removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee And as God will not of himself take away his loving kindness so neither can any creature in Hell or on Earth separate us from the love of God Rom. 8.38 39. I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Now our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ is a ground of joy and strong consolation against the terrours of Death and troubles of Life Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now recieved an atonement When we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ hath made an atonement for us this may fill our hearts with joy when death looks us in the face when other men tremble at the thoughts of God they that are reconciled to him may joy in God both while they live and when they dye In the next verse the Apostle speaks of death entring into the world by sin and passing upon all men for that all have sinned ver 12. And in the 3d. and 4th verses he speaks of the tribulations we are liable to in this life We glory in Tribulations Yet in all our tribulations and when we see death approaching and passing upon us we may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received an atonement The knowledge of Gods love to our Souls may cause us to glory and rejoyce in the Lord in times of greatest mortality when Death is coming in at our Windows and entred into our houses and cuts off both young and old and there such a multitude of dead corpses that there are none to bury them Jer. 9.21 22.24 Death is come up into our Windows and is entered into our Palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus saith the Lord even the Carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest man and none shall gather them But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me We see here that a man may attain to glory in dismal and dark days in times of greatest mortality when death is cutting down multitudes in all places our houses the streets the fields and we may see in what a man may glory at such a time and that is in the knowledge of Gods love Let him glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness It was a great comfort to Jacob when he understood that Esau was reconciled to him while he apprehended his brother to be offended and that he came to meet in displeasure he was greatly afraid and distressed Gen. 32.7 But when he saw his Brother was pleased with him that made him exceeding joyful even as if he had a sight of the face of God Gen 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me If reconciliation with an offended brother be such a ground of comfort what is reconciliation with an offended God Solomon speaks highly of the favour of a King that is like life to a dying man and like the Rain to the thirsty ground very grateful and refreshing Prov. 16.15 In the light of the Kings Countenance is Life and his favour is as a Cloud of the latter Rain If there be such joy in the favour of an Earthly King what joy is there in the favour of the King of Kings Reconciliation with God affords strong Consolation against the Fears and Terrors of Death several ways 1. Because such as are reconciled to God by the death of Christ shall assuredly be saved by Christ Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 2. Because when God is reconciled to us and his wrath turned away from us we may trust in him for Salvation and all other good things without being afraid of what death or men or devils or any creatures can do unto us Isa 12.1 2. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid When God is reconciled to us we need not fear what man can do to us Psal 118.7 The Lord is on my side I will not fear What can man do unto me Man can kill the body and man can torture the body but death can't hurt a man reconciled to God VVhen God is reconciled we may triumph over all our enemies not only over man but over death and the grave and the devils and Hell it self Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us II. Jesus Christ by his death hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins and this is a ground of strong consolation under the troubles of the world and all the fears and terrors of death The great end of Christs death was to expiate our sins and to obtain for us forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Now concerning this pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us let us observe these four things 1. It is a full and general pardon of all and every one of our sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin All sorts of sins sins of Omission and Commission sins of Ignorance and sins against light original and actual sins are cleansed away by the Blood of Christ and every particular sin great and small is cleansed by the Blood of Christ Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity He did not design our Redemption from some one sin or from many but to redeem us from all iniquity by his giving himself to death for us This was typified by the scape goat over him Aaron laid his hands and confessed all the sins and all the aggravations that were in the sins of the Children of Israel and the goat bore away all their iniquities into the land of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
promised to comfort his afflicted people And ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem That is to be observed for this Prophet had foretold great judgments and desolations should come upon Jerasalem As Isa 3.8 Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen Isa 24.3 11. The Land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoyled All joy is darkned and the mirth of the Land is gone Isa 64.10 Thy Holy Cities are a Wilderness Zion is a Wilderness Jerusalem a desolation Yet though these Ruines and Desolations were coming upon Jerusalem that the Land should be utterly spoiled all joy be darkned and the mirth of the Land quite gone yet the Lord promiseth to comfort his people in Jerusalem We that have such promises may rest upon God that for Christs sake he will comfort us in all our tribulations Mich. 7.8 VVhen I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Afflictions and troubles are set out by the name of darkness Isa 45.7 Joy and Comfort are expressed by the name of light Psal 97.11 So that the meaning is when I am in trouble and distress the Lord shall give me comfort Ps 38.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me Obj. But do we not see that notwithstanding these promises and the confidences of the people of God that God will comfort them in their afflictions yet they are oft times under very great sorrows and heaviness A. 1. The people of God have Flesh as well as Spirit though the Spirit be willing to love the cross the Flesh is weak though the Spirit rejoyceth in God the Flesh feeling the smart of the Rod mourns 2. Their sorrows do not last alwayes but are soon turned into joy Joh. 16.20 Ye shall weep and lament but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Christ doth not promise his Disciples that they shall have no sorrows no cause of weeping but this he promiseth that they shall not be left comfortless under their sorrows for their sorrow shall be turned into joy Psal 30.5 11. VVeeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning 3. Even while the people of God are mourning they are sowing the seeds of joy and comfort and shall doubtless reap the fruit of their sorrows in more abundant consolations Ps 126.5 6. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoyceing bringing his sheaves with him There is much more reaped than was sown A little quantity of seed yields whole Cart-loads of Corn. To open this more fully of Christs promising not to leave his people comfortless in their troubles I will shew you several wayes whereby Christ comforts his Members and gives them peace under their greatest troubles 1. By shedding abroad the love of God in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which he gives unto them Rom. 5.3 5. VVe glory in tribulation because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us By shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts understand the manifesting of Gods love to our souls the giving us the knowledge and understanding of the love of God which doth wonderfully affect the heart with joy and gladness Psal 42.7 8. