells us God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them So that we see what God promiseth in one place to do for his own name-sake in the other we find made good in Christ promises of Peace Pardon Grace and Glory upon the account of Christ are the objects of a saving Faith For indeed it is by laying the mouth of Faith to the brest of the promises that the Soul sucks and draws nourishment by which it grows in grace for had not Faith a promise of such and such mercys benefits and Priviledges to go to at all times it would grow languid and decay it would pine away The promises by the assistance of the holy Spirit keep Faith alive and active vigorous and strong as it is said of Abraham that Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.15.20 He staggered or doubted not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God But how came he to be so strong but by Eying the Promise and the power of that God that made it vers 21. And being fully perswaded or knowing most certainly that what he had promised he was able certainly to perform It was the apprehention of the promise that held his head above water so I say if thy Faith be of a salvific and evangelic kind it hath an Eye to the promises of God which contain those spiritual Blessings made over through Christ to the Soul 3ly And that principally it hath Christ for an object Act. 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ He is the foundation for Faith to build upon as 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ The Gospel throughout directs the Eye of Faith unto the Lord Jesus Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith Joh. 3.16 God so Loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not Perish but have everlasting Life That is no saving Faith which hath not an Eye to the Lord Jesus But having spoken more fully to this before I shall pass it over and come to the third particular by which it may more evidently be discover'd 3ly The nature and propertys of
it do make it manifest 1. It cleanseth and puryfieth the heart true Faith and an unsanctified Heart are never concomitants or coinhabitants Acts 15.9 And put no difference between us and them Purifying their Hearts by Faith A defiled Gentile as well as a chosen Jew is purified by Faith for Faith apprehends the right means of purifying scil the Blood of Christ it will not suffer corruption to remain predominant in the Soul therefore the People of God are said to be a holy Temple for the Holy God to dwell and abide in 2 Cor. 6.16 2ly It lifts the Heart above the World and makes it come off Conquerer 1 Joh. 5.4 5. Whosoever is Born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Vers 5. Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God Faith is a World-conquering Grace it can presentiate future things it looks to the Land that is a far off Isa 33.17 Faith cloaths the Soul with the Sun of Righteousness and gets the Moon of this World under his Feet it regards these things but as perishing and transitory the things of the future and sempiternal world to be most Glorious Permanent and abiding It was by Faith that all the Worthy Champions of Christ have conquered this Base World and followed their Lord and Master through the greatest difficultys I might instance in many Moses Refused all the Pomp and Splendor of Pharaohs Court the Riches and Grandeur of the World and made a voluntary choise of suffering with the People of God and esteemed the reproach of Christ greater Riches then all the Riches of Egypt but how did this valliant Conquerer break through all these difficultys what could not Courts nor Kingdoms nor Terrors of a King nor Treasures nor Horrors nor Displeasures conquer one Moses such an Army as here was set in aray against him the least of which is enough to foil if not to conquer the greatest Monarch if Faith be not his sheild Eph. 6.16 Heb. 11.24 25. 26 27. but all these cords were too weak to hold him whilst the seven-fold Lock of Faith remained his strength abode firm and his bow abode in strength it was by Faith he did all this and there were two main Pillars which supported him and his Faith the first was looking to him who is invisible i. e. God The second was the prospecting and looking forward to the recompence of reward I might number up many more Instances but in short all the Servants of Christ have this conquering Faith Rom. 8.37 for the nature of it although one acts inferiour to another by reason of the different degrees some being not called to that tryal as others are but all have a measure of this Rom. 8.37 Nay in all these things speaking of several sorts of afflictions we are more then Conquerers through him that Loved us Every Christian is to Fight the Fight of Faith and Righteousness and in a Combat there is a conquerer and the Conquered either we Conquer the World or the World Conquers us but if we come off Conquerers it must be by the Shield of Faith 3ly It is a labouring working Faith in opposition to an Idle Faith Jam. 2.22 Seest thou how Faith wrought with his Work and by Works was Faith made perfect That is by his works it was manifest that his Faith was a perfect and right Gospel one true Faith is opperative it is active in puting the Soul upon all obedience unto God as it did Abraham in that difficult Service he was called to by Faith he went through with it Heb. 11.17 By Faith Abraham when he was tryed offered his Son Isaac Faith put Noah upon his obedience unto God when all others neglected their Salvation and the Preach-of Noah unto them Heb. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet he being religiously afraid as the word may be rendred prepared an Ark to the saving of his house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A right saving Faith whereever it is Religiose solisite cavet ne Deum offendat puts the Soul upon the performance of all dutys injoyned and commanded by God it doth not rest only in a bare assent to the revealed will of God saying it is true and so sits down there and proceeds no farther but it is up and doing for God Christ and the Soul 4ly It is a Living Faith it works a principal of Life in the Heart where it is wrought The just shall live by Faith In opposition to a dead faith Rom. 1.17 Heb. 10.38 It is a quickening Principle which inlivens all other graces and keeps them in motion they would all faint and Dye if Faith did not keep them alive Gal. 2.20 I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I Live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life I now Live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Here the Apostle clearly manifests how he lived it was by a living Principle of saving Faith apprehending a living Jesus 5ly and Lastly It is a lasting and permanent in opposition to a temporary and perishing Faith many pretend to believe but it is for a time like the Stony-ground Hearers which rejoyce to day and by reason of some afflictions are offended to morrow but now true Faith is abiding Mat. 13.20.21 growing and increasing dayly 1 Jo. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God sineth not for his seed remaineth in him This Seed remains firm there because it is sowed not by Satan but by the Spirit of God Heb. 10.39 We are not of those who draw back into perdition but them who believe to the saving of the Soul According to that of Christ he that induers to the End shall be saved There must be a Perseverance in Faith if we expect the Crown of Righteousness for Christ will Crown none but conquerers and none can conquer unless they believe and none believe but them who persevere in it 4ly It is known by its effects I shall mention only these two Joy and Peace 1. Joy and exaltation Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing Joy is a Fruit that Grows upon the root of Faith what hath made the Servants of Christ in all Ages Rejoice when they met with nothing in the Inn of this World but rough Entertainment but their believing in Christ 1 Pet. 1.8 The Apostle in vers 7. tells the believers of the tryal of their Faith and the preciousness of it in the day of Christ and saith in the 8. vers whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Faith assends by the wings of Love and Zeale and fixeth it self above the Clouds and takes a view of the celestial
the highest even with all the Heart with all the Mind and with all the Strength God and Christ are to be beloved beyond all measure as one saith the right manner of Loving God is Modus diligendi deum est ut diligatur quantum potest diligi Bern. that he may be beloved as much as he can be beloved This evangellick Love seats it self in the most superlative place of the Soul there is no comparison between this Love and the Love of the Creature 4ly This Love is sincere Grace be with all those who Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Eph. 6.24 If there is not Sincerity at the Root besure the Fruit is corrupt Hypocrisie is the distruction of many but Sincerity Integrity and Uprightness preserveth the Soul wherefore were Noah Job and others counted Perfect it was not because they were Perfect in their obedience but because their Love was Sincere this makes the Scripture give such an excellent Charactor of them Sincerity is as it were the Salt which seasons every duty and a Sincere Love although but weak in the actings is that which savours of a right Gospel Spirit 5ly It is a fervent Love Rom. 12.11 Fervent in Spirit Serving the Lord. It is true that this Love may not always Seraphin like be in a bright burning flame but yet where once it is wrought by the Spirit it never after is quite extinguished for when it flames not it does burn and when it burns not clearly there are some scintilla's and Sparks which keep it from quite going out and when the Cinders of Corruption are blown away it kindles up into a flame again Let one who hath this fervent Love through invigilancy fall into Sin or neglect duty it cools and damps the fire of his affection for a time but let him come again to the ordinances and by Faith Drink a draught of the warm Blood of Christ and by Prayer blow up the heat of his affections it will prove but like the Water the Smith Casts upon the fire which seemingly Puts it out but when he hath blown a while it flames more violently I say not this to incourage any to make tryal by Sin but if it be so with any that now find their Love but cold which formerly was fervent they may see the cause be wise to improve and apply the Remedy this Love I say is Ardent Love which warms the heart for it is a ray from the Sun of righteousness which sets the Soul all in a Divine feaver 6thly This Love is total I mean it is with the whole heart God hates a divided Heart or as the Hebrew hath it a Heart and a Heart one as it were for God and another for the World and Sin but God will have the whole or none therefore it is said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God Mat. 22.37 Deut. 6.5 with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind See here how many Times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all is expressed as God is of an indivisible essence so he would not have that which is his due to be divided now the true Saint is very well content that God should have all he would have none to be Copartner with God and Christ but desires that his Love and affections may wholly be fixed and set upon the right objects when God saith to the person who hath this Love my Son give me thy heart he is ready to respond and say Lord here am I take the whole of my heart nay take the all of my all let me be but thine and that for ever 7thly and lastly It is a constant and permanent Love as Christ said unto his Disciples Jo. 15.9 Continue ye in my love so may I say to you See that this love abide and continue in you For if your Love be of an Evangellick nature it is a permanent Love 1 Cor. 13.8 Love never faileth Christ spake of some whose Love should fail them but that which is durable ends in Salvation Mat. 24.12.13 Because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold but he that indures to the end the same shall be saved He whose Love keeps warm and abideth shall certainly obtain Salvation as the love of God towards his People is an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 So he expects that their love should be a permanent love God hates those who draw back Heb. 10.38 but it is the nature of this love to press forward to increase and aspire till it comes unto the Center from whence it came He that hath this love maintains it in adversity as well as prosperity when the Clouds do darken the Face of God as well as when the Sun-shine of this love beams forth upon the Soul many of the Saints have experienced this they have found their love hottest when their afflictions have been heavyest when most shaken by the World they have been most confirmed in their love to God and Christ I come now to the objects of this spiritual evangelick love and I shall speak of them first negatively shewing what are not the objects of this love 2ly possitively what they are 1. Negatively what are not the objects 1. Not Sin neither in ones self or in another The Soul that hath this Divine love in it cannot but hate all Sin Psal 119.101 and 104. I have refrained my feet from every evil way v. 104. I hate every false way v. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy law do I love As God is said to be of purer Eies then to behold Iniquity so the Saints are of purer Hearts then to love Iniquity Sin hath brought bitterness to their souls therefore they now abhor it they have no love or liking at all for Sin it doth not fix upon Iniquity as a delectable and lovely object but hates and flees from all base lusts which seek to insnare the Soul 2ly It is not fixed upon Satan for although no Creature mearly as a Creature is to be the object of our hatred because it declares something of the wisdom and power of the Creator in giving existence and being to such a Creature yet Satan in his Sinful lapsed State and condition as an Enemy to God Christ and the well being of our immortal Souls ought to be the object of our hatred 1 Pet. 5.8 For he goes about like a Roaring lyon seeking whom he may devour He makes it his great imployment to effect the ruin of poor Souls therefore he is become the object of hatred 3ly It is not placed upon this teâ—rene dying and perishing world love to God and Christ in that measure and degree as it should be cannot consist with an eager and earnest love of the world Jam. 4.4 Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know ye not that the Friendship of the World is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God This is further manifest in 1 Jo. 2.15 Love not the World neither
1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised So saith Christ Jo. 3.16.36 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life Jo. 10.28 I will give unto them eternal life Now God and Christ having promised this the believer hopes for the performance of it 2ly Promises of glory Psal 84.11 He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly before him 2 Cor 4.17 and in many other places Therefore these sublime and eternal objects this hope is fixed upon not upon the base vanitys of this perishing world not upon the promises of men or Angells but upon the promises of God in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God are in Christ yea and amen to the praise of his glory Therefore it being for his praise and glory he will fully perform and not disappoint the expectations of any who hope and trust in him 5ly The spirit hath wrought the grace of humility This grace is most lovely in the eyes of God and men nay it is so excellent and amiable that generally those who themselves are lofty cannot but admire and commend this beautiful adornment when they behold it in others It is so transcendent and comely that the great God takes delight to dwell with such Souls Isa 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble and contrite Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and revive the heart of the contrite ones Christ Jesus was not ashamed to be cloathed with this garment Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Spirit Therefore the Apostle exhorts believers to put on this compleat Robe of humility 1 Pet. 5.5 Be cloathed with humility I shall show in a few particulars how it may be known whether this Grace be wrought in the Heart or no. 1. Where this grace is there is contriteness of Spirit A broken heart and an humble heart go together so in that place Isa 57.15 To revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the Heart of the contrite ones and in the 66. Chap. 2. vers But to this Man will I Look even to him that is of a poor and contrite Spirit Therefore brokenness and contrition are sometimes put for a truely humble frame as Psal 51.17 The Sacrifices of God are a broken heart a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not dispise 2ly The person who hath this Grace hath self-debasing thoughts of himself When on the contrary the Proud Spirit doth elevate and lift up it self it hath high thoughts although altogether undeserving of it self the humble person thinks all to much that is conferred upon him when any Praise and commend him though he truely deserves it yet he hath such mean thoughts of himself that he concludes they have out of extream Love or Flattery exceeded the bounds of his merits but now the superbious and lofty imagin every one is defective and comes short of attributing to him according to his worth and deserts Absolon thinks he hath not Honour enough in being the Kings Son but he must stand in the Gate and by all means be made King in the room of his Father when humble David looked upon it as a great matter to be only Son in Law to a King see how he expresseth his humility 1 Sam. 18.23 And Sauls Servants spake those Words in the Ears of David and David said seemeth it unto you a Light thing to be a Kings Son in Law seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed Thus we see that Pride is ambitious of exaltation when humility lays it self even with the Dust 3ly Where this Grace is in the Heart the Person highly exalts free grace and acknowledgeth all mercys to flow merited from the free grace of God alone 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was in Christ Jesus before the world began The Apostle Paul is often at this work extolling of Free Grace as Eph. 2.5.8 By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Jacob the Patriark looked upon himself as unworthy of the mercys of God Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of or I am less then the least of all thy mercys and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant See this humble good man he exalts Mercy and acknowledgeth the freeness of it even in the least measure of it that it did transcend his deserts 4ly Where this humility is the heart fears and trembles at the word of God i. e. fears to Sin and transgress the holy word of God 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 This humble heart dreads Sin and transgressing the Law of God Jam. 1. because in so doing he keeps himself Spotless and injoys the blessed asspect of Gods countenance he looks towards such a one Moreover he injoys in some measure the blessedness of Heaven for he hath Communion with God Isa 57.15 God dwells with the humble But if he Break Gods Law then God will frown and turn away his Face and withdraw his sensible presence from the Soul therefore it labours to walk humbly as being that which keeps the Soul with God and God with it God requires it from his People Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God or to humble thy self to walk with thy God 5ly Where this grace is there is Poverty of Spirit Mat. 5.3 Christ begins the Blessings to the Poor in Spirit which Diodate expounds Humility and meekness of Spirit before God Those who have this grace always apprehend themselves to be Spiritually Poor therefore they are continually Praying to God and crying to Christ for supplys of grace They are not like to the Laodiceans Who thought themselves rich and increased in Goods and to have need of nothing Rev. 3.17 But yet were most miserable But they are like to the Poor who are always in wants and daily going to the Gates of the Rich and laying open their necessitys and earnestly craveing supplys These humble ones are dayly knocking at Heavens gate by Prayer for some mercy and grace the Soul stands in need of from God 6ly The Person that hath this grace is ready to prefer every gracious Soul before himself he esteemes the Person parts and graces of another very highly for he looks upon himself as the Apostle did even the meanest and unworthyest servant of Christ 1 Cor. 15.9
come unto him neglect not but come For Christ came that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 Jo. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest that he might destroy the Works of the Devil By nature we are slaves to Satan and he tiranizeth over us and the way to be effectually delivered from it is by coming to Christ and being weary of and willing to throw away his Yoke and to yield subjection unto Christ I say the way to be eased of these Burthens is to come to Christ as weary and heavy laden with them 6ly Come unto the Lord Jesus repenting and believing I put these both together because I would contract Christ is ready to behold the Watery Eye and bleeding heart caused by a sence of the heinousness of Sin with a gracious aspect he loves a broken and contrite Spirit he is willing to heal the wounds of a broken heart and set at liberty them that are bruised with the intollerable Burthen of Sin Luk. 4.18 and a sence of the wrath of God and because of that are willing to turn to Christ and become wholly his Those who are Heirs of the Crown of glory are for the most part brought to the Kingdom by weeping Cross Luk. 13.3 Except you repent ye shall all likewise Perish So likewise there must be a believing or else there is no true closing with Christ for Faith is the Hand that lays hold on Christ the Mouth that feeds upon him and derives out of his fulness Jo. 1.16 That Soul is in a dead and deplorable state and condition that hath not a saving Faith in Christ Jo. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him There is nothing but Wrath for that Soul that believes not in the Lord Jesus 7ly and lastly Come unto Christ with high estimations and valuations of that rest which Christ hath Promised for this will discover thy sincerity and true love to divine and spiritual things and hereby thou wilt honour Christ when thou believest in him and preferrest his Rest above all that this vain World can afford The World is a fading Perishing thing and the best rest that it gives is full of disquietness fears perplexities but now the rest which Christ will give hath so much contained in it that the World cannot compare with it therefor I say keep up a high valuation of this rest which leads me to the Motives that may induce us freely and chearfully to come unto Christ and they shall be taken from the consideration of what kind of rest this is which Christ will give unto them that come unto him 1. In regard of this World 1. It shall be a rest from the Dominion of Sin and I think it is a happy rest and priviledge to be free from the dominion of Sin if it was only this rest that should be obtained it would be very well worth coming unto Christ for who would be a slave and servant to Sin Humanorum nullum est grave malorum nisi Peccatum Chrisost which brings trouble and vexation of Spirit now those the Son makes free they are free indeed Jo. 8.34 35 36. Whosoever commiteth Sin is the Servant of Sin and the Servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever if the Son therefore shall make you free you shall be free indeed It is Christ alone that can make any free from the raigning power of Sin therefore come unto him that thou mayest partake of this Blessedness not to be a Servant of Sin whilst thou art here it is a base servitude and very dishonourable most uncomfortable and hath the least and worst security for he that is Servant to Sin hath abundance of Enemys but no real Friends therefore he is obnoctious to miserys every moment both temporal and eternal 2ly It is a Rest from the tyranny of Satan although not from his temptations Snares whilst thou abidest in this sinful world and art a sojourner as all thy Fathers were the Devil will hunt and tempt thee to commit Iniquity but yet if thou comest unto Christ he will give thee rest from the tiranical power of this grand enemy for he will do and say unto thee as he did unto Paul when buffered by the Messenger of Satan My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in thy weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 And if thou hast the strength of Christ for thee although thou art weak in thy self Yet thou wilt be strong to resist Satan Vers 10. of that Chap. 3ly It is an inward Soul-rest that thou shalt have if thou comest unto him it is not such a Rest as the world gives neither can the World deprive thee of it the World may afflict and perplex thy outward man and give no rest unto it but it can never touch thy internal peace rest if Christ is pleased to confer it upon thee if thou hast rest for thy Soul thou art most happy even in the midst of Worldly disquietments for it is the affliction and trouble of the Soul that is the Soul of affliction but now Christ hath promised to give this Soul-rest to those that come unto him Mat. 11.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Spirit and ye shall find rest for your Souls This indeed is the best of rests for suppose a man hath never so many temporal injoyments yet if his Soul be not at rest and peace all these blessings seem to be cursed to him because his Soul is under preturbations or if not so yet under sleepy sinful security which is worse but O the serene calmness peace sedateness that the saints injoy in this life for I am not speaking of that rest the Righteous shall inherit hereafter but whilst we are here in the Wilderness and journy to Canaan God hath promised to give them peace Isa 26.3 Whose minds are stayed upon him and the Saints experience this dayly 2ly What kind of peace and rest this is in regard of the future World 1. It is a true rest not any fiction of the Poets but a certain and firm rest that Christ hath purchased for Non expectationem fallit and promised to believers they shall be sure of it for he that cannot lye hath promised it he who is the Amen Rev. 3.14 He in whose mouth was found no guile therefore he will not deceive poor Souls for The foundation of God standeth sure 2 Tim. 2.19 Men many times promise themselves rest but it proves false to them for the most part and they never find that rest which they imagined would be their lot but now this rest will prove true even beyond expectation 2. The rest that Christ will give to them that come unto him shall be perfect and compleat rest it is not part rest and other
Christ Grace and eternal Blessedness as David saith Psal 42.2 My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God Instead of this they are after the World and the things thereof they are for who will shew us any Good here as for the Light of Gods Countenance let those that will seek after that And those passions and affections which have evil for their object are irregular also as Fear Sorrow Hatred and the like these are placed upon quite contrary objects the Soul should hate evil sorrow for Sin fear the wrath of God which he hath threatned against rebellious Sinners but on the contrary it doth by nature hate the good and choose the evil sorrow for worldly concerns and disappointments more then for Sin fear the wrath of Man more than the wrath of God and by reason of this depravity and irregularity of the affections the Sinner minds not coming unto Christ 5ly The hardness of the heart is another Lett. This kept many of the Jews from believing in Christ Mat. 3.5 The Heart of Man by nature is so hard and obdurate that the distillation and daily droppings of the Gospel cannot penetrate or make impression therefore God has graciously promised to take away the Heart of Stone and give a Heart of Flesh Ezek. 36.26 And till God doth effect this upon the Soul to take away the hardness from it and mollify it with the Blood of Jesus it will never receive any divine impression or come unto Christ that it may be for ever happy Heb. 3 15.16.18 As it was through the hardness of Heart the Israelites provoked God in the Wilderness and believed not in him and so shut themselves out of the promised Land of Rest so to this day the obduratness of Sinners impedes them so that they regard not coming to Christ As the Heart of Man is so desperatly Wicked and deceitful above all things Jer. 17.9 so it is desperatly hard and obdurate above all things Moses struck the Rock but twice and the Waters came out abundantly Num. 20.11 but Christ stands knocking at the door and cannot get admittance into the hearts of most Sinners Rev. 3.20 all his sweet and kind expressions and glorious promises will â—ot induce them to let him in or allure them though miserable to come unto him 6ly And lastly the Pride and haughtinesse of Mans Spirit obstructs him A Proud man is loth to own his own poverty and come to Christ for Riches he is unwilling to own his nakedness and come to Christ for cloathing Rev. 3.18 Because God at first made him Lord of the Creature he concludes he hath now no need of his Creator he thinks by his own Arme to procure Salvation and by his own industry work out redemption for himself To be saved by the merits and righteousness of another he cannot indure to hear of Man cannot indure to own himself a Bankrupt lost and undone unless he seek to another for help that he is poor and must now turn Beggar when he has so much Riches by him as he vainly conceits he has accumulated and heaped together a little treasure of fine wishes perhaps with an inconsiderable number of morral or civil acts and so he is an accomplished person and it is beneath him to seek adjuvation or assistance from another for being vainly puft up in his Fleshly mind he slights Christ he is like Esau who having got something of the Riches of the World seems to slight Jacobs presents till he urged him to take them so the Sinner being elevated by the Pride of his Heart disesteems Christ and his tenders of Love and Mercy till Christ do as it were force them upon him if he at all receive them Thus have I laboured as briefly as I could to lay open many of those impediments and obstructions which deter and impede Sinners from coming unto the Lord Jesus although it is their duty to come and they are for ever miserable and undone if they come not unto him therefore if any of the forementioned obstacles stand in the way between thee and Christ labour to remove them and beg grace to overcome them that thou maist come unto the Lord Jesus 3ly I come now to remove a few objections that some may make against this Doctrine that It is the duty of all heavy laden Sinners to come unto Christ Some may object and say how can this be a duty for all to believe in receive and come to Christ this supposes a will and power in man or else it is to bid a Blind man see a Cripple walk upright a Child encounter a Gyant and a Mole overturn a Mountain if man hath no ability this can be no duty I answer 1. Man hath no free will or power of his own by nature to come Jo. 1.13 Not born of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh nor of the will of Man but of God Rom. 5.6 Whilst we were yet without strength Christ dyed for us No strength or ability to carry our selves to Christ it is God must work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. 2.13 but although men cannot will or come to Christ yet it is their duty Jo. 6.29 This is the Work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent i. e Believe in his Son Jesus 1 Jo. 3.23 This is his commandment that ye believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ here we see it is made an express command incumbent upon all and from which none may exempt themselves Christ preached this Doctrine and hath commanded his Ministers to preach and publish it to all Mark 16.15.16 Go Preach saith he the Gospel to every Creature 16. vers He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned The Apostle Paul preached and pressed this duty upon both Jews and Gentiles Acts 20.21 Testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus 2 Obj. If man cannot come then it is in vain to preach and inforce such a duty I answer it is a duty and to be preached 1. That man may be convinced of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natural impotency and inability of coming to Christ and that he needeth the adjuvation and help of an omnipotent Arm to draw him Jo. 6.44 Silly man is apt to conceit great things of his own ability and that it is easy and Facile to believe in Christ Jesus but when they are under the apprehensions of death or the like they are convinced of the necessity of coming to Christ but find their power to be faintness and their will to be meer conceitedness as one of that perswasion being under the apprehension of Death told me shee could not then find power in her self to come to Christ or believe in him for Salvation unless he would work faith in her to apprehend him and apply the promises 2. To exalt the infinite riches