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his Song shall be with me Two things are here worthy of our observation 1. David did believe that in his greatest distresses when all Gods waves and billows went over him God would express and manifest his love to him yet the Lord will command his loving kindness The commanding his loving kindness implyeth the powerful expressions of his love VVhere the word of a King is there is power Eccl. 8.4 And the abiding impressions of his love Ps 33.9 He commanded and it stood fast And the speedy manifestation of his love For when God gives a command to things to be done it implyeth speed Ps 147.15 He sendeth forth his Commandment upon the Earth his word runneth very swiftly 2. David did believe that the manifestation of the love of God would be such a comfort to him that it would make his heart to sing for joy in his greatest distresses yet the Lord shall command his loving kindness and in the night his song shall be with me 2. Jesus Christ comforts and refresheth his Members in their troubles by those gracious visits which he gives them in their afflictions Job 10.12 Thy visitation hath preserved my Spirit John 16.22 And ye now have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you A visit from a good man is very comfortable in a day of trouble 2 Cor. 7.5 6. Our flesh had no rest we were troubled on every side without were fightings within were fears Nevertheless God that comforteth them that are cast down comforted us by the coming of Titus If a visit from a good man be so refreshing that it will comfort us when we are troubled on every side when we have fightings without and fears within then how comfortable is a visit from Christ in the day of trouble But how doth Christ visit his afflicted people what are those visits of Christ which he gives his people in their affliction A. 1. Christ visiteth his people with his word by bringing suitable and encouraging promises to them in a day of distress Lam. 3.54 57. Waters flowed over mine head then I said I am cut off Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee thou saidest fear not Thus the Lord visited Abraham with a suitable word of promise Gen. 15.1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a Vision saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And these are sweet visits which do greatly rejoyce the heart Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil 2. Jesus Christ visiteth his people in their afflictions by his Spirit the teachings the revivings the supports of his Spirit Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head his right hand doth embrace me Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee Isa 57.15 I dwell with him that is of a contrite and an humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones 3. The Lord Jesus visits his afflicted people when he answers their Prayers and fulfils his own promises Gen. 21.1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken 4. The Lord visits his afflicted people when he raiseth up deliverance for them out of their troubles Psal 106.4 O visit me with thy Salvation And such visits when God saves his people out of their troubles cause great joy Psal 21.1 The King shall joy in
we have 1. The Title given to Christ my Beloved or as the Dutch my best Beloved or as one unicè dilectus my only Beloved Whatever apprehensions other men may have of Christ though they see no beauty or comliness why they should desire him though he be to them a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence though they make light of him and reject him yet gracious Souls love Christ yea he is their best Beloved they love him above all things and persons in the World 2. VVe have the claim that is laid to Christ My Beloved is mine I have a special and peculiar interest in him he is mine as much as any thing that I have is mine my Beloved is mine I can I do I will lay claim to him as my own Psal 67.6 God even our own God shall bless us 3. The Confidence the Spouse had of her special and peculiar interest in Christ It is not I hope he is mine or by way of desire O that he were mine but it is spoken with much confidence my Beloved is mine Isaiah 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father 4. Here is Christs Interest in his Church I am his I am not I will not be mine own but I am his I am not the Worlds but he hath chosen and called me out of the world I am his 5. Christs familiar converse with his Church he feedeth among the Lilies that is he affordeth his presence to them he converseth familiarly with them as persons do that feed together 6. The persons among whom Christ feeds they that are his those that love him those that resemble the Lilies that is humble Souls such as walk innocently such as are fruitful It 's Plinys Observation Lilio nihil faecundius such as are like Christ the lilie of the Valleys meek and lowly in heart 7. The Consolation the Church hath under all the troubles of this Life and the fears of Death and that ariseth from two Heads 1. Her interest in Christ my Beloved is mine 2. The enjoyment of Christs presence he feedeth among the Lilies Feeding implyeth 1. His presence and familiar converse with her 2. His delight in her feeding signifieth delight John 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me 3. His ministring inward and spiritual Comforts Judg. 19.5 Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread And inward supports Psal 104.15 Bread which strengthneth mans heart Observ 1. Jesus Christ and Gracious Souls have a mutual interest each in other Christ is theirs and they are his 2. Such as believe in Christ may come to a sure and certain Knowledge of their Interest in Christ they may be able to say with much confidence Christ is mine and I am his 3. Every true Believer hath a great love to Jesus Christ yea he loveth Christ above all things and persons in the whole world My beloved or as some render it my best beloved 4. It is the work and office of Faith to appropriate and apply Christ to a mans own Soul My beloved is mine 5. The Lord Jesus Christ feedeth among the Lilies that is converseth with them delighteth in them Communicates Spiritual comforts and supports to them 6. It is a great comfort to the Saints in an evil day when they are as a Lilie among Thorns that Christ feedeth among the Lilies The Observation insisted on is Doct. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and the dangers and approaches of Death When it was a time of persecution and there were Thorns on every side and the Foxes spoyling the Vines the Spouse could triumph in this My Beloved is mine and I am his Luk. 1.47 The Virgin Mary went through sore afflictions as sharp as if she had a Sword run through her Luk. 2.35 yet her Spirit could rejoyce in God her Saviour Paul when shut up in Prison could and did rejoyce in Christ Jesus Phil. 1.13 compared with Phil. 3.3 We rejoyce in Christ Jesus Cant. 8.5 The Wilderness a place of great troubles and a land of the shadow of Death that is where they walked almost continually in danger of death Jer. 2.6 yet under all the troubles of the wilderness and the shadow of death there was refreshment by leaning on Christ 2 Sam. 30.6 David was in great distress that he wept till he could weep no more and was in danger of death yet he could encourage himself in the Lord his God Cant. 2.2.3 As a Lilie among Thorns yet there I sat down under his shadow with great delight Psal 23.1.4 The Lord is my Shepherd and what then though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil Sect. 2. VVhat is meant by an Interest in Christ How Christ becomes ours how we become Christs For the farther clearing hereof that an Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the Fears and Terrors of Death it will be expedient to enquire what is meant by an Interest in Christ And how Christ becomes ours and how we become his To that end we may take notice of a three fold Interest in Christ 1. A general interest which is common to all men the evil as well as the good an interest by virtue of Creation and of Christs being Lord of all The Son as well as the Father was the Creatour of Mankind and all other creatures Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was And not only by Creation hath Christ a right to all Mankind but as Mediatour he is Lord of all and is made Judge of the quick and dead and hath power over all flesh Act. 10.36 Preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh This general interest in part as his creatures or as subjects of his Mediatory Kingdom is not that interest which is a ground of Consolation For he ruleth by his power in the midst of his Enemies Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies 2. There is a Titular Interest in Christ when men profess themselves to be Christs and profess and say that Christ is theirs but they are not his neither is he theirs in truth Joh. 1.11 He came to his own and his own recieved him not The Jews are called Christs own because they professed themselves to be the people of God but many of them were not his people Joh. 8.54 55. Ye say that he is your God yet ye have not known him Many lay claim to God as their God and to Christ as their Saviour that have no real interest in God and Christ 3. There is a special saving interest in Christ as our Redeemer which is when a man is made a partaker of Christ united to Christ and hath a real and
actual right to all the saving benefits of Christ Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ They that are thus Interested in Christ are said to be in Christ and by vertue of their Union with him they have a right to all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption To be thus interested in Christ is not common to all men but it is a special priviledge belonging to a peculiar people Tit. 2.14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and parifie unto himself a peculiar people As concerning this saving interest in Christ we find some men are Christ owned by him for his own 1 Cor. 3.23 ye are Christs Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them unto the end Some men are none of Christs Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his but are without any part or portion in Christ Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ some men have a part with Christ some have no part at all in him or with him Joh. 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me To open the nature of this saving Interest in Christ more fully I shall resolve these two questions 1. How Christ becometh ours 2. How we become his How doth Christ become ours A. 1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our sins and Christs giving himself to die for our sins God the Father gave Christ to be the propitiation for our sins Joh. 16.8 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And as God gave Christ so Christ gave himself to be a Sacrifice and ransom for us There was his own consent to this Gift the giving himself to die for our sins Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself for a ransom for all 2. Christ becomes ours by effectual calling for when God calls us effectually he calls us to fellowship with Christ that is to be partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called to the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. When Christ dyed he gave himself for us when we are effectually called he giveth himself to us By the death of Christ there was an impetration or purchase of all things that were necessary to our Salvation In our effectual calling there is an application of Christ and all the benefits purchased by Christ to our own Souls As soon as we are effectually called Christ becomes ours and all his benefits become ours we have an actual right to an interest and propriety in Christ and in all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your calling brethren All are yours and ye are Christs 1 Cor. 3.22.23 They that are effectually called Christ is theirs and all the benefits of Christ are theirs I add this word effectual because many are outwardly called by the Gospel who are not inwardly and effectually called to Fellowship with Christ now this effectual calling whereby we are made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits consists of these three Branches 1. Illumination when God calls us effectually he brings us out of our ignorance and darkness and gives us the knowledge of himself and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light The knowledge of Christ and God in Christ is a great furtherance of our being partakers of Christ and his saving benefits for through the knowledge of Christ are communicated to us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. The loosening and taking off the heart from all things that hinder the Soul from coming to and following after Jesus Christ A man is called off from all that hinders his closeing with Christ whether they be worldly lusts or fleshly lusts or relying upon our own Righteousness or any other impediments A man is made to leave all to enjoy Christ when Christ called Levi he left all for to go after Christ Luk. 5.27 28. He said unto him follow me and he left all rose up and followed him When Christ called James and John they left their Father their Servants their Ship and there Nets and all to follow Christ Mark 1.20 He called them and they left their Father Zebedee in the Ship with the hired Servants and went after him When the Lord had called the Apostle Paul he was willing to suffer the loss of all things that came in competition with Christ so that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 3. VVhen God calls a man effectually he calls him to believe in Christ he calls him to come to Christ and to accept of Christ as offered in the Gospel and to rely upon him alone for his Salvation Joh. 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me The Father calls us to come to his Son and every one that heareth this call effectually cometh to Jesus Christ Now they that are thus called to the knowledge and faith of Christ are made partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits for by Faith Christ dwells in our hearts Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And they that are thus called shall have remission of sins and eternal life Rom. 8.30 Whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 3. Christ becometh ours by our recieving him The Spirit of God maketh a free offer of Christ to every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 The Spirit saith come And let him that is a thirst come And whoever will let him take the Water of Life freely VVhen we recieve Jesus Christ thus offered to us he becometh ours and we become his Joh. 1.12 To as many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name VVhen we recieve Christ he becomes our Saviour and God becomes our Father and we become his Sons Now this recieving Christ implyeth these 3 things 1. Our recieving that Testimony which is given of Christ in the Gospel concerning the person offices death and sufferings of Christ and the benefits that we
we make a covenant with the Lord that we will become his people and continue his for ever 2 King 11.17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords People Sect. 3. Several grounds of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrors of Death arising from an interest in Christ We have seen what is meant by an interest in Christ namely an actual right to and propriety in Christ himself as our Redeemer and a right to and propriety in all the saving benefits purchased by his Blood VVe have seen also how Christ becomes ours and how we become his Now let us consider what solid grounds of comfort we may have both against the fears and terrours of Death and the troubles of Life from our Redemption by Christ or from interest in Christ and those saving benefits which he hath purchased for us I. Jesus Christ hath fully perfectly and for ever reconciled unto God all that are his The elect as well as others were by nature the Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 But by the Death and sufferings of Christ they are redeemed from the wrath of God both for present and time to come Rom. 5.9 Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 1 Thes 1.10 Even Jesus which hath delivered us from wrath to come Our Lord Jesus Christ hath by his Death and sufferings fully reconciled all that are his unto God for ever Col. 1.19 20. Having made peace through the blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself c. All that are Christs whether they be such as are already in Heaven or such as are still upon the Earth were reconciled to God by that bloud that he shed upon the cross All that are Christs in all ages of the world and in all places of the world are reconciled to God by Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself And as Christ hath reconciled all that are his unto God so he hath fully and perfectly reconciled them to God and that for ever by his offering up himself a Sacrifice to God for them Heb. 10.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified I shall open this fulness and perfection of this Reconciliation in three or four particulars 1. Jesus Christ by his Death hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that he is pacified towards them notwithstanding all their offences whether original or actual and will not impute any one of their offences to them 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them The nature of reconciliation lyeth in pacifying God for the offence our sins have caused and this pacification Christ our High Priest hath wrought for us Heb. 2.17 That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people And this pacification is so full that it is a pacification for all offences Ezek. 16.63 I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 2. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that God hath laid aside all his wrath against them and retaineth no fury at all against them Psal 85.3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger Isa 27.4 Fury is not in me 3. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that the Lord hath sworn that he will be wroth with them no more Isa 54.9 17. This is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the Earth so I have sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee This is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord. But some may say are not some of the Servants of Christ chastned very sorely and do they not complain that the wrath of God lyeth hard upon them as Heman Psal 88.7.16 How then is God true to his Oath that he will be wroth with them no more A. 1. The rebukes and chastnings of the Members of Christ do not come from wrath but love Rev. 3.19 Whom I love I rebuke and chasten 2. The people of God are subject to mistakes when they judge according to sence and not according to what is revealed in the word of God when they judge according to sence and feeling they may think many providences of God to be expressions of his wrath which they might understand to be all Mercy and to have no wrath in them if they did judge according to Faith and according to what they find in the word of God For there we read that All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Ps 25.10 3. When the Lord swears that he will not be wroth nor rebuke his Servants it is to be understood of Eternal wrath that he will not rebuke them so as to destroy for so rebuking is sometimes understood namely of eternal destruction Ps 9.5 Thou hast rebuked the Heathen thou hast destroyed the wicked thou hast put out their name for ever and ever For this is like the Oath of God concerning the waters that covered the Earth in Noah's time God hath sworn that the VVaters shall no more cover the Earth to destroy the Earth as it did in Noah's Floud yet notwithstanding this Oath God doth often chasten the Inhabitants of the Earth with unseasonable rain and flouds but not such as shall destroy the world So when the Lord swears that he will not be wrath with or rebuke his Servants it 's of eternal wrath of casting them away for ever yet he may and often doth chasten them with temporal chastisements 4. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that he hath not only pacified his Fathers Anger but he hath restored and brought them into the love and favour of God Rom. 5.1 2. By whom also we have access by Faith into this grace wherein we stand By grace here is meant the love and favour of God and by Christ we have not only peace with God but access into and continuance in the grace and favour of God By Christ we are brought into an higher degree of the love and favour of God than Adam did enjoy while he was in innocency For we are under a better Covenant and have better promises than Adam had Adam was in the favour of God yet so as he was capable of losing the favour of God and being a child of wrath And by his fall he did lose the love of God But they that are Christs are so confirmed in the love of God that Gods loving kindness shall never depart from them Isa 54.10 The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be
of trouble the Lord hath promised his presence to such as belong to Christ Ps 91.15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble Isa 43.1 2. Fear not For I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shall not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now the presence of God going along with us will comfort us living and dying it will be our refreshment under all manner of troubles Exod. 33.14 My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest Moses was forty years in the Wilderness with the Israelites who were a froward people and both the difficulties of the place in which he walked and the difficulties of the people among whom he walked created him much vexation and trouble but under his troubles he found ease and comfort from the presence of God going with him A man that hath the Almighty All-sufficient God with him need not fear any thing Isa 4.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be thou not dismayed for I am thy God He need not fear any kind of Death or any kind of troubles he need not fear Men or Devils for God can do more for us then all Creatures can do against us This was Davids consolation against the fear of Death that he had God with him and did so raise his courage that he feared no evil when he was passing through the Valley of the shadow of Death Ps 23.4 Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Obs It is true may some say If God were with us this would raise our Faith dispel our fears put joy and gladness into our hearts under all our troubles living and dying but we can't find God is with us Yea many that have an interest in Christ find God standing afar off and hideing himself in time of trouble as we see Ps 10.2 Isa 49.14 A. The Lord is alway's ready and truly though not always sensibly present with them Ps 125.2 As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever The Lord is for ever with and round about his people although sometimes their eyes are held and they perceive it not And then their Faith is weak so that judging by Sence rather than by Faith they think God hath forsaken them when as he is graciously with them and they know it not What Jacob said of the place where he lodged Gen. 28.16 Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not The same may be said of some persons Surely the Lord is with them and they know it not Now the Lord is alwayes with his people these two wayes even when they are ready to say that he hath forsaken them 1. He is present with them in respect of his love and favour Isa 54.10 My kindness shall not depart from thee Ps 89.33 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take away from him Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them to the end 2. The Lord is alwayes present with his people by inward supports and secret upholdings of them Deut. 33.27 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Ps 73.23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Though David was ready to say in his hast that he was cast out of Gods sight yet he found upon recollecting himself that he was continually with God and upheld by him 6. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all sorts of troubles and also against the terrours of Death because they that are Christs are in covenant with God and are heirs of all the promises They are in Covenant with God Ezek. 16.8 I sware unto thee and entred into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine They are Heirs of all the promises Gal. 3.29 And if you be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen to the glory of God by us If all the promises of God be upon and Amen in Christ then when Christ is ours all the promises of God are ours And this is a ground of strong consolation under all manner of troubles to be in covenant with God and to have an interest in all the promises of God For the Scripture is full of great and precious promises promises of all good things pertaining to this life and the life which is to come and to have an interest in all these promises is a matter of unspeakable joy By acquaintance with the covenant and promise of God our Souls may dwell at ease whatever troubles come upon our outward man Ps 25.13 14. His Soul shall dwell at ease and he will shew them his Covenant The Psalmist speaking of a man that feareth God saith his Soul shall dwell at ease and then sheweth how this is brought to pass and that is by acquaintance with the Covenant He will shew them his Covenant The dwelling of the Soul at ease implyeth the abundance and continuance of inward and Spiritual comforts which are enjoyed by our acquaintance with the Covenant The promises are sweet Cordials which refresh the Soul in times of greatest distress Ps 60.6 God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce In the three first verses there are sad complaints of grievous afflictions O God thou hast cast us off thou hast scattered us thou hast been displeased Thou hast made the Earth tremble thou hast broken it Thou hast shewed thy people hard things thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment Now what will comfort a man at such a time as this What will make a man rejoyce under such amazing providences when God seems to cast off and be displeased when God scatters his people shewes them hard things makes them drink the Wine of astonishment when the very Earth trembles at Gods judgments The promises of God will comfort in such a dark day as this is God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce When David was in a persecuted condition and they that persecuted him were no mean men but great Persons Princes Saul and his Courtiers he had exceeding great joy in the Promises of God Psal 119.161 162. Princes have persecuted me without a cause I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil When David was in a dying condition he found strong consolation from his interest in Gods covenant 2 Sam. 23.1 5. Now these be the last words of David Although
thy strength O Lord and in thy Salvation how greatly shall he rejoyce 3. As Christ comforts his afflicted people by the gracious visits which he gives them so also by raising and strengthning their Faith in times of trouble and causing them to stay themselves upon God in an evil day For the staying the mind upon God is a means to keep the Soul in peace under the greatest dangers Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 4. Jesus Christ comforteth his afflicted people with the hope of Eternal Life which he promiseth to such as are in a suffering condition if they continue faithful to the death Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer we shall also reign with him Rom. 5.2 And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Vse I. If an interest in Christ be such a ground of Consolation then here is reproof 1. For those that content themselves with a Worldly Interest and take no care no pains to get an interest in Christ but neglect Christ Such mens case is sad For 1. The world is a poor portion for all worldly enjoyments abstracted from God and Christ are nothing but vanity and vexation of Spirit 2. All the world will avail a man nothing when he comes to dye It will give no ease to a troubled Conscience no pardon of Sin no help to Heaven 1 Tim. 6.7 We can carry nothing of it away with us into another world 3. They that have neglected Christ and the Salvation purchased by Christ shall not escape the wrath of God in the other World Heb. 2.3 2. For those that have an interest in Christ and yet live very discontentedly either for want of some things which they desire as Parts Riches Friends a setled Condition or for the loss of some things which God hath taken away from them or because of some crosses or troubles that they meet with in the World Vse II. Of Examination Have we a true saving interest in Christ can we say Christ is ours and we are his Quest How may we know whither Christ be ours A. 1. If we love him Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and if our love to him exceed our love to all other things and persons in the World if he be our best Beloved Christ doth not own those as having an interest him that love any thing above him Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me That such as love God and Christ above all things have a saving interest in Christ is evident because eternal Life is promised to them Jam. 2.5 Heirs of the Kingdom which God hath promised to those that love him Quest How shall we know that we love Christ above all things A. 1. When we desire Christ above all things in the world Psal 73.25 So that if God should ask us as he did Solomon what shall I give thee we would say Lord give us thy self for our God and thy Son for our Saviour 2. When we esteem Christ above all things so as that we count them as dung in comparison of Christ and are willing to part with any thing so that we may win Christ Philip. 3.8 3. VVhen the love of God in Christ puts more joy and gladness into our hearts than the enjoyment of all the world or it would be a greater joy to us than the whole world if God would manifest his love to us Psal 4. 6 7. 2. If we are Christs then Christ is ours that 's another Character in the Text. Cant. 2. 16. My Beloved is mine and I am his Now we may know we are Christs 1. If we have solemnly given up our selves to Christ with a sincere heart without any secret reserves of any Lust resolving that by the help of his grace we will deny our selves take up our Cross and follow him 2 Cor. 8.5 Mark 8.34 2. If his interest will prevail with us beyond our own interest and his will above our own wills if his word be our rule and his glory our end that is a good evidence that we are Christs Isa 63.19 VVe are thine thou never bearest rule over them As much as to say they are the Lords over whom the Lord bears rule Psal 119.94 I am thine I have sought thy precepts When in doubtful Cases we seek out the will of Christ and follow the will of Christ that shews us to be his 3. When we are Christs Servants Act. 27. 23. VVhos 's I am and whom I serve And the great end why we desire to live is to do service for Christ Phil. 1.21 4. When we are tender and careful of Christs glory John 17.10 I am glorified in them that are mine and thine 3. The Spirit of Christ sent down into our Hearts is a certain Evidence of an interest in Christ 1 John 3.24 Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit that he hath given us Rom. 8. v. 9. Q. How shall we know that we have the Spirit of Christ A. 1. If we have an obediential frame of heart Ezek 36.27 compared with Rom. 8. 7. The carnal heart is enmity to the Law of God and therefore when we are caused to obey Gods Statutes that is from the Spirit put within us 2. We may know we have the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit which are Faith Love Peace Joy Long-suffering c. Gal. 5. 22 23 c. Vse III. Of Exhortation Exhort 1. To such as want an interest in Christ that they would above all things seek to get Christ What Solomon saith of Wisdom Prov. 4.7 The same may I say of Jesus Christ who is called the Wisdom of God Jesus Christ is the principal thing therefore above all things get Jesus Christ Exhort 2. To such as have an interest in Christ to labour for the knowledge of it that every one may be able to say Christ is mine and I am his Q. How shall we attain to the knowledge of our interest in Christ A. 1. Examine your selves by those Characters the Scripture gives of an interest in Christ and more particularly about your Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 And if you cannot make any clear work hereof at one time try what you can do at another 2. Pray earnestly to God to manifest your interest in Christ It is in his light that we see light Psal 36.9 Pray as David Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation And if you can't obtain the knowledge of your interest in Christ by much seeking to God yet follow on to seek him and then in Gods good time you shall know the Lord to be your God in Christ Hos 6.3 Isa 24.9 Zech. 13.9 3. Accustom your self to trust in God in all your straits fears dangers and temptations For the more you trust in God the
Upon hearing this Exhortation let not your hearts be troubled the Disciples might have replyed Lord hast thou not told us that in the world we shall have tribulation that we shall be hated of all men for thy names sake and that we shall be cast out of the Synagogue and that men shall lay hands on us and put us into Prisons and we shall be brought before Kings and Rulers and that men will think they do God good service when they kill us How shall we keep our hearts from being troubled when all these troubles come upon us As a remedy against their hearts being troubled he bids them believe on God and on himself Believe on God believe also on me V. In all your distresses give your selves to Prayer for that is the way to be filled with comforts and to have your sorrows turned into joy John 16.20 24. Verily Verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoyce and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy And what counsell and direction doth he give them that their sorrow may be turned into joy It is to give themselves unto Prayer Ask and ye shall recieve that your joy may be full The like direction the Apostle gives us for keeping our minds from all kind of troublesome cares and for the obtaining that peace which passeth all understanding and that is to give our selves to Prayer Phil. 4.6 7. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God And the peace of Goà which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus VI. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in your hearts that you may have some suitable promises to have recourse unto in all your troubles for that will give you abiding peace and strong Consolation in all your troubles Col. 3.15 16. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts But some may say how shall we attain to this to have the peace of God rule in our hearts the following words shew this Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom By the peace of God we may understand not only that peace which God commands us to have one with another but that peace which God gives in our own hearts and Consciences as it is taken Phil. 4.7 Then the peace of God rules in our hearts when it keeps our hearts quiet under all troubles so as no troubles are able to disturb and break our peace Now the way to attain to this is to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all Wisdom Then the word of Christ dwells with us when it abides in our hearts we are acquainted with it and we converse daily with it as we do with those that dwell in the same house with us Then it dwels in us richly when we are well stored with the promises of the word when we have promises suitable to every condition and every trouble that we pass through Then it dwells with us in all Wisdom when we have the right understanding of the word and know how to make use of it upon all occasions as we stand in need of it It was by the word that David found comfort in all his afflictions Psal 119 49 50. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope It was also from the word of God that Jeremiah had his comforts under his greatest sorrows when he complained that his pain was perpetual and his wound incurable Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of mine heart And that it was a time of great distress with the Prophet when Gods word was the joy and rejoycing of his heart is evident from ver 18. Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable that refuseth to be healed VII Walk in the fear of God and hold fast your integrity in all your troubles and then you shall have the comforts of the Holy Ghost and the light of Consolation shall arise upon you in the darkest days Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness Though you suffer for Righteousness sake yet love Righteousnes and hate Iniquity and in so doing the Lord will anoint you with the Oyl of joy and gladness Psal 45 7. Thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows VIII When by your sins and backslidings you have lost your comforts humble your Souls for your sins and the Lord will restore your lost comforts Isa 57.18 I will restore comforts to him and to his Mourners Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted IX Keep up the belief and perswasion of Gods Love to your Souls through Christ notwithstanding all the troubles that come upon your inward or outward man for the apprehension of Gods love will fill your hearts with joy and gladness and be a ground of everlasting Joy to your Souls Act 2.28 Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance 2 Thes 2.16 God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting Consolation Joh 13.1 Jesus loves his own and that to the end even whilst in a sinful and troublesome world The knowledge of the love of God in Christ causeth abiding joy and sulness of joy Joh. 15.9 11. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full Sect. 2. How may such as have gotten the knowledge of their interest in Christ retain the knowledge and perswasion of their interest in Christ It is of great use in the Life of Faith and the promoting our Spiritual comfort not only to get the knowledge of our interest in Christ and his saving benefits but also to retain this knowledge And because this is not easily done I shall lay down some helps thereto § What are good grounds to lay claim to an interest in Christ I. Understand and be clear in your grounds on which you lay claim to an interest in Christ and Salvation by Christ and see that they be solid consonant to the Scriptures and such as will hold and abide in an hour of temptation And if you ask what are good and sure grounds for claiming an interest in Christ I answer 1. The free and general offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ made in the Gospel to every one that is willing to recieve Rev. 22.17 And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely 2. The testimony of our own Consciences that we do willingly cordially and thankfully accept of Christ as God offers him to us in the Gospel Our Consciences
hearts about our Spiritual estate 5. Another help to the holding the perswasion of our interest in Christ is to commune often with our own hearts about our Spiritual state and the grounds of our claiming an interest in Christ and our performance of those terms which the Gospel proposeth in order to our enjoying the saving benefits of Christ as namely whether we do indeed believe on him and repent of our sins and obey Christ as our Lord and love and prefer him above all things and deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow him For 1. The oftner we search our selves and commune with our own hearts the clearer Knowledge we shall have of our Spiritual state 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you If we be doubtful and desirous to know whether Christ be in us the way to come unto this knowledge is to examine our selves whether we be in the Faith What the Psalmist saith of Gods searching him Psal 139.1 O Lord thou hast searched me and known me The same is true of searching our selves by searching our selves we shall know our selves As Solomon by communing with his own heart grew in Wisdom and Experience Eccl. 1.16 I communed with mine own heart Yea my heart had great Experience of Wisdom and Knowledge So shall we have great experience and knowledge of our hearts if we do often commune with them 2. While we are communing with our own hearts about our Spiritual Estate it pleaseth the Lord oft times to draw War to us and to illuminate our minds and to evidence to us the Graces that are wrought in us As it fared with the two Disciples Luk. 24.15 And it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned Jesus himself drew near and went with them So it often comes to pass with the Children of God whilst they are Communing and Reasoning with their own hearts that Jesus Christ draws near to them with his Holy Spirit and sealeth up Instruction to them And as it was with Moses when he turned aside to see and consider that great work of God a Bush burning and not consumed when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see the work of God God spake to Moses and revealed himself to him Exod. 3.3 4 6. So 't is here when we turn aside from our worldly affairs to commune with our own hearts about the workings of Gods grace upon our Souls he reveals and discovers to us our covenant interest in himself 3. Communing with our own hearts and recollecting former experiences of Gods gracious dealings with us will still those troubled thoughts which arise in our minds about our Spiritual and Eternal State Psal 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your Bed and be still When the Psalmist was in a troubled condition and had many sad thoughts as if God would cast him off for ever and shew him no Mercy he was quieted when he communed with his own heart and recollected Gods gracious dealings with him in former days Psal 77.6 7 8 9 10. 4. Frequent communing with our own hearts will discover our irregular walkings and put us upon returning to God after we have gone astray Psal 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my Feet unto thy Testimonies And turning to God and walking in his ways will preserve our peace and maintain a Spirit of Adoption in us Jer. 3.19 Thou shalt call me my Father and shall not turn away If we would call God our Father we must be careful we do not turn away from the Lord. § Get Scruples resolved 6. See what are your most material doubts and scruples which make you call in question your Interest in Christ and beg of God to resolve those doubts and remove those scruples and observe what Resolution God gives you by his Word and Spirit after you sought to him by Prayer For after Prayer God is wont to give us intimation of our Interest in himself and his Son and to give us boldness to claim our interest in him Zech. 13.9 They shall call and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Such intimations of our Interest in God and Christ and such encouragements to claim Interest in God as are given in after Prayer are to be carefully observed and recorded safely for they may be of great use to us what was said in the fourth direction about the state of a Christian in this present evil world may be of great use to the resolving scruples about our Interest in Christ And also what is added after the use of Examination § What to do when we can't get our doubts and scruples answered 7. When your doubts and scruples and darkness are of that nature that you can't come to a Resolution about your interest in Christ close a new with Jesus Christ Seeing your selves under the offer of Christ in the gospel say thus within your selves though I can't make out that Christ is mine I see God offers him freely to me and therefore I will now accept of him that he may be mine and I do and will in a solemn manner engage my self to him to be his This will cut those knots in sunder which we can't untie And a frequent renewal of our choice of Christ for our Lord and Saviour our renewed acceptance of him upon the terms of the Gospel with mature deliberation and judgment and solemn surrendring our selves to Christ to be his would tend much to the clearing our interest Psal 119.30 94. I have chosen the way of truth I am thine David who had chosen God to be his God and the ways of God to be the ways that he would walk in could with an holy boldness say unto God I am thine save me § An Holy Conversation is a means to preserve the Assurance of our Interest in Christ 8. If we would retain the perswasion of our Interest in Christ we must be careful to order our Conversations aright and walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ for an Holy Conversation is a special means to obtain the assurance of our Salvation Psal 50.23 To him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God Isa 32.17 The work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever I might instance here in some particular branches of Righteousness which tend to the breeding and preserving of an assurance of our being in a state of Grace and Salvation as walking in Love and being ready to do all offices of Love one for another 1 Joh. 3.18.19 My little Children let us not love in Word or in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And hereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall assure our hearts before him This is the way not only to get assurance but to keep it to the end of our
days to shew our love in our diligence in Ministring to the Saints as we have ability and as their necessity requireth Heb. 6.10 11. Another Grace that will much further our Assurance as trusting in God in all distresses and dangers and living by Faith on Gods promises Psal 31.14 I trusted in thee I said thou art my God The more we accustom our selves to trust in God the more confidently we shall be enabled to call God our God Another grace that will further our assurance is Uprightness when we walk in our Integrity that will scatter and dispel fears and bring in comfort Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness But I shall add no more upon this question Sect. 3. What they should do that can't make out their interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death Obj. It may be some will say it is true they that have an interest in Christ and know it may be of good chear under all the troubles of this Life and when they are to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death but what shall I do in an evil day and at the hour of Death that cannot to this day nor ever could make it out that I have a saving interest in Christ § Prayer a means to clear interest Encouragements to pray for this mercy A. 1. Pray to God to make clear to your Souls your interest in himself and his Son Jesus Christ Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation That which David asks is not be thou my Salvation but 't is the satisfying his Soul with the knowledge that God was his Saviour and would give him Salvation Say unto my Soul That is Lord perswade my Soul Lord give my Soul satisfaction in this great case that thou art my Saviour and wilt confer Salvation upon me And what David prayed for in this kind that may we pray for also And for our encouragement to pray for the knowledge of your interest in Christ consider these things 1. Prayer is a means of Gods own appointing not only for the obtaining of the favour of God but also for the obtaining of the comfortable apprehensions of Gods love in Christ Job 33.26 He shall pray unto God and he shall be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy Here is a double blessing promised unto the man that prayeth unto God he shall obtain the favour of God and he shall see his face with joy that is he shall obtain the knowledge of Gods love to his Soul which shall put great joy and gladness into his heart 2. The knowledge of our interest in God as our Father and in Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer is promised in the new Covenant and what the Lord hath promised we may pray in Faith and Hope that we shall attain it See promises to this purpose Isa 60.16 Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer That which is here promised is not I will be thy Saviour and thy Redeemer but the knowledge of our interest in Christ as our Saviour and our Redeemer It is not said thou shalt know that I am the Saviour of my people or the Saviour of those that trust in me Thon shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer Another promise of clearing our interest in Christ we have Joh. 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you At that day what day is here meant some understand it of the future life when we shall live with Christ in Glory spoken of in the foregoing verse because I live ye shall live also at that day ye shall know And doubtless the full accomplishment of this promise is the priviledge of the other life to have a perfect understanding of the mystical Union between the Father and the Son and between Christ and Believers But it hath also a respect to clearing our Union with Christ in this life at that day that is after I am risen from the dead and gone to the Father and at that day that you set your love upon me and keep my Commandments and I shall pray the Father and he shall send you another comforter even the Spirit of truth he shall make it known to you that I am in you and you in me It may also relate to ver 13 14. When you shall earnestly pray to the Father in my name to have your union cleared in that day you shall know that I am in you and you in me If any say I have prayed to God to clear my Union with and my Interest in Christ and still I am in the dark about this matter I answer You must continue to seek this mercy the knowledge of your interest in God and Christ and that is the way to obtain it Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord § Such as can't make out their Interest in Christ should close with Christ that they may have an Interest in him 2. If you cant nor ever could make out your Interest in Christ yea suppose it be so that you have no interest in him come in now and close with him The door of Hope still stands open to your Souls It is yet an accepted time and a day of Salvation God still continueth to offer Christ to your Souls and prays you to accept of him 2 Cor. 5.20 VVe pray you in Christs stead be you reconciled to God If at length after a long neglecting of Christ you will come in and close with him you shall be saved by him Heb. 4.7 To day after so long a time as it is said to day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts Those that had stood all the day idle even to the last hour were invited to go into the Vineyard and going upon the invitation had their reward Matth. 20.6 7 9. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them why stand ye here all the day idle Go ye also into the Vineyard and whatever is right that shall ye receive And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny This penny is by the generality of Interpreters agreed to be eternal life and this eternal life shall be given to those that come into Christ at the last hour of the day though the former part of their time hath been spent in ideleness But some may say if a man hath reflected and lived without God in the day of his prosperity is there hope if such a man turn to God in the day of trouble that God will be found of him and be gracious unto him I answer There is hope for such as have neglected God along time if they turn to him in the day of their tròuble that he will be gracious unto them 2 Chron. 15.3 4.
them her love to them and delight in them was as strong and fresh in her old age as in the day of her Espousals when she first set out and began to tast that the Lord was gracious It is not to be spoken how she hazarded her weak body to hear Sermons to attend upon the Lord in all opportunities enjoyable â—t was generally observed in Stratford that â—he was sick indeed if she was not at the word either on the Lords day or at Church meetings on the week day Nothing but a very afflictive hand of God kept her at home It was her daily study how to glorifie God in every condition and under every dispensation that was either prosperous or adverse that was principally her study how and in what way God might be most honoured and his name advanced by her She had a heart for Vniversal Obedience walking as Elizabeth in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless She evidenced that she was a friend to Jesus Christ by doing whatever he commandded her and through that friendship between Christ and her she found she could do nothing so well as the will of Christ and found that obedience easie loved Jesus Christ with a superlative love and served him not with half an a heart but sincerely with the whole heart yea delighted in serving of him she had a Law within suitable to the Law without which rendred it natural to her to act graciously Jesus Christ was her Life his Grace and Image were implanted in her Soul that from a Spirit of love to him even in old age when weak and sickly she acted for Christ yea above her strength he was in her so much by his Spirit that she thought nothing too much to do for him and his She was full of good projects and designs for Jesus Christ loved to visit the sick and afflicted and those who walked in darkness as to their spiritual conditions loved to acquaint themselves with her who by a great treasure of experiences was able to afford Counsell and comfort to them A Christian able to speak a word in season to the relief of any soul under spiritual burdens and pressures And as ready to impart what Jesus Christ had Communicated unto her and the Lord Communicated the more to her because she was so free to Communicate to others laying up her experiences as for her own good so for others that they might be comforted with the same comforts that she was comforted with-all Her discourse never tended to self applause or commendation neither was it burthensome frothy or unsuitable but always savoury Christian and profitable commanding the ears of all about her In her Family she was frequently taking opportunities in the day time and evening and when ever she thought it seasonable to be speaking of the things of God of the excellency of Jesus Christ of the way of Life by him opening the miserable condition of a soul out of Jesus Christ setting forth the evil of sin the immortality of the Soul the sufferings and eternity of the punishment of Hell to her Children Servants and those that lived with her and was daily dropping in and working upon them to make them serious and considerate and as God had given her a choice gift that way so he made a great use thereof her counsels warnings threatnings invitations and holy instructions were made singularly advantagious and useful to the convincing quickning and edifying those committed to her charge so as they had cause for ever to bless God for the gracious words which proceeded out of her mouth She was always taking of opportunities to be calling upon those in a natural estate to mind the great concerns of their Souls and to be exciting provoking encouraging and strengthning those whose face was Zion ward her words were as choice Silver seasoned with Grace mostly Scriptural The Sermons that she heard on the Lords day or Week day were much the Subject matter of her discourse The Light of Gospel Grace and Truth did so shine in her as that her presence laid a restraint upon Sinners it was a curb unto vain Persons if they came into the Room where she was present She was exact and much in private Duties every day and yet so prudent in the singling out of the time as that the place in the Family wherein she stood never missed her She had at all times a due respect to the duties of both Tables and both in her Life and Discourses shewed how inseparable they were commending to all persons with whom she had to do the necessary and indispensible observation of both She looked upon time as a precious thing that was not to run waste and was diligent in the improvement of the Sands of every hour so as there was no part of her Life from Morning unto Evening that was an empty space but was laid out either in doing or recieving good Like the Summer she brought forth every thing in its season wisely forecasting and timeing whatsoever she had the ordering of She studied to excel in faithfulness and uprigh ness in all she undertook like Nathaniel she was without allowed guile had the Testimony of her Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity she had her Conversation in the World very zealous for the truth of Jesus Christ following the Lamb whithersoever he went She had a very publick Spirit minding the good of others where she lived much taken up about the welfare of the Nation and was deeply concerned for the interest of Christ all the world over daily bore Zion and the work that God was doing in the world upon her heart and laid out her self much in Prayer for those things She had a large heart for Jesus Christ and for all that were his though of differing perswasions always putting the best construction upon every thing but sin was no way censorious or ready harshly to judge others but did most fairly coustrue their actions and carriaages speaking modestly and moderately of them Gospel Charity ruling her Spirit in all wonderful affable and courteous so as the Grace and sweetness in her words and carriage did win upon all that she conversed with that they loved her and said that she was made up of love She by Grace was enabled to Regulate her affections had a choice poise continually upon her Spirit that she seldom or never roiled or was disturbed but walked in an even and composed frame though none more sympathizing loving tender and affectionate than she yet were her affections always in order and under command free from excessive and disturbing passions that do often put the strings of the Spirits of most men and women out of tune and so render them unfit for what they are called too in the place wherein the Lord hath set them She had a fresh remembrance of the means and methods of the Lords dealing with her in bringing her Soul unto him and of her many experiences she had of
his grace and love towards her She lived much in Communion with God there was an unspeakable intercourse between God and her Soul every day She would do nothing till she had spread it before the Lord and knew his mind and in things not only small but weighty She had such intimations from the Lord of his will and his secret was so with her as she before hand knew the mind of God because God had told hereby his Spirit for she gave not over till he had signified by his â—pirit upon her Spirit what was his pleasure what he would do or what he would have done and God did marvelously herein condescend to her not once but frequently or from time to time she was far from Euthusiasme but had such intimacy with the Lord that she went daily to him for some word some manifestation of himself to bear up her Spirit that day and he gave in either a word of promise or let out something of his attributes to her discovered of his Wisdom Power Faithfulness Allsufficiency Unchangableness and the like wherewith her inward man was fed and strengthned and when her Family concerns were more she arose the earlier and though attended with the greatest weakness yet always began the day with God and would not omit the seasons for private Communion with the Lord neither indeed could she live without them they being the life of her Spirit She lived in an eminent exercise of many graces of the Spirit She was well instructed in the mystery of the life of Faith lived in a daily dependance upon God for all in her greatest fulness she lived not upon the creature but upon God and recieved all from him in the way of Faith and Prayer in every strait she had recourse to the Al-sufficiency of God and would often say the creature runs into emptiness and the streams they dried up but the Fountain was ever full and flowing and in all losses and changes blessed her self in God her portion who was a faithful Covenant keeping God for ever she went to the Wisdom of God to be directed and waited there for Counsel every day her faith advanced into assurance of the love of God which she enjoyed most part of her days and thence issued spiritual and unmixed comforts as she walked circumspectly being careful not to provoke the Lord so he witnessed his love to her and filled her Soul with strong Consolation that she had a Heaven out of it's place even hereupon Earth she was in the Banquetting house of Jesus Christ in his Wine Cellar where his Banner over her was Love In a Letter of her own she said I have not only heard that God is good but I have had many experiences of his Love and Faithfulness to me in all my streights and Widdow-hood condition I may say the Life of Faith is the sweetest Life in the World as it is a Life that bringeth much glory to God so much comfort to our selves How full of Love she was to Jesus Christ is already manifested in her carefulness to keep his Commandments and also in her love to the Members of Christ both that and also her Humility and self-denyal appeared in that in her highest actings and best frame she disowned her self and leaned only upon Jesus Christ trusted only in him gloried in nothing but in Christ in the Cross of Christ in the Righteousness of Christ in the Love of Christ not in what she did for Christ though she did much and delighted in so doing but she gloried in the Grace of Christ that did much for her he and his Righteousness were all her life and comfort she had an eye upon the Incense the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ in all her approaches to God being ashamed of the mixture of sin those weaknesses and imperfections that were in her best performances notwithstanding all her strictness and exactness she lay as low before the Lord in the sense of her own vileness emptiness nothingness as if there were nothing in her She was much in exalting of Jesus Christ his merits and grace admiring what he had done for sinners touching their reconciliation to God the remission of sin their standing and priviledges in grace here and the glory that is to be revealed relying on the freeness and fulness of his grace alone as if she had done or were able to do nothing she did set the Crown on his head in all always saw that in her self which kept her low and humble before the Lord and nothing in her own eyes She excelled in and was a pattern of Patience under all her troubles her afflictions were many and long often at the very mouth of the Grave in the latter part of her time seldom enjoyed a well day yet never murmured thought her afflictions small bore them with a chearful Spirit was always submissive to the will of God always thought and spoke well of God and justified him in all her Tryals She was wonderfully melted into the will of God and lived always out of her own will resigned up to God to be disposed of as he pleased and was greatly satisfied in what he chose for her she hath said the will of God is sweet to her in every condition and under much bodily weakness if the Lord would have her live to be sick she was content yet latter ward was mostly tryed in the Fire of affliction when her Husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Non-conformity in stead of repining she said she was glad they had such a house and accommodations to leave for Christ and with all freeness and readiness resigned up all to him She was sorely tryed in the loss of her dearest Relations and choicest comforts in this World but she was prepared to be any thing that God would have her be and that with all alacrity and cheerfulness of Spirit She had a lively hope of future mercy of the life to come shee said she scarce knew how to live out of Heaven from Jesus Christ always groaning in the body to be delivered from the body of sin and death and to be with Jesus As she set out at first so she continued in the vigorous and constant exercise of all grace not loosing the life nor abating or impairing the strength thereof in old age under the decays of nature but in the 73 of her age she slept or dyed in Jesus and her Soul was gathered to the Spirits of just men made perfect FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho. Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth.